Looking at the buffet table of 2012, I’m left in awe at the vast array of possible selections before me. The sheer number of choices is growing every year and I feel like I have to taste-test the premiere and make a quick decision of whether to keep digging in or move on. Sometimes you don’t just know for sure until you’re left with the aftertaste.

And because some dramas that fall within the same genre can have unique flavors, I’m using a Taste O’Meter to assess this year’s dramas. Was it sweet, sour, bitter, salty, or savory? Maybe more than one?

Like any “Thanks to…” in a good Kpop album: My unending thanks to javabeans and girlfriday for the opportunity to let me write about what I love; to HeadsNo2 for the squee-fests and love of makgulli; to kaedejun for the laughs, hugs, and love of Oppa; and last but not least, to YOU GUYS for being awesome readers. I put in a good word for y’all with Santa but he may have used my note as a coaster instead. Or a tissue.

The series below include the ones seen in its entirety, listed chronologically(ish):

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Read the rest of A Variety of Flavors in 2012 [Year In Review, Part 3] (4,403 words)

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Post tags: Answer Me 1997, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, featured, Full House Take 2, Gaksital, I Do I Do, Marriage Plot, Nice Guy, Operation Proposal, Queen In-hyun's Man, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, The King 2 Hearts, To the Beautiful You, Vampire Prosecutor 2, year in review

Time to look into the kimchi vat and see how well our batch has fermented. Or how much it didn’t ripen at all. There’s nothing unexpected in this finale and I can safely say that although it’s not the most unique or delicious kimchi I’ve ever tasted, it doesn’t leave a bad taste in my mouth either.

FINAL EPISODE RECAP

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 16 (Final) (3,368 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

Memories can leave a different taste in our mouths – they can be sweet, salty, or even bitter. Gun-hee searches to rediscover Chinjung’s unique taste while Kang-jae ponders on what it means for kimchi to taste like a memory. Maybe it’s different for everyone or maybe it’s one of the same. If the show keep this pace, we might be in for a great finale.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 15 (2,785 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

We’re back and the truth is out. Chinjung is in dire need of a superhero and our leads are finally forced to take matters into their own hands. It’s time to suit up and roll your sleeves ’cause this is going to take a lot of work. Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me, drama. For everyone’s sanity, including mine, let’s brush the previous episode under the rug.

SONG OF THE DAY

Yoon Do-hyun Band (YB), Lee Seung-gi – “I will forget” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 14 (2,751 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

This series is in need of emergency of an overhaul of storyline being sucked into a stupidity vortex. If lying for the sake of the other person wasn’t enough, then the advice around our main couple sound like a poor greeting card. With three episodes left, the air of this kimchi vat has gone out and this batch is starting to stink. And not in that delicious fermentation way.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 13 (3,005 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

Noble Idiocy? That’s not what I ordered. Why are you coming and ruining my kimchi? Wait, is this even about kimchi anymore?

EPISODE 12 RECAP

The boardinghouse throws Kang-jae a birthday surprise of confetti and cake the next morning. Hey Mom, I think the bomb that Dad killed off the father of your children officially makes it the worst birthday gift ever.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 12 (2,285 words)

© gummimochi for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 23 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

Our couple finally gets to express their feelings for each other with lots of cute coupleified moments. Hidden truths start to emerge and wedge themselves into the budding relationship. From Cloud 9, you can start to see the edge of the oncoming storm on the horizon.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 11 (3,251 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

What’s love anyway? How does filial love compare with sisterly love and to friendship love and romantic love? Sun-hee learns what it means to start standing up for herself while Gun-hee has to choose between her first and her new love.

EPISODE 10 RECAP

Mom’s jaw drops at the sight of breakfast the morning following Sun-hee’s walkout, appalled at the mountains of kimchi before her. She refuses to acknowledge that Sun-hee’s left home, her daughters’ lack of concern for their unni adding to her ire.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 10 (3,904 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

Who knew that a suppository could be the root of such confusion and hilarity? Other truths come crashing down and the kimchi project needs a superhero to come and save the day.

EPISODE 9 RECAP

Kang-jae googles the “how-to” to put in a suppository and cries in his hands over the process, particularly about how one must remain in the same position for 20 minutes to ensure proper insertion. His mind fixates on the “20 minutes” portion, repeating it aloud.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 9 (3,331 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot

We’ve hit the halfway point and it feels like both of our main characters have each taken a step forward that draws them away from themselves. There’s more petty bickering that you enjoy but there’s also plenty of heartfelt confessions. Gun-hee realizes that the person you thought you hated might be the one you miss the most.

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Read the rest of Marriage Plot: Episode 8 (3,546 words)

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Post tags: featured, Kang Hye-jung, Lee Kyu-han, Marriage Plot