Boarding House #24 (2014)

I admit that I started this because the idea of having a bunch of idol-actors living together in a boarding house sounded incredibly amusing to me! The plot sounded kind of interesting but the main appeal for me was definitely the boarding house idea. That being said, I had no idea this was a sitcom when I started it and also had never seen a Korean sitcom before. So, yay for trying new things!

The story was actually really pleasant and fun to watch even though I didn't expect much out of it. Since it's a sitcom, the comedy is very in your face and over the top at times (most of the time) but I found it rather refreshing. I can only take so much of sad and intense dramas before I need a happy break. This drama is perfect for one of those happy breaks because even though some of the characters go through some difficulties, they are usually short-lived. The humor and comedy also keeps things from staying too serious for too long.

What really got me hooked was the characters in this and not just because I already liked some of the actors to begin with. The characters are really exaggerated at times for comedy purposes but the characters in general are actually pretty realistic. I'm not going to dissect all of the characters but their situations are all very relatable and for the most part believable. They're fun, silly, and sometimes dumb but it's all part of their charm! I found the majority of the characters very likeable and thought the actors portrayed their characters well! I honestly don't know how they were able to film most of the scenes without laughing hysterically. I salute them all!

Now, I do understand why someone would want to drop this. A lot of people seem to have a problem with the laugh track that they play during funny or embarrassing moments. I didn't like it at first but I didn't really mind it later on. I guess it just depends on your level of hate for laugh tracks or your ability to not pay attention to it. Also, I do think that you have to have a certain sense of humor in order to completely enjoy this. The story does have its more serious moments but for the most part it is consistently comedic and embarrassing. Yes, embarrassing. So, if you can't handle secondhand embarrassment, you'll most likely be watching quite a few scenes through your fingers. ;)

Overall, super fun, cute, and silly! It provides quite a few good laughs and has some really sweet moments. I recommend that people at least give it a try even if they're not completely sure if they'll like it. To those of you who want to watch it, happy watching! :)

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Though idols brought me to the drama world, I admit that many -if not most- of their acting have proved a total failure. Just because they have a huge fan base, they get all the lead roles and high rates and give the audience hell. So I was not all excited at starting this but I thought trying a 12-episode series an episode per week won't hurt. I'm glad I did.

Though there's nothing extraordinary about the plot, the drama presented serious and deep issues in a comic way while making us feel the depth of them. Paternity, one-night stands, love, gender, friendship, fate, unemployment, plastic surgery, society's expectations, dreams, talents and the pressure of youth are all portrayed in the drama. The nuggets of wisdom at the end of each episode were so loaded but cute. Though I hate didactic messages, I thought they were to the point with no pressure. Being 24 myself, I related to the struggle of the guys.

The last episode was epic. And the last words of Kim Dong Joon were like a soothing breeze to my troubled heart.

The music was awesome here. The way they'd add classic songs to some ridiculous situations was so hilarious.

Kim Sa Eun was a pleasant surprise -I'm a Super Junior fan so I'm pretty biased to my band member's wife-.

Kim Dong Joon's dialect and terrible sense of humour made the drama for me.

For a light break after watching a sageuk or a melo; this drama would present a great solace.

This is the Currently Watching article I wrote after starting it:
http://mydramalist.com/article/2014/11/12/currently-watching-boarding-house-24

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