TV Drama: Spring Waltz

Ahhh! Now I get it, why this derama was called the fourth of a season derama. Directed by the creator of Endless Love (Autumn in My Heart), Winter Sonata, Summer Scent (check out the titles), now you will have the spring in Spring Waltz. I agree that this derama was visually stunning, the European landscape: its snow, frozen lake, buildings, and then the Korean island’s scenery: the wild flowers, the beach… were all gorgeous.

But, what’s this? When watching Behind the Scene, I found out that almost everything were computer generated or thanks to camera filters tech! Woahhh, I felt a bit conned. But anyway, Yoon Seok-Ho (that’s the director) really knew what he was doing; every frame was a delight to the eyes.

As far as the story goes, it really did reminded me of Endless Love, you know the first love (even though they didn’t realize that it was love then) from childhood, found themselves in love again after years of painful and dramatic separation story. In order to have the desperately needed surgery’s fee for his beloved Eun-Young, Su-Hu traded his life with the already deceased Yoon Jae-Ha and lead his new life in other continents: Canada, and then later on Austria, to become a famous pianist. Su-Hu after all felt responsible because his father was the one that took the money, ran away, and caused Eun-Young’s mother’s death.

Eun-Young, of course, didn’t know this, and continued staying in Seoul, thinking that her Su-Hu Oppa didn’t care enough for her to leave her without a word. And then after 15 years, on a prize trip she get from a design contest, Eun-Young went to Austria and by fate, met again with her oppa. But now the young boy had turned into the cold and mysterious Yoon Jae-Ha.

As in Endless Love, there were love complications: Phillip, Jae-Ha’s best friend, fell in love with Eun-Young; and Song Yi-Na, the real Jae-Ha’s first love came to claim their promise of marriage when they were little.

The soundtrack was good, just like Endless Love, filled with a lot of classical piano tunes and new theme songs. I especially like One Love.

For a Yoon Seok-Ho’s production, I kind of enjoyed this one better than its former. I haven’t watched Winter Sonata and Summer Scent, and frankly don’t have the urge to do so, but compared to Endless Love, this derama was gripping.

And now, the juicy part: the casts.

Suh Do-Young as Yoon Jae-Ha/ Lee Su-Hu
Have read somewhere that prior from the production, there were some doubts in Yoon Seok-Ho using newcomer Suh Do-Young as the leading male. But I personally thought that he brought home his part. His sobbing scenes were deeply heartfelt performances. He also had a nice chemistry going on with the leading female, Han Hyo-Joo.

Sadly, there were lines that had been crossed in the Jae-Ha and Phillip relationship’s frames. Oh God, do they really had to have the scene where both of them bathing Kang-Goo (supposedly Jae-Ha’s little brother)? It was too… too… I’m sorry to say this, a bit too gay for me. They looked like a couple bathing their finally adopted son or something. This scene definitely ruined it for me. And Phillip’s full of love smiles to Jae-Ha? Really, guys, you should’ve cut it out! Really…

Han Hyo-Joo as Park Eun-Young/So Eun-Young

Anyway, almost the same praise should go to Han Hyo-Joo. Heard that she’s only 19! And in this derama, I think she supposedly played the 26 years old Eun-Young. The word “almost” meant that even there were times I found her character was dreary, her cuteness and presences were not annoying and all that. Her smiles were genuinely pretty.

Daniel Henney as Phillip
Talking about smiles, Daniel Henney’s smile was distracting? Hahaha, sadly, I have to agree, his character was too perfect I couldn’t hold a smirk or a “yeah right” comment when he does the-thing-he does—they were friendly smirks and comments, of course, he was easily forgiven. But come to think of it, he did smile too much and that made them lost their sincerity.

Though he played well on his own family issues’ screens, I was not so sure about the broken hearted ones. He didn’t strike me, as a person who’ve been through a severe love lost, so didn’t have much sympathy for him when Eun-Young didn’t return his love. I supported Jae-Ha and Eun-Young love all the way! And this was rare thing, considering I always have a thing for the supporting male—already told you this on other postings ;-p

But the Henney man playing basketball with his rather tight white shirt… Yum yum. Hahaha. Forever made me drool. Watch out, girls, there were a lot of basketball (some I’m-a macho-guy stunts) show offs in this derama, and the white shirt basketball scene was, I’m sure, a definite thing that will made any woman, even the brunet cynic type, get her share of dreamy eyes outbreak.

Lee So-Yeon as Song Yi-Na
Lee So Yeon’s character was regrettably unexplored. I mean, I like her; she’s beautiful, more attractive than Han Hyo-Joo even. And this was probably the reason why the wardrobe people made her to wear those silly accessories, long earrings, matching necklace, big glasses, etc, all that made her so much older. Probably they were afraid that she stole away all the attention from Hyo-Joo.

Perhaps with this derama she tried to explore her acting abilities, but somehow she didn’t fit the description of a desperate-turned-evil woman for me. I think she can act better if she has goody girl role, or at least melancholic girl, like she was in Untold Scandal and Spring Days—hmmm… remembering her hot kissing scene with Jo Ing-Seong… *envy*. Too bad she didn’t get better lines and parts in Spring Waltz. I hope that she can get a leading role someday.

Her chemistry with Daniel Henney was even more felt that his with Han Hyo-Joo. I had hoped that Yi-Na and Phillip ended up together, but alas…

Oh yeah, must compliment the children casts for young Su-Hu and Eun-Young. Don’t understand why they didn’t put their name in the hancinema website, they were splendid! The girl was so cute, and the boy acted his part well. Comment: the boy who played young Su-Hu really resemblance Hyun Bin, may be he is his younger brother? ;-p

Wow, this is a long posting, but I still have one more name I would like to comment. Choi Si-Won: the guy who played Eun-Young adopted brother. He has nice dimples… Brondong banget, bo! Hehehe. Small part, he has, and not enough scenes, too bad.

Korean title: Bom eui Waltz Casts: Seo Do-Yeong, Han Hyo-Joo, Lee So-Yeon, Daniel Henney, Choi Si-Won Director: Yoon Seok-Ho Genre: Melodrama KBS 2006 20 episodes Language: Korean

Images:
http://springwaltz.blogsome.com
http://www.kbs.co.kr/drama/springwaltz/plus/paper/index.html