A makjang is an over-the-top drama that is tough to understand or comprehend based on common sense and the moral standards of a normal person. Common characteristics of makjang dramas include absurd birth secrets, twisted relationships, and affairs.

Now, let me preface what I’m about to write with a warning. If I ask for a recommendation for a drama and anyone recommends a makjang, I’m throwing hands.

Also, this may contain spoilers. So, if you want no spoilers, please stop here, finish the series and come back later, also, watch on Viki with the Ultra pass or Kocowa has a 99 cents day pass. It only lasts for 24 hours thugh and no renewable.

I was on MDL once and noticed everyone talking about how excited they were for the Korean drama A Younng Lady and Gentleman. And after reading the description, I’m not going to lie, I got a little happy about it too. Ji Hyun Woo isn’t an actor I was familiar with, but the moment I saw him I couldn’t get over him. He was tall, beautiful and I could see him playing this gentleman.

Then the drama drops and I realized it had 52 episodes. At first, I was over the moon because I thought this was about to be dope. And 2 episodes a week???

BRING. IT. ON!

My soul was ready.

After about ten episodes I changed my mind. There was no reason for this drama to be 52 episodes. They could have done it in 20. 30 tops if you want to be devil’s advocate.

Then they hit you with the amnesia plot and that further exasperated the plotline to the point of nothing. But that happens.

I write romance for a living, I love my men with a backbone, even if they melt for their partner, I want them to know when to give and when to take. When to forgive you and when to light your world on fire. I want them to know when to walk away and when to grab you by the throat and make you suffer.

My issue is, they took Hyun Woo’s character Yong Guk and turn him into this snivelling, coward of an idiot that I just can’t with anymore. This man remembers that he isn’t engaged to the crazy woman Sa Ra. Then she tells him she’s pregnant with his child and I’m thinking “you’re not going to fall for this, right?”

Yup, he falls for it, breaks up with the FL and moves Sa Ra into the mansion. And I’m thinking SIR! WHAT IS THE REASON? Why take her word for it when you KNOW she’s a liar?

And that’s not all, everyone in his life just uses him for everything and when he finds out he makes no one pays for it, it makes no one suffer. His father’s mistress is still living in his house and even after he finds out that she helped Sa Ra pull off the engagement lie, he allow his sister to talk him into letting this woman move back into his house. Every one manipulates him and he just sits there with this look on his face as if there isn’t a damn thought in his head.

The writer wants us to believe this man runs this big corporation but he’s as dumb as a bag of rocks and has no backbone. The writer wants us to believe that such a powerful man would let his children wander around the streets without proper protection, where a random person can just walk up to his youngest and pull out some of his hair. The writer wants us to believe, that such a powerful man would send his child to a school where anyone can just walk in and out with his child without someone noticing for HOURS!

I’d dropped this drama at the second bout of amnesia but picked it up again to prove a point to a friend of mine. We are now at ep 48 and I saw a glimmer of something alpha from the male lead when he took on his adopted son biological after and walked out of a shady wharehouse with the bio father on his knees begging for forgivness and promising never to come around again.

I’m not even going to start with the female lead. This man has broken her heart so many times and she keeps coming back for more. She’s spent the entire 48 episodes so far crying. And I’m sitting here thinking “at what point do you start just shanking people when you find out that they’ve lied to you AGAIN?” I mean “sis, your mother walked out on you then came back and pretended to be your friend to ingratiate herself back into your life and you found out your father knew and DIDN’T tell you. Then you find out he knew she was there to take you back with her to America and didn’t tell you. Then you find out your father guilt your sexy, rich boyfriend into breaking up with you so you would be mad and leave to America with a mother who abandoned you.”

*exhales*

The frustration myself and other viewers feel about this drama knows no bounds. But I’m going to keep watching because mama didn’t raise no quitter.

There are 4 episodes left. I just have to take a deep breath and hope Yong Gugk grows a backbone in this time.

Keep your eyes on the stars,

SusuKhaa