Like summer’s end yields a bounty of cucumbers and tomatoes, this August gave us dramas galore. As I write this, I’m gorging on two 40-episode cdramas “The Princess Royal” and “Are You the One” while waiting for the new episode of “Love Next Door” to pop up on Netflix.
I should be thankful that new kdramas won’t premiere until after Chuseok this month. Chuseok, the Korean version of Thanksgiving, is a five-day affair this year. It falls on Tuesday, September 17 so Koreans get Monday and Wednesday off, plus the weekend. I have time to savor the dramas already on my list.
These are the kdramas going on my plate this month.
1. The Judge From Hell
Lol. That Brazilian Supreme Court Chief Justice Alexandre de Moraes easily qualifies as a judge from hell but any show depicting him in a negative light will undoubtedly be blocked like he’s blocked X, formerly known as Twitter. #TeamElonMusk
The blurb from soompi:
“The Judge from Hell” is a new fantasy romance drama starring Park Shin Hye as Kang Bit Na, a demon from hell who has entered the body of a judge. After meeting the compassionate detective Han Da On (Kim Jae Young), who works hard at his job in a reality harsher than hell, Kang Bit Na embarks on a journey to becoming a true judge.
Source: soompi
Starring: Park Shin Hye (“Dr. Slump”) and Kim Jae Young (“Love in Contract”)
Not going to lie: I like Park Shin Hye but I’m watching this kdrama for KJY. I want him to do well. When I watched him in “Love in Contract,” I knew he should soon be getting his own drama where he’s the male lead, not just the “Other Guy.” Go Kyung Pyo is a bore to watch; there’s something bland and perfunctory about his acting. In comparison, KJY has that spark of devilish charm that I also found in Byeon WooSook long before his breakout kdrama “Lovely Runner.” KJY is inconsistent, though, so he needs to work on expanding his range. He isn’t getting any younger.
Episodes: 14
Start Date: Fri, Sept 21
Airs on Fridays and Saturdays
Where to Watch it: Disney+ (ugh! Dramacool it is then)
Network: SBS
2. Dear Hyeri
Write-up from soompi.
“To My Haeri” is a healing romance drama that revolves around Joo Eun Ho (Shin Hye Sun), an anchor who develops dissociative identity disorder (Haeri means dissociation in Korean) following the disappearance of her younger sibling and her breakup with her longtime boyfriend Hyun Oh (Lee Jin Wook). The drama is penned by Han Ga Ram, acclaimed for her previous projects such as “I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice” and “Han Yeo Reum’s Memory.”
Lol. I’m getting conflicting titles about this series. It’s also called “To My Haeri” and “My Dear Harry” but I guess it’s meta – even the title is showing a dissociative identity disorder.
Source: soompi
Starring: Shin Hye Sun (“Welcome to SamdalRi”); Lee Jin Wook (“Bulgasal” and “Sweet Home”) and Kang Hoon (“Little Women”)
I’m watching this for Shin Hye Sun and Kang Hoon. As for Lee Jin Wook, it has come to my attention that he was involved in a courtroom drama and that shades my opinion of him. I won’t comment on the lawsuit since I don’t have the time and energy to expend on going in-depth about it.
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Moon, Sept 23
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: ENA
I can’t find an English subbed trailer.
3. Dog Knows Everything
I thought I’d grow allergic to kdramas with “dog” in the title after that fiasco “A Good Day to Be a Dog,” but this series about the friendship of septuagenarians is bound to make me feel good and instill optimism about aging.
The synopsis from my dramalist:
It follows a group of close friends in their seventies, still chasing their dreams and love lives to the fullest.
Lee Sun Jae used to be a big star but now lives a simple life. Despite challenges, he handles neighborhood problems with humour and wisdom. Kim Yong Gun, another former star turned director, adds fun with his playful arguments. Lim Chae Mu, dreaming of YouTube fame after a career in lighting, completes the trio. Together, they show that friendship and adventure never get old and that age is just a number.
Starring: Lee Soon Jae
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Wed, Sept 25
Airs on Wednesdays and Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Viki?
Network: KBS
As for cdramas, I think I must rest eyes from overwork.
The multiple release of episodes in consecutive days may work for many viewers because there’s instant gratification and less wait time. But for me, this format creates a panic attack.
Me: Jack Sparrow the pirate
The cannibals: 40 episodes
What are you watching?
The only drama available to me is “To My Haeri.” I am not sure if I am interested in a story about dissociative disorder, even though I like Shin Hye Sun and Kang Noon.
It looks like it is going be a month of rewatches.
@Snow Flower
With the kdrama “To My Haeri,” I suspect that Shin Hye Sun was chosen for the role because of her previous work, “Mr Queen.” She’s good at portraying multiple personalities; she’s like female equivalent of Ji Sung who received accolades for his acting in “Kill Me, Heal Me.”
From what I read, this is supposed to be a “healing” drama. I don’t expect the writers to go beyond the usual tropes associated with the disorder in kdramas since the disorder will only be used as a vehicle/tool/medium/plot devise to deliver a happy message.
Yes, I like to do rewatches, too. They facilitate visual comprehension, too. For example, during the first watch, it’s easy to miss how the signs were there all along, how the mise-en-scene helped move the story, and so on.
The Dog Knows Everything looks like the one that has the most potential to watch, for me.
But I’m stuck in the Chinese drama world..I have chosen to not think about all the cdramas I want to watch premiering these few weeks and totally not having enough time to check them out. like @pm3 said, they drop like flies so fast I don’t have time to catch up.
Moreoever, I’m still catching up with the dramas that has finished airing like The Double & Love’s Rebellion.
Then wanting to watch Go East, Are You The One that is currently airing.
Then Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, The Story of Pearl Girl that hasn’t come out but will anytime soon.
Still watching Love Next Door, the only kdrama I’m chasing
Hello my dear Friends!, how do you do?.
Can recommend “Before Coffee gets Cold (Japanese movie – 2018)” about a coffee shop where a special seat usually inhabited by a physical, coffee drinking ghost can allow for time travel when said lady ghost dissapears into the bathroom. For that the client must sit in that spot and drink a coffee prepared by the shop owner, Kazu Tokita (acted by Kasumi Arimura).
Be aware as there are time traveling rules: you cannot leave the coffee shop, you can only interact with people that has visited the shop, said interaction will not produce changes in the timeline.
Most importantly, when you go you must drink your coffee before it gets cold to avoid being trapped outside of time!
A beautiful movie about regrets, easing minds by actually listening to what the other people has to say, and most importantly: moving on with your life.
Originally put it in the August Post 😉
Wow! September already! Christmas is definitely around the corner. Scary 😟
I’m not into any of these kdramas. I’ll stick to Love Next Door and No Gain No Love.
I haven’t started any cdramas but I’m sure I won’t have any problems finding one. 😂
Kumawo! 🙇🏻♀️
September Korean Dramas I want to check out:
What Comes After Love (Sept. 27, 2024 On Viki and VIU)- Another short romance drama (6 episodes). Starring Lee Se Young and Sakaguchi Kentaro. The two meet as college students in Japan and fall in love, but break up. Five years later, they meet again in Korea.
Otherwise, will continue to watch Love Next Door and No Gain, No Love, and catch up on older dramas I missed.
Chinese Dramas I want to check out in September:
Melody of Golden Age (on Viki): Historical drama starring Ryan Ding and Ancey Deng. This drama just started this week. The FL is a noble daughter and a clerk at the Ministry of Justice. ML is Commander of the Imperial Guards. They are forced to get married as the Empress has decreed that the ML must marry. He was supposed to marry FL sister, but she was in love with another man and ran away with him, so FL takes the sister’s place. The 2 leads end up solving cases together. People saying it is similar vibe to Imperial Coroner, Miss Truth. the trailer looked good.
@pkml3, please check if the post from @FGB is has been hidden somewhere. I can see the email with his post for this thread, but the post itself is not showing up.
This is @FGB’s post:
Thanks for the recommendation @FGB. I’ll look for it!
Found it, @GB. It was marked as spam. Sorry, @FGB4877.
The thing is, I saw his post without any problem. In fact, I began watching “Coffee…” last night on his recommendation. But when I woke up this morning, his post was no longer in my inbox.
I wouldn’t have known it was missing if you hadn’t told me. Thanks. 🙂
@FGB and @pkml3
I watched the Japanese movie “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”. It was sweet and both simple and yet not. In a simple way it delved into so much emotional baggage, relationship issues and the need for closure … and in each case where someone chose to travel in time, there was a satisfying conclusion or continuation.
I like that there can be more to interpret what meets the eye or ear. There’s a metaphor in there to the water sounds and immersion that is the time travel.
I thought it a tease that the time travel was overt on the one hand, but that an aspect of it was covert ie it was never mentioned,… but the clue was there all the time. This made for a more than satisfying ending.
The good advice that is never stated ‘in your face’: take the opportunities that we have now, before it’s too late, to say what is in our hearts and to listen, because so much heartache is unnecessary or rather lives can be so much richer for having made the necessary revelations to the significant persons in our lives, when they are with us.
We examine the results in the relationships after a travel in time for 4 pairs of characters: a pair of friends to lovers, a husband and wife, two sisters and a mother and daughter, with their touching stories which although are separate, are also connected through their interactions with the cafe owners.
There is humour and pathos, and lots of hope. Based on the book “Before the Coffee Gets Cold” by Toshikazu Kawaguchi, this is a movie well worth the time to watch it.
Happy that you liked it @GB!
It is a satisfying watch indeed with a lovely message.
Dear @PM3, thank you for taking the time both to watch the movie and to mine my comment. I guess that due to our recent country problems Internet glitches are just a symptom. Would like to read more from you!
Kalimera Packmule3 and friends!
I do hope you are all okay! I am not into kdramas lately. I have a hard time finding something I like these days.
I have put on a hold, some shows I was watching and while I want to finish them, I don’t want to at the moment. At the same time, I am not starting anything new, although I have some shows on my radar, mostly cdramas, like “Go East” with Tan Jian Ci.
So, I don’t push myself at all. If I don’t want to watch anything, it’s okay. 🙂
The only show I have finished is the dorama “Silent” and I enjoyed it pretty much.
The only movie that really touched me and I watched this past Sunday is “La Grande Bellezza”. Maybe I am looking for “the perfect beauty” as Jep did. So far, I have discovered it at the sea…
Kalispera from my side of the World dear @Cleo!!!
Joy Of Missing Out (JOMO) is also a thing.
Have finished “Nice Flight! (Japan – 2022)”. Set up in the Narita International Airport it is a love letter as much as a peek behind curtains of the Travel Industry.
The male lead is a co-pilot that besides his job (where he is awarded the epithet “lucky” as he finds himself in troublesome flight situations that luckily resolves well due to good judgement) he loves the industry so much as to help the personnel in other areas. He is 30.
The female lead is a flight controller. She is incredibly professional and efficient at her job yet she is not the best communicator in her personal life. She is 35.
I can recommend it not only for its educational value, it also masterfully uses drama tropes tastefully and in service of a good story. Characters are realistic and conflicts arise both from mismatched schedules and due to the female lead’s introverted nature as much as misunderstandings due to the male lead’s extroverted one. So conflict is organic.
Also love the representation of a secondary character that is an aircraft mechanic but also juggles his responsibilities with his role of a single father. Many characters to love!
These days I did not have Internet so went through my hidden Drama Stash. Dear @GB, “Caution, Hazardous Wife” is a little gem. It is a joy to find a Drama that expresses the female view of the world in such an uplifting way! I am still to watch Episode 7 so there are still some chapters and a movie to enjoy before being able to comment on your recommendation properly.
Hello Everyone
September back to school vibes here in Canada.No matter how old I am I still have the feeling that I need to take on something new. This year I actually did -kpop dance classes with the korea canadian culturtal center. Our first dance was Candy(Reply 1997 vibes) by H.O.T. Lots of fun and hard work.
Kdrama-wise I have been on a Kim Nam Gil kick. Currently I am rewatching LUTYN which I really enjoy for the time travel, Western/Eastern medicine themes, and KNG’s wacky sense of humour and how great he looks when he cleans up.
I rewatched Shark, this time prepared for the end. I also watchedd Bad Guy(2010) for the first time. What a mess, but entertaining.
Again I was prepared for the messy ending, having read that the drama was cut short because the Korean military would not grant him a postponement to finish the drama.
I kept thinking KNG looked like LMH when I was watching Bad GUY and then I learned LMH had been offered the role. I think there was something in the styling. A young Kim Jae Wook and a young Jung So Min also starred. I am not sure I would have persisted to the end if it were not for the crimminally attractive KMG and his emotive acting(not as good as in Shark).
I am also rewatching This is My First Life.
No Gain No Love and maybe Love next Door are on my horizon.
@PM3 TY for the info on My Haeri so that is also on my WL.
@Grace Love’s Rebellion is up there on my WL as well. I have my eye out for Story of Pearl Girl, now with a new title, I think.
All the dramas and the movies mentioned above interest me. Thank goodness it is gettting cold and I will be spending more time indoors.
For any Kim Namgil fans, here is a fun video of him performing Candy with HOT. He can dance and sing too! I will post in my next comment.
https://youtu.be/ekvYLaRCork?si=tQ7sC7bzi13JUoOs
Actually it is a cover by NCT.
I am watching three current kdramas right now–the first time this year that I’ve watched so many current dramas at once.
[I am putting Love Next Door on hold. There just isn’t enough plot/conflict there to hold my interest. It reminds me a lot of Hometown Cha Cha Cha (also by the same writer), which I also dropped around the fourth episode. I know some people loved HCCC but I found the OTP pairing cringey. Here I don’t like the FL/ML as a couple because they are still bickering and hitting one another four episodes in. The ML’s years-long yearning is the main plot point of this drama, which is becoming stagnant.]
A much more compelling drama for me right now is Good Partner. I know @pm3 doesn’t like legal dramas, so she probably won’t watch this one. Each episode centers around one divorce case, but the ongoing story is about the dissolution of the FL’s marriage, and all its repercussions, especially on her child–played by the young actress who was so terrific in The Kidnapping Day. Here she is just as impressive; I look forward to following her career. I’m also finding new respect for Jang Na Ra as the FL. I haven’t appreciated her previous roles (like Fated to Love You, where I found her cutesy). In this drama she expresses vulnerability and pain, while maintaining a professional composure.
No Gain, No Love has become better as it progresses; I especially liked episode 3.
My guilty pleasure drama is Cinderella at 2AM. Like LND, there isn’t much plot–two people who love each other break up because his chaebol mother wills it so. But I appreciate the melancholy it conveys, helped so much by Sam Kim’s song, Shining You. (I love me some Sam Kim!). The casting in this drama is interesting–the ML is 24 and the FL is 38(!), though he’s supposed to be 25 and she is supposed to be someone in her early 30s by my estimation (considering the age difference between her and her onscreen brother). But the actors are making the best of this awkward casting decision. If you don’t have time to watch the drama, but want to get an idea of the melancholy that I’m talking about, you can watch the official video for Shining You, which features scenes from early episodes: https://youtu.be/TDEZgCVlhmM?si=ZNG60scUyre8CYdS
@monmor,
The KNG video you shared made me want to rewatch all of his scenes in Queen Seondeok. I have watched Live Up To Your Name and The Fiery Priest a couple of times.
I am also tempted to try Bad Guy and Shark.
@SF LUTYN is a favorite of mine. There are good reviews on Kdrama love for this drama and some comparisons and helpful info for Shark and Bad guy. I did enjoy his character and I think the plot was better, in Shark. Although there were not very many romantic scenes,KNG and SYJ Were able to create chem***** When they were not even in the same scenes.
I have yet to watch the fiery priest but it is on my list. I started through the darkness but i’m not sure I want that level of darkness.
Although song of the bandits received rather mixed reviews, I am considering watching it.
About Queen Soendoek, I have not watched it But I may be tempted someday when I have time.
@FGB and @GB, I’m reading the book “Before the Coffee Gets Cold”! I didn’t know there’s a movie about it. Will check it out once I’m done reading.
Currently watching Love Next Door, it’s an easy watch but I don’t really like the childish bickering. I hope there’s a shift on their narrative soon.
@SF I am getting a good laugh at the part where the two doctors fight off a band of the japanese army, in Josean times, with her self defence items from her purse- A taser and pepper spray.
Dear @GB, finished the “Caution, Hazardous Wife! (2017)” and the movie (2021). Interesting take on femineity. My main grip is that Nami lets go serious crimes and offenses that could not fly under the radar if the recipient of her larguesse were to be a man.
Hell, even the man in Episode 10 should get a couple of broken bones as education.
That said, given that some topics are rather heavy it is obvious that it is targeted to a mature audience, much like our main trio of friends. For a woman in that age range it must be a cathartic experience, and Nami’s empathetic attitude would be a breath of fresh air, even if she still punish her antagonists.
@table122000
How Are you finding “melody of golden age”? I really Enjoyed imperial coroner , so I am interested in Watching this one. I searched online but did not find anything that convinced me to start watching It which is why I am asking you about it.
When the coffee gets cold and nice flight both interest me as well.
Good smirk at this terrible Bresilian judge, sadly it’s not drama but reality.
I’ve found different trailers of the drama Judge from hell.
I post this one because there are english subtitles:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jR63zWcvRT4
I like a lot Park Shin-Hye but I don’t feel it on this one. Sounds like again badass girl kicking. Someone posted a nice joke about this future drama:
Devil Judge + My Demon = Judge from hell.
Even a compromise wouldn’t help. Devil judge was enough good for me to watch the whole but nothing that great and my-demon was terrible. Judge from hell would need to be better than both.
Kdramas are often exploiting a (supposed) gold mine. After Immortals and Gods, now it’s demons. But it’s quite difficult. A real demon would be evil and sabotage the drama. I don’t see how it can be changed into a nice character, except in foolish kdrama fantasy.
Dear Hiery could be a good catch. In this drama there are also other secondary actors I like. I didn’t liked the drama “Kill me heal me” based on split personnality. But Dear Hiery seems to be more realist and maybe I could try it.
Now I’m thinking about to make a short run with “deadly games” kdramas.
Games stories is a genre I like a lot:
– Pyramid game (kdrama recommended by a writer of Stargate series I follow on X)
– Killing vote
– Roulette (it’s a drama GB was talking about)
Dear @Monmor, @Janey, @SnowFlower, @BethB, and last but never least @Cleo, @GB and @WEnchanteur!!!
I love Ms. Park Shin Hye too but I concur with you. I don’t see a plausible redemption route and a totally evil entity should have some qualities that makes her relatable enough to root for her. From the back of my mind I remember a movie where as a lesser subplot the she-devil that was supposed to collect the protagonist’s soul ended being a good lad and was returned to life. For some odd reason I still remember she was a 10th century princess.
Hyeri has become one of my favourite actresses: endearing, lovable, vulnerable, relatable and funny. Can the adjective “derpy” be applied to ladies? Easy on the eyes to boot!
Finished an old one, “Good Luck!! (Japan-2003). It is also a drama about the airline industry. Where “Nice Flight!! (Japan-2022)” was didactic, “Good Luck!!” was grittier and had a reasonable external conflict. You could say that in “Good Luck!!” the ultimate antagonists are the stringent flight regulations. Also the male lead has a lot of grit and will where in the 2022 Drama he was more of a good student.
Hello @FGB! You’ve always got new jdorama recommendations to make. I saw a cdrama which involved airline pilots on commercial flights, showed their training and even what the ground flight control does. And separately, I watched a kdrama which involved airport management. It increased my appreciation for the different challenges the airlines and airports face.
I had to look up ‘derpy’. (“Derpy” typically means clumsy, awkward, or embarrassing…’ Basically it means ‘stupid’) It can be used to describe anyone.
See you !
Hello dear @GB!!!, then I used the word “derpy” in a careless fashion and it is my duty to apologize!
I find Hyeri’s characters as clumsy but in an endearing way. Her characters are not perfect and that makes them relatable, which is a good door to go into a friendship, maybe even love.
Yes, I think I am biased. Started as an Anime viewer back in my childhood. Maybe I should break the diet and look for a good K, T or C Drama for a change 😉 .
I started watching love in nirvana with allen ren. There are eight episodes out and I just finished episode seven.
It is the same director as journey to love whiCh I very much enjoyed.
It will be an enemies to lovers romance. In the first ten minutes of episode one, He both poisoned her and stabbed her twice.
So far I am enjoying the drama Although one does need to take Torture and murder with a grain of salt to get through some of these chinese dramas.🫣🤔
@Monmor Sorry to respond to you so late. I haven’t been online for the past 2 weeks. Regarding Melody of Golden Age: It started out pretty good, but then it started to drag a little bit. I found the mysteries not as engaging as Imperial Coroner. I stopped watching. I may pick it up again later.
@Table122000
Thank you for your response. I actually have watched melody of the golden age up to episode eight. It was Okay but not enthralling. I also made the mistake of watching the episodes at bedtime.So I was sleeping through some of the scenes.
I have settled in to Love of Nirvana And eagerly await each day’s episodes.
I watched Pyramid Games. I was cool, but I’m not in the mood to continue on survival game genre, so I go on historical.
HELP me to choose a drama in this list:
– My Dearest (2023)
– Bossam: Steal the Fate (2021)
– The Red Sleeve (2021)
– The Nokdu Flower (2019)
I don’t have lot of time to take this decision, as I’m in the final episodes of my 4th rewatch of Jang Ok Jung with Kim Tae-Hee. 🥰
Kalimera @WE!
I suggest :
The Red Sleeve
My Dearest
Bossam
Nokdu Flower.
The Red Sleeve. It is one of my favorite shows ever. Although it is sad. It is a fictionized story of the Historic figures.
My Dearest: I have heard from all those who have watched it that it is pretty good!
And I am watching Bossam, but I have paused it.
As for Nokdu Flower I don’t know what to say.
@Cleo. Thanks!
I’ll start with Red Sleeve. 😉
You are welcome @We!
FYI, Lee JunHo got a Daesang that year for his performance as Yi San!
Kalimera from my part of the world @FGB!
Yes, FOMO is a thing too. My schedule is getting back slowly its shape. So far I am not watching anything at all. The only thing I watched was “Officer Black Belt” which was pretty good. I really enjoyed the synergy between Kim Woo-Bin and Kim Sun-Min.
I will safe your suggestion for later. It seems to be rather interesting!
https://asianwiki.com/Nice_Flight
If your Internet is back, write to us. I will be happy to see your message on my email notification list! Stay safe!
P.S. What is your progress on your novel so far?
@WE, I highly recommend Nokdu Flower! It is helpful to read a little bit on the historical events (Donghak Peasant revolt of 1894) before watching.
My Dearest is spectacular in the first 8 episodes or so. After that the writer tried too hard to keep the main characters apart. Acting is excellent.
I liked Bossam a lot, but I think it would have worked better as a 16-episode drama rather than 20.
The Red Sleeve is very good if you ignore a rather silly plot development towards the middle.
@SnowFlower, thanks! I put it next in my list.
Red Sleeve: just started, 20 minutes in first episode. I’m in!
Excellent first scenes, with enough surprise, hooking power and fast pace.
I feel like I am in good hands, so now just enjoy what comes next.
Out of rebellion and boredom I’m watching this cdrama, Be Your Knight, which I can’t exactly recommend. I will still watch it, although I can’t say it’s good. I believe there are 29 episodes and 11 have been subbed so far.
I’m watching for the fake contract marriage trope and because I like the look of the leads separately and together.
What’s okay about it … simple enough story with a known twist that is supposed to make it impossible for the OTP to stay together. It includes some mystery, and the leads do have that ‘chemistry’ which makes watching them a pleasure.
Each episode is 20 minutes long, and unlike the usual cdrama, does not start with 1.5 minutes of opening credits, but rather starts almost at once. The lighting is good, the slightly post-Republican era costumes are nice, there’s lots of music and some interesting camerawork.
Why I cannot quite recommend it. It seems to be trying too hard. Perhaps it’s trying to come off as arty or different. Perhaps also it’s trying to create more atmosphere and mood by its choice of camera angles, big zoom ins, by less dialogue and lots of music (rather loud) to fill in what other dramas might fill with backstory or flashbacks or some exposition. Here we get left with mystery and no explanation for some time to come.
I don’t particularly care for the sudden zoom ins to just one facial feature, and repeatedly from one character to another. I’m sure the viewer would be able to catch the nuances of the pursed lips on the overall face and does not need to only see the lips.
Although each episode is just 20 minutes long, after Episode 6, I started to feel that show was already running out of plot and steam. We could quite easily reduce each episode to just 15 minutes or just squeeze 29 episodes into 16.
To kill time there were too many slo-mo moments, long looks between characters, or a long time taken in reflecting, etc.
I’d like to see the ending, and the other story with the aunt, so I guess I’ll just wait for subbed episodes to drop and use the FFD button a great deal!
My pace of watching Asian dramas has slowed significantly the past few months. I am enjoying No Gain No Love enough for the time between new episodes to feel too long. I’m filling the time waiting for NGNL with Romance in the House. Although there is a romance between young people in the show, the main focus of Romance in the House is relationships between family members. The show treats with respect the emotions and situations that pull family members together and push them apart. Parent-child dynamics seem to me to be presented believably. The negative thing I can say about Romance in the House is that it uses plot sleight of hand too often, leading viewers to expect something bad, then shattering assumptions. It makes it hard for me to take seriously the next windup of mystery. Other than that, I am loving how parents and their children are all learning about themselves and navigating through life’s transitions.
@Cleo, I’ve ended “Red Sleeves”.
I liked the drama but it won’t be a favorite. However, with this quality about directing and story, I understand it can be favorite one for other people. 😉
Comments are closed for the drama on BOD.
So I posted a bunch of comments on MDL:
https://mydramalist.com/61399-dress-sleeved-red
Almost live watching but very resumed on some episodes.
I can’t guarantee I understood well everything, and could have missed some steps, because as you know, the story is quite original, and however real history.
Now I’ll go into “Nokdu Flower”.
And if I’m still in the mood of historical, “My Dearest” next.
@Pm3, I watched 2 episodes of My Dear Hyeri.
Sounds like a kdrama you could like, or at least find something to decypher.
I took pm3-style notes on episode 2, lol!
But without timecodes. Just scenes in episode order. Posted that on MDL.
Episode 1 started badly with lecturing about various social cases and wordy dialogs. I still continued and the rest of episode was ok. A bit boring. Episode 2 was better, although for a strange reason, many comments say opposite.
While reading the pitch from Soompi, I see they explain some points I had to find in the drama. I’ve maybe read it before but forgot everything.
Historicals: Nokdu Flower is a killer. Didn’t see something that good since the golden age of historical dramas like Six Flying Dragons. By the way, director is the one of 6FD.
@WE, Nokdu Flower is great! So well written and acted. Glad you are enjoying it.
Dear Bro @WEnchanteur, I started watching “Dear Hyeri”. God I love Shin Hye Seon! Her acting truly shines. She can turn a bad script into an acceptable show.
I still have to complete Episode 1 and so far the story makes no sense. Maybe is the depressed news anchor dragging me in her melancholic mood.
That dialog where she confesses that she hates her ex because she still loves him and can’t have him. That confession that she hates him to pieces (mirroring the expression “love to pieces”) was truly inspired.
Funny for me to think that you were singing praises to Hyeri the actress a few Posts back when you were talking about an upcoming show! 😀
@FGB, Cleo is in too. 😉
It’s nice you like episode 1. I disliked the start. Maybe I already said that? And rest of episode was boring, scenes hardly compeling and you try to find why we see that. If something is given, it’s hard to remember because you don’t know what to do with that. I’ve lost concentration and missed some clues toward the end. I rewatched episode 1 after watching episode 2. I’m now an “ask me anything” expert. 🙂
But episode 2: gosh, it’s a hit! Prepare yourself to be attentive. It’s still slow, but I was hooked by the scenes. So curious to see how the dialogs and situations would turn. Almost nothing is lost and many details make sens, in dialog, visuals and symbolism.
About Shin Hye Seon: probably she chose this script because she found it good. And it’s also a good challenge as an actress to do two different roles with deep psychological content.
It wasn’t obvious on episode 1, but on episode 2, it’s the drama I wanted to watch, when I’ve talk about that on top of the thread. Something taking seriously enough psychology. We get also few moving scenes in ep2. Just in case, prepare a handkerchief. 😢
Kalimera @We!
It is one of my favorites, but I cannot bear to see it all of it. I have at one point watch the most important scenes that I liked. Still, “The Red Sleeve Cuff”, is the real story of King Jeongjo and his beloved Concumbine. We know about their story because he is the first king who wrote about his love about his then -dead- significant other.
As for “Dear Hyeri” I have started it too. I am not in the mood for deciphering that much, dear @WE but I will try to be present and comment too! 😊
@FGB good to know you are watching it as well! I do hope you are okay!
@Packmule3, can we have an Open Thread about “Dear Hyeri”? 💕
Out of the blue, I decided to see what else the actor Kim Young Dae, the lead in No Gain, No Love has acted in before and picked up this 2020-2021 series, Cheat on Me if You Can. Has anyone here watched this?
This is a welcome relief from the usual bland shows. It’s something of a black comedy with mystery and is quirkily different.
Synopsis from Asianwiki: ‘Kang Yeo-Joo (Cho Yeo-Jeong) is a best-selling writer. She only writes crime stories, dealing with cruel murder cases. She constantly thinks about how to murder people for her novels. Kang Yeo-Joo is married to Han Woo-Sung (Ko Jun). He is a lawyer, specializing in divorce. He wrote a memo to his wife stating “If I cheat, I die.” ‘
Kim Young Dae plays a supporting role as an intriguing character who’s not what he seems, and I’m glad to see Lee Si Un again.
When we bring together a scaredy-cat husband with a seemingly murderous, eccentric wife, a missing mistress, the cops, the NIS and something unmentionable in the freezer, we get a dark but fun show.
Kalispera @Cleo, our posts crossed in hyperspace. How are you? I’m glad to know that you’re watching some shows again after taking a break. You can see in my post what I’ve just picked up. It’s a completed series so I may just end up bingeing it.
See you!
Kalimera Unnie from my part of the world.
I am glad that I can watch something with my pace though. As I have written to @WE, I cannot write too much at the moment. He analyzed some things on MDL already. I am letting myself do baby steps again.
I do hope you are okay! <3
I haven't heard of "Cheat on Me, If You Can". I might look for it.
Today starts "What comes after Love" with Lee See Young and Kentaro Sakaguchi. It is on Viki. I find it interesting, although I don't know if I can enter a melodrama's world right now…
@GB, I watched “cheat on me if you can”. It’s good. Go into that, it’s a quick watch, in the way you are enough hooked to binge-watch it fast. 😉
However, as I watched fast, I don’t remember well, just it was good.
The judge from hell: as I expected, it’s hollow and of dubious morality. I feel that unfriendly about Christianity, mostly used as a way to scare FL like a vampire by the sun. The regular comedy gives it pace to make it fun enough, like munching peanuts, but I’d need to be drunk to watch the continuation.
I posted a (maybe) funny comment on MDL, allowing bad (but true) words, forbidden here:
https://mydramalist.com/758169-the-judge-from-hell#comment-18926820
(Note: MDL have currently stress tests. If it doesn’t appears, come back later)
SomEone above was talking about the Japanese drama Unmet about a neurosurgeon with memory loss. I see that it is on netflix but not here in canada. I am wondering if anyone knows where I can watch it.
Dear @PackMule3, yesterday I made a Post about Episode 1 of “Dear Hyeri” that regrettably did not appear.
Episode 1 was slow and so packed with information I am still trying to make sense of. As usual, the Female Lead´s acting (Shin Hye Seong) is outstanding.
Dear Bro @WEnchanteur, I am about to get to the middle of Episode 2 of “Dear Hyeri” and so far… I have this feeling that this could be a very good story.
A history of people and their flaws. That part in Episode 1 when the anchor news alter ego confesses that she is so mean to her ex because she can’t have him, and she “hates him to pieces” (as a mirror phrase to “loving someone to pieces”) made me think this could be REALLY good.
Hope the script does not fail us.
@WE, thanks for your opinion of “Cheat on Me…” It’s great to know that you found it a good watch. I’m still enjoying it after more or less bingeing up to Episode 6. It’s been great fun so far!
I’m expecting the unexpected and that what we’re getting are both clues and red herrings to keep viewers guessing. We’ll get the unfolding of what happens when the cheating takes place, most inadvisably, with the complications of other fallout.
I love the Over-the-Top-ness of FL’s eccentricity and how she has great deductive powers but at the same time can be so wrong. Love the fear she instills just by being there.
I can have no sympathy for our so-called ‘hero’, main protagonist since he’s basically an idiot and brings the problems upon himself. I’m glad I started the watch for Kim Dae Young’s character, who is about the only one whom viewers can get behind at the moment! He’s still very much like his “No Gain, No Love” character, but has added some fancy fight moves in this show and looks so cool.
This is a fun caper and a great break from my current shows.
@GB, “cheat on me” is an under-the-radar drama. The kind you feel lucky to discover. I watched some others like that, and often prefer them than the blockbuster ones of today. As you are talking about it, I wanted to remember and rewatch a bit episode 1. It’s even better that what I remember.
I don’t want to give spoiler and hardly can do it. I liked both characters. They could be a bit stupid and wrong, and it made it funny. About what we can guess, is expected or not, I just remember I was surprised by twists. However, I wasn’t using a lot my brain, I was hooked and watching the episodes one after the other.
Actors were good, and there is some support actors I like too: Hong Soo Hyun as journalist (Queen In-Hyun in Jang Ok Jung). Lee Si Eun (Soo-Bong in W). Kim Ye Won as detective, so pretty actress.
This was caught in my “To be moderated” box, @GB. Don’t know why; I can’t find any banned words. 🙂
Cheat On Me If You Can
@WE, Yes, this is one of those hidden gems. I’d have loved to have caught this when it was airing and to have joined in the live commenting on it. There’s so much going on to talk about.
As for the actors … I had not seen Hong Soo Hyun in a long, long time. I somehow never chose the shows she was in. Kim Ye Won is much as I’ve always seen her. Perhaps she should be given a leading role for a change so we can see what else she can do.
It’s strange though that I have hardly seen the main FL, Cho Yeo Jeong in any shows I’ve watched. Almost every show she’s been in, I did not watch, or it was too long ago, like the not very good ‘Lovers of Haeundae’. She’s very good though.
For this show I’m watching for her and Kim Young Dae. I’ve noticed too that this series has an exceptionally large cast (for a modern 16-ep drama) of more than 80 actors, which is so unlike the budget webtoon-ish dramas nowadays who employ just a few cast members.
🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪🍔🍟🥤🧇🥓🥞🥚🍞☕🥣🫗🍮🥧🍰🧁🥛🍪🥛🍪🥛🍪
Thanks @pkml3! I’m glad to know that you’re back in BOD circulation and back safe from your trip.
As you probably know, we need the threads for No Gain, No Love (last 4 episodes!!) Episodes 9-12. The good news is that there was hardly any aegyo from Shin Min Ah, or anyone (or maybe the guys did more aegyo than the girls!)
And yes, of course the Rewatch Party is on as usual today/tonight! 😁😆😇
@Pm3, please, a thread for “Dear Hyeri” would be welcome too.
We are three watching it now.
@GB, I should curse you. Now I’m rewatching COMIYC. I post few comments on MDL. If you want to share. Or maybe do a review as a private thread, like we did for “perfect mariage revenge”.
@WE LOLOL, sure thing! I’ll go look for your comments. Do you want to just use the MDL Messages for a chat?
I’m sorry, @FGB4877. I can’t find your post on “Dear Hyeri” in the 98 trash messages, 256 spam messages, and 21 “To Be Moderated” messages. I hope you saved a copy. 🙁
Dear @PackMule3, it was just a deeper review on what I had on Episode 1 of “Dear Hyeri”.
It is more that I don’t know if I am being firewalled as a Venezuelan than lost data. Maybe I wrote in another Post and confused it with this one.
Since I have seen many more comments today I am relieved.
@FGB: always write comments in a notepad, then copy-paste here. 😉
At least, for long comments. 😘
Hello Everyone. I am hoping you can help me solve a longstanding problem I have with playing Viki downloads.
I am traveling in 2 days and have a question about downloading and watching viki shows on the airplane. This works with netflix but not with Viki. I cannot get them to play.
Does anyone know what to do in this situation?
Judge from hell: I continued watching this blockbuster drama, despite I was on the verge to drop it. Yet, the comedy hits nicely, and it’s becoming better. The drama found a strong identity, and it’s like a mix of “My Demon” (but less boring) and “Taxi Driver”.
About morality: it’s fixed. Heroine kills only other killers and only their murder was motivated by evil reason. She saves children. Sure, it’s better, but I don’t see the link with bible or christianity. I’m not expert, but what comes from demon isn’t supposed to be pure evil and all sins of humanity? There, it looks more like Greek mythology, or any mythology about ruling afterlife in a fair way, with moral rules.
Howdy!
Queen, is there anything good for October drama watch?
You’re probably busy. No worries. ☺️
I don’t have anything after LND and NGNL. I might check some cdramas.
Thanks! ☺️
Just piping up to see if anyone is watching Family By Choice? I enjoyed the Chinese original Go Ahead. FBC is good so far The actors playing the young kids were great, especially the girl. The now adult actors are doing a passable job playing HS students. Episode 3 had me in tears. These days I am mostly losing interest in dramas if I have to wait for new episode, but this may be an exception. Anyone else watching?
Hi @Good Twin, I’m not watching much at the moment but just saw another review of the first 2 episodes of Family By Choice which makes it sound a little tempting.
I’ll let you know on this Thread if I start this show! 🙂
Hi here. I watched the whole drama “The Worst of Evil”.
It was a good one. I needed it to take screenshot of a character because…
🎺🎺🎺🎺🎺 I wrote a new short!!! In kdrama crime style, a bit violent.
It’s here:
https://w-two-worlds-season-2.blogspot.com/2024/10/welcome.html
Gorgeous visuals!
I put in it the max about what I’ve learned in screenwriting last months.
But it’s simple, no montage, not even a single flashback (quite a shame for a kdrama).
@GB, at one point, the story is a bit easter-eggs.
Or pick up some elements, connecting the dots, make 2+2 if you want to find out.
Else, you leave like some people after Memories of the Alhambra. 😅
Someone have read it, but couldn’t get the puzzle.
I’m curious if I need to make that more easy.
Probably not, it depends of what you find, but I’m sure you see better.
Hi @WE, thanks for the link to your screenplay. I read the Korean version of course and enjoyed the visuals. You certainly selected them well!!!
Very graphic in words actually but clear, even the sounds were ‘audible’. It was a good and easy read. I don’t think you actually dropped Easter Eggs… at least they were not obvious, except for the opening picture that went with the Title. Nothing could look so unwelcoming! Anyway, aside from that there was hardly a clue that the plot would become supernatural.
I’m guessing that the newspaper would have been an obvious Easter Egg if we could see the date on it and know the date of the happenings taking place. With songs like Hotel California, and after shows like Hotel Del Luna, being trapped in a supernatural motel seems ‘normal’. The idea of meeting one’s comeuppance in a place where choices are taken away and exit is impossible is one of the images of hell.
I liked the contrast ie the first hotel was so pristine (heavenly) and the 2nd dilapidated. What a come down for the arrogant Ju Yun. The moment he disappeared and left Tae Rin to the mercies of Ha Bok, I wanted him to get punished. I liked the hint that Ju Yun was not only trapped in time and place but also in another body and became what he had looked at with contempt.
@GB, glad to know you enjoyed. You spotted many elements other reader didn’t. Like the idea of hell and reasons of comeuppance.
Please answer me on the blog, so I can ask your few questions. I’m curious to know how you make sens of few details and last scene. Then if what intended can be catch.
The first hotel was a four-star. It’s a petty detail that he didn’t chose a five star one. But 5 – 4 = 1. Finally, he gets same job, but for just one star instead of four. The math jumped at me when I found a real hotel “Four season hotel”. There is a real K2 motel, 13km away from Seoul. So I choose the name K4 motel, as 4 was reminiscent of the “Four Seasons” one.
Hi @WE, I left a comment in your blogspot. Not sure I can answer your questions, but I’ll come back to look later. Gonna get some shuteye while waiting for Ep 10 of ‘Dear Hyeri’ to drop.
Hello all! I’m back from a month-long European vacation where I had spotty wifi and limited access to some streaming sites.
Here is what I’ve watched and am watching in October:
—What Comes After Love -(the final episode came out yesterday): this was lovely, slow, and lyrical. It’s about two people falling in love and seeming to fall out of love. I’m still deciding if I liked the ending… ( it’s only six episodes)
—Family by Choice – the children’s backstories is what makes this show so compelling, particularly the son abandoned by his mother, who has no “real” family. I didn’t watch the Chinese version, which some reviewers are saying is even more moving
—A Virtuous Business – like Good Partner, this drama is surprisingly about how tough it is to be a woman in SK, especially in the past (this is set in the 90s). I am not appreciating the sex toy jokes, but I watch it because some of the characters are so endearing, particularly the first grader who knows everything about life from reading women’s magazines at his mother’s beauty salon
—now that WCAL is done, I’m planning to look at Kim Tae Ri’s show on Hulu, about becoming a theatrical performer
I’m in episode 5 of “Life on Mars”.
Lot of orange filters on image! Mars feeling?
Fake time travel story, but nevertheless, I like the writer pulls out the fact that “it could be a coma” right from the start. Wasn’t done on “Reborn Rich”.
The story is classic “My life again” genre. Still a mystery: ML goes back in someone body, but who? Looks like it’s just him but with his older body. Strange.
End of episodes have a reccurent cliffhanger when he hears voices from “present time?”.
The story is nice about other things, mostly comedy and relationships.
I just continue now…….
Hi @WE, I’ve also gone back to look at Life on Mars, Episode 1. I forgot a lot.
As I mentioned, it’s kind of but not really a time-travel show, so we watch it not to analyse the logic of how the time-travel works, but for the other aspects of the show. The plot and various investigations are good, and I like the interactions and character growth.
I actually did not think of this show for the time-travel genre, but as you mentioned it, and I remembered that I liked it … here we are watching it!
@WE, where are you streaming Life On Mars?
I have the same question about Life on Mars?
@SN, @MM, I had the files already, but now I don’t know how to find it.
I tried dramaday but doesn’t work for googledrive files. Maybe their 720p files from MEGA?
Or else, need to use torrent and find a link on a korean website.
Is there a website streaming it, like dramacool or something like that?
I think someone said it might be on apple or one of those other pay streaming services.But I don’t know if that would be any help to you and I have not looked into it.
@GB, alas it also uses the thing you know I dislike in any series:
“case of the week” !!! 😂
@WE, it’s not so bad. The cases are interesting and later on a case is personal. I hope I’m remembering correctly!
Dramanice and Dramacool should still be streaming Life on Mars.
Howdy everyone! 👋🏻
Queen, I hope this finds you well and able to rest in between the businesses especially with the upcoming election. Hoping for the best! 🙏🏼
This is for you, @Fern and @Welmaris. I don’t know if it’s Teo Yoo’s song? But he’s been posting with different artists.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DAhkkcTS2RA/?igsh=MWFoNnVoc29pOG54cw==
I’ll be watching Rosie’s new drama called The Story Of Pearl Girl starting tomorrow. It looks very angsty though. Hopefully it won’t be all that. Here’s the trailer.
https://youtu.be/JfUDfYR-3KM?si=6ZhBktQH029uANVv
I am looking forwad to Story of Pearl Girl as well.
Gosh, @agdr03, Teo Yoo looks younger than his 43 years in this music video clip! Yes, it is Teo Yoo’s song. I can’t cut and past a link because I’m on my phone right now, but if you go on YouTube and search for Teo Yoo Texas Summer, you’ll find a post that was put up one month ago. So it’s new! He must be working on the music video for it.
I have started story of pearl girl. Too early to tell how good it will be. So far the costumes are beautiful, The c g I was not the best, And the depiction of life as a slave is difficult to watch.
Trying to figure out how to use the Yooku app is a challenge.