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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

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…

 

mary

Kingdom: I grew up on a diet of folk/horror stories and loved(?) that helplessness that comes with having so few resources at hand when the monsters come. Maybe that’s why I turned to post-apocalyptic fiction in adulthood. But despite zombie fiction being one of my favorite genres, I’m still skeptical how these shuffling corpses can overpower modern civilizations when we have deadly, accurate weapons and almost-instant communication to fight them back. Kingdom’s setting takes away that 0.001% gripe I have about zombie stories because here there are no machine guns to take down a mob of zombies and no radios to request helicopters to airlift you to safety. If you’re trapped, you’ll have to find a way out yourself. And that’s assuming you even know what’s happening because it’s not uncommon for strange sicknesses to sweep over the land every now and then. I never imagined that a K-drama would merge my past and present horror tastes together. I’m really thankful to Kim Eun-hee and the Kingdom team for creating this gem. But don’t ask me about gratitude tomorrow when I finish the rest of season one because I foresee cursing in my future while we wait months (years?) for season two.

SKY Castle: I know it must be killing the SKY Castle beanies to only have one episode this week, but I’m honestly grateful because I get to catch up. Heh. I didn’t know throwing out a control-freak father in the middle of winter can be this funny, but once again, Seung-hye and the twins prove to me why they’re my favorites. I’ll have to cheat on them though as my eyes will be on the Kang family for the next episodes. I can’t wait to see how my ajusshi-crush Jung Jun-ho deals with the knowledge that he killed his own daughter and not-a-robot Ye-seo (hopefully) fights Coach Kim’s programming to figure out that some things aren’t worth throwing away to get into SNU. Also, someone needs to take Coach Kim down, because Soo-im’s repetitive “I’ll destroy you” threats just don’t have any weight. My money is still on Kwak Mi-hyang. She didn’t rip all those lips in high school for nuthin’.

My Healing Love: 50+ episodes (so far) of inappropriate fauxcest inspired by Yeon Jung-hoon’s dimples. 50+ episodes (so far) of the stepmom getting away with tricking the whole family. I’m not complaining (so far).

King’s Family: I saw this on KBSWorld while channel surfing and there’s a squishy Jo Sung-ha (aka another ajusshi-crush). He works all day as a package delivery guy to feed his family and in-laws, then they scold him for making noises in the kitchen while cooking a late dinner for himself at night. “What horrible people!” I thought. “I must watch this and curse at the screen to support my Oppa,” I thought again. And that’s why I have check KBSWorld Jo Sung-ha regular schedule pencilled in on my weekly planner.

 

missvictrix

Memories of the Alhambra: Rather than talk about the drama’s conclusion (or lack thereof), I would like to take this moment to fangirl over Hyun Bin’s performance. I can’t imagine a better one, and I can’t even imagine anyone else in this role. He embodied every part of it, and I would have believed anything his character said. Maybe that’s what’s missing from the conclusion: the voice of Jin-woo. His narration always tied things together and made you nod your head and understand what was happening. Why is his voice missing from the ending? Shouldn’t it be there, or was this alienation from the hero intentional? Does anyone have Song Jae-jung’s email address? I have questions!

An Empress’s Dignity: This drama just gets better as it continues, which is no small feat! I mean, when do you get a chance to say that about a K-drama?! The characters and plot lines are developing nicely, I’m enjoying all the interconnections, and Shin Sung-rok is a total show stealer.

Boyfriend: I’m behind by a few weeks, but still chugging along. I put on this drama when it’s late at night and I need something to make me fall asleep.

 
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Memories of the Alhambra: 7/10 for the week, 9 for the series, but some parts rate as 10+, like the gaming in ep 1 and Prof Cha's intro to the game. Whatever we say about tears, hard-to-follow flashbacks and other flaws, at least it didn't have the same-old-same-old plot and villain as 800,000 other shows. We can get so accustomed to the "normal" issues that we really think of them as normal and only notice non-standard failings. But this show was free of the flaws that I am sick of and had shiny new flaws instead. More on this on my fan wall.

Priest: 6/10 Am I watching this because I am stubborn or because I am possessed? Is the name of the demon Samael or Jeffrey?

My Strange Hero: 7/10

Crowned Clown: 7/10

Spring Turns to Spring: 8/10 The switched leads are 10/10, with higher LOL-volume than Last Empress; the rest drags down the average a bit.

An Empress's Dignity / Last Empress: 8.5/10 Empress Dowager :) !

Bad Detective / Less than Evil: 9/10 It's hard to imagine anyone else as female lead. And if you are tired of you-know-who crying so much in you-know-which-show, rest assured - this one is not a crier.

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Less than Evil: If I had to pick one thing this show did well is casting Lee Seol as the female lead. She's a rookie actress that acted in the KBS Drama special "After the Rain" alongside Kim Kang Woo :)

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Despite of being "evil", Empress Dowager has been quite "funny" at the last episode... Also with Ari is "informing" Sunny about the inheritance... that's too funny....

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Your rating of MoA is what I have been feeling but unable to express. Yes, the ending lacked, but the series overall impressed me a lot -- as you said. Thanks for this insight!

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Weird off topic question, how does one Bold text here on Dramabeans? We also seem to have very similar opinions (score wise) on the shows we both watch :D

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Someone has a better guide somewhere than what I can type, but in case nobody links it...
Sadly, if I try to type the codes as we use them it will just act on them instead of showing what you type.
All the effects are letters inside the less-than & greater-than symbols, like
less-thanbgreater-than to start boldface
and
less-thanbforwardslashgreater-than to end boldface
Always have a / before the > to end the effect; omit the / to start the effect.
The less-than is the character I can't type or it misinterprets it.

The codes are
b = bold
i = italics
del = strikethough
blockquote = block quote

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Ah thanks! :)

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Here's the general guide for formatting.
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/mary/activity/206796/
credits to @mary

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And to add emojis:
http://getemoji.com/

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I like Priest. That twist was unexpected.

Less than Evil rocks.

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Echoing what you said about MotA. I wish people weren't so quick to write it off focusing on its flaws only. It was far from a perfect show, but it explored new, uncharted territory in the kdrama world, and for that alone, it's better and more entertaining than bulk of the shows out there today. I'll remember this show as a true trailblazer.

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Top Star Yoo Baek: Aww, the sweet and the funny is finally back. And I freaking love the way Yoo Baek, Kang-soon, and Ma-deol maturely tried to find their new balance after the reveal of their new relationships.

Memories of Alhambra: How do you say goodbye to an entertaining and enjoyable show that left you with a maddeningly vague ending??

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Alhambra - there was a lot said... and there was a lot of disappointment of various degree... and after a bit of thinking (and calming down 😉) I think MY biggest disappointment is that I expected much more from the story.

And the main dissatisfaction probably is that I wanted Odysseus to RETURN HOME! And clean his kingdom, being it literal (to beat prof Cha or anybody else who wanted to take away his properties... perhaps HJ's Friend could belong to here as well 😆) or figurative (to kill his inner demons and make peace with his past). And I expected that his former wives and their stories would play more role in this.

I also expected Penelope to be CLEVER and I wanted her to protect Jin Woo more visibly. Like stalling for time when the business partners would plan to lock JW in a mad house. Or that there would be something in her contract with JW (when selling the house) that would enable her to protect JW's CEO rights and shares (and keeping the servers on / off) while he was battling in the game.

I also wanted to see her protecting JW's soul and body... and not only as a Healer and Protector from the Game... but like cleverly forcing JW to eat, drink and rest when needed... and finding joys in mundane life... (what was sometimes there, but not enough).

And yes, instead of random kisses I more wanted to see their banter. 😊

And... I also wanted Mi Joo to have bigger role towards the end, that she would somehow be part of the team (and not some sidelined idol trainee).

Anyway, I still enjoyed Alhambra a lot (minus the last episode)... I just wish the last third was able to keep the momentum... and story 😁.

Funnily, after I finished Alhambra, I somehow couldn't watch anything else from my current Korean drama list... and so I watched first 5 episodes of a Chinese drama Well Intended Love. 😁 The subs I found look more like Google translate, but it was enough to immerse myself into this contract marriage between an aspiring actress with leukaemia and a chaebol bone donor (of course 😉). Chemistry and cuteness overload 😊😍😊

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YES to all this but esp the Penelope insights.

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Loving your Homer analogies!

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Yes to Penelope should have been clever. I don't care that she cried a lot, that she wasn't full of physical courage and wasn't a gamer (that sounds so boring to me). But crying girls can still exhibit some wit and she didn't.

Another reason I like the Homer comparison isthat I feel like the reason for the bug and the glitch wasn't at all open-ended. I think they hammered that home all through the final episode with the scene being in a church and the repeated glimpses at the Christ on a cross that were not just there to be filler. They had purpose and meaning. I said this in my comment on the final ep recap (but late in the discussion)- watching this without recognizing the strong Christian background is kind of like watching a show set in the world of the Iliad without knowing anything about Homer. I don't mean it's necessarily a Christian show, but definitely Christian theological reference points- the key to heaven having to enter the hear, the glitch beginning with hate in the heart and desire for real world murder, the long, long, long, screen shots of Jesus on the Cross, etc, etc, etc.

But so much yes, Penelope might have had just as many tears, but a bit more wit for my taste.

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Thank you kindred spirit! I have also not been able to watch any kdrama post MotA so after reading about Well Intended Love I had to go check it out. I love a good contract romance! This show has the drama tropes but the characters have amazing chemistry and it's done pretty well. I easily binge watched all 8 eps despite the terrible subs and my own ltd language skill. Would def rec this to anyone for light cdrama that isnt going to run 60+ eps. Also the Male lead Xu Kai Cheng is swoony 🤩😍♥️

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KINGDOM!! @episode 2

So far loving it. It’s chilling and gripping. And it’s so beautifully shot.

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I've finished watching Kingdom in 1 go 😁. But, regret it while having my breakfast in that morning. Cannot think of eating the whole day due to 1st episode 🤢. Soup menu is totally out for entire week ( for my case 😭😭😭).

Another scene that twisted is when the same lake location where Queen So Woon and Ha Seon looking each other is also the place where full of corpse buried under it. Definitely not romantic anymore 🤣🤣🤣

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Lol. True. No soup for a few weeks. Man, I did not see that coming end of Episode 1.
For once I thought the palace politics was perfectly utilized. It was so gripping.
How are we supposed to wait an entire year!!

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@fydea @mayhemf
One question....
Did Young-Shin spike the soup deliberately?
- He deliberately sought out the doctor
- He came from Sangju (Lord An Hyun's villiage)
- Lord An Hyun knew of the zombies (past experience)
- Something bad happened to the people from his home
- Young-Shin knew about people in south eating people
- Did Young-Shin know about how zombies spread from experience?

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Not sure. He really is fighting hard though. If his intent was to spread the zombies he wouldn’t have stayed right? The Lord An talks of a traitor and we don’t know who it is.
Guess Season 2 has answers!!

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- Completed -

Dae Jang Geum is Watching: I need Shin Dong Wook to debut as a rapper.

Encounter: It left me with the same feelings I had during the whole drama. Nice and quiet. But it won't certainly be a memorable drama for me.

Priest: The drama had good ideas and even had a plot twist that could have been folowed by greater events. Still, the ending was quite satisfying.

Tokyo Tarareba Girls: I like that all 3 women came to a conclusion about their own happiness.

Top Star Yoo Baek: I watched the final raw and felt good to see a happy ending for the characters.

- Currently watching -

Band of Sisters: ep 10. I've fallen for The Last Empress craycray so I started the writer's previous work. And I'm not deceived XD So much is going on !

Clean With Passion For Now: At this point, I'm just enjoying the cuteness of the leads.

The Crowned Clown: As much as I love the Queen and the Clown scenes, I fear the moment the truth will be unveiled and how she will react. Or will the Original be the first to react out of jealousy ?

The Last Empress: Woo Bin and Sunny cute scenes increased as if it's to show that they indeed are attracted to each other. Lee Hyuk still messes with my feelings, although he helped them, his jealousy will tqke the upperhand and I even feel bad - well, even more than before. Emperor Dowager's fake tears made me laugh so hard HAHA It was satisfying to see her exposed. Another truth revealed was the true culprit behind Empress So Hyun's death. I didn't think that would be HER ! Arrgh there's so much to comment about, I don't know where to stop.

Less Than Evil: It's a pity that WTS and ESE's dynamic went back to the beginning of the drama. It would've been so much better to see them fight together against criminals. That's what I repeat every week.

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Like A Flowing River: I have a bad feeling concerning the enterprise.

Liver or Die: Poong Sang, his wife and his daughter spending time together were my favorite scenes this week. I was happy as their daughter to see the parents be close and enjoying time for themselves.

Memories of the Alhambra: On hold. I don't know if I'm going to pick it up again after knowing the mixed reactions.

My Strange Hero: I want to believe that SH is trying to persuade CM not to jump since he's reflecting his youngerself, however he's so full of anger and is in no place qualified to save someone on the verge of suicide.

Neighbourhood Lawyer Mr. Jo 2: Always the same ending scene with the leads confrating each other huh ?

Sachiiro no One Room: ep 9. I don't know when the last episode will be subbed but WOW ! I don't have the finale will turn out. The police will surely find Sachi and Onii-san but it feels like one of them might die. If not, Onii-san will go to jail and Sachi goes back to her parents ? Either way, I can't imagine a happy ending for both of them.

SKY Castle: Cha Familly took the cake this week with the mother and the kids leaving Professor Cha ! I feel so bad for Yeh Suh because under her rudeness and competitive behaviour she's just a child that has fear and feels remorse.

Spring Turns Into Spring: I love body swaps but here it seems like both women's physical body are switched so why not ?

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I need Shin Dong Wook to debut as a rapper.

I agree.

It was a nice wrap up for Dang Jeum, but I really think the drama could have been better if limited to 12 episodes.

Here's hoping Shin Dong-wook's personal life settles down and he picks up a new project soon. A down-on-his-luck rapper?

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...perhaps that's why I'm still stuck at ep 12...

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Skip to 15 and bypass most of the triangle stretch. It all untangles here with the added bonus of Shin Dong-wook becoming an iconic musical figure.

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Sachiiro no One Room is subbed on what used to be dramacool's site, now called...

(is it bad to post this?)
www12.watchasian.co

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whoops, i posted a link for the anime... perhaps no matter, since my first reply is stuck in moderation... how to delete...

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it's here...
wvw.drama3s.to

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Thank you and sorry for the late reply !

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re: Tokyo Tarareba Girls, I was disappointed with FL's choice but it's her happiness anyway, so yeah. But IRL, I won't go to that dude, the other one is more rational, kind, capable and cares about her happiness.

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I agree with you. I won't go for the young guy either. But she is the one getting with him and she decides for her own happiness.

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Memories of The Alhambra: ............. Don't know how to react. I can't finish W, so it's predictable that I can't finish this too.
Kingdom: WOW!!!!! It's been so long that I watch Zombie theme in any production. And it's for the cast and all of the team production that I watch it.
Top Star Yoo Baek: I love it. I can't love Kim Ji Suk more than this. And Lee Sang Yeob never disappoint in anything.
Crowned Clown: I love Yoo Jingu. I love Hasun. I'm sympathies with the king. From here, I prepare my self to be more aware with any possibility of the ending.

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I almost quit korean drama because of that-show-should-not-be-named but then Kingdom arrived in Netflix and everything back to normal. There's no way I could quit kdrama, no?
That-mess-should-not-be-named: 84N6S47! There I said it.
Boyfriend: if the writer and PD claimed it's a healing drama, I would agree with them. This drama left me with warmth, even at their frustrating time I keep believe the lead couple would make the best decision. I'm still at episode 11, but I already knew the ending. I have no reason not to finish it.
Kingdom: I finished it in a half day. Only sleep prevented me to finish it in one go. Perfect from start to finish. Never a dull moment. Got me in the edge of my seat as a thriller should be. Love it!

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Tall, dark & handsome FTW! :D

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🤣🤣
He's been casted as a prince, twice!
Tall, dark, handsome and regal 😂😂

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The Crowned Clown:
I think it’s a real pity the show used cliche palace politics to ramp up tension, because I think the Queen and Lee Kyu’s wavering loyalties towards Yi Heon provides great dramatic angst. I am surprised the real and unchanged King is back so early: if Dal Rae had provided some emotional anchor first (how interesting would it be to see the king play clown!), both Yeo Jin Goos (bless his acting) would have been great to root for and the resulting ‘greyness’ would have been delightful to watch (none of the stupid villain nonsense), but we’ll see what the show does with this development.

My Strange Hero:
After weeks of meandering with romance, we finally get good payoff from the revenge! I really liked that Soo Jeong demonstrated maturity in initiating the breakup and taking responsibility for her own follies: this shows development from her past self where she ran away from troubling moments and failed to verify her assumptions. I’m pleasantly surprised that we’re getting a backstory for Se Ho’s mother, though I do think it came too late as we hurtle towards the climax. Shoutout to both Jang Dong Joo and Kwak Dong Yeon: the rooftop scene was nicely acted!

An Empress’s Dignity:
As far as misguided villains go, I’m sensing that Min Yoo Ra could be the next Emperor, since she became all evil after assuming incorrectly that her fiancé had disappeared. I’m hoping that she sees that its not Na Wang Shik / Sunny but nanny / Empress Dowager that are the real enemies and team up with them to drag those who actually ruined her life.

Clean With Passion for Now:
Hot kisses aside, the whole romance plot isn’t something really original, so there’s not really much to look forward to in the plot department. I still dread the upcoming ill-fated connection reveal and how the characters may react to all the developments (no noble idiocy trope!). Hopefully, there’ll be 2 episodes aired next week so that we can skip the angst.

Memories of the Alhambra:
The less said about the show itself, the better! The best part about this show was getting to know some great actors who I’ll root for in upcoming dramas: Min Jin Woong was great as the secretary and Park Hoon was also nice as the emotionless NPC (sorry though I won’t catch your upcoming sageuk since the synopsis is a little meh).

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Happy weekend, beanies~

Kdrama

Best Chicken ep 1-8: I binge-watched ep 1-6 and this show currently got my heart. Bo-a is a flawed, prickly and tsundere FL, but she can't help being nice because that's who she is, kind at heart. Despite her grumpy demeanor, she's always by the ML's side. I can relate to her jaded view of life, and I sympathized that she had to let go of her dream job as webtoon artist because of that douchebag, urghhh. Ep 7-8 are good too, and Choi-go starts to feel something towards Boa. ahhh Boa-Choigo scene on the rooftop💖💖💖💖. But gosh Choi Go's mom is testing my patience, how can you do that to your own son? Now that the trio realize that they're wrong, I hope they will stop to ruin the shop and help Boa.

Boksoo's Revenge ep 23-26:💖💖💖💖💘💘💘💘 Son Soojung, jjang!

The Guest ep 11: It's brutal. I love that the trio starts to care for each other without question and doubt. But poor Hwa-pyung😭.

Anime

Yakusoku no Neverland ep 3: HOLY SHIT!

Fukigen na Mononokean Tsuzukiep 3: Egen-san is such a terrible liar, so cute😂. I wonder what's the deal with the Executive, for him to make such a big ruckus that Ashiya is a human? This week is good, like always, and there's a movement in the plot, can't wait for ep 4!

Doukyonin wa Hiza, Tokidoki, Atama no Ue ep 3: I know they gonna hit me with the feels later on😭. So good. The vibe reminds me of Natsume Yuujinchou.💖💖💖💖

Kaguya-sama ep 2: This anime is stealing my heart. Barnum Effect? LOL😂😂😂😂! So ridiculous and over-the-top, this show really applies "love is war" literally. Even a matter as simple as mobile phone can be so interesting. Very fast-paced, heck I think this version is better than its manga, because of the seiyuus and the music, top-notch. Also, "Kabe-down"??? ROFL. Anyway, Chika-chan, best girl, never change💖.

Meiji Tokyo Renka ep 2-3: A bit weird character change, since at the beginning of ep 1, FL was sort of dark and reclusive due to her ability but somehow when she's transported to Meiji era, suddenly she's this bubbly and cheerful girl? Please =_=. Also, I'm so tired with cliche shoujo FL; ditzy, childish and has no sense of her surrounding, swoon at ML's "you belong to me", urgh, what a generic character. Alas, this is what to be expected from otome game-based anime, should've known better. But I love her growing friendship with the maid and and her creativity/innovation, she helped the maid with her invention; a mop. Still don't like the ML. Ep 3 is good because more characters start to appear but the FL is still so dumb for allowing ML to treat her like that. I know he's trying to protect her but hands off, please😠.

Jdrama

Queen ep 2: Ah, of course this curse is back. When I like a show too much, it will always go downhill. What an utter trash episode💩. I know their client is at fault (a harrasser) and they have no choice but to do their job,...

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...but to stop the victim's truth book from getting published? I can't brain that, I know that's the request of their client but still... The thing is, I wonder what's going on in the writer's mind, do they thought just because the harasser and the victim were once a couple, the sexual assault/harassment should be brushed off just like that? The way this plot laid out, it gives a wrong message that the victim's suffering is not legit at all because "they were once in love." EH? And why is Himi-san sort of shaming the victim for causing "an uproar and effecting people around her"? The uproar is needed because Japan is so backward with women's right! The victim should fight and say it louder! Or is this a hidden message to teach viewers that this is not how it's supposed to be? I doubt Japanese viewers are aware about this problematic plot. Also, disappointed with Yoda-san for saying something vague that the victim is a sly woman. Like whyyyy jdorama, when will you ever get it right when it comes to women's right? Gosh! I had high hope with the leads but now they leave a bad taste, thanks to bad writer. Urgh.

Ie Uru Onna no Gyakushu ep 1-2: It's just okay. I feel like something is missing, it feels more...empty and less meaningful? As opposed to 1st season. But Sangeya is good, as always. Just that I think she got more chemistry with Niwano and heck even with Rusudo. 2nd episode is definitely better.

Kareshi wo Ron de Kaimashita ep 1-8: 💩💩💩💩Horrible. Utter trash show. Weird and depressing. Flip the gender and I'm sure this show won't pass the regulation. ML got a serious Stockholm Syndrome and a masochist. FL will resort to violence and hits ML every time she's pissed off. Also, pathetic character since she puts her self-worth on the man that she's seeing while failing to see that he's not worth it at all. I FF a lot through this show and I'm not missing much, at the end she's still hitting the ML, what's new.

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The Guest: 🔪🥽

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I used to love watched Anime with English subtitles. What is really good anime last year and this year? I might watch some to kill laundry times. LOL

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That is a very hard question *wipes sweat
Since I'm more into slice-of-life anime, I can only tell you those in that genre.
-Yuru Camp (about camping)
-Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (about a group of teen girls making a trip to Antartica)
-Hakumei to Mikochi (daily life about small creatures)
-Gakuen Babysitter (about students become a babysitter for teacher's kids at the school, this is super cute!)
-Asobi Asobase (daily life of schoolgirls)

For comedy, you can try: Zombieland Saga: it's pretty recent and got great reviews,and I loved it too, it's about idol zombies, lol. Tensei shitara slime datta-ken: not bad, a guy got reincarnated as a slime in another world. It's a mix of adventure and comedy
Hataraku no Saibou: very educational, about cells in human body

Tell me your favourite genre,perhaps I can suggest you some.

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Watching Kingdom and The Crowned Clown like my life depends on it!!

Struggling to finish Encounter after the draggy episode 15. I really really like these two and I love the drama! Funny how one bland episode can effect you!

Finished MoA and it was super underwhelming. I think I will purposedly avoid watching PSH on screen moving forward. What a waste! Sad

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MoTA made up my mind about PSH. I used to think it was the characters she played(and Hee Joo didn't help at all!) but I've analyzed it during this show and concluded it's her acting.

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Sky Castle : You have a sports channel JTBC, use it!!!🤬🤬🤬

The Crowned Clown : Loving every second of these extra long episodes. The Queen’s directness comes as a surprise. I hope she sees the difference between the two men soon. That cliffhanger is killing me. I hope the clown’s little sister will somehow affect the sibling-haunted cray cray king in later episodes.

Dae Jang Geum is Watching : I can’t believe I’m still watching this, but I am. Still entertaining.

Kingdom : 🤯😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱😱

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Empress Dignity: I can’t believe this sleezy makjang is getting better. I expected it to go downhill already yet it’s still soooo entertaining to watch. I can’t believe I love the exaggerated everything that’s going on.

MoA (aka Memories of Advertisements): It’s over. I enjoyed it for the most part. The game story was intriguing. The romance was buggy. But like all games that I start playing, I lose interest after a while and just want it to end. And with most games, the ending is underwhelming compared to the journey.

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Okay ... all those emoji have convinced me to save Kingdom for daytime viewing only. I'm a scaredy cat to the core.

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When CWPFS got delayed because of sports, the ratings went down. SKY Castle was on such a high in terms of ratings, so I'm hoping that it doesn't dip because the airing was delayed.

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While @mary is honestly grateful because she gets to catch up, I'm honestly grateful because we get two weeks of SKY Castle instead of one. SKY Castle would have lost ratings if it had aired because soccer fans want to watch Korea win the Asian Cup more. Look at the ratings for episode 11 when SKY Castle aired against awards shows and gayos. She Was Pretty was preempted by baseball, yet their ratings went up because She Was Pretty was a syndrome like SKY Castle is today. Clean With Passion for Now is not nearly as popular.

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Memories of Alhambra: So, that happened.

Kingdom: Had time to binge watch this. Very well done, nicely paced, well acted, but the wait for season 2....Oy.

Boyfriend/Encounter: I watched through episode 9 and was interested enough to check out the last 20 or so minutes. I really think romance-centric dramas would be better served by 9 to 12 episodes.

Story of Minglan: So good. It has moved to top 3 on my list of best C-dramas with 23 episodes still to go. I actually have some measure of confidence that it won't let me down.

My plan is to jump back into An Empress's Dignity this weekend. Regarding My Strange Hero, what are people thinking? I liked the first 2 episodes but just got too busy and not sure it's worth taking another look.

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I agree with you about Ming Lan. It's had such a brilliant, steady flow production-wise (I still can't get over the lack of flashbacks) and such stellar acting, I'm looking forward to the rest of the journey. GTY has turned out to be one of the best male leads I've seen in a long time. I've loved every minute of his relationship with Minglan and can't wait till she finally satisfies his lovelorn, jealousy-demanding heart. I hope it happens in the next couple of episodes after the return of THAT WOMAN.

And the prize for fakest-evil-crier goes to GTY's stepmother (she couldn't even cry convincingly for her own son). That woman is a pill.

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My Strange Hero took a while to settle into itself but I now love every minute of it. It's so heartfelt and joyful and so BIG - the whole direction and feel of it is kind of like adolescence itself. Everything is a bit heightened, everything is a bit over the top. Just like being a teenager is. The female lead is my favourite female lead ever. The OTP is a delight. The acting is AMAZING. I just want everyone to watch it.

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Thanks for your insight; I'm gonna give it a go.

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My Strange Hero is flawless. it is. which is probably why I can't love it as much as I loved INAR. everyone who isn't watching is missing out on a quality kdrama experience.
started Dance Sport Girls, can already tell Kim Sun-Young is going to make me cry like a little baby. as always.

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Both dramas have great female leads. Dance Sports Girls has a wealth of characters to make you cry, but it was worth it.

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Dance Sport Girls IS SOOOOO GOOD. tears and all.

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Son Soo-jung is my favourite female lead ever although INAR remains my favourite drama.

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God I loved Dance Sports Girls and it's such a shame it got so overlooked in 2018. Is there any way we can designate it a 2019 drama???

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Yes please!

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Children of nobody : despite the end that i think pretty loose (that doctor as red cry feels anticlimax for me), but overall, this show steal my heart. The story and the directing worked very well together and the casts did great potraying their character. Kim sun ah talk about season 2 and i hope it'll happen. I know what red cry did was wrong, but i think law and society didnt do any better by allowing child abuser roaming around freely in this world. We might have policies to pressured and punish them, but we know its not enough.

Memories of the alhambra : bad ending. I have to say. How could they left us with question? I dont know how secret dungeon work on the game, or how could there were ashes of zinu but he still alive. If not because the director work i think this piece likely go downhill.

Sky castle : yeh suh's mom makes me pity and hate her at the same time. I understand she want the best for yeh suh and she trapped because of that tutor, the way she keep prioritizing yeh suh university in every matters really makes me annoyed. She just throw woo joo's future, not enough she called her own husband a killer of his own daughter, what pissed menoff the most she keep trying to send yeh suh to that tutor. What the heck is in her mind?

Liver or die : this one interesting.

Crowned clown : i live how fast paced this one without losing it twists. And yeo jin goo just nailed his characters.

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Bok-soo's Back: ❤️❤️❤️

The Crowned Clown: Aw, typical that when the narrative was just getting comfortable, it switched on a new direction. Not that I mind! Drooling over great actors is one of my favourite past times, and no doubt Yeo Jin-gu is giving me cause.

The Last Empress: I entered this drama certain that I could keep an emotional distance if I knew from the beginning that Na Wang-shik may die. I was a fool.

The Greatest Love: Someone here rewatched this recently - I've always thought it was one of the weaker Hong Sisters dramas, but all the positive comments forced me to go back and reevaluate it. Sadly, my opinion is mostly the same. It's funny and emotional in equal proportionals, but I don't think the cast had a great chemistry together. Cha Seung-won said that he and Gong Hyo-jin have different acting methods, and I just couldn't connect with them as a couple. Also, Dokgo Jin is pretty unbareable.

Gokusen: Rewatch! 😍😍😍

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@Gokusen, which season, Fabs?

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The best one! 😉

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Season one, for now. I'm having a great time! 😂

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Season 2 had a soft spot on me since *cough*Kamenashi Kazuya*cough* but s1 is definitely good.

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He's literally the only good thing about that season!

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@frabbycrabsis, I agreed!

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I hate season two, to be honest. I like the dynamic of season three, but season two would just be completely irredeemable without Kamenashi Kazuya.

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Yes Fabs, the only good thing about s2 is Kamenashi. 😂

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Ah Gokusen! Brings back such memories of college. I think I had watched the anime and my roommate convinced me to watch the live action. Can't tell you what happened but I remember enjoying it :)

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Is quite different from the manga and anime, isn't it? More slapstick, and Yankumi's personality is quite different. But it's lovely in an equal and different way! 😍

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Cold weather earlier in the week, followed by rain and wind.
Crowned Clown: Cliff hanger.
Liver Die: House of Chaos
Father is Strange: Lee Yu-Ri, I might have to try her new drama
Ming Lan:Starts to wind down. ZLY =❤️
Movie: The Young and the Damned (Luis Buñuel, 1950)
Street children in Mexico City. I found it interesting that the director filmed an alternate ending. I think I would have preferred the alternate.

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Have you watched Roma?

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No, I have not seen it.

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Also watched Gigante (2009, Uruguay) Security guard, big doofus, heavy metal fan, lives with sister and nephew. Falls for cleaning lady that works at his store. Follows her via camera, then in person, spies on her. Hey, who said stalkers can’t be romantic ? 🙄

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The Empress Dignity (18-19): My drama crack! The Royal Family is just too hilarious and silly, even the evil Empress Dowager... I just wish, Wang-shik won't die at the end....

Boyfriend: I skipped episode 15. I just didn't want to cry this week... Not in the mood of sad scenes. The ending was simple and sweet and took its time, and not too much drama. I'm glad this drama didn't force all the ships sail by the end of the episode.

The Crowned Clown: Yeo Jin-goo is <3.

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I'm on episode 43 of Like a Flowing River and with 4 episodes left of part 1, I have not been disappointed. Every episode has had something significant to say about the lives of people during China's economic reforms.

But Song Yunhui's (Wang Kai) story is the most boring compared to Lei Dongbao's and Yang Xun's, and I'm still surprised he married Cheng Kaiyan, who is even more boring than his story and not even comparable to his amazing and intelligent sister. She's annoying, spoiled and behaves worst than a teenager even though she's a full-grown woman.

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My favorite character was Song Yun Ping. It went from a very special show to just a good show after her departure. And I really do not understand sometimes why a show is written that way. In this case maybe they were trying to stay true to the novel...but still...sheesh.

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Yes, I was shocked and disappointed. She and Lei Dongbao were so adorable together. Even though it didn't take away my enjoyment of the drama, she added that extra spark to the story.

So my big criticism of this drama is that it's out of character for Yunhui to choose such a wife when he admired and respected his sister so much because Kaiyan is the complete opposite of her. I'm puzzled why the writer did this when it doesn't make any sense. So yeah, thumbs down writernim. You made Yunhui so blah.

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I did read that there is second season. Therefore, I hope the second season is better then the first season. This show is on my watch list. However, as of right now, I am watching Ever Night and I Never Let You Go drama.

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I tried watching Ever Night but dropped it after a few episodes. I Never Let You Go looks fun! I haven't seen Ariel Lin in such a long time.

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Oh Wang Kai! Is this good? Gonna put it on my watchlist.

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I don’t know if LAFR will appeal to many people, but I was fully engaged from beginning to end. It’s set during an interesting and transformative period in China's history, so the overall production is painstakingly detailed and realistic; it’s nuanced, cinematic and emotional without being overly excessive or dramatic. It beautifully captured the trials and tribulations of every day experiences and growth of each character during a challenging time marked by dramatic shifts of ideology and mindset, so there are many inspiring and powerful life lessons to learn from such as hard work, perseverance, family, community, honor, loyalty and integrity.

If you’re not familiar with China’s economic reforms, I recommend listening to The Secret Document that Transformed China first, because it’s briefly mentioned in the drama.
https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2012/01/20/145360447/the-secret-document-that-transformed-china

Episode 46 was so good! It broke my heart and patched it up again. I’m eagerly waiting for part 2!

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@missvictrix oh, hun, we've already learned that Song Jae-jung won't have any answers, or I should say no satisfying ones: http://www.dramabeans.com/2016/09/looking-for-answers-from-w-writer-song-jae-jung/

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Hahahaa..this post from 2016 is what I remember too on reading some beanies’ agony in the end recap of MOA.
The writer was not giving answers to the Dramabeans Lords’ enquiries, so I am the low-life beanie, what could I expect, hehe..still like Song Jae Jong though ;)

curious here, has Kim Eun Sok ‘answered’ anything like viewers’ questions or adressing confusion for Goblin and Mr.Sunshine? I remember how some viewers were confused for Goblin’s ending and dissatisfied with Mr.Sunshine’s. Was there any specific interview of KES that addressing the issues? Thanks for any info.

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Right? I think KES leaves many unanswered questions too. I guess because knows how to focus better on romance, viewers just remember being swoon by the love story.

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Memories of the Alhambra - 10/10. I am officially a fan of the writer Song Jae Jung. I admire her courage to stick to the ending that was appropriate for the series despite it not being the popular choice. I've not seen W because I am not a fan of Lee Jong Suk, I've not seen Nine because I am not a fan of Jo Yoon Hee and I have not seen Queen In Hyun's Man because I am not a fan of Yoo Ina but now I am motivated to watch them all. If this drama is any indication of her creativity, then I have faith I will enjoy all the above dramas. It's been too long since I've seen anything but overused tropes and over the top romances.

Looking forward to starting The Kingdom too.

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Nine is comfortably sitting on my Top 3 kdrama of all time,
:)
I binge-watched it a month after it ended airing, that was 2013 if I’m not mistaken, so I don’t know if you’ll find it a bit old now, but for me it was one of my ultimate kdrama faves, really really good!
W is also a really good show, I watched it live, and my excitement level is keeping on a good level throughout the show, except the last 2 ep couldn’t give me the same excitement, I don’t remember why though, and I kept postponing to watch it, and finally watched the two episodes 2-3 months afterward, but still a good show, in my opinion.

There, hope you’ll finally watch them, and then letting us know how do you like (or loathe, haha) them.

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Nine is one of my most favorites too!

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W was not bad at all. I hope that if the writer is not comfortable with writing the romance, she should just discard that and focus on the plot more, like Forest of Secrets' writer.

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To me, W was way better than MoTA. The beginning was very fascinating and the drama raised interesting questions regarding creator vs his creation. I didn't read the interview she gave for W but for MoTA, she made it clear that after the leads were cast, she was forced to change her story and the romance shoe horned.

Talking about FOS writer, I have wondered how did FOS PD ended up making something like MoTA? Couldn't he somehow salvage the writing? Yeo Jin was so awesome and such a contrast with Hee Joo. Couldn't PD make Hee Joo less pathetic even if the writing was bland? Either I am missing something or the whole thing is just weird.

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PD can’t just go rewriting the writer’s story. Only minor changes here and there. Problem with Hee Joo is she was never part of the game. If a less popular actress took the part, she’ll probably have very little to do with anything besides being the face of Emma. However the casting threw the original story off and it’s very apparent they didn’t want to alter the script, just added more screen time for PSH.

If I were the writer, I’d get rid of Hee Joo completely and make Se Joo a female (make her an adult though, cuz we don’t like watching minors with ahjussi). Of course that would cause some uproar if they already casted Chanyeol💁🏻‍♀️

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They can still cast Chanyeol. Just need to make Min Joo the female lead. Have a gutsy 12 year old who can kick ass and no romance. A good friendship is better than a forced romance.

I know the PD can't rewrite the story but he can surely improve on the direction. For example, coax PSH to do Hee Joo's crying scenes differently. So it doesn't seem like major waterworks every time the character needs to cry. Then there's that fainting scene - that was badly directed, wasn't it? I was like - Wut? She passed out from boredom or what?

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Don’t worry about not liking the FL in Nine. She’s not in it much.

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Have watched Kingdom yesterday, and it feels so short. That's why the director said we can regard it as six-parts movie. Looking forward to next season!

Since SKY Castle was pre-empted yesterday, really excited for today's episode. The final arc of the story which is Seo Jin's decision after being handed the exams paper. After his husband has made his choice to resign from his position and the conversation with his mom, will she accept his advice to her that Ye Suh and her life are different and stop to be greedy?

As for The Crowned Clown, now that Yi Heon is coming back, the story may become more interesting, since there is nothing much happened this week other than romance between Ha Seon and So Woon.

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Other than its great OST, I have decided not to talk about Memories of the Alhambra and its creative writer. However, still I want to say this. It absolutely has no improvement from her W. Worse than W? Not sure.

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I only kept up to date with Hyuk scenes in TLE..because Hyuk and SSR 😅. Will have to rewatch the episodes, if possible with TLE rabbit beanies (but time difference is confusing).

I hope Hyuk remains in the right path to goodness, eventhough his methods are questionable. Whipping out two guns and shoot paparazzis! Oh Hyuk..you're cray! Hahaha

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Oh..i did watch the final eps of MotA live, didnt watch it with subs and maybe wont do so. Let bygones be bygones they say 🤣

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The Last Empress

Loving Lee Hyuk, and wishing that Sunny would respond just once to his overtures. Anyway, I just uploaded Chapter 5 of my fanfic, for Lee Hyuk-Sunny shippers. You can check it out here if you want to read a desperate shipper's biased retelling of the story.

Chapter 5: Empress So Hyun

https://www.asianfanfics.com/story/view/1386079/oh-sunny-s-diary-lee-hyuk-s-confusing-me-romance

In the meantime, I'm watching Hyun Bin's dramas to see that face and those dimples again. I fastforwarded the second half of Hyde, Jekyll, Me. The ending was sweet, though there's no chemistry between him and the girl. She puts on this blank face whenever she gets to the critical scenes. It's weird. Starting on Secret Garden, and realized that I've actually watched it before. I wonder when I stopped.

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I like Memories of Alhambra, despite anything that prevented me to love it, for me the show was entertaining enough since I found the game world as the setting was quite refreshing. I finished watching the final epi last weekend, then I felt a bit empty, haha..not really wanting to watch any drama, but it was good that Clean with Passion for Now come to the rescue on that following monday, especially with all the sweetness overload (I have to admit though, that in the last 5mnt of the ep13 I have to look to other than the screen, I felt like interfering their intimacy, the ahjumma in me felt a bit protective toward yoo jung i guess, ;D )

Aside from MOA and CWPFN, this week I watched final episode of Dae Jang Geum is Watching, a bit sad that I won’t get my Thursday’s night ensemble anymore. Aside from the OTP and the siblings, I was entertained much by the office antics, and the oddly charming and hillarious ‘na young and won bin’ s couple’ :D

The tennis grand slam of the Australian Open is what I usually be watching during the 2nd and 3rd week of January every year, more than kdrama hehe..and this year is no different. Naomi Osaka is the new champion and the new number one in the world, I felt proud and so happy for her! I felt so pump for the men’s single final tomorrow too, my heart says Rafa, my head says Novak, but may the best man win!

The tennis is over this week, so I plan to start watching Sandra Oh’s The Killing Eve next week, and kdrama-wise, I’m so looking forward to lee seo jin’s Trap, and casually excited for LJS’ new TVN drama, hope both will be good!
Take care, beanies!

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I read good things about Killing Eve. I have that on my must watch list. I hope they do second season.

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Beanies is there any other streaming site except Netflix...I really want to watch kingdom 😥

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To watch Kingdom? As far as I know it's only available on Netflix. I havent seen it's up on any illegal sites.
What's your problem, your internet provider ban Netflix?

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Yeah....my internet provider is ruining my drama life

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Check drakor.id (the app, you can downloaded on playstore). They already have it.

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Thanks i'll try😘

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Beanies come through with the work around!!! Love our community!

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I saw it listed on kissasian.

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This week finally j-drama subbers came through:
Good wife jp- I found her softer than the American one, and I'm curious where this will go.
Haken uranaishi ataru- this is going to be a fairytale drama, but it's nice to watch those sometimes.
Hajimete koi - I like this one. A good reverse harem drama where we can sympathize with the female lead.
Boyfriend with loan- this drama is basically just there. Nice fluff.
Naranai watashitachi- it was such a boring drama. No point in it.
Korean dramas :
Strange hero, Clean with passion, Empress. - all predictable. I really love Kwak Dong Yeon 😍

Will start :
3-nen A-gumi - looks like a nice thriller.
Ozan's love- I watched the movie before. Can't believe a gay drama in Japan will get a second season.
I's - my brain connected it later that I=Ai=Love 😅
Queen - strong women. It's a big yes.
May I blackmail you? - it was finally subbed.

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That's what i said about kemonare too. its too boring and maybe rough translation lost some of complex dialogues.
I's - ecchi live-action.
Rent a Boyfriend is much much more than fluff.
Haken's 1st episode was good.

Try Yuube too - good 3 episodes and we have honda to watch.

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I'll try Yuube.
I doubt Kemonare would have been better even with better translation. The ratings went down.

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LIVER OR DIE: Good working class premise, good cast but the story line seems to be repetitively stuck like a car in a Midwest snow bank. No growth in any character development. On the verge of dropping it.
BEST CHICKEN: This show combines the grit of Wok of Love with the heart of 30 But 17. It has a low rating (1.2) but the story and pace has been good.
SPRING2SPRING: Korean dramas have a hard time with sci-fi. But here, the writer explained the body swap premise in enough detail that we don't have to think about it. You can tell female leads are enjoying flipping back and forth between introverted housewife to over-the-top news anchor. I did think that the body swapping would go back and forth in order to carry the series.

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I'm glad you like Best Chicken too!

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BOYFRIEND: ...and it ended. Except for some painful scenes, it was really a source of joy. I loved the last episode. It's my favorite drama together with On the way to the airport.

ASHES OF LOVE: my second CDrama. I'm watching out of curiosity for the CGI and flying battles. So far acting and story are so-so.

MY AJUSSHI: great dialogues. Only other 3 episodes and I will have to say goodby to this drama, too.

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Wow, I rarely see anybody liking "on the way to the airport". I really liked it too! I am having a hard time watching the last episode of Boyfriend. I didn't like the angst of episode 15, and now am wonder if there is happy ending for both leads...ugh, I'll just go watch it! -:))

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"On the way to the airport" is such a beautiful story! I would rewatch it just now!

I was afraid to watch the last episode of "Boyfriend", too, beacause I wanted so badly a happy ending!
Go watch it ;)

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I'm almost watching nothing. Well, I'll watch something now and then. Something small and light that won't take up much time and energy.

I'm thankful that someone mentioned Wind Bell to me. Around 8 little episodes (10 minutes? each) with a little bit of romance. I'm having trouble steaming it though. If I get to watch it, I'll come by to talk about it.

I may after reading the comments, continue with Priest.

It's going to be mostly busy-ness with little time to come and browse or chat. 😐 I'll still drop by once a day or so and I'll still be trying to find a little show to watch here and there.

Also @marcusnyc20 reminded me that Healer's 20th episode DB recap is soon approaching it's 4th anniversary (10 Feb 2015) . We may commemorate it on the Open Thread in a couple of weeks! 😆

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OH Healer anniversary, that's gonna be interesting!

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memories of alhambra there are many things (trust me, many...) i would like to criticize abt every episode that came after those four first ones, but on the other hand im just kind of glad it's over so i can let go of my bitterness ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

kingdom i gave it a chance bc of the writer and the hype but there is one thing i absolutely cannot watch and episode one really went there so i wont be able to continue this. now how to stop feeling like i have to throw up... TT

now that all the ongoing dramas are ending i sense a slump coming on... pls give me recs (old as well as new are welcome!), heal me from my kingdom trauma!! 🙇‍♀️

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Children of Nobody - I LOVED this show so much, it's the only drama I've watched where I went back and watched the episodes multiple times. That being said, I came out of the finale not really feeling much which wasn't what I was expecting or what I wanted as an ending to an amazing show. The cast however did such a great job throughout especially Cha Hakyeon in his last episodes and Lee Yikyung who'd i'd only ever seen in comedic roles before.

My Strange Hero - Oh Seho makes me so angry and then so sad and then so angry again. I understand his circumstances and how his environment has built him up this way but when he messes with kids and mr angel park, any sympathy I have gets thrown out the window. Also the acting in this show is amazing.

The Crowned Clown - There was so much packed into the first 4 episodes that this week felt kinda slow. But i'm still enjoying it a lot.

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Kingdom: I binged all six episodes yesterday. I don't normally care for sagueks or zombies, but I was entertained. It took me until Episode 3 to really get into it, and I would have liked to see more of Bae Doona, but it was beautiful and bloody. I liked that the zombies were fast.

The Crowned Clown: This week's episodes were setup and a little slow for me, but I'm excited by the preview.

Liver or Die: I dislike Poong Sang and the second brother, and I don't
care for where the storylines of the other siblings are headed, yet I still find this drama fairly entertaining.

Spring Must Be Coming: I don't particularly like body swaps but add in a cheating husband and two annoying guys named Bom, and Lee Yuri is probably not enough to keep me watching.

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Story of Ming Lan has me refreshing Viki for subs having watched entire episodes raw (the subbers are really quick as well), so much so that I haven't even thought about this week’s Encounter and My Strange Hero (too busy re-watching the subbed ML eps). Looks like there’s no Ming Lan today though, so I may catch up this weekend.

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Story of Ming Lan is sooo addictive in all ways.

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The Viki volunteers doing the segmenting and subtitling on this drama are amazing.

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Prof Cha's the face of WWW again! I wonder how is he going to survive alone? That said, funny as they made Prof Cha and Seung Hye's scenes, I know of men like these who make life an absolute misery for their wives. These women are just waiting for their children to grow up and then divorce their husbands.

The Story of Ming Lan The trauma of terrible female character *cough* MoTA*Hee Joo*cough* got me to watch this. Somehow I feel that I can find better written female characters and more female centric dramas in C-dramas than Korean ones. Does anyone else share the same view? Even in period dramas where women are subjugated, there are plentiful interesting and spunky female characters.
I'm still in the early part of the drama. Visually the intended OTP isn't very appealing but I guess it must be the writing, acting and chemistry that got them all the raves.

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Oh, Minglan is gold. It just keeps getting better. I think you will find that the OTP really works once they get together. The turnaround is incredible. It's an absolute pleasure of a drama.

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It has been a while since I got glued to a historical romance drama.
It took a while for the main couple to get together but it was worth the wait. Man..when smart people schemes the end results is so satisfying.

@outofthisworld
Keep watching. It gets better and you'll get why they are a perfect match.

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@dramafan12 and @kiara Thanks for the heads up. I appreciate reviews a lot especially when investing in a >70ep drama.

I love C drama scheming especially when the good people are as clever than as the bad ones. Shows tend to have too many dumb angels and smart devils which frustrates me to no end.

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@outofthisworld, @dramafan12, @kiara,
I am absolutely in love with The Story of Ming Lan!!! I binged watched the first 20+ episodes, and the next 20 I watched the day they aired, and now I am postponing to watch because the show is ending soon and I want to savor them all 😭😭😭

If the show keeps going strong, this might be competing with Nirvana In Fire as my all-time favorite dramas!!

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"If the show keeps going strong, this might be competing with Nirvana In Fire as my all-time favorite dramas!!"
@kimbapnoona, my jaw dropped at this statement, I mean NIF is considered as a masterpiece, don't tempt me to start TSoML!

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@kimbapnoona

Wow! This is in contention with NIF? I'm in for a treat, aren't I? I am gonna recommend this to my gfs. CNY holiday is coming, good time for binge watching!

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@noobita
I have been wanting to write an ambitious WWW blurb for TSoML but alas, relentlessness of RL. 😭

TSoML is made by Daylight Entertainment which also produced NiF. This company keeps making quality dramas. I still have to check out NIF2 and The Disguiser, but its recent productions Like a Flowing River which aired recently and my parents who rarely watch dramas absolutely loved it which is set in the era when China started to open its door after the Cultural Revolution (and Want Kai is in it!)

The storytelling of Ming Lan is assured and I still have not yet felt any moment is wasted (as far as I remember there only has been ONE brief flashback in the 40 episodes I have watched *gasps). I am loving and hating all the characters with equal glee, and the story is never withholding and keeps giving me satisfying moments. It is really drama at its best!

I have pretty strong faith that it will keep up the quality til' the end because of Daylight Entertainment's track record, but now a seasoned drama watcher, I will take precautions to bubblewrap my remote just in case! 😂

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@outofthisworld
I was curious about the characterization of Ming Lan in the early episodes but the reveal about what has been going on underneath all that gentle surface is absolutely satisfying.

Like you I couldn't wrap my head around how I would root for the OTP (mainly the male lead) in the beginning of the series but now they are together, I cannot see them apart. I absolutely love that after they are married, the emotional arc becomes how he tries to earn her trust and how Ming Lan will eventually embrace and love him. 😍 *sighs with contentment*

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@kimbapnoona, lalalala, I can't hear you~
*proceeds to google TSoML
*saw 73 eps ,gasps
*reads back"there only has been ONE brief flashback in the 40 episodes 0_0
fml, this sounds good. Thank you, I'l give it a try soon.😘

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@kimbapnoona

Did you read the novel? I hope there is some kind of English translation available. I would love to read it after the drama is over.

I didn't know anything about MING LAN when I first started watching it but I'm somehow glad because it's much more exciting since I'm not used to watching historical dramas blindly.

I haven't been in love with a C-drama since NIRVANA. MING LAN is now my new love and I'll treasure it just like NIRVANA IN FIRE.

I thought Feng Shao Feng was an ok actor but he is killing it here.
The writing is solid and I love Gu Tingye and Ming Lan "individually" and as a couple. That's a big plus in my book.

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@kimbapnoona I know exactly what you mean. Every episode has had me glued to the screen, smiling, sniping and fist pumping in equal measures. I honestly can't say when it started, but I now watch each episode raw and then gulp down the subbed one later in the day.

The acting is first class and the relationships (good and awful) are outstanding to observe. The conversations between ML and her grandmother were one of the highlights for me and watching her with GTY is a similar experience. I don't know when I've loved a show more and, like you, I'm giddily being led towards the final episodes by the production team.

I'm unlikely to start another drama in the foreseeable future since I suspect this calls for an immediate rewatch. I've literally been holding off going back to the beginning by making this promise to myself.

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@kiara and @dramafan12,

I have not yet read the novel, but I love that the show used couple lines from a poem written by my mother's favorite poet as its title.

Even though it took around 40 hours for our OTP to come together, I appreciate that we really got the opportunity to get to know them and in process grow to love them individually. And when they are together, it is just magic. It is impossible not to love them as a couple. This evening I am watching episode 47 and I am just giddy. This show is just absolutely delightful.

So yes, @noobita, give in to the power of Ming Lan now and let's cherish it together!! 😂I am completely serious for saying that if the show keeps up its pace, I will be sad that we will only get to spend 73 episodes with in this Minglan-verse.

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I cant wait to binge watch this drama later on.

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I think there are good female written characters in both K and C dramas and don't know if one is better than the other. I mean Here to Heart is a contemporary C-drama and that gal cried through a huge chunk of it though I'm more bitter about the 20 episodes of filler.

Regarding MingLan, the OTP take circuitous route getting together which really worked for me. I like that he's a bit of a mess for the early part of the drama though perhaps not as much as people assume. Their visuals I can't comment on much except to say, they are married in real life.

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The Chinese churn out dramas like a mass production line. The quality is definitely a mix bag. I guess my perception is due to the fact that I do some selection from a big pool of offerings so they tend to be better.

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I’m finally caught up on Sky Castle! I’ve only been watching it these past few weeks so I feel completely immersed in their world. Anxious for the last two episodes. Hope everything ends satisfactorily.

I think I like live watching more than binge watching because I don’t feel rushed to catch up and I have more time in between episodes to reflect and let the details soak a little. LOL

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Currently watching

My Strange Hero
The Crowned Clown

Completed- Encounter and Memories of the Alhambra

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CLEAN WITH PASSION FOR NOW -- Yoon Kyun Sang is a comedic win!! The drama went to the core of comedy with scenes at Oh-Sol's house and Seon-Gyeol reactions throughout all those scenes was sooo hilarious!
YKS acting is so believable I was practically ROFL!! His facial expressions are so versatile and always on point. Daebak actor!

*Father spills juice from his mouth
*Seon-Gyeol has to slap his mouth for asking to "take" Oh-Sol instead of asking permission to date her
*Yucky dinner dish with father keeps licking his fingers and put them on everything before Seon-Gyeol
*Seon-Gyeol almost passed out from forcing himself to accept all disgusting offerings from father LOL He's so miserable!

I also love the tooth-aching dose of sweetness of lovey dovey Seon-Gyeol and Oh-Sol.. owww oww oww.. I just cant! Enough to forgive the fact that tuesday has been pre-empted and theres only one episode this week

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Ever Night: So far, it is interesting. I am on episode 17. We have not got to Long Qing going to Tang Academy. It is weird to watch him this drama and I Never Let You Go drama. He is play two different characters. LOL

I Never Let You Go: Wow... I love this Chinese drama. There is no secrets as everybody straight up tell the truth. There is no damsel in distress. However, I am sad that everyone want Buqi dead. I want her and Lotus Robe Knight/Heir Apperent live happily ever after. I also want Ariel Lin secret to look fabulous and never age. I want to know what happened to her so I watched episode 18-episode 21 raw. OMG... It is was getting really good. I am also happy that Heir Apparent knows that him and Buqi are not related. Let the romance begins....

I have started watching 30 but 17 and on episode 16. I can see why it is good drama. However, I do not see the hype of Anh Hyp Seop. I think he is green actor for me. I hope to see him more in dramas to see if he is really good actor. So far, it is really good feeling drama.

Travelers: I am almost finished season 1. Pats on my back. LOL

Kingdom: I will watched later.

Sky Castle: I will be waiting for final two episodes so I can watch it back to back.

Have a great weekend everyone!!!

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Lol yeppp same. I had decided I was gonna drop SKY Castle after ep 1 cuz it was too damn boring and I couldn’t care less about stuck up parents who created family and had kids for trophy purposes, but what the actual f was that ending!! That ep 1 cliffhanger had me clicking for ep 2 right away and..... the rest is history...... now I’m dreading that I don’t have many days left to see the SKY Castle residents ;(

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i was DEVESTATED when i saw only one ep this week. it's torture. TORTURE !

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also i loved CoN so much. i will miss it greatly.

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Alhambra felt like those american tv shows that expect to be renewed for a second season but then suddenly get cancelled so they end on a cliffhanger. I actually wouldn't mind a season two of Alhambra cause it did some things well, but I know chances are zero.

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Alhambra is on my watch list. I'm reading a lot of negative comments about the ending.
Is it worth watching?

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I would say give it a try. I thought first half of the drama was good ( through the first episode felt a bit repetitive). The drama's issues become more obvious towards the end. I enjoyed it because the premise was something new and the acting was really good. But yeah the ending is not the strong part of this show.

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Thank you! I prefer to be prepared to a bad or not satisfying ending when I watch a show.

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I loved Memories of Alhambra and especially Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye together, the premise was so interesting but the writer couldn't explore it well. I still loved it though, still can't accept that ending. But now I want Hyun Bin and Park Shin Hye in another drama, they had amazing chemistry, and I wanna see more.

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My favorite ongoing show right now is Clean With Passion for Now. I am also watching "Chief Kim" with my wife- and have ordered the DVDs for Goblin, the Great and Lonely God" from our library.

I am still watching 'Dae Jang-geum is Watching'. Also the new show 'Best Chicken' which has the most frustrating and infuriating female lead - maybe of all time. Her friends are a classic illustration of how the people one associates with can hurt you.

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Oooh! Goblin! @oldawyer That will be a great watch for you and your wife. I loved how the logic carried through til the end and the warmth that developed between the characters who would not normally get on together. This is one show I could rewatch several episodes of very happily and still feel much with the characters. I get all wistful and warm thinking about this grand romance.

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Pride What was it about this drama? There where definitely parts that aggravated me and I wanted to shake a few people a few times, but I couldn't stop pressing play. I would be shocked when each ep ended because I was so absorbed and didnt clock watch.
I liked the majority of the characters even when I didnt agree with their thoughts or actions. I loved the first part of the romance. Just watching the two leads fall for each other. But I think most of the draw was the lead actor or a combo of him and the character. I didnt want to take my eyes off him. It's not just looks he has that...."it" factor, lol. Could completely see why his team, coaches, and fans focused on him. I need to try another of this actor's work.
Does have a theme song that will stick in your head if you watch the opening credits. Also, AMAZING subs.

The Crowned Clown only finished first ep. I like it and am intrigued but Pride kind of took over my watching time.

Encounter Also, this show because I think it might be my next must watch. Only through ep 3. I really like our heroine and I hope it is not too much of her needing to be saved. Loved the scene when she is doing a walk through of the hotel.

To. Jenny Only the first ep. But it is adorable. Love the brother/sister relationship.

Oh My Ghostess 2 eps. I do like watching Park Bo-young and Jo Jung-suk. I just hope it is clear who the romance is between.

Meteor Garden Up to ep 33. I enjoy these kids but am ready for the push and pull to be done.

Heartland Canadian drama. Finished season 10. Just a nice family drama to unwind with.

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I liked Pride and, yes, that actor has loads of charisma.

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Have you watched any of his other work?

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Yes, Kimura Takuya has been in a lot of dramas over the years. I'd watch more but J-dramas can be hard to find subtitled. I have seen one of his earliest smash hits, Long Vacation, which is from the 90ies. It's a solid drama but takes an episode or two to get into. He was also in the original J-drama version of The Smile Has Left Your Eye. Seo In Guk played his character so, you know, if you want your heart ripped out. Anyway, you might try MyDramaList for his entire list of shows and see what you can find.

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Yes, I wasnt thinking about the search it involves. Hopefully Viki will keep adding older shows.
Thanks.

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My top 2 favourite Kimura Takuya dramas are Long Vacation and Pride.

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@Pride, are you talking about Kimura Takuya? If yes, I loved him in Good Luck, but it's not as deep as Pride. Hero s1 also not bad.

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I saw a review, really mixed, but she just fell for him and the first part of the drama. I dont always agree when some one falls hard for the actor but in this case I agree, lol. Keep seeing Hero.

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The Crowned Clown: To my surprise, this show started losing me this last week. I was initially on board with the love triangle, but the kiss ended up undermining the romance for me instead of heightening it. I kind of wanted more tension and a stronger political partnership to flourish between the two of them before they turned into tragic lovebirds. But now the Queen's character is starting to feel very potted plant like to me and my main thought when watching the show is, "less mooning eyes and more bad-ass over-throwing the court moments, please and thank you." I'm curious as to how they're going to incorporate Yi Heon's role back into the story, but I'm honestly a little apprehensive of the direction the story seems to be going in now.

Top Star Yoo Baek: Finally made it through the angsty episodes and have 3 hours of happy fluff left to be treated with. I really hope tvn lets Viki have this one since it's not a bad show for a fun re-watch. Although some of the humor may be a bit much for me and it's not really the most realistic of shows, I really believe it's a solidly well-done rom-com. Even the angsty episodes managed to get some laughs out of me. I'll definitely be sad to say good-bye to this one!

Red Moon, Blue Sun: I can't let go of this one yet because I'm torn over seeing a potentially completely different story than what was given to us in the finale. I can't tell if I should be disappointed that my version isn't what was promoted and that the writing must have had weak points, or mind-blown that the writer managed to write a completely different narrative hidden beneath the surface of what we were shown. Hmm....

Kingdom: I roped a friend into checking this one out with me tonight (so that they can give me a play-by-play if I need to cover my eyes lol). Hope it lives up to the hype and that I can handle the gore!

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@hobakky, I am curious about your version of Red Moon, Blue Sun.

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If the narrative under Red Moon Blue Sun is the same one I have in mind then I also thought it was one of the most impressive things I've seen a kdrama do.

http://www.dramabeans.com/members/leetennant/activity/698098/

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I was actually partially inspired by your comment, so, yes, it is similar to the one you have in mind. My version goes a little further in that I think Eunho also falls into the category of taking a secret to the grave though. I also think that the reason both intended to die rather than give away the truth is also related to the theme of Red Moon, Blue Sun. I'm going to try and get a post out on my theory soon.

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I'll really look forward to reading it. I think this was one of the most impressive pieces of television i've ever seen.

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I've been so busy this week I didn't get to watch anything and then I spent yesterday basically catching up. Which means all I have to say is;

Boyfriend/Encounter: This is a show that existed and that I definitely watched. That's about it, really. What a letdown. Turns out the industry really can take something original, interesting, and counter-cultural and make it utterly banal.

The good news is I didn't flip a table. But that's because I have no energy left for this piece of nothing.

Boksoo: God I love this. I really love this. I can't believe I was on the fence about it for the first six or so episodes because I now love every minute of it. I love every character, I love the heart and the humour. I even love the almost-melodramatic overwrought direction and use of music. I can't wait for the final three episodes and am so annoyed it's going to be two weeks because of that pre-emption.

Red Moon, Blue Sun: Did that finish this week or last week? I don't care because if I haven't already said this is one of the best dramas I've ever seen then it needs restating. It really was almost flawless.

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Did I mention I dropped Memories of the Alhambra? I dropped Memories of the Alhambra. I designated 2019 the Year of Dropping and I couldn't have started stronger. I've never been so happy and so smug about dropping anything.
Happy dance.

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Sky Castle is the one thing I'm watching but am really far behind on. It's a really hard show to watch when you're tired. You need the brainpower and the right mood. Not to say it isn't excellent - it's exceptional. But I'm only to episode 10 and am planning to catch up today.

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Totally agree about Encounter. And also My Strange Hero (if that's what you mean by Boksoo). Love that show, despite the faults.

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Enjoying Shin Eun-kyung as the Empress Dowager in Last Empress. "Tell her to die!" And oh my -- the little princess. I think that kid's got a future.

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What I've watched-
My Strange Hero : That's the separation I don't mind^^ I need Se-ho to be happy.
Clean With Passion for Now: So Cute. I like Kim Yoo-jung here looking/acting mature.
Crowned Clown: Can't wait for next ep. I need king to lose memory or something (so that Hasun gets safe.).

Spring Must Be Coming :Outrageous but fun
An Empress's Dignity: Princess Ari for the win. Cray continues....
Boyfriend : I am satisfied with the ending. Mr.Nam for the win.
Daejanggeum is watching: Satisfying ending. Rap and Manager Lee for the win!
Top Star Yoo Baek: Such sweet show. Thank you show for big laugh and warmth, you did great.

SKY Castle: LOTs of tears. Satisfying ep. I'd be fine if this(19) is the last ep, but look forward to twists if it has more.
Romance Is a Bonus Book: What was that? Turned to melo fast. Interesting start.

Kingdom: WTH that was ending? When is season 2 again?
Movie quality, some great acting (some ?acting too), but I guess my expectation was too high.

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SKY CASTLE SPOILER!!!! Not a huge one but still
I know a lot of beanies are just picking it up so please skip

I'm still watching ep 19 and YES! TEEEEEAAARRRRSSSSSSSSS! I knew there would be a Yeh Suh breakdown and was low key looking forward to it, but wow show! I was right there crying with her! This show does an amazing job of humanizing it's characters. At the end of the day Yeh Suh is just a kid. I feel for her and her whole family. I truly did not expect to feel empathy for them. BUT Kang Ye Bin is the MVP! I LOVE HER! I love that she was able to bring Suh Jin to reality!
AH! SO GOOD! Back to finishing the episode

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Sky Castle: The dynamic between all of the families is what makes the show so juicy to watch. I’ve finished 4 episodes already, will start watching the 5th episode later.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo: Completed two episodes so far and I’m enjoying the friendship between the three weightlifting chicks. I’m not too sold on the leading male character, I’ll watch more to see if he will grow on me or not

Coffee Friends: I don’t normally watch variety shows except the first season of Hyori B&B which was so great. I saw Coffee Friends by chance and decided to give it a watch, it was so relaxing to watch and it has a friendly vibe to it, like it’s inviting you to come and have a coffee with them.

I’ll be picking up Kingdom soon, probably will as soon I catch up to the Sky Castle latest episode.

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Oooh, Weightlifting Fairy was the first drama I watched 2 years ago that got me hooked onto kdramas! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

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On Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo, i can only tell you: wait a little bit. It is a lovely coming on age and love story. It is so beautiful, I could watch it over and over again...

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I love WFKBJ, and you gonna love the ML after a while when he starts to develop friendship with Bokjoo.

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