This list conveys my aspirations, rather than goals this month.
1. Delivery Man
The premise of this kdrama is like “May I Help You?” The hero is a taxi driver who fulfills the last wishes of his dead riders. Since one of his customers is the heroine, I’m assuming that there’s also a bit of “Hotel del Luna” in the story: he’ll help her cross over to the afterworld while becoming emotionally attached to her.
Cast:
Yoon Chan Young (never heard)
Bang Minah (“Beautiful Gong Shim”)
Start Date: March 1! (should I open a thread?)
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: ViuTV
2. The Secret of Romantic Guesthouse
Hmmm… I have “Our Blooming Youth” already on my watch list. Should I add another coming-of-age drama set in Joseon period? The heroine runs a guesthouse for male scholars prepping for the civil exams. It’s a reverse-harem trope that we’ve seen in “Sungkyunkwan Scandal” and “You’re Beautiful” except there’s no cross-dressing involved.
Cast:
Shin Ye Eun (I saw her last in “He Is Psychometric” with Park Jin Young. She’s cute.)
Kang Hoon (the adaptation of Laurie in the kdrama “Little Women”)
Ryeo Un (never heard of him. Is he an idol?)
Jeong Yoo Ha
Episodes: 18 (18??? Really? Are the extra 2 episodes warranted?)
Start Date: Mon, March 20
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: SBS
3. Joseon Attorney
While romcoms present an unrealistic notion of love, I tolerate them as a form of escapism and relaxation from a hard day at work. Unfortunately, I can’t do the same with legal dramas. I don’t want to come home from work to watch more work, and some very unrealistic and outlandish portrayals of the profession at that.
But I’ll give “Joseon Attorney” a two-episode reprieve because:
a) it’s Woo Do Hwan’s first gig after his military service,
b) it’s set in Joseon period. Ha! Do you notice the recurring theme? I like the Joseon period. I think its general pastel color palette suits springtime.
Cast:
Woo DoHwan (remember him from “The King: Eternal Monarch”? He was Lee Minho’s trusted sidekick)
Bona (the other fencer in “Twenty-Five, Twenty-One” who had a happily-ever-after)
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Fri, March 31
Airs on Fridays and Saturdays
Where to Watch it: Viki most likely
Network: MBC
As for Chinese kdramas, I’m relishing “Meet You” whenever I can.
So what are you all watching?
I’m transferring @BethB’s post here.
********************
Here is my round-up of the dramas I have watched in February. I’m noting them here, late in this post, because I realized that each one takes a critical look at different aspects of Korean culture.
(In addition to Our Blooming Youth, which is ongoing, I finished or started the following):
–Love to Hate You (all episodes out at once). This was a surprisingly fun show that also looks at the double standard for women in SK. (An actor dates a lawyer with a lot of sexual experience and it’s considered a horrendous scandal there, with his fans demanding he break up with her).
–Crash Course in Romance (finishing next weekend). While there is a surprising pairing at the center of this show, its real focus seems to be on the insane amount of pressure that high school students are under to show their competence and competitive edge. For example, it shows students in an after-school academy who often take additional classes until at least 11pm, and mothers screaming at them to study more and do better on tests. When one son complains to his mother about her heartlessness, she tells him, “Don’t you understand how critical and cruel this culture is?” Yikes!
–Heavenly Idol. I just started this one. It is a light watch (something I can fold laundry to) that doesn’t take itself too seriously. At the same time, it takes a critical look at idol lifestyles (e.g., idols’ meals having restrictive calorie counts; idols unable to form any kind of relationship, however innocent, with the opposite sex). It also shows that in celebrity culture, anyone can be good or bad depending on how they are portrayed in the media. Case in point: a holy man/high priest, who comes from a different world, is portrayed as the bad guy on a reality show because that is the role the producer has decided for him.
Thanks, @Packmule3!
Along with @BethB, I’m wrapping up Crash Course in Romance in a few days, and have started The Heavenly Idol. I’m also now and then watching episodes of Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist Season 2…because Kim Min Jae. It’s not a great drama, but not horrible either. I’m in the thick of Our Blooming Youth with other Bitches and am generally pleased with that drama, but wouldn’t call it epic like Alchemy of Souls.
Two Japanese series have grabbed my attention lately. One is listed on MyDramaList as Shinya Shokudo – Tokyo Stories and appears on Netflix as Midnight Diner: Tokyo Stories. It’s an anthology format, with each episode being a stand-alone story. That makes it easy fit in when I have a few spare minutes. There are two seasons, and so far I’ve watched the first two episodes of Season 1.
The other Japanese TV show, also on Netflix, I’ve found surprisingly addicting is Falling in Love Like a Romantic Drama. It’s a reality show with three seasons. The premise of the show is to find out if actors who perform kissing scenes in romantic dramas end up falling in love in real life. Although I get tired of the commentating panel and voiceovers pushing the romantic entanglements, I can see how the aspiring actors get their emotions pulled this way and that. What most intrigues me about this show is comparing how each set of actors interpret the same script they’re given, the feedback the acting instructor gives them, the process of filming, and how different and more polished the finished pieces look compared to the practice footage. If you’re into kiss analysis, this show will definitely give you a lot to consider.
Thanks @pkml3. I’m trying not to start anything new in the area of dramas. I should just concentrate on my paid and unpaid ‘jobs’ while continuing with the few shows that I’m still watching.
I’ll stick with Kokdu and Island 2, and I’m still enjoying the MOTA rewatch, for which I’m told I work too hard LOL.
Praying souls, please pray for our little team who will be leading, helping, supporting a 9-day retreat that will be coming up soon. May it be God-filled and Spirit-led! 🙂
I have been eyeing this drama because of the cast. Not sure about the topic but will give it a go. The male version of 39?
https://www.soompi.com/article/1569788wpp/cho-seung-woo-han-hye-jin-kim-sung-kyun-and-jung-moon-sung-introduce-key-points-to-look-out-for-in-divorce-attorney-shin
I’m going to finish my current pending list of to-be-watched dramas before picking up a new one:
1) continue with ‘Our Blooming Youth’ which is engaging so far even at the mid-way point now (I’m enjoying everyone’s analysis on that thread on BoD)
2) finish the last 6 episodes of ‘Crash Course in Romance’ (I haven’t had time to watch them when they were released because of too much work last month)
3) need to watch both seasons of ‘Alchemy of Souls’ (because it’s so liked by everyone here and seems to be a must-watch for fantasy drama-lovers)
Drama on my may-try list – ‘Strangers Again’ whose premise seems to be like ‘Love to Hate You’ which I enjoyed, except in this one the lead pair were actually married in the past
Drama dropped – ‘Kokdu’ because I just can’t seem to get into this drama (and don’t like the ML or FL)
Drama finished (C-drama) – Last weekend I randomly swiped on ‘My Lethal Man’ on Viki and before knew I’m hooked, I binge-watched all 24 episodes in 2 days!! I found it unexpectedly addictive, though it was trope-y, with a mysterious ML bent on revenge and the FL trying to figure him out. The progression of the relationship and transformation in the ML was romantic, as well as the numerous kiss scenes😘 The murder/revenge/family politics was somewhat predictable and makjang like, but I was there for the romance, so not complaining 😝
hello everyone!
I’m finishing up with Crash Course in Romance this weekend (final 2 eps) and just started on the second season of Taxi Driver too (season one was entertaining although vigilante justice probably isn’t something I stand for). Will consider Joseon Attorney precisely because of Woo Do Hwan in a period piece.
Hi!!
I finished “Love to Hate you” happily, a drama I wouldn’t mind watching again because of the strong leads. Finishing Crash Course as well.
I’m trying to catch up with Our Blooming Youth and watching Heavenly Idol on the side when the episodes come out. I’m enjoying Heavenly Idol so far, some scenes are so comedic but it has heavy themes of mental wellness esp among idols, the black and white of this industry and the religious theme which I can’t put a finger on.
But my main drama I’m chasing is Falling into You, a cdrama that came out late last year of a high jump athlete falling in love with his coach, kinda like a noona romance though FL doesn’t look as old. I can’t help want to know what’s next.
Anyone watched “Never Give Up” where Dylan Wang stars as one of the cast? It’s a chinese version of the kdrama Gaus Electronics that I laughed so hard because I felt such second hand embarrassment from the characters.
Thank you @Packmule3 and hi all!
Greatly enjoyed a re-watch of ‘Because this is my first life’- recommended by some of you here.
Currently finishing off ‘Crash Course’ with a number of you.
Also watching 2005 rom com ‘Lovers in Prague’ – by Kim Eun-Sook with an award winning cast. Use of identical incidental music to ‘Secret Garden’ in places which has me intrigued and the unmistakable stamp of the writer’s approach to romance and dialogue between lovers. A bit slower than some of her later work but I am enjoying the performances by the leads (FL is also currently starring in ‘Crash Course in Romance’)
Re-watching ‘Find Yourself’ – (2020) C-drama with Victoria Song and Song Wei Long by the writer of ‘Meet Yourself’. Frothy and romantic and fun with great kisses.
Some great recommendations here…I was already tempted by ‘My Lethal Man’ @Phoenix… I will now go for it.
Dramas I want to check out in March:
The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
Joseon Attorney- for Woo Do Hwan
Call It Love
The Glory
Currently Watching:
The Heavenly Idol
Our Blooming Youth
Chinese Rom Com Rose and Knight- so far it is a cute, light watch. FL is bubbly personality but not stupid, which I like. FL is an ex-army soldier hired by the ML CEO to be his assistant/bodyguard.
I also finished watching Love to Hate You on NF and I enjoyed it.
I want to watch My Lethal Man, but I need to wait until all episodes are Edited at Viki. I like the male lead actor Fan Zhi Xin ever since I saw him as Second lead in My Girl. I couldn’t wait and watched Ep 1 and it looks like a wild, crazy ride! Sadly, the Editing is moving slowly so I will check this drama out later.
If you liked My Lethal Man, another similar crazy drama that is getting a lot of buzz is Maid’s Revenge. It is a mini drama, so a quick watch. I think the total run time is around 4-5 hours. You can find Maid’s Revenge at Viki. I need to wait for Edited episodes, but if you can watch without editing, the drama is complete. I strongly recommend to watch at Viki for the best subtitles. If you can’t watch on Viki, the drama is available on Youku Youtube Channel.
@Kate
I’m going to try ‘Find Yourself’ too because I liked the trailer, thank you for the recommendation😊
@Table122000
How have you been?😊 I second Fan Zhi Xin’s acting abilities and looks (because this was the main reason I got hooked onto ‘My Lethal Man’ in the first place😄). He looks super hot🔥 in the first half (with glasses) when he tries to scheme but is increasingly protective and entranced by the FL instead. Another reason I liked the drama was because from around episode 4, the FL started to take control of the situation and actually took the initiative multiple times, so that the relationship remained on equal footing, unlike dramas with manipulative or abusive MLs and clueless/overly innocent FLs which I don’t like at all.
Viki has all the episodes edited and subbed (at least in my region) and it’s just 24 episodes in length, making the drama a quick and easy watch.
I can see ‘Maid’s Revenge’ available on Viki, will give it a try, thank you for recommending it😊
@grace
I like Dylan Wang and will see if I can find ‘Never Give Up’ subbed on any site, thank you for mentioning it. It doesn’t seem to be on Viki or Netflix in my region yet.
I’m waiting for Dylan Wang’s upcoming drama with Bai Lu. I couldn’t get into his last drama ‘Unchained Love/Forbidden Love’ because I neither liked the storyline nor the FL. Hopefully his next drama will fare better.
Hi @Phoenix! Nice to see you here. I hope things are going well for you. I am doing OK. Still job hunting but hoping 2023 will be the year. Yes, Fan Zhi Xin is looking very good in My Lethal Man and I’m glad he has a Main Lead role to showcase his acting. I hope that the buzz from MLM will lead to better things for him. I also like when FL is equal status so that is cool that this drama has that. Unfortunately for me the Editing is only at ep 6 so I will watch this drama later as I know I will want to binge.
I have not watched Maid’s Revenge, but there is a lot of buzz about it. They say Male Lead is hot and there is good chemistry between the main couple which helps overcome the crazy plot. I like FL actress Dawn Chen. I saw her in Always Have, Always Will (super cute college rom com). I will be interested to read your thoughts on the drama. It is a short mini drama so that is a plus.
@Table122000
All the best for your job search! Praying that you get the job of your dreams soon🙏
I feel Fan zhi Xin was the breakout star for me in ‘My Lethal Man’, his cold-hearted stare, his attire and aura, and then his fall towards the latter episodes, he portrayed all these so well. The beginning actually had me thinking of ‘Vincenzo’ because of his ruthless attitude (he even speaks Italian). I hope this drama gives him more good acting roles too.
Will let you know how I feel after watching ‘Maid’s Revenge’😊, will start it this weekend.
Your to-watch list reminded me that I wanted to check out ‘Call it Love’ too. Intriguing premise that the vengeful FL ends up falling for her father’s mistress’ son, while trying to exact Revenge through him. I like Lee Sung Kyung, so don’t mind trying this drama out.
@Growing Beautifully (GB)
All the best to your retreat team😊 May the retreat days be filled with peace and serenity🙏
Thank you for this thread, @packmule3. Looking over the options, I’m not drawn to anything particularly this month.
I see that a semi-medical romance is coming up on March 25th – “The Real Deal Has Come.” It’s about a Tsundere doctor and a pregnant woman who enter into a false marriage contract. The downside is that it’s 50 episodes, while I prefer short and sweet.
Romantic Guest House sounds nice but not outstanding as well.
Joseon Attorney – I’ll likewise watch a few episodes for Woo Do Hwan – mostly because I liked his dual characters in TKEM so much.
Haha. I may end up reading rather than watching in March as I did in February.
Since CCIR is ending this weekend, I’m wondering what I can watch to fill its spot. Both Romantic Guest House and Joseon Attorney sound like shows I’d normally watch, but I’ve found that I can’t watch more than one historical at a time–and I’m still watching Our Blooming Youth. So I’ll add them to my watchlist for later.
I had decided to hold off on watching The Glory until the second season came out this month but I’m not sure I can watch all the explicit and painful bullying that I’ve seen just in previews. Still, I’ve liked other shows written by Kim Eun-sook, so I might try watching it by averting my eyes during the worst bullying.
Not sure about Delivery Man. I was disappointed in May I Help You (for being ridiculously melodramatic), which it sounds a lot like. If anyone here starts it and likes it, let me know.
I’d really like to find a show that is fun and light along the lines of Love to Hate You or Business Proposal… even Heavenly Idol has its dark moments, however cartoonish at times, so I’m talking about something light and fluffy and preferably romantic–if anyone has any suggestions.
@BethB: Have you watched last year’s ‘Extraordinary Attorney Woo’? It’s a very feel-good drama, not too light but not dark either. It just leaves a smile on my face whenever I think of it, just super cute❤️ I recently rewatched it and loved it again💕
@Phoenix yes I watched it when it came out last year. What I most liked about the show was its overall design, especially the opening credits, and the ongoing whale theme (with whales making an appearance when Atty Woo was thinking creatively, etc.). I also liked how her relationship with her father was portrayed. It was a good watch. I wasn’t excited, though, about the romance and almost wished they hadn’t included it. That they had just let her be her own quirky self without bringing in a man into the picture. I thought his interest in her wasn’t entirely believable…
Same here, @Phoenix. I’m eagerly waiting for Dylan Wang and Bai Lou’s drama. I like to see their interaction. I hope the story is good, though.
@BethB For a light watch I suggest these romantic comedies:
Marriage, Not Dating
1% of Something
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Bride of the Century
Once Upon A Small Town
Gogh, The Starry Night
Secret Life of My Secretary
Thank you my dear @Phoenix.
@BethB
I loved the whales in EAW too😃
I second @Table122000’s recommended ‘Secret Life of My Secretary’ which is also an office romance like ‘Business Proposal’ and is a very light and fluffy watch.
I also like ‘1% of Something’ for the lead pair and all its kiss scenes😛
@Phoenix, @BethB, @Table
I really enjoyed the fluff and love of Secret Life of My Secretary.
I might still watch clips from 1% of Anything to relax to before sleep.
Yes, I liked ‘Secret Life of My Secretary’ too… that’s one I might re-watch.
The whales were great in EAW and the need to negociate whale talk!
Speaking of fluffy, fun dramas and kisses – did anyone watch ‘Her Private Life’ with Park Min Young as the FL?
I have re-watched that and enjoyed the fun it had with her undercover high level fangirling whole being a successful and poised museum curator by day.
Nice wistful song ‘Maybe’ from ‘Her Private Life’…
Hi, Kate. I watched ‘Her Private Life’ and enjoyed it. Great cast.
I liked the idea that no regular woman with professional aspirations might be a fangirl, so the high level fangirl has to do it secretly.
There was a certain amount of emphasis on social standing and background, but not too much. There was a glimpse back to the difficult years of the financial crisis with some things about relinquishing children due to financial constraints, adoptee attachment disorder and the difficulty of being a single mother in that era.
It was one of my early K-dramas before I knew that adoption was a trope, so it was new and interesting. I also liked seeing the workings of an art gallery behind the scenes – realistic or not.
@Phoenix: Thank you so much for your good wishes for my job hunt. Much appreciated.
@Kate: Yes, I have seen Her Private Life and enjoyed it. PMY and KJW were a great couple and I also loved the female lead’s best friend.
@GrowingBeautifully: Yes, 1% of Something is just so good. I have also watched clips before bedtime just to relive some favorite moments. Although my favorite drama to re-watch if I need a lift is Bride of the Century. I like to re-watch my favorite scenes and just laugh!
@Fern @Table1200,
Had forgotten the back story… which lends poignancy to this show.
Also loved the FL’s best friend! She was feisty and fun.
Thanks for the recommendations of older, light/fluffy shows everyone!
I have watched 1% of Something–and rewatched certain parts of it, because I find it a real mood uplift. Da Da is such a great character. It’s always great to see someone on screen who is essentially kind; her being scatterbrained just added to her charm for me.
I’ve also seen Her Private Life. I liked that it showed the behind-the-scenes work at the museum–if a show is going to show work-life, it really needs to put in an effort to show what people are doing there day-to-day, or at least some reasonable facsimile of it. (One of the worst examples of this, I think, is Personal Taste, where everyone just seemed to sit at their desks, where they were “creating” or “running the company,” though you didn’t actually see any action.) I also appreciated the portrayal of mature love; and I didn’t mind the fangirling, though it wasn’t my favorite part. But I didn’t love the childhood back story. I wish that trope would be used more occasionally than it is…
I had never heard of The Secret Life of My Secretary or Bride of the Century, so I just added them to my Viki Watchlist. (I came to k-dramas during the pandemic, essentially, and have mostly watched recent shows as they came out, so it’s great to dive back into some of the older shows).
Otherwise, I’ve been slowly finishing up the Marvel Universe watch (in order of release) with my hubby. We are in “Phase 4,” and just finished Shang-Chi, which was a huge disappointment (I’m saying this as a fan of kung-fu movies). And I’m planning to watch some of the shows coming out this spring on PBS/Masterpiece like Call the Midwife and Sanditon (despite my earlier grumblings about it on this blog, but they got rid of the ML I disliked. And I’m a sucker for English costume dramas).
For those who like Chinese xianxia … you may or may not enjoy a new show which is part of a trilogy with Ashes of Love – The Starry Love.
Very pretty visual effects. A good cast. ML stuck with needing to be in ‘impassive’ mode in the early part of the story …He is a good actor though so promises I am sure to be more interesting as the story develops.
I enjoyed the early establishing episodes in a mixed way – some rather lovely moments but not really drawn into the story or to the characters as we see them at the start.
However, the plot has started to come together a bit more in episodes 10 and 11.
More nuance/more depth/more intrigue – an unlikely military hero identified at a crucial battle for instance (I like storylines like that).
All the usual rather random shows of power where it isn’t clear why one person’s beam of blue light or formation is stronger than another’s – or why a powerful protective formation can be decimated by one of the baddy warriors. Who knows?
But if you can cope with some of the usual xianxia randomness… the story does start to get interesting and I am being drawn in now.
I realise that saying you have to wait until Episode 10 to be hooked… sounds like faint praise indeed!
Some of you may enjoy the storyline from the outset…
A favoured human princess and a neglected human princess – sisters – are being married off. The favoured princess is destined to be married off to the crown prince of the immortals. The ‘evil’ princess is destined to be married off to one of the princes of the dark kingdom called ‘The Void’.
For a number of reasons – the plans get interfered with and the sisters swap places and become caught up in the bigger story of the four kingdoms … the Immortals; the Void Walkers; the Beast Kingdom and the Human Kingdom. The sisters end up in unlikely romances…
There is the usual plethora of characters – but you do start to get to know and appreciate them. There are scary, amusing, heroic and cute characters – including a cinnamon plant with aspirations to be immortal! I think there is quite a good mythological back story… I never know what to compare xianxia with!
@Phoenix, I tried My Lethal Man for a couple of episodes and have dropped it. There were too many things that made me roll my eyes and ask about the creative team, “What were they thinking?” The fateful meeting of the two women in front of the rose painting: the director might as well have been standing next to me and beating me over the head. Give viewers a little more credit, will ya?! The female lead, in fear for her life because of strange men, runs away and… almost commits suicide. Is that a logical expression of someone’s will to survive? And after all the dramatic effort to catch her as she’s falling, they leave her standing on the ledge on the outside of the railing, not securing her to prevent another fall. The male lead had been unable to locate the Zhuang daughter for a long time, yet shortly after she’s located he’s got a thorough dossier on her that includes all her likes and dislikes, past friends, educational accomplishments, etc. How’d he manage to put that together when she’d been on the run internationally for seventeen years without him knowing her location?
But what broke my will to stick with the drama was the scene where ManMan is wandering wide-eyed through her walk-in closet at the Zhuang mansion. The Zhuang daughter had been away from home for seventeen years. Who stocked the closet with shoes, purses, and party dresses? How’d they know her size and fashion taste? She was a child when her grandfather sent her abroad, she hadn’t gone home since, her return was rushed because of her grandfather’s poor health, then delayed because of the accident.
I’m not a fan of makjang, but will endure it when it’s done right. This show couldn’t convince me to stay.
Cdramas
@Kate your synopsis and review has sparked interest in me to watch Starry Love, but I’m wary of starting anything new right now. I may have to wait another 2 weeks before going all in to watch some new shows.
I’m also eyeing Love Heals, a contemporary drama, because I like the premise that a divorced husband and wife can forgive each other, still care enough about each other overall, and get back together. There may be some scenes in Africa, which will be different.
I’ll put these shows on my To Watch list and see how I go! 🙂
@GB – I’d be interested if you do get to see it.
I am liking the ‘quest’ nature of the episodes I am currently watching. Characters go from 2 dimensional and ‘step off the screen’ as more fully fleshed and sympathetic (sympathique) out as they encounter their challenges, destinies etc
Comparisons are odious … but I am trying now to compare it with Love of Fairy and Devil. There have been one or two grand scale scenes and themes that reminded me of the LFD narrative. It is also more slapstick in places. It’s a different show from a different team and part of a trilogy with its own xianxia world-view.
@GB, praying for a sprit and heart filled retreat for your group. 🙏🏼 I used to go to retreats a lot, back in the 1990’s. 😂 I loved it though. ☺️
For March, nothing. After Lent, I’ll catch up on Our Blooming Youth, Island 2 and Meet Yourself.
I have to watch WDH’s drama too. I like him. ☺️
For light and fluffy – I just started A Taste of Love cdrama! It’s completely nonsensical and totally charming. Even though I don’t love the fat trope with the FL, the characters are really sweet to each other. She is a former idol who gained weight after she was caught up in a scandal. She becomes the housekeeper and then the assistant to the ML CEO who has face blindness (I’m embarrassed describing this plot it is so ridiculous). What I like about it is that he is almost immediately very kind to her and recognizes all her good qualities. I also like the ML – not that the typical impossibly pretty boy CEO. Anyway if you’re looking for the lightest of fluff – this might work.
I’m still really enjoying the Jdrama On a Starry Night – the eccentric characters are a bit much but it’s a nice story of found families
Thank you @agdr03 for joining your prayer with ours. We are still in preparation for the retreat and will start next week. 🙏
@ Good Twin, @Kate and Others, thank you for the recommendations. I found the ‘Starry Love’ that @Kate wrote about. Interesting concept and the trailer looks fun. I also found ‘On a Starry Night’, but I can’t find ‘A Taste of Love’ that looks the same as you described. Perhaps there’s another title or it isn’t available in my area.
I fell into a music Rabbit Hole on You Tube and saw, on a reaction video for something else, two American guys watching bits of CLOY. So funny.
@GB – like @adr03 – I really enjoy and value retreats. Some of my most important life insights and decisions have emerged in a well-led retreat.
Thinking of you now and sending prayers as I walk to the shops!
@GoodTwin – I want to watch ‘A Taste of Love’ – is it because I have gained weight during the pandemic? Possibly!
I related and smiled when you described your reaction to one of the tropey plot details.
Thank you my dear @Kate!
@Kate and @Fern – a Taste of Love is on IQIYI. But I have to say what started out a fairly sweet story has devolved into misunderstanding after misunderstanding since about episode 8 which I watched after my prior post. I guess they have to stretch the paper thin plot out for 24 episodes but the story is becoming a bit less charming
@Welmaris: LOL yes, I agree, logic doesn’t really work when we have two completely different women with no blood relation having the same face. MLM gets better in the later episodes and is not too dramatic like a makjang, but I’m not sure if it becomes more logical though😛
@Table122000: I started Maid’s Revenge but found the ML to be too aggressive and the FL to be too much of a crybaby, also found out it has a sad ending, so didn’t persevere.
@Kate: I’m not a fan of Xianxia (LBFD waa the only exception) though Starry Love sounds good.
I think I will just stick to OBY and the last few episodes of CCIR for now, and read a few of my pending books instead this month.
@phoenix, I watched one episode of “Never Give Up” and it wasn’t too bad just too fast for me. The pun is in the names that they don’t translate so you can’t quite catch their silly name meanings. And in comparison to the korean version called “Gaus Electronics” I would say the korean version is much better.
@BethB, would you like to try “Falling into you”, I’m almost finishing it and I’m loving the lack of stressful moments. According to Avenue X who reviewed it, she said that the director is really good at figuring out the juicy parts of the r/s of the characters and keep the audience there.
@GB, the director of “Falling into you” also directed “Love between Fairy and Devil”!!!
Anyway, WuAnYu, the main lead actor is quite an eye candy and looks a bit like Yangyang…though more boyish and cute.
@Kate, I’ll get to Starry Love soon when it finish airing! I’m hearing quite good reviews on it!
Actually it was that drama that linked me to another drama called “Dreaming back to the Qing Dynasty”. FL is in both dramas. (noooo…don’t watch that this Qing Dynasty drama ok! It has some scenes that were rather illogical or left me with question marks, I watched half way can just cannot continue) BUT it led me to discover the ML, WuAnyu (It was his debut drama and a main lead as a first drama to be in) and thus I started watching Falling in You instead and enjoying that way way more.
I heard Forever Love with same WuAnyu in it is great too but I can’t comment as I have yet to watch it.
Ooooh @Grace, you have made ‘Falling into You’ sound very juicy and tempting. I just have to be patient before I can start. Have too much to do for the next 2 weeks or so.
The Starry Love – windy plot warning.
You know those parts of the story where the leads go to the human realm to carry out various quests… This can work really well or feel like a tedious detour…
Well, for me, this segment of The Starry Love is ff territory only for die hard fans.
Again, some of you may enjoy this part of the narrative. So this is my opinion only.
‘Warm on a Cold Night’ is a clever, well-made C-drama – in the vein of a number of good detective/mystery adventures which reveal new levels of complexity from episode to episode and have a slightly Sherlock Holmesy feel.
There is a very attractive shape-shifting ML and you’ll know the FL from a number of romantic lead roles + a cameo performance in LBFD.
It is top of the IQIYI leader board at the moment.
@GB, Falling Into You is really worth a watch, and I am momentarily biased because of ML. It’s a noona romance but a 20yo & 28yo couple so the vibe is really still very youthful. Great kisses too 😬
Since it has finished airing end of last year, you can take your time to watch it. The drama will always be there, have a fruitful retreat! It sounds like it will be a rejuvenating time for you.
@Kate, Oh dear, another drama that sounds so juicy. The kind I’d like to sink my teeth into. I adore a good detective story and most of Holmes’ exploits. Into the ‘To Watch’ list it goes! 😋 😆
@Grace, thanks for the update… since you’ve green-lighted it, I’ll have no qualms. The problem with me is that once I start watching, I’ll be spending too much time on it and neglecting what I should be doing!! 😁 😌
Thanks for the good wishes. It’s a formation retreat, meaning that there’s some ‘learning’ going on, and I’m one of the ‘teachers’ so it’s rejuvenating in a busy way LOL. There’ll be some quiet time too for reflection and group sharing. The give and take is always good.
Hey all😊
My list :
Our Blooming Youth – still going. OK watch so far. Nothing too annoying, not too addictive. I don’t feel the rommance as much as I was watching the Red Sleeves. However, I still want to see their cases resolved though.
Divorced Attorney Shin – I’ll have a go for sure. I like the cast. Cho Seung Woo is a great actor. I’m interested to see what he’ll bring.
My Sunshine – I recently finished the Sword and the Brocade and decided to start on My Sunshine as well.
I’m interested in the Starry Love too.
@GB hope your retreat went well!
Kalimera Everyone,
I wanted to write down that I am okay, but in no mood to analyze in depth any show at the moment.
I will be around…
Hadn’t realised Yang Zi was so popular in relation to other stars!
For anyone who follows this type of thing:
https://koalasplayground.com/2023/03/05/yang-zi-and-xiao-zhan-lead-the-voting-by-a-huge-margin-for-weibo-night-king-and-queen-over-second-place-runner-ups-dylan-wang-and-dilraba-dilmurat/
@Viva – I really enjoyed ‘The Sword and the Brocade’ – watched it last year.
Seven Tan on good form, as usual, and the ML too good performance.
Very nice visually too – I remember.
Thanks @Viva, I’m still prepping for the retreat but praying in advance! I believe it will go well with God’s hand guiding us along the way. 🙂
@Kate, thanks for the link. I went to take a look and was quite bowled over by the big difference in percentages. I also like Xiao Zhan, although I feel he’s probably a better singer than actor, but he’s not bad. I really like his real personality and how he thinks, in his interviews. I have not watched any recent shows of his though.
For a change I actually recognise all the actresses who are the top 5 favourites among fans. I can’t say any individual stands out for me in their acting, but they are all nice to watch.
@GB – me too! Especially when you think of the numbers this represents! I like to watch her – she’s got great light comedy skills and was wonderful in Go Go Squid and very good in Ashes of Love. She has something of Audrey Hepburn about her… that ingenue/gamine appeal.
Another link for you all… Spoiler alert if you haven’t seen ‘Who Rules the World’.
Do you remember our upset at an early military death in ‘Who Rules the World’?
Well we were clearly not alone … this event has now spawned its own discussion on reddit and these things should be noted!
https://www.reddit.com/r/CDrama/comments/11ik75z/this_guy_gets_killed_off_in_the_first_episode_of/
Not familiar with ‘Who Rules the World’ but I agree, simply looking at the photo. Go ahead and call me shallow. 😆😉
@Cleopatra, don’t feel pressured to write commentary. JOMO (joy of missing out) as much as you need. Sending you loving thoughts. Come to your friends here at BoD when you want a lift in spirits.
@Kate, I wonder if those percentages are accurate, or were manipulated by tech-savvy fans. I’m not familiar with the top male and female vote winners, not having seen any of their work.
@Welmaris – yes that could well be the case. I don’t know how these platforms work and what games are played.
Taste of Love has turned actively dreadful at this point – I’m dropping it – too bad it started sweet and harmless.
@Good Twin, thank you for the warning!!! (Reminder to self: stay away from Taste of Love) LOL.
I started cdrama: ‘Love Heals’ (other title in MDL is ‘Have a Crush on You’ – I had the hardest time locating it by the English title and had to search using the actor’s name).
It’s not too bad… I like that the OTP couple are exs and already had a marriage between them and the girl’s parents still like the ex. There’s also no reason for them to not be together since they work closely. The main conflict is how they irritate or mollify each other. The interest is in watching how they warm up to each other again and get back together, especially since it was probably the love of the girl that was the main force bringing them together in the past, and now I want to see if the guy steps up his game and does the woo-ing (love that old-fashioned word!).
There might be one or a couple of other side couples, and a few extra ‘surprises’ to keep the show going, but I expect a relaxing watch of a once-again-romance unfolding.
Thank you @Welmaris! 💗
@Cleo, I understand and support you 💯.
@Everyone, I’ve been looking for something light and humorous to leaven the winter that doesn’t want to end here. I started ‘Love to Hate You’ on Netflix based on BoD recommendations and I haven’t laughed so much since my belated watch of ‘Be Melodramatic’. I had to check that they weren’t written or directed by the same people. I know that some of you have watched this already.
There’s a woman who acts the way she thinks men act and a man who gets protected by her — in other words sort of a reversal of traditional roles, at least so far. I’ve finished 8 episodes and I hope the story doesn’t fall off a cliff before the end. I don’t really care if they end up together forever or not. I’m enjoying the roller coaster ride.
The silent PD is hysterical. All together it’s well cast. I’m enjoying Kim Ji Hoon in a sympathetic and comic role; he barely needs to speak to convey his sentiments. He manages to make some less credible lines ring true. (Cough. Shallow, yep.)
@Fern – loved ‘Love to Hate You’ too! Such fun!
Refreshing.
May re-watch for another shot of fizzy fun.
@Good Twin – thanks for the tip off!
Thanks to your recommendation I went onto the IQYUI site to watch the first episodes.
Then, I discovered ‘Warm on a Cold Night’ which is entertaining, well made, visually strong, great chase, fly and martial arts (almost dance like) scenes and a good storyline + romance.
It’s on Viki too.
A bit of a grower – although I was hooked early on because the ML is so handsome.
Thank you @Fern! 💕
@Kate, @Fern, @Phoenix, so…I embarked on Starry Love and it can’t compare to LBFD’s cgi plus the sets are something I felt like I’ve seen before somewhere in Ancient Love Poetry or some Xianxia drama. But after I got over that bump, the unexpected FL’s character tickled me so much!! I totally don’t expect a Xianxia to be such a comedy.
Anyway not sure if you remember at ep3 or 4, FL was presented with a special dish in a pretty bowl that is just air. That’s what they ‘eat’ in the immortal realm. So they explained to her that this is a very special air Northwest called, 西北风 （XiBeiFeng) aka Northwest wind. Now in Chinese the other meaning of eating the Northwest wind 吃西北风 (ChiXiBeiFeng) means to starve, which is was what she was going to have to do in the heavenly realm! It was quite a hilarious scene…for me at least. Very punny.
@Grace – it’s great that you get to appreciate the puns! That’s a whole other layer of enjoyment.
Agreed on comparisons being odious here! It has to be enjoyed on its own terms.
LBFD was exceptional.
Speaking of LBFD – a titbit of information for you…the guy who dubbed Dylan Wang’s voice in LBFD is also the voice actor for the ML in ‘Warm on a Cold Night’.
@Kate and @Grace, ‘eating the Northwest Wind’ reminds me of my thrifty dad. We only ate at restaurants on special occasions and if asked what we could have for dessert, he would say to us, “A glass of water and a toothpick”; both freely offered at restaurants.
@Fern – laughing here! Your Dad was canny.
@Kate I’m watching ‘Warm on a Cold Night’ and I’m really into it 😀 I had no idea it’s the same voice actor for LBDF, I just felt the voice and the ML in ‘Warm’ are not matching that well (my personal opinion) I think a more casual sounding voice might suit him better
TY —- oooh so glad you are into ‘Warm on a Cold Night’! I’m continuing to enjoy it.
I didn’t notice the vocal mis-match – it’s interesting that you picked up on that. Part of his appeal is that unpredictable – slightly wild thing… I wonder if they cast the vocal actor to match ML’s royal status??
Annyeong 🍀
Thanks for this thread @pm3 and everyone’s comments.
I just finished “Cinderella and 4 knights” and love it. Loved the happy ending. and the fact that i’ve watched both male leads before. so much younger of course.
I also enjoyed “Because this is my First life” and “The beauty inside” with Lee Min-ki.
I am currently watching “chocolate” – and realized that i’ve watched the Female lead before and the 2nd male lead is Teo Yoo from “love to hate you” – except he died 🙁 boo.
as well as kokdu, blooming youth, and heavenly idol 🙂 **so many shows 💗
From @pm3’s list – i am interested in watching “the secret of romantic guesthouse”
@Kate, I started watching Lovers in Prague last night. Ever since you commented about it above, I’ve been curious; then I had something in another show I’m watching nudge me further. Since Lovers in Prague was aired in 2005, it can’t be judged by quite the same standards as today’s dramas, but I’ve enjoyed the first two episodes.
What pushed me further toward Lovers in Prague? Episode 5 of Poong, The Joseon Psychiatrist 2. There’s a sequence where romance books are being referenced for lines a young man can use to soothe the heart of his runaway bride-to-be after he unintentionally hurt her with clumsy words. The romance books from which quotes were drawn included the titles Goblin, Descendants of the Sun, Secret Garden, and Lovers in Hanyang [which is a nod to either Lovers in Paris or Lovers in Prague]. All are works by Kim Eun Sook. I decided to have a look at Lovers in Prague since @Kate recommended it and I want to see Jeon Do Yeon in another role. I’ll put Lovers in Paris on my watch list because it was popular when it aired and received many awards.
I’m enjoying the second season of Poong, the Joseon Psychiatrist more than the first, as there’s more humor. It’s only ten episodes, so not a major commitment. And I can’t wait to see Woo Do Hwan’s cameo in Episode 10! Looking forward to that gives me incentive to finish the series.
@Welmaris – how interesting that a reference cropped up in Poong, The Josean Psychiatrist!! Do let us know if you continue to enjoy Lovers in Prague.
I’m struck with Jeon Do Yeon’s performance – you’ll have to see if you agree – by how much of her approach has been carried forward into Crash Course – expressions and mannerisms. The vigour of the earlier character is echoed in the vigour of the FL in Crash Course too.
I’m also interested in watching ‘Lovers in Paris’ – curious about that too.
@Kate, even though Lovers in Prague and Crash Course in Romance were aired eighteen years apart, the fashion sense of the female lead characters in both shows had a lot of similarities: lots of sweaters, blouses covering up to the neck, etc. I don’t think that’s Jeon Do Yeon’s personal esthetic, based on photos of her not in character. I wonder if CCiR was a bit in homage to LiPr.
I’ve watched a few more episodes of LiPr, and if it were real life I’d advise Jae Her to dump both problematic guys vying for her attention and build a relationship with he co-worker and friend of twenty years, Suh Yoon Kyu. He seems like a great guy, and they get along well. His being in a wheelchair does not prevent him from being a romantic partner, but I suppose she friend-zoned him long ago. Too bad.
I checked online for information on the actor who plays Suh Yoon Kyu, and he doesn’t seem to be acting anymore. I haven’t found any works listed for him after 2009.
@Welmaris –
She did have a glam evening gown in an early episode and then lots of gamine or is it youthful preppy styling?? In some episodes she looks great in that style and in others – from a contemporary perspective – you wish she could wear something more streamlined.
This article doesn’t contain spoilers and comments about styling of FL while comparing the 2 Lovers dramas: https://dramaswithasideofkimchi.com/2022/07/20/classic-drama-face-off-lovers-in-paris-vs-lovers-in-prague/
Co-worker is lovely and clearly cares about her! We don’t have any narrative in the early episodes about how that friend-zoning took place – it’s just a given. It leaves a question mark as you say.
Like you I’m not sure I would have advised her to persist in her relationship with our first ML. It’s based on challenge and drama. I wished she would just give first ML time to work things through with weepy ex. But she has the persistence of a teenager in love!
There is more back story to come for second ML and more developments so I won’t comment there.
This ode to K-Dramas popped up in my morning emails:
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2023/03/k-dramas-tv-shows-attorney-woo-little-women/673349/
@Welmaris – just in case I wasn’t clear – her persistence is akin to that of a teenager in love!
Let me know if you do keep watching and have further reflections!
@Kate, I’m through Episode 12 of LiPr. The two men battling over her, sometimes both roughly grabbing her arm at the same time, is so cave man. I wish she’d bop both of them over the head with her purse and remind them that she has a say in the matter. Mr. Prosecutor refuses to believe she’s over him, but she doesn’t help by trying to stay friends and giving him sad eyes when he ignores her. And as for Mr. Detective’s weepy ex-girlfriend, has she had even one scene where she didn’t end up shedding tears? It’s hard to believe that’s the same actress who played the steely dorm mother in Snowdrop.
@welmaris – laughing here!!
Even though it is 2005 it is clearly of its era in K-drama terms.
Our heroine definitely makes things worse in so many ways!
The weepy ex would not pass muster in a contemporary drama eh? I didn’t know she was in Snowdrop. What a difficult, unlikeable role to pull off!!
I am more sympathetic to second male lead in the early and mid-stages because of the backstory – that will be revealed. Now, it’s improbable that he would have been out of touch for 5 years even with that backstory… but accepting the requirements of the drama … one can give him more understanding. The plot also moves on and there are various developments which affect our perception of him yet again.
I think somewhere she tells first Male Lead that she loved him at first sight. Can’t remember where that comes up. So she may be guilty (am I making all this up @Welmaris?) because her response to Mr Cop is visceral and overtakes her youthful romantic feelings for Mr Prosecutor.
I think if the drama didn’t play around with our central 3 leads that she would be better with Mr Prosecutor… But he seems to be on an Ashes of Love second male lead trajectory…
May I confess now that I haven’t completed the show yet…
I was a little worn out by what was happening with the second male lead and then got lured away by a number of other fizzier watching projects.
I am in the early part of Ep 13 and talking to you has re-kindled my desire to watch to the end.
So if you continue, we are virtually in step!
ps @Welmaris …please put it down to lack of sleep… but you will have seen all the things I was flagging up in my post above… you’re at the same point I am now.
Did it make you more sympathetic to the ‘I have a claim on your love’ second ML?
I know he is coming across as entitled and tooo persistent… but it made me more accepting of his motivation.
If any of you like survival reality shows… I strongly recommend Alaska based ‘Outlast’!
I am hooked and have watched the whole thing from start almost to finish today.
It’s on Netflix.
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/mar/10/outlast-review-a-brilliant-survival-show-that-ends-up-in-full-on-lord-of-the-flies-wildness
@Kate – I watched some episodes of the Starry Love. I love the settings, costumes and CGI! Very visually beautiful. I fast forward the 3rd prince part as I don’t like the his character. I am around episodes 12. The plot is the usual Xian Xia “life cycles”.
Noting it has introduced four Realms instead of the usual 3 Realms. Also allowed cross realms marriages instead of being “forbidden”.
I will keep going because it is so pretty to watch! I may not watch it fully as I seem to fast forward the parts I think are boring.
@Kate, I haven’t progressed from Episode 12 of Lovers in Prague. Now that Mr. Prosecutor has declared he’ll play dirty, and we know Mr. Detective is carrying debt, I can see where this is going: character assassination. I wasn’t in the mood for that, so I’m doing what the writer of the Lovers in Prague vs. Lovers in Paris article did: watch both. I’m up to Episode 8 of Lovers in Paris.
Did you ever watch Because This Is My First Life? There’s a scene where the famous scriptwriter is brought in to help polish her assistant’s script, and takes over by suggesting all sorts of tropes be thrown in to up audience interest. Her suggestions seemed ridiculously over the top in BTIMFL. I’m now thinking she was accurately portraying a mindset from the not-too-distant past.
I’m still having fun, so I’ll continue watching these two for now. Feeling like I’m a time traveler is part of the fun. Gosh, I wish there was a way the functionality of today’s cell phones could be crammed into those flip phones and slide phones.
@Kate, I have two more words about Lovers in Paris: cargo pants.
@Viva – I’m glad you are enjoying The Starry Love.
I rather like the 3rd prince… is it because he is playing a sly game that you don’t like him?
It was great for me and improving – all the sacrificial themes and the massive challenge facing our ML and FL – loved all that! It was gritty and moving.
I then gave it a break after a few episodes in the human earthly realm with our FL trying to build a relationship with our ML in one of his earthly incarnations while his soul is fractured into shards – won’t spoil it for you.
I really felt the plot slow down to a plod and felt it was a bit amateurish. See what you think when you get there. A bit Monty Python!
If you keep going and find your way out of the human realm and let me know it is worth it on the other side I will re-join! I am interested in the overall plot.
@Welmaris – I made it through Episode 13 of ‘Lovers in Prague’ on Saturday/Sunday and then I ground to a halt also.
I could not bear the baddy daddy! What possible motivation could he have for being so unremittingly evil and cruel to everyone? Did he not have a shred of emotional intelligence as he crushed the will of his son and destroyed the weepy ex?
There was also a point in that episode where Vile Chaebol Senior gives the game away to the President that Jae Hee her first love the 2ML lived together for a while in a hotel in Prague. This reputational damage is a body blow to her and to her relationship with her father. Her father has always trusted FL and understood that they had a transparent relationship. It’s handled in such a turgid way … urgh.
It all became too painful and dark after the lightness and romantic high jinks of the first few episodes.
I ended up watching the final episode in a sequence of fast forwarding.
I did watch BtiMFL and loved it this time @Welmaris! I remember the unctuous writer they brought in to soap up our FL’s script. I think you make an excellent point. Even the wondrous KES is a creative who is of her time!
I will check out LoP and the fabled cargo pants!
ps @Welmaris – I should add if you continue to watch LiP that it wasn’t about whether there was a happy ending or not, but the route taken to get to the end!
The Chinese drama the Road Home has finally been released. I don’t know anything about the plot but it looks incredibly romantic. The star is Seven Tan from Flight to You, the Sword and the Brocade and Master of My Own. I will report once I have watched a few episodes. The last episode of the Japanese drama On A Starry Night airs today. I have really enjoyed it despite some over the top eccentric characters. With only 9 episodes it is definitely worth watching
I thought I posted a comment yesterday about Road Home but it didn’t go through. Simply on the strength of the the two leads – I’m compelled to watch even though I would describe the first few episodes as a bit inscrutable. The first few episodes are all longing and the unexpressed. The FL is in an investment banker, ML is a bomb disposal expert in SWAT. He is quite swoony! They were childhood sweethearts and each other’s only loves. They’re reunited after 10 years.
I admit I was a bit disappointed in this drama at first – I really was in the mood to be swept away. The subs are a bit confusing, the OST meh and there is so much unexpressed. But then I started to read the novel and see how faithful this adaption is. Even the flashbacks and the timing when they occur track the novel. Reading the novel made me like the drama a lot more. It adds context to all that is unexpressed between the leads. It also made me appreciate some of what we are seeing on screen – such as the canal lined by poplar trees where the two would ride their bikes when they were kids. The translator also provides her take on some of the scenes and provides some explanations of Chinese terms and culture that are really helpful and interesting.
In the novel she is 13 or 14 and he is 17 when they meet. They keep their relationship a secret because dating at their age is not socially acceptable. I’m still unclear how long they dated before they break up. I think she was in university at the time. Now that I have gotten halfway through the novel, I am going to rewatch the first couple of episodes.
If anyone is interested here is a link to the online English translation of the novel. https://hui3r.wordpress.com/mo-bao-fei-bao/the-road-home/ The author also wrote Go Go Squid! I’d be curious to hear what others think of this show. I’m watching on IQIYI but I think it is coming to Viki soon.
I’m so happy my favorite movie from last year received the recognition it deserves at the Academy Awards. Hooray for Everything Everywhere All at Once!
Has anyone yet seen the movie Return to Seoul? It’s in limited release at theaters, and not yet available for streaming.
@Welmaris, it was a glorious film, wasn’t it? We were pleased, too.
I saw a YouTube from several years ago of some men discussing how Asians need a Superhero. They said most superheros are somehow outcasts in their societies and they started to laughingly name qualities an Asian superhero needed in order to be an outcast. They only spoke about a proposed male superhero. I wonder how those same men feel now about EEAAO?
@Good Twin – started ‘The Road Home’ tonight.
I am enjoying it – it all adds up to a show that I want to follow.
I like the snowy setting and the chill wind of the early episodes. A great backdrop for all the ‘unsaid’ and quiet intensity between our ML and FL.
I like both the lead actors a lot. The first time I have seen the ML, Jing Boran, since the film of Love 020. He does a good job as a strong silent type.
Thank you for the recommendation.
@Welmaris and @Fern – it is on Prime Video now – discovered tonight!
Will watch though I’m not sure the small screen will deliver the required impact.
@Kate I thought the snow scenes were great. It is clear it is real snow. It looks authentically cold! They’re in Mongolia I’m so glad you’re watching. It makes it more fun! I really like the leads as well.
@Good Twin – did you notice an homage to a famous scene in the film Love 020? I realised last night that both our leads were in that film. Jing Boran was the ML and Seven Tan the closest friend of the FL.
In Love 020 it’s the scene where during basket ball half time, and with all female eyes on him, Jing Boran walks towards the shy FL sitting in the stands with her unsuspecting friends one of whom is Seven Tan.
In this series, it’s the scene when Jing Boran’s character wins the relay race being applauded by adoring school girls… Then he walks towards Seven Tan’s character who is watching from the sides and the scene plays out…
@Kate – I did not pick up the reference to the film. Funny and good catch! Now I’m going to have to watch Love 020 again or at least that scene. I never watched the film – only the series with lots of fast forwarded. Speaking of this scene in Road Home, I did notice on rewatch that Lu Chen is criticized by the boys in the stands as arrogant for not changing into sports attire. He wears his school uniform to run in. Later in the bathroom when he is washing up there are bruises all over his arms because of his dad’s beatings. That is the reason he didn’t want to change because he didn’t want to expose his arms. I’m catching a lot more rewatching the first few episodes and enjoying the drama more. Now that I know where the plot is headed, I can focus on some of the subtleties.
The subs in this are not always great and they’re really speedy – at times I’ve had to slow down the speed to read the subs but then the voices sound funny! When it gets uploaded on Viki it will be interesting to see how much the subs change.
@Godod Twin – thanks for highlighting the back story with the sports gear. I did notice a hint of blue bruising and we weren’t over directed to that were we? I like the style of direction where the signalling isn’t too clunky. Nicer to watch.
I’m watching on Viki at the moment, btw. It’s subbed to epsiode 10. When I get beyond Viki, I’ll swap across to IQIYI and those annoyingly speedy subs!!
@Good Twin – being nerdy here!! – the sequence in the Love 020 film begins around 52 mins in with the first IRL meeting of our leads, and is 10 mins in total.
I have usually watched on Netflix – don’t know where else it is available.
@Good Twin and @Kate, I also started Road Home last night. Per Viki it isn’t available in my region, so I’m stuck with iQIYI’s barely helpful subtitles. Some are ridiculously fast! And the segmenters aren’t up to par, with long lines delivered by characters being subbed several screens later, out of sync with the action. Still, I’ve been able to get the gist of the story through Episode 4.
@Kate, I decided to drop both Lovers in… shows. I got a taste of screenwriter Kim Eun Sook’s early work, and that’s enough.
@Kate – love it. Thanks! Interestingly Road Home is not on Viki in US yet – but when I switched the location of my VPN to UK the episodes were available. Now I have to see if the Viki subs are better – all okay because I’m enjoying the drama on rewatch. Gorgeous scenery in episode 11 and I loved the yurts. They also reference the hospitality of the people in Mongolia – in such a vast and harsh landscape hospitality to travelers would be a must. The novel and the screenplay are starting to diverge in some of the details. I’d be interested in seeing a BTS for filming in all that snow. I really wish he’d put some gloves on! Which makes me think that they succeeded in creating atmosphere if I am cold just watching. (I realized I just turned into my mother saying “I’m cold just looking at you” 😇
@Welmaris and @Good Twin,
@Welmaris are you able to do what @Good Twin did and switch the location of your VPN to the UK to get the episodes on Viki? I don’t know what that involves but I imagine that the quality is higher and the pacing far better based on what you and @Good Twin say. This, especially applies to a drama that relies on mood and atmosphere.
@Good Twin – what a good idea… we need to see if there is a BTS for any of the snow scenes. I adore a good snow setting with wind howling in the background – even if only the tiniest bit, it always makes me think of Dr Zhivago!
So, interesting re Mongolia… looking forward to picking up more as the story progresses. I’m on Episode 5 and am deliberately taking this show slowly.
@Welmaris – you could probably write an analysis now of her early work! Based on your response, I’ll give Lovers in Paris a break for now.
@Kate and @Welmaris – my work around isn’t working! It lets me see that the episodes are on Viki but won’t let me watch them. It is telling me to turn off my VPN. – clearly the tech geeks at Viki know more about technology than I do. I’ll just muddle through with bad subs until it is released on Viki. @Welmaris glad you’ve joined watching this drama.
I’ve started and dropped everything except Call it Love and Royal Rumors. Call it love writer seems to admire the writer of My mister and My liberation notes. It’s like consuming the store brand version. Similar but not quite it.
I’m on episode 10 of royal rumors and enjoying it very
much. It’s only 24 episodes so I know I’ll be able to complete it.
@birdie – thank you for the tips – will check out!
@Good Twin and @Welmaris,
I am now on Episode 11 and enjoying the ‘on the road scenes’ and being immersed in wide open spaces. I do love a road movie so these sequences shot against that wonderfully bleak backdrop do the trick for me. I like the way the relationship between our leads is gently opening up again.
Here is an article about the one of the key locations where a lot of the action was shot, Hemu Village: https://www.chinadiscovery.com/xinjiang/altay/hemu-village.html
The scenery and sense of transition support the story of love being re-discovered.
Episode 11 is going well and as @Good Twin mentioned, beautiful yurts, also horse riding in the snow etc etc So I am happily continuing to watch.
The writer of the book is apparently the writer of the screenplay. I wonder if that is helping and not helping at the same time. Is the writer a little too close to her (?) topic.
Along with sections that really work, some episodes need lightening or trimming. The narrative is a tad ‘over told’/stodgy in places – including lengthy SWAT training segments. The drama doesn’t have the lightness of touch of ‘You are my Hero’.
All that said, I am happily continuing to watch the relationship journey unfold. I suspect the cold, open spaces are where this drama really shines.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b89R85YxLPU
Snowy scenes from The Road Home – rather corny in places + spoilers too… but gives an idea of the setting!
@Kate, I couldn’t help thinking that if I were to stay in a yurt in the middle of winter, I’d prefer a smaller one. I imagine those big yurts with high ceilings would be difficult to heat. CX did say she got colder and colder as the night progressed.
I am having more difficulty than usual understanding relationships between characters: brothers and sisters can be blood, cousins, friends, or colleagues; uncles and aunts can be blood or honorary. It’s probably much clearer in Mandarin, but lumped under generic terms in English.
@Welmaris – ditto regarding familial and friendship ties. I am a bit blurry.
Liking the little chap our leads have charge of for now.
No kiss analysis needed for this scene in Road Home, Episode 10, timestamp 14:40. Cuteness overload!
@ Welmaris😭🐶🐾 you got me! I don’t know why that puppy isn’t in every scene. The puppy and the kid apparently raise themselves they’re left alone so often . I like how his colleague lifts the puppy up along the side of the car window so the puppy is peaking at Lu Chen – best meet cute ever.
@Kate – I agree with you about the screen writer being too close to the material – but having now read the novel – a lot doesn’t happen. ( They do have lots of sex ). But it is stated as more as a fact than described – it’s all pretty tame. A major plot point is Lu Chen getting his home registration transferred to Beijing. Same plot point involved the little boy. Doesn’t say much about Chinese bureaucracy that this is a significant plot point not once but twice!!! (actually it’s just the device used to get them to Mongolia so I exaggerate).
I think bomb disposal while tense and scary isn’t that exciting to watch someone cut a wire (unless it is George Clooney and Nicole Kidman trying to disarm a nuclear bomb in that movie that I can recall the name)
Regardless, I can’t stop watching. I enjoy watching the lead characters together. She was so good at conveying her hurt at his coolness when the were reunited and now her glee at being back together.
To be more precise I should refer to it as Inner Mongolia which is an autonomous region of China vs Mongolia which is a separate country.
@Good Twin – thank you for the clarification on the political geography!
I will continue to watch and enjoy with you and @Welmaris.
I don’t mind imperfections in a show providing there is enough to retain my attention.
So agree re the bomb disposal scene – especially when it is a retrospective!
For another sequence of discussion – I am also being struck by the obvious which is the stoic approach to life of many of our characters. But I need to get back to work. It is the bleakness of circumstances that highlights the warmth of the central relationship as it re-kindles and love and hospitality when they are shown in general eg to the little boy.
Another thing @Good Twin and @Welmaris,
@Good Twin – is there more of an account of what is going on thought-wise on the inside of our protagonists in the novel? I don’t know if we could have done with more dialogue or thoughts from our lead couple. Perhaps not… perhaps the mutual understanding in shared history and desire is enough.
It’s a welcome contrast in many ways from the story telling style of early Kim Eun Sook… @Welmaris and I are in recovery group having dipped into some of her early dramas. Many of KES’s characters are high level ‘explain it in detail out loud’ types who announce their responses and intentions with great emotional fluency leaving very little room to wonder.
@Kate – the novel in some ways reads like stream of conscious. No detail is too mundane. The translator’s notes and perspective are helpful and endearing. It’s definitely a labor of love for the translator. It is a quick and entertaining read. It is also obscure in parts, and the series really shows what the screenwriter is describing like the canals along the river or the yurts. At the end there is an epilogue which explains what the two leads were thinking about their relationship. You could just read that and get a lot of their perspective.
@Good Twin – interesting! I may do that this weekend.
Re: The Glory
I tried, I really tried, to get into this drama. It’s by Kim Eun S., whose past dramas (i.e., TKEM and Goblin) I’ve enjoyed. Plus many people on Facebook recommended it, saying it was one of their favorite kdramas EVER.
I made it up to the beginning of Episode 10 and then… I just couldn’t go on. (This was not to say that I had spent 9 hours watching the thing. I had had to FF through almost every scene of brutal high school bullying that the FL was shown to have endured. And skipping the beginning and end credits knocked off five more minutes of each 48-51 minute episode). It’s rare for me to drop a drama this late into viewing it.
I finally realized that this drama was reminding me too much of Little Women. You have rich people who are evil and getting away with murder. And you have protagonists who aren’t people you really want to cheer for, either. It’s all relentless dark. I think it’s part of the sleeze-ification of kdramas that Netflix is contributing to. It’s not just more graphic sex scenes or the level of violence, but the cynicism that turns me off. I go to kdramas to relax and submerge myself into a world where two people fall in love and/or good triumphs over bad. I don’t want to see lots of gray areas. Besides… the evil (adult) female bully in the show had such an annoying shriek-y laugh that I didn’t think I could stand to hear it anymore!
Oh @ BethB!
I haven’t even tried to watch this show and you have now roundly put me off further…haha!
It is number one internationally on Netflix at the moment.
Perhaps there needs to be a group for Kim Eun Sook fans in recovery?! I adore some of her shows…Secret Garden, Descendants of the Sun etc… but not all of them.
@BethB I have avoided watching this for precisely what you have described. I watched Penthouse for a few episodes and dropped it for the same reason. I don’t necessarily attribute it all to Netflix but I understand the argument that kdramas are losing some of their innocent charms due to Netflix appealing to a larger western audience. I think there is a lot of uncomfortable bullying shown in Kdramas in general at all levels of society in school and the workplace. But it is really intolerable when it is directed at children. Fact: I was so disturbed by what I was seeing in Penthouse that I googled a couple of words that correlated with what was occurring. The result? A criminal warning from Google! In my mind this isn’t entertainment, but the fetishization of violence. I stopped watching Crash Course in Romance for similar reasons – not because of violence but because I wasn’t interested in adults trying to sabotage a child.
I’ve seen bullying in other kdramas but not on this level. You could hear the sizzle as the teens put a hot curling iron on the arms and legs of the FL. One scene shows them trying to choke her until she passes out. In another they drag her body across the gym floor after already torturing her with the hot iron. I felt it was sensationalizing the torture/her trauma for the audience. Do people really want to watch stuff like that? 30 seconds of it would have been enough to convince me to be on the FL’s side. I didn’t need long scenes of it, and all the flashbacks…
(Not something I would have expected from the writer of Goblin, although Eun Tak was tortured by her aunt and aunt’s family, but not this brutally.)
@BethB – do you think they needed extreme awareness of the bullying/torture to sustain audienc sympathy for the FL and her long term plans? I am not watching but I imagine it is going to be gruesome on some way.
I don’t know, Kate. Seeing the bullying one time was enough for me to see how cruel it was–I had a visceral reaction to it. As for garnering audience sympathy, I stopped having it for the FL when she involved a young child in her scheme. (She is not targeting the child, but using her as a strategy, but it has the potential to hurt the child emotionally).
I don’t mind less innocent kdramas–LTHY was one example. That is, I don’t mind a little bit of sex when it’s part of the character’s life. It’s the cynicism. I quit watching Sky Castle for the same reason.
Over the weekend when new episodes of Road Home were not being released, I turned to 2020 Cdrama Go Ahead to see Tan Song Yun in an earlier role. I’ve also seen her in Flight to You, and liked her work there. The screenwriter of Go Ahead is Wang Xiong Cheng, who also wrote Meet Yourself, which many of us adored. On MyDramaList Go Ahead gets a higher satisfaction rating from viewers than Meet Yourself. I am loving it. It’s meaty without being heavy. Tan Song Yun is convincing as a bratty, but loving and loyal little sister. The episodes are about 40 minutes each without counting time spent on opening and closing credits, so don’t be put off by it having 46 episodes. @BethB, I highly recommend it if you want uplifting fare.
@Beth B – got it! Thank you. You’ve saved me from any desire to watch this out of curiosity!
@Welmaris – ‘Go Ahead’ is wonderful. Do let is know how you get on. It’s one of my favourite shows too.
@Kate, I felt wrung out after crying my way through Episode 10 of Go Ahead. Who’d have guessed the process of top students choosing universities and going off to study would squeeze my heart so!
The actor who plays Li Dad is phenomenal. He inhabitants this role so thoroughly that I forgot he played the meditating business investor in Meet Yourself.
@Welmaris — yes re Li Dad and the actor! I was trying to work out where I had seen him before when watching Meet Yourself! Versatile eh?
Yes, it is such a touching drama!
In Road Home, the northern city in which Captain Lu served ten years is called Qining, at least according to the subtitles in my (USA) region. Unless it is meant by the author of the book and screenplay to be a fictional city, I think it refers to Jining District, Inner Mongolia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jining_District). According to the Wikipedia article, “Administratively speaking, Ulanqab is a ‘city’ and Jining a ‘district’, in reality Jining is a de facto city, while Ulanqab is an administrative division covering a much larger area.” Not only are the spellings Qining and Jining very similar, but Jining District is about a four-hour drive from Beijing, making it believable that Lu Chen would take Gui Xiao on a road trip to that city to visit his old haunts.
Hi @pkml3, this is a gentle reminder to open the next thread for the MOTA rewatch. 🙂
🥛 🍪 🍕 🥤 🥞 ☕ 🥛 🍪 🍕 🥤 🥞 ☕ 🥛 🍪 🍕 🥤 🥞 ☕
@Welmaris – nice sleuthing. I was wondering what City they were referring to and I couldn’t figure out the distances to where they were traveling.
On an entirely different topic and country, I started watching an Indonesian series called the Marriage Agreement on Hulu. Having watched numerous dramas with a contract relationship plot it was hard to scroll past the title. It is available in original language and in an English version (you need to search for the non dubbed version because Hulu tends to default to English dubbed). I am really enjoying it and feel like I am learning more about Islam as well. The FL Tari is a devout business woman who enters into an arranged marriage with the son of her deceased mother’s best friend. The son is still in love with his first love and intends to end the marriage after a year. Will Tari’s kindness and goodness rub off on him? We will see …….
AAAAarrrrrrggghhhh! Road Home…why do I have to wait nine hours for the next episode to drop? I was grinning so much through Episode 20.
Show, I know there are ten more episodes, so please do me a favor: go easy on the melodrama, okay? I can bear some drama, but will have no patience for plot nonsense just to wring tears out of my eyes.
@Welmaris too funny – I just finished episode 20 and my teeth hurt it was so sweet. I loved the screen showing their registration photo before the credits! Super cute!
I just started watching this last night and parachuted straight onto Shallow Island. Later, who ever thought chapped lips and freezing cold weather could be so attractive?
@Welmaris, @Good Twin and @Fern – loving the conversation – need to catch up!
Yes re ‘chapped lips and freezing cold weather’ – haha.
I’m on Episode 13 – I do get a bit irritated about all the interrupted kisses… but may be because I am tired from an intense week and not tolerating things well! Also a friend of mine who travelled with her husband in China said that it is a very communal lifestyle with lots of interaction expected with others in your community. I know I am saying something obvious here but that does explain the levels of interruption they encounter.
The other thing I feel just a tad – is that Seven Tan does mature, wholesome wonderfully… sometimes the chemistry for me feels more like that of a long established married couple rather than all the ardour of youth. I want more heat!
This may be due to what we do and do not see in the show.
I also think it is her acting style and personality. I think of her in ‘Sword and Brocade’ – a top notch show – and she does produce these super female characters with great temperaments.
I am loving the dynamic between the little boy and our FL and now with our FL’s friend as she talks about the way she was brought up with him (Epsiode 15). He looks at her so soulfully absorbing every word.
I think the little boy actor plays this role so well avoiding cuteness overdose and bringing a serious little survivor to the part. I’ll bet we are all rooting for him to have the family life he clearly craves.
I’m well behind you in Road Home. I’ve completed 7 episodes and hope to get through some more this weekend. I’m glad for the mini-spoilers which are encouraging rather than discouraging. I think the interrupted kissing is more due to the 12 (if I remember correctly) rating than anything else. Quite a slow burn through the episodes I’ve seen so far.
Visually, they are such a contrasting couple; Gui Xiao looks like a blossom and Lu Chen like a sturdy oak. Inside she has much more fire and strength than is obvious, at least that’s how it seems to me right now. He, on the other hand, has a deeply hidden core that is completely tender for those he loves: his sister, Gui Xiao, his comrade Qin Ming Yu and his son Xiao Nan, his former leader, and some of his former classmates.
I loved the prank bombs Lu Chen and his lieutenant give back and forth to one another to de-fuse in episode 7 and the way his comrades look at him when he says he has to go to a parent-teacher meeting at a school. He explains the presence of the child in his life, but ignores them when it’s suggested that his gf won’t like someone else’s child in his life. Well done. He certainly plays his cards close.
@Fern – aha! – a 12 rating…. that makes sense! Be still my beating heart!
Loving the way you contrast the couple. Oak-like LC is!
Showing my age, @Kate, but some shots of Lu Chen remind me of the US actor Steve McQueen, popular in the 1960s. He was called the King of Cool.
@Fern – absolutely – the mouth, the bone structure, the restraint, … I hadn’t seen it but now I do….https://media.gettyimages.com/id/3380305/photo/american-actor-steve-mcqueen-with-his-wife-neile-mcqueen-in-san-francisco-during-a-break-from.jpg?s=612×612&w=gi&k=20&c=8S2z4OOz47PF5wF6RRqqW_Y2pSc9ORyiQclrzROWHxg=
While we are at it…I am loving the cuteness overload of Lu Chen’s puppy dog SWAT team in Qining… they clearly adore him and look up to him.
@Fern, I’ve thought the very same thing about the Steve McQueen similarity since my first glimpse of Jin Bo Ran’s profile! It’s especially in the unsmiling mouth they have the same look. I didn’t say anything in this thread because I assumed younger Bitches are unfamiliar with Steve McQueen.
https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcRV1xl9Bp21E36HeCEA7bQPxmNfmNYhBehaR19iyw31tgiJwitmFtfW5SSRJBhsKhRtIMQ&usqp=CAU
Very nice pic of JB here which has something of the Steve Mqueen vibe…
*McQueen*
As does this: https://www.malemodelscene.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Jing-Boran-Marie-Claire-China-Liu-Song-01.jpg
@Kate, definitely see the Steve McQueen vibe in the link directly above.
For Bitches who aren’t familiar with Steve McQueen, here are a few pictures:
https://sfae.com/ECommerceSite/files/8a/8a800400-1eda-4888-b507-2be0bf1e1d5f.jpg
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000537/mediaviewer/rm4230382848/?ref_=nm_ov_ph
https://prod-images.tcm.com/Master-Profile-Images/SteveMcQueen.128731.jpg?w=824
Reading through this Wikipedia article about Steve McQueen, I was surprised to learn his real life was so melodramatic that it would seem overwrought for a Kdrama. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_McQueen
Good pics @Welmaris! Enjoying this discussion.
@Kate and @Welmaris, wow, the story of Steve McQueen’s life is extraordinary, and yes, overwrought, as you say, @Welmaris. I didn’t watch his films as they came out, but I remember him being, literally, an anti-hero poster boy for those very well known films.
@Fern and @Welmaris – The Thomas Crown Affair with its wonderful soundtrack, cryptic, less-is-more script and the exquisite Faye Dunaway is the only Steve McQueen film I remember seeing. Classic anti-hero film. (I also loved the re-make with Pierce Brosnan and Renee Russ0.)
The Road Home is No 2 in the Chinese TV show rankings this week according to Marcus of ‘Marrrrcus Here!’.
I suppose it has something for everyone – romance, adventure, action, patriotic inspiration, scenery, complicated family situation and a lot of philosophy about relationships and marriage.
@Welmaris – I see now why you are hoping for not too bumpy a road for the last 10 episodes.
Only having arrived at this episode am I now anticipating some bumps – just because of one or two bits of information that may foreshadow significant developments. I also wonder when listening to the opening credits whether the music is bitter-sweet sounding for a reason.
But this is personal caution and not an informed comment.
I’ve just watched episode 23, which is as far as is offered on the site I’m using.
The scenery in 22 and 23 is spectacular. It makes me wish to go there for a visit – and perhaps a camel ride. No walking along those canyon spanning bridges for me, however.
I really like Duan Rou. Of all the female characters, I think she may be the most interesting. She has a unique view on life. Just when I think I know what she’s like, she shows another facet of her personality. I like that she’s a fan of railway stations and trains.
Although she’s a survivor of a strained childhood, she doesn’t flaunt it, but gets on with doing what she wants to do in a healthy way. She is comfortable with herself, but her end goal is a marriage and children. She is very aware of the parental behaviours that caused her own distress and seems unlikely to repeat them.
It seems to me that Duan Rou has come to like Qin Xiao Nan and, understanding that he is takes after his father, she is ready to give a try to having a good friendship at the very least, with Qin Ming Yu.
As to bumps, yes, more psychological stress for our hero now and we haven’t even gotten back to the families who are only partially informed about the marriage, right? We have all that to look forward to. 😬
The YouTube algorithm just presented me with an interview in mixed English and Korean with Yim Si Wan. It was interesting to know more about him and how he got into the entertainment industry.
@Fern – the final chord of the music to the opening credits has an unresolved quality. Yes, let’s see what bumps show up.
Looking forward to more scenery!!
I like DR too – she is unexpectedly interesting. There are a number of routes her story could take.
So many broken families in this show … and people making it on their own + lonely children. I find it very poignant. You see too the care that the SWAT team show one another and their desire to belong and follow Captain Lu. They are family. I think, amongst other things, it is the sense of being valued that causes our ML to give his time so unreservedly. This dangerous role is where he experiences security and love.
Have you watched through episode 23 yet, @Kate?
@Fern, I’m on episode 20 so should get to that episode this evening if I don’t do other things.
I won’t look at this discussion until I have watched it if you want to reflect on it here. I am now behind the pack – haha!
Okay. I didn’t want to spoil things.
@Fern and @Kate, I’m going to watch the two episodes of Road Home that were released today: 24 & 25. I believe the show will wrap up this week, since episodes air Monday through Saturday.
The relief on LC’s face when his father in law tells him to be careful! Nice understated scene.
I am caught up with you all I think now!
Wonderful scenery and very scary bridges… what was the colourful ladder-like bridge? I can’t imagine stepping onto that ever! I think that was what @Fern was referencing… I did, however, like the moment it created for two of our characters!
@kate I know they were wearing safety ropes, but I couldn’t help thinking how difficult a rescue would be if one slipped. And I realized they needed to hold hands to advance their relationship but I can’t imagine that felt safer than a death grip on the cables. I wonder if that bridge exists in real life? It seems a little risky as a tourist attraction.
Back to Road Home where nothing and everything happens. It focuses on the ridiculously mundane and then larger issues. I know JBR was already a big star but this would seem to catapult him to next level. His voice is really good too.
@Kate, yes, that is the bridge I meant, but the one with the glass floor is barely better. I’m getting the shivers just thinking about it!
I loved the scenery. Several episodes back, when they were visiting graves, I was very impressed by the white birch forest. I’ve never seen anything like it. I’m watching episode 25 right now.
@Good Twin, I replied about the scene you mentioned above and about JBR’s voice, but my internet is spotty at the moment, so I’m replying by phone. I agree with you 100%.
In You Are My Hero, although I loved the acting of the ML, his voice seemed a bit incongruous. I can’t explain it well. I accepted it because he was supposed to be quite young. JBR’s voice, on the other hand, suits his character perfectly. (I wonder if their voices were dubbed, as is often the case in Cdramas?)
Kalimera @Packmule3 et al!
Can you open a thread for “Joseon Attorney” ? It starts this Friday!
@packmule3, may I second @Cleopatra’s wish for Joseon Attorney?
Hoping that you and yours are all well.
Hi @Fern and @Good Twin and @Welmaris,
Yes, letting go of death grip and holding hands might not have been my first option @Good Twin…hahahah! It made for a very nice moment but…
@Fern – that clear surface… could not have walked across on that bridge either. But at least it looked relatively safe.
I recognise Seven tan’s voice from other shows and ditto Jong Boran – so unless they found very similar sounding voice actors, I think we are hearing them speak. JB does have a great voice!
*Jing Boran* – Lol
Interview with Jing Boran and Seven Tan – nothing remarkable here but JB does say he thinks LC is a lion and an idealised man and that the FL lead character is also the ideal girl for every man because she is forgiving and tolerant: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mquvaRdiXwI
JB then says that GXC loves LC delicately and that makes LC feel guilty…what an interesting observation!
They are both serious actors – you can tell from their demeanour. Especially JB. They are also sweet and thoughtful in their conversation and towards one another + the way they handle the interview.
Thanks for the interview link, @Kate. Yes, I think the voices match. Nice observations by both of them!
Ha! I found a fun Easter egg in Road Home. End of Episode 25 and beginning of Episode 26, we see LC and GX in bed together. It is morning, and GX is still sleeping. LC is reading a book. And what is he reading? The Road Home.
Well observed @Welmaris! The book cover has a tell tale design like the opening credits. Clever of you. Fun.
Oh, this gigantic thread. What a success, @packmule3! I look forward to the April selections. I have been enjoying just a few dramas this March, and got lured into the C-drama Road Home, because of this thread. I am thankful.
@Fern and @Packmule3,
Agreed! This has just become a massive conversation – one of those snowballs that gathers snow (how appropriate).
I’m grateful for this space too @Packmule3 – it has cheered me up and been a refuge from the ordinary over the last week or so!
I just dipped into ‘Nothing but You’ – a new sports, older woman -younger man romance with Leo Wu – enjoyed the first three episodes. Good cast, nicely produced as you would expect. I hadn’t seen the lead actress before but she plays the role very well. Leo Wu’s step-dad is the wonderfully versatile actor we saw in ‘Meet Yourself’ as hippy failed entrepreneur and the lovely Dad in ‘Go Ahead’.
Not at the romance stage yet. Not sure I ‘get’ the potential for chemistry here but it is enjoyable. A woman who is being taken for granted in her Exec Assistant Role and can’t break out. A younger man who is blocked from achieving his full potential as a badminton player following a traumatic event.
It is 9.1 on Viki but I expect it to go higher once the viewing numbers go up.
@Kate I will check out Nothing But You. All 30 episodes of Road Home have been uploaded on Viki. I did a quick compare of the subs and they’re so much better. Most of it is the segmenting – Viki puts on one screen what IQYI puts on two – making it much easier to focus on the actors. But there are also some critical differences – in the scene in Episode 2 where she is angry because he was rude to her and he talks to her by the car. He explains that he didn’t know his colleagues had played a trick on her to get her to come to the restaurant. In IQYI she says “You know I buy apologies”. He then says I am sorry. Viki says: “You know I like apologies the most”. Makes more sense and the allusion to their past relationship is much more clear.
At this point, I have a Masters degree working on a PHD on Road Home. Why? I can’t really say! They’re definitely far better written dramas out there and it was weirdly edited (ahem censored) – but it was incredibly romantic love story, a swoony ML and beautiful landscapes.
*there are (ugh typos. I’m like the AI doing IQYI subs)!
@GOod Twin – we are grateful to you for drawing our attention to the show.
Shame about the weird editing eh?
I look forward to your future publication on the topic of the Road Home! Laughing here.
I’ll watch to the end this weekend. Looking forward to it. I even re-watched Jing Boran in Love 020 the film with Angelababy (always difficult to write that!) playing opposite him.
Hi @Kate 👋🏻
I think I have to watch this because of Leo Wu. I’m not familiar with the girl but it’s ok.
I can’t wait for Hidden Love with Lusi and Chen Zhe Yuan. 🥰
Hi @agdr03 – it will be lovely if you do! I am finding it very watchable and he is doing a great job in the lead role!
Yes, I’m looking forward to Hidden Love too!
So nice that you’ll be back c-and k-dramaing after your break.
I bet too that you have gained a lot during this period of abstinence!
For Road Home editing, I wondered why the scene that resulted in Lu Chen’s injury was stopped when he saw someone suspicious at the train station. It’s not that I need to see gory details, but even a verbal recounting later would have been good for me. –Unless the scene was only cut from the server I used. Putting a woman in early labour on an airplane was also something I didn’t expect. It was good that her obstetrician could come along, but I thought that his storyline was less necessary than some other bits that may have been edited out.
I appreciated the filling in of blanks in the last 2 episodes, but so much of it was repetitive that I thought it must be to fill in 30 episodes.
Having said that, I loved the wedding. The colours and flowers were so beautiful. My favourite part of the wedding was Lu Chen’s father relinquishing his jealousy and disclaiming credit for Lu Chen’s personality, saying, I am his biological father, but it is another man, who was in your profession, who made him how he is.
I liked how the different ‘failed’ relationships between people were portrayed. Some that might have worked failed due to mistakes, pride, estrangement or substance abuse, but of those, which ones could be revived and why.
I also liked the ever-extending family that took care of the boy and how he seemed to thrive despite being isolated from his parents. He ended up with an abnormally large circle of ‘family’ he could rely on. Mind, I think he was unusually resilient as well.
I liked that it was shown that the men in the SWAT team near Beijing became close to Lu Chen. Early in the drama, I thought that the couple would end up living in inner Mongolia because of Lu Chen’s feeling that the area was his second home and due to his attachment to the SWAT team there. It wasn’t necessary in the end because his home was wherever Gui Xiao was.
Speaking of Xiao, there were 5 characters with Xiao in their names. I recognise that the Chinese characters may be different, but I thought it was interesting and wondered if it is a common first and last name. In western dramas and books, writers tend to avoid similar names for characters.
@Fern – I was a coward and skipped over the scene you mentioned re Lu Chen’s injury – ditto tried to avoid seeing anything relating to his buddy SWAT Captain (again that might have been oddly edited).
Unusually, I really liked the reminiscing – I haven’t seen episode 30 yet btw – because you learned something slightly different at each reminisce. So it was like memories becoming clearer and clearer as we got this time-fluid sense of their relationship as a whole. I don’t normally like too many recaps. For instance, the conversation between Lu Chen and his sister when he tells her to forget the girlfriend precedes his being parked outside of GX’s home on the day in 2018 when they bump into one another at the garage. So it’s as if the story is revealed, juicy glimpse by juicy glimpse.
The wedding and the flowers and colours were indeed beautiful.
Is it usual to have one wedding dress at the start and change into another wedding dress to process in for the ceremony?
In the book they had a long hungry kiss when they kissed after their vows.
Not so in the TV version. Sniff. Just lots of sunshine lit shots of some chaste pecks!
*when *she* tells him to forget his girlfriend* – this was the conversation that we didn’t see in the earlier recap of his sitting gazing at GX looking out forlornly from her balcony.
Good afternoon, Kate. I am not sure about Chinese weddings as to the dresses? Perhaps someone else could comment.
To thrifty me, it seems an awful expense to have more than one gown, also thinking back on having ‘The Wedding Dress’ that can be passed down as happens sometimes in the West. I know from looking at wedding photos of Korean celebrities that there are often photos in more than one style of wedding dress, sometimes even a traditional dress like a hanbok, so perhaps it’s a common tradition. I’m thinking back to the famous Chinese wedding dress in Love 020 as well. 😉🥰
@Fern – good afternoon to you! Yes, I really liked her in the very simple strapless number and am not quite sure how she managed to change out of it into a lace-embellished dress. I liked the first dress on her better… she is very, gamine/ingenue youthful and it looked right for her vibe.
Yes that famous Love 020 dress!
At the wedding he says something along the lines that he saw a beautiful girl in the field at school and it was essentially love at first sight. This is slightly at odds with the version of their love that we have seen so far. Episode 30 is an extended flashback from LC’s POV. We now see all his efforts to make sure their paths repeatedly crossed. He was in fact the pursuer – not her with her innocent crush always hoping to catch glimpses of him.
In episode 29 I did like the “re do” flashback to the gas station scene after the wedding. Where instead of LC getting in the car – she says let’s make up. The series could have ended on that cute note.
I would have liked to see the second couple together at the wedding, rather than him just calling her to congratulate the couple.
Hi @Good Twin, about Road Home, true… pity about Ming Yu and gang not being present at the wedding.
Actually, I really wanted to see more of the second couple’s getting together properly after the telephone proposal. I wanted to see more father and son moments and how they looked together as a family. However show was intent on concentrating on our first couple’s story, so I have to imagine the cute interactions between Qin Ming Yu and Duan Rou. 🤔
Speaking of Episode 30 does anyone know what he wrote on the exam papers he borrowed from her? There are two Chinese characters that made her smile and want to keep them. It wasn’t translated in IQIYI or Viki. Also I may have missed it but did they explain that Road Home was the meaning of their two last names together? This Phd is harder than I thought…..
@Good Twin, my subs said that the words he wrote were ‘Thank you’.
At the Wedding, in his speech, LC mentioned the meaning of Gui Xiao’s name: ‘Gui’ as in ‘way back home’ and ‘Xiao’ as ‘at the dawn’. I guess if the Chinese character for ‘Lu’ is ‘road’ then yes, Gui Lu is the Road Home. He didn’t actually mention combining their last names but it must have been obvious to the audience.
@Good Twin, at some point there was a poem on the screen called Road Home, so I thought it was the starting point of the book title. But I also seem to recall that Gui Xiao’s name had a meaning of return of sun, so road home would mean a return of sorts.
Here is an explanation for the baby’s name.
https://lujuba.cc/en/840940.html
@Growing Beautifully, I agree with you about wanting to see more of our second couple together with the son interacting as a family. I suppose, knowing what we were told about the profession, it was too much to hope for.
@GB so funny — I thought it was going to be something significant. I guess when the boy you like in high school writes thank you on your school paper it’s memorable! Their two first names together meant dawn’s light and their two last names together meant Road Home which was made clear in book. They mentioned dawn’s light a couple of times in series but road home seems lost in translation.
Oh – loved Episode 30 of The Road Home- felt the most romantic of all the episodes. So glad we all watched this show together!
And yes enjoyed realising how much LC was making things happen with GX!
At the end of Episode 30, there were some missing subs in the last retrospective conversation between LC and QM in a snowy scene in Qining.
Did anyone understand. Something about LC being sad to leave after his transfer (2020) presumably to the Beijing SWAT team and him saying he would ‘Go back’ – did that mean ‘Come back’ at some point to Qining?
Any ideas?
I also realise more that the retrospectives are designed to strengthen the sense of what was a beginning and only a beginning of a relationship. Everything was so fragile at that point where they signalled their shared interest and he held out his hand to her.
He was due to leave in a few days. The first ‘relationship’ was long distance and they hardly knew one another…based on the initial impression each had of the other. However, it was not to be dismissed …it did plant the seed for the mature fruition of their love.
Kate it is a bit obscure. He is standing by the open door and his friend says “you’re upset that she left. Have you told her about transferring back?” LC responds “There are things you don’t know” “There are things you don’t understand.” (Presumably the whole retrospective of their relationship he just played in his head). Then he hesitates by the open door and closes it and smiles slightly and says “I’ll go back” “It’s good to go back”
And it ends.
Oh! Thank you @Good Twin!
The things QM doesn’t understand are contained in the back story of their relationship. Aha!
Perhaps we need confirmation as viewers that LC is genuinely happy to return to Beijing after having acknowledged his love for Qining at various points??
Perhaps the final line is a ‘pun’ on the value of returning to his relationship, rekindling his love for GX??
@Kate. Yes that is what I think too. When he says he will go back it’s good to go back I think it is a play on their names and the Road Home. But not sure. I was also think that much like their entire relationship was reframed as LC as the pursuer. This shows that once he went back intentionally to pursue her again. ( Then why were you such a bully at first LC? – he had her crying in her smelly lamb spine soup for a minute).
@Good Twin, I think that he had to test her feelings before he would commit himself fully to her. Simultaneously, he had to deal with his family. His father ‘mortgaged’ him, as his best friend called it, into that non-consensual marriage to repay a debt. It would strengthen his refusal to that marriage if GX still loved him.
What a mess that would have been. LC and GX’s friends were too closely involved in the past to continue aspects of their friendship. I’m glad it didn’t become that sort of drama.
@Good Twin – thank you for your response. Yes LC’s intentionality is the theme of the whole episode… and it’s good to see that underlined in bold!
@Fern, thank you for additional thoughts – they fill the picture out well and of course that’s where the second of his two questions comes in.
He asks early on ‘Do you like me?’. At this later stage – I think it is ‘Do you still love me’.
Am I correct here about the role and timing of the two big questions?
So in some ways some of the aspects of this show that grips our interest as viewers are the incomplete areas of our leads’ story.
Recaps are serve as reveals.
The final episode is a type of reveal.
LC’s being the strong silent type – also creates a layer of intrigue as the story unfolds.
This may be part of the reason we continue to watch. Long-standing questions are set up and we wait for answers and resolutions.
@Kate, we saw his question “Do you still love me?” first, in one of the early episodes when he was engaged (by his father) to marry that other woman. I thought it was interesting that he asked GX, “Do you like me?” right at the beginning of their relationship. He is so cautious; cool. He doesn’t say, I like you or I love you. Instead both times, he puts the ball in her court, so to speak. I wondered at his courage when he asked those questions, because although he broached the subject, it was sort of a passive stance.
GX’s response at the hospital in episode 30, “How could you ask that question?” implied that he could take it for granted. Years later, when he moved back to the Beijing area and he asked her, “Do you still love me?” she didn’t respond. I had the impression that she couldn’t, but her face told the story. (if my memory is correct)
Speaking of the hospital, do you remember when GX was driving with the boy Xiao Nan to her home for the first time and he asks her about landmarks? He asked specifically about the hospital. I wondered if he had been snooping around Lu Chen’s things and read some of the letters Lu Chen wrote and didn’t send. Already he recognised GX from a drawing LC had made of her. I thought that for a young boy, he had a strong sense of the fate between LC and GX. He was great at scolding LC, which other adults were not likely to do.
@Fern – he did come off as passive … but in the context of all the commitments he was making behind the scenes and in his head, he was being active. He did rather put the ball in her court on those occasions nevertheless. That’s why I found Episode 30 romantic because we saw him behind the scenes being proactive towards her.
I didn’t remember Xiao Nan’s questions… he’s really sharp!
Like the rest of you, I would have liked to see him with his new Ma and Pa and I also agree with whoever said that he now has a large extended family of people who love and care for him!
The book made very little of that secondary romance, btw – so the series elevated it to a greater significance already with scenes on bridges and phone calls etc etc