Open Thread #662
by DB Staff
Happy Friday everyone!
Here is your Open Thread, which is here for you to chat about anything you want, whether it be drama-related or not. Nothing’s off-topic here! Spoilers may be rife, so proceed accordingly.
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1 cat-cric-kat
June 26, 2020 at 6:27 AM
Little Boy - 515k - 575k till 19th July
Hadrware and software complement each other.
Mental strength is as much important as physical strength and even more important in face of challenges. You can't measure the limits without testing them? Challenges make your character.
Temptations are everywhere - how you battle those temptations is what defines your character.
Soldiers are trained in difficult terrains not only to build experiences but also to create mental toughness. Heat storms of social life make humans more mature and develop a level of understanding to connect with others.
Chaos is political opportunity to rise with less financial risks, more physical risks and more returns. Against XI and Putin like you will meet St. Peter. Against Trump like opponents and in more viable climate you will not only survive but can thrive with limited resources.
So those who want to ascend and ascend fast should vouch for trump and trump like candidates.
There are 2 requirements to win -
You become strong
Enemy becomes weak
Trump like politicians do that for you at least cost, rest is upto you - how you pat the voters and how you make them foolishly vote for you.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
June 26, 2020 at 4:49 PM
Water is not a 'temptation'. It's necessary to sustain your body's systems, including your brain. Dehydration leads to hallucinations and affects brain function. You might find your perspective on certain issues changes when you're adequately hydrated.
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egads aka Dame Maggie
June 26, 2020 at 7:37 PM
Given that in the last year I've been watching two family members slowly die, I find the idea of testing your physical and mental strength by limiting water intake during extreme heat to be needlessly self-destructive and perhaps even a nihilistic martyrdom. I replied last week out of concern for a fellow human being, but this week I don't have the patience for this form of meaningless "character" building. Not drinking water doesn't prove you can resist temptation, it's just a form of self-flagellation. Drink some water.
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Beverly
June 26, 2020 at 7:59 PM
Maybe try to find medical professional to talk to about why you feel the need to deny yourself basic needs. I think you said last time that you couldnt bring yourself to drink the local water even if it puts your life in danger. Your body has needs even if your brain is telling you to deny them or the resource isnt safe.
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cat-cric-kat
June 27, 2020 at 12:13 AM
You are right beverly.
I don't hygiene levels of others but i won't knock the door of a therapist untill i feel like i need it.
I call diet regimes biggest idiocy but i always keep tab on each and every calorie i take, my daily body needs of various resources are met or not.
As for someone interested - I'm accustomed to less drinking water. As said in 2019 - I'm more into fruits n dairy products so all my fluid needs are fulfilled by other resources. If i'm work and operate computer, and rate few fictional shows, enough to deduce the fact that my brain is functioning pretty well.
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2 Fly Colours
June 26, 2020 at 6:43 AM
Briefly came back into town to get some food and fresh knickers and got BLOWN AWAY by It's okay not to be okay. Going back to the hills with a tear in my eye that I'll have to wait until next week to watch episodes 3 and 4... Seo Yeji slays!
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Fly Colours
June 26, 2020 at 7:02 AM
Ops, comment got accidentally got stuck on bold, sorry!
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lillamy
June 26, 2020 at 10:16 AM
Amen to that! The show is astounding. Please, drama gods, let it stay like a intricate piece of art all the way. But the tension.... 😳 Wow.
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silverdrafts
June 27, 2020 at 4:58 AM
Why do you have to wait until next week for ep 3 & 4? Won't they be aired today and tomorrow night? Or the eps are postponed and I just haven't heard about it?
Btw I also like it so far, esp Moon-yeong, her character's so unique, and sooo agree with you that Seo Ye-ji is awesome. Both leads are simply too pretty, the visuals are out of this world, and most importantly, the plot itself is intriguing, they slowly peel the layers one by one, just builds my anticipation.
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Fly Colours
June 28, 2020 at 1:38 AM
Yes, episodes are being aired! I'm not watching until next week because of my own patchy internet access. Have fun!
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silverdrafts
June 28, 2020 at 2:41 AM
Ah, that's a bummer. Hope your connection gets better!
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Fly Colours
June 28, 2020 at 3:09 AM
It won't! But it's also nice being put in the wilderness and offline (most of the time) for some days... And at night I'm sneaking in some old dramas I've downloaded on my laptop 😋
3 ava
June 26, 2020 at 6:49 AM
Hello Beans! I hope everybody had a great week.I saw some news about dramas:
"Return of 3 'hallyu' actors fail to give TV dramas a boost
The return of three A-list South Korean actors who finished their military duties has drawn wide attention from fans of Korean TV dramas at home and abroad.
But their new dramas were performing far below expectations, and even the stars with large followings abroad were unable to give them a badly needed boost."
They are talking about: Lee Min-ho, Kim Soo-hyun and Ji Chang-wook.
(I still think It's Okay to Not Be Okay will do better in ratings)
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Mani-chan
June 26, 2020 at 7:00 AM
I have the same feeling. I think it might be one of those draw which gets an increase in viewers as it goes along
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welh
June 26, 2020 at 7:10 AM
It is one thing to cast a star, it is another for a star to carry a production past viewer and critic expectations.
For example, Something in the Rain and One Spring Night were called by some critics basically the same premise and story line. Both series starred Jung Hae-in. In SITR, Son Ye Jin's chemistry with him carried the show. In OSN, Han Ji-min performance was not on par even though she is an award winning actress. In retrospect, I found SITR more compelling than OSN.
SITR put Jung Hae-In into primary drama lead roles, but he could not carry the ratings in his last series.
Star power is important. It can carry a nonsensical script and situations to ratings success (for recent example, CLOY).
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MikeyD signed up
June 26, 2020 at 8:17 AM
The failure of Ji's 'Melting Me Softly' falls entirely on the shoulders of the director Shin Woo-chul. Halfway into the series I expected to see the poor actors blinking in Morse code "SAVE ME" like in a hostage situation. Park Bo-gum in the lead couldn't have saves that series.
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 10:41 AM
This comment is golden 🤣
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Eazal
June 26, 2020 at 1:05 PM
This!
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 12:57 PM
Contrary to what I read JCW said about the role. From all I've heard the acting was as meh as the script and direction.
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MikeyD signed up
June 26, 2020 at 2:15 PM
It was as though each actor had his/her own concept of the tone of the show and none of them matched.
Yoon Se-ah acted up a storm as the now-aging ex but her performance was in a vacuum. Drama Beans commented, I recall, that it was like she was acting in another drama entirely.
Chae Seo-jin played the same character but 20 years younger. Again, she did an excellent job but she was off the series within an episode or two before it hit the fan.
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mindy
June 26, 2020 at 2:26 PM
To be fair, I don't think there are any actors in Korea who would say, "Yeah that role sucked, I made a mistake choosing that project/made a mistake in my interpretation" even if they really think it, no one wants to offend the directors and writers lol.
JCW may have come out of that drama pleased, neutral, or disappointed. We will never know the truth, lol!
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Bob
June 26, 2020 at 2:43 PM
I couldn't stand to watch it to the end but about halfway through you could see a mixture of despair and grim determination in JCW's eyes. As though he was thinking 'Lets just get through this project and move on'. If nothing else he came across as a 'team player'.
kitty
June 26, 2020 at 4:02 PM
He actually acknowledged mms was a failure (yes he literally used this word to describe the drama) to his fans during the drama’s wrap up party and said he felt responsible for it. I felt really bad for him tbh bc yea the drama was terrible but it wasn’t entirely his fault. Of course he’s never going to out right say “yea this drama sucked I regret doing it” but you could tell (from the fancam) that he knew people didn’t like the drama and he himself was disappointed/regretful in the outcome.
mindy
June 26, 2020 at 4:29 PM
@disastergirl Ahhh. I feel that he may have been referring more directly to the ratings, which is an objective thing, but it's interesting he addressed it. Thanks!
Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 10:43 AM
Geez IOTNBO just aired two episodes!
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 1:07 PM
I didn't watch World of the Married, because a multi-episode melo-revenge drama of a cheated on and dumped wife is about the last thing I'd ever be interested in, but what interested me was that in so far as this trashy SUBJECT MATTER (and I have heard that the drama was well acted and written, so the trash/garbage comments come from my personal opinion and lack of interest in the subject matter) was HUGELY popular in Korea, breaking records of previously high rated dramas like SKY Castle and CLoY, it seems that the Korean public prefers titillating, salacious, melodramatic shenanigans, rather than slow, nuanced slice-of-life dramas (perhaps WTWIN, APOYM, FMIYM), dramas that have underlying serious elements (IOKTNBOK for MH issues), or dramas that require a lot of attention, repeated viewing of episodes, and even side reading, to understand the complex plot (TKEM).
While I welcome a move away from all the romantic melos with the fish-eyed kisses and men dragging women around like cavemen, if I wanted to watch sex and infidelity and divorce dramas, I could just watch US TV shows.
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Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 3:19 PM
Infidelity and divorce is not confined in US, it happens everywhere. Of course there will be dramas in any language that focuses on these issues. I assume Koreans would prefer watching a kdrama regarding those issues compared to watching a drama about divorce from a different country, in another language.
Sometimes I think international viewers expect too much or have their own standard and expectations for kdramas. Kdramas are tailor made for K-audience first.
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 4:27 PM
Actually, WoTM was an adaptation of the British series, Doctor Foster: A Woman Scorned, which was previously adapted into an Indian TV series, Out of Love.
All trash to me. I didn't watch The Good Wife (neither the US version or the Korean version), or anything like that on US prime or cable TV, or BBCA. I have ZERO interest in the drama of married couples. Got enough of that crap doing family law the years I worked for a small boutique firm that specialized in wealthy dotcom employee's divorces. It's trash to me.
I did sort of accidentally watch VIP, and kept watching because it was really more like a thriller, where the FL's marriage was murdered, and there were multiple suspects who were all women she had either personal or work relationships with. I was pisssed as hell for the entire month that damned drama aired, and could feel my blood pressure rise over the way the FL was getting screwed over - mostly at her job. I didn't care one iota about her marriage to the ML, and never, at any time, rooted for them to get back together. The ending was satisfying because instead of forgiving him, or going after petty revenge, she just gracefully moved on with her life. Bravo. My kind of heroine.
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Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 6:01 PM
Fyi.....what you felt while watching VIP, might be the same thing other viewers felt watching other infidelity/divorce dramas....and that kept them watching too...just saying.
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
June 26, 2020 at 6:24 PM
I agree @katakwasabi
I can't speak for every viewer but I know a lot of women like their infidelity dramas because they know that in dramaland the woman usually wins, which is not the case in the real world. More than one person has said they like it because they've been in or seen terrible cases of infidelity in the real world and they get a catharsis from watching a drama where the woman wins in the end.
Mani-chan
June 26, 2020 at 11:51 PM
Hi just a question but Out Of Love was in which Indian language? I'm Indian and I had no clue about the remake
amruta1009
June 26, 2020 at 11:55 PM
@manichan It's a Hotstar special.
Vespertyne29
June 27, 2020 at 12:35 AM
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Vespertyne29
June 27, 2020 at 12:38 AM
Nah. I wasn’t interested in the “wife gets revenge” aspect, and once it moved past the thriller like who-dobe- it vibe, I only kept watching for one of the side characters (not married), who was my favorite. Altogether, it wasn’t anything special, but that thriller vibe made it unusual in the beginning. I like thrillers.
phinne
June 26, 2020 at 7:30 PM
Hospital Playlist, Prison Playbook and the reply series is a nuanced slice of life drama, even Camellia Blooms and Stove League is not the salacious melodramatic drama with great response.
A Poem a day and find me in your memory flew under the radar because none of the lead has the gravitas to pull people just by their name and they aren't in drama with top tier status. When the weather is fine just super slow and the end completely ruins the drama so I guess they foresee it coming.
It's Okay It's Love, The Winter The Wind Blows and to an extend Kill Me Heal Me is well received with a mental health issue. Dinner mate is actually well-received now and it also deals with mental health. Many movie with mental health issue also become blockbuster, Parasite is all twisty and dark, K-audience love darker movie. Okja, Miracle no.7.
TKEM is just badly written because W, Signal, Nine-time travel, Queen In Hyeon Man all well receives, even 365 days get a good critics. TKEM is jut badly written and the execution is flat. it just has good cinematography, pretty to look but no depth.
It's not that people don't watch your "great" drama but it because the drama as an ensemble isn't that good, when you accept that the quality isn't good then it all makes sense than "it's not the theme that they like, they just don't think it's entertaining", All the high premiere by the drama shows that they do want to try but when it's half asses show with no clear understanding of their own story, who would've stay?
still reserve the judge of I am psycho but it's okay,
I am tired of the trend to blaming the audience when something isn't well receive than actually examining the product
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Vespertyne29
June 27, 2020 at 12:29 AM
Oh dear. I’m so sorry you aren’t smart enough to understand or appreciate the complex time travel concepts, and literary and mathematical references in TKEM. It was a great experience to watch it, and while it’s hardly my favorite drama, I loved the challenge. Time travel is one of my favorite genres, and it met and surpassed my expectations, while offering very pretty scenery to ogle as well. The discussions of the drama were some of the most interesting ones I’ve had about any drama. But they weren’t here, of course.
Enjoy your appreciation of the obvious! Most people do. Because there’s no challenge at all. It’s so effortless!
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silverdrafts
June 27, 2020 at 5:01 AM
I don't think I appreciate your condescending tone.
JW
June 27, 2020 at 10:33 AM
Again, your tone is offensive. Everybody is allowed an opinion. You can disagree but to use TKEM as a "positive" experience is mind blowing.
Lixie
June 27, 2020 at 10:54 AM
It's fine that you like TKEM so much but please be respectful to everyone that considers it trash, it's only fair to give them the same courtesy we give you when you say all dramas with infidelity are garbage.
mindy
June 27, 2020 at 12:59 PM
"I’m so sorry you aren’t smart enough to understand or appreciate the complex time travel concepts, and literary and mathematical references in TKEM."
Oh, god. I think people can see my eyes rolling from space.
tsk tsk
June 28, 2020 at 4:57 AM
oh dude, I am smart enough to know that I don't know everything but TKEM is stupid, there is no law or rule explained in their universe, just because they use symbolism doesn't mean they actually use it.
even the character say "skip it", had the drama actually smart, they'll explained it but they never did cause they have no effing clue
rambutan
June 26, 2020 at 11:10 PM
I will not be interested in watching WOTM or other divorce-related dramas no matter how high their ratings are. I won't be able to relate to these type of dramas. I am happily married.
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windsun33
June 27, 2020 at 12:54 PM
The woman in the drama was happily married also...
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rambutan
June 27, 2020 at 8:03 PM
Past tense.
ava
June 28, 2020 at 4:43 AM
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ava
June 28, 2020 at 4:48 AM
I disagree, sorry! One thing that both super popular and high rating dramas had in common: older women trying to get what was the best for their kids (or kid). Both Sky Castle and World of Married had this. SW (world of married), her main goal is her kid. The revenge and everything else, was because she wanted to keep her son. We cant forget that dramas were intended for housewives. We are getting almost 11 years on Boys Over Flowers, so off course people are getting old and wanting to see something new.
Another thing we cant ignore is that every tv show, being korean, american, european, etc that is about power and the politics of keeping this power, will be a huge success.
I watched yesterday a movie called: "My Love, My Bride", with Shin Min A and Cho Jung-Seok and that movie had more scenes and talk about sex and titties than the whole 16 episodes of World of Married. It is a cute k-movie.
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4 welh
June 26, 2020 at 7:02 AM
Cross-over Korean content is in its infancy, but another big property is heading for a US remake: Hotel de Luna. An American television series will be adapted for US market. I really don't know who could be cast to match IU's great performance and compete with grand scale of the Korean production values.
A re-boot does not mean success. I dropped the US version of Snowpiercer. It was based on the movie, but after reading subsequent TV critic reviews, the TV series is more filler and dragging plot lines than the original movie.
It is hard to adapt a foreign country's unique folk lore elements into some frame of reference. But Korean entertainment industry wants to spread a Korean narrative storytelling to other parts of the world.
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Bob
June 26, 2020 at 9:02 AM
I'm reminded of the baseball player Babe Ruth who held the record for both most home runs AND most strikeouts. Instead of trying (and probably failing) to reproduce Korean megahits in the US it would probably be wiser to remake less ambitious series. There's no reason there couldn't be a US remake of pretty much any Jang Nara comedy, or 'You Who forgot Poetry' or 'The Secret Life of my Secretary' or even 'Psychopath Diaries'. Instead they're going for remakes of SKY Castle and Hotel Del Luna, which it seems would require a lot of fudging of Korea-specific worldviews.
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lizj58
June 26, 2020 at 12:06 PM
Unfortunately I think the "best" candidates for US remakes are shows that can run for many years with potentially revolving door casts. Like what has been done with "The Good Doctor." So the original concept may come from the South Korean version, but by the time the second season rolls around, the plot will be unrecognizable. Now, there are some concepts that could, I think, be successful with a continuing storyline. Hotel Del Luna flirted with the concept of the "revolving door cast" with the cameo at the end. I tend to think a concept like W would work if the world building (and cast) expanded in multiple seasons (basically, it tops my list of shows an American production company should option to remake...but hasn't).
What doesn't work well to transition into multi-seasons? Rom-coms - it's hard to get a happy ending if you're stringing a show out for several seasons and cast starts exiting the show. Tightly written suspense series need the structure of a defined beginning and ending. I think that a show like SKY Castle will just become another generic prime time soap.
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Bob
June 26, 2020 at 2:24 PM
I'm wondering with so much content on so many platforms these days if American producers will start edging toward the Korean model of one-and-done limited run series with a strong narrative structure. Give up the idea of retaining a loyal audience for years and instead rely on the novelty of new products ever 2-4 months.
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ManFromNowhere
June 27, 2020 at 3:30 AM
I don't think they will, at least not now. The way TV shows are sold and make money (not sure about South Korea) in US is Advertising and syndication. That's why the seasonal format works so well for the West.
Yes there are single season / mini series but that works better for something like HBO which makes money from subscriptions
welh
June 27, 2020 at 4:43 AM
Streaming services like Netflix have the model to cater to binge watchers. Divide a show into "two" seasons of released episodes (first half and second half). Use the buzz of the first half to draw new subscribers then release the second.
Syndicated shows are now most of American cable channels so multiple years, if sustainable, is what producers/studios still want.
5 Mani-chan
June 26, 2020 at 7:08 AM
Hi beanies. Promising dramas are coming this week and I'm excited to see all of them. It's Okay To Not Be Okay won my heart in its premiere week and although I would have watched it for Kim Soo Hyun anyway, and I'm just glad that the story is good because I didn't want it to turn into TKEM. So the remaining 12th grade examinations in India have been cancelled and apparently the students' marks will be calculated based on the home exams and this has come as a blow to many students and for obvious reasons. Although everyone understands the situation regarding the pandemic, it's very disappointing for so many kids who struggled the entire year and had hoped with their final exams. Anyway, I'm in a bit of a slump and am waiting for the new dramas to premiere. I just might watch Bad Guys in between
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6 Martin J Simwaba
June 26, 2020 at 7:33 AM
Happy OT everyone..
So dramaland has delivered this month. I laughed so much when I watched the premiere of BACKSTREET ROOKIE and I Enjoyed it as well. Then there's IOTNBO, Wow! Iam sold. Good day everyone 😍 💦
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 27, 2020 at 4:50 AM
Where are you watching Backstreet Rookie?
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Queen Moira
June 27, 2020 at 7:39 PM
I'm from the US, and I can watch it on iq.com for free, without even signing up for an account. But I've seen people on YouTube upload the full episode with English subtitles too.
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7 yourfangirlgigi
June 26, 2020 at 8:16 AM
it took me quite a while to get time to read through backstreet rookie reviews....i was in shock lmao ...so much backlash ,bad comments ... now i'm torn on whether i should watch it or not .....anyway i can't wait for tomorrow (ep 3 it's okay to not be okay)........
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Martin J Simwaba
June 26, 2020 at 1:05 PM
this is why I avoid reviews at all costs, they ruin it before you can give it a chance. When I watch I like to think ''oh, so this is how they are telling their story, this is how they thought it would go''
And then judge it for my self if I should continue or not. So far I like BACKSTREET ROOKIE and I can't wait for this week's episodes
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Eazal
June 26, 2020 at 1:10 PM
I like polite discussion in a drama, but I went to the weecap when I noticed how many comments they were and I was a bit disappointed to find out it was full of trash comments. I'm not watching, but it was a funny to see how two shoes that aired last week BR and IONTBO receive so many comments and yet so different, because IONTBO mainly received love.
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 1:50 PM
Well deserved love. It's a gorgeous drama visually, the acting is stellar, and the story is unusual and intriguing. I'm hooked, and it wasn't one that I was super excited about. I mean, I like Kim Soo-hyun just fine, and think he's a good actor, but he's not one of my favorites that I get all excited about being in a new drama.
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8 Mimu
June 26, 2020 at 8:21 AM
Happy Friday, Beanies.
May everyone be happy with their life even during this pandemic.
Take care of yourself and the family.🤗
Btw, I really miss Cha Seung-won and Ryu Jun-yeol in dramaland.🙄
Beanies, which actors are you missing in dramaland? (Except Won bin😅)
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bebeswtz❣️
June 26, 2020 at 8:52 AM
Happy Friday to you, too, @mimu1234 :)
Actors I'm missing... hmmmm.....
For Korean actors, it's Park Hyung Sik, Kim Soo Hyun (but that's currently being mitigated), Lee Seo Jin, Jung Hae In, Kang Ha Neul
For Chinese actors, I'm really missing Xiao Zhan, Wang Yi Bo, Xu Kai, Yang Yang, Deng Lun, Zhang Bin Bin, Li Xian
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Martin J Simwaba
June 26, 2020 at 1:15 PM
Is it weird that I miss PARK YOOCHUN
and I miss SONG IL GUK
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bebeswtz❣️
June 26, 2020 at 2:12 PM
Nope, we all have what and who we like, and there there's nothing wrong and no fault in that :)
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Martin J Simwaba
June 29, 2020 at 7:01 AM
Thanks for the reassurance 👍🏽👌
Kwan
June 26, 2020 at 7:04 PM
Me too, I guess we can be weird together. I did start watching, Emperor of the Sea, but at 51 episodes it will take me some time. As to Micky, he's the best.
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Martin J Simwaba
June 29, 2020 at 7:05 AM
The best there is
Ayalynn
June 28, 2020 at 11:07 AM
Not weird at all!
I also think Park Yuchun is the best.
He is a talented, amazing actor.
I hope he'll be able to act again.... I'm sure it's very difficult to make a comeback now, but I'll wait for him...
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Martin J Simwaba
June 29, 2020 at 6:57 AM
Yeah me too. I keep googling him hoping to find something
Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 1:22 PM
I just saw that Zhang Bin Bin is making a new drama. It's modern, and sounds female-centric, and he's one of the love interests. He looked gorgeous.
I feel sorry for Yang Yang. After realizing his life/career dream of making a Jackie Chan film, the pre-release publicity and release date were sort of waylaid by the pandemic. I don't even know if it premiered anywhere - perhaps in Europe? I haven't seen that the last film - the military film for which he had to get buzz cut - has been released anywhere. Don't think it has, but if it was I missed it. And then he started filming a bio-docudrama about one of the hero doctors during the pandemic (I think this one is still alive, so not anticipating a sad ending). The last I heard, he had agreed to do it sans makeup - apparently that's a huge deal since it made the news. ha!
Last I saw of Deng Lun was a contemporary drama that started pretty well, but just got bogged down into the endless mess of empty filler after the first 15 or so episodes, and bored me more each week until I dropped it. Can't even remember the name of it.
The couple who became famous with the cheap, cheesy, but cute The Eternal Love 1 and 2 just finished filming a Chinese version of You Are My Destiny (Fated to Love You), which has been pretty decent so far, but the last episode, where I think the originals had a miscarriage, had a LUDICROUS scene in which the slight bump she gets in the car accident requires AN IMMEDIATE ABORTION! Nothing else. Just get rid of that baby and she'll be HEALED. And the ML has to agree to save her life, while she's screaming for him not to sign the consent form. (In what world does a conscious, legally able to consent patient have a major medical procedure - especially terminating a pregnancy - forced upon her, not just without her consent, but with her violent objections??) Anyway, the couple still has a lot of charisma, and finished up YAMD to start filming The Eternal Love 3. They're practically a RL couple! (just kidding. I think she's married, and he's just a baby).
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bebeswtz❣️
June 26, 2020 at 2:18 PM
I know that Zhang Bin Bin actually has a few (minimum of 2 dramas) that he's filmed but has yet to be released, one drama being a cop (?) one with Yang Mi
I haven't seen a drama of Yang Yang since the drama version of "Love O2O", and I only know of 1 drama of his that came after that, "The King's Avatar", that I have not watched.... Maybe I should-- I've watched Wang Yi Bo's and Li Xian's gaming dramas, I might as well round out the trio of gaming dramas that came out and watch Yang Yang's lol Yea, the pandemic definitely postponed quite a few things in the (Chinese and other) entertainment industry-- not just the filming, but also the release of a lot of works, dramas and movies
I have yet to watch anything good from Deng Lun after "Ashes Of Love", except for his variety show appearances
LOL The couple from "Eternal Love" are going through the same thing that Zhang Bin Bin x Dilreba Dilmurat and Xu Kai & Bai Lu went through-- they've filmed so many things together as an OTP that people started shipping them, but since nothing has come to fruition in real life, it's actually starting to feel really tiring always seeing them on screen together now DX
I've watched the original Taiwanese version and the Korean remake version (which I thought was done really well) of "Fated to Love You", but I don't feel the urge at all the even approach this Mainland Chinese remake version
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 4:11 PM
I loved The King's Avatar. I actually read the novel series - over 1700 chapters! - on line, starting just before I started the drama, and finishing it up while waiting for episodes to air. Really enjoyed it. There is no romance - it's all about Yang Yang's character, who runs away from his (socially/politically) family when he's 13, to pursue a career in the then-barely budding competitive esports world, and who hides his identity, at first to remain hidden from the family, and then out of respect for their privacy.
So once esports becomes a financially lucrative venture, with much of the money coming from the team owners' profit from their share of the sponsorships and publicity events their players earn, Yang Yang's character ends up being a dead end for them, because he refuses to ever show his face, even when they are competing in televised events or at fan meets.
Anyway, episode one of the novels/drama starts with them finally getting rid of him by forcing him to accept a losing proposition, or to break his contract, which will mean the anti-competition clause will prevent him from playing for any pro team for a full year. The drama is about him coming to terms with the loss of his famous avatar, and rebuilding a competitive team from scratch.
I think they are finishing up the drama series - the first season went up to around the 1054th chapter, and there was still plenty of material (around 700 chapters!) for a second season. As long as Yang Yang comes back as Ye Xiu, I'm in.
I feel the same about Deng Lun. I fell hard for him in Ashes of Love, but have liked nothing - mostly dropped mid-drama - he's done since.
Re Zhang Bin Bin and Dilreba Dilmurat, I've never seen them paired! I only saw ZBB in Eternal Love, Love O2O, and I'll Never Let You Go (which I dropped), and none of those were him pared with DD. I don't know who the other couple is.
I didn't like the guy or pairing of Delraba in Eternal Love, but I just finished Love Designer, with her and Johnny Huang, and they were a fantastic pairing. Very enjoyable drama. Johnny's character, Song Lin, gave Yang Yang's Xiao Nai some serious competition for the Best Drama Boyfriend award!
Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 4:12 PM
should be -
who runs away from his (socially/politically) AFFLUENT family when he's 13,
Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:48 AM
I want to watch The King's Avatar too. Hopefully I should start it soon. I miss Yang yang. I started looking chinese dramas only after Love O2O. I know it was not the best at that time I really liked it (except the kiss scenes).
tsutsuloo
June 27, 2020 at 8:01 AM
Sadly, that world is China—especially when it came to pregnancy under the one-child policy. Even now, informed consent is a bit murky and a relatively new concept.
You might remember the tragic 2017 story of Ma Rongrong, a young woman who committed suicide after being denied a caesarean. (Her baby died as well.) She was in active labor for about a day but the baby's head was too large for safe vaginal delivery. The case sparked outrage from Chinese social media but I have no idea if it lead to any changes in the law.
The first international reports framed this as a story where family denied her access to the procedure she need. See BBC report here and a report from South Morning China Post.
The family, however, denied denying the cesarean (Caixin), stating that it was the hospital who said she didn't need it.
The People's Daily Online (a government mouthpiece) later reported that the regional health bureau fired the hospital director and the head of the OB/GYN dept. The investigators outlined a number of systemic problems in hospital management that lead to Ms. Ma's death. But after the financial compensation and NDAs, there's zip.
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Vespertyne29
June 28, 2020 at 1:22 PM
OMG, that's horrific. (But it does sound as if the "family" disputed that they denied a C-section right from the start. Could it have been a cost issue? As in, they were worried they couldn't afford the operation? I think China has national health care, although I'm unfamiliar with the details of that that entails.
This was what was shocking to me - "Chinese law stipulates that medical staff must seek permission from family members before carrying out major surgical procedures." This means that patients - even adult patients - can't make autonomous decisions about surgical procedures without the consent of their family members?? Wow.
I guess YAMD isn't as far fetched as I thought it was, although I will say that the addition of the husband having to make the decision to terminate his wife's pregnancy, over her screaming objections and begging, certainly added an element of discord in the marriage that wasn't seen in the Korean version I watched. Now I wonder if that will be the barrier to them getting back together, rather than a potentially terminal medical condition that may be genetically passed from the father to his offspring. I hated that part of the Kdrama. But I didn't much like the Kdrama as a whole, anyway. This one seems to have a kinder ML character.
Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:45 AM
Ohh I miss Lee Seo-jin. I miss Jung Hae-In but still couldn't bring myself to watch his.last latest drama though I was watching his travel show on YouTube.
Reading your post made me realise how much I'm into Chinese dramas these days that I miss all the actors you wrote off.😅
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bebeswtz❣️
June 27, 2020 at 8:27 AM
😅😅😅
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kiara
June 26, 2020 at 10:31 AM
I mostly miss those actors that goes back and forth between Chungmuro and drama land like Ryu Jun-yeol but he is doing an excellent job at building a strong film career. It’s not an easy thing to do but he’s got talents to make it.
I’m missing my beautiful banker Kim Mu-yeol.
Yoo Ah-in.
Choi Woo-shik.
Jung Woo-sung.
Park Bo-young.
Bun Yo-Han.
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Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:51 AM
Jung Woo-sung and Yoo Ah-In.♥️
I'm don't think that Jung Woo-sung will come back to dramaland soon.
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kiara
June 27, 2020 at 11:24 PM
Comment was deleted
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 10:47 AM
Joo Won, Do Kyungsoo and Zo In Sung
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 1:29 PM
Kim Jae-wook.
He was so good in HPL.
I miss him! Want another romance, or even a romcom from him.
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Kelly-k
June 27, 2020 at 12:58 AM
I will take anything... 😭😭😭 But NO to second leads, NO... I want some mélo, I want to see him cry... 😁 😁 😁
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 27, 2020 at 1:08 AM
Nnnnoooo Ryan gold crying was enough heartbreak
Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:52 AM
Joo-Won's Alice will release soon this year. 🤗
Can we have D.O and Zo In-sung working together again. 😍
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 27, 2020 at 5:57 AM
Yes please to the last line. Even better if it's a movie and not a drama. Ughhh how do I get this idea out of my head now!
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Zora
June 26, 2020 at 10:52 AM
Won Bin and Gang Dong Won haven't stepped into dramaland for a long time, I have a feeling Ryu Jun Yeol will do the same.
Zo In Sung needs to come back! I missed his beautiful face 😍
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Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:53 AM
I hope Ryu Jun-Yeol doesn't follow their footsteps.😭😶
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yongsital 🐧 ❄️
June 26, 2020 at 11:05 AM
Park So Dam..I mean I know a drama is in the works but whennn?? 😭
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Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 2:51 PM
The rumoured airdate for The Moment is 7th September, tvN mon-tues slot 😊.
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yongsital 🐧 ❄️
June 27, 2020 at 6:35 AM
@katakwasabi So far away! 😩 thanks for the info though because I had no idea
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Martin J Simwaba
June 26, 2020 at 1:26 PM
Well for me it's MOON CHAE WON,
LEE DA HEE,
LEE JONG SUK,
KANG SO RA,
LEE HYUN WOO,
and i can't believe this but i miss YOO IN NA and IM YOON AH
Last but not least GIANNA JUNG and SHIN MIN AH.
The one i miss the most is KIM HYUN SOO
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Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:55 AM
I miss all of them and especially Lee Da-hee.🤗
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Kairoskat 💐
June 26, 2020 at 2:55 PM
I miss Shin Sung Rok in dramas~~~~ comeback Royal Hotnessssss~ comeback~ hahahaha.
His upcoming drama Kairos is scheduled to air in October. But I still miss him in dramaland 🤣.
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flatwhite
June 26, 2020 at 6:40 PM
Kim Taeri and Byun Yohan came into my mind, as soon as I read your comment. Silly me also want to see them share a story again...as love interests, with a lot of (sexual?) chemistry😅
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Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:56 AM
I hope your wish comes out true one day. I'm all in for Kim Tae-ri and Yoo Yeon-seok working together again too.😍
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Kwan
June 26, 2020 at 7:12 PM
I miss Mr. Zo of course, and also Lee Jung Jae--I loved, Chief of Staff.
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silverdrafts
June 27, 2020 at 5:05 AM
I miss Woo Do-hwan already... 😢
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Mimu
June 27, 2020 at 5:58 AM
I hope these 2 years flies really fast for you till then re-watch his dramas and movies. Fighting, Beanie!!🤗
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silverdrafts
June 27, 2020 at 7:12 AM
Thank you, @mimu1234! Thankfully I have all of you Beanies as the support group :D
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dramalover4ever
June 27, 2020 at 7:17 PM
Ha Jung-woo. Badly. I hope Suriname goes ahead, before too long.
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kiara
June 27, 2020 at 11:46 PM
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kiara
June 27, 2020 at 11:52 PM
I try not to covet Chungmuro’s best but I would love to see him back. It’s too bad that he’s tied up on that propofol controversy.
I would love to see him direct more movies too.
If the queen herself, Jeon Do-Yeon can come back then it’s possible.
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dramalover4ever
June 28, 2020 at 12:02 AM
I'm greedy. I hope it's resolved soon.
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9 realiti
June 26, 2020 at 9:26 AM
Finished chinese drama, The Bad Kids, today and it was amazing. 10 out of 10. All the hidden interpretations was mind blowing to read about after finishing the drama. Like I knew some scenes were odd and I felt there was something not quite right and out of place and I couldn't put my finger on it. Then reading the interpretations of those exact scenes later from much smarter people (and those who have read the novel) just totally blew me away at the directing of this drama. Top scores in cinematography, acting (brilliant cast), storyline, direction and trying to stay as "true" to the novel as possible in such clever ways to pass china's censorship. Only 12 episodes. Available on iqiyi subbed.
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outofthisworld 不愧是我 🏍
June 27, 2020 at 6:19 AM
This is one awesome drama. I can't recommend it enough. It's more than a crime thriller, it offers insights into human behavior, and social commentary. The cinematography, directing and acting all top notch.
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Vespertyne29
June 28, 2020 at 3:58 PM
My go-to guru for Chinese dramas, AvenueX, gave The Bad Kids her first 3 Goldmine rating of 2020, and raved on and on about it. So it's on my list. I'd love to read the novel, if I could find an English translation.
https://youtu.be/gVWRPygAn-k
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 28, 2020 at 6:02 PM
i don't usually go to iqiyi but now i'm thinking...uhm...maybe the time has come.
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10 kimchikay
June 26, 2020 at 9:27 AM
Happy Friday to all fellow beanies!
Seems like time is flying by now that I'm back at work. While the pandemic is still a real thing, I find people around me starting to take it less seriously (probably because they've finally lifted major restrictions in my city)...it makes me worried since I know a second wave is on the horizon...I'm split between yelling at family/friends to be more careful and cautious (like do you really need to go outside for that!?!?) or just let them enjoy what they can of summer...I feel conflicted.
In viewing news though - after finishing Arsenal Military Academy, I took a break from Bai Lu and Xu Kai and decided to check out the C-drama version of Fated to Love You called "You're my Destiny" - while I like many things about it and the female lead does justice, I'm not a fan of the male lead. I guess my bar was high with Jang Hyuk (k-version) and Ethan Ruan (TW version). I got to episode 28 (?) but will probably drop because he's just so terrible - esp his crying scenes are so so bad. Sorry any fans of this male actor!
In novel land, I'm currently on book 15/16 of the year (my goal being 50 this year) and I'm reading "Things You Save in a Fire" (#15) - loving it so far....we've got a female badass firefightress with emotional scars stemming from an absent mother and loads of other stuff....(#16) is "Strange the Dreamer" which is my work book (I have one for home and one for work) and it's all kinds of whimsical and adventure...it falls in the YA category but I feel like no one is too old for fantasy fun!
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11 azkiya
June 26, 2020 at 9:41 AM
Slowly started to work from office, I got it once in 2weeks, maximum of 30% of total employees working from office per day, slowly trying to be back to 'normalcy'..
I miss the fab 5 of Hospital Playlist, I guess the once a week 'experiment' works, at least for me, felt the excitement like the one I had during my school days, waiting for Buffy gracing my screen on weekly basis, haha..
Anyway, talking about Hospital Playlist, I remember during the recap for ep 6, there was a commenter, @randomkorean that gave insight on Korean's culture of MinHa's gesture toward Seokhyung, she held her chopstick to help Seokhyung with his Janganji (sorry if I spell it wrong), it was the pickeled and stacked leaves, the commenter said that minha's gesture is something can be seen as showing her interest toward Shyung, since that gesture was not even common among old friends,,well, I did some rewatch on HP exclusively for the gang's scenes, and there was this scene where the 5friends eat at shyung basement, which Jwan talked to his mom on the phone about the mom's plan to buy a jacuzzi/bath, then that scene shown Ikjun explained to the friends that there are some specific terms in satoori dialect which has different meaning to same terms in the standard dialect,,there he went with 'janganji' dish, also asking Jwan to start eating 'janganji' with them (hence I would assume they also have Janganji at that time),
what I was surprised though, I saw a still cut of the scene where during Jwan talking to his mom on the phone, Ij and Seokhyung eating their food, the background scene was clearly on Jwon holding his chopstick to help songhwa with her dish/food, however the viewer couldn't see clearly what was their dish, but I was surprised because IJ said they eat Janganji, and I instantly remember randomkorean comment in that ep 6 recap,,oh my heart! I don't want Jwon tp be such an a** for leaving gaeul for 'no reason' (if that kiss scene really happened, and not just someone's dream), but I couldn't brush my mind because of that comment on Janganji dish,,so, did Jwon do the same gesture to Shwa (or vice versa) as Minha's to Shying? gosh, am I making any sense here? hahaa..I admit that after ep 10 I officially root for Shwa-Jwon coupleship, so that's why this scene of holding chopstick has bugged me eversince..
anyway, I love Shwa as a character, she's my ultimate fave in the drama, so Shwa will always have my unconditional friendship, first and foremost I root for her happiness, that if she's happy to be single forever, then I would say yes to that decision of hers..
Right, time to close the chapter of hospital playlist S1 and move onto other drama while waiting (im)patiently for the S2!
Have a great weekend, beanies!
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12 amruta1009
June 26, 2020 at 9:58 AM
Err so not only did I not read all seven HP books I couldn't watch any drama either. Still in the middle of book two but I still plan on completing them all.
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lillamy
June 26, 2020 at 10:31 AM
@amy1009 Fighting! OotP is draggy but I love all of the rest, esp HBP. Snape❤️
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Eazal
June 26, 2020 at 1:11 PM
You'll love them!!
Ravenclaw soul here!
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 1:38 PM
About a month ago, after multiples unsuccessful attempts to find TP, but encountering "sold out" notices on line, and finding empty aisles on all of my grocery store ventures, I finally was able to place an order of my favorite 30-roll package of Kirkland brand TP from Costco. Yipee!
When it was delivered, I posted to friends on social media that I hadn't been that excited over a USPS delivery since I waited, Saturday morning, July 21, 2007, for my cute young mailman to deliver my copy of the 7th and final book in the HP series.
2007 = beloved fantasy series final book release
vs.
2020 = toilet paper.
My how things have changed. Can we blame this on that Orange POS?
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 26, 2020 at 3:51 PM
Silly me, for having spent too many years with computer acronyms. Hewlett Packard. Point of Sale?
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Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 4:13 PM
Trump = Orange Piece of Sh*t
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 26, 2020 at 4:18 PM
I know. It's just that my first reaction is always the old computer interpretation and it takes conscious decoding to catch the new meaning.
spazmo
June 26, 2020 at 4:17 PM
harry potter, i think. but like you, my first kneejerk was hewlett packard... we are fossils!!
: D
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
June 26, 2020 at 4:20 PM
I've read them and seen the movies, it just takes a few extra milliseconds to translate what people mean.
Saya
June 26, 2020 at 4:35 PM
@lordcobol, I've been using 'afk' without a second thought in my drama chat group and the younguns finally asked me 'what does afk mean' TODAY
I felt old
Vespertyne29
June 26, 2020 at 4:37 PM
Ha!
Yeah, but I figured in the context of the conversation, it was already established that HP meant Harry Potter (rather than my first guess on this particular venue, which would have been the recently aired, popular drama, Hospital Playlist.
I find myself often struggling with the acronyms/abbreviations people use for Kdramas. Something like BoF is fairly easy - it's a classic, I've seen it, and it's still discussed or mentioned on a very regular basis, despite having aired over a decade ago.
But for some of the newer dramas - especially ones with long names or, even worse, multiple names - I have to do a google search and hope it brings it up on some Kdrama blog or social media site so I can figure it out.
Same with actor/actresses initials. It's nice when the first time they are mentioned (in either the post or conversation), people spell out the name, then revert to initials.
spazmo
June 27, 2020 at 2:20 AM
@saya is that like BRB?
; )
i never used those acronyms, but had to look them up... along with AFK, actually.
: D
beffels
June 26, 2020 at 2:02 PM
I’ve re-read them many times but always make the mistake of starting from the start, so I’ve read the first three A LOT, but diminishing the further through the series I go as I lose focus and stop reading...it’s not because I like the later books less, just it’s a lot of reading.
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silverdrafts
June 27, 2020 at 5:08 AM
My favorite is always gonna be 'Prisoner of Azkaban', simply for a certain important plot. Enjoy!
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13 Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 10:39 AM
Is there any Brooklyn Nine Nine fan here? Binging this show has brought back my old memories of watching bones, criminal minds and My most favorite cop show Castle.
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IamPilgrim
June 26, 2020 at 10:44 AM
I’m a MEGA fan.
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Ally
June 26, 2020 at 11:46 AM
“The title of your your porn video” 😉
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 12:01 PM
🤣🤣🤣
@ally-le
My brain has been wrtwched by Jake and his sextape naming shenanigans. Now me and my bestfriend are trying to do the same to each other. Andy Samberg has done an excellent job at making Jake epic
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Ally
June 26, 2020 at 5:36 PM
Oh. Lol. Sextape, that’s the word I couldn’t come up with in my virgin mind! 😉
Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 8:23 PM
'In my virgin mind' name of your.....
🤣🤣🤣
But really ally I laughed so hard at your comment
Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 11:59 AM
That's great let's fanboy/fangirl over this like terry and Jake fanboyed over skyfire !
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Kelly-k
June 26, 2020 at 12:32 PM
"it's number five"
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beffels
June 26, 2020 at 2:03 PM
I love all of those shows except Criminal Minds which I have never seen.
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 8:25 PM
Criminal minds was only good until season 7. They really ruined he sitcom after that. No one needed 8 more seasons after that.
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beffels
June 26, 2020 at 8:36 PM
So often the case with series that have a million seasons! My sister is trying to get me to watch Supernatural and she’s given me a complicated outline of which seasons are worth watching 😂
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SmeeBean
June 26, 2020 at 10:29 PM
Ooo..I love love love Castle too! And Criminal Minds! But can’t watch too many episodes of CM at once or it messes with my brain. I get paranoid and start overthinking everything. Lol. Have you watched Chuck? If you like Castle, you might like that too.
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 26, 2020 at 11:36 PM
Castle combined two of my most favorite genres, crime and literature and boy did I love the banter between the Castle and Beckett. For me Dexter messed more with my brain than CM.
Just checked Chuck. Any sitcom that has the conscience of ending at the 5th season, which we all know is the golden length for EVERY sitcom (glaring at supernatural and castle), gains deep respect and view from me. I'm gonna hunt it and binge it when I finish Brooklyn Nine Nine. Thanks for the recommendation dear.
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Mani-chan
June 26, 2020 at 11:57 PM
Right here. I Love the series and Captain Holt remains high on my list of favourite characters
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Playstore, Okay Or Not Okay
June 27, 2020 at 1:07 AM
You mean robots, captain holt remains high on your list of robots
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