Beanie level: Loan shark with a heart of gold
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    I’m surprised he hadn’t done this earlier! It’ll be interesting to see what kind of stuff he picks.

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    I thought he was a real-life chaebol, to begin with. Good for him for managing his own career.

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      I didnt know he is chaebol. I suppose with all his education abroad, I do not doubt his family is wealthy.

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Just checking the fanwall for spoilers on MD to entice me to watch the episodes this weekend.

I found that there are so little posts about it compared to previous weeks. So I may just put it off for now.

I better get started on Knight Flower then.

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    About the gif: they are two of my favorite characters in AJTL, Yang Ying and Yuan Lu. 💕💝

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    Ha ha. Looks like the fun ended 😅. At this rate it might be a drop for me. But I do want to know what happens to evil Hyung.
    I also might watch Knight Flower instead now.

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      I didnt want to drop this for KYJ but it may end up that way too if I do not like the new episodes. I want to know how they will resolve the OTP’s story so we shall see if I will stick with this. Only 4 eps left.

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    A couple days ago I finished A JOURNEY TO HEAVEN oops I mean A JOURNEY TO LOVE. I enjoyed it. I might have enjoyed the two characters above and the band of brothers slightly more than the leads but all together it was a wonderful production. I get how the ending left some people frustrated.

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      I returned to kdramaland tonight watching the first 2 episodes of KNIGHT FLOWER and enjoyed them.
      JOURNEY, THE HOPE and a couple of crime dramas kept me in cdramaland for awhile.

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        Glad you did it!
        I’m not impressed with “Flower That Blooms at Night,” but I love Honey Lee, so I’ll give it a few more episodes.
        THE HOPE is the only drama I’m really into right now.

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          I have watched 20 of 30 episodes of THE HOPE and love Zhang Ruo Yun’s performance as a high school teacher and his odd ball class. I took a little break to finish AJTL. I decided I really didn’t want to miss Jang Dong-yoon in SAND so I started in today watching the first 4 episodes. Another winner for JDY and crew.
          I should be caught up when episode 9 airs this week. One of the most moving scenes so far was between dad (Choi Moo-sung) and Baek-du (JDY) wrestling in the ring. Just beautiful.
          I enjoyed the first 2 episodes of FLOWER. It is my first Honey Lee drama and I can see why she is a favorite.

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      I feel the same. The delegation team is the best thing about the show. Yes the ending. It is what it is. I chose to see it in the best light.

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        Like you say the ending is what it is.
        After my completion of JOURNEY last night I watched Avenue X’s extended review of JOURNEY on Youtube from a couple of weeks ago. Overall she gave it a very high rating (not the top) but just under the top. What was sad was to hear her describe at the beginning of the review the viscous online abuse that ML Liu Yu Ning was subjected to while AJTL aired. Disgraceful!

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          I have only read about the online abuse he was subjected to and not actually read comments. Irregardless, It is absolutely disgraceful. Nobody ahould have to suffer it. Hopefully he has not actually read the actual hateful comments. I would worry about his mental health.

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          This was the best I’ve seen from Yuning. He has been improving with every project, so I do not doubt that he has an acting coach or something like that.
          Ning Yuanzhou is Liu Yuning! He finally made a fan out of me.

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I wish everyone a prosperous New Year ahead! May you all be blessed with love and joy, be positive influences to the people around you, and may everyone stay healthy in mind, body and spirit. May we all have a wonderful year ahead! 💕🎉✨️🥳

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Day 31 Favorite 2023 Dramas

I want to wrap up my #2023RoundUp by sharing my Top 3 Favorite Kdramas aired this year.

*Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 – the reason why I love this is because of the reunion of my fave gumiho brothers. Yeon and Rang. I also love Hong Joo.
*Call It Love – Its a contemplative healing drama of two introverted souls that found a way to find meaning in their lives again. I like the slow burn romance of the leads.
*Twinkling Watermelon – I like the friendahips and family bonds in this show. This became an unexpected fave for me.

Among the Unfinished Shows I love:
The Secret of Park’s Marriage Contract – This can be among my faves if it manages to end well next week.

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Day 30 – Favorite Variety

I love travel variety shows and always on the look out for one. There was one that I loved above all the variety shows I watched this year. It is a backpacking travel variety called Bros on Foot.
It was a revelation to see both Ha Jung Woo and Joo Ji Hoon in variety since I only know the former as a respected movie star and the latter as a kdrama top star. It was so fun seeing them travel with the two younger actor and idol, Yeo Jin Goo and Choi Min Ho. Also watch them navigate a variety show setting and travel across New Zealand.
Joo Ji Hoon is totally the “mom” of this little group. He is a good cook and takes care of everyone especially his hyung. I wished there were more episodes.

#2023RoundUp

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    I enjoy the show, but I’d love to see Yeo Jin Goo do a drama at least once a year.

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    This was a fun watch!

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    I haven’t watched this, but Joo Ji Hoon being “the mum” just sounds ADORABLE. 🫠
    Maybe I need to venture into variety shows after all… 😂

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Day 29 – Favorite Character Development

This has to be my favorite royal, Princess Yang Ying of Wu, Princess of Li City, formerly known as Prince Li, Imperial Envoy of Wu. She started as a timid, neglected and easily manipulated pawn sent by the Wu State and her imperial family to help negotiate and ransom back her brother, Emperor Wu, from the enemy state of An. Along the way to save her brother she learned valuable life lessons, friendships, survival, political acumen, leadership and strength òf character. Through the 40 episodes I have appreciated her development to the woman who took charge of her own destiny. Princess Yang Ying grew up to be a true leader that would put to shame the other royals in the story.

#2023RoundUp
#AJourneyToLove

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Day 28 – Favorite Chaebol Mother/ MIL

Hands down this only has to be Cha Yeon Hwa played by the amazing Lee Mi Sook in Perfect Marriage Revenge.
Cha Yeon Hwa is a queen in her own right. She is the best example that most kdrama Chaebol Moms should strive to be. She is empathetic, classy, perceptive, and decisive. She knows her worth and I love her for that.

She summarizes in this clip her best qualities

Then of course, she did her best to help and protect the newlyweds from the evil stepmother. She is not someone you would want to cross.

Also she has the best lines.

Plus she wore the most interesting outfits in the show. Some you can see in the gifs and photos in this post.

#2023RoundUp

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    Also she was genuinely concerned and upset for what Yi-joo had to endure from the evil step-mother. I think she was Mother-in-love 😍 to Yi-joo.

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Day 27 – Favorite Lee Sun Kyun Drama

A lot of Beanies already expressed a lot of similar thoughts about the recent tragedy more eloquently than I could right now. I still feel deep anger at the unfairness of the situation and senseless loss of life. To turn this into something positive in a small way, Let me just take this opportunity to celebrate the works of Lee Sun Kyun, who was at his prime, by sharing my favorite LSK drama.

It is none other than, My Ahjusshi. This is my favorite out of all his works. It explored the lives of all the characters as they navigated the difficulties of their personal and professional lives. It is a healing drama that has been in my top fave dramas for a few years now.

Runner Ups:
A Diary of a Prosecutor
Coffee Prince

Variety:
Trans-Siberian Pathfinders – I liked seeing a different side of all the actors that appeared on the show.

#2023RoundUp

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    I first saw him in “Behind the White Tower (2007). The show holds a special place in my heart due to the exceptional performances by the actors, the direction, the music, the portrayal of hospital politics, and the honest writing that sets old and new dramas apart. Lee Sun Kyun ahjusshi will always be part of many first love from that era.
    R.I.P. You are allowed to be human in my book.

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    Thank you for this. I admit I still feel a deep sense of anger, but seeing this post makes me feel better. He was indeed so very talented. He brought life to the roles he took, at least in the shows I watched. I especially loved him in Coffee Prince and Parasite. Very different characters. Equally mesmerizing.

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      I first saw him in Coffee Prince and also liked him in Parasite. He is very talented. I am still so angry that things turned out this way. I feel so much for the family he left behind. May he rest in peace.

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    Angry and so sad here. I’m thankful for the dramas he’s left us.

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    I have been wanting to watch My Ahjussi for so long… But for several reasons I always found another drama which suited my mood in that moment.
    In October I was determined to watch it this Winter season, without fail.
    And now I deeply regret not having done it yet. It will be a very different (and terribly sad) experience now he is not here anymore.

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      I also wanted to watch the movie Jo Pilho: The Dawning Rage for him since its on Netflix. Maybe I will get to it later once this feeling subsides.
      I do hope you get to watch My Ahjusshi. It is a lovely drama.

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Since there are no new episodes this weekend. I will share some of my favorite moments in the recent episodes:

The doting smile:💕

Tae Ha watching Yeon Woo bounce around:😊

Being adorable in the elevator: 🥰

#Park\’sMarriageContract ep 9-10

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Day 26 – Favorite Dimples

Bae In Hyuk as Kang Tae Ha in The Story of Park\’s Marriage Contract. I realized that I have captured a lot of his smiles which can be seen on my posts about the show. He just looks much better smiling. The dimples are out in full force as you can see on the examples below.





#2023RoundUp

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Day 25 – My Breakout Star

Lee Jung Ha as Kim Bong Seok in Moving. His natural adorableness shows through the role. I am looking forward to his new projects.

Runner Up:
Shin Eun Soo in Twinkling Watermelon

#2023RoundUp

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    He has worked quite a bit before but as you said Moving indeed has been a breakout role for Lee Jung Ha. May he always fly high.

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Day 24– Best cinematography

I wanted to showcase a drama I have not posted about enough. I adore the colors and cinematography in this show. From the beautiful hanboks to the colorful scenery in almost every important scenes. That is none other than the very pretty the Matchmakers.

#2023RoundUp

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Wishing Everyone a Very Merry Christmas! 🎄🎁🎉✨️ Hope you all have a wonderful holiday season with your friends, families or even on your own! 🎄⭐️😊

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Day 23 – Favorite Squad / Squad Goals

This only has to be the Diplomatic Team of Wu from A Journey To Love.
They worked as a unit to protect their charge. Plus they strengthened friendships, discover love, fight foes, showcase their talents and became the heroes of their own story. State of An never knew what was coming their way.






Runner Up:
Watermelon Sugar and their creative team in Twinkling Watermelon

#AJourneyToLove
#2023RoundUp

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Day 22 – Best cameo

Park Bo Young and Park Hyun Sik in Strong Girl Nam Soon. I missed them so much! The best thing that happened in that show is the return of Bong Bong and Min Min! 🥰🥰🥰

Runner Up:
Lee Jun Ho in Celebrity
Kang Ha Neul in The Kidnapping Day

#2023RoundUp

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Day 21 – The OST you are obsessed with

There were a lot of lovely OST from the 2023 dramas. I like/love a lot of them. But since we are talking about being “obsessed” with the OST, That is only OurBeloved Summer OST from early last year. I love a lot of the songs from the show. 🥰

#2023RoundUp

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Day 20 – Favorite kiss

#2023RoundUp

I do not fave a new favorite. It is still the fabulous kiss scene in Our Beloved Summer.

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Day 19 – Best used trope / Best subverted trope

The Makeover Scene. A Journey To Love did a reversal in ep24 when Ning Yuan Zhoua and RuYi were undercover as Govt Officials. NYZ initially acted as a doting husband when he was picking jewelry for his \”wife\”. Only for RuYi to turn things around and had her \”husband\” model outfits for her instead.




They also had a conversation after about how it only makes a man happy treating a woman as a doll during dress up.

#2023RoundUp
#AJourneyToLove

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Day 18 – Favorite villain

Seo Do Young played by Kim Young Kwang in Evilive.



#2023RoundUp

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The proud hubby smile is the best one yet! 🥰

#Park\’sMarriageContract ep7

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