#choi young jae

[passionforfiction]

Love & Wish is the Korean film adaptation of the webtoon by Yi Nae. I haven't read the webtoon but I liked the movie. It was sad and speaks up against teen violence and the pain of the victims. So Da Eun had lost a person she loved as a result of the gang of students picking up on him. Now that she moves to another school, she finds someone that reminds her of him and gives her all to give him the kindness that she did not give before.

It is a sad story but also hopeful.

[teashh]

I am so glad the new kdramas are bringing back the specific brand of loser men. You know which brand I'm talking about. The Ahn "min min" Minhyuk brand of loser men and I'm loving it. The "I worship this goddess and I'm so in love with her and I can't believe I get to love her. Oh my gods I love her so much" brand of loser men. And we're being fed so well with lovely runner, love next door, no gain no love, my demon, Cinderella at 2am, Hierarchy, Midnight Romance in Hagwon, doctor slump, Queen of tears, welcome to samdal-ri and even good partner (yes it's one sided but the dedication and yuri's couple too).

We need more fictional loser men who worship women to satiate our eldest independent daughter desires.

[leedongwook]

"Thank you. For keeping the promise."

Twinkling Watermelon 반짝이는 워터멜론 // Episode 16

[t1nngun]

Time travel excellency in k-dramas.

(🎞️ : lovely runner, twinkling watermelon, a time called you, blue birthday, marry my husband, 18 again)

[heartofwolves]

[junkobato]

BEST KDRAMA IN 2024✨ (pt 1)

Which one is your favorite so far? ☺️

[noonaenthusiast]

Tempted 1x01

[stuff-diary]

Hierarchy

TV Shows/Dramas watched in 2024

Hierarchy (2024, South Korea)

Director: Bae Hyeon Jin

Writer: Chu Hye Mi

Mini-review:

Oof, what a disappointment. I feel like this wanted to be one of those transgressive teen shows we get in the West, but then it didn't have the guts to go all the way and ended up being like any other kdrama about the rich and the poor. And even then, it's just not good at that either. The writing leaves a lot to be desired, and it gets more boring with every episode. The acting is also all over the place; some of the actors do a solid job, but most of them are mediocre or downright terrible. Tbh, there are two things that save this drama from disaster: firstly, the director adds a lot of style and flair to the proceedings; secondly, sometimes it's fun to see a bunch of super pretty people all together in one place. But still, there are a lot of shows where you can find those things with much better quality. I wouldn't recommend Hierarchy, unless you really love someone in the cast...

[blorbingqls]

People from BL that make me want them carnally (always)

i was not tagged by anyone, however, was very inspired by the list of @respectthepetty @neuroticbookworm @lurkingshan @waitmyturtles and @bengiyo - and all others whose list had been on my feed. I have a very similar list but I just wanna give appreciation and adoration to a lot of these gays that have been on my mind. always.

note: you'll see a pattern. this list can't be numbered

Tan-Bun from Manner of Death

need i even say anything?

Kinn-Porsche from KinnPorsche

the main man-boobies and small waist appreciation

Pete from KinnPorsche

one gif can't sum him up (a trend following all my blorbos)

Win from Between Us

do i want him or want to be him? *cries in bisexual*

Sand from Only Friends

I want to do this exact scene above even though i imagine it would be absolutely disgusting irl (since i don't like cigarette smoke)

Ray from Only Friends

i mean can you even resist him? I see you Sand (and Boston), i see you

Jae Young from Semantic Error

see bad boys in greener flags is a weakness - i am sorry but it is what it is (ALSO HOW CAN ANYONE FORGET THE LIP RING)

Choi Yuna from Semantic Error

something something about this woman just makes me GAAAH

Molly from The Warp Effect

the one queer fat representation i wanted in media and it made me go weak on the knees every fucking time

Jean from The Warp Effect

maam, i'll be a better boyfriend than any cishet men you encounter

(not a BL) Giwi from The Player

NAMTAN TIPNAREE I REQUEST YOU TO JUST STEP ON ME

Wang from 180 Degree Longitude Passes Through Us

i mean you see it. i don't have to explain further.

Ayan from The Eclipse

is any of even surprised at this point? (you should not be)

SPECIAL MENTIONs

Jim, Wen, Alan and Gaipa from Moonlight Chicken

these thread of men don't need to be explained lord help me

Pete from Dark Blue Kiss

his one shot in the pool and fashion sense literally had me crawling

Karan from Cherry Magic Thailand

i am a sucker for Tay Tawan atp pls

also, also, also not necessarily from shows but general existence of this man (Jeff Satur [if anyone doesn't know]) makes me want to steal his gender every fucking time

tagging @gunsatthaphan @laowen @reptileofdoom @slayerkitty and anyone who wants to go about it

[somanykdramas]

HIERARCHY

GENRES: Drama

SUMMARY: A bunch of rich kids go to school, bully the non-rich kids until one of them dies, and then kinda get away with it even after justice is served?

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Fancy cars, classrooms that look like brutalist Hogwarts, ice cream, vacation homes, illegal recordings, cell phone charms, drugs, murder, art studios, absentee parents, hunting, emotional survival, and locker room pecs.

HOT TAKE: But really really, what was the point of this show other than to flaunt nearly a thousand brand names over seven episodes?

We start off with a murder mystery of an innocent student, get caught up in the class wars of a rich prep school and are forced to endure mediocre relationships, love triangles, and rivalries. We kinda get justice for the murder, but in the mean time are forced to choose which rich bully we hate the least which is a game with literally no winners.

I am justifiably annoyed that there is a post-credit sequence at the end of this series teasing yet another mystery I don't care to solve. Please, Netflix, leave this drama where it is. We don't need more.

Also, Kim Jae Won, YOU NEED TO BLINK. I can kinda look past the fact that you only have one expression for every emotion, but at least blink so we know you're human.

[younasbetch]

Sooo I want Huiju and taeho to end up together but seems like we aren’t getting them 🙃 so If there was any Huiju and taeho fanfics please send it to me 🥺👉👈

#TheImpossibleHeir

[prbni]

"Shipped the actors but not the characters"

I actually shipped the characters in this case as well

[offbeatcappuccino]

the impossible heir episodes 1-4 ramblings

Last week was an eventful one for Lee Jae Wook, Hong Su Zu, and Lee Jun-young's The Impossible Heir. Not only was last week the premiere of the series, but Dispatch, the popular Korean tabloid, released "earth-shattering" news that Lee Jae Wook was dating aespa's Karina. This garnered controversy and scrutiny towards the show and could have contributed to its ratings. However, as a self-professed Lee Jae Wook fan, I tuned in to watch the show last week regardless of the news. The Impossible Heir is arguable Lee Jae Wook's first "adult" show. Much of his prior work involved dramas that catered to the YA audience and for the first time we see him essaying a far more mature and morally dubious character as Han Tae Oh. While the show is marketed as having three leads, in my opinion, Tae Oh steals the show.

In the first episode, we are introduced to a teenage Han Tae Oh. The son of a murderer, for the sake of his and his mother's safety, he's forced by himself to a small town. Unlike his peers, he has no legal guardian and rents a rundown house in the village. Before the first day of school, he manages to provoke the ire of Kang In Ha, the illegitimate son of the Kang-Oh chaebol family. While the two boys are initially at odds with each other and even end up having a dramatic fight in the school lunchroom, the episode ends with an unlikely partnership- Tae Oh offering to use his intelligence to help In Ha achieve the impossible- the opportunity to be the next heir of Kang Oh Group over his two legitimate half brothers.

Over the next three episodes, we see Tae Oh and In Ha grow up as college students and later employees at Kang Oh. During their college years, we see a blossoming friendship between the two as In Ha becomes Tae Oh's only companion during their time at Hankuk University. Alongside their internal scheming to take over Kang Oh, we see glimpses that their friendship is no different from any other peers. They have birthday meals, eat lunch together in the cafeteria, and drink late night beers from the convenience. In Ha constantly chides Tae Oh for working too many part time jobs, but remains the dutiful wealthy friend that is willing to book a tutoring gig for Tae Oh or drop him off at work to help him financially stay afloat. The dynamics between both men take a sharp turn with the introduction of Na Hye-Won, who both male leads end up falling for though she ultimately ends up dating In Ha, mainly because she views In Ha as her key to overcoming poverty and acquiring wealth and prestige.

Just as episode two ends, the show takes another five year time leap and both men are working for Kang Oh group. Hye-Won also becomes what appears to be a staff member for a political party. The three remain as co-conspirators in their efforts to take over Kang Oh Group. Of the three, perhaps the person who gets closest to the chairman, Kang Jun Mo, is Tae Oh, who ascends to the role of his personal secretary. Tae Oh becomes Jun Mo's greatest asset and trusted confidante. Through his role, he starts to move the game pieces that would create a clear path of succession for In Ha.

The weakest aspect of the The Impossible Heir 's writing has to be Na Hye Won's character arc. Nothing about her frankly makes any sense. During the second episode, we are introduced to Hye Won as both In Ha's and Tae Oh's classmate and Tae Oh's neighbor. While its obvious that Tae Oh may have developed feelings for Hye Won due to their chance encounters, In Ha's feelings arise out of nowhere- to the point that it almost feels like he only wants Hye Won because he wants to take a person Tae Oh cherishes from him. However, if this was the case, the intensity of love that In Ha develops for Hye Won makes no sense. Furthermore, its puzzling to see the two boys so readily accept a stranger as a partner in developing and implementing a plan they have spent years working on together. Exacerbating this poor placement of the female lead is her poor portrayal by Hong Su Zu. Hong Su Zu's acting has been widely criticized by the Korean audience since the airing of the second episode. While I could see others' complaints last week, it did not initially bother me as much. However, the poor acting has become glaringly apparent in this week's episodes. If Hye Won is supposed to be who she's written to be- a morally grey character who is willing to do whatever it takes, including playing with someone's feelings, to escape her present circumstances, I would expect her to be desperate, shrewd, cunning, manipulative, and charismatic. However, the version that is presented to us is so blasé, stoic, and mediocre. Hong Su Zu's expressions and delivery are extremely limited- it's hard to swallow the thought that she's supposed to be a crucial main character.

Conversely, Tae-Oh's arc is the strongest point in the writing. As audience members, we are gripped by the elusive question- what does Tae-Oh get from this partnership? Why is he fiercely loyal to In Ha? and Does he truly want the best for his friend or is he planning on throwing him under the bus? Lee Jae Wook excels in playing the ambitious yet guarded Tae Oh, who becomes the "catalyst" of the story. Without Tae Oh, there's no plot. While Hye Won is a disappointing female lead, I was surprised by the chemistry between Tae-Oh and Choi Hee Jin's Kang Huiju, the younger half sister of Kang In Ha. Huiju develops an obsessive never-ending one-sided crush on Tae Oh when he becomes her short-lived mathematics tutor. At first glance, it's easy to brush her off as a minor character, but the amount of screen time she receives on the show suggests otherwise and Choi Hee Jin excels in playing the "petulant spoiled brat who surprisingly may be the only person in her family with a conscience".

If Tae Oh is a volcano patiently waiting to erupt at the right time,Huiju is a raging forest fire traveling at 100 mph. Her love and desire for Tae Oh is all consuming and destructive- something she wholeheartedly embraces but Tae-Oh fears. When Huiju's spontaneity comes to a head with Tae Oh's restraint, we see an electrifying chemistry between the two and we see another dimension of Tae Oh. While he can be avoidant and harsh, he is also gentle, kind, and protective. Its this internal push and pull that makes their relationship worth exploring.

One of the highlights of the latest episode was when Huiji confronts Tae Oh in a parking garage adamantly professing that she will force her parents to agree to their marriage and that she "will protect" Tae-Oh. I found her confession interesting on many levels because so far, all of Tae-Oh's relationships are exploitative. The other characters including his closest friend In Ha are only concerned about what Tae Oh can do for them and this is the first time we see someone offering to do something for him with no reciprocity. It's unclear if Hui Ju is a red herring or someone who will grow to be an integral part of Tae-Oh's life. As a viewer, I have to say that this relationship is one of the main draws to the show and is something that the writers utilize appropriately.

Overall, Impossible Heir is a Malthusian and Machiavellian drama that wholeheartedly embraces the capitalistic jungle. It may not be a show that fans of prior Lee Jae Wook's dramas will love, but it still deserves to be given a chance.

Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️.75/5

[leedongwook]

“Why do you want me to put these on? They're useless. You're so clueless. You need to put them on so cars don't honk at you. They know you can't hear them. So they'll drive around you. Looking cool is a nice bonus."

Twinkling Watermelon 반짝이는 워터멜론 // Episode 1

[internationaldramaqueen]

My favorite friendgroup 🥰

they really are #Goals

[my-drama-heart2406]

If I had a penny for everytime Lee Jae Wook plays a character that(eventually) gets stabbed to death, I would have 3 pennies.

Which isn't a lot, but it's weird that it happened thrice.

🤷‍♀️