Beanie level: Noble idiot

My childhood friend came to visit this weekend and it was wonderful! She got me into Kpop years ago and she also loves Korean dramas and food so we were able to indulge together. We had bibimbop, kimbap, tteokbokki, and bingsu for dinner. It was so delicious!

The highlight of the weekend had to be binging the first 4 episodes of Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Just…WOW. This show had our hearts immediately. Sad I won’t be able to watch with her tomorrow, but so excited to have someone to recap the show with in real life!

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    aww this sounds so lovely & I’m glad you’ve got someone to recap the show with irl!! I’m trying to convince my best friend to watch it (she was skeptical of the trailer) but at least there’s all you beanies to enjoy recapping the show with still!

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    That sounds like a dream weekend thank you for sharing ❤️ You can do like I used to do with ER and be doing live texts and a watch party with your friend so it’s as if you are in the same room. We did it the old way chatting in the ad breaks but it really is a joy to share those moments.

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    Aww so sweet. I hope you two have another reunion soon ^^

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Well, I have COVID. I’m grateful I am fully vaccinated and boosted, but it is still really knocking me on my ass.

Going to be laying in bed watching kdramas for the foreseeable future. My plan is to finish Tomorrow and Forecasting Love & Weather since I am about a quarter finished with each. Let me know which one is better for someone who is sick and kind of out of it lol!

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    Forecasting Love & Weather is way lighter than Tomorrow, so I think it’s better if you are sick.

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      Thanks! I agree! I watched one episode of Tomorrow before switching to Forecasting. Needed something lighter.

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    Feel better soon, I had it recently (triple vaccinated) and it was no fun ☹️ I haven’t seen either drama so no advice from me there!

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      Thank you! I’ve been drinking lots of tea and resting. Sadly I have lost my taste which is probably the worst part.

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    Hope you feel better soon!

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I am so behind on kdramas! Never watched Forecasting & 39 past the first week despite liking them. Have been dragging my feet to watch the last 4 eps of 25, 21. On the bright side, decided to try A Business Proposal the other day and binged the first 5 eps. Hoping this will help motivate me to watch other shows!

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My Top 20 Kpop Songs of 2021

I can’t believe it is my 4th year doing this list! I fell off the Kpop wagon slightly this year – I think it was a mix of not feeling some of the current Kpop sound trends, but also a lot of my favorite groups and artists not making multiple comebacks this year. I still managed to listen to some amazing releases, debuts, and comebacks. This is my list of favorites for the year. Let me know how your rankings compare!

1. Don’t Call Me – SHINee

2. HWAA – (G)-IDLE

3. Hot Candy – HOT ISSUE

4. New Me- WJSN

5. ELEVEN – IVE

6. Atlantis – SHINee

7. SHOOT! – ITZY

8. CODE – SHINee

9. What Type of X – Jessi

10. ASAP – STAYC

11. Bonnie & Clyde – Yuqi of (G)-IDLE

12. bugAboo – bugAboo

13. Easy – WJSN The Black

14. First – EVERGLOW

15. Bad Love – KEY

16. Unnatural – WJSN

17. flipp!ng a coin – Billlie

18. Bother Me – CHUNG HA

19. Door – Kwon Eun Bi

20. Zombie – PURPLE KISS

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The library has been my happy place in 2021. I’ve been reading about a book a week for most of the year, so I make a lot of trips to the library! I feel the same high when I check out books as when I indulge in retail therapy – reading has definitely been my wallet-friendly alternative during Covid.

Anyways, I moved in with my significant other last month which meant moving to a new neighborhood and giving up my local library branch that I love dearly. I’ve taken the last few weeks to settle in and finish some of the books I already had checked out, but I was definitely feeling a little down without my weekly trips to the library. I went to my new library branch today and loved it! They had even more shelves of books and I was able to find so many books that had massive waitlists at my other branch. Needless to say I’m very happy and will be resuming my weekly trips after the holidays!

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    I’m happy that you’ve finally settled down at your new place and found your joy in going to a library again! Have fun reading more and more books! 😊

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    Oh, that’s so fun! What a great story. You just never know what change is going to bring 👍🏼

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    Glad to find a reader on Db! Hello friend *high five*
    So what are your fav genres?

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      I enjoy contemporary fiction, romance, and East Asian historical fiction mainly! Some favorite books I’ve read this year are:

      1) Contemporary fiction: If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha, My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russel, Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid
      2) Romance: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters, Last Tang Standing by Lauren Ho, Life’s Too Short by Abby Jimenez, One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London, In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
      3) Historical fiction: Pachinko by Min Jin Lee, The Mermaid from Jeju by Sumi Hahn, The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

      I’ve also read a few thrillers this year that I really enjoyed (Big Summer by Jennifer Weiner, Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel, The Lion’s Den by Katherine St. John) so possibly looking to get more into that genre as well!

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        Woah, impressive!
        I have this book “if I had your face”, haven’t read yet though!
        And yes I’ve read Pachinko!
        Taking notes of all the thrillers, it’s my fav genre!

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Honestly, I\’m excited Yumi\’s Cells will have a second season. I\’m not ready to let this warm hug of a drama go!

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Hometown Cha-x3 is my weekend dose of happy, BUT I watched Yumi\’s Cells this weekend and am loving that too. So happy to finally have some dramas I am enjoying!

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    I’m basking in rom-com goodness because of these two. I was optimistic about Yumi but didn’t expect to like it as much as I am. I thought I could take all the fluff from these romcoms and try my luck with the depressing Lost but that shows is airing at the wrong time. We are all already tired due to this pandemic and honestly only need fluff and sweet dramas, that show may have worked well had it not aired during the pandemic. So glad that Yumi’s cells and HomeCha exist.

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      Haha same. I was thinking “if I’m feeling more optimistic from Homecha, maybe I can take on Lost”
      But I’m too scared….

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      The romcoms are much needed after these last 1.5 years. Also enjoying that they are giving me old school romcom vibes which is bringing me back to when I first fell in love with kdramas!

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I haven\’t finished a drama since My Roommate is a Gumiho and I haven\’t thoroughly enjoyed a drama since Move to Heaven & Naverilla. Really hoping Hometown Cha Cha Cha can cure this slump!

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First episode of You Are My Spring was muchhhhh different than I expected in a good way. It got me to make my first Beanie wall post since March so hopefully a sign of more good eps to come!

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It took me 9 episodes to admit this, but the amount of suspension of disbelief needed to watch Sisyphus is absurd. I don\’t know if I can do it anymore.

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I love everything about this. SHINee’s BACK!

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    So glad they’re back.

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    Not my favorite on the album, but it such a good album.
    Love Key’s feathers. Saw a couple people on twitter that were like its my dream for Key to be mean to me, lol.

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      The album is great! So happy they gave us 9 tracks rather than a smaller mini album. My personal faves are Code and Heart Attack.

      Hahahaha Key’s sass is out of control this comeback. I love it.

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I think this has become my favorite (G)I-DLE title track. It’s so hauntingly beautiful!

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My Top 20 Kpop Songs of 2020

What a year it has been. Luckily we have had some amazing Kpop releases, debuts, and comebacks to get us through! This is my list of favorites for the year. Let me know how your rankings compare!

1. Apple – GFRIEND
2. Naughty – Irene & Seulgi
3. Lalalilala – APRIL
4. Stay Tonight – CHUNGHA
5. Ghost – Baekhyun
6. Barbie – Yeeun from CLC
7. COOL – Weki Meki
8. Luv U – (G)I-DLE
9. Got Me Good – BoA
10. Teddy Bear – NATTY
11. WANNABE – ITZY
12. Better – BoA
13. FIESTA – IZ*ONE
14. LA DI DA – EVERGLOW
15. Oopsy – Weki Meki
16. Love Spell – GFRIEND
17. Alien – Lee Suhyun
18. Got That Boom – SECRET NUMBER
19. SO BAD – STAYC
20. Voice – LOONA

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    Thanks for sharing. I’m saving this to listen next week as I’m on holidays!

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    Thank you!!

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    Your yearly K-pop top 20 is turning into a personal Dramabeans tradition!😊 For me it is the ultimate test to decide whether I am up to date with K-pop or not. I am getting better with the years!🥳 I am more into boy groups, but I am pleasantly surprised to report that I know most songs from your list. Wannabe and Alien are on my Ipod!😉

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      Hahaha I think I am the resident girl group stan on Dramabeans! When I see other Beanies’ lists with boy groups it is also a test to see if I am keeping up. Glad to hear you are up to date on your girl groups!

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I\’ve done my top 20 Kpop songs list each year for the last two years. I want to keep up tradition but also feel super unmotivated. Would any Beanies be interested? Would you prefer a post per song with a link to the MV or just one post with all 20 songs listed?

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    I’d love a post with the list of the songs. I would check them for sure!

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    Last time it was interesting! 🎵
    It would be useful both ways, do as you feel less tiring 🎶

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    Infinitize got me and kaleidoscopic into making a top 20 list last year. We’ll be doing it again this year on new year’s eve. They’ve posted it all at once. I posted mine in increments of 10 with my #10 and #1 video attached. I would suggest posting in some kind of increments instead of 20 posts. That way it doesn’t flood out other people’s posts. I’m always interested in seeing people’s lists though.

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    Whatever you feel like doing! But, yes, please share your favourite songs!

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Looking for drama recommendations now that 18 Again is over and TOTNT is on hiatus this week. What should I watch if I am looking for something heartwarming with a great cast? Want as little angst as possible…

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    Into the Ring

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      Watched it while it aired and loved it! Thanks!

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        Yey! How about k-variety shows? Otherwise:
        You Drive Me Crazy (2018)
        Her Private Life
        Because This is Our First
        School 2017
        Age of Youth
        My Secret Romance

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          I haven’t seen You Drive Me Crazy or Her Private Life. I’ll check them out! Would also love k-variety recommendations! I enjoying healing variety like Yoon’s Kitchen or Hyori’s Homestay.

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            Her private life has the best male lead ever. Not the best story but you’ll love it, because it’s awwwww

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            Here are the K-variety shows that I think are quite ‘healing’
            Summer Vacation
            House of Wheels
            1N2D
            Problematic Child in the House

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    Go Back Couple 🙂

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    I miss 18 Again 😢
    But I watch variety shows instead, New Journey to the West since I like the whole cast and Na PD, and 1 Night 2 Days because of Kim Seon Ho. However, the whole cast is really funny. Both are not really heartwarming, but with a great cast and without angst.

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      I’ve been wanting to check out 1 Night 2 Days. Thanks for the recommendation!

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    Shopping King Louie.
    Pegasus Market.
    Radiant Office.
    Drinking Solo (for Key and the Noryangjin trio)

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    Another beanie that watched 18 Again, mentioned that she’s watching now Matrimonial Chaos. Just in case you haven’t watched this drama, is really good and I found it heartwarming even if it is about divorce. You’ll love the four leads.

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      Ooooh thanks! I did see a few screencaps on the fan wall and was intrigued.

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    These suggestions all 2020 dramas are all from different genres, but have low angst- Diary of a Prosecutor, Hot Stove League, Mystic Pop-up Bar, Zombie Detective, United Effort to Accomplish One Thing

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18 Again was wrapped up so nicely! Feeling warm and fuzzy and happy everyone is happy. Ugh I\’m going to miss this show!

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The last 10 minutes of Ep 8 of 18 Again have wrecked me. I am a puddle of tears.

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    Hang in there. I was also a blubbering mess

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      I think we all cried so much during episode 8. The first few little bit (the flashback precipitated by what Il-kwon told Da-jung about) was hard enough, but the entire second half literally had tears falling down my cheeks. I love this show so much.

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    So good and so sad. This drama is amazing.

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    We all did!
    *hugs*

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    Glad there are other Beanies in the same boat so we can all enjoy (and cry) together!

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    It was so beautiful – the realisation of his father and that wonderful thank you. I can recall everything in my head without rewatching it.

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Me at a 75 min episode of Private Lives vs. me at a 75 min episode of 18 Again
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    Me af!
    I started 18 Again yesterday n now I’m on ep 7! I found this drama good enough to sacrifice my eyes n brain cells.

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    I didn’t even realize 18 Again had 75 min eps! It really flew by <3

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Welp already dropped Private Lives and DDSSLLS. Enjoying Tale of the Nine-Tailed, but I think the universe is just trying to tell me to clear my plate for Yoo Inna\’s new drama next week.

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The beat? This choreo? Lua’s short hair? I WAS NOT PREPARED.

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