#park hae soo icons

[ayno-magi]

Tears on a Withered Flower 🥀: Ch. 1

⤷ (Reader Insert)

── ⋅ ⋅ ── 𖦹

this might be not everyone’s cup of tea since it’s mostly reader simping over na hae (mc)

but, if you guys really want i GUESS i can make beom tae x reader w smut maybe 😒🥱

pls PLS lmk what you guys think in the comments 🫶

kind of shitty to be honest since the next word I kept typing was coming out of my ass

additional tags: gn reader, reader does call themselves “girl” once, reader being a bisexual icon, how could you not fall for this fine mama cause GYYATT DAYUM, na hae soo x reader x beom tae ha, reader simping over na hae, reader is in mid 20s, sesbian lex???, reader with a milf/dilf complex

incorrect grammar and misspelling ahead

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It was nearly midnight when the shrill ringtone of your phone jolted you awake. Blinking against the darkness, you fumbled for your device, the screen's harsh light making you squint. The name that flashed across the display sent a jolt of adrenaline through you: Na Hae Soo. In an instant, you shot upright, heart pounding as surged of mostly nervousness and excitement, your blood rushing to your head.

This was the first time Haesoo called you first. Your hands shook as you answered, breathless, “...hello?” Your voice came out hoarse, prompting you to clear your throat, but before you could speak again, a shaky voice broke through the line. 

“(L/N)... I-I... need you *hic*,” Haesoo's words were laced with distress, and you could hear the tremor in her voice, hinting at tears. A wave of concern washed over you—was she in trouble? Had her husband hurt her? “Is everything okay? Are you hurt? Where are you? Are you at home? I’m coming to get you!” you blurted out, kicking off the covers and reflexively putting on your slippers.

You stumbled around your room, colliding with furniture and nearly tripping over the chaos strewn about. Catching yourself against the wall, you flicked on the light, urgency propelling you forward. “Just wait for me, okay, Na Hae!” you shouted as you dashed out, grabbing your keys from the counter.

Pulling the phone away, you realize she had hung up. Panic flooded your body as you burst through the door, the chill of the night air prickling your skin. You raced down the stairs, nearly losing your footing, and slammed into your car. With a quick flick, you unlocked it and started the engine, ignoring the seatbelt as you sped out of the parking lot, foot pressing hard on the gas, heart racing with every second that passed.

*Several Months Ago*

You finally finished doing pick up orders, your knees protesting as you bent down to ease the strain from standing too long. Glancing around you spotted Jeong sweeping the floor, you called out to her, "Could you take this out to the front for me once you're done?" Her eyes widened in surprise as she took in the table brimming with bouquets. "You finished that quickly! It hasn't been long at all! Thank you, Unnie!" She exclaimed, her joy palpable, mostly because it meant she was spared from the heavy lifting that you had just tackled.

"Yeah yeah, no problem," you replied, you wiped your green-stained hands on your apron and let out a weary sigh, contemplating a much-deserved lunch break.

But just as you began to relax, a loud voice pierced the air, "¿Dónde está la perra que estaba coqueteando con mi novio?!” (“ᵂʰᵉʳᵉ'ˢ ᵗʰᵉ ᵇᶦᵗᶜʰ ʷʰᵒ ʷᵃˢ ᶠˡᶦʳᵗᶦⁿᵍ ʷᶦᵗʰ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ!”)

Ooor not. 

You and Jeong exchanged alarmed glances, the malice in the voice unmistakable despite the foreign language. Your shoulders slumped in resignation. "I'll go check it out," you said, steeling yourself for the confrontation ahead.

"Estas flores... ¿quién se las dio a mi novio?!" the voice continued, sharp and accusatory. ("ᵀʰᵉˢᵉ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ—ʷʰᵒ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉᵐ ᵗᵒ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ!?")

"Um- ma'am please, I-" You heard Haesoo's voice trembled, laced with fear.

"¡Fuiste tú quien le dio esto a mi novio, puta!" the woman shouted, her fury palpable. ("ᵂᵃˢ ᶦᵗ ʸᵒᵘ ʷʰᵒ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉˢᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ, ʸᵒᵘ ʷʰᵒʳᵉ!")

Your heart raced as you quickened your steps, rounding a corner to find a woman violently waving a bouquet, petals scattering like confetti in a storm, while Hae-soo stood with her head bowed, clearly shaken. Without hesitation, you moved closer, wrapping one arm around Haesoo's shoulder and taking her trembling cold hands in yours, offering her a sense of safety. Haesoo snapped her head up in surprise at your presence, but the warmth of your embrace enveloped her, and for a moment, she felt shielded from the chaos surrounding them.

You pulled her in close, your voice low and soothing,  "¿Cómo podemos ayudarle?" ("ᴴᵒʷ ᶜᵃⁿ ʷᵉ ʰᵉˡᵖ ʸᵒᵘ?") A gentle smile graced your lips as the woman turned her attention to you, her thrashing seemingly to subside, "Quiero enfrentar a la zorra que le envió estas flores a mi novio; ¡al parecer estaba coqueteando con él!" Her voice escalated with each word, and you could see Haesoo ever so slightly trembling beside you, yet your warm grip around her hands remained steady and reassuring. ("ᴵ ʷᵃⁿᵗ ᵗᵒ ᶜᵒⁿᶠʳᵒⁿᵗ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵏᵃⁿᵏ ʷʰᵒ ˢᵉⁿᵗ ᵗʰᵉˢᵉ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ ᵗᵒ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ; ᵃᵖᵖᵃʳᵉⁿᵗˡʸ, ˢʰᵉ ʷᵃˢ ᶠˡᶦʳᵗᶦⁿᵍ ʷᶦᵗʰ ʰᶦᵐ!")

"Lo siento, pero no vendemos ese tipo de flores-" ("ᴵ'ᵐ ˢᵒʳʳʸ, ᵇᵘᵗ ʷᵉ ᵈᵒⁿ'ᵗ ˢᵉˡˡ ᵗʰᵒˢᵉ ᵗʸᵖᵉ ᵒᶠ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ-" ) you were interrupted.

"¡NO! ¡Esta es una florería donde mi novio las compró! ¡¿Dónde está la zorra que le dio esto a mi novio?!" Her words dripped with venom, and you felt your eyebrow twitch, but you maintained your calm demeanor, the smile still plastered on your face. ("ᴺᴼ! ᵀʰᶦˢ ᶦˢ ᵃ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳ ˢʰᵒᵖ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ ᵍᵒᵗ ᶦᵗ ᶠʳᵒᵐ! ᴺᵒʷ ʷʰᵉʳᵉ ᶦˢ ᵗʰᵉ ˢᵏᵃⁿᵏ ʷʰᵒ ᵍᵃᵛᵉ ᵗʰᵉˢᵉ ᵗᵒ ᵐʸ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ!!")

"Lamentablemente señora, no sabemos quién le vendió esas flores a su novio, ¿tiene usted un recibo” ("ᵁⁿᶠᵒʳᵗᵘⁿᵃᵗᵉˡʸ ᵐᵃ'ᵃᵐ, ʷᵉ ᵈᵒ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵏⁿᵒʷ ʷʰᵒ ˢᵒˡᵈ ᵗʰᵒˢᵉ ᶠˡᵒʷᵉʳˢ ᵗᵒ ʸᵒᵘʳ ᵇᵒʸᶠʳᶦᵉⁿᵈ, ᵈᵒ ʸᵒᵘ ʰᵃᵛᵉ ᵃ ʳᵉᶜᵉᶦᵖᵗ?")

"Por qué demonios-" ("ᵂʰʸ ᵗʰᵉ ʰᵉˡˡ-")

""Si no lo haces, entonces debo pedirte que te vayas."(“ᴵᶠ ʸᵒᵘ ᵈᵒⁿ’ᵗ, ᵗʰᵉⁿ ᴵ ᵐᵘˢᵗ ᵃˢᵏ ʸᵒᵘ ᵗᵒ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ.")

Her indignation was palpable as she raised the arm clutching the flowers, and you braced yourself, is this chick gonna do what you think she's gonna do. With a swift motion, she swung her arm down, aiming to strike you with the sharp thorns. Instinctively, you released Hae-soo's hand and seized the woman's wrist with a firm grip.

"Por favor, vete ahora." ("ᴾˡᵉᵃˢᵉ ˡᵉᵃᵛᵉ, ⁿᵒʷ.")Your eyes narrowed into slits, trying to channel the intensity of a movie villain, you think it worked cause she seemed like she was gonna shit her pants; she struggled in your grasp, shaking you off, the flowers tumbling from her grasp. Taking a few steps back, she muttered under her breath, "Perra loca...." Stomping off as the door's bells jingled in her wake, you stuck out your tongue, retorting, "You're the crazy puta.” ( “ᵇᶦᵗᶜʰ”) You scoffed. (“ᶜʳᵃᶻʸ ᵇᶦᵗᶜʰ...”)

How infuriating.

"Um..." a soft, hesitant voice broke the silence beside you, drawing your attention to Haesoo, who remained nestled in your embrace. Her face was mere inches from yours, and while she appeared to look much more at ease, she was still shaken. 

Ah, maybe cause you were squeezing her tight against you to the point her chest was squishing against yours creating an overwhelming closeness. The warmth of her body was pressed against yours was almost overwhelming. Her wide, expressive eyes seemed to drift into a distant haze, while her delicate lips formed a subtle frown that tugged at your heart.

Jesus fucking christ her boobs are just so-

What the hell am I thinking!

You lifted your hands up in the air like her body burned your skin, "I'm so sorry!!" your cheeks flushing a deep crimson as you averted your gaze, feeling as though you had stumbled upon something you weren’t meant to witness, "I didn't mean to touch you without your consent; it's just that I was worried that lady was gonna-"

"No! It’s not that, it’s just..." Her voice cut through your flustered ramble and as you lowered your hands, you turned your head to meet her gaze. To your surprise, she appeared more bashful than upset, her head bowed in a gesture of humility. "I’m sorry for not being any help," she murmured, her tone soft and laden with sincerity. You gasped hard, feeling your soul left your body, "Oh my goodness! Please raise your head! There's no need to apologize something when you did nothing wrong!" You were more embarrassed that an older women, like her, was bowing to someone younger, like you. 

"I should be thanking you and I'm sorry you had to deal with a person like that, conflict is one of the most difficult situations we face because it thrusts us out of our comfort zone, don't feel the need to apologize so please raise your head Haesoo," you urged, your heart swelling with empathy for her.

She raised her gaze to meet yours, and as your words washed over her, a sense of calm enveloped her. The tension in her shoulders eased, and the frown that had etched itself on her lips began to fade. Her hands came together in front of her, fingers nervously intertwining as she spoke, "Thank you for your help. If there's any way I can repay you, please let me know." There was a shyness in her demeanor, a timidity that hinted at the weight of her thoughts, as if she were perpetually lost in her own world.

Yet, the sudden outburst from a customer jolted her back to reality, the harshness of the shouting ringing in her ears, though the words were lost on her. She struggled to appease the irate woman, but nothing seemed to work, and soon tears pricked at her eyes while her hands trembled uncontrollably. A wave of helplessness washed over her; she didn't know what to do, she needed to do something to fix this but what? What could she do, she can't even fix her relationship how can she do this. The air thickened around her, her vision blurred, and her mind spiraled with despair—she can't, she can't fix this. 

But then, the warmth of your hands enveloped hers, and your presence shattered the oppressive atmosphere that had weighed so heavily on her. The burdens that had felt suffocating began to lift, and as she watched you effortlessly converse with the lady in a language with ease, a flicker of hope ignited within her. Your eyes met hers, and a reassuring smile broke through the tension;

Everything is gonna be okay.

Is what your smile said.

Haeso felt...

She felt protected, she felt safe. Even though it was such a simple touch on the shoulder and on her trembling hands, she just melted into you. Those small gestures, so seemingly insignificant—transforming her anxiety into a comforting warmth—meant everything at that moment. 

You shook you head, a playful grin spreading across your face. "There's no need, anyone sensible would do that for someone in your position," you admitted, a sudden wave of shyness washing over you as you absentmindedly scratched the back of your neck. "And if you ever need someone to give those pesky customers a good scare, just say the word—I'm totally your girl," you added with a cheeky wink, feeling your cheeks start to burn. 

Ah, I’m so cringe.

Despite the countless hours spent in the same space, you had never really engaged in a meaningful conversation with Haesoo. You had always assumed she preferred her solitude or the chatting with Jeong, which often consisted of the young girl doing most of the talking while Haesoo listened quietly.

Yet, as you looked into her eyes, you couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to her than met the eye. As cliche as it sounds.

Haesoo had an air of mystery about her, a quiet strength that intrigued you.

Your eyes glazed over at her, as you wonder what she was like outside of work.

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The days you saw Haesoo you greeted her and when there was downtime you made light conversations that never ventured too deep, careful not to probe too much into her life, as her responses often carried a hint of hesitation. It was as if she wore a veil over her thoughts, keeping herself at a distance, and you respected that unspoken boundary. 

"I finished up over here with the pre-orders, need a hand with yours?" You glanced over at Haesoo, who paused momentarily to look at your end of the table, every flower prepped and wrapped up neatly, "You really are fast," she awes before looking back at the remaining flowers that haven’t been finished, shrugging you took the untouched blooms from her side and began to arrange them, "I majored in art back in college, cause I thought I wanted to do something with that. I was wanted to find something that would help me be able to express myself back then. So the alluring of colors, shapes, and the stories they could tell captivated me. I wanted to share my vision with others and I thought I was convinced that this would be my passion, but that didn't really happen in the end."

Jeez college seemed like forever ago.

Haesoo listened carefully, her ears perking up, "You want to become an artist?" She folded the cellophane wrap on the table, glancing at the flowers you had completed. "Hmm, I did. But now I'm not sure what I want to do," you admitted, grabbing the back of your neck and titled your head to the side, feeling satisfied after hearing a pop. 

"Now, I'm unsure of my future, I feel a little lost so I don't know what I want to do right now, kind of losing hope to be honest," you joked at the end, but it held some truth, Haesoo fell silent, which made you wondered if you overshared-

"Don't worry about the future; you should enjoy the present while you're young," she finally said

Haesoo pauses for a minute, "But, I hope you can create the future you want as well," she added, her gaze drifting into the distance, as if she was thinking something more about than she had said. Her eyes always look like they have something yearning, that’s what you thought anyway.

"I will try my best," you replied, giving her a cheeky smile as you nodded in agreement, but after that, a comfortable silence enveloped you both, leaving the air thick with unspoken thoughts.

You glanced at the clock hanging on the wall, a sense of urgency washing over you as you sprang to your feet, "I have to get going," you exclaimed, hastily wiping your hands on your apron for the umpteenth time, but the faint of green stained your fingers still. Haesoo looked up, unexpected at your sudden leaving, "You have a short shift?" Haesoo looked up from her work, surprise flickering across her face at your abrupt departure. "Do you have a short shift today?" she inquired, her hands deftly adding the final touches to a vibrant bouquet.

You nodded, removing your apron and balled it up half hazardly, "Yeah, I have another job and my boss isn't very lenient about the schedule, so I have to be there on time whenever he calls for me." You lowered your gaze, a hint of regret creeping into your voice. "I’m really sorry I can’t stick around to help you finish up." The thought of leaving her despite not being alone still tugged at your conscience, but the clock was relentless, and you could already feel the weight of your next responsibility pressing down on you.

Haesoo waved her hands in front of her, "No need to apologizes," she reassured you, her understanding nature shining through like sunlight breaking through clouds. "I completely get it. You’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. Besides, you helped me so much,” She returned her focus to the bouquet, her fingers dancing among the petals as she arranged them with care. "Just make sure you take a moment to breathe, okay? You’re doing so much already."

You appreciated her kindness, but the urgency of your situation loomed large. "Thanks, Haesoo. I promise I’ll make it up to you. Maybe I can come in early tomorrow to help open?" You offered, hoping to ease the guilt that gnawed at you.

"That sounds perfect," she replied her voice laced with gratitude. "Just don’t overwork yourself. You need to take care of you too." 

With a pep in your step, you felt a spark of giddiness in your chest, "I will! I’ll see you tomorrow!" You called over your shoulder as you rushed toward the door.

Haesoo's gaze lingered at where you had just disappeared, an unexpected wave of loneliness crashing over her like a sudden storm. It felt as though a piece had been whisked away, leaving behind a hollow ache. Like she had forgotten something a long time ago and wanted to see it once more, and she found herself closing her eyes, lost in contemplation. What was this strange sensation that had crept in so swiftly? Just moments ago, she had felt perfectly content, completely fine a second ago.

"I will try my best," you had said, your smile bright.

In that instant, Haesoo's heart raced, a wild drumbeat that seemed to drown out the world around her. She opened her eyes, her palms instinctively pressing against her chest as if to steady the tumult within. Confusion swirled in her mind; why did the mere thought of you send her spiraling into a dizzying mix of emotions?

"Unnie! We have customers!" Jeong's voice cut her thoughts.

"C-Coming!.." Haesoo called out softly, she looked down at her hands, remembering your warmed hands that touched hers. She remembered they were stained with green from the flowers, your fingers and knuckles having small cuts and scabs, and the smell of blue gum lingering on your hands. A small pout fell on her lips;

She wished she could've talked more with you.

To be continued…

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The story is far from over, but I want to know you’re guys’ thought so far,

Beom Tae is definitely gonna make an appearance if I kept going

(I have the rest of the story saved somewhere else hehe).

Lmk if you like it and all,

I know ya’ll want Beom Tae,

but I didn’t want to continue if ya’ll aren’t interested😩🫶

[iris-sistibly]

My final take on Queen of Tears? It was a one hell of a fucking journey + Thoughts on the finale

[Warning: Long-ass post ahead]

Queen of Tears released its final episode last Sunday, April 28. The show made history as it became tvN’s most watched drama, surpassing the 2019 hit Crash Landing on You. Park Ji-eun was the writer for both shows.

The story is about a couple who underwent a crisis in their third year of marriage. However, a significant event will not only change their lives but also pave the way for them to rediscover their love for each other. 

I personally got hooked into this show for three reasons:

First, the plot: Marriage tropes in a lot of dramas are usually about infidelity, toxic and abusive relationships that end in a nasty divorce. It happens in real life sadly, but I appreciate the fact that Park Ji-eun took a different route and gave us another realistic side of marriage. A couple who once had this warm, passionate love for each other became cold and distant over time because of one tragic event that left them wounded and broken. There were also other factors that added salt to the wound which caused them to drift further from one another. I’m not gonna go into details because I have already discussed this in earlier episodes. However, I love that there were a couple of flashbacks that tells the viewers of how their love story began, plus some extra bits and pieces in the epilogue that were either related to Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s past, or a particular scene in the current episode that was told from either of the character’s point of view. 

Switching from light and funny scenes to a more intense one then back to swoon-worthy moments and then the last thing you knew you were bawling your eyes out because of the heartbreaking scenes felt like a roller coaster ride, needless to say I was always on edge and I sometimes had to pause in the middle of the episode so I could breathe. That’s how intense the emotions were in this show. Like I have said before, this is not a rom-com but more like a heavy drama with a couple of light and funny scenes.

But the part in this story that appealed to me the most is that it will make you question, how much love can someone truly give? How far can you go to be with the person you love? And when everything seems black and white, would you be willing to stay? Or walk away? 

Second, the characters: Immediately, I was drawn to Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in. Usually in KDramas, it’s always the male lead who is cool, cold, nonchalant and rich af and the girl is the bubbly, cutesy-cutesy, overly dramatic, and broke. I absolutely LOVE the role reversal. Hae-in is the cool and badass wife while Hyun-woo is the cute, dramatic hubby and together, they make an ✨iconic couple✨. But on a more serious note, a lot of characters nowadays are into the red light/green light spectrum and don’t get me wrong, I love it. Who doesn’t love a green light character right? But again, Park Ji-eun wrote them in such a way that you wouldn’t perceive them as this ultra-perfect, no flaw character, but they aren’t toxic either (except for the main villains of course). A lot of the characters in the show have a good and flawed side, and I love it because that’s what makes them human, they are multi-layered which makes them complex, but at the same time, they were written in such a way that the viewers could have a deeper understanding of the characters, and even relate to them in some ways. 

Again with the exception of the villains, the character developments were so good. Witnessing this whole-ass process of them being flawed and broken characters to becoming the best versions of themselves were just the best.  

Third, the cast: Ah, I can go on and on about how every actor in this show was absolutely amazing! Again, Kim Soo-hyun has proven why he is Korea’s highest paid actor. I love that he can switch from this handsome, smart, and sexy lawyer, to a super cute, loving hubby, and then a man who would fight for his woman no matter what it takes. BITCH! The acting range of this guy is fucking LIMITLESS! As for Kim Ji-won, this is by far her best acting performance in my opinion. Hong Hae-in was such a difficult character to portray, but I love how she was able to effortlessly deliver Hae-in’s stoic, nonchalant exterior and when you look into her eyes you’ll see that vulnerable part of her that no one else except [her husband] sees. 

SooWon’s chemistry on the other hand is GOD-TIER! They were born to play Baek Hyun-woo and Hong Hae-in. Whether it’s a funny, romantic, or heavy scene, they nailed it to perfection! These two are the most married couple I have seen in a show. I feel sad that I’m not gonna see them together on-screen for sometime but I am hoping that they’d be able to work together again in the future. Although my delulu self is manifesting for them to be together irl 😂🤧

Park Sung-hoon, I have said before that he is so good at playing a villain. But I hope he gets to show his ability to portray a nice guy in the future, I need a break from him playing evil. 

Kwak Dong-yeon and Lee Joo-bin’s performances as the second couple deserve to be applauded as well. Despite their characters going through crazy shit, I love that they were able to deliver it on a lighter, heartwarming note in contrast to SoWoon’s heavier scenes.

Special mentions to the following 🗣️:

The Official Playlist of the Show- When I tell you that I have listened to every song in this playlist, I really mean it. I don’t understand the language, but everytime I hear a song from QOT, I can instantly imagine a particular scene from the show, that’s how magical it is. My most replayed song is The Reasons of my Smiles by BSS, but I also love Heize’s Hold me back, and the song that makes me the most emotional: Love you with all my heart by Crush. 

The cinematography: I’m not gonna go into details about the technicalities, but everything was perfectly shot, especially the scenes in Germany–it was dreamy, romantic, and beautiful. 

The crew members who worked behind the camera also need to be praised for the hard work, effort, and dedication they’ve put into making this show. 

There are things however about the show that I didn’t personally like or I think they could have done better. Here’s the link of why I think the storyline isn’t as good as I thought it would be: 

The final episode didn’t turn out the way I hoped it would be, although there were some parts of it that were really good like:

📍 Cheon Da-hye and Grace choosing to take accountability for their past actions (also Grace being the key player in bringing Mo Seul-hee down was the cherry on top) and has been given another chance to live honestly was one of the best character redemptions. 

📍The Hong family reclaiming what’s rightfully theirs, that was such a powerful scene.

📍Hyun-woo and Hae-in looking at each other after Mo Seul-hee was proven guilty for killing Hong Man-dae and all the other bullshits she did to Queens and the Hong family, as if saying, “It’s finally over,” and they did it together was so power couple coded. 

📍Aunt Beom-ja and husband #4 [really] taking their time to get to know each other…like literally. Her facial expression when Yeong-seong kissed her on the cheek instead of the lips like she was expecting was GOLD.

📍Mama and Papa Hong choosing a simpler and quieter life and hanging out with their besties (Mama and Papa Baek).

📍The family portrait of the Hong and Baek family 🥹

📍Hyun-woo and Hae-in taking their time to rebuild their relationship, then goes on to get married and have a baby, then visiting Germany every so often was the most heartwarming scene. 

📍I would say that the ending was a bittersweet one. Hae-in’s premonition came true, she died first and Hyun-woo never failed to visit her grave, and then eventually reuniting was one of the most realistic endings in a Kdrama. They lived a good life, they built a family, grew old together and reunited in the afterlife was beautiful but there was a certain ache in that part, perhaps a reminder that no matter how painful it gets, there is always a silver lining, and if you’re meant to be, you’re meant to be.

However, in addition to my linked post:

📍The first half of the story started really strong, but it dwindled the moment they added all of these ridiculous subplots. One Tumblr user commented that Hyun-woo and Hae-in’s marriage had enough issues as far as drama is concerned and I couldn’t agree more. 

📍I get that Mo Seul-hee is a shitty person but I don’t even know why she chose to prey on Hong Man-dae of all people. She could have done the same to other wealthy families (I mean he’s not the only gullible man out there with tons of money), but the question is, what did the Hong family do to her? Surely, there must have been a deeper meaning than just wanting money but alas, it's a question we'll probably never get an answer too.

📍The good thing is that we now fully understand why Yoon Eun-seong acted the way he did. He has mommy issues, abandonment issues, anger issues, etc. My prediction about him dying in the finale was correct, but there was no character redemption for him thus I don’t see the point on why they had to extend his Hae-in obsession arc towards the end. Take out all the irrelevant subplots, and the story still would have worked.

📍One of my biggest frustrations in the show was the fact that they only addressed BaekHong’s miscarriage after Hae-in lost her memories when they could have done that in the earlier episode (the scene where Hyun-woo and Hae-in had a heart-to-heart conversation about their failed marriage), it’s like the writer forgot about that part–which by the way was such a crucial part then she just inserted this scene somewhere in the finale. 

📍I was also disappointed that Hae-in's mom wasn't the one who comforted her during that scene where Hyun-woo was undergoing surgery after getting shot. It would have been such a perfect opportunity to heal their relationship. Also, I would have appreciated it if Mama Hong was the one who personally apologized to Hyun-woo for being harsh towards him.

📍I know I said that the ending was a more realistic one, but babes we were ROBBED! I would have loved to see a BaekHong wedding part 2, their pregnancy journey and moments with baby Soo-bin but alas, we were deprived of that too. As much as I find the finale realistic, I wouldn’t say that I was satisfied either.

📍I just remembered this now, but Papa Hong's and Aunt Beom-ja's other sibling could have actually contributed to ending the villain arc. He could have made moves to unravel Seul-hee and Eun-seong's crap, but idk writer-nim just placed him there just because 🤷.

Overall, do I think that this show is over hyped? Storywise, yes. As far as the actors’ performances go, they deserve it. 

Is the show worth watching? I’d say it’s worth checking out if you’re someone who likes heavy, intense dramas. If not, avoid this. Again, this is not a light rom-com. 

Would I rewatch? For BaekHong, yes but I’ll skip the irrelevant parts.

Ratings:

Performance: 100/10

OST: 10/10

Cinematography, Editing, etc.: 10/10

Story-telling: 6/10

[horror-thriller-brackets]

Propaganda:

The Signal characters: Hae-young is in the future and can communicate with Jae-han through a walkie talkie, while Jae-han is in the past. Soo-young works with both of them. All three are connected and have an amazing bond, an iconic trio separated but connected through timelines.

[caelinx]

: Signal :

More information : Signal

Where to watch : Netflix

My rating : 8.5/10 ⭐

With season two finally on the way, I thought it was the perfect time to rewatch this drama. It’s amazing how, even after nine years, this drama remains so iconic. Watching it again reminds me exactly why it left such a strong impression.

The idea of a detective from the future communicating with a detective from the past is absolutely fascinating. Their teamwork across time to solve cases is so gripping, and the constant tension keeps you on edge. Every attempt to change the future feels both hopeful and nerve-wracking because, of course, nothing ever comes without consequences. The tension is palpable throughout each episode, and the cases they handle are filled with hidden secrets that are dangerously interconnected. Every twist kept me hooked, and I loved every moment of the mystery unfolding.

The acting was top-tier—I have nothing but respect for the entire cast. Lee Je Hoon’s portrayal of Park Hae Young, desperate to change the past, was mesmerizing. Kim Hye Soo brought so much charisma as the team leader, and Jo Jin Woong was phenomenal as the detective from the past. Their performances added so much depth to the story.

And the OST? I’ll be honest—I’m too much of a scaredy-cat to listen to it properly. It has that eerie, old-song vibe that sends shivers down my spine. But I have to admit, it perfectly enhances the drama’s atmosphere.

The story, the acting—everything about this drama is just top-notch. It’s truly a gem of its time, and even though it’s been years since it first aired, it still holds up beautifully. Old but definitely gold!

"There are those who are born monsters, but there are also those who are made into monsters by people"

[ikjun]

ALLLLL I also love junho (squid game) and I think u also said u liked saebyeok in a tag long ago (LMAO)??? literally also my two favs as well, we get each other 🤝🤝🤝🤝🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️🙂‍↕️

omg anne literally you absolutely get it those are the two best characters on this show forever (followed by depressed suicidal menace park hae-soo in s1) and then there’s a whole lot of nothing bc gong yoo got a nanosecond of screen time jn s1 and a nanohour in s2 so it’s not even a real character although he slays. taking saebyeok from us was literally the evilest thing ever but she will always live on in our hearts as an icon a legend a star and at least we have junho for fuckass s2 to see us through hallelujah he lived and he is out there living after literally giving his fuck-all on that island when no one else did!!!!! legit him and saebyeok two of my fave characters in recent kdrama like this show didn’t really break some unseen ground but these two acting performances and characters? iconic.

[no-where-new-hero]

Blake Wrapped #1: K-Dramas 2024

'Tis once more Blake Wrapped season. I watched nearly all of these dramas in the first half of the year, so it was fun to revisit them all and my opinions for this wrap-up! Reviews and pictures under the cut.

Cheese in the Trap (2016)

Would be my favorite drama of all time if it weren’t for the plot/character nosedive around 2/3 of the way in, which destroyed the delicate psychological rendering of the main characters. TBH this drama gives me pain, but in a way that's also kind of enjoyable to tear apart. Aside its faults, it's beautifully filmed, perfectly cast, and did introduce me to Park Hae Jin (belovedest). 8.5/10 for the costuming, music, Kim Go-Eun's curly hair, and the first 10 eps.

Man to Man (2017)

Saw this one purely because it starred Park Hae Jin, Park Sung Woong, and Chae Jung An, and they were the only good things about it. The plot volleyballed among different genres (action, comedy, thriller, romance) in a way that felt almost like a pastiche, but which never committed to the bit enough to bring it all into a satisfying whole. A star-studded and talented cast let down by poor direction/writing. 6.5/10 for the fun of shipping the wrong people.

Who Are You: School 2015 (2015)

Yook Seung-jae gave me a SEVERE taste of second lead syndrome and carried the last few episodes. One of the best kdrama performances I’ve ever seen. The whole cast was exceptional and held together the many mini-plots, which nicely dealt with real and relevant themes. Some later scenes felt unnecessarily drawn out to fill 16 eps, but at least every story and character arc felt complete. 8.5/10 for Kim So-hyun’s eyeliner being a paid actor.

The Killing Vote (2023)

I had my eye on this one ever since I saw that Park Sung Woong won an award for his performance and then after getting to know PHJ, I put it to the top of my watch list. It absolutely delivered in terms of symbolism and suspense and had relatively few plot holes considering all its twists and reveals. The 12 ep structure worked well, though I hated the obvious season 2 setup in place of a proper finale. 8/10 for Seo Young-joon’s character stealing the heart of the show.

My Love from the Star (2013)

This felt like the K-dramaest kdrama I’ve seen so far in terms of tropes: philosophical dialogue about fate and humanity, (literal) time-stopping romance, murders, chaebol family tensions, a scene-stealing second lead, homoerotic hyung-dongsaeng friendships, non-existent female relationships, turtleneck sweaters, first snows, and hospital/police station scenes galore. Jun Ji Hyun is perfect and adorable and my wife. 8/10 for Kim Soo-hyun and Mr. Jang’s farewell.

Bad Guys (2014)

It’s clearly become a thing for me to watch a crime show because of my man of the moment and it ends up being underrated cinematic excellence. Gripping pace, sharp cinematography, and great characters are just the tip of the iceberg: everyone talks in poetic metaphor! Rachmaninoff’s “Vocalise” is a central haunting leitmotif! Jo Dong-hyuk (in the middle there) looks personally and lovingly sculpted by God Himself! PHJ plays a tormented emo babygirl! 9/10 for everyone being unhinged.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016)

Satisfyingly lived up to its reputation. Despite the emotional heartache, I did appreciate that the overarching theme was “love pushes you to make tons of bad decisions.” And the ending wasn’t horrible, as I had been led to believe! Biggest gripe was Kang Ha-neul’s lifeless stare, but otherwise the whole supporting cast was fabulous. 9/10 for this iconic scene and the Death Song.

Winter Sonata (2002)

This drama has been a classic in my family since I was young, though this was the first time I watched it through. Bae Yong-joon and Choi Ji-woo are lovable and brilliant in their leading roles with fantastic chemistry and an absolutely perfect ending scene. I find it hard to review it, because it's basically an emotion in and of itself. 9/10 for the OST to end all OSTs.

Again My Life (2022)

This one had all the right elements—atmospheric music, aesthetic direction, fascinating premise, good cast—but the delivery just…plodded a bit? I skipped five episodes in the middle and didn’t miss a substantial amount of plot, so this really should have been a 12-episoder. Also had the same downer “efforts toward good are ultimately useless because evil is regenerative and eternal” message from Killing Vote that I didn’t love. 7/10 for a strong start.

From Now On, Showtime! (2022)

A refreshingly fun and humorous take on magic, past lifetimes and ghosts. Started it for PHJ, finished it for the found family of ghosts and spirits, who captured the heart of the show and gave it necessary energy. Solid chemistry among all the actors, and I enjoyed the Easter eggs for other shows of this type, like TOTNT and Goblin. 8/10 for incredibly funny writing and a fabulous emotional ending.

Forest (2020)

There’s a great drama in here somewhere, but the writer never exactly finds it. Jo Bo Ah and PHJ are fantastic (and their chemistry is off the charts) with some great set-piece scenes to develop their connection. Unfortunately, no rhythm or satisfying through-line was able to hold it together from a plot (or even a character) perspective, especially with the short-episode structure. 6.5/10 for the hand-touching scene and the kiss-under-the-bridge (that no one has gifed whyyy).

DNF: Death’s Game (2023)

I like to think I’ve gotten pretty chill about violence in shows, but this one had what felt like an undercurrent of glee in its depictions of the series of deaths that was so at odds with the message it was purporting to convey, to the point where I no longer believed in the message at all. Good premise, decent performances, tone just wasn’t for me.

Movies: Snow Is on the Sea/Snow in the Sea Breeze (2015)

I watched this one for the plot, and the plot really was PHJ being sweet and cuddly and husband material and showing far more skin than I had seen in the 50 or so hours of his drama episodes combined. It makes cleaning a penguin enclosure the height of romance. Corny, tragic, melodramatic mush, 10/10.

The Beauty Inside (2015)

Unexpectedly poignant with a lovely hook and great performances, grounded by the adorable Han Hyo-joo. I love ensemble cast concepts like this (imagine Doctor Who except for a daily regeneration) and the gender play conferred a sweet queer touch. Love wins, 10/10.

The Great Battle (2018)

The battles were lifted almost verbatim from LOTR and some of the quieter plot beats were completely predictable but it still delivered a great visual spectacle. I have no idea why I watched this but it compelled me though. Gorgeous cinematography, 7/10.

[baenxietydad]

An Incomplete List of Kdramas Mu-yeol Makes Hatter Watch With Him

@davidhatter

He tries to avoid anything from like .... pre-2017 if he can help it bc HOLY misogyny and toxicity from these male leads Batman, but sometimes a show is either A. GOOD, B. iconic staples for the genre; or C. so awful he must subject him to it.

This list only has some of the good dramas lmao

Her Private Life

A cute romcom! He started him off with this one. It includes some classic kdrama tropes: memory loss of a specific traumatic event, childhood connection, rich man not rich woman, long-lost brothers. It's cringe and camp enough to be a good primer for K-dramas-- it's good, great even, but not so good that it ruins every drama after it. But it also does avoid a lot of the most annoying and cringe tropes, things that an avid drama watcher might eat up but not good for a first look into the genre. The leads, Park Min-young and Kim Jae-wook are two of Mu-yeol's favorite actors so it's worth it just for them. Also, it goes into fangirl culture and idol fandom which, fan culture IN Korea is it's own interesting subculture that he can use the drama to explain that aspect to him.

Vicky said Hatter's review of it was positive, he had a nice time, which means now Hatfish watch dramas together lmao. Mu-yeol explained that after HPL there were five plans of attack for first-time drama watchers he explains to Hatter:

A. you like the lead actor a lot, so you watch something else he's in (Crazy Love, Marry Me, Mary, or for a small role when he was younger Coffee Prince)

B. you like the lead actress and want to see her in something else (Healer, What's Wrong With Secretary Kim, Forecasting Love and Weather, Marry My Husband)

C. you liked the second male lead (Eun-gi's actor) and want to see a drama where he gets the girl (See You in My 19th Life)

D. "we go to Netflix or Viki and watch the first thing that I've seen before and liked" (Crash Course In Romance, Jealousy Incarnate, Flower of Evil, When The Camellia Blooms, It's Okay That's Love, Oh My Ghost, Twenty-five Twenty-one, Reply 1988)

E. "we go to Netflix or Viki and watch something I haven't vetted yet for cringe level"

Crash Course In Romance

A cute romcom about middle aged people falling in love! Also there's a serial killer subplot lol happens a lot, you and Hatter will get used to those in K-dramas. The female lead is a single mom! Well, tech aunt but that's HER CHILD she raised her!

Jeon Do-yeon is a cutie, amazing as the female lead and Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol is so pathetic (affectionate, highest praise.)

Reply 1988

This is one of Mu-yeol's favorite dramas! Anything set in the late 80s-early 2000s is so nostalgic for him. This is a great period piece for 80's South Korea. It also delves lightly into the political turmoil at the time which he'll happily pause to explain to Hatter in more detail. It's his favorite in the Reply series, even though he really enjoys Reply 1994 and Reply 1997 too, which he eventually makes Hatter watch but not all back to back.

The song that open's Reply 1988, To You by Shin Hae Chul is like one of the most iconic Korean songs. Your cat knows this song if you live in Korea lmao. It's so beloved that EXO, a current K-pop group (well 3rd gen but still active) performed it a few years ago and this massive audience of people who were not around in the 80's when it came out were screaming and singing along, so ofc Hatter had to listen to the whole song too lmao. Just getting a full Korean pop culture history lesson.

Prison Playbook

UGH Prison Playbook is so GOOD. It stars the male lead from Crash Course In Romance alongside Park Hae-soo, one of the leads from Squid Game. It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, it's about friendship! It's about family! UGH!!!!

Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Another one that is SO GOOD. This one deals with the 1997 IMF Crisis that rocked Southeast and East Asia. Mu-yeol has detailed memories of this time period and explains what that time was like as he observed it while they watch this. It's a drama with a bittersweet but realistic ending, it will rip your heart out it will make you laugh, it's everything.

Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha

Another romcom! This time with a proper happy ending! But not without ripping your heart out too :):):) Gongjin is giving Swynlake lmao Mu-yeol thinks Hatter will really like it.

Jealousy Incarnate

Now, this is MY favorite drama. I've watched it 6 times straight through. It's so good and the description doesn't do it justice! I love Gong Hyo-jin but find a lot of her characters frustrating and just not good characters despite her being a great actress. But this drama gives her an interesting character!

And the soundtrack? AMAZING.

Youth Of May

Another drama that takes place in the 80s! This one is centered around the Gwangju Uprising which happened the year before Mu-yeol was born. This one is really good for Mu-yeol pausing to explain history lmao but oh my god this drama is UGH I loved it, he loved it.

When The Camellia Blooms

Another Gong Hyojin vehicle! She's a single mom! Good drama for explaining several aspects of Korean culture, stigmas, norms, etc around single parents, orphans, the concept of your fate affecting people around you.

Welcome to Samdal-ri

I'm watching this one right now. I like it a lot!

It's Okay, That's Love

One of the only sympathetic portrayals of schizophrenia I've seen in media ever. EVER. And the soundtrack of this drama? One of the best.

Also D.O. from EXO is in it!

Love To Hate You

A good palatte cleanser after some heavier dramas. Not the silliest of silly romcomc but a romcom nonetheless. Also Kim Jihoon and Yoo Teo are hot!!!

This scene lmao

Money Heist: Korea

Based on the Spanish show, also slaps. Mu-yeol finally gives Hatter a Manly TM show to watch after making him watch romcoms. A dudebro show, as a treat. Except it's actually really good!!! and it's got hot middle-aged men (Kim Ji-hoon, Park Hae-soo) for them to look at!

Hell Is Other People

It's homoerotic, it's got Lee Dong-wook, it's got serial killers, it's got homoerotic serial killers, what more do you want?

Touch Your Heart

A cute romcom! Yay!!!

But honestly, Mu-yeol thinks Lee Dong-wook's chemistry is...kinda wack with women. His on-screen chemistry playing opposite other men like in Goblin, Bad & Crazy, and Tale of the Nine-Tailed and Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 is SO good, but to him (and me) it tends to fall flat with women.

He's cute here with Yoo In-na though!!! But in Tail of The Nine-Tailed his best scenes are with Kim Bum lmao

Summer Strike

It's just so good!!!

[kdramaladies]

We would like to thank everyone who participated in our 2023 Year End Poll last month! Thank you to those who voted, promoted the event, and also liked/reblogged our top 10 gifsets.

If you missed the Top 10 sets we posted during the last 10 days of 2023, or would just like to support them again, please check out our event tag #KDLYEAREND23. We will also be listing the results for the Top 20 under the cut.

Please also check out our new desktop header featuring our top 3 winners by @orangesyellow, mobile header by @natahjikio and icon by @haeyeongs featuring our #1 voted character of 2023.

We hope your 2024 is off to a good start, and looking forward to another year of our favourite kdramas and ladies!!!

1) The Glory: Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo) 46 2) Moving: Lee Mi-hyun (Han Kyo-joo) 45 3) Twinkling Watermelon: Yoon Cheong-ah (Shin Eun-soo) 44 4) Crash Course in Romance: Nam Haeng-seon (Jeon Do-yeon) 42 5) Alchemy of Souls 2: Jin Bu-yeon (Go Youn-jung) 38 6) Revenant: Gu San-young (Kim Tae-ri) 36 7) Moving: Jang Hui-soo (Go Youn-jung) 35 8) King the Land: Cheon Sa-rang (Im Yoon-ah) 34 9) My Dearest: Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin) 33 10) Twinkling Watermelon: Choi Se-kyung/On Eun-yu (Seol In-ah) 29

11) Daily Dose of Sunshine: Jung Da-eun (Park Bo-young) 27 12) Call It Love: Shim Woo-joo (Lee Sung-kyung) 25 12) See You in my 19th Life: Ban Ji-eum (Shin Hye-sun/Park So-yi) 25 13) The Glory: Park Yeon-jin (Im Ji-yeon) 20 14) Crash Course in Romance: Nam Hae-yi (Roh Yoon-seo) 19 15) Crash Course in Romance: Kim Young-joo (Lee Bong-ryun) 17 16) The Uncanny Counter 2: Do Ha-na (Kim Se-jeong) 15 16) Love to Hate You: Yeo Mi-ran (Kim Ok-vin) 15 17) A Time Called You: Han Jun-hee/Kwon Min-ji (Jeon Yeo-been) 13 17) Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938: Ryu Hong-joo (Kim So-yeon) 13 17) Doctor Cha: Cha Jeong-sook (Uhm Jung-hwa) 13 18) Mask Girl: Kim Mo-mi (Lee Han-byeol, Go Hyun-jung, Nana) 12 18) The Glory: Kang Hyun-nam (Yeom Hye-ran) 12 18) The Good Bad Mother: Jin Young-soon (Ra Mi-ran) 12 19) Doona!: Lee Doo-na (Bae Suzy) 11 19) The Good Bad Mother: Lee Mi-joo (Ahn Eun-jin) 11 20) Alchemy of Souls 2: Kim Do-joo (Oh Na-ra) 10 20) Heartbeat: Joo In-hae (Won Ji-an) 10 20) See You in my 19th Life: Yoon Cho-won (Ha Yoon-kyung) 10 20) Not Others: Kim Jin-hee (Choi Soo-young) 10 20) Call It Love: Shim Hye-seong (Kim Ye-won) 10 20) My Lovely Liar: Mok Sol-hee (Kim So-hyun) 10

KDRAMALADIES YEAR END POLL: Favourite Female Drama Characters of 2023

Welcome to our (hopefully!) annual year end poll! Vote for your favourite female characters from dramas in 2023, and at the end of the year we will announce and celebrate the top 10 most beloved characters with some gifs, and feature the top 3 in our blog’s desktop and mobile themes.

vote here

polls are open until December 10, 2023 at 11:59PM PST

results will be announced in the last week of December

the options are sorted alphabetically by title

only dramas set to complete by the start of the voting period has been included (dramas ending in December or January will be included in the following year's voting period)

if there are series or characters we missed, there is a write-in option at the bottom of the poll

if writing-in, please make sure to include the show title and the character or actress name

Happy voting! Please feel free to reblog this post to promote the poll to your friends and followers!

[fandomiconsx]

like or reblog if you use

[kiwibomb]

'squid game' icons!! please like or reblog if you save it!! 🎡

[lifeondramas]

Money Heist: Korea (2022)

Berlin

like or reblog if you saved

don't repost :)

[kirukatoka]

𝗦𝗤𝗨𝗜𝗗 𝗚𝗔𝗠𝗘 𝗜𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗦🦑🍴

- like or reblog if you save/use

[ahjussistuff]

༄ 𖥸 𖥔 ࣪ ˖ 📌Reblog/like if you use/save

༄ 𖥸 𖥔 ࣪ ˖ 📌Don’t repost or claim as yours

[ecnmatic]

[tomanjicons]

⠀⠀☆ ⠀⠀⠀ ¡ ⠀⠀ . ⠀⠀⠀hoyeon ⠀⠀+ ⠀⠀haesoo  ㅤ ㅤ#♡  ㅤ ㅤsquid game  ㅤ ㅤ?  ㅤ ㅤlike ⠀⠀: ⠀⠀reblog  ›

[celibatairedramas]

— like or reblog if you save. ♡

@celibatairewang on twitter. ♡