#i wonder how past lee yeon will progress in the story

[prncssguya]

i’m enjoying the pace and the direction tale of the nine tailed part two is going. tbh i didn’t like lee yeon that much in part one, he seemed to prioritize a woman over his own brother and was unnecessarily mean to him. part two is like a redemption story for him. like he actually apologized to lee rang for abandoning him for so many years (long overdue) and he even gave him a reason for leaving (he couldn’t take care of him anymore because he was drowning in grief). part two is showing how much he’s grown and learned from his mistakes. the scene where he saw his past self lamenting over the death ah-eum was hilarious, he was so embarrassed (as he should be!).

in part two, i just wanted to see more of the bros relationship and yeon doing his best to be the big brother he should have always been to rang and it’s not disappointing. lee rang deserves all the love

[theadusa]

Everything I watch in Jan 2024

I was going to post my annual everything I watched in 2023 post but I feel like I missed my opportunity, so here is my everything I watched in January 2024... (Be Warned there are some spoilers, I do try to mark them throughout the review)

My Lovely Boxer (2023, Kim Min-joo)

Main leads: Lee Sang-yeob, Kim So-hye, Park Ji-hwan, Kim Hyung-mook, Kim Jin-woo, Ha Seung-ri, Chae Won-bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 21 to Oct 2, 2023 (KBS2, Monday and Tuesday @21:45 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: Lee Kwon-sook (Kim So-hye) is a boxer who is forcibly thrown back into the world boxing that she has retired from by a sports agent Kim Tae-young (Lee Sang-yeob). I really liked how they balanced the characters. Lee Kwon-sook is a cheerful girl who is constantly haunted by her past. And she is allowed agency to do what she can do, despite the efforts of others. And the relationship between Lee Kwon-sook and Kim Tae-young, though slightly toxic, works in an odd way. I did have problems with how they reconnected her with her father.I personally wouldn’t have forgiven him. However, I loved the relationship with Han Ah-reum, and just how that story ends. I thought it was done very well. Overall I have really enjoyed this drama. Rating: 

Unlock My Boss (2022-2023, Kim Hyung-min)

Main leads: Chae Jong-hyeop, Seo Eun-soo, Park Sung-woong

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 7, 2022 to Jan 12, 2023 (ENA, Wednesday and Thursday @21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 60 min

Thoughts: Oh wow, this is more enjoyable than I imagined. Chase Jong-hyeop as Park In-seong is so fun. He is adorable, down to earth but capable. Jun Se-yeon (Seo Eun-soo) was amazing and I loved her complexities as a character. And the trio of Kim Seon-joo (Park Sung-woong), Park In-seong, and Jun Se-yeon, was so fun and I loved the little family they formed. I literally cried so much during this show for no reason. Like the zoom into the phone literally made me sob each time for no reason. Rating: Who knew electronics can have that much range?

Night Has Come (2023, Kang Min-Ji)

Main leads: Lee Jae-In, Kim Woo-Seok, Choi Ye-Bin, Cha Woo-Min, Ahn Ji-Ho, Jung So-Ri

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 4,, 2023 ( U+mobiletv)

Episodes: 12, 35 to 40 min

Thoughts: This started off really good. A class gets thrust into a mafia game to the death. You along with the characters are wondering who is the mafia among the students and who is forcing this game. It is really interesting, but the episodes follow the same pattern. The end you find everything out, and it's kind of stupied. They had a classmate who committed sucide due to a badly edited image of herself on a skimply clad woman’s body. Which is yeah bad. Then her parents take revenge on the whole class. They are placed in this mafia simulator to repeat the game over and over again. It ends with Lee Yoon-seo able to remember everything, but still trapped in the simulator. Like where their parents are. People must be concerned right. Rating: Sisphyus boulder, I guess…

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023-2024, Go Nam-jeong)

Main leads: Lee Se-young, Bae In-hyuk, Joo Hyun-young, Yoo Seon-ho, Jo Bok-rae

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 6, 2024 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: This was a cute drama. It starts off with a cute romance between a progressive woman in Joseon and a sick scholar. However, it quickly becomes a tragedy and she is sent to the year 2023 with her hand maid Sa-wol (Joo Hyun-young). It quickly becomes a fish out of water for Park Yeon-woo (Lee Se-young), but luckly she meets the recacrante of her late husband Kang Tae-ha (Bae In-hyuk) and they make a deal. It is a cute drama and I loved the cast of characters. Yeon-woo is easy to root for. Sa-wol is adorable, and adapts quickly. Kang Tae-ha is prickly but has a heart of gold. It's dramatic and fun. It's nothing special, but oh is it so good. My favorite part is Yeon-woo and Sa-wol’s relationship. Literally there is a scene with those two that reflects a romantic scene in Perfect Marriage Revenage (2023) which I can’t stop thinking about. Overall I just really enjoyed my time. Rating: butterflies everytime I think about you…

Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023,Choi Jin-young)

Main leads: Woo Do-hwan, Bona, Cha Hak-yeon

Country: S. Korea

Run: March 31 to May 5, 2023 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts:  This was a lot like Taxi Driver. In the way you have an episodic feel with a charismatic male lead seeking revenge and helping people. I had a lot of fun with this show, and I don’t use the comparison lightly either. I really had fun with it. The romance was okay, but I liked the different stories, and the main revenge plot was easy to follow along with. Woo Do-hwan is a great actor and meant to be a leading man. It's definitely  not my favorite and there are a few things that needed changing but it was fun overall! Rating: Who do you call?... Joseon Attorney!!!

KBS Drama Special 14 (2023, Choi Ja-won, Yun Tae-woo, Cho Il-yeon, Choi Yi-kyung, Wi Jae-hwa, Kwon Oh-joo,Park Eun-seo, Jo Soo-yeong, Kim Ik-hyun)

Main leads: Lee Jae-won, Choi Seong-won, and Kim Kang-hyeon,  Kim Won-hae, Min Ji-ah, Ahn Se-bin and Park Ji-ah, Lee Min-jae, Kim Hyun-soo, and Kang Na-eon,  Moon Woo-jin, Park Seo-kyung, Park Ha-sun, Kim Joo-heon, Kim Do-hoon, Chae Won-bin, Kim Dong-hwi, Jo A-ram, Shim Yi-young, Joo Seok-tae,  Ren, Park Sang-nam, Hong Seung-hee, Hahm Eun-jung,  Kim Kang-min, Yoon San-ha, Baek Sung-hyun

Country: S. Korea

Run: OCT 14 to Dec 16, 2023 (KBS, Saturday 21:50 to 22:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 80 min

Thoughts: This is a yearly anthogolgy series that follows various characters in various time periods with various goals. I thought a lot of them were really cool and interesting. “Love Attack” was by far one of my favorites, but I also really liked “The True Love of Madam” which was shocking for me.  It was also hard to find any subs for “Overlap, Knife, Knife” so I had to rely on visual cues and the small amount of Korean I know. But I thought this was a fun anthrologie series, and the stories are fun and fresh. Rating: I love getting short and quick stories like this, its the reason I love short films so much.

A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023-2024, Baek In-ah)

Main leads: Park Gyu-young, Cha Eun-woo, Lee Hyun-woo

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2023 to Jan 10, 2024 (MBC, Wednesday 21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 14, 70 min

Thoughts: Apparently it is very different from the webtoon ( which I have never read), but I found it entertaining. It is cute and lighthearted. I always like when its past lives, I think it adds a fun element to romances. Though I do think the schedule of the show hindered my enjoyment, because it would be so long between episodes. They also lost me at the end, I can not lie. Rating/Spoiler: Also I would be so angery if I found out my family curse passed down for generations was over a misunderstanding. I would want an apology, reparations, and revenge. On another note, I would also be so pissed if I killed myself to save my servant's baby; then my boyfriend finished off the dying father, then cursed the child and its offspring. I would be pissed, like my scarfice was for not. Go off mountain spirit I guess…

My 20th Twenty (2023, N/A)

Main leads: Choi Yu Ju , Jung Su Bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: April 21 to may 27, 2023 (Wavve, Friday and Saturday)

Episodes: 12, 15 min

Thoughts: This show was good for what it was. It has the vibe of a college student film with a mix of those youtube series made by middle schoolers back in 2009. And I mean that with the highest praise. The sound mixing was off, they had limited cast (background actors is what you are looking for), no interesting lighting (but very well light- i.e the student film vibes), and the actors new to the scene. I loved every motherfucking moment. It was so cheesy, the script was bad, and nothing made sense. But I knew that it was made with passion. Rating: It would be horrifying being 20 forever

Taxi Driver Season 2 (2023, Oh Sang-ho)

Main leads: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 17 to April 15, 2023 (SBS, TV Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: Back in action the second season is so much fun and entertaining. I actually like it better than the first. And I said this once and I’ll say it again Lee Je-hoon is made to be an action star. He’s as great as Kim Do-gi. I also liked that Ahn Go-eun (Pyo Ye-jin)  had a larger role this season. I also just love the friendship in the Rainbow Taxi service. Just so fun. Rating: imagine being taken down by a taxi service…

Taxi Driver Special (2023, SBS)

Main leads:  Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 16 to March 4, 2023 ( KBS)

Episodes: 2, 60 -120 min

Thoughts: This was fun seeing the cast reflect on the episodes and their characters. Its also cool just seeing a reply of everything that happened. You could tell how much Lee Je-hoon loves playing Kim Do-gi. Rating: I am excited for the 3rd season…

Brain Works (2023, Park Kyung-seon)

Main leads: Jung Yong-hwa, Cha Tae-hyun, Kwak Sun-young, Ye Ji-won

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 2 to Fe 28, 2023 (KBS2 Monday and Tuesday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 75 min

Thoughts:This show is weird. I think most cop shows are weird but this one especially. I did like the bromance in this, between Shin Ha-ru (Jung Yong-hwa) and Geum Myung-se (Ch Tae-hyun). I did think neuroscience was weird and defies logic. The only good thing about it was when they didn’t completely vilify Pyschopaths, because it tends to be more complicated than the mainstream likes to show. It still left a lot to be desired but it was there. Also when he lowkey kidnapped and torture that kid, oh my god, like he was a little punk and deserved to go to trail but my god. Rating: This is lowkey giving Minority Report tbh…

My Cuteness is about to expire!? (2022,  Tanabe Shigenori)

Main leads: Yamada Ryosuke, Yoshine Kyoko 

Country: Japan 

Run: April 16 to June 11, 2022 (TV Asahi, Saturday 23:30)

Episodes: 9, 23 to 47 min

Thoughts: Maruya is your typical male narcissist who works in sales. He uses his cuteness to stake by in life, to make up for his average skills. One day he is visited by his future self, whom he deems ugly, tells him that his cuteness is going to expire. He decides, after relizing his crush, the only way to prevent this is to date Sanada, a robotic newbie to the sales team. It is cute and Maruya and Sanada are fun as a couple, plus if you have the time you could watch this in a day. Rating: I’m Ichinose calling every single person every 10 seconds sobbing…

My Dearest Pt 1 (2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 4 to Sept 2, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts:  I was not expecting to like this more than I did. The angst in every episode is so insane. Episode 10 was actually unbearable. I also want to take a moment and appreciate Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin), she is such a complicated  character. She would do anything for her friends, she is willing to do the things that no other women (noble) are willing to do even during times of war. She will stab the man assualting her friend and cover it up. She would cut the amicable cord, she would stab the mother’s hand. She isn’t pure of heart, she neveer claimed to be. I love her so much. And her relationship with Lee Jang-hyun. The ending of episode 10. I was sobbing. Rating: I am trying to hype myself up to watch the next 11 episodes, people had to wait inbetween…

The Escape of the Seven (2023, Kim Soon-ok)

Main leads: Um Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Joon, Lee Yu-bi, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoon Jong-hoon, Jo Yoon-hee, Jo Jae-yoon

Country: S. Korea

Run: Sept 15 to Nov 17, 2023 (SBS TV Friday and Saturday 22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 17, 70 to 80 min

Thoughts: This was an insane ride. Literally no one in this likeable except for a few, like I didn’t think Min Do-hyuk (Lee Joon) was as bad as the others but oh lordy. It is so melodramatic, which took me off graud for some reason. Going into it I thought it was going to be a serious thriller, but oh boy was I wrong. It was Makjang. Which is fine, and also coming back in style apparently. I’m sat for season 2, but not with much hope. Rating: I actually don’t know the timeline of any of these events, does it expand years months, idk…

My Demon (2023-2024, Choi Ah-il)

Main leads: Kim Yoo-jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, Kim Hae-sook

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 20, 2024 (SBS TV,  Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: I was excited for this drama. I really liked Doom at Your Service which promised to have a similar vibe. Which it did to an extent. I actually hate Song Kang in romances and only really like him in nonromance shows. However I think he did really well as Jeong Gu-won. I liked the overall Romance in the show. But I did think the revenge plot got uninteresting and confusing after a while. I do like the ending, I was pretty satisfied with where everyone ended up, which has been a long time since I’ve been this satisfied. 

Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023-2024, Kwon Hye-joo)

Main leads: Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 2, 2023 ti Jan 21, 2024 (JTBC, Saturday and Sunday 22:30 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: This was cute and was far above my expectations. I am always uneasy with Ji Chang Wook, I can’t forgive him for the Melting My Heart drama a few years back, but I would do anything for Shin Hye-sun. So I gave this drama a go, and I liked it. I loved the vibes, and I didn’t mind that revenge wasn’t the main plot. It's like the one line “my enemies will take themselves out before you get a chance to swing.” It was heartwarming and I’m glad that Cho Sam-dal was able to find peace in her hometown. I loved the feel of community. I loved all the Friendships. It was very lovely. And I’m happy at the ending. I will also give my entire heart to Cho Hae-dal and Cha Ha-yul. I loved their mother-daughter relationship. I wanted more screen time for both. Rating: I’m glad there is a little piece of heaven…

 Game of Witches ( 2022-2023, Lee Do-Hyun)

Main leads: Jang Seo-Hee, Kim Kyu-Seon, Lee Hyun-Seok, Oh Chang-Suk. Han Ji-Wan, Ban Hyo-Jung

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2022 to April 14, 2023 (MBC, Monday to Friday 19:15 (KST))

Episodes: 119, 25 to 28 min

Thoughts: *Major Spoilers+ Rant ahead.* This show makes me unneccsarly angery. It is a daily drama and a Makjang to boot, so literally put any and all expectations in the gutter. Everything is nonsensical, and drawn out to reach the 119 mark. Storylines get dropped or move way too fast. It has a strange family tree and for a moment every single person was supposbly related. They have so much evidence agsaint the scheming Kang Ji-ho (Oh Chang-suk) and Joo Se-young (Han Ji-wan) but it goes nowhere. Speaking of Kang Ji-ho, he was just straight up dispicable. I would say more than Se-ypung of Ma Hyun-Deok (Ban Hyo-Jung). He was a terrible partner and father from the start. He literally tossed his entire family out the door for Se-young and eventual power. He only paid attention to his daughter Kang Han-Byeol (Kwon Dan-A) when she was able to benefit him. He was at best neglectful and at worst abusive towards her. Han-byeol was the true victim. Hye-soo (Kim Kyu-Seon) actually had a motive in the beginning. She was just pathetic and weak but once she returned they weirdly sidelined her. Also I don’t know why Kang Ji-ho never got prosecuted for trying to kill Hye-soo. Like I find that to be one of his more egregious crimes. Like that is the mother of your child. You gave your child so much trauma, for what? Power? Like when they tried to redeem him at the end I was just fed up. You can’t make hime out to be the big bad guy for 118 episodes, and then have him do one good thing. He is a bad father, and when Han Byeol grows up she will resent him. Rating: Fuck this show, like actually.

 My Dearest Part 2(2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 13 to Nov 18, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 11, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts: More devastating than the first part. Gil-chae is probably my favorite character I have watched. Her journey in this part is absolutely devastating but she survives. I enjoyed the refutement from blame, that people who experienced the worst horrors known are somehow blamed. Gil Chae pushes back on this sentiment herself. This entire time I just wanted Jang-hyun and Gil Chea together. Which took the entire part for them to finally be happy. I do think the ending was kind of wobbly, and they only really needed 10  episodes not the 11. But who am I to say? Anyways I enjoyed the show overall. Rating: My Dear Husband… 

Kokdu: Season of Diety (2023, Kang Yi-heon, Heo Jun-woo)

Main leads: Kim Jung-hyun, Im Soo-hyang, Kim Da-som, Ahn Woo-yeon, Kim In-kwon, Cha Chung-hwa

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 27 to March 24, 2023 (MBC TV Fridays and Saturdays @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: You must be wondering why did you watch this? It only has bad reviews- which is a lie, it is actually a polarizing show. And I can understand. If you go into this show with the lowest expectations imaginable and it might be fun. The scenery is pretty and they make decent use of it. Main Romance is actually not good, I felt no chemistry between Kim Jung-Hyun and Im Soo-hyang. I did like the romance between Tae Jeong-won (Kim Da-som) and Han Cheol (Ahn Woo-yeon) other than that The show overall fell flat. I did like the scenery and the setting. I thought it was fun. Also episode 16 was the most enjoyable episode, which is good for an ending. Rating: I would skip…

I am currently watching:

Marry My Husband

Doctor Slump

Because of Love

Do You Like Brahms?

The Real Has Come!

If you have any kdrama recommendations, please let me know!

[themorningcatch]

Dana’s Korean Drama Favorites

Special thanks to the Bogum to my Taehyung, Jazzie Rivera, for ruining my life via KDramas

CHICAGO TYPEWRITER ( 시카고 타자기) From April to June 2017

Network: tvN

Number of episodes: 16

Cast: Yoo Ah In, Lim Soo Jung, Go Kyung Pyo, Kwak Si Yang, Joo Woo Jin, Yang Jin Sung

Kilig* Factor: Satisfactory. It’s there but not too in-your-face. Seju is just a total tsundere but it’s perfect because (spoiler?) it’s every fangirl’s dream to meet their idol and be able to peel back all their layers and see them for who they truly are. There’s just enough strain between them that makes you root for them but there’s also some solid, cute couple moments that I may or may not have re-watched because huhu when will I ever???

Drama Factor: SO. MUCH. ANGST. I LOVE IT. Since the plot revolves around a tragedy they can’t figure out, when more of the plot is revealed, there is so much upheaval of emotions on their part, which also affects the audience. Not too mention the main cast’s acting is no joke. Absolutely captivating. Every episode feels heavy loaded, especially the last parts. This drama made me tear up again and again because one, there’s just something about past lives that really get to me and two, the lines (thank Jin Soo Wan) and their delivery just hit home so hard. 

Love Triangle Factor: This triumvirate’s affection for each other is the only Kdrama love triangle I will recognize. Their friendship is so special and it LITERALLY transcended lifetimes. The main cast’s chemistry is endearing like they’re all going through so much but they still have each other’s backs. And you know what, I love how Seol didn’t have to pick. I mean, she sort of did, but she didn’t really. Those two boys were both hers and they knew it. Sigh, now I want to be their friend. 

Notes: it really isn’t a surprise that Chicago Typewriter is my favorite drama because the characters are writers/avid readers; there is a touch of supernatural in the plot which is always good in my books; there is amazing acting. I honestly couldn’t get over how well they did it (especially Ko Gyung Pyo who is now one of my favorites); there is a balance between sad and light scenes, all while letting the story progress; and there are really cute moments without it feeling like fan service. I just love this show. I finished it at 4 AM after no sleep and I was physically and emotionally exhausted but at the end, it made me want to sit down and write and work because that’s the kind of storytelling that I want the world to be filled; stories that make people want to claim their roles as heroes in their stories. And heroes they are, this unforgettable trio. The only thing unrealistic about this is that Seju lives in a mansion. Like, I get that he’s a writer and he’s famous, but a mansion? Really? That’s doubtful.

Rating: 10/10 (will watch again!!!)

*(The Filipino word “kilig” is untranslatable but the best description is “the feeling one gets when they experience something romantic” or “that heart fluttering feeling”; whichever suits your fancy.)

W: TWO WORLDS ( 더블유) From July to September 2016

Network: MBC

Number of episodes: 16

Cast: Lee Jong Suk, Han Hyo Joo, Jong Eu Gene, Lee Tae Hwan, Park Won Sang, Cha Kwang Soo, Kim Eui Sung

Kilig Factor: Hyo Joo and Jong Suk have impeccable chemistry and Song Jae Jung (bless her heart) doesn’t let that go to waste. There were times when I would pause the episode just to let what I saw sink in. I thought, “HOW CAN TWO PEOPLE LOOK THIS CUTE???” Some scenes were so kilig, I almost cried. Sure, it was defo fan service for all us thirsty, lonely hoes, however, it is duly appreciated. Many times I would finish an episode and just want a boyfriend because dammit, Lee Jong Suk. Some moments are a little cringe-y when you think long and hard about whether really people do that, but I’m not complaining. I’m perfectly fine with it. 

Drama Factor: Like all good dramas should, the endings that W episodes go through crush my heart. Ultimately, it was just begging for a happy ending. I didn’t think that a sci-fi/rom-com plot was capable of making me upset but I guess that’s the charm of W; that even with loss, confusion, mystery, yearning, and all those painful adjectives, you still sit tight and grip the seat to watch it all unfold. For me, W has one of the best endings ever, a satisfying close, like a sigh of relief. To be honest, when I think about W nowadays, there’s this phantom ache in my chest just because there were scenes when I just thought, “The writer did THAT.” So word of warning, watch with detachment and if not, just be careful.

Creativity Factor: In the span of 16 episodes, W managed to scissor multiple plots and be stitched together and still not confuse the hell out of me. I think that is a plus for creativity. More often than I expected, W’s story line felt different each time a problem began. It’s an absolute roller coaster with a bunch of tropes that sometimes it felt like watching a whole other show. I personally enjoy that. It felt like an adventure, although exhausting at that. But sometimes, it does do something ridiculous that reminds you, this isn’t real anyways but I forgive that for entertainment’s sake. 

Notes: Not entirely a stunning show, but a unique and imaginative one. No other drama has quite left the same impression W did with me. This was the drama I recommended the most to people. It was about creation and art as well so that appealed to me. I love the bits where Song Moo would be sketching and whatever he did started translating to reality. That must’ve been hard to shoot so I commend the director as well. W also felt quick to watch as the plot moved without dawdling too much. It was quite unrealistic and intense but still, incomparable. As for the romance, Yeon Joo and Chul = OTP. 

Rating: 9/10 (when will my life become a drama???)

GOBLIN: THE LONELY AND GREAT GOD ( 쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비) From December 2016 - January 2017

Network: tvN

Number of episodes: 16

Cast: Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae

Kilig Factor: At first, I seriously didn’t like them because of the age difference and it was little weird that Eun Tak called him “ahjussi.” Later on, I got used to it and as their love story progressed, the more I got tangled with it. I absolutely can’t forget the part when it would rain and Eun Tak would cry hysterically and she had no clue why. That was such a powerful and poignant scene for me. Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun are incredible actors. They could convey such deep emotions from their characters and still retain parts of that when they become quirky. With the Sunny/Grim Reaper pairing, it felt a little dragging and draining by the end, to be honest. However, there’s this certain yearning I can’t remove that I want them to end up together. I think their relationship boosted Goblin/Eun Tak’s by showing a contrast. The kind of drama with romantic scenes that made me squeal out loud. 

Drama Factor: I think there were only a few episodes I didn’t shed a tear over. The writing has this fragrant poetry structure to it that just appeals so much to a hopeless romantic like me. I know people don’t talk that way in real life but there’s just a beauty with a good string of words that can support an otherwise mediocre scene. Also, a very, very good cast. There was a lot of crying but it didn’t feel overwhelming (for me) because of how it was delivered. I think Goblin is a show I would watch if I ever doubted the supreme lightness love can bring after a dreadful storm. 

OST Factor: Unforgettable. There’s a reason that Goblin’s is one of the most famous. The roster of performers in that OST is unbelievable. It’s so well chosen, especially once it’s edited as the background for a certain scene. There’s also so much to choose from that the songs post-Goblin binge watching don’t feel sickening; more nostalgic than anything. The OST by itself captures the sweet sadness of Goblin’s story and that’s a pretty good feat for a musical score to achieve. 

Notes: Goblin was the very first Korean drama that I’ve watched properly and voluntarily. I was just really curious at first but then the cinematography, the music, the acting of this show absolutely blew me away. I think I cried majority of the time because I couldn’t believe I was watching such a well written show with representation of people who looked like me! (Asians!!!) I think that like the show’s theme of first love for the 900 year old Goblin, this was the perfect drama to show me how great K-dramas have become, and maybe I’m being eye roll worthy but it felt a little like finding a first love. I have nothing but fondness over Goblin and its clever story full of fate and twists and childlike innocence amidst the dark past they all share. And loneliness is something that is so palpable to me and seeing it suited up like this, made my heart clench and have hope. It’s wonderful like that. 

Rating: 15/10. Just watch it. It’s worth your time. 

REPLY 1988 ( 응답하라 1988) From November 2015 - January 2016

Network: tvN

Number of episodes: 20

Cast: Hyeri, Ryoo Joon Yeol, Go Kyung Pyo, Park Bo Gum, Lee Dong Hwi, Sung Dong Il, Lee Il Hwa, Ryoo Hye Young, Choi Sung Won, Kim Sung Kyun, Ra Mi Ran, Ahn Jae Hong, Kim Sun Young, Yoo Jae Myung, Choi Moo Sung, Kim Sul, Lee Min Ji, Lee Se Young

Kilig Factor: Of course I know most people don’t fall in love with their neighbors that often but this one is an exception. Romantic love wasn’t the main theme for this show however it still came through. And yes, I may be super biased when it comes to Park Bo Gum and Go Kyung Pyo and yes, them just smiling can get me riled up already BUT the love triangle presented towards the end is pretty decent and the falling-back-in-love trope with two characters is realistic and enjoyable enough. I’ve never seen a character demonstrate that kind of attitude (fiercely and stubbornly choosing their career over a relationship) before so it was quite interesting for me. There were little moments where they would reveal that this character actually liked this character, or did this for this character that would just have me punching a pillow, kicking, and screaming because dammit, that’s cute. I think it could have been better though, but as Reply 1988 isn’t solely focused on that, it’s good enough. 

Drama Factor: Okay, compared to Reply 1988, my crying in Goblin was a dripping faucet. This show had me bursting like a waterfall. It was in all those moments that felt real, so, so real, I couldn’t help but weep. It was superb how Lee Woo Jeong wrote this show with tenderhearted conversations and the absolute unfairness of life that everybody can relate to and have such an awesome cast enact it in the messy times of the 80′s and translate into something a girl like me could deeply feel. Towards the end, I cried at every episode (there was always just something that hit me so much!) and it was the kind that would start as a sob and just progress then on. Inside Reply 1988 were lessons and experiences that everybody has felt or will feel or is trying to forget that universally is the same but in a different packaging. This show, to me, is the epitome of a Korean drama, unashamed and so emotional.

Food Factor: To be honest, there were far too many times Reply 1988 made me hungry. From clams to ramyun to kimchi pancakes to fish-shaped bread, they ate everything. I do appreciate it though because it exposed what Korean culture is like and how families have a good meal with each other as an act of love. I find the putting-meat/egg/vegetable/whatever-into-someone’s-bowl gesture as a unique and  simple way of saying you favor someone. I also saw how important food is with the plot because as they go through changes, their food changed! When they were poor, they complained about side dishes. When they got older, the food they ate became different. When something good happens, there’s a whole feast. When watching this show, beware of the scrumptious dishes. I’m still looking for tteokbokki these days. 

Notes: First of all, the set design team is amazing. I didn’t feel the whole Ssamundong late 80′s vibe at first but then it felt a little like home after so many hours of looking at it. There’s a lot of things I want to complain about this show, especially how it didn’t resolve properly. There were so many things left hanging! So many relationships unexplored! So many people’s endings swept aside! I didn’t feel like it got the ending it deserved. However, this was such a heartwarming drama. I haven’t seen such a raw presentation of this kind of suburban city life anywhere and it was familiar to me. I also loved how in an episode, things will happen and at the end, there was actually one unifying theme for all of that. I can say nothing more about Reply 1988 other than it did feel like I was growing up with these kids and I was part of their rag-tag bundle of troublemakers. That’s the most important part, I think, to have your audience feel like they were a part of it all. It means art has done its job well.

Rating: 7/10. A little disappointing but still great. 

(this took me forever to make but it was fun. i might make a part two. maybe...)

[yeonwoojin-is-my-bias]

Queen for Seven Days | Seven Day Queen | 7일의 왕비

Why is There So Much Sympathy for the King and Not the Prince?

[Includes spoilers through end of Ep 8]

At first I saw a few random comments under some YouTube clips from viewers who said they secretly wanted to see the King end up with Chae Kyung and not the Prince. There was a general apology that went something like, “I’m sorry...I can’t help it.” 

But pretty soon this grew into a fairly large wave of general feeling of people having more sympathy for the King than Yeok. This really had me perplexed for awhile because I see the King as emotionally unstable, insecure, drunk with power, a tyrant over his people and fairly crazy while Yeok is the rational one of stable character, intense inner strength and a romantic heart. Oh, did I mention that Yung tried to have Yeok killed? How could anyone have sympathy for Yung?

What the heck is going on? Why do so many viewers not see what I see?

Wae? Wae?! WAE??!

Well, I figured it out.

It’s simple really. Indeed we have seen Yung as being so intensely jealous of his father’s love and preference for his younger brother. So jealous that it drives him to madness, strange behavior, and he even tries to have his brother killed. But we have also seen a lot of Yung’s viewpoint of his relationships with his family up until this point. We’ve seen him adore and love his brother as a child, we’ve seen the pain he had to endure at the loss of his mother and not being able to honor her death, a pain that he is reminded of daily simply by the presence of Yeok’s mother as the Queen Dowager. When the Queen Dowager begs Yung not to kill Yeok, Yung realizes how she truly feels about him. He feels betrayed and his love for her has been for nothing.

We are also shown Yung’s softer side with Chae Kyung. He is kind, playful and loving with her. He takes care of her in times of need and she has been there for him as well. She made a special ceremony for him to honor and pray for his mother. We see a lot of Yung’s pain and his kind side that no one else but Chae Kyung sees. 

No wonder so many feel sympathy for him. We are shown so many events of his past and so many sides of him. We can relate to him.

But what about Yeok? Remember when he first came on the scene as an adult? Heroic, strong, brave, dashing, determined!  Didn’t we expect him to continue in that role? But he didn’t, did he?

Instead we soon find him chilling at the pawn shop, thinking and planning but not acting terribly heroic. He isn’t really doing much of anything but hiding out.

Worse yet, how do we see him with Chae Kyung? Rude and unkind, for the most part. He first encounters her accidentally and is shaken to hear his older brother refer to her as his “wife.” In that moment, for him, all bets are off. All the pain he endured to come back to Chae Kyung was for nothing in his mind because she did not keep her promise. She betrayed him with his own brother! This is what he is thinking. He has no reason to think otherwise. He’s bitter and jealous and can’t seem to let it go. Each time he sees Chae Kyung, he’s flat out rotten to her.

And yet, when danger looms, Yeok always takes her hand and makes an effort to protect her. But the moment they are alone, despite her kindness to him, he can’t help but attack her with harsh words. It’s not until she’s arrested and in true danger for her life, that he he shows how desperately he loves her. But rather than have an immediate plan like most heroes we’ve seen, he’s impulsive, unwise, unsuccessful. What kind of hero is this?

So far he is pretty hard to like. Well, not for me. But I can see why people don’t have a lot of sympathy for him. He’s been a real jerk for the most part.

But nevertheless, deep down inside, a hero Yeok is indeed. Not all heroes are meant to charge in, battle the baddies and save the maiden all in one shot. Yeok is a thinking hero. Once he settles down and accepts his true nature, he hatches a plan to save his beloved that works like a charm.

For drama viewers, though, it’s going to take some time just to warm back up to him. 

Yeok is not the hero we expected or are used to in a drama. In the story so far they have shown very little of his pain or his kind nature like they have with the King. This is the simple reason why viewers are finding it hard to have sympathy for Yeok.

* BUT! *   I sense we are on the verge of having our hearts touched by Yeok again. Why?

In Eps 8 we started to see a change. Not only did we see Yeok live up to his heroic potential, we saw him being sweet and kind to Chae Kyung for the first time since childhood. We saw him choking back his tears at her bedside. His sacrifice of giving back her ring even though it broke his heart. Why did he do that? So she would no longer feel committed to him. He was releasing her from any obligation to him. We saw him being utterly selfless in that moment. We also saw him restraining his feelings and jealousy in letting Yung be the visible hero and carry her off from her suffering on the cross. 

We always knew he loved her, despite his rudeness. But now we actually see him expressing it.

This is the side of Yeok we’ve been wanting to see. And I think it’s going to grow from here on. I think the more we see him showing his love for her, the more people will be on his side. I hope, in turn, we are allowed to see more of his struggle as well, his suffering and how the thought of Chae Kyung was the only thing that gave him the will to live in those difficult years. If we see more of this, we will be able to feel empathy for him. I already do. I see all this in him without having to “see” it on the screen. But most people really need to see these things with their eyes in order to feel for a character.

Yeok’s heroic grand entrance at the end of Ep 8 was the very thing we’d been longing for!  I truly did not see it coming, which made it all the more exciting. A loud, strong voice, the thunder of drums, and shazam!  He is here! He walks right up to his brother and confidently announces who he was. No more hiding, no more secrecy. Even the King is taken aback at this brashness.

At long last arrives our hero! 

All 6ft of him. 100% badass.

Predictions . . .

I believe it is only the beginning. It feels like a pivoting point for the story. I think we will now see more of an unfolding of Lee Yeok. I truly believe that we will see happy, playful, loving times between Yeok and Chae Kyung. They may be short lived, but I believe we will finally get to enjoy their love.

I think we will see an arc of Yeok’s character change and when we do, viewers will come back around to his side. I feel this from the writing and directing style. I sense a gradual path that this story is progressing along. I also feel this in my gut as a fan and follower of Yeon Woo Jin. One thing I’ve noticed in the roles that he’s played, he always chooses a character who is misunderstood early on and later revealed to be exactly who you hoped he’d be and, in fact, always was. I have faith that it will be that same in this case.

[thedatsuzokucollective-blog]

TOP 10 KOREAN DRAMAS

Korean dramas are commonly smaller than usual arrangement TV dramatizations of 16-24 scenes each. While there are an assortment of classifications of K-dramas, the key ones are romantic melodrama, romantic comedy and historical drama. K-dramas are certainly a key main impetus of the Korean Wave which has cleared the world. There are a considerable measure of Korean culture partners who are pulled in to the Korean culture by the K-dramatizations, and we’re one of them!

On account of the complete storyline, addictive generalizations and prominent celebrities that regularly star in these shows, it's no big surprise why k-dramas are picking up prominence around the globe. See below the top 10 Korean dramas:

1. The Producers

A nervy work environment romantic comedy, The Producers revolves around, relevantly, the producers working in KBS's assortment office, highlighting a group of cameo appearances from stars and a course of offhanded references to showbiz, celebrities, and industry hones. Kim Soo-hyun proceeds with his hot dash of hit activities as the blundering new kid on the block maker who's book-savvy and road dumb, while Cha Tae-hyun is his tainted veteran PD sunbae. Gong Hyo-jin plays a veteran PD whose thorny external shell shrouds a milder inward marshmallow, and IU adjusts the give a role as the haughty Kpop hotshot. Shows are delivered, slip-ups are made, and individuals begin to look all starry eyed at numerous circumstances over.

2. Sensory Couple

The story initiates with our two leads, Choi Mu Gak (Park Yoo Chun) and Choi Eun Seol (Shin Se Kyung), who are both tormented by family murders. Eun Seol, who gets hit by a car in the wake of seeing her parents' murder, experiences memory misfortune. She is stunned to find that she sees odd, drifting hues and shapes, which she later distinguishes as smells. Mu Gak is so torn by the wrongful demise of his sister that he loses rest and gets to be desensitized to all torment. Their lives in the long run impact as they unite to at last catch the "Bar Code" serial killer, who is associated with the murder of their relatives.

3. Pinocchio

At the point when a false media free for all leaves Gi Ha Myeong (Lee Jong Suk) without a family, he is received into the group of a granddad who supposes he is his dead child, Dal Po. Dal Po expect this commonly useful personality. Choi In Ha (Park Shin Hye) and her dad move in with In Ha's granddad after a frightful separation and discover Dal Po living there, however consent to keep the mystery for granddad's purpose. At the point when Dal Po finds In Ha's mom (Jin Kyung) is the columnist who led the assault on his family, he holds a genuine resentment against In Ha, his now successful niece. In any case, as they grow up next to each other, that inclination is relentlessly supplanted by another, one he doesn't set out to vocalize. At the point when In Ha chooses to emulate her mom's example and be a columnist, Dal Po is frightened, not able to confide in any correspondent after his disaster. This ends up being a hard move for In Ha, who is a Pinocchio - someone who hiccups when they lie. With an end goal to bolster her and inevitably discover equity for his family, Dal Po settles on a considerably harder choice, to end up distinctly a correspondent close by In Ha. Before long, they wind up at contending organizations, working on the narrative of the week, as well as together in equity for Dal Po's family and retaliation against In Ha's mom.

4.  Kill Me Heal Me

This comedy-melodrama acting cross breed demonstrate highlights Ji Sung as a chaebol agent juggling seven different identities, giving a really epic comedic (and dramatic) performance as the strait-bound prevailing persona tries to hold his wacky modifies under wraps. Actually, things go greatly amiss. Hwang Jung-eum plays the doctor who helps him recuperate the excruciating scars exacted by a traumatic past, and begins to look all starry eyed at him en route. Chaebol plots, control gets, family strife, and amnesia all apply, however the show is particular and the scenes are paced rapidly enough to skirt feeling like Cliche Central. The drama exceeds expectations in depicting the models and passionate complexities of its characters because of outstanding acting from Ji Sung and befitting troupes. Every one of Do Hyun's personalities speaks to an alternate some portion of him: anger, guilt, sadness, and so on that make them unmistakable and significant.

5. Mask

Mask is a melodrama about a lady named Byun Ji Sook (Soo Ae) whose family was profoundly in the red and being undermined by loan sharks. A man named Min Seok Hoon (Yeon Jung Hoon) who is frantic for more riches and influence then arranges a progression of occasions that permits Ji Sook to replace a rich lady named Seo Eun Ha who looks precisely like her. By marrying a rich beneficiary, Choi Min Woo (Joo Ji Hoon), and accepting the character of Seo Eun Ha, Ji Sook is given the chance to help her family. In any case, she is not set up for what Seok Hoon has in store for her.

6. School 2015

Proceeding with the School establishment, this arrangement unfurls when a victim of bullying all of a sudden turns into the It Girl when she's confused for the twin sister she never knew she had. Amnesia gives the reason as she sinks into the new persona, and overnight she picks up companions, a mother, and the love of two young men. In any case, her past begins to get up to speed with her when her previous domineering jerk exchanges to her school, and she needs to recover her character while sorting out the secret encompassing what happened to her twin. Who Are You: School 2015 demonstrates that it merits its prevalence with a remarkable mix of holding puzzle and delightful secondary school sentiment. Also the wonderful acting exhibitions from lead performing artist Kim So Hyun, who plays twin characters Lee Eun Bi and Go Eun Byul, and rookie actress Jo Soo Hyang, who plays fundamental rival Kang So Young. I'm thoroughly inspired with how the youth actresses convincingly channel their character's different personas, making them considerably more life-changing.

7.  You’re All Surrounded

Brother time between Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won was typically incredible, yet even the side characters gave me warm fuzzies inside my heart. The chemistry of the focal cast gave this demonstrate a ton of room to conquer drawbacks. As a feature of the cast associations, I additionally appreciated the relationship between Seung Gi's Dae Gu and Go Ara's Soo Sun. The couple was permitted to create actually, and, notwithstanding Dae Gu's initial protestations that Soo Sun was an empty head, they had common regard and fellowship. Not to ruin anything, but rather I additionally cherished how the authors dealt with Dae Gu's love admission. They had a million chances to make him flee out of honorable stupidity, yet they picked to take the more subtle course, and the relationship worked better therefore of that decision.

8. Healer

Healer had a balanced thrown. Rather than concentrating on the primary leads with possibly maybe a couple fun side characters encompassed by one-dimensional filler characters, the world of Healer was full to the overflow with individuals you really wanted to love and think about. I can't pinpoint who my most loved character is. It's plainly Min Ja—until Young Shin's father makes me cry. Alternately small Healer flies up to spare the day. That is to say, my most loved part of the whole show wasn't even a romantic moment—it was that stunning training arrangement amongst Teacher and Healer in the abandoned building. As Healer/Jung Hoo/Bong Soo, he could pass on more feeling with the smallest little jerk of a facial muscle than numerous performers and on-screen characters do with an enormous shouting fit. That, as well as he acted with his whole body rather than simply his face. Maybe that is his theater foundation at work. Obviously, we can't discuss him without his leading lady. I haven't generally had solid emotions whichever way about Park Min Young previously, however I felt that she suited this part well, and the Jung Hoo/Young Shin couple was my most loved sort of OTP—one where I could perceive any reason why they needed to be as one, and I trusted the relationship advancement wholeheartedly.

9. City Hunter

Lee Min Ho plays Lee Yoon Sung, a man raised to render retribution on the administration authorities in charge of his father's death. He is instructed in America and afterward comes back to work in the Blue House where he can penetrate the system to discover the guilty parties. In the process he turns into the City Hunter, an unknown wrongdoing contender. Consider Batman, however without an outfit. He additionally becomes hopelessly enamored with a young lady who he adores yet needs to secure so he pushes her away is in run of the mill superhero design. It's an awesome story of love and revenge and the decision between the two. It had just enough of the immense kdrama adages we generally expect and adore, alongside some new plot turns. I was dazzled all through. Park Min Young is the ideal blend of quality and exquisiteness as Kim Na. The character Kim Na is skilled and dedicated and having a solid feeling of what's good and bad. She is an outstanding courageous woman. That, as well as she doesn't require Lee Yoon Sung to give her a makeover! I'm truly delighted in this leading lady. Prosecutor Kim Yong-joo, played by Lee Joon-hyuk, is the City Hunter's opponent in both wrongdoing battling and love. Like the City Hunter, he will probably reveal defilement and convey malicious government officials to equity, yet dissimilar to the City Hunter, he believes in doing it by the book. He tries to find the character of the City Hunter since he believes he is perilous. He is likewise the romantic adversary of the male lead, as both strive for the consideration of Kim Na. Once again this is like Batman, yet at the same time crisply. I'm truly delighted in this character, as he gave an incredible thwart to the lead and additionally extra gorgeous sight.

10.  Gu Family Book

A melodrama epic about the great trouble of Choi Kang Chi, conceived as a half-human-half-mythical creature, who experiences battles with a specific end goal to live more like a human than any other person in spite of not having the capacity to wind up distinctly human. He is the child of Gu Wol Ryung, the guardian of Jiri Mountain, and Yoon Seo Hwa, a normal human. Choi Kang Chi later was raised by adopted family. He grows up as a straightforward character who's brimming with interest and one day, he understands that he's a half-human-half-monster through a specific episode and begins carrying on with his second life. While experiencing the battles, he met Dam Yeo Wool who is an ace of martial arts and archery at young age and afterward, they both go fall in love for each other. The cinematography, sets and areas, the acting from a prevalent gathering cast of a significant number of Korea's finest entertainers, the haunting, poetic and savvy script composing, the excellent outfits, the stunning musical soundtrack, awesome hand to hand fighting, and impeccable course all consolidated to push this convincing show toward the highest point of my top picks' rundown. Regardless of the possibility that you are not customarily pulled in to historical era K-drama, simply try this one out I'm certain you'll be snared. Specifically, the initial two scenes are the absolute most stunning and amazingly sensational and enthusiastic television that I've ever seen in my life, and I cried hysterically at what happened to the characters of the guardians of the lead male character in this show, played by the superb and committed on-screen character Seung Gi Lee.