Secret Garden/시크릿 가든

Secret Garden ended a while ago, but I am finally reviewing it. I just bought the DVD. There are few dramas that I adore enough to get buy: You're Beautiful, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and now Secret Garden. (Iljimae, Hong Gil Dong, and Kimi Wa Petto are still on the waiting list)

I still can't believe Secret Garden is over. I was surprisingly unaffected by it's ending. I think the nice execution of the final episode made the loss easier to bear. I started watching the show to do something while waiting for the new episode of Mary Stayed Out All Night. It ended up being a far greater show.

 The actors were the only thing keeping that show alive

I was pretty much sold when I heard there was a body swap. I love the gimmicky and cliche shows and movies that use cross dressing and body swapping. Secret Garden made this plot device so much better. Body swapping did not rule over the plot it merely pushed the story along and integrated into a neat and touching story.

 A little gimmicky, but well acted scene.

This is also one of the first dramas that I like all the main characters that I am supposed to like. Even though, the lead is the usual rich snob character, he still has the psychological issues and the funny moments that make him lovable.

 Hallucinating about the girl you love isn't normal, right?

The lead girl is one of my favorites of all the dramas I've ever seen. She is up there with Mi Ho from My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. She is tough yet vulnerable. She is totally my ideal type.

 If I was attracted to anyone, she would be it

The second lead male, a Hallyu star, is actually entertaining when not paired with the girl he loves. I am still a bit bitter that he did not end up with the gay singer he admired. I would warn about the spoil but it was pretty obvious from the beginning who he would end up with. I can at least cherish the cute OxTS moments.

 Had to include my favorite scene

The second lead girl who ends up with Oska is supposed to be a victim, but I hate her. I skipped over all the scenes she was in so I may have missed her redeeming quality scene.

 B**** stole Tae Ssun's man

I only mentioned the two main couples, but there are so many more great characters. Because all of them were so fun to watch, I can't comment on them all without sounding to boring and crack pottish.

I also believe that I pay too much attention to the characters in my reviews. The script for this show is really praise-worthy. I really wish I was fluent in Korean to understand the lines as they were meant to be heard because I hear that the dialogues are much stronger in their original form. Even through subtitles, the quality of the writer showed through.

Intense scenes all the time

I also can't forget to mention the photography. There were many lovely shots. They seemed so natural but aesthetically pleasing. The special affects were well used in developing the plot rather than amazing the audience. The end result was almost seamless.

So beautiful

My Review: Five bengal cats. I really love bengal cats and I really love this drama. It is different and fun. I will truely miss it.

Conventional Review: ********* (9/10 stars)
I would give it full marks but Hyun Bin's monotone English haunts me too much to add that last star.