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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

So, what are we all watching this week?

What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…

 

missvictrix

Currently covering: Mental Coach Jegal, One Dollar Lawyer

Love is for Suckers: Gahh why does it have to get so complicated! Though our wonderful Jae-hoon is going a bit too fast right now, I’m frustrated with Yeo-reum’s awful rejection (sigh, K-dramas). Meanwhile, the reality show continues to be just the cringiest thing ever to me; I keep siding with Yeo-reum for some authenticity to peek through in the final product but in the meantime I’ll just take it as a satire.

 

DaebakGrits

Love is for Suckers: I’m starting to feel a little sorry for Ji-yeon, but not because I actually empathize with her emotions. Instead, my gut reaction is more like, “Awww, you’re kind of pathetic, aren’t you?” I know that sounds harsh, but she’s supposed to be a mature woman in her thirties, and she’s crying heartbreak-level tears over a man she barely knows. Sure, rejection stings, but her reaction goes beyond that of someone nursing a wounded ego, and as a result, I’m mostly annoyed and just want her to go away. Meanwhile, the Yeo-reum and Jae-hoon love line is killing me. I wholeheartedly agree that it’s not the time for Jae-hoon to be pursuing her, but man did it still suck to see Yeo-reum reject him.

Love in Contract: I can’t believe I’m still hanging onto this drama. I hate more characters than I like, but I guess it’s just a train wreck I just can’t seem to look away from.

Alchemy of Souls: I haven’t finished this one (yet), but I’m steadily chipping away at it when I find the time. I absolutely adore the OST, and the visuals (CGI, set design, costumes, etc.) used to create this fictional fantasy world are gorgeous and creatively inspiring. I think when I finish this drama, I might have to a little arts and crafts project inspired by this drama.

 

Dramaddictally

Currently covering: Cheer Up, Love is for Suckers

Love in Contract: I’m getting a little bored. Since the beginning I’ve been trying to ignore how much I dislike Park Min-young’s character, but now there’s not as much fun stuff to distract from it. I hate how she treats Gwang-nam and how it’s always played for humor. At this point, I spend most of the episodes studying Kim Jae-young. I loved his hoodie that said, “Just look. Don’t touch.” — as if that second one was an option.

 
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Loving the timeliness of the picture for this post

Seasons of Blossom
We knew it was coming but still. 🥺

Love is for suckers
Staying for the duration in the hope that we will soon get rid of the annoying second female lead and get back to the fun times.

Mental coach Jegal
So glad it is coming to an end because the politics and violence were too stressful but at least the relationship was clearly friendzoned.

Gaus electronics
Continues to be fun and games

Love in Contract
Watching for the bean

Cheer up
Watching for the bean

Three bold siblings
Fresh starts ahead family bonds closer will it be quiet contentment for a while?

One dollar lawyer
Jury’s out on whether I will watch this week after following the weecap only last week after the first few minutes of episode 9 failed to interest me.

Good manager
Loving this show. Every episode I get stitch from laughing so hard. He is like Lassie the dog every time he goes somewhere he finds a problem and deals with it by sheer luck and coincidence. I now get what everyone says about the bromance it is so funny. Junho does an excellent job playing the raging cruel schemer.

100 days my prince
Only a few episodes to go palace politics so annoying. I am seeing the Chinese boy who clearly looks like a girl who I am sure at some point will be dressed as a girl to do with some under cover scheme.

Completed

Films I have enjoyed
20th Century girl really bittersweet but I enjoyed it.
You’re so precious to me a serious slice of life showing the harsh reality for the main character and the deaf blind girl he is involved with. The child actress did a fantastic job.

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You hadn't watched Chief Kim!!! It's so fun!! NGM is just perfect (as he is in every role). I watched this one after Hot Stove League, and I couldn't believe it was the same actor!

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I am kicking myself because it was on my watchlist for the longest time after being recommended by so many people. I watched the first ten minutes months ago and thought what is this and left it but then after watching One dollar lawyer I was tuned in to the type of character. I have also watched Unicorn and Gaus electronics now so have a better idea of the humour so when I went back in I was able to engage with it and now I am crying with laughter at some point every episode.

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Quiet contentment on THREE BOLD SIBLINGS? Not a chance. I predict lots of tears this weekend.

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🤣

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please forgive my potentially obvious question (couldn't seem to find in the FAQ)

do you collect beans by commenting on each recap when a drama is on air?

i have been a long-time lurker - finally exploring the comments section more haha

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So glad you have decided to join in the comments. I am new only joined in May so have yet to participate so hopefully one of the veterans will link you to the December 2021 end of year review which has the rules. I don’t know how to do the links but going through the main menu to resources, end of year review, the latest one on the quick links is 2016 will give you an idea as it does not seem to have changed much since then.

This is my understanding of Bean collection. There is a year end review in December where there is a list of all dramas shown in the year (they give the dates of what qualifies). You get awarded an imaginary bean for every complete show you have watched and then you can divide those beans between the shows you liked the most. So a lot of us will watch a drama we would prefer to drop so we can accumulate as many beans as we can to vote for our favourite.

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thank you for taking the time to respond!

this seems like the post you were referring to - thanks for pointing me to year in review! very fun and makes the drama watching experience more active (as opposed to binging alone which, i mean, is also fine 🤭)

https://www.dramabeans.com/2021/12/2021-year-in-review-part-1-the-bean-count/

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Well done for finding it and posting! Yes it’s definitely worth hanging in for the bean to be part of the experience. Hope that you have collected a few beans this year to participate too. My count is going to be pretty low but I know which shows will get the most votes on my short list.

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The comments and likes are connected to your beanie level. On your icon drop down menu you can see your fan wall, comments etc. when you go to one of those tabs you will see your beanie level, number of followers, likes and comments. You start as beanie level Candy and climb up based on the number of comments made and other factors such as length of comments, frequency of posting and number of posts you comment on. There are various theories on why Beanies gain beanie levels as some move up quicker with lower comments than others but it is an well kept secret how it actually works. The levels are all named after various types of characters in Korean dramas.

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I finished Young Actors Retreat and it was such a sunny positive show. This type of variety is my cup of tea, Kingdom of Love not really.

Gaus - I think the ratings are low, because people watch it secretly under the blanket 😁
The show is absolutely spot on with the office comedy (and yet so true to life) - I laughed so many times, the file names 😂 I also still enjoy the show's specific humour (stapled trousers 😂). And I'm shipping both couples. 💕 I'm impressed with Go Sunhgee's acting here - l see all the insecurities and unspoken behind Narae's words. They also work surprisingly well as a couple with Kwak Dong Yeon and I don't know how they do it, but they are awkward, funny, vulnerable, endearing and sexy at the same time. I love them. I actually like all the characters (especially Aziz... with snacks 😂) and I'm having fun. This is the right comedy for me right now 💕

Cheer Up - I think I'm slowly loosing my love for the show and Sunho annoyed me with his inappropriate interferences. I still like Haeyi's honesty and direct questions, but there was too much slapping this week.

Love in Contract - I was not happy with the appearance of the TOD, I wanted to see that battle between Jiho and Miho.

Suckers - Yeoreum, you don't kiss like that when there is no interest at all. (Though I do think it is still too early for a new relationship.)
Chaeri is shaking things up... and although I don't agree with everything she does, I sort of like her.

I was planning to catch up with Butler and to check Mr. Bad and maybe Falling Into You, however... inspired by Aziz 😁 I lounged on the bed instead and rewatched Gaus' kisses. 😊

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Gaus: the file names!!! I could totally relate 😂😂😂

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So could I.

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Gaus makes me laugh out loud multiple times every episode. And totally OT but apropos of file names: back in my environmental science days, our biologist did a wetland survey and created a map entitled ‘potential_endangered_shrimp_habitat’ and sent it to our client. The client’s email server automatically shorted the long file name to ‘p…imp_habitat.’ Thank goodness the client had a sense of humor and was laughing when she called me and said “you know you guys sent me a map of pimp habitat, right? This isn’t what we contracted for!”

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Well, that made me LOL !😂

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The Queen’s Umbrella: Kim Hye-soo toned down the faces this week but her eyebrows sure got a workout. My issues with her acting aside, this drama is really good. Who would have thought that a sageuk of all things would handle a transexual character so well? The scene where the Queen shielded Gyeseong’s with her umbrella was really beautiful. I’m rooting for Seung-nam to be the next Crown Prince.

Gaus Electronics: Ha, I loved that Sang-sik thinking Ma Tan was a big bluffer saved him when a drunk Kang-mi revealed his identity. Poor Ma Tan was in for a rude awakening after being cut off. Sang-sik and Na-raes’s code was funny.

Love is For Suckers: Pretty much everyone annoyed me this week, especially Ji-yeon. Girl, he’s just not into you and has told you that multiple times. Everybody needs to realize they are on a freaking reality show and anything they do or say can be used for a storyline. Chae-ri, as unseemly as her methods sometimes are, is probably my favorite character for being there to do her damn job.

Love In Contract: This drama should have been 12 episodes. It’s already dragging and there are four more episodes to go with a bunch of stupid, unnecessary drama.

May It Please the Court: The final two episodes were pretty strong though they did feel a bit rushed and there were some unanswered questions. Chak-hee’s character development was good. Si-baek was underdeveloped as a character but not as underdeveloped as Yi-yeon, Chak-hee’s dad, the cops. I can’t help but wish they’d kept the balance of humor from the first couple episodes and just kept this drama episodic in nature.

Shadow Detective: I liked it. I really like Lee Sung-min so I’ll keep watching even though like May It Please the Court, I suspect that the bits of humor won’t last long. Jin Goo is looking good. At eight episodes, it should be a tight mystery though apparently Season 2 is in the works. Hopefully, it will cover a new case.

The Empire: They are really making it seem like Kang Baek killed Nan-hee, but I doubt it. My guess was always the creepy law student but that would be too predictable, as well. Maybe he’s just the cat killer. This drama really isn’t worth the watch, but there are moments like Hye-ryul finally reaming her husband out for cheating that keep me tuning in.

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I agree about Kang PD - I wouldn’t want someone like that in my life, but at least she’s out and honest about who she is and what she’s doing.

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My wife and I very much disagree over Chaeree: She dislikes her and I admire her. The way she rescued the first episode was magnificent - this is the sort of PD who gets awards and deserves them.

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I have both of you fighting in myself 😄
Though I generally do admire her... and I'm also interested in her personal story.

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I like that we know where we stand with her, so I’d know not to work with someone like that and to stay out of her way. The character is actually written so well that she’s almost endearing in parts, and I like how she walks the fine line so skilfully, but I also understand your wife’s perspective. I guess my main reservation is that I haven’t seen where she’d draw the line that she wouldn't cross. So far, for her, the results justify the means, and when you judge success purely by viewership numbers, that’s quite sad (and possibly irresponsible) to me.

This is a romcom, so I’m conscious I’m taking this more seriously than necessary (I'm afraid I often do!!), but people have died by suicide after appearing on shows like Love Island, and whilst there isn’t one person to blame for such tragic outcomes, knowing what we know now should give producers pause when they make decisions about what airs. I hope this show won’t shy away from this, as I’d like to see how Ji Wan’s storyline plays out.

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Wow. It’s already Saturday! Time flies.

Cheer up A bit frustrated with the love triangle this week. And a Sunbae adding to the woes and making it a love square. Lol
Love is for Suckers arghhhh. People being people I guess. A lot of tangles. Hope everyone comes out of this sane.
20th venture girl Worth watching! The cast and the feels of youth was beautiful.
Love between Fairy and Devil no progress. Still at ep 31.

I need to check out ‘Shards of Love ’ Taiwanese show on Netflix. For some reason I thought it’s a movie. And then Curtain Call is coming. Wow.
And I want to start the jdrama ‘Silent’. How to fit in all this.
Can someone live my real life so I can watch dramas 🥹😅😇

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Silent does sound like a great show, its on my watchlist I hope it lives up to expectations

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@daebakgrits
I don't trust Jiyeon AT ALL!!

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100% - for me it’s because she plays the victim so well, that it’s not even clear where she falls in terms of her self-awareness. In real life, I’d avoid someone like her like the plague.

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Not one bit. I liked her in the earlier episodes where she seemed cool and confident. And also stood up for herself and demanded she be treated with respect.
And now! she is acting coy, scared, hurt and making others feel guilty for her own unreciprocated feelings. There has not been a point when JH led her on. Even their friendly lunch meets was on her request and he kindly obliged.
And the last straw was her trying to guilt trip YR! she doesn’t even know the woman and she went on a full blown emotional baggage dump. rolling my eyes .
She is exactly the kind of people I stay far far away from in real life.

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I'm almost afraid to see what's going to happen next with her character. I definitely see her becoming more annoying, and I don't want her conniving ways to detract from the rest of this drama.

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It also worries me why Kang PD chose her in the first place. She had a talk with her (offline) stating she wanted to make her a star couple. Why her?
Is it because Kang PD saw her to be easily manipulated or did she see beneath her facade and knew exactly the kind of person she is. Only time will tell.

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Honestly, the only way I can stomach her character is if she turns out to have a duplicitous, scheming nature. Otherwise, she's just a whining, bratty teenager posing as an accomplished woman in her 30s, and I will continue to be annoyed by her.

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HAEUNDAE LOVERS (2012) (Ep 11-16): This old schooler is what one expects at the finish line, but it was how it got there that was enjoyable ride. It had all the classic tropes, but took fun at such dramas in some scenes. Jo Yeo Jeong and Kim Kang-woo had very good chemistry and good dialogue banter throughout the series. (They would reunited in another good show, “9.9 Billion Won Woman.”) Some of the scenes, like the court room, were ridiculous but did not derail the story. It was a show that had some characters grow and change while some could never change because that is who they were, which made sense. The supporting cast was good in their comic roles, especially Park So-Yeon. I was surprised that the cast have many idol-singer-actors. Also, the location shoot in Busan is a nice scenery change of pace. This is a good throw-back rom-com for those looking to fill a drama slump gap.
Movie:
OBSESSED (2014): Set in 1969, Colonel Kim Jin-Pyeong (Song Seung-Heon) has returned to South Korea after fighting with valor in the Vietnam War. However, he suffers from mental issues caused by the war. He is married to a career army wife (Jo Yeo Jeong). He meets the wife of his subordinate, Jong Ga-Heun (Lim Ji-Yeon), to quickly to have an obsessive affair with her.

The movie is a slow unwinding narrative in an artistic dark style. The main problem with the movie is that it “tells” more than it “shows.” The motivations of the leads is not well fleshed out; the other spouses’ stories and feelings were not given much thought. The chain smoking cast is something today you don’t see much on film. Even though it won many awards (Lim and Jo), I found it a average movie at best with incomplete character development and a one-note theme.

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You write so well that I will upvote every comment you write regardless of what shows you are writing about.

Also, I watched Haeundae Lovers a few times back then. Cute and fun. A good example of a show that knows exactly what it does best.

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The Law Cafe: All is well that ends well. This was a cute little drama. I love that at least introduced questions on consent, a good sex life, marriage, and non marriage. I love the Lee Se Young was serving wonderful fashion and that badass wedding dress. The chemistry between her and Lee Seung Gi was chef's kiss. So all around I enjoyed getting this bean.

Cheer Up: The lack of communication in this drama. They both know they like each other, but are pretending. I understand he thinks he is protecting her, but sir, get it together. As for Sun Ho, the actor isn't good enough to make me like or care about him, also his character is very blah.

Love is for Suckers: I love Chae Ri. She is a PD for a trash reality show parodied from Love Island. She is doing her job and doing it well. I grew up in the MTV trash reality TV age and Chae Ri is producing just that. As for Yeo Reum and Jae Hoon, she needs time and he is in a rush. They have both obviously liked each other for a while, but haven't pursued. Timing is everything. I hope they both had fun kissing all those people, lol.

May it please the court: So all the secrets are out. A mess, but hopefully she finds justice. I wish it had stayed funny throughout though.

Seasons of Blossom:Ha Min😭😭😭. I hope So Mang finds the healing and peace she needs to move on.

Love in Contract: Ji Ho❤️. He is just the best, no misunderstandings. Just calm assurance that he believes in her. I just love him.

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As always we agree. I also love ChaeRi, she's just the type of person that gets the job done no matter what, and well done. I'm rooting for her.

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Hi twin😁, yes, I want only good things for Chae Ri.

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CRICKET - MAJESTIC world cup t20 International.

weak teams aka small teams beating strong teams or atleast making them sweat for win is what you want to see and get to see. More because of decent Australian Pitches. Rain has done good damage but also made road to semi-final much interesting.

This period of cricket is less on quality and more on entertainment. I don't like this trade - I want my high quality competition over silly entertainment anyday.

Zimbabwe's win really made me so so happy.

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Japan - too much - have to taste everything - might do it by next week -
Become Your Flower - 4/10 - idols - a group that can't advance. Typical shoujo style heroine. acting n those dialogues - this kind of drama in 2022 is a real con job.

Elaiza's drama is interesting - well that's what you expect from that broadcaster.

Kento's drama is interesting - has that typical japanese style of characters ramblings but still interesting.

Finland my love - 6/10 - big advertising of finalnd tourism. Niche.

romance and bullets - 4/10 those scenes - ahem.

Sumo do, Girl - 7/10 - comedy is good and so is to watch our sumo heroine.

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Kiyohara's new tv drama - not good.

Viki few months back added many Japanese dramas - mostly low quality romance fluff - got them cheap - they know who their audience is .
They did got few good dramas too - that look to be of 2022 as well as being more humane - and currently have 2-3 airing dramas - Sony Gem could do better.

Kawaguchi Haruna's drama is on viki - going good - has that feeling of heartache - lot more frustration towards main characters.

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Got translation of Turkish drama - was about to move on but have to do 2 hour 20 minute long 10 episodes. After that 2023 - Cricket and Turkish dramas consume too much time that you have to drop ball on every other segment.

Eat - drink - toilet - teen heroine 4 u. every1 eyeing every1 else. Tinder it is. could have been better as Heroine @ centre and journey towards becoming captain. nope - we need romance nonsense.

baby boy - yeah u surely r bad prosecutor - heroine trying to be more than cheap labour. Nothing new, but hero is trying to be a hero writer is very clear about it. Hero with the attitude of everything fair is better than all previous heros.

Gaus's toss - Ma tan stand alone z better than doing forcefull romance - 1 couple was enough - streyotypicl jokes don't go far - That guy surely is of indian-subcontinent origin. name
pronunciation is wrong.

December come fast.

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Not quite sure why you are commenting on cricket in the middle of reviews of Dramas, but since you have, I'll join in.
I completely disagree about the T20 international and they certainly shouldn't be called "Majestic" even if they are the sponsors. Five matches already have been cancelled or ruined by the execrable Duckworth Lewis formula. England lost to Ireland on the DL, couldn't play Austraial (why not, why not play it another day???) because they picked the MCG to play in the two wettest months of the year. For the English team, arguably the best team there, to go through now they have to beat NZ (probably the favourites) and Sri Lanka by more than 65 runs and even then there would be three teams tied and it would be another formulaic result. Sorry, but I think the planning sucks (not as bad as the F1 group of nincompoop managers who have just given Red Bull a pathetically little fine for blatant cheating) and the only thing where I would agree with you was Zimbabwe's FANTASTIC WIN, which at least wasn't spoiled with the rain. Honestly, in a country where the weather is probably the most predictable in the world, WHY have so many matches at a venue which is in the middle of the entirely predictable two-month rainy season? And if, you do (great cricket ground) then put in a contingency plan, like they do at Wimbledon where they put in an extra day because of the possibility of rain, when you know you are likely to have bad weather. Elementary, I would have thought.

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I have done sports for years as watch part. Did world cup 19 as well as world test championship

Far better T20 world cup than previous one that just happened 10 months ago. much competition given by teams that aren't taken seriously. This tournament has given big boost to these teams.
Tournament scheduling fault lies with Incompetent ICC and to large extent with Cricket Australia.
They have excuse of costs for a reserve day which does make sense and that's why they did matches at same day same stadium. They chose money over tournament.
Cricket England has done the same earlier
Cricket Australia has done it this time. Both chose their cricket summer over world cup.
India has money do they don't need that excuse.

England dashed their own hopes with that terrible batting. Except Moeen no one stood up and yup they had fair chance of winning the match but so had Ireland. It all game of what ifs now.

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Brilliant comment.

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Watching: May I Help You - I thought this was a comedy but each episode stirs my heart every time she's able to help the deceased; Love is for Suckers - still loving the show though nothing to crow about for this week's episodes; Bad Prosecutor - fast-paced action scenes; The Empire - the professor's a wimp
Waiting for: The Fabulous

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My partner was out of town for the past few days, and I started a Viki subscription that I’m trying to make the most of, so it was a heavy watch week for me ;)

Rookie Historian: Finished this off, and it was so great! I love that the drama was essentially about the freedom of the (historical) press, and that the ML’s main role was to be super supportive of our heroine. It was adorable and so refreshing. Just what I was hoping it would be.

Bad Prosecutor: I guess others aren’t into this, but I sure am! Definitely much more action than legal, which I’m totally here for. It’s fun to see DO, who I associate with a killer poker face, playing someone who skips through so many facial expressions in moments. I think it’s also been really fun to watch Ah-ra go from super rule-follower to smashing windows out of abandoned cars to find evidence. The level of corruption of the bad guys in this drama is so hilariously unlimited that it’s hard to see how this whole thing is going to end well, but I’ll be there for all of it!

Love is for Suckers (not quite caught up yet): I like this, but I’m glad I’m watching it as a happily married person. I like the exploration of getting older and not feeling like you have lots of options left, but to see someone like Lee Dahee, who meets and exceeds so many beauty standards, worry about not being desirable is a little depressing. There’s lots to counterbalance that feeling though, and I’m especially loving Yeo-reum’s relationship with her hoobae Sang-u. Also, I was expecting to love-to-hate Kang Chae-ri but have somehow ended up on her team, cheering for her eventual triumph over her stepmother and the subtle and unconventional ways she’s looking out for Yeo-reum.

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Lee Dahee seeing herself as undesirable just seems so odd.

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Taken some time away from watching the ongoing dramas, because my attention have caught the saeguk "100 days my Prince" which i had given a miss at that time it was airing due to my hectic life.

Currently watching ep 13 and the drama is sooo good, despite some patchy editing. The leads I desperately want them to end together, but I have a feeling they wont, so am preparing my heart for it. I am not even spoiling myself reading the recaps, so just enjoying what's being shown. Let's hope for the best.

Watched 20th century girl and it was a real beautiful movie which portrayed the innocence of first love and high school life. The ending was quite sad, but glad finally Bo Ra knew the reason and hope she can finally move on.

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I really loved 100 Days My Prince, which was the second kdrama I ever watched. I loved watching Yul bumbling around the village before he found his feet, and as the smart and compassionate crown prince.

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The Law Cafe This show was a lot of things but sadly the result was not good.

Cheer Up I don't specially like the FL, she blows hot air. So, what is Bae In-Hyuk's next drama ?

Mental Coach Jegal I'm disapointed the show turned in a "catch the bad guy" instead to "help the athletes".

Love is for Suckers For me, a guy who waited that the woman he loves will get married to think to confess his feelings, then do it just after she had to break her engagement is the pathetic one. He had 3 years to do it...

May I Help You I found this drama messy. I don't really care about the characters.

Gaus Electronics I'm surprised how KDY and GSH can make their awkard and very funny relationship so heart fluttering and sexy.

The Golden Spoon I just want to see Tae-Yong happy with his new family.

One Dollar Lawyer Funny but the missing episode thing didn't really bother me, I didn't miss it.

Under the Queen's Umbrella 5 boys to protect is a lot of work.

Seasons of blossom So-Mang and Jae-Min need closure not a scandal!

House on Wheels Kim Ha-Neul is a discreet actress. When I started to watch dramas, I really liked her romantic movies. It's fun to watch her in this show, her laugh is contagious!

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Re UTQU and “5 boys to protect is a lot of work”. Lol you got that right! As far as I can tell through episode 4 the only one Queen Mama hasn’t had to intervene for in one way or another is the little guy, her youngest: Grand Prince Ilyeong.

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Your point about the sexiness of our lead couple in GAUS ELECTRONICS is spot on.

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Argh!!!! What is the world coming to? The shows I enjoyed most this week feature Go Sung-hee and Hyeri 😱😱😲🤣 Is this a sign of the end times or just a sign that in kdramaland good scripts are both scarce and more important than casting choices??

Gaus Electronics: 9.5 Taking shots at just about all the tropes in kdramaland 🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👍👍👍

One Dollar Lawyer: 7.5

Law Cafe: 5.5 What's worse? Trying to solve marital issues with retail therapy? Or with handcuffs?

Cheer Up: 6.5 Sorry. Tired old kdrama tropes like going to the police station because of someone's legal problems do not Cheer me Up, so day 7 got off to a very bad start. At least day 8 filled its Cheer-practice quota.

May It Please the Court: 7.5 Mystery shows always seem better when the pieces come together. That doesn't necessarily mean the whole show is good. Ye Olde Fatal Fall Down Stairs (in day 11) is not one of my favorites -- speaking as someone who has tripped and rolled down stairs with no injuries except to my pride, I don't find the stair-related death rate in kdramaland especially believable. But let's just say that when/if I move again I'm not likely to pick a 3-story townhouse.

Love Is For Suckers: 7.5

May I Help You: 8.0 Funny when it tries to be funny, sad when it tries to be sad. Changes in tone haven't caused whiplash so far.

Shadow Detective: 7.0 Are mystery anonymous texts the Next New Thing in kdramaland? I've had enough of them in Cheer Up and don't need more of them here. Also, this is on Disney+?? Doesn't seem very "Disney" to me.

Love in Contract: -88 Not loving the guest appearance at the end of day 12. Score for the week was going to be about 6.x until the last couple minutes.

Have also been watching some Youtube channels, but am awed by the desperate, persistent determination of Youtube's algorithms trying to get me to watch a zillion videos that I will never, ever try. YT isn't too terrible at also offering me new vids on the channels I watch, but when I find a channel I'm interested in I bookmark it just in case.

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I’m only waiting for Love between Fairy and Devil to be on my Netflix this Sunday, so I haven’t watched much.

Watching:

1. Splash Splash Love:
this is a cute show, but I somehow lost interest after ep1. Will pick it up again soon because the show has only 2 eps.

Finished:

1. Home for Christmas (Norwegian):
I miss hearing Norwegian, so this suggested show on Netflix came as a surprise. The FL is very obsessed about finding love, so a large part of the show is her relationships with men. The scenes when she is with her family members are the ones I like the most. It’s true people there think Christmas (jul) is probably the most important time of the year (another one is the Independence Day), so seeing Christmas celebrations bring back fond memories. I love that each ss has only about 7 eps, and each ep is around half an hour. I binged almost all 2 eps last night (watched the rest in the morning) and I wish it had more seasons.

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*almost all 2 seasons

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But M... Splash is just two episodes and it's the only drama with Kim Seul Gi as main lead...

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😂😅🤣

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🤫 *shhh* don’t tell, but I couldn’t watch beyond the first episode either. But it’s probably for different reasons. *runs way*

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C’mon you two!! It’s DooJoon as ML!!!

My heart is aching, really… this young people…

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@eazal, I really like Doo Joon and Kim Seul Gi, but I can’t do love-lines with high school students.🙈 Even when it’s a fantasy/time travel show. It’s an occupational hazard that puts a number of shows out of the bounds of enjoyment for me, alas!

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@eazal 🤣

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Home for Christmas has become an annual watch tradition for us along with Love Actually. It is a thoughtful look at a thirties woman and her family and filled with lovely moments.
I would say that the FL was re-evaluating her life and relationships rather than obsessed over finding love.

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I actually thought the Stein guy would be the end game.. but I like the way the show is. It feels real and what I love the most is how supportive those around her are, how relationships can change and people live on trying to find the best solution for both, among and many other things. I also love wise words from the characters and how she can still be friends/ not avoid her exes. I really enjoyed it a lot.

Do you think they will make a new season?

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That was my sense of it too.

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And I just finished another Brazilian movie named Beyond the Universe a moment ago (it’s on Netflix). The story has some problematic theme, but overall it’s a very good movie imo. I dont quite like the ending that much ‘cos I think it’s unnecessary. Overall, I feel like Brazilian movies tend to have that refreshing and energetic vibe that I like. Plus, the ML is so gorgeous. This one is recommended if you want to expand your drama horizon.

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Last weekend I watched Glitch and I loved it because I adore a nerd story, and also because it had me questioning if what was happening was real or just in JiHyo’s head. JiHyo and BoRa are right now my favourite OTP of the year.

Love is for suckers. I may be getting a bit bored of it, but still watching. I was a bit mad about how JaeHoon pressured YeoReum to the point she had to say “no is no”. Everyone seems to know better than her what she wants or who she loves. Can we please remember a couple of weeks ago she was going to marry a guy she had been deeply in love with and was again disappointed by him? Maybe she just can’t move forward right now, maybe she needs time for herself, maybe being in a relationship is not the solution when your heart aches.

Love in contract. I like that SangEun never hides herself, she is honest about what he does. I like that JiHo loves her for that. I really like HaeJin, although I think he isn’t in love with SangEun, just wants to be. I also like Madam Yoo, and I am looking forward next episodes to learn what JiHo has learned about her. I am mainly enjoying the drama, but I just can’t figure out why JiEun character is written like that: can someone explain me how is it possible that a woman that left her husband for whatever reason, and hasn’t talked to him in seven years, meets him randomly (and keeps meeting him randomly, dramarules) and keeps accusing him of doing everything he does to take revenge over her and hurt her? That is not the way JiEun should think according to what we know. I just don’t get it.

Gaus Electronics. When I think I can’t laugh harder and have more fun, drama proves me wrong. I’m in love with the silliness of this drama.

The love between fairy and devil. So many beanies keep talking about this, that I have started it. Only two episodes in and OMG, so cute.

Happiness. I don’t like zombies so why am I watching this drama? Because I promised I would. Hyunsik is adorable, but I need space between episodes. It’s scary 😭. On episode 6, halfway through it, and when zombies are not around I’m loving to hate all neighbors in the building 😂.

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I’m happy to know that you might like LBFAD!

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Welcome to the Fairy and Devil Club 🙂

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Like in RL take HAPPINESS (Viki US) in small doses. You can do it. PHS is terrific.

O/T. I am eagerly awaiting Park Hyung-sik’s upcoming historical drama tvN’s YOUTH, CLIMB THE BARRIER. Rumor has it that It will be available in February of 2023.
It has a somewhat complicated history based on what I can put together. It is based on the Chinese historical/detective novel “The Golden Hairpin” (2018) by CeCe Qinghan. When I read there might be a Korean adaptation I downloaded the novel which is available in translation and really enjoyed it. It is obviously set up for a sequel and I thought PHS was perfect casting for the Prince. The Chinese TV dramatization was completed and then shelved in 2021 because of the Kris Wu scandal.
I have no idea how the original will be changed for the Korean version.

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Oh no you will fall down the LBFD hole so hard like the rest of us.

And I'm with you on Love in Contract. I'm liking this show for all the same reasons as you.
Ditto on Gaus Electronics!

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What is that oh no? It’s OH YES LOL.

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that's exactly what I meant, couldn't you hear the sarcasm dripping in through my typing?

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Now that you mentioned it I can hear it very loudly.

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Since we’re in the final stretch of 2022, I’m trying to focus on shows from this year to bolster my bean count, and to better participate in the #2022RoundUp.😁

This past week, I started and finished The Killer’s Shopping List which was difficult to watch at certain points, but I actually enjoyed it overall. As someone who loves Golden Age mysteries, Scandi-noirs, bog standard crime dramas, and the more modern murder capers, this is definitely something that falls in its own genre. I think it’s the contrast of lightness (and brightness) and comedy, with how dark it gets that makes it very much its own beast. But this is my first Korean show of this kind, so maybe it’s not uncommon?

I liked that even though it’s really Lee Kwang Soo’s show, the other characters get enough screen-time and action for it to be classed as ensemble-ish (with found family vibes). Some characters were sorely under-utilised and a bit flat (either a victim or suspect in some way or by turns), but with only 8 episodes, I think that’s inevitable. I liked the ML’s girlfriend and mother a lot - they weren’t the main characters as much as LKS’s character was, so there isn’t that much depth to them, but what we did see I appreciated because they were both strong and decent people, independent of the ML. The show also introduced me to a number of new actors I haven’t come across yet, so that’s always fun and I’ll look forward to seeing more of them in future dramas.

I’m live-watching Love is for Suckers but I’ve gone on enough about that already so I’ll restrain myself here.😂

This week, I’ll start Once Upon a Small Town, and/or Gaus Electronics based on what I’m reading from beanies on DB, before trying out Through the Darkness. Wish me luck!😁

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@eazal should be proud to know you did this much for this year’s roundup! My bean count will be unbelievably low *oof*, and I don’t think there are many shows to look forward to in the next couple of months. My posts will probably be boring. Lol

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I don’t manage to keep up and post much for the roundup (I’m usually so slow!), but it’s such a fun time of year to learn more about other beanies’ tastes and takes, and it has the side effect of helping me focus my watchlist!🤣 also, your posts are never boring, @mmmmm!

Anything on the radar by your bbs? I thought of you recently when I saw Kim Min Gyu onscreen- the way he smiles is very Bogummish.

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😂🥰 Thanks for remembering my BBs! 🥺 My Chinese BB Dylan will be on my Netflix screen this Sunday, so I’m eagerly waiting for that (and it has 36 eps so it helps. I’ll be occupied for quite some time). BB Kim Seon-ho isn’t on a small screen yet, so I’ll continue to wait for his projects. I still have yet to watch Bo Gummy in the rest of Youth MT eps I haven’t watched.

But yes, Kim Min-gyu is cute, too! (He is the SML in Business Proposal, right?)

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I thought KILLER'S SHOPPING LIST was very good; it did not try to get too big with clumsy added plot lines; it kept to the main premise and the solved the main mystery properly. It also had another fine child actor performance.

Kwang Soo is a puzzle. He left Running Man to concentrate on his acting. He was in a few good movies but not as a lead. In the second half of the year, he has gone all-in on his return to variety shows with Jae Seok. (The Disney money must be good.)

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It’s my first time watching this genre - are there others like this that you’d recommend?

I was very impressed by the child actor. This became most obvious to me when she was on the video call in the final episode - she was like a completely different child and it made me realise how well she’d played her role up until that point. I can’t begin to imagine how you coach a child to act with such dark material.🙈

I can’t help but wonder whether he just wanted to leave Running Man, and gave a plausible reason for it that isn’t necessarily the whole story.

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Spring Turns To Spring starring Lee Yuri and Uhm Ji Won.

Lee leaving RM was said to because of injury that needed to heal. RM members have said it is a physically demanding show.

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Thank you! I’ve added it to my watchlist for next year!😊

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I think he probably wanted to leave RM for awhile and the injury gave him a good reason. I do think he wanted to concentrate on acting but also will always be up for variety show with Jae Seok or his other friends. Shows like that don't have the long-term commitment of RM.

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Dramadillo, for a mystery , Harvest Villa, (2010), Lee Bo-young stars, different from her usual role.

Rumor has it that a run down apartment building contains a fortune in hidden wealth. An odd assembly of fortune hunters try their luck.

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Thank you so much, @john! That looks right up my alley! Sadly both Harvest Villa and Spring Turns to Spring that @welh recommended aren’t available on my streaming platforms.😢 I’ve added it to my list though!

For now, Through the Darkness is hitting the spot for me, so hopefully something else will come along when I’m finished that.😁

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LOVE IS FOR SUCKERS: I already ranted about this (and especially, Ji-yeon) in this week's recap post, so I won't repeat myself here. But in a set of episodes filled with heartbreak, shallow behavior, and characters making irritating choices, I did enjoy the married couple who own the restaurant. They're both so good to their friends and each other, and I really appreciated their presence this week. I'd much rather watch the two of them cooking up chicken together than Kingdom of Love.

GAUS ELECTRONICS: The blinking language was hysterical, and the mole reveal genuinely surprising. Too little Aziz, though.

MAY I HELP YOU: I finally watched the first two episodes, and found this one charming and surprisingly poignant. I've grown tired of the case-of-the-week format of a lot of recent dramas, but it's working for me here. I also think Hyeri and the ML suit their characters extremely well, and have a great connection. I was expecting more silly hijinks, but instead, everything from how they met to how resistant he is to opening up to her in any way is more interesting and earnest than I anticipated. I look forward to catching up on this over the weekend.

I keep meaning to give UNDER THE QUEEN'S UMBRELLA another chance, but ended up discovering that MR. QUEEN is on Hulu, so I re-watched some of that instead. I'd forgotten how genuinely funny, clever, and sexy it is. Really made me miss seeing both leads, as I haven't watched anything with them (or in the case of Kim Jung-hyun they haven't been in anything) since this aired, and I hope to see both of them again soon.

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About halfway through Mr. Bad. It's enjoyable enough but a bit too....immature? Not sure if that's the right word. I find the author to be much more interesting that the ML, but maybe that will change when the ML grows up and quits yanking the FL's pigtails.

Also started Love Designer. I find the secondary couple boring and seriously lacking in chemistry, so I skip their scenes. I do like the ML's sister - love their relationship and how she ships her brother with the FL. And her friendship with the FL's nephew.

Finished The Blue Whisper. Mostly liked it, but I have two gripes. SPOILER ALERT
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The time jump at the end...what?!? How did we go from Yunhe entering the volcano to her sitting on a cliff with Chang Yi 300 years later with absolutely NO explanation or summary or even just a mention of when or how she got out? And then she suddenly has a mermaid tale?? When did she go from being a 9-tailed fox to a mermaid? Now, I'm not complaining that she has a tail, because one change from the novel that I actually liked was that Chang Yi got his tail back in the drama, and I can appreciate that Yunhe now has one too, but GIVE ME AN EXPLANATION PLEASE.

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I dropped Mr.Bad very early. Somehow it didn’t work. It just felt childish, yes. But I did hear that ML turns to be more swoony later on. I just didn’t have the patience.

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We continue to love GAUS ELECTRONICS and LOVE IS FOR SUCKERS.

Through nine episodes the new weekender THREE BOLD SIBLINGS was overfocused on the story of our oldest sibling and the ML with a relatively public love confession at the end of episode nine- right on schedule if this were a sixteen-episode romcom. Then in episode ten the focused finally shifted and the majority of the episode was devoted to the other characters. Little doctor brother’s ex-girlfriend will be trying to get him back and little sister’s heart was very effectively broken. But is there foreshadowing of better days ahead? It was her once future sister-in-law who informs her of the breakup- in a scene observed by her studio’s newest (quite hunky) male member, who sister mistook for an electrician (but he is obligingly fixing the light anyway): As he turns the light on, he says "Its pretty”. He was looking at the light and not at little sister, but I don’t think he was talking about the light. The fact that younger sister’s ex-fiancé (now the winner of the greedy scum of the month award) was little brother's friend may now pull the brother more fully into the story. Meanwhile our ML’s little sister is being set up for some heartbreak as well- which might help her grow up. Maybe this has finally turned into a weekender after all.

My wife found THE ARTHDAL CHRONICLES on Netflix and binged it- she found it incredible and addicting. She is also watching UNDER THE QUEENS UMBRELLA and really enjoys it.

Like Daebakgrits we are not quite through season one of ALCHEMY OF SOULS- just two more episodes to go. We may get to them this weekend but we first need to finish LAW CAFE.

Courtesy of Amazon Prime my wife is also enjoying MAY I HELP YOU? She finds it fun.

CITY OF STREAMER will finally be available on Viki in 8 days. We are looking forward to it. Meanwhile I have been waiting for many weeks for Viki to finally post episodes of SHE AND HER PERFECT HUSBAND but still no episodes in sight.

I have been enjoying THE FOX’S SUMMER which is a fairly well done Chinese romcom. MY BOSSY WIFE is also now available on Viki so I have been able to watch that when I do not have as much time.

We seem to have stalled out on LOVE IN CONTRACT and I cannot say why.

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I'm not sure if little doctor bro and the scumbag, cheating bf were even that close friends. They weirdly don't interact.

I watched the first season of Fox's Summer years ago and I remember really enjoying it. It had a lot of stereotypical elements, but Tan Song-yun really captured my attention in how well she was able to portray her character - the surface frivolity, the vulnerability, and the badass confidence of knowing you're so good at something that even haters can't deny.

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I find Tan Song-yan's character amazing. It is not just the confidence and vulnerability. She has a bit of a wicked streak to her- and is more than capable of holding a grudge. She is a fully human character in other words.

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I forgot to add that in a normal weekender we would probably have seen at least some interaction by now between little brother and his now (almost certainly) ex-friend. That simply illustrates the extent to which the first nine episodes were out of balance. Also, his friend has become a salaryman while little brother has become a doctor- so their paths were already diverging.

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May It Please the Court: I thought it ended well and I was mostly satisfied, and felt like going through it again just to rewatch the cute Chak-hee and Si-baek scenes. Felt it could have gone an episode or more longer since it really did feel like they cut out stuff to fit the time.

Gaus Electronics (up to ep 8): I love how we get to focus on the rest of the ensemble sometimes. The expressionless Hyung-Mi subplot was hilarious, and the contrast to her flashforward was even funnier. Ma-tan's feelings for Kang-mi are adorable!

Three Bold Siblings: The mother-daughter reconciliation made me cry, and I loved how Tae-joo really resolved her issue without Sang-joon's money. Sad for Tae-joo that now that she is feeling more emotionally secure and has decided to take a leap with the ML, he has decided to move on. Still, too many shady characters.

Mr.Bad: Finished! Happy Feels!! The drama kept delivering the cute and the romance and the warm fuzzies until the very end. No evildoers or hateful people (that one dad was only overbearing for only a hot minute) to drive up your blood pressure.

Delicious Romance: Started. Binged. Finished. More Happy Feels! Modern cdrama featuring 3 lady friends in their 30s. It was a super fun, heartwarming take on these women navigating their personality flaws, relationships, careers, overbearing parents, societal rat race, etc. Great combo of acting, writing, and directing. I'm sort of surprised this drama got through censors. I thought it was interesting how it started with the COVID lockdown since the pandemic did make a lot of people rethink relationships and careers.

Love is for Suckers (up to ep 7): I love Yeo-Reum and Jae-hoon's friendship and love for each other and the reality show stuff is pretty interesting. There are times when I do feel a little claustrophobic since they're stuck on-site filming, especially with Ji-yeon just pining for Jae-hoon every second.

Love in Contract (up to ep 10): YAY Sang-eun got the car kiss! However, I think I will hold off and return to fast-forward watch. I feel sympathetic towards our leading characters and feel bad that they're stuck in a plot that is going sadistic in order to last 16 episodes. This should have been a 10 episode drama.

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I completed 4 dramas recently:

The Law Café - 8*
An enjoyable but somewhat forgettable drama. I might be the only one that didn't find that Lee Seunggi and Lee Seyoung had good onscreen romantic chemistry. They played off each other well but the romantic scenes were just ok; some of the kisses were a bit awkward, at least to me. But I did like that Kim Yuri did not do that typical female lead thing where she suddenly becomes shy about sex and kissing to be "cute". I really appreciated how the drama did not shy away from the discussion of consent and sex.

Glitch - 8.5*
Enjoyed it, mostly because of the characters and the wacky sci-fi vibes.

A Familiar Stranger (chinese) - 8*
For a short webdrama it was good. The tone was a bit off though. It started as a angsty supernatural drama and then suddenly turned into a cute romcom with typical historical drama tropes thrown in. I wish there would have been a better balance. The ending was also a bit random but the main couple was cute so I enjoyed it nonetheless.

Grid - 8*
Disney+ is finally releasing there backlog of kdramas in my region so I finally got to watch this sci-fi. I really liked the concept and the sets but it is true that there were some odd plot choices and the ending was a let down considering a second season isn't in the works. I still very much enjoy it for the most part. It could have been a 8.5* but alas, it was not as good as this scriptwriter's other works (which I absolutely love).

I am currently watching The Uncanny Counter. I have only watched 5 episodes so far but I noticed that I am enjoying each episode more and more. I think it is the kind of drama that keeps getting better and better. Hopefully I am not mistaken. The world-building is really well done so far but the "don't use your powers in human matters" rule seem to be a bit inconsistant.

I am planning to watch either The Fabulous or Little Women next depending on my mood.

Legend
8.5* - Really liked it
8* - Liked it

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My wife enjoyed FAMILIAR STRANGER, but she would not classify it as one of the best shows.

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I'm with you on Lee Seunggi and Lee Seyoung chemistry.
I do not understand how he is so bland in the romantic scenes while so expressive elsewhere.

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Temporarily put my K-Drama watches (Glitch and You Are My Spring) on hold as I recently 'discovered' Chinese Dramas and have been binge-watching those. It's not that they're better, just different (but with plenty of familiar tropes), and I guess I've been sucked in by the novelty.

Finished:
Love Between Fairy and Devil: A fun watch. Looking back it was pretty flawed (pacing issues, weak side characters with too much screen time, rushed ending, and more). But it had some great world-building, the settings and costumes were gorgeous, and I was swept up in the emotional rollercoaster of the romance completely. And while the female lead wasn't my favorite (too child-like/naïve) she had nice character growth and I liked her overall. Male lead was awesome - my eyes were glued to him whenever he was on screen. And not just because the actor is an absurdly pretty human (which he is) but his performance was really solid. I'll be watching out for his future projects.

Love Like the Galaxy: I LOVED this!! I've seen a lot of Korean historical dramas, and always wished there were more of the none-fusion type that focused less on palace politics and more on the middle classes and ordinary people. So the slice-of-life family focused story in the first half about newly-elevated minor nobles had me sucked in completely. While the romance was kind of cheesy (too many long heartfelt monologues and last-second dramatic rescues), both leads were fantastic. Great acting and chemistry, and his revenge plot and her coming-of-age story were equally compelling. Great side characters in this as well - especially the women. Highly recommended!

Watching:
Reset (episode 7 of 15): This is really cool! Two people get stuck in a time loop trying to solve the mystery of a tragic even in order to prevent it. The pieces are just starting to come together, but the real draw for me is the various characters and their backstories.

Cross Fire (episode 15 of 36): This is becoming one of my favorite dramas ever - refreshingly different! Parallel stories of two aspiring e-sports players who communicate across a twelve-year time gap. Disclaimer: I play video games, but think e-sports are kind of lame - this hasn't taken away from my enjoyment of this drama at all. Funny, poignant, quirky but relatable characters, great action scenes. I also appreciate that while the actors are clearly attractive, the clothing, minimal makeup, and un-styled hair make them actually convincing as ordinary people.

The Long Ballad (45 of 49): First half was a slog, the story picked up just as I was ready to drop it, but now now the male lead and the side couple with their cute romance are all that's keeping me watching - with liberal use of the speed-up function. I did not gel with the female lead at all. She should've been right up my alley - capable, smart, a good fighter, but also flawed, and how great to see a female character on the type of journey we typically only see for...

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... for male characters! Except not. I mostly found her boring. Or irritating. I had zero investment in the romance as a result. I feel like the actress' portrayal is largely to blame here, and the laughably bad 'cross-dressing' didn't help.

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Reset was great.
Especially episode 8.
(Just be ready for a bit slower pace towards the end.)

I'm planning to go back to Cross Fire one day.

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Dylan is too pretty, I was obsessed with him for weeks after lbfad ended.

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Yes! Dylan isn’t only pretty but he did a wonderful job at portraying his character! His micro facial expressions are so good, and the romance between the OTP? Chef’s kiss 😘.

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My wife really loved LOVE LIKE THE GALAXY. The LONG BALLAD was good.

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C-dramas are a deep hole...there's so much good content. I highly recommend The Untamed, Ten Miles of Peach Blossom, Love is Sweet and Romance Between Tiger and Rose

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Ten Miles of Peach Blossom keeps getting flagged up as one to watch. I agree, I watched it years ago before I knew about Korean drama, it’s such a great drama and I think it helps it was easily accessible I might have seen it on Amazon Prime. It’s a great way to get into fantasy dramaland and love stories on another level.

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I also felt into the cdramaverse a few months ago, and find them easy to start.
I loved Love like the galaxie, though I am aware of some flaws too (hero ex machina...). I am reluctant to try Cross fire (+ Wu Lei; - esport) so your comment may tip the scale (for when I will have some time).

Other cdramas that I loved: Fall in love (2021) (in republicain costumes), Legally romance, Killer and Healer.

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Awww my babies! Love the screenshot for this post.

Gaus (EP9): I don't know what am I supposed to do after this show ends. It can't end.

High Kick (EP3): yay! finally watching this. Young Kim Bum is adorable hahaha.

Tempted (dropped): I liked it when I thought it was about three besties that liked to exposed adults' wrong doings because they were sick of being treated like objects, and they just wanted to live their life. But no, it isn't about that. 😂
The show is too much for me, sorry.

Fates and Furies (rewatching?): I miss Lee Min Jung. Tbh, I'm going crazy because all my favorite actresses are taking to long to make a comeback.

Seasons of Blossom: Ha Min T.T

Love is for Suckers: I feel like I'm watching a different show than the rest of Viki users. Everyone in the comments seem to hate Ji Yeon except for me. And everyone seem to like the Jae Hoon except for me. 🤣

Sang Woo and Yeo Reum were my favorites this week! Love their relationship.

May I Help You: still don't know what's going on. And I'm kinda mad they killed that woman and her baby. Like why? WHY? So freaking unfair.

Three Bold Sibilings: wth is going on. This dude is on my top 5 most annoying male leads of 2022.

The Love in Your Eyes: I don't know who is worse. The mother in law or the stepmom.

With my friend we watched the first episode of The Love Between Fairy and Demon but we didn't like it so I convinced my friend to watch Happiness (she wanted something I haven't watch before). We're happy watching this (badum tss).

Love Affairs in the Afternoon (rewatching): 💚
Btw, is there an internal joke about Park Ha Sun being "Sa Rang omma"? lol
And I just noticed that her character in BC and LAITA are the same but completely different. What. 🤯

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Yay High Kick ! Lots of episodes . I really enjoyed it . Kim Bum and later, a young PMY.

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GAUSS ELECTRONICS just keeps the comedy running, I can't stop laughing. Whoever wrote this script is a genius, the details are so well done. The actress who has to play the girl who never smiles must have the most difficult part, keeping a serious face all the time.

Ji-Yeon in LOVE IS FOR SUCKERS is a textbook manipulator and a skilled one, too, she whines in a way that makes both Jae-hoon and Yeo-reum feel guilty towards her! Despite pretending to back off she actually does the direct opposite and it is Yeo-reum who leaves the field. Jae-hoon was pushing it too far, Yeo-reum needs to get over her heart break and recover her confidence before she can consider a new relationship.
Park Ji-wan should also never have been allowed on the show, she is far too vulnerable. I actually considered that she was just faking her innocence, but it does not seem to be the case. None of the contestants on such shows go there to find love, it is business, they want the publicity and hopefully a nice advertising contract/selling stories to tabloids as a result. I like producer Kang, she makes no excuses for being cruel, it is what brings in the ratings.

MENTAL COACH JEGAL seems to be running thin on content and there is definitely too much punching in the drama, but I did like that his nemesis is showing a conscience after all.

MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT on the other hand crammed in a lot into the final episodes, so much that I would have preferred maybe a couple of more episodes. The leads were very good together.

The Queen with her UMBRELLA was a telling picture and she will have her hands full keeping her sons and herself alive. I am rooting for grand prince Seongnam!

MAY I HELP YOU is ok to watch and reminds me somehow of IF YOU WISH UPON ME.

Checking in and out of CHEER UP with liberal use of the FF button. I only watch for the costumes. The story and the tropes are not knew and have all been done better before.

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I really appreciate your comments on LifS. I also hoped Ji Wan shy and withdrawn act was a strategy but the game we know Ji Yeon is playing is more interesting at this point.

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Seasons of Blossom (Episode 13-14) - Mood: D

Show, why did you have to go the cliche teacher student scandal route for the penultimate week conflict? Well, without Seo Ji Hoon and his brooding act, there’s pretty much no charm within the rest of the plot? I won’t say a name but the fallout from the fake relationship really exposed a lot of weak acting. And it’s not just only 1 present-day actor?

Gaus Electronics (Episode 7-8) - Mood: C+
I didn’t really like how one episode was wasted in the cliche denial phase after the OTP had their first kiss: thankfully, it was overshadowed by the hilarity that was Ma Tan’s attempts to keep his identity a secret. If the show was even a little bit serious, I would’ve suspected Sang Sik already knew and was pretending otherwise. But I do wonder who’s the spy?

Love is for Suckers (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
Disappointed but not surprised that Ji Yeon ended up being as pathetic as In Woo: the writer didn’t even bother having any creativity and just reused the “make your position clear” diatribe! And of course Jae Hoon is now embroiled in that scandal where he feels guilty for something and we’ll find out in due time that it wasn’t actually his fault: lmao so lame.

The Golden Spoon (Episode 9-10) - Mood: D
We’re already in the 2nd half of the show and new golden spoon rules are still appearing out of nowhere for cliffhanger tension? And then the character with the most information in the show is simply there to make the OTP’s lives harder. It can’t get more frustrating to watch the stock manipulation scenes when it’s obvious the writer just went in all makjang.

Love in Contract (Episode 11-12) - Mood: D+
Well, I thought we avoided the noble idiocy really well, but then Ji Ho decided to face Mi Ho on his own and supposedly got injured in her place (yikes). At last, my favourite characters Gwang Nam and Ji Ho finally met: I had always thought the more interesting love triangle would’ve been between them and Sang Eun, particularly so if Gwang Nam liked Ji Ho.

Blind (Episode 11-12) - Mood: D
It would’ve been much more interesting had the culprit not been In Sung: didn’t the show try to imply that the killer isn’t part of the jury early on because they attached everyone’s pictures onto wooden figurines? I also find it really awkward that boy 45 conveniently appeared in the story or that Eun Ki deciphered the dying message but I guess it is what it is?

Cheer Up (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
The thing about vulnerabilities and how they get people’s protectiveness fired up was an interesting motif but I do think it’s just a happy coincidence that happened while the writer drags the love triangle on. Though his dysfunctional family is real, it’s hard to see any genuineness in Sun Ho. As for the stupid noble idiocy cliche, I can only pray for the 2nd half.

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Airing: Under the Queen's Umbrella. I tuned in waiting for Curtain Call to start, thought it would be the same palace intrigues. It is but with a different twist and am enjoying it very much.

Finished: Little Women. The last episodes were fantastic. I hope they have a Season 2, to wrap up if the youngest sister ever goes home.

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Interesting how others are losing interest in Love in Contract. I’m really appreciating how maturity, consistency within characters, and complex social dynamics are explored in exaggerated metaphors in this drama. Very satisfying. There are indeed frustrating people in our lives; and sometimes those people are ourselves. But isn’t that what makes life interesting?

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I actually appreciate how complicated this mother-daughter relationship between Miho and Sangeun is... and sometimes I believe Miho when she says she wants Sangeun happy.

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Yea agreed! Mi ho is like a disease spritz with perfume; she keeps spreading and trying to plant her wild ideas and she absolutely must be contained. It's cute how the show allowed her to step into Gwang nam and Sang eun's lives. It was annoying initially; then it felt reminiscent of Ghibli movies, which allow their villains to step into protagonists' lives just long enough for them to be humanized. We got a glimpse into Mi ho's character, and her and Sang eun's dynamic; think now it's time for Mi-ho to learn her lessons for good this time. I also feel Ji-ho's social struggles on a spiritual level (former awkward child here 🙋🏻‍♀️); i feel his struggles are portrayed comically, sensitively, and realistically. I do agree that Gwang-nam's arc falls short; they did manage to portray some harsh and painful aspects of upbringing, relationships, and social perceptions of identities; but they definitely left us wanting more. But overall, while this drama isn't super exciting or groundbreaking, I guess I'm enjoying the stability and metaphors.

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‘Mi ho is like a disease spritz with perfume; she keeps spreading and trying to plant her wild ideas and she absolutely must be contained.’👏 Loving this metaphor I am always looking for ways to explain things in therapy and now I will be adding this to the mix (I will credit it to you of course😊)

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LOLLl thanks and feel free

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Finished Law Café
Lots of drama in Ep.15, but everything was wrapped up by the end, so we had the complete final episode for a happy ending for everyone. Our FL overcame her fear of commitment, and we got a lovely different wedding – the bride in a red dress, all the clients from earlier episodes were guests and everyone posed happily for the group picture in rain and storm. This is how I want a final episode to be!
Love In Contract
Finally, I’m getting to appreciate Go Kyung Po and his character. He is just as committed to his love now as he was committed to not having personal contact to anyone before. But everyone is still making it look like marriage to Hae Jin would be the best thing to happen, even though he himself has been growing a lot and tries to get over his feelings for Sang Eun. If the couple stays convinced and willing to make sacrifices for their relationship, no amount of scheming could get them apart, no? But how will they fill up the episodes then… even the helmet stalker issue has been solved…
Love Is For Suckers
The build-up for the kissing scene in the pavillon was great! Also, probably the most kisses ever in a few minutes in one drama episode 😉 But what we see now is just what I don’t like about reality shows: they always go for the nastiest line and don’t respect people at all, saying it was their choice to go on the show.
P.S. I HATE Yeo Reum’s wardrobe!!!
One Dollar Lawyer
Coming back to the (funny, upbeat, quirky) present after the sad past was a bit jolting for me. But still, one of my favorite shows right now.
Gaus Electronics
Haven’t seen this week’s episodes, but I’m looking so forward to it!
Blind
After a really scary start (for me, not everyone was as impressed by the violence against the children) this has turned into a regular thriller with multiple false leads. Is the culprit we have now the real one? I think I’ll only believe it in Ep.16… Mainly watching for Taecyon and Jung Eun Ji.
20th Century Girl
A wonderful movie, the sad ending could be felt by the tone and the music from the beginning on. Loved all the actors and cameos and especially the art by Joseph.
KDrama friend project:
Picked up the Golden Spoon again and watched 4 episodes, because we saw still shots of Yook Sung Jae when he comes back from the US 10 years later, and that episode was hilarious: the outfits! The behaviour! Pretty soon (probably in Ep.12) a lot of people will know about the switch and they will take action…
And when we have time after watching BTS concerts and videos, we slowly make progress with The Scholar Who Walks The Night.
Like last week, I’m still looking forward to The Queen’s Umbrella, May I Help You, possibly Yonder, and now also Curtain Call.

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Gaus Electronic - still my happy place. I predict this will be one of my multiiple rewatch series.

Glitch - I'm so happy I stuck with the series despite the unhurried pacing of the first half. 3/4 of the joy of watching was for the chemistry between the two female leads. Jeon Yeo-been simply disappeared into her character.

My watching of Love Is For Suckers, Love in Contract and Good Job all seem to have slowed to a stop.

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Love Is for Suckers and Love In Contract stressed me out so much this week that I did the kdrama equivalent of eating my feelings and binged the ridiculous webdrama Kiss Goblin last night. It was exactly the brainless, frothy nonsense I needed and I feel better now.

I liked the mix of comedy and sadness in episodes 1-2 of May I Help You? but the slapstick in ep. 3 tilted too far one way and then the prolonged wallowing in tragedy in ep. 4 really gave me whiplash. I’m not down for that kind of misery every week ('a good cry' is an oxymoron for me), but I’ll give it a little longer to see if it finds the right balance. Also enjoying One Dollar Lawyer and Gaus Electronics, and trying to find time to finish Glitch, which is fabulous through ep. 7 but more intense than I can manage at the moment.

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@daebakgrits is pretty kind to Ji Yeon compared to comments on the LifS recap, Beanies are over her. If she were your best friend acting like this over and over, now is the point where you’d have to take a break to keep from smacking some sense into her 🤦🏼‍♀️

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Watching K drama Golden Spoon , Modern art hung upside down, in drama and in real life, example on fan wall.

I left Cheer Up , will follow recap.

Ojakgyo Brothers Su-yeong is expecting but I don’t see them preparing for baby.

I will give Gaus Electronics a try.

I did watch one episode each of May I Help You and May It Please The Court and one of High Kick

J dramas 13 Lords of Shogun & Reach Beyond the Blue Sky

C dramas: LBFD Like it so far. Esther is a bit too cute some times.

City of Streamer Enjoying Jing Tian’s wardrobe, she looks wonderful.
This is the first time I have seen these actresses.

Watched a Bunch of Lego stop action shorts and a 3.5 hr movie, which was actually better than most dramas I watch. people building cities from Legos. I watched hours of it.

* I came home from work this evening and heard about the horrible scenario in Seoul. Prayers for all .

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I will give Gaus Electronics a try. 👈 depending on your sense of humour it may need two episodes before you decide if it lands for you. I didn’t like episode one but by the second one I got the humour and the bits I didn’t like had been dialled down.

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The costumes of city of streamer are magnificents. The decor and ambiance made me try other republican cdrama. (and Fall in love 2021 did not disapoint)

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Love Like the Galaxy (through episode 49): Cheng Shaoshang is awesome. Ling Buyi, less so.

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I'm always a bit behind on ongoing , new shows - I don't like to live watch, and I don't mind spoilers at all, on the contrary. I like to know what I get myself into because those kdramas are often very heavy on the emotional side so disappointment can hit very hard. 😉 So husband and I are watching Sell your haunted house, and I love it so far (we're at episode 7). I love, among many other things, that male / female tropes are so reversed in this one, and it works so well! I like the ghost's stories and can totally feel Oh In Beom's need to just DO something about all those unfair things.
And I was watching, on my own, 1% of Anything (the remake from 2016). I have no ideawhy I watched it until the end, I was completely underwhelmed and angry and clueless why so many people like this drama so much. I don't understand why she even participated in this contract thing (she was already about to walk away from it, why didn't she?), and I could never lose my impression of him as a controlling predator-y guy you should run from as fast as possible. I didn't see any reason why she should fall for him, and too many of those scenes that were described to be oh so hot (the sofa kiss e.g.) just felt more like an attack or an ambush to me.
In short, it didn't work for me. At all. I'm still frowning thinking back.
Now two questions for you people out there:
1. Why couldn't I stop watching?! (1a: has anyone had a similat experience?)
2. Do you have a suggestion for some kind of palate cleanser after this? (2a: or is there even some out there who felt similar watching it?)
Thank you for reading, this was a bit long...obviously I had to get off my chest. 😉

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Quick cleanse between starter and main course how about a film. If you haven’t seen it yet 20th century girl lovely romance, it has a sad ending but generally has a warm and light vibe of first love coming of age.

Once upon a small town slow village pace drama with fish out of water theme and rom com moments where the Ajummas arguing and trying to be subtle is the most annoying element and the second lead acts like a little kid. There are lots of cute animals.

Straight up silly comedy Unicorn. I preferred it to Gaus electronics as I was happy with the romance in that one but not really interested in the one in Gaus electronics which is still an ongoing drama.

For older dramas why not watch the slower paced ones I dont know if you have seen them already. Would you like a cup of coffee, The Package and Twelve nights. I enjoyed them all The Package was funny whilst the other two are straight up slice of life.

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Thank you! I will look into your suggestions, they sound interesting! I think I need a day or two to leave this behind me. 😉

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A couple of episodes of the current watch will probably help before moving on to one of the others on the list lots of nice rom coms from mmmm my favourite was Shooting stars only bit I didn't like was the low key mystery element which I hate to see if a rom com other than that it was a joy.

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Oh a mystery element? Actually, I like those. 😊 I didn't turn to kdramas because of the romance, that just happened along the way. 😉 My favourites are crime and mystery shows, tbh. And there are a few Korean ones which feature one particular fantasy element (like Signal or Tunnel), which I like very much! The occasional romcom is me branching out.

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*chuckles*
Hmm.. Yes, I felt the same re 1% of Anything. Not much to be said on my part 'cos I watched it a long time ago, but as far as I'm concerned, the show has left a bitter taste in my mouth. I think I probably felt the same way you did - that the ML isn't someone whom I think is a keeper.

As a fellow Beanie who also liked Sell Your Haunted House, what I watched recently and liked are Sh**ting Stars, 2521, and Business Proposal (-2 or 3 last eps). I think I'll begin Our Beloved Summer soon, too.

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If you are open to Cdramas, Love between Fairy and Devil is also delightful.

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Yeah, that bitter taste is exactly it. Inconsistent writing as well - in some scenes the heroine was very calm and strong, in others she seemed to be a totally different person. But what really annoyed me was his constant crossing of her boundaries, and that never stopped. There were so many scenes when he forced kisses on her while she was backing away, and I never knew if it was in the writing or bad acting. I never got a sense of romance from them. But maybe it is just me... I'll look into your suggestions as well, and I liked Our Beloved Summer! That's a ML I'd gladly take and keep! 😉 (I wonder what my husband would say to that...? 🤔)

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Oh good to know that the ML in OBS is someone you liked! I'll look forward to beginning it after I finish this rewatch for LBFAD. :)

I think your husband will understand it ;)

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How could he not?! 🤷🤣 I think I'm just more a fan of the so-called beta males than of the alpha ones.

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Fully agree on 1% of Anything.

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Thank you! When I watch a show which I start to have funny feelings about and I read the comments here, and all of them are opposite to my feelings, I start to wonder...so it's always nice to know that I'm not alone!

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Yes this is exactly what happens to me.

I have also noticed that people usually refrain from commenting negatively on shows that are getting a lot of positive attention at the time of airing. And the positivity stays in minds of people like you and me who will go back to them at a later date. If we then voice that we didn't like the show, we will find people who also haven't liked it but simply didn't engage at the time of airing.

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What baffles me more is the ratings of the shows. I find the ratings on this site quite baffling. I don’t know how they can make them more reliable, but seeing many shows which don’t deserve 9 rating got it I don’t rely on the rating system here any longer.

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@mmmmm I couldn't reply to your comment on the ratings, so I'll just do that here. I don't really rely on the ratings here when they're high. But, when they are relatively low - that does mean something! Then there's often something really wrong with the show.

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@midnight I think this is such an important point. The biggest issue with the comments section is that very few people comment compared to the number who lurk so you only get a very limited perspective on the shows. Some people seem to take it personally if an alternative opinion is shared and this can lead to a negative tone in the responses to alternative perspectives. I have noticed that this shuts others down from sharing or leads to a mass response to support one side and leaves a bad atmosphere. I have tried to ask about alternative views to my own but often get blanked so assume that is because they are concerned about possible repercussions maybe they have been burnt before.

I am always happy to accept I am on my own as I have the tolerance levels of a 10 year old in terms of ability to manage thriller/scary elements and I am not into the shower scenes, deep involved kiss scenes, violence, toilet humour etc. so my range of dramas tend to be certain types of slice of life and rom coms as they are usually safest. So I get effected when something random appears mid way through my carefully vetted show.

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Yes, I can see that, too. It makes me wonder sometimes that people around here seem to unanimously like shows with no opposing opinions to be seen, but the others are likely just not chiming in. It's a two-faced thing - these things tend to escalate quickly, but some more 'real' discussion would be nice from time to time. Sometimes it's just that you don't know a detail (culture or history or...) and don't understand a situation the wrong way because of that.

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@petrolia Having been here for awhile I can say that there are shows which have polarizing views within a recap. There were times when the ‘war’ was intense (in good spirits) that some of us needed to move to a beanie island. Lol. Shows like MoTA had people liking it and hating it. But that doesn’t happen for all dramas since many don’t comment. High profile dramas usually have better engagement.
Personally, if I don’t like a drama or character my comments will be on earlier recaps. If I continue to watch the inspite of that I won’t go to every recap and say the same thing about disliking something. Mostly I won’t participate in recaps after that point.
There are also shows we enjoy hate watching and we comment until the last episode.
Again. Everyone is different in how they engage in recaps. But I do think we have a diverse crowd here with differing opinions.

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@mayhemf what’s MoTA? I am newbie so don't know all the short hand. I agree hate watching Why Her had a lively discussion every week from the small band that needed the bean but were disappointed with the story.

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@reply1988 oops. Memories of the Alhambra 😀

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@petrolia There is one beanie who shows as greyed out but is a regular contributor who is really helpful for explaining cultural elements. I think they are Korean as they seem to have insider knowledge.

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@mayhemf thank you

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I also dislike live-watching, and I don't really watch fluffy romance dramas.

As for a palate cleanser, have you watched Train?

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Yes I have, and I liked that "Fringe"-y feeling it gave me! 😉 By having it's own story to tell, of course. I'm totally open for suggestions along that line! I always think that I've watched all the shows like Signal, Tunnel, Train...but there's always more that I did not knew existed.

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I should have known 😁

Room no.9 ?
Lookout ?
365 Days, Repeat the Year ?
Stove League ?
Switch ?
Defendant ?

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Oh, thank you for these! I watched Stove League (and was totally pulled into despite my complete indifference to baseball), but the others don't mean anything to me yet. I will look them all up! 🙂

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Yay Stove League.

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I am watching Forest of secrets (Stranger) and enjoy it very much for the investigation process and witty dialogues.

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One of my all time favourites! Season 1 was fab.

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Stranger ist great! I'm totally up for a rewatch.

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I don’t normally live watch shows either because I don’t want to be disappointed later on. Kdramas are unpredictable in terms of consistency of writing, I think. What I do is to wait until half of the show was aired, if the show constantly has good reviews, I might watch it then to be able to join the train.

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I never look at ratings or reviews. And rarely follow what is airing now. Just watch finished shows that pick my interest.

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I couldn't answer your review comment above so answering here. The site is trying to clear up the issue with reviews being posted before a show has finished as a lot of the time people score high in the early episodes and then as you say the show goes down hill but the scores don’t reflect this. The later ratings although lower can’t balance out the very high initial ratings. The new review specific post is posted after the show has finished airing and will eventually have ratings added and be the only way to review a show on the site currently both the old and new review systems are running so random reviews are still possible.

I think the other issue is the people who rate the shows don’t always add a comment to help see what they are rating on.

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I can see that they are trying to fix this, so that's good. However, I think if there aren't that many raters, rating system isn't that reliable (though I know how necessary it is) because only when we have a big pool of raters, ratings won't really reflect the reality of that show..

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Speaking for myself, I don't rate because I can't based on a 10-star scale. Five stars max is a much easier rating system for me. Like, it is either bad, so-so, somewhere in between, quite good, or perfect. But how do I differentiate between 7 and 8 stars? Or 2 and 3? I can't do it.

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That's mostly what I do, too. I look into the recaps of the interesting-looking shows and decide then if it's worth my / our time. 😉

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I like spoilers too! I find they enhance my enjoyment of a show, but I think I’m in the minority on this! The only show I’ve watched that I wouldn’t recommend reading spoilers for is Someday or One Day, a brilliant Taiwanese drama that does time travel amazingly well. You might like it!

If you like Sell Your Haunted House, I wonder whether you’d like Mystic Pop-Up Bar. It’s a favourite of mine and they kind of remind me of each other. I think MPUB is better, in fact. You might also like Uncanny Counter.

To answer your question 1a, this happened to me with Playful Kiss. (Please don’t watch it!!) In fact, I still regret the hours I wasted on this show, but I kept watching because I was hoping I would eventually understand why the FL liked the ML so much. I never figured it out. He’s just awful.

I don’t know if you’ll like Zombie Detective, but I found it a delight. It has no romance, and is about a zombie who never loses his humanity. It’s a comedy that sometimes misses the mark (I didn’t love the competing detectives, for example), but it’s a favourite of mine and one that I’ve rewatched.

Lastly, I wanted to recommend checking out http://www.thefangirlverdict.com. I love her reviews and often read them before, during, and after I’m watching a show. She has a list of all the shows she’s watched with her ratings and if you figure out where your tastes overlap with hers, and understand your own dealbreakers (mine are relationships between adults and high school students, infidelity, or horror), it’s super useful. For me, I find I love the shows that she rates B+, quite often more than the A or A+ rated ones, so I scour her list for her B+ rated shows for inspiration when I’m at a loose end. Anyway, I love her and am so grateful for her reviews.

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Thanks so much for that review link it’s always good to have a range of sources when determining what to watch next.

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I hope you’ll find her ratings and reviews useful! She is a delight, and has built up a lovely community of subscribers who participate in lively discussions on her posts.😊

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I mostly try to avoid spoilers, but I'd rather be spoiled than waste time on a drama I end up disliking. And 100% chiming in on the recommendation of TheFanGirl's reviews. My taste doesn't completely overlap with hers, but having figured out how we diverge, I find her reviews very useful - and fun to read!

Along the same lines, I have found that there are quite a few active beanies whose comments I enjoy reading but whose preferences and tastes are obviously completely different from mine, to the point where I can be pretty sure if they like it, I won't and vice versa. AND THAT'S GREAT! I wish there were even more diverse opinions and opposing views in the comments, and I appreciate that it's mostly pretty respectful and lighthearted here. I also try to keep in mind that 'tone of voice' doesn't always come across in the comments; I'm sure I've said things here that sounded light and teasing in my head and looked abrupt and hostile once they were on the screen.

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Now that I’m no longer a newbie to kdramas, I feel much more precious about my drama watching hours, so I usually wait until a show has stopped live-airing before starting it for this reason. I am so disappointed when I feel like I’ve wasted my time or emotional investment!

The KFG’s reviews are fun to read, aren’t they? She’s definitely someone I’d love to meet and discuss dramas with in real life, if I ever got the chance!

Diversity of opinions and tastes *is* great! I’ve been reading the recent discussions on here about how those who don’t love a live-airing show as much as the majority of beanies tend not to comment on it much - it’s given me pause to reflect on my own commenting habits and approach. Do I ever make it feel like I wouldn’t welcome and engage courteously with an opposing opinion? I hope not! It’s an interesting challenge, to cultivate lots of friendly and respectful disagreement.🤔 And to bring it back full circle, I think the kfangurl has done a fantastic job with that on her website. There are definitely people who have the complete opposite taste to her, and yet they comment regularly!😊 I hope I’m even half as good at communicating my opinions as her!

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About expressing an opposite opinion to the majority...I try to keep those kind of comments very personal ("my view", "my opinion", "just my two cents" etc) because I think watching dramas is like reading books - everyone brings their personal background to the experience and sees / finds something different from the next person, including misunderstandings. So there is no use in insulting others (like "How can you like something bad like this, you mean person!" 🤣 ). But it's the internet, you have to be careful - things can always escalate quickly...it's great that, as far as I can see, it seems to happen rarely here.

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@dramadillo are you...me?! 😉 We seem to have a very overlapping taste in kdramas, and I just *love* Mystic Pup-up bar. I've watched it three or four times already, and I will certainly go back to it again because it's just so good! It balances perfectly the funny and the serious, you can laugh and cry and adore all the great cameos in it, and I love our three main leads - and maybe even more the female bodyguard, the reincarnation of this...rock. Oh dear, I'm so bad with names! 🥴
I know the fangurlverdict as well. I haven't figured out exactly yet when her and mine taste are different or the same (interesting thought though that her B+ recommendations work better for you than the A ones! I have to keep that in mind), but I love the resource of her list and regularly look up the shows I'll watch. And husband and I watched and liked the Uncanny Counter as well! So I think we might give the Zombie Detective a go - we've considered it a few times already but weren't sure. Kdramas can ve very hit and miss sometimes...but when they work, it's just great! And although Taiwan hasn't been on my inner drama map yet, Someday or one day sounds great. I love time travel when it's done well!
I don't know if I'll ever bring myself to live watch a drama. I'm such a bingehead, and there are so many dramas that go well in the first half but tank in the second...*sigh* To be honest, husband and I have discussed & decided to skip the last two episodes of Alchemy of Souls and wait for the second seasin to take it all in. I read somewhere that you considered that, too, and I was like - oh my, there is someone as weird as me out there? That's just amazing! 😉
And although Taiwan hasn't been on my inner drama map yet, Someday or one day sounds great. I love time travel when it's done well!
I don't know if I'll ever bring myself to live watch a drama. I'm such a bingehead, and there are so many dramas that go well in the first half but tank in the second...*sigh* To be honest, husband and I have discussed & decided to skip the last two episodes of Alchemy of Souls and wait for the second seasin to take it all in. I read somewhere that you considered that, too, and I was like - oh my, there is someone as weird as me out there? That's just amazing! 😉

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Yes, the second part duplicated itself...sorry! But I don't know what happened, tbh. 😉

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@petrolia, that’s so fun that we seem to have similar tastes! I love having more people to take drama recommendations from!😁

MPUB is such a gem of a show. It was one of the first handful of shows I watched when I began this kdrama addiction, and in some ways, no other show has stood the test of time and experience as well.💗

I hope you enjoy Zombie Detective, but equally, I hope you feel ok about dropping shows you’re not enjoying!🙃 There was something about a highly moral (and misunderstood) zombie that just won me over. It’s spoiled me, though, as I’m now convinced that Choi Jin Hyuk shouldn’t ever play anything but a kind zombie, ever.🤣

For Someday or One Day, give it a couple of episodes. The production values are much lower than what we’re used to seeing in kdramas (it just looks a bit more dated and lower budget), and things are revealed like a blossoming flower - a petal at a time - so don’t let initial/first impressions put you off until you find yourself curious about the two different time periods and questioning your understanding of what’s happening. The main song is played a *lot* and whilst I didn’t love it at first, I’m now hooked and find myself singing or humming 3 of the songs from this soundtrack to myself all the time! It’s the kind of show that secretly buried itself in my heart and I felt bereft when it was over.

Live-watching is something I still do quite sparingly! I think the only reason I do it is because the live-commenting on db is so much fun! It’s never quite the same revisiting the comments section after the show is done, alas. Otherwise, I’m like you and much prefer not live-watching, so that I can binge and feel assured in advance that a show is worth my hours.😁

Hahah, yes, my husband and I stopped watching Alchemy of Souls about halfway from the end of the last episode. I stuck around for as long as I could to see the fluffy happy bits, and will keep the cliffhanger waiting until season 2 is out in December. I may even rewatch it just before.😜 I can’t believe that’s just around the corner now!

Anyhow, glad there’s someone out there like me!😅🤣

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Oh I have usually no problem to drop a show I don't like. But in this case I guess I just couldn't believe what I saw, was convinced those problematic issues would be addressed in some way and when I realised they weren't the show was over. Sometimes you just keep up hoping until it's too late. There's a German saying "the last thing to die is hope" (Die Hoffnung stirbt zuletzt"), and I think that was the case here. The reviews I read seemed to hint to a redemption arc for him as well.
But I think ot's right what @midnight? said - when people don't like a show they might voice their opinion during the earlier episodes, before they drop it. And when I perk into the finale comments they're no longer there. It's totally logical when I think about it. 🤣
I really should choose a live watching show for once to join in the fun of commenting! Maybe I should choose one that is not so far from wrapping up?
And I have to say, in my opinion it's so sad that MPUB is so underrated. Our secret weapon against the low times in life...😉 my husband just loves the episode when there is that contest in the afterlife. I couldn't name a favourite episode, I love the entirety of it. 😉

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About 1% of Anything - I recently mentioned my re-watch of this show in another thread. I initially watched it not long after it aired, and loved it. At the time it had elements that were really refreshing - instead of dragging out misunderstandings/conflict as so many romance-focused dramas at the time tended to do, the couple talked things out, found solutions, and moved on. Also, they acted like adults rather than teenagers in terms of the physical side of the relationship. Even recently as 2016, it was rare to have K-drama couples make out, discuss sex, and so on. Heck, that's true even now. Also, grandpa was cool - a nice change from the usual 'disapproving wealthy patriarch' trope.

But I watched it again last year, and... yikes. I was physically cringing during those early episodes at the male lead's treatment of the FL. He was like a walking red flag for future abusive behavior and it was seriously gross. I used to consider it a favorite but wouldn't recommend it now.

But yeah, I'm with you on not minding spoilers. Too many dramas have disappointed me with bad endings, poor plotting/characterization in the latter half, and so on, that I wait for dramas to complete so I can read viewer impressions. I might choose to watch anyway, but at least I know what I'm getting into.

Also, I loved Sell your Haunted House! Though the product placement scenes were sooo awkward haha.

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Thank you for your insight! I can imagine that some dramas don't age well,even in such a short timespan. It's true that physical shenanigans tend to be ignored (so that I sometimes ask myself where the little Koreans come from 😉), but for me this is often over-emphasized in the Western dramas so it doesn't bother me so much.
And there were a few scenes Ivdid like very much, when Da Hyun has this talk with Jun Hee where she asks ifs they should settle their differences by hair pulling. There were some scenes like that, but for me they didn't even out all that borderline (and beyond) abusive behaviour. And Grandpa wasn't so great in my eyes as well - he used Da Hyun for his means without consulting her first, too. I would never have put up with such a family! I know, it's dramaland, suspension of disbelief, whatever...but, no. 😉 But anyway, to each their own! Sometimes you're just not in the mood for a certain drama. Although I doubt that I'll try this one again...

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It's to know what you're getting yourself into, isn't it? Sometimes I watched a drama despite me knowing some things might not turn out the way I'd like. But you can adjust your expectations that way, and it might just work out fine.

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This week, I started Use for My Talent and while Jasper is to die for, I can't shake the image of a teenager I get from the FL actress and am somewhat reluctant to continue despite liking the second leads. So I decided on a rewatch of Before We Get Married. I think I liked it even more this time around, the character development is great and everyone should have a bf like Kefei.

Fall In Love The fallout between the leads was terrible. I don't care that it was an act on his part, Xuanlin was needlessly cruel and downright vindictive towards Wanqing and she forgave him waaay too easily. He deserved so much shame and agony for what he put her through.

Maid's Revenge: This was an entertaining watch but the final episodes just sent me alternately cursing and laughing at 6AM.

Awaken: The recent NGM post led me to finally start on this mystery-thriller and so far (episode 4), I like it. It's a bit slow and detail oriented, but it's all about finding the proper mood and timing. NGM's slouch is gold.

Fiery Priest: (episode 2) I can see the resemblance to Vincenzo, not the least in the FL. I seriously do not like this woman. And there's, of course, an abundance of corruption.

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I agree that Wanging took a back seat in the second part of the drama, it's a pity her intelligence fade a little away.

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Because of travel commitments from the end of August until October 10 I skipped the current cycle of dramas after finishing episode 20 of ALCHEMY.
When I returned home I was determined to get to Siwan’s 16 episode drama TRACER broken up into 2 eight episode seasons which on a delayed basis finally arrived on Viki US. I finished TRACER last week. As a whole I enjoyed it but it was a bit of a challenge. As always Siwan was terrific as was the rest of the cast. However with the subject matter being the National Tax Service and financial shenanigans for me I think 12 episodes of such material would have been enough. I also much prefer Son Hyun-joo in good guy roles rather than being a baddie as he was here.

Coming attractions. I will definitely be following Siwan to his upcoming ENA drama I DON’T FEEL LIKE DOING ANYTHING which I am pleased to report is already on Viki US’s “Coming Soon” list under the title SUMMER STRIKE so no availability angst there.

I am watching two other dramas right now:
1. UNDER THE QUEEN’S UMBRELLA (Netflix).Through 5 episodes I am giving it 5 stars. I love it. I just hope writer-nim Park Ba-ra can continue with this quality for another 11 episodes. I can’t find out anything about this screenwriter. Kim Hye-soo has to be giving one of the best performances of her career.
2. BEING A HERO (Viki US). 32 episode Cdrama in cops/crime/mystery. It aired from Aug-Sept this year. I am through episode 6 and enjoying it.
Next up on my watch list is KBS’s CURTAIN CALL. M/T on Viki US so tomorrow should be episode one. I am anticipating good ratings for this one.

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Jewel in the Palace (2003, Ep1 so far) - after spending a long time trying to find something interesting to watch I've started Jewel in the Palace. I've almost spent just as much time looking up the various historical figures as watching the show, lol. And while the pace is slow and its not 720, its caught my interest in its slow buildup and non-ridiculous tone. Probably just being vastly different than a lot of the recent shows I've tried lately, maybe I will finally get out of this dried up well I found myself in.

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I've FINALLY started rewatching Beyond Evil. It's interesting to see the show with new eyes. In the beginning, I remember, I was so afraid that this would turn out to be just another grotesquely gratuitous "let's kill all the pretty young women" crime drama.

I also didn't really appreciate Joo-won's character as the pathetic, sopping-wet chihuahua that he is until I read several fannish discussions on the topic. That said, this might have entirely been due to the fact that, right from the start, Shin Ha‑kyun's performance as the uniquely unhinged Lee Dong-shik completely and irrevocably captured my very heart and soul.

I'm also still watching Glitch, but it's going slowly. And while May I Help You really intrigues me based on the first two episodes I saw, I might not be in the best headspace for it as I lost a relative only a couple of weeks ago and the resulting grief crept up on me all of a sudden during this week.

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Sorry for your loss, take care of yourself. You’re so right, there will be enough triggers in real life so, you really don’t want to drain your already depleted battery through the very thing that should be helping to recharge it.

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I love Chae ri from Love is for Suckers. I like the otp and others as well, but I love how much I love the supposedly obnoxious mean ChaeRi. And I love her fashion! It fits her personality so well and I love her jewelry, her outfits, her hair, all of it!

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Love in Contract
As commented above, this should have been 12 episodes drama with this thin storyline. It`s being unnecessarily stretched out
Love is for Suckers
Ahhh 2nd FL is so entitled, main leads romance is starting to get frustrating. Viewers need to know what`s going on FL head. Why she is rejecting ML. Probably because she made a rash decision to marry, now she doesn`t want to rush into relationship too? But i don`t want to guess, i want to know
Transit Love S2
This show was so good, i cried, smiled and related with them. Human emotions are complicated and messy. No one is perfect. No one is made for each other. Staying in love is much more harder than falling in love. Sigh....
I was over the moon when they revealed couples are still dating after the show ended

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