Dramas I like: Partner

[alexandral]

Whilst on holidays I decided to promptly post about the Asian dramas or shows I like. There have been quite few Japanese and Korean dramas that I don't see in many posts but which I thought were excellent, interesting and in need of promotion.



This week, I am almost through "Partner", a 16-episode Korean drama set in a law firm. It stars Kim Hyun-joo (last seen as Jun Pyo's older sister from "Boys over flowers") and Lee Dong Wook (last seen in "My Girl").

I like this drama very much. I confess that I often use fast forward button whist watching Korean dramas. Quite often I find that the pace is slow-ish, that there are some unnecessary secondary characters, some weird comic relief scenes and other stuff I can do well without. And this happens even in the best of Korean dramas, even in the majority of my favourites. An average Korean drama is 16-24 hours long and cutting 25% of unnecessary stuff means you can save yourself 4-6 hours of time you are never going to get back otherwise.

"Partner" is in a smaller category of Korean dramas where I don't need to use the fast forward button at all. It's court-room related story arc is interesting and fast moving.It is not really one single arc but 3-4 smaller ones that are connected and flow into the one bigger arc that affects all the main characters personally. The romantic storyline is also wonderful and develops very naturally. The leads have great chemistry together. Their talented lawyer in a tortured bad boy body and compassionate widowed mother (also talented lawyer) combination is lovely.

"Partner" is also a rarity because it doesn't have an "evil secondary girl" character. If I make a list of my most disliked Korean drama stereotypes the "evil secondary girl" will be at the top of the list. I just can't understand why there seems to be such an unfair thing : from time to time Korean dramas have secondary males who are the pillars of altruism but they never have a secondary female who is anything but psychotic stalker. Women can never be altruistic?

And the third rare thing is that "Partner" has a second great pairing alongside the main one. I am not usually a fan of pairings where one side is already married, but for Lee Young Woo and Han Jung Won I must make an exception. They belong together and woe be to Lee Young Woo's evil father who stopped their relationship when they were younger.

Comments

[amandioka.livejournal.com]

He's just too cute for words ^_^ thanks for the pics!

I've been wondering about this drama, hoping someone would talk about it so I could decide to watch it or not. Thanks for reviewing it! Just one question, though... I think I read somewhere that there isn't even a kiss between the main pairing, is it true?

[ambergold.livejournal.com]

woo, Partner! I loved it so, so much, in fact it even made my list of top 10 dramas http://ambergold.livejournal.com/155811.html#cutid1 though I hated the ending. More people should watch it.

[hyperhippot.livejournal.com]

Ah! some Partner love!

I loved the secondary couple, they were so cold and messed up in their own way and so functional together ^_^

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I was thinking of checking this out but it seems to have done the one thing I hate the most - unresolved ending (secondary OTP does not get resolved at all? And main one only hinted at?) I think that would drive me nuts.