Random K Drama Recommendation or Not: Vampire Prosecutor

Title: 뱀파이어 검사 / Vampire Geomsa

Genre: Fantasy, mystery

Episodes: 12

Broadcast network: OCN

Broadcast period: October 2, 2011 to December 18, 2011

Air time: Sunday 23:00

Production company: CMG Chorok Stars

Director: Kim Byung Soo 

Screenwriter: Yang Jin Ah , Han Jung Hoon, Park Hyung Jin

Main Cast:

Yeon Jeong-hoon (Jejoongwon) as Prosecutor Min Tae-yeon

Lee Young-ah (Baker King Tak Guk) as Yoo Jung-in

Lee Won-jong (Warrior Baek Dong Soo) as Hwang Soon-bum

Kim Joo Young (Mackerel Run) as Choi Dong Man

Jang Hyun Seong (Jejoongwon) as Prosecutor Jang Chul-oh

Uh oh bite me!

Hah, and I have to bite my tongue for I ever said that K drama just isn't working profession-centered, procedural story well. Give bow to Vampire Prosecutor that just break away from the cage. With the current trend of TV cable catering K drama market, like breath of fresh air in K drama la la land that it is. Though I’m pretty much fine with the conventional and already-existed K drama ambience, a brand new one once in while is a good variety.

Usually for K drama that uses profession, with the most overuse ones are doctor especially neurosurgery, prosecutor & lawyer, and police (ah Asian can you be a little bit creative in career choice, just  for once!), as a theme or I rather say as a setting, it puts more effort on building relationship between the character and less on what the profession faces & does in the real life with a little bit tweak. So more or less I'm a bit surprised, Vampire Prosecutor manages to have good amount of discontinuous stories about the profession called prosecutor, though still less technical than most US or UK series of their kind, but it twists and turns the story quite well, it is still intriguing. Smell like Agatha Christie this one.

And yet, it has continuous story that binds the episodes together. I think this one keeps the viewers’ tuning in to episode after episode, reason behind the climbing rating (4, 3 % in its peak, unusual for show on TV cable). And the thing that I like the most is that Vampire Prosecutor gives away the touch of US/UK series but not forget their root as K drama, bromance, daddy-issue, sibling tight connection, revenge, and what have you. And yes perm and guyliner DO matter *squee*.

 

And Prosecutor Min Tae Yeon, uri vampire prosecutor, blows any vampire that I ever knew out of the water. At first I thought this one is just another rider in current vampire wave that hit globally as the effect of Twilight. I have enough sparkling-under-the-sun-skin, choco-painted-abs, chalk-white-face, stalker-in-disguise vampire. I know many vampire-ry stories out there with their own vampire's characteristic. But I always look back at Bram Stoker's Dracula as my base on imagining my 'original' vampire description.

I quote this from Bram Stoker's Dracula about Lord Dracula's description:

"His face was a strong - aquiline, with high bridge of thin nose and peculiarly arched nostrils; with lofty domed forehead, and hair growing scantily around the temples, but profusely elsewhere. His eyebrows were very massive, almost meeting over the nose, and with bushy hair that seemed to curl in its own profusion. The mouth, so far as I could see it under the heavy moustache, was fixed and rather cruel-looking, with peculiarly sharp white teeth; these protruded over the lips, whose remarkable ruddiness showed astonishing vitality in a man of his years. For the rest, his ears were pale and at the tops extremely pointed; the chin was broad and strong, and the cheeks firm though thin. The general effect was one of extraordinary pallor."

Let’s say his whole description is not agreeable. So this makes me wonder since when and based on what vampire's description become that it is a heavenly pristine creature? Eh.  Not that I'm complaining the pretty. How lame Edward Cullen's appearance in Twilight saga the movie, the guyliner (start to learn how to rock the guyliner from K-pop stars, Hollywood), the pink lipstick, and... Is good bb cream not invented yet in Fork? I don't need to say much. There're plenty of vampires, debuting and trying to be pretty, I'll never run out of stock of pretty vampire. But I would rather take Lord Dracula than Edward Cullen any day.

Vampire Prosecutor, The Extraordinary

But this vampire is extraordinary. Under the sun, he stands. Killing innocent lives for the shake of their blood, he doesn't need to. No, he can not read mind. He can see the past with the help of victim's blood. But it isn't necessary since the work of the group that solves the case most of the time. You will even wonder what the need of such of ability. But wait, at the end of the series you will know why. He is the most humanly vampire that I ever seen, perhaps that's why I like him. He is like human in every day life, he doesn't need food and he just drinks blood which he's doing it with style. *swoon*

Speaking about humanly vampire, which I think is the charm of this series. With flux of vampire story with most of them are like trying to stand up and shout out "Hey, I'm a vampire, I'm special, and I'm different from you all", the theater, television, book store are overly saturated with them and they only produce sneer in me if I've got to see one More. So instead of focusing on vampire-ly things, like how they live, sleep, and eat, how to kill them, and what set them apart from human, Vampire Prosecutor is more likely try to immerse this vampire with the rest of human being. At the middle of series I almost forget that this prosecutor is a vampire. Vampire is just his middle name, you can shorten it up. Hah. Is he drinking the victim's blood to look out the past??  It is more felt like a form of routine than something that is crucial and truly need to solve the chase.

The Leading Lady And The Supporting Roles

For that part I give props to the supporting roles. Really at first I thought there's no leading lady in this drama, just going all out from K drama norm. Prosecutor Min Tae Yeon (Yeon Jeong-hoon) and inspector Hwang Soon Bum (Lee Won-jong) rock the world in Vampire Prosecutor, like Starsky & Hutch they're playing.

But you can't call it K drama without a leading lady. While Prosecutor Yoo Jung-in (Lee Young-ah) character has little affect in the storyline at the beginning but the more episode, the more significant she grew. Wouldn't I love to see the sassy her bickering with the sexy forensic doctor, Seo Ji-yeon (Seo Min-jeong) fighting over Prosecutor Min’s attention while he seems couldn't care less. Feel the contrast of her too-cute-to-boot face with her barking-tough-girl attitude. Nevertheless, she and our vampire prosecutor give away Mulder-Scully at the end which make me or you crave for something more. This is what I call the less is the more romance. Who need snuggling naked on bed when every glance is wroth, and every touch is precious? While the idea of having these two flirt each other more on screen is tempting I choose keeping like the way it is right now, unless they want to ruin profession procedural theme and go ten feet back to ordinary rom com drama setting in professional world, nonetheless.

Ah they think our vampire is pretty enough thus he needs more than one romance and one bromance to keep him busy. Welcome our hot bartender (Park Jae-hoon).

Our maknae Choi Dong-man (Kim Joo-young). He plays a softie childlike cop. He is who does all the technical stuff. Oh Boy, I love your hair!

And Prosecutor Jang Chul-oh (Jang Hyun-sung). I like him! He is mysteriously creepy.

The camera work is well not like simple and ordinary K drama. I like it. Doesn't it apply to other K drama series from cable? Because this is also what I get from I Need Romance. I’ve just got to watch these two dramas. If this is what these TV cables offer in hand well I can't be more excited. I like how they display blood in this drama. Nothing like blood porn, they are. Aren’t they beautiful? Uh oh that sounds creepy, pohonphee.

Eee I love the ending. That what I call: Back to the root! Something comes and goes through the sea.

CBat-walk.

I do love hanbok, but fashion in modern k drama, where every girl has a magic trunk, every man is like just coming off from photo shoot, and no body have to do the laundry, you shouldn’t miss.

The shawl, sometime he ties it, sometime he just let it loose, love both way though   

Jacket and Shawl will never get wrong for him, in fact I like him like this than in him in suit

Trench coat galore

Apparently I like many Jung -in's coats too

And this jacket's collar reminds me that this man is a vampire. Dunno perhaps
because I see this kind from one of Victorian vampire movies that I saw before.

Trivia, Trivia, Trivia

Instead of giving away synopsis, I leave you questions J Have fun look for the answers! Don’t be like me who had to replay some of the episode several times due sleepiness from all-nighters and lack of cliché on this drama.

1. Who did turn Prosecutor Min to be a vampire?

2. Who is the vampire with hoodie?

3. Then who did turn the hoodie-vampire to be a vampire then? Hah

Second season, yes or no?

When the idea of 2nd season of Vampire Prosecutor came off, I'm a bit skeptic and pessimistic. I was grown up watching US TV series in Asian Country with no internet connection at that time. It was almost impossible to know an ending of a drama series. They were just suddenly "poof" gone. TV station here just decided to cut it short when the US rating was bad and the story went awry. It is like reading thick book with several volumes and suddenly at final book the last chapter is ripped off from the book. Try if it doesn’t make you go bawling. I want to keep my K drama just like a book, please. A story with certain ending and storyline are thought before hand, even if on the way to end it can be changed, due live-shoot system or unexpectedly circumstance.

 I can see how the 2nd season of Vampire Prosecutor is fit with the storyline. I welcome the second season with open arm, but.., but.. I can't forsake the feeling that it will spoil the celestial balance in K drama la la land that has enchanted me in.  J *knocks on the wood* If there will be a day when K drama 100% adopts US TV series concept, abandons well thought ending, family value, Korean culture, good romance with or without many sex scenes, and all my beloved clichés, mind you, that's a time I call it quit.

이정: 사랑에 미쳐본다

Lee Jung: Crazy Love (Sarange michyeo bonda)
[Lyric, Romanization, Translation]

사랑에 지쳐갈 때에 난

Sarange jicyeogal ttae e nan

When I’m getting tired of this love
내 자신을 원망했다

Nae jasineul wonmanghaetda

I’m resented my self
사랑에 힘겨울 때에 난

Sarange him gyeoul ttae e nan

When I feel the strength to end this love
눈물만 흘려댔다

Nun mul man heullyeo daetda

Only tears that come out

고독한 세상 운명 앞에서

Godokhan sesang unmyeong apheso        

Destined to be alone in the world for the future
하루 또 하루 견뎌 본다

Haru tto haru gyeondyeo bonda

See I need to endure day after day
답답한 내 맘을 억누르다

Dapdaphan nae mameul eoknureuda

Tired, my heart is subdued
너의 이름을 또 외쳐 본다

Neo-e ireumeul tto oechyoe bonda

See I call out your name again

이 사랑에 난 미쳐본다

I sarange nan michyeo bonda

See this love drives me crazy
이 사랑에 날 걸어본다

I sarange nal georeo bonda

See this love burdens me
죽을 것처럼 가슴이 아파

Jugul geotcheoreom gaseumi apha

Like dying, my heart is hurt
소리 치며 불러본다

Sorichimyeo bulleobonda

See while crying, I call you out

힘 없이 걷다 주저 앉아

Him eopsi geotda jujeo anja

No strenght to walk away, hasitate to sit still
지난 추억을 꺼내 본다

Jinan chueogeul kkeonae bonda

See I drew out the last memories
좋았었던 날 힘겨웠던 날

Joassepdeon nal himgyeowondeon nal

The good me, the troubled me
되뇌이며 불러 본다

Doenoeimyeo bulleo bonda

See while saying over again, I call you out
눈물이 난다

Nunmuri nanda

Makes me cry

사랑을 믿지 못해 또 난 

Sarangeul michi mothae tto nan

Believe in love, I can’t anymore
술 한 잔 기울인다

Sulhanjan giurinda

Drink treats
아픔을 참지 못해 또 난 

Apheumeul chamji mothae tto nan

Down on pain, I can’t anymore
나 자신을 달래 본다

Najasineul dallae bonda

See I calm my self down

세상이 날 외면했을 때도

Sesangi nal oemyeonhaesseul ttaedo

At time I hid my self from the world
너는 달랐다 날 믿어줬다

Neoneun dallatda nal mideojwoda
You insisted to believe in me

누구도 날 알아주지 않을 때

Nugudo nal arajuji aneul ttae

When no body understand me
너는 달랐다용기를 줬다

Neoneun dallada yonggireul jwoda
You insisted to give me courage

이 사랑에 난 미쳐 본다

I sarange nan michyeo bonda

See this love drives me crazy
이 사랑에 날 걸어본다

I sarange nal georeobonda

See this love burdens me

죽을 것 처럼 가슴이 아파

Jugeul geot cheoreom gaseumi apha

Like dying, my heart is hurt
소리치며 불러 본다

Sorichimyeo bulleo bonda
See while crying, I call you out

힘 없이 걷다 주저 앉아

Him eopsi geotda jujeo anja

No strength to walk away, hesitate to sit still
지난 추억을 꺼내 본다

Jinan chueogeul kkeonae bonda

See I drew out the last memories
좋았었던 날 힘겨웠던 날

Joasseodeon nal himgyeowotdeon nal

The good me, the troubled me
되뇌이며 불러 본다

Doenoeimyeo bulleo bonda

See while saying over again, I call you out

이 사랑에 난 미쳐 본다

I sarange nan michyeo bonda

See this love drives me crazy
이 사랑에 날 걸어 본다

I sarange nal georeo bonda

See this love burdens me
죽는 날까지 널 사랑한다

Juneun nalkkaji neol saranghanda

I love you until my dying day

사랑에 미쳐 본다 용기를 낸다

Sarange michyeo bonda yonggireul naenda

See crazy in love offers me courage
널 사랑한다

Neol saranghanda

I love you