#character : hwang ji-hoon

[yousxyloveisblind]

Baby, come be my starlight ;

“You’re bound to meet unexpected situations in life. Even if you use an umbrella, you’ll end up getting drenched. Just put your hands up and welcome the rain.” – Hong Du Sik (Hometown Cha Cha Cha) 

HWANG JI-HOON ||  FC: LEE DONG WOOK || OCCUPATION: CEO OF HWANG INDUSTRIES CONNECTIONS: Best Friend, Business Partner, Romantic Partner, Sibling, etc.

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ALESSANDRO BECKER || FC: NOAH CENTINEO  || OCCUPATION: DUMB & A COLLEGE STUDENT] CONNECTIONS: Best Friend, Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, etc.

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LEE SOO-MIN “SUZY” || FC: LEE JOO BIN] || AGE: 30 || OCCUPATION: PARALEGAL CONNECTIONS: Best Friends, Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Ex- best friend, etc.

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PARK AHNJONG || FC: LEE SOOK-HYUK  ] || AGE: 37 || OCCUPATION: ASSISTANT DISTRICT ATTORNEY CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Ex Girlfriend,  etc.

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SEO MIN-HO || FC: KANG TAE OH  || AGE: 28 || OCCUPATION: ACCOUNTANT CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Boss, etc.

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HEO TAE ||  FC: SEO IN-GUK ] || AGE: 34 || OCCUPATION: ACTOR CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Ex Girlfriend,  etc.

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YOO MA-RIN || FC: KIM SEJEONG ] || AGE: 30 || OCCUPATION: SCHOOL TEACHER CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Ex Girlfriend,  etc

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CHOI YURI || FC: HAN JIHYUN ] || AGE: 23 || OCCUPATION: COLLEGE STUDENT & PART TIME WAITRESS CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Manager,  etc. 

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NAM ARA || FC: MOON GA YOUNG] || AGE: 26 || OCCUPATION: ACTRESS/MODEL CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Manager,  etc. 

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KANG MIN-A || FC: KANG HAN NA] || AGE: 26 || OCCUPATION: CORPORATE LAWYER || CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Manager,  etc

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NAMGUNG HYEON || FC: PARK JINYOUNG|| AGE: 30 || OCCUPATION: PR DIVISION MANAGER CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Manager,  etc

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KANG SEUNG-AH || FC: YANG HYE JI] || AGE: 21 || OCCUPATION: WEBTOON ARTIST || CONNECTIONS: Best Friend/Roommate, Romantic Partner, Sibling, Manager,  etc

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[mizldrizl]

How common is each character's family name in Korea? - Beyond Evil

#01: 김 (金, Kim) - Kim Young Hui (apprx. 21.50%)

#02: 이 (李, Lee) - Lee Dong Sik, Lee Yu Yeon, Lee Chang Jin (apprx. 14.70%)

#03: 박 (朴, Park) - Park Jung Je (apprx. 8.43%)

#06: 강 (姜, Kang) - Kang Jin Mook, Kang Min Jung (apprx. 2.37%)

#07: 조 (趙, Cho) - Cho Gil Gu (apprx. 2.12%)

#11: 한 (韓, Han) - Han Joo Won, Han Ki Hwan, Han Jung Im (apprx. 1.56%)

#12: 오 (吳, Oh) - Oh Ji Hwa, Oh Ji Hoon (apprx. 1.54%)

#15: 권 (權, Kwon) - Kwon Hyuk (apprx. 1.42%)

#16: 황 (黃, Hwang) - Hwang Gwang Young (apprx. 1.40%)

#21: 유 (柳, Yoo) - Yoo Jae Yi (apprx. 0.96%)

#31: 남 (南, Nam) - Nam Sang Bae (apprx. 0.55%)

#68: 도 (都, Do) - Do Hae Won (apprx. 0.11%)

Source: KOSIS statistics (2015)

[feuqueerfire]

September - December 2024 Wrap-Up

A little monthly (spoilery!) wrap-up of all the shows, movies, and shorts I’ve watched or am watching in September 2024, general thoughts, and ranking of them all.

Recommendation of the month(s): TODO

Ranking

We're Both Grooms (rewatch)

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Sleep With Me (2022) = 4 Minutes

Love for Love's Sake (rewatch)

Dropped: Perfect 10 Liners

Average Rating: TODO/10

MDL Updates - Added to Watchlist: TODO from Considering

A section because I’m curious about how many shows I decide to add to my Watch List a month and also the ratio of watching them:adding them.

Title MDL (year) - (date added to Considering or finalized to Watchlist): initial reaction

Takara no Vidro - 240912: I'm a bit cautious to add a jBL series but people seemed to quite enjoy this one. Also, one of the guys (Takara?) is so, so gorgeous omg.

The Time of Fever - 240912: The ULS spin-off that people had been anticipating for so long. I didn't watch ULS but the clips I've seen of this on Twitter make me wanna watch. Seems so full of tension.

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies - 240912: I want to watch this in the theatres since it's showing around me! I hope it runs longer than just this week though hmm. It'd sure be something if I ended up watching this before ITSAY lol I can't believe I'd had that on my to-watch/curious list since like 2019 or whenever it came out and I heard some small buzz about it even though I wasn't in the show/movie sphere at all. The trailer was on my to-watch along with 3 Will Be Free lol.

Spare Me Your Mercy - 241208: Added it as I started watching it on-air as it's one of my most anticipated shows.

Perfect 10 Liners - 241214: Randomly started this hmm

Affair - 241221: Was into it kinda when watching the Change 2651 pilot trailers, heard good stuff about the actual show

Peaceful Property - 241221: a TayNew bromance show with ghosts and humour, I'm into it. Good reviews as well

Jack & Joker: U Steal My Heart! - 241221: One of my most highly-anticipated of the year and I am cautiously optimistic. Have heard mixed things about the actual storyline but idkk I hope I love it

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo - 241221: Highly anticipated as it's Hwang Daseul's new BL. Hope it's good.

Love in the Big City - 241221: It's probably the biggest KBL of the year, even though it's not necessarily a BL, more like a queer drama. I wasn't planning on watching at first because it's supposed to be sad I think? But everybody seems to love it and also the main character is played by the actor who played Oh Ji Hoon in Beyond Evil!

Doku Koi: Doku mo Sugireba Koi to Naru/Love Is Like a Poison - 241221: A lawyer/con artist BL! Seems fun.

To Watch List At Start Of Month: 62

To Watch List At End Of Month: TODO

Removed from To Watch List:

Title (Year) - (date removed): reason

Rookie (2023) - 240815: The reviews aren't very good, oof

The Boyfriend (2024) - 240829: Okay, actually, I don't think I'll actually end up watching a dating show program.

End-of-the-year cleanout: Since I kinda stopped being into shows for a few months and had waning interest before then too, I think I'm gonna remove a bunch of shows that I don't seem to have interest in.

If I'm into something again, I can just add it back or watch it.

Boys Be Brave! - 241221: Heard it's disappointing

Circle (2017): not actually that into sci-fi aliens

GAP (2022): idk i keep going back and forth on this one

I Feel You Linger in the Air (2023): same as above

Lonely Girls (2024): low ass rating oh no

Merry Queer (2022): don't think I'll actually get around to this

More than Words (2022): same as above

Takara no Vidro (2024): what even is this about

The Blue Hour (2015): don't think I'll actually get around to this

The Boy Foretold by the Stars (2020): Heard it's disappointing

The Crowned Clown (2019): What is this even though and don't think I like historicals much

To The X Who Hated Me: E Jae X Woo Ri (2024): don't actually know anything about this, low rating

Currently Watching

Completely Watched

Rewatch: Boku mo Aitsu mo Shinrodesu - We’re Both Grooms

Country: Japan

Release Dates: Mar 14, 2022

Watch Via: GagaOolala (free)

Watch Status: ✅ Watched

Watch Dates: Jun 19 - 20, 2022 (#16)

Rating: 7.5/10 (Sept 1, 2024 Update: +0.5 increase from 7 after rewatch)

Overall Impression: I indeed rewatched and liked it even more. I  was even more touched this time around because of things going on in my real life. It continues to be in my jBL-movies-that-stay-with-me-with-closeted-characters, along with His (2020) and No Touching At All (2014).

tags: we’re both grooms

Also Appears In: Boku mo Aitsu mo Shinrodesu - We’re Both Grooms Live Blogging, June 2022 Wrap-Up

Sleep with Me (2022)

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Jul 19, 2022 - Aug 15, 2022

Watch Via: GagaOolala

Watch Dates: Sept 3 - 4, 2024

Rating: 6.5/10

Overall: A great introduction to Filipino media for me! It's short (like 2 hours total probably) but didn't feel cramped, the girls were fleshed out individual characters and I enjoyed seeing them come together. I also liked their relationships with other people like Luna's fun friendship with Wendy + Harry's dynamic with her brother. They were both disabled in different ways and we saw how it affected their lives both with the outside world but also with each other. Very cute and endearing, felt very natural.

tags: sleep with me

Also Appears In: Sleep With Me Live Blogging

Rewatch: Love for Love's Sake

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Jan 24, 2024 - Feb 1, 2024

Watch Via: ;>

Watch Dates: Sept 7 - 10, 2024

Rating: 6/10

Overall: It's alright. I think I enjoyed the middle bit a bit more this time around but I'm still not super attached to the characters and this time, I got really bored by the last quarter even though it's supposed to be really quite emotional. The rating stays the same.

tags: love for love's sake

Also Appears In: Love for Love's Sake Live Blogging

4Minutes 

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Jul 26, 2024 - Sep 13, 2024

Watch Via: iQiyi

Watch Dates: Aug 11 - Sep 13, 2024

Rating: 6.5/10

Overall: It's a shame that the last episode was not very good and it didn't tie up things well or do anything meaningful with the 7 episodes that came before it because I quite enjoyed 7/8 eps of the show and enjoyed both the Great nad the Tonkla portions of the story. I enjoyed the characters (and how terrible they were) and what I thought was going on. It was a good Friday watch + I liked it even more when I binge rewatched eps 1 - 6 and was anticipating the show more. And yet, it feels like they didn't explore the themes and potential of the storylines enough, especially the whole 4 minutes thing. It's fine, I don't hate the show and really liked most of the show but it feels like the last ep took the wind out of it.

tags: 4 minutes

Also Appears In: 4 Minutes Ep 1 - 4, Ep 5 - Ep 6, (Ep 1 - 6 rewatch) + Ep 7, Ep 8 Live Blogging

Stopped watching shows really because I got into binging Dan and Phil new videos since Sept 10 lol So probably won't be watching that much until I get tired of catching up on the last few years of dnp content.

How to Make Millions Before Grandma Dies

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Apr 4, 2024

Watch Via: in real-life theatre, woah

Watch Dates: Sep 21, 2024

Rating: 7/10

Overall: A Thai movie in theatres near me + includes Billikin & Tu who I know despite not having watched either of their shows + heart-wrenching family stuff, of course I was into watching it. It was great, the quality is incredible compared to most of the Thai shows I watch. The characters felt so real, the acting was great, even the set design was incredible like the houses and everything felt so lived in - I noticed dust on the sill of the cupboard and stuff, it was crafted so well. I shed a tear as it was nearing the end and I thought that would be it but for the last 10 minutes of so, tears just kept falling. Very good.

tag: how to make millions before grandma dies

Didn't watch any BL/series stuff for a long while because I'm preoccupied with Dan and Phil lol

Nov 26: Gmmtv 2025 Trailers

Me and Who: Pilot Trailer - Dec 5

omgggg i’m soooo into this, the body switch + arranged marriage + mind-reading. the hijinks they getup to are appealing. i was giggling and kicking my feet while watching loll

also haven’t watched big/park before but their chemistry is good in this trailer. i’m excited, hope the final product turns out well oof

Spare Me Your Mercy 

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Nov 28, 2024 - Dec 25, 2024

Watch Via: ;>

Watch Dates: Dec 8 - 25, 2024

Rating: 6.5/10

Overall: Interesting plot, great acting, the writing could have been better. The romance was like... I liked it, I'm into it but I don't think they went about it in the right way. I never quite bought the depth of their emotions and toward the beginning I couldn't even properly tell when Dr. Kan went from insincere flirting to get Wasan off his tail to real emotions. I don't even know how I feel. The suspense was fun, the eagerness to find out who did what, etc. but I don't know... didn't feel complete at the end.

tags: spare me your mercy

Also Appears In: Spare Me Your Mercy Live Blogging 1 - 5, 6 - 8

Perfect 10 Liners 

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Oct 27, 2024 - Apr 6, 2025

Watch Via: Youtube

Watch Dates: Dec 14 - 16, 2024

Rating: 5.5/10 for the first 8 eps

Overall: Suddenly felt like watching something cute and fluffy and saw a few tiktoks about this, so I decided on it even though I previously had no interest in it. It was alright lol Cute enough but forgettable but it kinda makes me more fond of ForceBook than I used to be and my ick of Force lessened. So that's good. Don't think I'll be watching the next 16 episodes tbh

tags: perfect 10 line

Also Appears In: Perfect 10 Liners Ep 1 - 8 Live Blogging

I Told Sunset about You (2020)

Country: Thailand

Release Dates: Oct 22, 2020 - Nov 19, 2020

Watch Via: Youtube

Watch Dates: Dec 23 - 25, 2024

Rating: 7/10

Overall: One of the shows that has been on my watchlist the longest, since before I was even into shows or BLs. It was beautiful to watch and you could feel the effort and thought in the storyline and characterization and plot progression and the writing. Really well done, I thought they used their runtime very well. Emotional but I don't think that I'll actually think about this show or characters much. I didn't latch onto the characters or relationship as much as I hoped or other people seemed to but it's still well-crafted regardless.

tags: itsay

Also Appears In: I Told Sunset About You Live Blogging

Posts Created This Month:

GMMTV 2025 Showcase

I haven't been watching many shows recently and don't know how much I'll watch next few months either, but we'll see.

[peculiarbob]

Here’s a list of all the Kdramas/Korean movies that I watched in 2023 + some of my thoughts (spoiler free)

The Glory

-Gonna be honest, I only started watching because Kim Hieora and Jung Sung Il are in this show.

-But I ended up really liking it. The bullying scenes were horrifying, the characters were memorable, and overall it was very well made.

Stranger

-HWANG SIMOK! I love him so much! BAE DOONA! I love her so much!

-I loved all the characters and all the twists

Stranger 2

-This season was good too. Seeing the dynamics and relationships between all the characters change was so interesting

Unlocked

-IM SIWAN! The reason why I watched this movie <3

-Is it the best and most unique movie? No. Was it pretty good and entertaining? Yeah!

All Of Us Are Dead

-Even in the zombie apocalypse they’re not free of bullying.

-My heart broke many times. Those poor kids didn’t deserve to go through all of that! (Except Na Yeon. I still don’t like her.)

The Glory Part 2

-Not the typical type of revenge. But I think it’s a very fitting ending.

Physical 100

-This show inspired me to start taking better care of myself.

-Watching everyone hype up this show so much then watching all the controversies come out in real time was crazy. Looking forward to season 2

Kingdom

-This show was on my radar because that zombie dude from Physical 100 said he did the choreography

-I love all of the characters and the zombies were so freaky

Kingdom 2

-The Queen might’ve been the scariest part of this show

-I love this show, season 3? Maybe?

Kingdom: Ashin of the North

-Han Ho Yeol from DP?!?!

-It was really interesting seeing another side to this story

Silent Sea

-BAE DOONA! GONG YOO!

-I don’t understand why this flopped. I really liked this show!

Siren: Survive The Island

-I was team athlete til the end! (I thought Kim Seong Yeon was hot)

-If there isn’t a season 2 I’m going to fight Netflix

Misaeng

-Im Siwan <3

-I really like this show. It really gave me hope and it honestly inspired me to work harder. I’m also trying to learn to play baduk

D.P. 2

-So many emotions. The ending left me feeling a bit empty. I’ve grown so attached to these characters and now it’s just over.

The Wailing

-I think I need to watch this a second time to really analyze it.

-I really like the sfx makeup

Monster

-Accurate representation of neurodivergent people/mentally disabled people? No.

-Interesting villain and fight scenes? Yes

Hide and Seek

-I really liked the twist and how eerie the vibes were

Memoir of a Murder

-I love unreliable narrators. Not knowing what’s real and what isn’t really puts you on the end he of your seat

-Also I didn’t even realize that was Kim Nam Gil

The Policeman’s Lineage

-I only watched this for Kwon Yul

-Decent story but I feel like it fell short of its potential

Hansel and Gretel

-Solid start but I didn’t realize that it was going in the direction that it did

-Not the ending that I expected but I’m satisfied with it

Ballerina

-Honestly, they were so over dramatic when it came to the bdsm stuff. Like okay, he’s kinky. That’s the least concerning thing about him.

-My mom got me to watch this because she likes Kim Ji Hoon

The Mimic

-Interesting concept with interesting characters

-The ending was so fitting, I’m very satisfied with it

Champion

-Another movie I watched for Kwon Yul

-I really like this movie, it’s very comforting and funny

Mother

-This is a cautionary tale, you cannot tell me otherwise!

-I was SHOCKED! It was just so sudden. I don’t know how to explain it without spoiling what happened.

Sweet Home 2

-Interesting. I’m not sure what I expected from this season but this wasn’t it.

-I found it entertaining but I’m not quite sure if I like how they’re approaching this new thing that they’re doing.

[qnewsau]

Squid Game creator responds to trans character backlash

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/squid-game-creator-responds-to-trans-character-backlash/

Squid Game creator responds to trans character backlash

The creator of South Korean Netflix thriller Squid Game has defended the decision to cast a cisgender man as a trans woman in season two of the hit Netflix show.

Squid Game 2 dropped on Netflix on Boxing Day (26 December). In the new episodes, Seong Gi-hun, played by Lee Jung-Jae, returns to the deadly competition.

Also in the game is trans character Hyun-Ji, played by cisgender male actor Park Sung-Hoon. Hyun-Ji is competing to raise money for her gender-affirming surgery.

When Netflix first revealed new Squid Game cast members this month, many took to social media to ask why a trans actress wasn’t playing the role.

Squid Game creator and director Hwang Dong-hyuk said he had expected the backlash.

“I did anticipate such discussions to arise from the first moment I began creating the character Hyun-ju,” he recently told TV Guide.

“In the beginning we were doing our research, and I was thinking of doing an authentic casting of a trans actor.”

But unfortunately, achieving that was difficult for the South Korean production with trans characters rarely appearing in the country’s TV and films to begin with.

“When we researched in Korea, there are close to no actors that are openly trans, let alone openly gay,” Hwang said.

“Unfortunately in the Korean society currently, the LGBTQ community is rather still marginalised and more neglected, which is heartbreaking.”

“It was near impossible to find someone who we could cast authentically. And that led us to the decision to cast Sung-hoon,” he said.

“I’ve watched his work ever since his debut. I had complete trust in him that he’d be the right person in terms of talent in portraying this character.”

‘Does nothing for anyone other than check off a box’

As viewers watched Squid Game 2 this week, as well as mixed reviews for the show’s new episode overall, Hyun-Ji also got a mixed reception too.

“Squid Game 2 is surprisingly good. But did they HAVE to cast a cis guy to play a (clockable) trans woman?” one person wrote.

“Could they not cast an actual transgender woman… This is gonna piss me off,” another complained.

“The trans character in Squid Game gets so little to do lol,” somebody else wrote.

“For the first four episodes she just kind of walks around quietly while other characters make jabs at her. It’s the kind of mealy-mouthed ‘representation’ that does nothing for anyone other than check off a box.”

But another user wrote, “It’s the way this show put an old woman, a pregnant woman, and a trans woman together and outright said they are all valid as women moved me to tears.”

Squid Game season 2 is now streaming in Australia on Netflix.

Meanwhile, earlier this month, Netflix announced that Japanese gay dating series will return for a second season.

For the latest LGBTIQA+ Sister Girl and Brother Boy news, entertainment, community stories in Australia, visit qnews.com.au. Check out our latest magazines or find us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

[elderflowergin]

SBS Hyena, episode 1 rewatch (part 3)

Today we will look at cute watch ads, the storm before the actual storm and bonus Yoon Hee-jae being expensive.

Hwang Bo-ra is so wonderful in everything she does. Sim Yu-mi has a great sense of style and an equally loud personality, but she feels quite personable. This means she’s quick to make friends and pull them in, which is what puts Jung Geum-ja in Yoon Hee-jae’s circle.

Kindly note her single earring, the contrast of her aqua blazer, her neon pink nails and her lip. Let's put a pin in that comment by her.

(I live for Hee-jae saying he's expensive. I'm sure you are, babe.)

On any other show, their age difference would have been played for hijinks, laughs or a plot point. Ga Gi-hyeok as the bestie might have told his friend he could do much better (untrue). Boo Hyeon-a might have had an entire jealousy arc with her (you know they would have done that.)

Not on this show. This is the first and the last time a named character says anything on the topic. It’s a sometimes grating comic character who makes the comment, which would have been a sneaky way to slide in something mean or judgmental. But there's none of that here. It’s super refreshing. 

And then, total obliteration: 

Kim Hee-sun is luminous, sexy as hell and completely in control. Yoon Hee-jae may have upped the stakes here by turning up and dropping that outrageous line about leaving with him, but Kim Hee-sun does the metaphorical equivalent of cuffing his chin, smirking and saying "Let me show you how it's done, dear boy." Of course he leaves like he's been lassoed.

Ju Ji-hoon is never going to look like this in a show, ever again. I feel like the costuming team sat down with the PD and went, listen, we have an actor-model in the house. Let us at him. Let us put him in gorgeous suits and saturated colours and lots of great lighting.

This is presumably the Gran Bleu, which is where they met twice more, and...the lighting is not like this on those occasions. Here it's cosy, with lots of warmth on their faces, but there are also plenty of shadows. Almost as if to say that romantic lighting also tends to conceal a lot. 

The last time they do meet here, the lights are up, because the show's over, and the things they say and do are so achingly loving that you won't need any romantic pap. Substance over form. 

This entire sequence plays out like a generic, if extremely posh, romance. Form, rather than substance: two beautiful people listening to the same record, cooking in the kitchen, looking at art dressed like they should be in fashion magazines - culminating in this gorgeous windswept kiss with the sun setting and the mountains behind them. HIGH ROMANCE, or rather, what we think high romance should look like.

I say “generic”, because this could be any couple. There is nothing here that is specifically them. It’s stock architecture over the heart of things that Hee-jae loves, but there is nothing else of him, and absolutely nothing of her. Even that kiss on the rooftop is made to look exactly like those ubiquitous East Asian watch commercials with the blurry slow-motion - and it is, because it’s very smart PPL, I’m certain - but it enhances, rather than detracts from the generic quality of this sequence. 

Anyway, the ad film’s coming to an end because…it’s courtroom time. DUN DUN DUN.

[consumeronionbulletin]

Queen of Tears (2024)

On the surface this seems like just an ordinary romantic drama with an interesting premise. It turned out to be a master class in acting, editing, cinematography and (even) writing. I loved these characters and was genuinely sad to see it end.

What Worked

The two leads were amazing. Kim Soo-Hyun put in his best performance so far, and Kim Ji-Won did an excellent job making you like a character that was written to be cold and unlikeable. I'd say it was her best role, but you know My Liberation Notes was still better.

The rest of the cast was great too. Park Sung-hoon was great at playing the villain and making him both sympathetic and contemptible. Kwak Dong-yeon did an excellent job at turning the biggest idiot kid brother into someone you were cheering for at the end.

This drama, more than most, also did a standout job of using editing and film work to help set the mood for the story.

What Didn't Work

This show is as close to flawless as you can get. There are things that I wish they'd done differently, but those are more about taste than quality, because the show was excellent.

The Performances

The cast was excellent across the board. I've already mentioned the two leads. I could probably go through and say something nice about each actor, but that would be way too long. There were a few actors that were new to me that especially liked watching.

Yoon Bo-mi as "Secretary Bestie" Na Chae-yeo. This actor did an excellent job of grounding the scene and making Kim Ji-won's character more human and likable. She was also very funny on her own.

Lee Mi-sook as "Worst Mother Ever" Moh Seul-hee. The show didn't do much to explain the whys of her character, but Lee Mi-sook was so interesting to watch, that I mostly didn't care. Really good performance overall.

Kim Jung-nan as "Fighter Auntie" Hong Beom-ja. I had a hard time taking this character seriously at first, but the actor did a great job of showing you how much Beom-ja cared about her family, which made me start to care about the character. Alot of fun to watch (even if they should have given her a proper loveline at the end).

Jeon Bae-soo and Hwang Young-hee as "World's Best Parents (2024)." It would be hard to make Hyun-woo's parents unlikeable, since they get to be the moral center of the show in some ways, but it was also important to make them interesting in a cast of over the top characters. The actors did a good job with that, and I really enjoyed watching them play off the rest of the cast.

TL; DR:

If you like K-dramas you've probably already seen this. That being said, I like K-dramas and I still haven't watched this writer's other big hit Crash Landing on You, so it YMMV. Bottom line: it's your precious little life, choose wisely.

[katierosefun]

Do you ever think how incredibly Young Juwon is when the series starts? He was 27?? I just turned 26 and I do Not think I'm capable of handling whatever mess he was in by the time I'm 27 like, he's just a big stupid teenager

happy belated birthday, mineh!! i hope your 26th year is a good one!

but also, yes, to address the rest of your ask . . . maybe since i'm only 23, 27 years old still feels so distant to me/feels a little more grown up to me, but at the same time. i do think that 27 is still a remarkably young age to have the kind of career that joo won has had at that point. like, working in foreign affairs + already an inspector at 27, whereas when you look at the manyang substation, hwang gwang young is the only inspector . . . and i would guess that he's anywhere between his late thirties to early forties, but he's also rather ambitious in his own right. and then you look at cho gil gu, who's def. older than hwang gwang young (or at least, he seems at least a few years older) but isn't at inspector status yet. ji hoon is the youngest in the group, although i think according to the script book, he's only a year younger than joo won . . . and he's only a patrol officer. (then again, ji hoon also started his police career later, i think.)

and then if you look at all the people working in the violent crimes unit, too, i think that puts everything else in perspective. like, ji hwa had been working in violent crimes for eleven years, i think, and she's probably forty years old. that means she would have started violent crimes when she was twenty nine, which is still rather young, but she at least had a few years on joo won before she started to get into the really nitty gritty parts of work. kang do su is relatively young too (i would say that he's probably in his early or mid thirties??), but still: older than joo won.

so that said: yeah. han joo won is def . . . i think incredibly young given the work that he has to handle. that said, i feel like that just. speaks so much to who he is as a character, because i don't think he ever really had a chance at being young? like, an actual child? (which is probably why he simultaneously seems grown up and. like. childish. something something people who grow up way too fast are constantly swinging between "eerily familiar with disturbing concepts that most people only have to reckon with when they're fully grown" and "astoundingly immature").

[theflixdiaryproject]

"for a long time I’ve wanted to give you a gift. it’s quite humble, but if you don’t dislike it, please accept it." - Ri Myong-un

Park Seok-young (Hwang Jung-min), a.k.a Black Venus is a South Korean spy who is sent on a covert mission to infiltrate North Korea’s inner circle during the 1990s, a time of heightened tensions and political manoeuvring between the two Koreas.

read my review below (may contain spoilers):

watched November 27th, 2024 on netflix

this is prolly the best political movie I’ve ever watched, hands down. I was kinda expecting some kind of action-packed James Bond-esque spy thriller, but nope - Gongjak is completely different. and I mean that in the best way possible. it doesn’t try to wow us with explosions or death-defying stunts. instead, it’s all about the quiet tension, the slow burn of strategy, and the insane layers of deceit and double-dealing. what’s fascinating is how it captures the 1990's so well, during South Korea’s election period, with such authenticity. it feels so real, like I’ve actually gone back into that time (although I wasn't born yet when the movie takes place ahaha). the long shots and wide lenses let me soak in every detail. the backgrounds, props, and even the tiniest objects are like characters themselves, telling stories without saying a word. every shot is so stunning, I struggled a bit to pick screenshots for this review ahaha. I’m not joking when I say this entire movie could be framed and hung in a gallery. it’s really that photogenic. the aesthetic? on point. seriously, everything just looks good. from the sets to the costumes, and yes, even the people. and well, I actually watched this moive for Ju Ji-hoon. he looks so different from his usual roles that I almost missed him, but let’s just say, no complaints here. he’s sleek and polished here, but there’s this rawness to his character that totally fits the tone of the movie. but I also love other actors, especially Hwang Jung-min who is the main lead here.

I gotta say, there’s something deeply human about this film.. even with all the big political stuff going on. sure, it doesn’t really hit me in the gut emotionally, apart from a few moments here and there that feel a bit flat, but the final scene? oh-em-gee. I don’t know how anyone could laugh at that. I sobbed like a fool. it’s such a small, quiet moment, but it’s packed with so much emotion. I actually had to pause the movie for several seconds and collect myself before I finished the movie. the story shows how politics is such a messy, manipulative game. I learn quickly that no one’s truly innocent here. everyone’s got their own agenda. and trust? forget about it. by the end, I feel so bad for the spy, used and discarded like he’s nothing. it’s tragic and frustrating, but it also makes me think; can this cold war between North and South Korea ever end when it’s all about propaganda and power struggles? watching this, I can’t help but wish these two countries would put their differences aside; like siblings fighting over nonsense when they’re clearly meant to be on the same side. this film is a masterpiece. it’s quiet but powerful, subtle yet inspiring. this movie leaves me with this strange mix of hope and sadness. hope that someday, North and South Korea can find their way back to each other.

final verdict: I totally loved it!!

maturity rating: 13+ genre : drama, thriller, political duration: 2h 17m (137 mins) country of origin: South Korea language: Korean, Mandarin, Japanese screenplay: Yoon Jong-bin, Park Myeong-chan, Kwon Sung-hui based on: inspired by true events major cast: Hwang Jung-min, Lee Sung-min, Cho Jin-woong, Ju Ji-hoon

[yousxyloveisblind]

Hwang Industries experienced a major production issue in the wake of the external money laundering scandal that wracked their American counterparts..

The headlines illuminated every major paper in troves. He barely left his office commanding his teams to do damage control. There was always some risk working with foreign companies but growth was important. He listened to Attorney Kang lay out her plans on slamming the media outlets reporting on the story on defamation. Ji-hoon felt the pressure keeping between his shoulder blades as he spread the year’s timeline out across his desk with a labored sigh. 

“Thank you for your hard word, Attorney Kang. I’ll be in touch,” he mumbled into the receiver before tossing his phone onto the desk. 

@oranythingdamn​

[news365timesindia]

[ad_1] What To Watch On OTT This Weekend: New Year's is around the corner and OTT platforms are bringing entertainment to your home with various new titles across genres. From the superhit horror comedy movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to the much-awaited series Squid Games season 2, there is much to look forward to on streaming platforms. Here's what to watch during the holiday period.Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3  A still from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 | Image: IMDb The first part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa was released in 2007 and it starred Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan in the lead roles. The second part Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) starred Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, and Tabu in the lead roles. Anees Bazmee directed the last two instalments. In Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, we saw Kartik sharing screen space with Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan and Triptii Dimri. After facing a box office clash, Ajay Devgn-starrer Singham Again and Kartik Aaryan's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are now all set to kickstart their digital journey on Netflix from December 27.Singham Again Singham Again poster | Image: IMDbSingham Again also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, among others. Excited about the OTT release, Ajay in a press note said, "The love and admiration my character Singham has received over the years has truly made it an iconic role, and returning to it for Singham Again felt like coming home. I am deeply grateful to the audience for their unwavering support and love. Now, with Singham Again launching on Prime Video, audiences around the world can witness the cinematic experience of this exciting new chapter in Rohit Shetty's cop universe." Singham Again, is considered the third part in the Singham film series. It is directed by Rohit Shetty and is part of his larger "Cop Universe" which also includes Simmba and Sooryavanshi movies. The film will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 27.Squid Games season 2 A poster of Squid Games 2 | Image: XThe sequel of the much-awaited Korean web series finally debuted on Netflix on December 26. The Korean show became one of the most-watched series on OTT despite releasing in a pandemic. Fans of the show have been waiting in anticipation for the sequel for quite long. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series will feature Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from Season 1 with new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an.Doctors   Officical poster of Doctors | Image: XA new medical drama series with Sherad Kelkar in the lead is also set to release in the coming weekend. The show will premiere at Jio Cinema on December 27. It also stars Harleen Sethi, Viraf Patel, Aamir Ali, and Vivaan Shah.Khoj: Parchaiyon Ke Uss Paar  Official poster of Khoj | Image: IMDbKhoj: Parchaiyon Ke Uss Paar is a mystery drama. The story narrates the tale of a paranoid husband to files a missing persons report for his wife, who seems to have another POV to the story. The show features Sharib Hashmi, Anupriya Goenka, Aamir Dalvi and will premiere on Zee 5 on December 27.Your Fault   Your Fualt is a sequel to 2023 film | Image: IMDbA sequel to the 2023 Splanish film (My Fault), Your Fault is one of the most awaited releases of the year. The film features Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara, Marta Hazas, Iván Sánchez, Victor Varona, Eva Ruiz, Goya Toledo, Gabriela Andrada, Álex Béjar, Javier Morgade, Felipe Londoño and will be available on Amazon Prime Video from December 27.     [ad_2] Source link

[mizldrizl]

How old is each character in Beyond Evil?

According to the official Beyond Evil web page:

Lee Dong Sik: 40

Han Joo Won: 27

Park Jung Je: 40

Yoo Jae Yi: 28

Oh Ji Hwa: 40

Nam Sang Bae: 59

Hwang Gwang Young: 34

Cho Gil Gu: 52

Oh Ji Hoon: 26

Do Hae Won: 65

Kang Jin Mook: 45

Kang Min Jung: 21

Lee Chang Jin: 49

Han Ki Hwan: 58

Kwon Hyuk: 34

I read the character information on the web page for the first time just now, and there was some interesting stuff there, such as:

Jung Je became a police officer after seeing Dong Sik and Ji Hwa trying to be one.

Ji Hwa was a Korean national Taekwondo athlete in middle school and high school. She became a police officer because she wanted to beat up bad guys "legally."

Nam Sang Bae was never married. His first love was Han Jeong Im, Jae Yi's mother. His original plan was to ask her out after successfully becoming a police officer, but it was too late; she was marrying Jae Yi's father.

The Oh siblings' father died when Ji Hoon was 12, and their mother remarried and left them. Since then, he and Ji Hwa have lived together.

Han Ki Hwan's father and grandfather were also police officers.

[news365times]

[ad_1] What To Watch On OTT This Weekend: New Year's is around the corner and OTT platforms are bringing entertainment to your home with various new titles across genres. From the superhit horror comedy movie Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 to the much-awaited series Squid Games season 2, there is much to look forward to on streaming platforms. Here's what to watch during the holiday period.Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3  A still from Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 | Image: IMDb The first part of Bhool Bhulaiyaa was released in 2007 and it starred Akshay Kumar and Vidya Balan in the lead roles. The second part Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 (2022) starred Kartik Aaryan, Kiara Advani, and Tabu in the lead roles. Anees Bazmee directed the last two instalments. In Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3, we saw Kartik sharing screen space with Madhuri Dixit, Vidya Balan and Triptii Dimri. After facing a box office clash, Ajay Devgn-starrer Singham Again and Kartik Aaryan's Bhool Bhulaiyaa 3 are now all set to kickstart their digital journey on Netflix from December 27.Singham Again Singham Again poster | Image: IMDbSingham Again also stars Kareena Kapoor Khan, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Ranveer Singh, and Deepika Padukone, among others. Excited about the OTT release, Ajay in a press note said, "The love and admiration my character Singham has received over the years has truly made it an iconic role, and returning to it for Singham Again felt like coming home. I am deeply grateful to the audience for their unwavering support and love. Now, with Singham Again launching on Prime Video, audiences around the world can witness the cinematic experience of this exciting new chapter in Rohit Shetty's cop universe." Singham Again, is considered the third part in the Singham film series. It is directed by Rohit Shetty and is part of his larger "Cop Universe" which also includes Simmba and Sooryavanshi movies. The film will premiere on Amazon Prime Video on December 27.Squid Games season 2 A poster of Squid Games 2 | Image: XThe sequel of the much-awaited Korean web series finally debuted on Netflix on December 26. The Korean show became one of the most-watched series on OTT despite releasing in a pandemic. Fans of the show have been waiting in anticipation for the sequel for quite long. Directed by Hwang Dong-hyuk, the series will feature Lee Jung-jae, Lee Byung-hun, Wi Ha-jun, and Gong Yoo reprise their roles from Season 1 with new cast members including Yim Si-wan, Kang Ha-neul, Park Gyu-young, Lee Jin-uk, Park Sung-hoon, Yang Dong-geun, Kang Ae-sim, Lee David, Choi Seung-hyun, Roh Jae-won, Jo Yu-ri, and Won Ji-an.Doctors   Officical poster of Doctors | Image: XA new medical drama series with Sherad Kelkar in the lead is also set to release in the coming weekend. The show will premiere at Jio Cinema on December 27. It also stars Harleen Sethi, Viraf Patel, Aamir Ali, and Vivaan Shah.Khoj: Parchaiyon Ke Uss Paar  Official poster of Khoj | Image: IMDbKhoj: Parchaiyon Ke Uss Paar is a mystery drama. The story narrates the tale of a paranoid husband to files a missing persons report for his wife, who seems to have another POV to the story. The show features Sharib Hashmi, Anupriya Goenka, Aamir Dalvi and will premiere on Zee 5 on December 27.Your Fault   Your Fualt is a sequel to 2023 film | Image: IMDbA sequel to the 2023 Splanish film (My Fault), Your Fault is one of the most awaited releases of the year. The film features Nicole Wallace, Gabriel Guevara, Marta Hazas, Iván Sánchez, Victor Varona, Eva Ruiz, Goya Toledo, Gabriela Andrada, Álex Béjar, Javier Morgade, Felipe Londoño and will be available on Amazon Prime Video from December 27.     [ad_2] Source link

[leeminkifanblr]

"KBS 2TV's new Wed-Thurs drama 'Face Me' (directed by Jo Rok-hwan; written by Hwang Ye-jin; produced by Westworld Story), is scheduled to premiere in November.

The medical drama will be about a cool-headed plastic surgeon(Lee Min-ki) and a passionate detective from the violent crimes unit(Han Ji-hyun) chasing the truth of a case through reconstructive plastic surgery on victims. It depicts the process in which a man and a woman with opposite temperaments- cool and passionate- accidentally work together and become absorbed in each other. Director Jo Rok-hwan who directed 'Voice 2' and writer Hwang Ye-jin who wrote 'Secret Mother' have joined hands to present a drama that contains various charms, from mystery thriller to melodrama to medical humanism.

Above all, the interesting combination of lead actors Lee Min-ki, Han Ji-hyun, Lee Yi -kyung, and Jeon Bae-soo is garnering hot anticipation from potential viewers.

Lee Min-ki plays the role of 'Cha Jung-woo' the best plastic surgeon who is called 'God of Medicine' for his flawless visuals and skills. He is a double board specialist who has experience in both plastic surgery and emergency medicine. He has the ability to immediately visualize the circumstances of the accident and the treatment method in his head when he sees a patient's trauma, but he possesses a machine-like coldness that never emotionally connects with patients. He, who has a frozen heart meets a woman who throws stones at his heart and gradually changes.

Han Ji-hyun plays the role of 'Lee Min-hyung', self-proclaimed ace detective of the violent crimes unit who is fearless, honest, and empathetic. Passionate detective Lee Min-hyung who is obsessed with catching 'bad guys' becomes closer to doctor Cha Jung-woo who suddenly starts supporting crime victims and walks dangerously into his wounds that he has never shown before.

Lee Yi-kyung plays 'Han Woo-jin', a plastic surgeon who has been close friends with Cha Jung-woo since high school and wants to give beauty to all the g irls in the world. He is a man of subtle charm who goes back and forth between sharpness and cheerfulness, seriousness and boldness. Han Woo-jin, who has become a close friend who is more like family than Cha Jung-woo's family, and begins to help his wounded friend find his place.

Jeon Bae-soo plays the role of doctor 'Kim Seok-hoon' the director of KSH Plastic Surgery, which has the best reputation in Gangnam, and is also Cha Jung-woo's mentor. He boasts unparalleled business acumen and saves Cha Jung-woo from a crisis when he gets involved in an unexpected incident. He also realizes his own interests, making him a three-dimensional character who is pragmatic but also warm-hearted.

[sageglobalresponse]

5 popular Korean TV series stealing the hearts of Nigerians in 2024

Korean dramas capture Nigerians' hearts with their captivating stories, talented actors, and unique blend of genres.

K-dramas, the creative expression of Korean culture with a unique blend of drama, romance and humour, have captivated Nigerian viewers.

With their intriguing stories and distinctive mash-ups of genres, Korean TV shows have emerged as a prominent force.

It's not just the stories that captivate Nigerians. Korean shows boast a powerhouse of talented actors who bring these characters to life with remarkable authenticity.

Best Korean TV series in 2024

Here’s a list of Korean series that are particularly popular among Nigerians in 2024:

1. Queen of Tears (2024)

Synopsis: The series depicts the crisis and rekindling of love between Hong Hae-in, played by Kim Ji-won, a third-generation chaebol heiress of Queens Group, and Baek Hyun-woo, played by Kim Soo-hyun, the son of farmers from Yongdu-ri, and their three years of marriage.

Director: Jang Young-woo and Kim Hee-won

Cast: Park Sung-hoon, Kwak Dong-yeon, and Lee Joo-bin

Where to watch: Netflix

https://youtu.be/Gg2D8zrzlOA

2. Marry My Husband (2024)

Synopsis: The series begins in 2023 when Kang Ji-won played by Park Min-young, is terminally ill with gastric cancer. After catching her husband, Park Min-hwan played by Lee Yi-kyung, in bed with her best friend, Jeong Su-min, a scuffle ensues in which Ji-won is accidentally killed by Min-hwan.

Ji-won then awakens in the year 2013, having been sent back in time following the intervention of her late father's spirit. As she relives her life with the same knowledge and information as in the previous timeline, she discovers that to live a better life, she must transfer her misfortune to others. She then resolves to have Su-min marry Min-hwan to exact revenge and escape her miserable fate.

Cast: Na In-woo, Song Ha-yoon, and Lee Gi-kwang

Where to watch: Prime Video

https://youtu.be/lfJGSxXf9Xg

Director: Park Won-guk and Han Jin-seon

3. Doctor Slump (2024)

Synopsis: It is a romantic comedy series about the hate-turned-love relationship of Nam Ha-neul played by Park Shin-hye and Yeo Jeong-woo played by Park Hyung-sik, who had promising prospects in their careers, but fell into a slump due to different circumstances.

Ha-neul and Jeong-woo were high school rivals who despised each other and parted ways after high school. But when they are forced to quit their jobs as doctors, they end up living together at Ha-neul's house.

Cast: Yoon Park, Gong Seong-ha, and Oh Dong-min

Where to watch: Netflix

https://youtu.be/xCwAwwm4-sY

Director: Hyun Jong Oh

4. Love Song For Illusion (2024)

Synopsis: The story follows Yeon Wol played by Hong Ye-ji, who hides her identity and becomes an assassin to avenge her family. Her mission is to assassinate the king but she falls into a trap set by an unknown person. She wakes up the next day with no memory of her past and is appointed as the crown prince's concubine.

Director: Lee Jung-seob

Cast: Park Ji-hoon, Lee Joo-won, Hwang Hee, and Ji Woo

Where to watch: Viki

https://youtu.be/3vkGu5R1IKo

5. A Killer’s Paradox (2024)

Synopsis: The series follows the story of Lee Tang played by Choi Woo-shik, who was discharged from the army six months ago, struggles with his life and dreams of visiting Canada. He works at a convenience store and relies heavily on his parents for support.

One night, he is assaulted by a customer, leading to a violent confrontation and the subsequent murder of the customer. Tang is guilt-ridden and prepares to turn himself in, but discovers his victim was a serial killer.

Dutiful detective Jang Nan-gam, remains uncooperative and keeps investigating. It is unclear if Nan-gam is onto him, but Tang continues to kill, revealing his hidden talent for accidentally offending evildoers.

The story explores the question of whether Tang is serving justice or evading it.

Director: Lee Chang-hee

Cast: Son Suk-ku, Lee Hee-Joon, Kim Yo-han, and Jung Yi-seo

Where to watch: Netflix

https://youtu.be/X2rXQ0rEfPI

[purplehanfu]

I second that emotion (Alexa, play the Japan/David Sylvian cover of that pls). Park Ji Hoon did such a good job, Hwang Hee was hottt with three t's and the gender changing shaman character was mildly amusing. Other than that this was a rough ride and I did not make to the end. Which is fine, I'll just read the webtoon.

Finished Love Song for Illusion.

It was both a genuinely bad drama (and not in a fun way) AND a terrible adaptation, but I am glad that it led me to discover both the amazing webtoon it's based on and Park Ji Hoon, who acted in an entirely different drama altogether and who I hope will get a role worthy of his talent next time.