Triad Princess

The next episode of My Secret Terrius wasn't downloaded and I didn't want to wait, so I thought I'd try a shorter drama (40 minutes an episode) for a shorter exercise session anyway. So I tried out Triad Princess. I'd had it on my list for a while as it looked ridiculously silly but fun and people had been posting how funny it was on Twitter.

I didn't actually realise it was a Chinese one vs. a Korean one until the first line of dialogue as I hadn't paid much attention when I'd seen a clip (without sound). So that was a little surprise, but okay. I've been having better luck with the newer Chinese dramas than old ones.

I knew going in that, somehow, the daughter (Eugenie Liu) of a triad gangster type winds up being a bodyguard of some pop star/Idol/actor type (Jasper Liu). That was about all I knew. I'd thought it might be a good one to watch with the little dude as it looked like a fair amount of physical comedy from the clip I'd seen.

Wouldn't say I know a lot more now after the first episode, though they've thrown in an impending marriage (for the daughter...her dad wants her to marry the son of another triad leader to help consolidate their power) and her trying to exert her independence. And a potential sort-of triangle where there's another actress who is just friends with the male lead (played very cutely so far by Jasper Liu) and their agent is making it look like they are dating, even though they're not.

It looks promisingly funny, but I've given up on the idea of showing it to little dude as there's already bits I'm like....eh....no. Like the fact that all the daughter's previous boyfriends were all cheating scumbags and her latest one is too, and she sends a bunch of henchmen to throw him in the river (though, of course, they accidentally kidnap pop star dude from the hotel instead because the hooker told them the wrong room, though the daughter's got no idea that the pop star she crushes on is the guy she just had nearly drowned). Little dude might be okay with that, but, eh, there's a lot of shows we could watch together that don't have cheaters and hookers, so...

I wouldn't say I'm totally sold on it yet, but I can see it has possibility. Definitely one I want to see a few more episodes of before I decide.

Anyway, looks like an option on days I'm going for a 40 minute workout instead of an hour.

Edit: Ok. Ugh. So. There were just six episodes on Netflix and I thought, oh, maybe it's one of those super short series. Considering the plot, I wouldn't have been surprised. It's kinda light and rushed, like some of the web dramas I've seen. BUT NO. NO. Apparently, this was just a first season. And who knows when a second season will be.

But...it was a first season with only SIX episodes and they're only about 40 minutes each (really more like 30-something when you skip through the credits.

Anyway. I finished the episodes that are out. And...well...I can't say that I love it. I mean, I liked both the leads pretty well. Eugenie Liu had a bit more to do than Jasper Liu -- he's terribly adorable, but they didn't give him too much to work with. And while they had nice chemistry together (ha, and since it's Taiwanese rather than Korean, they did more than some stiff-lipped kissing), I didn't really find the romance all that believable. It was w-a-y too fast. And then, the last two episodes were all about Jasper being a noble idiot. And then they ended on a cliffhanger.

And the introduction of the probable villain for the second season -- Eddie Kim, the fiancé from the other triad gang in Hong Kong she hasn't seen in 10 years that keeps telling her "I only want you to be happy" and is now no longer fat, but fit. But he's not happy about her being in love with another dude. I'm never fond of these storylines. Why would he think he's in love with someone he hasn't seen since he was a little kid and who has made it clear she only thinks of him as a friend? It just doesn't make sense. And her happiness doesn't seem like it's actually on his radar.

And there's the guy holding the other actress' son hostage. He just WILL NOT DIE. Go away already, you over-actor.

Anyway, I'm not gonna rehash it all. It doesn't make a lot of sense and when the second season comes out, I probably won't be watching it, even if I did like the leads. I'm not sure if it should take itself more serious or go the opposite direction, but it's trying to balance somewhere in the middle and it just wasn't really working for me. I will keep an eye out on for the actors though. They just need a better story.

Bonus, though, for having a whole sub-plot about one of her henchman dudes and her best guy friend having a romance. I was actually rooting for them.

My Secret Terrius

Since I finally finished When the Camellia Blooms, I started My Secret Terrius (which finally popped up on Netflix!!) with this morning's exercise session. I'd been waiting for this one for a long time, as it also wasn't available for me on Viki. It's got So Ji-Sub. So, yeah.

So...I didn't know a lot going into this one other than that he's playing his standard stoic kind of dude (i.e. as in all the other things I've seen him in) and he winds up nannying some kids. So, hijinks.

After the first episode, I know that he's some kind of a secret agent type with the code name Terrius, though perhaps estranged from where he used to work (?). And the lady is Go Ae-Rin (Jung In-Sun -- who I've just realised is the mom in Welcome to Waikiki) the (very) recently widowed mother of two twins who is nice but a bit scatterbrained and clumsy. The kids are cute but a handful. She and her husband weren't on the best of terms, as there were worries about money, etc. but he didn't seem like a terrible guy. Honestly, they get in an argument in the only scene they have together and I totally see why. It's kinda her fault for not telling him things -- they've got money woes and she'd earlier spent a TON of money at a bakery buying 4 cakes (because her little darlings ruined them...which, come on, those kids are totally old enough to know better) and the husband gets the notice and is all, yo, why'd you buy so much bread??! And she doesn't tell him why, just complains about not being able to spend money on herself. Which I get. But if she doesn't tell him things, of course they're gonna argue. And when he gets home, the house was a complete and total wreck. And I get that having two rambunctious twins is hard BUT also, girl, make them pick up their own damn toys. I can be a little messy sometimes, but holy cow, I'd be mad too if I came home to that. Food everywhere. Toys everywhere.

I'm probably being harsh. But she kinda seems like a crappy mom. Kids don't misbehave that much unless they aren't being well parented. And her response to the argument was to pack a suitcase and leave in the middle of the night to go to her parents...but she manages to drop her wallet and phone and the suitcase was the wrong one...so...anyway, I hope she gets better. I know we're supposed to feel sympathy for her and like her as she's the FL but I was rolling my eyes. Maybe it was because I had my mum hat on. Ha!

Anyway. Plot-wise. Her husband was killed because he witnessed a murder, though she doesn't know that yet, as it was made to look like a heart attack. The murder he witnessed was the one that Terrius was sort of tracking (i.e. he knows that someone dies every time this particular hit man guy appears and the target was a National Security Head). So I see how So Ji-Sub winds up watching her kids now. It's all tied into arms deals and bribery, etc.

So far I'd say I still like So Ji-Sub and will watch it for him. Also Kang Ki-Young is in it, so that's a bonus. I really hope the female lead character improves though. But. Yeah. Totally watching this for So Ji-Sub.

Edit: Okay, I finished this one. Watched it after I got home and used it as my entertainment during my elliptical time. Actually, trying to only watch Kdramas during exercise to 1) give me something to look forward to and 2) to keep me from only watching them...because that's about all my brain feels like doing right now.

Anyway. Overall, it was pretty good. For something that was sort of action-oriented, it did have some bits that dragged. Maybe call it a mom-friendly spy show? Not the me kind of mom, but more average mom? Does that make sense? Probably not.

The female lead did improve and became pretty capable, which was nice. Even the supporting cast all had their role to play (mom squad information network!).  The only real quibble (other than the slow bits) would be that they made some pretty stupid decisions for being super spies (seriously, I knew who the bad guy was from nearly the start) and the romance part was...really, really low key. As in, barely there. I think they shared a nose kiss by the end. That was it. I mean, they were sweet together and maybe if you start off a show with one character's husband being murdered, it may make sense. But it was still disappointingly bland on that front. Their chemistry together was okay.

Did really enjoy So Ji-Sub in this one though. It may actually have been his "nicest" character yet that I've seen. He does the stoic with a heart of gold well. I would recommend it to other people. Kang Ki-Young was fun in this one as well. But he usually is. Out of all the actors I've seen in these shows, he's one that I think would actually be fun to go out to dinner with.

So, am I glad that I watched it? Yes. Would I watch it again? Hm, probably not. The plot was fairly predictable and the romance wasn't scintillating enough to make you want to watch it again. But it would be a decent entry Kdrama for someone just starting out.