Premiere Watch: School 2017, The King Loves, Man Who Dies to Live, Reunited Worlds
by girlfriday
Out with the old, in with the new! We just had four finales last week, so you know what that means: four brand-new, shiny dramas headed our way to vie for our attention. I actually like it when shows start and end together in groups like this because it feels nice to have a fresh turnover in one go, and it breeds some healthy competition for premiere week. You’ve got one shot to make a good first impression, because I can’t watch all of you!
…Is what I always say, and then I end up committing to too many shows, and four weeks in I’m cursing Past Me and debating what to drop. I never learn, but what can I do when I’m so easily enticed by new things? We’ve got four shows all in different genres launching this week, so this time around there really might be something for everyone.
School 2017
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: KBS
Genre: High school, coming-of-age
Episode count: 16
Reasons to watch: School is one of dramaland’s longest-running franchises and it’s one that I’m particularly attached to, so I’m excited to see a new class of fresh faces. The series tells the relatable everyday stories of high school students and their growing pains, and is also responsible for launching a number of stars’ careers in dramaland. I’m curious to see how Gugudan idol Sejung will fare in her acting debut, but I’m glad that at least the other two leading actors are familiar, and left a really good impression from their previous roles. Kim Jung-hyun played the prickly enemy-turned-frenemy-turned-friend Mori in Rebel: Thief Who Stole the People and Gong Hyo-jin’s prickly little brother in Jealousy Incarnate, so it should come as no surprise that in School 2107 he’s playing a prickly rebel. Also playing to type is Jang Dong-yoon, who was the golden boy with a secret in the high school mystery Solomon’s Perjury, and will play the golden boy once again.
This season features a mystery delinquent known only as Suspect X, who goes around burning class rankings and setting off fire alarms in the middle of tests. Suspect X is considered a criminal by the school’s administration and a hero by the student body, which already makes him/her interesting in my book. I like that this kind of mystery could be a compelling storyline without having to take over the plot completely (unlike, say, a murder plot), because the universal and uplifting slice-of-life stories are really the best part of the School series, and the reason I’ll be tuning in.
The King Loves
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: MBC
Genre: Historical, melodrama, romance
Episode count: 40 (half-hour episodes, 20 hours in total)
Reasons to watch: The King Loves is a novel adaptation about an epic bromance gone bad when two royals fall in love with the same girl. The biggest draw for me is Im Shi-wan, because this is his first drama after Misaeng, and I’m so curious to see if what I liked about him as an actor was Jang Geu-rae the character, or if he has it in him to be just as compelling in a completely different role. He’ll play an intriguing Janus-like antihero, a Goryeo crown prince who is extremely ambitious and calculating. Hong Jong-hyun is the prince’s best friend, and Yoon-ah is the daughter of a wealthy aristocrat who will have the love of both men.
Then there’s the other huge draw, writer Song Ji-nah of Healer, Faith, Sandglass, and more. Her involvement in the production began in a creative overseeing capacity, and the drama was initially credited to her team of junior writers. But late into the show’s filming, it was announced that she’d done so much work on it that she’d be signing on officially as the main writer, which changes my expectations by a LOT. Between this show and Seven Day Queen, I just might be signing up for nonstop tears Monday through Thursday…
Man Who Dies to Live
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: MBC
Genre: Family, comedy
Episode count: 24 (half-hour episodes, 12 hours in total)
Reasons to watch: This drama’s premise is bizarre but potentially hilarious: Choi Min-soo plays an eccentric count who makes his fortune in a fictional Arabian country, and then returns to his homeland in search of his daughter. The problem is, there are two potential daughters with the exact same name—one is a pragmatic ajumma (Kang Ye-won), and one is a chic careerwoman (Lee So-yeon), and hijinks ensue as Dad gets tangled up in their lives.
Based on the teasers, one of the more enjoyable aspects of the show will be the relationship between Dad and his new disappointment of a son-in-law, played by Shin Sung-rok. He’s a manchild with his head in the clouds who delights in the sudden appearance of a wealthy father-in-law who showers him with gifts, while Dad is testing him and decides that he’s not good enough for his precious daughter. I’m hoping that Man Who Dies to Live will be all of the funny bits from a weekend family drama condensed into 12 hours—all of the laughs and all of the heartwarming daddy-daughter love, and none of the drawn-out angst. Fingers crossed!
Reunited Worlds
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Fantasy, romance
Episode count: 32 (half-hour episodes, 16 hours in total)
Reasons to watch: Yeo Jin-gu is baaaaack, just three weeks after he left us! He’s also graduated to being a leading man in a romance drama, which is not a thing I plan to miss out on. Reunited Worlds is a fantasy romance from the PD-writer team of Girl Who Sees Smells and Beautiful Gong Shim, about a 19-year-old boy who seemingly dies in a car accident, and then suddenly reappears in front of his friends and family 12 years later; they’ve all aged like normal, but he’s still somehow 19.
It sets us up for a really interesting age-reversal dynamic, a trend I’m loving in dramaland this year (see: Tunnel and The Best Hit for time-traveling dads), as Yeo Jin-gu returns to his first love and the rest of his best friends from high school, and his two younger siblings who are now older than him. I just love age-reversal hijinks; I’m probably the only person on earth who watched Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit, all because I had to watch Heechul speak to Lee Soon-jae in banmal.
Reunited Worlds also has a lovely contemplative feel to all of the promo material, which seems pretty perfect for the nostalgia-filled backstory and the fantasy-driven reunion between first loves. It’s described as a healing drama, about how Yeo Jin-gu puts everyone back together after they suffer his tremendous loss in their youth. Count me in. I’m ready for my heart to be warmed!
RELATED POSTS
- Underdog student dreams of breaking into the elite ranks in School 2017
- A mystery, a suspect, and a hero for School 2017
- Mistaken bromantic love and deceptive princes in The King Loves
- A house and friendship divided in The King Loves
- Choi Min-soo searches for his true daughter in Man Who Dies to Live
- Shin Sung-rok, Kang Ye-won potentially get married for Man Who Dies to Live
- Reunited friends and reunited loves for Reunited Worlds
- The long, desperate wait in Reunited Worlds
Tags: Man Who Dies to Live, Premiere Watch, Reunited Worlds, School 2017, The King Loves
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1 toujoursbelle
July 16, 2017 at 10:12 AM
I'm looking forward to TKIL the most.
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2 ⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
July 16, 2017 at 10:15 AM
Good luck to all shows!
I am especially excited for new drama in Wed - Thur mainly because of Yeo Jin Gu, Shin Sung Rok and my ahjusshi crush Choi Min Soo!
School 2017 - will watch mainly for Mori but I hope the drama itself can make me stay until the end. Just remember Kkot Bi the secretary in Radiant Office will be in this drama too!
The King Loves - The child actors are all from SFD, right? To be honest I'm excited to see the supporting casts like Jung Bo Seok, Jang Young Nam, Oh Min Suk so I hope Song Ji Nah gives some justice to these side characters as well.
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keiru
July 16, 2017 at 9:08 PM
Nam Da Reum is my personal favorite child actor, along with Heo Jung Eun. I can't wait to see them snatching lead roles once they grow up :)
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3 kabsy
July 16, 2017 at 10:15 AM
Looking forward to School 2017 and Reunited Worlds!!!
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4 Ahj ❤ ❥ ♡ ♥ ღ
July 16, 2017 at 10:17 AM
Can hardly wait for The King Loves & Reunited Worlds. ❤
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5 C
July 16, 2017 at 10:21 AM
I was waiting for this :) Last circle I could name every single drama is coming, but this circle pretty much there is no buzz.
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6 Reloaded
July 16, 2017 at 10:24 AM
School 2017 + & RW for me + watching MWDtL the day after. Not interested in Yoona's drama at all.
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7 hannaehh
July 16, 2017 at 10:25 AM
I think I'm gonna watch all four of them just like I always did when it's premiere week for dramas and like girlfriday, I'd be having a hard time whether or not to drop any bad dramas, and I'd end up watching them all anyway til the end. The cycle of sleepless nights is just never-ending.
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8 PeepsLeAwesomePotato
July 16, 2017 at 10:25 AM
Am I the only one going crazy waiting for Man Who Dies To Live? Because even just the title sounds HILARIOUS. And Hilarious is my drug.
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⭐ Sera The Ms Temper ⭐
July 16, 2017 at 10:31 AM
You're not alone. Ever since I saw the first teaser, I waited impatiently for Ruler to end.
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kiara
July 16, 2017 at 10:43 AM
I'm in need of something hilarious from a wonderful group of actors.
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peichi
July 16, 2017 at 11:26 AM
Me too! Especially after dropping The Best Hit when it decided to stop being funny, I need a zany comedy to fill that void. And this one looks like it will be impossible to have romance be anything more than a subplot, so I'm hoping it will focus primarily on being consistently hilarious.
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9 Junie Bug
July 16, 2017 at 10:30 AM
I can't wait to watch Reunited Worlds, The King Loves, and School 2017! But, before that, I need to finish Circle lol I've got my hands full of dramas, so time to go binge!
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10 kiara
July 16, 2017 at 10:34 AM
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11 Evelia
July 16, 2017 at 10:35 AM
Waiting to see Reunited World and The King Loves. I still have have a bunch of dramas to finish seeing. Only watching Woman of Dignity because of the actress that plays Park Bok-Ja, she is doing a great job in her performance.
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spark
July 17, 2017 at 7:30 AM
Kim Sun-a is also the reason I'm watching WOD! (Well, she and the impossibly gorgeous Kim Hee-sun, who plays Woo Ah-jin.) I've been an avid fan of Kim Sun-a and her acting since her role in My Name is Kim Sam-soon. Her characters are always super interesting
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12 Diraito Teson
July 16, 2017 at 10:44 AM
I thought reunited worlds was 20 episodes, not 16.
However I'm glad it's 16 cause very few dramas can pull 20 without loosing the pace :)
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crazyyo
July 16, 2017 at 10:47 AM
it is 20 episodes though, asianwiki shows 40 episodes (35/35 min per episode)
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bqk318
July 17, 2017 at 6:13 PM
20 eps drama now a bit too long. I'm so tired to catch the end of SP.
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13 crazyyo
July 16, 2017 at 10:46 AM
Reunited Worlds! Can't get enough of yeo jin goo!!!!
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14 maaaki
July 16, 2017 at 10:57 AM
only if the good guy get the girl at the end i will watch School 2017 #trauma hah
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15 Rachela
July 16, 2017 at 10:58 AM
Does anyone know who has the license for Reunited Worlds? That's the only one I'm planning on watching...
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16 gem28
July 16, 2017 at 10:59 AM
Reunited worlds and The Man who dies to live........Yeo Jin Gu and Shin Sun Rok, sold, sold, sold!
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17 Ally
July 16, 2017 at 11:11 AM
Oh, be still my heart. This is the first time I've felt compelled to watch three dramas live..."The King Loves," "Reunited Worlds," and "Man who dies to live." Although, I think Man who dies to live might be the best of these, only because of Choi Min-soo, but Yeo Jin Goo may just give him a run for his money. Both were amazing in Jackpot and now are competing against each other on the same days. Wednesday can't come soon enough.
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18 Kudo Ran
July 16, 2017 at 11:11 AM
I'll watch 3 out of 4 : School 2017, Man who dies to live and Reunited Worlds. Then I'll add two other dramas to see Namgoong Min and Lee Jun Ki ?
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19 Starry Knight✨
July 16, 2017 at 11:15 AM
Three words! Yeo. Jin. Gu. ???
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20 Ek Ladhki Thi
July 16, 2017 at 11:29 AM
I'm definitely sticking to The Man Who Dies To Live and Reunited Worlds till the end. However, I'll give The King Loves a try since I haven't been able to watch any sagueks lately. I don't really care much for the School series, so that's a pass for me. I'm excited for the new dramas and I hope they are good and can get me through the slump.
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21 loveblossom🌸
July 16, 2017 at 11:39 AM
Yay, I was hoping to see this thread! Now I have a good idea of the new competition.
Because Man Who Dies to Live sounds so wacky, it makes me want to tune in. Need a funny drama to balance out my other serious, dark ones. xD I hope it has some good, heartwarming family storylines too.
Reunited Worlds sounds really intriguing. Time-travel dramas are cool. I might want to finish my old shows before trying this one.
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loveblossom🌸
July 16, 2017 at 11:45 AM
Oh, I also have Lee Jun Ki and Criminal Minds on my must-watch list which premieres next week so I have to make room for that! *-*
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22 pipette
July 16, 2017 at 11:42 AM
What I am here for is Yeo Jin Goo. At the very least, I will give the first episode a shot. I cannot see myself watching any of the others but who knows, that might change!
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23 Yuyuu, The Drama Queen
July 16, 2017 at 11:44 AM
Excited for Man Who Dies to Live and Reunited Worlds!
Not really planning on watching any of the Mon-Tue, but I'm curious about how they will hold up.
I really do need a Mon-Tue show though, but nothing seems appealing to me.
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bqk318
July 17, 2017 at 6:14 PM
You can wait for Falsify.
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24 myheartisomg
July 16, 2017 at 11:46 AM
Reunited Worlds sounds great. I mean really you had me at 'fantasy romance', but this sounds like a lovely twist on time travel with bonus Yeo Jin Goo. What's not to love?
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25 myheartisomg
July 16, 2017 at 11:48 AM
Also, thank you for letting me know that 'Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit' is a thing that exists. I kind of want to watch this drama, just so I can tell my friends I'm watching a show called 'Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit'.
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26 earthna
July 16, 2017 at 11:49 AM
Ohhh. The Man Who Dies to Live already sounds hilarious. Plus nothing better than Choi Minsoo doing comedy. Or maybe even better because Shin Sung-rok is there too. Kyaaaa!
Reunited Worlds kinda made me cringe because it reminded me of TBH and the so many things that can make the drama go wrong. Still, I might check it out which means I'd be watching all Wed-Thurs. shows. Happy that the new shows sound promising but I was kinda hoping 7DQ will get higher ratings this time around.
Girlfriday, you're not alone! I watched Flowers Grandpas Investigation Unit for the same reason. Heechul got to speak banmal to all the halbaes. It was actually a good show too.
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27 vannerie
July 16, 2017 at 11:55 AM
I think I'll probably start with Reunited World to help with Circle withdrawal symptoms. I still want to finish Fight My Way and start Forest of Secrets, Lookout and Chief Kim. Drowning in dramas.
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28 Cafelatte
July 16, 2017 at 12:06 PM
I'm getting Hwarang feel from The king loves. I hope it will not be a disaster like it. I don't know about Yoona but I like the male leads. So fingers crossed!!!
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29 lorepottter
July 16, 2017 at 12:11 PM
School 2017 and Reunited Worlds, i have suffered so much lately with the dramas, and i bet that The King Loves is one of them
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30 m g
July 16, 2017 at 12:13 PM
I'm really looking forward to these! With quite a few great dramas coming to an end in the past week, i'm excited to see how this bunch will be!
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31 juniper
July 16, 2017 at 12:45 PM
This new episode count really throws me off. I know they're doing it so that they can play ads in the middle, but are the half hour episodes self-contained, or has nothing really changed?
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peichi
July 16, 2017 at 4:18 PM
Usually it's just stops before a scene change and not necessarily an important one. It really doesn't seem any different to me then if the two episodes were one, so I wouldn't say they are self-contained. I don't think anything has really changed as far as during the drama's production, it's still basically just one hour episodes but now with a commercial break halfway through. Dramas with named episodes are still only naming the entire hour not the individual episodes.
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juniper
July 16, 2017 at 5:28 PM
Thanks for the reply! I'm relieved it doesn't make much of a difference because I'm kind of attached to the old way old doing things.
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beantown
July 19, 2017 at 5:40 AM
It's a mental thing....even though I know there's no difference time-wise, I still look at the episode count and think "no way can I do that"....
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32 sweetsour
July 16, 2017 at 1:46 PM
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33 eked13
July 16, 2017 at 2:19 PM
Not big on school stuff or many sageuks, esp if the cast isn't a draw. But ditto - Man Who Dies to Live looks far too odd not to at least give it a go.
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34 gadis
July 16, 2017 at 2:32 PM
So many new and interesting shows, but I'm most excited by School 2017. Hopefully it'll be really good. I'm ready for a heartwarming and uplifting coming-of-age story.
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35 Holly
July 16, 2017 at 3:25 PM
No, no! I totally loved Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit! You were not alone watching that!
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36 circulate9oo
July 16, 2017 at 4:37 PM
Looking forward the most to Reunited Worlds because Yeo Jingoo~ I've reached the stage where I am totally gonna be watching whatever project he comes up with. The teasers are looking great so far~ I'm so nervous... I'm hoping the story will be good T_T
Did they decide to reduce from 40 to 32 because of the bad feedback from casting Lee Yeonhee and Ahn Jaehyun? Whatever the reason is, I prefer the latter ep number since the story would be so much tighter that way.
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37 wackycashew
July 16, 2017 at 5:04 PM
A fresh batch is always exciting! I'm only planning to watch The King Loves from this lot so I can see Siwannie in sageuk again. I'm still watching some currently airing shows and new ones will be around the corner soon.
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38 frenchvanilla
July 16, 2017 at 5:25 PM
The King in Love ofc ^.^ , even supporting cast is daebakkk???
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39 mysterious
July 16, 2017 at 5:42 PM
Circle definitely deserved higher ratings than what it got. It was a wellcrafted, beautifully acted drama. Here's hoping Yeo Jin-gu's next drama receives the love it deserves. And in my book, having YJG as the star automatically means the show deserves love because he is a phenomenal actor. ❤
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40 celine
July 16, 2017 at 6:25 PM
Yey for new shows! The one I am most looking forward to see is TKL because I really missed Im Siwan. Yey for more Yeo Jingu! He is on a roll! I have not finished my marathon of Circle and here he is with a new show already. Not complaining.
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41 john
July 16, 2017 at 7:13 PM
Reunited and Man To Die are the two that I would probably watch. I'll give King's Love a peek. I'm too old for School. Good luck shows !!
I appreciate a good sleeper hit and hope to surprised by one of you in the up coming weeks.
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42 cantbothertologin
July 16, 2017 at 7:25 PM
Nothing I like. I may watch Choi Min-soo's drama, but everything else looks pretty crappy.
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43 mindy
July 16, 2017 at 8:07 PM
I am incredibly excited for all 4 of these, actually, as different as they are from one another. And some people say K-dramas have no variety. Pfft, they're just not looking hard enough.
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44 Crystal M.
July 16, 2017 at 8:26 PM
I'm only waiting for Reunited Worlds but the writer for the King Loves is the writer for Healer & Faith? I might watch it too just because of that.
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45 prosecutorsunshine
July 16, 2017 at 8:27 PM
I'll probably check out School 2017 but only for my sweetie pie Jang Dong Yoon -- kinda iffy about the love triangle thing I'm SURE will happen in the drama...I'd hate to have another sad ending for Jang Dong Yoon's character especially after Solomon's Perjury.
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46 ar_arguably romantic
July 16, 2017 at 9:11 PM
Definitely jumping on School 2017 right away, but will wait on the others. Wasn't interested in the King Loves but with Song Jin Ah's involvement, I'm tempted.
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47 Lin_K
July 16, 2017 at 9:22 PM
I totally loved Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit! It was so hilarious! You're not alone, Girlfriday!
I really hope School 2017 doesn't descend to what School 2015 was. And since I am two years mature, I won't be in any shipping wars this time. Publicly declaring it so I won't do it. After the shipping wars, I feel so bad but when it happens, I can't help but support the pair I love.
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48 keiru
July 16, 2017 at 9:30 PM
Looking forward to School 2017 the most
Reunited World is only worth trying because of Yeo Jin Goo, but I still have a traumatic vision from Lee Yeon Hee's acting since Cyber Ghost
I feel mostly neutral for The King Loves and Man Who Dies to Love, so I might skip it
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keiru
July 16, 2017 at 9:38 PM
*Man Who Dies to Live !
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49 PACITO
July 16, 2017 at 11:09 PM
I like both drama .. I first will watch The King in Love .... Looks interesting !!!
Remember Ruler Master ( mbc historical drama ) CAN beat modern drama like SP so dont u ever say historical drama so much boring but in fact looks better then modern drama !!!
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50 2.16 PM
July 16, 2017 at 11:16 PM
I see Yoona , Siwan and Hong Jonghyun this drama so Figthing The king in love ! This three main character all fans know who is them ... Omg . Guys .... This week so many new drama coming .. Say goodbye last week drama ... Say hello to this week drama .
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