So many shows! Too many shows! And not enough time...

Completed
River Where the Moon Rises - This was going to be a mediocre finale for a mediocre show and then the last 10 minutes happened. I now know that if you meditate a LOT and don't breathe you can magically self-heal from a dozen arrow piercings. Might have minor amnesia side-effects - nothing true love's kiss can't fix! I am speechless with wonder 😐

Ongoing
Navillera - Each week is more touching than the last. Looking forward to the finale.

Oh! Master - I wish I didn't like the leads so much. I'd have dropped it the moment I heard the words "49 days" otherwise. The worst part is the leads and the moms are always so good in their scenes but the plot is just all over the place.

Mouse - Congratulations to all of us for being right about Ba-reum I guess. Weirdly out of all the things he did, the creepy cat teeth necklace was really up there for me 😖 Not sure where the story goes from here. Again. But I cannot stop watching this.

Law School - Much better set of episodes but there are too many characters and too many stories going on. And some of the stories are so trope-y they make me roll my eyes - like Kang Sol B's mom (and Vice Dean dad?).

Daebak Real Estate - Maybe it's all the doom and gloom in kdramas right now but I'm really digging this story of the virgin psychic and the cold-hearted exorcist. Plus Kang Hong-seok is hilarious.

Taxi Driver - I'm liking LJH getting to play different characters each week. But there is still NOT ENOUGH ESOM in this show.

Will watch Undercover over the weekend.

C-dramas
Finished Hello Mr. Gu - frogettable.

Binged Le Coup de Foudre after seeing it recommended last week. Very sweet drama and Eden Zhao was excellent as always.

Started Octogenarians and the 90s. Bai Jing Ting is very cute working against type here.

Still watching Word of Honor, No Boundary and Love Scenery.

Law School (Episode 3-4) - Mood: C-
If you thought that the professor finding the broken spectacle on the staircase when the forensic team didn’t find it was makjang, think again: apparently it’s a coincidence that the criminal has the same blood type as the professor (and the small girl too) or that the copy room uncle has connections with the NFS director! Let’s not forget all the lame cliches in this week’s episodes: incompetent & prideful law enforcement, sensationalistic media, inheritance fights and helicopter parents. And is it realistic that an ongoing criminal case is being discussed at school, overseen by the suspect himself?

Mouse (Episode 14-15) - Mood: C
Normally, I would be happy to see such a twist where the protagonist was actually the hidden villain but given that Choi Ran is writing this piece of work and that there’s still 5 more episodes to mess it all up, I’ll have to reserve from showing too much happiness at this stage and see how it all plays out. Regardless, there were finally some answers delivered to us which were long overdue, though I wonder if Ba Reum would have remembered everything if not for the decision that Moo Chi made to drink with him. This week’s cliffhanger is the same as last week’s: if its also a fakeout that’s not good!

Navillera (Episode 9-10) - Mood: B
The show started wrapping up side-arcs as is expected of a penultimate week but as I’ve previously noted, there’s way too many characters and I’m uncertain that everything will be wrapped up properly. The most glaring arc that has to be resolved in the finale week is that of Eun Ho’s: the actress herself being in the poster and press conference is indicative of Eun Ho being a lead (albeit minor) but so far the character has simply just been suffering a quarter-life crisis without much development. Regardless, it was a nice parallel with the cliffhanger this week as Deok Chul dances for Chae Rok.

Sell Your Haunted House (Episode 1-4) - Mood: B- (1-2), B (3-4)
Surprisingly, I zipped past all 4 episodes quite quickly and caught up with the show in no time without spamming the FF button: that’s a sign that the show has got me engaged. The reservation I have about the show so far is that I can’t see how this will drag on for 12 more episodes when the main mystery is pretty cut and dry, also, we’ve got that lame villain in the construction CEO to worry about. Otherwise, I think the world-building was great and I’m interested in finding out what happens to our exorcist, psychic and their assistants. The procedurals are decent: they’re not great but they’ll do.

Taxi Driver (Episode 3-4) - Mood: C, Really random setup to that cliffhanger with trauma exposition dump.

Vincenzo.Only a couple of hours away from my happy pill!! Yes!!!

River where the moon rises. It’s over. I have a bean. I swear I’m done with bad written dramas. I learned the lesson. I just hope Hot and Hot are casted in a well written drama soon. As a main couple if possible. If not, please drama gods listen and give Lee Ji Hoon a damn leading role in a good drama. He’s already proven he can turn trash into gold.

Navillera. So many tears. So human. Watching this with friends made it even more meaningful.

Oh, Master! aka Mindy’s drama. I wonder what writer-nim was drinking while writing this. We all should stay away from it. He even makes Nana dull. But I’m totally smitten by LMK.

Sell your haunted house. I’m liking this so much. I’m having fun in the same way I had fun watching the first episodes of Uncanny Counter. I just hopes this one doesn’t go that way.

Beyond Evil>/b> has been released on Viki and I’m on episode 5. I’m loving it. I know everyone is hiding something and PD and writer are playing us all. Also how can JiGoon be only 23??

I was contemplating whether to still give Law School a chance and watch the second episode... and then I checked current Japanese law drama Ichikei no Karasu about a prosecutor turned into a very special judge... what lead me to the old Japanese drama Hero about a very special prosecutor with special investigative methods... and, surprise, it seems I'm staying with the 20yrs old show. This is one of the cases when the Japanese storytelling and humour really work for me and I'm having fun... and, well, there is also Kimura Takuya 🙂

Navillera - I'm still not fond of the Big Arc, but I love all the details and small arcs, like complaining Halmoni with actually a happy smile when the youngest son moved in... or Haraboji teasing Chaerok with his dancing belt.

Oh My Suffering Lee Minki - I had only time for one episode this week and the show seems to become bipolar, oscillating between the melo makjang and cute romcom. I miss the contemplative and sharing moments... and the Moms together.

Still enjoying Daebak Jang Nara and Be My Dream Family.

Navillera: They made me teary again. I loved the reversal with Deok-chul dancing for Chae-rok in the snow. Good scenes for Ho-bum, Hae Nam and Seong-gwan this week.

Law School: I liked the first week but the second less so. The stabbing and search for blood was such unnecessarily dumb drama and then Professor Seo was just back at school like nothing happened. The cop and prosecutor in charge of the case are terrible at their jobs.

Mouse: I really liked Episode 15 even though the twist surprised no one and my mind kept thinking of plot holes. I just wish the reveal had come sooner. Lee Seung-gi is doing a good job. Now the question is who moved Han Kook’s body?

Taxi Driver: I like the OST. I'm usually fine with vigilante justice in dramas but it makes me really uncomfortable here.

Currently trying not to plow through Shadow and Bone.

@stroopwafel I wish for more Kim Kwon too!!!

Navillera: I still think their would have been plenty of story without the medical diagnosis, but it is an easy enough watch.

Sell Your Haunted House: Jumped into this just recently and am liking it so far.

Not watching much now but a J-drama is coming up in May as well as the Doom drama and Jung Il Woo's new drama.

JAPAN -

Rikokatsu - 7/10 - Keiko Kitagawa looked gorgeous.
I had expected more from the 1st episode. Too many couples breaking up legally in 1st episode itself made it a bit too much. The couple learning the bits of marriage life through other's experience is not something new. Characters intro could have been better. And that last scene of falling together was totally meme. I'm expecting better story writing from 2nd episode onwards. The title of the drama is so apt and i was thinking hard where had i read it before and show cleared itself where the concept came from.

Omameda Towako and 3 ex-husbands - 8 out of 10 - 1st episode was awesome. Yeah yeah this quality you expect from the writer. dialogues are good, main female character is quite interesting and so are ex-husbands. This show can be in top 10 of 2021. Daughter creates good ensemble with mother. humour is good. I'm all in for this show.

Love Deeply - 4/10 - 2nd episode looked slightly better than 1st but 1st had already set standard so low that nothing can be said much about 2nd either.

shoujo Cinderella - 3/10 - trash. shoujo trash.

There is a Reason for the Love to Dress Up - 7/10 - 1st episode was decent. different from your typical Japanese drama with the same scenario. Hero did looked awkward for the most part. Heroine is at home with story. Ryusei and Haruna - acting!!? They just play themselves most of the time and actually act as models. Mashiba's attires looked good. Side characters weren't properly introduced. 1st episode spent too much time nowhere which could have been better utilised. episode moved slowly which i think suited the 1st episode better. Director could have explored the arrival of spring too and that would have brought out heroine's feelings better. Overall, nice start.

Completed
Hello, it’s me ✅ - I watched until the end just to watch the 2 leads. Anthony has no chance whatsoever right from the very beginning and I have no interest at all regarding the power struggle of the company. Been there, done that. It’s a good thing everything ends on a good note so I was left feeling OK and satisfied with the drama.

Ongoing
Navillera - oh my heart. I love love love this. A good reminder to live life to the fullest, so that I won’t have regrets later on.

Vincenzo - Continue watching where I left off and now I’m at ep12. I was hoping that this drama would hook me right from the very beginning until the last like Hyena did, but it doesn’t do that to me. I like both leads, I like the plaza people, loves the random comedy. I am still going to keep watching until the end though. SJK is ♥️.

River: Well that was that. At least we have the costumes as good memories. They were the best part of this drama. The drama was fine, I was meh on it by the end.

Navillera: All I do is ugly cry in this drama. When Doek Chul’s eldest found him and told him he would always be his pillar. When the real VVIP Hae Nam knew and just decided to let him keep his secret. Hae Nam and Deok Chul eating tteobokki as they commiserated together. Yeong Il and Seong Suk comforting each other. I keep tissues nearby and moisterizer. I cry so much and have to keep wiping the tears away.

Sell Your Haunted House: Jang Nara for the win again. There is a reason she will always be one of my favs. This drama is great. A ghost per episode while still developing the overall arc of the storyline. Chef’s kiss. Everyone is doing a great job. I really enjoy this drama.

Oh! Master: WTF, I completely forgot about him dying. The whole thing is so random and unnecessary. It takes you out of the drama and into nonsense. I am close to dropping this drama. Just why? Also, this drama should have been done in 12 instead of 16.

Law School: I have decided I really like this drama. Lol. It is ridiculous and absurd, but it has some gems in there. The use of the comma to differentiate reminded me so much of law school. I remember my Property professor saying, “it’s the comma, stupid.” Lol. So I am sticking with it.

Taxi Driver: This drama leaves me cold. I couldn’t figure out why I didn’t love it until episode 5. There is an enormous amount of trauma porn. They detailed their newest client’s trauma for almost 15 mins. We get it your boss is a psychopath. We don’t need 15 mins of watching you suffer. Also, another thing, the first guy they caught was a child molester, why would he care if his daughter’s husband knew about him. He most likely molested her. That was the most unrealistic part of the episode for me, why would a pedophile care what happened to his kid, when he probably molested his kid first. I’ve noticed kdramas do that, where a criminal who would not care about family, can be changed by threatening his family. It just doesn’t make sense and doesn’t happen. I still watch for Esom though, her talent is kind of wasted in this drama. SIGH.

Undercover: Have not had time to watch the episode yet, but I hope it is good. Will watch sometime this weekend.

Vincenzo: VINCEZO CASSANO, welcome back baby, we missed thee, and I look forward to enjoying these upcoming episodes. 🔥😍😍

Navillera I was afraid that Alzheimer story line will take too much place in the story and I was right...

Sell Your Haunted House It's a fun show with a more serious bakground, I like it!

Law School I really have difficulties to follow the chronology with their back and forth... This shows wants to be smart, but some parts of the plot are pretty predictable...

Taxi Driver I love Vivaldi! And the rest of the OST has an old rock sound that I like.

Undercover I want to try it.

Vincenzo The break is over!

Night in Paradise I didn't like it... There was no development in the characters and they were kinda cliché... But the actors were good.

DAEBAK REALTY and TAXI are still my weekly happy pills. They are by no means masterpieces but after the first bleak quarter in Kdramaland with more "real" than "reel" dramas these two are like a breath of fresh air that I need. While I'm on the fence with how revenge was handled in case of the mentally disabled girl (for whose case I think bringing it to court would be more befitting and benefit more people in the same situation as that poor soul. Getting rid of two or three trashy people doesn't help improving the situation for all mentally disabled people), I'm enjoying how the bullies were taught a lesson, considering how it appears (at least on Kdramas) how easy it is for bully cases to get buried and the poor victims would have to suffer and some are driven to suicides.

On another note, I'm obsessed with THE LONG BALLAD. I'm not blown away by the story but there's something in it that keeps pulling me back every time. Of course Li Leyan and Hao Du are a major factor 😂. It is so rewarding to see both of them grow and mature, and how Li Yelan trusts and confides in Hao Du with her innermost feelings and dreams (all subconsciously, without her even being aware of this), and how he in his turn longs for her trust and confidence. I'm not sure though if I would enjoy their story as much if there was a whole drama about them. I guess it's really "less is more" sometimes and this exactly makes their story so addicting to me. Doesn't help that I like Zhao Lusi so much. She's a ball of sunshine and I just want her on my screen. The last time I adore a C-actress this much was when I saw Shane Xiao (THE LEGENDS) playing the dual role of an arrogant, manipulative demoness full of vengeance and a timid ad naive lady who has just faced the cruelty of the world. Hoping to see more of these two in hopefully some good stories!

I've also started ANCIENT DETECTIVE and am loving it. Classic Shin'ichi Kudo feel that I didn't notice I'd sorely missed. Thank you to the beanies who have recommended this show to me!

Sell Your Haunted House: This is the show I am enjoying the most. I like Jang Na-ra as Hong Ji-ah - her wardrobe, her penchant for home shopping, her ability to devour mountains of food and her competence. ¬
I like secondary characters as well and I am warming up to ML. I am enjoying him being smitten with Hong Ji-ah without even noticing it.
Law School: Oddly enough, I am still watching the drama. Is it over the top? – Yes.
Does it make sense? – No. Will it make real-life lawyers mad with inaccuracies and coincidences – Yes. It is satisfying my makjang cravings. (It helps that I am not a lawyer and I can ignore most of the cartoonish depicture of law enforcement and law professionals.)
Taxi Driver: I don’t think vigilante justice is way to go. Currently the vigilante team is dealing with one-dimensional moustache twirling baddies, who get their comeuppance but what about the loan shark lady and her gang? She has fair share of innocent blood at hand. What about Mr. Jang – He is keeping people captive and threatening their family members; did his team kill the factory manager and his cronies from episode one?
I may approve team’s method with dealing with injustice, but I am sticking with the show in the hope of that the show will deal with the moral dilemma that comes with vigilante justice and for Lee Je-hoon. He is doing a fine job.
Oh Master: Dropped it. I watched till episode 6 and looking at beanie wall reaction, I should stop at that.

I've been away and very busy at work.
1. River Where the Moon Rises. I'm still tuned in but getting tired of our main couple. I'm more interested in Gen. Go and the herbalist. I'll plod onto the last episodes.
I'm getting ready for the Baeksang Arts Awards. So, I'm still watching-
2. It's Okay Not to be Okay. Wow, that scandal regarding the FL. I didn't know she and the ML from Mr. Queen had a thing going on. I think she's still a great actress but my vote is for Shin Hye-sun. IMO, IONTBO is last year's Crash Landing on You. Lots of nominations but the story line has a lot of plot holes.
I've started to watch-
3. Flower of Evil. Lee Joon-gi is wonderful. Now I know what people are raving about. This is too tense for me, so I went and read the final recap so that I'll know it "ends well".
I will start-
4. Beyond Evil next week. I like this genre.
I've started 5. Taxi Driver and it's early to tell whether I like it or not. I like Esom's character. I'm savoring 6. Be Melodramatic that I'm purposely taking my time finishing it.

Law School: 8.0 Finally getting good on day 4.

Taxi Driver: 7.0

Sell Your Haunted House: 7.5

River Where the Moon Rises: 7.0 Early in day 19 I thought the script had sunk to a new low, although it got better later... Despite the cast, I should have known better than to go in with high hopes. The PD has done 3 shows that I dropped, so this is his first work I finished. The writer has done 2 shows that I dropped and 3 that I finished. 2 of those were ok but 1 was Dr. Jin, of Mystic Brain Fetus "fame". (See Javabeans mini-review of Dr. Jin https://www.dramabeans.com/ratings/page/3/)

Kim So-hyun has now demonstrated her ability to play a badass sageuk warrior, whatever we think of the script. Back when she was high school age, she demonstrated versatility (and knocked my socks off, btw) by playing 3 different personalities of high school kid in School 2015 and Bring It On, Ghost. Before that she was a successful child actress.

I expect her to eventually prove versatility again by playing various personalities of mother-in-law and grandmother, although Beanies of my age shouldn't expect to last long enough to see the latter.

The Dramabeans ratings/mini-reviews are a great resource for picking old shows to watch, but nothing has been rated since 2018. I wish someone would start rating newer shows.
https://www.dramabeans.com/ratings/

The Untamed - I love how gloriously, unapologetically queer this is, even with the adjustments needed to keep the censors happy, and I love that it centers a protagonist who is not only totally comfortable with his sexuality but who gets his "bad boy" reputation not for embodying all the abusive traits of toxic masculinity but for explicitly rejecting them. I don't watch tons of C-dramas, so maybe these are common tropes, but I haven't seen many Asian shows or films challenge established norms around what it means to "be a man" so directly. Hopefully that doesn't change in the final 10 episodes.

Also, Vincenzo is back (which has some issues in its presentation of masculinity, but is also a lot of fun).

Taxi Driver: I like it so far, though it lacks a certain stickyness factor for me. I think story-wise, it's okay, though I did enjoy the male lead trolling those high school bullies last week. What draws me more is the way it's shot, the color tone, and the 80s-esque synth music.

Sell Your Haunted House: Fun and easy to watch. Male lead's character sort of drags the drama, but Ji-ah more than picks up the slack. She's so kick-ass. That was a slick move when she took off In-bum's necklace.

Mouse: It's like watching a stabbing scene in slow motion when watching Moochi and Bong-yi together with Ba-reum. As if they haven't already suffered multiple tragedies. Had to FF through ep 15. There was a 99% chance pre-surgery BR was a psychopath, but the story and LSG was still able to deliver the shock. LSG's acting was amazing this week. I'm interested in the possible bigger conspiracy. The drama really doesn't match up to Choi Ran's past 2 works, but at least it's giving Lee Hee-joon and Lee Seung-gi the opportunity to show off their acting.

OH MASTER (Ep 9-10) What struck me from these episodes was the writer/director's harsh insertion of cruelty into the story. The callous indifference of the pain being caused to others by Bi-soo to Joo-in even permeated the secondary characters' relationships. Yu-jin's manipulation of Joo-in's friendship to force her into a rash decision was also cruel. The use of the Buddist 49 day of mourning period deadline in this story seems the opposite of the healing journey in "Hi! Bye Mama."

DAEBAK REALTY (Ep. 3-4) We get more background into the emotional childhood spiritual baggage of the leads. Some could call it kindred spirits that will unite Ji-Ah and In Beom. The best part so far is the action/fight sequences with the ghosts, who now change into a slightly different form from wandering to unknown dead. The Wild West foreboding showdown between Ji-Ah's neighborhood and the evil construction company seems anti-climatic.

BABYSITTER (2016) (Ep-1-4): I have found tracing past works of good actors is a way to supplement any watch slump. I continue my journey of Cho Yeo Jeong's career with this short drama series (which she won Best Actress). Many Korean actresses state that they seek out challenging and difficult roles, and CYJ actually delivers. The home wrecking babysitter story is a staple in American TV shows, but this version is more deep, complex, rich and twisted. The director's cinematic approach to allow long pauses where the actors emote in silence was quite effective. The writing was strong and precise. It was an excellent series. And I really liked the 4 episode format (I wish more shows were like that).

I’m watching two Goguryeo dramas set in a 60- year difference but they feel so different:

DAE JO YOUNG (57/103): With such a long drama there is time to have battles, intricate schemes, defeats, and still bounce back. The characters are also consistent, sometimes stupidly so. I’m digging the underdog Goguryeo movement trying to upstage the Tang conquerors.

RIVER WHERE THE MOON RISES (13/20): I picked it up from where Na In-woo joined, and I don’t think I missed anything. He’s the only character whom I could imagine in DAE JO YOUNG. He has the bearing of the massive generals in armour of the old sageuks. His character also makes sense. But the rest, gazooks. They suffer amnesia every episode and do the opposite of what they intended to do. The villagers are annoying. The assassins are totally random. The Northern Zhou conveniently invaded and were defeated in one episode. I finally lost it when the Bad Gyeru Guy sat on the throne and threatened the king with a ridiculous speech. 🤣 Still, some of it is compelling, mainly the scenes with the two leads. To think that was a reshoot done with little prep! There’s enough that I liked to keep watching, while trying to ignore the parts that annoy me.

River Where the Moon Rises - I earned a bean. And Na In Woo is so freaking adorable. That's pretty much it.

Sisyphus - My record of dropping PSH's dramas is still going strong. I don't know why I thought that this drama gonna break the record, but the premiere was solid and CSW had amazing chemistry with her. I had limited time to catch up with dramas these past few weeks, and when I finally pick this up after live watching six episodes, I really couldn't connect with the characters. But again, sci-fi of fantasy kdramas were never my thing.

Vincenzo - ahh I love this show so much! It's pure nonsense and downright ridiculous but I'm all in for our sassy mafia couple plus chaotic plaza tenants going head to head with crazy Babel brothers. SJK is dashing in suites, but I have to say I'm enchanted with Taec's broad shoulders. He's trying hard to be a villain, but he's still cute.

Navillera - I'm still in episode two, and I love where this drama is heading. I have a feeling that this adorable teacher-student duo eventually gonna make me cry, but I'm going to savour this slowly, a tissue box in hand.

Law School - dropped. I really wanted to watch this for Kim Beom, but there are so many stories going on that I can't seem to get a hold of, and in the end, I gave up.

Hospital Playlist - I've been watching so many videos on channel Full moon lately, and decided to rewatch Hospital Playlist and refresh my memory before season 2. I end up falling in love with YYS again, and watching him with little kids made my inside melt. I guess I have a thing for adorable giants (see above : Na In Woo, Taec). I can't wait to watch how the lives of Lacking Five will unfold in season 2.

For random reasons I never picked up My Master and it turns out it was for the best. I've read the threads and just with reading them I feel annoyed. What a waste of talent. Until next time Nana.

I'm officially caught up with Vincenzo! Just in time for the new episodes! I'm not ready for this to end.

Also, I watched Space Sweepers and enjoyed seeing an unkempt SJK. Quite the contrast with Vincenzo. Also, Kim Tae Ri is very charismatic. Cute movie.

Now I'm inclined to watch Arthdal Chronicles just for kicks. I avoided it like a plague thanks to beanies' reviews but it might be the ridiculous comedy I need to laugh. The gloomy weather and continuous pandemic requires an amusement of sorts. 😏

And last but not least...is it normal that I spend a ridiculous amount of time watching Junho/2PM videos on YouTube? If only the day had more than 24 hours.

Reply 1988 : COMPLETED!!! Oh my gosh I'm so proud of myself for completing this though the credit goes to quarantine. Got traumatized by the second lead. I mean I went into the drama knowing who the husband but still I got burned. Thank god these writers stopped playing the husband game for now.
Navillera 10/12 : This drama is very touching to watch but after finishing the episodes I just forget about it until the next week. But quite enjoying the performances.
Sell your haunted house 2/16 : Quite liked the premier week and proceeding to watch the next episodes. Yayy this drama is so light and fun. Just as I hoped.
Vincenzo 17/20 : Caught today's episode. Thank god you're back.

If Daebak Reality is C drama, they will milk it for all it's worth the hand holding will increase my temperature reasoning between the leads. Ha ha ha Do it drama! 😂😃

Mouse - What a great Ep 15 for this show. I'm not surprise with the reveal of who Ba-reum really is but it's interesting to see how the story of a psychopath with emotions unfolds here. Will these newly acquired emotions make him think twice about killing or the whole thing is just a setup from Daniel Lee and co as an elaborate experiment to prove a point in genetics?

Sell Your Haunted House - An enjoyable show so far with the occasional shock factor :P. Can't wait for next week's new episodes...

Taxi Driver - I really feel for Ha-na in Ep 5. Sometimes it's makes you wonder how to pursue justice when the system that you believe in actually fails you.

Taxi driver ep1-4: the teamwork portrayed is good (thank goodness Pyo Ye-jin is here instead of the previous girl), Lee Je-hoon is great as always. But I don’t think they have the right to judge and punish. I feel like I would’ve believed the story more if it is written in fantasy setting (like W maybe?)

Oh my master ep 1-4: I’d rather watch Lee Min-ki and Nana hugs each other or maybe make out every episodes

It’s been a long while since I’m interested to watch more than 1 ongoing dramas. Feels good like the old time. But i still think I’ll go back to Vincenzo and drop the others.

We still love NAVILLERA but it is even sadder now. There is no way we can stop watching it. This is a tribute to the way Kdramas can completely dominate our emotions.

Fortunately Jang Na-ra has ridden to our rescue with the genuinely fun SELL YOUR HAUNTED HOUSE which is every bit as addictive as MissVictrix says.

My Wife finished RIVER WHERE THE MOON RISES. After spending a lot of time the land of Sageuks she is now back with her beloved Chinese Costume Dramas: THE LONG BALLAD, MY HEROIC HUSBAND and now THE PROMISE OF CHANG’AN- only 56 episodes!

I have also been watching the C-drama MY DEAR LADY, a decent rom-com.

The weekender REVOLUTIONARY SISTERS had no new episodes this last week- any chance that the writer was fired? For my family drama viewing I am still enjoying BE MY DREAM FAMILY which is a fairly well done daily.

Because of work we have not been able to keep up with OH MASTER but we may be able to soon. We are several lectures into a course on the Vikings though and now also have another course on Imperial China- which is more of a cultural history like the ones we did on Japan and India. These courses take time but are so well worth it, and have now become a bit of a habit for our family- a legacy from being so shut in. My wife and I are now fully vaccinated and so free to travel, visit gardens and generally get out, although there are still places that have restrictions.

Mouse : I don’t know if it’s because I don’t watch thrillers much but I’m still really enjoying this show (if enjoying is the word). A lot of things got answered in the last couple of episodes but I’m curious about what’s going on behind the scenes - it seems like Daniel Lee is doing something, but also there is someone behind him.

Sell Your Haunted House : I haven’t had a chance to see Episode 4 yet but I’m really liking this so far. I’m not having the same problem that some people are with finding the ML bland.

Mischievous Kiss:Love in Tokyo : I’m very fond of Playful Kiss so I thought I’d give this version a go. So far I’m enjoying it (and I like the fact that the hero is not QUITE so cruel) but I quite often have to stop and hide from it because I know when certain plot points are coming.

Mouse
Well... I got my dark Lee Seunggi. However, I underestimated how disturbing it would be to watch him attempt to blunger children and actually kill animals... be careful what you wish for I guess hahahaha

Navillera
Watching Deokchul « adopting » Chaerok and now Hobeom warms my heart. Please let them be a family forever. This show keeps being wholesome despite the dark cloud that’s fast approaching.

Vincenzo
I spent the hiatus gushing about this drama with my friend who was binge watching it. She actually caught up just in time for us to watch the new episode together tonight! Yay!!

Le coup de foudre (Cdrama)
Feel-good and a easy watch, exactly what I needed. Particularly liked the male lead although his communication skills seem to regress a bit at the end.

Queen For Seven Days
I started this drama. The fact that I’ve only watched 3 episodes and I am already 100% invested in the main couple makes me wary to continue knowing the tragedy and angst that is to come. I can’t resist a good frennemy to best friends to lovers story. The whole « let’s marry and keep being best friends forever » was just too precious!!! Send help!

Vincenzo - what can I say except that the wait for the next episode was almost unbearable.

Mouse - yay! for a dark LSG. I love LSG light and fun but I love LSG dark too, it makes him a complete package for me. Now only if I can order that package online ? Going back to the show, I was right about Ba reum too, just like most beanies. I am glad it is finally out.

Taxi Driver - the episodes about the school bullies were fun and LJH trolling the bullies were fun.

During the Vincenzo hiatus, I picked up The Producers and regretted it. Hours wasted.

River Where the Moon Rises: 6/10 for the series. It had great moments, and the ML and FL had good chemistry, but it was mostly filled with standard palace politics. I really liked the costumes as well, more ornate than standard in my experience. Also there was some REAL switch turns of some of the characters personalities...2nd ML going straight up evil when he couldn’t have her was weird. And then that ending. *SPOILERS*

I figured we’d have our leads both die, or just one or the other (not knowing the story this is based off of), and it seemed a fitting end. But him surviving what was it...like 30 arrows in the back because of breathing excercises?! Suspension of disbelief is one thing, but that is straight up magic. Smacks of a writer who wasn’t confident, or it got workshopped by a committee that figured this was a good idea...ugh.

Taxi Driver: Our ML is chewing the scenery, and a bit more over the top than I would like, but he’s making it work. I’d like to see more Esom for sure, but our cast is pretty loveable...outside of the straight up mustache twirling villains. No shades of grey to be seen here, this is black and white evil. At least there’s some shades on the good side.

Oh! Master: Aaaand the reaper/angel/whatever is back and I’m definitely less interested in the show. I guess it’ll depend on how this is pulled off, but the mood DEFINITELY took a turn for the worse.

Mouse: Speaking of turns. A lot of us predicted this, and it finally happened. Do I think this show needed to be 20 episodes? Not really, but I enjoy our main cast so I won’t complain. That being said, the initial description of the show did describe Lee Seung Gi as playing a psychopath so it wasn’t exactly out of left field. Random thought that popped into my head after seeing the initial description was that his character in Busted was a nice warm up for this. It’s a tricky balance the show is trying to walk. I was really liking the warm moments he had with his friends/loved ones but now viewed through the lens we see through he’s an absolute monster.

Daebak Real Estate: Jang Na-Ra crushing it as usual. And I’m also liking our ML as he’s a good foil and partner. Nice to see them slowly growing to understand each other and *pun intended* warm up to each other.