JAPAN

HAHAHA - https://youtu.be/YpiMuYVfEC4 Loved it. Quality Media and Takahashi Mitsuki is Rocking it.
https://gfycat.com/dismalimperfectborzoi

2019 Japanese Media is just on another level. More than 10 quality shows in a year is a big achievement. I consider 9-11% such a good margin for a year. Its 15-17 shows per year. 1 for a month. Around 8300-8375min per year
Around 1000-1100min for dropped shows. Error margin of 100-150min.

If Talking Paid - 8.5 out of 10. Mitsuru and his usage of words to gt around hypocrisy but he does make logic with his words sometimes but overall he's facts spinner.
1st time i heard about kept man term. I can think about househusband and am quite comfortable with it but kept man.
If there can be housewife there can be househusbands. Why looking down upon men just because women is the breadwinner of the household. Kept Man is a term made to lnsult both genders.

Follow Saretara Owari - 8 out of 10. SNS, surveillance, hacking and technology's misuse. The year Japanese media had concentration on SNS and hacking. We saw about half dozen movies and shows on it. Also add Cyber Bulling with above pointers too. 15minutes per episode. Okada Kenshi is looking quite handsome here and acting is above average. Story is interesting and so far i've enjoyed all 3 translated episodes. The only thing i can nitpick is the bonhomie between these friends. It looked a bit fake, superficial or artificial. Its aybe because the way director showed it but i also saw that this is what the purpose of writer is so here director is at fault for not coming forth effectively.
These freinds will go at each other in upcoming episodes as we also saw in 1st 3 episodes. Their relationship which looks deep is quite fickle and materialistic. The way fictional Japan gonna enjoy the drama that their friendship will produce the same entertainment will be seen and enjoyed by real life audience.

Class Crush - 7.5 out of 10. Thank you for scrapping the episodes from Song Gem. High School boys. Young hot blood. Opposite gender attraction. teenage romantic insecurities. trying to get over their shyness and making moves. Enjoyable watch. Good quality.

Eat and Sleep and Home Again 8 out of 10. Smooth soothing show. Best watch of cold season. Filling the heart.

You and I on G-String - far behind. almst dropped. busy with real world entertainment and work.

Shufu Katsu - 45+ female going towork again. starting job. See this is what you can female characters. A real female centered tv show where they get not only acknowledged but also approved and recognised. Yes media investing in a female actor+character as Center. This is far more common in Japanes tv media. 1 more show lke that is

Our Dearest Sakura - Wiaitng for its translation. I like the Actress and she is heroine in Wotaku. New Trailer is awesome.

Just finished watching episode 19 of When the Camellia Blooms 😭😭 I'm not prepared to finish it. Lee Jung-eun is an amazing actress, she moved me to tears this episode I'm a sobbing mess

Tale of Nokdu: plan to watch the last 3 episodes in one go next week!
Also watching: Psychopath Diary

Pegasus Market (Episode 9)
This week’s episode belonged to the side characters as the theme of family continues from last week: I enjoyed a lot of the reveals ranging from the not so indecent explanation behind the horns (though I’m sure they did allude to that), the cabbage-selling grandma being In Bae’s real grandparent, Min Joo finally receiving some closure on her father’s death and Mi Ran struggling with questions of self-worth (Seok Goo returning the support she gave him was great as well!). I will say though that I’m not sure how to feel about the new preview: conflicted Bok Dong is great, new villain not much.

Extraordinary You (Episode 29-32)
The ending felt really underwhelming in many ways as ultimately the fantasy drama did not explain the fantasy itself. In some sense, what started off as a really conceptually interesting story got dumbed down into the usual romance story: Baek Kyung being the evil character that does a 180 and receives forgiveness, Joo Da being the female lead that picks the alpha male over the beta male, Do Hwa as the perfect daddy long legs and of course our main couple who had the happy ending of sorts. My conclusion is this: fantasy romances will not work out if you only focus on the romance part.

Melting Me Softly (Episode 15-16)
LMAO, what a joke of an ending. After all the trouble they went through with the refreezing and whatnot, the writer had to one more obstacle for our main couple and a lame one at that. That’s not bad as long as the resolution was fine (I’m already having low standards here) but nope they went and did some weird ass Youtube Channel thing that was super rushed without giving sufficient time for us viewers to say goodbye to the show. And don’t get me started on the cliche killer arc designed so obviously to drag the conflict as well as the rather awfully convenient time skip used to end that.

Extraordinary ended and I guess we were all prepared for the unsatisfactory ending... no? 😉 I sort of feel like when Alhambra ended (though not so upset). The show started with a bang... and then started meandering... and then didn't know where it was flowing to... Still, I definitely don't regret watching. I had fun... and there was Lee Jae Wook 🙂.
Biggest disappointment of the finale: Jooda's story. Biggest positive surprise: Namjoo's strawberry fashion 😁😁

(No time to watch anything else... 😕 )

When the Camellia Blooms: I agree completely with all your thoughts Stroopwafel. They really trolled us there in the last few episodes, didn't they? Yong-shik is an amazing character too! I loved the story and resolution of Ja-yeong and Gyu-tae as well. And even loved the short talk between Deok-soon and Pil-gu.
I'm also alternating between The Lies Within and Chief Kim.
The Lies Within: So gory! It's really gripping! I think I should catch up with the episodes in time for the finale. I really like the Kim Seo-hui character.
Chief Kim: Aah I just keep giggling at the screen for the whole hour. I wasn't sure where it was going but in Director Choo's words Episode 5 was like the opening ceremony of the Olympics that this awesome show is! And Seo Yul really is so cute! Hes so bad but it's hard not to love him!

Busu, in love with the eys of an ugly girl: i am exploring jdoramas and this i binge watched 6 eps of this, i still find it japanese conversation and reactions abrupt.but this is fun cant wait for the next eps

A little thing called first love: finally ended but i ended up watching the last eps raw (no patience) its very cute i was giddy together wt the main actress once the relationship started and boy did we wait long 😆😅

Love by the hypnotic: one of the dames was ranting bout ''skinship deprivation syndrome'',watch this asap, kisses aplenty

I plan to start Psychopath Diary soon, now that Haru Found by Chance isn't consuming all my time, but for now:

Haru Found by Chance: There was enough in the finale that I didn't walk away angry, but between all the unironic handshakes and unanswered questions, I am always going to wonder what might have been. I mean, reuniting Dan-oh and Haru shouldn't have been the creator's only concern. Anyhow, this show belongs with Cheese in the Trap and Fated to Love You in my subcategory of favourites which I choose to love mostly for the quality of their first halfs. I think the joy I felt outweighs the frustration. Goodbye Dan-oh, heroine of my dreams. Goodbye Haru. Goodbye. Goodbye. Goodbye...

(Also, 2020 spinoff for Do-hwa?)

Pegasus Mart: I slept on this for too long. When you choose Lee Dong-hwi to be your straight man, you know that what you've got going is going to be bombastic. I love this so far, I'm glad I picked it up.

Extraordinary You,

Finished the whole drama.

SPOILERS

The first six episodes were amazing, and after that the drama became a repeat and draggy rehash of the same old stuff, I almost stopped watching it, to be honest. But I stuck to it, and the last three episodes were very good, and terribly sad. I actually teared at the end, Haru and Danoh's reunion was just...heartbreaking.

The end was kind of bittersweet for me, and the new story with the same characters was pretty good, and sad...Danoh isn't spunky and exuberant anymore, she's become quiet and...sad. I loved the last scene when she walked away, and he called out to her, "Danoh." Baek kyung is nowhere to be seen, and neither is Dohwa, so am I to think that this time around, Haru and Danoh are the leads?

Tale of Nokdu: I can't seem to find episode 15 anywhere. However we are well on our way to the end. Hopefully we get a nice ending for our cuties.

VIP: I am utterly loving this show. The side characters are the most interesting although Jang Nara is doing a great job showing the conflicting emotions of loving someone but no longer trusting them. My favorite story is still Mi Na. She is pregnant now. The great part of the show is she good be cheating on her husband or she just might not want to have another baby with her husband. Her expression says both. Her journey is great. I also really like Hyuna. I like that she hasn't lost her confidence and can still tell men to scram. GO ladies!!!!

Chief of Staff: I really have nothing to say about this drama other than that it is excellent.

Extraordinary You: What a sweet ending. Nam Ju and the strawberries lol. I guess we will never know who the writer is, even though I still think it is Joon Hyun. He knew too much to be so random and sparsely used.

Secret Boutique: AHHHHHHHHHH, I love it. Kim Sun Ah is always great. What a twist.

Vagabond: A whole lot of nothing happened in last night's episode. I guess there is going to be a season 2 unless as a fellow beanie said it is a movie within the drama. I'm excited.😆 😜

Vagabond. Today is the final episode! I want to see how the writers wrap their story. As of ep 15, it is all as expected. I'm wary of the possible ending.

Extraordinary You has finished and I am already missing all the characters and considering a rewatch. This is coming from someone who prefers exploring new content over repeating already known content, no matter how good. At the same time I am relieved it has ended. More than half of my week and my whole range of emotions was devoted to watching the episodes and spazzing on recaps and fan walls, and I need to catch my breath and prioritize real life now :P Thank you to all Extraordinary You Beanies who became friends this month, I hope we get to talk and spazz more in the future! :D

Sattu Sattu to all my Pegasus Beanies! This K-drama has moved up the priority list now that Extraordinary You has ended, but this show is served best in the evening after battling real life all day with a snack on the side, and I can never predict when that will happen. I am on episode 6 now, so I really hope I can catch up with you all before the end and earn my 2019 bean! :D

Real life has been hogging my friend, so we are still stuck on Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung episode 14. Fingers crossed that we can watch 2 episodes tomorrow, because I also would like that bean. :)

No Second Chances is a makjang right? It is my first family drama, so I was not sure I could call it a makjang since I never watch such dramas… Anyway I paused this K-drama last weekend because it still airs in 2020, so it does not count as an 2019 bean :P I am enjoying the cast and their relationships, so I will probably catch up after I finish the rest around Christmas break. It seems like a perfect watch for the holidays. :D

Tale of Nokdu this week so good!!

I feel like I have not been watching any kdrama. I have few episodes left in Camellia.
And am watching Arsenal Military academy (cdrama). I have nothing to look forward to either. I know the Hyun Bin drama is going to be a wreck but still will watch when it airs :)

When the Camellia Blooms: I started out kind of meh about this drama but it ended up being one of my favorites of the year. I’ll miss Ongsan and all of its residents. The writer clearly knew where she was going and how she was going to get there. I loved all of the details and how little things from previous episodes had significance.

Tale of Nokdu: Slow week of episodes. I hope the finale is better.

Extraordinary You. I never got invested in Dan Oh and Haru as a couple so the final episodes were rather slow for me but the ending was nice enough. Do Hwa had some fun scenes, and I liked the ending for BK.

My Country: Plot armor certainly protects against blood loss and infection. It's like a running joke at this point: Which lead will get stabbed this week.

Pegasus Market: Episode 10 and the return of Mr. Jung's itty bitty ponytail.

Chief of Staff: I get lost sometimes with all of the backstabbing but it is pretty engrossing for a political drama.

Psychopath Diary: I barely made it through the first episode and gave up during the second.

The Mandalorian. --- baby yoda for the win.

No kdramas lately. Been busy with refreshing tweets of P-pop and K-pop.

I did manage to catch an episode of Melo is My Nature where they discussed farts and 💩. That was awesome.

Being conflicted is probably the theme of this week's watch. Apart from the two dramas that finished, my issues are as follows:

Psychopath Diary My conflict: what's worse - doormat or psychopath?

The Lies Within My conflict: the writing is terrible but the performances are awesome. I mean, seriously has this writer not done their homework on how forensics work? Or even watched a few episodes of CSI?

Never Twice My conflict: I love every single one of the actors in it (most of them I've loved since seeing them play smaller parts in other dramas). I love granddad being the babysitter. I love husband becoming the cook. I love the frenemies sister-in-laws. I love the two gold diggers. But - her husband has been dead how long? And this series is how long?

Unasked Family My conflict: They time-skipped a year after the husband's death, so that's one thing. But the acting is rather 'green' by a large part of the cast, there's a lot of screeching and doormatting going on. To much to hope that one of them is going to turn into a psychopath? Is that a bad thing to hope for?

Put your head on my shoulders
I remember doing a single rabbit watch but back then 2/3 rd of the drama had already passed. The rabbit watch was fun but i understood nothing. This week I started the show and absolutely loved it. For once the female lead wasn't annoying, the male lead was geeenius but not perfect. Infact i like the fl way more than the ml. It was such a good fun fix. Where will I get my fluff fix now 😭
Extraordinary you
Still last 10 minutes left but there is a huge issue with shows that start great but turn mediocre. I may be satisfied with the show overall but I'm not generally happy about it. I will miss the meta humor and probably Do Hwa, Nam Ju and Ju Da more than the 3 main characters. I loved the 3 main leads but their story never progressed from ep 6. It is such a disappointment when I good show goes mediocre because then you don't even stop watching it in hopes of it becoming better someday. I'd still say I liked and cherished the experience of being glued to my screen and anxiously waiting for subs each Wed, Thu. Extraordinary you, you were unique so that is why you will still be loved.

Ranking the shows in order of interest I have for them at present is hard but I did my best. I also realize the amount of times I have used the word 'heartbreaking' for scenes and characters. This week was so full of that, that I couldn't help it.

My country: Ah this amazing but incredibly complicated show with it's even more complicated (complex?) characters has me hooked. One of the two shows I look the most forward to (sorry extraordinary you). I'm just on episode 13 so I don't have to say much except I have no idea what going on with Sun Ho. All I know is I can't help but cry so damn much. And how I wish this show explained some stuff and showed more of other stuff.

Catch the ghost: I eagerly wait for the next episodes especially this week. I feel extremely bad for both our leads. I cry a lot with this one. Expecially the latest episode in the scene with Ji Seok and his mother was so heartbreaking. And though I knew what Yoo Ryung did was going to have consequences my heart still goes out to her. Her breaking down as she saw the picture of her sister made me tear up.

Tale of Nokdu: I forgive this show for the twist cause it meant it gave me so many awesome female characters. I love these two episodes even as I hated those two. Almost every female character in this one is so awesome, I just love it. Did I mention I love this week's episodes cause I so do.

Extraordinary you: This show has so many questions but seems to have no answers but I haven't seen this week's episodes yet. I don't know about a satisfactory ending but I want a happy ones for the characters cause I'm just too invested in them.

@stroopwafel @bangwon

I was quite shocked by one person commenting on disqus. Here's what she wrote about Lee Jung-eun :

This episode feels like a filler. DB's mom is so annoying bcs of too much shouting. Also,for an actor her face is not pleasant to look at.
I saw her as the mother of one of the pupils in The Queen of Classroom,a korean remake of the 2005 Jap version. She doesn't have a pleasant face even when young. Therefore,I wasn't saying that people look ugly when they age. Not necessarily. I have met a lot of cute-looking old folks as I had done my fair share of charity work at homes for the aged.
One day,decades down the road I would also grow old if luck is on my side but hopefully I will look pleasant bcs looking pleasant opens lots of doors but some people think it's stupid to look pleasant LOL.
By the way,I agree she's a vg actor. Nowhere did I say she's not good. When we watch them carry their scenes and say their lines we know whether they are accomplished or otherwise. That's why it's a joy to watch veteran actors but I like pleasant-faced ones. Of course,there are also many unpleasant-looking veteran male actors around.

CAMELLIA BLOOMS: I never liked the serial killer plot line, and the double take ending did nothing to add to a very weak tangential story. I think this good show could have been excellent without the Joker elements. The cast gave their best performances in Episode 38. The trail to happy endings for all in the last two episodes seemed rushed and contrived. I would have liked more backstory on the market women: how did they become strong community leaders and their husbands weak and timid? That could have been a great contrast to DB's meek and timid character trying to fit into a new hometown.
PEGASUS MARKET (Ep 9): The ghost dad story was "magical" just like the rest of the show elements. The idea of corporate putting in a female suitor to love triangle introverted manager Moon could be crazy enough to work if he secretly dates both of them.
BEAUTIFUL LOVE, WONDERFUL LIFE: I wonder how long the writers can keep the house of cards of lies and secrets going when the series is past halfway to its end. Will filler episodes put viewers into their own comas?

Slim pickings for this week:
*Empress Ki, eps 23-28: this show is devolving into raging madness, and, after a slump, I'm on board again!

*My Country, eps. 13-14: ep. 12 broke my heart in a thousand pieces, 13 and 14 feel a bit like they are setting the pawns in place for the last show-down (yeah, your time is out, Crazy Hair), but Hwi and Sun ho seem to be stuck in a rut... I would appreciate it if they snapped out of it, but I'm loosing hope.

*Tale of Nokdu, eps 13-15: not so much cuteness and more political stuff, I'm glad that the cat is out of the bag for Nokdu and Dong-juu.

*War of Arrows (movie): @kiara I watched it! Enjoyed the fighting scenes and the strong female character, but overall it seemed a bit light on plot to me... But I felt super knowledgeable because I recognized the shooting technique from Empress Ki 😉. I will now move on to watch The King and the clown.

I'm expecting to finish My Country this week and get time to pick up again Six Flying Dragons, to get this story straight (and to bask in Yoo Ah In's charisma). Also have two Woo Do Hwan dramas on my to-watch list, Mad Dog and Save Me. I'll check them out sometime soon, when WDH's privation syndrom kicks in...

*TALE OF NOKDU: Enjoyed it so far but I kinda misses JDY on a women's clothes, from cross dressing to taking the throne.. I hope the ending will be good
*ANGEL LAST MISSION: It's really late but here I am watching the last episode by far and I gotta admit that it made me chopped my onions real hard,,, need to find a tissue cause I cried,,
*PSYCHOPATH DIARY: I'm hooked cause it's good... I'll wait for next week..

Tale of Nokdu The couple is ❤, the plot is 💤

Catch the Ghost The writer could write the female leads better.

Extraordinary You I'm very happy with this show. The love story was beautiful and pure, the existential questions were interesting, the film sets were so beautiful (indoor and outdoor), the literary and artistic references added some depth to the story, the casting was composed of rookies but they all did well (Kim Hye Yoon \o/) and the special effects were good.

Secret Boutique I pity the team working on this drama. So many postponed episodes killed the flow of the show.

Beautiful Love, Wonderful Life I'm happy that the ML knows the truth about the FL! But it's hard to follow who knows the all truth or not...

No Second Chances It's slow.

My Country: The New Age Father, brother... Family is complicated in this drama.

The Lies Within The police team suffered a lot...

Not Kdrama related, but I love Christmas period and I watched the animated movie Klaus (on Netflix) and it was magical!

Pegasus Market: 8.5

Vagabond: 7

When the Camellia Blooms: 7.5

Extraordinary You: 6.5

Leverage: 8

Tale of Nokdu: 7

Psychopath Diary: 2.3 I only lasted 23 minutes. See what I did there? May try again later if enough people praise it.

My Country: 6.5 Getting makjang-y. The approach to recruiting Jurchens is so hard to believe it drags down the show.

Catch the Ghost: 8.5 I have a sort-of love/hate relation to this show, or at least like/dislike. Mostly like the cases, the way they investigate and the way they use subway knowledge. Like talking about "subway" instead of "Subway". Dislike the FL's lies and the way people react to them (don't blame them for reacting that way, just don't enjoy watching it). Dislike the FL's personality, like the actress's performance. Dislike Ma-ri, her mother and the office politics. Etc.

Melting Me Softly: 4.5 I didn't hate most of it as much as many of you did... Besides plot messes, I suspect that reasons why this show got so much Beanie-hate include (1) the love triangle here included 2 women liking 1 man, while it Extra-U the triangles are 2 men for each girl, and (2) in this show the older woman lost because she was older and it didn't become a noona-romance show. But what if genders had been reversed and it had been older & younger men chasing a younger woman? How would Beanie-dom have reacted if the older man had won? What if the guy had suddenly become 20 years older instead of the woman?
The ending was not great, but also not as BS as I thought at the time, since they really are chilling dying people to buy time to treat them.

Psychopath Diary - I just caught the first episode of Psychopath Diary. I'm not sure what to make of it yet. It's darker than I expected for a first episode with lighter parts, that I'm not sure gel well with together. It raises the question about what makes a person what he is.

It's kind of frustrating to see so much self-interest being portrayed among all the persons in the ML's life. The increased manipulation, gaslighting and the taking of the opportunity to use ML once it is known that he has lost his memory is terrible to see.

Of course the set up is there so that if we engage with ML's character, we rather want him to be less apologetic and self-effacing and more in control of his own life, ... it's even tempting to want him to be a bit psychopathic for a change and get back at the people around him.

Yoon Si Yoon is at least very watchable in this.

Pegasus Market - Episode 10: still good and heart-warming. The disco did not amuse me as much as other song & dance numbers of previous episodes though, and I feel it's a bit over repeated, how poor Moon Seok Goo is left out of being told the full info on what's going to go down in the supermarket. He ends up laughing hysterically or sobbing by turns, in shock, most weeks.

I half expected Jung Bok Dong to hire his ex-employee, the way he hired the elderly gentleman. That would have assuaged both JBD's guilt and that ex-employee's plight.

However some serious conflict seems about to emerge in our penultimate episode, so that will be a change. I had rather hoped that more relationship progress would be made between female manager and MSG, but I'm glad to see him acknowledge her as someone close to him.

Catch the Ghost - A show with many implausible occurrences. I'd first thought that it was great to have competent police, but that idea went south with the forgetting of the important station key and with Ha Ma Ri behaving like an unhappy ex-GF at work. Still Kim Sun Ho and Moon Geun Young together are great to watch.

At last the truth is more or less all out and the consequences of Yoo Ryung's lies have to be dealt with next episode. I pity Ko Ji Seok the most, although he was at fault for not remembering to figure out how that station key vanished.

When the Camellia Blooms - Lovely to watch til the end. There was enough of comedy, romance, serious stuff and suspense, well meshed together, and with some of the most well rounded, interesting and likable characters in a kdrama. For its great completeness in the finale's resolution alone, if for nothing else, this show deserves an A+. I can't recall a show with as many characters as this, which offered 'real' and likely futures for all the major protagonists; which dotted all the 'I's and crossed all the 'T's in giving us a thorough wrap up to warm the cockles of our hearts. Bravo Camellia!

I want to try PSYCHO DIARIES even though I’m a scaredy cat (maybe as much as mushroom hair Yoon Shi Yoon).

I need to finish MY COUNTRY and am saving the last two episodes of ARSENAL MILITARY ACADEMY in case I need to recover from some bad finales.

-Completed-

EXTRAORDINARY YOU (16/16): In honour of A3, I’d like to commend Nam-joo for playing the typical kdrama lead to the end. He’s hilarious and strangely adorable in the way he fulfils all the cliches, down to shedding a single tear when he’s sad. He’s also helplessly clueless and therefore bossed around in Shadow world by Ju-da, who turned out to be more interesting than our heroine Dan-Oh.

I’d also like to declare that Do-Hwa and his violin shone the brightest when the story got bogged down with repetitive amnesia and angst. Baek Kyung was stuck in a love triangle that went nowhere for 6 episodes. I’m proud of him for finally breaking free of the pathetic villain role the Writer set up for him. (Except that was also allowed by the Writer so what’s the point).

Overall, I enjoyed the first half very much and still found a few things to enjoy afterwards (see above), but I can’t say I’d recommend the drama.

There were more laughs on PEGASUS MARKET but also more moments that brought tears to the eyes. We had the sweetest ghost story of all time. And who knew that the Bbaya could sing operatically? Mr. Pielleku showed real cleverness in dealing with Mr. Oh’s challenge- but then he and we discovered that there was far more depth to our former gangster. And the love story between Manager Moon and Ms. Jo moved forward (but will there be trouble in Paradise? A beautiful intern has just appeared)- while he again moved to save the day- but was also was taught a lesson in humility (history will call it the defenestration of Mr. Moon). This was an episode that showed us that Pegasus Market has indeed become a family. And this show is simply the best.

Finished Airing

REACH OF SINCERITY: There is going to be so much unnecessary angst ahead. (ep. 11)

Non-Korean Dramas

HISTORY3: MAKE OUR DAYS COUNT: Still fun. Not sure about the older/younger couple. I like both characters individually, but watching them together makes me a bit uncomfortable sometimes. The age gap is quite easy to see. Does anyone actually happen to know the age of these two actually? (ep. 9-12)

UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN THE SERIES: The main couple has still barely met… :( But seriously, both of these guys (in the present timeline) are really good at sad/crying scenes. And this might be the one drama I don’t mind a little bit of angst as well. I’m watching the next episode so, so hopefully they’ll interact a little more. Curious to see if hey’ll realize who the other is. (ep. 2)

hello all:-) this week i watched a few episodes from the following:
Tale of Nokdu
Flavor is yours
My Country
Put your head on my shoulders
Love 020
this week, i want to try watching VIP and after reading comments about When Camellia Blooms, maybe give it another try!
and lots of behind the scenes of Untamed on youtube (few repeats also)...this has been the my biggest deterrent from watching actual episodes of ongoing dramas LOL
i would also like to watch some good J dramas.

Based on comments, I won’t be finishing Extra Ordinary You. Sad, it started out funny, went squishy. I have issues with K drama writers. 🤨 Too many shows start off great , then run out of gas midway, then settle for mediocre finish. 😔

Watching Chief of Staff S2: Good cast, lots of loyalty changes, one minute folks are enemies, the next, they’re forming coalitions.

Russian drama Love in Chains has a second season, ( that explains why central characters are dying, 😦🤔😵), S2 has already aired in Russia, hope it makes it’s way to Amazon soon.

Haven’t watched much else

I agree with your thoughts on When the Camellia Blooms @stroopwafel!

I began watching this show because the color palette of the show drew me in, hehehe. The palette is sweet and somehow makes me feel nostalgic which I think is the intention of the show. There were many times I thought I didn't like some characters in the story, e.g., Jessica, the Ongsan ladies, but thankfully everyone helped Dongbaek in the end (cannot quite believe that thing like this will happen in reality.)

However, through ups and downs and many many sub-stories, the show came to the close. I love Yong shik and his quirkiness (if that's the word) and pure heart. I love how Dongbaek opened her heart to Hyang-mi until the very end. Most of all, I think the show portrays how mothers love their kids in their very own ways. The show really emphasized on the bond between mother and her kid(s). Look at how Yong shik's mother protected her boy, how Dongbaek's mother protected hers, how Dongbaek protect Pil-gu, how Jung Reol tried to protect Pil-gu and even how the father of the murderer tried to protect his son. The show is full of heart and is quite a delightful watch.

Extraordinary You: Sad to say goodbye to this show. I started off with mixed feelings about the ending, since it seemed so low-key and slice of life while the drama had been steeped in that eerie, mystery, fantasy feeling. I guess I expected some W-esque excitement. Later, I decided I liked it. In the end, the message is really about how precious free will is and how even if some things can't be changed, you should still seek your bliss and enjoy the moments of good fortune you do have. Sort of like how SooHyang decided to live out her extra role in Secret hanging out with Fried Squid Fairy instead of using it to exact revenge or change things. So the sweet, almost uneventful ending worked for me. The only thing that bugged me is that Kyung's younger brother had no point in the story.

Tale of Nokdu: Sageuk Cliff of Doom Death Fakeout strikes again! So many twists in this week's episode and so many bodies. The fighting got a bit tedious and Yool Moo and Hwang Tae were annoying, but so many interactions that really hit me in the gut - Nokdu reuniting with his mom, Dong-joo and Yoon-jo, and lastly the final confrontation between Nokdu and the king.

Catch the Ghost: Loved the first half of episode 9, but then it was heavy - both in mood and in how heavyhanded the writer is. The characters don't act like real, functional people, but this is balanced out a little bit by having the characters have feelings like real people. If we're going to have all these contrived situations, why not have Ji Seok move in with Yoo Ryung? It's been 2 weeks and we don't know here he lives! And Ma-Ri, I hope Subway Ghost gets her next.

Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung: This drama is like a warm cup of tea. Except for 2nd Councilor Min, all the characters have the opportunity to exhibit the goodness and humanity behind their foibles, flaws, and prejudices. Even Sa Hee's father, a terrible human, nurses her when she was sick and worries about her being under 2nd Counciler Min's thumb. I love how the female historians support each other.

The cold weather here puts me in a nostalgic mood—especially now that it's Cheesy Christmas Movie Season. For me, the season isn’t complete without a mix of classic holiday films and good Hallmark trash.

In kdramaland, I look forward to savoring Ep. 9 and 10 of Pegasus Market this weekend.

I'm late to the game but finally caught up with The Good Place's fourth season. I didn’t think it was possible to love Chidi more but this week’s fall finale proved me wrong. Also enjoying reading other people swooning over Manny Jacinto’s bone structure. Our beloved ding dong Florida dirtbag has inspired actual journalists to write thirsty posts under the guise of "journalism." See Glamour’s If Manny Jacinto’s Cheekbones Can’t Get You to Care About Climate Change, I Don’t Know What Can. While yesterday's NYTimes piece about Jacinto skydiving isn't (too) thirsty, the photography is very, very pleasing.

My problem with Extraordinary you is that I stopped caring about the characters after the initial episodes. The first six would always be my favorite in dramaland but they went downhill when the plot of her sickness and her triangle became the focus.
Gone are all her spunk and determination to get back at the writer. She also exudes too much aegyo that it made me cringe during her scenes with Haru when they started dating.
They trade the interesting premise with the usual cliche romance but they didn't even try to make it interesting.

Is it just me or When the Camellia Blooms has one of the most beautiful and wholesome ending? The show isn't without problems. I could have given a 9 just for the tackled theme and the casts, but watching Dong Baek is really tiring because she kept of breaking down. I didn't really mind it at first, but only after I re-watched It's Okay That's Love (for the X time) that I had a dislike for her crying on episode 33-34, 35-36, and I no longer can cry when she's being sad on the last two episodes.
Their reaction to Joker also felt out of place? He's a serial murderer but their reaction was a bit too comical for me. Also, when that Hyang Mi event happened (won't spoil it in case you have not watched), I felt that everyone's reaction were off, and when Dong Baek cried I couldn't really feel her sadness.
The arc where Pil Gu doesn't want her to marry also felt a bit messy. It's an important moment for both son and the mom, and I wish they had shown her trying to give Pil Gu understanding. I think it's implied a lot, but it's just too bad that the emotional moments wasn't shown, especially when he finally accept Yong Shik.
Overall I love my experience with this show. It's beautiful, and I'd say pretty unique for its genre. The characters' dynamic and interaction are the best part of the show for me.

Tale of Nokdu: 💗💗 One more week of crazy King.... Sook and her gang are awesome! But that's no secret.
When the Camellia Blooms: 💗💗💗 I will miss Ongsan and Yong Sik. The show wrapped up a little too nicely, but that's okay. As Yong Sik said, "I believe you".
Extraordinary You: 💗 I finished.
Secret Boutique: 💗💗💗 That confrontation between Jenny and evil Chairwoman was riveting. My blood boiled at evil witch's audacity. I hope she burns in hell. SOON. RIGHT. NOW. 😡
Psychopath Diary: 💗 Still on the fence on this one. I like the first two episodes enough, but they are mostly set up. Will give this another week to decide.
Pegasus Market: 💗💗💗 I love that scene with Bok Dong and Kwon. They have such an interesting relationship. I am amazed week by week on how Pegasus Market is able to maintain its level of absurdity and humor and pads it with that much heart-tu. 😘
My Country: 💗💗 The last two episodes.... I was 🤬🤬 at the writer.

I finished 3 dramas this week and enter into Errand Boyhood also known as limboland here in DB, so I feel accomplished. 😁

When the camelia blooms: am one-week behind on this, but I felt kinda disappointed by the while Joker redolution. I still have no ides why Joker specifically targeted DB, and the explanations given so far have not convinced me. Am really hoping the ladt 2 episodes will make me feel better abt that. Overall tho, I feel I liked this drama, which to me is more slice-of-life than thriller.

Tale of Nokdu: behind on this as well, and wonder if I will eventually catch up 🤔. I find it slow and for some reason, I am becoming impatient with Dong Joo's character, idk if it's KSH acting or the way she is written. For now, am following through the recaps.

Because I'm a sucker for punishment I decided to sit through all 24 episodes of the old series Goong (Princess Hours). Man, that was one slow-paced series! I could imagine the actors filming scenes and the director behind the camera making hand gestures telling them to "stretch it ooooouuuuut..."

Pegasus Market 8.7
Me, I also like that this show is crazy and unpredictable, and warm and different. But I am scared that it is only left two episodes which won't be enough to solve everything. It is a show with too many characters. That is a good thing, but it leaves us also with not enough time to give them all a resolution... Let's see what happens next

This is the only drama I am watching. I haven't Breen able to put myself into the torture of watching something I don't like, and I haven't had time to finish dramas on hold.

Nevertheless I have watched half of the first episode of Live!!! Finally!!!
I know that one is good. Looking forward to read @Ally's blog about it. 😊