Heartstrings ep 1 - romance as a moodpiece

[dangermousie]

Short version - I am obsessed.



I love its freshness, its colors and the way it feels.







I think it's the magic of this particular PD because it is reminding me of Worlds Within with his ability to just give the story the space to breathe, to make the world in it feel so real I can imagine being in it and meeting these people. I don't care whether this story will have a plot and what it will be because I feel as if I am bathing in a cool stream watching this.






(I do think there will be some sort of conflict because her grandfather is fixated on purity of traditional music but I bet PSH will try to go fusion. And seeing he kicked PSH's father over that riff - oy. Not to mention I don't think he'll like her dating a rocker of all things).

I really love both Park Shin Hye and Jung Yong Hwa's characters and their chemistry is as strong as ever. It's kinda ridiculous how good it is.













The angry chemistry in the final scene - whoa!



















I especially love that Gyuwon is lively and optimistic but no overly chirpy dummy but is kind and smart. I have an extra soft spot for her character because she reminds me of myself at that age.




And I like that Shin is more reserved and brusque and odd than any sort of arrogant or jerky or ice-princy.




I am a little confused by his family relationship - the young girl is his sister (and I love that he's really good to her), but where are their parents? That woman we saw is clearly not his mother. I wonder if his parents are typical kdrama parental deadbeats.




One of the biggest sources of fun in this type of story is seeing the cold and disinterested guy become all rabid and madly and helplessly in love with the heroine. Cannot wait because he was being kinda a bastard to her in that 'sulky young dude trying to be cool' way. And then asking her very concernedly, if she was OK, when she tripped.



Ahhh, the fun of adolescence - clearly his brush-off earlier is all part of his put-on armor, not his real self.




By the end of the ep it's clear his rudeness is his defense mechanism to keep people out. (I mean, any normal, well-adjusted person would explain at the end why he didn't show up for the gig - he had the best excuse. But not him because that would be letting someone in).

Though I confess I could go for Shin and his teacher BIG WAY if I didn't find Gyuwon so adorable and her chemistry with him so hot. I kinda wish there was an AU drama about them. Don't judge me, I watched Majo No Jouken in my formative drama years!















I like the secondaries but we barely met them so not much to comment on that front.





I do admit to already adoring the band-member who has a food obsession.



Oh, and did I mention the music? Between this, Buhwal drama, and Mary Stayed Out All Night, I am beginning to get why girls go crazy for musicians. I love the soundtrack with a ridiculous degree of love. For once, a drama cast real musicians as musicians and it shows. I confess I never heard much of C.N.Blue because I usually don't come across stuff unless I hear it in connection with something but if their stuff is anything like this, I am gonna seek it out.







On a random note, when Park Shin Hye jumped on stage to sing with the all-male band, I was getting YAB flashbacks. Only this time, Jung Yong Hwa gets the girl :P



So yes, I am utterly in love. However, I am someone who considers Worlds Within (a drama which had as many people passionately loathing it as it had obsessed adoring fans like me) the pinnacle of kdrama-making. And someone who normally isn't fond of (a) romcoms (b) youth stories (c) idols as stars. So take my rec with a grain of salt - what appeals to me may not necessarily work for you, especially if you are a fan of the proper romcom or youth romance - my tastes in those genres tend to not really align with fandom in general (not that one taste is superior, they are just different).