Can I wish its Wednesday instead of Friday? How will I wait for ep 11 and 12 of YB?

I am very happy that i just made 1 of my friend become a YAB addict. :D
the problem is the torture of waiting for episode 11 and 12 of YAB...

Thursday is the new Friday (watch YAB! read YAB!). Like the above commenters, how am i going to survive till the next Thursday comes?

I brought this up late in last week's Open Thread, but I wanted to give all y'all a last minute shot at this: http://iamkoream.com/the-koream-drama-fo-yo-mama-contest/

The deadline is this Sunday. You don't have to be kor-american, all you have to be is someone who loves Korean dramas!

What this is: a contest to film and upload onto youtube, your very own 3 min k-drama scene. Must be in English, must be your own content. Post on youtube- submit your entry by uploading a video response to this vid: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0L5xMXcN-M

The top 10 videos will be posted, then three finalists (two that receive that the most votes and one that editors pick) will win two tickets to KoreAm’s exclusive celebrity-studded gala “Unforgettable” in Los Angeles. One winner will take home a round-trip ticket to Korea from Asiana Airlines and a Verizon Wireless phone.

(I am guessing we'll see at least a half-dozen parodies of You're Beautiful... hehe)

Hey y'all, Happy OT Friday! Hope everyone's had a great week and has lots to talk about today. What's everyone watching, besides the obvious? :-D

I'm watching YB, Friend, Our Legend and Autumn Concerto. At hjkomo's recommendation, I think I'm going to tackle Eight Days this weekend, followed by Conspiracy in the Court.

I'm leaving dreamworld tomorrow (shocking, I know) and going out to lunch with my sisters then doing some Christmas shopping. Surely I can survive 5-6 hours away from my laptop, right? Yeah...I have my doubts too. ;-)

Patiently waiting for ockoala to come on with her Most Excellent Gossip....

whatintheactualfff? Lee Da Hae and Kang Ji Hwan went to Thailand together??? WHAT?

I can hear all the MINE MINE MINE everywhere.

I need more YAB in my life. :(

I just realized that sometimes 4 days can seem like 4 years:-)The weekend is almost half over in my part of the world.Just another lazy weekend.Realised that watching YAB can have a detrimental effect on real life cause it raises expectations of qualities in a 'perfect' guy to nearly impossible to achieve proportions.:-) Oh well one can always hope;-)Hope to catch up on the movie 'The Itaewon Murder Case' if I find it with subs somewhere.

Happy Friday ppl:-)

And JB -Nice lazy song to end a lazy weekend:-)Feel like curling up on a couch with a book:-)

Autumn's Concerto <3

Happy Friday everyone!!! This week had actually kind of flown by. Weird. But it's actually been pretty enjoyable. YB eps 9 and 10 were just amazing. I cannot wait for Heyi to get her due haha. Plus with the release of two 2PM songs, Big Bang's Hallelujah and Koe Wo Kikasete, it's just been a good week musically for me ha.

Can't wait to just relax and rewatch YB and catch up on IRIS. I also gotta pick MNIKSS up again.

Oh, has anyone watched Samurai High with Miura Haruma? I like him so I was thinking about it, but don't know if it's any good.

It's Friday I'm in love!

I had this song in my head since yesterday...after having my dose of YAB!
I too have been stuck to my laptop, and to alleviate the anticipation, I have been watching anime (being an ajummah, I have not watched animes since my younger days, but I feel young again thanks to YAB). I don't know why I don't remember hearing about Miazaki's Howl's Moving Castle, but I just watched it this week, and it was great! Also watched a series called Haku Shaku to Yousei, which was cute. And this weekend Smile You will be airing, so, waiting for YAB is not too agonizing!
Happy Weekend!

oh another Autumn's Concerto fan! I love that drama so much! even though it's built on cliches... Ady is just so amazing in it!

I completely forgot it was Friday today! It's been such a short week., :)
The first snow came yesterday, it snowed for a whole day and the ground got covered in white snow, perfect to make snowballs from. Oh how I love winter!

I sent away my YAB fan photo today. It was really silly, but I did not have more time to think of something more creative *ashamed* Did anyone of you send photos?

@langdon813 Right now I'm watching, apart from the obvious YAB & IRIS, Assorted Gems, Otomen (JDrama), Swallow the Sun and TBD&W. I was going to finish Hon, but horror is right only in summer, on darker evenings it's too scary xP

Have a happy Friday everyone! <3

Happy Friday :D Javabeans...you are one amazing dudette. Seriously...I've been reading since the Coffee Prince days and am so addicted to reading your witty, intellectual and insightful writing. You already know this, but I just wanted to put it out there ;)

The weather around the Seattle area is awful. It was pouring buckets yesterday and will probably continue this waterfall fest until next week.

Happy Weekend, everyone!

It's all your fault DB, I normally have a rule to not start any drama till the entire show is done. Unfortunately, I broke that rule this week and started YAB. : (
AHH the torture of waiting for the next episode is excruciating!!

Happy Friday everyone! This week's been rough, so I'm glad it's almost time for the weekend.

@langdon813
Yay! for starting Conspiracy! Please let us know what you think! 8 Days is also on my list to watch, maybe over winter break. I've been debating on whether I should do an independent study course in the History department just to write a paper on the depiction of Emperor Jeongju in recent kdramas versus how he really is depicted in history. That would give me the excuse to watch 8 days and I think Painter in the Wind as well. Watching dramas for a class would be fun (:

I'm watching YAB of course and then Smile, You (though I do fast-forward through the parents' parts). I watched the first two episode of Tokyo Dogs, and it was interesting. I was expecting a melodrama, but it's much lighter than I thought. Stylistically it took a bit getting used to in the first episode, but now I kind of like the setup. But wow...Oguri Shun...the best way to say it is "When did he become so manly?" When he does act well, he does such a great job. I love the quirkiness of his character. But I'll probably wait to continue after it's somewhat finished. YAB is keeping me busy enough right now! I think I have replayed the ending just to hear the line TK shouts in the dark and look b/t TK and MN. PSH and JGS are awesome as GMN and HTK!

@5, samsooki

How much fun would that be to do, seriously? I'm too anal to come up with something in such a short amount of time but if they made this an annual thing...look out! Many of my friends are big in our local theater scene so I bet they would get a huge kick out of helping me with this.

@7, ajay

What the hey? Details please!

Forgot to mention the song, great choice JB!

All ye patient bosom drama buddies of mine, I have come bearing ridiculous news:

Accordinging to the World Journal, quoting Japan's Newsen Sports News (don't ask me why it's this source): On December 17, 2009, Lee Byung-hun, Jang Dong-gun, Song Seung-hun, and Won Bin will be performing 2 back-to-back concerts at the Tokyo Dome. Performances include showing a short film by the director of April Snow, and the guys will sing, act in short plays/monologues, and participate in interviews.

According to the news, apparently these 4 are good friends, and have discussed doing something like this before (see my mock discussion below), and now they've set a date.

LBH: Yo, little bros of mine, how's it going these days? I'm sure all of you ran out and watched the first showing of G.I. Joe in Korea. I'll be more than happy to give you English lessons so you, too, can be cast in a major Hollywood blockbuster and have half your face covered the entire time.

JDG: Eh, no thanks, hyung, I'm about to star as the President of Korea, I think I'm set. Plus, pecs and ninja swords aren't exactly my thing. You may want to extend your offer to Rain?

SSH: Rain's got some ninja movie coming out soon, he's got one foot in the door already. I hear that they are casting for Kato, I wouldn't mind lessons, I heard that Kwan Sang-woo was in the running.....oh, it's been cast already with a Taiwanese idol, next time then. I've worked on my pecs for EoE and it's ready for prime time.

WB: Sigh, I'm so bored, UNICEF work is only a few times a year, not much going on now that I've wrapped Mother. Oh, but I am working on growing a kick-ass mane of hair.

LBH: Well, my return to TV vehicle IRIS is airing soon, and once it wraps, I'm looking for something cool to do.

JDG: Yeah, me, too, maybe something in Japan, my GF would love to go with me.

SSH: I hope the obasans have not forgotten about me, EoE is not exactly Japanese obasan catnip, plus, that Kim Bum may steal my thunder over there.

WB: Yawn, I'm up for whatever.....

LBH: Hey, how about we 4 getoegther and put on a concert/performance in Tokyo? We can get really drunk beforehand, the performance will be a hoot, and we'll make off like rich bandits. It's easier than opening up a series of men's boutiques like Jung Woo-sung and Lee Jung-jae did. Oh, and don't tell JWS and LJJ about this, okay. I'm still kinda miffed that JWS stole a bit of my thunder in TGTBTW with his annihilate the entire Japanese on horseback with a rifle sequence. Formerly my #1 fan ockoala is now completely obsessed with JWS. Speaking of which, I'm going to convince SYJ to make a Moment to Remember 2: She Remembers!, with me as her memory therapist. Good plot, huh?

JDG, SSH, WB: Okay, hyung, we're in! Don't forget to bring the soju and a Korean-Japanese dictionary.

The End.

P.S. Regardless of the veracity of this project, I'm tempted for sure, I mean, 4 Hallyu kings in one dome. If they replaced JDG with Jung Woo-sung, I'd be booking my ticket to Tokyo THIS VERY SECOND. Alas, some Japanese obasans are going to be very very happy Christmas is coming early for them.

@ockoala, or anyone else who knows:
Do the Hallyu kings know how to sing? Never heard any of them singing.

I'm starting to feel bad for Smile, You, and wonder if I should drop it until after YAB is done. Smile is a decently solid drama; the leads have great chemistry and it makes me laugh. It's cliched, and the older generation makes me cringe, but Smile is better than a number of dramas I've watched this year.

And yet, it's not getting the attention from me it deserves because of YAB, which has COMPLETELY taken over my brain. I'm so excited for Wednesday and Thursday that I can't be excited for Saturday and Sunday, if that makes any sense. I'm just too focused on getting through the weekend to enjoy weekend dramas.

@ giddygirl108

You're not enjoying the weather? :D I particularly loved being woken at 6:00 this morning by a HUGE thunder right above my house.

@ kaynn

Oh, LBH sings all right. But he'll only sing for the Japanese obasans ;-) Actually, LBH has released albums before.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P0V9-wZySmo

I've also seen videos of SSH singing, and I'm pretty sure JDG and WB can sing if they wanted to. They are kings of Korean cinema, they can do anything.

@19, ockoala

Interesting! If it were JWS I would go with you, rest assured, although you really had me at LBH and WB. I guess we can hope this will end up on YT at some point. That is a good pic of SSH (aka the Korean Cylon).

Look how many acronyms I used in this post! OMG! LOL!

:-D

Speaking of concerts, I'm so bummed that Rain is only coming to the US December 24 and 25th. I was really hoping he would come sometime next year, because then I might have a shot at seeing him. But Christmas? That sucks.

@ 11 - YABaddict

I also love Howl's Moving castle! Have you watched the Skip Beat anime? I think you'd really enjoy it if you're looking for something to pass time. It kind of reminds me of YaB, not in storyline but the aspects of BTS of dramaland.

You can watch it here: http://www.crunchyroll.com/library/Skip_Beat!

Hey peeps:

Help me out, this is kinda bothering me: Are you using the acronym YB or YAB when discussing You're Beautiful. I'm using YB (why? well, I refer to any drama by what JB refers to it, and she calls the drama You're Beatiful, not You Are Beautiful), but is YAB the majority choice? if so, I'll happily defer.

@ langdon-unni

I pulled the link to the article cuz it had a gazillion lines of web address, but yes, that is a mighty fine SSH chiseled robot there. As for going, man, we should go, if true, this is a collection of four men on one stage the likes of which we're probably never going to see again.

I forgot it was Friday when I came to this site and had refresh my screen and realized it is(my job is not 9-5 office type for those of you wondering how I can forget)... It's a bit scary what YB addiction can do to your brain.

@6 langdon813
I'm planning on watching Conspiracy in the Court as well just so that I can get away from my obsession with YB... Iris, I'd loved to watch but at this moment, all the episodes are sitting in my hard drive for subs to to come out and then, I must figure out how make it work to have subbs on... That's the minus part of watching K drama, I eeed sub titles for sure...

Otherwise, I'm watching Tokyodogs, Jin(The story follows a brain surgeon named, Minakata Jin, who falls into a "time slip" that sends him back to Edo during the Bakumatsu era, the period that spelled the end of the shoguns' rule over Japan. There, Jin ends up using his 21st-century medical expertise to help the people and so on). I wasn't planning on watching it but now I'm hooked. And all other weekly J-dramas when I'm not working...

I'm working on this coming Sunday, a trip to japan, planning on getting all the groceries there...

Autumn’s Concerto? is it a K drama? I should look for that as well, thank you.

Oh , and some people were talking about "Pig rabbit" on some other thread, I'd love to have one myself as a companion to my MINKISS pig... and I'm a total grown up... Who would have thought I'd be wishing for another stuffed fluffy thing at this late? in my life?

Anyway, JB, you are like a K drama angel! Thank you for providing this site for all of us to come to.

Have fun weekends everyone!

@YABaddict

I also love Howl's Moving castle! If you want another anime to watch check out Skip Beat. Reminds me of You're Beautiful in it's hilarity and behind the scenes aspects (except this deals with Dramaland) I think you'd enjoy it alot.

Happy Friday, everyone!

I'm just ecstatic coz Kim Myung Min won the Best Lead Actor at the Daejong Awards!

It's actually his first major award in the film industry: http://mmi.myungmininternational.com/node/499

And his first for the very challenging role in Closer to Heaven:
http://mmi.myungmininternational.com/node/498

He totally deserves it! Yay!

For the first time, he also received the Netizen's Choice/Popularity Award :D
Thanks to the Korean fans! Yohoo!

And contrary to rumors, KMM is not confined in the hospital. In fact he's recuperating overseas...with his family :)

OK, given the plentitude of k-drama, k-pop culture allusions in YAB... here's what I'd like to see:

Outside the auditorium, TK yanks MN away from SW and spirits her off in the car, parks by the river (by the lit-up bridge where everyone seems to go, presumably), and reminds her that since he agreed to take responsibility for her, he makes the decisions about what's best for every little bit of her. She looks both exhausted and apprehensive. Then he suggests she have a little nap and lowers the seat back for her. Her self-protective gesture amuses him and he asks if she's disappointed. She's confused, and says, haltingly, "This is how I sleep. I'm a girl, so I sleep prettily like this." He laughs and reminds her they've been sharing a room and he knows full well what a mess she looks like when she sleeps. She asks if he's making fun of her because she made a mistake trying to be honest, is he really going to be so petty? If that's the problem, okay, she will take the blame, "You can be scold me if you want, I deserve it for all the problems I cause for you." But TK laughs (well, maybe smirks) and she asks him why. "I can't scold you when you're a girl, you're too cute".

Then leans over her and says "Does a cross-dressing former novice nun slap a man if he kisses her?" Darts in for a little peck on the lips, and retreats. She's stunned. TK proffers his cheek for a slap... which doesn't come. "Not enough to get slapped? ... Now I'm going to do something that could get me slapped."

I think we all know what happens next.

Would be a nice touch, eh?

@ gallivanter - HAHA ya it's sad when i'm more excited about Wed and Thurs than i am about my beloved weekends. I can't even say 'oh i'll just wait till my weekend to watch' because i CAN'T. literally the second i get home i am watching YB raw. it has literally taken over my life midweek he he

@14 giddygirl108 - i need some rain. well, socal needs some rain. i actually REALLY miss it!! i just feel that the world is cleaner after a good storm :) i'll even put up with driving with crappy drivers who don't know how to drive in the rain if only we could get more than a sprinkle out of the clouds that float around above us. My perfect weekend would include a nice steady rain throughout while i'm curled up in bed watching dramas on my laptop and some peppermint hot chocolate from Roger's Gardens.. i love winter :)

@10lovenyc52, I've watched the first 3 episodes of Samurai High... was ok, but not compulsive watching like Orthros No Inu in the summer, the autumn jdoramas don't seem to have anything captivating on offer. Might try Tokyo Dogs, but not really into that cop thingey.

I'm looking for something to watch which waiting for YB and I'm trying to choose between the below (am also watching Buzzer Beat now), would be great if I could get recommendations!

1) City Hall
2) Slingshot/Story of a Man
3) Tamra Island
4) Hong Gil Dong (only for JGS) *blush*

Any thoughts?

@ockoala
I used YB, because dramabeans and withs2 used You're Beautiful, but then it looked like the majority is using YAB, so I changed to YAB because I take no initiative and I like to follow the crowd. XD Be unique and use YB! :)

@ 27 reluctantbutaddicted

I LOVE YOU! Best fan prediction for the continuation of YB episode 10 ever!!! And also, City Hall ended up being mention in the YB episode 10 recaps comment section (I didn't start it, but heck, once it's been thrown out there, it's fair game).

@ Fran - it depends on your mood, what do you feel like these days?

1) City Hall - my vote (but I'm a Haller so admittedly biased) - has the most mature and complete love story and best (happiest feeling) ending ever.
2) Slingshot/Story of a Man - did not watch, but must be a billion percent awesome cuz JB loves it - probably not a feel happy drama, but dark and twisty.
3) Tamra Island - I just finished this week, and it's great! So cute, sweet. But the drama was cut from 20 to 16 eps, and I'm bitter and it shows. if you can wait, wait for the Director's Cut to be released with all 20 eps, I'm going to re-watch then, it's that good.
4) Hong Gil Dong (only for JGS) *blush* - my second vote - love HGD, awesome acting by KJH, story is good, but I make no assertions about the ending.

Is currently crazy with Chinese Paladin. Just finished Chinese Paladin III today. Now moving on to Chinese Paladin (I). Good thing Chinese Paladin III is actually the prequel to the original Chinese Paladin. So, more chronologically correct to watch the series backward. Oh, well.

@ kaynn, ockoala

LBH's Japanese Single was released last year. He also had a Korean song/album, 'Tears' released in 1999 for the fans before his military service. Likewise 'Someday' is also a treat for his fans.

Itsuka / Someday
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmSQNYi37mk

Enjoy! ^^

@langdon813

oh I just read it in soompi, Kang Ji Hwan and Lee Da Hae both took a rest stop to Phuket,Thailand. KJH was in Singapore and when he heard that LDH was in Thailand, he met up with her there. She was there with her friends and KJH wanted to meet her friends. Then they left together and were seen in the plane and stuff.

They (their agency) deny the rumors by saying, "they are just friends."

I think I would implode if they date.

Is there anyone in this sea of You are Beautiful and/or IRIS fans who are watching the Sat/Sun drama Assorted Gems???
I usually don't watch family dramas, but I think this one is cute. =)

@29, Fran

Dang, that's quite the list. And they're all so fantastic, how to choose? City Hall FOR SURE! I'd say watch that first; then Tamra, then SOAM, then HGD. If only to alternate between historical and present day dramas.

@24, celestialorigin

Autumn Concerto is a T-drama, starring a very nicely grown-up Vanness Wu (who is really doing a fantastic job, with crying and everything)! It's very cliched in some ways but overall enjoyable. As someone mentioned, the female lead is written as a fairly strong character which is nice.

@27, reluctantbutaddicted

HA! That just ain't right! Although I confess to being MORE than ready for TK to just break down and plant one on MN. I cannot wait to see how the Hong sisters make this happen.

Thanks rubie!
Am I the only one who thinks that the song itself was okay, but the background accompaniment was so out of pitch and totally random! :D I liked his voice though.

@Anonymous - I watch Assorted Gems too! :) I've only seen to ep 6 or something though. I have a crush on the grandma with the grey hair, she's great.

@29 Fran - I think after YB is done i will probably pick up Samurai High just for some Miura time. I also really need to get on Tokyo Dogs as I adore Oguri and Hiro as well. My friend loves Ohitorisama (because of Teppei, and who doesn't love that adorable lil kid) and as Big Bang's Koe Wo Kikasete is the theme song, i may watch it JUST to hear that through every episode lol. I only watched the first episode of Orthros No Inu but it looked intriguing and i may need to finish off that one as well. What I love about jdoramas is that they're so speedy. Usually 9-12 eps and it's done. I can marathon it in a weekend, no problem. As for one of your 4 choices, haaard decision. I've only watched CH and Tamra, both of which i completely loved. JB will no doubt recommend SOAM and there are some crazy HGD lovers out there as well. I think whichever one you choose, u can't go wrong :)

@27 reluctantbutaddicted - i literally LOLed at work as i read your prediction. what a way to combine 2 amazing dramas HAHA! that would be superb as one of their fantasy parodies and i think JGS and PSH could pull it off without a hitch. Thanks for my morning laugh!! <3

@ajay & djes
major vanness love here since meteor garden! <3
a big reason i'm also watching the series is to see vanness's interactions with his son. he'd make such a loving father.
he has a twitter? must go find!

VANESS HAS A TWITTER?!

(SEARCH. NOW)

I used to hate him in Meteor Garden but because of Autumn's Concerto..... heeeeee.

just don't wear suspenders again!

@ 29 Fran

I'd suggest waiting on watching Tamra because the first 10 episodes were lovely, but it all fell apart in the editing on the last six episodes. They're not bad by any means, but it's not at all the same quality. I kind of wish I had waiting until the dvd to finish the series, but oh well.

@ lovenyc52

"there are some crazy HGD lovers out there as well"

Hee hee, I think that should be a singular, it's just Samsooki. He's been known to suddenly burst into a soliloquay devoted to HGD in the middle of an OT. And I much appreciate it, he's very eloquent.

Actually, I think with JGS's YB turn, folks who love YB but have never seen JGS may be tempted to watch his earlier works, and I hope they pick up HGD, because it's my fave drama of the ones he's starred in (though not his personal best work from his earlier dramas - I liked his turn in Hwang Jini better - he admitted to totally crushing on Ha Ji-won while filming it with her, and it shows in his performance).

although i am obsessed with You're Beautiful and can't wait until next wed/thurs, at least we have Smile, You for the weekend.

I just finished the recent BBC version of Emma. I'm a fan of BBC period dramas (Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, North and South, etc) and was thinking, wouldn't it be awesome to have a Korean drama version of these? Sure, it might not be as appealing without the beautiful dresses and castles, but Korea has it's fair share of beautiful period costumes (Hwangjini was lovely) or maybe they can do what Clueless did...it's fun to dream, anyway.

With Smile, You I was struck with what a perfect "Emma" Lee Min Jung would make!!! Maybe a close second would be Kim Hyo Jin, who was just awesome in Happiness. In my dream project, Gong Hyo Jin would be Jane Eyre or Elinor (since she can pull off serious as well as tough roles), Kim Myung Min would be a very handsome version of the ugly Mr. Rochester. Kim Sung Soo or Song Seung Hun would be Willoughby. Go Soo or Lee Sun Gyun would be the tortured Edward. Elizabeth could be the spunky Ha Ji Won or Son Ye Jin and Mr. Darcy would be Hyun Bin or Seo Ji Sup.

I'm sure others could and have thought of even better actors, especially JB, with your awesome insight into korean dramas, but just thought I'd share since this casting game is so fun and it combines two of my loves (though, Korean dramas occupy a larger part of my heart)!

re: Vanness - haha.. everytime I read about him i just giggle. I remember watching him in the episodes of MG that i actually made it through and could not get past his long swingy hair. I saw him around Chinese New Year last year at South Coast in the OC when he had his fire engine red hair (i believe F4 had reunited for a concert tour or something). Not so inconspicuous with the bright red hair and burberry trench coat there. But even though I'm not a 'fan' persay, i did squee a little cuz he IS F4 after all haha.

I love HGD, it's just that whenever I try to talk about it, this weird phenomenon occurs whereby water springs forth from my eyes at a high rate of speed. Same thing with I'm Sorry, I Love You (MiSa). It's bizarre, really. Therefore I try to refrain from such discussions in order to protect my keyboard from any damage. ;-)

LOL at everyone running off to Twitter to find Vanness Wu (guilty)! I didn't find him, though.

@ 45 haezi

Eee, I just finished watching Emma too. As always, I'm very skeptical (and overprotective) of my Austen men, but I liked the guy who played Knightley here. I've often thought about Korean adaptations as well, and aside from lovely English novels, I'd love to see more screwball American comedies from the 40's and 50's. Many of them have the same slapstick humor, but they're also very "innocent" like dramas.

One of my favorites that has SO much potential for elaborating on the original, is The Philadelphia Story. A rich heiress's wedding is thrown into chaos when her ex-husband and a reporter show up at her house, and that's it. That's the plot in one sentence. The original film is brilliant, but it could easily be tweaked here and there to be made into something more substantial.

Maybe that's why I really liked Fantasy Couple (also by the Hong Sisters). I liked that it was based on something foreign, but made into (IMO) something very Korean.

See here's the thing.

It isn't often that you get the perfect storm of k-drama.

1. fun or interesting story
2. great main actors
3. plausible and thoughtful writing
4. non-intrusive directing
5. well paced editing
6. kick-ass and memorable soundtrack songs

If you get half of the above, you have a good drama. If you have most of the above, then you got yourself a great drama. If you get almost all of the above, then you got yourself an awesome / epic drama. If you get ALL of the above, you have a legendary drama.

It is #6 in the above-list that really makes a difference, turning a good drama into a great one, or a great one into epic drama, or an epic into a legendary.

HGD had that one great song, the song that can be on endless repeat.
MNIKSS had like 3 great and memorable songs, maybe 4.
City Hall had 2 great songs....

in fact, almost every kick-ass drama I can remember has at least one great song that is worth listening to, over and over...

@24 celestialorigin

You do your grocery shopping in Japan? Ooh *jealous*