Beanie level: Unemployed slacker in a sparkly tracksuit

Question:
Has anyone ever looked at a picture of something or someone and suddenly felt shy and bashful?? Because I just did with this pic ☺️🙈♥️♥️♥️

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    Hehehe … I saw it on Tumblr and went Hmmmmm!! I almost wanted to post it for you but then I thought if there was anything out there the first person to see / post it would be you. 😊👐

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    You know it just struck me its been a month since your Love February posts … how time flies. 🤷‍♀️ I really liked them all and in case you want to write about something or anything that strikes your fancy … you’ll have an audience here at DB eagerly waiting to read your posts. 🙋‍♀️🥰🤗

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    This is actually a startling picture that raises a lot of different emotions. My first thought was that he looks lonely and vulnerable. But there’s also deep thought and patience here too. Also, with half his face in shadow, it feels like he carefully protects his inner world. It’s amazing what can be conveyed in a single frame of a moment in time.

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      Wow … I love your analysis. His pictures have a wonderful play of light and shadow. And as we’ve always heard – a picture can say a thousand words.

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        THIS ^
        Now I’m curious to know what @zindigo thinks of the rest of the B-cuts of the photo spread. Feel free to creep my Fan Wall to find it lol The one that evokes all of the same thoughts that you mentioned is actually the black and white one of him sitting on the floor (found here in this batch: https://www.dramabeans.com/members/bebeswtz/activity/1549117/). This one makes me wanna go up and sit with him, ask him “What’s up?” and sit with him for a while just to listen to him share and talk

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          Hmmm… I don’t have the same reaction to the modeling shots. While the picture above is clearly artistic, it’s a candid shot, so it captures real emotions. When he’s modeling, he’s wearing whatever “face” they ask him to.

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            That is such an astute observation. 👏

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            It’s true that there is a noticeable–sometimes even stark– difference in the candid shots versus the modelled shots from him– and this difference is very noticeable even in other photo spreads and shoots he’s done previously– but that black and white pic of him sitting on the floor still speaks to me in an emotional way 🥹

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            @bebeswtz All I really know about him is from what you post. I recall you mentioning that he’s had to go it alone in promoting his career. Coupled with the constraints of his nationality on the international stage, one has to conclude that he is a very unique and self-empowered individual. I can only imagine the inner strength he must have to go as far as he has already at his age while still retaining control over his image, reputation, and project choices. Even in the modeling shots, the photographers have chosen to capture and highlight this vibration, and it’s very effective.

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            ^^ You really have a way with words. 😍 Beautifully expressed.

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            @Seeker Thank you! 🤗

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            😊👌

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          ^^ I agree there is something very arresting about that picture.

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#1 in overall trends on Weibo (China’s amalgamation of FB & IG) and #3 in Entertainment News trends:

“XZ Studio is preventing people from sleeping”

OMG I can’t stop laughing

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    Just too apt. 👏👏👏 Did they publish it at night-time in China.

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      The pics were posted and published in China 3 hours ago, which would have been around 10/10:30PM China Standard Time.
      China, despite being such a big and vast country, only has one single time zone, and that is China Standard Time

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        And that would be tues night right. Hehehe … at least they didn’t post it on Sunday night.

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          Yes, their Tuesday
          Hahahahaha Perhaps they wanted those who practice Daylight Savings to adjust before posting. It’s definitely helped to wake me up and keep me alert whilst still feeling a tiny bit jet lagged from having to readjust my clock

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    I guess that’s what they call picture perfect!!

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      💯
      And photographers who work with Xiao Zhan all collectively repeatedly saying that the work they do with him and the shots they take of him hardly need any touching up and photoshop work done to them solidifies this even more

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        It is obvious. In this day and age of “photo manipulation” his pics stand out starkly. In fact even in the earlier sepia and blue tinge set it was obvious that his face / body was hardly touched. All the work was done in setting the tone.

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          It’s a double edged sword:
          Sure, it’s something to be carefully happy and proud of that industry professionals don’t see nor feel the need to “clean up”/photoshop his photos that much— if at all— when working with him, and I’m glad XZ himself doesn’t even touch on the subject— he just shyly and humbly says “Thank you” or smiles it off— because it is a very sensitive subject when showbiz is all about appearances and obsessing over youth, beauty, vanity, and perfection.

          That guy right there in the pics? He only thinks of himself as a 6/10 🥹🥹🥹

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            Huh … does he need an eye exam!! Well it’s better to fly a little under the radar as much as possible.

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            He’s a precious near-sighted bunny 🐰 Maybe he cant see himself clearly XD
            Very true! Especially in showbiz of (South) East Asian culture, wherein humility and humbleness is ingrained in the culture itself and is very easily applied and appreciated in the workplace. Many people don’t see celebrity-hood as just a job, which I think is a very dangerous way to approach things, especially in fandom

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            I know you always say that there is a trend of “fanatic fans”. Can I ask a rookie question. Do you think celebrities tend to think of themselves as needing to cater to the fans above and beyond the work that they do.

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            @seeker
            I think some celebrities will think that— there will always be celebrities who think that, it’s what I feel like the entire celebrity/fan culture of South Korea is like— and I do think that, to a degree, it is a universal thing that happens, regardless of the geographic location (i.e. China, Korea, Hollywood, etc.). It’s just a matter of intensity and the age bracket of fans who are drawn to that and the celebrity who chooses to feed off of that as a way to drive their career (for popularity for a way to feel liked and as a measure of their success) or as a way to thank fan. The latter is how I think Xiao Zhan does it, and I think he knows where and when to draw the line and doesn’t think of it as an overarching obligation to do it nor does he use it as a measure for popularity and success, but he does it as an an action meant to be an outpouring of gratitude and love for his fans who have given love to him. Time and time again, he has always told his fans to always, always, always, prioritize their own personal lives and their own successes before turning to him and go “star (celebrity) chasing” over him. At the same time, many fans have expressed that their success and their happiness has been brought out after some tough times because they discovered him and look to him as motivation—as a good person and as a successful person— to do better and to be better in life

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            Thank you for a very thoughtful answer. I agree celebrities worldwide do tend to “pander” to their fans to an extent but I was just wondering do they always have to wear that invisible cloak of stardom or do they get to disassociate themselves from the star and live like a normal person at times.

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            Just get off the clock at times?

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            @seeker I think that is up to the celeb themselves. At the same time, it is also different preferences in culture. Specific to South Korea and China, the standard for celebrity-hood is a bit more tight compared to—say— Hollywood:

            – Because South Korea has such a strong culture of keeping up appearances, the expectation is that celebrities are put on an unreasonable level of influence and a ridiculously high pedestal, so everything they do is scrutinized, even the things in their private lives. It’s a bit scary, because the trend in Korea is that whatever is popular, whatever is pretty, whatever is trending at the time, everyone in Korea will have to have it, do it, eat it, breathe it, and 99% of these things come from celebrities. In turn, that also means celebrities have an extremely high level of influence on the next generation, so if a celebrity decides to do something stupid, there is more than likely a chance that a portion of the population will follow suit and not think twice about it. On the flip side of that is their extreme cancel culture and strong court of public opinion that can and will break someone down

            In China, much is the same, but at the same time, it is much more controlled and regulated and there is no court of public opinion. In China, a celebrity isn’t just seen as a public figure, they are also regarded by the government as a civil servant (a.k.a. An extension of being a government official), and are held at that same standard. This is where things differ a little bit from South Korea:
            Wherein South Korea’s cancel culture comes from the people (citizens), the cancel culture of China is ignited and put into action by the Chinese government. Sure, there may be some horrible, horrible netizens in China— like everywhere else in the world— who will spew vitriol, but the ultimate threat to a celebrity’s career and status as a public figure in China ultimately still lies in the hands of the government. On the flip side, if something were to happen to a Chinese celeb and they were/are being wrongly treated—cyber-bullied, defamed, etc.— the government will step in and help to bring that celebrity out of the situation, especially if/when that celebrity has been proven to have done nothing wrong

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            Thank you. You always explain so beautifully. I guess that is why the need to apologize to fans for “dating” seems so weird but is normal or expected behavior in SK and perhaps China too.

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            The “burden” of being a celebrity is much more. Now I understand why you say that it is difficult especially for young celebrities to differentiate between their job and personal life.

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    Fun story – my mom stopped in front of a Nars store and asked me if this was the brand he endorsed. She had seen me mooning over those pics and was quick to recognize him. 😂

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XZ Studio posted some B-cuts (unpublished material) from XZ’s GQ Magazine photoshoot. Unfiltered, so none of the blue tinge or sepia palette we got from the published photo spread

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    So much more beautiful. 😍

    The things he does to the mirror … hehe! Beautiful, beautiful.

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      Right?? So much better without the colour filters

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        Much, much better. Just like I suspected. 😂

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          It also shows off the beautiful colours of the garments better, too!!
          Now that I can actually SEE the colour without the filter, the maroon-ish/deep red colour of his suit in pic #4 is actually the “it” colour of Gucci (for which he is a Global Brand Spokesperson for) and the featured colour of the brand’s newest collection, “Gucci Ancora”

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            Yes … even I thought for a moment oh! is it a new outfit then I remembered no the pictures were tinted.

            Lovely color and lovely name.

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    I like how they call it B-cuts. IMO its A+. ♥️😊

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Speaking of subscriptions, I just had a moment wherein I thought my iQiYi sub expired and almost had a heart attack XD Turns out, because I have different levels of subscriptions with the platform stacked on top of each other back-to-back (Premium & Standard), and they run consecutively, I am still good until 2025. Whew!! Close call hahaha
@seeker

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    And how cute are they! ♥️😍🥳

    @Reply1988 – see someone is wishing you luck on managing his Fan Club.

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      Cute!

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      Comment was deleted

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      IU and Park Bo Gum seem like the type of people who easily make friends—good and true friends who become super close. Now add Lee Joon Gi to the mix and my heart just can’t take it 🥹🥹🥹♥️♥️♥️
      I’m waiting for another IU & Lee Joon Gi drama to come my way. “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo”, still has my heart— it wasn’t the best drama, the writing was inconsistent, and a lot of the characters were unnecessary or miscast, but the leads were so, so, so, so, so good. The drama is definitely a case wherein the acting was better than the writing and hit all the right spots of pathos and ethos for me

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        Park Bo Gum seemed really really shy in Young Actors Retreat. But was also very close to his Moonlight Drawn by Clouds co-actors.

        IU and Lee Joon Gi really elevated that drama – more than it probably deserved. 😅 But they needed to be seen and I so wish we can remember them together for a worthy drama.

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          Yea, PBG seems like the shy type, but it seems he also makes lasting friendships with his drama cast mates 🥰

          Oh wow, I just checked and “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo” was 8 years ago!! Okay, that warms my heart even more and makes it even happier to know that IU and LJG have stayed such good friends and have been so consistently supportive of each other all these years. So sweet! It’s sort of like Lee Jong Suk and his cast mates of “I Hear Your Voice”, which also recently just celebrated together another anniversary of their drama’s airing 😊

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    Thanks for sharing the joy🥰

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“Soundtrack #1” ✅
Except for some very minor things (and maybe it’s just me), THIS is how you do a drama justice with the premise of romantic love sprouting from an existing long term friendship relationship between two people ♥️🥰

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… And then HER MOM!!! Her mom is so awesome!!! 🥹🥹🥹🥹 SO SUPPORTIVE OF HIM ahhhhhh
And then…. And then, we get swoony eyes at dinner!!!!! Ahhh

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“Soundtrack #1”, Ep. 2
The way he said “Bingo”
🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵🥵

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“Soundtrack #1”, Ep. 1

*fans self*
HOW DOES PARK HYUNG SIK DO IT???? Not even 10 minutes into Ep. 1 and I already see and feel where his character is going, but he does it in a way wherein it feels so authentic and heart-tugging and not annoying. Then, his eyes. HIS BEAUTIFUL, DEEP, and EMOTIVE EYES that I fall into time and time again 🫠🫠🫠

…. I’m okay! I’m on the floor, but I’m okay. I’ll be okay…

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    LOL!
    You have not been subjected to the entirety of OBY, and episode 10 and 13 of Doctor Slump (at least that’s my guess.)
    That man’s eyes should either be declared criminal or a national treasure.

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      I’ve been there with “Hwarang”, “Strong Woman, Do Bong Soon”, “Heirs” and parts of “High Society” 🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠🫠

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      And I agree— it’s illegal, but at the the same time, definitely a national treasure

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      Just you wait until the end of S#1…this show is a doozy. You’re gonna love it.

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        😍😍😍

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        I liked the ending! Sort of predictable, but this one isn’t done in an eye-rolling way. I love that it’s the FL who took on some of the heavy lifting to get their relationship to take another big step, because this entire time, it seemed like it was only the ML who took lots and lots and lots and lots and lots of tiny steps (like noticing her likes & dislikes, knowing that she’s a slob but he still loves her, knowing that she doesn’t have a habit of wearing a scarf, etc.)

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          It’s my comfort watch. Disclaimer: I watched the first time in English because I was still getting used to reading subtitles in a long series.
          This was when I realized if you take away their original dialogue delivery, it simply crushes the magic. The difference is jarring (I must be been crazy to not listen to PHS saying his own lines, insert eye roll here).
          This was also when I learnt ” Bwicchosso’ with tonal expressions in Korean does not directly translate into ‘This is crazy’. Doesn’t cut it, lol!

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            I have watched her make that speech, and him responding to it, I bet…20 times. Disney probably thinks I’m a sad and lonely person, but that scene just reduces me to utter blubber every time.

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            I agree!! I used watch lots of Japanese anime and animated movies (like the Studio Ghibli ones) dubbed and also used to watch Mainland Chinese dramas dubbed in Cantonese when I was younger and before I learned the Mandarin dialect, but I would never be able to go back and do all of that again and watch the stuff dubbed again. It has to be in the original audio and in the cast’s own voices— or at the least, in the same language and/or dialect of the original content (like how Mainland Chinese dramas are dubbed, but at least it’s dubbed in the original Chinese dialect)— for me to be able to fully enjoy something now. The only thing I am able to watch dubbed and not in its original language is Studio Ghibli’s “Howl’s Moving Castle”, just because when I first came upon that movie, I watched the American English dubbed version with Christian Bale as the one who dubbed the male lead character and I think he does a really good job with it

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            @attiton Seon-Ha it’s one of the most beautiful confessions in everything I have watched (the closest I can think of is actually a Hindi movie). I was so happy they gave her those lines because she is supposed to be a writer. Disney knows you are erudite and aware 🙂

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    It’s never to late to join the party!! 🥳 Best use of the subscription. 💯😍👌

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I just about forgot that “Our Blooming Youth” is actually a Korean adaptation of a C-drama (originally a novel) that has yet to air, and just how fast the production of “Our Blooming Youth” dissociated itself from the Chinese drama after only saying it once in the VERY initial stages of production that it’s actually an adaptation of a Chinese work

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    😳 omo … why not acknowledge (and honor) the source material⁉️

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      The Chinese source material— specifically the Chinese drama remake of the original novel— had Kris Wu as the initial male lead. Filming with Kris Wu had just completed and the announcement of the drama was made by the production, and then his scandal broke out not long after. And not long after the announcement of the Chinese version wrapping up production with Yang Zi (the FL) and Kris Wu, the announcement of a Korean version—based off of the Chinese drama, and not the original Chinese novel— was made, and my guess is that at the time, the Korean producers hadn’t gotten the news about Kris Wu yet. Not long after THAT, the Korean producer’s finally realized about the whole Kris Wu situation, I guess, and were very quick to distance themselves from the Chinese production, even before the Korean production had an official press con about their own production

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      Well, it was complicated lol.
      The cdrama and kdrama adaptations of the source (the wonderful Chinese historical mystery novel (available in english) “The Golden Hairpin” by Qinghan CeCe had given me and many others agita.
      How do I keep it short:
      1. The novel was dramatized in China into a 60 episode series with Kris Wu as ML scheduled to air in 2021. Then the Kris Wu scandal blew up. That shelved the drama from airing. There are reports that TGH is on its way to finally being released.
      2. When I first heard that there was to be Korean adaptation of “The Golden Hairpin” with Park Hyung-sik as lead I thought PHS was perfect casting for the Prince (ML). Things started to fall apart. Off the top of my head I recall SK/China tensions which made a straight adaptation not possible. TVING’s OUR BLOOMING YOUTH (2023) (Viki US) was the final product. Somewhat based on the original novel but very different. I made it through 14 of the 20 episodes and pulled the plug. A huge negative to me was making the Prince in the original into a Crown Prince in the SK version. In the original the Prince lived and operated outside the palace not so the case in the SK version.
      The original novel was obviously set up for a sequel which I believe has been published. Iirc that is where any romance would have developed.

      @cera, I wish the SK version had ‘honored’ and stuck closer to the source novel.
      If and when the cdrama is sprung I will watch it if it is available on a legal stream.
      (I am recalling this somewhat from memory. If others can fill in the blanks please do.)

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        While I was composing my comment Bebe ⬆️ filled in the back story.

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        Thank you for helping me understand. I find it very upsetting when an entire production has to suffer because of one person but at the same time I also understand how disrespectful it would be to continue because of that person. This is really a catch 22.

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          Yea, when there’s so many moving parts— such as the production of something in showbiz— and so many livelihoods are on the line—because, let’s face it, as glitzy as showbiz is on the outside, at the end of the day, it really is still a job for many who work behind the scenes— it really is difficult to find a balance. All there can be done is to minimize the damage to try to contain the damage to a minimum

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    Wow, I tried twice to reply and both time my comments were inexplicably flagged. Not sure how to comment now. But I liked your post and did have a supportive reply 😀

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      Aww thank you 🥰
      Yea, I think DB has been getting glitchy with comments on Fan Walls again. If it was a longer reply, breaking it up into shorter and separate sections and posting that way might help mitigate the issue for now

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    I read the novel, and I like it better as a Tang Dynasty story. However, it didn’t translate well to Joseon, IMO. I wish they had kept it in the same era. Pick Shilla, Baekje, or Goguryeo. It’d work with either one.

    I’m still waiting for the original to air.

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      Comment was deleted

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      Oh, I totally understand. What I thought “Scarlet Heart: Ryeo” did surprisingly well was finding an appropriate era of Korean history that matched up with its Chinese drama counterpart. I totally thought that OBY is on Netflix—which is where I would be watching it— but I just came to the realization that it’s not 😑 I am switching gears and am watching “Soundtrack #1” for the time being—because I have come to a tipping point and need Park Hyung Sik back in my life, somewhere somehow some way—as I weigh my options for how I’m going to watch “Our Blooming Youth”— either get the stupid Vicki subscription or go to the Dark Side (i.e. illegal sites) to watch it. I’m begrudgingly leaning towards the former, just because I really do not want to nor do I like to utilize illegal sites if I do not absolutely have to. It’s an occupational hazard— I come from a Public Relations/Communications background—and it’s been ingrained in me since university that the main channels are the way to go; it’s less fuss, less sketchy, and is the more ethical way to go… And the PR/Communications industry is heavy on the ethics, which I can actually understand and appreciate

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        I loved Soundtrack #1! It’s short, but it’s beautifully produced. Personally, I loved the simple and sweet story. And it’s perfect for PHS fans 😉

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          I like dramas like this—not just “Soundtrack #1”— wherein it short and sweet, but the writing and the acting—sometimes it’s even solely just the acting— just sucks the viewers even without a full backstory, but because it’s so good, a backstory doesn’t even feel needed. I’ve had this great experience with some short K-dramas that are even shorter than “Soundtrack #1”— the one that sticks out most from the top of my memory is the short drama, a KBS Special, “If We Were a Season”, starring Chae Soo Bin, Jang Dong Yoon, and Jinyoung (former member of B1A4, not the one from GOT7 haha)

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    Thank you! ❤️
    I miss Wei Wuxian.

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      I do, too! But at the same time, I can’t let myself do another re-watch of the drama, or else I won’t be able to come out of that rabbit hole… I can’t allow myself to re-watch it again until I am ready. Wei Wu Xian will forever be a precious permanent fixture in my heart ♥️

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    What lovely pockets. 😍👌

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I might have looped this YT Short a few more times than considered healthy… The way he pronounces “Quatre” 🫠🫠🫠 I almost didn’t catch it because he said it so effortlessly

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@kiara
I got a deal for Disney+ at $1.99 CAD/month for 3 months just so I can watch “Shogun”— my smart TV is also showing a banner ad from Disney+ telling me to watch it— but it’s the one show that is glitching for me and not showing up once I open the app on my smart tv 🙄😒 My guess is that too many ppl are flocking to watch it on the app and so it’s glitching/crashing. I guess I’ll be a good girl and be patient and wait a few days. In the meantime, I’ll watch some other things that I’ve been meaning to watch on Disney+

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    I’m happy that you are watching with us! I am sorry that you are having trouble with the app. I’m not going to watch the next episode till the weekend. It’s always busy when I finally find a drama that I like. LOL

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      Ain’t that right!! Slump in dramaland usually comes with more leisure time but when we find a drama it’s such a busy time – there must be some Murphy’s law on that.

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    So what are you catching up on – Call it Love, Flex vs. Cop, Moving!! I hope you have lots of fun and make the best of your subscription.

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      I added a whole bunch of stuff to my list— Wonderful World, Soundtrack #1, a few movies… And a handful of other things I don’t remember at the moment lol

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        Awesome!! Looking forward to hearing all about it as you slowly work your way through your watchlist. 👏 👏 👏
        Hope you checked Impossible Heir too.

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          Okay, now that I actually have my TV on and the app open, lemme see what I’ve actually saved to watch lol

          Kdrama content:
          – Wonderful World
          – Soundtrack #1
          – Rookie Cops (movie)

          Other:
          – Mulan, the live-action movie
          – Cinderella, the live-action movie
          – Haunting in Venice (movie)— I missed out on watching this when it was playing in theatres, so I’m glad I can access it on the Disney+ app now

          I’m planning to add to the watchlist the more I search around and browse the Disney+ app and see what— or how much— I will actually get through

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            Cinderella is permanently on my watchlist. 😊
            Mulan we saw the day it was released on Disney.
            This is exciting. I’m sure you’ll find stuff you like.

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          I honestly thought Park Hyung Sik’s “Happiness” is also on Disney+, but I don’t see it, so I guess not 🙁
          It could also very well be on the platform, just not in my region

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@zindigo At this point, if they’re already taking reservations, I’m thinking that they’re completely done production— even post-production— and are just waiting to air

Source: https://x.com/dramapotatoe/status/1764114339881959506?s=61&t=0gOkmmtm1TO8vGocsQ4NXg

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    Whoa!!! That’s exciting news!!! 🤩

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      Yes!! Now it’s just a matter of waiting to see what’ll happen to their airing schedule. I have a feeling that since it’s such an anticipated drama, the network is going to want to release it during a time wherein they can get the best ROI, which would make the best time for it to air be during a long holiday period, i.e. Summer break after the university exams

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    Agreed! Although I’ve heard that the English subs aren’t great on Tencent. Have you noticed that? I’ve only watched c-dramas on Viki and Netflix so far. That’s why I was excited about the possibility that JOL2 might be on Netflix (at least eventually).

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      When I used to use Viki, I found their subs the best—accurate, read like how people would actually sound liked in everyday talking, gave good explanations of the cultural context of things when it mattered, etc. Nowadays, I don’t use Viki so I can’t comment on them. I have noticed that the subs for Netflix and all the Chinese streaming apps that I use ( mainly WeTV/Tencent and iQiYi) are very touch-n-go. Netflix’s subs will stay as is, and the subs for the streaming apps will sometimes improve, but not always. A common feature I’ve found in all the apps and sites I’ve ever used is that it all starts off as very generic subs that sometimes don’t even actually say what the characters in the drama are saying, but only give a very vague gist, and that irks me. It’s what I found the subs to be like for Dramafever waaaaaayyyyyyy back in the day— and their subs stayed like that and never got improved as time went by, no matter how long a drama was on their platform, they just never went back to try to improve the subs for their roster of shows— so I’m not sure why people always raved about Dramafever 😅

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        I should put a disclaimer and say that I am Chinese and can understand and speak Cantonese and Mandarin, so I don’t need subs for Chinese dramas 99% of the time— the remaining 1% when I DO need subs is when the language gets too flowery for me to decipher in some costume dramas lol— but the above are the things that I’ve observed on the platforms that I use for Chinese dramas

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          Ahhhh! That clarifies your responses (and posts) and the depth of your knowledge 😀 (Your English is amazing, btw. I would never have guessed it wasn’t your first language.)

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            I’m actually first generation born & raised Chinese Canadian. The reverse had actually happened to me before:
            I spoke so much English at school that at some point, I was beginning to lose my Chinese despite watching Hong Kong dramas (which are in Cantonese) growing up, so I had to re-learn and re-teach myself Chinese all over again, and at that time, I thought I might as well take the opportunity to learn another dialect, so I then also began to teach myself Mandarin (the dialect of Mainland China) from then onwards by immersing myself in Mainland dramas and I’ve never looked back. You try to sit me down to watch a Hong Kong drama nowadays and I’d probably get frustrated and quit halfway because I am now realizing just how bad the writing and acting of Hong Kong dramas are compared to Mainland China dramas 🤣

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            @bebeswtz Thank you for your gracious reply to my error! I had a moment after I posted it where I thought to myself, “Is this going to be another Eric Nam moment?!” (Have you seen the clips where people express amazement at how well he speaks English? 🤦🏼‍♀️ Here’s one: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ENQfa4D-HPQ)

            Speaking 3 languages (or more) fluently is pretty dang impressive 😉

            I find languages so fascinating. I studied French extensively and some Spanish and Italian when I was younger. In the last few years I’ve been casually studying Korean, mostly for the mental challenge and because I love the sound of the language. I’ve learned enough now to catch when the subs are bad/off, although the subs for dramas released in the last few years have been much better.

            Now, watching C-dramas, it’s fun to pick up on some of the words that have been incorporated into the Korean language (“Sino-Korean” words), as well as some of the grammatical similarities.

            I suspect with the growing popularity of C-dramas, and bigger international platforms picking up more of them (and more quickly), we’ll start to see better subs.

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            No worries!!

            On some days, it irks me to see how the North American media thinks of and treats all of the (South) East Asian (mostly Korean) entertainers who are now making their way into the North American Market. It’s like the American media doesn’t even do their homework and research beforehand to get to know the celeb/artist— and their backgrounds—that is going to be a guest on their show, and it definitely is very apparent once things get underway and interviews are happening and things go on air and the American interviewers are then stunned and surprised at the level of proficiency some of these (South) East Asian artists, thinking about them and treating them as complete ESLs, e.g. The entire press circuit the cast of “Squid Games” went on— I cringed at 90% of the interviews they did and the things that Lee Jung Jae was subjected to because the American interviewers were not expecting him to be so eloquent and fluent in English in addition to treating him like some sort of rookie on the red carpet of the award shows when he’s a veteran and has been in showbiz for 20+ years already. End rant. Sorry XD

            But to your point:
            Languages ARE such a fun and fascinating thing, I agree!! I had to take French for 2 years whilst in primary school because it was a part of the school program, but then the program discontinued, therefore, also putting a halt to my learning of the language. Much like you, I casually began to learn and “self teach” myself Korean because of watching Korean dramas over the years, and also because I also love how the language sounds to the ear. I tried to pick up Japanese at one point, but never stuck to it because I don’t consume Japanese content (not since “1 Litre of Tears”) and I just don’t connect with the language as much as I do Korean.
            The Mandarin dialect of the Chinese language is already considered an “international language” in some parts of the world, but I am waiting for the day that people become more interested in the other also very widely spoke dialects of the Chinese language— most notably, Cantonese— and minority Chinese culture. Yet, with the worldwide political climate, I think it might be a while before we reach this point 😅 I guess I will have to stick to my little niche Chinese corner for a little while more before others come in and it gets more opportunities to be shared— much like how the Korean culture, Kpop, and Korean entertainment in general also was quite niche and small at one time and just needed it’s own moment to explode and shine 🙂

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            @bebeswtz I stopped watching/listening to most NA media (shows, movies, news, even music to a large extent) at least 5-6 years ago, and actually started the withdrawal more than 10-11 years ago at this point. It’s lacking in so many ways and needs to be completely overhauled.

            I’m sure Chinese entertainment will have its moment to “explode and shine”! In the short time I’ve been engaged with c-dramas I can already see the differences in quality from shows made 3-4 years ago to recent releases. The K-wave has paved the way for them to rise fast now, especially with the larger number of easily accessible streaming platforms available to western audiences. As you mentioned, they do have a bit of a hurdle because of the worldwide political climate. But there’s some great storytelling to be found in c-dramas (and music too), so I think it’s only a matter of time before more people find and enjoy them. 😊

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        Thank you for that detailed explanation! It does seem to parallel my experiences so far. As a newcomer to c-dramas, it seems I’m lucky that there are more streaming options today, as well as better quality subs, even if it means waiting a bit before the shows are released.

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          Yeah, even when we technically don’t need subs, sometimes my mum and I still like to watch the Chinese dramas with subs because we may miss something verbally or the person might be speaking to fast, so having the option to turn the subs on and have it there is great, and there definitely is more quality control for subs nowadays compared to back then, i.e. 20 years ago

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Milan Fashion Week 2024/2025 F/W Womens’ vlog

For him to say “Finally completed”, I think he must’ve been overwhelmed, tired, overstimulated, etc., or a combination of those things since he was only there for 72 hours (24 of those hours was because he changed his return flights last minute to stay one more day) 🥹

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    So many questions. 😊
    What is that coin and what was that song!! 😳
    I don’t know why I literally got goosebumps watching this meticulously filmed video.
    And eating the sun! Hahaha!!

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      I’m not sure why he used the coin, but it was a nice touch to the transitions of the vlog. Many fan cams saw that he was playing with the coin at the Gucci show, and now we know what it’s for!
      Which songs? If you give me the time stamps, I can maybe help in finding the songs
      Yea! Last time he was eating a popsicle like a lion in Singapore, and I guess he “leveled up” to eating the sun on his own now haha So playful 🥹🥰

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        The coin was really a very nice touch. I half-expected the dragon to come up behind it like it does at the end.

        I was just surprised by the songs that he used, particularly the first one – Bad Guy by Billie Eilish around 2:00 and Vincent by Ellie Goulding around 6:00.

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          I agree! I love all the touches to his vlogs as always, but this one felt much more “put together” in a professional/business-like manner, as if it is for a client, and not laid back and easygoing and not as intimate—which gives off the feel letting the viewer know right off the bat that it is for his fans—like all his other ones. Maybe because it was so flashy and so busy and there was less of the quieter and more intimate moments with just him chilling. Regardless, I still love it. It’s still him, and showcasing him, just a different style and a different side to him 😊

          The songs are a fun choice! He’s such an old soul, do to see that such modern and hip songs were chosen—especially “Bad Guy”— is like, “What??” Haha And then hearing him humm “Vincent” by Ellie Goulding warmed my heart ♥️

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C-drama, “White Cat Legend”
4 eps. into it: It’s fun & light, side characters are quirky, FL character has a brain, but Ryan Ding is definitely stealing the show. Not sure if I’ll continue, we’ll see

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@eazal And whoever else is interested, this came under my suggestions on YT

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    This video is so cute!

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    Thank you! Taecyeon is such a hoot. Describing Heartbeat as a light, fun rom-com⁉️ What script were you given Taec. 🤯 I loled that he was just as amazed that it would be airing on Prime. That AOL diss was just too good. 😭

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    I remember watching this back when it was released. So funny in retrospect. Eric is a great interviewer. I always click when his videos popup in my feed.

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    They are adorable!! My cutie Dumbo ears!!! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

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      I will admit, I did not like Taec at the very beginning, least of which was when after Jay Park left. The first few years after Jay Park left were probably my worse years with Taec. I get that he stepped up and took the role of “leader”, but he was VERY arrogant, rude, and disrespectful about it. I think transitioning more to K-dramaland and working with so many seniors and veterans on the K-drama side of things definitely helped and gave him a big dose of humble soup, especially in S.Korea, wherein seniority is such a huge thing in their working culture

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@seeker @reply1988

The multiple interviews he did during Milan Fashion Week are rolling in— I love listening to him talk:

1. Marie Claire for TOD’s – https://youtu.be/p9D6J87fvjE?si=DJxbTAjOeGRDhtyP
2. VOGUE for TOD’s – https://youtu.be/CQ6zsjnE3T0?si=kUoUrwPPhBMvhUQa
3. V China Magazine for Gucci – https://youtu.be/lbjNpdfsaEk?si=eh7x_Il_xfZ1DPxi
4. Tencent for Gucci – https://youtu.be/pivvfUwYkhU?si=cM3WbwYoAstYdhvz

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