Of course, we’re watching “Hospital Playlist 2,” “You Are My Spring,” and Yang Yang’s “You Are My Glory.” But here are the other kdramas starting this August which I find interesting.
1. Lovers of the Red Sky
This is a fantasy romance. However, the lead female character is based on a real Joseon personality. I hope this drama doesn’t run afoul of the historical society.
Synopsis per asianwiki.com:
Set during the Joseon era, Hong Cheon-Ki (Kim You-Jung) is a female painter with genius like painting talent. She is picked as the first female painter of the Dohwaseo (Korean Royal Academy of Painting). Hong Cheon-Ki also has a beautiful appearance and bright personality. For her, painting is everything. One day, she meets Ha Ram.
Ha Ram (Ahn Hyo-Seop) is an officer at the Seowoongwan, an office in charge of astronomy, geography, art of divination, meteorology. When he was young, an accident caused him to become blind. Hong Cheon-Ki falls in love with him and she does not care that he is blind. Hong Cheon-Ki keeps appearing in front of Ha Ram and he finds himself waiting for her.
source: asianwiki.com/Red Sky
https://youtu.be/YI4OUofd4Rw
Cast: Starring Kim Yoo Jung (that pretty young crossdresser in “Love in the Moonlight”) and Ahn Hyo Seop (of that boring dragonball drama “Abyss”). I don’t think these two actors have a great track record of choosing commendable scripts but heyyyyy, this kdrama might be their lucky chance. According to soompi, this drama is based on a novel written by Jung Eun Gwol, the same author who wrote the hit historical dramas, “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and “The Moon Embracing the Sun.”
Let’s see then if “Lovers of the Red Sky” will break KYJ’s and AHS’s string of lame dramas.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Monday, August 23
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Viki (ugh! expect delays in subtitles)
Network: SBS
2. Hometown Cha Cha Cha
Supposedly based on a 2004 movie, “Mr. Hong.” I wouldn’t be surprised if the male lead character is some chaebol dude-in-disguise or something.
By the way, if you’re one of those crazy fangirls of Kim SunHo, don’t bother commenting on my blog.
For one, I still remember your bullying tactics during “Start Up” and for another, I don’t think your brand of shallow and obsessive postings, as demonstrated on YouTube and Twitter, has a place in my blog. I won’t tolerate any gushing about his “chemistry,” his moon face, and “oppa.”
Let the adults in the room do the drama analyses and criticisms.
Synopsis from asianwiki.com
Yoon Hye-Jin (Shin Min-A) works as a dentist. She is mostly a realist, but due to her rightfulness, which is only a tiny part of her mind, her life changes. She ends up moving to the seaside village of Gongjin. There, Yoon Hye-Jin meets Hong Du-Sik (Kim Sun-Ho). She becomes curious about him. Hong Du-Sik is called Chief Hong by the local residents. He is a handsome and smart man. Officially, he is unemployed, but he always seems busy. If somebody needs help, Hong Du-Sik is the first one to appear and provide help.
source: asianwiki.com/Hometown ChaChaCha
Cast: Shin Mina and Kim SunHo. As you can see, the director is milking their dimples for what they’re worth.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Saturday, August 28
Airs on Saturdays and Sundays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: tvN
3. Miscellaneous Cdramas
I’m just leaving these here because I probably won’t have time to watch these.
a. “Falling Into Your Smile” — This is another one of those computer gaming dramas like “Go! Go! Squid!” The plot however is about a female gamer trying to break into the male-dominated, hyper-competitive world. 31 episodes.
b. “Moonlight” – Romcom. He’s a standoffish writer; she’s an editor. His attitude with her changes when he finds out that she’s his longtime online friend. 36 episodes.
c. “The Day of Becoming You” — Body-swapping. He’s a member of boy band; she’s a reporter. Their spirits end up in each other’s body. Oh lord! Kinda like “Secret Garden” mixed with “You’re Beautiful”? lol. 26 episodes.
Don’t forget the Saturday rewatch gang is talking about picking up W: Two Worlds once they finish Healer.
@Packmule3, I’m interested in camping out on Shallow Island to watch the dimplefest. I hope we’re not being trolled by cha cha cha being in this Kdrama’s title, because I’d love to watch some ballroom dancing. (My younger daughter used to compete in ballroom dancing, but in the standard, not Latin dances.) I liked this FL in Oh, My Venus and would like to see her in a role when she’s not padded up beyond recognition.
I will join @Welmaris to do the Cha-Cha. I’m curious to see how KSeonHo will carry the show now that he is ML. It’s also in Netflix so it’s accessible. Hopefully it’s not as toxic as Start Up.
Watched “Falling Into Your Smile” a few weeks back up to ep10. The game is not as clear and focused as King’s avatar (so son and hubby’s interest faded) and there’s no YangYang so my interest waned, too. LOL! We are watching real games with Olympics these days.
And the Kdrama Saturday specialist sessions are still on! Wrapping up on Healer and hopefully will jump to W.
Btw, anyone watching Nam Da Reum’s Kdrama as ML? Looks like the young and old “Han Jipyeong” both have shows this month.
I am liking HC3 teasers. It looks…”healing”. Although when I spotted KSH on the surfboard I was somewhat incredulous. He doesn’t strike me as the sporty sort. Could be wrong. 😂
Not sure about Lovers of the Red Sky. It’s the height differential. I put up with Na InWoo and Kim SoHyun in RWTMR. I never warmed up to Ahn HyoSeop. I like YooJung but her drama choices post Moonlight (I forget the full name of the drama…too many Moons…😂) weren’t my cup of tea.
Kim YooJung’s two most recent dramas:
1. Clean with a Passion (?): about a germaphobe falling in love with a slob.
2. Backstreet Rookie: she was 7-11/convenience store part-time worker.
When is Na InWoo’s drama coming out?
KSH — no, he isn’t athletic. He’s one of the weaker links in 2 Days, 1 Night. He isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed either. But the director (female) seems to cut him slack bec he brings in the fangirls. 🙄 I don’t think he would have lasted if the director had been that sadistic Na (“Three Meals” director) or Ryu HoJin.
…Or if he had been a cast member of Season 1 or Season 3. The guys were louder, tougher, and more savage back then. Being cute wouldn’t have been enough to give him screen time.
Season 4 is the gentler, kinder version.
Me taking a break from trope-y, kdrama realm. Have 3 that I already put the episodes on hold i.e. Yams, The Devil Judge and Penthouse3. Only gonna continue to finish HP2 and then I am on hibernate 🤭🤭🤭
@packmule3 not sure about NIW’s latest drama. Haven’t checked.
Yes couldn’t stomach either of those 2 dramas for YooJung. I felt like she was trying too hard to shake her child actress/cutesy persona and decided (or the powers above her decided for her) to attempt racier roles. 🙄 It didn’t appeal to me. Kim SoHyun on the other hand took a more gradual route and picked well. I prefer her choices.
@Janey,
I just saw that Nam Da Reum (the young JP in “Start Up”) has a drama too. It’s on Viki. Is it any good? Seems like it’s about high school kids and ghosts.
I was dared to watch “Fear Street 1994” on Netflix and I ended up turning all the lights just to go to the bathroom at night. It didn’t help that we were staying in an antebellum mansion. 🤪👻
This is my first attempt at a watch party, but here are my thoughts:
I’ve seen Falling into Your Smile up until ep. 7, I think, before I dropped it. I’ve heard good comments on my tl about The Day of Becoming You.
I’m up for either of the two kdramas, as they’re both on my watch list. “Camping out on Shallow Island” haha
Yes. I think whoever was advising Kim SoHyun on her choice of projects did a better job than Kim YooJung’s manager. She was all over the place.
Kim SoHyun’s projects could have been Kim YooJung’s, too. The actresses used to be interchangeable. But now Kim SoHyun has a “better” branding and more dramas under her belt.
But maybe it was due to Kim YooJung’s illness? IIRC, she took time off because of a physical health issue.
@Skayt,
Maybe I should bring out @Phoenix’s old map of the Shallow and Cynical Islands. 😂
I wanted to watch Rosie Zhao’s cdrama “Please Be at Ease” because I like Rosie Zhao. But her co-star looks like a mismatch for his role. He’s supposed to be a hot-shot computer techie CEO but he looks like a snotty high schooler to me. Ugh.
Howdy! I’m not sure about the kdrama on the list but Shin Minah is great, love her in Oh My Venus. But I’m not interested in KSH and even if it is on Netflix. It’s definitely dimples galore here. 🙂
I will definitely watch Falling Into Your Smile but after YAMG. 🙂
I watched Please Feel At Ease Mr Ling and I liked it. I know the ML doesn’t look like a hotshot CEO but I like their backstory, the flow of it and the kisses there are good. 😉
Hi, I still haven’t started watching my cdrama ‘Please feel at ease, Mr Ling’ that I mentioned abt last May. I will skip it then since packmule3 comment mismatch of male lead role. I like male leads taking the role of CEO to act like one. Anyway I haven’t seen this male lead drama before so can give a miss.
Did the ML finally “grow” into his role in “Please Feel at Ease, Mr Ling?” I fast-forwarded through Ep 14 and finally gave up because to me, Rosie Zhao was hard carrying the show.
Sure, the ML thought of nice things to do for the heroine but most of the time, he himself exerted zero effort. He simply ordered his capable assistant to carry out his wishes. He physically didn’t exert the effort. And to me it appeared as if he was “buying” his way to love.
But what really bugged me was that the actor was so lacking in…that oomph! that charisma, and that gravitas to pull off his role as a CEO. He certainly had the height, but his baby face was so out of place. 😂 As I said, he looked a high schooler pretending to be a CEO. I never thought I’d see Rosie Zhao as the “noona” in a romcom but here, she looked more mature than the guy.
@sni75,
Go ahead and watch “Please feel at ease, Mr Ling.” Who knows? You might like it.
I’m looking forward to Rosie Zhao and Yang Yang’s cdrama. And I thought she was marvelous in “Dating in the Kitchen” but this drama just didn’t work for me.
He got punched a few times while saving her 😂 and in the end he gave his older brother the main company and started his own. Oh he cooked for her a few times too. 😁 He told her that he still needs to mature more and adjust to her ways.
I agree with the oomph and his baby face 😂 even if he grew a moustache it wouldn’t make a difference, I think. ☺️ Ive never watched him before too.
I saw one scene where he was in a brawl with her ex-boss at the delivery service. I also saw him prepare Spam (?) with rice.
But I watched a little girl give her umbrella at the bus stop (the little girl was bribed, wasn’t she?). I didn’t think it was romantic.
I also suspect that he bought the delivery service company where she worked. AND the cartoon publishing company for her so she could work there.
That wasn’t romantic. That was creepy. Although I like the idea of a guy doing things behind-the-scene for the girl to help her out, that was crossing the line. I stopped after that. 😂
I’d like to think he just asked the girl to just giver her an umbrella without drawing attention, ok maybe lunch money? 😂 But the thing that bugged me was she was going for that interview and she was wearing short shorts. 😬
Yes the fried rice with spam and Chinese sausage. 😋
She knew later that the bigger company had something to do with him so she left but I thought the smaller company was from the younger guy.
And when she did the logo for his company, the board liked her work and he didn’t have to do anything but then he probably approached her Boss. 😂
August K Dramas do not look interesting, so I will wait and see what others say once they start airing. Great Shaman Ga Doo Shim which started last week looks cute. I like the actors and the “Scooby Doo” vibe. I have put it on the backburner though because I need to watch the EDITED subtitles and Viki is slow with that.
I am doing a rewatch of Bride of the Century because I need my silly fluff right now.
For C Drama: I watched Day of Becoming You. It was a cute watch with some funny moments.
I heard good things about Rom Com Unforgettable Love. Contract marriage is one of my favorite tropes and I liked Miles Wei in other dramas so will check that out now that it is available at WeTV as well as IQIYI. Relatively short at 24 episodes total.
Hi 👋🏻 @Table122000! I like Unforgettable Love but there’s a few questions that I just ignored and continued on because the little boy is cute. 😁 I’ve seen a few of Miles Wei’s drama and he’s good.
I made it through the first 15 of unforgettable love but I had to drop. I just can’t make sense of the whole contract. I usually enjoy that trope but it just didn’t work for me. Is anyone here watching On the Verge of Insanity? I think I’m going to watch that next. And I’ll try out police university and red moon
Red Sky appeals to me because I like AHS. After Dr. Romantic 2 I made a mental note to watch his other dramas. (He also did a very charming you tube video singing the OST with FL – so he can sing and dance as well). I watched Still17 because he was in it and he really had a break out performance as a leggy puppy of a high school student. I’ll be interested to see how he does in a period drama – he seems way too modern to me. Abyss was terrible – I gave up. Gruesome and convoluted. And lastly I may have an addiction problem because I know more about Korean actors than western ones at this point. Thanks @pm3! So enjoy this space!!
@packmule3, nope I will skip it, rather save my time watching other dramas. 🤗
Hi, found tis 10 upcoming cdramas to watch clip. Medical related dramas such as the oath of love, thank u doctor, sweet teeth & love story forever and ever looks interesting. Lol
https://youtu.be/ERBCIlJAwHQ
Thanks for this thread @pkml3. I rather think I’ll be short of time to give a new drama sufficient attention in the end Aug-end Sept stretch, however if I had to choose, I’ll go for the dimpley one. I trust I’ll be adult enough to analyse it!
I am still watching Devil Judge, which is starting to inject the usual Kdrama sweetness of relationships becoming warm between strangers, while black and grey characters continue their machinations.
YAMS is delightful. I’ll need more time to watch it. YAMG sort of underwhelms me when I have YAMS beside it, but I’ll watch it slowly. HP2 is HP ie will watch it as and when.
@Table122000 I’m watching Unforgettable Love, also cos of the cute boy and now both the ML and FL. Loving the story because the lightheartedness of it. I didn’t want something too drama for now. I’m at episode 11 only so I haven’t seen the gaps in the show, I think.
Watching The Witch’s Diner which is intriguing. Anyone checking it out? Seems like a once a week kind of show. ML is in Sisyphus and Nevertheless.. and has been nicknamed Potato Boy from that show.
I HIGHLY recommend The Day of Becoming You. It’s so much fun, and it’s really light. It’s been a tough time for me lately, so this show really helped me. You can watch it safely on iquyi. I am really looking forward to Hometown Cha Cha Cha
I like KJY as an actress. Clean With Passion was not well written but well acted. And she was really great in Backstreet Rookie, she has an unique energy that suited this role. She never acted roles too much older than her age. Kim So Hyun is great actress too and she doesn’t have a perfect filmography neither. Radio Romance was pretty bad and she wasn’t convincing as a 28 years writter, Ruler of the Mask used only 10% of her talent (what a waste), Love Alarm 1 and 2 were pretty bad. Some pictures of Red Sky looked pretty good, I’m excited to watch it because it’s the writer of SS and it looks pretty.
I’m excited to watch Hometown Cha Cha Cha, I really like KSH, he’s a good actor (and he’s one of the most sportive in 1n2d actually but he’s really bad in general culture). But overall, I’m happy to see Shin Mina in a new drama! I love her since My Mighty Princess!
I watched Falling into Your Smile for Xu Kai, I liked him in Arsenal Military Academy, but I don’t understand why they always made the FL so childish and cute in game dramas…
Other August Kdramas :
Check Out the Event : two former lovers pretend to be together to head on a couple’s trip they won at an event.
Police University: like the US movies Police Academy.
Currently watching HP2, Racket Boys, YAMS and Nirvana In Fire. I will definitely check out Red Sky.
My upcoming watch list:
Red sky and hometown cha cha
Include my long waiting jun ji hyun drama, Mt.Jiri
I think red sky will be hit one.. based how popular the writer and director as they always making hit drama and high rating.
😁
Last, some drama that we dont know when will they release airing date:
1. Song joong ki “the chaebol’s youngest son”
2. Nam joo hyuk ❤️ Kim tae ri “twenty five twenty four”
3. Jang ki yong ❤️ Song hye kyo “now we are breaking up”
4. Kim soo hyun “that night”
Btw, the witch’s diner drama is good too. Its alr ep 4. Only one ep every week.
You should try to watch it 😁
Song ji hyo is the witch.
Nam ji hyun & chae jong hyeop as waiter on the restaurant
Annyeong,
I’m looking forward to reading and hearing from the BOD peepz for anyone who will be watching RED SKY and CHACHACHA 🙂
Excited!!!
and…. coz it’s my Birthday month! Here’s to the Leo’s in the house 💚
• Lovers of the Red Sky is on my Viki watchlist but I don’t want to get my hopes up for it… will probably wait until at least a couple of episodes have dropped and see what other people think before I begin it.
• I started watching You Are My Spring and was really impressed with the first episode, particularly the re-telling of the fairy tales. But for some reason, I think I will make more sense of it if I can watch it uninterrupted. So I may not pick it up until it’s almost finished.
• I must confess I’m watching two k-dramas I thought I’d never watch: Love ft Marriage and Divorce, Season 2 (which is great fun because I’m on a Facebook group where we bitch about every episode the day they come out). The writing is all over the place—sometimes what people say is so eloquent and what you’d want them to say in those situations, and sometimes everything about it is so campy and over-the-top. I’m imagining that it must have a team of writers taking turns on different episodes, or maybe who each write the dialogue of particular characters. It’s something I watch without much intent—like when I’m folding laundry, etc. I’m also watching Nevertheless–I can’t believe that the things I experienced in college decades ago are still happening in just the same way—and in another country, to boot (the girl friends who are in love, but don’t know they are lesbians; awkward friend not-friend hookups, etc.). I assume this is a more realistic view of what college in Korea (or anywhere) is like than most other k-dramas…
• The one older k-drama I’m watching is Chicago Typewriter, which I was drawn to because I first liked some of the songs from the OST.
Looking forward to some new k-dramas late summer and early fall!
Hello, @adgr03! It’s been a while. Big “Thank You to @adgr03, @birdie007, and @grace for your thoughts/comments on Unforgettable Love. Much appreciated.
Thanks for the link to the clip of upcoming C Dramas, @sni75. Definitely want to check out Sweet Teeth since we have dentists in my family. Finally a dentist hero!
I did not realize Check Out The Event was coming in August. I am interested in that drama- it sounds cute. Thanks for the heads up @Sayaris.
@BethB. That drama Love ft Marriage, Divorce is penned by a writer whose real life is as makjang as the stories she writes. She goes by a few pen names.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Im_Sung-han
Scroll down to read her personal life. 🙄.
Thanks for recommending the Cdramas. Curious about The Day of Becomjng You, @whykay91, and went to check out the trailer. Might pick it up, on top of Red Sky.
I have been on a cdrama draught so it is nice to pick up some, since I can generally understand without watching subs…and it improves on my mandarin 😅 somehow listening to Korean doesn’t quite teach me a lot of Korean….
Thanks for the recommendations, @pm3 and others on the thread. As @Table122000 said, this months dramas don’t intrigue me either (HC3 looks ehhh to me + I’m wary of Seon-ho 🙄), so I’m planning to watch Racket Boys once it’s finished airing (next week), then will look forward to Mount Jiri/Jirisan/Cliffhanger and the Nam Joo Hyuk/Kim Tae Ri drama. Also eagerly awaiting the Kim Dami/Choi Woo Shik new drama but I think that’s only going to air sometime next year.
Will see you guys again on next month’s thread, until then, let’s chill with HP2 😃
coz @pkm3 mentioned “Clean with passion” here – i went to check it out and it got me hooked right away. i love it when shows do that. same with “my roommate is a gumiho.”
Thanks for mentioning new cdrama. I just realised that many cdrama that I haven’t seen. Just start watching cdrama SUNSHINE of MY LIFE. I liked both ML and FL, they give us natural impression. Good drama but too many episode, sometimes it makes not finished till last episode
At PKM3, i vote for JANG SEON-KYUL as Best BOD Boyfriend 💛 from Clean with passion for now 😍 kdrama.
I just watched the first two episodes of Police University – really enjoyed it. Nice set up of the backstory and the relationships between characters. It’s a little like a G-rated officer and a gentleman as the ML gets hazed in police boot camp.
Good Twin,
Police University had funny moments.
But what caught my eye is “Racket Boys.” The season’s finished so it’s an easy watch on Netflix.
@packmule3 thanks for the recommendation I will check it out!
Kalimera everyone,
I am watching YAMS, HP S2 and I have started The Great Shaman Ga Doo Shin for Nam Da Reum. I have spotted him since watching Goblin, Start-up, Doom at your service and I wanted to see him again.
With my friend we are watching together “Faith:The Great Doctor”.
What I am waiting for is definitely “Lovers of the Red Sky”. I haven’t watched any of the actors / actresses but when it was announced it picked my interest.
And I will also see “Hometown Cha Cha Cha” for Shin Mina that I loved in “Oh My Venus”.
I will now read your comments…
P.S. In my bucket lists are : The Devil Judge and The Witch’s Diners.
I have watched TDJ’s first episode but I paused it because I didn’t want to wait for the episodes.
@Packmule3, The Great Shaman is cute. I like the vibes. It has short duration episodes of 19-20 minutes.
Racket Boys is the best show!
Witch’s Diner was rushed and the message not very clear.
The Great Shaman should have longer episode, it’s frustating because it’s good.
@Cleo Just a little note on The Devil Judge… if you’d rather avoid some moments of serious angst, you may like to defer watching this show. Ep 13 and 14 have some pretty dark moments.
My agapimeni @GB,
Thank you for the tip. Unfortunately, I had a spoiler so I now that something bad happened but I don’t know how. Still, I will see how I will be before I continue it…
<3
Racket Boys is the perfect happy pill. It is sweet without being saccharine.