Cricket December it is - yes yes yes

Playing virus infected cricket 2007 and plan to buy Cricket 2019 in January 2021. I'm not much into games and especially not into action aka violence games.

Netflix Japan comes up with good media
Netflix Korea - big meh

Alice is borderland kento+Tao pair - good one. They did put efforts in acting. i recognise the effort, might not accepting whatever act they did though.

Stock Market - December going quite good.
Forex - January 2021

I'm a bit sad of ongoing issues regarding Fly Dragon/Delayed Justice.

Bae Sung-woo got DUI last month (November 2020) and his driver's license temporarily suspended. He edited out from episodes 12 to 16 after he apologized. The episode 12 will be airing tomorrow (December 12) due to film showing "Kim...Born 1982". Episode 13 will be on January 2021 meaning three-week break for this show. I knew it was 20 episodes, not 16 and from the last four episodes (17-20) will be without Bae Sung-woo (I think it is only one of two ML continues his role alone).

Hello beans *waves*

It's the second week of the last month of the year. I hope everyone had a good week and a good weekend!

And....join me watch Kairos~ only 4 episodes left 🥺😭.

Cha Tae-hyun was a recent guest on Running Man. He teased Lee Kwang Soo that he heard that he did not get along with actress Son Ye Jin. Kwang Soo denied it, but Tae-hyun pressed him, "Son Ye Jin in movie Pirates." Kwang Soo was frustrated; why would you say that when she is not in the film (Pirates 2)?

It was an odd interchange. Did Tae-Hyun not know SYJ was not in Pirates 2? Maybe k-stars are not up on what their colleagues are doing but the newsworthy Pirates 2 is a large budget, action film that is still filming during the pandemic.

The Korean entertainment industry does use a bait and hook method of pre-marketing their projects. Directors, writers or production companies send out press releases stating a star received an "offer" to do their project, but it really means they send them a script to review. The press then contacts the agency for the standard response that the star is "reviewing" the script and/or is undecided. The response alone gives the production company the guile to "attach" a big star to the project to get financing, media buzz, or other actors to commit to it.

The internet never forgets and never corrects. SYJ was attached to Pirates 2 a long time ago because she did the first one but never agreed to be in the second. But internet stories (mediaplay and production company buzz to get investors, etc) are still out there saying she was going to do it so one could search the film and get bad, inaccurate results. It really is a disservice to the public and the actors.

I didn't think that South Korea might moving forward to the highest Covid-19 level meaning that South Korea will temporarily not allow tourists to travel this country and the entire total lockdown across South Korea if it might happen above Level 2.5 due to rising Covid-19 cases.

Meanwhile, Chungha tested positive and her single "X" and its music video supposedly out yesterday (December 10) with her studio album Querencia planned to release next month, but the former was moving into next year while her studio album will be announcing on a later date in 2021.

Also, the two sad Covid-19 news on Korean filmworld: 41st Blue Dragon Awards moved to 2021 and great Korean film director Kim Ki-duk died of this disease in Latvia.

I was wondering, for Beanies for whom Korean is a foreign language but now are able to watch and understand K-dramas without subtitles, how long did it take you to reach that level of proficiency? What learning tools/aids did you find the most helpful?

Beanies, hope you've had a great week and are coasting into the weekend. We're on Day 11 of the Round Up, and I have enjoyed reading all your posts and discussions and reliving the best (worst, funniest, sweetest, etc.) of the year in dramas. I've been trying to use it as a chance to really remember what I liked best about what I watched this year.

In other news, I've seen stuff about Discord floating around here and was curious so took a peek. I feel a bit like I'm crashing a party by asking this, but do we have a group there that can be joined and (if so) how does one find it? It turns out I'm more tech illiterate than I thought, and despite literally googling "how to do it," I...can't do it. 🤷‍♀️ I couldn't seem to find any drama-related communities, so I guess I'm officially older than I thought? I'm not sure when that happened. Thanks (and I hope it's okay that I asked)!

I just finished the J drama called Nananin no Hisho( Seven secretaries).It was a good drama with some good Japanese actresses and Shim Eun Kyung. Her role in the drama is a secretary/ nerd computer hacker so she is dorky and nonchalant about her look, which somehow make me miss her in Money Game.
The Money Game is a bit difficult drama theme where a financial collapse was set in the drama which happened to coincide with the stock market crash in March! I found that the theme is quite on spot and an intrigue but above all I love the chemistry between Yoo teo( Yoo Jin Han and Shim Eun Kyung( lee Hye Joon). Yoo Teo kicked out Ko Soo who is supposed to be a male lead with his nuanced and layered play.
It is not a romance drama but I must say that the best couple in K drama can be Lee Hye Joon and Yoo Jin Han, the most unlikely couple. One might hate Yoo Jin Han for what he does in his business but I just love his shy awkward attitude towards Lee Hye Joon. He might have many gramalous lovers in the past but I feel that Lee Hye Joon who looks rather dorky is the one who really caught his attention and love. I think he really found something precious in her cause there is probably no one like her who stands by her belief in his business. I love Lee Hye Joon being a straight talker and she is also nonchalant about her look or style. In the end she straightened him out.

Regarding Japanese drama I have been enjoying '30 saimade douteidato mahotsukaini narerurasii'( if you are a virgin at age 30 you can be a magician?). I just love how the main leads.
My daughter always complained that J drama does not have a production value cause actors tend to be meh and they spend much less on overall cost production. She is right about that in part Japanese dramas are not produced to sell to the world boradcasting stations thus their budget is much smaller. But I find some dramas are quite refreshing and give us a different views on the society we live in. This drama is about that!

I wanted to talk a little about the Japanese dramas I'm watching right now! I haven't watched any in so long, I'm having a great time!

Cherry Magic: This is not only one of the best queer romances I've ever seen, it's generally a very great romance show. I remember thinking the premise sounded a little stupid, but the idea of virgins gaining the ability to read minds when they turn thirty is actually sound - that way, you're 100x more likely to know when someone likes you, and that certainty could give you the courage to pursue them (I would say it feel slightly like the show is one of many created to raise the birth rate in Japan, but I can't since the main couples are all men hahaha). The characters are wonderful (especially Adachi) and I'm so glad I picked it up.

Neechan no Koibito: @cloggie, thank you! If I hadn't read what you wrote about this, I wouldn't have picked it up! IT'S GREAT. I've seen Arimura Kasumi in a few things, but this is by far her greatest role, and Hayashi Kento is also incredible. This show does such a good job of making me FEEL, it's so emotionally charged. The little world it's set in makes me happy and I can't wait for the next episode to be subbed.

35-sai no Shoujo: Wow, where do I start with this. So, this was written by the writer of Overprotected Kahoko, and feels a little like that show's cynical bitter older sister. They have very similar themes, but 35-sai no Shoujo is generally much darker with them. And then the show takes a dive in episode 8, completely turning the direction of the plot. Whilst it's not bad per say, I do wish things had happened differently - at this point, the elements of the plot are all still very rich, but feel disparate from each other. The next episode comes out in a few days, and I'm looking forward to seeing how it'll end.

Neko: Cute! And tragic! But cute! This drama just asks what we mean to each other, and every episode leaves me speechless.

Hello Beanies! Happy Friday!

I’ve been struggling with work, with holiday preparations, and with 2020 making me want to hide in the bathroom and have a good cry. So I-drama (and the show recaps here) have been like balm to my tired soul, lol. (Ok, so maybe I-drama is making me a bit melodramatic, lol).

I’m mostly catching up on older shows, and I recently finished Hyun Bin’s “chaebol cycle” with Hyde, Jekyll, Me. It’s not very good, and I guess it was widely panned at the time? But Hyun Bin was amazing in it (and hot, because, well, I’m also kind of shallow and need little excuse to watch hot people in designer suits). I was properly surprised/impressed to discover Hyun Bin has excellent chemistry with himself, lol.

My father passed away in Taiwan a few days ago. (Not COVID-related) My sister in Indiana made a hasty arrangement to fly there - without getting emergency authorization from Taiwanese consulate for non Taiwanese citizen. I hastily gathered some paperwork that my brother in Taiwan might need for various arrangements, then hoped to give it to my sister during her 50-min layover at O'Hare Airport.

O'Hare United Airline terminal was not packed but was still steadily busy. (More people traveling with pets than I expected.) She was worried that coming out of the gate to meet me then going through security checkpoint again might cause her to miss her connection. I spoke with a gate agent about handing my sister the paperwork. He relayed my situation "upward". A supervisor came, took the paperwork, then handed it to my sister at the gate. We were very grateful they could help us.

Because my sister didn't have prior authorization nor proof of relationship to my dad, Eva Airline initially refused to allow her boarding. They did hold the flight for her so that my mom's brother in Taiwan could try finding "proof". (I believe we actually have it here too.) Luckily he found it before the time deadline.

My sister had a negative result rapid COVID test in Indiana but Taiwan made her take a PCR test before allowing entry. She was surprised how seriously they took quarantine. Heavy fines and possible criminal penalties for family members and her if she breaks quarantine. Food and other necessities are left by the door. She says that that she feels like a prisoner 4 days into quarantine. At least she can access WIFI, and the room is much bigger than a standard jail cell.

Morning all, it's finally Saturday!
Any suggestion that things might 'wind down' towards the end of the year has been shot. It's just getting crazier. I don't know about you but my 2021 is going to be nuts. I'm not sure I'm up for it.

Anyway I have something of interest to share - after a year, three polls and lots and lots of voting I finally have the results of the very big End of Decade Drama Poll. Yes, it's the Top 10 Korean dramas ever - as voted by (a lot of) you.

See the Top 10 here
https://invisibledragon.home.blog/2020/12/11/the-best-korean-dramas-of-the-decade-as-voted-by-you/

While we're on the subject of voting, there is yet more!

Polls are still open for 2020's end of year drama awards. Vote for your best and favourite, as well as other categories such as Best Romance and Best Internet Meltdown.

There are two polls so remember to vote in both!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BRXHQM6
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/BR3TWSM

12th December 2020 is Shin Sung Rok's 18th debut anniversary!!! 🥳

To many more years Shin Sung Rok! To many more dramas and even more exciting roles! Thank you for being in a drama in 2020~ thank you for returning to dramaland this year as Kim Seo Jin in Kairos~ 😊

I started watching the True Beauty k drama and I’m conflicted. I follow the web toon, and I know artist licence, but so far it’s so different from the comic. I still like it. But I wonder how they will end it cause it’s ongoing abs anyone who reads the comic knows who she ends up with. Mabey they will have a season two? I guess I will have to wait out a few weeks to see

Happy weekend Beanies and keep Beaning On!

I’ll start with the bad news: I had a panic attack last Wednesday. I was already behind on revising after two days of formation, had some work from last week to finish in another day, and the last straw: lots of formation homework that I did not know how start or how to finish by dawn. Fortunately my parents managed to calm me down, I got it all done and the remaining days were a lot calmer. It might happen again unfortunately, because I have to keep up with the formation and work practice during the day and juggle homework, revision and sleep after hours for a couple of weeks.😔

The good news is that my government department will be closed from the 24th of December until the 4th of January, which means I can celebrate and catch up on sleep and my formation studies and hopefully also on Dramabeans recaps and (Freestyle) Round Up entries!🥳 It is a shame that the end of the year review deadline will have passed by then. I think I would not be so bummed about all of this if I could find the time now to write and send it. It is practically tradition by now. I am going to skip What we are Watching for a few weeks, in order to study some more instead. I can only watch one episode of Shopping King Louie every week anyway, so I prefer to give a review of the last few episodes when things are a bit calmer.

Slow and steady wins the race!❤️

Turtie🐢

After years of being asked— I AM FINALLY ON DISCORD

... That’s all I have to say 😁😁😁

So my mom tested covid positive and now she is in home isolation and all of us are running around trying to get work done. It's been very tiring with online classes and other things going on. Here is to hoping I can relax in two weeks.

Hi Beanies! I haven't been here for quite a while, but I want to wish you all a happy weekend!

Remember when my flight home got cancelled? Well it's been more than two weeks that I'm all alone in our apartment and quite enjoying it. It's ironic that I have my flight coming up next week and I feel a twinge of regret about leaving the solitude behind (I know it will change once I actually get home and see my family haha).

Also the new role has been okay so far, though I can't help myself from putting in extra effort since the imposter syndrome has been eating me for quite a while (well, ever since I started) but my bosses keep telling me that it's nonsense because they wouldn't put me in such a position if they didn't believe in me. I know that should be a comforting thought, but why is it that I only feel pressure? lol. I'm just being too hard on myself, aren't I?

I know I should finally install an ad blocker but is there any site that doesn't open up several ads at one click. I instantly want to close dramac*ool and fastdr*ama as soon as I open them.

FYI @ayalynn123, and other Dong Ha Suspicious Partner fans.
Finally Dong Ha is back on the small screen after completing his military service.
He is part of the cast of KBS's S/S HOMEMADE LOVE STORY.
He appeared in the Dec. 10, 2020 episode of 2020 KBS DRAMA SPECIAL entitled: WHILE YOU'RE AWAY.
Both dramas are available on Viki and Kocowa.