@packmule3, thank you. I do want to watch the next part of My Happy Marriage. The first part had a rosy ending, but something tells me that is an illusion. I’m trying to catch up with Love Scout. I have tried and dropped some other things.

I hope that you are well. Happy Valentines Day to you and your husband.

Happy Hearts Day!!! ❤️❤️❤️

I will watch Melo Movie, that’s about it. 😃

For cdramas, I just did a rewatch of Who Rules The World, just because I miss Yang Yang and Rosy. 🥰

I’m not sure what to watch next but I saw this Taiwanese movie called Man In Love. The couple there got married in real life. ☺️

I was thinking of rewatching Queen of Tears too. I should. 😄

Thank you for this. Safe travels. ❤️

@Packmule3,

He is amazing, indeed! Especially in the dream sequence in Episode 27, Dylan nailed it! I am in Episode 35, but I am taking my time with it. I am impressed by his antics!

Finishing Love Scout and hopefully Study Group. SG is brutally violent but I like the ML. So I often fast forward the fight scenes (which the teenage/young seem to be raving about out and I cringe at) and just watch for the characters and the humour (?) – it’s bizarre but maybe it’s the backdrop of hyperbolic violence that random quips by the naive ML just makes me laugh out loud (a form of tension release maybe?)🤔 . Anyway, I think it’s only 10/12 eps. This seems to be the go now? A lot of these new dramas are short and punchy with 12 eps. Not sure if I will pick anything else up after Love Scout and Study Group. Thought about binge watching Where The Stars Gossip but the reviews haven’t been flattering so I might skip it.

@Nrllee – I am also enjoying Study Group. I fast forward through the bullying sequences but I am enjoying the very satisfying and wonderfully choreographed headline fight sequences. The ML is adorable! I love the fact that he is on the look out for guys who want to study and sees that as his main mission as he goes around fearlessly tackling the bad guys! It’s surprising in places with a good redemptive thread and you don’t quite know who is on what journey. And what about ML’s Mum? Loving it.

@Kate Study Group definitely surprised me.

(SPOILER)

The ML’s mom was a huge twist 😂. I couldn’t stop laughing when ML went to the wrong school for study group exchange, looked at all the graffitied walls and murmured, “is this an art school or something?” Then he spots drops of blood on the stairs and wonders, “wow, these students study so hard that they get nose bleeds.” 😂😂😂. The irony is so well done. It works partly because of the ML’s portrayal (he’s a dead ringer for Cha EunWoo at certain angles – although my daughter disputes this vehemently 😂) and his actual gullible naive character. I also like his male side kick. The brains of the operation. Their characters just work together well.

@Nrllee – agree completely with CEW comparison – have been thinking that too – and it works so well for this actor!

I was laughing too as he pondered Manic High School’s graffitied walls and the blood on the staircase!

He has a wonderful ability to see with hope and in spite of what is facing him! He is a kind of comedy visionary – he does bring the best out of people when it is there to be brought out. Then of course he also does this thing when he morphs into this panther like fighter with the laser gaze! What is not to love!

Agreed re male side kick. What a well drawn and well acted + pivotal character!

@Cleo,

I am on episode 2 of MY Dearest Nemesis.

It is warming up nicely. The ML is getting into his role – is this his first romantic lead? Did I sense some hesitancy from him in Episode 1? I was just watching him in Weak Hero Class 1 where he was unflinchingly excellent alongside the gorgeous Park Ji Hoon’s lead character.

I know what you mean about the way the FL is written. I suspect the writing will tone down her annoying characteristics as the show moves forward and as the sparks fly between the leads (I hope!).

For some reason, I feel confident that the show will be good with this cast because both of them tends to choose strong shows. I may of course be wrong.

I am referring to confusion about Ep 1. I understand why that was now.

@Cleo I watched ep1 of The Witch and to be honest I am not “hooked”. The story doesn’t grab me. I will push on with Ep2 to see if I like it better. Moving hooked me with the first ep and it kept getting better. The characters (and the actors/actresses) were rich and nuanced.

@FGB and @Cleo, thanks for checking if I’m okay. That’s so sweet of you to notice and be concerned.

I have a few reasons for not being on this thread…
I’m super busy and am not watching much, or I’m just watching the same shows that I may have mentioned in the last WAWW thread.

On top of everything, there’s a medical situation going on with my mum-in-law that’s taken centrestage at the moment. (Please pray for her to be comfortable and at peace.)

I’m also recovering slowly and trying to find time to do my physiotherapy exercises. But at the same time I’m trying to ward off the flu and need more sleep.

All in all, I guess I’m not watching much except my usual Rewatch show and trying to finish “When the Stars Gossip“. I may try to do a quick rewatch of I Hear Your Voice in preparation for the next Rewatch Party show. (All are welcome to join us on Saturdays!) That’s about it!!

Take care all!

Hello @FGB!

It is good to read you my friend!

I am also in the club of Personal Growth, doing things that I enjoy like dancing and cooking. I also rest and sleep a lot, because my weekdays are hectic.

<3

@Kate,

I am glad you are enjoying “My Dearest Nemesis”. Have you watched Episode 2 ?

@Pat, I watched some episodes last night and enjoyed it. The Pride and Prejudice comparisons are well made!

@Nrllee,

I am watching Ep 9 of Study Group during my lunch break. I like it that much.

SPOILERS SPOILERS SPOILERS

SPOLIERS SPOILERS

Could the ML be more adorable? I love him.

That wonderful moment when he supports his sidekick buddy on the building site saying they come as a set. He’s his ‘one plus one’.

This is a heart-warming story.

I also love the social commentary in the show. The despair about entrenched power structures – as we discover just how deep the corruption at the school goes.

I was struck the moment of temptation – almost Jesus in the Wilderness style – when our hero was offered power and contacts etc

And what about the blueberry offering? Laughing here.

@Kate

Just watched ep9. I laughed at the sarcastic comment, “wow, your body won’t even rot” by JiWoo (after GaMin was fed all those vitamins/supplements) 😂😂😂

Yes to the social commentary about entrenched power structures. You need idealists (personified by GaMin and the lady teacher) to make headway and trail blaze, clinging onto their dreams despite all odds. They cleaned up the mess in the study room together. And buoyed by each other’s convictions, they rekindled the idealistic fervor needed for change. Loved that GaMin’s mother gave him sage advice about what really matters – and how far he had come. GaMin sought SeHyeon out when he buckled under the pressure…and helped him shoulder the load (as it were) by stepping into his shoes. No lectures, no speeches. Just walking alongside him until he was ready to get back on the “right” path again. Enthusiasm is contagious. And there’s a knock on effect as SeHyeon (he’s the brains/mouthpiece of the group) convinced HeeWon’s parents to let HeeWon stay in the high school. Then HeeWon convinced JiWoo. And LeeJun stayed where he was anyway and didn’t need any convincing. Just like that, the fab five are back. 😂😂

As a side note, I noticed that in the flashbacks of GaMin and his Sensei, we always see his back and never his face, and he’s always in the same outfit 😂😂😂. I wonder if he exists. Or if he’s a figment of his (GM) imagination 😂😂😂.

To counter the imaginary Sensei theory… there is GaMin’s Mother who is herself no slouch in this area… Uncle could well be a relative and we could discover a whole heroic family background. More for a sequel?

@Nrllee – yes, they would have to do a spectacular job to make a sequel work!

Let us know what you think of the last episode when you get there. I’ve seen it but won’t post until you do.

I alos want to take a look at “Witch” I enjoy the male lead.

@GB – a big hug back to you!

Please know I am praying for you. Including for all the things you are not able to fit into a blog post!

Any word on “The Witch”?
I am disappointed that the new Park Hyung Shik drama (from the writer of “Money Flower”) is going to be on Disney. So I am watching him in “Happiness”.

Dear @Cleo, Kalinichta from my side of the World!, it is always a happy day when I read you.

I get what you say. I still have to go to the Cardiologist as I am suffering from erratic blood pressure. Right now my medicines are good food, good sleep and excercise. Ah, and Aspirin 😀 !!!

Dear @GrowingBeautifully, the only thing I can do is pray for your Mother In Law. I am well aware of all you do for her (also for how long!!!) and hopefully she appreciates it properly.

Writing my book (which has given me a good excuse to think and philosophize) it has become apparent that all we can do is work towards someone’s happiness. There is nothing more we can do, at the end. I think Agape is one of the highest forms of Love, which you have in spades.

Today I had a brief conversation with the lady that sells sweets in a kiosk near home. She was visited by a cat she called Taylor, a funny little fellow that accompanied her during the day while she attended clients.

She didn’t see him for days and was worried. Lamented she couldn’t adopt him as she already had four other cats, a mom and a college-age daughter.

Regrettably Taylor was run over by a car a few days ago.

All I could say to her was that the happiness of cats are their freedom, that they belong to the places they are most happy living in, and ultimately in this World the prize we pay for having Love, Friendship and Companionship is knowing they will abandon us to go to where they belong.

—–

Hopefully you will find time for yourself. Even in the direst of times a good laugh, a piece of chocolate, a good conversation becomes a precious Oasis where to recharge to continue the journey.

Thank you, @agdr03. The trailer promises a lot. I love the settings and era in addition to the actors. Fingers crossed.

@GB, I pray for you and yours.

It does look promising @Fern ☺️ Hopefully it will deliver. It’s good it’s in Netflix too.

ps Your point @Nrllee about GaMin’s vision for himself is a great lesson for everywone.

Keep it simple and defined you might achieve far more even than your vision.

I will miss GaMin and his friends.

Thank you @agdr03 and @Fern! We’ll pray for each other.

I’ve taken a break from stress and am here for my rewatch party!! See you all.

Hello everyone,

I am on Episode 9 of Kill My Sins. I started because of the cast – especially the main leads. I last saw Shawn Dou in Princess Agents – a very striking role- and wanted to see him in a new role. I like Liu Shi Shi – loved her in ‘Scarlet Heart’ (the Chinese version) and with Liu Yuning in ‘Journey to Love’.

It’s a plot full of intrigue and complex back stories and sub-plots. If I were not waiting for episodes of shows I am already watching, I might not have persevered.

However, by Episode 7 I am getting my bearings! The show has had so much establishing work to do that it has been difficult to care about the characters thus far. Episode 7 onwards, I am enjoying more effortlessly and in Episode 9 there is a wonderful sword dance sequence that I want to re-watch instantly. Liu Shi Shi is a trained dancer and shows tend to make the most of her skills!

There is a lot of female empowerment in the plot.

Lots of people need to be avenged.

I am just seeing the possibility of emerging romance but no promises!

A very strong cast. Leading actors and actresses are in supporting roles which is always a good sign.

I would say that the narrating of the plot is a little too rapid for the uninitiated. But if you stop worrying about that and about remembering the characters’ names (I go back to the My Drama List cast list) and go with the flow… you can enjoy this a lot.

@Cleo 😘 I have rewatched Who Rules The World a couple of times now and I still get new joys from it. 🥰 It’s my best cdrama pairing, next is Wu Lei with Lusi. 🥰 I pray they get to do modern dramas. 🙏🏼

Dear @FGB,

Kalimera from my part of the world. It is always good to read you too.
Take care of yourself. I had stress blood pressure almost two years ago. I had to take meditation too and follow some instructions, only when things subsided my cardiologist told me to stop it. He also said what was the thing that stressed me, because in my check some months ago I was pretty okay.

I agree with you, Agape is one of the highest forms of Love. And we call it “Αγάπη” in greek too.

We need to take care of ourselves first and foremost. So, I do hope you are sleeping and eating well. Yes, the world is not an easy place to be and we need little moments of joy, in order to recharge. Let’s do exactly that… 😊

Hello, my dear friends! It’s almost the end of February, and I’m just now reading this thread. Being away from this interaction for so long makes me feel I’ve been hiding under a rock.

During February I finished Love Scout. It was a pleasant watch, especially since the ML had a manly vibe to him. I also appreciated his priorities, which put his daughter front and center in his life.

I’m almost done with Motel California. A major story arc hinges on a mixed-race child, which might be daring in Korean culture. Choi Min Soo, who plays the FL’s father, was a leading actor in South Korea pre-Hallyu, but notorious because in real life he’s hot tempered and has resorted to violence. Still, of all the cast, his performance catches my eye the most. He’s not only the son of two famous South Korean performers, but also the grandson of a famous actor/singer (who, incidentally, was nicknamed “Queen of Tears” for excelling in tragic dramas). He and his forebears remind me of the Barrymore dynasty.

I’m also only two episodes away from finishing the Cdrama Flourished Peony, but can’t seem to carve out the time to complete it. I had dropped it after a couple of episodes, but was convinced to give it another try. It did get better. I liked that the FL was pegged in various roles considered inferior in her society, yet she believed in herself and stood her ground, helping others and accepting help from others. She’s not superhuman, but intelligent and able to engage in teamwork.

I’ve stayed busy this month traveling to Seattle to care for my daughter’s cats while she and her husband were away. I love Seattle’s cultural offerings: I went to the symphony, special exhibits at two art museums, a talk by an art museum curator, a museum dedicated to aviation and space flight, a repertory theatre play, and an opera performance. I was amazed by Seattle Opera’s production of Mozart’s The Magic Flute, and noted that the tenor who played Tamino, the ML, was Duke Kim, who hails from Seoul, South Korea. The bass who performed the role of Sarastro, In Sung Sum, was also from South Korea.

One of my afternoons in Seattle was spent at the Asian Art Museum, perusing a special exhibit of works collected by someone who focused on Korean art. The ages of the artwork ranged from the Silla period to modern. I found most interesting the whiteware ceramic pieces, both modern and from the Joseon era. They made me think of the Kdrama Mr. Sunshine, where I first learned of the high value of Korean white ceramics.

I’m probably going to be incommunicado another two weeks, at least, because I board a plane on Monday. I’m heading to Great Britain, visiting London and Edinburgh. While I’m in London, I’ll be getting together one day with @Fern, @Kate, @Phoenix, and @Cleopatra. We’re calling it our Bitchfest. We’re going to see a special exhibit by a South Korean artist at Tate Modern, then we’re going out for lunch. I can’t wait!