Time travel dramas

I've been watching lots of time travel dramas lately. It was like the theme of the year for Korean dramas, there were plenty of such dramas made and I watched them all. Besides these, I've also watched a Japanese and now watching a HK drama on TV, all on time travelling!  :)

Here's my list of recently watched dramas on time travelling:

1. 屋塔房王世子/ Roof Top Prince (Korean)
 
Episodes: 20
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Time-Travel
Casts: Micky Yoochun as Yong Tae Yong / Lee Gak, Han Ji Min as Park Ha / Bu Yong, Jung Yoo Mi as Hong Se Na / Hwa Yong, Lee Tae Sung as Yong Tae Moo, Lee Min Ho (1993) as Song Man Bo, Jung Suk Won as Woo Yong Sul, Choi Woo Shik as Do Chi San
Synopsis:‘Rooftop Prince’ has themes of time-travel.

Joseon era (300 years ago)

Lee Gak (Micky Yoochun) is the Crown Prince. When he is ready to marry, Lee Gak wants to marry a beautiful woman. Bu Yong (Han Ji Min) and Hwa Yong (Jung Yoo Mi) are sisters. Hwa Yong, the older sister wants to marry Crown Prince Lee Gak, but her father makes it clear that younger sister Bu Yong will marry the Crown Prince. Hwa Yong is so upset, she uses an an iron to burn Bu Yong’s face, pretending it was an accident. Now, Bu Yong carries a big scar on her face. Eventually, older sister Hwa Yong marries Crown Prince Lee Gak. Time passes and are now adults. Younger sister Bu Yong is now a smart woman, good with needlework. Older sister Hwa Yong is uneasy that her husband, Crown Prince Lee Gak, and Bu Young get along well. One day, Crown Prince Lee Gak wakes up in the early morning. He finds that Hwa Yong is not next to him. He feels something strange about the situation and calls for an eunuch. At this time, an eunuch comes running to the Crown Prince and informs him that Hwa Yong is found dead in a pond. Lee Gak suspects that his wife’s death is not by accident. He puts together a team to investigate his wife’s death. When the team awaits to interview a witness, a group of assassins appears and chases them. Crown Prince Lee Gak and his men are chased to the edge of a cliff. The group jumps off the cliff. The Prince from the Joseon era travels to the future with his entourage Song Man Bo (Lee Min Ho), Woo Yong Sul (Jung Suk Won) and Do Chi San (Choi Woo Shik).

Seoul 2012

When Park Ha (Han Ji Min) was young, her father remarried and Park Ha gained older step-sister Se Na (Jung Yoo Mi). When their parents left for work, older step-sister Se Na despised having to take care of her younger sister. One day, while younger sister Park Ha sleeps inside a truck, the truck suddenly departs. Even though Se Na sees the truck leaving, she turns around and pretends that it isn’t happening. Time passes, younger sister Park Ha is now living in America. While, Park Ha sells fruits as a sidewalk vendor, Yong Tae Yong (Micky Yoochun) sees her and feels a connection with Park Ha. Yong Tae Moo (Lee Tae Sung) appears in front of Yong Tae Young. They are cousins. The following day, the two men boards a yacht. While the boat is sailing, they have a small fight and Yong Tae Yong falls into the water. His cousin doesn’t attempt to save Yong Tae Yong and actually attempts to hide evidence that he was there. He then jumps into the water and swims away. At this time, younger sister Park Ha receives a phone call that her family has been located in South Korea. Park Ha travels to South Korea and learns that her father has just passed away. At her father’s funeral, Park Ha meets her step-mother and older step-sister Se Na. Park Ha has no memory of how she was separated from her family. Park Ha settles down in Seoul. One night, when she comes back to her rooftop room, she discovers four men, in Korean traditional clothing, sitting in her room…..
Review: This drama was the best of all I've watched last year! I like that the story gels back to the beginning and the mystery at the beginning was resolved. Some of the scenes are really funny! Some of the things get unexplained, e.g. did the aunt and that man get together? What happened to the prince in the end? etc


2. 信义/ Faith@The Great Doctor (Korean)

Episodes: 24
Genre:Romance, Historical, Fantasy, Time-Travel
Casts: Lee Min Ho as Choi Young, Kim Hee Sun as Yoo Eun Soo, Yoo Oh Sung as Ki Cheol, Lee Philip as Jang Bin, Ryu Duk Hwan as King Gong Min, Park Se Young as Princess Nogook
Synopsis: This drama shows the love between a warrior from the Goryeo Period and a female doctor from the present day, their love transcending time and space.
Yoo Eun Soo (Kim Hee Sun) is a 33-year old plastic surgeon in the year 2012. She was originally a general surgeon, but quickly found that it was an overworked, under-paid profession and jumped ship to plastic surgery. Her dream is to someday open her own practice. But one day, Choi Young (Lee Min Ho) kidnaps her and takes her back to the Goryeo era because needing her medical skills. Their love story spans centuries but also warring beliefs. He gave up on love to be an unflinching warrior.
Review: This was boring to me in the beginning but if you can past the first 5 episodes, it gets more and more interesting. Ending was not too bad too.


3. 仁显王后的男人/ Queen Inhyun's Man (Korean)

Episodes: 16
Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Comedy, Time-Travel
Casts: Ji Hyun Woo as Kim Boong Do, Yoo In Na as Choi Hee Jin, Kim Jin Woo as Han Dong Min
Synopsis: A romanctic comedy drama about a classic scholar who arrives 300 years into the modern times (year 2012) from the Chosun (year 1694) through time warp and meets a delinquent actress.
Park Boong Do (Ji Hyun Woo) is a scholar who had supported the reinstatement of Queen In Hyun when Jang Heebin’s schemes resulted in her being deposed and replaced as King Sukjong’s queen consort. He travels 300 years into the future of modern Seoul and meets Choi Hee Jin (Yoo In Na), a no-name actress who is expecting a career renaissance through her role as Queen In Hyun in a TV drama ‘New Jang Heebin’.
Review: The poster first attracted me to watch, then I knew it was shown on TV. It is was very easy to watch. I think I watched it in no time. Love the story and the actor and actresses were good looking too.


4. 仁医/ Time Slip Dr. Jin (Korean)

Episodes: 22
Genre: Fantasy, Period, Medical, Romance, Time-Travel
Casts: Song Seung Hun as Jin Hyuk, Hero JaeJoong @ Kim Jae Joong as Kim Kyung Tak, Lee Bum Soo as Lee Ha Eung, Park Min Young as Hong Young Rae (1860) / Yoo Mi Na (2012)
Synopsis: Jin Hyuk (Song Seung Hun) is a genius neurosurgeon with a cold and severe attitude in his interactions with other people due to his personal pursuit of perfection. Through a mysterious power, Jin Hyuk finds himself transported back to year 1860 (Joseon Dynasty Period). He begins treating people there, but the lack of necessary implements and rudimentary medical knowledge of the period forces him to seek new ways to aid the sick. Through this challenging process, Jin Hyuk eventually becomes a genuine doctor.
Review: Although this is also about a doctor travelling to the past, it's different from "Faith". I find the medical cases mentioned more realistic here. A little different from the usual time travel series but definitely not boring! Nice ending too.


5. プロポーズ大作戦/ Operation Love  (Japanese)

Episodes: 11
Genre: Romance, Time Travel
Casts: Yamashita Tomohisa 岩瀬 健 as Ken Iwase, Nagasawa Masami 吉田 礼 as Rei Yoshida, 多田 哲也 Tetsuya Tada
Synopsis: Ken Iwase is at his friend, Rei Yoshida's marriage ceremony. However, he in fact still loves her and regrets not having confessed his feelings towards her. A fairy lets him travel back in time and try one more time to get Rei's heart.
Review: I like the way this is done. Brought back the memories of watching Japanese movies many years back before the first Korean drama is shown on TV! It also reminded of the student life that I once had. The actress is pretty pretty.


6. 求婚大作战/ Operation Proposal (Korean)

Episodes: 16
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Time-Travel
Casts: Yoo Seung Ho as Kang Baek Ho, Park Eun Bin as Ham Yi Seul (Baek Ho’s first love), Lee Hyun Jin as Kwon Jin Won
Synopsis: The drama has themes of time-travel and is basically about a character who gets to travel back in time to protect his first love.
Kang Baek Ho (Yoo Seung Ho) and Ham Yi Seul (Park Eun Bin) have been best friends since they met first time at the age of 8. They attended the same elementary school, middle school and high school. After they graduated from college and went on to work in different fields, they have remained best friends.
On February 14, 2012, Yi Seul gets married to Jin Won (Lee Hyun Jin), a high school baseball coach Baek Ho played for. During the wedding, Baek Ho is overcome with regret for never expressing his true feelings to Yi Seul, even though he has had 20 years.
Yi Seul’s mother then asks Baek Ho to carry Yi Seul’s stuff to Jin Won’s car. While carrying the boxes, Baek Ho drops a box and discovers a letter. The envelope is addressed to Baek Ho from Yi Seul. Baek Ho slips the envelope into his jacket. After the wedding, Baek Ho walks over to a nearby playground. Baek Ho sits on a swing and begins to read the letter. The letter was written after they graduated from middle school. Yi Seul writes that she felt Baek Ho was a special person from the first time they met and she has liked him since. Baek Ho feels is overcome with his emotions and wails uncontrollably.
A man (Kim Tae Hoon) walks over and hands him a handkerchief. The man introduces himself as a “time coordinator”. He states that he can control time and space. Baek Ho, at first, thinks the guy is nuts, but with just a hand gesture the man makes everyone on the playground freeze. Baek Ho asks the man what he wants from him and the man turns his questions around to ask, “more importantly, what do you want from me?” Baek Ho tells the man that he wants to go back in time to change his present situation.
The next moment, Baek Ho finds himself in his room with the time conductor. The man gives him a small bottle of liquid and then he disappears. Baek Ho looks at some old pictures taken with Ye Seul and notices how sad she looks. He decides that he wants to make her happy. Baek Ho then drinks the liquid …
Review: I knew this was a remake of the 2007 Japanese drama "Operation Love", so I decided to watch the original first. I like the original and find that this was a little too different from the original (the way they travel to the past is different, the school and environment are different), so I skipped it after the first episode.


7. 回到三国/ Three Kingdoms (HK)

Episodes: 25
Genre: Romance, History, Time-travel
Casts: Kenneth Ma as Szema Shun (司馬信), Raymond Lam as Zhuge Liang (諸葛亮), Tavia Yeung as Song-yau (桑柔)
Synopsis: Vincent Szema (Kenneth Ma) is a game addict who goes back to the Three Kingdoms period, and meets many historical figures. He becomes Zhuge Liang's trusted advisor and utilized modern strategies to overcome issues and obstacles. Vincent then as developes feelings for a female servant in the castle of Shu. Vincent was able to maintain contact with his sister through his smart phone and learned that the time warp would take place at the "Battle of Chi Bi."
Review: Not of me to like anything on three kingdoms :P I dislike the ending actually. The ending is something like 巾帼枭雄之义海豪情's ending, the separation is too long!


8. 寻秦记/ A Step Into the Past (HK)


Episodes: 25
Genre: Time Travel
Casts: Louis Koo as Hong Siu-lung, Sonija Kwok as Chun Ching / Kam Ching, Jessica Hsuan as Wu Ting-fong, Raymond Lam as Chiu Poon / Ying Ching
Synopsis: The series tells the story of a 21st century Hong Kong VIPPU officer who travels back in time to the Warring States Period of ancient China.
Review: This was now repeated on TV. Everytime I watched this show, I still like it. It's so cute to find that Raymond Lam was a part of the drama then! He looked so young (at both age and acting) then! I didn't realise that he was in the show biz for so long!


9. 步步惊心/ Startling by Each Step (Chinese)
 
Episodes: 35
Genre: Period, Time Travel
Casts: Cecilia Liu, Nicky Wu, Kevin Cheng
Synopsis: A non-descript white collar worker from the 21st century who under an out-of-body experience, travels back in time after encountering a near-fatal accident. She was stranded in the 18th century Qing Dynasty for nearly 15 years in the body of her previous incarnation.
Review: This is showing or going to be shown on tv channel 8. I heard good reviews about it on tv and so decided to watch it. Interesting, it makes me want to read and find out more about the history of Emperors Kangxi and Yongzhen (and his siblings)! The last time I did that was for a HK drama series starred by Louis Khoo and I became very interested in Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Qin Shi Huang Emperor and his era!


Separately, I've also watched these recently, which were not of the theme time travelling. They were nice too!

10. 工薪族楚汉志/ Salaryman (Korean)
 

Episodes: 22
Genre: melodrama, Comedy
Casts: Lee Bum Soo as Oh Yoo Bang, Jung Ryu Won as Baek Yeo Chi, Jung Gyu Woon as Choi Hang Woo, Hong Soo Hyun as Cha Woo Hee
Synopsis: This drama is based of ‘The Romance of the Three Kingdoms‘ in set dark world of Salaryman workers.
This drama depicts the trial and tribulations of the average salaryman, from humble beginnings to success. This drama portray the salaryman’s loneliness and isolation, struggles, sorrows, hopes and successes in a realistic light.
Review: I like this. It's a comedy and has a good ending. The actor is good too, the laughter is unique and too contagious. :)


11. 阿郎使道传/ Arang and the Magistrate (Korean)

Episodes: 20
Genre: Fantasy, Melodrama, Period, Mystery, Comedy, Romance
Casts: Lee Joon Ki as Kim Eun Oh, Shin Min Ah as Arang / Lee Seo Rim, Yun Woo Jin as Choi Joo Wal
Synopsis: The drama is based on famous folklore.
A nobleman named Kim Eun Oh (Lee Joon Ki) comes to town searching for his mother after hearing a rumor that she is staying at the village of Miryang. He has the special ability to see spirits, but pretends he doesn’t because he gets annoyed when spirits come up to him asking for a favor.
Arang (Shin Min Ah) has lost all her memories when she became a ghost and is unable to rest in peace until she finds out how she ended up dead. However, after appearing to three magistrates, none of them survive the fright of seeing her. When she finds out that Eun oh is able to see her, she begs for his help.
Review: Ghost, Reincarnation, King Hades, Jade Emperor - Do they all sound very chinese? It's quite a nice and light weighted one and a very different one!


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