Beanie level: Fan club president

Is Mr Queen possible a BL? Because despite his obviously female body, Jang Bong-hwan is clearly male. And Cheoljong is falling in love with this male.

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    I don’t think it’s really appropriate to put it in just one restrictive category (especially “BL”, which… As an umbrella category I am not a fan of for a number of reasons). I think that’s reductive.

    It’s a show that’s fluid about both gender and sexuality and I think that’s fantastic.

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      That makes sense. I’m interested in how the show will handle this given Kdramas’ more conservative standards. So far the idea seems to be towards a moving to “feminize” the male.

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        Yeah it’s definitely not going as hard with the gender and sexuality stuff as I would like but hey, for a super mainstream kdrama I’m fairly impressed

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    Welcome back. Hope you stayed healthy, wealthy, and wise?

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      Thanks 🙂 I hope all has been well with you?
      As for me, I can’t quite claim to have stayed healthy, wealthy and wise. xd But I’m certainly trying.

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June Photo Challenge
Since this is an open theme, I’m doing “Current Favorites” i.e. favorites from whatever I’m watching/ listening to at the moment.

Day 5: In Red
As much as I enjoy watching this character on screen, I’m still going to pretend eps 17 & 18 never happened. Please let me know when we’re over the noble idiocy and related pain.
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June Photo Challenge
Since this is an open theme, I’ve decided to go with “Current Favorites” i.e. favorites from whatever I’m watching/listening to at the moment.

Day 4: With Food
Of my current watches, my favorite moments with food have to be those around Nuannuan‘s love of hotpot in My Love, Enlighten Me. First of all, Nuannuan (played by Elenor Lee) is one of my favorite heroines ever. She’s a complex character – well written & well acted – and doesn’t take the male lead, Han Che‘s bullshit lying down. Her desires and feelings, especially what she wants from both her career and Han Che, are consistent and explored at depth. I’m not on his side at all, but if she likes him, then I’m 100% in support.

One of her “traits” is her love for hotpot. She even names her cat “hotpot”. The image below is a screenshot from ep 5, part of which revolves around a hotpot dinner at home with all of the show’s young characters. Han Che can be seen sitting away & having a bland meal. As he falls in love with her, Han Che starts to join her in her hotpot meals. It’s a nice, understated touch that shows how much Han Che likes her. Because he now likes Nuannuan, he likes the things she likes, including hotpot.

10/10 want to be a little more like Nuannuan.
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Current Drama Status #79
Over the past month, I\’ve been introduced to the wonderful world of C-dramas. Can\’t believe how many I\’ve completed. You know how it is when you first discovered K-dramas? Binge watch, everything is so refreshing, so much fun! Exactly like that for me, but with C-dramas atm. I\’m losing track of the shows I\’m watching. So here\’s my latest list.

1. (Mon-Tues) Oh My Baby Ep 6. I adore this show! Nearly my favorite thing to air this year.
2. (Mon-Tues) The Romance of Tiger & Rose. Ep 18. Let\’s pretend eps 17 & 18 never happened please.
3. (Wed-Thurs) My Love Enlighten Me. Ep 18. Still not on Han Che\’s side, still fully on Nuannuan\’s side.
4. (Thurs-Sat)Mr. Fox & Ms. Rose Ep 12. CUTE. My favorite of them all so far.
5. (Thurs) Road to Kingdom. Ep 5. They did Golden Child dirty.
6. (Fri) The King: Eternal Monarch. Ep 10. Ugh. How to catch up. The worst of them all.
7. (Fri) Where Your Eyes Linger. Ep 4. BL with so much potential – why is it so short?
8. (Unknown) Fake Princess. Ep 6. Elenaor Lee here as well, other than My Love, Enlighten Me. She\’s really good – like a different person in this show.

Lets not even get into my to-watch list.

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June Photo Challenge
Since this is an open theme, I’ve decided to go with “Current Favorites” i.e. favorites from whatever I’m watching/listening to at the moment.

Day 3: In sunglasses
Here’s one of my favourite moments from one of my favourite dramas, Oh My Baby. In ep 3, Jang Nara as Ha-ri is out shopping with her mom, and absolutely gorgeous; when out of the blue her mom grabs her and uses her as a shield. Mother-daughter relationships ftw. I can totally see my mom doing that to me too.

I tried to find/make a gif video but failed. 🙁 So here’s a photo of Hari looking fab in sunglasses before it happens:
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June Photo Challenge
Since this is an open theme, I’ve decided to go with “Current Favorites” i.e. favorites from whatever I’m watching/listening to at the moment.

Day 2: Selfie
This is a tough one. I couldn’t think of a current favorite selfie at all, so here’s a selfie by a current favorite idol-producer-rapper, Stray Kids’s Changbin. From the first time I heard Stray Kids’ music in 2018 to now, Changbin has always stood out. I’d say he’s amongst the best idol rappers in the industry today. And so, Day 2 goes to Changbin; and beautiful, melodic and sad latest release, “Streetlight” (Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_oCptmj2gIQ).

10/10 would recommend Changbin to everyone.
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June Photo Challenge (Suggested by @purplesheesh)
Since this is an open theme, I’ve decided to go with “Current Favorites” i.e. favorites from whatever I’m watching at the moment.

Day 1: Drama Character
Gao Zhenhe, Mr. Fox & Miss Rose
The male lead of this presently airing C-drama is a scrawny, messy looking guy. Normally, I don’t like such guys, but Gao Zhenhe has me swooning (just a little). Thanks you @hades for recommending this show.

Mr. Fox & Ms Rose is a fun romance. A jewel hunter crashes into an isolated mountain area, and is rescued by a tribe that is completely cut off from the world. Their Queen for reasons, decides to marry him & he goes ahead with it to win her trust, deceive the tribe and run away with their precious stone. So now, she follows him back to the city to get what is her’s back. This is in the plot description, and it doesn’t sound like anything particularly unheard of – but it is SO MUCH FUN. An unexpected sense of adventure and laugh out loud humor form the backdrop for this story. It’s fun, and the acting, pacing and dialogue is good – no complaints so far (ep 12).

Ren You Lun is really selling the male lead, Gao Zhenhe. He’s intelligent, resourceful and cunning, and uses his wits to lie, cheat and deceive – this is clearly not a good guy. In fact, we find him in the middle of a long con, working to gain someone’s trust and obtain information, when the show opens. But at the same time, he is also clearly not a bad guy.

Gao Zhenhe has male privilege on his side, his character gets away with things we may not always forgive female characters for; but Ren’s portrayal of him is a big part of why we forgive and even understand him. He has a soft side, his micro-expressions tell us he knows what he’s doing is wrong & feels bad, and that he’s fiercely loyal to the people he loves.

No wait, I’m understating things – Ren’s portrayal of this bad boy has me swooning, and I don’t swoon so easily over bad boys. It’s the soft cuddly ones like I’ll Go To You When The Weather is Nice‘s Lim Eunsoeb that I usually like. Didn’t think much of him at first either, but by ep 3-4, I was hooked — both to the characters, including Gao Zhenhe, as well as the show.

10/10 would recommend Gao Zhenhe to everyone.

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    Clearly I forgot this was meant to be a PHOTO challenge. 😀 Tomorrow onwards. Please consider the video a moving photo till then.

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    I am watching this too! I started late last night cuz of Hades too lol and I am now on ep 9!!!!! 😱😱😱😱😱 the episodes just keep rolling!

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      Also these two. heheheheheheehhehe.

      need more skinship ngl.

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        Lol @hades mentioned you’re watching it too. Isn’t it adorable? My only complaint is that Xing Yue – while still being visible & doing a lot – isn’t given a lot to do, & isn’t there yet, emotionally & mentally, with Gao Zhenhe. She’s far behind. I really need her to catch up so it’s more “equal”. But also, yes to more skinship 💜 & more cuteness

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          That was my issue too. I wish she had showed more traits of a tribe leader. I mean I can forgive her reaction to the civilization world since everything is indeed new in her eyes, but I wish there was still Yknow that aura around her that she’s a leader of a pack while adjusting to her new world. Anyways she hasn’t really bothered me, so I’m good for now with her.

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            Exactly. She’s too not-leader like to be believable as a leader but it’s ok. Lol

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    I hope he remains/becomes more of the good guy we know him to be. 🤞🏾

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      I really like that he’s got her best interest even if he found her a chore to be with.

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        Agreed. He does seem to genuinely care for her. @hades, I think he’ll definitely make at least one hard decision that’ll be difficult to forgive him for. Maybe. Or maybe not, this show is too cute.

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          He does seem to genuinely care for her.

          He did mention that she’s an important person to him because she saved his life. I liked it when he thought to himself he wouldn’t disclose what happened to him in the 15 days he went missing, so his friends wouldn’t get curious about the tribe that was living in harmony.

          He does not forget people who did him good. Even as early as ep 3, when he left to escape, he said goodbye to her (tho she was knocked out at this time!) and felt bad for tricking her.

          And we’ve had quite a few instances where he chose to see her than go to what should have been his top priorities were. ie-when he went back to pick her up from the senior home and when he went to get her from Yi Tian’s studio instead of flying to Tadong.

          I really like that he is, yeah, genuinely concerned about her. This might be a stretch – but I think when he left her at the cliff, he was actually on the way to get Xing Yue back when Xia Nian called him that she had gone missing. 😬 Or else why would he lie to Xia Nian that he was sleeping when he was actually in his vehicle driving!

          I think he’ll definitely make at least one hard decision that’ll be difficult to forgive him for.

          I’m at the part now in ep 9 where uncle talks about one’s weakness. And how loving someone is deadly. Oh-uh!

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            “This might be a stretch – but I think when he left her at the cliff, he was actually on the way to get Xing Yue back when Xia Nian called him that she had gone missing.”

            Come to think of it that’s entirely valid. I was wondering where he was going, since he’d already been home.

            Agreed with all your observations famy! So much. It’s so awesome to have another person to squeal over this drama to!

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    I like how you’ve approached the challenge.
    This drama sounds so fun from all I get on the beanie wall… I will have to get over my issues about Chinese (I hardly deal with its phonetics and musicality) because I’m so tempted to watch!!

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      Hahaha is it the voice overs that they do? Because that’s definitely a weird thing in C-dramas

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        No, it’s just the phonetics. I can’t connect to that. I feel like everybody has some kind of cold or that they cannot pronounce correctly some sounds and it drives me crazy. I can deal with Korean and Japanese, but Chinese is really hard, haha.

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Oh My Baby I’ve been enjoying this more & more with each ep but today, with ep 5, I fell in love. More than anything, I love that they’ve taken these two 40 yr old folks & given them what looks like an incredibly sweet, awkward romance. We often see this with younger OTPs but rarely ever with older people – and somehow I find it more believable here? Young people are much more bold in general. As an older person, you’re hesitant to start something new, your walls are up and harder to breach. Or maybe this is just me generalizing from my own feelings.

There’s also the lovely relationship between Ha-ri & her mother. Jang Na-ra seems to love these kinds of roles — where there’s a mother-daughter plot too.

I’ve found my next drama love.

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Please watch this reaction video to kiss scenes: US vs K-dramas. The description of K-drama kisses is GOLD. 🤣🤣

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    Laughed so much! 🤣

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    🤣🤣🤣
    thanks for sharing, green guy was so funny hehe

    (also 1st clip is from “A couple’s world”, it’s one of the major event and the scene didn’t end like they showed here, you also gotta the background story of it, for a Kdrama it was very daring)

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    These guys are cracking me up.

    “It’s like a dining scene ended just after picking up a spoon.”

    *laughing*

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    This was fun to watch 🤣

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    Honestly, as someone born and raised in a Western nation, I still am not used to the level of affection shown in our dramas and movies. Honestly, I feel like a voyeur most of the time lol

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    This was really fun.
    These guys react as adults as I reacted to kisses on screen when I was 10 🤣🤣🤣🤣

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    Hahaha! They are such guys/fan girls. This was hilarious!

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    Their reactions are hilarious!! CHUUUU

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“The Best of You in My Mind”: An Appreciation Post

I’ve finished ep 21 (out 24 total) and just wanted to take a moment to talk about how beautiful this show is. I wrote a long post elsewhere, but here, I simply want to share one of the best scenes I’ve seen on television. About halfway through the show when the male lead’s (Xu Fang) best friend tells him to do something or the female lead (Lin Xi Chi) will soon be dating another guy, Xu Fang clearly states that even though he likes her, it’s her choice to date who she wants to date, and all the time she spends with the other guy is relevant to her education – so how can he stop her? This is a maturity and an understanding of consent that I have rarely ever seen in Asian television/maybe even global television, and I deeply appreciate it.

That small, inconsequential scene captures the friends-to-lovers arc between the leads. It’s a healthy, natural and loving relationship. They seek each other out in difficult times, and support one another to be the best version of themselves that they can be. This is framed by a soft, wistful soundtrack, and despite their struggles and insecurities, you know you are watching a safe, beautiful show.

Not all dramas need to show healthy relationships, most dramas thrive off conflict and tension. There’s conflict and tension here to, but it comes from believable things and the characters’ own struggles, insecurities and fears – rather than external meddling. It’s beautifully done, and leaves me feeling both a little sad, and extremely happy, when watching “The Best of You in My Mind”.



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Wtf did I just see? Why is Park Hae-jin speaking Hindi lol but also this ad. Should I be offended?

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    I was thinking will this count as cultural appropraition? But idk people are so divided on this term.

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      I think the drama is making fun of themselves. So..maybe not??? Idk

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        I thought this was hilarious! Making fun of themselves as well as a great shout out to Hindi-speaking fans of kdramas

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    WHAT IS THIS?😂

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      From his new drama, something intern. 😂 I had no interest before this, but now I intend to watch

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    omg. this cannot be real.

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    oh what did I just watch ? 😐😂😐

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      😂 help me understand whether I should be offended

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        maybe we, normal humans, can’t see the meaning/purpose of some existing things, this video proves it. No need to be offended or not, the universe has its own logic (maybe it’s a cousin of dramaland logic x) )

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        I was laughing like crazy. I absolutely *loved* it, and found it not the least bit offensive. The ad is so true to India’s instant noodle/food eating habits anyway, and they clearly had a lot of fun writing it up.

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    I wonder if there will be other ads with different cultures in the drama? This will be interesting.

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      Hahaha I had no interest in it earlier but now I intend to watch

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        PEGASUS MARKET did this too at one point, and I didn’t find it offensive, because one message of the drama was actually that Koreans should be more accepting of foreigners and different cultures.

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      I think he is the manager of the chicken noodle company. In the very first teaser of the show, the chicken mascot was there too.

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    @yyishere what did you do to Oppa?

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      Blame it on Forest. I loled like crazy. His face…and his voice haha. He looked like he was enjoying himself. And he has great chemistry with the girl, she’so pretty.

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    @pickleddragon subbed this over at her wall. She loves ex Oppa so much.

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    I’ve seen some gifs of that ad and I was cringing but I wasn’t offended because I think that they were aiming for the cringe. Like that Diwali episode of Office

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I\’m a C-drama convert, officially. Presently watching The Best of You in My Mind (ep 18) & My Love, Enlighten Me (ep 10). Adore both shows. 😀 C-drama beanies, any recommendations?

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    Where did you watch 10 episodes of My Love, Enlighten Me? Last I checked only 4 or 5 episodes are out. I saw half of episode 3 last night!

    Beanies on discord are now watching the new costume drama, The Romance of Tiger and Rose. We are hoping this will be our new crack. I`m not into costume dramas, but maybe this will cure my allergy? We, errr… I am…., are also anticipating Love Advanced Customization which is coming out tomorrow. I’m hoping it will be good to negate that horrible title…..

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      The new VIP episodes were already leaked to the illegal sites last week for My Love, Enlighten Me.

      I’m definitely going to check out The Romance of Tiger and Rose. But I’m already watching the ML in Intense Love right now. LOL

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        Comment was deleted

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        I checked WeTV, they’re all on there. \0/ Even all 8 episodes of The Romance of Tiger and Rose are there! I saw the first episode it’s super fun! I think I may have just found the cure to my costume drama allergy! ^___^ Ryan Ding is a cutie! I decided to check this out because I couldn’t get past ep 3 of Intense Love but I like him.

        Does Intense Love get better? I think my issue is with the female lead’s acting and the awful dubbing……

        Anyways back to The Romance of Tiger and Rose – I enjoy the world that the scriptwriter (our female lead) created – it’s super women centric. The women are leading the army, everyone rejoices when a girl is first born, married men are to be divorced and cast away if they fail to produce a female heir, men are uneducated, men are the performers/dancers who entertain the working women. I love her world! It’s no wonder the actor (the male lead; Ryan Ding) didn’t want to take part of this drama. He calls it too women centric and there’s no equality. She raised her voice at him and said when were they ever equal!👏👏👏👏

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          Intense Love – first 5 episodes, the FL comes off as immature and delusional. However, I noticed her immaturity is all towards him. When she’s working, she’s strictly professional. She does get better in the later episodes. I don’t find her dubbed voice as annoying as all the dubbed voices in Girlfriend.

          The Romance of Tiger sounds promising so far. Yay to your cure of costume dramas!

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            Maybe I’ll try Intense Love again for the third time. 😆 I know it topped the Chinese webdrama chart last week so there’s something about this drama that’s making China watch it.

            Just finished ep 2 of The Romance of Tiger and Rose; it’s still fun! I love the female lead’s antics. And lately I’m very much into role reversal, so it’s hitting the right notes that I can get passed the costumes huehhehe 🙉 I Hope I can stick to it to the end.

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          @13infamyss, I didn’t know where else to find you and didn’t want to make a post on the fanwall.

          I checked out the first episode of The Romance of Tiger and Rose. It’s a hoot! Ryan Dong looks good in costume drama. 😍

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        Tbh I also have a costume drama allergy it seems. >_<

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      Like @jenmole I watched eps 5-10 illegally haha. Also, yes Love Advanced Customisation. My obessession with C-dramas started with Johonny Huang >_< so err…I too…am anticipating it. Please come find me if you want to discuss it and swoon over Johnny because damn that man is hot.

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    – “The Untamed” (costume drama…. give it at LEAST 15 episodes before giving up… IF you can give up by that time 😏😏)
    – “Put Your Head On My Shoulder”
    – “Girlfriend” (my mum i# having a hoot watching this right now
    – “Yanxi Palace” (costume drama)
    – “Story Of Ming Lan” (costume drama)
    – “Ashes Of Love” (costume drama)

    I have “The Best Of You In Mind” & “Enlighten Me” on my “To Watch” list 👌🏻👌🏻

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      *lurking*
      *see “my mum is having a hoot watching this right now” and remember Bebeswtz’s mum watched Joy of Life, adds to the to-watch list*
      *spot Story Of Ming Lan, already coming soon on my screen*
      *Ashes Of Love, will finish it this week ^^*
      *leaves unnoticed x)*

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      I couldn’t continue with Girlfriend but glad you and your mom are having fun.

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        Oh, I haven’t started it, it’s just my mom lol But yes, she’s having fun 😊😊😊
        I’m currently watching “The Love Equations” 👌🏻👌🏻

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          I dropped The Love Equations around episode 15. It was fun up to them getting together. After that, I still felt the FL had no character growth ep 13 and on. I really liked the beginning too. 😔

          BTW, I’m re-watching Murphy’s Law of Love. 😂 I remember your posts long ago and I had rewatched then. And someone I know had mentioned the drama and here I am pressing play yet again. Gotta love Danson Tang’s character.

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            I’m continuing with “The Love Equations” 😊 Zhao Fan Zhou is 😍😍 Kudos to Simon Gong Jim’s acting 👌🏻👌🏻

            “Murphy’s Law Of Love” is also a fun one, but I can’t do it all in one sitting for my rewatches anymore… It used to be one of those mindless watches and then it slowly makes you HAVE to use your logic and your brain and then it turns not-fun in some parts ☹️

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            I never make it far on my rewatches for Murphy’s Law of Love. Usually by the time the ex comes back. 😂 😅

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            You’re better than me lol
            In my rewatches, depending on how I feel—on a good rewatch, I make it to his confession; On a bad rewatch, I get to her slump (so just slightly before his confession) and I can’t go on anymore 😅😅

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            Unfortunately The Love Equations was a miss for me. I’ve been told that it starts to get good after ep 6, but I couldn’t get passed 1.5 episodes 😖😖😖😖 I had high expectations of this drama because I loved A Love So Beautiful and we were all crazy about Put Your Head on My Shoulders! (Time flies! It’s been a year!). I really wanted to like it, but I couldn’t 😖😖😖😖😖 Simon Gong has another drama I am looking forward to watch, Begin Again, maybe I’ll see him in that drama then? So I dropped his dramas, Instead of Tipsy Why Not Get Drunk and The Love Equations, maybe the third is a charm….🤔

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            @13infamyss
            That’s okay!! Different drama preferences are okay 👌🏻👌🏻 I feel like we still need to learn this and get this thru our heads 😅😅 I know what you mean— it took me 3 tries to get through Episode 1, but I quite enjoy the more mundane nature of the drama, and that’s why I’ve been able to keep with it 😊 And then their confessions happened at the lucky Episode 13 mark and I was like YAAAAASSSSSS

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            I’ve finished The Love Equations. >_< It's ok. I thought the male lead was a rather boring character, but he balanced out the female lead very well – and that's what kept me watching.

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        Girlfriend is silly fun! I also like the female lead; she doesn’t take any bull. I think I am on either ep 9/10 then I got distracted with other shows. lol

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      Hehehe thanks. Put Your Head on My Shoulder, I’ve seen. Love it! I did try to watch The Untamed, but it turns out I may have a costume drama allergy >_<; but let me give the others you suggest a try – still too new to C-dramas to say anything decisively.

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    I’ve reached episode 12 pf my Love, Enlighten Me and I’m enjoying it. Eleanor Lee is really cute

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Oh My Baby is a gem. Humorous, relatable & somewhat quirky. I adored the first two episodes & hope it keeps up this vibe. Jang Nara is <3!

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Oh My Baby is so funny! 🤣 🤣
Can we get another Bae Ta Mi though? Not every woman has to get married at the end of the show.

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Over the past week, I have been obsessing over this 2016 Chinese BL show called Addicted. For good reason, this show catapulted it’s rookies leads Timmy Xu & Johnny Huang into stardom. It is a slice of life, the actors are incredibly handsome & they give their all to bring the story to life like none other.

What first drew me to an otherwise ordinary plot description is the fact that the show – a very low budget production – received over 10 million views within a day of release of ep 1. It has a total of 15 episodes, and later, because of its LGBTQ content, the Chinese government would go on to ban the show off Chinese television around ep 12, and forbid the two leads from ever being seen on TV or in public, together. The story thus, remains incomplete – probably for the best since the original move descends further into tropes soon after.

Even the show does not entirely escape them. Most prominently, I was disappointed to see the story veer into the usual BL tropes in ep 10 after a wonderful first 9 episodes. Non-consent, kidnap, the resisting “wife” & the hint of the scheming girlfriend, it’s so unnecessary. Nonetheless, every other moment is done so well that when Bai Lou Yin finally consents, viewers are swept away in the emotion. The bed scene that follows is both tender and heated, both heartbreaking and full of happiness, all at the same time. I think I will remember is for a long time.

Once you start watching Addicted, you see why the Chinese government got so riled up. Bai Lou Yin & Gu Hai (the characters) are a very convincing pair. Their chemistry is electric & there’s plenty of kisses and scenes that are a prelude to sex (I had to hunt for the uncut version). Even without the kisses & the sex, it is a pleasure to watch their relationship gradually unfold. Their growing closeness, and the obvious “oddness” about Gu Hai’s feelings for Bai Lou Yin, is a treat to watch. Additionally, fans suspect that the depiction of Gu Hai’s privileges as the son of one of country’s top military officials, may not have gone down well.

Since there is no closure, I’ve been devouring behind the scenes videos & am surprised by how free, open and honest the young actors are on camera. The videos capture them as they were before they become famous & it’s refreshing to see such honesty. I’ve also been watching them in later shows – but without exception they play cool male leads in whatever I watched. Whether it’s Johnny Huang in Operation Red Sea or Timmy Xu in some silly, forgettable romance. Huang has retained some sense of his early honesty, but their later roles don’t have this same passion that Addicted called for.

How do I get over this show? My heart has been completely swept away in a low-budget, tropey, atmospheric BL drama that the actors can no longer even acknowledge. It’s slice of life, but not realistic, a BL aimed at a female audience, and riddled with flaws – but here I am. Crying because I can’t get enough. Maybe I should just re-watch the series.

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    Original book* it’s based on a novel.
    Where is DB edits. 😅

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      Taiwan is remaking this, just FYI.

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        I read that! Don’t have any details. But can they live up to the Chinese version? I’m hopelessly in love with this director’s musical choices & Huang Jingyu & Xu Weizhou’s portrayal of the leads. 🙈

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          Chinese BL tends to be very aggressive and sexual with non-consensual undertones to everything and strong seme-uke ones too. I can’t imagine it’s going to fit a Taiwanese sensibility. But the source text has an even stronger vibe to it, including violent rape. So I’m honestly not sure what Taiwan is going to do with it. I’m both curious and not curious because, while I appreciated Addicted when I watched it, I got increasingly uncomfortable at the show’s fans seeing the relationship as romantic rather than dysfunctional and obsessive. My opinion on it has changed radically over the last two years because of it.

          Having said that, last year Taiwan made MODC as part of the HIStory series and it also had strong seme-uke overtones and a borderline abusive OTP so maybe they will sick close to the Chinese version. Still, HIStory’s projects this year aren’t going ahead so maybe Addicted won’t either. It’s a bad year to get new shows off the ground.

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            Ah! You’ve seen Addicted. 🙂 Right? I agree with being uncomfortable with how fans view it. I checked out the source material afterwards – and it’s 1.very average BL, nothing new or different & 2. the violence and rape is very off putting. Addicted is the right name – it’s like the two leads were addicted to one another, and staying apart would be more healthy. Given that, I think it’s 100% the director and the actors that made the drama adaptation so memorable.

            Now that you say all this, I’m looking forward to the Taiwanese version though as you point out, it may not happen. Do you have any info on casting/director etc?

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            Yes I saw Addicted around two or so years ago I think? I really liked it when I saw it. I thought it was a really interesting study of a very dysfunctional and obsessive relationship. And then I saw some of the things people said about it and got increasingly uncomfortable.

            I haven’t heard anything specific about the Taiwanese adaptation since they announced it. I did notice they’re calling it ‘Addicted 2’, which implies they’re planning to make a second season rather than a remake but I have no details. I’m not hugely confident, the promised HIStory2 film hasn’t eventuated either. But I guess we’ll see.

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            Got it. ^^ Okay. Will keep my fingers crossed!

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            Got it ^^ Will keep my fingers crossed!

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      I haven’t really checked out this show, but the original novel is on my list. 😁😉

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        Hehe I definitely recommend the drama, personally don’t recommend the novel. 🙂 But you may enjoy the novel too so go for it. Come discuss it with me if you do !!!

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          it’s not easy to avoid the non-consents in BL novels, but i guess i’m lucky, or i should say thanks to my picky preferences, i only seen a handful of them. they do turn me off. i didn’t know Addicted has it too. i have seen the trailer for the drama before but i wasn’t really interested. wait till i get to the novel, i will let u know (:

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Current Drama Status #78
I\’m losing interest in a lot of the ongoing dramas. 🙁 It was definitely too many shows.

Mon-Tues
365: Repeat the Year Ep 10. Exciting! As we go into the closing week, I\’d love to see how our three remaining – four with Lee Shin – keep themselves alive.

Wed-Thurs
Hospital Playlist. Ep 7. Honestly? I could watch this for years. Just catching up on their lives every week. Also, I\’m an ARMY too! <3
Find Me in Your Memory. Ep 11. So this is actually pretty good, but I\’m not interested in repeating and rinsing the stalker & threat to their lives plot. We went through a tamer version of it with the mad Director, but to repeat the same thing with the Real Villain. Hmmm. Doesn\’t really interest me.

Fri-Sat
(Thai) 2gether. Ep 9. I should probably wait to be able to binge watch this. I\’ve read that GMMMTV doesn\’t show a lot of kisses and the like – too bad. Tine & Wat are adorable, I\’d have loved to see more.
The King: Eternal Monarch. Ep 2. I\’m here for Lee Min-ho, all else be damned. He\’s so pretty!

Completed
I\’ll Find You When The Weather Is Nice. Didn\’t like the last week & didn\’t understand Hae-won at all. I mean, did she have to break up with Eun-seob? SK is a tiny country, just do long distance. Also didn\’t truly get the anger at her aunt, but okay, she loved her dad. Either way, a poor last week to what was otherwise a very nice show.

Dropped.
Welcome. Meow, the secret boy. Definitely stopped working for me soon enough. L does these fantasy dramas a lot. Anyway, I\’m out.

11
2

    365 is getting on my nerves. I leave aside all the nonsenses and plot holes because LHJ is such an adorable puppy. Show, you’d better keep him alive because I will never be over City Hunter.

    1
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      Haha I quite like the show!!! But I do have to agree – this version of LHJ is <3 & he had better live!! The City Hunter pain is real, my friend.

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Javabeans & Girlfriday are perfect! This is pretty much why I’m enjoying The King: Eternal Monarch & why I love Lee Min-ho too! 🤣🤣

31
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    This was so fun to watch. It was like reading their writing in which you can tell the love and respect they have for this form of storytelling. I like how they were critically watching but still having fun and fangirling, lol.

    14
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      It was so funny the way Netflix kept a fangirl score count every time JB reacted to LMH or WDH 😂

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      Ikr? I feel like you hit the nail on the head with the love and respect they have for this form of storytelling! 😀 😀 This was such fun!

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    Have you listened to their podcasts? They had 30+ they’re wonderful to listen to. I can’t count how many hours of laundry folding and dishes they have sped up!

    7
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    Ahhh I love this! I heard about JB and GF joining Netflix. This seems to be the first time i came across their real names. I thought they might censor whta they really want to say because Netflix is releasing this show hence there might be no criticism at all but it’s great to see that they were true to what they felt and spoke uninhibited.

    7
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      When she said Adam’s apple I went yeah me too, that’s pretty much the first thing I see in LMH, his Adam’s apple is very prominent.

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        And the fact that his side profile is so pretty. Because…it is. 😀 😀

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      They joined Netflix? What does that mean?
      I loved the video!!!

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        I don’t know anything else. I heard this through @mindy maybe she can elaborate. But JB and GF are both writers by profession so being in Netflix is well reasonable.

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          They work for Netflix and, as you can see now, run The Swoon!

          There’s not much else to say, haha. But there are some other projects in the pipeline.

          I shall say no more!

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    “I forgot to pay attention because I was thinking about his face”, happens to me all the time 🤣🤣

    5
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      Something every K drama fan girl can relate to 🤣

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      Also the fact that JB was much more interested in the story once he came on screen. I really felt that. 🤣🤣

      2
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    Comment was deleted

    0
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    It’s so funny watching them embracing the cringe of it all! I really admire what they did here on DB, creating this amazing community, and on top of that, they’re lovely! 🤣😍

    4
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    I felt so.validated when I saw that they liked Woo Do Hwan as much as I did. That man is amazing

    3
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    It was so fun to watch!
    They recognized him as City Hunter and referred to his past dramas! 😆😆😁😁
    Hope they do this every week!

    3
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The King: Eternal Monarch is totally my kind of show. Worth the wait. Can\’t wait to see what\’s next. I knew I would love it, and I do.

8
3

    When did your identity get compromised? And congrats on the fan club president! When did that happen?

    3
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      Ally! Long time no see. How is it going?:)
      Identity is not yet compromised, but could be in the future due to certain recent developments. I’m being safe. Still can’t change my @ though. As for fan club pres, no clue!

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        I’m just popping in when I get a chance. Good “seeing” everyone again!

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365: Repeat the Year Ep 8. It\’s got to be a red herring, they\’re misleading us for sure. Whoa what a show. 😱😱

4
1

    Right!?? It’s got to be a red herring! Otherwise I can’t…ohmygod noo…like WTH!?…
    Even when Bae Jung Tae was stabbed and he uttered a feeble “detective.. ” I did not believe it! Ofc I didn’t. I mean that’s just not possible. And then they revealed his face and I screamed in surprise and grief and my sister came running!!!
    My sister’s watched the first 6 episodes with me so she knew I screamed because of the show but she wanted to know what exactly happened and when I couldn’t utter anything she’s like “It’s Sun Oh? Sun Oh?” and I’m like noo it’s Ji Hyung Jo..

    danm it’s got to be a red herring (please writer-nim please)

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Current Drama Status #77

Mon-Tues
I’ll Find You When the Weather is Nice. Ep 13. Is it really ep 13 already? Time passes by so fast. I\’ve been enjoying this drama so much I didn\’t realise we\’re in the last quarter.
365: Repeat the Year. Ep 7. The plot thickens. Don\’t think anyone trusted Se Rim at this point, but to think her boyfriend is also involved? Did NOT See That Coming.

Wed-Thurs
Hospital Playlist. Ep 5. Song-hwa! 🙁
Find Me in Your Memory. Ep 8. Yup, excellent show. Was really expecting it to fall apart after the first couple of episodes, but it\’s not. The best kind of surprise.
Welcome. Ep 6. I may be finally losing a little interest. This week\’s episodes were somehow…less fun? I\’m not sure why.

Fri-Sat
(Thai) 2gether. Ep 8. LOL So cute! Suspension of disbelief, and tropes galore, but the cute is overflowing & it does get a lot right.
(Plan to Watch) The King: Eternal Monarch. FINALLY. I\’ve been waiting for ages.

10
10

    I’m kind of regretting not watching 365 and memory, are they that good?

    1
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      It is really good. And intriguing. And it’s only 12 episodes. I would tell you to join us in the recaps to tell us your crazy theory about this one (mine theories are crazy… well… some!)

      2
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        I didn’t realise 365 is only 12 episodes, and was indeed worried about the pacing – later once only two of them were left. Thanks. The 12 ep length makes sense.

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      Yeah they’re good. Esp 365, it’s very well done and very intriguing. I can’t guarantee you’ll like it – maybe you’re not in the mood for it – but definitely recommend checking it out. As well as memory, both are good

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    Kind of saw the Se Rim twist coming – it was the change of hair that did it for me. (But I’m naturally suspicious of characters like her, so maybe it was just me?) I will say – the boyfriend twist was unexpected but excellent.

    At this point I almost don’t trust any character – main or secondary. One person I actually suspect is sketchy in some way (not necessarily related to the time travel though) is Ga-hyun’s new manager. I don’t know if this is just because the actor has played a few obnoxious characters or his overeager need to please seems suspicious to my cynical nature, but something is up with that dude.

    3
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      No one trusted SeRim and we all were right, but I liked how we were shown her story. It was great.
      More than the boyfriend twist, I was surprised by two things in this episode: Shin acting like an insane person, laughing out of control and acting randomly… I mean, she was controlled and manipulating and now she acts like Cruella DeVille??
      The other thing was GaHyun running to Shin to “save her”. I’m sorry but I felt it was out of character. Wasn’t she the one who got up the first from the table when they believed the person that stood up the first would be the one to die? And then she’s trusting Shin? It didn’t fit her.
      I also would say that I found Shin laughter and GaHuyn tears not very credible. Actresses didn’t do their best job there, I’m afraid.
      Final: nice point about GaHuyn’s manager. I also have the feeling that there’s a reason for him to be there, but I still don’t know it that’s bad or good.

      2
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        Yes agreed it was out of character but not blaming the actress:)

        2
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        Shin’s 180 was indeed fascinated, but I found Ga-hyun’s action to be on character. When faced with imminent and gruesome death even Ga-hyun will have a moment of fear/out of character. It’s a very scary prospect.

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      Smart. To be honest , my first impression of her also was that she’s untrustworthy but I forgot about it. Nice catch Snarky.

      Also ooooh great theory about the new guy. Another one I didn’t suspect. What if he’s actually from Shin and not the company? How is she to know – she’s never been to the publishing house or spoken to them about him

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