I’m so weak! What a great recap, it actually makes me want to re-watch the show and TRY not to be so invested in the characters. Gahhh. I read the top post currently on her blog and I really hope that she is okay now. Cancer is a horrible battle to have to fight.

Don’t be so hard on yourself. This type of dramas are supposed to make us all worked up. There’s a good reason why Baker King was one of the highest rated dramas ever. I watched it when I just got into kdramas and I marathoned the entire thing in less than a week although I smacked my head on the table a lot, LOL!

Yeah, I loved to read Thundie’s blog. She had such a great sense of humor. I tried to find out if there’s any updates but sadly none. I hope she recovered and her absence is because she retired from blogging.

Yes to your first point. That’s a reason why I’m not overly fond of Candy-type characters, except for a few portrayals where the actresses managed to add something more to the role they play, making it less stereotypical and more interesting. Other than that, I notice that most actresses would produce more or less the same type of acting to portray that type of character, among them the typical dear-in-headlight look, silence or stuttering to drive home the point that the heroine is confused and naive when it comes to dealing with, or expressing her own feelings. It doesn’t help that the writing would not give them lines as opposed to their male counterpart in those moments. I think I have developed some kind of allergy to that specific way of writing and portraying Candy-type characters too.

I agree with you that the actresses tend to get the short end of the stick. I don’t think PBG deserves more recognition than KYJ, even though I like him very much as a result of Hello Monster and Reply 1988. I think the way heroines are often written in Kdramas don’t give the actress the chance to shine. In a sageuk where both the male and female leads are written to be equally smart and interesting I bet my money that PBG wouldn’t hold a candle next to KYJ.

Talk about acting, I am very sensitive to stock expressions. For example, sad = furrowed brows + downturn mouth, Shocked = wide eyes etc.
I guess this is part of your description of ‘same type of acting’
I have seen enough of some actors’ works to predict how he/she will act in a certain scene. While I think it is unavoidable to a certain extent, some actors are very good in that their expressions are natural so you can’t really pigeon hole their expressions.
PBG has a very expressive face which he puts to good use. While I think he’s a very good actor for his age, there is something missing in his acting. I haven’t been able to pin point it or put it in words. If I have to describe it, I’d say he is a little too ‘technical’.

Yas! Stock expressions it is. I’m not a native English speaker so my vocab is limited XD.

Re. PBG, I know what you mean. The role I’ve been feeling the most from him is his Taek in Reply 1988, especially when it comes to the friendship and father-son relationship. When I read the BTS description of how he would easily be moved to tears during the birthday scene for Taek and every other guy handed tissue to him I knew why I felt so much for his character, because the character shared part of himself too, so he actually ‘was’ Taek most of the time. I didn’t get that feeling watching him in Hello Monster and Moonlight. Yet I still love him in Hello Monster for his relationship with his hyung.

It’s more difficult to surprise viewers when one repeatedly plays a certain type of character in which one is typecast. Too bad not many actors are willing to step out of their comfort zone. It’s even worse for actresses because the writing keeps recycling the same stock characters all over again. The Candy type would always be the forgiving, kind, clueless; and the jealous second female lead would almost always be petty or vindictive.

While we’re at it, let me rant some more. I changed from liking Kim Soo Hyun to being neutral to him now and I’m even allergic to his crying. It wasn’t a problem in Moon-Sun though I thought it was a little excessive, but it was the last straw for me in You From Another Star, during one of the epilogues where he covered his mouth and sobbed. Him turning me away from a drama was the last thing I’d expect but somehow it happened.

Ssssssssssssssssssssshhh….don’t tell anyone, I am not a KSH fan. Also, I was contemplating posting a Anti-Crying Face comment on my fanwall. No prize for guessing which actors will be featured. I’ll probably be skinned alive because they are beloved actors amongst beanies here.

PBG is not the actor with a crying face, he has no problem with it. I can tell he’s the type who can turn on the tap effortlessly and look very natural. My other issue with PBG is that he seems to have a lot of undercurrent emotions even when the scene doesn’t call for it. Sounds weird, right? Hahaha, I still think he’s much better than many actors. He just needs to have a bit more control and know when less is more. Yup, that’s my mantra – Less Is More. Something which some actors can’t grasp.

Yeah, I thought of posting that crying scene in the YFAS epilogue here but thought better of it. I’d be skinned alive too, lol XD.

You might have some reason in your verdict of PBG’s acting. I’m not informed enough to form an opinion (i.e. either agree or disagree with you) re. his undercurrent emotions, but I can understand when you say that you feel he’s sometimes more on the ‘technical’ side.

I’m not sure whether over-the-top acting (yelling, excessive crying, playing dumb/ naive/ innocent etc) is a ‘style’ that many PD and actors/ actresses prefer. I’m by no means a veteran in Kdrama watching, but within my limited watching experience it’s rather rare to find subtle and effective acting in many Kdramas.

I started watching kdramas around 2011. At first, I wasn’t so discerning but gradually I have come to appreciate more subtle and nuanced acting. Generally I like actors who aren’t vain. By that I mean they don’t care how they look on camera. Acting is a lot more technical than we think, lots of considerations for angles etc etc. So kudos to those who despite of all these considerations can still totally immersed themselves, don’t have any self consciousness and deliver.

You are spot on about PD, actors themselves and even the audience liking a certain style. Often, I find knetz too critical or rather I should say prejudice against certain actors. Sadly again, actresses in this aspect outnumber actors. On the flip side, they don’t critic enough certain actors. There is a particular actor who is very popular but in my aspect can’t really act. Yet, it has mostly been nothing but high praises for his wonderful acting. Okay, maybe it’s not really the knetz here but his international fans. Oh my, if you read their fangirling, you’d think he can move mountains and save the universe with his awesome talent, LOL. Anyway, it got me thinking – how can this chap ever learn if all he sees these deluded praises? Of course, I thought the professionals like PD might be more honest. Judging by how well he’s been improving, I think it’s not happening either, hahaha.

True that, I do think that the Naver/ Nate populations seem to be brutal to certain actors/ actresses while tend to be more forgiving to some.

I guess it certainly has something to do with personal preference for certain acting styles. I can’t get into certain actors’/ actresses’ acting while they seem to be very popular among many international fans, so I know what you mean.

Even among people within the industry, I wonder how critical/ straightforward they can be when it comes to acting weaknesses. I have been reading articles where the PD praises the actors/ actresses and some fans base their arguments on those praises, saying that since they come from professionals they are credible, but I think a lot of it is diplomatic. I really don’t think, for example, that any PD would say into Suzy’s face in front of her co-stars that she’s not doing a good job, though they might agree among themselves that she is not cut out for most of her roles.

I personally believe that even the most talented actors would have projects or moments where they have less than impressive performances. It takes a lot for a fan to admit to it if they really see it and I have lots of respect for those who wouldn’t sugarcoat subpar acting just because it’s from their bias.

just want to point out something before I continue..when I say actors – I usually mean male & female. I am that lazy 😜. Anyway, I too am not a native English speaker. My mother tongue is even worse, hahaha.

Back to our topic…I’d never believe those articles. They are obviously just promotional materials at best. I can even fake write one 😄.

I find that certain actors tend to attract fanatic fans who worship everything they do and think they are above any criticisms. While there’s fangirling on DB and I do it for fun anyway, it’s a lot more pronounced elsewhere. Just look at soompi, I roll my eyes so many times reading some of those comments. I have to say I admire their energy.

Lol I guess I’ve got too much energy today to distinguish between actors and actresses, but I get what you mean haha XD.

Soompi has turned into a fansite tbh, to the point that you’ll have to carefully word your criticism so that you would be on everyone’s good side. I find it hilarious when they say they want to boycott DB whenever their favourite show is criticised, but wouldn’t say a thing when another show is highly praised. Ruler – 7DQ is the most recent example.

On soompi, you must be aware of certain threads. Things can get quite nasty. I am no longer active there and most of the time, I just lurk and read. Thankfully, dramas that I like seldom have fanatic fans. Just look at my current dramas – MSG, Circle, Lookout, SDQ, Duel. These dramas don’t have many pages on soompi.

I’ve gone into lurk mode too. I mainly go there for OST and rating updates now most of the time, or to see if there are recaps when they’re not yet available on DB.

Btw, I’m waiting for 7DQ’s today episode. Just saying that Nanny gets me every time with her attitude – I love her lol. I’ll reserve everything else until later. Hope the recap will be posted soon tomorrow so we can continue our discussion XD.