People see me as..

If you ask someone who knew me in high school, this is what he/she'd probably say:

"Hmm. Heidy? Yeah I met her in Statefields. Got good grades. She can do some Math and Chem. I think she loves Drafting too. But she did not stand out on any of this. She's just good like the others. She's not really known for anything else. She did not participate in a lot of extra curricular activities so I don't really remember a lot about this girl. And she doesn't keep up with us so I have no idea what's going on about her."

And a college friend would surely have this opinion about me:

"This girl is frank! She's our president and it's a mess when she's angry. She would always say what's on her head and does not care if she'll hurt the person. Always talks before she think that's why she hurts a lot of people with her words. She doesn't have too many friends too. She belongs to a group of friends in our class and another group when she was in the ES and that's it. I think she doesn't know how to mingle and socialize because she'd always look awkward with new people around her."

I think this is what people think of me. Because this is really how I assess my interaction with other people.

RARE MOMENTS NEED TO BE DOCUMENTED

ROTW: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (Round Up)

Title: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho 

Year: 2010

Category: TV Series (Korean)

Rating:  Pure Awesome Sauce!

For a little bit overview click click click. 

I never had high expectations when I started watching this drama. I did not even have any biases for the actors involved. I have seen Lee Seung Gi in Shining Inheritance, and the girl from Rain's drama. But they weren't the reason why I watched it. I was just looking for a good romcom to watch after the exams so I tried the first two episodes. And right after the credits was shown, I was already sure that I will follow this show. No. Matter. What. School stuffs on Saturday nights, move over. 

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho has the freshness I am looking for. It has a mythology to back up its plot so you'd really expect some fantasy. But even the fantasy part was inserted just right. Not over-the-top. Not a "WTF IS THAT" that you'd usually say to overboard fantasy stories. Just right for its story.

It's unconventional characters also added up to the freshness. Usually, the lead guys are cold, reserved, mysterious and handsome. Perfect men who'll never exist in this world. While lead girls are weak yet optimistic, bright and exactly the opposite of the guy but for a reason the writer only knows, they fall in love. But again, Gumiho is an exception. Our hero is a wimpy dude who's so immature and weak that he's even scared of ghosts and his grandfather. Our girl is a bright one too, however unlike others, she's not a damsel-in-distress to be saved. She's got her childlike innocence but with a scary spunk. She's strong, physically and emotionally. What our fox wants, our fox gets.

And I totally dig that. I don't actually hate it when the man pursues the lady and they keep their feelings to each other for three episodes or so. But isn't it getting old? It's kinda tiring (and pointless) when they have to stalk and steal glances of each other. That's why I love Gumiho's set-up. Our heroes are so friggin honest about their feelings, thanks to our fox! I love that she's not shy to say that he loves her guy and even ask if he can like her back. Very straighforward! Gah, how can it be so easy for her. Nomunomunomuchuwa! And for our hero? Well, he's kinda slow on emotional stuffs ever since episode1, but our fox is patient. Hehe.

Oh the cuteness level. It's way above the normal! Above the attainable! How. Did. They. Do. That. I always have this stand: on-screen chemistry cannot be fabricated and forced. Two actors have got to be born with it and do a show together. And I think this show proved me right. Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi were born to do this show. No one can pull off the characters better than them. No one's carrying the presence of the other. Sometimes, there's out-staging but overall, they complemented each other's characters.

I also find the antagonist in this drama very interesting. Sure there's this annoying noona who's so ineffective in bringing problems to our heroes (Not that I'm complaining), but I feel that the main antagonist in this story is Death. Yes, there's the life-and-death conflict in this story. Like Harry and Voldemort. One lives while the other survives. They introduced this conflict at a very early time that's why all of us kept thinking on how will we get a happy ending out of the story. Because Voldemort died and Harry lived, right?

How did it end? I will not say.
Endings are important because blah endings always top the 15 beautiful earlier episodes in a drama. It either has to make a lasting impact that viewers will remember or it's rushed and a wtf that people will totally forget. As for Gumiho, it was the former. One of the best ending I have watched. And the only rom-com that made me cry A LOT. I felt like two of my friends left me after the show ended. Yea I was that emotional.

I am not hard to please when it comes to romantic comedies. Give me some cute and I will definitely watch it. However I seldom get attached to a drama. This is one of the rare ones. The characters started to grow on me at a very early time that's why when it's already parting time, I find it hard to let go. Except for the fantasy part, everything about them are so real. I really miss all the exciting Saturday nights that this show gave me. It was good while it lasted.

A story of two people struggling to become human in their own ways. They grow and learn with the help of each other. And then they meet halfway. It's not just about rainbows and cotton candies. Not about fooling around with the slapstick. It's not a melodrama. It's a heartfelt story.

Do you still have to ask me if this drama is worth watching?
I think I found my new favorite.

Til next time!

Hoi hoi!