Benutzerrezensionen

Secret Garden is a 20 episode Korean TV show that aired from 2010-2011. It's another poor girl meets rich boy Korean melodrama. Korean television will tell this same story over and over again until the end of time, and, lord knows I've seen a crap ton of these shows to say the least. Summary Verdict: this one's not bad.

SPOILERS AHEAD!

Here's your story: Ha Ji-won plays Gil Ra-im; a poor & humble stunt woman trying to make ends meet working in the movie industry. Hyun Bin plays Kim Joo-won; a wealthy & arrogant heir to an upscale department store chain. Joo-won mistakes Ra-im as an actress his famous brother once dated, and as a result, they subsequently meet & spend some time together by accident. Need I even bother expounding?...comedy, romance, drama ensue. You know the format: she's the pretty but tough tomboyish type with no time for nonsense in her life, he's the straight laced rich guy who works hard but has plenty of time for whatever nonsense he wishes.

The two meet and he begins to soon fall for her. She's less than impressed with him though, so he's got his work cut out for him. The tried and true staple of K-drama loves stories is on full display here; he's constantly presented with a series of arranged dates to meet a future wife from the same ilk as his own family, but he's not interested in this and wants to find his own love. His stature and eligibility means he pursued by an endless supply of suitable beauties, so his ego is a bit unchecked in regards to what a great catch he thinks he is. As such, he is somewhat baffled by the fact that this "lower class" girl doesn't jump at the chance to be with him, couldn't care less about his standing, and won't give him the time of day. He's also never met any woman quite like this before in his life, and she's pretty easy to look at, so he's more than intrigued/smitten/determined/etc. He therefore decides to use his power and wealth to intrude in her life in order to win her over, which initially backfires of course, until perhaps the 2 can eventually find some common ground to stand on if this relationship was "meant to be".

We're rolling right along with the standard fare for this genre over the first half dozen episodes or so; it's workable and kept fairly tight for the most part as the two leads come together bit by bit. It's all pretty much par for the course, then, BAM (SPOILERS); on a mountain biking date one day, the 2 stray off course and stumble upon a strange old shop & restaurant in the middle of nowhere. While there, they imbibe a magical potion which causes their souls to switch bodies. As such, a whole new layer to the proceedings then comes into play in this series.

While this wacky "out of nowhere" plot aspect of the show may seem absurd (and it is, of course), it does actually work, and, it works quite well. It both helps to break up the status quo for a typical K-drama, and, also serves to further benefit the story as well as a whole. These two characters were having a hard time developing a common ground & relationship the old fashioned way, so perhaps they will find love via this mystical method instead. Accordingly, the two opposites come to understand and appreciate each other more by spending time in each other's body/life.

The twist provides for a great deal of comedy to be mined here, as the CEO dude now has to lead the life of the poor tough girl, and stunt woman girl has to run a company and be subjected to high society pressures. While they've switched bodies, they also each take the opportunity to investigate the other, turn away the other's potential love interests, see each other's friends and siblings half naked, etc. It's all pretty cute. This is not without problems though, as each time it rains, the bodies are switched back and forth; so, there's a chance he might get caught in her body while trying to perform a risky stunt that he's ill prepared for, or she does something unknowingly that puts him in danger due to his health problems, etc.

Eventually, the two leads get down to the business of trying to figure out how to stop switching bodies all the time, so they can get back to their normal lives before somebody finds out or something goes horribly wrong. With some help from their friends and family, and with a little luck, perhaps all will work out in the end, and maybe the two leads will be able to find love along the way.

The cast all put in acceptable to solid work, and just about all characters are likable enough. Perhaps the best role is that of the CEO's brother; a K-pop star known as Oska, who leads a mostly carefree life of luxury when he's not lamenting the loss of his true love that got away. The stunt woman has a huge fan crush on him that comically belies her no nonsense tough girl persona, to the point of her being elated with scoring concert tickets, sleeping in Oska themed socks, etc. And, though Oska competes with his brother to some degree, he mostly serves as an intermediary for the two leads while they work on their budding romance.

All in all, this show is pretty solid. It doesn't go on forever (though it could have been trimmed a little), and it's kept pretty lighthearted for the most part; it's mostly a charming comedy-romance-drama, with little heavy handed "evil plot/villain schemes". Be prepared for a melodramatic final act though, as this is Korean melodrama after all.

Bottom Line: 7-8 out of 10 stars. I'll give it an 8!

Every time I watch a show from Korea, I am never disappointed. This one is no different. An emotional roller coaster show with fantastic characters, beautiful cinematography and amazing soundtrack. You will fall in love with the show and its characters. The script is well written and the actors and actresses have such chemistry.

You will find yourself laughing, crying, smiling and being angry right along with them.

A word of caution though. You will find yourself wanting to start the next episode once you reach the end of the one you are watching because it is that good and addicting. I was sad that I got to the last episode and it ended. So, I started watching from the first episode again. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.

Secret Garden is delightful with two of Korea's best actors and two of the best writers and directors. It hits all major points in KDrama romance and fantasy but also carries a strong theme about the power of unconditional love. My only quibble is the evil mother figure that becomes a staple in Korean drama. Really tired of it. But everything else I love and have watched the series over through the years-which I never do with American series. Nine years later, I still don't think Hyun Bin has matched that performance. Strongly recommended. [Correction: in 2020, he matches it in "Crash Landing"]

I really didn't think I would like this drama. I watched Boys Over Flowers and ended up really disliking the whole series because I couldn't get over how unlikeable some of the characters were. When I started Secret Garden, I thought "Oh great another story about a bratty rich guy who traumatizes his girlfriend into liking him... I bet the female lead looks like she's strong and then becomes a blubbering wimp or insensitive ice queen." I could have not been MORE WRONG. OK some may watch episode one and say...well sure looks like it to me! ...but it's not. This is how BoF should have tackled the rich boy/poor girl love story.

OK to be fair I was not a big Joo Won fan for most of the series (His character alone made me question the series as a whole). Surprisingly the one who enchanted me was Gil Ra Im, and the adorable Oska! <3 I stuck with the series because it was refreshing to see the leading lady bite back when Joo Won was being a jerk. When he hurt her she would tell him, and she never gave in to his sharp remarks, and eventually Joo Won realized the power of his own words and slowly opened himself to loving her. When you fall in love and root for a character you once disliked, that's the power of great story telling. What is more amazing about this drama, even though it followed some typical Kdrama conventions it did so in a way that you were surprised and shocked that they worked in some big revelations. It brought out the true meaning of 'destiny' and it made the series as a whole more heartfelt and touching.

The switching bodies theme...I thought "eeeeeeh this will be needless and over the top" but it was really well done! At first it took some getting used to, but it actually made for some of the more touching moments in the story, and the funniest. Joo Won swooning over Oska made me laugh to tears. Lastly, I find one of the biggest faults with many dramas is the story always feels like it tapered off without thought at the very end. I loved that Secret Garden tied up all the loose ends in the most touching of ways. It felt complete to me, and it made me feel like the love experienced in the stories was true and sincere.

Overall, those of you who watch the first couple of episodes and are not impressed, I say stick with it! You'll be glad you did. All the characters are wonderful to watch and develop into three-dimensional people that you'll root for and cheer on! It's a fantastic love story that makes you want to find your soulmate. :D

I am so happy to come across this show. I was so bored of sex, violence and drama and then, I found Secret Garden.

This show gives you love in its purest form as possible. When I watch it, I can feel butterflies flying in my stomach one minute , then the tears roll down on my cheeks and a broad smile occupy my face at the end of each show. Characters are well put, funny and deep. You can feel and understand what they are going through. Story line is enhanced with side stories and never boring. The cinematography is breath taking, like most of far eastern movies the scenery brings forth the emotions.

To sum up, please give this show a try, I am sure you ll be hooked :)

I thought that show was really good. It made me feel happy, sad and mad in a good way. I liked the fact that the women and the dude switched bodies throughout this story. It was a fun twist to add to other wise pretty normal romance story. It made the show a little bit differnce then most stories. Everything that happened made sense and didn't seem out of place. It really shows the the director cares about this story. The actors and actresses did a good job on acting. The hair, clothes and makeup was done very well. The script was written well. I would recommend the show to anyone.

The pluses. An early example of a KDrama with a female lead, Ha Ji Won, who is strong in every way, mentally and physically tough, independent, and a woman, rather than a female character with male characteristics artificially engrafted on her. Too much crying, perhaps.

The other leading women characters are also quite strong in their own way and the writing of the dialog for the evil mother who never relents is a master class in the art of sophistry in the service of arrogance and selfishness. Also, Kim Sa Rang is divinely beautiful and, for aficionados of eye candy, she has a captivating pair of legs on full a nd frequent display.

I also liked the comedy of the body switching, although they could have made more of it. The fantasy elements ended up promising much more than they delivered.

And, let it be said, a superb opening sequence when Ha Ji Won retrieves a stolen handbag. Worth multiple rewinds.

The minuses. First, and I suppose I have to keep saying this, but the wrist grabbing and physical blockading of women by men is unbearable and it happens multiple times per episode. And I also find it almost impossible to accept the abusive bullying, both physical and mental, that Hyun Bin inflicts on everyone around him except his miserable mother. I cannot imagine any real woman actually falling in love with someone so apparently unhinged for so long. The number of times he tells her she isn't pretty and he can't understand the attraction is shocking. I love Hyun Bin - Crash Landing on You is a 10+ (head over to Netflix, quick march) - but the belittling and patronizing and manhandling just has to stop.

Second, I realize that the writers have to fill out 16 or 20 episodes, but this was simply too long. As a result, the show drags and repeats. Particularly the story of the two second leads rehashes the same speeches over and over.

Third, I am looking forward to a drama where the two leads did not meet each other earlier in their lives or have some previous deep connection that they don't remember or don't know about. It's an overused chestnut (those of you who have watched this show will appreciate the sly reference here). And I don't count this as a spoiler since it was so utterly predictable from early in this show.

Minor gripe. The producers spend a fair amount on these dramas and production values, sets and costumes, are good. But can't they spend a little extra and get the English language and non-Korean characters right? Our heroine supposedly demonstrates her proficiency in English (as does the hero on a couple of occasions) but the script contains obvious grammatical errors that spending a trivial amount on a native speaker to correct would have avoided. Hell, I'd do it for free. And given that these stories are being sold outside Korea, if we are going to have a character who is supposedly a director from Hollywood, please let's have an American who can act, not an Australian who can't. Go on, spring for a few won and do it right. (The Japanese language bits seemed OK, however.)

This is an entertaining show overall, but too long and too full of irritating tropes that need to be retired. And it doesn't play better with age in the era of Me Too.

It was the right cheek dimple on Joo Won that got me hooked. The storyline is good, the expensive tracksuit fashion was bad by anyone's standard, but i guess that's the comedy of it :) The plot is a good one and the tale of two rich guys fall for and fight over a poor girl story is what it is and nothing more. I dislike how these stories have a "boy is abusive to girl until she likes him" tone (and there are some questionable stalking and physical scenes that could put you on the trail to jail in Australia), but it overcame them surprisingly well and the right cheek dimple undid quite a bit of my unease.

I liked it overall, and it's worth watching.

I'm from the UK so didn't get to see this on Netflix until last year but having enjoyed watching I've just watched again. Love the action and humour between the characters and also the opportunity of viewing Korean culture and scenery. The only criticism I have now watching it the second time around is for me, a bit of chemistry lacking between male and female leads, otherwise, very well acted

I watched this series because I was curious what Hyun Bin, the star of Crash Landing on You, was like in a different role. Well, although I find him even better-looking as a more mature man, he was already beautiful as a young guy and I liked him better in this role because his character is more interesting. He gets to act like a total jerk many times, and some of these scenes are really funny, actually, for example when he tries to defend his tacky designer tracksuits. He also laughs and smiles a lot in this role, which suits him a lot.

There is an even better-looking guy in the series, the stunt director played by Philip Lee, who is suffering from unrequited love here, so all he does is look into the camera with woeful eyes.

If you are like me and fairly new to K-dramas, let me warn you that this is an over-the-top romantic and melodramatic story, even though there are some comic relief scenes (some of which I found funny, some not at all). If you take elements from Pride and Prejudice (the protagonists disliking each other first, spirited repartee between the two leads), Pretty Woman (huge social gap, the woman's uncompromising attitude) and the Little Mermaid (some plot elements, use of magic, frequent allusions in the series), you can almost (!) imagine the level of romantic melodrama. If this wasn't enough, the romantic (or cheesy, depending on your taste) soundtrack adds another emotional layer.

The female protagonist's character is rather inconsistent. She is a spunky stuntwoman, brave and athletic, and she stands her ground when the spoiled rich guy starts to pursue her, kicking and hitting him and rejecting his advances many times. However, she keeps apologising and bowing to everybody else and cries all the time. This inconsistency becomes problematic at the body switching scenes; it seems that the male actor does not really know how to act when he plays her.

Some reviewers here objected to the outdated portrayal of women, how the female lead gets to be pursued by her rich suitor, even though she has told him not to several times, how he keeps grabbing her arm and holding her down. This did not bother me at all, first, because I think to be pursued like that by a (good-looking) guy who is obsessed with you is a fulfilling fantasy for most women, and second, because the scenes where he grabs her and holds her down are really innocent, he just wants to hold her hands or hold her in his arms. The scenes where they watch the other sleeping from close up are just adorable. However, it seemed rather outdated to me that the female protagonist was shown to be appalled by the idea of physical intimacy before marriage. I get it, conservative audiences like the idea of no sex or anything like that before marriage, but at least she could have been tempted. Here, at least the guy (almost) acts like a normal young man in this respect, unlike in CLOY. Her asexuality also means that the body switching scenes become very chaste and awkward, as if she is not interested in the male body she temporarily inhabits at all.

There is also a storyline featuring an aging K-pop star, a plagiarism scandal and a young composer, but I didn't understand half of it, perhaps I was too distracted to follow the subtitles by the Emo hairstyles, which must have been very trendy ten years ago but seem a bit ridiculous now...

I agree that the evil mother character was way overdone.

Utterly magic- took me into another world and had me exhausted with anticipation, grief, joy,beauty. This is not my usual genre at all. secret garden is full of fabulous characters and intriguing plot line that takes it above usual boy meets girl story. stand out performance is Hyun Bin. I know I will watch this again and again in my life (unusual for me).

Hyun Bin is a spoiled executive who is terse and indifferent to his staff until he falls for ordinary poor stunt woman Ji-Won Ha. She is amazing in this roll and very believable as a stunt woman. It comes with all the usual problems of a romance between people of different classes. There are a number of amusing side stories and a criss cross of the two main characters which adds to the humour. Well paced and written to amuse and hold your attention to see if the star crossed lovers will be happy in the end.

I've watched a massive number of K Dramas. I was blown away by Secret Garden. So utterly beautiful, touching, funny, quirky, romantic, nail biting, stupendous. The casting was spot on. The aristocratic Chaebol played by the incomparable Hyun Bin who I think was at the thinnest he's ever been. He was in control in each scene, magnetism, romance, quirky, autocratic, ... The poor orphan child was Ha Ji-Won. She did not let the slings and arrows get her down. Oska, an aging K Pop star was exceptionally portrayed by Yoon Sang Hyun. There were no flaws in casting. Also loved the smaller roles for Lee Jung Suk (great, witty), Im Jung Soo (manly). A large Very excellent cast.

This drama will have you rooting for love from the 1st episode. How can 2 people who are so far apart coexist? Each episode had revelations, quirky scenes, one uppmanship, lots of drama, magic, romance and Action!!

This is not an adaptation of the old English classic.

Do you love romance, bickering relatives, triumph of good over evil, sacrifice, redemption? True Love? Action scenes?... You will not be disappointed. Wicked, really vindictive people not getting their way? YES

Please stick with the drama, all will be revealed. One of the absolute best ever!! You will experience every emotion imaginable- enjoy the ride!

I much enjoy a romantic melodrama in the min-series format that develops a main single story from beginning to end, though with some related parallel sub-plots along the way. The basic melodrama is the oft repeated formula: Boy meets Girl, Boy loses Girl, Boy gets Girl Back. This may recur in the same story.

Human relations can be complex even if only the boy and girl are involved, but this complexity increases as more people are involved.

If personality dynamics are properly depicted in a valid manner, and if the production is skillful, powerful emotions can be evoked in the viewer. In this way we can live many lifetimes through movies, in our one lifetime - greatly enriching our incarnate experience.

These South Korean productions (seen on Netflix streaming) are first class with excellent production and direction, some terrific casting and acting (particularly from some of the females who give some matchless world class performances), brilliant musical accompaniment, and staging. What makes these so good is the way they skillfully evoke deep emotion in the viewer. South Korean movie making is superb - world class.

However, the following caveats must be considered by the USA viewer: They are subtitled and some people hate this. The South Korean cultural norms, values and sanctions may sometimes seems silly or old fashioned to the USA viewer. The families are close knit and decisions by an individual may be subject to family approval. Social distance is maintained where formal speech is used, and personal speech forms are reserved for close friends or family. There is a strong work ethic and community cooperation/unity - sometimes reminiscence of a old Frank Capra film.

Most importantly, in order for the sometimes complicated sub-plots to work, people fail to communicate with each other as might be expected, keeping many in the dark as to what others are doing, and this leads to misunderstandings and error judgments of some people, that sometimes seem to be unlikely by USA cultural standards. The viewer may wonder at times why good but trusting people are so easily manipulated and deceived by bad and selfish people, but con artists do often succeed (just look at politicians for example). However this poetic license of improbability is needed to develop the story - just accept it as occurring even though unlikely at times. Taking these factors into account will help you become involved and emotionally engrossed. It was hard for me to quit watching at times so I often binged watched more than one episode at a time.

I would rank these as follows but tastes differ and your rankings might not agree: 1 - 4 (hard to say which is best)

Shining Inheritance

When a Man Loves

That Winter, The Wind Blows

Secret garden

5. Five Fingers

6. The Scent of a Woman

7. The Great Queen Seondeok

8. A Hundred Years Inheritance

9. Lie To me

10. Roof Top Prince

11. Dr. Jin

12. The Great Doctor

Secret Garden is a romantic comedy as well as melodrama, and interplays the two quite well. We see a transformation in the male lead from a rich, self-centered upper-class snob, unable to love others, into a regular guy ('human' as the South Koreans label it) able to relate emphatically and love. The female lead puts the snob down, even beating him up when he deserves it, which makes for great fun. This theme is also featured in "Protect the Boss", another South Korean TV mini-series that is not reviewed by me.

The series stands as a classic example of the genre, leaving a lasting impact due to its charm and memorable characters.

The drama's body-swap concept, though unconventional, provides a fresh and comedic twist to the usual romantic narrative. The exchanges between the main characters, played by Hyun Bin and Ha Ji-won, are filled with both humor and heartfelt moments, showcasing their undeniable chemistry.

The drama masterfully balances comedy with poignant themes of identity and personal growth. The characters' journeys toward understanding themselves and each other add depth to the storyline, making it more than just a typical romance.

The memorable scenes and dialogues have become ingrained in the cultural lexicon, cementing Secret Garden as a beloved drama that continues to be referenced and adored by fans.

While some elements of the series may show their age, it remains a shining example of the enduring appeal of classic Korean dramas. Its combination of humor, romance, and genuine emotion makes it a must-watch for both longtime fans of the genre and newcomers alike.

If you're in the mood for a heartwarming and unforgettable love story go and watch it.

If you like the classic spoiled-rich-boy-falls-for-poor-girl story and are looking for a bit of an interesting twist, you may just like this show. I want to think that if I had watched this as my first drama or if I had lowered my expectations, I would have enjoyed this drama more. I had heard many great things and was ready to enjoy it, only to be bored and disappointed. I love Hyun Bin and was excited after reading the quirky premise. While there were moments of comedic gold that brought a smile to my face, these moments were unable to overshadow the rather slow and unengaging plot besides the swap. I pushed myself to finish the show--I usually watch shows from start to finish even if I hate them--but by the last episode I was skipping past everything just to reach the end of the show.

I wasn't gonna grant so many stars.

Let me explain. The show mixes two love stories. As the secondary story took A LOT of room, and I really didn't care, I ended up watching only half the show.

Even skipping most of it, I found some scenes were too long and too repetitive. Basically, the guy keeps going after the woman and keeps getting rejected. Over and over.

Still. At some point, I started to really feel for the leads and to root for them. It is, undeniably a very beautiful love story. Joo Won's unwavering feelings sort of reached out to me, and moved me, churned me. Even after I turned off the screen, the couple stayed with me, the thought of how wonderful it would be if such a love existed.

Then, I went for the soundtrack and found that the main song is actually sung by Hyun Bin. While I'm not a fan of his, I totally fell for his warm voice. That was my coup de grâce. Every romantic moment from the show came back at me and I realized that it was beyond beautiful. I truly wish they had made a short series with just the Little Mermaid and the Prince... Princess?

The drama was awesome and such a great ending. Love the combination of Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won in the drama. They acted very well and they were so in love until the end of the drama. Highly recommended to watch this drama.

I hope to see combination of these two actors Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won in other drama.