Flower Boy Ramyun Shop

Since we're in the spirit of flower boys, my bright idea was to continue with  Flower Boy Ramyun Shop. Yay!

Flower Boy Ramyun Shop is actually the first installment in tvN's "Oh! (Flower) Boy" series, released in 2011. This drama is also known by a couple of different names including Ggotminam Ramyunkage and Cool Guys Hot Ramyun. (Please note that it can also be easily said as Flower Boy Ramen Shop but I personally call it Ramyun because I'm used to how the subtitles used the word). From now on it will be referred to as FBRS so my hands don't cramp up from typing the whole title.

Now if you didn't like Shut Up! Flower Boy Band or haven't seen it, don't worry. This drama is completely different in almost every way. That is actually the way I found out about this drama. I was doing the normal rounds on Viki (although I personally prefer DramaFever) looking through my shows to see what would fall under recommended. Sure enough, this popped up right under SUFBB. It was a real life saver seeing as I had absolutely nothing to do because I have no life...

Cha Chi Soo, renowned for his good looks and amazing charm, is the arrogant young heir to the biggest food company in all of South Korea, Chasung. Yang Eun Bi is a sometimes violent 20-something senior in college and an aspiring teacher who also happens to be the heir...to the ramyun shop her father owns. She is preparing to take her civil service exam when she unknowingly meets Chi Soo in the ladies' bathroom (long story), and assumes he is a student at the college she attends. The two have a special...connection? Which leads her to mistakenly (although she doesn't know yet) calling him "Oppa," (older brother when the speaker is female. Mostly used for your actual brother but also for an older guy who you are close with). When Eun Bi gets an internship at a school run by the company Chasung, she soon discovers that Chi Soo is a high school student where she is teaching. In which case, Oppa is definitely very wrong.

Eun Bi's father's ramyun shop is kind of the hangout spot for young people such as her younger brother (not by blood) Kim Ba Wool and his friends. But after her father dies, the job of owner is passed on to Eun Bi and the tall and handsome family friend, Kang Hyuk, whom her father hoped to marry off his daughter to. Eun Bi's little bro and cute friends decided to work there for... a reason I can't remember. And through a number of different run-ins, Chi Soo is very intrigued by Eun Bi. Enough to want to join the staff of the shop they now renamed Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (which went over quite well with the ladies) despite his father's warnings.


As time passes, Eun Bi becomes fond of both Chi Soo and Kang Hyuk. Little does she know, they're half-brothers! But which flower boy will she choose? Will she become a certified teacher? Will Chi Soo's father let him pursue a relationship with Eun Bi? Who knows? Is it even considered a love triangle if it's a kdrama and we all know who she's going to choose in the end? So many questions...

INFO:

Title- Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (꽃미남 라면가게)

Director- Jung Jung Hwa

Writer- Yoon Nan Joong

Network- tvN

Language- Korean

Episodes- 16

The Cast-

Lee Jung Ah as Yang Eun Bi --(Main Character)

Jung Il Woo as Cha Chi Soo --(High School Heir to Chasung)

Lee Ki Woo as Choi Kang Hyuk --(Eun Bi's "Husband")

Park Min Woo as Kim Ba Wool --(Eun Bi's Dong-Saeng)

Jung In Gi as Yang Chul Dang --(Eun Bi's Father)

Kim Ye Won as Kang Dong Joo --(Eun Bi's Best Friend)



Reasons To Watch:

• The Plot

Although it seems to be the usual "Rich Guy, Poor Girl" drama, it makes it's mark for a few reasons. The storyline is about as original as a cliche drama can be but with the originality comes the combined humor and romance. I say this literally: Every episode will leave you wanting more. I actually finished this series in less than 3 days because I was hooked on the plot.FBRS has very funny and interesting twists and turns that make every episode worth watching. The characters, who all work in a ramyun shop together, are developed well and almost everyone has their own backstory, making them come to life. I found this series. Even baby Ba Wool has a love interest. It's really interesting to watch the feud between Chi Soo and Kang Hyuk and also just to see how the characters interact in general. At the end of every episode, don't expect to want to put it down because the next episode's preview will definitely stop you.

• The Romance

There's one thing I hate about most kdramas. There's almost always another guy that the audience loves but never ends up with the main character. Like the creators wave a flag saying "Sorry, Impossibly Amazing and Sweet Guy That Doesn't Deserve To Get His Heart Broken, but that spot's already taken by the Main Guy." Kang Hyuk is this tall, "tree-like" guy that refers to Eun Bi as his wife and it's actually the cutest thing about this drama. He understands her so well even when she tries to hide her relationship with Chi Soo.  I must say that the concept of the main romance was a little
strange with it being a much older girl and her student, which doesn't get explored as much as other romantical ideas, but the hilarious anticipation and irony kept me coming back for more. Despite the humiliating incident of Eun Bi calling Chi Soo "Oppa," before knowing his true age, he continues to go after her, resulting in a few good beatings from Eun Bi.

• The Humor

FBRS is praised for its really funny scenes. There's the ongoing gags like Eun Bi's constipation, Kang Hyuk's constant sleeping, and Chi Soo's wink along saying certain parts of the girl before him are "pretty." Then there are the special funny scenes like when something incredibly embarrassing happens to Eun Bi. These come around about once every episode so pay attention or you might miss something great. Overall, it was a very hilarious drama and had many cringe-worthy parts and dramatic irony. Or scenes like the one in the picture right there where the boys working in the shop can't sleep and they all go, one by one, to crowd Eun Bi's bed.

• The Boys

So these guys are not the most gorgeous guys on the planet, obviously. They're not perfect either. But that doesn't matter in the drama world. Their imperfections are what make them human, after all. There's Cha Chi Soo, born with a silver spoon in his mouth and a natural at making others do work while he goes off to hit on girls. He enjoys playing with people's head as his game of choice and for some reason can't get Eun Bi, this average, middle-class woman out of his head. Then there's Kang Hyuk. When he first shows up in Eun Bi's life, he kind of lives in her house and despite all of the constant hints like extra toothbrushes, she just hasn't noticed yet. Kang Hyuk is teased a lot by the other boys for his height, but honestly, who doesn't love a tall guy? And especially when they're as sweet and fun-loving as Choi Kang Hyuk.

                            

*Left to Right: Kim Ba Wool, Cha Chi Soo, Choi Kang Hyuk, Woo Hyun Woo*

The other two are Kim Ba Wool and Woo Hyun Woo. Originally from rivaling groups (Ba Wool from his own and Hyun Woo from Cha Chi Soo's), these two become good friends throughout the series. Ba Wool is mischievous and gets himself into a few sticky situations while Hyun Woo is the level-headed, thoughtful one of the group. He doesn't stand out much but he definitely balances out the actions of his friends. Not only are these guys really cute but they have their cute bromance scenes that make everyone melt inside. Overall, they're flower boys through and through.

                                                           RATING:

                    

                                         

                                                            4 STARS

That's all for today. Hope to see you soon!

Love,

The Dramanator