Surviving and Thriving with a Weekender
I love family weekenders (and dailies). But I have not loved every weekender and can relate to those who have found one to be frustrating, infuriating and unwatchable. I too have had that experience. It is actually from the bad ones that I learned how to watch a weekender- because the best ones are effortless and what do you learn when it takes no effort? The majority, of course, fall somewhere in between the effortless and the unwatcheable but are still very watchable if only you know how to watch them. So herewith is my very own Guide to the Bemused: What to expect and how to survive when faced with a Weekender.
Weekenders tell a story, or rather many stories that involve families. Like all other dramas they have a beginning and an end- in this they are distinctly different from a never-ending soap opera (not a fan of those) but are much longer than a standard Kdrama. Still length itself does not bother most K-drama viewers incluing those who loved SIX FLYING DRAGONS, which has 50 full length episodes (the same as a weekender) and some have even seen and loved THE IMMORTAL YI SOON SHIN from 2005 which has one hundred and six episodes (as long as a daily). If length is not the issue why the difficulty with a weekender? I think that it begins with expectations- to the confusion caused by the fact that a weekender appears to simply be another K-drama- raising the obvious questions as to why is it so long and why does it have so many characters? In fact, the length and larger cast both come from the fact that this story has to be longer because it will be telling many stories all at once- but in a more believable time frame- because there is actually time and space for people to grow and change.
Length is part of the point of the weekender. We get to watch people change and grow. Thise changes take time but the beauty of this is that when we see it happen over time it leads to poignant moments that are not nearly as possible with a shorter drama and which may not even happen with the two lead characters. In my pre-streaming days I brought home from the library the dvds for the wonderful SMILE YOU from 2009 and 2010. A secondary character in that show is Jung Ji-soo, who is a tough, embittered former gang-girl orphan who wants a better life and somehow meets our female lead’s older brother, who falls in love with her. Funny moments ensue and she ends up staying with the family who comes to accept her but, almost tragically, she decides to she is not good enough for the young man who loves her and leaves (noble idiocy at its stupidest). So what does the family do? They go and find her to bring her home. That moment when they arrive to fetch her back – and watching her expression as she understands what it means-that she really does finally have a family- still brings tears to my eyes. It is the moment when I fell in love with weekenders. What makes such a moment so dramatically effective is the time that we have spent watching the characters and their relationships grow.
To enjoy a weekender start by knowing that the length is a feature, not a bug. Adjust your expectations to that idea and enjoy the longer journey.
Now I will surprise you with an unexpected suggestion- be prepared to use the fast forward button, but use it judiciously. Weekenders have several plotlines so if there is a storyline that you just don’t get into- fast forward. But, be careful of doing that simply because you find a character awful. At the beginning of FATHER IS STRANGE the character Kim Yoo-joo is simply awful- but she becomes a truly beautiful person over the course of the show and that story is one of the best plotlines in one of the greatest weekenders of all. You might want to check on that character from time to time. That said, fast forward used well can save a show for you.
Lest you end up hating all weekenders, and therefore missing out on a very good thing, my final suggestion to you is to know when to drop one. I have dropped more than one. Knowing when is a matter of understanding the structure of a weekender. Start with the idea that because the drama will involve many characters and several stories the first four episodes are introduction- the stage is simply being set for the play that follows. It is in the next four episodes that the stories truly begin to unfold and you get a glimpse of the kind of action that you are looking at. It is at this point that you have enough information to make a decision- because now you know where the show is headed. This is your decision point. You may want to watch two more episodes but please no more: This is the time to drop. It is not worth forty more episodes just to earn a bean. Of course, if you are still with the show after episode sixteen then it is best just to be honest with yourself and simply admit that they have you hooked. So at that point simply relax and let this be the show you watch while folding laundry.
I am not the only one who loves these shows and am quite sure that others could add more insight and suggestions to the ones I have made.
Do not be surprised when you find yourself looking forward to the next episodes of a show whose length once intimidated you, now that you know that you did not have to make a big commitment going in. Instead, a weekender could be that constant in K-dramaland that anchors your week: A friend who stays for a while.
Thanks for this wonderful and insightful post. I admit that the length of weekenders do scare me: I don’t think I want to make that kind of commitment; but reading this post I think you’ve pointed out the very best thing about weekenders which is time for characters to really grow.
I thought about some weekenders I watched, and agreed that Ojakgyo Brothers was indeed very good. I loved that show despite some frustrating characters and storylines, but it was one of the best Kdrama watching experiences for me. There is one love line that I adored (I guess you know which one if you’ve watched the drama) in that show, and until now this weekender has the best breakup scene I’ve ever watched in Kdramas.
I also thought about Go Ahead (Cdrama) too as it is a very long drama and almost feels like a weekender for me. However, I watched that one up to ep43 and I stopped because i couldn’t tolerate the ML’s mother. This still bugs me until today.
Many C-dramas are weekender length- sometimes pointlessly so. GO AHEAD would certainly have been a weekender if it was a Korean show. It is a good show, but I know what you mean about the ML’s mother and understand why you stopped. This actually happens to me more often with C-dramas than with K-dramas. I think that C-drama writers are forced to stretch things out beyond the point that makes dramatic sense. Even otherwise good shows can sort of droop at the end.
Thank you for posting. I look forward to hearing what other people think. I agree with the tip of fast forwarding as some characters/plot lines feel unnecessary.
I love the info on being prepared for the longer set up so we can be sure we are making an informed decision on whether to continue to watch or drop.
This is wonderful – thank you so much!! I wish I had known your advice before embarking on my first weekender, but I lucked out and My Father is Strange was my first, so I had a relatively smooth initiation into the format.
Recently, I grumbled my way and tore at my hair through the first episodes of The Real Has Come and I probably would have caused myself less grief if I had your advice in mind!!😅 And then at some point, as you say, I gave in because it had me hooked!
Even Be My Dream Family, as wonderful as it is, had me feeling annoyed at a number of characters at the start, so it’s good to keep in mind that, in a way, we are shown the worst of some characters at the start, and it’s just part of the format so that characters can grow. I think that’s perhaps what makes these so special for me – every single one of the characters is imperfect (rather than glossy and idealised), but over the time we spend with them, we learn to love them in the way that we love actual people in our lives, warts and all.
For me, apart from the characters on whom I need to deploy the fast forward button, there are also certain storylines that don’t work for me, so I allow myself to zip through those. I really cannot watch another beloved character go through cancer, so those tend to be the ones I give myself permission to skip.
I’m so happy that we have a hangout for the current weekender, as that has vastly improved my enjoyment as well. Weekenders and dailies are no less compelling for discussion, so I am grateful to have a place to discuss theories, vent complaints, and look for beanie insights.😊
Thank you for this. I have always been intimidated by weekenders. I am afraid of the hours that I need to commit to it, even with the ff button. I did try to start one with Once Again but I never got beyond ep 2 as I thought plot progress is too slow. But given what you said about weekenders have more room to grow for characters, then I am interested to try again. Most of the shorter kdramas lately botch the endings and I realize now that it maybe because the writers could not let go of some plot points and side stories that take too much air time from the main plot, giving them no choice but to cram everything into the last 2 episodes just to wrap the stories up (unsatisfyingly). Maybe they should have been weekenders? Anyway, your post made me interested enough to give it a try again. Any recommendation for a first weekender to commit to?
ONCE AGAIN is actually one of the all-time best weekenders but I too remember that it started very slow- and with things falling apart initially. But it is well worth the watch.
Me three voting for Once Again. I dont like the screaming and over acting they quite often have the female characters play in weekenders but this one had a really solid family and as you get to know the back story for them all it really does make sense why some are acting the way they do. It’s not dramatic just for the sake of it. It has it all; humour and sad bits, and cute children.
I totally agree. ^^
Those are two things some people dislike about family dramas and two things I love about them.
Maybe it’s because I’m used to telenovelas and US dramas but I never thought 50 episodes was long. 😆 Or even daily dramas that have 100+ episodes.
And for shows with that many characters and storylines I think it only makes sense to have that number of episodes. And like you said, I don’t think the character development we saw in Be My Dream Family or My Husband Got A Family would’ve been possible in less time (episodes). Imo, family dramas are the best when it comes to character development and depth (Five Children and What’s Wrong With My Family? are another examples). All the different relationships and dynamics real and meaningful.
And the best -second- part is the multiple characters. Multiple relationships, multiple storylines. I think that for me is really hard to drop a family drama because there’s at least 1 storyline that keeps me going (ex. The Love in Your Eyes, Shall We Live Together?).
I wonder when will we get the next Be My Dream Family, Five Children, Once Again or Reply 88… LOL now I want to watch a weekender.
All of the dramas that you mention are excellent. I was actually watching MY HUSBAND GOT A FAMILY until it suddenly was no longer available to me on Viki in my region.
My very first 50-episode drama was the one with IU and Jo Jung-seok – You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin! I enjoyed very much that I tried another drama but this time a sageuk – Queen Seon-deok. Are they weekenders? I’m not sure because I binge-watched them.
YOU’RE THE BEST, LEE SUNSHIN is indeed a weekender. I can still picture that moment in the first episode when IU is standing in front of the great admiral’s statue saying “lets just keep this between us” (the standing joke in the drama is that she really is named after Yi Sun-shin, the admiral who delivered his country from the Japanese during the Imjin War- arguably the greatest man in Korean history). She had just failed to land another job.
QUEEN SEONDEOK is not strictly a weekender even though it is long enough- it really should be seen as being in that same very small group of long historical dramas which would include SIX FLYING DRAGONS. But it is definitely one of the best and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good Pre-Joseon Sageuk.
If you binge watched them then all I can say is that I admire your stamina.
@OldLawyer – Thanks so much for taking up the suggestion from a few Beanies to share your insights on weekenders!! I for one nod along everything you said and agree that – once you handle the basic gist of ‘how’ to watch and choose a weekender – you are in for a treat gaining families of characters that stay with you for a long long time. Not all weekenders would survive your cull, there would nevertheless be some that you may end up loving.
Totally agree about the appeal of long dramas. It’s the same reason why I love long novels. There’s something to be said for how poems can condense life/universe into a few lines, but I prefer long novels where I get to live with the characters for a long time. While long K-dramas aren’t literary masterpieces like some novels of Charles Dickens or George Eliot, I still enjoy seeing the characters develop, the villains get justly punished, the good characters get their happy ending, and all the sweet moments of goodness in between.
This month’s theme was the perfect fit for this guest post. Hopefully others will jump in with suggestions that link to weekenders etc. and you can tag in to this or we can do it for you. When I say ‘we’ I mean one of my many tech supports on this site and partner in crime @dramadillo ❤️
I can’t watch it because my dislike for the main lead is stronger than my love for Shin Hyesun. I used to love him as an actor, but after his scandal, I just can’t… yet…
Same as @mmmmm , I did not know about the ML’s scandal, so I enjoyed it. It was my first and only weekender that I have watched till date because it caught my attention from the very first episode and nothing has come close to it. Also, this is where Shin Hye Sun’s popularity started growing because she was the heart and soul of the drama with skills that were at par with the veterans in the show.
I watched that one and, though the dramatic bit in the end, it’s a very watchable show. I knew nothing about the ML’s scandals during the time I was watching it, so it didn’t impact me. I remember I liked it very much (though certain character can be a bit too childish and annoying).
I think it is indeed good to know what to expect from a weekender before diving in. They are a category of their own.
I’m turning to them whenever I need this family feeling… and it often is a nice nightcap before falling asleep (even though Sejin can make my blood boil 😆). I also enjoy the food and the Korean traditions.
I’m watching my first weekender right now, “Father is Strange,” and loving it. It has been tough to find a good drama lately so I decided to go with excellence (highly rated–thank you fellow beanies!) over length. This one hooked me right away and is still going strong. Surprisingly, I do not miss the pattern or pacing of a 16-episode drama–as you said, “length is a feature.” That feeling of loss or sadness or wanting more when a great 16-episoder ends goes away because the weekender drama continues to develop, explore and unfold.
About using FF button: Just wanted to say that rather than the using the fast-forward button, I prefer to read recaps. Peaking ahead via recaps helps me decide on whether to continue or not and motivates me to get through a slow section instead of dropping. With recaps, I don’t lose the continuity that can happen with fast-forwarding. I’m the kind of person who likes to know if the ending is satisfying before I invest my time, whether it is 12 or 16 or 52 episodes.
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OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 10:27 AM
Surviving and Thriving with a Weekender
I love family weekenders (and dailies). But I have not loved every weekender and can relate to those who have found one to be frustrating, infuriating and unwatchable. I too have had that experience. It is actually from the bad ones that I learned how to watch a weekender- because the best ones are effortless and what do you learn when it takes no effort? The majority, of course, fall somewhere in between the effortless and the unwatcheable but are still very watchable if only you know how to watch them. So herewith is my very own Guide to the Bemused: What to expect and how to survive when faced with a Weekender.
Weekenders tell a story, or rather many stories that involve families. Like all other dramas they have a beginning and an end- in this they are distinctly different from a never-ending soap opera (not a fan of those) but are much longer than a standard Kdrama. Still length itself does not bother most K-drama viewers incluing those who loved SIX FLYING DRAGONS, which has 50 full length episodes (the same as a weekender) and some have even seen and loved THE IMMORTAL YI SOON SHIN from 2005 which has one hundred and six episodes (as long as a daily). If length is not the issue why the difficulty with a weekender? I think that it begins with expectations- to the confusion caused by the fact that a weekender appears to simply be another K-drama- raising the obvious questions as to why is it so long and why does it have so many characters? In fact, the length and larger cast both come from the fact that this story has to be longer because it will be telling many stories all at once- but in a more believable time frame- because there is actually time and space for people to grow and change.
Length is part of the point of the weekender. We get to watch people change and grow. Thise changes take time but the beauty of this is that when we see it happen over time it leads to poignant moments that are not nearly as possible with a shorter drama and which may not even happen with the two lead characters. In my pre-streaming days I brought home from the library the dvds for the wonderful SMILE YOU from 2009 and 2010. A secondary character in that show is Jung Ji-soo, who is a tough, embittered former gang-girl orphan who wants a better life and somehow meets our female lead’s older brother, who falls in love with her. Funny moments ensue and she ends up staying with the family who comes to accept her but, almost tragically, she decides to she is not good enough for the young man who loves her and leaves (noble idiocy at its stupidest). So what does the family do? They go and find her to bring her home. That moment when they arrive to fetch her back – and watching her expression as she understands what it means-that she really does finally have a family- still brings tears to my eyes. It is the moment when I fell in love with weekenders. What makes such a moment so dramatically effective is the time that we have spent watching the characters and their relationships grow.
To enjoy a weekender start by knowing that the length is a feature, not a bug. Adjust your expectations to that idea and enjoy the longer journey.
Now I will surprise you with an unexpected suggestion- be prepared to use the fast forward button, but use it judiciously. Weekenders have several plotlines so if there is a storyline that you just don’t get into- fast forward. But, be careful of doing that simply because you find a character awful. At the beginning of FATHER IS STRANGE the character Kim Yoo-joo is simply awful- but she becomes a truly beautiful person over the course of the show and that story is one of the best plotlines in one of the greatest weekenders of all. You might want to check on that character from time to time. That said, fast forward used well can save a show for you.
Lest you end up hating all weekenders, and therefore missing out on a very good thing, my final suggestion to you is to know when to drop one. I have dropped more than one. Knowing when is a matter of understanding the structure of a weekender. Start with the idea that because the drama will involve many characters and several stories the first four episodes are introduction- the stage is simply being set for the play that follows. It is in the next four episodes that the stories truly begin to unfold and you get a glimpse of the kind of action that you are looking at. It is at this point that you have enough information to make a decision- because now you know where the show is headed. This is your decision point. You may want to watch two more episodes but please no more: This is the time to drop. It is not worth forty more episodes just to earn a bean. Of course, if you are still with the show after episode sixteen then it is best just to be honest with yourself and simply admit that they have you hooked. So at that point simply relax and let this be the show you watch while folding laundry.
I am not the only one who loves these shows and am quite sure that others could add more insight and suggestions to the ones I have made.
Do not be surprised when you find yourself looking forward to the next episodes of a show whose length once intimidated you, now that you know that you did not have to make a big commitment going in. Instead, a weekender could be that constant in K-dramaland that anchors your week: A friend who stays for a while.
mmmmm
May 30, 2023 at 11:58 AM
Thanks for this wonderful and insightful post. I admit that the length of weekenders do scare me: I don’t think I want to make that kind of commitment; but reading this post I think you’ve pointed out the very best thing about weekenders which is time for characters to really grow.
I thought about some weekenders I watched, and agreed that Ojakgyo Brothers was indeed very good. I loved that show despite some frustrating characters and storylines, but it was one of the best Kdrama watching experiences for me. There is one love line that I adored (I guess you know which one if you’ve watched the drama) in that show, and until now this weekender has the best breakup scene I’ve ever watched in Kdramas.
I also thought about Go Ahead (Cdrama) too as it is a very long drama and almost feels like a weekender for me. However, I watched that one up to ep43 and I stopped because i couldn’t tolerate the ML’s mother. This still bugs me until today.
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 12:21 PM
Many C-dramas are weekender length- sometimes pointlessly so. GO AHEAD would certainly have been a weekender if it was a Korean show. It is a good show, but I know what you mean about the ML’s mother and understand why you stopped. This actually happens to me more often with C-dramas than with K-dramas. I think that C-drama writers are forced to stretch things out beyond the point that makes dramatic sense. Even otherwise good shows can sort of droop at the end.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
May 30, 2023 at 12:58 PM
Thank you for posting. I look forward to hearing what other people think. I agree with the tip of fast forwarding as some characters/plot lines feel unnecessary.
I love the info on being prepared for the longer set up so we can be sure we are making an informed decision on whether to continue to watch or drop.
dramadillo
May 30, 2023 at 1:39 PM
This is wonderful – thank you so much!! I wish I had known your advice before embarking on my first weekender, but I lucked out and My Father is Strange was my first, so I had a relatively smooth initiation into the format.
Recently, I grumbled my way and tore at my hair through the first episodes of The Real Has Come and I probably would have caused myself less grief if I had your advice in mind!!😅 And then at some point, as you say, I gave in because it had me hooked!
Even Be My Dream Family, as wonderful as it is, had me feeling annoyed at a number of characters at the start, so it’s good to keep in mind that, in a way, we are shown the worst of some characters at the start, and it’s just part of the format so that characters can grow. I think that’s perhaps what makes these so special for me – every single one of the characters is imperfect (rather than glossy and idealised), but over the time we spend with them, we learn to love them in the way that we love actual people in our lives, warts and all.
For me, apart from the characters on whom I need to deploy the fast forward button, there are also certain storylines that don’t work for me, so I allow myself to zip through those. I really cannot watch another beloved character go through cancer, so those tend to be the ones I give myself permission to skip.
I’m so happy that we have a hangout for the current weekender, as that has vastly improved my enjoyment as well. Weekenders and dailies are no less compelling for discussion, so I am grateful to have a place to discuss theories, vent complaints, and look for beanie insights.😊
Jingbee
May 30, 2023 at 1:50 PM
Thank you for this. I have always been intimidated by weekenders. I am afraid of the hours that I need to commit to it, even with the ff button. I did try to start one with Once Again but I never got beyond ep 2 as I thought plot progress is too slow. But given what you said about weekenders have more room to grow for characters, then I am interested to try again. Most of the shorter kdramas lately botch the endings and I realize now that it maybe because the writers could not let go of some plot points and side stories that take too much air time from the main plot, giving them no choice but to cram everything into the last 2 episodes just to wrap the stories up (unsatisfyingly). Maybe they should have been weekenders? Anyway, your post made me interested enough to give it a try again. Any recommendation for a first weekender to commit to?
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 4:34 PM
ONCE AGAIN is actually one of the all-time best weekenders but I too remember that it started very slow- and with things falling apart initially. But it is well worth the watch.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
May 31, 2023 at 1:38 PM
Me three voting for Once Again. I dont like the screaming and over acting they quite often have the female characters play in weekenders but this one had a really solid family and as you get to know the back story for them all it really does make sense why some are acting the way they do. It’s not dramatic just for the sake of it. It has it all; humour and sad bits, and cute children.
tabong has two different tears🍉
May 30, 2023 at 3:48 PM
I totally agree. ^^
Those are two things some people dislike about family dramas and two things I love about them.
Maybe it’s because I’m used to telenovelas and US dramas but I never thought 50 episodes was long. 😆 Or even daily dramas that have 100+ episodes.
And for shows with that many characters and storylines I think it only makes sense to have that number of episodes. And like you said, I don’t think the character development we saw in Be My Dream Family or My Husband Got A Family would’ve been possible in less time (episodes). Imo, family dramas are the best when it comes to character development and depth (Five Children and What’s Wrong With My Family? are another examples). All the different relationships and dynamics real and meaningful.
And the best -second- part is the multiple characters. Multiple relationships, multiple storylines. I think that for me is really hard to drop a family drama because there’s at least 1 storyline that keeps me going (ex. The Love in Your Eyes, Shall We Live Together?).
I wonder when will we get the next Be My Dream Family, Five Children, Once Again or Reply 88… LOL now I want to watch a weekender.
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 4:39 PM
All of the dramas that you mention are excellent. I was actually watching MY HUSBAND GOT A FAMILY until it suddenly was no longer available to me on Viki in my region.
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 4:43 PM
The current Daily that I am watching is actually THE LOVE IN YOUR EYES.
tabong has two different tears🍉
May 30, 2023 at 5:59 PM
The main couple and the little girl are adorable.
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 10:03 PM
Indeed they really are.
tabong has two different tears🍉
May 30, 2023 at 5:58 PM
Oh, dang. That’s too bad, the show it’s awesome. I hope you can finish it some day.
Ally
May 30, 2023 at 7:24 PM
The Real has come is certainly a show I look forward to every weekend. It does feel like an old friend.
geminirat
May 30, 2023 at 9:31 PM
My very first 50-episode drama was the one with IU and Jo Jung-seok – You’re the Best, Lee Soon-shin! I enjoyed very much that I tried another drama but this time a sageuk – Queen Seon-deok. Are they weekenders? I’m not sure because I binge-watched them.
OldLawyer
May 30, 2023 at 10:02 PM
YOU’RE THE BEST, LEE SUNSHIN is indeed a weekender. I can still picture that moment in the first episode when IU is standing in front of the great admiral’s statue saying “lets just keep this between us” (the standing joke in the drama is that she really is named after Yi Sun-shin, the admiral who delivered his country from the Japanese during the Imjin War- arguably the greatest man in Korean history). She had just failed to land another job.
QUEEN SEONDEOK is not strictly a weekender even though it is long enough- it really should be seen as being in that same very small group of long historical dramas which would include SIX FLYING DRAGONS. But it is definitely one of the best and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a good Pre-Joseon Sageuk.
If you binge watched them then all I can say is that I admire your stamina.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
May 31, 2023 at 1:44 PM
I saw You’re the Best, Lee Soonshin! I can’t believe I forgot about that one and that it was IU playing the female lead. I remember liking it.
PYC
May 31, 2023 at 6:00 AM
@OldLawyer – Thanks so much for taking up the suggestion from a few Beanies to share your insights on weekenders!! I for one nod along everything you said and agree that – once you handle the basic gist of ‘how’ to watch and choose a weekender – you are in for a treat gaining families of characters that stay with you for a long long time. Not all weekenders would survive your cull, there would nevertheless be some that you may end up loving.
bideshi
May 31, 2023 at 7:42 AM
Totally agree about the appeal of long dramas. It’s the same reason why I love long novels. There’s something to be said for how poems can condense life/universe into a few lines, but I prefer long novels where I get to live with the characters for a long time. While long K-dramas aren’t literary masterpieces like some novels of Charles Dickens or George Eliot, I still enjoy seeing the characters develop, the villains get justly punished, the good characters get their happy ending, and all the sweet moments of goodness in between.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
May 31, 2023 at 10:13 PM
This month’s theme was the perfect fit for this guest post. Hopefully others will jump in with suggestions that link to weekenders etc. and you can tag in to this or we can do it for you. When I say ‘we’ I mean one of my many tech supports on this site and partner in crime @dramadillo ❤️
emsel
June 1, 2023 at 8:45 AM
Have you watched “My Golden Life” ?
OldLawyer
June 1, 2023 at 10:07 AM
No, but I understand that it is very good
Dorotka
June 3, 2023 at 7:35 AM
I can’t watch it because my dislike for the main lead is stronger than my love for Shin Hyesun. I used to love him as an actor, but after his scandal, I just can’t… yet…
emsel
June 3, 2023 at 10:07 PM
Same as @mmmmm , I did not know about the ML’s scandal, so I enjoyed it. It was my first and only weekender that I have watched till date because it caught my attention from the very first episode and nothing has come close to it. Also, this is where Shin Hye Sun’s popularity started growing because she was the heart and soul of the drama with skills that were at par with the veterans in the show.
mmmmm
June 3, 2023 at 1:47 PM
I watched that one and, though the dramatic bit in the end, it’s a very watchable show. I knew nothing about the ML’s scandals during the time I was watching it, so it didn’t impact me. I remember I liked it very much (though certain character can be a bit too childish and annoying).
Dorotka
June 3, 2023 at 7:23 AM
A friend who stays for a while… ❤️
Dorotka
June 3, 2023 at 8:11 AM
I think it is indeed good to know what to expect from a weekender before diving in. They are a category of their own.
I’m turning to them whenever I need this family feeling… and it often is a nice nightcap before falling asleep (even though Sejin can make my blood boil 😆). I also enjoy the food and the Korean traditions.
Qingdao: likes scented candles
October 22, 2023 at 6:32 AM
THANK YOU for the info on watching a weekender!
I’m watching my first weekender right now, “Father is Strange,” and loving it. It has been tough to find a good drama lately so I decided to go with excellence (highly rated–thank you fellow beanies!) over length. This one hooked me right away and is still going strong. Surprisingly, I do not miss the pattern or pacing of a 16-episode drama–as you said, “length is a feature.” That feeling of loss or sadness or wanting more when a great 16-episoder ends goes away because the weekender drama continues to develop, explore and unfold.
About using FF button: Just wanted to say that rather than the using the fast-forward button, I prefer to read recaps. Peaking ahead via recaps helps me decide on whether to continue or not and motivates me to get through a slow section instead of dropping. With recaps, I don’t lose the continuity that can happen with fast-forwarding. I’m the kind of person who likes to know if the ending is satisfying before I invest my time, whether it is 12 or 16 or 52 episodes.