Open Thread #91
July 10th, 2009 // by javabeans
Hellooooo, Friday!
SONG OF THE DAY
Ingrid Michaelson – “Overboard” [ Download ]
RELATED POSTS
No tags for this post.recapped series
linky
-
Users currently online:
Copyright © 2009 Dramabeans. Powered by Wordpress and Fastway 2.0.
Yay! It’s weekend, and I’m off to the coast (ocean shores)! Have a wonderful Weekend everyone.
Thank you javabeans!
finally is weekends again!
and my teacher didn’t give me much homeworks.=D
really happy. =D
it’s the weekend and i FINALLY don’t have to work. if only i didn’t have to spend time w/ the in-laws… it’d be a good weekend to look forward to. LOL!
put City Hall and Shining Inheritance on my list of dramas to watch the remainder of the summer. i’m excited to watch these shows based on the discussions here. so if i’m disappointed, it’ll be all YOUR fault!!! LOL!
need to get a haircut. my head is hurting from the weight of it.
Happy FOFriday, everyone!!!
It is Friday! Happy Friday! It is so hot down here in Texas. It was 102 degrees C yesterday! So bad. And Houston was 112. Crazy hot this year. Crazy weather period! We even had golf balls hail storm downtown too! El Nino for realz.
Anyone watching QSD?
Happy Friday!
I am behind on finishing up City Hall but then I wait for subs. So might be done or not haven’t checked. Beantown finally is showing some much needed sun!
Have not watched Shining Inheritance considering watching some older dramas I am behind on “Gourmet” as I love food and Kim Rae Won and “New Heart” but not sure. Considering “Beethoven Virus” too but love Nodame Contabile so not sure if I will like it. Though I love the lead actor especially as his award winning turn in White Tower. (Loved him there!).
Been caught up watching a bunch of variety shows instead and Korean class and leaving town alot this summer doesn’t help the “drama” watching sessions.
Thanks Dramabeans for this awesome blog and keeping up the good work! Hope you are unpacked and well!
TIF…though i’ve done nothing all week lol
im really glad javabeans is allowing ppl to recap dramas, i wonder if this will be a regular thing.
due the great recaps of triple im currently addicted to it, i love that is not over the top and it tells the story at a steady rate.
I just found out 2 of my co-workers are dating, the drama lover in me is squeeing in delight. I like people to pair up both in reel and real life… hehehe
Imma gonna watch Blood: The Last Vampire, I’ve heard bad reviews of it but the boyfriend wants to see it and I’m curious anyway.
Have a great weekend, everyone!
Checked out your classical-lit-meets-techie twitter link. LOL! Brilliant! Has brightened up an exhausting, had-it-up-to-here kind of week… Oh, I am SOOOO happy it’s Friday!
my left hand hurts – especially my pinky and ring finger. i’m a bit worried it might be the beginning of carpal tunnel. it’s a bit tingly and itty bitty bits of pain shoot through when i’m using it (to type or whatever). and it sometimes feels numb, too. anyone have any insight?
Happy Friday all!
Why do I feel that this work week has lasted soo long?? Anyway, at least it’s Friday and I have the weekend to look forward too.. Hooray!
I said I wouldn’t catch up to Shining Inheritance because then I’d have to wait a week inbetween each set of episodes…but I couldn’t help it. I spent the entire time after work until i went to sleep watching..and now I’m in the middle of Ep 22 (y’alls who are watching know I couldn’t just stop at Ep 21 haha) and omo omo omo..can’t wait to get home and finish this ep
Also gonna start Ep 18 of Black and White sometime this weekend. Hopefully will finish it sometime next week. =P And then I have an entire fat list to still get to. Maybe this summer (or what’s left of it anyway) I will get to the classics I should have started with (namely Full House and MNIKSS)
JB – How’s your move? All settled in now?
Finally started watching City Hall, I had watched the first episode back when it first aired. It didnt grab me and as I was watching a few other dramas at the time, A Mans Story(excellent!) and Black &White(awesome!) I put it on the back burner. After reading how many people were raving about it I gave it another try. Glad that I did. Still have a long way to go but Im starting to see what the fuss was about.
Happy Friday everyone ^_^
I’m really excited to read the guest-recappers on DB. I just finished watching City Hall (had to finish it on viikii, where the subs were surprisingly not bad… though nothing compared to BON). I really enjoyed it, though I didn’t find that it lived up to it’s hype. Don’t get me wrong… it was really good. But not amazingly-love-at-first-sight. But then… usually I need to re-watch a drama to fully appreciate it. It took me two tries to warm up to MNKSS, which I’m in now in love with.
I spent the week watching Black and White. And wow, I spent half of it thinking, “This is a TW drama? SERIOUSLY?” because it was so well-written, well-acted, and well-produced. It was gripping, charming, and the bromance was so endearing. Has anyone here watched this? Any thoughts?
Hope everyone has an awesome weekend!
the song is lovely. thanks for sharing.
i’m on ep 8 of Black and White. i’m loving it!!! the like the Vic-Mark pair up. i’m not familiar w/ TWdramaas except whatever Vic’s been in. heehee.. The black and white of the contrast in characters ie: Zai Tian and Hero. the contrast w/in each character: Zai Tian–outer shell of white, yet that hidden black past. Hero-with the outer shell of black, but a soft/sweet white personality. the SDPD as a police dept should be white, but it’s filled w/ black–darkness/corruption. the San Lian Org is black on the outside, yet, i can already sense the purity in the org..
i like that forensics girl. she’s so awesome. i love the CSI stuff she’s doing.
totally agree with the great reviews for this drama.
holy cow, Friday already?? Where has the week, wait– summer, gone? sigh. At present i am sitting in my office which is a frosty 61 degrees, and not looking forward to the shift back to working outdoors next week (106 degrees, today). Office, field, office, field… with all this in-and-out, it’s no wonder I get sicker in summer than I ever do in winter…
Other than that, just catching up on all the re-caps I missed last semester/this semester. Finally up on ROI and Triple. Yea!!
@12 meh – I am totally with you on Black and White. There are a few TW dramas that I love (ISWAK, Frog Prince, Fated to Love You) – but those are the very typical romantic comedy dramas. I wasn’t too sure about Black and White because, with the exception of Vic, it’s a relatively unknown cast to me and hence, no pull. But after everyone here tellin me to watch it…I’m sooo glad I did. And it totally does NOT feel like a TW drama at all! It’s shot like a movie, the acting is quite good, the storyline is all sorts of twisty, but not in a convoluted makes no sense way (…yet at least. i can’t say for the rest of the eps as I’m not done yet). Thoroughly enjoying it and cannot wait to finish!
Can I claim Mark Zhou as mine??? Has anyone done it yet?? If not.. MINE! haha
Ahh the weekend, I have nothing planned but neither did I have anything planned last week and we ended up on the beach last sat night and it was a full moon too:D
Caught up with SI, Hwan and Eun Sung were too adorable, shame theres so much plotting going on.
@mie: aw…my mom also got that…
last year she went trough surgency and now it’s a lot better…
her hand always felt numb and it hurt when she was using it
but only in the morning…well i think it’s not wrong to get it check
although i hope you don’t have it
I was really excited when I found out the Yoo Seung-Ho (from Queen Seon Duk) will be starring in an mv for the new girl group T-ara. I’m really looking forward to that.
City Hall never really appealed to me but after reading Samsooki’s recap I put it on my To-Watch list.
The weather is really nice today!
I can’t believe it’s Friday already! I’ve had a stressful, depressing week and I can’t wait to start a new, less-depressing week. Going on a weekend road trip with friends. I started the first 20 minutes of the 1st episode Shining Inheritance but I didn’t find it interesting. I guess with all the hype, I was expecting to be blown away right from the start. I’ll continue the series when I come back.
Thank God for escapism!
In addition to starting a City Hall rewatch (now that the recaps are here, which, YAY!); I’m watching Triple and The Man Who Can’t Get Married and am really enjoying both of them, especially TMWCGM (sheesh, too long to keep typing out). It’s hilarious! Triple doesn’t have as many laugh-out-loud moments, but it’s got a certain something that definitely has me intrigued, despite some minor issues I have with a couple of the characters.
I’ve watched the first ep of Partner too; it hasn’t quite grabbed me yet, but I’m definitely going to keep watching. My rule is that if JB recaps it, then I’m watching it. Period. Lee Dong-wook is a cutie, despite the fact that he reminds me a little of John Mayer.
Nothing dark and twisty for me at the moment…my dad had a heart attack a couple of days ago so I’m only watching happy things to take my mind off of real-life drama.
Hope y’all are having a fabulous Friday! It’s already creeping towards 100 here and it’s not even noon yet. I’m melting…
I will go back hometown today to attend my aunt engagement. So no KBSW and Internet for 2 days.
When Korean drama will do shooting at Malaysia? We have nice scenery too. I hope to stalk them if they do shooting here.
@lovenyc52, if you call Marc Chao, then Vic Zhou is so utterly *mine*. I love his quirkiness (reminded me of Akira from Nobuta wo Produce, actually) and his (secretly-gentle) heart. Another thing that I love about this drama is that *none* of the male actors are wearing bobby pins in their hair. I think its a J-Drama and TW-drama thing? Sometimes it’s cute… most times its not.
Its great to see that more people are looking into Black&White. Im not usually a fan of Taiwan dramas, but this one is in a class by itself. It’s very well done, definately a crack drama. I watched it as it was airing and it was one of those series where waiting for the next episode was a killer. I cant remember the last time I couldnt wait for Saturdays, which is a work day for me so its not something that Im usually looking forward to.
Mmm, Friday. I have work later.. haha.
You guys are so fast on Black and White! I’m still on episode 5 cus I’m waiting for Intangible to release whatever they’re gonna release lol.
Seems like everyone is watching Brilliant Legacy and loving it so I’m gonna give that a try. Planning to watch Partner as well. City Hall is on the list… I will squeeze in Triple somehow! After all, JB seems to like it a lot XD must be good. & Swallow the Sun is out as well… This summer is filled with drama and I don’t think I’m gonna have enough time. -sigh- darn work and school.
@#4: I’m watching QSD (: I quite like it. I always watch right away after WITHS2 release their subs xD are you watching it too? I’m waiting for Yoo Seung Ho to make his appearance ^^
I love the re-caps on this site. Even before I watch the actual episode I read this site. It doesn’t even seem like a spoiler to me because reading the caps and comments make it that much more interesting.
My Friday is being spent preparing for an accounting audit. Who knew the tales about auditors were actually true…now I realize it!
City Hall is great after the first ( ummm) 5 episodes. Once the relationships start to develop you start to love the characters you thought were boring in the earlier eps.
Partner is really dragging for me and hopefully once LDW falls in love ..and not with Honey Lee, I will be happy. He is such a cutie!
I started B&W right before I went on a trip to HK and I didn’t get the chance to finish it. Will go back to it since everyone is saying its a great drama. I am a big TWdrama lover. Actually I love all asian dramas, and I watch practically everything. But I would recommend SILENCE,WISH TO SEE YOU AGAIN, AND MARS, for all the Vic Zhou lovers out there. I watched Silence about 5 times already. Its one hell of a tear jerker!
I have Monday and Tuesday off so I am looking forward to my LONG LONG weekend! Enjoy everyone!
@25 Rin – I was able to DL all the eps for Black and White with subs already. On d-addicts if you go to the sidebar and search from the Subtitle index you can find all 24 eps. It’s softsubs tho – not sure if you prefer hardsubs. Just FYI in case that’s the only thing keeping you from watching haha
Off to a wedding this weekend in the ol’home town. Only two this summer; better compared to the four last summer!
@26 Daddicts02
where can i watch Wish to see you again w/ subs? And i LOVED Silence!!! I did drop MARS after 8 eps even tho i dl’ed the whole series. maybe someday i’ll go back to it.
@lovenyc52 and meh
all these claims on guys… there’s not gonna be anyone left for me to claim! i’ve found one that i’ve want to make “mine” yet. so far, the guys are all just “one week stands” LOL!
hello everyone! It’s lovely, lovely day here in Boston, sunny and cool! Unfortunately, am off to work x 32 hours…. oh the life of an adult…..wwaaahhhh!!!!
I am currently watching The Man Who Cant Get Married…, it’s funny, funny… love all the cast! and the lead actor is such a cute, OC, dork!!! You guys have to check out his butt too! Perky! (lol!! I am such a butt-girl)
I took a break from watching CH and Triple( with my stressful work, had to look for something to make me laugh out loud…, not that CH isnt funny..but am on that episode where it’s getting really problematic and serious, and Triple.., so far, there are three characters that am not really into, urg! so…)…but am looking forward to the recaps…especially the recapper’s comment on the ep….^-^
I also noticed there are a lot who has been giving good comments regarding Black and White..mmmm….. I am not really into Tdrama (have difficulty adjusting to the tone of voice-quite high pitch- and the production tends to be….aaaaa…) but i did watch a few where Vic Zhou is the MAN!!!! hehe!! So am going to put BW on my list!!!
Shining Inheritance….aaaa…. i have forgotten all about that…..I stopped watching….
have a great weekend guys!!!!
BTW,
is there anybody here who knows something about what’s happening with korea nowadays?
Am just curious if there is anymosity between the North and South.. or is it just the govt?
how come all the celebrities are from Seoul (south)or pretty much, the whole entertainment is more concentrated in South? Makes me think, North is one serious, strict no nonsense, communist country…are there even tourism going on in North?
SORRY IF THIS IS OUT OF THE THREAD….^-^
I love love love “The man who cannot get married”. It is sweet, sexy, smart, quirky, adorable and charming. Ji Jin Hee is absolutely adorable as the OCD Cho Jae Hee. The way he gets clueless, agitated and frustrated is totally child-like. He is just so cute. This series would have sucked without Ji Jin Hee..I have never seen any of his other series but now i gotta start watching them..Uhm Jung Hwa over-acts and is just so damn self-concious. She is just so fake. Kim So Eun is cute but thats it. Besides Ji Jine Hee the best part of this series are Yoo Ah In and Sang-goo..That dog is just too adorable. This series is so damn sweet and sassy. People …Watch it. The funniest series i have seen in forever.
Can anyone please tell me what is a good brand of Kim-chee. Does anyone know of a good korean restaurant in Conneticut?
@27: Haha, yeah I know! SUBLimes already have all the subs but I’m restraining myself until the hardsubs xD Hopefully all the drama I have on my hands will keep me busy enough lol.
Oh hey, anyone of you guys live in Southern California and heard of OC Fair? It’s opening today, anyone going? (:
@29 lb_tmi – Jul 10, 2009 at 10:57 am
You can watch Wish to see you again on Mysoju which I think links to Vikki.
Love Vic’s character in that one. Its totally out there.
Do you guys ever get mistaken to be a different nationality?
When someone asks you where you’re from, how do you respond?
I get mistaken as Korean by Koreans all the time but I honestly don’t think I look Korean.
Then I was at a Japanese restaurant and the Japanese owner came up to me and my friend and asked where I was from. I get asked this question all the time and know they are really asking my nationality but I get annoyed for some reason. So I always answer that I’m from NJ, because, I am from NJ.
Then everyone usually gets this awkward look on their face, like, oh no, I mean what race are you?
Is it that difficult to ask what race/nationality I’m from? Just ask it. Don’t beat around the bush. Is it politically incorrect? I don’t get it.
Oh. I’m Filipino. But I’ve been mistaken for Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Mexican, Hawaiian. And those all depend on how tan I am at the moment, lol.
Also what new dramas are people watching?
I want to start Triple (I downloaded the first 5 episodes). I’m thinking of starting Partner, Swallow the Sun and Friend. Any good?
Also, aren’t Korean dramas usually 16 episodes? I’ve been noticing more that are 20 now, or higher.
Also, I’ve had a ridiculous amount of coffee this morning so I am hyper and spastic.
Halo… its already saturday in my place and i hope you all enjoy the friday.@16 @23 Black&White is totally different from other tdrama.@29 Why you not continued to watch Mars?I thot Mars is the best ever drama of Vic Chou and he really good to play a bad boy(as in Black&White too). So please continue.^^
@32 Rin – Yep I’ve lived in the OC for the last 10 years and yes, OC Fair is starting! I’m not sure if I’m going yet. I went a lot in college and am kinda eh about it now..but most likely my friend will drag me cuz she loves it. I wanna go for the mexican corn and corn dogs and funnel cake..basically just the food haha
Black Eyed Peas are playing sometime too!
@34 mishane – When I meet new people, I get mistaken for Korean 95% of the time.. The remaining 5% is split between Chinese and Japanese. I think I got Hawaiian once (noooo idea how since prior to this year I was a$$white haha). Oh, or i get that I’m mixed… However, I totally think I look Chinese! I think people don’t want to be offensive and use the words ‘race’ or ‘nationality’ or ‘ethnicity’ and so they just go with the general question of ‘where are you from’?
Hrm, with all the raves about City Hall… I may have to pick that up…just speed thru the first 5 eps right?
@34 Mishane,
because of where i live, there is a very large population of my ethnicity in this area, i don’t get asked the question “where u from and what race are u?” a lot. However, when i go somewhere outta state, i do get asked the question. depending on who’s asking and where i am when the question is asked, i’ll generalize and just say “i’m asian”. if someone wants to know more specifically, i’ll let them ask the specific question and then answer them.
more often it’s my name that raises the question… like “oh, that’s an interesting name. where is that name from?” ppl have specualated that my name is Indian, Native American, Hawaiian, Chinese, Thai and pretty much anything besides what i am…
@36 sari,
i don’t remember why i stopped watching MARs now, it’s been a few years… i loved the way Vic looked on the motorcycle… i will eventually watch it.. just hasn’t piqued my interest as of late. maybe after i’m done w/ Black and White, i’ll have the desire to see more of Vic and pick up MARS again.
I’m a huge fan of Vic Zhou and I LOVED Black & White…although Mark Chao almost stole it from him, he was that good in it.
I loved MARS; say what you might about the hair extensions, Vic was drop dead gorgeous in it, and his acting was fantastic. My favorite scene is between him and Barbie where he’s telling her about the miserable night he just spent because they had an argument (”I couldn’t sleep the whole night last night; my tummy hurt and my head ached. Why was it like that?”). After he’s apologized and basically promised to change everything about himself that she might ever find offensive, he looks at her and says “Hug me a little bit.”. SO CUTE!
The music in MARS was really good too; it introduced me to Alan Kuo who is awesome!
MV of the theme song (with lots of Vic eye candy):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzcobBmvTFo
@37 lovenyc52
–I think people don’t want to be offensive and use the words ‘race’ or ‘nationality’ or ‘ethnicity’ and so they just go with the general question of ‘where are you from’?–
I guess it’s different for everyone. To me, it’s more insulting that they don’t ask straight out, like it’s shameful or an embarrassing question.
@ 21 langdon813
I hope your father is okay! Is he? That’s tough. It’s really hard to see a parent get ill — I think it is harder than anything imaginable. My parents were always healthy and super strong and the bosses in the house and now they are getting feeble and weak and its a total mindf**k for me because I don’t even know how to deal with it. So I hope you are doing okay. *Big hug.*
@mishane,
I get mistaken for latina ALL THE TIME. I can walk into any Mexican grocery store and get the attendants switch to Spanish for me. It always makes me scratch my head in befuddlement.
I don’t understand why people are so touchy about being asked what they are. I know friends who are offended if they are asked where they are from. They always say America or UK or something. What’s wrong with saying that they are of Chinese, Korean, Indian, or Arab ethnicity? I like asking if I see someone I cannot quite place. Sometimes people are cool with it and eager to share but other times I get this scowl and attitude. I don’t get it.
When I was in Korea, I was seriously asked what I was about a million times and I answered every time. And I got comments on my eyes quite a few times. I was never offended. Curiosity is so much better than apathy or ignorance.
@mishane
I get Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese (this I get a lot), Thai, even Mexican and Peruvian. And… and, there was this old lady who thought I was white… say whut?!? The only thing white in me that day was my purse!
ahhh… langdon813 just reminded me why i had to stop watching MARS. i dislike Barbie… kept watching because of Vic, finally couldn’t keep going because of her. that’s right!! my adoration of him may not be strong enough yet. i’ll wait til i’m craving more Vic…
p.s. thanks for the link!! i’ll watch when i get home!
@40 mishane –
“I guess it’s different for everyone. To me, it’s more insulting that they don’t ask straight out, like it’s shameful or an embarrassing question.”
And I think that’s what sucks about ‘political correctness’ these days. I’m all for being politically correct and I try to not intentionally offend people, but everyone is so sensitive about every little thing that when it comes to race/religion/politics… well almost anything actually, people try to tread carefully as to not step on any toes. Well that’s my take on it. Like you I prefer people to just ask straight out. Lol. I should do what you do and just say that I’m from Cali and go from there haha.
@ 41 Nom_Kitteh
–I don’t understand why people are so touchy about being asked what they are. I know friends who are offended if they are asked where they are from. They always say America or UK or something. What’s wrong with saying that they are of Chinese, Korean, Indian, or Arab ethnicity? I like asking if I see someone I cannot quite place.–
I just turn into a smart ass. I don’t get why people are scared to ask me what nationality I am. Why tiptoe around it? I’ve never gotten any weird looks when I ask others. And I ask straight out, what nationality they are.
@35 Mishane,
May I ask where you download your kdrama’s? Are they english-subbed?
@41, Nom_Kitteh
Thank you for your kind words! My dad is having a heart cath this afternoon but his doctor seems to be very optimistic that he won’t need surgery, which would be great. Fingers crossed!! It’s frustrating because he’s in ICU, so we can only see him once every 3 hours for 30 minutes, two people at a time. The rest of my day is obviously spent here at Dramabeans, LOL!
And yes, it is VERY strange to even of think my parents getting older much less ill…I am desperate to move away from here but then something like this happens, and I think maybe I shouldn’t.
Ah, life…what happens while you’re busy making other plans, to mangle a perfectly good John Lennon quote.
@ lovenyc52
–Lol. I should do what you do and just say that I’m from Cali and go from there haha.–
I guess I’m kind of an ass because I always say NJ with a straight face and watch as they falter and try to backpedal. “Oh, uh, I mean, um, where are your parents from?”
Sometimes when I’m in a good mood, I help them along and say, “Well, I’m FROM NJ, but I’m Filipino. Is that what you mean?”
You know what pissed me off majorly? I struck up this conversation with a Korean girl at a Starbucks (she saw a Korean DVD in my purse and started talking to me in English). When she started speaking in Korean, I told her I didn’t speak it and she looked at me weird, asked me what I was and when I answered ‘Filipino’, she kind of screwed up her nose and then excused herself.
WHAT THE HELL? How are you gonna look down on me when 2 minutes earlier you were conversing happily about Lee Byung Hun and Joo Ji Hoon? That. . .really irked me. Really. REALLY.
@46 KT
Um, I don’t know if I’m supposed to post them on a public forum, but if you want to PM me, my e-mail is michennae04@yahoo.com. I can give you the info there.
@ mishane #34 & #35
Ah, the question of nationality. It gets complicated doesn’t it? I have to admit, I no longer get annoyed as I used to when I was younger, especially after having traveled internationally and living in different countries. When it comes to asking ‘the question’ of nationality, it’s not grammatically correct to ask ‘where are you from?’ but it seems there’s a general understanding that it’s synonymous with ‘what nationality are you?’. When people use the former, I don’t think they’re intending to beat around the bush, be politically correct or think it’s politically incorrect if they straight up ask, ‘what nationality are you?’. From an English grammar point of view, it doesn’t make sense and it’s not synonymous but people use it informally and loosely so I just think, whatever floats your boat, I get it. I think people are just curious if someone has a unique name or doesn’t look like a specific nationality. I’ve been mistaken for probably every Asian nationality on the map, but that’s alright. I see it more as a compliment and glad that I’m representing
I’m currently watching Shining Inheritance and was surprised I got into it. I tried CH, Triple, Story of a Man and The Man Who Can’t Get Married but for various reasons haven’t gone beyond a few episodes.
@34 Mishane – aha, I know the feeling! My favorite was when a coworker complained about how people act in the United States, and then looked at me and was like, “Do people act like this where you’re from?” Well, er, I’m from L.A. so, er…. I guess??
@langdon813
I thought MARS was a great drama as well. It probably is my favorite Twdrama of all time and I thought Vic was awesome in it. I never had a chance to finish Silence, but seriously he improved so much between his dramas. I think one of his best scenes in Silence is when the Park Eun-hye’s character tells him about the boy she meet when she was in the hospital when they were young and Vic realizes that she’s talking about him but can’t say anything. Seriously one of his best scenes. I’ve been meaning to watch Black & White (I really liked the first episode so far), especially since the director also directed Mars. And yes I love the theme song for Mars too—and Alan Kuo is a total cutie!
Queen Seon-duk viewers: I am totally impressed with Ko Hyun-jung’s acting (Mishil’s character is pretty static, but KHJ really breathes air into the character and really does a good job being evil). And I know this isn’t going to happen—but I kind of do wish romance develops b/t Yu Shin and Deok-man, even if it ends with them not being together. But that’s not going to happen—it’ll probably be b/t Yu Shin and Cheonmyung. Oh well, still Lee Yo-won and Uhm Tae-woong have shown some sparks of chemistry.
Life seems to be rolling around:)…I just sent in my visa application and it looks like I will be leaving this August for a year in Seoul. I am filled with nervousness and excitement!
Looking forward to your Triple recap..things are heating up:)
Dele–good luck! i’m so jealous of you… i want to go to Seoul. maybe if i can convince my husband, i’ll get to go and visit one of my best friends that just moved there next year! hope you have fun!!! come back to open threads and tell us how it’s going (after august)
@53 Dele
You are so lucky! I’m still waiting. The application process is soooo long.
Currently in Seoul for the summer and my first celebrity sighting was of ……
Andre/Alien Kim!!!!
He was wearing his signature white jumpsuit/spacesuit and got into a white celebrity van.
@53 Dele – lucky lucky! I have a friend who is teaching english there for a few years and she loves it! I hope you enjoy it tooi
@56 Nokcha – haha that’s awesome! Did he have his hair painted on too?
I’m currently planning an Asia trip that includes a stop in Korea for a few days. Trying to pick up some more useful Korean before then (I have a good 5 months still haha) since the phrases I learn from kdramas probably aren’t going to suffice haha.
57 lovenyc52
–Trying to pick up some more useful Korean before then (I have a good 5 months still haha) since the phrases I learn from kdramas probably aren’t going to suffice haha.–
Thanks to Korean dramas, I can now say:
I love you
I’m sorry
Friend
I like you
Thank you
OH and “Okay, I know I know” (which women apparently love to say in Korea. = Cre, cre. Araso, araso) Hehe.
Which is much better than my meager Anyanghoseo.
Although I’m Sorry and Thank You confuse me sometimes. In some dramas, the person on screen is saying Bene (which I thought was I’m sorry) but the subtitles will read Thank you.
@mishane
I’m from Hawaii and although my ethnicity is Japanese, I’m always mistaken to be Korean.
What I get here are people asking me if I’m Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. When I used to reply that I was Japanese, they would say something like, “My neighbor married a Japanese girl and she’s the nicest thing, she does everything for him” or some (seemingly) condescending comment like that.
So, I just say I’m American and let them try to ask what ethnicity again.
@shubhrata
“Can anyone please tell me what is a good brand of Kim-chee”
Goshen Kimchi is really good and produced in Goshen NY. If you can’t find it get, Ari Rang or NY Kimchi but these are not as good as Goshen.
@mishane
I’ve been thinking about this all day because its one of my biggest pet peeves. I get that question all the time, every time I meet someone, they always ask me. Ift its somone that I’m going to work with or get to know eventually, I might tell them the answer they’re looking for, but strangers, forget it. Why do people think they have the right to ask?
It irritates me because it sounds & feels like they can only see my race. That they’re looking for a quick and easy way to deal with me by trying to identify my race, instead of the person. If they can pigeon-hole me as Chinese, Korean, or Vietmanese, then they can try to relate to me by saying inane things like, “I love Chinese food!”. That irritates me. I’m Asian – what’s the big deal? Why should it matter which country I’m from?
As for someone who asks me my nationality? Duh, I’m American.
Even better is the question – What are you? As if I’m not human.
If someone is genuinely interested, then I don’t mind as much. But its the strangers who keep fishing that bug me. I always answer, even though I know they’re wondering what ethnic group I’m from, I’m from WI. When they say “no, I mean where are your parents from”, I mess them up completely when I tell them ‘Germany & Ireland’ – hahahaha!!!!!
Ok, rant over. I just hate those questions after having had to deal with them for the last 29 years!
I will be working until midnight at my job. But hey i work on the 30th floor and the lab window gives a nice view of downtown…unfortunantley i can also see couples skipping around having fun on a friday night.
@b020
@mishane
I feel the same way, especially when once you get introduced to someone, the first question they ask is where are you from? It they say it quite annoying I like to tease them an state the obvious, England! People mistake me for Arab, Iranian, Turkish, and the worse thing is when I say Pakistani , some people treat me differently/coldly. Its like don’t judge a person from where their country of origin, we got no control over that, but rather from the things we have control over ie our personality/actions. Alot of problems root from the whole ‘I better than you..’
Anyway I’m enjoying SI, my friends find it hilarious that I watch Korean dramas, they’re better than most Indian dramas, they give me a headache.
@ langdon813 hope your dad gets better
Have a great weekend everyone
i can’t wait until i actually have a chance to starta new drama…(city hall hopefully!)
@langdon813: aww i’m sorry about your dad! i hope he gets better soon
City hall…City Hall everyday, can`t get enough with this drama.
My kids got sick, thank God it`s not H1N1 and they are doing well now.
Ch has been my companion at night, I have to be awake all the time when my kids are sick, high fever can get worst at night.
Make your day a fruitful one, go to church and pray for the whole world.
Take care to all City Hallers, don`t get sick!
Happy Friday, everyone! Let me take a moment to get analytical here, as I feel a need to do a critical analysis. Don’t worry, it’s not boring!
A Comparison of “Harper’s Island” to Korean Dramas
For any who haven’t watched “Harper’s Island”, it is a 13 week “Mystery Event” being run this summer on CBS. So far, 11 episodes have aired, and it occurred to me that perhaps someone in Hollywood is a victim of our shared addiction. I first had this idea after I watched the Korean film “Death Bell”. (If anyone has not seen “Death Bell” or “Harper’s Island” and want to, be aware that there may be some spoilers in this analysis.)
I watched “Death Bell” after having seen the first 10 episodes of “Harper’s Island”. As I was watching the film, the first thought that occurred to me was “This reminds me of ‘Harper’s Island’.” The reason I say this is because the stories are structurally similar. Both tales revolve around a possibly supernatural force killing people in elaborate ways to seek revenge. Let me take it one step further. The killings are actually being performed by a father seeking revenge for his child. Since “Harper’s Island” hasn’t finished airing yet, I have no proof of who the protagonist’s child is, but I’m thinking it’s either the female lead or the male lead. While the plot lines aren’t anywhere close (“Death Bell” is about students being killed at an exclusive school; “Harper’s Island” is about wedding guests being killed on a remote island) the way the stories are executed are too much alike to be ignored.
The other element I find “Harper’s Island” to have in common with Kdramas is the ever-so-annoying cliff hanger that makes these shows so addicting! What is the reason we keep coming back episode after episode (and in some cases stay up until ungodly hours in the morning)? Because we just have to know what’s happening next! “Harper’s Island” definitely has the same thing going on, and unfortunately for me, I have to watch it in “real” time (unlike the Kdramas, which I have on disk or watch on Dramafever) I now have to wait for the next episode to air!
Also, like most Kdramas, this show is set with a fixed number of episodes, and once they have all aired, that is the end of the show. There’s a real and finite end, unlike most American shows that can last for years.
This is why I would not be surprised to find out that at least one or two people who are in charge of decided what Americans viewers get to see are, like us, Kdrama addicts.
happy–well– SATURDAY already, everyone!
just a question, do you know if sarahbeans will still be doing recaps for Partner? sorry, been out of the loop for so loooong!
@mishane
I get asked that question everyday as well, it seems to be important to Americans to know your ethnicity. It does not bother me and tell them where I’m from. They mostly are afraid of getting it wrong so ask “where are you from?”.
What does upset me is when people around me talk negatively about immigrants and when I say I’m one too, they say I don’t count. Why? Because I’m white, blue eyed and blonde!
As for guessing my ethnicity they are right only about 25% of the time!
@langdon813
Hope your Dad’s ok. Mines having surgery in a couple of weeks and I’m worried about him. At 79 surgery isn’t a walk in the park. It’s a weird feeling when the parents you’ve always look to for support and guidance turn dependent on you.
I’m also enjoying The man who can’t get married! It’s so funny and yes, I love the dog!
Have a great weekend everyone. It’s back to work for me!
Thanks for all the well wishes, guys! Unfortunately we didn’t get the news we were hoping for, my dad does have to have bypass surgery. He’s actually in pretty great shape (still playing softball regularly at 66) so this is probably a hereditary thing, but hopefully he’ll come through it all just fine. I’m drinking my medicinal red wine as we speak, LOL!
Anyway, happier things…just finished Ep 8 of The Man Who Can’t Get Married and I am having the best time watching it. Every episode is so funny, and at the end of this episode things are really getting interesting between the two main leads. The younger couple is a hoot too and so cute it’s ridiculous. Kim So-eun is ADORABLE and might just give Yoon Eun-hye a run for her money as my future daughter-in-law. There’s an entertaining chihuahua, too! Something for everyone!
Hope y’all are having a great Friday (or Saturday, depending on where you are)!
P.S.
Because a post from me with no mention of City Hall is like a day without sunshine…if you haven’t read Samsooki’s kick-ass recap…you are MISSING OUT! Seriously. Go read it now.
I’ll wait.
@Langdon813
I’m sorry to hear about your dad. 66 is still very very young so hopefully this surgery can bring him many healthy years to come. I’m sending out my good thoughts and crossed finger wishes across the miles.
I just got caught up watching the last several episodes of Sons of Sol Pharmacy and it made me think of your blog…
I think it’s episode 22 or 24(?) when third son SunPung gets a wavy JunPyo hairdo (to the shock and dismay of his two older brothers) and just moments later sings a few bars of “Paradise”–I just about died laughing!!!
He actually looks pretty cute, but I like him better with the square glasses. Just wondering if you got to see it yet?
@langdon813
Sorry to hear about your dad. My father in law had a bad heart attack in January while we were visiting my parents thousands of miles away. He is about 75% recovered. I’m sure your dad will get better too.
@mishane
I get asked “Are you Filipino?” a lot. And 50% of the time from Filipinos. I don’t think they are really prying rather they are trying to see if I’m Filipino like them. Sometimes, Filipinos start speaking Tagalog or Ilocano to me and I have to tell them that I don’t speak the language. When I tell them I’m Chinese, they often have this shocked look and ask if I’m pure Chinese…haha! I’m not offended by all these. My best friend is Filipino and another good friend of mine is too. And when I’m with them, we often get mistaken for being sisters or cousins.
When I visit my in-laws in Boise, I get mistaken for Mexican or Peruvian. I’ve also been mistaken for a Thai, Hawaiian, and Malay – I get Malay a lot when I was growing up in Malaysia especially in college when majority of my friends were Malay.
I do get offended when people assume I don’t speak English or good enough English because I’m Asian. And then when I open my mouth, they say something like “Wow! You speak good English” like I’m not supposed to?
after a night of bar hopping in huntington beach… here i am, back on JB’s site haha. watching Kang Xi Lai Le (taiwanese talk show) with the cast of Black and White… and I realized that when I claimed Mark, I wrote Mark Zhou and I meant Mark Chao haha! Maybe I subconciously want both Mark and Vic so i combined their names? lol… either way this show is hilarious.. it’s basically the hostess (Vic’s ex-gf’s little sister) making all these random comments and asking Vic about her sister and their breakup instead of really talking about the show. poor vic…. but i love xiao s (the hostess)…she really knows how to keep a show interesting!
@ langdon813
Best wishes to your dad – take care!
hi, javabeans. i love your site very very much. i’m not your feed-er, btw. just’ve read some of your articles and recaps. i’ve read your recaps of boys before flowers, and i think, if there’s an award for tv-series-recap-writing, you must be the winner. i mean, really, they are hillarious and the comments are also fun-to-read. i enjoy it even more than the show itself.
keep the good work javabeans! love-love-love your site very much!
I’m filipino, but yeah i get what you mean mishane. But, I’m not offended, even I do it. Curiousity is contagious.
I’m going to watch Blood, the last vampire in a couple of hours…anyone seen it yet? I can’t wait to watch Jeon Ji Hyun kicking some vampire’s bottoms and hear her speak english! I love her since My Sassy Girl.
@langdon813: My sincere prayers are with your dad and to your family.
@langdon813
I meant to write in my last post, but I hope your dad feels better! And that the surgery goes well!
I’m kind of perplexed about the news that there is a Chinese version of Hana Yori Dango/Boys over Flowers coming out next month…isn’t it a little too soon (and I still need to finish BOF)
@77 Taohua
I watched the trailer and was pleasantly surprised as I did not very much like the photos of the ” HOT4″ when I first saw them. As I really like Hana Yori Dango I will definitely give it a try.
@ langdon813, mzpakipot, epyc, omo, Samsooki, nycgrl, ockoala
I had to smile a bit when I read the comments of your little CH self-help group during the last week. Suffered of some depriviation symptons as well and started watching Queen Seon Deok, plus continued with Triple and Partner. They are nice but just not CH… So I reacted like everybody else and started to rewatch CH, seems the end of ep 13 and ep 14 have become my favourite and, of course, the final episode.
At least Alodia and Samsooki are doing something constructive to cope: BonSubs has been releasing a lot of newly subbed CH episodes and we had the pleasure to read the recap of episode 1 by Samsooki & Co.
@langdon813
All the best to your Dad!
@langdon, My prayers are with you and your family. Trusting the best divinely possible outcome for this situation.
Ethnicity thing, I don’t really mind any longer, after being subjected to it for last 30 years of my life since immigrated to the States… I think, in general, people are curious being and some are sincere…
Now I’m watching Partner, Triple and SI. Gosh, need more time to get on with my business…
Anyway. Happy happy weekends for everybody around from down under.
@langdon813
All the best to your dad! Stay strong! Good to see you have some light things like kdrama to relieve the stress.
Really ‘Health is wealth’ is so true. Having recently been ill – I now totally understand and appreciate that statement. Also starting to refocus on my health and fitness after a neglectful and long hiatus (so bad!). Acquired a Wii Fit – and it is making it so much more fun!
That combined with outdoor exercise should (slowly but surely) do the trick hehe
So everyone out there – yes we all love our have tv/kdramas but perhaps do some exercise WHILE watching them! (haven’t tried it myself….the thought just occurred to me!) Every little bit helps! Take care!
Oh, you guys…I’ve said it before but it bears repeating; it really amazes me how Kdramas can make friends out of strangers, and how those friends can be all over the globe yet make you feel like they’re sitting right next to you. It’s astonishing, and very touching, and I am so grateful, more than you will ever know!
What did I ever do before DB Open Thread Friday came along to prove that I’m NOT crazy and NOT alone in my Kdrama obsession? This place is better than hours of therapy, LOL!
Thanks JB, for creating such a wonderful haven for all of us.
um….BLOOD, THE LAST VAMPIRE…NO GOOD!! So, please don’t waste your $8.50 for it.
Jeon Ji Hyun did okay, not great, but um OK. I blame it on the script, and those fake bloods! LOL
Now, back to City Hall re-watch.
About the ethnicity question, I felt offended and annoyed in early days….. but now I’d actually be the one to get it out of the way to tell those people (and you can tell who are the ones by their look and who don’t give it a damn).
Women really need closure…So a few years ago I broke up with my first boyfriend (or, to put it less nicely, he dumped me). He broke up with me because he liked another girl, but then after that crush was over he went out with this really cute girl. People tell me I’m pretty, and that I’m smart. I’m not the ignorant type of ex who would have hostile views about my ex’s new girlfriend… However, I started wondering what she had that I didn’t. I was okay with being his friend, but when I saw them laughing together in front of me, I couldn’t help but walk away. Today those faint memories of another me still stings my eyes. It’s sort of like having your pride stepped upon.
2 and a half years later, I’m at a prestigious college with the most amazing boyfriend a girl can ask for. I love him so so much…and because of my mistakes, I’ve seen how fragile his heart is. He did not like it when I still contacted my ex on a friends basis, and it even hurt his feelings so…for his happiness I’ve cut off contacts with my ex.
But you know..I never got my closure. I never had an outburst, a release. I never told the guy how hurt I was and how much I wanted to ask him ‘what right do you have to step on my feelings, give yours away so easily, and then just to have them trampled on? What Right Do You Have!?’ The girl broke up with him, and he had both mental and physical depression because of it. I’m not the weak girl I used to be. I am stronger than him, for I moved on and forgave and accepted. But…no matter how much new love has nourished one’s heart, scars cannot be undone. I want so much to have that closure. To officially tell him that I’m over him and tell him of the scars he left on my heart. The innocent first love that he has shattered. But…can I..? Not when the heart of my most precious love might tremble with hurt at knowing a single thread still connects that person and me. The single thread of our past…
But love, you are my present and my future. I want to hold your hand at graduation, brace the hardships of life together the way we went in. I want to be your wife, bear your children, grow old with you. I want to never make you hurt.
I love him so much…I wish he’d understand and watch over me as I close off that stained page of my past and lift this weight off my shoulders. Sorry for the long rant…I doubt anyone would read this since we are going into Sunday. But I had to put these thoughts somewhere and Javabeans’ safe haven is where I put my trust. Thanks for this wonderful Open Thread series, Sarah (as I’ve heard others call you). I’m a quiet yet loyal reader here, and through your words you have earned my utmost respect and affection. Never let the passion stop flowing!
@langdon813:
Sending lostsa love, hugs and the bestest of best wishes to you, your dad and your family in this trying time.
Okay I don’t get it Kamio Yoko only gives out the rights to HYD/BOF every two years so how a chinese version is being made again makes no sense, unless they’re basing it off Meteor Garden, in anycase I would expect a lawsuit against the show.
i haven’t seen or watch any Chinese drama, but I have some questions. Are there any difference between Taiwanese and Chinese dramas? Which is better in quality? I’ve only seen Taiwanese dramas which i thought the ones i’ve seen were pretty good! Seems that Taiwanese dramas are more popular internationally. But, I remember growing up in the Philippines, they showed Chinese martial arts drama (kinna like Saguek) every sunday (not dubbed or subbed either).
Chinese HYD? hmmm…not sure if i wanna watch it.
Taiwanese Drama tend to be much more popular than Chinese drama’s, I’ve never really seen any “mainland” dramas tbh and i really have no interest in them. Taiwanese drama tend to be way too tacky for my tastes but there are some hidden gems here and there.
Dramabeans: I have been following your twitter, you seem to eat a lot of junk food. Do you weight more than 200 pounds? ^___________^
@whispers
closures are important so that we can move on without looking back. maybe you can tell your bf how much you love him etc….like the ones in the 4th paragraph and then explain you just need that closure. it doesn’t mean you love him any less or that you still harbor feelings for your ex.
@mazipakipot
the taiwanese dramas are more popular internationally. the chinese dramas sometimes have better acting and less cheezy or tacky since they are not geared towards popularizing the pop idols like the taiwanese dramas. the martial arts ones you saw were probably from hong kong, who has long been well-known for dramas – i grew up watching them.
@whispers
You are lucky to have a wonderful person in your life. I too adore this blog!
Having closure is important but sometimes we all don’t have it either. My first love did the same and I never did get closure either. It hurts but I admire you have someone now great in your life. Hopefully you can put that “thread” that binds you and put it in a box and throw away the key. Good luck and thanks for sharing.
@mishane
Aw the question on where are you from? I used to be back and forth about why cannot that person ask my ethnicity? Now that I am older I could care less. (I am Chinese American.) I agree with others I sometimes ask to get it out of the way too. But I ask “what is your ethnicity?” instead of where are you from though based on a person’s accent I do ask “where are you from?” first.
As for Korean phrases, I picked up alot watching dramas too. Now I have taken some basic classes in Korean and know a bit more. But my listening is thousands of times better than my ability to speak Korean.
@ funkster316 & yvhsien: Thanks for the support. I’ve been feeling a ton better these couple of days. I’ve thought over it, and I don’t think I need that closure anymore. People have changed, and I guess I expected the closure from someone who used to exist 2 years back. That person is not there anymore, so no need for closure.
On the brighter side, my boyfriend said I might get to see him this weekend! Hopefully he won’t disappoint lol.
Oh my.
I didn’t even post ONCE during an open thread!
How could I let this happen?
(umm, lessee… major recapping project, BON translating CH lyrics/Ep17/Ep19, trying to finish CM/GJGJ/NH, work, sleep, eating)
Still, no excuse!
I spoke today with the good folks over at YA Entertainment. They can’t say anything yet with respect to City Hall and the rumor that they are obtaining the rights to US distribution of the official DVD set (nor whether it would be a Director’s Cut or a normal version). But, in efforts to mollify me, they did say that they will be releasing the official Boys Over Flowers, the DVD set, in two volumes, in Nov / Dec of 2009, ready for the Holidays. If I were more into BOF (which we’ve not seen), then I might have been mollified. But I’m not, so I am not.
If no US distributor (YA Entertainment or similar company) will pick up City Hall, then I’m a little fearful that City Hall will become like Hong Gil Dong – where in Korea they produced a normal and a collector’s edition version of the official DVD set, but didn’t produce anything for the US, leaving the US market completely screwed.
This opened up the market to bootleg distributors of HGD, who produced Region 0 DVD sets, and sell them on eBay and places like that.
And small world, guess whose main and spot translations (made through WITHS2) we were shocked to see come up on a particular bootleg HGD episode that we watched? When we saw that, we tossed the DVDs and watched the rest online. And we won’t ever buy bootlegs again, after we saw that people were making money off of JB’s and other people’s work product.
The price to pay is that if City Hall and other really good dramas like HGD don’t make it to the US, then the only way to get the real DVD sets is to get a region-free or a multi-region DVD player.