Once again, I’m thrilled to have Dahee Fanel guest-posting her thoughts on a drama — in this case, KBS’s recently ended Wednesday-Thursday drama Accidental Couple, aka Just Looking aka That Fool. It’s always a pleasure, Dahee! –javabeans

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Judy Garland – “Over the Rainbow.” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Accidental Couple: A review (1,658 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2009. | Permalink | 50 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Accidental Couple, Baek Sung-hyun, guest bloggers, Hwang Jung-min, Kim Ah-joong

The K-drama world rolled into 2008 still riding the high that was 2007, a year in which a startling number of quality dramas were made, and enjoyed. Maybe it rolled in too fast. It ended up getting smothered by the waves of its previous success. In fact, you could say that it even got hit on the head by a stray surfboard, and sunk to the bottom of the ocean.

Depressing enough intro for ya?

But seriously, 2008 was a dark year for the K-entertainment industry, with not only dramas, but also movies suffering and generally showing poor quality. And not only that, but the economy went kablooie, and we suffered a sobering amount of tragic K-celebrity news.

Personally, this was a supremely frustrating year for a longtime and devoted K-drama fan like me. Before this year, I always gave dramas the benefit of the doubt, and would usually watch at least a certain number of episodes before I passed judgment on them, and decided to continue or discontinue watching. But this year, with every stomach-churning dud, I became more and more impatient, and started going through drama episodes like a vulture searching for roadkill. And boy, did I find a lot of roadkill.

I’m pretty sure 2008 was a record year for me in terms of abandoning dramas. And to think that I used to be the girl who would finish every drama she started, no matter how bad or how boring they were! But the older I get, the less patience I have, and the more critical I become. Besides, I’ve now realized just how precious my time really is. I don’t want to waste it on useless pap, thankyouverymuch.

Still, despite all that, there were a small handful of quality dramas this year. None of them quite matched the heights of some of the dramas of 2007, but still, any kind of quality was more than welcome in this gloomy year.

SONG OF THE DAY

La Dolce Vita – “사랑 꽃” (Love Flower) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Dahee Fanel’s 2008 Review [Year in Review, Part 3] (4,255 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 57 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: A Star's Lover, Beethoven Virus, East of Eden, guest bloggers, I Love You, Iljimae, Kingdom of Wind, La Dolce Vita, My Sweet Seoul, On Air, Rivals, Spotlight, Strongest Chil Woo, Tazza, The Painter of Wind, The World They Live In, When Night Comes, Who Are You?, year in review

Eek! I am so, so behind. *facepalm* I actually considered mushing some of the episodes together into one giant recap, just so I could catch up, but then realized that this drama has waaaaay too many important details to leave out. Also, I don’t know when to shut up. But y’all probably already know that by now.

POTW has now entered what I like to think of as the second phase in its love story process. First was Yoon-bok and Jeong-hyang, and now, we get to see some Yoon-bok/Hong-do action. Also, Jeong-jo plays a much bigger role in this episode! Ahhh, the smell of sexy politics…I’M LOVIN’ IT!

SONG OF THE DAY

The Strokes – “Heart in a Cage” The first concert I ever attended was a Strokes concert, so of course they hold a special place in my heart. Fabrizio Moretti is too hot for this planet. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Painter of the Wind: Episode 7 (2,563 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 32 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

First of all, I’d like to apologize for the lateness of these recaps. Things are rather busy with school at the moment, and unfortunately, my education comes first. (Trust me, though, I would much rather be writing these recaps than writing a paper on Thomas King. My heart is with youuuuu!)

Anyway. This episode was: More lesbian action + feminist themes = one happy Dahee.

SONG OF THE DAY

Ani DiFranco – “Not A Pretty Girl” – I often listen to dear Ani whenever I write – she tends to get the creative juices flowing for me. This song in particular inspires me to write angry feminist poetry. Lol.
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of Painter of the Wind: Episode 6 (3,244 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

This episode had some aggravating scenes, which made me a little grumpy. But it also had some really beautiful scenes (GAYNESS!), and that pretty much balanced everything out. I will note, however, that I’m still waiting for a really stand-out episode from Painter, quality-wise. But good things come to those who wait, I suppose?

SONG OF THE DAY

Bobby Kim – “Weak Man.” Bobby Kim = coolness personified. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Painter of the Wind: Episode 5 (2,755 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 37 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

Ha! Park Shin Yang in drag. That image has been BURNED onto my BRAIN.

I guess that shows you just how much more lighthearted this episode was over, say, episode three, which was Angstfest to the Max. What I appreciate about Painter is that, although it can try a little too hard to be humourous at times, those light scenes always serve something to the plot and the characters. So I can tolerate things that I wouldn’t be able to tolerate in lesser dramas.

SONG OF THE DAY

Cherry Filter – “난 여자였다” (I was a woman). Dahee says: “From their first album, ‘Head-Up’. I adore Cherry Filter with my entire being, and this song seemed very suitable, for obvious reasons.”
[ Download ]

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Read the rest of Painter of the Wind: Episode 4 (2,997 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind

Painter of the Wind continues to impress, despite a few flaws here and there. I officially want to marry Moon Geun Young.

SONG OF THE DAY

Sam Roberts – “A Stone Would Cry Out.” Dahee says: “It’s by one of my favourite Canadian rockers, from his album ‘Chemical City’.” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Painter of the Wind: Episode 3 (2,408 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2008. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: episode recaps, Moon Geun-young, Park Shin-yang, sageuk dramas, The Painter of Wind