Classic Kdrama 101: “Love Rain”
Some people are not going to be happy with the inclusion of "Love Rain" in the category of classic kdramas because it's one of those dramas that most people have strong feelings about, one way or another. You either love it or you hate it.
The drama about a true and noble love that goes wrong in one generation-and then affects the love story of the next generation-did not get great ratings in Korea. And yet, quite a few people consider it to be one of their favorite kdramas.
The drama starts out in the 70s when college students Seo In Ha and Kim Yoon Hee, played by kpop idols Jang Geun Suk and Yoona, meet and fall in love. For a variety of reasons, their love does not work out. They go on to live separate lives but never forget each other. This story goes on for about five episodes. Cut to present day Korea when Seo In Joon, a photographer, played by JGS, meets Kim Yoon Hee's daughter Jung Ha Na. The two initially clash, but pretty quickly, at least for kdrama standards, realize they are meant to be together. Meanwhile, Seo In Ha and Kim Yoon Hee meet again. He is divorced, she is widowed and after some reluctance on her part, they decide to date and even marry. They are so happy but they don't know their kids are dating too.
The interesting plot twist in this is that both parents and kids must think about whether to pursue their own once-in-a-lifetime chance at happiness or sacrifice that happiness for the sake of their kids or parents. If the parents marry, the kids become stepbrother and sister. Being stepbrother and sister seems to be more like being actual blood brother and sister in kdramas and thus dating is out of the question.
Here's why you should see it. Jang Geun Suk and Yoona make one of the cutest couples in kdrama. If you like him, you will like this drama. It's one of the best acting jobs he has done. Toward the end, he gets beyond making annoyed/cute faces and you can see what a good actor he could become. Yoona is adorable. The conflict is an interesting one and its difficult to guess how it will end. JGS has an evil kdrama mother that you love to hate.
Here's why you might not like it. The 70s episodes went on for a long time. The story of the parents' romance did not keep pace with the younger romance. If you live anywhere other than Korea or a country with similar taboos against dating stepsiblings, the conflict might seem blown out of proportion.
That said it is worth checking out for the cute couple scenes between JGS and Yoona. Note: You can easily skip to Episode 5 and figure out what happened to the parents by how miserable they are later on. If you have any thoughts on this drama, let us know. Love it or hate it? What do you think?
