Jardim Secreto

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

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.

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 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!

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 :)