Cinderella and the Four Knights is a new drama that started airing last August 12 in tvN. The show was preproduced by HB Entertainment which is known for producing popular 2014 SBS drama 'You Who Came from the Stars'. It is said to be based on a novel published on year 2011 by writer Baek Myo. The drama airs every Friday-Saturday, 11:00 PM.
Cinderella and the Four Knights centers around the protagonists Eun Hawon, 20 (Park Sodam). She's characterized as the modern day 'Cinderella' but a tougher one. The drama opens with Hawon telling the Cinderella story to some children that she babysits as a part time job. Hawon tells the children to not wait for their prince and to survive on their own. Because 'Cinderellas' nowadays got no time for romance and all they do all day are part time jobs and who cares about modern prince when most of them are assholes.
Hawon rides the motorcycle to deliver pizzas in a university. She's excited to see the upperclassman whose playing basketball and told heself that she'll definitely enter the university next year. After the pizza delivery, Hawon encounters a man with a motorcycle wearing helmet whose in the midst of fighting some other men. The motorcycle man is the sole winner of the fight and he grabs a bag that the other men had possesed which angered Hawon. Hawon decided to chase the motorcycle man but it turns out that the man was just helping another lady to bring back her bag that was stolen. Hawon approached the lady bag owner who was so smitten with the motorcycle man. The lady bag owner who still looks like she's dreaming told Hawon that she feels like she just met her knight and shinning armour and that her stolen bag was like her glass slipper, (Cringe!!, HAHA) Hawon's reaction is the same as me, she cannot believed what she just heard but then smiled to herself thinking that there still are kind men out there.
Park Hyeji, 20 (Son Naeun) is seen waiting for someone and got shocked to see Kang Hyunmin, 20 (Ahn Jaehyeon) dating another girl. Hyeji approached Hyunmin whose date is as shocked to see her. It turns out the girl is her friend. Hyeji asked Hyunmin why he has to date her friend of all people which he answers with the fact that to him there are only two kinds of women in this world and its 'the ones he has already dated and the ones he'll date later' (Heol, what a jerk! XD). Kang Jiwoon, 20 (Jung Il Woo) appears in the scene and stands beside Hyeji. It appears Hyeji was waiting for him. When the two are about to leave the scene, Hyunmin provokes Jiwoon by asking while he is still lurking when he thought he isn't interested in Haneul Group. Hyunmin succeeds, Jiwoon grabbed him by his collar and their man to man talk continued. Hyunmin is the first to walk away after telling Jiwoon in his face that he still has a long long way to go. Hyeji asks Jiwoon why he and Hyunmin fight all the time but Jiwoon brings the question back to Hyeji and tells her that she has bad taste in men. He continues that he must have the final say on who's the man she's will marry in the future. Hyeji reminds Jiwoon that he asked her for lunch.
Hawon is at the convenience store where she also works part time. Her boss is disgusted by her because she again took the goods that are about to expire that day. At Hawon's house is her stepmother and stepsister watching TV while eating fried chicken and cola. Hawon enters and is tempted by the fried chicken. When stepmother (Choi Eun-kyeong) heard Hawon she immediately told her to do the dishes properly which Hawon obliged to do next time. Stepsister (Ko Bo-gyeol) joined and asked Hawon if she got to picked her clothes in the drycleaners which Hawon forgot to do. The stepmother and stepsister both left comments that Hawon cannot do a single thing properly and where did she even got that habit, stepsister answered that its probably from her dead mom. Hawon is at her bedroom trying to organize her part time job applications and checking her current money. Hawon is determined to go to college the next year and her target amount is 4 million won for her college deposit.
Kang Jiwoon, Kang Hyunmin joined by another Kang, Kang Seo Woo, 20 (Lee Jungshin) are called because their grandfather is about to get married again for the fifth time. Grandfather's trusted bodyguard (Choi Min) was the one who arranged the meeting. Jiwoon is annoyed by the thought that he is already a part of the family and decided to leave. Seo Woo is the next to leave stating that he still has band schedule for the next day. Meanwhile, Hyunmin finds the situation interesting and promises that he will come to the wedding and he will even bring a gift. The bodyguard, Lee Yoon Sung, 25, left alone, suddenly remembered how Jiwoon was first brought to the house. It turned out, Jiwoon and Hyunmin don't have a very nice first encounter of each other. Hyunmin thought that Jiwoon is a new recruit cleaning guy which Jiwoon found annoying. The two are formally introduced to each other by Yoon Sung bodyguard. Jiwoon turned out to be Hyunmin's long lost cousin who spent his childhood leaving in an orphanage after his mom passed away 10 years ago. Hyunmin, shocked and annoyed left the room after saying that his grandfather must be into collecting grandsons, that it wasn't that long when he brought the busker in the house which is Seo Woo. Yoon Sung bodyguard reminded Jiwoon that he will soon be accustomed with those kind of situation, Jiwoon cannot believed what he had heard.
Back to the present, grandfather, Chairman Kang of Haneul Group (Kim Young Gun) is worried because he knows not one of his grandsons will attend his upcoming wedding. Grandfather revealed that the reason why he wanted his grandsons to live together in a house is because he wanted to know which of them is the best to become his successor. Grandfather told bodyguard Yoon Sung to make sure that his three grandsons will attend the wedding on to which the latter obliged.
Jiwoon who works as a mechanic encountered a petty customer who always blackmail the shop where he was working. Jiwoon annoyed by the situation ruined the bloggers car by crashing on it on purpose. Jiwoon threatened the blogger to apologize to his manager and never come back to the shop again. Kang Seo Woo whose a band vocalist is suddenly gone. Seo Woo's manager is alarmed and rushed to find him. It turned out Seo Woo is currently on headset mode alone trying to create a song- the reason why he cannot hear his phone ringing. Hyunmin is at a restaurant chilling when his angry ex-girfriend approached him. Angry ex-girlfriend asks Hyunmin how could he break up with her in a text to which Hyunmin replied, what's wrong with that when he used an emoticon, or did he use a sad one? He's not sure. Angry ex-girlfriend was about to pour water to Hyunmin's face when she stopped and asks him if the rumors about him are true. It turns out, Hyunmin grants the final wishes of every woman that he dated. Angry ex-girfriend is not angry no more coz her wish is to get Hyunmin's sports car.
Grandpa is acting lovey dovey and flirts with his future fifth wife. Future fifth wife is on the phone with someone unkown and revealed to be plotting some evil plan for the Kang family. Hyunmin, on the other hand, is at a bar with his friends. His having a mental break down with the thought that his mom and his grandpa's future fifth wife is the same age and even more he worries that he may get a baby uncle at this point. Hyunmin decided to ruined the wedding with the help of the first woman who will enter the bar entrance. Hawon is on a pizza delivery mode again. She was the first woman who entered the bar entrance after Hyunmin's declaration. The pizza customers are disappointed that a girl like Hawon was the one who delivered their pizza when they made a special request that states they needed the prettiest girl to do the task. The argument between Hawon and the customer continued while Hyunmin whose watching in the background is getting ready to use his money to pay for the pizza. Suddenly, the customer is seen flying because of a powerful kick made by Hawon. The pizza customers are deeply regretful by their acts while baddass Hawon left the bar after apologizing to the other bar guests about the commotion that just happened. Hyunmin's friends are in doubt that he can bring a girl like Hawon to the wedding. Hyunmin, determined, catches and photographs Hawon when she was about to leave.
Meanwhile, at Hawon's house, stepmother and stepsister are checking online if the latter had been accepted to any university. Unfortunately, stepsister failed to be accepted to any university. Hawon entered the house and upon seeing the two asks her stepmother if she could also use the computer. With further disappointment of stepmother and stepsister, Hawon succeded to be accepted in a university. On the other hand, grandpa is again troubled because the house butler is quitting because of his evil grandsons. Grandpa's wondering whose the best fit that he could hire for the job, one that can discipline his grandsons.
In the convenience store where Hawon works, girl is delighted by the fact that she can already pay her university deposit. Enters Hyunmin with ice cream in his hand. Hawon told him that the item is buy one get one free. Hyunmin finds 'bogo' interesting but insisted that he just wanted to eat one. Hyunmin shared his free ice cream to Hawon. At this point, Hyunmin told Hawon that he wants a favor from her, 'to be available for him for three hours the next day'. Hawon cannot believe what she just heard to which Hyunmin replied that he can pay him a million won. Hawon still not believing told Hyunmin to prove it to her, that he has the money to buy her time. Hyunmin returned to the convenience store with a stack of bills. Hawon, in shock, asks Hyunmin if he wants a receipt and that she needs his phone number. Hyunmin believing that Hawon just wanted to get his number for personal purpose wrote it in her arms and then left shamelessly.
Hyeji is at the fabric store looking for some linens. Upon finding the color and type of fabric that she's looking for she pursuades the store owner to let her by it. A delivery man accidentaly ruined the store owner sample fabrics. The store owner doesn't sell fabric for small amounts but agreed when Hyeji told him that she will help him organize his ruined samples for 30 minutes. After, Hyeji joyfully starts her dress making project.
Late at night, Jiwoon is back in the mechanic shop and told his co workers that he will treat them for dinner. Jiwoon bought foods from the convenience store where Hawon is working. When Jiwoon is about to pay he noticed that he forgot his wallet and quickly came back to the mechanic shop. Jiwoon heard his co workers talking about him. His co workers are wondering why he's always treating them foods from the convenience store and says that it will be nicer if he treat them with much better food now that he has money. The manager reminded the co workers that Jiwoon wanted to be treated just the same as before his true identity came about. Jiwoon was sad to hear what his co workers think of him.
Back at the convenience store, Hawon is already finish heating up all the foods that are supposed to be bought by Jiwoon. Hawon saw a mindless Jiwoon walking outside the convenience store. Hawon follows Jiwoon to get the payment for the foods that he bought. Jiwoon came to his senses but unfortunately he forgot to take his wallet with him. He promised Hawon that he will pay her the next day. Hawon not believing what Jiwoon said continued to persuade him to pay that moment. Jiwoon removes his watch and handed it to Hawon. Hawon, furious about the situation angrily left Jiwoon after telling him to make sure to really pay the next day.
Depressed Jiwoon went to Hyeji's workshop. Hyeji got a call from a man named Jung Hoon telling her that Hyunmin may bring a girl to his grandpa's wedding. Hyeji's not surprised because she knows that Hyunmin got tons of girls around him. After ending the phone conversation, Hyeji got pricked by a needle. Hearing Hyeji's little scream, Jiwoon came rushing to her. Jiwoon immediately lectured Hyeji to be careful about her fingers and looked for a band aid.
Meanwhile, Hawon is back at her house. Hawon grabbed a box and inside it was a picture of her and her late mom in a taewondo uniform. While being a little emotional, Hawon texted her dad which she hadn't seen for six months already and asked him if he will be coming the next day for it is her mom's death anniversary. The next day, Hawon, with a simple flower bouquet in her hands went to a mausoleum where her mom's urns are. But then, her mom's urn was missing from its place. Luckily, a man that works in mausoleum is there. Hawon asks the man where her mom's urn is. The man revealed that the slot was already payment overdue for five years. Hawon, panicked, thought that her mom's urn is already thrown away but the man says that its on their storage. Hawon angrily asks the man how could they do such a thing to an urn. She continued asking how much is the due payment. The man revealed that its 5 million won then enters Jiwoon who asks both to move and to be quiet. Jiwoon sees Hawon who is kneeling in front of the man and asking to remove her mom's urn from the storage. Jiwoon remembers Hawon to be the girl from the convenience store the night before. Jiwoon passes an emotional Hawon and left the mausoleum. Hawon remembers when she was a child she gave her mom a white rose as a sign of respect told to her by her teachers. Her mom happily embraced her and told her to be a great teacher in the future. Hawon is contemplating whether its alright to use the money that she has to pay for her college fees or to pay for her mom's urn storage. Hawon continues to cry thinking about the hardships that she's facing.
Hyeji is showing the dress that she made to Jiwoon telling that its for his grandpa's wedding to which he proclaims that he will not be attending at. She continued that she knows that Hyunmin is planning to go with a woman with him so she asks Jiwoon to come with her. Jiwoon despite always granting Hyeji's request still doesn't want to go to the wedding.
Hawon met up with Hyunmin and asks him if the deal that he's talking about is still ongoing. Hawon continues that she needs cash and cannot give him a cash receipt. Hyunmin agreed and further revealed that he needs her to cosplay as his fiancee for three hours. Hawon is curious why she needs to do such a thing. Hyunmin starts to put an act and tells her that his grandpa is already dying and he wants him to get married as soon as possible and that today is a wedding of a relative and so he needs a fiancee for his grandpa to see. Hawon is seemed to be tricked by this. The deal is OK and they start to introduce each other formally. Inside a limo, Hyunmin is amused that Hawon isn't even looking at him when they are sitting so close with each other. Hyunmin further tease her that the two of them should play for a little while coz they are supposed to be acting as an engaged couple. Hawon dismissed his advances which left our playboy unsatisfied.
In the wedding hall, fangirls and the media are everywhere. With a red carpet entrance, first to walk is Hyunmin with Hawon to which the fangirls are wondering whom he is with. Next is the jolly Seo Woo who blows a kiss to the fans. The only one that's left is Jiwoon who is seen riding his bicycle to the wedding hall. With lots of pretty items laided before her, Hyunmin told Hawon to change and cosplay as his fiancee. The door bell rung. Hyunmin opens the door and it is revealed that it was Hyeji behind. Hyeji asks Hyunmin if he's really with someone and what kind of girl is it this time to which Hyunmin responded coolly.
Hawon enters a room to change into a white dress that Hyunmin wanted her to wear. Hawon is having second thoughts but proceeded to do so not knowing that inside that room is also Kang Seo Woo. Seo Woo's shocked to see a girl changing her clothes and mistakenly got Hawon's phone that is similar to his. Hyunmin got Hawon a red pair of shoes and helps her wearing it. The 'Cinderella' make over continues. Meanwhile, Hawon's stepsister is also present in the wedding as a choir member. Grandpa's fiancee is wearing a red gown and is waiting for the wedding ceremony to begin. She recites a somewhat evil mantra and says, she's almost halfway there. Yoon Sung bodyguard is with grandpa whose also ready for the wedding.
Grandpa and evil fiancee starts to walk on the upper aisle of the wedding hall while Hyunmin and Hawon pair also starts to walk. Meanwhile, Jiwoon also finally arrives in the hall. The guests are wondering what Hyunmin is up to. Hawon also wonders what they are doing and starts to panic asking Hyunmin what exactly is he planning. Hyunmin not wanting his plans to be ruined carried Hawon to the center stage to meet up with grandpa. Hyunmin excitedly greets his grandpa and tells him that he brought him a present which is his fiancee. The guests are all astonished by the sight. The evil fiancee asks Hawon where is she exactly from to which she replied that she's actually a high school student which triggered laughs of the audience. The awkward interaction continues, Hawon tells Hyunmin to apologize to his grandpa to which the latter wouldn't do. Using force, Hawon made Hyunmin kneel infront of grandpa and evil fiancee.
After, Hyunmin follows Hawon who is walking angrily. Seo Woo approached the two asking if Hawon is really his fiancee. Hawon doesn't want to lie anymore but pretended again when Hyunmin reminds her the time of their deal. A friend of Hyeji bursts and asks Hyunmin angrily if he doesn't think that he's being too much to Hyeji. Hyunmin brushes the girl and says he doesn't have some romantic relationship with Hyeji to begin with. The awkward atmospher continues, Hyeji approaches Hawon and asks her if she really is his fiancee. Hyeji continues and introduces herself so Hawon. Jiwoon enters angrily grabbing Hyeji's arms and asking her if she really has no pride. Jiwoon faces Hawon and asks her if she really needs money that badly. To make the atmosphere worst, he further showered Hawon some cash. -END-
My Thoughts:
Its fun and entertaining! The plot and some scenes are somewhat cringeworthy but not in a super bad way. Maybe because these kind of dramas are long gone in tvN. I remember the station used to have the flower boy series which included 'Flower Boy Ramyun Shop' to which Jung Il Woo also starred in. I think sometimes its nice to watch something that's not so complicated and just a feel good series to which C4K 's elements are ranging. The eye candy casts also adds to formula. Its like saying, 'yeah we don't have a really refreshing story but we've got super handsome Knights and shinning armour to keep you watching!'.
One thing that only bothers me is the type of overall editting color that they used. I had the same problem with some of 'Another Oh Haeyoung' scenes. You know that dreamy thing and filters that they used in video production? But then, the series and I think all episodes are done already so let's just scrap that. One thing is for sure, I've signed up to watch this up to the end. :)