Beanie level: Fan club president

#2023RoundUp

Oldie (non 2023) I loved the most.

I have very few rules when watching dramas or movies. I can watch almost anything, no matter the genre, but I always avoid the Arthurian cycle (don’t ask) and zombies, because zombies are scary. Even the ones who are supposed to be funny. No. Zombies are scary. A Lot.

So because of this it was impossible that I even dared to watch Happiness (2021), no matter if HyungSik is the cutest (sorry, Taec, that is a F A C T), and how much I love Han HyoJoo. There was no way this beanie watched a scary drama with zombies on it. No, no, no. 🥺

But one of my friends kept insisting, and then it was her 16 years old daughter that wanted me to watch because it was her absolute favorite drama, and no matter how much I didn’t want to get into scary zombies… well… I finally pressed play. Not gonna lie, it was a hard watch, but also, I really enjoyed it because the OTP is pure gold, and of course HyungSik is the epitome of cutesy. Also, as my friend said and she was absolutely right, the drama is full of people you love to hate. And gosh, that is so, so true!
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    I’m rewatching Happiness right now! I loved it so much when I watched it and I had nothing on my plate, so I just pressed play on this one again and enjoying it the second time around. So good!

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#2023RoundUp

My guilty pleasure.

What is a guilty pleasure to begin either? I would define it as not of those dramas you know it’s bad, ridiculous, and probably a waste of time as when you finish it you will probably erase from your mind, and yet… yes, you are watching.

This category belongs entirely to Moon in the day. As I said on the www thread, no acting, directing or writing was involved in this drama, and yet I enjoyed it to the fullest. Would I recommend to watch? No way!!! But what can I say? I had so much fun watching I can’t say those 14 hours have been wasted.

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    That’s a great definition, and as you know I agree 100% with everything you’ve said about Moon. I refuse to feel guilt about any legal form of pleasure, so for me it was more detached wonder at my own enjoyment of this lukewarm mess. I never even considered dropping it.

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      Not even for a minute!! I didn’t enjoy a mess this much since I married an antifan, although in that drama there was as tiny bit of acting involving and the OTP relationship was healthier than the one in Moon. That is not saying a lot, I know, but…

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#2023RoundUp

Special Kimchi slap edition: worst parent.

Parenting is not what Dramas do the best, we are always shown terrible parents who think their children are just a way for them to shine rather than their own individual persons. From all the mums in Crash Course on Romance that fight each other to make their kids number one, to all the woman who think that just because they have given birth a child they owe them the world (Call it love, Doona!), to the mother that won’t allow a son to be the donor for his wife because his body will be hurt and that can’t be pretending to have the most strict Confucian values (Doctor Cha) to the awful parents in Perfect Marriage Revenge, and I’m not talking only about the obvious and terrible step mum, but those two fathers who created monsters and didn’t get any punishment for that.

But even with all these examples, to me the worst parent was Choi RoHee’s dad in The kidnapping day, who was the monster who killed his wife and experimented on her daughter and treated her just like a guinea pig. It was heartbreaking and a horrible metaphor about how many kids get this treatment from their parents.

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    RoHee’s dad takes the cake (one filled with needles) for worst father of the year 😑

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    The Kidnapping Day felt like a giant “what not to do” guide to future parents (Don’t inject viruses into your kid’s brain, don’t send your HIV-positive adopted daughter back to the orphanage, don’t leave your daughter with cancer alone in the hospital for weeks, don’t murder or attempt to murder your kid’s other family members . . . the list could go on).

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#2023RoundUp

Best bromance.

Even is Season 2 was not as good as Season 1, I will have to stick with my distracting foxes as the best bromance. Even if time travel has rules, this second opportunity Yeon had with Rang felt like a treasure and I embraced it. Add to that HongJoo and MooYoung and it was perfect. Also the sidekicks of all of them trying to be the best sidekicks was hilarious: ShinJoo, JaeYoo and MiYeon. So funny!

Best womance

It surely was YoungYoo and SoonAe in My perfect stranger. The lovely crush the daughter got on her mum as she learned that once she was a young girl with her own dreams, rather than the quiet mum she knew all along, her fierce defense of her was so sweet to watch. Best thing in the drama.

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#2023RoundUp

A lesson about drops.

I have learned my mistakes. I might have got a bean of shame or a guilty bean this year, but I’ve learned I can drop a drama if I’m not interested anymore, or never was to begin with. Dropping a drama has nothing to do with it being good or bad, but on how it makes you feel. Right now I live in the “only adding” zone, so when something does not add anything, I just leave it aside.

I dropped so many dramas after one or two episodes, I won’t even mention them. Yes, I learned to drop them, but I never said anything about not learning to press play, even if I knew it wouldn’t suit me, so I will just list the dramas I dropped after episode 3:

– Connect (ep. 3). Weird. I wish I knew what I was watching. If anyone does, please tell. Not even HaeIn got me hooked.
– The Heavenly idol (ep. 8). Between The Evil One and The Evil Two, I was wondering how this mess could get anywhere. I always like a drama that can show something about the Kpop industry and how strings are pulled, but this didn’t make any sense. I really loved leads, and some plots, but I just rolled my eyes at Evil One and Evil Two.
– The good bad mother (ep. 7). LDH and JSY would be more than enough to get me into ANY drama, and I could even have watched it all if I knew that evil woman would never get a redemption arch, but given how fond dramas are of filial piety, I just couldn’t go on after she thew the poor guy into the river in winter. The sole thought of her resting in peace and not burning in hell for eternity made me sick, even if this was just a drama.
– Doctor Romantic 3 (ep. 8). I’m so sorry Kim Sabu, but I only endured all those 8 episodes trying so hard to like it, then I realized there was no need. I didn’t care at all, so better stop watching.
– King the land (ep. 10). I’m sorry babe, but I didn’t even find it funny. I wonder where the writing was, and Junho alone couldn’t hold the drama for me. It’s a pity because I think Sarang was a very interesting FL in dreamland, I really liked her and would have liked her even better if she was actually played by someone who could act. As for the side characters, I liked evil sister at first, only to find her boring with her repetitive behavior. Even so, I’m happy people enjoyed. It’s not that I didn’t, just that I didn’t care at all about anything that happened… that’s even worse, isn\’t it?
– The killing vote (ep. 4). Or The devil judge revisited. I already had watched that one, no need to repeat.
– Destined with you (ep. 3). I don’t know if this is a drop or me just being lazy. I never pressed on episode four. I think my issue was RoWon trying to act seriously. Like Taec, he should stick to fluffy and funny.
– Behind your touch (ep. 5). Two of my favorite leads and the whole butt touching with a serial murder. No thanks.
– Moving (ep. 8). I really didn’t care about the adult characters, and I didn’t quite like the violence, felt all over the place. I may finish it one day, but I seriously doubt it.

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    I only start shows that I feel Id love to try at that moment. I’m a mood watcher.

    I learnt that if it’s the right choice, itll click with me within seconds or, in any case, before the first ep ends. There have been some rare instances of dropping shows midway, though, but these are rare (dishonorable mentions: The Real (ep 10) and Crash Course (ep 10?).

    True it’s a pity not to be able to discuss with Beans, but I prioritize my mental well-being. Shows that don’t click with me now may click with me in the future when the timing is right.

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    “I didn’t care at all about anything that happened”.

    I think this is a very good reason to drop a drama. That’s why I dropped True Beauty two times (last time in the middle of episode 7), but I still want to finish that drama… someday.

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#2023RoundUp

Best suit wearer.

There was mainly one reason to watch Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938: Lee Dong Wook and Kim Bum in waistocoats.

I will also have to mention my babes: both Junho in KTL and Taec in Heartbeat were perfect.

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#2023RoundUp

Nam Da Reum prize: best child actor

I can only agree with almost every single beanie who chose YuNa in this cathegory. She nailed the job, making me believe Choi RoHee was exactly as she was, the intelligent and competent FL in The kidnapping day.

Just like Kim Kang Hoon last year in Reborn Rich (and wow, his acting in Death’s game too!!!!), that showed me the adult in the eyes of a child, I could see everything RoHee had gone through just with a look.

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Do I really need to watch Tale of Nokdu to watch Jang Dong Yoon get the girl? Ayoooooo 😣

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Junho has had his first Fanmeeting tour in Asia, and some of my friends went to many. In Singapore (December 8th) a bunch of them attended and something funny happened.

There were come Junho standees at the entrance photocell. Some fans offered to buy those standees as the money will be donated to charity. One of my friends bought it and after the fanmeet, she and the rest of my friends (with other fans) carried the standee from the hall to the hotel they were staying as it was across the street. While they were going around and stopping to take photos, a black van stopped by and as the window glass lowered they saw Junho waving at them and then recording with his phone 🤣

I’m waiting for Junho’s Singapore blog to see if my girls reach stardom!!

https://x.com/itsmilzyy/status/1733154284668403830?s=46&t=bToEpCiZJUDWN76LUg-VBg

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    That’s so cute! Fingers crossed for your friends 🤞!

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    So cute! They must have been over the moon!

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    Wow, that is so nice! Your friend must have been over the moon. That is every fan’s dream. But you have friends from Sydney, Eaz???

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      I have two close Australian friends I met in the fandom, and at least three or four more Australian fans I met during concerts.
      And of course there is LT.

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    This is crazy and awesome and so Junho!! ❤

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#2023RoundUp

My 2023 crush.

Choy Hyun Wook. Yes we all loved him in Twinkling watermelon, but it was D.P. 2 that made me fall for his acting skills.

Looking forward too see him in his future and hopefully, most diverse roles.
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#2023RoundUp

My non k-drama recommendation.

Many of you have already mentioned Meet yourself, the c-drama. I have already talked about it in the drama beanies convinced me to watch. I need to repeat this: if you haven’t watched, watched. Why? Watch and then tell me.

As for western shows let me recommend you Deadloch, you will find it on Prime. It’s crime comedy and possibly triple X rated, but it’s so good, and it’s so obviously written by women that I can only say: watch!

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#2023RoundUp

The character who most screams for mental health care

Every single character in Moon in the day, present and past lives.

I’m pretty sure everyone who watched agrees with me.

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#2023RoundUp

The drama Beanies convinced me to watch and I can’t be grateful enough

I’m not fond of makjang. In fact any sight of makjang around and I will quit the drama, but so many different people was enjoying Perfect Marriage Revenge, that I just decided to press play to check and I was sucked by it, Surely, the first half is by far funnier and better that the second half, but it was such a funny ride!! I can only recommend it to whoever hasn’t already watched and wants to have a fun time.

The other one is, like so many beanies have mentioned Meet yourself. I can only say: if you haven’t watched you’re already being late. Trust all beanies who loved this drama. It’s absolutely worth it.

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    I loved Meet Yourself a lot. All the praises are well deserved. I call it “traversable wormhole” kind of drama because it was a very special experience.

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#2023RoundUp

The character that deserves a kimchi slap

We all know dreamland is filled with these type of characters, and in fact sometimes one kimchi slap doesn’t seem enough, they deserve two or three. For me the one who fits the best in this category was Park Mi-Gyeong in The interest of love. Every sympathy I had for this character in the drama faded away the a few seconds after I had that feeling. MiGyeong was trying so hard to convince everyone she was a good and nice girl and that she had earned her position by her hard work, that she believed it. Her selfishness by pretending to be SooYeong’s friend, ignoring how HangSoo wasn’t really in love with her, blaming her dad on everything bad that happened to her… Oh, yes, I couldn’t have less sympathy for her. She really deserved to receive that kimchi slap and had kimchi around her neck instead of all the beautiful and expensive kerchiefs she wore… 😤

Also, kudos to Keum Sae Rok for making the character alive and absolutely real.

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After all these years I say goodbye to my beloved SeRa and Gong in my banner, but after all they deserve to be there as long as I am their Fanclub President 💗❤️💚💙💛💜
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    6 hearts for the 6 of them, and I guess the first one, a bit different from the rest, is for Junho?

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      Kpop groups usually identify member by colours or with emojis or animals.
      In 2PM:
      – Jun.K: Pink and a panda (the pink heart is slightly different because there is not a simple pink heart!!)
      – Nichkhun: Red and a koala.
      – Taecyeon: Green and a cat.
      – Wooyoung: Blue and a chicken.
      – Junho: Yellow and an emperor penguin.
      – Chansung: Purple and a banana (don’t ask).
      Also the order is always from older to youngest.
      Random things about kpop fandoms!!
      (my advice: never get involved in one!!!!!!)

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        Ah, this is interesting!! I didn’t know there’s such a convention for Kpop groups. Ok, I won’t get involved in one 😁

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        I always feel a strong desire to have an interview with the person who first decided that a banana is an animal 😆

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          I guess Chansung didn’t like any animal he was proposed and after all he looooooooves bananas 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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    Hurray!

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    💓💓💓

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#2023RoundUp

The OTP I didn’t think I would adore

Even if I never finished Moving, this category belongs to Kim Bong Seok and Jang Hui Soo and only to them!

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#2023RoundUp

The drama I loved, beanies not so much

The interest of love. I never thought this angsty drama, so full of characters I hated would make me feel so good while watching. I know people thought it was slow, boring and of course, character deserved to be smacked every single episode… even so… I don’t think I have loved a drama this year more than I loved this one.

It says so much about life, struggles, relationships…

I could say many things, but as @frabbycrabsis has written about it much better than I could ever have, imagined just leave her blog here: https://crabbyfordramas.wordpress.com/2023/01/07/the-interest-of-love-episodes-1-4-thoughts/

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    Yay some love for INTEREST OF LOVE! It’s one my favourites this year as well.

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    You’re not alone!

    It was one of my favorite Kdrama of 2023!

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    You’re so sweet, Eazal 😭♥️

    It’s such a shame that this show wasn’t that beloved outside of our little circle, but I think that fact that we were so touched by it is good enough!

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#2023RoundUp

Side character that stole the drama

This is a hard one at least for me. The closest to “stealing the show” so far it must be Bok Hyu in My demon but after all I’m only three episodes into the drama. Too soon.

If I have to choose, and even knowing Heartbeat was all about WooHyeol and Taec was the absolute star in it, I will go with Sang Hae and Dong Seob. These adorkable guys were a device to watch, had a wonderful relationship, and I loved how they showed us the daily struggles of average vampires in the modern world.
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    Don’t forget Rose! I think they both would have died long ago if it wasn’t for Rose taking care of them on the side hahaha!

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      Rose deserved her own show. She was too cool. How about … undercover vampire who investigates cases under the guise of hardworking part timer?

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OMG! I finally levelled up!!

So I am a Fanclub President now… do you have any doubts about whose fanclub is it?
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#2023RoundUp

Male lead I will never forget

What can I say about Ha Sang Soo? He will always stay in my memory, and probably not for the best reasons. He wasn’t a bad guy, but he wasn’t exactly good. I really loved how YYS portrayed this very real guy in a very real way, even with all the frustrations he gave me.

Call it love was not an easy drama to watch, but it was so rewarding to me. And Sang Soo, who nailed taking bad decision after bad decision, finally understood that his happiness only relied on him, accepted his flaws and had the courage to continue his life.

I still think that after those four years separation, when he found Soo Young again, the timing was the correct one and they will find their own way to happiness together.

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    I’m obviously confused, it’s not Call it Love, but The interest of love.

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