I’m still on board “The Haunted Palace” and “Heavenly Ever After” kdramas.
“The Haunted Palace” has four elements that I look for, that was missing in that cdrama, “Demon’s Hunter Romance,” namely,
- an evolving but charming male lead (As much as I like Ren Allen’s acting, I’m so over his repertoire of stoic characters!)
- a non-preachy theme (I don’t need a cdrama to moralize about the evils of seeking eternal beauty, perfection, and immortality)
- a straightforward plot (Do these screenwriters think so little of our time to waste 36 viewing hours on a sad ending? Ugh! I could have been reading Dostoyevksy instead!)
- and multi-layered conflicts. I like how the three main leads, the imoogi, shaman, and King, have competing reasons to form an alliance to beat a common enemy. It’s the “The enemy of my enemy is my friend” trope.
As for “Heavenly Ever After,” this has been so much fun watching Son Sokkyu (the gangster in “My Liberation Notes”) as a devoted husband/boyfriend that I blitzed through four episodes. I really must make time to review this show.
I’ll also try watching that cdrama “Best Thing” because I signed up for VIP membership with IQIYI. After all, this is supposed to be that Yang Yang drama (follow up to “Love O2O”) that I’ve been waiting for all these years! @agdr03, are you watching this?
Here are the kdramas that I will consider adding to my viewing list this month
1. Tastefully Yours
I don’t know about the love scenes, but this drama will appeal to me because of the food scenes. I’ve been watching a lot of these food shows on Netflix to relax after work.
I hope that one day, a creative screenwriter will find a way to explore a Korean dish and link its culinary exposition to the romance between the couples.
The write-up from soompi:
“Tastefully Yours” is a romance drama about chaebol heir Han Beom Woo (Kang Ha Neul) and stubborn chef Mo Yeon Joo (Go Min Si), who have different backgrounds and philosophies about food but wind up running a small restaurant together in Jeonju, where they grow and fall in love.
Source: soompi
Cast: Kang HaNeul (“When the Camellia Blooms”) and Go MinSi (“The Frog”)
Episodes: 10
Start Date: Monday, May 12
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Netflix, I hope. That way, I can download it for my evening flight.
Network: ENA Genie TV
2. Dear Hongrang
The write-up from soompi:
“Dear Hongrang” is a historical mystery romance that follows Hong Rang (Lee Jae Wook), the long-lost son of Joseon’s largest merchant guild, who returns after 12 years with no memory of his past. As his half-sister Jae Yi (Jo Bo Ah), who spent years desperately searching for him, becomes the only one to question his true identity, an inexplicable emotional bond starts to form between them.
Source: soompi
Cast: my favorite Lee Jae Wook (“Alchemy of Souls”) and my-not-so-fave Jo BoAh (“Destined with You”)
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Friday, May 16
Hmmm…I don’t know if all 12 episodes will drop on the same day; I hope not. Whenever this happens, I can’t catch up.
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: Netflix
3. Good Boy
Since I dropped “When Life Gives You Tangerines,” I guess I’ll check this one out…for Park Bo Gum’s sake. I think this will be a lighter fare, like a cross between “Avengers” and “Law and Order.”
The writeup from soompi:
“Good Boy” is a comic action drama about young athletes who become police officers through a special recruitment program. Trading their medals for badges, they take on a world full of corruption and cheating.
Park Bo Gum plays Yoon Dong Joo, a former national boxing team member who becomes a police officer through a special recruitment program for medalists. Park Bo Gum will portray a passionate young officer who raises his fists once again in the face of injustice.
Source: soompi
Cast: Park BoGum,
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Saturday, May 31
Airs on Saturday and Sunday
Where to Watch it: Amazon Prime??? Really?
Network: jTBC
What are you watching this month?
Hi Packmule3, I’ve watched two episodes of Resident Playbook and am not sure whether to continue. The episodes are too long and, so far, script is too predictable. However, two episodes are often not enough to judge.
I am curious as to why you dropped Tangerines? Can your reason/s be found in a different post?
Annyeong BOD ~ 🪻 Happy Mother’s Day to all BOD MOMs
I’m so glad you’re enjoying HEAVENLY EVER AFTER because I am, too. And would love to read your impression, thoughts, analysis or review.
SSK – he looks so different compared to how he looked in My Lib notes. Also, he’s in that “a killer paradox” which i started watching but IDK. He looks gangster and rugged in those shows but here, he looks so boyish, like a pretty boy ahaha. I’m hoping either the FL turns young in the end 🤔 so they can have a second chance at youth. but i do love the ajuma character.
I will be watching all netflix shows haha. Tastefully yours, Dear Hongrang – looks dark, but i’ll watch it. You don’t like the FL? haha I know what you mean. oh well. I can also watch Good boy if it’s in Prime.
@LootieLyn,
🙂 I was tempted to watch Resident Playbook but I’m still boycotting its creator (Shin WonHo of the Reply and Hospital Playlist series). So pass for me.
As for Tangerines…did you watch it? What did you think of it?
I thought I could whip up something for “Heavenly Ever After” but I’m out of time, unfortunately. I found the construct of heaven as a more efficient, systematic, and hyper-digitalized Korean society very entertaining. The OSTs (original soundtrack) are chosen and written well; the lyrics help convey the general tone of the scenes. I like the varied guest appearances or cameos; it keeps the show interesting. I never know who to expect next.
I hope you don’t miss some details, I’ll just mention three for now.
1. the flower (trumpet creeper) that HaeSook bought and placed in her husband’s bedroom is said to mean resilience, determination (or “waiting” according to one facebook account). While the husband was alive, she kept it alive and well. It was a hardy plant, just like their marriage. They were determined to make the most of their married life despite his long-term disability. A great sense of humor kept them resilient.
But after his death, she let the flower die. And she began to wait for her own death, as if she had lost her resolve, her determination to live.
2. The stamp that she used when she was collecting the debts pretty much looked like the stamp the pastor used on her stamp book when she had to earn credits for going to church. In a way, she turned from debt collector to a debtor herself.
3. Take note of the change in her tone of voice when she was speaking to one of her delinquents debtors and when she was talking with her husband Nakjoon. Though she never raised her voice, she was brusque and unyielding to the debtors. But when she arrived home, she sounded so innocent and kind when speaking to Nakjoon. I always wondered whether he knew what her day job was. Did she hide it from him?
I’m surprised that @GB isn’t watching this one, though. This show should appeal to her.
Apparently Good Boy is so “good” that it’s streaming concurrently on 3 platforms – Disney+, Prime AND Netflix (in Korea at least – not sure if that extends to different regions). @packmule3 which ep did you stop for Tangerines? 🍊 I stopped at Ep5 (I think). Life got busy and I just never got back into it – especially after I saw videos about the death of one of their children. And I wasn’t particularly enthused about the daughter’s character…
Heavenly ever after is worthwhile? I will see if I can muster enough energy to push through 12 eps.
Greetings, @packmule3. I hope you are well. Is it summer yet there? I planted out my summer garden last week and it’s growing well so far.
I’m watching Resident Playbook because I liked the FL in Alchemy of Souls and haven’t watched any of her other dramas. Also, I am rather in the mood for something light and rather predictable. It’s busy at home atm and my doctor tells me I shouldn’t be sitting for long periods, nor standing still, so it’s tricky to fit in viewing in volume. I may have to re-define my favourite hobby!
I did a short “reflection” on the show for you and HK_lady.
The editing can be a bit disjointed. Like I didn’t think much about the scene with the cat, but the cat seems to have a role in the later episodes.
I don’t see watch this kdrama for the cinematography, editing, etc. but for its views on life in general.
Episode 1: seems to be about what makes a happy marriage
Episode 2: What’s heaven?
Episode 3:
Episode 4:
Episode 5: What’s hell?
Episode 6:
Hi @Fern,
Same. I saw that my favorite actress in Alchemy is also the lead in Resident Playbook. 🙂 I was this close to giving into temptation. –>this close<-- Yes, it's still spring-like weather here. My bubblegum pink petunias are blooming wildly and threatening to encroach on the poor lavenders and gladiolas. The rose bushes need a bit of TLC but I'm waiting for the first bloom to be over. The mowers have been great with their weekly trim of the lawn so my neighbors can't complain. lol. My husband -- the infamous tree killer -- doesn't have his sight on a specific tree so the trees and I can breathe a sigh of relief...for now. I'm planning to do some strawberry picking at a farm on the way to the beach today. I've mixed feelings when farms that have been in families for generations are sold to and brought by land developers. I get it that we need more housing, but at the same time, I hate to see farms and the farming way of life slowly disappear.
Hi @pkml3, how sweet of you to think of me! Why do you feel that Heavenly Ever After would be the kind of show I’d enjoy?
I’ve generally been too busy and hence wary of starting a series that could be one of those rabbit holes that one gets sucked into. I did however start watching the Haunted Palace and I like it. I’m up to Episode 5 of this one now.
I hope I’ll have more time to watch and comment on shows at the end of June. 😁😃
@packmule3, any of us who are watching RPB can let you know if the writer redeems himself. 😆
Haunted Palace — I like the way it tracks natural elements, water, wood, earth, fire…and the actors make me happy.
Resident Playbook — There is a theme of looking critically at hierarchy that I like. And besides cheering on Go Yun Jung, there is an interesting tall smart geeky resident role played by Han Ye Ji, whom I hope can make her way against the insuperable odds against tall actresses.
GJY and her fellow interns are always so exhausted and frequently unwashed, I feel for them. She is taking a less is more performance approach, at first you feel no sympathy for her, but later you change your mind. Her beau Do Won is a very different ML — different face, attitude, very lowkey and sweet.
I never watched HPL2, but just looked at the group’s thoughts on it then, so am glad I didnt. RPL seems like might turn out ok — different focus on the present and future rather than on the past.
Looking forward to tastefully yours and dear honrang.
Really loved the film Past Lives so I watched Music Adventures by Accident to see more of Yoo Teo. It is a show by Bian84 who yall liked.
Watched the film The Match out of duty. The world of Go in this film may as well be in a separate sphere society. I was bored to tears. Maybe a critical eye is cast on male behavior? I wouldnt know.
I just started The Haunted Palace and I like it. I don’t think I have watched the male actor before, but I like his facial expressions and comedic timing.
I am interested in Heavenly Ever After and Resident Playbook. I will definitely check out Dear Hongrang for Lee Jae Wook.
Dear Ladies, going off-topic let me celebrate our Mothers here in the Forum and the ones in our lives, be it as our own progenitors or the Ladies surrounding us.
Happy Mother’s Day!!!
I watched “The Little Girl Who Conquered Time (1983)” which has a more interesting plot reading between lines than the actually really good premise on a girl repeating a day several times over.
Also watching Hideaki Anno’s “Cutie Honey (2004)” which is a Tokusatsu, incredibly campy and unserious, totally and absolutely enjoyable… and borderline cringey in a bombastic way. It is like watching an Anime with live action actors.
Nearer to home, Argentinian movie “No te mueras sin decirme adónde vas (1995)” [Don’t Die Without Telling Me Where You’re Going] by Eliseo Subiela is a beautiful movie pondering on the meaning of life, the people in it, and the dreams that empowers us. This would be my pick to share with you all.
Apart from that, I am watching an Anime called “ZatsuTabi – That’s Journey (2025 – ongoing)” about doing tourism in several parts of Japan. It scratches my Yuru Camp itch.
Hope to read from you all soon!!!
@GB,
You asked why I thought you’d enjoy “Heavenly Ever After” —
it’s because the topics raised in the show match your screenname/internet handle, “GrowingBeautifully.” The heroine in HEA is presented as having grown beautifully. The husband said so… (I’ll write the quote here later. Gotta join my family for lunch).
Happy Mother’s Day Queen! 💐💐💐 I hope you’re having a wonderful one.
I’m still enjoying The Haunted Palace and episode 7 and 8 are still great. ☺️
I will watch Dear Hongrang but is that not a love story?
I will see if The Best Thing will grab me. I don’t mind the leads especially the ML. ☺️
@agdr03,
The lead is definitely easy on the eyes. Like Yang Yang.
He’s probably second in handsomeness to Yang Yang. 🥰
I’ll see how I go and let you know. Thanks ☺️
I sampled Residents Playbook but quickly got bored after 2 episodes. It lacks “heart” for me. Or maybe I just didn’t watch it for long enough? I still remember the patient stories in HP. A mother’s heart wrenching disappointment as she waits for her child’s organ transplant after she sees others placed ahead of her child. A pregnant mother’s anguish when told about the death of her child in utero. PD seems to be trying to get this drama to ride on the success of Hospital Playlist…hence the cameos from the main/side characters in HP. I was mainly interested in finding out where the relationships were at for the HP cast 😂. So whenever their cameo came up, I would watch that clip segment. I guess it’s like an epilogue for me.
Here’s what I gathered thus far. All the couples are still together.
Bear couple are newly weds. Seok Hyung hasn’t appeared yet? Chu MinHa appeared and spoke to him cloyingly on the phone.
IkSun and JunWan – They appear in separate cameos. His cameo made no reference to her. She speaks to him on her phone. He’s saved on her phone as “JunWan ❤️”.
IkSong – Camping still. IkSong and superglue is a theme…just like he first appeared glued to a Darth Vader helmet, here he glued his hands together trying to fix SongHwa’s favourite camping lantern. They appear together in the cameo. He is still a man child and a walking talking meme.
WinterGarden – they appear in separate cameos. His cameo never referred to her at all. She refers to him as her boyfriend. Dr Winter is still clueless in her ability to “read the room”. 🙄. Some things never change. His name on her phone? “Paediatrics Professor Ahn JeongWon”. Cold 🥶 as ever.
@nrllee, while I agree with your criticisms, I am still enjoying this drama. Perhaps I need something sentimental atm?
Because it’s set in the OB/GYN department, it’s largely about parenting as well as acknowledging parents, particularly mothers. I’m learning things I didn’t know, as I’m not in the medical profession. There are some very sensitive moments; anticipation, heartbreak and joy. I’m at episode 9 and for me, it has been improving as it goes. The residents, the FL’s sister, the FL and the ML are great, but the star for me is Professor Seo, played by Lee Bong Ryun.
@Fern good for you. I was wondering if there would be those “heart” moments that this PD/writer combo is renowned for. I guess I didn’t wait long enough. I only watched the first 2 eps.
@nrllee, I’m now wondering if it will all go south because of romance, which seems slightly rushed as of episode 10. But I hope not. I’m enjoying the general relationships between the hospital staff, within and without the hierarchies, and I’m waiting for karma to arrive for some nasty ones.
ooh. Tastefully Yours just hit the Netflix jackpot worldwise after only 2 eps. In the US too which is rare. It is nice so far.
Tangerines was lackluster for me, but I didnt watch enough of it probably. I think that both PBG and IU are incredible people personally, kind, generous, progressive, and the actors they work with respond to their heart with great tenderness. However neither of these two has much color or depth onscreen except in relationship with better actors. My explanation, after recently becoming addicted to PBG’s edition of the Seasons: Cantabile and his piano-playing therein, is that like many good musicians they come alive through melody and lyrics, but are personally more like angelic technicians (the light shines through them rather than from them).
I started watching Dear Hongrang and it’s gripping. 11 episodes dropped all at once? I thought there was 12? 🤔 PD is very good in this drama. He knows how to tell a story and string you along. It’s fast paced – very unusual given it’s set in Joseon times. I was expecting it to slow down at some point but so far after 2 eps, I am still on the edge of my seat. We have 2 JaeWooks 😂. Kim and Lee. Conversations are kept clipped and succinct which just adds to the intrigue and pace. Hopefully I will get through all 11 eps.
@nrlee. DH. GRIPPING YES! KjW was a surprise. Cinematography and directing are compelling.
Subject matter is pretty dark.
I have watched the first two episodes.
I have watched the first two episodes of Dear Hongrang as well. It is very dark indeed, but very compelling too.
I watched Way Back Love and found it excellent: thoughtful, heartfelt, poignant.
I watched all of hongrang at once on friday. From the point of view of script and plot I didnt like it very much, despite being a complete nutcase fan of LJW.
I like shows which set out their premises clearly and live up to them. There were all sorts of distracting things.
I appear to be in the minority. Everybody else liked it in the reviews.
If the BOD-ers decide to work through it I will happily tag along. I tend to like horror better when in company.
so far (3 eps.) Tastefully Yours is practically perfect in every way. I am laughing a lot.
Go Min-si, Kang Ha-Neul, Kim Shin-Rok, Lee Soo-bin and fields of onggi. Sounds like a magic incantation.
Real food, real food prep, real eating — people actually chewing with sound!
I thought I would love hongrang. I watched two episodes and realized that my dislike for bo ah was affecting my enjoyment.
I felt the first episode was strong but was somewhat perturbed by the subject material in the second episode.
Unfortunately it really was the actress who led me not to watch.
Hi everyone! It’s been a while! I’ve just finished 3 episodes of Dear Hongrang – really watching it for Lee Jae Wook doing his swashbuckling thing. I don’t care too much for Jo Bo Ah (half the time I’m mentally splicing Go Yoon Jung’s face on her – I miss the Alchemy of Souls couple)! So far I’m gripped but I confess skipping forward when there’s too much violence and bloodshed.
Yes to the fast forwarding of violence. I am nearly at the end. I am not minding Jo BoAh too much but I tend to agree with others that she doesn’t hold my attention like LJW does. She gets the job done but I am just not entirely convinced by her? Despite her large eyes which take up a lot of real estate on her face (which are supposed to be an asset to an actor) I find her eyes distracting me. She does “fierce” okay but when she needs to simmer down and do docile, I just can’t buy it. The second male lead MuJin is doing a good job of making me feel totally sorry for him though? He does yearning and morose well 😂. There are some things that I need to turn off my brain about Eg the suggestions about arsenic.
I think when I am done with HongRang I will need to watch something more frivolous Eg Tastefully Yours just to lighten up the mood a bit.
HongRang final thoughts (SPOILERS)
I felt increasingly uncomfortable as the relationship between fake HongRang and JeYi developed. Especially since she didn’t really think he was an imposter and really thought he was HongRang. It was technically incest? 🤔😑 From her point of view anyway. The story was VERY dark and eventually splintered off into really strange territory. Still I want to say that it was filmed beautifully and I was often left breathless by how the PD utilized his skills to convey the story. I do wish they had cast someone else as the FL. LJW was splendid in his portrayal of fake HongRang. I did fast forward a lot of the bloodier sword fight scenes and some of the gory torture ones. The reason for the death (and disappearance) of the real HongRang was underwhelming. The shaman witch lady (?) with her cryptic speeches and strange behavior didn’t really make sense to me. I wouldn’t say it was a 10/10 but I would give it a solid 6 or 7/10 (for holding my interest right to the end).
I’m watching a chinese drama serendipity after dropping HR. It is matching my current mood much better.
Interestingly enough there is a similar premise regarding brother and sister. We know from the start though, that they are not siblings.
It Does have similarities to recently watched historical chinese dramas But I don’t mind somehow because it is just enjoyable to watch and not stressful. The tension And the acting in the couple relationship is what appeals most.
I like the male lead and the female lead, who I do not know, is doing a good enough job.
I am about a third of the way through.
I also tried tastefully yours. I may well go back to watching it. KHN Was doing such a good acting job that I really did not like his character.
I am a huge LYN fan. I watched the first episode of prisoner of beauty, but was somewhat put off by the In your face plot set up. I am reading good reports and hearing good reports though.So I think I may well be back watching this.
@nrl Thank you for your review of HR. I am curious about how this show developed.
But that would be a lot of spoilers if it were posted here.
I agree with you and the previous posters about wishing there were a different female lead and,also, that the cinematography and directing were compelling.
@ibisfeather I contacted you over on MDL. I have a dofferent name over there-one of my favourote kpop groups.
Dear Friends, how are you doing these days? I confess I had been neglectful on my watchings, enjoying Fountain Pen repair videos and reviews instead.
Also my niece had her First Communion this Saturday May the 17th so we were busy! Thankfully it went on splendidly!
Dear @Nrllee, How have you been? Hospital Playlist was an almost masterpiece. It got the principles and values right, the comedy right, the dose of drama right.
Regrettably the writer and the director didn’t live up to the excellent script they wrote. I still remember that in Season 1 the vindictive father of the abused children was placed as a Chekhov’s Gun vowing revenge against the Pediatric Doctor, and the hepatic doctor ended up being bricked instead of him. A misfired Chekhov’s Gun that should have been used correctly became a mere Deux Ex Machina.
On another note dear @Growing Beautifully, re-watching Episode 7 of “Grace No Rireki” I found that beautiful resolution where the Male Lead finally understands that the man he felt jealous in the photo is himself the day he ended up proposing, clearing all doubt. On the other hand True Love once missing is one of the most supernatural forms of pain a person can endure… so the setting with his childhood sweetheart will be painfully eyeopening for them both.
God I love this Drama…
And I am thankful I got to share it with you.
How are you doing?
@FGB4877 I have been well thanks for asking. I lost interest in KDramas and anything longer than 3 hours. So I just watched movies for a spell. I revisited old favourites during my leisure time when I wanted something longer. I tried to get back into it on occasion but something always came up which distracted me from finishing what I started. HongRang is pretty much the first KDrama I finished in the past year. Even then I had to fast forward some scenes.
Congratulations on your niece’s first communion. Major milestone.
@nrllee, I’m the same. These days for me KDramas seem great for an episode or two then even the good ones seem to drag. Even more so, the enormous CDramas. If I want to see the ending, I have to get my head down and plow through. The plus side of my lack of staying power is getting more done at home and more exercise. I don’t know how some of our bloggers can watch so many episodes in a week!
Hoping you are well and thriving. Are you still living a chicken-free life? I still miss mine.
@FGB4877, congratulations to your niece on her First Communion. I remember mine (also in May) and how very special the day felt.
I get whirled up in videos about crafts, international building repairs and even feng shui, all the while not ever intending to participate. There’s something soothing about skilled craftwork and repairing, right? I should by rights be more interested in food, adult children and garden videos, but that’s Far Too Practical!
I hope you are well in all ways.
Dear @Nrllee, I hear you! Personally I feel drawn by Japanese storytelling. Also my Asian media viewing started in childhood with Anime and Tokusatsu series. Tokusatsu really does not interest me as an adult, but several Anime does!
Dear @Fern, my niece said it was the best day of her life! I told her that even better days were coming in the future =D . Arts and crafts videos can be relaxing, interesting and also nurture our curiosity on how things work!
I have been watching some anime over the past few years — I started out of curiousity about what the kids were watching (I was a high school teacher for my sins).
The little princess in the Adventures of the Demon Kings Daughter was given a little baby imugi by her fairy friend. She carried it on her shoulders but it actually started growing!
On the cdrama front if anyone has the time (in spring!) I love the Prisoner of Beauty, with Liu Yu Ning of the beautiful voice as the stony-faced Lord adorably puzzled by romance, and his wife from the clan that murdered half his family, a force of cautious and diplomatic water’s persistence
It is also about how canals and irrigation bring peace for the people, if anyone is as thrilled by that very chinese theme as I am.
@ibisfeather, I am watching Prisoner of Beauty along with a few others. I love not just the intelligence, but the precocious wisdom of the FL, who can see past clans and her own safety to the good of the entire region.
The theme of irrigation as a resource and political tool is so interesting. Also she herself represents water, as her grandfather taught, which slowly moving or dripping can wear away rock. I read a similar quote when I was a child. How marvellous that a modern author can use the concept to develop this drama.
@Fern, I’m happy you’re enjoying The Prisoner Of Beauty. ☺️ I am addicted to it.
The title suits Wei Shao because Manman is quite the beauty. 🥰
I think both Song Su Er and Liu Yu Ning are perfect for their roles.
Dear packmule, please depost this if it’s too offtopic, but I just read a BBC story about overseas Korean abduction which fitted a piece into my ( overanalytical, overemotional) continuing questions about what makes classic kdrama so good.
I yearn for that special kdrama combination of tears and laughter which eased my heart but I keep wondering why this theatrical style emerges in SK. It affects the characterization of women and children so deeply that I have always attributed it to the wars of the 20C and the political problems of the SK state as they affect individuals.
But as I read that story about the pervasive and horrible loss of children, I came across a statement of kyungha about the loss of knowledge and family “it’s like a hole in yr heart.” it’s exactly what Yiyoung (GYJ) says in a heart rending scene from resident playbook, “(the loss of my motheris) a hole…right here (patting her heart)”. She is comforting a little girl who has just lost her mother.
As always the comment editing program chops out words. The BBC story I read is about overseas Korean adoption.
@Ibisfeather
I have wondered the same things you are wondering.
One of my thoughts is that the korean war and the separation of the countries as well as the loss of family members, Including through overseas adoptions, Has created a country where family ties have been severely disrupted by external factors.
@ibisfeather, adoption is a recurring theme in K-dramas. As I understand it there were a large number of children relinquished post-war and also later during the time of economic collapse, and this was done for various reasons, primarily economic but also to do with mixed race children, a stigma on unmarried mothers and a combination of the above. By the 1980s-’90s the government began to focus more on adoption within the country. Some well known dramas that feature adoption are: Search: WWW, Her Private Life, Vincenzo, When the Weather is Fine, and Healer. I’ll have a look at the BBC article.
I was thinking about the drama “Resident Playbook”. The FL’s sister is so desperate for children that she has repeated courses of IVF, but to no avail. There is no mention of adoption and I wondered why, but it is probably very difficult to adopt within Korea now that the birth rate is very low.
I enjoyed the drama. I was worried that the romance would become cringy or overwhelm the main story’s faceted approach to the OB/GYN topic, but it didn’t. I wonder if the romance was left slightly unresolved to be included in a following series. For me, the last episode was satisfactory in terms of personal growth of the main characters, karma for a baddie, and a sense of the circular nature of life.
@Fern, I agree abt the end of RPL esp. needed karma.
Endings..I remember a BoDer some time ago opining that a really good ending had to have babies.
Best example in my mind, the hysterically funny end to the Greatest Love (2011).
Am happy to report that at the end of the Tale of Lady Ok, there be babies. I think tToLO was my best May watch. Unfortunately and idiotically only on Kocowa..
Hello,
I watched Dear Hongrang but for me it is a pale copy of Alchemy x My Dearest 🙂
On the other hand Resident Playbook is growing on me because the FL is maturing in reaction to what she experiences and not because of an older deux ex-machina
I really miss packmule so much. Queen Bee are you out there?
Just started Our Unwritten Seoul, fantastic start, a definite BoDer recommend.
I have had my eye on this drama. Now I am even more interested! aigoo How to fit in all these good dramas?After a bit of a drought at least for me it was.
Howdy!!!
Queen, where are you? You need to watch The Prisoner of Beauty because it’s great. It’s easy to watch, it’s funny, the relationship grows amd deepens for the main leads, the kisses are the best I’ve seen in a cdrama and there’s children at the end!!! 🥰🥰🥰
You’ll like the FL, she’s the one in Legally Romance. 😉 It’s one of the best marriage tropes for me. ☺️
I’m still enjoying The Haunted Palace and other than that I haven’t started on anything else yet. 😃
I hope everything is good at your end.