For those viewers disappointed in not seeing Kim Se-Jeong in a wedding dress at the end of BUSINESS PROPOSAL, she was once married on television. In July, 2016, she married career bachelor Kim Jong Kook on the variety show TALENTS FOR SALE. She was 19 years old at the time (21 years younger than KJK). That variety show was strange and really had no clear structure so it lasted only 19 episodes.

Uhm Ji Won is currently shooting two series “in parallel” meaning at the same time. That is more unusual for lead characters than supporting cast. But since actors work when they get work, there are bound to be some conflicts. But this one is a new one on me:

MBC and SBS are currently embroiled in a dispute over the broadcast schedules of two upcoming dramas starring Im Soo Hyang. On April 5, JTBC News reported that the two broadcast networks were in conflict due to SBS’s plans to air Im Soo Hyang’s upcoming drama “Starting Today, We” (literal translation) in May, when MBC was already planning to air its own drama starring Im Soo Hyang, “Dr. Lawyer,” that same month.

MBC asserted that because the broadcast schedule for “Dr. Lawyer” had already been set well in advance, SBS’s sudden decision to air “Starting Today, We” at a similar time was a violation of business ethics. Pointing out the stark difference in the tone of the two dramas, the network claimed that the contrast between Im Soo Hyang’s two roles would be damaging to both series. With both dramas airing at the same time, MBC explained, viewers would have a harder time fully imagining the actress as her character in each show—and marketing for the two concurrently airing dramas was certain to clash.

Koreans are quite sensitive to people upstaging others. I can see why an artist’s agency would be upset to have their client (and their fandom) split between two shows airing at the same time. Split ratings would lower show ratings and hurt their client’s reputation. But then again, the network is paying the star for the work so it can control when and how it airs on TV. Besides, when I was in Korea, the networks often repeated shows during all hours of the day so if a fan wants to watch both shows he or she can.

Spring doesn't look like spring - too hot. What gonna happen in summer. Seems like we will see a few more record breaking days ahead. 49 - 50 or even more.

I don't even have air conditioner. This summer gonna be real fun and test of body's durability - I can see it - but no no no to dehydration.

Scientists are crying over climate and whole world is busy in trivial matters. yeah. keep ignoring, later won't even get a second to react.

I have yet to open my 1st social media account - Twitter. I though it would be easy but am not feeling anything to do it.
Instagram - naah
tiktok - no no no

I was thinking some about the endings of kdramas this week—partly because I was wondering if my dissatisfaction with many of them said more about me or more about the shows. In the end, (of my reflection, not the shows) I’ll not blame myself entirely, and say it is true that most shows don’t end as well as they began—in part because the plotlines/themes/character developments have piled up in ways that become enormously complex to resolve—even in detective shows, where a satisfactory end is to catch the guilty (or, in English-subtitle speak, which I love!—the “culprit”) --Or, in rom-coms, where the only ending priority is that the main couple has to unite. (but why no grandchildren, Business Proposal?!?)

But that brings up a second thing that I’ve observed—and can be corrected on, if I’m wrong. In Hollywood, although there are seemingly endless numbers of screenwriters, when a film or show goes badly or ends satisfyingly, we tend to blame the director or the “showrunner.” This is clear in movies, where directors are well-known but generally not screenwriters, but its also the case in T.V. So, for example, when I want to praise or complain about the show Bridgerton, I’ll cite showrunner Shonda Rhimes rather than the head writer, Chris Van Dusen (although I will blame Van Dusen for having ALL the characters end EVERY sentence with “is it not.”)

However, with K-Dramas, it seems to me commentators here tend to credit (or blame) the writer(s). So, for example, I will express my frustration with Kwon Do-eun for the ending of 25-21 when she wrote the previous episodes so beautifully, rather than the director Jung Ji-hyun. But isn’t it the case, just as in the U.S. that shows often move out of control of writers, as directors, actors, locations, budget, worries about audience response, etc. etc. do their work in production? So why don’t we say, “Jung Ji-hyun really blew it with that last episode” rather than say, to (end with a positive assessment), “another brilliant ending by the writer of Search: WWW?” (which in my opinion did end brilliantly, unlike 25-21, but I’m not writing to rehash that issue again—just to ask if writers should be given the degree of credit/blame they seem to be in kdramas!)

I was away from the Asian drama world from about 2016 to this year. I'm doing a pretty good job catching up on Kdramas, but I'm having a harder time with J/TW/Cdramas. So I'm looking for recommendations. I'm a romance junkie, especially rom-coms. I don't do sad or open endings. To give you an idea of what I like, here are some of my favorites and some I didn't like:

TWdramas: LOVE Mars, Lost Romance, Autumn's Concerto, In Time With You, Fated to Love You, Perfect Two, Sunny Happiness. Lost Romance is the only one I've watched since I started back this year, and I loved it. DISLIKE: Love Keeps Going, Smiling Pasta.

Jdramas: Hana Yori Dango, Hana Kimi, Mei-chan no Shitsuji, Buzzer Beat, Kimi wa Petto, Pride, Rich Man Poor Woman. I've watched Renai Mangaka and From 5 to 9 this year, but was disappointed in both.

Cdramas: Love Me If You Dare, My Sunshine, The Romance of Tiger and Rose. I'm currently watching The Wolf Princess. DISLIKED: the endings of Perfect Couple and The Holy Pearl (enjoyed the dramas very much up until the endings. Ugh).

When it comes to Cdramas, I don't mind if they're modern, historical, or fantasy.

Hit me with your recommendations please!

interesting that Pachinko episode 5 was available for viewing thursday night instead of friday... whatever! early viewing!

What's wrong with This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair recaps? I mean they are so many messages saying the same thing again and again...

Busy week for me. Annual checkup, donated blood, got my 2nd booster. Did them in that order because I wanted the doctor's suggestion on boosters, and blood test results to show that the Red Cross wouldn't reject me for low iron levels, and because the Red Cross doesn't want you to donate if you've had any vaccinations recently.

FWIW, doctor agreed with what I've been reading about the benefits of getting 2 different vaccines. Since I'd had Pfizer before, it was Moderna this time.

Sadly some of my other test results weren't great and the doc pushed me on weight loss and exercise. Then two nights later I had a dream about ice cream. Sigh. I don't recall ever dreaming about any food before and I haven't had any ice cream for years. But I wish my weight loss was off to a less dreamy start.

The featured flavor was mint.

Happy weekend Beanies and keep Beaning On!
This Monday I received a letter that I need to appear in front of a medical examination commission at work, which is very normal considering my long sick leave. However, reading the first lines were enough to give me another panic attack, after going nearly 6 months without them. Coincidentally I had some blood drawn the morning after, and of course the results were not good. Cortisol levels (stress hormone) were through the roof, same for my blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Silver lining: we finally have an explanation for my sleeping problems, lowered energy and immune system, sugar and fat cravings, and why my intestines were bullying me last week. This hormone has also been messing with my serotonin and vitamin levels, so I am on extra supplements for a while.💊

I am proud of myself for being able to calm myself down during the panic attack, because I knew why it had happened. The physicians that I am meeting on the examination are to determine what my professional future will look like, and things can change pretty fast once they do. I cannot resume my current job and certainly not under my current boss with my current colleagues. At the same time, I also need extra counseling while jobhunting on top of my therapy, which is expensive when you live off your savings while unemployed.💰

Fortunately, my therapist and his team are aiming to temporarily extend my sick leave and request internal counselling. This would mean that my employer would provide me with counseling on another job in another government department. It would save me money because I would get paid because I am working again, and it would also save me from jobhunting because I would get a second chance to complete a one-year internship and get appointed as a civil servant afterwards. I am pretty jaded about the government as an employer after everything that happened, but this might be the ticket to a better job with better coworkers and I at least want to give it a try.🙏🏻

So like, why did Doom At Your Service not have a wildly popular reception? I didn't watch it until just now because I recall people being disappointed in comments here on DB, and now I feel sad I didn't get to join in the weekly ride. I literally stayed up until 5AM binge watching it and then finished the next day.

It's got properly gorgeous cinematography (that doesn't drag on too long a la Goblin), killer leads and actaully funny humor (I tend to find the humor in romcoms a bit flat most of the time). I especially liked how even though the premise was over the top, the way characters acted and reacted felt real, as though they had things they would say and other things they were thinking but didn't want to share. That's really hard for a drama to pull off, but it felt like more than one character had that vibe going on. The young female god fascinated me, and I enjoyed puzzling over what she was thinking (I had to think about it, but got it most of the time). Why wasn't this more universally loved??

I mean, it's not to say I didn't think it had some flaws. Park Bo Young doesn't have quite the emotional range as Seo In Guk does, I think, but she did a really good job here in another perky, cute role--with the plus side of showing off more emotional maturity. My biggest complaint is that I don't quite understand why the second lead liked the second female lead... but then again that happens in tons of romcoms.

Anyhoo, just my little drama-rant. I'm glad I was finally bored enough to give it a chance, but still feel gipped I didn't just trust my gut and watch it earlier. (not that online comments are the only thing that stopped me from watching it--the fluffy pink scheme and character poster on viki reminded me of Shopping King Louis, which was a much more plot-light drama)

Well Beanies I wanted to give y'all an update on me. Here's a recap if you haven't been reading along with the class.
I quit my job in December. It was absolutely the right thing to do. The timing...meh...maybe. I couldn't find another job in libraries or otherwise. In February I started applying for retail and part time jobs in places like offices as admin assistant. No one would hire me. Back at the beginning of March I was hired at a daycare but needed proof of which immunizations I've had barring that I needed a titer (tider?)l and to get the shots again. That would have cost over 500 where I'm at and I didn't have to money for it. By the middle of the month I thought I was going to be legit homeless or living with my awful brother again. But, I caught a break--at long last! My bishop at church is a doctor and so is his assistant. They came to visit me and found where I could get the immunizations again since locating them didn't work. So that's what I did. I started two days ago and I really like it. I just need to find a way to be lead teacher and I think this could be the job I'm looking for. The lead teacher who trained me (and is supposedly the best in the system) leaves so many opportunities for education on the floor and I think if you take the time to really organize your schedule for the week you can increase the educational opportunities for the kids at this location from once a week to twice a day. I was also hired to do retail at a department store. But at the store they have a dress code: black trousers and black button down too. I have one pair of trousers and no black button downs and even though they gave me a great discount nothing they sell fits me. So.....I no called no showed. Which is terrible but they are a huge department store. I think they'll be fine.
Some other things happened: I was terrorized by a spider and a wholly awful trip to WI and a burrying of the hatchet with me and my old manager. Ask for any of those stories a couple of them are entertaining! If somewhat horrifying.
I haven't given up on being a librarian. I thought I had and was applying for things because libraries are all I know but Ive realized these last 4 months I really love them. But now I'm in a space where I can decide to accept the next job handed to me instead of accepting it out of desperation. These last months have been some of the hardest I've ever experienced. It I'm finally coming through to the other side. I'm all caught up and ready to watch the B4 finale with the ISWAK crew tomorrow and am fingers crossed planning to watch some business proposal tonight.