As nearly everyone who has ever heard me talk about dramas knows, my favorite drama is You’re Beautiful. 말도없이 (Without Words) is why I started learning Korean. I went to Seoul in 2012 and the timing was so that I could see a live production of You’re Beautiful. (I’m still waiting for someone to bring it to Broadway or at least Viki.) I also take the photo comic books with me to the dentist as a distraction & a way to practice reading Korean.
I’ve seen the Japanese version (Ikemen desu ne)and the Taiwanese version (Fabulous Boys) as well. I just rewatched Fabulous Boys on viki and I’d started I’d do a showdown or review or something. I know very little about Taiwanese dramas so bear with me. Also, I wasn’t planning on writing this when I watched Fabulous Boys and I haven’t rewatched YAB in a while so I might be fuzzy and skip some stuff.
Spoilers for both.
Main Characters
Cast
Park Shin Hye as Go MiNam/ Go MiNyu / Cheng Yu Xi as Gao Mei Nan/Gao Mei Nu
Jang Geun Suk as Hwang TaeKyung / Jiro Wang as Huang Tai Qing
Jung Yong Hwa as Kang ShinWoo / Hwang In Deok as Jiang Xin Yu
Lee Hong Ki /Evan Yo as Jeremy
My 2 Cents
I believe that Cheng Yu Xi Mei Nan is just as good as Park Shin Hye’s MiNam. They both have their strength’s and weaknesses. One obvious difference is FB allows you to see the “real” Mei Nan, he even participates in several key scenes. My gut says that PSH couldn’t pull off playing an real man instead of a former wannabe nun pretending to be a man. Or maybe she didn’t want to do it. But that is something I had wanted to see so in FB you can.
Tai Qing is less arrogant (he’s plenty arrogant – don’t get me wrong) and more emotionally available then TaeKyung. His emotions are more believable. He’s also gentler (his eyes especially). I like him better then TaeKyung.
I’m sure acting wise Hwang In Deok could get Jung YongHwa a run for his money, but emotionally, I have to go with ShinWoo/YongHwa. There is one scene in particular I didn’t like – somehow Xin Yu found out who Mei Nan’s mother was. I don’t see how that is even possible considering he wouldn’t have found out until after the big disclosure/fight. Maybe he’s a gangster/PI in disguise?
Jeremy. There’s only one Jeremy. That is the super adorable HongKi. (Adorable as in: he reminds me of my nephew when he was 6. I def. “don’t think of him as a man” 😀 ) The YAB Bus Scene always make me tear up. But I felt nothing during the same scene in FB. Part of it could be he didn’t sing that well – HongKi’s singing thru his tears is what tears a hole in my heart; every single time! also FB Jeremy didn’t have funny hair styles & clothes 😉
Plot
In some aspects, Fabulous Boys is a clone of You’re Beautiful. Some scenes are almost identical. But FB is 20 eps versus YAB 16, so stuff has been added. I don’t think the additions hurt the plot too much (except for Xin Yu being a PI). One of the crucial additions is the Mei Nan helping at an orphanage. It’s believable that she would want to give kids a good Christmas. Tho the compulsive knitting is a bit weird – but sure, fine, whatever.
In some ways, Fabulous Boys is funnier then YAB. For instance, during the fight over the phone – Mei Nan licks it to keep Tai Qing from touching it and then threatens him. That’s hilarious! She uses his Monk tendencies against him.
Something I didn’t like – the hair clip was even smaller and plainer then the bow. It was also a star. Everything was covered in stars.
I really like that Mei Nan & Mei Nu meet up (at the airport scene) After Mei Nan plays the angry big brother part with the reporter, they get to hug. Mei Nan is even supportive of Mei Nu & Tai Qing’s relationship. His take was never given in YAB. However, you’d think that people not in on secret would start wondering when Mei Nan’s hair keeps changing. (when Mei Nu played him again). Also, the total change of personality (but that applies to both versions).
I like the actual ending of FB boys better – but I don’t like that he sings her dad’s song and announces it’s for the most important person in his life and she is still walking out! It’s also cute that the fans around them when they meet – are the ones you see in the first episode etc.
The music in FB was OK – but I think Still was the only song from YAB – and I love “Without Words.”
I’m running out of steam, but I recommend watching Fabulous Boys.
BTW – one of these days I’m going to do proper screenshots and maybe even learn to make gifs (used to know how a long time ago) – so, sorry my posts are text heavy.
Random List of drama Recs – in an assortment of categories. You’re Beautiful
Trainee nun disguises herself as her twin brother in a famous boy band. Hijinks ensue. Note there are Japanese and Taiwanese versions of this as well. As far as I know, only Fabulous Boys (Taiwanese) is available from normal channels. Master’s Sun
A woman who sees ghosts meets a man whose touch sends the ghosts away. Hijinks ensue. Greatest Love/Best Love
A-list celebrity falls in love with a D-list celebrity who wants nothing to do with him. Hijinks ensue. Queen InHyun’s Man
A man from the past is sent into modern day Seoul. He meets an actress who plays the queen he vows to protect. Hijinks of a time bending nature ensue. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (9 tailed fox)
Arrogant boy meets mythical creature who says he must be her boyfriend & feed her “cow” or she’ll eat his liver. Hijinks ensue. Monstar
A bunch of misfit HS students (including a celebrity) form a band. Hijinks ensue. (Dramafever subs had added vile profanity; it may have been corrected, but I still suggest watching on Viki) Healer
A “night messenger” meets a woman while being paid to collect her DNA. He then hired to protect her and goes undercover as a dork to protect her. Hijinks ensue. Shan Shan Likes to Eat/Boss and Me (Chinese)
A woman with a specific bloodtype helps out her boss’s sister who was on the verge of death by donating blood. In gratitude, he feeds her and feeds her until he falls in love with her (or was it vice versa). Hijinks ensue. (note – I believe they move in together & hide it from her parents)
The only Chinese drama I’ve seen so it’s the only one I can recommend. City Hunter
Man raised in jungle (literally) goes to Seoul to take revenge on the people who he believes had his father killed. His adoptive (drug-running) father wants him to kill them but he refuses. While undercover in the Korean version of the White House, he meets a woman in the secret service. Hijinks of a revenge nature ensue. Based on an Anime I believe. But Healer is better. 🙂 Bonus Running Man
My absolute favorite variety show. Chinese version is called Run Brother but I don’t know where it’s available. You can watch Running Man on DramaFever or on YouTube (Dramafever uploaded some really good fan subs and then theirs – which aren’t that great). Some eps are available on Viki.
Jackie Chan was on an episode. He’s adorable. You can see his hijinks below.
I think I’m going to recap the kdrama sitcom Potato Star. I haven’t fully decided yet and even if I start, I make no promises that I’ll finish it. It is at 107 of 120 eps and I’m only on Ep 70. But I decided to start with introductions of the main characters etc.
Background/Why I Started Watching
Rich man/poor woman, living together, disapproving parents, mustache twirling bad guys, birth secrets, amnesia, poop jokes – it pretty much has all the Kdramas tropes. I don’t drink, but I think you’d get sloshed playing a kdrama drinking game in just 1 ep. (OK, maybe one week of 4 eps)
Why did I decide to start watching this? Well, 1st I didn’t realize it was a sitcom until I was a few episodes in. Else, I think I would’ve said “Pass.” but the real reason was the cast. Some of my favorite actors are in it, so I had to try.
I’ll tell you something, it wasn’t because of the Plot. I knew nothing about the plot (side note: I seem to enjoy dramas more when I don’t know what to expect). I think I thought it was about a metaphorical star (celebrity) and something involving potatoes. Nope, there is a real star (well, asteroid) that is shaped like a potato. I won’t say anymore about that right now.
Differences between US sitcoms & kdrama sitcoms
This is my first Kdrama sitcom (I’m not counting Vampire Idol cause I don’t think it was a normal Kdrama sitcom), and it really is eyeopening. I don’t really like US sitcoms (well with a few exceptions, e.g., Hogan’s Heroes), but this isn’t really what I think of a sitcom.
A couple differences:
Length. It is almost as long as a US 1 hr show because they don’t have to make it shorter for commercials.
Plot complexity. The sitcoms I grew up with were the ones like “Cosby Show” and “Full House.” You know the kind, all problems are fixed in 30 minutes (including commercials), the kids were also the center of show.
Saccharine. I liked “Full House” as a kid, but even I knew how saccharine it was. My sisters and I would try to guess when the “aww” track would start playing. The Dad said something touching or the baby did something cute, cue the “awws.” This fakeness is probably why I don’t like sitcoms, now. There is nothing saccharine (especially involving the kids) in this show.
Callbacks/Continuity. I wasn’t expecting how often the past was brought up. Either a throw away line referencing something, or a plot that I swore had been dropped would get mentioned. One ep in particular had a 30 minutes & done plot, but a dozen or so eps later, there was a line referencing it. A major plot line got reintroduced many eps later, and then dropped again, but I expect it will be brought up again. This happened continually. US sitcoms would bring people in (or issues) for one ep and then they’d never be heard of again, or “facts” regarding characters would be changed completely to fit a later plot. I’m not saying there aren’t some plot holes; there are, but you definitely feel there is method to the madness/overarching plot.
Stuff I like about it
Even tho most of it is totally exaggerated, you can get a feel for some Korean cultural aspects, that you can’t really see in romcoms. Like the importance of New Years bows to kids (bows = money). I love learning about cultures so I love learning little things or seeing things that fill in the holes.
The cast. They are really awesome. I think I’m going to dedicate a whole post to them.
MinHyuk. I love him. And the actor (I’ll look up his name later) did such a good job of playing a 6 year old in a adult’s body.
The couples. Ok, not so much Julian and Mina – they’re kinda annoying. But HongBerg & JinAh are so cute. (Kinda remind me of the DaGuen DaGuen couple from Gag Concert)
It’s fluffy. I like fluff. I know I won’t have to go too long without some funny or cuteness.
EDIT – I will not be recapping this because they ruined the ending.
TL:DR = Don’t watch. There is no conclusion. I want my 20 hours back.
actually, maybe I don’t need to say more then that. This is how bad the ending was – I had to verify it was the last episode. It is like they forgot it was the last episode until after they had finished recording.
Oh well, I’ll try to write a proper review. This is a rant, so I apologize in advance for any errors.
I’m trying to avoid writing spoilers, but I’m not sure why because unless you like things so open-ended that they are the Holland Tunnel, you shouldn’t watch it.
Good parts:
Interesting premise – a police woman falls for rich guy’s “I’m a spy” line & resulting hijinks
Unusual lead – he doesn’t speak Korean – pretty much ever. I’ve never heard of a TV show where the main character doesn’t speak the language. He understands it fluently tho.
Acrobatic Ahjussi Minion – he does all these karate kicks & flips all the time. He doesn’t walk across a room – he somersaults.
Kinda funny side characters – one detective is always talking about needing a hweshik (supposed to be spelled hoesik – but I like my phonetic spelling). You’ve seen hweshik’s on dramas many times – those work dinners where everyone gets sloshed. Spoiler – he never gets one. He should have.
Culture insights – I saw a lot of little things I didn’t notice before.
Bad Parts – Ending – or lack there of. Nuff said.
Female lead – She’s too stupid to ask “which side” when he says “I’m a spy” & helps him anyway. (Side note – I still am not exactly sure, but I don’t care anymore.) Remember: he doesn’t speak Korean – why would she assume he is helping the Korean government.
Male lead – Horrible actor. I think they picked him because he speaks English without a Korean accent and likes to take his shirt off. Seriously, he always gotta take a shower (or he gets stabbed or needs a bubble bath or something). The words that he says are really bad (not K2H calling a laxative an enema bad, tho), but so is the overdramatic school play way he says them. Sometimes he is Ok. (emotionally quiet scenes).
Romance – it jumps all over the place. Spoiler. At one point, they have a very involved kiss and she stops him before it gets too far. (and the ep ends on his “I’m going to kill you ” face), but a couple eps later. They are talking; it switches scenes to a spy meeting in DC and then it switches back to find them in bed – nakey. She’s asleep. I thought I had missed a scene that would explain how that happened.
Bad guys – Most of the time, I had no idea who are the bad guys. and I’m still not quite sure he isn’t one. Part of it probably has to do with usually CIA = good guys, so it took me awhile to realize that the CIA wasn’t working with the Korean gov.
Inconsistent storyline – or maybe they are just lies upon lies. don’t know.
Kdramas cliches used: Sudden Illness for no apparent reason (he shows up stabbed – many eps later we find out who/why); Birth secret (lots); orphan; drinking to pass out; stupid female lead; “ugly” female lead male who isn’t; Han River; sit in my car to talk w/ guards outside (need a name for that one); evil mom (step mother); evil dad; evil uncle, being able to understand Korean fluently, but don’t speak a word (need a name), money envelope. There are lots of others, but I’m tired.
Oh and let’s not forget roommates and contract relationship.
This is the story about how I slowly became a fangirl.
When I was a teenager, I was never a fangirl. Other girls my age would listen to New Kids on the Block and I would think they were weird for having posters on the wall of a boyband. (They thought I was weird for listening to the Carpenters.) I didn’t really have a normal childhood in that way, I didn’t obsess over TV shows or actors or musicians. I read books (library), and read books and read books and watched musicals and some science fiction. My family also didn’t have a lot of money, so I never wanted anything expensive (except my Samantha Doll – which I got as an adult – long story) because I knew I wouldn’t get it. (99% of my toys came from yard sales.) As a teenager even tho I loved the Musical Newsies, I knew I couldn’t afford the soundtrack on my $1/hr babysitting money, so I made my own by holding up my tape recorder to the TV. I was an adult before I had anything that I didn’t create related to “modern” popculture. Don’t get me wrong, I was Ok (most of the time) with being a decade of so behind my “friends” in the toy department. I had the public library full of books. Nancy Drew was more important to me then some boy band.
As I became an adult and a geek, I found myself wanting things related to stuff I liked. So I bought soundtracks and science fiction toys. Not too long ago, my bedroom was decorated with Star Trek and (few) Doctor Who & Star Wars toys & posters. It wasn’t a collection just a few odds & ends.
A long time ago on FaceBook, I discovered an App called Pieces of Flair. I had fun creating virtual pins and was inspired to create real ones. So I went to Zazzle (don’t recommend) and created custom mini-magnets on Zazzle related to my favorite lesser-known shows & books (primarily sci-fi) related. I decorated the cabinets at work with them for a couple years and then moved them to my fridge at home. I was well on my way to becoming a collector.
I discovered kdramas and through them kpop a few years ago. I fell in love with You’re Beautiful and wanted anything I could find. Which wasn’t much. Shipping from Korea is very costly, so much of the “oh that’s so cool. I want.” stuff that I see online has to stay in Korea. I was able to go to Korea last year. And between that trip and online shopping, I have been able to pick of a few things, mostly You’re Beautiful with some FTIsland mixed in for good measure.
I even had enough stuff to redecorate my bedroom (well, 1/2 of it – I can’t get rid of all my Star Trek/Doctor Who stuff). Between that and checking off my qualities on Kim JongKook’s DreamGirl list, I have become a fangirl. But with no feasible way to supply my obsession, what’s a girl to do?
Easy. I bought what I had been wanting for years. A Button maker. The 1st day I had it, I realized my printer wasn’t working, so I cannibalized TV Guides for Star Trek, StarGate and other buttons. I also converted various Korea-related stickers into buttons. Since then, I have designed and created loads of You’re Beautiful buttons and then thrown in my other favorites like Faith, Pasta, King2Hearts, Rooftop Prince, Queen In-Hyun’s Man, Best Love, and of course, Running Man.
I’ve been surprised to see how many things can make very cool buttons. I’ve even created buttons from You’re Beautiful trading card wrappers that I couldn’t bear to throw away. Yesterday, I moved most of my collection to the classic button display – a jean jacket. I still have lots more ideas for buttons and new dramas come out all the time, so I see no end to this latest manifestation of my new fangirlhood.
Greatest Love/Best Love is one of my favorite dramas. I watched it twice on Dramafever before I decided to do these sub ratings, so what’s a girl to do? I watched it again on Viki. 🙂
Edit: Kdrama.com is a new site, so I’m going to be comparing it as well. … Well, that didn’t take long, they use the same subs as Hulu & CrunchyRoll.
Rating Process
Because I didn’t feel like watching the whole series on all available options (well, not at the moment – I’ll probably rewatch it again later), I did a spot check of a scene that could be written so many different ways.
This scene is near the beginning of Ep 6 – when JaeSuk drives to cover for DokkoJin/AeJung with the president. (approximately 12 mins in) JaeSuk asks the president would she would do if she found out that DokkoJin liked a (for lack of better word) D-list celebrity.
These are the sites I checked:
Dramafever
Hulu, CrunchyRoll & kdrama.com – they use the same subs from “MBCAmerica”
Viki
Dramafever
Dramafever used the DarkSmurf Fan subs for Greatest Love.
Here is the president’s response:
“I’d just send Dok Go overseas to do activities, and make it so that the other party wouldn’t ever be able to set foot in the entertainment industry again.”
Viki
Viki’s subs were their usual good quality.
Here is the president’s response:
“I would send Dokgo for overseas activities…And the other, I’d crush her so that she couldn’t even step into celebrity status again. ”
MBCAmerica (Hula\CrunchyRoll\kdrama.com)
My least favorite of the 3 sites
Here is the president’s response:
“I’d send Doko abroad. And that tramp would never lunch in this town again”
Bonus (WithS2)
For kicks, I checked the WithS2 srts for the scene. I won’t be rating it tho. I just checked because WithS2 has a special place in my heart because it introduced me to terms like subs, raw, & srt. 🙂
Here is the president’s response:
“I’ll send Dok Go to work overseas. And I’ll make sure the other party won’t be able to step into showbiz ever again.”
KaeKae’s Rating
Dramafever/DarkSmurf – excellent and appears to be very accurate and to me 독고진 = Dokko Jin. It just looks like it sounds to me.
Viki – always a good choice
MBCAmerica (Hulu/CrunchyRoll) – really weak; and at least this scene seemed more paraphrased then translated.
I’m a word person. And by that I mean, I love words, how they flow together and how just rephrasing a thought can turn it from ho-hum to awesome. I can’t do awesome. I admire people who can. I wanted to be a writer (even studied it in college), but I realized I don’t have the gift. IRL, I’m an technical editor (hard to believe, right?). So I still work with words just with longer syllables then I had planned.
Anyway, this is all to introduce why I’m going to create a new page or feature (I’m not sure how I’m going to handle it), ratings of streaming sites subs. As I rewatch (or even watch) dramas, I’m going to list what I like & dislike about the subs I see. Which site has the subs that make me go “aawww” rather than “oh.”
The sites (at this time) that I’ll be reviewing will be Dramafever, Viki, Netflix, CrunchyRoll (probably) with probably a few fan subs thrown in. Please remember that reviews of subs are typically specific to a particular drama since there is always variation within a site.
Because Korean and English translation can’t be word for word, there are typically lots of ways to translate a Korean sentence into English, especially with the long romantic conversation. My focus will be on which ones are just plain awesome & seem to accurately reflect the words (or in some cases intent) of the Korean.
Please keep in mind that my Korean vocabulary is about 200 words and I know very little of the grammar so I most of the time I’ll be dependent on the subs. However, I’ll try to note if someone translates “like” as “love” and other little things like that.
Ok – I’m going to issue a challenge to fellow Kdrama fans. Next time, you rewatch a drama, watch it on a different site with different subtitles.
Several reasons for this: the main one is I think we get a better flavor of what is actually said if we see how different sites translate the same line. You may find you really love 1 particular scene better on 1 site then another. Case in Point: In You’re Beautiful (my favorite as everyone knows), TaeKyung tells MiNam something that is translated by various sites “don’t be in the dark” and “don’t be where I can’t see you” among others. I’m a romantic; so when he yells out during the MV screening I like the one where he yells “I told you not to be where I can’t see you.” Perhaps “don’t be in the dark” is just as or even more accurate (I haven’t a clue), but I have my preference.
Another reason, you may find your favorite site is going to take a backseat for certain dramas. My favorite site is Dramafever, but I’ve started watching Netflix (30 day trial – probably will do a month or 2 extra) and I’ve also use Viki a lot more now (mostly for simulcast because it is quicker and I think the subs are more accurate/detailed). Dramafever still wins for ease of use, but in 2013, I’ll be watching a lot less Dramafever and more from other sites.
Another reason, there are certain untranslatable things that just don’t work in English whether because they are puns or Korean cliche’s an exact translation won’t really work unless an explanation is given. So seeing how other sites handled stuff like that is very interesting. Another scene from You’re Beautiful. TaeKyung is in the practice room and HyeYi is outside. In the course of the scene, she writes a note to him and presses it against the glass. She misspells a word (apparently, an easy one – not Antidisestablishmentarianism). So TaeKyung writes the correct spelling in BIG letters on the glass (I hope it was dry erase). My favorite variation of this scene is something along this line (not exact quote).
“I’ll make you pie for this.”
“PAY – No thanks for the pie “(which is awkward – I’d prefer “I don’t want your pie”)
That exchange accurately (IMO, at least) reflects the character of the exchange. An exact translation isn’t required. But some sites do the exact translation, but also provide an 1 sentence explanation of these untranslatables.
There are other reason I’m sure, but I’m too tired to think of them.
So if you are going to be rewatching a Drama anyway, mix it up and go watch on Dramafever, Viki, CrunchyRoll, Hulu (includes Dramafever, Viki & others), Netflix (DVD subs are likely different from the streaming) or download srts from a different site if that is how you watch.
BTW, I’m going to attempt to write reviews of the subbing in shows I rewatch and let you know, which sites have the best subs. But that is only if I can remember where I watched in the 1st place. 🙂
There will be YouTube Videos sprinkled throughout (I’ve never embedded vids before, so should be interesting). 1 video will appear multiple times because it is basically a clip show. Unfortunately, the videos do not have English subs. I would Love to have them subtitled or at least the English lyrics for the new songs. I also want the OST and to rewatch (over and over and over) The Musical with subtitles. Preferably DVD so I can add to my You’re Beautiful collection, but if one one of the streaming sites got the rights, they would be my best buddy, forever and ever and ever.
Bribe
In fact, I’ll do this, I’ll make (or probably have made – I’m a bad cook) lots of pig rabbit cookies for whoever provides the whole musical subbed. I’ll even send them to Korea or wherever. So someone who speaks Korean – go tell the Sejong Center & the Hong Sisters & SBS or anyone. I’m fully aware this is a bribe, but I’m OK with that. Dramafever & Viki, how about gingerbread pigrabbits for Christmas? Please work your magic. (Aegyo pout)
Background: (skippable)
As I’ve said many many times to anyone who would listen and many who just want me to shut up, You’re Beautiful is my favorite kdrama and my 2nd favorite TV show (Doctor Who is #1). This year, I got the idea of going to Korea in October (not that I had a passport, plan, or anything like that); but it was an idea in the back of my head.Then one (fateful) June morning, I saw on FaceBook this poster, announcing a You’re Beautiful Musical in August/September at the Sejong Center’s M Theatre.
I went all over the net that morning (was late for work) to get information and then told my boss “hey, I’m going to be going out the country in August/September–I’ll let you know the exact dates.” That didn’t go over very well. There was a big project that they had apparently scheduled for then, and they wanted me to do it. I compromised. I left a week earlier then I had planned – I was off work for 3 weeks, but I really was in Korea only 14 full days. During the last month or so before I left, I watched & rewatched the videos of the musical that were on Youtube. I didn’t have a clue how a 16 hr drama could be condensed into a 2 hr musical, but I wanted to follow along as much as I could when I went. I know the drama practically by heart so that wasn’t a concern.
Fast forward to August 25th, my 1st Saturday in Korea, I was wiped from jet leg, but I went to the 2PM matinee. Side Note: I had seen all the curtain call videos on YouTube, so I thought video recording was allowed (which seemed weird), so I decided to try to tape it for my own personal use so I could watch again and again. I ended up bringing my monopod with me to the theatre, but forgot my camera, which turned out to be OK, since no cameras were allowed. Apparently, it is a thing to video tape curtain calls in Korea (maybe just in general).
I was 2nd row; about 2 seats from center. Score. The girl next to me videotaped the curtain call, but I can’t find it on YouTube. This may have been taped that day.
FYI, I’ve taken pictures of scenes from my playbook from the musical (no infringement is intended). They aren’t very good – I’ll try to get better ones soon. If you want more pictures then do a web search for images “뮤지컬 미남이시네요,” (there are lots out there, but I didn’t know the proper way to use them and still give appropriate credit when many of the sites seem to be no longer live.)
Trainee nun masquerades as her brother in a boy band. The other 3 members fall in love with her (1 before he knows she is a girl), and then funny stuff, romantic stuff, and angst stuff occurs. Won’t say anymore just go watch it. I’ll wait.
Ok now that you’re back. The rest of this review contains spoilers to either the drama or the Musical. I apologize – I meant to write this while it was fresh in my head after I returned home in September, but real life got in the way. Good thing Raine reminded me.
Characters
Go MiNyu/Go MiNam – I’ll just call her MiNam, but that is really her brother’s name. Trainee Nun, kinda dense but very sweet.
Hwang TaeKyung – Lead Singer (1st Lead); Jerk (aka HyungNim).
ShinWoo – Guitar Player; Nice Guy.
Jeremy – Drummer; Overgrown child. Has a difficult time when he realizes he is attracted to MiNam (who he thinks is a guy)
Hye-Yi – Singer. Likes TaeKyung, blackmails him with her knowledge that MiNam is really MiNyu into being her “boyfriend”
Manager Ma – The one who thought up the whole scheme. Liar.
President Ahn – President of their label.
TaeKyung’s Mom – abandoned him because she was in love with MiNam’s dad (I’m really not certain how much this was part of the musical). Major cause of angst in the drama.
The Musical
I’m doing this recap from memory. Unfortunately, I saw in August and it is now November. You do the Math.
Recap
Act 1
It opens with Manager Ma running thru the theatre chasing a nun (MiNyu), there is a huge comic chase scene where she blends in to a crowd of nuns going around in a circle and he disappears in the midst & reappears dressed as a nun. He gets her to agree to be MiNam for 1 show (apparently). I’m not sure how, but she does a great job even tho she appears without practicing with the rest.
She meets AN Jell backstage and goes to a big after party, where she gets incredibly drunk. Somewhere in the process, Mgr Ma tells her that she has to be MiNam for a month including live with them. He does the whole he can’t close his eyes thing, and lies a major guilt trip on him.
Eventually, she wanders into the restroom (men/women) where TaeKyung is washing his hands and runs into him literally. She then pukes on him, pulls out her breast wrap triumphantly, and passes out. He freaks out and sings a song about her being a woman, while background singers sing and dance (kinda, more like enter/exit bathroom stalls) in the background. This scene goes from 0:41 to 1:25 in the video below.
I may be missing a scene here because I can’t remember what happens next. And how they get TaeKyung to keep her secret.
TaeKyung is in his room writing a song (I think he dreams this whole scene until he sits on the bed), which sounds remarkably like Without Words (말도 없이) and begins the same, but then is completely different. I really, really want to know what it says because 말도 없이 is one of my favorite songs. I think he fantasizes a version of himself (doesn’t look like him at all – but wears his dance clothes) dancing to it.
As he goes to write it down/wakes up, he says a hand sneaking up. For some reason, MiNam is hiding behind his bed. He tells her to leave and then finds out that they are going to be roomies. This is also when Jeremy finds out that he is attracted to her/him. I’m not sure when ShinWoo realizes or finds out that he is a she. In any case, both want to be roomies with MiNam.
After they leave, Manager Ma makes his escape as well. (Literally.) TaeKyung goes into his bunnies are dangerous speech (because of her bunny tee), and ends up calling her pigrabbit. He writes a new song (and falls asleep holding it), MiNam sees it, picks up some of the sheet music, and ends up trying to sing it because she likes it so much. She wakes up TaeKyung and apologizes – who tells her to sing it. They have a duet (really pretty song) and then he throws a fit and crumples & throws away the sheet music and storms out. She salvages the song and puts it into her suitcase.
This clip goes from 1:25 to 2:40 in the 1st video below. The 2nd video is the complete song
The order of the next few bits are uncertain. I think this is the order i happens, but big grain of salt.
They do a MV where TaeKyung is supposed to be tortured (the whole stick thru the leg thing) (Hye-yi is the love interest) and MiNam freaks out at the torture. The director of the MV decides that MiNam is really pretty for a guy and gives her Hye-yi’s role because “he” is such a great actor. Yep. It is a girl pretending to be a guy pretending to be a girl. Hye-yi isn’t happy (I’m not sure if she knows that MiNam is a girl before or during this bit.)
This may happen before the MV scene, but I think it is later. In any case, there is a press conference/party that everyone is at. Hye-yi tells TaeKyung that she is going to tell everyone that MiNam is really a girl. TaeKyung doesn’t know what to do; and then he literally shuts her mouth by kissing her (real one this time-not like in the drama – I think he wipes his mouth afterward). MiNam is devastated because she is love with TaeKyung. She sings, and ShinWoo watches cause he is in love with MiNam. Then TaeKyung starts singing while ShinWoo watches both, and then ShinWoo sings. and basically it turns- 3 way misery (pretty song tho – I have no idea what it says).
This clip goes from at 2:40 – 3:38 in the next video and includes part of the\song.
I’m really fuzzy on this whole section. I don’t think the exact scenes were in the drama and my Korean is really bad and my memory fuzzy. TaeKyung finds he can’t stop thinking about her to the point where he imagines her as a pigrabbit.
This isn’t a Photoshop. It was really projected
A running gag thru the whole thing is Jeremy’s dealing with his attraction to MiNam and the gay stylist’s attraction to TaeKyung and then ShinWoo. It escalates to the point where Jeremy yells “I’m GAY!!!!” to a crowd of reporters. The Korean was too much for me, and I’m not really clear what happened next – I think they pass it off as joke or being drunk
Another running gag is that the fan girls are constantly being chased off by the security guard, and, yes the one in the pink wig is a guy (there’s a bit about “are you a guy or a girl?” and the character gets all offended, “I’m a girl!!”) (He was an ANJell backup dancer and in every scene where there were women. Even wore the pink wig during the curtain call (he was in his backup dancer role). I’m not sure why they had a guy pretending to be a girl; but I think he drew the short straw.
TaeKyung & MiNam find out about how evil his Mom is and there is a lot of angst and she runs away. I think he may have told her to go away, but in any case, he is surprised when she doesn’t show up for a performance. But the show must go on so they perform (you can see the hole and how they try to recover from it)
This video is a bit weird. Watch the 2nd 1/2 first (start at 2:45). The order is right in the video, I just think that ANJell’s dance number is more important to the plot.
You can also see parts of it from another angle starting around 3:40 in this video. Promise this is the last time.
The 1st 1/2 is Hye-yi’s girl group dancing around in what appeared to be cut up trash bags. Hye-yi’s was the worst because it looks just like a shredded black trash bag. I was so stunned – I just stared it at in wonder the entire scene – it never even occurred to me that they were singing “I’m lonely, sexy…give me money.” But if I had realized it, I would have thought they would explain the outfits (homeless prostitutes). The outfits were much worse in person. Maybe they looked better from a distance, but I was 2nd row center.
Act 2
I’m much fuzzier on Act 2, mainly because there isn’t video of it to help refresh my memory.
There is basically a manhunt on for MiNam (I think). I’m pretty sure she was in the paper. At one point she goes back to the convent to hide.
TaeKyung’s mom sees the light and apologizes for the way she lived her life.
TaeKyung’s mom gives him a CD.
I think this is the point where we find out that President Ahn knew that she was a girl and also when he and Mgr. Ma sang and danced about Ahn being the king of the world. No vid, but here are a couple pics.
(Ahn isn’t double-headed – I just had a hard time taking the photo of the pages)
Anyway, time goes by and ANJell is performing and in MiNam is sitting in the audience dressed like a girl (complete with hair pin). I’m trying to remember if she performed with them or not – but I just don’t. I’m sorry; i’m not a very good recapper. In any case, they kiss and make up and the lights go down as TaeKyung makes the pig nose. and then everyone comes back for the Curtain call. I really really wish I could remember more of this scene.
(Twice as nice, Jeremy)
There are lots of Curtain calls vids on YouTube of varying quality. This is from one of the last shows. You can find more by searching for “미남이시네요 커튼콜.” I’m not sure why some times all 4 are in their white outfits, and sometimes they are in their colored outfits and MiNam is in a dress.
Songs from the Show
As you can tell, there were a lot of songs in this; after all, it is a full on musical. Unfortunately, my Korean is bad so I can’t read this. But there is more then enough for an OST CD.
I keep hoping there will be an OST CD because this music video actually says OST.
Differences between Musical & Show
No Cordi Wang (at least I don’t recall her).
No Aunt character. (thank goodness)
MiNyu 1st appears as MiNam on stage (for 1 show – ha)
TaeKyung finds out the 1st day.
TaeKyung calls her pigrabbit early – no pig chase scene and I’m not sure why she makes the pig nose. I think it is for the same hide emotions reasons (has to be), but I can’t remember the exact details.
I think AN Jell is more like Big Bang then FT Island. Aka – no instruments just big dance numbers.
AN Jell now has backup dancers; they are minor characters.
A security guard is a minor character (played by the Ahn actor)
No Bus Scene.
No hair pin, but she does wear one (not the one from the drama) when she comes back as a girl
No physical pig rabbit, but he still called her one. (You could buy one at the ticket counter, but I already have one.)
I’m not sure if Jeremy ever finds out.
The gay stylist character from the Japanese version is incorporated. I didn’t think he helped the plot in that version, and I doubt he helped it in the musical version. He was kinda funny when he did Gangnam style tho.
Review
I thought about going back to see it, but that would have been expensive, and I would have been going home late at night (I was at Olympic Park waiting to go to the FT Island concert during the next matinee). Looking back, I wish I would have gone back anyway. I also wished that I had turned my phone on to record the sound. Ok – that was bad of me, but It is hard trying to remember something you’ve seen once. I relied a lot on the videos to help me with this recap, and looking at google images helped as well.
I remember as I was leaving thinking that it seemed like could be translated easily on to the US stage. And that it would be the best way to make a US version of You’re Beautiful because they couldn’t ruin it to badly by turning into the Real World or something.
No, it isn’t a carbon copy of the drama, but you can’t condense 16 hrs into 2 and do that. They kinda tried that with the Japanese version (it was condensed it into 8), and in my opinion it didn’t work. There were lots of stuff in this Musical I could say “that wasn’t in the drama,” (my fav. line when watching movies based on books), but this was a new version & not a carbon copy, they were extremely faithful to the main plot in keeping with the limitations of the stage. I really want to see it again.
Here is a YouTube play list of all the videos above plus a couple others – in order by time in the drama.
Update: I asked (in poor Korean) the poster of the YouTube videos how to get an OST CD. Their response “미남이시네요 OST CD는 없어요 ㅠ-ㅠ” – in case you can’t read Korean, that says there isn’t an OST CD. I’ve very bummed. But my Bribe is still good, because I know they recorded it all the evidence is on YouTube. Come on; you know you want pigrabbit cookies.
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