Category: Friday Night Drama

This week brought with it the end of KBS’s most recent romantic dramedy, The Prime Minister and I so naturally, I have to recommend it as the drama to marathon this weekend.

I’ve heard some refer to The Prime Minister and I  as the Korean version of The Sound of Music but to me, that’s such a shallow generalization that it doesn’t do either show justice. The Prime Minister and I is the story of a young, gossip rag journalist, Nam Da Jung (YoonA) who finds herself in an absurd scandal with the newly appointed Prime Minister of Korea, Kwon Yool (Lee Beom Soo). To save face and grant the drunken plea of a very distraught Nam Da Jung, Kwon Yool agrees to enter into one of my favorite DramaLand tropes, a contract marriage.

 

While the contract marriage is nothing new in the world of K-dramas, the addition of three children who want nothing to do with a step-mother they know nothing about, is. And here, I suppose is where the comparison of The Prime Minister and I and The Sound of Music makes the most sense, as Da Jung and all of her plucky optimism, works her magic and restores the broken relationships between Kwon Yool and his children, as she simultaneously wins each of their hearts. Yes, I’m happy to say that just as Maria won over the hearts of the Von Trapp family, Da Jung is slowly accepted by the Kwon family and the moments she breaks through each of their tough exteriors is absolutely adorable.

 

Unfortunately, the warm-fuzzies of this show are, in the end, overshadowed by the return of an unexpected character and if you haven’t already watched The Prime Minister and I you may want to stop reading here because I’m about to spoil this big-time for you! If there’s one thing I hate in DramaLand, it’s how often people who were believed to be dead, suddenly come back to life and unfortunately, The Prime Minister and I  falls victim to this overused and exceptionally annoying trope. What bothers me even more is how this person, who thought it best to fake her death and inflict that type of pain on her family, can come “back to life” and suddenly expect to have everything return to normal. But what bothers me, more than anything, is how this particularly selfish and (in my opinion, totally undeserving) individual can get everything she wants while almost everyone around her suffers. Why is it the only person in this drama who doesn’t deserve a happy ending is the only person who gets one? What’s up with that? What’s worse, we as viewers aren’t even given the satisfaction of a half-hearted kiss at the end of it all. Oh no! We’re left with a handshake and a smile. A HANDSHAKE! Seriously? I’d take a thousand horribly unenthusiastic lip smooshes (sorry Heartstrings, I’m still not over your ending “kiss”) over a stinking handshake any day!

 

Personal disappointments aside, I did enjoy The Prime Minister and I. I thought the story moved along at a decent pace, the actors did well in their roles and I was emotionally invested enough by the end to cry through at least half of the final episode (and not because of that stupid handshake). As an added bonus, Yoon Si Yoon plays the second male lead, Kang In Ho, and honestly, he’s was enough to have me coming back every week… I couldn’t help it, Si Yoon is just too adorable! If you’re a sucker for adorable second male leads, contract marriages, adorable children and sappy yet infuriating endings, The Prime Minister and I is the drama for you. Happy marathoning!

 

For those of you who’ve already seen The Prime Minister and I, I’d love to hear what you thought of it. Did you enjoy it? Did you hate it? What was your favorite scene? What did you think of that stupid handshake? As always, I’m more than eager to talk dramas so be sure to leave me a comment below!