Panda and Hedgehog

The Korean drama, Panda and Hedgehog, is a show that is just as sweet as the cakes they make in it! The drama has a charming cast with its three leads being Lee Donghae, more widely known for his place in the Korean group Super Junior, Choi Jin Hyuk, from such dramas as Heirs and Emergency Couple, and Yoon Seung-ah from the shows Playful Kiss and I Need Romance 3. It premiered on Channel A and aired from August 18 to October 7, 2012 with 16 episodes in all.

Plot

In their early childhoods, Pan Da Yang (Yoon Seung-ah), Choi Won II (Choi Jin Hyuk), and Jung Min Woo were the best of friends. However, one day Min Woo disappears after his life begins to fall apart and Da Yang and Won II never see or hear about him again, though Da Yang always keeps hoping that she'll see him once more.

Pan Da Yang is now a 28-year-old who runs a failing cake cafe, called Cafe Panda, that she inherited from her parents. Though it is failing with hardly any customers and a pâtissier who can't even bake, she is determined to keep what her parents left for her. Choi Won II, on the other hand, has just returned to Korea from his schooling in the United States to be named as the President of his family's prestigous cake bakery, Saint Honoré, that has big plans to go international. He also reunites with his old friend, Da Yang, hoping that he may be able to gain her heart as he has always had feelings for her.

Ko Seung Ji (Lee Donghae) is a brilliant pâtissier, although his record is not the cleanest and his past not the prettiest with him being in prison for a while a few years prior. He lives with the one who has helped him become the great baker he is today, an elderly man named Park Mi Hyang, who Seung Ji also lovingly refers to as Grandpa. Seung Ji also works at Grandpa's cornerstore bakery, but plans to leave when he finds out that his Grandpa is having financial problems. When Seung Ji sees a sign that Pan Da Yang puts up when her baker's attitude and lack of knowledge for baking reach a boiling point, he immediately takes her up on her offer.

Now with a new and improved pâtissier, Cafe Panda is slowly being revived with Seung Ji's wonderful cakes and pastries. However, with such great publicity, Cafe Panda is now beginning to become competition for Saint Honoré, and Chairman Chae Jae Gyum is not a fan. Seung Ji and Da Yang also grow closer together with Won II continuously pushing to earn Da Yang's affection. Won II and Seung Ji fight for Da Yang's love while more serious conflicts soon arise that threaten not only Cafe Panda's existence, but the lives of Da Yang's loved ones. All the while, Da Yang is still holding out hope that one day she will be reunited with her first love, Min Woo.

Overall

I thoroughly enjoyed this drama. It had a decent plot and incredible actors to bring it to life. While I found Pan Da Yang's character needy and a bit whiny, I found her to be, at times, rather interesting. Donghae and Jin Hyuk did a marvelous job portraying their roles and I loved watching their heated rivalry for Da Yang turn into a sweet bromance. This drama was far from what I had originally expected and definitely had many twists and turns in the storyline to keep me entertained and hooked. I think this is a great, endearing drama for any Korean drama fan to watch and I highly recommend it!