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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

Time for our weekly check-in.

Hope your week was better than mine! This week, my body decided it was done doing what I asked it to do and laid me up in bed, refusing to bend in any of the natural ways that would allow for sitting in a chair, or standing in front of a desk, or settling into any position conducive to doing work. Real questions asked this week: “Do you think I need a hip replacement?” and “I’m sorry Cat, is my pain inconveniencing you? No no, don’t move on my account.” Also: “Girlfriday, can you bring me something to eat, maybe in a straw? Something that doesn’t require me to sit up or lift my head or move?” I tell you all this not to fish for sympathy (sympathy can suck it), but in the hopes of making something productive out of my pain, like entertainment.

Sadly, this was a result of overdoing the whole sit-at-desk-and-write-about-dramas routine, which you would swear didn’t have a lot of downsides until your body begged to differ. Even more sadly, this is not the first time in Dramabeans’ existence that this has happened to me, the first time resulting in six bedridden weeks in December 2014, thanks to our possibly overly ambitious previous year-end review format. In case you’re wondering, it was exactly this reason that spurred us to change up the format this past year, since despite my love for Korean dramas, I put my foot down at actually allowing them to incapacitate me physically. Turns out, watching dramas can be more hazardous than you’d think! I felt like a real-life reenactment of that morbid comedy Take Care, which I found hilarious and horrible and real, at least for the first half; I stopped watching because I didn’t want to know how that story ended.

Anyway, that meant this week all I was good for was typing laboriously with two fingers, foisting off 90 percent of my work onto girlfriday’s plate like an uneaten pile of cold lima beans, and watching dramas while flat on my back. I think that’s the literal definition of giving both the injury and the medicine.

I’m rambling now, but blame the meds. And the boredom. Oh my god, the mind-numbing boredom.

 

javabeans

Currently recapping: Lucky Romance

Beautiful Gong Shim: A happy pick-me-up drama, even with the story veering ever slightly more emotional and dramatic (though still lighter than most of the other shows on). I love the lead couple, and their quirky random courtship. What’s better than weird goofball Namgoong Min? Lovesick, heart-in-his-eyes goofball Namgoong Min.

Oh Hae-young Again: A little less fun and a lot more heartbreaking this week, although I was ready for the shit to hit the fan and kind of enjoyed the suffering that ensued. Does that make me a bad person?

Mirror of the Witch: The best thing about this show is its unpredictability — the story is fresh and inventive, and I’m content to let it draw me along and reveal itself at its own pace. I would read this drama in novel form.

Dear My Friends: Hilarious in an exasperating way. Every time Go Hyun-jung wails in frustration at getting roped into things despite her best efforts to be entanglement-free, I’m there with her. ‘Cause what can you do when confronted with old ladies whom you love but who make you want to tear your hair out? You can’t scream at them, so you scream ineffectually at the skies instead.

Monster: I watched a lot of Monster this week. Why? I could fish for reasons like Kang Ji-hwan or Park Ki-woong or complicated revenge setups, but really, the answer is simple: It was the only show airing right now dumb enough that I could watch with half a brain and not feel like I was missing much. I could follow it with partial attention, without looking at the screen for long periods of time, and as such it was slightly better than silence. Sometimes.

Descended From the Sun: I know, I know, what is this doing on the list? Basically, I never got around to finishing the last two episodes of the show when it aired, and didn’t really feel a strong need to know how it ended. Now I regret waiting this long, because the wait made it extra anticlimactic to finally reach the end and find it to be as shallow as it was. Everything about this drama feels so flip and cavalier, like nothing was ever that important.

Skip Beat: I ran out of things to watch and was looking for something stupid-happy, although this turned out to be more stupid-stupid. I’d already seen a lot of the bubbly comedies of the type I wanted to see (like Gong Shim, You’re Beautiful, and the like) and recalled hearing about Skip Beat at one point. Donghae is, hilariously, much less terrible an actor when I can’t understand what he’s saying. I prefer Siwon, on the other hand, when I can understand him, so that was a wash. The show’s entertainment quotient couldn’t overcome the too-many-ads quotient, so by the time the fourth ad break hit within the first episode, I was out.

 

girlfriday

Currently recapping: Lucky Romance

Oh Hae-young Again: I’m so mad at Park Do-kyung right now! I feel like the angst is all backwards this week, because I was under the impression that he’d already been through this, knowing who Oh Hae-young was from the near-start, and having decided already to love her anyway. ALREADY. Do I sound like a broken record? Well so do you, Oh Hae-young Again. Make it up to me on Monday or we’re breaking up. Again.

Dear My Friends: It’s strange that Go Hyun-jung’s character is so often unlikable in this show, and yet I’ve never not liked her. She just feels so real and believably flawed, like a lovable mess. I didn’t think her character could handle any more shitty turns in her life, and then this new revelation about her mom hit us all like a ton of bricks, and I actually don’t even know how to process it. Drinking heavily might be a good start.

Beautiful Gong Shim: I finally caught the first episode, and so far I like the quirky characters in this world. I think what sold it for me was Namgoong Min’s weirdness (So odd. So funny.) and the way he and Minah snuggled SO hardcore during their accidental sleepover.

Mirror of the Witch: You know how Yoon Shi-yoon’s eyes sparkle with sadness when he’s sad, and they sparkle with anger when he’s angry, and they sparkle with happiness when he’s happy? How’s he doin’ that?

Entertainer: Wow, this show can be really moving when they take the romance out of it. This recent arc about Hyung’s last song focuses purely on music and family, taking out all the extraneous stuff that Entertainer does badly and just giving us all the earnest brotherly love we could ever want. I was moved to tears by how they brought Hyung back for that brother duet, and I’m sad that this show didn’t figure out its strengths sooner. I have no idea what they’re going to do next week though, since Episode 16 was the climax of the story for me and the only ending I needed.

 

odilettante

Currently recapping: Dear My Friends

Baek-hee Has Returned: I’m pleasantly surprised by how much I’m enjoying this little drama — it’s filled with quirky townsfolk and doesn’t take itself too seriously, and is a nice break from some of the heavier dramas. Kim Sung-oh is definitely a scene stealer and perhaps the best thing about the show, although I love that Baek-hee’s daughter is a “chip off the old block” as she learns more about what her mother was like at her age. It’s maybe not the kind of drama I’d commit to for a full 16 episodes, but I’ll happily stick it out for its run of four. Besides, I need to find out the father is!

Vampire Detective: The last couple of flash-back episodes only make it painfully clear what direction I’d originally hoped this show would go — y’know, where people deal with being vampires as they solve crimes (or commit crimes, if you’re Yo-na). The last episode better have San going full-on vamp mode because that’s all I’ve really wanted since the beginning.

Monster: I still don’t understand why this show couldn’t have been edited down to 20 or 24 episodes, but I’m just glad that they’re bringing back the spy/revenge intrigue instead of getting totally bogged down with boring CEO shenanigans. More of Jo Boa is always a plus, and her hilarious crush on Gi-tan makes me hope there will ultimately be a higher ratio of comedy to angst in the second half.

 

awcoconuts

Oh Hae-young Again: After having spent a few weeks on a drama-watching hiatus, I finally got on the Oh Hae-young Again train (I’m still only two-thirds of the way through the current episode count). I headed into the show fully expecting to love it from the start, but I was surprised to find that it actually took me four or five episodes to really get invested. It’s beautifully directed, superbly acted, and overall exceedingly watchable, but the drama doesn’t quite have the crack factor I was expecting it to have. The characters are drawing me in, however, and by this post next week I could be eating my words.

 
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Well, I must admit I feel quite left out in liking monster...the las episode was especially fun.

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I like it too but it isn't consistently good. There's definitely characters and subplots that I'm a lot more interested in.

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I'm watching Monster too and wishing I had more ppl I could talk about it with.

Of course most of my comments consist of befuddlement and "where are they going with this?" but there are some real moments of hilarity and somehow I keep watching.

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This segment got me watching Gong Shim and I'm absolutely loving the show, so thanks to all the recappers who are watching it (and shared their good comments about it).

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Yep, I think it was the last week's post that prompted me to start watching Gong Shim - so far, so good. Honestly, my favorite part is how NGM smiles when his convenience store food is ready. And his complete infatuation with Gong Shim's wigs.
Eeep, I'm going on a business trip tomorrow and I have no idea if and what kind of internet connection will be available to feed my OHY obsession @_@.

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Me too started watching after last week's review of dramabeans and I just love it, NGM is my new fav but a tad bit seriousness in his face reminds me of his previous roles... LOL, so addicted to his serious face but he's unbearably cute in this one

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Yeah, this is the cutest I've ever seen him. Hard to believe his smile totally creeped me out in the last drama I watched him in, but is so charming and adorable in this drama that I see no traces of the villain. And like PBY, I love ADT's infatuation with Gong Shim's wigs!

Btw, I've noticed several comments referring to him as "Goong Min" or "Nam" or "NGM" (I've probably done it myself)-- but now I know better: his family name is Namgoong, and given name is just Min. Two-syllable surnames aren't very common in Korea, but there are a number of them, including Namgoong, Hwangbo, and Dokko (like Dokko Jin of Best Love).

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Nope. His last name is Nam. Given Names are Goong Min. So in Korean naming standard it's Nam Goong Min. (남궁민).

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risa has it right, actually: His surname is Namgoong, his given name is Min.

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Lol. I actually second guessed my comment and googled it. And then i saw your response Javabeans.

This is the first time i've heard of it. And i was actually NGM fan. I need to do my research. Thanks You guys!

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Whoa! Thanks for sharing about NGM's surname. I actually didn't realize how his name was broken down and learned something new today! Thanks!!

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Oh no! I hope you feel better soon. And I thought I was having illness issues... now mine feel like it's nothing. Anyways, I'm still loving Mirror of the Witch, especially with yesterday. Oh Hae-young to a lesser degree but it's still great.

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Java beans, in my Dear Friens, they have a pair of glasses that would be perfect for you with mirrors allowing the user to lay flat in the bed. Good luck with healing!

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Ahn Dan Tae in Beautiful Gong Shim also gave the halmonyi one of those glasses. XD

I just might take up Mirror of the Witch again. I liked the first two episodes, but I never got to pick it back up.

I agree with the comments regarding Monster. How is that series 50 episodes long? Seeing as the last 50-episode drama I saw was
Six Flying Dragons, I just don't think there's enough material for Monster to keep its pace.

Oh Hae Young. My crack at the moment. And Lucky Romance. Dang, Jun Yeol is breaking my heart. And Soo Hyuk without the guyliner, messy hair, and sinister aura is so unbearably cute. XD

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Get well soon Javabeans! :)
OHYA: I enjoyed the suffering too and felt it was necessary. But I really do need to see happier times this Monday. And I have a feeling that we will. :D

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Javabeans - agreed, Descended from the Sun had a flip and cavalier attitude. Never got the hype, never finished it.

Girlfriday - agreed, Yoon Shi Yoon has sparkly eyes. ?

Odilettante - agreed, the last two episodes of Vampire Detective make me sad for what could have been.

Awcoconuts - Oh well, we can't love them all. But I hope you eat your words.

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Thank God I have found other people like me who just couldn't get into DOTS. Whew, at least I'm one of a group. I don't really know why, but I couldn't get myself to live it the way I love some other dramas.

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You're not alone, I just couldn't get into DOTS no matter how hard I try and the fact that I like SongSong couple, individually and together.
The story is average at best, although I would argue it's one of the better things written by Kim Eun Sook. I've seen worse (Heirs I'm looking at you!).

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Most reactions to Dots are either of total love or total boredom. It's sort of too flashy and pretty to outright hate but like Java beans said since it's so shallow, you just lose interest quickly and never connect to much about it if you aren't sold on the glitz.

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I'm regretting watch the last 2 episode DOTS yesterday, I shouldn't have to... like it's being dragged and forced to have more story. For the first time I feel like 16ep is too much, glad that they didn't extend it

I'm still watch monster eventhough I missed some episode, I dont feel like missed something. Sometimes it's really fun and cute and suddenly turn out to be sooo serious and I don't wanna care about it, let me just get ep 50...

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I could only stand DOTS up to about episode 6 or somewhere thereabouts.

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DOTS was this year's YFAS for me. Cute, but ultimately overhyped.

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I never was rabid over DotS. In fact sneered at the glaring writing errors about real facts and scenes. Thd fans don't take kindly to criticisms of any kind or form. Tunnel vision fans are the worst.

However for sheer entertainment SJK was eye candy and I liked the 2nd male lead. But its not the sort of drama you would rewatch. Certainly not something to go nuts over.

I've just rewatched Family Honour last few days. That stood the test of time not because of terribly good writing. But for all sorts of facts and cultural knowledge I still pick up with each rewatch. Don't know if you would learn anything Kdrama wise from DotS. Good for a post exam marathon or holiday watch maybe.

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Wait, is this about descendants of the sun (DoTS) or descended from the sun because from my memory, they are 2 different dramas..

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Apologies, my memory must have failed me. I was thinking of another drama... they must be the same...

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Same here. I just don't get the DOTS' hype. Like i always said on several forums. SIGNAL deserved the hype not DOTS.

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its nice to hear that there are soo many others who find it hard finishing DOTS. I am actually a fan of kim eun sook's drama (yes even the heirs, tho it wasn't my fav or anything, its was okay) but something about DOTS just doesn't speak excitement or anticipation for me. some eps it even took me 3 sittings to watch.

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DOTS is just a drama I watch when I need to watch something. Not a very addictive drama, just a passer byyyy

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agree on Descendants... I stopped at ep10. Don't understand the hype. Feel like watching something make-believe bec of fake country and war... feel staged.

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Count me in on the "not-liking DoTS" Beanie train. It was just ...meh... a few glorious scenes but they involved scenery and a few close-ups of Song Joong-ki's face. I'm now watching Nice Guy (or Innocent Man on Viki) just to remind myself that SJK is a really good actor - besides being beautiful - and he is! Beautiful Gong Shim is my crack right now and also loving Oh Hae Young Again. More than anything, I appreciate all the hard work by DramaBeans recappers AND our lovely, civilized, well-mannered commenters. Love you all!!

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100% agreement.
I once said something similar about dots and my comment got flooded by DoTS. Atleast because it was DB not many were haters or rude.
they tried to get me to change my mind, but I still remain firm in my opinion that it is typical Kim Eun Sook drama fluffy, cracky, well made stuff but with a lack of reliability and depth.That being said I do enjoy her dramas but don't think Dots is one of her better dramas.

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I couldn't watch the last two eps of Oh Hae Young, as what I love about the show is when they're adorable together. Terrible of me, I know, but I'll wait until the separated couple are back together and acting cute. It had better not be the last 10 minutes of the last episode.
Monster was better this week because of the action. Nuff said. Why isn't anyone watching Master: God of Noodles? I love the noir feel and slow pace, and I usually like fast paced shows. And I like the cast and the music is spot on for the show. Vampire Detectives: I keep repeating what I like is how the vampire has been subtle. He's special because he can go out in the sunlight, and I'm curious if they'll use this quality in resolving the final battle.

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I totally am with you on waiting to watch. I knew my heart would break if I watched so I am waiting until the next two episodes maybe then I will be able to make it through the heartbreak and come out the otherside still functioning.

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Agree about the Noodles it's really the best Wenesday Thursday drama, i love the background music too.

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Aye! It's a high quality production that deserved the top spot in ratings that it claimed last week!

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Yeah. I actually stopped watching OHYA after episode 9. It's struggle to force myself to watch it at the moment. I think I'll wait until it's over. The extension really got to me. I hate it when they do that.

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I think it's because people prefer to watch light happy maybe lil melodramatic shows. I love master of revenge but i understand why not many like it, the show is perfect but its heavy, it quite reminds me of gapdong !

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I keep telling myself that this drama end at ep 10. That's happy ending enough, and we can get lovey-dovey Dokyung and Haeyoung. ㅠㅠ

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even thought this week's episodes were overly angsty, i still love OHYA to pieces ❤

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yas! I hope from here, it will all be lovey dovey moments only for our otp~ <3

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I love this weekly feature!! And girlfriday just nailed the brilliance of Yoon Shi-yoon in Mirror of the Witch!! Where's my sparkly man??

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Re Girlfriday on OHYA
My take on what the writer has been saying is that DK took his fathers advice and shut himself off from attachment. (Cleverly, even his profession is about living life in a secondhand sort of way. Listening to the fullness of the sounds of life but - as a perfectionist grumpy workaholic - not really participating in living life fully).

Shutting himself off was precipitated by the loss of his father and facilitated by the constant betrayals of his mother. And once shut off, his attachments were a result of both his partners momentum and his own inertia. Friendship and attraction leads to dating. Dating without conflict leads to marriage. But throughout, because he wouldn't allow himself to get attached he couldn't truly love.

To me what's key for assessing the development of this drama is to separate what we see (the added insight that the show gives) from what the characters see.

In HIS mind, he stayed with the first HY because he had no good reason to leave her. And in HIS mind he's become involved with the second HY because he felt bad for causing her needless harm.

He's now realizing/acknowledging there's something deeper there. But before he could move forward he needed to realize he had unreasonable attachment issues.

Now what's complicating progress is the whole vision thing. Since he fears he's going to die soon, he doesn't want to put her into pain again. (Logic: The more their lives are intertwined and the closer they get
emotionally, the more her pain of losing him will intensify.)

At the end of the last episode it seems like he's facing this and is resolving to fight to live and love fully.

So he wasn't rejecting her. He had his own issues and fears to face. And their relationship couldn't/can't really blossom until he does.

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The thing I like about HYs character is she is the yin to his yang. While he is overly controlled and ascetic, she is mostly driven by impulse and indulgence.

She's kind of a lovable emotional black hole, though. She needs to gain a sense of completeness within herself in order to be healthy. And stop looking to men and society and pettiness and alcohol to complete / compensate for what she lacks in inner self worth. She's great but doesn't realize it . I like that the last episode showed her self reflecting. She needs it in order to become stronger.

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wow, great comments! I completely agree with you about our OHY.

I love her and DK together, but I think she really needs to spend some time by herself and realize her worth. What I really loved about her at first was that scene where she said that she loved herself despite all the comparisons with pretty OHY. I think she needs to be happy by herself first.

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Another Oh Hae Young has Cheese in the Trapped as far as I'm concerned. If you still love it--ignore this comment. But I was looking for a happy (Marriage not Dating) kind of show. If had I wanted to see an angsty, whiny, makjong, I would have watched Noodle God--which I actually am watching. Because I knew going into it, that it was going to be angsty and revengy.

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I know what you mean. It happened to me. I dislike Marry me Mary the 1st time but love it at the second try despite all the craziness. The same also happened with sassy girl Chun Yang, it endedup as the most watch watched drama in my inventory.

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I see what you mean, but I never saw OHYA as a happy-go-lucky show. We knew right from the beginning that the dude ruined her fiance's life, that would obviously have great repercussions on their relationship at some point. The characters themselves are greatly flawed and have lived through some very, very hard experiences.

It has its funny moments and cute moments, but there has been lots of angst since the beginning.

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It was probably my fault for not doing more research before I started marathoning it. I wasn't watching anything and a bunch of beanies were gushing about how cute this show is. (And it is.) I said that I was looking for something light, because I'm going through enough drama in my own life (I'm doing oral chemo right now.) And beanies suggested that OHY Again was just the light and fluff that I was looking for.
I'm happy that everyone still loves it. It's well acted. And well written. There is just too much anxiety for me--at this time.

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Dear Wag,
Dear Javabean,

Get well soon..!

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Oh dear. Sorry to hear, I hope you recover well.

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Well, I dropped OHYA after the third week and I'm happy with the choice I made. I had a lot of hope because I love Marriage not Dating to bits, but OHYA turned out to be bloated, predictable, and laden with irrational characters. I had some occasional good qualities, but otherwise I thought it was completely overrated for such mediocre quality.

I didn't quit it completely at first - I watched it while washing dishes because that way I thought I could possibly endure a 16-hour music video that it is. But then it turned almost all of its characters ugly at some point and the storyline became quite ridiculous.

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OHYA isn't predictable for me. My guess aren't correct several times. First I thought pretty Oh Hae Young had sickness, but she was run away because she heard the 'pity' word from Do Kyung about her which made her sad. Second, I thought Do Kyung was really jerk because he ruined Tae Jin's business. But it turned out that the old director was the one behind all the mess. Third, I thought Hae Young will back to her fiancee after broke up with Do Kyung, but nope... the girl still loves him and just wanna heard he says I love you for convincing is feeling when Do Kyung still not giving until now.

I enjoyed the angst on last 2 episodes. The faster she knows the truth, the better. Because we can back to the lovely romance again from tomorrow...yeaaayyyyy....

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I'm glad the drama is still receiving love because I adore the actors. It's just that OHYA rubs me the wrong way, kinda like how DOTS doesn't please a lot of people.

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Agree @kitty the direction of the drama is unpredictable to me. I’m surprised my guess failed as well. i still don't know how things will play out in the remaining episodes.

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I though I am the only one who find it predictable,

OHY will not back to her ex-fiancee bc he is not male lead and that's the story goes no matter who is at fault.

the 2nd OHY will back up because of misunderstanding and want to fix it back because it possible (mean she isn't sick or unhealthy or got into the accident), she just decided no to, maybe the oversensitive bride sickness

the male lead will not at fault no matter how the show premise because they want viewers to root for him

there have to be evil mother in law cause who would be evil if the mom heroine didn't

then I think the ex-fiancee will become the bad guy so the viewer will ultimately choose the main OTP even with the little story on that 2nd guy

then add the normal frantic of the office worker and gossip,
I thought what make the show hyped is the acting, especially the 1st lead because she is annoying personality-wise, thinking she only become victim because she wasn't pretty and all she has is the hardness of life, I think it's go beyond just a name if you treated badly or maybe you just not that amusing and you have part in make that situation happen.

I find her high school is pretty normal when she didn't compare herself to anything she's not, but I can't believe she piled that up till today and still think she always in the right side.

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I agree with what you said about the female lead. I like the actress though I couldn't like her characters in Let's Eat 2 or in OHYA. At first, I found the spunky Oh Haeyoung quite charming and relatable, but then her victim mentality becomes too unbearable that she appears self-centered and irrational.

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And you hit the nail on what I meant by "predictable". It was obvious in the first half, but in the second half, the writing is just looking for the easy way out. Of course it's not totally the male lead's fault. Of course the second female lead has to be a selfish bish. Of course the second male lead is quite shady. Well, otherwise we wouldn't have root-able characters.

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hindsight is always 20/20 :)

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Eh, Tae Jin was at fault for the marriage breakup. No one else's.

It's funny how people like to point to it as Do-Kyung's fault, or Our Hae Young's fault, or even other Hae Young's fault (and the show has explored all three angles), but in the end it was Tae Jin's choice, and he's the only one to blame.

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Idk where you getting at but almost everybody agree on that

it just the show emphasizing it on DK too much to make viewer guilty of judgng him

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I don't think it's predictable at all...

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I did the same the second time our male lead went back and forth with hae young's heart i dropped it ! I'm eatching master of revenge but there i understand the angst, melodrama darkness because it suits the characters and its pleasent in a way. Oh hae young is a little sunshine, she's sweet and all and i cant stand her getting hurt over and over again :(

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i love how "cheese in the trapped" is an actual term now.........

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Javabeans take lots of rest. Hope you get well soon :)

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+1 As JB says "watching dramas can be more hazardous than you’d think!", I have first-hand experience. My biggest problem is eyes. I even saw eye specialist because I thought my symptom was same as some Chinese woman who turned out to have glaucoma after watching DoTS and some other k-drama for something like 10 some hours straight. lol

Also one time I was sitting on the floor reading DB comments for a few hours, and I couldn't get up. I had pain for several days, and it was not funny.
Maybe we should have some warning about long drama watching or DB read (lol)
or give out some tips on how to avoid health hazard. lol.

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There should be a pop-up when you've been on DB for 2 hours straight, "These OHYA comments will still be here later. Pls take a walk and stretch your legs."

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Among all the dramas that I've watched up til now (Saturday) this week, I loved the 'Dear My Friends' the best - BEST!

Off to watch the rest..

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Oh I also enjoyed Baek-hee has returned. Actually I enjoyed most of them except Monster, God of Noodles and Jackpot episodes this week.

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I started it purely because nothing else to watch, turned out to be two good episodes of well done quirky characters who are stupid and idiotic but with lots of heart. Plus, I love Ok-Hee and her candidate father's interaction. Who could be the father though??

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I just watched the last 2 episodes of dear my friends and this show is perfection! I'm so glad I picked it up! I love that these veteran actors get to show us how it's done. The story itself is wonderful too! I love how each of the characters has depth. I haven't seen any dramas that focused on the elderly so this feels fresh and dignified to me. I'm sure there will be more sad and heavy moments but I'm glad to be on this ride.

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JB, hope you'll feel more comfortable as the days go. You have to tell the secret in watching tv(?) or small screen flat on your back. How do you attach a monitor on the ceiling? I love to know as I have a tiny loft bedroom and have been thinking along those lines. Right now, I'm typing flat in bed with the phone held above me. Now if you are doing that, I think there'll be serious hand or wrist issues down the line. Oh, what we do for the love of Kdramas. Just watching OHY and I echo Gidget's comments. It's got to he squee element, but. cant quite be fully fan-I got on it. Must be the overuse of alcohol. Hope they don't encourage such behaviour as characters do seem to get away with it save for some embarrassment and a baby ( wt?).

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Sorry for typos...&got the. .. &fan-girl

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In High School King of Savvy there's a scene where a laptop contraption was made with a drying rack and clothes pins, so you could look at your laptop while lying down. It was pretty genius. lol

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I might've already said this in a prev post, but I love these check-ins! I hope you keep them up! :)

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@JavaBeans, hope you feel better!

Still loving OHY, despite the angst. I'm one of those people who liked it even if it was hard to watch..

I'm also wonderi how YSY does it with his eyes...he is sooo damn good. He is like Enrique in 1N2D full of bubbly energy so I'm amazed how he can be so sad in MoTW and be very convincing about it.

And oh NGM, his character is so eccentric I don't even see him as a murderer anymore.

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Yup he is Enrique in 2 Days 1 night.so energetic it drives the other crazy.

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Hey Javabeans I hope you feel better soon. If you need some more fluff that's mostly happy with lots of gentle laughs, try Five Kids!

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Kim sae ron :* amazing work. Yoon shi hoon :) mirror of the witch.. (y)... Both kim are shining. Hoping for next kim to rock. Kim yoo jung unni fighting :) hope in near future some drama casts kim yoo jung and ji soo. Dying to see them together as leads.also yeo jin goo and kim yoo jung.

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Exactly! Shining is the word for both of them. I already knew that YSY is an great actor and was expecting the best, but KSR took me by surprise: it's amazing how she is able to portray such a range of emotions and make a credible adult woman, when she is still fifteen, wow! She is talented. And the chemistry between the two leads is no joke, but in general the whole cast is being wonderful...MotW is a small jewel, and I am loving it to pieces :D

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I'm sorry to hear that your body is up in arms again JB. It seems that anything we do too much of can harm us. When both work and play are the same activity, it's doubly hard to not do much of it!!!

I'll be keeping you in mind and prayer that rest and the right meds will do their job. :)

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Get well soon, JB!! Rest well and don't forget to drink meds. I know it's suck to only lay on your bed and can't do anything, but it's best to let the body rest for a while. And I'm sure Dramabeans has enough minions to cover everything up until you recover completely.

OHYA - since Han Tae Jin returned, the drama has turned to makjang. I'm actually expecting romcom, but the last 2 eps has too much sad and frustrating scenes. Now let's hope the ending won't betray us. We love you Show, don't you dare to pull CITT!!

MOTW - my favorite sageuk of the year! I was really impressed by Yeom Jung Ah who plays Shaman Hong Joo. Her acting really nailed it and kinda reminds me of Sato's mom in Arang and The Magistrate. This week I watched her and Lee Sung Jae in PTCOMR and I was delightfully surprised by the actress and actor in casual setting. The actress are super pretty when she isn't Hong Joo and generally likeable to the point I'm curious to check out her older projects.

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Dear Javabeans,
although Dramabeans is your baby, I hope you focus on your health, take a break, maybe buy a standing desk and come back to us fully healed. In the meantime, you may whip your minion army to do the work - I'm sure they signed a pledge of alliegance when they started to work for dramabeans. ?
(And goodjobhighfive to best roommate Girlfriday!)

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I'm currently watching
Lucky romance : it's not even halfway of the drama, but i already fear of not seeing JSH weekly. What would i do without our not-so-handsome-but-adorable-and-very-charming RJY on my screen?

Mirror of the witch :
Truly unpredictable. That's why it is very interesting. Sparkling YSY? Lol

Another Oh Hae Young :
I hope the happy parts will happen next episodes..

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@ Javabean- hope you feel better... We really appreciate all of you guys' hard work but your health is more important.
Real life has taken over so I haven't watch anything....no comments can be made for all these lovely shows.
Signed,
A ex Kdrama marathon expert

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I am still reeling from shock on how Mirror of the Witch episode 10 ended. OH.MY.GOODNESS.
Somebody help me this show is killing me.

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OMG!! I just watched it too! They got a big surprise for us, hahaha!! I would have never expected that...and the end of the episode, it gave me shivers... I don't know how I will make it till next weekend.
Mirror of the Witch just keeps getting better and better, I want more!

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Same here!! The wait is killing me!! I never thought that they would end it that cliffhanger!! Its driving me nuts

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Hope you feel better Javabeans !!! Sending some healthy vibes your way!

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@JB I wish you a speedy recovery!

@GF Spot on on what you think about Yoon Shi-yoon's performance. This is the first time I watch him in anything and now I understand why his drama Kim Tak-goo was a success even with all its makjang elements. He really is one talented actor AND he actually looks younger than Kwak Shin-yang. I'm convinced he found the recipe for a Baby-faced Elixir in the mauigeumseo and brewed it himself behind Yeon-hee's back. Yes, that has got to be the only reason why he looks so young at 30 years old.

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@JavaBeans, sincerely hope that you will be all good soon! Take care and thank you for entertaining us and keeping us informed for all this time. We owe it to you but please, your health is way more important than all of these. Take care and best of luck!

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ahahahah omg!! yoon shi yoon's sparkly eyes! i so agree!!!

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So I am a long time ( 7 years) reader but I never comment just lurk but so much is happening in dramaland and I don't know a single other person who watches them. Hoping you feel better Javabeans!

What I'm watching:

Oh Hae Young Again: I love this show but it also makes me want to rip my hair out. I was anticipating the angst when the secret came out, so I was wondering why I was so bothered by it. Then it hit me- I was expecting more from OHYA. You tend to recognize certain trends to dramas over the years such as one of the leads keeping a secret from the other which gets revealed around the 10-11 episode mark followed by 2-3 episodes of angst for the characters and discomfort for the viewer. I think because it was on TvN I was expecting something different. It doesn't take away from the show as a whole though. It is still as beautiful as ever, I just always have hard time getting through the angsty period and I kind of wish they showed a bit more of the Soo-kyung and Jin-sang subplot to cut through it a little.

Lucky Romance: This is actually my favorite show right now because it is surprising me. I thought it was refreshing Su-ho found out about why Bo-nui wanted to sleep with him so early and then about her sister too. I thought that they would fall for each other then he would find out the later on and then think their whole relationship was a lie and que the angst train. I think the direction they are going in is far more compelling and adorable. And of course RJY is killing it. But I need to talk about Lee Soo-hyuk. I NEVER get second lead syndrome. It's a built in defense mechanism that is only faulty in dramas where there is no confirmed lead male (reply series). But then his beautiful face showed up on my screen on High School King Of Savvy and ruined everything. I find him very underappreciated especially with improvement he has made. One day he WILL get cast in a lead role opposite an actress I love/can tolerate and there will be a loud sound heard around the world that will be me screaming.

Beautiful Gong Shim: The most adorable drama and my favorite k-drama heroine ever. I just find her so relatable and heart-wrenching and Minah's chemistry with Namgoong Min is just so cute. Gong Shim is just someone you cannot help but root for.

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I think lee soo hyuk is too handsome and that;s why people think he is at best average to minus at acting,

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I'm with you on Lee Soo-hyuk. I totally shipped him with Seo in Guk just because I can be it to dammit. ;)

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@girlfriday That's the best description of Yoon Shi Yoon's acting that I've ever heard! Lol That's why I love him!

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Javabeans, it's not a good sign that your being bedridden is recurring 1 and a half years later. You need to take better care of your health...

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Javabeans please take care of yourself! Hope you feel better soon and back to normal (but a normal that doesnt get you bed ridden!) Hugs and positive vibes sent your way <3

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I love Beautiful Gong Shim so much. I'm still expecting it to hop on the angst train and ride that thing through to ep 19 (I was scarred by my Lee Soon-shin experience, what can I say), but for the time being it's so cute and so sweet. I adore it to pieces. This is the drama I watch as soon as the subs hit 90% on viki.

I'm taking a temporary break from Oh Hae-young Again, because it is DEFINITELY heading toward Angstville: Population of 1. But so long as it doesn't entirely lose its mind, I expect I'll finish it.

And chances are I'll be treading water with those two dramas until Police Unit 38 (the cast! the writer!) picks up later this month. Honestly, though, two airing dramas is better than I've done all year, so vive la summer season.

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Here's hoping the newly-reinforced minion army allows jb and gf a hiatus at some point, you girls need some real time off! Hope you feel better soon Java and you find plenty of good entertainment until then!!

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Oh, javabeans, there's just no way around it when your body finally says no. I wish you fast recovery!

Mirror of the Witch: You know how Yoon Shi-yoon’s eyes sparkle with sadness when he’s sad, and they sparkle with anger when he’s angry, and they sparkle with happiness when he’s happy? How’s he doin’ that?

One of the greatest mysteries of the world.

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Oh no, not you too, javabeans! But long periods of sitting in front of a computer really do cause health problems. I've been there. I can feel your paaiiin, and also the boredom of laying still on your back for days. For me, it was a recurring problem for years. I finally realized that I should really obey what my body says AFTER I had trouble sitting, walking and even laying down without feeling awfully painful a few months ago. Now I'm (trying to be) a good girl and listen my doctor & physical therapist: not sitting in prolonged periods, pay special attention to how I sit while typing (and watching dramas), do some stretching exercises in between, and cut back working hours (ignoring my inner voice shouting: but, but..what about the deadline!!). You're a very lucky girl to have girlfriday & the DB team covering your back! In the mean time, do get a good (and well-deserved) rest and get well soon!

One question though, how DO you watch dramas flat on your back? I hope you have one of those super genius thingamajigs that allows you to do that (like the glasses mentioned by some beanies above) and not watching from a laptop on top of your body or from a tv screen in a position that strains your neck. That's the last thing anybody wants: hip/back AND neck pain!

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I am amazed how young Yoon Shi Yoon looks!!! I was initially turned off by the HUGE age gap and he may look like a creepy ajushii cradle snatcher but they turned out to be visually compatible. Love everything, hate the shamaness. Hope she burns!!!!!!!

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I'm still freaked out sometimes. I know I shouldn't be but I have such fantasies of dating a guy like YSS and then this happens...

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Ugh. Yes. Those sparkly eyes of his. They have the power to make me feel such happiness and such despair, all in a moment.

I, like JB, am a little shocked by how much I still 'enjoy' Oh Hae Young Again, even in all its angsty glory. I totally get why this week's episodes would feel like a backtrack from last week's (with PDK), but, for some reason, I understood the conflict and it resonated with me. And I'm just excited that we've reached the real turning point now. Can't wait for Monday!

Excited to watch Beautiful Gong Shim episodes soon :) and to check out Baek Hee Has Returned!

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Oh, poor Javabeans!

Being laid up, off my feet for 10 weeks. was how I got addicted to Korean drama! And you, dear JB, and GF, were my enablers. Thanks a lot! ;)

Now it's my turn! JB, I think it's time for a new obsession. Maybe a little Jdrama for a change of pace! Try Date, and its' one-episode sequel, Date Special. I think you'll love it. Oh, and if you still haven't watched Delightful Girl CH, this might be the time.

Finally, see if you can get a massage therapist/acupuncturist/chiropractor to make house calls. And rent a massage table that you can lie face down on while watching dramas with the screen below you. Or a chiropractors adjustment table with supports for your arms and a head support where you can lie face down with the screen below you. Or find a salt water pool you can float in. Easier said than done, I know. Hope you feel better very soon. Don't feel bad if you have to foist your work on someone else for awhile. Isn't that why minions were invented?

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Javabeans- get well soon!
Thank you so much for all the hours you and all the DB team put into this site. ❤️

May I suggest Physiotherapy if you haven't tried it yet? I get back pain daily from a crooked back and it helps me tremendously. Must take care of your health so you can spend many many more years doing what you love- watching dramas and looking after this site! Take care and hope the coming week is better for you.

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How come nobody is watching "Five Children"It is the queen of all light-fun-rom-com shows airing now. The lead actress is so cute and the characters are all realistic (considering family drama standards).
I am also enjoying OHYA, I cant breathe until I watch the raw episodes on mondays and tuesdays. Now this time, for the first time in my life (since I started watching dramas like obsessed) I wont have internet on Monday ... ottoke???
I am leaving my job and going back to college. I am not sure if the hostel internet will allow drama viewing sites... what will I do then???? How will I live?? Pray for me sisters _/|_

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Oooh good luck in going back to school! Not sure if you want us to pray for your subjects or the internet. Haha

I bet you'll find ways to watch kdramas from school anyway. Necessity is the mother of invention (and a great source for Spill the Beans stories).

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I finally got some sort of Internet connection finally.. pheww..
I am already figuring out ways to watch to kdrama here , or better yet another kdrama addict like me.. :)

Thank God for super genious VPN technology, got it from GoT fan group of guys who are equally desperate on Mondays.

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The lead actress of Five children- So Yoo-jin - I love she got the perfect role fitting her image. I used to feel bad for this actress because in Delicious Proposal (2001), many who did supporting roles - So ji-sub, Ji Sung, Kwon Sang-woo and even Son Ye-jin made it big, but not the leads - Jung Joon and So Yoo-jin. Since I liked her bright cheerful character role in the show, I felt bad she didn't become as popular as others. Now she got the lead role in the 'Five children' and I am happy for her.

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I was wondering the same thing.
I'm watching OHYA, Lucky Romance and Five Children.
I love them all but I think Five Children comes out on top for me especially for the golf couple~~
Random side note:
I don't understand when people say they don't like a show because its predictable. ALL Korean dramas are predictable, every single one of them- especially if you've already watched a lot of them. You just have to appreciate them for what makes them unique.

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I started watching "Five Children" drama because I was a fan of Sung Hoon since NToG (That guy's face has been chiseled by an artist for sure). But I became a fan of So Yoo Jin after watching the first few episodes. She makes such cute quirky faces.. and the scene where she gets caught singing "I got a boy" ... priceless..
I would really recommend Beanies to give this drama a try.

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Namgoong Min just earned my respect from his weirdness in BGS.

I wonder who is behind the singing voice of Ha-neul in Entertainer. I cried a river on the last episode. waaaahhhh

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Dear Javabeans, I am truly sorry to hear your predicament.

This will be an off-topic post, so feel free to erase it (after you read it). I will use my biomaterials knowledge at you service, since you expressly asked “Do you think I need a hip replacement?”.

A short answer is that probably you will be just fine with a diet, more excercises and phisiotheraphy (please remember that I am NOT speaking as a Doctor, nor as a Biomechanicist but as a Materials Engineering master whose asignatures where mostly in that field, seven years ago - I did study the MATERIALS for hip replacement, their properties and LIMITATIONS, so please take my post with a grain of salt or two).

A hip replacement is the last choice, because even a ceramic-ceramic head/acetabulum pair (probably the best one as far as tribology concerns) does have its problems (AKA possibility of catastrophic failure). A ceramic head with a High Density Poly-Ethylene (with a high degree of cross-linking) acetabulum will be very good, but there have been situations with HDPE debris formation, and some skweaky implants.

Cementated prosthetics are the best ones as far as good adhesion and low debris production is concerned, but look for a specialist with at least 50 implant operations since the cyanoacrylate resins can achieve a very high temperature in inexperienced hands, killing tissue around the application zone.

And NEVER unless extreme circumstances get both your hip relacements at the same time.

Please remember also that my country is on the verge of collapse, so medical advances arrive late if ever.

My downline is, please consider your options. A hip replacement is a God-send opportunity for lots of people, but you will be replacing a very big problem (becoming handicapped) with several nuisances (check-ups, medicine intake, phisiotheraphy, etc.).

If just getting a diet, phisiotheraphy and excercise is an option, please take it. Sorry for my funny English.

Get well soon.

MSc. Mat. Eng. Francisco Gómez. (Universidad Simón Bolívar; Caracas, Venezuela).

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BTW, I am assuming you still doesn't have the femoral neck broken.

And if you have to get a prothesys, stay away from the modular ones: they tend to have a higher failure rate.

Coming back to Dramas, which ones do you recommend these days?. I got traumatized by Warm & Cozy and haven't seen any airing dramas since... following Vampire Detective using your posts, though ;) .

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Dear javabeans,

So sorry to hear of your painful condition. Sometimes the only thing one can do is lie low and mitigate gravity as much as possible. A floatation tank might be just the ticket -- or simmering the aches away at the jjimjilbang.

Just before starting a translating project, I had a nasty fall on the stairs some years ago that entailed bouncing down a couple of steps, and landing on my butt each time, which wiped out one hip and sprained the heck out of my tailbone. The crunching of my ribcage resembled a sound effect in OHYA. Just what I needed on top of the scoliosis already killing my shoulders.

No way could I sit at a computer. I researched office ergonomics and found articles on DIY solutions. The droolworthy standing desks were out of my league. (I've been looking around for the article I found most helpful -- it was written by a physical therapist who operated an ergonomic furniture store, I think in California, but I've struck out so far.)

I ended up buying a manually-adjustable 6-foot drafting table so I'd have a large, tilted surface (just like monks used in scriptoria) to spread my papers and have my dictionaries at hand. Bought a pair of dandy Atlas book/copy holders for my main pair of oversized, heavy dictionaries so I wouldn't have to keep hefting them. [The racks were a godsend -- and would be great for holding cookbooks, too.]

My work area is set up like a galley kitchen, with the drafting table on one side of the aisle and my PC workstation on the other. My computer desk is vintage Steelcase, which I raised on cinder blocks and patio blocks. Although I installed a fully-adjustable extensible keyboard support, I later switched to a small adjustable -height table for the keyboard and mouse. When typing, I used one of the book racks to hold copy.

This setup enabled me to move around a lot while working, although I eventually got a high stool to rest on.

One thing I was told by an old friend who's been a massage therapist for many years: carpal tunnel syndrome is associated with nerves in the neck, it's not just in the wrists. Proper spinal alignment is needed in addition to caring for the wrists and hands.

Have you considered really becoming the Dictator-in-Chief and using voice recognition software such as Dragon Naturally Speaking? Let you computer transcribe your thoughts. I don't know if it's available for Korean and English, but I was able to track it down for German and English. It might help spare you a lot of pain and suffering.

Thanks for all you do for lovers of Korean drama and culture. Be well!

And thanks to the rest of Team Beans for holding the fort! ;-)

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The not-getting-around-to-watch-the-last-two-episodes thing, I'm familiar with that. Most recently I did it with Goodbye Mr Black and before that, Pride and Prejudice. It just didn't care what happened to any of the characters at the end. Should have done same with Descendants but I did want to see how things turned out for the secondary couple.

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I love monster..... Got hooked since ep1.. I like the story as it gets it more interesting and exciting ...dont mind if its 50 eps.. And by the way , all the actors are doing great..

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GirlFriday verse

Mirror of the Witch: You know how Yoon Shi-yoon’s eyes sparkle with sadness when he’s sad, and they sparkle with anger when he’s angry, and they sparkle with happiness when he’s happy? How’s he doin’ that?

EXACTLY!.
Its a plus and make me addicted to this pieces (i'm never like saeguk before), an yeahhh, background music of Mirror of The Witch has its gems..

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Girlfriday on Entertainer: I know right. very true. Scrap that romance then I'll give the drama a perfect score (based on my preference). I hate Hyeri's performance in the drama. very annoying.

On DEAR MY FRIENDS: This drama is happiness of my KDrama heart right now.

On MONSTER: Enjoying all because of Park Ki Woong's story and Jo Bung Suk ahjussi and other veterans.

Thank you.

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Yikes, javabeans! Hope you feel better really soon!!!

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Sad that javabeans dropped Skip Beat without even finishing ep 1. i find DOTS shallow too but Skip Beat just has a place in my heart <3

Absolutely love these check ins! Picked up DMF & MOTW cuz of these and really digging both of them. Lucky Romance finally ventured into crack territory to me this week and I think they handled The Necessary Angst in OHYA perfectly. Probably the best I ever seen in a romcom.

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I'm sad javabeans was quick to drop Skip Beat as well :( It's OTT as expected of any live-action production with manga as its source material, but delve a little deeper and there's so much heart that it's bursting at the seams. It was such a rewarding experience to witness Gong Xi / Kyoko grow and come into her own over the course of the series. One of my all-time faves! (Dare I say it has more depth than DOTS?)

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