So they both stalk each other lol
I think the SML is unnecessary, I’m firmly with the lead pairing
Also why has no one noticed how often Sol is absent from class?? Honestly she should just enrol in the boys school 😉
This week has finally concluded the reign of this past chaebol-centric season. I’m very much looking forward to our April and May (chaebol-free) dramas. Chaebol fatigue is real, so thank you CHICKEN NUGGET for being my light during such a dark time…
I didn’t think a drama about hurt characters hurting each other would be my favourite show of 2023. The central thesis being love does NOT conquer all. Love can be toxic, lie, cheat and end. And yes while all this sounds miserable and painful, it was this drama that for whatever reason stuck with me throughout the year. It was this drama that comforted me in times of bleakness and sadness, it was this drama that reminded me of why I love kdramas.
It’s very human to its core, exploring how everyone is battling their own demons, how we are all flawed and imperfect and just trying to get by. Maybe we make mistakes, have regrets and make decisions that are not always rational. But well that’s just being human isn’t it?
Thank you INTEREST OF LOVE for reminding me of that.
Do-hee died right? Gu-won resurrected her? I never thought weather would be a reason to watch a drama but here I am in the midst of a storm watching MY DEMON and damn does the thunder give it the desired effect. It feels more epic lol
Anyways MY DEMON is my choice for the guilty pleasure pick. By all accounts it shouldn’t work for me, but it does. Part of the fun is wondering what the hell is Do-hee’s job again?! This is not a complaint, I’m enjoying how the drama doesn’t even try to pretend or get bogged down in semantics of it all. Just give me the p r e t t y
Lee Jung-hye was a riot! She was the murderous over-the-top villain that put a smile on face whenever she was on screen. Both her glee and desperation were so entertaining to watch. The actress also seemed to have fun playing the role
OMG, yes, yes she is awesome and she does a great balancing act between being evil and being deluded, to the point where her character never becomes farcical (which is really a tricky thing to do when villains lose their all-powerful influence)
The chaebol (treason) takeover / succession plot, it’s one my gripes with chaebol dramas in general. A majority of them focus on this storyline and it’s always so boring and dry to watch. Even PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE couldn’t make it fun. I’m genuinely curious if anyone enjoys this trope?
Dramas featuring said trope:
KING THE LAND
SEE YOU IN MY 19th LIFE
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE
THE STORY OF PARK’S MARRIAGE CONTRACT
Giving MY DEMON a pass for now (I’ve put it on hold tho) as it seems to be somewhat like KNIVES OUT (without the class critique) in that the whole family are varying levels of awful. And hey bonus a woman chaebol in charge who isn’t the bad guy for once
While it isn’t my least favorite trope (that would be amnesia), I do find that corporate power battles can be tedious. Occasionally a show like Giant finds a way to make them really compelling though – I think it just depends upon the skills of the writers.
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE – Yi-joo’s and Yoo-ra’s dad.
You see PMR was precisely fun because we got to see our villains’ downfall and eventual comeuppance. It was a world that was black and white, no grey, no in-between, just good guys and bad guys. So colour me surprised that Yi-joo’s and Yoo-ra’s dad was given protein coffee instead. Dude was a horrible father, neglectful and abusive and his biggest crime was not even being a fun villain. So for this reason, his punishment shall not just end with a kimchi slap but the guillotine (yes I’m a little bloodthirsty). I also don’t want to share a pic because screw this guy.
The fact that all he did was ignoring his daughters was outrageous. First YiJoo, looking aside all the time, then YooRa, abandoning the daughter he raised. Yes, no doubt he is one of the worst dad of the year.
I just wanted an excuse to look at hot Kim Bum / Rang okay? That said I have noticed an uptick in smoking in kdramaland lately. Putting my conspiracy hat on and gonna bet that big tobacco has something to do with this
Anyway so I don’t feel guilty for promoting smoking I’m tying this back to the bromance prompt as Yeon shoots the cigarette off Rang’s mouth…yanno as siblings do. Yeon is such a caring brother after all 😉
Show how you learned from your mistakes: let’s talk about drops
I’ve learnt nothing. In fact I’m actually glad I’m bad at quitting because and I’ve never had this happen to me before, the ending of CASTAWAY DIVA made me re-evaluate
e v e r y t h i n g
It was that GOOD! I was bawling my eyes damn. I’m not even going try to coherently explain my thoughts, I’m still processing it to the point I’m becoming unhinged
If I had to choose one, it would be Rang buuuuuut why not choose both? We literally had season two because of their chemistry. Also spoilers for my favourite bromance 😉
I mean we had a whole drama about smiles this year but it was Chae Jong-hyeop’s and specifically Ki-ho’s smile that took the db community by storm
So for that reason I bestow Chae Jong-Hyeop the coveted King The Smile award 😉
In all seriousness, CASTAWAY DIVA was my first time seeing Chae Jong-Hyeop and he did not disappoint! Ki-ho will no doubt be added to my favourite Male Leads post (once I finish writing it up 😅).
Great choice. Sadly, I didn’t connect with CD. But I watched Loved All Play earlier this year and was bowled over by his smile. I still have Unlock on my watchlist as soon as the current drama deluge ends.
Btw my Bookclub picked Whale for its Jan read. Korea! It’s everywhere!
Oh really? Since I watched it late, I received Beanie wisdom and skipped the angsty last third (read the recaps) and watched the finale for more smiles. Looking fwd to Unlock.
Eek eek eek I’m so excited for you to watch Unlock My Boss!!!! I didn’t like Love All Play either (everyone took advantage of his love nooo 😭), but as you know, Unlock My Boss is one of my top favorites. I think it’s a bit polarizing – not everyone likes it – but CJH is amazing in it.
#RoundUp8
The character who most screams for mental health care
Song Ji-won – Age of Youth
Finding out she dies so young gutted me. We don’t explicitly know the cause of her death, it could be Truck of Doom or Cancer, but after the events of season two it’s heavily implied that she may have…
Hmmm, interesting. I found an article on Soompi saying Ji-won died fighting for injustice. I’m not sure if it means she was murdered or had taken her own life? Either way season two Ji-won definitely needed some therapy and I’m still sad she died so young…
When I watched it last year I missed that scene (it’s hidden in the credits). Some months later I knew it and I went back to watch the hidden scene. And it’s so sad because it’s true 😭
I really need to go back and check because I did not see any epilogue…though sometimes ignorance is bliss, I was happier when I didn’t know about this 🥲
Oh well, I just realized I skipped all the epilogues (currently watching them now ahah) because they’re after the preview and I always skip that xD
No wonder!!
Oof sorry! The epilogues are mostly fun but yeah the urn epilogue absolutely gutted me. If it helps there is an epilogue in episode 13 with Sung-min (doesn’t show his face but it’s his voice) and Ji-won’s daughter visiting Belle Epoque together. It’s bittersweet as it seems Ji-won passed away by then
The drama Beanies convinced you to watch and you can’t be grateful enough
ONE DAY OFF
Watching three chaebol dramas simultaneously has given me serious chaebol fatigue. So many thanks to beanies for recommending ONE DAY OFF! It’s so refreshing to see simple everyday interactions between characters, the beauty and magic in the mundane, while also appealing to the wanderlust in us all. I’ve only watched four episodes so far and you bet I’m savouring the experience.
My favourite so far is episode two, it’s out there and super weird but also comforting. What is the meaning of success? Do the metrics of awards, money and fame determine what it means to be successful? Or perhaps it’s purpose and passion, maybe success is just being able to do the thing you love, even if you don’t get any monetary benefit or accolades from it
I definitely had my issues, especially as some of the references and dialogue the writer incorporated into the script was offensive at best. That said, I like seeing female leads being unabashedly messy and Bora was indeed m-e-s-s-y. Did I agree with everything she said or done? Noooope. She was a very flawed character and witnessing her go through a breakup and the consequent stages of grief and growing and changing was immensely satisfying to watch.
A drama beanies enjoyed but I didn’t
LOVE TO HATE YOU
I hated the ML Gang-ho, after one failed relationship he hates all women lol. Seriously wtf?! Look I get the writer was going for angle that both leads hate the opposite gender, but we live under patriarchy sooooooo at least the FL Mi-ran’s hate is more grounded in reality…
Gang-ho also weirdly idolises Mi-ran in a way that’s offensive. I get the she can be special to him but he says shit like she’s not like ‘other’ girls/women which is a big red flag for me. Anyway the drama did the crime of having Kim Ji-hoon do a cringeworthy public confession which is absolutely unforgivable imo
Day 1 : Female Lead I’ll never forget
Yeah I can’t just choose one! So I chose three 😉
TALE OF THE NINE-TALED 1938
Ryu Hong-joo
How can I describe perfection!
WORK LATER, DRINK NOW
Kang Ji-goo
I’m a sucker for a curmudgeon with a heart of gold. Ji-goo is someone who can cut you with her eyes but is fiercely loyal. Do I want her to step on me? Yes yes definitely.
I’m not sure we’ll get a season three of WORK LATER, DRINK NOW, that said Ji-goo’s arc was interesting. Her career trajectory especially with the rise of the gig economy was the most relatable. We place so much emphasis and our identity on our choice of career that it feels incredibly debilitating. Maybe our career doesn’t define us, it certainly didn’t define Ji-goo, she stayed the same regardless of her job title
GOOD BAD MOTHER
Lee Mi-joo
Mi-joo might’ve been a side character but she was the only character I cared about in GOOD BAD MOTHER. Ahn Eun-Jin managed to bring depth and nuance to Mi-joo, a character who could’ve easily been sidelined, and yet it was Mi-joo who I was the most invested in. I wanted her to achieve all her dreams. In spite of everything that was thrown at her, she still remained the most caring and thoughtful and forgiving person. It might be weird to say that I look up to a fictional character but I do
Just reminding myself that Park Eun-bin was the infamous, foul-mouthed and my favourite charismatic queen Song Ji-won!
Yeah I was deliberately avoiding and ignoring all criticism for Seo Mok-ha, but after a particular scene I can’t deny that she feels too naive and honestly can’t in good conscience ship her with Ki-ho
Apart from Chae Jong-hyeop having a smile so heart-fluttering that it feels downright illegal, he acts his age. Seo Mok-ha on the other-hand feels like she’s ten?? Look I get she was trapped in a deserted island for fifteen years but she was around sixteen when that happened, so why does her behaviour seem more juvenile??
The scene I am referring to, is admittedly quite funny, Ki-ho looking up patricide but being mistaken for looking up p**n was/is hilarious…buuuut Seo Mok-ha’s reaction just reinforced that girls/women are meant to (or pretend to) be naive and virginal who don’t have any sexual desires. Her character also doesn’t explicitly seem to be asexual either. (I also want to clarify that I don’t mean to suggest that asexual individuals are immature)
Look what gives?? Why does a thirty-something woman feel so childish?? Let me remind you Park Hye-ryun wrote DREAM HIGH S1. Suzy who was a teenager at the time had both Kim Soo-hyun and Taec in love with her (sorry I don’t remember their character’s names), also pretty sure she kissed both of them at some point.
Now I don’t mind characters having different life and romantic experiences. The tension between couples who have different expectations is something writer Park Yeon-sun (AGE OF YOUTH S1&2, SALON DE NABI) encapsulates so well.
CASTAWAY DIVA, and let’s be honest the ‘castaway’ part is a total gimmick, doesn’t seem to tackle this issue rather it focuses on other plot elements to gloss over the potential conflict between our OTP??
Anyway I totally want Park Eun-bin’s next role to a femme fatale, pls make answer my prayers dramagods!
Ji-Won spoke about it by bravado but she was actually completely traumatized since her childhood and never had any relationship. So I don’t think it’s a good example.
I agree that Song-Ji-won overcompensated by sexually objectifying men as her coping mechanism for her childhood trauma. But sexual desires and sexual experiences are different. Song Ji-won did consume p**n. Seo Mok-ha views p**n as criminal. The ethics of p**n is a different discussion, I just wanted to highlight that women too have sexual desires and that’s okay. I’m sorry if that didn’t come across well
Ji-won could be watching p**n for mere curiosity and that’s open to interpretation. I do personally think she had sexual desires, while Ji-won might’ve overcompensated due to her trauma, I’m not inclined to believe that’s the sole reason. I think humans are more multifaceted than that but again that’s my personal opinion
It’s a strange way of criticizing by comparing two roles of the same actress. It is not her fault that the character is written and directed like that. Actually women reacting badly to p*, and glossing over women’s desires, is very much more normal in Kdramaland. You are free to criticize it, and your opinion is valid, but it has nothing to do with Park Eun Bin and her various roles in other dramas.
Agreed – it’s almost like a kdrama norm that sex is not to be talked about, let alone showing sexual desires. The exceptions are few and afar. So, Mok-ha’s response here is typical and no different from the majority of other dramas.
(I’m not saying it’s right or wrong but this is the kdrama reality.)
I haven’t seen these other shows, but I agree that PEB’s portrayal of Mok-ha is far too juvenile and that’s one of the biggest reasons I dropped the show. There were so many things wrong with the way that internet search scene was both written and acted, starting with her nosily asking what he’d been looking at.
I just thought it was poorly written that MokHa herself suggests that he may be watching something – does she say nasty? – and then is all askance when he agrees that he is. Girl, you brought it up.
I think one of the things that worked so well in Still 17 is that even tho the ML wasn’t in a coma for 13 years, he had his own struggles and conflicts that didn’t let him grow up. He was stuck in the age of 17 too.
In Ki-Ka couple’s case I wouldn’t be surprised if they had weird/uncomfortable moments the more their relationship develops due to their age/maturity differences.
But it’s also true that kdramas act like teenagers, and even adults, barely know/think about sexual stuff, so it wouldn’t be that weird if she acted like “omo, I thought all men were like Ken (barbie)”.
I dropped the show, so Idk which scene you’re referring to but I think both options are possible: the age differences are showing, or kdramas are being kdramas.
Linarrick
April 9, 2024 at 8:26 PM
#LovelyRunnerEp2
So they both stalk each other lol
I think the SML is unnecessary, I’m firmly with the lead pairing
Also why has no one noticed how often Sol is absent from class?? Honestly she should just enrol in the boys school 😉
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
April 10, 2024 at 10:45 AM
🤣🤣🤣 Does timeslip come with a school skip pass!?
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 10, 2024 at 10:04 PM
On Twinkling watermelon they couldn’t get past security to wander around the school and yet day and night the one girl wandering isn’t an issue!
Linarrick
April 5, 2024 at 5:49 AM
This week has finally concluded the reign of this past chaebol-centric season. I’m very much looking forward to our April and May (chaebol-free) dramas. Chaebol fatigue is real, so thank you CHICKEN NUGGET for being my light during such a dark time…
owl 🦉 🫰
April 5, 2024 at 5:05 PM
Chaebol fatigue is real.
Linarrick
March 26, 2024 at 10:34 PM
C’mon they know what they’re doing…
I need more screen time between these two pls
#NothingUncovered
Blue (@mayhemf)
March 27, 2024 at 5:49 AM
This scene was 🔥🔥
Kafiyah Bello
March 28, 2024 at 2:38 PM
I said the same thing, lol.
Linarrick
December 31, 2023 at 12:44 AM
#RoundUp2023
Favourite Drama – INTEREST OF LOVE
I didn’t think a drama about hurt characters hurting each other would be my favourite show of 2023. The central thesis being love does NOT conquer all. Love can be toxic, lie, cheat and end. And yes while all this sounds miserable and painful, it was this drama that for whatever reason stuck with me throughout the year. It was this drama that comforted me in times of bleakness and sadness, it was this drama that reminded me of why I love kdramas.
It’s very human to its core, exploring how everyone is battling their own demons, how we are all flawed and imperfect and just trying to get by. Maybe we make mistakes, have regrets and make decisions that are not always rational. But well that’s just being human isn’t it?
Thank you INTEREST OF LOVE for reminding me of that.
Kurama
December 31, 2023 at 12:51 AM
It was one of my favourite too! 🥰
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
December 31, 2023 at 8:12 AM
Thank you. You have really explained it so well. RL love is ALWAYS messy.
Linarrick
December 23, 2023 at 8:01 PM
#RoundUp16
Your guilty pleasure
Do-hee died right? Gu-won resurrected her? I never thought weather would be a reason to watch a drama but here I am in the midst of a storm watching MY DEMON and damn does the thunder give it the desired effect. It feels more epic lol
Anyways MY DEMON is my choice for the guilty pleasure pick. By all accounts it shouldn’t work for me, but it does. Part of the fun is wondering what the hell is Do-hee’s job again?! This is not a complaint, I’m enjoying how the drama doesn’t even try to pretend or get bogged down in semantics of it all. Just give me the p r e t t y
Linarrick
December 19, 2023 at 5:17 PM
#RoundUp18
Favourite villain
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE – Lee Jung-hye
Lee Jung-hye was a riot! She was the murderous over-the-top villain that put a smile on face whenever she was on screen. Both her glee and desperation were so entertaining to watch. The actress also seemed to have fun playing the role
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
December 20, 2023 at 9:56 AM
We loved to hate her. 🤣 Her monochromatic fashion game was a thing of beauty.
Cecee
December 21, 2023 at 6:05 AM
OMG, yes, yes she is awesome and she does a great balancing act between being evil and being deluded, to the point where her character never becomes farcical (which is really a tricky thing to do when villains lose their all-powerful influence)
Linarrick
December 19, 2023 at 4:41 PM
#RoundUp19
Worst used trope
The chaebol (treason) takeover / succession plot, it’s one my gripes with chaebol dramas in general. A majority of them focus on this storyline and it’s always so boring and dry to watch. Even PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE couldn’t make it fun. I’m genuinely curious if anyone enjoys this trope?
Dramas featuring said trope:
KING THE LAND
SEE YOU IN MY 19th LIFE
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE
THE STORY OF PARK’S MARRIAGE CONTRACT
Giving MY DEMON a pass for now (I’ve put it on hold tho) as it seems to be somewhat like KNIVES OUT (without the class critique) in that the whole family are varying levels of awful. And hey bonus a woman chaebol in charge who isn’t the bad guy for once
wonhwa
December 19, 2023 at 5:11 PM
While it isn’t my least favorite trope (that would be amnesia), I do find that corporate power battles can be tedious. Occasionally a show like Giant finds a way to make them really compelling though – I think it just depends upon the skills of the writers.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
December 20, 2023 at 10:00 AM
Reborn Rich made a good case … or maybe it was just Song Joong-ki. 🤣
Linarrick
December 15, 2023 at 12:53 PM
#RoundUp15
Special Kimchi slap edition: worst parent
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE – Yi-joo’s and Yoo-ra’s dad.
You see PMR was precisely fun because we got to see our villains’ downfall and eventual comeuppance. It was a world that was black and white, no grey, no in-between, just good guys and bad guys. So colour me surprised that Yi-joo’s and Yoo-ra’s dad was given protein coffee instead. Dude was a horrible father, neglectful and abusive and his biggest crime was not even being a fun villain. So for this reason, his punishment shall not just end with a kimchi slap but the guillotine (yes I’m a little bloodthirsty). I also don’t want to share a pic because screw this guy.
Dishonourable Mention:
BAD MOTHER
Eazal
December 15, 2023 at 2:36 PM
The fact that all he did was ignoring his daughters was outrageous. First YiJoo, looking aside all the time, then YooRa, abandoning the daughter he raised. Yes, no doubt he is one of the worst dad of the year.
Linarrick
December 14, 2023 at 2:37 PM
#RoundUp14
Best Womance – The housemates of belle-époque (AGE OF YOUTH)
Do I even need to explain myself?
Linarrick
December 14, 2023 at 2:28 PM
#RoundUp14
Best Bromance – Yeon & Rang
This is such a sibling interaction lol
Linarrick
December 14, 2023 at 2:09 PM
#RoundUpFreestyle
Best cigarette PPL
I just wanted an excuse to look at hot Kim Bum / Rang okay? That said I have noticed an uptick in smoking in kdramaland lately. Putting my conspiracy hat on and gonna bet that big tobacco has something to do with this
Anyway so I don’t feel guilty for promoting smoking I’m tying this back to the bromance prompt as Yeon shoots the cigarette off Rang’s mouth…yanno as siblings do. Yeon is such a caring brother after all 😉
Linarrick
December 12, 2023 at 2:48 PM
#RoundUp13
Show how you learned from your mistakes: let’s talk about drops
I’ve learnt nothing. In fact I’m actually glad I’m bad at quitting because and I’ve never had this happen to me before, the ending of CASTAWAY DIVA made me re-evaluate
e v e r y t h i n g
It was that GOOD! I was bawling my eyes damn. I’m not even going try to coherently explain my thoughts, I’m still processing it to the point I’m becoming unhinged
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
December 12, 2023 at 8:24 PM
+1 ^^ same
Linarrick
December 11, 2023 at 3:24 PM
#RoundUp12
Best Suit Wearer(s)
My nine tailed foxes
Yeon & Rang
If I had to choose one, it would be Rang buuuuuut why not choose both? We literally had season two because of their chemistry. Also spoilers for my favourite bromance 😉
Ally
December 11, 2023 at 4:54 PM
I second this!
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
December 11, 2023 at 5:58 PM
What can be prettier than brothers in suits.
Midnight
December 11, 2023 at 7:12 PM
I’m happy that you picked Yeon too! Lee Dong Wook has been a favorite suit wearer of mine for a decade!! I like his style much better than Rang’s.
Unaspirated
December 12, 2023 at 4:44 AM
Can we all just take a moment to appreciate the fact that in the third pic, Yeon’s pocket is a crocheted granny square? It’s 👌
Linarrick
December 9, 2023 at 11:49 PM
#RoundUp10
Your 2023 crush
Chae Jong-hyeop / Ki-ho
I mean we had a whole drama about smiles this year but it was Chae Jong-hyeop’s and specifically Ki-ho’s smile that took the db community by storm
So for that reason I bestow Chae Jong-Hyeop the coveted King The Smile award 😉
In all seriousness, CASTAWAY DIVA was my first time seeing Chae Jong-Hyeop and he did not disappoint! Ki-ho will no doubt be added to my favourite Male Leads post (once I finish writing it up 😅).
indyfan
December 10, 2023 at 12:09 AM
Great choice. Sadly, I didn’t connect with CD. But I watched Loved All Play earlier this year and was bowled over by his smile. I still have Unlock on my watchlist as soon as the current drama deluge ends.
Btw my Bookclub picked Whale for its Jan read. Korea! It’s everywhere!
Midnight
December 10, 2023 at 12:42 AM
I didn’t like Love All Play, but Unlock My Boss was lovely!
indyfan
December 10, 2023 at 12:45 AM
Oh really? Since I watched it late, I received Beanie wisdom and skipped the angsty last third (read the recaps) and watched the finale for more smiles. Looking fwd to Unlock.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
December 10, 2023 at 4:09 AM
Eek eek eek I’m so excited for you to watch Unlock My Boss!!!! I didn’t like Love All Play either (everyone took advantage of his love nooo 😭), but as you know, Unlock My Boss is one of my top favorites. I think it’s a bit polarizing – not everyone likes it – but CJH is amazing in it.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
December 10, 2023 at 4:09 AM
Yayyyy!!!! He’s my pick, too!!! 🥰 You have great taste, and King the Smile is such a perfect description 😊
Linarrick
December 8, 2023 at 3:25 PM
#RoundUp8
The character who most screams for mental health care
Song Ji-won – Age of Youth
Finding out she dies so young gutted me. We don’t explicitly know the cause of her death, it could be Truck of Doom or Cancer, but after the events of season two it’s heavily implied that she may have…
Excuse me while I go cry
Linarrick
December 8, 2023 at 3:41 PM
Hmmm, interesting. I found an article on Soompi saying Ji-won died fighting for injustice. I’m not sure if it means she was murdered or had taken her own life? Either way season two Ji-won definitely needed some therapy and I’m still sad she died so young…
https://www.soompi.com/article/1056497wpp/park-eun-bin-reveals-truth-behind-age-youth-2-epilogue-hinting-characters-death
Lelly19
December 9, 2023 at 12:45 AM
??????
I just watched S2 recently…what do you mean she died??? 😭😭
I’m not sure I wanna know tbh 🙈
Isa is always time travelling
December 9, 2023 at 3:35 AM
When I watched it last year I missed that scene (it’s hidden in the credits). Some months later I knew it and I went back to watch the hidden scene. And it’s so sad because it’s true 😭
Lelly19
December 9, 2023 at 7:24 AM
I really need to go back and check because I did not see any epilogue…though sometimes ignorance is bliss, I was happier when I didn’t know about this 🥲
Lelly19
December 9, 2023 at 7:49 AM
Oh well, I just realized I skipped all the epilogues (currently watching them now ahah) because they’re after the preview and I always skip that xD
No wonder!!
Linarrick
December 9, 2023 at 12:53 PM
Oof sorry! The epilogues are mostly fun but yeah the urn epilogue absolutely gutted me. If it helps there is an epilogue in episode 13 with Sung-min (doesn’t show his face but it’s his voice) and Ji-won’s daughter visiting Belle Epoque together. It’s bittersweet as it seems Ji-won passed away by then
Linarrick
December 7, 2023 at 2:31 AM
#RoundUp7
The drama Beanies convinced you to watch and you can’t be grateful enough
ONE DAY OFF
Watching three chaebol dramas simultaneously has given me serious chaebol fatigue. So many thanks to beanies for recommending ONE DAY OFF! It’s so refreshing to see simple everyday interactions between characters, the beauty and magic in the mundane, while also appealing to the wanderlust in us all. I’ve only watched four episodes so far and you bet I’m savouring the experience.
My favourite so far is episode two, it’s out there and super weird but also comforting. What is the meaning of success? Do the metrics of awards, money and fame determine what it means to be successful? Or perhaps it’s purpose and passion, maybe success is just being able to do the thing you love, even if you don’t get any monetary benefit or accolades from it
Honourable Mention:
PERFECT MARRIAGE REVENGE
wonhwa
December 7, 2023 at 5:39 AM
One Day Off was such a lovely little gem of show!
zindigo
December 7, 2023 at 6:16 AM
One of my favorites this year! I’d love to see more short series like this.
Linarrick
December 5, 2023 at 2:19 AM
#RoundUp5
Yeah I’m changing this to:
OTP I know I love and rewatching AGE OF YOUTH S1&2 just reaffirmed it.
♥️ Song Ji-won & Im Sung-min 💕
Linarrick
December 4, 2023 at 11:10 PM
#RoundUp4
A drama I loved but beanies didn’t
BORA! DEBORAH
I definitely had my issues, especially as some of the references and dialogue the writer incorporated into the script was offensive at best. That said, I like seeing female leads being unabashedly messy and Bora was indeed m-e-s-s-y. Did I agree with everything she said or done? Noooope. She was a very flawed character and witnessing her go through a breakup and the consequent stages of grief and growing and changing was immensely satisfying to watch.
A drama beanies enjoyed but I didn’t
LOVE TO HATE YOU
I hated the ML Gang-ho, after one failed relationship he hates all women lol. Seriously wtf?! Look I get the writer was going for angle that both leads hate the opposite gender, but we live under patriarchy sooooooo at least the FL Mi-ran’s hate is more grounded in reality…
Gang-ho also weirdly idolises Mi-ran in a way that’s offensive. I get the she can be special to him but he says shit like she’s not like ‘other’ girls/women which is a big red flag for me. Anyway the drama did the crime of having Kim Ji-hoon do a cringeworthy public confession which is absolutely unforgivable imo
Linarrick
December 1, 2023 at 3:53 AM
Day 1 : Female Lead I’ll never forget
Yeah I can’t just choose one! So I chose three 😉
TALE OF THE NINE-TALED 1938
Ryu Hong-joo
How can I describe perfection!
WORK LATER, DRINK NOW
Kang Ji-goo
I’m a sucker for a curmudgeon with a heart of gold. Ji-goo is someone who can cut you with her eyes but is fiercely loyal. Do I want her to step on me? Yes yes definitely.
I’m not sure we’ll get a season three of WORK LATER, DRINK NOW, that said Ji-goo’s arc was interesting. Her career trajectory especially with the rise of the gig economy was the most relatable. We place so much emphasis and our identity on our choice of career that it feels incredibly debilitating. Maybe our career doesn’t define us, it certainly didn’t define Ji-goo, she stayed the same regardless of her job title
GOOD BAD MOTHER
Lee Mi-joo
Mi-joo might’ve been a side character but she was the only character I cared about in GOOD BAD MOTHER. Ahn Eun-Jin managed to bring depth and nuance to Mi-joo, a character who could’ve easily been sidelined, and yet it was Mi-joo who I was the most invested in. I wanted her to achieve all her dreams. In spite of everything that was thrown at her, she still remained the most caring and thoughtful and forgiving person. It might be weird to say that I look up to a fictional character but I do
#2023RoundUp
john
December 1, 2023 at 4:56 AM
Good Bad Mom Those poor pigs 🐷 🐷 🐷 😪
Linarrick
November 23, 2023 at 5:01 AM
Just reminding myself that Park Eun-bin was the infamous, foul-mouthed and my favourite charismatic queen Song Ji-won!
Yeah I was deliberately avoiding and ignoring all criticism for Seo Mok-ha, but after a particular scene I can’t deny that she feels too naive and honestly can’t in good conscience ship her with Ki-ho
Apart from Chae Jong-hyeop having a smile so heart-fluttering that it feels downright illegal, he acts his age. Seo Mok-ha on the other-hand feels like she’s ten?? Look I get she was trapped in a deserted island for fifteen years but she was around sixteen when that happened, so why does her behaviour seem more juvenile??
The scene I am referring to, is admittedly quite funny, Ki-ho looking up patricide but being mistaken for looking up p**n was/is hilarious…buuuut Seo Mok-ha’s reaction just reinforced that girls/women are meant to (or pretend to) be naive and virginal who don’t have any sexual desires. Her character also doesn’t explicitly seem to be asexual either. (I also want to clarify that I don’t mean to suggest that asexual individuals are immature)
Look what gives?? Why does a thirty-something woman feel so childish?? Let me remind you Park Hye-ryun wrote DREAM HIGH S1. Suzy who was a teenager at the time had both Kim Soo-hyun and Taec in love with her (sorry I don’t remember their character’s names), also pretty sure she kissed both of them at some point.
Now I don’t mind characters having different life and romantic experiences. The tension between couples who have different expectations is something writer Park Yeon-sun (AGE OF YOUTH S1&2, SALON DE NABI) encapsulates so well.
CASTAWAY DIVA, and let’s be honest the ‘castaway’ part is a total gimmick, doesn’t seem to tackle this issue rather it focuses on other plot elements to gloss over the potential conflict between our OTP??
Anyway I totally want Park Eun-bin’s next role to a femme fatale, pls make answer my prayers dramagods!
#CastawayDiva8
#AgeOfYouthS2
Kurama
November 23, 2023 at 5:22 AM
Hum… It’s misleading.
Ji-Won spoke about it by bravado but she was actually completely traumatized since her childhood and never had any relationship. So I don’t think it’s a good example.
Linarrick
November 23, 2023 at 5:44 AM
I agree that Song-Ji-won overcompensated by sexually objectifying men as her coping mechanism for her childhood trauma. But sexual desires and sexual experiences are different. Song Ji-won did consume p**n. Seo Mok-ha views p**n as criminal. The ethics of p**n is a different discussion, I just wanted to highlight that women too have sexual desires and that’s okay. I’m sorry if that didn’t come across well
Kurama
November 23, 2023 at 6:32 AM
But Ji-Won didn’t have sexual desires neither. It was just talking from her part. She couldn’t be approached without having a panic attack…
It’s for me you didn’t choose the good example to show women who assume their sexuality and desires in Kdrama world.
Linarrick
November 23, 2023 at 7:31 AM
Okay so Song Ji-won is shown to be watching p**n in AGE OF YOUTH S2 Ep 4 (timestamp 16.03-17minutes)
Also recap confirming this:
https://www.dramabeans.com/2017/09/age-of-youth-2-episode-4/#
Ji-won could be watching p**n for mere curiosity and that’s open to interpretation. I do personally think she had sexual desires, while Ji-won might’ve overcompensated due to her trauma, I’m not inclined to believe that’s the sole reason. I think humans are more multifaceted than that but again that’s my personal opinion
Midnight
November 23, 2023 at 6:11 AM
It’s a strange way of criticizing by comparing two roles of the same actress. It is not her fault that the character is written and directed like that. Actually women reacting badly to p*, and glossing over women’s desires, is very much more normal in Kdramaland. You are free to criticize it, and your opinion is valid, but it has nothing to do with Park Eun Bin and her various roles in other dramas.
PYC
November 23, 2023 at 6:53 AM
Agreed – it’s almost like a kdrama norm that sex is not to be talked about, let alone showing sexual desires. The exceptions are few and afar. So, Mok-ha’s response here is typical and no different from the majority of other dramas.
(I’m not saying it’s right or wrong but this is the kdrama reality.)
Elinor is trapped in the timeslip
November 23, 2023 at 8:11 AM
I haven’t seen these other shows, but I agree that PEB’s portrayal of Mok-ha is far too juvenile and that’s one of the biggest reasons I dropped the show. There were so many things wrong with the way that internet search scene was both written and acted, starting with her nosily asking what he’d been looking at.
Lelly19
November 23, 2023 at 11:56 PM
Now, why is her asking so wrong? 😅
bbstl 🧹
November 23, 2023 at 8:12 AM
I just thought it was poorly written that MokHa herself suggests that he may be watching something – does she say nasty? – and then is all askance when he agrees that he is. Girl, you brought it up.
tabong has two different tears🍉
November 23, 2023 at 9:53 AM
I think one of the things that worked so well in Still 17 is that even tho the ML wasn’t in a coma for 13 years, he had his own struggles and conflicts that didn’t let him grow up. He was stuck in the age of 17 too.
In Ki-Ka couple’s case I wouldn’t be surprised if they had weird/uncomfortable moments the more their relationship develops due to their age/maturity differences.
But it’s also true that kdramas act like teenagers, and even adults, barely know/think about sexual stuff, so it wouldn’t be that weird if she acted like “omo, I thought all men were like Ken (barbie)”.
I dropped the show, so Idk which scene you’re referring to but I think both options are possible: the age differences are showing, or kdramas are being kdramas.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 23, 2023 at 10:39 PM
I would go by kdramas are being kdramas … on the other side of the spectrum kmovies can be TMI.