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@ 199 Samsooki
“The monologue scene by the cherry tree is so great – probably in my top 3 dramatic scenes of the whole drama”
I agree – FYI, the crazy King in HGD is an altogether different beast that the crazy King in Illjimae. I have sympathy for one and not the other. Crazy Kings are not all a dime a dozen.
I don’t want to say more on the last few episodes of HGD, until after langdon finishes. I lub you all so much, too!
samshiki, what u point out is very realistic considering marriage…
but when I’m watching mnikss, I should say fangirling over mnikss, I let myself step a foot in fantasyland… I don’t let all that socio-economical stresses weigh in much.
Me and all girls and kids and men love cakes.. samsoon is a very talented patisserie, at the end of mnikss, she’s just starting out…. in couple years, she may be a VERY successful sassy filthy rich entrepreneur in commercials for AE.
samshik’s family… is nowhere near say EoE’s complexities, he’s the heir apparent of his mom. When she steps down, he can do whatever his heart desires and he’s never those follow the dots, join the lines kinda chaebol. If he cared about his status, reputation in the bigger society, he would not act like a sour puss to all those dates and shied fr any social events. Seriously samshik and samsoon will plug themselves to LV where he’ll be smirking, showing off curvy samsoon to all the ‘monguls’ with identical trophy wives attached.
And, first run, I don’t care for what the future holds for them at all, I don’t need them to be happily ever after for me to be more than satisfied. They love each other. Even if the next moment after the kiss Samshik said sth super moronic (totally possible) and samsoon kicked him down the stairs…. and he died.. I’m still contented they have loved.
That’s y I tortured myself watching April Bride and still cry buckets yet left satisfied.
Sorry Langdon, I stopped watching HGD 2 eps in, and I didnt feel the urge. Watching drama is opportunistic as well. I do feel your heartache watching the last couple eps. hang in there! Iris is knocking!!!!
@ mookie
Good points! Clearly you’ve really thought about MNIKSS. I’ll just have to agree to disagree with you. Your observations on BDG is all spot on, but we’ve only seen superficial glimpses of BDG, plus more importantly, BDG to me represents the possibility, the existence of a happy future for our beloved Sam-soon should she and Sam-shik not work out (what if he gets mowed down by a car, and she’s left alone, and SS is no longer the best option).
While normally I NEVER think about these issues when I’m done with dramas (together, happy, check, ockoala happy as well and moving on to next drama), MNIKSS challenges the viewers to form their own outcomes, opinions, while positing alterntive views. But always stressing how our heroine is and will be fine in living her life to the fullest. I see BDG as what he has always represented – a possible option for SS, maybe worse, maybe the same, maybe better, than Sam-shik for Sam-soon. We’ll never know.
SS-SS h-waiting! MNIKSS is so awesome!
Speaking of casting perfectly (strip aside good/bad acting by the actor), I wonder how often shows become bad or is a shade from becoming awesome because of weird casting logic – which seem to be happening rather frequently.
Been thinking: How the heck is Bae Soo-bin the same dude, even after full face/off surgery, as Han Sang-jin? (I guess I must swallow the same pill as the one taken to believe that Nic Cage is John Travolta post-surgery…..)
And how is Go Hyung-jung the MOTHER of a full grown dude (that chicken loving Bidam I’ve been hearing about).
And my baby Jang Geun-soek as Chang-whe, when he’s up against Kang Ji-hwan AND crazy King! – his voice, purrfect, his baby-face plotting a revolt – I just want to stick in back in school, or a boy band.
I’m not thinking along the lines of Gu Hye-sun as Jan-di, who I believe was perfectly cast, but she proceeded to regress in her talent and overact, not what I expected. But casting Kim Bum as a mixed-martial arts fighter – epic miscast, even with Bummie’s million and one cute facial expressions.
Just pondering…..I’m sure y’all have many more weird casting choices to share.
@mnikss
Since we are having such a forum about MNIKSS, I’m rewatching it with a different POV (have to do something while I’m waiting for You’re beautiful **sigh*).
I just finished epi 1 , and I’ve already notice something that I didn’t in the past 6 viewing- that JH already attracted to Samsoon while SS gave her speech about the box of chocolate( at the job interview).
With a new sense of observation (possibly after reading all these postings), I noticed the dynamics between these 2. In the initial encounter, I think JH just thought of SS as a crazy woman ( first in the men’s room, then at his mom’s hotel bakery kitchen)…oh was he wrong. Of course, he discovered the crazy woman could really bake (while he was cleaning the mango mousse off his face), and then when he listens to SS’s intelligent, heart warming speech about her passion for baking, I honestly see, right in front of me, that JH had a “wow, this woman is something else moment”.
I think , to JH, Samsoon is someone he actually wants (not knowing at first). I mean we all know that SS did not fit in the “norms”- socioeconomic, model like figure, education level- none of that. But to JH , that’s boring, not stimulating (emotional and attractiveness). He knows he can get that easily ( look at all his blind dates his mom set him up with), and of course Hee Jin. No, I think the man has grown up and wants something better; someone that would not kowtow to him, his mom, his social circle, and stiil love him unconditionally, whether he is rich or not, AND help him to be a better person (emotionally). As I stated before, I love MNIKSS not for the perfect ending, but the fact that both SS and JH grew , and that they decided on their own terms how they will be together. I think this way, if and when they do part ways, there will be no regrets( for them nor the viewers, like us )
I finished Hong Gil Dong. Thank you a thousand times over to Samsooki, ockoala, hjkomo, and countless others who recommended this so highly and so often.
The only thing I can think of to compare this feeling to is a scene from As Good As It Gets, where Melvin tells Carol (paraphrasing) that she’s the greatest woman on Earth, and maybe other people don’t know that about her, but the fact that he does makes him feel really good about himself. That’s how I feel right now.
The difference is that here there are many people who DO get it, and don’t think I’m crazy for sitting in front of my computer crying my eyes out, and who understand exactly why I feel so grateful that I devoted 24 hours of my life to something this profound.
Hong Gil Dong is as good as it gets.
@ langdon
Amen, sister. Just let it sink it and savor the journey, and let’s send off Hwal Bin Dang well. I still can’t re-watch episode 24……. I’m sure you have lots to say, but perhaps not saying much is saying everything when it comes to HGD. I couldn’t quite shove the DVD in my sister DVD player fast enough, and sit her down to watch it.
@ ockoala
That’s exactly it. I feel like anything I say wouldn’t be worthy; it couldn’t even come close to doing it justice. I just know that I’ll carry it with me for a really long time. Probably forever.
Wonder how long it will be before the tears stop leaking out of my eyes? I think I’m done, but then I see a heartbreakingly lucid King accept his fate under the cherry blossom tree, or hear Chang Whe say “I wanted to let them see spring”; or Yeon tell Gomi to keep laughing…and Gil Dong and Yinok holding hands while flaming arrows that look like shooting stars hover in the air above them.
I think it’s going to take a while.
ok just had to pop in and say i decided to start You’re Beautiful today! only halfway through the first episode and i’m already hooked. it’s fun and funny and cute! the a.n.jell members are perfectly cast! hongki is adorably bubbly, geun suk is darkly angsty, yong hwa is mellow and level-headed and shin hye is SO EFFIN CUTE!
confused and adorable. i haven’t seen her in anything since tree of heaven so it’ll be nice to see her not crying every 3 minutes *keeping fingers crossed on that one*
i’m not a fan of FT Island (indifferent to them), but i smile everytime i see hongki already. kid is so… HAPPY!
and i’m back. finished the first 2 episodes of You’re Beautiful as well as read JB’s awesome recaps. This show is definitely a keeper so far. Can’t wait for this week’s episodes. I understand it’s up against IRIS starting this week huh??
Woah, it’s Tuesday yet the OT is still so lively…
I’m printing this page so that I can read this on my way to work. ^^
#158 Samsooki
ALODIA! *hugs*
Before you go, what is your take on MNIKSS cheating ex-bf?
—> SAMSOOKI!!! *waves* You just threw me under the bus there! lol
All these years I’ve just been reading discussion about MNIKSS and never have i expressed my thoughts (other than squeals of delight and hands-down praises for KSA) in words. I’m really bad with words – specially for something i truly truly like…
Plus i think you’re asking the wrong person… for someone who’s never been in love / never been in a relationship, what could be my take on a cheating ex-bf???
i’ll try tomorrow, let me read the new additions. ^^
#160 ockoala
My recipe for great korean fried chicken – step 1: grab purse, step 2: get into car, step 3: start the ignition, step 4: get on the road, step 5: drive to the nearest Kyochon, step 6: order the fried chicken, step 7: voila, best k-fried chicken ever!
—> Thanks for the recipe! Really helpful and useful since I’m practically helpless in the kitchen (i can only cook 2 dishes kimchi bokeumbap and pesto pasta lol)
Oh and my mom loves Fated to Love You so much that she keeps on pestering me to watch it (don’t have time, got a long list of K-dramas to watch). Qiao En Chen is the only actress she likes ASIDE from Kim Sun Ah.
#185 kdxmel
@alodia
Long lost twin sister? Yes! LOL, like you I’ve been stuck in CH for weeks now, nothing else even compares…but mnikss is one of the first korean dramas I’ve watched and seeing all the discussion here reminded me of what made me love that show so much.
—> Sis! lol
been stuck with CH for months and was stuck with MNIKSS for years. and i now just realized that re-watching MNIKSS while still trapped on my CH world is not a very good idea. Putting MNIKSS Disc 1 on my DVD player is as exciting as meeting your first love again… Now that I’m halfway through MNIKSS my heart is fluttering yet it still beats for CH… I’m officially going CRAZY!
I would like to join sleeplessinwgtn and thank Alodia for her hard work in subbing CH and wian too! You made it possible for people like us to enjoy what is possibly the greatest story ever told. Thank you!
—> the pleasure is mine… ha! anything for KSA. *^^*
#186 sleeplessinwgtn
@149 alodia
My first time to see you post.
Let me thank you from the bottom of my heart for CH and WIAN subs.
Like I said in my post above, MNIKSS is my first k-drama and that turned me into a KSA fan.
I did enjoy WIAN and loved, loved, loved CH.
Cheers!
—> Hi! I remember you from BON’s blog and your posts there always makes my day. I’m a big lurker here, you can only see me post if KSA is mentioned – and recently on some older OT’s invaded by Cityhallers and of course on Samsooki’s CH recaps. And then now because of the unexpected MNIKSS discussion.
You’re most welcome and again, the pleasure is mine. I’m thankful to BON as well and all the wonderful wonderful WIAN and CH Team for making the subs possible – of course our dear Samsooki included.
And I did enjoy WIAN and I could go on and rave about it all day long AMONG KSA FANS (lol) and my subbing experience with WIAN is somehow special and unforgettable. And for die hard KSA fans who waited for her for 3 long years, WIAN is indeed special.
————————
Just added “How to Meet The Perfect Neighbor”, “Hong Gil Dong” and “Sons of Sol Pharmacy” to my to-watch list… phew~
Since there’s so many kindreds here who love MNIKSS, HB and KSA…How is “Friend, Our Legend?” It’s been on my to-watch list forever, but things just crept up (ala Black & White, QSD, and now You’re Beautiful).
About “Sons of Sol Pharmacy” – I caught the 1st ep, but it was pretty mediocre to me – I felt that tried too hard to introduce the characters that they really didn’t interwine the characters so well – but I keep comparing this to the female version of Chil Princess – which I know I shouldn’t do…but is it really that entertaining?
Help with “Brilliant Legacy”: Again I watched the first 2 eps, which was melodramatic and had some extremely cliche scenes (car chase turned me off totally) – but MCW is my current new potential atm, and ppl were raving about the acting…suggestions on watchability?
Am I the only one who found HGD to be quite messy though I really liked some of the characters & great acting (crazy King was fantastic)?
@212 Kgrl -
I just finished Ep 16 of Friend Our Legend…. It is really good. It totally isn’t your typical k-drama.
1. the directing / editing / cinematography was done right – what I mean is that the time periods of the drama were very very tumultuous and both criminals and innocents alike were tossed about by forces they just didn’t understand.
Nobody really understood what economic modernization would mean. Nobody really understood what the effect that dictatorship mixed with democracy would have. Nobody really “got” what would happen to the old values, the old system of meritocracy, of “yang-ban” social castes.
And so everybody was just going with the flow, trying to survive, but not really knowing what would happen. That feel, that sense of uncertainty and anxiety… you can feel that throughout the drama and that’s just great.
2. The acting is getting better and better. Kim Min Joon is just great. Him and Binnie…. the acting is superb.
3. I wish though, that they had made this into a 16 episode drama rather than a 20 episode drama.
@206 langdon813 –
Glad you liked HGD! You should have seen the comments I made when I was watching, and I was reporting back on Open Thread… I gave hjkomo and belleza an earful…
“You promised me a happy ending!” (to belleza and hjkomo, who said the ending was “beautiful” but I interpreted that to mean the ending was “happy”, hehe, and I got the unexpected in Ep 24)
“I love the mad king!”
“I hate Chang Whe!”
lol.
my Top 6 fav scenes of HGD:
1. extended two-part scene with Yinok crying her eyes out about missing Gil Dong, then waking up to sense that he was there, and then running out to see him, and then just running into his arms. Yay!
2. scene where Gil Dong gets shot by an arrow… wait.. go back a bit… okay, extended scene where Yinok first warns Gil Dong about the soldiers and the Gil Dong puts her down on the rock and then leads the soldiers away and then gets shot… no, no… starting with the “I Lub You” part…. ah screw it, just the whole of Ep 7.
3. scene by the cherry tree where Mad Insane King turns lucid and philosophical, having regret and calm in his eyes as he realizes the murderous monster that he had been, but that he too was a victim of his own madness, and so his life was just huge regret that he must take responsibility for, despite the fact that he could have been a good king that everyone loved, had he been given a fair shot at it. And so he willingly accepts his being beaten to death, being torn to shreds like a dog.
4. scene where Yinok shields her eyes to let Gil Dong cry and blow snot bubbles as he sobs, after he realizes his lot in life is to live without a father who loves him.
5. scene where Gil Dong’s blinded dad is executed by his own hand, with Gil Dong watching in silent pain, with Chang Whe watching Yinok watching Gil Dong.
6. scene where Gil Dong is voluntarily captured so that his men can go free, and then Gil Dong turns and sees Yinok standing close by and resolutely and silently cheering him on (mouthing “Jiayo!”), and Chang Whe watching Yinok cheer on Gil Dong. Everything about this scene is awesome. It ties in so well with one of the early themes of the drama, in that Gil Dong and Yinok cannot necessarily be so close together, but instead, they will watch over the other from a distance.
I am really late to this OT, being on vacation with 110 Gb of drama & almost no internet access, but to go back to early posts about Attic Cat — I watched this early in my Kdrama watching days because a nice clerk at the library told me it was good. I really did not like it much until her parents showed up, but was glad I stuck it out until the end because of the rabbits. Toward the very end when they are having an argument outside the apt, and it is raining on her, but not on him, the camera angle is such that you see a rabbit hutch. And in the next episode you see that there are actually rabbits hopping around in there. Not once have we seen anyone feed the rabbits or mention them. So, even in Korean dramas when you don’t fall in love with the story or the characters, there is something to remember and make you happy. Long live K drama and the discussion thereof!!
@215, Samsooki
I agree with you 1000%.
I’d also include these:
Madame Noh dropping to her knees and begging Yinok to stay with Chang Whe. It’s so clear then that everything she has done has been for his benefit, and not her own personal agenda. This scene made me look at her in a completely different light.
The Mad King writhing on the floor and moaning in agony when he discovers that the sword was a fake and that his father never intended to keep the crown from him.
Chang Whe begging a sleeping Yinok to please look at him, just once.
The palace guards wishing ruefully that every time they visit Hwal Bin Dang they could stay just a little longer; then later, as they’re about to attack, acknowledging that their world is a dream that everyone wants.
Chang Whe hearing the truth about his mother from the Mad King.
Gil Dong’s father spending his last moments of life searching for the son he threw away and refused to acknowledge his entire life.
Gil Dong telling Yinok she’s his “I LUB YOU” too.
And, to lighten it up just a little because now I’m all teary again:
Any time the phrase “explosions of love” was used.
@ samsooki: I’ll take your advice, which I’m sure has absolutely no bias whatsoever, lols, and try to watch it asap. It’ll be a good balance between You’re Beautiful. And I love atypical Kdramas.
@langdon813: I had severe cases of SLCS while watching HGD, and I found parts of the script to be somewhat haphazard/disconnected, perhaps that’s why it was good, but not great for me. There were so many poignant scenes, though, in the drama for me, I found CW to be really pitiful, and in many ways, the crazy King too.
Is there anything else in the lines of You’re Beautiful – light, comedic, but GOOD fluff – out there? Dorama, Tdrama, Cdrama, HKdrama, American, British, etc.? I’m sick, so I want to do some marathons – hey, exercise it good. ^_^
@all my friends@ OT
I know it’s going to be good day today- why?
I turned on my laptop as usual and checked dramabean, and of course the first thing I read was about the new project Han Ji Hye has with—–Gookie!!!
And then, when I clicked on the OT, who did I get—-Gookie with Mirae banner…this is better than winning a lotto. What’s next, getting news about my Gong Yoo…lol
…better get back to work…
@219 cingdoc
We are on the same wavelength today! I was making up my bed earlier and thought about Gong Yoo (random, I know). Doesn’t he get released from MS soon?
Plus, I got the Lee Min-ki header (well, technically LMK and Chae Rim, but who’s quibbling) TWICE today!
I believe that Hong Gil Dong is greater than the sum of all its parts. Taken scene for scene, act for act, episode for episode, it sometimes wobbles, often entertains, and is occasionally quite profound. Taken as whole, it’s meaningful and memorable, all that hallmarks of a truly great drama.
@ Kgrl,
Friends: it takes serious commitment, it’s a drama that takes a lot of effort. So in the economy of entertainment value, it’s at the very opposite end of the spectrum fr YB. I’m with you finding HGD’s writing messy, but surely many characters/actors made up for it as we can clearly see the ravings fr many of the OT buddies here.
I haven’t seen a good fluff for years till YB, I’m interested to know as well if there ar any OT gang recommendations. imo HKdrama do not do fluff (I really can’t think of a watchable one ever…), they may bunch a group of younglings in sth like 4 leaf clover or Dressage to Win…so stinky u’d better not touch them. Cdrama just churned out their own version of HYD. It’s not watchable for me ( the F4….o_0), but the Makino/Liu Xin Yu is better than Jandi (not saying much really).
on KMJ in Friends:
(this is nitpicking, even on things I rant on, it’s way better than 90% of the acting/writing this year, I love Friends, it’s near perfect for its genre)
I’m a KMJ fan since Damo. Have to admit though I don’t think he’s nailed every single character he was in, but he still charmed me. For instance, he did not sell his Jae-Bok fr Ireland for me. (I watched it for my Damo withdrawal, but sadly I dropped it right away, that’s before binnie register nth more than a blip on my radar) And I find his acting in InSoon …on and off. He’s great in Tazza and I loved him in Surgeon BDH.
Maybe the writing was the culpit, but I did not totally get his JS in Friends. I appreciated Yoo Oh Sung’s much more greyish/shadowed/nuanced/layered JS. In part it’s clearly the writing and the medium, Yoo’s JS was allowed to ‘lurk in the dark’ more often, fleshed out in more ambiguity, we did not get to see as much of the character in the movie as with a 20 ep drama, hence it left more to our imagination. KMJ was undeniably terrific in many scenes, esp as the JS towards the end of the timeline of the drama. imo, KMJ played the character with too much calm, cool, collectiveness, not enough cohesive complexity and inner turmoil which was not in harmony with many of the character’s deeds esp towards DS (HB’s character) and JinSuk (main girl) I was very frustrated with him and MJH’s JinSuk, it’s almost like they deliberately and collectively pushed DS over the edge, knowing how sensitive (in a disabling way) and vulnerable he has always been (esp fr the added flashback scenes in the later eps, we got to see they were in the know all along on DS’ weaknesses) and stabbed daggers repeatedly at him, snuffing out all his hope till there’s no way u know DS could stand back up again, with not much remorse, an unknowingly cruel nonchalance to the point of fake innocence. I really can’t figure out the very abrupt shutting off of JinSuk’s sentiments towards DS just because of ‘oops he did it again’ (which was nth out of the blue considering his history) and how KMJ’s JS have the guts to renew his relationship with JinSuk, (and I do not think that scene of them alone when he’s ‘persuading’ her back to him was poignant/moving/powerful/strong enough in writing to change the course of the plot 180. So it did leave me scratching my head. )
It’s all fine acting jobs in the drama, but what caught my eye was Jung Yoo Mi (Eun Ji) who did a much more layered/honest job than Min amongst the actresses, and Lee Shi En’s Joong Ho was a scene stealer. SDY shut up some of his critics here. binnie elevated himself many notches(most memorable scenes: jail) but KMJ just did an expected job… did not surprise me as I’ve seen him good to great before.
And, I don’t think the writing was as sensitive and tight with the female characters further along the drama, it lacked the depth when it’s focusing on the guys, which is a shame since they started out so strong and well written.
@ Kgirl
“Is there anything else in the lines of You’re Beautiful – light, comedic, but GOOD fluff – out there? Dorama, Tdrama, Cdrama, HKdrama, American, British, etc.? ”
Wow, you’re asking for a lot, and I’m hardly versed enough to attempt to answer you.
You’re Beautiful is like lightning in a bottle – I’ve never been this gobsmocked with laughter and cuteness by two introductory episodes. We’ll see if the journey and ending are all adorably transcendent.
For other light, comedic, GOOD, fluff – a few recommendation, but I’m sure you may (probably) have seen these before:
k-dramas:
Love, Marriage
Couple or Trouble (Fantasy Couple)
The First half of Goong
My Love Patzzi
The Man Who Can’t Get Married.
t-dramas:
It Started with a Kiss
@ Kgrl
I’m not sure if you’ve seen it or not, but for fluffy goodness I really liked The Man Who Can’t Get Married; it kept me laughing constantly. I don’t remember a whole lot of discussion about it here on the OT but I definitely enjoyed it. One of the best things about it was the hilariously random one-off clips at the end of each episode. I thought Ji Jin-hee was a hoot, and this is really the first thing I’ve ever liked Uhm Jung-hwa in.
Yoo Ah-in and Kim So-eun are completely adorable as the two younger characters, too.
@ 146 kdxmel
“So I watched You’re Beautiful and I’m instantly taken by how good Jang looks in there! But seeing him act is a real surprise. The man can act”
“Based on yours and quite a few people here HGD seems to be interesting so I might check it out”
Jang Geun-soek is the second lead in Hong Gil Dong – so this may spur you to watch HDG. JGS is a teenage actor I watched grow into a lead role. Much like we have high hopes for mini-So Ji-sub Yoo Seung-ho, a few years ago, JGS was really catching people’s eye for his potential and how well he was doing at such a young age.
I saw him first as Ha Ji-won jailbait in Hwang Jini, and then later in HGD. I cannot finish Beethovan Virus, but he was in there as well. He’s a good actor, period, probably at the head of the class for his generation (I’d put Kim Bum up there, too – and maybe Lee Min-ho once he puts a few more projects under his belt). He may not always be well-cast, but in You’re Beautful – he fits the role to a T, like LMH for Gu Jun-pyo.
Plus points, he’s got a gggggreat voice, and now we can hear him sing! Also, I saw pics of future YB episodes, and he’s hair is styled in a pompadour look with a retro suit – I like how they are changing up his hair, clothes, whatever else, to fit the idol-image.
@ langdon-unni
Some point-counterpoints on HGD and its ending – may help you cope with letting go of HGD:
http://sevenses.wordpress.com/2008/03/26/noooooooooooooooo/
http://sevenses.wordpress.com/2008/03/27/thoughts-on-episode-24/
Btw: Sung Yuri bought Kang Ji-hwan a shi-tzu puppy for his birthday right after finishing HGD. And then he named it ‘Yinok’
Thanks little sis!! That definitely helped the crippling HGD withdrawal pains I’m feeling tonight. I think I’m still too emotionally attached to these people to decide exactly what I think about the ending. But I didn’t hate it, I can say that for sure. Not by a long shot.
Sigh…I have to go out into the real world tonight to book club and confess that I haven’t so much as turned the page of a real book in weeks. Okay, months! Does Southern Living magazine count, I wonder?
Plus, it’s raining, and I kind of just want to sit here and check out Surgeon Bong Dal Hee on Dramafever. Any recommendations for this one? Any warnings to stay far, far away?
@mookie: I know, Friends is going to need some urging since I’m fresh off of YB and want more fluff. Thanks for the detailed suggestion. I do love my unique female character tho.
@ockoala: AH! What do I do?! I’ve seen all your suggestions, except Fantasy Couple, which I didn’t finish cause things came up.
@langdon: Due to my bad case of SLCS in BOF – I was crazy about Soeul – MWCGM was a must-watch for me. I thought Yoo Ah In was completely adorable with Eunnie. But I still found the story to be…eh. Perhaps it’s b/c of the Japanese version? I did, however, find the end clips at the end to be hilarious and very creative.
Ah! Friends is good, but oh so…not fluffy! I need a feel-good show to watch. *sigh* I may have to resort to watching repeats. *big sigh*
@ Kgirl
” I need a feel-good show to watch. *sigh* I may have to resort to watching repeats. *big sigh*”
That’s not so bad, right? Sometimes I’m totally in the mood to revisit a beloved drama I’ve not seen in awhile, and perhaps enjoy it in a new light. You’ve seen them all, sister!
@ Samsooki
When I don’t hear from you, I think Baby Rain is here……. Can’t wait to welcome his arrival. Can we collectively at DB send a baby gift to the hospital addressed as either To: Baby Rain, or To: Baby Samsooki? The nursing staff will be mightily confused!
@229 ockoala
Please count me in if you’re sending something to OUR lil Samsooki…I really can’t wait for this sweetheart to join us; I’m more anxious of his arrival than the last days of military service for Gong Yoo ( Now, that means a lot coming from me!!),,,back to MNIKSS
@lovenyc52
**sigh** NCIS was pretty much *yawn* to me tonight. The episode was about Ziva and all, but since there was not any Tony/Ziva , I spent most of my time on the laptop…hopefully next week would be better…back to my MNIKSS
@alodia,
Hear, hear! I am on episode 16 of CH rewatching with hubby now, so i don’t think i can split my mind and heart up into 2, to watch KSA in 2 awesome shows at the same time is bound to confuse the HECK out of me, so i’m choosing to leave well alone until my CH journey is done with. But I am glad I’ve a few runs of CH behind me now, because the first week after I first finished CH was the hardest week I’ve had to go through – so blown away, no strike that, BLAST away I was.
@ 218 Kgrl
Have you seen the Jdrama Nodame Cantabile? It’s a light romantic comedy based off a manga and the live action series featured an adorable Ueno Juri as Nodame and Tamaki Hiroshi as absolute gorgeous ice-man Chiaki (before he lost all the weight, sigh…). It’s often laugh-out-loud hilarious with over-the-top anime-like slapstick, and I especially loved the classical music themed story. But what made me really, really love this series is because behind all the romance, the ice-man-melts-for-simple-sweet-girl story, it’s really about growth, finding your passion in life, and stretching yourself to achieve your dreams. It’s uplifting to watch
@ockoala
I’m downloading HGD as we speak…it’s definitely high on my to-watch list although I admit I’m a little hesitant upon seeing the bucket loads of tears langdon813 shed (no offence!)…I just don’t know if I have it in me to cry through the next few days…but knowing Jang is in there…knowing it’s certified GOLD…I just might have to grit my teeth and bring out the kleenex…
@Samsooki
Never had the right opportunity to say this before, but I just wanted to congratulate you and Mrs Samsooki for the bundle of joy coming your way! All the best!
Finally watched YB today….what a show. Can’t wait for the next episodes. All the guys are hot. Though JGS is his normal gorgeous self, I find myself more and more drawn to Jung Yong Hwa who plays Shin Woo especially after watching the preview for the next episodes. He is so caring towards PSH/GMN. Why can’t the nice guy get the girl for once?
@232 kdxmel
No offense taken!
HGD is a tremendous amount of fun! In no time at all you’ll be madly in love with every single character, which is why it gets tough towards the end when things start taking a darker turn. But the journey is worth every tear, I promise. PLEASE don’t let me crying so much influence you negatively, it’s just what I do!
I’ve got to finish Nodame Cantabile one of these days; thanks for reminding me!
@233 yvhsien –
Why can’t the nice guy get the girl for once?
This is a very interesting point.
WHY can’t the nice guy get the girl in k-dramas?
Nice guys are NOT necessarily needy guys or a momma’s boy. Can’t a guy be a nice guy, just because he IS a nice guy? What’s wrong with being a non-jerk? What’s wrong with having empathy and manners at the same time?
Coffee Prince: GY isn’t the nice guy (at all!), and he gets YEH. Not that the other guys were really trying for YEH, but if I were a girl and I had my druthers, I might pick the rather dreamy and softspoken, empathetic Kim Jae Wook over Mr. Freeze GY.
MNIKSS: Binnie isn’t the nice guy, he gets the girl.
Bad Family: My homie KMM is a gangster. Guess what, he gets the girl.
Boys Before Flowers: I never saw this, but I am assuming that one of the F4 got the girl, and I am assuming that its the pama guy, and he’s the bad guy, right?
Delightful Girl Choon Hyang: Jae Hee plays a rebel without a cause, and he gets Korean Barbie?
Full House: Rainnnnnnnnnn!! is a superstar attitude monster… who gets SHG?
Goong: Prince Shin…. Mr. Aloof…. gets YEH?
HGD: Sung Yuri has the choice between the King and a robber, and chooses the robber…
My Girl: LDH chooses coldfish LDW over mr. nice guy Junki…
Of course, on the flip side, Dalja Spring…. Chae Rim chooses warm and fuzzy Minki over cold fish Hyun Woo. And Chae Rim chooses warm and fuzzy Um Ki Joon over major jerk Kim Seung Soo.
So really, only Chae Rim in the k-drama universe bucks the trend… Is this why I have soft spot for Chae Rim? Chae-Rim babe, spread the word – nice guys are for realz, and should get mad props for being good guys. peace out. hehe
@Samsooki
For a minute there, I thought I missed something in CP( how? I asked myself…I did watch the drama at least 20 times…he he). Until you mentioned it, I never once thought that Choi Han Kyul had a rival. I mean, to me, the only and THE problem Eun Chan and Han Kyul had was – the truth/trust issue. Those two fell in love before they each admitted it-whether it’s Han Kyul’s doubting his own sexual orientation or Eun Chan ‘s confidence problem. Besides, if any of the other boys have feeling toward Eun Chan,it would have been Ha Rim, and not Sun Ki, who has his own yearning toward the abused ahjumma.
It never ceased to amazed me how you bring out points from the drama and lead me to see it in a different POV. I’m rewatching MNIKSS (1/2 way already) and boy, even though this is probably my 10th time, I’m seeing it in a new way (deeper, more analytical) instead of just “watching” it. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still laughing, crying, and feeling KSS and Binnie’s agony( That’s how amazing this drama is) . I’m still enjoying it very much. It’s just different now.
My husband just made my day. I showed him the long trailer for IRIS and he said if he were to ever watch a drama with me, it might be this one.
Plus, I finally got him to agree to watch The Good, The Bad, The Weird with me Friday night!
LBH has some powerful mojo, it even works on my husband!!
the ‘bad’ guys getting all the girls…
simple, because it’s just so precious THE jerky baddie has only the eyes for our heroine and he only showed vulnerability and will love cuddling with her and her alone. The girl will totally get the vibe that she’s the only special one who ‘gets’ the dude and can break his facade, ‘change’ him fr damaged to wholesome…that is another alluring challenge, calling to our nurturing mother instinct. It’ll make in-your-face apparent the whole ‘the one’ obsession we have in relationships. Nice guy will give free hugs and his shoulders are for all damsels to cry on..so to speak.
hehe langdon, in my household it’s the exact opposite, my hubby showed me that long fine trailer, luring me to watch it with him because of his KTH… and little did he know I’ll watch it anyways (LBH + I like KSY, JJH, KimSW) So, I just nonchalantly shrugged and told him so.
In What Happened in Bali, the “nice” guy got the girl – and we who have seen it all know what happened after that in Bali.
In My Love Patzzi – neither nice guy got the girl – or they both got her – I’m still confused, and not in a good way.
I like to say – in Beautiful Days, the *nice* guy also did not get the girl (poor Ryu Shi-won), losing out to Lee Byung-hun, who was then transformed into a closeted nice guy.
Let’s not forgot our poor angel Bae Soo-bin, the nicest of all nice guys, seriously folks, guys do not grow any nicer than BSB in Shining Inheritance – and he loses the girl to a guy with a bird’s nest on his head and a pretty crappy attitude towards all – I would have taken BSB, shoved him in the nearest suitcase, and ran away to Bali with him. Silly Han Hyo-joo.
I prefer my drama men bad and edgy, my real man sweet and considerate – chalk it up to an understanding that living my real life with a drama bad boy would about kill me or turn me into a raving shrew.
@239 ockoala -
In My Love Patzzi – neither nice guy got the girl – or they both got her – I’m still confused, and not in a good way.
I liked the ending a lot, and I think it was pretty clear who Jang Nara chose in the end…. no? Pretty sure she chose the “badder” of the two guys, Kim ___ Won, and the nicer of the two guys, Kim ___ Won, was left to be a good friend, which, since he was the nicer guy, was fine by him.
That’s my impression – what gave you the sense that she wanted to have her cake and eat it too, ala a Kim Won Sandwich of Love?
@ Samsooki
“I liked the ending a lot, and I think it was pretty clear who Jang Nara chose in the end…. no? ”
Oh, it was clear, and then it was not. Witness this final exchange: I know you both like me a lot, and you can’t split JNR in half, so how about one of you gets me on odd days, the other on even days.”
But I can still say – I stand my review of My Love Patzzi and Jang Nara’s performance in it – so the ending of who got the girl was the least of my confoundment. But had they ended the drama when she didn’t go the airport, then yes, she would have picked the badder Kim Won. But then they purposely left open the possibility that years later, she may be making the choice again, and perhaps choosing differently. Who knows? Kinda like our Sam-soon and Sam-shik maybe not ending up together 4ever.
@ ockoala: No, you’re right. Rewatching an old, great drama is better than a new, disappointing one. lols.
@ kdxmel: That’s a great suggestion, my Dorama friends all tell me it’s a must-see, but haven’t had the impulse to try it. I’ll check out the 1st eps while my health continues to recuperate this weekend. Thanks : )
@ samsooki: Is this why I’m always getting SLCS (Second Lead Crush Syndrome) with Kdramas?? And it’s not just the guys, its the girls too – Jumong, HGD, BOF (always like the lead pairing, but I was falling for his finance in this version, not to mention I loved Soeul), Triple, QSD, MFL, just too many to name. Part of the reason is because the main couple didn’t have great enough intrigue, acting chemistry, nor logicial character devo for me to fall in love with the pairing; the other being I would have chosen the 2nd lead if it were me. Lols.
As for My Love Patzzi, it was one of my first “fluff” Kdramas and holds a special place in my heart. So I was quite satisfied that they left it open-ended. Since I was as debated as Jang Nara who I would have loved more in the long run. And Nara really was so cute with both Jae Won and Rae Won.
In the end, I guess it just really drills down to the acting chemistry and “courtship process” that’ll get my vote.
@ Kgirl
I almost forgot – definitely check out Nodame Cantabile as per suggestion – but for Fantasy Couple, it’s good fluff, but the first half is definitely a lot better than the second half.
I’ve heard murmurings of how the Hong sisters’ dramas tend to take a detour in the second half, or else the zippy, breezy quality turns into sap, either way, not what you signed up for. Fantasy Couple, IMHO, has that problem – but judging overall, it’s still a fun drama that I would recommend.
@241 ockoala –
Oh, it was clear, and then it was not. Witness this final exchange: I know you both like me a lot, and you can’t split JNR in half, so how about one of you gets me on odd days, the other on even days.”
Merrrrrrrghbleh.
Isn’t the final exchange with Jae Won and Rae Won having their own Kim Won love with each other, as Jang Nara is frozen out and left behind on the bench?
That said, I think that last part was said (“he gets me on odd days, and he gets me on even days”) in jest, with the bad boy Kim Won and Jang Nara having their relationship continue, with good boy Kim Won back to stay on the sidelines, waiting to see if Jang Nara gets tired of the badboy act, and wants to get with the nice Kim Won. Which is fine. Each Kim Won is fine with Jang Nara and Jang Nara gets along fine with each of them.
Btw, I think Jang Nara is so talented and cute, and so I am biased completely. I have no objective thoughts about this drama. Hehe. It’s a lovely drama, compact and full of heart. Plus, you can’t go wrong with Jang Nara songs.
I have to go out for a while tonight but had to come to OT for a minute and gush about YB! Ep 3 did not disappoint! I LOVE THIS SHOW!!
@ langdon-unni
YB – agreed! Ep. 3 was great, plot and character development moving along briskly and with heart. However, the ratings just came out. IRIS at close to 20%, and YB dropped more, down to 8.5%. Sad, me so sad (I don’t even need to think about how bad HTTG’s ratings were). YB might suffer from the same ailment trendy US shows like Gossip Girl suffer from – it’s fans are all watching online!
Damn…been gone for a week, and now I feel like I’m sooooooo behind. How will I ever catch up?
To top it all off, I wrote a long post, and then my window crashed erasing everything. I’m too tired to rewrite it all.
Watching Episode 3 of You’re Beautiful, and I was HOWLING with laughter at the Oldboy / Temptation of Wife / SuJu bit.
OMG this show . .. is . . . perfect.
(mebbe, mebbe not, but this show has decent chance at being my all-time favorite Korean rom-com.)
whee!!! just finished ep 3 of YB and totally LOVING it… hongki is such a character and really, i just smile everytime he’s on screen… weirdly JGS’s hair is kinda growing on me, though i’m glad they’ll be changing it soon. i am kind of sad about hongki’s blond hair going away though. i like that he stood out in his denseness and quirkiness and blondness hehe
can’t wait for tomorrow’s ep… damn viikii is fast with subbing!!
I think I’m going to watch all three eps again tonight while I wait for IRIS. I had a really boring meeting earlier (which I was 10 minutes late for…one guess why, LOL) and completely zoned out…then caught myself grinning like a fool thinking about YB!