Beanie level: Loan shark with a heart of gold

aespa-Priests
Did y’all note the cutest final photo of the aespa priests? Love it. The Midnight Studio, episode 4.

workfor-Me
Also, with regards to how Korea’s Grandma is always saying her farewells in every drama, I’d also like to note/remind/place at the forefront of our memories how unbelievably excellent Kim Young-ok is at being utterly menacing. Don’t fuck with halmeoni, folks. It’s unwise.

just-Dont-Messwith-Her
Remember this from King, My Foot? Hilarious delivery.

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    “If you ever make her cry” … makes me think of Adalbert von Chamisso’s poem’s made song cycle by Robert Schumann, and the song “Now you have caused me the first pain” (The translation here says “My first pain” but the cycle never says that nothing has caused her pain before. Just that he hasn’t, before now).
    “https://oxfordsong.org/song/nun-hast-du-mir-den-ersten-schmerz-getan-2

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    🤣 Classic!

    PS: Oh, I can only hope she secretly opened a savings‘ account in Kijoo‘s name, too. 🥹

    PPS: That photo had me laughing, too!

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ep06-Manfor-Be-Melo
The Be Melo meta in Chicken Nugget is strong.

ep05-fuckmy-Life
At my last count, I could identify maybe six members of the Be Melo cast that also have roles here in CN. How many did other Nugget Nerds identify??

ep07-teens-Cursing02
I also consider the OTT swearing to be Be Melo meta. If y’all remember there was a meta even in Be Melo about how much swearing they could write into the drama before the censors called them out on it… There’s a mini-commentary on the “Teen Swearing” scene in the comments.

But last, but not least…THE SONG!! And Ahn Jae-hong’s deadpan, “You can stop.” The most meta of meta. Such delight. There’s sound below, and here in this direct link.

View post on imgur.com

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    ep07-teens-Cursing01
     
    ep07-teens-Cursing01-Dub
    One of these is the subs for the original language and the other is the CC-subs for the dub. I just can’t get over the subtlety of the distinctions these translators are making when your options are the words “fuck” and “shit.” 🤣

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    The little ears on the caterpillar just killed me 😆

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    Hahaha love this! I saw part of a scene where they played the song in the van n i was stoked to see the Be Melo reference.

    On the dubbing, do you watch the dubbed version of the show?

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      I have watched Chicken Nugget three times, once each dubbed and subbed and once (the third time) comparing the two directly!

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ep07-third-Guy-reading-Bullshit
Nugget Neerrrrrds!!! Today\’s post is about Third Guy. Sure, Third Guy has a name on the wiki pages, but I swear to all-heavens-above that I never heard anyone say it in the comedy.
 
ep07-third-Guy-Im-Free
Don\’t burst my bubble, folks, by telling me about \”that one time Sun-man said it\” or whatever. To me, he\’s Third Guy, nicknamed \”Third Dude,\” and he will stay that way 4eva.
 
ep08-third-Guy-whattheactualfuck
I can\’t get over how funny this character is, and how utterly played to perfection he is by Kim Nam-hee. I know many of y\’all (not all! but many…) don\’t want to hear about the dubbing…but the dubber who does the voice acting for Third Dude is perfection. It\’s like the flattest, deepest California-style accent ever. I swear I\’ve met this guy in real life.
 
MORE THIRD GUY IN THE COMMENTS!!!

PS: I\’m gonna hold off on the Be Melo post until tomorrow to give as many of you as possible a chance to make it through at least Episode 6.

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    ep04-third-Dude-Life-Stolen
     
    ep04-third-Dude-Teethare-For
    Oh, the joys of Third Dude’s relationship with our leads. There’s never been an authentic word exchanged between him and them. Not even one. The deadpan here is utter perfection.

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    ep01-third-Dude-doesntcare
     
    ep04-third-Dude-dontwantto-Know
    This is one of Third Dude’s refrains. He wants to know, but really…he totally doesn’t. I laughed every time.

    The second version is a “reaction gif” for all of us to use whenever we need it. And I think there are times when we all need it. @sonai and @lapislazulii take note!! You two often need gifs like this 😁

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      Woah! Thank you! I would never dare to use other beanies’ self made GIFs, but with this specific permission … *saves for future usage* 👏👏👏🤩🫰

      (I haven’t had a look at all the chicken content* yet 🫣 Oooooh, maybe this next week of vacation will offer some openings to finally, finally finish watching!
      * and more MEAT on the way! Is it a plot pattern for 2024? 😂)

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        You are absolutely 100% allowed to use any of my GIFs you want in any context you want! I hereby may give you full and complete permission. This goes for ANY BEANIE!!!

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      many thanks for making this GIF Seon-ha, I can think of half a dozen dramas that make me have that eXACT reaction there 😆

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    ep05-third-Dude-human-Rights
    If I were in high school together with y’all, there’s a 100% chance I would have come up behind you in the hall at some point and surprised you by shouting “HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF HUMAN RIGHTS!?” in your ear. 100%.

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    ep05-third-Dude-stayedat-Sauna
    And, last, but certainly not least…this is now the catchphrase for my life. In a very real sense, I SHOULD HAVE STAYED AT THE SAUNA. His love for the place is both absurd, and somehow, understandable. Wouldn’t we all rather be at the sauna-heaven than at work??

    I wouldn’t rather be at the sauna than watching Chicken Nugget, though. But OMG, what about watching CN while at the sauna??? Third Dude? I’ll meet…you…THERE.

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    As always, perfect gifs! That last one especially. “I should have stayed at the sauna,” indeed! I’m laughing every time.

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    Oh my gosh, third guy/full time guy was such an excellent part of this drama. Such great reactions and one-liners. So very very funny!!

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ep03-Cha-Eun-Woo
For the Wonderful World crew comprised of @lapislazulii @seeker and @darkcc … as well as for the Nugget Nerds.

This was pretty much one of the absolute most hilarious punchlines, not only of Chicken Nugget, but of recent memory. The dramatic pause to wait and see just who/what Yellow Pants would shout…was simply comic gold.

For those who, sadly, have not seen this drama…this is the end of episode 2/beginning of episode 3. I suggest you go watch to see if he actually succeeds in becoming Cha Eun-woo.

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    Oh I laughed so much!
    It was brilliant!

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      Oh hey, since you’re here…I have a Drama Meta Game for you!! Also from Nuggety-Wuggetems. Not only will you get it, I’m going to make it harder for you. In response to the image below, could you please give me the one English noun that is the “proper” response to that door code? If you are not @darkcc , please do not google this and answer. If you ARE @darkcc feel free to google away, but I bet you won’t have to!!

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        Oooooh a challenge! 8282 brain, think! Is it 👼?

        (I first read every digit individually… 🤦🏻‍♀️)

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          1004
          DING!
          DING!
          DING!
          ANGEL!

          And, no shit, this is my first ever Goblin GIF.

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            I only got the reference because I learned the word on Goblin. 😆

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            @darkcc and @ally-le Coming back here to respond to all of you, I keep laughing at how Gong Yoo flinches at the word “angel.” So good.

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    Seon-ha thank you for remembering me. ❤️ RL is not allowing me to move ahead with Chicken Nugget for now. Your fanwall posts have me all excited and eager to participate but I’m waiting till I can complete watching.

    Can I request a raincheck for now. 🙏 Please do continue to tag me,

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    And then *possible spoiler alert* he exits the magic machine, feeling his face to see if there are any changes 🤣🤣🤣

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      lol…saying, “I guess that was too much to wish for” 😂🤣😎😍😅

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    I just finished this episode and I laughed so hard. This was hilarious. And his after reaction 😂😂

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    One of my favorite jokes of the whole series!

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    HAHAHAHHA I saw this snippet just before on instagram too and had a good laugh 😆 CEW getting a few name drops in recent dramas – there was one in Welcome to Samdal-ri no? And in Strong Woman Gang Nam-soon not that long ago 😆

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      But we do it better here on Dramabeans, right??? Insta, shminsta. 😈

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        oh yes, the DB bar is set way higher especially because it comes with witty commentary and sharp observations!

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    THIS WAS SO FUNNY! It also makes me want to shriek CHA EUN-WOOOOOO before opening doors 😂

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ep04-Bookstore-That-Doesnt-Look-Likea-Bookstore
For the Nugget Nerds. It\’s all about Yellow Pants\’s sigh at the end.

For those of you who, sadly, have not seen this truly amusing drama. Our main character is on the phone with 119.

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ep07-Mech-E
Parents. Can\’t be born without them. With just a tiny bit of cultural translation, I bet this scene rings true the world around.
 
ep07-Kill-Myself-Bathroom
As a parent myself, I can say that I am nothing like this, of course.
 
ep07-support-Dream
Ahn Jae-hong\’s face!!! Bwahahahaha.

Chicken Nugget, episode 7.

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dont-Be-Scaredof-What
Today\’s Nuggetfest will involve the aliens. I\’m just gonna assume that everyone who\’s gonna watch this show either knows–or suspects–that the point here was that there were aliens who came to earth and brought these machines. The machines aren\’t for turning things into chicken nuggets, chicken meatballs or dakgangjeong. They\’re from a travel agency.

Anywhom, our aliens are trying to get home. And they want to threaten the humans without harming them, because they will be punished if they do. So…they pantomime things that we fear. Or at least, that they think we\’ll fear. Yellow Pants comic timing above just cracks me the hell up. So, here are just a few things that they chose as their threats.
 
fire-Formation
FIRE FORMATION. Pew. Pew. Roar. Psst.
 
missile
MISSIIIILE. Dude sings that word in the show while he does this dance. You should go and take a listen.
 
bts
BTS. No one fucks with BTS.
 

At the end of the day, though, this was actually one of the most affecting scenes in the drama. They only went through a second round of \”attack\” because they thought that their impassioned speech about \”why do you always solve things through violence\” didn\’t get through to the humans–but it had. The humans were only silent because they were thinking. But, they took too long…and attack-by-BTS ensued. Too bad, really.

Special request for this series came from @ally-le.

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    Aww this is the most adorable boss fight that ever was 🥹 I love how K-dramas do things – even really weird things – with heart ❤️ Pew pew!!

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      🎶🎵Misiiiiiiilllle *pause* Missiiiiiillllle *pause*🎶🎵

      I’ve watched my own BTS gif like 1000 times. I laugh each time. You know that alien dude was the villain in My Demon and of course Mi-na starred in that same drama…so it’s a mini-MD reunion. Not as big as the Be Melo reunion, of course.

      The way he WINKS! It’s just like V. 😉

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        Oh my gosh his dance is SO GOOD!!! His BTS is on point!! And I hadn’t realized about those reunion details – so cool! (And I love Ryu Seung-ryong’s reaction to his dance ❤️)

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        I’m so glad to see him cast as someone (something?) that’s not a villain! There is so much talent in this show, it’s crazy.

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    Thank you-thank you! I LURVED Kim Tae Hoon as he was channelling BTS through this. He’s a wonderful actor! This scene was my favorite of the whole drama. And you didn’t even mention the music behind it when they started fighting again. Genius. Anyway, thank you! I appreciate it!

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    That was the most heartwarming superpower fight scene ever.

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fuck-Inspiration
Today’s song from Nugget-Wugget. The cursing in this show is just like a 12-year-old boy would have it–as this is the audience, I feel, that is best suited to this drama. I am not a 12-year-old boy, but I happen to have a sense-of-humor very much like one (I have real-world evidence of this). I will do a whole post on the cursing alone–not only because I find it hilarious, but also because I think it’s clear that it’s Be Melo meta.

I’m going to slap my hobby-horse on the butt one more time. It’s OK. No hobby-horses were harmed on this Fan Wall. The horse in question here is the “watch this drama dubbed” stallion. If you want to see how carefully the dubbers worked on this drama, watch the song below both in English and in Korean. You can totally feel free to prefer the original (I do too in many ways), but watch how carefully they changed the lyrics to match how Yellow Pants was opening and closing his mouth, all while retaining much of the sense of the words, as well as the cursing.

This is really hard when the words are “fuck” and “씨발” which don’t cause your mouth to move the same way at all. In fact, when they dub “씨발” as “Sheesus” I laugh THE MOST because it really looks like that’s what they’re saying, even if it’s not the same word.

In other dubbing notes, they translated “씨발 아니” in the gif above as “You fucking kidding?” to match the number of syllables seemeingly uttered by Sun-man, but it’s actually funnier to imagine him just saying “Fuck no” (direct translation), as he does indeed do in the subs for the Korean audio.

DO YOU THINK I’VE WATCHED THIS SHOW ENOUGH?? Nope. There’s more watching for me. I got gifs to make.

Here is a direct link to the song in English (also below)…and here it is in Korean!!

View post on imgur.com

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MTMPendant
Okey-dokey. I’m going to be posting about Sweet n’ Spicy Chicken Bits for a while here. This show is actually only 4.5 hours long, if you take away the ridiculous amount of ending credits, and (no joke) I’ve made note of about 50 gifs I could make that would have me laughing. I won’t make them all, but I’ll make a goodly number for the three fanz.

For those who didn’t find this show funny–more power to you–but I want to note something I already mentioned yesterday on @leetennant‘s wall. What Nugget-wugget is, is like one of those movies from high school (if you’re of a certain age and a certain culture) that’s chock full of lines and mental imagery that you quote to one another…it doesn’t so much form a good or gripping plot in-and-of-itself. Think Heathers or Ferris Bueller. The memories/gifs are really the thing.

Of the posts I’m going to make, three of them definitely require sound, and so will each get their own post so I can post a video. This is the first.

My reaction to Ko Baek-Jong’s song (should I just call him Yellow Pants?? Yes, I should) Yellow Pants’ company jingle couldn’t have been more different than Choi Sun-man’s and the full-timer-sauna-fiend who, hilariously, never gets a name, as seen above.

I will buy whatever I can from More than Machines, because I HAVE BEEN SINGING THIS SONG (in its English version) FOR 24 HOURS STRAIGHT IN MY HEAD.

And @seeker … this is why I’m more than a machine.

English here, and in-line below, and here’s also the original Korean for ya!

View post on imgur.com

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hot-Ripped-Bod-LIKEYOURS
This mini-GIF geyser is gonna be about how hot Ahn Jae-hong is. He really is…Chicken Nugget doesn\’t shy away.
 
not-Uselessat-All
I thought of starting with a gif stream that would be palatable to more than just the Nuggie Fans, but I\’m not gonna pander. Both Ahn Jae-hong and Kim Yoo-jung play this to perfection. Here\’s one of the rare times where I wouldn\’t recommend the dub–her real voice is WAY sexier.
 
forearms-BOMB
I\’m sold. I\’m literally not joking.

Food Blogger in the comments. IYKYK.

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    theTrufe
    The truuuuth. This food blogger was pretty much my favorite character in this drama, and this scene sold me on the whole series. So OTT. So over-characterized. Also, it doesn’t hurt that she’s really beautiful.
     
    itISHim
    LOOK AT Ryu Seung-ryong’s FACE. Dead. I had to edit this whole interchange down dramaically–go watch the show to see it in its whole glory.

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    I saw this yesterday and yet I am laughing now. OMG, the third gif …

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    The forearms were for me the funniest part of the show so far, though I’ve only made it through 3.

    Also, I’m not saying that I have in the past, rolled up my shirt to display my forearms as the only part of my body that is truly muscular, but I would have been tempted if women were actually in the habit of asking where they are supposed to look. Is there a way I could encourage women to greet me with that question now that I’ve reached senior citizen status?

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      Uh-oh. If you didn’t find episode 3 hilarious I don’t know if we can still be internet friends. Not even bicycle ajumma?? Not even “I didn’t want to hear your love story, but I had to listen to the entire fucking thing?”

      I could do a whole post on episode 3 ALONE.

      @hopefulromantic this brings me to my major difficulty. Instead of watching new dramas on my travels (although I did catch up on the best-drama-on-air-right-now FxC)…I watch-skimmed Nuggie AGAIN. That’s right. I’ve now seen it pretty much twice.

      It was funnier the second time because I knew what I could skip just for the bit parts. And I took notes.

      OKOK…the problem. I now have, no joke, maybe 50 scenes I could gif.

      I think I have to do it thematically. Wish me luck. I don’t want to drown the Fan Wall, but I do want to replace duplicitous chaebols with image after image of full-time guy who never gets a character name. I’m in super-love with him. Whither he goes (to the sauna), I shall follow.

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        Having seen 1-6, I think episode 3 is the high water mark for me so far! In this mid-latter bit, it’s darker and not as dense with the funny, but I remain pleased with how well the humor WORKS for me. Full-time guy is HILARIOUS! His little monologues and laughing on the off-beat because he doesn’t find the joke funny but doesn’t want to let his two coworkers know he’s a sane and reasonable man is gold. That scene of the slapping and “how much did society change while I was in the sauna??” made me guffaw!! I can totally see skipping through this a second time just to skim for the jokes! Super duper looking forward to the gifs!!!

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    So how are you “more than a machine” !?

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    🥂 I was just able to squeeze in the first episode, and after I got past the weird forced laughter of the three colleagues during “their introduction”, I kinda laughed my way through. Best scenes:
    * wide shot of them opening their laptops simultaneously, and the windows startup jingle plays synchronously (why was it funny? I DON’T KNOW!), time passes, nothing happens
    * Dad inventing a quasi vacuum over night to tie daughter’s hair properly (oh this was just awesome!)
    * the forearms, and her dry reaction “I’m sorry, but where am I supposed to look?” 🤣

    Will return once I watched more! But I really like the “theatrical” vibe, which is so Wes Anderson-y. I was also kinda expecting a narrator’s voice-over at any given time. 😂

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      The Windows startup sound made me laugh, too!!

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        Aaactually (in my most annoying “know-it-all” voice), I was shocked at how little real PPL there actually is in Nuggety-wugget-ums–I wonder if Microsoft truly paid for that!! We all recognized it, so probably. 🙂

        Also, the awkward laughing thing comes back at the end in sort of a sweet way…at least part of it does? Our ML has some growth. I dunno. It’s all weird. I’ve seen it twice so maybe I’m in too deep. It’s really a cute show, in the end. It’s short–you can be patient through 4.5 hours–and there are some really nice moments and some absolutely hilarious ones. Definitely better than Impossible Heir. Also better than the Butt Show. This is WAY closer to what I wanted the Butt Show to be.

        Also, the two of you better be ready for the Be Melo tribute post. There’ll be ALL the swearing and the actual Be Melo meta–that’s not a spoiler because you can’t actually spoil those scenes. It’s too fucking funny, and you have to be there.

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          Oooh, I’ll make sure to tune in! Will hopefully be able to finish that drama over the course of next week (I do have a day off of work! It will be well invested.) 😂

          Ha, I was also wondering whether MS paid for that PPL. 😂 They did mention the brand of chicken nuggets a lot, too, but I dunno if it’s a fictional name or something I just don’t know… 🤔😂
          (And that accusing “… and you never took us out to have a team dinner!” by the third colleague…)

          Thank you as always for the GIFs! 👏🫰👏

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gimme-Jong-Seowith-Rowoon
For @elinor and the DWY \”Ear Acting\” Crew.
 
lovely-Framing
For me and all others who love beautiful cinematographic framing. This shot has been coming back to my mind every few hours. It\’s the combo of the raked light, the stripe of dark shadow through the lower third, and the pop of A-jeong\’s pink dress–the color actually washes Jun Jong-seo out a bit, I feel, but this here shot sure makes up for that, IMO!!

Wedding Impossible, episode 6.

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    Ok, crazy off-topic question here but – look at the wall. I’m fascinated with these Korean stone walls that are mortared between but also “frame” the outside of the stones. Does anyone know how that is done? I’ve looked a bit and not found any information at least in English. 🤔🤔🤔

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      Hmmm… it seems like regular bricklaying to me, but just extra-extra on the mortar. It really does look cool.

      3
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        Other photos make it look like it’s all stone–and that’s not mortar. But I can’t find any words to back up my observation.

        https://www.habkorea.net/seoul-opening-of-completed-deoksugung-stone-wall-path/

        https://ittekuru.com/2019/08/25/field-report-deoksugung-stone-wall-road-seoul-south-korea-23-march-2019/

        Also, the section above and in the show seems to be the reconstruction created a few years ago after negotiating some land away from a few foreign embassies.

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          Thanks for sharing. A lot of dramas use walls and I always think they are so beautifully lit in night shots.

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          This one looks like it’s a lattice that they fit the stones into, which seems impossible and yet, there it is. Mollah! And yes, some of the walls are new so the technique, whatever it is, is still known. Oh my. I may have to make this a full fledged obsession and take these pictures to my local bricklayers Union! 😆

          Thanks for your help!

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          I love that second article. Do you know a book called Fifteen Years Among the Topknots?
          https://www.amazon.com/Fifteen-Years-Among-Top-Knots-Korea/dp/1432544047
          We referred to it a lot during Mr Sunshine. It’s written by an American female missionary doctor and describes a lot of activity that took place in the neighborhoods described in this article, like Emperor Gojong escaping to the Russian delegation and the assassination (and funeral, amazing story) of Empress Myeongseong by the Japanese. The author was part of establishing Severance Hospital, still the largest hospital in SK. I think the book is available for free download if you search.

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        I’ve been wondering for years, I don’t know how they could get those perfect frames/edges around irregular sized stones. The hunt for info continues!

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    The framing was beautiful in this scene. It wasn’t until I re-watched this episode that I realized this was the “breakup” wall referenced in the information he was researching online. That aha made this scene even better.

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    Oooh, the rare female ear-acting! I haven’t noticed much of it previously, probably because hairstyles often get in the way. Somewhere, someday, in some drama I need a wordless scene where both leads express themselves only with alternating ear movements.

    Her pink dress was a perfect choice for the occasion and showed her understanding of her role and how to use wardrobe and grooming as part of her messaging to her new family – as a good actress should.

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      “Somewhere, someday, in some drama I need a wordless scene where both leads express themselves only with alternating ear movements.” 😂

      I will be forever thankful to you, Seon-ha and other beanies for introducing me to this delightful new branch of acting.

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    I noticed the ear acting too!

    I loved this scene.

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    Thank you for the gif! I liked the dress but thought it was intentional to make her look little dull and unlike her usual self.

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    There just ain’t no pleasing some folks. All that acknowledging, and then look at that sour face! 😂🤷🏻‍♀️😉

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I was in a few airports and on a few planes for hours and hours today, giving me the chance to catch up and watch (in this order):

⭕Episode 49 of LYOL
olympic-Bags
🎵Spontaneous Weekender Art. Who knew?
 
⭕Episode 5 of Wedding Impossible
bagtothe-Head
🎵He didn\’t see that one coming.
 
⭕Episode 12 of FxC
huganda-Smile
🎵Ahn Bo-hyun\’s little smirks, and this dongsaeng\’s love. Chef\’s kiss.
 
⭕Episode 3 of Sell Your Haunted House
will-You-Be-Mine
🎵Character actors for the WIN.
 
⭕Episode 1 of EroticMidnight Photo Studio
what-Are-You-Old
🎵Spotted: Korea\’s Grandma!!! Also Spotted: The church from the end of Kkokdu. We should all be very afraid.
 
Which do you suppose was the most delightful hour? Which would have been the most delightful hour for you?? Do tell!!?? My answer, with corresponding gif, in the comments.

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    Comment was deleted

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    he-Loves-Me
    to-Lovethis-Much
     
    Predictable, yes? Like a Sunday evening comfort show, DOUBLE yes!! I have just come to care so much about these characters! I want all of them to be happy. And the fathers. GAH. My catnip.

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      YAY I WAS HOPING THE WINNER WAS FlexxCop!!! 😆 Episode 12 was so good. So exciting, so satisfying, so predictable in the most comfortable of ways. I rarely, if ever, say this about dramas, but – I would love a second season! I LOOOOVED seeing I-soo finally gain the acceptance of the full team!!!!!

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        I wonder if Early Spring in Korea doesn’t bring on the “case-of-the-week” shows. I remember it was sort of thus last year, anyway. Midnight Photo Studio is shaping up to be one as well (the ghosts are pretty gory, though–not sure if you’re into that). Queen of Divorce started as one, but then derailed into some sort of art piece about early 21st-century character gestalt.

        Maybe Chicken Nugget will be too!! Banchan-of-the-week! 🥒 Frank(furter)ly, I don’t know how they’re going to fill the time otherwise. 😂

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        1

          Thanks for the heads-up – I wasn’t planning on Midnight Photo Studio, but that confirms it for me 😅

          I’m so very interested to see what in the world they’re going to do with the premise of Chicken Nugget for 10 whole episodes. I’m somewhat reassured by the director (Extreme Job is one of my favorite K-movies), and the cast that signed on must have seen potential?? Banchan of the week!!! 😂👍

          I’m also enjoying the chaotic fun of Wedding Impossible, but not with the same emotional connection as FxC.

          2
          2

            I’ll watch anything with Ahn Jae-hong in it at this point. I realized/remembered a week or two ago–actually sitting up like a shot in my bed–that he was the 2ML in Fight My Way playing that same, amazing, conflicted character he often does, and does so well. I half-think in retrospect he’s a big reason I have fondness for that drama because otherwise I just think about how it’s centered on men beating each other up for sport, and then I go…eww.

            3
            0

            And the very “funny” scenes where
            1) ML remembers being beaten in school
            2) ML is beaten with a hanger by prospect Father-in-Law for having slept in the same room as grown-up daughter FL, ha ha ha and
            3) FL being insecure if ML is attracted to her, and him saying “Last night, alcohol saved you”. Being “saved” by alcohol … any girls dream, amirite?

            1
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      FxC, yesss! But WI was a solid second for me. Yet to watch Midnight Studio. And not in a position to rank the others.

      How’d you rank the rest?

      3
      1

        1) FxC
        2) Wedding Impossible (although I’m embarrassed about basically being able to forget that the ML exploits the poor)
        3) Sell Your Haunted House
        4) Midnight Photo Studio
        5) LYOL

        1
        1

          Well, I suspect the 30 pieces of silver it took to become a Silver Spoon weren’t all that honorable either. Sadly, these chaebols are everywhere (and QoT is honest of awful you have to be to climb to the top).

          I caught MS. I’ll bop to #3. It’s low budget for sure. But I see potential. I also see no chaebols!

          1
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    I spotted Korea’s Grandma dressed in non-flowery trousers and tops (shocking) in a recent advert venting the merits of British breakfasts (you sure about that, nan?) and she is so stylish and elegant in her mannerisms and overall allure… Miles away from her typical grandma roles.
    Please K drama, don’t kill grandma. They only give her flowery trousers to have her die of old age every single time.

    4
    2

      She’s my parents’ age. I know what it is like to be around folks that old–as do many of us!!! Kim Young-ok is simply exceptional. The amount of sparkle and wit in that woman’s body could power Seoul.

      Also, though, I’m with you @darkcc on the British breakfast thing. Delicious they are!! Healthy, um?

      2
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      I was SO HAPPY she didn’t die in either of the recent dramas in which I’ve seen her, although I wasn’t happy with either of those dramas. Haven’t started Midnight Studio yet but I’d probably check out her scenes even if I didn’t watch any of the rest. I luff her.

      She’s older than my parents! (Who are alive and kicking and doing just fine, but not keeping up a busy filming schedule.)

      2
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    I feel like maybe I must watch the … fxcc or something. I am very happy with Wedding IMpossible, actually. I would guess your favourite would be LYOL.
    Now, I am going to look.

    1
    0

BL01
BL02
BL03
BL04
BL05
You know how we\’ve been talking about Slump playing with all the tropes? These here from episode 13? Some serious BL narrative tropes. One brash, the other shy. One sure of his feelings, the other oblivious. Meeting a man who shows you more about yourself than you could have understood before. The early scenes in the episode had me side-eyeing the Production Team, but by the end of these flashbacks (showering, really?), I was all, \”I see you, Show, and I\’m not sure what I think of this given the actual plot of this episode.\” Granted, I\’d just come off watching QoT, so my sensitivity to emotional manipulation was very high.

4
5

    I liked this episode better, too, also even if it didn’t hit home with me the way some of the other episodes did. But it was OK, and I guess they have to wrap up pø om pø (which is a Danish way of saying “bit by bit” with words, that were once French (peu à peu) and would turn in their graves if they heard the Danish pronunciation and spelling. Suffice to say that the soft French words, spoken either hesitantly like smoke swirling towards the ceiling or quickly like from a person who holds their cigarette between thumb and index finger, pointing towards the palm, sucking it quickly and almost spitting out the smoke in a straight, energetic line would pretend not to know their Danish offspring, a mutilation wearing wooden clogs while munching carrots) … where was I …
    I guess they have to explain why Well-Hyung was targeted … maybe they will even return to the subject of gaslighting and then triumphantly clear it up before the final. We also need to have Honey-sik in a tenable situation with his parents. I don’t feel like forgiving them, but it’s not up to me.
    The guy with the many cameras seems scary, amirite? That deadpan face is not like someone who is used to making sure he has his own recording, but is then shocked to learn that more has been going on?
    Also: We haven’t talked about Pop-Sikle’s fear of being followed by men in black, remember?
    Are his parent behind some of this?
    Am I the only one who is pretty sure those flowers weren’t actually sent by HoneySikle? 10 to 1 there’s a bug in them. His parents are spying on him, I tell you. And “that girl”. They may even, just to turn the trope upside down, like her for being intelligent rather than despise her for being poor.
    I only dawned on me in the last scene that the suit he was crying on in the preview is that black suit he got from Tutor Intruder.

    2
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      Of course, since Tutor Intruder don’t want to let Well-hyung be happy, the flowers could also be his attempt at hurting her again.
      But we need to hear more about those horrible parents and those men in black that Sweet Sik-ret talked about being afraid of.

      2
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      I was suspicious of the flowers too after Queen of divorce bugs and weird anaesthetist as I was sure he was in cahoots with hyung and was mad at him for the lack of follow through. I didnt finish episode 12 so just assumed I missed something.

      I agree parents need to be cut off. They were consistently cold with everyone when it came to their son’s education. I wonder if both parents were like Haneul when they were children and if they were how did they even ‘waste’ time on a relationship long enough to get married and why have a child if you don’t like children. I can’t see her wanting to be inconvenienced by pregnancy/maternity. How are they able to climb the ladder make the connections to get that highly esteemed position when their people skills are non essistent.
      Re hyung and intensive care: would he be able to talk as he was having problems breathing surely he would be on a ventilator. Where were the staff monitoring the machines and how come his wife and his new rich family were not visiting when he was due to die any moment?

      3
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        I think he maybe was better than Kyung pretended to be when he called for Pop-Sikle. His family may have visited him already and just not been there at that time – but also, it might be the kind of bride and family that stays away if he smells like impending scandal or death.

        1
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          Compare the tumbleweed rolling around his bedside to Haneul’s family fighting over being the one to stay overnight. We were given the impression that Intensive care has set hours for visits but if you are near death surely they would let you loiter with intent.

          2
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fan-Service-Ladies
OMG. QoT was the most painful 1+ hour I\’ve spent in quite some time. I spent most of it with my stomach in a knot and my finger on the FF button or my eyes squeezed shut. I didn\’t find it funny or intelligent, but rather cringey and ham-fisted. Nope. Not for me. Not for me at all.

But let it not be said that I\’m not above certain types of fan service gifs before I go.

Have fun y\’all.

10
12

    The end made me want to watch episode 2. I do think (hope and pray) it’ll get better.

    2
    1

      I’m not sure I want to get into this–my reaction was that violently negative–but which “end part” do you mean? Trying to keep this spoiler-free-ish…the emotional blackmail part or the flashback to how “she’s always been like this and just needs the love of a good man to fix her” part???

      2
      1

    Thanks for the eye candy. Those are two beautiful women! And you know what–I don’t think I’ve written this before–both of them are just a year younger than I am! I wonder they need the love of a good man to fix them?

    I’m sorry that the show is bad. Maybe I’ll watch it with the captions turned off.

    4
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    Ok, this is enough to confirm that yep, not going to start this one 👍 Thank you for being my drama radar! 😂

    4
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    You are… OUT??
    I’m still waiting for the real story to start… and hasn’t yet lost my trust in the writer (and the actors).

    4
    1

      This isn’t a theme I find enjoyable to joke around about. It’s not the divorce part; it’s the gender-reversed cruelty part. I’ll surely keep up on the Fan Wall, and if I end up being wrong, I’ve no trouble dipping in and out! But, yes, in the main, I’m out.

      This way I can focus better on the new weekender 😉

      0
      1

        I can understand, the humor was not my cup of tea either.

        I’m not sure about the next weekender, there is NOTHING interesting to me… except the Beanie gang in the hangout 😀

        2
        1

          I think that the drama hangouts for the weekenders are simply THE place to be on Dramabeans!! I’d watch absolute drivel to have the chance to discuss it with you hilarious—and really attentive—people!

          2
          1

            Drivel 😂
            I’m not sure Hyoshim deserved all the attention and I think there were better ideas for the plot floating in the hangouts. But it sure is fun to be there. 🙂

            1
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desktop-Screenof-Glory
Everytime I go over to WWW today to check on the convo, I see the header image, and I think–that\’s great, and there\’s a screen and all like there always has to be, but y\’all missed out on the JOKE!!! Just to the right of that helicopter is our Jin I-soo standing like the real chaebol ass he is/pretends to be. As an aside–my gosh but Ahn Bo-hyun probably had a blast at that photoshoot!!

get-It-On-Guys
And, since I\’m here and FxC doesn\’t get much gif-love…this double-take was gold. You and us both, I-soo. These two need to 👏get👏it👏to👏gether!!!.

7
1

    Lol I admire that desktop background every single episode. It’s so good. I’m pretty sure they didn’t switch to that until his helicopter pilot skills were revealed, either! I LOOOVED that double-take!! Everyone ships them – she needs to ask him out already!!

    5
    0

fifteen-Secondsof-Face
There were some loving shots of Oh Min-seok in the final episode of Queen of Tears. I did not lengthen this last shot of his face for one single frame. It\’s almost fifteen seconds long.

beautiful-Villain
This one here. The light. It\’s simply striking. Kang Ki-young did not get this sort of glamour treatment. No, he did NOT. Also, it\’s not emphasized in my gif, but you know this character\’s the bad guy not only because he eventually picks up a nasty looking pocket knife, but mainly because he drinks French wine out of a metal wine \”glass.\”

5
3

one
Alright. It\’s time for me to be the king mixer and make some waves. There are some over on the WI recap who are comparing the looks of our ML (Moon Sang-min) to those of Chae Jong-hyeop.
two
I say y\’all are crazy! He looks–wait for it @mmmmm–much more like Kim Seon-ho. I\’m not even cheating…that\’s a recent picture of @mmmmm\’s BB who\’s FOURTEEN YEARS older than Moon Sang-min.

OKOK. He\’s dead halfway between the two.

I\’m here to start a rumble, clearly. I get that way when we talk about who exactly looks like CJH. Because we all really know who that is.

10
16

    For me, neither of them are looking the same 😅

    5
    1

    That last link! I was just waiting for that. 😂 Nicely slipped in.

    3
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    First and foremost, who is Moon Sang-min?

    That aside, I love that you always who BB belongs to, beautiful Seon-ha, and I appreciate that. I’d say, for the sake of argument, he looks 100% like my BB. 😘

    For the sake of reality, I think he is a mixed bag looking somewhere in the middle of CJH, BB, Kim Young-dae, and Lee Jae-jyun (Johan in Tell Me That You Love Me).

    3
    1

    L actually

    4
    1

      Ok I am going with Kim Soo Hyun from “Queen of Tears”

      2
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    Firstly, why the change in display name? To be not confused with “Kim Seon Ho” who is being mentioned her?

    Secondly, I admire your guts in provoking fans of these individuals by mixing up guys who do not fall under your “Second Lead is My Main Lead” list and stand proudly alongside the fictional characters: Shin Do Shik, Kwon Jae Kyung etc., 😉😉

    3
    1

    💯 Not same … all different. Like four different fraternal peas in a pod.

    1
    0

jesus-Christ-Man
QoD, almost f\’ing done. The above scene was RIDICULOUS. Oh Min-seok hit it out of the park in terms of acting…but what did writernim make him act out?? Ugh. Utterly tragic. Too tragic for this drama, frankly.

heart-Hacking
This scene didn\’t even come close to making up for it, but thanks for trying. It was adorbs. If only the whole show had been like this.

7
0

now-Thats-Just-Common-Sense
ya-Bastard
Inspired by today\’s Beanie Recs…I went to go skim some of Lee Jae-wook\’s work in Search: WWW but got distracted by Lee Da-hee (as usual).

wae-Wae-Wae
When a sporting event interrupts your drama.

Sigh. Such a joy. It might be time for a re-watch.

16
6

    This one has been on my (admittedly long) list of older dramas to watch for quite a while. #toomanykdramastoolittletime

    Love these clips!

    5
    1

      Thanks!

      In truth, I feel there’s a tip for watching Search: WWW that will increase your enjoyment dramatically. The FL (not pictured in these clips) should be considered as a blank-slate foil for the other female characters in the drama. She’s the “lead” but she’s really there so that everyone else stands out in their characterization, even the men.

      7
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        I really appreciate tips! Saving this in my notes for when I do watch 👍

        2
        0

        Er, can I please request an easy English meaning of your comment. I know it’s something good but it just flew over my head. 😅 TIA. ♥️😊

        1
        1

          Sure, Cera. I’ve heard tell that many people don’t like Search: WWW because the FL “is boring” and/or she’s messed up in her attitude towards her relationship with the ML But I am arguing here that the show isn’t really about the FL–she’s pretty boring doesn’t stand out at all in comparison to pretty much every other character.

          So, if you go into this drama thinking that she’s just the “regular person” against which everyone else can shine, then you’re more likely to enjoy it than if you go in thinking she’s the “interesting star of the show.” She’s definitely not that.

          3
          1

Jesus-Christ-Man-Sober-Up
Wow. Dr. Slump has–clearly intentionally–leapt completely off the
goddamn RAILS. Or maybe it’s as drunk as Jeong-woo AGAIN.

BLtakethe-Wheel Between this silly Bromance slapstick and an FL who’s gone HONG-JO for getting in that car…whatever, show.

The gifs I made yesterday of episode 11 were clearly from a rom-com–funny and sweet–and if I did the same for episode 12…we’d be in a crime drama with not one but two ToDs.

The show has always been a kind, but insistent, parody of all k-dramas. Now, though, it’s becoming a perhaps not-so-kind parody of itself.

WELL, two can play at that game. See below. I bet they actually filmed this pillow fight to the Strauss…

View post on imgur.com

9
34

    Don’t scare me! 😱
    I was busy with Real Life this weekend, thus Slump is still in the watching queue… are we repeating Crash Course, Demon, Marry My Husband… and I should stop now at the kiss???

    3
    1

      How invested in the characters are you? If this is a light dalliance, then go on ahead.

      If you’ve become quite invested–you might want to wait until next Sunday’s episode’s out (so through 14)

      2
      4

        Oh, also…GET READY FOR TAE-HO AEGYO TIMES ONE MILLION.

        My teeth ached.

        I actually got goosebumps.

        It was awful.

        The plot movement was nice tho and Tae-min offered to play baseball with his little brother 🥹

        2
        1

          That one I managed to watch, those cold ears scenes… noooo… 😆
          Hyung was nicely hyunging. ❤️

          2
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        Or you could watch 11 and only 1/2 of 12 and then wait for the rest through 14. There are definitely some cute, swoony and heartfelt moments worth watching including some nice progress by the 2nd leads if you really like them.

        4
        2

        I’m invested in Park Shinhye, but it is not a show with priority, Chaebol or Wedding Impossible pulls me in more (or, ehm, Oh Minseok, ehm). So yeah, I may wait and see. Thanks.

        1
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        I’ve been too busy to Slump on anything other than my bed at the end of a long day, and I’m not invested in any of them. This makes me want to call it a retroactive drop after last week’s episodes. I’m still 4 episodes behind on Helmet Hair FlexxCop and haven’t finished Jealousy Incarnate or Death’s Game, so I have other, possibly better options.

        LYOL – Aegyo makes me itch, but please signal us if any actual baseball playing occurs. And I hear there was a sauna scene at some point?

        2
        1

    Whoa, that sounds ominous… I’ve had this provisionally on my watchlist, pending how nice it stays and how it ends. I hope it doesn’t implode and has a good ending!!

    1
    1

      The show is intentionally pulling on every heartstring right now. The preview for episode 13 (which I will not discuss directly) was so horribly manipulative, that I’m a little angry for those who are really emotionally invested.

      I am confident it’ll all work out in the end, as there are no fantasy vampires or vampire-killers (yet!!!), so as a binge, it will probably be just fine. I simply feel that it has gone from “knowing winks” to direct manipulation of all known k-drama tropes and plot twists.

      Who knows, the vampires or zombies may be coming…

      3
      2

        Oh dear… I’m glad I waited to watch!!

        1
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        I do like how they use comedic moments like the post binge morning with the family to show how JW now has a seat at a breakfast table filled with noisy family that care about him.

        At least the angst is external and not internal. Probably it will also result in some character growth and heartfelt moments and not just gratuitous thriller/drama. At least I am putting my faith/hope in writernim.

        2
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    Apparently this scene was Yoon Park and PHS’ first scene together after 10 years according to YP’s instagram post. Clearly they are having too much fun. However the twist on the female characters’ pulling hair to the men doing it is funny. I am hoping that they continue to give us twists on the usual tropes.

    5
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      Well, I know you’ve seen the whole episode–I think they’re moving from “twisting tropes” to “twisting the viewers’ hearts.” It’s not kind of them.

      3
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    I have decided after Episode 12, Now, We are Breaking Up. Or as Ha Neul said, “Let’s not go any further.”

    3
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      Comment was deleted

      1
      0


      I could see that. I think that they’re now having to move to other genres beyond rom-com to fill out the last four episodes.

      If I were as emotionally invested in Dr. Slump as I was in HeartBeat, I’d be totally off-the-charts upset right now.

      I know it’s gonna all be fine, but sheesh. Off the rails, this went.

      2
      2

        It was always a mixed bag for me. The best parts of the show for me were the quieter parts between Ha Neul and Jung Woo. Now it is full out frantic aegyo, bad drunk acting, Three Stooges comedy, and evil villain/ ToD drama. It’s too over the top now for me now. I think if I leave now, I can leave some fond memories of what the show best and really well when it did, where on balance the show was better than the stuff that I didn’t like. This is where I exit and wish them well on their journey.

        6
        0

        When you say the show “went off the rails” that’s assuming it had rails, which would suggest it had been well structured to begin with. Of course, now that I think of it, it did have the tracks of a Tiny Tot Toy Trainset, so I guess it did go off those “rails.”

        1
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    Well. It had a squirrel after all! 🤔😅

    It went from bromantic WWWSK office chair push move to those ToD in the blink of an eye 😵‍💫 – at least I felt kinda prepared from the preview of ep 12.
    And I’m with you: guessing the preview of ep 13 is ummm…. a big red herring? 🧐

    3
    1

      Yeah, it’ll be a big red herring, but I feel like the audience is going to be made to pay for that happy ending–in ways that (as I have been trying to figure out) seem somehow cruel or teasing even.

      The way PHS has been exaggerating his aegyo, and then exaggerating his exaggeration of his aegyo, has been tongue-in-cheek up to now and I’ve been rolling my eyes…now, it seems like he may have a chance to be maudlin and then exaggerate his exaggeration of maudlin. I’ll still watch, but more as someone who’s trying to figure out just what this PD is trying to do!!!

      2
      1

        Oh, no doubt I’ll finish watching this! But the quick clean up of the court case etc., just to pick it all up again now feels kinda mind boggling. The story’s “emotional progression” certainly feels like a rollercoaster ride. 🤔😖

        I’ll just enjoy the performances at this point. (And no doubt all the beauty, too!)
        Your Hongjo reference definitely is a bad omen though – funny because it’s true! 😅 At least Haneul did have a bad feeling about getting into his car in the first place. 🙄

        3
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    Thank you for the sounded video, it is brilliant, Seon-ha.

    I’ve been put off by the all aegyo in ep11 and the ToD in the preview, so I’m stalling mid-ep12. I have other (more interesting) watches and will come back to Slump next week.

    4
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      It was brilliant! The show should hire Seon-ha for their promos. Or DB should put it on their channel so more than us fan-wall-istas appreciate it.

      I was rather happy end of #10, but the aegyo of #11 killed the mood. Will muster the strength to watch #12 at some point.

      4
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    I can imagine with these scenes and others with the director yelling “cut” over and over again, launching into expletive laced screaming “I said cute, dammit, CUTE! Eight years old cute! Who do you think you’re playing, medical residents or something?!?!”

    And then Park Hyung Sik, being the extraordinary method actor he is, responding with a performance so cute that any male observer over the age of 30 had to run from the set because they could no longer suppress their horrified screams.

    1
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