Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching
by DB Staff
So, what are we all watching this week?
What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…
javabeans
Mr. Sunshine: My computer is frizting and life is particularly busy so I haven’t had time to catch anything new, although I’ve got a number of new shows added to my to-watch list. For now, I only have the mental space to continue with things I’ve already started, which is why I’m here with Mr. Sunshine, although I think I have to make peace now with the fact that despite liking parts of it, I just can’t seem to like it as a whole — mostly because it doesn’t feel like a whole to me, but rather a sum of parts. That said, the parts I do like: Ae-shin is a consistent badass, and I expect her to die gloriously in a way that makes me proud; the show isn’t softening Dong-mae’s harsh edges, which I appreciate because it makes him a challenging and super-compelling character that I know I can’t root for but do still care about; and the weird reluctant frenemy-ship developing between our three men is a dryly funny recurring bit. On the other hand: this PPL is the woooooorst.
Life: The creators of this show have somehow taken a modern-day hospital drama and given it the gravitas, tension, and suspense of a palace politics thriller (and I mean in a good way). I’m intrigued by how none of the characters is easy to read, and damn if I’m not completely uncertain about Jo Seung-woo, just as our doctors are — he seems evil one moment, and then he seems misunderstood the next. It’s a great thread of constant tension, because the politics of the storyline paint him as this money-grubbing villain, but then we see he’s actually cleaning up the dirtier sides of the hospital and providing much-needed advancements… and then the next moment he takes it too far and I’m back with the doctors. I find this an unusual show in that it almost sometimes feels like there’s no central plot (“Jo seung-woo arrives and shakes things up” is a description of events, but not really a premise) — I can’t imagine a show like this getting made in no-attention-span Hollywood. And while sometimes my attention falters, I do actually pay attention to the hospital machinations because they’re legit interesting, which I never thought I’d say.
Meteor Garden: This show has been a refreshing break in the past weeks, because it’s effervescent and super-fluffy and makes me relax at the end of the day (…whenever I can figure out when new episodes are out! The release schedule is not super transparent and that drives me nuts). I don’t know if it’s the best version of Boys Before Flowers in any single, particular aspect — I’ve preferred other versions for the heroine, the storyline, the emotional payoffs, the addictive factor — but it’s a really fun, low-stakes version that is perfect for when I want something cute that’s going to make me feel a lot of angst. It doesn’t get my emotions involved because it’s so light, but it does provide a nice stream of giddy couple moments worth a squee session on Twitter. And Dylan Wang as Daoming Si is really keeping me on the hook — he’s just so adorable, like an angry hedgehog who’s enjoying being tamed.
mary
Witch’s Love: I totally didn’t start this for Hyun Woo. (Narrator: She did.) Okay, but it’s the most adorable thing I’m watching right now. Yoon So-hee plays Cho-hong, a twenty-something witch who runs a restaurant with her two witchy grandmas. Over their nightly dinner of truffles and Dom Perignon, Senior Gran regularly scolds Cho-hong for wasting magic on useless things like saving babies, shortcutting kitchen chores, and falling in love. That’s what humans do, and being human is tiring. Meanwhile, eighty-year-old “Junior” Gran is a retired gisaeng who says humans aren’t too bad… for having flings with. With a household like that, it’s no wonder Cho-hong is clueless when it comes to true love. Case in point: she’s pining over her money-grubbing Casanova boyfriend (bad) while repeatedly getting into petty fights with the coldly logical but secret marshmallow chaebol Ma Sung-tae (good). I just got to the part where Sung-tae proposes he move in with them in exchange for a 50% discount on their rent. The grannies reject it of course, but we all know what happens to rejected cohabitation contracts in dramaland, right? *cackles as she starts grinding ink for Grandma’s signpen*
Produce 48: I survived it. My first elimination episode. It’s not that bad even if I lost some of my favorites. Maybe the beanie warnings have braced me enough for it. Maybe I’m not that attached to anyone yet. In any case, I knew going in that this is more a popularity than a talent contest so I was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of low-rankers move up based on their performance. I’m still side-eyeing some… uhm… talents at the top. But maybe this elimination proves that there’s hope of gaining votes if you work hard and perform well enough. (Or not. That’s dangerously optimistic! Quick, someone disillusion me again!) I still don’t understand how the format works so I hope the next episode is about song practices because I do enjoy watching the teams perform. Also to give my heart a bit of rest until the next elimination.
Life on Mars: I’m still catching up to this but Kwak Jung-wook is back! Wasn’t it just a couple months ago when we were wondering what he’s been up to while his School 2013 buddies Lee Ji-hoon and Lee Yi-kyung are slowly building up their resume? But back to the show, the unfortunate thing about Kwak Jung-wook is… I totally know he’s the bad guy. He is, isn’t he? I don’t think I’ve ever seen him not be shady before. I’m not sure if there will be another Big Bad after him, I just hope our whole 1988 gang survives because I’ve become so attached to them, even if they’re kinda not real. Or are they? No wonder Tae-joo has splitting headaches.
Life: Am I supposed to hate anyone in this show? Because I’m not. Jo Seung-woo is doing such a bad job of making me hate him when he jumps at strange noises and coolly orders his secretary to “improve hospital efficiency by 90%,” only to exchange confused looks with her at what that actually means. Haha! Also, I know Lee Dong-wook got a lot of flak for sticking out like a sore thumb acting-wise, but it’s the sound director I need to have a word with. What’s up with the nonstop epic score that makes every step and every door opening sound like An Important Moment? I know Jo Seung-woo smirking is important for my eyes, but I’m pretty sure he doesn’t need background music to look like a sexy bastard. He just is.
TeriYaki
Your House Helper: This has been the only drama to keep my interest these days, but I was disappointed with Episodes 21-22. I expected to feel more satisfaction when Da-young got her apology from Mr. Yoo, but I kept looking at the clock to see how much longer until the episodes’ end. That’s never a good sign. I was able to forgive the slow hour because Episodes 23-24 were considerably better once the story got around to So-mi’s backstory, plus Hye-joo’s roommate situation finally exploded on her. As usual, Ji-woon offered a calm perspective throughout, but time is running out for him to resolve his own painful past. I can’t believe this drama is so close to its conclusion! My hope is that everyone gets a chance to resolve their pasts so that they can move forward with courage and promise. This has been a sweet drama that hasn’t been afraid to confront difficult social topics, but in the end it is a romance. I’m anxious to see how all of the romantic connections will be resolved before we have to say farewell to the handsome “House Helper” and his friends.
tipsymocha
Mr. Sunshine: Why does anything ever happen on this show? No one seems to meet on purpose and they all just run into each other randomly. It’s almost as funny as these characters’ surprising ability to recognize each other after decades apart. And I’m not sure whether it’s the weird controversy brewing in Korea forcing the director/writer duo to make last-minute changes, but the editing and narrative feels sloppy, for lack of a better word. Which I’m surprised at, since their previous work, while flawed, have never seemed to be anything but deliberate. I’m quickly losing faith that this story will live up to its full, epic, poignant potential, which is a little depressing, since I wanted the grand-scale visuals to be backed by a grand-scale story about the nameless righteous army. But now I’m starting to doubt this righteous army even exists in this story, save for the potter grandpa, gunner Jang, and tavern lady. C’mon, throw me a breadcrumb or something!
Life on Mars: I liked this show a lot more than I thought I would, because while I’m sure time-traveling detectives aren’t actually that large of a presence in dramaland, it certainly feels like we’ve had quite a few memorable time-bendy procedurals. I really enjoyed how much the show played up the ambiguity of whether Han Tae-joo had really traveled back in time, or whether it was all a dream, though it did put me in the weird position of cheering him on as he threw himself off a building. I’m such a sucker for ragtag Scooby gangs, and this particular gang of detectives, including one butt-kicking Officer Yoon, made my (and Tae-joo’s) heart warm. Also, Park Sung-woong could bromance the crap out of a rock as far as I’m concerned, the man is talented.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty: As a big fan of the webtoon, I have to say that Im Soo-hyang’s casting is spot-on. I like how close they stuck to the source material, but also adjusted enough to make it feel a little fresh. I’m so ready for the love triangle to rev up too, because Kwak Dong-yeon is being really swoony (he’s legal, right?) as the daddy long-legs TA, and while Cha Eun-woo is quite green here, I get such a kick out of his character cutting through Soo-ah’s bullshit.
Thirty But Seventeen: This show is adorable and has a certain nostalgic quality because it feels like a classic, old-school rom-com. I’m not completely sold on the hero, who’s a little too prickly still for my taste, but the nephew is so cutely dim and open about his feelings that it makes up for his grumpypuss uncle.
Life: Trust this writer and director to actually make me care about hospital politics. Boardroom drama has never been more exciting. I’m a little intrigued by the setup, because neither side of this conflict (doctors vs. management) are completely good or bad. I understand doctors feel like they have a noble calling in their jobs, but their holier-than-thou attitude is grating even to me, and the fact that medical accidents happen so often with such impunity is chilling. On the other hand, Jo Seung-woo is doing so well to give a human face to the business side of hospitals, and while he started out as a maybe villain, I can see him thawing little by little, which is so interesting to watch.
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Tags: Life, Life on Mars, Mr. Sunshine, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, Thirty But Seventeen, What We're Watching, Your House Helper
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1 Radily
August 11, 2018 at 3:02 AM
(Fan Wall Spazzing) Life on Mars:
My interpretation of the ending: 1988 is a subconscious journey and was so detailed since the male lead had seen all the details before the accident in 2018 -> he definitely returned alive to 2018 since there was the Trump - Kim summit on the television -> he suicided and went into an alternate version of 1988 -> he alters events that happened in reality (1988 team being killed) and warps Chief Ahn into a villain to ensure a happy ending for him and 1988 team -> he knowingly traps himself in the dream world. It doesn’t explain the chilling epilogue but I hope Season 2 will cover that!
(Fan Wall Spazzing) Thirty But Seventeen:
Putting aside the predictable development of the main romance (though I did swoon hard at the ending cliffhanger, thanks Yang Se Jong), I’m really liking the humour that this show is developing through the female lead and her child-like actions: drinking the fountain water and spitting it out afterwards / giving Chan a good wedgie during that bicycle ride / slapping the male lead when she thought it was a dream / screaming out for male lead at the broadcasting booth. Hopefully, the show will continue to remain breezy as it continues unravelling secrets and solving mysteries.
(Watching) Your House Helper:
With the conclusion of the creepy pervert arc (which was very nicely done with the sincere apology), the show finally got round to advancing the other arcs this week and it was perfect! I loved the intense emotional conflict in the accessories lady brought about by the merry-go-round of feelings as well as the slow rebuilding of self-confidence in the nail shop lady with the cafe lad’s advice. There was also some funny humour this week: male lead freaking out at the flying cockroach and being scolded by the lawyer for not honouring the bro code when it came to the designer.
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Radily
August 11, 2018 at 3:03 AM
(Watching) Familiar Wife:
I’m pretty sure the leads will wave the mother’s cliffhanger comment away due to her dementia, though the male lead will surely attempt to find out if she knows about the original reality. There’s also the dreams that the female lead has: does the male lead’s colleague / friend / sister also have them since their marriage status was also affected? On another note, I’m not liking the possible cheater arc for the 2nd female lead to justify the male lead going back to the female lead when the difference in family backgrounds is a more natural cause for conflict between the new couple.
(Watching) My ID is Gangnam Beauty:
Upon fellow Beanies’ positive response to the show, I decided to check the first 4 episodes out. First impression: why another cliche manipulative 2nd female lead? I’m frustrated that we have to go through manufactured conflict generated by her actions when the family drama is sufficient enough: the female lead’s connection to the estranged mother of the male lead’s family is already primed to cause conflict. There’s also poor Kwak Dong Yeon, whose character arc will mostly likely be cast aside in favour of the other leads’ arcs. (His face isn’t inside some posters!)
(Watching) Life:
I wanted to watch this show from the very start since it was penned by the writer who wrote Forest of Secrets and finally got round to doing it when subs starting coming in. I’m not feeling the show yet: hospital politics are still dry no matter what music you use to dramatise it and big greedy corporation trope is going to be tough to empathise with (I can be proved wrong though). I like the non-hospital moments a lot more such as the brothers and Dr. Lee or the CEO with his secretary or mole. I’m looking forward to next week when Dongsaeng joins the hospital and shakes things up.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:12 AM
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Radily
August 11, 2018 at 3:25 AM
I've mentioned this already in my extended thoughts and I'm disappointed by it as well, but 30 but 17 hasn't been the best show writing wise since episode 1 anyway (with the two leads linked by a childhood trauma) and I'm sticking with it because I like the the lighter moments of the show and the other Mon-Tue shows just didn't capture my heart as well as 30 but 17 did.
As for the behind-the-scenes drama: http://www.dramabeans.com/members/radily/activity/575616/
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:29 AM
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junah
August 11, 2018 at 11:09 AM
at My id is gangnam beauty.
hmm, maybe it is just me. but i feel like watching different drama with what have you been described. first, i won't say 2nd female lead being manipulative. she often played her 'pretty card' in front of boys to gain and keep them interest at her, and turning words here and there, but it makes her more like petty and envious character rather than manipulative one.
i also don't see Mi rae and KS mother relationship became the conflict to otp relationship. the way i see it, and much more in episode 5, it's actually opening the 'conversation' between mother and son and help unfold mystery of their past.
Kwak Dong Yeon (YW) character is a nice guy who is into someone appearance , and KS character is a guy who overlook standard beauty. the show clearly show it from first episode on first encounter between YW and MR in class. so, i won't call him a poor thing. he's not like other 2nd lead who mostly way better than the 1st lead. i mean, he's basically a representation of man that easily found in real life. Nice guy but still a very visual human being. nothing sin with it, though.
and i don't know if this important, but his face does shown in the poster.
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silentbeluga
August 11, 2018 at 9:58 PM
You know, regarding the second female lead, I completely agree with you that she's manipulative, but for some reason, it doesn't bother me. She's kind of tragic actually. She's been getting so much attention from boys, always, that she doesn't know how to exist without it and to see someone else getting that kind of attention makes her feel threatened, like she's somewhat going to stop existing if she's not the centre of attention. And I find that to be... really sad. Maybe because I grew up with a sibling that went through roughly the same arc in real life (too beautiful for their own good!). Their beauty basically prevented them from having a normal life and the second it faded, the attention, the adoration went away, and the wake-up call was brutal. So, that's what I see as Soo-Ah's development: learning to not rely on her looks, even if she's getting positive feedback. She's more than what she appears. Literally :) Or at least, that's how I'm reading it. I could be wrong though. It happened before :)
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suk
August 11, 2018 at 11:39 PM
I agree with you on Life. No matter how good the tension is, hospital politics can only go so far. I'm trying really hard to enjoy the drama though.
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Radily
August 11, 2018 at 3:05 AM
(Fast-Forwarded) Let’s Eat 3:
The character that interested me the most this week was the 2004 guy who is mute around women. He finally talked around a woman! It seems to me that his issues stem from his self-confidence and once he gets over that hurdle, he’ll have a charm of his own (I’m hoping he has become a really smooth talker in 2018). As for 2018 itself, I’m not buying the sudden kiss from the 2nd male lead. Am I supposed to believe he had repressed feelings for 2nd female lead this whole time based on a good act during a flashback? Also, why are the leads still not communicating with each other?
(Fast-Forwarded) Are You Human Too:
That disastrous ending! The writer had time to plan it (the show was pre-produced) and yet failed terribly on so many levels: How does the police just assume that it was the robot who did the murder based on one random phone call? How did villainous father’s assistant escape jail since he was involved in human Nam Shin’s kidnapping? What happened to 2nd female lead and the chairman after the climax? Why was human Nam Shin’s redemption arc rushed? How did the robot survive the kill switch if it had activated properly? Just NOPE from me. So much wasted potential.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:14 AM
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Radily
August 11, 2018 at 3:19 AM
There's a happy ending (at the very last moment) if you're a fan of the romance, which kind of fizzled out once human Nam Shin came back and the drama had to go into conflict-mode. The official recapper also made a very good point on how the females got dumbed down for the final confrontation.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:23 AM
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:34 AM
Dumbed down? How about 'completely sidelined'? So-bong was nothing more than a NSIII cheerleader in the end, Bo-ra was fridged and Yena disappeared completely.
stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:38 AM
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🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 4:15 AM
Radily exaggerates. most beanies enjoyed the entire drama just fine. the ending was a bit too fast-paced, but the journey was well-worth it.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 4:21 AM
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Radily
August 11, 2018 at 4:48 AM
The romance was okay and the show did develop that nicely with some growth in the robot and the female lead coming to accept the robot (with Sec Ji), but then it was never meant to be a major part of the plot (it was all about the company from the very start - family past and all) and the show never really talked about acceptance of robots in society other than using a few seconds of extras mumbling a few words, which I felt was a waste of the robot theme in the drama.
Towards the end of the show, I felt personally that the romance was placed just after the setup as well as before human NS wakes up just to drag the conflict out and keep viewers engaged. Suddenly, the villainous father becomes very effective in controlling the stakes, the grandfather gets dementia, 2nd female lead becomes voice of reason ... it just spiralled out of control.
CoffeeMD
August 11, 2018 at 7:15 AM
Yeah. I would say, watch the show until human shin wakes up. IMO that was the point the show went downhill. Then just pretend they all live happily ever after. Haha. Still deciding if I should just watch the last 2 eps.
mango
August 11, 2018 at 4:03 AM
I'm eager to how Byung Sam (the friend who can't talk to women) turned out. I can picture him as a guitarist in a band that has many fangirls and him being a a smooth talker like you said.
The sudden kiss from Sun as too... sudden. We'll see on upcoming episodes if their relationship will take a smoother turn.
I totally agree on the main couple no communication arrrgh. It feels like they will talk about it on next week's episodes.
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atz
August 12, 2018 at 6:10 AM
Re:the 2004 guy who is mute around women
I like the actor. he is actually quite a good actor. He can play a comical guy, dumb and even a psycho quite well.
I am hoping that he will become a very good side character actor( must be an English term for an actor who is famed for playing side characters! but I cannot find the term now!) who can eventually do play a main lead as he matures.
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Desponia
August 11, 2018 at 7:44 AM
Your House Helper - I wasn't completely happy how they resolved the creepy pervert arc. Yes, it was nice they got a sincere apology from him and the whole situation might have taught him a thing or two. Still, I don't see why Da Young had to explain why she had birth control bills on her. Whether she takes the pills due to a medical condition or not was absolutely of no importance here.
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Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 10:30 AM
He did NOT commit suicide. Jumping off the building was not physical or literal. I can explain the chilling epilogue but you wouldn't like the explanation. It was NOT a happy ending.
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Coreen
August 12, 2018 at 5:09 AM
Did you read up on the original and its spin-off? There he did commit suicide to get back into the "past". The new lead in A2A was his (off-screen) psychiatrist during the time he woke up until he died for real.
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Linda Palapala
August 12, 2018 at 8:32 AM
Yes, I've seen the Brit version and although it was awhile ago, when he jumped off it was more literal than the kdrama version.
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2 coolgirl
August 11, 2018 at 3:28 AM
Life on Mars: it was a 9.5/10. The only reason why it didn't join Signal, Misaeng and Live on the 10/10 level, it's because it was less emotional. I cried less but everything else: cast, writing, cinematography was perfect. It was as good as the original BBC show and i'm convinced that we'll get a season 2.
Let's Eat (season 1): I'm only 5 episodes in and this drama has already become a puzzle and at times a headache. The heroine lacks too much empathy to be sympathetic ( i think the actress is at fault too), but at least she has chemistry with her neighboors and the band of 3 work well together.
However, the scenes at the office are insufferable! The sexist, distateful, humiliating jokes on the physical appearance of the female lawyer made me want to give up on the drama every 5 sec.
Same for the fact that the boss is a creep: all the scenes where he looks lustfully at the heroine while watching her eat makes my blood boil. All his actions (changing her bonus at the last minute, giving her more work and yelling at her to break her) are so clearly harassment.
I came for a warm/positive feelings drama of people growing together and supporting each other, while sharing good food and i'm often angry than anything else.
Not sure if it's worth to finish.
I'm starting Mr Sunshine, Life and of course Voice 2 this week.
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Ally
August 11, 2018 at 3:58 AM
I never finished Let’s Eat. But LE2 and now 3 captured my attention and the latter will not let me forfeit it at the moment. I keep thinking I should drop it, but it keeps pulling me back into the college coming of age story and the promise of redemption for the OTP who I’m thinking never were really together in college; they were just good friends that liked each other without communicating it. And it’s keeping me on its hook because no one really communicates. In another drama this would have been dropped long ago, yet here I am, liking the girl the best of all the series, falling for Dae-young yet again, and liking the chemistry between all the characters and leads 1st, 2nd, and otherwise.
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coolgirl
August 12, 2018 at 7:56 AM
Thanks Ally!
It's good to know that it's not only me!:)
I will put s1 on hold and finished the new dramas that i started and try again and if it doesn't work, i'll try the other seasons!
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Iamelise
August 12, 2018 at 11:48 PM
What @ally-le said! I LOVED LE 1&2 and I think I might love LE 3 the most. I love YDJ too! :)
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 4:08 AM
In Let's Eat season 1, the best part was the neighboors hanging out and eating together. Also, I didn't like the female lead's boss AT ALL. Like you said, he was a creep.
I'm enjoying Let's Eat 3 the most for the same reasons as @ally-le
You can watch season 2 if you want to forge your own opinion but so far season 3 has better writing imo.
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coolgirl
August 12, 2018 at 8:12 AM
If the drama was only the neighboors hanging together, it could have been magic because their scenes are so soothing, so relaxing and full of kindness and good spirit!
It seems like there was a trend in 2014 for this kind of boss in rom com: the only other rom-com that i watched from that year (High School King of Savvy) had the same problem, with a second lead playing the senior to the heroine and treating her just because she was a secretary like a crap.
His harassment was beyond disgusting (becoming progressively sexual too) and would have been worth a complaint but instead, i don't know why it ended being all forgiven.
Thankfully dramaland has changed enough in 4 years that now writers would allow heroine to make at least a strong statement about it; and get rid of this kind of people from their life for good without having to apologize as if they weren't victims or forced to turn around because the guy makes puppy eyes!
So no more second lead like that, please!
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mango
August 12, 2018 at 10:16 AM
I don't have remember wichc drama aired in 2014 but this case of creepy second lead was there for years. In High School King of Savvy, from what I remember, the second lead was too invasive and made the female lead (and me) uncomfortable.
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Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 10:32 AM
So it was less emotional because you cried less? Hmm...
I give LOM a 10/10 because it was consistent to the end and they carried the ending to its logical conclusion (he died or was murdered - watch the epilogue, the phone call was the equivalent of the Brit's version of the girl turning off the tv.)
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PYC
August 12, 2018 at 2:59 AM
Life on Mars: I can understand what you said of it being less emotional but I think it’s a deliberate choice of this production. For example, they can easily hike up our emotion in such scenes as HTJ carrying the boy version of himself out of the tunnel and how he tried but failed - three times, no less - to reach his father when he was shot dead on the rail track. I clearly felt my inside turmoil when watching those scenes but not shedding tears. I was actually wondering but then agreeing the directorial style of not pushing us to tear but to feel the poignancy at a different level.
A reason for this different emotional direction is to be consistent with HTJ’s character. He’s not a hot-headed guy like the characters of JJW in Signal, LSM in Misaeng, or BSW or LKS in Live. LOM is anchored on a different tempo from the other three.
All four are 10/10 dramas for me.
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coolgirl
August 12, 2018 at 7:53 AM
@linda-palapala @PYC
I didn't mean it as a general statement: i wasn't saying people who don't cry, don't feel; but rather making a personal admission: if i don't cry, i know that i'm not fully emotionally invested because all my emotions including anger and joy are expressed through tears.
While i believe to 100% that Jung Kyung Ho did an outstanding performance and was the best possible actor for this role, i still don't get the decision to keep Tae Joo so restrained.
Sam and Tae Joo were both men of few words, with
few friends and quite cold even to their closest parents and friends, So once trapped in their respective body it seems to me that Sam's reaction to quickly let it go and allow himself, when alone at first, with Annie and Gene after a period, to admit his vulnerability was just the only way possible.
Tae Joo was still stuck in micro expressions until the very end. It also took him ages to admit his crush for Na Young and he never kissed her as if it was a life engagement/as serious as asking her hand!
I get the impression that the writer and PD of Ocn Lom wanted to create a distinct experience for Tae Joo in 1988, one which wouldn't be just a repeat to Sam's evolution; but i think the audience was more in demand to see a man crying like Sam did and admit his fragility, his emotional needs and stay true to himself in the way he communicates with his loved ones, that the writer and PD imagined.
Maybe the korean audience is more attracted to people showing reticence to express their feelings, but one of the good effect of this drama was to prove how wrong it can be, and especially to free men from this image.
It's only my opinion but i feel closer to Sam than i was to Tae Joo and it was a big part of my experience of watching the drama, so this is why my rating at this time is a little lower.
But it will change probably: my ratings always change over time...
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Linda Palapala
August 12, 2018 at 12:59 PM
To be honest, I usually gauge a drama by how much emotion and crying I feel, just like you. The above responses from everyone were so good I don't need to elaborate. This one really surprised me because it was literally the first drama I watched and gave a 10 without it making me so emotional I cried. So my hmm to you was a bit fake!
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Linda Palapala
August 12, 2018 at 1:00 PM
Or maybe I should have said I was a bit dishonest with the hmmm....
3 LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:29 AM
Are You Human Too was such an interesting experience to watch with everybody but I can't say it's a favourite. Unfortunately, all the reasons I initially chose to drop it were still there at the end (maybe even more so) and it just felt like another kdrama to me.
Thirty But Seventeen I'm just having so much fun on the F.I.N.S.E but this really is the best drama on TV on the moment. This week's episodes were very good - funny, sad, heartwarming and quirky - but I'm not quite ready to come on down yet.
Your House Helper I enjoy this even though I already can't remember what happened. This show earns a lot of points from me just for having a real gay character treated with respect by the script and the other characters.
Your Honour I don't know what to make of this. I really don't have any opinion on it yet. I must admit there's something appealing about how smitten our fake Judge is with his trainee. But it's still full of very unlikeable characters including our lead.
Hi School Love On was my binge watch while I was still sick on Monday and it was YA nonsense with a female lead who was just a cheerful pot plant and a second male lead who was one misogynistic comment away from being an Incel.
Risky Romance Still trash. Utter trash. I still think the two male leads are actually dating each other and this is about their rocky road to romance. The subber and their hilarious pronoun gaffes agrees with me.
And... that's it. I think. I'm watching so much at the moment I may have missed something.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:38 AM
Just read @radily entry, was reminded of what happened in your House Helper, and know why I enjoyed this week's episodes. Sometimes I find the way the show resolves things is a little too neat but it still dealt with both sexual assault, overcoming trauma, and loving gay friend plotlines quite well.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:55 AM
I knew I'd forgotten something and it's weird because I was just complaining about it on rabbit.
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim?: After everything I'd heard about this show, I expected to be bored by this but instead I actively disliked it. Yes it had no plot but that wasn't its biggest problem.
I would have been completely fine if she had stuck to her guns about leaving. But to end the show with some fairytale wedding as though her choice to basically service all his needs 24/7 is 'romantic' was just awful.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:07 AM
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Kafiyah Bello
August 11, 2018 at 5:16 AM
OMG, I so agree. I still think it was one of the best pilot episodes ever, but talk about not living up to its potential. There are so many ways the drama could have been fantastic, but the fact that until the end she call him Boss instead of his name is weird.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:57 PM
The first episode was pretty much perfect. One of the best first episodes I've ever seen. I think this would have made a better movie myself.
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shinmaryu
August 11, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Yesyesyes. Despite the great chemistry and all fluffiness and workplace comedy, I just can't stop disliking the last half of the show. The way they romantize everything on their relationship is so wrong. With the fairytale wedding on top of it, this drama feels like another oldie Disney movies for me (where the princess do nothing and just wait for the handsome prince charming come to pick her spoon up)
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Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 10:34 AM
I love reading your complaints about dramas, we're usually on the same wavelength.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:53 PM
I agree and yet we don't have a single favourite drama in common! But I am going to check out Legend of Fuyao based on your recommendation. A nice sweeping Chinese historical might be just what I need. I can watch an episode a day for the rest of the year.
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Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 4:47 PM
Right now I'm at ep 63. The past 10 episodes have been so intense I either have to take a break every few minutes or I'm mesmerized until the end of the episode.
The first several episodes seem silly or trope-y but by episode 21, wow. I had a friend who doesn't watch dramas watch the first 5 minutes of ep 21 and she said that was the best foreplay she'd ever seen (ha).
It seems like he rescues her or gets her out of situations a little too often for your taste, but later she returns the favor. If any other actors besides Ethan Ruan and Yang Mi were playing the parts it wouldn't be so emotional. I'm especially impressed with Ethan's performance and I guess Yang Mi is well known for her acting ability. It's full of tropes (what isn't) but they're done really well imo. The CGI seem silly at first but I thought they were cute.
Since I'm usually one to judge a drama by the first few minutes, I'm surprised I stuck with it. The female antagonist is over-the-top but I think on purpose as it was poking fun at that caricature of a jealous woman.
Again, I really enjoy your snarky comments as I totally agree with you most of the time!
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 5:02 PM
I've dropped so many Chinese dramas because the female lead in the first five minutes is intolerable. But I'll persist.
Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 5:14 PM
Intolerable in what way? It was the female who hated her that I thought intolerable at first but her eventual demise is rather apropos. But the first segment that deals with this issue is only the tip of the iceberg. They go thru the five kingdoms (elements).
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 5:17 PM
No, I was speaking generally about Chinese dramas. I haven't tried to watch this one yet.
Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 6:06 PM
What I'm curious about is what specific traits of a female's character do you find intolerable? We might have the same feelings about that but I'm having trouble finding the best words to explain what I find intolerable or annoying.
For instance I think Park Min Young has been sort of typecast as the chirpy highly energetic female character that I find so annoying, so much so that I won't even try to watch a drama she's in. I read she said in an interview she was tired of being cast in that type of role. Another example is the female in Goblin who was just too happy and chirpy.
I'm beginning to recognize more easily when the female lead is only there for exposition which is annoying too.
I don't mind the female having to be rescued at some point if the reason is valid and the drama comes to a logical conclusion and not forced, or if the rescue so changes her character that she's no longer the self she used to be. The rescue thing seems to be as much as a normal trope as the birth secret.
Two examples of female roles I liked. Gunman of Joseon she started out as a person who wanted to travel the world, loved newfangled Western things like globes, cameras, telescopes. In the end she had to give up her dream not because of Joseon Gunman whom she loved, but because of the times, which was when Japan, Russia, Queen Min, etc., ruined their chances of living their dreams.
The other female role I loved lately is Na Young, the female cop in Life on Mars. Her role was perfectly played as the female cop in 1988 who actually is only expected to get coffee. But she was the one who was logical, detailed and contributed more than the males in many cases.
I've only seen a few Chinese dramas and in the bad ones, the females will either "steal your soul if you let them" or are very dependent on the male and subservient.
My favorite female in a Chinese drama so far is Lin Xi. She was a female doctor who went around the country gathering herbs and flowers and drew them for a book she was compiling. Her quiet demeanor and good advice was the perfect mate for PingJing.
Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 6:13 PM
There are so many posts I'm getting lost. I meant to say females in Chinese fantasies don't count because sorceresses have magical powers, which is one of the few female roles that can have enough power that they don't have to be rescued. Unless some evil force causes them to lose their supernatural power, of course...
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 6:20 PM
@linda-palapala
That's a difficult question!
For the Chinese dramas it's because a lot of them start off with their female characters being hysterical messes.
Re Goblin: the female character in that was infantalised to the point where it was disturbing. But also her use of aegyo to demonstrate that childlike element was what was so grating. Aegyo will put me off like almost nothing else because it symbolises that childishness is an attractive quality in a woman. To me, a woman being told she's "cute" is an insult. Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. Saying a grown-ass woman is "cute" is insulting. So cuteness, aegyo, and kawaii culture are instant turnoffs for me.
I personally find PMY such an accomplished actor that I'll still watch her in anything. Even if, like in WWSK, it's only her acting that's covering up that her character is an empty shell.
We'll have to agree to disagree on Healer though because I found PMY's character incredibly layered, with the veneer of determined over-confidence covering up for her extreme PTSD. One of my favourite scenes in that is where she nearly dies in the elevator incident and the next day she's in a building with an elevator. She's giving herself this peppy, chirpy little speech about how she can overcome anything if she just has one person to trust. But when the time comes to get into the elevator she physically can't and takes the stairs. And then she starts bouncing down the stairs like not taking the elevator is entirely her choice and not a full-blown PTSD trigger. Only PMY IMO could have shown those layers.
But in the end of Healer, her characters gets treated like all the other female characters in kdramas - damselled and nothing but an object for the male hero to protect or potentially lose.
The damselling thing annoys me. Even SWDBS fell for having the female lead damselled and she was supposed to be the strong lead!
Linda Palapala
August 11, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Healer was one of the first dramas I watched so I didn't understand some of it, esp the historical background. I really should give it a go again. I remember one thing that really bugged me was when she was blindfolded so he could kiss her w/o her knowing who he was. I thought that was really dumb because hey, if you're blindfolded how the heck do you know you're not kissing a wart-faced frog! My comment about that didn't go over well! I think the other thing was I wasn't impressed with Ji Chang Wook's acting. Apparently I was the only one who thought that! I did like him in Five Fingers as the jealous brother. But Healer made me a fan of Kim Mi kyung for life!
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 6:56 PM
@linda-palapala
Haha, me too! But also, they have this weird date where she's not allowed to see his face and it's downright creepy. I remember that the interwebs thought it was super romantic but I was seriously skeeved out.
Things got way better when she worked out who he was and they were an actual couple - at least until they shoved her to the side.
Ally
August 12, 2018 at 7:04 AM
@leetennant, if calling a grown woman “cute” is a turn off for you, then you probably would hate a male first lead calling the male second lead “cute and adorable” but I find it incredibly endearing (I.e. Dae-young to Sun in Let’s Eat 3).
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 12, 2018 at 1:19 PM
@ally-le Subversions of the dominant paradigm are all good. Men are not supposed to be "cute" therefore a man calling another man "cute" may actually be the most adorable thing ever. Assuming he wasn't assigning female gender-specific characteristics to him as an insult.
Linda Palapala
August 13, 2018 at 12:47 PM
I've started re watching Fuyao with you in mind - I think the first time I watched I must have ff thru some of the first 3 episodes. I don't think it gets really interesting until about the middle of 4. She doesn't have power at first but gains power thru trials, which is a typical trope of Chinese fantasy. It's much like a video game, or maybe video games are much like fantasy. But in Fuyao the games only last til episode 5. Then the real journey begins.
ar_arguably romantic
August 11, 2018 at 10:48 AM
I liked the drama and didn't mind her choosing to be his secretary for life, but I did mind that she never really got the chance to explore non-secretary life. So what was she really choosing from?? She was glued to her side even more after she announced she wanted to resign. They were together even on her days off. It was one of the few times when I felt like a cliche kdrama time-jump separation was needed so she could see what was out there. They could have written in a struggle with career exploration.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 4:44 PM
It would have been so easy for her to go part time so she could go to University. She even had her 'replacement' who could pick up the slack. Just having her purse one thing that she wanted, one little thing that was about her and not about him or her family and it would have been less problematic for me. Also, when she drops from emotional exhaustion in 10 years I'd feel more confident she had something to fall back on.
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🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 4:51 PM
I'm giving this marriage 3 years tops. he finds her another project beyond her management capabilities and is mad she's too tired for sex afterwards. she snaps and murders him.
3 years.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 5:03 PM
I was thinking five but I imagine her inherent stoicism will force her to hang in there for longer. The divorce will be messy and she'll be left with very little and still vastly unqualified for a similar position.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
August 11, 2018 at 10:05 PM
She could last even longer than that and be left a fortune when he dies youngish of the heart attack caused by all the ramen his body was unable to properly assimilate. She spends the rest of her life earning the degrees she always wanted and traveling the globe with her sisters after selling the company to another global conglomerate.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 10:10 PM
I mean, it wouldn't take much to get away with a sly poisoning, especially when she's responsible for every part of his life. I'm thinking an accidental death mushroom omelette? Or some obscure toad poison? *
*hopefully nobody wonders why I spent ten minutes googling "How to get away with poisoning someone". Also, the internet is surprisingly unhelpful on this score.
raekaddict
August 12, 2018 at 12:53 AM
I watched it for her work outfits...call me shallow..but I loved them more than the characters
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Kasumi
August 12, 2018 at 8:53 AM
“To me, a woman being told she's "cute" is an insult. Puppies are cute. Babies are cute. Saying a grown-ass woman is "cute" is insulting. ”
@leetennant 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
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4 drawde2000
August 11, 2018 at 3:42 AM
I started rewatching The West Wing this week. Still funny and witty as before. Still smart as before. Still full of heart as before. But it seems the lighting is more darker this time. Maybe because I was watching it on Netflix this time.
I also finished Chicago Typewriter last weekend. I watched the first half last year. And decided to finish it just a week ago. The last half was awesome. That's when the plot went into high gear. I love the second half.
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therevels
August 11, 2018 at 6:45 AM
YES! Chicago Typewriter is definitely better at second half, I just wish that the three musketeers reunited a bit faster so we dwell deeper into the 30s version of them.
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Bernadett
August 11, 2018 at 6:59 AM
CHICAGO TYPEWRITER failed to impress me. The present timeline was very boring, and after a while Yoo Ah In's acting (especially his way of speech) really began to irritate me. On the other hand the past timeline was captivating, but the writer only was scratching the surface of their past lives.
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
August 11, 2018 at 10:35 AM
I'm your polar opposite on this one. I loved Yoo Ah In and the drama. I did enjoy the past life portion much more than the present life.
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Sunflowerdiva
August 11, 2018 at 7:28 AM
Chicago Typewriter! Yas! The 1930s timeline was by far the most compelling, and, yes, the second half was much better when things finally fell into place. Glad you enjoyed it! I feel like Chicago Typewriter is a really underrated show, a hidden gem.
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ar_arguably romantic
August 11, 2018 at 10:50 AM
Let's not forget to give a shoutout to Yoo Ah In's wig when he play 1930s Seo Hwi-young!
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Sunflowerdiva
August 11, 2018 at 11:05 AM
The wig to end all wigs.
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Mimu
August 11, 2018 at 10:15 PM
How much I loved that hairstyle on him. He looked so handsome.😍😍
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bong-soo
August 11, 2018 at 7:30 AM
Hi @drawde2000. I loved CHICAGO TYPEWRITER. It was a great history lesson for me. Lastyear during the SK Presidential Election hiatus I binged through the early episodes to get current. The early episodes were kind of tough to get through
(a bit like YOUR HONOR). I think at the time I commented something like, "once the shouting stopped it turned into a great series".
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drawde2000
August 11, 2018 at 9:04 AM
I'm glad I'm not the only one. I had a difficult time with the first half exactly because of the very fast and loud dialogues. And the fact that those dialogues don't really add anything to the story. I prefer very little dialogues and let the actors do their own thing.
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sorim
August 11, 2018 at 8:26 AM
Unlurked myself bc I got super excited to see a fellow TWW fan here! I recently started watching it for the third time! Ughh love it so much! And the Josh-Donna ship is THE BEST ever!
Also, I loved CT too! Such a good show 💜
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drawde2000
August 11, 2018 at 9:08 AM
I think this is my 3rd time watching it as well. Though, I've never seen season 5 thru 7. Ive only seen the seasons when Aaron Sorkin was still part of the writing team.
I'm into Joey Lucas and Josh ship. But yeas the rapport between Josh and Donna were exceptional.
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sorim
August 11, 2018 at 9:17 AM
Oh yeah, I though Joey Lucas and Josh made a cute couple too.
Do give S5-7 a chance if you have the time. It's not as great as the first four but Santos campaign and the changing dynamic of Josh-Donna relationship gets pretty interesting. And the ending is so emotional and beautiful 😊
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junah
August 11, 2018 at 11:12 AM
you can not go wrong with Sorkin.
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drawde2000
August 12, 2018 at 1:58 AM
"I want the truth." And your statement is 100% truth.
I love his other works as well, specially movies: The Social Network, The American President, and A Few Good Men.
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
August 12, 2018 at 2:33 AM
Sports Night is my favorite Sorkin tv show.
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5 cherry 🍒
August 11, 2018 at 3:44 AM
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6 mango
August 11, 2018 at 3:45 AM
- Completed -
Hana Nochi Hare: HanaDan Next Season: I watched the last two episodes raw and from what I understood, the drama could have done a better ending. A season 2 would be good because they can't just end it like this.
Life on Mars: Finally got to see Dong Cheol's mother-in-law HAHA Tae Joo chose his own reality, the one where he smiles so I can't – and don't want – go further in theories. Yoon Na Young will remain one of my favorite female character in Kdramas. Love her !
My Ahjusshi: Love, love and love Ahjussi and Ji Ah's relationship. It was so satisfying to see Ji Ah doing well.
What's Wrong With Secretary Kim: I laughed a lot and had a good time watching this drama but it would've been great to spend more time on Kim Mi So and not just Secretary Kim like it was supposedly announced in the premiere.
- Currently watching -
A-Teen: ep 3. I enjoy the girls friendship a lot and am not that invested in the romance. (Seventeen also sings the OST :D )
Are You Human Too: ep 13-14. I will find a way to get into this drama and give Ye Ra a lesson for treating Nam Shin III that bad !
Meteor Garden: ep 10. Ii decided to watch it without taking it seriously. Like not even 1% of it and that way it's quite enjoyable. I don't know if it's because the story takes place in college but the F4 playing bridge and doing challenges makes me laugh so hard... who had this idea ?
My ID is Gangnam Beauty: ep 4. I remember reading the start of the webtoon a long time ago and I stopped after what was adapted in the first four episodes. Mi Rae's father was not in the webtoon or at least not from the start so it was a great addition in this show. It just feels so right to have her father's reaction after her plastic surgery.
Not Alright But It's Alright: ep 3. I like it a lot ! Following a girl's daily life at work is interesting.
Unnatural: ep 1. It's been a long time since I didn't watch Jdramas so I found this one about unnatural death cases. Pretty interesting.
- On hold -
Andante and Shall We Live Together
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 3:56 AM
I forgot Let's Eat 3: : ep 8. The secondary couple has more common rom-com progression than the main couple and it's fine. I just want Dae Young and Ji Woo to talk to each other and more so after Ji Woo gave him the opportunity to do so.
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bong-soo
August 11, 2018 at 8:31 AM
Hi @mango. LOL at this:
All I could think of is maybe you could get drawn into AYHT like in W--TWO WORLDS and take care of business.
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 10:29 AM
Hi @marcusnyc20 Good idea ! I don't want to deal with a killer tho haha.
There is a drama on Viki about a RL person going into a drama right ? Dramaworld was the name I think.
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gadis
August 11, 2018 at 4:45 AM
Aww... You finally finished My Ajusshi. Ji-an and Dong-hoon is the best nOTP this year for me. Their simple happiness by the end made so content and happy.
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 5:01 AM
Yes, finally XD We need more of nOTP in dramaland.
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ElKwesi
August 11, 2018 at 8:35 AM
Like OMG, you wtach Playlist Global short drama's on YouTube too. I've been watching alot of youtube drama's for the past two months. Alot of them really depict relationship better than some full on shows.
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 10:32 AM
I really like those webdramas and you can discover new actors and actresses. Do you also watch the ones on dingo story/dingo drama ?
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junah
August 11, 2018 at 11:17 AM
@hananochihare : that's the best plot they can do to still truth to manga but not so much that will invite chaos from viewers. lol.
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mango
August 11, 2018 at 10:25 PM
Oh really ? I might read the manga you made me curious.
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OldLawyer
August 12, 2018 at 12:30 AM
A lot of people misunderstood Secretary Kim- because they took the 'I have to find myself' statement at face value, when in fact it is really a foreign concept in a Confucian Society. What Miso really meant was that 'my life is no longer working for me'- which was certainly true. But it is also true that she has spent 9 hard years becoming what she is- which in fact is something and someone great- so she is not lost and needing to find herself. In a sense it is those around her- especially her boss- who were lost. A lot of people got so caught up in the apparent power imbalance based upon mere job titles that they failed to notice that Mi-so has all or most of the real power: Which she uses to change her life dramatically -and not just for the better for herself but as much for those whom she loves. And her new husband would be the first to agree with that. This story is deeper than could really be fit into 16 episodes- I have heard that not only is it based upon a webtoon but at least one person has claimed that the webtoon was based upon a novel. Any time something is adapted from one genre to another something will likely be lost. If it happened twice then no wonder many of us missed things.
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mango
August 12, 2018 at 2:05 AM
I don't know if I got 100% your point since English is not my first language but here is my reply.
I agree on the fact that she had power and was constently someone great. The thing is seeing her doing something outside of the office could have shown us that she can do other things and not be limited as a perfect secretary.
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7 cherry 🍒
August 11, 2018 at 3:47 AM
After Life On Mars ended I started watching Heartless City and I know I’m certainly not the only one. Jung Kyung Ho turned many of us into giggling school girls 😄
I still miss Life on Mars very much and I also stupidly rewatched two last episodes of My Ahjussi and ended up crying myself to sleep. I don’t think I’ll ever be completely over MA, I can’t even describe what MA does to my soul and heart...
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gadis
August 11, 2018 at 5:38 AM
Baksa Adeul is the one role that successfully prompted me on my Jung Kyung-ho's projects marathon spree some years ago. He is so darn sexy and badass in that drama.
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bong-soo
August 11, 2018 at 7:42 AM
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bong-soo
August 11, 2018 at 7:45 AM
HC made me a Jung Kyung-ho and Yoon Hyun-min fan for life.
I am ready for these guys to work together again. Someone out there in kdrama land please make it happen. After a suitable rest for JKH of course. Yoon Hyun-min as far as I know is working on a romantic fantasy (I think) called TALE OF GYERYONG FAIRY to air in November, 2018.
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bbstl 🧹
August 11, 2018 at 4:38 PM
Did you see "Falling for Innocence"? (Maybe called "Beating Again" on Netflix?) It's not so great but at least they are together.
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bong-soo
August 11, 2018 at 7:36 PM
Yes I have seen BEATING AGAIN/FALLING FOR INNOCENCE. It had to be on Netflix. It was my seventh kdrama. I enjoyed it. In that show I also enjoyed Kim So-yeon and Jin Goo.
Going down memory lane I had this idea that I watched it live but that's not the case.
My eighth kdrama I do remember watching live which was the noodle drama MASTER OF REVENGE (April-June 2016). I had just subscribed to Viki. I really have not been around the kdrama world that long.
Thanks for the memories.
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bbstl 🧹
August 11, 2018 at 9:32 PM
They do need to make another one together!
MapleSilver
August 11, 2018 at 10:16 AM
Long live My Ajusshi and Ji An!!
It's strange that Lee Seon Kyun and IU have not done any Korean interviews after the show's run. I thought actors typically do that, especially if their show is well received, as My Ajusshi certainly was. They did interview together to promote the Japanese broadcast of the show. Still odd to me. Here's the interview translated by the fan site: https://givemeslippers.wordpress.com/2018/08/11/iu-i-couldnt-even-bear-to-hear-the-soundtrack/
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8 superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 3:48 AM
Life on mars - Despite the ending being open to interpretation, it's been a pleasure to watch. I hope that TJ is happy wherever he is, even though I'm sticking to my theory of the ending and it's a very depressing one at that.
Let's eat 3 - I like the college flashbacks more than the present story, especially when there are signs that JW's feelings were maybe reciprocated. I'm curious to know why it didn't work out in the past.
Your house helper - The perv was let off very lightly IMO, but atleast they showed a proper resolution rather than sweeping it under the rug. Same goes for HJ and her roommate/friend. It's nice that they're focusing on the other 2 girls more. Maybe I'm the only one, but I really can't bring myself to root for the lawyer. He's awkward and clumsy and I don't mean it in a good way.
30 but 17- I was waiting for YSJ's smile and he did! But ofc, ep 6 seems like he's back to square one (I haven't watched it yet). But I'm really liking the main cast and the interactions of the 2 leads. I especially like how the heroine is not a damsel in distress and is actually trying to stand on her own two feet despite being out of touch with the world for so long.
WWWSK - Finally finished it. The main couple was cute, but I wish they had spent some more time on the other lovelines. To me, they were more interesting.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 3:53 AM
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superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 4:54 AM
I was fine with the kidnapping plotline also. Once that was resolved, literally nothing happened for 4 episodes! ji ah and gwi nam's story was so good. They could've shown how they began to change each other. Instead we got a very rapid progression of GN's feelings and I feel cheated out of what could've been a very good side story. Even KKY's deserved some more screen time. His advices to YJ were so good in the initial episodes that I wanted more of them.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:04 AM
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 3:56 AM
I can't stand the lawyer in Your House Helper. He can't recover from stalking to my mind.
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superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 5:02 AM
That's definitely an added reason why I can't warm up to him. But also his attempts to woo SA don't make me squeal or go aww. Instead it's more like "please stop. It's uncomfortable." I know theory and practical experience is different, but try to match her pace. She clearly wants to take it slow, watching him trying to force her (and failing ) is not making me like him.
I'm sorry . I know many people like him. This is just my opinion.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 5:13 AM
One I share
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mugyuljoie is preciousss
August 11, 2018 at 10:46 AM
He's cutely inept if you forget about the stalking and persistence. A lot to forget, I know.
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superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 12:54 PM
LOL! I tried but like I said, I don't find his ineptness cute.
stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:12 AM
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superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 5:32 AM
You're talking about House helper right? He never went to her office. He wanted to, but SA stopped him from going. He never knew she lied till she went to his office to seek legal advice. Before that happened he kept trying to meet her and discovered that she lied that Ji woon is her BF. He went to her house to see her for one last time, which is when he was reported for lurking around.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:35 AM
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
August 11, 2018 at 5:38 AM
@stuartnz
That was her imagining him discovering her secret.
superwhopotterlock
August 11, 2018 at 5:38 AM
No, that was actually SA's imagination at what would happen if he discovered her office. That's why she rushed out of her home and told her to meet outside so that he wouldn't realize she's been lying to him all this time.
stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:42 AM
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9 outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
August 11, 2018 at 3:53 AM
Mr Sunshine Despite putting it on hold and nonchalantly picking it up again, it turned out to be a satisfying watch. Yes, JB! That PPL is the WORST! I thought I was seeing things.
Life On Mars This drama ended but it is still weighing on my mind and will be for some time. In real life, a friend went comatose and I've been pondering on many things.
Your House HelperI jumped right in, not even remembering where I left off. Anyway, I was highly entertained by Ha Suk Jin and flying cockroach. The girls rightfully called it a bomb scare. There's this running gag on Ha Suk Jin and creepy crawlies. We've seen it too in Radiant Office. Is this him in real life?
Life It's growing on me, never expected someone to make hospital politics interesting. I know people who are doctors and some of these hospital politics and goings on do happen. This said, I have no idea where the show is heading. Synopsis doesn't tell much, wait...I didn't even bother to read it. Acting wise, mostly good and Jo Seung Woo! A 180 degree change from Shi Mok. I am also enjoying Lee Dong Wook's performance. Is he getting flak for it, why? The music though...
Meteor Garden Daoming Si = angry hedgehog? Oh no! Now, whenever I see cute hedgehogs pictures on fanwall, I'll be reminded of DMS. I can't run away, can I?
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 5:30 AM
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outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
August 11, 2018 at 6:21 AM
I kinda forgive him for this because I can deal with many types of creepy crawlies save one - the Flying Cockroach. The darn thing which sole purpose in life is to dive bomb into a human face.
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stuartnz
August 11, 2018 at 6:33 AM
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10 greenfields
August 11, 2018 at 4:00 AM
Life: Only seen upto ep 2, but now that Life on Mars has come to an end, this is the best show on my screen at the moment.
Mr. Sunshine: I'm surprised none of the DB folks today right like ALL THAT MUCH, because I love it. I like the pacing, the exqusite shots, the interactions between the characters & the world that has been built here.
My ID is Gangnam Beauty: This is an interesting show. Typical shoujo, raises interesting questions but I'm not sure if it'll explore them. I'm not against plastic surgery itself to be honest - like any other technology, it is how humans use it that is the problem. In the Show, it seems Mi Rae was about to commit suicide at one point. In which case, if surgery can help her on her path to wellness, go for it.
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🍙 kimbap noona
August 11, 2018 at 5:44 AM
Yay for watching the Gangnam Beauty together with uri Greenie! The first 5 episodes do give me faith that the show will explore our society's obsession of looks (while hooking us in with all the cracky shoujo tropes.) Like some Beanies have stated I love the fact that Mi-rae's insecurities don't go away despite her new looks. It actually brings her new sleuth of problems she has to confront, along with her realization of her own hypocrisy and willful misunderstandings. I love that we get the father's perspectives in the mix, and look forward to how despite "having it all" leads to Cha Eun-woo's mother's past misery. I found myself delightfully surprised how much I root for this couple, and the show reminds me in all kinds of ways why I love K-dramas.
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greenfields
August 11, 2018 at 9:05 AM
Yay! I said the same thing about watching it with you. ^^ second everything you said about the Show.
I think it's also quite an 'up to date' portrayal of student life - trendy like Gangnam? The coolest songs, fashion, a lot of social media? It makes me think that I didn't realize this but drama land is kind of stuck in the past.
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🍙 kimbap noona
August 11, 2018 at 9:21 AM
Isn't weird someone like me who immerses herself in dramas still had not heard of Psy's New Face until this drama? What a perfect choice (despite perhaps being a little bot too on-the-nose) for such an empowering scene for our heroine!
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greenfields
August 12, 2018 at 2:12 AM
*clap clap* ^^; Well said re the choice of song. K-pop & K-dramas are different things, I don't see why you'd have heard it.
11 🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 4:09 AM
AYHT's last two episodes were its weakest, which... honestly? not even mad. great show. my ships are canon and my children - happy. an extra episode would easily change my 9/10 rating to 11. too much action and not enough angst, but it's still one of my favorites. thank you, rabbits! it was a blast!
Gangnam Beauty is my guilty... pleasure? I hate that drama and I hate watching it, but I'm tuning in every week. it's my idea of self-harm. also, the drama after it is Third Charm so I wouldn't like it anyway. end faster, dammit!!!
everyone is annoying, the episodes could be recapped just by listing drama tropes. the only interesting character is the 2nd female lead: Soo-ah. I'm liking her out of spite but I really see where she's coming from. she's a product of her society. men are bothering her, but she has no other choice but to be fake-nice to them. she just can't win.
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🍃noobita🍃
August 11, 2018 at 8:25 AM
@Soo-ah, but she also craves attention and can't stand other girls getting the spotlight. She's interesting in a drama but would be a nightmare in real life.
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🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 8:39 AM
tbh the things she does? if the show ever gave her a chance, none of her actions would be seen as negative. she puts herself down in order to fit in with other, less attractive girls. you see other girls do it all the time. if Soo-ah was being honest, everyone would call her a stuck-up bitch.
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🍃noobita🍃
August 11, 2018 at 8:58 AM
you see other girls do it all the time.
But not to the point of harming oneself or others. She intentionally dropped that dangerous chemical liquid (and thank God she/anyone was not hurt). And let's not forget she made that trash senior misunderstood Mi-rae to the point of nearly hitting her and I know that that senior already got a bad reputation but it wouldn't be as bad if Soo-ah didn't lie to him about Mi-rae.
I understand her reasoning to behave the way she is but I can't stand when people starts to drag others to the point of ruining someone's life.
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🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 9:07 AM
tbh I'm just being a contrarian. I hate flat 2nd female leads so I'm trying really hard to get her point of view. the fact that I don't like the male lead helps a lot.
🍃noobita🍃
August 11, 2018 at 9:21 AM
@vivanesca, I enjoy reading your/any Beanie's comments that feel contrary to popular opinion. I always want to know all sides thoughts. Please, I hope I'm not upsetting you.💐💐💐💐😊😊😊😊
And yes she's far from being flat. That scene when it's revealed she's not hurt at all, goosebumps.
junah
August 11, 2018 at 11:51 AM
oh please. her action is the worst and make the less attractive girls feel more miserable in front of guys cause people will instantly know she's doing it out or pity. she could have just shut up or gotten mad at the guys, but instead she's playing oblivious. stuck-up bitches are more 'genuine' than her. KS is spot on when he said, "you can not be this dumb, aren't you?".
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🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 11:54 AM
coolio, she's surviving. Mirae did literally the same thing in to the fat girl in e5 and everyone was like 'omg so woke'.
men are to blame. they're creating the atmosphere of competitiveness. Sooah is a victim.
junah
August 11, 2018 at 1:13 PM
@liquidsoap. the chubby girl compliment Mirae is pretty, mi rae return the compliment. the chubby girl complain she's fat, mirae say she's not, and say again she's pretty. soo ah also say she's not fat. the other girl backup saying boys and girls have different standard of fat. chubby girl then being cheerful again. they should stop right there, right ? but nooo, soo ah suddenly turned to the guys and asked "she's average right ?". it's conversation on girls table on the first place. why she needs to include the boys ? of course, the boys answer is obvious "yes, she's average chubby" by laughing. see what she did here? she gave the guy the bait.
one guy asked chubby girl to stop eating and asking her to diet. chubby girl protested. the guy saying that girl should take effort to make themselves prettier. he pointed out at soo ah then said even soo ah must have been dieting to stay pretty so why wouldn't the chubby girl not taking it too. soo ah answer, "actually, i am having trouble can not gain weight". who does answer that when your friend were teasing for being fat ?!
Victim? Naaah, i go with KS on this matter . this girl is just 'playing dumb' on purpose.
🍭 liquidsoap
August 11, 2018 at 1:50 PM