This is what I’m binging this weekend. Sorry, Korea.
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Since we’re doing mid-year been counts, I’m going to do mine in broad order of enjoyment/excellence:

Top
Sky Castle
Children of Nobody
My Fellow Citizens
My Strange Hero
The Light In Your Eyes

Middle
Kingdom (does this even count when it’s only halfway through?)
My First First Love (does this even count when it’s only halfway through?)
Confession

Bottom
Encounter/Boyfriend
Best Chicken
Kill It (yeah, thanks @sicarius)
He Is Psychometric

Dropped
Romance is a Bonus Book
The Crowned Clown
Joseon Survival
Clean with Passion For Now

Currently watching
Abyss (*sigh why?!)
Absolute Boyfriend
Angel’s Last Mission

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Joseon Survival is terrible and you should not watch it.
Once they tried to play an attempted rape for laughs I was done.

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    Thanks for the warning.

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    From the premiere, I thought the writing wasn’t good but never had in mind it would go that far… I will stay away from it until more reviews come.

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      It’s just bad. The characters are annoying, the humour is forced, the writing is hackneyed. I quite like the rebel character we know will lead a revolution but that’s not enough.

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        I wanted to keep watching for him and the sister but it looks like it’s not worth the time.

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    I was going to watch it – but now I don’t have to! Thanks you for saving me a few hours of my life!

    Have an upvote

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    YIKES

    I had 0 interest in it anyway but thank you I won’t touch it with a 10 foot poll

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    thanks thats really wtf! I will stay away!

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    Fark!!! It was on my watch list! Thanks for the heads up. Won’t he wasting my time there

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What does \”narcissism\” mean?

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    Narcissism according to Wikipedia

    Narcissism is the pursuit of gratification from vanity or egotistic admiration of one’s idealised self image and attributes. The term originated from Greek mythology, where the young Narcissus fell in love with his own image reflected in a pool of water.

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      I recall he killed himself. Just saying

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        Did he love himself too much that he jumped in water to be with his own reflection? 😨

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          He was so in love with his own reflection that he stayed frozen, staring at it, until he died.

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          Several variations. Basically comes down to he couldn’t have his own reflection and died of heartache (more modern take is depression, actual method of suicide is not written in books, so up to your imagination)

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    Someone who is in love (not romantically) with themselves, and has some sort of delusions of grandeur of himself/herself

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    @katakwasabi @transient
    I’m somewhat embarrassed. I was making a joke at my own expense about the ‘ratio’ conversation on greenfields’ fan wall. The comment was rhetorical and designed to imply I was displaying characteristics of the aforementioned Narcissus.

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The characters in Joseon Survival are extremely annoying. I\’m not sure I can get past it.

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    I want to like it. I like the premise, but I really struggled to get through episode one.

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      He’s just such a horrible cliche of masculinity issues. And once they get to Joseon, her feigned uselessness and sniping is just so annoying. Why on Earth did her fiancé need to be a serial killer who chains women up in basements? The only person I vaguely like is the youngest sister and even her running around Joseon bellowing at people about being on a movie set got annoying too.

      I actually quite like the plot so far on paper but these characters are awful. I can’t believe he dumped her because he didn’t get a gold medal and then is furious that she got engaged to somebody else – 7 years after he unceremoniously dumped her for little reason.

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        Well then, unless someone reports that it gets better, I’m out. The dumping after not getting a gold medal was some A+ stupid idiocy. The serial killer fiance is just eye-rolling overkill.

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          Him glumping around being miserable and useless when it was all entirely self-inflicted was painful to watch. He dumped his fiancé, he gave up archery, he got himself fired from all his jobs.

          I can just see his Joseon adventure being him proving his manhood and getting the girl and I find that really f’ing unappealing.

          But… episode 3 here I come…

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By popular demand:
My MDL review of Risky Romance: the best show of 2018
https://mydramalist.com/profile/ChinguMode/reviews/48823

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I\’ve been inspired by @justme and @sicarius to make an associated list of the Top 10 Most Rage Inducing Trainwreck Dramas.
While you\’re it, help JustMe with her list of the Worst Dramas this year.

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    I’ll start with Black.
    And Big.

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      Black – anything with that actress in it I will forgo even watching.
      *I’m looking at you Hawang*
      Oh wait, were you talking about Goodbye Mr Black?
      or maybe the remake of Criminal Minds?

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    Oh boy.
    Where do I start!!!!

    This is a list, not a ranking.
    1. The Crowned Clown
    2. Hundred Million Stars
    3. Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo
    4. Boys over Flowers
    5. You know what I’m just gonna go for it I hate My Name Is Kim Sam Soon and it made me mad
    6. You know maybe the rest of it doesn’t deserve it but the last five episodes do so City Hunter
    7. Because This Life Is My First. Rage inducing. But not a Trainwreck. OR IS IT. *This list is gonna offend soooo many people*
    8. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
    9. Honestly Suspicious Partner made me so mad.
    11. There’s probably a lot more I have thankfully not watched.

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      The magical 10th spot is reserved for something but to come.

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      I watched Suspicious Partner in its entirety and remember little of the plot. Boys Over Flowers has a cult following so I get it and I understand it. I can’t hate HMS because the OTP was everything. Even though the writing was poor I really really understand their love. Plus Beauty and the Beast sort of scenarios are my catnip – minus the kidnapping of course…

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        SP… sigh. I feel like the only reason I remember any of it was because I decided it was a GREAT idea to finish it after a year of it being dropped due to travel. It was not.
        Oh I get BOF too because I was hooked into it too when I watched it. Still think it’s hot trash and a trainwreck though and possibly the worst adaption of that story to exist except that there is an American version of it so… also did you know people DEFE3ND JUN PYO? ahem
        HMS I’ve written enough on and we both know it 😛 😛

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      [3] MLSHR made me “dislike” many of the characters. The rage was real. One of the few dramas I felt real rage. But, I wouldn’t put it as a train wreck. It just did some seriously unspeakable things to my heart.
      [4] BoF one of the best definitions of a train wreck drama.
      [7] I think you’re a little entertainment arsonist over there my little fire starter. I raged at that reprehensible “coworker” who got thankfully got his drama comeuppance. I raged against the boss and the narrow minded characters. But, I wouldn’t say train wreck. Far from it actually. One of my most beloved dramas.
      [8] I’m standing right beside you on this one. Not that I’m taking part in the fire starting. Just standing right beside you.
      [9] I loved it.

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        3) Not a trainwreck? with… with that second half, contradictory character development, butchered plot, three total camera angles for the entire show, overall awful writing and then that ending??? eh? Okay then…
        7) You know it. 🔥🔥🔥🔥 Congratulations you’re the first person to react to me having that in my list 😉 (I have a lot of strong opinions about BTLIOF, its ending and how it made me reconsider the entire rest of the show which I will maybe share one day if I can be bothered)
        8) Just encouraging my pyromania? I like it.
        9) Good for you. It made me want to die.

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        (4) Now I HAVE to go back and try to watch BOF – I know I watched it years ago, but can’t remember much. hmmm – maybe that is the point.

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    I feel like rage inducing writers could somewhat be included in this. Just because I don’t vehemently despise MOA or W with every fiber of my being but the writer is fair game.

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    1. Autumn In My Heart – bad acting between the main cast, stereotype storyline, I can’t believe this is popular melodrama
    2. Equator Man, Watching it due to the PD. But the scriptwriters is not good writing a revenge drama. Always suspense, suspense, suspense,, but the plot going no where
    3. Fated to Love You, The first half is relatable, the second half turn into a dust.
    4. Jang Ok Jung, The first half seems so promising, it left wonder where the writers in the second half go which turn a solid drama become a makjangfest.
    5. Marry Him If You Dare, The promising theme turn into a love triangle WAR.

    I’ve never finish the show I don’t like, But I have no idea why this five drama is the exception. Maybe wanting to hope it will get better.

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      When a Man Loves – couldn’t even finish it. didn’t make sense and I didn’t like any of the characters.

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      I feel like the first half of Fated to Love You is so good that it redeems the second half. I rewatched it quite recently, and that was the conclusion I came to.

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    Memories of the Alhambra must be up there in terms of nonsensical narrative construction, lack of basic understanding of internal world logic.

    I also detest Goblin but it is not strictly speaking a train-wreck, just morally offensive for the main couple and mostly boring and badly plotted for the historic part.

    Can’t think of anything else, mostly because I sensibly give up on bad dramas long before they get an opportunity to really piss me off…

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      Goblin may not be a train wreck, but I did not like it either.

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    I don’t care enough about dramas to hold on to anger towards them for more than a day I like to save all of that hatred for myself

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    Fox Bride Star minus the security couple line who were perfect.

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    Just Kdrama?

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    Noble My Love
    Queen of Mystery 2 (though it doesn’t really exist)
    Heirs

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      Oh hell, I hated Noble My Love as well. And apart from Goblin it’s the only one where I got abused for my opinion on it.

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        Did people LIKE it?

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          Loved it. They thought it was SO ROMANTIC. I got serious abuse for pointing out how awful the relationship was.

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            Story time: I watched it because I was going to be a recapper for Dramafever years ago, and it was my first assigned drama. But there wasn’t enough interest so my time was utterly wasted, and the recapper coordinator never contacted me again, and I switched to DB, and that is the long story I associate with that show.

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            Oh no @hotcocoagirl that’s horrible. I watched it because I didn’t know there was better dramas out in the universe

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          Sung Hoon has never made a decent drama where he is the lead. He just hasn’t. he has good looks alright but is green and a shitty kisser.

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            He’s a terrible actor. Only when he plays a dim pretty man do I find him credible (i.e. himself) but he cannot carry a drama and should not be getting lead roles.

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            Yes. I actually liked him in Five Enough. He played the dim ex model pro golf player well.

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      I am 100% sure I watched it. However I don’t remember any of it!

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      There was a Queen of Mystery 2?

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        Nope. There was no Queen of Mystery 2 that was a complete and utter bore that didn’t even bring together the two leads who had such amazing bickering chemistry in Queen of Mystery. It doesn’t exist, so don’t go looking for it.

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          Even though it didn’t exist, QoM2 was WEIRD. The tonal shifts, the bizarre direction, the lack of focus. I never understood what it was going for.

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            It didn’t exist at all with mysteries that wandered aimlessly sucking in side characters along the wandering path.

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          so glad I ignored it when it was playing…

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    I have the memory of a goldfish for dramas without my bias. Can’t remember anything too bad, except K2.

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      Oh yeah, K2 was BAD.

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      Oh wait. Memory triggered.

      List, not ranked:

      K2
      Reply 1988 (ending ruined it for me)
      Cheese In The Trap

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        Cheese in the Trap
        K2
        two I remember
        I’ll think of more – but usually I dropped them and didn’t finish… (except these two) ugh

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          About Time
          Bride of the Water God

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            Holy crap I forgot all about the Bride of the Water God shit. I dropped it around ep 3 though…it was bad. So so bad

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            I finished BOWG. Why? One of the great mysteries of my life.

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            K2 wasn’t just bad. It was terrabad. But, Wookie can do no wrong.

            BotWG wan’t just bad. It was terrabad. But, NJH did WFKBJ, so he gets a pass.

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            I think we finish shows like BOTWG because we have some kind of weird simplistic hope that the writer will redeem themself and turn the story around.
            But not in that case – though I kept watching cuz I thought it couldn’t get any worse…………..

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            @stpauligurl I honestly think we’re a bit stupid sometimes for hoping the writer comes around. Why do we do this to ourselves?

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            @hades – I think it’s called hope over experience…

            Though I am getting better at stopping when I’m DONE – no matter where I am in the show.

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            me too. I haven’t seen the last two episodes of Angel. I think that means I dropped it. lol.

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    Mostly the endings
    (in no particular order)

    1. Misty (the ending!!!)
    2. Heirs
    3. Cheese in the Trap (it was so perfect then the last few episodes)
    4. Uncontrollably Fond
    5. Missing 9 (what a waste of cast)

    That’s it for now…

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    Perfume managed to disgust me and offend me all within 10 minutes of watching but i cant say if its completely bad as i dropped it “like its hot”

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    Oh boy here it comes. In random order…

    1. The Crowned Clown
    2. My name is Kim Sam Soon
    3. Goblin (‘saranghe, ahjussi’ wtf!)
    4. Heirs
    5. Scarlet Heart
    6. Marriage not Dating (kill me I don’t care)
    7. My Secret Romance (what the f was that shit?)
    8. Black (the ending was bull)
    9. Memories of Alhambra (so much lost potential)
    10.

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      I’ll add in number 10 in future

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        Her lisping ‘saranghe, ahjussi’ is just the worst kiddy-porn thing I’ve ever seen

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          Unbelievable that people liked it. Unbelievable!

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            People don’t just like it. They LOVE it. To the point where I often hold back my opinion on it because they get really passionate about it.

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            Same! I have kept my mouth shut in many instances because I didn’t want to hurt anyone’s feeling. But still. The level of fandom behind it is astounding and I mean it in a bad way of course.

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            There was a point where their relationship was slightly less gross and then they reincarnated her back into her school uniform. It was just awful.

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            Yes! She could have returned back as the 28 year old when she died. But no! Lets put her on a plaid skirt school uniform. Ugh!

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          oh wait – what show is that from?
          I need to be reminded of what disgusted me so I can groan!

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            The universal favourite Goblin

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            Oh no – does this mean I need to find it somewhere so I can listen to her say that again? I’d forgotten about that (maybe on purpose) but sometimes I need a good laugh ya know?
            not

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            I believe thats what she said every time she said it. ugh

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      10. About time (why the hell did I even watch it?)

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        That’s not the question – the question is why we kept watching it. I feel like About Time was a bonding moment – like we’re brought together by our shared trauma.

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          Haha! You are right. Goodness, About Time must have a record of having ALL the tropes in the world in one shitty drama. Plus ZERO chemistry. Zero. Nada. Null.

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        I didn’t get past maybe episode 5 or 6 – but I hear about the ending with the TOD and I must admit I almost watched that episode just to see the both of them taken out.
        then I heard they woke up to new lives.
        oh well

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      REN WHY DO WE HATE ALL THE SAME THINGS!!!! (I also do not like Marriage Not Dating, don’t get the hype or the praise and was considering putting it on my list but I don’t have a visceral reaction to it like some things, I just don’t like it.)

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        Hate it with a passion!!! I am your Eomma of course we will hate the same things!!! 🤗

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      My Secret Romance. What even was that. Why did I watch it? I don’t know if I’d call it rage inducing though. Just….dumb beyond reason.

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    What could have been:
    Scarlet Heart
    Cheese In the Trap

    What the heck ending!
    God’s Gift : 14 days

    Why!!!
    Boys Over Flowers
    Playful Kiss

    Special mention : culmination of all 3 above
    Stairway To Heaven

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      Haha! I love your ‘why’ list haha. BOF was such a messy gem. I dropped Playful Kiss within 10 minutes.

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      Who can forget Scarlet Heart? Oh wait I forgot it after the scene in the rain where he put his cloak around her. We all thought maybe a new director/writer had emerged – but alas, it just never got better.
      for some reason I watched until the gory end…
      must be a glutton for punishment,/i>

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        It was poorly written and poorly executed. I have managed to erase most of it from my head – for health reasons – but the one scene that made me flip the table was when after she returns back to her time, she visits this museum or whatever and looks at the paintings of EXACT SCENES THAT HAPPENED WITH HER IN IT! What the actual hell? Why are those painting around? Who painted them? Why did they paint them. Ugh.

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          I remember watching the last episode – but barely remember much from it other than wondering “what the hell was that?”. Then I put it out of my mind…

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        👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
        My sympathies

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    -Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
    -W
    -Boys Over Flowers
    -Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo

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    This is a toughie, mostly because “rage-inducing” is just one kind of bad, and less common than “sleep-inducing”, “sh*tpost-inducing”, “puke-inducing” and even “trainwreck”.

    Trainwreck:
    Blood
    Dr. Stranger
    + countless others I have thankfully forgotten.

    Rage comes mostly (for me) from a totally botched ending when I was enjoying it up till then.
    Missing 9
    Crowned Clown
    God’s Gift 14 Days

    Other sources of rage for me are:
    A: Inter-species love – but not You From Another Star because I’ll forgive anything with such a good preformance from the FL.
    B: Anything where robots have unreasonable compute power and/or unrealistic battery life:
    Are You Human Too
    Absolute Boyfriend
    But of course I didn’t hate the batteries in I’m Not a Robot, because you know, *not* a robot 🙂

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I\’m going to be ambitious and write a blog post on the Top 10 Korean dramas of all time. If you had to pick ONE, which would it be?

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    CIRCLE

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    I’ve answe a similar question several times. My answer remains the same. None have managed to top them yet. Still waiting for that moment.

    Subjectively: Answer Me 1997
    Objectively: Misaeng

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    I can never do number one favorite. I can’t do this even for movies. I always say top 3 or top 5. Forest of Secrets and Misaeng would definitely be in the top though.

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    My Ahjussi

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    My name is kim sam soon
    I know there are better dramas out there (FOS, Misaeng) but MNIKSS is just that special for me~

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      oh, I’ve never seen that one. What draws you to it?

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        Honestly, nothing extraordinary about the plot. A standard rom-com where a dickish rich hotelier with traumatic past (of course) (Hyun Bin) met a slightly chubby patisserie (Kim Sun Ah) with an old fashion name. Their first meeting was when she got dumped by her bf. They made a contract where she pretends to be his gf (mom keep sending him to blind date) and as you guessed it, real feelings get involved. Things got complicated when ex gf (Jung Ryeo Won) is back from US with her hot doctor (Daniel Henney). It was a mixture of funny and melo moments and KSS feels relatable at that moment. Had a certificate but didn’t have much going on with her life, trying to diet, trying not to fall to that hot guy XD

        If I were to watch it now, I probably won’t like it as much. But this was among my first kdrama, so it was more of sentimental than objectively.

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          It’s MNIKSS for me as well. It has so much heart that I feel quite swept away when I watch it. It was foundational to dramas that came later, just that so many drew from it that MNIKSS ends up looking dated today. But it was a groundbreaker at the time and even academic papers were written about it. And something like half of Korea was watching it by the end. It broke rules and sent kdrama off into a new direction.

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    Err.. damn that’s hard, I have about four or five.
    But for this:
    Signal.

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      And if you were allowed two?

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        I was going to say Misaeng first tbh, but it’s been said above.😄 So let me sneak in a third: Buamdong Revenge Club. An underrated gem.

        My total list of 10/10 dramas in my head contains only 7 at the moment, including 2 shorts:
        Solomon’s Perjury
        Life on Mars
        Girl’s Generation 1979
        to.Jenny

        I cannot wait to see which dramas make your list if top 10. Is it your top 10 or an objective top 10?

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          I’m hoping to make it an objective-as-possible Top 10. Maybe i’ll do two and put in my personal top 10 as well.

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          BTW, I also love love love love Buamdong Revenge Club. I’ve rewatched it about 10 times. It’s televisual comfort food. But I don’t know if I’d rate it as a “best” drama.

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            Hehe *hi5*
            Hmm I found it a novel premise – 3 “ahjummas” from different walks of life (well one of them anyway) come together to take revenge on all who wronged them. The dialogue is great, the plot is great, the sub-plots are great, the show is cohesive and well written, and well directed. I think it’s very underrated, perhaps because there’s no male lead to carry it. (Not underated by you, but by the general drama watching crowd. Dramas too often rely on handsome, perfect boyfriends to pull in viewers)

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            But I don’t necessarily mean a handsome male lead, I just mean, a male lead.

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            The first time I watched it I was underwhelmed but I’m not even sure why. Maybe because I was expecting it to be more ‘revenge-y’.

            But for some reason I rewatched it (unusual for me) and I completely loved it the second time around. I do find some of the ‘revenge’ a little weird and juvenile – like the yoga thing – but I agree. Its a hugely underrated drama and it holds up on rewatch – and rewatch, and rewatch and rewatch.

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            Also if you want to talk about several of my gripes with the classic Kdrama formula, Buamdong avoids all of them.

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    I really need to finally watch Misaeng

    7
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      Me too, but I never seem to be in the mood to be emotionally wrecked.

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        Yeah I’m in the wrong head space at the moment. I’d kill for another My Fellow Citizens though.

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          But it is oh so so so good. It was kinda cathartic for me.

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            Misaeng is my all-time top drama. I didn’t find it emotionally wrecking at all, in fact it’s quite inspiring. There’s a lot of irony and some humour too. It’s by the same PD as My Ahjussi, so it’s beautifully filmed, but not as heavy. In summary, you should watch it!

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            *I’d say Nirvana in Fire is my top drama but that’s a Cdrama lol.

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            @wishfultoki, thanks that’s good to know!

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            I agree. It is a little hard because of its realness but it doesn’t leave you there. It provides the optimism and catharsis you’ll need while gping on the journey with JGR. I do understand why so many people won’t want to watch it though. I watched it when i was studying and it was kind of a disclaimer like” hey this is how the real world works”. However, once in the job struggle, I find it hard to even re watch it because it would be too real to absorb.

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        Yeah I wouldn’t call it an easy watch. But it is amazing (as people keep saying, haha).

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          I’m with G on this one. You might need to be in the right frame of mind and take it slow. It’s most certainly worth it though.

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    Scent of a woman

    3
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      Really? I haven’t seen it and not even sure it’s on my list. What do you love about it?

      0
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        I don’t know if I can put it into words. Just that no show has ever gripped me emotionally as hard as this one has. I have been rewatching it every two or three shows since it got aired and it still wrecks me every time.

        The very real very relatable mother and daughter, the chaebol who is just a bored young man with no purpose, neither dickish nor broken. The chemistry, omg the CHEMISTRY! The second male lead. The normal side characters. The only annoying over the top character is the second female lead which, as romance is actually secondary to the story she becomes tertiary and I mostly ignore her.
        There is something about this show. Every single scene feels urgent. Like something intangible is going to be lost forever.

        I know loveing dramas is sooo subjective, so I didn’t mean to write this as promoting and recommending! I only tried to put down why I love this show so much.

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        It’s kind of frustrating but realistic and the cheabol is opposing to his dad, experienced poverty, the heroine is not magically healed from her cancer, that Tango dance and passion I want to learn (who knew you can learn tango from Al Pacino???), saving doggie from dog eater ajushi – metaphor on the heroine herself, making friendly bridge between Japan and Korea (KSA grew up in Japan), showing petty rich folks and “an artist” in a way how they mostly are, etc. It’s not happy happy ending but it’s happy and beautiful in a way to show that you can really love a person that much…

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          “It’s not happy happy ending but it’s happy and beautiful in a way to show that you can really love a person that much…”

          This actually describes everything in this show.

          And I think you should have put a spoiler tag on your post 😉

          1
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            Oops! But it’s so old drama that spoilers don’t matter anymore. Just you have to accept it and enjoy the rest😉

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        And it is one of a kind where noble idiocy makes sense.

        1
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          Exactly! And not only noble idiocy, but rich parents opposing marriage too!

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    A Story of A Man aka The Slingshot

    3
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      Wow I’ve never even heard of it! What’s it about?

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        It’s written by the same writer of Healer.
        It’s about a man, played by Park Yong-ha, who lost everything; his money, brother and girlfriend then he planned a vengeance to the man who ruined his life with the help of people he met in prison.
        Kim Kang-woo played Chae Do-woo, a genius with mental health problem. He is the most memorable villain in my history of k-drama watching. He’s didnt act crazy or aggressive. There’s only one scene at the end when he lost control.
        It’s an action/melodrama. The action scenes sometimes were laughable and the melos could be really dramatic as you can expect from Asian dramas at the time. At the end there’s no winner or looser as the hero and villain expected, but I really love the journey.

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        How can you not have heard of A story of a Man! I haven’t watched it but I have heard and read about it everywhere! It has THE famous ending!

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    Healer is mine *shrugs*

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    This is almost an year old by now but @greenfields and I had started our blog with our favourite 5 dramas- so the list has 10 dramas there:

    https://desifanchant.home.blog/2018/08/26/favourite-five-kdramas/

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    Misaeng
    Dear My Friends
    I’ve got other dramas I’ve rated 10/10, but those two above share such insights about life, they’re above the rest by far

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      This!!! Loved your statement. Dramas may be a source of entertainment but the ones that merge with your lives and give you morals and lead you through the journey of life will forever have the biggest impressions. These two are at the top of my list too.

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    My Ajusshi.

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    Only one? Reply 1997.
    Ugh, Forest of Secrets.
    No, change that to Life on Mars.

    Idk.

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    If I can only pick ONE then it would have to be Healer. My most favorite is Just Between Lovers but Healer is the one I’ve re-watched the most.

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    My personal pick will always be “HEALER”
    No drama is yet to top it on my list😊😊

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    Wow! way to post a difficult question! LOL!!
    ermmm Reply 97

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    Oh, wow. This is hard. It would be Misaeng for me, though Signal and Circle are not too far behind.

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    *breathes*

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    I don’t think I need to answer this question. But you have my vote for the obvious.

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    Dramaland has so much offer and most of the shows mentioned above have been my favorites but whenever I come across this question, I think which one has been the most memorable. Misaeng for sure. 5 years but it is still the best for many. That show is kind of timeless, will be applicable to many people in different times and professions.

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    Ooo wait – Smile, You 😍
    How could I forget thee!!!

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    For drama series, it would be a tie between Circle and Coffee Prince. For short series: To.Jenny

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My final review of Trapped, wherein I grapple with rating a fantastic romance pasted over a mediocre action plotline.
https://mydramalist.com/profile/ChinguMode/review/48649

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Fine, I ship it!
Omurice and a nice audio nod to #HIStory2
I just have to ignore… most of the plot.
I can do that.

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What’s more bizarre about Trapped
1. That Meng Shao Fei has already recovered
2. That Tang Yi isn’t in jail
3. This suit
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    The suit.

    That will always, always be the answer.

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    [1] That hospital scene got a really big eye roll from me. He wasn’t even hooked up to the machine for it to go off and apparently he didn’t need to be hooked up to anything because he was fully recovered. You know what, they should just have said, “(At Least) One Month Later.” That little thing would have solved everything recovery related.

    [2] At least Tang-yi was in handcuffs?

    [3] So, when I saw this scene, I was like, hmmm…ahhh…the sister played a prank on him while shopping at Tang Yi’s place. I really have no idea what they were thinking with that suit though.

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      Tang Yi abducted, assaulted and tried to kill a cop. He in fact shot another cop, one he was dating. But instead of jail, he was allowed to go to the hospital and was then left alone outside the room of said cop with only handcuffs on.

      Tang Yi has a sister? As far as I’m aware, she’s still tied up in a warehouse somewhere. She’s probably dead from dehydration by now.

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        As far as I’m aware, she’s still tied up in a warehouse somewhere. She’s probably dead from dehydration by now.

        Would I be a bad person if I laughed at this?

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          Would I be a bad person if I kept up a #sisterwatch through all of 19 and laughed when she really never appeared?

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            Not really. Espc since she would conflict big time with much of the story and the relationship between the OTP.

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            Regardless of the sister issue, he had parts of his organisation that were so angry about the direction they were going that they were willing to conspire against him to kidnap his sister and murder him. And then they… all packed up and went home and we never heard from them again?

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            It was the sister who conspired with the lackey who was in love with Tang Yi!!! that did the whole kidnapping thing if I remember correctly–which I may not be. So when that lackey was dealt with, and the sister was shipped away–which helped “kill” a problem the writer wrote for herself–then everything was ok in “whatever that organization is called again” and Tang Yi!!! was free to fall in love with a little “less” complications.

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            The sister conspired with the lackey who was in love with Tang Yi but she was angry about Shao Fei getting close to Tang Yi and wanted to scare him away; she never wanted anyone to get hurt. She pulled out when Shao Fei got shot.

            Then that lackey was murdered in jail by the corrupt cop that murdered Old Tang and Chen Wen Hao used that death to accuse Tang Yi of murdering him. So his sister was kidnapped by members of Tang Yi’s own organisation under orders from Chen Wen Hao.

            That was how I understood it. But you’re right, the writer wrote themselves into a corner and I don’t really feel they dealt with it.

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            Oh, it seems like I fast forwarded through her second kidnapping and the lackey’s murder. The guy playing Tang Yi!!!, his acting was too much, and the plot was, yeah…so I skipped it. The only part I skipped in the drama.

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            I should refer to him always as Tang Yi!!! from now on.
            I spent the last two episodes with my sphincter clenched in anticipation of Shao Fei calling his name like that. Nails on a chalkboard.

            But boy did I roll my eyes at their conversation in the hospital, where Shao Fei basically signs himself up to a lifetime of preventing his boyfriend from murdering people.

            But yeah, Chris Wu’s acting was… not great.

            Anyway, I’ve finished it and with subtitles. The sister lives. That’s good to know. Marshmallow Cop seems to have saddled himself with a mercenary who was working for drug runners so… we’re not supposed to think too hard about these things, right?

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Thanks to @greenfields I\’ve realised Angel\’s Last Mission is basically a bad YA film that somehow got an amazing actor to sign up. So I\’m not dropping and will instead enjoy its cheesy glory.

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I’m sure this is the kind of thing that usually excites me. But for some reason it just made me roll my eyes.






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I’m afraid that L’s whole thing in Angel’s Last Mission is leaving me cold.

Animated GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

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    I think he’s adorable 😄

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      😄 He’s not at Shin Hye Sun’s level, but for L, this is probably his best acting yet.

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        Plus Shut Up…

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          …flower boy band? He’s in the show?

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            Yes! And quite good.
            I got then so disappointed with the shows that followed… had high expectations…

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            @dorotka Most of the main cast of SUFBB sadly didn’t have the best luck in choosing projects after the show. It’s not until recently that even Jo Boa started getting more lead roles again! They were all super green but I think the show had some good directing that helped mask that, as well as an ensemble cast that worked well together to be able to carry on the show after LMK’s electric stint came to an end.

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            @mindy I didn’t word it well… I meant more L’s acting in the shows that followed, not the shows self (though yes, many were disappointing on their own).

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          They’re very different roles, but his acting in Shut Up was probably a bit more natural. He still has a lot to work on no matter what you see him in, though, haha.

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    I never did return to this after episode 2.

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    I find the whole idea is silly. So I didn’t put this show in my list.

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My first impression of Angel’s Last Mission: Shin Hye-sun is extraordinary – utterly transcendent. I knew she had it in her after 30 But 17 and Forest of Secrets and she is why I’m here. But even my expectations have been exceeded. She is amazing.
I love the music constantly reminding us this is a ballet; a simple tale with poeple moving in complex ways.
But, L?
Not good enough. Not good enough at all.
Being pleasant is just not enough when you’re working with an actor this good.



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    I almost want to continue watching it just for her.

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      It’s having tonal problems even in episode 1. But for the moment I’m giving it a pass because ballet can contain intense elements of tragedy and comedy. But it could become a problem – L seems like he’s almost in a different show so far.

      Unlike others I’m not that gripped by the storyline. You know my level of patience with superstition and biblical literalism is nil. I nearly checked out when he said her ballet skill was a gift from God.

      But every moment she’s on screen is electric. She really is extraordinary.

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        Comment was deleted

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          But I want to know what you were going to saaaaayyyy

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            oh godddd. I think i wrote that SHS is the definite star of the show, but last weeks episodes we get more depth to L’s character and the story all makes more sense. It feels less like two parts of a drama and more of a whole. L stole my heart last week, while SHS had mine since the beginning. And then i deleted it cuz i felt corny and embarrassed to be sorta disagreeing with you hahahah

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    Oh you started this?? Goodness don’t put too much hope in any of it lol

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    To be fair, her character has a lot more depth written in. All we know about Dan is that he’s an innocent, mischevious angel with a darker past that is yet to be revealed. As a lighter character he’s embodied Dan well. I’ve found his portrayal charming and feel engaged in their scenes and their chemistry–I’ve never thought “This girl is acting circles around him,” I get caught up in the scenes. I was not a fan of L before this (except for his role in SUFBB), but he’s also delivered in the few more serious, emotional scenes we’ve seen so far (esp this last week). She’s killing the role, but he’s also doing well with what he’s been given. I want to see how he does once there’s a little more meat to the character.

    I’m in this for her story arc and for their friendship/relationship, whatever it is. The rest of the show, eh.

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      In any other show with any other female lead, I’d think he was doing fine. There’s nothing wrong with his performance for what it is. It’s just having her in the scene with him isn’t doing the perception of acting any favours.

      Mileage varies of course. Acting wise, I think she’s dancing circles around him.
      (mic drop).

      1
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        I can see that. It works for me but there are others who feel the same as you. And I do think another (better) actor could have elevated Dan to a whole other level.

        I’m happy I’m enjoying it for now. We will see how long it lasts.

        HA! I will gracefully bow off stage….

        1
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11
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The only thing worse than back half Noble Idiocy is when it\’s combined with a hefty dose of Female Martyrdom to produce the Candy Special.
Shining Inheritance

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    I won’t be joining you.

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      Suddenly every episode is just people crying and half the time I don’t know why. Why is victimhood such a big part of these shows? Sheesh.

      1
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        I remember catching bits of makjang dramas before I started really watching k-dramas and wondering why they were always slapping someone or crying.

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        This is the kind of drama that I usually laugh my way through. My college roommates banned me from the room during any soap opera type tv shows.

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          They have this whole ToD scene where she nearly gets hit by a car and he has a trauma freakout over his father’s death. And I roared with laughter through the whole thing.

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    I was planning a watch of this in the summer – you beat me to it! 😂

    What do you think? Is it toxic enough for you?

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      Toxic is the wrong word. Most of it is pure crack – bad but you can’t stop using watching. Unfortunately it’s 28 episodes so the last 5-10 episodes are a slog. Once her noble idiocy starts and every episode is just people crying and yelling, it’s a bit much.

      I still watched every episode though…

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        The way Hwan treats Eun-sung is a little toxic. Then again, it’s a product of 2009, so we have to give it some slack.

        This is a favourite of mine, with what I still think to be some of the best written character development ever, but I’m not blind to the fact it is problematic.

        1
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          I gave it a 2009 hand wave as well. I looked at what year it was made before I watched it. Honestly, the way he mandhandles her, dragging her around that rooftop like a sack of potatoes is just awful. But you’re right about the character development. And while 28 episodes was a good 8 episodes too many, it did give him believable space for it. I just wish she wasn’t so much of a damn Candy and had stood up for herself more.

          1
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          Eun-sung is so candified is hard to tell where the stereotypes end and her personality begins – Han Hyo-joo is brilliant, but I love the character more for what she represents as an independent young woman, rather than what was actually shown on screen.

          Hwan’s family turning from monsters into capable human beings had always been the highlight for me. I always find it entertaining to see Lee Seung-gi sheepishly waiting for the bus! 😂

          1
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            I thought she was a pretty good Candy in the first half. But once she opted for Martyrdom and spent so much time sitting at home in her hovel sobbing because she was in love with a man that she… could have just dated if she wanted to??? I mean, really???… I lost patience with her. Why not just tell people what happened?

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\”I\’ll burn his world down. Then he\’ll love me.\”
Second female lead
Korea drama
Circa: every year

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Y’all weren’t lying about Shining Inheritance being crack.
It’s a trope-filled Candy story full of Makjang.
It’s bad but I can’t stop watching – and 28 episodes OMG.
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    Umm. I think I will be joining you. It has been on my ‘shit watch’ list for ages.

    3
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    Looks right up my alley, plus Lee Seunggi. I’ll put it next on my list, thanks for posting!

    2
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    Just prep a few boxes of tissues or a few pillows to throw (depending on whether you’re a crier or a thrower) for Bae Soo Bin…

    1
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      Based on this comment, I thought he was going to meet our friendly, neighbourhood ToD.

      0
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        No, no, no— thankfully it wasn’t that…. Just a really bad case of SLS— well, for me, personally, anyways 😂😂

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          As usual for this era, her relationship with the SML was really developed and mature, while her relationship with the male lead got to the “we’re in love with each other but will never show it and now she’s crying about it” stage and then stalled. Why would we believe she’s in love with someone if she never shows it?

          It’s really shallow but since this was 2009 I wasn’t expecting much. Frankly, I didn’t see her getting together with him as that important and was frustrated they kept it for the final episode. It really wasn’t that big a deal to me and I couldn’t understand why she didn’t just date him.

          1
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            Yea, I could feel at times the ML’s feelings for the female lead—because he’s definitely a very vocal character 😅😅—, but could not feel the FL’s feelings for him and was wondering where it all came from 🤔🤔 Maybe it slowly developed when they were working together?? 🤷🏻‍♀️🤷🏻‍♀️

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            The first and second male leads had this bizarre conversation somewhere near the end where the SML said he “envied the male lead’s honesty about his feelings and wished he could be like that” and I honestly wondered what drama the SML was watching because it wasn’t this one.

            1
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            Yea, the SML meant that he envied the ML being able to freely express ‘his feelings’ (i.e. how childish he really is), but IT’S BECAUSE HE’S THE MALE LEAD that we are all “supposed to love from beginning to end just because he’s the frickin’ male lead” *cue eye roll)*

            1
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    I finished watching this for the first time and wholeheartedly agree. Haha. It was one of those shows that made me wonder the whole time why I was still watching. But I finished it, albeit with some heavy fast-forwarding.

    2
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      I have ff’d a lot, I admit. Especially anything to do with her ridiculous mother.

      1
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        She was a LOT. But I have to say, I did appreciate that she wasn’t shrieky, as so many step-mothers and mother-in-laws tend to be in dramaland.

        0
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    You know, developing a taste for Makjang is a slippery slope to a “bad” place. You’ll know you’re in the danger zone when you start thinking .. hey, Makjangs aren’t so bad, they’re actually watchable. Take it from someone who knows …

    2
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      I’m in no danger when the back half is full of silly melodramatic moments where people sob, look conflicted, or wander around like some gothic heroine because of really trite conflict. Makjang can be fun when it’s gleefully ridiculous. But not when it’s used to give the appearance of plot when there isn’t one.

      I actually quite liked our Candy until now. She’s annoying the hell out of me with her crying and melodrama.

      1
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        Hmmm the description you’ve given doesn’t actually equate makjang. Beanies have fallen into the habit of calling anything silly melodramatic makjang. But that isn’t what makjang really is. I think Creating Destiny is the epitome of makjang. Creating new conflict out of the blue every two episodes.

        0
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    Omgg this was my first K-drama ever (Well second, bc the first was a sageuk i can’t remember)! 😭😭😭

    I don’t remember much of the plot but I remember how addictive it was. Everyone in my household used to love it, and whenever it came on TV, whoever was there first would yell at all of us to come. Aaaah good memories 😂

    Me and my sisters were recently talking about having a K-drama Throwback Marathon of some classics, starting with Shining Inheritance ofc! (And probably Coffee Prince, Secret Garden and Autumn in My Heart)… still gotta find time for that.

    1
    1

Absolute Boyfriend is a way better show than I was expecting. Way way better.

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    Sounds like I need to pick it back up.

    2
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      If you dropped it, I’m sure you dropped it for a reason. I’ve just finished episode 6 and have enjoyed all of it. So you probably dropped it because of things that aren’t an issue for me.