Start Up. I’m still liking it, but please, can we have some development in female characters? Am I asking for too much? Can they not be stereotypes: DalMi the sweet Candy with a heart of a lion? InJae the cold chaebol who hasn’t have a heart? Halmoni the ever understanding good granny that can bear anything? Mum the woman who sold her soul for money?

As I didn’t get enough Kim Su Hun I decided to watch You drive me crazy which is just two episodes and in which he is just adorable and cute and sweet and… everything! It’s a fluffy short drama that put a big smile on my face. Even so, I wasn’t really comfortable with a FL drunk lady making up with a sober ML.

Search. I’m loving this so, so, so much. We have a triple childhood connection - no connection and I really like that the zombie-wolf-soldier has been killed for good. I’m trusting Cap. Shin and Lt. Lee can team up with Sg. Yong to uncover the 1997 events. I trust them three, there have been issues on the three of them, but they are honest and I don’t think any of them will be quiet when they learn the truth.

Kairos. I don’t know how the show will be able to keep the pace. OMG! So many things happening on every episode! The theories on episode 2 are old by episode 4. Our poor AeRi is being saved every day from dying. Our SeoJin is fighting so hard to save his child and wife, unbeknown of her betrayal. Now I think wife is not dead, and has never been dead and she’s the one who plots everything to get rid of SeoJin. I trust the chauffeur even if he looks suspicious: he’s the one who gave SeoJin AeRi’s phone.

Birthcare center. Yes to this show: women not being perfect and fighting because they have to be. I love the cranky sense of humor. I’m just being very patient with Viki and the subs...

Tale of the Nine Tailed. Distracting foxes are going to be the end of me. Sassy distracting fox, guilty distracting fox, cute distracting fox couple. I could rewatch episode 9 endlessly. Jia reminded me of Buffy in Normal again and her fight to believe she could have a normal life… @sirena when I was watching I couldn’t help but thinking about you.

Six Flying Dragons. Well, a 50 eps drama has another rhythm, that’s for sure. Still with character’s introduction. Politics are a bit hard to follow, and I keep checking information to try to better understand the historical moment, which makes me stop every episode several times, making the watching slower. My knowledge of history is too European centered, so I get lost very easily.

Start-Up: So many things happened last week. The contrast between Dal-mi and In-jae's leadership was interesting, though it probably would boil down to the quality of their people in the long run?

Tale Of The Nine-Tailed: Episodes 9 and 10 were soooo good! Nice twist on Ah-eum's death, she was smart and badass even back then.

The Spies Who Loved Me: lol @ seeing Ji-hoon and Derek who are spies at the top of their game quickly turn petty over Ah-reum. Our girl would probably solve Sophie's death on her own at this point 🤣

More Than Friends: Young-hee and Hyun-jae's relationship is interesting with YH burdened by her poverty and HJ still trying to get past her walls even after 10 years of dating. Jin-joo is so clueless that Sang-hyuk likes her lol.

As for the main leads, uhhh...

Kairos: Woof, we are in it now. Cheating wife, suspicious boss and subordinate. This drama is all about tension and it is delivering beautifully. No one believes wife is dead and no one believes daughter is dead, the question is where are they?

Penthouse: This show gets worse and worse, but in the best way. There is no singular way they could have cleaned up that mess by themselves. that being said I am sad she died. The question is who did it? I'm thinking that super shifty maid or one of the kids. Also who is guessing the boy twin falls for our poor girl?

Birthcare center: Tonal whiplash. I don't like it. I hope they pick a tone, otherwise I will quit even though it is only 8 episodes.

JAPAN -

Maidens in Savage Season - 7/10 - Writer has much from source but limited time so fastening things up. Yamada Anna.

We Married As a Job - NigeHaji - January 2021 Special Episode. yes yes yes. I shared this news a month ago on Mydramalist

Yuru Camp - Season 2 - 2021 - yes.

Yayoi March - 6/10 - Japanese movie.

Alice in Borderland - starting soon on Netflix. Kento with Tao.

18 Again (Episode 13-14)
Watching Ji Hoon’s arc has been a rollercoaster ride for me from playboy to single parent to romantic interest: now, we have this accident story which I’m dreading will be used as the conflict in the finale. This show has surprised me with a lot of fake-outs (for example the stalker) and I’m appealing to the writer to do just that: it even appears to me that part of the conversation between Dae Young and Ji Hoon containing the truth behind the accident was cut. I also hope that the rest of the family (and Hye In ssaem, for Duk Jin’s sake) get to learn the truth: the reactions will be a comedy mine.

Birthcare Center (Episode 1-2)
I’ve been really hyped up for this show given its 8-episode count and fresh concept (The cast is great too: I won’t mind more Yoon Park on my screen!): fortunately, the premiere has assured me that it was the right choice to watch it. Maybe its just me but I find it weirdly hilarious that Do Yoon is also undergoing a separate course on Daddying 101: I was only expecting Mommying 101 from the promos! (Although his mentor has left so I guess its over) It’s interesting to see how Roo Da’s entrance may disrupt the hierarchy and whether it will influence Hyun Jin into not submitting as well.

Search (Episode 5-6)
So, I’m supposed to believe that the camcorder still works after 20+ years and that it has somehow magically found its way into the village in one piece? Not only that, it gets passed along until it reaches Dong Jin and he’s the one who got to see the footage? I’m not sure I buy that, Show! I honestly feel bad for the Sniper: he’s the only one with a non-shady phone call but that marriage comment probably doomed his fate (seriously though Writer: don’t kill him I beg you). I’m disappointed that the 1997 conspiracy will be part of the climax but I guess with both leads’ past it was just inevitable.

Start-Up (Episode 5-6)
Ah, I see what the writer is doing there: make In Jae the despicable 2nd female lead who purposely antagonises Dal Mi and steals her childhood memory so that we’ll have no issue rooting for Dal Mi’s success. The same thing is happening to the male leads with Do San being this guy with untapped potential and is actually a genius (let me roll my eyes) who suffers from the rude judgement of the haughty Ji Pyung despite being a sweetheart. In other news, Grandma’s eyes is an unoriginal development that prolongs the misunderstanding while Revenge Guy is another drag on the overall story.

Also watching:
- Private Lives (Episode 9-10)
- The Spies Who Loved Me (Episode 5-6)
- More Than Friends (Episode 9-10)
- Tale of the Nine Tailed (Episode 9-10)

Kairos No time for our brains to rest, the plot is advancing at high speed.

Birthcare Center It's weird but the themes are very interesting and realistic.

Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol I'm watching it for Ha-Young and Seung-Ki, they're super cute together.

Tale of the Nine Tailed Yeon is finally becoming serious about Imoogi.

The Spies Who Loved Me Only one episode this week :( The diner with the trio was so funny. The actors are doing a great job. I like the OST.

More Than Friends I don't understand the FL... I hoped the writer would choose the interesting road and not the KDramaesque one.

Search Too many villains and not enough people who actually know what they're doing.

Start-Up I can't like Do-San's romantic side as long as Dal-Mi doesn't know the truth about the letters. Every move he makes about Dal-Mi sounds opportunist for me. Halmoni should have said the truth since a long time because it affects Dal-Mi, Do-San and Ji-Pyeong. I want to hug Ji-Pyeong is so lonely talking to his AI :(

This week I got disappointed with LalaLand (why is so much time given to the Stalker (and all that makjang around)? Why is the Stalker even there???)... and a bit with Startup (why did they make Injae to be such a villainess??).

More than Friends, slowly catching up - it sooooo reminds me of my college days and some painful relationships I had then... I'm mainly rooting for the heroine to find herself (and be successful in her job).

Homemade Love Story, watching time to time - nothing special, but sometimes I need something easy before sleep... and I like the actors there.

Nee-chan no Kobito - interesting first episode. Though I do have a bit of problem with the main actress as I watched Chugakusei Nikki fairly recently and Hijiri definitely wasn't my favourite heroine of the year...

Kono Koi Atatamemasuka - I surprisingly like nearly every character there. And what a totally different character for the main actor who I lastly saw in Nagi's Vacation...😁

And... I'm also impatiently waiting for the final episode of an Adrama 😉, live action, but also a thriller apparently... today? Or tomorrow? Fingers crossed...

Airing:
1. My dangerous wife: Eps 9-10 Crazy fun for some reason.
2. Search: Eps 1-4 Fine so far.
3. Start up: Eps 3-4 Somehow less enjoyable than I expected it to be or maybe because I spoiled myself through Tumblr.
4. Kairos: Ep 1 Good. Hope it doesn't disappoint.
Tale of the nine tailed: Eps 8 Not really sure how I feel about Rang.

Older:
1. Six Flying dragons: Ep 1 I haven't even got through my other 50ish ep drama I hope I can finish this.

Birthcare Center: 7.6???? OMG! S. Korea's birth rate is already worrisomely low. I fear the first half hour of this will drive it down to zero. Score is about 9+ for acting, story and "how good it is" but only about a 6.5 for "how much I like it".

Startup: 7.7 I'm not too sure why it should have been such a big deal whether an AI intended to detect forged (handwritten) signatures could correctly handle a computer font intended to resemble handwriting. I'm not even sure what would be "correct". Maybe the subs left something out??

Fly Dragon / Delayed Justice: 6.0 Kinda fun at first, but just halfway thru day 2 it was already looking like just an over-acted copy of 800,000 other underdog/legal kdramas.

Kairos: 5.0 Sorry. I have lost faith in the writer's ability to juggle timelines or do anything creative with the cool time gimmick.
And if they keep trying to kill off the 30-days-behind FL, no worries -- if they get her the ML can just robo-dial every phone in Korea until he gets an answer from someone 60 days behind.

Tale of the 9-Tailed: 7.4 When I see juice-pusher lady here I can't help thinking of other kdrama juice pushers and then I get mental whiplash. #intothering

Spies Who Loved Me: 6.5 Just spinning it's wheels this week.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed: this week’s episodes were the best yet. In related news, I will be calling my sisters this weekend to tell them I love them. Also, Lee Dong-wook, just…yes. 👌🦊

Search: binged a bunch last weekend and am nearly caught up. When I think about it objectively, I can see that at times it strains the bounds of credibility, but you don’t really notice when you’re watching. I like the dynamic Krystal and Jang Dong-yoon create, though I can’t shake Krystal’s Mu-ra from Bride of Habaek from my mind. I’m really enjoying this and kind of wish it wasn’t only 10 episodes.

Goblin: please don’t hate me, I had never watched this because I generally don’t go in for fantasy. But I realized I wanted more LDW in my life, and Goblin being the altar upon which all k-drama lovers worship, I am now on episode 4 and now I get it, guys! I think I actually love the bromance the best right now. The whole thing should feel so ridiculous, but it doesn’t – how do they do that?!

Hospital Ship: stumbled upon this in my Netflix list. Ha Ji-won plays ice-cold reserve fantastically well, so when she smiles it’s astonishing. An easy watch, a loveable ensemble cast of characters, and a slew of medical emergency miracles about as believable as the Easter Bunny – perfect for US election week distraction. Sped through all 20 eps with judicious use of the FF button and suspended disbelief.

Also: can someone please tell me how y'all do bold text? I cannot for the life of me figure it out.

MY DANGEROUS WIFE: This has turned into a fast relay race with tropes as the baton. The tangled web now with the secondary characters is unbelievable; the dangerous "wives" now include cop writer wife and contract marriage house husband neighbor. If you put too much stuff in a blender, in the end do you get something palatable?
TALE OF THE NINE TAILED: I agree with those who think the Yeon-Jia romance is weak. Despite the premise, Jia is not Ah-eum. I fail to grasp why k-characters always fall into the trap about re-living their past life. Jia is a human with a serpent possessing part of her (which she has yet to realize or Yeon to fully grasp). The imoogi wants Yeon's body in order to marry Jia to somehow become complete? That is one strange, possessive love triangle.
Variety:
HOW DO YOU PLAY? The wind down of the Refund Sisters seems anti-climactic. Is it really true that Lee Hyori plans to take 5 years off in order to start a family?
PROBLEM CHILD IN THE HOUSE: News broke after the last episode that host Jeong Hyeong-don is taking a hiatus due to a reoccurring anxiety disorder.

Start-Up

Argh. This drama is pissing me off. I watched today’s episode and I haven’t hated Do San as much as I do now. I wanted him to come clean about the letters and instead he tries to turn Ji Pyeong away from Dal Mi when he specifically knows that only because of JP was he able to meet DM. DS is made to be so naive and stupid with a genius engineering mind which I still can’t get behind. This is one of those rare moments where I can’t even have sympathy for someone this stupid and opportunistic. Yes, that’s what DS is to me. He doesn’t come clean with the letters not because he wants to make halmoni happy, cause come on, Halmoni LOVES JP. So much, obviously. So Halmoni just tells him not to tell Dal Mi about the eye thing (which made me roll my eyes, cause come on, can’t a character go away without dying or having an incurable disease or something?). Argh I want to give JP a hug. Because he is hurting so much. Even if he doesn’t show it. I want JP to get the girl, save his family and be happy for the first time in his life. I think the only moment I saw him smile was when he was watching DM in the bus stand laughing to herself. Okay I admit, I’m starting to like DM a bit but I DONT LIKE HER WITH DS !!! I’m sorry but I’m not shipping them. At all. What happened today.. the last few minutes pissed me off so much.

Also what’s this bullshit with In Jae? I finally liked a girl here more than the female lead and you make her sly and conniving, Show? What a twist. Lol. I’m still digesting the fact that they made such a character who could have such an interesting arc something so stupid. Wasted character, I say. In Jae would’ve moved heaven and hell for Dal Mi when they were small and now she’s stealing Dal Mi’s spot. Poor poor very poor character development. Basically cruel. I’m watching this show only for Mr. Dimples so I guess there will be so much to skip or fast forward from today’s episode onward cuz Ji Pyeon gets like 0.3% time on screen.

I’m not even sorry for yelling.

Do Do Sol: So she finds out about the age thing and is upset. Joon goes home. All the other stuff was just filler. C'mon writer, do better.

I am determined to jump back into 9 Tailed Fox this week.

C-drama: General's Wife: I started though I have heard that fans of the book think the comedic tone of the drama is all wrong. The joy of not reading these books is that I am not always saying, the book is better. I have enough of that experience so I feel their pain.

Disney - The Mandalorian- My family talked me into watching season 1 so we could watch season 2 together. Within the first five minutes of S1's first episode, I told my husband, "So basically this is a Western". Yup it is but enjoyable nonetheless, and it is getting all too rare to find something we can sit down and enjoy together.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed 9-10: Absolutely too emotional this week including Ah-eum's death (but I hope Ah-eum will having a mysterious comeback soon). During the distracted foxes scene, this was one of my favorite TotNT moments because of my wasted addiction of CGIs and SFXs... so I felt TotNT was kinda looked like will reaching into the climatic final fights during the final two weeks so I'm bracing for so many foxes of doom up to final episode.

Start-Up 5-6: I loved the episode six (Key Man)'s mysterious ending that I kept guessing and figuring it out who's behind the hooded person who plotted to revenge Sansan director Sun-hak (let's hope to kill her). I might think it coulda be a villain or school dropout or a hacker. Hmmmmm...

Delayed Justice/Fly Dragon 1-2: This was a good humorous show where I gonna cry for the next episodes' childhood memories to unbreaking my heart with a lot of funny and best friendships, a slice of fitting bromances, an escapable little number of villains and of course a confusing crime cases. I gonna look forward for my good luck on solving the funny problems.

Kairos 3-4: My tears still flowing episode after episode... due to many emotional time-travel so I need more emotional scenes until the final episode plus I want more outstanding action scenes that Shin Sung-rok can do for himself. Good luck for more SSR action scenes and I'm excited to see more of his great voices.

Birthcare Center 1-2: I wonder who is Mr. Graham... he's a male foreigner when he sees a mothers from the Birthcare Center residences? I'm confused him...
On the other hand, Birthcare Center should be ended with dramedy with too much fun of getting the easiest scenes. Ahhh... thank God, I now on a quick relief because of so many comfortable mothers across Birthcare Center hotel rooms.

Penthouse 3-4: I love the opera scenes and a fireworks scenes but fortunately, there were sextet that began a lot of society wars and I hope the war will be ongoing to the end of Penthouse. Party scenes were glamorous and elegant but I loved the expensive props and even shiny mens suits. I still having like an easiest relaxation here in titular place until the end of this show.

Private Lives 9-10: Mr. and Mrs. Smith-like reunion was one of my greatest Private Lives moments. There were now five swindlers and before that, I liked the fighting scenes and of course, the politicians so I hope there'll be a fiercest showdowns between the swindlers and the governmental people during the final weeks ahead.

Start Up: I love Do San's character, mainly because I haven't seen any character like him in kdramas or even elsewhere. I like Do San, I like Dal Mi but I dont like them as a couple (yet). Also show I'm taking a chance having faith in you, so please dont turnyour female characters into caricatures. Explore In Jae, you have character growth jackpot right there.
Tale of the Nine Tailed: Best week since its debut week. Restored my faith in this show. Also really liked how it emphasises on helping yourself out cause no one can do it for you

Reply 1988 (18/20):@sc325 I underestimated No-Eul. He is the cute dongsaeng yes, but he also catches on quickly, has an amazing voice, and college gave him abs and a nice haircut.😍My sun only has the vocal part down, but singing Stevie Wonder makes more than up for it!☀️❤️The time skip did wonders for appearances and relationships of many characters. Jung-Bong and Mi-Ok lost touch but found each other again, the Taek and Sun-Woo households merged into a warm family and Jin-Joo makes sure that everybody walks in line.💪 It was also nice to see Trash Oppa again.❤️What stood out for me these last few episodes is how sacred watching movies together is to our guys. Ever seen a group of guys voluntarily cuddle up under pink blankets to watch ‘Dirty Dancing’ together without a female nearby to blame it on?😆They were more awkward to watch ‘Forrest Gump’ together in public, but still. The most relatable thing however, is meeting up with friends and unanimously deciding to nap on the spot, because life is that exhausting.😆

I watched all the 6 available episodes of Search last weekend because it was Halloween and even though some of the plot left me scratching my head, Jang Dong-Yoon and Krystal are great, and I love the side characters.

Because it dropped on Netflix, I binged VIP and ended up loving it. Not least of all because it's got Jang Na-ra riding a motorcycle. In all seriousness, it took me a few episodes to get into it but then I was hooked and I loved how all the stories played out. The female characters take centre stage and I enjoyed how multi-faceted they all are

Still keeping up with 18 Again and Private Lives even though I'm enjoying both these dramas less this week than in previous weeks.

I'm also watching a couple of Jdramas, a shortish 2013 drama called Bread and Soup and Cat weather which is delightful (and about exactly what it sounds like) and Neechan no Koibito

Start Up

I’m pissed at In Jae’s stepdad and stepbrother rn. So this was the family she and her mom chose over staying with Dalmi and her dad?! It’s all about the money with them, ain’t it? Writer-nim, I need redemption arc for InJae; her character has so much potential.

18 Again

I can’t with the bankbook and the milestones. I just can’t. 😭

Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol: The dreaded separation and truth reveal happened sooner than I expected. My heart is breaking for those two. Every week I fall more and more in love with entire Eunpo crew - them all volunteering to get Jae-min ready for his competition, them cheering him on when he couldn't play, and the following beef dinner (the dialogue + feeding each other). Just all encapsulate the drama's warmth. I like how they don't get upset at each other for long and support each other. Glad stalker got put in the hospital and will be put away.

Tale of the Gumiho (only up to episode 9): What a fun and at the same time, emotional, episode! I loved how Ji-ah figured out everything and saved herself (though the drama tried to low-key insert Yeon in there with a phone call that had no useful info.). And the way Yeon tricked that terrible [forgot her name, lol!] was awesome. Even though I knew Yeon was luring her, it was still so satisfying to watch.

This week only got to catch up with 9 Tailed and 18 Again. Pretty happy about both! The former is delivering lots of Feels, pretty in abundance and Korean creepy mythology. And Lee Rang! Unfortunately, no Puppy Boy this week 🙁
18A keeps on going strong and delivering lots of cute and Feels.
Not going to lie, I don't think neither is going to get my beans by the end of the year, but they're two pretty solid dramas!
Also got caught up with Stove League! On episode 7 now. Solid writing and a great FL! I have absolutely no idea about baseball, when they start talking stats and strikes it's all gibberish to me, but I never imagined I'd enjoy so much a sports drama

This week I only watched

Foxy Gumihos - I tend to rave about this in the recaps enough, I guess. But let me take the opportunity to highlight another thing that I really love about this show - the soundtrack. The music (especially that theme music that accompanies major events in the past between the OTP) is just as epic as LDW's visuals.

Do Do Sol Sol... - Hmm. I think I will stick with it till the end, even though I don't think I will give it another thought about this after that.

Kairos - Watched a little bit further (half of Episode 3ish), but somehow this week had enough tension as it is. Not sure if my nerves can handle this right now.

What more can I say for START-UP- It is simply fabulous. I think that even more than Do-san and Dal-mi getting together and Ji-pyeong getting a family (which has already happened) that the sisters will be reconciled and there may be secondary romances as well. I think that the revenge stalker subplot is intended as a catalyst for much of the rest.

TALE OF THE NINE-TAILED continues to enthrall. It is just that good. I do like a good fantasy and my wife loves this show.

My wife finished the C-drama ETERNAL LOVE and is now watching the spin-off THREE LIVES, THREE WORLDS.

DO DO SOL SOL LA LA SOL continues to be fun, but took a heavy turn this week, as I expected- last time I said “buckle up” for a reason. We had a truly angsty turn at episode 9 of DO YOU LIKE BRAHMS? And this week we had the same in DO DO SOL SOL LA LA SOL. I hope we don’t get that deep and I doubt that we will- this show was intended to be comedy not melo. I would note that at some point we will need to re-solve the issue of Ra-ra’s fathers secretary having embezzled the entire company- and that will probably come at the end of the story.

We have had our first big birth secret reveal in the weekender HOMEMADE LOVE STORY- but with only hints as to why it happened. Expect fireworks.