So, one of my chingus sent me this YT vid, and I cracked up! The guys are cute, esp. with the eye-liner look being so "in" now. It's been awhile since I've really paid attention to Kpop, but the fans never cease to amaze me. Just wow. lols.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtEBs9CLUug

samsooki,

jang nara had a song called 'open your mind' that was played at the end of each episode of new nonstop. it was a teeny-bopperish song that i loved, and the tone of the song fit in well with the character she played in the sitcom.

when her first cd came out, i was expecting sort of the same teeny-bopperish theme she usually portrayed on tv and on 'open your mind.' after listening to the cd for the first time, i was a little taken aback by the maturity of the sound. 'this isn't the jang nara that i know,' i thought.

makes me wonder sometimes if she is really like the character she portrays on a lot of her dramas, or if she is serious like some of her music. probably somewhere in the middle.

to have someone like jang nara as portrayed in 'nonstop' as a noona? a boy can only dream. i bet there'd be a lot of hazing going on, and i'd accept it outwardly with a huge groan but inwardly with an even bigger smile.

@gallivanter,

"Just got back from the first (of probably many) interviews for an ESL position in Korea."

coool! good luck to you ~~

@kgrl,

"QSD: Alright, who here has renewed fervor in this drama now that Mishil is back? Should’ve waited until it ended before picking it up again. Oh, I have no restraint whatsoever."

This Belleza has a really soft spot for This Mishil. When This Mishil talks about representing an era, that really moved me. Who knows the greatness she could have achieved, had she had Deokman's royal blood, or if she had been born a royal male heir? In the end, she ends up taking the direct route. Bring her boys to take the throne herself. She may be defeated; she may be killed; but at least she laid down all her cards and gave it the college try.

Many of my favorite scenes in the show are between my two favorite characters in the show Mishil and Bidam too. First, you don't really know what will be said or is going to happen. Second, their uniqueness instantly makes me feel their bond, that even if they weren't mother and son, they are the only two people in the world who are of their kind.

The show probably isn't going to end with Mishil. It'll probably end with the Bidam Rebellion. That's going to break my heart. :(

Ratings have dropped for the show, but I liked the arcs about the tax reform and Chun Chu-gate.

Can someone give me the links to the You're Beautiful NG videos, the one where the leads are apparently filming the bed scene and flirting? Thanks in advance.

Happy OT to everyone! Its a little late but who knows...OT might last all week!
Don't have much to say but I do have a questions: Has anyone seen Style?
I'm still watching but I was struck by something throughout the show... When has a relationship begun and when is it really over in k-dramaland?

@kb,

yeap.

Having jang nara for a noona... well, there can't be much more to life than that. then again, having jang nara call you 'oppa' all the time also sounds like a pretty nice life too. hmm. I guess the moral of the story is to have jang nara in your life. hehe.

@nea,

i watched style on and off, mostly in subbing mode. i can't say it's the best drama ever, but something about lee jia was emotively.... inclusive? enough that I cared about the drama.

the other characters, including the ambiguously gay guy, weren't so memorable to me.

@belleza: Oh, you're so funny! I love your "This Belleza" bit - and yes, I also have a bias toward "This Mishil." She was the hook for me when I first started watching QSD, and the adorable child actors, of course. I did expect a lot from this drama, and have been somewhat disappointed, but there are many redeeming qualities such as Mishil, Bidam, and CC. They continue to be the biggest draw for me. If it weren't for them, I would have dropped this drama like a hot plate.

As for Bidam...the poor thing needs some loving. A tender hand to hold is all he wants, really, can't the script writers give him a little sympathy? Since I'm biased toward Bidam, I'll probably want to and will understand his rebellion, even his malicious acts later on.

@Jingu: Here's the BTS of JGS/PSH's "seduction" scenes - I swear they were trying to seduce each other for real. lols.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6U0d3D15GD4&feature=PlayList&p=4C65E705A0346A50

@Kgrl - thanks for the BTS of YB clip!!! it is so cute :) they look adorable together and look like they're having so much fun filming this. if only they really were together.. man JGS is a pretty guy...

@188 kdxmel

DJS is one of the first of the many k-dramas I watched, together with MNIKSS & CoffeePrince. And I'd have to say it remains in my top 5 favourites.

I love that there are realy no villains, even the crazy wife of the marketing executive ended up being friends with DJ. And the 2nd lead characters, who appeared to be villains at the start became very good friends of DJ. And that's how life is. Most of our struggles are really with ourselves, with the norms we are brought up in, with society.

@samsooki

on your dream drama with two of my fav korean actors, gong yoo & kim rae woon (altho i also liked the 3rd one). can we just swap him with binnie?

i am so looking forward to gong yoo's return to civilian life and hopefully soon into the k-drama world. missing him a lot; i even visit a fan website - gongyoo.exteen.com to fill in the gap and re-watching CP and Biscuit Teacher & Cotton Candy. I hope he gets a good comeback show.

@djes
yes, i wish someone would sub Strong Heart too.

@lovenyc52
JGS is a pretty guy. Did you watch his Toucholic CF? His smile will melt your heart.

Just got back from seeing Echo and the Bunnymen at the Nokia Theater. Their performance was split into essentially two Acts. Act 2 was more of a standard gig. Act 1 was why I waited 3 months for this concert -- they were going to perform their album Ocean Rain in sequence, backed by a 16-piece orchestra.

And it wasn't just the orchestra during Act 1. They had two visual displays (only active during Act 1) that showed black and white pictures of them through their hungry and peak years, from 80-86, when they were the young turks with mad beautiful dreams.

Nokia Theater has good acoustics, and so I was expecting the orchestra to make their already rich sound fuller, to make the album Ocean Rain 3D. It didn't. It turned the music into those black and white pictures they were showing: monolothic, ecstatic, dangerous, superflat, heroic. It was awesome.

Some people picked up on that during intermission. Somebody said that he cried through a lot of the performance, because the images reminded him of he and his late father going to see them through those years. Another person said it wasn't the nostalgia, it was being flushed with magnificent, immense surrender.

Ocean Rain is my favorite Echo album (is it about death? the lamentable dance of life? psyche riding the waves of inevitable, fickle transformation? typically bad weather in Scouse-ville?), but with the orchestra, it was like being hit with a cool, wet sun. I started crying about 15 seconds into the last song. It was too much. It was thrillingly too much. People cried and whooped through that performance.

Arcade Fire, all 12 members of 'em, can only hope to one day do what Echo and the Bunnymen did. It looks like they're going to continue performing Ocean Rain this way for a few years. If you like Big Music, nothing bigger than this.

oooohhhh i was busy so i missed this open thread... too bad! There was a discussion on Veronica Mars (loved, loved S1 and loathed S3...blah!) and Buffy..... I miss both shows so much.

Someone's mentioned SS501. KHJ is cute and all but he just doesnt do it for me...not even after BOF..hahaha. I'm gonna sound like a perv (which is why i'm not revealing my age..HAHA. But my recent discovery to kpop-dom is SHINee.

Wow...these boys (and i mean that literally too...So so young!) are great. Such great live performers - excellent dance moves while singing. Not even Suju pulls that off well because not everyone is a strong singer. Maybe DBSK/TVQX is the only other one who does this so well. After discovering Ring Ding Dong, i searched their old songs/album and wow...they have really good kpop songs.

(Note to Suju fans: pls remember this is my personal take and not kill me. For the record, i do like Suju. I think their dongsengs, SHINee, will outshine them eventually.)

@211

on your dream drama with two of my fav korean actors, gong yoo & kim rae woon (altho i also liked the 3rd one). can we just swap him with binnie?

why are ppl having issue with Kim Jae Won?

1. He's good looking.
2. He's reserved and looks polite
3. He'e probably a nice guy that you'd love to bring home to show mama...

?

Maeby is adorable!
I love the song for this OT.

---

@212 yvhsien
Thank you! I just watched and I think I'm in love *_* His smile, his voice, the rapping <3

-----

I had a little time to spare so I watched Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru. I love the majority dark setting and the sparse use of music is original. Has anyone here read the manga? I didn't understand the movie ending. Is it implying that they gave up on a relationship and went their separate ways?

-----

I was wondering if there are any websites where I can buy dramas at a reasonable price. YesAsia doesn't have everything I want and the prices are
scary.

@ 216 doublethink101

" had a little time to spare so I watched Boku wa Imouto ni Koi wo Suru. I love the majority dark setting and the sparse use of music is original. Has anyone here read the manga? I didn't understand the movie ending. Is it implying that they gave up on a relationship and went their separate ways"

I wrote about this movie/manga in OT 95, comment # 143 (I think I may be the only OTer to have read the original manga).

Ending - yes, they go their separate ways in the manga. Because the brother realized how completely $%^-ed up his love for his sister is (I would he could have come to that epiphany like 9 books earlier!!!) and leaves the entire family and goes AWOL.

Years and years later, after they are all adults, the sister is still friends with the brother's high school BF, and the BF is still trying to get the sister to go out with him, and she's in London on business and runs into the brother in a library, and the brother is now a lawyer, and the manga ends there.

If the viewer thought it was a doomed love story, but wanted them to be together regardless of damnation, I think the writer implied they are still in love..... I hope never to think much about this ridiculous story again.

I've heard the movie was much less traumatic.

@ langdon and the rest of the Tamra Islanders - I'm getting on the speedboat to Tamra, just bought the DVD. And also scored box sets of Capital Scandal (Kang Ji-hwan!, Flowers for my Life, What's up, Fox?, and I'm Sorry, I Love You. I will have ZERO social life until the end of the year, it seems like. But I'm so excited!

@ Samsooki

I think Kim Jae Won is a cutie, but unfortunately, neither as cool as Kim Rae Won, or was weird as Lee Junki, or as hot as So Ji Sub, or has "fistinmouth" as Jo In Sung, or.......well, you get the picture. KJW is kinda bland at the end of the day, so that's my only quibble. He doesn't drive me to distraction in good or bad ways.

@217 ockoala

Thanks for clearing that up for me :)

@217, ockoala

Where did you get the Tamra DVD? I didn't realize it was out and I'm dying to watch the full unedited version!

I was thinking of Capital Scandal next; have you seen it before? If not, tell me when you plan to start and I'll watch it with you (doesn't matter when). I loved What's Up, Fox? and MiSa...well, you know already. I don't have to say a word. I've never seen Flowers For My Life; the only thing I know about it is JB liked it a lot and the girl that Tablo is marrying is in it.

How do we feel about Cain and Abel? The gravitational pull of So Ji-sub is so hard to resist...but it seems like I've read here that it wasn't that good.

I'm only watching two dramas at the moment and it's driving me nuts. I have to hurry up and pick something, because the two I'm watching are You're Beautiful and IRIS. Have to find something to help me pass the time until Wednesday and Thursday get here! So...since both of these have recently been loaded on Dramafever, I'm thinking about either Cain and Abel or Shining Inheritance.

Opinions welcome!!

@ langdon-unni

The Tamra DVD is totally the bootleg Chinatown version, unfortunately. The quality looks great, but I know I'm contributing to bad bad practices, but I can only hang my head in shame. If I love Tamra, I'll buy the official release when it comes out with the full 20 eps. (btw, the shopkeeper tells me that the folks who've bought Tamra have given it thumbs down to him, saying that its silly, juvenile, and not very good - I personally think it's a more mainstream opinion, and perhaps the folks haven't watched it all). I'm totally game for Tamra.

I have not seen Capital Scandal, in fact, all the DVDs I just bought (except for Tamra) were on super sale because they are older releases, and I picked the ones I've been wanting to see, have heard good things about (so I feel good about spending the money), and will hopefully be able to recommend and share with my family and friends.

I'll post updates as I watch them. ;-) Sorry for not texting back, I'm still learning the Iphone keyboard and I'm much more comfortable typing on a real as opposed to virtual keyboard, and now I'm checking OT between cooking and watching the kids pedal around the backyard basketball court.

BTW, I can't edit my last comment for some reason - oh well, my apologies for posting twice in a row - but in response to the choice between SI/BL and C&A - I cast my vote for Shining Inheritance. It's a good drama. Cain & Abel gave me a headache after 2 episodes and deciding to ditch it instantly made my headache go away. I consider C&A and EoE to be the disasters of biblical proportions.....(slight exaggeration, of course).

Also, VM fans, I just re-watched the last 4 episodes of VM Season 1 - sooooooooo good, I mean, wow, the awesome of it doesn't go away just because you know what to expect.

@ 215 samsooki

"why are ppl having issue with Kim Jae Won?

1. He’s good looking.
2. He’s reserved and looks polite
3. He’e probably a nice guy that you’d love to bring home to show mama…"

Well,

1. He's kind of smug looking.
2. He's kind of boring looking.
3. He seems to play kind of smug boring guys.

And his hair's too fluffy. You'd take him home to introduce to your mother and he'd end up on little in-law dates with her going to buy bricks and making little patios in the backyard... nice, but it's hard to imagine anything terribly passionate happening.

But Kim RAE Won and Gong Yoo? The way you described Jang Na Ra earlier: they're the male version... a little naughty, a little lazy, killer smiles, sassy, bold when necessary and when not, and a helluva lot of fun.

@ 213 Belleza...

Wow. You saw Echo and the Bunnymen! It sounds like an amazing concert... Now I've got Life in a Northern Town in my head. I loved that song. Never kept up with their later stuff, but now I'm going to have to check it out. Thanks.

@ xiahkixiri
did u watch the eng subbed clip of show and rainie on yu le bai fen bai? they were saying how for once, they couldnt help but tear up during some scenes, even when the director specifically told them not to. i suppose that's how angsty and sad the drama gets lol. the bts special just aired today! imma head over to youtube right after i finish my homework to watch it hahaha. and also, u should watch black and white, b/c i just started last week and its already got me hooked. its really good!

@ Kgrl
watch the clip im referring to (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2fLdwjqte8), and at around 2:50, u see show prodding alien about their "intimacy," and alien's reaction is just priceless!

@219 langdon813

I know exactly what you mean... I'm feeling like there's no life in me Friday through Tuesday.... I just wait and wait and wait....

Anyway, somewhere above, you have commented about the ending of the Ep4. of Iris: something like you've screamed or??? I ended up with my own loud scream at my computer screen.... What? Why? No way! Arrggghhh!!! I might stick with YB only from now on. Iris might be way too stressful for me. How can you function in your daily life when you are put on hold for a whole week(especially when it's traumatic)?

@ 213 Belleza

Oh... They were popular in my college days... never got to see them live... Must have been fantastic.

217 ockoala

Is that the one with Matsujun? It sounds like something I must have seen.

@222 reluctantbutaddicted -

Well,

But Kim RAE Won and Gong Yoo? The way you described Jang Na Ra earlier: they’re the male version… a little naughty, a little lazy, killer smiles, sassy, bold when necessary and when not, and a helluva lot of fun.

Hrrrrmmmm....

I sort of get what you are saying, but not quite really. See, guys and girls are different.

I see Jang Nara, and I see someone that could play nice with mo-in-law, and so I wouldn't be worried. Ha Ji Won... on the other hand... well, my head would explode.

Wouldn't most peepz consider Kim Jae Won to be THE guy you want to bring home to meet your parents? So, my thinking goes, then wouldn't that be the guy that you would also like in dramas?

I just logged into Dramafever and saw that CITY HALL is on their list of upcoming dramas! Rocking good news!

@225, celestialorigin

I yelled HOLY - - - -!!! at the end of Ep 4 of IRIS, yes indeed...and bit my nails and clawed my face and pulled my hair all the way up to that point. Too much self abuse goes into watching these things sometimes (I was black and blue during Story Of A Man and Black & White). The actors and crew think they suffer for their art? Well, so do I. ;-)

But then something like You're Beautiful comes along and makes everything all better. Even though TK kissed a skank-ho, I'm not letting that kill my buzz.

@225, samsooki

Um...not so much. It's like that other Ji-hoon says sometimes:

"Gotta be a Bad Boy"

Unless it's Shin-woo, of course...but I think he has the potential to be a bad boy. Or maybe that's just wishful thinking on my part.

@ cingdoc

I'm a fluent Chinese speaker, so I actually mostly prefer and do watch my dramas in Chinese subs, and the Chinese DVDs almost always have good/pretty good subs.

But sometimes for the fun of it, or when hubby asks what I am watching, I will switch the subs over the English and then just start cracking up at the unintelligible chinkonglish coming out of the screen. So yes, the English subs on the Chinese DVD sets are beyond atrocious and one should never attempt to buy one of those and expect to understand what the heck is going on. (unless you are watching Temptation of Wife, at which point, you can turn off the audio and the subs and still understand what is going on - revenge, betrayal, jealousy, crazy skank ho steal your husband - sometimes actions speak much louder than words).

And yes, LA18 is showing Shining Inheritance on weekends - it's a nice drama, if you don't compare to the greats we've seen this year (SOAM, City Hall, now YB and even IRIS).

LA18 is also showing On Air on Fridays, which I just discovered - I've read how many revered k-drama bloggers detest that drama, but, I just can't help it, I'll probably ending up watching it because it was by the CH writer.

@ Samsooki

Gotta back up langdon here - we may want to/will bring a Kim Jae Won home to meet the family, and even marry him happily and willingly, but we secretly/not so-secretly are attracted to be "bad boys" or even the "not so bad, but screwed up boys." Wholesome boys like KJW are like plain white toast, nothing to angst about, but we do need our plain white toast every morning.

I think the earlier discussion between myself, mishane, and the rest of the Veronica Mars, Buffy lovers should give you an inkling that we ship the bad boys of these shows mightly hard, even though we know its not good for our heroine. But that's why it's just drama, right?

So for my drama choice - I'd choose the Kim Rae Won/Binnies/Gong Yoo's over the Kim Jae Wons anyday.

@228 cingdoc

Awww! You are the first person mentioning "1% of Anything: Kang Dong Won". It's my favorite as well!!! No amnesia, no triangle relationship, no incurable disease, no super rich guy falling in love with super poor girl and the other way around(sort of, not really), no terminal illness, no 3 months to live, no nothing, no typical K-drama cliches. I loved that drama so much and watched it over and over and over... till one day, I'd finally moved on...

@227 langdon813

I know, I've already watched YB. Ep6 6times and am thinking of watching it for the 7th time instead of HD raw version of Tokyo dogs right now for my post- London trip relaxation hours(which is, by the way, really really fun for sure and I mean it and is highly recommended and do have pretty decent sub-titles already, Hum, talking about run-on sentences). Yep, that's what it's gonna be Mizushima hiro can wait.

hmmm...

reading the female response to kim jae won reminds me of what a korean friend of mine told me about female korean foreign students in the US.

they have their fun with the 'bad' boys here and then go back home to korea to marry one of the plain guys who'd be able to support them financially.

@230 ockoala

So yes, the English subs on the Chinese DVD sets are beyond atrocious and one should never attempt to buy one of those and expect to understand what the heck is going on.

Yes, I've been there. Especially last 2 episodes or so are the worst since the most of the first till the mid to the almost end part do used ripped subbs from some fan subbing groups, and very high quality(I didn't know any of those thing when I started buying them in Chi-town in Sydney 3 years ago, I wouldn't buy them now since I see my subbs on My soju and so on, it feels a bit strange really to see it somewhere else). Anyway, what was so frustrating and funny is that sometimes the entire episode can become totally uncomprehensible, sometimes, they just lists names off all the countries/major cities of the world: like Korea,Columbia, Mexico and whatever... It used to make me so mad and yet, couldn't help laughing out loud...

@ 225 Samsooki,

Yep, I'm with langdon813 and ockoala... I watch the k-dramas for the guys I'm not going to get to play with, sadly, to think about how wild the ride would be if I did get to. If you see what I mean... Very rarely does the nice boy truly capture my imagination. The guy from Hello! Miss with the fabulous lips (who was the 2nd guy in Wonderful Life), is one such example. But frankly, I'd rather hang out with Kim Rae Won 'cause he just seems much more fun... and 'cause when his (or Gong Yoo's) heart is captured by the female lead it is well and truly captured, and it's so exciting to watch that transformation as the bad boys get some personal growth experiences...

234 cingdoc

I know, I know... There are good dramas, fun dramas, cute dramas(1% belongs here), excellent dramas, great dramas, and totally and absolutely fabulous dramas like YB, Iris, CH and B&W. Tokyo dogs can be coming somewhere up there, may be. BTW, right now, I'm pathetically back at watching YB... I have turned into a total addict...

Ohh! I love cats.
I'm wiating to have two cats too, maybe next week!

@ 235 reluctantbutaddicted

Lee Ji Hoon is the the actor/singer who was the second male lead in Wonderful Life (BTW: he was dating Eugene at the time), and the lead in Hello Miss. I've only seen him in supporting roles since Hello Miss. The dramas that he has been the lead in, like "Billie Jean Look at Me," aren't available with Eng subs).

I listen to him almost every day. His albumn Trinity is one of my favorites.

@ 238 -- thanks, that's him! I was so glad when he got the lead role in Hello Miss b/c I thought he deserved to get the girl in Wonderful Life (I thought KJW did not deserve her at all, and I wasn't happy when they ended up together).

Here's the IRIS extended love scene:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94IPptk5uf8

Just saw that Deena posted another link to it in the most recent IRIS thread! Thanks!! I don't really know why it was cut either. I was expecting clothes to fly off, or something.

But it's very nice. :-D

@annieee: Lols, yes, I saw the BTS special and the Entertainment 100% interview with Alien's reactions. Seriously, Show loves teasing him. hahaha...

I always check out at least the 1st ep of a drama before forming my opinions - but due to my mood for comedy these days, I'll probably watch "Hi, My Sweetheart." Plus I think Rainie and Show's chemistry is going to be great, and I'm all about chemistry. lols. Have you checked out Autumn Concerto? It seems very popular, but pretty melodramatic. B&W really spoiled me for other Taiwan melodramas - comedies I can possibly watch - but haven't been able to retain interest in anything mediocre, unless the acting chemistry is superb. Hahaha, me and my chemistry. But I guess that's why I watch live people enact a story, or I would've just read it (or as my brother is fond of saying, animed-it). lols.

@langdon: Oh, don't tempt me like that. I'm learning my lesson right now (again) to not watch a good show while it's broadcasting. Please have mercy on me. lols.

LOL Kgrl!

I feel your pain, I really do. And yet I'm powerless to stop and wait until they're complete. :-(

Speaking of Autumn Concerto, I watched some of it last night while I was drama-shopping and was surprisingly impressed with Vanness Wu. His acting seems to have improved, plus he's one of those guys that gets better looking as they get older. He is a lot more attractive to me now at 31 than he was back in the days of Meteor Garden. Right now he's playing a 22-year old, but he LOOKS 30-ish, and that's not a bad thing.

Anyway, I'm going to continue to watch it for now, even though it is pretty melodramatic and kind of similar story-wise to MARS. I mean, overly so in certain aspects.

I'm checking out Shining Inheritance tonight (or this afternoon if I can get away with it). I think Han Hyo-joo is so adorable. I've been watching Soul Special and she is really cute in that.

Ha! Langdon, we're so incorrigible! I've always believed in giving 2nd chances, so I'll probably check out the 1st ep of Autumn Concerto if only to see Vanness's acting improvements.

Ah, Brilliant Legacy. *sigh* After months, I'm still tormenting myself over this show. I did watch 1 1/2 eps of this drama when it first aired and was not impressed. I remember being particularly interested in manipulative mom and unsettled daughter b/c of the protrayals, but it wasn't enough for me to go through some very cliched first eps. So I dropped it. Then came the enamored cries of the brilliance of the show, the media/netizen talk, etc. and even friends who suggested watching it - so I've been debating if my, usually very accurate, first impressions of whether I would love a show, was indeed incorrect.

Now, after discovering Moon Chae Won (having watching MFL & then POTW) and BL being out on DramaFever, I should have more incentive to watch it. But I'm still...eh. Regarding HHJ, I've only seen her in Iljimae, which she did a mediocre job, so I haven't formed much of an opinion about her. LSG seems very adorable in real life - the type everyone finds endearing, but I'm not sure about his acting. lols, at this point I'm more assured of the 2nd leads' acting ability and chemistry than I am with the lead couple in BL. And I'm not interested in getting SLCS, thank you very much. I'm very happy with YB and SY's lead pairing's chemistry rt now and don't want to risk my beautiful, smiley mood. Hahaha...Even my new found love for MCW isn't enough to propel me to board the BL ship...yet.

I really think I have underdog tendencies, I usually end up liking dramas or pairings that most people don't pay attention to or don't like, then end up kicking myself for cheering on a couple or drama that does not progress fruitfully.

Darn, so wordy and lack logically train of thought. Going to LA in a couple of days! AH! Can't wait!

@ Kgrl

no, i havent watched autumn's concerto, because ive never been a fan of melodramas or tw dramas in general xp. i hate getting teary-eyed and getting my heart practically torn out. i'd rather watch smth where i can get a good laugh, cause life is pretty nasty as it is hahaha. im watching black and white right now. the drama really puts other tw dramas to shame actually, cause u can tell there's alot more effort put into the production and storyline than ur typical romance-heavy idol drama.
i've been thinking what i should watch after black and white. i figured i might as well continue with the dark, thriller-ish streak and try story of a man? everyone's been raving about it. or maybe friend, our legend? suggestions anyone?

@annieee: Hahaha, I used to be the same, very un-opened-minded when it came to shallow, superficial, over-the-top things. Even now it's hard to shake some of the foundations of my youth. But I like to say I'm much better now - funny, am I aging mentally backward? Ha!

If you want dark thrillers, and all released, I would try MARS, with Da S and Vic Zhou. The story isn't as grandoise as B&W, but the characters and acting chemistry was great. And I love the theme song sang by Rock-R&B singer Alan.

Here's another one with darker, more complex storylines - liked the lead pairing (the female lead has great eye expression & plays the duality of the character well), acting chemistry, and guesswork. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lv4u6ZaYy0

Also try this mega-hit that was amazingly well-casted and produced - I've grown partial to this director's works: http://www.youtube.com/user/juliaKgrl#p/c/275D56136CD20B21/169/GWO6_q3Lxg8

You may go to the video's original uploader for vids of the whole series, or click on my ID name to get directed to my YT page.

@annieee: Hahaha, I used to be the same, very un-opened-minded when it came to shallow, superficial, over-the-top things. Even now it's hard to shake some of the foundations of my youth. But I like to say I'm much better now - funny, am I aging mentally backward? Ha!

If you want dark thrillers, and all released, I would try MARS, with Da S and Vic Zhou. The story isn't as grandoise as B&W, but the characters and acting chemistry was great. And I love the theme song sang by Rock-R&B singer Alan.

Here's another one with darker, more complex storylines - liked the lead pairing (the female lead has great eye expression & plays the duality of the character well), acting chemistry, and guesswork. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Lv4u6ZaYy0

You may go to the video's original uploader for vids of the whole series, or click on my ID name to get directed to my YT page for additional drama recommendations.

@ Kgirl

For those who extol the brilliance of Brilliant Legacy, I'm hardpressed to find out exactly what is so "brilliant" about it? The acting - okay, uneven in places (I'm a-talking to you, Hwannie), but not terrible and definitely never distracting. The plot - as cliche-ridden as anything from the old-school days, but fresher and peppier in tone and pacing, so I'm aight with it. The dialogue - oy vey, so simple and straightforward, but propels the plot briskly. The eye candy - four very attractive young'uns fo-sho. And on and on, BL is a very good drama - it's entertaining and easy to watch, but also like cotton candy, easy to digest and forget you ever ate it.

I can always recommend BL, cuz I don't think once the plot gets rolling fast and furious, anyone who enjoys a good cinderalla k-drama will not like it, but I always found the "brilliant" accolades used very loosely. I think if you watch a few more episodes, you'll like it. However, with so many great dramas on now (IRIS, YB), and forthcoming (Hero, Chuno, etc.), I wouldn't spend my free time catching up on BL. I think a BL marathon is perfect when you've got a free weekend and the pond is rather dry. Just my 2 cents.

@ langdon-unni

I watched 4 episodes of Capital Scandal last night, WITH hubby. The English subs on my DVD set were amazing! Hubby doesn't understand the Kang Ji-Hwan love yet, but he enjoyed watching it with me.

So far, so good, on CS. I'm not ready to say anything more, I think CS is shaping up to be a drama that doesn't stand alone from episode to episode, but will need a viewer to watch the entire story from beginning to end to generate a meaningful review.

I have already an inkling of what I'm gonna feel about the story, the characterization of the four leads, their chemistry with each other (romantic and friendship wise), and the general feel of the drama......

@246, annieee

I could fill this thread with another 200 posts about Story of a Man, I loved it that much. And JB's recaps are so fantastic for this series, they make it even better. Seriously, go watch it right now! I'll be right here waiting to see what you think. :-D