Beanie level: Jang Geu-rae

Exceedingly happy to report I am now invested in Flower Boy Ramen Shop after replaying the start of Episode 4 a million times. I LOVE that she’s so cool now!

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    Her earlier awkward behaviour makes sense too, considering that she was only doing it because she believed that was how she had to survive. Even when she confronted her boyfriend about cheating, she was resigned – she knew it all already but had chosen to cling to foolish hope.

    But watching her when she’s in her element, disillusioned and not under Chi Soo’s spell is so so so rewarding! It’s sad that it took a death for her to come to her senses about the way she’s living, but I’m happy she’s not hiding under a blanket of ignorance anymore. Okay, just gonna go watch that epic school exit scene again!

    Please, no more doormat scenes though! And more Chi Soo embarrassment please! He’s missed a whole lifetime of being told he’s wrong. Side note: I can already feel I’m going to get second lead syndrome with this drama 🙁

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So I ended up on episode 3 of That Winter, The Wind Blows, and while I love it – good god, it’s some hard hitting stuff all right. I’m not the one with a 93-day deadline but I’m nervous myself!

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    Balancing it with Flower Boy Ramen Shop seems to work well though – one has lots of fluff while the other really doesn’t.

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    It is very tough to watch, but jo in sung

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Just watched episode 1 of Flower Boy Ramen Shop and I had to mute the last part because it was overpoweringly embarrassing. Good god, please tell me she has some brains and isn’t a complete idiot?

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    I feel like I want to love the show – but I really can’t when the female lead acts like (1) a gold-digger, (2) a fool and (3) a pushover (her friend literally told her her boyfriend was a jerk and she chose to ignore that!)

    I’m gonna persevere anyway because clips of later parts suggest she does have some pride but the mute button is likely to be heavily in use for as long as it takes for her to grow a spine.

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      Eloquently expressed! I’ve heard a lot about Biscuit Teacher – need to watch it at some point!

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Dancing in my room singing at the top of my voice after the ending of Girls’ Generation 1979. Sometimes I wonder if I get too invested in these dramas. Oh well – NEXT DRAMA!

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    Absolutely loved this one though – a sweet, realistic commentary on the lives of high school girls and their relationships. Unorthodox pairings too, and dynamics shown to flow so smoothly. I’ll be missing those Daegu accents for a while!

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    One of my favorites!!! 💖

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    But, shouldn’t you be dancing in your room at the beginning instead of the end?

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      Well, no, because I didn’t know how good the show was at the start. But at the end, all my favourite ships sailed and I was super duper happy for everyone.

      Don’t worry, the tears of drama withdrawal started about half an hour after the dancing ;P
      All gone now since I’m on a new drama though.

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    I suggest an 8 hour long drama, Just Dance/Dance Sports Girls, for a more gritty take on a group of high school girls. It’s another gem.

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      Thanks very much! I like the sound of it already – definitely will check it out!

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Finished episode 11 of Flower Boy Next Door! AHHHHHHHHHH IM SO HAPPY! Yeah, now I know I’m way too hooked on this show ._.
But seriously, if they kill anyone off/ go into too much angst now… 😠

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    Enrique’s utterly and totally captured my heart. Too much to hope for I know, but anyone know any other dramas with a similar male lead? Or dramas starring Yoon Shi Yoon?

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      Enrique is one of a kind. It’s hard to think of another male lead like that. The closest I can think of is Goo Dae Young (played by Yoon Doo Joon) in the Let’s Eat series, only in that he’s talkative and kinda nosy. 😛

      YSY stars in many many dramas.
      Here’s the list (and I may missed a few):
      * High Kick Through The Roof
      * Baker King, Kim Takgu (aka Bread, Love and Dreams)
      * Me Too, Flower
      * Happy Noodles (this is a Chinese drama)
      * Prime Minister and I
      * Greatest Hit
      * Mirror of the Witch (saeguk)
      * Grand Prince (saeguk)
      * Nokdu Flower (saeguk)
      * Your Honor
      * Psychopath Diary

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        For something with a similarly light feel, I recommend Greatest Hit/Best Hit. His character isn’t as sweet at first, but as long as he’s part of the couple you ship, you should like it.

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        I had a bit of trouble finding Your Honor because I kept spelling with the UK/Aus spelling. 😅😉

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          Huh. I am surprised the search didn’t pick it up. Someone did not do a good job coding.

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        Thanks!!

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So I’ve started Flower Boy Next Door (thanks for all the recommendations guys!). I groaned when I saw Park Shin Hye as the female lead, but the acting’s really good so far so I’m sticking with it.

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    Also, gosh, I’m such an Enrique fan – every other flower boy’s been wiped off the face of the drama for me. Watanabe’s adorable though, a close second place for sure.

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      Gosh, I love Watanabe and all the other flower boys, but Enrique is my absolute favorite. At first he seemed really childish and silly to me, but there’s seriousness, vulnerability and heart underneath.

      Have you come across Kim Seul Gi yet? I loved her crazy editor character.

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        I THOUGHT she seemed familiar!! Didn’t really recognise her with the crazy hair and dark circles 😛
        Just finished episode 6, so while I’m still on the Enrique train, I’m warming up to Jin Rak too (Isn’t it obvious she has a history with that brat Do Hwi?! Why would you accept the box on her behalf, Enrique?? Why??)
        I’m dying for Dok-mi to burst out some of her verbal wit and bulldoze Do Hwi!

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          KSG is a hoot in this.

          *sigh* I’m an introvert like Jin Rak. I identified a lot with him but he could be so frustrating. Just tell her that you like her, dude!

          “Cha Do…Hwi” (said with a slight whistle). She said her name so many times that I can’t forget it LOL.

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    Yea, I know what you mean… I’ve ever only been able to finish 1 Park Shin Hye drama in its entirety, “Doctors”–BUT NEVER AGAIN OMG– and all her other dramas I’ve been able to get thru them only because of the FF button

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      I started Doctors because of her character description – a street girl who ends up becoming a neurosurgeon. I mean, it finally sounded like a superb strong role unlike the mess that was The Heirs (*shudder*). But good god, two episodes in and the waterworks began again. The romance with her teacher/senior doctor dude sorta just weirded me out so I abandoned it :/
      Going strong with Flower Boy though, 6 episodes in and I’m loving it! Possibly because she really does have to mope around and cry realistically in this role as part of the character’s story – which she’s pretty good at.

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    It’s one of my all-time favorites ❤

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So I’m feeling in the mood for a throwback drama – something not too serious with some nostalgia. Thinking Boys Over Flowers, Master’s Sun or Delightful Girl Chun-hyang… any suggestions?

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    The other option is to start a new drama that I have no clue about, possibly Abyss.

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      No to Abyss. No. No.

      As to the others on your list…..Master’s Sun maybe?

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      Definitely NOT Abyss. Anything but Abyss.

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        Good god. You’re scaring me! I heard it was a Park Bo Young drama so I put it on my list for later. Why’s it been blacklisted?? (No spoilers, in case I do watch it 😁)

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          It’s hard to describe without spoiling. What happened is not because of Park Bo Young, of course. Girl just has to pick better drama.

          If Melty is the worst of 2019, Abyss is a close second. Let’s leave it at that. Maybe you have to watch this to know for sure. 😋

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            No!! 😭 I was going to watch Melting Me Softly too!! Ji Chang Wook and all. Well, thanks for the heads up anyway!

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            I second this. I couldn’t finish the first episode of both dramas. Brilliant acting alone can’t save the whole sinking ship of bad script writing and odd choice of directing. If you love PBY, her Strong Woman Do Bong-Soon or Oh My Ghost are both amazing choices. For JCW, Healer through and through is my all time favorite of him. My hear beats fast just think about all the squeal-worthing moments of Healer <3 <3 <3

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    “I’m Not A Robot” 🙂
    All the other ones have some sort of “noble” idiocy wrapped into it at some point–whereas INAR does have it, too, but is resolved so much faster and smarter– and is plenty cute to boot ~!!!

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      Seen it! Lovely drama (big fan of Chae Soo Bin) but the last episode left me super annoyed (plot lines left unclosed etc).

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    I’m recommending Goong. The prop design and setup is timelessly gorgeous with enough nostalgia of 2000s KDrama.

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      You know, I actually haven’t watched that one! I know it’s a classic old time drama and I’d planned to watch it at some point but I refrained because I wasn’t sure if it was the right time (also I’ve seen so many cold male leads that I’m not in the mood for another one). Definitely going to consider starting it now though!

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        Haha the cold lead is cold but I still love him because of his vulnerable sides. Even if you’re not a fan of him at first, don’t worry, Goong is filled with meme-worthy scenes of the female lead so you’ll be entertained most of the time. Also, I can’t say enough how much I love the OSTs and instrumental bg of Goong, they’re just amazingly unique and carry a substantial role in weaving overall emotions. Highly recommended!

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    How about City Hall or Da Ja’s Spring.

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    Also if you’re already watched Boys Over Flowers you might try the Japanese version instead – Hana Yori Dango – it has a better heroine and all of the other actors are good.

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      Watched every possible version of it by now I think! My favourite is probably the old Meteor Garden – cast resonates with you somehow. Thanks for the recommendations, I’ll check them out.

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Good lord. Just watched CLOY ep 6. WHY do I torture myself by watching currently airing shows?! That ending is simply unfair. I get the whole cliffhanger idea but OMG NO JUST TELL ME WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

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    I am also dying here, oh god, i have to wait a whole week, my nerves… I guess i will rewatch the last scene a multiple of times… Time to fan girl over Hyun Bin…

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    I really hate that I have to wait a week after the way ep 6 ended. I don’t even have a drama on the side to distract me while I wait.

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CLOY is still pitch perfect at ep4, and the introduction of new characters and dynamics is spicing it up, raising the stakes.

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    Previews look promising with future plot twists and turns. The charm of this drama is that even though the premise is very simple on the surface – girl wants to return to her home country, the introduction of side plots and depth of characters is creating a beautiful story that comes alive. I felt Se-ri’s despair in ep4 as well as Jeong Hyeok’s slow-growing attachment. I am a little puzzled as to why they didn’t recognise each other, since they appear to have met, albeit briefly, in Switzerland. The show’s made it ambiguous enough though so that it’s believable that two strangers would be unlikely to recognise each other a number of years later.

    Currently watching Cinderella and Four Knights simultaneously – it’s a sort of fluff filler to stop me from getting too engrossed in CLOY. While it’s awesome to feel enveloped in a drama, it also spells doom for when the drama ends and you’re left in the real world. Hence, Cinderella and Four Knights is sort of my exit ticket for when that happens 🤔.

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      I think it’s hard to recognise people from 10 years ago. I actually saw a person fall from his bicycle and i picked him up and talked to him till he was fine on a foreign trip but i dont remember his face at all. This is very much normal! I don’t think I will ever recognise that person again.

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I’m SUCH a crash-landing-on-you fan right now! The actors, the plot, everything is hitting the pitch perfect mark right now and I find myself replaying moment after moment!

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    Reminds me of my Dream High, Love From Another Star, Master’s Sun days… everyone has those special dramas that transported them to another world for a few days/weeks right?

    Been watching lots of light stuff recently, feels amazing to have found another of my addiction-level dramas! (I’m totally setting myself up for disappointment, I know – seeing as we’re only three episodes in. But whatever, I have a good feeling about this one!)

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Question: Does Dramabeans have an app or plan to make one? Because the process is tedious, I rarely log in, comment etc. unless I’m super into a drama. An app would probably make it easier.

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Vagabond is one of the few action dramas I’ve found myself super invested in! Usually I can’t stand the genre but this one has a magnetic pull, likely in part due to Lee Seung-gi’s stellar acting.

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    Can’t believe this is still here after THAT ending. Oh well. I’ve gotten over it at this point. Instead I’ve dived into another Netflix original! Crash Landing On You! This one’s not gonna end badly right? Right?? (Cough Arthdal Cough)

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Just finished rewatching Weightlifting Fairy, and I’m in love with it. Not sure why the magic of this drama didn’t hit me the the first time around, but it’s shot straight to No.2 on my kdrama list!

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My Top 5 (I have a list of all 65, but I’m restricted by the character limit)

1. Sassy Go Go
2. Descendants Of The Sun
3. Dream High
4. I Can Hear Your Voice
5. Healer

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    You can post all 65. Just copy from your notes/list and right-click paste it when posting in DB. 😁

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    Healer should be numero uno.
    just saying.
    lol

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I’m an extreme Kdrama addict just like everyone here, and I was sucked into this world with my first drama: Master’s Sun.
I’ve watched 65 dramas since then, but my top 5 list hasn’t changed much.

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    I’ve seen around 52 dramas in two years and a half and my top 5 hasn’t changed since the end of 2016 LOL

    my top 5 are: Another Oh Hae Young, Cheese in the Trap, One Percent of Something, You’re Beautiful, and Secret Garden

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    Curious about your top 5 🙂

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Hello Dramabeans!
I’ve been reading your recaps for quite a few years, but somehow I only ended up registering recently, and writing my first comment even more recently.

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