Coffee Prince Ep. 17

I have to admit that the show came to a satisfying and somewhat realistic ending. Unlike many American dramas, the writers did not feel the need to have some big wedding at the end for Han Kyul and Eun Chan. Instead, the viewer is left with knowing that the two characters love each other and they are going to take things one day at a time and in doing so, they will be married soon. Also, another difference is the fact that Eun Chan is able to study abroad in Italy for a couple of years away from Han Kyul and their love remains strong. In American dramas, the woman usually changes her mind about leaving at the last minute and her and her boyfriend remain together. It was refreshing to see that this did not happen in Coffee Prince. American drama writers should seriously consider taking some notes. Perhaps, the only thing that they should not take notes of is the male characters singing over the phone to their female love interests. Those scenes were really cheesy and went on for entirely too long in my opinion.

Another aspect that I like is that most if not all of the main characters ended up with either a significant other or at least a possible love interest. It was good to see Sun Ki finally getting over that older woman he was desperately pursuing with the help of the new female employee who also seems to know how to speak Japanese. The only couple that I did not like at the end is the same one that I have not liked since the beginning of the show. That couple is Min Yeop and Eun Sae. Eun Sae seems like she is still just using Min Yeop, but now, she is using him as a meal ticket. She always seems to depend on others for everything and never cares about the other person's feelings. The writers should have given him another love interest like they did for Sun Ki. Overall, I thought the show was well done and I would recommend it and "My Lovely Sam Soon" to other people who have never seen a Korean drama before.

Coffee Prince-Last 3 episodes

The last three episodes of Coffee Prince shows more about the values and family expectations of one another. It interesting to see Eun Chan and Han Kyul’s relationship grows as the drama comes to an end. I think he is sweet to not object to her going abroad to study barista for this is a good opportunity for her to learn and explore places outside of Korea. By him chosing to wait for her and not objects shows that he really do care for her and love her. The final episode is touching as they both keep their promises. Makes me wonder if it will truly last because not all long distance relationship works, but then again it might. He never visited her but instead they kept in contact through letters. That’s lame but whatever floats their boat. She looks a bit different to me..like she became more feminine in some way. Good to see that the drama has a happy ending with her reuniting with them but doesn’t the dramas usually end in a happy way anyways? I have to say that I only enjoy watching dramas for my own pleasure and knowing that it was a homework assignment..it was kind of time consuming. Either way, I enjoyed watching it and I can see why it is so freakin’ addicting.

Pasta episode 17/18

this weeks episodes were overall very boring in my opinion. I dont even know if I'll be able to write much -_- So Hyun Wook and his pasta chefs return to La Sfera and they get straight back to business. The only one who is happy about the chef's return is of course Yoo Kyung. Hyun Wook makes the ginseng pasta apart of the chef's specialty menu and Yoo Kyung is saddned/annoyed? by the fact that she has to give up her "modified" recipe to another cook. I felt kind of bad at this point because she tried really hard to come up with that recipe (although most of the work was done previously by Hyun Wook) and ultimately she had to share it and teach it someone else. The cooks tested Hyun Wook to see if he can judge both ginseng dishes and he passes. Then it gets boring again . They go on and on about scallops...Oh Sae Young reveals her secrets to a reporter and so everyone knows that she sabotaged Hyun Wooks recipe in Italy, and blah blah blah.

coffee prince EpS 17

It's the final episode! How touching to see that both main characters kept their promise. Hmmm I wonder if she ever did cheat on him with those European boys. It's not like he ever went to visit her. I mean c'mon they only wrote to each other for how many years. But I guess the audience is suppose to believe in their faithful love. It was nice how she surprised him when he was interviewing the other baristas. But dang did she get fuller or what? The change in hair and clothes to me represented a more transnational view of her as well as the more feminine. She was sitting on his lap in public! seriously get a room! j/k. But the ending was very good and exciting to see them reunitig together again and the family approving of their continuing relationship and future marriage. Acceptance in the male side of the family is key. I wonder if there will be a coffee princess, who would be the lead character and how could they portray that if this series already breaks many of the rules of asian tradition. I guess we'll have to wait for the writers to think up something genius. But overall this experience of watchig a drama and analyzing it is very engaging and forcing us to focus on the details rahter than wanting to skip over the boring parts that most of us tend to do or maybe have done. Now I confess I'm now an addict for Korean drama.

Coffee Prince 15, 16, & 17

I will start off by saying how painful it was to watch episodes 15 through 17. These last three episodes meant "the end" and I was not ready to say, "good bye" to the show, but like all things with a beginning, there is an ending. I can honestly say that I have grown attached to these characters and hope the network brings along "Coffee Prince 2" or "Coffee Princess".

Episode 15 and 16 revealed more about family and values. Han Kyul reveals to his family that Eun Chan is in fact a woman and his girlfriend. His family is not accepting of her and his grandmother even refers to her as a "thing". Later on you see Han Kyul's mother meets with Eun Chan and talks about their relationship, and then Han Kyul's grandmother makes a deal with Eun Chan. Grandmother sponsors her studying abroad to become a barista. While Han Kyul objects to the idea, he can't do much, but support Eun Chan and wait for her.

Again, like I have stated in the last blog, Coffee Prince shows a lot of modernity. Episode 17 was a turning point for me as a viewer. Eun Chan and Han Kyul's relationship showed a sort of balance. I don't know if its because Eun Chan looked a lot more feminine than she did in previous episodes, but what ever it is, it showed balanced.

Although I am not at all satisfied with the "final cup", I throughly enjoyed watching "Coffee Prince". Watching the show awakened a lot of ideas and feelings that I have set aside and has me wanting to follow other dramas.

Coffee Prince 13 & 14

Episode 13 revealed a lot about Han Kyul, Eun Chan, Han Sung, and Yoo Joo. First off, Han Kyul's biological father is really his uncle and not the father he grew up with. Second, Yoo Joo reveals to to Han Sung how much more she loves him and that she was afraid that he would just let her go, which is why she ran away. Third, Han Kyul and Eun Chan's relationship blossomed. Eun Chan spends the night at his apartment, they talk about how they can make their relationship work if and when he decides to go back to New York. Aside from the character and story development, the "Princes" at the coffee shop treat Eun Chan like a "Princess" because Han Kyul notices that the guys are taking advantage of Eun Chan.

Episode 14 is where you see the two couples have a "couples" night at Han Sung's house. I thought it was sort of strange that the couples split off; Eun Chan and Han Sung were in one room, while Han Kyul and Yoo Joo were in another, but I guess for the story's sake, it revealed more about the characters. In this episode, the viewers also find out that Yoo Joo is pregnant and that Han Sung and she talk about marriage, but he does not make a formal proposal. Later in the episode, we see Yoo Joo propose marriage to Han Sung. I was blown away by this episode because of the modernity. I was always under the impression that Korea was a conservative country that followed Confucian and Christian values, but to see couples engaging in pre-marital sex and cohabitation, it goes to show that society and/or viewers are more accepting of these "new" practices.

Coffee Prince 15 & 16 & 17 (the last cup)

Can't believe this drama is going to the end. There was a scene YooJoo's mom told her the difficulty in the marriage, which were typical conflicts between the in-laws, but also said it's good to have two people living together as one. In episode 15 Han Chan proposed to YooJoo. At least it was surpring to see Han YooJoo knelt down and told Han Chan her commitment;it was good to see YooJoo and Han Chan finally had a good happy ending. On the other hand, with Han Kuyol's background, it is no wonder their family would oppose the marriage with Eun Chan esecially his grandmother. Once again Han Kuyol talked about the cohabitating with Eun Chan, I am not sure if is a modern concept in Korea, but apparently it is getting common in Taiwan. Couples live togethe to see if they could really fit with each other at the first place.

The marriage issue continued to episode 16, Eun Chan has a modern concept in gender roles. She insisted paying Han Kuyol back the mney with the interest. She also mentioned not only between couples but also this could refer to parents-children relationships as well. She said that each individual should be responsible for themselves. that she wants to support her family with her own hands. I think that was because she worked at a very young age and was used to depend on herself besides others. Han YooJoo, on the other hand, represented the career woman facing conflict between her work and her family. It is hard to say which is the priority came first.

I The twist that the grandma solved the problem interested me; not only helped Eun Chan to pursuit her dream but also gave both of them some time to think twice. Af the beginning Han Kuyol gave up the New York job to stay with Eun Chan, but in the end it was Eun Chan who may go abroad. Either one or the other has to give in so they could grow together. In the las episode audience could tell Eun Chan and Han Kuyol went to the next level of intimacy, but I wonder was it appropriate in Korea? I thought it was still conservative though. By the way the two years passed so fast, I thought there would be scenes shooting in Italy, but the idea of Coffee Princess was adorable!

All in all Coffee Prince is the first drama I watached from the beginning til the end. And it was a good expereience indeed. Of course there were cliche such as the love triangle and the family issues, even the birth secret, but Coffee Prince has brought into a new perspectives. It is a pity that they didn't shoot the weddding ceremonry part, I think it'll be interesting to let Eun Chan disguises as a man in the wedding.