#TBT Review!

Characters:

• Ku Hye Sun as Geum Jan Di
• Lee Min Ho as Gu Jun Pyo
• Kim Hyun Joong as Yoon Ji Hoo
• Kim Bum as So Yi Jeong
• Kim Joon as Song Woo Bin
• Kim So Eun as Chu Ga Eul

Details:

• Korean
• 25 episodes
• Original run: Jan 5, 2009 – March 31, 2009

Quick Rundown:

Geum Jan Di is the ordinary daughter of a laundromat owner. She has neither looks nor money, but she is gifted with a good heart. En route to a delivery she stops a tragic suicide from happening and therefore receives a special scholarship to the school of the rich and famous. She meets the famed F4 and does not back down from the threats of its leader, Gu Jun Pyo. Can these two find a way to reconcile and become friends, or even maybe a bit more?

Estelle’ Take

I still remember my refusal to watch this because I could not get over Lee Minho’s hair. I mean yes the manga character also had curly hair, but man did it look weird in real life. After about 4 years post its original run I finally gave in and decided to give it a try, and boy am I glad I did! There is a reason why this show is so popular, which probably has everything to do with the pretty boys, but I think it is also partially due to people’s perpetual interest in the “inside look” of the lives of the rich and fabulous.

In a world where rich people can do whatever they want, Gu Jun Pyo sits on top of the pyramid with his fur coats, minions ready at his command, and crowds of screaming girls vying for his attention. So what does he do? He terrorizes the entire school and bullies every person he does not like. And of course, as all of these kind of stories go, he meets a girl who challenges him and shows him the errors of his ways. This only works in dramaland though, because Jun Pyo is inherently good and he was just spoiled. In real life, well, he might just remain spoiled forever.

Anyway, this show is not famous because of its compelling story line or superb acting, but because its got a handsome cast. Lee Minho was almost a nobody at that time but man did this series change his life forever! He became a star almost overnight, suddenly the quintessential cold snobby heir that everyone wanted to cast in their … rich snobby shows. I’m glad he didn’t get stuck in that role though and went on to do different genres.

What else is there to say about this show? It’s got a beautiful cast (wait, did I say that already?) and the ultra unrealistic world of the imaginary rich to suck you in so you can wish you lived like them but also wish they would stop being such complete snobs. I mean don’t they get manner lessons? But you secretly also wish some guy can take you on a helicopter to his private island to have parties with some foreign friends (always get a few foreigners. it is apparently the key to a girl’s heart).

Watch it! Hate his hair, but love the show. I promise it won’t disappoint.

This & That:

• Lee Minho also starred in City Hunter, and the similarly themed show The Heirs recently, in which he wore some pretty ugly sweaters.
• Kim Hyun Joong is of boyband SS501, and starred in another manga inspired drama Playful Kiss.
• Kim Bum went on to lead a successful career, starring in That Winter, The Wind Blows, and this year he was in Chinese series V-Love.
• Kim Joon did not have as much luck since his music group T-Max disbanded after the tragic death of its leader. He finished his military service in 2013 and was in Endless Love.