Beethoven Virus

Overall this drama is unique. It may not be as popular, but if you actually watch it, one can actually appreciate other characteristics emphasized as opposed to the normal, safe, like-able K-dramas. A lot goes on in this drama though.

The storyline itself piqued my interest. I think to the majority of Asian drama fans, it wouldn't draw them in. Even when I mentioned this show to my K-drama friend, she immediately had no interest whatsoever.

Anyways, the music alone was certainly something to appreciate, learn, and let your emotions flow swiftly through. The audience learns the significance of a GREAT conductor and how each sound, measure, time, emotion, and every instrument counts.

The characters...there were a variety! Good acting. Good enough to make me cry! Haha. So many characters that almost each formed their own special bonds as they all go through ups and downs together.

There was quite good acting among a lot of the actors, but the one that shined the most was the conductor Mae Gunwoo Kang (I forgot the actor's name DX). He was believeably mean, passionate with all kinds of people and emotional issues. He dared not to touch, but his baton to only conduct the finest orchestras all over the world. He was incredible playing his complexed character.

There are so many characters I could say and rave about, but really I just want to lastly say to not give up watching this show. It may be slow in a few episodes, however the show's more about inspiration, self-improvement, and so on than it is on love. So don't expect a lot of romantic love. It shadows different types of relationships and love.

Just remember Jang Geun Suk is in it. <3 ^o^

Of the many dramas that are available to watch in the world, this is certainly among the best. It's moving, uplifting, heartbreaking, envigorating, and childlike. The cast was aptly chosen with an attention for difference that is seldom found in most shows. Each character is distinctive, even the sub-plot ones. Each one has a living, breathing, life to them. Some shows fall flat in this area, some are so sharp as to be nearly offensive, but this show is very natural. The dissonance is just as important as the dominant nature of the main actors. WIthout the countertime between them, this movement would certainly fall from the scale!

I highly recommend watching this, especially if a person has an interest in, or previous or current experience in classical music. The music was well selected and performed beautifully by the orchestra and chorus alike. The political undertones and the message delivered by the power of the music and the story told within it carry weight that perhaps should be thrown into each culture of the world that seeks to take music away from the people who live in the confines of borders.

I imagine that the writers, directors, producers, and actors all have some passion for music to have invested so much of themselves in the making of this masterpiece. Personally, I cannot rate this any less than five stars when there was so much in so little time. I sincerely hope there is a followup series to this.

This show awakened a few strong desires in me. I wanted to hear more classical music, I wanted to play an instrument again, and I wanted to bang Jang Geun Seok. I mean.. I wanted to go out and do something wonderful. I wanted to chase a dream and do something inspiring for others. But before I work on that, I wanted to share what I thought.

This show centers around three very different characters: the conductor Mae Kang who worked his way to the top and treats those below him badly; the gifted and determined trumpeter/conductor Gunwoo Kang; and the hardworking but unappreciated Doo Rumi.
These people are brought together through the power of music, and their love for it aids them in working through their differences and all of the hardships brought upon them. I don't want to spoil anything, but there are a few amazing concerts, a few really funny scenes, and a few scenes that made me cry like a small child. But I'm sort of a sissy, so it may be less of a problem for some of you. =P

I loved the soundtrack. I went and got it when I was only five episodes in. My only gripes are that I wanted more of that lovely dancy percussion in 운명 and that so many of the songs seemed so short (especially 운명)! And, of course, I wanted recordings of every beautiful performance from the show. Each piece has power in some way. I wanted to close my eyes so I could really take it in, but I was afraid to miss anything.
The songs on the OST weren't as amazing, but that's because they're used as background music, meant to set a mood, not evoke things quite like the immense joy or hope brought forth by, for example, Ode to Joy.

The characters were also very well done. Superb acting. Some of the relationships seemed to start out of nowhere, but once they were established they were both believable and powerful.
Mr. Kim's situation was particularly powerful for me for personal reasons. He acted so well, and I found myself weeping more than once.
It's frustrating that the various conflicts make you dislike different characters depending on the situation, but everyone is all right in the end, even the french horn player who was at first so frustrating.

At the end of the show, I had mixed feelings. I was happy with how things happened and knew it had to stop at some point, but I missed the characters I had grown to love over the past month. I recommend this show to anyone who wants to see a really good Korean drama, anyone who loves any of the actors or actresses, and anyone who loves music. No musical experience required.

this drama was okay i guess, it was worth watching. I have to admit that at some points I wanted to stop watching it because it got a little bit boring but I continued to watch the drama. As the drama nearly ends, it got really interesting and I really wanted Rumi and Kang Mae to end up together, but in the end............well you have to see for yourself. The last few episodes made me cry a lot. This drama was alright.

Great story about the importance of music, making it, listening to it and living it, is to the soul. The music is fabulous, of course, and the acting is wonderful. Kim Myung Min is wonderful as the scornful, arrogant conductor, Lee Ji Ah is charming as the cheerful girl, and Jang Geun Suk is great as the reluctant, kind-hearted musician to be. The supporting cast is great, giving great depth to the story. Lee Soon Jae is especially poignant as the aging professional oboist. This is a surprisingly exciting story with twists and turns and should not be missed. Loved it.

The soundtrack could've been better, The main character were a bit intriguing.
The ending could have brought more than just sappy tears.
Here's some facts on the 3 main characters from Wikipedia :

Kang Gun-woo / Kang Mae (Maestro Kang) the old guy with black swave hair
Portrayed by Kim Myung Min, Kang Gun-woo is an orchestra conductor who's a single forty year old man that lives with a dog named Thoven. He is very talented and famous for his excellent skills in music. Counductor Kang feels that classical music is for the nobility and to play the noble classics, the talent of players should be brilliant. Because he believes in this, he insults many musicians who do not match his perfection in music.

Kang Mae is notorious for his aggressiveness and sharp tongue. His nickname is ‘orchestra killer’. His personality is mostly written in his face when he encounters trouble and he smirks to show he isn't weak. The reason that he has spent most of his time overseas is because he had once refused to perform in front of a large audience, including the president.


Du Ru-mi the girl caught in the middle
Portrayed by Lee Ji-ah, Du Ru-mi is the concert mistress of the project orchestra. Despite her delicate appearance, she is actually hot-tempered, up-and-down, and optimistic about everything.
Her headache and tinnitus are the symptom of Ménière's disease, which will cause hearing loss. Now, she has a resolute goal to perform on stage.

Kang Gun-woo The hot young master
Portrayed by Jang Geun-suk, Kang Gun-woo is a traffic officer with a strong sense of justice. To help a pregnant woman get to the hospital, he moves a car by crashing it into another car, which causes him to be suspended from his position.
Even though he cannot read music, he has a natural talent for playing the trumpet and for music itself. The project orchestra that he joins through Ru-mi’s recommendation gives him an opportunity to open his eyes and ears to music and conducting.

I had to say it was an original k-drama because I do not recall any drama that involves orchestra and music. It was well developed in a sense that orchestra in real life may appear boring, but it is relieving what true classical music is despite the emerging popular music.

It showed to us the purpose of conductors; we may think that they just wave their hands to the orchestra, but conductors play a big part in an orchestra. As what it says in the film, they are like a captain of a ship. Conducting takes skills, experience, and pride; it is not a small easy job.

I am happy with the fact that the story did not consist of "too much" love drama like other k-drama. It showed romantic and love interests, but they managed to focus on what the bigger plot is. I do not even recall a kissing scene in this drama, which is good because even without that love scenes and kissing scenes, it was still a very good.

In terms of acting, I thought that Rumi was the main character here. In the beginning, she appeared the center of the story, but it seemed to have dissolve somewhere in the middle. It appeared that Conductor Kang and Gunwoo were the main characters. I guess this is not acting but more precisely because of how the story developed. Conductor Kang was definitely an amazing character.

In terms of the ending, I think it was a good way to end it with that powerful music. It may leave some viewers a sense of "what will happen next." I am not even sure if what will happen with Rumi and her hearing disability. Did Conductor Kang left surely for Munich? Will there still be an orchestra? Is Gunwoo going to be a conductor?

At some point we know what will happen to them, but as viewers, we seem to want to see it in the episodes. We know that it was some sort of happy ending, but we want to see what actually happens to each character. The drama did not show it to us, but we know it was a good ending. It was not disappointing.

I would definitely want a second season if they are going to make one.

I highly recommend this show for a different view of storyline and outstanding classical music.

Beethoven Virus is perhaps the one of a kind drama that would take a lot to courage to film. As in to say, the idea of seeing a lot of muscians play is not a really common idea that we might expect when we switch on the televison. Well, in my case, the computer then. With many actors that does not really know how to play, it seriously shocked me. The news of them playing live in the press conference is totally amazing.....i admit that maybe it is because i like the actress ejiah then i watched it, but after what i have seen for myself i can say that it is a nice story to begin with. no siding here, the starting part is very funny and then the serious part starting coming in with what happened to ru mi,oh man. It is a very inspirational story to me, as i see each and every character overcome their obstacles to be able to do what they do the best- orchestra. i love the ost a lot. classic music seems to have become alive again in this hip pop world.so here i like it. It depicts well how a very talented musician's live,even though they might have been poor,not status enough to become what other people think of being the best of the best, they can become one of the best. there is also another point is that it shows what is behind the very nice instruments and music playing.it is a very nice drama if you like music a lot and conflict.