Angel Eyes (Korean Drama)

With this Drama 'Angel Eyes', once again, the Korean Dramas prove that they can steel our hearts for just being the story of a bunch of genuine and innocent characters.

Credits 

Written by : Yoon Ji Ryun

Director : Park Shin Woo

Characters :

Nam Ji Hyon and Ku Hye Sun as Yoon Su Wan :

Yoon Soo Wan loses her eye sight in an accident as a kid. She is a really bright and intelligent girl who loves astronomy a lot. She is not the ordinary girlie girl, and is strong and like to take care of herself on her own. She is proud too. Also she won't let go of wrong things and wrong people easily, and likes to fight back. Though she can't see, she try to lead a normal life. After she meet Dong Joo, her life gets happier and gets a meaning. After she gets a cornea operation she gets her vision back, but loses Dong Joo. Bust even after 12 years, now the even more naughty and even more wild Soo Wan, still remembers her first love Dong Joo, and keep him in her heart. And she has even taken up job of a fire fighter/emergency service person, following Dong Joo's dream to become one.

Kang Ha Neul and Lee Sang Yoon as Park Dong Ju / Dylan Park:

The son of a firefighter who died while in duty. He is a filial son, and helps his mother a lot and try to earn money for the house. He even is a bright student. He gets a crush on Soo Wan, and his feelings does not change even after knowing she is blind. But Dong Joo gets separated from Soo wan... After 12 years, Park Dong Joo is now a successful surgeon and have a new name Dylan Park.. He comes back to Korean and do find his Soo Wan, but...it's not that easy to pursue her. 

Kim Ji Seok as Kang Ji Woon : Yoon Soo Wan's fiance. He sincerely loves Soo Wan and is a really warm hearted good nartured person. He is not only a successful neurosurgeon, but also the son of the Hospital Chairman, Oh Yeong Ji. 

Kim Yeo Jin as Jung Hwa sshi : Dong Joo's mom. She is a long and caring person. Also a bit naughty and spunky too. The kids just call her by her name 'Jung Hwa sshi' (sshi is added to names as a note of respect) than by 'mom'. She loves Soo Wan as her own daughter too. She passes away in an car accident

Jung Jin Yeong as Yoon Jae Bum : Soo Wan's dad. A really capable doctor and the Hospital's Director. He stars looking after Dong Joo in his guilt, but soon begins to consider Dong Joo as his own son and loves him the same as much he loves his daughter Soo Wan. 

Seungri as Teddy Seo : the US return boy, Teddy, is the new recruit at the Emergency Rescue Center. He speaks with a heavy dialect Korean, despite being from US, and has a soft lovable personality. He falls in love with Dong Joo's sister Jye Joo in fight sight. 

Yoon Ye Joo as Park Hye Joo/ Ellie Park : Dong Joo's little sister. She had cancer as a kid, but recovers from it after surgery. She has a bright personality, and sort of naughty nature. She falls in love with Ki Woo Chan, the teem leader of Emergency Rescue Center, who is way older than her. 

Gong Hyung Jin as Ki Woo Chan : The Team Leader of Emergency Rescue center. He is a widower and has a kid. 

Jung Ji Hoon as Ki Jin Mo : Ki Woo Can's 6 year old son. Jin Mo is not told that his mom is dead, instead, Jin Mo is told that his mom is in America. So Jin Mo stays happy believing that, until one day he finally finds out the truth. Park Hee Joo is Jin Mo's baby sitter. 

Hyun Jyu Ni as Cha Min Soo : Yoon Soo Wan's best friend. She is a police officer. She could be a bit rough and tomboyish, but is really a good friend and caring person. 

Kwon Hae Hyo as Kim Wu Chul : the detective who handled the case of Jung Hwa sshi's hit-and-run death case. He is pretty friendly with his junior Cha Min Soo,And has sort of an interesting character. 

Jung Ae Ri as Oh Young Jin : The chairman of the Hospital, and Ji Woon's mom She is pretty much obsessed over her son and wants him to be the best in everything. This can even put more than needed pressure on Ji Woon. She is close friends with Yoon Jae Bum too. But she does something really terrible for the sake of saving her family. 

Story : 

Yoon Soo Wan looses her mother and her eye sight to an accident as a kid. In the same accident, Dong Joo loses his father, a firefighter, who was trying to save people in that accident. 

When they are teenagers, Dong Joo meets Soo Wan and starts to develop a crush for her. But he can only watch her from far. When he realizes Soo wan is blind his feelings does not change, more like it gets intensified and irreversible. Soo Wan and dong Ju becomes friends and from friends to couples soon. Even Dong Joo's family accepts Soo Wan and loves her. Dong Joo's Mom, Jung Hwa (Jung Hwa sshi from now on), consider Soo Wan as her own daughter. After a few days, Jung Hwa sshi gets in to an accident and passes away, and he final wishes is to donate her eyes to Soo Wan. So Wan doesn't know who is the donor but gets operation and regains her eyesight, but Dong Joo is not with her. Because Dong Joo has to go to America for his sister's operation. He leaves a letter, but that never reach Soo Wan. Because her father hides that. 

Yoon Jae Bum, Su Wan's dad thinks that he had killed Jung Hwa sshi, but actually it was Oh Young Jin who caused the death. Nevertheless Yoon Jae Bum, dipped in his guilt decides to keep Dong Joo and Soo Wan away from each other thinking nothing good will come out if they meet again. But he accidentally runs in to Dong Joo and starts to take care of him, and eventually ends up loving his like a son. 

12 years later Dong Ju returns to Korea, and now he is a successful surgeon named Dylan Park. He had fulfilled Yoon Jae Bum's dream and became a doctor, instead of his original dream to be an Emergency Rescue Officer. But Soo Wan has taken up Dong Ju's dream and has become an Emergency Rescue officer. 

Dong Joo manages to find Soo Wan again, but he see that she now has a boyfriend, Dr. Kang Ji Woon. Disheartened Dong Joo, hesitates to approach Soo Wan, because even Soo Wan can't recognize him Also Yoon Jae Bum request Dong Joo to not pursue Soo Wan as it will be painful for Soo Wan if she ever gets to know that it was Jung Hwa sshi who gave her eyes. Dong Joo also does not want Soo Wan to ever know about that truth. So he stay away from Soo Wan and pretend that he is just Dylan not Dong Joo... That is even while Soo Wan begins to suspect and feel that he is Dong Joo. When she asks him about that, he just bluntly hurts her...

Finally when everything becomes right and Dong Joo and Soo Wan becomes a couple, Dong Joo gets to know that Yoon Jae Bum, whom he used to call as his dad, might have caused his mom's (Jung Hwa sshi's) death. It was okay until just Dong Joo knew it. But Soo Wan who had got a resent shock from knowing the fact that Jung Hwa sshi was her eye doner, comes to know that her dad had caused the death of her beloved second mom, Jung Hwa sshi. This shakes the whole world of Soo Wan. 

Mean while, the person who actually caused the death of Jung Hwa sshi is Oh Young Ji....

Review 

The main point in the drama is the fist two episodes, that is the characters' younger time story. Well there have been many Kdramas which capture our hearts with the younger characters of main leads. Like 'The Moon That Embraces The Sun', 'I Miss You', 'You're All Surrounded', and many more dramas. It's sort of proved to be a fool Proof plan to capture audience in the first few episodes itself. There are instances where we love the younger characters more than their grown up versions. And just because we are totally captivated by those younger characters we will keep watching the drama till the end. 

'Angel Eyes', Follows this pattern ad make us fall in love with younger lead played by Kang Ha Neul, and Nam Ji Hyeon. They just capture us. That innocent 'cho sarang' (first love) is capable to make anyone melt. 

Kang Ha Nuel, is a really good actor and we all are already  his fans because of 'To The Beautiful You', 'Monstar' and 'Heirs', but here we get to see him in a new air. He has done even better than ever. Also the heavy country dialect is so cute. It helps to make the character of Dong Joo more different or charming. I don't know how to explain this, but I feel that country dialect speaking characters are more catchy than those who speak normal Seoul accented Korean. Like they have sort of a unique charm, a care free air...something like that. That's why..Dong Joo just becomes that sort of interesting. If Dong Joo (younger one) spoke soul Korean, wouldn't the whole feel of it be a bit more bland than what it's now?

Nam Ji Hyun's acting is also really good. But what struck me more was she actually resembled Ku Hye Sun so much. Usually younger and older casts in Kdramas need not resemble much. Worst resemblance was Yeo Jin Goo and Kim Soo Hyun in 'Moon That Embraces The Sun', they both look totally different. But we actually can feel Nam Ji Hyun's whole attire being really similar with Ku Hye Sun. It's not that their feature are similar or anything. Just something, that same hair style and something, makes them feel they are one and the same person. 

Not just the younger character's love story that is appealing, just the whole feel of it. The characters in the story feel real. Especially Dong Joo's family. The mom's character is the main point in the drama. She is who just grab our heart and not let go till the end. Because, the mom, Jung Hwa sshi, is so loving, and peppy, and naughty, and cute and again loving, and caring. They type they will consider son's girlfriend as her own daughter. 

And not just that, the way the kids just call mom as, 'Jung Hwa sshi' also makes the whole feel of it in a different level. (It would just not be the same if the kids call her 'mom' instead of 'Jung Hwa sshi, right?)

The closeness and love of the family is not just shown by Jung Hwa sshi and her peppy character. There are scenes where Dong Joo is folding laundry and comments about bad condition of his mom's bras. That shows the closeness of the family. Like how Dong Joo just casually says that Jung Hwa sshi needs new bras as wires are coming out from her usual ones, and he feels bad for his mom, who is working all the time and does not have money to buy her own things. The same Dong Joo is crying with his mom's old worn out bras after her death. It just puts the level of closeness and bond of that family to a really high level. 

While Jung Hwa sshi accepts Soo Wan as her won daughter, Yoon Jae Bum accepts Dong Ju as his own son. Even while he is just trying to get rid of his guilt, Yoon Jae Bum can't help but start to consider Dong Joo as his son and love him. While Jung Hwa sshi even give Soo Wan her eyes out of her love for her. These type of characters sets Korean Dramas in really Higher Level. The situations where they show love is not just bonded by blood. 

Soo Wan is blind in first few episodes. But when we first start watching it's not evident. We are seeing Soo Wan from Dong Joo's perspective, and we just see he a s a young pretty girl, just as Dong Joo see her. But as Dong Joo realize that she is blind, we also realize that she is blind. While Dong Joo is shocked and flustered while watching Soo Wan search for the fallen telescopes on the road, we cod relate with him so much. Also the way he tries out putting a blind fold and walked around just to see how it feels for Soo Wan...The way all these are carefully put in the story brings out the feel so much that we are already captivated. I loved how blind Soo wan's dream is bungee jumping, because it can make her feel alive. And when Dong Joo takes her to Bungee Jumping and tell her things to imagine, she says..."Dong Joo yaa, I can see the wind". At that moment we also can 'see' the wind... 

Now, to the Older cast and present time...

I love both the casts of older leads. Ku Hye Sun was our ever beloved Geum Jan Di (Boys Over Flowers). Who can ever hate Geum Jan Di. Plus Ku Hye Sun is such a great actress. Even the smallest of her expressions convey so much emotions. Or more like she can bring such a verity of emotions to her face, and some might just be a flicker of eye brow or a sniff, but those convey the characters really well. So now Ku Hye Sun is not just Geum Jan Di for me, but is Yoon Soo Wan also. 

I have watched only 'Goddess of Fire' from Lee Sang Yoon's works, and had really liked him in that. Really fell in love with this actor through 'Angel Eyes'. he has a sort of mature air, still sincere, and honest feel to him. Plus those cute dimples gives an innocence also. Too good combination. :-D

These two really did have a good chemistry with each other too. And one thing that is really good in this drama that all the kisses are just in the right places. there is no unnecessary or extra kiss. So things seem real, not 'made up to raise ratings'. For a while after Dong Joo and Soo Wan becomes a couple, they does not kiss. Well, there are hugs and other close things, but no kisses. And it just feels right. you know while watching other dramas we might wait for a kiss, but here, i did not. It felt like, it's not time yet...Coz this is how it should be. And when finally the time came for the kiss, i knew instantly, 'yeah...here there is a need of a kiss...it's the perfect time'. Like that, each and every kiss is in the right place at the right time. So everything goes in one flow... it does not feel made up or fake. It feel right and real. It's like they are not kissing because the script needs kisses for viewer ratings, but just because the characters feel like it. That brings out a huge difference.

(And no, not many Kdramas have that. Almost all feel a bit like for 'drama needs kiss scenes for viewers to like it'.) 

All the small skinships(using the Korean slang here), are actually really sweet and warm kind of. Loved the back hug, where Dong Joo advises medical help to Soo wan to cure a patient in emergency situation, and she comes back to 119 center and just runs and hugs him from behind. Sweet scene... Little things and details like these make the feel of the whole things so deep. That's what I really like Kdramas... These small things like this, just sets them apart.,

By the way, the best point in this drama is not any of this. It's just once character - Teddy Seo. A total 'What The Heck' kind of character. I mean, he is from Texas and speaks English Fluently, but his Korean is with country dialect. Not Just any country dialect, but Chungchong dialect. I am sort of familiar with Gyongsang dialect, because of Reply Series (Reply 1994, Reply 1994), and Song Sam Dong of 'Dream High', or even our younger Dong Ju. But Chungchong dialect is not that common in Kdramas/movies. Well we can find it here and there...Like I think Doo Rii of 'Miss Granny' uses that dialect. but still, it's not that commonly hear and hence a bit unfamiliar to my ears. So the effect of Teddy was freaky. In a good way.

The way Seungri says it too...It's like how the hell does he say that? I tries to repeat his dialogues and sound like him but...oh no. Impossible. (I can actually do Gyongsang dialect pretty well, it's easier, I think). The way the 'yeo' curls at the end of every sentence is just impossible to get right for me.

On top of this totally heavy Chungchong Dialect, Teddy slips to English, really good accent English sometimes. Hats off the writing team who thought of a US return English speaking good looking guy, with such a heavy dialect. Comic. And totally Cool.

Teddy's character is also really notable. He loves his grandmother really a lot. It's his grandmother who had taught him Korean, that's why he has an accent. He even becomes friends with another grandma and treats her same as his own grandma. All those soft sides of him really makes him such a sweet and lovable character. (So I really Would have hated it if Teddy loose Hye Joo in the end. But happy that he did not. :-)

Also...Hats off to Seungri to have brought out character so well to the screen. 

The cute element in this drama is not just Teddy. Hye Joo is petty cute too, a bit annoying sometimes though, still cute. Also...Jin Mo. So cute....Jung Ji Yoon who plays Jim Mo seems to be a promising child actor. He seems to handle even bigger dialogues pretty well. Also, to say again, too cute.... 

Other characters are pretty good too. Especially Detective Cha Min Soo. Really liked a strong female police officer. She is just rash, carefree and manly at the right extend, not too much not too less. She is a nice human being and a good friend and a woman at times, but, still fun, slightly tomboyish, slightly rude, and cool attitude Police officer. Her sort of bumpy and causal friendly relationship with her senior Detective Kim Woo Chul was also such an entertainment to watch. 

Another thing about the drama is that it brings out the role of Emergency Rescue service, and Firefighters to a new light. The 119 center, and it's duties are shown which not only brings out excitement but also make us realize how important their role in each of us's life and how we should be thankful to these bunch of people who has dedicated their life to public service. It makes us take a pause and thank these people who would come to us fast in any need of emergency. 

Another particular thing I like to mention is how they show a section of how it would have been if everything would have gone right at the beginning. How Dong Joo and Soo Wan would have become a couple naturally and dated without any problem and got married without any problem. How Jung Hwa sshi would not be dead and their dad would not be a sinner, and both dad and Jung hwa sshi would have blessed them at the wedding. Those few shots, sort of tends to heel the pain that original situation had caused. They are like sort of temporary relief from the pain. And loved it. To actually see the younger version characters getting a happy ending with them hugging and smiling. It actually brings a sense and happiness to us. Even if those situations are just virtual... that's just enough to give a satisfied feeling. 

Loved...Just Loved the OST. I think the main quality of an OST should be to sink and blend with the scenes really well. It's okay even if they are not that enjoyable while hearing outside in an mp3, but if they does not blend well with the scene, it fails to capture the feel of the drams. (That's where the blockbuster 'The Heirs' failed, according to me. 'The Heirs' Songs were cool to listen to in mp3, but just did not go well along with the scenes in drama, and killed the whole mood of the scenes).

But Angel Eyes OST brings out each scene so well... It lifts up the feel. Some songs might be a bit too slow to enjoy in a mp3 (that is if you are not a person who likes too slow songs), but who cares! They bring out the scenes emotions so much. And that's what matters. I especially liked the main song 'Run To You'. Such a beautiful song.

But over everything, over every above things mentioned, the element that makes Angel Eyes a good Drama is that it has a Fast pace. Things does not get draggy. Misunderstandings and stuff happen, but they gets solved soon enough...secrets get unsolved at right times and does not go on forever...Everything happen at it's right designated time. There is no unnecessary amnesia or any thing. Well, there is the usual separation of couples before the end (That's like a default format in Kdramas...I would really like to see a drama where that does not happen), even then, it does not get draggy and keep things in limit. So we do not get bored from start to end. 

I did not mention anything about Kang Ji Woon or his mom yet. Likes Kang Ji Woon's character...and actually liked the twist in end too... I didn't expect the culprit for hit-and-run case to be the person who it turns out to be. And it's really notable that Dong Joo tells Oh Young Ji, Ji Woon's mom at last that she has done crime towards them (Dong Joo, Soo Wan, Yoon Jae Bum and Jung Hwa sshi), but her worst crime is towards her son Ji Woon, and that she never was the good mom she thought she was. But liked the situation more as Oh Yong Ji tells him that she feels happens now in prison, and he tells her that she had been such a great mom. But on the down side, I really didn't think that the acting of actress Jung Ae Ri playing Oh Young Ji was that good. Seems a bit sub-par. 

Also to mention another negative side of the drama, it felt a bit too similar to 'I miss You'. Not the story, But the concepts... Like in both, leads meet while teens and have their 'cho ssrang' (first love) and all, then get separated. In 'I Miss you', Han Jung Woo and Seo Yeon's mom are like mom-and son even if they are not related by blood. Here Jung Hwas sshi and Soo Wan are like mom and daughter and Soo Wan's dad and Dong Joo are like father and son even if they are not related by blood. In 'I Miss You' Han Jung Woo calls Seo Yeon's mom as 'aayin' (girlfriend) and here all the kids call the mom as 'Jung Hwa sshi'. Note that in both case they don't use the word 'mom'. (The writers do that intentionally, you know, coz calling mom won't bring out the same closeness feel as of calling mom by her name or as girlfriend. It brings out more closeness feel, when they not call 'mom').

In 'I Miss You' Joon was there beside Seo Yeon to prevent her to go to Han Jung Woo, here there is Ji Woon' beside Soo Wan to prevent Dong Joo to go to her. There 'Su Yeon' pretends to be someone else to deceive Jung Woo, here Dong Joo pretends that he is Dylan and not Dong Joo in front of Soo Wan. 

Kind of have a similar sort of feel to both these dramas. Yet they are actually different in many areas too. As 'I Miss You' is a really good and loved drama, this similarity can get a bit evident while watching 'Angel Eyes', but that doesn't tamper anything. And it's not a wrong or and thing to be a bit similar. I honestly don't mind the bit of similarity much. Both are good dramas and hence, it's really acceptable to love both. 

And in over all feel 'Angel Eyes' actually a really good drama. 

My Ratings of this Drama : 10/10

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