A Dramabeans milestone has been reached! 1000 Comments on a Fanwall Thread!
Hooray hooray! And a big congratulations to all who participated and to @cozybooks!!!!! (I hope this helps you level up 😂)
It is also the second last day of Love, February, and Shrove Tuesday.
Thus with this achievement, I will bid thee all a Happy St Valentine’s Day, and adieu till Easter.
🖤💜💜💜🖤
To infinity and beyondโฆ thank you for guiding us my Queen and bringing us home. Have a blessed time. We will eagerly await your return at maybe 2000 โฆ!!?? 😂👏👏👏👏👏👏
Sicariusโ Guide to Killing People: A SHOP FOR KILLERS SH🔪TPOST
I am qualified to make this post because my name means Assassin in Latin. And why yes I am insufferable to watch movies with, why did you ask.
Every year I watch half a dozen plus shorter action x various genre kdramas, and I like maybe one of them if weโre lucky.
And at least once a year I sit down write out a big rant about action, and fighting and weapons and injury authenticity, in reaction to one or more of these shows, and title it much the same thing every time, and then I never post it. (e.g. my My Name Shitpost @eazal, Iโm so sorry 😂)
So, consider this not so much of a shitpost about Shop For Killers per se, and more of a locked and loaded rant that I have waiting in the wings at literally any given moment any time I watch anything remotely akin to this show, and that Shop for Killers is just the sacrificial lamb of this present moment, and the one I am choosing to channel my frustration through.
THINGS IT DID RIGHT:
Most of what it got right was in the first 4 episodes, then it kinda started getting more and more dumbโฆ so sad.
1. Sound Delay and the Speed of Sound (aka the actual only reason I am making this post at all because I wanted to SHARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ITโS COOL)
See: video @ 2:10 specifically, it goes into this in depth.
But basically, when youโre dealing with long distance rifles, the bullet is travelling faster than the sound of the rifle, so to the person being shot at, they will not see the gun being fired, the sound of it hitting, and also HEAR the gun being fired all at the same time.
They GOT THIS RIGHT! I was SO EXCITED THAT THEY GOT THIS RIGHT. I donโt think Iโve EVER seen a movie or a tv show get this right.
When Seongjo is sniping at them from the bridge, we hear Seongjo shoot, then our protagonists (and uhm, some other guy) hear the bullet fly past them, and THEN they hear the delay of the gun firing from THEIR position.
They get the sound design with the sniper rifle right every time they shoot it. Top marks for that. 10/10.
2. Also, during the sniping scene: Recoil is a bitch, she is tiny, and that gun is big, and it would HURT, yes, and throw her across the room, yes!
(Alas, the recoil in the rest of the show isnโt as consistently accurateโฆ)
3. โbut itโs not enough to beat a man holding a knifeโ (Episode 4)
Yeah, if you enter a knife fight, especially unarmed chances are one but probably both of you are gonna end up fxxked up, correct, please do not enter a knife fight without a superior weapon, not even an equal one, just run, Jinman is correct here.
Knife fights are MESSY and dangerous and you WILL get cut up at bare minimum!
(Ofc then it goes and proceeds to show a bunch of unrealistic disarmaments, and well-choreographed but nonetheless knife fights that mostly ignore thisโฆ but what can you do.)
4. I liked the use of Muy Thai as a fighting art, that was fun. Not sure about the realism of her training times, but in terms of martial arts actually useful for fighting, Muy Thai is one of them. So, neat to have that awareness at least. It also has several cameos by Karambits, one of my favourite knives, a wicked little melee knife.
(Unfortunately, not really any decent, truly realistic karambit fightsโฆ as usual.)
THINGS IT DID NOT/ GENERAL RANTING:
Well, you could just watch the rest of the video in terms of guns, so, all of that, too, but Iโm going to mention specifics and other stuff anyway lmao.
– Hyenas are cool. And barking doesn’t necessarily make an animal weak lmfao. I know it’s a metaphor, it’s just a dumb metaphor so it annoys me. (Inaccurate Weapons and Inaccurate Zoology are constantly fighting for my attention and which one annoys me more.)
– No earplugs, y’all are reeling, and deafer than Beethoven.
The Grey Man was a terrible movie. It was just point blank, a bad, an awful movie. Gosling slept walked through it. But, hilariously, ironically, everyone wore earplugs!!!!!
Guns are loud. Rifles are REALLY loud. Wear ear protection.
– How many times must I say this, Grenades have a kill radius of 5m and an injury radius of 15m, and you threw two. That asshole in ep 5 is dead. Not kinda messed up but still looks recognisable, not unrecognisably messed up, just dead. Very dead. Completely dead.
And our protagonists are a lot more injured than that.
How did you get the sound physics of sniper rifles correct, and the damage of a grenade wrong. Even Little Woman got this right. Please.
– Listen
The whole – THE WHOLE BALE THING???? *tears out hair* yeah, so that is basically the entire conflict the show hinges on, what about it.
First, Bale SHOULD be dead from those injuries. Iโm not sure why this drama seems to think explosions cause just an ✨aesthetic✨ amount of damage and scarring.
But even so,
If someone like him is threatening you? And your family? And kills people for fun? And you have him under the knife?????
1. You stab him in the heart, breaking his sternum like you did anyway.
2. And THEN! you take OUT the knife so he bleeds out faster, cos the knife will be keeping him alive essentially at that point (minus the explosions and other injuries).
3. And then you slit his throat.
4. And you slit it well and truly.
Why would you leave any and I mean literally any possibility of him living
This show acts smart until it does the dumbest shit ever
You had time to cut his throat, you numbskull. The show just established you keep your cool in bloodshed x minutes ago. But you went for the gun???? Why make it all emotional and dramatic!
It’s a lot harder to come back from a severed jugular and carotid artery. He WILL bleed out before he can get to medical attention.
But if youโre worried his Cha Dal Geon Immunity to Death Gene will overcome even a severed jugular, cut a couple of other main arteries at the same time.
Knifeโs right there, babe. Wrists, groin, armpits, neck.
Why must these shows exist only at the expense of the Supposedly Intelligent Main Characterโs Intelligence. That’s rhetorical.
But really?? You should’ve put a bullet in Baleโs head three missions ago. Maybe three bullets seeing as how he has the Cha Dal Geon Immunity to Death gene. I mean thatโs what *I* wouldโve doneโฆ if I was a mercenary with at least an existent moral compass, no matter how broken. Heโs not that good of a merc for you to have kept around as a liability for that long, surely. Come on.
I hope your absence after your fake death was because you were killing him PROPERLY this time?? Were you successful? Or did you leave him the SLIGHTEST possibility of living, again.
– Speaking of Fake Deaths, very obvious from episode one, not showing his face, and her hard sus reaction, but also he had to be alive because if he wasnโt alive heโs the biggest idiot on planet earth to kill himself over such a ridiculous blackmailing trick, when heโs been set up as โฆ you knowโฆ not THAT much of an idiot. So instead, heโs just enough of an idiot that if he werenโt, the show wouldnโt exist โฆ not that that would be a loss to me personally, but maybe to some others it would.
The entire show hinges on you [Jinman] not killing him [Bale] right the first time, but I just donโt get, you knowโฆ why you didnโt kill him right the first time.
If it’s something dumb like Flex Cop I can ignore a lot of these common action flaws more easily but if you’re taking your killing as seriously as thisโฆ then actually take it seriously, gosh.
– Other Speed RUN
The deaf arms dealer was cute. RIP buddy. Iโm sorry about your arm.
IV pull – DING
Most of the fight scenes ranged from decent to ok to wtf was that. There was quite a wide range of styles and consistency in accuracy there, and in the aftermath lol.
I donโt think anyone reloaded enough but thatโs normal 🙄 I also donโt know why our little mole was the only one wearing a bullet proof vestโฆ Minhye sure couldโve used one.
I kind of got sick of all the fights at the end, and the structure of the show, which started out a lot better than it ended.
.
.
.
Thereโs more I definitely missed and or couldโve ranted about but for Version 1 of this rant, thatโs all for now.
Till the next dumb action show, misuse of guns, grenades, or character that pulls out something theyโve been stabbed/shot with โฆ whichever comes first. Maybe the next one will be a sageuk and Iโll rant about arrows.
In the meantime, I will go back to wondering why everyone in Nokdu Flower treats Yi Hyun as the Evilest of Evils for being an 19th Century Sniper.
*sorry for badmouthing Flex X Cop there, but it IS on the dumb, fun but dumb, comedy action, Skunk end of the spectrum. I am enjoying it a lot, but it’s action is just silly. That Helicopter scene? Aiiiyaaa.
The problem is I think they worked backwards (I haven’t read the book) – the niece with the reveal of the gun shop is the focal point, that’s what it wants to be about – so we have to work back to how we got to this point – her parents dying, etc etc – but by doing that, if it’s not believable enough, like here, it’s just annoying and stupid. But if Bale was killed properly, then we wouldn’t have the rest of the show that they so badly wanted to focus on, you wouldn’t have any Shop for Killers. Idk then have a smarter backstory, why don’t you 🙄🙄🙄
I liked him just from his five seconds at the beginning, and then he was dead and I was like nooo! Was happy to see him back briefly only to lose him again haha
I didn’t even watch the show, but I read your essay carefully and enjoyed all the details.
They just ignore all of them in fight scenes in dramas because they think a hero with earplugs or bulletproof vests or running when she sees she can’t overcome the situation and it’s too dangerous to handle, is not COOL enough for a hero.😅
Why thank you.
But I happen to think the opposite is cooler and more interesting, so where does that leaves us 😆😆😆 ofc, I am not most people’s target audience…
I enjoyed the show, but I do agree with all the negatives and the grenade stuff irked me to no end, especially as you pointed out tjat the protagonists escaped with little to no harm. Grenade power is not some secret knowledge that exists only among armed people, but is a general knowledge that even civilians know about.
Bale is a trigger for the entire sequence of events, so we just have to grudgingly acknowledge his existence as a guy with Cha Dal Geon’s gene of immunity. By the way is there any hope for Vagabond S2🤣🤣🤣
I will not begrudge his existence at all; they could’ve tried harder 😂😂😂
Vagabond should’ve aired two years later than it did, then it would’ve got a S2 lol.
I too thought that there were too many fights which were differently choreographed. Maybe this abundance of action directors led to vastly contrasting fighting styles and inconsistencies.
You’re so correct while no one expects anything from Chaebol Cop this kind of widely varied “action” is more irritating than awe-inspiring.
Having lots of stunt directors on an 8 episode Disney kdrama would be weird but maybe… Are there actually many listed? Cos welp, if so haha… Maybe all the different shades of fight were on purpose?? Some were just outrageous, like Minhye’s fight in the locked down living room lol.
Absolutely.
And something like this clearly takes its action and genre a lot more seriously, in that it’s designed to be a dark action show, akin to other Korean Noirs, Asian gritty action like the Raid, or the John Wick style flick, and if that’s the case, I tend to expect more of such things, especially, especially, if they get Something as right as Sound Delay in rifles.
The inconsistencies at that point immediately become not something to look over, but a glaring larger flaw in the work. They didn’t care to get it consistent, and that’s telling.
I don’t know how many action directors were there just that the “action” seems diverse.
My idea of “action” was always with a side of comedy like those Jackie Chan movies we watched as kids. While I don’t know about technicalities but I loved reading about them in your post and agree that they should not undermine that which makes it good in the first place. 😀
I absolutely ADORE watching Insideโs How Real It Is (and similar breakdowns) on YouTube. I learn a lot without sitting through a boring lecture but actually watching snippets of the movies and having experts annihilating some of it. 😂
Hello All. I hope you\’re all enjoying Love, February.
Sicarius\’ Guide to Known Inappropriate Words* February 2024 UPDATED and MASTER Version:
*aka words that trip the spam filter, like forbidden candy.
It has come to my attention that I should\’ve just made this a google doc earlier, instead of the time consuming Photoshop Image I have used in past versions, but I think, as useful as links are, a visual aid helps a lot of people – you can SEE it, right there (and also I like making it LOOK pretty haha).
Nonetheless, this version is just a link.
I have combined my (always ongoing) current list of Known IWs and my Guide to Dealing with Them (that I also have posted on my wall previously) into one Google Doc, with open link sharing, for easy access for all Beans, past, present and future.
@kmromrell for your spreadsheet project! Here!
(I am sure btw, I have other resources that would be useful for that lying around, but consolidating them is not priority and I grow weary these days.)
I may make this Open to Editing later on, so that anyone who finds a New IW can simply add it to the file themselves. But till then, keep tagging me if you find one or notice an update!
Perfect, I’ve added it to the Beanie Resources folder under “How to Dramabeans”. I shortened the shortcut title a tad to make sure Beanies could see the full title/author. Let me know, though, if you’d prefer that to be changed. Thanks so much for compiling this and sharing it out!
Yes, I’d love to add any other resources you have, but no pressure on timing — the folder will be here and ready whenever you’ve got the time. ๐ If you want any help consolidating those resources, I’d also be happy to help convert them from post-form to document-form — we’d just want to make sure to change the document ownership to you afterward.
If anybody else sees this and is aware of other resources that should be added, let me know!
That’s wonderful! I think Toki will participate again this year.
If I don’t see you ladies in the next couple of months, at least I know you are both ok.
MDL or fan-wall. All good!
Beanmelons rescinded. Well, not entirely. But most of them. I thought this might happen.
โCan the fact that weโre so different be the reason? I mean, no two people in the world are completely the same. If a person with one arm falls in love with another person with one arm, would it be ok? People say they will soon start to hate and resent each other. But Iโm not [so] sure. Fine. Letโs say it is true. Then wouldnโt it be okay to stay together until they start to hate each other? Wouldnโt it be okay to give it your all until you start to hate everything? Even if your love is not the same in shape and size. Even if it may not be fair. Wouldnโt it be ok for us to love until then?โ
This is the opening line of the show.
It is a common narrative technique, to start your story, be it film, television, novel, play, et al, with an idea, a proposition, that is also the end point of the story, where the story is going to end up.
Therefore, the objective of the story becomes to show how and why this proposition comes to pass.
Itโs a bold narrative move, because you reveal your cards early.
If you reveal your ending at the beginning, you must justify that being your ending in everything you are about to do and show, in every part of the story, the storytelling process, and in every storytelling device.
Everything must be so wholly and truly working towards this goal, that by the time you give your audience this ending, it feels inevitable that this was the ending, that this was always intended point, and this was, in some respects, the only point possible to have reached. Reaching that point should be rewarding or cathartic in some way.
It doesnโt have to be โhappyโ, but it must make sense, and it must be satisfying in how we got there.
This is, in fact, true for all stories, but in my opinion even more so if you use this opening technique, because you are by default limiting your narrative options.
The only other possible option is to deliberately reject this proposition.
If rejecting the proposition, when that wasnโt deliberate, or some other theme of the show somehow becomes more inevitable, more necessary, if Something Else becomes more True, than the ending you have already revealedโฆ you have failed your task, and failed to reach your goal.
—
The opening line of the show, as previously quoted, is the showโs proposition.
First it expresses doubt over love between two people who are โtooโ different.
Second, it expresses that a tragic ending must be inevitable for these two people, implying that the differences become irreconcilable.
Then the narrator expresses doubt over this and says well, even if that is true, it is better to love anyway.
I agree with the last statement. It is better to love than to never love at all (see: here and here). But the narrator only expresses this within the frame of reference of that love eventually becoming hate.
The motto itself seems confused. In the example scenario given, itโs not even that these two are two different that is really the focus, but that being different will end in hate. Similarly, itโs not โlove in spite ofโ that is the focus, but the โuntilโ that given emphasis.
So, for this show to justify this being its opening line, it must now go out of its way to show that the differences between the leads are irreconcilable, and that it will also end in hate, whilst also trying to balance that with the idea of Love, even if it is temporary, being an ultimately good thing.
—
The reason I have always felt unsure of loving this show, always felt a lurking sense of foreboding, or some impending narrative direction that I knew I would hate, is because of this opening line and because I immediately felt it was confused and would be hard to deliver on well.
But more specifically, it is because after it announced this statement as its opening line, the show then spent the next 10 to 12 episodes doing a quite frankly better and sounder job of telling a story about Communication, about the different forms of communication, about wanting to overcome great obstacles and differences and fears, about the nuances of communication and language and form and semantics, with positivity and strength and hope, than it did telling a story of how we might reach this joint ending-opening point in any kind of satisfying way.
For every hint of dissonance, and temporality, for every line about transience and things being lost or passing, for every lurking shadow of doubt, that pointed back to the proposition, there was a direct thematic idea in contradiction to it, that spoke of overcoming this, of facing conflict and becoming stronger for it, becoming stronger together for it, of growing from scars and past hurt, and of pursuing things and choosing to love even when it is hard.
So the proposition and rejecting the proposition were in competition against each other, and the latter, was narratively stronger and more true than the former.
One can have deliberately conflicting thematic points, and this can be a good thing, for example: if one eventually wins out over the other, or if their juxtaposition serves to shed light onto something.
But, instead of spending time building towards any clear end goal – for the claim, or against it, or doing anything with this contradiction, by having the stronger one mean something, or balancing that tension, either between thematic ideas, or in the initial motto itself – this show spent more time building a kind of thematic ambiguity, so much so that it was entirely possible for this show to swing either in direct opposition to its opening point, just as much as it was possible for it to swing back on it.
—
And then they break up, and the 8th last line of the show is its opening line, confirming my suspicions that to reject the proposition was never going to be its point, that it really meant to end up here all along.
But we have not got here in a way that this felt earnt, and justified. The show has not spent its whole being reaching this point, proving that this, this is how it was supposed to be, as it must, as it shouldโve, if it was going to reveal its cards like that at the beginning. And it has not used its contrasting themes to help prove this point either.
And even in ending up here, it then actually ends, not WITH this, but AFTER this; instead of with the opening line as its ultimate final point, it concludes with two other moments that donโt feel wholly satisfying for either possible ending- either the hopeful, overcoming, or the bittersweet one.
Jinwoo introduces himself again, and Moeun smiles, and then we cut to credits.
And over the credits our leads walk hand in hand down their train track and at the end of the end, the end after the end, Jinwoo finally says in voiceover, in echo of the showโs title, โI love you, Moeunโ; he finally confesses.
But this too feels like a false ending.
The showโs title is TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, but its proposition is something entirely different. And Jinwoo never tells Moeun that he loves her to her person, but he says her name out loud, in the only spoken line he has in the entire show, to nobody, in heartbreak after their break up.
For a show about Communication, it feels cheap to have the leads break up due to a breakdown in communication, in the name of some Other Theme that was not shown to be any stronger than this.
But if they get back together without us seeing them overcoming this breakdown, this conflict, then you have not only denied them their bittersweet ending, that you initially chose for them, no matter how unjustified that has been, you have also denied them true development for a happy ending – for the ending that couldโve instead rejected the proposition on purpose.
There can be no whole or satisfying bittersweet ending, and there can be no whole or satisfying happy ending either.
You have only given your audience false propositions, and false promises, and false endings.
1. In being ambiguous in body, instead of picking an end goal and dedicating itself to reaching that goal, thus betraying its beginning.
2. In not balancing its contradicting themes to reach or support that end goal.
3. In its contrary themes becoming stronger and truer than any other intentional theme.
4. In the ending denying either the original claim, or the rejection of the original claim to be the true ending, satisfying the ambiguity, and nothing else.
And I do not know why. And I am left disappointed, but somehow not surprised, and not as heartbroken either as I initially thought I would be, just let down.
I am left wondering if you really intended to end with or meant the opening point at all, such was the ambiguity, but to make ambiguity itself the point betrays too much else to be a rational conclusion, such was the rest of the showโs thematic core.
Because so much of you was Right and True and Beautiful.
I think Koreans are specifically bad at this technique because they rarely have the script fully finished before shooting starts. I have noticed in a lot of shows that this technique is used only as an idea, a device, to start the show, not to finish it. It is more disappointing when the show is excellent in other areas.
Yeah, this is a part of Television writing, one that is not actually exclusive to Korea, I have never liked, writing as you air/shoot/go. It’s always seemed counterintuitive to me 😂.
I’m not convinced finishing the script is neccesasrily the direct cause though. Whilst pre planning your script should happen and will help, often the problem with not knowing how to finish or where to take a show, or what you want your show to be is a deeper more fundamental writing issue, and not an easy fix through episode count, or pre writing alone.
Ugh. I was never going to watch this show, but this form of disappointment is truly terrible and I’m sorry you had to endure it. I hear you taking the good with the bad, and I applaud the effort, but the way I’m feeling recently–that’s often not good enough.
Yes as much as there was a lot to love about this show, I will never be able to ratenor rank it higher as a favourite or best overall or overlook its failures.
I’m just kind of glad the disappointment was mostly dealt with last week actually, and I was mentally prepared to write this and for the ending.
Thank you for your review. I had a strong sense of discomfort towards the latter half of the drama but could not even express why. You have to beautifully and loving analyzed each and every point. I was very happy to start the drama, interested enough to finish, do not regret watching it but still 🤷♀️. Thank you for putting in words all the things which made us feel so warm and heard and then … something like radio silence from the show. 😀
Thank you so much Cera! Yes that discomfort you mention I had the whole drama haha despite the greatness of the beginning, but I too don’t regret watching, but I’d hard to have another disappointment after a year of seemingly endless ones.
Radio silence! I love that term haha. Very apt feeling. An edited line from the essay was “the feeling of being washed up or beached, and thirsty”.
Oh! yes like drinking salt water which makes you more thirsty. 🤣 Well nothing can out-Heartbeat Heartbeat *fingers crossed*. 2023 dramas made me little more sympathetic. Just like we cannot plan a “perfect” life, we cannot get “perfect” dramas. Just few moments of perfection as suffice IRL as well as dramas.
Hahaha the metaphysical question of whether or not you can truly get “the perfect drama” has always been one at the back of my mind, but whilst that may not be truly or realistically possible, I like to hope still for dramas that are still Good and point to Goodness, and, those that don’t drop the ball at the end! It is possible! But it seems they are getting fewer and far betweener. Ah well. I keep watching and waiting haha.
I feel that je ne sais quoi Korean-ness was the secret sauce. Now in trying to appeal to global audiences we have one foot here, one there and then **splash** down we go!!
No but seriously, skunks are incredibly weird-looking up close. You may think you know what one looks like but you don’t. Your brain expects a black cat with a white stripe and a squirrel tail, but their proportions are all wrong, and I do a double-take every time I see one. It must be even harder for artists who don’t live in a place where they are backyard fauna.
Oh I kNOW. FRAKKING MUSTELOID TAXONOMY THAT ISN’T A MUSTELID. *throws things*. Euplerids and Viverrids are weirder still though, so… at least I’m not drawing a Fossa????
I love weird animals but man. And I thought the Archaeopteryx was annoying to figure out! Actually I should be fine once I get the geometry down but it is eluding me thus far.
Happy New Year Sic! I hope 2024 proves to be a better year for your drama wise hahaha but also in general, hope the year brings you good health, prosperity and happiness 💜
Wow great catch. I see numbers that I want to capture on the horizon and then come back to check how close I am to it only to discover itโs gone over by 1, not bitter at all😬
Sorry random question alert: I am sending this while I remember, what was the name of the anime you recommended I watch which has a time travel/two people in different eras communicating theme? I watched the film Ditto and it reminded me of the anime storyline you had mentioned but again I forgot to ask at the time.
Yes, it was like the recommendation for Healer a drama outside of my comfort zone but one I enjoyed. Thank you for the recommendation a really novel story, executed well.
🍈 THE OFFICIAL ROYAL BEAN COUNT OF MELONIA 2023 🍈
Entry Date: AD 31 12 23
DROPPED in ORDER OF DROPPED by PERCENTAGE % WATCHED: (% are in brackets of 10% unless otherwise specified)
10% and below:
1. Ashes of Love CDRAMA (2018) (Dropped Episode 2.5 of 63)
2. Oasis (Dropped Ep 1 of 16)
3. Road Home CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 2 of 30)
4. Family (Dropped Ep 1 of 12)
5. Boyhood (Dropped Ep 1 of 8)
6. The Deal (Dropped Ep 1 of 10)
10-20%:
7. My Journey to You CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 3 of 24)
8. Moon That Rises in the Day (Dropped Ep 2 of 14)
9. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019) (Dropped Ep 3 of 20)
10. Moving (Dropped Ep 3 of 20)
11. Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 (Dropped Ep 2 of 12)
12. Hidden Love CDRAMA (Itโs Complicated)
13. The Goryeo Khitan War (Dropped Ep 6 of 32)
14. Evilive (Dropped Ep 2 of 10)
25%:
15. Secret Playlist (Dropped Ep 2 of 8)
16. Destined With You (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
30%:
17. Can We Be Strangers Again (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
18. First Responders S2 (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
19. Into the Ring (2020) (Dropped Ep 5 of 16)
20. Nothing But You CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 12 of 38)
21. You Are Desire CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 11/12 of 30)
22. Useless Lies / My Lovely Liar (Dropped Ep 6 of 16)
23. Twinkling Watermelon (Dropped Ep 6 of 16)
60%:
24. See You In My 19th Lyfe (Dropped Episode 8 of 12)
75%:
25. Crash Course in Romance (Dropped Ep 12 of 16)
FINISHED in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER of DATE STARTED (*40% of which I skim finished/ skim watched on average 45% of)
26. The Forbidden Marriage
27. Island*
28. Hi Venus CDRAMA (2022)
29. Meet Yourself CDRAMA
30. The Blood of Youth CDRAMA
31. Love to Hate You*
32. Our Blooming Youth
33. Call It Love
34. NigeHaji/We Married As A Job JDRAMA (2016)
35. Joseon Attorney: A Morality*
36. Borah! Deborah!*
37. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper / Skunk
38. WATCHER (2019)
39. You Who I Met By Chance / My Perfect Stranger*
40. Black Knight
41. I Want To Resign Every Single Day CDRAMA (2022)
42. Bloodhounds*
43. King the Land*
44. Celebrity*
45. When I Fly Towards You CDRAMA
46. Delightfully Dysfunctional
47. Ray of Light CDRAMA
48. My Dearest*
49. The Killer is Also Romantic CDRAMA (2022)*
50. Fake it Till You Make It CDRAMA
51. The Day / The Kidnapping Day
52. Song of the Bandits
53. The Worst of Evil*
54. SPY X FAMILY S01 ANIME (2022)
55. Castaway Diva
56. Daily Dose of Sunshine
57. Vigilante
58. Soundtrack #2*
CURRENTLY WATCHING that will be FINISHED AND CLASSED as 2023 WATCHES:
59. The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract* – Episode 10 of 12
60. Tell Me You Love Me – Episode 10 of 16
61. Welcome to Samdalri – Episode 9 of 16
62. Deathโs Game Part 1 – Episode 4 of 8
63. Gyeongseong Creature Part 1 – Episode 7 of 10
OTHER:
64. Remembrance of Things Past CDRAMA (Hiatus)
Currently Watching Not Counted as 2023:
65. (The Nokdu Flower โ Episode 4 of 24)
66. (Like Flowers in Sand โ Episode 4 of 12)
Occidental:
67. Arcane (2021)
68. Outer Banks S01, 02, 03
69. The Night Agent
70. The Night Manager (2016)
71. The Recruit (Dropped Ep 7)
72. The Diplomat (Dropped Ep 2)
73. XO Kitty
74. Only Murders in the Building S01, Dropped S02, Ep 6 ish.
75. Avatar: The Last Airbender (Rewatch)
STATS:
TOTAL DROPPED: 25
TOTAL FINISHED: 38
TOTAL BEANMELONS: 63
Finished 2 less than last year, Dropped 3 more, Total = 1 more than last year
Farther breaking my cycle of watching less every second year, marking two outlier years in a row, perhaps therefore instead indicating a change in pattern in how I watch things, and once again not necessarily a good change.
Achievement Unlocked, CDRAMA EDITION:
Dropped: 7
Finished: 8
Total: 15
Finished 1.3 x as many CDRAMAs as I have finished total, all years previously, and started 1.4 x as many as I have attempted total, all years previously.
DISTRIBUTION:
As usual, The Royal Bean Count of Melonia counts everything predominantly watched and โcompletedโ, whether dropped or finished, or of an older airing date, in the given year, but not hiatus shows. And once again, the majority of the distribution goes to a non 2023 watch, nor even a drama. Please see Roundup Day 23 for distribution reasoning.
SPY X FAMILY S01: 🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈 (God Willing Rivers Donโt Rise)
STEALER: THE TREASURE KEEPER:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
MEET YOURSELF:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI: 🍈🍈🍈 (God Willing Rivers Donโt Rise)
Delightfully Dysfunctional, Hi Venus, Black Knight, When I Fly Towards You: 🍈🍈🍈🍈 (1 Each)
The Blood Of Youth: 🍈 (1 for the costumes)
Thus concludes the Royal Bean Count of Melonia for 2023.
End Entry.
If nothing else this year was definitely a year of “trying” things haha. In fact, the only reason my total quote – finished or dropped – is so high is because of cdramas lol.
Surprised to see you watching Samdal-ri. I know you spam recaps with your comments if you enjoy the show in good or bad way, so what’s your take on it? Are you just watching it for JCW?
Actually, either I spam, or I say almost nothing at all on purpose, and avoid discourse haha.
And lately there’ve been more of the latter for both likes and dislikes. Samdalri is also one of them.
Re. Samdalri: I think it is certainly not everyone’s style of drama, and the OTTness, and the demands of the premise and the characters will annoy a lot of people.
Which is totally fair.
But so far I have actually really enjoyed the first half, and think a lot of it is well made, well acted, and parts of it, I’m going to say, even well written. 5-8 especially. I haven’t really been on the recaps much, even to lurk, but I have a feeling this is probably an unpopular take lol. Whether or not this will continue through the second half though, remains to be seen, and I’ll reserve farther and final judgement till then.
I haven’t enjoyed JCW since Healer, and now twice in a row, he’s had roles he’s doing very well in, and I don’t hate him in, which is a nice change.
It is really a loss for DB and beanies by not commenting on recaps and triggering a tonne of discussion based on your opinions. Stop trying to be all mature and bring back the snark ๐
It may seem crazy for some people you dropped “Moving”, but I understand that. 6 first episodes were boring. I was so disappointed that it killed the show for me on the long run. Structure was really weird. It goes up at ep 8 with…… single background stories (flashback). The best part of the show, except one. This show needed a screenwriter, able to take a step back from the manhwa. But nah, the manhwaga did the screenplay. So, it’s woobly. Still a big thumb up for the director and actors.
Else, too much dramas in your list, I didn’t have time to try even 20% of this.
I dropped Moving for 3 reasons.
1. And the main reason: I disliked its use of violence; I found it gratuitous and unnecessary.
2. I was indeed bored.
3. I didn’t care about any of the characters.
It was a dry year for me in dramas so I would not recommend much, especially on the writing front. If Samdalri and Tell Me That You Love Me deliver on their endings then I would recommend those the most for kdramas, but they haven’t finished yet.
I actually do not very much like Call it Love so despite production aspects, and think it’s overrated, so personally wouldn’t recommend it either.
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY TWENTY THREE🍈
~ 23 12 23 ~
Oooh pretty numbers. Speaking of Pretty Numbers:
1- Favourite drama. (FREESTYLE CATEGORY)
None.
But closest is probably Stealer and Meet Yourself.
Stealer I probably had the most consistent fun watching, and Meet Yourself was probably the closest to a genuine favourite.
But Iโm also not lying when I say the best thing Iโve watched overall this year out of EVERYTHING, the first season of the SPY X FAMILY anime, and it was very hard not to just put that for every category on this roundup. apy
If I had to list my closest semblance to Liked or Loved this year it would look something like this:
Objective Best and No. 1 Favourite:
1. SPY X FAMILY S01 ANIME (2022)
I guess these are My Drama Favourites then:
2. Meet Yourself CDRAMA
3. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
Guilty Pleasure/Weirdo/Liked In Spite Of Likes:
4. Black Knight 5. Delightfully Dysfunctional
Fluffy Stake-less (Good for Watching When Sick) Likes:
6. Hi Venus CDRAMA (2022) 7. When I Fly Towards You CDRAMA
And ofc, currently, Tell Me That You Love Me is both my present favourite and has the potential to be this yearโs overall favourite drama, and beat all the rest by a large margin (with the exception of SXF which it probably still wouldnโt beat), but as it has not yet finished, and will need to finish *unbelievably* well for me to recognise it as such, I cannot in confidence give it the honours, so, no vote.
.
.
.
And with that we finish up the Melonia Roundup, as I donโt have anything more to add. I wouldโve mentioned Meet Yourself for more categories also, but itโs the kind of drama I simply wanted to enjoy quietly to the very end.
Christmas is in Two Days 🌟, and I will see you all for Non-Calendar or Liturgical Events either when I post my Official Bean Count on Dec 31st, or on the slim chance I get something drawn in Farewell to 2023.
Oh boy. This is going to be a long answer. That probably wonโt actually answer your requestโฆ
Oooph. Best of All Time is very hard to give out.
Part 1 of why I have refused for several years now to officially give an entry for this category of the Round Up is, because of who I am as a person, and because of the Royal Kiss Analyst Bit, I would feel like I couldn’t truly make an entry in it, without first having rewatched all the kisses of dramas I watched that year, and probably all the ones of dramas I didn’t as well, analyse them accordingly to my Analyst checklist, and then somehow come up with a legitimate ranking system that both felt like it covered the very subjective “Favourite” and more objective “Best”, and then somehow actually put that in writing… which I just don’t have the time or energy for, or even inclination to do because,
Part 2 of why I refuse to answer this category, and also why YOUR question/s are very hard to answer is that to analyse what makes something GOOD we have to look at the whole picture;
There are many Good kiss scenes, but a Great Kiss scebe, a truly great kiss scene for me, would not only be highly Technically proficient, across the entire board, but would also HAVE to be Narratively Satisfying as well.
In the Technical Category you have:
Cut scenes, cut scene ratio, no. of camera angles and takes, types of camera angles, lighting, framing, colour grading, hand movement and placement, general movement, lip action, body positioning, timing, whether or not the audience can see anything, editing, etc. etc.
And then in the Narrative Category you have, first how all of the technical contributes to the Story itself, and also the Story as a separate Thing:
Writing, character development, thematic development, emotional catharsis, why the kiss is happening, when is it happening in the story, what is the emotion of the scene, is the emotion told well, is appropriate for these characters TO be kissing, is it built up appropriately, does the kiss forward their story, and their development, or is it just gratuitous, is it a conflict, how is that resolved, what is the kiss fall out like, does the overall purpose of the kiss have a satisfying resolution (that is, does the couple have a satisfying end to their story, period), do all the technical aspects COMPLIMENT the story of the kiss, etc. etc.
Additionally, also whether the cast has good chemistry together, and if they’re both good kissers, and it cannot be too gratuitous, exploitative, or fan servicey.
It can’t just be “hot” for the sake of being “hot”, or flashy and pretty and well-made and well kissed, it has to be well made, the story of the kiss has to be Objectively good, AND I have to like the story of the kiss.
(This in particular is even more so than some years, why I am reluctant to give an entry for the 2023 roundup because I just hated the story of so many decent technical kisses.)
When you look at ALL that, it’s very hard to find a best kiss…
… or a kiss that I feel like giving that label to.
Either I have shows that are very good story wise, but the kisses arenโt exceptional- theyโre by no means bad, some are good, but none stand out to me as oneโs that I would say โthe BESTโ, and I think thatโs probably because what makes those shows good is that theyโre all rounder Good shows, rather than being just Good Romances โ I had this same realisation when someone asked me what my favourite OTPs of all time were, and I noticed that all of my favourite and objectively best shows would be up there, but I donโt think of those shows in terms of just their OTPs, the OTP is just part of why the show is good as a whole. Itโs kind of the same thing with some of their kisses; Thirty But Seventeen is an excellent show, very thematically whole and sound and satisfying, and it has lovely and nice kisses, that arenโt bad technically either as far as that goes, but I donโt think of it when I think of All Time Best Kisses. So thatโs an interesting observation.
I said would rate a Best Kiss by its Story as well, but then I have to think aboutโฆ what makes an All Time Best Kiss, an All Time Best Kiss, that is going to be remembered for THAT, for being a Kiss, and not the show as a whole just also being an All Time Bestโฆ
I think it comes back to the first point, that in a lot of these good shows, the romance is just a variable in making it good. And many of my top thematic shows donโt even have explicit romances or kissing in them at all โ essentially Kissing is not necessary for these shows to be good, or any show to be good for that matter. Iโm rambling but I guess I think for a KISS to become BEST, the KISSing part of the show has to be somehow more necessary than average, or used in a way that it canโt be taken out, it has to be EXTRA important somehow. (which Iโm fine with tbh, giving things that inherently should have a lot of meaning and weight, MORE meaning, is pretty much never a bad thing.)
Because, on the other hand, I can think of Kisses that WOULD be more in the ALL TIME BEST, when taking this into account, but the story later on, lets me down in a way I canโt really forgive and therefore canโt rate the kiss as an all time best either.
For example, I love the kisses in 2521 a lot, both technically and at their specific time in the story, narratively, and they definitely are more memorable as kiss scenes, than what is memorable about 30B7, for example, but because I fundamentally disagree with how that show ended, the entire thing leaves a bitter taste in my mouth; I canโt rank them as Best, because for them to have been Best, the ending would have to be differentโฆ
This happens a lot; I also really like the first kiss in EAW, for example, but because the OTP in that never thematically or character wise as a couple, developed farther from that kissโฆ well, whatโs the point.
I also dislike a lot of post get together kisses in many ways because a lot of them feel gratuitous…
… some even invasive of a fictional coupleโs privacy lol, and others lose their spark if they happen too often. (Goblin, HPL, KTL, ABP.)
Kurama has asked me before what my “Favourite” kisses are, and I gave her a list in response, that weren’t necessarily, ALL of my favourites, or even all-time favourites, and I MUST reiterate this, DEFINITELY not everything I could have mentioned, they were merely ones I thought of at the time, that had elements to them that are elements that make up a Good or even Great Kiss: https://www.dramabeans.com/members/sicarius/activity/1343371/#acomment-1343438
Of these, I think I would still confidently say that the Secret Lyfe of My Secretary Episode 8 kiss is probably up there in my All-Time Bests, maybe not THE Best, the show would have to live up to being rewatched for that, but it is one of the best technical kisses out there, and I think narratively it is very good as well. If I had to criticise it narratively, itโs that it is probably more memorable than most of their later kisses lmao, except maybe the ending one.
To give you more entries onto a list of All Time Bests, because thatโs what it would have to be, a list, and not one, I would have to go away and re-review all the dramas and kisses Iโve ever watched, and all the kisses of dramas I havenโt watched and then maybe we could narrow something down, but right now I donโt think I can really say there IS one or that I HAVE one.
Iโm being very strict here, probably stricter than I even would be with kisses in my own writing (hmmm, maybe I should take notes from myself) but I just feel likeโฆ I need to be.
I can take requests, but generally Analyst entries happen on a whim and when I feel like following the shitposting dopamine.
Additional Speed Runs anyway:
Of my Thematic Top 10 dramas, only 5 have kiss scene kisses.
Healer โ nice kisses but narratively the first one, whilst ICONIC AF, is also kind of WEIRD hahaha (but the beauty of Healer is that we all just accept it anyway). Episode 14 in general has my whole heart though, I have one minor personal issue with the kiss there but otherwise, the HUG THE TEARS THE BUILD UP. Definitely Up There. Also see what I wrote for 30B17.
Sassy Go Go โ not a technically good kiss in the slightest LMAO the kiss is not why this is an Objectively a Good Show.
MPUB โ the most romantic scenes donโt even have kisses LOL, the other one is just a very brief baby kiss and is very cute but hardly counts.
30BUT17 โ see above
SUFBB โ I actually really like this kiss. Not sure where it would rank in best, because itโs definitely technically flawed, but itโs cute. Something about Sung Joonโs hands and the framing and them being on the roof and their opposites attract character designs. Anyway. Fluffy teenagers <3 I wish people still talked about this show the way they did 6 years ago.
…
2023:
I didn’t like the first CCIR one because he kissed her when he still thought she was married, which was a plot point I found really dumb and unnecessary in that show anyway, and then I dropped it before any of the other ones, I dropped Destined With You befORE any of the kiss scenes at all, but also Rowoon makes my skin crawl so probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy them either, refuse to watch the AOS2 kiss because I don’t like soul swapping, lmao, didn’t like the See You In My 19th Life kisses that I saw because that drama infuriates me because the FL is not a Real Character, and everything was done backwards in it, KTL was a good kiss scene but overall felt too exploitative of Junho for me tbh, like it was completely just “oggle over Junho!!!” which makes me uncomfortable, CIL’s scene in 12 just made me fizzing mad actually tbh, and I liked the second couple better, otherwise there were plenty of good kisses but as I said above, honestly if the story isn’t ALSO GOOD for why the kiss is there or happening or the lead up to it, then it’s not a good kiss scene even if it’s shot well and has good kissers or is โhotโ which is basically the case for everything else, the writing just Isnโt Good Enough to warrant being mentioned (for example, Soundtrack 2, Worst of Evil (visibly gags) or Deborah, which I would like if the fallout from the kiss, which could’ve SAVED the entire show, didn’t just ruin it even farther instead), I WOULD give it to TMTYLM but I’m trying to not comment on that show because I’m scared it will break into a thousand pieces in my hands, I would give SO MANY of this round up to MEET YOURSELF but my love for that show feels too precious to share, idk, I feel selfish about it, I want to gatekeep it, and gatekeep my love for it, lmao, and also I liked their non kiss scenes better hahaha, best crackships didn’t even get real kisses or proper ones, and the rest I just DIDN’T WATCH.
I love the fact that you literally exist on another plane from most of us, yet are so approachable and helpful and guide all of us so effortlessly. Thank you for taking out the time to respond.
Omg @sicarius 💕 💕💕💕 for such a detailed response, I feel both bad for putting you on the spot but also blessed ✨ for the detailed analysis and observations.
Absolutely fair on why choosing best of all time would be insanely difficult/impossible because of how time consuming it would be in order to remain faithful to the process, not to mention yes subjectivity. I didn’t think about the contextual stuff which you mentioned in part two but it MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!!! Like I was wondering why the KTL scenes didn’t make me feel 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 because it felt like it was technically all there, but YES there’s so many narrative/character elements and production aspects – not to mention audience investment as well – that contribute to the perception of a A Good Kiss!! Not to mention the whole ‘good in isolation’ or ‘good without the use of hindsight’ (or vice versa) that complicates things . Like 2521 which yeah same here, left a bitter taste in my mouth and I wasn’t able to squee at the romantic moments again like I did the first time when I was blissfully unaware of what was in store 🤡
I also really appreciate your point about romance being just one variable that makes a show good, and that there are shows where the romantic tension alone is more 🔥 than other shows with a lot of skinship.
I’m going to work through some of the scenes you’ve mentioned – and the list you’ve linked – lol there goes my algorithm (but is this really a complaint) but just in general, I love being privy to your thought processes and the way you observe and analyse things so again – you easily could’ve just been like mm no it’s hard or threw a bone for the sake of answering but I appreciate that you took the time to really elaborate on your thoughts and the hows and whys 😍
This is such a lovely reply asdlkfjhalk.
I almost, almost did just spit the dummy lol, even though I knew what my long answer would be, but then I gave myself an evening to sit on it, instead of replying right away.
And mentioning context was one of the most important things.
KTL was imo, and very underwritten show, and then it was also literally just a show to like, indulge in Junho… and that’s not really enough for a kiss scene to be Great, even if the flashyness is all there…
Yeah it’s kind of funny that my favourite Kdrama OTP, actually doesn’t even have a kiss scene lol. You should be able to tell a couple is in love withOUT them kissing, this is good writing advice in general, but if they are gonna kiss, have your kiss mean something more than just skinship for the sake of it.
Haha have fun! I don’t have much spare these days to share more of my thought processes but I’m grateful beans like you and @seeker appreciate it when I do get something out. xox
Hey it’s the Solstice tomorrow. Well, for me anyway. Neat!
21- The OST you are “obsessed” with.
The My Dearest OST IS good. I will still give it that.
I also liked multiple tracks from Stealer, and Delightfully Dysfunctional this year, and singles, mainly due to the artists lol, from KTL, Black Knight and Deborah.
Most currently, I am actually obsessed with the Tell Me That You Love Me OST, and all of its Sound Design for that matter.
But Iโm going to be a little unconventional on this entry.
I want to give a shout out to Vigilanteโs soundtrack, actually. Not because it was especially good, but because I think itโs the only drama Iโve personally seen and know of that legit just straight up has a Screamo song in its OST.
Which like, respect.
Plenty of heavy rock and heavier hip hop tracks in action shows. But actual screamo???? I didnโt like the song, even as a metalhead, but Iโm giving it a mention for uniqueness if nothing else lol.
And, whatโs more, genre wise I think it was an apt choice for the character, even if it wasnโt you knowโฆ a good song. or a good show.
Unfortunately the song in question, Destroy by Snake Chicken Soup, hasnโt actually been released yet, so I canโt share it. Maybe thatโs not a bad thing lmao.
Instead, I will share my current beloved from Tell Me That You Love Me. This song reminds me of a SALTNPAPER song for some reason, whom, btw, I quite miss being in OSTs more regularly.
I LOVE THIS SONG. 💚
I didn’t mention it because I felt like if I didn’t stop now, I would probably just keep doing the whole round up about TMTYLM without noticing. 😂
And I love the title of the song because it’s really hard not to cry while listening to it.
Lolololol I’m trying my hardest to not mention TMTYLM for everything because I’m still scared 😅😅😅 and also it’s too precious, just want to let it be in some ways.
Thanks for sharing. I ended up listening to this song on loops on my way to a hospital. I also found out that other songs of TMYLM are very beautiful, too.
Sorry, nobody else this year will be quite as cool as Xiao Se and his 20 Different Blue Outfits, and 22 Official Outfits, from THE BLOOD OF YOUTH.
I donโt have a lot of frame of reference on whether or not this is a lot for a wuxia, xianxia or xuanhuan, because I havenโt seen that many, but it feels like a lot for any non-modern anyway.
The rest of the costumes in this show were either equally hits, or just hard misses, but I took SUCH delight in how many he had, in how many different shades of blue there were, at all the detailing and accessories, how consistently GOOD they were, and in screenshotting every time there was a new one, which was about every second episode. Lol.
Unfortunately, although this show was a lot of fun to watch, I didnโt like the ending or the thematic resolution 🙄. Tragic. Oh well. But fortunately, cool costumes can stand alone, and I donโt have to give a โmost fashionableโ or โbest costume designโ award out in this roundup, because, on par for 2023, I wouldnโt be able to do THAT this year eitherโฆ
But never mind that, I just wish I could find official shots of all of these to better use them for drawing and design references.
😲😍 Ooooooh. I am probably not going to watch that one but I will definitely go stalk its costumes to see how I feel about them, and hopefully find some gems.
Yeah honestly I think the fact that 90% of his here ARE blue is part of why I like them so much. The constant colour scheme, it becomes like a uniform; signature colours and colours being symbolic are right up my alley. But additionally while they’re all blue, they’re still all different. Idk, it’s a fun way to build the character I think.
I love
Why didnโt I look for one of those for Blood of Youth when making this post lol, I couldnโt find anything and had to make this myself haha. So helpful, thank you.
Definitely! And itโs a youth Wuxia so that totally makes sense.
I wasnโt consistently as in love with anyoneโs aside from Ciao Seโs though haha. Yiyi/Wuxinโs were nice but he only had like 4 🤣
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY 12 🍈 (feat. a Mini STEALER Sh🦨tpost)
Jumping ahead to day 12 because I have nothing else to share for any of the categories for a few days, and also Iโm away tomorrow.
12- Best โsuitโ wearer: HONOURABLE MENTIONS
(โฆ only three of these are actually suits. :P)
Honourable Mentions 1.
The Matching Skunk Jackets from STEALER: THE TREASURE KEEPER
🦨🖤🤍🖤🦨
Honourable Mentions 2:
Kim Bum in Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938
Honourable Mentions 3:
New additions to the PURPLE HANBOK and PURPLE SUIT CLUBS, most of which I have actually forgotten about and or didnโt take screenshots of and or didnโt watch the drama of so if there are any missing I donโt care BUT they look something like this
2023 watches Purple Suit Club:
Vigilante
Free Space
2023 watches Purple Hanbok Club:
The Forbidden Marriage
My Dearest
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract
Our Blooming Youth (????????? was there or am I making shit up)
Free Space for Sageuks I didnโt watch or Hanboks I forgot about.
(In general, there were plenty of nice hanboks in sageuks this year but for some reason none of them have really stuck with me. RIP.)
Wow ok you’ve changed the game, thought I had day 12’s pick Down solid but forgot about Rang’s stylish suits in ToTNT2. Need to go back to google images the drawing board for further research.
Also aww the cute Bambi referenceeee!! I haven’t even watched the show yet but yes they are indeed the same picture!
Lololololol Silver + Tarnishing = Poison (Arsenic) at it again.
Congratulations Poison Theorists, youโre looking to be right.
And the Butterfly Norigaeโs absence WAS a plot point of convenience, ofc it was.
Although in 6 it turns out my focus on him having a heart issue is also probably still right; both Tae Ha’s have health issues and both Tae Ha’s have step mothers or other people trying to kill them for their inheritance etc.
7- The drama Beanies convinced you to watch and you canโt be grateful enough.
I was gonna be a killjoy again on this entry but Iโve been listening to Advent music all day so now I kinda donโt really feel like itโฆ *blinks at self in shock* No hay ninguna. Have a (mostly) unrelated song instead.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 13, 2024 at 2:30 AM
A Dramabeans milestone has been reached!
1000 Comments on a Fanwall Thread!
Hooray hooray! And a big congratulations to all who participated and to @cozybooks!!!!! (I hope this helps you level up 😂)
It is also the second last day of Love, February, and Shrove Tuesday.
Thus with this achievement, I will bid thee all a Happy St Valentine’s Day, and adieu till Easter.
🖤💜💜💜🖤
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 13, 2024 at 2:31 AM
@reply1988 @seeker @claire2009 @cozybooks you can discuss you know what on here if you want 😂😂😂 I love you all, byeeeee~~
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 13, 2024 at 2:34 AM
my mdl
https://mydramalist.com/profile/Sicarius
owl ๐ฆ ๐ซฐ
February 13, 2024 at 12:59 PM
Go cozybooks! 😃
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 13, 2024 at 2:39 AM
๐ฉท ❤️ 🧡 💛 💚 ๐ฉต 💙 💜 💖
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 13, 2024 at 2:40 AM
To infinity and beyondโฆ thank you for guiding us my Queen and bringing us home. Have a blessed time. We will eagerly await your return at maybe 2000 โฆ!!?? 😂👏👏👏👏👏👏
Healerโs
February 13, 2024 at 2:52 AM
💖
I was too excited to discuss so I went to try and finally managed to do it!!
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 13, 2024 at 7:02 PM
❤
bong-soo
February 13, 2024 at 7:36 AM
Sic, thanks for the notification. Congrats @cozybooks.
bbstl ๐งน
February 13, 2024 at 8:19 AM
Wait, what? Youโre giving US up for Lent???
cozybooks
February 13, 2024 at 7:06 PM
Hehe thanks Sicarius!! It’s been a wild, wild ride ahahahaha ๐ and here’s to the many other random hangouts to come on beanie walls everywhere ๐
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 7, 2024 at 8:22 PM
Sicariusโ Guide to Killing People: A SHOP FOR KILLERS SH🔪TPOST
I am qualified to make this post because my name means Assassin in Latin. And why yes I am insufferable to watch movies with, why did you ask.
Every year I watch half a dozen plus shorter action x various genre kdramas, and I like maybe one of them if weโre lucky.
And at least once a year I sit down write out a big rant about action, and fighting and weapons and injury authenticity, in reaction to one or more of these shows, and title it much the same thing every time, and then I never post it. (e.g. my My Name Shitpost @eazal, Iโm so sorry 😂)
So, consider this not so much of a shitpost about Shop For Killers per se, and more of a locked and loaded rant that I have waiting in the wings at literally any given moment any time I watch anything remotely akin to this show, and that Shop for Killers is just the sacrificial lamb of this present moment, and the one I am choosing to channel my frustration through.
THINGS IT DID RIGHT:
Most of what it got right was in the first 4 episodes, then it kinda started getting more and more dumbโฆ so sad.
1. Sound Delay and the Speed of Sound (aka the actual only reason I am making this post at all because I wanted to SHARE ABOUT IT BECAUSE ITโS COOL)
See: video @ 2:10 specifically, it goes into this in depth.
But basically, when youโre dealing with long distance rifles, the bullet is travelling faster than the sound of the rifle, so to the person being shot at, they will not see the gun being fired, the sound of it hitting, and also HEAR the gun being fired all at the same time.
They GOT THIS RIGHT! I was SO EXCITED THAT THEY GOT THIS RIGHT. I donโt think Iโve EVER seen a movie or a tv show get this right.
When Seongjo is sniping at them from the bridge, we hear Seongjo shoot, then our protagonists (and uhm, some other guy) hear the bullet fly past them, and THEN they hear the delay of the gun firing from THEIR position.
They get the sound design with the sniper rifle right every time they shoot it. Top marks for that. 10/10.
2. Also, during the sniping scene:
Recoil is a bitch, she is tiny, and that gun is big, and it would HURT, yes, and throw her across the room, yes!
(Alas, the recoil in the rest of the show isnโt as consistently accurateโฆ)
3. โbut itโs not enough to beat a man holding a knifeโ (Episode 4)
Yeah, if you enter a knife fight, especially unarmed chances are one but probably both of you are gonna end up fxxked up, correct, please do not enter a knife fight without a superior weapon, not even an equal one, just run, Jinman is correct here.
Knife fights are MESSY and dangerous and you WILL get cut up at bare minimum!
(Ofc then it goes and proceeds to show a bunch of unrealistic disarmaments, and well-choreographed but nonetheless knife fights that mostly ignore thisโฆ but what can you do.)
4. I liked the use of Muy Thai as a fighting art, that was fun. Not sure about the realism of her training times, but in terms of martial arts actually useful for fighting, Muy Thai is one of them. So, neat to have that awareness at least. It also has several cameos by Karambits, one of my favourite knives, a wicked little melee knife.
(Unfortunately, not really any decent, truly realistic karambit fightsโฆ as usual.)
THINGS IT DID NOT/ GENERAL RANTING:
Well, you could just watch the rest of the video in terms of guns, so, all of that, too, but Iโm going to mention specifics and other stuff anyway lmao.
– Hyenas are cool. And barking doesn’t necessarily make an animal weak lmfao. I know it’s a metaphor, it’s just a dumb metaphor so it annoys me. (Inaccurate Weapons and Inaccurate Zoology are constantly fighting for my attention and which one annoys me more.)
– No earplugs, y’all are reeling, and deafer than Beethoven.
The Grey Man was a terrible movie. It was just point blank, a bad, an awful movie. Gosling slept walked through it. But, hilariously, ironically, everyone wore earplugs!!!!!
Guns are loud. Rifles are REALLY loud. Wear ear protection.
– How many times must I say this, Grenades have a kill radius of 5m and an injury radius of 15m, and you threw two. That asshole in ep 5 is dead. Not kinda messed up but still looks recognisable, not unrecognisably messed up, just dead. Very dead. Completely dead.
And our protagonists are a lot more injured than that.
How did you get the sound physics of sniper rifles correct, and the damage of a grenade wrong. Even Little Woman got this right. Please.
– Listen
The whole – THE WHOLE BALE THING???? *tears out hair* yeah, so that is basically the entire conflict the show hinges on, what about it.
First, Bale SHOULD be dead from those injuries. Iโm not sure why this drama seems to think explosions cause just an ✨aesthetic✨ amount of damage and scarring.
But even so,
If someone like him is threatening you? And your family? And kills people for fun? And you have him under the knife?????
1. You stab him in the heart, breaking his sternum like you did anyway.
2. And THEN! you take OUT the knife so he bleeds out faster, cos the knife will be keeping him alive essentially at that point (minus the explosions and other injuries).
3. And then you slit his throat.
4. And you slit it well and truly.
Why would you leave any and I mean literally any possibility of him living
This show acts smart until it does the dumbest shit ever
You had time to cut his throat, you numbskull. The show just established you keep your cool in bloodshed x minutes ago. But you went for the gun???? Why make it all emotional and dramatic!
It’s a lot harder to come back from a severed jugular and carotid artery. He WILL bleed out before he can get to medical attention.
But if youโre worried his Cha Dal Geon Immunity to Death Gene will overcome even a severed jugular, cut a couple of other main arteries at the same time.
Knifeโs right there, babe. Wrists, groin, armpits, neck.
Why must these shows exist only at the expense of the Supposedly Intelligent Main Characterโs Intelligence. That’s rhetorical.
But really?? You should’ve put a bullet in Baleโs head three missions ago. Maybe three bullets seeing as how he has the Cha Dal Geon Immunity to Death gene. I mean thatโs what *I* wouldโve doneโฆ if I was a mercenary with at least an existent moral compass, no matter how broken. Heโs not that good of a merc for you to have kept around as a liability for that long, surely. Come on.
I hope your absence after your fake death was because you were killing him PROPERLY this time?? Were you successful? Or did you leave him the SLIGHTEST possibility of living, again.
– Speaking of Fake Deaths, very obvious from episode one, not showing his face, and her hard sus reaction, but also he had to be alive because if he wasnโt alive heโs the biggest idiot on planet earth to kill himself over such a ridiculous blackmailing trick, when heโs been set up as โฆ you knowโฆ not THAT much of an idiot. So instead, heโs just enough of an idiot that if he werenโt, the show wouldnโt exist โฆ not that that would be a loss to me personally, but maybe to some others it would.
The entire show hinges on you [Jinman] not killing him [Bale] right the first time, but I just donโt get, you knowโฆ why you didnโt kill him right the first time.
If it’s something dumb like Flex Cop I can ignore a lot of these common action flaws more easily but if you’re taking your killing as seriously as thisโฆ then actually take it seriously, gosh.
– Other Speed RUN
The deaf arms dealer was cute. RIP buddy. Iโm sorry about your arm.
IV pull – DING
Most of the fight scenes ranged from decent to ok to wtf was that. There was quite a wide range of styles and consistency in accuracy there, and in the aftermath lol.
I donโt think anyone reloaded enough but thatโs normal 🙄 I also donโt know why our little mole was the only one wearing a bullet proof vestโฆ Minhye sure couldโve used one.
I kind of got sick of all the fights at the end, and the structure of the show, which started out a lot better than it ended.
.
.
.
Thereโs more I definitely missed and or couldโve ranted about but for Version 1 of this rant, thatโs all for now.
Till the next dumb action show, misuse of guns, grenades, or character that pulls out something theyโve been stabbed/shot with โฆ whichever comes first. Maybe the next one will be a sageuk and Iโll rant about arrows.
In the meantime, I will go back to wondering why everyone in Nokdu Flower treats Yi Hyun as the Evilest of Evils for being an 19th Century Sniper.
Goodbye!
☠☠☠
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 7, 2024 at 8:29 PM
*sorry for badmouthing Flex X Cop there, but it IS on the dumb, fun but dumb, comedy action, Skunk end of the spectrum. I am enjoying it a lot, but it’s action is just silly. That Helicopter scene? Aiiiyaaa.
Kurama
February 7, 2024 at 9:22 PM
For Jin-Man was stupid, you can’t be naive in this job. And because of that a lot of people died and his niece couldn’t have a normal life.
I wished to see more about the deaf arms dealer 😥
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 7, 2024 at 9:32 PM
The problem is I think they worked backwards (I haven’t read the book) – the niece with the reveal of the gun shop is the focal point, that’s what it wants to be about – so we have to work back to how we got to this point – her parents dying, etc etc – but by doing that, if it’s not believable enough, like here, it’s just annoying and stupid. But if Bale was killed properly, then we wouldn’t have the rest of the show that they so badly wanted to focus on, you wouldn’t have any Shop for Killers. Idk then have a smarter backstory, why don’t you 🙄🙄🙄
I liked him just from his five seconds at the beginning, and then he was dead and I was like nooo! Was happy to see him back briefly only to lose him again haha
Ziziboice
February 7, 2024 at 9:47 PM
I didn’t even watch the show, but I read your essay carefully and enjoyed all the details.
They just ignore all of them in fight scenes in dramas because they think a hero with earplugs or bulletproof vests or running when she sees she can’t overcome the situation and it’s too dangerous to handle, is not COOL enough for a hero.😅
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 7, 2024 at 9:51 PM
Why thank you.
But I happen to think the opposite is cooler and more interesting, so where does that leaves us 😆😆😆 ofc, I am not most people’s target audience…
Ziziboice
February 7, 2024 at 10:01 PM
I think so too, being realistic is more interesting that being a dumb and lucky hero. 😄
emsel
February 7, 2024 at 10:29 PM
I enjoyed the show, but I do agree with all the negatives and the grenade stuff irked me to no end, especially as you pointed out tjat the protagonists escaped with little to no harm. Grenade power is not some secret knowledge that exists only among armed people, but is a general knowledge that even civilians know about.
Bale is a trigger for the entire sequence of events, so we just have to grudgingly acknowledge his existence as a guy with Cha Dal Geon’s gene of immunity. By the way is there any hope for Vagabond S2🤣🤣🤣
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 7, 2024 at 10:33 PM
I will not begrudge his existence at all; they could’ve tried harder 😂😂😂
Vagabond should’ve aired two years later than it did, then it would’ve got a S2 lol.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 12, 2024 at 11:06 AM
Thank you for a very informative post. 😊
I too thought that there were too many fights which were differently choreographed. Maybe this abundance of action directors led to vastly contrasting fighting styles and inconsistencies.
You’re so correct while no one expects anything from Chaebol Cop this kind of widely varied “action” is more irritating than awe-inspiring.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 12, 2024 at 12:59 PM
Having lots of stunt directors on an 8 episode Disney kdrama would be weird but maybe… Are there actually many listed? Cos welp, if so haha… Maybe all the different shades of fight were on purpose?? Some were just outrageous, like Minhye’s fight in the locked down living room lol.
Absolutely.
And something like this clearly takes its action and genre a lot more seriously, in that it’s designed to be a dark action show, akin to other Korean Noirs, Asian gritty action like the Raid, or the John Wick style flick, and if that’s the case, I tend to expect more of such things, especially, especially, if they get Something as right as Sound Delay in rifles.
The inconsistencies at that point immediately become not something to look over, but a glaring larger flaw in the work. They didn’t care to get it consistent, and that’s telling.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 13, 2024 at 5:03 AM
I don’t know how many action directors were there just that the “action” seems diverse.
My idea of “action” was always with a side of comedy like those Jackie Chan movies we watched as kids. While I don’t know about technicalities but I loved reading about them in your post and agree that they should not undermine that which makes it good in the first place. 😀
bomibeans
February 26, 2024 at 9:27 PM
I absolutely ADORE watching Insideโs How Real It Is (and similar breakdowns) on YouTube. I learn a lot without sitting through a boring lecture but actually watching snippets of the movies and having experts annihilating some of it. 😂
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 4, 2024 at 4:44 PM
Hello All. I hope you\’re all enjoying Love, February.
Sicarius\’ Guide to Known Inappropriate Words* February 2024 UPDATED and MASTER Version:
*aka words that trip the spam filter, like forbidden candy.
It has come to my attention that I should\’ve just made this a google doc earlier, instead of the time consuming Photoshop Image I have used in past versions, but I think, as useful as links are, a visual aid helps a lot of people – you can SEE it, right there (and also I like making it LOOK pretty haha).
Nonetheless, this version is just a link.
I have combined my (always ongoing) current list of Known IWs and my Guide to Dealing with Them (that I also have posted on my wall previously) into one Google Doc, with open link sharing, for easy access for all Beans, past, present and future.
@kmromrell for your spreadsheet project! Here!
(I am sure btw, I have other resources that would be useful for that lying around, but consolidating them is not priority and I grow weary these days.)
I may make this Open to Editing later on, so that anyone who finds a New IW can simply add it to the file themselves. But till then, keep tagging me if you find one or notice an update!
Thank you very much for your time. Peace!
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1uQw3vqY3kSnUdwxiKy4IhuC2coEwgCtruzh-dxHFctA/edit?usp=sharing
bbstl ๐งน
February 4, 2024 at 5:04 PM
Youโre the best! 👑🍈👏🏽
Bebe | Nessaโฃ๏ธ
February 4, 2024 at 5:11 PM
Thanks a bunch, Sic!!
TheOutsideJoke (@kmromrell)
February 4, 2024 at 11:05 PM
Perfect, I’ve added it to the Beanie Resources folder under “How to Dramabeans”. I shortened the shortcut title a tad to make sure Beanies could see the full title/author. Let me know, though, if you’d prefer that to be changed. Thanks so much for compiling this and sharing it out!
Yes, I’d love to add any other resources you have, but no pressure on timing — the folder will be here and ready whenever you’ve got the time. ๐ If you want any help consolidating those resources, I’d also be happy to help convert them from post-form to document-form — we’d just want to make sure to change the document ownership to you afterward.
If anybody else sees this and is aware of other resources that should be added, let me know!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 5, 2024 at 11:43 AM
Oh no worries about shortening it, at all.
Thank you! I’ll let you know if I think of anything and/or need a hand.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 4, 2024 at 11:22 PM
Thank you so very much. 🫰
kiara
February 5, 2024 at 10:26 AM
I was about to message you and Toki. Hope you are doing well, @Sic.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 5, 2024 at 11:44 AM
Been so tired lately alas. Also thinking of staying off dB for Lent so may have to message you and Toki about Nokdu on MDL or something haha.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
February 5, 2024 at 11:49 AM
Take care and have fun. Come and chat with us when you’re free. 😍
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 5, 2024 at 1:00 PM
Thanks Cera 🖤🖤🖤
kiara
February 5, 2024 at 12:00 PM
That’s wonderful! I think Toki will participate again this year.
If I don’t see you ladies in the next couple of months, at least I know you are both ok.
MDL or fan-wall. All good!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
February 5, 2024 at 1:01 PM
Hahaha yes you’ll know why we’re AWOL at least
Healerโs
February 6, 2024 at 7:04 AM
Thanks heaps, Sicarius!!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 17, 2024 at 8:15 PM
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME: Final Essay 🍀
18/01/24
Beanmelons rescinded. Well, not entirely. But most of them. I thought this might happen.
This is the opening line of the show.
It is a common narrative technique, to start your story, be it film, television, novel, play, et al, with an idea, a proposition, that is also the end point of the story, where the story is going to end up.
Therefore, the objective of the story becomes to show how and why this proposition comes to pass.
Itโs a bold narrative move, because you reveal your cards early.
If you reveal your ending at the beginning, you must justify that being your ending in everything you are about to do and show, in every part of the story, the storytelling process, and in every storytelling device.
Everything must be so wholly and truly working towards this goal, that by the time you give your audience this ending, it feels inevitable that this was the ending, that this was always intended point, and this was, in some respects, the only point possible to have reached. Reaching that point should be rewarding or cathartic in some way.
It doesnโt have to be โhappyโ, but it must make sense, and it must be satisfying in how we got there.
This is, in fact, true for all stories, but in my opinion even more so if you use this opening technique, because you are by default limiting your narrative options.
The only other possible option is to deliberately reject this proposition.
If rejecting the proposition, when that wasnโt deliberate, or some other theme of the show somehow becomes more inevitable, more necessary, if Something Else becomes more True, than the ending you have already revealedโฆ you have failed your task, and failed to reach your goal.
—
The opening line of the show, as previously quoted, is the showโs proposition.
First it expresses doubt over love between two people who are โtooโ different.
Second, it expresses that a tragic ending must be inevitable for these two people, implying that the differences become irreconcilable.
Then the narrator expresses doubt over this and says well, even if that is true, it is better to love anyway.
I agree with the last statement. It is better to love than to never love at all (see: here and here). But the narrator only expresses this within the frame of reference of that love eventually becoming hate.
The motto itself seems confused. In the example scenario given, itโs not even that these two are two different that is really the focus, but that being different will end in hate. Similarly, itโs not โlove in spite ofโ that is the focus, but the โuntilโ that given emphasis.
So, for this show to justify this being its opening line, it must now go out of its way to show that the differences between the leads are irreconcilable, and that it will also end in hate, whilst also trying to balance that with the idea of Love, even if it is temporary, being an ultimately good thing.
—
The reason I have always felt unsure of loving this show, always felt a lurking sense of foreboding, or some impending narrative direction that I knew I would hate, is because of this opening line and because I immediately felt it was confused and would be hard to deliver on well.
But more specifically, it is because after it announced this statement as its opening line, the show then spent the next 10 to 12 episodes doing a quite frankly better and sounder job of telling a story about Communication, about the different forms of communication, about wanting to overcome great obstacles and differences and fears, about the nuances of communication and language and form and semantics, with positivity and strength and hope, than it did telling a story of how we might reach this joint ending-opening point in any kind of satisfying way.
For every hint of dissonance, and temporality, for every line about transience and things being lost or passing, for every lurking shadow of doubt, that pointed back to the proposition, there was a direct thematic idea in contradiction to it, that spoke of overcoming this, of facing conflict and becoming stronger for it, becoming stronger together for it, of growing from scars and past hurt, and of pursuing things and choosing to love even when it is hard.
So the proposition and rejecting the proposition were in competition against each other, and the latter, was narratively stronger and more true than the former.
One can have deliberately conflicting thematic points, and this can be a good thing, for example: if one eventually wins out over the other, or if their juxtaposition serves to shed light onto something.
But, instead of spending time building towards any clear end goal – for the claim, or against it, or doing anything with this contradiction, by having the stronger one mean something, or balancing that tension, either between thematic ideas, or in the initial motto itself – this show spent more time building a kind of thematic ambiguity, so much so that it was entirely possible for this show to swing either in direct opposition to its opening point, just as much as it was possible for it to swing back on it.
—
And then they break up, and the 8th last line of the show is its opening line, confirming my suspicions that to reject the proposition was never going to be its point, that it really meant to end up here all along.
But we have not got here in a way that this felt earnt, and justified. The show has not spent its whole being reaching this point, proving that this, this is how it was supposed to be, as it must, as it shouldโve, if it was going to reveal its cards like that at the beginning. And it has not used its contrasting themes to help prove this point either.
And even in ending up here, it then actually ends, not WITH this, but AFTER this; instead of with the opening line as its ultimate final point, it concludes with two other moments that donโt feel wholly satisfying for either possible ending- either the hopeful, overcoming, or the bittersweet one.
Jinwoo introduces himself again, and Moeun smiles, and then we cut to credits.
And over the credits our leads walk hand in hand down their train track and at the end of the end, the end after the end, Jinwoo finally says in voiceover, in echo of the showโs title, โI love you, Moeunโ; he finally confesses.
But this too feels like a false ending.
The showโs title is TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME, but its proposition is something entirely different. And Jinwoo never tells Moeun that he loves her to her person, but he says her name out loud, in the only spoken line he has in the entire show, to nobody, in heartbreak after their break up.
For a show about Communication, it feels cheap to have the leads break up due to a breakdown in communication, in the name of some Other Theme that was not shown to be any stronger than this.
But if they get back together without us seeing them overcoming this breakdown, this conflict, then you have not only denied them their bittersweet ending, that you initially chose for them, no matter how unjustified that has been, you have also denied them true development for a happy ending – for the ending that couldโve instead rejected the proposition on purpose.
There can be no whole or satisfying bittersweet ending, and there can be no whole or satisfying happy ending either.
You have only given your audience false propositions, and false promises, and false endings.
1. In being ambiguous in body, instead of picking an end goal and dedicating itself to reaching that goal, thus betraying its beginning.
2. In not balancing its contradicting themes to reach or support that end goal.
3. In its contrary themes becoming stronger and truer than any other intentional theme.
4. In the ending denying either the original claim, or the rejection of the original claim to be the true ending, satisfying the ambiguity, and nothing else.
And I do not know why. And I am left disappointed, but somehow not surprised, and not as heartbroken either as I initially thought I would be, just let down.
I am left wondering if you really intended to end with or meant the opening point at all, such was the ambiguity, but to make ambiguity itself the point betrays too much else to be a rational conclusion, such was the rest of the showโs thematic core.
Because so much of you was Right and True and Beautiful.
But in the en…[Read more]
Midnight
January 17, 2024 at 8:41 PM
I think Koreans are specifically bad at this technique because they rarely have the script fully finished before shooting starts. I have noticed in a lot of shows that this technique is used only as an idea, a device, to start the show, not to finish it. It is more disappointing when the show is excellent in other areas.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 17, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Yeah, this is a part of Television writing, one that is not actually exclusive to Korea, I have never liked, writing as you air/shoot/go. It’s always seemed counterintuitive to me 😂.
I’m not convinced finishing the script is neccesasrily the direct cause though. Whilst pre planning your script should happen and will help, often the problem with not knowing how to finish or where to take a show, or what you want your show to be is a deeper more fundamental writing issue, and not an easy fix through episode count, or pre writing alone.
Midnight
January 17, 2024 at 9:54 PM
Very well put.
WEnchanteur
January 20, 2024 at 7:05 PM
Comment was deleted
Seon-ha
January 18, 2024 at 4:42 AM
Ugh. I was never going to watch this show, but this form of disappointment is truly terrible and I’m sorry you had to endure it. I hear you taking the good with the bad, and I applaud the effort, but the way I’m feeling recently–that’s often not good enough.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 18, 2024 at 11:36 AM
Yes as much as there was a lot to love about this show, I will never be able to ratenor rank it higher as a favourite or best overall or overlook its failures.
I’m just kind of glad the disappointment was mostly dealt with last week actually, and I was mentally prepared to write this and for the ending.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
January 18, 2024 at 9:15 AM
Thank you for your review. I had a strong sense of discomfort towards the latter half of the drama but could not even express why. You have to beautifully and loving analyzed each and every point. I was very happy to start the drama, interested enough to finish, do not regret watching it but still 🤷♀️. Thank you for putting in words all the things which made us feel so warm and heard and then … something like radio silence from the show. 😀
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
January 18, 2024 at 9:17 AM
* You have
tobeautifully …๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 18, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Thank you so much Cera! Yes that discomfort you mention I had the whole drama haha despite the greatness of the beginning, but I too don’t regret watching, but I’d hard to have another disappointment after a year of seemingly endless ones.
Radio silence! I love that term haha. Very apt feeling. An edited line from the essay was “the feeling of being washed up or beached, and thirsty”.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
January 18, 2024 at 11:57 AM
Oh! yes like drinking salt water which makes you more thirsty. 🤣 Well nothing can out-Heartbeat Heartbeat *fingers crossed*. 2023 dramas made me little more sympathetic. Just like we cannot plan a “perfect” life, we cannot get “perfect” dramas. Just few moments of perfection as suffice IRL as well as dramas.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 18, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Hahaha the metaphysical question of whether or not you can truly get “the perfect drama” has always been one at the back of my mind, but whilst that may not be truly or realistically possible, I like to hope still for dramas that are still Good and point to Goodness, and, those that don’t drop the ball at the end! It is possible! But it seems they are getting fewer and far betweener. Ah well. I keep watching and waiting haha.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
January 18, 2024 at 12:57 PM
I feel that je ne sais quoi Korean-ness was the secret sauce. Now in trying to appeal to global audiences we have one foot here, one there and then **splash** down we go!!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 18, 2024 at 1:55 PM
Hmmmm 🤔
I think it’s a breakdown in story and meaning that is more worldwide and deeper and fundamental but … that also definitely doesn’t help.
Cecee
January 19, 2024 at 3:58 AM
Yessss, the full post interpretation we rightly deserved!!!!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 6, 2024 at 8:13 PM
Why are SKUNKS SO HARD TO DRAW-
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
January 6, 2024 at 8:30 PM
The eternal question
Elinor lives in the realm of the Impossible
January 6, 2024 at 10:45 PM
Dissertation topic right there.
Elinor lives in the realm of the Impossible
January 6, 2024 at 10:49 PM
No but seriously, skunks are incredibly weird-looking up close. You may think you know what one looks like but you don’t. Your brain expects a black cat with a white stripe and a squirrel tail, but their proportions are all wrong, and I do a double-take every time I see one. It must be even harder for artists who don’t live in a place where they are backyard fauna.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 6, 2024 at 11:17 PM
Oh I kNOW. FRAKKING MUSTELOID TAXONOMY THAT ISN’T A MUSTELID. *throws things*. Euplerids and Viverrids are weirder still though, so… at least I’m not drawing a Fossa????
Elinor lives in the realm of the Impossible
January 6, 2024 at 11:58 PM
Next skunk suit iteration: the seven-species-jammed-together-in-one model.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 7, 2024 at 1:50 AM
I love weird animals but man. And I thought the Archaeopteryx was annoying to figure out! Actually I should be fine once I get the geometry down but it is eluding me thus far.
zindigo
January 7, 2024 at 10:37 AM
Have you tried Pepe le Pew for inspiration? 😉
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 7, 2024 at 4:13 PM
He’s too cartoony for my style! Also funnily enough, for cartoons, Flower and Bluebelle from Bambi are weirdly more accurate.
zindigo
January 7, 2024 at 4:52 PM
There’s a skunk in Bambi!
https://www.pinterest.com/wendyc1965/bambi/
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 7, 2024 at 5:32 PM
Yes I know, Flower and Bluebelle! haha
zindigo
January 7, 2024 at 6:55 PM
Oh lol! Sorry! I didn’t remember the characters names 😬
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 3:00 AM
โ โ May the LORD be with you all, in Anno Domini Two Thousand and Twenty Four. โ โ
Healerโs
December 31, 2023 at 4:13 AM
Happy new year, Sicarius 🥂 Iโm closely behind you entering the new year 🎉
lapislazulii
December 31, 2023 at 5:20 AM
Happy New Year Sic! I hope 2024 proves to be a better year for your drama wise hahaha but also in general, hope the year brings you good health, prosperity and happiness 💜
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 6:41 PM
Awww thank you so much Lapis. I hope so too hehe
emsel
December 31, 2023 at 6:33 AM
Happy New Year, Sic!!!
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 31, 2023 at 7:53 AM
Comment was deleted
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 31, 2023 at 7:54 AM
Happy New Year my Queen. Hope this is the best-est year of your rein and Melonia is the happiest queendom ever!!ย ❤ 🖖 🎉 📯
mmmmm
December 31, 2023 at 10:48 AM
HNY, Sic! ๐
🎉
korfan
December 31, 2023 at 6:40 PM
Happy New Year!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 30, 2023 at 5:14 PM
🍈💜☠ We will call that an End of Year Milestone Reached in order to send her off well: ☠💜🍈
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 30, 2023 at 10:21 PM
What perfect figures. 👏 🥂 🎉
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 30, 2023 at 10:36 PM
I know right?!
Reply1988 -โฃ๏ธMother Beanโฃ๏ธ
December 31, 2023 at 1:01 AM
Wow great catch. I see numbers that I want to capture on the horizon and then come back to check how close I am to it only to discover itโs gone over by 1, not bitter at all😬
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Oh I feel you, the over by 1 can be so frustrating! Haha
Reply1988 -โฃ๏ธMother Beanโฃ๏ธ
December 31, 2023 at 1:15 AM
Sorry random question alert: I am sending this while I remember, what was the name of the anime you recommended I watch which has a time travel/two people in different eras communicating theme? I watched the film Ditto and it reminded me of the anime storyline you had mentioned but again I forgot to ask at the time.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Your Name??? It’s an animated film, and one of my only exceptions to liking time travel themes hahaha.
Reply1988 -โฃ๏ธMother Beanโฃ๏ธ
December 31, 2023 at 1:09 PM
Thank you I found it. I just remember you saying it was a must see when we were listing Chinese and Japanese dramas that stand out.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 6:33 PM
Hope you enjoy it! I am due for a rewatch soon actually
Reply1988 -โฃ๏ธMother Beanโฃ๏ธ
January 1, 2024 at 2:13 PM
Yes, it was like the recommendation for Healer a drama outside of my comfort zone but one I enjoyed. Thank you for the recommendation a really novel story, executed well.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 1, 2024 at 3:59 PM
Yay! Glad to hear you liked it! It’s one of my favourites. Exquisite animation and music too.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 30, 2023 at 4:53 PM
🍈 THE OFFICIAL ROYAL BEAN COUNT OF MELONIA 2023 🍈
Entry Date: AD 31 12 23
DROPPED in ORDER OF DROPPED by PERCENTAGE % WATCHED:
(% are in brackets of 10% unless otherwise specified)
10% and below:
1. Ashes of Love CDRAMA (2018) (Dropped Episode 2.5 of 63)
2. Oasis (Dropped Ep 1 of 16)
3. Road Home CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 2 of 30)
4. Family (Dropped Ep 1 of 12)
5. Boyhood (Dropped Ep 1 of 8)
6. The Deal (Dropped Ep 1 of 10)
10-20%:
7. My Journey to You CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 3 of 24)
8. Moon That Rises in the Day (Dropped Ep 2 of 14)
9. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung (2019) (Dropped Ep 3 of 20)
10. Moving (Dropped Ep 3 of 20)
11. Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938 (Dropped Ep 2 of 12)
12. Hidden Love CDRAMA (Itโs Complicated)
13. The Goryeo Khitan War (Dropped Ep 6 of 32)
14. Evilive (Dropped Ep 2 of 10)
25%:
15. Secret Playlist (Dropped Ep 2 of 8)
16. Destined With You (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
30%:
17. Can We Be Strangers Again (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
18. First Responders S2 (Dropped Ep 4 of 12)
19. Into the Ring (2020) (Dropped Ep 5 of 16)
20. Nothing But You CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 12 of 38)
21. You Are Desire CDRAMA (Dropped Ep 11/12 of 30)
22. Useless Lies / My Lovely Liar (Dropped Ep 6 of 16)
23. Twinkling Watermelon (Dropped Ep 6 of 16)
60%:
24. See You In My 19th Lyfe (Dropped Episode 8 of 12)
75%:
25. Crash Course in Romance (Dropped Ep 12 of 16)
FINISHED in CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER of DATE STARTED
(*40% of which I skim finished/ skim watched on average 45% of)
26. The Forbidden Marriage
27. Island*
28. Hi Venus CDRAMA (2022)
29. Meet Yourself CDRAMA
30. The Blood of Youth CDRAMA
31. Love to Hate You*
32. Our Blooming Youth
33. Call It Love
34. NigeHaji/We Married As A Job JDRAMA (2016)
35. Joseon Attorney: A Morality*
36. Borah! Deborah!*
37. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper / Skunk
38. WATCHER (2019)
39. You Who I Met By Chance / My Perfect Stranger*
40. Black Knight
41. I Want To Resign Every Single Day CDRAMA (2022)
42. Bloodhounds*
43. King the Land*
44. Celebrity*
45. When I Fly Towards You CDRAMA
46. Delightfully Dysfunctional
47. Ray of Light CDRAMA
48. My Dearest*
49. The Killer is Also Romantic CDRAMA (2022)*
50. Fake it Till You Make It CDRAMA
51. The Day / The Kidnapping Day
52. Song of the Bandits
53. The Worst of Evil*
54. SPY X FAMILY S01 ANIME (2022)
55. Castaway Diva
56. Daily Dose of Sunshine
57. Vigilante
58. Soundtrack #2*
CURRENTLY WATCHING that will be FINISHED AND CLASSED as 2023 WATCHES:
59. The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract* – Episode 10 of 12
60. Tell Me You Love Me – Episode 10 of 16
61. Welcome to Samdalri – Episode 9 of 16
62. Deathโs Game Part 1 – Episode 4 of 8
63. Gyeongseong Creature Part 1 – Episode 7 of 10
OTHER:
64. Remembrance of Things Past CDRAMA (Hiatus)
Currently Watching Not Counted as 2023:
65. (The Nokdu Flower โ Episode 4 of 24)
66. (Like Flowers in Sand โ Episode 4 of 12)
Occidental:
67. Arcane (2021)
68. Outer Banks S01, 02, 03
69. The Night Agent
70. The Night Manager (2016)
71. The Recruit (Dropped Ep 7)
72. The Diplomat (Dropped Ep 2)
73. XO Kitty
74. Only Murders in the Building S01, Dropped S02, Ep 6 ish.
75. Avatar: The Last Airbender (Rewatch)
STATS:
TOTAL DROPPED: 25
TOTAL FINISHED: 38
TOTAL BEANMELONS: 63
Finished 2 less than last year, Dropped 3 more, Total = 1 more than last year
Farther breaking my cycle of watching less every second year, marking two outlier years in a row, perhaps therefore instead indicating a change in pattern in how I watch things, and once again not necessarily a good change.
DISTRIBUTION:
As usual, The Royal Bean Count of Melonia counts everything predominantly watched and โcompletedโ, whether dropped or finished, or of an older airing date, in the given year, but not hiatus shows. And once again, the majority of the distribution goes to a non 2023 watch, nor even a drama. Please see Roundup Day 23 for distribution reasoning.
SPY X FAMILY S01: 🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
TELL ME THAT YOU LOVE ME:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈 (God Willing Rivers Donโt Rise)
STEALER: THE TREASURE KEEPER:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
MEET YOURSELF:🍈🍈🍈🍈🍈
WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI: 🍈🍈🍈 (God Willing Rivers Donโt Rise)
Delightfully Dysfunctional, Hi Venus, Black Knight, When I Fly Towards You: 🍈🍈🍈🍈 (1 Each)
The Blood Of Youth: 🍈 (1 for the costumes)
Thus concludes the Royal Bean Count of Melonia for 2023.
End Entry.
tabong will tell DuDu couple that she loves them๐
December 30, 2023 at 5:15 PM
You’ve work hard my friend.
You’re organization and classification skills are👌
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 30, 2023 at 5:30 PM
aaand I’ve just noticed a typo I missed. There’s always one. Pffft. Thank you~~!!!
kiara
December 30, 2023 at 6:09 PM
Wow, I didn’t know you tried that many C-dramas. I hope to try more dramas next year, even if I drop most of them.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 30, 2023 at 8:01 PM
If nothing else this year was definitely a year of “trying” things haha. In fact, the only reason my total quote – finished or dropped – is so high is because of cdramas lol.
emsel
December 31, 2023 at 2:30 AM
Surprised to see you watching Samdal-ri. I know you spam recaps with your comments if you enjoy the show in good or bad way, so what’s your take on it? Are you just watching it for JCW?
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 6:40 PM
Actually, either I spam, or I say almost nothing at all on purpose, and avoid discourse haha.
And lately there’ve been more of the latter for both likes and dislikes. Samdalri is also one of them.
Re. Samdalri: I think it is certainly not everyone’s style of drama, and the OTTness, and the demands of the premise and the characters will annoy a lot of people.
Which is totally fair.
But so far I have actually really enjoyed the first half, and think a lot of it is well made, well acted, and parts of it, I’m going to say, even well written. 5-8 especially. I haven’t really been on the recaps much, even to lurk, but I have a feeling this is probably an unpopular take lol. Whether or not this will continue through the second half though, remains to be seen, and I’ll reserve farther and final judgement till then.
I haven’t enjoyed JCW since Healer, and now twice in a row, he’s had roles he’s doing very well in, and I don’t hate him in, which is a nice change.
emsel
December 31, 2023 at 8:49 PM
It is really a loss for DB and beanies by not commenting on recaps and triggering a tonne of discussion based on your opinions. Stop trying to be all mature and bring back the snark ๐
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 9:02 PM
LOL! I guess you’ll just have to keep watching the space 🤭🤭🤭
Snow Flower
December 31, 2023 at 5:53 AM
You are watching Nokdu Flower! Happy New Year!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 31, 2023 at 6:40 PM
I am! Slowly though haha. And to you too!
WEnchanteur
January 2, 2024 at 12:24 PM
It may seem crazy for some people you dropped “Moving”, but I understand that. 6 first episodes were boring. I was so disappointed that it killed the show for me on the long run. Structure was really weird. It goes up at ep 8 with…… single background stories (flashback). The best part of the show, except one. This show needed a screenwriter, able to take a step back from the manhwa. But nah, the manhwaga did the screenplay. So, it’s woobly. Still a big thumb up for the director and actors.
Else, too much dramas in your list, I didn’t have time to try even 20% of this.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 2, 2024 at 6:47 PM
I dropped Moving for 3 reasons.
1. And the main reason: I disliked its use of violence; I found it gratuitous and unnecessary.
2. I was indeed bored.
3. I didn’t care about any of the characters.
It was a dry year for me in dramas so I would not recommend much, especially on the writing front. If Samdalri and Tell Me That You Love Me deliver on their endings then I would recommend those the most for kdramas, but they haven’t finished yet.
I actually do not very much like Call it Love so despite production aspects, and think it’s overrated, so personally wouldn’t recommend it either.
FlyingTool
January 6, 2024 at 6:25 AM
For a split second, I was confused by Black Knight – didnโt realize there was a 2023 BK. Googled, and there it is!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
January 6, 2024 at 1:01 PM
😅😅 Netflix show with Woo Bin, yes lol.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 29, 2023 at 8:27 PM
Is that what I think it is? Tell Me That You Love Me is #Melonia Approved? Ofc it is. It would be wouldn’t it. On top of everything.
redfox
December 30, 2023 at 3:02 AM
pin this place on the map
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 30, 2023 at 10:50 AM
This is surely a “sign” from the universe.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 24, 2023 at 3:00 AM
🌟⭐✨🎄 ~ MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. CHRIST IS BORN TODAY ~🎄✨⭐🌟
korfan
December 24, 2023 at 3:35 AM
Merry Christmas!
Kitsune Moon
December 24, 2023 at 3:45 AM
merry CHRISTmas <3
HopefulRomantic ๐ฆ Tigermoth ๐ฆโค๏ธ๐ฆ
December 24, 2023 at 4:07 AM
Merry Christmas!!!!!! 😊❤️
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 24, 2023 at 5:37 AM
Merry Christmas! 💜🎄
Kurama
December 24, 2023 at 5:46 AM
Thank you!
Merry Christmas too!
mmmmm
December 24, 2023 at 8:40 AM
Merry Christmas!
bbstl ๐งน
December 24, 2023 at 10:02 AM
Merry Christmas to you, Sic!
Isa is always time travelling
December 24, 2023 at 12:27 PM
Merry Christmas and Joy to the world 🌠
kiara
December 27, 2023 at 12:14 AM
Merry Christmas @Sic! ❤️
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 22, 2023 at 7:52 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY TWENTY THREE🍈
~ 23 12 23 ~
Oooh pretty numbers. Speaking of Pretty Numbers:
1- Favourite drama. (FREESTYLE CATEGORY)
None.
But closest is probably Stealer and Meet Yourself.
Stealer I probably had the most consistent fun watching, and Meet Yourself was probably the closest to a genuine favourite.
But Iโm also not lying when I say the best thing Iโve watched overall this year out of EVERYTHING, the first season of the SPY X FAMILY anime, and it was very hard not to just put that for every category on this roundup. apy
If I had to list my closest semblance to Liked or Loved this year it would look something like this:
Objective Best and No. 1 Favourite:
1. SPY X FAMILY S01 ANIME (2022)
I guess these are My Drama Favourites then:
2. Meet Yourself CDRAMA
3. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
Guilty Pleasure/Weirdo/Liked In Spite Of Likes:
4. Black Knight
5. Delightfully Dysfunctional
Fluffy Stake-less (Good for Watching When Sick) Likes:
6. Hi Venus CDRAMA (2022)
7. When I Fly Towards You CDRAMA
And ofc, currently, Tell Me That You Love Me is both my present favourite and has the potential to be this yearโs overall favourite drama, and beat all the rest by a large margin (with the exception of SXF which it probably still wouldnโt beat), but as it has not yet finished, and will need to finish *unbelievably* well for me to recognise it as such, I cannot in confidence give it the honours, so, no vote.
.
.
.
And with that we finish up the Melonia Roundup, as I donโt have anything more to add. I wouldโve mentioned Meet Yourself for more categories also, but itโs the kind of drama I simply wanted to enjoy quietly to the very end.
Christmas is in Two Days 🌟, and I will see you all for Non-Calendar or Liturgical Events either when I post my Official Bean Count on Dec 31st, or on the slim chance I get something drawn in Farewell to 2023.
☠💜🍈💜☠
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 22, 2023 at 8:28 PM
❤
HopefulRomantic ๐ฆ Tigermoth ๐ฆโค๏ธ๐ฆ
December 23, 2023 at 4:08 AM
Merry Christmas to your Royal Highness! I hope your kingdom prospers in the new year!!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 12:05 AM
((โฆ meanwhile, the Royal Kiss Analyst is hiding from all the Day 20 entries. 🙈👀 as usual she canโtโฆ answer thisโฆ))
lapislazulii
December 21, 2023 at 12:51 AM
Does the Royal Kiss Analyst take requests? What about The Best Kiss of All Time – like the ONE to rule them all – which would it be?!
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 21, 2023 at 11:32 AM
+1 ^^ please do share the All Time Best listed in Meloniaโs records, my Queen.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 4:13 PM
Oh boy. This is going to be a long answer. That probably wonโt actually answer your requestโฆ
Oooph. Best of All Time is very hard to give out.
Part 1 of why I have refused for several years now to officially give an entry for this category of the Round Up is, because of who I am as a person, and because of the Royal Kiss Analyst Bit, I would feel like I couldn’t truly make an entry in it, without first having rewatched all the kisses of dramas I watched that year, and probably all the ones of dramas I didn’t as well, analyse them accordingly to my Analyst checklist, and then somehow come up with a legitimate ranking system that both felt like it covered the very subjective “Favourite” and more objective “Best”, and then somehow actually put that in writing… which I just don’t have the time or energy for, or even inclination to do because,
Part 2 of why I refuse to answer this category, and also why YOUR question/s are very hard to answer is that to analyse what makes something GOOD we have to look at the whole picture;
There are many Good kiss scenes, but a Great Kiss scebe, a truly great kiss scene for me, would not only be highly Technically proficient, across the entire board, but would also HAVE to be Narratively Satisfying as well.
In the Technical Category you have:
Cut scenes, cut scene ratio, no. of camera angles and takes, types of camera angles, lighting, framing, colour grading, hand movement and placement, general movement, lip action, body positioning, timing, whether or not the audience can see anything, editing, etc. etc.
And then in the Narrative Category you have, first how all of the technical contributes to the Story itself, and also the Story as a separate Thing:
Writing, character development, thematic development, emotional catharsis, why the kiss is happening, when is it happening in the story, what is the emotion of the scene, is the emotion told well, is appropriate for these characters TO be kissing, is it built up appropriately, does the kiss forward their story, and their development, or is it just gratuitous, is it a conflict, how is that resolved, what is the kiss fall out like, does the overall purpose of the kiss have a satisfying resolution (that is, does the couple have a satisfying end to their story, period), do all the technical aspects COMPLIMENT the story of the kiss, etc. etc.
Additionally, also whether the cast has good chemistry together, and if they’re both good kissers, and it cannot be too gratuitous, exploitative, or fan servicey.
It can’t just be “hot” for the sake of being “hot”, or flashy and pretty and well-made and well kissed, it has to be well made, the story of the kiss has to be Objectively good, AND I have to like the story of the kiss.
(This in particular is even more so than some years, why I am reluctant to give an entry for the 2023 roundup because I just hated the story of so many decent technical kisses.)
When you look at ALL that, it’s very hard to find a best kiss…
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 4:13 PM
… or a kiss that I feel like giving that label to.
Either I have shows that are very good story wise, but the kisses arenโt exceptional- theyโre by no means bad, some are good, but none stand out to me as oneโs that I would say โthe BESTโ, and I think thatโs probably because what makes those shows good is that theyโre all rounder Good shows, rather than being just Good Romances โ I had this same realisation when someone asked me what my favourite OTPs of all time were, and I noticed that all of my favourite and objectively best shows would be up there, but I donโt think of those shows in terms of just their OTPs, the OTP is just part of why the show is good as a whole. Itโs kind of the same thing with some of their kisses; Thirty But Seventeen is an excellent show, very thematically whole and sound and satisfying, and it has lovely and nice kisses, that arenโt bad technically either as far as that goes, but I donโt think of it when I think of All Time Best Kisses. So thatโs an interesting observation.
I said would rate a Best Kiss by its Story as well, but then I have to think aboutโฆ what makes an All Time Best Kiss, an All Time Best Kiss, that is going to be remembered for THAT, for being a Kiss, and not the show as a whole just also being an All Time Bestโฆ
I think it comes back to the first point, that in a lot of these good shows, the romance is just a variable in making it good. And many of my top thematic shows donโt even have explicit romances or kissing in them at all โ essentially Kissing is not necessary for these shows to be good, or any show to be good for that matter. Iโm rambling but I guess I think for a KISS to become BEST, the KISSing part of the show has to be somehow more necessary than average, or used in a way that it canโt be taken out, it has to be EXTRA important somehow. (which Iโm fine with tbh, giving things that inherently should have a lot of meaning and weight, MORE meaning, is pretty much never a bad thing.)
Because, on the other hand, I can think of Kisses that WOULD be more in the ALL TIME BEST, when taking this into account, but the story later on, lets me down in a way I canโt really forgive and therefore canโt rate the kiss as an all time best either.
For example, I love the kisses in 2521 a lot, both technically and at their specific time in the story, narratively, and they definitely are more memorable as kiss scenes, than what is memorable about 30B7, for example, but because I fundamentally disagree with how that show ended, the entire thing leaves a bitter taste in my mouth; I canโt rank them as Best, because for them to have been Best, the ending would have to be differentโฆ
This happens a lot; I also really like the first kiss in EAW, for example, but because the OTP in that never thematically or character wise as a couple, developed farther from that kissโฆ well, whatโs the point.
I also dislike a lot of post get together kisses in many ways because a lot of them feel gratuitous…
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 4:14 PM
… some even invasive of a fictional coupleโs privacy lol, and others lose their spark if they happen too often. (Goblin, HPL, KTL, ABP.)
Kurama has asked me before what my “Favourite” kisses are, and I gave her a list in response, that weren’t necessarily, ALL of my favourites, or even all-time favourites, and I MUST reiterate this, DEFINITELY not everything I could have mentioned, they were merely ones I thought of at the time, that had elements to them that are elements that make up a Good or even Great Kiss: https://www.dramabeans.com/members/sicarius/activity/1343371/#acomment-1343438
Of these, I think I would still confidently say that the Secret Lyfe of My Secretary Episode 8 kiss is probably up there in my All-Time Bests, maybe not THE Best, the show would have to live up to being rewatched for that, but it is one of the best technical kisses out there, and I think narratively it is very good as well. If I had to criticise it narratively, itโs that it is probably more memorable than most of their later kisses lmao, except maybe the ending one.
To give you more entries onto a list of All Time Bests, because thatโs what it would have to be, a list, and not one, I would have to go away and re-review all the dramas and kisses Iโve ever watched, and all the kisses of dramas I havenโt watched and then maybe we could narrow something down, but right now I donโt think I can really say there IS one or that I HAVE one.
Iโm being very strict here, probably stricter than I even would be with kisses in my own writing (hmmm, maybe I should take notes from myself) but I just feel likeโฆ I need to be.
I can take requests, but generally Analyst entries happen on a whim and when I feel like following the shitposting dopamine.
Additional Speed Runs anyway:
Of my Thematic Top 10 dramas, only 5 have kiss scene kisses.
Healer โ nice kisses but narratively the first one, whilst ICONIC AF, is also kind of WEIRD hahaha (but the beauty of Healer is that we all just accept it anyway). Episode 14 in general has my whole heart though, I have one minor personal issue with the kiss there but otherwise, the HUG THE TEARS THE BUILD UP. Definitely Up There. Also see what I wrote for 30B17.
Sassy Go Go โ not a technically good kiss in the slightest LMAO the kiss is not why this is an Objectively a Good Show.
MPUB โ the most romantic scenes donโt even have kisses LOL, the other one is just a very brief baby kiss and is very cute but hardly counts.
30BUT17 โ see above
SUFBB โ I actually really like this kiss. Not sure where it would rank in best, because itโs definitely technically flawed, but itโs cute. Something about Sung Joonโs hands and the framing and them being on the roof and their opposites attract character designs. Anyway. Fluffy teenagers <3 I wish people still talked about this show the way they did 6 years ago.
(I forgot if TWDR even has a kiss scene lol RIP)
…
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 4:15 PM
…
2023:
I didn’t like the first CCIR one because he kissed her when he still thought she was married, which was a plot point I found really dumb and unnecessary in that show anyway, and then I dropped it before any of the other ones, I dropped Destined With You befORE any of the kiss scenes at all, but also Rowoon makes my skin crawl so probably wouldn’t be able to enjoy them either, refuse to watch the AOS2 kiss because I don’t like soul swapping, lmao, didn’t like the See You In My 19th Life kisses that I saw because that drama infuriates me because the FL is not a Real Character, and everything was done backwards in it, KTL was a good kiss scene but overall felt too exploitative of Junho for me tbh, like it was completely just “oggle over Junho!!!” which makes me uncomfortable, CIL’s scene in 12 just made me fizzing mad actually tbh, and I liked the second couple better, otherwise there were plenty of good kisses but as I said above, honestly if the story isn’t ALSO GOOD for why the kiss is there or happening or the lead up to it, then it’s not a good kiss scene even if it’s shot well and has good kissers or is โhotโ which is basically the case for everything else, the writing just Isnโt Good Enough to warrant being mentioned (for example, Soundtrack 2, Worst of Evil (visibly gags) or Deborah, which I would like if the fallout from the kiss, which could’ve SAVED the entire show, didn’t just ruin it even farther instead), I WOULD give it to TMTYLM but I’m trying to not comment on that show because I’m scared it will break into a thousand pieces in my hands, I would give SO MANY of this round up to MEET YOURSELF but my love for that show feels too precious to share, idk, I feel selfish about it, I want to gatekeep it, and gatekeep my love for it, lmao, and also I liked their non kiss scenes better hahaha, best crackships didn’t even get real kisses or proper ones, and the rest I just DIDN’T WATCH.
THE END.
Kurama
December 22, 2023 at 2:13 AM
I wonder how many times who wrote the word kiss 😂
You remember that I asked you the same question!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 22, 2023 at 7:05 PM
@kurama 67 times for the final of the above comment apparently, probably a lot more than that in drafts.
I did yes! haha
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 21, 2023 at 8:34 PM
Thank you my Queen. 🙇♀️ 🙌
This right here is the reason you are THE Queen. Beautifully analyzed and detailed. I’m in awe.
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 21, 2023 at 8:36 PM
I love the fact that you literally exist on another plane from most of us, yet are so approachable and helpful and guide all of us so effortlessly. Thank you for taking out the time to respond.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 22, 2023 at 7:06 PM
Asdfghjkl I am flattered. And also curious as to what plane this is I exist on hehe.
You’re welcome! 💜💜💜
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 22, 2023 at 7:36 PM
The plane of awesomeness of course – where Melonia exists.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 22, 2023 at 9:45 PM
🤣🤣🤣 *blushes*
lapislazulii
December 22, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Omg @sicarius 💕 💕💕💕 for such a detailed response, I feel both bad for putting you on the spot but also blessed ✨ for the detailed analysis and observations.
Absolutely fair on why choosing best of all time would be insanely difficult/impossible because of how time consuming it would be in order to remain faithful to the process, not to mention yes subjectivity. I didn’t think about the contextual stuff which you mentioned in part two but it MAKES SO MUCH SENSE!!! Like I was wondering why the KTL scenes didn’t make me feel 🔥 🔥 🔥 🔥 because it felt like it was technically all there, but YES there’s so many narrative/character elements and production aspects – not to mention audience investment as well – that contribute to the perception of a A Good Kiss!! Not to mention the whole ‘good in isolation’ or ‘good without the use of hindsight’ (or vice versa) that complicates things . Like 2521 which yeah same here, left a bitter taste in my mouth and I wasn’t able to squee at the romantic moments again like I did the first time when I was blissfully unaware of what was in store 🤡
I also really appreciate your point about romance being just one variable that makes a show good, and that there are shows where the romantic tension alone is more 🔥 than other shows with a lot of skinship.
I’m going to work through some of the scenes you’ve mentioned – and the list you’ve linked – lol there goes my algorithm (but is this really a complaint) but just in general, I love being privy to your thought processes and the way you observe and analyse things so again – you easily could’ve just been like mm no it’s hard or threw a bone for the sake of answering but I appreciate that you took the time to really elaborate on your thoughts and the hows and whys 😍
๐ธ Cera (@Seeker) ๐ธ
December 22, 2023 at 7:40 PM
+1 ^^ 🙌
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 22, 2023 at 9:44 PM
This is such a lovely reply asdlkfjhalk.
I almost, almost did just spit the dummy lol, even though I knew what my long answer would be, but then I gave myself an evening to sit on it, instead of replying right away.
And mentioning context was one of the most important things.
KTL was imo, and very underwritten show, and then it was also literally just a show to like, indulge in Junho… and that’s not really enough for a kiss scene to be Great, even if the flashyness is all there…
Yeah it’s kind of funny that my favourite Kdrama OTP, actually doesn’t even have a kiss scene lol. You should be able to tell a couple is in love withOUT them kissing, this is good writing advice in general, but if they are gonna kiss, have your kiss mean something more than just skinship for the sake of it.
Haha have fun! I don’t have much spare these days to share more of my thought processes but I’m grateful beans like you and @seeker appreciate it when I do get something out. xox
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 20, 2023 at 11:49 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY TWENTY ONE🍈
Hey it’s the Solstice tomorrow. Well, for me anyway. Neat!
21- The OST you are “obsessed” with.
The My Dearest OST IS good. I will still give it that.
I also liked multiple tracks from Stealer, and Delightfully Dysfunctional this year, and singles, mainly due to the artists lol, from KTL, Black Knight and Deborah.
Most currently, I am actually obsessed with the Tell Me That You Love Me OST, and all of its Sound Design for that matter.
But Iโm going to be a little unconventional on this entry.
I want to give a shout out to Vigilanteโs soundtrack, actually. Not because it was especially good, but because I think itโs the only drama Iโve personally seen and know of that legit just straight up has a Screamo song in its OST.
Which like, respect.
Plenty of heavy rock and heavier hip hop tracks in action shows. But actual screamo???? I didnโt like the song, even as a metalhead, but Iโm giving it a mention for uniqueness if nothing else lol.
And, whatโs more, genre wise I think it was an apt choice for the character, even if it wasnโt you knowโฆ a good song.
or a good show.Unfortunately the song in question, Destroy by Snake Chicken Soup, hasnโt actually been released yet, so I canโt share it. Maybe thatโs not a bad thing lmao.
Instead, I will share my current beloved from Tell Me That You Love Me. This song reminds me of a SALTNPAPER song for some reason, whom, btw, I quite miss being in OSTs more regularly.
tabong will tell DuDu couple that she loves them๐
December 21, 2023 at 12:31 AM
I LOVE THIS SONG. 💚
I didn’t mention it because I felt like if I didn’t stop now, I would probably just keep doing the whole round up about TMTYLM without noticing. 😂
And I love the title of the song because it’s really hard not to cry while listening to it.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 1:19 PM
Lolololol I’m trying my hardest to not mention TMTYLM for everything because I’m still scared 😅😅😅 and also it’s too precious, just want to let it be in some ways.
mmmmm
December 21, 2023 at 1:56 AM
Thanks for sharing. I ended up listening to this song on loops on my way to a hospital. I also found out that other songs of TMYLM are very beautiful, too.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Yes the whole OST is lovely! Including the background music, that is very thoughtful and beautiful.
Kurama
December 21, 2023 at 2:22 AM
I’m surprised they didn’t release the song for the opening. I like it.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 21, 2023 at 1:18 PM
Yah there’s a couple they haven’t released yet that I’m waiting rather impatiently for as they’re maybe even more favourites haha. Inc the intro one.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 18, 2023 at 1:19 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY EIGHTEEN🍈
18- Favorite villain.
My boredom.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 17, 2023 at 12:05 AM
Hmmmmm… Maybe I should start the Royal Hug Analyst Files, to go with the Royal Kiss Analyst Files …
Kurama
December 17, 2023 at 12:28 AM
I like hugs! It’s a good idea!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 10, 2023 at 11:39 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY 12 🍈
12- ๐๐๐ Best โsuitโ wearer:
Sorry, nobody else this year will be quite as cool as Xiao Se and his 20 Different Blue Outfits, and 22 Official Outfits, from THE BLOOD OF YOUTH.
I donโt have a lot of frame of reference on whether or not this is a lot for a wuxia, xianxia or xuanhuan, because I havenโt seen that many, but it feels like a lot for any non-modern anyway.
The rest of the costumes in this show were either equally hits, or just hard misses, but I took SUCH delight in how many he had, in how many different shades of blue there were, at all the detailing and accessories, how consistently GOOD they were, and in screenshotting every time there was a new one, which was about every second episode. Lol.
Unfortunately, although this show was a lot of fun to watch, I didnโt like the ending or the thematic resolution 🙄. Tragic. Oh well. But fortunately, cool costumes can stand alone, and I donโt have to give a โmost fashionableโ or โbest costume designโ award out in this roundup, because, on par for 2023, I wouldnโt be able to do THAT this year eitherโฆ
But never mind that, I just wish I could find official shots of all of these to better use them for drawing and design references.
โ๊งเผโฌโข.ยธยธ.โขยดยดยฏ`โขโข._.โข 💙💙💙 โข._.โขโข`ยฏยดยดโข.ยธยธ.โข`โฌเผ๊งโ
………………………………………………………………………………..
miso
December 11, 2023 at 12:51 AM
I think Leo Yunxi had 40+ costumes in TilltheEndoftheMoon but there was more variety in the colours 😅
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 11:48 AM
😲😍 Ooooooh. I am probably not going to watch that one but I will definitely go stalk its costumes to see how I feel about them, and hopefully find some gems.
Yeah honestly I think the fact that 90% of his here ARE blue is part of why I like them so much. The constant colour scheme, it becomes like a uniform; signature colours and colours being symbolic are right up my alley. But additionally while they’re all blue, they’re still all different. Idk, it’s a fun way to build the character I think.
I love
miso
December 11, 2023 at 12:14 PM
Lol you can see the costumes here to save yourself the trouble of watching
https://www.reddit.com/r/TilltheEndoftheMoon/comments/14c0js9/did_someone_asked_for_a_costume_count/
For Blood of Youth, I like the signature colours too! They align with the donghua which also helps give the show an anime adventure feel.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:20 PM
Comment was deleted
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:20 PM
Why didnโt I look for one of those for Blood of Youth when making this post lol, I couldnโt find anything and had to make this myself haha. So helpful, thank you.
Definitely! And itโs a youth Wuxia so that totally makes sense.
I wasnโt consistently as in love with anyoneโs aside from Ciao Seโs though haha. Yiyi/Wuxinโs were nice but he only had like 4 🤣
miso
December 11, 2023 at 12:26 PM
My pleasure! Reddit and Twitter can be an unexpected treasure troves when it comes to dramas.
And Wuxin was my favourite so even with 4 outfits I could stare at him forever 😍
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:36 PM
I wish he had had more screen time it wasn’t fair 😭
Kitsune Moon
December 11, 2023 at 6:47 AM
oh boy, a pretty boy with impossible long, flowing hair and robes? SIGN ME UP!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:04 PM
It’s a fun Wuxia binge! And most people who are not me will have no problem with the ending so would probably like it.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 10, 2023 at 11:28 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY 12 🍈
12- Best โsuitโ wearer: HONOURABLE MENTIONS
Honourable Mentions 4:
๐ร๐๐ผ๐๐โ โ๐โ๐ ๐๐๐๐ฝ๐๐๐ ๐โ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ (๐ช๐ด๐ช ๐ธ๐พ๐ฝ๐ฏ๐ฒ๐ฝ๐ผ ๐ฝ๐ฑ๐ช๐ฝ ๐ถ๐ช๐ฝ๐ฌ๐ฑ ๐ถ๐ ๐ผ๐พ๐ท๐ฐ๐ต๐ช๐ผ๐ผ๐ฎ๐ผ)
a. Heartbeat
b. The Kidnapping Day
c. The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract
✌😎
sonai
December 10, 2023 at 11:43 PM
👏๐ฉท👏
tabong will tell DuDu couple that she loves them๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:01 AM
I like Taec’s violet coat, but not on him. 🤔 I feel like he would look better with the color from #2 (The KDay).
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:05 PM
Ah but it’s not his now, it’s mine, #RoyalWardrobe, so problem solved. 🤣🤣
tabong will tell DuDu couple that she loves them๐
December 11, 2023 at 12:45 PM
That’s a great solution. 😂
And congrats, 🎉 that’s a lovely coat. 😉
Eazal
December 11, 2023 at 9:58 AM
Babe was so cool in that suit!!
And I loved every outfit Kim Shin Rok wore in TKD.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 10, 2023 at 11:24 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY 12 🍈 (feat. a Mini STEALER Sh🦨tpost)
Jumping ahead to day 12 because I have nothing else to share for any of the categories for a few days, and also Iโm away tomorrow.
12- Best โsuitโ wearer: HONOURABLE MENTIONS
(โฆ only three of these are actually suits. :P)
Honourable Mentions 1.
The Matching Skunk Jackets from STEALER: THE TREASURE KEEPER
🦨🖤🤍🖤🦨
Honourable Mentions 2:
Kim Bum in Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938
Honourable Mentions 3:
New additions to the PURPLE HANBOK and PURPLE SUIT CLUBS, most of which I have actually forgotten about and or didnโt take screenshots of and or didnโt watch the drama of so if there are any missing I donโt care BUT they look something like this
2023 watches Purple Suit Club:
Vigilante
Free Space
2023 watches Purple Hanbok Club:
The Forbidden Marriage
My Dearest
Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract
Our Blooming Youth (????????? was there or am I making shit up)
Free Space for Sageuks I didnโt watch or Hanboks I forgot about.
(In general, there were plenty of nice hanboks in sageuks this year but for some reason none of them have really stuck with me. RIP.)
☠☠☠
lapislazulii
December 10, 2023 at 11:34 PM
Wow ok you’ve changed the game, thought I had day 12’s pick Down solid but forgot about Rang’s stylish suits in ToTNT2. Need to go back to
google imagesthe drawing board for further research.Also aww the cute Bambi referenceeee!! I haven’t even watched the show yet but yes they are indeed the same picture!
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 10, 2023 at 11:49 PM
LOL! I ALMOST, A L MO S T watched the entire thing JUST for him in that styling…
Cute Skunks are Cute.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 9, 2023 at 1:45 AM
Lololololol Silver + Tarnishing = Poison (Arsenic) at it again.
Congratulations Poison Theorists, youโre looking to be right.
And the Butterfly Norigaeโs absence WAS a plot point of convenience, ofc it was.
However, unfortunately whilst silver has the ability to detect arsenic
containing compounds, solid silver can only detect arsenic in sulphide forms:
https://journals.le.ac.uk/ojs1/index.php/jist/article/download/4320/3679
Itโs a fun trope anyway though.
The Story of Parkโs Marriage Contract #5
indyfan
December 9, 2023 at 8:52 PM
Ha ha. I was remembering the recap convo while watching. One for TeamPoison (if you don’t think too hard about it).
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 9, 2023 at 9:04 PM
Although in 6 it turns out my focus on him having a heart issue is also probably still right; both Tae Ha’s have health issues and both Tae Ha’s have step mothers or other people trying to kill them for their inheritance etc.
๐๐โ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia โ ๐๐
December 6, 2023 at 10:54 PM
🍈 2023 ROUNDUP DAY SEVEN 🍈
7- The drama Beanies convinced you to watch and you canโt be grateful enough.
I was gonna be a killjoy again on this entry but Iโve been listening to Advent music all day so now I kinda donโt really feel like itโฆ *blinks at self in shock*
No hay ninguna. Have a (mostly) unrelated song instead.