So, Kwan Sang-woo and Director Lee Jae-han were at Stinkfoo for an APAC seminar and Korean studies sponsored gab session about the Korean War. (Bay Area folks who like beefy men, Kwan Sang-woo is in the vicinity! hehe).

I am more excited with the prospect, if I were still a student, and knowledgeable about K-movies, about meeting Director Lee. I would ask him: did the chemistry between My I Lub You and Son Ye-jin sizzle all over the set like it melted the screen in the movie we saw.

And why early on-set alzheimers? Of all the handy dandy diseases, you had to select something so wholly improbably? SIgh, I think AMTR rewatch is mandated tonight.

@ serendipity

Sorry, sorry, I forgot to answer your offer: if we do it together, let's lay down some ground rules. No more than 1 ep a day, we need to stay in sync so one of us doensn't start screaming before the other and freak the other person out so much they refuse to go near the DVD player for the next episode to come, and court-mandated therapy sessions at OT with langdon. hjkomo is back from her trip, lemme see if she wants to do it with us (she mentioned it was on her to-watch list). Again, 1 ep a day, at most, shouldn't be too taxing on our soul, right? Hyun Bin (I may never ever be able to refer to him a Binnie anymore, *sobs* so traumatic) may be descending into the pits of hell, but we can just watch from the rims.

DID ANYONE ELSE SEE THE EPICNESS THAT WAS CS EP 18?????

*SPOILER ALERT!*

omo omo omo!! finally! something to tell me tht the slowwww past few episodes were all worth it! all worth it i tell ya! the only thing i'm worried abt now is tht there's 2 more eps and they'll split EJ and KH apart again with something stupid like a disease or something. maybe EJ will not wanna b with KH coz HS will be sick of whatever. i really hope not coz tht would just be too much. TOO MUCH! let's have nice and happy EJ & KH now k, writers? Much appreciated.

*END OF SPOILER*

pretty sad it's ending this week. it was tiring to watch at some points but spectacular acting all round, and it did keep me coming back for more. here's hoping it ends well! :)

Hi everyone (again :P)

@Jay Park comments
YAY! He's coming back!!!
Tho I don't known anything of 2PM pre-Jaebeom-controversy, I know that it's never complete without Jaebeom-ssi. And how, he's a triple threat; he raps, dances, & sings!
(Tho I say that because I'm a JayKhun shipper, eck... *goes brain dead, help me babysnatcher*)

@siam (46)
sorry about that...and thanks...
Tho I get some French sayings from one of my favorite books "Cupid and the King", since the royal author (Princess Michael of Kent) seems to be a master, since there are no translations next to the sayings...

@Gigi
yeah, nursing is not the most easiest damn job in this planet, but yeah, I know your pain (somehow? *wink wink*)

@v (27)
YAB is so love! Can't wait for it to be shown here...
(I miss Ghian, s/he is the only one I share the YAB fever going on.. T.T ...and what with YouTube removing all YAB vids, so sad)
about DBSK... "since they are now separated…" JINJJA?!

Thanks for the praise on the Philippine entertainment industry...it really has world-class actors!
(haha, too patriotic, but so true...)

@babysnatcher (45)
(before mind processing, I totally forgot what "fujoshi" meant, but now remembered after remembering that I read the wiki article on "fanfiction" & slashing)
Hi there, fellow fujoshi...
hekhek...yeah, about that, I'm still making (read: conceptualizing) a Korean fanfic and boy, it's so effing hard...

@ockoala (57)
miss Kim Seon-ah...why did she have to drop "Legend" like that? 왜~?!!!!
...and miss Mi-rae making references to MNIKSS references in episode forgot...it was so funny

@lovenyc52 (71)
SoEul-mates are LOVELOVELOVE!!! I miss them...
I'd like her to be in a drama with both Sam-shik-a & Gook-ie (and Soo-in, who's way too cute to be left for his own good)...voila, fan heaven *drooling*

wait, for the record...

"I’d like her to be in a drama with both Sam-shik-a & Gook-ie (and Soo-in, who’s way too cute to be left for his own good)…voila, fan heaven *drooling*" <- I'm referring to my prev. comment for ockoala (about KSA)....

sorry about that...

@Ri
ep18 just made me abuse 'OMG' to the extent I'm very sick of my inner screeching fangirl voice.

@WW, o lets shake hands. Thank you for letting me know I'm not all alone in my crazy! lol I think only celestialorigin-sama is holding my hand and bracing for the impact come CU 19/20 *hug* Yes there are A LOT of loose threads w/ this writer, but I can turn a blind eye to forgotten plots or sidelined characters as oppose to her giving me excruciating, illogical dev. HS' illness is still present in 17, she doesnt care what she's eating, but it's not mentioned in 18 at all, maybe she's letting go and thus 'healed'?! it's all psychological to begin w/ instead of the Kmelo token CANCER (thank you, writershi) but yes Dong Soo has vanished for 2 eps now, he's weirding me out w/ all his scenes, but I do think he'll have some plotty role to play in the final round of the makgulli war.

Counting down to The Worldcup, shame that Sweden didn't qualify .

I'm enjoying Sunao ni narenakute, has a kdrama feel to it. Highly recommended.

Currently watching last year drama 'Swallow the Sun". It was a big budget drama but I find myself annoy with the music in some parts and they put too much money in some unreasonable scenes.....of course some scenes are spectacular...it is entertaining but a bit disappointed with Sang Yuri acting though.

Switch to J-drama this week for a change, I find this new drama of Kimura Takuya
"Tsuki no Koibito (月の恋人　~ Moon Lovers~)" very enteraining. Just two eps and I'm totally hooked. They bring in the Chinese actress to be the leading lady, it 's kinds of soften and blending in the whole feeling of Jdrama. The music and editing are great. The actors' dynamics are brilliant, didn't catch it that often in Jdrama. Nice piece here. Hope I can mention these, since it is an OT anyway. ^__^

@mookie
think i've watched the last scene fr ep 18 about 20 times. just can't escape that not-so-inner fangirl! ;)

^ o gah... I'm even more of a goner...I rewatched the bts as many times... *sigh*

*CU18 METAspoilers/ramblings/fangirling*

<3 how we started the ep w/ EJ emotionally ready to go crazy (in love) just like KH w/ his 'come hither', but still crippled to take that first step as much as she wanted to. KH's speech, can u be more vague/cryptic?! when he says he will tell her his last point till they meet again IF he's back... my heart drops to some deep doomed end (may not make it back?!)and EJ naturally throws her crazy at him. (EJ and I telepathically do a synchronized series of WTF )

We know EJ always records EVERY single word KH uttered to heart and more, her only slice of happiness may be looping his words all these years. But when she acts upon them, let her usual prickliness subsides and follows his instruction/life lessons to a tee meeting those elders we need to pet EJ! But even w/ the Day After Tmr prep fr KH and kept her cool w/ the betraying news, when she finds out everybody KNEW mom's a 2 timer, she crumbles....and desperately runs to her wounded animal healing cave for cover. I'm as pleasantly shocked to see our now prince charming KH there as EJ, I thought he's off somewhere and dueling KJ w/ real knives. Those elders are the ones who should be stabbed, esp that witch grandaunt questioning JS' parentage in the open. Manners! DECENCY! u r ELDERS/GRANNIES, act and speak accordingly. A reminder we're all honoring familial piety big time still, and y'all no diff than screwing your own offsprings!

I flail at the wine cellar scene! those tender caring piercing eyes and that finger swiping of her tears (x2!) while saying heartbreakingly 'y r u crying (when I told u I cant bear it)?' (awww, and how her tears r every drop his pain written all over PIE's face!), our EJ, saying to herself, she's the daughter of a witch and by default a witch, thus she deserves to be under his spell (yes dear and HOW we envy u, little witch!) and she's drawing blank as to what this gorgeous being in front of her is/ has done. And I would argue it's more like she was under a damn debilitating curse now lifted or else how can she NOT swoon at that potent tender lovestare of PIE! So, is KH her fairygodmother as well?! hmm... I wondered more when EJ said to herself she's ready to turn into a pot( pumpkin?) and just stay put and do nth, allowing him to take care of everything, of her. (hehe so those wine pots could turn into pumpkins and horses and take them to the moon and stars?! If they have faces, they will all be madly grinning in approval, witnessing this bittersweet angsty romance w/ the 'awww' face like that crew ahjusshi holding reflective boards @ hug BTS :) )
(and please tell me in the history of kdrama was there ever an actor that can utter that 'bad/naughty girl' as tenderly and dreamily as C!J!M!?... yup, nobody!)

THEN he's all hubby going off to fight some bloody honorable war and biding farewell to his beloved wifey. ' I'll have to go now and do my thing. I'm scared as well, EJ-ah, but even though I'm scared, I won't falter. I'll do my best.' and EJ is all 'u being scared is frightening me, (hubs)!' and shouts 'DONT GO!!!' How I hate(not) all that premonitory ethereal backlighting of KH and his angelic 'farewell, my love' smile! 'I'll be right back! Don't fret, just wait for me...wait for me.. for a short while... don't cry... *smile*' *my poor frail heart!*

(I <3 every sisterly working tog/bonding scenes! <3 I do know I say it every single time) I'm as lost as HS on HOW EJ figured the hotfailureKJ is buying up stocks to dissolve DS winery, AND EJ will then be working as Hong's yeast scientist!

I did lol at KH, he's like some sparkling model promoting a phone when he played back the convo he recorded when he forged KJ into admitting messing w/ the Hong numbers after he showed the evil clan the evidence. tbh I did roflmao at both dad and bro being all evil SMIZING to the extreme! when baddies ar soo aggravated (+ NEW doom bkgd music, theme of KJ: EPIC FAIL), they r setting themselves up for major shizz (kdrama law) (not snarking, it's very entertaining and it makes me beyond happy! :) )

I dont like new doom music rearing its head when EJ found the KH password protected email. I'm scared as well, KH! EJ! *angst a coming!* @#$^

Logically, I dunno y business brainstorming dev into HS spilling her heart and guts and sharing her treasure trove! ...but do I care?! nope, the letter AT LAST! (imo HS intended EJ to find the letter as they go thro the memorabilia, she didnt hand it to EJ because in her stance, weighing in everything, she's not at fault, she was unreasonably pained and hurt by EJ's cruelty and this was payback for that innocence the 18 yo HS had, but now she's ready to start anew..and let go of grudges) I actually prefer EJ reading the letter now... now that she's much more attuned to her love for KH and trying earnestly (quite successfully) to shed her old touch/love-me-not thorny self I'm not sure had she read the letter back then when she first found out there's such a thing + the subsequent shxt hits fan in ep16, will the letter be as 'healing' as this exact moment because now she's forgiving, and loosening up her tightly armored up self control, allowing the floodgate of emotions to invade her, invoking max impact and resolution. he said the same 'don't go anywhere, stay put..' as he did in winery, followed by 'SARANGHAE, EJ-ah' 'If you hold me back,' he said, '...I will stay. Before I board the train, hold me back, EJ-ah!' and off EJ goes to hold her KH back fr his current trainwreck. *puddle* replaying his words and responding to him line by line in her own love letter!!! *GAHHH*

I particularly love this last line of her responding VO, 'To him, there's no single person in this world that can hold him back, except that evil, unreasonable 18 yo girl. For me, the girl who, like a cuckoo bird, couldnt stop repeating her own name the way he uttered it...had no reason to cry at all!' so overwhelming was his pouring love, like the moonlight showering her in the scene, the confirmation of his love she thought was lost so long ago... is found, has always been kept/preserved/brewed here...there was never the need for all her tears afterall. Yet she cried her happy emotional tears. (and needless to say I <3333333 that!!!)

And can I jump to the ending 10 min like a lapping puppy on crack?! HOW I love it's the twiggy dysfunctional softened 'damsel' saving the prince!! SQUEE!! leverage is she'll spare hotfailureKJ the extra kidnap charge but she'll be handing the evidence to the police ANYWAY! (so cool! And she gave him a bonus of love confession...on KH of coz!)

And I teared up on the growth of EJ sigh she gets human now, following her Appa's footstep, doing the right thing, involving the authorities instead of narrow-mindedly pinned on saving DS winery as some simple salvation of her own guilt. She can let go of the winery, her baggage and have HOPE... w/ KH so that he doesnt have to ever live w/ the overwhelming guilt, debilitating him being true to her...she wants the chance to say one caring word to him. it's sappy but it WORKS. She can trust ppl, believe in love now, she has his all along.

and THE scene... man, C!J!M! u r a genius in suggesting they do it midway if what I read is true! The most deserving person for a hug is our KH, EJ was loved by DS, by HS and messily by KS, KH has NONE growing up, any love he got at DS winery, he has to sacrifice (out of his stupidity in part) but there's no turning back and he's been braving all that cruel obstacles by himself all these years, and crippled like he was in the middle of midday traffic, looking at his EJah, so close yet out of his reach... it's only when EJ opened up (window, then door, the symbolism!), and step out of her shell, braves her own storms (of traffic) that they can meet in the midst of all the ugly mess and give each other that hug. (yup, I cant stand how sappy and cheesy what I just wrote, haha :) )

@mookie

i'm watching the bts now! and i agree it's so much better and less cliched tht Ej met KH halfway. otherwise it would've been another one of those guy-pulls-girl-into-a-hug-while-her-hands-lay-limply-by-her-side -.-

@mookie sama

OMG! I'm reading your above post (still) in bed. I couldn't wait to finish so here I am writing. It's brilliant! Luv your analogy.

"I wondered more when EJ said to herself she's ready to turn into a pot( pumpkin?) and just stay put and do nth, allowing him to take care of everything, of her. (hehe so those wine pots could turn into pumpkins and horses and take them to the moon and stars?! If they have faces, they will all be madly grinning in approval, witnessing this bittersweet angsty romance w/ the 'awww' face like that crew ahjusshi holding reflective boards @ hug BTS :) )"

And just checked Viikii. Subs are ready!!! Today is going to be a wonderfully busy day for me. Thanks. Hugs!

I hope we'll be watching at least one drama in common after this one. It's so much fun to follow your post that way. Oh, so far pretty much everyone's doing BG. Good.

@janna
Hey! Hey! I never said I *hate* PJJ, just that he can't like... act and stuff. He's quite OK in Coffee House, as long as the scriptwriters continue to give him no lines, he'll be perfect.
And if he can take Seung-Young away from Jin-soo, so that the Eun-Yung & Jin-soo relationship can have ample space in which to fully blossom -- then I may even plonk PJJ amongst my favourites. Sigh, CH may just let me down in terms of OTP as PP did. I'm glad I'm not taking it too seriously and just enjoying it for the laughs. Ji Won is <3

How's your hand now? You do know that if it's a scald - since it was boiling water - and the skin isn't broken - you should cover it in a burn treatment gel and wrap it up in a bandage of sorts and keep it airtight? But I think that's if it's immediately happened. It's been a few days for you already, hasn't it?

@V
Where ARE YOUUU??
It seems you're up to date with Giant, we seriously need to discuss 6-7 if you've seen them?
Didn't you find the feel of it very WISFCy? All without the tragedy porn of course (since these guys already got it over and done with in 1 & 2 - albeit in a sombre Grave of the Fireflies fashion.)
And Min-woo, I would have loved, LOVED! Had it not been for the sole fact that he is so against my dear KM. I've seen KM embroiled in many fights, but the slap! The slap! KM (or rather Yeo Jin-gu) has such a delicate Song Joong-ki-like face and that bitchslap, I totally felt it. Not that it was Min-woo but even better it was Min-woo's pet dog: JY's stepbrother.
I may forget everything else, but will hold a grudge against Min-woo for this one slap.

I think the biggest message 6 and 7 relayed was that you may be able to survive on the rough, mean streets of a strange city but wait till you enrol in a school. School's a real bitch.

@WW I HATE CINDERELLA'S SISTER. I AM VERY TIRED OF HEARING THE NAME!!!I i listen to my sister talk about it from morning to night even when we are eating. I seriously don't understand you!! HS is pretty and adorable and nice. EunJo is pissy and annoying. i LOVE PERSONAL TASTE!!! o.0

@Lahlita : haha, glad to see you're so respectful of orders...hum, let me think about some other order I can give...LOOOOL
I'm sure you'll love YAB ! At first, I was like "uh uh, it seems way too childish for me", but the first episode already won me over....
and Jang Geun-sok...he's just L.O.V.E !!

for french books, I don't know what are your tastes....I love old authors : Théophile Gautier, Victor Hugo, Guy de Maupassant...
Also, I think "Le Petit Prince" is a classic everyone must read in his life...lol
I also kinda love the style of Amélie Nothomb's books, she's pretty famous in France, since her first book in 1992. Her most famous book is "Stupeur et Tremblement" which was even adapted into a movie. (the story is pretty funny, thanks to her writing style)

@Lahlita : Have you read Anna Gavalda? I really liked Ensemble, C'est Tout, but haven't read her newest one. Also Fred Vargas -mysteries, and the earlier ones were more to my taste than the later ones. I also liked all the Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt that I read -- they tend to be kind of short and uplifting.

The Actresses was shown in the Seattle International Film Festival last week & was most enjoyable. 3 of my favorites from dramas and 3 of them that I didn't recognise at all.

@Lahlita : PS -- Sebastien Japrisot -- he is no longer living, but his books seem to hold up. Several have been made into films, but the books are all superior to the films.

@amg,
i am also trying to catch up with the oldies.
i watched "all about eve" not long ago, and i love it.
i also watched "iris" (well, this may not consider an oldie), and loved it as well.
where do you watch sandglass? i think you recommended that to me last time.
but i just can't find it anywhere. 0)

So my hand is doing a little better. Vigorously applying triple antibiotic ointment. It should be alright.

@Lahilta: I'm glad you've watched some great dramas and haven't had to deal with a bunch of junk that would turn you away. I think Kristal made some pretty good choices if you want to watch some similar things. (Sweet 18, My Girl, You Are Beautiful) Did you survive through all of BOF? If you did, well... I salute you. Of course, The OT will try to make you watch City Hall. Beware. The OT power is strong. Hey, have you seen My Love Patzzi? (Did I just go to a place the OT hates? Yeah I did.)

@Supah: "as long as the scriptwriters continue to give him no lines, he’ll be perfect" I just want to thank the world for small favors, like me not consuming a liquid while reading your comment..... because my monitor would need a thorough cleaning. I almost died. I dub thee a new handle: Ho-Sae Hater. I will be something like BaristaHeadphones2010. I'm glad we're both not totally obsessing over OTP here, Coffee House is crazytown and I don't know where we're going, but the ride sure is nice.

and now is the time I talk about GIANT. Giantspoilerstasticfantastic here on:

@Supah: omg. I am gonna miss these kids, the adult actors better live up to their greatness. I watched that clip of Joo Sang Wook after watching episode 6+7, saw the smirk and went "Well then....That's a Min-woo face right there" I'm totally watching this through the end if the writing keeps up, it's just too good. (Where is everyone to watch this, seriously)

I went back and read from the previous OT comments, you can't take it back. You can never take it back. OT is forever or something.

So Episode 6+7.....Sung-Mo and Kang-Mo inadvertantly became step-children. Traitors. Mi-joo would never do that! The Lee bros are both in the situation of having a new brother....and this is how I saw it:

Sung-Mo Version:
Cho: Son, this is your new brother, treat him kindly.
Chos son, Min-woo: Ok. :D ..........(walks away)............ >:( You better sleep with one eye open, Sung-Mo.

Kang-Mo Version:
Tae-Sub: Son, this is your new brother, treat him kindly.
Tae-Subs son, Jun Sik: SCREW.YOU.
(Also my mom hates you. Live in the basement, newbie-servant cinderella Kang-Mo.)

Now for school time! Kang-Mo, apparently you've made a terrible, terrible choice leaving shoe shining. You're going to get an ass kicking daily, and you're going to like it. At least from previous scenes we know he'll never back down, never gonna give you up sort of schtick. Moral Values: High. Intelligence Level: Uhhh.....working on it. But he forgot about a golden k-drama rule:

If she becomes your step-sister, you cannot tap that. Hey.. is that... It's the angst train pulling into the station, and it's gonna be an express to the adult years.

I await the day Kang-Mo finds out that Min-woo had some relations with Mi-Joo, and he hangs him upside down and beats him upside the head like Cho did to that one dude.

Also the doctor scene was sad. Show, Kim Soo Hyun tears better be award worthy or heads will definitely roll.

@langdon813: Oh I know, I say it in jest. I love the OT and love City Hall.
(Although maybe I watched it for Lee Joon Hyuk. Anyone else? Just me? Maybe I won't have to share him)

I think My Love Patzzi should be some sort of required drama watch now, Dramabeans 101. I like to recommend it and then run away. :D

@ 22 langdon813

Love what you said (as always): short and spot on!

A few housekeeping issues to address, well, really just one:

BORA MUST DIE!

[Though I wonder how much I would swing the balance of good and evil in the dramaverse should I part ways with Team MOB and back Bora's right to OPW her way to eternity on a unicorn and a mini-skirt? We shall never know, I guess. I re-watched ep1 of HGD last night (needed a transition from Tamra back to real life), and, yeah, Bora needs to go. But I still adore Yi-nok in all her brainless glory.]

Husband asked me (and I quote, not paraphrase):

"Do you have City Hall on DVD?"

Me: *look of credulity* - "Not only do I have City Hall, I have one set plus another set which is the Director's Cut. Why do you ask, if you want to yell at me about wasting money, let me just tell you to stuff it."

Him: "I never finished it. [He watched a few eps with me like 1 YEAR ago, he said it was good, but back then he still laughed at me for watching kdramas]

Me: "And....."

Him: "Let's watch it tonight, I liked it and want to finish it now."

So, folks, I think I may have inadvertently created a monster. If he becomes an addict, you all can mark it down and trace it back to 10 days ago when he glanced up and saw me watching Tamra ep1, and the rest is history.

Anyways, never thought I'd re-watch City Hall this weekend, or anytime soon. I've been in a sageuk phase, but I can watch CH anytime, anywhere. :-)

@ serendipity

hjkomo wants to watch FOL with us! Yay! [Anyone else want to watch, feel free to join us]. So, I think the prudent thing is to start next week, let's say watch ep. 1 on Tuesday, and we should be done in 20 days, unless we all agree to watch more than 1 ep a day (which I am game for),

In other news, I watched 1 ep of Kim Suro, but its as dense as a Hungarian chocolate torte, so I'm going to need lots of history lessons and some banking of episodes so I can get into the swing of things.

@ momosan

are u watching Shin Don? Ep1 of Kim Suro is merely good in a perfunctory sense but I'm aquiver with the possibility of greatness to come (baby stealing as bad as dog killing in my book of erstwhile K-drama sins).

Why no FOL wif us? *pouts* oh right, self-preservation instincts kicking in there I see. Tamra ep1 - I had to hold his hand, he did was riveted by the sheer awfulness of the first 15 mins or so of William, but once Beojin showed up with the divers he was intrigued by the lovely cinematography. And once he got into the story it was sayonara being a kdrama virgin. I think Tamra takes off exactly after ep3, like you said. Kinda like City Hall, come to think of it.

I also thought Duelist was an exercise in presentation and not enought substance (thundie's gonna disown me!). But it comes from my expecting way more meat to the story from the hundreds of wuxia movies I watched, so my perspective on Duelist I reckon is skewed. Still need to finish the last 20 mins or so, maybe it'll add some grit to the pretty.

I'm racing through MNIKSS. I'm really loving it although sometimes I want to grab Sam-shik and shake him. I completely understand his temper and violent reactions due to the horrible trauma he suffered, but he sure does likes to grab, push, shove, punch and slap. A lot. Sometimes it gives me pause. But I just finished episode 11 where he confessed that he really did like her. Oooh.

Oh, and may I just mention how charming and lovely Daniel Henney is in this drama? His character is so kind and gentle, and he's so gorgeous. This is the first time I'm noticing him. I saw him in "Wolverine" but I didn't know who he was and I didn't pay attention because I was focused on Hugh Jackman (So Hot!). But now he's got all my attention.

And I've noticed something really funny. When he and Hee-Jin are speaking, even though they're speaking English, I keep trying to read the Korean subtitles. In Kdramas, I'm so used to processing language visually via subtitles, as opposed to aurally, so when it's an English-language scene, I always look up in confusion about ten seconds in because I suddenly can't read the subtitles. Then it hits me that they're speaking English, so I have to Listen, not Read. 8-)

@ 115 siam, 116 isabelh

Thanks for the recommendations! I'll be checking them all out. Come to think of it, my library has a foreign-language book section, so I can browse through the shelves to see what I can find for free first. But then I'm going to attempt all of your book and film recommendations, which will keep me busy for months. So if I suddenly disappear for weeks at a time, it's not because I don't like you all anymore. :-) It's kind of funny that I'm on a Kdrama website getting help in finding materials to keep on top of another language.

@janna!
!!Giant Spoilers!!
No, Mi Joo would never betray her family unlike her brothers, but now that you've said it, I think you may have tempted fate. What happens if she gets adopted by the corrupt Intelligence Leader?
Omo! What did he do to SM!? *ahjumma wailing/chest beating/hair pulling ensues*
Our poor, poor Crazy Kid. Why must you have been so diligent?
Yes, Kim Soo Hyun's tears (and blood and sweat) - had better amount to some kind of recognition now. His every tear drop is so, so precious.
I loved Cho's concern for him: ''why do they still have Lee Sung Mo? ... Something doesn't feel right...'' cue: sickly, worried face, like that of a true father. True father!

YJG was another stupendously good actor here, his reaction to the slap and the accompanying cutting words contained so many emotions, in that split second you could see how he'd been awakened to the tragedy of his whole situation. (Seriously, I bawled.)

You were right; on the streets he could be all hot-blooded and reckless, but now his love for Jung Yun is pretty restricting, he has something to lose again.
High five @ cinderella KM!

I don't think Tae-sub would really adopt him as a son, so their love story can continue.
Although I'm pleasantly surprised he has enough humanity to reward this kid for everything he did for him (which was really for JY, but y'know...). I think he only dotes on him for the fact he's given TS a doubly new lease of life -- he's stolen the soft coal idea! Maybe he never stole it per se but I still feel it's really sneaky. Aah well, at least he's put him in a private school.
I love TS' frankness though, was totally LOLing and cheering for him o/s the gisaeng house.

Min-woo-sshi; you can try throwing this kid around now but remember; hell hath no fury like the Lee siblings scorned.

''I await the day Kang-Mo finds out that Min-woo had some relations with Mi-Joo, and he hangs him upside down and beats him upside the head like Cho did to that one dude.''
Ditto! Must see that.

Also, Lee Jun Mo, I have a feeling (since this is another longass epic anyway) that he'll be used as a bit of a wildcard - similar to the way Bidam was used in QSD. They'd better be a really hot actor playing him.
Hey, what happens if HE's adopted by that mean bastard, Intelligence Leader? *screams in horror*

@supah: I'd rather have Mi-Joo stay with the nuns. Is that going to happen? Mi-joo will probably harden in character if that's the case... I expect seeing her as a woman yearning for stability... and apparently she's not going to get much of that.

Tae-subs son is a worthless little twerp. If TS wanted to try and mold his image somewhere it's going to be KM....and also then he can play the indebted to me card of the boarding issue, or giving him a job, etc...KM does keep good financial records, but he might be a reserved in this sort of swap. Also: The scene where Jung Yeon changes her dress.. man Kang Mos feelings were palpable. My heart sunk too dude. Oh and Mom just LOVES Min-woo. Everybody loves the crazy.

The gisaeng house scene was interesting (and we needed some more connecting scenes between Tae-sub and Cho)... Interesting for Cho to say something to the effect of "well, what do you think I'm here for" when nothing really happened. He doesn't care what you think Tae-sub. Or anyone really.

If Cho dotes too much on SM then Min-woo will flip out, we're already seeing it but I bet Min-woo can go full crazy. SM should have read the note, he's fallen into trusting people too much again...

Jung Mo is definitely a wild card. I don't think I even read anything about him adult. He'll probably show up. I hope he doesn't have too many hard feelings about his situation.

@ ockoala / FOL

I'm up for that, yay! I watched one episode of my DVD to check that the subtitles are comprehensible (ok) and to get a feel whether it would appeal to me. And yes I think it's very well done and I think I could really go with the gritty. I'm just worried -- how is it going to keep this tension going for 20 episodes? Do I remember right, in that there is a mid-series dip? Anyhoos, I'm game. One episode a week starting Tuesday sounds about right.

@janna
Haha! That was funny. Cho walk out of one of the rooms, straightening his clothes suspiciously. TS stood in courtyard, literally gaping: oh f*#%! Is this THE upstanding beacon of morality Cho Pil-yeon?!
I loved it as TS lunged at everyone, ''you wretches, you sneaky so-and-sos...'' I honestly thought he knew these former underdogs had become the BIG Dogs and that he and Cho were now demoted to underdog level. Which was why I was bemused, but poor guy got quite a shock at the news, huh!
Yeah man, pwned!

SM must seem perfect in Cho's eyes, everything he's done is awe-inspiring, so I can understand why he'd want to fashion MW like him. From what I've read about the MW character he's meant to resent his dad, a lot, and so he aims to outdo him. But the question is, which side of his dad does he resent? Cho has a split personality, he's a perfect, outstanding, moral citizen, but is a control freak with psychotic tendencies (stringing a guy upside down and beating daylights outta him and lest we forget, Papa Lee!).

I want to see TS's son get KILLLLED by KM. He's such lowlife scum. No. he should use the MW strategy, not get his hands dirty himself and hire some other lowlifes to beat him up.

I find MW amusing, there's a threat about him but it feels more like a healthy challenge, the exchanges between him and KM have a kind of snarky, comedic tone. And I definitely see some of his authoritarian dad in him when he's in class president mode. And erm, ''such an immoral girl. I'd be careful in that skirt, I think the whole bus just saw your knickers''!! Hahaha! OMG! He's definitely a Cho, alright.

Mi Joo: sadly it does look like her spirit will break, she's still in hope her oppas will come for her, but it doesn't look like they will.

Jung Mo has to come back, all those tears of mourning KM cried, that was the only time KM really broke down when he gave baby JM away, surely he'll come back to them in some way. Please, show?

@My love Patzzi
Oh yes, definitely a classic and it was K! R! W! who got the girl. How can anyone even dispute that? They obviously did not see the 'patented K! R! W! hug'.

Lulz @ the OT power discussion, I second langdon813.

@serendipity/FOL

imo, there were couple of eps that lost me in character dev somewhere btn 12-16?! It's more me not agreeing w/ the choices the characters made, also couple middle eps that the pacing was not crowd friendly, but I wont call it a dip... it's gripping/very well made thro'out.

I'm one of those that thought the drama > movie in quality, but since the story itself is hollowing, intense, I'm more 'damaged' w/ a dull pain in my chest whenever FOL is mentioned. can not do a rewatch.

BORA MUST DIE!! imagine the lovey dovey if she's not dead, and this PD do NO lovey dovey, if girl had some, she's heading that way of the exit.

shall we do an early pondering of which one of the ladies in BG will be following BORA's?!

@supah: Oh, Tae-Subs son is gonna die.............by type two diabetes. Aw, snap! I'm horrible...(I'll get over it)

@ mookie

I've only caught 15min of Bad Guy (promising, promising) and if the rumours are true of this being "A million stars fall from the sky" redux (which I can totally see, based on my mere 15min, even more promising, *rubs hands*), well, we know how that ends...

@janna
HAHAHA! I was hoping for something more sinister, like cholesterol clogging up his arteries thus violent heart attack.
OK, that's awful, but somewhere down the line small fry's gunna get it!

Oh and about Jung Yun, I'll let her off for being momentarily flustered by Min-woo's emergence, and that she finds him handsome, we know that her bond with KM is of the truer, deeper kind. Shes wuvs him too.

@supah: I hope Jung Yun gets turned off of Min-woo because Mom is so approving of him. "Stop playing that piano" "Fine, I'm going to hang out in the basement"

sunday music roundup! (short this time)
Wondergirls (2DT): I'm already missing wondergirls. Okay, maybe not their outfits. Music Bank = Cute! Music Core = ... What.

Kuroki Meisa, (five): First time she says "Pump it" in the song (when I watched the PV) I thought she said "Papi" Aside from touching her hair a bunch of times it was a pretty solid performance. I don't know how many times she might perform this because of Shinzanmono and all.

Also: Is anyone still watching Sunao ni Narenakute? To me it's getting so terrible I don't even want to make time to scrub through it. Everyone is in love with one person (this isn't anything new to jdramas, but still) and I'm not feeling it. At first I wanted to defend JaeJoongs character Doctor, but now he's thinks women should stay in the kitchen or something, from what I've read. I honestly could care less about any of these characters. Still going to watch TnK because it's on the "so bad it's good" side. Sunao is just....forgetable.

@ AMG1

Thanks for the link. I sure will check it out and let you know what I think of it.
I love KimSY after watching "All About Eve" .(Actually, I fell in love with CR and JDG too :0) I didn't know it was KSY in Iris...until about EP. 10. Then I cracked up on my "slowness" . I think that's the only drama after "All About Eve" that she has a major role in, right? Anyhow, she is an excellent actress. Love her acting.
Again thanx for the link; I shall check out "Sandglass" now.
And congrats on the arrival of your grandchild. Have fun spoiling the baby. 0)

@janna
Yes, the basement! Where your shoe-polishing handsome cinderella prince awaits you!

I should really stop talking about Giant, when others point out that Giant is oft an OT topic, I think it kinda means we're heading towards overkill -- and I hate overkill, as much as I hate JY's ugly stepbrother!

But... meh!

Another thing I noted was during lunchtime when all the other kids are chowing down, MW notices KM engrossed in his books - so walks over and throws him some bread, ordering him to eat it. KM flicks it away and continues with his book in the same disregarding, snooty way MW is with him (Snap! I love a PO'd and proud KM). Then MW suggests to CWIDTDODT2 (creep-who-is-destined-to-die-of-diabetes-type-2) that he should get his mum to pack KM a lunchbox.

I think that scene was open to interpretation; it could mean:
a) MW is genuinely concerned about KM, possible friendship on the horizon.
b) MW was just his usual self and wanted to embarrass KM, by making him look destitute.
c) MW initially thought of KM as lowlife and thus he was treated with mere disregard, but now KM's risen to his challenges and made MW finally see him as a rival. MW likes to give his rivals an equal footing thus he can't have his rival go hungry, while he's eating.

What say you?
And did you d/load the OST? I laaarves Edelweiss! Such a sexy song.

@momosan

Is Im Kkeok Jeong a withs2 project or is that available elsewhere?

Hey guys!
Totally off topic, but I found out that Rain was on the Colbert Report! (Like, 3 years ago *headdesk*) But I looked up all the videos and it was so funny lol.

I posted all of them in order here, so anyone who hasn't seen it yet can.
http://mystaples.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/rain-on-the-colbert-report/

I must admit, Rain looked _fine_ when he walked onto the set. The first thing that went through my head was "omo, he cleans up _nice_" Lol. and I'm wasn't even that big of a Rain fan before. I'm am officially now giving him a chance.

Happy Memorial Day!

Why oh why am I k-drama dry? There is nothing out there that has got my full attention! The only thing that is keeping me together is Kimura-san's TNK and my hopes in Kim Nam Gil!

Wish I had more to say....Happy holiday! Spend it well!

@staples: I remember the whole rain vs. colbert saga, really funny stuff!

@supah: My gut reaction was: Soooo Min-woo obtained some rat poison and stuck it into some fine baked goods. Hmmmm.
If the scene was isolated, it does play it like "look at your sad poor self". There's the older kids kind of prancing around like bully seagulls picking at the other kids lunch boxes. But that's not Min-woos creed. Actually, did Min-woo put out a hit on MW or was that step-brother-dearest taking matters into his own hands? (Look what I did, boss!) So for that, I think about it I'm going to say C. He wants to level the playing field, but doesn't know how to approach it at all. Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer.
And yes I listened to the OST. I really want to hear the long version of the instrumentals.

Happy Memorial Day to those of you that celebrate it~ Go out and get some sun (weather permitting) and eat some potato or macaroni salad or something :d