my ajumma notes

Initially, I avoided this show because I thought it would be like  Start-up .  Fortunately, it turned out to be a funny fake identity/fake relationship show though it could do with a snazzier title. Ha-ri Kim Sejeong is excellent as Ha-ri, and Ha-ri is very likable as a wonderful daughter, friend and colleague.  She is such a sunny and cheerful person, the perfect foil for Kang Tae-moo (Ahn Hyeo-seop) and his stuffiness.  Sejeong brings out all her drama, maturity and loving heart, and she is especially impressive as the role-switching Ha-ri scaring off Young-seo’s (Seol In-ah) suitors!  The humour tones down after Ha-ri stops pretending she is ‘Geum-hee’ but her emotions swing in from then. 'Rachel and Samantha' 😂 Ha-ri’s family and her work team are funny.     The poignant point that it is this regular, decent family that embraces Yeong-seo, Sung-hoon (Kim Min-kyu) and Tae-moo (interestingly, the last of the lot to ‘join’) is unfortunately backgrounded.    Also, I love the e

Three shows I dropped before I hit the jackpot   Start-up (2020) Although business and investments are not my kind of thing, I wanted to watch Kim Seon-ho’s pre- Hometown   outing.  It is fast-paced and punchy, with an interesting mix of characters. What I liked: - Kim Seon-ho (Han Ji-pyeong) and Nam Joo-hyuk (Nam Do-san), together and separately techie who knits - Nam Da-reum playing the young version of Ji-pyeong, with depth and emotion - the other two Sans (Yoo Su-bin, Kim Do-wan) of Samsan Tech – funny, loyal and such fantastic friends - Kim Joo-hun playing the father of Dal-mi and In-jae – full of life and ideas; he should have spent more time explaining the nature of entrepreneurship to his wife! - In-jae’s silly, unethical and irritating stepfather and stepbrother (no wonder her mother moved out!) - the story between Ji-pyeong and Dal-mi’s grandma - the eclectic looks of Do-san’s family home, and Dal-mi and grandma’s home - the offices in Sandbox   What was acceptable: - the Sa

Oh my word, Park Gyu-young!  From the spoilt, clueless rich kid in  Romance is a bonus book , she transformed into elegant, gentle, genteel Dali.  When I saw her in  Romance , I thought she was destined to play supporting roles but she proves me very wrong.  She can be soft-spoken, soft- hearted, sad, scared, subtle, stylish, cheeky, throw in a few fiery moments, make us laugh, and speak English well!  Well done, young lady! OH MY WORD, Kim Min-jae!!  It is so refreshing for him to come to life here after the melancholy of  Do You Like Brahms .  He is wonderful as genuine, funny, smart, single-minded and kind-hearted Mu-hak.  Never thought he could do comedy so well.  He is cute with that so-pleased-with-himself private smile whenever Dali unexpectedly says something affectionate.  And all his little pouty lines – “I just wanted you to be happy”, “I just wanted to be with you”… aww…  His character is well-written, perfectly cast and brilliantly performed.  Outstanding work, young man! 

I wonder if practising singing works like cross-training for actors.  It’s fun to see them singing on stage. Park Eun-bin singing The King's Affection 's 'If' during her Singapore fan meet. Lee Jong-suk at his Taipei fan meet   singing While You Were Sleeping's 'Come to me' . Moon Embracing the Sun's  young Kim So-hyun , Kim Yoo-jung and Yeo Gin-goo  singing at the MBC awards show .  (much preferred to watching the adult versions of their characters)