Woah, I come back to reply and I'm 50 or so comments later, wow.

However, one of my favourite topics came up. Johnny's boys! When I first discovered them, it was complete and utter confusion as to what the hell I was watching, but as kept watching, I discovered that the whole agency is a bit like a drug. I wonder why I watch and then the members of KAT-TUN grind up on each other and I forget my last thought. Also, some of the entertainers are actually talented beyond their insane costumes and their, well who knows what to call them, dance moves(for example, Ikuta Toma, Nishikido Ryo, Ninomiya Kazunari).

@68 Samsooki,
I've never really watched daytime dramas, I tried You are My Destiny and I just couldn't stick it out. I think the longest drama I ever watched clocked in at something like 30 episodes. As to dramas I've seen, here are a few of the Korean dramas I've watched, though I have watched a number of J, Tw, HK dramas and even a few lakorns (which I don't recommend).
-Brilliant Legacy
-My Sweet Seoul
-Que Sera Sera
-Delightful Girl Chun Hyang
-Dal Ja's Spring
-Goong
-Coffee Prince
-Full House
-Bad Couple
-BOF
-MISA
-Last Scandal
-Soulmate
-When It's At Night
-Witch Yoo Hee

Yep that's the list of completed kdramas, there's also several which I started and never finished or I am still on the last episode. Seeing that list, who can recommend? I have no preference as to actors or actresses.

By the way, love the song of the day today. Metric is amazing, especially this song. My friend and I had a very serious discussion and who we would rather be. She said Beatles, but personally, I would rather be a Rolling Stone.

Only an hour left before the school library closes and I have to head back home. Boo. I should probably do some grocery shopping while I'm out and about, but I left my list at home. :(

@Missemergency - Although I haven't even begun watching it yet, I'm going to go ahead and recommend 9 Ends 2 Outs. Everyone who's seen it appears to love it, and mishane is freaking insane about it. :P

Also, go watch Who Are You, and try to ignore the stiffness of Go Ara's acting. Yoon Kye-sang more than makes up for her inadequacies. :P

@ 149 Lemoncat

It's not like one of those angst-filled series where everyone is either dying, trying to die, or going to die. It's actually really comical and amusing at parts. The suspense element *is* in the drama, but its really executed!

@ 150 mishane

What I really love about the JE boys are the variety shows. After watching Arashi's Corner and finding video' of YamaPi dressed up in a cow-suit and leather and being so adorable...I fell in love.

Here's Kame dressed up as a cheerleader, and YamaPi in a cow-suit. Enjoy! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0i8-HGPMlQ

I'm not sure about the interactions between Johny/Non-Johny boys are. You got me intrigued, lol!

LOL, I'm not insane!! Okay, maybe a little.

The formula to make your 9E2O love as manic as mine? Watch a whole bunch of "classic" Korean dramas: Full House, Kim Sam Soon, Goong, Boys Over Flowers, Attic Cat. . .etc. Until you get tired of them.

Then pop in 9E2O. . .you'll fall in love. That's what happened with me. The best way to describe it? 'A breath of fresh air'.

@126 Mishane - I believe we (U.S.)have very strict child labor laws that protect the rights of working children (not including illegal stuff - another soapbox later on that topic) and I know that UK has a form of the same kind of law. However, I'm so sure about other countries, but if I had to guess...based on how much I see those idols on variety shows, radio, dramas, & concerts, then no.

@54 - **hugs**

Ahh, I just manage to skim through all the posts!

@skelley
I would say out of all the JE boys, it seems to me that Kimura Takuya probably has the most flexibility in choosing his roles and while he does tend to pick fairly similar roles, he has some very different roles too like in Change, A million stars fall from the sky (really dark and he plays a disturbing character), and though I haven't seen it but Karei naru Ichiozoku is supposedly different too. Anyways, outside of Kimutaku, the Arashi boys are probably most talented of the JE boys, IMHO....though Takizawa Hideaki has been pretty decent in the dramas I've seen him in (is anybody watching his latest drama w/Nishikida Ryo Orthros no Inu?)

But I kind of agree that the whole Johnny thing isn't exactly a great thing in terms of getting talented actors into the industry. Thinking about it, I'm actually surprised how many actors I absolutely adore that aren't w/JE : Abe Hiroshi, Oguri Shun, Matsuda Shota, Tsumabuki Satoshi

Oh and is anybody watching Ichihara Hayato's drama? He's been off my radar for a long time since I've only seen in him movies (All about Lily Chou Chou and Omnyouji)

Also speaking of Partners...does anybody know when LDW is going to be doing his military service? I think he's only a few months or so younger than Kim Rae
Won.

@mzpakipot -- omg, thank you for the info on "Thirst" at the Varsity! ::another seattleite waves:: actually, i live in tacoma (hence the 253 in my username ^^) but work @ the U.

@116 -- Anon-- did you get an answer to your q? I didn't see one.
Why do Korean people touch their earlobes after touching something that’s hot?

B/c earlobes are considered the coldest place on your body. so if you touch them right after touching something hot, you'll relieve the pain.

Random note: i am sooo bored by Partner even tho I was looking forward to it b/c of the cast. And the subs (provided by KBS through local cable channel KO-AM) are awkward and confusing, esp. on the legal stuff. I'm only at ep. 5 and am thinking of quitting. This does not feel like a Korean drama but like some weak hybrid of American legal shows (LA Law, etc) with Korean actors.

Meanwhile, i am LOVING "Man Who Can't Get Married." Standout!! Ji Jin-Hee hasn't been this good since.... Dae Janggum (keke, what a contrast in roles!).

@Taohua - I didn't know he had a drama coming out! All About Lily Chou Chou is one of my favourite movies.. I need to look this thing up now. :x

@ 158 paula253

Thanks for answering that question about the ear thing! I always wondered that myself. I saw it happen a lot on Attic Cat and DGCH and always wondered.

omg came back from lunch and there are like 80 more posts than when i left. geez u guys are fast!!! i only managed to kinda skim thru them but...

@mishane - you just broke my heart.. tamaki is taken?!?!?!?! sigh. well i wish him happiness...but.. i'm so sad. oh chiaki-senpai... and yes, my friend does not want her hyung tae. i'm like, u don't UNDERSTAND... i want to relive my entire life so that i can HAVE a hyung tae!! *sigh* she must watch 9E2O and then realize what she needs to grab onto lol.

@ Taohua
I haven't watched Saru Lock yet, but I'm totally planning to. I haven't actually watched Ichihara Hayato in anything since Water Boys 2 and Rookies, but I've always liked him (does anyone here think he's like the Japanese version of On Joo Wan?) It's a pity his hairstyles/colors are going more and more wack by the series, LOL. I thought his blond mane in Wild Life was insane until I caught sight of his silver hair on the Saru Lock posters.

@ 150 mishane
Hmm, I don't really know in-depth details, and I can't present any exact examples, but it's obvious that there IS some discontent from other actors regarding the Johnny's thing. Afterall, it's unfortunate but most of the Johnny's boys are not the best of actors. They're better classed as "entertainers", and to other serious actors, it's probably just a little unfair that they are handed lead role after lead role. You do get a feeling sometimes that there's an invisible divide between "real actors" and idol actors. I can't remember which director it was that worked with Matsumoto Jun (Domyouji in Hana Yori Dango) for a project, and he praised Jun for his work ethic and desire to learn, in comparison to other Johnny's Idols, whom he refuses to work with.

@Kender
I really liked him in All About Lily Chou Chou as well---I thought he was great especially for being so young. I heard he did a good job in ROOKIES (another jdorama) even winning the Japanese version of the Emmy for that...but I wasn't too impressed by the summary on d-addicts...but maybe I will check it out.

@Lemoncat
Yeah, I've been wondering what's up with him changing his style so drastically between each new work. Oh well, I'm going to have to at least give Saru Lock a chance...compared to others in his age range, he's definitely one of the better actors.

@ Kender, mishane and Lemoncat (sorry, don't remember the exact post numbers)

Speaking of k-drama endings, yes, that is one of my TOP gripes, endings are soooo difficult to get right. It doesn't have to to a happy ending, it doesn't have to have a twist ending, it doesn't even have to make much sense. But all endings have to have one intangible element to work - the ending has to feel right to the viewer! It has to feel like we got the closure we needed within the context of what we invested 16 to 24 hours of our life to spend with these people.

Some key problems I keep seeing in dramas - warning, some mild ending spoilers, read at your peril (I only dare do this in OT, where it's a free for all - but remember my warning):

You can't lead us down a path, and the screw with our minds with a giant FU at the end (see case study #1 Lovers in Paris, or case study #2 for movies - The Village). Twist endings are fine if it fits completely with what we have seen but didn't realize (i.e. the ending for The Usual Suspects or to a lesser degree The Sixth Sense).

You can't not end the drama at all. Open endings are fine as long as it feels organic to the characters we have grown to care about (well done award goes to MNIKSS and QSS - it just feels right).

You can't make us cry for the sake of making us cry, don't force a sad ending (i.e. Autumn in my Heart). Sad endings done right (MISA, Hong Gil Dong, Snow Queen).

You can't slap a wham, bam, thank you ma'am all issues are cleared up in the last 15 minutes ending - this means Mr/Ms. Scriptwriter - you didn't think through your story in advance, and I hate you for it.

You can't have an ending where nothing is resolved, but hot dang, let's let some time pass (oh, I dunno, 3 years seems to be the average amount of time), and allow our lovers to get back together and hope they (and all the opposition around them) have suffered collective anmesia or had a personality transplant so that all issues have miraculously become non-existent. Hooray, time does heal everything. Winners in this shiteous ending category goes to (clapping exuberantly): Winter Sonata (he's STILL blind!!!), Witch Yoo Hee (pls read Java's recaps for the full WTF reaction), Fashion 70's (all the guilt, still there, so why bother), Bad Love (this was painful from beginning to end, so I don't even care to explain why cuz the ending wasn't even the most painful part to watch). And there were so many more gems in this category - I might annoint this as the most overused lousy ending.

And last, but not least, you can't have an ending that just fizzles, trickling into nothingness. Happy, sad, twisty, doesn't matter, it shouldn't just go "wah, wah, wah....." When it's at Night was a total fizzly ending, as was Coffee Prince (for me) and Goong.

Leading to the highlight of my rant (and I have espoused this position in previous OTs):

City Hall has the best ending in all of k-drama. It is satisfying, organic, complete (you don't need to wonder about anything), and employs both fate and the time jump in ways that are meaningful.

@ 162 Lemoncat

Thank you for sharing. That is SO interesting to me, especially the director thing. I wonder what the atmosphere would be like on a set then, if that happens.

@ 164 ockoala

I ADORE YOU. Thank you. THANK YOU for putting so perfectly my frustration with Korean dramas. I have nothing more to add.

Re: City Hall. I cringe to write this here because of the City Hall love that happens in OT. . .but. . .after hearing certain things/issues re: the OTP, I just can't bring myself to watch it. It's tempting, because everyone keeps talking about how amazing the couple is, but when I heard a certain part of the plot, it just hits one of my drama nerves.

Did anyone ever see the Kim Sun Ah and Lee Dong Gun (aka one of the hottest Korean men ever) drama, When It's At Night? Was it any good? I wanted to watch that. I saw one of the kissing scenes in it where LDG has a bloody face and gahhh, I want to see it very badly but I never heard anything about it.

@Lemoncat: I must say that Matsumoto Jun is indeed on of the better actors within JE.

Unfortunately, I'm not fond of JE boys - not merely in acting, but not impressed with their singing either. But lately I have been addicted to Cartoon Kat-tun XD
Kat-tun is the only JE group I"m fond of :O

---

About dramas, one drama I hardly here people mention is "Miss Kim's Diary".

I know it was extremely popular (there was a movie adaption) with good (high?) ratings, but I hardly hear people mention it >.<

It's was quite funny to watch too, but is it perhaps the fact it's a daily drama?

Are any of the other ARASHI boys actors? I've only really heard of Jun.

Boy, this thread is moving so fast it's hard to keep up!
Seems like a lot of you are seeking a new drama to watch. Please do not follow me into the black hole called Good job,Good job! Someone please tell me why I'm on episode 30 and still watching it? Am I so addicted to Kdramas I'll watch anything just to get my fix?
@ib_tmi
Glad you're enjoying PlumBlossom! When I issued the warning last week I was afraid you might come away with a tarnished view toward KRW. Doesn't he win the cute tush award!
@#3 yenchan
Most people have times when they feel unfulfilled and in need of a change. For me it happened in my 20's. After yrs of working toward achieving academic goals and a few yrs working in my chosen profession, I felt suddenly at sea, I'd reached my goal so now what? Much to my parents dismay, I quit my job, packed my bags and moved half way around the world to LA! Sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith in ourselves, take a risk, if it fails just dust yourself off and try again!
Now, 2yrs away from retirement after 30+ yrs in the medical profession, I look back and still can't believe I actually dared to do that!
Sorry about sharing my life story, just trying to give encouragement!
Have a great weekend everyone!

@ langdon813:

Sis, you're still powering through SQ, right? No one followed up on your SQ reflection, but it wasn't ever a super hit, so maybe not a lot of folks have watched it. I found the entire drama *beautiful* and *touching*. It has that intangible quality to it. Yes, Sung Yuri's entire wardrobe was THE best wardrobe in k-drama heroine costume collection (with the exception of Choi Ji Woo's wardrobe in Star's Lover, apparently girl never wore the same outfit in any 2 scenes). Makes me wanna move back to NYC for the winters so I have an excuse to wear it.

SQ also has the best use of the season in which it filmed (winter), even better fitting than Winter Sonata. [Random aside, I was always upset Hong Gil Dong filmed in the winter - it was much more suited for a late summer to fall shoot. All the leads in HGD looked like they were padded down with 30 layers of stuffing inside their costumes, leading to the effect that I wanted them to charge each other a la that sumo wrestling game where folks donned fake sumo suits and wrestled each other].

Anyways, loved SQ, am sure I'm in the minority, but it was a slow, lyrical, evocative drama that has many inplausible plot points and silly character trajectories, but had a quiet grace all its own. Hyun Bin really can do no wrong in my eyes.

@164 mishane

Perhaps you want to read Samsooki's CH recaps to get a sense. What was the drama element you are talking about that bothers you. I'm curious. I know some folks dislike KSA's character being so cutsey and silly in the beginning, but it didn't bother me, because her character is quite well drawn overall, as the drama will show you.

@ ockoala
Oh, wow, you've put everything I've ever hated about regarding kdrama endings into words. I cannot stress how much I strongly, strongly dislike endings where everything just fizzles away into thin air, or inconclusive ones - case in point, Modern Housewives. Did anyone else watch that, or am I the only one? Because I liked the drama, all the way until I got to the end, and it was one giant WTF.

Absolute ass of a husband cheats on his dutiful homemaker wife with a rich career woman, and the worn out wife is repeatedly handed emotional abuse from her husband. Cute younger man pops along and supports her, and along with a bunch of other wives, they start breaking out of their shells and living lives outside of their awful husbands. It might sound like it's been done a million times before, but Modern Housewives looked at it in a serious manner, and I appreciated that... except omg, it ended with the husband feeling sorry about it all, apologizing, and clinging to the ex-wife... AND SHE LETS HIM. She doesn't accept it either, nor has she accepted younger guy, so instead the whole gang of them, with ex-husband in tow, goes off on a HOLIDAY. The end. WTF?

@ mishane
Ninomiya Kazunari of Arashi is also quite a lauded actor. He had a supporting role in Letters from Iwo Jima (the Clint Eastwood movie), actually, and he's played a number of varied roles to wide critical acclaim. Unfortunately I haven't seen any of it for myself, so... I really can't say whether he's as amazing as they say.

All of the other Arashi members have had drama roles. Sakurai Sho was recently in The Quiz Show 2, Ohno Satoshi took the lead role in Maou (Japanese version of The Devil/Mawang), and Aiba Masaki will lead in My Girl soon (based off a Japanese manga, totally unrelated to the Kdrama). I've heard pretty varied opinions about their acting skills, though, particularly with Ohno in Maou.

@ Biscuit
I used to be quite into JE boys, but then the Korean brand of manly hotness completely replaced them XD I still appreciate their variety shows, though; despite what people might say about their acting and singing/dancing abilities (or lack thereof), they ARE good entertainers. Arashi is hilarious on shows.

Ummm. since SeoulBeats is down for a bit, can I just have a few minutes to rant about G-Dragon & Big Bang & YG Entertainment??

This is just my opinion and impression I get from them.

Big Bang was a bit of a joke. Not that they aren't talented or anything like that - they are. But the reason I find them a joke is their concept of being a group. It is very obvious to me that YG didn't know how to promote five talented individuals for a successful solo career, so he stuck them together to form Big Bang. But by doing so, he forced 5 individuals to work together when really, they don't want to. Gdragon doesn't know how to be a leader of a group because he's more interested in his own pursuits. Without a strong leader to pull the group together, to enhance the group together, to showcase each other strengths but as a group, then the group fails to BE a group.

I get the sense from their interviews & such (and it might be that something got lost in the translation) that they would much rather focus on their individual goals instead of having to promote as a group. And I think its most telling that each of them have launched into their own solo's so quickly after launching as a group.

If that was YG's intent fine, but why have fans become so vested into a group when you're going to splinter them? If its not your intent, then why have each member do so many activities on their own?? Why state in an official post: Gdragon will show his true colors like he couldn't before in Big Bang How the heck are fans supposed to interpret that comment? And dang it, why not let Daesung sing more,??? His voice is amazing. Aren't you the one that emphasis talent over looks?? So why does it seem that Daesung's talent on variety shows is just an excuse to keep him busy because you don't want to worry about promoting him as a ballad singer?

I'm not really a Big Bang fan, I'm a Daesung fan and I'm a TOP fan, and I'm really not hating on the group - I'm just frustrated at the illogical, weird, and lazy decision making by some of these agencies and YG was at the top of my list because I've been going through TOP withdrawal and feeling bad for Daesung.

Rant over - thanks!

@ mishane

Nino, the main guy in Ryusei no Kizuna, is from Arashi. And there's tons of other dramas featuring Arashi actors. Nino is in a ton of dramas, all of them excellent because he's an amazing actor. Ohno from Arashi is in Uta no Onii-san (it was pretty cute and light), Sho from Arashi is in The Quiz Show 2 and a bunch of other dramas too. The one I'm missing is... Aiba, and I think he's in a bunch of dramas too, lol. So all five act, though at different acting proficiencies, lollll.

@165 mishane

I watched WIAN (When It's at Night). I actually watched WIAN after I watched City Hall. Reason: I am not a KSA fan, not even after MNIKSS. And sorry, also not a Lee Dong Gun fan (before WIAN, only saw him in Lover's in Paris - where he was a snot brat). But, City Hall turned me into a KSA fan.

So, I checked out WIAN, which my sister watched when it first aired, she had high expectations, and ended up pretty disappointed. WIAN was also a ratings disappointment and received even by KSA fans lukewarmly. This should give you a sense.

My review: KSA and LDG were their usual acting selves, chock full of charisma and brought their characters to life - they were the shining beacons in an otherwise terribly written, poorly paced and directed drama. The failure of WIAN lies squarely with the script and direction. KSA and LDG had good chemistry (though third in line, after CSW and HB's chemistry with KSA), and the few kisses were nice (hhmm, nice), but holy heck the story was a mess. It was painful to watch, and KSA's character was written so she got more and more weepy and useless, and it was a waste of KSA and LDG's talent. My 2 cents only, I still enjoyed it cuz KSA-LDG, they rock, even in crappy dramas.

@ 169, ockoala

Maybe not "powering" through so much as "meandering" through...I really am enjoying it, so much so that I almost don't want it to end. Towards the end of My Girl I was so very impatient for it to be over, for them to just GET OVER IT and be together already. With Snow Queen, it's like a bottle of really fine wine, a rare vintage that makes you sad to drink it because once it's gone, there won't be any more. There'll be other wines of course, but not that one. Hmm...maybe I'm anticipating happy hour a little too early today. You're so right about the winter setting, it is absolutely perfect for this story. I love the outdoor scenes when you can see their breath. Although, again, actors aren't human! They still look so beautiful! My nose would be all red and runny...so unfair.

One thing that does make me smile about this drama (and admittedly, there isn't much to smile about), but in most dramas I've seen, it's usually the female character who takes long, slow (I mean really sloooooow), halting steps while crying and thinking about the tragedy of their life...and in this one, it's the guy! Ah, and what a guy he is. I want to hug him. Just a little bit.

Anyway, three eps left; I'm planning to finish it tonight. Told hubby to stock up on Kleenex when he bought groceries this morning, so I'm set.

Samsooki: *clap* *clap* *clap* Brilliant post, must save this for future use.

@ coco

i am the first to admit, i'm very shallow. i love watching anything for the HOT GUY factor. i'm okay w/ nekkidness, when done well and done tastefully... and the first scene i saw in Plum Blossom was done pretty well. i mean, yes, there's a bum shot.. but that which led up to it, there was no way that it couldn't end up w/ them NOT in bed together.. and the angles that the scene were shot was not disgusting or revealing. i agree.. nice BUM KRW!

@ ockoala,

i can't imagine a better shot scenery of Winter than WLS. i thought all the winter scenes were beautifully shot and i loved the incorporation of what the winter season meant to the characters... but i second the WTF factor of the ending. yeah, he's alive, what is accomplished? he's still BLIND!!! i was rooting for a death.. it would've actually made the story better, IMO.

@b020

i thought that the members of Big Bang were individuals artists, until my niece corrected me and told me they were actually members of a group. i had only heard of them separately (since my introduction to kpop). if they were more like Rob Thomas and Matchbox 20, where Rob still considers himself a member of Matchbox 20 and knows that's where his roots are... i'd prolly have a lilo more respect for big bang...

oh, and hopefully Daesung gets better soon... i'm concerned over that eye bone fracture that's been reported... i know nothing of that type of injury, but injuries of the eyes are very worrying to me.

i don't get what ppl like about My Girl.. it was very forgetful to me.. so much that i saw it last summer and well, i've already forgotten what it was about. *shrugs* something about being an overly happy girl, having a guy friend, and the cute lead guy that i have no idea what his role was. still forgotten and i'm not even going to try to remember what it was about, cuz it would hurt my head too much.

anyone else forgot it too?

oh.. and wth? about SM entertainment and DBSK? i think it's not just j-entertainment that's holding their entertainers as prisoners... especially not after this news re: DBSK. it does suck to be a star, in more ways that i ever imagined. i guess i would rather be myself... a nobody.

@ockoala, thank you for your response on CH BTS. They're both so natural and made it so real. If I were Mrs. CSW i wouldn't even dare watch the kiss and the BTS, i give her props for being supportive of CSW. Lucky CSW!

Have you checked out CSW's old movies yet?

@paula253, hi there! *waves* That's a long commute, traffic must be hell? Interesting review by Seattle Time critic for Thirst/Bakwi, he gave it 2+1/2 stars. Definitely not something I wanna watch by myself, so I'm going to see it with my cousin this weekend, took a lot of convincing coz he doesn't like watching anything with subtitles!

@Samsooki, thank you for your list. Any short review for Friend, Our Legend? I'm curious to know since you own Binnie ( oh wait, SHK owns him now!) I sometimes lurk at soompi's thread, but i dont' see a lot of comments there.

And of course at HB's thread too, to check if the rumor is actually true and if HB made any sort of confirmation that they are actually an item. Sorry, there's still part of me that wants a SunBin reunion. :P But, whatever it is, i'm happy for Binnie.

@ mzpakipot

No, I've yet to watch any old Cha Seung Won movies or dramas. I've seens pics, and I have to say, the man is looking finer and finer with age. He's even more chiseled and lean, got cheekbones and abs to die for, and is most likely an even better actor now than 10 yrs ago. How awesome is that, to hit your creative and professional high at the peak of your hotness! I want to watch Ghost House, Kick the Moon, Blood Rain and Murder Take One.

Kim Suh Na has kissed THE hottest men in k-drama, and the BEST kissers as a group in k-entertainment. Don't believe me, here's the list: Cha Seung Won, Lee Dong Gun, Hyun Bin, Gong Yoo, and So Ji Sub. Sheez, lady, you are so damn lucky. CSW and SJS - I have just collapsed into a puddle of drool on the floor now.

BTW - it's true, Hye-Bin is officially a go, their reps have confirmed it.
_________________________________________________

I was browsing Sevenses blog this week, and came across a listing of possible endings for Hong Gil Dong (before the real ending aired), and it was a compendium of endings from chinese, korean dramas, movies, literatures, etc.

My fave is this:

27. The Coffee Prince ending: Gil Dong and Chang Hui fall in love after being together for a long time. Gil Dong, heedless of the world, abandons Enok and declares to Chang Hui, “Chang Hui, I love you. I don’t care if you’re a king or ugly, an alien or a man. I want to go as far as possible together.” And then … discovers that Chang Hui is a girl! (Or else why would our Daegoon look so delicately pretty?) He throws up some blood in shock, and after some struggling and fighting, accepts Chang Hui. The two live happily ever after and opens a First Shop of Red Bean Buns Princes .

Just something LOL to share. I'm not nearly as original as any of those folks who created all those endings. K-drama scriptwriters need to take heed.

@Samsooki,
THANK YOU! That has got to be the beat list I have ever seen compiled anywhere!

@samsooki... Thanks for the list.... just like mzpakipot says, i am curious about your opinion about binnie's Friend, the Legend. I was only able to watch the first two eps because i got busy with grad school and work. But I like what I have seen so far, the cinematography was just awesome! It doesn't feel like you're watching a drama at all!

*gasps since meh is actually enjoying Powerful Opponents*

I am curious about this Hyung Tae. I must check out 9E2O. Maybe I have/had a Hyung Tae.

My favorite J drama recently was Arifureta Kiseki, which I watched totally because of Nakame Yukie who I knew only from Gokusen, but it was chock full of skillful adult actors (not an idol in the whole thing) and had a good script as well. Bloody Monday was my second favorite. My only J drama friend prefers the comic teen things like HanaKimi, so we never agree on what is GOOD.

I have a question maybe someone can answer for me. How do they assess the ratings on TV dramas? Does every TV set come ready bugged or what? I'm not very up on how all this works so forgive me if it seems like an idiot question.

I just read that Kim Rae Won will be assigned to Namsan Public Library as a public service worker. I'm not sure how true that is but I'm having visions of stalker/stakeouts
at the library or at least a little more foot traffic through the rows of books!

I really like the song...it suites my mood today. Ahhhhh today has been a rollercoaster as I try to get everything ready to leave for Seoul next week. I kind of feel numb at this point and don't really know what I am getting myself into. I think it will all come crashing in the night before.

I'm going to miss next week's open thread since I will be on a plane. If anyone wants to check out my blog about going to Korea it is:

http://lola-o-in-seoul.blogspot.com/

I am super excited to check out My Fair Lady next week and be able to watch it live in Korea:)

Hi everyone, Wow, it's only 4:37pm on West coast and already this this many post... had to skim through most of them till the last 30-40 posts here. And right now I'm in Japan, just finished my breakfast...

@186 Isabelh

Oh! I'm happy to hear somebody else mentionning this drama. It was really well written, directed and acted. It may be a bit slow at first ,but this drama lingers in you. a little precious gem, sort of... My girl friend told me that the screen writer of this series is quite famous for his gentle yet subtly provocative writing style.

Here in Japan, tonight is the night for Otomen episode 3!!! But, can you imagine that it starts at 1130pm!!! Can't imagine why... I thought the target viewers for this drama are junior high / high school girls??? Do they stay up that late? Did I?

All the comments above for Arashi and other J-pop boys groups and such. I'd say being in "idle pop groups" are the way of getting into entertainment industry over here, most of them really can't sing that fabulous which is not erally important as long as they are adorable and have some sort of presence, then various choices are available for them later on, pursue acting, be TV personalities and so on. I was sooo disappointed the first time I heard Smap sing "Lion heart" such a beautiful song, such awful singers(most of them have proven themselves as good accountable actors). DBSK (great singers!!! they can hold tunes and more)and T-Ma'x(Javabeans, it all because you've posted their version on this site, I've discovered this song and soon found out it was originally a J-pop which eventually leaded me to DBSK! Thank you!) execute them 100 times better.

Anyways, I'm off to start my day here, one more day in Japan and coming home to the States... It's a bit wired people don't look into your eyes when they talk to you...

@mzpakipot -- hi! over the years, i've adjusted my work schedule several times as commute has gotten hell-ier. now I work Mon-Thurs 11:30-7 and Fridays @home. otherwise road rage would have overtaken me years ago. ^^

Note to self: do not see 박쥐 alone! maybe I should meet you & your cousin there. ^^ he doesn't like reading subs? ::puzzled:: i don't watch any tv or movies that aren't subbed keke.

@lb_tmi

My Girl sticks in my memory because it was my first (and unfortunately not the last) exposure to the Crazy Ex troop. Tennis Girl was a complete nutjob but she's the thing I remember most from that drama. The rest of the plot merges with other drama plots and I have to stop and think before talking about it.

There's going to be a season 2 of Lair Game? WHOOO! I've been reading the manga and it's delightfully confusing. One important question-Will Shota be in it?

Add me to the slump club, after the disappointment of BOF nothing is holding my interest for long. IRIS might though it has a Le Femme Nikita vibe that appeals to me.

@javabeans

Okay, I'm going to try this again,lol. I finally figured out that maybe if I address my comment to you, you will have reason to read it :).
Anyhow, though I'm sure you're quite busy with other projects, I wonder if you have any interest in the drama Don't Ask Me About the Past, starring Kim Won Hee. It's a crime/thriller/romcom kind of deal, if that makes any sense. Every episode I watch, I can't help but think that you would enjoy the show and what your input would be on certain aspects. Just wondering:)
And I just have to say, to any Kat-tun fans, do you know where I can find the newer episodes of Cartoon Kat-tun subbed? I love the show, but my Japanese is nowhere good enough to understand without subs.

I was wandering if Thousands years of love is worth watching? The plot sounds pretty interesting so I want to know? Is it good? Well paced? Not too angsty and good acting?

@190 mems

Yes, GuMi stands for Jo Guk and Shin Mi Rae. If the netizens care enough to coin my fave k-drama couple with a nickname, I'm all for it. I think their names are funny enough sounding and meaning (Jo Guk means homeland, Shin Mi Rae means new future), that pairing them together is totally fine by me.

"I am the homeland's new future, candidate #5, Jo Guk" is even cuter use of their names. ;-)

@195 CrimemasterGogo

I've been wondering about Thousand's Year Love. I heard it has atrocious acting by Sung YuRi, and even So ji Sup barely survived. But, someday I will still watch. I don't know anyone personally who has watched it, it's quite an older piece of work.

@164 ockoala - re: CH ending- yes yes yes!!!!!! nothing has EVER been as perfect as that. EVER.

@185 Snikki - if you have had a Hyung Tae, i am jealous of you haha.

@187 coco - omg when is this?!? when will KRW be at namsan public library? perhaps beginning of january when i am there?? mayyyyybe??

@188 Dele - have fun in Korea! :)

best kissing video on youtube, ever: 5 min. of So JiSub and a lucky stream of women.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WZcp7Lxs0ts

@mems

Kim Suna called GuMi as Rae-Guk
Soompiers didn't wanna call them MiGuk coz it means America? That's how GuMi nickname came out. Guk-Mi don't sound right?
Korean Netizens called them Ae-Guk

@187, coco

"I just read that Kim Rae Won will be assigned to Namsan Public Library as a public service worker. I’m not sure how true that is but I’m having visions of stalker/stakeouts at the library or at least a little more foot traffic through the rows of books!"

Amen to that! I bet literacy will increase about 500% once that news hits. Now that really IS public service!