Sleeping your way to riches and revenge - literally

[dangermousie]

Did you ever watch the trashy, cheesy, irresistible trainwreck that was jdrama Jotei, about a woman desiring to get revenge on those who ruined her life by becoming Japan's top hostess? Did you ever think this was crying for a remake?



Well, fear not! Kdramas are here to help you. Enter The Empress, the Korean remake. It's airing on a cable channel (unsurprising, with that topic), is 13 episodes, and is being subbed on viki.

Surprisingly, I am really enjoying it, one episode in. Sure, it's still as trashy as a Jackie Collins novel on uppers, But it's also ridiculously fun. I also find it much better than the jdrama because, in addition to production values being higher (not much of a feat), they have aged the characters to University age. Imagining high schoolers getting involved in these shenanigans caused my suspension of disbelief cringe and run off whimpering, abandoning me for good.

It also helps that the Korean actress, Jang Shin Yeong, is both prettier than Kato Rosa and is a better actress. Mind you, she is not winning the Baeksang any time soon, but Kato Rosa is pretty much the worst drama actress I've seen, so JSY is a glorious winner in this competition.



Also, Shota's character of devoted thug is played by the above sexy sexy bit of manliness.

I adore Matsuda Shota to bits, but there is no question the Kang Ji Sub makes a much more believable thug. I was always worried Shota would collapse in on himself if he as much as attempted to punch someone.

Comments

[missedirony.livejournal.com]

I really want to like this drama, but four episodes in I'm kinda meh about it. I should say that Jotei has a place in my heart for its very Jackie Collins-esque vibe. I love how trashy and cheesy it is. But I really like it because the main character is pissed off and determined to make everyone PAY.

After four episodes the main character in this version is still whining and crying and getting her ass saved by Kang Ji Sub. He is, incidentally, the one thing that is instantly better than Jotei; totally agree with you on Matsuda Shota.

I have hopes that it gets better after episode four and that she finally gets her pissed off revenge on, but I figured I'd wait till more episodes were out and I just haven't gotten back to it.

*fingers crossed*

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

See, I actually like that the heroine is fragile - it seems more relatable to me. This said, I just finished ep 4 and she's ready to kick ass. So yay.

[moraitika1.livejournal.com]

I want to see Shota in Jotei but I can't find the drama... yet.
I saw him in Nagareboshi but story line was a huge miss after the 4th episode... and wth with the open finale for his char? I love the age play that they served me in the synopsis : Main guy 37, she 26, Shota's char 28 and his patient 17 seemingly OTP at first sight and baboom the ending... I wasn't pleased by the last episode: it was made in a hurry just kdrama ending episode. So right now I need a Shota fix, however he doesn't act in movies or dramas I would watch, so even his char meets his demise at the end of the series ... I kinda want to watch

Indeed Kato Rosa isn't Oscar material, and her choices for characters don't help her... it seems to me that she takes projects she can't carry - no matter how cool the synopsis is, girl if it outta range, just don't touch it. I saw her in Koishite Akuma ... while I loved to bits the kid, I found her weird for a teacher..c'mon how hard can it be to play a teacher?

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

Need help with links?

[kainee.livejournal.com]

Yeah I don't know what it is with most Jdrama actors, they're all so anorexic, they're like toothpicks. It's like waif-fu except it's with guys. I don't know why having toothpick like girls being kick ass is somehow more believable than toothpick like guys being kick ass but yeah...

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I know! I don't demand my leading men to be hulking cavemen (that's a bonus) but they have to look at least like they won't snap if a strong wind blows.