Beanie level: Errand boy

#2022RoundUp: Day 9: The oldie (not 2022) you loved the most:
Misaeng, I’m Not a Robot, Healer and Because This Is My First Life.
After years of talking about wanting to watch these shows, I finally did!🎉
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#2022RoundUp: Day 6: Best OST/BGM: With – 2521 cast

This song is actually my second favorite (after Love, Maybe – Melomance), but it offered some comfort while I was feeling lonely and grieving some lost friendships.

The song debuted during that infamous beach scene, and I had to pause during the refrain. Nam Joo-Hyuk. was. singing.👂Now, I do not have a particular opinion about Nam Joo-Hyuk, but as far as I am aware the guy is not a professional singer. However, my amateur musical ear just knew it was him and would not let me focus on that beautiful beach scene as long as I had not confirmed this.😅

It is a common to hire actors that are professional singers as well to perform an OST for the K-drama they appear in. Just let the OTP harmonize a romantic ballad in the recording booth and you are all set. Nam Joo-Hyuk was not an obvious choice, so I wanted to merely confirm his voice and then replay the beach scene.

Nam Joo-Hyuk was indeed one of the singers…along with the other four of our beloved group of friends.😍Bona was the only professional singer among them, which made the song feel a lot more authentic to me. Professional singers might sound nicer to the ears, but I sometimes feel disconnected if the singer I hear and the actor I see on screen are not the same person.

So I was a happy and sobbing mess when I realized Hee-Do, Yi-Jin and the others were singing lyrics that might as well have been their lines in the K-drama. On top of their beautiful solos the non-professionals also paired off with their bestie of the opposite gender for the refrain. No harmonizing, just two (platonic) soulmates of the same mind singing in one and the same key and sounding twice as powerful in the process. I mean, Ji-Woong and Seung-Wan singing about holding hands tightly and trusting each other? Friendship goals.😘

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    Yes, when I heard this song sung by all of them I almost broke into tears (I think I shed a few, if I’m being honest).

    As you said, a song sung by non-professional singers could be twice as moving. That was a wonderful decision. Absolutely brilliant.

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    This song makes me cry every time I listen it.
    I tried not to cry this time, but your post didn’t help.

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#2022RoundUp: Day 4: Greatest disappointment: K-dramaland 2022.

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Gosh, it has been aaaages since I used my fanwall! But whatever @ally-le says, goes.😉
This one played on repeat during and after Business Proposal.🥰
#BVIPP2

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#2021RoundUp: Day 23: Best bromance / womance.

SONYEONDAAAN!🏸I saved the best for last: our 7 Racket Kids from Racket Boys!💖

I have never been this interested in other teenagers before, not even when I was one myself! The romances were portrayed in an innocent manner with little skinship because the actors were minors, but the absence of skinship made the use of other love languages shine brighter. Their first loves might not last forever, but these kids already show the potential to be good life partners that I never experienced in my youth.😘

You might have read it between the previous lines, but my teenage years are not exactly a fond memory for many reasons. I suffered many platonical heartbreaks to the point that I questioned the value of friendship, which of course contributed to the already bitter taste of my youth. With that mindset it was hard to understand at first how friendship was the ultimate deciding factor whenever these kids faced badminton dilemmas.

Woo-Chan refused to move to another town because he wanted to stay with his badminton pals. Nerd In-Sol initially played badminton to relieve stress after studying, but joined them to make friends. Airhead Hae-Kang switched sports because his past friends betrayed him and had his conditions for joining the badminton team at first. This adorable little pest quickly got adopted by his teammates and from then on there was no way back for any of them.🤭

This show is a gem worthy of a rewatch and I will always be grateful for what it taught me about relationships, friendships and communities.💖
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#2021RoundUp: Day 21: That cute little drama.

The great shaman Ga Doo-Shim👻👧

Nam Da-Reum and Kim Sae-Ron receive a lot of Beanie praise, and this show made me understand why. Both are very talented and I look forward to a few years from now, when they will be the leads in bigger productions. The plot was nothing new, but it was a good fit for its short length and leaves room for more seasons that I certainly will tune in for. The only, truly memorable thing about this show however: 20.minutes.a.week.😡



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    If we finally get a second season, I will wait until it is done and binge. No way I’m going through the pain of just watching one episode a week!!!

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#2021RoundUp: Day 20: That shirtless scene out of the blue you are so grateful for (screenshot will be welcomed).

If you asked me to participate in this entry a few years ago, I would have been very affronted. However, if other Beanies can be honest with themselves and each other, I don’t see why I should lie to myself any longer…🤭

My pick is not from 2021, but from an older K-drama I watched this year. It also does include a (very wet) shirt, but that is the only thing you should pay any attention to in the end.😉 Before you start nitpicking about the rules, I would recommend you to read the prompt title again and imagine how you would have felt if you accidentally paused the episode on this view.☺️

Also, you call him Dumbo Ears @eazal, really?? With that body??😘

(Let’s Fight Ghost, episode 6, 40:34)
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    heh but he does have dumbo ears. kinda even reminds me of louis de funes

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    But he does! The goofy ears make his big physique less intimidating – for me, that makes a great combo!

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    Those are the cutest Dumbo Ears ever!!!

    My sweet Taec!! I love you to bits!!! Babe #3 💚💚💚💚💚💚💚

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#2021RoundUp: Day 19: Your 2021 crush.
Police officers are the new chaebols in K-dramaland!👮

On your left: Choi Eun-Cheol (Hometown Chachacha).❤️
Diligent and generous…to a fault, traditional in a charming way and adorable to boot!😘

On your right: oori Won-Takie (Dali and Gamjatang)!🔥
Workaholic, loyal, protective, prioritizes family, the ideal big bro/bestie/boyfriend, biceps.🤭
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    The ‘woori’ attached to Won-tak 🤣

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      Always address people by their proper titles, even if you do not know the correct romanization!🤣

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        Oh I believe oori and uri are also correct romanizations. I just went with how I remember it being romanized in Because This is My First Life (the cat’s name was Woori).

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#2021RoundUp: Day 11: Secondary character that stole your heart and the show.

This post is about second leads. Both are much too late… I’ll show myself out.😅

Lee Sang-Yi. Villain in Special Labor Inspector Jo and Prison Playbook. The cause of my moral dilemma whether or not it is acceptable to find bad guys with loose screws hot. He turned his back to the dark side roles eventually, but getting into the spotlight was a whole other matter. His characters were good eggs, but losers or class clowns can only befriend a lead, not become one. Then again, Tiramisu Cake was not faring any better in To. Jenny.

Everything changed in 2021 when our Sang-Yi got cast as second lead Ji Seong-Hyeon in Hometown Chachacha. Do not fixate on the ‘second’ part, he might as well have been the lead in an alternate universe. If only he and female lead Hye-Jin had confessed to each other back in university! The one that got away at its finest. K-dramas adore second leads with their unrequited loves, so this storyline felt refreshing and somewhat real. People do come into our lives and leave again as soon as they have served their purpose.

Seong-Hyeon’s beautiful purpose in Hye-Jin’s life got him promoted to dreamboat: he perceived the best version of her right when she herself felt at her lowest and not open to dating. He continued to be her awesome food buddy anyway, which made it easier to reconnect and remain good friends with her later in life. It is a personal catnip that I would love to see more of, both in k-dramas and out there in the real world.

Another thing I would not mind seeing more of in K-dramaland is charming (male lead!) Sang-Yi, with his trademark loose screws!❤️
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#2021RoundUp: Day 18: Best cameo.

The whole Prison Playbook cast showing up in Racket Boys at some point, if they weren’t part of the ensemble already (looking at you Mr. Go!). I was watching both shows at the same time, which certainly enhanced my viewing experience. Whenever I met a new inmate he would pop up in Haenam!😍

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❤️
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    He is so missed. He’ll always live in our hearts.

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#2021RoundUp: Day 9: The oldie (not 2021) you loved the most.

Prison Playbook, hands down.

I only watched 2 or 3 oldies this year and doubled that amount in 2021 beans, while it used to be the other way around. However, I do not think that the oldies bean count could be of any influence. This gem gathered a lot of good(looking) actors and put them together to teach us what true bromance and pandemonium really looks like.😁

It is impossible to recall when exactly I laughed the hardest, but this masterpiece made it possible in 2021 after not feeling any joy in months. I cried often during this rough year, and yet Kim Je-Hyeok was the one who caused sob fest 2021. Right when I felt like I had failed the world, his struggles and kindness brought comfort and wisdom I will always treasure: sometimes the world simply fails us because it does not give us any opportunities.😭❤️
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#2021RoundUp: Day 7: The OTP you didn’t think you would adore.

Dalri and Gamjatang❤️

If every K-drama romance was a firework, this one would certainly not be top 10 at a first glance. The few sparks would be too loud, its colors too bright and that little amount would not make up for all the stormy weathers that would always try to blow the lights out. This couple reminded me more of that small candle that would always light the fireworks again and again, no matter how many times the horrible weather would mess it all up. The candle just kept on burning, because during those storms it would give the most light and warmth.🕯️
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    Very well said – the unlikely but true OTP.

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#2021RoundUp: Day 6: The OST you are obsessed with.

🎵Is it me? – Baekhyun, Lovers of the Red Sky🎵

I am not a ballad or EXO person, and Lovers of the Red Sky was literally nothing but pretty. Somehow I found myself often replaying this soundtrack to cheer up or calm down.

Perhaps the song serves as a memory of the promising episode 1-6 days, when we actually believed we would get a proper romance. It would explain why the song disappeared as soon as the star-crossed lovers mess escalated and only was heard again when they finally got that out of the way.🤷

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    This song has also been playing a lot on my playlist.
    It is beautiful.

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    Oh! I like this soundtrack too. The sageuks really had some good music

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#2021RoundUp: Day 4: That mess you watched and you still wonder why

In honor of @eazal there will be no post from me today.🤣

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#2021RoundUp: Day 3: The drama with the best costumes/wardrobe

Secretary Yeo Mi-Ri (Hwang Bo-Ra) from Dalri & Gamjatang!❤️

For a long time I was surrounded by the toxic mindset that women, especially secretaries, had to wear skirts, dresses and heels if they wanted to be perceived as pretty and capable. This mindset and these clothes made me so uncomfortable that I stopped caring about what other women – both in fiction and in real life – are wearing as a result. If I ever did possess any talent or interest in fashion, it surely died back then.

Tuxedos, suits, and other traditionally male clothing for that matter, are a whole other story! We all have ogled at an oppa or two (or many😉) in tuxedo before, but I catch myself ogling at the tuxedo itself as well. It taught me that I can feel comfortable and look pretty and capable at the same time. While wearing pants.👖

Enter secretary Yeo, wearing her hair short and outdappering her boss Kim Min-Jae (!) in tuxedos and suits. I have authority to say that, I got called dapper many times when I wore a buzz cut and a tuxedo to a wedding years ago.🤵
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    I loved her look as well!

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    She should be getting an award for the whole package she delivered in this drama. A bright shining supporter role that adds much to our enjoyment of the drama.

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    I was so hoping that Mi-ri and our Won-tak would become an ‘odd’ couple in D&G but it never happened.
    Her spot on imitation of Moo-hak was terrific. Wonderful performance by Hwang Bo-ra.

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#2021RoundUp: Day 2: ML you will never forget (I am late, I know!😂)

1. Jin Moo-Hak from Dal-Ri and Gamjatang (Kim Min-Jae):
Charming and Swoony character, and whenever he was not I reminded myself that this was Kim Min-Jae going all the way. Rinse and repeat.❤️

2. That adorable little pest from Racket Boys (Tang Joon-Sang):
Why? Because he is the one and only Yoon Hae-Kang!❤️
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#2021RoundUp: Day 1: FL you will never forget

Dalri from Dalri & Gamjatang, because my 2021 mirrored her story:

Growing up sheltered and book smart until misfortune struck.
Trying to catch up in the adulting race while barely staying afloat.
Battling that one enemy responsible for every catastrophe you encounter.
Having people on your side that point out your progress, when neither you nor your enemy take notice.
Learning to stand up for yourself without losing your composure.💪
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Not to call him the best or anything…but that IS the face of someone with a miserable hangover.😂
*BringItOnGhostEpisode11**OnlyTheBraveOnesShowUpInMorningClassLikeThat*
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…I could have sworn Taec was half of the OTP…🧐
*BringItOnGhostEpisode06*
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