I knew Love & Marriage would end on a happy note, and that nothing totally unexpected would come in the last hour. But I was still pleasantly surprised with how well the drama wrapped up its romance — even managing to pull out a bit of cleverness to keep the inevitable from being totally predictable.

I’ll be the first to admit that Love & Marriage isn’t a perfect drama, or even a particularly noteworthy one. But what it did, it did well: happy romance that endeared its characters to those of us who don’t necessarily like our dramas traumatic. Also, I always want to give extra points to dramas whose finales manage to satisfy AND add a little something extra to the series, rather than ending on a disappointing note — or even just an adequate (but unexciting) one.

SONG OF THE DAY

Love & Marriage OST - “Come to Me” by J [ Download ]

LOVE & MARRIAGE Episode 16 (Final) >>

Tags: episode recaps, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Min-hee, Love & Marriage, Park Ki-woong, stuff I dig

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Episode 4 is SO ADORABLE it’s silly. No, really, I think I had a grin on my face all episode.

(I just hope this drama stays funny. Four solidly amusing episodes is a good start, but until a series is halfway through, I’m wary that it’ll downturn. Actually, I’m usually nervous that a good series will sour right up until it ends.)

What I think Love & Marriage does well is in the way it unfolds its plot, how it structures jokes to pay off more than once. The plot itself isn’t groundbreaking, but the show is filled with quirky, cute little moments that build on each other and keep the momentum moving throughout.

SONG OF THE DAY

Howl - “소년, 소녀를 만나다” (Boy meets girl) [ Download ]

LOVE & MARRIAGE Episode 4 >>

Tags: episode recaps, Kim Ji-hoon, Kim Min-hee, Love & Marriage, stuff I dig

Filed under: Drama Recaps by javabeans - 28 Comments →

I know this post is off-topic, but DongA.com brings us this lovely image of a newfangled device being called a “scissor bike.” I don’t know about you, but those are two words that, when put together, conjure up some pretty unfortunate images, but oddly it’s very apt (the bicycle folds upon itself for ease of carrying). I don’t bike much, but I’d actually get me one of these — more useful than a razor scooter, less bulky than an actual bike.

Tags: off topic, stuff I dig

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Omg. Strongest Chil Woo is AWESOME (-ly bad). But still, awesome!

It is SO corny, and that makes it so, so good.

I never thought I’d say this, but one of its best assets right now is its terrible acting. I don’t know if they’re being bad on purpose, or if they’re just not naturally suited to the material, but in any case I’d like to tell them: Thank you. A show that is not meant to be good is best being very, very bad. It couldn’t’a happened without you.

SONG OF THE DAY

Hooligan - “상상웃음” (Imaginary laugh) [ Download ]

 
STRONGEST CHIL WOO Episode 4 >>

Tags: episode recaps, Eric, Gu Hye-sun, sageuk dramas, so bad it's good, Strongest Chil Woo, stuff I dig

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I was thinking how I’ve been watching lots of first episodes of dramas these days, but haven’t found anything to dive into since the end of Who Are You? It’s starting to feel like going on a string of disappointing first dates — measuring up expectations versus performance, anticipation versus letdown, etc.

You know, there’s that date you’re really looking forward to, so you get dressed up and put on your heels and makeup and count down the hours, and he turns out to be a total dud. Or the date you agreed to because it was easier to give the guy your number than to try to invent an excuse not to because those excuses always come out embarrassingly half-assed — like you say you don’t have a phone and then it rings, or something — but then you end up having a good time.

I didn’t exactly intend to go off on an extended metaphor, but when I thought about all the recent dramas I’ve caught, they all seemed to fit (more or less).

SONG OF THE DAY

G.O.D. - “Falling” [ Download ]

First dates, by which I mean… >>

Tags: Bulhandang/Robbers, Coffee Prince, Hong Gil Dong, I Love You, Iljimae, La Dolce Vita, On Air, ranty/ravey, Rivals, Spotlight, stuff I dig, The Last Scandal of My Life, Tokyo Showers, Who Are You?, Why Did You Come To Our House, Yi San

Filed under: Drama Reactions & Reviews by javabeans - 103 Comments →