Beanie level: Wrongly accused fugitive

Sigh…Jang Dong Yoon did not get a Baeksang nomination for “Like Flowers In Sand.”

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    Although not entirely unexpected (LFiS was a low-rated gem, and those are often overlooked), I’m very sad that he was over-looked.

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    This is sad. He totally deserved it.

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    His performance was the best acting in a kDrama I have seen in years. Unfortunately, his character wasn’t in a big production, flashy, melodramatic, or villainous, which I think are easier to say “look at the great acting.” It appeared that JDY was Baek Du—so seamless and totally embodied was his performance that it seemed effortless and no acting involved. Nothing against the nominees but JDY’s performance was a rare achievement, and sadly overlooked.

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    I am happy for Yoo Na (“The Kidnapping Day”). You go, girl!

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QoT expectations adjustment: a high-stakes melo romance. The comedy does not work for me.

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Sorry, QoT. The only thing I like about you are the flashbacks, and that’s not enough to keep me interested.

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    I should just rewatch Crash Landing On You or It’s Okay To Not Be Okay, or better yet, Money Flower.

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    The flashbacks are good aren’t they. 😍😊

    I found episode 3 to be a little more settled after the OTT hijinks of the premiere week. For now I think I’ll continue. You should only choose to watch what you enjoy. Money Flower is always a sure bet. 👍👌

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Still on the fence about QoT. Curious about the next episode, but not much invested otherwise. Hyun Woo’s mom seems to be the only likeable character so far.

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I fell asleep in the middle of Episode 2 of QoT. Was it because I was bored or because it was late? I will give the episode another chance.

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    I did struggle to finish it also. But I persevered because it made me curious where the writer is going with the story. I like the fact that they both are equilly flawed, something that very few kdramas show nowadays.

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      Flawed characters have redemption potential, and redemption arcs are my catnip.

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    Well, it was 88 minutes, so I don’t blame you. I think a lot of scenes were drawn out (eg. the crazy aunt).

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    Maybe QoD refers to the tears the viewers will shed because of sleepiness while watching it?

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      Ha! That must be it. I will make a heroic attempt to finish Episode 2 this evening.

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“My wife can’t sleep!”

Gotta love Jang Uk…

Alchemy of Souls rewatch

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The only character who matches the king’s brilliance is the Grand Prince.

Captivating The King

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Oh, Healer-yah…

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I have not seen the actor who plays Myung Ha in Captivating The King in anything, but he is doing a great job!

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    Crash Landing on You!

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      Yes! North Korean soldier who was the “pretty boy” of the group.

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    I remember now! Thank you for reminding me about his performance in CLOY.

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    He was one the cute duckling in CLOY.

    I really liked him in How to Buy a Friend, he was one of the good actors of Rookie Cops.

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    Lee Shin Young is a very promising actor. I didn’t watch his latest work as the lead in Boss-dal Mart but love, love him as the new intern in Dr Romantic S3.

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    Besides CLOY, which I think might have been his first real role, he was in Rookie Cops and Hospital Playlist #3. He was very good in both. He’ll be a lead soon, I bet.

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Note to self: Don’t try watching Captivating The King late at night when there is hardly any power left in your brain cells.

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Like Flowers In Sand is like comfort food made with love.

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Favorite heartwarming moment: Hyun Wook knows the names of all villagers and what is going on in their lives.

Like Flowers In Sand Episode 11

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    IKR! That was so cute. He has been making himself at home.
    And a bromance we didn’t know we needed 🥰🥰

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      Yaaas! I loved Hyeon Uk and Seok Hui’s bubbling enthusiasm in becoming friends!!

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    All that showed what an excellent cop Hyun-wook is.

    Gripe. There have been a couple Du-shik scenes that have annoyed me:
    1. The slaps. I really don’t get where Du-shik thinks she can give a 32 year old man (Baek-du) a slap to the head whenever the mood strikes her. That has annoyed me pretty much the entire drama (and we started with the Baek-du throw outside the house which could have been the end of Bark-du’s wrestling career).
    2. Her unprofessional treatment of Hyun-wook (early on anyways).This guy knows what he is doing but when (at the house) he asked for an update/briefing on information on the killing she had obtained she liked totally ignored his questions.

    O/T. I have come to the conclusion after years of kdrama watching that the ‘?’ is the most useless punctuation mark in kdramaland. It is a trope that drives me up the wall: never answer a direct question. Just ignore it all to all together or lie.

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Like Flowers In Sand

There are no shocking reveals or nailbiting cliffhangers at the episode endings, yet they are so emotionally satisfying. Episode 10 was no exception.

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    Agreed – it’s just a drama that knows what it wants to be and excel at doing it, not reinvent the wheel. And that, I find, is often where the best dramas are for me.

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Like Flowers In Sand Episode 9:

Another lovely episode seamlessly blending flashbacks and present time. Baek Du’s speech at the market place made me tear up…

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    I also loved that! It was a great way to bring together some of the things we’ve seen in previous flashbacks and today, with the present and a fault of our loveable town.

    Also I’m so there for the hidden killer mystery line 🙂

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“Maybe he is looking for a new career!”
“He is not my friend!”

The policemen commenting while watching Baek Du reenact the events of the night of the murder…pure comic gold!

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He kissed her…but he does not remember…or does he?

Like Flowers In Sand Episode 8

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It’s ssireum time again!

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So how am I spending the last hours of 2023? By binging on “Like Flowers In Sand,” that’s how. Happy New Year!

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My favorite dramas of 2023:

Unlock The Boss
The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
Twinkling Watermelon
Castaway Diva
The Kidnapping Day
The Matchmakers

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    Great picks!!! 😊👍

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    Great dramas! I loved all of these too!

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    1-My Dearest
    2-Twinkling Watermelon
    3-Dr Romantic 3
    4-The Good Bad Mother
    5-Moving

    Biggest disappointments: See You in My 19th Life, Doona!, Interest of Love
    Best oldies of 2023: Bridal Mask, Sandglass, Father is Strange
    Best score: My Dearest–have you been inspired to compose by and Kdramas in 2023?

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      I did compose a piece inspired by My Dearest. It is on my wall. I have a backlog of pieces I need to write, all inspired by dramas I liked in the past two years. Hope to do it eventually, so stay tuned.
      My favorite oldies I watched in 2023 were Giant and I’m Sorry I Love You.

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The backscratcher is back!

(The Kidnapping Day Episode 12)

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