User reviews

I much enjoy a romantic melodrama in the min-series format that develops a main single story from beginning to end, though with some related parallel sub-plots along the way. The basic melodrama is the oft repeated formula: Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl, Boy gets Girl Back. This may recur in the same story.

Human relations can be complex even if only the boy and girl are involved, but this complexity increases as more people are involved.

If personality dynamics are properly depicted in a valid manner, and if the production is skillful, powerful emotions can be evoked in the viewer. In this way we can live many lifetimes through movies, in our one lifetime - greatly enriching our incarnate experience.

These South Korean productions (seen on Netflix streaming) are first class with excellent production and direction, some terrific casting and acting (particularly from some of the females who give some matchless world class performances), brilliant musical accompaniment, and staging. What makes these so good is the way they skillfully evoke deep emotion in the viewer. South Korean movie making is superb - world class.

However, the following caveats must be considered by the USA viewer:

They are subtitled and some people hate this. The South Korean cultural norms, values and sanctions may sometimes seems silly or old fashioned to the USA viewer. The families are close knit and decisions by an individual may be subject to family approval. Social distance is maintained where formal speech is used, and personal speech forms are reserved for close friends or family. There is a strong work ethic and community cooperation/unity - sometimes reminiscence of a old Frank Capra film.

Most importantly, in order for the sometimes complicated sub-plots to work, people fail to communicate with each other as might be expected, keeping many in the dark as to what others are doing, and this leads to misunderstandings and error judgments of some people, that sometimes seem to be unlikely by USA cultural standards. The viewer may wonder at times why good but trusting people are so easily manipulated and deceived by bad and selfish people, but con artists do often succeed (just look at politicians for example). However this poetic license of improbability is needed to develop the story - just accept it as occurring even though unlikely at times. Taking these factors into account will help you become involved and emotionally engrossed. It was hard for me to quit watching at times so I often binged watched more than one episode at a time.

I would rank these as follows but tastes differ and your rankings might not agree: 1 - 4 (hard to say which is best)

Shining Inheritance

When a Man Loves

That Winter, The Wind Blows

Secret garden

5. Five Fingers

6. The Scent of a Woman

7. The Great Queen Seondeok

8. A Hundred Years Inheritance

9. Lie To me

10. Roof Top Prince

11. Dr. Jin

12. The Great Doctor

The Scent of a Woman develops fully, sometimes at slow pace for some viewers, in unfolding its story. In the second half of this 16 episode series, the emotional fireworks set in. Some serious issues of love are dealt with in a valid manner. This series is perhaps more modern, organized, coherent, and plausible than others that are ranked above, which is a plus for some viewers.

Kim Sun-A is just fantastic in this and her mother also both are talented and very beautiful women the story tragic as it is isn't so depressing to make it unwatchable there are funny scenes but also too many crying one.

Kim Sun-A can play any role well I've seen most of her work, have to admit i did fast forward most of the scenes with the other woman who had nothing to offer in character or acting ability.

Lovely drama with some beautiful performances especially from the lead actress and the lady playing her mother. What a wonderful relationship. Sometimes it was loving, sometimes they got on each other's nerves.

I love that the toupee wearing tango teacher wasn't made a figure of fun, and that the toupee is never used for comedy purposes.

There were some lovely moments. My favourite was the dance on the beach with the elderly gentleman.

The last drama i watched was 49 days, which was very good too. But i think i preferred Scent, because unlike 49, it had a good balance between great looking people, and others.

The ending was spot on.

This series about a woman with cancer is not dated. It is romantic and funny and not morbid. It starts funny then gets romantic and touching for the love story then quite moving when it deals with cancer and the effects on loved ones and finally ends well. There are some meaningful parts with the bucket list. Lee Dong Wook acts passionately in love quite well. Kim Soon Ah doesn't overact. Her hairstyle looks terrible for most of the show though. She has a nice figure although her face. Isn't the prettiest but the character isn't supposed to be that beautiful. Sometimes she looks sour rather than sad. Uhm Ki Joon of Penthouse is funny as the doctor friend is funny as a low EQ doctor. The music soundtrack and tango dancing are a plus point.

Worth watching one of the better dramas about illness.

What would you do if your doctor anounces that you have only 6 months left to live?

Would you quit your job? Travel? Love someone for the fist and maybe the last time? All of the above?

Almost from the start Yeon Jae is harrased by her boss and colleagues. She endoures it all because she loves her job. After receiving life changing news she quits her job and takes a vacation and travels to Japan.

Ji Wook, like most heirs, is born not only with a silver spoon in his mouth, but has a deep dislike of the life he is force to live and resents his father. Everything has been deided for him... even the woman he should marry.

On a trip to Japan he meets this quicky young woman and for the first time he actually feels alive.

Will fate pull them in each others path again?