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Hi beanies hope you've all had a great week, on to dramas.
I just happened upon I REMEMBER YOU,I wasn't planning on watching it but wow it's so good. It's like a mash of Criminal minds, Bones,Dexter and The Mentalist with buds of romance and somehow it works,the directing and editing is superbly done, story and characters are so interesting and we'll done,I can't believe I almost didn't watch it.I blame Mask because it consumed me and I couldn't watch anything else but now I'm all caught up and I want more.The chemistry is off the charts and I can't believe how talented SIG is, I have to keep reminding myself that he was a singer first. I already knew he's a good actor since Reply 1997 and KHS but here he's great. The suit and the hairstyle don't hurt because he has swag? oozing out of his pores. MASK we finally get bed scenes ✋ that's all I wanted. Loved the cute. Wish seok hoon would kill Mi yeon and just before her last breath he tells her
'I never loved you'
anyway she's dead to me,I can't stand her crazy. OH MY GHOSTESS so cute,can't wait for the next episode, the lead actress is very talented.
Moviewise
I only watched FASHION KING which was hilarious, loved every moment, Joo won really committed to this role which is so unlike him but just goes to show he can do anything, looking forward to seeing him in Healer Yongpal which looks amazing already.
I made a mistake when I saw Lee min ho on the cover of Heirs Dvd and decided to buy it and as soon as I heard ?love is the moment ? I chucked it out of the Dvd player.Why did I waste my money , it was horrible enough when I watched it online the first time around. That OST has got to be the most hated in the history of kdramas.
Non drama wise,woke up yesterday to CNN calling Kenya a 'terror hot bed' and got worked up, how dare they but I'm glad kenyans didn't let them get away with it, #someonetellcnn was the number 1 trending topic on twitter yesterday and I joined in to let out my frustration. Sadly this is not the first time CNN has made a mistake or sensationalise news, it seems they are in this for entertainment and ratings rather than unbiased news.I'll stick to Aljazeera from now on,thank you very much.
My mum tells me there is now no cell service or Internet because of Obama 's arrival and boy am I glad I'm not in Kenya what would I do without Internet.
That's it.
Have a great weekend beanies.
If Seok-hoon uttered those words to Mi-yeon, it would confirm what she's been aware of all along. I think that since the beginning she's always known that he's never loved her. ...... She just never wanted to accept that reality.
What would have made the show for me is if he had fallen in love with her at some point and then was really torn between love and revenge. That's where I hoped we were going ... her crazy behavior this episode was beyond out of the blue. Of all the characters and actresses who deserved better, none more than Mi Yeon.
You're right about that horrible Heirs song. Even today I have violent flashbacks and imagine that I am on a beach babbling Korglish that makes no sense at all. Heirs even now is still on my #1 hated drama of all time list.
Unfortunately I'm among those who only remember the bad and generalise.Maybe I'll download and listen to the rest and try not to judge based on one horrendous song.
I Remember You really is so good. I also always forget SIG started as a singer. But he's so charismatic as an actor and I'm sad this show isn't rating well because I wish he would just really take off as an actor.
Where did you watch Fashion King? I remember the trailer for it and it looked rather fun and silly.
I'm sure the title has something to with the lack of ratings. From the stills & the title, I assumed it was a rom-com or melo, & I wasn't the least interested - and I'd bet other people who like cop shows felt the same way.
But the people who would be interested in an amnesia melo would be horrified by the serial-killer plotline & stop watching.
Just needed a better title & more informative marketing. I'm definitely buying a copy for the library when it's available.
Happy Friday Beanies! Crazy times for me at the moment. So many things going wrong that I have no control over (culminating in my coworker having to go to the ER in the middle of the day yesterday - still waiting for an update on her although it's probably just stitches). Trying I work on my dramas but pretty much behind on everything.
Scholar This show is so cheesy and so fun! Lots of things make me laugh that shouldn't (like out dead prince stuck in a wall) but unlike last summers Watchman, this show is going for it full throttle. I'm one of the few who doesn't buy the lead romance and I feel badly because I really like both Lee Jun Ki and Yubi and think that individually they're killing it but...I think Yubi just always reads super young to me and seems more like an infatuated kid in everything instead of a woman. But again, I love them in this anyway. Also I've never seen Lee Soo-Hyuk I'm anything and I'm still in shock every time he opens his mouth.
Hidden Identity Only part way through episode 11. I'll most likely catch up today. This show is just amazingly full of plot holes but I've pretty much jut accepted that. I'm still enjoying many of the characters and will definitely see this one through to the end.
I Remember You My #1 right now so I'm definitely caught up. I really love it even if it's not perfect. The tone is really up my alley. I'm just worried with what the end game is going to be. Was anyone else happy to see the girl from Liar Game in these last two episodes? I hope she gets some meatier roles soon. Also, I love the actors. Pretty much all of them. I'm glad Park Bogum seems to be living up to his charasmatic potential (one of the best parts of Cantabile).
Orange Marmalade This show has finally found it's stride. I know a lot of people who stuck with it now really love but I'm just ok with it. It's hot some good moments now but a lot of them don't really feel earned. Good endings can't just be good on their own - the build up needs to be more authentic for me. Still, there's a lot of good now and I'm looking forward to the conclusion this weekend.
Late Night Restaurant/Midnight Diner Only one episode in but I found it refreshing. I felt oddly disconnected, as if I were just watching clips from a persons life which doesn't really let me get emotionally connected but it also creates an almost fairytale quality if that makes sense. Plus there's yummy food!!
Oh My Ghostess I'm also really loving this! #2 right now for me. This cast also is so fun to watch. Like a lot of people I'm a bit nervous about how they're going to handle the love lines in terms of who is in the body. The plot is getting more complex as well which is nice.
Stuff I'm way behind on: Hwajung, I'm still in episode 25. I just can't bring myself to watch his downfall. Murphy, still only watched through 15 because I dint want noble idiocy or unnecessary angst. Time, still only seen the first two. I haven't even kept up with recaps. I like the leads but the rest really wasn't working for me. I know I'll go back to it but it may be way down the line. I Order You, I'm only a little behind but it got paused while I tried Midnight Diner which I think is better. Then again Yunho is army bound now so I should get myself to finish this.
----
Random thoughts:
- I'm rather excited by Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah dating. I love them both.
- Anyone watch the CF with Sungjae and Kim So-Hyun? Technically all of BtoB is in it but they're in the back. I think everyone knows School 2015's most popular ship.
- I started watching infinity challenge which I always resisted because some of the cast annoys me...but it was fun and I'm surprised at some if the people they got to come out for this years singing challenge. I look forward to the songs.
I should start watching infinity challenge. Need to figure out why it is number 1 variety show for 10 years or something. Years ago, my younger sis told me it is her (and many young people's) favorite show so I attempted, but didn't like it much. Time to check out again.
If you don't watch Infinity Challenge regularly, you need to watch the Music Festival arcs. I first started watching the show two years ago during that Festival and was hooked. (I was impressed that almost all the cast can sing---well!)
So far this year looks promising too. I loved G Dragon and Taeyang in their masks. I was also impressed with how intuitive and ON THE MONEY IU was with her guesses. Also, watching Yoo Jae Suk sing all the parts of Big Bang's song--and mimicking TOP's open eye style--I laughed a lot.
In the teaser for next week it looks like G, Taeyang, and Kwanghee might sing a Trot song.
IU and her "pitch perfect" image is pretty accurate. She has an amazing ear. I loved how even JYP was like "Hey guys, guess what IU told me! She's so got this!".
A trot song?!?! Well it would be funny but I would love to see them do full on pop craziness. I really want Kwanghee to do a "YG-type" song. Maybe they're just doing a trot song for a fun warm up? I'm sure I'll like it no matter what though.
And I'm excited for Hyukoh to be on there...and now they've just signed on to Tablo's/YG's label. I'm hoping they create something epic too.
I watched a few eps of Infinity Challenge a couple of years ago. Loved it. Wanted to keep watching it but could never find a regular source for subs. Now I see it subbed regularly & I really want to go back & watch it. I'd love to watch it from ep 01 but that's probably impossible ( and CRAZY), right?
I totally broke down over the "I Am A Singer" episodes. I was so glad I watched them! Jinusean, Turbo, Uhm Jung Hwa, Bada....... Gahhhhhhh I was crying watching the audience reaction. I was humming all their songs for weeks afterwards.
To be honest, I think it's hit or miss for me. I started watching not realizing that the episodes aren't always in order. Certain challenges are over several episodes...and sometimes they'll show different challenges in between. But once you get over the chronology it's better. It also depends on the challenges for me. But I definitely think it's worth checking out. As others mentioned, the singing challenges are really fun and popular...although it helps if you have an idea of who these people are (if you're just into dramas and not the music scene it might possibly be less fun).
I agree with the noble idiocy in Murphy's Law - minus the noble part. I honestly don't understand the reason they can't be together. I'm force-watching this but if things do't turn around soon I'm going to drop it.
I love Shin Minh Ah and Kim Woo Bin too! I'm excited they're dating. I never would have paired them myself....but I hope it works out! Can you imagine how cute their babies would be!!
I gave up on Murphy's Law long ago. As you noted, lots of idiocy with no nobility. Not to mention that so many Taiwan dramas seem to be super silly and just downright cheesy.
Well I stopped watching so they haven't split yet. I just clearly saw it coming in the previews and threw up my hands in defeat. I feel like they have no reason not to be together anyway and already stuck with each other through so much.
Midnight Diner - Watched 4 episodes, and it is about 2 for 2. A couple of good ones, but a couple that are pretty bleh. But easy to watch since it is only 30 min.
I'm curious which two you likes and which two were bleh for you? (You can just number them) I've now seen the first two. I like not watching them all at once. I'm curious though if they'll start overlapping characters more or bring some back. Surely these customers don't just overlap with the same people and not the others.
I was wondering if anyone else was watching Late Night Diner! I've seen a few episodes, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I like the vignette style, and at about 30 minutes it's a short, sweet little story driven treat. Very curious about our cooking "master", though, especially with that scar on his eye and his very quiet manner.
Yeah, I'm wondering too if they're going to reveal more about him or not. He's a really great observer though and pretty compassionate. I forgot to check - how many episodes is this show?
@4D, Windsun33 & WM: yay, more Midnight Diner fans! :) I've gushed about this because the format of the drama is simply different than the typical kdrama. The episode is just about the right time length, the food looks yummy (I kinda wish there was more focus on the food -- but that's just the foodie side of me talking, ha).
I've seen eps1-5, and I agree with Windsun33 -- there are a few weak eps (for me, it was the Noodle Sisters and the Magician -- ep 3 & 5). I couldn't find myself feeling drawn to the Noodle Sisters' "first love" and the subsequent drama surrounding him, and the Magician's story was a bit blah for me (despite it being Ji Jin-hee...what a surprise that he'd cameo!).
As for the overlapping characters...there are a few that have recurred in other eps, but some (like ep1 & 2's character of the day) have not made return visits. I agree, it should not be the same ol' people over and over again, but it is a bit nice to have a new, fresh face for the episode's focus.
And I am also curious about the scar of Master's eye as well! I wonder if he was a gangster a la the guy from the first ep.
The Noodle Sisters and the Magician seemed way off for me. The Magician one seems like it was unfinished, or something got left out in the editing. A really weird ending.
@4D: oops, my mistake...the Magician ep was ep4. Didn't notice that 'til now!
@Windsun33: Good to see that I'm not the only one to think that those two eps were a bit off the mark. I saw the ending of the Magician one and was like, uh...what the heck happened to the ending? I, too, think it was a mistake in editing...although then that just seems odd that a major network like SBS would miss that before broadcasting it. Weirdness. The Noodle Sisters' "conflict of interest" was pretty lame, and how it got resolved (was it that he was two-timing her then? It was a bit confusing) was also a bit like...oh, let's just throw that in there so that they'll be friends again. Sometimes, I think that maybe these weaker eps are written by a different writer altogether...? The tone and general feel of these eps are a contrast to that of the stronger eps.
Have you seen this week's eps? I tuned in to ep7 (just jumped past 6, I'll get back to it later) because I heard of Oh Ji-ho's cameo. Was surprised at Nam Ji-hyun's cameo -- I think, in my mind, I'm still putting her with her What Happened to My Family's character, so it was a different look altogether.
Hello everyone. I don't post in these threads usually, but there is an issue currently up which concerns Dramabeans and the readers here.
A new "site" called Zkpop has appeared which steals entire pieces from others, without crediting the original sites and authors. It has not replied to any contact yet and they are also now trying to trick readers. They make template posts, then wait for the original creators to make the content and then they paste it into those template posts. This makes it seem as if Zkpop created the pieces first.
They have Dramabeans pieces and have also taken from Allkpop, Koala's Playground, Couch Kimchi, HanCinema and more. Also from Dramajjang, owner Kwon Sang Seung of which is gathering photographic evidence of this thing and keeping people informed.
Here are two pieces written about it by Dramajjang. Please do not feed these thieves and warn any acquaintances which might visit. Spread the word so we can make sure people know until Zkpop get reported enough to shut down. 1 and 2.
Hi, I got hit, too. There's a thread on http://www.cimiart.wordpress.com (my blog) under My Beautiful Bride episode 8 post with some steps that can be taken. Thanks to Kwon Sang Seung's heads up to me about it, others jumped in and offered help. revlow, Elle, Couch Kimchi and others listed tips and articles if you read down far enough on the MBB 8 post.
There is absolutely NO credit or links to any of the original posts that they've stolen.
If anyone has been successful in their attempts to stop ZKpop, let us know. Hopefully, if we all back each other, we can run them out of town.
The owner of HanCinema has tried contacting them too, but nothing so far. No clue what the site will do later, but I imagine at least some of the places hit will report them. Allkpop must have put pressure on them and they apparently took those pieces down.
The owners of the places hit can try to contact them and if nothing happens, do a whois on them and send reports to the abuse email. I do not know of the procedures beyond that. I see talk of DMCA reports and such.
What we as users can do is to keep speaking about the issue when we can, to make sure as many as possible know about this. We can't stop them ourselves, but we sure as heck can alert people to their workings on big communities and social media.
Sadly, this is a common thing. Most bigger sites have dealt with such scammers frequently. I hope whoever has the energy and time for it can go after them.
Thank you for this and for all your help there in those comments. I am not affected personally (though the site I work for is) and it just angers me beyond belief. If enough people report, they will be taken down. It's just a matter of all the sites coming together for it.
TGIF!
This week's news was-
Kim WooBin and Sin MinAh dating- yay for noona romance (SMA is 5 years older). They make good looking couple for sure.
On dramas:
HwaJung: I laughed on some comment which said Ep 30 must be the final episode. I get it because they made such a big deal about Gwanghae leaving. Even though I am glad they made GwangHae to shine in this show, I think they went too far -WTH He gave up his throne to save the princess? (eye roll)
Mask: I love to watch MW and JS scenes, but flaws of this show give me headache- severe one. The other leads' purpose in life 'You can't be happy because I am not happy' is simply absurd (another eye roll). I am glad this ends next week.
High society: I am glad this ends next week too.
I watch this to the end because of YiJi being my favorite character. Then again, JoongGi is doing better, and Park HyungSik is such an eye candy. But Yoo-na Ugh (another eye roll).
Oh well, I still have I remember you, My beautiful bride and Oh my ghost.
(I thought it was funny Kim SeulGi calling Park BoYoung Unni in the press conference because PBY looks so young. PBY said she had hard time acting hitting on JJS because she is shy, but now she got used it. Jo JungSuk says it is still hard for him acting against PBY hitting on him. I am glad show is doing well - as you know all four leads carried out their rating promises).
I'm liking mask with lots of ff...cause I'm pretty much marathoning on it right now. It's nice, all I need is to skip all the drama, and on to the sweet interactions. Ha! :P
Finally watched King of Dramas, which was quite enjoyable. I don't think it needed the love triangle with the female actress, although fortunately she was not a schemer. I just kept thinking "Girl, give up already. No matter how many times you say you'll wait, he has been over you for years." They could have just started the fun with her and Choi Si-won's character much earlier, because they were a riot together.
Anyone watching "I Order You"? I'm skip-watching because the acting – on all sides – is cringeworthy, the plot as cliché as it can get and the female lead sometimes just plain dumb. That said, I do like that the female lead has somewhat of a backbone when it comes to the ex-wife (who is another person that just needs to admit to herself that her ex is 100% over her).
Tried an episode of Midnight Diner. Pretty much an exact copy of the Japanese dorama, except that they swapped out the transgender guy and gave us a sweet flower boy. I guess that's how kdramas do it (Key of Life remake casting that was announced today does the same sort of thing.). K-Midnight Diner is still good.
Japanese dramas:
-37.5°C no Namida: this is quite promising (2 eps). The actors aren't the ones I usually watch and I can't say that one of them is spectacular, but I like the premise and so far it's definitely watchable.
–Akagi: I'm sure this would be even better if I knew anything about mahjong, but even with zero knowledge I'm intrigued already. Maybe just because Kanata Hongo is one of those actors that are sort of fascinating and generally always choose interesting roles/dramas. Having seen the first episode, my hunch I think he's playing to win even if that means he'll die. The geezer is too full of himself to realise that Akagi is exactly that kind of person – if he can defeat the old guy, he's willing to die for that.
Watched the Princess Jellyfish movie. Haven't read the manga, nor seen the anime, but let me just say that the highlight of that movie is Suda Masaki spending 75% of his screen time in drag. Hilarious. And amazingly gorgeous. Also love the fact that the girls in that house spanned such a wide age range (as in, the actors in real life).
Other than that, only reading recaps of various show while be glad that I dropped them early on or never started them. Yes, High Society and The Time I Held Off Confessing My Feelings for No Good Reason Other than to Annoy Viewers, it's you I'm talking about.
I watched a few episodes of "I Order You", they are only 20 minutes and have no plot to follow, so it's not really demanding. But it's sooo terribly bad and features the worst acting by the male leads I've ever seen.
That's why I'm skip-watching. Sometimes even without the subs (like, not going back when the subs are out because it's all so obvious). The first few episodes at least had some interesting food bits. And I'll give them that at least it's got a properly adult relationship.
But yeah, the acting is terrible. I don't think anyone in that drama can really act.
I feel odd skip-watching a show that's on 20 minutes. I watched the first six episodes but then stopped for Midnight Diner instead. I'm sure I'll go back since I like having at least one short show to watch, but it's.....yeah, not very good. I don't really like any of them either.
I like the story, very heart warming. I think they should have Princess Jellyfish 2.
My daughter said to me,'Suda Masaki looks better as a woman than a man. don't you agree?' I must say,' yes, him being a girl looked so pretty .' I have heard that he spent much time and effort to make him look pretty.
It's a pretty predictable story – nothing new at all – but it's very watchable and done the right way with some pretty good actors, which is all quite a rarity with live-action films.
Suda Masaki is an awesome girl, and not just that: he's a full-blown fashionista that pulls off the craziest outfits. He must have had such fun doing the movie.
Hahaha this suggestion feels the most right of all those I've read so far. Or I might tweak it slightly to
"The Time I Held Off Confessing My Feelings For No Good Reason Other Than More PPL"
Actually, I think most dramas are best described by "The Time I Didn't Communicate with You Like Any Normal Adult Would For No Good Reason Other Than That There Would Be No 16-Episode Drama".
Communicate
= confess my feelings
= clarify a misunderstanding
= didn't make assumptions without any real basis other than my wild, k-drama inspired imagination
= didn't listen to the lies/delusions of a near or total stranger that obviously hates me but instead talked to the person I know/love/trust and should be talking to directly with about this issue
= etc.
= I will not listen and interrupt you repeatedly when you do try to explain.
= If I see two people drinking coffee together, they are dating and/or cheating.. or both.
= If i am embarrassed because I got totally drunk and passed out, the best solution the next day is to run away and hide behind a vending machine.
Actually I guess if you worked at it, you could come with a list of about 50 like that :)
I couldn't handle Skip Beat! I don't remember much other than that some of the characters were unbearable (pretty sure I dropped it after a couple of episodes too).
I don't find Siwon a particularly good actor (he's serviceable at best), but he had a fun character in King of Dramas, particularly the longer the drama went on.
Q10 is not bad. It's one of those quirky j-dramas.
alua - I liked Skip Beat! overall. It was fluffy.
Everything was so exaggerated and over-the-top that it was a bit irksome to downright annoying in a few parts.
It was fun to watch Siwon get his come-uppance. I admired that he was able to let go of his image a bit and make fun of himself.
Ivy Chen grated on my nerves. So did the antagonist 2nd lead girl. But, I wanted to put the guy who played Siwon's manager in my pocket!
Q10 = quirky. Yep. but her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Switch Girl is still one of my quirky J-drama faves.
(Ouran Host Club)
Fluffy JDrama is campy and fun.
A secret I would only admit to here.
I've been watching I order you ONLY cause it's 20 minutes and not too taxing for my brain. I really dislike the female lead. If it's not her acting or her constant pouting or unflattering dye job it's something else.
I keep hoping that the food will be featured more especially since I went through both seasons of Let's Eat and have started watching Late Night Restaurant but it's doubly frustrating to hear about how he spent so much time cooking, showing a wide shot of the 6 dishes he whipped up and then having her eat ONE bite and roll her eyes in orgasmic delight and then NOTHING.
I really need to stop watching it but other people have raved about it and I keep thinking I"m missing something.
I don't think you're missing anything. It's a really low-quality production with people who cannot act in a drama that has no real story and is instead stuffed with one cliché and/or contrived scenario after another. I don't 100% dislike the female lead, I just dislike her most of the time. When she doesn't take the bait from the ex and just says "I don't care if the restaurant has your name, because that's just the past, but in the present he likes me". Unfortunately scenes like this contrast with her throwing a hissy fit, e.g. when she is deeply offended that he kissed her without telling her that he's a divorced man first.
I need to stop watching too, I think I'm only watching because it's 20 minutes (which I reduce to about 5 with skipping scenes) and because I want to see what further delusional nonsense the ex is spouting.
< When she doesn’t take the bait from the ex and just says “I don’t care if the restaurant has your name, because that’s just the past, but in the present he likes me”.
Ooops, meant to say I kinda of like her when she's like this – because it's quite rare in kdrama.
I usually let it play in the background while I"m doing other things on the computer. It probably is a sign saying "stop watching" but I always feel like things will redeem itself. I can't stop reading a crappy book either so....
Hi everyone! i hop everyone's enjoying thier summer! It's been a long time since I've been on OT! Real life is so time consuming!
I just moved to New Haven, CT and I was wondering if there were any meetup groups in the area - I would love to meet some fellow beenies! Let me know - I don't mind if the closes one is in New York either.
On the drama front I'm loving I remember you - it's a great mix of suspense, romance, and comedy for me! My Beautiful bride is great but it stresses me way more - it lacks those comedic moments to take the stress away. But I sort of enjoy how with each episode we dig deeper and deeper into their background and we get to see a more complicated web than I even suspected existed.
Mask is also on my to-watch list once I get moving out of the way. If anyone has any suggestions for life in New Haven, let me know! I'm totally new to the city and would love some tips!
Also - did anyone watch the Thai drama Ugly Duckling Perfect Match? I absolutely loved it! It's so cute! Well...I haven't seen all of it. The subs take a while to come out - but I expect good things after watching the raw videos!
Sorry for the late response - busy moving. I think it's also on Youtube. I don't know who specifically posts it, but I find it though the link on this website: http://sinlapinthai.tumblr.com/
Only Ep 1-6 are subbed right now I think. Usually one episode is subbed per week so episode 7 should be coming shortly (I hope!)
I really wish Oh My Ghostess was on Viki...there is so much to comment on!! I'm still enjoying it. Can't wait for new episodes
I was really disappointed in My Long Eun Dong's ending. It's like the writers just ran out of gas and coasted to the end. I just can't abide by the husband and father getting away with it. His apology was not enough , IMO!!!! He robbed a child of his true father and psychologically tortured Eun Dong for 10 years! "Sorry" just won't cut it. Plus absolutely NOTHING happened to that conniving witch. She just ruined everyone's life, people went to jail and all she has is a broken heart. Whatevs. There were so many other ways to close the show. I don't know, I needed more retribution, more revenge.
I'm finding more and more writers don't quite now how to seal the deal after 16-20 episodes haranguing our main characters. The endings are becoming so lackluster.
I’m finding more and more writers don’t quite now how to seal the deal after 16-20 episodes haranguing our main characters. The endings are becoming so lackluster.
But that's been a thing in K-dramas for a long time, at least a decade.
Many villains are not there to be punished thoroughly for their crimes (moral, humane or legal), they are simply there to be forgiven by the protagonists.
There was this one K-drama five years ago: multiple characters have their lives ruined or got killed, the male lead character commits suicide, the villain says sorry, the other villain is just lead off-stage and forgotten and Big Bad's punishment is: not becoming the President of Korea.
There was this one K-drama five years ago: multiple characters have their lives ruined or got killed, the male lead character commits suicide, the villain says sorry, the other villain is just lead off-stage and forgotten and Big Bad’s punishment is: not becoming the President of Korea.
It feels like we, the viewers, have an unspoken agreement with the writers. We will tolerate ALL evil things you do to our heroes/OTP - bankruptcy/poverty, family death, public embarrassment, harassment by thugs/loan sharks, bodily harm, loss of status, loss of first loves ...and more with the intention that at the end, the antagonists get their 'just desserts', as it were. No? What's the point, if in the end, nothing is ever really solved or better or justified? So frustrating!!!!!
The writers must've been better people than me...cause I like my villains to get their comeuppance. I like them to suffer equal to what they've caused to others, cause...u know, it's drama! We hardly get that in real life!
Well, I think as far as MLED's concerned, the few last minutes of the drama practically answered all of our questions: It was a story initially focused on the female lead, her story and her love affair. But "Our Love JJM" doesn't like those dramas, LOL..!
So, we watched everything from his perspective, with two female leads to be below par, too many secondary characters wandered around the 16 episodes doing almost nothing and finally, JJM's voice-over apart, that was a terribly ffw story. Honorouble mentions to both younger versions; they managed to solidify the whole story and they were fantastic in their roles.
I still think that was an idea for a 50-episode drama, hence the multiple secondary stories and their interactions...
I felt both satisfied and annoyed by Eun Dong's ending. It was lovely (and surprising) that they managed to pull out a happy ending for everyone, and in just one short year! Huh. I did want her awful father and that witch to be tied up, left in deep holes and covered in kimchi on a hot day. Still really mad at the husband from what he did in Angry Mom, probably no getting over that :( But overall, a really good show that I'd recommend highly for romance and performances. Joo Jin Mo really is the "go-to guy" when you need intense emotion, whew ? what a hottie.
Though I mostly liked the ending of "My Love", it irked me a lot that the coach and MIL apparently got off totally free. Oh well, I guess you can't always have 100% justice.
Agreed about the endings, especially lately. I wonder if the writers are straying away from the original plot as some kind of fan service and just end up making a mess.
I, Fortunately (?), wasn't watching that show but I have to agree with your last comment...kdrama writers have an excruciatingly bad time with their third acts. I really just don't understand. Surely that's the one thing they really have to decide before the shooting starts. Knowing the end game is the only way for a good arc. And it's usually extremely unsatisfying and often doesn't deal with have the issues it brings up.
What is funny about that is, I often think maybe the writer doesn't know what us the watchers wonder? But then, "bam!" the writer would voice the watchers' concern right there in the actors' conversations. Like the smelly girl drama, where the male lead was asking why that chef did the horrible killings. Answer? None given. I mean, wth? If the writers can't give answers to the questions raised, why bother writing the story at all? Don't take me wrong, I've loved kdramas enough that I've abandoned all Americans TV completely, but this non-follow up procedures a lot of writers do truly irks me.
+1000 I'm especially irked by that too. I supposed I haven't watched kdramas long enough to really know trends but for me it feels like a lot of the dramas I've been watching lately have been really big on this mystery department. However, they're only good at the build up and then don't know what to do with it! It's pretty easy to build suspense, but for that suspense to be worth it is important. I remember reading that Agatha Christie used to write her stories backwards. She'd know the ending and go backwards and build on the extraneous storylines that way so people wouldn't know where to start looking for clues. That Smelly Girl drama was the WORST with the mystery. I loved our villain and I loved the cuteness of the OTP, but that killer plot was just so so so bad and aggravating. You don't just give serial killers really specific quirks for no reason! Meh.
I hope you are all doing well today. ....... I'm absolutely hating the summer weather we're having! There's only so much heat and humidity I can deal with. ...... I almost want to say that humidity shouldn't exist. It causes nothing but problems! ..... But I know, that's not going to happen unfortunately.
Watched this week:
Mask - Still enjoying this very much. Truly an addictive watch. ..... Last night, I just watched the episode with the cake! *laughing*
I Remember You - Oh so good! I never want to miss an episode. ....... I'm finding Seo In-gook's natural characteristics serving him quite well for playing his role. He's simply wonderful in this. ...... And that forensic doctor and the lawyer! Both actors playing them doing a phenomenal job of being professional yet giving off that creepy vibe.
The Time I've Loved You - Decided to check this out this past weekend. I only watched the last 5 minutes of ep 1 and I thought I really didn't miss much. ...... For ep 2, I did watch the entire episode. ....... I don't know if this is good or bad but, all I can remember is that Ha-na likes to play with her hair too much, Won is scared of saying what he really wants to say and I noticed that L must have taken speaking-voice lessons.
That's it for now. ....... Take care everyone and have a great Friday!
Oh my ghostess: current fave. So glad that although ghostie is the one who awakens certain aspects of Chef, it's Miss Timid who gets to date him. So are we dealing with an evil spirit in our cop big-bad or has he gone over into demon territory?
My Beautiful Bride: Wow, My crush on Do Hyung grows more and more. I'm stil worried about the leak in his brain. But get me a bank guy soon! I obviously have been missing strong macho loving types all this time. And is Ahjusshis Chairman a cannibal?
Mask: Good Lord, woman, give up on your obsessive love for your murderous hubby. What a pair! Min Woo, I like you and all but you are waaaaay wussy for me. Just so much caring I can do for a guy whose wife and sister are always out to protect him because he's so weak.
Scholar: Dropped. Something about the story is truly bothering me. So wanted to hang with my bias who has got to be the sexiest creature in kdramas right now. Has there ever been a character whose oozes dangerous sexuality to such an extent.
High Society: Chang Soo, Man up! Of course i've never been super-rich so i don't know what all stresses one gets into when pondering giving it all up. I'd like to see Chang Soo pondering poverty and real life..or even working that insecurity. But Park Hyung Sik is such a fave of mine, I can't pick on him too much. Mistress...let it go. Or will she cause a major turn in the plot?
Blluebird's House: Seriously, Hyeondo? Did you really just betray your friend? I'm still not clear if he and his beloved are brother and sister.
I Remember You: Caught up. Liking it. Sad for angsty Doengsang.
<Blluebird’s House: Seriously, Hyeondo? Did you really just betray your friend? I’m still not clear if he and his beloved are brother and sister.
What did he do? (Note: I skip-watched this for a while, but I probably haven't seen the last 10-15 episodes.) I have to say I found Hyeondo such an unbearable character from the start that I just never understood why either Ji-wan or Eun-su gave him ANY time of day. They should have just completely blanked him whenever he said "I'm your friend" in his complete self-delusion.
I skipped from episode 6-36. Now am back because Taesu is now found out and there's a battle going on between him and Jiwan. So the Korean habit of everyone keeping secrets from everyone else created a situation where recorder w/evidence is given away by unsuspecting heroine to Hyeondo. Quite a mess.
I don't think I will go back to this. The whole situation of "secrets" and the absolute belief of some of the characters (Taesu most of all) that they have a "right" to control the lives of others in whatever way serves them best (i.e. cover up their own crimes or feed their own greed) made me so, so angry in the early episodes.
Pity that Lee Jun-Hyuk has to be wasted in dramas like this, he deserves better.
Remember Carole, you said we can share Do Hyung. leak in brain, oh, forgot, since this week's bodily injury was getting whacked across the head with a flaming beam in a burning factory. Macho? Yeah.
Actually I do wonder if he will die in the end. I fear that there would not be an happy ending if the tone of the drama continue the way it has been,,,,
I am SO with you about Min Woo. He's been the weak link in the drama for me from the beginning. But it's the loan shark who makes me want to poke my eyes out.
Loan shark is a strange kind of comic relief. I love this actor so much and he's definitely campy. Regular evil versus the evil of Big arsonist.murderous/poisoning obsessed lover Big Bad.
I can't quite put my finger on it. Partly because I want to see if the writer is doing what I think he's doing. I don't want to judge too quickly but yes there is something about it that seriously bothers the writer in me. It's not even the long scenes where people pretty much do nothing but talk..it's something else. I stopped watching at episode 4; that's when the "something is not right" factor kicked in for me. And I've never looked back to give it a second chance. Which is odd because I'm pretty good at working with a show even if I think it's bad. Maybe I'll wait to see what Jon G says. He's pretty insightful.
For me, I just think that there is so much potential that can be tapped into, but instead we are being given typical drama fare. I think this is one of the reasons why I've mostly given up on watching dramas, or at least why I've been dropping many dramas.
Has Jon G been commenting on the specific episode threads or on the open threads? I guess I should check out his posts as well.
Yes, I really liked the world building in Arang. I also really enjoyed the mood and tone of the show. It lost some of its footing around episode nine or so but did manage to pick itself up after a little while. It remains one of my favorite dramas.
oops, i forgot to mention I saw my first Laotian Horror Flick yesterday. Done by a friend of a friend. It was well-done. It's uploaded here on youtube. So check it out when you can. Thanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYTUlMKd_BI
Funny while I watched the scenes where the Chairman eats meat, I just felt that the meat is human flesh and I hated the scenes... and I thought that I was thinking too much. Apparently, I was not the only one!
Wow, I'm surprised you dropped Scholar! I'm watching for pure cheese and fun. I'm not really viewing this as a story with an merit. I also have never seen your bias in anything and I'm totally mesmerized by his voice (but I love LJK).
I might try going back to it because i love all the actor so much but until I put my finger on what's bothering me about it I feel kinda bothered and unsettled abot it. I do love the cheese...and I so miss LSH's voice and LJK's cheeky angst. Heck, even Changmin's doing ok.
Happy Friday everyone!! ^_^ I've been feeling kind of weird with my dramas lately, because either I'm bored with them from the start, or I become bored with them around the halfway point/towards the second half. And usually I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to dramas, especially since most of the currently airing dramas are ones that I think I would usually enjoy. Feeling kind of sad about it. :(
Scholar: I love Lee Jun-ki but I also really really love Kim So-eun and I'm having trouble letting go of that couple despite how short and cliche their story was LOL. :( Lee Yubi's doing a great job with her character, but somehow I just can't feel the sparks between her and Lee Jun-ki. A lot of their moments feel contrived to me, as if they're trying too hard to make this couple a lot more romantic than they actually are, but I know a lot of people seem to enjoy it.
Mask: this used to be my favourite out of all the currently airing dramas, but now I've completely lost interest in it. It's been dragging a LOT lately - there's literally been nothing going on except for a whole lot of moping and vase-crashing and crying. All the dramatic, crazy tension has disappeared. Should've been a 16 episode drama imo. :(
Oh My Ghostess: so cute!!! Probably my second favourite out of all the current ones airing atm. Park Bo-young is AH-MAZE-INGGGG I LOVE HER SO MUUUCH. <3 The only problem I have with this drama is that I want to see more of Bong-sun than Soon-ae, so I was a little disappointed and frustrated when Soon-ae possessed Bong-sun again in the latest episode. Looking forward to the new episodes though!
Orange Marmalade: this one is honestly just plain confusing. I don't understand any of the choices the writer made with the story, which is really really really disappointing because I fell in love with the first three episodes. And then it went downhill from there. The plot has become so inane, the female lead has no personality AT ALL, and no matter how much I try, I just CAN'T understand why you would split the timeline into three separate parts like that. You're basically building up your story, ripping it apart, and then re-building the exact same story again three goddamn times, leaving no room for emotional investment, dramatic tension or character development in any timeline.
I Remember You: LOOVEEE!!! <3 Strangely enough, this was the drama I was most disinterested in when I first started watching it, but I've really gotten into it now and it's my favourite out of all the ones on this list. :D The story's great, the characters are great, and it's SO refreshing to have a heroine like Ji-an, who's strong and confident in such an understated way. For me, the main risk with having a character like Hyun become romantically involved is that he becomes OOC once the romance starts to develop, so I really hope they continue to do justice to his character the way they have...
Yeah, i'm really getting into I Remember You. It started well but it put me off for a while with the directing which felt plodding or over-the-top. But now i'm realy liking it.
Totally agree with you re Mask. The last episode could easily have been spent showing us why Seok Hoon is so angry.
Mask - same here. It all just went kind of weird, with some totally irrelevant or plot-disconnected scenes. I think what really pushed it down for me was EP18 - you gotta wonder just how many times someone can fall for promises made by a psycho killer and not figure out she is doing something wrong.
YEah when Ji Seok/Eun ah actually believed psycho would let her start a third life I thought... "well, that's odd." But then she writes a LETTER for wussy true love and just leaves it on his desk. Apparently, she couldn't just come back in her third life and introduce herself. I mean, who leaves letters around for evil sister-in-law to find. Kdrama writers tend to make it easy for themselves when it comes to plotting but wow! In a house with all tht strategy/counter-strategy stuff going on, who leaves notes like that lying around?
I Remember You - totally enjoying this drama! I seldom listen to OSTs but the three songs are just great! And I'm still waiting for Jang Nara and Seo In Guk to sing an OST!
Mask - Maybe it will be ending but I can't bring myself to watch this week's episode :(
Excited to watch Oh!My!Ghostess tomorrow once the subs are out! hihihi
Seriously, "I remember you" got it all right, small wonder nobody wants to watch it. They even found good Korean pop music for the OST. They were just asking for trouble this way.
Yup - Remember is one of the very few I am invested in anymore. Ratings came up a tad in last episode, but still not good. Sad, because it is for sure one of the better shows going right now.
Oh my Ghostess: Just started the 1st episode and though it's not as light as I thought it would be, I still enjoy it very much. Park Boyoung is really good!
Mask: I watched ep.18 (SPOILERS) and though everything is pretty much spinning out of control, I love how Minwoo conquered his fear of water and SWAM to save Jisook!
Also I am quite frustrated how Jisook did not see the window for escaping...whatever. I'm just watching this to the end for the OTP.
As for Miyeon, I think she isn't all that evil? When she pulled Jisook, I think there was guilt in her eyes. Her loyalty to her blood family (meaning Minwoo) is the only thing I accept about her, I think.
Ah, that window! I kept shouting "Smoke inhalation. Woman, there is a window behind you!" It would've been so much more convincing to have her fighting to open the window or to break it or wondering if she should jump from the balcony. But noooooooooo she just stood there...not coughing.
Like many others, I'm enjoying "Ghostess" and "Remember You".
Remember You is now in that difficult middle part of the show, but they still try to keep the format going.
Ghostess is much riskier, I still have the same issues/doubts I had two weeks ago: How will they find a balance with their two female lead characters, especially when the first female lead character is a pretty horrible human being (luckily, she isn't one)?
I've given up on High Society, but I'm still watching out of curiosity. How will the writer try to solve anything in this show?
Put Beautiful Bride on a hold. I just couldn't deal with the Chronic Abduction Disorder by a certain character several episodes ago.
<especially when the first female lead character is a pretty horrible human being (luckily, she isn’t one)
I'm confused by what you're saying here. Bong-sun is horrible? Or Soon-ae?
What struck me in the last episode (not the one from today) is that Sun-woo doesn't really like Bong-sun when she is possessed by Soon-ae. He finds her annoying. Like that scene when she is constantly throwing herself at him, trying to touch him and he's just cringing and pushing her away. While when it's Bong-sun withdrawn self, he's just concerned. Of course this might change, but at the moment this is helping me in terms of distinguishing how Sun-woo's feelings are different in terms whether he's interacting with Bong-sun or with Soon-ae in Bong-sun's body.
So far, Soon-ae is the 1FL character, isn't she? Bong-sun's ultimate shrinking violet might be annoying, but Soon-ae, as a human being, is indefensible. Her only redeeming quality is her love for her family. (That and her cheekbones. #GoT)
What struck me in the last episode (not the one from today) is that Sun-woo doesn't really like Bong-sun when she is possessed by Soon-ae. He finds her annoying. Like that scene when she is constantly throwing herself at him, trying to touch him and he's just cringing and pushing her away. While when it's Bong-sun withdrawn self, he's just concerned. Of course this might change, but at the moment this is helping me in terms of distinguishing how Sun-woo's feelings are different in terms whether he's interacting with Bong-sun or with Soon-ae in Bong-sun's body.
I don't think he finds Soon-ae annoying, or "manic Bong-sun", as he sees her. He finds her behaviour annoying. He is still concerned about her whether she's manic or depressed (again, from his PoV).
I find ghostess so intrusive. After Arang I've come to expect virgin ghosts to be very selfish and intrusive, but even filial love isn't enough for me to say that Ms Ghost has the "right" to push herself literally into someone else's life.
I feel sorry for her and her plight but her fear of becoming a demon with a grudge makes me wonder how bad could she possibly be when/if she becomes a demon. I think it's pretty clear our OTP is Bong-Sun and Sun-Woo. I'm just hoping Ghostess doesn't fall in love with hero and want to "reside" in a usurped body permanently.
I suspect the cop grieved so much over the ghost's death that his soul was easily taken over by the demon who now inhabits his body. So maybe there's a chance for us to see the other "hidden" soul within cop's body. We haven't seen him as yet. Is the spirit of the good monklike cop still around in the cop body? Do demons have total control about leaving and entering a body?
That's the best theory i heard till now about the ccop, hope the series tell it that way.
i just can't accept that the is some murderous cop at least not premeditated murder
Cops eems to have some moments of utter goodness. I just can't see the original guy's soul as Not being around in anyway. I'm figuring that since this is kdrama, our ghostess will bring balance, rightness, and happiness to everyone's life once it's all over but enduring the voluntary possession is gonna be stressful for me.
"Chronic Abduction Disorder."
I had to laugh just now. Yes, it's true. It's like.. REALLY? Kidnapped again.
But don't put it on hold. Accept we have the summer thriller on our hands and "run" with it. You missed one of the best speeches ever this season. Crooked Cop's speech about evil rich folks. Sooooooooooo good! Scenes like that are gold. And worth all the rekidnappings.
LOL @ MBB and the Chronic Abduction Disorder. You forgot to add in the Groundhog Day Syndrome.
I am still watching, mainly just to see how many times she can get kidnapped (6x now?). That show is probably the height of all Noble Idiocy examples - she keeps running away to "save him", and he keeps chasing her so he can get bashed in the head again.
Is this feasible?:
Sun-woo starts believing himself responsible for Bong-Sun's personality swings. But he becomes more concerned about helping her out of her depressed and unconfident state, since that's what he can relate to. His proactive attention helps them connect. Then they help each other discover their worth. She stops apologizing for everything. He drops the Mr. Perfect facade.
Soon-ae recaptures enough of her memories to realize that her grudge isn't her virginity but her murder. She drops her pursuit of Sun-woo but it's ok since Sun-Woo's attention is fully on Bong-Sun by that point. Bong-Sun helps Soon-Ae catch the murderer and communicate last wishes to her family.
Hijinks transition from body swapping device to Bong Sun looking like she's talking to 'imaginary friends" while trying to hide the fact she's communicating with ghosts/demons. Throughout, Soon-Ae gives twisted dating advice that Bong-Sun tries on for size in major 'fail' efforts that accidentally turn to wins.
My Wife : "Eun Dong!!!!! This is why I have trust issues!"
Me: "Maybe there will be a second season where the evil husband gets run over again, but this time dies in the ensuing explosion."
My Wife: "There better be ... there better be ... " (as she looks off into the distance twisting her nail ring ...
Wow ... this was like another God's Gift ... this was like sitting down to an awesome steak meal only to have the last bit replaced with a turd while you weren't looking ... seriously?
Well ... at least Kim Sa-rang is back in dramaland because I really liked her.
My sentiments exactly. I posted to the Viki comments a question: Are viewers in Korea as upset about the lack of justice or is it just the international viewers? The answer: It's just the international viewers. So is the show a criticism of Korean society? I just can't get my mind around the fact that the "father" was able to maintain his relationship with the boy despite having kidnapped him.
I also think there should be a season 2 where the boy is older--say a young teen--and finally is told/finds out the truth and then we see the repercussions of withholding the truth from him for so long.
watch the first 14 episodes ... and then just imagine that in episodes 16 the husband acidentally falls into an incinerator and everyone else lives happily ever after.
It is actually better than what it might sound. I think the main issue that most of us have is that in the end so many jerks did NOT get the justice they deserved.
They just pulled the all too common k-drama trope of everyone gets redeemed so it's OK.
I'm still getting over Unfortunate Boyfriend where redemption was parsed out like candy at a fairground. I so hate kneejerk redemption..it is plain old kneejerk sentimentality. How can forgiveness and HEA's be given to people who are still benefitting from their cruelty or greed?
The Unfortunate Boyfriend was very unfortunate indeed... stuck with that spineless two-timer!
Of course, the second couple was worse, but the only one I cared about in the drama was the sweet lead guy who deserved someone better than Ji-na (I think that was her name).
Vampire Idol- i can't believe I've never watched this before! ...well that's not true I only started watching dramas 2 years ago..anyway! I love love love this hilarious sitcom drama. :)))
IRY and Ghostess are still my favorite dramas and that's it...I just wanted to talk about vampire idol.. oh! Just to add I feel like crayon pop's bar bar bar song was inspired y this drama..lol whenever someone talks about the prince's father I automatically say his name bababa like the song..lol it continues to make me laugh. :D
Do it! lol Vampire Idol is definitely lots of crazy fun..:) although I am enjoying SWWTN..i just can't do without joonki's vamp face..it just makes me laugh every time and I love it..lol
Happy Friday everyone!!
Hope you enjoy your dramas despite some not-very-good plot in some dramas.
Mask: I have seen some similarities, but it finally dawned on me that Min Woo is pretty much like Ta Hwan in Empress Ki. And how much I love them as characters is really inexplicable, despite them being weak and wussy. Mask is like a milder version of Empress Ki. A strong, capable, and protective woman get married to weak husband (and yes they're both drugged by villains). And a bunch of villains who seem to always ready attacking our OTP and/or getting near their goals. Ep 17 is cute, but a bit boring.. Ep 18 is more interesting, rollercoaster ride, no time to breath, but WTF with the writer.. I shouldn't expect less makjang from Secret writer.
Oh My Ghost: Oh My God, can't you two be any less cute? PBY as Soon Ae is just soo awesome! JJS is winning too as Chef Kang Sun Woo! Chef-nim!!
No time watching Scholar, finished ep 6 TTWNIL this week.. Maybe it's time for me to watch Assembly and Midnight Diner too. Seems Assembly got good reviews and even netizens praise Taecyeon. Will see how the two dramas fare..
On non-drama thingy:
-Yay Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah dating!! This one is a pairing I approve... Thanks Giordano! Your pairing are really daebak.. After give us So Ji Sub-Shin Min Ah pairing in a drama, you give us real love couple in KWB-SMA..
-Bummed MGY won't do a drama with KJH. I think they'll be great together.. And idk, I don't think Moonie will have any drama soon.
haha I SO approve Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina dating, that when I first saw the news in a comment here I just thought it was a fangirl doing some shipping. But it's real! And they make an absolutely GORGEOUS couple, not only in terms of beauty but charisma.
Seems Assembly got good reviews and even netizens praise Taecyeon.
honestly, it's a very well-intentioned drama but too many cliches to really make it work. And as for Taecyeon, I think his eyes are just too devoid of the capacity to naturally express emotion, to really do well as an actor.
The positive comments all seem to be coming from his fangirls who will swallow anything oppa does (they all use the same kind of language, you can tell). I honestly think people like him are better off sticking to variety and making money off that image.
Infinity Challenge*spoilers* – It’s time for Infinity Challenge Music Festival 2015! I am so ridiculously excited for our newbie cast member Kwanghee who is teamed up with G-Dragon and Taeyang. It was his lifetime dream to sing with G-Dragon, and they chose him. He is grateful for life. Their performance will be the most outrageous.
IU and Myung Soo – could be the best music if he will listen to her. She is it.
JYP and Jae Sook - ODDO -old dude dance duo. Jae Sook can make anything fun.
Hyukoh and Hyung Don – I’m in love with the band Hyukoh, but even more so with leader Ohhyuk’s shy personality and their deceivingly quiet presence. All I can say is Hyung Don is lucky.
Zion. T (album sales gangsta) and HaHa – They’ll likely be the most in sync performance and the most easy-going team.
Yoon Sang and Joon Ha – all I can say is that Joon Ha and Kim C did a most awesomely tilted performance last time, so they’re the dark horse team. Yoon Sang is in another major league plus.
Allin all, my favorite event that will culminate in a grand music festival in October.
My Beautiful Bride – I am working hard to keep up with the recaps on my blog . Kim Moo-yul, my Krush, where have you been all my life? Check out that UDT Marine severe hair part and tell me he isn’t hot. A man in a white shirt crumpled on a bed crying his gut out is the ultimate romantic pain. This week's tragic block to Do Hyung and Joo Young's reuniting - fire.
Genuis 4 – I didn’t think I would like the set up with past players from the previous seasons, but what a twist ending in ep 3. Not sure I trust the death match winner, although he has innocence about him. (Did I get duped, too?)
Scholar Who Walks the Night haiku
Gwi. Androgyny.
The vampire wears Prada, too
Go and end your pain
New Horizons: Korean Vampires On Pluto – my idea for the next vampire kdrama. Do you have one?
Midnight Diner – surprisingly entertaining, very well done. I learned something new from The Noodle Sisters (Radish, Banquet, and Mixed). SNS post: 2 straws = dating, rain (as in “on my parade”) = not dating). Useful.
I just want Do Hyung and Joo Hee/Young reunited and for other stuff to ensue. I like this drama a lot but the plot might get repetitive if she gets snatched away whie he escapes burns/smoke inhalation. There is much to do even if they get together and attempt to flee.
Am wondering what the showdown will be like when Ahjusshi gangster Chairman, and Jin Seok, and Do Hyung's mom all show their power.
A kdrama can go elusive-frustrating I don't care anymore or elusive-feels I am so happy! Please, MBB, there is still time to swerve towards feels. I want to be so happy~
I'm excited by all the Infinity pairings except Yoon Sang and Joon Ha. I'm also glad Kwanghee gets to fulfill his fanboy dreams. They posted a picture recently on instagram and it was nice to see them all posing "normally". I know K is a big thing in variety but often he's too much for me. I like when his genuine moments pop out. I think they'll all be so fun on stage though.
Summer dramas...not much to sink my teeth into...therefore, I a obsessed with High Society. Even watched Ep 14 twice for the mental breakdowns. Poor chaebols. One from a loving family, one from an abusive family, and yet they both are emotional basket cases. What's a mother to do? (according to this show, justify her behavior in a sick way). I'm looking forward to the ending this coming week. I'm sure it will be predictable. I'm just hoping that Ji Yi isn't pregnant. That would ruin my image of her as a smart woman.
Eun Dong--Already commented on this. Just so confusing to me. I guess forgiveness is more important in Korean society than justice.
I Remember You--The Three Psychoteers. I just love them together. And yet, so murderous. Do you think there will be justice here or another case of forgive and forget?
Mask--I'm kind of hoping that both main characters die during the week. They would deserve it for all their idiocy. And the sister should inherit and take that rifle and kill her insane husband (accidentally, of course). Really, this show has been funny, but I never understand the comments of, "Best drama ever."
A Word from Warm Heart--Just finished Ep 15 of 21. What a mess! Love all the acting, but geez, can it get any worse for any of the characters?
I’m sure it will be predictable. I’m just hoping that Ji Yi isn’t pregnant. That would ruin my image of her as a smart woman.
Let's see: The poor, but self-reliant female character discovers that she is pregnant after breaking up with her rich mama-boy boyfriend? I've seen that somewhere. Oh right, in "Can We Get Married" (same author).
Eun Dong -- Already commented on this. Just so confusing to me. I guess forgiveness is more important in Korean society than justice.
I really get upset about this one. And as it happens every 5 minutes in every other drama, I get upset a lot.
I often even start to hate the protagonists for their amoral lack of righteousness.
Then again, I like the irony of protagonists complaining about the evils of society after they did exactly nothing to stop those who turn the society into the typical K-drama hell-hole.
You mean Hye-yoon's pregnancy in CWGM? I can't recall if she discovered it while they were broken up for the second time but as far as I remember, they were still together and thrashing through issues when they found out.
high Society -Poor Chaebol mental breakdowns - money can't buy me love and other useful things they don't teach you when you're fed with a silver spoon.
Not just the chaebols, Joon Gi believes that as well. Money will cure all his problems. He said to his mother that they were all hurting because they are late in growing up. Very insightful.
I worry about Chang Soo though, because he must have learned that throwing fits will help him get his way with his mother. Emotional blackmail.
I don't think Chang Soo engages in emotional blackmail. I thought that was really heartfelt and "new" for him. He's shown from the beginning as being pretty shallow/empty/carefree. All this emotional stuff is new to him. IT seems to me that his Mom is the one who has always had her way with him. She knows he has a boiling point but they have a good conversational/honest relationship going. So he doesn't need to throw fits.
From what I gather from High Society is that being poor makes you unhappy, and being rich makes you unhappy. Ji Yi is the only one with a brain in that drama.
Mask - This WAS the "best drama ever" - for about 4 episodes. Then it seemed to have totally lost it's way. Not sure why, but it started getting just downright cheesy at moments, and started developing a lot of plot holes and totally WTF moments. I think that EP18 was the worst yet - if it was not almost done I would probably just drop it.
Park Hyung Sik is so good at crying. After watching his meltdown in HS, I went searching for his meltdown in episode 16 of What happens to my family? Sooooooooo good! I love seeing a sensitive hottie cry.
You should watch Ep 41 and 42. His big argument in ep 41 with his dad was great. Then his breakdown at the end of ep 41/beginning of ep 42 when he realized his dad was sick was really heartbreaking.
I Remember You is the only one I'm watching, and like (almost?) everyone here, loving it so far. Nice balance between creepy and funny. And SIG's swagger! :-D
Was watching:
The Time I Thought It Was Cute But Now It's Dragging Too Much. -- probably will watch the last episode out of curiosity.
Orange Marmalade -- just behind and haven't cought up. Don't really mind the three "eras", kinda refreshing imo.
High Society -- thinking of dropping this. Sorry, Sung Joon.
Hidden Identity -- not enough time. Will pick this back up.
Will watch: Mask, OMG, Midnight Diner
Anticipating: Joo-won on rooftops ;-)
Hey, I think this is my first time commenting on the first page of OT! :-D
Haha! I know! Got to go out to meet the world sometimes, you know... ;-)
I'm usually late so when I open OT there are over 100 comments already or if I do comment it would go to the 2nd page :-D
Aawww, how did you know I love trees! Some of my friends call me Ms. Tree because I always remind people to use less paper, tissues or other paper products to save trees ;-)
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Hi All and Happy Weekend!
It's getting increasingly difficult to make or find time to continue with drama watching, but I keep trying valiantly. :D
Mask - Maybe we're getting too much filler and/or the OTP moments were too slow and/or there were too many farewell moments, I found after Episode 16, the tension dissipated a lot. I guess I did not see why JS's mum had to die. Although the romance was going strong and the bad guys were gearing up for something, it did not really feel all that compelling, even with Ep 18's cliffhanger, I was not as engaged as before. I found the sudden slotting in of Chang Soo and maid's cute moments quite out of place and jarring. After holding out hope that MY might choose to be a better person and at least not do anything to either aid SH or block JS, I'm just upset that none of that came to pass. There is one last chance for her probably in the next episode and I hope she takes it!!!
I Remember You/Hello Monster - I never thought we'd hail a psychopath, let alone 2 and a half (or maybe 3?) psychopaths as crime solving and rescuing heroes, but yes we do LOL!. That was a most unusual grouping of investigators who profiled a killer right in front of his brother, and in a way that was almost nonchalant. This show continues to be unpredictable in a good way, while giving enough info to viewers. It's so great that we are given hints and clues and are invited to look out for patterns to help in our conjectures, just as our hero does. Now that the OTP relationship is out there, I'm looking forward to see what an 'almost psychopath' will make of it... or not!!!
Oh My Ghost(ess) - I've still to catch the Friday (tonight's for me) episode. I really want the somewhat 'thorny' issue of non-consensual sex addressed in some fitting way, irregardless of the fact that the ghost is not bound by our rules and morals. But since it's a story and the characters are people I'm are invested in, it does not sit well with me that our main leads may be very hurt through the machinations of a self-serving, amoral ghost, who is also a character I care about and who can rise above and be even better than she is already. I just hope her character is written with that arc and that the 2 girls do get together to help each other in a healthy way. Other than that, the character interactions are fabulous and there's much to entertain and enjoy.
My Love Eun Dong - I did a fast forward watch and was pleased to see that we had a realistic although lacklustre ending without too much angst (ie also a realistic angst) because I feared a tear-fest. The question-of-life that occurred to me was... was it not possible to have reached this conclusion without the attempted suicide and without traumatising the child (well almost) ... I believe so, although that kind of story would not have made it to the screen. How would this story have gone without the 2nd female lead? - absolutely well and probably...
- absolutely well and probably it would have been much tighter and less frustrating with just 12 episodes. I felt that there was enough going on with inter-family relationships, so that we did not need to focus on outsiders trying to throw more spanners into the works. What was good, the 3-way bromance, the great sibling relationship, the good parents, the little boy and the wonderful portrayal of emotion by the attractive leads.
The Time I Loved You/The Time We Were Not In Love - While My Love Eun Dong also focussed on just the main tension of that eternal love and made it work, TTILY which is doing the same is failing. I feel for HeadsNo2 who is probably as frustrated as many of us are with our male lead and second leads. If ever there was a show about the effects of mixed signals, half-truths and hidden truths in an ironical mass of much communication, it's this show. And I believe I join with most viewers in deploring immensely, Ha Na's kind heart and sweet nature, if she's going to feel that the egotistical 2nd lead should be given a 2nd chance!
Midnight Diner - I watched Ep 1-4... Not to bad, especially if one wants to just have a short break. The 20-30 minute format makes me feel that I don't have to invest too much and with less time, the stories and characters are more accessible. Ep 4 was strange though. Why did the show stop at the magician dad's collapse and ... nothing ... then we have the ending with magician dad and child looking just fine. An error in the editing?
Orange Marmalade - After stopping this for the last 6 episodes, I took a peak and am very encouraged that the 11th episode has shown growth all around and hope. Can I now look forward to (what I mentioned when it began) our 4 young people getting together as friends and re-establishing their band for one last performance?
High Society and My Beautiful Bride - I'll have to at least FFD the former and find time for the latter but at last glance, High Society was showing us characters that have markedly changed without warning and reason, but this still does not make me like them more. I guess it's somewhat making comments about class consciousness and about seeing life from the opposite side, but the way it's done, does not make me care all that much.
Mask They should have just dropped all the other characters and made the maid/butler the leads, with the entire story told from their perspective as inside observers. :D
Oh My Ghostess has me all mixed up. I do genuinely like the show a lot and look forward to tonight's episodes...but it's also problematic when looking at it. The ghostess as you say is causing some issues with non-consensual sex both by harassing chef but also by using someone else's body. And then there's the issue of the romance where too much interaction is with the ghostess instead of letting our lead have some character development. But I still really like it and am hoping for a much smarter writer than I.
Well well well! Another week of kdramas have went by. Good morning everyone! (Or good night in HK)
What i've watched this week:
I've just started a new school term so I'm pretty busy with homework. But anyway ...
Mask: Min-woo is the cutest husband and Chang-soo is the cutest secretary. I'm glad that Min-woo and Ji-sook are finally joining hands against Seok-hoon. But really, the death of Eun-ha, twin sisters foreshadowing, Mum's death AND putting Seok-hoon into jail, is that a bit too much? Tbvh i'm starting to worry whether Mask can pull off everything in the last two episodes and give us a good ending. Still, I'm satisfied with what's happening now and I'm glad that the ratings are climbing higher and higher.
High Society: Yoon-ha and Jun-ki, get out of the way. Ji-yi and Chang-soo, can you guys just do something to repair your cute but shitty love? So far you guys have done nothing instead of sob and sob and sob. and I can't bear seeing Chang-soo cry. Not much plot here so I haven't got anything to say about this.
I Remember You: Halfway through episode 10. I can't say that I love it but it definitely is a good drama. The chemistry between everyone is good and hilarious. And Park bo-gum, WOW, someone give him an award right now. I like it how the cases are all sort of related to each other, so its not like loose bits being loose bits but loose bits coming together. This is really cool and I'm not gonna drop it for sure.
kdramas I've dropped:
Hwajung - can't bear to see Gwanghae leave
K-ITWY - I like the acting but everything else is boring and annoying, sorry
last thing, can anyone tell me whether if Assembly is good? Thanks guys :)
Happy Friday! Mask (aka A Song of Water and Fire) just keeps getting better and better! Has anyone watched Secret Love by the same writer? I am not a huge fan of melo, but Mask has sucked me in, and I am looking for something similar. Thank you very kamsa!
Oh, dear @Casserole, your poetic title is so inspired! It has a flair of sageuk... +1!
Secret was this writer's very first project. It's a liiiittle better than Mask or it's just me, who knows!
I'm looking forward to reading your comments, after you watch it... ;-)
just wanna said happy weekend for everyone, I haven't had time watching any episode except a few re-run anime Hunter X Hunter,
I think I am gonna start with Assembly next week
I don't have much to say this week I've been watching my dramas slowly because, I have other things I want to do.
However I am going to attempt to describe each of the dramas I'm watching using song lyrics, see if you can guess.
Mask- "Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down Anyplace but those I know by heart Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down I'll follow you down, but not that far"
Actually that's the only one I can think of maybe next week I'll have more to say.
I'm in the minority who thinks "Mask" is poorly written. Frustrating and boring. Soo Ae, next time, please do a movie. Every drama that you've picked so far, I have never finished them because the plot gets messed up halfway.
I really miss "Punch". I wish there is another drama in that genre with a plot that excites me every single time.
I am currently watching "Best Love". Still remains as one of my all-time favorite. Hilarious, adorable, and quirky. Dokko Jin, how I miss you soo much. You and your silly "Panty" moment as well as your "Dokko-Dragon" time (your version of GDragon's Heart-Breaker").
Been watching 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3. Am loving it more than Running Man. Sorry RM, you haven't been that exciting and I find myself forgetting about you. All I remember is 2 Days & 1 Night. Anyone know when they're coming to L.A in September? Thanks.
Mask
I dropped Mask, and mostly because the writing was horrendous. Even "High Society" is still not nearly as bad as Mask. I guess the people who still watch it and comment on it don't mind that. You are only in the minority because you are still watching ...
Punch
You know, I've been enjoying Punch a lot. Even though I hated the 1ML character and wished he would die a horrible, painful death. But what "genre" is that, actually?
Mask--the minority? It's so poorly written, it's hilarious. I'm watching it like I would watch a Mel Brooks movie. Who cares about the plot holes? How bad can they make it?
What gets me about Mask are those seemingly just random moments when she just for no good reason decides to give away a ton of money or hand out tons of presents. No bearing at all on the plot, and just jarring to the overall theme.
Kind of like if they had put a comedy skit in the middle of the "Aliens" movie.
I'm with you in Mask. I realized the poorly written dialogs when I rewatch well-written dramas. The tonal shifts make it seems repetitive.
Best Love is good, if not for the draggy storyline in the middle.
And 1N2D! Gosh, I'm sorry I haven't found you sooner! It's a gem and in a totally different tone with RM. They're like a bunch of students taking a trip with a newbie teacher--one that does want to be tough but end up playing along with the students (like last episode). I don't know when they're going to LA, all I know it's gonna be 7N6D (or 6N7D?) trip. Bet they'll cling to Joonyoung since he's the only one who's good at English (although Defconn and Junho can speak decently)
@escape, LOL!!
"Best Love"+ Summer+ My sister & Me = Love Forever. It's our No. 1 drama to cheer us up... Our next rewatch marathon session will definitely be our beloved Dokko Jin, his panties, his "Heart-Breaker", our Ding-Dong, "anyone oriental Doctor", Gu Ae Jung...well, as you can see, we are also sooo addicted to this drama. ;-)
You are not in the minority on Mask. For me at least it went from 5 stars to about 1.5 stars. Same writer as "Secret", but that show was much better, so not sure what went wrong - fan service perhaps?
I Remember You: my current favourite. Great acting and story, clever writing. And it's been almost a month but I still can't get that song out of my head. Damn you!
Orange Marmalade: I got stuck on episode 5 and couldn't move forward. This week I finally watched it all and I'm liking it a lot more. I read the webtoon but the change didn't bother me that much. It really helped to get to know characters (and fall in love with Shi Hoo even more). And Ma Ri's change? How great was that! Waiting for last ep.
Mask: Why so cute? Those two are seriously killing me. And Mi Yeon, for me she's dead. Way to talk about protecting your little bro and then helping out a guy who tried to kill him. And what she did with Ji Sook's mother? It's fckin insane for me, seriously. They really are good for each other, both delusional psychos. Overall it was a very good watch, can't wait for next week's conclusion. Also: Ji Sook, WINDOWS!!!
The Time We Were Not in Love (Actually He Was But He Didn't Tell): Ahh, I liked it at beginning, acting and leads chemistry was great. But it's become tiring. Won constantly pushing himself into freindzone. Seo Hoo not telling her why he left her, and for 3 freaking years at that. This one's good. Why the hell?! (We need Lee Jong Suk to make a cameo and knock some sense into his hyung.)
High Society: Tired, thank god it's ending next week. I was so excited for Sung Joon is here and didn't get what I wanted. Sad...
Oh My Ghost: This quickly became one of my favourites. It's just too good. Park Bo Young's killing this show (how good can she be, this girl?)
Scholar Who Walks the Night: Cheesy, yes. Cliché, yes. But what can you do? I love me some totured souls (especialy when they're Lee Joon Ki). And I love dark, downright evil hotties even more. That voice! Gonna keep watching at least for now.
I Order You: Interested in the beginning, but it got annoying so quickly. Leads are stupid and ex is a lunatic.
Is there anyone else watching Assembly? I feel like crying everytime I watch it because it's so amazing in every way but not many people are watching it.
I have mixed feelings on Assembly so far. The overall plotline could be interesting, but I am also seeing a lot of noble stupidity in it. Will watch for now, but having doubts about it.
I think one of the things that made the lead guy seem so stupid was when the dumb drunk fell off the crane, and he just runs away and hides.. (why?). He just left his wife and daughter hanging for over a week with no communication at all. That does not sound to me like some guy I would vote for. Have not seen ep4 yet, but not sure I will keep up with this one.
Maybe it's "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" a la korean..! Less dark side and more political corruption through the eyes of an amateur. For common people who know nothing about Politics must be a great shock to experience that world firsthand. Surviving in the world of professional politicians is like surviving in a jungle full of cougars and hyenas...and sometimes monkeys!
Ι watched the first week on KBS World and it's by far better than I expected.
First of all, who would have thought that KBS could lure JJY in dramalnd?! I'm so thrilled to be able to watch him for more than 16 hours; it's like watching almost 10 films in 2 months, yeeeehhh :-)
Both directing and cinematography do remind me of cinema and the person responsible for this is the PD of the super weird SMW...wow, unbelievable! The rest of the cast is doing an excellent job as well. I was one of those who hated the idea of an idol in such a production; not anymore, everyone is doing fine.
My only concern is the low ratings. From what I've seen in dramas, plots and scripts usually go downhill along with the ratings. But this one doesn't deserve it at all. From what I've read here, neither IRY is doing fine ratings-wise, despite being a rather good show, too. That's too bad for KBS which seems to choose the projects wisely nowadays. I hope the network made a fair deal with the Assembly's production team regardless the low ratings...
Guess I've been falling out of k-dramas; at least for now. Just watching out of curiosity, but never got really hooked.
The only show I'm following in this batch, Mask, is disappointing in the writing department--a pity, Secret is better--but I like the actors and watch it just for them. They should've made it into 16 episodes.
Wanting to watch other shows with good reviews like Ghostess and IRY, but I'd rather wait until it ends to spare any disappointments.
That being said, variety show 1N2D is the only thing I wait every week. Not for the laughs, but for the feel-good watching.
Starting to read American young adult books--All The Bright Places-- after seeing the review. First time in a while, and it's a guilty pleasure of mine--reading 2 youngsters being afraid of the future and so on along with the cheesy lines. I like it. I just realized I like American's young adult novels because my country's rarely touch the topics. About growing up and the angst that follows.
LOL, but it's like....culturally different. For that matter, I can relate to Let's Eat series, especially the eating alone and part of season 2 where Sooji put newspapers in front of her door to let someone know her state. I like the insecurities, since I mostly live alone. But other than that drama, it's hard to relate. It's either too stupid (most K-dramas with its troops) or too dramatic (something like Punch) for my life. I can emotionally invest, but when I read American YA, it feels closer to home. Eleanor and Park, Fangirl (I used to write fanfics so the book just speaks me), All The Bright Places, etc. They have the same troops, but very distinct from one another. I like how they think they can conquer the world with their loved ones--because that's exactly what I would feel if I were them. It's a pleasant feeling, as if I want to feel like that again.
oh goodness, I absolutely despised Fangirl. I was a former fanfiction-writer and a very active member of several fandoms through my teens and beyond.....and I just felt like the author did not get it at all, like she just visited a fandomwiki and fed into every one of the worst stereotypes about fandoms/fanfic writers (maladjusted special snowflakes with no life outside the computer screen). Beyond the fact that the heroine wrote fanfiction, it just felt inauthentic to me.
and I despised Eleanor & Park even more. I understand that diversity in book protagonists is a good thing, but the racially fetishising language used to describe Park and his family just made me really uncomfortable even if it's supposed to be coming from the mind of a teenager.
Caught up with subbed eps of Queen Insoo, ( keep working subbers, fighting ! ), was curious about other shows Ham Eun Jung has been in, so I've started watching Dream High.
J drama:
Ramen Loving Girl, like it so far.
J movie: The Burmese Harp, a re-watch for me, but still enjoyed it.
And Yongpal, although Yongpal has makjang written all over it. Eh. Maybe she'll be doing all sorts of stuff in her coma. This is the kdrama world, after all.
I have a question that's been bugging me for a while. In I remember you the MCs use informal language but call each other 당신 instead of 너. Is it because 당신 may have negative connotation and saying it is sometimes considered insulting? Or....? ;_;
If anyone could explain it would be greatly appreciated!
I am still swooning over how great I Remember You is. Thank you, k dramaland for giving me a new drama every few months that I seem to love even more than others I've declared as the best. Heh.
So far, I Remember You seems about 95% perfect, taking into consideration the ridiculous lack of security during LJY's interrogations, and this ambiguous frozen kiss. Every one has been pitching in full effort with their acting, and it's really the subtle details that they shine in.
Since like episode 4, I've been rooting for emotional closure for Min, and as warped as it sounds, I'd like some redemption for Joon-ho/LJY too. Can't we find a way for them all to stay together and come back for another season? I think some form of incarceration is inevitable, so I'd settle for a Silence of the Lambs sorta teamwork. I think, as much as LJY is crazy, he likes Hyeon because Hyeon is one of the few people who impresses him.
JNR is just perfect in this role. From Fated to Love You, I already knew she's a formidable actress, but it's still amazing to see her go from a soft-spoken, slightly meek character to this super bubbly, fast-talking, impatient and occasionally foul-mouthed policewoman. She portrays Ji-an as a force to be reckoned with, one heck of a go-getter who wastes no time waiting for others or feeling pity for herself. Even her voice and verbal mannerisms hold no punches in delivering all of Ji-an's gripes and annoyances!
On a different dimension, I'm super in love with the soundtrack too. The singing and music arrangement in both tracks really reflect the moods of this drama. Dear Cloud's track is haunting, with all the longing and melancholy of everyone's emotional baggage, whereas Lim Kim's song mirrors the push-pull bickering relationship between Hyeon and Ji-an so well.
*can't stop swooning over everything*
I am also watching The Time I've Loved you, but it's really for the chemistry and cute moments between Won and Hana. The ex-fiancee plot is getting pretty draggy and I don't quite like how So-eun seems to have suddenly disappeared from the episodes too. If it weren't for that chemistry, I would be tempted to stop watching and stick to recaps...
Which is also what's happened to Scholar for me right now. I've never really taken to Lee Yubi, and I'm afraid she hasn't grown on me enough yet. I like LJK, but he's a bit too pretty boy here for my liking (it's fine in like, My Girl, but seems a bit overkill in Joseon era) and I'm not sold on their chemistry. There's just nothing I'm really looking forward to right now, except perhaps Gwi's occasional regal moments, and Yoon's obsession with Yang Sun. But I do want to figure out details like how Yang Sun's dad came to have the books, if she's been brought up as a boy her whole life even pre-amnesia, and whether the damn Prince Sadong is actually lifelessly alive. So, recaps I'm counting on you! x=
I know the feeling. Once in a while a really good one will come out, and that kind of spoils all the rest for weeks. Only one I would really miss right now is My Ghostess, and perhaps I Remember You a little bit.
Moonlight, I did exactly the same thing.... Thought it was just me that couldn't find anything interesting. I started so many of the current dramas and dropped them all. Taking a summer break from k-dramas.....?
Hey, so I've been out of the loop since the beginning of May (I've been studying in China) so I don't even know what dramas I may have missed. Could you maybe recommend me three or four from the summer that are worth watching? 谢谢啊! (Thanks!)
Annoying cliche of the month
Unions as depicted in k-dramas: I was reminded of this while watching the first couple of episodes of Assembly.
The union guys are ALWAYS depicted as: (1) mostly dumb, usually never finished 8th grade. (2) never actually have a job except to stand around in red shirts and protest. (3) Make really stupid decisions devoid of any reality check, like protesting for years with no paychecks (4) Are all over 50 years old but talk like angry angst-ridden teenagers (5) Always win "justice" in the end, no matter how unlikely (6) always get beat up by cops/goons/guys in black suits with big sticks.
I cannot recall a single drama ever that did not follow all those rules.
I was thinking, too, that Assembly is the ultimate stereotype of union workers versus the government/conglomerates. There doesn't seem to be a seriously objective mediation process, either.
Hmmm. Sadly, unions do often go after those sectors of the workforce where they can establish labor-force monopolies then foment a culture of stubborn entitlement and reactionary discontentment. :( (But that's the US.)
My most Annoying Cliche of the Month:
A drama character coming across someone who's critically wounded, and then thinks the best possible thing thing to do at that moment is to shout their name over and over while crying uncontrollably.
Assess whether threats are still present? Nope.
Assess injuries and stop blood-loss? Nope.
Get the person out of harm's way? Nope.
well, she did at least say she'd get the doctor before he stopped her........and he did direct her into the hut so she probably assumed that was 'safe' on his say-so.
And make sure you shake them really hard while screaming WAKE UP in case they have any spinal or neck injuries that are not quite sufficient to paralyze them for life.
I think strong unions with a large number of members (usually high-skilled workers in heavy industry) can go on a srtike for a really long time. UK miners' strike lasted for years during Thatcher's reforms.
So, for whoever has questions or is not familiar with blue-collar reality : It's not unusual for workers on strikes to get beaten up by whetever authorities all around the world, most of them are not college graduates and they are in the same field till they die or take a very small pension. The film The Full Monty, despite the comical point of view, is quite accurate on what a large-scale union strike is, who these people are what exactly their educational background is and whether they have any other mean of protesting rather than going on strikes. It's a fun movie in a depressing surrounding
Besides, SK is a country where workers, students and political activists had been protesting and had been on massive strikes for decades against the regime and in favour of Human Rights and Democracy.
Been watching asadora lately again, never thought I'd get addicted. But Mare is super cute and not to mention all the cakes. And Yuya Yagira, he's sure grown up from that little boy that won a award in Cannes for Nobody knows. (That movie though, I can't watch it again as it just destroys me)
Shinmeshi, loved the first episode. I love when Japan makes dorama with these small but touching stories. Plus again the food!
Just finished Detective K secret of the lost island, I really enjoyed the first one. My fave bits are with the detective and his awesomely hilarious sidekick.
My main issue is why don't they consult someone regarding the Japanese costumes. They are so inaccurate, some are wearing cheap bathrobes! Just watch a historical dorama to see how merchants and commoners really dressed.
So I heard a lot of hype about Assembly, and am I the only one who doesn't see the fuss? It's just rather....cliched.
Scholar Who Walks the Night - oh lord they got rid of the excessive volume on the background music but now we have pointless and unnecessary think-out-louds from EVERYONE. Which is a shame because just as the BGM was good, the cast is good too. They're perfectly capable of expressing the thought without needing the aid of a verbal cue.
And I really like both our heroines - the adoring fangirl bookseller and the doppelganger ice princess with the hate-on for her crappy dad making her go be a vampire's not-quite-dinner. Lee Yubi especially, she has the task of selling what could be utterly mundane but in her hands the *hearteyes* adoration of Yang-sun for Sung-yeol just feels natural and adorable.
Oh My Ghostess remains adorable and excellent. I really hope the Baeksangs take notice of just how stellar Park Bo-young is, and some love for Jo Jong-seok and Kim Seul-gi too please.
oh and after hearing recs on OT last week, I watched Princess Jellyfish. Which is SO SO SO CUTE!!! I actually could not decide what I loved more, the jellyfish-crazy/crossdressing couple, or the camaraderie between the ladies of Amamizukan. Suda Masaki looks incredible in both mens' clothes as well as women's, even if I had to go to the manga to get more of my Kuranosuke/Tsukimi fix.
You must be super psyched about Lee Yu-bi doing well in Scholar Who Walks the Night! Especially since you're her biggest fan :) I'm saving this to marathon-watch later, because I got way too much on my plate at the moment -- without my usual dose of kdramas! :( I have my hopes up because of Lee Jun-ki, because I'm not usually a fan of vampires. Except, of course, Vampire Prosecutor being the only exception.
There's hype about Assembly..? Maybe it's because of Song Yoo-na? *shrug* The story already seems like cliche heaven (or just the usual hero who overcomes an infinite number of obstacles/setbacks/tragedy/etc etc to become this powerful hero?).
And I really need to get back on track with Oh My Ghostess...I haven't been able to get to ep3 yet, and I've kept myself from reading recaps because I want to marathon this too.
Hope all is well with you, pogo! My apologies for not really being around or sending comments your way...haven't been on DB as much as I'd normally be, partly because of school and work, but also because the dang ads keep freezing the site on me and I've had to resort to accessing DB on my phone...and that in itself is keeping me from adding comments and such, because it takes forever!
hey Tara! It's been a while since our Triangle recap days, hope all's well with you too!
and you are right that I am absolutely thrilled for my girl finally getting her first ever lead role and doing so well at it. Honestly I was a little nervous at the prospect of her working with freaking Lee Jun-ki for her first lead role and not some younger actor like I'd always expected for her, but she doesn't seem out of her depth at all and actually has chemistry with him. I'm proud of her for navigating the role so well, but I wish the writing was better.
Anyway, keep your expectations of SWWTN VERY low, because honestly, it's a cheesefest and the actors are the ones who save it by fully committing to the cheese, hard as that might be to believe.
And don't apologise for having real-life stuff to do! You're right that db on mobile is weird. I can't leave comments when I'm on the phone, the invisible hyperlinks and broken reply function drive me a bit nuts.
~Finished watching ' Tenno no Ryoriban( chef for Emperor)( J drama)
I kept crying while I was watching the last couple of episodes.
This is a story about a man who was a 'no good boy' but turned out to be an excellent chef and he evantually became a chef for the Taisho and Showa Emperor. This is not a fictional story but not all the story is based on his true biography( for instance, the chef married three times in his real life instead of one time in the drama). Back when he was young, a cook or chef was a career(?) as bad as Yakuza. He was instrumental in raising the worst career status to a much better status. Some people still have anti feeling against Emperors but this drama is an interesting way to view how Japanese back then viewed Emperors as well.
The main leads did wonderful Jobs. I have heard that Sato Takeru really made a tremendous efforts to master all culinary skills. All his cooking scenes were done by himself.
Kuroki Haru got a typical classic Japanese face so that her feature really suites her role but beyond that her acting( subtle) is impressive. Besides the leads actors, there are some notable actors, such as Kobayashi Kaoru( Night Diner fame), Suzuki Ryohei( his older brother), Sugimoto Tetsuta( his father; I love the way he got mad at his son!) etc in the drama.
Tonbi is really quite good – but it's the father (Uchino Masaaki) that steals the show in that drama. And the kid versions of Takeru's character (Takeru doesn't actually do much – well, I'm sure Takeru fans think he's amazing in that drama, but, well, the dad just steals the show).
Anyhow, it's a drama worth watching. Heartrending and heartwarming at the same time.
Been a busy week. No happy weekend this time around.
The Genius - I watched ep 4 raw and didn't understand much. MM and DM are both awesome tho. But I won't talk about it. Yet. I'll talk about Yoonsun. The lawyer, outcast, etc. Lol. Because I just realized that it makes no sense for her to have no alliance. Case in point-S2E1. It was the food chain game and her winning condition was for the lion to win. But she was in an alliance with Jinho whose winning condition was the lion dying. And what did she do? She chose loyalty over winning. And she even had to go to the deathmatch because of that. And Kyungran should probably start watching the broadcasts of the prev seasons.
Healer - I now love this show. And I hate how I have no time to marathon this....??.
Waiting for I Remember You and Oh My Ghostess to finish their run. Then I'll marathon 'em. ??
Hey beanies,
can you recommend asian romantic movies,
my favorite are:
0.5 love
a wedding invitation
, stolen years (i pretend it end on the 1st hour :D)
and can anyone tell where can i watch ' the truth about beauty ' online
Thank you
"Chungking Express" is one of my most favorite romantic Asian movies ever, by HK director Wang Kar Wai. It's quirky and fun, and with more rewatches, more details yield themselves. It also isn't as cryptic and hard-to-get as his later movies.
"Love Letter" is an older Japanese film that is slow-paced, but a classic. If high-school crushes and puppy love is your sort of thing (as it is mine), this will be fun.
“The Reincarnation of Golden Lotus,” another HK movie, is also incredibly romantic/tragic.
Chungking Express to me is a must-see film. It is heavily flawed in terms of character design, story-telling and acting, but it is Wong Kar-wai's best work, in my opinion. It's his least over-construed work and that brings out its full charm.
It gets more and more difficult to watch nowadays though, as several of its innovations have been copied to death.
Define "romantic". :chuckle: I've recently seen a film which had a fairly tender depiction of two young people falling in love (and a *really* hot sex scene - hot because it was loving and tender), but I wouldn't characterize the film as a romance, because the characters (a very small-time criminal & a prostitute) in question made terrible life choices & the film was kind of a tragedy.
(It's called Bitch :heart: Asshole, & stars Kwon Hyun Sang & Park Ran)
I see some others recommended Chungking Express by Wong Kar Wai, which is a great movie - definitely his most quirky, upbeat film.
Less upbeat, but truly beautiful -
In The Mood For Love (also by Wong Kar Wai) with Maggie cheung and Tony Leung. It is absolutely breathtaking visually tonally musically and thematically. I think it's a movie everyone should see at least once..it encapsulates romance and longing more than any other film I have seen.
Lust, Caution directed by Ang Lee (also with Tony Leung, who uses his expressive eyes so skillfully and to heartbreaking effect here as he does in In The Mood For Love) I watch this movie a few times a year when I'm feeling down or uninspired. It's so sumptuous and meticulous, fantastic cinematography by the same DP who shot Brokeback Mountain with Ang Lee. Just painterly and riveting.
House of Flying Daggers. by Zhang Yimou. A lot of people think this movie is all visuals and no substance but man, I kind of love it and if you're in the mood for sizzling melodramatic romance you should definitely try it.
Maborosi by Hirokazu Koreeda - Not exactly a romance and the pace is a bit off putting when you are used to more faced paced films with typically moving plots (not much "happens") but I personally adore it..It's like watching a visual poem of life and melancholy unfold. I'd also recommend "Still Walking" and "After Life" out of his films, though also not romance films per se
Love Exposure by Sion Sono - in a different way but this is also definitely not your typical romance..4 hours of strangeness, perversity, absurdity and kind of beautiful greatness?
Castaway on the Moon
a "romance" between a girl who's a shut in and a suicidal guy who gets stuck on a land mass in the han river. weird and lovely.
Has anyone been having a lot more trouble with the dramabeans site because of the ads? They're constantly making the pages freak out on my and make me unable to do anything and I have to keep refreshing.
Me too!!! It happens so often that I don't even use my computer to open the site anymore, and since that means I'm opening it on my cellphone = less posts (because typing up my thoughts takes forever, compared to computer keyboard). A few times I've even gotten warnings from my security software of potential threats.
Sigh. I used to be on here 24/7 until these ads started screwing up my typing vibe...
Just a real quick question to other Beanies:
Can you recommend a reputable online site that sells authentic Korean music CDs/MP3s? I'm looking for a place that would have older stuff, like 5+ years old to maybe even stuff from the 90s. Looking in particular for the Dae Jang Geum OST for my friend...and darn it, YA sold out of them. I was saving up $ to buy that & a few others -- just checked the site tonight and now they're gone :( argh. Also hoping to find some old school kpop (circa late 1990s) for my nostalgia :P
Thanks in advance for your help! :) Hope yall have a great weekend! :)
@harmonyfb: thank you for your reply!! Tell me about it, I'm still looking for a legit site (besides iTunes) in the US that would have these songs from yesteryear - even if it's only from within the past 2 decades or so :( It would be amazing if these companies (here's lookin at ya, SM!) to redistribute via mp3 versions, because I definitely think there would be interest and people willing to buy music from that era in the newer format.
Which specific singers/groups are you looking for? I'm actually embarassed to say I'd never heard of Korean punk pop until now...my knowledge of Korean music has been limited to Kpop (although stuff these days are overprocessed), Khiphop and Krock.
@luvKdramas: thank you for your reply!! And thank you for giving your suggestions!! (I'd never heard of them before) I checked out those sites, but to no avail. :( Actually, besides YA, Az was my second option. I opted to just buy the Taiwan version from YA, hoping it'll just be the same music but only differences in packaging language. I'll definitely keep these sites in mind for future reference! :)
Finally back into watching Kdrama, One would think that 7 weeks of sick leave would give me plenty of viewing time, but I just wasn't in the mood. I blame post-anesthesia brain.
Oh My Ghostess! Just what the doctor ordered! Loving this show so much.
Also, Midnight Diner. I would love to eat at a restaurant where the "table" is built like a bar. It's weird, but the set reminds me of US shows from the 1970's like "Barney Miller". I'm not sure why. Maybe it's all the wood in the restaurant?
Tomorrow morning I'm going berry picking. Of course, it's the first day in months we're supposed to get significant rain here in the Pacific Northwest! Wish me luck!
I Remember You: O. M. G. I thought this thing was a melo, so I gave it a pass. Then somebody was talking about it on twitter, and I decided to give it a go. Then I binged 8 episodes. Now I really want to binge-watch the rest of it, but dammit, it's still airing. (First world problems. :sadface:)
Scholar Who Walks the Night: The soundtrack appears to have gotten a bit better, which is good. It's not an Emmy-winner, but I'm enjoying it.
Killjoys: American show about space bounty hunters. Stylish, snappy dialog.
Dark Matter: American show about five people who wake up on a space ship with no memories. Great larger arc about whether we're the sum of our memories, and whether we can be truly said to have changed if we don't have them as a baseline.
What I want to watch:
Cheo Yong. I'm hoping that this will appear on a big site so I don't have to hunt all over for it.
Signal: This sounds great - one detective in the present finds a walkie-talkie that lets him talk to a detective in the past. Together, they solve a long-unsolved crime.
K-drama Moments:
Went to a Koren food meet-up tonight - the theme was 'family table. It was awesome. They served grilled mackerel, Dak bokum tang (spicy chicken stew), cabbage soup (w/a fermented soybean base), pan-fried tofu w/sauce, scallion pancakes, & a variety of ban chan - spinach, bean sprouts, teeny anchovies, kimchi. It was all delicious. I also got to try makgeolli, which was yummy. Here are some photos of the feast: https://twitter.com/harmony_fb/status/624783153501208576
I regret I didn't explore the 'open thread' section sooner all these years. :(
Since MASK is coming to an end next week, I have been looking for a good drama to watch. But am still on the fence with the ones that's on-air right now even after reading all the comments. Probably going to wait out another week for more inputs from fellow beanies. :)
Thanks dramabeans for a great place where beanies hang out!!
Hey guys. I wonder why am I always late to comment on OT. Well in the previous OT I asked for some laugh out loud shows and was recommended Marriage not dating. Unfortunately it didn't happen to click me, though I've always heard good about it. Hence I would like to ask for some other good light-hearted shows. It would be great if you could help me :)
Sorry MND didn't click with you - you could try Surplus Princess. It's pretty dang funny (you just have to stop watching at the end of the next-to-last episode, as the network cut it to 10 eps at the last minute, and ending makes no sense at all.
@harmonyfb I realised it was you who recommended me the shows last time. You don't need to be sorry in fact i'm really thankful. Maybe if i'll try watching past the 2 episodes I might like MND. Anyways thank you again you are really helpful :)
Hey, humor is very individual - what I think is riotously funny someone else might think was stuuuupid. (Witness how many people think Seth Rogan is funny, when I think he's the unfunniest person in show business, right behind Andy Kaufman.) :)
![[K-drama Treasure Hunt] Heart-fluttery bottle opening](http://d263ao8qih4miy.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/Kdrama-treasure-hunt.png)
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1 Klava
July 24, 2015 at 6:17 AM
Hi beanies hope you've all had a great week, on to dramas.
I just happened upon I REMEMBER YOU,I wasn't planning on watching it but wow it's so good. It's like a mash of Criminal minds, Bones,Dexter and The Mentalist with buds of romance and somehow it works,the directing and editing is superbly done, story and characters are so interesting and we'll done,I can't believe I almost didn't watch it.I blame Mask because it consumed me and I couldn't watch anything else but now I'm all caught up and I want more.The chemistry is off the charts and I can't believe how talented SIG is, I have to keep reminding myself that he was a singer first. I already knew he's a good actor since Reply 1997 and KHS but here he's great. The suit and the hairstyle don't hurt because he has swag? oozing out of his pores.
MASK we finally get bed scenes ✋ that's all I wanted. Loved the cute. Wish seok hoon would kill Mi yeon and just before her last breath he tells her
'I never loved you'
anyway she's dead to me,I can't stand her crazy.
OH MY GHOSTESS so cute,can't wait for the next episode, the lead actress is very talented.
Moviewise
I only watched FASHION KING which was hilarious, loved every moment, Joo won really committed to this role which is so unlike him but just goes to show he can do anything, looking forward to seeing him in
HealerYongpal which looks amazing already.I made a mistake when I saw Lee min ho on the cover of Heirs Dvd and decided to buy it and as soon as I heard ?love is the moment ? I chucked it out of the Dvd player.Why did I waste my money , it was horrible enough when I watched it online the first time around. That OST has got to be the most hated in the history of kdramas.
Non drama wise,woke up yesterday to CNN calling Kenya a 'terror hot bed' and got worked up, how dare they but I'm glad kenyans didn't let them get away with it, #someonetellcnn was the number 1 trending topic on twitter yesterday and I joined in to let out my frustration. Sadly this is not the first time CNN has made a mistake or sensationalise news, it seems they are in this for entertainment and ratings rather than unbiased news.I'll stick to Aljazeera from now on,thank you very much.
My mum tells me there is now no cell service or Internet because of Obama 's arrival and boy am I glad I'm not in Kenya what would I do without Internet.
That's it.
Have a great weekend beanies.
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korfan
July 24, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Klava -
If Seok-hoon uttered those words to Mi-yeon, it would confirm what she's been aware of all along. I think that since the beginning she's always known that he's never loved her. ...... She just never wanted to accept that reality.
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AJK
July 24, 2015 at 8:36 AM
What would have made the show for me is if he had fallen in love with her at some point and then was really torn between love and revenge. That's where I hoped we were going ... her crazy behavior this episode was beyond out of the blue. Of all the characters and actresses who deserved better, none more than Mi Yeon.
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dream
July 24, 2015 at 8:10 AM
Heirs OST is not all bad. Except for 1 or 2 songs, rest of the songs are quite good. Examples: Lena Park, Big baby Driver, @ Young etc.
Sadly everyone remembers only Love is the Moments...one of the worst songs I've ever heard and ignores the other good numbers.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:42 AM
You're right about that horrible Heirs song. Even today I have violent flashbacks and imagine that I am on a beach babbling Korglish that makes no sense at all. Heirs even now is still on my #1 hated drama of all time list.
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Klava
July 24, 2015 at 9:59 AM
Even today I have violent flashbacks and imagine that I am on a beach babbling Korglish that makes no sense at all
Bwahaha ? horrific
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Klava
July 24, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Unfortunately I'm among those who only remember the bad and generalise.Maybe I'll download and listen to the rest and try not to judge based on one horrendous song.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:20 PM
I Remember You really is so good. I also always forget SIG started as a singer. But he's so charismatic as an actor and I'm sad this show isn't rating well because I wish he would just really take off as an actor.
Where did you watch Fashion King? I remember the trailer for it and it looked rather fun and silly.
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harmonyfb
July 25, 2015 at 9:12 AM
I'm sure the title has something to with the lack of ratings. From the stills & the title, I assumed it was a rom-com or melo, & I wasn't the least interested - and I'd bet other people who like cop shows felt the same way.
But the people who would be interested in an amnesia melo would be horrified by the serial-killer plotline & stop watching.
Just needed a better title & more informative marketing. I'm definitely buying a copy for the library when it's available.
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2 4D
July 24, 2015 at 6:19 AM
Happy Friday Beanies! Crazy times for me at the moment. So many things going wrong that I have no control over (culminating in my coworker having to go to the ER in the middle of the day yesterday - still waiting for an update on her although it's probably just stitches). Trying I work on my dramas but pretty much behind on everything.
Scholar This show is so cheesy and so fun! Lots of things make me laugh that shouldn't (like out dead prince stuck in a wall) but unlike last summers Watchman, this show is going for it full throttle. I'm one of the few who doesn't buy the lead romance and I feel badly because I really like both Lee Jun Ki and Yubi and think that individually they're killing it but...I think Yubi just always reads super young to me and seems more like an infatuated kid in everything instead of a woman. But again, I love them in this anyway. Also I've never seen Lee Soo-Hyuk I'm anything and I'm still in shock every time he opens his mouth.
Hidden Identity Only part way through episode 11. I'll most likely catch up today. This show is just amazingly full of plot holes but I've pretty much jut accepted that. I'm still enjoying many of the characters and will definitely see this one through to the end.
I Remember You My #1 right now so I'm definitely caught up. I really love it even if it's not perfect. The tone is really up my alley. I'm just worried with what the end game is going to be. Was anyone else happy to see the girl from Liar Game in these last two episodes? I hope she gets some meatier roles soon. Also, I love the actors. Pretty much all of them. I'm glad Park Bogum seems to be living up to his charasmatic potential (one of the best parts of Cantabile).
Orange Marmalade This show has finally found it's stride. I know a lot of people who stuck with it now really love but I'm just ok with it. It's hot some good moments now but a lot of them don't really feel earned. Good endings can't just be good on their own - the build up needs to be more authentic for me. Still, there's a lot of good now and I'm looking forward to the conclusion this weekend.
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3 4D
July 24, 2015 at 6:21 AM
Late Night Restaurant/Midnight Diner Only one episode in but I found it refreshing. I felt oddly disconnected, as if I were just watching clips from a persons life which doesn't really let me get emotionally connected but it also creates an almost fairytale quality if that makes sense. Plus there's yummy food!!
Oh My Ghostess I'm also really loving this! #2 right now for me. This cast also is so fun to watch. Like a lot of people I'm a bit nervous about how they're going to handle the love lines in terms of who is in the body. The plot is getting more complex as well which is nice.
Stuff I'm way behind on: Hwajung, I'm still in episode 25. I just can't bring myself to watch his downfall. Murphy, still only watched through 15 because I dint want noble idiocy or unnecessary angst. Time, still only seen the first two. I haven't even kept up with recaps. I like the leads but the rest really wasn't working for me. I know I'll go back to it but it may be way down the line. I Order You, I'm only a little behind but it got paused while I tried Midnight Diner which I think is better. Then again Yunho is army bound now so I should get myself to finish this.
----
Random thoughts:
- I'm rather excited by Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah dating. I love them both.
- Anyone watch the CF with Sungjae and Kim So-Hyun? Technically all of BtoB is in it but they're in the back. I think everyone knows School 2015's most popular ship.
- I started watching infinity challenge which I always resisted because some of the cast annoys me...but it was fun and I'm surprised at some if the people they got to come out for this years singing challenge. I look forward to the songs.
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sunnyl
July 24, 2015 at 6:30 AM
I should start watching infinity challenge. Need to figure out why it is number 1 variety show for 10 years or something. Years ago, my younger sis told me it is her (and many young people's) favorite show so I attempted, but didn't like it much. Time to check out again.
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Wag-a-muffin
July 24, 2015 at 7:55 AM
If you don't watch Infinity Challenge regularly, you need to watch the Music Festival arcs. I first started watching the show two years ago during that Festival and was hooked. (I was impressed that almost all the cast can sing---well!)
So far this year looks promising too. I loved G Dragon and Taeyang in their masks. I was also impressed with how intuitive and ON THE MONEY IU was with her guesses. Also, watching Yoo Jae Suk sing all the parts of Big Bang's song--and mimicking TOP's open eye style--I laughed a lot.
In the teaser for next week it looks like G, Taeyang, and Kwanghee might sing a Trot song.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:28 PM
IU and her "pitch perfect" image is pretty accurate. She has an amazing ear. I loved how even JYP was like "Hey guys, guess what IU told me! She's so got this!".
A trot song?!?! Well it would be funny but I would love to see them do full on pop craziness. I really want Kwanghee to do a "YG-type" song. Maybe they're just doing a trot song for a fun warm up? I'm sure I'll like it no matter what though.
And I'm excited for Hyukoh to be on there...and now they've just signed on to Tablo's/YG's label. I'm hoping they create something epic too.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 7:40 PM
I love the Music Festival and the matchups (did a quickie summary in my post below #19)
G-Dragon Taayang, and Kwanghee - yes!
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 8:07 AM
I watched a few eps of Infinity Challenge a couple of years ago. Loved it. Wanted to keep watching it but could never find a regular source for subs. Now I see it subbed regularly & I really want to go back & watch it. I'd love to watch it from ep 01 but that's probably impossible ( and CRAZY), right?
I totally broke down over the "I Am A Singer" episodes. I was so glad I watched them! Jinusean, Turbo, Uhm Jung Hwa, Bada....... Gahhhhhhh I was crying watching the audience reaction. I was humming all their songs for weeks afterwards.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:22 PM
To be honest, I think it's hit or miss for me. I started watching not realizing that the episodes aren't always in order. Certain challenges are over several episodes...and sometimes they'll show different challenges in between. But once you get over the chronology it's better. It also depends on the challenges for me. But I definitely think it's worth checking out. As others mentioned, the singing challenges are really fun and popular...although it helps if you have an idea of who these people are (if you're just into dramas and not the music scene it might possibly be less fun).
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Aigoo
July 24, 2015 at 6:39 AM
I agree with the noble idiocy in Murphy's Law - minus the noble part. I honestly don't understand the reason they can't be together. I'm force-watching this but if things do't turn around soon I'm going to drop it.
I love Shin Minh Ah and Kim Woo Bin too! I'm excited they're dating. I never would have paired them myself....but I hope it works out! Can you imagine how cute their babies would be!!
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:46 AM
I gave up on Murphy's Law long ago. As you noted, lots of idiocy with no nobility. Not to mention that so many Taiwan dramas seem to be super silly and just downright cheesy.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:31 PM
Well I stopped watching so they haven't split yet. I just clearly saw it coming in the previews and threw up my hands in defeat. I feel like they have no reason not to be together anyway and already stuck with each other through so much.
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 7:09 AM
I agree with you I REMEMBER YOU is the best drama for me right now and coming close second is OH MY GHOSTESS ?
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nomad
July 24, 2015 at 6:08 PM
+100000000!!!!
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:44 AM
Midnight Diner - Watched 4 episodes, and it is about 2 for 2. A couple of good ones, but a couple that are pretty bleh. But easy to watch since it is only 30 min.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:34 PM
I'm curious which two you likes and which two were bleh for you? (You can just number them) I've now seen the first two. I like not watching them all at once. I'm curious though if they'll start overlapping characters more or bring some back. Surely these customers don't just overlap with the same people and not the others.
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WM
July 24, 2015 at 10:06 AM
I was wondering if anyone else was watching Late Night Diner! I've seen a few episodes, and so far I'm really enjoying it. I like the vignette style, and at about 30 minutes it's a short, sweet little story driven treat. Very curious about our cooking "master", though, especially with that scar on his eye and his very quiet manner.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:35 PM
Yeah, I'm wondering too if they're going to reveal more about him or not. He's a really great observer though and pretty compassionate. I forgot to check - how many episodes is this show?
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Tara
July 24, 2015 at 9:58 PM
@4D, Windsun33 & WM: yay, more Midnight Diner fans! :) I've gushed about this because the format of the drama is simply different than the typical kdrama. The episode is just about the right time length, the food looks yummy (I kinda wish there was more focus on the food -- but that's just the foodie side of me talking, ha).
I've seen eps1-5, and I agree with Windsun33 -- there are a few weak eps (for me, it was the Noodle Sisters and the Magician -- ep 3 & 5). I couldn't find myself feeling drawn to the Noodle Sisters' "first love" and the subsequent drama surrounding him, and the Magician's story was a bit blah for me (despite it being Ji Jin-hee...what a surprise that he'd cameo!).
As for the overlapping characters...there are a few that have recurred in other eps, but some (like ep1 & 2's character of the day) have not made return visits. I agree, it should not be the same ol' people over and over again, but it is a bit nice to have a new, fresh face for the episode's focus.
And I am also curious about the scar of Master's eye as well! I wonder if he was a gangster a la the guy from the first ep.
As for Shin Min-ah...you go, girl!!! :P
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windsun33
July 25, 2015 at 10:02 AM
The Noodle Sisters and the Magician seemed way off for me. The Magician one seems like it was unfinished, or something got left out in the editing. A really weird ending.
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Tara
July 26, 2015 at 8:45 PM
@4D: oops, my mistake...the Magician ep was ep4. Didn't notice that 'til now!
@Windsun33: Good to see that I'm not the only one to think that those two eps were a bit off the mark. I saw the ending of the Magician one and was like, uh...what the heck happened to the ending? I, too, think it was a mistake in editing...although then that just seems odd that a major network like SBS would miss that before broadcasting it. Weirdness. The Noodle Sisters' "conflict of interest" was pretty lame, and how it got resolved (was it that he was two-timing her then? It was a bit confusing) was also a bit like...oh, let's just throw that in there so that they'll be friends again. Sometimes, I think that maybe these weaker eps are written by a different writer altogether...? The tone and general feel of these eps are a contrast to that of the stronger eps.
Have you seen this week's eps? I tuned in to ep7 (just jumped past 6, I'll get back to it later) because I heard of Oh Ji-ho's cameo. Was surprised at Nam Ji-hyun's cameo -- I think, in my mind, I'm still putting her with her What Happened to My Family's character, so it was a different look altogether.
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4 Orion
July 24, 2015 at 6:22 AM
Hello everyone. I don't post in these threads usually, but there is an issue currently up which concerns Dramabeans and the readers here.
A new "site" called Zkpop has appeared which steals entire pieces from others, without crediting the original sites and authors. It has not replied to any contact yet and they are also now trying to trick readers. They make template posts, then wait for the original creators to make the content and then they paste it into those template posts. This makes it seem as if Zkpop created the pieces first.
They have Dramabeans pieces and have also taken from Allkpop, Koala's Playground, Couch Kimchi, HanCinema and more. Also from Dramajjang, owner Kwon Sang Seung of which is gathering photographic evidence of this thing and keeping people informed.
Here are two pieces written about it by Dramajjang. Please do not feed these thieves and warn any acquaintances which might visit. Spread the word so we can make sure people know until Zkpop get reported enough to shut down. 1 and 2.
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mary
July 24, 2015 at 11:14 AM
So they're stealing recaps and blog posts from other kdrama sites and making it look like they posted it first....
UGH HATEBEAM
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Elle
July 24, 2015 at 1:27 PM
I read Dramajjang's post & it's spot on.
I hope the affected blogs report every stolen post to the site's host as well as file DMCA complaints so this site is taken down quickly.
In the meanwhile, I hope the drama community spreads the word about this site and no one visits it anymore.
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Nermin Badwi
July 24, 2015 at 2:05 PM
other than spreading awareness?! can we do any thing else to fight it?!!
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 5:07 PM
Hi, I got hit, too. There's a thread on http://www.cimiart.wordpress.com (my blog) under My Beautiful Bride episode 8 post with some steps that can be taken. Thanks to Kwon Sang Seung's heads up to me about it, others jumped in and offered help. revlow, Elle, Couch Kimchi and others listed tips and articles if you read down far enough on the MBB 8 post.
There is absolutely NO credit or links to any of the original posts that they've stolen.
If anyone has been successful in their attempts to stop ZKpop, let us know. Hopefully, if we all back each other, we can run them out of town.
Thanks.
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Orion
July 24, 2015 at 5:27 PM
The owner of HanCinema has tried contacting them too, but nothing so far. No clue what the site will do later, but I imagine at least some of the places hit will report them. Allkpop must have put pressure on them and they apparently took those pieces down.
The owners of the places hit can try to contact them and if nothing happens, do a whois on them and send reports to the abuse email. I do not know of the procedures beyond that. I see talk of DMCA reports and such.
What we as users can do is to keep speaking about the issue when we can, to make sure as many as possible know about this. We can't stop them ourselves, but we sure as heck can alert people to their workings on big communities and social media.
Sadly, this is a common thing. Most bigger sites have dealt with such scammers frequently. I hope whoever has the energy and time for it can go after them.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 25, 2015 at 9:18 AM
all the hate to the thief site, if they're on a platform we should definitely report the content theft.
I feel bad for the website owners having their content stolen like this, the thieves clearly have no shame.
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revlow
July 26, 2015 at 2:12 PM
I'm late to the game. Here is the Whois info for Zkpop:
Hosting company is HostGator. Here is their contact info:
http://www.hostgator.com/contact
Registrar Abuse Contact Email: abuse@gmo.jp
Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +81.337709199
As mentioned, some links to articles with steps to take are at owl's site:
https://cimiart.wordpress.com/2015/07/16/my-beautiful-bride-episode-8-recap/
Read down through the comments.
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Orion
July 26, 2015 at 6:01 PM
Thank you for this and for all your help there in those comments. I am not affected personally (though the site I work for is) and it just angers me beyond belief. If enough people report, they will be taken down. It's just a matter of all the sites coming together for it.
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5 sunnyl
July 24, 2015 at 6:25 AM
TGIF!
This week's news was-
Kim WooBin and Sin MinAh dating- yay for noona romance (SMA is 5 years older). They make good looking couple for sure.
On dramas:
HwaJung: I laughed on some comment which said Ep 30 must be the final episode. I get it because they made such a big deal about Gwanghae leaving. Even though I am glad they made GwangHae to shine in this show, I think they went too far -WTH He gave up his throne to save the princess? (eye roll)
Mask: I love to watch MW and JS scenes, but flaws of this show give me headache- severe one. The other leads' purpose in life 'You can't be happy because I am not happy' is simply absurd (another eye roll). I am glad this ends next week.
High society: I am glad this ends next week too.
I watch this to the end because of YiJi being my favorite character. Then again, JoongGi is doing better, and Park HyungSik is such an eye candy. But Yoo-na Ugh (another eye roll).
Oh well, I still have I remember you, My beautiful bride and Oh my ghost.
(I thought it was funny Kim SeulGi calling Park BoYoung Unni in the press conference because PBY looks so young. PBY said she had hard time acting hitting on JJS because she is shy, but now she got used it. Jo JungSuk says it is still hard for him acting against PBY hitting on him. I am glad show is doing well - as you know all four leads carried out their rating promises).
Hope YongPal and Mrs.cop is good.
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Klava
July 24, 2015 at 6:33 AM
What kim woo bin and Shin min ah are dating wait how? ??? to Google
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 8:37 AM
Oh, liittle gumiho shark babies, cutest ever!
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:50 AM
I will not particularly miss High Society nor Mask. Both could have been much better. And I fear that even MBB is drifting in that direction now also.
At this rate I won't have much left to watch but older ones and My Ghostess.
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nomad
July 24, 2015 at 6:15 PM
I'm liking mask with lots of ff...cause I'm pretty much marathoning on it right now. It's nice, all I need is to skip all the drama, and on to the sweet interactions. Ha! :P
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:36 PM
Oh boo, that makes me even less motivated to catch up on Hwajung. I know the end is coming or him...and that's such a crap reason too. Sigh.
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6 alua
July 24, 2015 at 6:31 AM
Enjoying Oh My Goddess.
Finally watched King of Dramas, which was quite enjoyable. I don't think it needed the love triangle with the female actress, although fortunately she was not a schemer. I just kept thinking "Girl, give up already. No matter how many times you say you'll wait, he has been over you for years." They could have just started the fun with her and Choi Si-won's character much earlier, because they were a riot together.
Anyone watching "I Order You"? I'm skip-watching because the acting – on all sides – is cringeworthy, the plot as cliché as it can get and the female lead sometimes just plain dumb. That said, I do like that the female lead has somewhat of a backbone when it comes to the ex-wife (who is another person that just needs to admit to herself that her ex is 100% over her).
Tried an episode of Midnight Diner. Pretty much an exact copy of the Japanese dorama, except that they swapped out the transgender guy and gave us a sweet flower boy. I guess that's how kdramas do it (Key of Life remake casting that was announced today does the same sort of thing.). K-Midnight Diner is still good.
Japanese dramas:
-37.5°C no Namida: this is quite promising (2 eps). The actors aren't the ones I usually watch and I can't say that one of them is spectacular, but I like the premise and so far it's definitely watchable.
–Akagi: I'm sure this would be even better if I knew anything about mahjong, but even with zero knowledge I'm intrigued already. Maybe just because Kanata Hongo is one of those actors that are sort of fascinating and generally always choose interesting roles/dramas. Having seen the first episode, my hunch I think he's playing to win even if that means he'll die. The geezer is too full of himself to realise that Akagi is exactly that kind of person – if he can defeat the old guy, he's willing to die for that.
Watched the Princess Jellyfish movie. Haven't read the manga, nor seen the anime, but let me just say that the highlight of that movie is Suda Masaki spending 75% of his screen time in drag. Hilarious. And amazingly gorgeous. Also love the fact that the girls in that house spanned such a wide age range (as in, the actors in real life).
Other than that, only reading recaps of various show while be glad that I dropped them early on or never started them. Yes, High Society and The Time I Held Off Confessing My Feelings for No Good Reason Other than to Annoy Viewers, it's you I'm talking about.
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 6:44 AM
I watched a few episodes of "I Order You", they are only 20 minutes and have no plot to follow, so it's not really demanding. But it's sooo terribly bad and features the worst acting by the male leads I've ever seen.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 6:49 AM
That's why I'm skip-watching. Sometimes even without the subs (like, not going back when the subs are out because it's all so obvious). The first few episodes at least had some interesting food bits. And I'll give them that at least it's got a properly adult relationship.
But yeah, the acting is terrible. I don't think anyone in that drama can really act.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:52 AM
Same here with the skip-watching. the FF button is your friend lately in a lot of current dramas it seems.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:38 PM
I feel odd skip-watching a show that's on 20 minutes. I watched the first six episodes but then stopped for Midnight Diner instead. I'm sure I'll go back since I like having at least one short show to watch, but it's.....yeah, not very good. I don't really like any of them either.
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atz
July 24, 2015 at 6:46 AM
Princess Jellyfish:
I like the story, very heart warming. I think they should have Princess Jellyfish 2.
My daughter said to me,'Suda Masaki looks better as a woman than a man. don't you agree?' I must say,' yes, him being a girl looked so pretty .' I have heard that he spent much time and effort to make him look pretty.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 6:57 AM
It's a pretty predictable story – nothing new at all – but it's very watchable and done the right way with some pretty good actors, which is all quite a rarity with live-action films.
Suda Masaki is an awesome girl, and not just that: he's a full-blown fashionista that pulls off the craziest outfits. He must have had such fun doing the movie.
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john
July 26, 2015 at 5:13 AM
alua ~
I thoroughly enjoyed Princess Jellyfish.
Masaki Suda's performance was fantastic. I enjoyed Rena Nounen's work as well. I was impressed with her in Amachan , (all 156 episodes).
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pastmidnite ?
July 24, 2015 at 6:51 AM
"The Time l Held Off Confessing My Feelings for No Good Reason Other than to Annoy Viewers"
LOL!
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 6:57 AM
Hahaha loved this!
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 7:01 AM
For some reason, reading this rather accurate title felt extremely satisfying ...
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kanz
July 24, 2015 at 7:02 AM
Hahaha.. I'm on the brink of dropping this too, despite my love for Ha Ji Won and her chemistry with Lee Jin Wook..
can't stand the story..
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 7:03 AM
There's even better alternative titles in the recap comments for the last episodes (or second last?).
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korfan
July 24, 2015 at 7:07 AM
*laughing*
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bbstl 🧹
July 24, 2015 at 9:19 AM
Hahaha this suggestion feels the most right of all those I've read so far. Or I might tweak it slightly to
"The Time I Held Off Confessing My Feelings For No Good Reason Other Than More PPL"
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osmanthustea
July 24, 2015 at 10:00 AM
@alua and bbstl: you guys just crack me up. d=
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:53 AM
That describes about 20% of all k-dramas in the past 5 years :P
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 10:44 AM
Actually, I think most dramas are best described by "The Time I Didn't Communicate with You Like Any Normal Adult Would For No Good Reason Other Than That There Would Be No 16-Episode Drama".
Communicate
= confess my feelings
= clarify a misunderstanding
= didn't make assumptions without any real basis other than my wild, k-drama inspired imagination
= didn't listen to the lies/delusions of a near or total stranger that obviously hates me but instead talked to the person I know/love/trust and should be talking to directly with about this issue
= etc.
[insert as appropriate for each particular drama]
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 11:08 AM
HAH! :D I could add a few more, like:
= I will not listen and interrupt you repeatedly when you do try to explain.
= If I see two people drinking coffee together, they are dating and/or cheating.. or both.
= If i am embarrassed because I got totally drunk and passed out, the best solution the next day is to run away and hide behind a vending machine.
Actually I guess if you worked at it, you could come with a list of about 50 like that :)
isnin
July 24, 2015 at 8:17 AM
alua -
I've never watched King of Dramas past episode 2...I'll have to give it another try. I loved Siwon in Skip Beat!
I skip-watched Princess Jellyfish just to watch the drag scenes.
I started watching a show called Q10...so far, it's a bit bizarre.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 9:46 AM
I couldn't handle Skip Beat! I don't remember much other than that some of the characters were unbearable (pretty sure I dropped it after a couple of episodes too).
I don't find Siwon a particularly good actor (he's serviceable at best), but he had a fun character in King of Dramas, particularly the longer the drama went on.
Q10 is not bad. It's one of those quirky j-dramas.
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM
alua - I liked Skip Beat! overall. It was fluffy.
Everything was so exaggerated and over-the-top that it was a bit irksome to downright annoying in a few parts.
It was fun to watch Siwon get his come-uppance. I admired that he was able to let go of his image a bit and make fun of himself.
Ivy Chen grated on my nerves. So did the antagonist 2nd lead girl. But, I wanted to put the guy who played Siwon's manager in my pocket!
Q10 = quirky. Yep. but her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard.
Switch Girl is still one of my quirky J-drama faves.
(Ouran Host Club)
Fluffy JDrama is campy and fun.
A secret I would only admit to here.
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Cant leave out Absolute Boyfriend or Kimi wa Petto either.
bapgongju
July 24, 2015 at 8:48 AM
I've been watching I order you ONLY cause it's 20 minutes and not too taxing for my brain. I really dislike the female lead. If it's not her acting or her constant pouting or unflattering dye job it's something else.
I keep hoping that the food will be featured more especially since I went through both seasons of Let's Eat and have started watching Late Night Restaurant but it's doubly frustrating to hear about how he spent so much time cooking, showing a wide shot of the 6 dishes he whipped up and then having her eat ONE bite and roll her eyes in orgasmic delight and then NOTHING.
I really need to stop watching it but other people have raved about it and I keep thinking I"m missing something.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 9:42 AM
I don't think you're missing anything. It's a really low-quality production with people who cannot act in a drama that has no real story and is instead stuffed with one cliché and/or contrived scenario after another. I don't 100% dislike the female lead, I just dislike her most of the time. When she doesn't take the bait from the ex and just says "I don't care if the restaurant has your name, because that's just the past, but in the present he likes me". Unfortunately scenes like this contrast with her throwing a hissy fit, e.g. when she is deeply offended that he kissed her without telling her that he's a divorced man first.
I need to stop watching too, I think I'm only watching because it's 20 minutes (which I reduce to about 5 with skipping scenes) and because I want to see what further delusional nonsense the ex is spouting.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 9:48 AM
< When she doesn’t take the bait from the ex and just says “I don’t care if the restaurant has your name, because that’s just the past, but in the present he likes me”.
Ooops, meant to say I kinda of like her when she's like this – because it's quite rare in kdrama.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 9:55 AM
Pretty much the entire cast spouts delusional nonsense :P
Why bother with a plot when you can just toss in some food porn.
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bapgongju
July 24, 2015 at 10:30 AM
But that's it, they don't even toss in food porn. And I keep hoping they will but sadly, no.
bapgongju
July 24, 2015 at 10:31 AM
I usually let it play in the background while I"m doing other things on the computer. It probably is a sign saying "stop watching" but I always feel like things will redeem itself. I can't stop reading a crappy book either so....
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7 Aigoo
July 24, 2015 at 6:34 AM
Hi everyone! i hop everyone's enjoying thier summer! It's been a long time since I've been on OT! Real life is so time consuming!
I just moved to New Haven, CT and I was wondering if there were any meetup groups in the area - I would love to meet some fellow beenies! Let me know - I don't mind if the closes one is in New York either.
On the drama front I'm loving I remember you - it's a great mix of suspense, romance, and comedy for me! My Beautiful bride is great but it stresses me way more - it lacks those comedic moments to take the stress away. But I sort of enjoy how with each episode we dig deeper and deeper into their background and we get to see a more complicated web than I even suspected existed.
Mask is also on my to-watch list once I get moving out of the way. If anyone has any suggestions for life in New Haven, let me know! I'm totally new to the city and would love some tips!
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Aigoo
July 24, 2015 at 6:41 AM
Also - did anyone watch the Thai drama Ugly Duckling Perfect Match? I absolutely loved it! It's so cute! Well...I haven't seen all of it. The subs take a while to come out - but I expect good things after watching the raw videos!
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AJK
July 24, 2015 at 8:40 AM
Where did you watch this?
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Nermin Badwi
July 24, 2015 at 2:10 PM
if i may ask
where do you find eng subbed thai content, other than viki ?
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Aigoo
July 24, 2015 at 6:56 PM
Sorry for the late response - busy moving. I think it's also on Youtube. I don't know who specifically posts it, but I find it though the link on this website: http://sinlapinthai.tumblr.com/
Only Ep 1-6 are subbed right now I think. Usually one episode is subbed per week so episode 7 should be coming shortly (I hope!)
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 26, 2015 at 4:44 AM
Long time no see!
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8 whatsthescenario
July 24, 2015 at 6:43 AM
I really wish Oh My Ghostess was on Viki...there is so much to comment on!! I'm still enjoying it. Can't wait for new episodes
I was really disappointed in My Long Eun Dong's ending. It's like the writers just ran out of gas and coasted to the end. I just can't abide by the husband and father getting away with it. His apology was not enough , IMO!!!! He robbed a child of his true father and psychologically tortured Eun Dong for 10 years! "Sorry" just won't cut it. Plus absolutely NOTHING happened to that conniving witch. She just ruined everyone's life, people went to jail and all she has is a broken heart. Whatevs. There were so many other ways to close the show. I don't know, I needed more retribution, more revenge.
I'm finding more and more writers don't quite now how to seal the deal after 16-20 episodes haranguing our main characters. The endings are becoming so lackluster.
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 6:54 AM
But that's been a thing in K-dramas for a long time, at least a decade.
Many villains are not there to be punished thoroughly for their crimes (moral, humane or legal), they are simply there to be forgiven by the protagonists.
There was this one K-drama five years ago: multiple characters have their lives ruined or got killed, the male lead character commits suicide, the villain says sorry, the other villain is just lead off-stage and forgotten and Big Bad's punishment is: not becoming the President of Korea.
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 7:00 AM
Wow just out of curiosity, what drama is this?
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 7:05 AM
That was "Sign", a crime procedural/political conspiracy show set in an institute for forensics, with Park Shin-yang and Kim A-jung in the mail roles.
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whatsthescenario
July 24, 2015 at 9:11 AM
It feels like we, the viewers, have an unspoken agreement with the writers. We will tolerate ALL evil things you do to our heroes/OTP - bankruptcy/poverty, family death, public embarrassment, harassment by thugs/loan sharks, bodily harm, loss of status, loss of first loves ...and more with the intention that at the end, the antagonists get their 'just desserts', as it were. No? What's the point, if in the end, nothing is ever really solved or better or justified? So frustrating!!!!!
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nomad
July 24, 2015 at 6:26 PM
The writers must've been better people than me...cause I like my villains to get their comeuppance. I like them to suffer equal to what they've caused to others, cause...u know, it's drama! We hardly get that in real life!
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kalel
July 24, 2015 at 7:50 AM
Well, I think as far as MLED's concerned, the few last minutes of the drama practically answered all of our questions: It was a story initially focused on the female lead, her story and her love affair. But "Our Love JJM" doesn't like those dramas, LOL..!
So, we watched everything from his perspective, with two female leads to be below par, too many secondary characters wandered around the 16 episodes doing almost nothing and finally, JJM's voice-over apart, that was a terribly ffw story. Honorouble mentions to both younger versions; they managed to solidify the whole story and they were fantastic in their roles.
I still think that was an idea for a 50-episode drama, hence the multiple secondary stories and their interactions...
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bbstl 🧹
July 24, 2015 at 9:38 AM
I felt both satisfied and annoyed by Eun Dong's ending. It was lovely (and surprising) that they managed to pull out a happy ending for everyone, and in just one short year! Huh. I did want her awful father and that witch to be tied up, left in deep holes and covered in kimchi on a hot day. Still really mad at the husband from what he did in Angry Mom, probably no getting over that :( But overall, a really good show that I'd recommend highly for romance and performances. Joo Jin Mo really is the "go-to guy" when you need intense emotion, whew ? what a hottie.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:00 AM
Though I mostly liked the ending of "My Love", it irked me a lot that the coach and MIL apparently got off totally free. Oh well, I guess you can't always have 100% justice.
Agreed about the endings, especially lately. I wonder if the writers are straying away from the original plot as some kind of fan service and just end up making a mess.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:43 PM
I, Fortunately (?), wasn't watching that show but I have to agree with your last comment...kdrama writers have an excruciatingly bad time with their third acts. I really just don't understand. Surely that's the one thing they really have to decide before the shooting starts. Knowing the end game is the only way for a good arc. And it's usually extremely unsatisfying and often doesn't deal with have the issues it brings up.
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nomad
July 24, 2015 at 6:32 PM
What is funny about that is, I often think maybe the writer doesn't know what us the watchers wonder? But then, "bam!" the writer would voice the watchers' concern right there in the actors' conversations. Like the smelly girl drama, where the male lead was asking why that chef did the horrible killings. Answer? None given. I mean, wth? If the writers can't give answers to the questions raised, why bother writing the story at all? Don't take me wrong, I've loved kdramas enough that I've abandoned all Americans TV completely, but this non-follow up procedures a lot of writers do truly irks me.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 8:07 PM
+1000 I'm especially irked by that too. I supposed I haven't watched kdramas long enough to really know trends but for me it feels like a lot of the dramas I've been watching lately have been really big on this mystery department. However, they're only good at the build up and then don't know what to do with it! It's pretty easy to build suspense, but for that suspense to be worth it is important. I remember reading that Agatha Christie used to write her stories backwards. She'd know the ending and go backwards and build on the extraneous storylines that way so people wouldn't know where to start looking for clues. That Smelly Girl drama was the WORST with the mystery. I loved our villain and I loved the cuteness of the OTP, but that killer plot was just so so so bad and aggravating. You don't just give serial killers really specific quirks for no reason! Meh.
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9 korfan
July 24, 2015 at 6:44 AM
Hi Everyone!
I hope you are all doing well today. ....... I'm absolutely hating the summer weather we're having! There's only so much heat and humidity I can deal with. ...... I almost want to say that humidity shouldn't exist. It causes nothing but problems! ..... But I know, that's not going to happen unfortunately.
Watched this week:
Mask - Still enjoying this very much. Truly an addictive watch. ..... Last night, I just watched the episode with the cake! *laughing*
I Remember You - Oh so good! I never want to miss an episode. ....... I'm finding Seo In-gook's natural characteristics serving him quite well for playing his role. He's simply wonderful in this. ...... And that forensic doctor and the lawyer! Both actors playing them doing a phenomenal job of being professional yet giving off that creepy vibe.
The Time I've Loved You - Decided to check this out this past weekend. I only watched the last 5 minutes of ep 1 and I thought I really didn't miss much. ...... For ep 2, I did watch the entire episode. ....... I don't know if this is good or bad but, all I can remember is that Ha-na likes to play with her hair too much, Won is scared of saying what he really wants to say and I noticed that L must have taken speaking-voice lessons.
That's it for now. ....... Take care everyone and have a great Friday!
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:45 PM
I stopped on Time after episode 2. I've yet to find the urge to continue despite my love of the leads actors. It's not bad, it's just...uninspiring?
On the other hand, I love I Remember You. That trio was absolute perfection this week. So good! I wish that could continue for a while.
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10 CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 6:58 AM
Hi all:
Dashing off so I'll be quick:
Oh my ghostess: current fave. So glad that although ghostie is the one who awakens certain aspects of Chef, it's Miss Timid who gets to date him. So are we dealing with an evil spirit in our cop big-bad or has he gone over into demon territory?
My Beautiful Bride: Wow, My crush on Do Hyung grows more and more. I'm stil worried about the leak in his brain. But get me a bank guy soon! I obviously have been missing strong macho loving types all this time. And is Ahjusshis Chairman a cannibal?
Mask: Good Lord, woman, give up on your obsessive love for your murderous hubby. What a pair! Min Woo, I like you and all but you are waaaaay wussy for me. Just so much caring I can do for a guy whose wife and sister are always out to protect him because he's so weak.
Scholar: Dropped. Something about the story is truly bothering me. So wanted to hang with my bias who has got to be the sexiest creature in kdramas right now. Has there ever been a character whose oozes dangerous sexuality to such an extent.
High Society: Chang Soo, Man up! Of course i've never been super-rich so i don't know what all stresses one gets into when pondering giving it all up. I'd like to see Chang Soo pondering poverty and real life..or even working that insecurity. But Park Hyung Sik is such a fave of mine, I can't pick on him too much. Mistress...let it go. Or will she cause a major turn in the plot?
Blluebird's House: Seriously, Hyeondo? Did you really just betray your friend? I'm still not clear if he and his beloved are brother and sister.
I Remember You: Caught up. Liking it. Sad for angsty Doengsang.
Assembly: So far, so good.
Awaiting, LAST, this weekend.
That's about it.
Have a great weekend, all.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 7:09 AM
<Blluebird’s House: Seriously, Hyeondo? Did you really just betray your friend? I’m still not clear if he and his beloved are brother and sister.
What did he do? (Note: I skip-watched this for a while, but I probably haven't seen the last 10-15 episodes.) I have to say I found Hyeondo such an unbearable character from the start that I just never understood why either Ji-wan or Eun-su gave him ANY time of day. They should have just completely blanked him whenever he said "I'm your friend" in his complete self-delusion.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 9:53 AM
I skipped from episode 6-36. Now am back because Taesu is now found out and there's a battle going on between him and Jiwan. So the Korean habit of everyone keeping secrets from everyone else created a situation where recorder w/evidence is given away by unsuspecting heroine to Hyeondo. Quite a mess.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 10:50 AM
I don't think I will go back to this. The whole situation of "secrets" and the absolute belief of some of the characters (Taesu most of all) that they have a "right" to control the lives of others in whatever way serves them best (i.e. cover up their own crimes or feed their own greed) made me so, so angry in the early episodes.
Pity that Lee Jun-Hyuk has to be wasted in dramas like this, he deserves better.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:30 AM
That was one of the reasons I had a problem watching it also. Seon-hui shouldn't have been keeping secrets either.
owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 8:46 AM
Remember Carole, you said we can share Do Hyung. leak in brain, oh, forgot, since this week's bodily injury was getting whacked across the head with a flaming beam in a burning factory. Macho? Yeah.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 9:45 AM
I'm actually worried he'll die.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 9:53 AM
NO WAY!!!
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atz
July 24, 2015 at 12:05 PM
Actually I do wonder if he will die in the end. I fear that there would not be an happy ending if the tone of the drama continue the way it has been,,,,
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john
July 24, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Owl ~
I want Do Hyung's shoes, he goes running, biking, fighting, etc., all while wearing dress shoes !
They need to show him eat or sleep now and then too.
I did buy a pair of training shoes by New Balance and they're the most comfortable shoe I've ever worn.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 11:03 AM
John, I did think about his lack of eating and sleeping, too. Lean mean fighting machine. On the other hand, chairman Kang, have grill will travel?
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john
July 24, 2015 at 5:32 PM
Owl ~
He always plays with his food.
AJK
July 24, 2015 at 9:27 AM
I am SO with you about Min Woo. He's been the weak link in the drama for me from the beginning. But it's the loan shark who makes me want to poke my eyes out.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 9:54 AM
Loan shark is a strange kind of comic relief. I love this actor so much and he's definitely campy. Regular evil versus the evil of Big arsonist.murderous/poisoning obsessed lover Big Bad.
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Peridot
July 24, 2015 at 9:42 AM
Hi Carole :)!
I'm not really sure how I feel about Scholar. I mean, to me, something is lacking. Would you mind sharing with us what was bothering you about it?
Regarding Oh My Ghostess, I actually wrote a post last thread on the character of the cop. I'm really interested in that part of the story.
Take care :)!
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 9:58 AM
I can't quite put my finger on it. Partly because I want to see if the writer is doing what I think he's doing. I don't want to judge too quickly but yes there is something about it that seriously bothers the writer in me. It's not even the long scenes where people pretty much do nothing but talk..it's something else. I stopped watching at episode 4; that's when the "something is not right" factor kicked in for me. And I've never looked back to give it a second chance. Which is odd because I'm pretty good at working with a show even if I think it's bad. Maybe I'll wait to see what Jon G says. He's pretty insightful.
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Peridot
July 24, 2015 at 11:09 AM
For me, I just think that there is so much potential that can be tapped into, but instead we are being given typical drama fare. I think this is one of the reasons why I've mostly given up on watching dramas, or at least why I've been dropping many dramas.
Has Jon G been commenting on the specific episode threads or on the open threads? I guess I should check out his posts as well.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:33 AM
He's very insightful.
Scholar's worldbuilding is pretty meh, definitely. I liked how Arang created a whole system of beings with power, checks, and balances.
Peridot
July 24, 2015 at 2:09 PM
Yes, I really liked the world building in Arang. I also really enjoyed the mood and tone of the show. It lost some of its footing around episode nine or so but did manage to pick itself up after a little while. It remains one of my favorite dramas.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:27 AM
oops, i forgot to mention I saw my first Laotian Horror Flick yesterday. Done by a friend of a friend. It was well-done. It's uploaded here on youtube. So check it out when you can. Thanks. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYTUlMKd_BI
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atz
July 24, 2015 at 12:08 PM
Re: And is Ahjusshis Chairman a cannibal?
Funny while I watched the scenes where the Chairman eats meat, I just felt that the meat is human flesh and I hated the scenes... and I thought that I was thinking too much. Apparently, I was not the only one!
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 12:45 PM
Chairman creeps me out...but wow, i "respect" the man. Calm old gangsters are so not to be messed with.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:58 PM
Wow, I'm surprised you dropped Scholar! I'm watching for pure cheese and fun. I'm not really viewing this as a story with an merit. I also have never seen your bias in anything and I'm totally mesmerized by his voice (but I love LJK).
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 26, 2015 at 4:33 AM
I might try going back to it because i love all the actor so much but until I put my finger on what's bothering me about it I feel kinda bothered and unsettled abot it. I do love the cheese...and I so miss LSH's voice and LJK's cheeky angst. Heck, even Changmin's doing ok.
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11 es
July 24, 2015 at 7:01 AM
Happy Friday everyone!! ^_^ I've been feeling kind of weird with my dramas lately, because either I'm bored with them from the start, or I become bored with them around the halfway point/towards the second half. And usually I'm pretty easy to please when it comes to dramas, especially since most of the currently airing dramas are ones that I think I would usually enjoy. Feeling kind of sad about it. :(
Scholar: I love Lee Jun-ki but I also really really love Kim So-eun and I'm having trouble letting go of that couple despite how short and cliche their story was LOL. :( Lee Yubi's doing a great job with her character, but somehow I just can't feel the sparks between her and Lee Jun-ki. A lot of their moments feel contrived to me, as if they're trying too hard to make this couple a lot more romantic than they actually are, but I know a lot of people seem to enjoy it.
Mask: this used to be my favourite out of all the currently airing dramas, but now I've completely lost interest in it. It's been dragging a LOT lately - there's literally been nothing going on except for a whole lot of moping and vase-crashing and crying. All the dramatic, crazy tension has disappeared. Should've been a 16 episode drama imo. :(
Oh My Ghostess: so cute!!! Probably my second favourite out of all the current ones airing atm. Park Bo-young is AH-MAZE-INGGGG I LOVE HER SO MUUUCH. <3 The only problem I have with this drama is that I want to see more of Bong-sun than Soon-ae, so I was a little disappointed and frustrated when Soon-ae possessed Bong-sun again in the latest episode. Looking forward to the new episodes though!
Orange Marmalade: this one is honestly just plain confusing. I don't understand any of the choices the writer made with the story, which is really really really disappointing because I fell in love with the first three episodes. And then it went downhill from there. The plot has become so inane, the female lead has no personality AT ALL, and no matter how much I try, I just CAN'T understand why you would split the timeline into three separate parts like that. You're basically building up your story, ripping it apart, and then re-building the exact same story again three goddamn times, leaving no room for emotional investment, dramatic tension or character development in any timeline.
I Remember You: LOOVEEE!!! <3 Strangely enough, this was the drama I was most disinterested in when I first started watching it, but I've really gotten into it now and it's my favourite out of all the ones on this list. :D The story's great, the characters are great, and it's SO refreshing to have a heroine like Ji-an, who's strong and confident in such an understated way. For me, the main risk with having a character like Hyun become romantically involved is that he becomes OOC once the romance starts to develop, so I really hope they continue to do justice to his character the way they have...
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Yeah, i'm really getting into I Remember You. It started well but it put me off for a while with the directing which felt plodding or over-the-top. But now i'm realy liking it.
Totally agree with you re Mask. The last episode could easily have been spent showing us why Seok Hoon is so angry.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:07 AM
Mask - same here. It all just went kind of weird, with some totally irrelevant or plot-disconnected scenes. I think what really pushed it down for me was EP18 - you gotta wonder just how many times someone can fall for promises made by a psycho killer and not figure out she is doing something wrong.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:38 AM
YEah when Ji Seok/Eun ah actually believed psycho would let her start a third life I thought... "well, that's odd." But then she writes a LETTER for wussy true love and just leaves it on his desk. Apparently, she couldn't just come back in her third life and introduce herself. I mean, who leaves letters around for evil sister-in-law to find. Kdrama writers tend to make it easy for themselves when it comes to plotting but wow! In a house with all tht strategy/counter-strategy stuff going on, who leaves notes like that lying around?
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12 neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
July 24, 2015 at 7:03 AM
Hello Beannies! Happy Friday to all!
I Remember You - totally enjoying this drama! I seldom listen to OSTs but the three songs are just great! And I'm still waiting for Jang Nara and Seo In Guk to sing an OST!
Mask - Maybe it will be ending but I can't bring myself to watch this week's episode :(
Excited to watch Oh!My!Ghostess tomorrow once the subs are out! hihihi
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 7:14 AM
+1
The third OST for IRY is my favourite! And for OMGhostess, I watched it raw and now I can't wait for episode 8 after seeing the preview!!!
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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
July 24, 2015 at 7:48 AM
Is the third by Hong Dae Kwang - It Shows? because that's my fave too!!!
For OMG, I will have to wait till tom to watch it huhuhu I can understand but just a little so patience is a virtue hahaha
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 10:11 AM
@neener yes by Hong Dae Kwang :D I love that song so much ?
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 7:16 AM
Seriously, "I remember you" got it all right, small wonder nobody wants to watch it. They even found good Korean pop music for the OST. They were just asking for trouble this way.
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 7:27 AM
LOL, Jon. So true.
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korfan
July 24, 2015 at 7:41 AM
Jon G. -
That nobody wanting to watch is the result of "getting it right" is truly unfortunate.
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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
July 24, 2015 at 7:51 AM
It hurts that the ratings aren't as high as I thought. Wishing it will do well on the international audience.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:10 AM
Yup - Remember is one of the very few I am invested in anymore. Ratings came up a tad in last episode, but still not good. Sad, because it is for sure one of the better shows going right now.
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OMG it's Healer ?
July 24, 2015 at 10:13 AM
Now I can't wait until High Society finishes and that IRY won't be competing with it.
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korfan
July 24, 2015 at 7:31 AM
neener -
I agree, the OST for I Remember You isn't bad at all!
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neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
July 24, 2015 at 7:51 AM
IKR! It's been a long time since I got hooked to an OST like this!
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13 sunnyxshin
July 24, 2015 at 7:15 AM
Oh my Ghostess: Just started the 1st episode and though it's not as light as I thought it would be, I still enjoy it very much. Park Boyoung is really good!
Mask: I watched ep.18 (SPOILERS) and though everything is pretty much spinning out of control, I love how Minwoo conquered his fear of water and SWAM to save Jisook!
Also I am quite frustrated how Jisook did not see the window for escaping...whatever. I'm just watching this to the end for the OTP.
As for Miyeon, I think she isn't all that evil? When she pulled Jisook, I think there was guilt in her eyes. Her loyalty to her blood family (meaning Minwoo) is the only thing I accept about her, I think.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:40 AM
Ah, that window! I kept shouting "Smoke inhalation. Woman, there is a window behind you!" It would've been so much more convincing to have her fighting to open the window or to break it or wondering if she should jump from the balcony. But noooooooooo she just stood there...not coughing.
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14 Pollywood
July 24, 2015 at 7:25 AM
Hey, guys!
I've always wanted to ask if there are any Beanies in Berlin? It's such a big city - and I can't seem to find anyone to talk about K-Drama stuff... :)
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 7:29 AM
If you want to meet up, I'll be in Berlin for a few days in November. Are you on Viki? We can PM each other. I'm ktiep2003.
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Pollywood
July 24, 2015 at 9:34 AM
I wasn't. But I am now.
The user name is Pollywood. Hit me up :)
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 11:47 AM
I just visited last weekend.....
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Pollywood
July 24, 2015 at 2:40 PM
damn...
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15 Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 7:26 AM
Like many others, I'm enjoying "Ghostess" and "Remember You".
Remember You is now in that difficult middle part of the show, but they still try to keep the format going.
Ghostess is much riskier, I still have the same issues/doubts I had two weeks ago: How will they find a balance with their two female lead characters, especially when the first female lead character is a pretty horrible human being (luckily, she isn't one)?
I've given up on High Society, but I'm still watching out of curiosity. How will the writer try to solve anything in this show?
Put Beautiful Bride on a hold. I just couldn't deal with the Chronic Abduction Disorder by a certain character several episodes ago.
Dropped everything else last week already.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 7:41 AM
<especially when the first female lead character is a pretty horrible human being (luckily, she isn’t one)
I'm confused by what you're saying here. Bong-sun is horrible? Or Soon-ae?
What struck me in the last episode (not the one from today) is that Sun-woo doesn't really like Bong-sun when she is possessed by Soon-ae. He finds her annoying. Like that scene when she is constantly throwing herself at him, trying to touch him and he's just cringing and pushing her away. While when it's Bong-sun withdrawn self, he's just concerned. Of course this might change, but at the moment this is helping me in terms of distinguishing how Sun-woo's feelings are different in terms whether he's interacting with Bong-sun or with Soon-ae in Bong-sun's body.
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 7:52 AM
So far, Soon-ae is the 1FL character, isn't she? Bong-sun's ultimate shrinking violet might be annoying, but Soon-ae, as a human being, is indefensible. Her only redeeming quality is her love for her family. (That and her cheekbones. #GoT)
I don't think he finds Soon-ae annoying, or "manic Bong-sun", as he sees her. He finds her behaviour annoying. He is still concerned about her whether she's manic or depressed (again, from his PoV).
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:47 AM
I find ghostess so intrusive. After Arang I've come to expect virgin ghosts to be very selfish and intrusive, but even filial love isn't enough for me to say that Ms Ghost has the "right" to push herself literally into someone else's life.
I feel sorry for her and her plight but her fear of becoming a demon with a grudge makes me wonder how bad could she possibly be when/if she becomes a demon. I think it's pretty clear our OTP is Bong-Sun and Sun-Woo. I'm just hoping Ghostess doesn't fall in love with hero and want to "reside" in a usurped body permanently.
I suspect the cop grieved so much over the ghost's death that his soul was easily taken over by the demon who now inhabits his body. So maybe there's a chance for us to see the other "hidden" soul within cop's body. We haven't seen him as yet. Is the spirit of the good monklike cop still around in the cop body? Do demons have total control about leaving and entering a body?
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Nermin Badwi
July 24, 2015 at 2:17 PM
That's the best theory i heard till now about the ccop, hope the series tell it that way.
i just can't accept that the is some murderous cop at least not premeditated murder
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 26, 2015 at 4:37 AM
Cops eems to have some moments of utter goodness. I just can't see the original guy's soul as Not being around in anyway. I'm figuring that since this is kdrama, our ghostess will bring balance, rightness, and happiness to everyone's life once it's all over but enduring the voluntary possession is gonna be stressful for me.
CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 10:05 AM
"Chronic Abduction Disorder."
I had to laugh just now. Yes, it's true. It's like.. REALLY? Kidnapped again.
But don't put it on hold. Accept we have the summer thriller on our hands and "run" with it. You missed one of the best speeches ever this season. Crooked Cop's speech about evil rich folks. Sooooooooooo good! Scenes like that are gold. And worth all the rekidnappings.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:14 AM
LOL @ MBB and the Chronic Abduction Disorder. You forgot to add in the Groundhog Day Syndrome.
I am still watching, mainly just to see how many times she can get kidnapped (6x now?). That show is probably the height of all Noble Idiocy examples - she keeps running away to "save him", and he keeps chasing her so he can get bashed in the head again.
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Gidget
July 24, 2015 at 11:37 AM
Re Ghostess:
Is this feasible?:
Sun-woo starts believing himself responsible for Bong-Sun's personality swings. But he becomes more concerned about helping her out of her depressed and unconfident state, since that's what he can relate to. His proactive attention helps them connect. Then they help each other discover their worth. She stops apologizing for everything. He drops the Mr. Perfect facade.
Soon-ae recaptures enough of her memories to realize that her grudge isn't her virginity but her murder. She drops her pursuit of Sun-woo but it's ok since Sun-Woo's attention is fully on Bong-Sun by that point. Bong-Sun helps Soon-Ae catch the murderer and communicate last wishes to her family.
Hijinks transition from body swapping device to Bong Sun looking like she's talking to 'imaginary friends" while trying to hide the fact she's communicating with ghosts/demons. Throughout, Soon-Ae gives twisted dating advice that Bong-Sun tries on for size in major 'fail' efforts that accidentally turn to wins.
I ask because you know...
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16 logan5
July 24, 2015 at 7:29 AM
My Wife : "Eun Dong!!!!! This is why I have trust issues!"
Me: "Maybe there will be a second season where the evil husband gets run over again, but this time dies in the ensuing explosion."
My Wife: "There better be ... there better be ... " (as she looks off into the distance twisting her nail ring ...
Wow ... this was like another God's Gift ... this was like sitting down to an awesome steak meal only to have the last bit replaced with a turd while you weren't looking ... seriously?
Well ... at least Kim Sa-rang is back in dramaland because I really liked her.
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 7:38 AM
My sentiments exactly. I posted to the Viki comments a question: Are viewers in Korea as upset about the lack of justice or is it just the international viewers? The answer: It's just the international viewers. So is the show a criticism of Korean society? I just can't get my mind around the fact that the "father" was able to maintain his relationship with the boy despite having kidnapped him.
I also think there should be a season 2 where the boy is older--say a young teen--and finally is told/finds out the truth and then we see the repercussions of withholding the truth from him for so long.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 10:06 AM
Dang! I'm glad I chose not to watch this.
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logan5
July 24, 2015 at 10:12 AM
watch the first 14 episodes ... and then just imagine that in episodes 16 the husband acidentally falls into an incinerator and everyone else lives happily ever after.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:20 AM
The husband, the coach, and the husbands mother. Fiery crash into a very large incinerator.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:19 AM
It is actually better than what it might sound. I think the main issue that most of us have is that in the end so many jerks did NOT get the justice they deserved.
They just pulled the all too common k-drama trope of everyone gets redeemed so it's OK.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:51 AM
I'm still getting over Unfortunate Boyfriend where redemption was parsed out like candy at a fairground. I so hate kneejerk redemption..it is plain old kneejerk sentimentality. How can forgiveness and HEA's be given to people who are still benefitting from their cruelty or greed?
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 11:59 AM
Don't remind me.
The Unfortunate Boyfriend was very unfortunate indeed... stuck with that spineless two-timer!
Of course, the second couple was worse, but the only one I cared about in the drama was the sweet lead guy who deserved someone better than Ji-na (I think that was her name).
17 Lizzie
July 24, 2015 at 7:32 AM
Vampire Idol- i can't believe I've never watched this before! ...well that's not true I only started watching dramas 2 years ago..anyway! I love love love this hilarious sitcom drama. :)))
IRY and Ghostess are still my favorite dramas and that's it...I just wanted to talk about vampire idol.. oh! Just to add I feel like crayon pop's bar bar bar song was inspired y this drama..lol whenever someone talks about the prince's father I automatically say his name bababa like the song..lol it continues to make me laugh. :D
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! :))
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 8:26 AM
Lizzie, Now I need to go back and watch Vampire Idol.....it's probably better than watching Scholar Who Walks The Night.
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Lizzie
July 24, 2015 at 10:09 AM
Do it! lol Vampire Idol is definitely lots of crazy fun..:) although I am enjoying SWWTN..i just can't do without joonki's vamp face..it just makes me laugh every time and I love it..lol
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18 kanz
July 24, 2015 at 7:43 AM
Happy Friday everyone!!
Hope you enjoy your dramas despite some not-very-good plot in some dramas.
Mask: I have seen some similarities, but it finally dawned on me that Min Woo is pretty much like Ta Hwan in Empress Ki. And how much I love them as characters is really inexplicable, despite them being weak and wussy. Mask is like a milder version of Empress Ki. A strong, capable, and protective woman get married to weak husband (and yes they're both drugged by villains). And a bunch of villains who seem to always ready attacking our OTP and/or getting near their goals. Ep 17 is cute, but a bit boring.. Ep 18 is more interesting, rollercoaster ride, no time to breath, but WTF with the writer.. I shouldn't expect less makjang from Secret writer.
Oh My Ghost: Oh My God, can't you two be any less cute? PBY as Soon Ae is just soo awesome! JJS is winning too as Chef Kang Sun Woo! Chef-nim!!
No time watching Scholar, finished ep 6 TTWNIL this week.. Maybe it's time for me to watch Assembly and Midnight Diner too. Seems Assembly got good reviews and even netizens praise Taecyeon. Will see how the two dramas fare..
On non-drama thingy:
-Yay Kim Woo Bin and Shin Min Ah dating!! This one is a pairing I approve... Thanks Giordano! Your pairing are really daebak.. After give us So Ji Sub-Shin Min Ah pairing in a drama, you give us real love couple in KWB-SMA..
-Bummed MGY won't do a drama with KJH. I think they'll be great together.. And idk, I don't think Moonie will have any drama soon.
That's all.. Happy Friday to you all!
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 12:08 PM
haha I SO approve Kim Woo-bin and Shin Mina dating, that when I first saw the news in a comment here I just thought it was a fangirl doing some shipping. But it's real! And they make an absolutely GORGEOUS couple, not only in terms of beauty but charisma.
Seems Assembly got good reviews and even netizens praise Taecyeon.
honestly, it's a very well-intentioned drama but too many cliches to really make it work. And as for Taecyeon, I think his eyes are just too devoid of the capacity to naturally express emotion, to really do well as an actor.
The positive comments all seem to be coming from his fangirls who will swallow anything oppa does (they all use the same kind of language, you can tell). I honestly think people like him are better off sticking to variety and making money off that image.
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19 owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 7:44 AM
Greeting, beanies!
Infinity Challenge*spoilers* – It’s time for Infinity Challenge Music Festival 2015! I am so ridiculously excited for our newbie cast member Kwanghee who is teamed up with G-Dragon and Taeyang. It was his lifetime dream to sing with G-Dragon, and they chose him. He is grateful for life. Their performance will be the most outrageous.
IU and Myung Soo – could be the best music if he will listen to her. She is it.
JYP and Jae Sook - ODDO -old dude dance duo. Jae Sook can make anything fun.
Hyukoh and Hyung Don – I’m in love with the band Hyukoh, but even more so with leader Ohhyuk’s shy personality and their deceivingly quiet presence. All I can say is Hyung Don is lucky.
Zion. T (album sales gangsta) and HaHa – They’ll likely be the most in sync performance and the most easy-going team.
Yoon Sang and Joon Ha – all I can say is that Joon Ha and Kim C did a most awesomely tilted performance last time, so they’re the dark horse team. Yoon Sang is in another major league plus.
Allin all, my favorite event that will culminate in a grand music festival in October.
My Beautiful Bride – I am working hard to keep up with the recaps on my blog . Kim Moo-yul, my Krush, where have you been all my life? Check out that UDT Marine severe hair part and tell me he isn’t hot. A man in a white shirt crumpled on a bed crying his gut out is the ultimate romantic pain. This week's tragic block to Do Hyung and Joo Young's reuniting - fire.
Genuis 4 – I didn’t think I would like the set up with past players from the previous seasons, but what a twist ending in ep 3. Not sure I trust the death match winner, although he has innocence about him. (Did I get duped, too?)
Scholar Who Walks the Night haiku
Gwi. Androgyny.
The vampire wears Prada, too
Go and end your pain
Orange Marmalade – more vampires, Lee Jonghyun/Han Shi Hoo fan art at http://www.cimiart.wordpress.com
New Horizons: Korean Vampires On Pluto – my idea for the next vampire kdrama. Do you have one?
Midnight Diner – surprisingly entertaining, very well done. I learned something new from The Noodle Sisters (Radish, Banquet, and Mixed). SNS post: 2 straws = dating, rain (as in “on my parade”) = not dating). Useful.
So much to watch so little time!
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 8:33 AM
owl,
I'm also watching Genuis 4.
*Mind blown* every episode!!
Freaking love this show!
I've watched every season, every episode.
Knowing the past history of the players/games & how they have worked with each other just makes it even better!
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 9:04 AM
I've seen them all, too. Very addicting.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 10:12 AM
"the vampire wears prada." snicker.
I just want Do Hyung and Joo Hee/Young reunited and for other stuff to ensue. I like this drama a lot but the plot might get repetitive if she gets snatched away whie he escapes burns/smoke inhalation. There is much to do even if they get together and attempt to flee.
Am wondering what the showdown will be like when Ahjusshi gangster Chairman, and Jin Seok, and Do Hyung's mom all show their power.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 11:27 AM
A kdrama can go elusive-frustrating I don't care anymore or elusive-feels I am so happy! Please, MBB, there is still time to swerve towards feels. I want to be so happy~
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4D
July 26, 2015 at 3:31 PM
I'm excited by all the Infinity pairings except Yoon Sang and Joon Ha. I'm also glad Kwanghee gets to fulfill his fanboy dreams. They posted a picture recently on instagram and it was nice to see them all posing "normally". I know K is a big thing in variety but often he's too much for me. I like when his genuine moments pop out. I think they'll all be so fun on stage though.
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20 ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 7:56 AM
Summer dramas...not much to sink my teeth into...therefore, I a obsessed with High Society. Even watched Ep 14 twice for the mental breakdowns. Poor chaebols. One from a loving family, one from an abusive family, and yet they both are emotional basket cases. What's a mother to do? (according to this show, justify her behavior in a sick way). I'm looking forward to the ending this coming week. I'm sure it will be predictable. I'm just hoping that Ji Yi isn't pregnant. That would ruin my image of her as a smart woman.
Eun Dong--Already commented on this. Just so confusing to me. I guess forgiveness is more important in Korean society than justice.
I Remember You--The Three Psychoteers. I just love them together. And yet, so murderous. Do you think there will be justice here or another case of forgive and forget?
Mask--I'm kind of hoping that both main characters die during the week. They would deserve it for all their idiocy. And the sister should inherit and take that rifle and kill her insane husband (accidentally, of course). Really, this show has been funny, but I never understand the comments of, "Best drama ever."
A Word from Warm Heart--Just finished Ep 15 of 21. What a mess! Love all the acting, but geez, can it get any worse for any of the characters?
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 8:10 AM
Let's see: The poor, but self-reliant female character discovers that she is pregnant after breaking up with her rich mama-boy boyfriend? I've seen that somewhere. Oh right, in "Can We Get Married" (same author).
I really get upset about this one. And as it happens every 5 minutes in every other drama, I get upset a lot.
I often even start to hate the protagonists for their amoral lack of righteousness.
Then again, I like the irony of protagonists complaining about the evils of society after they did exactly nothing to stop those who turn the society into the typical K-drama hell-hole.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 12:12 PM
You mean Hye-yoon's pregnancy in CWGM? I can't recall if she discovered it while they were broken up for the second time but as far as I remember, they were still together and thrashing through issues when they found out.
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Jon G.
July 25, 2015 at 2:27 AM
I'm pretty sure it happened during their break-up, which triggered quite an amount of single-mom-angst.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 8:54 AM
high Society -Poor Chaebol mental breakdowns - money can't buy me love and other useful things they don't teach you when you're fed with a silver spoon.
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 9:41 AM
Not just the chaebols, Joon Gi believes that as well. Money will cure all his problems. He said to his mother that they were all hurting because they are late in growing up. Very insightful.
I worry about Chang Soo though, because he must have learned that throwing fits will help him get his way with his mother. Emotional blackmail.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:58 AM
I don't think Chang Soo engages in emotional blackmail. I thought that was really heartfelt and "new" for him. He's shown from the beginning as being pretty shallow/empty/carefree. All this emotional stuff is new to him. IT seems to me that his Mom is the one who has always had her way with him. She knows he has a boiling point but they have a good conversational/honest relationship going. So he doesn't need to throw fits.
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Jon G.
July 25, 2015 at 2:29 AM
Chang-soo went pretty deep into "passive aggressive" territory there. And some of that was clearly voluntary.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:29 AM
From what I gather from High Society is that being poor makes you unhappy, and being rich makes you unhappy. Ji Yi is the only one with a brain in that drama.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 11:28 AM
You're right, Windsun33, it becomes the excuse for unhappiness either way.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:25 AM
Mask - This WAS the "best drama ever" - for about 4 episodes. Then it seemed to have totally lost it's way. Not sure why, but it started getting just downright cheesy at moments, and started developing a lot of plot holes and totally WTF moments. I think that EP18 was the worst yet - if it was not almost done I would probably just drop it.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 11:54 AM
Park Hyung Sik is so good at crying. After watching his meltdown in HS, I went searching for his meltdown in episode 16 of What happens to my family? Sooooooooo good! I love seeing a sensitive hottie cry.
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min
July 24, 2015 at 8:37 PM
You should watch Ep 41 and 42. His big argument in ep 41 with his dad was great. Then his breakdown at the end of ep 41/beginning of ep 42 when he realized his dad was sick was really heartbreaking.
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21 pastmidnite ?
July 24, 2015 at 8:02 AM
Hi all!
I Remember You is the only one I'm watching, and like (almost?) everyone here, loving it so far. Nice balance between creepy and funny. And SIG's swagger! :-D
Was watching:
The Time I Thought It Was Cute But Now It's Dragging Too Much. -- probably will watch the last episode out of curiosity.
Orange Marmalade -- just behind and haven't cought up. Don't really mind the three "eras", kinda refreshing imo.
High Society -- thinking of dropping this. Sorry, Sung Joon.
Hidden Identity -- not enough time. Will pick this back up.
Will watch: Mask, OMG, Midnight Diner
Anticipating: Joo-won on rooftops ;-)
Hey, I think this is my first time commenting on the first page of OT! :-D
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snickers
July 24, 2015 at 8:06 PM
@pastmidnite ?
? Now even more of the whole world will read your posts. ?
Or perhaps,
🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲🌳🌳🌲
🌳🌲🌲🌳?🌲🌳🌳🌲
🌲🌲🌳🌳🌲🌳🌳🌲
?
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pastmidnite ?
July 25, 2015 at 2:23 AM
Haha! I know! Got to go out to meet the world sometimes, you know... ;-)
I'm usually late so when I open OT there are over 100 comments already or if I do comment it would go to the 2nd page :-D
Aawww, how did you know I love trees! Some of my friends call me Ms. Tree because I always remind people to use less paper, tissues or other paper products to save trees ;-)
🌳🌳
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snickers
July 25, 2015 at 2:52 AM
I was trying to say something about it's harder to be singled out in a crowd. A reverse of "forest for the trees." ?
Since I recycled my old desktop computer, I have used much less paper. Too lazy to haul the laptop to where the printer is ?
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pastmidnite ?
July 25, 2015 at 8:26 AM
Aaah, so that's why I was surrounded by trees lol So it's like "can't see trees for the forest" then? Not sure if this reversed phrase even exist :-)
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snickers
July 25, 2015 at 4:53 PM
Can't see the stars in the sky for the trees of the forest?
22 growingbeautifully
July 24, 2015 at 8:10 AM
Hi All and Happy Weekend!
It's getting increasingly difficult to make or find time to continue with drama watching, but I keep trying valiantly. :D
Mask - Maybe we're getting too much filler and/or the OTP moments were too slow and/or there were too many farewell moments, I found after Episode 16, the tension dissipated a lot. I guess I did not see why JS's mum had to die. Although the romance was going strong and the bad guys were gearing up for something, it did not really feel all that compelling, even with Ep 18's cliffhanger, I was not as engaged as before. I found the sudden slotting in of Chang Soo and maid's cute moments quite out of place and jarring. After holding out hope that MY might choose to be a better person and at least not do anything to either aid SH or block JS, I'm just upset that none of that came to pass. There is one last chance for her probably in the next episode and I hope she takes it!!!
I Remember You/Hello Monster - I never thought we'd hail a psychopath, let alone 2 and a half (or maybe 3?) psychopaths as crime solving and rescuing heroes, but yes we do LOL!. That was a most unusual grouping of investigators who profiled a killer right in front of his brother, and in a way that was almost nonchalant. This show continues to be unpredictable in a good way, while giving enough info to viewers. It's so great that we are given hints and clues and are invited to look out for patterns to help in our conjectures, just as our hero does. Now that the OTP relationship is out there, I'm looking forward to see what an 'almost psychopath' will make of it... or not!!!
Oh My Ghost(ess) - I've still to catch the Friday (tonight's for me) episode. I really want the somewhat 'thorny' issue of non-consensual sex addressed in some fitting way, irregardless of the fact that the ghost is not bound by our rules and morals. But since it's a story and the characters are people I'm are invested in, it does not sit well with me that our main leads may be very hurt through the machinations of a self-serving, amoral ghost, who is also a character I care about and who can rise above and be even better than she is already. I just hope her character is written with that arc and that the 2 girls do get together to help each other in a healthy way. Other than that, the character interactions are fabulous and there's much to entertain and enjoy.
My Love Eun Dong - I did a fast forward watch and was pleased to see that we had a realistic although lacklustre ending without too much angst (ie also a realistic angst) because I feared a tear-fest. The question-of-life that occurred to me was... was it not possible to have reached this conclusion without the attempted suicide and without traumatising the child (well almost) ... I believe so, although that kind of story would not have made it to the screen. How would this story have gone without the 2nd female lead? - absolutely well and probably...
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growingbeautifully
July 24, 2015 at 8:10 AM
- absolutely well and probably it would have been much tighter and less frustrating with just 12 episodes. I felt that there was enough going on with inter-family relationships, so that we did not need to focus on outsiders trying to throw more spanners into the works. What was good, the 3-way bromance, the great sibling relationship, the good parents, the little boy and the wonderful portrayal of emotion by the attractive leads.
The Time I Loved You/The Time We Were Not In Love - While My Love Eun Dong also focussed on just the main tension of that eternal love and made it work, TTILY which is doing the same is failing. I feel for HeadsNo2 who is probably as frustrated as many of us are with our male lead and second leads. If ever there was a show about the effects of mixed signals, half-truths and hidden truths in an ironical mass of much communication, it's this show. And I believe I join with most viewers in deploring immensely, Ha Na's kind heart and sweet nature, if she's going to feel that the egotistical 2nd lead should be given a 2nd chance!
Midnight Diner - I watched Ep 1-4... Not to bad, especially if one wants to just have a short break. The 20-30 minute format makes me feel that I don't have to invest too much and with less time, the stories and characters are more accessible. Ep 4 was strange though. Why did the show stop at the magician dad's collapse and ... nothing ... then we have the ending with magician dad and child looking just fine. An error in the editing?
Orange Marmalade - After stopping this for the last 6 episodes, I took a peak and am very encouraged that the 11th episode has shown growth all around and hope. Can I now look forward to (what I mentioned when it began) our 4 young people getting together as friends and re-establishing their band for one last performance?
High Society and My Beautiful Bride - I'll have to at least FFD the former and find time for the latter but at last glance, High Society was showing us characters that have markedly changed without warning and reason, but this still does not make me like them more. I guess it's somewhat making comments about class consciousness and about seeing life from the opposite side, but the way it's done, does not make me care all that much.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:32 AM
Mask They should have just dropped all the other characters and made the maid/butler the leads, with the entire story told from their perspective as inside observers. :D
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 12:00 PM
:-) Good idea.
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4D
July 24, 2015 at 5:08 PM
Oh My Ghostess has me all mixed up. I do genuinely like the show a lot and look forward to tonight's episodes...but it's also problematic when looking at it. The ghostess as you say is causing some issues with non-consensual sex both by harassing chef but also by using someone else's body. And then there's the issue of the romance where too much interaction is with the ghostess instead of letting our lead have some character development. But I still really like it and am hoping for a much smarter writer than I.
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23 Mary Chan
July 24, 2015 at 8:10 AM
Well well well! Another week of kdramas have went by. Good morning everyone! (Or good night in HK)
What i've watched this week:
I've just started a new school term so I'm pretty busy with homework. But anyway ...
Mask: Min-woo is the cutest husband and Chang-soo is the cutest secretary. I'm glad that Min-woo and Ji-sook are finally joining hands against Seok-hoon. But really, the death of Eun-ha, twin sisters foreshadowing, Mum's death AND putting Seok-hoon into jail, is that a bit too much? Tbvh i'm starting to worry whether Mask can pull off everything in the last two episodes and give us a good ending. Still, I'm satisfied with what's happening now and I'm glad that the ratings are climbing higher and higher.
High Society: Yoon-ha and Jun-ki, get out of the way. Ji-yi and Chang-soo, can you guys just do something to repair your cute but shitty love? So far you guys have done nothing instead of sob and sob and sob. and I can't bear seeing Chang-soo cry. Not much plot here so I haven't got anything to say about this.
I Remember You: Halfway through episode 10. I can't say that I love it but it definitely is a good drama. The chemistry between everyone is good and hilarious. And Park bo-gum, WOW, someone give him an award right now. I like it how the cases are all sort of related to each other, so its not like loose bits being loose bits but loose bits coming together. This is really cool and I'm not gonna drop it for sure.
kdramas I've dropped:
Hwajung - can't bear to see Gwanghae leave
K-ITWY - I like the acting but everything else is boring and annoying, sorry
last thing, can anyone tell me whether if Assembly is good? Thanks guys :)
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24 casserole
July 24, 2015 at 8:18 AM
Happy Friday! Mask (aka A Song of Water and Fire) just keeps getting better and better! Has anyone watched Secret Love by the same writer? I am not a huge fan of melo, but Mask has sucked me in, and I am looking for something similar. Thank you very kamsa!
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Sajen
July 24, 2015 at 8:53 AM
I loved Secret Love, it's also the drama that introduced the world to the crackling chemistry between Ji Sung and Hwang Jung Eum.
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casserole
July 24, 2015 at 10:05 AM
Thanks! I loved their chemistry in Kill Me Heal Me too.
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kalel
July 24, 2015 at 9:16 AM
Oh, dear @Casserole, your poetic title is so inspired! It has a flair of sageuk... +1!
Secret was this writer's very first project. It's a liiiittle better than Mask or it's just me, who knows!
I'm looking forward to reading your comments, after you watch it... ;-)
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Cheetah
July 24, 2015 at 10:17 AM
For me Secret it's better.
At firs Mask hooked me. But now I think it's from more to less drama.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:33 AM
Secret Love is much better IMO.
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luvKdramas
July 24, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Secret Love is a good one. I marathoned it whilst watching KMHM.
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25 ara
July 24, 2015 at 8:49 AM
just wanna said happy weekend for everyone, I haven't had time watching any episode except a few re-run anime Hunter X Hunter,
I think I am gonna start with Assembly next week
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26 Sajen
July 24, 2015 at 8:50 AM
I don't have much to say this week I've been watching my dramas slowly because, I have other things I want to do.
However I am going to attempt to describe each of the dramas I'm watching using song lyrics, see if you can guess.
Mask- "Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down Anyplace but those I know by heart Anywhere you go, I'll follow you down I'll follow you down, but not that far"
Actually that's the only one I can think of maybe next week I'll have more to say.
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27 escape
July 24, 2015 at 8:51 AM
I'm in the minority who thinks "Mask" is poorly written. Frustrating and boring. Soo Ae, next time, please do a movie. Every drama that you've picked so far, I have never finished them because the plot gets messed up halfway.
I really miss "Punch". I wish there is another drama in that genre with a plot that excites me every single time.
I am currently watching "Best Love". Still remains as one of my all-time favorite. Hilarious, adorable, and quirky. Dokko Jin, how I miss you soo much. You and your silly "Panty" moment as well as your "Dokko-Dragon" time (your version of GDragon's Heart-Breaker").
Been watching 2 Days & 1 Night Season 3. Am loving it more than Running Man. Sorry RM, you haven't been that exciting and I find myself forgetting about you. All I remember is 2 Days & 1 Night. Anyone know when they're coming to L.A in September? Thanks.
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Jon G.
July 24, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Mask
I dropped Mask, and mostly because the writing was horrendous. Even "High Society" is still not nearly as bad as Mask. I guess the people who still watch it and comment on it don't mind that. You are only in the minority because you are still watching ...
Punch
You know, I've been enjoying Punch a lot. Even though I hated the 1ML character and wished he would die a horrible, painful death. But what "genre" is that, actually?
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 9:20 AM
Mask--the minority? It's so poorly written, it's hilarious. I'm watching it like I would watch a Mel Brooks movie. Who cares about the plot holes? How bad can they make it?
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bbstl 🧹
July 24, 2015 at 10:18 AM
Mask has become a classic of so-bad-it's-great for me, glad I stuck with it.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:39 AM
What gets me about Mask are those seemingly just random moments when she just for no good reason decides to give away a ton of money or hand out tons of presents. No bearing at all on the plot, and just jarring to the overall theme.
Kind of like if they had put a comedy skit in the middle of the "Aliens" movie.
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escape
July 24, 2015 at 2:31 PM
I think "Punch" was described as Melodrama, Thriller, and political.
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Jon G.
July 25, 2015 at 2:30 AM
Well, so were "Doctor Stranger", "Sign" and "God's Gift", for example. But ...
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Jon G.
July 25, 2015 at 2:30 AM
... I wouldn't necessarily recommend them ...
Daehoney
July 24, 2015 at 9:12 AM
I'm with you in Mask. I realized the poorly written dialogs when I rewatch well-written dramas. The tonal shifts make it seems repetitive.
Best Love is good, if not for the draggy storyline in the middle.
And 1N2D! Gosh, I'm sorry I haven't found you sooner! It's a gem and in a totally different tone with RM. They're like a bunch of students taking a trip with a newbie teacher--one that does want to be tough but end up playing along with the students (like last episode). I don't know when they're going to LA, all I know it's gonna be 7N6D (or 6N7D?) trip. Bet they'll cling to Joonyoung since he's the only one who's good at English (although Defconn and Junho can speak decently)
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kalel
July 24, 2015 at 9:33 AM
@escape, LOL!!
"Best Love"+ Summer+ My sister & Me = Love Forever. It's our No. 1 drama to cheer us up... Our next rewatch marathon session will definitely be our beloved Dokko Jin, his panties, his "Heart-Breaker", our Ding-Dong, "anyone oriental Doctor", Gu Ae Jung...well, as you can see, we are also sooo addicted to this drama. ;-)
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:36 AM
You are not in the minority on Mask. For me at least it went from 5 stars to about 1.5 stars. Same writer as "Secret", but that show was much better, so not sure what went wrong - fan service perhaps?
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escape
July 24, 2015 at 2:29 PM
I cannot agree with you more. It was a 5 in the beginning and now it's a 1 or maybe a 1.5 since I like Soo Ae.
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manel
July 24, 2015 at 12:16 PM
If you loved Punch I think you will love Sageuk dramas, the kind that have a "chess " plot. Queen seondeok may interest you.
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escape
July 24, 2015 at 2:28 PM
Will definitely keep Queen Seondeok in mind. Thanks.
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28 ladykrueger
July 24, 2015 at 8:53 AM
I Remember You: my current favourite. Great acting and story, clever writing. And it's been almost a month but I still can't get that song out of my head. Damn you!
Orange Marmalade: I got stuck on episode 5 and couldn't move forward. This week I finally watched it all and I'm liking it a lot more. I read the webtoon but the change didn't bother me that much. It really helped to get to know characters (and fall in love with Shi Hoo even more). And Ma Ri's change? How great was that! Waiting for last ep.
Mask: Why so cute? Those two are seriously killing me. And Mi Yeon, for me she's dead. Way to talk about protecting your little bro and then helping out a guy who tried to kill him. And what she did with Ji Sook's mother? It's fckin insane for me, seriously. They really are good for each other, both delusional psychos. Overall it was a very good watch, can't wait for next week's conclusion. Also: Ji Sook, WINDOWS!!!
The Time We Were Not in Love (Actually He Was But He Didn't Tell): Ahh, I liked it at beginning, acting and leads chemistry was great. But it's become tiring. Won constantly pushing himself into freindzone. Seo Hoo not telling her why he left her, and for 3 freaking years at that. This one's good. Why the hell?! (We need Lee Jong Suk to make a cameo and knock some sense into his hyung.)
High Society: Tired, thank god it's ending next week. I was so excited for Sung Joon is here and didn't get what I wanted. Sad...
Oh My Ghost: This quickly became one of my favourites. It's just too good. Park Bo Young's killing this show (how good can she be, this girl?)
Scholar Who Walks the Night: Cheesy, yes. Cliché, yes. But what can you do? I love me some totured souls (especialy when they're Lee Joon Ki). And I love dark, downright evil hotties even more. That voice! Gonna keep watching at least for now.
I Order You: Interested in the beginning, but it got annoying so quickly. Leads are stupid and ex is a lunatic.
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29 Kiara
July 24, 2015 at 9:00 AM
Is there anyone else watching Assembly? I feel like crying everytime I watch it because it's so amazing in every way but not many people are watching it.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:49 AM
I have mixed feelings on Assembly so far. The overall plotline could be interesting, but I am also seeing a lot of noble stupidity in it. Will watch for now, but having doubts about it.
I think one of the things that made the lead guy seem so stupid was when the dumb drunk fell off the crane, and he just runs away and hides.. (why?). He just left his wife and daughter hanging for over a week with no communication at all. That does not sound to me like some guy I would vote for. Have not seen ep4 yet, but not sure I will keep up with this one.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 12:03 PM
I'm kinda hoping our hero gets tempted to the dark side..but probably not gonna happen. He's supposed to be our Feel Good Hero EveryMan alas.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 1:41 PM
yeah, this drama doesn't have the brass balls to do that to its hero - this is not Punch.
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kalel
July 24, 2015 at 5:12 PM
Maybe it's "Mr Smith Goes to Washington" a la korean..! Less dark side and more political corruption through the eyes of an amateur. For common people who know nothing about Politics must be a great shock to experience that world firsthand. Surviving in the world of professional politicians is like surviving in a jungle full of cougars and hyenas...and sometimes monkeys!
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kalel
July 24, 2015 at 12:21 PM
Ι watched the first week on KBS World and it's by far better than I expected.
First of all, who would have thought that KBS could lure JJY in dramalnd?! I'm so thrilled to be able to watch him for more than 16 hours; it's like watching almost 10 films in 2 months, yeeeehhh :-)
Both directing and cinematography do remind me of cinema and the person responsible for this is the PD of the super weird SMW...wow, unbelievable! The rest of the cast is doing an excellent job as well. I was one of those who hated the idea of an idol in such a production; not anymore, everyone is doing fine.
My only concern is the low ratings. From what I've seen in dramas, plots and scripts usually go downhill along with the ratings. But this one doesn't deserve it at all. From what I've read here, neither IRY is doing fine ratings-wise, despite being a rather good show, too. That's too bad for KBS which seems to choose the projects wisely nowadays. I hope the network made a fair deal with the Assembly's production team regardless the low ratings...
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30 Daehoney
July 24, 2015 at 9:01 AM
Guess I've been falling out of k-dramas; at least for now. Just watching out of curiosity, but never got really hooked.
The only show I'm following in this batch, Mask, is disappointing in the writing department--a pity, Secret is better--but I like the actors and watch it just for them. They should've made it into 16 episodes.
Wanting to watch other shows with good reviews like Ghostess and IRY, but I'd rather wait until it ends to spare any disappointments.
That being said, variety show 1N2D is the only thing I wait every week. Not for the laughs, but for the feel-good watching.
Starting to read American young adult books--All The Bright Places-- after seeing the review. First time in a while, and it's a guilty pleasure of mine--reading 2 youngsters being afraid of the future and so on along with the cheesy lines. I like it. I just realized I like American's young adult novels because my country's rarely touch the topics. About growing up and the angst that follows.
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ktiep
July 24, 2015 at 9:23 AM
I just realized I like American’s young adult novels because my country’s rarely touch the topics. About growing up and the angst that follows.
Maybe that's why you like K-dramas too. Growing up, regardless of age, is a repeating theme.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:51 AM
Yup - when all the 25-35 year old's act like children, it is easy to get that feeling about k-dramas :P
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Daehoney
July 24, 2015 at 4:31 PM
LOL, but it's like....culturally different. For that matter, I can relate to Let's Eat series, especially the eating alone and part of season 2 where Sooji put newspapers in front of her door to let someone know her state. I like the insecurities, since I mostly live alone. But other than that drama, it's hard to relate. It's either too stupid (most K-dramas with its troops) or too dramatic (something like Punch) for my life. I can emotionally invest, but when I read American YA, it feels closer to home. Eleanor and Park, Fangirl (I used to write fanfics so the book just speaks me), All The Bright Places, etc. They have the same troops, but very distinct from one another. I like how they think they can conquer the world with their loved ones--because that's exactly what I would feel if I were them. It's a pleasant feeling, as if I want to feel like that again.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 25, 2015 at 9:29 AM
oh goodness, I absolutely despised Fangirl. I was a former fanfiction-writer and a very active member of several fandoms through my teens and beyond.....and I just felt like the author did not get it at all, like she just visited a fandomwiki and fed into every one of the worst stereotypes about fandoms/fanfic writers (maladjusted special snowflakes with no life outside the computer screen). Beyond the fact that the heroine wrote fanfiction, it just felt inauthentic to me.
and I despised Eleanor & Park even more. I understand that diversity in book protagonists is a good thing, but the racially fetishising language used to describe Park and his family just made me really uncomfortable even if it's supposed to be coming from the mind of a teenager.
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31 john
July 24, 2015 at 9:05 AM
Watching:
K dramas: Scholar, Ghostess, My Beautiful Bride.
Caught up with subbed eps of Queen Insoo, ( keep working subbers, fighting ! ), was curious about other shows Ham Eun Jung has been in, so I've started watching Dream High.
J drama:
Ramen Loving Girl, like it so far.
J movie: The Burmese Harp, a re-watch for me, but still enjoyed it.
I hope Last is good.
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isnin
July 24, 2015 at 11:34 AM
John,
I'm also watching Ramen Loving Girl.... it's so dorky but since it's food porn I love it.
I love all of the food shows ......even the Taiwan -ese re-make of my favorite traveling salesman who eats local.
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CaroleMcDonnell
July 24, 2015 at 12:47 PM
Me too re: LAST.
And Yongpal, although Yongpal has makjang written all over it. Eh. Maybe she'll be doing all sorts of stuff in her coma. This is the kdrama world, after all.
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32 Hi!
July 24, 2015 at 9:26 AM
I have a question that's been bugging me for a while. In I remember you the MCs use informal language but call each other 당신 instead of 너. Is it because 당신 may have negative connotation and saying it is sometimes considered insulting? Or....? ;_;
If anyone could explain it would be greatly appreciated!
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33 osmanthustea
July 24, 2015 at 9:36 AM
I am still swooning over how great I Remember You is. Thank you, k dramaland for giving me a new drama every few months that I seem to love even more than others I've declared as the best. Heh.
So far, I Remember You seems about 95% perfect, taking into consideration the ridiculous lack of security during LJY's interrogations, and this ambiguous frozen kiss. Every one has been pitching in full effort with their acting, and it's really the subtle details that they shine in.
Since like episode 4, I've been rooting for emotional closure for Min, and as warped as it sounds, I'd like some redemption for Joon-ho/LJY too. Can't we find a way for them all to stay together and come back for another season? I think some form of incarceration is inevitable, so I'd settle for a Silence of the Lambs sorta teamwork. I think, as much as LJY is crazy, he likes Hyeon because Hyeon is one of the few people who impresses him.
JNR is just perfect in this role. From Fated to Love You, I already knew she's a formidable actress, but it's still amazing to see her go from a soft-spoken, slightly meek character to this super bubbly, fast-talking, impatient and occasionally foul-mouthed policewoman. She portrays Ji-an as a force to be reckoned with, one heck of a go-getter who wastes no time waiting for others or feeling pity for herself. Even her voice and verbal mannerisms hold no punches in delivering all of Ji-an's gripes and annoyances!
On a different dimension, I'm super in love with the soundtrack too. The singing and music arrangement in both tracks really reflect the moods of this drama. Dear Cloud's track is haunting, with all the longing and melancholy of everyone's emotional baggage, whereas Lim Kim's song mirrors the push-pull bickering relationship between Hyeon and Ji-an so well.
*can't stop swooning over everything*
I am also watching The Time I've Loved you, but it's really for the chemistry and cute moments between Won and Hana. The ex-fiancee plot is getting pretty draggy and I don't quite like how So-eun seems to have suddenly disappeared from the episodes too. If it weren't for that chemistry, I would be tempted to stop watching and stick to recaps...
Which is also what's happened to Scholar for me right now. I've never really taken to Lee Yubi, and I'm afraid she hasn't grown on me enough yet. I like LJK, but he's a bit too pretty boy here for my liking (it's fine in like, My Girl, but seems a bit overkill in Joseon era) and I'm not sold on their chemistry. There's just nothing I'm really looking forward to right now, except perhaps Gwi's occasional regal moments, and Yoon's obsession with Yang Sun. But I do want to figure out details like how Yang Sun's dad came to have the books, if she's been brought up as a boy her whole life even pre-amnesia, and whether the damn Prince Sadong is actually lifelessly alive. So, recaps I'm counting on you! x=
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34 Sailor Mars
July 24, 2015 at 10:01 AM
Comment was deleted
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 10:54 AM
I know the feeling. Once in a while a really good one will come out, and that kind of spoils all the rest for weeks. Only one I would really miss right now is My Ghostess, and perhaps I Remember You a little bit.
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holli
July 24, 2015 at 11:00 AM
Moonlight, I did exactly the same thing.... Thought it was just me that couldn't find anything interesting. I started so many of the current dramas and dropped them all. Taking a summer break from k-dramas.....?
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astromantic
July 24, 2015 at 12:25 PM
I know the feeling. After Oh My Ghostess wraps up, I'm gonna take a break and watch some oldies for a while.
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35 Lizardosity
July 24, 2015 at 10:58 AM
Hey, so I've been out of the loop since the beginning of May (I've been studying in China) so I don't even know what dramas I may have missed. Could you maybe recommend me three or four from the summer that are worth watching? 谢谢啊! (Thanks!)
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john
July 24, 2015 at 11:21 AM
Liz ~
A Japanese rom-com, Date.
Also, K drama I Heard It Through The Grapevine.
Those are two of the better shows from the past few months.
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alua
July 24, 2015 at 11:53 AM
I'll second the recommendation for Date.
I'll add Fuben na Benriya for a light, quirky and very funny j-dorama.
I quite liked Producers too even if I would have preferred that they had stuck to the variety-style/mockumentary all the way through.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 11:58 AM
seconding the rec for Heard It Through the Grapevine
Let's Eat 2 is also really enjoyable, if you're prepared to feel hungry a lot lol
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36 windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 11:01 AM
Annoying cliche of the month
Unions as depicted in k-dramas: I was reminded of this while watching the first couple of episodes of Assembly.
The union guys are ALWAYS depicted as: (1) mostly dumb, usually never finished 8th grade. (2) never actually have a job except to stand around in red shirts and protest. (3) Make really stupid decisions devoid of any reality check, like protesting for years with no paychecks (4) Are all over 50 years old but talk like angry angst-ridden teenagers (5) Always win "justice" in the end, no matter how unlikely (6) always get beat up by cops/goons/guys in black suits with big sticks.
I cannot recall a single drama ever that did not follow all those rules.
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owl 🦉 🫰
July 24, 2015 at 11:14 AM
I was thinking, too, that Assembly is the ultimate stereotype of union workers versus the government/conglomerates. There doesn't seem to be a seriously objective mediation process, either.
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Gidget
July 24, 2015 at 12:22 PM
Hmmm. Sadly, unions do often go after those sectors of the workforce where they can establish labor-force monopolies then foment a culture of stubborn entitlement and reactionary discontentment. :( (But that's the US.)
My most Annoying Cliche of the Month:
A drama character coming across someone who's critically wounded, and then thinks the best possible thing thing to do at that moment is to shout their name over and over while crying uncontrollably.
Assess whether threats are still present? Nope.
Assess injuries and stop blood-loss? Nope.
Get the person out of harm's way? Nope.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 12:41 PM
well, she did at least say she'd get the doctor before he stopped her........and he did direct her into the hut so she probably assumed that was 'safe' on his say-so.
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Gidget
July 24, 2015 at 5:49 PM
Thank heavens for small mercies. But when she saw he'd been attacked she starts hysterically shouting his name.
If the baddies had just left him to die but were still within earshot, they'd now know to come back and kill them both.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 2:05 PM
And make sure you shake them really hard while screaming WAKE UP in case they have any spinal or neck injuries that are not quite sufficient to paralyze them for life.
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Gidget
July 24, 2015 at 5:44 PM
Hahaha. Exactly!
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kalel
July 26, 2015 at 5:15 PM
I think strong unions with a large number of members (usually high-skilled workers in heavy industry) can go on a srtike for a really long time. UK miners' strike lasted for years during Thatcher's reforms.
So, for whoever has questions or is not familiar with blue-collar reality : It's not unusual for workers on strikes to get beaten up by whetever authorities all around the world, most of them are not college graduates and they are in the same field till they die or take a very small pension. The film The Full Monty, despite the comical point of view, is quite accurate on what a large-scale union strike is, who these people are what exactly their educational background is and whether they have any other mean of protesting rather than going on strikes. It's a fun movie in a depressing surrounding
Besides, SK is a country where workers, students and political activists had been protesting and had been on massive strikes for decades against the regime and in favour of Human Rights and Democracy.
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37 Jenny
July 24, 2015 at 11:51 AM
Been watching asadora lately again, never thought I'd get addicted. But Mare is super cute and not to mention all the cakes. And Yuya Yagira, he's sure grown up from that little boy that won a award in Cannes for Nobody knows. (That movie though, I can't watch it again as it just destroys me)
Shinmeshi, loved the first episode. I love when Japan makes dorama with these small but touching stories. Plus again the food!
Just finished Detective K secret of the lost island, I really enjoyed the first one. My fave bits are with the detective and his awesomely hilarious sidekick.
My main issue is why don't they consult someone regarding the Japanese costumes. They are so inaccurate, some are wearing cheap bathrobes! Just watch a historical dorama to see how merchants and commoners really dressed.
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38 earthna
July 24, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Oh My Ghost is my life right now. CHEFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
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39 pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 12:39 PM
So I heard a lot of hype about Assembly, and am I the only one who doesn't see the fuss? It's just rather....cliched.
Scholar Who Walks the Night - oh lord they got rid of the excessive volume on the background music but now we have pointless and unnecessary think-out-louds from EVERYONE. Which is a shame because just as the BGM was good, the cast is good too. They're perfectly capable of expressing the thought without needing the aid of a verbal cue.
And I really like both our heroines - the adoring fangirl bookseller and the doppelganger ice princess with the hate-on for her crappy dad making her go be a vampire's not-quite-dinner. Lee Yubi especially, she has the task of selling what could be utterly mundane but in her hands the *hearteyes* adoration of Yang-sun for Sung-yeol just feels natural and adorable.
Oh My Ghostess remains adorable and excellent. I really hope the Baeksangs take notice of just how stellar Park Bo-young is, and some love for Jo Jong-seok and Kim Seul-gi too please.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 24, 2015 at 1:34 PM
oh and after hearing recs on OT last week, I watched Princess Jellyfish. Which is SO SO SO CUTE!!! I actually could not decide what I loved more, the jellyfish-crazy/crossdressing couple, or the camaraderie between the ladies of Amamizukan. Suda Masaki looks incredible in both mens' clothes as well as women's, even if I had to go to the manga to get more of my Kuranosuke/Tsukimi fix.
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windsun33
July 24, 2015 at 2:08 PM
Not impressed with Assembly so far. Like you said, seems to be cliche driven right out of the standard k-drama trope book.
Will give it another couple episodes, but not hopeful.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 25, 2015 at 4:26 AM
Exactly - pure nobility/idealism+total lack of nuance+deadly seriousness = boring show.
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Tara
July 24, 2015 at 9:47 PM
You must be super psyched about Lee Yu-bi doing well in Scholar Who Walks the Night! Especially since you're her biggest fan :) I'm saving this to marathon-watch later, because I got way too much on my plate at the moment -- without my usual dose of kdramas! :( I have my hopes up because of Lee Jun-ki, because I'm not usually a fan of vampires. Except, of course, Vampire Prosecutor being the only exception.
There's hype about Assembly..? Maybe it's because of Song Yoo-na? *shrug* The story already seems like cliche heaven (or just the usual hero who overcomes an infinite number of obstacles/setbacks/tragedy/etc etc to become this powerful hero?).
And I really need to get back on track with Oh My Ghostess...I haven't been able to get to ep3 yet, and I've kept myself from reading recaps because I want to marathon this too.
Hope all is well with you, pogo! My apologies for not really being around or sending comments your way...haven't been on DB as much as I'd normally be, partly because of school and work, but also because the dang ads keep freezing the site on me and I've had to resort to accessing DB on my phone...and that in itself is keeping me from adding comments and such, because it takes forever!
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 25, 2015 at 4:19 AM
hey Tara! It's been a while since our Triangle recap days, hope all's well with you too!
and you are right that I am absolutely thrilled for my girl finally getting her first ever lead role and doing so well at it. Honestly I was a little nervous at the prospect of her working with freaking Lee Jun-ki for her first lead role and not some younger actor like I'd always expected for her, but she doesn't seem out of her depth at all and actually has chemistry with him. I'm proud of her for navigating the role so well, but I wish the writing was better.
Anyway, keep your expectations of SWWTN VERY low, because honestly, it's a cheesefest and the actors are the ones who save it by fully committing to the cheese, hard as that might be to believe.
And don't apologise for having real-life stuff to do! You're right that db on mobile is weird. I can't leave comments when I'm on the phone, the invisible hyperlinks and broken reply function drive me a bit nuts.
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40 atz
July 24, 2015 at 12:57 PM
~Finished watching ' Tenno no Ryoriban( chef for Emperor)( J drama)
I kept crying while I was watching the last couple of episodes.
This is a story about a man who was a 'no good boy' but turned out to be an excellent chef and he evantually became a chef for the Taisho and Showa Emperor. This is not a fictional story but not all the story is based on his true biography( for instance, the chef married three times in his real life instead of one time in the drama). Back when he was young, a cook or chef was a career(?) as bad as Yakuza. He was instrumental in raising the worst career status to a much better status. Some people still have anti feeling against Emperors but this drama is an interesting way to view how Japanese back then viewed Emperors as well.
The main leads did wonderful Jobs. I have heard that Sato Takeru really made a tremendous efforts to master all culinary skills. All his cooking scenes were done by himself.
Kuroki Haru got a typical classic Japanese face so that her feature really suites her role but beyond that her acting( subtle) is impressive. Besides the leads actors, there are some notable actors, such as Kobayashi Kaoru( Night Diner fame), Suzuki Ryohei( his older brother), Sugimoto Tetsuta( his father; I love the way he got mad at his son!) etc in the drama.
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spazmo
July 24, 2015 at 2:51 PM
i agree - tennou no ryoriban was an excellent watch!
*sniff*
a friend told me to watch Tonbi - sato takeru is also in it! a father/son story, i'm told...
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alua
July 25, 2015 at 3:05 PM
Tonbi is really quite good – but it's the father (Uchino Masaaki) that steals the show in that drama. And the kid versions of Takeru's character (Takeru doesn't actually do much – well, I'm sure Takeru fans think he's amazing in that drama, but, well, the dad just steals the show).
Anyhow, it's a drama worth watching. Heartrending and heartwarming at the same time.
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41 graey
July 24, 2015 at 1:30 PM
Been a busy week. No happy weekend this time around.
The Genius - I watched ep 4 raw and didn't understand much. MM and DM are both awesome tho. But I won't talk about it. Yet. I'll talk about Yoonsun. The lawyer, outcast, etc. Lol. Because I just realized that it makes no sense for her to have no alliance. Case in point-S2E1. It was the food chain game and her winning condition was for the lion to win. But she was in an alliance with Jinho whose winning condition was the lion dying. And what did she do? She chose loyalty over winning. And she even had to go to the deathmatch because of that. And Kyungran should probably start watching the broadcasts of the prev seasons.
Healer - I now love this show. And I hate how I have no time to marathon this....??.
Waiting for I Remember You and Oh My Ghostess to finish their run. Then I'll marathon 'em. ??
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42 Nermin Badwi
July 24, 2015 at 2:29 PM
Hey beanies,
can you recommend asian romantic movies,
my favorite are:
0.5 love
a wedding invitation
, stolen years (i pretend it end on the 1st hour :D)
and can anyone tell where can i watch ' the truth about beauty ' online
Thank you
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Beanfan
July 24, 2015 at 3:57 PM
If you don't mind watching older movies...
"Chungking Express" is one of my most favorite romantic Asian movies ever, by HK director Wang Kar Wai. It's quirky and fun, and with more rewatches, more details yield themselves. It also isn't as cryptic and hard-to-get as his later movies.
"Love Letter" is an older Japanese film that is slow-paced, but a classic. If high-school crushes and puppy love is your sort of thing (as it is mine), this will be fun.
“The Reincarnation of Golden Lotus,” another HK movie, is also incredibly romantic/tragic.
"My Sassy Girl"??? I thought that was romantic.
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bbstl 🧹
July 24, 2015 at 5:12 PM
I thought "Il Mare" and "The Classic" were romantic older k-movies.
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Jon G.
July 25, 2015 at 2:24 AM
Chungking Express to me is a must-see film. It is heavily flawed in terms of character design, story-telling and acting, but it is Wong Kar-wai's best work, in my opinion. It's his least over-construed work and that brings out its full charm.
It gets more and more difficult to watch nowadays though, as several of its innovations have been copied to death.
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pogo - now sailing HMS Queen of Tears with Corn Salad on deck🍉
July 25, 2015 at 4:40 AM
watch Love Fiction (Ha Jung-woo/Ging Hyo-jin) and My P.S. Partner (Ji Sung/Kim Ah-joong), if you can.
btw they are both 19+ rated (especially the second) so keep that in mind if that's an issue.
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harmonyfb
July 25, 2015 at 8:56 AM
Define "romantic". :chuckle: I've recently seen a film which had a fairly tender depiction of two young people falling in love (and a *really* hot sex scene - hot because it was loving and tender), but I wouldn't characterize the film as a romance, because the characters (a very small-time criminal & a prostitute) in question made terrible life choices & the film was kind of a tragedy.
(It's called Bitch :heart: Asshole, & stars Kwon Hyun Sang & Park Ran)
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wan2tree
July 26, 2015 at 12:04 PM
I see some others recommended Chungking Express by Wong Kar Wai, which is a great movie - definitely his most quirky, upbeat film.
Less upbeat, but truly beautiful -
In The Mood For Love (also by Wong Kar Wai) with Maggie cheung and Tony Leung. It is absolutely breathtaking visually tonally musically and thematically. I think it's a movie everyone should see at least once..it encapsulates romance and longing more than any other film I have seen.
Lust, Caution directed by Ang Lee (also with Tony Leung, who uses his expressive eyes so skillfully and to heartbreaking effect here as he does in In The Mood For Love) I watch this movie a few times a year when I'm feeling down or uninspired. It's so sumptuous and meticulous, fantastic cinematography by the same DP who shot Brokeback Mountain with Ang Lee. Just painterly and riveting.
House of Flying Daggers. by Zhang Yimou. A lot of people think this movie is all visuals and no substance but man, I kind of love it and if you're in the mood for sizzling melodramatic romance you should definitely try it.
Maborosi by Hirokazu Koreeda - Not exactly a romance and the pace is a bit off putting when you are used to more faced paced films with typically moving plots (not much "happens") but I personally adore it..It's like watching a visual poem of life and melancholy unfold. I'd also recommend "Still Walking" and "After Life" out of his films, though also not romance films per se
Love Exposure by Sion Sono - in a different way but this is also definitely not your typical romance..4 hours of strangeness, perversity, absurdity and kind of beautiful greatness?
Castaway on the Moon
a "romance" between a girl who's a shut in and a suicidal guy who gets stuck on a land mass in the han river. weird and lovely.
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43 spazmo
July 24, 2015 at 2:52 PM
ok, maybe i'll see some of you beanies in LA next weekend?
; )
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44 4D
July 24, 2015 at 4:32 PM
Has anyone been having a lot more trouble with the dramabeans site because of the ads? They're constantly making the pages freak out on my and make me unable to do anything and I have to keep refreshing.
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Tara
July 24, 2015 at 9:30 PM
Me too!!! It happens so often that I don't even use my computer to open the site anymore, and since that means I'm opening it on my cellphone = less posts (because typing up my thoughts takes forever, compared to computer keyboard). A few times I've even gotten warnings from my security software of potential threats.
Sigh. I used to be on here 24/7 until these ads started screwing up my typing vibe...
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alua
July 25, 2015 at 12:57 AM
Use an adblocker?
That works for me, never seen any ads on Dramabeans.
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45 Tara
July 24, 2015 at 9:36 PM
Hey everyone...happy OT!
Just a real quick question to other Beanies:
Can you recommend a reputable online site that sells authentic Korean music CDs/MP3s? I'm looking for a place that would have older stuff, like 5+ years old to maybe even stuff from the 90s. Looking in particular for the Dae Jang Geum OST for my friend...and darn it, YA sold out of them. I was saving up $ to buy that & a few others -- just checked the site tonight and now they're gone :( argh. Also hoping to find some old school kpop (circa late 1990s) for my nostalgia :P
Thanks in advance for your help! :) Hope yall have a great weekend! :)
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harmonyfb
July 25, 2015 at 8:52 AM
I'd love to find a site which would let me (in the US) download Korean punk/psychobilly - there's very little out there. :sigh:
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luvKdramas
July 25, 2015 at 9:19 AM
@ Tara
Have you tried kpopmart(dot)com and kpoptown(dot)com? Also, amazon(dot)com might be of interest to you as well.
Hope you will find what you're looking for. :)
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Tara
July 26, 2015 at 8:38 PM
@harmonyfb: thank you for your reply!! Tell me about it, I'm still looking for a legit site (besides iTunes) in the US that would have these songs from yesteryear - even if it's only from within the past 2 decades or so :( It would be amazing if these companies (here's lookin at ya, SM!) to redistribute via mp3 versions, because I definitely think there would be interest and people willing to buy music from that era in the newer format.
Which specific singers/groups are you looking for? I'm actually embarassed to say I'd never heard of Korean punk pop until now...my knowledge of Korean music has been limited to Kpop (although stuff these days are overprocessed), Khiphop and Krock.
@luvKdramas: thank you for your reply!! And thank you for giving your suggestions!! (I'd never heard of them before) I checked out those sites, but to no avail. :( Actually, besides YA, Az was my second option. I opted to just buy the Taiwan version from YA, hoping it'll just be the same music but only differences in packaging language. I'll definitely keep these sites in mind for future reference! :)
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46 newgirl
July 24, 2015 at 10:36 PM
Finally back into watching Kdrama, One would think that 7 weeks of sick leave would give me plenty of viewing time, but I just wasn't in the mood. I blame post-anesthesia brain.
Oh My Ghostess! Just what the doctor ordered! Loving this show so much.
Also, Midnight Diner. I would love to eat at a restaurant where the "table" is built like a bar. It's weird, but the set reminds me of US shows from the 1970's like "Barney Miller". I'm not sure why. Maybe it's all the wood in the restaurant?
Tomorrow morning I'm going berry picking. Of course, it's the first day in months we're supposed to get significant rain here in the Pacific Northwest! Wish me luck!
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47 harmonyfb
July 24, 2015 at 11:02 PM
Waaaay late to the party, but I'm here!
What I watched this week:
I Remember You: O. M. G. I thought this thing was a melo, so I gave it a pass. Then somebody was talking about it on twitter, and I decided to give it a go. Then I binged 8 episodes. Now I really want to binge-watch the rest of it, but dammit, it's still airing. (First world problems. :sadface:)
Scholar Who Walks the Night: The soundtrack appears to have gotten a bit better, which is good. It's not an Emmy-winner, but I'm enjoying it.
Killjoys: American show about space bounty hunters. Stylish, snappy dialog.
Dark Matter: American show about five people who wake up on a space ship with no memories. Great larger arc about whether we're the sum of our memories, and whether we can be truly said to have changed if we don't have them as a baseline.
What I want to watch:
Cheo Yong. I'm hoping that this will appear on a big site so I don't have to hunt all over for it.
Signal: This sounds great - one detective in the present finds a walkie-talkie that lets him talk to a detective in the past. Together, they solve a long-unsolved crime.
K-drama Moments:
Went to a Koren food meet-up tonight - the theme was 'family table. It was awesome. They served grilled mackerel, Dak bokum tang (spicy chicken stew), cabbage soup (w/a fermented soybean base), pan-fried tofu w/sauce, scallion pancakes, & a variety of ban chan - spinach, bean sprouts, teeny anchovies, kimchi. It was all delicious. I also got to try makgeolli, which was yummy. Here are some photos of the feast: https://twitter.com/harmony_fb/status/624783153501208576
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48 luvKdramas
July 25, 2015 at 9:34 AM
Happy weekend beanies!
I regret I didn't explore the 'open thread' section sooner all these years. :(
Since MASK is coming to an end next week, I have been looking for a good drama to watch. But am still on the fence with the ones that's on-air right now even after reading all the comments. Probably going to wait out another week for more inputs from fellow beanies. :)
Thanks dramabeans for a great place where beanies hang out!!
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49 wapz
July 25, 2015 at 12:27 PM
Hey guys. I wonder why am I always late to comment on OT. Well in the previous OT I asked for some laugh out loud shows and was recommended Marriage not dating. Unfortunately it didn't happen to click me, though I've always heard good about it. Hence I would like to ask for some other good light-hearted shows. It would be great if you could help me :)
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harmonyfb
July 25, 2015 at 12:49 PM
Sorry MND didn't click with you - you could try Surplus Princess. It's pretty dang funny (you just have to stop watching at the end of the next-to-last episode, as the network cut it to 10 eps at the last minute, and ending makes no sense at all.
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50 wapz
July 25, 2015 at 1:03 PM
@harmonyfb I realised it was you who recommended me the shows last time. You don't need to be sorry in fact i'm really thankful. Maybe if i'll try watching past the 2 episodes I might like MND. Anyways thank you again you are really helpful :)
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harmonyfb
July 25, 2015 at 2:13 PM
Hey, humor is very individual - what I think is riotously funny someone else might think was stuuuupid. (Witness how many people think Seth Rogan is funny, when I think he's the unfunniest person in show business, right behind Andy Kaufman.) :)
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