#go ho tae

[taeminie]

You should smile. I like to see you smile. I never smiled that much. I just realized you don’t know yourself that well. You’ve always been a gentle guy who likes to smile. You’ve been like this since you were little. You always liked to smile and you were gentle. Even so, how can I smile now? I’m not a crazy man. I haven’t smiled in a long time. It’s nice to smile like this.

The Time Of Fever (2024) dir. Yang Kyung Hee

[thedooristhebluecushion]

I have been waiting for The Time of Fever for a year now and it was everything I dreamed about. Absolutely beautiful. Deeply moving story telling. Incredible acting.

But the only time I cried was when it ended and we didn’t even get a glimpse of Ho Tae & Dong Hee happy & living their best lives post Unintentional Love Story drama. It didn’t need to be much. Could have been an epilogue like they had for all the other episodes. If any boys deserve their domestic blissed out moment it’s these two and I’m so sad we didn’t get to see it.

Please drop any & all fanfic in the notes😔

[themoopoint]

[1liv]

THE KING: ETERNAL MONARCH (2020)

[dragonsareawesome123]

Angels in America (2024) dir. Shin Yucheong

[coreancitizen]

How did Jeong Tae Eul's ID end up with Lee Gon in the first place?

Tracking the journey between worlds and across time

There was a Twitter question about which show you'd like to watch again for the first time and I, of course, responded with "The King Eternal Monarch." I just remember how much fun it was trying to figure things out. A friend even had a virtual "murder board" for who's who LOL! In a reply to my tweet, someone asked: How did Jeong Tae Eul's ID end up with Lee Gon in the first place?

TKEM has one of those loop thingies with time travel so lemme just start with episode 1, with adult Lee Gon heading to the past, to the Night of the Treason. He gets into a shootout with Lee Lim's men, kills several, and after they escape, he goes to check on his younger version. As Gon feels the boy's pulse, Baby Gon lifts his hand. They hear an alert that the Royal Guards are coming so Gon stands up. Baby Gon catches the lanyard and pulls Tae Eul's ID card out of Gon's pocket.

In a flashback in episode 2, Baby Gon, now the king, asks Head Court Lady Noh if she has the two things he had with him on the Night of the Treason: half of the flute, which he suspected was in the riding whip she held, and the ID card. Head Court Lady Noh produces both.

And so that's how Lee Gon keeps Tae Eul's ID card with him in the kingdom for the next 25 years. In episode 1, we see Lee Gon has it inside a copy of "Alice in Wonderland," with the ID card right smack on top of the illustration of the White Rabbit. Symbolism much? LOL! The book, of course, is referenced a few times by both Lee Gon and Jeong Tae Eul.

One of the more interesting details of the time travel in TKEM is that at this precise moment (Sept. 10, 2019 at 7:45 p.m.), when Lee Gon is looking at Jeong Tae Eul's ID card while sitting in his private study in the Kingdom of Corea, the card doesn't actually exist YET in the Republic of Corea.

When Lee Gon decides to follow the White Rabbit, or rather the sound of the flute, into the other world and meets Jeong Tae Eul for the first time, she has an entirely different ID, one that shows her in her police uniform with her hair down.

This ID card is still with Tae Eul in episode 4 when she leaves the library (where she'd been researching parallel words, etc.). As she approaches her car, she finds her keys with the big-ass tchotchke in the form of a lion tangled with the lanyard of her ID. As she was separating the two, she is bumped by a boy on a bicycle, sending the ID card flying out of her hands and down a grate, straight to the sewer below.

BTW, the culprit on the bike is none other flute boy (fun fact: flute/yo-yo boy is actually played by a girl, Kim Bo Min).

Jeong Tae Eul gets her photo taken for a new ID card. She has her hair pulled back in a low ponytail and wears a cream sweater. The photographer advises her to put on something with a bit more contrast so her face doesn't stand out too much in the photo. Tae Eul opts for a navy jacket. And while she is not aware of her outfit's significance, we see the image Lee Gon has been staring at for 25 years.

Later, we see Tae Eul apply for a new ID card. Hilariously, she says the old one was "lost after a fierce scuffle with a suspect." She remembers Lee Gon telling her the ID card he has was issued on Nov. 11, 2019, and so she asks the civil service worker when the new one is going to be ready. Much to her relief, she's told about a week, in late October.

BUT Fate has other plans, of course. Kang Shin Jae tosses Tae Eul her ID. The agency apologized for accidentally leaving her out. Her ID was issued that day: Nov. 11, 2019. Lee Gon was right! Tae Eul is justifiably flustered. She gets even more flustered when she gets a phone call from Lee Gon.

She rushes home and finds Lee Gon standing in her yard, like a freaking statue. This is one of my favorite TKEM scenes ever but I'm gonna rush the summary here: Tae Eul asks Gon details about her new card, which he is able to answer correctly, proving he does have a version of her ID. He invites her to his world so she can see for herself. She accepts.

In the kingdom (episode 5), Jeong Tae Eul is asked by Head Court Lady Noh to put her belongings in a box as part of a security check. Lee Gon assures her it's something everyone does including court ladies and the prime minister. Tae Eul tosses in handcuffs, her wallet, the lion tchotchke, a Kahi multibalm stick lol and, of course, her newly reissued ID. She seeks assurance that she's gonna get all the stuff back, saying she'll be penalized if she loses her ID again. Head Court Lady Noh recognizes the ID.

Fast-forward to episode 6. Japanese warships are heading to Corean waters and Lee Gon has to send Jeong Tae Eul home earlier than planned. Lady Noh retrieves the box with Tae Eul's belongings — side-eyeing palace security here as the unlocked box is stored in a dresser in her room — and realizes the ID is missing. No way to check who took it as the CCTV was cut off in that area of the palace last night starting at 8 (because of JTE's unexpected arrival). Tae Eul ends up taking back the "old" version of her ID card.

So where did the newly re-issued ID card go? It shows up tucked inside a book in the bookstore of one of Lee Lim's minions with a note identifying it as "guestroom user." We later find out that Lee Lim's contact is no other than Kang Shin Jae's Corean mom, a court lady who has Lady Noh's trust.

In episode 11, Lee Lim captures Tae Eul's Corean doppelganger, Luna, and convinces her to switch places with our heroine by showing her the ID card and Tae Eul's family. Luna, who'd never known her parents, agrees. She's taken to republic with Tae Eul's ID and picks up Tae Eul's phone at a locker in a station. Her first order of business: Apply to take all of Tae Eul's 21-day vacation. Smart, LOL.

This is around the time Lee Lim's men kidnap Jeong Tae Eul and take her to the kingdom. Lee Lim plans to exchange her for Lee Gon's half of the flute. But she foils that plan by escaping and we get the famous "Protect her! She's the future queen!" battle cry from the king.

Jeong Tae Eul eventually returns to the republic with Lee Gon in episode 13. After introducing her boyfriend to her dad, she arranges to meet Gon after work. She gifts him with a black jacket, which he thinks looks a bit familiar. Later, as he's trying it on, the doorbell for his hotel room rings and he finds Tae Eul at the door bringing beer. It doesn't take him long to realize it's Luna he's with — she's got a look of anxiety that JTE doesn't have. He pulls Tae Eul's ID from Luna's coat pocket. As he's checking it out, he notices his image in the mirror and realization dawns, he looks exactly like the man who came to Cheonjongo on the Night of the Treason and saved Baby Gon. He saved himself!

Unfortunately, Luna had spiked the beer and Lee Gon goes down, ID card still in his hand at the beginning of episode 14. As Luna tries to search for the whip that contains the flute — she's not interested in taking his life — Jo Yeong arrives (he'd gone out to get drinks). She flees, minus the ID. The captain of the Royal Guard, with Tae Eul's help, takes him to a clinic owned by a friend of the medical examiner (Chief Park's wife). When Lee Gon comes to, he could hear the flute crying, just like he did when he was a boy on the Night of the Treason. It is the signal to go back. He enters the doors once again, ID card still in his pocket, as Lee Lim enters his, enabling them both to return to the past to try to fix things.

And we're back on the Night of the Treason. Lee Gon arrives at Cheonjongo and gets into a shootout with Lee Lim's men.

[emotionalwhump]

Marco and his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day [ Part 2/2 ]

Kang Tae Ju as ‘Marco Han’ The Childe (Sad Tropics) - 2023

[manawari]

Extra thoughts from my Happiness AU. Although it is centered around Jinhae, I'd like to share other characters and their roles:

Baek Yoon-ho, a divorced man who was fighting for his two-year-old daughter's custody.

Choi Jong-in as Baek Yoon-ho's lawyer. They were discussing about the trial when the government declared quarantine in the entire apartment, thus the two men were stuck with each other. Well, Jong-in was hesitant at first, but Yoon-ho insisted as he wanted to thank Jong-in for helping him.

Min Byung-gyu was an aspiring history teacher and was about to take his exam when his life was flipped upside down.

Lee Eun-seok, an electrical engineer who lived with his girlfriend, Park Hee-jin. Their relationship was put into a challenge as the Mad Human Disease scattered in the apartment.

Lee Ju-hee, a friendly and sweet neighbor of the couple who was tested to her limits as she found herself surrounded by monsters. More or less, the lives of people were in her hands.

Park Hee-jin, who had just began her work as an EMT fell into a hell that was worse than saving people's lives at the same time and it was up to her on how to survive, as well as keeping herself alive.

Yoo Jin-ho. Jin-woo's best friend through thick and thin. He too would face the biggest challenge in his life that would soon lead him into questioning everything. also Sirka's babysitter.

Lim Tae-gyu was the average unemployed guy who got dragged into a tremendous mess and eventually found his new purpose.

Kim Chul, the obnoxious neighbor who was willing to throw people under the bus. He was also the person who accused Hae-in of being an infected due to that scar on her wrist.

Lee Min-sung as the heir of the Seyang Forest Le Ciel. His father had left the apartment to his hands. Now, ever since the quarantine began, Min-sung's true colors began to soar and he intend to use every advantage he possessed.

Go Gun-hee was a politician who had unexpectedly received the Mad Human Disease, but was kept and chained in a secluded room as he waited for the cure.

Woo Jin-chul as the lieutenant colonel who was trying to develop the vaccine to cure Go Gun-hee, his grandmother, and the rest of the infected.

Sirka was the little girl under Jinhae's care after her mother was left outside where the authorities couldn't let her inside. However, despite being separated from her mom, she found family in Jin-woo and Hae-in, who cared for her like a daughter while being fake married.

[ppeonppeonhan]

Best 2023 BL Side Couples

Every now and then the side couple steals the show, and you find yourself tuning in for the 2 minutes they get per episode versus the actual plot. Here are my faves of the year:

Moonlight Chicken: Li Ming ❤️ Heart

While this series may not have made my top 10 this year, this couple did. I'm a sucker for "irresponsible person learns how to be responsible through acts of love for someone who is physically impaired" story lines. (See also Last Twilight.) So every sweet gesture that rebellious Li Ming made to make deaf Heart's life more joyful and inclusive, including learning how to sign, made whatever was going on between the lead characters, Jim and Wen, an afterthought.

Kiseki: Dear to Me: Ai Di ❤️ Chen Yi

I love when the smitten one gives up riiiight before their crush is like Oh wait, I like you too! Theory of Love is another example of this, but KDTM did it better. You never really grew to hate Chen Yi, and understood why it took so long for him to see Ai Di as more than a friend. Baby boy was not really giving off crush vibes. More like in desperate need of therapy vibes. Thankfully, Chen Yi was immune to Ai Di's hostility, proving he was his perfect match.

Never Let Me Go: Ben ❤️ Chopper

There was so much going on in this drama that this pairing barely got enough screen time, and yet by the end of the series, I was daydreaming about them moving abroad together and living happily ever after. Loving the Chimon x Perth era. Hope to see more of it.

Unintentional Love Story: Kim Dong Hee ❤️ Go Ho Tae

I actually found the main pairing a tad meh, and was far more interested in the childhood bffs turned strangers subplot. I mean, the minute Ho Tae attempted to learn Spanish to impress Dong Hee, who fantasized about having a Spanish lover, I was hooked. I could watch an entire spinoff of these two with flashbacks to their youth and how their bond originally formed.

Who were your faves?

[noonaenthusiast]

Life On Mars 1x01

[my-drama-heart2406]

If I had a penny for everytime a guy who played a total scumbag on D.P. co-stared in the same project with Lee Jae Wook, whose character is very obviously attracted to LJW's character and who also finds LJW really attractive in real life...

I would have two pennys.

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

[i-got-the-feels]

Rom-Com/Dramaedy/Slice of Life/Quirky

When life gives you tangerines

My youth

Can this love be translated?

Melo movie

Our movie

Dearest nemesis

Potato research centre

Divorce Insurance

Good boy

Seocho-dong

Love scout

Mystery/Angsty/Thriller/Business/Cerebral

Mercy for none

Made in Korea

Knockoff

Cashero

Project Y

The good man

Show business

Dear X

Two women

Unmasked

The price of a confession

Hyperknife

The manipulated

The murky stream

Nine puzzle

The Tempest

Delusion

In the Net

If these dramas deliver - 2025 is gonna be an iconic year for kdramas

[saifahname]

GO HO TAE THE TEEN YOU ARE!!!!!

"HAVE YOU EVER KISSED BEFORE?" !!!!!!!!!!!TO THE GUY YOU THINK YOU HAVE THE HOOTS FOR

[thedooristhebluecushion]

Switching gears from my usual Bridgerton fixation...

does anybody know where we can watch The Time of Fever?

[olvaheiner]

귀공자 // The Childe (2023)

[dragonsareawesome123]

Angels in America (2024) dir. Shin Yucheong, performing at the LG Arts Center from August 6, 2024 to September 28, 2024

Starring Yoo Seungho and Son Hojun as Prior Walter, Lee Taevin and Jung Kyeonghoon as Louis Ironson, Lee Yoojin and Yang Jiwon as Joe Pitt, Go Joonhee and Jeong Hein as Harper Pitt, Lee Hyojung and Kim Jooho as Roy Cohn, Jeon Gukhyang and Bang Juran as Hannah Pitt, Tae Hangho and Min Jinwoong as Belize, and Kwon Eunhye as The Angel