#of how the hell shin joo | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

tiffanylamps · 2 years ago

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𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬 𝑩𝒆𝒚𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑬𝒗𝒊𝒍 (𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐚)

𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏: 나타나다 Pals, I wrote this post months ago (maybe at the end of last year??? I don't know). I wrote it with the intention of rewatching the whole show and doing episode reviews/documenting my musings. But.... life got in the way (as it always does).

But as today is the two year anniversary of the first episode airing, I thought I might as well share what I wrote. Even though it only covers the first like... 20 minutes of the episode lol

Having said that, I will note that there's definitely an abundance of rambling, as well as me taking the piss out of Joo Won, and of course, me thirsting HARD for Shin Ha Kyun 😌 So, are you wearing your glasses? Cause, I am. fyi, you're going to need a drink and maybe a snack because this is a very long post. I hope you enjoy what I share. Please note: Do not read this if you haven’t seen the whole show. It contains major spoilers.

Part 1/2 (??) Okay, out of all 16 episodes, the first is the one I have seen the most. I have previously done a ridiculous review of it, which you can read here. ⬅️ Now for my unorganised thoughts (which have been organised more as bullet points than anything else):

I like BE’s intro/title sequence. There are some very sexy scene selections and colour grading. I’m personally a little fatigued when it comes to glitch art, so the little 90s-inspired glitch effects don’t “wow” me. But I still appreciate that they included this in the overall design of the show’s aesthetic

here are some of my favourite shots

⬆️ THAT'S GAY! Dong Sik looking down with his eyes open and Joo Won looking up with his eyes closed??? heaven vs hell, open mind vs closed mind. Bound together by cuffs (their version of the red thread of fate) on THEIR LEFT HANDS. resting their heads against each other????? Excuse me, but this has no right being so obvious

I didn’t like the soundtrack when I first watched the show… I know… I know. I did like a few songs but overall, I wasn’t too keen on the general sound. Now, however??

i'm grooving Also, does anyone else get... you know... in the opening scene when Dong Sik demands Ji Hoon to put his flashlight into the air so he can find him?? 😳 sir, give me a chance! I like a logical man (who canonically was just flirting with his future boyfriend)

Also, I like that Ji Hoon is wearing a yellow and blue raincoat in this scene. I wonder if this is a slight nod to the yellow raincoat serial killer, Yoo Young Chul?? Also, visually, it is an early indicator of Ji Hoon’s age, as he (out of the three men in the scene) is the only one wearing bright primary colours, which is often associated with young children/younger people. It could also be a subtle indication of his profession, as the South Korean police use blue, yellow, and red as a part of their emblem's colour scheme. It is also an efficient way of adding contrast to an otherwise very dark and semi-monochromatic scene.

"동식아"/ “Dong Sik-ah”- JUST YES. Through the power of honorifics alone, we are able to gauge the nature of Ji Hoon’s relationship with Dong Sik, before they've even shared the same space onscreen.

Including Dong Sik’s heartbeat during this part of this scene - told entirely from his perspective - is a very nice touch of immediately humanising him to the audience and indicating the gravity of this event.

Cut to the year 2000 and we're immediately shown the killer (1 of 2). Jin Mook’s van is shown passing through various locations throughout Manyang as a way to establish the location, the events of the era, and the personality of the town. But what the creators do so artfully here is they showcase to us how Jin Mook was able to go on for 20 years without being suspected by his fellow townsfolk. We, the audience, just like everyone else in the story, do not pay attention to him/his van. Instead, we focus on the people and locations he passes through. He is almost invisible, but he is like a poison or an air bubble passing through the bloodstream, you can’t always see him, but he kills the host either way.

This sequence of events also mirrors how Joo Won is introduced

We are shown Jin Mook delivering a bouquet of flowers for a funeral (belonging to the Lee family. Which I'm guessing Jin Mook maaay have worked for or at the very least, helped out), and then immediately to Yu Yeon’s fingers.

Then we are shown Yu Yeon in the glow of the hazy sunlight basking through the church window as if she is an angel or more of a memory than a living person.

“Even when injustice strikes our world. Even when mistrust spreads. We will only believe in our Lord.” “Our world is covered in darkness. Lord, please light our world.”

These are the lyrics to the song the choir is singing. How… yeeeeah… how appropriate for the rain scene in episode 16.

I love the tenderness we see in Kim Young Hee (Yu Yeon and Dong Sik's mum). Honestly, I adore her! What a wonderful mother that loved her children and tried to do right by them. I love that Dong Sik got his curly hair from his mother, and I love that he has her wide smile (it's a smile the twins share). I love that you can see how proud Young Hee is of Yu Yeon and that, even though Dong Sik is “bringing down the family name”, you can tell that she still loves him dearly.... even if he’s a little shit.

Also, we do not give enough credit to the makeup department for the way they transformed Park Myung Shin’s appearance.

Oh god. Not Dong Sik not turning up to his grandmother’s funeral service…. In a scene where they just brought up the concept of karma, and how Dong Sik is bringing bad karma to the family… 🙃🙃

Here he is choosing not to say goodbye to a family member (in a church, no less), then later in the same day, he loses his twin sister, and then 3 years later, his father dies. He doesn’t go to the funeral of one family member and loses two family members by force…. Almost like he’s being punished for his “poor” choices. He was released from the army to attend his father’s funeral (where he was the “상주”/Sangju/Chief Mourner. He is shown all alone before Sang Bae came to support him), and then much later on, he is shown again choosing to go and to be the Chief Mourner of two more funerals (Kang Min Jeong and Nam Sang Bae). It is only when he completes this does he find out who Yu Yeon's killer is; almost as if he’s made up for his bad karma??? Am I pulling smoke out of my arse here? Probably

NOT DONG SIK BADLY SINGING ALONG TO A SONG WITHOUT A CARE! Nope. nope. STOP 😭😭😭

I find the way the three females in this scene interact with Dong Sik to be veeerrry interesting. There are no giggles, no exchanging of telling glances, no blushing, teasing, and definitely no flirting. None of them finds Dong Sik attractive (they have no taste) or believes that he finds them attractive. There is no indication of any romantic connection between him and them. They only view him as someone they can openly laugh at because he’s (in their eyes) an annoyance: someone worthy of their laughter. This scene could have been an easy way for the show to make Dong Sik het, but they didn’t do that, leaving his sexuality and relationship status during his younger years unknown to us. (Considering he didn’t go to church and that he has no romantic tension with any of the girls in his age group, it really says a lot👀)

I really like Bang Ju Seon… she’s so cool and a little mean but I respect her for it! Although....

This is uncool. But I do like that they interrogated this into the story and that it was subtly explored through Dong Sik's actions throughout the show

Young Dong Sik is really given way too much shit. They’re acting like he’s the worst kid on the block (i’m exaggerating), when in reality, he’s a 20-year-old hanging out at a music cafe in his local town. Yeah, he “starts fights”* (as noted in the church scene) but his face isn’t bruised or bloody. He’s not shown smoking or doing drugs; he’s not getting anyone pregnant. He’s just a teenager in a small religious town, who’s clearly feeling the pressures and restrictions placed upon him. He’s just trying to have fun. He’s not sure where his life is going next and honestly, that’s super okay. Poor baby, he really didn’t deserve what that town did to him. *throughout his childhood, Dong Sik would beat up bullies. But I do love how these small details of his teenage self are used as fuel for the fire. Because of his “bad” behaviour, the people in the town were quick to believe that he committed sororicide. The detail that Dong Sik is "nothing" in comparison to Yu Yeon was probably seen as a motive (he was angry about being second best and was jealous of YY, etc)

Yu Yeon has a picture of her and her mum together [top left-hand corner], just like Jae Yi.

Also, her room reminds me of Min Jeong’s

I like the detail of Yu Yeon sneaking out. It shows that she and Dong Sik aren’t as different as everyone makes them out to be. Also, I like that we’re led to believe that it was Dong Sik that “lured” her out of the house.

The Lee’s family home was so nice!! 😭😭😭😭

NO! NOt the camera lingering on where Yu Yeon’s fingers end up!

YU YEON AND DONG SIK BOTH WEAR PLAID SHIRTS. Do you think she’s wearing one of Dong Sik’s shirts??? Cause I do.

I also like that the camera focuses on Yu Yeon tucking her hair behind her ear. In visual media, this is often used to convey bashful/shyness/romantic feelings from young women. So, without words, we are being told that she’s thinking about/on her way to meet a romantic love interest.

ALSO!!! Due to the fact that the city council weren’t distributing funds equally throughout Manyang (it’s noted that they spend their budget on the densely populated areas), the lights are turned off on the road. This leads to Yu Yeon becoming scared and deciding to run to meet up with Jung Je. Perhaps, if the lights have been left on, she wouldn’t have felt scared, meaning she wouldn’t have run, and wouldn’t have ended up coming across Jin Mook murdering Ju Seon… meaning… maybe she wouldn’t have died that night.

I get shivers every time they pan down to Ju Seon's body

The religious imagery!!! The angel statue is first shown with Yu Yeon, then Ju Seon, Young Hee, Dong Sik, and then finally, Joo Won.

Okay, so this heartbreaking scene of Young Hee finding her daughter's fingers. Other than the obvious (and the way she stretches her hand out towards Yu Yeon, foreshadowing how even though she can no longer hold her daughter, she'll never let go😭😭), please note that Dong Sik and his mother have the same singing voice 🫠

Then we cut back to 20 years later/present day. But the show makes sure to show us that Seoul expanded and grew, but Manyang stayed the same/got worse (a.k.a became purgatory)

The female gaze is so sexy here. THIS IS ~THE~ INTRODUCTION SCENE OF ALL INTRODUCTION SCENES. Can you believe that Joo Won got to sleep with this man??? I honestly think about this scene every time I wash my face… that’s probably super sad but… here we are. Also, I know it doesn't need to be said but.... SHIN HA KYUN 😩😩😩😩

The shot of Dong Sik walking through his family home, with the camera following him to reveal the way the house hasn’t changed (has only been touched by time) is one of my favourite shots of the show. We are given so much information with a singular pan of the camera 😩

We are shown Dong Sik walking through his family home, stuck in time. Then the next introduction we are given is Joo Won, in his flashy sports car on his way to Manyang. It’s the equivalent of a slow-mo shot of a bullet leaving the barrel of a gun and the journey it takes before it reaches its destination. (Dong Sik is walking around in circles. Joo won is moving in a straight line, heading directly to Dong Sik. DS is shown wearing browns and reds. JW is first seen in a bright blue car. Dong Sik is shown as a person inside a family home, and Joo Won is shown inside a machine. What I’m trying to get at is that they’re shown as opposites)

NO. FUCK OFF! I JUST REALISED SOMETHING: jwds are both shown twice through glass/mirrors during their introduction sequence. (side note: I love that they're given equal attention during this sequence, it really establishes that this is their story)

Dong Sik is shown shaving- as in shedding a layer, preparing himself for the day, and getting ready for his next performance (which is something he has to overcome)

We first see Dong Sik through a fogged-up mirror, then through a completely distorted mirror. Further proving that the person we are being shown is viewed as a reflection of our perspective of him, and not the person he truly is

Joo Won is shown looking through the car window with the sun beaming on it- detailing to us that he is blinded (which is something he has to overcome)

His view is insular and dictated by the "bubble" he was brought up in/keeps himself in. He also looks out to the world through an unclear perspective.

Dong Sik is shown looking at his own distorted reflection, whereas Joo Won is looking out through the glass. Neither has a clear vision of what they're about to face. (And only when Dong Sik isn’t hiding behind his facade and Joo Won starts seeing with clear eyes are they able to unveil the truth.)

Am I making a mountain out of a molehill??? Or am I onto something here?

(Also, it should be illegal for a show to have two leads that are this attractive. That is genuinely one of the things I liked the most about BE, the first time around and even now😂 In my opinion, Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Goo are equally matched in their looks. Ngl, it’s a nice element to their partnership on screen haha)

When I saw Jin Goo’s face for the first time, I remember thinking, “gosh, he’s wearing a lot of makeup” 😂😂 But I will note that I like the way the makeup department decided to present Joo Won. He isn't too dulled up, he's not perfect (you can see Jin Goo's skin texture, his scars, and some spots/zits every now and then) and in comparison to other shows Jin Goo's been in, he looks way less airbrushed, and more like a person wearing makeup. It just looks like Joo Won is choosing to wear makeup, which I personally really like for his character. Basically, he's pretty but not perfect

[Cut to the salon scene] I like that it is noted that Lee Kang Ja’s husband is a cop, and how it’s understandable for the audience to believe that Dong Sik is her husband… but nah 👀😂 Also, I swear that Lee Kang Ja calls Dong Sik “Dong Sik-ah” (which… given her and Gil Goo’s involvement in his framing and the cover-up that ruined Dong Sik’s life, is suuuuper fucked up)

Also, I like that class and financial income is brought up in this scene. It adds substance to the kind of area Manyang is

I reaaaally like that we get to see Dong Sik doing his job without Joo Won making us believe that he’s guilty of something. We see that Dong Sik is observant, patient, kind, calm, and authoritative. He knows the law and understands when to apply it (👀😈)

Park Ji A... oh what I would give to be in your shoes right now. Also, thank fuck for Dong Sik that Joo Won never saw this… he may have gotten ideas 👀😂 (also tag yourself. i'm ji hoon at the window)

Honestly, this scene is kind of hilarious because it's like the only time the show dedicates this much screen time to comedy, and the way they chose to do it is by showing people disregarding Dong Sik's person 🙃 [cut to the station scene]

Up until the scene inside the station, we have been told by multiple people that Dong Sik isn’t/was not as accomplished as Yu Yeon. Which kind of implies that he wasn’t as academically accomplished, and perhaps, not as smart. But then we are shown Dong Sik resighting individual articles from the criminal code from memory, proving that these claims against him were false (it really sets up a precedent, doesn't it???)

Side note: Gwang Young is such a brown-noser and I really like that about him. He’s a bitch- a harmless bitch but a bitch nonetheless, and I fucking love it!! 😂😂😂 (I just wanted 1 bitch-off between him and Joo Won. Like a proper one! Where neither wants to back down)

This scene just proves that Dong Sik is the smartest in the room and is one step ahead of everyone and is sooooo bored. It’s the perfect time for someone smart and new to come into his life to shake things up, isn’t it? 👀 Also, the women from the salon were taken to the station with perming lotion on their hair… GOODBYE HAIR!! SEE YA! RIP. That hair is literally being burned off as they argue over their innocence

I love the first time Joo Won arrives (properly… aside from his stalking) at the station, we are shown him pausing to observe what is happening. Joo Won is highlighted as an outsider, looking in

Not Gil Goo wanting to break the rules and asking Dong Sik to let things slide!!!!!

💀💀 isn't that what he gets arrested for in the end???

🔊ATTENTION. ATTENTION. PLEASE MAY I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION. HAN JOO WON HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING. I repeat... HAN JOO WON HAS ENTERED THE BUILDING 🔊 🚨 IN FUCKING SLOW MO!!!!🚨

The “sea” of women part, making way for him… kind of like how the Red Sea parts for Moses, js

Of course, Dong Sik doesn’t look up from the computer until he hears THAT voice… I get it, Dong Sik, no judgement here. I totally get it. 😌

Joo Won has the fucking AUDACITY to sigh before introducing himself! Girl, YOU SET THIS UP. YOU WANTED THIS. THIS IS YOUR BIG MOMENT. WHY ARE YOU SIGHING??? (maybe it’s cause he knows he can’t go back now??)

🫠Yeo jin goo’s voice should be illegal🫠 Them:

Me:

In case you were wondering… dong sik fancies joo won from the get-go 🤷‍♀️ i don't make the rules Note: This is also the last scene Joo Won has any resemblance of “coolness” or can be seen as “chill”, which is hilarious considering all the hoops he put himself through to get to this moment 😂

In the scene with Joo Won and Sang Bae, I’m really taken aback by how young Joo Won seems. I know it’s because Jin Goo was like 22(??) when they filmed this, but yeah… he seems very… unprepared for what he’s about to face (which he is) “Delaying things isn’t really my style” Well, you sure did delay arresting Dong Sik, didn’t you???? I guess with everything in Joo Won’s strict life, Dong Sik is the exception to the rule

Joo Won’s first question about his new job is “who is my partner?” and I’m just screaming. I wrote about this scene here (but I’ll sum it up now: I think he wanted Dong Sik to be his partner)

Sang Bae isn’t really the kind of person to care about other people’s opinions of him. But in his first scene with Joo Won, he seems almost embarrassed that his computer crashes. He has a nervous energy and keeps laughing to downplay that embarrassment. Do you think he knew Joo Won came from Seoul and was worried that his smaller substation (later referred to as “the worst” substation by Hyuk) may be looked down upon?? Or… perhaps it’s all an act to make Joo Won warm up to him???

One of my favourite scenes of the whole show is where Dong Sik is pretending not to listen to the gang when they're talking about Joo Won. I. LOVE. IT!!! I love how much he wants us to know that he “doesn’t care”, but then just ends up showing us that he really does, in fact, care. I personally think that he likes what he hears about Joo Won’s accolades (although he's singing THIS to himself😂), and only seems to sour once he’s informed of who Joo Won’s father is. His disappointment is soooo apparent. He cannot and does not hide it. That’s a super interesting detail to include… it says a lot. (it's also the first time in the show that Dong Sik shows any interest in someone). Dong Sik learns that HKH is Joo Won’s dad, and his first reaction is quiet disappointment, NOT excitement… He cares more about Joo Won, the person, and not Joo Won, the chess piece. Hmmmmmmmmm... interesting.

(it's okay baby, you'll get him in the end dw)

Note that the camera lingers on Dong Sik when Gil Goo points out that Joo Won is handsome and physically fit… 👀👀👀👀 Also, when Joo Won is put down on paper, he’s super impressive and almost untouchable. But through Dong Sik, we get to see that it’s bullshit. Joo Won isn’t the person his father wants him to be (i.e, the perfect student and police officer). I really like that we’ve been told to be impressed by him, without getting to know him, and it’s only when we get to know Joo Won, do we get to see that he’s a walking contradiction (and he’s as human as everyone else). We shouldn’t view him through the narrow lens he and his father put him in, because he is so much more than that Sang Bae lets Dong Sik process a missing person’s case, even if they technically can’t do it within the confines of the law!!! 😩 Fucking hell, they really showed that guilt from the get-go, didn't they??? This scene is so goddamn important for the whole show!!! I JUST!! Ah! and of course it’s Dong Sik who first highlights the restrictive nature of the SK's laws. Joo Won watches this whole interaction (and gets turned on). He listens to the difference between a “runaway” and a missing person… what does Joo Won’s job become at the end of the show?????? 😩😩 I'm fine, I promise Joo Won leaves the station after getting one last look at Dong Sik and then later on (how long was he driving around Manyang, cause it is daytime and suddenly it’s nighttime??) in his car checking Dong Sik out, are the first warning signs of the Inner Slut ™ begging to be unleashed.

Also, I guess Dong Sik walked to work that day???

When I first watched BE, I wasn’t a huge fan of Dong Sik popping pills for his leg injury*. I’m still on the fence about the fact that he bites the pills and seems to eat them, instead of swallowing them whole. But then again, this guy is severely depressed and a smoker, so maybe he doesn’t care about the taste… or for the health of his teeth and gums???? It doesn't matter. I'm convinced that Dong Sik was thinking about Lee Sang Yeob in this scene because Joo Won reminds him of him (they have glaring similarities) and that's what causes his leg pain *During my first watch, I immediately knew it was psychosomatic pain. It’s a pretty easy visual motif to show us that he’s dealing with unresolved trauma.

Gosh, Joo Won really did watch Dong Sik cross the road, getting all horny cause Dong Sik can recite the criminal code from memory… and then later uses it as a way to flirt, showing that he cares enough to listen and that he retains that information... that really is one of Joo Won’s biggest love languages

ugh. Gay people.

So, yeah... that's all I wrote and I don't have the brain power to finish it. But I hope that was entertaining for you all See ya!

#beyond evil #jtbc beyond evil #jwds #chatty lamps

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whomst-art-thou-whomst-whomst · 1 year ago

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Whomst Creates Angst on Purpose (Tale of the Nine Tailed season 1 edition)

Primarily little meow meow Rang related, because angst

You ever think about Ji Ah getting a read on Lee Rang’s sneakiness so fast, not because she’s got preternatural abilities but because she’s gotten disappointed and fooled and disillusioned so much in decades of trying to find her parents?

You ever think about whether Lee Yeon sees Lee Rang like a kid because his own actions led to him missing out on the rest of his brother’s childhood (which burned with the mountains)?

You ever think about Granny living through her son’s death and estrangement with her husband, adopting a surrogate son (and despite her supposed strictness, casually ignoring the illegal survival of his brother), only for the Imoogi to take her son’s form?

You ever think about how Yu Ri is totally unfazed by and supportive of Rang killing humans because something that bonded them from the beginning is that in their experience, humans were the monsters who hurt them and hunted them when they were vulnerable?

You ever think about how Rang gets a found family where he’s in part adopted by the guy he once beat the shit out of? How he is always visibly annoyed and jarred early on that Shin Joo continuously treats him with respect and something approaching sympathy? And how no matter what Rang does, Shin Joo recognizes his love for Yeon and only ever acknowledges him politely, not some evil nemesis but the indulged younger brother of his best friend? Only to lose each other just as they’re getting close? Idk. Their dynamic is so subtle but it fascinated me.

You ever think about the close up of Yeon’s face as he walks away from his little brother after slicing him open? How he forces himself to walk away and not check on him? How he must have felt to realize that this action is what led to Rang being trapped in debt to that psycho Kwon Hae Ryong, which in turn indirectly helped bring the Imoogi back?

You ever think about how when Granny and Rang talk, Rang shows he fully believes he’s a bad person and going to hell for his crimes, but that he’s okay with it due to self-hatred? And that part of the reason he wants to kill his brother is so Yeon will go to hell with him and they can be brothers together forever, even in terrible circumstances?

You ever think about how when Rang asks Yeon if he’d save his brother in danger, and Yeon says “save yourself,” they are thinking of two different things—how Yeon means “I am so scared that you don’t want to live enough to try, I just want you to take better care of yourself” and what Rang hears is “I don’t care about you”?

You ever think about Ji Ah realizing her crush might see her as someone who ISNT her? Wondering how she measures up to some long dead, pedestalled Princess? How she gets mad at Rang for most of the things he’s done while Yeon just tolerates those things, but that when Rang enables Ji Ah to see the truth of her past, Yeon is pissed while Ji Ah doesn’t get angry with Rang for this? How she probably comes to see that Rang’s action, while in the short term horrible and unkind, in the long run is weirdly the way Ji Ah and Yeon could start to have honest conversations about the past that would ultimately strengthen their relationship?

#whomst #tale of the nine tailed

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andoqin · 3 years ago

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Shows I’ve watched 2021 pt 3

Well finally I’ve reached the shows I watched this year and actually enjoyed. Huzzah!! I can’t even do a best 10 shows this year, because at the moment I don’t even have 10 shows that would make the rank. 2021 was fucking *dire*.

I told sunset about you - Thai drama does coming of age and gay love story with a truly cinematic feel. The actors knock it out of the park and the way it’s shot gives it that feeling that you have when you think back on your first love, all the ups and downs and all the intense emotions you felt. Truly a show that stunned me and promises good things for thai (bl) dramas. It was still set in high school but it approached the feelings from a very different angle and used production values and great directing and writing to get you invested with the cahracters that many Thai BLs never even dream about. 9/10

Word Of Honor - the show that took over tumblr and danmei fandom at the beginning of this year to the point that it was probably a catalyst for a harsh crackdown for all BLs to come. The censoring after the fact was so noticeable that fans were still able to glean the original dialogues at points and while some of the acting wasn’t really up to par and the plot suffered the great romance of Zu Zhi Shu and Wen Ke Xing was always the focal point and always really well acted. Gong Jun delivered his best role to date and ZZH got to get away from his previous stoic roles that had him pretty type cast. Of course it all went to hell in the summer but ah well. 8.5/10 rationally (10/10 emotionally)

Run On - A show that manages to be low stakes and yet it knows how to make those low stakes really connect with you as a viewer because its slice of life feel actually feels like it could be part of your life (okay I don’t actually know that many rich people... nor do I want to). We got to see Shin Se Kyung shine in her role as Mi Joo who knows her worth and what she wants from her life. Short King Im Si Wan gets to be not her knight in shining armor but the one who does see her and see how great she is without asking her to compromise in any way. Then you have the great surrounding cast who are all dealing with being adults in a world like ours and just doing the best they can. I also really loved listening to Mi Joo talk about her subtitling work and how much she loves it. It’s so nice to see someone who has a career they’re proud of and that they enjoy. 9/10

The Rebel Princess - Zhou Yi Wei continues his assault on my heart whenever he appears. He’s such an incredibly versatile actor whose magnetism just leaps off the screen. It was a real delight to see him and Zhang Zi Yi be the power couple they both deserve to be, who never doubted each other and always stood strong. I do think most of the side characters also delivered their parts as the story needed them to, but some of the plot elements got to be tedious (Wanru and Zitan come to mind), but in the end the show gave A’Wu and Xiao Qi the ending they (and we) deserved. 8.5/10

Kieta Hatsukoi - A FUCKING DELIGHT. A mistaken identity leads to a false confession that turns out to be a true confession once Aoki truly discovers his disaster bisexual potential. It is unmistakably a manga adaption, but it manages to read that fine line between being super twee and catching your heart strings, mostly because Aoki, Ida and their friends are just genuinely good kids that you want to be happy. Maybe it was this hellscape of a year that made me check it out and fall in love with it but it came at the right time since I hadn’t really enjoyed a drama in a long time and this really did get me. 9/10

Utsukushii Kare - If Kieta Hatsukoi is sunshine and puppies, Utsukushii Kare is abandoned dogs and creepers and I mean that in the best way. Both Hira and Kiyoi are fucking weirdos in their ways and maybe Hira is more obviously a weirdo, but what I really appreciate about the show is that it shows how they both crave something from the other. Kiyoi is *not* unaffected by Hira’s obvious adoration, but Hira has to acknowledge that Kiyoi is more than just his “god”. But man that finale, that was fucking great. They both have that shouty argument that dramas sometimes like to do and that I slurp up with a spoon because for these two it works because they’re not people who express their feelings in more ~conventional ways. AND THAT SCENE at the theater/bar thingy, where Kiyoi’s face gets so *vulnerable* when Hira sucks on his finger (okay so writing it out sounds weird but man the way it’s shot and acted and edited is a++++) and then Hira fucks it up again and Kiyoi’s walls snap all the way up once again. Mmmmh good stuff. 10/10 no notes!

Beyond Evil - Ahhhh the last show I really enjoyed before I went into a drama funk because I enjoyed fucking *nothing*. The mystery was a bit eh, but well, I’m fucking weak to Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Gu acting their pants off (each other) and I’m kinda glad the mystery got a twist in the middle so it didnt feel like the police was completely idiotic. I mean not that the police work *wasn’t* iffy at best but sometimes the script is just elevated by Shin Ha Kyun and Yeo Jin Gu going off on each other... hehehe. Anyway infantile jokes aside their chemistry was fucking a+ and I wish i could have seen more of that kind of energy this year. 8.5/10

7!!! dramas I finished and enjoyed! 7!!! out of over ca 40 i tried this year. God, I pray to the drama gods that 2022 will treat me kinder!

#beyond evil #kieta hatsukoi #i told sunset about you #word of honor #utsukushii kare #the rebel princess #run on #a year in review #fuck 2021 #jdrama #kdrama #cdrama #thaidrama

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blackgirllovesdramas · 2 years ago

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Oh My Ghost (2015, Korean Drama)

A young restaurant worker, Na Bong Sun is possessed by a ghost, Shin Sun Ae. who’s mission is to lose her virginity. Bong Sun is quiet and lacks self confidence. She works in a restaurant and never stands up for herself. Because she can see ghosts and has since a young age, she doesn’t talk a lot or have friends.

The owner of the restaurant where she works is someone that she has long admired and has had a crush on, Kang Seon Woo. When she is possessed by Shin Sun Ae, Seon Woo starts falling for her.

Let’s get into my thoughts. First I hate how they take the experiences of the female lead and make it into a mental health issue. That didn’t sit right with me but let’s push that aside. Seon needs therapy himself. His need to prove himself over childhood bullies, mommy abandonment issues, and needing to let go of his first love are from and center and cause for a lot of conflict in his own life. Because Bong Sun spends so much time possessed, I don’t know how he thinks he is in love with one girl, when it is really two. I love the supporting roles, they bring levity and a peek into the Korean restaurant industry.

Look, I like fantasy. A lot. So I am willing to suspend a lot of logic to enjoy a show and that is what I did with this one. Throw out common sense and just want to be entertained by one of the cutest actresses, Park Bo Young, then this is the show for you. She is so cute and really does a great job! Kim Seul Gi as the ghost is bittersweet. She plays such a loving and devoted daughter and sister that you hate to see her story end with her death. Jo Jung Suk as the main lead is so good! He really has you thinking he is an asshole turned devoted boyfriend by the end of the series. In stark contrast is the true star of the show, Im Joo Hwan. That man is fine and can play one hell of a villain. You can feel him spiraling as his character and it is amazing to watch!

The rewatch value is there, but so is the time commitment since it is a typical Korean length drama at 16 episodes at 65 minutes. Not my favorite, but it was good. 7/10.

The music has a real big band feel. Through the whole show, there are no real ballads like on Doom At Your Service or Goblin. A lot of instrumental. For the type of show to build and deescalate the mood, it works!

#oh my ghost #korean drama #kdrama #park bo young #jo jung suk #im joo hwan #Spotify

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katierosefun · 3 years ago

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i originally had a september wrap-up post queued but then tumblr fucking ate it, which made me very angry because i didn’t want to re-type the whole thing, but i’m procrastinating, so here i am, re-typing the whole thing of all the things i watched/consumed over the month of september, even if it’s a little late: (it’s fine, i didn’t watch a whole ton of stuff except...a lot of kdramas lmao. oh, and visions.)

k-dramas:

beyond evil

okay, so i think this has been on my rec list for literally forever now, but...besties, i’m on my fifth watch of this goddamn show in the span of maybe two months, so if that doesn’t tell you how much this show has been a comfort/eating my brain lately, idk what will.

i literally never shut up about this show, but if you’ve somehow been missing from my blog for a little bit, a quick summary: lee dong sik (played by the ever-wonderful shin ha kyun) was accused of murder + kidnapping a few young women, including his own twin sister 20 years ago. he’s lived a pretty quiet life on his own, and now 20 years later, his whole world is turned upside down again when hotshot new inspector han joo won (played by the talented yeo jin goo) comes into this little town. when the murders start up again, these two are thrown into a hellishly complex mystery. will throw you in for a hellish loop. i think my thoughts best summarize this show as come for the murder mystery, stay for whatever the hell joo won and dong sik have.

okay, but all joking aside about how much i love joo won and dong sik (because...i truly do love them), this show was incredibly healing. once again: this show has quickly become a comfort show, basically to the point where i just watch it whenever i feel down (which happens to be a lot these days). idk man. humans aren’t meant to carry burdens on their own and all that stuff. sometimes u just need to remind yourself that.

the crowned clown

so, after watching beyond evil the fourth time, i realized that maybe i wanted to watch some of the actors’ other works. that was how i found myself watching the crowned clown, which...is an excellent kdrama now available on netflix (also on viki for free, just as beyond evil is). honestly, it’s been a hot second since i’ve watched historical dramas (saeguks), so i was a little unsure what to expect, but this show. bro. this show reminded me just how much i love historical dramas, because the court politics? the costumes? the music? the acting? fantastic.

basically, this show is about the young clown (ie. performer) ha seon (played by yeo jin goo) who now has to replace the king, who might be like...two seconds away from snapping (if he hasn’t already). the reason they’re able to do this is because they look exactly identical despite not being related.

this story is honestly wonderful. i loved it, and it’s an interesting way to look at the story behind the actual king (because. apparently this king was a real person, and i think his story has inspired quite a few other korean movies/shows). i thought yeo jin goo was brilliant in this show, and it’s really no surprise he became the youngest person ever nominated for a baeksang award because of this series. i was truly blown away by just how versatile he proved to be of an actor, and his dynamics with the other characters (the queen, the secretary being my fave, as well as the old eunuch jo), i just...bro. i’ll admit i wasn’t the biggest fan of the romance (don’t get me wrong! it was sweet!), but i think that might have been because this was so court politics heavy, and i adored it for that. if you’ve never watched a historical drama but want to and just don’t know where to start, i highly recommend this.

d.p.

bro....this show was dark. i watched it all in 2 days (pretty easy to do, considering it’s 6 episodes and maybe 40-50 minutes long per episode), and i needed to lie down. this is just one of those shows that i feel is...very important to watch, even if the content matter isn’t very bright.

basically, dp is about two deserter pursuit officers: ahn jun ho (played by jung hae in) and han ho yul (played by koo kyo hwan). deserter pursuit officers are basically people who chase after people who deserted their military post--and for those who don’t know, being in the military is mandatory for men in south korea. this is the result of the armistice between the north and the south--basically, since north korea never agreed to an actual peace treaty, south korea is constantly under threat of war, which is why men need to serve at least a few years. (this is why a lot of actors + kpop band members often take breaks from their careers--to fulfill their military service time. because yup, even celebrities aren’t exempt from service!)

anyways, this show really doesn’t pull back their punches. major trigger warnings for things like intense harrassment, suicide, domestic violence...it really does capture just how dark life can be, and also how toxic the military can be for men. because of that, i felt this show was incredibly well-crafted, incredibly nuanced, and in the end, i just felt sad. that said though, there was a hopeful ending, and i’m glad that this show was renewed for a second season, as i think this show is just...really important.

squid game

okay, so i don’t want to be that person, but your girl was watching squid game right after it came out, so i was here before the hype train--but okay, okay, i digress. (i am glad that this show is getting hype. i feel it’s very important that people watch this show.)

if you haven’t noticed how squid game’s climbed to #1 on netflix worldwide (i think, anyways), well, then...buddy. squid game is about a bunch of people who have the chance to earn lots of money by playing what seems like innocent children’s games. (spoilers: they are far from innocent.)

this show scarred me, to be honest. i needed to watch something lighthearted after this, just because it was so intense. lots of trigger warnings for blood and gore, as well as just. losing faith in humanity. but also, like dp, i felt this show was necessary. it was incredibly well-constructed in that it showed just what desperate people will do in order to survive, as well as exactly what a terrible capitalistic society will do to the working class. it’s depressing and sad, but also incredibly chilling because like. you can’t help but watch the characters and think, but would i do the same thing? i just want to pay off my own debt and take care of my family. wouldn’t i do the same thing?

i won’t say more of this show for fear of spoilers, but. let me just say. that i really am glad this show exists. i hope people actually notice what the fuck it’s saying about our current system too, because hm, maybe i just want to suck the fun out of things, but there’s something very disturbing about how people are already cute-ifying this show (ie. “this is what i would wear to the squid games! :D” and “look at these squid-game inspired cookies! :D”, as if this show didn’t just deliver a heart-crushing message about capitalism + how the wealthy fuck over anyone who isn’t the 1% BUT ANYWAYS)

star wars: visions

lately i’ve been feeling weird about star wars for lots of different reasons which i don’t particularly feel like addressing today, but. visions really reminded me why i fell in love with star wars in the first place. i think for starters, well. it’s no surprise when i say that i felt an intense amount of joy of seeing east asian cultures so beautifully incorporated and respected in this show (no surprise seeing that this show was literally crafted by japanese anime studios), but like. it really was. a beautiful thing. i cried at least once per episode, either because i was so in awe of the animation and the themes or because i was just in awe that this thing exists.

i think my favorite episode had to be the village bride--there was something so incredibly powerful about seeing someone who looked a bit like me say i am a jedi. what an iconic line. what an iconic story about a sad traumatized gal deciding to step up and fight, actually. peak star wars.

but besides all that...i really did feel like...this show captured the beauty and essence of what makes star wars actually good. the themes of good versus evil, a lot of stuff between siblings (bro....the twins and lop and ocho FUCKED ME UP), choosing to have brighter and better days ahead (the village bride, the ninth jedi, the duel, tatooine rhapsody)...like, i really loved how each episode really took everything that was good about star wars and just turned it into something even more beautiful. this series will stay with me for a long time, i think--and i am very grateful for the people involved in this project for reminding me why i fell in love with this universe in the first place. :”)

#caroline recs #a few days late but here it is!

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zhoufeis · 4 years ago

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Yay! The newbie (me) has finished 10 korean dramas

....... and here are my ratings.

Let’s rate from worst to best:

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10) Romance is a Bonus Book. Rating: 2,1 / 5 stars - skip it.

- I kept seeing this show on my dash and since my first kdrama watch was W Two Worlds with the wonderful Lee Jong-suk, I decided to give it a chance.

- But hell, no one warned me how bad it actually is. I’m not talking about the acting (the cast is actually quite solid), but I’m referring to... the plot (or lack thereof), the love story (let’s rather call it one-sided obsession) and the wasted potential. Let’s start with the set-up. A company producing books, a single mother who needs a job, her childhood best friend who works for the company. Yeah, it’s not precisely complex or inventive, but it’s something to work with. Create nice dynamics at the working place, have some yearning between the two leads, give them heartwarming moments and a confession of how they’ve always been in love with each other. There’s just one problem: she really never, ever had any romantic feelings for her childhood best friend. She keeps calling him a brother and insists on him being her closest friend (which seems a stretch since she lied to him for a year about her separation from her husband and kept sort of creeping up into his house to eat and shower there without letting him know). Anyway, I could oversee this (even though I hate the trope of childhood best friends becoming lovers in adult life just because one is a man and the other a woman) if AT LEAST we actually get to see her falling for him slowly within the show. But we just.... don’t. He confesses his love to her - as she is actually starting to see someone else, and let me tell you, she actually seemed to be into the second lead -, then promises her not to push his feelings onto her... but that’s exactly what he does (I guess I don’t need to mention I ended up not being his biggest fan), and she ends up falling for him for unknown reasons. Eh. Okay. I started rooting for the second leads halfway into the show. Hae-rin & Eun-ho as well as Seo-joo & Dan-i appeared to me as the much more shippable pairings. I might have actually cried for Hae-rin & Eun-ho at some point of the show, but well... Moving on to... everything else. I enjoyed some scenes in the company, but not enough that I could tell you any right now because there wasn’t anything very memorable. The show basically thrives in some random scenes usually involving one of the two leads rather than in scenes with the two of them. That random author’s suicide has stuck with me as well as the letters that song hae-rin has wrote to our male lead over the years. The talk about fears between eun-ho and that author has stuck with me too, but other than that... there’s just nothing really happening. I was patiently waiting for a plot to come but nothing ever came. It just feels like a bunch of really uninteresting subplots put into one show. I don’t wanna judge it too harshly, but one of the other modern day dramas I will discuss further down this list also simply works with a bunch of subplots coming together - and it’s wonderfully executed (it’s ‘Run On’, for those of you who are wondering!)

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Positive: nice friendship between women (dan-i & hae-rin); delivery of lee jong-suk, jeong eu-gene & park gyu-young; one strong scene involving a life lesson every few eps

- Negative: no main plot, dull subplots... nothing happens, very cheesy at some points, the protagonizing couple is quite problematic and unshippable, their chemistry is not strong enough to oversee that; i really don’t know why people like this show.

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9) Radio Romance. Rating: 3,2 / 5 stars - it’s cute.

- Radio Romance is the show on this list that drives me into conflict with myself. Because some things about this show are very strong; others (many) very, very weak. I guess the main problem is that the show’s set-up mostly shouldn’t be taken too seriously, but it deals with some heavy topics that need to be taken seriously. And unlike quality japanese animes or some quality chinese drama that usually achieve to make you realize what can be taken as a joke and what can not, Radio Romance is sort of incapable of keeping that balance. You gotta figure it for yourself.

- While offering a quite enjoyable cast and some quite different personalities within the show, there is no one particularly standing out. As you will see as we go further down on this list, this is not my only Kim So-hyun drama, it was also not my first, and I can promise you that it won’t be my last. I simply adore this actress, she’s enjoyable to watch. I don’t think I’ll ever grow tired of her, which is why I checked out the show in the first place. Compared to her other characters though, Song Geu-rim is kind and nice and all, but not too memorable. She’s portraying a nice girl next door here with a dream to become a good radio script writer. And if not even her character stands out, as expected, none of the others will either. As for the plot... We don’t really have one, I suppose. If you count the plot making the radio show, I suppose then episode 3 or 4 is the last with actual development. I was hoping for more conflicts and plot twists involving Soo-ho’s backstory - and we got them, but very, very, very late on the show. Basically, getting through the first 7 eps felt very easy to me, due to the change of locations and relationship growth, and getting through the last 3 as well. Although the last was such a cheesy ending, you have no idea. The middle part suffered from a lack of plot and character development as well as it suffered from a focus on the love triangle - which I totally could have lived without. Like, istg, what was the POINT of this love triangle? Soo-ho and Geu-rim had to deal with enough things already, bringing in yet another obstacle through the tercero and putting the focus onto this love triangle was just soooo cliché. And don’t even get me started on how they also went with the problematic love triangle tropes rather than to at least make it somewhat adorable or funny. It was also boring. I kept pausing the episodes there and didn’t keep watching for days. It was only at the end of episode 13 that things finally got interesting again when we finally got to learn more about Soo-ho’s backstory. From then on, I was able to end the show within 2 days. So, no, the backstory was not the thing that drives me into conflict though. What drives me into conflict is how such a quite flat story was able to portray a very good, very realistic case of depression and PTSD. Like wow. This must have been one of the few shows, in which we have a canonically diagnosed character who does not fall into stereotypes and in which his depression isn’t used as a mere plot device to get the ship together and cure him by that. His depression is underlying at all times, sometimes more, sometimes less. He is told to get treatment (”no treatment, no medication.”), he has moments in which his depression mentally and physically restrains him from acting. It’s a very layered, realistic depiction and I adored every single bit of it. Meanwhile, the character isn’t defined by his depression nevertheless - there’s more to Soo-ho then just the depression, and after all, he was an outstanding character (to correct what I said before because I was lying xD). So... for all the lack of plot and development and predictable storytelling, the depiction of depression and the peacefulness of the protagonizing couple save that show.

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Negative: unnecessary love triangles with unnecessary clichés; barely any plot; sheer boredom in the middle of the show; takes itself and its tropes way too seriously.

- Positive: complex character who is suffering from depression and PTSD; layered, realistic depiction of depression; adorable couple that transmits peacefulness.

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8) Rookie Historian Goo Hae-ryung. Rating: 3,5 / 5 stars - nice, but it is no must-watch.

- I feel genuinely bad for putting this right after Radio Romance and Romance is a Bonus Book, because Rookie Historian was, simply put, muuuuuuuuch better. I got invested in the characters and their backstories. The story is quite more complex in retrospect than it seemed at first, but the show’s issue is that this is rather less apparent in more than the first quarter of the show. I really don’t even recall what happened in those first few episodes because it is rather unimportant for the rest of the show, with minor exceptions. The story truly starts picking up around episode 9 and has a strong run until around episode 15. The last quarter of the show then is wayyyyy too fast-moving, too many things happening and we barely spend time on things I then wished to spend more time on. Unfortunately, despite having a good set-up and a quite fine cast, I don’t think I’ll remember anything in particular about this show in a year. It’s a nice watch, even though I sometimes really had to motivate myself to keep watching in the first eps, but it hasn’t lingered in my memory after I finished it.

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Positive: rather lots of plot; positive female relationships; feminism; shin se-kyung; leading couple as well as the second leading couple, even though romance is not at the core of the show; nice messages about morality and truth.

- Negative: the first few eps are really.... slow-moving. To the point that I’d recommend putting the first 8 eps into 2-3 eps and giving more space in the end. Especially the last 4 eps of the show are way too fast-moving. Furthermore, there’s some plotholes. My biggest issue though is the glorification of europe's christianity during the 18th and 19th century. I was not expecting that in a korean drama but it seemed utterly wrong in my eyes, specifically because the show used it to promote that chrisitianity promotes equality of all races and genders. Not to be a bitch, but europe’s christian beliefs have never stopped europeans from discriminating women and non-white people, not then and not now.

- My general impression of the show is quite positive, but I’m not sure I’d willingly watch it again since knowing all the plot twists and storylines actually is enough to be watched once with that show. An experience that I haven’t made with the other kdramas that are higher ranked on this list.

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7) A Love So Beautiful. Rating: 3,5 / 5 stars - if you really don’t want to think at all and just watch a light, easy to follow show, that is your pick. However, NOT recommended for first-time kdrama watchers - it gives you a totally wrong impression of what kdramas are actually capable of achieving.

- I’d like to point out that this show has surprised me in a good way - but there’s things that need to be pointed out here, so let me make three paragraphs: the first will talk about my impression of the first 16 eps; the second will talk about the last 8 eps; and the last will talk about how this show was cute, but could have been incredible, but didn’t use its potential correctly.

- Episodes 1-16: Look, the thing about those eps is very easy to point out: it’s not quality and it is never pretending to be (unlike romance is a bonus book, which pretends to be some smart, adult quality show but is just trash). Those eps cannot be taken totally serious. You have to go in there knowing exactly what is awaiting you. I started it because when I saw the trailer, I immediately realized all the tropes that Extraordinary You (higher ranked, you will see later) was making fun of. What you see is exactly what you get: Clichéd characters, clichéd love story, average acting, average directing, simple dialogue, clichéd love triangle, predictable developments - a simple romcom put into a tv show format. It’s cliché over cliché over cliché put into a het high school love story. And you know what? After weeks of studying for and writing my uni exams, it was exactly what I needed. The show is so over the top with its clichés that it’s genuinely funny. The lightheartedness and the non-existing complexity just add to that. Basically, you could argue that it’s all so bad with its clichés, which is why it becomes hilarious. Unlike other kdramas, it has a straightforward plot: a girl is in love with a boy and wants to be with him. It’s as easy as that. The show clearly loves featuring every trope you could associate with het love stories, but honestly, it’s so light and breezy and such a fast watch (due to the fact that each ep is between 20-25 minutes), you will finish those first 16 episodes before you know you even started it (I made it in less than 2 days). I want to repeat here though, it’s not for someone who starts with kdramas and hasn’t watched other kdramas. It cannot be taken seriously - and you only cannot take it seriously when you have seen things like Extraordinary You or W or, I guess, a bunch of high school kdramas. But I’m telling you, this is the only Kdrama on this list that you can watch in the most stressful time of your life and it will make you feel better. It won’t make you cry, it will make you laugh, and the moment it is out of your sight, you will forget about it - at least, that’s the case about the first 16 eps. And then we get to...

- Episodes 17-24: guys, what have I gotten myself into? As these people finished high school and their problems actually also got more adult, I started to grow genuinely attached, specifically to the ship. When she got sick and he didn’t even know although he’s a DOCTOR? When she was sexually harassed and didn’t know how to talk to him about it because their relationship was filled with other problems? When he left for 3 years and later told her that he had hoped she’d follow him because she always has... and then she didn’t? When he said that everyone is under the impression that she is more dependent on him but that he is actually the one who cannot imagine a life without her? IT ALL HURT BADLY. Because 1) so many years passed in such a short amount of time on the show and it felt like someone was ripping my heart out. I got genuinely reminded of that stupid US movie “One Day” - and y’all know how that movie ended. And because 2) there was a very realistic notion in the adult relationship portrayed. Not only did it point out how differently relationships/friendships can develop once you outgrow your teenage years and start navigating your life by yourself, but the problems, the misunderstandings, the different perceptions of time, the different perceptions of how friendships and relationships are developing - I honestly could relate to it a lot, looking at it from a 24yo perspective because it is something I have been experiencing as well since I finished high school. You feel more lonely and tend to perceive some time as passing by quickly, other times, it feels like everything is going so slow. These last 8 eps completely differ from my perception that I had in the first 16 eps of the show, as the tone is much more serious and the things depicted realistic and relatable. I also sobbed a lot. I didn’t sob at all, ever, in the first 16 eps, but the last 8 were me crying a lot and feeling my heart hurt as the years passed by and these two just spent them apart.

- So, what do I criticize about this show? The show’s pacing. I genuinely loved the change of feeling between high school and adult life, between ridiculousness and seriousness, and I know the show wants to celebrate youth at the end of the day. But I honestly believe this show could have worked so much better if u cut the high school episodes down to 8 episodes and rather spend a few more eps exploring their young adult lives. It would have worked so much better because their young adult selves were genuinely relatable, as well as their problems. The growth within the characters, realizing that the way they acted as teenagers were often self-centred or that they didn’t think that much about the consequences or how other people felt was nicely done. The show had potential. The dialogues were bearable, the camera work had hints of something great. In other words, I believe that with more carefulness to directing and dialogue, the show could have genuinely been a quality romance drama. The potential was there, but it wasn’t used the way it should have been. In the last 8 eps, you simply get a whiff on what this show could have actually been. Because the realistic character and relationship writing was right there - and if it had been put together with awesome directing and better pacing, everything could have been incredible.

SUMMARY

Favorite character:

Negative: the show’s pacing; the waste of potential to be an actual quality romance.

Positive: the un-seriousness of the first 16 eps, which were just so clichéd that it all was hilarious, compared to the seriousness of problems and development depicted in the past 8 eps.

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6) Run On. Rating: 4,2 / 5 stars - recommend

- I’m gonna be honest here and tell you something about me you might have guessed by now: Modern-day shows with no sci-fi nor fantasy elements are not particularly my thing. I usually sort of hate-watch them. Romance is a Bonus Book, A Love So Beautiful and Radio Romance are all of such shows and while I was even capable watching two of them without ending up hating them, they’re far from being my fave. Objectively, they’re okay-ish shows, nothing to be considered quality tv according to my cultural studies though. Subjectively, they just suffer even more from the fact that I’m very keen on being critical of such shows. But what happens when I find a non-fantasy, non-scifi modern-day show that is actually... good? Run On is the answer. Run On has memorable characters, their funny, unique characteristics, and simple conflicts put into nice subplots that often talk real-life problems such as bullying or self-neglegance. At the end of the day, this show is a love poem. It’s a love poem to self-love, self-respect, to friendship, to character growth, to family bonds, to achieving your goals, to making new goals, to kindness, and to life itself. That’s really what it is. You will find yourself in, at least, one of the characters. You will see them struggle, fight, grow, become better, and at the end of the day, the most important thing is that you are capable of living with yourself. I personally got attached to all of the stories and I adored how nothing was ever done over the top. Everything was subtle, multiple subplots working together... to form stories of life. It’s more than just a simple “feelgood” show and less than a devastating tragedy, it truly shows you life and puts it into an aesthetic form, that never neglects its reality. Which leads me to something I should point out here: it’s creatively done. From the fact that Seon-gyeom is waiting for Mi-joo at the end of the track to the drawings of Young-hwa that have Dan-ah in them to Dan-ah realizing that people experience the same things differently due to the fact that experience itself is different to everyone to Mi-joo imagining movie plots with the people she surrounds herself with to Seon-gyeom starting to live with Young-hwa in a small flat rather than to live lonely in a big, fancy hotel room - the things the characters go through in this show are not only talked about, but they’re often expressed through art, in all its forms. And these characters, these dynamics, the art, the conflicts are all subtly but carefully put together into subplots that form the show and very nice messages. The most important take-away I had from this show is that the way we treat us and the people around us is the highest form of art. And the show is a love poem to that.

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Positive: the cast (especically the core four), the characters (especially the core four); the wonderful messages about respect, kindness and self-love; the subplots working together, reflecting how life is also not just some simple chronological order of things but rather multiple experiences that we remember and that shape us; life is constant growth.

- Negative: i think the only thing i truly have to criticize is that you never really know what the plot even is. While I do enjoy how the subplots all work together, I would have wished for deeper inspections of some plots. And while it is easy just for some headcanons to come to mind, I still think the show could have incorporated more. Considering the treatment of art forms and how it takes a prominent role within the story (due to Young-hwa and Mi-joo, respectively), I also would have liked to have some cultural nods and references - and interpretations. I think the show used about 85% of its potential - and the potential was great, which is why the rating is still very good.

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5) Bring it on, ghost! Rating: 4,2 / 5 stars - recommend, especially good for people who want to have a focus on romance coupled with a supernatural plot and who want a happy ending

- While the story is pretty easy to follow, often seems to be predictable and familiar, the show still promotes nice messages about forgiveness and regret. The strong side of the show isn’t particularly that though - this show is entirely saved by the two leading actors. Kim So-hyun and Teacyeon portray two incredibly lovable characters you will see yourself drawn to. They furthermore have a chemistry that you just have to love and their bickering is just the best part of all. This is mixed with some tragic moments - in present time as well as in the past - and what you get is a romantic show with a bit of comedy, with a bit of tragedy, but with a very happy ending. If you exchanged the actors with two less skilled actors or two people who simply don’t have a lot of chemistry, this show simply wouldn’t work. Their performances are the shining light of this drama, mixed with some funny side characters that you get to enjoy as well. The reason why it ends up higher on the list than Run On - despite Run On probably having generally the better dialogue writing as well as better camera work and even more beautiful messages - is due to the sole work of the two leads who simply carry this show on their back and the fact that despite having some more or less necessary subplots, there is a main plot here that will take a faster, darker turn in the second half of the show. And I personally just enjoy having a main plot to hold onto as well as I always enjoy a bit of fantasy more than modern day real live shows. On top of that, add some devastating backstory and top-notch character development for Park Bong-pal, and a badass, slightly violent, sassy characterization of Kim Hyun-ji. This show will simply leave you with a huge smile on your face, despite being made for people who enjoy tragedy as well.

SUMMARY

- Favorite characters:

- Negative: subplots sometimes take the focus, a familiar story, stereotypical portrayal of ghosts (yes, ahre, i said it), no real plot twists (which can be a good thing, too, since the show rather simply unfolds each part of the story over the course of its run)

- Positive: the two leading actors, their incredibly shippable couple, a happy ending. If I was going to recommend a light-hearted, happy kdrama that has some tragic parts but ends happily and isn’t that hard to follow, I’ll recommend you this one.

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4) The Tale of Nok-du. Rating: 4,6 / 5 stars - strongly recommend.

- If you ever are in search for an unproblematic dummy as protagonist, watch this show. He’s a dummy you just have to love. You laugh about him, you laugh with him, you cry for him. He’s a puppy, you cry with him. And the best thing is, this puppy falls in love with a girl who can be quite rude and annoyed, but he always makes her smile and genuinely is attentive to her. The most frustrating thing about both of them is that each of them keeps a secret they cannot tell each other because they refuse to hurt each other - and this almost leads to tragedy. Better even, they’re portrayed by two very skillful actors. You’ll love them in the blink of an eye. And then there’s the cute second lead, portrayed by Kang Tae-oh. Yes, cute. Until he really isn’t. I’ve never seen an actor being able to turn around a character to 180° in no time. Some talent that is. And now let’s just say - the plot is nice. It is not the most complex one, but it is interesting to follow and you are always eager to find out new information to collect and put the pieces together. If you are searching for a show that is simply entertaining and nice to watch and featrures a great cast and nice characters and ranges from comedy to tragedy, this is your pick.

SUMMARY

- Favorite characters:

- Negative: the narrative change in the middle of the show that shifted the focus away from women to men (even though it made sense within the story, it was still a very sudden and harsh change, especially if you consider that these women were mostly slaughtered to death)

- Positive: CAST (specifically the three mains are just beyond amazing); an innocent, pure, absolutely adorable protagonizing couple that will steal your heart; feminism; male protagonist being a feminist who ends up working with badass women for his entire lifetime; directing; narration practices - this show is the one that draws the line between the ones i discussed above and the really great ones because it is the first on the list to be capable of telling a story by constantly keeping your nerves up while also not overstimulating the viewer with too much information at once. Only the other 3 shows which will follow now were able to do the same - and it’s what makes people watch or quit, and that’s why it’s so important: constant plot development, no unnecessary side plots, and handing your audience enough information to make them keep watching but not enough to guess the entire plot yet. The Tale of Nok-du was able to do exactly that and I honestly enjoyed the ride.

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3) W - Two Worlds. Rating: 4,8 / 5 stars - strongly recommend, must watch.

- I’d like to point out first that my top 3 are interchangeable. I sometimes tend to change my mind which one of the three I adore the most, and W is definitely in those top 3. Firstly, I’d like to let you know that W was my first Kdrama watch. And it blew me away. I was in awe with Lee Jong-suk, with Han Hyo-joo, with the narration of this drama, with the plot, with the direction, with the leading couple, the cast, THE DIALOGUE. Everything about this drama was excellently executed. The slow-moving narration in episode 1, the extra long scene of Chul holding the writer at gunpoint, the writer ‘becoming’ the killer (which he has always been anyway), the philosophy behind it, the creativity. I was blown away by literally everything about this drama and I believe it to be one of the strongest dramas ever made. Furthermore, what I also really adored, is that you don’t need to necessarily be into the couple in order to enjoy this show anyway because the plot takes the spotlight - but since the couple is always involved in the main plot, you get to enjoy plot, dialogue and couple at once. An interesting thing that I want to note here is that a few weeks after finishing the show, I stumbled upon reddits criticizing Lee Tae-hwan for his acting in general. I don’t know if he just perfectly suited the role of Chul’s bodyguard in W, but I highkey enjoyed watching him in this drama.

SUMMARY

- Favorite characters:

- Negative: I would have adored if Yeon-joo took a more prominent role in the resolution of the story (last 2 episodes) since the ‘hero arc’ went all to Chul there. And another negative aspect is that the show lives from very strong dialogues throughout all episodes, all incredible, all amazing and then - the very last scene. The last words spoken on the show, as a voice-over of Chul and Yeon-joo, are rather dull compared to the rest of the show.

- Positive: narration device, leaving out information to fill us in later and blowing our minds away (PEOPLE, I THOUGHT CHUL DIED), complex main characters, complex plot, no unnecessary subplots, no unnecessary romantic drama, no unnecessary cheesiness, DIALOGUE, direction, the cast in general*.

*I tried Memories of the Alhambra, as I found out that the same people who also made W were in charge of that drama, and I have to admit that I was intensely let down, specifically by the casting. Hyun Bin was alright-ish (not very memorable though), but Park Shin-hye was unbearable for me after episode 3. I stopped watching. If the plot was as interesting as the one of W though, I would have kept watching. But seeing as nothing really happened in those first 3 eps other than the lead killing his old best friend and playing video games that appear to turn into reality, I felt like I was wasting my time.

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2) Extraordinary You. Rating: 5 / 5 stars - strongly recommend for hopeless romantics, people who suffer from second lead syndrome and people who like getting into philosophical debates.

- Extraordinary You was the second kdrama I ever watched. And. And. And. And I almost gave it up after episode one. It seemed somewhat ridiculous to me, way too fast-moving. I would regret my entire life if I had given it up right there and then. Because PEOPLE, IT IS SO GOOD. Not only does it feature a very healthy main couple, it leaves you emotionally devastated because there’s a backstory that you only get to know in the second half of the show but which influences your entire perception of the first half - and jeez, by the time I reached half of the show, I was yelling and screaming and crying my eyes out. You ever want to see a love so deep that it transcends consciousness and universes? A love so deep that time and space become mere nothings? That’s what you get in this show. And one of the best parts is that the ‘’’’’actual’’’’’ lead (in the ancient story within the show, not the story of the show) aka Baek Kyung* does NOT get the girl. But that doesn’t mean you won’t fricking suffer with him. Jeez, I bawled my eyes out for him, too. But Haru/Dan-oh, guys, they’re.... everything. Oh and all of that is nicely mixed up in a strong, complex plot that leaves nothing unexplained. Not everything is explained through words - the show is high on symbolism rather than dialogue - but everything makes sense. And the ending, oh that stupid ending. As beautiful as heartbreaking. Since the plot is put into a philosophical perspective throughout the show, the show also raises questions about existence and being. Yes, I yelled when Heidegger was mentioned. So not only do you get to see a beautiful, heartbreaking love story; adorable, complex characters; time-and-space-transcending friendships, you also get to laugh, cry and think about your own existence and your own place in this world. This show is a delight.

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Negative: you will cry and cry and cry and then laugh and then cry and cry and cry. It’s really not fun. Emotionally devastating. No, but for real... I wished we had a more complex depiction of the female characters that aren’t Dan-oh (specifically Ju-da, Sae-mi and Su-hyang), and a bit less focus on the guys therefore (I love them all but I thought the girls could have gotten some screen time of theirs while I would have accepted Jinmichae, Do-hwa and Nam-ju to get a bit less)

- Positive: Honestly? EVerything. Directing, casting, characterization, narration, love story, friendships, everything.

- *Let me say something about Baek Kyung, portrayed by Lee Jae-wook. That character could have simply been an asshole. The set-up was there, the writer of the comic also made him that way. But Lee Jae-wook has portrayed this character with so much depth that it is impossible not to feel bad for him. His entire life stages (hahahaha, I’m so funny) are a tragic mess. The fact that he eventually realizes that who he is and who the writer made him are eventually indeed two different people after all - but that they both share being in love with Eun Dan-oh - is as important as it is devastating. Cause it makes you realize that he can finally move his life more freely with that knowledge - become a better person outside of the stages (only if given the chance by the writer though) - while also never finding a happy ending. Firstly, because happy endings don’t exist in their world anyway because endings - if happy or sad - are always endings to these characters’ existences and because it is glaringly obvious his happy ending would include having Dan-oh by his side also outside of the stages. That is denied to him and will always be denied to him. And as a viewer, you understand that and you want nothing else, but the fact that he doesn’t even appear in the new story, not getting a chance at a new life this time, just adds a tragic notion onto all of this that no one asked for. I’d like to thank Lee Jae-wook here for such an incredible portrayal. I started Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol because of him and, unfortunately, had stop watching after 2 episodes because Go A-ra is simply... a terrible actress. I can’t put it any other way. I’m looking forward to other dramas with him and the rest of the cast though. Extraordinary You definitely had a huge advantage already by having a quite young, but incredibly talented mass of actors and actresses.

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*drumroll*

1) Hotel del Luna. Rating: 5 / 5 stars - strongly recommend, must watch.

- It wasn’t thaaaat surprising to me that I would love this show. It was rather.... obvious that this would happen because a fantasy show set in modern day with the involvement of other time eras and a badass, broken, strong female lead is simply my taste. What I did not expect was this to become my favorite tv show of all time. I don’t even know where to start. I guess Jang Man-wol is a good starting point. Because I live for such characters. Characters like hers are precisely of my taste (I had similar people to her before - Ámbar Smith from Argentina’s Soy Luna or Melody Paz from Argentina’s Casi Ángeles - and also after her - Seo Dan-ah from Korea’s Run On), but Jang Man-wol takes the no.1 spot in all tv characters ever. She’s so layered, so complex, so well-written. She’s not predictable, but she’s also not ever surprising. She comes across as one of the most relatable tv characters you could ever see because she isn’t just one thing. She’s very contrary, she can be soft and loving or harsh and ruthless, sometimes all at the same time. She can be forgiving, she can be arrogant, self-hating, self-loving, lazy, passionate, she is quite literally everything. And while in the show’s set-up she is punished for hundreds of years when other, much more problematic people were allowed to leave this world sooner than her, the narrative wants you to feel sorry for her. You see her flaws, you see she’s anything but perfect but it won’t make you conclude that her punishment was ever deserved. The more you get into this show, the more you will ache. Because you know that there is only one possible ending to the show - for her to finally find peace. And that... that can only be achieved if she finally is allowed to leave this world. And it hurts and pains because, obviously, there is a love story. A love story that goes back to when she was a child 1,300 years ago. A love story that reunites her with the guy who saved her these 1,300 years ago and who now finds her again, someone who makes her care about her life again. As deeper as you go into the show, the more you will cry, the more you will suffer. And you will feel conflicted. You will want her to get her revenge while you will want to protect her. You will want her to finally be able to leave this world, but you won’t want her to leave Chan-sung. You will want her to actually care about her own fate while you will also want her to make the mistakes that worsen everything. It is a beautiful character put into a story that mixes fantasy, comedy, tragedy, soulmates, life, death, revenge, a stunning cinematography and strong dialogues into one. And what you get is the probably best show ever made.

SUMMARY

- Favorite character:

- Negative: There is really only one minor thing I’d criticize. While all the chars are rather complex and all subplots and character arcs work within the main plot frame and round up the entire story perfectly, there is one subplot I personally got a bit tired of because it is definitely the most unconnected one to the main plot - this concerns the romance arc of yu-na and hyun-joong. I wasn’t hating it, but I just didn’t need it for this story.

- Positive: This show has everything. I told you above already all the things I like. On top of that, I’d like to add that it has a beautiful found family story arc, promotes wonderful messages, has gotten itself the most excellent leading actress with IU who just beautifully portrays Jang Man-wol in all her depth. The show leaves you with your heart aching while there will be a smile on your face. Emotional devastation is just how this show works.

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- Kdrama I'm currently watching: The Crowned Clown

- Kdramas I plan on watching soon: My Country - The New Age (watched 2 eps so far) | Signal (watched 1 ep so far) | Mr. Queen | Tale of the Nine Tailed | Moon Lovers

- Kdramas I abandoned because I didn’t get into them / disliked them: My First First Love | Goblin | Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol | Memories of the Alhambra

- If you have any suggestions for me based on my likes and dislikes, send them to me. I’m open to everything :)

#w two worlds #w two worlds apart #hotel del luna #extraordinary you #a love so beautiful #radio romance #romance is a bonus book #rookie historian goo hae ryung #the tale of nokdu #bring it on ghost #let's fight ghost #hey ghost let's fight #run on #mischa for ts #kdrama ratings

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dramarants · 4 years ago

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KDrama Actors Who Caught My Eye

GIF by iamacolor

Ji Chang Wook

Surprise! Healer is one of my all time favorite dramas and this man has one of my all time favorite faces. He gives the sweetest heart eyes, can handle heavier emotional scenes, and most of the main roles I’ve seen him in are puppies with grumpy exteriors which he does so well. His latest drama choices haven’t been great (older posts in his tag can tell you more) but his swoon factor makes the mediocre ones worthwhile!

Dramas watched: 7

Greatest Hits:

Healer (2014) - action, political drama with fluffy angst romance

Suspicious Partner (2017) - lawyer romcom with a serial killer plot line

Empress Ki (2013) - jcw as a sheltered crown prince, the show guts you

Latest:

Melting Me Softly (2019)

Lovestruck in the City (2020, still airing)

Park Seo Joon

Tumblr was in love with this man when I first started watching kdramas and he grew on me too. He kept showing up in popular recommendations (and in the boba shop across from my favorite study spot on campus lmfao) and his charms work well in bringing warmth to some of the typically “alpha” characters he’s played. What can I say, I’m a sucker for smiles.

Dramas watched: 6

Greatest Hits:

Fight for My Way (2017) - slice of life romcom, a tumblr fave!

Itaewon Class (2020) - slice of life with some punch, great OST*

What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim (2018) - psj fan holy grail romcom**

Breakout Roles:

She Was Pretty (2015)

Kill Me, Heal Me (2015)

*haven’t seen this yet but really looking forward to it!

**ngl this cloying tropefest was too much for me but v cute, great kisses

Kim Seon Ho

Oh man where to begin. When I first saw him on the Start-Up thumbnail, I thought “who casted him, he seems creepy” and good lord was I wrong. By ep 3, I was completely awestruck by his talent, expressions, charisma, dimples, voice - okay I’m stopping you get the point. This man is an insanely wonderful, versatile actor (plus a total dork on season 4 of 2 Days 1 Night!) and I can’t wait for all he has in store for us.

Dramas watched: 7 (in 30 days, whoops)

Greatest Hits:

Start-Up (2020) - tech workplace drama, jipyeong breaks your heart

Catch the Ghost (2019) - subway action dramedy, lead role!

Welcome to Waikiki 2 (2019) - pure comedy, he just looks pretty even when he’s suffering

Breakout Roles:

Good Manager/Chief Kim (2017)

Two Cops (2017)

Im Siwan

I’m cheating with this one bc there’s other actors I’ve seen more of but recently I’ve been obsessed with his absolutely adorable, grounded portrayal of Ki Seon Gyeom in Run On and I just started Strangers From Hell where he plays a much darker role! He’s an idol turned actor I believe, and while I haven’t seen a lot of his work, I’m loving what I’ve come across so far.

Dramas watched: 2, one in progress

Greatest Hits:

The Attorney (2013) - legal drama movie, his breakout role

Misaeng (2014) - classic workplace ensemble drama, so so good

Run On (2020, still airing) - feel-good slice of life, awkward cinnamon rolls with various burn degrees

Latest:

Hell is Other People/Strangers From Hell (2019)

Honorable Mentions:

They stood out in the roles I saw and star in dramas in my watchlist!

Kang Ha Neul - 3, so glad he never got braces for his dorky smile

Jo Jung Suk - 3, hospital playlist is what really sold him to me

Nam Joo Hyuk - 5, didn’t realize I've seen so many of his dramas

Yoo Ah In - 2, secret love affair?? Jesus Christ??

Lee Junho - 1, his performance in just between lovers is exquisite

Jung Hae In - 2, fits the beta lead trope so well if you’re into that

Kim Myung Soo - 3, held his own across shin hye-sun, a cutie

Oh Jung Se - 2, stellar performance as kang tae

Lee Jae Wook - 2, mostly fascinated by how a man can look like a dinosaur but still... cute? dare I say hot?

Jang Seung Jo - 1, wanna see more after his role in jtbc’s chocolate

Kim Won Hae - 9, one of the busiest drama dads/comic reliefs in the biz let’s be real

Sung Dong Il - 8, another busy drama dad/comic relief/evil historical politician but his role in my drama journey has to be acknowledged

Happy to discuss or get recs for dramas with strong performances or your favorite actors!

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tomorrowsdrama · 4 years ago

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I was ambivalent about Run On/Im Siwan’s character after the first episode, but after the second episode OH MY GOD I am so on board. You know I’m into a drama when I actually download the episode to take screenshots instead of just streaming.

To be honest, the way he would stare at people for a long time without saying anything and answer people’s questions without really answering them in episode 1 made me wonder if his character was supposed to be on the spectrum or something. But it seems like he’s just a 4D personality who says and does whatever he thinks without really caring about how others view him.

I love that, while he won’t butt in if it’s not his business, he also will do what he thinks is right when he thinks someone has crossed the line. He’s not some altruistic do-gooder who will go out of his way to save anyone and everyone. But if you go too far, he will confront you and do something about it. And if it makes me a bad person that I started liking his character when he beat up his two teammates then so be it.

But the thing that really hooked me this episode was the chemistry between Im Siwan and Shin Se Kyung. OH MY GOD THEIR CHEMISTRY IS FIRE. I love that they’re obviously very aware of their attraction to each other but it’s still in that phase of half flirting, half not, who is this person and am I into them?

Another one of his oddball responses where you have to take it at its literal face value and nothing more. Most people would assume that you hated movies if you said that you didn’t like them. But not Sun-Gyeom. Not liking movies means just that. I can see how he could drive people crazy with these kinds of responses.

Oooh, as in a date? I never would have guessed that Sun-Gyeom would put any weight or spare an extra thought about seeing a movie with just Mi Joo.

I love that the seemingly unflappable Sun-Gyeom is shown getting slightly anxious as he is very conscious of his close proximity to Mi Joo.

Ooooooh that was smooth af and I don’t think he was even trying to be. How can you so matter of factly tell a girl that you were running towards her with nothing but her as the goal in your mind? The thing is, he always says whatever the hell he’s thinking/feeling so I can’t really say that there was no flirtatious intention behind it. Am I swooning over Im Siwan? The Im Siwan whose only previous work I’ve seen was Strangers from Hell where he plays a violent psychopath who gets pushed into becoming a killer?

Ooh and my girl is totally affected by what he just said.

OMG and then he says that it took him maybe a little over 9 seconds to get to her and that’s totally a good time. And she doesn’t know it, but we know that he’s never been able to get below 10 seconds, but for her he did and ahhhh FINE I AM SWOONING FOR IM SIWAN.

And I’m not the only one swooning.

#run on #jtbc run on #im siwan #shin se kyung #kdrama

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offbeatcappuccino · 4 years ago

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What I Watched This Week: February 16-23 (*Spoilers*)

Hello friends!

I am starting a new thing, where I will be writing reactions for the kdramas I watch every week. I try to avoid watching completed shows because I often just end up binge-watching them and so I only watching ongoing shows during the semester. However, this means that I have to wait nearly two months to write my reviews and analyses. Therefore, I am starting this new writing project. I hope you all will enjoy reading them!

Sisyphus: The Myth ( Thursdays and Fridays): This past week, I watched the first and second episodes of Sisyphus. Sisyphus stars Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo, where the latter plays Han Tae Sul, an engineer and CEO of the successful company, Quantum and Time. On the other Park Shin Hye, plays the character, Kang Seo Hae, a mysterious young woman, that appears to have time travelled to warn Han Tae Sul. Its been a long time since I watched an action focused sci fi kdrama as I've been riding the rom-com wave for a while, but I was super excited to see Park Shin Hye in a drama. Park Shin Hye, was the first kdrama actress that I was introduced to, and my first kdrama was Doctors. However, this is my first Cho Seung Woo drama. So far, Sisyphus seems super interesting and after watching the first two episodes, I was left with many questions, especially surrounding Tae Sul's brother and why Seo Hae wants to meet Tae Sul ( it looks like they get married or atleast have a wedding, but I want to know more about the specifics about their relationship). Sisyphus has great potential as show. The only concern I have is that the plot may get too convoluted and become hard to follow along. Other similar dramas like The King Eternal Monarch seemed to fall into this trap.

Vincenzo (Saturdays and Sundays) : I also watched the first two episodes of Vincenzo starring Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Been, Ok Taec Yeon, and Yoo Jae Myung. This is the second kdrama that I am watching Song Joong Ki in. The first one was the blockbuster hit "Descendants of The Sun", which starred him and his ex-wife Song Hye Kyo. After Descendants of The Sun, I spent a couple of months, obsessing over Song Joong Ki and was disappointed when I couldn't really commit to watching Arthdal Chronicles. Regardless, I absolutely LOVED the first two episodes of Vincenzo. Before watching Vincenzo, I did not know that it was a dark comedy, and thought it was a thriller, but the comedy in this show is top notch. Its hilarious seeing this dichotomy that exists with Song Joong Ki's Vincenzo Cassano. Vincenzo's the man that doesn't flinch when it comes to pulling the trigger, and yet, you see him on the brink of tears and frustration when the dry cleaners damage his vintage Italian suit. Also, though I initially watched this show for Vincenzo, Hong Cha Yeon stole my heart. She is spunky, hilarious, dramatic, and brilliant. Her character reminds me a lot of Jun Ji Hyun's Cheon Song Yi from My Love From The Star. My only concern with this drama is how reduced Ok Taec Yeon's role is. Ok Taec Yeon is a talented actor, who has succesfully acted in leading roles. Therefore, I found it disappointing to see him reduced as simply playing the dumb intern that exists for comic relief. I hope his character is more flushed out in future episodes!

She Would Never Know ( Mondays and Tuesdays): Finally, I watched Episodes 11 and 12 of She Would Never Know starring Won Jin Ah and Ro Woon. I didn't realize till today how far along I came with watching this show. I haven't been able to be as committed to watching She Would Never Know because it is not available on any mainstream streaming sites for free. Therefore, I have resorted to watching the show on Kiss Asian and the pop-up ads have been annoying. Regardless, She Would Never Know is definitely one of those slow burn dramas that don't make an immediate impact, but they grow on you over time. Cha Hyun Seung and Yoon Song Ah are finally in a relationship and I am here for the fluff! I also love how the show still manages to focus on their professional lives. I find the inner workings and conflicts that come with working for a major cosmetics company. I also am looking forward to seeing how the LGBTQI+ storyline with Cha Hyun Seung’s sister will play out and how Lee Jae Shin’s relationship with Hyo Joo will unfold. Hyo Joo is unfortunately a stereotypical kdrama character, who resorts to playing the unhinged crazy possessive girlfriend, who refuses to move on. At this point, Hyo Joo needs a therapist more than anything and I hope there is a redemption arc for her character. Also, I wish the show would go more into why she’s so hell bent on marrying Lee Jae Shin even though he’s from a lower social class and is frankly not attracted to her. Regardless, I want to give a special shout out to Ha-Eun she’s such a precious character! She really be out here giving better relationship advice than most adults.

#she would never know #jtbc #tvn #tvn drama #vincenzo #song joong ki #won jin ah #sisyphus #sisyphus the myth #park shin hye #cho seung woo #doctors #ro woon #kdrama #kdrama reviews #chinchaqueen #sunbae don't put on that lipstick

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wearetakingthehobbitstogallifrey · 5 years ago

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Kdrama recs Part 1

Hullo and welcome to the kdrama life @camsthisky! The following list is not in any particular order, other than the fact that I start with a more rom/com vibe and head toward more romantic/action or action. All the following kdramas are set in the modern day, and part 2 of my recs for you will be either darker kdramas set in present day or historical dramas.

Let the list begin!

1. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon:

Do Bong Soon is a v smol woman who has super strength and who wants 1. To create her own video game 2. Get her police officer crush to return her affections. Which like, police officer is kinda cute but he ain’t that special. Bong Soon winds up becoming a bodyguard to Ahn Min Hyuk, the extremely rich, kinda spoiled, ridiculously extra CEO of a gaming company who does not like the police for secret reasons, and sadly does not have a good relationship with his family. (He a lonely boy underneath everything.) Min Hyuk finds out about Bong Soon’s powers, is in TOTAL awe of her, offers to train her in fighting, and literally falls head over heels for her.

The caveat with this show is there is a subplot or two that annoy me, BUT I just use the 10 second skip button and it is totally worth it because the romance is super cute—SUPER CUTE (also I have a list of favorite actors and Park Hyung Sik is def on it—one minute he is an adorkable, blushing bby the next he can be intense and sad)

He cute

2. Her Private Life:

Hello fake-dating!! Ryan Gold (an adoptee who didn’t live in Korea for a while) is a former artist who stopped painting because he couldn’t deal with his Stendhol (?) syndrome (among other traumas). Deok Mi is the classy art curator of a famous museum who definitely does not have any secrets she wants to keep from the world—well, other than the fact that she is the number one fangirl of kpop idol, Cha Shi-an (who also appreciates art) and has a major crush on him. Ryan becomes director of the art museum and there is a whole thing with getting Shi-an involved in an art show.

Following this and a series of unfortunate events a false rumor starts that Deok Mi and and Shi-an ARE dating. It’s a little complicated to summarize, but basically what you need to know is that Ryan and Deok Mi become a fake couple so there won’t be a scandal for Shi-an or violence done to Deok Mi by rabid fangirls. I enjoy the fake-dating trope a lot, and how it becomes real for both of them! The leads are played by Kim Jae Wook and Park Min Young, who both have incredible range. Lots of soft moments in this one! Good kisses, a scene where the faves bake together, and also Ryan wears a lot of deep v-neck shirts and jackets which is an attack on me personally.

The show also contains a bit of angst, which I LOVE. Hand-holding becomes an important theme 😊

RYAN NO

3. Crash Landing on You: Rich South Korean heiress/fashion designer Se-ri accidentally winds up in a North Korean village, and really REALLY wants to go home. Mostly because there are no scented candles or spa-like bathtubs in the vicinity, but also because she could easily disappear into a NK jail and never return. A North Korean captain named Ri Jeong Hyeok finds her and decides not to turn her because, one, he’s a good guy who doesn’t want to turn an innocent person over to what might be her death, and two, turning her over might get his four underlings in trouble for reasons. Said underlings are his family, basically, and they are a deLIGHT. One is an argumentative proud sort who likes to drink and to feel important and who tries to provoke (and gets provoked by) Se-ri at every opportunity, one is a lover of banned South Korean dramas, one is a 17 year old bby who misses his mom, and one is the silent but most loyal follower of the captain.

Besides all these people, there are two other characters (including a surprisingly wise conman) who become faves and major players in the plot.

There is a great mix of humor, romance, found family, and angst, and I love it very much. A few things don’t go the way I want them to near the end, but a bit of imagination and fanfic can fix anything

ALSO I FORGOT THE CAPTAIN GETS SUPER SULKY FROM TIME TO TIME AND IT IS HILARIOUS

Show of hands, who thinks they will meet again

4. Are You Human Too: A FAVORITE SHOW OF ALL! TIME!

What do you do when your husband dies and your evil mega-rich father-in-law takes your son away from you and keeps you from seeing him ever? Well, if you are scientist with more genius than positive coping methods, you build yourself a robot son who looks exactly like your real son. Great solution, am I right?

Nam Shin III is the name of my favorite robot son, played by the inestimable Seo Kang Joon. He is the purest bby you will ever meet, being designed so that he never lies and so that he will immediately go to hug anyone who cries. He seems quite a contrast to the bitter human Nam Shin, who hates his gilded prison life, hates his Grandpa, and tries to sneak away from his right hand man, Secretary Ji Young Hoon, his only friend in the world. The girl in the show is Kang So Bong, an ex-UFC fighter who was so badly injured she had to quit. She is at first a bit jaded and mercenary because of her past, but she has a golden heart that just needs to be reminded of its existence.

Not going into details to avoid spoilers, but everything upends when the robot Nam Shin has to take the place of the human Nam Shin. The show is a soft, funny, angsty exploration of what it means to be human, with some good found family throughout. The character development is phenomenal, and the connection between So Bong and Nam Shin III is *chef’s kiss*. I just want to give a shout out to Seo Kang Joon who plays a duel role like you wouldn’t believe, to SKJ’s smile, to the soundtrack, and to the character of Young Hoon, a loyal, steady, and self-sacrificing secretary that we do not deserve (gosh tho he looks good in blue!)

Look at my robot son getting a long-looked for affirmation! (his lil smile!!!

5. W: Two Worlds:

This show unique because it meta as HELL! Oh Yeon Joo is a junior doctor and the daughter of a webtoon artist whose big hit, W, is coming to a close. Much to her surprise, she gets pulled into the world of the comic where she encounters and saves the main character, Kang Chul, a former Olympic shooting champion who was blamed for the murder of his entire family, and whose sole desire is to find the real killer. It’s a good romance between them, and I also love Kang Chul’s relationship with his hyung, which, tho it is not always a main focus, is present and wonderful. Kang Chul himself is both intelligent and adorably bratty, charismatic and angsty, soft and fierce, and he is one of my favorite kdrama characters for sure.

As for the meta, the show does a fantastic job exploring the rules of the comic world, of how one can enter and leave, the importance and power of main characters and supporting characters, and the purpose of an author. There is always another twist coming, and it is just so much fun!

UM SIR PLS POINT THAT ELSEWHERE

6. Healer:

I watched half this show and never realized that the female lead is played by Park Min Young, same actress as in Her Private Life. Someone had to tell me lol! She’s just so good at playing different people. In this show, she is Chae Young Shin, a reporter for a celebrity tabloid who has big dreams of becoming a famous reporter who investigates stories that actually mean something. She is a bit quirky, very cute, very brave, and probably one of my favorite female leads. She lives with her dad above his coffee/teashop bakery and is friends with all the ex-cons he has defended while doing his other job of lawyering.

Anyway this show is more of a romantic/action drama. To get an idea of the titular Healer, picture what you would get if you took some of Batman and Nightwing’s aesthetics (wearing black, hanging out on rooftops, punching people, flipping around, etc) and put them into a night courier who likes to watch National Geographic and dream about one day going off to an island where he can live all by himself for the rest of his days because oh yeah he is a loner whose only friend is an older woman who sets up his jobs and whom he has never actually met.

There is also an older reporter that Young Shin looks up to, the fun tabloid office where she works, a heck lot of mystery surrounding some tragedy involving a group of reporter best friends/found family back in the 80’s/90’s, and of course both members of the OTP have childhood trauma that has made them who they are today. One of my favorite things that happens in the show is that Healer has to go undercover for a while, Clark Kenting it up in Young Shin’s tabloid office, which overnight becomes a real news agency for reasons.

The action is LOTS of fun, and the romance is really soft and cute, and better still, when there is a misunderstanding or something that gets in their way, they almost immediately talk about it and resolve issues. They TRUST each other and give the benefit of the doubt where many tv couples would break up or get in big fights. I find it (plus the character development) very refreshing.

I couldn’t find a gif of my favorite fight sadly. This will have to do

7. Lawless Lawyer: This has Lee Joon Gi. Watch it.

Just kidding, there are many other reasons to watch the show, but it is true that Lee Joon Gi is one of my favorite actors. The man has phoenix eyes, a jawline that could cut silk, diamonds, you name it, and such a deep well of emotional acting that it literally kills me when his characters rage/weep/love/etc.

Anyway, in this legal thriller/romance/action drama, LJG’s character Bong Sang Pil is a beautiful, very extra ex-gangster/now lawyer who opens his own office, ready to fight villainy and avenge his mom with the law or with his fists, whichever is more useful at the time. He has a right hand man named Manager Tae and recruits a bunch of thugs as his minions, and they all become a weird sort of family as the show goes on.

Ha Jae Yi is a quiet badass lawyer who has no time for sexist idiots and gets her license suspended for smacking one of said fools. She gets recruited to assist Sang Pil, and they find their goals align as both their mothers were destroyed by the villains.

Speaking of the villains? EXCELLENT acting by them all, like they need to go down obviously, but you can’t help but be in awe of a few of them or even get attached to one or two in a weird way. Props to the show for having one of the best female villains I have ever seen

What an icon

Here you get two gifs of him

Sorry I needed to make it a magical three lol

Tune in next time for historical dramas and modern dramas that are a bit darker!

#kdrama recommendations #lawless lawyer #healer #w two worlds #are you human too #her private life #strong woman do bong soon #crash landing on you #kdrama recs for cam #my kdrama recs

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aer-in-wanderland · 4 years ago

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구미호뎐 | Tale of the Nine Tailed - Ji Ah’s Fate & the Korean Mythology Surrounding It (requested by @kestrel-of-herran)

Ask: One of the most fascinating things for me is the prophecy the fortune teller told Ji Ah when she gave him the fox bead. I feel like that's important foreshadowing for the drama's ending. How would you translate and interpret that?

Note: words/terms left in Korean require context and will be discussed below.

EP06 The Four Pillars of Fate - Ji Ah Trades the Fox Bead

Ji Ah: I’ll repay this eunhye no matter what, please?

Fortune Teller: Okay, okay! You were a princess in your past life, do you think you’re a princess now? You think if you whine enough you can have anything. Ei! Your hand. Give me thine hand. (Ji Ah extends her right hand). Left hand!

Ji Ah: (changing hands) Left hand.

Fortune Teller: You were born with a very special saju weren’t you! Water and fire vie on par, earth is clouded, but metal will subdue it, so though darkness should surround you (literally: all four directions, heaven, and earth), a moon rises in your sky.

Ji Ah: I’m not sure what you mean...?

Fortune Teller: You have the fox bead! For that is your moon.

Ji Ah: Excuse me?

Fortune Teller: Give to me the fox bead. Even without a moon, your saju is overflowing enough. Therefore...!

Ji Ah: I’ll give it to you! I don’t believe in such things as palja.

Fortune Teller: The deal...has been accepted.

Ji Ah: Pardon? Already?

Fortune Teller: Your palm lines. Your palm lines have changed.

(Note: I translated this working from the raw, so I haven’t seen the subs to be able to comment on them).

Eunhye (은혜)

Commonly translated as a ‘favor’ or ‘debt,’ ‘eunhye’ is distinct from both of these both linguistically and conceptually. When Yeon says that foxes are obligated to repay ‘debts,’ he’s actually talking about eunhye. ‘Debt’ is another word entirely (빚) and it does appear occasionally. The two are distinct. The glowing ring bonds formed between Yeon and Ah Eum, and Rang and Sajang are both manifestations of eunhye.

One Korean folktale in which eunhye features famously is the tale of the Grateful Magpies (은혜갚은 까치, literally: ‘the magpies who repaid their eunhye’). Shin Joo refers to this in EP02 when Yeon tells him about returning Ji Ah’s eyesight to her even after she tranquilized him:

Shin Joo: And you’re saying you just let her go? And returned her sight, too?

Yeon: Since rules are rules.

Shin Joo: It’s not as if we’re magpies meticulously repaying our eunhye! Geez, how long do we have to be bound by that sort of premodern contractual relationship?

Eunhye is difficult to translate but can be approximated as ‘help or favor (as in ‘to favor someone’) given willingly.’ In my mind, rather than a debt which is a negative concept, eunhye is more of a positive concept. There’s a voluntary, good faith/good will element to it. So you’re ‘indebted’ as the result of a good deed done for you. Except it’s not so voluntary if you’re a gumiho, apparently.

In contrast, when Yeon tells Eodukshini, ‘I’ll repay this debt shortly,’ in EP08 (could also be translated sarcastically as ‘I’ll return the favor shortly’), he uses the actual word for debt (빚) - no good will to be had here on either side.

Saju Palja (사주팔자）

Literally ‘four pillars eight characters’ (四柱八字), commonly translated as the ‘four pillars of destiny/fate.’ The concept comes from the Chinese astrological concept that a person’s destiny or fate can be divined by the two sexagenary cycle characters assigned to their birth year, month, day, and hour. For more on that, I’ll refer you to Wikipedia. ;)

In EP02, when Yeon asks Taluipa to look into whether Ji Ah’s parents are alive or dead, he has Ji Ah text him their saju (birth dates and times).

I’m not sure how palmistry fits in with the concept, and am no expert in astrology, western or eastern, so I can’t offer any interpretation of the fortune teller’s prophecy, but if anyone wants to try looking into it I’d be intrigued to hear what you find. Apparently, the writer spent 2.5 years on the script, so I wouldn’t be surprised to find out that there’s actual meaning behind it.

The Fox Bead (여우 구슬)

Fox beads are a common earmark of gumiho lore in both Korea and Japan (and probably China, too, but I don’t know enough Chinese to speak to that). In most tellings I’ve encountered, a fox can’t live without their bead, but that doesn’t appear to be the case for Yeon. I was also intrigued by the following exchange he has with the Magistrate in EP06:

Yeon: That’s the Mirror of the Moon. Do you mean to harm (literally: catch) a human with one of the four great mountain gods’ four great treasures meant to protect all creation?

Magistrate: And so, did your fox bead protect all of creation? Or did it protect one person?

To my thinking, this implies that Yeon’s fox bead is being attributed to his status as a mountain god as much as it is to his being a fox. None of our other foxes seem to have one, but none of them are gumiho (gu = nine, ie. the number of tails), much less cheonho (heavenly foxes) like Yeon.

I’m actually a little unclear on this front as well. According to the excerpt from the Hyeonjoong’gi (玄中記) at the start of the first episode, foxes that live to be a hundred can take human form and foxes that live to be a thousand become cheonho. Shin Joo is obviously at least 600 years old but he doesn’t appear to be anywhere near Yeon’s caliber (or even Rang’s who is half human), something he says himself, and in the spin-off he only had one tail. Yoo Ri is younger still. It’s unclear to me whether they will ‘level up' if they live long enough, or if they will never be as powerful as Yeon, regardless of how long they live. I get the sense it’s the latter. Both Yeon and Shin Joo have said that Yeon was of a different caliber from the very beginning (in EP02 and EP03, respectively).

Finally, we haven’t been told much about the fox bead’s powers other than emitting an aura only Yeon can see (sometimes) and suppressing Imoogi inside of Ji Ah. I’m hoping we see it again before the series wraps, but not convinced they’ll have time to recover it given everything else that needs to happen.

On another note, based on the preview for EP15, it appears that the Magistrate’s Mirror of the Moon will be coming back into play. My guess is that Imoogi is going to steal it from the Magistrate and use it on Taluipa. She was shown turned to stone in the background while Yeon and Terry-Imoogi fight. That’s originally her power, so I think Imoogi may use the mirror against her similarly to how the Magistrate ‘absorbed’ the sword Yeon sent flying at him and re-directed it at Ji Ah.

The Jeo Seung Shi Wang (저승 시왕)

The Ten Kings of the Afterlife (jeo-seung-shi-wang) [저승 시왕], as they’re known in the drama, are more commonly called the Ten Kings of the Underworld (myeong-bu-shi-wang) [명부 시왕・冥府十王]. In the subs they appear as the Afterlife Judges, which is accurate in that this is one of the key roles that they perform. As we're told in EP13, the fortune teller is actually one of them.

Yeon: What’s the word? That fortune teller, did you find out about him?

Snail Bride: I’ve been asking around via our patrons.

Yeon: He didn’t seem to be just another low-level native (Korean) god. What’s the geezer’s deal?

Snail Bride: This seems like just a baseless rumour, but there was talk that one of the Ten Kings of the Afterlife who rule over hell leaves his position without notice at odd times.

Yeon: Heh...Interesting. In any case, relay any news you hear about that geezer to me as soon as you hear it.

While the Snail Bride seems to doubt the validity of the rumour, Yeon appears confident it’s true. He later relays this to Team Fox at their strategy meeting:

Yeon: Do you remember the fortune teller we met at the Korean Folk Village?

Ji Ah: Of course I remember! (Shooting Rang a dirty look) Because of someone [your] fox bead was stolen from us.

Rang: I heard rumour he’s a major big shot. Is it true?

Yeon: He’s one of the Ten Kings of Hell.

Rang: What?!

Yeon: They say he’s also in possession of the Uiryeong’geom (geom = sword).

Rang: No way~

Jae Hwan: What’s the Uiryeong’geom?

Shin Joo: It’s a sword that cuts evil (literally: sins).

Jae Hwan: Cuts...evil, you said?

Shin Joo: It’s sword they say was made in ancient days by King Yeomra himself from a branch he broke off of the Uiryeongsu (su = tree) that weighs sins. But, didn’t that disappear from the world several thousand years ago?

Yeon: (Shaking his head) Uh-uh. The Snail Bride just picked it up.

As you may recall, the Ten Kings are the ones who put a celestial hit on Rang which led Yeon to track him down and pretend to kill him (thanks for the angst), and they’re the ones who passed judgement on Yeon after he killed the mudang (shamanness) and sentenced him to time in the Snow Mountain Prison.

It appears that there was some confusion going around that the fortune teller is King Yeomra. Given the above dialogue, I can see where people may have understood his possession of the sword to indicate that, and, in truth, we don’t know which of the Ten Kings he is. That being said, I think if King Yeomra was frequently vacating his post without notice, someone would have said something. I also think Yeomra is a big enough name that if it were him they would’ve just come out and said so. Yeomra is also Taluipa’s brother so she, at least, would know. My assumption was that he was one of the other, less well known kings.

To conclude, this has all been a long way of saying that I have no idea what Ji Ah’s palja will mean for her fate. What I can provide is a little context. I’m not familiar with the sword, and it doesn’t turn up when I google it, so I suspect it was invented for the purpose of the show. Whether it remains a red herring until the end or shows up in the final hour remains to be seen.

#tale of the nine tailed #nam ji ah #korean mythology #ask #totnt #구미호뎐 #남지아 #my translations #kestrel-of-herran #totnt ask

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eventyrstuff · 5 years ago

Text

Every Kdrama I’ve watched under the cut, to keep track and for recommendations.

Warning: Spoilers, few unpopular opinions ahead, please bear in mind: to each their own.

2009

· You’re Beautiful – 16 amusing episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? This was the era of female leads pretending to be male (Hana Kimi, Ouran etc), but I still loved it. We follow the story of the female lead (who was a Nun at the beginning) who pretended to be her twin brother and become a part of the country’s current hottest band because her twin had a cosmetic surgery mishap (lol). It’s mostly trying to fit in and try not to get exposed but of course our male lead discovered her true identity thus begin her suffering and second also knows but did not admit it thus begin his unrequited love and comic relief and best character in the series was left in the dark thus begin questioning his sexuality 7/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? YES. Park Shin Hye is love and Jang Geun Seuk’s smile is freaking adorable. 9/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? JEREMY AND SHINWOO AND JOLIE YES. 10/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? MOST DEF. I fell in love with PSH’s “Lovely Day” and “ Without Words”, ANJELL’s “Still” and “Promise” though I prefer Lee Hong Ki’s version 8/10 o Would you rewatch? I’ll definitely rewatch, I would love to compare my opinion back in my tween years and opinion now o Favorite Episode/Scenes: Episode 6 – Shin Woo and Mi Nam’s pseudo date (totally heartbreaking for tween me) Episode 11 – supermarket scene was the best, Episode 13 – Cooking scenes was hilarious, every scene with Jeremy, TAE KYUNG AND THE PIG o Words Association: GO MI NAM, Pig-Rabbit, JOLIE!, Fly me to the moon, “hyung, vinegar?” o Yes it has overused plots, common conflicts and family drama but the characters and their dynamics are truly worth watching this and if you need a good laugh (this drama has a looooot of funny scenes), this one is for you. 8/10

2011

· Heartstrings – 15 forgotten episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? It’s a college drama involving modern and traditional Korean music. I honest to God forgot the whole drama, I think there was rivalry between the main leads? 6/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? Not sure, but if it’s Park Shin Hye, I guess so, sorry I’m shit at remembering this drama o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? I forgot so I guess not? o Are the OSTs compelling? I am pretty sure it got an amazing Osts with having Park Shin Hye and CN Blue’s Yong Hwa but the only thing I remember was the song “Byeul” or Star and it was sung by the secondary character but it was really catchy o Would you rewatch? Looks like I need to rewatch since I mostly forgot this drama o Will rate once I have rewatched but if you shipped Yong Hwa and Park Shin Hye’s characters in You’re Beautiful, this one is for you.

Then after years of Jdramas, Anime, Mangas, YA books I returned to Kdramaland in…

2018

· Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo – 16 charming episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? College athletes’ coming of age drama, added a dash of love and friendship and dreams. Strong female lead and affectionate male lead, sign me the fuck up. 9/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? I AM EMOTIONALLY INVESTED WITH THE LEADS PERSONAL AND LOVE LIVES. YES. 10/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? YES EVEN THE CAMEOS (Hello Lee Jong Suk who I haven’t watched any of his drama yet at the time and Ji Soo) 10/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I downloaded 2 of their OSTs (You&I and Dreaming), it was the first Korean songs in my playlist 9/10 o Would you rewatch? Absolutely o Favorite Episode/Scenes: “BOK JOO, WATCH OUT!”, “YOU DIE, I WILL KILL YOU”, Snow kisses, the gang in the amusement park, THAT SCENE WITH JISOO AND JOO HYUK o Word Association: SWAG, Messi, Chicken, Samgyupsal, WHAT, Chubs o I totally recommend to everyone, it has a unique plot, still not over the main lead’s chemistry, you’ll fall in love with the whole story. 10/10

· The Heirs – 20 clichéd episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? It’s your typical rich man poor woman plot, high school setting oozing with alpha males and lots of trope scenes, if only female lead was also an heir or they develop more on her character it will be memorable, I can’t really differentiate with other dramas with the same plot – well except the male lead’s mother is not your typical mother who absolutely hates the female lead 3/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? No, not really more on the secondary characters, both male and female leads are meh 2/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? With the mute mother and FL’s bestfriend and his girlfriend yes, everyone else is forgettable 3/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I only remember “Love is a moment” because it was used by fanmade crack videos on youtube ahahaha 2/10 o Would you rewatch? Probably no. o I guess if you are a big fan of Boys Over Flowers and looking for the same genre this one’s for you, this did not really age well for me, probably would have loved this if I watched back when I was in highschool – reminds me of wattpad days. 3/10

· W: Two Worlds – 16 enthralling episodes (Started 2018 Finished 2020)

o Is the plot interesting? The plot is what compelled me to watch this drama, male lead is a webtoon character created by the female lead but made famous by her father. Male lead does not have your best childhood experiences but became really successful as an adult but there are mysterious instances that put his life on danger, the female lead (doctor) was drawn in on the comic and saved his life, unknowingly her actions changed the course of the story and it reflected on the comic in the real world – this was truly a good concept 9/10 because I actually forgot I started this drama last 2018 then rewatched and finished this 2020, I am still confused. o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? THE CHEMISTRY WAS ON THE ROOF ON THIS ONE. I DIDN’T EVEN CARE ABOUT THE OTHER CHARACTERS 10/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? I was actually more focused on the main leads, did not exactly give much attention to other characters 3/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I only liked “Where are you” but it was sung by that guy who was jailed among other things so I don’t know how I feel now. Still the opening was lit o Would you rewatch? Yes, I will try to fully understand what the mechanics or rules of being a webtoon character and being alive in the real world o Favorite Episode/Scenes: KISS IN THE JAIL was the first thing that came to my mind, also real life scenes to comic scenes and vice versa- kudos to the artists, slap and kiss scene, the flashing scene, 4 romantic concepts scene, the adorable scenes recreating the illustration book, the transition when yeon Joo dropped her ring, the hospital bed scene o Words Association: #4, handcuffs, all the winks, sudden “saranghaeyo”, ring, bus stop, “to be continued” o This drama was amazing for the first 10 episodes then became complicated after, I loved the chemistry between the 2 main leads but unfortunately overpowered the whole story – don’t get me wrong I love love stories, but my reaction was the same as those who read the comics – too much cutesy stuff they forgot the storyline, I wanted them to explore the W show, but they focused on filling the plothole for the murderer which created more conflicts and confusing scenes. The line between the comic and real word created plot devices and more questions. This drama has flaws but cool premise though, I hate amnesia plot on any drama but it was well incorporated on this one. 8/10

· Goblin – 16 amazing Episodes (Finished, rewatched 2020)

o Is the plot interesting? A general in Goryeo dynasty got punished by the Gods to be immortal and his sword still in his chest only the Goblin bride can take it off so he can be at peace and die. Immortal lead with a side of grim reaper as best friend, charming female lead with a confident female boss – a story with reincarnation and ghosts, scenes that will tug your heart – yes, one of Kdrama Masterpiece 10/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? At first no no with the age gap but yes, I say while crying o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? HELL TO THE YES, DEOK HWA, GRAMPS, SECRETARY KIM, HELLO CUTIE TAE HEE, SUNNY AND GRIM REAPER 10/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? HAUNTINGLY BEAUTIFUL OSTS, particularly “Round and Round”, “I Miss You”, “Stay with Me” and even without lyrics I still worship “When the time stops” aka the music that speaks to your soul 10/10 o Would you rewatch? YES ALREADY DID BRUH WILL DO AGAIN o Favorite Episode/Scenes: Every bromance scene, I got hooked by the scene in the first ep where Eun Tak celebrated her birthday with her ghost mother, epic goblin and grim reaper modelling in the highway, everytime sunny flips her hair, grim reaper and his guests in the tea shop o Word Association: Canada, sad love, candles, rain, chicken, tea, car crash *sorry not sorry* o Totally recommended, well-deserved on its popularity. Will make you laugh and cry, at the same time. Acting skillz man. 10/10

· Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – 16 whacky episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? Female lead has super strength which was actually passed down to every woman born in her family, she wants to be a game developer but instead got hired as bodyguard of our male lead who is a ceo of a gaming company 8/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? I remember that I did, I was? I need to rewatch haha o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? I remembered I did not like Ji soo’s character and don’t really remember other characters… o Are the OSTs compelling? Can’t quite remember so I need to - o Would you rewatch? Yeahp, will do o I’ll do a rewatch before rating

I had a watch list back in 2018, but then I became busy with work and life until…

2020 (Details will be more longer since every Kdrama is still fresh on my mind)

· My ID is Gangnam Beauty – 16 pretty episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? Basically, female lead deems herself ugly and undergone a plastic surgery to fully change her face before attending the university – but a popular guy back in highschool (junior high?) was also attending the same uni and recognized her – it’s a mellow sort of drama tackling Korean beauty and it’s extent, still cute story tho 7/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? We must protect Mi-rae at all cost, Cha Eun Woo’s character is a little bit emotionally constipated but Eun Woo is *swoon* 8/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? I am all for Mi-rae’s family and childhood friend, Kyung Seok’s sister, Yoo eun was very notable as well, I love how her character is completely fair and understanding 7/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? “D-day” and “True” is a bop to listen to, everytime I hear “Something” all I remember is Cha Eun Woo’s slow mo glance, other OST is a bop but not enough for me to put on my playlist 6/10 o Would you rewatch? Probably but not right now o Favorite Episode/Scenes: New face dance, bathroom scene with Kyung Seok beating the shit out of their senior, whenever Kyung Seok is annoyed with Soo-A but total heart eyes mode with Mi Rae, Cinema pseudo date – eating popcorn using straws, when he changed the color of his hair, Kyung Seok’s ID when he was a waiter, their high school date, and that last sweet scene in the final episode o Word Association: gangnam, perfume, plastic, umbrella, soju o I wasn’t planning on watching kdramas again after a long time but this quarantine just makes you do things and no regrets at all, MIIGB probably isn’t the best of the best but it definitely made me want to watch more kdramas and lo and behold more kdramas watched in a span of 2 months than in a year back in 2018. I love how it tackles on true beauty and female oppression and how idiotic alpha male trope is 7/10

· While You Were Sleeping – 16 not enough episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? A prosecutor, a reporter and a cop can see the future when they sleep, which helps them in solving cases and do their best to change it. Every case is fascinating makes you say “ohhhhh” when they present their defense and I am like *chef kiss* I love the premise and the supernatural part of the story. 10/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? YES. JAE CHAN AND HONG JOO ARE ADORKABLE AND HAS INSANE VISUALS 10/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? HAVE YOU MET JUNG HAE IN, THE PROSECUTOR TEAM WAS THE BEST. YES. EVEN THE SIDE CHARACTERS ON CASES AND THE VILLAINS 10/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I usually don’t hear the OSTs while focusing on a scene but boy oh boy, OSTs stole everything, I am obsessed with the whole album. The melody and tune is very captivating everytime you hear it you just want to embed it on your brain. If you are still having second thoughts watching this drama, listen to it’s OSTs the feels they give is the same feels when you watch 1000/10 o Would you rewatch? I’ve watched it again after finishing it so yes, 100% yes, need more episodes still having withdrawal syndrome, still watching fanmade videos on youtube o Favorite Episode/Scenes: Every episode lol, the opening sequence, the outro scenes in episode 2 and 3 (with that background music), everytime “It’s you”, “You belong to my world”, “When night falls” and “I love you boy” is the bg music, every Jae Chan and Hong Joo parallel (Episode 2 and 16 particularly), OT3 scenes, the shadow picture, KISS IN THE RAIN, IN THE SAKURA TREE AND THE ALMOST KISS IN THE CAR if I list down all of my fave, I will be writing the whole summary of each episode. Hmmm. o Words Association: Snow hug, sakura kiss, batman and robin, scarf, JUST ICE, choir, seatbelt, samgyupsal, femme fatale, lip balm o I HIGHLY RECOMMEND. ULTIMATE FAVE. I AM BIASED SHUTTUP. JUST WATCH. NONE CAN COMPARE. NUFF SAID. 100000/10 SOMEONE FANGIRL WITH ME

· Pinocchio – 20 important episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? This whole drama is about mass media and its major influence on anyone’s life and it is so powerful. We have a male lead whose family has experienced the impact of misguided news and it is painful to watch because this really happens irl at worse, this is due to a reporter which is our female lead’s mother. Now our female lead has Pinocchio Syndrome hence the drama title, she can’t help but hiccup when she lies, it’s very interesting to know why both leads wanted to be a reporter given their situation 10/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? YES, I JUST WANNA HUG THEM. Imagine having a condition that forces you to tell the truth, you can’t keep your feelings, privacy or secrets at all and to add an indifferent mother who did not care for your dreams but more on publicity. Imagine having a dream and working hard to reach it but after college you fail every job interview and it’s so realistic I just ashfdsjfha (Except the Pinocchio syndrome part but come on) Imagine experiencing a childhood where you don’t know what happened to your firefighter father, is the news about him running away true because it was his fault all those other firefighters are dead? Imagine your brother doing his best to hold your family together because your mother is on the verge of nervous breakdown to the point of pushing her to choose death, pulling you to a hug and just jump? Imagine this male lead fighting every chance to not love this girl who is the daughter of the reason why his family is gone now and could not leave her because she is also the reason why he decided to fight for the injustice done to his family and to others victims of fake news and they are so supportive of each other. It freaking hurts and I’m sorry I just have a lot of emotions for these two 1000000/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? YEEEEES, GRANDPA AND FATHER, I LOVE THEIR FAMILY DYNAMICS SO MUCH WHEN GRANDPA CRIED I CRIED! EVEN JA MYUNG HYUNG who has not enough episode in THEY DESERVE TO BE TOGETHER NOT JUST FOR ONE EPISODE. EVEN BEOM JU, YOO RAE, NITPICKER JANG, CAPTAIN, BOTH CAPTAINS ACTUALLY, CHAN SOO AND HIS FAMILY EVEN I LOVE TO HATE THE VILLAINS 100/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I was too focused on the intensity of the story but I do love the bg music –“First Love”, “The Only Person”, “Pinocchio” are few notable OSTs 8/10 o Would you rewatch? YES FREAKING YES, I REWATCHED AFTER WATCHING IT o Favorite Episode/Scenes: Episode 16 as a whole, because main lead conflict with each other was resolved and that dinner scene is one I always rewatch, of course episode 1 introduction for Dal Po is freaking hilarious, Episode 2’s “Because I like you” damn feels, snow kiss, all the grandpa scenes and brother scenes, that scene when In ha remembered being drunk, that scene where Dal Po meets his brother again and I just ahjasgdjhsdgf, the intense debate and paralleling it in the seminar, the Christmas episode pyung pyung pyung my heart huhu o Word Association: Six Degrees Separation, rumor, button, MSC/YGN News, traffic cones, hiccups, piggy banks, text messages, family o EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH THIS. I LOVE EVERY PART. IT WAS ON MY WATCHLIST LAST 2018 WHY DID I NOT WATCHED IT THEN. THE ACTING THOUGH YOU JUST FEEL THEIR INTENSE EMOTIONS THROUGH THE SCREEN. FEELS EVERYWHERE. 100000/10

· Romance Is A Bonus Book – 16 heartwarming episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? It’s about romance and books! Lee Jong Suk is on it what more can you ask for? Kidding aside it tells a story of a 30 something mother who to go back to work after 12 years which left a huge gap on her resume, she also got recently divorced and experiencing the repercussion of that, all of the job she applied for has focused on her work gap instead of her skills (which by the way as an HR a very hard truth). She applied as a support role on a publishing company and got hired but by omitting a lot of things on her resume. Oh and her childhood friend, our male lead is actually a co-owner and editor of the company. And he is also in love with her since high school. 9/10 but the fluffiness of the whole series is worth 10/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? YES, Dan-I is totally relatable and Eun Ho is lovable. I love their relationship so much they are each other’s home. 10/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? With Hae-rin (COME OOON UNREQUITED LOVE AGAIN WITH LJS CHARACTER?), Seo Joon, President Kim, Manager Seo, and our very own Gangnam Leopard YES. Others not so much. 8/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? The OSTs are feel good, the kind of playlist you want to hear when you read or travelling, point to “Rainbow”, “Walking on Sunshine”, “Happy End”also the heart churning feels when “You’re Beautiful” and “ A Story I couldn’t see” begins playing in the bg 10/10 o Would you rewatch? YES over and over and over again o Favorite Episode/Scenes: The first episode with the wedding visuals, so aesthetic with the running in the highway, the power dance was so out of place but it was adorable, the scene where Dan-I reminisce her married life and it just breaks your heart, the essay part of her application is just motivating and sad, WHEN EUN HO WAS DRUNK AND WENT TO DAN-I’s PLACE BECAUSE HE ALWAYS GO THERE WHEN HE MISSES HER AND I JUST AHGSHJAGDKJGHJ, “If that’s love, I love her then”, GANGNAM LEOPARD CLUB SCENE, the subtle Snow confession (what’s with LJS and Snow???) the long brown overcoats comes out I’m there, when Eun Ho rejected Hae Rin so nicely I cry, movie date, the day Dan-I and Eun Ho spent together at their house, all the book pages at the end of each episode o Words Association: THE MOON IS BEAUTIFUL, noona, power pose, love letters, books, seasons change, cucumber allergy, April 23 o This drama is literally a warm blanket on a rainy day. Recommended if you want a pure love story with almost no conflict and mellow storyline – just the thought of finding love and home in the same person is truly heartwarming. For aspiring writers and book lovers! Love the quotable quotes in it and the warm feels it gives 10/10

· Extraordinary You – 16 extraordinary episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? We follow the story of the extras in a comic book. Get it? EXTRAordinary you, haha okaaaay, anyway, its fictional characters becoming aware that they are fictional characters and trying to change their fates, having a life of their own outside the “stage” and all around creating chaos – breaking the 4th wall if you will. We have your cliché high school filled with rich kids and an elite group called A3 (which was funny bc it was almost mocking F4), then we have the female lead who thought she was the main character of the story but was only the love bridge extra for the main characters. And our beautiful male lead who does not even have a name. Very attention-grabbing 10/10 also just found out the drama was based on a webtoon, so it’s a webtoon inside a webtoon nice. o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? Dan-Oh is a fun character to watch, her range of emotions and the way she acts in and out of the stage deserves a standing ovation, I don’t mind Ro Woon’s visual too haha 9/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? Yes to Lee Do Hwa (Because violin playing cutiepie), Joo Da (girl became aware and finally got claws at the end) and Dried Squid Fairy and Su Hyang (because their history is interesting) , not really into Bae Kyung or Nam Joo (who was 2dimensional character until the end) 8/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I loved all the instrumental background music especially “Highschool Runway”, Also “My Beauty” which was very kdrama-esque ending song 7/10 o Would you rewatch? BIG YES o Favorite Episode/Scenes: Every Dan-Oh and Do Hwa’s internal monologue and their bromance, every time Dan Oh breaks character but the page flips, every time she curse and criticize the writer, checking the male population’s back, when Dan-oh opened the umbrella and we got to see Haru’s face *dokidoki*, every reaction when they transition from stage to shadow, I mean kudos to Kim Hye Yoon’s acting from crying to laughing then from head over heels over Bae Kyung then cringing at herself , “It’s Bae Kyung Time”, the scene where Haru and Dan-oh was holding hands and here comes third wheel Do Hwa the way they reacted with Dan Oh’s “Annyeong Lee Do Hwa” made me rofl o Word Association: AYUUU JINJJA, HARUYAAAAA, stage, shadow, page flips, October 10, secret, flower o I love the concept and how it felt like writing fanfiction, you put your favorite characters in alternative universes or different setting and watch them fall in love all over again – in this case destiny also plays a huge part since the writer continuously separate them but they still fall in love with each other outside the stage. It’s fun to see the other side or the fillers whenever characters are not on acting on stage, they have more character depth and development. I definitely love the Sageuk and College AU part. 9/10

· Graceful Family – 16 wild episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? It’s a drama full of Makjang so we are riding on a rollercoaster ride, I am here for all of it gimme gimme that outrageous plot with a dash of crazy family on the side and a group of people who cleans up their messes 9/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? SEOK HEE IS THE BEST FEMALE LEAD YET FREAKING BADASS BITCH QUEEN. Yoon Do is okay but really overpowered by Seok Hee’s strong personality 10/10 for Seok Hee o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? I am very interested in Ms. Han and the Top Team’s deal unfortunately it was not addressed further in the series, wouldn/t mind a mini sequel with them as the main characters, Choi Na Ri and Seo Jin is loooove, and I love Wan Soo with all my heart even after everything that happened 9/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? “Liar” is on my playlist solely for me to feel as badass as Seok Hee and “Black Diamond” because it plays with your emotions 8/10 o Would you rewatch? Solely for all the WTF moments o Favorite Episode/Scenes: ALL THE DINING TABLE SCENES, opening scene in the first episode got me hooked, all Seok Hee scenes made me stay, Wan Soo’s hilarious scenes, that whole hanbok shop scene, whole jail fiasco, when Seok Hee fights head to head with TOP management, PICASSO’S FUNERAL SCENE, Episode 9 when Choi Na Ri moved in, episode 15’s biggest plot twist, Episode 16 and it’s whole 1 hour and 45 minutes of drama o Word Association: Home sweet home, Cannes, Picasso, power vacuum, kingmaker, Auntie o It has a lot of flaws, plotholes and characters you wished was fleshed out but man what an exhilarating ride it was. I love all the dirty secrets in the closets and plot twists (won’t spoil just watch it!) but Seok Hee is definitely the show stealer for me. Soo Hyang’s character here is starkly different with her character in My ID is Gangnam Beauty and it’s really amazing. 9/10

· Hi, Bye Mama – 16 heartbreaking episodes (Finished)

o Is the plot interesting? This is all about mother’s love and the life she left behind. Our female lead died in an accident and has been a ghost for five years watching over her family especially her daughter, she watched how her family moved on – her husband remarried and her daughter grew up with a different mother. The Gods has given her a chance to live again if she gets back her place within 49 days – this means she get the chance to become human again and finally meet her daughter. 9/10 o Am I emotionally invested on the Main Leads? I AM EMOTIONALLY INVESTED IN ALL OF THEM. 10/10 o Did I grew attached to the secondary characters? SEO WOO YAAAAAA, Min Jung, her whole family and best friends even the other ghosts and their painful stories YES. 10/10 o Are the OSTs compelling? I was busy crying and could not really hear the bg music because all I hear is my heart breaking a million times. But “Happy” made me happy and sad at the same time and the haunting “Same Town, New Story” instrumental is love o Would you rewatch? I am not sure if I’m ready to cry again o Favorite Episode/Scenes: whole episode 8 is where I broke down crying – I know this whole series is about mother’s and their unconditional love but episode 8 showed fathers and their incomparable love to their daughters and I just asjhdajksd the epilogue in this episode just made me cry nonstop – I am actually crying just remembering that scene, every epilogue will make you ugly cry, every time Seo Woo smiles, Episode 11 and that epic showdown in Kid’s café, when Yu Ri became human again and how happy she was she can hold Seo Woo, every scene with her and Seo Woo bonding, Gang Hwa and the egg, the list of things she wants to do, when Seo Woo finally called her MAMA o Words Association: mother, stepmom, ghosts, “I am happy”, shaman, egg, 49 days o I am emotionally exhausted watching this show, I cried on every episode, this definitely hurt me in every way possible. Highly recommended if you want a good long nonstop cry 10/10

Dramas I did not completely watched sans a few episodes, finished by skipping scenes or reading drama reviews. Warning: total unpopular opinions

2009

· Boys Over Flowers – we all know Hana Yori Dango is superior, I just got bored of recycled scenes and I really don’t like LMH here, sorry

2018

· Scarlet Heart Ryeo - Plot is very interesting but Sageuk dramas are not my cup of tea, reminds me of Fushigi Yuugi which I hated when I was a kid dunno why haha, will look for my motivation to watch the whole drama · Oh My Ghostess – got spoiled, skipped and just read episode summary

2020

· Hello Monster – did not even finish 1st episode, skipped through episode 2 -3, too many plot holes, just read last episode spoilers · Hotel De Luna – finished 7 episodes got distracted by work and life. Plotline is interesting and characters look promising, will rewatch but I already know the spoilers and ending · School 2013 – just read the dramabeans episode reviews, may watch but reminds me of Gokusen concept (which I do love but very repetitive) so may not · Suspicious Partner – I liked the plot but unfortunately did not care too much on the main mystery of the whole show which was who the actual murderer is, did not like the shared childhood trauma, but acting still was good, its just the storyline · Doctor Stranger – I seriously would have loved to finish this because LJS’s acting skills on point (how can he be that seriously angry in North Korea then be clumsy adorkable in South? Howww) but alas, the female lead storyline is cringy I stopped at episode 6, read reviews and it would have been 20 wasted episodes for me · What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim – full of stereotypical tropes I could not finish, too romcom for me and could not invest too much about their history

Watchlist (2020)

· Hospital Playlist · Crash Landing On You · Kill Me, Heal Me · I Am Not A Robot · Sky Castle · Love Alarm

Hit me up with your recommendations, better yet your favorite kdrama and reasons why it’s your fave!

#kdrama #kdrama list #You're Beautiful #Heartstrings #Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo #W: Two Worlds #goblin #strong woman do bong soon #the heirs #my id is gangnam beauty #while you were sleeping #pinocchio #romance is a bonus book #extraordinary you #graceful family #Hi bye mama #eventyrstuff

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hansoheeglobal · 5 years ago

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[N Interview] "No embarrassment over tattooing and smoking issues" Han So-hee answered 'boosting' + past questions (comprehensive)

By news1

(Seoul=News 1) Jang Ah-reum = Actress Han Sohee became a hot drama for "The World of The Married." Past photos have become as popular as the main characters Kim Heeae and Park Haejoon, and have grown into actors with both acting and starry skills. Han Sohee spoke frankly about the acting process, breathing with seniors, and various issues surrounding her, along with her thoughts on ending "The World of The Married."

On the morning of the 25th, an interview was held at a cafe in Nonhyeon-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with Han Sohee, the lead actor of JTBC's Friday-Saturday drama "The World of The Married" (written by Joo Hyun/directed by Mo Wanil). "The World of The Married" is a drama about a couple who believed to be love, but fell into a whirlpool due to betrayal, starting with a 6.3% rating (based on paid broadcasting households nationwide in Nielsen Korea) in the first episode and ending with a 28.4% viewer rating.

Han Sohee played the role of Yeo Dakyung, the only daughter of Yeo Byungkyu (played by Lee Kyungyoung), an only child of the alpine region, and a Pilates instructor. Yeo Dakyung became a wife of Lee Taeoh (Park Haejoon) and caused public outrage by giving a crack to Ji Sunwoo (Kim Heeae)'s perfect "World of Couples." Yeo Dakyung's "World of Couples" was also praised for convincing viewers of the situation in which she was forced to make a choice to leave Itaewon.

First, Han Sohee expressed her feelings about leaving the "world of couples." "The drama is over," she said. "I still feel a little strange and feel emotional when I talk to the director and writer on the phone," she said. "I'm not happy to send it because I thought a lot about whether I can meet such works again in my life." I think I was able to finish it well because you gave me so much love.

Yeo Dakyung was criticized as much as the popularity of "The World of The Married." Han Sohee said, "Many people say that if you curse as a villain, it's a compliment, but I didn't really like being cursed because Dakyung has to understand the character," and added, "I think that's all one interest and focused on the character."

"I was criticized by my friends and family more than the viewers. "Don't live like that." Junyoung came to my house and was criticized more from the moment she played the role of stepmother. My friends also have a lot of married women with children," she said. "Among the viewers' reactions, I remember the comment, 'You should be treated the same way.'"

She also talked about the ending of Yeo Dakyung. "Since the viewers are focusing on Sunwoo, there are a lot of people who don't like the ending of Dakyung," she said. "It's a golden spoon, so I'm glad I can make a living. I have to collapse like Taeoh." That was impressive. I think Dakyung has also fallen, but her future life will be hell. I raise a child without a father, but the viewers don't think of it as Sprite. I thought you thought like this, too."

Did Yeo Dakyung understand that she would abandon her parents and everything she had in the beginning of the play and choose Lee Taeoh? Han Sohee said, "Why did Dakyung love a married man with a child at first? "I was young and rich, but I wondered why I did that," she said. "The character Dakyung lived in the power of her parents. Rather than putting something important on her job and future, I thought there must have been a lot of feelings or lack of stimulation. In terms of character setting, there was a wording that said, "She lives without a dream."

"On the other hand, Taeoh doesn't have anything, but he entered an art industry with just his passion." "I think it would have been cool for Dakyung to be adventurous with nothing in her eyes," she said. "And he is handsome.(Laughs) He really looks like a loser in a drama, but he's really handsome. There is a part where something like chemistry needs to be right. I think it was a relief that there was a big age gap with my actual senior. I don't think Dakyung would have met a man who had nothing to learn.

As for the moment that Yeo Dakyung didn't understand the most, she said, "I don't really understand the fact that I came back to Gosan. I was humiliated by everyone and made something that shouldn't happen to my parents. "If we've left and succeeded, we can get out of the shadows of our parents, take care of our children, settle down somewhere else, and come back to show off that we're living this well," she said. "I think we lost from the very beginning. I wondered why I should show it off to Ji Sunwoo. I didn't understand that," she explained.

Yeo Dakyung also mentioned Shin, who hit Ji Sunwoo in the back of her head revealing her affair with Lee Taeoh. Han Sohee said, "The scene that I remember from the situation two years ago was a scene where I hit the back of her head. The scene was so scary. It's a scene I don't want to go through again."The fact that I dare to hit my senior has come as a horror. I started with a worry that I could do well. I remember it because this was the occasion for Lee Taeoh and Yeo Dakyung to leave Gosan.

When it comes to working with Kim Heeae, she said, "You're so perfect without anything to say. I heard that I felt lethargic at the scene because of my lack of skills, but I kept thinking about what I should do to get up there." "Your voice is so nice. It's so elegant, elegant and luxurious, and it's really Ji Sunwoo herself. I want to meet her again next time. I started with great pressure from the beginning because I was afraid of becoming a little bit of a career. "It's been a long time since I've done it, and I thought it might be a little bit of damage to my acting," she said.

She also talked about the bed scene with Park Haejoon, who was burdened. Han Sohee shot the scene shortly after. I was so nervous that it was too different from the price shoes on the back of my head. There was a kiss scene, but it was my first time to do a bed scene. Taeoh is very focused on God. I thought I shouldn't lose, so I was busy filming at the scene. The senior also said in passing that it was an action performance. It was a big challenge for me, too. Although he is a good of sharing emotions, and clear about the movement and what to show. It was really hectic," she recalled.

Han Sohee, who also drew attention for her high synchro rate with the original character, said, "I only watched the original one but didn't refer to it. I think Dakyung will be ruined if I bring the original. "There are many different parts," she said. "But I heard that the original actors resemble each other. I think I just referred to how to act with my facial expressions. "I've only seen such things as what this woman's charm is," she said.

In the past, smoking and tattoo photos also made headlines as they were spotlighted as the "world of couples." Han Sohee said, "I'm glad that I got popular with female fans," and first, she drew attention with her frankness, referring to the past. "I'm glad (that female fans liked it)," she said. "When I was a model before, photos and Kakao Talk that I exchanged before became a hot topic, but I think they liked it because they were the opposite of the image in the drama. That's why she said, "Unlike Yeo Dakyung, she's always like this."

In response, a question was asked, "Didn't you panic because your past photos suddenly became a hot topic?" Han Sohee shook her head, saying, "I didn't do that," and said, "I was the one who I was then and now. It's not that different from me then," she said frankly. Han Sohee said, "When I work on this side, there are restrictions. "I've just become myself," she said. "That was four to five years ago, and I was fine. I think female fans liked it. Even that kind of interest. I appreciate it," she confessed

Finally, Han Sohee said, "I think it's just the beginning. I think it should be harder. "I think we should do this more (through this work)." "I don't know what kind of works and characters I'm going to play in the future, but I want to come out in a more refined state. "I don't want to rush at all," she said. "Since it's never a good work because I'm good at it, I'm planning to live my acting life so that it doesn't hurt the director who chose me for the first time."

#xeesoxee #han sohee #han sohee icon #han sohee packs #hansohee #korean model #han sohee layouts #the world of the married #han sohee gif

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iyeolie · 5 years ago

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kdrama recs!

although i already have a tag for my favorite asian dramas in general (check out here if you want) i wanted to make a post dedicated to the dramas i’ve watched that hit differently.... i’ll explain

these dramas aren’t necessarily my fave of all time or at the very top of my fave list, but i did enjoy all of them a lot. the dramas on this list are the ones i enjoyed from start to finish, every episode, practically every scene. the ones i did not want to end. they were easy to watch and the struggle to not click “next episode” was real. so if you’ve got nothing else to do maybe check one or two out!

‣ goblin

starring : gong yoo, kim go eun, lee dong wook, yoo in na, yook sungjae

plot : kim shin is turned into a goblin tasked with protecting certain people from the life of misery. the only way to end his immortal life is to find his bride that can set him free of his sword. kim shin accidentally becomes roommates with a grim reaper, wang yeo, and as natural enemies the two clash. ji eun tak is a high school student who is able to communicate with the dead. she gets involved with the goblin and grim reaper. could she be the goblin’s bride who holds the power to release him from his eternal misery and set his soul free?

thoughts : this is my number one (1) fave kdrama and drama over all! it has everything: unique plot, interesting characters, humor, drama, fantasy elements... this is the drama i’ll always recommend to anyone and everyone. there’s not a dull moment and there is always something that grabs your attention. the depth to each character is crazy and how they all connect is insane. you grow close to them all and end up routing for them with all your heart. couldn’t recommend it enough.

‣ high-end crush

starring : jung il woo, jin se yeon, yoon bora, lee si eon

plot : choi se hoon is the ceo of an entertainment company and knows his stuff well. he is very arrogant and doesn’t take no for an answer. yoo yi ryeong lives alone on a mountain and doesn’t have any desire for money and fame. the two cross paths and se hoon ends up offering yi ryeong a contract from his company, she rejects him. the determined businessman won’t give up on her and ends up developing feelings along the way. can two people from different worlds come together?

thoughts : the fact that i almost didn’t watch this drama will haunt me forever. i’m sO happY that i gave it a go. i expected nothing but ended up with so much. this mini drama made me laugh and cry, and took me on a hell of a ride. the story between the couple is hilariously sweet and melts my heart. jung il woo stole my heart with this drama, he did an excellent job as the lead and his character made the drama what it is. if you have 5 hours to spare i highly recommend this one, enjoyed every second.

‣ hospital ship

starring : ha ji won, kang min hyuk, lee seo won, kwon min ah

plot : song eun jae is a capable surgeon at a large hospital in seoul. due to circumstances she ends up quitting her job and boards a hospital ship that provides medical care for locals in rural villages. on board are army doctors who have unwillingly been assigned their posts, except for kwak hyun, who volunteered. although eun jae has a cold personality, she is perfectionist and very skilled. with her on board, the hospital ship is able to admit patients and help with the most critical medical problems, all while out at sea.

thoughts : honestly i didn’t have any expectations going into this one, but i was pleasantly surprised. all the different characters clashed together and made the story very interesting, everyone came together and became an unexpected family. all the cases they dealt with were just insaane and made the drama so entertaining to watch! they always had the odds against them but somehow made in through them. very addicting.

‣ extraordinary you

starring : kim hye yoon, rowoon, lee jae wook, lee naeun, kim young dae

plot : eun dan oh is a student at a prestigious academy. one day she discovers that the world she’s living in is a fantasy world of comics, and she isn’t even the main character! she is only an extra and the writer has set her up with a lame story line that she doesn’t want to follow. dan oh realizes she is one of the few characters that are aware and tries to change the story to free herself from the writer’s grip. she meets a nameless student, number 13, who dan oh thinks can be the key. they work together to try and change their fates, but this comes with a price to pay.

thoughts : this drama was almost impossible not to watch one episode right after another! suuch a cool plot and it was hard to try and predict what was going to happen next. the drama kept its secrets very well and dragged it out, making you as a viewer really miserable wanting to know more, but this is what made it so good. things uncovered slowly but surely and you changed your mind about things over and over. big brain energy on this one!

‣ cinderella and four knights

starring : jung il woo, park so dam, ahn jae hyun, lee jung shin, son naeun

plot : eun ha won feels alone in the world and has poor contact with her father and stepmother. she lives a hard life trying to find ways to pay for her education. she gets involved with the three famous and rich cousins : kang ji woon ; a rebel-minded loner, kang hyun min ; a playboy money machine and kang seo woo, a sweet singer-songwriter. because of ha won’s non-nonsense personality, the cousins grandfather thinks she’s the perfect person to discipline his spoiled grandsons to get along with each other. however in the process ha won finds herself in the middle of a quadrangle love story.

thoughts : man, honestly this drama is THE reason why i’m even making this list. i was hooked from the start and STAYED hooked the entire drama. park so dam being the queen she is played her character so fantastically, i love how powerful and confident her character is. how different the cousins personalities were made it hilariously interesting to watch. i myself fell in love with each guy and had the hardest time picking who to root for! second and third lead syndrome is real. this is the one drama that i can honestly say i did not want to end, i’d watch this forever if i could lmfao

‣ falling for innocence

starring : jung kyung ho, kim so yeon, yoon hyun min

plot : kang min ho is a cold-blooded corporate raider who treats his workers and people ruthlessly. he is self-defensive and a suspicious sociopath, but he suffers from heart problems and is expected to die in the near future. unless he gets a heart transplant from a suitable donor, he is done for. kim soon jung’s fiancé gets into a car “accident” which ends in fatality. luckily for min ho, the fiancé is a match and min ho gets another shot at life. after the heart transplant, min ho starts to notice changes in his behavior : a rare result of heart transplants. he ends up falling for soon jung and she teaches him the meaning of true happiness and what love is. are his feelings really his, or the memories from the previous owner of his heart?

thoughts : i thought this drama wasn’t gonna be anything out of the ordinary going into it, but i was wrong. the character development the main character went through is one of the best ones i’ve seen and very inspiring at that. how he went from night to day because of his transplant was really something to witness. jung kyung ho killed it obviously and made his character believable. seeing how the characters deal with the situation made me not being able to stop watching.

‣ one spring night

starring : jung hae in, han ji min, kim jun han, joo min kyung, lim sung eon

plot : lee jeong in decides to prioritize happiness in her life. she has a long time boyfriend who wants to marry her but she’s not so sure what she feels. to treat her hangover one spring night, she goes to the pharmacy. yoo ji ho is the pharmacist who ends up helping her. ji ho is a single dad and unsure whether a woman could want a man like him. he however immediately becomes interested in jeong in and does whatever he can to meet her in person. the two fall in love despite their situations. the two however now have to deal with the obstacles that family, friends and society sets for them.

thoughts : this drama is like a warm safety blanket for me. i started it on a whim, skimming through netflix just wanting to watch something before bed. i ended up clicking on this and booy am i happy i did. it’s a nicely slow-paced, sweet and romantic love story which touches your heart in the best way. the whole vibe of the drama is just... i don’t know how to describe it’s just... chill?? and nice?? and comfortable?? it was my night time drama before bed, so i have nice memories from watching it. loved their love story. also a+++ for the osts!!!

‣ madame antoine : the love therapist

starring : sung joon, han ye seul, jeong jinwoon, hwang seung un, lee joo hyung

plot : go hye rim is a famous fortune-teller known as “madame antoine” and insist she is spiritually connected to the late french queen marie antoinette. choi soo hyun is a highly awarded therapist specialising in women’s psychology. coincidentally, his psychological treatment center is also called “madame antoine”. soo hyun develops an experiment with the hypothesis that love does not exist. he tricks hye rim into participating in the experiment to study her behavior when approached by three different men. however, hye rim isn’t told what the experiment is about and doesn’t know that the men’s feelings for her are fake, or are they?

thoughts : a fortune teller and therapist love story?? sign me the f up!!! i loved seeing these two bicker every other second but overcoming their differences to be with each other. this couple is really what they mean by “you’re hot then you’re cold”, it was on, off, on, off all the time, but i also couldn’t be mad at it. the drama was easy to watch and i couldn’t not click the next episode. all characters were extremely likeable and made me wanna be friends with them too rip. after finishing this one i kinda wanna learn some psychology tricks..... they were both really cool ><

#recs #kdrama #korean drama #goblin #high-end crush #hospital ship #extraordinary you #cinderella and four knights #falling for innocence #one spring night #madame antoine

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