I dream high, I dream when...
Idol drama alert! This is basically a JYP production, featuring Suzy from Miss A, Teacyeon and Wooyoung from 2PM, and T-ara's Eun Jung. But can this group of talented singers pull off a drama?
Oh, and Kim Hyun Joong shows up randomly at the beginning. Wait, he's not JYP...
Plot:
Dream High takes place a special high school for the arts. Go Hye Mi (Suzy) has been trained in opera singing and classical music and wants to go to school overseas, but a twist of fate (aka her dad's debtors wanting to make money off of her when they can't get ahold of the old man) lands her to auditioning to get into Kirin Art High School. But wouldn't you know it, she's missing something...
In any case, her and 5 others land themselves in a special half-admissions class to either find that missing aspect or get the hell out. But here's the catch: because they aren't technically part of the normal school, they can't use rehearsal rooms, dancing studios, or anything really. They also don't go to the same classes. Which makes everyone wonder why there even is a half-admissions class.
Today's lesson is staring at the wall. Looks like you've got the hang of it.
The Acting:
I have to say, even if it is an idol drama, the acting wasn't half bad. Except for Suzy. It's actually be stated several times how emotionless she was during the drama. Though truth be told, she wasn't all that bad; she played the evil bitch at the beginning to a T.
Why are you breathing?
It was fairly obvious later on, though, when her transition into a person with a soul led to her being a bit awkward and choppy.
Taecyeon's acting was fair though, with plenty of sexy dancing and rapping intermixed. Though there is a bit of an awkward love triangle that felt a bit too forced. On the other hand, the other love triangle he's involved with (yes, two triangles, woo! and that's not the end to the romance), actually made me cheer. Why? Because he and the other male lead, Kim Soo Hyun, actually made me question who was going to be accepted by Suzy. Yes, my predictions went from one side, to the other, to being stuck in the middle, to finally saying "screw it, let's just wait and see." The only problems I had with his character is there wasn't enough of a story for him (his side story is kind of short and unembellished).
I'm gonna be a star, high up in the sky...
Speaking of Kim Soo Hyun...
Yes, that is a rice-bag "gangster" jacket. And these two are the same person.
Hands-down the best actor. Which makes sense since he actually is an actor. But what was also shocking is that he has the voice of an angel.
Trust me! Just ignore the croaking at the beginning...
And really, the twist his character goes through in the drama is played out very well. I was actually starting to tear up from it. And the ending...ah...
But enough about the three main actors, the supporting roles are nicely done too. Eun Jung plays a very good villian, though her reasoning for villiany is a bit...twisted...
Horror movies can do that to you...
And now we're to UI's and Wooyoung's characters. The start of the Milky Couple. UI plays a character that's overweight but can sing beautifully. Wooyoung plays a character that doesn't show anything wrong (at first) and gets fully accepted by the school. And while Pil Sook (UI) fangirls over Jason (Wooyoung), she wonders if he's nice to her because he's nice to everyone or if he actually like her.
Bet that's a voodoo doll.
UI's character, though, brings to light how the entertainment industry looks down on those without a model's body. Which I think is good, but is kind of saddening.
And now for Wooyoung. I must say, before this drama I wasn't much of a 2PM fan. But Wooyoung's acting made me smile so much. Maybe it was how he actually spoke in English whenever he spoke, except for direct conversations. Or how cheery he acted all the time. Or maybe it was because he roped me into the drama with random dancing in the alley outside of the school before his audition.
He's staring down a lolipop...
But I must say, for the second half of the drama I kind of found his character annoying. We finally get to see Jason's flaws, from not knowing what love is, to arrogance, to ego, to him wondering if he has a superficial side. Which I guess makes sense. But it is kind of let-down the love knot between Jason and Pil Sook (the first half was just full of "aigoo" moments, the second half not so much...) And the change is, in my opinion, a bit too sudden.
A note on the Milky Couple: there is no couple. Basically while Wooyoung has admited to liking UI, UI doesn't return his feelings. Because of this, some would say UI kind of plays him a bit (there as one event she made him pay for a meal, and so on). Overall, though, the media is the one that thinks they're a couple and push them together as much as possible.
Though it is a cute thought.
Pros:
The OST is amazing. I find myself singing the songs all the time. They're addictive. And they play into the story (shocking). Suzy's "Winter Child," "Dreaming," "Dream High," and several others play into the story while at the same time show the emotions and dreams of the characters. Like a musical, but without all the sing-talking.
I told you he could sing. (I take no cred for vid, found it on youtube)
Also, the unpredictable love triangle I mentioned earlier, definitely refreshing.
As well as the main character being a hate-able character. Now this takes some explaining I believe: In this case, one is supposed to hate the character at the beginning and grow to love her as she improves. This does not mean hate as in "she's weak, she cries too much, this is so sexist" kind of hate, which I kind of like since Korean heroines seem to fall in the pattern of hopeless damsel-in-distress a lot.
The stages and shows are very well done. There are even a few street-performance scenes.
They actually work in some music and dance stuff. From perfect pitch to coordination, to singing out emotions, they really do put up a good show of being an art academy catering to future kpop stars.
Cons:
Sometimes there are times to sing. Sometimes there aren't. In one scene, Suzy singing while doing number two in an outhouse while Soo Hyun is outside so he can't hear. And just to make it even more awkward, the song she picks is a softly sung one.
That's one soft pooping...
Also, after only training about a year, several of the characters find themselves in a super popular and famous group, Group K, from an music agency. Which seems a bit fast, since a lot companies have their trainees train for 2-3 years before debuting. Okay, so there was a competition involved. But then there's their popularity. New bands don't become very famous, usually, for about a year.
What are you, a genie?
Also I have an issue with one of the songs that's sung during the drama, My Valentine, which is supposed to be sung by Taecyeon to show he has more than just a rapper side. Which is a song he doesn't sing alone very well, considering it was originally made for three people (him, Nickhun, and JY Park). And when he does sing it with others, they sing quite a bit of it, leaving the *surprise* rapping part to Taec.
Um... (I take no cred for vid, found it on youtube)
And the ending, which I won't spoil. But let me just say, it was kind of a letdown. Except for Soo Hyun. Watch to see why.
Overall:
The drama's pretty good, about an 8/10. It's entertaining and has some highs and lows. And while it is an idol drama, many of the idols do have a talent for acting. I would say it's worth watching, especially is you want to see another side to the kpop industry or like music and dancing.
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