#kdrama ramble

[kuronekonerochan]

Going in blind watching a new drama be like (first episode spoilers for Castaway Diva)

Castaway Diva

Both @kdramastuff and @msisoverthegardenwall recomended this drama to me, so I gave it a try, but I didn't read a synopsis so I went in blind and boy oh boy was it entirely unexpected.

The vibes I got:

*Cutesy poster of a woman playing the guitar with hippie staging

* Word Diva in the title

Brain thinks:

"Oh, romcom about a former star who falls from a yacht (the title also gives me rich Goldie Hawn vibes - like the movie Overboard)"

Also, her name sounds like the Portuguese word for getting stoned and the hippie vibes of the poster aren't helping.

^^ me, before watching, a sweet summer child.

^^ Me, while watching the first episode.

The plot:

2 highschool kids who are beaten almost to death daily by their fathers.

One reports it, the cop father of the other shows up and forces her to take back the complaint and even apologize.

Both kids try to escape, from an island on a ferry bc the abuse is so bad they think they will end up dead soon if they don't run away.

Boy sacrifices himself to stop girls father from getting to her, clearly ready to be beaten to death in the process (and almost is) so at least one of them can live. Turns out his sacrifice is in vain.

Abuser father finds girl, she'd rather throw herself overboard (ha, my witch side DID sense the Goldie Hawn connection...witchy sense continues to work in mysterious ways) and probably die than go back.

Conclusion:

Both teen actors deserve all the awards. Damn!

I'm hooked but boy did I go blind into this expecting something else entirely.

[suiana]

you guys. yandere! kdrama bully harem x american transfer student! reader.

imagine transferring to a south korean school/college because of your parent's job or something. you don't really care much, knowing you'll most likely be a loner due to not speaking the same language as the other students.

what you didn't expect was to immediately get cornered by a group of bullies right after your first class.

they act like the typical kdrama bullies, mocking you in korean as they pour milk over your head. you don't understand anything they say, staring up at them like a doe in the headlights before frowning.

"what the- what did i ever do to you guys?"

they snicker, recording your reactions as they talk back in korean. of course, you don't understand anything. you don't speak korean.

you were going to let this slide so you could have a peaceful rest of your life here until... they forcefully tugged on your hair and shoved their phones in your face. damn it, the lights were so bright!

gritting your teeth, you smack their hands away and grip the strap of your bag tightly. how were you going to make them understand you wanted nothing to do with them?!

ah...

that's right...

the universal language of violence.

you pull out a gun from your bag, immediately pointing it at them as you cock the rifle. oh yeah, of course you brought your gun. why wouldn't you? how else would you protect yourself?

"뭐라고?!"

"oh yeah, you're scared now huh?"

you wave the gun in front of their face, glaring at them before you snicker.

"yeah, that's right. if you guys don't stop i'll blow your brains out. have you forgotten i'm american huh?"

you threaten, pointing the gun at them. you watch as they slowly back away, eyes all wide and shaky as they put their hands up in a surrender pose.

"n-no violence... okay? we... we just joking!"

"yeah and i'll just be joking when i shoot a bullet into your leg."

"씨발-"

"oh you're gonna curse me now huh? you think you're so tough?"

"no no! sorry... we go."

you watch as they quickly disperse, leaving you by yourself all drenched in milk. you merely roll your eyes, keeping your gun away.

damn bullies. they think they're all tough and shit. hopefully you never see them again.

...

the next day they all come crowding you like a group of lost puppies, giving you money and trying their best to communicate.

what the hell?!

[psalm40speakstome]

Can you believe this drama is giving high school romance, college romance, 30 something romance, enemies to lovers, love at first sight and superstar falls for the normal girl who is his fan ALL in one drama?

We are so blessed

[luvermore]

Choi Seung is a great example of this trope we see a lot in media, the best friend who practically lived in the main leads home. They always adore the mc's family, calls the parents of the mc their parents, and feels happiest when they are there. But internally they crave for their family to be that way. Even thought they are angry, hurt, and feel neglected, they are always waiting for their parents to have a moment. Where they realize the mistakes they have made, where they decide to change for the better, to embrace their family. Seok-Ryu and her family may have been a surrogate family to Seung-Ho but it also made him all the more broken. Seeing how easily it came for Mi-Suk to choose her two kids and also choose him was heart warming but it was also heartbreaking. It was slowly making him happy, making him feel chosen, while highlighting that the people who are supposed to do it, aren't. His mother didn't mean what she said, she loves her son, and mostly said those things to hurt her husband. But there was also some truth to it, and everyone knows that.

It also shows us why he kept his feelings buried for so long. We tend to hold onto friendships more than relationships because a relationship can always end. But your friendship is supposed to be this unbreakable bond. So if he confessed, he could lose what little family he ever had. He's an adult but this just proves that the little kid who felt like he ruined his mothers life and career, still exists.

[ashertickler]

aaron and smartass.

enemies to lovers.

i'm talking office tensions, forced proximity, interpersonal standoffs, and miscommunication

JUST SAYING. THAT WOULD BE DEVOURED BY ME AND MY FELLOW AARON STANS... NEED IT SO BADLY... UGH GIMME IT FIC WRITERS PLSSS

[aetherialpiplup108]

So...episode 5 of Love Next Door implies that Seung-hyo's love for Tae-Hee was never as strong or passionate as his love for Seok-ryu, but honestly? I kind of disagree with that assessment, not just because Seung-hyo actively denies it but because it's pretty clear that he's the kind of person who loves quietly. He's not one who conjures up grand compliments on demand but someone who watches their lover closely through their lows and highs, thinks about their perspectives to help them make their own choices, and shows his affection through little things like washing their clothes or sitting with them in the rain. Tae-Hee uses the metaphor that his love was like a low flame on a gas stove and...I know the show is trying to say he wasn't as invested in his relationship with Tae-Hee, but I also think that analogy fits his relationship with Seok-Ryu, having a love that's not aired out on display, something constant and steady, something that has lasted years and still offers a place to return to (plus cooking metaphors rahhh). It's not a bad thing to have a calmer, collected type of romance that honestly provides the stability that both of them needed throughout their lives—nor is Tae Hee's desire for a more passionate, openly affectionate relationship wrong either. I think ultimately, the reason Tae Hee and Seung-hyo were incompatible isn't that one of them wasn't putting in enough effort because he was subconsciously still in love with his childhood crush living an ocean away, but because they both needed different things from their relationship and expressed their loves in different ways.

[mooninagust]

being into dramas where romance is one of the main points of the story is so fun... *cries in single*

[threehours-aday]

before i even knew of house's existence, i've watched another couple of obviously gay, definitely too hot doctors

they're chaotic. they bicker all the time. they're one mean older man and one fluffy marshmallow nepo baby. and despite the show giving them both women to chase, i refuse to acknowledge their straightness. like, come on. they even shared a body at times.

they're cha young-min and go seung-tak of ghost doctor.

[sunlighthroughthe-ashes]

scholar and novelist stacey d'erasmo uses a phrase in her writing: "meet me in the if."

it's to do with the nature of imaginative intimacy — the role people go on to play in our lives even after a chance, momentary meeting; never to be repeated.

how they linger, and blossom in memory.

i think it's a beautiful summation of sol and sunjae's love story — "meet me in the if:" the imprecise air of the past — the promise of possibility.

the entirety of lovely runner is steeped in the purple ink of potential — sol and sunjae live between the "what-ifs," the "could-have-beens," the "missed you by just a second."

turning time back gives sol a chance to save him — and gives sunjae a chance to fall in love with her all over again.

to fail in better ways. to get their story right.

to harness the uncertain magic of lives already lived, there to be re-moulded again. reshaped by love.

however this ends, i know what they'll say to each other: "meet me in the if — where you and i will finally make sense."

"where you and i can finally be happy."

[suiana]

(yandere! kdrama bully harem x gn! american reader) (jjk au edition)

peace and quiet.

you were currently waiting for your lecture to begin as people slowly filled in the seats of the lecture hall. it was rather... quiet. quiet but peaceful, you know? you liked it.

a time without annoyances. a time without-

"자기야!"

oh.

you glance at you harem of... annoying admirers before looking back at your table. damn it, they just had to ruin your peace, didn't they?

you try your best to ignore them, to not give them the attention they so desperately craved. i mean, if you did give it to them they'd just annoy you even more so like, obviously you'll just ignore them right?

unfortunately they made it hard to ignore them.

"you! you so pretty! i like!"

"i like uh... burger and sprite!"

"what's your kakao?!"

"hey baby do you want to go on a date? we can ignore all these other bastards and it'll just be us two-"

damn it, these people were so freaking annoying.

clenching your fists, you shut your eyes and try to focus on your breathing. deep breaths. deep breaths. don't get out of control...

"자기야, 사랑해!"

"a-american like uh... sprite? panda express!"

"kakao? kakao?"

"baby you're so attractive. damn, i've never seen someone more gorgeous than you, you know? you just make my mind go insane and-"

ugh! these idiots just would not shut up, would they?!

"the soul mourns the death of a restricted one. you've yet to taste the beauty of freedom. you've entered the dead zone of my shooting range."

instantly, you hear the gasps of your harem as they immediately start mutteeing curses in korean. yeah, serves them right-

"domain expansion, deadeye sanctuary. cursed technique silver barrage."

the entire lecture hall around you suddenly changes and a bunch of guns start to materialize, shooting your harem as they desperately bring out their stands and cursed techniques to counter your attacks.

"씨발- AH!"

"N-No! Panda express?!"

"guh... kakao..."

"simple domain- shit, baby we're sorry! we didn't mean to- stop shooting us!"

yes! feel the wrath of the bullets! that's what you get for messing with an american...

"don't mess with an american... and also, i like raising canes."

you look down as you suddenly feel your stomach growl. oh damn, you're hungry, huh?

"huh, guess it's canes time. and after that i'll get some crumbl-"

yummy in my tummy >w<

[psalm40speakstome]

“I didn't fall in love with you. I walked into love with you, with my eyes wide open, choosing to take every step along the way.

I do believe in fate and destiny, but I also believe we are only fated to do the things that we'd choose anyway.

And I'd choose you; in a hundred lifetimes, in a hundred worlds, in any version of reality, I'd find you and I'd choose you”

Kiersten White, The Chaos of Stars

[luvermore]

I truly did not think a scene could be sadder than everyone finding out about Seok-Ryu's illness...then this scene happened.

[samwiseyoufool]

hae-in: my goal is to part ways with you for good

also hae-in: *runs outside to wait for hyun-woo to get home*

[wullu]

While it is now clear that romance is absolutely on the table, I fear I have to make a couple of amendments to my previous post.

The biggest deterrents to Justitia and Da On's romance is no longer the age gap or society or even the demon/human condition. But rather: murder Or rather the incompatible meeting of demon justice and human justice.

Justitia is absolutely doing her job, though I think she could have done without the equivalent of a cat bringing their owner dead rodents/birds/critters etc. Still, her work is valid.

At the same time, so is Da On's suspicion because I dont think murder, however deserved, is fair in his eyes. Which is a little ironic because he did aggravate the situation in the Cha Minjeong case by needling the toxic sludge boyfriend -- side note, I am not sure needling is the right word, but when I was watching that scene, I was like bro there's no need to be running your mouth to that man right now. It's the same as kicking a hornet's nest. Still, I digress. Anyway, his own trauma plus his work as a policeman means that the man has strong ideas about following the letter of the law and that justice be served through the appropriate channels -- even when he was annoyed at the rulings presented before.

Hmm, coming to think of it, the real tussle will be how Justitia metes justice and Da On's inability to reconcile that with his growing interest in her. And perhaps, it also forces him to re-examine his perception of black and white/good and bad in contrast to Justitia's measurement of absolutes. And maybe Justitia will also have to revisit what it means to be human and allow room for shades of grey. Right now, Da On is like a very fascinating plaything, so new in his shininess, but also attractive with his convictions and reasoning. So it makes sense she's interested and wants to know more. But falling further also means humanizing herself and giving up a little bit of her core demon identity, which may not feel so tenable in the long run, or is even possible, considering that the penalty for love is death.

I dont even know if the drama will touch on all these aspects, but it sure is fun to contemplate all these.

[mooninagust]

watching dramas where the main focus is love as someone who's never experienced that be like

[tottallyana]

lovely runner gives me twinkling watermelon feels, and twinkling watermelon is one of my now all-time favorite dramas