I don’t know if this is good news or bad news, but I’ll be back Stateside in a couple of weeks and my next round of travel won’t be till June. This means if I start a drama this month, I’ll be around to finish it before it’s time for me to pack my bags again.
These are the dramas on my calendar.
1. Stealer: The Treasure Keeper
Starring Joo Won. He was gone so long that I wondered if he needed three years to fully recover from the tasteless, senseless, and useless “Alice” (2020). I hope this a better project for him.
The synopsis from soompi:
“Stealer: The Treasure Keeper” is a caper comic action drama in which a mysterious cultural asset thief Skunk and an unofficial heritage redemption team known as Team Karma collaborate to fight against those who cannot be judged by the law. Joo Won will be taking on the double role of both Hwang Dae Myung, a civil servant of the Cultural Heritage Administration, and the mysterious cultural asset thief Skunk.
I haven’t watched a Korean heist comedy before but I’m sure the nail-biting scenes with Joo Won and Lee Deok Hwa (he was the grandpa in “Business Proposal”) will amuse me.
Episodes: 12
Start Date: April 12
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Viki??
Network: tvN
2. Family: The Unbreakable Bond
I’m watching this because a) it’s a comedy and b) I like to see Jang Hyuk-Jang Na Ra reunite after “Fated to Love You” (2014).
They play a married couple keeping secrets from each other. He’s an undercover agent pretending to work at a trading company while she’s a loving housewife with a hidden life as well.
Episodes: 12 (is this the trend? 12-episode kdramas?)
Start Date: April 17
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: tvN
3. Dr. Romantic Season 3
I’m on the fence about this one. Do I need to watch Seasons 1 and 2 to understand Season 3???
Episodes: 16
Start Date: April 28
Airs on Fridays and Saturdays
Where to Watch it: Viki??
Network: SBS
That’s it for me. I’m about to dip into last month’s “The Secret Romantic Guesthouse” and “Delivery Man.” (Better late than never!)
@GB, I finished the cdrama “Meet Yourself.” I’ll try to respond to your commentary on time since you brought it up for discussion in that open thread.
What are you watching this month?
Thank you for the updates, @packmule3. I hope to watch Stealer- and Family-. I didn’t get far into the 2nd Dr Romantic, so I believe I would have to finish that before moving on to the 3rd.
I’m going to have a peek at Joseon Attorney and Secret Romantic Guesthouse to see how I get along with those. I really enjoyed Road Home – Good Twin described it well in the WAYW March today. Can there be a Shallow Island for scenery as well as for the ML?
Annyeong everybody,
thanks for this @pm3 wow, it’s April already…
i like all the above shows. the most surprising is Dr Rom 3. Yes yes yes! I’ve seen all 3 and i don’t think it is necessary to watch the first 2 even though some characters are recurring.
I am finishing “summer scent” an oldie – so drama. but so heartfelt. i also finished “autumn in the heart” – omg – Song Seung-heon 💗
Still watching Blooming Youth and Heavenly Idol. Starting Secret Gueshouse and Joseon Atty.
@packmule3 – welcome home!
I’ll be watching Dr. Romantic 3 – Is there room on Shallow Island for Han Suk Kyu?
There is a show that will stream on Amazon (is this new Amazon streaming k-dramas?) called Bora! Deborah or True to Love – about a dating expert giving advice. Looks fun maybe like Love to Hate You. I will check it out.
I’ll also finish up Our Blooming Youth which has been uneven but I like the main characters and the central mystery.
I’ll be on the look for another Chinese drama with beautiful scenery or charming small towns and romance like Road Home and Meet Yourself.
It feels so great to respond to you @packmule3. Our life is starting to resemble normal. To update , my husband had life saving surgery, went to rehab and is well on the road to recovery. I now watch with a lighter heart.
All three of your choices appeal to me. I agree with @HK_Lady that you need not watch the other Dr. Romantics to enjoy the third one.And like @Good Twin, I agree that Han Suk Kyu is a very attractive leading man who is mature and a fine actor.
I would like to recommend a variety show that is now on Amazon. It is Jinny’s Kitchen starring Lee Seo Jin, Jung Yumi, Choi Woo shik, Park Seo joon and V of BTS. This is a spin off of Youn’s Kitch3n and Youn’s Stay. Youn Yuh-jung could not appear because of her schedule but the current cast is quite good.They run a Korean street food restaurant in Bacelar, Mexico where they interact with tourists and native people while preparing and c serving food. It is fun to watch them interact with regular people. One doesn’t have to watch every episode but it’s fun and doesn’t require a lot of a t tension to e joy it. I like watching the preparation of corn dogs, gimbap , rameon and ttebaki. It is good if you don’t have the time to commit.
I would also like to sY, in this holy season, Happy and blessed Easfer, rpramadan Mubafek and Happy Passover. Let us hope that we all can live in health and peace.
Hello my dear @pkml3, I’m glad to know that you’ll be stationary for a while. It’s good news to me!!!
Ah, so you’ve finished ‘Meet Yourself’. I’d forgotten that I’d written more on it than on some other shows that I watched. One of the themes to me was ‘time’ as in time to meet oneself, to appreciate what one had before it slipped away, time taken to love and bring it to fruition, time for many others in one’s life.
Of the residents in that homestay village of Yun Miao, tea-loving Ma, stressed-out Da Mai, musician Hu and persecuted Xin Xin needed time to just rest and feel free to be themselves, after failure, stress, attacks… I very much like the idea of taking time out in retreat, to commune with God and nature and self. To regroup and then go forth again to live life more fully.
Of the shows that I may join you with are ‘Stealer’ and ‘Family’. I’m not particularly a great fan of Joo Won or Jang Hyuk but I don’t mind watching them. I’m completing ‘Road Home’, (yes I watched it quietly). Although there are many shows in my ‘Plan to Watch’ list, I have no plans to watch them LOL.
As we enter Holy Week, I wish all a holy and blessed time of contemplation and prayer, and a greater coming closer to God who loves us. 🙂
Hi @Fern, @HK_Lady, @Good Twin, @OAL
How nice to have a moment to chat with you!
I know several of us enjoyed ‘Road Home’. Yes the scenery was delish! I look forward to more recommendations of Cdramas from you @Good Twin and everyone else who has tried more shows.
@OAL congratulations to your husband and to you for going through the risky surgery and coming out strong. I keep you in prayer, for your husband to have a good recovery.
Isn’t it lovely to be able to watch shows with a lighter heart and not only to take one’s mind off the anxiety. What a blessing that I, too, need to be aware of!
For this period before the Holy Week, I tried my hand at making matzah so that we could share it with some children we meet, in a re-enactment of parts of the Last Supper. Looking back on it, I consider the Gift being given and am filled with gratitude and praise to God.
A Happy and Holy Passover to you @OAL.
@OAL – so happy to hear your news. You must be relieved and needing a big rest!
Sending you my thoughts and prayers for continued restoration of your husband’s health and strength,
Thanks for the heads up
Oh I am really looking forward to Stealer and Dr. Romantic 3!
1) Re Dr Romantic: No you can most likely dive in straight without going through Season 1 & 2.
2) Though if I may share my personal experience and recommendation, please just SKIP Season 1 altogether and watch Season 2. I watched both and the quality discrepancy was great (even though both were hits).
Season 2 was such a clear improvement that I managed to forget my aggrieved annoyance at crawling through Season 1 (and feeling cheated lol).
On a separate note, am live watching Divorce Attorney Shin (Netflix) and Call it Love (Disney+) now. I don’t really get the fuss and accolades from fans, but the cinematography and art direction for Call it Love is noteworthy.
That’s wonderful news, @OAL!! Let’s continue our group prayer for his recovery.
One of these days, you should also write about the benefits/drawbacks of watching kdrama while taking care of a loved one. How did you feel before and after watching kdramas? Which type of shows do you recommend? Romcom, melo, variety shows?
Howdy! 👋🏻 I hope everyone’s doing well and you too Chingu Queen. You’ve been very busy. Easter is almost here. I’m looking forward to it. ☺️
I’m so happy to hear about @OAL’s update. Haven’t stopped praying for it. 🙏🏼
I can’t decide on dramas yet but I’ll see once Easter comes. I have to catch up on the ones I left behind. 😊
@pm3! Good to be able to read you! Hope you are well.
@OAL great news!!!
What I am watching:
Divorced Attorney Shin – I really enjoy this drama. I found it, relatable. It tells the other side of the story. Ideally, no one wants to get a divorce (I think), but sometimes it just gets to that stage. When one is in that state, how do you deal with it? How to navigate the way out when you are in a position you don’t want to be in?
* light spoiler*
The drama touches on all the negative consequences of bad decisions. What happens when you have an affair? What happens when your husband doesn’t want to stand up to an overbearing mother in law for so many years. (I too have to deal with that, so I cried more when watching that segment). What happens if your husband pretends to be nice to people outside but not really. One still got to live on.
Sometimes the case ends well, sometimes they got the divorce they want, but what next?
The friendships between the three characters are a delightful to watch. They are Cho Seung Woo (Stranger), Jung Moon Sung (the funny doctor from HP), Kim Sung Kyun (one of the Dads in Reply 1988). They may not be the best-looking lot, but their acting is very touching. The way they support each other is heart-warming. It really balances the rather depressing divorce cases.
Dr Romantic 1 – I am starting on this so I can prepare myself for Dr Romantic 3. Up to ep 3.
Blooming Youth – I am still on it. Think the plot is rather predictable. Again, not highly addictive but nothing to dislike.
I haven’t been able to comment much due to a busy job, but I still visit from time to time. Great to see you all here. @Kate, by the way, I didn’t finish The Starry Love. Got distracted and didn’t go back. Lol @GB @Cleo @Fern, @HK_Lady @Good Twin @empress new clothes @agdr03 hope you all are well 🙂
@Agdr03, I think you’ll like the Secret Romantic Guesthouse. 😂😂But I’ve a feeling you’ll like the “bodyguard.”
I watched the trailer but I wasn’t sure whose the bodyguard. 😁 Which one is he? I don’t know any of them.
Hi @Viva! ☺️
@packmule3, regarding Secret Romantic Guesthouse, do you mean the ‘warrior’ with the lovely eyes?
@OAL, I am so happy that things are looking up for your husband and yourself. Yes, I would like to know too, which sort of k- or c-dramas were the best for you at the time. Or did you go to reality TV – something that I do sometimes when I don’t need any extra emotions added to the mix?
@OAL wonderful news about your husband! Happy Spring! The other selling point for Dr. Romantic – the 2nd season leads coming back for Season 3. Ahn Hyo Seop and Lee Sung Kyung. This duet of them singing the OST is rather charming. https://youtu.be/Sho6GjIlnCk
Hello everyone. I hope all is well. I just started Joseon Attorney, starring Woo Dohwan and Bona. The plot is quite interesting. It’s basically a legal drama, but joseon version😂 I’ve also missed WDH’s comedic timing since TKEM. As expected, he always delivers.
Hi all,
I’m rocketing through ‘Nothing but You’. Very entertaining with good slow burn chemistry and Leo Wu in fine form along with the rest of the cast. A very likeable ML.
I do enjoy a sports-romance drama and I like e-sports romance dramas too… if you fall into that camp you will love this and even if you don’t it’s an entertaining show with people finding their direction in life and their people.
.
Hi ladies! 😁
My top pick is Family 🥰🥰🥰! Then Queenmaker and RDTK 3. S1 is my fav, S2 was a ffwd trip for me but based on the teaser, I am anticipating S3 for Kim Sabu, and supporting casts from S2 and S1😊. I am curious about JTBC’s Dr. Cha. I might take a peek later today.
@PM3, if you wanna follow Kim Sabu’s story, his past, his ambition… a trip to S1 is necessary, I think. For the students i.e. main otp of each seasons, their stories are not related. Hence, to get into the background of the otp of S3, you can start from S2. They might do a quick recap of it in S3 though. The ML students from S1 and S2 are different in their stories and personality, one is outspoken and one is quiet. Both have issues they need to overcome, as well as the girls. I am biased towards KDJ, 🤭. But I do like KDJ’s story, inner struggle, growth and YYS performance here more than HP.
I wanna try Pandora but I read some acting issues of the FL. I did ep. 1 of the Divorce Attorney Shin but the resemblance to One Dollar Lawyer’s Nam Goong Min’s persona showed how NGM outperformed and outcharmed the ML in the latter, I could not finish and abandoned it. Plus the FL forced act is 🤐
I just finished the glory s2 last month. Hope there are more thrillers to watch next months to come. After UoL I am resting from melomance/love story. Giving me more than enough fatigue to try to understand their logics. Agree to disagree 🤭. Though I might make an exception if my bias is in it. The lenght of stay will depend though😁.
Can’t wait for Family as I miss watching Jang Hyuk! ☺️
Taking care!❤️
Kalimera Everyone!
Good to hear from you @Packmule3! I was wondering if you are okay!
BTW, @OAL great news to hear about your husband! Good to know that!
So, what I am watching?
1. Our Blooming Youth
2. Big Mouth
3. Joseon Attorney : A Morality
I have paused Divorce Attorney Shin, but I might start it again. I have a weird pattern. I might have paused something and then watch 3 episodes in order to catch up.
And most likely if I am going to start one of those suggestions is the first one and the third one.
At the same time I was watching a greek tv show called “Eteros Ego” and I am entering its second season. It is a crime – thriller drama.
I do hope you are all well and we will be talking more on a thread.
P.S. I found out that Orthodox Easter is one week after the Catholic one. 😊
Kalimera Ladies,
I forgot to mention yesterday that Bait / Decoy Part 2 is coming out this Friday
07/04.
More: https://asianwiki.com/The_Bait:_Part_2
Also, a very interesting show for those who have seen “All of us are dead” is
“Duty After School” Part 1. It has to do with alien invasion. It is divided into two parts. Part 1 of 6 episodes is out and we will be waiting for Part 2’s remaining 4 episodes.
More Here: https://asianwiki.com/Duty_After_School
Both of them are on Viki!
Thanks for the info @Cleo. I do wish they wouldn’t split the series into 6-episode seasons. It breaks the momentum. I might have to do what others suggest ie wait for all the episodes to be out before starting.
Although I watched the 2nd season of Island, it didn’t rivet me as much. I guess I lost interest with that long, unnecessary break. The ending was also kind of open. As if there might be a Season 3 *eye roll*
Kalimera Unnie!
I do hope you are okay! I agree with you. A lot of people I know, they are complaining for this unnecessary split of the series.
I enjoyed Island, but Season 3 won’t happen as we now know.
As for Decoy, I am eager to see how it will end. They left us with a cliffhanger! So, I will watch it in order to see where it will go from that ending.
Duty after School is pretty good so far. I have watched the first three episodes and I have the last three to finish somewhat this week.
As you said, it breaks the momentum, but the OTT platforms want to keep their subscribers. Hence, the splits.
Doengsaeng @Cleo, I’m very well, thanks… although extra busy now. I hope you’re well too.
I won’t be able to watch dramas as much as before, for a while yet. 🙁
If I manage to pick up the new dramas, I’ll come here to comment on them. See you!
According to Marcus…’The Road Home’ is now number one in the national Chinese tv show ratings (this encompasses a number of measurements of viewer levels).
Jing Boran is number one on the celebrity search list – above Yang Yang and Wang Yibo etc and Seven Tan is number four.
They are doing very well with this series.
@Kate, well deserved to Road Home cast and crew.
One more plug for ‘Nothing but You’ – so entertaining and who could resist Leo Wu in this role? Not me for one.
Great cast of interesting and in many cases loveable characters.
Fans of ‘You are My Hero’ will also recognise the second FL in another best buddy role… not irritating.
Great training and competing sequences – nothing slow about this at all!
In one scene our ML has to dress up in protective head and body gear to train…for professional tennis … unorthodox or what?
I am enjoying the well-paced unfolding plot – with snappy editing and OST – so much that I just sat through 3 episodes in Chinese! Lol.
First time commenting on a What are we watching post. 🙂
I am continuing with OBY and I have also been watching Jinny’s Kitchen. It makes me hungry every time I watch it and the amount of ramen they eat is crazy! It is not a good show to watch right before bedtime because I just want to snack.
I have been very slowly making my way through Meet Yourself given how highly people speak of it. Somehow I have been stuck in the middle of episode 5 for weeks now without a will to continue. Slice of life is usually my cup of tea but somehow this doesn’t pull me in.
I am looking forward to Dr. Romantic 3 and agree you can probably just skip 1 but 2 would be nice to watch ahead of time to understand the background of the characters since they are all returning. I am not sure I will live watch though as I find it usually too stressful and would rather just binge.
I have also put on permanent hold Crash Course in Romance. Not sure why but seeing them end up together doesn’t seem to be a big deal.
Kalimera Unnie,
I am okay thanks! I totally understand you! I do hope we will be commenting to a show when you will be able to watch more freely! Missed our chats! Have fun!
Greetings dear friends! Hope all is well!
@Queen Bee Packmule3, hope you enjoy your time in the States! 🙂
@OAL, so thankful and relieved to hear your husband’s surgery went well! Thank God! Will keep praying!
Was disappointed with the direction Crash Course in Romance took the last 1/3 because the killer story seemed to take center stage and wanted to drop it, but finished it with an “off” taste. Really liked it at the beginning but later the storyline went downhill for me.
Am looking forward to watching Dr. Romantic 3 with my husband. It will be the first Kdrama we watch live together. Agree you don’t need to watch season 1 and season 2 to enjoy it, but watching the two seasons will help you understand the characters, their motivations and their backstories.
Have recently been playing a small role on our company’s musical, a professional production in collaboration with an acting troupe. I now have a greater appreciation for actors, singers and dancers. Acting, singing and dancing, especially together, is difficult! We still have four performances in two cities this month so I am looking forward to them.
Have a great week friends! Happy Easter! 🙂
AvenueX gives a very enthusiastic review of ‘Nothing but You’!
@Kate I intend to join you watching Nothing But You as soon as I return home from a family visit. I think you and I have similar taste so looking forward to it.
@Hat Lady – have you seen New Vanity Fair? it’s a Chinese drama. – I started watching it a couple of weeks ago but put it aside waiting for more episodes. I think all episodes are released now and it’s available on You Tube. It really seems more like a play than a drama — behind the scenes view of producers, agents, actors and actresses in the movie industry and on stage. It is very talky and a bit caustic in parts (not all the characters are likable) but interesting. Dramatizes the compromises that actors and writers have to make. Debates art vs commercialization. There is a funny scene where the young star just recites numbers during her scenes (knowing it will get dubbed later) while the older actress is appalled at the lack of discipline. Anyway you might find it interesting
Break a leg with your show!
@Hatlady, my best wishes for the show. I hope that it goes well for everyone and that maybe some Stars will be discovered. It could be you! Please let us know how it feels once the performances start. 🤞
@Good Twin – hoorah! You’ll enjoy. I look forward to your comments whenever you can make the time.
@Hatlady – yes – just saw your post – how exciting! Agreed with @Fern that we want your reports!
Viki suggested something different for me to watch. I suppose Viki noticed I’m watching a lot of sweet romances. The suggestion? Taxi Driver. I figured why not try one episode, because I liked the lead actor, Lee Je Hoon, in Signal and Move to Heaven. Taxi Driver 2 is currently getting a lot of buzz. But I wondered if I could stomach two seasons of revenge drama depicting gruesome crimes.
Seeing Esom in another strong role is a plus, as I liked her in Because This Is My First Life. Kim Eui Sung plays a morally ambiguous character–is what he’s doing right or wrong?–and he’s done good/evil characters very well in W: Two Worlds and Memories of the Alhambra. He was also convincingly loathsome in Mr. Sunshine. It’s fun to watch Pyo Ye Jin in two shows at the same time: she’s also currently appearing in Our Blooming Youth as the second female lead. The other two main actors, Jang Hyuk Jin and Bae Yoo Ram, I’ve seen as supporting actors in many dramas.
With so many excellent actors in Taxi Driver whose other work I’ve appreciated, the chances seemed high I’d like this drama if I could stomach the storylines. Some of the plot is grim, but the storytelling has somehow kept me from being overwhelmed. And I’m glad the show depicts choices having consequences.
If you don’t like fight scenes, stay away from Taxi Driver. Seems like there are punches being thrown in every episode. I’m interested to see how the fights are choreographed and made different each time, so the blood and mayhem don’t bother me too much. And some of it downright amuses me because the number of adversaries grows. How can evil masterminds keep armies of thugs when they’re otherwise obsessed with money? Minions need to earn a living wage, don’t they? Keeping legions of them on payroll must cost a lot.
For me, Taxi Driver has been bingeworthy. I’m not pondering too much while watching, but just going with the flow. Viki was right that a change might appeal to me. But after I’m done with TD, I’ll probably watch some lighter fare before watching TD2.
Kalimera @Welmaris!
I totally agree with you about the first season of the Taxi Driver. I haven’t started the second one, but I will, because although it was hard to watch the first season, it gave us a lot to ponder.
I am glad they are making shows that we can see how some people are hurting other people and how that affects them. Is it easy to watch ? No it isn’t.
If we want to bring awareness to the cruelty of the world, then so be it…
@Good Twin and @Kate, I managed to watch Nothing But You (up to episode 15) and agree that it’s a good show. I like that this is a straightforward tale, simply told… somewhat like the character of our male lead, who’s simple and straightforward too. I like that our FL, although much older, and in the position of authority is humble enough to accept that she has much to learn from the young guy. I guess the greatest growth arcs to look forward to will be in the secondary ‘kid’ characters who’ve a lot of growing up to do, and in the relationships between the people who began on the wrong footing but who will become firm friends.
The game and training sessions are actually quite riveting and the side stories make sense, while making contributions to revealing more about our lead characters.
This is one noona/’chieh-chieh’ romance I can get behind. Although there may not be as much noticeable developments in the leads’ characters, what I’d like to see is a better relationship between FL and her estranged father, likely aided by pesky step-sister.
Catch you all later!
@Kate, thank you for the heads up on AvenueX’s review. I’m always glad when she’s happy with a production. Will read you later!
I finally caught up reading all the comments on this thread.
@OAL, your positive report made me happy. What a difficult journey this has been for your husband and you. May his health continue to improve as your lives settle back to normal. It’s been a long time coming.
@Good Twin, have you watched the Cdrama Go Ahead, an earlier work by the scriptwriter who did Meet Yourself? I finished it recently, and enjoyed it a lot. It doesn’t feature great scenery, as it’s set in a city, but I loved all the friendships that developed.
I finished Taxi Driver last night. It was entertaining if I approached it mindlessly; if I focused on details, then I’d fall into passionate nitpicking. Someone installed a hydraulic car parking lift and the hideout is still secret? Tunneling without supports? And how’d everything that was excavated get removed without neighbors noticing? Isn’t anyone suspicious about the massive electricity bill for what looks to be a single-family dwelling? Why doesn’t the male lead suffer lasting damage from being pummeled by fists, feet, bats, pipes, etc. But he can mow down a crowd of adversaries efficiently, taking only seconds to neutralize each (until it’s time for them to rise and try again to overwhelm him). I suppose because these action genre tropes are so obvious, it keeps the show from being too dark.
I’ve got Our Blooming Youth on hold for a bit, behind by a couple of episodes, but intend to finish it.
I’ll start a new drama tonight, but haven’t yet decided which. There are a lot of good suggestions above!
@GB – so pleased you are watching ‘Nothing but You’. It is always more fun to watch and appreciate with others.
I also am also supportive of this relationship.
Interestingly, in real life they are 23 (Leo Wu) and 28 (Zhu Yu Tong) respectively so the show has extended the gap. I wasn’t convinced when they first met (her character comes off initially as a bit cool) but the way the show allows them to interact builds such a realistic flow of fun, sharing and moments of attraction that it works.
Agreed too on secondary characters @GB. As AvenueX said these are not mere ciphers or plot functions – secondary characters are far more developed and well rounded than the usual tropes and have interesting journeys to make in this show.
@GB, On the ML-FL relationship front – a further comment.
I am enjoying the development in their relationship and the sweetness combined with a realistically bumpy trajectory.
There is growth-demanding tension due to the age gap and unresolved hurt from the past and patterns of behaviour (especially hers). Both, at times, revert to old behaviours. Sometimes quite surprisingly and sometimes with comic effect!
She has to get over a number of internal decisions she has taken in the past to keep her safe.
He has to become quite steely in his determination both as a tennis player and in relation to her – for him it is about growing up fully into his full confidence as a man.
I think the show plays well with their circumstances and uses it to intensify the romance as their relationship weathers the storms.
@Welmaris – I did watch Go Ahead and really enjoyed it – especially watching them as kids. I watched all of Seven Tan’s dramas after watching Master of My Own. If you like an “ugly duckling” or Cinderella tale, I recommend master of my own. The boss is quite horrid in the beginning and seems beyond redemption but he gets there.
@Kate and @GB I am a few episodes in to nothing but you. I am liking it so far.
Also – I am going to plug the Japanese drama Upon a Starry Night one last time. It is the one drama that I have watched recently that has stayed with me. There are lots of eccentric characters but the story of found families is quite touching. It is about a ob/gyn who falls for a much younger deaf death cleaner.
Great @Good Twin! It’s a grower…
Will check out your J-drama rec over Easter- I have never managed to watch a J-drama through to the end btw.
@Good Twin, thanks for clarifying the drama you recommend, that it’s a Japanese production. There are several dramas with Starry and Night in their titles, so it’s confusing.
Last night I decided to start watching Nothing But You, and I have no regrets. As soon as I saw Tu Song Yan is part of the cast, I knew I had to watch. He was outstanding in Meet Yourself and Go Ahead. I hope he fleshes out An Cong in a way that’s different than Dad Li in Go Ahead. I loved Dad Li so much, but I want An Cong to be his own person, not just a revisit of another character.
I understand how the FL, You An, can appear cold. She has to maintain her professionalism in her job as an executive assistant. She has to guard herself from the baggage her parents would load her with because of their failed relationship. Watching You An with her best friend lets us see another side of her. And we know from the beginning that You An has a soft, warm inside she tries hard to keep alive by interacting with dogs. As she says at the pet shop, they’re her recharging stations. So it was a delight to see her finally let loose the child inside when she was at the playground with San Chuan. At that moment she was his peer, not his noona.
I’m liking the cinematography in Nothing But You. One scene in particular stands out for me, when San Chuan and An Cong are in the empty, darkened badminton gym. Both are bereft. They’re both in the room, but at a far distance from each other, divided by darkness. They are together, yet isolated. It’s a good visual representation of the relationship they’ve been pushed into and the emotions they bear.
@Welmaris – super! Isn’t Tu Song Yan a versatile treat of an actor? He did some Tai Chi type moves – or something similar – at the start of Episode 22 calling to mind his ‘Meet Yourself’ character. He also pulls off some very natural ‘close family’ comedy with Leo Wu.
Yes good point re the dogs and the pet shop… and those lovely scenes with in the park! Her inner child comes out so wonderfully when she relaxes. And, even at the start when she adapted the Bunny Ears for the ML when he objected to them, she smiled so radiantly when she solved the ‘look’ problem for him by replacing the pink bow with the dog sticker.
Wishing Chag Pesach Sameach (Happy Passover Festival) to @OAL and any other Bitches that celebrate it. To our Muslim friends who are in the midst of Ramadan, Ramadan Mubarak! To our Queen Bitch and other Roman Catholic friends, may you experience love and blessings as you reflect on this Maundy Thursday.
@Kate and @Good Twin will chat with you in a couple of days.
Thank you for your wishes, @Welmaris. As Church we enter/have entered the Easter Triduum now.
Holy Passover @OAL!
Ramadan Mubarak @Miracle!
Blessed Palm Sunday @Cleo!
A prayerful, blessed, and ultimately joyful Holy weekend to all who celebrate Easter!
Just back from foot washing and holy communion at my local CofE church. The service title was holy communion with hand washing! They decided to be more authentic. Had I known I would have checked the state of my feet beforehand! But it was a lovely, meditative service and the vicar was very unassuming with the foot washing!
Blessed holy days to all, to your families and friends.
@Kate, that must have been very moving. I’ve never been to a Good Friday service that took that aspect literally.
I’m hoping for a peaceful and reflective rest of the weekend.
@Fern – it was moving and I think – from memory – my first time at such a service.
May your weekend indeed be peaceful and provide space for reflection!
@GB Unnie Thank you!
To all my B.o.D friends:
Happy Passover my dear @OAL
Ramadan Mubarak @Miracle23
Happy Easter to @Packmule3 and all my Catholic friends!
<3
@kate and GB there are probably worse earworms than “you will be loved you will be loved”. I’ve been humming that in my head. Nothing but you is pretty great.
Btw @Kate your comments on the foot washing made me laugh. I always assume my feet are not the best nor the worse when I get a pedicure. It is such an act of love/service that your Vicar performed. Thank you packmule3 for this beautiful community!!!
I’m late to the party here–but it’s mostly because I still haven’t decided what to watch this month.
I’m finishing up OBY this coming week. Until then, I really don’t want to start any other Joseon-era dramas because I get confused about who is the King (although I did breeze through the first episode of Joseon Attorney, which looks somewhat promising). Nothing else is really grabbing me right now. So I may take this as an opportunity to watch dramas that have been on my watchlist for months, including some a lot of people consider classics, like Mr. Sunshine. Or I may watch a few Korean and other language movies.
If anyone finds a drama they really love that is current, let me know! (Has anyone tried watching Oasis? It seemed to be about a time period I haven’t seen any other k-dramas cover–but I don’t know much about it).
@OAL so glad to hear that your husband is making progress on his recovery. I hope you’re able to take some time to take care of yourself as you go through this journey with him.
Happy Easter/Passover/Ramadan to all!
@Good Twin – I was only yesterday evening checking out where that song from Nothing but You came from. It does get into the system! Avenue X commented in her review that the use of sound track was more k-dramaesque than c-drama like. Anyway, however the show is using the music – it is working!
Yes, agreed re that service … and along with the message of Easter contemplating a pedicure next week!!
Dear Ladies,
Thank you for the warm Ramadhan wishes. I am sorry I was not able to come frequently as before.
To dearests who are celebrating,
Happy Easter/Passover! ❤️❤️❤️
@Kate @Good Twin @Viva @Welmaris
Took a break and breezed through several episodes of Nothing But You. Still such an uplifting, engrossing tale. The competition is nail-biting and the romance is sweet.
I’m liking Leo Wu Lei so much that I’ve taken up an OLD show with him in one of the leading roles. It’s called Our Times, set in the 1990’s (but it aired in 2021) with men’s hair not at their best LOL. Leo Wu still manages to look fine.
The colour grading etc is deliberately a dull tone to make it look 1990s, the production value does not seem as high as other shows and the story looks to be more or less predictable, but it’s a show in which to admire LW as the flamboyant Xiao Chuang, who looks a bit like young Elvis in the episode he slicked his hair back. The other young actors are pretty to look at too.
In any case, it’s something to watch in between work and while waiting for the next subbed episodes of Nothing But You. 🙂
@ Viva, So good to hear from you. Ditto to Divorce Attorney Shin. Love that drama. I will miss it. I like the day to day reactions in the office and small things like eating lunch. K Dramas have a nice way with real life that makes dramas like these so immersive. I get a good idea about how people live. A case in point-the clothes dryers you can stand in the bathroom and “hand” washing clothes items with your feet in a basin (a great idea). Lots of things to learn in K Dramas.
@GB – thank you for the tip re the earlier Leo Wu show -will check it out! Yes, waiting for the latest episodes of Nothing but You here.
@Viva – hello! Re Starry Love – I gave up too- in the human realm!! It started with so much promise but then the detours slowed the momentum down.
@packmule3 and @Fern, I went to familiar dramas like Business Proposal and recently, the revenge drama, The Glory.Revenge dramas like The Glory get my blood boiling. While I hate the gore, I somehow am attracted to the idea of being able to revisit old hurts and resolve them, once one becomes stronger. In real life I think it is much better to leave these things in the past. They are never satisfying but in these dramas we live in fantasy. I like the romcoms because they just are so good and American ones are just so bad. K Drama romcoms have character development and we get the warts too so by the time they resolve there is satisfaction.
I also liked the reality show in the Youn’s Kitchen and Jinny’s Kitchen series. Just the idea of imagining being served by and cooked for by these award winning actors is pleasure full. It is fun when they’re recognized. My husband and I once had the experience of eating in an uncrowded restaurant in Greenwich Village where we had a lovely conversation with the man at the next table who was a local celebrity. We continued it into the street and it was just a lively encounter and thrilling in its way. The food on these shows also looked delicious. Imagine eating gimbap made by Jung Yumi or chicken made by Park Seo Jeon or being served by Choi Woo Shik or V of BTS(I would have given my eye teeth as a teen had It been served by a Beatle). That show offers a great escape and is a great recharger.
On a slightly different note, I also think that because most K Dramas are written by women, we get something so a woman’s sensibility in these shows that we don’t get out of Hollywood. That helps when one is in need of comfort.
Another reality show that comes to mind is The Return if Superman. Seeing those little kids just brought a lot of joy. In the same light, Little Forest where K stars cared for little kids in a summer camp type setting and where they actually bonded was very comforting.Park Na rae and Lee Seung Gi had some lovely interactions with these children who as yet, had no filters. I think these programs are fare better than shows like The Real Housewives that appeal to schadenfreude. They’re
Slice of life programs that Re actually mirrored I’m many K Dramas where you see your heroes taking the subway, boiling water for ramen, making the bed that are that comforting. They tell you that there is life in small as well as large gestures and that these very regular events can also be stress relievers. And I also think that seeing domesticity proves that comfort can be found in regular daily activity that is a halark of K Dramas and reality shows.There is more,-I haven’t even touched up on the dageuks- but I hope this gives you an idea of why these helped me get throughmy husband’s health crisis(which is still ongoing but with a lot more optimism).
@Welmaris, Thanks for the Hebrew greeting. Hag means holiday, same achievement means happy and Pesach means Passover. Just thought BDers would like a translation. And a fun fact, Koreans are well known Talmud scholars. So there you have it a K connection to Korea.Also sometimes thought Ryan Gold was ctrl Jewish. LOL
@Welmaris, Talk about Suspension if disbelief, you had to do it for what seems like most of Taxi Driver. That takes up lots of energy.
@Hatlady, It’s so cool that you’re actually in real performances.As the good actor’s wish to you, “Break a leg”
Hey @OAL! Great to hear from you! I just finished the last episode of Divorced Lawyer Attorney Shin. I really enjoy this show. I like this slow burn, low key drama. I especially enjoy the part when Lawyer Shin reveals the other side of the stories. I like a good show when Cho Seung Woo and supporting casts who plays his friends, his sister’s mother in law and the ramen lady are very good performers. The facial expressions, the emotions through their eyes and the crying feel so genuine.
*spoilers**
I really love the happy ending! I am not sure if everything will work out like that real life but at least it gives us the feel good at the end! Sometimes life is hard enough, it’s good to see the good characters get their good endings, the annoying characters face their consequences of their bad decisions.
Remember that piano performance in the earlier episode? It was in fact played by the actor himself! I found this on YouTube. I am very impressed!
https://youtu.be/HW5zIWMNHA0?t=151
It feels like lawyer Shin interprets the cases like he interprets emotions the music scores. He spends effort to understand the emotions of each divorce case. He really listens! How many of us these days (myself included) is a poor listener?
The highlights for me:
1. Lawyer Shin points out to the DJ Lee that she is, after all, trying to protect her kid. In the midst of the messy divorce, where DJ Lee had an affair, seemingly neglected her child and embarrassed the family with her sex tape, Lawyer Shin can interpret the most important emotion. The emotion of a mother who wants to protect the child from a very mean father who acts nice on the outside but rotten inside.
2. Lawyer Shin can see the remaining love between two very tired husband and wife. When a wife was consistently looked down/talked by the mother-in-law and the husband failed to stand up for her, they still both love each other. I felt so good that Lawyers Shin finally made the husband to stand up for his wife.
3. Lawyer Shin can see the sacrifice from an old, seemingly violent husband. That he loves his mother and young wife enough to knowingly accept a son that is not his. When social media warriors was so quick to condemn the domestic violence on the surface, lawyer Shin reveals all the lies.
4. I am impressed by the two friends and the mother-in-law acting. Even the villain woman is good. She really makes me dislike her. The divorce case of the para legal himself – his sadness over the loss of his marriage is touching. Fortunately for him, he has supporting friends and their immature behaviours gave me a good laugh.
In general, the theme of this drama is things are not what they look on the surface. It begs the question – when marriage broken down, who is really at fault? Who are we to judge?
I read that they planted a few easter eggs in the show:
-They mention a dermatologist in the drama. That was the role played by Son Ye Jin in 39. I think I saw a scene of Son Ye Jin in the drama the paralegal and his girlfriend are watching.
-The grapes and the red wine. Lawyer doesn’t want to drink red wine until he achieved justice. He managed it at the end.
I have zero knowledge on classical music but feels slight educated by the show over snippets of the stories behind the music. That really adds some depth to the show. I still love my xian xia, ultra romantic love stories, however it is good to touch the ground and watch some show with a dose of realities in it.
Hey @OAL! Great to hear from you! I just finished the last episode of Divorced Lawyer Attorney Shin. I really enjoy this show. I like this slow burn, low key drama. I especially enjoy the part when Lawyer Shin reveals the other side of the stories. I like a good show when Cho Seung Woo and supporting casts who plays his friends, his sister’s mother in law and the ramen lady are very good performers. The facial expressions, the emotions through their eyes and the crying feel so genuine.
*spoilers**
I really love the happy ending! I am not sure if everything will work out like that real life but at least it gives us the feel good at the end! Sometimes life is hard enough, it’s good to see the good characters get their good endings, the annoying characters face their consequences of their bad decisions.
Remember that piano performance in the earlier episode? It was in fact played by the actor himself! I found it on YouTube. I am very impressed!
It feels like lawyer Shin interprets the cases like he interprets emotions the music scores. He spends effort to understand the emotions of each divorce case. He really listens! How many of us these days (myself included) is a poor listener?
The highlights for me:
1. Lawyer Shin points out to the DJ Lee that she is, after all, trying to protect her kid. In the midst of the messy divorce, where DJ Lee had an affair, seemingly neglected her child and embarrassed the family with her sex tape, Lawyer Shin can interpret the most important emotion. The emotion of a mother who wants to protect the child from a very mean father who acts nice on the outside but rotten inside.
2. Lawyer Shin can see the remaining love between two very tired husband and wife. When a wife was consistently looked down/talked by the mother-in-law and the husband failed to stand up for her, they still both love each other. I felt so good that Lawyers Shin finally made the husband to stand up for his wife.
3. Lawyer Shin can see the sacrifice from an old, seemingly violent husband. That he loves his mother and young wife enough to knowingly accept a son that is not his. When social media warriors was so quick to condemn the domestic violence on the surface, lawyer Shin reveals all the lies.
4. I am impressed by the two friends and the mother-in-law acting. Even the villain woman is good. She really makes me dislike her. The divorce case of the para legal himself – his sadness over the loss of his marriage is touching. Fortunately for him, he has supporting friends and their immature behaviours gave me a good laugh.
In general, the theme of this drama is things are not what they look on the surface. It begs the question – when marriage broken down, who is really at fault? Who are we to judge?
I read that they planted a few easter eggs in the show:
-They mention a dermatologist in the drama. That was the role played by Son Ye Jin in 39. I think I saw a scene of Son Ye Jin in the drama the paralegal and his girlfriend are watching.
-The grapes and the red wine. Lawyer doesn’t want to drink red wine until he achieved justice. He managed it at the end.
I have zero knowledge on classical music but feels slight educated by the show over snippets of the stories behind the music. That really adds some depth to the show. I still love my xian xia, ultra romantic love stories, however it is good to touch the ground and watch some show with a dose of realities in it.
@pm3 – I wrote a response to @OAL but it was flagged waiting for moderation. Would you be able to review this when you have a chance from spams? Thanks!
@Kate – yes I gave up on Starry Love. Somehow I lost the desire to find out what happen to them. I am on Dr Romantic 2 ep 2. I started on Dr Romantic 1 but found myself really want to fast forward so I will try season 2. I like Paul Ahn from the Business Proposal and season 2 only has 16 episodes. I have high hope I can finish this.
@GB – OK, I will give Nothing But you a go after Dr Romantic 2 🙂
@Viva, you won’t go wrong watching DrRomantic 2. You’ll have the benefit of season 2’s young leads and the rest of the exc excellent cast. Without giving away spoilers you’ll see that Doldam Hospitzl is always in danger of closing. That adds to the underlying conflict of this drama.I M looking forward to this drama. Also, b uven that the main cast is filled with favorites. I hope you enjoy it.
For Chinese E-Sports Romance Drama fans (is this a category??)… Viki now have ‘Gank Your Heart’ (unforgettable title), a popular 2019 show with Wang Yibo and an ensemble cast.
Gank – Oxford English Dictionary definition: ‘(in a video game) to use underhand means to defeat or kill (a less experienced opponent): “that troll just ganked me.”‘
The show is closest probably to ‘Falling into You’ but has hints of ‘Go Go Squid’ too. For instance key roles are played by a previous generation e-sports pioneers. Good use is made of these characters to enrich the plot. Wang Yibo’s character is also a little, just a little, like Hu Yitian’s character in Go Go Squid 2: Appledog’s time. Yibo’s character also grows on the viewer as we see him in different challenges and contexts + get his backstory.
Initially, our FL appears to be a lightweight character. I found her irritating/foolish, along with her shrieky, impulsive best buddy. You couldn’t imagine either of them in the world of journalism which they were supposed to be inhabiting! But her character develops and you see that there is a lot more to her + you acclimatise to the best friend!
The romance is slow burn with some very pleasant flirtation en route.
One thing you do miss…during the big competitive matches you, as the viewer, are not immersed in the virtual battle scenes. This is one of the fun things in ‘Falling into You’, for instance (although I had difficulty remembering who was who when watching the battle and duel scenes in that show!). So you see less of the on-screen match and are more reliant on the commentary and the team’s tactical discussions before games.
This is a genre that packs of a lot of storyline into its episodes so you don’t, perhaps, get as rich a depiction of characters as you might in another genre. Characters show who they are as they move the plot forward. But it is well-paced to make up for this and I am enjoying the story unfolding.
I started Delivery Man and so far have found it a pleasant watch.
I am liking it much more than the unnecessarily maudlin May I Help You?–which is also about fulfilling the last wishes of dead people. It has a lighter touch. And, since the ML’s mom is already dead at the beginning of the show, we viewers are going to be spared a heartbreaking exit of a family member (fingers crossed the grandma doesn’t die by the show’s end–it’s already been alluded to, with her being told she has to take medicine everyday). So, at this point, three episodes in, I can recommend it. I’ll post an update if I change my mind.
Final comment on ‘Gank your Heart’ – a really enjoyable watch – another ‘grower’ with a wonderfully unfolding plot that makes great use of its ensemble cast with character and backstory reveals and unexpected and sometimes delightful twists and turns. It builds very cleverly towards a final ark (in the final third of the show) which is fabulous if you have watched a number of these shows!
Human emotions and lessons and struggles and dreams well conveyed.
If you find the FL best friend irritating you can make light use of fast forward.
The best finale of a show in this genre that I have seen. I noticed brief use of the technique where you are taken onto the virtual stage of the combat in IConquer(a fictitious game based on a real one). I wonder if they simply didn’t have the budget for more of this type of visual enrichment.
I was in tears at many points – !!. This show speaks to the emotions behind sporting achievement and the highs and lows more naturally and less pretentiously, I think, than ‘Go Go Squid’ which was a little pompous at times.
This review contains spoilers: https://filmdaily.co/news/gank-your-heart/
Just finished ‘Nothing but You’ – what a delightful show!
Things to comment upon but I’ll wait until everyone has watched through to the end.
@Kate, Am so stoked it’son Viki and I can watch it after reading all the great posts about it. I have a watch list that is so longest thus drama will be first in line. BOD posters are very influential. Since finding BOD, I have not gone wrong with regulars’ recommendations.
@Kate, I’ve just completed watching Nothing But You as well. How tremendously satisfying when everything makes sense right into the resolutions. It did not feel like we were strung along by tropes, no filler was needed, the conflict came along as a matter of course and the solutions were great. I liked the many conversations that sounded ‘real’.
It just occurred to me that the weakest character, Liang Shu, gets a pretty good deal. Not only does he have his younger daughter’s husband’s support, but also his elder daughter’s boyfriend’s and boyfriend’s family’s support.
A sweet and simple happy ending, for a simple tale.
Update: cancel what I said earlier about Delivery Man. It became more and more a murder mystery and less and less about the ghost taxi service, which had charming potential, especially with the cameos of recognizable actors playing ghosts. I “finished it” simply by reading some recaps, glad I didn’t spend any more time watching it.
I also just finished Nothing but You, and am basking in the glow. Story arcs resolved satisfactorily, without feeling pushed. It is good to see a touch of realism in the story resolutions: a long-married, then divorced couple maintain friendship, but don’t get back together; someone told she may be unable to conceive doesn’t suddenly become fertile, yet she and her husband are happy in their marriage.
Much as I would love to have seen more detail about beloved characters’ lives at the show’s wrap, we got enough hints to imagine them doing well, with promising futures. Perhaps the urge to continue to their stories in my head adds to the glow I feel after finishing the last episode.
I too just finished Nothing But You (I confess to some fast forwarding over some of the subplots). The dialogue in this was so good (although I think the translation seemed off in parts) -l really enjoyed the conversations between the two best friends, the sisters, Chen Ke and her husband, and among the tennis players (like when they were teasing the coach about how he had loosened up), and the ML and his step dad.
This was the first show I have watched with this ML (which is surprising because he seems to have been in everything). He was really convincing as an athlete and tennis player. The relationship between the two felt authentic. Even the product placement felt mostly organic to the story.
Minor Spoiler Ahead ***. The scene when the two decide to move into together was perfectly acted — How he smiles and moves away from her and then pulls her in for a hug! Very cute
Comparing this to Road Home – while Road Home was more of an epic romance – this was much better written in terms of the plotting and naturalness of the dialogue. Thanks for the recommendation @Kate!
Lastly, I also enjoyed the wig shop and the street it was on – those were some ugly wigs 😂 but made for some really cute scenes and an interesting profession for the step dad.
Newsflash:
In his recent ig live, YYS picked up a question from fans if he would be joining RDTK3. He said it’s a secret. He can’t say anything *sneaky smile*
Then today sbscatch dropped a clip of S1 lead couple along with caption about s3 airing date and tagged them as well under rdtk3 and the s3 main casts.
Fans are hoping for a confirmed cameo. But we’ll see.
End of news 🤭
@GB, @Welmaris and @Good Twin,
Great points and I am a bit stumped because there are just too many good things in this drama.
Leo Wu knocked it out of the park literally and metaphorically! Without that strong, endearing and credible performance, this drama would not have had the sparkle. Our FL too with the more introverted character – although she came out of her shell wonderfully – was super.
Like the rest of you, I loved the way our ML and FL got through their challenges and the way their interactions and dialogue were written!
What an ensemble cast!
There was a bitter sweet realism in places which prevented the show being cloying ..as @Welmaris highlighted… there was a lot of coming to term with things and relationships and human limitation.
There was unexpected comedy… the two Y Sports execs chasing one another around in a mock battle instead of fishing!
Lots of very pleasing elements made this a special experience!
@OAL – my top Viki recommendation at the moment would be ‘Nothing but You’ – as you can see from the reviews this has gone down very well with BoDers.
‘Gank Your Heart’ is light but surprisingly moving in places and a recommendation if you like e-sports dramas. I will watch it again.
I hope you are doing ok!
‘Till the end of the Moon’ is out on Viki today and is creating lots of interest… I am going to be away for a few days visiting family but will check it out.
The reviews so far say that this is top quality, watchable Xianxia. I hope it does prove enjoyable.
Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi star – both of them have credentials in this type of drama. They have worked together too on ‘Love is Sweet’.
https://www.viki.com/tv/39703c-till-the-end-of-the-moon
@Miracle3, YYS has become quite the controversial actor given reports of his sexist comments related to his costars including body shaming , weight related remarks regarding Moon Chae Won from Mood of the Day, and others who he claimed needed Botox and other work.o previously enjoyed his acting unconditionally but now I view him as tainted. I last watched him on The Interest of Love that I found somewhat disturbing, even though his acting was good. His performance in HPL took him down a few notches. But it’s his disparaging comments about women that bristle. I guess he thinks he’s Adonis.
@Kate @Good Twin @Welmaris
RE: Nothing But You
I thought it interesting that in effect Young Space went full circle, so to speak. It was because Jiang Jie refused to listen to Liang You An over signing on Song San Chuan as their underdog, that ultimately he lost You An. Over the course of just over a year, You An ensured that SSChuan would no longer just be an underdog. By the time Gao Li does get SSChuan on board, he’s risen so high that other clubs would gladly buy him out of his contract with Young Space.
It’s good to see that what appeared to be failure, challenges, or mistakes at any one point in life, could be turned into opportunities for self-development, accomplishment, and success. True-to-life, it can take a lot of ‘letting go’ to aid some in growing. In just the way SSChuan had to let go of his badminton style of playing and practise tennis moves, he and other characters let go of disordered attachments, attitudes, self-concepts, habits… that held them back. It is so nice to look back to the beginning and notice the change for the better in practically every character.
Notwithstanding a broken marriage, relationships improved overall. While offering her weak father fuller forgiveness might have been icing on the cake, it’s good that what You An could not do for her dad, SSC and An Chong did in her stead. Also what she could not do for her dad, she did instead for her step-sister, which was a worthy accomplishment, when we consider what her unhappy mother had been conditioning her to do with regard to her step-family, all her life.
And yes, as @Kate said, it was cute to see the ever feuding duo Jiang Jie and Gao Li able to be ‘kids’ for a change.
I found that I learnt along with SSChuan, the cost of pushing oneself too far, the hidden dangers of being the official ‘spokesperson/promoter’ of a company’s products and the importance of valuing/appreciating the one often taken for granted. This is a drama that demonstrates that a simple story, solidly told, does not need plot twists, quirky characters, strange cliff hangers or multiple metaphors to keep viewers invested. Bravo little Show!
Thank you @GB – really enjoyed reading your reflections on the show!
Such a warm-hearted series.
I am relieved too that we didn’t see our budding tennis super star attempting Wimbledon! That would have had to be done so well to come across authentically.
Hi AOL, I am not sure where you got your information on other than MCW case. Perhaps you mistaken him with Park Hae Jin who was known for such remarks and other problematic behaviors? YYS made an error during MOTD pc years ago. Even if he is close to MCW like a brother with whom she can just be herself without restriction (her own words), it was uncalled for and he got his due lesson from there. We as fans also acknowledge his wrong there and we have seen him change for the better. It was years ago. She also teased him hard (I see it that she had her sweet revenge 😂) in the next tv show they went to promote the movie.
We keep seeing his antis putting up that clip whenever he has a new project coming up or when he gained favorable attentions from media like after the recent back to back projects i.e. hp2, suriname, UoL.
We, I personally too, have no expectation for him to be a perfect, I make no mistake guy. He is human after all. What I know about him is that YYS is transparent. You see him as he is. What we expect, at least, he learnt from his errors and strive to be a better person. Which, thus far, he did. I hope he remains so and has become more mature.
In general, he is known for his kind and goodhearted, sometime naive personality among his friends, seniors, juniors within and outside of the industry. Hence, I myself was bumped when the recent controversy came out. It does not make sense since, as far as we know, that is not something he would do. He even was not known to ride bicycle in SK. He did once only in a variety show, in Laos. But only a while before he changed to a motorbike. Later, he and the senior security guard where he used to live confirmed it. It seems to be a false claim made on him. He did not live at the apartment at that time as claimed. He lived in an officetel. And the senior guard also testified him as a quiet and polite young man with no issue whatsoever. Never seen him ride a bicycle. YYS has a car though then. YYS made a criminal court charge for defamation right away. After a while the thing has cooled off. Even MCW too was claimed to exert power abused and she and her agency finally took action, after taking a silent stance about it. Last months various celebrities came forward because of fake rumors circulating rampantly about them. One is hyunbin x syj divorced. Then few days after yys. Then there was sehun claimed to accompany his gf to have abortion. It was actually one of his devoted fan creating false story. I was in korea at that time. Many of those who personally met him during his personal hours came forward to share their experience and support him, wrote their comments on the matter. Some of his juniors in the army also posted to support him, sharing how he is the senior who always have their backs and protect his juniors from mistreatments. YYS also finally openly expressed his feelings about it in his recent ig live.
About his drama, not everyone cup of tea😂 It is a realistic depiction of what is happening in korea. Overall, a well made as well. The cine, the ost are on point. Many kviewers like the drama, hence it became successful despite the rating, mostly affected by the airing slot. Discussions are abundant about it too. It was frustrating to them (& me😂) as well but they understood because they experienced it in their lives and society. There are many HSS, ASY, PMY, JJH in the real world. 😅 Frustrating but that is reality. Not always roses and rainbows.😁 I also has my views on this story and the characters, not a rose-tinted glass view. 🤭 I guess different cultures have some influence in us as a person. There are things we can accept. There are things we can’t. And for me, it is also a matter of principle. A good lesson though, the story in the drama. A lesson of how to appreciate yourself more, how not to handle a relationship and how not to set yourself for a continuous heartbreaks 😂, among others.
I notice after a while yys is keen to pick roles that has reality in it rather than full fantasy perspective. Something he can relate. And he said so as well in his recent iv. I too prefer him to do a romance work that is relatable instead of a fantasy-like romance i.e. that wg in HP. Maybe cos my mind rejects it. Well, I rejects many romantic tropes. My issue.😂 I don’t think he would have known that they gonna write ajw like that i.e. manchild with childish cravings partnered with a similar child-like woman🙃. It was the kids, the band and the 99ers that pulled him in for the project. What a bummer HP has become to me. 😮💨 We knew he read those critics on ajw and wg. He reviewed his works like that. He did it for UoL too. So yeah, I am satisfied he at least knew there are unfavorable views on wg/hp2 (many kviewers claimed hp a full blown fantasy🤭 contradicting the pd) 😅. Though yys being yys, his roles/works in general are precious to him. They made him the actor he is today, gives him the experience he needs to continue acting.
Sorry for my long blabberish😂
I do respect your view and preference, AoL. Nevertheless, I wish that there is no misunderstanding on the claims about his other remarks cos as fans we never heard or read those from any legit sources, as you stated coming from him, except for the blunder to mcw, in which he too was cristicised and did not repeat the same mistake again, so far. I am the kind of fan that read both positive n negative views on him. I did not come across such claims thus far. I did ask around friends who followed him the longest and they confirmed no such news that portrayed him like that, even as adonis😅. Though I did read a number of comments did not find him attractive and that he is not good looking at all. I accept it as their personal preference. 😁 From our observation, off cam he is just a down to earth dorky guy who only dresses up when attending his official schedules. Even that, some of the fashions are not flattering.😅 Other days, just casual plain shirts and baggy pants or jeans. Some time he wore his friend’s brand maybe as a way to help promote them. He occasionally helps to promote his friends’ brands. Some of his daily wear are mindboggling to me still 😂 i guess it is his comfort wear.
I am sorry if I offended you in any way. That is not my intention.
I wish you and family a great day. Take care. ❤️
@OAL, I now have the same feelings about YYS.
On a more positive note, @OAL, as Passover draws to a close, I hope you were blessed during the festival.
Thank 6ou @Welmaris. We had a lovely Passover and even attended a seder over Face Time. It was good to see family who we haven’t seen since the beginning of the pandemic and to have my husband home and recovering. I count the healing thoughts and prayers of the BOD community withholding him to get to this place. Thank you all for your kindness.
I now am looking forward to catching up with dramas I was unable to view, especially Nothing ht You.The discussion here is so tempting.
I’ve just breezed through/inhaled? 6 half-hour episodes of kdrama ‘Yonder’. It’s another show that breaks the boundaries of virtual or augmented reality. It is beautiful to the eye and ear, and troubling to the mind and spirit, that death is treated like an opportunity for an extended vacation, encouraging not only euthanasia but suicide for those who are not even sick. It attempts to challenge the ‘usual’ concept of heaven.
There were two sets of concepts that were interesting.
I found the futuristic concepts and the possibility of that technology amazing but clinical, and the virtual reality dangerous. No matter how advanced human beings become in science and technology, they are still human and prone to error in judgement. However I was wowed by the vision of what a mere 10 years into the future might offer in terms of digital technology.
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
The other part involving the concept of life-after-death or ‘heaven’ where people are memories in perpetual, static happiness seems so obviously flawed, I would imagine that concept as a version of hell.
The idea that the living should also die to make a dead person’s heaven is horrific. As is the idea that suicide is a way into a personalised, designer ‘life’-after-death. Ultimately the other world is manufactured. Nothing is real, hence how can so-called happiness be untainted or true.
I felt that the jump from ML’s rejecting Yonder to suddenly deciding to enter it was too sudden and unexplained. Perhaps the 6-episode length resulted in too much editing. However on the whole the production quality was high, the story succinctly told and to the point. At least we were given a proper resolution and (to me) the only possible piece of advice about dying and remembering that can be considered right.
When the ‘dead’ doctor states that no one ever came back from the dead to prove heaven exists, (and hence he was all for making our own heaven) … I was highly amused, as someone still in Easter celebration of that very belief! Why yes, I believe someone did come back from the dead and the Kingdom of Heaven exists! LOL.
Annyeong 🌷
i’m still watching “meet yourself” whenever i feel something light. i do notice that the ML is starting to like the FL hihi after he heard her speak to her dad and i feel like he found a kindred spirit- someone who understands why he’s fighting for this little village. 💗
i finished Song Seung-heon’s movie “obsessed” — oooh lala. but i discovered an artist at the end of the movie – Aoi Teshima and love her versions of The Rose and La Vie en Rose 🌹
i finished “summer scent” with SSH as well. not too crazy about the open-ending. but it’s as good as a happy ending for the OTP.
i started SSH’s “my princess” and loving it. pretty funny. i find myself cracking up a lot. haha.
Having finished Our Blooming Youth and Nothing but You, I decided to start Taxi Driver 2. It’s okay, enjoyable for its genre, but needs suspension of belief more than ever. Because having the characters adopt alter egos appeals to the viewing audience, we see more of that happening in the second season. We just have to accept that at a moment’s notice in any setting, the characters can assemble elaborate costumes.
Wanting a break from Taxi Driver 2 after the end of one of their missions, I decided to give Divorce Attorney Shin a try based on @OAL’s recommendation. I was skeptical, not wanting to dive into a drama with marriage partners at each others’ throats, but was quickly drawn in by the intriguing main character. This drama drops important bits about the story like bread crumbs, luring viewers until they’re trapped. The male lead is paradoxical: he lives in an expensive flat, but uses his built-in wine fridge to store soju. When given a gift bottle of wine, he says he doesn’t drink wine anymore. (Another bread crumb, I’m sure.) In his flat he has an extensive vinyl record collection and sound system with high-end components, but prefers to play and sing along to trot music.
Watching Attorney Shin interact with his two buddies is fun. All three actors appear to be at the top of their games with these roles, and having a ball working in this drama together. Two of them squabbling over equal distribution of kimchee, even down to the sauce, was hilariously serious business.
There are many cultural references in Divorce Attorney Shin that can be unpacked. In Episode 2 when the three men are in Sung Han’s apartment, drinking soju and eating tuna out of cans, their conversation includes references to Sim Soo Bong, Lim Young Woong, Kim Ho Joong, Kim Heung Kook, and Roo’ra. I won’t include links here, because with too many this comment will get bounced to the BoD spam folder and I’m not sure @Packmule3 is yet back in town to retrieve it. But I encourage the curious to spend some time on a music streaming app (like Spotify) exploring the work of these artists to get inside the heads of our main characters. For people who grew up in South Korea, these references would probably already have meaning.
Attorney Shin loves trot music, so it features prominently in this drama. According to https://www.leisurebyte.com/divorce-attorney-shin-all-trot-songs/ these are the trot songs we hear.
“It’s Me” – Nam Jin
“Brother Tes” – Na Hoon-a
“After a Long Time” – Shin Seung Hun
“Heartless Blues” – Kang Seung Mo
Classical music also pervades both the drama and character Attorney Shin. Up through Episode 3, these are the works that we either partially hear played or which are mentioned.
(Played by the trio in the hospital) La Cuarto Estaciones Porteñas: Otoño Porteño (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires: Buenos Aires Autumn) by Ástor Piazzolla
Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23, 2nd Movement
(Attorney Shin playing piano on river walk)
Erlkönig D. 328 (by Franz Schubert, arranged for piano by Franz Liszt)
@Packmule3, if you can get past the legal setting of this drama, I think you would greatly appreciate this drama’s acting, humor, production values, etc. I see it more as slice of life than legal procedural.
@Welmaris, this sounds like my cup of tea. I’m just wrapping up Master of My Own. It seems like I’m continuously playing catch-up these days. Thanks to you and to OAL for the recommendations.
@Welmaris, I am so happy you found Divorce Attorney Shin to your liking. It is not a typical procedural and it has lots of character development. I love the ML Cho Seung-woo and now have anew actor to follow. The story of how he supports his young nephew brought tears to my eyes. I will also follow the FL, Han Hye-jin, who has a hilarious late show monologs full of expletives. I hope you derive joy from this @Fern. There’s a lot of humanity here. Enjoy!
I’ve watched the first 2 episodes now. It’s on Netflix here in the UK, so that’s a bonus.
@Fern, It’s on Netflix here in the USA too. I subscribe to Viki Rakuten for Asian content so some of the dramas I’m Netflix I’ve seen on Viki. The streaming service that purports to have K Dramas is Disney. But here in! He USA they have very little unless you want K Pop and BTS. I want their K content but alas they don’t make what they have available I the USA. I get my dramas from Netflix, Amazon and Viki and I got Pachinko from Apple+(they areimited too). I read Pachinko and I loved it and I was not disappointed with part one of the adaptation. Lee Min Ho held his own.
I’m going to be early with this greeting today, because I lag behind most of you as far as time zones are concerned: For our BoD friends who observe the Orthodox liturgical calendar, Happy Easter! Christ has risen!
Last night I watched Episode 6 of Divorce Attorney Shin. The opening few minutes…very affecting without being maudlin. I have not previously watched the ML in a drama, but I’m impressed with his acting–which looks natural–and hope he receives awards for this role.
I’m also impressed with how this show weaves together the ML’s passion, piano, with his current life as a divorce attorney. We learn in Episode 6 that it was rage that propelled him into his career change. But as he deals with people, he sometimes hears in his mind a soundtrack that is meaningful for him. For instance, he tells someone that when he heard a long-married couple arguing, in his mind the music that played behind their words was Three Romances for Oboe and Piano, Op.94 by Robert Schumann, which Schumann wrote and gave to his wife, Clara, as a Christmas gift.
Knowing that the ML’s passion for piano is just below the surface, we can understand why music, even trot music, informs and expresses his emotions. When his feelings are boiling, he imagines himself playing the Third Movement, Presto Agitato, of Ludwig von Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 14 in C# Minor “Moonlight” Op. 27 No. 2-3. But at the beginning of Episode 6, we viewers get a taste of how the Moonlight Sonata speaks for Shin Sung Han. On a sunny day he’s driven to a beautiful spot in the countryside to visit the graves of his parents and sister; it’s his sister’s birthday. He starts off speaking to the graves in a normal conversational tone. And then it gets serious.
“Listen up, everybody. Seriously. You can’t do this to me, guys. Okay? I’ve realized something about myself. I’m quite soft-hearted. I’m a softie. You should have lived to be at least 80. (Gesturing toward his parents’ grave.) Dad, I know I’m not the one to talk, but I knew you drank way too much. And you. (Pointing to his sister’s grave.) Shin Ju Hwa. You should feel the worst. Our generation is expected to live to be 100. So what’s this? Do I have to keep living like this? I have to… I have to live all alone…until I’m 100. When I think about that… I don’t know how I’m going to live. (And softly, then growing in volume, the First Movement of the Moonlight Sonata plays in the background. We know we’re hearing his thoughts, because his fingers by his side move.) Such moving acting, cinematography, and sound design.
@Welmaris, This drama reminds me ofa great joy of K Dramas, the juxtaposition of plot, production values including visuals and sound, interesting characters with depth and learning about various subjects. There is a joy to learning about various aspects of music, e.g.Korean trot and western classical. I love the fact that Cevorce Attorney Shin wasClassucal music Professor in Germany,as well as a performer. I thought the scene where he came upon the piano and started to play. Was very moving. The fact that it was filmed by stealth attorney made it very intriguing. Our characters are multifaceted.
I am going to watch Cho Seung^Woo in Stranger.. I also intend to YouTube him because in Korea he is a musical theater star and I got one glimpse of him when I listened to him singing What Kind of Fool I Am. I know he starred in Jekyll and H yde, Dr. Zzhivago,Sweeney Todd, Carmen(as Don Jose), Man of LA Mancha and Phantom of The Opera.He has a beautiful, powerful voice. I’d love to see him in a K Dramamusical with Jeon Mido.they don’t do these but wouldn’t this be fun.
A Joyful Easter to all the BoD posters who celebrate it today.
I’m hoping to have a good day with my family. Something @Cleopatra wrote reminded me that the light of kindness is the virtue we need to express these days. It is said to start at home, but it spreads outwards. The world is very sensitive these days, so I’m hoping that the glow can spread and conquer.
Gosh, that’s a lot from me early in the morning. In an hour, I’ll be walking the dogs in the rain and cussing, probably.
@OAL, looks like Cho Seung Woo and Jeon Mido starred together onstage in Dr. Zhivago. The camera work on this is bad, but at least you can hear them singing together. https://youtu.be/IoqV73_wH54
I am still greatly enjoying many elements of Divorce Attorney Shin. One thing that repeatedly amuses me is the fashion choice of Jo Jeong Sik, the ne’er-do-well childhood friend who runs the realty shop on the ground level of Attorney Shin’s building. Jeong Sik’s style is just short of Korean mobster chic. Those clothes, and his sometimes amoral choices (buying himself an expensive sportscar instead of paying rent), make me think if it weren’t for his deep friendship with Shin Sung Han and Jang Hyeong Geun, he’d have gone further astray.
Another strong reason I’m loving Divorce Attorney Shin is the high-quality script. I’ve seen two previous TV dramas by the screenwriter, Yoo Young-A: Thirty Nine and Encounter. I liked them both well enough to stay engaged through to the end. And I see that Yoo Young-A is credited as screenwriter on many movies, most recently the award-winning Kim Ji-Young: Born 1982. Gong Yoo came onboard that film despite its controversial subject matter (too feminist, for some) because he trusted the way the movie script treated the source material (the novel of the same title).
Here’s a scene from Episode 9 of Divorce Attorney Shin that I think is a great example of scriptwriting excellence. The three male friends are sitting in their favorite ramyeon restaurant. We viewers have only heard about the previous proprietor of the shop, the halmeoni of “Grandma’s Noodles,” who’s been away because of health issues. She knows these three so well she could describe them in enough detail that her daughter, who came to run the restaurant in her stead, instantly recognized them the first time she laid eyes on them. Now Halmeoni is back, and she’s catching up with with her boys (which means administering some nagging). When she gets to Attorney Shin, this is how it goes.
Halmeoni: Hey. I didn’t know you were so good at playing the piano.
Attorney Shin: Did you see it? (A video of him busking that had been posted online.)
H: Yes.
AS: Not bad, right?
H: Yes. You should close down your lame office and start a piano school instead. From what I saw, I think you’re good enough to teach some kids.
Kim So Yeon (daughter who is currently running the noodle shop): Mom.
H: Yes?
KSY: I already explained it all to you. He was a professor in Germany. A PI-AN-O professor.
H: And I told you to stop with that nonsense.
AS: Grandma. This world is full of nonsense. But if you take a closer look, everything happens for a reason, and everyone has a story…
H: If you ask me, you’re as good as a piano professor.
AS: No. I’m not as good as a professor. I was an actual professor in Germany…
H: Fine. Let’s say that’s the case. So what’s your problem? Are you just dense?
AS: Sorry?
H: You’re sitting in your office all day, meddling with other people’s marriages when you’ve never been married yourself. In that sense, Jeong-sik…That’s your name, right? (Pointing to AS’s realtor friend.) He’s doing much better than you.
Jo Jeong Sik (grabbing a napkin and handing it to Attorney Shin): Write that down. That’s pure wisdom right there.
H: Yes, write it down.
AS: Just give us our ramyeon!
H: Look at you. Pouting just because I nagged you a little. Write it down.
Why did I love this scene? (It starts at 19:47.) Not only because of the rapid-fire dialogue that’s fully in character for each of the five actors involved, but because we audience members get our viewpoint succinctly summarized by Halmeoni. And Attorney Shin, before he’s interrupted by Halmeoni, speaks for the scriptwriter when he says things happen for a reason and everyone has a story. The scene is lighthearted and entertaining, but meaningful without being preachy.
OMG @Welmaris, you got the essence of the joy created by the writer and the actors down pat. I love the dialogue and interactions. The noodle restaurant is a perfect place to reflect on the characters and the action. The drama is such a joy.Thank you also for some of the writer’s previous work. I saw the two dramas and want to see the movie.
I also thank you for the Dr. Zhivago clip. I am going go search for them on YouTube. There are so many actors with a musical theater background but these two are just so special. When I find out that actors sing I am quick to try to hear their voices. These two together just blew me away. Thank you so much.
I am now onto a new Netflix drama, Dr. Cha. It is about a housewife with a medical .incense that hasn’t practiced in twenty years. I etched the first two episodes and am finding it emotionally satisfying. If you or other BOD posters happen to watch it I would be interested in impressions.
I started Nothing But You and am loving it. I can catch up during the week. It is so rich. Thank you al. At BOD.
Wonderful news about your husband, @OAL! Keeping you and him in my thoughts and prayers for his continued full recovery.
I finished Call It Love and enjoyed it. If you are in the mood for a slower-paced, romantic drama, check it out.
For April, nothing really getting my attention for K Dramas. Depending on reviews and feedback, I may check out:
Stealer
Family
True to Love/Bo Rah! Deborah
I just found out the companion drama to Mysterious Love is coming soon to Viki: Replica of Love.
I really enjoyed Mysterious Love, so I can’t wait to watch the new production, Replica of Love. It’s a new original story but has the same leading actors, director, and production company. It has a premiere date of April 20, 2023, but things can change with Chinese dramas. If it does happen, I’m definitely watching.
Otherwise, I’ll be catching up on old dramas.
Hi @Table122000, Thanks for the kind wishes.being in recovery mode is a great place to e.
Rece try I watched an oldie,2017’s The Package, the story of a !ocean group tour if France. Much was filmed in France where Mt.San Michelletook a prominent place. It was very 0leasant to see another country through Korean eyes and it was done respectfully. The stories of the tor group participants were familiar but worked and having been in tour groups, rang true. The cast included Lee Yeon-hee, Jung Yong-hwa,YoonPark and Choi woo-shik. It is very pleasant, with a sweet live story that I’d recommend watching after heavier dramas.I’ve learned from BOD that changing up dramas from heavier to lighter fare is helpful.
I also am recommending the Reality Show, Jinny’ s !itchen that has the same cast as Youn’s!itches 2 with the addition of BTS’ V (so we now have three members of the Wooga Squad).These shows provide a fantasy for me.imagine being served by and cooked for by these very big stars! So many of the diners are clueless but one group recognized V and compared getting served by him to the big rappers. I love Jung Yumi. I wish there were other women on this show. It was formerly balanced slightly by our Oscar winner Youn Yuh-jung. I also have to say that the food is moth watering. And episodes can be watched as stand alone one piece of fun is that boss Lee Seojin is an NYU Stern School of Buxiness graduate so he is constantly looking to maximize profits.
Thanks for the recommendations, @OAL. I will have to check out both The Package and Jinny’s Kitchen. I did not know Lee Seo Jin was an NYU Business School graduate. Very interesting.
Wishing @Miracle23 and all our BoD friends who observe Ramadan a blessed Eid al-Fitr!
@ Welmaris, To @, Miracle 23 and those BOD friends observing Ramadan, Eid Mubarak to you.
Eid Mubarak to @Miracle23 and all who celebrate Eid al-Fitr. Blessings and peace to you!
💐 🌺 🌻 🌸 🌼 💐 🌺 🌻 🌸 🌼 💐 🌺 🌻 🌸 🌼 💐
Rewatch Party Reminder and NEW Notice!!!
Hi @pkml3, good morning/good day!
I trust my usual gentle reminder finds you well and relaxed at home.
Please open the next thread for the MOTA Rewatch
Episode 14 – Sat, Apr 22.
6:30am PST
9:30am EST
2.30pm in London
3.30pm in Paris
4.30pm in Athens
And below is our Notice for the next party. Thank you in advance!
🥛 🍪 ☕ 🍰 🧃 🍕 🍷 🧀 🥛 🍪 ☕ 🍰 🧃 🍕 🍷 🧀
= = =
NOTICE FOR THE NEXT REWATCH PARTY
@WEnchanteur, @FeiFei and @GB cordially invite all BODers to join us for the next Rewatch Party, on the same day and at the same time as the MOTA parties are now (please see above).
Liar Game Season 2
Rewatch Schedule 2023
Ep 1 (57 Minutes) – May 13
Ep 2 (46 Minutes) – May 20
Ep 3 (46 Minutes) – May 27
Ep 4 (46 Minutes) – June 3
Ep 5 (46 Minutes) – June 10
Ep 6 (46 Minutes) – June 17
Ep 7 (46 Minutes) – June 24
Ep 8 (46 Minutes) – July 1
Ep 9 (44 Minutes) – July 8
Final Stage Movie (2 Hours, 14 Minutes) – July 15
All are welcome. Please let us know if you’ll be able to come to the party!
🎊 🎈 🎉 🪩 🎁 🎊 🎈 🎉 🪩 🎁 🎊 🎈 🎉 🪩 🎁
Got it, @GB!
Hi @Viva,
I found your post to @AOL in my “spam box.” I’m sorry. I don’t know why it ended up there. 🙁
pm3
Hi @miracle23,
I found this post in my spam box, too. I’m sorry. It’s a mystery to me how a few posts end up there.
@Miracle23, after @Packmule3 retrieved your lost comment from the spam box, I searched for it and read it start to finish. My takeaway: check sources and get the background of damaging stories. Thank you, @Miracle23, for the reminder to not be swayed by rumor, and to be patient with folks who make mistakes but are willing to learn from them.
@Mirsclr and @Welmaris, I rechecked the sources and it came from remarks he made regarding clothes from women he dated and in response to Moon Chae Wan when she stated that she wears turtle necks to his see through attire. He allegedly replied that that’s why she has no boyfriend. I guess that can be taken as a bad joke on his part but it did make her uncomfortable. To me it also speaks volumes about men and women’s place in society at that time. On the scheme of things it is relatively harmless but it still stings
.And at the time it did not go unnoticed.
I did like him in his last drama The Interest of Love, more social issue than love that spoke of the pitfalls of office romanced, class distinctions
Starring Moon Ga-young, Keum Sae-rok and Jung Ga-ram. It was not a walk in the park but it was unsettling.Ots of people criticized Moon Ga;young’s character but I found her to be deep and in tune with her circumstances. We see her resist sexism in earlier episodes. To me she seems very brave. YYS gives a very sensitive and nuanced performance
The man can act. But I’m this drama MGY is the tevelstion-she is not just a pretty face.
Hi ladies! Thank you pm3 for retrieving our posts.❤️ And thank you all for the warm wishes.❤️ Like last year, I didn’t cook anything🤭🤭🤭. Went straight to visiting my relatives in the Southern part of the country.
It’s a little hot these days. Please take care not to get hit by the heat wave as summer is approaching.
Take care!
No matter how popular it is, and how high the ratings were for the last episode of Taxi Driver 2, I just couldn’t bring myself to finish it. The script and storylines seemed too forced for my taste. The bad guys are very Shakespearean in solely existing as mischief makers. The good guys, in meting out extralegal justice to the bad guys, operate in grey areas morally. Bottom line: I didn’t feel good when watching it, and the discomfort didn’t have a positive payoff such as consciousness raising.
Browsing through Viki listings, I found a 2018 Kdrama with a 9.6 rating after 103,114 votes, so I gave it a try. Called both Thirty but Seventeen and Still 17, it’s a sweet story, albeit full of tropes. It’s an earlier major role for Ahn Hyo Seop, and he’s so boyish and spindly that I didn’t recognize him. He plays the male lead’s nephew, in his last year of high school. Now I have to take another look at Business Proposal to see him all grown up!
Hi @pkml3 and everyone,
I decided to try something ‘different’ and after 3 episodes, I’m feeling excited and eager to continue watching.
I started the already completed 13-episode cdrama, ‘Echo (2023)’ after catching the 2nd half of the review on it (by AvenueX). Although it was a mixed review, the overall verdict was that it was enjoyable, different, there were some unexpected aspects of show-making in it, and that despite its flaws, it was a good watch. I’m finding it compelling!!
It’s not a crime drama exactly but more a drama psycho-analysing a few characters who happen to be a police woman, her husband, a victim of crime, and possibly more … It just so happens that the police woman wife has to investigate crimes and somehow the husband seems to be maybe implicated.
Show is given an earthy, dull but natural colour palette, possibly going for looking very ‘real’ as if using a lens without any filters.
I’m dying to find out what happens to this married couple and with the crime investigation. It would be great to have company for this watch!
@Welmaris, You prompted me to go acknowledge and take a dip into Thirty But Seventeen to watch young Ahn Hyo Seop. I originally watched it for Shim Hye-Sun, whose performances I enjoy. However, I am now interested in seeing the younger,raw Ahn Hyo Seop mostly to see his growth. I’ll be watching the next Dr. Romantic I liked him in Abyss. We get s9me good chances to see the actors’ range in these dramas. It is very easy to follow the career arcs 9f actors by going through the outp0ut 9n streaming channels. It’s fun to do when we’re between dramas.
Finishing Thirty but Seventeen, and wanting to be reminded of how Ahn Hyo Seop looked as a male lead and third-generation chaebol, I rewatched a bit of Business Proposal. But I finished that drama too recently, so decided to go back to one of the first contract marriage Kdramas I watched: 1% of Something (or Something about 1%). Gosh, it’s fun to revisit that story, except for a couple of things: the male lead is shown using his superior physical strength to get his way in certain situations, and he jealously tries to limit the FL’s contact with other men, even longtime male friends. Neither one of those behaviors is acceptable in my book. Back when the screenplay was written for this 2016 production, people may have been less aware that such patterns of behavior often mark an abuser. In the case of this drama, the ML isn’t an abuser, but boorish and unexpectedly jealous. Still, I don’t think this part of the script aged well. Otherwise, I’m glad I’m watching it again.
And I should also say the OST for 1% of Something is great! I’m glad to be reminded to listen to it more often.
I started watching Good Mother Bad Mother (on Netflix) and so far I like it.
SPOILER
Comic relief – There’s one lady in the mix that’s always got a face mask on her face. 😂😂😂. And she always says or does the most inappropriate things. She has me in stitches whenever she appears.
Good Evening,
Is anyone watching “The Good Bad Mother”? The first two episodes! Whew! It has been so
note to self: get rest before posting.
I was trying to say that the Good Bad Mother has been really good and so surprising.
@kelley 😂. Our posts must’ve crossed. I am enjoying Good Bad Mother too. The story is predictable and even has a truck of doom…but the performances by the cast has been good. It tracks along at a good pace. Which I am glad about because I don’t like the angry petulant Kang Ho. I understand where he is coming from but it’s still a hard watch. Lee DoHyun is stellar as usual. As is Ra Miran.
I’m in. I’ll start it today.
@Fern you’ll like the inadvertent star, of a porcine nature. 🐷.
@nrllee, @Fern, @kelley, I’m watching Good Bad Mother too!!
Hi @pkml3, last 2 episodes!!!
Please open the next thread for the MOTA Rewatch Episode 15 – Sat, Apr 29.
6:30am PST
9:30am EST
2.30pm in London
3.30pm in Paris
4.30pm in Athens
= = =
I was thinking, since there is likely to be at least 3-4 of us watching The Good Bad Mother, might we have a dedicated thread for that show?
Thanks heaps as always!!
🐷 🌱 🌷 ☘️ 🐖 🍃 🌳 🍪 🥛 🍩 🧋 💐
@Growing Beautifully,@mrllee,@Fern,@kelly, I’m going to watch The Good Bad Mother too. I had put it on my watch list-so now will have a place to discuss it. Yay!
Also want to recommend Dr Cha. It is a good Saturday. Sunday show that appeals to women of a certain age. If there is interest I’ll ask @packmule3 to open up a thread.
Wild drum beats…
MOTA… MOTA… MOTA… MOTA… MOTA…
@WEnchanteur, Am envious can’t make it tomorrow because going with my husband for his post op CAT scan. Fingers crossed. Will be happy to read comments
BOD is my happy place and is great as a site for respite.Was thinking that Park Shin-hye and Hyun Bin are both newlyweds and new parents in real life and have handsome/beautiful ⭐ spouses. Maybe there was something in the water in Granada-, lol.
Hi there @OAL and @WE, I’ve already reminded @pkml3 to open a thread for both MOTA and The Good Bad Mother. We’ll see if she’s free to do so!!
@GB Thank you. My thoughts from Ep1 of Good Bad Mother
(Piglet roaming the meadows and running free)
(VOICE OVER)
There are 2 animals that are useful from their head to toe. Do you know what they are? Humans and pigs. Everyone thinks pigs are dirty and smelly. But that’s not the case. They not only do their business in one place, but they also only sleep where it’s clean. They often bathe in mud to cook themselves and get rid of bugs. But humans started to lock them up in tiny pigsties (piglet runs into a fenced area). The pigs couldn’t bathe in mud anymore. So they began to rub their bodies in their own excrement. That’s how they grew dirtier and more aggressive. Isn’t that so sad?
(Episode begins) THE GOOD BAD MOTHER
A proposal (with a piglet and a ring attached to a ribbon round its neck) 😂. By a shy tall good hearted piggery owner (Hereby referred to as Daddy Pig) to a just as kind lady YongSoon (Mummy Pig). 🐷
A runaway piglet. They both chase it down through the streets 😂
Piglet ends up in a crowded pork belly restaurant 😂. Father is grilling pork belly on the BBQ, daughter spots cute piglet and refuses to eat the pork belly. 😂
The happy couple get married and run a piggery. They are blissfully happy and are expecting their first child.
Disaster strikes in the form of the Seoul Olympics. Conglomerate thug used the torch relay as an excuse to acquire the land the piggery is on. Sets fire to piggery in an attempt to drive the Daddy and Mummy Pig out. Daddy Pig’s quest for justice results in…
A Miscarriage of justice. Evil Prosecutor for the arson case is on Mr Thug’s payroll. Daddy Pig digs up dirt on Mr Thug’s shady past and tries to convince Evil Prosecutor to take his side. Mr Thug kills Daddy Pig and pretends he’s taken his own life. Evil Prosecutor hides the truth from Mommy Pig. Mommy Pig decides to take the money that Daddy Pig had been saving up and moves away to another little town to start a new life and her own piggery there.
Town folk are initially incensed about a stinky piggery in their sleepy little town and conspire to drive pregnant Mommy Pig out. The tide is turned when her waters break and the village is required to help her through the birth process. They bond. Her son KangHo is born. Followed closely by the birth of a girl (MiJoo) by another villager. And just like that, the fates of the 2 babies are tied for life. Born on the same day, same hour and under the same roof.
Watch out for the lady whose face is always in a face mask 😂. She says the most insensitive and inappropriate things and has no filter. I wouldn’t be surprised if we never get to see her real face for the whole drama.
The babies grow up. And we see MJ always defending KH. KH is forced to study by his mother who wants him to become a Prosecutor in the big city to escape the country life. She is relentless. And drives KH to refer to her as “Bad Mother”.
We are introduced to another character (son of another villager) called SamSik who seems to have a crush on MJ. But she only has eyes for KH. In High School, the pair are accidentally locked up together in a sports equipment room by SamSik (who didn’t know MJ snuck into the room after KH) and they bond.
End of Ep1 KH is ready to sit for his University entrance exam. MJ was there to cheer him on with gifts and her presence. It looks like they are a couple. She isn’t careful and is hit by a passing motorcycle as she waves off KH. KH misses the exam to rush her to the hospital.
When he returns home to his mom to try to explain what happened, he is horrified that she blames him for missing the exam. He finally snaps. Telling her she’s suffocating him to death. That she’s been forcing her decision on him all his life. That she’s inadvertently pushing him to turn into the very person who killed his dad. Fine, he says, have it your way. I will become that person.
By the end of Ep1, KH has achieved that dream. He’s a prosecutor. We see him in court. He’s approached by the widow of a labourer who died and she hands him her husband’s phone which has evidence pertinent to the case. He takes the phone and assures her he’s onto it. After she leaves he dials “WooByeok Group”. Then heads to WooByeok Gallery and we see him bow to Mr Thug (Conglomerate Chairman Song) who killed his father.
Episode ends with an aerial view of the gallery. Looking down, it looks like KH (little piglet) is in a concrete cage. Driven into this sad state of affairs by his mother’s relentless pushy behaviour. The little piglet has turned “dirty” and aggressive. Isn’t that so sad? 😢🐷
^COOL themselves, not cook 😂😂😂
LOL @nrllee, yes… cool themselves. Keeping cool… looking cool no matter what it takes? How much to compromise or sacrifice in the name of being cool, meeting mum’s expectations?
It’s not entirely clear to me… but does mum want KH to take revenge on the Thug or is it KH’s own plan? My question at the end of episode 1 was if KH had deliberately approached Thug to ingratiate himself and then to turn on him later, out of revenge. He does it knowing that it will make him as loathsome as Thug.
Episode 2 saddened me. If not for the somewhat lighter moments offered by the zany bunch of villagers, I’d have decided not to watch the show.
@GB,I am so disappointed in KH. Heseems to have gone over to the dark side and I’m also sure they will pair him with the obno ious ballerina. No nail salonownerfor him nomatter what the fates say. I hope that this is all leading to a redemption arc for him. Ecause otherwise it would be tragi i amso happy that se get to see thebillabers a d mas, lacy. Ghey provide amychneededcomic relief for this crama. I am reminded of the building tenants in Vin Enzo, although that wasn’t as serious as this drama. I am hooked ut really need Dr. cha to counter the effects if this one and am looking forward to Dr.Romantic 3(both medical shows are good for what ails you).
Got it!
Working on it now.
@GB @OAL I do believe that due to the accident at the end of Ep2, we will get the opportunity for a “reprogramming” of KH. Mommy Pig gets a second chance to mother him again and right the wrongs of her past.
@GB I too am a bit confused as to the rationale behind why KH jumped to the dark side and seems to be sleeping with the enemy. He seemed to be planning revenge (his moves appear too calculated not to be?) but it’s not clear from the outset. I am also unsure as to why Mommy Pig wanted him so desperately to be a prosecutor. Was it just to escape the country life? Or did she want him to be powerful enough to take down Mr Thug? She didn’t seem to have any control of him after he left for Seoul. And she seemed surprised that he would cut off ties like that. From the backstory she suspected foul play because she didn’t believe he committed suicide but she didn’t seem to have any suspicions about Evil Prosecutor? If she was behind it all, she would’ve been pleased with his ascension and that the plan was working out? But she seemed disappointed when he returned harbouring all that resentment and hatred toward her.