Kdrama 2017

Happy Sisters (KDrama Review & Summary)

 

• Genre: Family, Romance, Strong Female, Business
• Release Date: 2017
• Origin: South Korea
• Kdrama: 120 Episodes
  

  Cast:

  • Shim Yi-young as Yoon Ye-eun – wife
  • Han Young as Yoon Sang-eun – contract marriage wife
  • Oh Dae-gyu as Choi Jae-woong – contract marriage husband
  • Kang Seo-joon as Lee Jin-seop – erring husband
  • Lee Shi-kang as Min Hyung-joo – Handsome jobless
  • Ban So-young as Jo Hwa-young – the mistress
  • Bo Ra-na as Go Da Hong – Grunge lady with two kids
  • Heo Eun Jung as Lee Se Ran – Lee Jin-seop’s sister
  • Lee Ye-Bin as Lee Byeong Sook – fat young sister.
  • Jung Geun as Gong Il-Sam  – Miss Jo’s ex-bf and an ex-con
  • Sung Doo-seop as Cha Do-hoon, the musician

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I have to say I have been totally sidetracked by A Love So Beautiful, a Chinese drama, that I have lost much of my appetite for Korean dramas lately.  I did try to watch a few and can’t really get into them but for some reason, this new Korean drama, Happy Sisters, managed to pique my interest.

Actually, I first watched it while waiting for the twit (from Twitter) from Noumi that ALSB has been subbed.  Oh the time I had waited for the English subs!!!  Well worth it.

Anyway, I began to watch Happy Sisters., thinking what is this?!!!  There was that monstrous looking mother-in-law, the lead girls where ajumma (older lady) looking.

I was pleasantly surprised.  But I have to admit that I have fast-forwarded a lot of the scenes from the first 7 episodes and concentrating mainly in the stories of the two sisters.  By episode 8 I am totally hooked and even loving the monstrous mother-in-law.

Ye-eun is the younger sister married for seven years to Jin-Seop, who is having an affair with his personal assistant, Hwa-young (Miss Jo).

Sang-eun is the older sister who got into so much debt. In desperation entered into a contract marriage with a prosperous plastic surgeon, Jae-woong, who is not interested with a traditional marriage but just to give a mother figure to his beloved daughter.

In the background at the moment is a young good-looking man by the name of Hyung-joo (Handsome Jobless), who met Ye-eun by accident and taken her to the hospital.  He found Ye-eun rather interesting.

The real fun began (episode 10) during the wedding of Sang-eun and Jae-woong.  Hwa-young gave Jin Seop a final warning of not attending his sister-in-law’s wedding or else all hell will break loose. But Jin Seop attended anyway as he is expected to walk the bride down the aisle.

Hwa-young was a feisty woman, who refused to be thwarted.  So she sent a couple of selfies of her and Jin Seop in bed together to Ye-eun.

At this same moment, Hyung-joo, who happened to be a good friend of the groom spied Ye-eun in the bridal welcoming party.  As he approached her, Ye-eun just walked passed him in a rather agitated mood that Hyung-joo fallowed her.  There he witnessed Ye-eun’s husband confessing his love to his mistress, while Ye-eun was catatonic with shock against a nearby wall.

…

OMG, this drama is actually quite addictive once you get into it.

Episode 26:

I have been reading comments on the site where I watch this drama and they are really hilarious.  Most of them are saying that they are going to stop watching because Ye-eun (YE) is so stupid hanging on to her stupid good for nothing husband.   But these viewers are still there with me watching five days a week, every weekday. 🙂 🙂 😉  And probably avidly wait for every episode of the rest of the 120.  LOL

The comments are something to look forward to as much as the addictive drama itself.

I can understand their feelings because I think it too but then again, it was also fun watching everyone in the drama squirming in an old cliché situation.  And the chemistry between erring husband Jin-seop and YE is actually on the boil.

There is another man, the handsome jobless (he is not actually jobless, in fact, he is the CEO of TShampoo), in the background who is subconsciously attracted to YE.  But the chemistry between YE and husband is really strong.

The ongoing one-upmanship between YE and Miss Jo, the mistress is bizarrely enjoyable to watch.  Miss Jo is a caricature of evilness.

Anyway, at this episode, YE decided to have a break from the house because her sister-in-law is adding to her stress.  After she scolded her sister-in-law which was heard by mother-in-law, she was told to leave.  So YE did.  But come dinnertime, they wanted her back.

Miss Jo learned that YE left and took the opportunity to go over the family house and do the cooking.  Everyone noticed that she can’t really cook but they all said that she did well. They don’t want to upset her. Miss Jo bandied about the idea that she comes from a rich family, who are based abroad and they would be likely to invest in Jin-seop business.

(I think there is no rich family in the background.  Miss Jo would run the business into the ground, the way she was spending and bribing everyone from the company account.)

Jin-seop begged YE to come back because he is scared of the consequences of his adultery from his mother and employees of the company; the company that YE helped build.

Ep 27

Hahahaha

This is such a slapstick comedy.  This episode is YE’s without a doubt.  She is the hands-down victor.  After Miss Jo insinuated that she did the dirty with Jin seop in YE’s bedroom, YE retaliated by going to Miss Jo’s apartment to cause mayhem.  Hilarious.

They are a bunch of good actors.  I just don’t know what is the point of the woman with the bad hair-do with insane rap/hip-hop pretensions.  I supposed she’s there and her children to bump up time for 120 episodes.

Ep 28 – 29

Ep 28 is lacklustre.

As to episode 29, the mother-in-law finally found out about son’s affair.  Though she was at first shocked that her son is just like her two-timing husband, she finally ordered YE to give Jin Seop a divorce.

Miss Jo enticed the mother-in-law with a prospect of a grandson, which YE can’t give Jin Seop after 7 years of marriage.  To top it all, Miss Jo’s father threatened Jin Seop that he wlll ruin his company.

I think Miss Jo hired professional actors to play her parents.

Poor YE.  But all the initiating forces of a happier time for YE is slowly coming together.  Handsome Jobless is the CEO of TShampoo and again and again YE is shown creating her homemade shampoo. Yey

Episode 32-33

Actually this drama is becoming tedious especially with the introduction of a new horrid character of the ex-boyfriend of Miss Jo who was just released from prison but causing boring mayhem.

I think the scriptwriter should start thinking of divorce for poor YE and be done with it.  Let her start living for herself.  And also the director should tell Han Young playing Yoon Sang-eun to act better.  Her trying to be cute is off-putting. Sang-eun must be almost 40.

Episode 34

The last 5 minutes of this episode is the most hilarious and most satisfying yet.  Da Hong found out that YE is being cheated on by Jin Seop with his secretary.  She went to the office and let hell break loose.  Sang-Eun also joined in in beating up Jin Seop and Miss Jo.

Episode 36

Once again after another fraught confrontation, YE went to her favourite park bench where Hyung Joo (handsome jobless) found her.  He advised that she has to end her current situation and go for divorce.  He was very motivational.  He said:

The best revenge to those who betrayed you (in love) is to forget them as soon as you break up, don’t cling.

Divorce is a choice not a failure.

Breaking up with someone doesn’t mean you get abandoned.  It is just a new start.

With these food for thoughts, At last YE had decided to divorce Jin Seop but there is a condition.

Episode 37-39

The condition was that the monster-mother-in-law had to get divorced first.

Miss Jo is pregnant.

Episode 40

Yey, perfect end for this week, YE is finally divorced from Jin Seop, but I must say they really do have chemistry.  YE punching his face and kicking him on the shin was really very satisfying.  🙂 Good way to say goodbye to the past.

BTW:  The interaction between Byeong-Suk (Jin-Seop youngest sister)  and Il Sam (Miss Jo’s ex and an ex-con) was rather sweet.  I bet they’ll end up together.  Byeong Suk is the best of the lot.

Episode 41 – 44

YE is finally divorced and quite contented with her new beginning.

Miss Jo is now married to Jin Seop and creating havoc in the household.  She is using her pregnancy to boss everybody around.  She is doing a good job of it as well. 🙂

Monster-mother-in-law is getting her comeuppance for treating YE so horrendously.  Miss Jo is working her like a maid.

The cunning Miss Jo is also busy milking the finances of the company.( Jin Seop might end up in jail for fraud, I reckon.)

YE and Hyung Joo’s (HJ) friendship is heating up.

HJ accidentally found out the extent of Miss Jo’s trickery and has become even more protective of YE. (lucky woman)

#44 was hilarious and satisfying.  Miss Jo’s slapping of Se Ran was so good.  Jin Seop also got a taste of Miss Jo’s wickedness by having a handful of bean paste slapped on his face by Miss Jo after she heard Jin Seop saying that he misses YE red bean stew.  🙂

Episode 45

HJ was about to confess who he really was to YE but got interrupted by their respective parents until the moment for heart to heart was gone.

Da Hong entered the shampoo competition and won.  However, she was not the one who created the winning shampoo but YE.

HJ hired a lawyer for YE to deal with her alimony.  JIn Seop called YE to harass her about the lawyer.  There is a bit of continuity of errors here.  YE bought a new phone as a celebration of her new single life.  She got rid of her old phone and old number.  How did Jin Seop know her new number?  Does it mean she wasted her money for a new phone?  I must admit this scene was niggling me.

Episode 46 -50

YE got her alimony money at last.  Miss Jo (Hwa Young) has discovered that HJ is the heir to TMO Group. She has now making her mission to prevent YE to be Cinderella, having a happily ever after with her prince charming.

HY also managed to convince her mother in law to give her bank account and stamp so HY can give her shares from the company.

I have to say, the story is becoming tedious with only a few characters who are likable.

Why is YE continues be downtrodden?  Why doesn’t she help herself?

Why is SE becoming more annoying with her childish behaviour when she is obviously an adjumma.  It is really unattractive.  Why doesn’t she find something constructive to do like teaching music again, instead of wasting her time with another man.  She is so horny.  She is such a silly idiotic woman.

By the way, the mother of YE and SE is so lovely to look at.  Why aren’t her daughters look like her?  🙂

Also children are supposed to be cute in dramas.  Soo Ji and Soo Chan were cute at first but there are overacting.  Shame on the writers for not giving these two talented youngsters a better script.

To be fair, Choi Jin-hee is adorable.

The only cute thing is the story at the moment is the fat sister having a lovely friendship with her kickboxing instructor.

I am beginning to fast forward the drama once again and just watching bits here and there.  38 minutes for just 7 minutes.  LOL

Please stop the wickedness or at least do not concentrate on the wickedness of Hwa Young.  Start YE to be happy and let SE gets her rodgering from her contract husband so she stops her whining and pouting.  LOL

Episodes 51- 53

The Winter Olympics 2018, which is being held in South Korea has impacted on the scheduling of this daily daytime drama.

For all it is worth, HY is becoming more wicked and YE and the rest are just taking it in.  Even HJ is ineffectual. SE is still a useless, immature wife, who might embark on an affair. Poor Jin Seop is a battered husband.

Episode 53 ended with Jin Seop and his ‘rich’ father-in-law accidentally meeting in a men’s toilet.  Will Jin Seop find out about the fake father-in-law?

Episode 54-58

As this drama unfolds, I am wondering why it is called Happy Sisters because they are more like the Annoying Demented Sisters.

For adjummas, they are both so immature and self-centered.

Anyway, it turned out that Hwa Young is having twins, therefore despite her evil streaks, she is feted by the family.

YE is now working at TMG corp.  It was a rocky start, having found out that the CEO was none other than HJ (handsome jobless).

Episode 59 – 60

Halfway to the whole series, which is actually about how evil is Hwa Young.  This drama is all about her.  She is the leading character.

But is she it not, can the writers please retire her a least a few episodes.

It is so ridiculous.  It was Se Ran’s first day at the TMO Group and she got into fight with YE.  What do you know?  Hwa Young went into the office and pulled YE’s hair.

Writers, come on?  There is no real reason for this.  Hwa Young might be a psycho but she knows, you can’t just go into an office and assault someone.

BTW, SE got her much-awaited shag with her contract husband after a drunken night together.  The next morning, they both behaved like scalded virgins!  LOL

Episode 61 –

The story is really tedious because it is really going round and round in circle around Hwa Young’s little finger.

The only thing that is cute in this drama is the budding romance between Byeong Suk and Il Sam.  Sam was so tender towards Byeong Suk and she to him and he notices it.  Sweet.

Episodes 62 – 68

Hwa Young’s has been found out that she was not pregnant.  Se Ran overheard  Hwa Young’s connivance with her doctor about their scheme of fake pregnancy.

Se Ran, you would think would now get the upper hand, wouldn’t you?  No instead Hwa Young kidnapped her and threatened her with bodily harm so Se Ran once again let another opportunity to tell her family how fake Hwa Young was.

Hwa Young, being thoroughly evil, used one stone to kill several birds:  She purposely threw herself on the stairs in front of YE, to blame YE for her fall and the ‘miscarriage’ of her twins.

I bet after all these evil doings of Hwa Young, she will end up forgiven towards the end of this drama. 🙁

Episodes 69 – 70

I just watched the last 5 minutes of the drama as I can’t really stomach all the nastiness and the stupidity.  The last five minutes also show a preview for the next episode.

Hwa Young is still queening it and I am beginning to get annoyed with Min Hyung Joo.  Why did he not reveal how fake Hwa Young immediately before she created more havoc?  Why did he not tell security not to let Hwa Young into the building without an appointment?  Don’t they have CCTV inside the building to check what happened?

Nope there is no CCTV.

In episode 70, Il Sam found out that Hwa Young was never pregnant for the reason that the doctor made her to be sterile in the past.  The conversation between Ill Sam and the doctor was overheard by Hyung Joo.

Poor deluded Jin Seop, he signed out all his assets to Hwa Young.

Episode 73

Hyung Joo has the doctor to reveal the fake pregnancy and miscarriage.  Ooppss nope, he was double-crossed.  You would think a  Hyung Joo would take the bagful of money he gave the doctor.  He didn’t.

I am beginning to think that he is all handsomeness but rather brainless!

The actor should complain to the producers and writers for making his character such a dummy.

Episode 74-76

The gorgeous mother of SE & YE had a confrontation with the monstrous ex-mother in law.  She head butted her and it looked so satisfying.  LOL

Il Sam got run over by a car on purpose by the doctor with instruction from Hwa Young.  Everything now is out in the open.  The family started to find out about the fake pregnancy and miscarriage.

Hyung Joo and YE are getting ever so closer.

It is beginning to look like that no matter how evil Hwa Young has become, this drama will give her a happy ending.  I think this should not be the case, she should be made to suffer as we the viewers are with all her evil doings. 🙁

Episodes 77-79

They have finally rambled Hwa Young and yet she still had the upper hand.  But it was rather fun because she really get a well-deserved slapping from everyone.

The sister in law has been revealed as having a fake college diploma from Oxford University.  The mother was so funny asking, Se Ran, did you not graduate in the States?  She should have twigged immediately that something was amiss with the diploma because Oxford U is in the UK not USA.

Seriously this drama is all about Hwa Young, the she devil, not happy sisters.,

In a lighter note, SE is now loved up with her doctor hubby.  I bet this will not last as his first wife will materialise soon.

Episodes 80-82

YE and Hyung Joo’s relationship have now moved a notch up.  They had their first snog in episode 82 and he confessed to her as well.

This development was due to Se Ran having drugged and kidnap Hyung Joo and having taken to a hotel to do the dirty on him but starvation had taken the better of her.  She was voraciously chomping on a cream cake when Hyung Joo came out of his drug-induced sleep.

Se Ran confessed immediately what she had done.  A photo of him and Se Ran was also been sent to YE.

YE was so upset with Hyung Joo but he was not taking any of it.  He told her the truth and that if the same thing would have had happen to her, he would have trusted her.  YE was shamed.

She apologised to Hyung Joo but he said it was not enough.

What was he to her?  He was not satisfied with her just being a friend.  He then kissed her passionately.

SE and Jae Woong happiness did not last long as their contract marriage had been found out by Jinhee, the daughter, who was so let down and very upset.

SE’s mother was told what was going on with the contract marriage and was so upset that she had fainted, due to angina problem.

Episode 83

Hyung Joo having confessed to YE said that she is now his woman and would give her a littlest time to make her heart accept him as her man.  Awwww.

He said that he is rather slow with his feelings because once he had made up his mind, he will never change it.

The cutest scene though was the growing attraction between Byeong Suk and Il Sam.  They were falling in love over an enormous order of fried chicken and beer. 🙂

Episode 84 – 89

I thought Hwa Young was easily the most dislikable character in this drama, but I have changed my mind now.  It was that immature, self-centered SE.  She found out she was pregnant; the doctor was happy with it and also little Jin Hee was going to be ecstatic to have a sibling.  But of course, SE wants a maximum attention as Jin Hee had been the centre of attention for having run away a few days ago.

She wants the doctor and Jin Hee on a piece of string and yank it whenever and however she wants. Really annoying biatch.

YE and Hyung Joo stepped up the level of their relationship.  YE and her mum got invited to meet and greet Hyung Joo’s mum.

The occasion descended into a chaos as it was a four-way shock.

Hyung Joo’s mum was shocked to find out that her son’s girlfriend was her best-friend ex-daughter-in-law and her maid’s daughter.

YE’s mum found out that her daughter’s boyfriend is the son of her boss lady.

Hyung Joo was shock to find out that YE’s mom is their lovely housekeeper.

And YE was shocked to find out that the lovely woman was the best friend of her ex-mother-in-law.

To grade the level of shock, Hyung Joo’s mom won hands down.  So much so that she ended up in hospital.  How can she, as a good mother, allow her son to marry a divorcee, who by all accounts can’t have a child and to top it all, much older than her beloved son and not even considering their status in life?!!!

Hyung Joo’s mum is still a lovely woman.  She did not make a scene much and was almost resigned that Hyung Joo will end up married to an adjumma.

Jin Seop is knowing more and more of Hwa Young’s background.

Apparently, Hwa Young was made pregnant by her married doctor boyfriend who performed an abortion on her and at the same time giving her a hysterectomy without her consent and ruined her life.

That is very sad but why would she have an affair with a married guy?

Se Ran is likely to end up with the musician as they keep bumping to each other.

But the cute scene goes to Il Sam and Byeong Suk.  🙂

Episodes 90-99

Se Ran has a massive crush with the Do-hoon.  He is interested with her as well but wanted to reform her as she is so immature.

Hwa Young is still creating mayhem despite being a fugitive from the law.

Jin Seop lost his CEO position and his control of his company.  He is still penitent and keep getting drunk and wanted YE back.

Mal Shim (monster mother in law) has apologised to WE for treating her abominably while she was married to Jin Seop.  She has also given her husband a divorce after all these years.

SE is fully reconciled with her husband but behaving strangely by wanting to work as a cleaner or as a waitress.  I think she inhaled too much chemicals while cleaning toilets.  She can’t be stopped with her menial job despite the doctor telling her to stop.  She used to be a piano teacher, why not find something on the same line of her background?

Hyung Joo was at one point suspected by his own board at TGM Group for giving the formula for their shampoo to competitors.  It turned out a girl, who works with the research team with YE was the culprit.  How can she know the password to the laptop of Hyung Joo to be able to open it and still super-important document?

Hyung Joo’s ex-girlfriend is also back in the scene. She is now divorced and wanted him back.

As to Byeong Seok and Ill Sam, their relationship is going strong.  Byeong SEok did try to go to a blind date set up by her mother but she only wanted Ill Sam.

There are a lot of background stories of why Hwa Young turned monstrous, but I am afraid they are not good enough for the audience to buy and give her a happy ending.

Episode 100 -113

There have been so much that have happened but one thing remains the same, the police are ineffectual.

Poor Hyung Joo ended up in hospital after being stabbed by the doctor.  Hwa Young, having found out that Hyung Joo was not dead went to the hospital to confront him and ended up stabbing his wound with her spiky stiletto.  Ouch!!!

The police can’t find Hwa Young and the doctor to arrest and reprimand.

Il Sam and Byeong Sook are now living with her parents but they won’t allow them to get married.

YE and Hyung Joo are really lovey-dovey.  Despite YE’s mother’s hot and cold response to the two lovebirds decision to get married.

The alcoholic ex-wife of Jae Woong had surfaced.  This storyline is terrible.  For a long time alcoholic, she was rather subdued and reasonable.  🙂  I don’t really care really because there is only a handful more episodes before the big finish.

Speaking of alcoholic, Jin Seop ended up in the hospital being of his drinking.  He was back carried by Hyung Joo to the hospital, kind of him.  However, Jin Seop has more medical problems than over-indulging in alcohol.

He was told that he was infertile and the other problem is yet to be revealed.

Almost at the same time and in the same hospital, YE is consulting a doctor of her tiredness and sleepiness.  She was told that she should go to a different clinic, the OB-Gyn, in fact as she is pregnant!   One Happy Sister!

Episode 114 – 115

Jin Seop was in pieces, from pretending to be terminally ill to it coming true!

He had been diagnosed as both infertile and having advanced pancreatic cancer and he had only a couple of months to live.

YE can’t enjoy her pregnancy in the open, she cannot even share the joy with Hyung Joo, because she is scared that something might happen to her baby, especially with Hwa Young still a fugitive and vengeful.

And she has the right to be concerned as Hwa Young came to see her with a knife in her pocket.

Episode 116

This is now the last week of a 120 episode-drama. At this stage of the drama, there is no sign of Happy Sisters, only Stupid Sisters! 🙁

And I have to say YE has not really matured or changed much, except she looks prettier but looking very cold.  It seems offices in South Korea are always freezing cold.  YE never take off her coat/jacket inside the office.

Anyway, her character is still stupid and selfish.  How can she continue to not tell Hyung Joo that she is pregnant?  He can do something to protect her and their baby by hiring the best bodyguards after all he is supposed to be a chaebol.

She is as stupid as her older sister.  Fancy carrying a dead weight drunk on her back when she was in the early stage of pregnancy?!!!  While watching I was thinking, if she loses the baby it is her own fault.

Episode 119

This is the penultimate episode.

Jin Seop had found Hwa Young’s hide-out in the mountain.  She was badly beaten by the psycho doctor, who was killed by the nurse through lethal injection.

The suitcase full of money was being carted away by the nurse.  Jin Seop was given a choice of going for the money or take the badly injured Hwa Young to tha hospital.

The hiding YE has also been found by Hyung Joo after Jae woong confessed to Hyung Joo.

Tomorrow, all will be done and dusted!

Episode 120

This is it.  It is the finale of the most ridiculous storylines that I have seen in a long time.  But I have to give credit to the writers all the same because they know how to tug at viewers’ heart and curiosity and won’t let go till the end.

I have read many comments on the channels where I watched this drama and I am telling you they are not very complimentary but day after day, week after week, month after month, they were watching every episode with me.

Anyway here is quick precis:

Alcoholic mum (first wife of the plastic surgeon) has now returned to television with a reality show.  She was quite happy about it and made SE as her manager.

Musician left his loft to Se Ra to go to Germany to tour as part of a band.

Il Sam and Beong Seok had a double wedding with their mother and father.  Beong Seok is pregnant.

Yuri, Hung Joo’s ex-girlfriend resigned and would be taking over her father’s company as CEO one day.

SE has given birth but she will be a working mother as she created a cleaning material which is organic.  I think!  🙂

Hwa Young cut her face when she was pushed by the nasty doctor on the ravine.  She was so upset that she had lost her good looks.  But she’s not sad for long because of the tranquillizers she had been taking had taken a toll on her brain.  She had lost her memory and thought she’s only 19 years old.

This is a problem as the suitcase was actually full of fake money. They don’t know where her real money went or buried.  She is wily to the end.

Finally Jin Seop, Ye Eun and Hyung Joo.  Ye Eun and Hyung joo were reconciled and having a baby and had to get married immediately.

Jin Seop was resigned to his imminent death and beg Ye Eun to let him give her away on her wedding day.

Ye Eun at first was not sure as it would be weird being given away by an ex-husband.  But Jin Seop said that he would like to do it because, he loved her and yet gave her untold amount of grief and on his death, he wanted to give her to a more deserving man. ( I always had a soft spot for Jin Seop even when he was stupidly nasty to Ye Eun, he did love her in his own way, if only they could have had a baby, he would not have left her, I think)

Just something that I thought I should mention.   The usually rather dapper Hyung Joo had a makeup failure.  He had more makeup than Ye Eun which resulted in Hyung Joo looking effeminate.  His eyebrows were a killer!!! 🙂 🙂 🙂

I am going to say it again Ye Eun and Jin Seop had a really good chemistry.  And I can say now that the actor who played  Jin Seop should be commended.  Good acting.

 

The End