Memories of Alhambra

Synopsis:

Yoo Jin Woo is a CEO of one of the largest investment company, J One Holdings. He, Cha Hyung Suk, his best friend, and Cha Byung Joon, Cha Hyung Suk’s father built it together. However, an unfortunate situation arose and destroyed their relationship. Yoo Jin Woo and Cha Hyung Suk became bitter rivals. Cha Hyung Suk built his own company, had an affair with Yoo Jin Woo’s wife and married her. On one of the biggest gaming conference in Barcelona, Spain, an opportunity came for both Yoo Jin Woo and Cha Hyung Suk to be rivals again. They have to fight to acquire a very innovative augmented-reality game application that could bring them millions whoever gets its rights. But, Jung Se Joo, one of the developers disappeared and the only link in finding him is his sister, Jung Hee Joo, who owns a flailing hostel in Granada, Spain. Unbeknown to Jung Hee Joo that his brother is missing, Yoo Jin Woo became a guest at her hotel, played the game he wants to procure and bought the hotel that will include the rights of the game. Yoo Jin Woo was ecstatic of his success of obtaining the rights to the game but, suddenly, the game became literally real. His life turned upside down and the only way to find Jung Se Joo, who can solve the mystery of what’s going on, is to build a certain relationship of trust with Jung Hee Joo. He needs to know what’s really happening because his life and sanity depends on it.

Characters:

Hyun Bin as Yoo Jin Woo
Park Shin Hye as Jung Hee Joo
Park Hoon as Cha Hyung Suk
Kim Yong Rim as Oh Young Shim
Park Chan Yul as Jung Se Joo
Lee Re as Jung Min Joo
Lee Hak Joo as Kim Sang Bum
Lee Shi Won as Lee Soo Jin
Kim Eui Sung as Cha Byung Joon
Ryu Abel as Lee Soo Kyung
Lee Seung Joon as Park Sun Ho
Min Jin Woong as Suh Jung Hoon
Jo Hyun Chul as Choi Yang Joo
Han Bo Reum as Ko Yoo Ra
Lee Jae Wook as Marco Han
Park Jin Woo as Noh Young Joon
Kim Do Yun as Medical Student

My Review:

It is a Hyun Bin k-drama, so, how can I not simply watch it? To top it all, his leading lady is Park Shin Hye. Two of my favorite k-actors, daebak!!! I was in great anticipation to see it and it seems nothing can go wrong until the writer botched the story especially the ending. I can almost forgive the jumping of scenes from current to past and from real to the game that made it confusing for me at times but, I simply can’t forgive the last episode and how so many questions were remained unanswered.

So, What do I Like About this K-Drama?

(1) It is not surprising that Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye have brought their talent on the table for this k-drama sci-fi. Hyun Bin has certainly developed as an actor way even better than his previous k-dramas if that is even possible but sure enough he did. As Yoo Jin Woo, Hyun Bin expressed emotions with nuances that’s more explicit in actions than words especially his goodbye scene with Seo Jung-Hoon. Park Shin Hye also gave her best as Jung Hee Joo, however, her role didn’t give her the best platform to shine even better.

(2) As I am not part of the millennial generation, at first, it was kind of hard to follow the first episode especially for someone who doesn’t like computer games except twister and at the most candy crush, the old version, lol. However, the director made the story flow as it unfolds on the first 6 episodes that I eventually caught on with the story.

(3) Though as I’ve mentioned I’m not into games, the story became engaging and my curiosity on the mystery of why a virtual reality game became real caught me into a trap to just go on watching it. It became entertaining and even though again, there’s some politics on the story especially on Yoo Jin Woo’s company, it is more related and focused to relationships of family and friend dynamics rather than power and greed.

(4) I love the special effects that went into the production. It made my viewing much more visual and even if I’m not part of the millennial generation, I still get to enjoy it

(5) They always say that it is not how big or small your role is in a drama or film that makes a difference but how one successfully interprets and delivers it and I must say Min Jin Woong as Suh Jung Hoon certainly did just that. His depiction of his role especially on Episode 16 made the ending of this k-drama not a total disaster.

What I do Not Like About this K-Drama?

I have so much hope with this k-drama considering that 2 of the most popular and talented korean actors are in it. The premise of the story is also very unique and interesting. The director was able to visualised to the audience what’s happening and in such a manner that made it all interesting and entertaining to watch. Having said that, the writer or the director or the producer or a culmination of these people totally screwed the audience on its ending especially on the last few episodes. It has focused on events that most of the audiences including myself couldn’t care less what happened to them like Yoo Jin Woo’s 2nd ex-wife, Go Yoo-Ra. The writer totally missed the opportunity to explain what I have been waiting for as to why the game turned out that way? Who created the bug that resulted to this catastrophe? Why people die for real when it happens on the game? And, to top it all, what really happened to Yoo Jin Woo? Why he disappeared and what’s the end game? The writer didn’t even have the decency to give us an inkling or have a basis to draw our own ending. There just too many unanswered questions to do so. The saddest part is that the audience were all left hanging without a scene with the two leads while the production gave time providing answers to what happened to all of its supporting characters. Go figure!!! It could have been a great k-drama that’s innovative and new but it ended in a total disaster and waste of my precious time.

Would I recommend this K-Drama? No. But, you may watch it for Hyun Bin just don’t put too much emotional investment while watching it

My Rating to this Drama
( See My Rating System: ) 3/5 Stars

OST:

01. Day Dream – Elaine
02. Is You – Ailee
03. Memories of the Alhambra – George
04. Star (Little Prince) – LocoU Sung-Eun
05. I’m Here – Yang Da-Il
06. Maybe We – Eddy Kim
07. I’m Here (Guitar Solo Version) – Jung Jae-Pil
08. Inevitable Duel – Jung Se-Rin
09. The Beginning of Magic – Jung Se-Rin
10. Delusion and Truth – Ju In-Ro
11. New Enemies Detected – Kim Hyun-Do
12. Death in Granada – Lee Roo-Ri
13. Unreal Reality – Lee Roo-Ri
14. The World of Mystery – Various Artist
15. Connection Error – Lee Roo-Ri
16. Accidental Encounter – Lee Yoon-Ji
17. Magical Reality Drawn In Front of the Eyes – Lee Yoon-Ji
18. Hostel Bonita – Lee Roo-Ri
19. Embarrassing Incident – Lee Yoon-Ji
20. Victory Achieved – Kim Hyun-Do
21. Play Harder – Goo Bon-Chun
22. Three Dimensional Space – Kim Hyun-Do
23. Beyond Limits Game – Jung Se-Rin
24. Alliance Made – Jung Se-Rin
25. Item He Left – Jung Se-Rin
26. Stories Started in Granada – Seo Ye-Rin
27. Hola! – Lee Roo-Ri
28. Bad Day – Lee Yoon-Ji
29. You’re Kidding…? – Yoo-Rim
30. The Master of Mind Game – Shin Yoo-Jin
31. Complex Mind – Kim Hyun-Joo
32. Anxious Time – Lee Yoon-Ji
33. Lost Se-Ju – Yoon-Ji
34. Dangerous Quest – Joo In-Ro
35. Virtual or Reality – Kim Hyun-Do
36. Inner Conflict – Noh Yoo-Rim
37. Jin-woo’s Fear – Shin Yoo-Jin
38. Endless Hallucinations – Noh Yoo-Rim
39. New User – Noh Yoo-Rim
40. Save Me, Boss – Kim Hyun-Do
41. Mysterious Whereabouts – Seo Ye-Rin
42. Recuerdos de la Alhambra – Jang Dae-Geon

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