Title: 시크릿 가든 Sikeulit Gadeun
English Title: Secret Garden
Country: South Korea
Language: Korean
Year: 2010
Episodes: 20
Cast:
- 현빈 Hyun Bin
- 하지원 Ha Ji Won
- 윤상현 Yoon Sang Hyun
- 김사랑 Kim Sa Rang
- 이필립 Lee Philip
- 이종석Lee Jong Suk
- 김성오 Kim Sung Oh
- 유인나 Yoo In Na
SYNOPSIS
백지영 Baek Ji Young - 그 여자 Geu Yeoja (That Woman)Kim Joo Won is an arrogant and eccentric CEO of a department store owned by his family. He seems perfect in many ways: handsome, intelligent, educated, and rich.
Joo Won accidentally meets Gil Ra Im, a woman he shouldn't be paying attention to but intrigues him. Joo Won is confused why he keeps thinking about Ra Im, especially since she is far from his ideal.
Ra Im is a poor humble orphan who works as a stuntwoman. She lives in a dilapidated house with her best friend Im Ah Young who works in a department store. Ra Im is exasperated with the attention Joo Won is giving her but they somehow keep meeting each other, usually initiated by Joo Won.
REVIEW
백지영 Baek Ji Young - 그 남자 Geu Namja (That Man)I honestly wasn't very interested in Secret Garden initially because in its promotions, the focus of the drama is the fact that the two lead characters would swap souls. I prefer to watch realistic dramas so the fantastical aspect of Secret Garden threw me off, especially since no explanation is given as to why the two lead characters would swap souls with each other.
현빈 Hyun Bin - 그 남자 Geu Namja (That Man)
I didn't mention the soul-swapping incident in my synopsis because after watching the drama, the soul-swapping incident was not fully explained and it didn't seem to be particularly relevant to the drama so it really did not make any sense. It did provide comedic scenes so I suppose it was, in a certain way, necessary.
The main highlight of Secret Garden for me is the lead character Kim Joo Won, with all his faults and charms. Joo Won is very arrogant but if you list down all his qualities, it seems okay for him to be so (at least to an extent). There's just something about the way he says what he wants to say that's very compelling to me. Joo Won has very high standards and it confuses him why he is attracted to someone who is the complete opposite of his ideal.
By the way, I really hate it when dramas and movies show that people don't end up with their ideal someone and instead fall with someone who is the complete opposite. I don't know; the thought is just disheartening.
I'm really impressed with Hyun Bin's portrayal of Joo Won. I think this is the first production I've seen him in and I'm so impressed with his acting that I'm wondering if I should watch other productions he starred in...
Anyway, the real focus of the drama is the difference in status and temperament of the two lead characters. Initially, Joo Won and Gil Ra Im struggled with accepting each other considering their flaws and shortcomings. Eventually, the conflict is because Joo Won's mother cannot accept Ra Im as her future daughter-in-law. Honestly, I like the fact that the mother was against the marriage until the end; it established her character better and it's a much more realistic take on the situation.
I really like the chemistry between the two lead characters. It's sexier and more adult-like compared to most Korean romantic comedies, which essentially better reflects the age of the characters and the realities.They filmed several bed scenes when Joo Won and Ra Im were already married, and although the scenes were less sexual and more cute, the scenes were really fun to watch.
I also like how the second lead characters have a story all on their own. They did not spend their lives pining after the two lead characters to no avail. It's just really sad to see a person work hard to make someone else love him back even though he knows full well that the love of his life is in love with someone else.
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시크릿 가든 Secret Garden
