Classic Kdrama 101: Coffee Prince

To make sure that you don't miss any kdrama goodness, every week we will review one or more classic kdramas that you may have somehow overlooked. Fortunately, it's not too late to catch up and see what everyone is talking about.

Let's start with "Coffee Prince," which is probably in the Top Five of all serious kdrama lovers' lists. Have to admit that I almost didn't watch it because of a rather disgusting over-eating scene in the first episode. I mention this as a warning because it's worth getting through. After that, Coffee Prince quickly became one of my favorites.

The MBS series stars Yoon Eun Hye, as Go Eun Chan, a tomboy pretending to be a boy, Gong Yoo as Choi Han Gyul, the immature heir of a food company, and Lee Sun Gyun as his cousin, a music composer.

Han Gyul is being pressured by his family to go on blind dates, so he hires Eun Chan, who he thinks is a boy, to pretend to be his boyfriend. It's a move designed to scare away any prospective marriage partners. He and Eun Chan become "buddies," and when his family insists he takes over a failing coffee shop, he hires her as one of the waiters. As only men can wait tables at this job and Eun Chan really needs a job, she still can't confess that she's really a girl.

Of course, love complicates things. Love always complicates things in kdrama rom-coms because otherwise there would be no story. Still, without giving away any spoilers, Coffee Prince became one of my top dramas because it contains one of the sweetest declarations of love I have ever encountered watching any kind of television show or film.

It also contains one of my favorite supporting performances by Lee Sun Gyun, as the composer cousin. He is low key and quiet, radiating his sense of calm. All the performances in this drama are excellent. Yoon Eun Hye, one of my A-list kdrama actresses, makes you believe she is a boy, and Gong Yoo is so goofy and yet charming that you want to seriously shake him and then kiss him. Chae Jung An also delivers a convincing performance as Han Yoo Joo, Sun Gyun's wavering girlfriend. There's also an interesting secondary story involving a waffle maker with a fan girl following. He is played by Kim Jae Wook.

It's a sweet feel-good series that I've watched more than once. If you haven't seen it, check it out. If you love it, let us know.