City Hunter

City Hunter (SBS, 20 episodes), why didn’t you suck? Not only you didn’t suck but you left me now like a drug addict, desperately looking for a fix. And why did you have to make me see Lee Min Ho in a whole new light? Why make me gaga over an actor who is younger than my youngest cousin? Why? Why? Why?

City Hunter Synopsis: (from DramaWiki)
The story takes place in Seoul, 2011. Lee Yoon Sung is a talented MIT-graduate who works on the international communications team in the Blue House. He plans revenge on five politicians who caused his father's death with his surrogate father Lee Jin Pyo and eventually becomes a "City Hunter."

Cast:
Lee Min Ho as Lee Yoon Sung / John Lee
Park Min Young as Kim Na Na
Lee Joon Hyuk as Kim Young Joo
Kim Sang Joong as Lee Jin Pyo / Steve Lee
Kim Sang Ho as Bae Shik Joong / Bae Man Deok
Hwang Sun Hee as Jin Se Hee

My comments:
I just finished the epilogue of City Hunter 2 days ago and I’m still having a hard time to part with the drama. This drama was epic, period. The first episode already had me hooked and I so wanted to see how Jin Pyo and Yoon Sung will carry their revenge plan. There were some nice twists to the story although I found it a bit too coincidental how the characters were interconnected.

What I liked in this drama is that there was no messy love triangle. At first, I expected to see a love square between Yoon Sung, Na Na, Young Joo and Se Hee. I was so glad that they didn’t go there. Honestly, I loved the first haft more than the second half because I was a bit bothered by how much time they spent on Yoon Sung pushing Na Na away (it was noble, I know) but the epic ending (with 2 deaths of important characters) just killed me and blew me away. The ending apparently created a lot of dissatisfaction among fans. It wasn’t the most sweet sweet ending for the main couple but I thought it was fitting. From all the bloodshed, it was satisfying enough to see both are alive and will be there for each other. The ending left some unanswered questions such as what happened to President Choi years later, who was the one who released Chun Jae Man when he was at the prosecutor office, etc.

There are flaws in this drama. There are moments where you would go: “Really?” “How is that possible?” but I chose to close my eyes on this because it would take away the fun of watching the drama. Also, I know that Lee Min Ho is a handsome guy but putting him in reddish pink tight pants and leopard prints tops and pants is a big no-no for me.

Okay, time for Lee Min Ho gushing. There was a time when I tried to watch Boys Over Flowers but I gave up in episode 5 and I wrote this “Out of F4, only Kim Bum made an impression from what I saw”. I’m aware of his massive fan base but I just didn’t care back then. Okay, I understand now. Despite being with very good veteran actors in this drama, Lee Min Ho owned City Hunter. He was so good as the heroic, righteous, gentle, caring, kickass, wounded, lonely masked hero. When he was wearing the mask as the city hunter, check out his gaze.

I thought that everyone did great in this drama. Kim Sang Joong as the calculating dad with the mind on revenge beyond reasons is fascinating. I wanted him to succeed in his revenge plan but not in this twisted way. Seeing him can sometimes made me shiver. Park Min Young showed improvement but like in Sungkyunkwan Scandal, which I had a hard time buying her dressed as a guy; in City Hunter, I also had a hard time buying her as a bodyguard. I’m happy for Lee Joon Hyuk to have a meaty secondary role in here and his death will remain an unforgettable k-drama moment.

I don’t know when I’ll be able to see another well-made Korean drama like City Hunter. Meanwhile, I must find something (the earlier, the better) to pull me out of this addiction state…

After seeing the ending and then seeing them smiling brightly in this still, it's exceptionally heartbreaking...

* Opening credit of the drama