Soul Special (쏘울 스페셜)

For all intents and purposes, this is a review of the series (either over the internet or on TV) I've seen, for the past years for people who are only just beginning to discover Asianovels (or just wanted to see them again) ^^, enjoy :)

Soul Special (쏘울 스페셜 - ssoul seupesyeol)

I discovered this series two years later after its release (aigoo!). Released sometime around October 2009, the series stars Han Hyo Joo, Kim Dong Wook, Lee Chae Young and balladeer K.Will. Incidentally, this was also the latter’s acting debut (yay! ^^)


Cast of characters

The story is fairly simple and short but, for fans like me who are used to seeing long-spinning dramas on TV, the internet drama (yes, it was released over the internet) had a lot of spaces for grey areas. With each episode lasting just above five minutes (that’s net of the buffering time you get when loading the video on-line), the entire 12-part Soul Special internet drama lasted only for an hour when watched end-to-end (without pause and buffer). Talk about short, huh? ^-^

Warning: For a “drama” series, this was fairly light. Watch it so you’ll have an idea.

The story basically spins around Jin Mi Ah (played by Hyo Joo), a singer-songwriter who returned to Korea after staying abroad and how she met the flustered, frustrated doctor/surgeon (who was by the way, lying drunk on the parking lot) played by Kim Dong Wook at the airport parking lot. With Jin Mi Ah’s free spirit (and kindness…I think ^-^), she took the sleeping drunk doctor to her hotel room and returned to her own apartment but not before she asked the half-awake doctor “do you want to marry me?” (if you’re wondering, that’s just an expression of hers. I don’t think she really meant it.)

Here's the first episode. Links are listed below. :)

I didn’t see much of K.Will on the series for some unknown reason, or perhaps, unknown to me. He was basically out for half the series. Also, the Kia Soul (I hope I got the model right) was a prominent display all throughout the series. Talk about ad placement ^-^

Viewers now get to see how Chae Young discovered K.Will’s feelings for her (sorry, I didn’t catch their characters’ names on the series); how Dong Wook (sorry, I didn’t catch his character’s name as well…if you know, kindly send me a message ^^,) proposed marriage to Jin Mi Ah while they were on a beach, asking her to come live with him in Ethiopia bearing in mind that Jin Mi Ah loves to travel, only to get rejected by Jin Mi Ah, saying she doesn’t want to leave her home country anymore; how Chae Young confronted K.Will outside the bar, how she asked if he would marry her, how he only smiled back, and how hilariously cute the whole scene was. And what happens after that? You’ll have to watch it to find out. One clue though, Dong Wook re-appears and renewed his proposal. (For those who’ve seen the series, let’s not spoil the fun for others ^-^)

Here's episode 10 where I found Dong Wook's character's proposal sincere and heartfelt

and a link for episode 11 :)  => http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Nk9PapRGBM&feature=related
(sorry, i can't find the video to post here so i copied the link instead)

The ending of the series left me hanging, though. Like I wanted even just another 5-minute-per-episode-5-episode continuation series just to explain what happened during those “missing” time lines and what happened to Hyo Joo and Dong Wook’s characters in the series after his second proposal.

Anyway, you be the judge. Open-ended stories give fans a wide expanse of space where their imagination can roam free. ^-^

p.s

During the series, we hear a couple of familiar voices singing. Bobby Kim sang the opening song (I think) called “My Girl” which is an up-beat song but I don’t think it’s included in the OST of the series, though.

Relatively, K.Will sang the theme “Couldn’t Saythat I Love You” (which also became the title of the 11^th episode). The series had a mini album released on September 2009 consisting of six tracks (yes, that’s what I said: “mini” album)


Track listing for the Soul Special Mini Album as follows:

1.       사랑한단 말을 못해서 (Couldn’t Say I Love You)

2.       Soul Special (this gives me a sort of bossa nova effect, don’t you think?)

3.       햇살이 밝아서

4.       Style (feat. 허인창)

5.       사랑한단 말을 못해서 (Instrumental)

6.       햇살이 밝아서 (Instrumental)

Now, let me not forget that I don't own any of the videos above and that I was only able to post it here because I have already seen it from another source. Credits for the videos (and video link) goes to alrob28 (youtube.com) ^^,


Also, the link on the Soul Special Mini Album (it's highlighted violet) is from a 4shared.com user "urnobody199"


Also, I've put links (highlighted in violet or magenta) on the songs just in case you wanted to hear them. Special thanks to carmeyl(2) and super junior (both 4shared.com users) for the links on My Girl and Couldn't Say I Love You


To the generous souls ^ I've credited above, sorry if i didn't ask permission first in using your uploads. Just the same, I want to thank you.




p.s.
for comments, suggestions or any corrections, kindly leave a message and i'll get back at it a.s.a.p. ^-^
p.s.2
names of the characters also have links. hope the owners don't mind the link ^^,