The double-whammy worries me. Not only am I exposing myself to a king-size headache and but I’m also opening this blog to crazy oppa fangirls.
Here are the pros:
1. I liked Kim Go-Eun in Goblin.
I fell in love with her at this exact moment. She said, “I loooovvvee you,” to Goblin with that cheeky grin and I wanted to hug her (in a motherly way).
I don’t get why k-netizens find her ugly. Have they looked in the mirror? In my eyes, Kim Go Eun looks like a typical Korean: cute.
2. Goblin was tolerable but the ending could have been better, i.e., make Eun Tak immortal, and have airbags in cars.
This is the most horrible use of the “truck of doom” trope.
3. Can this drama be the lucky one where Lee Minho’s acting finally improved?
4. I like Woo DoHwan. Please, Screenwriter, don’t make him into a despicable second male lead! But I do think it’ll be to his credit that he’s considered a worthy adversary of Lee MinHo.
5. Plot is relatively easy to follow.
Keep it plain and simple is my motto. I dislike plotholes when the writer tries too hard to complicate a story and can’t tie up all loose ends.
Story about a Korean emperor Lee Gon (Lee Min-ho) who tries to close the doors to a parallel world which was opened by demons who were unleashed by a deity into the human world, and a detective Jung Tae-eul (Kim Go-eun) who tries to protect the people and the one she loves.
From wikipedia
Here are the cons:
1. The writer Kim Eunsook is over-hyped. Heirs, Descendants of the Sun, and Mr. Sunshine were juggernauts in the media. But the stories themselves are run-of-the-mill. They aren’t novel ideas like “W,” “Memories of the Alhambra” or “Extra-ordinary You.”
“I wanna roll my eyes right now but the doctor said if I keep doing it, my ocular muscles might spasm and eject my eyeballs.” — Liz Lemon
2. Dialogues will be cheesy; plot will be a trope-fest.
I can already predict the first trope: Kim Go Eun’s character is poor but plucky while Lee MinHo’s character is the richest PSYCHO on the planet.
And lines will never be as memorable as this one from Notting Hill.
3. Rabid Lee MinHo fans
They’ll be more annoying that all the fans of EXO, BTS, Big Bang (wait, do they still have fans?) and Super Junior (wait, do they still have fans?!) combined.
4. We’ll have to endure second male lead syndrome with Woo DoHan.
5. Meme-able Lee MinHo. Who can’t forget his “Ahh dem shet!” “Dem!” “Deesgharsting.” and “Ah! Deessgharsteeng Shyeet”?
*Edited to add translation: “Ugh! Damn shit!” “Damn!” “Disgusting.” and “Ah! Disgusting shit!”
This wouldn’t be so bad if we knew that he was only spoofing himself.
Full disclosure: I only completed one of Lee MinHo’s kdramas, “Faith.” He played a Goryu general. But I avoided all his dramas after that because he’s like a black hole….he sucks the brains out of his fangirls’ skulls. After seeing him, they’re incapable of putting two cogent ideas together in a paragraph.
Have you ever seen a nude sculpture?
I was a teenager when I first saw David by Michelangelo in Florence. My uncle had asked an art historian to accompany my cousin and me at the Accademia Gallery, and she intimidated us with her thorough explanation of the contrapposto, the religious themes, the fluidity of the lines, the size of hands and feet, the gaze in the eyes, and the political significance of the statue.
But she never mentioned the most glaring and titillating feature of the statue: the genitals. Looking back now, it’s a wonder that my cousin and I survived that art lecture without asking what we wanted to know: what was going through Michelangelo’s head when he carved David’s manhood out of marble? You know, back in those days, we weren’t supposed to obsess over the obvious.
And that’s how I feel about this kdrama. I would love to check the kdrama out but I don’t want the discussion here reduced to either a paean or a screed to Lee MinHo’s manhood…errr…manliness.
Hmmm…I might have to close off the comment section to just the regular posters.
nrllee, lollyminx, Sayaris, I’m trying to see if there’s a way I can transfer your comments here from the “Flower Crew” thread, so they’ll be easier to find later on. 🙂 I’m not a techie….
reposting for nrllee’s comment.
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I think The King Monarch of Eternity is scheduled to air March 2020. I wasn’t intending to watch it because I am not into “epics” . Screen writer of DOTS, Heirs, Mr Sunshine and Goblin. Director of DOTS? So I am anticipating sweeping scenes and $$$ in each frame. 😂
Plot Synopsis by AsianWiki Staff ©
The Devil is released into the human world and soon opens a door into a parallel world. The Devil asks if he lived a better life in the other world, if he could live in the other world. Against the Devil’s question, Korean Emperor Lee Gon (Lee Min-Ho) tries to close the door to the parallel world and South Korean Detective Jung Tae-Eul (Kim Go-Eun) tries to protect the lives of people and the person she loves.
Notes
1. “The King: Monarch of Eternity” is Lee Min-Ho’s first acting role since he was discharged from the South Korean military on April 25, 2019.
2. Lee Min-Ho & screenwriter Kim Eun-Sook previously worked together in 2013 SBS drama series “The Heirs.”
3. Director Baek Sang-Hoon and screenwriter Kim Eun-Sook previously worked together in 2016 KBS2 drama series “Descendants of the Sun.”
4. Actress Kim Go-Eun screenwriter Kim Eun-Sook previously worked together in 2016 tvN drama series “Goblin.”
reposting @nrllee’s comment here
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Yeah I am tuning in just to see what all the hype is about. I will stay for WDH 😂. And just to highlight the acting range of the respective “leads”, KGE and WDH have double roles, one in each (parallel) Universe…LMH only has one 😂 role…the King.
reposting @agdr03’s comment here
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Why not? I’d stay for WDH too though ☺️ I didn’t even know his in it. Just don’t let it be like Mr Sunshine. I don’t like all the prolonged grandeur and slow scenes 😁
reposting @lollyminx’s comment here
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@agdr03 Watch Reply 1988 instead! 😊 It’s really nice. I’ve seen it thrice. It seems like I’m always in the mood to rewatch that drama around the holidays.
Wait… so Ok Taecyeon-Kim Goeun-Lee Minho? That’s such a weird combo. After watching Tune in For Love on Netflix, Kim Goeun fits well with actors like Gong Yoo or Jung Haein.
reposting @lollyminx’s comment here
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Ooooh sorry. I misread. It’s Woo Dohwan-Kim Goeun-Lee Minho not Ok Taecyeon. OMG you’re right. I already know I’ll be rooting for Woo Dohwan and Goeun.
I’m feeling Woo Dohwan in My Country. For some reason, I always like his characters. I first saw him in Save Me and he did a good job there. He upstaged Ok Taecyeon. Then I’m watching him now in My Country. Hwi is admirable because of his moral compass but I can’t help but sympathize more with Woo Dohwan. Can’t wait to see him in 2020 with Goeun. I like them both.
Number 5 had me 😂😂😂 good one! 👍🏻
That picture of WDH though is so 😍😍😍
I agree, KGE is cute. 😊
Whatever you decide is fine. I’ll watch it because of WDH. I’m following him after discovering him in My Country. 😊
reposting @nrllee’s comment here
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“I first saw him in Save Me and he did a good job there. He upstaged Ok Taecyeon.“
😂 that was me too @lollyminx. He appeared on screen and I sat up, “HELLO, who are you?” ❤️. Actually he hardly had any screen time compared to Taec but I kept looking for him to appear 😂 whenever Taec did.
I am currently watching Tune In For Love on Netflix too. I haven’t finished it because it’s long. I have to carve out 2hrs to watch it. Kim GoEun is not someone who stops traffic with her looks but I like her…her acting’s great. Actually she copped heaps of negativity when it was announced she was the female lead alongside LMH. Lots of negativity about her looks not being good enough to partner flower boy LMH. 🙄
reposting @lollyminx’s comment here
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Same! I was so mad when she had to delete her Instagram photo after Goblin because people were calling her ugly. She may not be the prettiest but I like how she acts. You can tell she loves acting. And OMG can she sing. I was watching Begin Again (Season 3, Episode 6) and she sang a song by Lady Gaga, acoustic. Dude… she slayed. She was doing promo for Tune in for Love and Jung Haein sang too. They’re both good singers.
As for those who said she’s not good enough for Lee Minho, well he isn’t good enough for her. I don’t know. I just can’t seem to like him. He kinda looks good, I guess, but there’s just something about him I don’t like.
reposting @nrllee’s post here
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“ As for those who said she’s not good enough for Lee Minho, well he isn’t good enough for her. I don’t know. I just can’t seem to like him. He kinda looks good, I guess, but there’s just something about him I don’t like.”
😂 I suggest you hole up here and discuss with us when we go against the tide and rave about WDH and KGE. I have never understood the buzz about LMH myself either. Never watched any of his dramas.
reposting @sayaris’ post here
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Lol, the drama has not started yet and we already have a second lead syndrom 😂
I loved Tune In For Love, KGE and JHI were really great. She’s not the most beautiful, but she’s so lovely.
reposting @agdr03’s comment here
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I will watch Reply 1988 @ lollyminx ☺️ I’ll try to insert it since Flower Crew finished already.
I saw that clip of KGE singing I’ll Never Love Again by Lady Gaga and she was splendid. I only watched her in Goblin and she was great there. She is a good actress even if she’s not as pretty. I don’t follow her but I wouldn’t mind watching her again. She will deliver for sure.
My sisters and I have followed LMH since the beginning of our kdrama obsession but he was never my first ever crush. It was someone else from Boys Over Flowers 😂 but not anymore though. I didn’t really follow LMH too but my last drama of his was Legend of the Blue Sea. I enjoyed that. ☺️ But just seeing WDH in My Country for the first time ever, I know whose the winner already in my opinion. 😉
Phew! I just reposted all the posts on LMH’s upcoming drama here.
If you like WDH, you should watch him in “Tempted” but you’ll feel sorry for Kim Min Jae. 🙂
Well done Unnie! 😉👍🏻
I’m putting off Tempted for now, I’ll watch Reply 1988 first. ☺️ You and @lollyminx recommended it already so I have to see that first. I might feel torn in Tempted huh? 😁
Huh? Why are you calling me “unnie”? I’m younger than you??
hahaha. 🙂
Honestly, I would find this unnie/hyung formality very awkward. I understand they do this in many Asian cultures. @nrllee explained the heirarchy and different names in Chinese families.
But I also know I would have rebelled if my parents enforced that formality on me so I would be obedient and deferential to my brothers.
I’d be “Hey, you, first-born son! Come here and clear the table, you big lazy oaf!” Or “Mom? Yoohoo, mom? Your second-born son borrowed the car last night to sneak out on a date!” Or “Ouch! You kicked me, you third-born brat! Wait till I get my hands on you!”
The dynamics in my family isn’t conducive to honorifics. lol. I would be making a mockery of all those “first born” “second born” appellations. I’ve always insisted on being treated as equals even when (sadly) I didn’t measure up. 🙂
Try not to watch Reply 1988 on viki. Because of copyright issues, some of the scenes with TV shows and movie posters are blurred out. In the long run, this won’t affect your understanding of the show, but I kinda like all those details because they give the flavor of the year 1988. I watched Reply 1988 originally on dramafever so I was able to see everything without the blurred images.
😂. You’re a sucker for punishment. First Rowoon and now LMH. But I prefer to discuss plot here than elsewhere… but totally up to you because you’re the one in the frontline dealing with the comments. The thread in the other forum is already 10 pages long and the drama hasn’t even started yet…and it’s filled with fan made “fictional“ posters of the drama. Legitimately page after page of it. Some were quite creative. 😂
Like I said, your choice. You can always bail midway if the plot sucks. I only watched 3-4 episodes of Mr Sunshine and bailed. I think I stayed a bit longer for DOTS. I might stay longer for WDH and KGE here in The King Monarch.
First pics of filming (yes he’s on a white horse 🙄 and apparently gingko biloba trees (the yellow trees in the background) will feature greatly in the drama.))
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIG8gRuUcAE6vLC?format=jpg&name=small
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EIG5YH-UEAEuxIk?format=jpg&name=small
Oh I thought you’re only a couple of years older than me? 😆 Don’t worry I won’t call you Unnie again, that’s why I put the 😉 because I was teasing you. 😁
For me those hierarchy names are an endearment only that’s why I use it for my boys too. 😊
I hope they didn’t spray-paint that horse white for the show.
Should I be reminded of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?
“I looked, and there before me was a white horse! Its rider held a bow, and he was given a crown, and he rode out as a conqueror bent on conquest”
Okay. Because this is a fantasy show, this writer should be good with mixing folklore and symbolisms.
The fanfics? I swear you just gave me goosebumps.
Oh thanks for the heads up! 👍🏻 That was my intention but I’ll watch it somewhere else then 😊
“If you like WDH, you should watch him in “Tempted” but you’ll feel sorry for Kim Min Jae.”
Awww Minjae. Can’t wait for his next project. I want to watch Tempted but to be honest, what’s putting me off are the female leads. Haha from the previews alone, I know I’ll be annoyed watching them act but I’m prejudging. The female actors, were they good?
“I have never understood the buzz about LMH myself either.”
I’ve seen Legend of the Blue Sea but only because of Jun Jihyun. Lee Minho but seems like a self-absorbed, douchey guy to me haha
“I only watched 3-4 episodes of Mr Sunshine and bailed. I think I stayed a bit longer for DOTS.”
Same. I dropped DOTS after a catfight scene where the women were pulling each other’s hair and I was like “Naaaaaah.” But later I was in a drama slump and nothing seems interesting enough to watch so I ended up finishing it just to know why people are talking about it so much.
I also dropped Mr. Sunshine after the first episode. The plot didn’t draw me in. Too bad cause I like the female lead Kim Taeri. She’s in one of my favorite Korean movies – Little Forest.
Personaly, I like KEH’s dramas. They’re typical Kdramas but they’re fun to watch. I often like the OST.
So I will watch it! I like KGE and WDH and Lee Min Ho can be good like in Faith.
“ I hope they didn’t spray-paint that horse white for the show.”
O you noticed that too? I have never seen a horse with that blinding white as a coat color. It didn’t look real. 🤔
“I like the female lead Kim Taeri. She’s in one of my favorite Korean movies – Little Forest.”
High five. I loved Little Forest. Watched it thanks to the recommendation of Do KyungSoo 😂. He has good taste in movies. Then I chased down the original Japanese one and watched that. It was good too.
“ Lee Minho but seems like a self-absorbed, douchey guy to me haha”
That’s my opinion of him too in real life. But it wouldn’t have mattered as much if he could act but his self absorption translates on screen in his characters so it’s a fail for me. 😂
The writer’s dramas have been blockbusters but have done nothing for me. I dropped all of them within four episodes. I find her pacing too slow. My personal taste.
Which reminds me: I liked Personal Taste, pkm3. Of LMH’s dramas, I found the romantic tension in this one the best. Plus it has the iconic Game Over kiss that nobody should miss. Plus the second lead from Camellia that I know you like (at least his abs). It’s a spotty, unrealistic production but fun, has things to ponder, and it’s the first time I found LMH actually attractive.
As for Kim Go Eun, I didn’t like her character in Goblin, felt the actress was just playing a younger version of Cheese in the Trap. And if you’ve never watched Cheese in the Trap, you’re also missing a fun, witty, really entertaining show with a great OST of indie artists that gave me new respect for the Korean music industry. Yes, the last third does fall apart in the romance department but so what? The first two-thirds outshine almost every other kdrama. Every character is memorable.
All this to say: I will likely wait for this one to be finished because I don’t like the writer so I will want to hear reviews from people who also weren’t keen on the writer’s prior output before I invest time in it. Too bad, because as usual I like the summary.
Is this the one where he plays an OCD architect? He falls in love with a traditional Korean house but the owner (or tenant) of the house is this messy woman? I tried to watch this but I’m a bit OCD, too, so I bailed out. I couldn’t watch the female lead. Wasn’t she played by Gong Hyo Jin, too?
Didn’t watch Cheese in the Trap. But I was chatting behind-the-scenes with women who did so I got the gist of the controversy.
Maybe I’ll give “Legend of the Deep Blue Sea” a try…since it’s LMH’s last work. I need a baseline or a starting point to see if he’s improved.
Remember, the lead is Taec/Park Bo Gum. He doesn’t come in till the second episode because as it’s said in “When the Camellia Blooms,” the hero always appears at the last minute. lol.
The first episode explains the title, “Answer Me.”
First time I’ve seen OCD as a reason for disliking a drama! He’s OCD too, by the way, so things get cleaned up pretty quick. No, this actress is the one that starred just recently in Something in the Rain.
Yes, she was messy but not as bad as Full House Girl or worse that girl from Tomorrow’s Cantabile – even I gagged at her!
You’re missing out if you don’t watch Cheese. Word.
Legend was okay. I think I just wasn’t in the mood for it. I did really like his gang, but the love story needed something, je ne sais quoi? See what you think. The only ones I found him attractive were Personal Taste and City Hunter. A lot depends on his hair style!
“Clean with a Passion for Now” grossed me out. I wanted to watch that too because of the pretty female lead, Kim Yoo Jung. But the booger scene turned me off.
One of my pet peeves is a heroine who doesn’t change out of her street clothes before going to bed. I particularly notice when leads don’t wear pajamas or wear turtlenecks to bed. Those bug me, too.
“Then I chased down the original Japanese one and watched that. It was good too.”
Ooooh there’s a Japanese version? 😮 Thanks for telling us. 🎉 I’ll look for it.
Remember, the lead is Taec/Park Bo Gum. He doesn’t come in till the second episode because as it’s said in “When the Camellia Blooms,” the hero always appears at the last minute. lol.
Noted! Thanks. ☺️ I’m watching because of PBG so that wouldn’t be hard to remember 😊 I saw that too, the hero always appears at the last minute. 😄 I actually liked that episode called Mother in WCB. It was sad.
In my case the drama i love from the writer was goblin & mr sunshine. If i should pick one of them probably i love goblin THE MOST 🤣
Even she is star chakanim.. i confess that i always high expectations because she is popular writer..
I still dont understand how can Dots drama be so popular 🤣 i cant finish that drama, i forgot about her previous works. Because its not leave big impact in my heart..
But i love lee min ho 🤣 no matter how much ppl dislike his acting. He is fine in Lotbs, but i admit his english about “disgusting shit” part 🤣 quiet funny, still i cant blame him since he was korean. Other english words he said on lotbs drama was fine, except that “disgusting shit”
I think he is really bad sayings english words in the heirs drama. Its unforgivable lol. But he is improve in lotbs
Typical male lead like WDH is likeable.. because he has face like Kim woo bin that is really fit with bad guy role, they can be hot even when they are crying or angry😘
Yes kim go eun really cuteeeee.. i dont like her at first because she is not typical pretty face in korean. But she is so charming with her own beauty
As long its not like the heirs or dots i probably watch it till the end 🤣 that two drama was really hard to watch 🙄 yet i still dont understand why it so popular
I found KES writting in her latest drama was quiet so good. ☺️
So i hope its worth our time.. 😘
Btw I tried watching Legend of the Blue Sea to get a handle on LMH’s acting and I couldn’t get past Ep1. There’s something about him that just puts me off straight up. Maybe it’s the fact that his eyes don’t tell me the story. That and the fact that he comes across as entitled. Every time he appears on screen he seems to be propagating, “Hallyu Star ⭐️ is here” …I find it disconcerting to watch 😂
Can we skip Ep 1 then?
Apologies in advance to @Lovebandwagon for my derogatory comments about LMH. Sorry, he’s just not my cup of tea. 🙂
I can’t remember the start now but I know that there’s a lot of reminiscing back scenes because it’s intertwined with the present. So I’m not sure if it’s ok to not watch episode 1. 🙂
hahaha. Does lovebangwon know your twitter account?
Watch out then. 🙂
Yes, he does have that Hallyu gloss on him, doesn’t he? I wonder how he’ll fare in … say, Bollywood. Will he still be considered handsome if he appears on a Bollywood show? Or Chinese drama co-starring a Chinese heartthrob? How about a Hollywood film? Everything about him scream “Hallyu.”
Is Episode 1 the one with the mermaid from the Joseon period? He rescued a mermaidi so the mermaid owed him three wishes or something?
No, it’s the other way around, she rescued him but he doesn’t know that she’s a mermaid. She doesn’t know her way around land that’s why she’s like that. They met when they were still young but it doesn’t unfold till later.
Now you all remind me, I think that was why Legend never really gripped me. The pacing got slowed by the back and forths between the Joseon past and the two presents.
Hee hee hee. This was such a fun post.
1) It’s February,2020 and the trailer is out today people. I have nothing more to say about it. It is exactly like all of you have predicted on this thread 😂
2) I like both WDH and KGE. I agree with @nrllee and @pm3 about LMH. I do not have a Twitter account 😛
3) I haven’t seen the other dramas mentioned here but DOTS was unbearable after a point.
4) In spite if all the negatives, I may still watch it till I can tolerate. The female lead better move her hands and feet and use her head. I need to recover from MoA. 😭
P.S. This apocalypse on four horsemen metaphor has had me worried since some time now for our real world.😕
So, apparently the official SBS link to the promo is geo-restricted. Luckily, someone post in YT a “worldwide sharable” version, so here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=30&v=lbZ9uO7JEyU&feature=emb_logo
Still no information on an official release date, but seems like it’s expected to debut by July 2020.
I’m in the minority here, but I actually like a lot of Kim Eun Sook’s dramas and I like the director too. I’m a fan of Kim Go Eun and Woo Do Hwan so I’m going to check out this drama for them.
As a lover of Song Jae-Jung’s thrilling, stimulating and mind blowing stories, my opinion shouldn’t surprise you.
Kim Eun sook is the worst drama writer on duty. Besides, to love these two writers at the same time seems to me to be an impossible brain contortion. I suspect the people who manage to do so are suffering from a serious problem: schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or Alzheimer’s disease.
In the past, she’s done good dramas, “on air”, “secret garden”. And even “the heirs” wasn’t so bad.
Then it’s the descent into hell. “Descendants of the sun”. Since drama was popular, I watched the first episode with a friend who was unfamiliar with drama. I, for one, hadn’t seen it either. I felt ashamed. That friend hates drama now.
“Goblin” is the most dreadful piece of crap ever produced, totally boring and deadly. If you feel like laughing, I’ll cut and paste a funny review I made of it on your blog. The worst part is, it works! The slowest, most boring, most redundant, most forced drama, it still works. Somehow this writer has some kind of genius.
“Mr. Sunshine”. Now, it’s clear I wouldn’t even go for even 10 minutes. A friend of mine reviewed it on her blog. She liked it, but it was “slow and soft.” Well, there you go. Of course it’s flabby…
To understand this writer’s hateful philosophy, refer to this article:
https://seoulbeats.com/2017/06/kim-eun-sook-koreas-most-controversial-and-well-known-drama-writer/
“The King Monarch of Eternity”: No use trying.
To make matters worse, the lead actor will be Lee Minho!
The favourite actor, inexplicably, of a whole bunch of young chicks.
Inexplicable, maybe not, considering how handsome he is.
Except that as an actor, this guy is completely flat and makes the same face from start to finish.
I don’t dare say he’s completely lame, because on some dramas he surprised me.
It’s normal, you see his flat head for hours, and then SUDDEN… Something’s happening!
OH! An emotion appears on Lee Minho’s face! He’s in pain, he’s crying, it’s beautiful.
Is he capable of that? At times? When he really wants to?
I realize that my comment is not very sympathetic. But should I say that or censor my sincerity?
@WEnchanteur your comment made me laugh out loud 😄
Given everybody on this blog now knows I’m in a post MoA daze, go Song Jae-Jung !! Just go with female characters of substance and action.
Hi, Arihsi!
So, you’re suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder after MOA?
I should try to find someone to comment on that.
I don’t get enough attention on this blog. I often arrive after the dramas are over.
I have to wait until the French subtitles are published to see a drama.
Of course I could use the google machine translation trick with subtitleedit, but it’s not fabulous. And with few exceptions, I’d rather see a whole drama quickly, rather than follow the weekly broadcast.
Nice to meet you!
(bad translation, sorry)
—> I should try to find some of your comments on that.
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