Rumors have been circling, but mouths kept hushed about whether some members of hit variety show 1 Night 2 Days would stay for the upcoming second season, scheduled to start filming in two weeks. But Friday marked the current cast’s final trip, where the announcement was made official: longtime members Lee Su-geun and Kim Jong-min, along with last year’s addition Uhm Tae-woong, will remain on the show’s second season.

(...)
Read the rest of Lee Su-geun, Uhm Tae-woong, Kim Jong-min stick with 1N2D (412 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 26 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 1N2D, Joo-won, Kim Jong-min, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Su-geun, Sung Shi-kyung, Uhm Tae-woong

So there’s been a whole lot of speculation about the future of Korea’s most beloved variety show, 1 Night 2 Days, since it announced it would be ending with its current cast by the end of February. There was a time KBS considered going in a whole new direction altogether for the timeslot, but did as expected and went with the safe route, and began planning for a Season 2. I actually consider that choice more daunting, since second seasons with new casts rarely do well, and usually spin their wheels being compared to the first season and eventually die out. I’d almost rather have a clean break and give a new show a chance. But then again, my job isn’t dependent on ratings. And since Season 2 cast contender Kim Seung-woo finally opened his mouth about the possibility of joining the show, I figured it was time to weigh in on all the speculation.

(...)
Read the rest of Thoughts on 1 Night 2 Days Season 2 (586 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 87 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: 1N2D, Joo-won, Kim Seung-woo, Sung Shi-kyung

Last episode! I wasn’t sure whether Miss Ripley would wrap up in a surge of melodrama or in unearned happy endings, but it delivers a dose of peace and resolution, with a smattering of bittersweetness. It’s somewhat satisfying, though a little pat for my tastes, but most importantly it gives each of our characters an ending that I think is fitting. (Ish.)

This started out a drama about one desperate woman’s lie to save herself from a miserable fate, and became an interesting study on the power of love (and the devastation wrought by a lack thereof). The mother-daughter conflict was a late entry, but emerges as the core of Miri’s conflict, both internal and external.

SONG OF THE DAY

The One – “그만해” (Enough) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 16 (Final) (3,816 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 108 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

Miri reaches the end of her rope, as everyone comes to collect what’s owed. The men in her life continue to think that they can save her, and don’t stop hurling themselves under buses to prove their love. Apparently a simple candygram just won’t do.

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 15 (3,039 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 129 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

The shit, it meets the fan, and for more than one person. I do appreciate the speed with which this drama blows the lid off of all its secrets, letting us speed past the inevitable angsting about whether they’ll be revealed (’cause we know they will) and head straight for the fallout. It’s an episode of revelations — for those Miri has swindled, as well as Miri herself, and that ever-present spoiler, The Media.

SONG OF THE DAY

Shin Hye-sung – “조금 더 가까이” (A little closer) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 14 (3,230 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 164 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

It’s the villains’ episode to shine, and Hirayama and Lee Hwa rock it. I really wish Hirayama had been in more of the drama from the start, instead of cooling his heels for so long. But hey, it’s worth the wait, since Miri has built up her tower, and now he’s here to both speed her inevitable fall, but also… to catch her when she does. How come even the villains have savior complexes in this drama?

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 13 (2,812 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 108 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

He knows! It’s the death of the puppy and the rise of Dark Yoo-hyun, who is no less polite than before, but eerily icy beneath the surface. And let’s not count out Myung-hoon, who is quickly becoming Miri’s biggest opponent yet. Basically everyone serves Miri up a slice of humble pie, and it’s kind of awesome. Let the real fun begin.

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 12 (2,943 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 152 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

More secrets are revealed! Some are new revelations, while others are just passed on to new people — like, say, our resident energizer puppy, who’s maybe not as big a pushover as he seemed at the outset. Oh, we’ve seen glimpses of his sharper side in brief moments, but now he stops playing the dupe and gets wise to a few things.

SONG OF THE DAY

Jisun – “바람아 불어라” (Blow, wind) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 11 (3,474 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 130 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

I think the most significant development to come of recent events isn’t even actual fallout from Miri’s lie, but the fact that she starts caring. About people only to a (teeny, tiny) degree, but mostly about how far she’s come, which makes her desperate to protect her achievement.

In previous episodes, she’s been like a feral creature, rabidly protecting herself from immediate harm and uncaring of the cost to her conscience or morals. Now that she’s found some degree of comfort, she starts to feel pangs of getting here the wrong way. To paraphrase one famous realityshowgoer: You’re gonna need your soul one day, and you won’t have it.

SONG OF THE DAY

8eight – “그대는 정말 대단해요” (You’re really amazing) [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 10 (3,424 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 86 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley

The secret’s out?! Already? Granted, not all of Miri’s covers are blown, but at least one of them is majorly exposed, with others possibly on the way. It’s refreshing that after Miri’s been managing her multiple lies for so many episodes like a precarious juggler with too any balls in the air, some finally start dropping from her grasp.

SONG OF THE DAY

Park Yoochun – “너를 위한 빈자리” from the Miss Ripley OST [ Download ]

(...)
Read the rest of Miss Ripley: Episode 9 (3,549 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2011. | Permalink | 145 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Kim Seung-woo, Lee Da-hae, Micky Yoochun, Miss Ripley