#wlfkbj ep review

[namjhyun]

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo Episode 16 (FINALE)

It’s with a full and satisfied heart that I say goodbye to Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo. There are very few shows that have managed to make me feel this way, particularly because Dramaland is plagued by stretching unnecessary misunderstandings and angst, but Fairy never failed to deliver.

The characters were always quick to talk to each other in a honest way, and I’m not only referring about the main couple, but also about how all the characters -family and friends- had their moment in the spotlight were they were able to grow and mature. From fights with friends to family problems, lovers quarrels and growing pains, the PD, cast and crew hit the spot every time.

I have been watching out for Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo-hyuk for a while now, thinking about their potential as actors and after Fairy, I think we can all agree there’s a before and after in their careers for them. They have proven to be a force to be reckoned and I’m looking forward to their future projects. But this wouldn’t had been possible if not for the amazing work the rest of the cast put in into the show.

I felt it was appropriate for Shi-ho to find her way in coaching since she has the experience of what terrible guidance can do to talented athletes.

Jea-yi figured out the proper way to show his feelings for Dr. Go, who finally found happiness with the man she has always loved.

I was always looking forward for the moments between Nan-hee, Bok-joo and Seon-ok, because theirs is a real sisterhood and very few shows portray friendship between women this way.

My heart broke for uncle Dae-ho’s unrequited crush on Coach Choi and celebrated when they both found happiness with others. And I sobbed feeling the parents unconditional love and support for their children. By the way, wasn’t that the cutest and best formal introduction of families ever. Yes, Jae-yi, Joon-hyun and Bok-joo were getting engaged right there.

I’m impressed with the screenwriter of this show and how she told the story of these characters, breaking Dramaland stereotypes, troupes and talking openly about things that even nowadays are taboo in society like mental health. But also because she managed to grasp the bittersweet feeling of what it means growing up for a young woman, falling in love for the first time and how relationships, in all it’s forms, not only needs love but also hard work, honesty and to be cherished. That’s how you keep them going for a long time.

I love how the PD made the most simple and yet beautiful scenes by playing with lights and music. Aesthetically, Fairy was perfection from begging to end, but the editing and takes helped to relate to what the character were going through. These kind of feelings, I believe are the hardest to reproduce/represent when telling a story, because they are fleeting, subjective and at the same time universal to the human experience. They are what makes you. I will keep an eye on his future projects too.

And thank you, show, for portraying in Bok-joo a happy, well adjusted and successful woman whose boyfriend is proud of all her achievements. I also appreciate that Joon-hyun’s success didn’t magically happened at the same time. He had a rough year and failed most of his competitions, for him making it immediately into the national swimming team, it would have been unrealistic.

It was incredibly satisfying to see the characters all grown up and ready to take on the world. Together, always together, because they know how important their relationship is to each other. But at the same time I love how Bok-joo and Joon-hyun always knew how to prioritize and be honest when it mattered. Neither of them ever blew off a family member or friend because they were in a relationship, and the other didn’t reproach it either. Theirs was a mature, real love and friendship where they supported and protected each other’s independent life, professional ambitions, and the future they were building together. They are their own biggest fans, supporters and shippers.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo is definitely going to my TOP 10 list of best kdramas of all time, Hall of Fame status, for all the reasons mentioned before and more. I could gush about it all day and at the same time I don’t know what else to say. This is one of those gems you need to watch and appreciate, one that I will keep coming back again and again, and again.

[ali-babbles]

lstdraemr replied to your post “lstdraemr replied to your post “lstdraemr replied to your post “Ali!...”

haha yeah i totally get you. I think the start of this year got messed up in pacing some how too (some shows started later than others...like Rebel Thief just started)To clarify, I usually pick one mon/tue, wed/thu, etc. drama to watch but now i'm in...all of them lol. I agree with you that most of these shows sound good on paper. Tomorrow with You has such great premise but it's missing...some kind of tension. It might be the editing or chronology of the events?

Even if the first ep isn't that good (just an intro of the main characters) the 2nd and 3rd eps usually pick up the pace, but that's kind of lacking (c'mon they can learn how to write 10 eps of middle filler eps from goblin's writer :P :P). I love crime shows too! I think defendant is definitely stalling on the side plots too much (feed us sips of info...give us more!) Kim Min Suk is great. I'm excited to see more of him next week.

Voice...I enjoyed the first 4 eps, but it lost me last week. I haven't really bothered to analyze why. In a way, I would be satisfied watching the golden time team solve cases w/o the conspiracy plot. Haha But really affinity do the Chae siss have with Kang Woo Ill!!! They didn't reveal exactly WHY older sis jumped, right? (uhh i might have skipped that part lol) I'm glad the writer made the changes transition seamlessly. Modestly looking forward to next week :D

Yeah, I agree, the pacing was a bit off, but new shows start all the time so idk how much that affected it! And I usually pick which ever dramas catch my interest; watching wlfkbj and lotbs was so hard since they were both on the same day and especially since I was writing reviews for both at first. Lol. For not being really interested in the dramas out now, I’m watching an awful lot lol. I’ve yet to watch the 2nd episode, but I felt something missing in the first episode, which is why I’ve been meh about watching the 2nd. Or maybe I’m just tired of kdramas for now hahah. 

The writer for Goblin is honestly brilliant; we definitely had a lot of filler episodes for the drama but the content was amusing and still interesting to watch so it didn’t really feel like we’re wasting our time. The dramas out now really didn’t have a strong start imo but meh, that’s just one woman’s opinion lol. 

Defendant definitely got the plot rolling this week so I’m definitely looking forward to next weeks ep. Tbh, Cha Min Ho is a complete bastard and while he may have killed his brother and possibly had a role in Jung Woo’s wife’s death, I felt so bad for the fencing kid that had his hand broken because he embarrassed him. =/ The actor is great even though I wanna punch him in the face lol. Voice is getting a bit annoying as well; hopefully it’s good this week. And no they didn’t reveal why she jumped---it could’ve been due to Woo Il’s lies, the Hwan Gi’s sister being there, and the fact that it would been humiliated if people found out the truth. Or someone else pushed her and set it up like a suicide? I’m honestly waiting for the sister/fiancee to drop Woo Il for cheating on her and trying to do it again with Ro Woon and just lying about it. What’s disgusting is that he came onto her but the woman is always to blame--I hate that kind of thinking. =/

[namjhyun]

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo Episode 15

I think we have all been waiting for this episode, where Joon-hyun finally speaks out about his feelings regarding the fake postcards and his biological mother’s abandonment.

I think the episode delivered, although I find bio-Mom’s excuses weak and outright disrespectful to Joon-hyun’s feelings. The firsts few scenes with her were painful to watch, he was so quiet and shy, like he had turn into the little introverted child he once was. I understand there was a lot going on inside him, so he couldn’t find the right words or actions but, at the same time, all this made me think his bio-mother made the right choice to leave him with his uncle, aunt and cousin. I felt he was conflicted more than happy.

The real angst, though, came because his mother didn’t even comeback to see him, she did it to find help for her other child, so from the very beginning we know where her priorities are. Problem is that once again his family choose to feed him flowery lies and half-truths. I’m happy Joon-hyun didn’t stay silent because he is a mature, happy and well-adjusted young adult, and it’s time his family starts to treat him like one. His fight with his mother was heart wrenching but needed because only anger would make him say out loud all of those fears he has been bottling up.

Joon-hyun’s disappearing act was surprising, not because he needed to take a break from his family but because he didn’t call Bok-joo. I was sure that when this happened he would reach out to her immediately, but at the end no matter how much you love someone, sometimes you just need time to process thing. Alone. In the state he left his house, now I see, he wouldn’t have been able to articulate what was happening inside him properly.

I’m proud of Joon-hyun today. He has always being an incredibly endearing, fun and insightful leading man, but today he took humongous steps into becoming an adult who is in charge of his life. At the end, it didn’t matter to him what reason his bio-mother had to comeback, what was important was that he has a family with whom he can feel loved and protected, a home to go back to. And that’s what matters. His mother, like those shoes she gave him, don’t fit into his life. So, by giving back his mother’s handkerchief, he let her go and said goodbye to that little shy and sad boy.

Bok-joo went on a little journey of her own too. The entire situation that Joon-hyun was going through, made her rethink where her priorities are. Weightlifting is still an important part of her life but she also realized how essential Joon-hyun has been in order for Bok-joo to be able to achieve her dreams. This is why I love this show, because Bok-joo and Joon-hyun are best friends before anything else. When he needed her, she did everything in her power to find him and support him through his bad times. And also knock some senses into his head.

As much this episode resolved Joon-hyun’s trauma and family problems, it was also a testament to their relationship. That tacit honesty, respect and love that made them come together, today it was strengthen in a way that makes you (and them) realize this is no puppy love. I can say with confidence that whatever happens in the future, Bok-joo and Joon-hyun are for the long, long run.

Kudos to you, show. It’s amazing what a beautiful relationship you have developed in 15 episodes and I’m looking forward to see what will happen next.

On a lighter note, uncle Dae-ho seems to have found his better half too. GOOD. I like this girl way better for him than Coach Choi. Speaking of which, are Professor Yoon and Coach together now? It seems like it.

Bok-joo made it to the National Team! (YOU GO GIRL). The surprise party scene was another great moment for all our characters, it’s like the actors casted in the show are comedy gold when they are all together in the same room.

But this also means Bok-joo is moving to Taereung for training. Sadly, Joon-hyun didn’t qualify this time, so they will have to do long-distance for a little while. No worry, like I said before they are together and will remain together for long time.

What does worry me is Dad’s disease. I know this is a cheerful show so nothing bad will happen but I have grow very fond of all these characters and hate to see them suffering.

I can’t believe Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo will be ending next week. I’m going to miss this show dearly, not only because it’s my sweet and happy place but also because I have been pleasantly surprised week after week with the strong storyline and character development. Not to mention the constant stereotype breaking and lack of troupes. This kdrama is a true beauty.

[namjhyun]

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo Episode 14

Oh, show, how I love you thee? Let me count the ways.

First, thank you for giving us what all other kdramas have failed to deliver most of the time: solid cheerful time between the leads before the laws of Dramaland bring imminent doom upon them. And let’s get this straight: the drama coming tomorrow won’t affect the relationship between Bok-joo and Joon-hyun in a negative way, on the contrary, I believe it will strength it. If that’s possible, which now I am thinking that yes, because this is the last personal hurdle they have go through and it’s been looming over us since the very begging of the show. After all, Joon-hyun and Bok-joo reunited thanks to a sausage, his mother’s handkerchief and an incident with the school’s perv. So, yeah, this dramas was bound to happen sooner or later.

And thank you, show, for starting the episode admitting that Joon-hyun hasn’t been working much on himself and his trauma lately. I thought you did it in a very nice way through his therapist and gave you the chance to set everything up for the last arc on the story. Now, Joon-hyung will have the chance to finish his unresolved issues with his family, and perhaps get over his slump and achieve his dreams to make it into the national team.

But I’m getting ahead of myself, since all this will be developed tomorrow, and today was about good old, cheesy happiness.

I thought that Bok-joo should have made things clear with her friends since the beginning because she’s not fooling anyone. This couple is joined at the hip and I’m surprised that Dad nor her friends realized it was them going around the school campus kissing, hugging and snuggling. I mean, have you seen other two people as tall as them in this show? It’s hard to miss them.

It was worth it, though, because we got one of the most hilarious scenes in the show when Joon-hyun got busted at a blind date (that he didn’t want to be in) by Bok-joo, who ended losing it and announcing to the four winds he was taken. By her. Everyone stopped eating. Yes, that’s how shocked they all were. They stopped eating.

Which of course took us to a interrogatory from their friends who wanted answers and "celebratory dinner” to with the happy couple the best. Joon-jyun is now temporarily bankrupt, I’m afraid. Pffft! And who awesome was it when he yelled at everyone who could hear how gorgeous his girl was?

On the other hand, while Bok-joo and Joon-hyun remain the heart of the show, it was the other characters who shinned the most today.

Starting with Shi-ho. I wasn’t expecting at all that she would give up on the competition halfway through, it’s not like her to do so, but I understand why she did it. At the Lucky Toad’s House she wished for a competition without regrets, something she hasn’t experience for a long time, and finding out her coach was influencing the jury, in order for Shi-ho to win, felt wrong for her. If the competition was rigged, than she could have done a mediocre performance from the start and not put herself through all the pain. The emotional unbalance and depression, the eating disorders, the pressure put on her family to afford her studies, everything they went through felt unnecessary at that moment.

I honestly don’t know what will she do now, will she go back to gymnastics? Start from zero with other coach? Perhaps try another angle? Or will she give up the sport altogether? Shi-ho has made incredible progress through the show and I’m looking forward to see what will be her next step.

Second, we have the relationship between Jae-yi and Ah-young. I’m still trying to figure out what’s happening here but I’m sure of one thing: they are the complete opposite of Bok-joo and Joon-hyun.

To start with, Jae-yi seems to be trying too hard. At what? I don't know. I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince himself that he likes Ah-young, because on paper they make sense, or if he really does like her. If it’s the first, which I don’t since he seems mature enough to know better, he should stop it because it’s only making Ah-young feel pitied and pathetic. If it’s the second, then he needs to make his feelings more clear because he’s really not getting through. It’s no wonder she choose to go back to her hometown in order to put space between them. She absolutely thinks he’s forcing himself to like her.

And speaking of which, Coach Yoon is divorced? I thought I saw him wearing a wedding band, what? Whatever, if he is divorced and has feelings for Coach Choi, go for it. She has been pinning over him for years and it was time he got a clue. My only reservation it’s uncle Dae-ho, who is incredibly sincere towards Coach Choi, and today he got his heart broken. I know you can’t force someone to like you, but it breaks my heart to see him sad. I’m really hoping that by the end of the show I can see him happy and thriving.

The preview for tomorrow’s episode seem to hint that Joon-hyun’s mother came back for other reasons than to see her son, and she certainly gave away that feeling in her scenes with his uncle and aunt. Question is why now and what’s the reason? Whatever it is, it will break Joon-hyun’s heart. Thank God he has his best friend and girlfriend at his side to get through it.

Honorable mention to the scene in her room. You thought I forgot it, didn’t you? Joon-hyun trying to sneak in a là Romeo and Bok-joo in hiding thanks to a pimple was hilarious, but that charged moment between them when she gave him the green light made my fangirl heart squeal. Heeeee! Too bad her friends came at the wrong moment.