Bitch Talk: What Are We Watching Oct 2021?

This might be the only drama blog that’s advocating JOMO or the “Joy of Missing Out.” It’s okay not to watch all the interesting dramas out there. I’d like it if you didn’t binge-read my archived posts. I want you to go out and spend time with families and friends. Enjoy Autumn; catch some leaves; feed the squirrels.

You know that I’m not given to melancholy or melodrama. But I understand that to appreciate beauty at its most sublime form, I should perceive it as something fleeting and transitory. Because it’ll inevitably come to an end, that thing of beauty – be it a person, a painting, an emotion, or a moment – must be embraced and savored, without delay. There’s an imperative quality to beauty. Like somebody knocking on your front door at 3 am, it can’t be ignored.

To me, JOMO is the proper response to beauty. You’re gladly surrendering 1001 things in exchange for your keen enjoyment of one thing of beauty. Though you’re “missing out” on those 1001 things, it’s enough for you to be “specializing” on that one thing…because it’s worth it.

In terms of my kdrama viewing experience, many shows compete for my attention, but I’ve limited time to pore over every facet of their stories, like theme, message, camera shots, cinematography, character development, and so on. This month, I’m going to be selective and immerse myself only in those that call out to me.

I hope you can do the same thing.

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

What are we watching this month?

I’m still on “Yumi’s Cell” for comedy, “Lovers of the Red Sky” for poetry, “GO Into Your Heart” for lovey-dovey fluff, and “You Are My Glory” for – need you ask? – Yang Yang.

Here’s the other drama under consideration.

1. Jirisan

Aka “Cliffhanger.” We know from “Start-Up” that “san” means mountain so literally, the title means “Jiri Mountain”

Here’s the synopsis from Wikipedia:

Set against the backdrop of towering views of Mount Jiri, it depicts the story of rangers and other employees of the Jirisan National Park who climb through the mysterious and unexplored regions of the mountain, trying to rescue the survivors and lost trekkers. The drama is centered around a mystery surrounding the mountain’s many visitors; those who come to kill, and those who come to end their lives.

Cast:
Jun JiHyun (“Legend of the Blue Sea” and “My Love From the Star”)
Ju JiHoon (“Goong” and “Kingdom”)

Rats! I’m going to have problems with their names.

Episodes: 16
Start Date: Saturday, Oct 23
Airs every Saturday and Sunday
Where to Watch it: Viki??
Network: tvN

 

2. King’s Affection

This is another one of those gender-bending kdramas and I still have scars from after “Mr Queen.”

Long story from mydramalist:

When the Crown Prince’s consort gives birth to twins, the twins are considered an ominous sign, and the order is sent to kill the daughter. To save her, she is secretly sent out of the palace.

A few years later, the twin son Lee Hwi dies due to a disease. To hide her twin son’s death, the mother brings back the daughter and raises her as Prince Lee Hwi. Lee Hwi eventually becomes a crown prince. Fearing that her real identity will be revealed, Lee Hwi is unable to have anyone close to her and hides her emotions from others, making biting remarks. Although she distances herself, she starts developing feels for Jung Ji Woon, her teacher who comes from a noble family. Jung Ji Woon is a teacher from the Crown Prince sikangwon, a government office for the sole purpose of educating crown princes. He is described as a handsome man who is bold, persevering, and tenacious, but also tends to take life as it comes and lives free from worldly concerns as an optimist who enjoys life. As the son of a government official in the Saheonbu (an investigative government office), his future seemed clearly set out for him. However, there was a reason that he chose to go his own path and leave the easy road behind.

Source: Mydramalist: King’s Affection

Cast:
Park Eun Bin (“Do You Like Brahms?”)
Rowoon (“Extraordinary You”)

I.do.not.like.the.actress. #Blunt

She has one of the most vacant faces I’ve seen in kdrama. I feel like tapping my monitor just to check…

I’ll give her two episodes to prove me wrong.

As for Rowoon? I’ll see if I’m over his Haru performance from “Extraordinary You.”

Episodes: 20 (huh???? Really?)
Start Date: Monday, Oct 11
Airs every Monday and Tuesday (whoops, it’s up against LotRS)
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: KBS2

There’s a 99.9% chance I’m going to drop this show after the first two episodes because I’m reserving my energy for Junho and Lee SeYoung’s “Red Sleeves” coming up in November.

3. Red Sleeves

This won’t be shown till November but I’m posting it now so you’ll understand why I’m favor this.

Here’s the synopsis for “Red Sleeves” according to asianwiki.com

Set in the 18th century, “Red Sleeve” depicts a love story between King Jeongjo and royal concubine Uibin Sung.

Sung Deok-Im is a court lady. She gets involved with Crown Prince Lee San and he falls in love with her. The crown prince eventually becomes King Jeongjo. He now desires Sung Deok-Im to become his concubine, but she refuses. Sung Deok-Im wants to live her life freely, something that will not be possible as a concubine. She also knows that life of a royal concubine does not generally bring about happiness. Yet, Sung Deok-Im becomes the concubine of King Jeongjo.

Source:Asian Wiki: Red Sleeve

Cast:
Junho: the 2PM guy in “Just Between Lovers”
Lee SeYoung: the zombie from “Hwayugi”

JunHo is a solid actor, and Lee SeYoung? She’s solid, too, and pretty to boot.

Episodes: 16
Start Date: Friday, Nov 5
Airs every Friday and Saturday
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: MBC

It would be interesting to compare the different TV stations’ standard for historical romcoms.

tvN: Lovers of the Red Sun
KBS2: The King’s Affection
MBC: Red Sleeves

lol. The choice of titles suggests how much thought was given to the story.

So. what are you watching this month?

49 Comments On “Bitch Talk: What Are We Watching Oct 2021?”

  1. Thank you for an insightful advice, @packmule3. 😘 Similarly, I have limited time for kdrama… because I treasure the flexibility and freedom to indulge in other things i.e. my resting and sleeping hours, mostly, as opposed to a kdrama… 😁 hence, I find no regrets in missing out on those popular kdramas of the month. 😊

    With regard to the upcoming kdramas, I am looking forward to Red Sleeves and Cliffhangers, mainly because of the quality I am expecting to get from the performance of the main leads. Red Sleeves is giving me Jang Ok Jun vibes, probably a lot of similarities but because of Junho x SeYoung, I am giving it a try… so long as the king does everything in his power to protect her and not be a coward king whom in the end let his loved ones dies in vain… Queen of 7 Days, I am talking about you 😏. Hopefully the story as well as any political in-court plots involved doesn’t make me roll my eyes too much 🤭🤭🤭

    I am currently on OTW, the only kdrama that piqued my interest atm.

    I have another sageuk I am really looking forward to – Red Single Heart. It will be aired next year about a king who wants to be an absolute monarch vs a kingmaker. Lee Joon as king vs Jang Hyuk 😊 Can’t wait for battle of the stares between these two.🤭🤭🤭

  2. Thank you, @packmule3, for this post and for advocating JOMO instead of the usual FOMO! The leaves are turning golden and red, and it’s sageuk time in kdramalamd 🍁🍁
    It’s going to be ‘Red Sleeves’ for me too, I think. I like JunHo.

  3. Happy October BoD!!! @PM3, I’ve been using your JOMO mantra by missing out on Dali and LotRS. It’s tough because I love art and paintings and I can binge on museums. But I just don’t have the bandwidth and have to balance with family time, sleep, rest, work and chores. So the next best thing is to still read your posts.

    I’ve completed with Go Into your Heart. I also continuing on Yumi’s Cells, Hometown Cha3.
    I’m open to doing another contemporary cdrama. I just find their pace is less stressful and the love lines are not so complicated. Any recommendations?

    For these oct shows, I will check out Jirisan. I’ve not finished a kdrama of Jun Jihyun and I don’t know why she or her acting does not appeal or pull me. Maybe this is the one that I can finish.

  4. I’m also looking forward to “One Ordinary Day” starring Kim Soo-hyun and Cha Seing-won, because the story sounds interesting and I like both the actors. I think though it’s supposed to air in November 2021. Itsa crime/legal thriller, with no romance, I think.

  5. I’m currently watching Yumi’s Cells (fun and touching–and I really like the OST, including the background music), Dali and the Cocky Prince (laugh out loud funny at times), and LOTRS (which I may drop for the time being until it’s done). I am thinking of starting a Hong Sisters drama jag, having recently watched and enjoyed The Greatest Love–so I’m not sure if I can pick up any other new dramas right now.

    Off-topic (if anyone has time to answer): what are your favorite Hong Sisters dramas?

  6. For now I’m only watching LOTRS and You raise me up (I just cheked it up out of curiosity, it’s short and waiting for subs or another ep isn’t that painful, so I’ll stick to the end despite some questionable depiction of the medical ethics).

    I’m also looking forward to Jirisan. I loved Ju Ji Hoon in Hyena, but I haven’t seen anything with Jun Ji Hyun. The scriptwriter is very talented so hopfully it’s going to be a good story.

    Then I’m surely in for The red sleeve bc I like Lee Se Young and I cannot wait to see her in another sageuk.

    @BethB I’ve only seen two most recent of Hong sister’s dramas, Hwayugi and Hotel del Luna. I liked both. In Hwayugi I loved Lee Seung Gi as Son Oh Gong, this drama actually made me his fan, but actually the whole demon ensamble was very good, as well as the premise of the romance. When it comes to HDL, I loved IU as the FL, I liked Yeo Jin Goo as well and the the flashback story of FL’s past life. The romance between the FL and ML was ok, rather sweet than heart fluttering and passionate. I liked the stories of the ghosts in both series too. But I’ve read some commenters who claimed that Hong sisters had lost their spark and there was some dissatisfaction, especially when it comes to Hwayugi. So maybe you’d better wait for some other opinions abt their older dramas.

  7. @packmule3, Thanks for JOMO. So many dramas, so little time. I have a lot 9f it on my hands and my three currents are Yumi’zs Cells(love our ML and FL hairdos-s9 flattering), Hometown 3Cha for Shin MinAh, and One The Woman. I had never seen anything with Honey Lee and now know that she has comedy chops. What saves me is that two are shown on Viki and I await subs.

    8 have rewatched Oh My Venus for the Shin Min Ah/So Ji Sub pairing, but also enjoy younger Sung Hoon and the funny Henry Lau. I am now rewatching The Heirs for the initial California content and appreciate Lee v Min ho in Korean (but not in English-I hope he’s subbed v in Pachinko because English will not serve him well. When I read the book I envisioned Cha Seung Won in t he rol

    I want to watch Jirisan for the leads. My plan is to watch no more than three current dramas, one rewatch or classic like Signal and one movie per week. No 50+ episode dramas. Am waiting for a Kim Hye soo drama-I follow her.

    If you want a movie, see Crazy Romance with one of my favorite, Gong Hyo Gin and Kim arae-won. It’s good for a fast fix of drama and there is a very talented pigeon.

  8. I recommend u to watch “one and only” as their past life and “forever and ever” as modern times – cdrama starring ren jia lun and bai lu
    Its really good romance ❤️
    I really in love with this drama after you are my glory😁

    I also finish watching “arsenal military academy” 2019 cdrama starring bai lu and xu kai
    (Love it too)

    Im really into cdrama these days 🥰 even its hard to deal with long episode in cdrama world. Lol
    But the drama i’ve mention really good one, not dragging at all.

    And now i really cant wait for xu kai and yang mi upcoming cdrama, “she and her perfect husband”
    😭 ❤️
    https://youtu.be/JCA9-UrEH_w

    As for upcoming korean drama, my watchlist:
    1. Jirisan – Jun ji hyun & Ju ji hoon
    2. One ordinary day – kim soo hyun
    3. Melancholia – im soo jung & lee do hyun
    4. Snowdrop – jisoo blackpink & jung hae in
    5. Now we are breaking up – song hye kyo & jang ki yong
    6. King’s affection – rowoon & park eun bi

    I really dont know which one will be my favorite 😝

  9. @Old American Lady,

    Are you done reading “Pachinko”? It’s been on my nightstand for ages. 🤪 I should get a move on then. At least, before Lee Minho’s drama is out.

    I went through my goodreads reading list last month, and noticed that I haven’t added any book review for over a year now. I’m such a barbarian. 🧟‍♀️

  10. @lovebangwon,

    You’re really into Cdrama now, huh? 🤣 Yes, I like Bai Lu. I watched her on “Lucky’s First Love.” I’ll give “Forever and Ever” a try. Thanks for the rec!

  11. I can’t decide yet because I want to watch Yumi’s Cell and Dali and the Cocky Prince too.

    I’m definitely watching Rosie’s new one so that might be it for me. I’m interested in Forever and Ever too as Bai Lu is my second fave actress.

    Are you alive gif is hilarious and so true! 😂

  12. GrowingBeautifully (GB)

    Thanks @pkml2. I’ve been more and more JOMO since our Healer rewatch. I find that I really do feel better, without the ‘stress’ of trying to catch up on watching. At the height of drama addiction (years ago), it might have been 5-8 dramas on-going a week, but over the years it has dwindled to just 3 or 4 and now to just 2. I’m still prepared to do a once a week re-watch of an old show as well.

    I’ve no plans on what to watch after Yumi’s Cells and Hometown CCC are over, however I did notice that Lee Junho will be back onscreen and I may try that sageuk. He blew me away in Just Between Lovers. I watched him in Confession as well (yes by coincidence? it seems in both these shows, Shin Hyun Bin or Gyeol Wool of HP2 acted too).

    Jirisan is interesting in that I like rescue dramas and I haven’t seen Joo Ji Hoon in ages. I remember him best as that pesky tsundere prince in Goong although I’ve seen him in Mask as well.

    @pkml3 it may be easier to use Jun Ji Hyun’s English name, Gianna Jun, to differentiate between the actor’s and actress’ very close romanised name spelling. 🙂

  13. I will give Jirisan and The King’s Affection a try. Red Sleeves also looks good. Currently watching Hometown Chax3, Red Sky, and Move to Heaven.
    Favorite Hong Sisters drama: My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho
    Good drama with Jun Ji Hyun: My Love From Another Star. Kim Soo Hyun is the co-star, but I could not stand his haircut in the drama…

  14. Pm3 its because u, dey, miss lee.
    keep posting about cdrama 😂 and me unconsciously checking and watching some of them.

    Me too, i love bai lu now 🥰
    With her male lead,ren jialun on forever&ever 😍

  15. 😂😂 Fangirling/fan-mommying mode!

    I want Kim HyeYoon to be my daughter in a parallel universe. I hope she’ll do well in this drama.

    Ok Taecyeon? No comment about his acting skills. 😂 But I admit to be biased. He served in the military well, he studies well, he does what he has to do, he’s a straight shooter, and he lived in Boston, Ma. He’s one of the few Korean entertainers whose English I actually understand. 😂

  16. I told you, @lovebangwon! Cdramas are addictive.

  17. @packmule3 I agree about Taecyeon. I like him in real life. His acting is…honest. 😂. He delivers but I wouldn’t say it’s outstanding. He’s often lead but I find the other males in the dramas I have watched tend to outshine him? I watched Save Me and Woo DoHwan was the other male in the drama (he hardly appeared but I was immediately attracted to him 😂). Then I watched this other drama “Who Are You” where Taecyeon was lead again. Unfortunately for him Kim JaeWook was the other male lead…who died in the first ep? Then reappeared as a ghost to seek justice. He rarely appeared after that and when he did, he couldn’t speak? And still the man just oozed sex appeal and outdid Taecyeon in every scene. 😂,

  18. I’ve got five dramas on the burner at the moment:

    –Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
    –Lovers of the Red Sky
    –Yumi’s Cells
    –Dali and the Cocky Prince
    –GO into Your Heart

    The only reason I manage to juggle all these is because I have to wait for English subs after the episodes are released. I’m an empty-nester retiree without grandchildren (but hoping), so have lots of free time; I’m on my own a lot because my hubby still works. (He’s older than me, but likes the challenge of his job so wants to keep going a few more years.) He’ll be traveling most of October, so I’ll probably stay in our mountain cabin so I can enjoy the changing leaves and crisp temperatures that I don’t get in the flatlands of Southern California. I’m sitting in my cabin as I type this, and my roof is being pummeled by acorns dropping off the big oak that overhangs it.

    When I do pick up a new drama, I’m most interested in Jirisan and Red Sleeve.

  19. 😂😂 Dont worry, @nrllee. If Ok Taecyeon’s fangirls come after you here in this blog, I’ll block them. 😂😂

    But he shouldn’t be doing a lot of emoting in the darama if he’s the Royal Inspector. Aren’t Inspectors supposed to be gargoyle-faced? Oh well. He and Kim Hye Yoon should be okay.

  20. @packmule3,Taecyeon was great in Vincenzo. He wasn’t a hero.He was an occasional buffoon and then had a complete turn of character. I saw him on some reality show where he was traveling In the States and he was quite charming, especially with children. Regarding his acting, he does well with comic roles. He is good at not taking himself seriously. He is also easy on the eyes

  21. @packmule3 I read Pachinko. Let’s just say I am not enthused about the character that LMH plays. And I much preferred the other man in the FL’s life…😂. The man of faith. Who actually practised what he preached…unlike a repressed priest wannabe we are oh so familiar with 🙄. I honestly am not sure how they will squeeze everything in that book into 8 eps (which is what I read they were doing)? But I guess they will speed through a lot and focus on LMH’S character (to be honest, he really only features in the beginning and then sporadically through the book and only reappears again with any regularity in the end) and the FL. The whole book is female centric. It’s the life of the FL.

  22. I thought that Taecyeon was very good in Vincenzo but the acting stand-out to me was Kwak Dong-yeon. Good acting all around in that drama.

    I’m watching some of the same as @Welmaris: LOTRS, HTccc, D&CP. On my off day and during breaks I watch Go but ff through most of the games. I’m still enjoying the more easy going dramas and have even picked up a book or two.

    May everyone enjoy the change of season. I wish there was some way that we could post the transition photos here!

  23. @packmule3, I finished reading Pachinko a couple of years ago. I was a member of three book clubs (one of over 12 years, one at the library and one at my synagogue-each exploring different areas of interest) prepandemic. I would say that it is a book worth completing. Lee writes a great multi generational story that is well researched. I read the book before I “discovered” K Dramas and am glad I did. It gave me some much needed background, especially about Korea’s fraught rel ationship with Japan, notably the horrendous Japanese occupation (also well covered by the Spielberg movie set in Shanghai, Empire of the Sun with a teen age heartbreaking Christian Bale) 8 keep thinking about the comfort women with shudders. Bottom line, finish it.

    I have a sort of love/hate “relationship” with Lee Minho. I won’t go out of my way to watch him. I find him type cast and inconsistent. He is beautiful to look at but I don’t think he has gravitas and he has yet to show a capacity for humor. The Pachinko role of Honsu also skews older. He apparently had to audition for it, but I also think they are looking at his popularity for the role.

    I don’t have Apple TV (have a cable package and lots of streaming channels-really too much, if I want to live real life) but will rent it when it comes out. (I did the same with the first season if Handmaid’s Tale because I read the book-I liked the book better). Also with Apple you can watch a first episode free for a taste(sort of what drug dealers do)) If the same goes for Pachinko, we may be enticed or spared LOL.

    8 also read Free Food For Millionaires, Lee’s first novel. Takes placevin New York and follows a young woman from an 8mmigrant Korean family who makes it academically including her career path, financial and romantic problems. It is entirely different. I liked it too. Lee is an interesting writer. @packmule3, she is an attorney turned writer but has not written a legal novel Ala Grisham. YOU would definitely have an affinity for her-just saying…
    .

  24. I’m only watching Hometown Chachacha. Can only take in 1 drama at time. Got to regularize my routine and sleep patterns. Binge-watching wreaks havoc on my mood and mental health. HomeCha is my happy pill.

    You’re right about the Joy of Missing Out. I had to learn that–to not mind missing out on a lot of dramas. Just as long as the current one I am watching is compelling/interesting, that’s good enough for me.

    But thanks for the recommends. HomeCha ending in a few weeks, and I need something new. To maintain the routine also. Otherwise, I’ll have to find something that will fill the void that HomeCha will leave (before that was Hospital Playlist, though I’m not inclined to watch their camping series; I’m good with ending the drama where it is). I’m also considering 2 Days and 1 Night so I’d get to know more about KSH, how he is IRL. I am smitten by Hong Ban Jang character though.

  25. It’s been a while 😁. I’ve been practicing JOMO on most currently airing kdramas. I can’t seem to commit on watching the current kdramas from big productions. Well, except Squid Game. Ma, this kdrama sure is a phenomenal hit.

    I’ve been jumping from cdramas to jdramas to jmovies 😂. Also rewatching clips of my favorite dramas/movies.

    I miss joining the discussions here though. Oh well, I’ll be extending my JOMO for the time being 😃.

    Enjoy your autumn season everyone (and spring season for those in the southern hemisphere). I’m jealous because instead of falling leaves, we get cloudy skies and rainy days😢 Wet season sucks. Such is a life in the tropics 😆

  26. Here’s something else to watch in October. It should be visible anywhere in the world you have a dark night sky. Unfortunately, the full moon coincides with the peak of the Orionid Meteor Shower on October 21, so the bright sky will wash out all but the brightest shooting stars then. I was watching early this morning, before sunrise, and I saw 2-3 flashes per minute to the left of Orion. They’re blink-and-you’ll-miss-them quick. I didn’t see any streaks this morning.
    https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/everything-you-need-to-know-orionid-meteor-shower/

    I’m posting this here because @Packmule encouraged us to enjoy nature along with our Kdramas, Cdramas, Jdoramas, etc.

  27. Oh @Welmaris,Thank you for this but I won’t be able to see it because of light pollution. We do have a small telescope and on good nights we’ve seen Mars, Jupiter(with four moons) and Saturn. We look at the moon all the time. Seeing actual craters gives me no end of thrills as do the planets. And there are free apps that work with smart phones and tablets that tell you what you’re looking at. My most thrilling views of the heavens was on trips to Maine, Yosemite National Park, and the Canadian Rockies. There’s nothing like seeing shooting stars. Thanks for reminding us of this level of joy…

  28. @OAL, I had an older friend who lived in NYC during WWII when blackout was enforced. She said even in the city she could see the Milky Way. Imagine that!

    Light pollution does concern me. Artificial light changes the life rhythms not only of humans but of other living beings exposed to it, not necessarily for the better.

    And today I’ve become distraught about another.type if pollution. Did you hear about the oil slick that hit Huntington Beach? You said you wanted to visit there because it was a filming site for The Heirs. It’s also the beach I frequently went to with my family when I was growing up: lots of memories. Folks won’t be sunbathing, playing in the sand, frolicking in the waves, or surfing there anytime soon. A lot of wildlife in the water and on the shore will suffer and die because.of this massive spill. My heart breaks.

  29. Dear @Packmule3,

    Thank you for pointing this out. I feel that I need my rest these days so very much! I cannot watch more than two series and whenever I have free time, I just don’t want to watch anything. I start here and there something that I cannot finish – like “It’s okay, that’s love” and “Beyond Evil”, which is an amazing suspence thriller. So I decided to just let me be. I will finish those three episodes of BE when I want to.

    I am currently watching “Lovers of the Red Sky” and “Yumi’s Cells”.
    I would love to watch the HC3 and Dali but I can’t and that’s okay!

    I would prefer to start watching “Jirisan” this month. It seems promising and the cast is amazing!

    Also, “My Name” is a buzz as well in the gr fora and it will be available on Netflix on October 15. Below more info:
    https://asianwiki.com/My_Name

  30. @Welmaris, I saw pictures of the oil spill from the ruptured pipeline in my news feeds. This is a horror and it destroys the ecosystem.California has enough natural disasters, especially with all those wild fires. We’ve had a lot of rain that I would love to send west. I pray that for this spill, they’re able to abate it soon.

  31. @Welmaris and @AOL, the oil spill in California coastline is another heartbreaking ecological disaster. Praying that this will be cleaned up soon.

  32. @nrllee: Do you know this same story (albeit with focus on King Jeongjo’s life and not primarily the romance) was covered in an older k-drama called ‘Yi San’ starring Han Ji-min and Lee Seo-jin (‘The Marriage Contract’ ML). I found the story on Wikipedia here:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lee_San,_Wind_of_the_Palace

    Seems they first met as children too (reminds me of ‘Lovers of the Red Sky’ 🙂 ) She does become his concubine but then dies early, which is true to historical facts. If the current ‘The Red Sleeve’ drama is based on a popular book, would be interesting to see where the book ends (I don’t want to think of it as having a sad ending 🙁 ) The fact that they were able to spend some time together after her becoming Royal Consort itself can be a happy ending, due to the differences in their statuses 🙂

  33. @BethB:
    My favorite Hong Sisters’ drama is ‘Master’s Sun’. It has the perfect balance of light and dark elements and is funny and romantic at the same time. It’s not too scary and i liked So Ji Sub/Gong Hyo-jin pairing. I like it so much I’ve re-watched it multiple times. I think this drama was before Hong Sisters started writing darker dramas with not-so-happy endings where the main leads don’t get together in the end (like ‘Hwayugi’ and ‘Hotel del Luna’).

  34. @Phoenix Thanks for that background information. I don’t mind either way. Happy ending or sad. I just want a good story. 😂. With believable leads who bring their characters to life. I went back recently to watch The Crowned Clown – I fast forwarded all the politics and just focused on the romance between the pair. And it was beautiful. LSY was luminous as the Queen. Hanboks just suit her. It sounds like this character in Red Sleeve has a bit of a wild side (spunk) to her. So I look forward to seeing how she brings her to life.

  35. Totally skipped:
    HC3—I just can’t find myself attracted to him. He’s just so…soft.

    Started:
    one the woman-may come back to it?

    Go into your heart- skipped around first 20. It’s fine but I don’t love it. Probably done with it

    Yumi- watched first episode but then saw a spoiler about possible ending. Waiting to see how the show ends before I watch so I can calibrate my emotions/expectations

    Dali-haven’t started. Her hair is so off putting to me. Will likely binge next

    Cute programmer—AWFUL. And I really liked him in Lucky first romance. skipped through then didn’t even bother to do that.

    Forever and ever-started first episode then realized it was connected to one and only. Decided to do a little research and came across the actor’s no kissing policy??? Like, don’t do romance. Although I loved Bossam and it didn’t bother me without kisses, I think I’d be distracted knowing HE USES A BODY DOUBLE TO KISS. Just weird so decided to skip

    Binged:
    Crush and Our Secrets—Cdramas that were easy to watch and didn’t bother me

    An incurable case of love- jdrama that’s now on VIKI. It has been talked about here before and I’m glad I got to watch. Enjoyed it after adjusting my manga lenses

    Watching:
    The veil- my favorite right now. Kicking myself for not letting them all come out before starting.

    Red sky- Love the discussion here. Skipped episodes 7 and 8 but watched 9.

    Looking forward to:
    Red sleeves- honestly i saw Junho and said “I’m in”
    Jirisan- hopefully it’s good
    Oath of love- will it ever come out???
    Snowdrop?

    Doubt I’ll watch:
    affection-Ugh, over the gender swapping

    Now we are breaking up-don’t like noona romances

  36. @lovebangwon I started Forever and Ever based on your recommendation above. Who knew watching a romance between two introverts could be so engaging? I have the song You Give Me on my playlist. The song sounds similar to music from the Hawaiian band Hapa. Did someone above say the ML has a no kissing policy? Weird – but he is absolutely charming and has a sweet shy smile.

  37. I’m on YT right now watching the first Ep of Forever and Ever. Will open a thread.

  38. @packmule3. Excellent – there is so much unsaid or implied that I look forward to hearing others’ thoughts. If you had an award for “best in a suit” I think Ren Julian would win hands down. Hat tip to whoever did the tailoring!

  39. Done with Ep 1, @Good Twin! No suits yet. He looks like a rumpled Columbo/Peter Falk.

    Let me finish my coffee and get in the mood for writing.

  40. The suit porn starts in episode 3

  41. Thanks, @Good Twin.

  42. I keep falling asleep while watching Forever and Ever. I’m in episode 3 but I don’t know what happened. LOL!

  43. @Janey, that’s why I said let me finish my *coffee* before I start writing. 😜

  44. OMG @Janey and @PM3 you crack me up.! Forever and ever is weird and compelling at the same time and there is so much plot that seems to be have left off the screen. It’s not a hate watch – it’s more like an affection but questioning watch. But every time the ML says “oh” before he completes a sentence I’m smitten. It’s like a PSA for the charms of Introverts

  45. @Good Twin,

    I’m liking it but then I’m only at Ep 3. I’ll finish my Ep 1 review tomorrow. I was in the middle of dictating it when I received a frantic call. I was supposed to be meeting people at a Chinese restaurant but I forgot about it bec I was critiquing a Chinese drama. Go figure. 🤪

  46. GrowingBeautifully (GB)

    @Good Twin and @pkml3, my husband watched both One and Only (the period drama half of the same couple, from the same book) and Forever and Ever (the contemporary half). He recommends watching One and Only before Forever and Ever, to appreciate it more.

    I’m guessing that as the contemporary half is supposed to be kind of constant, maybe even more like slice of life couple-hood, without much in the way of upheaval, it may take knowing the angst of the period drama half to help us love that the couple are together in the now. 🙂

  47. GrowingBeautifully (GB)

    Just thought I’d mention this here as the appropriate thread is closed.

    I didn’t know that Tale of the Nine-Tailed had a spinoff, and came across it by chance. I guess someone wanted to flesh out Lee Rang’s (Kim Bum) untold story. It didn’t really hook me though, cute kids and Kim Bum notwithstanding. 3 short episodes as far as I can find them.

    Episode 1 on YT https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXFiPe2ISy8

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