I feel like the proverbial kid in the candy store with all the kdrama and cdrama offerings for this month.
On the weekends, I have “My Liberation Notes,” “From Now On, Showtime,” and “2D1N” variety show to watch.
On the weekdays, there’s Yang Yang and Zhao Luci’s “Who Rules the World” cdrama on Netflix! They’ve subbed until Ep 12 already. I’m still finishing up Huang ZiTao and Song ZuEr’s “Legally Romance.” I’m determined to finish this!
And I’m speeding through “Reset,” starring Zhao Jin Mai and that “ant” waist actor, Bai Jing Ting.
@Good Twin, yes, I know about the Chinese propaganda, but we Americans have lost the moral high grounds to criticize when this current administration has formed a “Disinformation Governance Board” (aka Ministry of Truth), haven’t we? Moreover, I’m not going to comment about the human rights violations during the illegal detention of the two main leads. I’m imposing a gag order on myself, and limiting my scrutiny of this drama to the time travel element. Not the police work. Otherwise, I’ll never finish this drama (and other Cdramas with a law enforcement plot), you’ll accuse me of anti-Chinese government bias. 🙂
Here are the dramas I’m eyeing for this month.
1. Love All Play
Who was it who mentioned this Kdrama? Was it @WEnchanteur or @Fern?
I want to clean my palate after “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One.” I’ve never seen “bittersweet” so over-utilized to describe the ending of a kdrama before that I’ve developed a distaste for it. In my opinion, “bittersweet” should never be used to refer to a love affair that was willingly and consciously given up for pragmatic reasons. If parting was such sweet sorrow for the lead characters, then they should have found the strength to endure. Otherwise, all that nostalgia, regrets, and sentimentality are just plain drivel at the level of Katy Perry’s song, “The One That Got Away.”
Hopefully, this kdrama “Love All Play” will avoid makjang territory.
Cast:
Park Ju Hyun, the actress who starred in “Zombie Detective”
Chae Jong Hyeop, the admirer of Park Shin Hye in “Sisiphus”
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Wed, April 20. Yes, this show started in April, but I just discovered in this month.
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Disney+ and gasp! It’s on Youtube??? Hurry, watch it while it’s still there.
Network: KBS
2. Bloody Heart
Synopsis from soompi:
KBS 2TV’s “Bloody Heart” is a fictional historical drama about the bloody political romance between Lee Tae (Lee Joon), a king who has to abandon the woman he loves to survive, and Yoo Jung (Kang Han Na), a woman who has to become the queen to survive.
Source: soompi
Cast: Lee Joon (the evil guy in “Bulgasal”) and Kang Han Na (“Start Up” and “My Roommate is a Gumiho”). And there’s also Jang Hyuk!
Seems to me that Lee Joon’s and Kang Hanna’s characters will have a Romeo and Juliet sort of romance, and Jang Hyuk will play the kingmaker.
I’m excited to watch this because Lee Joon is a good idol-actor. I’m rooting for him.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Monday, May 2
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Viki??? Ugh, no. It’s on Disney+!!!!!
Network: KBS2
I couldn’t find any English sub trailers, though.
3. Goo Pil Soo Is Not There
It’s about brotherhood. (Warning: don’t use “bromance” in this blog.)
I’ll try this drama for one episode for Yoon Doo Joon since it’s his first drama after his military service.
Cast: Yoon Doo Joon. I never heard of the others. Sorry.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Wed, May 4
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: I doubt it’ll be on Viki or Netflix
Network: Olleh TV
4. The Sound of Magic
According to wiki, this drama is about a school girl who dreams of becoming a magician since she was young. She wishes to grow faster so she can follow her dreams to become a magician. She then meets a real magician, played by Ji ChangWook, who has the opposite wish. He wishes to stop time so he can remain a child forever.
Cast:
Ji Changwook…ah! The crush of @Growing_Beautifully. She’ll watch this show then. This actor hasn’t had a hit since “Healer” (2014) so I wish him success.
Hwang InYeop, the second male lead from “True Beauty.” Warning: his fangirls are NOT welcome here on this blog if they’re going to be tiresome about rooting for their oppa. Frankly, my dears, he was so overrated in TB.
Choi SungEun, never heard of her, but will give her a try.
Episodes: 6 episodes.
Start Date: Fri, May 6
Airs on Friday. I don’t know if all six episodes will be released on the same day.
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: JTBC
I think May is a good time to practice JOMO (Joy of Missing Out). You don’t have to watch all the shows I’ve listed above. Feel free to pick and choose so you can spend more time with family and friends.
What are you watching this month?
I’m still watching Legally Romance, I’m on episode 9 and I’ll continue. 😊
This and WRTW are my only dramas in May. 😃 I’ll be busy preparing for my Grandma’s 100th birthday next month so I won’t have time for anything else.
That’s a lot of offerings there. Thank you. 🙇🏻♀️
Oh you’re on Ep 9? Alright! I can start blogging about it then. Your ex-Exo Tao takes getting used to but I’m fine with him now.
I am watching red heart for sure!!!😁😁😁 My biggest bias is Jang Hyuk and having both him and Lee Jun in one screen is a bonus!
I am suggesting for the BoD ladies to watch a movie, Gangubai via Netflix. I am still mesmerised by the acting, the cinematography, choreography,everything. I think this is one of the best film adaptation. Leaving me with points to think about. And the actress Alia Bhatt is in a league of her own. I hope you will enjoy the movie too.😊 Cheers!
I think he was never my ex-Exo hahahah
I can honestly say that I didn’t have any complaints about his looks from the start because of his voice. His voice sounds good to me. 🙂
@packmule3, Am watching Legally Romance-li,ING it am hooked, but hate the fact that there are so many episodes hat I can’t fast forward through because of the plot points.
I’M also watching Our Blues. There is a story line about teen pregnancy that is quite affecting. The young a tors do a wonderful job. I started watching it because I’ a big fan ofvLee Jung-eun. She never disappoints. It is an interesting drama to contrast with Hometown Cha Cha Cha. It makes the latter drama look like a piece if fluff. The stories here are also far more intertwined than say, Love Actually ( a movie that basically leav3s me cold].
I also follow Again My Life-Lee Joong-gi again proves his versatility. I had no idea that he is a martial arts expert in so many genres, given his facility for drama, I ignored his physical acting (he does most of his stunts).
And I’m watching My Liberation Notes. This drama is so quietly heartbreaking in part. The characters all draw one in.
My one guilty pleasure is Love ft, Marriage and Divorce, the makjang. That end next week and it’s the relief drama that I watch because of some of the absurd plot twists like possession. Please don’t account for my taste-I do like a makjang on occasion.
I’-ll be back to comedy for my next drama so the new one with magic and ghosts will probably be it. And the Ji Chang wook drama is a musical and i a limited series.
I am a fan of Jang Hyuk, so I was looking forward to Bloody Heart. I am really bummed because it will be on Disney+ and I have no intention to subscribing to yet another streaming platform. So my strategy is to wait for word if mouth.
I am currently watching My Liberation Notes and sincerely hope it has a good ending. No more 25-21 endings, please!
Sadly, I know nothing about other dramas of this list.
*** Love All Play ***
aka: Going to You at a Speed of 493 km.
Romance, Drama, Sport (badminton).
Without being sure, I have the feeling that this is the kind of drama you might like. Even more than me. I had a big urge to see a sports drama. I took it as a simple story that I watched casually, easely hooked. But by episode 3, I found that it’s not so simple.
Two people from MDL confirmed this impression:
– One viewer named scenes where he didn’t understand the FL’s contradictory attitude. Compelling arguments. Since I liked these scenes, I hadn’t paid attention, but I didn’t understand either. I had to do some Pm3-style analysis to dig, and I had missed some previous clues.
– Another viewer commented: “this drama is built like a detective story”. Indeed, there is a bit of puzzle under the surface, to get their motivations. Several characters, their past and their destiny intertwined.
There is a “Start-Up” feeling, a situation for strong emotions, and healing.
Achievement background music!
There are sports scenes, trainings, matches, with the actors who learned to play. Maybe dubbed sometimes. A pale blue-green atmosphere in the gym.
Park Ju Hyun (Extracurricular, Mouse). The lead actress stands well a multi-faceted character, hard to figure out at first.
Chae Jong Hyeop (Sisyphus: The Myth). He is less cute than before and more mature. Which is better for the scenes where he is serious.
From what the spectators are saying: there’s fluff (though it’s not comical), and plenty of scenes between the two leads that get their hearts racing, and usual blah-blah about “chemistry”. From my perspective, it’s intense enough, because it’s underlined underneath by the personal difficulties of the characters, and the relationship can’t be rushed.
Screenwriter: Heo Sung Hye (Dream High 2, Beyond the Clouds, Tomorrow With You + a dozen movies/special).
Director: Jo Woong (Miracle That We Met, Justice + 2 movies/special).
A writer/director team in the average, neither beginners, nor crazy success.
“Sound of magic” capture my intention. Magician theme. Main actor I like a lot. But it should be a very fast watch with 6 episodes (binge-watch). I’ll wait a bit, to be sure it’s not again a “season 1”.
Still practicing JOMO… started with WRTW and Love All Play both at ep1. I’m really slow. LOL!
I can’t believe it’s May now.
Thank Goodness for the extremely underutilized and better term brotherhood.
Thanks @pkml3. Between the actors, I think I crush more on Junho than JCW. The other thing about me, just because I like the actors does not mean I’ll watch their shows LOL. I also drop their shows so the Show matters more to me in the end. Some kind of fan I am Heheheh!
That being said, I’ve mentioned it twice already that I’m looking forward to the musical drama (I hope they really mean that there’ll be more than just 1 song, sung live), The Sound of Magic. If I can squeeze in more new shows besides this, that will be icing on the cake!!
Thank you Packmule3 – rich choice indeed. Agreed on the term brotherhood!
I am watching ‘Again my Life’ and ‘Who Rules the World’.
A shout out too for heart-warming c-drama ‘Oath of Love’ which I strongly recommended.
I almost missed it because the first 2 episodes didn’t grab me at all. I am now hooked and immersed. It’s both romantic comedy and romantic and family drama at different points in the narrative.
Great performance as usual from the ever perky Yang Zi – more rounded, less fey than her Go Go Squid character and performance (charming as that was). She really complements the more introverted Xiao Zhan (I enjoyed him in that comedy fantasy romance ‘O My Emperor!) whose performance is both measured and delightful.
Quality older actors and a father-daughter relationship running through the story. I am finding it really moving. It resonates.
There are of course the usual shouty, meant to be funny but not, girlfriends for our FL… but they tolerable in short bursts and they do move the plot along at times.
Very good soundtrack – great use of classical and instrumental tracks + our main leads sing 3 of the songs. ML has a beautiful voice.
https://www.viki.com/tv/36966c
Thank you, @packmule3. @WEnchanteur mentioned “Love All Play” and I followed his recommendation. It is indeed good.
Haha. It is @nrllee and I who are familiar with the EXO current and former members. @agdr03 is totally into another group. 🙊
@Miracle23, thank you for the recommendation. I am looking forward to seeing that.
Kalimera everyone!
@Packmule3 thank you for this thread!
What I am waiting to see: “Bloody Heart” and “Doctor Lawyer” with So Ji Sub.
As for “Love All Play”, a friend of mine says that is good!
So far the only one I am eagerly waiting to watch from April’s Shows is:
“Tomorrow.” It is a hidden gem that most people don’t watch, because we get to see all the things that is happening to the world and we turn a blind eye.
I really like it although their cases are pretty sad. We have bullying cases, sexual assault cases, forgetting the elderly and so on.
I am also watching “From Now On, Showtime” and I am enjoyng it so far.
Also, I gave a try to “Sh**ting Stars”. I am waiting to see where they will go with it.
@Kate, ah you’ve mentioned the show with my 2019 crush, Xiao Zhan. Thanks for reminding me about Oath of Love. I was watching so many videos of him singing and on interviews for a couple of years. That has faded, and I’ve still to watch Oath of Love, but I will start it one day.
@GB – aha! Gad you are a fan. You know I was not into him especially — but his character in this really drew me to him. He is now top of my boyfriend list as a result of the show!
I think this will be up your ally!
ps Chinese boyfriends in drama land – good ones at least – are so incredibly solicitous of their girlfriends. They really express what it is to ‘husband’.
*up your alley*!
I am keeping an eye on this one. I know you keep a wide berth for procedural dramas @packmule3, but I am making a beeline for shallow island on this one 😂. 3 words SO…JI…SUB
https://www.soompi.com/article/1524509wpp/so-ji-sub-is-a-warmhearted-and-professional-doctor-in-upcoming-drama
And of course premiering June6 is Link (Yeo JinGoo and Moon GaYoung) so I am holding off starting any of these. Apart from the Doctor Lawyer drama.
Ooops, I watched “sounds of magic” trailer. The kind that push me away. Too much over-the-top in the fantasy. Marry poppins feeling. And I dislike any musical movies. Except when it’s hilarious songs like in “Team America”, made by South Park creators.
Hello all. Currently watching Our Blues for the interesting format and overall convincing casting (still not fully sold by the HTC3 lady though).
Also, if you can get past the rather painful portrayal of “Africa” in Episodes 1-2, as well as some questionable actions (and acting) of the male lead, Sh**ting Stars may just be the light romcom drama you are looking for this May. I think there is promise in the story – I am staying with the gut feeling that it won’t be another Royal Inspector and Jo Yi.
I bring good news though – Yumis Cells 2 finally has a poster out and is scheduled to run in June. Really looking forward to this!
Link: https://www.soompi.com/article/1524186wpp/got7s-jinyoung-makes-kim-go-euns-heart-skip-a-beat-in-romantic-yumis-cells-2-poster
@nrllee,
I’ve my sights set on this “Link: Eat, Love, Die” drama with Yeo JinGoo and Moon GaYoung. Is it a body swap?
😇 No to “Doctor Lawyer.” Although So JiSub’s broad shoulders are to die for.
Hi @Exwriter, welcome and thanks for the info on Yumi’s Cells 2 (and the other currently airing shows). I believe we’ll definitely be chatting about Yumi’s Cells 2 over here. 🙂
Currently watching:
My Liberation Notes
Love All Play—it’s fine. I like the leads. Just wish it was more straightforward. Not every show needs a freaking mystery. Also, crappy coaches/managers. They’re supposed to be 20 something adults but they act more like high schoolers.
Shooting stars is something I’m actually hate watching which is something I’m not sure I’ve ever done before. I should’ve known when they used Shitting as a play on words in the title it wouldn’t be my cup of tea but wow, I can’t believe this actually got made in 2022.
I was never excited about Our Blues but wanted to check in to see if any of the stories interested me. It was a complete drop for me. I just don’t think I like that writer.
Oath of Love was also a drop after 4 episodes. I’m pretty sure I hated everything about it.
Plan to start: Showtime
Who rules the world.
No interest in the other magic show with JCW.
Bloody heart
Most excited about:
Link.
Plan to give Woori the Virgin and Kiss sixth sense a try.
@pm3 thanks for the post. I was eagerly waiting to hear what is out this month. As always, I’ll browse through them and see what sticks.
I’m so surprised that there are more Disney+ offerings. I guess I may be checking them out first.
Currently watching:
Tomorrow – as @cleo mentions it is sad. I end up crying at each episode, but at its core, it is hopeful and enjoyable.
W rewatch – After 2 weeks off, I feel I got lost again lol
@Exwriter, that’s good news about Yumi’s Cell’s Season 2!
I’m looking forward to The Sound of Magic. I hope it is a win for Ji Chang Wook. He has struggled hard to break out of the action genre, to limited success so far.
I’ll take a look at Doctor Lawyer for So Ji Sub’s sake. I haven’t seen him since Oh My Venus, where I thought he did a good job. I also liked him in Master’s Sun. But having just binged on Dr. Romantic 1 & 2, I may find I need a break from medical dramas.
I’m savoring My Liberation Notes, watching each episode at least twice, so that will take me through May. The W: Two Worlds rewatch will also keep me busy.
@packmule 3 – someone in Homeland Security needs a better screen writer – it’s like they pulled the title from 1984.
My emotional capacity for dramas these days is the fluffier the better so I just breezed through the C-drama Be My Princess – so silly but sweet. I recommend this drama for pure escapism and to enjoy the visually stunning leads. And because there is an amnesia plot (of course there is!) and a film within a film plot – there are three separate romances between the leads. I liked Lost Romance (another pure fluff romance) for the same reason – two romances between the leads.
For me the lighter the better these days – so I will check out Love All Play.
On the serious side, I may watch Pachinko once all the episodes are out. I haven’t heard that much about but perhaps that is because it is on Apple TV.
For May I want to check out:
Love All Play
The Sound of Magic
Woori The Virgin-coming to Viki
I will wait and see on these other dramas. I might check them out if there is a lot of positive buzz from viewers:
Monstrous
Kiss Sixth Sense- coming to Disney+
Just a note for everyone on BOD. It just amazes me to see the high qua.ity output of K Dramas. The sheer number and qua,ity of the offerings keeps me watching. There are so many original stories. There has been continuous programming despite the rigors prese n Ted by the Covid pandemic. The great majority of actors from leads to the smallest supporting roles are top notch. I hope these people are well cared for and compensated. And they all have to deal with the netizens(who are a prickly crowd). As a lifelong fan of pop culture(mostly American a d British with a nod to Europe, Japan and China) I am in awe of the Korean ouevre(fancy word).
@Carolina,
“Tomorrow” is very touching. I really like it although it makes me sad.
Every episode teaches you something. Especially Episode 10 it a difficult one, but someone has to address those issues. I am happy that I gave it a try and I am watching this!
@GoodTwin – thanks for the tip. I am in the mood for something frothy. I watched a few episodes and will finish it.
I enjoyed Lost Romance, in same vein, Marcus Chang (!!!) and Vivian Sung (who carried it – she is a little like Sandra Ma). I find Taiwanese dramas refreshing and fun. [ Some seem to be a bit low budgety and save money on the audio recording with a lot of disturbance from background and traffic noise… my only complaint]. I recently raced through ‘Fated to love you’ as a complete contrast with something more serious.
Right, @Old American Lady?
I can’t believe how many quality kdramas are out this month. It’s truly one of the major exports of South Korea. I’d be hard-pressed to name an HBO or Netflix drama, but I know what tvN and KBS have produced.
Thanks for the recs, @Good Twin. I think I’ll need amnesia myself to erase this whole week from my mind. 😖
O no…just when I thought I would watch Doctor Lawyer and Link, this pops up on my radar. Decisions decisions. May have to ditch one broad shouldered hunk for another. 😂
https://www.soompi.com/article/1524622wpp/na-in-woo-is-riddled-with-an-unusual-jinx-in-upcoming-fantasy-romance-drama
@nrllee!
There are so many good ones for this month! I also forgot to mention “Kiss Sixth Sense”, but @Table12200 said it above!
https://mydramalist.com/707571-kiss-six-sense
You have time, @nrllee. This won’t be out till June.
I’m not wild about his costar though. It’s NOT Hyuna. It’s that maknae of Hyuna’s girl group, SNSR? SDNR? or something. I don’t think she can act, and her face isn’t pleasing nor charming enough for me to stare at for hours on end. Just give me Kim GoEun’s face or Kim Sejeong face.
Currently watching:
1. Tomorrow – really thought provoking and touching. A lot of deep issues
2. Sh**ting stars – which I always read as Shitting Stars. I binged watched 4 episodes over this long holiday weekend and it was so fun to watch!
Wondering which one to start on:
Love all Play
Link
(Old drama that @WE recommended) Feel Good to Die
Bloody Heart
Who Rules the World
Showtime
I had a bit of a drama slump after Business Proposal and 2521 that only got restarted with Reset….pun intended.
@packmule3 and @nrllee, I have now figured out a short cut to choosing dramas. Just look for one or two interesting discussions on BOD and voila! You have your drama. With so many good ones to choose from, trust in this great blog to narrow down your choice. And the great thing is that when there are dry spells you can look at older dramas you haven’t seen where there are archived BOD discussions for catch up. Those of us who were new to all this ended up watching lots of classics this way. Just trust in BOD to steer you in a good d I reaction. (Also, just know that if you like makjangs, this is not the place for recommendations.)”
@Old American Lady – good points.
I have just started “The Oath of Love” based on recommendations from @Kate and @Growing Beautifully in this thread. It is just my cup of tea. The FL and the ML start out with the usual misconceptions about each other, but start to care for each other in little ways even before the romance. It’s not going to be a conceptual breakthrough but it’s refreshing somehow.
Many thanks to @Kate and @GB.
@Fern – great to hear and I hope you continue to enjoy it!
@Fern, I hope you do enjoy Oath of Love. I’d love to know what you think of it. I’ll be starting it very late, probably after June 🙂
I am currently watching:
Who Rules the World (on pause now, waiting for Netflix to update to ep 19). Loving this Wuxia show!
Love O2O – Such a good watch! Gotta trust why BODers chose Xiao Nai as one of the best boyfriends. I know it a 6 years old drama but it is still lovely to watch today! It is great to read @pm3’s analysis on the show and there are many times I cracked out laughing (swimming trunks). There is something sweet and fresh about young love – watching them to discover things at the first time. With the benefit of watching it 6 years later. I got to see where the pair of actors are now. Good for Yang Yang for where he is now. Sad to see where ZS is.
Reset – just started ep 1.
I will add The Oath of Love to my watch list! Thanks @Kate @GB and @Fern for mentioning it.
I found this C Drama “Delicacies Destiny” in Disney Plus when trying to search for Love all Play and Bloody Heart (unfortunately not available in my region). My mum is watching it. She is up to ep 4 and told me there are lots of yummy food and so far, quite funny. I read an article and it was rated highly in Douban. May be anyone who wants to watch a drama with some Chinese cooking?
https://mydramalist.com/692403-zhen-xiu-ji
@Viva,
What swimming trunks? Did I write about swimming trunks in “Love O2O”? I can’t recall that.
All I remember is the lesson on “hickeys” because S.O.M.E.B.O.D.Y. (whose name shall not be mentioned) didn’t know what a hickey was.
Yes. “Love O2O” was fun times for us.
Okay, I just checked.
Yeah…. the show made such a big deal of Xiao Nai’s “swimming trunks” — or at least the heroine was. I thought he was going to come out of the dressing room wearing skimpy Speedos. As it turned out, he was just wearing swimwear that’s the equivalent of Fruit of the Loom tighty whities: boring trunks. Boooooo!
@pm3 I know right! 😂😂😂😂 They built up the expectations (yes quietly admitting I am waiting for speedo) and then just pretty much a pair of ordinary shorts!? That’s why I cracked up so much when reading your post – what style? Trunks? 😂😂😂😂
Yet to finish it, but I felt it is a classic really, Love O2O.
It’s not me. 🙅🏻♀️
But the hickey lesson was awesome. 😍
@AOL, there’s a bit of advice for makjang in the comments ^^
I sometimes talk about my favorites, like Penthouse war in life, The last empress.
The word is seen in a pejorative way, but it’s like any other style. If the script is good, the drama will be good too. There are well written makjang, and those that are much less well written. I dropped “Fate&Furry” for example. And I liked a daily makjang like The Promise (low budget, retro TV direction), or Queen of ambition, or The incarnation of money (same screenwriters as Empress Ki).
And thanks to one of your previous comments, I started Military Prosecutor Doberman!
A self-parodying makjang in the same genre as Penthouse. Awesome! The screenwriter is Yoon Hyun Ho, who wrote a drama in the same genre before: Lawless Layer. And before that, the very melodramatic “Remember War of the Son”. With one of the best antagonists to date, and a sublime ending. The only problem is that I don’t have enough time to see everything.
@grace,
Feel good to die: good first scene, isn’t it? And… the manhole, like in a cartoon. 😀
Sh**ting stars: I watched the first two episodes out of curiosity but I put “on-hold” due to lack of time. I was tired while watching, but from the second episode, it’s pretty much the same style as Bussiness Proposal.
The “**” are on purpose I guess. Because the stars have very annoying quirks.
@Viva – Love 020 is my number 1 ‘go to’ for comfort viewing. I am sure I am not the only one to have seen it a number of times and I’ll admit too to watching the film too at least 5 times! I gather from the discussion here that Angelababy is not close to the character of the heroine who is far more introspective as depicted by the actress in the tv series… but I still enjoy watching the film version too. My favourite segment is the basketball match she attends after the unexpected date.
@Packmule3 …When I discovered this blog I really enjoyed the Love 020 commentary here. Thank you and other BoDers for such an interesting discussion…it sent me off to check out the book and some of the detail we didn’t see!!
@WEnchanteur, Thanks for the good makjang advice.i loved The Last Empress and will now add all the Penthouse seasons to my list. I got into Sky Castle and Mine, but I think they were more “quality” productions. I guess VIP also felt like a makjang (I love Jang Nara). I am happy to enjoy most genres. There’s a lot of pleasure to be had in the Asian drama world(although I still feel that K Dramas are the best).
@AOL, World of the married and Sky Castle look like Makjang but are not. Its more comedy of manners. But they are also very good dramas. I know nothing about VIP.
Also, there is traditionnal Makjang, and since Last Empress… “makjang on steroïd” self-parodic ones, like Penthouse but not many others. I would list “The incarnation of money” in that, and maybe “Lawless Layer” or “Military Prosecutor Doberman”. It’s when the writers know very well what they are doing and playing with that.
You can see in Last Empress, there is an absurd scene on purpose. Before, this scene was a twist serious in traditionnal makjang, but Last Empress make it a parody: when the fat guy goes to training during 3 months, and just after… by magic, he’s this perfect bodyguard, with a different face. It’s absurd. Add to that the “rocky” music and the stupid Montage training.
It’s that! The writer joke with their own style.
There is scenes like that in Penthouse. One is just… oh damn shit… the disney picture dream, this writer is so mad and always looking for make something bad in a so sharp way. But there is also scenes of oustanding acting. Like Cheon Seo Jin phone call scene (around end of season 1). The actress was beyond perfect in this drama.
The level of irony is insane, for each character, each scene. for fun, I post a fun MV with some Seo Jin nervous breakdown, it don’t spoil many. Any scene where people break something or become mad are part of the comedy:
@WEnchanteur, thanks for the further definition. I guess makjangs need absurdity. Given this definition the recently ended, Love.ft.Marriage and Divorce counts. There are grim reapers, ghosts, possessed people in a drama that started with a lot of infidelity. The writer, Phoebe,cane out of retirement to write it.
@AOL, Love ft. I think I wouldn’t like this drama. Mix of genre like that. In W, After 33 volumes of detective action, the manhwa jump into surnatural, and readers keep reading. Maybe here too, the audience can jump into it ghosts?
I never watched a show from this writer. Maybe I will do one day with Apgujeong Baek-ya, because there is actress Park Ha Na into that.
I don’t know if the writer have this sens of humor Penthouse writer have, or she’s really serious with her plot-lines. I’ve read an article about one of her previous show, that say how crazy she’s:
https://www.dramabeans.com/2013/12/when-dramas-go-crazy-aurora-princess-a-case-study/
Finally, even with all these problems, she came back!
https://www.dramabeans.com/2015/04/makjang-writer-makes-grand-exit-from-dramaland/
I’m currently hooked on Military Doberman. It’s my new darling, ahah. The script is great, and directing too. There is so many scenes that hit hard, smashing effect, with the way it’s directed, edited, and background musics and sound effects. The universe have cohesion and is original.
Just for example, end of episode 4, there is a serie of lightning speed flashback with punch sounds, and after remember the truth, the hero walk dizzy, and the director make the image tilting.
@Wenchanteur – aha! Re Military Doberman I tried just one episode and other shows got in the way. But if this is a worthwhile show I will watch further at the weekend. Thank you for the tip!
@WEnchanteur, I hear you on Love ft. Marriage and Divorce. It to not everyone’s cup of tea. I hope to get to watching Military Doberman because I like Ahn Bo Hyun and Jo Bo Ah
Because there is so much out there as nd in order to keep my head from spinning I’m watching currently airing shows with one or two episodes a week that I can stretch out through a whole week with one show that has fully aired(Legally Romance).I want to watch Matrimonial Chaos after that because of the cast that includes two of the leads from My Liberation Notes and BaeDoona (not fighting zombies),the great. I won’t watch it until I finish LR. There are no guarantees that this will work for me but it will be like enforced discipline. LOL
‘Master of My Own’ looks very promising – have just started it.
It stars Seven Tan (‘The Sword and the Brocade’ and ‘Go Ahead’ amongst many successful roles). I really enjoy her as an actress.
Despite myself I am warming to her somewhat objectionable boss… who is more rugged looking than many MLs.
It is a quality production and moves at a good pace – entertaining rather than profound but clearly has an empowering message and hints 1988 ‘Working Girl’ and some elements of ‘What’s wrong with secretary ofKim’ (although the story is different overall) and the odd hint too of fun c-drama ‘Life is Sweet’.
Correction *Love is Sweet* – stars Bai Lu and
Luo Yun Xi
Thanks, @Kate. This “Master of My Own” popped up on my Youtube feed. Please tell me what’s it all about. Thanks. pm3
In other news,
Lee JunHo took the Baesang Award for the Red Sleeve Cuff!
I am so proud of him… ❤️
Also, Kim Tae Ri took the Baesang Award for 25-21!
Correction: Baeksang Awards
Hi @Packmule3!
Yes, with pleasure.
In ‘Master of My Own’, Seven Tan plays a young woman whose dream is to be an investor but ends up instead on a career detour as the highly efficient, long-suffering secretary of a young, ambitious CEO. This is at the company to which she originally applied to be a trainee investor.
She is clearly gifted and a strategic thinker. She has become a right hand woman to the CEO. And she is the only person who can handle him – his moods etc. He tends to be harsh to his team. So no-one wants her to move to a new role and resume her desired career path – least of all him!
The series starts on the day she announces to her boss that she wants a new role (hence the comparison with ‘What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim’). This announcement rocks the boat in a number of ways and we follow not only what happens to her but also what happens to him.
I’ll stop there so that I don’t spoil too much of the plot!
Those two deserve it!! I’m proud of them.
@Packmule3,
So true! I was rooting for JunHo and TaeRi! ❤️
Thanks, @Kate.
I don’t really mind if it’s the same old Office Romance between boss and staff because I want to see if there’s a cultural shift in the way the Chinese writers and directors view the relationship.
My baseline is 2014 “Boss and Me.” I thought it was patronizing…no…creepy, if you ask me. But the storylines are getting progressive.
What wonderful news @Cleo!!! I’m so happy for them. Yes, I agree with @pkml3, Jun Ho and Tae Ri deserve all the awards they get.
@Packmule3 – I’d be really interested to see what you think of this show in the light of that.
@Cleo – wow fantastic news!
ps re ‘Master of My Own’ …it looks like it will combine empowerment with probable office romance.
That said, from memory, the show’s opening credits focus mainly on our heroine growing into a professional woman of stature. So, we’ll see!
Speaking of the spread of candy in the candy store, @pkml3, I forgot that this show was airing tonight… in fact all 6 episodes have dropped for The Sound of Magic! Please open a thread for this new show. Thanks!!
@GB Unnie,
The ceremony was live on tik tok and I was able to watch JunHo and TaeRi winning! I was so happy that I was cheering by myself when JunHo won, while I was walking on the street ! LMAO!
JunHo went first to Se Young and they hugged. Se Young got slightly emotional. She was very proud of him. JunHo got emotional as well when he went on the podium. Since I was live watching there were no subs.
I was just happy that JunHo won.
To be honest with you, I wanted him to win, but I wasn’t not pretty sure because of Squid Game. When they were announcing the nominees all the theather was cheering when JunHo’s name was heard and then I knew. He will take the award home! ❤
Then, it was Tae Ri’s turn. She couldn’t believe it. I guess they didn’t know that they will win beforehand.
@Kate Indeed!
@Cleopatra, Thank you for the Baeksang Award news. These two were my favorites. Thanks to The Red S,everyone, I became a Junho fan and watched some of his past dramas. I love the versatile idol actors, who are also great on variety shows. I also rewatch Junho sing/dance My House(one of the series kpop songs).
I saw The Handmaiden and was blown away by TaeRi’s performance in a very disturbing film. I had read that she had to audition for the role and she beat out something like a thousand people for it when she was very young. I adored her as Hedo. I am so happy that she won. 2521 cemented her a s one of my favorites. Mr. Sunshine is now on my list.
Thank you @C,eopatra for this happy news!Hooray!
Ahh I found Love All Play in Disney Plus in my region! It’s called “Going to you at a Speed of 493 km”. Still no sign of Bloody Heart though. Disney Plus search engine is not that easy to use.
@Kate yes it is such a comfort drama! Watching this I can’t help but remember the excitements of university life and first love! Xiao Nai is easily everyone’s dream guy in university. Watching WW fell in love with him is quite a magical experience. Every drama has its place and time in our life and a good first love drama is just extra sweet. As I grew older, I almost forgot those treasurable youth moments! I didn’t have that sort of first love nor success straight out of university but seeing Wei Wei and Xiao Nai made it in dramaverse is satisfying. 😊Yang Yang has such an excellent posture. Every time I saw him on screen I straighten my back. I am sure I will watch You are my Glory eventually.
I will also add Master of My Own to my watchlist.
@Cleo, that’s awesome news!!! Both are well deserved! I will wait for JLML’s subbed video.
@Viva,
I can still remember Xiao Nani’s joke about being getting a degree in celibacy/monkhood in Love O2O. 😂😂
Some lines really stick with you.
I wonder what lines from Business Proposal will stick with me. I think it’s the Samantha and Rachel line of Hari.
Are you watching Love All Play, @viva?
Yes yes @pm3! Graduation from the ‘automatic control department’! If one contracts the first character of ‘self move/automatic’ and the first character ‘control’ in Chinese it becomes ‘self control’.
I also went and read that part in the novel, I think by the novel descriptions it’s meant be a speedo but we didn’t get that in TV. 🙈
His lines are between swoon worthy and cheesy, but because its spoken by Xiao Nao its very swoon worthy. He delivers his one liners like Maggie Smith in Downton Abbey. The effect is very on point.
Yes S and R for Hari! For Taemoo it’s the my card and my love for you have no limit. Then it is ‘You know I have no Chin Gu!’
I am thinking about Love All Play but haven’t started it yet. I was a bit burnt by Twenty Five Twenty One and I wonder if this one will heal me. 😂
@Viva, I haven’t watched episodes 5 and 6 of Love All Play yet. Nor Again my life. Nor anything else. I’m going to finish Military Doberman before anything else. Voilà, a decision! I have such a hard time going from one drama to another. I’m exclusive… once I’m in one, I stay there!
I don’t have multiple relationships with dramas. 💑 🤭
I read spoilers (argh!!!) from other commenters because they were worried too. Drama 25-21 doesn’t end in a nice way for them. So they wanted to be reassured and the actors gave an interview for that.
I’m not saying anything more, but even that is a spoiler, aaaaahhhhh. 🤣
@WEnchanteur – your comments above made me laugh!
I think I’m the same – but I try to ‘have multiple relationships with dramas’. I do better when I immerse in one and really get into it.
I am watching 3 at the moment and that is probably too many.
I’ve enjoyed reading all your comments and recommendations here. I’ve been mostly absent from this blog and from watching k-dramas because I’m busy packing–we are moving to a new town in a week!
I have managed to start From Now On, Showtime, which I’m finding fun. It’s just the right combination of things for me right now–funny gags (like that fire-y flatulence!), a back story and a possible way back story, and a unique way of pursuing police investigations.
I put Our Blues on hold because I can’t watch it with enough attention these days. I managed to finish the first story arc/album. I like that it’s presented as a series of short stories since I’m a fan of short fiction.
I started watching Sh**ting Stars while packing but even for packing it’s not giving me enough to hold my interest. There’s really no conflict and there’s been nothing surprising in the storyline. I had heard it was going to be like a Korean version of Call My Agent, a French show I’ve enjoyed about casting agents in France, but it lacks that show’s charms, primarily because CMA has stars playing–and making fun of–themselves and their overfed egos. So far all SS is about is a jealous actor and his secret pursuit, if you can call it that, of an agent who works at the agency representing him. I do sometimes like watching workplace-based dramas just to get a sense of what people’s working lives in different careers are like, but I think I’ve gotten the picture already from the first four episodes…
I tried the first few minutes of the Sound of Magic but realized I can’t watch two shows about magic at once–and the La La Land-like opening number turned me off. I’ll try it again when FNOS is over.
Has anyone in the USA found a way of watching Bloody Heart? I’m assuming Disney+ US won’t be showing it for awhile, per their usual. I’d like an historical to look forward to when I’m less busy.
Other than that I’m looking forward to Yumi’s Cells season 2!
PS Thank you @Miracle23 for recommending Gangubai. Alia Bhatt is one of my favorite Indian actresses–I’ll add it to my Netflix list of Indian movies (to watch when I’ve finished moving). [Did you see her in Highway?]
@WE, if you put it like that 😂🤣. Let me think, if I watch multiple dramas it is usually because 1. I am up to date with my drama, waiting for new episodes. 2. I don’t want to be too deep in one drama and try to balance the variety.
But if all the episodes are available and the story is interesting, I can be very exclusive too! Like I am ‘Reset’ing now! 😊
@Viva – your comment re Yang Yang’s posture reminded me a little later that he has a background in contemporary dance. You may all have discussed this before. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bBe7vnxtQI
A quite other Yang Yang performance.
ps You’ve probably all seen the YouTube Yang Yang student contemporary dance performance when he was a student– but I watched again and was struck by his grace this time, far less ‘leading male’ facially controlled then of course + the skills that he brings to the physicality of his roles now.
@Kate I just started Master of My Own – it’s really cute so far. I love the plucky “ugly duckling” story line – I guess there will be a romance at some point but it is hard to believe it will be with her terrible boss – but we will see. ( What is with these massive age differences ?) You can’t help but to root for the lead.
@Good Twin – so glad you are enjoying it. Yes it’s a very appealing story line – and ‘plucky’ is the perfect word for our likeable and spirited heroine.
I am now on episode 15 and still finding it very watchable and enjoying a lot of the support characters too. I won’t say any more about how it is developing… I’d love to know what you think when you are further in.
Kalimera my dear @OAL !
I am sorry for answering you a bit late, but I take time to rest these days.
I am glad you liked the news! It was a good day for both of them.
I was really touched by what JunHo said in his accepting speech!
He wanted to become an actor obviously and he dreamed about it.
So, his dream hits base to all those dreamers – including me –
that really want to do something very much or become who they truly are, as my favorite e.e.cummings wrote!
I do hope you are okay! 😘
Hi. I finally ended “Military Presecutor Doberman”. It was a good one, with punch and good directing. HOWEVER: the last episode was bad. No idea why. It’s a perfect conclusion for all characters and plots (maybe some people will like it because that). Except all that’s happens is so expected that it’s boring. Even the actors look sleepy or out of their shoes. And the last scene is a total Cliché. The writer was joking? Or he got requests from the production?
a Hi @Cleopatra, Please don’t apologize. You have a busy and rich life. I am always happy to read your posts whenever they come.
I was so happy about JunHo and Tae Ri. They were so good and gave nuanced performances. They both looked gorgeous, he in his white dinner jacket and she in her specially tailored gown with strategic, tasteful cut outs, specially tailored for her by the designer team to meet Korean mores. I would love to see these talented actors work together in any genre but I wouldn’t protest if it was a rom com.
Please enjoy all the riches that we have in K dramas.
@Kate, thanks for the link. 🙂 That’s some impressive dancing! Standing up with a split (not sure what is the official name for it in the dance world) That would be some serious hard work. With his face and skills, wonder what would he have become if he stays dancing. But again, with his face and skills, it’s hard not to be selected for the big screen. Agree, that’s why his martial art/action scenes are graceful to watch.
By the way, after Reset, I added You are my Hero in my watchlist. 🙂
@Viva – when you watch it do let us know how you get on with You are my Hero!
Yes indeed… YY does seem to use all of that experience to create a lot of ‘stage presence’ in his on-screen roles.
Ah, I really liked “You Are My Hero.” Almost as much as I liked “You Are My Glory.” I think the latter was one of my favourite dramas of 2021.
@Fern, I need to re-watch ‘You are My Glory’. I galloped through it last year because I was about to go away and not have easy access to watching Amazon Prime.
DD seems to work well with some people and better with others. I have so far liked her best in the modern c-drama ‘Love Designer’ with Johnny Huang. He is rather surly but they had sparky chemistry – you could tell they liked one another in real life and it helped rather than hindered the feel of the drama.
I really want to try and make it all the way through ‘Eternal Love’ speaking of shows she has been in. I keep getting stalled 5 or 6 eps in.
I watched a MV on youtube, and because I liked I watch now “Law School”.
(While I should end Iljimae first, grrrrr!)
The direction is very good, by same director than “Liberation Notes”!!!
The story… I’ve hard time to understand all. Too bad it was not on BOD. I can deal easelly with the many flashbacks, but what is complicated: they use a lot of dialogues and many informations come from here.
@Kate and @Fern,Is DD a Uygher, curious because of all the controversy in China? one more question-I saw Johnny Hwang in a BL where he and his stepbrother character fell in love. It seems uncommon that leading men in heterosexual parts do BL, but ty I also saw him in a room com where there was a leading lady. I guess he is able to do cross over work although I think BL is not common now in Mainland Chinese cinema (but very much alive in Taiwan). I think Mainland China is heavily censoring it’s own and foreign content.It didn’t allow a Spiderman movie because there was a picture of the Statue
of Liberty and I know there is a crackdown of LGBTQ content with the government even telling male citizens not to do hair dye. Have earrings or tattoos and other signs if western decadence. They don’t like K Pop either. Western movie companies have been making movies to Chinese taste(special Chinese cuts) because it is such a vast market and money talks. So now when I watch C Dramas I am curious to see we here the norms ar we an see if there is propaganda (sometimes it is subtle). It is all fascinating to me, especially also when big stars suddenly are disappeared.
@OAL, yes Dilraba is a Uyghur.
@Kate, I first saw DD in the Chinese version of ‘She Was Pretty.’ I liked her more than the Korean FL – her comedy was more subtle/less manic. Or it might have been the way it was directed. I preferred the ML in the Korean. I thought the actors who played the secret author character were really good in both the Korean and Chinese versions.
@Fern, Choi Siwon is an idol actor who is also a filthy rich chaebol in real life. He is very charming. Park SEO Joon, the ML in the Korean version is a big star in S.Korea and is now part of the Marvel Universe (he has completed principal production on one of its new movies and was in London for filming).it looks like more and more Hallyu stars are making their way into Hollywood productions. People like the producer, Mikey Lee, a woman Chaebol based in LA, who was behind Parasite are fueling this change.
@OAL – from memory that BL series/movie was a huge hit for Johnny. I think, from memory again, it was difficult for people who became his fans in that role to then accept him as the heterosexual male lead in future series. I will check because I may be making this up!!
I have just read that the show ‘Addicted’ was cancelled in 2016 and the stars banned from being seen together publicly and that has remained the case. A remake is in the works entitled ‘Innocent Playmates’.https://38jiejie.com/2021/06/28/bl-drama-addicted-is-rumored-to-be-getting-a-remake-called-innocent-playmates/
@Fern and @OAL – I liked Park Seo Joon as the male lead in She was Pretty – he always seems to deliver so wonderfully. But I am tempted now to see DD in the Chinese version. Thank you for tipping me off. That’s going on my list.
@Kate, I saw that BL. He was very good in it. The man can act. In the states this role would be just another way for the actor to stretchi ‘ve seen him in heterosexual roles and he rocks them. He is also heavily represented as a brand ambassador f I r numerous products, so I think that BL role did not harm him.
@OAL — I haven’t seen it. But I have seen him in the series I mentioned with DD – very good ‘Love Designer’. I also saw him in a show with Victoria Song – didn’t enjoy so much.
What have you seen and what would you recommend with him in?
@Old American Lady, yes, I read that about Choi Siwon and the others. I admire him for pursuing his dreams in music and acting with his natural talent. I would like to see him acting again.
Pity I’m not near London to go and stare at Park Seo Jun.
@Kate, I can recommend the movie, Oversized Love. I saw what you saw. I want to watch more of his dramas. I just wish that the C Dramas didn’t have so many episodes. You can actually see Addicted on YouTube.The BLs actually have more steamy kiss and bed scenes where the actors are shirtless. They take some getting used to, but as a Shallow Islander, it is great to see those gorgeous bodies. It’s abs, pecs and guns. LOL.
@Fern, Choi Siwon is the male lead in Revolutionary Love with Kang Sora. He plays, drum roll, a. Chaebol. It’s on Netflix. It’s pretty light and he is well paired with Kang Sora. It is a work place drama.
I think PSJ is back in Seoul but he’ll probably return to the UK for further filming and premieres. I was recently very excited because Hyun Bin and Son YeJin were in New York in Brooklyn for a basketball game and in Times Square. I think I would die and go to heaven if I saw them in person. We native New Yorkers never bother celebrities. I’ve seen them on the subway a y, the street, on escalators and in restaurants. When I was a kid I actuallymet and spoke with Eleanor Roosevelt twice. Thesre still is a great thrill when you see these people up close.
@OAL. Thank you! I will check out the movie and if you see anything else by him you recommend, do share. I like him too. I especially liked him with DD. I’ll take a look at an episode of Addicted to see what all the fuss was about!
I agree re the length of CDramas… I am really enjoying ‘Master of My Own’ at the moment. So far the pace has been great and I have wolfed it down. But I am just now in a section of the drama where things have slowed down to allow for pennies to drop and for our leads to realise x and y. That is all good but it feels like some of the air got sucked out of the soufle. The lightness and great pacing is not quite there. I have adjusted and am still watching avidly because now I am hooked anyway. I think the pace will pick up again once we are through a particular story line. Just 5 or 6 episodes too many.
Thank you for the Choi Siwan information, @OAL.
What fun to live somewhere where celebrities appear! I shook hands with Nelson Rockefeller once when I was 11 at some theme park in California. Haha. Not exactly who I would have met if I had the choice. I would probably ignore the celebrities as well, not because I’m cool – rather because I’m too shy and wouldn’t know what to say. Would probably get their names wrong – my usual thing. 🤦♀️
Hi all,
Is anyone planning to watch ‘Why her?’. I am a fan of the leading actress – her shows tend to be high quality. Viki have it but are assembling a team to sub.
https://www.viki.com/tv/38290c-why-her
Following up the male lead from ‘Master of my Own’, I discovered he was in ‘Princess Agents’. I watched the first 2 episodes last night – exciting and pretty brutal – the first episode almost had the aura of ‘The Hunger Games’… though not the same story. Ep 2 hints of James Bond — one of our male leads is a tad Sean Connery! So it feels modern even though it is set in the Chinese equivalent of a very cruel, wild west era.
It was a smash hit when it came out in 2017 but I didn’t cotton on to it then. 3 strong main actors. I like the female lead a lot – Zhao Liying – loved her in ‘The Story of Minglan’.
As anyone seen it? I am putting it on my to be watched list.
@Old American Lady – it seems that you’re the only I see on this thread who is watching K-Drama, “Our Blues”. I am enjoying this show so much! There are @Old American Lady – it seems that you’re the only I see on this thread who is watching K-Drama, “Our Blues”. I am enjoying this show so much! There are so many scenes that I admire the direction! Episode 1, the opening sequence provided a tranquil setting. I had to watch 3 times to see how the camera movement was following him in that bus, how it transitions to the exterior environment. Then, at 25:40, this is when I enjoyed this show, and knew I was going to enjoy it! The scene transitions from the apartment down to the street, and for the next three minutes, we are re-introduced to some of the characters and their interactions provided some background of their relationships. There have been so many of these well-choreographed scenes where each cast member gets to shine on their individual characters and elevate each other’s characters! Did you start Mr. Sunshine? Lee Jun-eun was in it, and it’s great to see her as Eun-hui in Our Blues! In episode 3, she blew me away with her scene that begins around 46 minutes. The devastation on her face juxtaposed with her graceful handling of that situation. We need to see more independent, smart, and strong women on screen. Women who are honest, have integrity, and won’t take crap! so many scenes that I admire the direction! Episode
Oh goodness. I wrote my comment in Word, and it wasn’t like that. Somehow, when I pasted it here, there were repeats.
@packmule3 and @Viva, regarding Xiao Nai’s swim trucks in Love O2O, in the web novel, he called Weiwei if she can bring his swim trunks. He deliberately told her to bring that specific pair, a pair that his aunt gifted him, and they were for competitions. You know how small those competition swim trunks are. So, when she saw him walking out to the pool area, wearing that, she was totally out of sorts! However, for the tv show, due to censorship, (and perhaps other cultural stuff), the Yang Yang wore the long billabong shorts, which didn’t make sense.
@Fan of TKEM, our Bjues is my current nueun-huimber two drama after My Liberation Notes. Lee Jun-eum as Eun-hui is my favorite.She gets a whole other episode with a guesy star, uhm Jung-hwa playing her allegedly childhood best friend. Like her thirst love, the best friend who proclaims their loyalty, Eun-hui shows her ambivalence and hides her disappointment. Of course, h3r friend is beautiful and is placed on a pedestal by most of the men. Our Eun-hui can’t seem to catch a break. That being sad, I would love to see the day when Lee Jun-eum gets to be the FL in a romance. She is a 2onderful actor who has a sweet, pretty face. And she needs a handsome leading man. This is my wishful thinking. I also hope that at the end of this drama, her town, at least, shows her a ll the appreciation for everything she does for everyone.
@Kate et al. – just finished Master of My Own – what a satisfying light watch! Could barely call it a romance since there was so little of it but it showed a lovely progression of their relationship. I like that she saved him (not vice versa) and that her mentor was another strong woman. In the first few episodes I thought it was going to go down the tired path of the long-time woman friend of the male lead having a destructive scheming meltdown when another woman enters the picture – but it didn’t. It was cute how they became friends and mutually supportive. I liked the relationship between the male lead and his best friend too. All in all a light watch with some nice substance and a positive message too. Just what Dr. ordered in these troubled times.
@Good Twin – this is good to hear! You have overtaken me – I’m on ep 31. But I agree with everything you say about the series. For me it slowed down a little too much for around 4 episodes but I am loving the progression in it again. So many positives and even some ideas for handling tricky colleagues and negotiations! Yes, I like the friendship between ML and his friend too.
The Autumn Festival trip to visit Ning Meng’s parents was cute! Just as a point of interest – there was that point in a conversation between our ML and Ning Men’s father where the ML corrected him about his age and said ‘I’m 34 not in my forties’. The actor looks older than his actual age and imagine they were trying to close the perceived gap between him and Seven Tang’s character. In real life Seven Tang is 30 and the actor playing ML is around 34.
ps or perhaps it is just a running joke on set! I am watching the same actor in ‘Princess Agents’ (2017). He will have been 29 when he made it and he does look more mature than his years!
*Ning Meng*
@Kate – I noticed that too. What I thought was a huge age difference between the leads is actually not. She seemed a lot younger before her makeover and he seemed older. Him being such a bully in the beginning and older – I thought it was going to go in a cringey direction – but the FL’s own self confidence and self regard was the perfect suit of armor. I thought it was silly when they were trying to convince us that he was 30 (based on best friend’s age) – but the actor is actually closer to 30 than to 40. He also looked younger when he started wearing lighter colored suits and softened up personality-wise.
@ Good Twin… yes! And sometimes when he wore a fringe/bangs that also knocked the years off although I preferred his hair swept off his face.
Kalimera Everyone,
I know it is out of context, but I wanted to say this.
On Tuesday we lost a pioneer in music…Rest in Peace Vangelis.
I got so very sad last night when I heard of his passing.
My brother had his album of Tubular Bells. He had many fans in America and everywhere else, I imagine.
Dear @Fern,
Good morning. I do hope you are okay!
The man was talented and knew how to stir emotions. I love very much Mythodea (2001). We, here in Greece, are very saddened from his passing.
@Cleopatra, Of course I knew wno Vangelis was.i remember going to see Chariots of Fire. His music for the film, especially the theme, was so new and exciting that I had to buy the recording. It spoke to racing and championships. When I needed inspiration I would play it. It was a sure fire way to get me out of a funk. I also remember the background music for Blade Runner. Thean was a pioneer in electronic music and the use of synthesizer s. We have lost a great. Thank you @Cleopatra for alerting us to this loss. We bODers know the value of a wonderful OST and Vangelis made our life beautiful with music for our own OST.
.
Kalimera to everyone!
Dear @OAL,
Thank you for always giving me and us comforting words whenever something happens in the world. I really appreciate it! <3
@ Everyone,
I wanted to say that we have "Doom At Your Service" first anniversary this May!
Hi @Cleo! Has it been a year??? DAYS feels like it was just 4-5 months ago! LOL.
How’s your weather? Mine is so hard to sit through without the fan or air-conditioning. It’s finally raining now but the humidity does not decrease. It’s hard to concentrate on anything without wanting to get up and get out for some air.
Kalimera @GB Unnie!
Yes it’s been a year! What a journey that story was for us!
Our temperatures are steadily rising. We are going to have a mini heat and then it will go down to come up. It is uncomfortable in the afternoons, but what can I do?
Oh boy…Some parts have rising temperatures, other humidity, while others not.
I totally understand. Please be safe! xo
This is apart from K or C dramas.
Has anyone watched “Make Me a Match” which is showing on Netflix? I saw a trailer that looks interesting. The trailer is an interview with a Matchmaker about the ways she tries to find partners who fit well.
@Fern – sounds interesting!
Hi all, just back from trip to see elderly parents and couldn’t access Netflix because of the way my work laptop is set up (firewalls etc).
So I got my Chinese epic drama fix instead with the 58 episode Princess Agents. It is fab. Lots of things to enjoy. Rolicking (is this a word?) plot and pace! If it is your thing you will be grabbed in episode 1. Wonderful FL – I am a huge fan of Zhao Liying.
Buyer beware – the series finishes half way through the novel. So you need to read the novel to get the full picture. I think they must have planned a sequel. But it was made in 2017 and no sequel yet.
That said, it grabbed my attention and maintained it for the whole show. https://www.viki.com/tv/31618c
Hello, @Kate and @ Everyone else. Find Me a Match was a film, but it turned out to be a documentary (or that’s how it is presented, but not listed as such by Netflix.) It followed 3 adults who are trying to find a life partner and not having much luck. One of the matchmakers (who had a good success rate) wasn’t above advising trickery. The other had a more practical approach. The film was only about an hour long and interesting, but not in the genre similar to K-dramas or C-dramas that we have enjoyed.
It sounds like you enjoyed Princess Agents!
@ Fern – yes, excessively! I may even try a quick re-watch to enjoy some of the early episodes again. It is quite bloody and is apparently not as dark as the novel. But a vigorous story with lots to recommend it.
Dear me, we are at the tail end of May already!!! I guess, @pkml3, you’ll be opening a ‘What are we Watching in June’ post soon.
I saw that kfangurl’s review of this kdrama, ‘Inseparable Brothers,’ gave it an ‘A’. Perhaps this is a better outing for Lee Kwang Soo since I can’t bring myself to continue watching ‘Killer’s Shopping List’.
https://thefangirlverdict.com/2022/05/27/flash-review-inseparable-bros-movie/
I won’t have time to watch it yet, but I’d be happy to join in with whomever decides to give it a go!