Playful Kiss: Korean Drama Review

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Playful Kiss (2010) is a Korean drama based on a Japanese manga, Itazura Na Kiss.

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Episodes: 16

Summary

Imaginative high school student Oh Hani (Jung So-Min) decides to confess her feelings of love to the most popular and smartest student in the school, Baek Seungjo (Kim Hyun Joong). He rejects her, but fate brings them together when an earthquake strikes.

Review

I initially watched this drama back in 2012 when Netflix first added it (or I first noticed Korean dramas on Netflix). I didn’t like it too much (from what I can remember). I watched it again last summer; I still didn’t like it. It wasn’t until I watched it a third time in order to write this post did I decided that it was okay. Thanks to Mischievous Kiss (Japanese, 2013), It Started with a Kiss (Taiwan, 2005) and Miss in Kiss (Taiwan, 2016) because if I didn’t watch those versions of the series, I still probably wouldn’t like it. I’m writing this review trying my hardest not to compare it to the other versions.

Characters

  • Baek Seungjo is the smartest and most handsome boy in the school. Despite being lucky in those two areas, he lacks emotional intelligence and is unaware of his own feelings.
  • Oh Hani isn’t very intelligent, but she perseveres, is dedicated, imaginative, and sweet.
  • Despite their differences, Seungjo’s mom, Geum Hui, spends the majority of the series trying to push them together.
  • Boong Joongu is madly in love with Oh Hani and is convinced that they are going to be together. He’s really annoying and you absolutely understand why she doesn’t want to be with him. He does becomes less annoying as the series progress, thank goodness. But he’s still annoying.
  • Mina and Juri are her good friends. They do their best with trying to stay on Hani’s side and support her, despite her being unrealistic about Seungjo.



Story

This story is based on the Japanese manga, Itazura Na Kiss. The drama takes most of its story from the manga.  There are some parts that don’t match up, such as going to the beach. In the manga, they went to the pool instead.

Music

The Music was ok. I do like the song Joongu’s friends play with their awesome alternative instruments. The music is from an indie band name meaning “Bye Bye Sea.”

Best Scenes

Hani gets a Job and tries to hide it.

 

Hani helps the tennis coach with Hera.

 

Dad walks in on Hani (who just got out of the shower) and Seungjo

Gitae and Jungu fighting over Hani and Seungjo comes to take her.




Quotes

“A chicken always clucks, making excuses for everything.”

“Live your life with lots of fun”

“It’s not where we are now but where we are going”-Oliver Wendell James

“Joy is doubled and sadness is halved when shared.”

Questions

  • Why do they yell “Oh Hani” so much?
  • Is it common for close males to hold hands in Korea?
  • What age do Koreans get their driving license?
  • Do dates last all day in Korea?

Afterthoughts/ Recommendations

I’m trying to write this without ruining it for other who may have not seen this drama. This drama isn’t one of the best, but if you asked other Korean drama fans they will say it is. So I will say that this is worth checking out. Only because others love it and you may have a different taste than me. I love the story, but I don’t like this version of it.

Here are some recommendations. If you have seen Playful Kiss and like some aspects of it then you might find something else that you will like below.

  • The other adaptations (if you enjoy the story): It Started with a Kiss, Mischievous Kiss, Miss in Kiss, and Kiss Me.
  • Girls falling for jerks: Full House, Secret Garden
  • Men unaware of their feelings: Secret Garden, Just You, You’re My Destiny (Fated to You)





Drama-to-Life

I like to take things that I see and read and try them out. Here are some things that I will try or learn more about:

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