Recently, my nieces asked me what happened to the paperbacks I’d leave in the beach house for summer reading. They noticed that the books on the shelves haven’t been replaced in the last three summers. Has their Dear Aunt stopped reading?
Yikes! They almost caught onto my kdrama addiction.
Their aunt has a defunct summer reading list because books have been replaced by dramas queued on Netflix and viki. Isn’t that sad?
But if I’ve to trade in my beach reads for kdramas/cdramas, then I’ve to be picky. Here’s my list of dramas for binge-watching this summer.
1. “Who Rules the World”
Pros:
Yang Yang and Zhao Lucy.
Cons:
40 episodes! Are there episodes I can skip, @agdr03?
I don’t think the Chinese fantasy drama works well with the sound of beach waves.
2. “You are My Glory”
Pros
It’s Yang Yang again.
Full of romantic moments.
Full of fan service.
Cons:
32 episodes!!
Dilraba’s face simply isn’t my cup of (beau)tea. She looks like she’s wearing circle lenses with her big eyes.
3. Jinxed at First
Pros:
Na In Woo. Lol. Hmmmm…is there a pattern here? I watch dramas for the guys? Say it ain’t so!
@nrllee said it’s an easy watch.
Cons:
The run-of-the mill plot.
SeoHyun. This is my major stumbling block.
She’s been added to my list of actresses whose acting I can’t stand. She’s in good bad company with Park Eunbin (“Extraordinary Attorney Woo,” “Do You Like Brahms” “The King’s Affection”), Chae SooBin (“Where Stars Land” and “A Piece of Your Mind”), Shin SeKyung (“Habaek” and “Run On”), Yoo Inna (“Goblin” and “Touch Your Heart”), and Gong Seungyeon (“Bulgasal”).
I must do self-hypnosis to ignore the leading actress.
4. What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?
Pros:
Park Min Young. I find her charming (yes, yes, I know about her plastic surgery but so what?) and I think her aegyo was at its “peak” in this drama.
Groveling scene.
Cons:
Don’t like Seo Joon ever since “She’s Pretty.”
Egotistical bosses as leading men are passé.
5. W
Isn’t it crazy that I missed the rewatch on this blog? I’m sorry I couldn’t join you, but weekends aren’t a good time for me to do rewatches.
6. Pinocchio
Pros:
Park Shin Hye, another actress I like despite her disastrous kiss scenes.
Lee Jong Suk
Cons:
This was such a big hit back in 2014, but I don’t think it aged well.
7. True Beauty
Because I didn’t finish it.
8. Dali and the Cocky Prince
Because I didn’t finish it, too. I thought the premise was good, and I had fun deciphering the meaning of the episodes. Besides, the lead actors look good together.
9. Dr. Romantic
I was told that it was good. I should try the first season, at least.
10. ??? I’m leaving this open for a Chinese drama.
What about you? Do you have a list of dramas to binge-watch? Maybe I’ll steal from your list.
Aaah, man!! I like all the one’s you dislike —SeoHyun, Park Eunbin, Chae SooBin, Shin SeKyung, Yoo Inna, and Gong Seungyeon. Maybe because I’m a XY 😛
An XY, @JohnL? Are you a biologist? How do you know what a man likes/dislikes? 😜🤪😂
Who rules the world- it’s probably only necessary to watch about 7 of the 40 episodes. It was fine but meh…
You are my glory- Yes! Dilraba’s nose always bothered me more than her eyes but I ended up loving her. Not too angsty, sweet and mature, easy to fly through.
Jinxed- ended up dropping after the 4th episode. I’ll read recaps but not worth precious screen time
Secretary Kim- it was fine but not wonderful. I’d put it at the bottom of the pile
W- Ive never watched it. maybe I should binge?? I’m neutral on him but I really loved the FL in happiness.
Pinocchio— hmm…I liked this one. Once I got past his horrible hair in the beginning. Not my favorite but it’s fine. I get this one and the one with Suzy mixed up. She was the reporter. Can’t think of it right now.
True beauty- stop after episode 15.
Dali- I skimmed
Dr romantic- I watched and liked season 2. Never saw season 1. Not sure why 😏
My recent binge watches:
Tomorrow- do not recommend binging. I’m glad I saw it for the content but the ML just doesn’t appeal to me. I haven’t watched She would never know because the fact that he’s in it and it’s classified as a noona romance keeps me away.
Queen for 7 days- I loved park min young in this. It was so much better than the red sleeve to me. The ML doesn’t hold a candle to Junho though
Crazy love- I had not planned on liking this one but I think I actually did. Surprisingly.
Work later, drink now- I don’t understand that type of binge drinking and not calling it alcoholism but I liked their friendship and the story much more than that awful 39
Recommended binge watch:
Mad for each other- Netflix- 12 or 13 30 min episodes. I loved both leads. The first episode was a bit much with the anger but I really think this show is a hidden gem.
Just between lovers/rain or shine – VIKI and Netflix – Junho. It’s heavy but sometimes it’s nice to put yourself through an emotional wringer. Or is that just me?
The autumn ballad- I liked both of these leads and maybe liked it better than Who rules the world?????
Someday or One day— the Taiwan version. My beloved jeon yeo bin from Vincenzo and Be melo and hye seop from business proposal are filming the Korean version now. Might be nice to binge the first so you can compare
My mister- it’s my ultimate favorite. I just like to put it on any list
My possible binge rewatches:
Strong woman do bong soon—I watched it and remember some of it. Everyone loves it so I think maybe I missed something.
Marriage, not dating- I remember liking this but not much else. Need to refresh my memory
Something like 1%— comfort drama and always a pleasant rewatch for me.
I still want to get around to Move to Heaven and Beyond Evil
Sigh I dropped Jinxed at first. The plot was just plodding along…the humour (?) from the side cast made me cringe. FL’s ingenue wore thin after a couple of eps. 🙄. Ditto the 2ML’s acting. He tried but he kept looking torn/pained for most of the beginning eps and I couldn’t work out why. He didn’t seem to be in love with FL? So why was he so cheerless? 🤷♀️ Even IW’s acting (which wasn’t bad) is not going to carry a thin storyline. Maybe it would be okay as a binge watch where you can just hit fast forward when needed.
Did you ever complete You Are My Spring? That was a brilliant drama. I rewatched it again not long ago. I just loved the pair and their interactions (the romance was well paced and believable).
Binge Link when it’s done. So far it’s been the stand out drama for me in 2022.
PS I am doing the opposite of you. 😂. Watching less and reading more.
Seeing @birdie007 mention My Ajusshi /My Mister makes me wonder if you’ve never seen it before packmule? If you haven’t, you certainly should. This drama is the reason why people had sky high hopes from My Liberation Notes but it didn’t deliver the same way My Ajusshi did Thus reiterating that the latter is indeed a rare gem, hard tp replicate by the writer herself.
@pm3 But if you want to watch a Chinese drama, I’ve been recommending Day of Becoming You to @agdr03 in Legally Romance threads because LR reminded me of DOBY. It’s a hilarious and swoony body swap drama. Have you ever seen anything of Steven Zhang? Yang Yang is great but I admit I like him for shallow reasosn that are his looks, SZ on the other hand is a charismatic actor. Besides that, the female lead Liang Jie is great too and they have good
chemistry.
Regarding Yang Yang’s dramas, I’m reminded I still haven’t finished Who Rules the world. It isn’t a great drama but does a satisfactory job. I was hooked till I wasn’t i. e. I surely lost interest.
You are my Glory on the other hand is pure fluff material. Will definitely recommend ot as a light watch. This show has one pro many others cannot manage to do. You will like seeing it when you watch it but forget it and won’t care much about it when you don’t. Lol it may seem like a con but it actually isn’t. The Chinese drama youtube reviewer had similar opinions about it. Basically while live watching there will be breaks when the show didn’t air and like other shows with too much drama, cliffhangers etc this never really occupied your mind because there was no unnecessary drama. That doesn’t make the show very memorable but at least not as angsty. So even if there are 32 episodes, they are kind of solid.
Also @birdie007 yay for Seven Day Queen. While Yeon Woo Jin is not like Junho, Park Min Young easily had the best chemistry with YWJ among all her costars. And she’s a chemistry queen. I guess it also has to do with the stakes of the drama. The red sleeve is nothing like SDQ and I really wanted it to be. Though have you seen Bloody Heart? That is the only sageuks that has surpassed SDQ in my list. It was great with grey characters and morals all over and unpredictable yet easy to understand setup. Will definitely recommend that if you liked Seven Day Queen/Queen for Seven Days.
Thank you for this list, @packmule3. I’m in need of recommendations. I would like another Love Lasts Forever. I don’t know why that was so charming to me.
Regarding the paperbacks, perhaps you should run those down to the local charity shop and swap them out with others. Family need never know. Or simply say that you read online now.
Hello, ladies! Been awhile since I last comment, but I’ve definitely been a lurker. Hehe.
My binge-watch list:
1. Yumi’s Cells S2
– I have yet to get over Woong lol. Is the S2 any good?
2. My Roommate is a Gumiho
– Heard good reviews but I didn’t get to finish! I liked what I’d watched though, but had to watch it illegally lol. Coming to Netflix soon so I might get to finally finish it.
3. Military Prosecutor Doberman
– Apparently an easy watch though a bit predictable hehe.
I understand what you mean by Park Eunbin’s acting, @pm3. I also didn’t like it and couldn’t finish King’s Affection. But I’m enjoying Extraordinary Attorney Woo and don’t mind her acting here. In fact, I’m enjoying everything about the show.
As per summer reading list, a friend gifted me Book Lovers by Emily Henry. I’ll try reading it after I finish with Agatha Christie’s The Secret Adversary. I can usually read her books quickly and and easily, but for this one it’s been two weeks already haha.
@jinyangie, thanks for the book recommendations and also for the Attorney Woo review. Perhaps playing someone with autism suits Park Eunbin’s acting style. Ooo, that sounded a bit, ahem, bitchy. 🤨😈 It must be the extra-strong coffee. I’m glad she’s doing well. I’m thinking of dropping Cafe M and moving on to EAWoo.
LOL @pkml3 … you put ‘W’ on your list of possibilities!!! I know that ‘W’ is addictive, but I don’t feel it’s easily binge-able because there’s so much going on… so much to digest. Where I’m concerned, I’d get indigestion!! Such a pity it wasn’t at a time you could join us.
I’m sort of binge-ing Liar Game (Jdorama version) now. It’s fine as long as one can accept the rigid manga-ness of it, the stereotyping, the stylised acting, the mostly repeated facial expressions. I watch for the twists in how players get around the rules or use them for their benefit. Writer’s logic and resolutions are great. Also it tells me that my brain is not cut out for that kind of logic.
Plus point in the lack of variation in facial expressions is that when they do change, it’s amazing! LOL.
@birdie, yes, I like to rewatch “1% of Anything/Something” (the 2016 kdrama version and NOT the earlier one that was tooooooo long and slow). It’s mostly the couple dating without too much of the extraneous side stories. It was easy to FFD the other actors and just enjoy the couple’s interactions. Totally binge-watchable.
Pity is that the production value is low so it’s not that clear, it has an ‘old show’ look somehow, and the sets are just so-so and repeated.
@pm3, Did you manage to finish watching Reset? That’s a worthy one to binge watch. Dali is worth finishing the watch. I wouldn’t mind rewatching it again one day. I’m recommending Link like @nrllee
@Fern EAWoo is worth watching! I’m curious to start Cafe M, so I’m wondering why you are dropping it.
Anyway Eunbin has a really gentle face and it makes it hard for her to fit well with cunning roles that have a lot of presence. She is too sweet…if it’s another way to say it.
@grace, I’m a self-described wimp when it comes to graphic violence and extremely stressful situations. I get nightmares even though it’s fiction. As regards Cafe M, @packmule wrote that she felt whiplash and I agree. Because of the nature of the murder scene after goofy comedy scenes, it seemed more horrible to me than all of the stylised violence in Vincenzo. Plus, I can’t get behind the FL/ML pairing, which would be the only reason I might continue.
I wanted to watch Bloody Heart, but it is not available to me. I am thinking about rewatching My Country for some Jang Hyuk goodness. Plus, the music is good.
@grace,
Thanks for the reminder. I’ve to finish “Reset.”
As for Park EunBin’s drama, it’s a pass for me. 😵💫 I don’t like the actress. And I need an attorney/legal drama like I need a hole in my head.
I could watch “Legally Romance” because there was only one (?) courtroom scene and I fast-forwarded through their idealistic spiels about law. Some parts I found amusing because of the Chinese propaganda, though.
@wapz,
Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had a comparison of the three sageuks?
I’ve to remember these shows:
Seven Day Queen
Red Sleeve
Bloody Heart
They aren’t light and fluffy beach reading…errr, watching. But they’re just the shows to watch when there’s a full moon.
WRTW – maybe I should give you the episodes you should watch? That’ll make it easier. ☺️
I’ll go through it this weekend and give you the numbers after. 😉
Thanks, @agdr03.
That will save me time.
Also, this new Zhao Rosie drama, when do the male lead and female lead meet each other? 😂😂
I’ve skimmed through Eps 7 and the dude is still surveying places from some hilltop/balcony/parapet. When is he coming down to earth? The Director made some weird choices on cinematography, trying too hard to make the drama epic with the panoramic shots, aerial shots, and monochrome lighting.
As for Zhao Rosie, how long will this mother-daughter fight go on? I get it already. They both have a grudge. Rosie’s character thinks she’s been abandoned, and that her mom plays favorites. Her mom, on the other hand, thinks Rosie is a delinquent-in the-making, and tries to reform her in the harshest,most unmotherly way. Their relationship is soooo makjang. 😂
Oh with Love Like The Galaxy, watch episode 8 to 9. They’ll have a few scenes there. Then make sure to watch episode 10. 😁 Then 12. 🤣 He’ll save her and she will take an arrow off him. 😬
Yeah, the mother/daughter relationship. 😂 Is the mom struggling because she didn’t have Niaoniao with her? Episode 15-16 is a good one. Her parents would find out that General Ling knows her.
I’ll get back to you on WRTW. ☺️
Hello Ladies!
@Packmule3, I don’t know if I am going to watch any shows in August, except for “Alchemy of Souls” and “Cafe Minamdang”.
I am thinking to practice JOMO and read my books and one of them is:
Han Gang’s – Greek Lessons.
If I am going to vote for a show I want to watch that is: Dali and the Cocky Prince.
As for “Liar Game”, I will start that in Early September.
Thanks, agdr03. No rush. 🙂
In Love Like the Galaxy, both the mother and daughter need therapy.
I think she’ll have a better mother/daughter like relationship with the Emperor’s wife? Something like that.
But I’m really liking LLTG. ☺️
@wapz yes! I forgot to include bloody heart in my recent binge list. I got curious once it was a little over halfway through and decided to take a peek on kissasian. I meant to only skim since I had read it was light on the romance and heavy on palace politics, but it turns out that was the most engaging part. It’s hard to discuss without spoilers. I was very happy for the female lead actress— She previously played supporting roles in just between lovers and the most recent gumiho drama and I think this was her first main character role. I think she secured leading lady status and her character is probably in my top 5 favorite female list.
One more thing about the autumn ballad—I loved the ML actor—Jeremy Tsui. He was very charismatic and they didn’t dub over his deeper that they usually allow voice
@agdr03— while you’re watching love like the galaxy, could you pretty please also make note of necessary episodes. I’d love to go through and watch but I hate wasting precious data on filler 🙂
@GB, his garish outfits were the main offenders I’d love if they do a remake with all the same actors but just better quality. Now that I think about it, I think I’ll start that one again later.
Will do @birdie07. 👍🏻 I’m actually rewatching the episodes that’s out. I can give you a list of the important episodes. ☺️
Sorry for multiple posts but I just saw @pm3 comment to @wapz about the 3. A comparison essay on the even just endings of each would be *chefs kiss*
Also comparable points to analyze:
•The male lead’s path to ruling and desire for power
•How the ML/FL meet and begin their relationship and under what circumstances. —-Whose identities were concealed/changed/disguised and why and then what changed once true identities were discovered.
•which relationship would’ve thrived outside the palace. Or which couple was most compatible and/or had “true love”
•female lead’s friendships and how the FL treated/chose them vs the ML
•the family of the king/crown prince— brother, cousin, sister, queen mother, dowager queen, concubine etc…
•who was the true mastermind in each story
I could go on…😆
Da li & the cocky prince was a delight to watch!
Because I’m very busy with school, I have to be choosy abt what I watch & I have been enjoying Alchemy of Souls until I heard this news abt it being 30 episodes long? (I hope it’s false)
I generally don’t even watch Kdramas with more than 16 episodes & def no series with Seasons 1 & 2 so this news was pretty upsetting
Live watching 20 episodes whilst hoping the writers don’t ruin the experience was already hard enough now 30??
@Fern, I will take your feedback on CafeM and put it to a watchlist instead. Seen many highlights online and it is like a slapstick comedy? I’m not sure.
If so then Link’s humour would be a much better one then. They way they build the suspense and pop it gently with humour that is not dark and not overtly slapstick.
Yes @birdie007 and @pm3 a comparison of the three would be awesome. Yes they are surely not light fare but all have the power to hook the viewer and not let them drop the show at any point. So if it’s your cup of tea @pm3 I think you’d like watching the three. All have their strengths and weaknesses but in my opinion:
Bloody Heart>Seven Day Queen>The Red Sleeve
But in all honesty if you remove the historical tag, all three are kind of different genres.
BH is heavy on politics with morally grey characters but nothing that is hard to understand, you just praise the intellect of the characters.
SDQ has a very good balance between romance AND politics.
TRS imo has more romance than politics.
And yes I guess me and @birdie007 would be happy to chime in if you are up for that comparison.
Hi @packmule3 and all the BODers who responded. So many dramas to recommend for binging for summer. We have a plethora of riches. I also agree that our actor prefere n ces are a subjective matter. I think there are people who we meet that just rub us the wrong way. They may be perfectly nice but they cause antipathy.
I like v Park Eun-bin. She is doing a wonderful authentic job in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, which brings me to my first set of binges, Move to Heaven and It’s okay to be bot Okay. The portrayals of people on the spectrum were spot on. All three dramas do not sensationalized. Melt downs are accurate and affect is right, showing variations. For those on the spectrum, one size does not fit all.That’s why it’s a spectrum. Some of you may have actually met people on the spectrum who seem perfectly “normal” but may have a quirk, but who among us, is without quirks. So I recommend these dramas for some broad descriptions of .ife on the spectrum for those whohave more pronounced symptoms and for the great a respectful acting they contain.
I am going to recommend an author on the spectrum who writes lively romance novels that make great summer reading. Hdr na e is Helen Huong, a Vietnamese American author who wrote, The Kiss Quotient, The Bride Test and The Heart Principle. These novels can. E read in one to three sittings and engage you very quickly. Autistic love Canberra quite beautiful and sexy. These can be a companion to the dramas. I would like them to make a movie or drama of one of these.
I am all in on the Dr. Romantic shows. Dr. Romantic is Han Suk-kyu who is very charismatic as the rebellious older doctor running a small community hospital in the boonies, always at risk of closing. In each drama he chooses problematic UT. Reliant medical staff to assist his team (a male and female doctor-ergo Cr. Romantic). In ghe first season the pair is Yoo Yeon-suk ( better than in HPL) andSeo Hyun-jin and in the second drama it’s Ahn Hyo-xeop and Lee Sung-kyung. 5he support cast is also great and includes our cocky prince, Kim Min-jae in the role of a compassionate nurse.The hospital set was eventually used as the set for the Mental Hosljtal in Its Okay to be Not Okay.
Y guilty drama is Fated To Love You with Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk and the Chinese version, You Are My Destiny with Joe Chen and Ethan Ruan. I don’t tire of the story of a one night stand and it’s aftermath.
@grace, it’s only my personal opinion about Cafe M. Many others like it.
@Packmule3, since I’m a retired old lady, I’ve had the time to watch all the ones you listed except Pinocchio, and I’m still chipping away at Who Rules the World.
Who Rules the World – Costumes and sets are gorgeous. Screenplay is disjointed. Flow of scenes, editing is sometimes jarring. Characters are mostly one-dimensional. In my opinion, this is not a good vehicle for Yang Yang and Zhao Lucy to display their acting chops.
You Are My Glory – I loved this, despite my not being knowledgeable about gaming. I found it fascinating to see Dilraba onscreen, having learned she’s Uyghur. She does not look like a typical Chinese actress because she’s a member of an ethnic minority.
Jinxed at First – I’m watching it without thinking too much. It’s not just fantasy, but fluff because even the slice-of-life scenes and local color are ridiculously unrealistic. They want us to believe a young woman who’s just escaped a lifetime of captivity, where all her basic needs were fulfilled without her lifting a finger, can paint a rooftop apartment inside and out, plus do all the shopping and setup of new decor inside and out, all by herself in one afternoon?
What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim? – This was among the first Kdramas I watched. I enjoyed it at the time, but it ultimately became forgettable.
W – Also one of my early Kdrama watches. I liked the first half a lot, but was disturbed enough by the baddies to feel uncomfortable watching the second half. I can’t put my finger on it, but my gut reaction was such that I had to force myself to finish watching the drama. I almost didn’t join the rewatch group because of that. And guess what? I gave up the rewatch during the second half.
True Beauty – Full of tropes, but I still enjoyed it. Has it stuck with me? No.
Dali and the Cocky Prince – Visually fun. I loved the quirky clothing the leads wore. Although she played a less-than-sympathetic character, I had a ball watching veteran actress Seo Jeong Yeon chew up the scenery. The overall plotline was predictable.
Dr. Romantic (I’ve watched both) – Overall it was entertaining, but I found the main conflict dragged: zombie conflict…no matter how many times Kim Sabu saved the day and bested the antagonist & his minions, the antagonist rose again.
I’m with @birdie007 in loving My Mister and the Taiwanese Someday or One Day. Both of those are dramas I watched awhile ago, but memories of them remain fresh. They’ve stuck with me, I believe, because the screenplays and acting were top notch. I also liked watching Something about 1%, but mostly remember it because the OST is still one of my favorites.
For my own binge watching, I’m just today wrapping up Matrimonial Chaos. I wanted to see Son Suk Koo in a role previous to My Liberation Notes, and curious how he and Lee El would act against each other after seeing them both in MLN. The characters they play in each show are convincingly different, which means they’re performing, not just playing themselves. Good for them! I also am entranced with the job Bae Doona did with her role in Matrimonial Chaos. The other shows I’ve seen her in—The Silent Sea, Sense8—she’s played stoic characters, so it’s gratifying to see her exhibit a wide range of emotions. The male lead, Cha Tae Hyun, also turns in a solid performance.
Here are some dramas I’ve watched that I’ve given top ratings for their entertainment value. These are not included in your BoD categories; you may have watched and commented on some of these in a different forum before you started BoD.
Another Miss Oh
Coffee Prince
Introverted Boss (My Shy Boss)
Kill Me, Heal Me
Misaeng: Incomplete Life
Moon Embracing the Sun
Mother (not an easy watch because of the subject matter, but excellently done)
My Love from the Star
One Spring Night
Prison Playbook
Racket Boys (I could’ve sworn you commented on this, but I don’t see a category for this drama on BoD)
Signal
SKY Castle (another that’s not an easy watch because of the subject matter, but with outstanding script and acting)
Suspicious Partner
The Legend of the Blue Sea
The Master’s Sun
While You Were Sleeping
You Are My Hero
@packmule3
Sad to hear you can’t stand PEB. EAW and AOS are the only dramas I’m following right now.
Jinxed was a disappointment because I was hoping the supporting cast would be funny but ended up bored.
If you could try Doctor Romantic season one is my pick.
And completely agree with @OAL recommended drama about autism. Move to Heaven and It’s Okay. Both actors portrayal were so good.
Only 3 dramas remain in my rewatch folder, these are Prison Playbook, Reply 1988 and My Mister. My folder is now mostly PD Na variety with Lee Seo Jin like Grandpa’s over Flowers, Yoon’s Kitchen and Youn’s stay. Also Unexpected Business Season two with Cha Tae Hyun.
Dr Romantic is entertaining to watch..There’s something with the character Kim Sa Bu (Dr Romantic) that makes the drama compelling. You might find it enjoyable if you don’t get focused on the accuracy of the medical terms and practices. I’m not well versed with any of those medical stuff but I sometimes wonder whether they’re actually realistic!
I thought I was a Kdrama addict, but there’s a lot in this list I havent watched yet! Haha.
I enjoyed binge watching CLOY for the second time when I introduced it with my husband.
Also the Jdorama Love lasts forever (with the loooong Japanese name), which I learned from recos in BOD!
On a different note, I saw some news on Yangyang’s new drama where he will play the role of a fireman. I wonder if he’s bulked up for the role.. that would have been good to see but hopefully not too much!
Not sure when it’ll air given still filming.. but I’m looking forward to that!
Greetings,
I’ve only recently started watching Korean series. I stumbled across bitchesoverdrama because I was looking for solace (after watching Twenty-Five Twenty-One).
Thank you for this post and everyone’s recommendations, as I have clearly so much to catch up on. I’m trying to find a balance between watching older series and new ones being released. Is this possible?
@Su,
Welcome on B.O.D. In the beginning that won’t be possible, because there are so many kdramas to watch. After a while, you decide what to see based on your preferences to the actors and scriptwriters!
Hang in there and do a profile on Mydramalist.com. You will keep track with all the shows you want to watch or you’re watching on going.
Welcome to BOD @Su. I feel a good balance between drama watching (very time consuming!) and real life is always needed as well, and not only between old and new shows. Be happy with JOMO (Joy of Missing Out) as well, ie, no worries about not watching as much as some others do!
@Cleo’s advice about using MyDramaList is good too. That website will give us the total number of days we have spent drama watching and it gets SCARY!!! LOL.
As for a balance between old and new shows, it depends on whether you want to participate in the discussions of current shows (or even in those with the rewatching or old shows). If you don’t need to catch up for the discussions, you’re free to just watch one of each era, as you can manage.
The advantage of older shows is that they are reviewed. So you can be choosy. As for new shows, you can just stick with what’s being watched in this blog or any other drama blog. I personally just pick according to what I find is an interesting plot, regardless of producer/writer or actors. But you will find your own way to decide. 🙂
Welcome @Su. I tend to dive into old series when nothing in the current offerings hold my interest. As @GB suggested, you won’t get the ongoing discussion ep by ep weekly when you watch older series. But that in itself is an advantage because you can binge watch it at leisure. Whatever suits your lifestyle.
Hello, I’m out of internet and dramas these time, as I spend time on vacation in the country. I didn’t have time to watch Yumi Cells 2 or anything, except episode 7 of Alchemy of Soul. Very good drama by the way.
Advices about your list (when I know the drama):
– What’s wrong with secretary Kim: despite it’s only made of tropes and clichés, it’s enteirtaining. BUT, still low value, and I’ve drop at episode 8 because I had the feeling the drama will go down after.
– Jinxed at first: not so good as I had the feeling with episode 1, then it’s some comedy in the same market place. But I didn’t watched new episodes.
– W: priority number one to watch. High quality about writing, and anything else as we got in the rewatch, acting, background music, directing.
– Pinnochio: second one worth to watch, because the writer is good too, and I prefered this one than Start up.
As additionnal comment: after watching W, I was picky or rather disapointed by any drama. So, when I was starting a drama, soon I gave up and just “hey, I might as well rewatch W”. So I did, and this circle was broken with these two dramas I could watch after: Pinnochio and King2hearts. It’s why I put Pinnochio on rank 2 here. 😉
It’s a drama that have this usual quality of this writer: good feeling and it warm the heart! and of course, some dramatic events to help that. There is thematic we find a lot in dramas of this writer: school, people aspiring to be someone. Like StartUp or DreamHigh. Here it’s school about to be a journalist.
Howdy!
Please check your email! It’s about a pairing that’ll get your attention for sure. 😉 I hope it happens. 🙏🏼
Thank you! ☺️
@Su, As you can see there are so many ways to watch.You can do it by PD, actors,articles read, BOD. Eventually you’ll find Dramas according to your own preferences and will gain confidence. As you see on BOD we have a variety of tastes and frequently agree to disagree.As @packmule3 always says, enjoy the show…
Dear @PM3, about those paperbacks… you can always do the “presbiopia” excuse. Your nieces will get silent. The downside is that they will look at you with some pity XD .
@OAL, how are you and how is your husband?. Hope my post was helpful. It might be a little stressing but it is a good guide on getting the best possible outcome in an hostile environment.
@GB, how do you do?. Sorry to have dropped W. Usually I tend to favour J-Doramas a lot, but at this moment I am rewatching an Anime called “Blue Period” about a high school student with excellent grades that discovers fine arts and gets on a quest to enter Tokyo University’s Art Academy. Also an Anime called “A Place Further than the Universe” about another high schooler and her quest to go to Anctarctica were her mom dissapeared three years prior was so good I binge-watched it in a weekend. Anime was my introduction on this wonderful rabbit hole of Asian Entertainment so I am still very fond of it.
Also watching “Café Minamdang”. So far it is hilarious but it is getting darker, loved how they fear their mother more than a serial killer. “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” was cute and interesting, stopped at the third episode about an autistic brother.
@WE, happy to read you are spending a good summer!!!. Real Life is no substitute for Fiction but I think you will be OK 😉 . On a more serious note, sorry for dropping “W”. Watching it with you and all our group would have been awesome, but my three weeks with Internet down drowned my pace, and reading (pondering) all those Posts became kind of overwhelming.
@Nrlee, how are you?, long time no see (read)!!!
@Cleo, Kalispera from Caracas, how are things going in Greece?.
@JohnL, welcome and well… I really can’t argue with your taste in ladies!!! 😉 .
@FGB4877, Thank you for the reading. It helped
I&m on the mend and my husband starts chemo next week. So we are on to the next challenge, he as a patient and me as a caregiver. I continue to be optimistic. Will keep everyone posted
Am waiting for the last two episodes of Yumi’s Cells2
I adore that drama. Kim Go Eun can do no wrong. Given what has past the drama seems to be veering away fr the webtoon. I don’t want Yumi to marry BaBi
It still don’t trust him.i want You mm I to be her in own person
Anyway we’ll soon find out.
Big hugs to all.
@FGB,
Kalispera friend! How are you?
We are good, but some things could be better. We are entering a heat wave again. At the moment, the temperature is 32 degrees C and it is almost 11 at night.
We missed you on W, but I hope we get to see you more in other threads!
Are you okay? I read what you wrote to @OAL… I feel for you.
Please take care okay?
@OAL, one of the best things in this community is that I am one of the babies… and I am on my mid 40’s. That translates in a lot of wisdom that we share between Drama comments.
Sorry if I came kind of strong on what to do. The thing is that when my father passed away in 2010 I had a lot of grief, but it was more about all the misunderstandings and mistakes between us than about the level of dedication we gave him. If the result is positive (cross my fingers) then Victory will be all the sweeter, but if everything goes south then you and your relatives will have peace of mind in that front… that is, a lighter cross to bear.
On another note, what is l&m?. As a non-native speaker acronyms still baffle me.
@Cleo, please take care as well. My parent’s hometown is Maracaibo city, well known for being the coldest one in Venezuela as people live under air conditioning. I still remember an afternoon when we decided to turn on a fan… MAN!!! that thing did spit fire!!! 😀 . Please keep hydrated!!!.
Hello there ‘baby’ nam-doensaeng @FGB! LOL. I’m very happy to see you here, now and then and to know that you are well, with Internet connection intact.
I believe that @OAL meant to say “I am on the mend” in that sentence with the ‘l&m’.
I take your advice as I now have 1 senior folk in hospital, another down with Covid and a child who is not feeling well. But it’s all under control and I am okay and peaceful. I keep praying that we will get the right advice and know what to do at every turn or fork in the path, and that our folks will have the right care.
Take care of yourself too!
@pm3 I also find reading and drama viewing are hard to co-exist. Recently I read/listen to books more because I got really tired easily post COVID. My drama viewing “productivity” has significantly gone down! I managed 4 episodes of Alchemy of Souls so far. Not because I don’t like the story, but I just don’t have the energy! So far it is a good watch. I recently found out Google assistant can read so I listen to books when I rest.
As for your list I like WRTW and You are my Glory. WRTW is pure entertainment and hardly require any analysis! Good looking leads, pretty clothes and locations and fancy unrealistic martial art moves. Both Bai and Hei are mature characters so no need to go through silly misunderstandings. There is one character I don’t like (@agdr03 – that martial sister!). Otherwise it is an easy watch.
I haven’t finished You are my Glory but I like that too! Only 30 something minutes an episode so it is not as long as other C dramas. Ignoring the e-sport details, there is somewhat a storyline. Fairy tale type love story. It is also interesting to hear/see the development of aerospace. Of course, Yang Yang.
@GB oh a bit going on over at your side. Take care! And to everyone sending my regards. 🙂
@Viva here’s hoping you regain your energy quickly, and have great immunity to further infection.
Enjoy listening to books, it’s a nice break from dramas. I’m also going back to reading a bit now. Something I’ve been too lazy to do, but should! 🤓 😎
@FGB,
Along with you, I am another “aga” / “baby” of this community!
Thank you for your advice. I am drinking lots of liquids and I am resting as much as I can. Today we have 36 degrees C.
It is unbearable mostly because it makes you feel like you have a slight headache.
Maracaibo? My father has visited your port when he was a sailor once upon a time…
If you ever come in Athens just let me know!
@GB Unnie,
Please take care of yourself. I do hope everyone is recovering well…
Hey @Viva,
I do hope you will be feeling better soon. Please take care!
I am going to read my books as well. I feel that JOMO is required for a while…
@Cleo – good advice we are also entering a heat wave with 40 degrees C predicted for Tuesday in London! Urgh. I plan to work in the bathroom which is the only room in the flat with no windows. Not quite sure how I will set things up but that is the plan!
ps should add that we Brits don’t tend to have air conditioning. We haven’t been used to extreme temperatures over the years.
@Kate,
Please take care. I have heard that you are going to have a heat wave as well. Drink lots of water, ice teas and not eat what you are regularly eat. Try lighter things, like fruits and vegetables.
Try to buy a fan. It works if you are in a shady place.
Still, don’t overdo yourself, because our bodies cannot seem to cooperate fully when the temperatures are that high.
@Cleo,
Thank you so much! I have taken note of your practical advice. It’s a little scary facing the prospect of such high temperatures isn’t it?
ps thankfully I do have an electric fan. I wouldn’t be without it.
@Kate,
You are welcome! Yes it is scary, but if you know what to do, it makes things easier.
You will be thankful that you have an electic fan. It will help… 😊
@Kate, your note reminds me to contact my brother-in-law in London to check on his welfare. His flat is ground level in an old stone building with two floors above, so he won’t be getting the worst of it. And he has access to an old bomb shelter, which would be cool because it’s underground.
If your flat becomes unbearable, @Kate, check to see if cooling centers have been designated near you.
@Welmaris,
Yes, from what you are saying, your brother-in-law’s building should be ok in the heat. It sounds like he will have good insulation from extreme temperatures. My Mum and Sister both live in older buildings which are wonderfully resistant to over heating.
Very thoughtful of you – will check to see if there are any centres like that in my area. I am quite hopeful of my hallway and bathroom being cool enough because of the lack of windows. It will be very odd to work in them but needs must! But I will check out local resources too.
Thank you.
p.s the local supermarket and sports centre are both within 10 minutes and seem to be being treated as cooling centres in lieu of anything bespoke. So thank you for prompting me to think ahead @Welmaris. Always good to have a plan B!
Thanks dear @Cleo and @GB! Once I have done some “homework”, I will join the drama discussions again!
@Kate wow that’s hot! Make sure you drink lots of water:)
@Kate, good idea to head over to the supermarket or sport centre. Then the only problem will be internet connectivity and a place to sit with your laptop.
The prediction for here is 33C tomorrow, so I feel relatively fortunate. I don’t know if you have seen the FB ‘Very British Problems’ group where, for a change, the concerns about the weather are justified.
Stay safe Everyone who’s facing the heatwave!! @Cleo gave good advice.
Over here we continue to battle our extreme humidity. Everyday it looks like it will rain, and often it doesn’t. It’s just oppressive.
Either we choose to drip with perspiration or pay heavy air-conditioning bills. The fans are on all the time.
Going out we sometimes face extreme heat outdoors then walk into extreme cold indoors and back again… also not too good for us, and we get sick. 🥵 🥶 😱 🥴 🤧 🤒 😛
But this year’s heatwave is scary. All the best and keep yourselves hydrated and ‘cool’. Hugs to all! 🤗
@Viva – thank you! You take care too as you recover from your viral onslaught!
@Fern – will check out that site/discussion! haha
@GB – hugs back to you. I’m grateful we don’t have your humidity. Take care too in all your challenges.
ps @Fern – I think if it comes to a supermarket cool off I’ll probably just lurk! I’m starting early in an attempt to get something done today.
@Kate, I would love to drop everything today and have a prolonged hang-out in an air conditioned mall with multiplex cinema and drink iced lattes and bubble tea, but it’s my last day at work EVER so I have to go in for a long, hot, end of school year meeting.
Thank goodness, it should be cooling off relatively tomorrow. 🤞🙏 For all of my bluster about how hot it was where I grew up, I’ve gone Devonian and am happiest when I can wear some layers. 😆
Kalimera my darling @Viva!
Take your time, we will be around here…*hugs*
@GB Unnie,
Climate change is a reality and everyone in every country feels it in a different way…
Be safe as well! *hugs*
My dear @Fern,
Please take care as well. It is not an easy thing to be out with such temperatures.
Take a hat with you and eyeglasses. Use sunscreen and have a bottle of water with you.
@Fern..Congrats on your last day… and what a last day with this bizarre weather! I hope it goes well and that you can sink into a luke warm bath (or cold shower?) at the end of it and sip cool drinks! Fighting! Or rather take it easy as @Cleo wisely says.
Thank you for your wishes, @Cleopatra and @Kate. Just to top the day off, my work laptop has refused to access the internet. Why couldn’t it have waited a day? It’s sitting next to me sulking. I’m having to send messages to workmates by text.
@Fern -urgh. What a pain! I hope you get something sorted out.
@Fern and @Kate,
Just take it easy. The wave heat is going to hit us again from Friday.
@Fern, check windows update. sometimes things are not working because of that.
Hello ladies! Hope everyone is doing fine and stay safe amidst the heat waves around the globe. I still kept my Glasgow notification on and it shocked me to receive a heat wave warning in Glasgow😨😨😨 Climate change 😮💨
Anyhow, I haven’t been able to finish any drama lately… work is just grrrrr…. just when I finished my tasks in hand and thought to get a breather, whole new tasks are coming in like a vengeance… 🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️🤦🏻♀️ coming home late everyday, I just wanna jump on the bed and sleep😂😂😂
It took me yearssss to finish red heart… so very unfortunate that I decided to drop it for the time being…I just don’t have the mental strenght to deal with the king’s feeling which I really dislike to see in any sageuk… patience is running thin, tbh.
Anyhow, I want to watch Attorney Woo so much, albeit not that fond of the FL. I don’t even finish Brahms, yet😂… mayhap I might change my mind of her after Attorney Woo since I read she performed awesomely in it. And this is a drama directed by the trusted PD of Romantic Teacher Kim, so I know it would be good. I am gonna binge watch it when the airing ends. 😁
Till then, stay safe and taking care! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
@Growing Beautifully, you and your family remain in my prayers. As to weather, those posters who live in hot lands or places with hot, humid summers would probably just shrug at our current temperatures. We’re just not used to it and/or haven’t learned tricks for dealing with a lack of air conditioning. My husband keeps opening windows wide on the hot side of the house, when the temperature is far hotter outside than in. Fresh air. Must have fresh air, says he.
@Fern hahaha!
He actually wore sandals without socks yesterday.
LOL
p.s @Fern are you secretly married to my brother?!
@Kate, Are you from Kent? His family has turned up some unexpected relatives recently. You never know.
hahaha! I am not from Kent but he did live in Kent for 15 years! You’ll be glad to know he is happily married in reality. It was the sandals and socks that made me think of him!
I know you were joking. My husband has one and only one brother who never wears sock with his sandals – no sisters. No girls at all in his generation in fact. Heaps of boy cousins in the UK and Ireland. Mind you, I didn’t know about the sock thing until after we married. Lol.
@Fern,LoL about the sock thing. I think it’s a European thiing. American men generally don’t do sandals but are more into sneakersz(trainers). However, during this horrible heat wave, socks are a good idea, especially with sweaty feet and to prevent blisters.
Socks with sandals is one end of the spectrum: the other is wearing shoes without socks. You see a lot of fashionable men doing that.
It also seems fashionable, by South Korean standards, for women to wear flat shoes and ankle socks with dresses and skirts. I’ve seen it done in numerous Kdramas, not just with school uniforms, but by grown women in pretty clothing. For me, this is something new.
@Welmaris, in K-dramas when those sockless men take their shoes off at home, you see that they were wearing little black no-show socks. It looked so funny the first time I saw a man wearing those. I haven’t seen them in the stores for men here.
As you say, on the other end of the spectrum are the women who wear ankle socks with flats. It was a thing in the early 80s (think early Madonna). In the UK, it’s an edgy thing. Sort of nice to not be wearing pantyhose/tights in the summer actually. If the socks are groovy: socks and crocs for example. Socks and DMs.
In the late 80s, a lot of Chinese exchange graduate student women had the style of wearing sheer knee-high stockings with their short dresses. I had only known them as being worn with long skirts so it would look like the wearer was wearing pantyhose/tights but wasn’t. I think it was a good way to cope with hot weather and still put up a polished front.
@Fern @OAL and @Welmaris – loving this sock-related discussion!
My sis in law dealt with some of my brother’s style challenges when they first met. He was whisked into Peter Jones! She is more chilled now and socks and sandals do seem to appear from time to time.
I keep noticing this short trousers and loafers trend in K dramas and C dramas (?) also. It sometimes looks Italian-style elegant and sometimes looks a little odd to my eyes.
@Kate, K Drama men’s fashions take getting used to. The sockless flood pants look is strange.I also think that leaving labels on coat sleeves is strange as are the used of men’s cosmetics especially lipstick. But that generally is for the non cop or workman types. Western actors also have stubble while for some K Drama actors it appears that they don’t even shave.
@Cleopatra @GrowingBeautifully @nrllee @AOL
Thank you all so much for your responses. I have created a profile on mydramalist.com and will use that to manage what I choose. And yes, balancing between real life is also the challenge. There are just so many good shows released this year alone (in my inexperienced opinion ha!), but I shall endeavour to watch the older shows as I have read good reviews and see these titles being recommended in this post.
BOD is definitely a gift to me, since I do not know anyone who watches Korean series. I am currently watching Alchemy of Souls and I cannot believe that I am watching an on-going series when there is so many other titles to binge 🙂
Take care to all those currently experiencing heat waves.
@OAL, I think flood pants with socks would look even stranger. That sliver of hairy leg looking out between the trousers and the sock? Lol.
I think that some Korean actors use chemicals to remove facial hair because a young look with no 5 o’clock shadow is the preferred look.
@Kate, I used to take my husband to Nordstroms in Seattle, but since moving here, he can’t get used to paying full price. He loved discounts like the Land’s End outlet in Oakham and Downtown outlet in Grantham. It’s like pulling teeth to get him to spend money on his clothing. Good thing he’s an academic, so the rumpled, gangly look is accepted professionally.
@Su, like you I have not met anyone else who likes K-dramas. Not even my daughter, who is into K-pop. It’s nice to have a discussion community isn’t it?
@Fern – my bro is an academic also! So we have the Kentish connection and the professional sphere in common.
@OAL … I hadn’t noticed all of these. Will keep my eyes peeled.
Dear @Su, BOD has been a gift to me also. I accidentally discovered BOD this spring. Everyone around me just rolls their eyes when I mention Korean or Chinese dramas (or politely tunes me out). Such a pleasure to have conversations, even online ones, with people who have the same passion.
@miracle23 I too have been watching Attorney Woo. I like it. I think with all the doom and gloom in the world right now I needed a feel good drama to lift me out of the doldrums. I don’t mind PEB in this role (not sure if that’s a compliment or not? 😂). I am so glad to see the newbie actress who played SeonBin in HP here. She’s doing a great job. I am also glad the writer didn’t make her out to be a horrible jealous second lead. And I really like Kang TaeHo. I always liked him in his minor roles when he shows up in previous dramas. Here as the ML, I am glad he finally got his time in the sun to shine.
Howdy everyone! 👋🏻
I’m trying to catch up on all the dramas but LLTG is my number 1. ☺️
@Kate, look at this. They’re engaged on this episode already, Niaoniao had too much to drink but it’s still funny. I’m conservative too! 🤣
https://www.instagram.com/tv/CgPJoTnlX14/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY=
HI @agdr03… me too! What a great show. It has everything as you said before.
I haven’t got here yet but I am SO looking forward to it! I am watching eps 22 and 23 tonight after supper …. heeee!
Don’t you love the way the ML keeps materializing out of the blue to rescue her in the most extreme situations!
@Kate, I’m not on this episode. I just saw the preview. I’m only updated to episode 21 so you’ll be ahead of me by tonight. Jealous here! 😩
I actually had tears when Niaoniao broke the engagement off with Mr Lou. She’s really understanding of what the He family did for the country.
Yes, Ling Buyi is her knight in shining armour. 🥰 I liked the secret meeting scene with the rows and rows of trees along them which literally means they’ll have a long way to go.
I like the Emperor here too. He can read General Ling when it comes to Niaoniao. ☺️
@agdr03 – I was in tears too in that scene. Really moving. And he, Mr Lou, rose to the occasion also!
The tree scene was just beautiful. I was aware of the visual impact hadn’t thought of the symbolism. Thank you.
He is both utterly determined and incredibly thoughtful isn’t he?
The Emperor is a hoot as are his wives!
Thanks to everyone for your review of Extraordinary Attorney Woo. I noticed that it’s generally liked and happened to catch a few bits of video clips of the show by chance. I found myself laughing heartily (just the thing I need!) and decided to start watching it out of the blue.
I cannot actually binge-watch it, but I’ll try LOL.
It’s been hitting all the right notes for me so far (I’m up to Ep 2 only) and I’ve had several great laughs which felt so good. I do agree that PEB (whom I never did mind) is very good in this role. She reminds me of a boy on the spectrum who interned at my office. Her acting resonated so well with what I recall.
I trust the show will continue to be full of heart and laughs until the end, and I believe, full of cute romance too.
Hi @GB, Glad you like this drama.I think the depiction ot autism is quite good. And our FL is doing a great job. Keep in mind thatvautismmis not a static condition. Peoplebon the spectrum grow and learn how to adapt in society. That’s why early intervention is so important. People on the spectrum graduate from college, canbe gainfully employed and do marry and have children. It is not all Rain Man. My on the spectrum child graduated f rom college magna cum laude, 0 o was his own home, and works in the accounting field. He has had girlfriends but is currently single. For the most part he looks “normal” So I hope that they allow Attorney Woo to grow a d to lose some of her stereotypical behavior. And a recommendation for reading-romance no els by Helen Huong, an author on the spectrum who writes de,ightful novels. Start with The Kiss Quotient. I’ve written I about her before-she is good for a summer read.
@GB and @OAL – glad to hear your reviews of this and the fact that it resonates with you both in view of your experience and knowledge of what it means to be on the spectrum.
I watched some episodes last weekend and enjoyed it. I am not a fan of PEB (King’s Affection was tedious – although may have been the writing?) but I like her in this. I like the whale talk and arranging when to have whale talk and the whale-related genius insights! I like the male lead too. I don’t buy at the moment that he likes her because he saw her in a lovely wedding dress… but hope to be more convinced of their dynamic as time goes on.
@Kate To be honest, I’d be happy if there were no roman e but a real friendship. I like the ML a lot. I want to know more about Attorney Woo’s mother and if there is some kind of reconciliation. I love her father, who I gather is someone who had to give up a lot for his daughter. From all the law books, I take it that he too was an attorney.and, I want to know how Attorney Woo fell in love with whales.
Often people with autism are thought to be without feelings. This is not the case. There is a need for affection and safety that is sometimes expressed differently. A famous autistic person, Temple Grandin, created a hug machine(initially made to calm cattle on their way to slaughter-but as a Humane solution) but then she adapted it for herself as a calming mechanism. So the idea of love might not be viewed conventionally for someone on the spectrum. So it will be interesting to see if a love story is in the cards and how it is handled.
Also, Claire Danes won acting awards for her portrayal of Temple Grandin, who is also a Star Trek fan (think characters like Data or whole civilizations lime the Vulcans(Spock) and compare them to being on the spectrum).
@OAL – I agree with all of your first paragraph. I also love her father. I’ve seen the actor in other things and he is such a sympathetic presence.
That is a very helpful account of autism and feelings and needs. The ML is clearly an exceptional human – he understands how to get her through the revolving doors from the outset! So who knows if they can bridge the gap?
@agdr03 – just finished episode 24 of LLTG. Won’t spoil anything for you but well worth the watch as ever – some great scenes.
@OAL – just watching an episode about a rural community under threat from road development.
The whole thing seems to be about what it really means to be human. Our central character isn’t the sole focus. She has her own story and trajectory and her presence and actions also highlight questions about the kind of society we want to be and what we want to value about our humanity. It seems to be about hope.
I wonder if that is why it is so popular?
@Kate and @OAL, yes Extraordinary AW gives such a heartfelt depiction of someone on the spectrum. I feel so much for WYW that she struggles in daily life but doggedly pushes herself to get on. I’m with her over every bump and elated with every victory.
@OAL, I agree that I’d like to see her able to lose some of the stereotypical behaviour. At least in one of the video clips that I got to watch, I noticed that WYW wanted to get past the ‘no touch’ issue.
Thank you for your reading recommendation. I will certainly keep an eye out for Helen Huong’s novels when I pass by bookshelves. I could possibly do with a light romance now and then.
I will find time to get into Episode 3 soon!
@GB and @OAL –
‘Thirded’ on wanting to see her lose some of the stereotypical behaviour.
That will require some confident judgements from actress and director in question.
But I agree.
@Kate, we hear WYW’s dad say in Ep 4, (I believe), that it was lonely living with an autistic person. In the past she had not been able to communicate or reciprocate, but she had improved and currently was able to have a conversation with him. So there’s hope!! However he admits it was/is taking a very long time. Poor patient dad.
It’s interesting that the CEO of Hanbada calls Dad sunbae, and can tell that WYW looks like her mother. Yes, like you, I also want to know what her mother may have been like, and why she’s so wild about whales. 🙂
Oh my goodness @Kate!
How do I describe episode 24? When I first watched it, I was like awww, look at LB saving NN again from the bad princesses. So funny, the almost choking NN after hearing LB say the he will propose marriage to her in front of the CP and his brothers. Awww, LB asking the Emperor to act as his elder and propose to NN. Awww, NN’s acceptance afterwards. I was laughing, clapping and was emotional afterwards.
Seriously though, I thought everyone’s expressions in the scene was excellent especially NN and LB. I thought the dialogues are very much correct too. I liked that the discussion and solution about the marriage was done then and there. I felt so much for NN. That’s the dialogue I’d use to, worthless. LB can see through her, he knew she was in pain after hearing that from her mother. I’m glad she did think and decided for herself. It’s true what she said, she held a grudge and she wasn’t filial as a daughter so this decision is soley on her.
I liked that she was honest to LB that she’s not worthy, she’s stubborn and won’t listen to him. But his reply was he will only marry her. Did you notice her shocked look? She really didn’t expect him to say that.
If LB didn’t say those things, she would have been broken as a person.:(
@agdr03 – agreed and was also completely caught up in that key scene!
It was so powerful.
The downgrading of NN by her Mum in particular (even if she was trying to prevent a disastrous marriage and to protect NN) and NN taking it all in and just absorbing it! And as you say being brought very low by the whole thing.
Then LB’s uncompromising affirmation of her as the woman of his dreams with everything she had said about herself ‘stubborn and won’t listen to him etc!! There was no hesitation in him. He turned it all around into a statement of complete acceptance and affirmation of her uniqueness in place of a public humiliation by her own family.
I am only repeating what you have just said. I thought it was a crucial turning point. Powerful stuff.
I think every woman would want a man to speak her praises in this way!
Glad too that the Emperor made good use of his powers to allow her to respond in her own right! He played Cupid!
The Military Mum is trying to squash everything out of NN that makes NN special and makes her tick.
LB is wanting to draw out everything unique in NN and the more he ‘sees’ the woman she is the more he is devoted to her.
Very moving.
Yes @Kate, LB’s affirmation would make every woman swoon 🥰 and one faint. 😂
He made it clear to everyone and to her parents that it wasn’t a light decision. He was very firm.
I’m glad this Emperor gave LB, NN and her parents to give their reasons for it. But it’s true as well, he did used his powers but that’s after he heard from all sides.
OT, I think the bad one is the Prince opposite the CP.
True! She needs to stop comparing her to cousin YangYang as well. 🤦🏻♀️
If only Mom knows of the things that LB’s done for her then she’d change her mind in a heartbeat.
Swoon making indeed @agdr03 !!
In a way it is a good thing we are getting this series in clusters of episodes! We can enjoy all this in stages!
NN’s Dad gets her so much better. Mum seems to be afraid of the very things that make NN like her and have helped NN survive. Why she is fixated on YangYang… no need at all!
I love that NN has all these practical engineering skills. Don’t you? And the way she thinks so differently from her female peers. She is ahead of her time.
ps another swoon worthy episode was the LB arrow injury and the removal of the arrow!
@Kate, I’m late to this. In New York City, public libraries serve as cooling centers. People also. Go to shopping malls. I say fill up a bathtub with cool water. We are having a heat wave in New York. No t as bad as in Europe. We are getting thunder storms. I hope you get relief soon.
Everybody, Most important STAY HYDRATED-drink lots of water and beverages with electrolytes! During heatwave please remember to cool down internally with water.you need to replenish what you’re losing through sweat.
Thank you my dear @OAL!
Don’t worry I have my water and my ice tea with me! I do hope you are feeling better youself…
Cleopatra and everyone slogging through this heat waWe a to hear about people staying hydrated. I am hoping n g for an end to the heatwave soon.aAlso if you have fresh fruits, then are good nydratkrs-also melons. You may as well get something sweet.
@OAL,
Thank you. Watermelon and melon are good because they have liquids.
Do you mean ice cream? Yes please!
@Cleopatra, Yes ice cream, Gelato, sorbet, ices, sherbet-anything cold. Shaved ice with syrup is good. Where I live we have Ita,Ian ices places and my favorite flavor is lemon.On hot days like these, it is so refreshing.
Dear @OAL,
I agree with you! Yes to yummy deserts!
I saw a recommendation for the C-drama ‘A Dream of Splendor’ so I started to watch. It’s a bit different for a historical drama. The acting by the leads seems to me to be above the norm. The FL is Liu Yifei and the ML is Chen Xiao. They have a lot of presence and the direction seems to focus on visual and emotional elements. The two leads have a mental and visceral sort of attraction to each other. Has anyone else watched this drama?
Hi @Fern,
A number of us have been watching it. I think we discussed it last month in the What are you watching? thread. Can’t remember precisely.
It is a super drama indeed. Very high quality acting and I agree re the attraction between the leads. It got a great write up on Soompi recently with some great gifs!
I was going to recommend it to @agdr03 for when we get to the end of Love Like the Galaxy Part One.
Thanks @OAL for your great tips. We are cooler here now thank goodness!
Hope you are doing ok with all that is going on with you.
Howdy! 👋🏻
@Kate, I’ve read that A Dream Of Splendor was very very good. No criticisms from c-netizens at all. But I can’t watch it while LLTG is still airing. I’m faithful to it till the end. ☺️
I’ve been wanting to comment on episodes 24-30 but I’ve been very busy with family parties. Hopefully I’ll have time tomorrow.
I thought the ending to 27 was a great way to go to the second part. NN made up her mind to marry LB and that realisation was very clear on her face. 🥰
I’m so glad they continued because I thought the second half was to be shown later in the year. ☺️
Queen, I hope your having a great and relaxing holiday. 🍹 I’ll get on to my list of WRTW for you tomorrow. ☺️
@agd0r3 – so they are continuing the show all the way to the end?
Great news!
No pressure on commenting… Only when you have time and feel inspired.
I’ve been unwell this week and am behind on LLTG. I’ve seen 25 and 26 but the remaining ‘Part One’ episodes not yet.
Thanks, @agdr03.
No rush. I’ve started on What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim. I’m on Ep 4.
I’ll open a thread for Love Like the Galaxy for you and Kate.
I jumped over a lot of the episodes to catch up with you. I get the barebones version of palace politics. All the faces of the secondary cast look alike to me. I recognize only the main couple, the 2 guards, the 2 suitors and her parents. 🤦♀️
@Kate, are you feeling better now? It’s awful to be sick in the summertime.
I just scrolled through these comments looking for the A Dream Of Splendor discussion, looks like I need to go one month back. BUT I’ve a suggestion for those battling heat…
I’m quite used to indoor central air and wasn’t a happy camper a few weeks ago when we returned home from a sporting event to a house with a broken air conditioner. I went to our “outdoor sporting event necessities” stash and pulled out my beloved neck fan I that I’d found one night buying when random things on Amazon. Here’s the link:
JISULIFE Portable Neck Fan, Hands Free Bladeless Fan, 4000 mAh Battery Operated Wearable Personal Fan, Leafless, Rechargeable, Headphone Design, USB Powered Desk Fan,3 Speeds-Grey https://a.co/d/i03gqkP
The charge lasts for hours and I’ve found myself using it all the time like when my bathroom lights are hot and I’m putting on my make up and trying not to simultaneously sweat it off and also when I’m standing over a stove.
LOL @birdie007, you sound like me!!! I can’t even apply powder on my face without it being ‘washed away’ with perspiration. A neck fan sounds like an idea.
In the other thread “Bitch Talk: What Are We Watching in Aug 2022?” @packmule3 will check out A Dream of Splendour … so you may get more comments on it from her and others soon. 🙂
@nrllee, Just want to comment again on how well this drama is doing regarding autism. The writers have done their research. Our heroine is portrayed as a member on the spectrum quite faithfully. They covered sensory kver.oad recently and .over how our male leadbecame a human hug machine. If you read about Temple Grandin, a ph.D on the spectrum with interests in animal husbandry(and a Star Trek fan), you will see that she invented a hug machine for herself and fo cattle( as a more Humane way to ,ead them toslaughter-something ma y would find abhorrent). I just want you to know that the portrayal is accurate and better yet, not sensational.For real life portrayals watch Loveon the Spectrum. People who have read my posts know that I have a personal interest in this subject.
About Extraordinary Attorney Woo Ep 13… it engendered a bit of a roller coaster of emotions. The funny and the fun parts were heartily entertaining, but this was underscored by something to be revealed that would be upsetting. As the Abbot intimated, there was a lot more to know than met the eye.
I liked the Jejudo trip very much, the scenery and the side stories that the Hanbada and Hairy’s Pub folks bring along with them.
Now it’s moving into more fraught episodes, I believe, as we hit the final 3.
@GB, when Jun Ho invited Young Woo to meet his family, I was hoping either that one of them was on the spectrum or a cetologist with a specialty in one of the whale species that Young Woo found particularly interesting. But no, just an average couple with a prejudice. I did think that if they broke up, it would be her who did it. He would never, because he would feel too guilty. I’m just glad that no one has called Young Woo his sugar mama, thinking he is exploiting her because she will earn so much more than a paralegal in a big firm.
@Fern, yes it was disappointing, wasn’t it, that Jun Ho’s family was not a bit more like him. Of course poor Young Woo would hear and understand what they were saying. It was always going to be a tough uphill climb to get everyone’s approval… even her dad’s, but knowing it early does not help much.
On a lighter note, the question now remains about whether the bickering pair of Hairy’s Pub or that of Hanbada will in the end get together.
@GB, They don’t make it easy for Young Woo. Although it is obvious that Jun ho cares for her the realities of her disability are not glossed over and his family’s reaction, although harsh,are realistic. People on the spectrum actually marry and have children.However, some work to pass as neurotypical. The way this drama is set up, that would be impossible for Young Woo. We e see the prejudiced of the able community throughout. With each of these challenges we see our FL grow. I hope that we get a happy but realistic ending to this drama.We still have to see whether our FL’s mother succeeds in her plot. Lots to be resolved in the few episodes going forward.inhope the writers maintain the high standards that we have seen throughout this drama
@Growing Beautifully, Min Woo will need a redemption arc for him to be suitable for anyone decent, of course. Just saying that his parents are poorly and he is the breadwinner isn’t enough. At least he’s honest about his financial situation with Soo Yeon.
@Old American Lady, yes, a happy but realistic ending would be great. I would also like to see Young Woo’s father in a good relationship for a change. Her mother – I wouldn’t mind seeing her behind bars. She is bad on so many levels, but I’m sure that won’t happen.
@Fern and anyone watching EAW, Episode 14.
*SPOILERS*
You were just mentioning a redemption arc for Min Woo… I’m not sure we are going to get all that, but he has tapered off on the self-first and the rest be d*mned attitude for a bit on Jejudo.
Let’s see if he still wants to get himself into Taesan when he’s back in Seoul.
Meanwhile, we also have Hanbada’s own boss being deliberately indiscreet with a reporter over Taesan’s Tae Su Mi. It looks like it’s going to get ugly if CEO Han wants to take down Su Mi.
Couples-wise,… it’s a pity Young Woo is not willing to say what’s on her mind. Poor Jun Ho is so hurt and does not know why she made the decision to break up.
Jung Myeong Seok’s ex-wife is interesting. She bothered to fly in to see her ex-husband. Unfortunately, he has failed to be as excited about having her around as he is about his work. Her comment to YW about how lonely and unhappy it was for her, gave YW the final push to decide to break up. Of course, she should have discussed it with Jun Ho first. He could have assured her that he’d never allow himself to be lonely with her.
We’ll have to wait and see where the other couples are at in their relationships. Too much familiarity between them may have bred contempt… and it’s not usually advisable for couples to be working together, as can be seen by how YW avoided Jun Ho after the break-up.
@Growing Beautifully, honestly my impression was that despite his greed and ambition, Min Woo was shocked by Tae Soo-mi’s proposition. We’ve since found out that he is devoted to his family and they to him. I hope that he doesn’t carry through with her plan. There’s no need now, since it looks like Hanbada boss Han Seon Young is content to do the dirty work.
We don’t know the back story between the two bosses, but I am guessing it developed during University days. Tae Soo-mi inherits her firm, but Han Seon Young has to work extra hard to get to her level. This is a bit of a parallel between how Min Woo feels about Young Woo’s entry through nepotism.
It’s a shame about Young Woo and Jun Ho, but can’t he figure out that she overheard his conversation with his sister and brother in law?
I was wondering how the ex-wife knew? She must have still been listed as his next of kin and the HR staff at Hanbada must have contacted her. I think she still had hopes for him.
I was slightly surprised at the pitch by Myeon-Seok to the abbot, but it was logical and well thought out. But the pitch to the noodle restaurant’s former owner somehow didn’t seem to play out realistically to me. I’m not sure why I felt that way. My thought was that even if he does win the lawsuit, it will be an uphill battle for him. He simply doesn’t have the sort of modern business savvy, plus is seems that his ingredients and preparation will be more intense and expensive. (Also, I quite liked that the monks were getting the benefit of his cuisine, but that’s completely my un-objective view. ‘They give up so much, they should eat well.’ 😋😊)
One thing that I wish EAW would show at some point is a healthy married relationship between someone on the spectrum and someone who is not. How they cope well with each other’s differences would be enlightening for Jun Ho and Young Woo, but also for viewers. How they are not ‘lonely’ within the relationship.
@Fern, I agree. We should be shown happily attached/married people on the spectrum and not only the usual challenges of dating.
Min Woo is still an unknown quantity. He may be better or worse than he seems. He actually dared to hold his knowledge of Tae Su Mi’s past over her head as a sort of blackmail for a job. Yes, he was surprised that she wanted YW to leave Hanbada. But he was willing to try to work this using nefarious means last episode.
His constant thought that it’s unfair that he has to compete against the princess Su Yeon with her connections or YW who’s a genius in law, is what brings him down. He had immediately looked for ways to one-up them unfairly from the start, before he knew them well. Of course it can be said that the Korean work culture of taking in Interns only to lay off a few of them, makes it terribly hard for competitors to be friends.
I was not sure whether to be impressed or aghast that Myeong Seok wanted to make use of the Abbot’s losing the case in court, to get more business for Hanbada. Truly he’s the kind of staff CEO Han treasures. It’s not surprising that his ex-wife had a hard time competing for attention.
Yes, I also agree about the noodle shop. The owner has to do a lot more than just cook his great broth, in order to compete. I guess the main idea was for him to receive a degree of justice due to the unfair competition.
EAW Episode 15-16
Well the show pulled it off. It does not matter if there’s a Season 2 or not because they’ve given a satisfactory closure to all the things left hanging since Episodes 13-14.
Adding to the satisfaction is the appearance of a brother who is also a genius and with traits that are both similar and different from Young Woo. I liked the mirroring of how he woke up in the morning with the way YW wakes up.
I was upset that the lady boss Han of Hanbada was making use of YW, and that this was the reason YW got the position in the company. It was good how the truth was chosen so that all worked out for the good of the majority, and boss Han didn’t have to do what she planned.
I liked the irony of the mother watching her daughter cross-examining her son, and learning from her children, what the higher principles were. It was ironical also that instead of the child she abandoned in order to reach the peak of her career who affected her future, it was rather the child she had legitimately, that resulted in her ending her aspirations.
I enjoyed the image of a triumphant YW in the train to work, (as the narwhal, as she had referred to herself) while the different kinds of whales traveled with her to work. She was unique but not lonely.
The characters stayed consistent and true to type. Jang remained a louse who wanted to get on based on connections, who dismissed YW but then took credit for her ideas and who cowardly threw his colleagues to the reporters while he saved himself.
Min Woo kept kissing up to superiors, but he finally decided to do what was more honourable rather than think only about himself. We have Su Yeon to thank for that.
We don’t know yet what Myeong Seok will do, but his ex-wife is back in his life and he’ll have to decide to give her greater priority if he wants her to stay.
Jun Ho remains absolutely lovely. The metaphor of the cat and its human, for his relationship with YW, was quite apt. One never knows with cats who the ‘owner’ is. One assumes the cat loves his human in its own way.
Show managed to give us as much a sense of fulfillment as it gave YW, because sticking to her principles, resolving all crises of conscience and the need to uphold social justice against the rights of their client, still paid off in the best way possible.
I commend the writer of this show, who must have legal background or done extensive research, so that the loopholes could be offered to provide the solution.
I like also that the judges were indeed fair and impartial, and that both the law and human/social justice was upheld.
Maybe one question that remains is why boss Han wanted so much to take down Tae Su Mi. We took it that there was great professional competition between them, but Han says to herself that she’s letting Su Mi off lightly. So it sounds like she wants to take some kind of revenge on TSM.
I’m not sure if there really will be a Season 2, but it’s good that we are not left hanging to wait some 20+ months for a denouement. This is the right way to have a Seasonal format, where viewers are not ‘played’ and forced to return to know what happens next, but rather that we liked Season 1 enough to come back for a Season 2.
Hi @GB,I didn’t know how they’d do it, but they pulled off a very satisfying ending, book ending themes like Attorney Woo succeeding in going through revolving doors. I am going to miss this drama because it was so healing. And I have to say that Jun Ho is one of my favorite romantic leading men. The drama pushed the emotional connection with Young Woo where it became possible for a neurotypical individual to fall in love with somebody in the spectrum.
As to boss Han, I read somewhere (and I wish I had the refetlrence) that boss Han had antipathy for Tae Su Mi because TSM stole her boyfriend who became TDM:s husband. It is out there as a deleted scene.
I also liked the little brother who was given the Rubik’s Cube prop to show his own very interesting quirks and brilliance (also hinting at a possible place on the spectrum). As is so much fun in K Dramas the coincidences send a lot of feels.
I guess the drama has been green lighted for a second season given its popularity world wide in Netflix. They may have to wait a couple of years because our male lead is enlisting in the military and I’d hate to see the ajin Ho character by recast
I have a theory that our rookies along with senior Myeong Seok may start their own practice leaving Hanbada. That would give the drama a new dimension
No matter how that they do I am glad that this season ended so well and can be a stand alone.
I am now watching Stove League because if our FL and the wonderful Namgoong min. I like baseball (living in a house divided between my husband who is a Mets fan and my son who lives the Yankees. I root for the home team especially if they are playing the Dodgers (that I’ve not forgiven since they left Brooklyn or the Red Socks). But that’s another story.
Will be curious to watch Little Women (I can’t see where it will be similar to the Alcott Nivel and adaptations)
K Dramas continue to give me great distractions from our current personal issues and provide great respite.
@OAL, ah yes, I loved the bookending with the revolving doors too. She wanted to augment her sense of fulfillment, by physically passing through the doors. It was another rite of passage of sorts, entering now, as a full-time employee.
I’d also say that what she felt was a sense of triumph that she had surpassed her own previous limits, and she’d done so on her own, while keeping to what she felt was right.
I liked Myeong Seok’s advice that he and she were different people, and she was not ordinary. It gave her the freedom to decide for herself.
I, too, played around with the thought that Myeong Seok might start his own practice. Of course boss Han won’t be pleased if he filches the interns, but it will be up to them if they stay or leave.
Come to think of it, we only know that Young Woo was given a permanent position, but we do not yet know if Su Yeon and Min Woo got signed on as well. It would be great if they could work as a team outside Hanbada and take on cases as they wish, to fight for social justice as well as to defend their clients.
@OAL, I’m glad that you’re getting well distracted. I trust that the therapy for your husband is going well.
I’m not sure if I’ll watch Little Women. Perhaps I will try the first few episodes and see if they grab my heart, the way the LM Alcott’s books did. 🙂
@GB, your words have given me the impetus to watch the last 2 episodes. Thank you.
@Fern, you’re welcome. May you have as satisfying an experience (or a greater one than) as I did.
As an aside. Here’s more on Park Eun Bin. I forgot that I’ve watched her on ‘Operation Proposal’, sooooo long ago.
@OAL, I just watched a brief intro to Law Cafe, and may be interested to watch Lee Seung Gi and Lee Se Young. It’s been ages since I bothered with a Lee Seung Gi show. Maybe it’s time to try this one.