I try to approach korean dramas in a do-not-jinx-it-attitude. Almost every kdrama I fall in love with at first sight, I end up hating by the last quarter. To name a few: Que Sera Sera, Hello Miss, Spring Waltz, Goong and the list goes on and on and on. So, this time, I promised myself to hold off my horses and “think negative”. This is gonna suck, this is gonna suck…I chanted. 10 episodes after and counting, I said, the hell with jinxing it…for those of you who’s late in the game, I’m telling you…no, no no… I am commanding you to fire up your bitorrent, get yourself some Coffee Prince episodes and fall in love with kdramas the second time around.
First of all, I hate Yoon Eun Hye with a passion.
(Don’t hate me yet…)
I roll my eyes in disbelief and annoyance when I go to the Goong threads and read how fantastic/cute/great/charismatic/greatestactressevahPERIOD she is. I thought she was overacting/corny/annoying/whiny/mainreasonwhyIhatedGoongEXCLAMATION MARK. You are now probably expecting an “Oh My God, I love her,” since Coffee Prince is currently my fave kdrama, well, I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but I am not a full-pledged convert yet. In truth, there are moments, when I get small attacks of annoyance, but that’s directly more related with her character Eun-Chan – that stage where she hasn’t realize how disturbed Han Kyul is with his masculinity and she still had kept tormenting him. For compensation, let’s just say, her acting has improved immensely since Goong and Vineyard Man. I close my eyes and I could easily imagine that her voice is a boy’s. Her body shape is still slightly feminine though. There’ one scene where her breasts are so noticeable, “Just look her at her chest, you morons…she’s a girl!!! Yoja ya! Can’t you see?!” as if they can hear me through the screen. But other than that, her gait, her voice, her habits are close to boy perfection. She makes a manlier boy than Horikita Maki’s Mizuki and a less irritating boy than Ella’s Rui Xi.
Now, on to our hero Han Kyul (Gong Yoo)… I think he is the main reason this show is so damn good. I would have switched YEH with any other actress, but never, for the life of me, will I have a Han Kyul that is not Gong Yoo. He reminds me of Bi in his Full House days; he doesn’t have Bi’s baby face, but when he acts cute…he is pinch-worthy cute! My favorite favorite favorite scene of him is at the very end of episode 10 when he smiled. You’ll know which smile when you see it. He seems so relieved that finally…yes… finally I can do this. That one small smile almost made me want to cry really LOUD. By episode 12, he will have your hearts in a messy puddle.
The rest of the Coffee Princes
They weren’t love at first sight. In fact, I still have troubles liking the ‘Japanese’ Pancake guy. But the rest, I have grown fond of them. Ha Rim (Kim Dong Wook) – I think he had me since he recited that ‘My Chan’ poem/excerpt in episode 2. Ohhhh, this guy is witty, I said. Hwang Min Yeop (Lee Un) – Like Ha Rim and the rest, I didn’t expect him to be a major character. I thought he’s gonna be a single-episode character after that jjajjang myun Showdown he had with Eun Chan in episode one. He turns out to be the person who will make you ROFL. No Sun Ki (Kim Jae Wook) , the Japanese pancake prince…so that’s why he looked familiar. If you have seen Dal Ja’ Spring, he’s Tae Bong’s she-man friend who owns a clothes shop. Hmmnn…after learning that, I think I like him better now. Last but definitely not least is Mr. Hong (Kim Chang Wan). Damn…he’s the most memorable character, and you know why. I don’t think their coffee shop will get as many customers if they pay a visit to Mr. Hong’s lovely home. Oh my god…unbelievable!
The other side of the love square.
Han Sung (Lee Sun Gyun) and Yoo Ju’s(Chae Jung Ahn) story has taken their fair amount of screen time. Initially, I thought they’re gonna follow the typical subplot romance in a kdrama, but I guessed wrong. I wouldn’t say their story has captivated me completely, because by the time their story was on the peak side, I was already too engrossed of Han Kyul and Eun Chan’s side of story, that I wanted to fast forward every scene that doesn’t have either of them. But you know what, for the first time, I think I wanted these two to make it work and live a happily ever after like our main couple. They are so easy to like. Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think there are no antagonists in this drama, which is so unkdrama-like. I’m not complaining though. Hehe.
Overall (To be Continued)
This drama has started slow, albeit not a bad start. There are a few details that I can pick on, but I don’t feel like picking on it after all that emotional roller-coaster ride I’ve been into. This is definitely better than Soulmate. I know they are not quite the same, but the soundtrack reminds me of Soulmate’s. I love the guitar strums instrumental and some of the English songs. I am currently watching another Korean drama, 9 End 2 Outs, which I think is also fantastic. Unlike Coffee Prince, it grabs you from the very first episode. I hope it doesn’t turn out to be a disappointment like the dramas I’ve mentioned above. I would rather see a drama that has a slow start and gets stronger along the way. Anyway, I’ll end this post when I finished watching the rest of the episodes.
i really like the start of this drama
and unlike you ~ i wasn’t scare of “jinxing” it hahah
(tho the dramas that you listed that you ended up hating, i agreed also =.,=’; i dled goong all 20ish esp hq version and watched halfway than skipped to the last esp and deleted the drama)
but i stopped watching it after esp 6
the story was still cute but the thing i hate about korean dramas are how long they are dragged out. the guy obviously begins to have feelings and realize it but nothing happen for another 6-7 esp
with this, i got bored of the drama
maybe i’ll finish it when i have nothing better to do
Gosh..
I mean what a well written review.
I’m basically nit a Korean drama maniac. I will watch what is good and worth to watch. Read all the reviews of Coffee Prince drama’s and the unexpectedly high-rating have make me anticipated to watch it. Unlike you, i really impressed with Goong. Not because personally I love their acting. But the storyline, even tough it seems dragging and predictable but there still something original on the story and the whole cast build a strong character and storyline as well as memorable moments in my mind. I haven’t watch Korean Drama a long time as I could remember. But after Goong appeared in tv screen I got hooked up. I mean, there is something there. The storyline; The veteran character was amazing and the SCRIPT was so beautifully written. I love writing and literature subjects therefore I love the script. It was the element that make me impressed with Goong. Of course in every thing in this world have the weaknesess after it finished. As an Arabic quote has asserted. ” In everything that has been completed the weaknesses will be appeared.” It just how the artistic thing work. At some moment of course YUE character come sort of annoying in some ways. But i can’t resist that Goong is one of my favorite drama as a whole. JJH sure can act. Although he can improve more. Goong sure is a good drama in my humbe opinion not based on the main character but as a whole the storyline etc.
Back to the Coffee Prince story, the scenes, the take pf the scene was unbelievingly stunning not to mention the music is awesome. But I have got like irritated feeling on the very lame reason why Eun Hee(same as you). I mean what on earth!!! That is very3x lame reason for not to tell him you are actually a girl. Can’t you tell the serousnnees between the line he said that ” I like you better if you are a guy if you are a girl you will dragging beside me” and the depression on him on how to deal the feeling by make her as his dongsang.
Of course Eun Hee personality is like a man. But can’t you tell from the beginning on how she always crying like a girl and easily get sensitive like a girl and how they developed the feeling and relationship between them because SHE ACTED AND RESPONDED TO HIM LIKE A GIRL!
How she aren’t matured on handling the love issues. To differentiate the priorities and the seriousness of an issues.
But that how is thins work in a drama and manga. Coffee prince is not my favorite. But the storyline sure is very different from other’s drama. But on how thins work between them is not something I like. The maturity on the storyline ( YUE) side.
Btw: God has created woman different from man obviously in between the throat. If make a transsexual surgery also the thing between your throat can’t be gone.
anastassia: You are right, madame…why the heck did they not notice that she doesn’t have an adam’s apple huh?
Yay, another Goong hater, well I mentioned this on your other topic, but I must really bash on Goong again. That drama made me not like Yoon Eun Hye much because of her acting, which was totally lacking. But Coffee Prince definitely has made me a fan of her again. I love the flow of the story and unlike you, the first episode already captured me because Yoon Eun Hye acted like a boy really well. I mean dang, she cut her hair, talks and walks like a boy and all the mannerisms in between. I was impressed by her improvement in acting.
And yes my other favorite characters are Han Kyul,Ha Rim and Min Yeop. Han Kyul is too cute especially with that smile. Ha Rim for his sarcasticness (is that even a word?) and Min Yeop for his foolishness, and overprotectiveness for Eun Chan’s sister.
Overall, Coffee Prince totally deserves high ratings, popularity and a giant plaque that’s in leaque with Full House, My Girl and My Name is Kim Sam Soon.
To bash on Goong again, as mentioned by anastassia’s comments above.
If you liked the script for Goong, read the manhwa!! If the storyline is the only reason why you liked the drama, then that’s not proof enough that it’s a good drama because it was taken from a manga. Then again, it’s not like the manhwa is the best storyline out there since I’ve read better ones.
Ok, I’ll stop Goong hate comments now.
Still I haven’t finished watch Coffee Prince yet. Therefore my comments above goes until episode 10 and the review i have read until episode 14-13. Undoubtedly I have so much to praise YUE. I really salute her and her performance. She really grow with the character. I have to say she is a great actor and I respected her.
I will watch the episode 10 till the end when I finished watch a few Japanese drama’s. I can’t agreed with you anymore rather than yes this drama deserved to be praise and high-rating.
About Goong. Whatever.:) Not that I care much. I didn’t watch Korean drama so much. Nor did I read manga so much. My Girl, Full House I just watched only one, two episode. Kim Sam Soon. Not even an episode.
UNBELIEVABLE! YOU SPOKE MY MIND! WE ABSOLUTELY HAVE THE SAME TASTE IN KDRAMA! I watched QQS, H!Miss, Goong and stopped halfway.. *sorry for the capslock but i just couldn’t believe that we are two different people!!!* I loathed *past tense* YEH with passion that i gave up watching Goong when Goong was first aired..or any film with her in it! There’s something about her that made me go “ugh” I changed my mind after watching CP. I also thought her acting has improved tremendously from Goong. Goong is like FTW… D:
I absolutely agree that YEH’s boy character is a lot more believable than Maki or Ella (Ella pissed me off by the way..) To be honest with you, when i first saw the veoh preview (yes i chanced upon it and decided to watch it), my first impression “is this the first gay korean drama?!…the world has come to an end..” D: I didn’t recognise her!!! Her bobby cut hair makes her look completely different! In Goong she has this annoying hairstyle *__* Everything about her is screaming “i’m a boy” except her slender and petite body.. With Maki, you could still notice how girly she is which is a bit of a turn off..but no matters that show got some cracks to compensate it..
Gong Yoo was one of my favourite actor. His killer dimple!!! He’s a really great actor not just in CP but also in Biscuit Teacher, S Diary… I think i’ve watched most of his kmovies and i like it all 8D But i don’t really like his character in One Fine Day drama but may be i should try watching the 2nd episode.. *shrugs* You got everything spot right about him. He doesn’t has a babyface but his actions are just too adorable!! It’s too bad he’s gone to army. I hope to see him more after he completes his army obligation! I couldn’t think of anyone that could replace Gong Yoo’s character in CP! He is made for this character!!
I love both couples! They are so lovey-dovey, so romantic, so playful! It felt so serene and i feel their joy as well.. I love the music composed by Hansung..and all others! Must find the OST!
Why do you have to say “9 end 2 outs” is fantastic! Now you make me think that we’re separate twins! LOL.. I love that drama. It got me from the 1st episode. Brilliant actings by both main casts. Only that i didn’t finish the last episode because at ep15 i’ve already knew what’s gonna happen. They should have left the kissing part on the last episode and left episode 15 as cliffhanger D:
Right now i have no other drama to watch T___T
Must add this.. To prove we’re twins separated at birth! LOL..
I really adore Ha Rim and Min Yeop.. because Ha Rim was loud and easygoing which really caught my eyes. And he’s funny and lively
Min Yeop i like him because of his insane strength (lol not really) and his pure heart 
And he’s stupid..hehehe.. So he’s all cute like that! I don’t really like that Japanese guy either. May be because he looks like a girl.. I mean i don’t like guys that look girly.. I like manly looking guy like Gong Yoo 
The Japanese guy reminds me of Lee Junki which i don’t like either..
I’m not really a Goong hater, but I do agree that some of the episodes were pretty boring and predictable. I still have to finish the last episode but I don’t know why I keep postponing it. Although I liked the first episodes, and I though it just was going to be eleven or so episodes because for me they could have just ended it there instead of keep draging the story longer, I must say that Goong was kind of a let down.
Planning to watch “Coffee Prince” this weekend, so I’ll just write a comment about it later…
It’s a complete and utter truth about Yoon Eun Hye’s acting in Goong, thank you for bravely saying it. -_-v
Totally agree that she makes a great boy, and I TOTALLY understand your complaint about her breasts sometimes showing up. –I’d get nervous about all the scenes where Han Kyul is rough-housing with her. Doesn’t he feel anything?? One-on-one basketball, catching her when she falls, shielding her from cars, and giving her noogies…???
For a time after episode five I thought he already knew her secret, because there’d been so much touching by then. @_@
errr… bye. Nice article.
One thing just came to mind at the end of the series. I loved it until I think episode 11 and I guess I found the resolution at that point too easy. Okay so he got over dealing with his sexuality and forgave her and her insensitivity worked out and he’s thankful she’s a girl, but by the end of the series all I could think when looking at the entire series was that Kyul loved her more than she loved him. Then I wanted their relationship to reach an ending. If there is a Coffee Princess, she’s going to have to work hard to end up showing me how much she’s devoted to him because I just started feeling she was a bit insensitive since episode 11.
Holy crap! Now I know why I was disgusted with Goong!! You opened my eyes! -birds flying, door opening, ray of blinding lay, symphony of hallelujah- I don’t like that girl. I just think … that she makes her character look bad.
I sincerely, sincerely think that the characters themselves are not the annoying ones, not the obnoxious-ness of the script, not the disagreeable director– IT WAS THE ACTOR/ESS.
I also think Horikita COMPLETELY RUINED Kurosagi for me.
I was …. so indescribably furious that I was so indescribably furious during a Yamashita. DD: I’m not exactly a hardcorexobsessed fan, but I’d like to actually sit through one of his dramas. The whole time, I was chanting “AHGAWDPLZGETOUTOFTHISSCENE” whenever Tsurara came up on the screen.
And back to Coffee Prince.
Yoon Eun Hye killed it.
Her acting KILLED IT.
I pressed the ‘pause’ button in the middle of episode 5, rubbed my temples, and three seconds later, gave it up. I couldn’t do it. She was crying way too much for me, as an outsider, to tolerate. Even the girliest, GUURLIEST boy I know does not break down that much x does girly stuff in about 200 minutes. I don’t know who to be angry at; Gong yoo and anybody else that thinks she’s a boy, or Yoon Eun Hye herself.
And don’t even REMIND me of Ella’s Rui Xi. And I think am going holding a restraining order against Horikita stuff.
But yes.
I am a person who know solely thinks Japanese dramas are the best. 49865927x better than Korean dramas. This gets messy with my Korean friend who tends to want me to share her Kdrama-love, and I’m just like, ugh, hell no. But I can’t say that to her. She refuses to watch Jdoramas because ‘they’re not of her language and she feels uncomfortable.’ Wtf?
I’ve read your ProDai post, and I saw this quote;;
“This is why even if kdramas are entertaining, they are seldom as meaningful as jdramas because they fail to relate their characters with the audience.”
<33
True, true….
(I would understand if you don’t post this. ._.; A lot of bashing here…)
wow… there are a lot of yeh’s haters out there.
I watched Goong for the first episode since i bought the whole friggin series. Turned out I lost interest by the FIRST chapter.
Time went on and heard that coffee prince was good. When i started watching it, by the first ten minutes of the show i knew i was hooked. It never occured to me that Yoon hye was the same person as the one in Goong. I guess that lost first impression helped me to love her in the show.
But i gotta admit. She acted brilliantly here. After a few episodes, i kept thinking that- she’s such a cute good-looking boy-. <3 And i know i’m straight but there’s something about her that attracted me. If only she wasn’t a girl, she would look like a cute boy. LOL
Hands down, this is the best korean drama ever… “plus time between dog and wolf”
In comparison to the other girls disguised as boys, hands down eun is the best. I even imagined Mizuki to look like her (especially in the manga) — don’t you think they acted and look very similiar???
Anyway, the main lead… omg… he is such a good actor. hands down. no one can touch him. he’s invisible.
To put it into perspective, Coffee Prince wins the best Kdrama 07
i also have to include Lee Jun ki’s excellent performance in the action drama Time between Dog and Wolf.
Cheers
(^o^)v
this was a pretty enjoyable drama; out of all those girl-in-boy’s-clothes, i have to agree with you that it’s not bad, and its plot’s pretty well developed… to think, this was also based on a man-hwa… lol.
i never liked yoon eun-hye (from the beginning like her baby-vox days; she is not the best singer… agree?), and i gave up on Goong after the first episode (i read the comic while i was visiting my relatives in korea, so i knew about the drama, but dude… it was so horrible)… but i actually watched a whole lot of coffee prince (which is really bad since i’m not in the position to waste my time so freely)… Gong Yoo is pretty awesome, and his nice body in the first episode, DEFINITELY kept me going… but the plot development is just as good, and i’ve fallen in love with most of the characters (i really don’t like Eun-Chan’s sister… she’s so freakin’ spoiled… -_-;;;)… i’m still in the process of watching the whole thing, but i remember reading a korean blog about coffee prince and its play on the feminine fantasy, like how emotionally honest they are, how no matter what position in society they are, they’re continuously dreaming (the butcher with hopes of becoming a poet, the girl-like mother, singer-aspiring sister, etc.), how cool yoo-ju is in handling her situation with Han Sung and Eun Chan, and even her proposal to Han Sung for marriage (her rationality in comparison to Han Sung’s emotional displays balancing out each other, also a reversal of traditional male/female role), or even the last scene through portrayal of Eun-Chan like a boy, sorta plays on the female erotic fantasy (boy-boy).
if you analyze the drama, you realize, a lot of what women dream about (or known to dream about) are portrayed well within the drama (it probably helps that the director was a woman as well). i think this drama was relatively well tailored for female audience, but because the motif and such were relatively well integrated, it was enjoyable without being painful… like some scenes in hana kimi… lol.
coffee prince is a very good drama. this is the most beautiful drama i have ever seen. hope to see the cast personally. wait for me in Korea…=) good luck to all of you!
yeah i couldnt stand yeh’s acting. i didnt even finish watching goong.haha. but i like her in coffee prince and i like the drama as well. from the kdramas ive seen, cp is the one i really watched til end. hahaha.
Hi – I found your blog tonight and I’m nodding at everything you have said about any drama I have seen – although I haven’t seen Goong – I think I have it bookmarked to dl but oh well. Gong Yoo is very cute – I liked him in hard tack teacher (whatever it’s called) too.
I liked Coffee Prince – and what’s more my husband who doesn’t like dramas at all, completely got addicted to it. We were very worried in the scene when they are playing in the water, it was like a wet t-shirt competition surely!
I loved the chalk wall… I want one of those.
I LOVED this K-drama. This is the 2nd one I watched and I just loved it, I just keep watching it over and over.
I love Gong Yoo’s very expressive facial expressions. You only have to look at his eyes and lips and you know if he’s happy, sad, frustrated, worried, angry, etc. He’s got the most expressive face I’ve seen in an acotr. And his face is so unlike most of the lead Korean actors who look pretty, he has a real manly look.
And the sound track… I just love the music. They’re so fitting and they use a lot of different music.
YEup!!! i think all of u are right!!!!!
coffee prince is charming…eun hye’s acting has developed very well..thou, i don’t like the way her undercover was not uncovered (since there was so many clues–n “touching” of cuz.huahahhaha) but well hey, let’s juz pretend that we didn’t notice it in order to enjoy the whole movie…
Except…for the pancake guy…i love the pancake guy, althou it seems that he didn’t care, but he’d alwaeez given nice advices to those who were in need..which makes him a kinda warm hearted phlegmatic character..well it’s juz my opinion ^^
For: sleeplessinwgtn
Woooowww.. you should watch “Sorry I Love You”…So Ji Seob is definitely a leading actor!!in acting and character..FYI, his face isn’t pretty et al… ^o^ hohoho
I think it’s difficult for some people to understand acting when it’s different from western style, so keep trying or stop it