It should not be a secret that I’ve long admired — and envied — those with a literature background. Being unromantic, I’m not naturally wired to see harmony and synthesis in the world so I struggle to evoke them with words. Here’s a poem “The Year” by Ella Wheeler Wilcox which encapsulates how I feel about the new kdrama offerings every month.
The Year
By Ella Wheeler Wilcox (1850 –1919)
What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.
See the similarities?
Kdramas are like the new year. We enthuse over the beginnings, critique the conventional kiss on the 8th episode, flame the screenwriters for the messy middles, swoon over the romantic scenes, then sigh at the finales. “We live, we love, … we laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,” vicariously, with the characters. This is the burden imposed on us by dramas we choose to immerse ourselves in. But, as long as we’re mindful of the “Three R’s” that is, reality, rationality, and relationships, we should be fine.
JOMO or the “Joy of Missing Out” was my theme last year. This year, it’s discrimination. I’m going to be more discriminating with my selection of dramas. For instance, right of the bat, I’m going to ignore “Captivating the King” because I dislike the two actors playing the lead, Jo Jung Suk and Shin “Sucky” Se Kyung. Kindly don’t ask me to open a thread for this drama.
I’m still watching “My Demon,” and “Hidden Love” (or should I call this “Neverending Hidden Love” because I can never seem to finish it?). I’m behind on my reviews. I’m limiting myself to three new dramas this month.
1. Like Flowers in Sand
I know. This is technically a December drama but it just popped up on my Netflix. I’m curious to know more about ssireum, the Korean traditional wrestling, ever since Ok Taecyeon unexpectedly beat a ssireum athlete in a variety show. He stunned the crowd, and the athlete himself.
So I’m interested to see how Jang Dong Yoon’s portrayal of a gifted wrestler. I still remember with much indignation that Jang Dong Yoon didn’t look “manly” enough for that @#$@#$ director of “A Poem a Day” (2018) so the story was changed midway. Lol. I checked: that director only worked on one kdrama after that. Meanwhile, Jang Dong Yoon went on to star in several projects. To name a few, “Mr. Sunshine” (support role but this kdrama was big, anyway), “Just Dance,” “The Tale of Nokdu,” “Search,” “Daily Dose of Sunshine,” and the currently showing, “My Man is Cupid.” Ha! Success is the best revenge, as they say.
Back to this drama…there also seems to be a mystery about the female lead: whether she’s the long-lost childhood friend (and eventual love interest) of JDY’s character or not. The story is set in Geosan County, which I’ve never heard of before, but it said to be a “healing” place.
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Wed, Dec 20
Airs on Wednesday and Thursday
Where to Watch it: Nerflix
Network: ENA
2. Marry My Husband
Synopsis from soompi:
Based on the popular web novel of the same name, “Marry My Husband” tells the revenge story of the terminally ill Kang Ji Won (Park Min Young), who witnesses her best friend Jung Soo Min (Song Ha Yoon) and her husband Park Min Hwan (Lee Yi Kyung) having an affair—and is then murdered by her husband.
Source: https://www.soompi.com
Since it’s based on a web novel, I hope they hired a bona fide screenwriter to streamline it. It sounds like a makjang.
After the female lead is murdered, she travels back in time, and seeks revenge with the help of a workplace boss. Na InWoo plays her boss.
Cast: Park MinYoung (you must be new to kdramas if you don’t know who she is) and Na InWoo (“River Where the Moon Rises” and the variety show, “2 Days & 1 Night”)
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Mon, Jan 1
Airs on Monday and Tuesday
Where to Watch it: Amazon Prime
Network: TvIng
3. Doctor Slump
From mydramalist:
During his school days, Yeo Jeong Woo always placed first in academics and he studied at the top medical school in the country. Jeong Woo is now a popular plastic surgeon. His life goes smoothly, but, due to a mysterious medical accident, his life is pushed to the edge. At this time, he meets Nam Ha Neul. She was a rival in his past and he meets her at the lowest point in his life.
Ha Neul works as an anesthesiologist. When she was growing up, people called her a genius due to her extreme intelligence. She studied hard and became a doctor. Her life consists of only work and studying. She doesn’t have any time to experience fun. One day, Ha Neul realizes she isn’t happy with her life and she wants to make a change. At this time, she meets Jeong Woo during one of the worst moments in her life. They comfort each other and a romantic relationship blossoms between them.
Source: https://mydramalist.com
I’m excited about this drama. I know we’ll be seeing the regular “push-pull,” squabbling couple tropes, but I don’t care. Even if these two actors were shadow-boxing while wrapped in a burlap sack, I’d still find them cute.
Cast: the two Parks, Park Shin Hye and Park Hyung Sik
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Sat, Jan 27
Airs on Saturday and Sunday
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: JTBC
What are you watching this January?
I binged the first 4 episodes of “Like Flowers In Sand” and liked it a lot. The ML is very likeable in a down-to-earth-country-bumpkin way. The FL seems to have a chip on her shoulder, but there is probably a reason for it. Add to that an array of quirky but loveable villagers and a murder mystery, and I am hooked.
Hi @pkml3! Thanks for setting up this thread. I find myself more drawn to cdramas nowadays. Very little in kdramas seem to be able to hold my interest.
The only one I’ve started and am waiting for is part 2 of Death’s Game.
What I find myself watching is a Chinese remake of ‘One Spring Night’. Shorter than the original and omitting many unnecessary side characters, it’s leaner and better and still gives the same vibes. The first 8 episodes are up on YouTube and the subs there are good (or at least better).
I might not mind watching Like Flowers in Sand for the mystery part. I like a good mystery and if well done with a good romance, so much the better. But if it’s going to be too slow an affair, and where important clues are constantly hidden from viewers, I’ll be miffed. Still just 12 episodes sounds hopeful.
As for the others, it’s a case of will they grab and hold my interest within 2 episodes (my attention span has shrunk from 4 to 2!!!) 😆🤓
Testing… I received an error message when I tried to Post a Comment before
Oh good, I seem to be able to come to BOD in MS Edge. 🙂
Yay, I can post on MS as well! Although I’m catching up from the end of 2023, I’m interested in Doctor Slump.
Gosh, for shallow reasons I would have liked Taec as the wrestler (Flowers in the Sand), but I remember the swan-like ML from ‘Nokdu’. (His physique may have changed a bit as he’d have to do some training for the role.)
Many thanks, @packmule3. I hope that you had an excellent start to 2024.
@Fern, Jang Dong Yoon is very convincing as a wrestler. His dialect is adorable too. I find him consistently impressive in all the roles I have seen him so far.
Thank you, @Snow Flower. I am looking forward to it. A very happy 2024 to you!
My asian drama new year’s resolutions
As pack mule writes I would like to be more discriminating, from the get go. Less is more. I have never particularly liked park shin hye And have grown weary of parkman young So I will not start these dramas while they are currently airing until I have a good reason too. I do like the actors in Salm. Dari, but i’m a little nervous to start watching.
Try not to watch mediocre dramas when there are better ones out there.
Only watch one or two currently airing dramas and supplement with well reviewed completed dramas and or rewatches.
Watch more Japanese dramas and focus on Becoming a better informed consumer of chinese dramas.
Watch more asian movies. We are thinking of rewatching parasite. The other 2 on my list are The older movie about table Tennis stars and the recent romance With the male lead of love to hate you.
Enjoy More the music from favorite dramas And From artist’s That dramas have introduced me to. I know very poor grammar!
Plan a Lights out time and stick to it.
Maintain my drama lists.
So currently my thoughts for this year are to watch:
The one spring night chinese remake mentioned by growing beautiful above. Will probably start that today.
Twinkling watermelon is left over from last year. Did anyone watch song of the bandits and can recommend it or not Recommend.
I am looking forward to catching up with the nine times nine rewatch.
Best of the new year to everyone in all aspects of their lives. And thank you for the opportunity to participate in this forum.
happy new year everyone. 🎆🎉
i’m looking forward to watch Doctor Slump because I tend to like romcoms with a little bit of slice-of-life theme in it. I’ve also watch Like Flowers in Sand but will put it on hold cause i find the episodes a little bit slow in pacing.
lastly, I’m so hooked on Welcome to Samdal-ri. it is definitely not comparable to Hometown Cha Cha Cha. this drama is very likeable, but there are also things that i or the viewers may find odd. i hope this drama will have an open thread here in this blog.
Happy New Year @packmule3 and BODers!
I’ll continue to watch My Man Is Cupid – this falls into guilty pleasure category. Not quite sure why it is so engaging since the script is a bit of hot mess with the movie Seven thrown in against a reincarnation past lives theme.
On my start watching list:
Flex x Cop – for Ahn Bo Hyun – I’ve liked him since Yumi’s Cells.
Dr. Slump – I believe this is Park Shin Hye’s first drama after her marriage and baby. She represents kdramas to me.
Knight Flower – I may start to see if the comedy works. Honey Lee is a widow who leads a double life – quiet and proper by day and at night she comes to the aid of people in need.
I would like to watch Tell Me That You Love Me but it hasn’t been released yet in US. I’m assuming it will make its way to Hulu once it is done airing.
Would love a good modern Chinese drama to watch. Winter is a perfect time for 35+ episodes and ffwding! @GB – I will look for the One Spring Night cdrama version – I never got very far with the kdrama version. The FL was styled so frumpy it bugged me.
@gMpL How does it compare to Hometown cha cha cha? Is it similar or different in a good or bad way?
@GT I am also waiting for tell me that you love me.
I am popping in to say hello (checking in) and wishing everyone a Happy New Year. 🥳. I have been woefully negligent in keeping pace with any dramas last year…hence my absence. I had nothing to say, so I said…nothing. 😕. Hubby on the other hand has been ripping through all manner of dramas…KDramas, JDramas, Anime…whilst I have just sat in occasionally to watch an episode here and there. He’s currently watching My Demon…and I think I watched maybe half an episode? 😂. Life has been hectic to say the least. My eldest is about to get married (ergo moving out) and I am in the process of sectioning off part of the house for my second so she learns some “life skills”. Something popped up on my YouTube feed about 10 KDrama “MUST WATCHES for 2024” and nothing really stirred any interest in me. 🤷🏻♀️. I think the last KDrama that I watched in full was “Moving”. I did find the gore off putting but the characters were what kept me invested (I fast forwarded the assassin kills and some fight scenes which were overly graphic for me). Hopefully there will be something that grabs my attention (or pisses me off 😂) enough to keep me watching (and having something to say about it).
Hi @MM, @Good Twin I’ve started cdrama, I Know I Love You. It follows the kdrama One Spring Night closely enough and has the same flow and tone, however it has a different feel from other cdramas… something Western or Netflix-y about it’s execution. There is also something Korean-drama like in the way there are ‘signs/metaphors’ of romance/rightness/wrongness etc.
It’s good as an exploration of how we humans can get stuck in the rut and can’t get ourselves out of it. As an outside observer, I might be shouting all kinds of instructions as to what the leads and second leads could do… but truth to tell, I’m not sure I could so easily take my own advice.
It looks good, has a eclectic mix of music (English songs and Chinese) and strikes on all the appropriate feels. Perhaps ML’s character is still a little uneven in delivery, but the others are as expected or better than expected.
I kind of prefer this cdrama version for being less inflated with characters and pared down to be shorter. I seem to recall that there were myriad other family members that the kdrama version FL had to grapple with, but thankfully I don’t see them yet.
It’s both an easy (because episodes are short and smooth) and frustrating watch as I find myself getting disgusted with different attitudes and longing for a quick denouement LOL. I’m getting impatient, but I suppose it’s meant to eke out the emotions. 🙂
Oh @Good Twin, I forgot to mention that this FL is lithe and pretty and not frumpy LOL. I love the gorgeous flowers that appear often because she’s a floral designer… so cool!
@monmor I see Hometown Cha Cha Cha as a romcom drama, but Welcome to Samdal-ri has more of ‘slice of life’ theme into it rather than just a romcom drama.
@monmor, Song Of The Bandits is quite violent. The fight scenes are very impressive, but it seems like a lot of the background story was edited out. I wish a director’s cut were available. I watched it because I am a fan of Kim Nam Gil.
Kalimera @Packmule3 and Everyone! Happy New Year! I do hope you had a lovely time with your loved ones!
I am waiting to finish the following:
-Death’s Game
-My Demon
-The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
From January’s newest shows. I have started:
-Marry My Husband
-Love Song for Illusion
Both shows are adaptations from Webtoons that have devoted fans. I wasn’t supposed to watch the first one, but I really liked the acting of Park Min Young and Na InWoo. Especially the second one whenever he appears on the screen, he makes me happy for some reason… 😅
As for the second one, it is a fantasy sageuk and I want to see how it will go.
I have also set my eyes on, but we shall see, because of JOMO:
-A Shop for Killers with Lee Dong Wook
-FlexxCop with Ahn Bo Hyun
-Doctor Slump for Park Hyun Sik (first of all) and Park Shin Hye
Kalimera @Cleo! Yes, I’m waiting for Death’s Game as well.
I’m becoming more and more picky about the shows to watch and even while watching, I’m debating whether I’ll drop or continue. I guess I’m JOMO-ing a lot.😇🙂
Happy JOMO-ing!
Kalimera @Unnie!
I have become picky as well!
Happy JOMO-ing indeed!
Hello, @nrllee. It’s been a while! Happy New Year.
You are quite a hands-on person, so I can imagine that rather than dramas, you are more invested in YouTube DIY videos. Lucky daughter to have someone build her a flat!
Very best wishes on the wedding of your son. May he and his wife be blessed with a lifetime of happiness, love and health.
I wrote a very detailed post that somehow got lost in the submission. I will try again later. Thank you for the responses to my questions about what to watch
@GB About I know I love you, I am not enjoying it right now. I am not sure if it is the poor subbing or trying to watch on youtube with limited fast forward rewind. I am around episode seven. As you said the male lead is not up to par. I will wait until it is on vicky. Remakes Can be tricky watches.
@sF. I would watch song of the bandits for the male lead as well. The lack of a back story Is a deterrent to my interest. Is the history interesting?
@GMPL. So salmdari May interest me more than hometown cha cha. I enjoyed the first half of that drama but felt that it failed to mine the More serious themes.
Thanks for the well wishes @Fern. ❤️
Hi @MM, yup, only go on with IKILY if you can take the acting of the ML. Perhaps he’ll get better and everyone has to start somewhere. I only saw him in Lost You Forever, and his style was somehow similar there although it was a period drama.
I’m thinking we’ll enjoy Samdalri more than HCha Cha Cha anytime. I have not continued with it though because the first episodes were not compelling enough. I need to get ‘sucked in’… but I’m also JOMO-ing so I don’t mind not watching.
@Monmor, I saw a post from 2 January from you above – My Asia drama new years resolutions. Is that the one you think is lost?
@Fern Thank you It was a post from today That I have now reposted.
@nrllee, it is wonderful to see you back on BoD. Congratulations on the upcoming marriage of your eldest. Wishing the couple a joyous wedding day, and a lifetime of love that grows deeper as time passes.
@Packmule3, I think I’ll give Like Flowers in the Sand a look. I also am interested in learning another aspect of South Korean culture, with the story anchored in ssireum, a sport unknown to me before I started watching Kdramas. I’m also rooting for Jang Dong Yoon’s career trajectory to continue upward, so I’m hoping this is a good role for him.
I’ll also take a peek at Dr. Slump. I like a good rise-from-the-ashes story, although I’m not sure being in a slump is the same as losing everything.
A few days ago I started watching The Matchmakers and am enjoying it. Although it does have political machinations moving the plot, there’s enough humor mixed in to keep the show from being melodramatic. I’m pleased to see that Rowoon delivers the physical and verbal comedy convincingly.
I was able to access Tell Me That You Love me on Disney by setting the location on my vpn as Canada (thank you Canada!) and logging in. I’m in my last month of Disney subscription which is so not worth the $ in my opinion (unless you really like Disney’s catalog).
Now that I figured out how to watch it, it is a matter of finding time to watch. I’ve been busy crafting which makes reading subtitles challenging. Tell Me That You Love Me also will be released on Hulu in a couple of weeks.
Okay, @Welmaris. I’ll open a thread for “Like Flowers in the Sand” for us. I read that @Snowflower likes it, too.
@Cleopatra,
I’m warning you now, Na InWoo is as irresistible as a golden retriever. I began watching “Marry My Husband” because it was on my Alexa (Amazon Prime). How convenient was that? But I dozed off sometime after the female lead discovered the cheating. Will try to continue later.
@nrllee, congratulations on your son’s upcoming nuptials! Seems like only yesterday you were telling us that he was graduating from college. 🙂
What do you mean by “life skills”? Cook? Do her own laundry? Budget her finances? I’ve watched my sisters-in-law and it seems to me that raising daughters requires more patience and “stealth” guidance than raising sons.
Kumawo Queen for the recommendations. 🙇🏻♀️
I’m not sure yet what to pick up for January but definitely not the PSH and PHS.
I’ll finish what I have first then see how I go. ☺️
Why don’t you combine the last 3 episodes of Hidden Love into one final post so you can finish it? 😉 So then it’ll become your first finished drama for 2024. 😂 Just suggesting it to you. 😄
Im almost finished with Rosy’s new drama. I love the last episode where the ML steals her to be his bride. 🥰
I’d like to try JOMO but yeah it really depends on what captures my drama heart. 💖
PS. Congratulations @nrlee on your son’s upcoming wedding. Wishing them a blessed journey of happiness and love. ❤️
Kalimera @Packmule3!
I have to agree with you and thank you for the warning. You have to continue watching for…the golden retriever. He is saving the day! *grins*
The good thing is that “Marry My Husband” is available for us on Prime too.
P.S. If you can open an open thread for us it would be much appreciated!
Hey @nrllee and happy new year!
Congratulations on your son’s upcoming wedding! My best wishes! I do hope to see you more online! <3
@GB I shared your sentiment about how the first episode of Welcome to Samdal-ri isn’t compelling enough, but I get the hang of it the moment when the FL goes back to Jeju.
@monmor I only watched bits of Hometown Cha Cha Cha on Instagram, but decided not to watch the entire series since I’m also watching other dramas when it was airing. I’ve read some negative comments in asianwiki.com about Welcome to Samdal-ri, so I may not hype it up for the others.
Queen, look at this clip. Love it 🥰
CTO.
https://x.com/olayin97/status/1742594851915571593?s=46&t=BT0tHWWRRX1rx64As5f8XQ
@PM3. I like your idea of stealth guidance . I will be practicing that as my daughter moves back home in a few months. We have talked about writing up a contract for each other’s behavior. 🙂
Is anyone else here in Japan? I hope no one has suffered any losses from the recent earthquake and other disasters We hear about every morning. I am glad my daughter was here and not in Japan, although she does not live in the earthquake area
@Mormor, I have a cousin who lives in Japan, but is also far from the recent earthquake’s epicenter. My heart breaks for the people of Wajima. It also aches for those Coast Guard plane crew members who lost their lives in the fiery plane crash at Hanada airport while on their way to bring relief supplies to Wajima. Tragedy on tragedy… May the families, friends, and communities of those who’ve been killed be comforted at this difficult time.
I just want to watch second part of “Death’s game”.
Nothing else matters. 🙂
I’ve started a 2023 drama “Call it love”, because it was #1 on dramabeans.
Yeah, first scenes are awesome about screenplay.
Then I continue… not so new and crazy, but still very good.
Could be a drama you missed here.
The other plane involved in the Hanada airport crash had arrived from the airport near Sapporo. That made me think of the Jdorama First Love and the FL’s dream of becoming a flight attendant. She lived near the Sapporo airport, and the drama begins with a scene of her greeting a jetliner as it comes in for a landing right over her head. As for the flight attendants on the JAL passenger liner involved in the crash, one of them noticed the smoke in the cabin, notified the flight deck, and in what is being called a textbook response to the disaster, all 379 passengers and crew were safely evacuated from the burning Japan Airlines plane.
@WE, I liked Call It Love. It was one of the few kdramas that I actually sat through and enjoyed. I could have done without the sister’s side story, but it wasn’t too bad overall. I really liked the way Show resolved the socially unsolvable and the so-called ‘revenge’.
We didn’t ask for a dedicataed thread here, but I believe a couple of us made comments on the show.
@GB, I don’t feel like for now it should be “best drama of the year” than any other great shows. The pace is a bit slow. But there is only one major flaw: they put flashback in deformed image (same as Signal). I can’t understand such horror.
This is the kind of drama with a bit more naturalistic feeling (like Liberation notes), except all is with pink-gray filter, lol. Anyway, I don’t remember a kdrama with the real naturalistic feeling (well, I’ll search later).
I’ve watched tons of older french movies with real naturalistic style. Far more raw. Almost no music, louder natural sounds, camera with feeling of documentary. And most of the time, sad or frustrating ending. 🙂
Claude Chabrol, Bertrand Blier, Jean-Pierre Mocky, etc.
Hey, Death’s game is released now !!
I’ll watch that probably tomorrow morning, so I’m fresh and can concentrate.
@WE,
Kalimera! I saw too that the second part of Death’s Game is on Prime.
When I will finish it I will come online! I don’t want to see spoilers… o.O
@Welmaris
I find myself remembering the K drama rain or shine. So terrifying to think of people trapped like that. I have also watched several of the Chinese earthquake rescue shows.
I made sure my daughter has a new phone that works! She is delighted and I am relieved. I am wondering what her flight back tomorrow will be like to Haneda and then a local flight. Yesterday there were videos of all the people sleeping in the airport because of delays and cancellations.
@MM, I understand the worry. My daughter is alone overseas now and in a relatively safe place, but I still worry when I don’t receive her replies to my messages.
All the best and safe journeys to her and to us all!
Hi @pkml3,
🎄🪴🌴🎋🐣🥛🍪🍧🥧🍘🍵🧀🥖🫖☕
please open a thread for Death’s Game Episodes 5-8 (or Death’s Game 2, Episodes 1-4). 😱🫣🫨😵💫💀😵🤐
🎄🪴🌴🎋🐣🥛🍪🍧🥧🍘🍵🧀🥖🫖☕
Also please open the next thread for the Nine: 9 Rewatch!!
🎄🪴🌴🎋🐣🥛🍪🍧🥧🍘🍵🧀🥖🫖☕
Even if I do not receive a reply, I am happy to see her little icon showing she saw the message🌏🙂
Will do, @GB.
Currently watching Samdalri because Ji Chang Wook.
Started Marry My Husband this week after several people on DB said it was a lot better than they expected. By the time the ML caught the FL the 3rd time, I was hooked. I strongly suspect the ML has gone back in time as well. I’m tempted to read the webtoon, but I think this is one time when I’ll wait until the drama ends to do so.
Plan to watch Dr. Slump. I’ve had a soft spot for Park Shin Hye ever since You’re Beautiful, the first Kdrama I ever watched. And I adore Park Hyung Sik.
The only other Kdrama I’m looking forward to watching is Family by Choice, the K-remake of Go Ahead.
This is the first time in over a year where I am actively watching more Kdramas than Cdramas. On the Cdrama front, I’m currently watching an older one, Oath of Love. There’s nothing airing right now that I want to watch, so I’m trying to watch some of the older Cdramas on my watch list. But there are several I plan to watch whenever they air: Amidst a Snowstorm of Love, Guardians of the Dafeng, and There is a Lover in My Hometown. Hoping these will air in 2024 🙂
There is a drama with an actor I like “Love Song for Illusion”.
BUT, it’s AGAIN a prince with a MASK.
These days dramas turn into circle.
With “Marry my husband”, it’s AGAIN someone coming back X years and redoing life.
Like Reborn Rich, like Born Again, like 18 again, like Again My Life, like… like…
AGAIN and AGAIN and AGAIN and again AGAIN !!!!
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
None of the new offerings appeal to me right now. So I’m concentrating on watching movies (never had the time to do it last year while following so many shows), catching up on non-Korean shows that came out last year (like Season 3 of Lupin and the last season of The Crown), reading, and finishing kdramas that started last year like A Good Day to be a Dog and Death’s Game (said I was dropping it in an earlier post, but found I could watch the scary scenes on my iPad, set at half screen, so I went back to it). I may finish My Demon and Park’s Marriage Contract, but on fast-forward.
@Snow Flower, did you ever watch The Matchmakers? I’m on Episode 12 now and am liking it a lot, and especially loving the music. I think of you when the lush, orchestral background music makes my heart swell.
@GB @welmaris
I have been thinking about the Chinese show “Meet yourself” in the context of this earthquake in japan. I believe many of the deaths are the elderly who live in towns where Young people have left. Their homes were built before modern day earthquake codes, before 1981 and have not been updated.
Currently I am immersing myself in My Love from the Star. Love the music and the number of good actors in diverse roles, in addition to the main actors.
I have not listened to any podcasts about Asian dramas in awhile so I will look at this for listening while I return my home to its non-Christmas state and reboot my drama watching.
@Welmaris, I did watch The Matchmakers and liked it a lot. I would describe it as an intelligent comedy of errors. The FL is a joy to watch and Rowoon is at his best too.
I am currently watching Like Flowers In Sand and rewatching Healer.
@snowflower I have rewatched healer so many times. I can’t remember now where I last watched it. Where are you watching it?
@monmor, I found it on Viki. I like the old pop songs played during the flashbacks.
I am NOT watching Death’s Game, as I so optimistically posted above. The fifth episode was too gruesome (as I noted on the post for episodes 5-8).
@snowflowerI will take a Look on vicky in my country. I remember so many scenes so well. But it has been a while since I watched it. So maybe I will rewatch it after my love from the star.
@MM and @Snow Flower. Healer is one of those shows that can be rewatched and enjoyed many times. I still feel it was one of JCW’s best outings.
I know that I was quite blown away by My Love From The Star. It’s also pretty rewatchable although I don’t think I did a proper rewatch of it.
@BethB, I still have not steeled myself to watch the rest of Death’s Game. Grisly but good is one way to describe the show.
@GB snowflower Healer is on vicki in my region. I remember rather vaguely that there was a time when I could not find it.
Has anyone watched a chinese drama called derailment, I think, Is currently airing. It stars lin ye.
sorry I have been flat out entertaining overseas visitors who came for the wedding.
@Welmaris thank you for the well wishes. It was a beautiful wedding. My son cried when he made his vows. And so did the bride. I kept it together until the speeches at reception. More tears were shed. 🥲. But they were happy tears.
@packmule3 “Life skills” as in cooking, cleaning, doing her own laundry, plan her own meals and everything necessary to “adult”. 😂. I am told that this generation needs to learn to “adult”. I think in America you have the advantage of having children move out of home when they go to College? So they learn to generally do their own laundry, cook, manage their own finances, etc?
@nrllee Congratulations to your son and to you for gaining a daughter!
Yes, our so-called ‘adult’ children need to learn to adult. Being home with parents is bad for adulting!!
@nrllee, I’m so glad that the wedding went well. What a time for you! I’m thrilled that it was such a wonderful experience for all of you. I remember that you really liked the bride, so it’s a blessing. I hope you have loads of photos and videos of that cherished day.
Yes, in the States, young people typically live in dorms or flats once in University. (Sometimes a semester in the dorms is required.) But not all – and with the high cost of living, more are staying at home if they are studying nearby or returning during the weekends, breaks or summers depending on how far away their universities are. I always laughed at friends here whose children returned on weekends or term breaks with a huge amount of laundry.
My older daughter lives in a garden flat in our house. I’m laughing because she does her own laundry, but comes upstairs to cook/eat/hang out. Her cleaning skills for her own living space come and go. Because it’s her own space. The best way to get these skills, in my experience, is group living so there’s peer pressure and input from people other than the parental units about methods, planning, consideration for others and team work. I hope that it works better with your daughter than it has with mine.
Whoops. I forgot to pin this on the blog.
@Snowflower,
I enjoyed The Matchmakers. I’m rewatching right now and I like the scenes with Rowoon’s character/JungWoo, and SoonDeok. True, it’s a comedy of errors because he mistook her to be a merchant, then a murderer. He had no way of knowing that she was a yangban/noblewoman. That changed everything. I was grinning when JungWoo flopped his head on the table, very much defeated. lol.
The drama might be a little bit slow for others but I like how their courtship was a steady and logical progression.
@pm3, there were other “errors” in “The Matchmakers:” None of the Maeng sisters ended up with the groom Soon Deok and Being Woo thought was the right one. I agree with you about having reservations about the pairing of the Crown Prince with the eldest daughter, and also the middle daughter with the mama’s boy. But the FL was one of the best I have seen in a sageuk, so I was overall happy with the show. I did not find it slow at all.
I also like the ML’s courtship of SoonDeok. Remember Ep 11? His love letters?
He meticulously wrote his first letter on perfumed paper. Then his proposal letter, he drew on it. 😍😍 Love love that episode. It’s straight out of a Jane Austen novel!
I’m writing about this.
@GB I am watching I Know I Love You. Random thoughts – FL is very pretty but she looks constipated all the time! I don’t think I seen her smile at 5 episodes in except in the flashback Boyfriend is quite handsome – I don’t think I seen this actor before – I like him. Glad that what is pulling them apart is somewhat nuanced (calling it nuanced is probably too generous). Anyway no one character is totally in the wrong or the right. Except the business partner of the boyfriend – she basically told him he will be made director by her Dad if they get together. Not loving the ML/vet he seems a little young for the role but he is growing on me. I do like the fact that they are just drawn to each other and that they both feel it. Coincidences – there are so many coincidences – living in her friend’s building, meeting in the hospital, him going to same judo studio as her boyfriend, driving by at the same time etc etc. At least at one point he said that their meeting at the hospital was just a coincidence. Thank you screen writer for calling it out. Finally – Julie Julie – that song is an earworm.
After sampling My Boss and the Interpreter – this is the Chinese drama that is holding my interest.
Hi @GoodTwin, good to know that you’re watching this show. I am reading opinions about the characters and this show elsewhere, and there, this show is loved a lot, therefore I tend to be a bit reserved… I can’t say I love the show. I don’t hate it either, but I do get impatient with the characters. I have a love-hate relationship with their relationships LOL… I do understand how difficult it is to break free and do what’s right etc, but the pacing of getting it done at 24 episodes is a bit much for me. I’d rather get to the end in 12 episodes.
Yes the FL is pretty. My take on why she seems like a dour or sourpuss so much is that she’s tired of things as they are, but can’t seem to bring herself to effect a change. The main thing that keeps her depressed looking is her stagnant romance that is not romantic anymore. She was pretty upbeat with her girlfriend as long as they didn’t talk about the boyfriend.
Boyfriend is considered good marriage material… the trouble is, he is pretty self-centred. On the surface he seems fine. He says the ‘right’ things. But he’s out for himself and won’t commit. At the same time he wants to be in his dad’s good books so he won’t make a stand. He won’t say resolutely that he’ll marry Xu Nuo and foregot the business partner (Cong Shan) and neither will he break up with XN. He creates the deadlock.
The interesting thing is that we have to go along for the ride to judge… should the relationship continue since they are not married yet but are supposedly engaged or in a ‘committed’ relationship? Should they go through with being together into marriage no matter what? Or after 10 years of stalemate dating, is it okay to break up and meet someone new?
Is having romantic interest with someone else when in this stalemate considered 2-timing/cheating?
I read that in One Spring Night, it was harder to tell because the boyfriend didn’t do enough to see bad. However in this kdrama remake, we see that he’s rather iffy.
More later… gotta run!
@GoodTwin, @MM
Just re-read and saw my typos!!! “Boyfriend… won’t say resolutely that he’ll marry Xu Nuo and *forego*…”
“I read that in One Spring Night, it was harder to tell …. didn’t do enough to *seem* bad.”
In the early episodes, Zhang Wan Yi who plays the ML, Zhao Jin seemed somewhat out of place. His eye contact was somewhat off, for someone who is (I guess) smitten by the pretty girl with the cat. At times I felt his expressions were also ‘off’. However in the later episodes, he seems better.
Sun Yi (FL) in real life is 30, and ZWY is 29, so they are actually close enough in age.
The good thing about ZJ is that he’s honest and sincere whereas we will see that boyfriend, Peng Yu An, is not. The ring that he bought for Xu Nuo was meant to just appease her and buy him time. He is the one who is trying to please his father who wants him to break up with XN, but he holds on, not out of love but (I’m guessing) to have a ‘spare gf’ and then when he is with Xu Nuo, he makes it seem that she’s the one who’s being difficult. (I believe it’s called gaslighting).
XN is feeling trapped, conflicted and could not bring herself to take the step to break up, until ZJ showed her what a love relationship could/should be like.
Update on what I am watching. I did not continue with I know I love you. It was not appealing to me enough.I did a ff rewatch of YLAG for the male lead. It was not as bad as I remember People commenting on at the time it was airing. One does need to watch these shows with the family drama lens. Once watched already one can skip all the unappealing stuff. I don’t think I will be rewatching again.
I looked at my boss and Our interpreter but neither caught my attention in the first episode. I am not sure what I think of this actor. He does cold really well but I don’t see his vulnerable underbelly. Perhaps I just have not watched enough of his shows. Did anyone watch goodbye my princess?
For now I will continue with twinkling watermelon and matchmakers.
I thoroughly enjoyed my love from the star rewatch.
I loved Episode 9 of Like Flowers in Sand, and will watch Episode 10 today, but wanted to comment on 9 before my thoughts got jumbled. @Packmule3, I look forward to when you get a chance to watch this show, because I think you’ll give it a thumbs up. As I mentioned before, the screenwriter, Won Yoo Jung, wrote The Lies Within, a 2019 thriller & mystery drama that was generally well received. Like Flowers in Sand isn’t a thriller, but it does have mystery that is making the plot wind tighter and tighter. I love how a scene in an early episode seemed a bit silly, perhaps a way to reveal (show, don’t tell) some of the ML’s character, but by Episode 9 we’ve seen that same scene several times from different perspectives, and what happened in those moments was pivotal.
There are other delightful ways this show displays the personality of the ML, Kim Tae Baek. He talks to himself all the time, and it really seems to fit his character rather than just being for the benefit of the audience. My mother used to mutter to herself frequently, and being her bratty child, I’d chide her, “Mom, who are you talking to? Nobody’s there!” Tae Baek is known by the villagers to be quiet, and outwardly appears simple, but there are moments which we get glimpses of his depth. He may not be book learned, and he may not be quick, but he’ll tirelessly wrestle with a thought once he’s grabbed hold of it.
In Episode 9, entitled “All That We Have Lost,” Tae Baek ponders what he meant when he said he’d also lost much after the death of a ssireum wrestler in their town. Others’ losses are more apparent, but he knows deep inside his life was diminished by the tragic events all those years ago. After long introspection he’s finally able, in his unique way, to put his feelings into words.
In Episode 9 we see Tae Baek expressing himself other times, although not always well. When a rumor about him and the FL spreads like wildfire through the village, the FL, Du Sik, coaches him to say, “So if someone asks you what’s going on between us and if we’re really dating, you should say, ‘No way! Not in a million years! If you keep spreading this weird rumor, I’ll sue you for defamation and spreading false rumors, under the Criminal Act, Article 307, Paragraph 2.’ Put your foot down like that.” When a short time later Tae Baek is confronted by men of the village, he says to them, “Guys. If that’s what all this is about, don’t you worry. Because that’s absolute nonsense. Listen. Between the two of us, there is nothing going on. Not in a million years. If you keep spreading this weird rumor, I will…You know…I will sue you all according to some law. I’m putting my foot down. This is what you were all fussing about? Jeez.” (I wish I could get the full impact of his delivery in the Gyeongsang dialect.) When it seems like the whole town is ganging up on him, the rumor having reached dangerous proportions, Tae Baek says to the assembled villagers, “You know what? You won’t believe me. Even if I say it’s not true, none of you here will believe me. I know that…This has happened before!…This happened to Du Sik a long time ago. Du Sik’s family kept saying it wasn’t true, but none of you believed them. Am I wrong? You all kicked them out in the end! And now you’re accusing people of something they didn’t do, and trying to hurt them. Is that it? Are you trying to kick someone out again? Is that what you want? Please, just please. Stop it, okay? It can be hurtful to some people. Most of you here probably don’t know or even care about it, but those who are wrongfully accused will live the rest of their lives in pain. So please…Just please!”
Amen
My goosebumps attest to that latter scene being exceptionally well written, well acted by Jang Dong Yoon, well directed, and effectively filmed.
@Packmule3, I wish there was a separate thread for Like Flowers in Sand, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to contribute to it the next few weeks. I’m soon leaving for England, and in the two-plus weeks I’ll be traveling, I don’t know how much time I can devote to watching and commenting on Kdramas. But the good news is that I’ll be meeting for lunch in London with @Fern, @Phoenix, and @Kate!
After seeing it listed on many “Best of 2023” lists, I watched “Call It Love” last week. It’s the first kdrama (or any drama for that matter) that looks like it was shot entirely with Prisma (app) filters–it has a pink-ish glow most of the time that took a little getting used to at first. It’s also one of those slow, feels-almost-like-real-time dramas (similar to Something in the Rain), where the camera lingers on the characters and doesn’t switch to a different perspective or scene every 5-10 seconds (like most American TV these days). For this to work you have to have really great actors and this show doesn’t disappoint. At first I found this boring, and hit the FF button a few times in the earlier episodes, but once I settled into its pace, I found myself wanting to watch everything, as if it were happening to me also.
I like looking at color symbolism in kdramas (I mentioned this in a comment I made on this blog about My Roommate is a Gumiho). I’m not sure that the colors in CIL really symbolize anything except that the pink cloud could represent the murky/dim funk that both main characters are living under. It would have been fun to discuss this drama here with you all about use of color and everything else…
@Welmaris, the ML in Like Flowers In Sand is Kim Baek Du. He competes in Tae Baek weight category. Kim Tae Baek is the name of Baek Du’s father. Always appreciate your thoughtful comments.
Have a safe trip and enjoy meeting Fern, Phoenix, and Kate!
Thanks for catching my goof, @Snow Flower!
Oh wow I had a whole thing on Flowers in the Sand typed up and it just deleted.
Anyway,
@welmaris there’s already a page for discussion but it’s been pretty quiet.
I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it every week. He reminds me a bit of Forrest Gump and the town reminds me a bit of the village in North Korea in CLOY. I watched episode ten today ****slight spoiler**** and I loved the interaction when she walked by him on the bench. And the acting he did when he made his announcement of who is crush was during practice was so well done. It’s hard to believe JDY was discovered so randomly (trying to remember, was it a medical emergency or stopping a convenience store robbery?) and had never planned to act.
Eesh! I wasn’t doing well multitasking, was I, @birdie007? Of course there already was an open thread for Like Flowers in Sand, and I’d even added several comments to it. But when I scanned the BoD index, I looked for Flowers as the first word in the title, not Like, and came up empty. Pulled in many directions with chores interrupting my time at the computer, my brain couldn’t keep up.
I recently finished Welcome to Samdal-ri. watching the last episode feels like I was opening a christmas present. can’t help but smile throughout the show. a superstar cameo appearance caught me by surprise. it was a delight. now, I can resume watching Like Flowers In The Sand.
Thanks for the update on Samdal-Ri, @GMPL.
@packmule my pleasure. looking forward to ‘What Are We Watching’ thread for February.