Beanie level: Rooftop room dweller

Dakara Watashi wa Oshimashita is one of favourite 2019 drama.

Endo Ai, an office lady who cares a lot about people’s opinion and craves for attention, becomes a fan of Hana, an underground idol. She used to look down on idol fans but becomes one of them as she could see herself in the idol. The two women will create a special bond while Ai discovers how the idol and fan relationship works. There’s a mystery along this plot that makes you look forward to the next episode. It’s one of my favorite drama this year because of the focus on the two women. We don’t usually see a woman fangirling over a female idol, so that really caught my attention. Since Ai has the image of a serious office lady, she doesn’t want people at work and her friends to find out her new hobby. That’s an other aspect I like because it shows how she will go beyond people’s judgment. Other fans who act like Ai’s mentors serve as a security net and the other group members, even if they don’t have that much screen time, allow a few snippets into a group dynamic. Sakurai Yuki, who plays the office lady, is a good actress. I hope to see more of her, very soon.
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    I think this will be right up my alley. I am watching If talking paid/ My story is long right now and that is one of the best shows I have watched this year. J dramas slice of life shows are very endearing.

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      This one is not entirely a slice-of-life because there’s a “police investigation” going on but I think you will enjoy it 🙂 I really like If Talking Paid and it’s a pleasure to see Ikuta Toma on the small screen again.

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    Sounds really interesting, thanks for rec!

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That’s an other Jdrama with a heavy theme that I enjoyed a lot that aired this year.

A House on the Slope (Saka no Tochu no Ie)

Yamazaki Risako, a housewife, becomes a jury member for the case of a mother accused of killing her baby. During the trial, she will listen to testimonies from the defendant’s family and think about what led the mother to commit such a crime. Unlike what her first thoughts to this case, she begins to sympathize with the defendant and question herself, her child education and her entourage’s influence on her child rearing method. We also see how other women who are part of the jury deal with their status as wife and/or as mother and the thoughts provoked by the case. It’s handled in a way that doesn’t give a one-dimensional characterization. For each testimony, we get the person who testifies and the defendant’s version. It shows how different perceive the same situations. Therefore, there’s a balance between everything we’re exposed to. Even jury members with their life aren’t told to be right or wrong and reconsider what they were always told or expected to be. I don’t know if a lot of people will like this theme as it’s a hard one to watch (like Children of Nobody) but well handled and thought provoking.















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2019 is the year I went back to my roots: Jdramas! So, I will say a few words on the ones I enjoyed this year in hope more Beanies will give them a try 🙂

What Did You Eat Yesterday? (Kinou Nani Tabeta?)

It’s a manga adaptation. The story is about a gay couple who has been living together for years, and we get a recipe in each episode. Shiro is a lawyer and only his parents know his sexual orientation. His passion is cooking, and he doesn’t like to spend money uselessly. His lover, Kenji, is the exact opposite. He is a hairdresser, easy-going and doesn’t hide that he is homosexual. We see them interact with people from their neighborhood, workplace and family. Shiro grew the most in my opinion because we see him slowly assuming his homosexuality and the fact that he’s in a relationship. The whole cast did a great job and since it’s a slice-of-life, events don’t happen in an overly dramatic way and feel organic. The pace is great as we have a few cooking interludes. I especially like this drama because the couple is nearing or is already in their 40s. I don’t usually watch or read BL, so I don’t know if there are couples that old or if that’s rare. Other characters treat the couple with respect and at most, are surprised and try their best to understand them. It’s nice to see Shiro and Kenji quarrel about everyday things like what to buy or to eat. The drama treats them as a real couple and it was nice to follow their dynamics and evolution. The theme family is also strong as they form an unusual family in Japan: in which way are they a family, can they form one and what about their respective family’s perception? You will have a great time finding out how their journey will develop and delicious dishes will always be there.
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    This show is fit for the cooking channel, the recipes were shown in such details, that you could make it. Not good if someone try to diet 😉

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      Exactly. I had to make sure to eat before right after or watching HAHA

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    On my plan to watch list. From the short time that I’ve been reading BL, characters that are in their 40s are pretty rare (but I could be wrong). It’s especially rare if the series has enough volumes to develop the characters in a natural way.

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We need Kim Jae Wook in at least a drama in 2020!

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I didn’t expect them to react to such an old SHINee song. It takes me back to when I discovered the group with their album Lucifer 🙂

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    I’m a K-Pop newbie by most standards. Well, not really, but still. Regardless, I feel like “Up & Down” is a timeless song. At the very least, it’s one of those songs that most all K-Pop fans know or have at least heard.

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      I feel like most kpop fans from the 2nd generation know it and the newer fans are less likely to have even heard it. It’s nice that they go back to older songs because there’s an evolution or other song structures compared to the group’s current songs 🙂

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    I like when reactors react to older songs, though I’ve only been listening to kpop for a couple years. Or when they first listen or watch certain artist…..like Big Bang always gets a reaction.

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      Oh BIGBANG reactions! The one of Haru Haru and Lie made me take a seat back because I’m emotionally invested in them and they broke them down musically in a way I never thought about.

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9.9 Billion Won Woman ep 1. Kim Kang Woo appeared briefly but I expect him to show more on the next episode.

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9.9 Billion Won Woman ep 1. The higher the hair is, the worst is the character. Lee Ji Hoon’s character is better compared to Jang Woong In’s because of no violence I guess? At least for now.

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9.9 Billion Won Woman ep 1. I didn’t never imagine Lee Ji Hoon and Oh Nara would play that kind of couple. Jung Woong In is still stucked to a complete douchebag role as Jo Yeo Jung’s husband.

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VIP ep 10. Jung Sun! Go girl! Jang Nara is always out there to give people a lesson👏👏

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    I loved everything about that scene. Yu ri’s doe eye look of amazement has not and will not work on Jung sun. She should have listened to Jung sun when she told her to stop it because it makes her uncomfortable. HA !!!

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      Exactly. The look on her face was priceless! Never mess with Jung Sun.

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    Loved Jung nara in that scene. So calm while she drops the bombshell. I hate Yu ri and her innocent helpless girl act, and spineless sung jun.

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      She just slided the photo as calmly as possible and made everything explode!

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Jang Nara spoke French in episode 10 and It was intelligible for someone who never learned it. I always appreciate when actors make an effort speaking a foreign language in dramas.

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Lee Ji Hoon looks good for Woman of 99 billion 😍😍
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He knew exactly what he was doing when he flashed that irresistible smile!
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    So adorable.

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      Isn’t he? 🥰

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        Which is why I cried for him, A LOT in episode 2. I knew I should not have gotten attached. I knew it.

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          I was shocked to see that happen so soon. I thought they would drag the love triangle but they changed the dynamic within a few minutes. He needs to eat her food again!

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            I couldn’t imagine the set up being Kang doing that to his only friend. Dude is cold but he is not cold blooded. Having Min seong move on and get engaged was smart as well. He was probably hurt by the break up but he was not pining for Cha young.

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            @larelle79 I liked that they didn’t go the broken friendship route for the romance angst. Min Seong means too much for Kang.

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    I mean, it’s cute, but I have an allergy to public confessions/proposals altogether because they can be manipulative. I guess knowing it’s doomed from the start doesn’t help. I guess I’m cynical that way.

    His smile is adorable.

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      I don’t like public events either and thought he was going to be an annoying “good guy” but after episode 2 my opinion changed. His ways to chase her made me roll my eyes but there’s a real honesty looking back at his actions. Or I’m just surprisingly weak to melo tropes.

      I hope to see his smile for a long time.

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    I love his friendship with our lead….this is going to be so sad. I’m so glad that she moved away and they did not go the overly angsty way.
    Of course I’d rather not the overly tragic way either.

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      Exactly. I was already imagining the pain if she stayed. I hope it will be a healing drama like the promotions said.

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This drama loves to hurt me. Watching both friends playing unaware of her feelings crushed me and what will happen only hurt me so much more. But still, it’s good.

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I thought he would be a typical second lead but he won my heart. Damn it, show!

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I never thought I would enjoy their scenes together but seeing Seol Ah being confortable with someone and genuinely happy makes me root for them. Ex-husband doesn’t know what giving up means tho.
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They’re together. Finally. Jun Hwi and Cheong Ha got together. But it’s so soon they will certainly go through hard times.
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Bye Sun Woo and hello Jun Hwi! I finally got more invested in recent episodes since the drama is throwing less frustrating scenes.

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My sweet, sweet Jung Hyuk. He had so much love to give but because of his mother and not being able to be with the one he loves crushed him.









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No words can explain how much I love them and their love for each other ♥️♥️
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I lost interest in the second half and wished we got more of Nok Du and Yul Moo.
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