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Its already Saturday over here where I live but happy good friday to you anyway (:
anyway, guys guys guys guys! Is it true that Kim Hye Sung will be out of the military soon?? If it's true, I'm making myself some pina coladas to celebrate!
Okay, let me think about what I've been watching this week.
Nine Don't know about anyone else, but I'm pretty hooked. It has only been getting better. Now that our hero has been messing with the past, we are starting to see consequences and, damn, some of them are just heartbreaking. You can just feel his loneliness when he realises that his girl now has another boyfriend and he pretends it's alright. Wahhhhhhhh!
Not watching anything else that's Korean, hopefully this drought of K-dramas will soon end!
xxxHolic Still need to watch ep 5. Bound to be good.
Tonbi finished. Such a lovely dorama, gets you right in the heart. I could have done with a bit more romance and more on Akira's character (he seemed almost too go to be true at times, bordering on (almost) boring), but then again, the focus was on the father-son relationship, and on the father especially, and the father just rocked! Such a character! Sometimes he'd make you tear your hair out, other times he'd melt your heart. Jejeje.
Saikou no Rinkon Good good good. I'm mostly interested in Eita's and Ono Machiko's characters though. Looking forward to more.
Filmwise, I enjoyed the two shorts of Leesong Hee-il's One Night and Two Days trilogy (and belatedly realised that Lee Yi-kyung from School 2013 was one of the leads in White Night – he's got talent and I'll be keeping my eye on him for sure!). Also randomly watched a Chinese film called Lacuna, which was a light sort of rom-com, the kind you watch on a tired Friday night, but of better quality than most. Probably won't review though. Too many other films to review (The Kirishima Thing and Under the Pink Sky are on top of my priority list, and I am debating which Korean anime to cover for April. Either Green Days or Padak).
I haven't got any plans for Easter, need to study today & tomorrow and am working on Sunday, because my dongsaeng will be visiting next week! And: I'll be seeing the Princess Mononoke stage adaptation next Friday. It's finally premiering, SO excited!
i loved Tonbi too! made me cry then made me laugh out loud in the middle of the night... and as Neechan sort of implied "do not underestimate his stupidity". :-)
Hi Alua, I don't know if you have watched Bara no nai hanaya. It's about a father too, albeit a gentler one. This is the drama that I keep watching over and over. Needless to say this made me appreciate this tv program called drama. It used to be that I'd scoff at my mom for being glued to her dramas from the time I leave for work to the time I go to bed. But because Bara got me hooked to jdorama now she's the one teasing me. :-) Times have changed.
I have actually seen Bara no nai hanaya, but like a good while back. I feel like I need to rewatch it because I have little concrete memory of it (I remember I enjoyed it but not much more).
I've watched of lot dramas since I first saw this, and have a different appreciation of a some of the actors in Bara no nai hanaya (Yuko Takeuchi and Matsuda Shota in particular), which is another reason why I would like to see it again.
Is Saikou no Rinkon fully subbed yet? I dread starting currently running/recently finished j-dramas these days because I never know when the sub will be out. The plot sounds interesting though, as I'm looking for a more slice-of-life dramas nowadays
@alua - I haven't watched a lot of J-dramas in recent years [2011-2013], so I would love to hear[read] your recommendation on any dramas from that year. In the meantime, I will check Tonbi as well :)
Recent ones:
-Osozaki no Himawari (2012). I'm going to watch everything with Ikuta Toma from now on. Yoko Maki from Saikou no Rikon is in it too.
-Kekkon Shinai (2012) (not perfect but rather liked the three leads)
-Kazoku no Uta (2012) (wasn't popular, I think they even shortened it b/c of that, but I thought it was enjoyable & heartwarming as well as pretty funny!
-Kingyo Club (2011) --- that one is a sort of mini-drama about bullying in high school, with episodes only being 20 minutes long. It's obviously quite minimal and low-budget, but I thought it really packed a punch.
Just started Don Quixote (2011, with Matsuda Shota), not sure if that's exactly slice-of-life (since there is a body swap) but it looks interesting – it deals with child abuse. And yakuza, jajaja!
I'd also say Nagareboshi (2010), Slow Dance (2005), Smile (2009), Love Shuffle (2009), Waterboys (2001?), but they are older and I guess not all of them are strictly slice-of-life. All doramas I really like though. Smile is woefully underwatched (it's about race in Japan and really showcases Matsujun's acting range. I mean, I love him in the quirky stuff, but this one's very powerful).
Oh I loved Water Boys! Seriously nothing is funnier than watching a bunch of boys doing synchronized swimming! They're so into it as well, so cute :D And I loved the camaraderies between the boys too!
I think I started Smile while it was running, but then dropped it in the middle/early episodes because difficulties in finding the subs. But yes, definitely need to pick it up again!
Thanks again for the recommendation alua! *copies and pastes recommendation to To-Watch-List*
Btw, I read the synopsis on Tonbi and I like the premise already. After mother-daughter relationship, I think I should watch the father-son relationship drama :) Esp since dad is Sakamoto Ryoma from JIN! :D
Hey alua! I'm loving 9 too. I hadn't been watching too many drama's lately but cause I've been down with the flu I watched a bunch this week. 9 is my current favorite, but I'm also watching TWtWBs, BridalMask, Harvest Villa AND I am finally got back to Coffee Prince. I wasn't feeling it till episode 10, where it finally got me. The acting and the music is jo ah yo. I also watched Werewolf boy (awww) and tonight I watched GI Joe which was terrible but it was crazy how good Byung-hun Lee looked. I need to see more of him. :D
oh! and I finally watched LSG on running man. Omo, I didn't think I could love LSG any more, but I can. Sweet, Smart, Sexy and funny, LSG. GU Family pali up!
Nine isn't the sort of drama I usually watch or worship (I like slice of life, I often like high school settings, etc.), but somehow this one is working for me so far!
Hi Pillowhead! It's funny, cuz I just saw GI Joe while flipping channels and stopped just to see LBH. You are right - he looked amazing! The show seemed really lame, though, so I only watched a few minutes.
Hey everyone! I won't be posting much in here today - probably won't even be able to reply to JoAnne, Carole, alua, Ivoire and all you guys- because something seems to have cursed my computer and my internet has been slower than a tortoise on sleeping pills all week (which also means, no drama *cries*).....
But I did manage to watch xxxHolic, and even if I'm repeating myself from every week's OT - HOW IS IT SO GOOD?!!!! It helps that it's half an hour instead of 60+ minutes, that keeps the pace tight, but I've actually taken to watching it at the crack of dawn instead of at night because it is SCARY. But everything about it is top-notch, it is now my favourite jdrama ever, even ahead of Honey & Clover - I just can't get over it.
I intend to catch up to That Winter, even if it's becoming a chore - though that might be my own bias speaking, I was mainly in it for our second leads and I have no desire to watch the main leads mope around and be sad (had no problems with it in Nice Guy, but here it's kind of hard to feel it as immediately).
And does anyone else think Secretary Wang is kind of like the mother version of Nice Guy's Jae-hee? The whole 'I only hurt you because I love you' thing, the hooking-up-with-a-rich-guy and trying to win over his reluctant daughter thing (though JH thankfully didn't blind Eun-gi!) and even the hair and clothes (Park Shi-yeon was really too young to be styled so ajumma-like, and I am legit sad that her career is going to take a major blow, if not end completely, thanks to the propofol :()
How is xxxHolic so good? Cause Sometani is in it of course. :-D
More seriously, it's well written of course and they just nailed the atmosphere and the aesthetics.
The Sometani factor though is that he pretty much always picks good projects (and has all the acting talent in the world), so I do use him as a 'quality criterion'.... In this case, the rest of the cast is pretty top-notch too, Anne and Higashide Masahiro (still a relative newbie, but he's certainly highly promising).
I like Xxxholic too, though lately, I've just been reading the manga. Agreed on the 30 min mark. That's also why I like Vampire Idol, other than you know who.
@Pillowhead (and hoping this gets posted) - yeah, I've seen them! They kind of have a similar feel to Arang, though it is true that the leading lady looks positively ridiculous in the little we do see of her handling a weapon. I hope this isn't going to be one of those shows where I love one lead and barely tolerate the other, but I want more Sung Joon already!
@alua - I honestly didn't think they could adapt the manga this well, and they've done it! Obviously, some elements had to go (all the crossovers with Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, for one - the Mokonas!) but as a self-contained series, it's just amazing. It's my first jdrama in two years, and I've never been so glad that I don't actually need subs all the way for this one.
@Carole - I don't know what it is, but it is deeply frustrating :(
@TS - the manga is one of my all-time favourites, the artwork is just amazing. I'm impressed they've managed to keep the feel of something that stylised and bring it into live-action, to be honest. (and agreed on VI too!)
alua -
Come to my blog and comment there.
I did an Ep 5 recap, and partial Ep 6.
I will need a time machine myself, but am planning on starting from 1 this weekend.
By the way, all you recappers---
I bow to you. This is hard f^cking work that takes a long long long time.
Have to run. Am literally in the hall typing this as fast as I can.
I'm loving Saikou No Rikon too, unfortunately the sub takes forever...so when the new sub is finally up, I have to think hard what's happened in the epi before. Regardless, I'm still following it.
Sorry to be off topic, but I am in San Francisco in the United States and reading online at 3.40pm: North Korea: 'outbreak of war hours away' as Kim Jong-un plans US strike.
When they put it in terms of "hours away", I've got to admit that I'm a bit scared. That's all I wanted to say. I have nowhere else to voice my fear.
This Week's Cultural Highlight: Korean Taxis (AKA scammers)
I'll just go over the new(er) dramas this week. I'd do a mini rant about Dinner (Mostly picking on the food facts, though the human side of it is solid, not great, but solid)... but I don't think anyone is watching it...
And then cultural notes, because Nine isn't getting recapped. (I'll try to censor spoilers.)
Cruel Palace War of Flowers
I was pretty excited with the premise until my feminism alarm went off.
It's very visually lush, and I can see the budget hopes being poured into it by the cable station it sits on... however...
They are going to end up painting her as the oversexed femme fatale that destroys an empire. My feminism is knocking me on the head and saying "NO."
Queen In Soo is one thing... women help the empire and prop it up, but they are going to blame the downfall of a crappy King, Injo, on one woman. And to that I say no.
Skipping and moving on.
Guam Heo Joon
Episode 3-4 was better than I expected. I'm not thrilled with him becoming a thug, but it wasn't too bad... I'm not sure how they'll get to the episode count though.
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Nine
Slight cultural guide...
I'll disclaim that While I am Korean, wasn't in Korea in 1992... so I'm doing this from memory and roughly in order. (trying to keep it spoiler free too)
Episodes 1-2
1. "Beeper"
A Pager... Uhhh... you should know what those are. I never owned one, even in the US. If you need to see how it works, you can watch old episodes of ER.
2. No cellphones, and hard wired...
Yeah, you know people used to have to hold clunky receivers.
Episode 3
3. The band on the screen: Seo Taiji and Boys is my best guess. (Episode 3)
They were a dance group. You can google them, and it definitely looks like them.... Three boys, dancing on screen.
4. Cigarettes
Until recently Korea was behind on cigarettes and smoking was widely accepted, even in public. Nowadays you do it more secretly and away from the eyes of your seniors.
5. President Kim Young Sam and President Roh Tae Woo
President Kim was the first civilian to hold the office in over 30 years. He also arrested his two predecessors on an anti-corruption campaign. (I assume the newspaper is talking about meeting his opponent for the upcoming election.)
6. "First Woman President"
I announced that here a few months back. Though the news cycle should have shifted by now... but I'm nitpicking. It happened at the end of 2012. She won is a pretty good sweep against her opponent.
Episode 4
7. Shows that Kim Young Sam was elected.
8. The 50,000 won.
(You can recognize it for it's brown color) Only a few years back there was no such denomination. (When I was in Korea, the highest denomination was a 10,000 won) It features Dae Jang Geum on the won. Which is a woman. (She see's Sacajawea's 1 gold dollar and raises her bay about 48 dollars).
That's why he can't give it to the bar matron.
Also Korean money has fluxed a lot in the last 20 years. My friend was gone for 6 months and the money had visibly changed by that time, which is why the money he pulls out of his brother's wallet looks different than the money you typically see in Korean dramas.
6. Eric Clapton (Tears of Heaven) released in 1992, January.
Was originally about the death of his 4 year old son, Conor, who fell from a building.
7. Bodyguard
release 1992, November, but it would probably take a while to subtitle, so December 1992.
Episode 5-6 didn't have much to talk about... (I didn't spot anything new.)
Cultural Note: Taxis in Korea
i.e. Why you should avoid taking one.
Seeing one in Nine, inspired me.
- The meter does *not* run on distance traveled. It runs on time. The taxi driver gets lost--you pay more. You know that scene where the person is stuck in trafic and hops out? That's because it's not only costing time, but money. Yes, money for idling. Watch that meter.
- They will lie to you about tipping, especially if you're a foreigner.
YOU DO NOT TIP THEM. (I know what the dramas say, it's not true--the character is in a hurry, that's not a tip)
- There are no regulations on taxi drivers or special licenses. Anyone can claim to be a taxi. Which means if you get scammed, you will not get that much help.
Also, the base fare is not regulated by anyone.
- The Publics transportation is cheaper and well connected. There are buses to the airport and to the hotel for cheap (less than 2,000 won), and there is the 2 lines that goes around the city, plus buses are cheap. You can tour the whole city (from the last payment) of 2,000 won. Only 2 dollars on the 2 line.
- It should not cost more than 3,000 won to go anywhere. If it does, argue and threaten with the police. (That's 3 dollars US)
In another words, skip the taxi, take the subway or the bus, plus the upside is that you can see real people, rather than the people they see on television.
If you do take one "accidentally" take a picture of their license (which can be a lie, but at least you'll get their picture) and of the license plate. (They are less likely to scam Koreans though... they do try.)
I think you are misunderstanding what Jeong Ha Yeon is trying to do with Cruel Palace: War of Flowers. He mostly likely will try to humanize the historical figures that were made out to be villains. (Watch Shin Don to see what he is trying to do)
That doesn't really mean that he will portray Lady Jo as an poor little helpless woman that was conned by the evil evil men into doing the things she did. She most likely had her own motivations and reasons for what she did and the politics at court seemingly didn't do her any favors.
I would rather see an portrayal of an flawed human being than an innocent lamb or an evil seductress.
And I personally think that feminism is about seeing women as an human being equal to any men with the same potential for good and evil. Wanting to only see woman as saints doesn't help the cause any...
The problem is the commercials promised that King Injo was taken down by one woman.
Injo was one crappy king and voted one of the worst. If they blame his crappiness on her, which they are promising to, I'm out. "The woman that brought down an empire." NO.
I'll repeat it again: INJO WAS CRAPPY. Blame it on the right person. Don't shuffle history to blame it on one woman. In this case, put the blame on the right person.
I don't need the woman to be angelic--if you watched Queen Insoo, you knew that the good characters were not always good. The main female character in that is seriously odd in some ways in her moral justifications. However, she's not shown explicitly trying to run a crappy empire with a weak king and blamed for everything he does in history. Dudes gotta take blame for their OWN crappy decisions.
I did watch the first episode... but I'm feeling really wary....
I don't even mind the reform story... Prosecutor Princess... or even Get Karl! or the reform story of Fantasy Couple...
I do, however, mind when they shuffle blame... and they are promising that by making her run an era which was weak to begin with (Look at what you do when you leave a woman in control? --;;). And that, I definitely take issue with. Insoo, is fine. Flawed moral character that's not boring Jin Yeong (Horse Doctor, whom I complained about being boring... I preferred the Princess.). This piece looks like veiled misogyny.
*ranty* *rant*
Excuse me if I don't have that much faith in a man writing a woman with this sort of plotline. 정하연 (Jeong Ha Yeon)
Hello! Wishing everyone a great Friday and totes awesome Easter.
Work got in the way and my drama watching has been put on hold, someone please tell me which is worth picking back up out of: Iris2, Ad Genius Lee Tae Bak, The Wedding Scheme, and Ghost.
I like to have a few I can marathon and a few newer ones in rotation.
I just thought of a freaking fantastic tshirt idea: "my marathons last at least 16 hours." So not a runner...
I have only seen wedding scheme and Ghost out of those on your list and I recommend both. I actually really liked the Wedding scheme though the female lead is bit unlikable but in the beginning but it made her character believable. I just loved the OTP they are both petty and bicker like crazy and totally perfect for each other. And I was happy to see Lee Kyu Han FINALLY get a lead role. Be forwarned its not the light happy rom com like it may first appear (it may better characterized as a workplace kimchi family drama with a couple cute romances). I say worth it!
Oh yeah and Ghost is good too! Daniel Choi cameo was awesome!
Thanks team! That is what I was leaning towards. The Wedding Scheme I got in 8 eps then had to go on hiatus. OTP's bickering is a dynamic b/t me and a friend. We once fought about who could camp better.
Daniel Choi! He is one of those actors I want to watch e everything he is in, but then I watched almost all of the Musical and thought he was punishing me.
For me Ghost and Ad Genius Lee Tae Bak.
Ghost for the noir story (but the end could be much better). Tae Bak for the simplicity and fun - watch out for the mature version of JaeJong (but I think this one/the look alike is cuter... Personal preference).
If you really like repeat story, almost the same characters, and traveling, you might like Iris 2.
haha I'm not the only one who noticed - when he first popped up I went oooh, MAN-SIZED JaeJoong! It's weird, too, they had him as a dumb musclehead int he beginning and then he turned out to be not really dumb at all, just kind of at a loss in front of girls.
There are still Buddhists in India, just the Southern type.
There are also Christians, Sikhs, Jainists, Muslims, etc.
Hinduism is dominant, but it doesn't come in one united form. The base philosophies though throughout the sects is very much like Buddhism... so I was really confused at the "secret sect" and "Hinduism" bit. When they easily could (especially near the mountains like that) be made by Buddhists.
But then, *some* Christians are demonizing Muslims in the US, despite the large similarities between the religions (and they haven't really read the religious books of the Bible and Quran--the whole jihad crap the ignorant are launching is amazing. Have they read the Bible? I'm working on the Quran--because I'm a nerd.). Also, I guess, they hated the whole enlightenment the Muslims brought in from Spain too... things like you know, math... medicine, science, Greek and Roman culture that people worshipped... Courtly love... poetry... (In another words, don't bad mouth a culture/religion until you understand it and its influence on you)
Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to being surprised. However, I am disappointed... I may have to warn my friend from India about it...
And good for you exploring the Quran and the Bible. At a very basic non-religious level, there's so much we can learn from both, and then, they also are spiritual books, so they are uplifiting too.
I recommend Yusuf Ali's Quran translation, with annotations, because he explains a lot of the history and the knowledge around each sura (chapter).
I love how everyone here is so progressive. I live on a small island that is 95% Catholic, which is fine but I didn't really notice how conservative most of my friends were till I got on FB and was bombarded with their post.
Though I'm not Christian, I have to admit, I find Psalms the best part of the Bible. It feels more like core philosophies about how to view the world rather than preaching about how one should or should not view God. (I'm that way with most religions though.)
I find the Old Testament important, yet in the views of most Jews, most of it is dated for a specific time frame (Even for the Orthodox Jews). And the New Testament is interesting as a religious debate in motion, but I find it a bit scattered. Still, I do like debates. So Psalms kinda cuts between the two... it feels more like meditation of religious issues without clear cut answers.
I haven't gotten through the Quran far enough to judge the text, but I definitely thank you for the recommendation.
And for the record, just in case people are going to argue, Jihad is NOT about blowing up stuff. From what I understand (so far), it's devotion to God, who happens to be called Allah. And I believe that Christians share a similar belief about devotion to God. (Which is done through prayer in both cases... and there are extremists in all religious organizations anyway... *cough* Legitimate rape *gags* *cough* Not even in the Bible... in the Bible, rapists get punished and harshly.)
Still working through it, though.
And I'd recommend Robert Alter's version of the Bible translations for better annotation and explanation of the history, translation, etc. for the academics that want to learn about it.
I'm currently nerding on Muism (Korean Shamanism) as well. I can see a lot of the ways it subtlety shaped Korea.
Kim Yoomni - I really like Robert Alter's OT translation and commentary. His newer book, "Pen of Iron: American Prose and the king James Bible" is insightful on the Bible's influence especially on early American literature. Another theologian I like is John Sailhamer.
IF you read the New Testament, definitely read them in conjunction with the book of Acts. Also check out David Pawson's teachings on the Bible. His videos are found on youtube and also at davidpawson (DOT) org He'll help you understand that the epistles/letters really aren't scattered, just dealing with the issues in each church they were addressed to.
And true, Christianity got a lot from Islam. The idea of the crusades definitely came from the Moslem idea of Jihad. Jihad doesn't show up in the first part of the Qu'ran but towards the end...well... it's pretty harsh on non-believers.
The typical Christian and the typical Moslem, however, are pretty easygoing good folks.
Carole - my go-to theologian right now is Luke Timothy Johnson for Acts (Sacra Pagina series) and Luke-Acts. His lectures are an insightful walk-through the Bible as well. I love the idea of studying Luke-Acts as the 2 vol. book it is rather than the traditional 4 gospels and Acts on its own.
Leviticus, Old Testament was also harsh on non-believers as well. The whole gentiles only deserve dried up rotten grapes on your doorstep thing was pretty harsh... (And no, Jews nor Christians do that. At least I know of.)
The difference and the theorized conflict is that Muslims also convert people, which may be part of the reason for the base conflict. (I mean pre all of the war on terrorism, which I wish people would separate....).
Christianity also had a problem with the Hare Krishna who also converted followers back in the 1960's.
I do get that the letters were debates over various issues, but being into fiction and fiction writing, I tend to dislike the whole, "This is how God is and should be." Also the various versions of how Jesus came to be and rose...
Old Testament, it kinda made sense when two were smacked together, but I found it odd the Apostles couldn't ya know, talk and work it out the new Testament with each other... (I've heard stories of heated disagreements and arguing, particularly Paul... who, according to historians and theologians say he had a really huge temper. And had (not my words) "tantrums.") Peter and John of the lot seem the most level-headed... But I have skewed perceptions.
Still, Psalms is my favorite of the lot. As I said, it feels a little less like preaching and more like contemplation, which is closer to religions I tend to like.
Vedanta Hinduism, for example is my favorite out of the sects. And I kinda like the Northern type of Buddhism (save everyone, not just yourself), and I have somewhat of a fondness for shamanism in general... Oh and real life Voudou is awesomeness. (The movie stuff is just not as close to cool as the real thing). I also tend to like early, early Christianity... which didn't survive into a sect. (The first century stuff). Yes, nerd.
Owl:
I'll check him out. Thanks! And if you can, definitely check out David Pawson. Very insightful as well. Thanks so much.
TS:
I just meant to say that the idea of invading an earthly land and creating a kingdom on earth was not in Christianity, which focused on a spiritual heavenly kingdom. When Constantine came, the idea of an earthly kingdom started. But even then, it was more of a defensive mode. The idea of conquering other lands with earthly warriors was not part of New Testament Christianity. If anything, Christians were to conquer the world by healing the sick, raising the dead, preaching...not by fighting with human weapons but with spiritual weapons.
I guess they've got this down til the end because it seems like a pretty solid plot to me. They're leaving out a lot of things and slowly peeling all those mysterious answers episode by episode. There's always something to watch out for in each episode.
Right now, I'm really eager to find out about the rules of time traveling. They seem to have some similarities with QIHM but not quite. Something is always slightly different.
I think there are only two people that WE know are aware of the alternate timelines. I suspect others may also be aware, but are pretending not to (not that they are hiding it from SW, but because they do not know SW is a time traveler).
Did it already without the spoilers. Coding spoilers.
I thought episode 5-6 were needed episodes, but still felt like the pace was a bit slow. The twist on the cost of going back wasn't one I'd really thought of since "cost" with time travel isn't something that I expect from the East. (Direct cost--the idea that magic needs a direct cost is something out of the 1900's forward, in the West... and one I both like and dislike... like because you can play with it, dislike, because it's not really realistic to the place and time settings of most fiction where the magic was created.)
In this case, for the culture the incense sticks came from, and the people who were said to make it, I really don't believe the cost would be built that way. But then, I'm kinda a culture nerd. And I know Hinduism fairly well. Hinduism's concept of time is also different, but not that far from Buddhism. (I'm a bit irked at the idea presented in the drama that Hinduism is SO much different from Buddhism and is a "mysterious" religion... when it isn't. It's related to Buddhism fairly closely in its philosophies, except in some small concepts.)
Despite that the clip isn't bad. Just wish it wasn't 2 episodes of angsting when you know what's going to happen because they've been going over it since episode 3-4.
I'm thoroughly wondering whether the writers have conceived Nine before or during QIHM. Because viewer opinions matter so now I'm thinking maybe they're not gonna do this because they've already done it or the viewers don't like it or it's predictable. Usually, I don't even try guessing as I go along but darn, this Nine ship sinks and I sink with it because I'm super hooked right now and I have all these burning questions.
If it continues to stay good, I would say best drama in 2013 so far. Episode 4 onwards I fell in love with the show all over again.
And I kinda hate myself now for not realising how awesome Lee Jin Wook is. lol
Love the whole scene/conversation in ep 6 when she comes to his room twice ....his voice...T.T Heartbreaking. He misses her even though she's right there in front of him. Good acting on his part. I like how he carries that conversation throughout.
I hated his character in Spy Myung Wol but my eyes betrayed me! Boy is fiiiine.
Named QIHM my fave drama last year and Nice Guy didn't topple it over despite the DB year-end awards...this is coming in pretty close to fave drama of 2013 :)
I loved that scene too T.T but then I kept going back to the scene Min Young calls him 'Uncle'. Cringing Level: Legendary.
You all should watch him in one of his earliest dramas ... Someday ... He looked like a kid then. Someday was my introduction to kdramas ... And marathoning online when 2 hours a week wasn't enough for me.
The start of Ep 6 - That was a stomach clencher for me, I could hardly rewatch it as many times as I did.
There was sooooo much going on behind his eyes in the silences.
This is how I described the moment she asks him -
"So what if you broke up - Why don't you go back with her?"
He gives that tiny little smile to the woman he loves hiding behind the girl in front of him. You can feel somehow that he is communicating wordlessly to her heart for a moment and closes his eyes, takes a deep breath before replying.
“She doesn’t remember me.”
Right now, I'm thinking the question of whose happiness is more important is very hard for most people, but to a guy who is a decent person who loves other people.....well, to choose his own happiness is hard.
And now..wow, ramifications and un-knowing...even harder.
So it's either gotta be A) one person's happiness or B) family's or friend's happiness but not hero's happiness or C) going back to the original timeline --which may or may not be the original timeline because his brother might have affected hero's timeline before drama started without hero knowing it. or D) everyone's life being improved through the incense stick. Or someone being the unknown sacrificed sufferer that all the others can have a good life.
Hero is good and unselfish. But hero's brain is going...which makes me wonder. Did young version of hero tell younger version of his brother about the incense and start the muddle going?
In Queen Inhyun's Man, our hero's time-travelling parchment worked as long as he wasn't selfish. So am thinking that as long as our hero doesn't do anything blatantly for his own happiness...he'll be in safe territory. (Notwithstanding brain tumor and all.)
Who knows what brother did? OR why he developed bi-polar issues? Is it possible Brother created his own mental problems by fooling around with the incense?
Ooh, Nakai...that's a thought! Yes, maybe Dad and son had other weird family stuff going on. Why does Dr Choi keep asking about older brother? Is it because older brother knows some secret that can clear up hero's (mis)understanding of the past? Heck, is older brother Dr Choi's son?
Joanne: Maybe someone ELSE other than brother and hero know about the incense?
The only thing consistent about dramas these days is btw ep 10 and 14 I expect them to go down hill and if it's a long drama by ep 23 I expect the same. Is it writer-fatigue or do they really think changing a storyline midway really works?
Remember the live shoot system is hard on writers too. They can plan for contingencies, but that's about it. If the producer or the network says to change it, they still have to make the changes. Ratings dictates a lot.
Not to mention the whole adding and deleting episodes looming over one's head when the drama either tanks or does better. That would definitely drive me nuts.
OMG the opening scene just flow me away with Lee Duk hwa excellent acting.
wow a great show, great actings of Kim Hyun Joo, Lee Duk Hwa and Jung Sung Mo which got I hooked.
The scenarios are so beautiful, this makes me want to see more beautiful landscape of Korea.
Love the music in everyone scene.
and the sad love story of Kim Hyun Joo+ jeon Tae soo which makes me giggle like a fangirl .
Me too! It left me literally speechless!!!! I don't know how many times I rewound that first scene watching it with tears running down my face. Lee Duk Hwa and the rest of the cast really did a good job.
yeah I was surprised by the fact that the sub came out so fast.
cant wait to see more
love the fact that there are so many names and so many seniors actors on the show.
This week had been busy for me n RL. Didn't get to watch any dramas but did read recaps.
Been catching up on my reading bks-some ineresting, others-meh.
Watched kpop star 2, top 3 pretty good. I hope Andrew Choi or akdongmusician wins. ;p
Watched Voice k2, got some very talented singers.
Saw Lee hi's mv "Rose". I like it alot. Will probably buy second half of her album on itunes.
Still waiting for GD's mini album.
Aziatix and JYJ album need to come out soon too.
I know this may come across as a tad bit mean but I really think that JYP's biasness towards Bang Yedam is too over already. 2000 won's performance last week was pretty good,in fact I thought it was one of their best on the show. At this point of time I just want either Andrew Choi or Akdong Musician to win,although I suspect the latter is more likely to do so given their popularity. No,I am not a Bang Yedam hater just in case you're wondering but I do stongly feel that he's highly overrated. He's talented but I have to admit that his recent performances are pretty sub par as of late. Am pretty pissed at JYP right now,think his over-the-top expressions are starting to get on my nerves. I'm starting to lose faith in this show. Voice Korea 2 on the other hand,I feel truly focuses on the contestant's vocal talent rather than,say,the Kpop Star quality in them.
i have nothing personal against byd, or any of the other contestants (they're all extremely talented to a certain degree), but yes, there's such a double standard in terms of judging when it comes to byd. i believe that potential should not outrank current talent.
as for the system on the whole, the judges/pds have mentioned before that it's unlike other auditions shows where vocals is the top priority. they're also looking for the star factor/performance quality etc. that said, however, imo this season's quality just isn't the same standard as season 1.
So excited for kpop star 2 semifinals on Sunday :)
Akdong Musician - cafe trendy folk fresh songs. they are very talented and extremely likeable. i hope they aren't pushed into cottoncandyfluffnothingness by the sponsors.
I can't believe GD is already coming out with new material when my 2NE1 bb's are probably somewhere gathering dust at the YGe basement. No GD hate coz I mostly like his stuff but YG...ugh, get it together.
Hi!
I heard 2ne1 is working on their album too. Heheh
YG family is working hard on quality, not quantity.
SOL is wrking on his solo album too! Yes!
Also waiting for Tablo to come out another ablum too. ^^
Happy OT Fellow Beanies! I've been AWOL because of work and family issues that I'm still trying to plow through. And sorry for yet another hit-and-run, but I have to be at work really early today since I will be finding out if the law firm I'm under contract at will be closing its doors over the next few weeks. Needless to say, the pit in my stomach grows larger as the minutes tick by, so I'll be back online later.
So Happy Good Friday and Easter to those who celebrate -- my new favorite Easter Candy find this year? Chocolate Mousse-Flavored Peeps Dipped in Dark Chocolate. If you can find them, stockpile a bunch because they're only released for 2013. YUM. YUM. YUM.
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1 Janet
March 29, 2013 at 6:23 AM
First?
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Janet
March 29, 2013 at 6:23 AM
I wish everyone a good Friday on Good Friday!
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Kelvin
March 29, 2013 at 8:42 AM
Do ppl say Happy Good Friday or is there another way to say it?
Anyways if you guys/gals have some free time today and are interested in a KPOP Podcast come check us out!
Website: http://www.thisweekinkpop.com/
iTunes subscription: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/this-week-in-kpop/id594315562?mt=2
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hawaiianseoul
March 29, 2013 at 5:57 PM
Its already Saturday over here where I live but happy good friday to you anyway (:
anyway, guys guys guys guys! Is it true that Kim Hye Sung will be out of the military soon?? If it's true, I'm making myself some pina coladas to celebrate!
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 6:28 AM
I just checked a second ago and nothing was up. This Friday feels like a Saturday!
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am
March 29, 2013 at 6:31 AM
This Friday feels like a Saturday to me too. My brother and I were talking about it earlier.
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 6:47 AM
It's Saturday elsewhere...
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Jajajaja so true!
alua
March 29, 2013 at 6:48 AM
Okay, let me think about what I've been watching this week.
Nine Don't know about anyone else, but I'm pretty hooked. It has only been getting better. Now that our hero has been messing with the past, we are starting to see consequences and, damn, some of them are just heartbreaking. You can just feel his loneliness when he realises that his girl now has another boyfriend and he pretends it's alright. Wahhhhhhhh!
Not watching anything else that's Korean, hopefully this drought of K-dramas will soon end!
xxxHolic Still need to watch ep 5. Bound to be good.
Tonbi finished. Such a lovely dorama, gets you right in the heart. I could have done with a bit more romance and more on Akira's character (he seemed almost too go to be true at times, bordering on (almost) boring), but then again, the focus was on the father-son relationship, and on the father especially, and the father just rocked! Such a character! Sometimes he'd make you tear your hair out, other times he'd melt your heart. Jejeje.
Saikou no Rinkon Good good good. I'm mostly interested in Eita's and Ono Machiko's characters though. Looking forward to more.
Filmwise, I enjoyed the two shorts of Leesong Hee-il's One Night and Two Days trilogy (and belatedly realised that Lee Yi-kyung from School 2013 was one of the leads in White Night – he's got talent and I'll be keeping my eye on him for sure!). Also randomly watched a Chinese film called Lacuna, which was a light sort of rom-com, the kind you watch on a tired Friday night, but of better quality than most. Probably won't review though. Too many other films to review (The Kirishima Thing and Under the Pink Sky are on top of my priority list, and I am debating which Korean anime to cover for April. Either Green Days or Padak).
I haven't got any plans for Easter, need to study today & tomorrow and am working on Sunday, because my dongsaeng will be visiting next week! And: I'll be seeing the Princess Mononoke stage adaptation next Friday. It's finally premiering, SO excited!
Happy Friday everyone!
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Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 6:58 AM
Alua! Loving Nine here too. Very much!
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CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:14 AM
seconding kingyo club. Very sweet. Even with the bullying. A nice little drama.
john
March 29, 2013 at 7:09 AM
alua ~
Saikou no Rinkon is my current favorite.
Shotenin Michiru no Mi no ue Hanashi was good. A twist at the end.
Nine: I'm enjoying it .
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diajoi
March 29, 2013 at 7:40 AM
i loved Tonbi too! made me cry then made me laugh out loud in the middle of the night... and as Neechan sort of implied "do not underestimate his stupidity". :-)
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 8:15 AM
I feel like no one watched Tonbi... and they are all missing out!
I cracked up so many times. Even if it's sometimes predictable what he'll do (because you know he's going to be stubborn), it's just hilarious.
He's got the best son in the world, but there is a good reason for that (and that's him). :-D
Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 8:53 AM
I have it in a list, Alua. It will be watched!
diajoi
March 29, 2013 at 6:32 PM
Hi Alua, I don't know if you have watched Bara no nai hanaya. It's about a father too, albeit a gentler one. This is the drama that I keep watching over and over. Needless to say this made me appreciate this tv program called drama. It used to be that I'd scoff at my mom for being glued to her dramas from the time I leave for work to the time I go to bed. But because Bara got me hooked to jdorama now she's the one teasing me. :-) Times have changed.
alua
March 30, 2013 at 12:38 AM
I have actually seen Bara no nai hanaya, but like a good while back. I feel like I need to rewatch it because I have little concrete memory of it (I remember I enjoyed it but not much more).
I've watched of lot dramas since I first saw this, and have a different appreciation of a some of the actors in Bara no nai hanaya (Yuko Takeuchi and Matsuda Shota in particular), which is another reason why I would like to see it again.
latteholic
March 29, 2013 at 7:48 AM
Is Saikou no Rinkon fully subbed yet? I dread starting currently running/recently finished j-dramas these days because I never know when the sub will be out. The plot sounds interesting though, as I'm looking for a more slice-of-life dramas nowadays
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john
March 29, 2013 at 7:59 AM
latteholic ~
No, it's not fully subbed yet. I need my fix for this week.
alua
March 29, 2013 at 8:07 AM
No, not fully subbed.
You could try Tonbi.....
What else have you watched? I mostly watch slice-of-life so I might have other recommendations.
latteholic
March 29, 2013 at 8:13 AM
Thank you John and alua!
@alua - I haven't watched a lot of J-dramas in recent years [2011-2013], so I would love to hear[read] your recommendation on any dramas from that year. In the meantime, I will check Tonbi as well :)
alua
March 29, 2013 at 9:00 AM
Recent ones:
-Osozaki no Himawari (2012). I'm going to watch everything with Ikuta Toma from now on. Yoko Maki from Saikou no Rikon is in it too.
-Kekkon Shinai (2012) (not perfect but rather liked the three leads)
-Kazoku no Uta (2012) (wasn't popular, I think they even shortened it b/c of that, but I thought it was enjoyable & heartwarming as well as pretty funny!
-Kingyo Club (2011) --- that one is a sort of mini-drama about bullying in high school, with episodes only being 20 minutes long. It's obviously quite minimal and low-budget, but I thought it really packed a punch.
Just started Don Quixote (2011, with Matsuda Shota), not sure if that's exactly slice-of-life (since there is a body swap) but it looks interesting – it deals with child abuse. And yakuza, jajaja!
I'd also say Nagareboshi (2010), Slow Dance (2005), Smile (2009), Love Shuffle (2009), Waterboys (2001?), but they are older and I guess not all of them are strictly slice-of-life. All doramas I really like though. Smile is woefully underwatched (it's about race in Japan and really showcases Matsujun's acting range. I mean, I love him in the quirky stuff, but this one's very powerful).
latteholic
March 29, 2013 at 10:19 AM
Oh I loved Water Boys! Seriously nothing is funnier than watching a bunch of boys doing synchronized swimming! They're so into it as well, so cute :D And I loved the camaraderies between the boys too!
I think I started Smile while it was running, but then dropped it in the middle/early episodes because difficulties in finding the subs. But yes, definitely need to pick it up again!
Thanks again for the recommendation alua! *copies and pastes recommendation to To-Watch-List*
Btw, I read the synopsis on Tonbi and I like the premise already. After mother-daughter relationship, I think I should watch the father-son relationship drama :) Esp since dad is Sakamoto Ryoma from JIN! :D
Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:01 AM
Hey alua! I'm loving 9 too. I hadn't been watching too many drama's lately but cause I've been down with the flu I watched a bunch this week. 9 is my current favorite, but I'm also watching TWtWBs, BridalMask, Harvest Villa AND I am finally got back to Coffee Prince. I wasn't feeling it till episode 10, where it finally got me. The acting and the music is jo ah yo. I also watched Werewolf boy (awww) and tonight I watched GI Joe which was terrible but it was crazy how good Byung-hun Lee looked. I need to see more of him. :D
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:53 AM
oh! and I finally watched LSG on running man. Omo, I didn't think I could love LSG any more, but I can. Sweet, Smart, Sexy and funny, LSG. GU Family pali up!
alua
March 29, 2013 at 9:06 AM
"it was crazy how good Byung-hun Lee looked"
sometimes that's what we keep watching for :-D
Nine isn't the sort of drama I usually watch or worship (I like slice of life, I often like high school settings, etc.), but somehow this one is working for me so far!
Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 4:49 PM
lol...omg, if byung-hun's body was any tighter it would just b one big ol' cramp. :9
korazylady
March 29, 2013 at 7:06 PM
Hi Pillowhead! It's funny, cuz I just saw GI Joe while flipping channels and stopped just to see LBH. You are right - he looked amazing! The show seemed really lame, though, so I only watched a few minutes.
I am loving Nine, too.
pogo the Corn Salad fangirl
March 29, 2013 at 8:07 AM
Hey everyone! I won't be posting much in here today - probably won't even be able to reply to JoAnne, Carole, alua, Ivoire and all you guys- because something seems to have cursed my computer and my internet has been slower than a tortoise on sleeping pills all week (which also means, no drama *cries*).....
But I did manage to watch xxxHolic, and even if I'm repeating myself from every week's OT - HOW IS IT SO GOOD?!!!! It helps that it's half an hour instead of 60+ minutes, that keeps the pace tight, but I've actually taken to watching it at the crack of dawn instead of at night because it is SCARY. But everything about it is top-notch, it is now my favourite jdrama ever, even ahead of Honey & Clover - I just can't get over it.
I intend to catch up to That Winter, even if it's becoming a chore - though that might be my own bias speaking, I was mainly in it for our second leads and I have no desire to watch the main leads mope around and be sad (had no problems with it in Nice Guy, but here it's kind of hard to feel it as immediately).
And does anyone else think Secretary Wang is kind of like the mother version of Nice Guy's Jae-hee? The whole 'I only hurt you because I love you' thing, the hooking-up-with-a-rich-guy and trying to win over his reluctant daughter thing (though JH thankfully didn't blind Eun-gi!) and even the hair and clothes (Park Shi-yeon was really too young to be styled so ajumma-like, and I am legit sad that her career is going to take a major blow, if not end completely, thanks to the propofol :()
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 8:12 AM
How is xxxHolic so good? Cause Sometani is in it of course. :-D
More seriously, it's well written of course and they just nailed the atmosphere and the aesthetics.
The Sometani factor though is that he pretty much always picks good projects (and has all the acting talent in the world), so I do use him as a 'quality criterion'.... In this case, the rest of the cast is pretty top-notch too, Anne and Higashide Masahiro (still a relative newbie, but he's certainly highly promising).
CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:17 AM
Oh gee...am sorry about your computer. Hope you can get to watching dramas again soon. Maybe some new download affected your video driver.
Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Pogo, i probably missed u already, but have you seen any of the GU Family teasers? They remind me of Arang. AGH!!!
Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 10:48 AM
Hi Pogo!
I like Xxxholic too, though lately, I've just been reading the manga. Agreed on the 30 min mark. That's also why I like Vampire Idol, other than you know who.
pogo the Corn Salad fangirl
March 29, 2013 at 12:33 PM
@Pillowhead (and hoping this gets posted) - yeah, I've seen them! They kind of have a similar feel to Arang, though it is true that the leading lady looks positively ridiculous in the little we do see of her handling a weapon. I hope this isn't going to be one of those shows where I love one lead and barely tolerate the other, but I want more Sung Joon already!
@alua - I honestly didn't think they could adapt the manga this well, and they've done it! Obviously, some elements had to go (all the crossovers with Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle, for one - the Mokonas!) but as a self-contained series, it's just amazing. It's my first jdrama in two years, and I've never been so glad that I don't actually need subs all the way for this one.
@Carole - I don't know what it is, but it is deeply frustrating :(
@TS - the manga is one of my all-time favourites, the artwork is just amazing. I'm impressed they've managed to keep the feel of something that stylised and bring it into live-action, to be honest. (and agreed on VI too!)
nakai
March 29, 2013 at 8:12 AM
Guys, it's Saikou no Rikon. :)
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 8:16 AM
X_X
*feels embarrassed for having started with that typo*
nakai
March 29, 2013 at 9:27 AM
Dont be. :)
jomo143
March 29, 2013 at 8:24 AM
alua -
Come to my blog and comment there.
I did an Ep 5 recap, and partial Ep 6.
I will need a time machine myself, but am planning on starting from 1 this weekend.
By the way, all you recappers---
I bow to you. This is hard f^cking work that takes a long long long time.
Have to run. Am literally in the hall typing this as fast as I can.
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 9:04 AM
Ohhh! I didn't realise you had a blog. I'll hop over later (need to get off the OT and do some work!)
I bow in reverence to all recappers. I'd love to recap some dramas, but I don't have that type of commitment. I don't know how you guys do it!
nomad
March 29, 2013 at 8:28 AM
I'm loving Saikou No Rikon too, unfortunately the sub takes forever...so when the new sub is finally up, I have to think hard what's happened in the epi before. Regardless, I'm still following it.
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CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:03 AM
Love NINE! Gotta watch the last episodes of Tonbi. If you like Lacuna, I might watch it. Ever see the little film Oresama. I really liked that.
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 9:11 AM
I would pretty much agree with this review of Lacuna:
http://www.filmbiz.asia/reviews/lacuna
Haven't seen Oresama, but heard of it before - I need to put it on a Trailer Weekly post (which is basically my to-watch list :-) )
CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 1:39 PM
@Alua, I totally loved Oresama. It's just a sweet bio...and very apt if you're watching NINE.
Wasn't gonna watch Lacuna because I'm kinda burned out by Hangover-type movies but the review and your assessment...well, i'll dive in. Thanks again.
Thanks also for suggesting Smile. I'm a sucker for any movie involving race. Thanks.
Newbie
March 29, 2013 at 9:55 AM
Totally second Nine! So curious how it will go on.
Read some actress bashing somewhere, but I like her. :)
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latteholic
March 29, 2013 at 7:05 AM
This Friday still feels like a Friday to me. Still have class (which is weird, since I'm accustomed to treat Good Friday as public holiday)
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Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 7:24 AM
Yay, you are!
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GG
March 29, 2013 at 3:45 PM
Sorry to be off topic, but I am in San Francisco in the United States and reading online at 3.40pm: North Korea: 'outbreak of war hours away' as Kim Jong-un plans US strike.
When they put it in terms of "hours away", I've got to admit that I'm a bit scared. That's all I wanted to say. I have nowhere else to voice my fear.
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2 KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 6:25 AM
Annyeong Chingu Deul.
This Week's Cultural Highlight: Korean Taxis (AKA scammers)
I'll just go over the new(er) dramas this week. I'd do a mini rant about Dinner (Mostly picking on the food facts, though the human side of it is solid, not great, but solid)... but I don't think anyone is watching it...
And then cultural notes, because Nine isn't getting recapped. (I'll try to censor spoilers.)
Cruel Palace War of Flowers
I was pretty excited with the premise until my feminism alarm went off.
It's very visually lush, and I can see the budget hopes being poured into it by the cable station it sits on... however...
They are going to end up painting her as the oversexed femme fatale that destroys an empire. My feminism is knocking me on the head and saying "NO."
Queen In Soo is one thing... women help the empire and prop it up, but they are going to blame the downfall of a crappy King, Injo, on one woman. And to that I say no.
Skipping and moving on.
Guam Heo Joon
Episode 3-4 was better than I expected. I'm not thrilled with him becoming a thug, but it wasn't too bad... I'm not sure how they'll get to the episode count though.
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Nine
Slight cultural guide...
I'll disclaim that While I am Korean, wasn't in Korea in 1992... so I'm doing this from memory and roughly in order. (trying to keep it spoiler free too)
Episodes 1-2
1. "Beeper"
A Pager... Uhhh... you should know what those are. I never owned one, even in the US. If you need to see how it works, you can watch old episodes of ER.
2. No cellphones, and hard wired...
Yeah, you know people used to have to hold clunky receivers.
Episode 3
3. The band on the screen: Seo Taiji and Boys is my best guess. (Episode 3)
They were a dance group. You can google them, and it definitely looks like them.... Three boys, dancing on screen.
4. Cigarettes
Until recently Korea was behind on cigarettes and smoking was widely accepted, even in public. Nowadays you do it more secretly and away from the eyes of your seniors.
5. President Kim Young Sam and President Roh Tae Woo
President Kim was the first civilian to hold the office in over 30 years. He also arrested his two predecessors on an anti-corruption campaign. (I assume the newspaper is talking about meeting his opponent for the upcoming election.)
6. "First Woman President"
I announced that here a few months back. Though the news cycle should have shifted by now... but I'm nitpicking. It happened at the end of 2012. She won is a pretty good sweep against her opponent.
Episode 4
7. Shows that Kim Young Sam was elected.
8. The 50,000 won.
(You can recognize it for it's brown color) Only a few years back there was no such denomination. (When I was in Korea, the highest denomination was a 10,000 won) It features Dae Jang Geum on the won. Which is a woman. (She see's Sacajawea's 1 gold dollar and raises her bay about 48 dollars).
That's why he can't give it to the bar matron.
Also Korean money has fluxed a lot in the last 20 years. My friend was gone for 6 months and the money had visibly changed by that time, which is why the money he pulls out of his brother's wallet looks different than the money you typically see in Korean dramas.
6. Eric Clapton (Tears of Heaven) released in 1992, January.
Was originally about the death of his 4 year old son, Conor, who fell from a building.
7. Bodyguard
release 1992, November, but it would probably take a while to subtitle, so December 1992.
Episode 5-6 didn't have much to talk about... (I didn't spot anything new.)
Cultural Note: Taxis in Korea
i.e. Why you should avoid taking one.
Seeing one in Nine, inspired me.
- The meter does *not* run on distance traveled. It runs on time. The taxi driver gets lost--you pay more. You know that scene where the person is stuck in trafic and hops out? That's because it's not only costing time, but money. Yes, money for idling. Watch that meter.
- They will lie to you about tipping, especially if you're a foreigner.
YOU DO NOT TIP THEM. (I know what the dramas say, it's not true--the character is in a hurry, that's not a tip)
- There are no regulations on taxi drivers or special licenses. Anyone can claim to be a taxi. Which means if you get scammed, you will not get that much help.
Also, the base fare is not regulated by anyone.
- The Publics transportation is cheaper and well connected. There are buses to the airport and to the hotel for cheap (less than 2,000 won), and there is the 2 lines that goes around the city, plus buses are cheap. You can tour the whole city (from the last payment) of 2,000 won. Only 2 dollars on the 2 line.
- It should not cost more than 3,000 won to go anywhere. If it does, argue and threaten with the police. (That's 3 dollars US)
In another words, skip the taxi, take the subway or the bus, plus the upside is that you can see real people, rather than the people they see on television.
If you do take one "accidentally" take a picture of their license (which can be a lie, but at least you'll get their picture) and of the license plate. (They are less likely to scam Koreans though... they do try.)
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am
March 29, 2013 at 6:35 AM
Thank you! This is pretty insightful :)
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channah
March 29, 2013 at 7:11 AM
I think you are misunderstanding what Jeong Ha Yeon is trying to do with Cruel Palace: War of Flowers. He mostly likely will try to humanize the historical figures that were made out to be villains. (Watch Shin Don to see what he is trying to do)
That doesn't really mean that he will portray Lady Jo as an poor little helpless woman that was conned by the evil evil men into doing the things she did. She most likely had her own motivations and reasons for what she did and the politics at court seemingly didn't do her any favors.
I would rather see an portrayal of an flawed human being than an innocent lamb or an evil seductress.
And I personally think that feminism is about seeing women as an human being equal to any men with the same potential for good and evil. Wanting to only see woman as saints doesn't help the cause any...
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 7:35 AM
The problem is the commercials promised that King Injo was taken down by one woman.
Injo was one crappy king and voted one of the worst. If they blame his crappiness on her, which they are promising to, I'm out. "The woman that brought down an empire." NO.
I'll repeat it again: INJO WAS CRAPPY. Blame it on the right person. Don't shuffle history to blame it on one woman. In this case, put the blame on the right person.
I don't need the woman to be angelic--if you watched Queen Insoo, you knew that the good characters were not always good. The main female character in that is seriously odd in some ways in her moral justifications. However, she's not shown explicitly trying to run a crappy empire with a weak king and blamed for everything he does in history. Dudes gotta take blame for their OWN crappy decisions.
I did watch the first episode... but I'm feeling really wary....
I don't even mind the reform story... Prosecutor Princess... or even Get Karl! or the reform story of Fantasy Couple...
I do, however, mind when they shuffle blame... and they are promising that by making her run an era which was weak to begin with (Look at what you do when you leave a woman in control? --;;). And that, I definitely take issue with. Insoo, is fine. Flawed moral character that's not boring Jin Yeong (Horse Doctor, whom I complained about being boring... I preferred the Princess.). This piece looks like veiled misogyny.
*ranty* *rant*
Excuse me if I don't have that much faith in a man writing a woman with this sort of plotline. 정하연 (Jeong Ha Yeon)
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Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 7:53 AM
When Injo bowed his head to Hong Taijii so hard he bled, I pumped my fist in the air, yelling, "Hong. Tai. Jii!"
My neighbours must've wondered who I had with me...
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:20 AM
Thanks Kimi, for the taxi advise. Will be avoiding those. :D
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DayDreamer
March 29, 2013 at 11:51 AM
Wow, Kim Yoomni, that was very interesting stuff...especially the one about the taxis.
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3 meanrice
March 29, 2013 at 6:29 AM
Hello! Wishing everyone a great Friday and totes awesome Easter.
Work got in the way and my drama watching has been put on hold, someone please tell me which is worth picking back up out of: Iris2, Ad Genius Lee Tae Bak, The Wedding Scheme, and Ghost.
I like to have a few I can marathon and a few newer ones in rotation.
I just thought of a freaking fantastic tshirt idea: "my marathons last at least 16 hours." So not a runner...
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Lovebug
March 29, 2013 at 8:16 AM
Hi meanrice! (Happy Easter)
I have only seen wedding scheme and Ghost out of those on your list and I recommend both. I actually really liked the Wedding scheme though the female lead is bit unlikable but in the beginning but it made her character believable. I just loved the OTP they are both petty and bicker like crazy and totally perfect for each other. And I was happy to see Lee Kyu Han FINALLY get a lead role. Be forwarned its not the light happy rom com like it may first appear (it may better characterized as a workplace kimchi family drama with a couple cute romances). I say worth it!
Oh yeah and Ghost is good too! Daniel Choi cameo was awesome!
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meanrice
March 29, 2013 at 1:08 PM
Thanks team! That is what I was leaning towards. The Wedding Scheme I got in 8 eps then had to go on hiatus. OTP's bickering is a dynamic b/t me and a friend. We once fought about who could camp better.
Daniel Choi! He is one of those actors I want to watch e everything he is in, but then I watched almost all of the Musical and thought he was punishing me.
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MEalways
March 29, 2013 at 9:43 AM
For me Ghost and Ad Genius Lee Tae Bak.
Ghost for the noir story (but the end could be much better). Tae Bak for the simplicity and fun - watch out for the mature version of JaeJong (but I think this one/the look alike is cuter... Personal preference).
If you really like repeat story, almost the same characters, and traveling, you might like Iris 2.
Hope it helps.
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Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 10:44 AM
haha I'm not the only one who noticed - when he first popped up I went oooh, MAN-SIZED JaeJoong! It's weird, too, they had him as a dumb musclehead int he beginning and then he turned out to be not really dumb at all, just kind of at a loss in front of girls.
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4 am
March 29, 2013 at 6:30 AM
I'm gonna get down right to it since this is important.
Let's talk about Nine.
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 6:51 AM
Yes, let's! My mind's a mess trying to figure out the time travelling and how it all works BUT I LIKE IT!
I hope the writers have pre-planned it thoroughly, because if they have this drama could be awesome beginning to end.
*sits down, cup of coffee in hand, ready for a conversation*
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 7:03 AM
I favor the idea that the people he tells travel with him through parallel dimensions...
But I kinda like unexplained magic. And also the fairytale magic. Explanations aren't important... Magic is magic.
But as I said, still irked at the making Hinduism "exotic".
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alua
March 29, 2013 at 7:15 AM
Oh, I like unexplained magic too.
I agree on the "exotic Hinduism" bit as well.
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Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 7:28 AM
Urgh, seriously? In a land where people are Buddhist (or were)? Buddhism comes from Hinduism and Siddhartha was a contemporary of the Prophet Abraham.
Or maybe it was Noah. I forget. Read Karen Armstrong's book on Buddha for that info.
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 7:56 AM
There are still Buddhists in India, just the Southern type.
There are also Christians, Sikhs, Jainists, Muslims, etc.
Hinduism is dominant, but it doesn't come in one united form. The base philosophies though throughout the sects is very much like Buddhism... so I was really confused at the "secret sect" and "Hinduism" bit. When they easily could (especially near the mountains like that) be made by Buddhists.
But then, *some* Christians are demonizing Muslims in the US, despite the large similarities between the religions (and they haven't really read the religious books of the Bible and Quran--the whole jihad crap the ignorant are launching is amazing. Have they read the Bible? I'm working on the Quran--because I'm a nerd.). Also, I guess, they hated the whole enlightenment the Muslims brought in from Spain too... things like you know, math... medicine, science, Greek and Roman culture that people worshipped... Courtly love... poetry... (In another words, don't bad mouth a culture/religion until you understand it and its influence on you)
Maybe I shouldn't be so quick to being surprised. However, I am disappointed... I may have to warn my friend from India about it...
Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 8:07 AM
@KimYoonmi, well said!
And good for you exploring the Quran and the Bible. At a very basic non-religious level, there's so much we can learn from both, and then, they also are spiritual books, so they are uplifiting too.
I recommend Yusuf Ali's Quran translation, with annotations, because he explains a lot of the history and the knowledge around each sura (chapter).
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:34 AM
I love how everyone here is so progressive. I live on a small island that is 95% Catholic, which is fine but I didn't really notice how conservative most of my friends were till I got on FB and was bombarded with their post.
KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 8:52 AM
Though I'm not Christian, I have to admit, I find Psalms the best part of the Bible. It feels more like core philosophies about how to view the world rather than preaching about how one should or should not view God. (I'm that way with most religions though.)
I find the Old Testament important, yet in the views of most Jews, most of it is dated for a specific time frame (Even for the Orthodox Jews). And the New Testament is interesting as a religious debate in motion, but I find it a bit scattered. Still, I do like debates. So Psalms kinda cuts between the two... it feels more like meditation of religious issues without clear cut answers.
I haven't gotten through the Quran far enough to judge the text, but I definitely thank you for the recommendation.
And for the record, just in case people are going to argue, Jihad is NOT about blowing up stuff. From what I understand (so far), it's devotion to God, who happens to be called Allah. And I believe that Christians share a similar belief about devotion to God. (Which is done through prayer in both cases... and there are extremists in all religious organizations anyway... *cough* Legitimate rape *gags* *cough* Not even in the Bible... in the Bible, rapists get punished and harshly.)
Still working through it, though.
And I'd recommend Robert Alter's version of the Bible translations for better annotation and explanation of the history, translation, etc. for the academics that want to learn about it.
I'm currently nerding on Muism (Korean Shamanism) as well. I can see a lot of the ways it subtlety shaped Korea.
CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:09 AM
::chuckle:: Yeah, i was like..."uhm, so even South Koreans get all mystical about Nepal?"
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owl
March 29, 2013 at 9:18 AM
Kim Yoomni - I really like Robert Alter's OT translation and commentary. His newer book, "Pen of Iron: American Prose and the king James Bible" is insightful on the Bible's influence especially on early American literature. Another theologian I like is John Sailhamer.
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CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:29 AM
IF you read the New Testament, definitely read them in conjunction with the book of Acts. Also check out David Pawson's teachings on the Bible. His videos are found on youtube and also at davidpawson (DOT) org He'll help you understand that the epistles/letters really aren't scattered, just dealing with the issues in each church they were addressed to.
And true, Christianity got a lot from Islam. The idea of the crusades definitely came from the Moslem idea of Jihad. Jihad doesn't show up in the first part of the Qu'ran but towards the end...well... it's pretty harsh on non-believers.
The typical Christian and the typical Moslem, however, are pretty easygoing good folks.
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owl
March 29, 2013 at 10:07 AM
Carole - my go-to theologian right now is Luke Timothy Johnson for Acts (Sacra Pagina series) and Luke-Acts. His lectures are an insightful walk-through the Bible as well. I love the idea of studying Luke-Acts as the 2 vol. book it is rather than the traditional 4 gospels and Acts on its own.
Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 10:55 AM
I would've thought crusading would have its origins in the Israelites fighting to enter the promised land after 40 years in the desert.
Especially since the chronological order is Old Testament, New Testament, Quran.
Just a thought...
KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 11:20 AM
Leviticus, Old Testament was also harsh on non-believers as well. The whole gentiles only deserve dried up rotten grapes on your doorstep thing was pretty harsh... (And no, Jews nor Christians do that. At least I know of.)
The difference and the theorized conflict is that Muslims also convert people, which may be part of the reason for the base conflict. (I mean pre all of the war on terrorism, which I wish people would separate....).
Christianity also had a problem with the Hare Krishna who also converted followers back in the 1960's.
I do get that the letters were debates over various issues, but being into fiction and fiction writing, I tend to dislike the whole, "This is how God is and should be." Also the various versions of how Jesus came to be and rose...
Old Testament, it kinda made sense when two were smacked together, but I found it odd the Apostles couldn't ya know, talk and work it out the new Testament with each other... (I've heard stories of heated disagreements and arguing, particularly Paul... who, according to historians and theologians say he had a really huge temper. And had (not my words) "tantrums.") Peter and John of the lot seem the most level-headed... But I have skewed perceptions.
Still, Psalms is my favorite of the lot. As I said, it feels a little less like preaching and more like contemplation, which is closer to religions I tend to like.
Vedanta Hinduism, for example is my favorite out of the sects. And I kinda like the Northern type of Buddhism (save everyone, not just yourself), and I have somewhat of a fondness for shamanism in general... Oh and real life Voudou is awesomeness. (The movie stuff is just not as close to cool as the real thing). I also tend to like early, early Christianity... which didn't survive into a sect. (The first century stuff). Yes, nerd.
CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 11:28 AM
Owl:
I'll check him out. Thanks! And if you can, definitely check out David Pawson. Very insightful as well. Thanks so much.
TS:
I just meant to say that the idea of invading an earthly land and creating a kingdom on earth was not in Christianity, which focused on a spiritual heavenly kingdom. When Constantine came, the idea of an earthly kingdom started. But even then, it was more of a defensive mode. The idea of conquering other lands with earthly warriors was not part of New Testament Christianity. If anything, Christians were to conquer the world by healing the sick, raising the dead, preaching...not by fighting with human weapons but with spiritual weapons.
owl
March 29, 2013 at 11:37 AM
I find the Psalms are centered as they point back to the past, rest in the present, and indicate future hope for a universal appeal.
am
March 29, 2013 at 7:34 AM
I guess they've got this down til the end because it seems like a pretty solid plot to me. They're leaving out a lot of things and slowly peeling all those mysterious answers episode by episode. There's always something to watch out for in each episode.
Right now, I'm really eager to find out about the rules of time traveling. They seem to have some similarities with QIHM but not quite. Something is always slightly different.
Like this http://taho.tumblr.com/post/46136331324/nine-9-times-travel-what-we-know-so-far
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jomo143
March 29, 2013 at 11:14 AM
Like it!
I added one : Only two people, so far can remember the Past v.1, and those are people that know about the fact that SW used the incense.
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Lisah
March 29, 2013 at 8:50 PM
I think there are only two people that WE know are aware of the alternate timelines. I suspect others may also be aware, but are pretending not to (not that they are hiding it from SW, but because they do not know SW is a time traveler).
KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 7:01 AM
Did it already without the spoilers. Coding spoilers.
I thought episode 5-6 were needed episodes, but still felt like the pace was a bit slow. The twist on the cost of going back wasn't one I'd really thought of since "cost" with time travel isn't something that I expect from the East. (Direct cost--the idea that magic needs a direct cost is something out of the 1900's forward, in the West... and one I both like and dislike... like because you can play with it, dislike, because it's not really realistic to the place and time settings of most fiction where the magic was created.)
In this case, for the culture the incense sticks came from, and the people who were said to make it, I really don't believe the cost would be built that way. But then, I'm kinda a culture nerd. And I know Hinduism fairly well. Hinduism's concept of time is also different, but not that far from Buddhism. (I'm a bit irked at the idea presented in the drama that Hinduism is SO much different from Buddhism and is a "mysterious" religion... when it isn't. It's related to Buddhism fairly closely in its philosophies, except in some small concepts.)
Despite that the clip isn't bad. Just wish it wasn't 2 episodes of angsting when you know what's going to happen because they've been going over it since episode 3-4.
I'll probably be happier with 7-8.
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am
March 29, 2013 at 7:28 AM
I'm thoroughly wondering whether the writers have conceived Nine before or during QIHM. Because viewer opinions matter so now I'm thinking maybe they're not gonna do this because they've already done it or the viewers don't like it or it's predictable. Usually, I don't even try guessing as I go along but darn, this Nine ship sinks and I sink with it because I'm super hooked right now and I have all these burning questions.
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 7:55 AM
Not sure if I got the fact right but I read somewhere they wrote Nine first. But because it's big budget they decided to delay.
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am
March 29, 2013 at 8:14 AM
They've probably done some tweaks here and there but thank you for the info :)
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 9:31 AM
Wont be surprised if they did a few adjustments. :)
nakai
March 29, 2013 at 7:52 AM
If it continues to stay good, I would say best drama in 2013 so far. Episode 4 onwards I fell in love with the show all over again.
And I kinda hate myself now for not realising how awesome Lee Jin Wook is. lol
Love the whole scene/conversation in ep 6 when she comes to his room twice ....his voice...T.T Heartbreaking. He misses her even though she's right there in front of him. Good acting on his part. I like how he carries that conversation throughout.
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Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 8:13 AM
That was incredible to watch - so much emotion conveyed somehow on his expressionless face, and every sentence carrying double meaning.
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 9:30 AM
I know right. I cant stop watching it.
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am
March 29, 2013 at 8:20 AM
I hated his character in Spy Myung Wol but my eyes betrayed me! Boy is fiiiine.
Named QIHM my fave drama last year and Nice Guy didn't topple it over despite the DB year-end awards...this is coming in pretty close to fave drama of 2013 :)
I loved that scene too T.T but then I kept going back to the scene Min Young calls him 'Uncle'. Cringing Level: Legendary.
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 9:35 AM
I only started to like him since I Need Romance 2012. Took me a looong time.
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hillarytnt
March 30, 2013 at 2:21 PM
You all should watch him in one of his earliest dramas ... Someday ... He looked like a kid then. Someday was my introduction to kdramas ... And marathoning online when 2 hours a week wasn't enough for me.
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jomo143
March 29, 2013 at 11:20 AM
The start of Ep 6 - That was a stomach clencher for me, I could hardly rewatch it as many times as I did.
There was sooooo much going on behind his eyes in the silences.
This is how I described the moment she asks him -
"So what if you broke up - Why don't you go back with her?"
He gives that tiny little smile to the woman he loves hiding behind the girl in front of him. You can feel somehow that he is communicating wordlessly to her heart for a moment and closes his eyes, takes a deep breath before replying.
“She doesn’t remember me.”
OY!
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 12:11 PM
Sad but so perfect and beautiful.
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Jambo
April 1, 2013 at 10:28 AM
Wow, I saw I Need Romance 2012. It didn't even click it's the same actor!
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:12 AM
hey am, i want to get in on this 9 talk but am an epi behind and so avoiding spoilers. But I'm lovin it! Next week I'll be ready to join y'all.
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am
March 29, 2013 at 8:21 AM
aww...we'll try not to spoil too much :) join us spazz next week!
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Raine
March 29, 2013 at 8:56 AM
Sounds like I need to get watching this drama...
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 10:38 AM
Please do.
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Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 10:46 AM
oh you DO. You really, really do.
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jomo143
March 29, 2013 at 11:22 AM
Yes, you are required, actually.
The notice is on the way in the mail.
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CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 9:52 AM
Right now, I'm thinking the question of whose happiness is more important is very hard for most people, but to a guy who is a decent person who loves other people.....well, to choose his own happiness is hard.
And now..wow, ramifications and un-knowing...even harder.
So it's either gotta be A) one person's happiness or B) family's or friend's happiness but not hero's happiness or C) going back to the original timeline --which may or may not be the original timeline because his brother might have affected hero's timeline before drama started without hero knowing it. or D) everyone's life being improved through the incense stick. Or someone being the unknown sacrificed sufferer that all the others can have a good life.
Hero is good and unselfish. But hero's brain is going...which makes me wonder. Did young version of hero tell younger version of his brother about the incense and start the muddle going?
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 10:45 AM
That's interesting. Maybe that's why hero still has the stuff he found in Nepal ? Brother did find the incense first but this time in a different way?
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CaroleMcDonnell
March 29, 2013 at 11:31 AM
In Queen Inhyun's Man, our hero's time-travelling parchment worked as long as he wasn't selfish. So am thinking that as long as our hero doesn't do anything blatantly for his own happiness...he'll be in safe territory. (Notwithstanding brain tumor and all.)
Who knows what brother did? OR why he developed bi-polar issues? Is it possible Brother created his own mental problems by fooling around with the incense?
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nakai
March 29, 2013 at 12:32 PM
I think Brother's fight with their father was something more than about the girl. But I'm hoping he wont be guilty of something big.
Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 2:43 PM
and there was someone there when the brother died, we saw the shadow. I immediately assumed it was Sun Woo.
Mama J
March 29, 2013 at 2:44 PM
although that doesn't fit with remembering the past, except it hasn't happened yet in his past, so I guess it still works.
nakai
March 30, 2013 at 3:02 AM
I need to rewatch that part. I didnt notice the shadow.
CaroleMcDonnell
March 30, 2013 at 11:05 AM
Ooh, Nakai...that's a thought! Yes, maybe Dad and son had other weird family stuff going on. Why does Dr Choi keep asking about older brother? Is it because older brother knows some secret that can clear up hero's (mis)understanding of the past? Heck, is older brother Dr Choi's son?
Joanne: Maybe someone ELSE other than brother and hero know about the incense?
The mind reels.
5 ariane
March 29, 2013 at 6:32 AM
just love how queen noguk and general choi young are coming back... ahh so excited to see them
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ariane
March 29, 2013 at 6:34 AM
i'm gonna flipping tables if they're gonna cast some idols... and lee yeon hee..
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6 Dix
March 29, 2013 at 6:34 AM
The only thing consistent about dramas these days is btw ep 10 and 14 I expect them to go down hill and if it's a long drama by ep 23 I expect the same. Is it writer-fatigue or do they really think changing a storyline midway really works?
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 6:50 AM
Remember the live shoot system is hard on writers too. They can plan for contingencies, but that's about it. If the producer or the network says to change it, they still have to make the changes. Ratings dictates a lot.
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:22 AM
yup, that must be so fustrating for the writers. I'm sure many a dramas were ruined that way.
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KimYoonmi
March 29, 2013 at 9:07 AM
Not to mention the whole adding and deleting episodes looming over one's head when the drama either tanks or does better. That would definitely drive me nuts.
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7 KHJ
March 29, 2013 at 6:38 AM
*JTBC CRUEL PALACE/ WAR OF FLOWERS*
OMG the opening scene just flow me away with Lee Duk hwa excellent acting.
wow a great show, great actings of Kim Hyun Joo, Lee Duk Hwa and Jung Sung Mo which got I hooked.
The scenarios are so beautiful, this makes me want to see more beautiful landscape of Korea.
Love the music in everyone scene.
and the sad love story of Kim Hyun Joo+ jeon Tae soo which makes me giggle like a fangirl .
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Tulipsaki
March 29, 2013 at 7:28 AM
I like this show! It's got me for now.
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Shiku
March 29, 2013 at 7:50 AM
Me too! It left me literally speechless!!!! I don't know how many times I rewound that first scene watching it with tears running down my face. Lee Duk Hwa and the rest of the cast really did a good job.
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 8:18 AM
you r making me what to watch it. is it a new drama?
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Shiku
March 29, 2013 at 8:43 AM
Yes it's a new drama which started last weekend and its already subbed! Such dramas usually take weeks to sub. Thank you subbers.
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KHJ
March 29, 2013 at 11:03 AM
yeah I was surprised by the fact that the sub came out so fast.
cant wait to see more
love the fact that there are so many names and so many seniors actors on the show.
Enz
March 29, 2013 at 9:11 AM
Yah! Have you finished CP or not?! :)
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Pillowhead
March 29, 2013 at 10:13 AM
haha. no. i'm on 11. I'll b done and ready for that tour. don't u worry. lol
8 cv
March 29, 2013 at 6:40 AM
Happy ot all! ^_^
This week had been busy for me n RL. Didn't get to watch any dramas but did read recaps.
Been catching up on my reading bks-some ineresting, others-meh.
Watched kpop star 2, top 3 pretty good. I hope Andrew Choi or akdongmusician wins. ;p
Watched Voice k2, got some very talented singers.
Saw Lee hi's mv "Rose". I like it alot. Will probably buy second half of her album on itunes.
Still waiting for GD's mini album.
Aziatix and JYJ album need to come out soon too.
Enjoy ur Friday/weekend!
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acejihyo
March 29, 2013 at 7:21 AM
ah, someone else who watches kpopstar2 ^^
my favorites have actually already been eliminated but rooting for akdong atm (also it's insane how high they chart digitally).
rose was lovely just from a visual standpoint, but the song's a really nice listen as well (hayi's voice never fails lols).
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Belle3005
March 29, 2013 at 8:22 AM
I know this may come across as a tad bit mean but I really think that JYP's biasness towards Bang Yedam is too over already. 2000 won's performance last week was pretty good,in fact I thought it was one of their best on the show. At this point of time I just want either Andrew Choi or Akdong Musician to win,although I suspect the latter is more likely to do so given their popularity. No,I am not a Bang Yedam hater just in case you're wondering but I do stongly feel that he's highly overrated. He's talented but I have to admit that his recent performances are pretty sub par as of late. Am pretty pissed at JYP right now,think his over-the-top expressions are starting to get on my nerves. I'm starting to lose faith in this show. Voice Korea 2 on the other hand,I feel truly focuses on the contestant's vocal talent rather than,say,the Kpop Star quality in them.
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acejihyo
March 29, 2013 at 8:35 AM
i have nothing personal against byd, or any of the other contestants (they're all extremely talented to a certain degree), but yes, there's such a double standard in terms of judging when it comes to byd. i believe that potential should not outrank current talent.
as for the system on the whole, the judges/pds have mentioned before that it's unlike other auditions shows where vocals is the top priority. they're also looking for the star factor/performance quality etc. that said, however, imo this season's quality just isn't the same standard as season 1.
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owl
March 29, 2013 at 8:40 AM
So excited for kpop star 2 semifinals on Sunday :)
Akdong Musician - cafe trendy folk fresh songs. they are very talented and extremely likeable. i hope they aren't pushed into cottoncandyfluffnothingness by the sponsors.
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Enz
March 29, 2013 at 9:55 AM
The girl's voice reminds me of the lead singer from w & whale.
http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=juA0Hw5EgaA&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DjuA0Hw5EgaA
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owl
March 29, 2013 at 12:53 PM
Yeah, see what you mean. Their voices are melodic yet sharp. And their rap style is sing song melodic as well. I like!
owl
March 29, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Racoon Boys "Thriller" - amazing hotness! (ep 8, I think)
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cv
March 29, 2013 at 9:37 AM
Love racoon boys. I hope they get signed with an agency. They are good.
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owl
March 29, 2013 at 10:00 AM
Although they could've come up with a better name for themselves...all I can think of is rabies/
cv
March 29, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Haha. ;D
Well, they do look like raccoons. Lol cute ones tho.
am
March 29, 2013 at 8:37 AM
hi cv!
I can't believe GD is already coming out with new material when my 2NE1 bb's are probably somewhere gathering dust at the YGe basement. No GD hate coz I mostly like his stuff but YG...ugh, get it together.
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cv
March 29, 2013 at 8:58 AM
Hi!
I heard 2ne1 is working on their album too. Heheh
YG family is working hard on quality, not quantity.
SOL is wrking on his solo album too! Yes!
Also waiting for Tablo to come out another ablum too. ^^
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9 cherkell
March 29, 2013 at 6:40 AM
Happy OT Fellow Beanies! I've been AWOL because of work and family issues that I'm still trying to plow through. And sorry for yet another hit-and-run, but I have to be at work really early today since I will be finding out if the law firm I'm under contract at will be closing its doors over the next few weeks. Needless to say, the pit in my stomach grows larger as the minutes tick by, so I'll be back online later.
So Happy Good Friday and Easter to those who celebrate -- my new favorite Easter Candy find this year? Chocolate Mousse-Flavored Peeps Dipped in Dark Chocolate. If you can find them, stockpile a bunch because they're only released for 2013. YUM. YUM. YUM.
Have a good day, minasan! Mata ne!
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cv
March 29, 2013 at 6:44 AM
Cher, hi ya!
Wowser, busy busy! Hope u hear good things. Happy easter! Just another day for me. ;) get to eat chocolate tho. ^^
Have a good weekend!
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RockPaperScissors
March 29, 2013 at 6:53 AM
There is an entire store in the Mall of America devoted to selling Peeps. Which tells me that all is right in this world. "Make Peeps, not war".
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