Finished WHERE STARS LAND: Lee Je-hoon is a bit of all right, and I liked Chae Soo-bin very much in I Am Not a Robot, so I thought I’d give this romantic story a try. I’ve never seen LJH be anything else other than tightly wound, so I did enjoy him unbending shyly to admit his feelings.
I was taken by the scene where he reveals himself to her, stripping off his shirt to show the bionics/machinery keeping him on his feet — because she’s freaking out, thinking it’s a sexual reveal which she’s not ready for! Nicely done. And I LOVED the no-nonsense female boss — too many workplace dramas are just unrelieved bullying and toxicity, when all it takes is one good manager with integrity and guts (thin on the ground everywhere, I’d say) to make a difference.
However the end of this show was such shite that I had no interest in the leading couple any longer. He was supposed to be dying of toxic inflammation from the brace, so we’d be justified in expecting him to keel over any moment, and for her to INSIST on him taking the brace off, but he just wanted to be a big boring shame-filled martyr (and be useful to the plot by becoming the Hulk at the climax).
Despite his extremely fragile state of health, all we saw was the odd nose-bleed and dizzy spell. AND, at the climax, he became a blur of miraculous hulk energy, downing a whole tribe of bad guys, AND saving his brother with a feat of strength AND feeling OK for a cozy reconciliatory chat with his brother. This completely destroyed the dramatic tension, and I was rolling my eyes at double speed. (I actually thought it worked well to find out that both brothers had actually been looking out for each other in their own way. BUT.) Only then does he have to have a bit of lie-down, and the obligatory year-long disappearance.
The fact that the reunion DIDN’T EVEN SHOW HIS FACE, made me think that LJH couldn’t bear to be part of this stupid ending and had exited long before. Not only that, but we got a repeat of the lame robot vacuum-cleaner joke.
GOBLIN: Taking advantage of my new Viki sub to finally watch this. Am up to about ep 6. All the main cast are wonderful. Lovely atmosphere that combines epic with whimsical. Beautiful design — the Goblin’s bedroom, with its barrel-shaped roof and conservatory windows, has filled me with envy. Also, best use of a hat. And for once, a male lead’s ambivalence about pursuing love is utterly justified. This can’t end well!
Haven’t quite figured out why some living humans can see dead people and some can’t. Touched by grace? Or have I missed something? I always miss lots on my first watch.
The Reaper trying to do romance is hilarious – his obsession with having a business card! So glad to see Yoo In-na delightfully playing the mysterious cafe owner who quite likes the look of this sad-sack dead-man. Happily she is erasing for me the only other character I’ve seen her play– the worst passive-aggressive 2nd female lead ever in You From Another Star.
I’m braced for tears with this. But getting laughs too. Actually one of the scenes that got to me the most was set in a hospital waiting room. (It went something like this…) Lee Dong-wook is hanging out there with a group of Reaper colleagues exchanging professional chitchat. One assumes they are there for patients who are about to die.
A crash team led by a desperate ER doctor are trying to revive a man in cardiac arrest. It doesn’t look good for the patient. The Grim Reaper, suitably hatted, walks over. But what’s this, the Reaper is addressing the doctor, looking him in the eye, giving him the formal speech, saying “… died of overwork…”
The doctor asks plaintively, “Am I dead?” The camera moves over to him lying on a stretcher – yes, he is dead. Meanwhile the patient is alive and reviving. The camera then shows one of the crocs has fallen off the dead doctor’s feet. The croc is overturned on the floor – the heel worn way down to the inner.
That’s it. So low key. Beautifully done. On to another scene.
It’s so lovely to hear that scene described again as it’s been a while since I watched Goblin. Another thing I loved was how the cards given to the Grim Reapers for each death looked like engraved invitations. So subtle and beautifully respectful of each passing soul.
Yes, I like the ritual and formality for the deaths. There’s been one or two fairly unpleasant people that the Reaper wanted to see the back of. But one of the loveliest he’s dealt with (so far) has been the blind man, who goes through the door to climb the steps, and there’s his dog waiting for him.
So glad you get to watch this for the first time. I’ve rewatched it numerous times. I’m taken aback by several scenes every time. The most poignant ones are the vignettes where people die. Love it.
I’m such a newbie, and it is really interesting discussing things like this with people who have known it for years. It seems so far to be such a special show for the way it teases out all the characters, and the way it creates atmosphere with wonderful little touches. It helps to have such a stellar cast but the overall artistic vision is lovely. The Goblin’s tragic dilemma is at the heart of it, but far from burdening the “romance” with the whole story, a lot is being made of the other characters, in ways I am really enjoying. With the Goblin, a lot is still unclear to me — like how much is the sword inside him actually “hurting” him, or is it the immortality which pains him, or is it the trauma of his betrayal and death and all the other deaths he caused? I guess all of these…
LJH was in the last scene, I played the scene at low speed and it was def. him. He was in BTS photos for that scene too. I just don’t know why they didn’t show his face.
Interesting to know, thanks. I guess the PD thought they might try something different, but the whole ending just didn’t work for me. I will now return to watching Taxi Driver, which I am just in the early stages of, and which is pleasing me no end.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the dramas you are watching.
Where Stars Land was really uneven about how-to-be-a robot but has some really heartwarming moments, especially thanks to Lee Je Hoon.
Goblin does get a lot of flak from people who have not watched but just read the synopsis. The drama is a classic (for me at least 😅) for a reason. These small beautiful scenes as you have described are unforgettable.
Hope you enjoy all your dramas.
Looking forward to reading your views on Taxi Driver.
Bizarre that you would give a show flak without actually watching it…
I’ve heard some criticism about the age gap between the ancient Goblin and the 19-year-old schoolgirl, but I really don’t care about that at all. One of my favourite books by the English writer Mary Wesley is about a love affair between a 17-year-old girl and a man in his late 50s, and it worked beautifully. She is very into transgressive relationships — in her book The Camomile Lawn, one of the main female characters has a lifelong love affair with two twin brothers, and it’s a beautiful thing.
Bizarre that you would give a show flak without actually watching it…
Hear, hear!! Sigh … any recap thread these days is rampant with such comments. Obviously there will be dissimilar or outright contradictory comments but without even watching the drama. 🤷♀️ I can’t even begin to understand.
The best part about all art is that the same piece affects different people differently. Also I have no problem with “socially unacceptable” relationships. After all if we are unwilling to explore such relationships in fiction how can we accept them IRL.
Sometimes I wish the show had ended with The Gift — season 5 was brilliant.
With season 6, although there were some brillliant episodes (eg the musical), I came out of it not liking the Scoobies anymore. And I thought season 7 was just off.
My cat is no fan of k-pop. She sits there scowling with her ears back, all the way through 2PM’s Must album. It may be the genre-blending she struggles with. Or one of the earlier albums might be more to her taste.
I understand Rowoon is a big star these days, but due to my bonding experience with About Time, I\’ll never be able to see him as anything other than Lee Sung Kyung\’s dorpy little brother…
Think I already knew about this but it might not be on the list. It’s the same as commercialized with an s, and ofc, Speci-al-ist is a long time fave IW.
Hello, Viki
Last night on the spur of the moment, I signed up to Viki, and immediately started watching Personal Taste. Lined up next will be Red Sleeve and Goblin! (Netflix has been my only source up until now.)
At the start, I found Personal Taste mannered and dorky, and Son Ye-jin’s character deeply irritating. Everyone else was only slightly less irritating. People’s professed relationship tactics were from the Dark Ages.
But it’s improved as it’s gone along – I say this from my position of reaching episode eight. People have started developing all sorts of shades of grey, and complicated emotional tangles. I think Lee Min-ho has limits to his acting talent, but he has magnetic male presence, and one of the best smiles on the planet. Seeing him in white jeans is a sight to behold. He comes alive when there is humour to be had.
I’ve only seen Son Ye-jin in this and two other dramas. She seems to specialize in a particularly irritating kind of female fragility. In Crash Landing on You, however, this was balanced out by bucket loads of guts and gumption. As for Something in the Rain, the less said the better, as I am still brooding over what I think of it.
Favourite Son…
I don’t pay much attention to top-level football – bunch of overpaid primadonnas. However South Korea’s captain, Son Heung-min, seems like a great guy, worshipped at home, and well-loved by Spurs fans in England as well. I had to laugh when he was asked in an interview what his favourite restaurants were in England, and he said nothing was better than his mother’s cooking. Good Korean boy.
This was my first subscription service for watching K dramas. I joined to watch what’s wrong with secretary Kim and Mr Queen as they couldn’t be found anywhere else and later it was for Yumi’s cells. It’s the only subscription I have kept consistently over the years. I regularly drop Netflix when the series I am watching ends.
That’s interesting…. I am such a newcomer, only joined Netflix and discovered kdrama there in 2022 and it has seemed to have a really good range. I’ve been making a list of those I want to see that Netflix doesn’t have and have found a good handful on Viki. Still no joy with City Hunter and Call it Love, though.
Some shows I watched on Netflix where the subtitles seemed a bit off, I might rewatch on Viki
I am glad I joined Viki first as I saw lots of the shows now showing up on Netflix the subs were always good so when I saw the Netflix version I was not impressed.
I also watched a few old dramas on YouTube so by the time I joined Netflix I can’t remember which drama it was that drew me there I had covered most of their range of older dramas.
Viki really is great if you’re a relative newcomer to Kdrama like me. I signed up for what I thought would be a trial month, and almost two years later it’s still my #1 source of shows, both old and new, and well worth the monthly cost. They’ve added a lot of older dramas over the past few months, although the quality is hit or miss – I suspect lots of them were added because the licensing fees are low and it pads their catalog, but there are also some real gems there. Have fun!
Viki is great, good subs and range of dramas. It’s a shame some of the K-dramas have disappeared. There are a lot more Chinese and Japanese dramas and new dramas and films appear regularly.
Oh boy, enjoy yourself surveying all your new options! I find often that my watched shows veer between Viki/Kocowa and Netflix. Just when I start thinking, maybe I don’t need this Viki subscription after all, a bunch of good shows pop up!
Yes, it is my native language, and I am very glad about the subtitle quality. There have definitely been times on Netflix when I have gone WTF at the translation; and also times when I’ve read old recaps here where the recapper has carefully given the English translation of some important dialogue and it has read a lot better than what has been on my screen.
GREAT choice! I agonized over signing up for the another paid streaming service, but I have never regretted my decision to sign up for VIKI plus. There are SO MANY shows that I want to watch and a constant stream of new shows. It is truly the largest selection on “legal” streaming that I’m aware of.
I did find that VIKI does add and subtract shows regularly, without warning. Also, many “older” shows are not licensed for my area, like “Six Flying Dragons.” Older shows have a different technique and can be more enjoyable when viewed with a “historical” lens.
FYI, I discovered Kdramas on Netflix during the pandemic. I sorta knew they were their but didn’t pay too much attention.
Then, I watched my gateway drama, CLOY. Netflix now offers a great selection of Kdramas.
There are free Kdramas on Youtube at Cereal (including Queen In-Hyun’s Man). Amazon Prime has increased its Kdrama content. My LG TV has a free Kdrama and Kmovie channel!
In November I signed up for HULU with a special offer at 99cents per month with ads for one year and I am very happy to get access to some excellent Kdramas–most of the Disney+ dramas!
Ah well, it seems I have made a good choice, and I’m pleased about that! I don’t think I’m ever going to run out of kdramas to watch.
I too discovered kdramas through joining Netflix but a bit later than you. CLOY was the 2nd drama I watched (after About Time) and it really blew me away. I discovered at that early point that a good drama can take a 2nd or 3rd watch, because I always miss things the first time round.
Just wrote a fairly innocuous post and tried to put it up. But it wouldn\’t post: apparently I used an \”inappropriate word\”. I have no idea which word has caused the problem.
Just started watching Taxi Driver, and spent the first half hour going: “Now what have I seen him/her in?” and now I have them all sorted. The one I couldn’t immediately place was the mechanic with the awful wig and the gorgeous grin – of course he was the lovely Mr Bang in Suspicious Partner.
We’re only on to case number two, and honestly I am a major sucker for the vigilante mindset. The abuse and bullying, and the inability to get redress, absolutely turn my stomach, and I am itching for Lee Je-hoon and his squad to get in there and DO them.
I have to say Lee Je-Hoon does intense and taciturn with the best of them. And I don’t think anyone else can park a car like that.
You reminded me how I enjoyed the atmosphere of the first eps of Taxi Driver… feels almost like a ghost huanting the roads and communicating via paranormal arcade game.
I noticed this post but haven’t got the time to go through DB posts thoroughly after returning from my trip, and I am going through this this weekend, hopefully 😄 Always happy to talk about Lee Je Hoon☺️ I also saw Lee Je Hoon’s photo used for the “still waiting for season 2” post, which made me smile, but I haven’t got to read the comments either😅 I’m catching up with Dr Slump and hopefull soon with Marry My Husband so that I can participate in the recaps. And typing this I’ve just realised I still have the last 2 episodes of A good day to be with Cha Eun Woo I’ll need to finish 😂
Lee Je Hoon did a lot of stunts with the car by himself in both seasons. I knew him through Signal and watched Taxi Driver for more of him, although I was skeptical about vigilante shows at first (I didn’t survive Nam Joo Hyul’s Vigilante later last year), and came to love him. I think both seasons of Taxi Driver worked well hugely thanks to the ensemble cast. Recently viewers praised the villains in Perfect Marriage Revenge and Marry My Husband, but those villains are nowhere near the level of the villain in Taxi Driver 1, i.e the Big Baddie. But I’ll just stop here for fear I may give you spoilers.
Lee Je Hoon in real life is very different from Kim Do Gi, like there’s no common trait between him and the character, especially the intenseness and taciturnity, the near-half smiles, the quietness… I’d say his performance in Taxi Driver is his best so far, it’s very nuanced and subtle.
I’m not sure if you’d fall into LJH’s charm like I did, but I’m glad that you’re enjoying the show 🙂
Ah, that’s interesting he’s nothing like that in real life! I like that, because it shows he is acting, which is his profession! Yes, he feels wonderfully nuanced to me, and I too came here from watching Signal. I never quite finished Signal, strangely enough, because I was getting so intensely involved in it, particularly his back story, that when it got to the part near the end where they were going to go deeper into his brother’s case where he is falsely accused of rape, I couldn’t bear the thought of it, and sat the show down for a bit. I may go back and watch the whole thing again. I think I was also slightly put off by the fact that solving cases in the past had actually undone the formation of the cold case squad, and I started getting disoriented!
Anyway, am a happy sucker for LJH. I have also watched a bit of his airport drama (trying to remember the name) and will probably continue with that.
Airport show is Where Stars Land or Fox Bride Star.
Omo, I felt the same about the last episoded of Signal. I felt a bit overwhelmed, so I fastforwarded towards the end. But after that first watch, I watched it a second time and paid attention to every minute. I guess I’ll be forever waiting for Signal season 2. Chief Inspector: The beginning will be released this April though. I’m already excited!!
It’s weird how these shows have different names. Confusing. Also confusing to me is the different spellings of the same actor’s name!
Anyway, I am gratified to hear you had that same reaction near the end of Signal. I am sure I will watch it all through again… so many things you pick up that you missed on the first watch.
I think one is the literal translation of the Korean name into English and one is the name that may appeal more to international viewers. Airport show’s name in Korean is 여우각시별, where 여우 means fox, 각시 is an old word for wife, and 별 means star.
About the actors’ names, it is because the Korean alphabet does not map 1-1 to the Latin alphabet. Take actor Jo Jung Suk as an example. His Korean name is 조정석. And its roman version can be any combination of Jo/Cho + Jung/Jeong + Suk/Seok. It’s because ㅈ can be pronounced as j or ch;ㅓis eo, pronounced as uh; and ㄱ can be pronounced as g or k. Both Kim Do Gi and Kim Do Ki is correct ^^.
Yes, “Chief Inspector: The beginning” is LJH’s latest show, it’s a prequel to “Chief Inspector” aired decades ago.
@kas61 I’m neither Korean nor a Korean speaker, but I know the Korean alphabet and can read Korean words without understanding their meanings. I’m learning Korean (very slowly) and hopefully when I retire (in nearly 20 years), I can watch Kdramas without subs 🙂
I am not good at remembering names either, but when you spend much time reading about the actors then your brain will register some 😄
Will it spoil me? Should I hold on to it until later?
I have been a huge fanfic fan over the years (from the Buffy fandom)… of course the secret is being able to winnow out the great writing from the majority dross. And the weird crossovers.
I found a great piece of Boys Before Flowers fanfic recently that had me hooting with laughter. Most of the BBF stories were writers sighing over Jandi and Junhoo, which made me roll my eyes…
Oh yes it will spoil you, so you should hold onto it until after you finish the show. I usually go to fanfic if I love a show so much I need a closure. That’s how much I loved Taxi Driver.
Although by no means the best kdrama I’ve watched, About Time still holds a special place in my heart for being the first I ever saw. I stumbled on it purely by accident.
I signed up to Netflix early in 2022, mainly because the Russians had just invaded Ukraine and I was intrigued by Vlodomyr Zelenskyy. Who was this comedian who played a history teacher who becomes president in a satirical TV show, and then makes it happen in real life? And when Russia invades, tells the Americans who offer to evacuate him: “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition.”
The first season of his show, Servant of the People, was on Youtube; the 2nd season also, but it had no subtitles, and I was very keen to see it, and knew it was on Netflix. So I signed up (decades after most people, but, you know, what’s the rush). Servant of the People is an extraordinary show, not only because life imitated art so powerfully, (and not only because its opening credits are so wonderful) but also for the insight into everyday life in a culture I knew nothing about. Of course, this is also one of the reasons kdramas are so appealing to me.
After I finished this show, I was a bit lost about where else to go on Netflix. I watched one American series, the Lincoln Lawyer, which was pretty good. But none of the other much-touted western shows grabbed me. I googled “best movies on Netflix” and one that was recommended was called About Time, a nice little British romantic comedy. I searched that on Netflix, and found “About Time” but when it opened up, it wasn’t what I’d anticipated… I didn’t really know what it was. But I dived in…. and haven’t been heard of since!
I’ll confess at this point how little I knew about Korea 20 months ago! I knew about the Japanese occupation and the comfort women, the Korean war and the division of the country, that it had a hi-tech economy. I knew there was kpop (none of which I’d heard, except for Gangnam Style), and kdrama, which I’d never seen. That was it. Oh, and the Kim dynasty and their military threats. So, not much.
Even my geography was vague. Down that Pacific coast of China, I knew there was Taiwan and Hongkong and Japan and Korea but I certainly wasn’t clear what order they were in. I sure am now. I can point out Jeju Island straight off too. And in 2022, I’d never heard of it.
When I first started watching About Time, I was confused. Was this Japanese? No, the programme notes revealed it was Korean. Ah, so this was kdrama. There were many things that struck me very quickly.
1) Not being used to Korean beauty standards, I was struck straight away by Lee Sung-kyung’s extraordinary doll-like beauty. I’d really never seen anything like her. She really held the camera. But she was no shrinking violet, or clothes horse — she was the heroine and she had charisma, dignity and agency.
2) I was confused by the tone of the thing. Was it aimed at teenagers, I asked myself? There was an atmosphere, a way of people relating, that felt really unusual to me, slightly child-like or naïve. Or maybe lacking in western-style irony/cynicism.
3) What I now know as kdrama cliches were quite fresh and exciting to me:
* the hitting (all by women) which shocked me (I don’t doubt Korea is just as full of male-on-female domestic violence as anywhere else in the world, but the very specific hitting and kicking of their menfolk by kdrama women just does my head in)
* the toxic chaebol family,
* the sexless love affair which had me really confused about what sort of relationship it really was,
* the bowing and bullying and harsh hierarchy
* the razor-edge fashion (particularly on Im Se-mi)
* the childhood connection of the lead characters
* the female lead diving into the water and rescuing the male lead who makes no effort to save himself and just drifts helplessly downward
* noble idiocy – in particular the passive-aggressive kind where you don’t even say “I’m leaving you for your own good” – rather you’re just mean and rejecting and lie through your teeth
* and, very powerfully: the intense and unabashed romanticism.
The romanticism was beguiling to me, partly because it was so un-ironic – there was a purity to it. Not because the characters were pure in any sense, but because the intent was not to mock it. I was astounded by scenes which would close episode after episode, of Choi Mika and Lee Do-ha just gazing into each other’s eyes – and that tableau would be frozen on the screen and little hearts and birdies would be fluttering round the edge of the picture (well, almost!). And the music would swell. And then we’d get four different camera angles of the same.
The first time I saw this sort of scene (and of course there were many of them), I didn’t know whether to laugh (from my cynical western perspective) or sigh with pleasure. I probably did a bit of both. And not only the romanticism, but the words to express romantic feelings were quite new to me – “making my heart flutter”, “staying by my side”. And how “I like you” actually means “I really really LIKE you”.
As a drama, About Time is not one of the greats. One critic put it on her list of the worst kdramas of all time. That’s unfair. Though the bit near the start where the action is diverted to some holiday resort in China is pretty tiresome. And I have little interest in the kind of bland musical theatre which is central to the plot.
But I loved the introduction to the kdrama world, and to Korean life (though of course, I could not tell how realistic a portrayal it was); I thought Lee Sung-kyung was great (which led me to Weightlifting Fairy, and from there to follow Nam Joo-hyuk to his other dramas, and on and on…).
I was also introduced to a couple of other actors who I have really enjoyed in the many places they’ve popped up: Jung Moon-sung, who plays Lee Do-ha’s dying half brother; and also Kim Hae-sook, who plays her vivacious older friend Lady Oh.
Those two in particular are wonderful in Hospital Playlist, Jung Moon-sung as the much put-upon, but loveable resident doctor who is a gorgeous foil to the icy Jung Kyung-ho. And Kim Hae-sook as the irascible matriarch, desperate that her youngest and best son won’t be stolen by God, like all the others!
It was interesting to me to discover that the way I watched About Time would become something of a pattern. I watch about a third of a show, then get bored and irritated at the meandering progression of the story and go and watch something else. Then I come back and watch the whole show again and enjoy it a lot more. I need time to commit to characters, but once I do, I can watch a show two or three times.
Anyway, thank you, About Time, for showing me the way…
Thank you for sharing, what an interesting road to K-drama story. The timing was perfect as I was trying to remember the name of this drama to link to the drama mentioned in the news item about the girl with a week to live.
I watched this a while ago too and was fascinated by the fantasy element.
The fantasy element really drove her, didn’t it. What a burden and a curse, to have that knowledge of, not only your own, but everyone else’s lifespan. But it also gave her a great deal of empathy too. Putting aside the noble idiocy, I thought she was a character with a lot of dignity.
Right? My first drama was My Love From Another Star, and it will forever be special to me. What’s super weird is thinking that I’ve been watching dramas for close to 10 years now then- I’ve spent years feeling like a relative newcomer to dramas, and now I have a watchlist that reaches back to shows from 2011 (I have a few from before then but only one for each 2007 2009 2010)
Thank you for sharing your K-drama initiation. In retrospect and with a bit more K-dramas under your belt how is your experience now. Did you ever rewatch About Time.
Yes, I’ve rewatched it more than once!
There are so many things I could say about my experience now, because I think about it a LOT, and it is constantly evolving. Here’s a few snippets:
1) I recall, back before I knew many of the actors, that I was watching Itaewon Class at the same time as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, and had NO IDEA the lead actors were the same. Take a bow, Park Seo Joon!
2) I’m very happy for dramas to use the familiar tropes, as long as they do so with economy, style and purpose. Eg, drinking sessions can be hilarious and/or revealing, but relentless heavy drinking is boring.
3) I still feel uncomfortable about dropping shows — many shows I have started and left, but do plan to go back to.
4) I had a major crush on JCW, but it’s kind of fading now. Which is good because I can evaluate him better now. I still think Healer is the only role he really “disappears” into (likewise Lee Min-ho as Gu Jun-pyo) — I don’t see the actor, I just see the character. But that show was very special in so many ways. I often worry that I’m liking male actors and characters more than female. But then I think, well maybe that’s because I’m a woman who likes men! But is it because there are fewer good well-written female roles? That’s another big tick for Healer — Park Min-young and Kim Mi-kyung both have brilliantly written and delivered characters.
5) I’m fascinated by the role of the military in Sth Korean life, and how the biggest most cosseted male stars still have to do their service.
6) It takes a lot of emotional effort for me to commit to a new show, to allow the characters to grab me. When they grab me fast, I’m very grateful. Two that grabbed me very fast were Lee Jong-suk in W: 2 Worlds, and Yoo Seung-ho in I am not a Robot.
7) I don’t tend to watch live. There’s still so much back catalogue just waiting for me. I have a big watch list.
That’s so nice you’re enjoying K-dramas at your own pace.
1) Aura counts for something! Yes it is indeed as if he’s a different character.
2) Absolutely, tropes add to the sense of familiarity but too much drinking, toxic parents, bullying are a no-no.
3) A rule of thumb is “Are you having fun!“. If your answer is No then I’d say it’s safe to drop the drama. 😅 No pressure, no judgement. If it doesn’t vibe with you don’t force yourself to hate watch or be uncomfortable or unhappy in any way while watching.
4) Hehehe, I’m still starry-eyed over Wookie.
Since K-dramas are usually written by women I find a lot of strong women characters in dramas.
5) They all take it very seriously which is really awesome.
6) I’m so happy for you. Hope you enjoy your K-drama journey as well as your Beanie life.
Still re-watching W: 2 Worlds, and am increasingly fond of Lee Jung-suk. This led me to discover a Dramabeans feature I didn’t know existed: the Featured Actor, which seemed to run in 2018-19. I thought they were a good read. Any chance of revival?
Weightlifting Fairy was one of my very early favourites in my kdrama-watching career, and I watched it repeatedly. But I never really “got” LJS’s cameo, aside from him being a friend of Lee Sung-kyung. Now, of course, I do get it – so brief but so funny, both on the meta level, and for the quality of banter with Kang Ki-yung, who just adds so much wherever he is cast.
I didn’t get the appeal of LJS either in the beginning of my viewer career (😂), but I watched quite some of his projects and he grew on me. He is such a comfort to watch. I feel a sense of “everything will be fine in the end with him in it” in the projects he was in. One of his I love the most is Romance is the Bonus Book.
I initially thought he was kind of weird looking, but now I think he looks great. I dropped Romance is a Bonus Book, mainly because the female lead got on my nerves, not because of LJS! But I could give it another try.
Just thought I’d share a few words on a deeply significant topic. Given that I often fall a mindless victim to Youtube’s algorithms, it was no surprise I clicked on a video promising vital statistics on the physical height of kdrama’s top male stars.
I thought I’d jot a few names and make one or two (deeply significant) observations. Let me state from the outset that I am a 5ft10 female, so that gives you an idea of what I look up to and down on (physically of course, not morally or aesthetically).
There was quite a list of them, so I only jotted down the few that I was both familiar with and interested in, and where I’ve seen them:
5 foot 9
Proof that great things come in small packages:
• Kwak Dong-yeon (Taec’s abused little brother in Vincenzo)
• Yoo Seung-ho (wonderful star of I Am Not a Robot)
• Jang Hyuk (lovelorn gangster in Greasy Melo)
• Lee Je-hoon (Signal)
5 foot 10
I’m eye-to-eye with these gorgeous leading men.
• Song Joong-ki (Vincenzo, Descendants of the Sun)
• Lee Jun-ho (King the Land, Greasy Melo, 2pm)
• Jung Hae-in (Pretty Noona, One Spring Night, Tune in for Love)
5 foot 11
• Wi Ha-joon (Pretty Noona, Romance is a Bonus Book)
• Kim Bum (Boys Before Flowers)
• Lee Sun-Kyun (Coffee Prince)
• Kim Soo-hyun (You From Another Star, It’s OK to not be OK)
6 foot
• Yoo Yeon-suk (Hospital Playlist)
• Choi Tae-jun (Suspicious Partner)
• So Ji-sub (Oh my Venus)
• Gong Yoo (Coffee Prince)
• Kim Seon-ho (Hometown Cha Cha Cha)
• Ji Chang-wook (Healer, Empress Ki, Suspicious Partner, et al)
• Park Bo-gum (Love in the Moonlight)
6 foot 1
In these last two sections we’re really getting into our towering alpha males.
Most of these guys look really tall and I wasn’t suprised to learn their height. Lee Jong-suk looks exceptionally tall, partly because he’s so lanky. And Taec towers in 2pm. The exception was Kim Young-dae who I have only ever seen in Shooting Stars, who I tended to think of as small. Then of course I now realise he was acting with Lee Sung-kyung who is a very tall, slim model/actress, and he’s definitely taller than her. I think it was his off-duty persona that made him seem small, all hunched up and vulnerable in his over-sized sweats. And that lawyer towered over him.
• Ok Taec-yeon (Vincenzo, 2pm)
• Kim Young-dae (Shooting Stars)
• Lee Jong-suk (W Two Worlds, Romance is a Bonus Book)
• Park Seo-jun (What’s Wrong With, Itaewon Class, Fight for my Way)
• Hyun Bin (Crash Landing)
6 foot 2
Up where the air is clear.
• Kim Woo-bin (Heirs)
• Nam Joo-hyuk (Weightlifting Fairy, 25 21, Start up, Bride of….)
• Lee Min-ho (Boys Before Flowers, Heirs, King Eternal Monarch, Legend of the Blue Sea)
This is hilarious. I’ve kept a list of Tall Korean Actors for years, but the heights I have for these actors are a little lower than yours – tbf official heights are always a little inconsistent and sus – …
I was searching them all up to double-check their names and dramas, and right from the start there were discrepancies with other records, eg Kwak was listed elsewhere as 5’10, but then I thought, dammit, I’ll just stick with the one source. And who knows whether heights get zhushed upwards a little for the more petite actors’ official bios…
and right from the start there were discrepancies with other records
That is funny and doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Military records might be accurate? Since the majority have or will serve.
I’m assuming they were “officially “ measured there .
Whoa lowkey wild, I had thought that most of the actors who are listed as 5’10 were shorter than the ones that are listed as 5’9 🤯 I also didn’t realise JCW was 6 foot?? And same with Kim Young-dae – didn’t realise he was quite tall! Park Seo-joon and Hyun-bin being the same height is also not computing. I did not realise LMH was that tall either.
Thanks for posting – I love learning random bits of trivia like this. Funnily enough I was also just searching up actors heights this morning because I was wondering if Song Kang was as tall as Rowoon. Rowoon has said he’s around 6’3 and I’m actually not sure exactly how tall Song Kang is because there’s an array of different “stats” on his height ranging from 5’8 upwards, but most common “consensus” seems to be 6’1 – fun fact!
I just looked up Asian Wiki, and it lists (for example) Kim Young-dae as 185cm which is just under 6ft 1, and Lee Sung-Kyung as 176cm, ie just over 5ft 9. I would have thought she was taller than that…
And I’ve found several varying heights for JCW. I can see this is a rabbit hole…!
Ahh yeah no defs a rabbit hole when you start digging I think with some of them – and often times I know with idols they play up or play down heights for whatever marketing reason so I’m not sure if it’s the same in broader K-ent 🤷♀️
Right! He seems like 6’1 is reasonable because yes camera angles in dramas but even in just interview videos and what not he seems tall tall – I think I’m going to figure out what height his co-stars are in promo videos and then try eyeball it from there 😂
You were not kidding about the range on Song Kang LMFAO, I can’t find a common consensus at all actually! ((173, 183, 184, 186) – only one of those makes him 6’1″!) but also he’s definitely not as tall as Rowoon. Very few are.
Yeah!! I think I eyeballed just a few pages that said 186 and chalked it down to consensus but there really isn’t any. Need him to answer officially at this point, why is there such a variation 😂
You know now that you mention it… rounding to the nearest inch, yeah fair enough for 6’2″. My list is by metric, and I have many more above him and I think I just don’t think of him as that tall haha.
Am replying here to your most recent comment, since there’s no reply tab on it…. the shows are helpful, I think, if you can be bothered! There must be a wide variation in people’s knowledge here. For my list I only picked out the few that I knew, and also that I liked! The video I referenced had faces with the names, and for some actors, it’s the face I recognise first, which then makes me connect with the name.
Quick fact about reply threads- if you clicked reply to your own comment, since you would still in theory be replying to my previous comment, I believe I would still get the notification. Feel free to test it in reply to this haha.
I’ll see what I can do! (for as long as I stay interested in this today at least haha).
Do you have a link to the video? I will add it to my sources.
OK, so I’ve watched the first episode of Welcome to Samdal-ri, and have a few comments which I will endeavour to make as nonspoilery as possible, so keeping it vague!
Not too sure about our leads yet, aside from the fact that we have seen both of them indulge in excessive drama queen behaviour in particular scenarios. Not sure with her whether it’s just this situation that’s sent her on a binge or whether it’s a habit. His seems pretty unprofessional but I’m sure we’ll get some back story.
The revenge that her mentee took on her did seem pretty inspired – but can reputations really be ruined that easily in Sth Korea?
Am keen to learn more about the women’s diving trade – is it abalone they’re diving for? Loved the mellow and affectionate Dad with his chin on his wife’s shoulder as they rode home. And that final scene was great! All of them there!
Yep. Abalone, see weed and other molluscs.
And, I agree that they’re both overacting in some scenes. This is not their fault as it is script and director related. They are both charismatic actors who should be trusted to judge when sone intensity is needed. Too much and too soon renders those scenes cartoonish.
Something really similar happened to the Kpop group T-ARA. They were doing great, then one of the members and that member’s sister created false rumors that ruined the whole group. Even after the staff and other people that worked with the girls talked about how the two sisters were the ones bullying the other girls, they didn’t get their fame back.
And rookie idols these days keep getting cancelled just because someone says they were bullies even if nothing is confirmed.
And I think the FL’s case probably got big so fast because of the girl’s attempt of s.
It sounds pretty vicious. There must be a real gossip/tabloid industry feeding off this stuff. Being a westerner, it’s sometimes hard to know when something is dramatic exaggeration and when it’s actually a real issue in Korean society.
As a newly minted fan of 2pm (yes, I know, 15 years late), I am intrigued by the circumstances of the departure of Jay Park. It all seemed too harsh and devastating for everyone.
Apparently he made some derogatory remarks about Korea when he was very young, in some private online conversation, that were leaked to the media and a bit out of context. Then later, when he was about to rejoin 2pm, JYP said he had committed some other sin but didn’t specify what.
Your question begs a complex answer. In the opinion of many Korean scholars, the SK’n society is still largely collectivist and hierarchical despite the struggles and achievements of many human rights activists. This emphasis on conformity has benefitted Korean capitalism and the chaebol class in the last 60 years creating untenable pressures on workers and has rendered workplaces including entertainment spheres and educational settings into competitive hellholes.
The SK’n tabloid press like those in the UK and elsewhere are parasitic and predatory. The vile Murdoch has prospered from his global network of tabloids and bolstered the disgusting Trump and his cronies. Welcome to the horror that ‘24 appears to be bringing.
In SK there has been school violence and bullying which flourished because of the hierarchical nature of the society but in the last decades the tides have turned. Many of those accused indeed have committed school bullying but a minority have been falsely accused which is of course horrible. TBH, if I were subject to school bullying and then I would see those bastards achieve fame and fortune and pretended to be good people, I would be furious too and would want accountability. The reality is that there are no allegations against the majority of entertainers and those that have allegations made about them, anecdotally speaking, in the majority of the circumstances have bullied and victimised others. They just resent being called out and have their careers affected. I have no sympathy for bullies as most children and adults do not bully and those that do need to be made appropriately accountable.
It’s interesting comparing individualistic and collective societies. The former give more personal freedom but can feel lonely and rootless. The latter can give warmth and community but also be very controlling. Being part of a big extended family can be a nightmare if you step over the traces; for some, though, it can be wonderful.
The way I understood JCW’s character from early descriptions was that because of family trauma he became a meteorologist, was opinionated and wouldn’t back down. I mentioned in another comment that that description sounded a bit like Song Kang’s meteorologist character in FORECASTING LOVE AND WEATHER (2022) (Netflix). Lol, Ji Chang-wook’s Meteorologist Jo Yong-pil makes Song Kang’s character look like a shrinking violet.
Haha! Well I await the story’s context with interest. I felt the acting of both leads, in extremis, felt tantrumy more than anything. But I suspend too much judgment for the moment….
Hahaha… My mind immediately started comparing JWC with Song Kang from “Forecasting Love and Weather”. I wonder what other beanies would say about JWC’s character.
It was going to be a natural comparison for me. I was hoping the producers would be a bit cheeky and sneak in a Song Kang cameo. I guess not.
@emsel, did you watch another JTBC drama in 2022: INSIDER (Viki US)? One of the SAMDAL-RI’s cast, Kang Young-seok, almost stole the show from Kang Ha-neul with his portrayal of the unforgettable prison inmate blonde Sun Oh. I haven’t seen him since in a drama. I am interested in what kind of character he will be playing in SAMDAL-RI.
Just finished I Am A Robot – it was one of the most moving romantic stories I’ve watched in a long time. Amazing performance by Yoo Seung-ho. What else should I watch him in?
It is such a sweet romance!!!! I haven’t seen many of his other works, but I really enjoyed him as an upstanding secret Royal Inspector in Moonshine (plus a nice romance).
Have you watched Dali and Cocky Prince? It doesn’t have Yoo Seung-ho, but just in terms of the sweetness of the romance and the OTP’s communication and devotion to each other, it has some similarities to I Am Not A Robot. I hope you enjoy them if you give them a try!
It’s a romcom done right with lots of meaningful and heartfelt moments, too, without it going into sappy unnecessary makjang territory — like, the angst and serious parts of the drama/writing actually makes sense to the overall story—and not a romcom made just for laughs (which isn’t bad or wrong to do, but most of the time, I just find such romcoms make me feel hollow at the end of it)
Absolutely. A combination of good writing and lovely sensitive acting by both leads, and no cheap plot twists. Yoo Seung-hoo puts little details into his portrayal that make his character dorky, and arrogant, and naive and incredibly vulnerable. At the start, it is hilarious that he holds a birthday party for his vacuum cleaner but it doesn’t take too long before it’s become a symptom of his loneliness.
Yes!! And it’s these little—but very heartfelt and meticulous— details being sprinkled throughout the drama which makes the overall finished product so so good and timeless!!
Yoo Seung-ho’s dramas like Memorist and My Strange Hero are darker but if you want to try them do read up and see if it feels right for you.
You could also try Imaginary Cat or his movie Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River.
I’m Not A Robot was indeed very well-written and organic script. Each moment felt earned. Nothing was included gratuitously. The nuances that Yoo Seung Ho bought to Kim Min-kyu were perfect.
I’ve experienced this before and it was also confirmed by many Beanies – ratings do not matter. Drama watching is about your own mindset and timing. If the drama resonates with you and if the timing is right go right ahead. 😀
It is only natural to want others to share the joy and also enjoy the drama you love but what is more important is your response to the drama.
Oh of course. I don’t care about the ratings for myself when I watch or like a drama. I just hope the actors and writers and crew and all weren’t downcast by the ratings.
It was a drama made with a lot of love and heart and they are all very proud of their work. Perhaps you might want to have a look at a couple of interviews. 👇
Thanks for those links. I’m very glad they’re all proud of it, and that Yoo Seung-ho had a great experience making it, and that he feels so positive about it. Clearly the ratings did affect them, and it’s sad to hear him say that initially the low ratings made it hard for him to meet the others’ eyes on set as if it were his fault. But again, I think it’s wonderful it was a good experience for him, and as he says maybe his best ever.
I know one of my other favourite shows Weightlifting Fairy didn’t have good ratings, but has since become something of a cult classic.
I still don’t understand how people couldn’t have fun with this concept. They seriously thought it was too crazy? For me wtv JYP made them do in their rookie years was crazier, but ok. LOL
I think it was a marketing thing from JYP. Idk they keep doing it but some years ago they used to post like 4 different practice videos for the same song. And at least one of the videos was the idols being their weird selves.
But Go Crazy had already the “crazy” concept. So the concept of the comeback + the concept of the video = total chaos. 🤣
I remember in one interview they compared this choreo with another group that had an actual bike (I can’t remember who) and 2PM said they can’t afford a real one so they just pretended 🤣
Got distracted from my planned watching, and veered into Heirs. I thought the first few episodes were pretty good, aside from the awful American actors. Sometimes I feel like Korean drama producers hire all their foreign actors from some skeevy Eurotrash nightclub. They line up all the barmen-cum-coke-dealers, and pick the ones that look the stupidest. (See also Descended from the Sun.)
Anyways, there’s LMH, living the languid and lost life in LA, until a distressed candy girl from back home wakes him out of his torpor. Once they’re back in Korea, and once we’ve got past the exciting fact that she’s LIVING IN HIS HOUSE, I’m afraid I got a bit bored. Even LMH started to look bored too. I skipped to the end and that wasn’t terribly thrilling either.
I quite liked Kim Mi-kyung as the mute mother, but she kept morphing in my mind into Healer’s ahjumma, and I kept seeing her hurling abuse in sign language and smacking stupid people about the head.
Getting back to LMH, I like him best when he’s hilariously stupid and petty and dumb, undercutting all that heroic screen god thing. There’s a decent amount of that in Legend of the Blue Sea, which I’m very fond of, and of course Jun Ji-hyun keeps him on his toes, and I love her.
It’s of course as Gu Jun-pyo where he excels in this department, combining massive hilarious dorkiness with dark insane swooniness. I keep going back to Boys Before Flowers, wanting to define exactly what I think of it. I feel a bit obsessive about it, and despise it at the same time. But what’s wrong with it is definitely not LMH. Just to untangle that double-negative, he’s a lot of what’s right.
I’d like to just pluck out all the great scenes and run them together, and consign the rest to…..
Anyway, the swooniest scene that keeps jumping into my mind is where Madame the Witch has just ruined Jan-di’s family and they’re reduced to hocking rice cakes in the rush-hour traffic. Jun-pyo’s in the back seat with Mummy Dearest, who makes sure Jan-di comes to their car window to sell her sad goods. Our girl and our boy lock eyes – she’s embarrassed, he’s enraged and ashamed. He’s about to leap out of the car, but Mummy holds his hand down hard with her talons.
But our hero shows his spine, breaks her grip and strides down between the cars to kiss his girl in the middle of the traffic. Yess!! Then they go off and have an Actual Conversation. You could count the number of these they have on one hand. We the viewers are instead supposed to be satisfied with interminable scenes of her pouring her heart out to her languid “soul mate”. Lord give me patience.
I’m starting to think, too, that the kidnapping thing has a certain logic to it. The “proper” reaction to His Nibs having Jan-di picked up, drugged and made over into a doll for him is that he’s a horrific, insanely entitled chaebol with zero morals or scruples.
But for Jun-pyo, it’s what he knows. His mother has him kidnapped all the time. And usually there’s nothing pleasant at the end of it.
Anyway, I was a bit obsessed with BBF a couple of months ago, which led me to track down a couple of surprisingly well written fics. One is set at school – Jan-di spies a girl putting a love letter in Jun-pyo’s locker so she steals it and throws it in the trash. How one small crime can wreck your life. It’s actually very funny, the dialogue is sharp, and even Woobin gets a whole scene! Ji-hoo spends most of the time asleep – haha. Amidst the laughs, the writer really gets to the nub of Jan-di’s and Jun-pyo’s relationship, which is quite an achievement.
The other is a rather passionate reunion fic, set five years after Jun-pyo actually goes through with his marriage. Let’s just say I found it emotionally satisfying.
I had to do a lot of digging to find these – digging through huge mountains of stories about the beautiful love between Jan-di and Ji-hoo. (This has brought me to a new appreciation of how much Angel fans must have hated Spuffy. And probably still do…)
I just want to say I LOVE your description of Lee Min-ho as “combining massive hilarious dorkiness with dark insane swooniness,” which is EXACTLY his charm and what I love about him in the things I’ve seen him in ❤️ Legend of the Blue Sea is one of my favorite romance/fantasy dramas, and he was perfect for it with the sparkling Jun Ji-hyun.
Oh yes, I love Legend of the Blue Sea a lot. What I don’t like is LMH taking himself too seriously because that can come across as a bit pompous, but there are lovely scenes that undercut that… the one that springs to mind is when he’s teaching her how to drink, and is so funny and silly when he’s the one who can’t hold his liquor…
Am halfway through W-Two Worlds, and so far I think it is very fine. But man, am I sick of mind wipes. All the slow gradual work of building relationships and context and understanding goes out the window just like that. It had better be worth it.
Of course I now understand why Lee Jong-suk’s little cameo in Weightlifting Fairy was so funny, (quite aside from the 15 seconds of hilarious banter with Bok-Ju’s uncle…)
I really AM enjoying it. I’d only ever seen Lee Jung-suk in that little Weightlifting Fairy cameo and in the first part of Romance is a Bonus Book which didn’t really do it for me. I’m loving him in this, and I don’t suspect that taking Kang Chul’s free will away again (even if he volunteers to do it) is the way his story needs to go…
I once received a Facebook \”like\” from the US general who heads the joint US/Korea military command in Seoul. He liked a comment I made on use of the apostrophe, on a FB page dedicated to language…
Kas61
March 12, 2024 at 1:15 PM
Finished WHERE STARS LAND: Lee Je-hoon is a bit of all right, and I liked Chae Soo-bin very much in I Am Not a Robot, so I thought I’d give this romantic story a try. I’ve never seen LJH be anything else other than tightly wound, so I did enjoy him unbending shyly to admit his feelings.
I was taken by the scene where he reveals himself to her, stripping off his shirt to show the bionics/machinery keeping him on his feet — because she’s freaking out, thinking it’s a sexual reveal which she’s not ready for! Nicely done. And I LOVED the no-nonsense female boss — too many workplace dramas are just unrelieved bullying and toxicity, when all it takes is one good manager with integrity and guts (thin on the ground everywhere, I’d say) to make a difference.
However the end of this show was such shite that I had no interest in the leading couple any longer. He was supposed to be dying of toxic inflammation from the brace, so we’d be justified in expecting him to keel over any moment, and for her to INSIST on him taking the brace off, but he just wanted to be a big boring shame-filled martyr (and be useful to the plot by becoming the Hulk at the climax).
Despite his extremely fragile state of health, all we saw was the odd nose-bleed and dizzy spell. AND, at the climax, he became a blur of miraculous hulk energy, downing a whole tribe of bad guys, AND saving his brother with a feat of strength AND feeling OK for a cozy reconciliatory chat with his brother. This completely destroyed the dramatic tension, and I was rolling my eyes at double speed. (I actually thought it worked well to find out that both brothers had actually been looking out for each other in their own way. BUT.) Only then does he have to have a bit of lie-down, and the obligatory year-long disappearance.
The fact that the reunion DIDN’T EVEN SHOW HIS FACE, made me think that LJH couldn’t bear to be part of this stupid ending and had exited long before. Not only that, but we got a repeat of the lame robot vacuum-cleaner joke.
GOBLIN: Taking advantage of my new Viki sub to finally watch this. Am up to about ep 6. All the main cast are wonderful. Lovely atmosphere that combines epic with whimsical. Beautiful design — the Goblin’s bedroom, with its barrel-shaped roof and conservatory windows, has filled me with envy. Also, best use of a hat. And for once, a male lead’s ambivalence about pursuing love is utterly justified. This can’t end well!
Haven’t quite figured out why some living humans can see dead people and some can’t. Touched by grace? Or have I missed something? I always miss lots on my first watch.
The Reaper trying to do romance is hilarious – his obsession with having a business card! So glad to see Yoo In-na delightfully playing the mysterious cafe owner who quite likes the look of this sad-sack dead-man. Happily she is erasing for me the only other character I’ve seen her play– the worst passive-aggressive 2nd female lead ever in You From Another Star.
I’m braced for tears with this. But getting laughs too. Actually one of the scenes that got to me the most was set in a hospital waiting room. (It went something like this…) Lee Dong-wook is hanging out there with a group of Reaper colleagues exchanging professional chitchat. One assumes they are there for patients who are about to die.
A crash team led by a desperate ER doctor are trying to revive a man in cardiac arrest. It doesn’t look good for the patient. The Grim Reaper, suitably hatted, walks over. But what’s this, the Reaper is addressing the doctor, looking him in the eye, giving him the formal speech, saying “… died of overwork…”
The doctor asks plaintively, “Am I dead?” The camera moves over to him lying on a stretcher – yes, he is dead. Meanwhile the patient is alive and reviving. The camera then shows one of the crocs has fallen off the dead doctor’s feet. The croc is overturned on the floor – the heel worn way down to the inner.
That’s it. So low key. Beautifully done. On to another scene.
zindigo
March 12, 2024 at 1:56 PM
It’s so lovely to hear that scene described again as it’s been a while since I watched Goblin. Another thing I loved was how the cards given to the Grim Reapers for each death looked like engraved invitations. So subtle and beautifully respectful of each passing soul.
Kas61
March 12, 2024 at 2:06 PM
Yes, I like the ritual and formality for the deaths. There’s been one or two fairly unpleasant people that the Reaper wanted to see the back of. But one of the loveliest he’s dealt with (so far) has been the blind man, who goes through the door to climb the steps, and there’s his dog waiting for him.
Ally
March 12, 2024 at 3:47 PM
So glad you get to watch this for the first time. I’ve rewatched it numerous times. I’m taken aback by several scenes every time. The most poignant ones are the vignettes where people die. Love it.
Kas61
March 12, 2024 at 9:02 PM
I’m such a newbie, and it is really interesting discussing things like this with people who have known it for years. It seems so far to be such a special show for the way it teases out all the characters, and the way it creates atmosphere with wonderful little touches. It helps to have such a stellar cast but the overall artistic vision is lovely. The Goblin’s tragic dilemma is at the heart of it, but far from burdening the “romance” with the whole story, a lot is being made of the other characters, in ways I am really enjoying. With the Goblin, a lot is still unclear to me — like how much is the sword inside him actually “hurting” him, or is it the immortality which pains him, or is it the trauma of his betrayal and death and all the other deaths he caused? I guess all of these…
Healer’s
March 12, 2024 at 4:47 PM
LJH was in the last scene, I played the scene at low speed and it was def. him. He was in BTS photos for that scene too. I just don’t know why they didn’t show his face.
Kas61
March 12, 2024 at 8:55 PM
Interesting to know, thanks. I guess the PD thought they might try something different, but the whole ending just didn’t work for me. I will now return to watching Taxi Driver, which I am just in the early stages of, and which is pleasing me no end.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
March 12, 2024 at 11:56 PM
Thank you for sharing your thoughts about the dramas you are watching.
Where Stars Land was really uneven about how-to-be-a robot but has some really heartwarming moments, especially thanks to Lee Je Hoon.
Goblin does get a lot of flak from people who have not watched but just read the synopsis. The drama is a classic (for me at least 😅) for a reason. These small beautiful scenes as you have described are unforgettable.
Hope you enjoy all your dramas.
Looking forward to reading your views on Taxi Driver.
Kas61
March 13, 2024 at 3:10 AM
Bizarre that you would give a show flak without actually watching it…
I’ve heard some criticism about the age gap between the ancient Goblin and the 19-year-old schoolgirl, but I really don’t care about that at all. One of my favourite books by the English writer Mary Wesley is about a love affair between a 17-year-old girl and a man in his late 50s, and it worked beautifully. She is very into transgressive relationships — in her book The Camomile Lawn, one of the main female characters has a lifelong love affair with two twin brothers, and it’s a beautiful thing.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
March 13, 2024 at 4:41 AM
Hear, hear!! Sigh … any recap thread these days is rampant with such comments. Obviously there will be dissimilar or outright contradictory comments but without even watching the drama. 🤷♀️ I can’t even begin to understand.
The best part about all art is that the same piece affects different people differently. Also I have no problem with “socially unacceptable” relationships. After all if we are unwilling to explore such relationships in fiction how can we accept them IRL.
Midnight
March 13, 2024 at 2:33 AM
These understated seemingly random scenes are the only things I loved about Goblin.
Kas61
March 13, 2024 at 3:11 AM
I love understated scenes — the emotion seems to have so much more weight when you’re not beaten about the head with it.
Kas61
February 26, 2024 at 5:24 PM
For the cross-over Buffy fans:
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 26, 2024 at 7:19 PM
😭
Kas61
February 26, 2024 at 7:21 PM
Yup, it was a big misery-fest.
sirena
February 28, 2024 at 7:09 AM
Buffy is one of my favorite shows but season six and seven are the hardest to get through.
Kas61
February 28, 2024 at 12:20 PM
Sometimes I wish the show had ended with The Gift — season 5 was brilliant.
With season 6, although there were some brillliant episodes (eg the musical), I came out of it not liking the Scoobies anymore. And I thought season 7 was just off.
Kas61
February 18, 2024 at 3:23 PM
My cat is no fan of k-pop. She sits there scowling with her ears back, all the way through 2PM’s Must album. It may be the genre-blending she struggles with. Or one of the earlier albums might be more to her taste.
Perhaps showing her this photo might help.
Kas61
February 7, 2024 at 4:40 PM
I understand Rowoon is a big star these days, but due to my bonding experience with About Time, I\’ll never be able to see him as anything other than Lee Sung Kyung\’s dorpy little brother…
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 12, 2024 at 11:14 AM
Ouch … so what can we do to make you Ro-swoon. You know that is a totally real thing here on DB. 😍😊
Kas61
February 12, 2024 at 4:57 PM
Honestly, there’s only so much swoon a girl can handle at one time… there’s a waiting list!
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 12, 2024 at 6:53 PM
🫰
Kas61
February 3, 2024 at 11:39 PM
I found the offending word: once I \”corrected\” it to \”specialize\”, changing the \”s\” to a \”z\”, all was well.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 3, 2024 at 11:54 PM
^^ @sicarius
Inappropriate word alert!
Ally
February 4, 2024 at 12:44 PM
@lordcobol as well
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
February 4, 2024 at 3:51 PM
Think I already knew about this but it might not be on the list. It’s the same as commercialized with an s, and ofc, Speci-al-ist is a long time fave IW.
Kas61
February 3, 2024 at 11:37 PM
Hello, Viki
Last night on the spur of the moment, I signed up to Viki, and immediately started watching Personal Taste. Lined up next will be Red Sleeve and Goblin! (Netflix has been my only source up until now.)
At the start, I found Personal Taste mannered and dorky, and Son Ye-jin’s character deeply irritating. Everyone else was only slightly less irritating. People’s professed relationship tactics were from the Dark Ages.
But it’s improved as it’s gone along – I say this from my position of reaching episode eight. People have started developing all sorts of shades of grey, and complicated emotional tangles. I think Lee Min-ho has limits to his acting talent, but he has magnetic male presence, and one of the best smiles on the planet. Seeing him in white jeans is a sight to behold. He comes alive when there is humour to be had.
I’ve only seen Son Ye-jin in this and two other dramas. She seems to specialize in a particularly irritating kind of female fragility. In Crash Landing on You, however, this was balanced out by bucket loads of guts and gumption. As for Something in the Rain, the less said the better, as I am still brooding over what I think of it.
Favourite Son…
I don’t pay much attention to top-level football – bunch of overpaid primadonnas. However South Korea’s captain, Son Heung-min, seems like a great guy, worshipped at home, and well-loved by Spurs fans in England as well. I had to laugh when he was asked in an interview what his favourite restaurants were in England, and he said nothing was better than his mother’s cooking. Good Korean boy.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 4, 2024 at 12:01 AM
Hope you enjoy your “new” selection of dramas.
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Am rubbing my hands together!
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
February 4, 2024 at 12:26 AM
This was my first subscription service for watching K dramas. I joined to watch what’s wrong with secretary Kim and Mr Queen as they couldn’t be found anywhere else and later it was for Yumi’s cells. It’s the only subscription I have kept consistently over the years. I regularly drop Netflix when the series I am watching ends.
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 12:59 AM
That’s interesting…. I am such a newcomer, only joined Netflix and discovered kdrama there in 2022 and it has seemed to have a really good range. I’ve been making a list of those I want to see that Netflix doesn’t have and have found a good handful on Viki. Still no joy with City Hunter and Call it Love, though.
Some shows I watched on Netflix where the subtitles seemed a bit off, I might rewatch on Viki
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
February 4, 2024 at 1:04 AM
I am glad I joined Viki first as I saw lots of the shows now showing up on Netflix the subs were always good so when I saw the Netflix version I was not impressed.
I also watched a few old dramas on YouTube so by the time I joined Netflix I can’t remember which drama it was that drew me there I had covered most of their range of older dramas.
Isa is always time travelling
February 4, 2024 at 4:45 AM
I signed up to Viki in July 2022 and since then I use it even more than Netflix.
I only wish there were more old k-dramas available in my region.
Elinor is trapped in the timeslip
February 4, 2024 at 8:55 AM
Viki really is great if you’re a relative newcomer to Kdrama like me. I signed up for what I thought would be a trial month, and almost two years later it’s still my #1 source of shows, both old and new, and well worth the monthly cost. They’ve added a lot of older dramas over the past few months, although the quality is hit or miss – I suspect lots of them were added because the licensing fees are low and it pads their catalog, but there are also some real gems there. Have fun!
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
February 4, 2024 at 12:06 AM
Viki is great, good subs and range of dramas. It’s a shame some of the K-dramas have disappeared. There are a lot more Chinese and Japanese dramas and new dramas and films appear regularly.
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 12:08 AM
Yes, I was looking through their catalogue — so much Chinese, Japanese, Thai, Taiwanese… I know nothing about these!
bbstl 🧹
February 4, 2024 at 8:36 AM
Oh boy, enjoy yourself surveying all your new options! I find often that my watched shows veer between Viki/Kocowa and Netflix. Just when I start thinking, maybe I don’t need this Viki subscription after all, a bunch of good shows pop up!
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 11:58 AM
The Viki price seems quite reasonable to me.
And I think I might need to start taking notice of “What I’m Watching” for jdrama, and cdrama recs…
bong-soo
February 4, 2024 at 10:41 AM
Welcome aboard to Viki. What you have also signed up for are the best english (if that is your native language) subtitles out there in kdramaland.
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 11:56 AM
Yes, it is my native language, and I am very glad about the subtitle quality. There have definitely been times on Netflix when I have gone WTF at the translation; and also times when I’ve read old recaps here where the recapper has carefully given the English translation of some important dialogue and it has read a lot better than what has been on my screen.
Qingdao: likes scented candles
February 4, 2024 at 2:39 PM
GREAT choice! I agonized over signing up for the another paid streaming service, but I have never regretted my decision to sign up for VIKI plus. There are SO MANY shows that I want to watch and a constant stream of new shows. It is truly the largest selection on “legal” streaming that I’m aware of.
I did find that VIKI does add and subtract shows regularly, without warning. Also, many “older” shows are not licensed for my area, like “Six Flying Dragons.” Older shows have a different technique and can be more enjoyable when viewed with a “historical” lens.
FYI, I discovered Kdramas on Netflix during the pandemic. I sorta knew they were their but didn’t pay too much attention.
Then, I watched my gateway drama, CLOY. Netflix now offers a great selection of Kdramas.
There are free Kdramas on Youtube at Cereal (including Queen In-Hyun’s Man). Amazon Prime has increased its Kdrama content. My LG TV has a free Kdrama and Kmovie channel!
In November I signed up for HULU with a special offer at 99cents per month with ads for one year and I am very happy to get access to some excellent Kdramas–most of the Disney+ dramas!
Kas61
February 4, 2024 at 3:05 PM
Ah well, it seems I have made a good choice, and I’m pleased about that! I don’t think I’m ever going to run out of kdramas to watch.
I too discovered kdramas through joining Netflix but a bit later than you. CLOY was the 2nd drama I watched (after About Time) and it really blew me away. I discovered at that early point that a good drama can take a 2nd or 3rd watch, because I always miss things the first time round.
earthna
February 6, 2024 at 8:59 PM
To this day, Personal Taste is my favourite Lee Minho drama. That show has a special place in my heart.
Kas61
February 7, 2024 at 12:21 PM
Yeah, I’m really enjoying it. It is growing on me as I go along. The two of them have great chemistry, and he is looking just…. stunning!
earthna
February 7, 2024 at 8:59 PM
I think part of why he’s so charming nere is coz he’s a regular hard working guy instead of a full of himself chaebol hehe
Kas61
February 3, 2024 at 11:09 PM
Just wrote a fairly innocuous post and tried to put it up. But it wouldn\’t post: apparently I used an \”inappropriate word\”. I have no idea which word has caused the problem.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 3, 2024 at 11:17 PM
Please see below link to a post by our senior Beanie, my Queen @sicarius who has kindly shared “A Guide to dealing with Inappropriate Words”.
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/sicarius/activity/1471612/
Hwaiting!!
Kas61
February 3, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Many thanks — for both your replies!
Kas61
February 3, 2024 at 11:31 PM
My initial thought was: oh no, I’ve said something that is offensive in Korea, which I was unaware of!
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 3, 2024 at 11:39 PM
No worries. If it not any word in the list then perhaps you’ll have to test out your post by posting one paragraph/ sentence at a time.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 3, 2024 at 11:20 PM
Please feel free to reach out anytime in case you are unable to identify the offending word triggering the spam filter.
Kas61
January 30, 2024 at 5:14 PM
Just started watching Taxi Driver, and spent the first half hour going: “Now what have I seen him/her in?” and now I have them all sorted. The one I couldn’t immediately place was the mechanic with the awful wig and the gorgeous grin – of course he was the lovely Mr Bang in Suspicious Partner.
We’re only on to case number two, and honestly I am a major sucker for the vigilante mindset. The abuse and bullying, and the inability to get redress, absolutely turn my stomach, and I am itching for Lee Je-hoon and his squad to get in there and DO them.
I have to say Lee Je-Hoon does intense and taciturn with the best of them. And I don’t think anyone else can park a car like that.
Flix_Crusin
January 30, 2024 at 10:22 PM
You reminded me how I enjoyed the atmosphere of the first eps of Taxi Driver… feels almost like a ghost huanting the roads and communicating via paranormal arcade game.
Kas61
January 30, 2024 at 11:37 PM
Yeah, there’s certainly that atmosphere going on…
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 2, 2024 at 1:24 AM
@claire2009 Would you please like to share your experience of Taxi Driver. 😊
Healer’s
February 2, 2024 at 2:20 AM
I noticed this post but haven’t got the time to go through DB posts thoroughly after returning from my trip, and I am going through this this weekend, hopefully 😄 Always happy to talk about Lee Je Hoon☺️ I also saw Lee Je Hoon’s photo used for the “still waiting for season 2” post, which made me smile, but I haven’t got to read the comments either😅 I’m catching up with Dr Slump and hopefull soon with Marry My Husband so that I can participate in the recaps. And typing this I’ve just realised I still have the last 2 episodes of A good day to be with Cha Eun Woo I’ll need to finish 😂
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 2, 2024 at 2:23 AM
Hope you had a good trip. Enjoy the dramas, we will catch up in the recaps. 🫰
Healer’s
February 4, 2024 at 8:44 PM
The trip was lovely, Cera. I got to escape the heatwaves in Australia 🙂
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
February 4, 2024 at 11:05 PM
That’s great. Stay 😎 🫰
Healer’s
February 6, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Lee Je Hoon did a lot of stunts with the car by himself in both seasons. I knew him through Signal and watched Taxi Driver for more of him, although I was skeptical about vigilante shows at first (I didn’t survive Nam Joo Hyul’s Vigilante later last year), and came to love him. I think both seasons of Taxi Driver worked well hugely thanks to the ensemble cast. Recently viewers praised the villains in Perfect Marriage Revenge and Marry My Husband, but those villains are nowhere near the level of the villain in Taxi Driver 1, i.e the Big Baddie. But I’ll just stop here for fear I may give you spoilers.
Lee Je Hoon in real life is very different from Kim Do Gi, like there’s no common trait between him and the character, especially the intenseness and taciturnity, the near-half smiles, the quietness… I’d say his performance in Taxi Driver is his best so far, it’s very nuanced and subtle.
I’m not sure if you’d fall into LJH’s charm like I did, but I’m glad that you’re enjoying the show 🙂
Kas61
February 6, 2024 at 12:33 PM
Ah, that’s interesting he’s nothing like that in real life! I like that, because it shows he is acting, which is his profession! Yes, he feels wonderfully nuanced to me, and I too came here from watching Signal. I never quite finished Signal, strangely enough, because I was getting so intensely involved in it, particularly his back story, that when it got to the part near the end where they were going to go deeper into his brother’s case where he is falsely accused of rape, I couldn’t bear the thought of it, and sat the show down for a bit. I may go back and watch the whole thing again. I think I was also slightly put off by the fact that solving cases in the past had actually undone the formation of the cold case squad, and I started getting disoriented!
Anyway, am a happy sucker for LJH. I have also watched a bit of his airport drama (trying to remember the name) and will probably continue with that.
Healer’s
February 7, 2024 at 1:44 AM
Airport show is Where Stars Land or Fox Bride Star.
Omo, I felt the same about the last episoded of Signal. I felt a bit overwhelmed, so I fastforwarded towards the end. But after that first watch, I watched it a second time and paid attention to every minute. I guess I’ll be forever waiting for Signal season 2.
Chief Inspector: The beginning will be released this April though. I’m already excited!!
Kas61
February 7, 2024 at 12:28 PM
It’s weird how these shows have different names. Confusing. Also confusing to me is the different spellings of the same actor’s name!
Anyway, I am gratified to hear you had that same reaction near the end of Signal. I am sure I will watch it all through again… so many things you pick up that you missed on the first watch.
So Chief Inspector the new LJH show?
Healer’s
February 7, 2024 at 3:38 PM
I think one is the literal translation of the Korean name into English and one is the name that may appeal more to international viewers. Airport show’s name in Korean is 여우각시별, where 여우 means fox, 각시 is an old word for wife, and 별 means star.
About the actors’ names, it is because the Korean alphabet does not map 1-1 to the Latin alphabet. Take actor Jo Jung Suk as an example. His Korean name is 조정석. And its roman version can be any combination of Jo/Cho + Jung/Jeong + Suk/Seok. It’s because ㅈ can be pronounced as j or ch;ㅓis eo, pronounced as uh; and ㄱ can be pronounced as g or k. Both Kim Do Gi and Kim Do Ki is correct ^^.
Yes, “Chief Inspector: The beginning” is LJH’s latest show, it’s a prequel to “Chief Inspector” aired decades ago.
Kas61
February 7, 2024 at 4:34 PM
Healer’s — thanks for that language explanation. Are you Korean or do you speak it?
I have a problem remembering actor’s names, and then when I think I have it right, I see it spelt differently, and wonder…
Healer’s
February 7, 2024 at 11:00 PM
@kas61 I’m neither Korean nor a Korean speaker, but I know the Korean alphabet and can read Korean words without understanding their meanings. I’m learning Korean (very slowly) and hopefully when I retire (in nearly 20 years), I can watch Kdramas without subs 🙂
I am not good at remembering names either, but when you spend much time reading about the actors then your brain will register some 😄
Healer’s
February 7, 2024 at 4:27 AM
If you’re interested in fanfic, here’s a wonderfully written piece with the most spot-on characterisation out there
https://archiveofourown.org/works/47015368
Kas61
February 7, 2024 at 12:25 PM
Will it spoil me? Should I hold on to it until later?
I have been a huge fanfic fan over the years (from the Buffy fandom)… of course the secret is being able to winnow out the great writing from the majority dross. And the weird crossovers.
I found a great piece of Boys Before Flowers fanfic recently that had me hooting with laughter. Most of the BBF stories were writers sighing over Jandi and Junhoo, which made me roll my eyes…
Healer’s
February 7, 2024 at 3:44 PM
Oh yes it will spoil you, so you should hold onto it until after you finish the show. I usually go to fanfic if I love a show so much I need a closure. That’s how much I loved Taxi Driver.
Kas61
January 28, 2024 at 9:11 PM
About Time
Although by no means the best kdrama I’ve watched, About Time still holds a special place in my heart for being the first I ever saw. I stumbled on it purely by accident.
I signed up to Netflix early in 2022, mainly because the Russians had just invaded Ukraine and I was intrigued by Vlodomyr Zelenskyy. Who was this comedian who played a history teacher who becomes president in a satirical TV show, and then makes it happen in real life? And when Russia invades, tells the Americans who offer to evacuate him: “I don’t need a ride, I need ammunition.”
The first season of his show, Servant of the People, was on Youtube; the 2nd season also, but it had no subtitles, and I was very keen to see it, and knew it was on Netflix. So I signed up (decades after most people, but, you know, what’s the rush). Servant of the People is an extraordinary show, not only because life imitated art so powerfully, (and not only because its opening credits are so wonderful) but also for the insight into everyday life in a culture I knew nothing about. Of course, this is also one of the reasons kdramas are so appealing to me.
After I finished this show, I was a bit lost about where else to go on Netflix. I watched one American series, the Lincoln Lawyer, which was pretty good. But none of the other much-touted western shows grabbed me. I googled “best movies on Netflix” and one that was recommended was called About Time, a nice little British romantic comedy. I searched that on Netflix, and found “About Time” but when it opened up, it wasn’t what I’d anticipated… I didn’t really know what it was. But I dived in…. and haven’t been heard of since!
I’ll confess at this point how little I knew about Korea 20 months ago! I knew about the Japanese occupation and the comfort women, the Korean war and the division of the country, that it had a hi-tech economy. I knew there was kpop (none of which I’d heard, except for Gangnam Style), and kdrama, which I’d never seen. That was it. Oh, and the Kim dynasty and their military threats. So, not much.
Even my geography was vague. Down that Pacific coast of China, I knew there was Taiwan and Hongkong and Japan and Korea but I certainly wasn’t clear what order they were in. I sure am now. I can point out Jeju Island straight off too. And in 2022, I’d never heard of it.
When I first started watching About Time, I was confused. Was this Japanese? No, the programme notes revealed it was Korean. Ah, so this was kdrama. There were many things that struck me very quickly.
1) Not being used to Korean beauty standards, I was struck straight away by Lee Sung-kyung’s extraordinary doll-like beauty. I’d really never seen anything like her. She really held the camera. But she was no shrinking violet, or clothes horse — she was the heroine and she had charisma, dignity and agency.
2) I was confused by the tone of the thing. Was it aimed at teenagers, I asked myself? There was an atmosphere, a way of people relating, that felt really unusual to me, slightly child-like or naïve. Or maybe lacking in western-style irony/cynicism.
3) What I now know as kdrama cliches were quite fresh and exciting to me:
* the hitting (all by women) which shocked me (I don’t doubt Korea is just as full of male-on-female domestic violence as anywhere else in the world, but the very specific hitting and kicking of their menfolk by kdrama women just does my head in)
* the toxic chaebol family,
* the sexless love affair which had me really confused about what sort of relationship it really was,
* the bowing and bullying and harsh hierarchy
* the razor-edge fashion (particularly on Im Se-mi)
* the childhood connection of the lead characters
* the female lead diving into the water and rescuing the male lead who makes no effort to save himself and just drifts helplessly downward
* noble idiocy – in particular the passive-aggressive kind where you don’t even say “I’m leaving you for your own good” – rather you’re just mean and rejecting and lie through your teeth
* and, very powerfully: the intense and unabashed romanticism.
The romanticism was beguiling to me, partly because it was so un-ironic – there was a purity to it. Not because the characters were pure in any sense, but because the intent was not to mock it. I was astounded by scenes which would close episode after episode, of Choi Mika and Lee Do-ha just gazing into each other’s eyes – and that tableau would be frozen on the screen and little hearts and birdies would be fluttering round the edge of the picture (well, almost!). And the music would swell. And then we’d get four different camera angles of the same.
The first time I saw this sort of scene (and of course there were many of them), I didn’t know whether to laugh (from my cynical western perspective) or sigh with pleasure. I probably did a bit of both. And not only the romanticism, but the words to express romantic feelings were quite new to me – “making my heart flutter”, “staying by my side”. And how “I like you” actually means “I really really LIKE you”.
As a drama, About Time is not one of the greats. One critic put it on her list of the worst kdramas of all time. That’s unfair. Though the bit near the start where the action is diverted to some holiday resort in China is pretty tiresome. And I have little interest in the kind of bland musical theatre which is central to the plot.
But I loved the introduction to the kdrama world, and to Korean life (though of course, I could not tell how realistic a portrayal it was); I thought Lee Sung-kyung was great (which led me to Weightlifting Fairy, and from there to follow Nam Joo-hyuk to his other dramas, and on and on…).
I was also introduced to a couple of other actors who I have really enjoyed in the many places they’ve popped up: Jung Moon-sung, who plays Lee Do-ha’s dying half brother; and also Kim Hae-sook, who plays her vivacious older friend Lady Oh.
Those two in particular are wonderful in Hospital Playlist, Jung Moon-sung as the much put-upon, but loveable resident doctor who is a gorgeous foil to the icy Jung Kyung-ho. And Kim Hae-sook as the irascible matriarch, desperate that her youngest and best son won’t be stolen by God, like all the others!
It was interesting to me to discover that the way I watched About Time would become something of a pattern. I watch about a third of a show, then get bored and irritated at the meandering progression of the story and go and watch something else. Then I come back and watch the whole show again and enjoy it a lot more. I need time to commit to characters, but once I do, I can watch a show two or three times.
Anyway, thank you, About Time, for showing me the way…
Midnight
January 28, 2024 at 10:16 PM
This was so beautifully written and expressed. Thank you for a lovely read.
Kas61
January 28, 2024 at 11:17 PM
Thank you so much…. and I’m so glad that it happened!
cozybooks
January 28, 2024 at 10:29 PM
This is so lovely- thanks for sharing your kdrama rabbithole journey with us 🙂
Kas61
January 28, 2024 at 11:18 PM
Thanks! It was a complete accident… I tripped and fell down that rabbit hole.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
January 28, 2024 at 11:51 PM
Thank you for sharing, what an interesting road to K-drama story. The timing was perfect as I was trying to remember the name of this drama to link to the drama mentioned in the news item about the girl with a week to live.
I watched this a while ago too and was fascinated by the fantasy element.
Kas61
January 29, 2024 at 12:14 AM
The fantasy element really drove her, didn’t it. What a burden and a curse, to have that knowledge of, not only your own, but everyone else’s lifespan. But it also gave her a great deal of empathy too. Putting aside the noble idiocy, I thought she was a character with a lot of dignity.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
January 29, 2024 at 3:15 AM
Lovely! Thank you for sharing 😊 I think our first dramas will always be special to us ❤️
cozybooks
January 29, 2024 at 7:36 AM
Right? My first drama was My Love From Another Star, and it will forever be special to me. What’s super weird is thinking that I’ve been watching dramas for close to 10 years now then- I’ve spent years feeling like a relative newcomer to dramas, and now I have a watchlist that reaches back to shows from 2011 (I have a few from before then but only one for each 2007 2009 2010)
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
January 29, 2024 at 2:46 PM
How cool – you have a great drama history!!
Kas61
January 29, 2024 at 12:46 PM
There really is something about the first drama — whatever its flaws, there was something in it that made us want more!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
January 29, 2024 at 2:45 PM
Yes exactly!! 👏
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
January 29, 2024 at 7:58 AM
Thank you for sharing your K-drama initiation. In retrospect and with a bit more K-dramas under your belt how is your experience now. Did you ever rewatch About Time.
Kas61
January 29, 2024 at 1:32 PM
Yes, I’ve rewatched it more than once!
There are so many things I could say about my experience now, because I think about it a LOT, and it is constantly evolving. Here’s a few snippets:
1) I recall, back before I knew many of the actors, that I was watching Itaewon Class at the same time as What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, and had NO IDEA the lead actors were the same. Take a bow, Park Seo Joon!
2) I’m very happy for dramas to use the familiar tropes, as long as they do so with economy, style and purpose. Eg, drinking sessions can be hilarious and/or revealing, but relentless heavy drinking is boring.
3) I still feel uncomfortable about dropping shows — many shows I have started and left, but do plan to go back to.
4) I had a major crush on JCW, but it’s kind of fading now. Which is good because I can evaluate him better now. I still think Healer is the only role he really “disappears” into (likewise Lee Min-ho as Gu Jun-pyo) — I don’t see the actor, I just see the character. But that show was very special in so many ways. I often worry that I’m liking male actors and characters more than female. But then I think, well maybe that’s because I’m a woman who likes men! But is it because there are fewer good well-written female roles? That’s another big tick for Healer — Park Min-young and Kim Mi-kyung both have brilliantly written and delivered characters.
5) I’m fascinated by the role of the military in Sth Korean life, and how the biggest most cosseted male stars still have to do their service.
6) It takes a lot of emotional effort for me to commit to a new show, to allow the characters to grab me. When they grab me fast, I’m very grateful. Two that grabbed me very fast were Lee Jong-suk in W: 2 Worlds, and Yoo Seung-ho in I am not a Robot.
7) I don’t tend to watch live. There’s still so much back catalogue just waiting for me. I have a big watch list.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
January 29, 2024 at 2:02 PM
That’s so nice you’re enjoying K-dramas at your own pace.
1) Aura counts for something! Yes it is indeed as if he’s a different character.
2) Absolutely, tropes add to the sense of familiarity but too much drinking, toxic parents, bullying are a no-no.
3) A rule of thumb is “Are you having fun!“. If your answer is No then I’d say it’s safe to drop the drama. 😅 No pressure, no judgement. If it doesn’t vibe with you don’t force yourself to hate watch or be uncomfortable or unhappy in any way while watching.
4) Hehehe, I’m still starry-eyed over Wookie.
Since K-dramas are usually written by women I find a lot of strong women characters in dramas.
5) They all take it very seriously which is really awesome.
6) I’m so happy for you. Hope you enjoy your K-drama journey as well as your Beanie life.
Kas61
January 31, 2024 at 2:12 PM
Damn — I can’t watch About Time again, as Netflix have dropped it!
Kas61
December 27, 2023 at 7:55 AM
Horrible news about Lee Sun-Kyun. Wonderful actor. Is this the unforgiving scandal culture hounding someone beyond their tolerance?
Cecee
December 27, 2023 at 11:46 AM
heartbreaking 💔
He seemed like such a nice person too.
Kas61
December 12, 2023 at 3:50 PM
Still re-watching W: 2 Worlds, and am increasingly fond of Lee Jung-suk. This led me to discover a Dramabeans feature I didn’t know existed: the Featured Actor, which seemed to run in 2018-19. I thought they were a good read. Any chance of revival?
Weightlifting Fairy was one of my very early favourites in my kdrama-watching career, and I watched it repeatedly. But I never really “got” LJS’s cameo, aside from him being a friend of Lee Sung-kyung. Now, of course, I do get it – so brief but so funny, both on the meta level, and for the quality of banter with Kang Ki-yung, who just adds so much wherever he is cast.
mmmmm
December 13, 2023 at 7:01 AM
I didn’t get the appeal of LJS either in the beginning of my viewer career (😂), but I watched quite some of his projects and he grew on me. He is such a comfort to watch. I feel a sense of “everything will be fine in the end with him in it” in the projects he was in. One of his I love the most is Romance is the Bonus Book.
Kas61
December 13, 2023 at 12:04 PM
I initially thought he was kind of weird looking, but now I think he looks great. I dropped Romance is a Bonus Book, mainly because the female lead got on my nerves, not because of LJS! But I could give it another try.
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 3:42 PM
HOW HIGH CAN YOU GO
Just thought I’d share a few words on a deeply significant topic. Given that I often fall a mindless victim to Youtube’s algorithms, it was no surprise I clicked on a video promising vital statistics on the physical height of kdrama’s top male stars.
I thought I’d jot a few names and make one or two (deeply significant) observations. Let me state from the outset that I am a 5ft10 female, so that gives you an idea of what I look up to and down on (physically of course, not morally or aesthetically).
There was quite a list of them, so I only jotted down the few that I was both familiar with and interested in, and where I’ve seen them:
5 foot 9
Proof that great things come in small packages:
• Kwak Dong-yeon (Taec’s abused little brother in Vincenzo)
• Yoo Seung-ho (wonderful star of I Am Not a Robot)
• Jang Hyuk (lovelorn gangster in Greasy Melo)
• Lee Je-hoon (Signal)
5 foot 10
I’m eye-to-eye with these gorgeous leading men.
• Song Joong-ki (Vincenzo, Descendants of the Sun)
• Lee Jun-ho (King the Land, Greasy Melo, 2pm)
• Jung Hae-in (Pretty Noona, One Spring Night, Tune in for Love)
5 foot 11
• Wi Ha-joon (Pretty Noona, Romance is a Bonus Book)
• Kim Bum (Boys Before Flowers)
• Lee Sun-Kyun (Coffee Prince)
• Kim Soo-hyun (You From Another Star, It’s OK to not be OK)
6 foot
• Yoo Yeon-suk (Hospital Playlist)
• Choi Tae-jun (Suspicious Partner)
• So Ji-sub (Oh my Venus)
• Gong Yoo (Coffee Prince)
• Kim Seon-ho (Hometown Cha Cha Cha)
• Ji Chang-wook (Healer, Empress Ki, Suspicious Partner, et al)
• Park Bo-gum (Love in the Moonlight)
6 foot 1
In these last two sections we’re really getting into our towering alpha males.
Most of these guys look really tall and I wasn’t suprised to learn their height. Lee Jong-suk looks exceptionally tall, partly because he’s so lanky. And Taec towers in 2pm. The exception was Kim Young-dae who I have only ever seen in Shooting Stars, who I tended to think of as small. Then of course I now realise he was acting with Lee Sung-kyung who is a very tall, slim model/actress, and he’s definitely taller than her. I think it was his off-duty persona that made him seem small, all hunched up and vulnerable in his over-sized sweats. And that lawyer towered over him.
• Ok Taec-yeon (Vincenzo, 2pm)
• Kim Young-dae (Shooting Stars)
• Lee Jong-suk (W Two Worlds, Romance is a Bonus Book)
• Park Seo-jun (What’s Wrong With, Itaewon Class, Fight for my Way)
• Hyun Bin (Crash Landing)
6 foot 2
Up where the air is clear.
• Kim Woo-bin (Heirs)
• Nam Joo-hyuk (Weightlifting Fairy, 25 21, Start up, Bride of….)
• Lee Min-ho (Boys Before Flowers, Heirs, King Eternal Monarch, Legend of the Blue Sea)
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 3:50 PM
This is hilarious. I’ve kept a list of Tall Korean Actors for years, but the heights I have for these actors are a little lower than yours – tbf official heights are always a little inconsistent and sus – …
Should I go find my list to compare??? 🤣
john
December 4, 2023 at 3:56 PM
Yes, please do, for the record 📜 🖊️
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:07 PM
Okay after Lunch 🤣🤣
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:39 PM
After Lunch is Now the Present!
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 4:01 PM
I was searching them all up to double-check their names and dramas, and right from the start there were discrepancies with other records, eg Kwak was listed elsewhere as 5’10, but then I thought, dammit, I’ll just stick with the one source. And who knows whether heights get zhushed upwards a little for the more petite actors’ official bios…
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:09 PM
Oh actually it’s mostly the taller people here that are off for me hahaha but it is quite funny isn’t it, I feel your struggle.
john
December 4, 2023 at 4:23 PM
and right from the start there were discrepancies with other records
That is funny and doesn’t surprise me in the least.
Military records might be accurate? Since the majority have or will serve.
I’m assuming they were “officially “ measured there .
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:38 PM
And how do you propose I access probably private military records, dear sir?? This is a fun heist drama plot in the making haha
john
December 4, 2023 at 4:44 PM
I thought the K netizens would have pictures of oppa with his ID card 😉🙄😓🥲🤨
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:53 PM
… well, I wish they wouldn’t if they do… hahaha
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 4:57 PM
Yes, I can just see them each ordered up against the wall in their stocking feet…
owl 🦉 🫰
December 4, 2023 at 9:40 PM
No lifts
Midnight
December 4, 2023 at 8:34 PM
I have seen shorter heights too, especially for some of those who I have seen side by side.
lapislazulii
December 4, 2023 at 3:59 PM
Whoa lowkey wild, I had thought that most of the actors who are listed as 5’10 were shorter than the ones that are listed as 5’9 🤯 I also didn’t realise JCW was 6 foot?? And same with Kim Young-dae – didn’t realise he was quite tall! Park Seo-joon and Hyun-bin being the same height is also not computing. I did not realise LMH was that tall either.
Thanks for posting – I love learning random bits of trivia like this. Funnily enough I was also just searching up actors heights this morning because I was wondering if Song Kang was as tall as Rowoon. Rowoon has said he’s around 6’3 and I’m actually not sure exactly how tall Song Kang is because there’s an array of different “stats” on his height ranging from 5’8 upwards, but most common “consensus” seems to be 6’1 – fun fact!
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 4:08 PM
LMH isn’t that tall, that’s one I’m VERY sure about haha
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 4, 2023 at 4:16 PM
Me too. No way LMH is that tall.
lapislazulii
December 4, 2023 at 4:18 PM
I was seriously beginning to doubt my eyes hahhahahaha
Midnight
December 4, 2023 at 8:37 PM
I wish I still had my screen captures from Faith, Lee Min Ho sliding off the shot when the camera needed to focus on Yoon Kyun Sang’s face 😆
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 9:10 PM
LOL!
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 4:10 PM
Wow, that’s quite a range for Song Kang!
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 4:21 PM
I just looked up Asian Wiki, and it lists (for example) Kim Young-dae as 185cm which is just under 6ft 1, and Lee Sung-Kyung as 176cm, ie just over 5ft 9. I would have thought she was taller than that…
And I’ve found several varying heights for JCW. I can see this is a rabbit hole…!
lapislazulii
December 4, 2023 at 4:32 PM
Ahh yeah no defs a rabbit hole when you start digging I think with some of them – and often times I know with idols they play up or play down heights for whatever marketing reason so I’m not sure if it’s the same in broader K-ent 🤷♀️
lapislazulii
December 4, 2023 at 4:21 PM
Right! He seems like 6’1 is reasonable because yes camera angles in dramas but even in just interview videos and what not he seems tall tall – I think I’m going to figure out what height his co-stars are in promo videos and then try eyeball it from there 😂
owl 🦉 🫰
December 4, 2023 at 9:43 PM
Camera angles and 360 o orbital spins create dreamy height illusions! I fall for it every time!
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 5:05 PM
You were not kidding about the range on Song Kang LMFAO, I can’t find a common consensus at all actually! ((173, 183, 184, 186) – only one of those makes him 6’1″!) but also he’s definitely not as tall as Rowoon. Very few are.
lapislazulii
December 4, 2023 at 5:40 PM
Yeah!! I think I eyeballed just a few pages that said 186 and chalked it down to consensus but there really isn’t any. Need him to answer officially at this point, why is there such a variation 😂
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 6:02 PM
I only found one that said 186! #sus if you ask me kekekeke
Blue (@mayhemf)
December 4, 2023 at 4:16 PM
Great list! Very handy list 😇
LMH can’t be 6’ 2”. No way.
Kim Young Kwang definitely is 6 2 I would think.
Rowoon too.
As far as I know Lee Ki-woo is the tallest one I know. More than 6’3”.
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 4:54 PM
Asian Wiki lists LMH as 187cm, which is 6ft 1.6in.
Wikipedia says “187cm (6ft 2)” and cites LMH’s official website as source…
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 5:07 PM
You know now that you mention it… rounding to the nearest inch, yeah fair enough for 6’2″. My list is by metric, and I have many more above him and I think I just don’t think of him as that tall haha.
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 5:17 PM
IN the video I watched, there were quite a few above LMH but none that I was familiar with….
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 5:28 PM
would it be helpful if I maybe added shows to my list? I don’t really share it very often, but I imagine it won’t be familiar names for everyone.
Kas61
December 4, 2023 at 5:34 PM
Am replying here to your most recent comment, since there’s no reply tab on it…. the shows are helpful, I think, if you can be bothered! There must be a wide variation in people’s knowledge here. For my list I only picked out the few that I knew, and also that I liked! The video I referenced had faces with the names, and for some actors, it’s the face I recognise first, which then makes me connect with the name.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
December 4, 2023 at 5:41 PM
Quick fact about reply threads- if you clicked reply to your own comment, since you would still in theory be replying to my previous comment, I believe I would still get the notification. Feel free to test it in reply to this haha.
I’ll see what I can do! (for as long as I stay interested in this today at least haha).
Do you have a link to the video? I will add it to my sources.
Kas61
December 3, 2023 at 4:02 PM
Halfway through ep 2 of Welcome to Samdal-ri, and I\’m impressed now. Everything about it is making me laugh or feel really tense, waiting for…
owl 🦉 🫰
December 3, 2023 at 6:36 PM
I thought I might be the only one laughing so hard. “You lunatics!”
Kas61
December 3, 2023 at 9:14 PM
I love how all 3 girls revert to utter childhood in front of their mother
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 4:07 PM
OK, so I’ve watched the first episode of Welcome to Samdal-ri, and have a few comments which I will endeavour to make as nonspoilery as possible, so keeping it vague!
Not too sure about our leads yet, aside from the fact that we have seen both of them indulge in excessive drama queen behaviour in particular scenarios. Not sure with her whether it’s just this situation that’s sent her on a binge or whether it’s a habit. His seems pretty unprofessional but I’m sure we’ll get some back story.
The revenge that her mentee took on her did seem pretty inspired – but can reputations really be ruined that easily in Sth Korea?
Am keen to learn more about the women’s diving trade – is it abalone they’re diving for? Loved the mellow and affectionate Dad with his chin on his wife’s shoulder as they rode home. And that final scene was great! All of them there!
DancingEmma
December 2, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Yep. Abalone, see weed and other molluscs.
And, I agree that they’re both overacting in some scenes. This is not their fault as it is script and director related. They are both charismatic actors who should be trusted to judge when sone intensity is needed. Too much and too soon renders those scenes cartoonish.
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 5:34 PM
Under-acting always packs more punch for me.
tabong has two different tears🍉
December 2, 2023 at 5:45 PM
Something really similar happened to the Kpop group T-ARA. They were doing great, then one of the members and that member’s sister created false rumors that ruined the whole group. Even after the staff and other people that worked with the girls talked about how the two sisters were the ones bullying the other girls, they didn’t get their fame back.
And rookie idols these days keep getting cancelled just because someone says they were bullies even if nothing is confirmed.
And I think the FL’s case probably got big so fast because of the girl’s attempt of s.
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 5:58 PM
It sounds pretty vicious. There must be a real gossip/tabloid industry feeding off this stuff. Being a westerner, it’s sometimes hard to know when something is dramatic exaggeration and when it’s actually a real issue in Korean society.
As a newly minted fan of 2pm (yes, I know, 15 years late), I am intrigued by the circumstances of the departure of Jay Park. It all seemed too harsh and devastating for everyone.
tabong has two different tears🍉
December 2, 2023 at 6:19 PM
I don’t remember what happened with Jay Park, but I don’t think it was a big deal from his part. 🤔
tabong has two different tears🍉
December 2, 2023 at 6:20 PM
I mean, I don’t remember hearing that he did something wrong.
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 6:59 PM
Apparently he made some derogatory remarks about Korea when he was very young, in some private online conversation, that were leaked to the media and a bit out of context. Then later, when he was about to rejoin 2pm, JYP said he had committed some other sin but didn’t specify what.
tabong has two different tears🍉
December 2, 2023 at 7:27 PM
Ohh, I thought it was a dating scandal or something, but I guess it is a mystery.
Thanks for the info!
DancingEmma
December 2, 2023 at 7:26 PM
Your question begs a complex answer. In the opinion of many Korean scholars, the SK’n society is still largely collectivist and hierarchical despite the struggles and achievements of many human rights activists. This emphasis on conformity has benefitted Korean capitalism and the chaebol class in the last 60 years creating untenable pressures on workers and has rendered workplaces including entertainment spheres and educational settings into competitive hellholes.
The SK’n tabloid press like those in the UK and elsewhere are parasitic and predatory. The vile Murdoch has prospered from his global network of tabloids and bolstered the disgusting Trump and his cronies. Welcome to the horror that ‘24 appears to be bringing.
In SK there has been school violence and bullying which flourished because of the hierarchical nature of the society but in the last decades the tides have turned. Many of those accused indeed have committed school bullying but a minority have been falsely accused which is of course horrible. TBH, if I were subject to school bullying and then I would see those bastards achieve fame and fortune and pretended to be good people, I would be furious too and would want accountability. The reality is that there are no allegations against the majority of entertainers and those that have allegations made about them, anecdotally speaking, in the majority of the circumstances have bullied and victimised others. They just resent being called out and have their careers affected. I have no sympathy for bullies as most children and adults do not bully and those that do need to be made appropriately accountable.
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 8:07 PM
It’s interesting comparing individualistic and collective societies. The former give more personal freedom but can feel lonely and rootless. The latter can give warmth and community but also be very controlling. Being part of a big extended family can be a nightmare if you step over the traces; for some, though, it can be wonderful.
bong-soo
December 2, 2023 at 7:59 PM
The way I understood JCW’s character from early descriptions was that because of family trauma he became a meteorologist, was opinionated and wouldn’t back down. I mentioned in another comment that that description sounded a bit like Song Kang’s meteorologist character in FORECASTING LOVE AND WEATHER (2022) (Netflix). Lol, Ji Chang-wook’s Meteorologist Jo Yong-pil makes Song Kang’s character look like a shrinking violet.
Kas61
December 2, 2023 at 8:04 PM
Haha! Well I await the story’s context with interest. I felt the acting of both leads, in extremis, felt tantrumy more than anything. But I suspend too much judgment for the moment….
emsel
December 3, 2023 at 3:10 AM
Hahaha… My mind immediately started comparing JWC with Song Kang from “Forecasting Love and Weather”. I wonder what other beanies would say about JWC’s character.
bong-soo
December 3, 2023 at 6:24 AM
It was going to be a natural comparison for me. I was hoping the producers would be a bit cheeky and sneak in a Song Kang cameo. I guess not.
@emsel, did you watch another JTBC drama in 2022: INSIDER (Viki US)? One of the SAMDAL-RI’s cast, Kang Young-seok, almost stole the show from Kang Ha-neul with his portrayal of the unforgettable prison inmate blonde Sun Oh. I haven’t seen him since in a drama. I am interested in what kind of character he will be playing in SAMDAL-RI.
emsel
December 17, 2023 at 5:21 AM
Yes, I did he was the (might I add, only) best thing about that drama.
Kas61
November 19, 2023 at 12:30 PM
Just finished I Am A Robot – it was one of the most moving romantic stories I’ve watched in a long time. Amazing performance by Yoo Seung-ho. What else should I watch him in?
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
November 19, 2023 at 12:36 PM
It is such a sweet romance!!!! I haven’t seen many of his other works, but I really enjoyed him as an upstanding secret Royal Inspector in Moonshine (plus a nice romance).
Kas61
November 19, 2023 at 12:48 PM
It’s amazingly sweet and I can’t count the number of times I was in tears. I shall look up Moonshine — thanks!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
November 19, 2023 at 1:16 PM
Have you watched Dali and Cocky Prince? It doesn’t have Yoo Seung-ho, but just in terms of the sweetness of the romance and the OTP’s communication and devotion to each other, it has some similarities to I Am Not A Robot. I hope you enjoy them if you give them a try!
Kas61
November 19, 2023 at 7:03 PM
Will definitely put them on my list…
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 20, 2023 at 3:09 AM
Both great recommendations Hopeful. 👍👏
Bebe | Nessa❣️
November 19, 2023 at 4:38 PM
It’s a romcom done right with lots of meaningful and heartfelt moments, too, without it going into sappy unnecessary makjang territory — like, the angst and serious parts of the drama/writing actually makes sense to the overall story—and not a romcom made just for laughs (which isn’t bad or wrong to do, but most of the time, I just find such romcoms make me feel hollow at the end of it)
Kas61
November 19, 2023 at 7:10 PM
Absolutely. A combination of good writing and lovely sensitive acting by both leads, and no cheap plot twists. Yoo Seung-hoo puts little details into his portrayal that make his character dorky, and arrogant, and naive and incredibly vulnerable. At the start, it is hilarious that he holds a birthday party for his vacuum cleaner but it doesn’t take too long before it’s become a symptom of his loneliness.
Bebe | Nessa❣️
November 19, 2023 at 7:17 PM
Yes!! And it’s these little—but very heartfelt and meticulous— details being sprinkled throughout the drama which makes the overall finished product so so good and timeless!!
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 20, 2023 at 3:20 AM
Yoo Seung-ho’s dramas like Memorist and My Strange Hero are darker but if you want to try them do read up and see if it feels right for you.
You could also try Imaginary Cat or his movie Seondal: The Man Who Sells the River.
Kas61
November 20, 2023 at 11:45 AM
many thanks!
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 20, 2023 at 3:26 AM
I’m Not A Robot was indeed very well-written and organic script. Each moment felt earned. Nothing was included gratuitously. The nuances that Yoo Seung Ho bought to Kim Min-kyu were perfect.
Kas61
November 20, 2023 at 11:44 AM
And yet the ratings seemed to be low. Such a shame. I hope they all feel proud of what they did, despite the poor audience.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 20, 2023 at 12:02 PM
I’ve experienced this before and it was also confirmed by many Beanies – ratings do not matter. Drama watching is about your own mindset and timing. If the drama resonates with you and if the timing is right go right ahead. 😀
It is only natural to want others to share the joy and also enjoy the drama you love but what is more important is your response to the drama.
Kas61
November 20, 2023 at 12:18 PM
Oh of course. I don’t care about the ratings for myself when I watch or like a drama. I just hope the actors and writers and crew and all weren’t downcast by the ratings.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
November 20, 2023 at 12:06 PM
It was a drama made with a lot of love and heart and they are all very proud of their work. Perhaps you might want to have a look at a couple of interviews. 👇
https://www.soompi.com/article/1118415wpp/yoo-seung-ho-shares-honest-thoughts-low-viewership-ratings-not-robot
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2018/02/yoo-seung-ho-says-he-was-the-happiest-when-filming-im-not-a-robot-despite-low-ratings
Kas61
November 20, 2023 at 12:54 PM
Thanks for those links. I’m very glad they’re all proud of it, and that Yoo Seung-ho had a great experience making it, and that he feels so positive about it. Clearly the ratings did affect them, and it’s sad to hear him say that initially the low ratings made it hard for him to meet the others’ eyes on set as if it were his fault. But again, I think it’s wonderful it was a good experience for him, and as he says maybe his best ever.
I know one of my other favourite shows Weightlifting Fairy didn’t have good ratings, but has since become something of a cult classic.
Kas61
November 14, 2023 at 3:01 AM
It’s impossible not to love these guys. This is happy medicine.
Seon-ha
November 14, 2023 at 4:48 AM
The amount of tight shorts management Taec has to do in this dance routine is hilarious!
Midnight
November 14, 2023 at 5:57 AM
It’s hilarious (or weird?) how narrow their practice room is. They are always hitting the mirror or avoiding the couch in their practices.
I have been debating about posting a video. I’ll take your post as a sign.
parkchuna ❤️🍉
November 14, 2023 at 6:43 AM
Post it! And i think the new building has a bigger studio.
Midnight
November 14, 2023 at 6:48 AM
I did!
Well thank god 😄 I always felt worried while watching.
tabong has two different tears🍉
November 14, 2023 at 11:41 AM
I still don’t understand how people couldn’t have fun with this concept. They seriously thought it was too crazy? For me wtv JYP made them do in their rookie years was crazier, but ok. LOL
Kas61
November 14, 2023 at 1:26 PM
Did 2pm start the “practice video” thing? I just love the way this one descends into hilarious chaos.
tabong has two different tears🍉
November 14, 2023 at 4:13 PM
I think it was a marketing thing from JYP. Idk they keep doing it but some years ago they used to post like 4 different practice videos for the same song. And at least one of the videos was the idols being their weird selves.
But Go Crazy had already the “crazy” concept. So the concept of the comeback + the concept of the video = total chaos. 🤣
parkchuna ❤️🍉
November 14, 2023 at 5:46 PM
I remember in one interview they compared this choreo with another group that had an actual bike (I can’t remember who) and 2PM said they can’t afford a real one so they just pretended 🤣
tabong has two different tears🍉
November 14, 2023 at 5:53 PM
😂😂😂
Kas61
November 14, 2023 at 6:39 PM
The bike pretending is very cute. They also have a palpable sense of camaraderie…
Kas61
November 7, 2023 at 3:19 AM
Got distracted from my planned watching, and veered into Heirs. I thought the first few episodes were pretty good, aside from the awful American actors. Sometimes I feel like Korean drama producers hire all their foreign actors from some skeevy Eurotrash nightclub. They line up all the barmen-cum-coke-dealers, and pick the ones that look the stupidest. (See also Descended from the Sun.)
Anyways, there’s LMH, living the languid and lost life in LA, until a distressed candy girl from back home wakes him out of his torpor. Once they’re back in Korea, and once we’ve got past the exciting fact that she’s LIVING IN HIS HOUSE, I’m afraid I got a bit bored. Even LMH started to look bored too. I skipped to the end and that wasn’t terribly thrilling either.
I quite liked Kim Mi-kyung as the mute mother, but she kept morphing in my mind into Healer’s ahjumma, and I kept seeing her hurling abuse in sign language and smacking stupid people about the head.
Getting back to LMH, I like him best when he’s hilariously stupid and petty and dumb, undercutting all that heroic screen god thing. There’s a decent amount of that in Legend of the Blue Sea, which I’m very fond of, and of course Jun Ji-hyun keeps him on his toes, and I love her.
It’s of course as Gu Jun-pyo where he excels in this department, combining massive hilarious dorkiness with dark insane swooniness. I keep going back to Boys Before Flowers, wanting to define exactly what I think of it. I feel a bit obsessive about it, and despise it at the same time. But what’s wrong with it is definitely not LMH. Just to untangle that double-negative, he’s a lot of what’s right.
I’d like to just pluck out all the great scenes and run them together, and consign the rest to…..
Anyway, the swooniest scene that keeps jumping into my mind is where Madame the Witch has just ruined Jan-di’s family and they’re reduced to hocking rice cakes in the rush-hour traffic. Jun-pyo’s in the back seat with Mummy Dearest, who makes sure Jan-di comes to their car window to sell her sad goods. Our girl and our boy lock eyes – she’s embarrassed, he’s enraged and ashamed. He’s about to leap out of the car, but Mummy holds his hand down hard with her talons.
But our hero shows his spine, breaks her grip and strides down between the cars to kiss his girl in the middle of the traffic. Yess!! Then they go off and have an Actual Conversation. You could count the number of these they have on one hand. We the viewers are instead supposed to be satisfied with interminable scenes of her pouring her heart out to her languid “soul mate”. Lord give me patience.
I’m starting to think, too, that the kidnapping thing has a certain logic to it. The “proper” reaction to His Nibs having Jan-di picked up, drugged and made over into a doll for him is that he’s a horrific, insanely entitled chaebol with zero morals or scruples.
But for Jun-pyo, it’s what he knows. His mother has him kidnapped all the time. And usually there’s nothing pleasant at the end of it.
Anyway, I was a bit obsessed with BBF a couple of months ago, which led me to track down a couple of surprisingly well written fics. One is set at school – Jan-di spies a girl putting a love letter in Jun-pyo’s locker so she steals it and throws it in the trash. How one small crime can wreck your life. It’s actually very funny, the dialogue is sharp, and even Woobin gets a whole scene! Ji-hoo spends most of the time asleep – haha. Amidst the laughs, the writer really gets to the nub of Jan-di’s and Jun-pyo’s relationship, which is quite an achievement.
The other is a rather passionate reunion fic, set five years after Jun-pyo actually goes through with his marriage. Let’s just say I found it emotionally satisfying.
I had to do a lot of digging to find these – digging through huge mountains of stories about the beautiful love between Jan-di and Ji-hoo. (This has brought me to a new appreciation of how much Angel fans must have hated Spuffy. And probably still do…)
tabong has two different tears🍉
November 7, 2023 at 9:13 AM
My theory is that there isn’t American actors in Korea so they just pick random white foreigners.
Sometimes people make comment on how their accents sound weird, like they’re from Europe or something.
Kas61
November 7, 2023 at 6:46 PM
Wouldn’t surprise me. Their accents are off and their acting is bad. I guess it would be too expensive to recruit and fly in actual American actors.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦆❤️🦆
November 7, 2023 at 2:18 PM
I just want to say I LOVE your description of Lee Min-ho as “combining massive hilarious dorkiness with dark insane swooniness,” which is EXACTLY his charm and what I love about him in the things I’ve seen him in ❤️ Legend of the Blue Sea is one of my favorite romance/fantasy dramas, and he was perfect for it with the sparkling Jun Ji-hyun.
Kas61
November 7, 2023 at 5:46 PM
Oh yes, I love Legend of the Blue Sea a lot. What I don’t like is LMH taking himself too seriously because that can come across as a bit pompous, but there are lovely scenes that undercut that… the one that springs to mind is when he’s teaching her how to drink, and is so funny and silly when he’s the one who can’t hold his liquor…
Kas61
October 29, 2023 at 10:53 PM
Next two I\’m going to watch: I am not a Robot, then Just Between Lovers.
Kas61
October 27, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Am halfway through W-Two Worlds, and so far I think it is very fine. But man, am I sick of mind wipes. All the slow gradual work of building relationships and context and understanding goes out the window just like that. It had better be worth it.
Of course I now understand why Lee Jong-suk’s little cameo in Weightlifting Fairy was so funny, (quite aside from the 15 seconds of hilarious banter with Bok-Ju’s uncle…)
Elinor is trapped in the timeslip
October 27, 2023 at 3:53 PM
Isn’t it fun? I’m on my fourth watch. I love this show – glad you’re enjoying it!
Yeon-joo definitely has something to say about mind wipes.
bong-soo
October 27, 2023 at 4:13 PM
NOOONAAAA!!! (said going backwards like back in Joseon days).
Kas61
October 27, 2023 at 4:20 PM
I really AM enjoying it. I’d only ever seen Lee Jung-suk in that little Weightlifting Fairy cameo and in the first part of Romance is a Bonus Book which didn’t really do it for me. I’m loving him in this, and I don’t suspect that taking Kang Chul’s free will away again (even if he volunteers to do it) is the way his story needs to go…
Kas61
October 19, 2023 at 5:47 PM
I once received a Facebook \”like\” from the US general who heads the joint US/Korea military command in Seoul. He liked a comment I made on use of the apostrophe, on a FB page dedicated to language…
owl 🦉 🫰
October 19, 2023 at 6:06 PM
That seems like an impressive “like.”
Kas61
October 19, 2023 at 6:15 PM
I was pretty impressed! General Paul leCamera… And you gotta love a man who’s keeping the free world safe AND knows his apostrophes.
owl 🦉 🫰
October 19, 2023 at 6:29 PM
Or, as the poor punctuation mark is often incorrectly placed, apostrophe’s.