Drama rec of the day: 9 End 2 Outs

[dangermousie]

I have started watching a delicious Korean drama called 9 End 2 Outs, starring Soo Ae as Hong Nan Hee and Lee Jung Jin as Byun Hyung Tae.

So far I am three eps in and it's wonderful.

Nan Hee and Hyung Tae have been best friends for 30 years, almost since the day they were born. And now they are reassessing their lives as they hit that bit 30-yr mark. Nan Hee is someone who is not viewed as a success by the traditional Korean society: a 30-year old woman, she is not only single but without any sort of a career, working a low-paying, dead-end job and dreaming of becoming a writer. She is a bit of a slob, somewhat hot-tempered, rather an idealist, and totally irresistable. Hyung Tae, OTOH, has taken the 'eligible bachelor' thing much too far. He is a photographer working for a large advertising company and is still trying to cope with the break-up with the love of his life, who walked out on him a few years ago. And by 'cope' I mean 'pick up every easy and not too bright bimbo who will fall for his charm and good looks in a bar.'

Nan Hee and Hyung Tae know almost everything about each other, from big things to small and in some ways that friendship is the most important relationship in their lives (they have been known to let go of significant others who demand that one of them stop seeing the other) but they genuinely do not see each other as a potentially attractive man or woman. They bicker, they help out the other with their tangled love lives, they joke, and they really do not see that they might be perfect for each other. That might change when Hyung Tae lets the broke Nan Hee crash at his place. Or it might lead them to killing each other instead.

I love the drama. I love the pacing, I love the secondaries, and above all, I love the friendship between the leads. I am sure they will end up falling for each other, but I honestly don't care if they never do because I love watching their friendship so much. My favorite scene so far is after Nan Hee broke up with her much younger boyfriend, whom she genuinely loved but with whom she thought she couldn't work it out, she is falling apart and Hyung Tae ends up taking such good care of her. At that point he has not the slightest romantic interest in her. But his best friend is in trouble and he does everything he can and GUUUUH.

Cute MV:

Comments

[melonfusion.livejournal.com]

I just downloaded the first episode of this earlier today! Dramabeans had a post about a possible (please, please let it happen) drama with Joo Ji-Hoon and Yoon Eun-Hye which is supposed to be something in the vein of this. I'm glad that it's actually good! Can't wait to read your meta.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

If that happens I will die of glee.

[meganbmoore.livejournal.com]

I've had this one on my list for ages. Mostly for Soo Ae.

Now to just get back in the mood for dramas.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay! *push*

[timescout.livejournal.com]

So, I should watch this then? ;) Only, it sounds exactly like something I'll end up marathoning with aproximately 5 episodes at a pop. XD

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's quite nice. It's low key so I am not going rabid but it's grown up and nuanced.

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

hmm, hmm, it sounds refreshingly non-romantically angsty(so far of course).

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It is like that.

[animeshon.livejournal.com]

Ooo - looks very cute *adds to "To Watch" list*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It is!

[kittykatz.livejournal.com]

Ooh this looks interesting, I have to see if I can pick this up.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Yay!

[zsuness.livejournal.com]

It stays wonderful and all kinds of amazing throughout the whole dorama. I loved it a lot.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I also love how there are not villains and I love the 'alternate' relationships the couple has...

[zsuness.livejournal.com]

Yeah, me too. I like how even the "supporting relationships", you know the ones that won't last cause it's obvious from the start where this drama heads to. ;p So there side relationships are well written and believable, as well. The friendship between the two lead characters is awesome.

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

It's so awesome I actually won't mind if it stays as friendship (though I know it won't).

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

Sounds preciously cute! Keep us posted as you watch!

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I will :)

[ladysaotome.livejournal.com]

I just founf an awesome mv for this & thought of you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_xeDtcaIA8

Also, according to jennyproductions, "The drama was at the ok/boring borderline at first but then it became really good!(1-3 eps great, 4-9 boring as hell, 10-16 awesome). "

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Cute!

I got bored around ep 4 so... :P

I also realized that unlike a lot of people who grumble about kdrama cliches: overuses of angst, amnesia, love triangles, rich/poor otp, sibling etc, that is what I like about kdramas. 9i2o was cute but a bit too low key for me.