Straight of Gay;It's All About Personal Taste

Kae In lives with Jin Ho whom she thinks is gay. Jin Ho is straight but pretending to be gay. Jin Ho falls in love with Kae In. Kae In is confused. This, in a nutshell, is the plot of “Personal Taste“, a thoroughly endearing comedy starring two of Korea’s brightest stars. Lee Min Ho, superstar for his breakout role in 2009’s smash hit “Boys Over Flowers“, finally returns to dramas in the illustrious company of film and drama staple Son Ye Jin (“A Moment to Remember”, “Summer Scent”) in this quirkily-themed drama.

Park Kae In (played by Son Ye Jin), a furniture designer and the daughter of a famous architect, is kind, impulsive, and a complete slob in her personal habits. Naive and trusting, she’s stayed with the same man, Chang-ryul, for years, ignoring all the poor treatment she’s received at his hands. When he dumps her in the worst possible circumstances, she’s heartbroken, and determined to never take a chance on a man again. Enter Jeon Jin Ho (Lee Min Ho), straightlaced (and straight) architect who needs to scout out her house for his latest business deal.

Personal Taste and Prosecutor Princess have both passed the halfway mark recently, and as they’re the only two dramas I’m watching this season (Cinderella Sister being far too angsty and Oh My Lady being too fluffy), I thought I’d give you my take.

The first four episodes of Personal Taste were horrible. The pacing was off (alternately too rushed and too slow), the editing was awful, and the dialogue felt token. Neither of the main actors seemed to have really connected with their characters – Son Ye Jin overacted and Lee Min Ho underacted, making their onscreen interactions boring and sometimes jarring. Imagine my astonishment then, when in episodes 5 and 6, the drama abruptly did an about face and actually become good!