I’m watching “My Lovely Liar” till it ends third week of September. I’m still getting my bellyaches from the comedy of “Behind Your Touch.” (Yes, I’m behind writing my notes but there’s nothing I can do.) I just started “Destined With You” and I might hang around for a while.
And I’m still reviewing “Hidden Love” because I promised to finish it watching this cdrama.
I haven’t given up on “My Dearest” and “The Uncanny Counter 2.” I just don’t know when I can fit them.
Edited to add “My Lovely Boxer” on my “to review” list, and “Heartbeat” on my “to binge” list.
Only one drama caught my eye for September. It’s that long-awaited remake of the Taiwanese hit drama, “Someday or One Day.” I’ll open a thread because I know some of you will want to watch and comment on it. @GB? @Welmaris?
A Time Called You
Starring Ahn HyoSeop (“A Business Proposal” and “Lovers of the Red Sky”) and Jeon Yeo Bin (who’s dat girl?)
Synopsis from soompi
Based on the hit Taiwanese drama “Some Day or One Day,” “A Time Called You” is a time-slip romance starring Jeon Yeo Been as Jun Hee, a woman who desperately misses her boyfriend after he passes away. In the midst of her grief, she winds up miraculously traveling back in time to 1998, where she wakes up as the high school student Min Ju and meets fellow student Si Heon (Ahn Hyo Seop), who looks exactly like her late boyfriend. Completing the love triangle is In Gyu (Kang Hoon), who has harbored a one-sided love for Min Ju for a long time.
Source: soompi
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Friday, Sept 8
Airs on Friday. I don’t know if all 12 will be released on the same day, or will follow the Korean format of 2 episodes per week
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: Netflix
What are you all watching in September?
Remember to practice JOMO (or the Joy of Missing Out), too.
Kalimera @Packmule3!
Thank you for the post!
I am not planning to watch “A Time Called You”. I haven’t watched the original, so If I ever do, I am planning to do it in the correct way.
The one show I am so eager to watch is:
“Song of the Bandits” : with Kim Nam Gil.
It will start September 22th. It will be on Netflix.
More: https://mydramalist.com/711173-thief
Also, another show will make some noise, although it is not a genre most of BoDers watch:
“The Worst of Evil” with Ji CHang Woo and Wi Ha Joon
It starts September 27th. It will be on Disney Plus.
More: https://mydramalist.com/723885-the-worst-evil
*To Be Continued…
@pkml3 @Cleo
Yes, I believe I’ll watch A Time Called You. I only vaguely remember the Taiwanese version and am happy to have my memories refreshed, especially if the series is 12 episodes long instead of 16.
I’m slowly, very slowly watching:
Grace no Rireki, joining the ML husband as he re-discovers his late wife posthumously.
Destined With You, to see what other witchcraft the shaman civil servant will come up with, plus the reluctant romance of the leads who actually have no real reason to like each other, except that something magical may or may not be binding them.
I continue my fun rewatch of the Queen and I/Queen In-Hyun’s Man and may add a bit more to my rewatch of Lost You Forever which got me super-invested in the main characters.
I’ve put Uncanny Counters aside for now together with Heartbeat, and King the Land which I did not bother to complete. JOMO is in place but I’m thinking I may need to do more JOMO-ing so that sleep gets more priority!
🙂
Currently watching:
Moving- very much enjoying this. I look forward to watching episodes every Wednesday night and am so pleased there will be 20. The past stories came at the perfect time to take a break from the present so nothing feels tired.
My Dearest- haven’t enjoyed a sageuk this much since My Bloody Heart.
The character development of Gil Chae is 🤌
The way war is presented is gritty and realistic (ish) and though we are shown what’s the outcome is in 1659, I still haven’t been able to figure out how exactly we got there even with the non-fiction history events it’s based on to go by, which makes for an excellent story to watch unfold starting in 1636.
There will be two episodes this week and then a month long break so plenty of time to start watching if you’re interested.
My lovely boxer- I’ve to watch episode 4 but I’m enjoying this one and I can’t put my finger on why. I think it will be an interesting romance.
Destined with you- I watched the first two episodes. Will give it two more before I decide if I will continue. I wish I’d never seen pics of Rowoon before his bleph because now I’m just distracted by his plastic surgery. His hands are beautiful and that’s fortunate since they’re shown a lot. I wonder if he plays piano.
I have Behind your touch downloaded and may begin to watch soon for something light and funny.
Very much looking forward to A Time Called You. Someday or One day is in my top 5 dramas of all time and Jeon Yeo Been is one of my favorite actresses. Ahn Hye Seop makes me nervous. I don’t feel strongly about him either way but the ML in the Taiwanese version was excellent and very charismatic so I’m hoping comparison won’t hinder my view of him.
I also have Song of the Bandits on my radar but I’m not sure if I’ll watch. I like Kim nam gil but I’ve never seen anything by this screenwriter or director and I’ve dropped the past two dramas this female lead, Seo Hyun, has been in so I’m not expecting much but hope to be surprised.
Dropped:
Manatsu no Cinderella- it was fine but I lost interest after episode 3
You are desire- boring
My lovely liar- after episode 6 I decided to practice JOMO although I’m still reading posts to see what’s going on.
Completed-
When I fly towards you- it was fine. I skipped a few episodes. Didn’t find as much to love about it as a lot of viewers seem to have.
Hidden Love- loved it more than the novel and am loving the write ups even more. Thanks PM3
And I think that’s it
“My Lovely Boxer” is another show I had on my list. Is it already up on Viki?
And of course, “Heartbeat” with Ok Taecyeon. I’ve put that on my to-binge pile. I don’t know what happened in August. So many interesting kdramas were released this month. @GB, just tell me when you’re back on “Heartbeat.”
And you’re welcome, @birdie007. I enjoy the write-ups for “Hidden Love,” too. Just wish I have more time.
@pkml3, OK when I decide to continue from where I left off with Heartbeat, I’ll leave you a note here. I did catch bits and pieces of the later episodes and saw that the second leads are of course going to be the jealous 3rd wheels who will create much conflict and problems for our main leads. The denouement is what I want to watch to find out if our vampire gets to become human. 🙂
Hello everyone,
I am moving on slowly from the immersion experience that was watching ‘Lost You Forever’ with @GB!
The danger now is that WE are lost forever in the world and the characters created by Tong Hua… or perhaps I should speak for myself!
I am also enjoying Legend of Zuohua – steadily enjoyable with a gentle romance at the heart which makes me smile happily because it is a very thoughtful one. I wish the production team had not done so much post-production filter work… no-one, especially the men, looks good with their ruggedness smoothed away and the contrasts with dark wigs are odd too. But none of that stops me watching.
I am also slowly watching ‘You are Desire’ which I don’t find boring at all. I think it’s really nicely written and the story and the couple are great. I think it on a par with some of the better school to college romances. It’s doing well on Viki too.
I also quickly skim-watched ‘When I Fly Towards You’. Enjoyable although the FL grated a bit – I would imagine most guys would not wish to be followed around in this way??. I almost prefer Esther Yue with her OTT cuteness with a dash of high fashion. I think I have now exhausted my coming of age drama interest.
I will try to watch an entire episode of Destined With You – must get past the creepy hand…
Yes, My Lovely Boxer is on VIKI. But I downloaded the 14 day free trial of kocowa in order to watch My Dearest sooner. For both shows VIKI is delayed by almost a full day and I find that on kocowa the download feature is faster and more reliable. For some reason, my VIKI download is hit or Miss and super slow.
About the show, the FL has a “studying” face —I’ve adopted @Kate’s term— I find I like her love for donuts relatable and endearing. There’s a whole blackmail plot that I ffwd through. ***possible spoiler alert*** the ML has been honest about his intentions as her agent (leaving a few tidbits she hasn’t directly asked about out). in my usual kdrama plot line, finding out he intends to end her career would be the impetus for The Great Conflict. Since this won’t be it, I’m intrigued and wondering how they’ll both navigate the road they’re starting on—-they think it’s headed toward her retirement, but the viewers can predict she’ll end up staying with it, it’s just how they’re going to make that possible, we don’t know. Also, hopefully maybe they’ll fall in love along the way??
Hi @Birdie007,
My Lovely Boxer is another one on my list. Thank you for the introduction to it.
I can’t claim credit for ‘studying’ face – that was @OAL’s great aunt! But it is such a good expression that I am going to use it too.
@kate, I probably should have expounded more instead of using “boring” for my assessment. After speed watching When I fly towards you and making it halfway through Exclusive Fairytale (I forgot to include that in my dropped list. It had the same female lead as when I fly towards you), I began You are Desire and only made it so far as episode 10. I think since it had the same ML as when I fly towards you, all 3 shows somehow melded together and I wasn’t able to immerse myself. It got tedious having to remind myself to pay attention. I do recall being interested in her relationship with her ‘brother’ (NOT the gross brother romance that may have sounded like). I may put it on my list to pick back up later once I’ve completely cleansed my palate of Chinese middle school/university dramas.
Aaahh yes I left out the main link to the chain, 🍪 to @OAL’s great aunt and to @oal for passing it along.
@Birdie – that makes a lot of sense.
I really wanted to defend that show because I was so strongly drawn in at the start – it really vibed with me. I enjoyed the way they set up the romance, the solace that the ML and FL provide one another, their journey as desk mates .
I was in the mood for melo-romance and moodiness following ‘Lost You Forever’.
‘When I Fly Towards You’ is perky isn’t it and much ‘sweeter’ in tone.
I can imagine the confusion between the two shows and male actor in two different iterations and also struggling with the different tones and vibes of the shows!
I would not be able to watch them too close together.
Dramas I am watching in September 2023:
My Dearest
Behind Your Touch
New dramas I am interested in:
A Time Called You
Song Of The Bandits
This monthly thread is a lot of fun!
I’ll be watching a Time Called You -I like @Welmaris wonder what the time travel song will be. It has to be a song you can listen to over and over again and not get bored. It should be something more indie rather than pop. I personally liked the song from the original and think they should use it.
I am watching Grace along with GB very slowly. So far I’m not that curious about the wife or her secrets. But I am enjoying GB’s haikus.
And I got distracted by a Chinese Drama called Fake It Until You Make It which I am watching with my hand on the fast forward button. It is a slice of life drama about two professionals trying to succeed in Beijing. He is a bit of a playboy. She is smart and somewhat cynical. They meet on a plane and become good friends with a heavy flirtation. The dialogue is very good. I have fast forwarded through all of the ML’s work scenes – so I am sure there is something happening that I am missing. The FL works as an attorney. She has a couple of Ally McBeal moments where she fantasy expresses all her thoughts about her boss, dating partner etc. Her workplace dynamics are a little more interesting – but I mostly skip ahead to the scenes involving the various personal relationships in this drama.
Hi BOD. I am definitely watching Behind Your Touch The whole premise is hilarious. Every time she touches a butt makes me laugh. The joke is set up in so many ways that it makes me look forward to each iterationThe drama is very cheeky.
Speaking of Ok Taecyeon, I am watching 2PM videos on YouTube. That group also has Chanting(sic) and Lee Junho, all three are favorite actors-and now I know how multitalented they are. One of their songs, My House, is a fav and not just an earworm. I know that idol actors are oftentimes dismissed, but their intense training and work ethic shows. I also highly recommend watching the YouTube of Junho and Yoona(girl group actress) dancing to “Senorita” They are beautiful to behold and the dance is quite sensual as befits the song. It is no wonder, after watching this, that people ship them. I just think they are great colleagues who came up as trainees at the same time
They go back a long way.
I need help from BOD I subscribe to Disney+ in the USA but the only Korean content that I have gotten is BTS videos and Snowdrop I know they have more but I can’t seem to get them. Am I missing anything? Or do I have to add subscriptions?
@OAL the Disney Korean content airs on Hulu cause that’s not confusing at all 😂
@GB, I remember we both embarked on Someday or One Day!!! I forget where we put our comments then. LOL!
Love the OST, i have the title song in my playlist. There was a point in story that soured me and I just finished it to get to the ending. So I want to watch the Korean version to compare the two. Glad it’s less number of episodes. This may bring my kdrama mojo back!
I’ll revisit Hidden Love until everyone else on the blog is done with it. I’ve binged Destined with You and am up to date. I’ve been watching My Lovely Liar, but I find I’m less interested in it than in either of the above dramas because it seems a bit ‘much of a muchness’ with other dramas I’ve seen. I’ve watched a bit of c-drama Princess and the Werewolf because @agdr03 recommended it. It’s a light watch and funny.
I’m interested in Heartbeat. Some shorts I’ve seen of it were good.
@Good Twin, Thank you. I kind of thought so. Thanks for confirming. I guess I’ll be subscribing. Then I should have most ofmy bases covered.
I have not been posting much on these ‘what are we watching’ blogs but I just finished a show I don’t see anyone else mentioning (in between waiting for My Lovely Liar to drop and catching up on old shows I never quite finished and the rewatch Queen In Hyuns Man). I just finished ‘Durian’s Affair’ which finished in early August. The main character is not the fruit (pun was intended by the writers and is in several episodes), but a middle-aged Joseon noble woman named Du Ri An. She and her daughter-in-law end up in modern times. What I liked about it was the twist on the normal time slip drama where the man goes to the future, or the woman goes to the past. Here the two female characters, Do Ri An and her daughter-in-law Kim So Jeo jointly end up in the future and maintain their slow graceful Joseon-era ways. I was intrigued enough by a clip of the younger woman and a young man interacting and the way she was learning about modern culture to watch it, but with the mother-in-law as the main character the focus was actually on her memories and her responses. The twist (aside from the fact that a creepy stone next to a pond responds to a lunar eclipse and ports them to the future) was that Du Ri An keeps encountering reincarnated people from her own time line, who look just like those in her own past. Her former servant and her former son, to name a few. You learn a lot about both time lines in her internal flash backs. I would not say Du Ri An grows in this drama, rather it is almost as though the others around her grow internally. I have watched enough dramas to usually recognize a few of the actors; I knew none of these actors. The only part I really did not like (other than it seemed a bit slow at first because of the lengthy flash backs – well worth it in the end to get the full plot), was the last 10 minutes of the last episode, which I found very confusing even on rewatch. Since I am also re-watching Queen In Hyuns Man I am enjoying the two perspectives of how a Joseon era person interprets the modern world (and a woman vs a man). The difference is these are two women with ordinary (although noble) lives and not involved in some historical event.
Thank you @salted dust. I was interested in viewing this and now its on my watch list. I am always in for time slip dramas.There are always questions about people going to the past and their effect onthe future. And if it’s the past person coming to the future,it is how modern conveniences and ideas will affect them. And then if they return to their own tme, how thatchanges their interacti9ns.
Hello, how are you all?. Started watching Jo Bo-Ah’s “Destined with You (2023)”. I don’t think I will continue past Episode 2. Characters don’t hold my interest. It seems like a rehash of Cinderella. Started “My Lovely Liar (2023)”. Left when the gangster started pursuing the main lady.
To be honest right now I am kind of bored. Maybe my imagination is a little bit low on energy.
Will continue with “Queen In Hyun’s Man (2013)”. Reading your Posts make everything pop-up 😀 .
@Janey, You’ve a good memory!! I very vaguely recall that I may have written a bit about Someday or One Day at the time it aired or rather, at the time I did watch it, but I have no recollection about which site that was on either!!
Yes there was that weird bit that totally made no sense thrown in. It had no lead up or follow-through and was sort of just jammed in for no apparent reason. That bothered me, but I ignored it and watched til the end. It’s style was ‘novel’ at that time, and I was quite blown away. Whether now, years down the road and several time-travel shows later, I’ll feel the same ‘wow!’, is uncertain 😅.
There’s only one way to find out!!! 🙂🥹🤯😬😯😑😔🫣🤭🤫
I have My Lovely Liar, trying to finish The Princess and The Werewolf. It’s just light and funny and I like that it has references to modem times like Michael Angelo’s David, viagra, an auction and a Palace Ball etc. 😁
I’ll start on Destined With You this weekend.
I finished When I Fly Towards You. I did read about it being more appreciated than Hidden Love but I really don’t agree with it. There was a lot of high school stuff and I agree @Kate, I feel it might only be RangRang whose able to tolerate ZaiZai like that. I felt like saying to her a lot of times that ‘girl, we can’t be following him like that’. 😂
I want to watch Someday, One Day because I love the original Taiwanese version. Hopefully it will be good. 😊
Thank you Queen Chingu. ❤️
Hey @Good Twin! LOL, I’m glad you enjoyed my nonsense haikus. I’ll come up with some more after a bit more of a watch. “Grace no Rireki” is a thoughtful expose on a selfless love. It does a good job of getting us thinking …. hmmm…. could I do that? Or maybe… I could do that.
Thanks to @FGB for bringing this little show to our attention!! 😘
Thanks for your kind words dear @GB, for a moment I was afraid that this little gem I came to like so much would not resonate with you or @GoodTwin 😉
@FGB, I’m watching/rewatching Episode 4 now of “Grace…” I want to eat that Tagliata! LOL.
Kalimera Everyone and let us have a nice month!
I forgot yesterday to mention that also the second season of Arthdal Chronicles will be up and rolling at September 9th. I came across a picture on my feed and there was a collage with the September shows like: Han River Police, The Day and Twinkling Watermelon.
Let’s go back to my bucket.
I continue to watch:
– A Lovely Liar
It is decent and I like our OTP’s relationship so far.
– Moving
that I enjoy very very much. It is the best kdrama with superheroes, not only for 2023 but also for the decade.
It is a pity that people are sleeping on it, basically because Disney Plus is not promoting properly. The acting performances are top notch and I am not exaggerating. The latest two episodes were mind blowing.
– The First Responders Season 2
They made us cry in the beginning, I was shocked with Episode 3, but I am truly enjoying this show.
-My Dearest
I have managed to watch the first two episodes and it is rather interesting. So far, “Gone with the Wind” vibes, but I know that will change in a few episodes.
I have it on hold deliberately, since the first part finishes tomorrow and the second will air in October. So, after the above three shows end I will watch all the remaining episodes of Part 1.
– Destined With You
I started that one on a whim basically and I enjoy it for Rowoon’s character so far. BoAh’s character needs to stop being so sugary at parts. After 4 episodes, it is not cute at all.
– The Killing Vote
I haven’t started it yet, because SBS airs an episode per week.
It is not open for us on Prime and I am really thinking to cancel my subcription,
after “Wheel of Time Season” S2 airs. (It will air today by the way!)
I finished “Not Others”, based on some comments I saw, which was a great show btw, but I didn’t like the open ending. I would love to see what happened afterwards…
For September, I will continue watching Behind Your Touch and My Lovely Liar.
Korean dramas I want to check out:
Destined With You
Moving
My Dearest: Show is split into 2 parts, with Part 2 to premiere in October. I may watch this in late September, or I might wait until October to watch all eps together.
Chinese Dramas I want to check out:
Wrong Carriage, Right Groom: The 2001 version is iconic, so interested to see how this new version is with Tian Xi Wei. Airing on Viki and Youku Youtube channel.
You Are Desire: lots of buzz around this youth drama. Male lead is making waves as the Crown Prince character over at drama Legend of Zhuohua. It’s at Viki.
Fake It Till You Make It: romance and workplace drama with Elvis Han and Elvira Cai. I heard that the push-pull romance between the 2 characters is fire and the pacing is good because it’s only 14 episodes total. It’s on Viki.
Depending on audience feedback and reviews, I might check out:
Twinkling Watermelon: The latest drama from screenwriter of Kill Me, Heal Me and Chicago Typewriter. Her scripts are unique and I feel often rely on strength of the casting to bring her stories fully. Not sure about the casting here, so will wait and see. It’s on Viki.
7 Escape: Queen of Makjang writer’s new drama. Unfortunately will be in multiple seasons like her last hit drama Penthouse, so probably will wait on this one.
The Worst of Evil: Ji Chang Wook’s new drama. He’s an undercover cop working to bring down the drug lords. I’m not all that fond of organized crime/drugs storylines, so I’ll wait on this one.
@Good Twin – I’ve started watching ‘Fake it Until You Make it’… loved the moment when ML tries to sling on his jacket and is actually getting dressed with a dish cloth/cloth napkin from the bar where he is enjoying drinks with FL. Such a good comedy move!
I loathe the lazy, blaming female boss… but then we are supposed to.
I am also ff a lot… male work place… But I am intrigued about what will happen with younger sister too…
Hi @Cleopatra, As I learned here, Disney+ in the states has little Korean content. One must go to Hulu. I don’t have Hulu and probably won’t subscribe because I have more than enough streaming providers to keep me occupied indefinitely. I have family members who are Anglophiles who watch Britbox. And prior to my K Drama discovery, I’d be all over that one. Still I love a Jane Austen adaptation (both iterations of Persuasion are my favorite).
So FOMO happens. It is just good that there is so much Asian content to be found on o5her streamers.
@Kate this is a drama that gets better and better The dialogue is really good between all the women, the sisters, and the various suitors and couples. It is about artifice and pretense. Episode 9 is pivotal on many levels where the FL is just too tired to show anything but her authentic self. I ran out of episodes to watch so I watched the trailer – really good set up of this drama. If anyone is on the fence – watch the trailer and see if it intrigues you. So different from the typical cdrama.
By the way the published summaries I have seen on this drama are not accurate. Apparently they summarize the book not the drama and the book had a fake relationship between the main couple. That is not the plot of this drama.
@Good Twin – that’s very helpful to know. I was waiting for the fake relationship.
So ‘Fake it’ is about not being true to who you really are – and then what happens when that changes – rather than about a fake relationship?
@salteddust I’m glad to see another Durian’s Affair watcher here. (I’ve posted a couple of times about it on this blog). I liked it (and was amused by it) until the end. The show’s writer is known for writing long/multi season shows—so that rushed ending must mean that the planned second (or third) season got canceled and they tried to tie everything up unsuccessfully in the last ten minutes.
@Good Twin: Thanks for the info about the plot of Fake It Till You Make It. I also was looking forward to the fake relationship plot as it is one of my favorite tropes. I will still check out this drama as I like the male lead actor and heard good things about FL actress.
Warning for people considering K Drama “Heartbeat”: The ending was not satisfying, and many viewers were upset. So if you decide to watch, brace yourself.
Kalispera my dear @OAL!
Good to see you here! How are you and how is your husband?
Yes, we can cancel our subscriptions if we are not satisfied with their choices and only watch those shows or movies that we find solace in them! So don’t worry about Disney Plus! Enjoy your Jane Austen adaptations!
What did you do, @agdr03? Your comment was sent directly to to the “Trash” pile.
I don’t know when I can pencil in “When I Fly Towards You.” I scanned through the first (and second??) episode. I didn’t find the girl’s face cute and appealing, so I guess that’s one minus right there. And she reminded me of a Taiwanese actress Ariel Lin.
I honestly don’t know. 🤔
Is there anything else of mine that’s in the trash pile? 😂
Which comment was sent there? 😃
@agdr03 and @Packmule3 –
I’m glad you agree on the dynamic @agdr03. I hope that young Chinese girls don’t model themselves on the heroine!
@Packmule 3 – I agree on her face on both counts.
It looks like the actor Zhou Yiran (also the lead in ‘You are Desire’ and one of the leads in ‘Legend of Zhuohua) and the actress playing the female lead worked together on this show for 2 years and became very close. I’m not sure if they are now romantically involved – but if you watch any BTS episodes, he seems to be smitten.
Perhaps the show benefits from all the fun and friendship behind the scenes. It is very warm and positive.
But I much prefer Hidden Love and You are Desire.
Don’t worry about When I Fly Towards You. I didn’t find it that moving except the Grandma scenes, her parents accepting RangRang without questions and the scenes when they were adults already. 😊
I guess I just wanted to compare it with HL because it’s the same author from the same novel.?
And I wanted to see the ML ( Zhao Yiran ), who will be Lusi’s next partner on her next drama. At least that’s what I read somewhere. 😃
No. Nothing else of yours in the trash heap. Hahaha.
Yes, plenty of comments are in there and in the spam box. I don’t want to fish them out. I happened to notice yours.
I try to execute a general “delete” at the beginning of the month to clean up the blog.
Thank you. 😘
I do delete my spam and trash too just coz I don’t need it to stay there.
@GoodTwin,
Thanks again for recommending ‘Fake it Until You Make it’.
I watched the trailer – it seems to focus on the gap between what we really want and who we really are and the games we play for social and work success.
I went back to the start and watched ML work scenes too.
It does get better and better. The plot warms up as it goes.
Lots of slice of life/observation about what makes people tick/ good dialogue.
I was pleasantly surprised by unexpected developments early on in Episode 8…
The characters are fresh and unpredictable.
The ML and FL do have great chemistry as the reviews say. He has something of that George Clooney appeal.
I’ll be reporting back.
ps I am still in Episode 8…not sure I like the ML’s strategy …
I assume he is being ultra-strategic and trying to break through a defensive shell…
I won’t say any more because I don’t want to spoil this show for anyone who fancies a refreshingly different C-drama.
@Kate I am glad you are enjoying it. I am rewatching the parts I fast forwarded over now. I think it was in Episode 8 where she had the conversation with her rich prospect – I thought that was such a good scene discussing the rich older man getting involved with beautiful younger women. Episode 9 is brilliant in that it covers so many significant plot developments but very patiently – so much happens in this episode but it never felt rushed. The dialogue is so clever. I really enjoyed the breakfast scene with her client and the conversation they have after he sees her stuffing her face with food.
I liked When I Fly To You mostly because of the ML. Ok. I admit to being shallow on this one. As coming of age dramas go, the plot and the FL have nothing on Hidden Love.
I found myself re-watching Love to Hate You because the devious Netflix kept shoving it into my ‘You Would Like This’ rota. I like it even better than on the first viewing.
This is for you Queen! It’s Lin Yi ( Put Your Head On My Shoulder). ☺️
CTO!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CwrUefFPI7h/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Aaaaah! My Journey To You air dropped the first 3 eps today! I’ve been watching out for this one because of the leads and because the trailer looked superb. It’s not my usual fare, but I watched ep 1 on youtube and was so hooked I paid for a month’s subscription to IQIYI so I can live-watch. I’ve always been a “wait and make sure it’s a happy ending before I watch it” kinda girl, but I’m gonna have to make an exception this time.
@Fern, like you I re-watched ‘Love to Hate You’ recently. Such a good show.
If you like the male lead on ‘When I fly towards you’ – you will also like him – possibly more – on ‘You are Desire’.
I wonder too if you might like ‘ Fake it Till You Make It’ – based on what you have enjoyed in the past.
@GoodTwin – I am in the rich client segment and agree with you! There is so much sharp observation.
There is also a lot about Chinese work-life balance. And what people are prepared to give for that.
The cast is top notch. So the performances are sophisticated.
By Googling I also chanced on a very positive review and discussion of it on Dramabeans which was notable because the writer doesn’t usually review romances in this way – apparently.
Thanks, Kate. I will try Fake It Till You Make It soon. It sounds promising. But I have 3 on the go now so will have to wait a bit. JOMO. 😄 Not least because we may actually have some great outdoors weather this week. 😎 There will be complaints because the weather here will get above 22C. Very British problem.
@Fern – thanks for the tip off! I didn’t realise it was going to get warm this week. Haha
I am packing for a conference so will err towards summer clothing!
So un-British to not be fixated by the weather. 😆
Hahaha!! Yes, I am frequently caught out @Fern!
@Kate, I decided to post this here rather than in our usual thread so that more people will get to read this. The expected year this cdrama is to air, with our favourite serpent demon, but in contemporary times is 2023. The official trailer link is below!
LOVE ME LOVE MY VOICE/MISSING YOU
Starring: JC-T (aka Tan Jianci) & Zhou Ye
A university student, (Gu Sheng,) has another identity – online she is “Sheng Sheng Man” who does music for the historical genre. Although she is still a nobody, it doesn’t stop her from dreaming of the day she can collaborate with her favorite voice dubbing god “Qing Qing Ci.”
Driven by her passion, Gu Sheng who is in her senior year is diligent in composing and creating music. Meanwhile, Mo Qing Cheng is the famous voice actor known as “Qing Qing Ci.” Gu Sheng has never told anyone that her greatest wish is to be able to work with “Qing Qing Ci,” yet one day, she unexpectedly encounters his voice. Mo Qing Cheng reads a recipe out loud to her, which stirs her heartstrings.
= = =
Extra
End of the Plot summary from YoYo Television Series Exclusive: “… Thanks to the help of her best friend, the distance between the two gradually narrowed. After that, Mo Qingcheng used food and sounds as bait to slowly lure (Gu Sheng) to pursue her love. By the time Gu Sheng realized what she was doing, she had already fallen into the sweet trap designed by Mo Qingcheng…”
@GB – Thank you. Looks like it will be fun! We need something light and fluffy with him!
@Kate, True… and a love that works out for him with butterflies and rainbows LOLOL.
Good Day all,
Thanks for your recommendations. I am/have watched several that were mentioned and have stopped towards the end for two because I understand they don’t end but will have two seasons (My Dearest and maybe Lost You Forever(?)) i am terrible at waiting.
I am watching the Legend of Zhouhua, will start Grace, Reiki (unless it’s too sad), Twinkling Watermelon (thank you whoever noted that it is from the writer of “Kill Me Heal Me”) and will nibble at others.
I agree with the warning on Heartbeat, was satisfied and grateful for Durian’s Affair ending (however rushed it may have been) and will start I think based on comments from you lovely ladies a list of light hearted fun dramas to view for fall/winter when my SADD begins to rear its ugly head.
Hi @kelley cc, You can take a peek at our comments on Grace no Rireki. I don’t consider it sad at all if growing beyond old boundaries and looking forward in hope are to be considered happy things, then it was a happy ending. 🙂
@Fern, I found myself rewatching the last episode of Crash Landing on You with the new perspective of knowing that the leads are now married in real life and have a baby. It made me rethink their chemistry. They were electric.I still wonder if the sparks were flying on set. Other things that my rewatch found were excellent production values on the drama with great cinematography and background music and a stellar cast. One of the soldiers went on to lead Racket Boys and Move to Heaven. One of many things I’ve learned from BOD is the joy of rewatching. There; s so much more to discover on multiple views.
@Growing Beautifully, thank you I will be sure to check them out.
@Kate, now that you have made those comments about the production on Legend of Zhuohau, I can’t get them out of my head and have two more to add. I noticed that the characters were obviously in front of a green screen for one of the episodes because I could clearly see the outline of the ML on a side profile and now on episode 15, I kept seeing something moving in background on a scene that should only have ML and FL in the room. It bothered me so much I had to run it back, and it’s a CAMERA MAN!!!😂😂😂
Thanks for the Fake it til you Make it recommendation. It’s just the palate cleanser I needed. I’m on episode 10 and haven’t tired of it yet. I may not always agree with their takes on love/relationships, but I like watching them in action. When he tried to wear the napkin as his coat I cackled.
@Kelley CC – oh dear!!! Someone in their team needs an eye check!
@birdie007 – glad it hits the mark… I know that brief moment in the bar with the ‘jacket fail’ is priceless!
I needed another distraction and wanted something different. I ended up completing in 2 days the very well-made contemporary detective drama with many twists, ‘Under the Skin’. I found it fantastically watchable, well written with surprising cases, rounded characters and a hard-earned bromance to warm the heart. I was swept away by all the examples of portrait drawing and painting based on so little info. It was amazing (and not always possible, I imagine) to have guessed and drawn so much of a person’s face, so correctly without a clear view of the face.
The best distraction of all was of course Tan Jian Ci, so unlike the demon serpent character he plays in ‘Lost You Forever’. It was great seeing him in a contemporary setting and not alone but with a friend. My personal rating would be 8 out of 10. 🙂
@Stacy,
I’m keeping my eye on My Journey to you too! I watched the first episode but there are too many I’m shows I’m watching now, but watch, I must, eventually.
@GB LBFAD main leads Esther Yu and Zhang Ling He aka Changhe is in this drama and the setting is so good.
It’s a little crazy now as I’m finishing following My Lovely Liar and Destined with You as the episodes come out.
And watching Someday or One Day on my distracted times (I can multitask watching this because it is in mandarin)
Hoping to watch A Time Called You and Journey To You.
Then watching Legend of the Undercover Chef because it is 25mins short per episode and rollingly comedic.
So many good dramas now that we are spoilt for choice…it’s crazy. You do not see that long list of dramas on MDL I wanna watch. 😛
Hi @Grace, I know right?!?!? Too many shows… but I’m trying to be good and to JOMO a bit more. (Actually I hate missing out, but what to do?)
I knew about My Journey to You and who the leads are but hesitate to look at it because it might be so beautiful that I’ll get sucked in just like with Under the Skin!!! I couldn’t stop watching. The only saving factor is that MJTY is still live airing so I can’t binge it in the same way.
My MDL ‘Plan to Watch’ list is long and I’ve started culling the shows on that list. It was getting ridiculous. I’ve also bravely dropped shows towards the end of their series… which I seldom do after having invested so much time already.
I will definitely watch A Time Called You and will wait a while for the verdict on My Journey to You.
🙂 Maybe if you like either of these cdramas, we might do a rewatch like we did for LBFAD. 😜 🤔 🫣
@Grace and @GB – I’m keeping up with My Journey to You and so far I love it. There’s no novel so I can’t be spoiled on the ending, which makes me nervous, because the whole mood of the drama says BE or open ending at best – I usually avoid those like the plague. But the first time I saw the trailer and got a glimpse of Yu Shu Xin’s character, I knew I would have to at least check it out because this role is so completely different than her usual roles. And she is killing it. Then there’s all the eye candy! It seems like every new male character introduced looks better than the one before 😀 There was a comment on MDL that said no wonder any spies sent into that place never returned…I wouldn’t either once I got a look at all the men there LOL.
If ya’ll decide to watch it after it finishes airing, I may rewatch with ya’ll because I know I’m missing a lot of things. I get on MDL after each ep because I’ll find comments about details and I’m like, wait, what? When and where did that happen? And then I have to go back and find what I missed. I guess I’m just not that observant when I’m watching something for the first time.
I am eagerly waiting for Love Me, Love My Voice. I read the novel translation a couple of weeks ago and it was a sweet little story.
Hi @Stacy
Thanks for your review on “My Journey to You” … the eye candy makes checking this out sound tempting. 🤭🫣🤫😋😜😊😇
Heh @Stacy, it’s often the rewatch that helps me catch stuff… all the Easter eggs are quite hard to notice on first viewing when our attention is merely on the action and some dialogue.
Look out for any new posts on the What We Are Watching in the latest months’ on BOD. We may ask @pkml3 to put up a notice for a watch/rewatch on “My Journey to You”.
Yes, I’m also waiting for “Love Me, Love My Voice”. Thanks for the info that the story is sweet. It’s rare that I will go look for more shows by a certain actor, but I’ve gone into Tan Jian Ci’s “Under the Skin” because of him and found it riveting. Perhaps he chooses good shows because I don’t stay with a show just for an actor but need the plot to be good and the characters to grow before I can say I really like a show. I’ve dropped shows with my favourite actors in them without regret.
Catch you later!
Annyeong ~
Thanks for this thread @pm3. and to read what is in everyone’s watch list this September. Will have to get Netflix soon haha.
I just finished some oldies – Crazy Love (love it), and Find me in your memories (did not like the stalkers and the doctor father).
I also finished My dearest (part 1) – will the ML have a new love interest in part 2?? what???
I’m still watching “My lovely liar” – so happy that our OTP has each other’s back.
Happy September watching everyone!
Hello everyone!
Is anyone watching ‘Wrong Carriage Right Groom’ who has a good knowledge of Mandarin Chinese?
It’s an enjoyable costume, romantic comedy romp where all is clearly not what it seems at the start! Just what I need.
I can’t tell if it’s the subs or the deliberate style of the writing but there is a lot of contemporary sounding conversation. For instance one of our FLS says to the other: ‘You’re absolutely gorgeous.’
The other responds, amongst other things, with: ‘Well, you’re easy on the eye too!’
I’ve noticed this at a number of points.
If anyone can tell me if this is deliberate for comedy effect, I’d be grateful.
https://www.viki.com/tv/39721c-wrong-carriage-right-groom
I finished ‘Fake it till you make it’ – yesterday.
Satisfying, well-written, great dialogue and well acted by an excellent cats.
It had a crackling romance at its heart – which was so well-depicted and natural – an a number of sub-plots which were also well depicted so that you cared about the outcomes.
It also had lots of people trying to decide what made life and work worthwhile.
The characters and choices were both realistic and unexpected at times.
Strongly recommended.
https://www.viki.com/videos/1239150v
*excellent cast*! Although cats would be a fun departure!
LOL @Kate… a cast of cats acting in a kdrama would indeed be something I’d like to watch. 😂😍
A new venture for us perhaps @GB !! LOL
I wonder which drama would best suit this treatment…!
@Kate maybe a drama like Uncanny Counter Cats where superhero cats go leaping all over the place to hunt down demon cats and bring them down by drawing claws LOL.
@GB – yes – haha -will continue to ponder. My mind is straying towards silly puns – I’ll spare you.
@Kate, I have watched 2 episodes of Wrong Carriage Right Groom and liked it so far but there are other dramas I am being drawn to for now (looking at Someday Or One Day, A Time Called You, and Destined with You). So it’s on hold till I have time.
I love the colours and the actress who starred in New Life Begins. Love her big eyes. It is actually the 2nd remake of an old old story, the 1st one made in 2000! I’m amazed that they have this version as a subbed playlist on YT!
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHVhOV19xFKFWuinOHYlUsco7bKpQRtVr&si=4frOEH7PkgVs5QJ8
But I also read reviews of how it is not as great as the first version in that there were some changes in story plot that didn’t do justice to the original or something. I thought the FL from the 2000 version looked really similar to the 2023 version! They picked a quite suitable actress for this role!
@Grace – thank you for the interesting background.
I’m liking both the FLs – they both have interesting characters, plot lines and romantic journeys! I’m liking the MLs too.
When I’ve watched it, I’ll have to check out the original 2000 version for the plot changes.
In another thread we got off topic and chatted about the appearance of pumpkin spice heralding the end of summer and approach of autumn. Last night I ran across, and bought, another harbinger of fall: mooncakes! This year the Mid-Autumn Festival is Friday, September 29. Don’t make the mistake I made last year and wait until too close to the festival date to buy mooncakes, because they sell out!
@Welmaris do you get to choose from a variety of snow skin mooncakes in all kinds of flavours? I wish my family liked sweet things more… I don’t buy much because then I’ll be about the only person getting overly sugar-filled this time of the year!
I saw an apple and pumpkin spice scented fabric softener a couple of days ago at a local grocery store. I would prefer mooncakes, thanks!
Hi @Fern, @pkml3, @Fern’s name is showing up online. Please change to her moniker.
Hmmm apple and pumpkin mooncakes will be new LOL … Yes, I prefer mooncakes too but just a few slices!
@Grace and @,Kate, I love Behind Your Touch. Our FL plays a great every woman and because she is played by Han Ji Min, there is a lot of depth, although our star shows great humor chops here
I love her pairing with Lee Min-kee whose droll affect us quite welcome. I like the depiction if the all town and it’s various denizens who are by no means dull. The side romances are enjoyable
And I live how they depict the sleazy politician and the con man shaman. I lil enjoy the shaman a lot. The whole General MacArthur thing is so sly. And I quite enjoy the English title of the show
It can be taken literally and figuratively(one of the joys of K Dramas titles).looking forward to seeing the murder solved and how the leads’ romance is established.
I’ve been so busy watching dramas this month that I haven’t taken the time to comment on them in this thread.
As they’re currently airing, I’m still watching:
–Behind Your Touch. I’d dropped this because the style of humor wasn’t to my taste, but was convinced by @Packmule3’s continued enthusiasm to give it another chance. It surprised me to realize that I’ve enjoyed the work of the lead actress, Han Ji Min, in Our Blues, One Spring Night, and Rooftop Prince. That makes me more impressed with her performance in Behind Your Touch, because she disappears into the role of kooky Dr. Bong.
–Destined with You. I am liking the epic love story feel to the cinematography and OST. Instead of treating the casting of spells as silly, even with the characters themselves being skeptical, I appreciate that the presentation is done sincerely. In the many places in this show where there’s humor, I’m finding it different and fresh.
–My Lovely Liar. The lead actors have appeared in previous dramas I’ve loved, so seeing them act together in this drama is a treat.
I’ve recently finished:
–Miraculous Brothers. I highly recommend it. The plot twists even when viewers know from the beginning who the bad guys are kept my attention riveted. Veteran actors Jung Woo and Oh Man Suk turn in outstanding performances. Bae Hyun Sung proves that his excellence in a lead role in Our Blues wasn’t a fluke.
–Lost You Forever S1. It took me a few episodes to get into this. I don’t like seeing physical cruelty, much less when it is perpetrated by a character that may be presented as a love interest. Even if the FL wasn’t dealt lasting harm, and viewers had to be convinced of the demon’s monstrosity, seeing him step on her fresh wounds made me put this show aside for awhile.
–Finland Papa. This was a bit odd, but short, so worth the time spent watching just because it was so different.
–D.P. S2 & a rewatch of D.P S1. Many of the actors in this drama are playing against type, and convincingly. The subject matter of this show is not not light, but the screenwriters manage to keep the story from being unrelentingly heavy. The accolades earned by this drama are well deserved.
And tonight I completed A Time Called You. I loved the Taiwanese make of the story, Someday or One Day; I was not disappointed with the Korean remake. I’ll comment on the threads for that show.
Finished C Drama “Fake It Till You Make It” this weekend over at Viki. I really enjoyed this Slice of Life drama. The pacing was good at 14 eps total, and I enjoyed the performances of the mail lead actors, Elvira Cai and Elvis Han.
I was originally interested in this drama because of the advertised contract relationship rom com plotline which turned out to be incorrect as this drama is actually a female-centric slice of life/workplace drama with a side of romance. Even though this drama was not what I was expecting, I still enjoyed it very much and it kept my interest. I echo others here to encourage people to check it out.
Otherwise, got some good news today that Viki has liscensed the Thai remake version of “My Lucky Star.” I enjoyed the original Taiwan version and tried to watch this Thai version earlier when it first came out, but the English subs were very bad and confusing, so I had to stop. I’m excited to watch it at Viki where there will hopefully be quality subtitles.
Done, @GB.
Thanks @pkml3!
Because folks here have recommended Fake It Till You Make It, I started watching it. I love the earrings the FL wears! She’s got quite a collection. And I am enjoying the jazzy background music. As for the story, I’m not clear on all the investment banking and legal ins and outs, but I understand enough to recognize the overworked ML and FL juggle exhaustion, frustration, and outsized expectations of their superiors,
@Welmaris… great! Do let us know how you get on with the unfolding story.
I agree re the FL’s earrings…!!!
They use music very well. I’m reminded of the style of a tv director – will recollect.
One comment I read and agreed with .. was that the director makes the cities part of the story. Lots of lingering cityscapes! The camera work as a whole is very contemporary-feeling too.
@Growing Beautifully(GB), it’s A Time Called You and Behind Your Touch- the alpha and omega of feels. The former gives me the sodden cries that I need and the latter offers belly laughs. I also have to say that A Time Called You has great production values. You ca. See the great work of the art director in sets like the record shop and the use of actual locations like the real subway(with great sound design-i’m a New Yorker who has ridden my and other subway systems( Toronto, Boston, London, Madrid, Paris and hybrids like BART and the Hudson Bergen !ight Rail). And Behind Your Touch is just so funny. It is so outrageous. I love that our heroine is busy touching tushies(Yiddish for behinds) in conservative South Korea. And having the FL be a veterinarian also allows for animal humor.
@OAL, I’ve ridden subways all over the world, and one thing they have in common are riders fast asleep in their seats. I’ve thought a recorded series of subway train announcements might work as sleep aids. Drowse off to the sound of the Paris Metro. Fall into a stupor as if you’re riding the London Tube. Want variety? Try Tokyo Metro. So many options!
Hi there @OAL, it’s always good to see you online and to know that you’re enjoying dramas. I knew that ‘Behind You Touch’ was going to be funny when I heard that she had to touch male tushies. Han Ji Min must have had a bellyache laughing at all the things she had to do to get tushie and hand to meet.
A Time Called You is happily not all that sad. There are many emotional moments but also lighter, happier and funny scenes and a good pay off. I don’t mind going through a couple of hours of angst here and there, as long as the pay off makes sense and ends reasonably well.
I’ve dropped Heartbeat because I heard the ending is not great.
@Cleopatra, I’m in for Song of the Bandits too. Looks like a period piece that is not normally done. Sort if reminiscent of the back story of Chicago Typewriter. And during the Japanese occupation. We don’t get t99 many of those stories. One kind that might be painful but e nlightening would be about how they terrorized women into becoming comfort women. I think mov8es like The Handmaiden give us a small taster of it but are revolutionary because they are subversive.
@GrowinBeautifully(GB), when I first started watching K Dramas, I
disappointing dramas. 5he strategy works. It took me reading the comments here was horrified at the though5 of dropping dramas but now I get it. There is so much content out there and better dramas that dropping dramas that don’t live up to standards or expectations makes so much sense. Time is limited and one need not waste it by viewing dramas that annoy.
@Welmaris, Fo r a time New York had celebrities doing subway announcements. Three that come to mind are Whoopi Goldberg, Jerry Seinfeld and Awkwafina.in addition,included were sportscaster M I challenge Kay, rappers Jadakiss and Cam’ron, comedians Desus & Mero, personalities A ngela Yee and Angie Martinez. They are a true reflecti9n of this city. 2hat is also funny is that in NYC, you see celebrities who take public transportation. I’ve seen many myself and once had a lovely conversation with Dan Laur I a of The Wonder Yea4s who was sitting nex5 to me. The general rule in anew York I’d don’t bother the celebs. If they engage with yo u, just enjoy the encounter and acknowledge how you have enjoyed their performances. 8 think that now some might allow for a selfish. I do know that several K Drama stars have been tones York and Jung Hae In even had a travel show here where he ate prodigious amounts of food at Shake Shack and The Oyster Bar. He even went to Ellen’s, a Cafe, where the wait staff consists of would be actors who perform there.He was recognized on the street while he was eating food from 5he Hallal Guys food truck. I am hoping to see Gong Hyo Jin, who just married Kevin Oh here. She is one of my favorites. Hope s0rings eternal.
@OAL, I’m going to add Behind Your Touch to my MDL list with your recommendation because I always love a good comedy.
I have to agree you on A Time Called You’s art directing. It feels so nostalgic and warm. There is a nostalgic tone where edges are muted and rounded…not sure how to describe it. The record shop, the tree they lay under, the rooms they were in, the clothes too!
@GrowingBeautifully, it is funny that in Behind Your Touch, Dr. Bong doesn’t just grab tushies, she scrolls, swipes, and dials them to select the images she sees. That’s taking the joke to the next level. Too bad Grim Reaper in Goblin couldn’t better control the data download he got whenever he bumped into someone. And in Miraculous Brothers, the time-jumping namdongsaeng could see what was troubling people when he touched them. So what would any of these three see if they inadvertently touched me? Would they see my life, or would they see the dramas I’ve watched? Oh…right…my life IS watching dramas!
LOL @Welmaris, know that you are not only speaking for yourself!!! 😬😅😆
@Welmaris, Your comment was just too funny. Yup, my life(actually pleasure)is watching K Dramas. American content has become stale and predictable, e.g., all of the “universes”-Marvel, Star Wzrs, Fast and Furious, you got it.
I don’t get tired of the BBC remakes of British iterary classics.Generally,give me a good Dickens, Gallsworthy
, thakery, Forster, Shakespeare and most of all Austen and I’m happy.
But K Dramas are a revelation,tropes and all. The plots vary. The actors seem egoless. Th3 stories are varied and encompass lots of genres.Am so happy I stumbled on you o this.
I’m enjoying Fake It Till You Make It. I like that the core of the story is a relationship between equals, not a Cinderella situation with a power imbalance. Both the FL and ML are competent and hardworking at their jobs. Both hold mid-level positions at their respective employers. Although their work may bring some opportunities for overlap, they work in different fields: law and finance. One’s successes and failures at work are not dependent on the actions of the other.
The people we see in the orbits of the ML and FL have story arcs that shed light on, or contrast with, the values held by two leads. The voiceovers of the leads are sometimes awkwardly placed and preachy, but they do allow us to participate in their character development.
Just in case anyone is still curious about My Lovely Boxer but hasn’t started watching——I’ve watched up til episode 9 (no episode 10 airing today because of a sporting event) and am still interested and invested. Apparently it’s adapted from a novel (or manga?) and this adaptation is more of a slow (glacial pace really) burn—which I think makes their story more realistic. I’m still not sure what her future in boxing will look like but I’m sticking around to find out.
Hi all, I’ve been lurking for awhile as I can’t watch episodes quick enough to comment on the threads, but I love the community and commentary here.
I’ve just finished ‘Numbers’ on Viki, a kdrama featuring Kim Myung Soo aka L from Infinite ❤️ It’s a short series (12 episodes) and surprisingly entertaining for a series about accountants in suits.
I am watching 2 jdoramas First Love and Love Lasts Forever. I would have missed out on some good cream bread if I had not read about these shows here. I had tried to watch both previously but for different reasons was not able to get into them. I found the first episode of First Love confusing and needed some guidance and encouragement to watch further. With Love Lasts Forever I was put off by the premise (young girl becomes a nurse because of an infatuation with a doctor). Now I am laughing my way through the episodes. Both leads are such great characterizations and it really helps to watch with the manga lens.
I am also rewatching He is Psychometric. I have dipped my toes in a few current/recent cdramas but none has compelled me yet but are still on my watchlist. I want to watch Song of the Bandits since I am a fan of Korean historicals from the 20th century(and prior) and a fan of Kim Nam Gil.
#monmor, started watching Song of the Bandits. First impressions, the production values are fantastic and Kim Nam Gil guves his usual excellent performance. It is visually different from most K Dramas.And the costumes are wonderful. It has a Korean spaghetti western vibe. So far, It’s a keeper.
TY I will put it on my watchlist for this weekend and start it.
I really love historicals. I fell in love with the production quality of mister sunshine the first time I watched it. Then I fell in love with the bromance. I was particularly amazed by the number of languages that were spoken. The effort and money that went into making that show.
I am nervous to start song of the bandits until I know How the whole series is received. I don’t know if I will be okay if kim nam gil and a story I really want to watch disappoint me. Unfortunately for me twenty five twenty one was one of my first live watches. I know there’s lots of debate about the ending But I was someone who was very disappointed and do not want to watch Kim tayree or the male lead In any other show. Fortunately I Had already watched mister sunshine.
Hi @Monmor, your mention of “25,21” got me thinking how unlike many viewers, I liked that Show and accepted its ending. While on the one hand I would have liked to have the Kim Tae Ri’s character (Hee Do) and Nam Joo Hyuk’s character to have stayed together, I knew all along that they couldn’t possibly have done so, because Hee Do’s daughter would have recognised her own father.
I never felt betrayed by the Show since we were told the conclusion from the beginning in the lyrics of the title song. I thought it a most heart-warming portrayal of friendship and romance, growing up and letting go, and watched to see it play out to its logical conclusion. I kind of liked the fact that a kdrama dared to end off without the expected happily ever after.
I guess it helped that I watched it at a mature age when I could accept that real life has it strange twists. 🙂
I totally agree with you on the ending of 2521. Like many first loves, their relationship was there to propel them forward in life. It was important, but it wasn’t going to be an ongoing partnership, especially as they became successful in the careers. I say this as a mature adult, looking back on life and seeing how prior relationships and friendships fell away as I grew older, but they were still important. I think the people who most object to the ending of 2521 are young people, or those with limited romantic experiences.
My posts must have gotten lost. I will repost when I have more time. I did not object to them not being together, but more about how it was done. It was like we got the first half of the story but not the second half
My watching of the last few episodes was disjointed because I was traveling. The same thing happened to me with the red sleeve And I have never really watched the last 2 episodes.
I think the controversy about the ending was in part because they depicted such a wonderful relationship in the first half of the drama to the credit of the actors screenwriter and director. I did find it difficult to stay connected to the experience of the show In the second half and never really felt I had an opportunity to be sad about their parting. I only felt frustration at feeling like I was being strung along. I am not sure it is about the way I watched the end or how it was presented. In any case, I have no desire to watch those episodes again to figure it out.
I have learned to pay more attention to the music and the lyrics to understand A drama. I will save the last episodes of a drama for when I am back home, in the future.
Finished A Time Called You and liked it. Anyone watching Twinkling Watermelon?
Does anyone know when love me love my voice will be airing and on which platform? I did not find any helpful information online.
For “Love Me, Love My voice” the rumor is it will air sometime in October 2023. We will see if that happens.
I think it will be available at YoYo English YouTube Channel. They have been advertising it and created a Clips List.
Link: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLTB73Ibi_X3FmVVHTMSan4vTD2KDAsXaT
I will have to find something else for today’s fix. I have not yet watched Our Blooming Youth so I think I will watch that. TY for the information on Love you…….
Welcome to the blog, @Hana. I’m sorry that your post was stuck in the “To be moderated” pile. I didn’t catch it in time.
Yes, “Numbers” was on my list too. When I have time, I’ll watch it because it’ll be fun to have a drama not involving attorneys and doctors.
Hi @Hana, I join @pkml3 in welcoming you to BOD. Even if you can’t watch the shows or episodes while they are airing, you can always come by to comment later. I generally get notifications for the threads I’ve been on and will pop in to read even long after we’ve watched a show. 🙂
Kalimera @SnowFlower,
I am planning to start Twinkling Watermelon. I have a busy schedule so I am planning to watch it during the weekend!
@Packmule3 can you open an open thread for it? Thank you in advance!
@Snowflower, tonight I watched the first two episodes of Twinkling Watermelon. It looks entertaining, and a bit quirky…and I mean that in a good way. Although the topic of family dynamics and responsibilities is serious, there are plenty of light moments scattered throughout.
I am planning to start Twinkling Watermelon. The storyline sounds somewhat Similar to the Taiwanese drama “Back to 1989” with marcus Chang which I have not watched but have wanted to.
Is anyone watching or planning to watch ‘My Journey to You’ – a big budget romance, adventure with wuxia elements. It stars Esther Yu and the second male lead from Love Between Fairy and Devil.
Gripping story from the outset. Slightly Game of Thrones ‘look’ and some strong ‘desperate survival’ elements for our FL. Overtones, in places of The Hunger Games – but not at all the same plot.
Esther Yu in fine form in a darker role and context for her. Suits her well. Do you remember some of us saying we preferred her when she was not herself in LBFD and a darker version of her character. Well you see her in this dark world playing a character who has experienced the extremes.
The plot is rolicking! You are hooked from the start.
Rolicking fight scenes with unusual attention to texture and angle!
The dialogue not so rolicking… but I am only in the first 2 episodes and the task of dialogue at this stage is scene setting as much as possible.
Perhaps more nuance will emerge as we, the viewers, are more familiar with the world we are entering.
When there is a lot of action and strong visual action and moody direction etc etc I tend to excuse the spare or narrative approach to dialogue in early episodes. A little like watching Star Wars! Although I hope we can anticipate better dialogue than that of Star Wars in this series as it develops.
Anyway, this is one to watch if it appeals!
I will be watching on IQIYI. Anyone care to join me?
https://www.iq.com/album/my-journey-to-you-2023-29gizl2g5jp?lang=en_us
Continuing theme above – I tried two more episodes tonight and began to find the show a bit monochrome. Oh dear. I am disappointed.
What worked well as an introductory style in the establishing episodes started to become too much – over egging the portentous incidental music, for instance, and so many tense pauses… Not enough light and shade. Dialogue still not especially interesting.
So it has gone from a strong start start to a show I am now unsure about.
My Dear @Kate, I didn’t want to comment too soon about “My Journey to You” but I did try maybe 3-4 episodes and knew I could not bring myself to continue. I then went on to check what AvenueX had to say, and her review put a nail in the coffin for me for this show. 😖😑
I even tried an ‘older’ show, “Twisted Fate of Love” where Tan Jian Ci is a supporting/2nd ML and after the first episode that was great and promising, it was disappointing. TJC himself only appeared later on and was a sweet character but I could tell how it was going to play out with a childish-petty ML and a FL who began strong but was thwarted by ML over and over…. it got old fast. I dropped it after a few episodes with a sigh because I wanted another TJC drama to watch.
Now I’m waiting for “Under the Skin Season 2.” 😛😎
I even tried “Lighter and Princess” since it was lauded so highly. I have been holding back on commenting on it because my thoughts may upset those who love the show.
I’m reduced to just watching variety shows on YT or maybe it brings me to Tiktok. That’s how I found the TJC cute pet videos. He actually brings his dogs to work. There are several videos of him carrying them out with him. 😍🤭
I’m also careful with time because I’ve got stuff I have to prepare for and seemingly more work to do now and into November.
Perhaps WAWW in October will bring more drama-watching ‘hope’!! 😁
@GB – this is helpful confirmation! Thank you for holding back the comments too…
Yes, it became hard work to watch. Not a good sign.
It looks like the characters won’t get a lot of development. That development is part of the ‘magic’ of a show – the thing that gives it heart and soul.
I could see this show as a cartoon rather than as a novel. It lurches from cliff hanger to cliff hanger.
There may be better episodes to come but like you I have no appetite to move forward.
What a shame.
Hi. New to this thread, I watched 2 really amazing mature and uplifting shows this summer. One was ‘Not Others’ Kdrama finally coming of age! Funny,serious,poignant and a touch of antagonistic romance. Can still recall loads of it (which is a great sign) I really hope it gets recognition by its peers. A briliant production.
The other one was Cdrama ‘Fake it till you Make it’ the Chinese dramas are beginning to get really interesting from a directing and script and acting viewpoint. This one was a gem. Slow and easy does it! Great ‘vibes’ between the two excellent leads. Synopsis is a bit misleading as the script doesn’t follow. It’s not too long either, 12 episodes, I think. Wd love to hear your views to see if I’m the only fan!
@Redser,
Welcome. If you scroll back to the top of this thread there is a discussion of ‘Fake it till you Make it’ running through much of this month.
Enjoy!
@Kate. Thanks, I really enjoyed that show so much. It made me 😃.
I’ve just watched ‘Fall in Love’ it’s a 2021 Cdrama production. Editing leaves a bit to be desired but it’s still gripping. Late 1920’s China, intrigue,glamour, a bit of war and swoonful leads🤣🤣. It can be a bit melodramatic but take it with a pinch of salt!
@Redser – I enjoyed that drama when it came out. Worth enjoying on its own terms and I like the lead. I’ve seen him in some good shows.