Upcoming K-dramas in August 2012

As you probably would have guessed I'm eagerly waiting for the upcoming K-drama wave in August. At first, there were only a couple of dramas that caught my attention, but now that I've seen stills and teasers for the other ones I can't help but be excited for a whole bunch of dramas. The question is, however, which of these are really worth the wait. Gonna have to wait and see.

So, let's have a quick look at the most buzzed K-dramas for the upcoming drama season. 
[NOTE: Though the title of the post suggests that I’m only discussing dramas that air in August, I’ve also included Nice Guy in this post. Just because I wanted to.]

Haeundae Lovers

Starts airing: August 13

Short synopsis: Prosecutor Lee (Kim Kang Woo) loses his memory while on the job. He becomes involved with gangsters, thinking he is one of them, and then falls in love with a gangster’s daughter (Jo Yeo Jung).

Thoughts and expectations: Well, the story sounds like it’s going to be a whole lot of fun. I love „fish out of water“ situations and amnesia being used as a comedy device. Not to mention that the main cast – Kim Kang Woo, Joe Yeo Jung, Nam Gyu Ri and Jung Suk Won - looks really attractive. What I can see from the released stills our leads seem to have plenty of chemistry. I like that.

What I expect from Haeundae Lovers is comedic situations and sizzling romance. This is what the show seems to promise us and this is exactly what I want from it.  

Trailer: The teasers are both really lame. It almost looks like they’re advertising a summer resort, rather than a drama series. But considering that these scenes aren't from the drama itself I hope that the actual drama is much better. Much, much better.

Other stills:

                                                                                                                                                                   

Panda and Hedgehog

Starts airing: August 18

Short synopsis: A free-spirited cafe owner (Yoon Seung Ah) whose personality resembles of a calm Panda-bear becomes romantically involved with a hot-tempered patissier chef (Lee Dong Hae of Super Junior) who is nicknamed as a „Hedgehog“.

Thoughts and expectations: This seems to be the typical cutesy K-drama. Initially I wasn’t really interested in it, but as soon as I saw the stills something clicked in my head. I guess I haven’t had enough of those bickering polar-opposite-personalities-mashed-together couples yet. Plus, Donghae is probably my favourite member of Super Junior (out of the members I know and can recognize), though I don’t know much of his acting. And Yoon Seung Ah has been pretty likable in her previous dramas.  

Overall, I don’t expect Panga and Hedgehog to be anything exceptional really. I just want it to be as cute and breezy as it looks on paper. 

Stills and official photos: 

                                                                                                                                                                   

To The Beautiful You

Starts airing: August 15

Short synopsis: Kang Tae Joon (Minho from SHINee) is a gold medalist in the high jump, but he has been mired in a slump due to an injury. In order to help her idol Kang Tae Joon, a girl named Koo Jae-Hee (Sulli from f(x)) disguises herself as a boy and transfers to his all male high school. (via Asianwiki.com)

Thoughts and expectations: I’ve seen the Japanese Hana Kimi (the 2007 version, the 2011 one seemed pointless) so when I first heard about the Korean one I was fairly excited, but then the project started to drag and I lost interest. Yet, now that it’s finally going to air I feel obligated to at least give it a chance. Plus, the photos look pretty cute and the teaser was pretty okay. 

Though, I have to admit, I’m not totally feeling the leads yet. I know little about SHINee and Minho, and I’ve never been a much of a fan of f(x) either so there’s nothing for me to fangirl about either. AND since we’re dealing with two rookie idol-actors as the leads I’m not sure if we can count on their acting abilities. Frankly, I’m more into our second lead characters who are played by Lee Hyun Woo and Kim Ji Won. Too bad that they are only secondary leads.

Trailer and stills:

                                                                                                                                                                  

Faith

Starts airing: August 13

Short synopsis: "Faith" shows the love between a warrior from the Goryeo Period and a female doctor from the present day, their love transcending time and space.

Thoughts and expectations: And here is another time-travel drama. I’ve seen to much of those to be anticipating it, but to its credit, Faith looks pretty epic. The teasers already got me into believing that Faith is going to be one of those better time-travel dramas. There’s action, there’s fantasy, there’s pretty – what else do I need? 
Also, I simply cannot not watch it as it has Lee Min Ho in it. I’m not his biggest fan, but I do like him back from Boys Over Flowers days and seen in everything he’s starred in ever since. But when it comes to our female lead Kim Hee Sun, then I don't know what to think yet. I personally haven’t seen her in anything so far. However, Secret Garden fans can be happy as Philip Lee is among the main cast.

So, what I expect from Faith is beautiful cinematography, cool action choreography, epic romance and a fantasy filled storyline. If I can have all that I am willing to embrace another time-travel drama.
Trailer and stills:

                                                                                                                                                                  

Five Fingers

Starts airing: August 6

Short synopsis: "Five Fingers" is about young people who each have their own tragedies to overcome and achieve their dreams. A pianist (Joo Ji Hoon) has extraordinary talent, but must overcome his family's tragic history. (via Asianwiki.com)

Thoughts and expectations: I can say already that this drama isn’t my cup of tea. Kind of makjang-ish and long (30? 50? episodes long) BUT it is the first project Ji Hoon got for a really long time and it also stars, as the female lead, Ham Eun Jung who is among one of my favourite female K-pop idols. Yet on the downside again, Joo Ji Hoon sports an ugly-fulgy hairstyle that I can’t stand. 

However, since my expectations for Five Fingers are pretty low for now it should be easier for the drama to impress me, right? So, give me all you’ve got, show.
Trailer and official photos:

                                                                                                                                                                   

Arang and the Magistrate

Starts airing: August 15

Short synopsis: Arang/Ah Rang (Shin Min Ah) is a ghost who appears in front of a magistrate (Lee Jun Ki) in order to have him help her in solving the mystery of her death.

Thoughts and expectations: Looks really pretty. All the posters and characters shots are enchantingly beautiful, with special emphasis on the costumes. But aside from the pretty exterior I’m quite interested in the story as well. I like ghost stories and since ghosts seem to be the new it-theme in K-dramaland I think I’ve gotten an early Christmas present. And what makes this even more awesome is that we have comedy also. So this makes Arang and the Magistrate a mystery-fantasy-comedy-romance sageuk drama. That’s a lot of genre’s in a drama, but the more the merrier, right? 

Besides we have super awesome-looking characters, complimented by a great cast. Lee Jin Ki and Shin Min Ah look like a nice and quirky leading couple. Plus we have Han Jeong Su, Yoo Seung Ho, Yeon Woo Jin, Hwang Bo Ra, Kwon Oh Jung and Park Jun Gyu as a colorful bunch of side characters. So yes, Arang and the Magistrate is looking better and better by the day.

Trailer, stills and official photos:

                                                                                                                                                                   

Nice Guy

Starts airing: September 4

Short synopsis: A man (Song Joong Ki) is out to get revenge on his betraying ex-girlfriend (Park Si Yeon) by using a girl who lost her memory (Moon Chae Won).

Thoughts and expectations: Well, every K-drama fan needs a full-on revenge drama once in a while so why not choose a one with a cast you love. 
I can’t imagine Song Joong Ki being a „Nice Guy“ (meaning the bad guy), but I vastly enjoy seeing him on screen every time. He is reunited with his once Running Man co-star and real-life buddy Lee Kwang Soo (Yay!), who will be playing Joong Ki’s character’s chaebol friend. Moon Chae Won, I think, will be made for that naive amnesiac girl, so no complaints here. But it hurts to see Park Si Yeon playing the evil female second lead again. I loved her fun character in Coffee House and it is awfully unfortunate that she is going to be the character I’m supposed to hate. In short: love the cast, may not love the characters. 

So, all in all, the premise of Nice Guy is extremely reminiscent of Bad Guy, but since I didn’t really watch that drama I can give a try to this one. Bring me all your angst and tears, show. Just don’t get too ridiculous.
Pictures from the script reading:

So, which K-dramas are you anticipating the most?