That Winter the Wind Blows (2013)

That Winter the Wind Blows (2013)

[WARNING: This post isn't spoiler free.]

That Winter the Wind Blows was the comeback drama of the big stars Jo InSung and Song HyeGyo. Though the drama slipped quite a few times, I have to say it's saved graciously by our lead stars. I am not the type to watch heavy dramas, but I didn't hesitate watching this one.

Based on the movie Love Me Not, the drama looked depressing from the start. It's a story of Oh Young (Song Hye-Gyo), a blind young woman looking for her brother, and Oh Soo (Jo In-Sung), the man who pretends to be his brother. Oh Young's brother has the same name as Oh Soo, and they also happen to be friends. While the brother is a good man aspiring to be a chef, Oh Soo is a con-man and a gambler. When Oh Soo is suddenly in debt and his life is at stake, he is forced to pretend to be Oh Young's brother.

We all know what happens next. Suspicions arise but eventually, Oh Young will believe that he's the brother. And despite this, the two will fall madly in love with each other and the audience will have some philosophical crisis because yes they're not real siblings but it still feels so incestuous!!!  I love this show.

I have seen the movie years and years and I gladly have forgotten most it. I watched That Winter almost spoiler free, and yes, I instantly fell madly in love with the show, the way the pseudo-siblings did with each other. But you see, I feel like I fell too fast, because it truly has the ability to pull you in and the only thing you could do is follow. With such a gorgeous cinematography with the most amazing lighting in a Korean drama, That Winter is just so beautifully shot. I sometimes feel like I'm watching a movie. 

BTS from High Cut (also known as my favorite photo shoot ever)

The first few episodes offered a pretty tight writing with some of the most suspenseful and intense episodes I've seen in recent dramas. Maybe I haven't watched that many melo, but the episodes are incredibly full of emotions. It's not hard to care for the characters. We have Oh Young who learned how to be strong and tough despite her disability, and in turn, people turn to think that she's an ice queen. Then we have Oh Soo who is orphaned as a baby and grew up just to survive with no reason to live at all. So despite being flawed individuals, it's not hard to love Young and Soo. At the end of every episode, I just want to pull them closer to me and huge them and smell Jo InSung! So basically, at the end of every episode I'm a mess.

The story moved quite fast. I think I prefer this version over the movie for the mere reason that we have a clear understanding of every character, except Secretary Wang, that is. But really, the characters are so fleshed out, and I love how the characters are put to good use.

However, I didn't love this drama through and through. As much as I want to say that it's perfect, the latter half just didn't do it for me. The revelation has so many rough edges and I felt like Young is at the losing end so so so much. As much as I love Oh Soo, I felt for Young. I cannot hate her for wanting to die (spolier!), though I'm not saying that I'd do the same thing.

</3

There are so many questions left unanswered, questions that I feel like wouldn't have been addressed at all if the characters and the plot haven't pointed it out. For example, I didn't really ask why Oh Young's mom left with the brother and left Young. But they raised the question, so I expected an answer and got none. Another one, I didn't think for a moment that Secretary Wang is Oh Soo's mother, but there's this  scene in one of the last few episodes that they implied it! And it turns out that she's not. It's frustrating because there are things that I didn't question at all, but they did so I started to ask, too, but they left me hanging. Open endings are fine at times, but not this time.

Whenever people would ask me what happened in the ending of Love Me Not, I didn't know what to answer because I was pretty sure they won't like it. Thankfully, the ending of That Winter is completely different, but somehow, I still don't like it. I'm glad that Oh Soo and Oh Young got their happy ending, but it's really weird how they got there.

I feel like I've been cheated. I really don't like time jumps because I feel like the writers are merely being lazy when they do that. I do not like how the tension is raised near the ending and we're shown new conflict. A part me kind of wished they took a different path, depressing it may be, but at least it takes no shortcut. I do not like how I have to make my own conclusions, to guess what could have transpired for the characters to reach that point.

Good thing the ending is shot really, really well, that I ended up sighing anyway. I do have my complaints but I guess it still didn't change the fact that I want Oh Soo and Oh Young to be happy. They deserve that at least.

This drama is far from perfect, but at least it didn't disappoint. It's my second drama this year, and so far so good. I have yet to hate any drama, but I'm pretty sure this won't be my favorite. But I still love you Jo In-Sung, I love you even more now.

And this remains to be my favorite scene.

Tidbits: That Winter, Tohoshinki's Time, and Other Fangirl Stuff

I've been a bad blogger lately. I've been watching tons of Asian flicks but haven't blogged even one. Not that I've been lazy, it's just that work has been stressful! But I will work on rants and raves about those movies later this week (more like next week, tbh). For the meantime, I decided to start this series in which I talk about the things I'm into. I don't do that much blogging, but I certainly haven't been lazy on the watching part of being a fangirl.

Behind the scenes of That Winter

That Winter the Wind Blows has me captivated. When I started watching this drama, I suddenly shoved Flower Boy Next Door to the side because TWWB is just so compelling. I usually hate spoilers but since I already watched Love Me Not (the movie version of this drama!), I already know what's going to happen in the end. I'm pretty sure my hoping and pining for a happier ending will be futile but I continue to hope and pine anyway.

Jo InSung's first drama after his military service is proving to be a hit in the ratings. It's also the comeback drama of Song HyeGyo and I can say that they made a good choice. The drama has a pretty tight plot, amazing writing, strong cast, and jaw-dropping cinematography. I think KimBum's too strong an actor to play a second lead, though, and I'm definitely not a fan of EunJi here. But overall, this is my favorite 2013 drama so far, not that I've watched a lot.

Also, the last episode I watched (ep. 9!) disappointed me a bit. But it still has my heart and I cannot wait for the next episode.

Tohoshinki's latest album T/ME is amazing! I'm no expert when it comes to music but their album is all I listen to lately. Since I've been a fan of DBSK since their debut, it used to irk me when they promote in Japan more. I wasn't a fan of their earlier Japanese singles. It was only after the split that I had a suddent appreciation for their Japanese songs. And from TONE, I realized that their Japanese albums are really miles better than their Korean ones.

So I had high expectations for T/ME and I'm glad to report that they're well met.

It took me a while to warm up to some songs but after hearing it the third time, I'm hooked! Fated threw me off a bit because it reminded me of Tri-Angle and even O Jung Ban Hap for it's epicness and grandiosity. But after a few more listens, I decided that it's tons better. Somehow, I cannot listen to the album without listening to it first.

My favorite songs are the mid-tempo ones because they make me so darn happy for weird reasons! Aitakute Aitakute Tamaranai has been my LSS for the past couple of days because come on, Aitakute is repeated a million times in the song! But it's really rather catchy. One More Thing is another upbeat happy song that I'd probably listen when I'm down. Some don't like In Our Time saying that it's pretty but boring, but I think just listening to would make you appreciate it more. And I've been listening to it a lot and it's niiiiice. Of the new songs, One and Only One is my favorite, and not just because it's ChangMin's favorite track, too, okay.

But of course, I Know will forever be my favorite ballad of theirs. After they released the PV for the song a couple of months ago, I've been listening to it everyday and I still haven't tired of it. 

Tohoshinki is breaking their own records and making new ones. They're topping the Oricon charts and soon, they'll start their five-dome tour in Japan! I'm so happy with what they've achieved, and I know that they deserve it!

P.S. I cannot wait to get my own copy of the album!

P.P.S. ChangMin is so adorable on King's Brunch! If you haven't seen it yet, watch it here!

Last November, Lee MinHo went to the Philippines as a Bench endorser for some fan meeting and meet and greet. I had a couple of interactions with him and definitely one of the highlights of my 2012! Seeing the amazing Daejang in person is too precious a memory okay!

Recently, Bench  released a DVD of the LMH's visit to country. Though I do not have a copy of the said DVD, someone uploaded a clip online. To my surprise, I was in the video! Though my friends and family are laughing at me for being such a fangirl and getting caught in the act, I am actually quite proud, okay.

Below's my mini appearance. You can see me at 00:53. I'm the smiling girl behind Lee MinHo. It was in the arrival area of NAIA and I have blogged about that little experience over here.

Hohohoho. This reminds me, I haven't written about the Bench Fun Meet and Meet-and-greet! Must work on that soon. Gah, my backlog is killing me.

CNBLUE's Blue Moon Tour poster

It's confirmed that CNBLUE will have a concert in the Philippines on June, and my friends and I have been waiting for the ticket prices to be revealed. All this waiting is killing me because I really have to know how much it'll be so I can start saving! I've seen them perform live last June and I just want to see them again! Though I cannot say that I'm a Boice, I'm a big big big big fan of their music! In the KPOP world, it's safe to say that they're my second bias!

Yes, the exclamation points are necessary because I AM THAT EXCITED!

I will miss you, Prince Shim!

On a sadder note, Moonlight Prince aired their last episode last Tuesday. I am really sad about this because ChangMin's doing so well! It's just a literature variety program isn't something that the general public would like to see, so I'm not surprised with the low ratings.

I've been incredibly happy to see ChangMin doing so well, and I've taken a fancy with the other MCs. I don't find it boring, too! It's just a lot more subdued than other variety shows. /le sigh

But I guess it's all for the better since ChangMin will be busy with their Japan tour this April. But I will definitely miss Prince Shim and the other not-so-young Princes.

Watch his farewell message here.

Wow, this post is longer than planned. I guess I can never keep my comments and rants short! haha. I promise to work on my movie reviews, but it will probably take me a week to post it!

Obviously the best way to end this post x