Lisa Espinosa

(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.) Despite the fact that Beautiful Gong Shim has a lot of the extra baggage found in most K-dramas, it’s still one of the cutest shows I’ve seen in a long time. The main couple is so endearing in their interactions that it’s…

(Image and text are samples from my work on HanCinema.net and belong to HanCinema.) Beautiful Gong Shim‘s excellence rides on the quirkiness of Dan-tae’s character, the depth of Namgoong Min’s acting, and the refreshing Minah as Gong Shim. The surrounding elements are clunky, but pale in comparison to the main couple. The show’s strength is…

(Image and text are samples from my work on HanCinema.net and belong to HanCinema.) Episode 5 of Beautiful Gong Shim was all about Dan-tae and his massive crush on Gong Shim. A crush is nothing new, but his awkward, childlike crush and the uniqueness of Dan-tae as a person is what makes his endearingly sweet and…

(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.) There is a clear break between what is good and what is not so good in Beautiful Gong Shim“. What is good is so delightfully strong in content and execution while what is bad is draggy and dull. Any scene with…

(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.) Beautiful Gong Shim just keeps getting better. Yes, there are the usual doses of selfish rich folk, conniving siblings, and sad backstories, but the balance between them and the hearty stories behind our leads is pitch perfect. And we finally get…

(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.) Namgoong Min carries Beautiful Gong Shim from moment to poignant moment. Minah and On Joo-wan are delightful as well, but it is Namgoong who is the lifeblood of the drama. There is a freedom with which he plays the mysterious, slovenly, goofy,…

(The text is a sample from my work on HanCinema.net and belongs to HanCinema.) SBS’s new Saturday/Sunday twenty-episode drama Beautiful Gong Shim was much more than its lackluster promotion. It was zippy, fun, and put two unique characters at the helm, Gong Shim (Minah) and Ahn Dae-tae (Namgoong Min). I have to say that I hope…