Secret Garden (KDrama)

 I've recently fallen in complete and total obsession with this drama. That's right, not love, OBSESSION. Between Ha Ji Won's quirkiness and Hyun Bin's straight-out neurotics, I think that this is the drama I've been waiting my whole life for.
This drama apparently boasts a whole 17 genres, including melofantasy (is that even a word?), romance, and comedy. WTF, man? I don't want to spoil it for you guys, but just know, this drama will have you rolling around on the floor, clutching your sides, attracting attention from all those that live with you for HOURS.
And yes, it is just that addicting.
Sadly, I had to figure that out once I was already well into the drama, and there was no going back.
 
Let's at least do a little character introduction.

First and foremost, there's Ha Ji Won's character, Gil Ra Im, which may or not be a homophone of Key Lime, but that's an argument for another time. Perhaps the next post when I vent about the unfairness of the drama gods. ANYWAY. Gil Ra Im is a stuntwoman who also works as a stunt-person-teacher-trainer in a training facility called Action School. She's very tough and tomboyish, not to mention dirt poor. Hyun Bin's character Joo Won obliviously referred to her home as something out of "National Geographic" with the "starving kids" and "flies buzzing around". It wasn't so bad as all that, but hey, I'd probably qualify for National Geographic in Joo Won's mind.
She's an orphan, not much is known about her parents except that her father died recently, while her mother was dead for longer than that. Other than that, she has no other family to speak of, something that shocks Hyun Bin; he'd never heard of someone without family before. What universe did he live on previously?
In the drama, her personality is a little confusing, but gets clearer on out when we get to know her circumstances. For one, when around guys, at least those who she knows, she's very easygoing and boyish. But when around those she respects, she becomes totally meek and humble, constantly apologizing and bowing and chuesonghamnida-ing.


She's also very sarcastic and witty, which I love. I just wish she'd be like that to those who disrespect her, like the director of the drama she stunted in. This fugly director is not to be confused with Philip Lee's character, the totally hot, clueless, lovesick Action School Director Im Jong Soo. I'm not sure what the history is between the two, but a freakin' snail could tell that he has feelings for Ra Im. More on that in later posts, when I get to the recaps.
Unfortunately, the director is not important enough yet for me to devote an entire introduction to. All I will say is that he treats Ra Im like she's his belonging, or at least, he behaves the way an overprotective Oppa would. Although that makes me wonder why on earth he let her do stunt jobs.



Our second lead character, Hyun Bin's Kim Joo Won.

He pretty decently fills the shoes of the clichéd arrogant, rich, spoiled boy, but as most things do with this drama, he comes with a twist. He's completely psycho! Okay, I may be going a bit far.

It's refreshing to see a character who "plays by the rules", yet deviates from them in the wackiest ways possible at the same time. I'm used to rich boy characters like Lee Min Ho's Gu Jun Pyo (Boys over Flowers) and etc. Joo Won managed to fit into that category yet totally make his own category as well.

Joo Won, IMHO has tons of insecurities, one being caused by his first cousin, Sang Hyun's OSKA, whom he has to one up in every little thing. If Oska buys a car, Joo Won has to buy a freaking dealership. If Oska buys an item from a department store, Joo Won has to OWN the department store. Silly little things like that.
Oh, and let's not forget this eensy bitsy detail: Joo Won has an acute case of claustrophobia. This would be cute if hallucinations didn't go along with the crazy package.
Anyway, this brings me to the next character, Yoon Sang Hyun's Oska. Why they didn't just name him Oscar, I don't know.
Now, this guy is interesting. He is, apparently, a famed singer who hit the "Hallyu" star charts, yet taxi drivers don't even recognize him? But he boasts of having a strong fan base in Japan.
He is Joo Won's first cousin (And I'm not even going to begin to get into the family tree because it is beyond confusing), and sometimes stays on Joo Won's ginormous estate while he's not on the run acting like a diva. Which he is, just not the gay kind.
He often has scandals with female actresses, like the woman who Ra Im stunt doubles for, which sets the opening for the first episode.
I will recap the first episode in its entirety as well as sub it in the next few days, so, look out for me!