It was fun discussing Parallel World with everyone on Hopeful’s post, but it’s grown too long so here’s a new post for everything after episode 20ish.
Since I’m not sure where everyone is, I’m posting comments for #21 on the top post. We can spoil whatever we want in the comments.
@asianromance Oh, Zhao Guan is definitely sus. He has a file labeled Secret Documents and sits on a Gold Toilet with his pants on! 😂 @attiton While I shipped FT and the smoky creature, I love how Ding Liu is matchmaking FT and He. I hope DL also gets her HEA with Gao Shen. Maybe the two roosters as well. Let’s pair off the whole damn team. 😂 @hopefulromantic I see how the story nesting is getting stronger. Interesting how it’ll play out. @marysadanaga I agree that when one arc ends or when the couple gets together, shows sag, but not here. All these twists and turns! Great plotting.
So much to discuss. But I just want to share a pic of our wonderful OTP. This is how I want to see them at the end. Pretty pls drama lords.
OK, that gold mine fight scene was crazy. First, she cut off his whole arm! 😱 DC better watch his leg. Girl has a thing for limbs. But it was so obviously fake—I swear I saw it taped next to his body 😂—that I wasn’t grossed out as I am by more realistic productions. Low-budget for the win!
Then, Rooster as ammo? Unexpected! That was pure gold.
And then the flashback. I didn’t guess the, what would you call it, double cross or just double memory wipe at all. I missed all the clues. Who guessed it? And then, #29, I think it’s a more messier triangle than I thought? I need to write it out so my little brain gets it.
YEAH THAT WAS CRAZY. I agree, though, that while this episode had a lot more violence, the arm thing was more Monty Python than… I don’t know a realistic comparison, but it wasn’t too much?
I’m watching 27/28 tonight – that reveal was CRAZY!!! The memory thing upends everything!!! Ack I want all our team to be ok 🥲 Chang Dong was great – supporting Ye Liuxi and fighting even though, as he says, he’s not the best at fighting. And then Ye Liuxi – WOW. Cool, ruthless, and skilled. We would expect no less. The little scrappy princess and her bodyguard had BETTER BE OK.
Sounds right. More Monty Python than Moving. And thank god for that. I’m steeling myself for WOE after the early reports.
Yeah, CD’s parkour classes sure came in handy. LOL But YL was the MVP, natch. I won’t say more as I’m up to #29 now. I would like to however figure out YL’s timeline. I’m a little confused.
Did you catch little princess’ line to Gao when they were in the SUV before entering the mine? He was giving her the standard hero talk of “promise me you’ll survive no matter what.” She was having none of it and said they all had to survive. Awwww … 🥺
I think even Monty Python had more blood 😂 But I’m fine with lack of arterial spray here. Fight to the death (or so we thought) was conveyed just fine without it.
It was in the fight at the end of Episode 26. It was Ocean Guardian’s turn, Valley Guardian’s braver counterpart. Characters, even if they be Roosters stay, consistent in the show. 😂 We do have a gif-pert who might oblige if they are asked nicely…
BTW I had to take a weeklong break btwn Ep 20 and 21. I thought I’d go back and watch Ep. 20 info dump again, but nah, didn’t bother, didn’t need to.
I think Ocean Guardian also provided a valuable medical service to Liu after they escaped the mine. (Unless the whole parasitic flower story was a bluff by the Long sorceress — not sure what to call her now!)
@attiton I’m still catching up – in ep 32 now – so I was avoiding the thread until now! 😅 YEAH Ocean Guardian was totally out there saving lives!! The way I took it was that there were some roots still intact, but the lethal part – the flower bud – he pecked out like the champion he is.
@marysadanaga I thought of your insightful comments about how some themes, esp. the critique of authoritarian regimes, might raise censorship concerns. And unlike xianxia/wuxia, whose worlds are so far from reality, this modern day fantasy brings the parallels closer to home. Let’s see how far they get with the fantasy tag.
When the show started, I was shocked by the seedy side of life shown in the “border” town. With some exceptions, that’s not the pretty little world c-dramas portray to the outer world. At first, I attributed it to the fantasy tag. But because I’m always chasing my tail, I thought given the way the state justifies its harsh measures against the unrest in the Western provinces, they might not mind the Wild West depiction.
Anyway, I think all good fantasy is a commentary/reflection of reality so I am not surprised we have it here.
Good point about the western setting allowing more leeway here. It’ll be interesting to see how the authority/rebel conflict, motives and ordinary people’s reactions play out.
I just looked around a couple of times. Apparently the drama was sent back by the censors several times for modification. And also, the painters were added to make it clear this is just fiction, no one get any ideas…
So interesting! Thanks for investigating this. Good to know the show creators were able to appease the censors in a way that hopefully doesn’t alter the plot beats of the source material. I won’t complain about painter scene interruptions if that’s what it takes!
You know? This form of “censorship” is so infantalizing. People aren’t morons, ya know. We’re born with the capacity to make meaning from the inferences between facts. We are not literalists by nature. There’s be no such thing as a JOKE otherwise.
@attiton By chance, I was reading about the odds for the Nobel this year (yes, yes, I know), which favor Can Xue. Her whole oeuvre demands to be between the lines, and which she’s had to constantly deny. A long history of this kind of censorship.
I’m still team tiny sparkly hands and so is the Geminus itself on team FT!! When they coaxed it out to help get the horn back, it was with the promise of seeing Fatty Tang again, n’est-ce pas????
I also have a gif planned of the big-baddie-as-Geminus because that was hilarious. I can’t remember this villain’s name because *cough* the actor sort of looks like my father did 20 years ago if you squint, and then I get distracted *cough*
Ok, I need to talk about Fatty Tang! What an awesome character. When he knelt in front of Ye Liuxi after the gold mine gauntlet with absolute hero worship in his eyes! And the way he’s become more concerned about others (especially He) than himself… what excellent character development!
It’s rare for a sidekick played for laughs to get such a great character arc. Props to the show. It probably helps we have Rooster, Geminus, Ao and others to play that role as well.
@indyfan – Oh dear oh dear… The tragedy dominoes have been set up for an emotional last few eps… I’m more prepared for tragic endings in C-dramas (especially with the emphasis on personal sacrifice that’s so common), but I don’t want it ☹️
@hopefulromantic I know. 😱 Boom Boom. The hits just keep coming. Definitely no sagging for this show.
@attiton I am as always so impressed by you. At one point this evening, I had a full page of notifications just from you! Of course, silly DB can notify you thrice for one comment, but still. Anyway, the point being, take your time to catch up. We have a break ahead.
I mean you might be impressed, @indyfan, but having a whole page of notifications just from me? I did that? I’m so totally embarrassed. At least you know you have a whole lot of my attention? Is that a good thing?? Jury’s out. I’m gonna go hide.
I wish! But no. It’s the site that notifies me thrice for the same comment. One, someone has commented on my post. Second, that comment was a reply. Third, you tagged me.
So I have a third of the attn the notification page implies. Come out of hiding.
And DWY work? Does that mean gif geyser is out? Hmm, to sleep or peek into the fanwall?
Ok, I’m through 32 and now have five days to process events 😬
Maybe the darkest hour is just before dawn?
Long is a formidable adversary … she and Liu Xi are two women of special ability but with opposite moral codes. But it’s cool that they are the bosses in this story.
I liked how the flashbacks showed Liu Xi was a daring rebel from the beginning.
I’m still processing!!😅 All of the reveals landed really well as surprises – but they were also seeded in advance and didn’t come out of nowhere. Yay for logical writing! It is really cool that the showdown seems like it will be between Liuxi and Long… and Liuxi has been strong and cool from the beginning.
I liked how the story returned to the “gnats” and the shadow puppets. Am waiting for a reveal about a further connection between Chang Dong and puppets. Did it seem Liuxi was contemplating cutting off her hand to regain her memories? The way the info about that magic linked back to why Jiang Zhan’s memories were at least partially restored when his arm was cut off was well done.
Oh I loved that reveal about the “gnats,” too!!! I makes it so much more meaningful. The mythology in this drama is very cool to me. I’m also with you in waiting for more confirmation of a connection between the shadow puppets and the ML. I still think the gnats were drawn to the ML in the desert, not the FL, because of some connection!!
Yikes I’m hoping not, but I also noticed the same thing when she was thinking about getting her memories back 😖 That reveal about Jiang Zhan was well done.
Now I’m worried about Gao Shen and about our team/family being separated 😔
Another contrast between the two sides … our good guys have been more respectful of the creatures they encounter, like how the sorcerer clarified that the “gnats” aren’t really bugs and deserve to be treated with dignity. Or the moment of connection between young Liuxi and the golden snake. Compared to Long, who views magical creatures only as a means of consolidating her power. Maybe there’ll be a payoff somewhere down the line?
That’s a great observation!! I really hope so… there’s been a lot of scorpion motifs (and actual scorpions); maybe there’s a magical scorpion creature who will come to their aid to support Ye Liuxi in her battle?
Are you all getting the feeling perhaps the only power the Long family has is using these creatures? (Well, other than their wiles.) And if that’a the case, then indeed the differing relations will matter.
💯!!! I can’t think of another example of that happening. Yanxi Palace centered on the conflicts of the harem, but it still took place in a male-dominated hierarchy. Here the women are the ones in charge!
“darkest hour is just before dawn” Yes! This is such classic story structure. I’m loving seeing it in action. But I’m afraid all our heroes may not make it out intact.
I’ve got maybe 8-10 gifs planned/made for the first 32 episodes of Parallel Worlds, and I’ll make a gif geyser with them today. BUT, I’d also like to make at least one each for all of you, because I can’t possibly have found interesting all of what you found interesting. These images both spark, but also control, the conversation, and I would like to talk about your favorite moments too.
So, after I post my first geyser (which will be in the next four hours), I’m going to ask for you to please also tell me one or two more that you’d like, and when I’ve collected those, I’ll make a second geyser of just those to talk about.
They’re very idiosyncratic, and contain basically none of the mythology. @hopefulromantic in particular really might have a lot of other actual plot-based scenes to point out, for example.
@indyfan FYI I’m missing your mentions in my notifications stream (I’ve checked twice and am positive I didn’t get a notification for the “coat-bok” mention on the DWY thread). So ping me twice if I don’t respond and also know that the reverse may be holding true.
Just noting the uptick of gay characters in recent dramas:
My Lovely Liar: A well acted, but jealous and violent character
My Dearest: A beautiful and tender, but jealous and scheming character
A Time Called You: Happy at last! And in a hot minute, dead and buried.
Kim Seo-hyung played the first-ever lesbian main character in a primetime kdrama in Mine, and it was handled so surprisingly well (especially knowing the writer previously did Strong Woman Do Bong-soon… yikes). It starts sad but it ends hopeful, and she’s just a badass and I loved her.
The one good thing about Nevertheless was the secondary pairing between two female characters. First actual lesbian relationship I’ve seen on kdrama screen (although there has been at least one other).
Work Later, Drink Now had a couple of gay characters (one male one female), but sadly one of them was a “bury your gays” moment IIRC and it was really sad.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha had a lesbian character as well! It wasn’t a huge part of the plot but it made perfect sense and I appreciated the small amount of representation.
There may be more from that year I’m not remembering.
Well, well. Thank you. I haven’t caught up to most of those shows. (And I may never catch up to Nevertheless.) I did see Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha but on heavy ffw’d. If it was a blink and miss it kind of role, I might have missed it.
And what happened after 2021? They decided we’d repped enough, and done?
Yep. There is a long long way to go as yet to have a semblance of genuine inclusion and diversity. I remember a few mainstream US shows in the 90s had tragic, neurotic and no sex allowed under any circumstances(!) (largely) gay characters too.
I have a type I think. My last girl crush was the FL in Happiness. And now I’m in love with Liu Xi in the c-drama Parallel World.
She’s kick-ass. I mean that literally. She kicks every shitty guy around (actually all genders). She’s funny tho, a little self-deprecating, sometimes cheesy. But she remains a straight shooter, in life and in love, no BS, no false modesty. Now she’s in luuuv. And this soft but strong man loves her for who she is, just like in Happiness. So how can I not wish them every Happiness?
Oh, and she doesn’t make friends easily but she’s loyal when she does. And that’s why the 2FL, once her rival, doesn’t suck (as in every second drama) but squees along with the rest on us. “I can neither have the woman, nor the man I have a crush on, but they’re together now, so I’m really happy.” Speaking for all of us sister.
How refreshing it would be to have more characters like this? To live with no BS without false modesty. On my prev rewatched of Misaeng, I had a similar experience with Tim Manager Kang. We had too many similarity that I couldn’t help but rooting and beaming at him whenever he’s on the screen.
I’m not currently watching, but I plan to!! I can’t do multiple dramas at one time— it requires too much brain power that I just don’t have, especially with real life stuff— and I am currently moving very slowly with “Sunshine by May Side” 😅
Oh, yay!! I’m so glad I’m not too late to this party. And, no, @indyfan, you’re not behind. I’m only on episode 5…but I’m in this to win this (it’s only been since noon :)). So good. So good.
AGHHHHHH IT’S SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m literally SO excited that you started it and are enjoying it so far!!! It’s such a classic adventure fantasy setup with a quest and some classic character archetypes, with really really cool characters and a cool desert backdrop and *schjgdhklnfdjl I’m so excited* 😆😆😆😆😆 I’m saving episodes 25/26 to watch when 27/28 are out, because two at a time IS NOT ENOUGH
The plan, eh? It does make me grateful for the recaps. Couple of thoughts depending on how deep we want to go:
We could just do one giant post for the episodes to date. Or we could break them into three parts: 1) present world (till episode 10ish right, Hopeful?) 2) Parallel world (till 20ish) 3) Post-reveal till the end of the week, which I haven’t seen. And then live watch? In batches? Their schedule is tricky.
Or we could just post on whatever topic struck us as I did with FL, Blue did earlier with OTP, or the rooster, the Chinese Wild West, whatever.
And Hopeful, your gifs! 😍
I think Peach and ar arguably romantic are watching. Blue and Dorotka might be interested. It’s a niche show.
I like the topic-based idea, Indyfan! And since we’re both further along with episodes, Seon-ha could lead us in comments about plot. Yay!!!!!!! This is honestly the most exciting live watch for me since Numbers, and then earlier this year with Unlock My Boss.
I’m game. Whatever you both decide, I’m in. I’m going to gulp down all of this week’s episodes when I get home Thursday, just in time for this week’s to drop.
@hopefulromantic If I understand correctly, I’m to follow in the comments for a while, until I have a topic? Is that what you mean?
Would you mind if, yet again, we follow your initial lead, Hopeful? I know we did that for Mad Dog too, but your enthusiasm will surely never lead us astray!!!
@indyfan I hope you’re excited to get back home! Does this also mean you’re gonna wait on DWY? I’m asking because it’ll probably affect what I post to my Fan Wall 😊
No, no. Don’t change anything for me. We have an active army of DWY watchers waiting for ya. The Weds episode lands at night for me while I travel and I’ll watch on Thurs morning and hop on to DB after. Then watch the Thurs episode as soon as it lands on Netflix.
I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts as you currently watch or reflect on past PW episodes. I didn’t really have anyone to engage with before. Tho I’ll wait to comment on from episode 20 on till I finish them, which will be very soon. Probably Thurs too.
@attiton I’d be happy to make a fanwall post to collect our conversation later on after work! I’m feeling like gushing about this show, rather than analyzing, so I was thinking you could comment about anything you want (plot, characters, etc), and @indyfan and I (and anyone else) can chime in until we’re all three caught up with the episodes? But whatever sounds good to you sounds good to me!! I’m just excited that there is one more person watching this now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@attiton@indyfan Hold on – I just read what I replied, and I fear it is confusing… I think what I’m trying to say is, I’m not sure my memory is good enough to remember specifics of what happened earlier in the plot, so I won’t really be able to post “eps 1-4” or whatever reactions like I’m doing with Mad Dog. Does this help??? Or still confusing??? Lol I really don’t care what we talk about – I’m just excited to talk about Parallel World!!!!!🤩🤩🤩
We’re silly. 🤪 Here’s a new thread with more “reply” opportunities. This is what I think the plan is:
–> Hopeful is going to start us off after work today (Eastern US Time, I do believe) with a “topic-based” post, and we’re all gonna respond how we like.
It might be that I remember more plot points, because I’m newer to the drama, but, frankly, we shall see. I could see how little details might slip by and come back though…like why did she just paint a scorpion in eyeliner on her left eye? And why did he have such a strong opinion about it???
Ah good. Thanks for the new post. It sounds like a plan. We’ll start with Hopeful’s post and see from there.
Seon-ha, binge as much as you want, ffw’d too. I did a fair bit here and there without missing a thing. Oh and the scorpion thing will make sense later.
I just wrote this comment because I felt called to do so, but I had Beanies like you, @indyfan, and you, @hopefulromantic, in mind when I was talking about my Beanie Internet Friends…so I hope you’ll allow me to link you on in.
Aww thank you Seon-ha!! 🥰 And you know, I totally get what you mean… I don’t want to have to explain and persuade others why dramas are AWESOME, I just want them to be like, “heck yeah!” you know? And Dramabeans collects those cool people in one place when you don’t have IRL drama fans to talk to 😎
Lovely post. You’ve expressed why DramaBeans and Beanies hold a special place in our drama loving hearts. So happy to be counted as one of your BIFs. 😘
I just spent the last hour or so trying to download PW before I hop on a flight, and realized Viki doesn’t allow it. 😭 😭😭 I should have commented on our PW thread Instead, but I was taken aback by the pushback DancingEmma received on her comment.
It made me think Seon-ha of your comment on how to respond to micro aggressions—and this was out and out macro. And then I thought of folks you said just come here for the mic drop and walk away, who this person seems to be. And then I thought about your comment about BIFs so I dedicated the time to supporting Emma. But I’ll catch up on yours and @hopefulromantic PW comments soon enough. Maybe even before you wake up and then this will look silly. 😀
How does a Rooster feel like a more developed character than many humans in other dramas? We understand his essential character (cowardice), what’s at stake (being cooked), and all we need is a growth arc. Will he conquer his inner chicken demons and ride atop the jeep with his cockscomb held high, or will he be deep fried sixed? Parallel World Ep 17. Waiting.
@marysadanaga@mayhemf@wapz I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Alas, I can only screenshot. I so wanted a clip of her catching Rooster out when he played dead. Did you see his eye acting then? I swear he looked guilty. 🤣 🤣 🤣
A Time Called You Timeline. I received this as a forward of uncertain origins. But it looks right. I think. It might help some. I’d watched the original so I wasn’t lost this time around.
Parallel Worlds Blue! What am I watching? A modern Chinese Western? Fantasy Adventure? Tomb Raider meets Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or a Space Western? Why am I getting Firefly vibes. Help! 😂
This is a whole new world of c-dramas for me. It’s wild. But Ep. 1 is also really low-rent. That mask. LOL. How far along are you? Should I continue?
So they’re from different worlds, huh… Don’t count on me until I’ll get ending spoilers, one zero hope for HE whatsoever cdrama at the time is more than enough for my poor heart. If finale doesn’t suck very much, I’ll try)))
P.S. Why didn’t they just keep original title? It sounded much better than current generic one!
Totally agree re forgettable title. This doesn’t have tragic vibes but you never know. Let’s see if we all last long enough to report back re ending. 😂
I finished Ep 8 and I am still enjoying it. The episodes are short so I don’t feel like it drags at all.
Lol yeah. The genre is like everything. I even thought of the Mummy movie series with all the sandstorm and other stuff that happened in Ep 7.
Never seen a cdrama like this before! Usually all their fantasy is in XianXia costumes.
I plan to continue as I am curious about the mystery. Also the leads chemistry is really good. And the mystery around her existence is interesting. I like them both. I say watch till Ep 6 and decide to continue or drop.
That mask killed me. Lol. I thought it’s going to be a low budget fantasy but thankfully the later episodes didn’t have any cringe CGI. it’s probably not a high budget since the FL is wearing only one sweater for most of the 8 episodes 😂
Also, I love the desert landscapes. So gorgeous.
The Mummy! Of course. They really covered their bases. 😂 And I already sense their chemistry. Nice. But you know, I may just crush on the FL. She’s so kickass.
I’m definitely in hearing you’re liking it. I have been primed by years of low-budget SyFy shows in my misguided youth. I can handle this. And should she really be carrying multiple outfits in the desert? It’s grounding the fantasy in some realism. 😉 Still, I can’t believe you recommended all those high quality shows, and I picked this. LOL.
BTW How did they get that depiction of the seedy side of life past the censors? Fantasy tag? I am not used to this in c-dramas. It’s all gloss or soft focus. Maybe I’ve been watching the wrong ones.
Yeah, I was surprised too. But yeah, there are things that slip past censors in dramas or its just the fantasy tag. I can’t imagine a bunch of old men watching all episodes of every drama. lol. they probably doze off at some point.
And its so refreshing to not have filters..The FL looks so dusty and gorgeous, I love it.
Just chiming in with a very good seedy/gritty C-drama … “Stealth Walker” (2021), with Zheng Ye Cheng playing a completely different character from his “Love 020” college boy. No gloss whatsoever in this undercover police/drug smuggler tale with a hint of romance. More chemistry than romance, because the leads have to worry about staying alive first.
I don’t remember the line (was it the alcohol, women one) but I feel there are many genres in cdramaland. Definitely not all soft focus and glossy. Though the dramas that reach the international audience mainly are wuxia, xianxia and modern romcoms. I personally like those but sometimes I also want to watch shows like Parallel World (desert adventure – which I’ve come to know is also a genre), slice of life (Fake it till you make it director’s previous show Remembrance of things past which was widely liked by several beanies, Delicious Romance, Twenty your life on etc, crime dramas which can be pretty gritty and the family dramas which rarely the international audience sees but actually gets the serious tag locally rather than the idol drama tag. That said, with the sheer number of shows they produce, there are still very few good ones but at least for me this year, I saw more cdramas than kdramas.
Desert Adventure? That seems very specialized! But also what this very much is. I’m still newish to c-dramas, mostly romance. Happy to have the expert guides since there are so, so very many shows out there. I’ve been meaning to watch Remembrance of Things Past but haven’t got past the title. Lit class trauma. 😂
Through episode 5 and I’m in. Love the desert landscape and the grittiness of scenery and characters. FL is such a badass. Doesn’t seem like she lost her attitude or her fighting skills. That’s an amnesia plot I can get behind.
Yay! I wasn’t sure who else from the C-crowd might watch. So very different from Fake It.
I binged quite a bit. But it wasn’t so bad as I ffw’d some as parts were slow. But I liked the buildup and I know what’s coming. I love FL’s character! Tho did you see the ML’s parkour scene? LOL. I won’t spoil it if you haven’t.
But I wanted to cover her up so bad. You’re not just gonna get sunburn, girl, you’re gonna get sandburn. But action ladies, they gotta be sexy.
@mayhemf I didn’t mind the sweaters. She packs light. But what was the one with a the belt over her b**bs? 😂
Gobble. Gobble. Oops. That’s turkeys, not roosters. 😂 It was totally random and so hilarious. How’re they making it all work so well?
Also, I just knew it was the chicken spying on them. Part of me was disappointed they got interrupted. But that was absolutely right. It was too soon. But that sympathy hug. 😍 I’m loving the slooooow burn.
Thinking about your comment about how the show makes the randomness work … it’s like the events the characters face can be totally wacky and out there, but the characters themselves have depth and sincerity. As opposed to a drama that has a character suddenly behave in a totally mystifying way and that just kills your viewing experience.
Well, it won’t be from me, unfortunately. You know how you love your My Dearest pain? Well, this here drama would give me that same pain by 10,000x and, if I watched it, I would actually need to leave Dramabeans to live the rest of my life in the dark, chanting repeated, whispered words in a vain effort to calm the thunderstorm of sadness that would have taken over my mind.
Yes, absolutely. All credit where credit is due. Can we be the Ro-swooned Seon-ha?
It may have taken me a little longer to Ro-swoon than some (and a whole lot shorter than those who will not be named 😂) but I finally see the light, or rather the stars in the dark sky, cos I’ve swooned and all that.
Oh, I wish I could giffed those fingers in the kiss scene. Smooth my man. Smooth.
Wait, what did I miss? No previews for Ep. 11? I need breadcrumbs at least to sustain myself for 41 days. All right, I’ll take your screen-shotting, gif-ing, tumblr-ing instead. So many feelings
Since it’s cut in half, they probably didn’t do a preview on purpose. Sometimes they do that near the end of shows as well?
Or it might be released on YT later.
OMG, Indy. There WAS drama. I knew something was wrong with him. I don’t want to sound like a drama queen (a k-drama queen), but there’s been something up, and I almost mentioned it in this thread but thought I sounded like crazy person overthinking the internet. He’s not been talking or commenting or at-mentioning, anyone. I didn’t know that I’d had a hand in causing it:
Oh! You were not doing drama. There WAS drama. You were right.
I had also noticed he was not active, but I didn’t think too much of it. Life and all that. But also because he tends to do a mic drop with me. But he actually engages with you.
He can be quite sarcastic. So I imagine you were only responding in kind. But sarcasm has a fine line, and easy to misinterpret online. (And may I say easier to dish than receive.) Still, give him props for speaking up. How many people, esp. men, fess up they were hurt? And online to boot?
What? That’s surprising. It’s written evidence! You’re right to be upset.
There’s no need to do the work. He also said he didn’t need anything more from you. Take him up on it. And should you choose to, you can respond later.
I know, I know. I did respond, but only after I decided to don my “Patriarchy Hat” (always uncomfortable), and saw how what I said was sort of worse. I implied that other Beanies had dismissed him as not worth talking about.
It’s all a bit much, but who knew that there were emotions back there! And, you were (as always) right that it was impressive for him to say those things to me in writing, online. I never want unnecessary unfinished emotional karmic damage hanging around me–I have enough there that I know about and am powerless to fight.
How come it is that you’re always right? Do you know the answer to that?
I think you’re right about DWY ep 12 too. It’s better than I thought. I just made an error in my viewing plan–I watched the last five minutes first, because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, and then expected the other 55 to lead up to it. But that’s not what it was. The first 55 minutes wrapped up like 10,000 threads and pushed two other secondary threads along (JK’s dad and SY’s mom)…and then it shifted BACK to our OTP’s trauma. You were right. It’s a fine episode.
No, no, no. You don’t get to make it about me, not for all the flattery in the world. 😛
Am I hearing right, you have conversed with him since? And how did that go? Share as much or as little as you like. We all come to DramaBeans to discuss drama, not experience it (too much). Some interactions have been a bit much for me as well. But just like real life, if this relationship matters or your conduct in the exchange (to yourself), I’m glad you reached out.
And I can’t say DWY #12 is a fine episode, but Jesus after #11, it was an improvement by leaps and bounds. Tho that end, yeah, it was yet another knife to the heart. I would been too shook up as well to enjoy anything after.
@indyfan I get to make things about you all I like, especially when I get sick of things being all about me. 😉
No, he’s not responded, but it’s early-ish in SoCal. I am ready for him not to respond, or to respond. It’s all good. I really do value that I can tell you about how I’m coping–I actually felt quite emotionally side-swiped by all this.
Oh, BY THE WAY, I now remember that there may have been a time or two when perhaps my sarcasm has confused and or hurt YOU. If that is indeed the case–do know that I am so incredibly sorry, even for the slightest harm to my dearest Internet Friend.
I get the emotional cost of this. After any DB conflict, I feel a bit rattled and ask myself, why does this matter, why am I even online? So I try to remember no matter how violent this storm of feelings can be, it’s all still contained within a teacup. (I will not speak of separating feelings from “self” 🙂 Of course, it doesn’t help to have anyone tell you this while you’re being buffeted so I can only say, I hear you, I feel you.
Also, I don’t remember being hurt by anything you said, anyone’s sarcasm really. And forgive me if I have done so.
Good morning!!! Hi hi. I hope you had a marvelous night’s sleep. The fact that the DWY thread has been so sleepy for HOURS has meant that I’m almost caught up on PW (being halfway through episode 28 right now). If I don’t get distracted by the Butt Show (my literal guilty pleasure) I should be done with episode 30 before 31-32 are posted, and I can be a full member of the community!!
I was very, very tired last night. Today seems OK-ish. I think the sun’s supposed to come out. I also have so much KDRAMA WORK today 😬
BYT doesn’t give me pleasure. It’s my masochist-completist syndrome at work. No jealousy necessary—but I find it in equal measures touching and amusing that this was your reaction.
I don’t know why it was so slow, but I see that over-my-night, only all the best people started talking. I’ll go pepper the commentary with more of my thoughts as WWW works itself out over the next few hours. Hmm. “Fan Wall Fatigue” is an interesting theory. Indy, should I not post my gifs?? Seriously, I want to know your thoughts.
I’ll also come running in a bit to your PW post—offering my totally clean, no-blood-in-sight, hand willingly, I feel sure. I wanna make gifs of a few things too…problem is I can’t remember which episodes I’m remembering which always keeps me from taking real action 🥹
And, yes, hacja and I did actually “talk.” It was sort of sweet. All is mended. Castration anxiety indeed!!! Lol
Well, let me just say, @indyfan, even though Emma got in the way once (which is cool, but still), it felt good when this happened.
I retyped this comment because I forgot to at-mention you, which would have put another entry in the list…and then (!) since I did it twice, you probably got five whole mentions for this one comment. 😘
Ha ha! Excellent return. Tho I dare say you could produce a screenshot like this with half the active regulars on the site.
BTW I missed your response above. Sorry. Once again, notifications defeated me. But I’m so glad you sorted it out with Hacja. And I’m glad you didn’t wait for my response to post your DWY gifs. Because look, Beanies are not tired at all. Great post.
The question isn’t “could I produce one,” but “would I?”
No, I wouldn’t.
I had over 100 notifications overnight the other night. I don’t mind it one bit, especially when it’s from my nearest and dearest, but it is a lot of duplicative chatter.
I’m learning to use these threads so you won’t have two notifications from me when you read this tomorrow, just the one.
Indy, I think I understand why you’re trying to do this, but this behavior runs a real risk of me then missing a message of yours. I just want to be completely clear with you that I don’t want that outcome, and I don’t mind at all getting any number of notifications from you. Indeed, I look forward to them.
As for my harem, well, I am not entirely sure I want to lead one of those either, although I can take a joke. 😌
But the reason is so important to me that I’m going to hear you perhaps a little too seriously: I’d much rather be in relationships with people who retain all of their free will and choose to connect with me because they truly wish to do so.
For me, that’s the real gift. Freely offered human connection. Even in the silly form of 10 million Internet notifications.
I do. I do. I’m thrilled to freely connect with you. We are not destined to/for/with any of this. So thank you for connecting with me as well.
And if sometimes we miss a notification as I did earlier, that will be fine. Because I hope by now we have earned enough goodwill from each for a measure of grace.
cc: @nefret
I need someone to corroborate but I think “You are so cruel” is more accurate to what he says too. (For me it also fits the context better haha)
I’m a Darksider for Lyfe but the subs on darkside are from Kocowa
I thought “I hate you” was very appropriate in that scene. They are so good at hurting each other with words. Jang-Hyun is so frustrated, hopeless and hurt that these words burst out of him.
For me, “You are so cruel” made more sense, because it was more of an answer to her response to his question. “Can you say you will never think of the other?”
And she visibly hesitates and struggles with it but for her the context is different so she says she cannot promise that.
Ergo, “You are so cruel… [to say so]” (but with IMPOSSIBLY SOFT EYES UGH) “… what does HE have that I do not…”. It doesn’t lose the emotional impact or outburst, but something about the structure of that runs far better for me.
There’ll be a language technique word for it but I’ll be darned if I know what it is rn.
Also need someone who speaks more Korean than I haha.
I prefer “I really hate you” because he’s speaking for his feelings about what she does to him. Rather than making a comment on her actions with “you are so cruel”. Although, honestly for me he could have said both together and I’d be good.
I think “I really hate you” might be more accurate actually. He says “jeongmal mibkun”. The first word means ‘really’ and the latter word comes from ‘mibda/밉다’ which means ‘to hate’.
Does the actual translation matter more? It feels like it’s too common and straightforward of an expression for this particular conversation and perhaps this era.
I do not like Maiden; I think “My Lady” is a better fit.
Same meaning, just a personal preference, I guess.
Thanks for this. “You are so cruel” seems more suited to the spirit of the moment. I had no idea Kocowa has different subs from Viki!
@kiara I always mentally translate ‘maiden’ to ‘mademoiselle’ because that works so much better for my understanding of both the formality of address and denoting her status: unmarried, and a lady. Cultural context is everything and I lack it.
At the end of episode 4 and the beginning of episode 5, the subtitles are also different. According to Viki, Gil-chae calls out “Dear husband, move”, whereas at Kocowa it is translated as “Watch out, my dear” (no husband).
@nefret yeahp haha although it matches the title of the show in the Kocowa subs in that instant I like Husband better because it translates it has husband later and the joke is continued for so long.
I can’t reply to anyone’s comments so I’ll just @ everyone here and reply 😅.
@kiara I agree that a literal translation may actually take away from some of the emotion in this case. But there are cases (like the subs for Moving) where almost too much liberty has been taken with the translation. I prefer ‘My Lady’ too!
@nefret Yup and there too ‘husband’ is the more accurate translation since she says ‘seobangnim’ and like @sicarius said it helps continue the joke in the following scene. Interestingly, in modern day Korea, ‘seobangnim’ is more often used for sons-in-law. You might have heard someone saying ‘Kim Seobang’ or ‘Lee Seobang’ in dramas.
Translation is a tricky thing to get right, for sure. And that’s why it’s not just transliteration.
Sometimes literal is better, sometimes there is not direct translation, sometimes contextual and spirit of is better for getting the scene across.
And yes sometimes, too much liberty is taken 🙄 (Netflix and its Ghost Swear Words and Ghost Translations lol…)
It’s really bad when Netflix has the English subtitles translated into other languages. The translators are obviously only provided with the English subtitles. It can happen, for example, that the German subtitles jump back and forth between formal (Sie) and informal (du) forms of address from episode to episode. That drives me crazy, so I only watch with English subtitles.
Oh goodness. And that’s even when Korean has a formal and informal mode too, so you’d think it would be easier to translate some things into German than English! Oh dear.
When did HeartBeat reel me in? It could have been Vampie getting drunk on ramyeon or wearing fuchsia better than I ever will. Or even earlier, In-hae shocking us by biting Vampie first. I’m not sure. But I know it peaked for me at the 80s prom dance.
The makeover dress that divided this corner of the Internet. The wallflower and prom king exchanging lingering looks. The slow dancing and the almost Dirty Dancing lift. And topping it all, the Queen Bee glass-smashing, Dynasty style! It was all so corny, so cut-rate, and purrfect! #HeartBeats
My favorite was the light-bedecked tree he made for her…that was when the show was at its finest for me. Not to disagree about the excellent dance scene at all, but it was that tree brought tears to my eyes.
Definitely! The tree was quite moving. And their kiss (#12?) was also amazing. But I picked the dance because it was so, so close to being cringe awful, yet pulled it off somehow. That’s some skills.
I am shocked!! Nah, but I’ve been in this like, idk what to call it, Victorian era fashion core? Or actually this dress looked more 1950’s I guess, but yes idk I’ve been in this phase where I’ve been big on the like puffy midi dresses, lace and vintage-y floral patterns and dress cuts, so I saw her dress and was literally trying to google a replica the next second 😂
I wanted to make a gif of the glass smash since no screen grab does it justice. But I haven’t the skillz. So, in words. Hae-won was frustrating. It could be the actress, or the poorly written second female role, but there were over-the-top moments like that when her villainy was simply delicious.
Nice…on all counts. It was great to be in community with you on this @indyfan! While I really still can’t do My Dearest (I almost can’t even do the gifs anymore because I get upset), we’ve got some other good-to-fine-to-please-don’t-break-my-heart-again-제발 shows to share already!!
The more days that pass, the more I realise I was wrong to stray from the light you shone on Do-shik 😔 No like for real, weirdly I’m getting more and more sympathetic/like him more post the show finishing ????
Tee-hee. He was such a good character, wasn’t he? And he finished strong. Woo-hyeol on the other hand grew more compromised and stopped keeping his promises. I know I still risk banishment for saying bad things about Taec, but hey, I live on the edge.
Oh, hey, @indyfan had a great idea and come Open Thread this Friday, I’ll be announcing a “HeartBeat Hottest Fest” over on the Fan Wall. The idea is that we can all post a story, gif or still image about our memories (good and/or less good) of the show and our community to say farewell…but also see you next show!!
I’m posting this here to alert you, Lapis, but then also take the opportunity to call some of the more active members to get their ideas in order, if you ask want to participate!!! I’m thinking the hashtags can be #HeartBeats or #HeartBurned depending on your mood 🙂
HeartBurned 🤣🤣
Poor Woo Hyeol was too kind for his own good i guess..but he did look absolutely dashing in the coffin.. sorry @attiton for mentioning the end
thanks for the invite Seon-ha, I’m a newbie poster-long-time lurker so I haven’t learned yet how to post media. I saw your tutorial about it in one of your posts, just haven’t gotten around to trying it. #Heartbeats AND #HeartBurned
Honestly, I’m looking at HeartBeat as Do-sik’s audition tape to be a ML. Get this man a romantic lead role STAT! And I already have my gif for Friday mentally chosen 😁 Great idea, Seon-ha!!
@chokulit191 It doesn’t have to be a gif/meme, words are plenty: a poem or polemic, something ridiculous or a recollection.
I know the show declined and gave us #HeartBurn at the end, but for most of its life, #HeartBeat was a silly and sweet ride. So I thought its In Memoriam could be like an Irish wake, jazz band included, natch. But of course, what’s a good funeral without some bitter truths told. 😂
Oh dear, and dear Do-shik lol. I’ve never been struck by SLS, but there have been a fair number of SML’s I couldn’t stand and he was definitely not in that camp! He was written better than most, but even so could have still come across as an unlikable and possessive punk, especially against Woo-hyeol/Taec’s charms. But Park Kang-hyun is a 2ML MVP!
I think they knew that would’ve been the tipping point for many – can’t have an SML that powerful 😂 Rich, handsome, voice, knows how to respectfully love someone lol, moral compass that works 90% of the time, loner AND puppy eyes -> all of us would’ve been DEAD.
*whistles* To each their own…you’ll note that the OP up there describes him pretty exactly, tho *whistles*
Actually, you know who would also have hit this character out of the park and does have puppy eyes: Jang Seung-jo [https://www.dramabeans.com/cast/jang-seung-jo/]
I still wouldn’t have traded him out, because then we all wouldn’t have met Park Kang-hyun, but he would have almost certainly have caused greater SLS in the general population—which as a reminder AGAIN, is not what was I was suffering from 🙂
Is My Lovely Boxer a fantasy drama? Not even 5mins in. Tell me it gets better. I wanna believe. In the meantime, back to the other lovely drama. So many dramas, so little time.
Well, it’s not a particular spoilery spoiler as it’s not even 5 mins in and not an important plot point, but as a trainee she KO’d a male champion boxer several weight classes above her in like 10 seconds flat. I don’t expect verisimilitude in my dramas but it looks like they were going for it—and utterly failed. I just laughed.
I’m going to have to wait for other opinions on the rest of the drama or the recap to decide if it’s worth it. I’m dying this week and there are so many dramas already.
Well, I’ve dropped BYT, believe it or not…so I’m down to three live-watches total (My Lovely Liar, Moving, and soon Destined with You). I’ve got so many “reserve” watches queued up, though.
Oh, it’s a whole sad tail ;). Suffice it to say, the actual way that they ended up approaching the subject of the butt-touching was truly quite dark (borderline cruel) and I have become unsure that the writer/PD are actually on women’s side. It actually started to sap me of my desire to be funny at all.
Your poem is amazing. Your concern for how I’ll fill my weekends is doubly amazing. Right now, it’s Run On for the fourth time. I’ve had two shows fundamentally betray me in two very different, but very painful, ways within seven days, and I need a comfort show.
I watched the entire of episode one. It gets better. Kim So-hye’s character of Lee Kwon-sook was in maybe the first 5-10 minutes and the final 5 or so minutes. Everything in between was about learning about Lee Sang-yeob’s character (sob) sport’s agent Kim Tae-young. I thought he was terrific in episode one.
Whoa. Heartbeat ratings tanked on DramaBeans to 4.6. One of the lowest? As much as I disliked the last few episodes and loathed the finale, it makes me sad. It was such sweet fun until then.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 2:52 AM
It was fun discussing Parallel World with everyone on Hopeful’s post, but it’s grown too long so here’s a new post for everything after episode 20ish.
Since I’m not sure where everyone is, I’m posting comments for #21 on the top post. We can spoil whatever we want in the comments.
@asianromance Oh, Zhao Guan is definitely sus. He has a file labeled Secret Documents and sits on a Gold Toilet with his pants on! 😂
@attiton While I shipped FT and the smoky creature, I love how Ding Liu is matchmaking FT and He. I hope DL also gets her HEA with Gao Shen. Maybe the two roosters as well. Let’s pair off the whole damn team. 😂
@hopefulromantic I see how the story nesting is getting stronger. Interesting how it’ll play out.
@marysadanaga I agree that when one arc ends or when the couple gets together, shows sag, but not here. All these twists and turns! Great plotting.
So much to discuss. But I just want to share a pic of our wonderful OTP. This is how I want to see them at the end. Pretty pls drama lords.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 3:22 AM
OK, that gold mine fight scene was crazy. First, she cut off his whole arm! 😱 DC better watch his leg. Girl has a thing for limbs. But it was so obviously fake—I swear I saw it taped next to his body 😂—that I wasn’t grossed out as I am by more realistic productions. Low-budget for the win!
Then, Rooster as ammo? Unexpected! That was pure gold.
And then the flashback. I didn’t guess the, what would you call it, double cross or just double memory wipe at all. I missed all the clues. Who guessed it? And then, #29, I think it’s a more messier triangle than I thought? I need to write it out so my little brain gets it.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 29, 2023 at 3:31 AM
YEAH THAT WAS CRAZY. I agree, though, that while this episode had a lot more violence, the arm thing was more Monty Python than… I don’t know a realistic comparison, but it wasn’t too much?
I’m watching 27/28 tonight – that reveal was CRAZY!!! The memory thing upends everything!!! Ack I want all our team to be ok 🥲 Chang Dong was great – supporting Ye Liuxi and fighting even though, as he says, he’s not the best at fighting. And then Ye Liuxi – WOW. Cool, ruthless, and skilled. We would expect no less. The little scrappy princess and her bodyguard had BETTER BE OK.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 4:30 AM
Sounds right. More Monty Python than Moving. And thank god for that. I’m steeling myself for WOE after the early reports.
Yeah, CD’s parkour classes sure came in handy. LOL But YL was the MVP, natch. I won’t say more as I’m up to #29 now. I would like to however figure out YL’s timeline. I’m a little confused.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 8:36 AM
Did you catch little princess’ line to Gao when they were in the SUV before entering the mine? He was giving her the standard hero talk of “promise me you’ll survive no matter what.” She was having none of it and said they all had to survive. Awwww … 🥺
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:54 AM
Aww indeed. He has to make it through this.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 7:31 AM
Ding Liu is now “little princess” forever more to me. Thanks, @marysadanaga!!!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:31 AM
That was so sweet 🥲
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 3:01 PM
I think even Monty Python had more blood 😂 But I’m fine with lack of arterial spray here. Fight to the death (or so we thought) was conveyed just fine without it.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 29, 2023 at 3:58 AM
I need to see the rooster scene.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 4:16 AM
It was in the fight at the end of Episode 26. It was Ocean Guardian’s turn, Valley Guardian’s braver counterpart. Characters, even if they be Roosters stay, consistent in the show. 😂 We do have a gif-pert who might oblige if they are asked nicely…
BTW I had to take a weeklong break btwn Ep 20 and 21. I thought I’d go back and watch Ep. 20 info dump again, but nah, didn’t bother, didn’t need to.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 29, 2023 at 4:22 AM
Lol. Ocean guardian – braver counterpart. I am already laughing. 😂 Lu Xi approved eh! I will check out Ep 26. Thanks!!
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 8:03 AM
I think Ocean Guardian also provided a valuable medical service to Liu after they escaped the mine. (Unless the whole parasitic flower story was a bluff by the Long sorceress — not sure what to call her now!)
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 7:34 AM
Yesyesyes, I need help here. I, too, thought that the rooster plucked the parasitic flower out of the Little Princess’s head scar…and it totally DID.
BUT, then she ended up at the doctor too? Was it that the roots hadn’t been removed? If so, did the rooster actually make things a little worse??
@hopefulromantic I don’t think you’re on this thread, so please, if you have thoughts…
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:30 AM
@attiton I’m still catching up – in ep 32 now – so I was avoiding the thread until now! 😅 YEAH Ocean Guardian was totally out there saving lives!! The way I took it was that there were some roots still intact, but the lethal part – the flower bud – he pecked out like the champion he is.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:45 AM
But that made me wonder, why the heck didn’t he GS take Princess to the doctors in the first place? Did I miss something?
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:58 AM
@indyfan I think that sorceress lady had told GS that little princess would die if it was forcibly removed?
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 9:04 AM
@hopefulromantic But not from a Rooster? Interesting. And a minor point so I will let it drop. 😀
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 29, 2023 at 4:16 AM
I have been seeing their gifs on tumblr. They are so wonderful together!!! Just look at them 🥰🥰🥰
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 5:07 AM
@marysadanaga I thought of your insightful comments about how some themes, esp. the critique of authoritarian regimes, might raise censorship concerns. And unlike xianxia/wuxia, whose worlds are so far from reality, this modern day fantasy brings the parallels closer to home. Let’s see how far they get with the fantasy tag.
When the show started, I was shocked by the seedy side of life shown in the “border” town. With some exceptions, that’s not the pretty little world c-dramas portray to the outer world. At first, I attributed it to the fantasy tag. But because I’m always chasing my tail, I thought given the way the state justifies its harsh measures against the unrest in the Western provinces, they might not mind the Wild West depiction.
Anyway, I think all good fantasy is a commentary/reflection of reality so I am not surprised we have it here.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 8:40 AM
Good point about the western setting allowing more leeway here. It’ll be interesting to see how the authority/rebel conflict, motives and ordinary people’s reactions play out.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:56 AM
I just looked around a couple of times. Apparently the drama was sent back by the censors several times for modification. And also, the painters were added to make it clear this is just fiction, no one get any ideas…
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 9:00 AM
*couple of places.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 2:58 PM
So interesting! Thanks for investigating this. Good to know the show creators were able to appease the censors in a way that hopefully doesn’t alter the plot beats of the source material. I won’t complain about painter scene interruptions if that’s what it takes!
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 7:36 AM
You know? This form of “censorship” is so infantalizing. People aren’t morons, ya know. We’re born with the capacity to make meaning from the inferences between facts. We are not literalists by nature. There’s be no such thing as a JOKE otherwise.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:52 AM
@attiton By chance, I was reading about the odds for the Nobel this year (yes, yes, I know), which favor Can Xue. Her whole oeuvre demands to be between the lines, and which she’s had to constantly deny. A long history of this kind of censorship.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:31 AM
Oooh, that’s really interesting… thank you for researching!
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 7:06 AM
I’m still team tiny sparkly hands and so is the Geminus itself on team FT!! When they coaxed it out to help get the horn back, it was with the promise of seeing Fatty Tang again, n’est-ce pas????
I also have a gif planned of the big-baddie-as-Geminus because that was hilarious. I can’t remember this villain’s name because *cough* the actor sort of looks like my father did 20 years ago if you squint, and then I get distracted *cough*
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:37 AM
Ok, I need to talk about Fatty Tang! What an awesome character. When he knelt in front of Ye Liuxi after the gold mine gauntlet with absolute hero worship in his eyes! And the way he’s become more concerned about others (especially He) than himself… what excellent character development!
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:54 AM
It’s rare for a sidekick played for laughs to get such a great character arc. Props to the show. It probably helps we have Rooster, Geminus, Ao and others to play that role as well.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 30, 2023 at 9:15 AM
I really liked Geminus’ hero turn versus Thiefless. A little kindness to others – even non-humans – can go a long way.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:27 AM
Who’s seen #29/30? I’m… Gulp. I can’t.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 29, 2023 at 8:43 AM
Not yet but now you’ve got me scared 😳
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:53 AM
Nothing has happened yet that can’t be resolved. They will figure it out. Deep breath. It’s gonna be fine.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 7:57 AM
I’m done 30, @indyfan. How can I best support you as it all falls apart???
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 8:35 AM
@indyfan – Oh dear oh dear… The tragedy dominoes have been set up for an emotional last few eps… I’m more prepared for tragic endings in C-dramas (especially with the emphasis on personal sacrifice that’s so common), but I don’t want it ☹️

indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:58 AM
@hopefulromantic Are you at 32? I spoke too soon. Another twist! The stakes grow larger. She’s got her hooks into all of them.
Seon-ha, come to 32.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 9:14 AM
@indyfan ep 32, min 17:09 – oh my gosh, poor Gao Shen 🤣
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 9:16 AM
@hopefulromantic Oh, keep watching. Poor boy.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 9:18 AM
@indyfan I will, soon, doing my DWY job right now. You’re going to bed soon, though…ACK SO MUCH K-DRAMA WORK TODAY!!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 9:27 AM
@indyfan Oh my gosh nooooooo!!! And we have to wait FIVE MORE DAYS??? Aigoo.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 9:29 AM
Welp, I’m caught up. Ready to talk more when everyone else is there too! Now I’m going to watch Mad Dog to calm down.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 9:32 AM
@hopefulromantic I know. 😱 Boom Boom. The hits just keep coming. Definitely no sagging for this show.
@attiton I am as always so impressed by you. At one point this evening, I had a full page of notifications just from you! Of course, silly DB can notify you thrice for one comment, but still. Anyway, the point being, take your time to catch up. We have a break ahead.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 9:49 AM
I mean you might be impressed, @indyfan, but having a whole page of notifications just from me? I did that? I’m so totally embarrassed. At least you know you have a whole lot of my attention? Is that a good thing?? Jury’s out. I’m gonna go hide.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 10:14 AM
I wish! But no. It’s the site that notifies me thrice for the same comment. One, someone has commented on my post. Second, that comment was a reply. Third, you tagged me.
So I have a third of the attn the notification page implies. Come out of hiding.
And DWY work? Does that mean gif geyser is out? Hmm, to sleep or peek into the fanwall?
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 30, 2023 at 11:34 AM
Ok, I’m through 32 and now have five days to process events 😬
Maybe the darkest hour is just before dawn?
Long is a formidable adversary … she and Liu Xi are two women of special ability but with opposite moral codes. But it’s cool that they are the bosses in this story.
I liked how the flashbacks showed Liu Xi was a daring rebel from the beginning.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 4:43 PM
I’m still processing!!😅 All of the reveals landed really well as surprises – but they were also seeded in advance and didn’t come out of nowhere. Yay for logical writing! It is really cool that the showdown seems like it will be between Liuxi and Long… and Liuxi has been strong and cool from the beginning.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 30, 2023 at 5:47 PM
I liked how the story returned to the “gnats” and the shadow puppets. Am waiting for a reveal about a further connection between Chang Dong and puppets. Did it seem Liuxi was contemplating cutting off her hand to regain her memories? The way the info about that magic linked back to why Jiang Zhan’s memories were at least partially restored when his arm was cut off was well done.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 6:07 PM
Oh I loved that reveal about the “gnats,” too!!! I makes it so much more meaningful. The mythology in this drama is very cool to me. I’m also with you in waiting for more confirmation of a connection between the shadow puppets and the ML. I still think the gnats were drawn to the ML in the desert, not the FL, because of some connection!!
Yikes I’m hoping not, but I also noticed the same thing when she was thinking about getting her memories back 😖 That reveal about Jiang Zhan was well done.
Now I’m worried about Gao Shen and about our team/family being separated 😔
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 6:51 PM
Also, don’t let your rooster near your gnats!!😂
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 30, 2023 at 7:40 PM
Another contrast between the two sides … our good guys have been more respectful of the creatures they encounter, like how the sorcerer clarified that the “gnats” aren’t really bugs and deserve to be treated with dignity. Or the moment of connection between young Liuxi and the golden snake. Compared to Long, who views magical creatures only as a means of consolidating her power. Maybe there’ll be a payoff somewhere down the line?
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 30, 2023 at 7:48 PM
That’s a great observation!! I really hope so… there’s been a lot of scorpion motifs (and actual scorpions); maybe there’s a magical scorpion creature who will come to their aid to support Ye Liuxi in her battle?
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:41 PM
Are you all getting the feeling perhaps the only power the Long family has is using these creatures? (Well, other than their wiles.) And if that’a the case, then indeed the differing relations will matter.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:38 PM
A showdown between two women might be the climax of the show. How unusual and wonderful is this?
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 30, 2023 at 9:11 PM
💯!!! I can’t think of another example of that happening. Yanxi Palace centered on the conflicts of the harem, but it still took place in a male-dominated hierarchy. Here the women are the ones in charge!
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 8:44 PM
“darkest hour is just before dawn” Yes! This is such classic story structure. I’m loving seeing it in action. But I’m afraid all our heroes may not make it out intact.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 6:42 PM
Done. Caught up. Done done. Through to the end of episode 32.
indyfan
September 30, 2023 at 9:00 PM
Yay! Are you posting your gifs soon?
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 5:23 AM
I can. But I think I’ll have a favor to ask of all the active PW watchers in return. I’ll give you a heads-up now:
@indyfan @hopefulromantic @marysadanaga @asianromance (and also @mayhemf who may wish to join in)—am I forgetting anyone??
I’ve got maybe 8-10 gifs planned/made for the first 32 episodes of Parallel Worlds, and I’ll make a gif geyser with them today. BUT, I’d also like to make at least one each for all of you, because I can’t possibly have found interesting all of what you found interesting. These images both spark, but also control, the conversation, and I would like to talk about your favorite moments too.
So, after I post my first geyser (which will be in the next four hours), I’m going to ask for you to please also tell me one or two more that you’d like, and when I’ve collected those, I’ll make a second geyser of just those to talk about.
Could we do it this way?
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
October 1, 2023 at 5:31 AM
Eek!!! I’m so excited!!!🤩🤩🤩 Thank you Seon-ha – that’s so thoughtful of you!!!! You’re the best! 🥰 I can’t wait to see them!!!!
indyfan
October 1, 2023 at 7:18 AM
Definitely. I love your gif geysers. And it’s a good excuse to rewatch some scenes. Tho I suspect you’ll have gotten all the good ones already.
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 7:49 AM
They’re very idiosyncratic, and contain basically none of the mythology. @hopefulromantic in particular really might have a lot of other actual plot-based scenes to point out, for example.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
October 1, 2023 at 7:52 AM
@attiton Haha I don’t want plot, I just want cute 😂
ar_arguably romantic
October 1, 2023 at 11:18 AM
I don’t know what a gif geyser is (I googled it and got gifs of geysers…lol), but am looking forward to it!
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 11:45 AM
Ha. Sorry that’s just the name that @ceciliedk gave to my Fan Wall Posts filled with gifs to comment on.
The one for PW is posted here! https://www.dramabeans.com/activity/p/1462986/
indyfan
September 26, 2023 at 4:45 AM
A heart! I guess we all know the real OTP here. 😂
The Worst of Evil Tomorrow!
Healer’s
September 26, 2023 at 6:19 AM
Do you know what time the 1st episode is released on Disney+?
Seon-ha
September 26, 2023 at 6:23 AM
@claire2009 On Hulu it’s at 3am ET.
Healer’s
September 26, 2023 at 7:01 AM
Thanks Seon-ha, it’s 5pm in my time zone then. Perfect!! I can watch it after dinner.
Seon-ha
September 26, 2023 at 6:43 AM
@indyfan FYI I’m missing your mentions in my notifications stream (I’ve checked twice and am positive I didn’t get a notification for the “coat-bok” mention on the DWY thread). So ping me twice if I don’t respond and also know that the reverse may be holding true.
indyfan
September 26, 2023 at 7:41 AM
Oh. Hmm. This is a reply so you’ll probably get this. Let me tag you in an independent post and see if it works.
indyfan
September 19, 2023 at 2:28 AM
Just noting the uptick of gay characters in recent dramas:
My Lovely Liar: A well acted, but jealous and violent character
My Dearest: A beautiful and tender, but jealous and scheming character
A Time Called You: Happy at last! And in a hot minute, dead and buried.
Hmm.
Seon-ha
September 19, 2023 at 3:51 AM
😡
Midnight
September 19, 2023 at 4:06 AM
No. 3 is still lots better than what happened in the original.
indyfan
September 19, 2023 at 6:17 AM
They really were adorable in ATCY weren’t they?
But somehow I thought their arcs in both were fitting. Someday was filled with grief and ACTY was much lighter in tone.
mindy
September 19, 2023 at 5:58 AM
Let’s go back to 2021 when lesbians ruled dramaland
indyfan
September 19, 2023 at 6:15 AM
What? Really? I hadn’t boarded the kdrama train in 2021.
mindy
September 19, 2023 at 6:29 AM
Kim Seo-hyung played the first-ever lesbian main character in a primetime kdrama in Mine, and it was handled so surprisingly well (especially knowing the writer previously did Strong Woman Do Bong-soon… yikes). It starts sad but it ends hopeful, and she’s just a badass and I loved her.
The one good thing about Nevertheless was the secondary pairing between two female characters. First actual lesbian relationship I’ve seen on kdrama screen (although there has been at least one other).
Work Later, Drink Now had a couple of gay characters (one male one female), but sadly one of them was a “bury your gays” moment IIRC and it was really sad.
Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha had a lesbian character as well! It wasn’t a huge part of the plot but it made perfect sense and I appreciated the small amount of representation.
There may be more from that year I’m not remembering.
indyfan
September 19, 2023 at 7:12 AM
Well, well. Thank you. I haven’t caught up to most of those shows. (And I may never catch up to Nevertheless.) I did see Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha but on heavy ffw’d. If it was a blink and miss it kind of role, I might have missed it.
And what happened after 2021? They decided we’d repped enough, and done?
DancingEmma
September 26, 2023 at 6:44 PM
Yep. There is a long long way to go as yet to have a semblance of genuine inclusion and diversity. I remember a few mainstream US shows in the 90s had tragic, neurotic and no sex allowed under any circumstances(!) (largely) gay characters too.
indyfan
September 16, 2023 at 4:04 AM
I have a type I think. My last girl crush was the FL in Happiness. And now I’m in love with Liu Xi in the c-drama Parallel World.
She’s kick-ass. I mean that literally. She kicks every shitty guy around (actually all genders). She’s funny tho, a little self-deprecating, sometimes cheesy. But she remains a straight shooter, in life and in love, no BS, no false modesty. Now she’s in luuuv. And this soft but strong man loves her for who she is, just like in Happiness. So how can I not wish them every Happiness?
Oh, and she doesn’t make friends easily but she’s loyal when she does. And that’s why the 2FL, once her rival, doesn’t suck (as in every second drama) but squees along with the rest on us. “I can neither have the woman, nor the man I have a crush on, but they’re together now, so I’m really happy.” Speaking for all of us sister.
Cay_sbtgoG
September 16, 2023 at 4:37 AM
How refreshing it would be to have more characters like this? To live with no BS without false modesty. On my prev rewatched of Misaeng, I had a similar experience with Tim Manager Kang. We had too many similarity that I couldn’t help but rooting and beaming at him whenever he’s on the screen.
indyfan
September 16, 2023 at 5:37 AM
Yes! In my case, I wish I had a bit more of her gumption. I wish the same of many of the women I know.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 16, 2023 at 6:10 AM
That scene with the SFL was too cute! She’s such a shipper 😂
indyfan
September 16, 2023 at 9:21 AM
She has grown on me, a lot. I wish we could have more 2FLs like her. Tho we know the main 2FL is coming. And I don’t see her turning sweet at all.
bebeswtz❣️
September 16, 2023 at 8:07 AM
NiNi slays in all of her roles 😍😍 Girl crush for sure!
indyfan
September 16, 2023 at 8:32 AM
Ooh. Are you watching? I can’t tell, if it’s the actress, the character, or both, but I luv her.
bebeswtz❣️
September 16, 2023 at 10:40 AM
I’m not currently watching, but I plan to!! I can’t do multiple dramas at one time— it requires too much brain power that I just don’t have, especially with real life stuff— and I am currently moving very slowly with “Sunshine by May Side” 😅
indyfan
September 16, 2023 at 7:36 PM
I hear you. At least this moves along very zippily with half hour episodes and a fast plot (after the setup).
bebeswtz❣️
September 16, 2023 at 8:53 PM
Oh good!! Hopefully the pacing stays this way until the end. We just never know with Cdramas XD
Seon-ha
September 24, 2023 at 5:39 PM
Oh, I’m finishing this drama…what do I have to do to get to talk to y’all about it?
@hopefulromantic @indyfan
indyfan
September 24, 2023 at 5:55 PM
Wait, you started? And already caught up? So I’m the one behind. Nooo…
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 24, 2023 at 5:56 PM
*JOYFUL SHRIEKING* YAYYY!!! Really??? That’s great!!! Let’s make a post or chat here – I’ll be able to chat more tomorrow! 🎶I’m so EXCITED!!!🎶

Seon-ha
September 24, 2023 at 5:59 PM
Oh, yay!! I’m so glad I’m not too late to this party. And, no, @indyfan, you’re not behind. I’m only on episode 5…but I’m in this to win this (it’s only been since noon :)). So good. So good.
I don’t need like “a plan,” but WHAT’S THE PLAN?
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 24, 2023 at 6:03 PM
AGHHHHHH IT’S SO GOOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I’m literally SO excited that you started it and are enjoying it so far!!! It’s such a classic adventure fantasy setup with a quest and some classic character archetypes, with really really cool characters and a cool desert backdrop and *schjgdhklnfdjl I’m so excited* 😆😆😆😆😆 I’m saving episodes 25/26 to watch when 27/28 are out, because two at a time IS NOT ENOUGH
indyfan
September 24, 2023 at 8:10 PM
The plan, eh? It does make me grateful for the recaps. Couple of thoughts depending on how deep we want to go:
We could just do one giant post for the episodes to date. Or we could break them into three parts: 1) present world (till episode 10ish right, Hopeful?) 2) Parallel world (till 20ish) 3) Post-reveal till the end of the week, which I haven’t seen. And then live watch? In batches? Their schedule is tricky.
Or we could just post on whatever topic struck us as I did with FL, Blue did earlier with OTP, or the rooster, the Chinese Wild West, whatever.
And Hopeful, your gifs! 😍
I think Peach and ar arguably romantic are watching. Blue and Dorotka might be interested. It’s a niche show.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 25, 2023 at 3:36 AM
I like the topic-based idea, Indyfan! And since we’re both further along with episodes, Seon-ha could lead us in comments about plot. Yay!!!!!!! This is honestly the most exciting live watch for me since Numbers, and then earlier this year with Unlock My Boss.
indyfan
September 25, 2023 at 5:05 AM
I’m game. Whatever you both decide, I’m in. I’m going to gulp down all of this week’s episodes when I get home Thursday, just in time for this week’s to drop.
Seon-ha
September 25, 2023 at 5:29 AM
@hopefulromantic If I understand correctly, I’m to follow in the comments for a while, until I have a topic? Is that what you mean?
Would you mind if, yet again, we follow your initial lead, Hopeful? I know we did that for Mad Dog too, but your enthusiasm will surely never lead us astray!!!
@indyfan I hope you’re excited to get back home! Does this also mean you’re gonna wait on DWY? I’m asking because it’ll probably affect what I post to my Fan Wall 😊
indyfan
September 25, 2023 at 7:00 AM
No, no. Don’t change anything for me. We have an active army of DWY watchers waiting for ya. The Weds episode lands at night for me while I travel and I’ll watch on Thurs morning and hop on to DB after. Then watch the Thurs episode as soon as it lands on Netflix.
I’d love to hear everyone’s thoughts as you currently watch or reflect on past PW episodes. I didn’t really have anyone to engage with before. Tho I’ll wait to comment on from episode 20 on till I finish them, which will be very soon. Probably Thurs too.
Is this TMI? ☺️
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 25, 2023 at 7:01 AM
@attiton I’d be happy to make a fanwall post to collect our conversation later on after work! I’m feeling like gushing about this show, rather than analyzing, so I was thinking you could comment about anything you want (plot, characters, etc), and @indyfan and I (and anyone else) can chime in until we’re all three caught up with the episodes? But whatever sounds good to you sounds good to me!! I’m just excited that there is one more person watching this now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 25, 2023 at 7:04 AM
@attiton @indyfan Hold on – I just read what I replied, and I fear it is confusing… I think what I’m trying to say is, I’m not sure my memory is good enough to remember specifics of what happened earlier in the plot, so I won’t really be able to post “eps 1-4” or whatever reactions like I’m doing with Mad Dog. Does this help??? Or still confusing??? Lol I really don’t care what we talk about – I’m just excited to talk about Parallel World!!!!!🤩🤩🤩
Seon-ha
September 25, 2023 at 7:18 AM
We’re silly. 🤪 Here’s a new thread with more “reply” opportunities. This is what I think the plan is:
–> Hopeful is going to start us off after work today (Eastern US Time, I do believe) with a “topic-based” post, and we’re all gonna respond how we like.
It might be that I remember more plot points, because I’m newer to the drama, but, frankly, we shall see. I could see how little details might slip by and come back though…like why did she just paint a scorpion in eyeliner on her left eye? And why did he have such a strong opinion about it???
@indyfan @hopefulromantic
PS: It’s very likely I’ll never “catch up” before the show actually ends. I probably ought to devote time to only 2 episodes/day.
indyfan
September 25, 2023 at 7:44 AM
Ah good. Thanks for the new post. It sounds like a plan. We’ll start with Hopeful’s post and see from there.
Seon-ha, binge as much as you want, ffw’d too. I did a fair bit here and there without missing a thing. Oh and the scorpion thing will make sense later.
Seon-ha
September 25, 2023 at 11:28 AM
I just wrote this comment because I felt called to do so, but I had Beanies like you, @indyfan, and you, @hopefulromantic, in mind when I was talking about my Beanie Internet Friends…so I hope you’ll allow me to link you on in.
https://www.dramabeans.com/2019/11/k-drama-problems-to-share-or-not-to-share/#comment-4123029
It’s a special place here! And you are special people.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 25, 2023 at 3:13 PM
Aww thank you Seon-ha!! 🥰 And you know, I totally get what you mean… I don’t want to have to explain and persuade others why dramas are AWESOME, I just want them to be like, “heck yeah!” you know? And Dramabeans collects those cool people in one place when you don’t have IRL drama fans to talk to 😎
indyfan
September 26, 2023 at 7:37 AM
Lovely post. You’ve expressed why DramaBeans and Beanies hold a special place in our drama loving hearts. So happy to be counted as one of your BIFs. 😘
indyfan
September 27, 2023 at 12:52 AM
I just spent the last hour or so trying to download PW before I hop on a flight, and realized Viki doesn’t allow it. 😭 😭😭 I should have commented on our PW thread Instead, but I was taken aback by the pushback DancingEmma received on her comment.
It made me think Seon-ha of your comment on how to respond to micro aggressions—and this was out and out macro. And then I thought of folks you said just come here for the mic drop and walk away, who this person seems to be. And then I thought about your comment about BIFs so I dedicated the time to supporting Emma. But I’ll catch up on yours and @hopefulromantic PW comments soon enough. Maybe even before you wake up and then this will look silly. 😀
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 27, 2023 at 3:37 AM
No worries, Indyfan!!! 😊😊😊 I hope you have safe travels!!!
Seon-ha
September 27, 2023 at 3:39 AM
You are a thoughtful, kind, and supportive friend, Indy. Thanks for you care in helping out Emma, and thanks for this note.
indyfan
September 14, 2023 at 11:52 PM
How does a Rooster feel like a more developed character than many humans in other dramas? We understand his essential character (cowardice), what’s at stake (being cooked), and all we need is a growth arc. Will he conquer his inner
chickendemons and ride atop the jeep with his cockscomb held high, or will he be deepfriedsixed? Parallel World Ep 17. Waiting.@marysadanaga @mayhemf @wapz I’m sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Alas, I can only screenshot. I so wanted a clip of her catching Rooster out when he played dead. Did you see his eye acting then? I swear he looked guilty. 🤣 🤣 🤣
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 15, 2023 at 3:14 AM
😂😂😂
In its defense, it survived the scorpion 🦂
Seon-ha
September 15, 2023 at 3:55 AM
In a very real sense, how does a rooster feel? It’s like a koan.
How does a rooster feel?
….with his heart.
indyfan
September 13, 2023 at 10:53 PM
A Time Called You Timeline. I received this as a forward of uncertain origins. But it looks right. I think. It might help some. I’d watched the original so I wasn’t lost this time around.
Reply1988 - Mother Bean (DB Wooga squad)
September 13, 2023 at 11:07 PM
🫘Beansprout🌱 award for sharing important resources with the community
indyfan
September 14, 2023 at 7:08 AM
Aw, my first Beansprout! But alas, it seems to have lmtd use. And I couldn’t even credit it.
Cera (@Seeker)
September 14, 2023 at 8:24 AM
You got bragging rights!!
Ally
September 14, 2023 at 4:29 AM
@cayong03
Cay_sbtgoG
September 14, 2023 at 4:37 AM
I tried to read the chart, still I couldn’t comprehend, particulary the second loop.
I make peace with it by telling myself, it’s another STM, only this time the otp get better ending.
Qingdao
September 19, 2023 at 7:47 PM
What a lot of work! I looked at the chart on Wiki and still couldn’t follow it. Thank you very much!
Goyangi
September 24, 2023 at 12:17 PM
Thank you for sharing! Do you have a link to the original? I couldn’t find it but the one you shared here is not clear enough to read.
indyfan
September 24, 2023 at 5:47 PM
Sorry. It was a WhatsApp fwd of unclear origins. But if you double click on it, then you can zoom in to read it. It should be perfectly clearly then.
Goyangi
September 24, 2023 at 10:03 PM
Thanks!
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 4:48 AM
Parallel Worlds Blue! What am I watching? A modern Chinese Western? Fantasy Adventure? Tomb Raider meets Raiders of the Lost Ark. Or a Space Western? Why am I getting Firefly vibes. Help! 😂
This is a whole new world of c-dramas for me. It’s wild. But Ep. 1 is also really low-rent. That mask. LOL. How far along are you? Should I continue?
@mayhemf
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
September 12, 2023 at 5:40 AM
I hope you and @mayhemf continue the commentary! This one sounds absolutely wild, and, pending the ending, like one I’d get a kick out of 😁
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 6:38 AM
The trailer will give you a sense: https://www.viki.com/videos/1240348v-trailer
Blue has been my canary in the coal mine for C-dramas for a bit now. I guess I should chip in. I really don’t know who else might like this. @gikata?
Gikata
September 12, 2023 at 1:06 PM
So they’re from different worlds, huh… Don’t count on me until I’ll get ending spoilers, one zero hope for HE whatsoever cdrama at the time is more than enough for my poor heart. If finale doesn’t suck very much, I’ll try)))
P.S. Why didn’t they just keep original title? It sounded much better than current generic one!
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 6:31 PM
Totally agree re forgettable title. This doesn’t have tragic vibes but you never know. Let’s see if we all last long enough to report back re ending. 😂
Gikata
September 13, 2023 at 2:02 AM
I was thinking more of “not a tragedy, but…” case, which is very plausible with a premise like this.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 12, 2023 at 5:41 AM
I finished Ep 8 and I am still enjoying it. The episodes are short so I don’t feel like it drags at all.
Lol yeah. The genre is like everything. I even thought of the Mummy movie series with all the sandstorm and other stuff that happened in Ep 7.
Never seen a cdrama like this before! Usually all their fantasy is in XianXia costumes.
I plan to continue as I am curious about the mystery. Also the leads chemistry is really good. And the mystery around her existence is interesting. I like them both. I say watch till Ep 6 and decide to continue or drop.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 12, 2023 at 5:43 AM
That mask killed me. Lol. I thought it’s going to be a low budget fantasy but thankfully the later episodes didn’t have any cringe CGI. it’s probably not a high budget since the FL is wearing only one sweater for most of the 8 episodes 😂
Also, I love the desert landscapes. So gorgeous.
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 6:49 AM
The Mummy! Of course. They really covered their bases. 😂 And I already sense their chemistry. Nice. But you know, I may just crush on the FL. She’s so kickass.
I’m definitely in hearing you’re liking it. I have been primed by years of low-budget SyFy shows in my misguided youth. I can handle this. And should she really be carrying multiple outfits in the desert? It’s grounding the fantasy in some realism. 😉 Still, I can’t believe you recommended all those high quality shows, and I picked this. LOL.
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 7:00 AM
BTW How did they get that depiction of the seedy side of life past the censors? Fantasy tag? I am not used to this in c-dramas. It’s all gloss or soft focus. Maybe I’ve been watching the wrong ones.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 12, 2023 at 7:41 AM
Yeah, I was surprised too. But yeah, there are things that slip past censors in dramas or its just the fantasy tag. I can’t imagine a bunch of old men watching all episodes of every drama. lol. they probably doze off at some point.
And its so refreshing to not have filters..The FL looks so dusty and gorgeous, I love it.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 12, 2023 at 3:37 PM
Just chiming in with a very good seedy/gritty C-drama … “Stealth Walker” (2021), with Zheng Ye Cheng playing a completely different character from his “Love 020” college boy. No gloss whatsoever in this undercover police/drug smuggler tale with a hint of romance. More chemistry than romance, because the leads have to worry about staying alive first.
Blue (@mayhemf)
September 13, 2023 at 12:45 PM
It’s been on my list. I know it’s my kind of drama. I just need to make time. For this and Long Night.
wapz
September 13, 2023 at 7:38 AM
I don’t remember the line (was it the alcohol, women one) but I feel there are many genres in cdramaland. Definitely not all soft focus and glossy. Though the dramas that reach the international audience mainly are wuxia, xianxia and modern romcoms. I personally like those but sometimes I also want to watch shows like Parallel World (desert adventure – which I’ve come to know is also a genre), slice of life (Fake it till you make it director’s previous show Remembrance of things past which was widely liked by several beanies, Delicious Romance, Twenty your life on etc, crime dramas which can be pretty gritty and the family dramas which rarely the international audience sees but actually gets the serious tag locally rather than the idol drama tag. That said, with the sheer number of shows they produce, there are still very few good ones but at least for me this year, I saw more cdramas than kdramas.
indyfan
September 13, 2023 at 10:12 AM
Desert Adventure? That seems very specialized! But also what this very much is. I’m still newish to c-dramas, mostly romance. Happy to have the expert guides since there are so, so very many shows out there. I’ve been meaning to watch Remembrance of Things Past but haven’t got past the title. Lit class trauma. 😂
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 12, 2023 at 2:39 PM
Through episode 5 and I’m in. Love the desert landscape and the grittiness of scenery and characters. FL is such a badass. Doesn’t seem like she lost her attitude or her fighting skills. That’s an amnesia plot I can get behind.
indyfan
September 12, 2023 at 6:29 PM
Yay! I wasn’t sure who else from the C-crowd might watch. So very different from Fake It.
I binged quite a bit. But it wasn’t so bad as I ffw’d some as parts were slow. But I liked the buildup and I know what’s coming. I love FL’s character! Tho did you see the ML’s parkour scene? LOL. I won’t spoil it if you haven’t.
But I wanted to cover her up so bad. You’re not just gonna get sunburn, girl, you’re gonna get sandburn. But action ladies, they gotta be sexy.
@mayhemf I didn’t mind the sweaters. She packs light. But what was the one with a the belt over her b**bs? 😂
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 14, 2023 at 8:27 AM
Did you get to the chicken yet? Desert Guardian is the best! This show is so chaotic in a good way.
indyfan
September 14, 2023 at 9:56 AM
Gobble. Gobble. Oops. That’s turkeys, not roosters. 😂 It was totally random and so hilarious. How’re they making it all work so well?
Also, I just knew it was the chicken spying on them. Part of me was disappointed they got interrupted. But that was absolutely right. It was too soon. But that sympathy hug. 😍 I’m loving the slooooow burn.
♡Peach_Mochi♡
September 14, 2023 at 12:51 PM
Thinking about your comment about how the show makes the randomness work … it’s like the events the characters face can be totally wacky and out there, but the characters themselves have depth and sincerity. As opposed to a drama that has a character suddenly behave in a totally mystifying way and that just kills your viewing experience.
indyfan
September 14, 2023 at 5:31 PM
Right. The character development and relationship arcs are solid no matter what craziness the plot throws.
indyfan
September 8, 2023 at 5:59 AM
Guess who made a cameo in A Time Called You. Yes, I’m mid-binge. 😅
Seon-ha
September 8, 2023 at 6:17 AM
Are they the same height???
Kurama
September 8, 2023 at 6:28 AM
Rowoon is taller by 2cm.
indyfan
September 8, 2023 at 6:33 AM
His poofy hair adds another 2cm in the scene. 🙂
I don’t want to spoil anything. After everyone’s watched it, I’d love to hear their take on these two (and ofc the rest)..
Seon-ha
September 8, 2023 at 6:37 AM
Well, it won’t be from me, unfortunately. You know how you love your My Dearest pain? Well, this here drama would give me that same pain by 10,000x and, if I watched it, I would actually need to leave Dramabeans to live the rest of my life in the dark, chanting repeated, whispered words in a vain effort to calm the thunderstorm of sadness that would have taken over my mind.
indyfan
September 8, 2023 at 11:07 AM
Ah, I hear you. The original left me soaked in sadness, but ah…
Right now my eyes are glazed, my brain fried and my heart full. I look forward to seeing what other crazy Beanies like me think tmrw.
Seon-ha
September 8, 2023 at 11:16 AM
@indyfan Are you telling me right now that you are awake after midnight because you binged this drama??
Can I be your mother for a moment and tell you, “Young lady you should BE IN BED ASLEEP!!!”
We shall be leaving aside the hypocrisy that I stayed up late last night making gifs. But not THIS late…
indyfan
September 8, 2023 at 6:50 PM
Yeah. I’m 😵💫😵💫😵💫… Yeah. That’s all I got. I do not advise this.
Kurama
September 8, 2023 at 6:43 AM
It’s funny because both are actors are best friends, it’s why Rowoon did a cameo in this drama. I wonder how they filmed it :p
indyfan
September 8, 2023 at 6:51 PM
Spoilers coming in the hangout 🙂
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 10:33 AM
OK. It’s official. I have also been Ro-sWooned. DWY. Ep 6. What absolute fun.
(Oh if I could but capture his eyebrow lift.)
Cera (@Seeker)
September 7, 2023 at 10:50 AM
Thanks to @attiton we are all Ro-swooning.
Awesome naming skills. Daebak 👍
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 11:00 AM
Yes, absolutely. All credit where credit is due. Can we be the Ro-swooned Seon-ha?
It may have taken me a little longer to Ro-swoon than some (and a whole lot shorter than those who will not be named 😂) but I finally see the light, or rather the stars in the dark sky, cos I’ve swooned and all that.
Oh, I wish I could giffed those fingers in the kiss scene. Smooth my man. Smooth.
Seon-ha
September 7, 2023 at 11:18 AM
You gonna take all the love for my awesome term and then passively-aggressively ask for gifs?? Well, we shall see my friend….
I’m sure I’ll have time for them tomorrow. I can’t see episode 6 until way closer to when you wake up.
Cera (@Seeker)
September 7, 2023 at 11:19 AM
Waiting eagerly for the gifs!
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 11:23 AM
Oh oops. I have this Pavlovian response to an episode dropping. I won’t spoil anymore. 🤐
See you on the other side. With gifs. 😇
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 11:28 AM
Oof. I can edit the top post on my fan wall but not the replies?
Anyway, Roswooning was already discussed down thread. I was just joining the chorus, not claiming credit. ☹️
Seon-ha
September 7, 2023 at 12:55 PM
You know I’m totally joking about being upset AT ALL about ANYONE “taking credit” for my stupid (although funny) neologism, right?
Everyone is welcome to use it with reckless abandon!!! In fact, I might come to regret coining it at some point 🙂
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 4:47 PM
@attiton Ofc ofc I was being faux humbled. Totally didn’t come across. I am still learning the Interneting. 🤦🏾♀️
Cera (@Seeker)
September 7, 2023 at 11:32 AM
Comment was deleted
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 4:45 PM
Comment was deleted
Seon-ha
September 7, 2023 at 4:15 PM
Fuc*ing-A that was good! so many feels so many giiiffffs….do I start now??? I have responsibilities!??! Shouldn’t start now, but so fracking gooood.
ROSWOON CENTRAL ova here
indyfan
September 7, 2023 at 4:49 PM
I know which ova you meant, but he tickled my ova too if you know what I mean. 😂
Seon-ha
September 7, 2023 at 4:53 PM
I AM MAKING GIFS INSTEAD OF WATCHING MOVING. I HAVE ALSO OTHER THINGS TO DO.
I AM MAKING GIFS INSTEAD OF ANY OTHER THING I SHOULD BE DOING.
Cera (@Seeker)
September 7, 2023 at 8:17 PM
👩💻
At last … a pretty someone who knows exactly where her priorities lie !!!
Hwaiting!
bbstl 🧹
September 7, 2023 at 8:24 PM
And we humbly thank you, can you hear our squees? I’m pretty sure my neighbors heard mine 🤭
Cera (@Seeker)
September 7, 2023 at 11:17 PM
🤭 🥰
Thank you for putting it out there on behalf of all of us!
Kudos!
indyfan
September 2, 2023 at 10:33 PM
Wait, what did I miss? No previews for Ep. 11? I need breadcrumbs at least to sustain myself for 41 days. All right, I’ll take your screen-shotting, gif-ing, tumblr-ing instead. So many feelings
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
September 2, 2023 at 10:46 PM
Since it’s cut in half, they probably didn’t do a preview on purpose. Sometimes they do that near the end of shows as well?
Or it might be released on YT later.
Nefret
September 2, 2023 at 11:10 PM
On the one hand I crave a few breadcrumbs, on the other I am afraid of what I might get to see.
*setting a 41-day countdown*
indyfan
September 26, 2023 at 7:44 AM
@attiton Tag. Did you get a notification?
Also, I don’t think Hacja got that I was entirely joking, or only partially got that. But I haven’t the energy tonight to delve into that.
Seon-ha
September 26, 2023 at 8:00 AM
Yeah, I did. I get so frustrated with the “almost-sometimes-never” nature of that stupid notification system. It’s because I’m so needy. It’s cute.
Hacja. Sigh. I’m gonna put his reaction on the patriarchy. We know you’re happily married, man. It’s OK. We aren’t threatening it.
Kurama, in her delightful literalness, didn’t get it either 🙂
indyfan
September 26, 2023 at 8:07 AM
It’s yet another DB mystery. I sometimes get emailed notifications from 2014 when I didn’t even know kdramas existed 🤷🏽♀️
Re H/K: 😀 Thanks for the smile.
And I’m gonna let it rest at that.
Btw I didn’t even realize that Kurama posted even tho it was on my notifications. I’m super impressed that you did!
Seon-ha
September 26, 2023 at 8:12 AM
I’m obsessive and strange. It’s cute.
Seon-ha
September 28, 2023 at 8:21 PM
OMG, Indy. There WAS drama. I knew something was wrong with him. I don’t want to sound like a drama queen (a k-drama queen), but there’s been something up, and I almost mentioned it in this thread but thought I sounded like crazy person overthinking the internet. He’s not been talking or commenting or at-mentioning, anyone. I didn’t know that I’d had a hand in causing it:
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/lapislazulii/activity/1461445/#acomment-1461608
FWIW, I didn’t call him “nothing,” but I was taking a dig. He’s not wrong about that. Sheesus.
indyfan
September 28, 2023 at 8:54 PM
Oh! You were not doing drama. There WAS drama. You were right.
I had also noticed he was not active, but I didn’t think too much of it. Life and all that. But also because he tends to do a mic drop with me. But he actually engages with you.
He can be quite sarcastic. So I imagine you were only responding in kind. But sarcasm has a fine line, and easy to misinterpret online. (And may I say easier to dish than receive.) Still, give him props for speaking up. How many people, esp. men, fess up they were hurt? And online to boot?
No, I am not going to comment on male trauma. 😀
indyfan
September 28, 2023 at 10:10 PM
BTW now I wonder if my joke offended him. Should I respond too?
BBTW I’ve noticed he’s commenting on dramas we don’t. Hm.
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 3:39 AM
Gawd. That wasn’t so much “sleep” as “waiting to wake up.”
You do whatever you feel called to do! I saw your PW post…so exciting!!! More from me soon…
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 3:55 AM
Aw. That’s rough. Hoping for an easy day for you. TGIF. As for me, I’m going to let sleeping dogs lie, if there were any to begin with in my case.
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 5:59 AM
Hmm. Found it. Wow, did I not say what he heard. Now I’m kinda mad, and unwilling to help moderate his emotions.
Thanks for listening.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 7:07 AM
What? That’s surprising. It’s written evidence! You’re right to be upset.
There’s no need to do the work. He also said he didn’t need anything more from you. Take him up on it. And should you choose to, you can respond later.
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 7:13 AM
I know, I know. I did respond, but only after I decided to don my “Patriarchy Hat” (always uncomfortable), and saw how what I said was sort of worse. I implied that other Beanies had dismissed him as not worth talking about.
It’s all a bit much, but who knew that there were emotions back there! And, you were (as always) right that it was impressive for him to say those things to me in writing, online. I never want unnecessary unfinished emotional karmic damage hanging around me–I have enough there that I know about and am powerless to fight.
How come it is that you’re always right? Do you know the answer to that?
I think you’re right about DWY ep 12 too. It’s better than I thought. I just made an error in my viewing plan–I watched the last five minutes first, because I HAD TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, and then expected the other 55 to lead up to it. But that’s not what it was. The first 55 minutes wrapped up like 10,000 threads and pushed two other secondary threads along (JK’s dad and SY’s mom)…and then it shifted BACK to our OTP’s trauma. You were right. It’s a fine episode.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:25 AM
No, no, no. You don’t get to make it about me, not for all the flattery in the world. 😛
Am I hearing right, you have conversed with him since? And how did that go? Share as much or as little as you like. We all come to DramaBeans to discuss drama, not experience it (too much). Some interactions have been a bit much for me as well. But just like real life, if this relationship matters or your conduct in the exchange (to yourself), I’m glad you reached out.
And I can’t say DWY #12 is a fine episode, but Jesus after #11, it was an improvement by leaps and bounds. Tho that end, yeah, it was yet another knife to the heart. I would been too shook up as well to enjoy anything after.
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 8:48 AM
@indyfan I get to make things about you all I like, especially when I get sick of things being all about me. 😉
No, he’s not responded, but it’s early-ish in SoCal. I am ready for him not to respond, or to respond. It’s all good. I really do value that I can tell you about how I’m coping–I actually felt quite emotionally side-swiped by all this.
Oh, BY THE WAY, I now remember that there may have been a time or two when perhaps my sarcasm has confused and or hurt YOU. If that is indeed the case–do know that I am so incredibly sorry, even for the slightest harm to my dearest Internet Friend.
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 9:16 AM
I get the emotional cost of this. After any DB conflict, I feel a bit rattled and ask myself, why does this matter, why am I even online? So I try to remember no matter how violent this storm of feelings can be, it’s all still contained within a teacup. (I will not speak of separating feelings from “self” 🙂 Of course, it doesn’t help to have anyone tell you this while you’re being buffeted so I can only say, I hear you, I feel you.
Also, I don’t remember being hurt by anything you said, anyone’s sarcasm really. And forgive me if I have done so.
Seon-ha
September 29, 2023 at 7:34 PM
Good morning!!! Hi hi. I hope you had a marvelous night’s sleep. The fact that the DWY thread has been so sleepy for HOURS has meant that I’m almost caught up on PW (being halfway through episode 28 right now). If I don’t get distracted by the Butt Show (my literal guilty pleasure) I should be done with episode 30 before 31-32 are posted, and I can be a full member of the community!!
indyfan
September 29, 2023 at 8:21 PM
Good evening to you! How’re you feeling today? Better I hope? I saw Hacja tagged you!
I had no idea you were watching BYT. But hey, if it gives you pleasure I can only be jealous.
And why is DWY thread slow? More drop-off. I can’t blame them. Or fan wall fatigue?
I will be waiting in PW comments. I need someone to hold my hands. You will see.
Seon-ha
September 30, 2023 at 4:37 AM
I was very, very tired last night. Today seems OK-ish. I think the sun’s supposed to come out. I also have so much KDRAMA WORK today 😬
BYT doesn’t give me pleasure. It’s my masochist-completist syndrome at work. No jealousy necessary—but I find it in equal measures touching and amusing that this was your reaction.
I don’t know why it was so slow, but I see that over-my-night, only all the best people started talking. I’ll go pepper the commentary with more of my thoughts as WWW works itself out over the next few hours. Hmm. “Fan Wall Fatigue” is an interesting theory. Indy, should I not post my gifs?? Seriously, I want to know your thoughts.
I’ll also come running in a bit to your PW post—offering my totally clean, no-blood-in-sight, hand willingly, I feel sure. I wanna make gifs of a few things too…problem is I can’t remember which episodes I’m remembering which always keeps me from taking real action 🥹
And, yes, hacja and I did actually “talk.” It was sort of sweet. All is mended. Castration anxiety indeed!!! Lol
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 5:07 AM
Comment was deleted
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 5:11 AM
Well, let me just say, @indyfan, even though Emma got in the way once (which is cool, but still), it felt good when this happened.

I retyped this comment because I forgot to at-mention you, which would have put another entry in the list…and then (!) since I did it twice, you probably got five whole mentions for this one comment. 😘
indyfan
October 1, 2023 at 7:13 AM
Ha ha! Excellent return. Tho I dare say you could produce a screenshot like this with half the active regulars on the site.
BTW I missed your response above. Sorry. Once again, notifications defeated me. But I’m so glad you sorted it out with Hacja. And I’m glad you didn’t wait for my response to post your DWY gifs. Because look, Beanies are not tired at all. Great post.
I hope you’re gonna have a wonderful Sunday.
Seon-ha
October 1, 2023 at 7:36 AM
The question isn’t “could I produce one,” but “would I?”
No, I wouldn’t.
I had over 100 notifications overnight the other night. I don’t mind it one bit, especially when it’s from my nearest and dearest, but it is a lot of duplicative chatter.
indyfan
October 1, 2023 at 9:41 PM
I’m learning to use these threads so you won’t have two notifications from me when you read this tomorrow, just the one.
And as I’ve said before, I don’t mind if I’m the queen or concubine #112, as long as I remain in your harem. 😘
Seon-ha
October 2, 2023 at 4:17 AM
Indy, I think I understand why you’re trying to do this, but this behavior runs a real risk of me then missing a message of yours. I just want to be completely clear with you that I don’t want that outcome, and I don’t mind at all getting any number of notifications from you. Indeed, I look forward to them.
As for my harem, well, I am not entirely sure I want to lead one of those either, although I can take a joke. 😌
But the reason is so important to me that I’m going to hear you perhaps a little too seriously: I’d much rather be in relationships with people who retain all of their free will and choose to connect with me because they truly wish to do so.
For me, that’s the real gift. Freely offered human connection. Even in the silly form of 10 million Internet notifications.
indyfan
October 2, 2023 at 9:13 AM
I do. I do. I’m thrilled to freely connect with you. We are not destined to/for/with any of this. So thank you for connecting with me as well.
And if sometimes we miss a notification as I did earlier, that will be fine. Because I hope by now we have earned enough goodwill from each for a measure of grace.
And have a wonderful start to the work week.
Seon-ha
October 2, 2023 at 9:22 AM
Thanks, Indy. For everything.
indyfan
August 27, 2023 at 2:12 AM
No, he doesn’t. You’re breaking his heart. He’s breaking all of ours.
This is so beautiful. How will we last the break? #MyDearest
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 2:18 AM
Are these your subs? That’s interesting. Mine said “You are so cruel…”
Nefret
August 27, 2023 at 2:19 AM
Yes, these are the subtitles at Viki.
indyfan
August 27, 2023 at 2:24 AM
Not knowing Korean, “You are so cruel,” fits the period vibe much better. Tho “I hate you” hits harder.
Where are you watching?
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 2:31 AM
cc: @nefret
I need someone to corroborate but I think “You are so cruel” is more accurate to what he says too. (For me it also fits the context better haha)
I’m a Darksider for Lyfe but the subs on darkside are from Kocowa
Nefret
August 27, 2023 at 2:49 AM
I thought “I hate you” was very appropriate in that scene. They are so good at hurting each other with words. Jang-Hyun is so frustrated, hopeless and hurt that these words burst out of him.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 2:55 AM
For me, “You are so cruel” made more sense, because it was more of an answer to her response to his question.
“Can you say you will never think of the other?”
And she visibly hesitates and struggles with it but for her the context is different so she says she cannot promise that.
Ergo, “You are so cruel… [to say so]” (but with IMPOSSIBLY SOFT EYES UGH) “… what does HE have that I do not…”. It doesn’t lose the emotional impact or outburst, but something about the structure of that runs far better for me.
There’ll be a language technique word for it but I’ll be darned if I know what it is rn.
Also need someone who speaks more Korean than I haha.
bbstl 🧹
August 27, 2023 at 8:45 PM
I prefer “I really hate you” because he’s speaking for his feelings about what she does to him. Rather than making a comment on her actions with “you are so cruel”. Although, honestly for me he could have said both together and I’d be good.
miso
August 27, 2023 at 6:35 AM
I think “I really hate you” might be more accurate actually. He says “jeongmal mibkun”. The first word means ‘really’ and the latter word comes from ‘mibda/밉다’ which means ‘to hate’.
indyfan
August 27, 2023 at 8:28 AM
Thank you. How wonderful it must be to understand the language. You must get so much more out of dramas.
kiara
August 27, 2023 at 9:03 AM
Does the actual translation matter more? It feels like it’s too common and straightforward of an expression for this particular conversation and perhaps this era.
I do not like Maiden; I think “My Lady” is a better fit.
Same meaning, just a personal preference, I guess.
Elinor is indistinguishable from an AI
August 27, 2023 at 11:12 AM
Thanks for this. “You are so cruel” seems more suited to the spirit of the moment. I had no idea Kocowa has different subs from Viki!
@kiara I always mentally translate ‘maiden’ to ‘mademoiselle’ because that works so much better for my understanding of both the formality of address and denoting her status: unmarried, and a lady. Cultural context is everything and I lack it.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 12:12 PM
Oh this is very interesting!!! Thank you!
Huh.
I think I’m with @kiara and @elinor then. I like “You are so cruel” as a *translation* better too, for the above stated reasons.
(I also like My Lady better as well, and the Kocowa subs say that too.)
Nefret
August 27, 2023 at 12:14 PM
At the end of episode 4 and the beginning of episode 5, the subtitles are also different. According to Viki, Gil-chae calls out “Dear husband, move”, whereas at Kocowa it is translated as “Watch out, my dear” (no husband).
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 12:16 PM
@nefret yeahp haha although it matches the title of the show in the Kocowa subs in that instant I like Husband better because it translates it has husband later and the joke is continued for so long.
miso
August 27, 2023 at 12:36 PM
I can’t reply to anyone’s comments so I’ll just @ everyone here and reply 😅.
@kiara I agree that a literal translation may actually take away from some of the emotion in this case. But there are cases (like the subs for Moving) where almost too much liberty has been taken with the translation. I prefer ‘My Lady’ too!
@nefret Yup and there too ‘husband’ is the more accurate translation since she says ‘seobangnim’ and like @sicarius said it helps continue the joke in the following scene. Interestingly, in modern day Korea, ‘seobangnim’ is more often used for sons-in-law. You might have heard someone saying ‘Kim Seobang’ or ‘Lee Seobang’ in dramas.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 12:45 PM
Translation is a tricky thing to get right, for sure. And that’s why it’s not just transliteration.
Sometimes literal is better, sometimes there is not direct translation, sometimes contextual and spirit of is better for getting the scene across.
And yes sometimes, too much liberty is taken 🙄 (Netflix and its Ghost Swear Words and Ghost Translations lol…)
kiara
August 27, 2023 at 1:23 PM
Thank you everyone!
Nefret
August 27, 2023 at 1:21 PM
@sicarius
It’s really bad when Netflix has the English subtitles translated into other languages. The translators are obviously only provided with the English subtitles. It can happen, for example, that the German subtitles jump back and forth between formal (Sie) and informal (du) forms of address from episode to episode. That drives me crazy, so I only watch with English subtitles.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
August 27, 2023 at 1:32 PM
Oh goodness. And that’s even when Korean has a formal and informal mode too, so you’d think it would be easier to translate some things into German than English! Oh dear.
jillian
August 27, 2023 at 2:34 AM
💔💔💔
lapislazulii
August 27, 2023 at 2:34 AM
Straight up felt like MY heart had been broken omg
IsaGC
August 27, 2023 at 5:49 AM
I could feel his pain when he said this, and I could feel her pain when she watched him go.
korfan
August 29, 2023 at 12:15 AM
No idea about how we’ll last the break!
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:09 AM
When did HeartBeat reel me in? It could have been Vampie getting drunk on ramyeon or wearing fuchsia better than I ever will. Or even earlier, In-hae shocking us by biting Vampie first. I’m not sure. But I know it peaked for me at the
80s promdance.The makeover dress that divided this corner of the Internet. The wallflower and prom king exchanging lingering looks. The slow dancing and the almost Dirty Dancing lift. And topping it all, the Queen Bee glass-smashing, Dynasty style! It was all so corny, so cut-rate, and purrfect! #HeartBeats
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 5:12 AM
I agree that that was when it peaked. I still hold to my claim that if it ended there, it would have been the perfect John Hughes K-drama. *sigh*
Seon-ha
August 25, 2023 at 5:23 AM
My favorite was the light-bedecked tree he made for her…that was when the show was at its finest for me. Not to disagree about the excellent dance scene at all, but it was that tree brought tears to my eyes.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 5:24 AM
❤️The Love Tree❤️🥲
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:38 AM
Definitely! The tree was quite moving. And their kiss (#12?) was also amazing. But I picked the dance because it was so, so close to being cringe awful, yet pulled it off somehow. That’s some skills.
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:23 AM
John Hughes! Exactly.
lapislazulii
August 25, 2023 at 5:22 AM
Her dress was so pretty, I really fell in love with her look and the whole scene tbh – the peak of the drama for me!
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:39 AM
He he. We will not open the debate on the dress.
#TeamAwful. 😝
lapislazulii
August 25, 2023 at 5:44 AM
I am shocked!! Nah, but I’ve been in this like, idk what to call it, Victorian era fashion core? Or actually this dress looked more 1950’s I guess, but yes idk I’ve been in this phase where I’ve been big on the like puffy midi dresses, lace and vintage-y floral patterns and dress cuts, so I saw her dress and was literally trying to google a replica the next second 😂
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 6:00 AM
Someone described it as classic Laura Ashley. So 80s. So perfect for the scene.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 6:01 AM
I liked her dress, too! I was like, hmm, I’d wear that 🤔
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:29 AM
I wanted to make a gif of the glass smash since no screen grab does it justice. But I haven’t the skillz. So, in words. Hae-won was frustrating. It could be the actress, or the poorly written second female role, but there were over-the-top moments like that when her villainy was simply delicious.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 5:33 AM
Delicious indeed! Her tantrums were so sudden and over the top, I couldn’t help but admire them 😂
Seon-ha
August 25, 2023 at 5:40 AM
Well, perhaps you can ask BLUE.
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:55 AM
@mayhemf has already given me a hand 🤣
Cori
August 25, 2023 at 12:21 PM
It’s a tough call between the tree and the dance- I can’t pick a peak 😂❤️
vienibenmio
September 10, 2023 at 4:38 PM
Agree that this is when I really fell in love, although I’d say it peaked with the kiss
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 4:59 AM
Girl, you were right to be afraid. If only the show had stayed in its lane, it woulda been a 10 out of 10. #HeartBurned
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 5:06 AM
Ohhh BURN!!! Good one Indyfan!!!😂😂😂
Seon-ha
August 25, 2023 at 5:09 AM
Nice…on all counts. It was great to be in community with you on this @indyfan! While I really still can’t do My Dearest (I almost can’t even do the gifs anymore because I get upset), we’ve got some other good-to-fine-to-please-don’t-break-my-heart-again-제발 shows to share already!!
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 9:28 AM
Yeah. I only try to get you onboard in jest.
But are most of us watching DWY first episodes? It’s pretty whacky and gif-able for now. Perhaps we’ll all see each other there.
Seon-ha
August 25, 2023 at 9:33 AM
Yup! I’m there for DWY! Also in for Moving and My Lovely Liar…we won’t be getting rid of one another anytime soon.
And, seriously, ask me for gifs. Makes me feel needed. 🥹
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 1:54 PM
I’m also watching Destined With You! I really liked the first week, so let’s see how it goes! 😁
Seon-ha
August 25, 2023 at 1:59 PM
I’m sort of (not really…very) impatiently waiting for the DWY recap to post. I think I have a problem.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 2:37 PM
Haha I know what you mean!!
lapislazulii
August 25, 2023 at 5:23 AM
HAHAHAHAH this image is perfect, IH is us clinging on for dear life in ep 16 and WH is the scriptwriters, committed to their
endingcrashHopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 25, 2023 at 5:25 AM
🤣🤣😭
indyfan
August 25, 2023 at 5:40 AM
Good one! You would have made an excellent meme out of this.
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 4:50 PM
Meanwhile, over on My Lovely Liar:
lapislazulii
August 22, 2023 at 5:21 PM
😂 😂 😂
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 6:17 PM
AHEM. Beyond their obvious good looks, the VILLAINS are also often rich, kind and incredibly open-minded. 🥹
This 2ML in question is just a stupid noble idiot.
TAKE THAT Y’ALL!! 😂
lapislazulii
August 22, 2023 at 6:22 PM
The more days that pass, the more I realise I was wrong to stray from the light you shone on Do-shik 😔 No like for real, weirdly I’m getting more and more sympathetic/like him more post the show finishing ????
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 6:35 PM
Tee-hee. He was such a good character, wasn’t he? And he finished strong. Woo-hyeol on the other hand grew more compromised and stopped keeping his promises. I know I still risk banishment for saying bad things about Taec, but hey, I live on the edge.
Oh, hey, @indyfan had a great idea and come Open Thread this Friday, I’ll be announcing a “HeartBeat Hottest Fest” over on the Fan Wall. The idea is that we can all post a story, gif or still image about our memories (good and/or less good) of the show and our community to say farewell…but also see you next show!!
I’m posting this here to alert you, Lapis, but then also take the opportunity to call some of the more active members to get their ideas in order, if you ask want to participate!!! I’m thinking the hashtags can be #HeartBeats or #HeartBurned depending on your mood 🙂
Thoughts also welcome from all of the Hottest, including but not limited to @hopefulromantic @fancypants @minniegupta1 @pikpokpikpok @elinor @moomoomoondog @chokulit191 @coffeprince4eva and @parkchuna…plus any other folks who swing by Indy’s post here!
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 6:36 PM
That’s not “if you ask want to participate” that was “if you all want to participate.” No asking is required. Had to correct that typo…for sure.
Elinor is indistinguishable from an AI
August 22, 2023 at 7:05 PM
Rich, kind, open-minded, and can SING! Don’t forget about singing – it makes
unjustly treated SMLsvillains even more appealing.parkchuna dreams of all the Oppas
August 22, 2023 at 7:33 PM
HeartBurned 🤣🤣
Poor Woo Hyeol was too kind for his own good i guess..but he did look absolutely dashing in the coffin.. sorry @attiton for mentioning the end
chokulit
August 22, 2023 at 7:38 PM
thanks for the invite Seon-ha, I’m a newbie poster-long-time lurker so I haven’t learned yet how to post media. I saw your tutorial about it in one of your posts, just haven’t gotten around to trying it. #Heartbeats AND #HeartBurned
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 22, 2023 at 8:58 PM
Honestly, I’m looking at HeartBeat as Do-sik’s audition tape to be a ML. Get this man a romantic lead role STAT! And I already have my gif for Friday mentally chosen 😁 Great idea, Seon-ha!!
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 9:15 PM
@chokulit191 It doesn’t have to be a gif/meme, words are plenty: a poem or polemic, something ridiculous or a recollection.
I know the show declined and gave us #HeartBurn at the end, but for most of its life, #HeartBeat was a silly and sweet ride. So I thought its In Memoriam could be like an Irish wake, jazz band included, natch. But of course, what’s a good funeral without some bitter truths told. 😂
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth
August 23, 2023 at 3:41 AM
@indyfan – oops I misread that – great idea for an “in memoriam” HeartBeat fest on Friday!!
Seon-ha
August 23, 2023 at 5:49 AM
Yes, I second what @indyfan says, @chokulit191. It can be all in words, no pictures needed!
Cori
August 23, 2023 at 11:18 AM
I love that idea!! Thank you for the invite 😊
Oh dear, and dear Do-shik lol. I’ve never been struck by SLS, but there have been a fair number of SML’s I couldn’t stand and he was definitely not in that camp! He was written better than most, but even so could have still come across as an unlikable and possessive punk, especially against Woo-hyeol/Taec’s charms. But Park Kang-hyun is a 2ML MVP!
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 9:20 PM
LOL. I knew I was giving y’all an opening. Truth will not be denied.
Still, Do-sik may have had the money, the voice, but he dinna have The Eyes, the soft, sad puppy eyes.
Yes, I am superficial.
lapislazulii
August 22, 2023 at 9:38 PM
I think they knew that would’ve been the tipping point for many – can’t have an SML that powerful 😂 Rich, handsome, voice, knows how to respectfully love someone lol, moral compass that works 90% of the time, loner AND puppy eyes -> all of us would’ve been DEAD.
Seon-ha
August 23, 2023 at 5:55 AM
*whistles* To each their own…you’ll note that the OP up there describes him pretty exactly, tho *whistles*
Actually, you know who would also have hit this character out of the park and does have puppy eyes: Jang Seung-jo [https://www.dramabeans.com/cast/jang-seung-jo/]
I still wouldn’t have traded him out, because then we all wouldn’t have met Park Kang-hyun, but he would have almost certainly have caused greater SLS in the general population—which as a reminder AGAIN, is not what was I was suffering from 🙂
parkchuna dreams of all the Oppas
August 22, 2023 at 10:07 PM
Dosik has nothing on Woo Hyeol! I will never have SLS with Taec around 😍
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 10:26 AM
Is My Lovely Boxer a fantasy drama? Not even 5mins in. Tell me it gets better. I wanna believe. In the meantime, back to the other lovely drama. So many dramas, so little time.
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 10:59 AM
What’s going on? I can’t tell you it is going to get better, as I’m not watching…but what are they doing?
Blue (@mayhemf)
August 22, 2023 at 11:13 AM
My reaction was – is this photoshopped 🥲
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 11:18 AM
It might have worked as a dream sequence. But alas.
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 11:15 AM
Well, it’s not a particular spoilery spoiler as it’s not even 5 mins in and not an important plot point, but as a trainee she KO’d a male champion boxer several weight classes above her in like 10 seconds flat. I don’t expect verisimilitude in my dramas but it looks like they were going for it—and utterly failed. I just laughed.
I’m going to have to wait for other opinions on the rest of the drama or the recap to decide if it’s worth it. I’m dying this week and there are so many dramas already.
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 11:26 AM
Well, I’ve dropped BYT, believe it or not…so I’m down to three live-watches total (My Lovely Liar, Moving, and soon Destined with You). I’ve got so many “reserve” watches queued up, though.
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 4:41 PM
What, what? Butt, butt…
I haven’t been following recaps. Thought you were having so much pun fun.
Well my dear
Have no fears
Of a few tears
Come My Dear…est.
(This is only from concern for your drama-free weekends.)
Seon-ha
August 22, 2023 at 5:02 PM
Oh, it’s a whole sad tail ;). Suffice it to say, the actual way that they ended up approaching the subject of the butt-touching was truly quite dark (borderline cruel) and I have become unsure that the writer/PD are actually on women’s side. It actually started to sap me of my desire to be funny at all.
Your poem is amazing. Your concern for how I’ll fill my weekends is doubly amazing. Right now, it’s Run On for the fourth time. I’ve had two shows fundamentally betray me in two very different, but very painful, ways within seven days, and I need a comfort show.
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 9:27 PM
@attiton You can’t blame a girl for trying (again)!
Run On would be a good rewatch. One of my fave back hugs.
Peridot
August 22, 2023 at 1:54 PM
I haven’t watched the show, but I did see that clip in the trailer. Talk about a major suspension of disbelief!
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 4:44 PM
They didn’t even try! Well, she did glower. Is that a superpower? Or is she an extra from Moving?
Cori
August 22, 2023 at 2:20 PM
Oy 🤨 As Simon & Garfunkel would sing…Lie-la-lie
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 4:46 PM
Have you seen? I love a good underdog story esp of women in non traditional roles but this… Is it worth the two hours I haven’t got?
Cori
August 23, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Me too 😄 I was debating checking this out but think I’ll wait. If there are too many scenes like this, that’s too much of a suspension of disbelief
bong-soo
August 22, 2023 at 8:10 PM
I watched the entire of episode one. It gets better. Kim So-hye’s character of Lee Kwon-sook was in maybe the first 5-10 minutes and the final 5 or so minutes. Everything in between was about learning about Lee Sang-yeob’s character (sob) sport’s agent Kim Tae-young. I thought he was terrific in episode one.
indyfan
August 22, 2023 at 9:29 PM
Oh phew. I wish they hadn’t opened with that scene. Thank you.
Now, how to fit this after finishing MLL but before Moving, Destined with You and My Dearest stream. 😅
indyfan
August 19, 2023 at 7:17 PM
Whoa. Heartbeat ratings tanked on DramaBeans to 4.6. One of the lowest? As much as I disliked the last few episodes and loathed the finale, it makes me sad. It was such sweet fun until then.
kiara
August 19, 2023 at 7:42 PM
There is a reason why JB did the ratings on her own.
bbstl 🧹
August 19, 2023 at 8:07 PM
😆 this just cracked me up! Oh, lordy.
indyfan
August 19, 2023 at 9:18 PM
Oh, I didn’t know that. Perhaps recappers should also rate the show. Tho I can see issues might arise with that.
While I understand, and completely share, the upset with the ending, the *totality* of the show is surely above 4.6. Oh well.
Cay_sbtgoG
August 19, 2023 at 10:33 PM