Woe is me! Throughout this month, I must resist the temptation of hoarding up – and snacking — on Halloween fun-sized chocolate bars. And as if that isn’t bad enough, I must also resist succumbing to this month’s supply of eye-candy courtesy of kdramaland.
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1. Strong Girl Namsoon
A spinoff of that hit drama “Strong Woman Do Bong-soon” (2017), I’m sure the interaction between the two relatively unknown leads will get compared to the synergy of the original stars, Park HyungSik and Park BoYoung.
The shortened blurb from soompi:
A spin-off of the hit drama “Strong Woman Do Bong Soon,” “Strong Girl Namsoon” is a comedy drama about three generations of women born with unbelievable strength as they uncover the truth behind the drug-related crimes that occur around Gangnam area.
Source: soompi
Cast:
Lee You Mi – never heard of her
Ong Seong Wu – never saw him before either but google told me that he’s currently serving his mandatory military enlistment. I don’t know how he’ll do the promotions for this drama. He’s the main lead.
Byeon Woo Seok – the handsome tall guy in “Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency.” He’s the villain.
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Sat, Oct 7
Airs on Saturdays and Sundays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: tvNing
2. A Good Day to Be a Dog
Another fantasy romcom which will hopefully help those susceptible to the seasonal “winter blues.”
The blurb from soompi:
Based on a webtoon, “A Good Day to Be a Dog” is a fantasy romance drama about a woman (Park Gyu Young) who is cursed to transform into a dog when she kisses a man. However, the only person who can undo her curse is a man who is afraid of dogs due to a traumatic event he can no longer remember.
ASTRO’s Cha Eun Woo stars as Jin Seo Won, a sharp and handsome high school math teacher who is terrified of dogs due to a past incident. Park Gyu Young plays Han Hae Na, a pretty and intelligent teacher who seems to have everything going for her on the surface. However, after kissing fellow teacher Jin Seo Won, she faces the biggest crisis of her life.
Source: soompi
Cast:
Park Gyu Young – she’s Dali in “Dali and the Cocky Prince”
Cha Eun Woo – I last saw him in “True Beauty.” Didn’t have time to watch “Island.”
Visually, they match well.
Episodes: Just 14
Start Date: Wed, Oct 11
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: MBC
I can’t find the English subbed version of the trailer but that’s alright because I don’t think this drama is going to win any awards for screenplay.
3. Doona!
Synopsis from soompi:
Based on the webtoon “The Girl Downstairs,” “Doona!” is a romance drama about ordinary university student Won Joon and retired K-pop idol Doona who meet at a share house.
Suzy takes on the role of Doona, who used to be the main vocalist of a popular idol group but suddenly announces her retirement and stays in a share house near a university. Yang Se Jong is the male lead Won Joon, a college student who is extremely ordinary but a warm-hearted guy.
Source: soompi
Cast:
Suzy Bae
Yang SeJong – I don’t know what happened to this actor. For a while there, I thought he was the new “it” guy. He appeared in “Temperature of Love,” (2017) “Thirty But Seventeen” (2018) and “My Country: The New Age” (2019) then poof! he disappeared. Let’s see if he can light up the room with Suzy. They seem to contrast each other’s stage persona well: she’s perky and he’s broody.
Episodes: Only 9
Start Date: Fri, Oct 20
Airs on ?? I’m not sure if all 9 episodes will drop on the same day
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: Netflix
4. Moon in the Day
With the transmigration of souls and mention of the Silla Dynasty, the plot sounds complicated and tragic. But let’s see how the screenwriter dumbs it down. Lol.
Long press release from soompi:
Based on a hit webtoon, “Moon in the Day” tells a chilling and heartbreaking love story that spans 1,500 years. Moving back and forth between the past and present, the drama will follow a man for whom time has stopped and a woman who “flows like a river.”
Kim Young Dae will take on the dual roles of Han Jun Oh, a well-known top star in Korea, and Do Ha, an elite noble of the Silla Dynasty. After experiencing a car crash, Han Jun Oh’s body is possessed by Do Ha’s soul who has a completely different personality from Jun Oh.
Pyo Ye Jin will also play the dual roles of Kang Young Hwa, a firefighter-turned-bodyguard, and Ha Ni Ta, the sole survivor of a noble family from Daegaya (a city-state) in the Silla Dynasty. Kang Young Hwa’s life completely changes after saving top star Han Jun Oh from a car crash on the day they were filming a public service advertisement together.
Source: soompi
Episodes: 14 (what’s up with these unusual number of episodes in new dramas?)
Start Date: Wed, Oct 25
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: ENA?
Sorry, no trailer but here’s a poster.
5. The Matchmaker
For those who can’t get enough of Rowoon, here’s another kdrama coming close on the heels of “Destined With You.” Lol. I’m sorry Rowoon’s oppa-fans. You’ll still be locked out of this blog. For my sanity.
The synopsis from soompi.
“The Matchmakers” is a rom-com drama set during the Joseon dynasty. It tells the story of the meeting between the young widower Shim Jung Woo (Rowoon) and young widow Jung Soon Deok (Cho Yi Hyun) as well as the struggle the two go through together to marry off Joseon era’s unmarried women and men who are considered older than the typical prime age range.
Rowoon will take on the role of Shim Jung Woo, the widowed son-in-law of the king who is brilliant enough to become the youngest person to pass the Civil Service Exam. However, he is also a person of misfortune whose chances for a higher social status and future marriage prospects slip away when the princess he’s meant to marry passes away during their wedding ceremony.
Source: soompi
Cast:
Rowoon (the current “Destined With You”)
Cho YiHyun (she’s one of the twins in “Hospital Playlist”)
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Mon, Oct 30
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Viki
Network: KBS
As for Cdrama, I’m still working on “Hidden Love.”
I apologize to @agdr03, @Fern, and all the others for making them wait but I’m getting there.
source: adobe
Ya Queen Chingu! No need to apologise about Hidden Love. 😆 You take all the time that you need. I’m happily rewatching when I have time. I love that waiting all day to kuss Sang Zhi by Duan Jiaxu. 🥰
I’m not sure about the kdrama offers for October unless it’s on Netflix so that means Doona with Suzy it is.
I want to go back to cdramas but I haven’t decided yet.
Kumawo! 💐
Thanks for being on the ball with WAWW in October @pkml3!
You may have seen that I left a request for a thread for Twinkling Watermelon on the WAWW in Sept thread. It gets its supernatural time jump twist in Episode 2!
Recently completed:
Fake it til you make it
although there was a lot of work place woe—something I usually find to be a huge downer and not enjoyable drama watching, I still found this show to be refreshing and somewhat uplifting. Watching the leads interact felt a bit like watching two lions circle each other in the zoo. I always caught myself smiling during their banter and it all felt satisfying. except for the sister. When I decide to rewatch, I will absolutely be skipping through any scene she appears in.
Better days (movie)
I’ve seen this on prime but avoided it because of the bullying storyline but I watched one night when I just felt like a movie and I’m glad I’ve seen it. Don’t think it’ll be a rewatch.
A time called you
I think this version is easier to follow than the Taiwanese version. Maybe because I’d already seen one version. I like the changes that were made and the parts that were left out, I didn’t miss. I feel like Jeon Yeo Bin did a great job playing the different characters especially in the latter episodes.
Lighter and princess
I decided to finally dive into this one and binged it pretty quickly. I kept waiting to love it but I just never did. The ML actor never really grew on me and the FL actress is someone I enjoy watching, I just never cared for the character she was playing
Will finish this week:
Behind your touch and My lovely boxer
I’ve enjoyed both.
Currently watching:
Stand by me
Coming of age Chinese drama. I like watching one episode per day. It’s based on a novel.
Twinkling watermelon
I wrote about the first two episodes in its own open thread.
Skipping through:
Bright eyes in the dark- another firefighter drama. It’s fine.
Plan to watch:
The worst of evil
actually I’m undecided on this one. It’s at the bottom of the list. Will wait until I read some reviews
My dearest Part 2
I’ve saved the last two episodes from part one so I can watch them with part two. I don’t like my angst to be drawn out.
I will watch the first few episodes of the dramas you’ve listed above along with
Castaway diva
MDL synopsis: Follows the story of a woman who is rescued on a deserted island after going missing 15-years ago. Mok Ha is a girl who has always dreamt of becoming a singer. During middle school, Mok Ha goes missing and ends up on a deserted island, where she manages to survive alone for 15-years. For Mok Ha, being rescued from her solitary life is one thing; adjusting to modern society is another!
And decide which ones to stick with and which to drop—something I’ve been doing more of lately with zero regrets.
Thank you for the October start list, @packmule3. Several of these sound a bit interesting. Is it my lack of caffeine this morning? In September I had hard choices to make, but October’s list sound less interesting. I’ll try the Twinkling Watermelon and will look in at the first episodes of all of these to see if I can change my attitude. Many thanks for your list. Of course, I’ll join in on the Hidden Love comments, no pressure, it’s worth savouring slowly.
Stay cosy, everyone, except for those down south under who are already in a heat wave. Thanks to @Welmaris for mentioning the full moon. Our Harvest Moon rose striped with clouds over the hills east of town, as pink and plump as a Michaelmas pig.
*down under*
I commented earlier. Might it have gone to spam? Or maybe gone forever?
@Fern! What a vivid description! ‘As pink and plump as a Michaelmas pig’… I haven’t heard this one before.
@Kate, I stole it from Dorothy Dunnett’s series, the Lymond Chronicles. The hero says something similar about his infant nephew. 😄
@Fern – excellent idea! I may adopt.
I’m doing the odd, eclectic mix of shows.
Trying again to see if I can live watch a kdrama (I dropped 2 just recently!!) I’m in for the family-fantasy-coming of age-time jump kdrama, Twinkling Watermelon.
To get me more Tan Jian Ci, I’ve started the short and IT informative cdrama series Are You Safe. I like that the episodes are less than 40 minutes each, the characters are likable and each episode ends with advice to the public on how to keep ourselves/our personal data safe.
Since the B*mance word is banned around here (LOL!!), I’m continuing with my Sister-mance in a jdorama, 18/40: Futari Nara Yume Mo Koi Mo (2023). I like its simplicity.
When I jump from show to show, it takes me a while to realise that I’m hearing a different language LOL.
It’s strange that last month we were spoilt for choice and I bemoaned my inability to check out all the great choices that there were, but now, after JOMO-ing, the enthusiasm to watch has waned. Perhaps that’s the good thing about holding back? We suddenly find we really didn’t need to spend that much time on what we thought we just had to watch! 🤨😜🫣🤭😁
K Dramas I want to check out in October:
Strong Girl Namsoon: I really liked the original drama, especially the CP. One of the best parts of SWDBS was when Bong Soon and the 2 male leads joined forces to solve the police case, so I’m happy that this sequel drama will focus on the “strong women” helping the police and finding love along the way. Main Leads have huge shoes to fill when it comes to the romance part of this drama, which was driven by the on-screen chemistry of PBY and PHS. So I’m trying to keep my romance expectations low key in fairness to the 2 new actors we have for this drama.
A Good Day to be a Dog: Not really a fan of the male lead actor, but I do like SML actor Lee Hyun Woo and I’m looking forward to seeing him in this drama. He hasn’t done much since his return from military service. I hope to see him get back to male lead roles. Otherwise, I saw a clip of the Female Lead’s “dog form” and that little dog is too cute! Hopefully, it will be a cute rom com. I need a good rom com.
Perfect Marriage Revenge: It has my favorite trope of contract relationship, plus eye candy male lead Sung Hoon, so of course I will check it out. It’s coming to Viki and VIU.
I will wait for reviews and audience feedback on these K Dramas. I may check them out if there is a lot of positive buzz:
Doona!
Castaway Diva
Moon in the Day
The Matchmakers
My Dearest- I heard a lot of complaints about the romance storyline in Part 1 of this drama, so I will wait and see how things go in Part 2. Maybe will binge later if things change.
Chinese Dramas I want to check out:
Sweet Games- heard good buzz about this rom com. At Viki.
South Wind Knows- I like the main lead actors, so will check out this romaance drama. At Viki
Hello, I’m at Your Service- sounds like a fun rom com. I’ve seen male lead Miles Wei in “Perfect and Casual” so will check it out. Coming to Viki, IQIYI, and WeTV.
Also looking forward to the Thai version of Taiwan rom com “My Lucky Star” with Film and Bifern coming to Viki.
I’ve just started watching Bi Jing Ting and Song Yi in ‘Destined’. It’s very pretty -looking and sounding – costume drama, comedy, romance.
Have seen only one episode and will say nothing more for now.
The heroine is something of a Cinderella – in a wealthy merchant family but her mother has been supplanted by the concubine. The hero is a wealthy, playboy with a warm heart.
I wonder if anyone else has been watching it?
I am waiting for My Dearest Part 2. Doona is worth checking out, mostly for Yang Se Jong. Currently watching Twinkling Watermelon. For the other dramas, I will wait for positive word of mouth before jumping in.
Hello again,
I can recommend ‘Destined’. It has a charm to it and the story is unfolding in an engaging and interesting way.
The two leads work well together. BJT is perfect for the role of the freedom- seeking playboy with a heart of gold. He has some wonderfully cute moments. He has a transformative journey ahead of him in this show. So does the FL, who is coming into her own after living on egg shells and in an unpleasant family situation. She is genteel but resourceful. Let’s see how she develops too in this 40 episode show.
The trope is ‘unwelcome marriage’ and what happens next.
There are some fresh takes on the limits of being ‘filial’ – and what makes for a good marriage.
It’s very pro-female and the struggle to survive. The importance of obtaining a good marriage and all the anxiety that goes into that is at the heart of the first few episodes. It is comedy with some messages about the harshness of life for people who are not supported within the family system.
I’m on Episode 7 and it is still going strong.
The title ‘Destined’ seems to be a reflection of the fact that ‘life happens when you are making other plans’!
No-one’s plans and aspirations seem to be working out in the early episodes. Could the situation, nevertheless, have a ‘destined’ quality to it?
I am watching it on IQIYI – a nice result of giving up on ‘My Journey to You’:
https://www.iq.com/album/destined-2023-2f3498mxvpd?lang=en_us
Final tip with this show… give it time to warm up.
I am enjoying the situations and altercations from around Episode 5 onwards – 6 is especially good. BJT’s character is great in these later episodes.
The show suffers a little from the usual expository dialogue syndrome in the first few episodes…its real comedy potential and romance potential show up a little later.
I am watching “Sono Onna, Jitterbug” (Japan – 2021).
Life really starts at 40. With this simple premise we are introduced to Usui Arata, a woman that was abandoned before marriage, is working loading boxes for the apparel company she used to work as an office-lady and is dissatisfied in life. Running after a scratch lottery ticket she finds herself at the doors of “Old Jack & Rose” bar which is attended by people 40 years and older.
I couldn’t finish the first time because by then subs were not available for the lasts episodes (also I didn’t want to depart with the characters in all honesty), but it was a beautiful tale of how people manage to survive to personal and national tragedies yet still have the power to endure, bounce back, and face yet another day.
Even in its incomplete form it helped me endure the Pandemic.
It is so good that I would recommend it, even ask for an open thread.
Annyeong 🫶🏼
Thanks for this PM3.
Wow I’m excited for October. I’ll be watching all VIKI shows haha
Just finished “take of NokDu ” loved the ending except I was wishing there were youngens running around the beach as they waited for grandma Queen haha. So many cute moments in this show. And loved the young Aeng-du – her love of food and how she moved from Nokdu to YoolMo as husband prospect because of food haha.
Happy October, BOD’s
Just waiting on last 2 episodes of Miraculous Brothers. It has grown on me but I found myself wanting to skip some. The subject matter is horrific and the terror of it comes across from the beginning. Maybe I’m just jaded these days and can’t sit thru anything, even a well directed, well acted thriller, altho the ML’S voice jarred a lot in the beginning with me because his character shouts a lot!
I went back to look at My Liberation Notes, to see what y’all had written as it was one of my all time favourites in any language, and I’m in awe at the in-depth commentary! I shall have to practice hard to reach the standard! I’m not a great text person, but must get a laptop as my poor old mobile is getting old like me! I look forward to joining and enjoying your threads in the future. 👩💻
Just started watching Live you own Life on Viki. On episode 4. Characterisation seems promising, hopefully it won’t descend into the morass that a previous and only korean soap I’ve watched did. This seems stronger and script and acting up to a decent standard. I like the leads but again, there are some toxic females abounding! It’s a long haul at 50 episodes but if it stays strong I’ll try not too skip too much💪😇
Some great battle scenes in ‘Destined’ …the mood gets darker and more serious as the show progresses and we get more of a ‘Love like the Galaxy Feel’. Lots of political upheaval and families suffering as a result.
Bai Jing Ting superb as ML in battle… really acts his socks off!
Dear Friends, regrettably I will not be able to make it for “Queen In-Hyun’s Man” watch this Saturday October 7. Will read you later and comment appropriately in due time 😀
Hello, I’m watching Arthdal Chronicles.
First I watched the first season (3 parts) of 18 episodes.
And currently the season 2 is on air. Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun.
Made by writers Kim Young Hyun and Park Sang Yeon, the “masters of historical drama”.
The ones who wrote “Queen Seon Duk” and “Six Flying Dragons”.
So it’s epic, with many thematics, and emotional elevators.
The story take place in an alternate universe of low fantasy.
There are only few fantasy elements:
– a powerful ancient race called neanthals. (and hybrids Igutu)
– a bit of telepathy.
– a legendary horse.
– a lot of prophecy, more than in previous writers shows.
– no dragons or crazy magic, it could be real history just exagerated.
So about historical drama, it’s close to be in our real world but in an ancient era. Bronze age. With some isolated clans living like protohistory, tribes forming union, about to enter the age of kingdom. Hard to say a date. Could be -3000 BC because working the Bronze is a secret, or -1000 BC if they discover work of Iron.
Everything in the script is linked, what need a lot of preparation. About that, it’s a lot of satisfaction. Any detail happening in first episodes have an impact on last ones, and I can clearly see the amazing work on the plot and story.
The narration is more naturalistic than the fast paced historical dramas from the golden age. I like less because there are some slow scenes during the first part. Like a scene in a temple, and you get the whole ceremony and nothing move forward. I think we can call that immersion? Or spectacle? Sure, it’s like going to Opera and watching a short dance spectacle.
There is a lot of visual magic provided by director Kim Won Suk. The landscapes, wow! the make-up, the costumes. All that is certainly slower to produce than older seaguks and need more budget. The result is effective, I could easely enter the world of this drama, and couldn’t going out until last episode.
Hi @FGB, OK! By the way, I’ve started watching the Jdorama that you recommended “Sono-Onna-Jitterbug”. Just 2 episodes in and it’s delightful!!! Would you like to comment on this little jdorama? If so, we can ask for a thread.
Hi @WE, it sounds like you’ve been well and truly sucked in!! See you tomorrow on the Queen and I rewatch thread!
Kalimera Everyone,
Have a nice month!
My ongoing shows so far are : “Destined with You” and “Twinkling Watermelon”
The first one finishes next week.
The second one has started pretty good and I am waiting to see how it will go.
I have on hold: “Bossam, Steal the Fate” and “Miraculous Brothers”.
I get to see one episode whenever I can.
If I am going to start a show this month, I am thinking about:
– A good day to be a dog.
– Doona that will release all 9 episodes at once.
– Moon in the Day is kinda interesting. Past Lives mixed with the current one.
Love and Hate etc.
– The Matchmaker. It would nice to see Rowoon with a Hanbok, but honestly I am waiting this one for Cho YiHyun. I need to see how much she is growing as an actress.
There are other shows that start this month as well, but I don’t want to pressure myself. I will check and choose wisely!
P.S. I will now read you all…
Amongst others, I’ve watched CEO-Idol mart, 8 of 10 eps. Avail.m on Viki. What can I say? It’s a lovely idea but….. so far I’m completely underwhelmed. I’m only asking that you might watch an episode now and again an not waste too much time. The reason is I’m wdondering if you all end up coming to same conclusion as myself, which I’ll express after ep. 10, as I don’t want to sway anyone at this stage. Sorry about the vagueness but when you see the ratings it is a system not to be taken seriously at all. That’s all I’m saying on the matter at this point.😤
I have spent the last few weeks packing, moving, and now unpacking, so I haven’t had a lot of time to sit down and watch anything for very long. The only thing I’ve managed to complete is Bora! Deborah!, which was more delightful than I expected it would be (and I had low expectations). I chose it because I have Amazon Prime for the next month or two (after subscribing to Amazon to get something shipped quickly) and wanted to see what Kdramas I’ve been missing. It was also a drama, especially at the beginning, that I could watch while packing, then drop, then pick up again with no problem. An easy watch, in other words.
While I have Prime, are there any other dramas there that you all recommend? I started Heartbeat yesterday and so far it looks fun, but I’ve read elsewhere that it has a disappointing ending. I looked at the posts here about it, but there are no comments on the later episodes, which makes me think that maybe everyone dropped it before finishing? Someone also recommended Lost to me, but I haven’t heard much about it.
When I have time again, I hope to start Twinkling Watermelon. The Jitterbug Jdrama mentioned above sounds intriguing but I don’t see it listed on any sites I subscribe to.
Hi @BethB The Jitterbug Jdrama is on other sites like Dramanice. It’s simply delightfully heartwarming.
@Beth,
I watched Lost on Prime and liked it. It is slow and not an easy watch. The story deals with grief, loss, and other mental health issues. Acting is superb. Music is good too. I recommend it if you are in the mood for serious and thoughtful drama.
For Amazon Prime, take advantage to check out the Exclusives. I don’t recommend Heartbeat because of the unsatisfying ending. I saw mixed reviews for “Island. “May I Help You?” was pretty good. Someone else here recommended “Jinny’s Kitchen.” Amazon also has a deal with IQIYI, so take advantage to check out the IQIYI exclusives K content like “Dinner Mate” and “Tale of the Nine Tailed: 1938” (Season 2) I also recommend C Drama “A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower.” I also saw “Scarlet Heart Ryeo” listed as being on Amazon Prime, but it wasn’t available in my region USA. You can see if it’s available to you. I would definitely check it out if you can, because it is extremely difficult to find legal sites to watch that drama.
Hi. I’m stuck now at Arthdal Chronicles S2E06.
But I learned that the new Kim Soon Ok’s drama is on air!!! 6/17 episodes.
(yeah, as I watched almost nothing last year, I’ve lost track of dramas produced)
The Escape of the Seven: War for Survival.
At episode 3 now, it’s awesome. Makjang on steroids!
Always more over-dramatism, madness, satire. Punchy directing.
Completely fucked-up characters.
Mostly bad people and the good ones are here to suffer.
The team is now perfect since “The last empress”, then “The penthouse” :
Screenwriter Kim Soon Ok + Director Joo Dong Min.
Kalimera @Table122000,
Unfortunately, Prime hasn’t open many k-shows for us in my part of the world.
So, I am thinking to cancel my subsciption.
“Island” and “May I help you?” are the ones that are available for us.
On the other hand, I cannot watch “Tale of the Nine Tailed, 1938”.
The latest one that I wanted to watch is “The Killing Vote” that I am missing out.
Anyway, it is a shame really. We are paying, I don’t understand why we cannot watch a show that others can.
Anyone else enjoying ‘Alliance’?
I am – enormously. I am watching episodes beginning to end and finding it very watchable, well-acted and engaging.
A big thumbs up for this modern-day drama about relationships, female friendships, careers, and what good parenting is about!
It is about a very gifted and intelligent woman whose stay at home role in her marriage and the marriage itself have a squelching effect on her confidence and vision. The main story flows from her discovery that her husband is unfaithful.
The show involves an excellent ensemble cast. The cheating husband is played by Li Ze Feng an actor you will recognise from Go Go Squid, and She and Her Perfect Husband. He plays this role and its various facets excellently. He is great at ambiguous characters.
There are two FLs – the brilliant but trapped wife and the husband’s mistress who we get to know in all her aspects as the series progresses. The 2 FLS are the heartbeat of the show.
There is a very attractive second ML… do not be off-put by his picture in Viki. He played the lead in the prequel to ‘Lost you Forever’ -do not be off-put by that portrayal either!!
I like the realistic way romance is portrayed in this show. Slow burn, uncertain, badly communicated at times!
I like too the show’s messaging about character and moral standards being their own reward… whichever way people choose to lead their lives. I did question the FL (brilliant woman)’s ability to transcend and forgive at one point in the show. I think, though, that was about her being very strategic and pragmatic – so I will let that be.
It is very striking the way the various parents and their relationships and expectations of their adult children play out in the characters and struggles of the leading characters. The cheating husband has the most obnoxious, shady parents! You have to love to hate them as the show unfolds. I am astonished that anyone puts up with them!
Anyway, if you fancy a well-written and acted modern-day drama – this should be on your to watch lists.
p.s I read a review which was positive, albeit critical of the rather heavy-handed either or approach to the FL’s choice between being a stay-at-home Mum and fulfilling her potential in the workplace and research.
I agree with this critique but at the same time you can see in the behaviour of her husband and (vile) in-laws that the unquestioned assumptions and obligations they load on her are, indeed, ones that make it difficult for her explore other aspects of who she is. The care of the in-laws and tolerance of their demands and foibles is especially marked. Our FL’s own parents represent a more humane approach!
So, I think the show is critical of the version of stay-at-home mum being loaded onto a woman rather than stay-at-home mum per se. I assume this is a critique too of some traditional expectations within Chinese culture.
I always enjoy these monthly threads. @Kate, I will check Alliance out. The modern Chinese dramas that I have dabbled in lately have had insipid female leads and I couldn’t get through the first episodes. I really don’t get this trope! I watched Bright Eyes in the Dark but stopped – not interested in a sad ending and there have been so many Chinese firefighter dramas lately. In this one, the ML rescues FL from five yes fiveee !!!! different fires. (There may have been more I stopped counting). With her propensity for getting trapped in a fire she should have been locked up as a possible arsonist or just walk around in a full turnout coat with an oxygen tank just in case.
Someone mentioned Our Blues so I started watching – I am enjoying Cha Seung-won’s performance. And life in Jeju is a character too. I will look for other dramas that are based in Jeju.
Otherwise I started Strong Girl – it’s basically a live action cartoon so far – it’s cute. Will miss my weekly date with Rowoon when Destined With You ends this week. I will watch the dog as human (or vice versa) show because I loved the Shaggy Dog when I was a kid.
Chuckling here at your review of ‘Bright Eyes in the Dark’ @Good Twin! A great idea to make the best use of over frequently trapped-in-fire syndrome!
It’s evening here on the West Coast of the USA, so it’s probably already Tuesday on the Korean Peninsula, but I still want to wish all who observe it a Happy Hangul Day. On this day (Monday, October 9, at least for a few more hours where I sit currently) in 1446 Joseon officially established Hangul as its writing system thanks to Sejong the Great.
Happy Hangul day to all!
Thank you for the information @Welmaris.
‘Faithful’ is also worth a watch. Subdued and clever story-telling of carefully planned revenge. Visually strong production. Great ‘mood-conveyance’!
Dark happenings at at Yanyu Tower – a kind of ‘live-in’ school of embroidery where young women train in the style of embroidery prized by the imperial palace. The two main characters, Rulan and Meng Wan are apprentices there…
The main main FL (as far as I can see) Janice Wu is in a very different role from her perky romantic lead in ‘Here we meet again’. She convinces in this role and – I am only on Episode 2 – and is carrying this part of the drama.
Worth a watch.
On reflection – ‘subdued’ is the wrong word for the story-telling. ‘Elegantly pared-back and nuanced’ are better ways to describe story-telling. Janice Wu’s performance is in that mode too. Like a finely drawn portrait. It is the opposite approach to the sadly clunky ‘My Journey to You’.
Dear @GB, of course I would love to have a thread on “Sonno Onna, Jitterbug” (2021). It is always lovely to watch the process of someone getting back its dreams and life.
Sorry, My Internet came back today 🙂
Okie Dokey @FGB!! Let’s see if @pkml3 manages to see our request for a thread. 🙂
🍘🍵🥮🫖🍪🥛🍩☕🍘🍵🥮🫖🍪🥛🍩☕
@pkml3, Please open one thread for the Jdorama: Sono Onna Jitterbug aka Sono Onna, Jiruba (2021)
It’s a sweet little series of just 10 episodes that warms the heart and highlights that life begins and begins and begins and there is much to look forward to, to give and to enjoy beyond the past.
☀️⛅🌨️☔🌥️🌤️🌈☀️⛅🌨️☔🌥️🌤️🌈☀️⛅🌨️☔🌥️🌤️🌈
Sure thing, @GB.
Thanks @pkml3! You’re amazing at catching my odd posts!!! It’s midnight for you (almost!)
💐🪻🪷🌼🌺🌷💐
I have been perfecting my Banana Bread lately, so please let me offer a virtual Banana Bread for both @PkMl3 and @GB. Also anyone that wants to join 😀 . And a good “Neaporitan Pasta”, Yokohama style.
Soul Food 😉
Thanks @FGB!! 🍌🍰🍌🍰🍌🍰 Delicious! LOL.
I love making and eating Spaghetti Naporitan/Napolitan 🍝🍝🍝. It’s easy to make which is right up my alley! 🙂
Kalimera @FGB!
I am making banana breads! I do hope your recipes are turning out pretty awesome!
I do hope you are okay, chingu!
I’m not sure what else to pick up after Destined With You but I’ve started on Love Is Sweet and I’m loving the couple there. ☺️
It’s my first time watching the ML but I can honestly say that Bai Lu is my second favourite actress. 🥰
My only complaint for the drama is that the bgm doesn’t go as well as it should. It actually ruins it for me. Not all of it but most of the time. Funny 😁
Apologies. Test to see if my browser if letting me post.
Okay. @agdr03, I like Bai Lu as well. Thanks for this recommendation.
I hope you’ll like it too @Fern 😊
@agdr03 – that is a fun show!
Luo Yunxi was interviewed with BL about the show.
He said he had looked forward to the kiss scenes… she looked embarrassed!
Apparently, encouraged by BL, they tried to emulate the Korean approach to romantic smooches.
Oooh thanks for that info @Kate 😘
I’m only up to the cupboard kiss which stunned Jiang Jun into all sorts of thoughts but I’m so looking forward to the many kisses (and bts)now because of your info. 😉
Good — you’ll enjoy I’m sure @agdr03! Big smile!
https://youtu.be/2vdFfwykqDM
For when you want to watch it @agdr03… lots of discussion of kiss scenes!! They are very cute in this interview. Clearly get on so well.
@Kate, I totally agree that BL and LYX got on so well. You can see it in the drama itself. They’re very comfortable with each other. They actually made me laugh a lot with their antics like putting that big lip thing on and doing the rabbit song? I’m not sure what it is. They were cute and in sync. 😂
The kisses are awesome! Their first kiss was very emotional. I love it. ☺️
I’m keeping this link so I don’t lose it. Thank you! 😘
The rabbit song was hysterical… I laughed out loud. There is a scene where Bai Lu’s character covers up her behaviour with the ‘octopus mouth dance’. Have you got there yet?
Yep! I laughed at that one too. 😂
@Cleopatra: Yes, it is too bad about the Region-restrictions on dramas at Amazon Prime. Certainly, all of the “Amazon Originals” Dramas should be available to Prime members worldwide. It doesn’t make sense to restrict your own exclusive content.
Sigh, Amazon doesn’t make things easy for us Asian drama lovers.
@Table122000,
Kalimera! So very true! I think marketing wise they are doing a huge mistake, but as it seems, they don’t care!
@Kate I am really enjoying Alliance. Got ahead of what Viki released but found it on You Tube on Fresh Drama channel with better subs than some of the unlicensed sites. I thought it would be too soapy – but not at all. And even though it is slow moving, it has stayed interesting. The husband is such a cad! I look forward to him getting his due.
@Good Twin,
Yes — it looks like it will be full-on soap but is not! Lol. Agreed.
There are soap suds here and there… but it is a show that retains attention and has fresh elements in its storyline.
Thank you for the tip re Fresh Drama channel. That’s good to know.
The actor playing the cad husband — apparently said in an recent speech at an awards ceremony that he wanted to avoid playing all these caddish/bad guy roles in future! But he does it so well. He is a drama school trained guy and as a result doesn’t fall into all of those exaggerated facial expression traps. In fact, his understated ‘caddyness’ is quite scary suggesting a troubling level of self-centred indifference to moral issues.
*indifference to moral issues in the character he plays.*
I blink and it’s halfway through October! I’m finally finishing Destined with You (left with one episode!).
I loved Destined (a different drama, the Cdrama one) that @Kate mentioned earlier. Not sure if I mentioned somewhere that the leads became a real couple after the drama.
@Kate but I loved My Journey To You though. The fight scenes are unlike any cheesy fight scenes I have seen too often in cdramas. A bit Matrix like with the slow-mo but more beautiful. I get that the show has a lot of talking and flashbacks on the backstories, possibly a bit slow for some but the intrigue kept me going. I know many people didn’t like the ending that begs for more, it would be great if there is a season 2 but I don’t quite like when they make season 2 as an after thought, it isn’t as good as the original.
Meanwhile I aspire to watch all of the dramas listed…and Twinkling Watermelon but I won’t for sure. I definitely will watch Strong Girl NamSoon because my family is watching it, it’s fun so far!
@Grace – so glad you did enjoy My Journey to You! It was stunning visually with fantastic fight scenes – I so agree. I was very excited at the start. I love a tale of desperate adventure with slim chances of survival.
I just couldn’t cope with the way they told the story. I found it exhausting.
But this may well simply be a matter of taste.
You are now making me want to sneak back and see if I can cope with picking it up again! LoL.
@Grace – glad you enjoyed Destined too. I did for the most part.
I enjoyed Bai Jingting in the ML role. He is a very appealing actor.
Really loved him in the key battle scenes.
Yes, it seems the reel to real is solidly established. He and Song Yi quietly got in with establishing their relationship while they were filming.
@Kate, I get what you mean in that the style is kinda slow and a lot of explaining of things by the characters. Which episode did you watch till?
I’m rewatching My Journey to You, partly as my own education in learning the Chinese words. Most wuxia/xianxia cdramas have a slightly different way of talking and they use a lot more idioms, poetry and difficult words. If you notice, they recite quite a number of poems in this drama and I want to find out where it came from.
I think because I watched with family, I had no choice but to watch it all at x1 😛 sometimes I multitask with Chinese dramas (erm..play candy crush or online shop) but I can’t for this because I cannot miss any detail of the story. Maybe it is also because there is so much back story and information that if I miss it, I’m afraid I will not get what’s going on.
Always love BaiJingTing’s dramas, he is an interesting actor/singer and has quite a good acting range. His role in Reset was really good too
Hi @Grace – I got to half way through Episode 6.
As an aside.. I rarely notice stuff like this but Ether Wu is off-puttingly thin in this role. I gather that a very influential and controversial director ensures that his leads are as thin as possible. Her name came up in this context. She has always looked young and beautiful and is now looking drawn and taut. Of course, the look is perfect for her role…! I hope she takes time to recover her youthful glow! Like Zhao Lusi, she is from a fashion background and will have an eye to her profile as a stylish young woman getting fashion spreads etc etc
Some back story on Esther Yu for this drama was that the director required her to keep at 45kg weight for the drama. So she would eat a really full breakfast and not eat for the rest of the day. He told her not to drink water after 6pm…before that she can drink all she want. To which Esther jokingly bargained for 8pm. In some variety show, he said he will require his actors/actresses to eat food with no salt, no oil, no sugar…and if they can’t he will nag and nag and nag that they are too fat. Oh the cruelty of needing to look good in front of the camera. I also feel Dilreba and Zhao Lusi look really really thin.
Esther did say she will take a long break after that because the filming is so exhausting she needed time to recuperate and can’t just jump into another round of filming after that.
There was an interview where she talked about how the director convinced her to act in this drama. He asked if she wants to, in her 20s when she is the most youthful and beautiful to star in the drama. He said the same thing to Zhang Linghe. haha…to which they both agreed to take on the drama.
This is the video though not all is subbed
@Grace – the director does sound hugely controlling. It’s a very demanding role. I’m surprised she had the energy for it! Thank you for the link. Watching her initiation fight scene… tough stuff!
Just a side note. While we are able to peacefully enjoy our discussions, we keep in mind and prayer the people of Gaza and all communities affected by the war that is now already 1 week old. May there be resolution that will bring true peace, may there be help and homes for the homeless, may there be care for all, especially the aged, the very young, the sick and the injured. 🙏🙏🙏
Dear @Cleo, I am finally reading your message… 3 days later ^_^U .
Haven’t prepared it this week, maybe next. We are having a heatwave here in Caracas, hopefully everything is OK in Athens.
BTW, if you have simple, budget conscious yet delicious recipes, they are welcome 😉
And yes @GB, for me it was a shock to be disconnected from the Web to find a war was started when I was not seeing. Last month Armenia-Azerbaijan, now Israel-Gaza. Hope everything gets resolved optimally with minimal loss of life and that normality returns there.
@GB – amen!
@GB yes amen! Was listening to a first hand account on the Daily Mail and I was thinking no one should ever go through a thing like that.
@Kate update if you do continue with My Journey to You! One of the characters is only 12years old + fight scenes.
@Kate – I finished Alliance. I think they could have turned up the heat a notch with the OTP. No wonder he pined for 15 years! Definitely not a man of action. Poor actor who played the bad husband – he finally got a decent gray suit (no more awful brown suit) and it was for his perp walk. I wanted to finish so I put up with some bad translations where the pronouns got mangled. At one point the translation repeatedly described the husband as “that crazy woman.” It kept me on my toes. I thought the drama was classist. The poorer parents were all portrayed a money seeking and callow. The richer or middle class parents fared a lot better in their portrayals. Certainly that was a theme, the second generation striving to do better through their education, talent and good looks. I liked the child actress in this. She was really cute (she stayed a perpetual 5 year old despite marriages, divorces and new babies). Whoever voiced her did a good job too. She was cute even when she was being bratty.
@Good Twin.
I struggled with horrible subs too … I have also finished it. As you say it keeps you on your toes.
Yes, re the OTP – agreed!!
I am laughing about the perp walk attire too! Hadn’t noticed that detail.
hahaha
I didn’t pick up the classist element in this – good point. I did notice that bad husband grew up in the context of bad parents.
Yes and second FL had a very difficult mother.
Although… to counter that, the very rich parents had also both spoiled their child and not given her – according to her complaints – the type of love that helped her resist her impulses towards bad husband’s ‘at work’ attentions. For me, this wasn’t clarified because the very rich parents of the rather bratty woman became very strong and determined in the face of her situation.
So, for me, the brilliant FL was the only one whose educated middle-class parents were presented as both loving and supportive of who she really wanted to be.
The daughter was played very well… yes!
@Grace – aha! When do we encounter the 12 year old martial arts fighter?
I am currently watching Destined and enjoying the emotional interplay between the leads. I was inspired to start watching by Kate’s comments above.
For something light-hearted I am watching “A Good Day to be a Dog”. The similarities to “Destined” surprised me. It will be interesting to see how it plays out. So far so good. I also started “My Precious” also about dogs, starring Z. Tao of “Legally Romance” and a singer/rapper I enjoy. Not sure about this one. The dogs are beautiful.
I did take a look at Alliance and will look at it again.
I am looking forward to watching “Dearest” 1 and 2 as well as “Song of the Bandits.” I do not want to watch these until I have a clear schedule and time to research the time eras first. I hope they will live up to being treated so preciously.
I enjoyed watching Hidden Love but there was not enough narrative tension to keep me watching to the end. I did enjoy the characterizations and the relationships.
I also finshed Hatsoi First Love and Love lasts Forever and started “Why didn’t I tell you a million Times” I may continue this one today or start “Twinkling Watermelon. Or default to “Queen In Hyun’s Man”.
I am very slowly rewatching “Lighter and Princess” which I very much enjoyed on the first watch unaware of the controversy regarding the toxicity of the relationship. Now I am watching to see what I think about that but I am not sure I am captivated enough to continue, with so much more I want to watch.
I am thinking of rewatching W when the Queen In Hyun’s Man rewatch is over. I tried “Over the rainbow” with Ji Hyun Woo but was not drawn in. I did enjoy “Lovers of Music” which I watched a while back-my introduction to trot music.
In response to a comment above I thought “Lost” was a very well done drama. It is full of story and imagery related to the theme song Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah(a very controversial song). The style of the drama reminded me of Lucifer (2005). I am not sure why but both dramas are not typical kdramas and are more like what I think of as art films. Both are very angsty and continue that way throughout. They both have literary and religious imagery.
I enjoyed my recent rewatch of “I am not a robot” and am looking for something similarly light hearted, possibly a rewatch for guaranteed enjoyment without too much thinking.
Thank you to everyone on these chats for adding to my enjoyment of Asian dramas and helping me think about what to watch. As I become more experienced as a viewer, (as I think is probably the case for most of us and one of the reasons why we are here) I have become more selective about what I am willing to watch and need more input from experienced watchers. I hope my input can do the same for others.
@Monmor – snap – I watched the first 2 episodes of ‘Good Day to be a Dog’ this evening!
It is funny, cute and delightful. Looking forward to the way this unfolds.
Episode 2 was a hoot!
“A good day to be a dog” would be the perfect light hearted Show for me right now if there were more episodes to watch! I find it hard to believe that we will only get one episode a week.
SpoileR
SPOILER
And their uncle really is a dog. I was not clear on the relationship of the vet to the family.
@MM, I would rewatch the full “Im not a robot”, but I did it many time episode 1-4. They are crazy hilarious. The castle of cards –Oops, I go in sleep mode. 🙂
The director is Jung Dae Yung (W’s one).
I now complete dramas on-hold or I missed, starting with…
ALCHEMY OF SOUL.
I’m in season2, and while there are some facultative scenes (with a filler feeling), the story is great, lot of love stories. The main one is now far better than in season 1. And the one with Yul and So Yi was one of the best moment in season 1. Here, I like the way many problems are set up, making the love story poignant. Without so much screentime, the emotional power is high.
I enjoyed alchemy of souls one And two. I did some re watching at the time And will probably rewatch at some point when it has faded a bit for me.
Interesting that I am not a robot is the same director as w. I will check out more of this director’s shows
@MM, King2Hearts is ZHAT drama. 😉
AOS season 2 is amazing about set-up and pay-off for emotional scenes and characters change. I’m blasted. I’d need to rewatch everything and take note. I noticed also in season 1 how the plotline was well planned, almost start to finish.
My favorite scene in season1 was Yul and So-Hi in Ep18, 28:20. Best tragic love story scene. Very moving. Pure magic. I’d need to take note of all the scenes before and plot-points leading to this.
Just now, as I’m watching, it’s like taking lessons. I start to daydream and thinking about my own drama. Scenes I could do that too, set-up and emotional pay-off. But certainly I forget to do it sometime, like that:
– I create the set-up but don’t have the pay-off, a further emotional scene benefiting from it. I don’t see it’s a set-up because it’s used for something else at the same time.
– I have the emotional scene, but not enough set-up, so it looks like it just happens and the emotional power is lower.
Because I was daydreaming without reading AOS subtitles, I just found a scene like that in one of the episodes I didn’t rewritten yet: And I’ve got a solution!! Ofc, I noted that on the idea files. Then I wonder if there would be other moments I missed. Now I need to rewatch the last 10 minutes of my episode of AOS, because it’s like I wasn’t here. T T
@WE, you’ve been editing from Episode 1? I read again up to Ep 2 and parts of it are different. I like your choice of screenshots.
@GB, not sure, you speak about W four worlds?
Ep1, I made the text changes you said about to improve english translation.
I improved the Wang Shin cliffhanger scene.
I also changed first scene, because a friend said me it was too quick to go into what it is now scene 2. So, before I set the landscape with sounds. I changed a bit the text, yeah, I remember. More flavor, better paragraph cuts. Maybe I changed two or three little thing elsewhere.
I used convention for characters introduction, CAPS NAME and (age).
I think some little things are still missing. For example, I should say Wang Shin clothes first time, and introduce him a little better (here it’s very short).
The problem with ep 1-13, as there is a max of image, the writing is too concise and even I don’t specify some details I should. Ofc, ep 14+, the writing becomes accurate to korean screenplay. (except some dialog lines split).
I completed the page about the korean format and visual screenplay guide you advised I should do, and it was helpful for my main reader, when I was thinking all was obvious after some time. So, it was really a great idea. +now it’s near to be a guide for anyone wanting to use this format.
Well, I’m out of context here. For more info/comment, MDL me, or comment on the blog. 😉 … But to stay in context, it’s also a drama watchable in october 2023. 😀
I am still on my Amazon Prime-only watch (until I cancel it in a few weeks).
I dropped Heartbeat in the middle of episode 6. I had enjoyed it until then—I especially liked the actress playing the female lead—but I’d read too many warnings about the ending to make me wonder if this was going to be another DDSSLLS type of disappointment—or worse (a viewer on Dramabeans described it as going from Grease to Pulp Fiction). So I read a recap of the final episodes and then dropped it. I don’t understand why a show billed as a rom-com fantasy can’t have a happy ending. Or why good people in dramas are destined to be alone when the writer could simply erase a couple of paragraphs and change the ending to a happy one, satisfying the viewers instead of turning them against the drama.
I tried Tale of the Nine Tailed 1939 and decided it’s not for me, at least right now. It just seemed silly. When I had Amazon a while back for a month I tried watching May I Help You but I ended up dropping it when I realized where it was headed. I feel allergic to dramas that present tragedy upon tragedy for good characters (like the Good Bad Mother). I don’t know what the purpose is for that. To make us feel better about the smaller dramas of our lives? To give us a good cry?
But I stumbled upon The Kidnapping Day and so far really like it. The child actress is amazing. It has a plot that keeps moving (literally, they’re on the run right now) with lots of consequences for our main characters. I’m surprised I haven’t read much about it. If I get all the way through it and still like it, I’ll let you all know!
I will also check out Lost before my subscription ends…
@Kate Yes I am looking for a spoonful of sugar to help the medicine go down.
@Monmor… ditto! It’s a welcome change of mood. But as you say only one episode a week… I hope it is broadcast more swiftly on Netflix if it does indeed get shown on Netflix.
aNNYeong,
I started “good day to be a dog” – super cute! the dog! haha
Awww they have a history (joseon) together… no wonder she ended up kissing him instead. another drunkin’ mistake, but not really. they are destined haha. i think the ML likes her – he just doesn’t like dogs.
Park Gyu-young kinda reminds me of Lee Jun-ho in some angles. so weird. and the blondish hair. interesting look for her. ish ok.
who else is watching this show? it’s funny and light. yay!
@HK-Lady, hello!
If you scroll up just a little there are a few other comments about this show.
Super fun! The historic pre-story adds a mystery and I am seeing a plot twist ahead!
@kate
I see you and @monmor is also watching. Yay!
i saw two episodes, so i’m not sure about the one episode a week that @monmor mentioned. I need to get netflix soon though ugh.
Howdy! After DWY, I’m watching A Good Day To Be A Dog (AGDTBAD).
I’m trying to finish Love Is Sweet which I’m enjoying too. 😊
I’m liking it so far because it is light and funny. I agree with @HK_Lady that Mr Jin likes Miss Han. He was afraid when he thought that she might have seen him being scared of a dog. I think he bought her the cake too. ☺️
There’s a brooding shower scene, a quick one. Where is @nrllee? 😆 We miss you here.
I don’t know why but Cha Eun Woo just makes me want to stare at him. 😂
Dear @FBG,
Kalimera! I do hope you are okay! Yes, we are okay as okay we can be with all those things that are happening in the neighbourhood.
I will try to find the most simple ones to post them for you! <3
@agdr03, I think you are not alone in wanting to stare. Maybe a million or billion others, too? 😊
@Cleopatra and @FBG4877, you inspired me to make banana bread last night. So good toasted and lightly buttered on a chilly morning here. I use an American recipe which measures in cups and spoons rather than litres and grams. It’s a bit fussy so I generally improvise using the basic ingredients and I add things according to my mood.
@agdro3 and @Fern, I do wonder whether this is why he comes across as rather shy in public. He is exceptionally able to draw the female gaze!
I agree, @Kate. Unless he really liked the attention, but then netizens would say he had a big ego. He also has to be wary of getting linked romantically. I think he really hopes for a more normal life one day.
@Fern, agreed. Watching him with the FL during a press photo session he came across as a slightly and charmingly awkward despite his many years of experience…not someone who laps up the attention. When he acts his charm often comes through best with a warm and confiding shy smile.
@Fern and @Kate , CEW really has that spell draw. 🥰 I’m sure it’s probable that it may be a billion people wanting to stare at him. ☺️
I’ll never forget that episode of a variety show (I forgot which one) where he said he really wants to get married one day. He was crying when he said it and I felt so bad for him. Poor guy. He was speaking from the heart and I hope one day he really can fulfil this dream of his.
I hope that girl will make him very happy. 😊
Heartily agreeing @agdr03! I am also wondering about the terms of his contract.
Yes to that hope @ agdr03! I may double post here but I am wondering about the terms of his contract.
@Fern I am laughing at myself because It’s too early in the morning to gush over this actor But the idea of banana bread is pretty exciting. I have many black bananas in my freezer. But no one to eat banana bread anymore except me. I eat banana bread the same way. I watch dramas which is one after the other. But I will get out my recipe and look at the recipes that I think are on this blog somewhere.
The view of his back was pretty appealing. I am now awake after wordle and coffee.
Yes! Perfect back view!
So I have started my W rewatch. I found the first impressions post very helpful. And will continue to watch and read the posts. I had missed the significance of the pen the first time, thinking of it only as an emergency medical procedure. I don’t think I ever would have thought of God’s touch although I am familiar with The art. Going back to talking about dreams, I once dreamt about that painting but did not know the source until someone pointed it out to me. So interesting that it was filed away somewhere in my subconsious without my being aware. Now, I am aware of its significance in this drama. This post is exciting me to Watch the next episode but I will have to leave the marshmallow on the plate For most of the day.
I have also started ‘A Time Called You’ – a romance, mystery, fantasy.
New yesterday on Netflix.
It stars Ahn Hyo-Seop and Jeon Yeo-Been (Vincenzo).
Great cast – genuinely puzzling mystery that gradually unfolds…
Very thin premise for the developments and one or two slightly ridiculous moments where i thought I would be tempted to laugh were I trying to deliver the lines as a cast member… But if you accept the fantasy premise and suspend critical disbelief… this is a very entertaining show. In my opinion at least.
I am over half way through the 12 episodes… The plot is so convoluted at this point that I am trying to work out the basics.
But our leads are excellent together and AHS is yummy in this role.
ps cast includes Rowoon in a cameo… and the baddy friend from Red Sleeved Cuff + the award winning Lady of the Court from Red Sleeved Cuff.
@Kate fern agdr3. Episode 3 is already on viki!
Great! Will watch tonight after dinner @Monmar. I’m looking forward!
Ideally, I would make this the show I watch at bedtime so I am not tempted to continue since there are no episodes to continue. I am very much looking forward to.
I dropped Strong Woman – started cute and devolved from there. Somehow she morphed into the bionic woman with the extraordinary speed, eyesight and and strength.
@agdr03 – your comment about CEW cracked me up. He really is lovely. Did you see pictures of him from the Dior show? Turquoise sweater and gold chain cross body bag? It totally worked on him.
@Kate there are some posts about a Time Called You. I think it dropped earlier in US. You’ll have to watch the original if you haven’t seen it. One Day or Someday. I preferred the music in One Day or Someday although there is some significance to the music used in the Korean version. I thought AHS did a good job because he had to deliver some really cheesy lines. Rowoon had similar cheesy lines in DWY but got to say them tongue in cheek.
Just started the Chinese drama Never Too Late focused on a friendship between a younger woman and an older woman who become roommates. The younger FL is not too likable in the beginning but I assume she will improve as her backstory is revealed. Bai Jing Ting plays the ML who is the nephew of the older woman and has history with FL. I think BJT is really good about picking roles so I am optimistic about this drama so far.
@Good Twin – thank you for the prompt and recommendation. I did not notice the discussion of this originally!
Merci beaucoup.
oooh… a BJT series…. mmmm. I’ve added that to my list.
I will look at this BJT series as well.
ABOUT W. I
Can’t find the Threads for 2 TO 4?
SPOILER
SPOILER
SPOILER
With good day to be a dog. I am a little disappointed by the introduced mystery element And the possibility that the second mail lead is evil in some way. I did enjoy the main couple’s interactions.
Hi @Kate, a few of us were able to watch A Time Called You and comment on it in 3 threads of four episodes each.
The 3rd thread is at the moment in the Uncategorized category (link below) but beware, it contains spoilers. However it also contains at the top @pkml3’s links to the first 2 threads.
I enjoyed the Show a lot!!!
https://bitchesoverdramas.com/2023/09/08/a-time-called-you-eps-9-to-12-open-thread/
Spoiler……………..……
@Monmor, I loved episode 3 especially with Hae-na saving Seo-won from Mandeuk a few times. I like that he’s trying to get to know her now. 🥰 I really like their interactions like you. It was so funny when she pushed him while he was putting food for Mandeuk.
I’m not sure if the SML is evil but I think he’s trying to help Seo-won and Hae-na to be close like when he let Mandeuk out in the school to chase Seo-won. 😃
The room in the basement is a mystery with Bo-gyeom going in there in broad daylight. Is he a shaman? We see another secret box similar to Destined With You.
We got it right @HK_Lady, that Seo-won likes Hae-na from the beginning. ☺️
For @Monmor, it’s decently appealing definitely. 😆
CTO
https://www.instagram.com/reel/CyQqQYYNdr_/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
@Good Twin, yes. I saw him at the Dior event. I think I can’t fault him with whatever he wears. 🥰
He’s just 😍, period.
I am wondering if the backstory is that this person is actually the man (whose entire face we didn’t see and whose voice was distorted if you remember) who placed the dog curse on our FL’s ancestor. I did a mouth to mouth comparison…
Just a theory…
Yes I wondered too If he might be a shaman and have something to do with the curse. That box did look pretty familiar.
I may well enjoy this aspect of the plot if I do not have to think too much. I am here for light hearted fun.
@GB – thank you! I will read you alk with interest. I am wondering how I missed this!
@Monmor- agreed on both points!
Mouth to mouth? I will
need to rewatch that part
Lol!!
What I meant was that I freeze-framed the mouth of the mystery man who showed up and delivered the curse to FL in the past, and then freeze-framed the mouth of the present-day character to see if they were similar!!
Haha
Have to say Cha Eun Woo visuals are quite stunning. I’ve watched him in True Beauty also. He reminds me of XuKai, a Chinese actor, though XuKai seems to have sharper features and can look fiercer. EunWoo looks cuter in a way, like the nice nice sweet kinda guy.
@Kate I have watched Someday or One Day concurrently with A Time called You and I think you should just watch one of them else it will be too confusing. The plots of both is quite similar and there wasn’t big difference in the storyline between the two. I dropped Someday or One Day eventually mainly because I prefer the leads in A Time called You.
Like @GB I also preferred Someday or One Day’s ost. You could probably listen to both osts then!
I’m watching AGDTBAD and like @HK_Lady and @agdr03 think ML likes FL too. I’m on episode 2 now and loved all the dog interactions. The dogs are just too cute! I think the dog is cgi right? Gosh, it looked so realistic yet some parts don’t seem like something a dog would do, like the part when it jumped in all ways to open the door.
@grace and @Kate, Yup I’ve downloaded whatever OSTs I could find on YT from both SOOD and ATCY to play when I drive. Images of some of the scenes flash through my mind when I listen. I believe it’s always the great longing and sense of loss that gets me sucked into a show. The rest of it was just so intriguing.
I’m still doing my relaxed rewatch of the jdorama Sono Onna Jiruba (Jitterbug). Just too sweet but not cloying. 🙂
@ kate. I must have slept through parts of episode three of a good day to be a dog. I meant I needed to rewatch the scenes you mentioned like the one of the mystery man. I got a really good laugh about the mouth to mouth.TY
@grace and @agdr3 yes XuKai I think he was the male lead In Arsenal military academy? I found him attractive and looked for other shows. You are reminding me to look again. I am finding Eun Woo to Be Appealing(@agdr3 Yes I guess this is a bit of an understatement) in a good day to be a dog.
On the subject of what we find attractive in An actor. An actor’s ability to express vulnerability I think is key for me. Also their versatility as a person. For the longest time I was in love with eric moon. I discovered his musical talents by serendipity after watching some of his dramas. I particularly remember the scene in que sera sera When he finds out the woman he is in Love with is pregnant by another man. He accidentally breaks a glass and then tries to pick up the pieces while his fingers are bleeding and looks up at the actress in such a woebegone fashion. He is a talented actor, musician,and group leader. What I find funny in myself is that I feel like I am betraying him when I like another idol. I find it interesting to use my own reactions to think about what crazy Fans are feeling. They are not able to observe their reactions in any kind of objective way I think nor temper those reactions.
What led me to that long commentary was thinking about Rowoon. I wonder if he willingly gave up being a member of SF9 Or if contract
Stipulations Put him in a position of needing to choose.
It is pretty funny that the prince charming In a good day to be a dog has a fear of Frogs, I mean dogs.
@grace – I’ll take your advice and still with the recent re-make ‘A Time Called You’ and can always go back to the original version.
So glad you are enjoying AGDTBAD! I think the dog is real in some sequences and cgi for close-ups where the dog needs to be very precise in its actions. There are some pics and short films of Cha Eun-Woo and Park Gyu Young- and she is holding the little terrier who plays her!
@GB and @grace – I’ll check out the OSTs… I am finding the story very intriguing and evocative of all sorts of emotions!
@Monmor, I think there are a number of Eric Mun/Moon fans in this community.
I like the way you explore what makes an actor/ or character attractive. I hadn’t thought about this but it does seem to be that interplay between strength and vulnerability. Knowing that he is vulnerable and only shows his soft underbelly to the one he cares for is especially appealing.
I recently saw him in ‘The Spies Who Loved Me’ on Amazon Prime. He was great in that role and very attractive. I also enjoyed him in ‘Another Miss Oh’ of course!
I particularly enjoyed him in discovery of romance. The interplay within his role/personality of strength and vulnerability is particularly evident.
I very much enjoyed another miss. Oh and was not as keen about the spies Who loved me or the other one about the North Korean spy? I did not regret watching either. But did fast forward through particular parts. Especially for the one about the North Korean spy. I would consider rewatching the spies who loved me and see if I could get more out of it.
I haven’t seen ‘Discovery of Romance’ – thank you for the tip @Monmor!
I enjoy rom com meets spy dram shows…I found it really entertaining and then was not as convinced by the way the show wrapped everything up.
I would watch it again at some point though.
Hei unnie 😁 i think you need to watch doona!
The ending kinda leaving viewers hanging🫤
I want to know your interpretation of doona and won jun relationship in the end?!
Its slow burn romance, i love this typical genre. I cant stop fangirling suzy and yang se jong..
So far yang se jong always this good with this typical genre, somehow i feel i watch the same se jong character from his past project like still 17, temperature of love.. or maybe i love his voice.
Thank you.
Btw, a good day to be a dog also great one!
But its only one ep for week, its torture to wait.
I also plan to watch my demon (kim yoo jung and song kang) typical romance that everyone cant dislike, esp fake marriage aka contract marriage plot.
and castaway diva (park eun bin) what i like most in the trailer is park eun bin voice. Her voice kinda addicting to hear. Kekeke.. i hope the story will be interesting to watch
Both of this drama airing this month.
@Kate oops lost a post Discovery of love did not seem to be that well received. I am not sure why. i have an inkling but I do not want to write any spoilers.
I enjoyed it both times I watched it. I am not sure why I did not like tHE sPIES WHO LOVED ME. I think it was something about how the spy plot and the romance played out. I guess that would be the whole screenplay! Some scenes, though, were very romantic and some very humourous, I remember.
@Monmor – I’ve put it on my list to watch now. I’ll feed back to you when I’ve managed to see it.
I wonder whether TSWLM ..whether, as you intimate, it was the intermingling of complex spy stuff and all the mixed feelings about the central relationships and a lot of ambiguity there … Difficult to be as focused on the central couple romance??? I am writing this in a vague way to avoid spoilers.
@Kate Even though you are being vague I think you hit the nail on the head.🙂
@Monmor – good! Hard to convey without being specific.
@Kate I was mystified at the time that a drama with such great actors.And such a good premise Was so disappointing. If I ever feel like Dissecting a drama to figure out what went wrong. I think this would be a good choice for me. Or I could read other thoughts online but i’m not really that interested. Maybe someday if I am twiddling my thumbs.
@grace, am re-entering the world of ‘My Journey to You’. The second half of episode 6 had a very strikingly choreographed fight scene.
Now the ML is on his quest as the Sword Wielder elect and the FL is following him into the various trials he will face. I am on episode 7 now.
I will keep going with this new momentum. I am certainly enjoying it visually + the comedy provided by some key supporting characters.
I am thinking of starting dearest or song of bandits. Is anyone else watching either of these?
@Monmor… I am interested in ‘Song of Bandits’… but I have some shows to complete. It will probably not be in the next week or so.
I put on-hold the dramas on-air I’m watching, as I prefer binge watching.
I could watch the zombie drama “All of us are dead”. Excellent one.
The superheros “Moving”… weird structure, boring at first, then quite good.
Now I’m in “Behind your touch”, the comedy is nice.
I did start dearest last night. I thought the war was later in the series, but it already started in the first or second episode. Not a show to watch at bedtime. Some shows I prefer on my big screen and I think this is probably one of them. I might start “strong girl …..” For a rewatch On my tablet.
@Kate I will watch “Song of the Bandits”. Perhaps we can connect when we start.
@WE I like both binging and watching current shows. I try to find a balance but I almost need to have a show that I am binging.
Good thinking @Monmor. I’ll let you know!
@Kate. TY
@grace – I have been watching My Journey to You from the second half of episode 6 – through a head cold- and am enjoying the show now.
I have enjoyed all the quest stuff and the role of the FL in the ML’s challenges.
Just watched a rather moving conversation between our ML and FL (through a door) in Episode 11. He has returned from his snowy expedition to the back hill. You will know the section I mean.
@Kate Are you by any chance The Kate who is commenting on my dearest over at MDL? Reading that thread is so difficult When a misogynist takes it over. I wanted to respond to a comment by a kate but I couldn’t find it again because there is so much hate To scroll through.
Hi @Monmor. No it isn’t me. What a shame that the discussion is being distorted in that way.
Yes it is a shame. The same person has done this now on three different shows I recently watched. He starts going on about how the female lead is “cheating”. Anyway, not worth my breath or fingers to even talk about it. Not likely he is going to change his views from input on an m d l thread.
Yes! That is a pain. It spoils things for others. He doesn’t sound like he is looking to listen and learn from others!
Yang Sejong and Bae Suzy in ‘Doona’. Watched all 9 episodes. Wow Wee! my personal opinion is that Cha what’s his name? And Rowoon (altho I’m a fan) better watch out! Been out of contention for a while because of Military S. This is worth watching. Both leads are excellent in their roles. The supporting cast also very good. This is a relationship drama that has dispensed with some of the ‘frills’ and unnecessary padding that is sometimes the bane of discerning audiences to Kdrama. It might seem to ‘hop about’ regarding opening scenes etc.,but this is a feature of the directing etc and doesn’t take away from the storyline, it just encourages the viewer to, how shall I phrase it? assemble our own thoughts on the plot direction. It’s slow and quite beautiful to look at and actually feel that as a viewer we have participated! Only my opinion but I’d watch this again several times over. On an extra note,the emotional aspect was on a par with 21 25, however it reflects the real world as regards 🤬 and smoking etc so if you have reservations about this don’t watch it.
Just to add, to previous about ‘Doona’. Read into what you will about the Kidol industry in this. I think it was a very subtle criticism and a definite message which no doubt will result in a deafening silence from that industry!
Watched ‘strong girl nam soon’ for 5 episodes. Will probably put it on back burner for a while ! Found the storyline too childish. I’m assuming it’s all meant to be tongue in cheek and deliberately overacted but I just got 😴 🥱
Hi @Monmar, please forgive my total and maybe blissful ignorance but MDL was mentioned re comments recently and I was at a loss. I did try to look it up I got various answers and I’m assuming it’s a streaming ‘platform’ but I’m still in ignorance (or dumbness)! Can anyone help? Also maybe I can’t access it here in Emerald Isle ‘land’. hope to hear back, in anticipation of enlightenment🤔🙂
https://mydramalist.com/about
Hi @Redser, MDL stands for My Drama List.
“MyDramaList.com is a community-driven platform where Asian drama and movie fans can create their own lists, discuss their favorite shows and movies, discover new content, and make friends. Our goal is to provide a fun and engaging space for fans to connect and share their passion for Asian dramas and movies.” – @Monmor has given you the link to it above.
@MM, BOD and MDL are two different universes. I like both.
I’m really relaxed on BOD: as we know all, there is only smart people on BOD. 😀
But I’m always ready for anything on MDL, including fights, lot of fun. 😉
Anyway, it’s out of BOD – Feel free to contact me on MDL, here my profile:
https://mydramalist.com/dramalist/7647047
I appreciate how well moderated BOD is.
@MM, it’s not so moderated, it’s people choice to talk peacefully. And I like a lot MDL free speech too. It’s more wild, but we need that, in a world of censorship.
People may choose to discuss peacably but, to me, the guidelines are pretty clear , both implicitly and explicitly, whereas MDL is a little more like the Wild West. I can choose to participate in a platform where I know I will not encounter the kind of statements I was seeing over on the other platform-statements which were very disruptive to an intelligent conversation.. Yes they are 2 different worlds. I was expressing my gratitude to the people who run this site and put in a lot of hard work for this to work well.
Hi Monmar, Growing beautifully, and WEnchanteur. Many thanks for your prompt replies. Very insightful. I’ve seen MyDramaList up before, why I didn’t connect, duhh! It’s old age! Anyway. Really enjoy the comments and reviews on this platform. I’m not into forensically dissecting a drama but that’s probably because I’m lazy and just want to enjoy the viewing experience, although I take a lot of mental notes, and know what I want to avoid in the future. For example, bad writing, poor directing, sloppy acting techniques etc. This makes me really appreciate and instinctively recognise the ‘good stuff’ and I won’t waste time on the mundane. Anyway dissecting plots, characters etc reminds me too much of my school days and homework, so no thanks, I’ll leave it in ye’re expert hands. Happy viewing😍 and thanks again.
Does anyone know what happened to today’s episode of a good day to be a dog?
Are you watching this, @monmor?
I think SBS postponed it until next week to televise the KBO (Korean Baseball Organization) post-season games. Baseball is big over there while this drama isn’t getting high ratings.
TY I will tune in next week. I started rewatching “Strong woman Do Bong Soon. I had forgotten how funny it is.
Hi. How are you Queen Chingu?
Thank you for the information. I am watching AGDTBAD.
I can’t believe October is almost finished.
I’m taking a mini-break from work. Need a clear head for days ahead. 🙂 And how are you doing, dear @agdr03?
Will blitz through “A Good Day to Be a Dog” and open a thread for us.
I hope you get to have plenty of rest not just for your mind but body as well. 🌼🌸🌺
I am well considering our hot to cold weather change these days.
I’m enjoying AGDTBAD. I like the simple story, the cute dogs and yes, CEW. 😃
Let us know what you think.
Thank you for the thread. ☺️
I went back to mDL and the conversation About” my dearest” has significantly improved.
RE My Dearest Ooops that was DB. It is better over on MDLtoo. Other commenters started picking up a much more interesting and relevant conversation.
Thinking about this and exchanging comments here has made me think about the whole issue of
Censorship. I do not know what happened to the comments I objected to, but enough people made good, reasoned, and unemotional arguments to reset the conversation. The poster I objected to made a few very brief comments more recently But was not able to derail the conversation.
I do not want to engage in a conversation about censorship and freedom of speech. This is not the forum but I am glad I was stimulated to think about this subject and to see how my concerns resolved themselves.
@MM, aaaah. It’s just like that things should happen. Someone give their opinion, someone else different opinion. Maybe disagree. Maybe harsh. But just say why and how, expose the analyse. You don’t need support when you do it well. Maybe you don’t use to be into places with antagonism? Or your interlocutor is quite good at argumenting (maybe using sophism, beware) and you are no match? Then improve, and don’t be so emotionally involved in this. Being a good words fighter is useful on internet. 😉
I still believe there are some things that are hate that Are not debatable because the other person has such a different world view; however I am glad in this instance To see what happened. Others were trying to present good arguments but it just resulted in the thread being taken over by this discussion and the analysis of the show being lost. Now the thread is back on topic. I was not the least bit interested in debating with somebody who holds his world view.
October has been a whirlwind month for me. I spent ten days in Seattle, and during that time attended a concert (Clannad: The Farewell Tour), saw an opera (G.F. Handel’s Alcina), and went to screenings of one feature film and five documentaries hosted by the Seattle International Film Festival as part of their ongoing activities throughout the year.
The feature film, Farewell My Concubine, was remarkable. Made in China in 1992 and released on January 1, 1993, it won the Palm d’Or at the 1993 Cannes Film Festival. But in China the film was banned shortly after its release and only re-released in September 1993 after fourteen minutes were cut as demanded by the politburo due to what was considered controversial material. The film, which had long been out of print, has been restored for its 30th anniversary. If you get a chance to see it on the big screen, I recommend it. The cinematography is stunning. The acting is outstanding. If you watched the Kdrama You Are My Spring, you saw a reference to Hong Kong movie actor Leslie Cheung. His performance in Farewell My Concubine is considered to be the best of his career. https://youtu.be/cYFjx-UoWhw
I saw Farewell My Concubine the first full day I was in Seattle. The last documentary I saw somewhat (and more happily) brought me full circle. It is about the Seattle Chinese Community Girls Drill Team, which was founded in 1952. During the screening of the documentary, I sat next to one of the original members, and she made sure I noticed whenever she was on the screen! (There’s even a glimpse of her in the trailer.) After the documentary was shown, a contingent of the current drill team performed on the stage. They were limited in what they could do because of the small floor size, but gave the audience a sample of their discipline and flair. There’s nothing like them in the whole world, not even in China: a drill team that marches with military precision in costumes based on women warriors in Chinese opera. https://youtu.be/lRnvXcEpU2U
The weekend after my return from Seattle was my daughter’s wedding. Family and friends converged from points around the globe, and many pitched in to make the weekend’s events go smoothly. I appreciated having family and friends gather for a happy reason. For me as a wife and mother, sister, sister-in-law, aunt, great-aunt, etc., being with everyone was a pleasant retrospective. Seeing people I love enjoying time together made me glow. Watching my daughter and son-in-law interact with their attendants and officiant was hilarious because they’re all friends and know each other so well.
Now that I’m going back to a somewhat normal schedule, I’ve been catching up on my dramas. I’m finally up to date on Twinkling Watermelon, and am charmed by that show. Some of the story exposition is clunky–like a recitative in opera–but other parts soar. I like best the performance of Choi Hyun Wook, who plays the 18-year-old Ha Yi Chan. He’s personable and natural while displaying a wide range of emotions. I’m still trying to catch up with Strong Girl Nam Soon. The over-the-top characters and situations are entertaining in the style of a comic book, even though this show is not based on a webtoon or manhwa. I’m filling in extra hours here and there with the fluffy Cdrama Love is Sweet. It’s been just the right show to download episodes to watch on plane rides.
Glad you’re back, @Welmaris.
Best wishes to your daughter!
So tell me what did you wear to your daughter’s wedding?
I have been needing something else to watch. In addition to my dearest and a good day to be a dog. I just finished a rewatch of strong woman doe bong soon and really enjoyed it. I started reading some of The other month’s what are we watching. It looks as though our blooming youth was reasonably good So I will start an episode tonight. I did watch an episode of stealer treasure keeper Because I thought the subject was intriguing and hey another show with joo won. It did not particularly grab me and some of the reviews were not very good.
I am curious that no one else seems to be watching my dearest. The twist today is the rebuttal To the Comments I was saying were Hate comments towards women.
I am watching My Dearest, but have not seen Episodes 15 and 16 yet.
@SF They are low tension compared to episode fourteen.
I have never watched Goblin. Am I missing anything?🙃
I thought I would be funny by asking this question. I see that goblin was a rewatch for this group so I will read those threads. So please disregard my half ass comment.
Hi @MM, yes we did rewatch Goblin, however it’s one of those shows that I don’t mind watching more than twice! I do recommend it.
TY I will put it back on my to watch list and refer to the group watch when I do watch it.
I have watched the first episodes of our blooming youth and will stick with that for now. I did not realize it is the same scriptwriter as romanceIs a bonus book, 5 and a half, and because it’s the first time. Also discovery of romance. I enjoyed all of these shows so I think our blooming youth will be a good fit for me. I did agree with comments in the original watching thread about some of the dialogue being off in terms of suitability to the era.
@mommor if you’re still looking for an engaging drama to watch – I really enjoyed 18 Again which aired in 2020 (which may be why it didn’t seem to get that much attention). You would have to find it on a third party site as it is no longer on Netflix or Viki. It is a remake of the American film 17 Again and by far surpasses it. Amid the humor there is lots of angst and heartfelt scenes. One of those dramas that sticks with you.
I have enjoyed “eighteen again” and actually in passing was thinking of watching it again when I was looking at my watched list. It was an interesting way of getting some noona romance squeezed in there.🙂 I really enjoy all three main actors. Why do such good shows get Mislead on the internet?
I will see if I can find it. Thank you for the suggestion And refocusing my attention on it.
Mislaid on the Internet
I want to watch 18 Again, but it is not legally available to me, alas.
Currently watching
My Dearest
Twinkling Watermelon
Castaway Diva
On hold
Nobody Knows
Jumong
@MM, goblin. Yeah you miss something! One of the most boring dramas ever. A special prize. And it’s a good test of resilience. Check how many episodes you can endure before to drop. I could to 6 (not so bad).
From that, I created the verb “globlinizing”. To say for any other fantasy drama with gods (or people like that) meeting the female lead in many copy-pasted rendezvous. Slow scenes with a lot of slow motion, talking about the same things over and over, and no one move or do something. BUT with “aesthetic” cinematography. Then you have many flashbacks of these same scenes all over the place. Oops, I also forgot to use the words “dragging” and “fillers”. 😀
Maybe, in an impulse of masochism, I’ll try to end this drama? 😜
Just to check if my opinion changed since the time I tried?
One of the great quality of Goblin: there is no plot-hole! As there is no plot. 🙂
Here ends my goblin-bashing moment. 😉
I’m sure I’ve sold you the drama better than people who love it. 😆
My dearest continues to be my favorite drama of the year and I’ve stopped reading the MDL commentary because the hate on the FL is ridiculously unnecessary and juvenile.
I’m still enjoying twinkling watermelon and have watched all 3 episodes of A Good day to be a dog. I think I fall in the minority when I say I’m happy with the schedule (except for this weeks total skip). I think it will keep me from getting bored.
Also I’m in the minority of people who didn’t like strong girl nam soon so it wasn’t a surprise that I barely made it through episode 1 before I dropped it.
I’ve seen the first episode of Castaway Diva and I’m excited about it. However, I just realized it’s from the same writer as Start up and the comments on MDL seem to hint there will be some mystery as to who the male will be as the official OTP. I will watch episode 2 tonight and see if I can find a hint (like the feather in episode 1 of start up) as to who our “winner” will be. Hopefully it will be fun to uncover and not tedious wading through fan girls of a specific actor/character to find intelligent commentary.
Thank you for your response. “My dearest” is a social commentary if there ever was one. I find that I am amused now by the commentary over on the other site. It is almost as though the screen writer plotted it out to happen in real life Or at least online real life as well as on the screen. Clever. The misogyny in joseon times is alive and well unfortunately.
I loved strong woman doboog Soon but have not watched this recent version and probably will not.
I do not like being strung along about who is the main male lead but I do like the actress so I’ll probably try to watch castaway diva or at least look at the first episode.
I am enjoying a good day to be a dog as I mentioned. For some reason, I just haven’t turned on twinkling watermelon yet. But I have only heard positive things about it.
I am also currently Watching blooming youth. I may rewatch eighteen again For the pleasure of a familiar show.
I noticed sung hoon’s new show starts this weekend. I will have a look at that. I enjoyed him in 5 enough, but not in very much else. Jane the Virgin remake was terrible.
I am looking forward to matchmaker and day of the moon or whatever it is called.
@Packmule3, in answer to your question I’ve sent you an email from my Gmail account. As for what I wore to my daughter’s wedding, would you believe it if I said I donned a black leather catsuit such as worn by the motorcycling mom in Strong Girl Nam Soon? No?! Then would you believe I wore a stretchy and comfortable dress I bought the week before the wedding? It caught my eye in a Seattle boutique because it reminded me of a cheongsam. I thought it was appropriate since the bride’s father is ethnically Chinese, as is the groom’s mother.
I was a well-behaved mother of the bride and didn’t once ask the newlyweds when I should expect grandchildren.
@monmor, Goblin is the Kdrama I love the best. I’ve watched it several times, and will probably rewatch it in the future. For me it hits all the right notes, like a favorite piece of music.
I had a good laugh about you exercising restraint regarding Comments about grandchildren . My son was just married and I have been doing the same Although my daughter has done some reconnaissance For me.
I will Put goblin Higher up on my watch list.
@WE, RE: Queen and I Rewatch Start Time: Your Daylight Savings Time has ended. That means for you, you will need to know that on 4 Nov you start 1 hour earlier and on 11 Nov you start half an hour later. However @pkml3 has not confirmed what she will post. Nevermind, come online and I’ll probably try to be around to see who’s too early!
Kalimera @Packmule3 et al!
Happy Halloween / Samsain / All Souls day to all of you who celebrate it!
Tonight “The Matchmakers” starts and on Wednesday “Moon in the Day”. I curious about both and November has a lot of new – and some of them seem to be interesting – shows that are going to air, but I don’t think I will watch everything… o.O
Is anyone going to start watching them? @Packmule3 can we have open threads about them?
About new shows (for what watching in november):
— Castaway Diva — It’s the new Park Hyu Rin drama. So, in any way (on air or binge) it’s sure I’ll watch it!
I’m watching Vincenzo currently. It’s better than expected. I disliked so much the trailers that I put that directly on drop list. But today I take time to watch.
I’m interested in matchmakers, moon in the day, and castaway diva. I will probably start all three and see which ones stick.
Hi all,
I am stuck at home at the moment recovering from a flu-like virus and as I look around the flat with some despondence this silly, campy Decluttering Romance with is doing me good after one episode!
Mr Bride is on Viki and if you are not a domestic diva or struggle with balancing responsibilities you will relate to some extent. I sent screenshots of one of the scenes to a friend of mine who tends not to be able to throw things away! The FL getting home at night and struggling to get through her hall… made me hoot with recognition!
The cast throw themselves into the slightly farcical drama with gusto… The show does have a heart of gold too and some serious points to make – I wouldn’t enjoy it if it became too deconstructing.
The ML looks like a young J-drama version of BTS’s JungKook when he started out!
I hope Mr Bride maintains that nice balance between comedy and some rather poignant messaging + sweet moments. It is definitely on the side of the over-stretched business woman who doesn’t have time to be and do everything.
I will need to check out this mister bride. First time hearing about it.
I am going to drop our blooming youth. I read through the BOD posts and do not feel like spending time trying to sort out the plot when I am interested in starting to watch new shows. So I know what happens and have a general idea of how the plot developed. So I am okay with that.
@Kate I just looked up “Mr Bride”. Might just be the light-hearted show. Which has some personal significance that I have been looking for. There are two seasons?
I have had the thought before that. Japanese shows don’t really care if the International audience might be interested. How would I ever have known about such a show? Judging from the Japanese title?
I came to k dramas in 2019 because I wanted to watch some Japanese shows and found them difficult to access. I guess the two countries have a very different philosophy and politics about their relationship to the rest of the world. I am a fan of how south korea Has established soft diplomacy around the world.
@Monmor it is OTT and kitsch… but if you are in the right mood for it… great fun!
I think there is only one season. As far as I know.
Oh I see now it is a One episode special That made me think there were two seasons.
12 episodes according to Viki. Nice and short.
I have not watched that many japanese shows. Their humor is even a little more difficult I think for westerners than korean humor. So I will see what I think.
@GB I hope the time change rescheduling is not stressing you out too much. It stresses me out just to think about it. You are doing a good job
@Kate I am enjoying thinking about watchi g this japanese show as i’m doing My once monthly kitchen floor sweep. I imagine this show is not for those who want to learn to fold their underwearSo it best fits in the drawer And looks pretty.
I hope you feel better soon kate.
@Monmor – this show will appeal to the naturally messy/hoarders/domestic disappointments amongst us…. Without that appeal, it may not land with as much bounce!
Thank you!
@MM, thanks for thinking of me! No, not at all … no stress. Our bunch of Bitches are most accommodating. The notice is out, and unless we hear differently, we take it that all who need to, will have read it and are okay with the changes. 🙂
Hi, hope you have a good Halloween holiday no matter what time zone. Last day of Oct starts in 5 1/2 hrs here, so I’d better add my tuppence worth to this months views. I watched Doona, and if one is a long term drama fan and have a reasonably worldly and hopefully wise outlook,you will appreciate and enjoy all aspects of this production, from actors to writers to directors and so forth. I hope a thread might open for this.
Because Yang Se Jong’s performance after almost 2 yrs absence (military svce). Was memorable, in my humble opinion and his ‘interaction’ with Bae Suzy’s character was electric. I can’t mention the Ch*****ry word as packmule will ban me🤫.
I’m also watching My Dearest but have stopped at ep.12 and am going to watch the whole 2nd part episodes in blissful wintry coziness at Christmas! So far it’s brilliant but it’s best to steer clear of Viki’s discussion board as it can be wild with all the theories. I just hope it has an appropriate ending, happy or sad, I don’t mind so long as it’s closure for all!
Because I was taken with Yang Se Jongs acting i looked up a couple of roles he’d had. I’m watching ‘Degree of Love’ released 2017 on Viki. He plays a rookie chef, and his female lead is Seo Hyun Jin as an aspiring screenwriter. The second male lead is Kim Jae Wook, and interestingly, Jo Bo Ah plays the 2nd FL. It’s 40 episodes,BUT they’re short ones. I’m only 20 episodes in and it has typical kdrama romcom scenes, however the writing is sharp between all the characters and the verbal sparring, I found enjoyable.
The second ML and FL have plenty of screen time and are not overshadowed, which is refreshing. Jo Bo ah plays a rather unlikeable character and it’s far removed from her part in DWY, in that she’s overconfident.
However the biggest surprise came with the Yang and Seo’s scene in the restaurant kitchen. Remember this was 6 yrs ago, considering all the furore about ‘that scene’ in King the Land, I know where they lifted it from (Degree of Love, for one)! Actually I think ‘Degree——)did it better😏
I’m watching The Inextricable Destiny on Viki. It’s very watchable and typical Cdrama historical convoluted plot but quite addictive and once you stay with the first few eps you want to really ‘protect’ the main characters, so you worry and wonder what next will befall them. Great stuff to take your mind off the stresses! Take care all. Hope to hear from ye in November.
@Kate
I enjoyed the first episode of mister bride. I don’t know how anyone could keep those small japanese apartments organized. My daughter lives in one that is even smaller. I get a kick out of how they have the laundry out on the balcony.
I have one room at home that looks like her apartment. It used to be said daughter’s room before she moved out. It is where I put the undecided category.
Re mr bride The male lead is pretty cute. A hero who can brandish a soup ladle Would be more useful to me than most of the heroes in asian dramas😁
@Monmor… he gets increasingly cute and what a useful ML!!
My hallway is an homage to her hallway!
She is an award winning Japanese actress apparently.
When he was sorting things into two boxes I felt like something was missing. He added the third category But I actually need at least 2 or 3 more categories To try to sort all the stuff In my spare bedroom/storage room.
I also really like miso soup.
And his brothers are pretty cute too.
And he makes his own bonito flakes!
Lol! What more could you ask for!
Yes, sorting requires many sub-categories… but it wasn’t a bad dramatic depiction…especially of the hesitation to get rid of anything!
I am of the school of thought that something can always be put to a good use. That was very much how I would use those glasses. Thinking that way sure makes it hard to throw anything out😊
Oh dear — so am I… and it certainly impedes decluttering attempts! Lol.
I finished The Kidnapping Day last week–highly recommended. I give it a 9.5 rating.
I started Castaway Diva after I found out it was the same writer as Start Up (several people on the Internet say they won’t watch anything now by that writer because they hated the ending of Start Up–apparently dimples are more important to some people than personality). I thought it was going to be light and fluffy, but, like Start Up, it starts with a sad childhood story. The grownup FL seems to be channeling Attorney Woo so far (I hope she quits doing that soon), but the childhood backstory is enough for me to stick around for awhile.
I plan to look into Lost on Prime since so many people have recommended it.
Can’t wait to see what you all plan to watch in November!
@Kate and @MM, aaahhh I see I am not alone in Decluttering challenges. I fail miserably because I can only start a bit and then I give up for months after…. and the clutter increases faster than I can bring myself to start again…. total failure – me!!! LOL.
@mormor, @Kate, and @GrowingBeautifully, there’s physical clutter, and then there’s electronic clutter. I keep telling myself I have to clean out my email folders, or thin out my photos, but it’s overwhelming. I’ve failed to respond to important emails because they get buried under the daily onslaught.
Kalimera Unnie!
Belated Happy Birthday! My best wishes! ❤
@GB and @Welmaris and @MM,
I totally relate to the problems both of physical and electronic clutter.
The ever-filling in-box is a thing… I really do need to get on top of my personal accounts… such a drain. I have a horrible habit of signing up to newsletters and e-zines.
@GB, only for a laugh you should consider watching just the first episode of Mr Bride when you have an odd moment! It is strangely comforting!
Watched Destined with you. Really enjoyed this, despite my initial concerns about Rowoon’s height and prettiness. Thank you for recommending it and for the discussions in the threads! It’s reminiscent of A Business Proposal, which I prefer. @packmule I agree Kim Se Jeong would’ve been better in the FL role!
Also watched Royal Secret Agent on Prime. Light-hearted entertainment, I like the format of new cases every (other) episode, helps that Kim Myung Soo/L is easy on the eyes too.
Will try out The Matchmakers next!
My Dear @Cleo, thank you for remembering and for your wishes. You’re still on time… it’s still 4.30pm over here!!
It’s been a simple day and a good day with blessings all of its own. Have a great rest of the week!! 💐☀️🌈✨😄🤗
My Dear @Kate, so Mr Bride is the show where the homeowner can barely walk into his home? I’d be laughing and cringing at the same time…. I’m sure there’s a storeroom I’m afraid to open because things might just fall out of it onto my toes!!!
Happiest Birthday Dearest @GB! God bless you with many more and good health always! 🎂🥳🌸😘
Unnie!
Good to know that! I do hope you are having a beautiful day filled with joy and loved ones!
Thank you too! <3
Kalimera @agdr03!
I do hope you are okay!
Hi @Cleopatra 😘 How are you?
I’m good, thank you. Just finishing dinner now. 😊
Thank you my sweet @agdr03. My prayer for you and our friends is the same,… many good years, peace in all respects and good health!! 😃🥳🤗
I am fine @agdr03.
I have started my activities again. So, I am kinda busy but okay. It is morning around here, we didn’t have supper yet it is too early for that.
How is the weather over there? Our October is hot and humid. I mean we have 28 degrees C in the afternoon… o.O
Happy Birthday dear @Growing Beautifully!
Wherever you are in your day and celebration, may it be a good one!
Thank you my Dear @Kate! I’m having a semi-relaxing day with just a few meaningful errands to run, hence it’s all good!! 😇
Will be celebrating not so much my birthday but the anticipatory Mass for All Saints’ Day. It’s just nice that I get to celebrate with a huge congregation every year on my birthday!
Wishing you a lovely day!
Sounds lovely – very meaningful @GB!
@BethB, Castaway Diva, Yeah, writer Park Hyu Rin, one of my favorite. 😉
I watched all from her, except her older dramas < 2010, hard to find.
I didn't started yet. Not sure I do on-air or wait for binge.
Maybe I could try at least two first episodes and decide later?
Oh, it’s birthday time here?
Happy birthday GB!! 🌷🌷🌷🌷🌷
Thanks @WE! Growing older but better… (growing beautifully!!) Have a great day! See the new start time for the rewatch based on your local time … it changes once this Saturday and again the next Saturday. Sorry for the confusion and I hope I got it right!!!
🙄😬😵💫😂😇
re: mr bride I am halfway through the 12 episodes, and I’m very amused by the Way the screen writer is playing with gender roles. I think it is cleverly done although over the top at times.
About clutter, I remember the moment when I realized that I am an electronic hoarder. Before that, I did not know such a thing existed.
I watched the first 2 episodes of
Perfect Marriage Revenge although I was not intending to. At first I was thinking It was really odd but by the end I wanted to find out what happens. There is something about the styling of the show that I cannot put my finger on but probably harkins back to days of makjong. So long as the male lead does not start revenge on the female lead which so far is not the case I may keep watching it when there is nothing else to watch. The female lead Transmigrates to her own body of a year ago after she is betrayed by her family, and that is where the revenge starts.
@MM, thank you for sharing your thoughts and info on Mr Bride and Perfect Marriage Revenge. I’m in the throes of preparing for yet another formation retreat and have been happily selective in what I’ve watched/am watching. When I feel the need to sink into something OTT or odd, I’ll check on these shows. 🙂
I am not sure either of these would have a broad appeal. It is fun though to watch something off beat when I can’t find anything addictive.
Happy birthday, @GrowingBeautifully! May your next trip around the sun be filled with many blessings and entertaining dramas.