Thanks for the reminder, @GB!
1. Twenty-Five, Twenty-One
“Our Beloved Summer” is a tough act to follow. I’m in two minds about begin “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” so soon after OBS’ successful run. I fear that this new drama will only feel like a derivative, and I won’t do it justice.
But since this new series features Nam Joo Hyuk (the authentic good boy from “Start Up,” lol) and Kim Tae Ri (“Space Sweepers” and “Mr Sunshine”), I might have to give myself the push.
Description from soompi:
The drama is set in 1998 and features Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri as the lead characters Baek Yi Jin and Na Hee Do. The pair first meets when they are 22 and 18 years old, respectively, and they fall in love when they are 25 and 21, experiencing confusing yet exciting feelings as their first love develops.
Source: soompi
Cast: Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri
I anticipate fans of NJH from “Start-Up” to join us again.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Saturday, February 12
Airs on Saturdays and Sundays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: tvN
2. A Business Proposal
Now, if “Twenty-five, Twenty-One” presents a trouble for me because of its borrowed theme, then I’m going to struggle with “Business Proposal” as well for two reasons.
a. the plot is a rehashed of the poor-woman-meets-chaebol-man trope. Well, have you been on Youtube lately? Chinese film productions churn out dramas with the same storyline as if there was an assembly line coming out of the Ministry of Arts and Entertainment. I don’t know how this kdrama will be any different from them.
b. the male lead actor Ahn Hyoseop gives off the same vibes as Nam Joo Hyuk to me.
It’s a double whammy for me. But I’ll stick around till Episode 8.
Synopsis from soompi:
Based on a web novel that was adapted into a webtoon, “A Business Proposal” is a romantic comedy about an office employee who goes on a blind date with her company’s CEO in place of a friend while hiding her identity.
Ahn Hyo Soep plays the handsome and capable CEO Kang Tae Moo, while Kim Sejeong stars as the optimistic and energetic employee Shin Ha Ri. The drama will depict the hilarious yet sweet romance that unfolds between Kang Tae Moo, who does not know about his date’s true identity, and Shin Ha Ri, who has no choice but to hide her identity.
Source: soompi
Cast: Ahn Hyoseop (“Lovers of the Red Sky”) and “Kim SeJeong” (don’t know her)
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Mon, Feb 21
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Netflix?
Network: SBS
3. Forecasting Love and Weather
I don’t know what’s wrong with JTBC lately. Is it the company’s mission to push people’s buttons to generate ratings and income? Is it trying to be socially relevant? Lol. “World of the Married,” “Nevertheless,” “Snowdrop,” then this, noona romance.
I don’t like dramas with noona-romances. I can tolerate the age difference when the ages of the characters are irrelevant to the plot (see “Happiness”). But when it’s evident that the age disparity is the deciding factor in shaping the dynamics between the couple, then I’m out.
I dislike seeing an older woman dependent on the younger man because of some insecurity, anxiety, depression, and/or (insert the psychosis here). I expect her to be the confident and mature one in the relationship. I also abhor women in their 30s using childish aegyo to get their way. Again, I expect her to be confident and to act her age.
But most of all, I shun actresses with a deep-seated need to cling to their fading youth (cough cough Song HyeKyo).
To me, it reeks of ego-trip when they accept to star with the current poster boy of the month. It’s okay to grow old, sweeties.
Cast:
Song Kang. You know the ballerino from “Navillera” and the bad boy/boyfriend in “Nevertheless.”
Park Min Young. Heyyyy… we all know who she is, right?
She sounded defensive in this comment, “Please have fun watching the process of the two helping each other grow as they clash, since their entire personalities and dispositions are completely opposite, rather than a simple romance between an older woman and younger man.” Source: soompi
Yeeaaaah, I’m sure viewers are going to watch this drama because they’re interested to know about the life of a meteorologist.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Sat, Feb 12
Airs on Saturdays and Sundays
Where to Watch it: Netflix?
Network: JTBC*
*From now on, I’ll call JTBC the “Do Anything JTBC” channel, or the “Do Anything Just-To-Be- Controversial” channel. Lol.
4. Chinese Dramas
a. I can binge-watch “Boss and Me” (2014) on Netflix. The screenwriter also wrote “Love O2O” (2016) and “You Are My Glory” (2021). It should be interesting to see her progression as a romance writer. I wonder how her perspective on romance has changed over the years.
Cast:
Zhao Li Ying (I liked her in “The Story of Ming Lan”)
Zhang Han (I dislike his wooden acting but…oh well, maybe he’ll grow on me)
Episodes: 33
b. I’m still waiting for Yang-Yang and Zhao Luci’s historical+martial arts drama, “Who Rules the World.” Thanks @agdr03 for the updates.
What are you watching in February?
I didn’t mind Boss and Me but the ML there is very arrogant and there were times where I felt he should have been more approachable.
The kiss scenes were good though. 🤣
I’m looking into Dream Garden for cdrama.
I’m not sure yet about my next kdrama. I might look at what’s been added on Netflix. 😊
I’ll keep watch on the update about WRTW. Apparently it’s a 40 episode drama. I’ll be happy just seeing Rosie and Yang Yang together. Can’t wait! 🥰
40 episodes? I don’t mind as long as we have lots of Rosie and Yang Yang scenes together.
Ahhhh… so Gu Man toned down her hero’s arrogance after “Boss and Me”? Interesting.
Xiao Nai was a know-it-all but I didn’t mind his “benevolent sexism” because it worked in her favor. I’m only watched 2/5ths of “You Are My Glory” so I don’t know how the hero acted towards her at the end. In the beginning, though, because of their status and income differences, he seemed to be at a disadvantage.
I also think you should watch “Our Beloved Summer”, @agdr03. I think you’ll like it. 🙂
Yes, I believe so. Have a look at the first few episodes of Boss and Me. Xiao Nai and Yu Tu are more approachable, definitely.
Why haven’t you finished You Are My Glory? 😁
Ok. I’ll try Our Beloved Summer after Just Between Lovers. 😉👍🏻
“You are My Glory” is the drama version of this pint of Ben&Jerry’s ice cream I put on reserve in the freezer. The ice cream has been tucked away for months now (since November? August? can’t remember anymore) because I told myself I’d only unseal it and open it, when I was really really really having a horrible day and I need chocolate ice cream to pick my spirits up.
So, every time I reach for the pint, I ask myself if this is the absolutely worst day of my life??
lol. But @agdr03, I’m such a pessimist that I end up thinking, “Naahhh. Tomorrow’s gonna be even worse. Just you wait, ice cream. I’ll eat you all up tomorrow. In one sitting! With a big scooper!”
And then, tomorrow comes and I forget about it. 🙁
That’s YAMG for me, too.
I think your hubby will beat you in eating that Ben&Jerrys chocolate ice cream. 😂 Not that he’d watch YAMG. 😂 It reminded me of my son’s ice cream choice while we were at Tasmania, he chose Pineapple Chilli gelato. He liked it. Meanwhile I settled for Swiss caramel macadamia. 😋
I can’t be pessimistic after our week holiday. It made me alive again, that’s for sure. ☺️ No worries about YAMG. It’s not like it’s going anywhere. 😄
Thanks @pkml3. Yes, I’m not really into the meteorologist or noona romances. I want light, fluffy, ‘no-need-to-think-too-hard-about-them’ Shows for now. As with @agdr03, I’m still in the throes of JBL and feeling much for our young leads. Another great show where every jot of happiness is so hard earned, and sooooo satisfying.
I’m also still in the world of Goblin where we are about to go into the painful episodes. I’d like lighter fare to counter balance these 2 shows, at this stage in the watching.
🙂 I trust my husband…to know what’s good for him. He knows all hell will break loose if he touches that ice cream. Besides, there’s an assortment of ice cream in the fridge: cones, bars, sorbet, chocolate, vanilla, rocky road, and coffee. He can have anything except for THAT B&J flavor. (Kinda like Adam and Eve can eat anything in the Garden of Eden, except for THAT apple…hahaha)
Ewww. Pineapple Chili? How did that happen? Yes. I’ll have a swiss caramel macadamia. I love chocolate covered macadamia.
What holiday? You mean for the Chinese New Year?
I’m looking forward to Thirty Nine. Do you plan to watch that?
Also currently enjoying Ghost Doctor on Viki. I also need to catch up on Our Beloved Summer
.
I just started on Through The Darkness. The other two medical dramas on my list are still on hold. Probably will start after I finish the 4 eps of TTD. I am gonna give a pass for all the above kdramas. JTBC is a makjang oriented broadcaster, pm3. I read that it’s rumored to be politically driven (?) as well. Their next drama feat. Han Suk Kyu is also in a controversy. Not sure the details though.
Oh geez. 😬 I’ll have the sorbet, coffee and rocky road thanks. 😆 But I’m scared for your husband. 😂
I had a little taste and the chilli kicks in at the end. I didn’t like it. Youngest and hubby didn’t mind it too. I think they got it from eating pineapple then putting chilli and salt on it? 🤔 That’s the way we eat our pineapple fresh anyway. Of course the gelato only had the chilli.
No, this holiday was postponed for over 2 years because of covid and there were a few moments where I thought maybe it’s not meant to be but it happened and I’m sooo grateful. We went to Tasmania. It was awesome. 🥰
I binged Boss and Me last weekend. I was surprised to really like it even though it felt very “vintage” and could’ve easily been 20 episodes.
I’ve paused One and Only and Uncle (will probably be a drop)
Currently watching: F4 Thailand on YouTube —surprisingly I’m liking it. Except for the one episode release/week schedule
Reset- VIKI-up to episode 10. I really don’t know where it’s headed but it’s intriguing and seems to be well made. Only 15 total episodes! I really have no clue how it will end and have been avoiding all spoilers
Ghost doctor- VIKI
Plan to watch:
25 21–please be good. Hoping for something like the reply series meets fight for my way.
Business proposal-I like her and I don’t mind him. I hope it’s easy and fun.
39- the actresses and their characters’ occupations seem pleasant enough to make an interesting watch.
@packmule3, 😊. Holiday is the word used for vacation in some English dialects. It took me a while to get used to that. Here people say summer holiday – I kept picturing holly wreaths off season in the tropics for ages.
I will start with the 25/21 because I like the actors. I have only seen Kim Tae Ri in edgier roles so it will be weird seeing her act like a teenager/young adult.
Business Proposal sounds like it starts off with the same idea as ‘The secret life of my secretary.’ A blind date impersonation. Like Secret Life, She was Pretty, Start-Up and others, we know that impersonation is a bad idea, right? And if it’s the rich partner who won’t let go, it can become a power game based on advantage.
As to YAMG, the hero was only at a disadvantage to himself and to some of his cohorts. To the FL, he was always, but ALWAYS the best and that’s why I liked it so much. It was interesting to see YY at a loss or at a disadvantage and see what happened to change that. I think it was a good experience for him as an actor.
I didn’t watch OBS yet either. Maybe I’ll start it now. 😉
I’m still watching Forever and Ever but rather slowly as I was stuck in OBL. Not much time lately to watch but like @Birdie007, I’ve been eye-ing two rather numerical dramas
1. 25 21- For all the reasons you all said, Nam Joo Hyuk and TaeRi.
2. 39- Slice-of-life drama that depicts the story of three women who have been friends for two decades after meeting in their second year of high school. Has SonYeJin and JeonMiDo! not so familiar with the other actress.
I digress here on Pachinko that will be coming out only end of March on Disney+. It stars Lee Min Ho and the main protagonist Sunja as a teenager, young adult and older lady, will be played by different actresses. Hoping to finish the book before it comes out. Wondering if anyone knows more about it as I just read about it today
Thanks @pm3 for the list. Not sure what I will watch. I want something light.
Currently watching
Goblin rewatch
Cupid’s Kitchen- starring Ethan Juan. it’s the first c-drama in a long while where I’ve gone past episodes 18 lol Definitely tropy (is that even a word) but I stayed for the food shots and fast forward all the pointless side stories.
That’s it! As much as I want to like OBS I can’t get into it. Save for another time.
Will come back to read everyone’s take. Cheers!
Hey all,
I am thinking about the Grid. It is from the same writer from Cho Seung Woo’s Stranger and Life and I like both dramas.
https://www.soompi.com/article/1509961wpp/watch-seo-kang-joon-and-kim-ah-joong-will-do-anything-to-catch-lee-si-young-in-new-teasers-for-grid
Trailer:
https://youtu.be/ipScLi0cTK0
I have started on, casually watching:
Hyena – just ep 1
Tracer – just ep 1
I may revisit Vincenzo – ep 5
Currently rewatching:
Just Between Lovers
@grace Pachinko is a short sharp 8eps. Not sure how they are going to cram nearly 500 pages into 8eps but okay. 😂
So apparently Little Women the KDrama version really is adapted from the Louisa May Alcott’s book 🙄. Laurie better not end up with Amy…just putting it out there… 😡. I guess she decided to get rid of Beth and just have the 3 sisters. 12eps so nice and tight.
https://www.tatlerasia.com/culture/entertainment/korean-screenwriter-chung-seo-kyung-interview
Not sure when it’s screening. I read first half of 2022.
I may tune in for 39 and may try 25-21. Numbers must be the flavour of the month when it comes to titles. 😂
@Carolina – Cupid’sKitchen is kinda addicting isn’t it? even where it is terrible – like Victor’s singing and sounding like a southern indie artist, Elise’s dubbing, or the ridiculous Boris. But, I like the lead and the cooking and all of the street food and it is a speedy watch especially with my thumb on the FF button.
I’m going to check out All of Us are Dead and the Business Proposal drama. AHS and Sejoung would be my choice for couple casting in drama. I really liked her in School 2017 and I Wanna Hear Your Song. I also plan on rewatching OBS now that I know how it ends – I want to see all the things I missed on first watch.
Feb is a numbers game with 25/21 and 39! Excited to see Nam Dosan oops, Nam Joo Hyuk and Kim Tae Ri. KTR is a high caliber actress (like Kim Go Eun) and she is exiting to watch. I hope this is another endearing character for NJH.
I am looking forward to the sisterhood of 39.
Still with the Goblin rewatchers! I’m slowly catching up on newly concluded shows… I’m savoring The Red Sleeve! I’ve finished Just Between Lovers. I hope to jump into the discussion posts soon. Junho for the win!!! Found out his birthday is close to mine and that made me giddy. LOL!
And lastly, I read @PM3 posts on Our Beloved Summer. That’s all I can commit on that show right now. 😉 thanks I hope to watch the movie once available.
I have 39 on my radar which starts 16/2, but probably wouldn’t be watching straight away as I usually have no patience to wait week on week…
Just finished watching “Watcher” recently (following on the writer-director pair’s work post Happiness) which I enjoyed. Was going to start on Vincenzo but it’s not on Viki for me so decided to watch Penthouse instead (I don’t see any threads covering this series here on BoD). Solid acting from the cast but my I’ve been served a rude reminder of why I abandoned Kdramas all those years ago- ridiculous storyline (makjang?) with OTT acting at times. I think I’m just going to fast forward through the 48 episodes (currently up to 8 episodes of S1 and it’s really testing my patience).
I see positive reviews on “My beloved summer”- might give that a try when it’s done with airing.
@Janey, I find that the Our Beloved Summer movie comprises the edits of the series with voiceover comments by the characters in documentary interview mode. It concentrates on the OTP with a couple of interviews or comments from JU and NJ. It would be an interesting watch, except that it’s not subbed. I don’t know if it will be. We’ll need fan subs at least to know what’s being said about the many different scenes.
I guess that if we have not watched OBS yet, and watched just the movie, it might stand on its own as a documentary-movie. We could then upon watching Episode 16, refer to the movie to highlight what is going on in the episode, in the same way we do for the earlier episodes.
I am limping through Bad and Crazy, and Snowdrop, on DramaCool, putting up with slow releases and poor picture definition because I don’t have iQIYI VIP or Disney+. I’m finding both engaging, although they’re not without issues. I almost gave up on Snowdrop, but the ever-changing psychological battles between characters keeps me wanting to find out what happens next. I’m almost done with both, so will stick with them to the end.
I’ve started Tracer on Vimeo, with English subs by Tax Payers Subs. They make far more sense than the subtitles on DramaCool, which consist of English words but are essentially unintelligible. Compared to his role in Misaeng, Siwan plays a much feistier person in Tracer. Unfortunately, the first two episodes threw so many characters at viewers that I had to watch with the AsianWiki entry for Tracer open on my phone so I could reference it.
I tried one episode of Dr. Park’s Clinic. I hope it will continue in the comedic vein. It is fun to watch so many actors I’ve seen in other dramas come together to play kooky characters. Still, there’s one quick scene in Episode 1 when Dr. Park, disappointed with himself during his residency days, bangs his head on a wall and berates himself, and Lee Seo Jin put just the right amount of pathos into it to tug at my heart. I think Dr. Park’s Clinic may be what I’ll watch for light entertainment.
I’ll be finishing Uncle in the next couple of days. I think it a worthwhile watch because of Oh Jung Se in the titular role. The female lead, Jeon Hye Jin, who plays his older sister, is equally impressive with her acting. But my favorite character is the cross-dressing bar owner. He’s not played as a joke or parody, but as a rounded person who can clearly articulate why he likes to dress in women’s fashions.
The upcoming Kdramas described above that appeal most to me are Twenty-five Twenty-One and A Business Proposal. The show Thirty-nine that others have mentioned also sounds good because…you know..Jeon Mi Do!
Our Saturday rewatch group is into the nitty gritty of Goblin. What a rewarding journey we’ve taken together so far. If we don’t take any more breaks, we’ll be done with Goblin by the end of February and will need to decide if, and with what, we’ll continue in March.
@welmaris I put all the Tracer main players in a Google doc 😂. I will try to watch Ep2 soon. I quite like it. It fits SiWan to a tee. He’s very intelligent.
https://docs.google.com/file/d/1rsKvJxtADwJT3_5ZB6PbXo-Bv7K1wwzf/edit?usp=docslist_api&filetype=msword
Here he is doing the Rubiks Cube recently. Impressive 😮
https://youtu.be/AjPToJWSxkM
I enjoyed reading this post!
1. Watching 2521 because it’s a project chosen by Nam Joo Hyuk. Heard this week there is a death trope. So girding myself for that.
2. A Business Proposal may be formulaic but I welcome it after a diet of weightier dramas. Also I do like all the actors chosen as MLs and secondary leads. So I’m happy to give it a chance and it may turn out better than expected. I can think of a couple of dramas I tried in 2021 and that turned out well.
3. I’m ambivalent about this drama for the very reasons you mention. I last saw her last in “I’ll go to you when the weather is nice”. I welcomed the change of role for her but was underwhelmed by her. I never felt anything for her character.
4. I watched Boss and me as soon as it reached Netflix only on the strength of the actor who plays the ML. I have seen his other works. It was only later I realised the author also wrote You are my Glory, my much loved cdrama of 2021. So I made sure to watch the fourth of her works made into a drama, My Sunshine. I even read some of her writings on which Boss and Me is based. The context is that 50 Shades was big at the time. The cdrama version is a much toned down version of her writings. After all, he always worked quietly at making her a better version of herself. But reading it did help give me a couple of eureka moments.
So regarding You are My Glory? The author has grown up, just like all of us.
Let’s see which of those dramas we will remember as being influential for 2022.
Hello,
Thank you very much for this topic.
I have been watching for more than a year:
Korean drama
Masterpiece : Jewel in the Palace – suggested by WEchanteur
Masterpiece My Mister, with IU and Lee Sun Gyun
Ms. Temper Temper and Nam Jung-Gi, with Lee Yo Won Yoon Sang Hyun
I can hear your voice, with Lee Jong Suk
Japanese drama
Mr. Brain, with Kimura Takuya and Ayase Haruka
HERO, with Kimura Takuya and Matsu Takako
From five to nine
Shufu Katsu! with Suzuki Honami
Suits (Sutsu)
Chinese drama
Eternal Love, with Yang Mi
Love Designer, with Dilraba Dilmurat and Johnny Huang (which I liked more than „You are my Glory”, a sort of Notthing Hill but not as funny)
I am now watching F4 (Thailand) and I like it a lot.
Will join the viewing of the first one (25-21). I hope I’ll like it as much as I liked “Our Beloved Summer”. I’m late to the kdrama world and can only watch one or two at a time so I’m probably the only one here who hasn’t watched a Nam Joo Hyuk drama yet. Can’t get myself to watch “Start Up” and “Weightlifting Fairy” although they’ve been on my list on Netflix for a while. Kim Tae Ri seems to be a good actress (saw her on “Space Sweepers”).
@Good Twin yes it is a bit addicting despite Elise, Boris, Victor and evil Lin cousin oh and that darn Doctor. LOL. I’m happy it’s on daily so it’s not feeling like it will last forever.
Also, I often play these dramas on low or no volume, cause I watch late at night and kids are sleep so I’ve saved my self from hearing any dubbing and/or bad signing.
All the cooking and shots of the restaurants, street food, and city panoramic are so good. I’ve been getting into some cooking of my own because of it.
Hello everyone.
I haven’t been posting lately because I had some sad event as my grandmother passed away suddenly last month. She fainted at home and we took her to the hospital. She was diagnosed with a UTI, but then the next day she had a stroke while in the hospital and passed away. We held a Celebration of life for her 2 weeks ago. Now we are working on taking care of her estate and selling her house. We miss her terribly, but take comfort in that she is now released from all of the problems she endured with her health issues.
February Dramas I Want To Check Out:
Twenty Five Twenty One
A Business Proposal(Premise sounds super cute and with comedy potential. Not sold on the main leads-both are weak acting skills for me. Praying they will be improved here)
For C Dramas, there is a rumor that Maybe It’s Love will come out in February. We shall see. I really enjoyed About Is Love and definitely want to check out this sequel.
My main drama for February continues to be F4 Thailand which I am loving!
@Table122000, please accept my condolences on the loss of your beloved grandmother. May you and your family find some comfort as you share memories of her, and may her legacy continue through the generations.
@Table122000 deepest condolences to you and your family as you mourn your loss.
Sending you my condolence and virtual hug @Table122000. May your Beloved Grandmother Rest In Peace. 🙏🏼
@Table12200 – my condolences to you and your family. From your post, your grandma was cherished and loved and will be remembered. Virtual hugs and Take care!!!
@table122000 I’m so sorry for your loss. Virtual hugs.
My condolences to you and your family for the loss of your dear grandmother, @Table122000.
My deepest sympathies @Table122000 on the passing of your grandmother. May knowing that she’s at peace comfort you and your family. Prayers and blessings go with you. Take care!
To Everyone:
Thank you so much for your condolences on the passing of my grandmother. Your sympathy and thoughtfulness is very appreciated at this time.
@Welmaris @nrllee @agdr03 @Janey @Carolina @Fern @GrowingBeautifully
Thank you again for your kindness.
You have my deepest condolences for your loss, @Table122000.
I remember you’re the caregiver of your extended family, and your fortitude and devotion left an impression on me. I hope your memories of grandmother will help you find peace.
Kdrama: The One and Only (2021) – a review and first impressions
With Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Kyung Nam as the leads, and a host of other good actors. This series has aired the first 12 episodes already by the 30 Jan 2022.
Briefly it revolves around young adults, once children who suffered abandonment or trauma, who come in their emptiness to discover what being alive can be in the face of death and murder. The questions of whether it can ever be okay to take a life in order to save a life, and what is the right thing to do, is constantly asked.
I didn’t expect anything from this Show, and I almost gave up during the first half of the first episode, but it got interesting. By the third episode, I was hooked by the complex plot and the leads who are anti-heroes, who may not even survive the series. Ahn Eun Jin and Kim Kyung Nam are totally riveting.
A darker, weightier show than Our Beloved Summer, but not as heart-rending as Just Between Lovers. This Show includes my catnip of traumatised children who grew up and the struggles they face. Part of the theme sounds dark, (murder, dying and hospice life) and there’s much to be sad about, but I found it not at all depressing. It brought together serious investigation, dirty police, found family, unfortunate childhoods and was able to be quirky at times and to elicit hearty chuckles at the most unexpected moments.
I liked how the tropes are used in a fresh way, the unexpected little twists, the organic romance, the well done melodrama. The writing is tight and the plot manages to bring in many complications without causing viewers to lose the thread. Since we are dealing with people who are dying, we get to think about how we are living, what being fully alive might be and get uplifted to see characters who have accepted death, living happily.
I’ve watched 6 episodes so far, and look forward to the next 10.
@GB,
I’ll re-post this on the blog with its own Open Thread in case somebody wants to join you in discussing this. I had my eye on it because of Kim Kyung Nam, the second male lead in “The King: Eternal Monarch.” It seems like a good drama.
Thanks!
LOL! Thanks @pkml3.
I was just saying that I don’t normally binge watch, but I seem to not be able to stop wanting to watch the next episode with this series. I will probably rewatch it as well.
As with kdramas where life/death is a big theme around which plot grows, we are offered words of wisdom and day-to-day philosophy that’s great to remember, and which I feel I’d like to record for my own edification. Best of all, death is dealt with in a real way and without being maudlin. Still, it hurts so good. 😢 🙄 🤔 😌
I figured you’d need someone to cry along with, @GB since this is a melodrama. 🙂
Heheheh! @pkml3 You’re very thoughtful! I’m still doing more laughing than crying though. It’s still getting more interesting at the halfway mark.
@packmule3
Thank you so much for your sympathy and kindness regarding the passing of my grandmother. Your thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. There had been some difficult times with my grandmother’s health issues, (as well as other family members issues), but I took it as an opportunity to spend more time with my grandmother, and I do take comfort in the fact that I was able to spend time with her during her final years. Thank you again for your condolences.
Though it’s not mentioned above. I’m a bit excited to watch ‘Thirty, Nine’ because yay! Jeon Mi-do sonsaengnim on the house 😃. Even though I don’t watch a lot of JTBC content, I always get excited everytime I’m hearing news of their new dramas. They’ve been in slump lately but I hope they don’t mess up with this one.
@miracle23 speaking of that upcoming Han Suk-kyu/Jung Yu-mi drama, it’s an adaptation of a Chinese mystery-thriller novel. The novel itself and the author got a lot of attention for its negative political content.
@GMPL Initially I did think that the whole furore about JTBC having devious political leanings was just a tad over the top but they just keep picking these dramas with controversies tagged consistently? They know exactly what they are getting into with all the negative press and still persist? 🤔. What are they trying to prove?
https://www.allkpop.com/article/2021/12/jung-yoo-mi-and-han-suk-kyus-new-jtbc-drama-halts-filming
To copy Oscar Wilde. master of understatement, @nrllee… to have one controversy is a misfortune, but to have one controversy after another? That looks like carelessness.
JTBC’s pattern of generating public outcry leads me to think that either they have a bunch of incompetent executives who greenlighted those productions, or they have genius executives who saw that inciting the viewing public generated buzz. Producing anodyne dramas wasn’t bringing in the money. 🙂
P.T. Barnum said “There is no such thing as bad publicity.” Or as Oscar Wilde said, “The only thing worse than being talked about is not being talked about.” I would think that their executives have the point of view that you describe, @packmule3.
😂 Fern, and look what PT Barnum founded. A circus. 🎪
Do the executives at JTBC want to create a circus every time they produce a new drama? Why can they NOT “read the room” and see the mood the people are in?
Also, how can viewers like us take them seriously if they need to go through such great lengths to promote their shows? It’s as if they don’t trust the script, director or actors to stand on their own merit.
It’s a 🤡 clown world when the executives and producers think they can do anything Just To Be Controversial — or JTBC.
@packmule3, I agree. It’s a circus, but cynically I think that so much of the world is like that now. I won’t go into politics, art, or imaginary currency marketing – suffice to say that I’m fed up with it, too.
Good one with the acronmym, too. 😊
@GB I do think that the ‘Snowdrop’ boycott was intentionally done by the company until it got out of their control. I doubt it if the ‘Snowdrop’ team will work alongside JTBC for their next project.
If JTBC is trying to gain publicity or audience with this method, it works but not in a good way.
Hello everyone–I see I’m late to the party here.
I’ve been practicing JOMO lately, with three trips to three different states in the last month and kids visiting from out of town. So I haven’t really started anything new except:
— I started Moonshine a few weeks after it started (I had to have a buffer of time between Red Sleeves and any other historical). This might be worth a separate post if anyone is interested in discussing it. The show is really about the plight of women–of all classes–in the Joseon era. Poor noble, rich noble, or slave, the women really didn’t have a say in their destinies unless they did something ridiculous like becoming a moonshiner. I’m finding the ML and FL plotline not as compelling as the secondary characters. They could have created an intriguing show just on the life story of Woon-Sim, the head courtesan. Kang Mi-Na, the SFL, is also proving to be a good comic actress or, at least, the part they’ve written for her is providing comic relief.
–(I’m still watching Young Lady and Gentleman every weekend because it has provided me with a lot of laughs, mostly in scenes that weren’t meant to be funny. The acting is so over the top and the tropes just keep coming one after the other. The most fun, though, is bitching about it with other people on Facebook).
–I secretly loved Love is Blind when it came out a couple of years ago, so I’m excited that there is going to be a Japanese version next month. (I’m assuming people won’t be as crude as they were in the U.S. version, but who knows?)
–I’m looking forward to 39.
–Love and Weather is a no for me–it looks too cutesy. I also think PMY does better with actors her own age. Same with Love and Leashes–not subject matter that interests me, and a fluffy version of BDSM sounds irritating.
–I never watch Chinese dramas (it simplifies my choices and I always wonder about government censorship).
–Otherwise I hope to try Business Proposal, One and Only, and I may get back to Uncle, which I stopped watching during the first episode because I got too busy. And, of course, I have a huge watchlist of must-watch older shows that I’ve hardly touched in recent weeks.
@Table122000
I am very sorry to hear that. Please accept my deepest sympathies to you and your family.
@Birdie007 have you tried Reset? I am thinking about that show as I saw a positive headline saying the story is quite deep and meaningful.
@TheWanderer I am watching Watcher now. Currently at ep 5. I like it. It’s not overly addictive but interesting enough to keep me going. The style of corruptions in the show reminds me of a US show “The Mentalist”.
Thanks everyone, what a great read!
@Table122000, I am very sorry to hear your grandmother passed away. It must have comforted you to know that you were able to spend time with her during her final years. May her memory be blessed!
I am not currently watching any dramas, but in January watched:
Dramas:
-Strong Woman Do Bong Soon (loved it, it was something I needed in January and was a good escape from life and work)
-Familiar Wife (kind of meh, Go Back Couple was better, skipped lots of parts)
-Full House (just so I could say I watched it, skipped lots of parts, Song Hyo Kyo’s acting skills seemed to be better 20 years ago, what happened?!)
Movie:
-On Your Wedding Day (watched it for Park Bo Young)
During the Lunar New Year break, I watched:
Movies:
-Seo Bok (Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum act well, enjoyed it, it was quite touching, available on Viki USA and Canada to rent from February 1 to 15)
-Space Sweepers (touched on some good themes)
Looking forward to watching 39 this month and going through my long list of Kdramas to watch…might start with Healer.
Enjoy February everyone! 🙂
Anyone watching Reset? Chinese drama on Viki. Bai Jing Ting is it but unrecognizable (except distinctive voice). About two passengers on a bus caught in a time loop. It’s suspenseful and addictive. The actor who plays the elder cop is top notch. It’s airing now and apparently been viewed a billion ! times in China
I will probably watch A business proposal just bc I liked Ahn Hye Seop in Dr. Romantic. Also looking forward to Thirty Nine and of course to Crazy Love bc I really like Kim Jae Wook and am happy that he is making a comeback.
@Table122000, I am sorry to hear that your grandmother has passed away. Please accept my condolence to you and your family. May she rest in peace. ❤❤❤
I started Ghost Doctor on Friday and binge watched 10 eps. It’s a good story thus far with Rain x Kim Bum being my happy pills. I have one distraction that annoys me still i.e. the hospital scenes in general which was where HP was filmed. I saw the same VIP room, the ER, the GS common room 😵💫😵💫😵💫😵💫… brings back the ridiculousness of HP. Does not help that the writer wrote Rain as arrogant and cold, the best CS prof like JunWan and handles a foundation for the patients who can’t afford treatments (a mentioned only, phew!), like AJW 🥴🥴🥴🥴 Thankfully, Rain played his role really well without being corny/cringey like that of the HP 40 y.o Profs. Thank you, writer nim & Rain! 🤭 Anyway, the medical cases are limited as it deals only with CS. Still think RDTK1 is the best in showcasing different cases, the patients issues, the surgeries that are engaging as well as the lessons learnt…
Next weekend I am gonna start on the internal medicine drama. 😁
While waiting for the start of February dramas, I’m watching the Cdrama Boss & Me, based on recommendations in this thread. It’s fluffy and tropey, but I’d keeping me entertained. Part of the fun is mocking the production values: scenes supposedly set in England with white people who can barely speak English; pancake makeup on actors’ faces with noticeably different-toned skin on their necks, ears, and around their eyes; the sweater worn by someone’s mother in Hunan also seen being worn by a part time worker in Shanghai.
@Welmaris, they also use the same white people over and over as passersby in different scenes. Also, you can see that some exterior scenes are filmed in actual locations with locals in the background looking questioningly at the camera. The interiors of sets have certainly improved over the last 8-9 years. I suppose there are places in England that look so shiny and slick, but I haven’t seen any for a while. 😁 It is true, however, that many front desk staff in the UK are from other countries and have accents. But they usually speak multiple languages and have been hired for those qualities.
Tropes I don’t like: even though the FL proves her business sense, she is yet another diminutive and chirpy Cinderella-type with a tall and tsundere boyfriend. The FL and ML don’t communicate well and she becomes tiresomely insecure, repeatedly coming to the wrong conclusions. The only black people in the film are violent thugs. Did you notice the dig at the Korean plastic-surgery culture?
I think this was meant to be a bridging drama between classic Cinderella stories and more current dramas like YAMG, YAMH, and Forever and Ever, which are styles I much more prefer. I do like that she is meant to be someone with whom he can relax, but it takes her forever to realise that because he is so cryptic. I also like that his chaebol family is open-minded about her background as long as her family are respectable. No water-throwing or pay-offs! I did end up ff’ing through this.
@Fern, Boss & Me is a combination of Cinderella and Pride & Prejudice. The aunt in B&M is cut from the same cloth as Mrs. Bennet. ShanShan and her family harbor prejudices against people with wealth; unfortunately, ShanShan is not as self-assured as Lizzy Bennet.
@nrllee, have you noticed that Tracer has disappeared from Vimeo? I’m guessing the folks at Wavve must’ve put pressure on Taxpayers Sub Team to take it down. The English subs on DramaCool were still barely intelligible, the last time I checked. Even though I’m interested in watching Tracer, I may have to drop it for now and hope it shows up in the future with better subtitles on a different official streaming platform such as Netflix or Viki. I may have to wait a few years for that to happen.
@welmaris they’ve started a blog to keep things together. The links are there. I think they had to move it off the Vimeo platform because of copyright. But yes I agree about watching it now. It’s hard to get continuity because the subbed eps come out so much later. It’s a drama that you need to watch without too much lag between eps because of the number of people in the mix which makes it complicated. Dramacool subs are machine generated…like you said, unintelligible 🙄
https://tracerenglishsub.wordpress.com/
I’m sorry to hear that about Tracer. I hope that it can be restored on another platform. I wanted to watch it. I somehow imagined that even if the subs were machine generated, they would be vetted by humans. Pity.
@Viva, I just read up about Disney’s Grid. I see they’ve jumped on the kdrama bandwagon as well. I may try this show if I can. I like mysteries as a rule, and sci fi/the supernatural. 9 days to go, before it starts. I wonder if Disney will drop all episodes at once like Netflix did. 😉
Kalimera Everyone! I do hope you are all okay!
@Table122000 I am so sorry for your loss…
It is a weird period for me, since I am managing with one or two dramas per month these days.
I have finished “Our Beloved Summer” and “Bulgasal” and I have on hold the “Ghost Doctor” and “Bad and Crazy”.
I have started “Signal”, but I haven’t managed to continue it, due to my programme.
I want to start “One and Only” as I have said to @GB Unnie, if I find time.
What I want to start from the new February k-content?
My eyes are on: “Twenty five, Twenty One” and maybe “Our Business Proposal”, but I am not pretty sure though. We shall see.
I also wanted to watch “Tracer”, but I have heard from a friend that the subs were awful. She also told me that “Through the Darkness” is pretty good.
I need to catch up with your comments… 🙂
P.S. I forgot to write about Grid, and I just saw that @GB Unnie answered to @Viva about it!
P.S. 2 I forgot to mention 39! *face palm*
LOL @Cleo, not to worry… I forget to mention lots of things in a single message too. 😉
Yes, if you can find the time, we can watch 25-21, or Our Business Proposal or Grid together, or rewatch something at a slower pace, like the way a few of us are rewatching Just Between Lovers and commenting on the single thread. We just go at any pace that suits us and add in comments with Spoiler warnings if we go ahead in our viewing and commenting. It’s more relaxing that way, rather than having to keep up with others.
I’m just starting a course with my church volunteering work in catechesis, and will be having less time on and off to watch. I will see if I can keep up with just 2 or 3 currently airing shows, together with a rewatch. I’ll just do as much as easy to manage and only for the shows I find enjoyable.
Catch you later!! 🙂
@GB Unnie,
I am in in whatever we can do.
For starters, I would like to inform you that I cannot be online this Saturday for our Goblin Rewatch Party. I have a seminar to attend.
I wish you the best on your course! We shall do the best we can !
Catch you laters! *Hugs*
@Cleopatra, I can relate to that. I am even having difficulty concentrating on more than one drama at a time right now. I blame it on winter brain fatigue. It’s not a real thing – I don’t believe… 😉 I looked at a few minutes of Tracer and everyone who complains about the subs is correct. I couldn’t understand what was happening. I left a complaint about them on Dramacool.
I hope that you are feeling well yourself. I would say, do what feels best for you. Maybe the spring will see us all find more power and energy.
Hey dear @Fern!
I feel tired that is true and I agree with you that it has to do with weather.
It is more cold than usual these days and I feel like I am in a weird hybernation period, where I want to sleep, but I have to be functional the most of the day! LOL!
About “Tracer”, I do hope that Viki will pick it up. It has done so for many k-dramas this past year and we have good quality in the subs!
I do hope you are okay yourself! Yes, Spring will be around the corner in the end of next month! We need to be patient and optimistic!
You can complain on Dramacool, Fern? I didn’t know you can do that. I thought they were only uploaders and didn’t have an actual subbing team, either human or machine subbers.
I must have jinxed SiWan. Every time I express a desire to watch his dramas, something comes up preventing from doing so.
Maybe it’s only dramacool uk, but when I log into a particular episode, just above the video window there is a red rectangle that says !Report This Episode . It allows a viewer to report a delay in synching, problems with subbing, etc. If it’s only available to the UK, probably it’s because we like a good whinge, but apologetically polite and not face to face. 😉
I saw Siwan in Run On. I liked him in that, but interestingly he seemed best when he was holding his anger in. He does that sort of thing very well.
@Fern well I watched Ep1 of Tracer (subbed by his fans) and he’s doing a lot of that (pent up anger) so it’s probably why he’s shining there. And I like the FL. She’s not particularly stunning in the looks department but she matches his intensity. The subs are coming out too slowly to build up any sort of momentum watching so I have given up and will wait till it’s all subbed to binge.
Thank you, @nrllee. I will wait. I’m so behind on dramas. I think I may stop trying to catch up for the moment and start with some new ones this weekend. I believe 25/21 begins on Saturday.
@Fern, you reminded me of the reason I stay away from Twitter. I didn’t think it was possible to see so many rude people spout nonsense in — what’s the word limit on Twitter? — 280 characters.
As for Tiktok, that’s the real China virus.
I’m sorry, but with the psychological and mental damage these social medias have brought upon our young generation, their creators should be punished for crimes against humanity.
@Viva @Hatlady @Miracle23 @Cleopatra
Thank you so much for your condolences on the passing of my grandmother. Your sympathy and kindness are much appreciated.
Thanks again for your thoughtfulness.
Just found out that A Business Proposal air date has changed to Feb. 28, 2022. An extra week of waiting!
I saw that Viki has picked up melodrama Sponsor, so I might check it out as I like the lead actors.
@packmule3, my daughters would call me such a Boomer if I said something like that. And roll their eyes. And when world leaders tweet I cringe. What’s wrong with a press release? I think some platforms have changed the way humans interact, even face to face.
I see within my family how things would be different without social media. However, there is no turning back time. Look at us right now – although it’s not twitter we ‘converse’ with people all over the world we would never have met otherwise. If only Twitter and other platforms had a ‘manners’ clause! 🤨
@GB @Cleo, thanks for coming back to me on the Grid 🙂 I like suspense so once it is landed, I will give it ago. I also wonder – it’s the first Disney original and will they drop it all? Another week to go! If you are watching it would be fun to solve this together:)
I am halfway through my rewatching of ep 7 of JBL. I really like that we can just talk about it when we found time 🙂 I got busy with work and also got sidetracked with The Good Manager. A relaxing watch and funnier than I thought. A few laugh out loud moments XD.
@Good Twin I am interested in Reset so I think I will give it ago when I find time. The story sounds interesting and having it on a platform like Viki makes it so much easier.
I also like Tracer but got sidetracked when waiting for the Eng Subbed to come out. Once Siwan fans finished subbing them all maybe I will pick it up again. Ep 1 is promising and engaging. It’s a shame that accessibility makes it harder for us to enjoy the acting and the story.
Howdy! It’s great news to BinJin shippers. ☺️ Congratulations! ❤️
https://www.soompi.com/article/1512349wpp/breaking-hyun-bin-and-son-ye-jin-announce-marriage
Thanks @Agdr03! Best wishes to BinJin couple!!! I hope they will be happy and be married for a long time.
I like the post of SYJ telling a story.
“Boy meets girl
Recognizes each other in the crowd
Promises to build a future together
I couldn’t imagine”
This reminded me of the scene in CLOY – Seri got lost in the market, it was dark and Capt Ri lit the candle and found her.
Awww…
Interestingly, Hyunbin’s picture of them holding hands in his agency’s post was also
from CLOY.
Thanks for the news @ager03! Like @Janey, I wish them a long and happy marriage: the ’til death do as part’ type. I always feel more anxious over celebrity marriages. Being in the spotlight seems to make for more fragile relationships.
@Table, with a date like 28 Feb, A Business Proposal is going to be in our What are we watching in March 2022 as well!!
I was so happy to read the BinJin couple news. I think they have known each other for a long while. Very best wishes to them in the future.
Hey Ladies!
I saw the news on my feed yesterday and I read what Son Ye Jin wrote on her IG account. I really liked how she chose to reveal to her fans. I agree with you @Janey! I was happy about them as well! Wishing them the best !
@GoodTwin I just finished watching Reset. I loved it! It was really good.
Came here to recommend it if you like sci-fi and timeloop theme.
Congratulations to BinJin couple! Wishing them a lifetime of happiness together!
Yes, @Growing Beautifully, A Business Proposal will now be in the March watchlist. (Hopefully it is worth the wait as I could use a good rom com)
Forecasting Love and Weather – first episode on Netflix UK today – looks promising. A more mature role for Park Min Young. Good cast. Intriguing theme. One to watch. I enjoyed the first episode – warmed up to it half way through.
Why Women Love is an enjoyable, frothy, well-produced Chinese Rom Com that may not be original but is well done and effortless viewing with a strong central couple. I plan to watch this.
Hi all, just watching ep 2 of Forecasting Love and Weather… really like the concept … the interrelationship between weather and life, metaphorically and in reality.
Nicely shot… visually enjoyable.
Great cast.
Only problem so far is that they are giving Song Kang that chirpy young man demeanour that doesn’t suit him and reminds me of Park Bo Gum’s happy, smiley demeanour in Encounter which didn’t work either -designed ,as it was, to contrast with the depressed older female lead SHK.
I hope SK will get more real and less beamy for no reason.
After saying no to FLAW (weird acronym for Forecasting Love and Weather!) in a previous post here, I’m reconsidering since I’m hearing good things about it.
Disney+ U.S. finally got Snowdrop and I’ve been slowly watching that. I’d be interested in discussing that with anyone at BOD. This is my first k-drama set in the 1980s and, wow, what a difference a few decades makes. SK is under a military dictatorship, things seem a little backward (they’re still listening to disco in 1987), and no one has dyed hair (I’m sure this isn’t really worth noting but I just realized all the women have black hair, including Yoo In-na).
I’m not sure how I feel about this drama. It’s unlike any other k-drama I’ve seen so far, not only because of the time period but because it has had the budget to recreate a place and time; it looks like I’m watching a movie. It has a little bit of a Disney feel to it, at times, with light background music and large groups of young women being young and charming, but I think (hope) that’s to create a stronger contrast to what is actually going on. What makes it compelling for me, so far (I’m only on episode 3) is that each episode has ended on a cliffhanger and most of the side characters seem to have a secret. I’ve also been told that everything will flip(?) at some point in the drama, though I’m not sure what that means.
I’ve put Moonshine on hold for the time being because KOCOWA has interrupted their schedule for the Olympics, so I never know when it’s on. I’m waiting for all the episodes to be out before I go back to it.
I never did watch Dr. Brain on Apple TV (as I said I would in a previous WAWW post) since my Apple subscription apparently wasn’t valid, but might consider subscribing to it to watch Pachinko next month.