First of all, I’d like to bow my head in deep gratitude to Javabeans, the highly esteemed writer of this blog, for inviting me to post a few thoughts here. I hope she won’t regret her decision after reading what I have to say, hehe.

2007 was an interesting year, at least for me, particularly when it comes to Korean dramas. I’ve watched dramas on a regular basis since I was old enough to walk and talk (I am, after all, Korean), but I’ve never undergone such a transformation in terms of how I approach dramas as I have in the past couple of years…although I suppose you could argue that it’s turned me into nothing but a picky bitch. (But weren’t you always a picky bitch, Dahee?)

Still, despite my pickiness, I managed to watch quite a handful of dramas this year, although I certainly didn’t manage to finish them all (blame school and the crappy work that some PDs and writers dish out, putting off viewers like me). In fact, I watched so many, I can’t possibly talk about them all here. So I’ll just pick a few notables and dish out some kudos, as well as one or two boos. Because boos are just as fun as kudos, if not as well-received.

DAHEE’S SONG OF THE DAY

Jo Kwan Woo – “천년애” (chun nyun ae), from the soundtrack of the drama The King & I. [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of The Year in Review, Part 3: Dahee Fanel’s drama round-up (3,776 words)

© Dahee_Fanel for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 44 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Coffee Prince, Dae Jang Geum, Dal Ja's Spring, Devil, guest bloggers, Insoon Is Pretty, King and I, Legend, Madam Ah Hyun Dong, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, My Man's Woman, Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, Taereung National Village, Thank You, Time of Dog and Wolf, White Tower, year in review, Yi San

Has this happened to you? You’re reading a book on the bus or train and all of a sudden you burst out laughing. Everyone’s staring but you can’t stop grinning. And all because that line you just read was so unexpectedly funny.

Here’s another scenario. You’re watching one of the hit kdramas of 2006 and after being entertained for the first eighteen episodes or so, you’re down to the last few episodes. And though you had been warned that it was going to be draggy from here, you had no idea how draggy. So now you’re climbing the walls. Your mood’s so foul from the plot shenanigans you want to hurl two cartons of rotten tomatoes at your TV screen.

That was my 2007. A year where I laughed and cried my way through dramas so good they made me even more of an addict. A year where I watched stuff that people were raving about and I shook my head and said, “Something’s seriously amiss with me because I. JUST. DON’T. GET. THE. HYPE.” I raved, I ranted, and just like that, a year has gone by. Here’s my “hits and misses” (how original a title, right?^^) roundup for 2007.

THUNDERBOLT’S SONG OF THE DAY

Uhm Tae Woong – “사랑하지 말아줘” (Don’t love me) from the OST of Devil. Singing must run in the family. (Older sis is the “Korean Madonna” Uhm Jung Hwa.) [ zShare download ]

And it comes with a video! Live performance by actor/singer Uhm Tae Woong:

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Read the rest of The Year in Review, Part 2: Thunderbolt’s hits and misses (2,366 words)

© thunderbolt for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 55 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Dal Ja's Spring, Devil, guest bloggers, Legend, Mixed-up Investigative Agency, Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, Thank You, Time of Dog and Wolf, White Tower, year in review

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I’m not keeping up with Devil/Mawang these days, but it still makes me glad to see quality programming still being appreciated, even if the drama isn’t winning its time slot.

“Japanese Fans Wish For Devil/Mawang’s Success with 10,000 Paper Cranes”
(日 팬들 ‘마왕’ 대박기원 종이학 1만개 갖고 한국 방문 밀물)

(article below)

SONG OF THE DAY

Wheesung – “Morning” [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Devil / Mawang: Wave of Japanese Support (560 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 12 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil

The ratings measuring systems developed thus far are in no way able to be completely accurate, and are therefore highly susceptible to misrepresenting actual viewership. But currently, there’s no better alternative, so we make do.

According to the headline below (and full article behind the jump), apparently ratings for Que Sera Sera and Devil/Mawang aren’t so hot, which I find disappointing because these two series, in my opinion, are probably the two best shows currently airing.

‘늑대’ 주역 엄태웅·에릭, 동반 부진
촬영 사고로 중단된 ‘늑대’ 출연진, 차기작서도 고배

Discontinued Drama “Wolf”’s Lead Actors Eric and Uhm Tae Woong,
Both Encounter Disappointment in Following Projects

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SONG OF THE DAY

Epik High – “선곡표”. I’m in serious love with Epik High’s latest album (their fourth, Remapping the Human Soul). I like all of their albums, but this is definitely my favorite. I also have a tremendous respect for intelligent, literate music/lyrics/people, and Tablo represents all of those. [ zShare download ]

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Read the rest of Ratings Notes: Que Sera Sera & Devil (1,009 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 20 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil, drama ratings, Eric, Que Sera Sera, Uhm Tae-woong

Since last week was the week of many finales, that makes this week the (very busy) week of many premieres. Help me, I’m drowning in dramas! This week alone, we have the premieres of: Que Sera Sera, Hello! Miss, Witch Amusement, Thank You, Devil (Mawang), H.I.T… Seriously, I don’t know where I’ll get the time. I’ll make the time somehow. Maybe most of the shows will suck so I don’t have to feel bad about dropping them.

There was no new episode of Que Sera Sera today (boo for televised sporting events!), but I do have ONE related goody for you (much thanks to yeohweping and ay_link!):

(Theme) SONG OF THE DAY

W & Whale – “월광” (Moonlight, or Moonrise): Main theme song to Que Sera Sera. Can’t you just picture Eric strutting down the street to this song? He’s not at all my type, but I can’t deny he IS one sexy man. [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Week Round-up: “Hello! Miss” et al… (1,724 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2007. | Permalink | 52 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Devil, Go Hyun-jung, Hello! Miss, HIT, Joo Ji-hoon, Lee Da-hae, Lee Ji-hoon, Shin Mina, Thank You, Uhm Tae-woong