Let me start with Disney. I have many complaints about Disney productions but one of the most objectionable is cultural appropriation. Disney takes source materials from European folklore and literature but then changes the cast and/or alters the storyline to make it appeal to a non-European audience. Just look at their two infamous live action […]
Legend of the Female General: Eps 1 to 5 Open Thread
The thread is open. I’m subdividing the episodes according to missions. In the previous “Coroner’s Diary” I opened threads according to the cases the heroine was investigating, but for this series, I’ll open them according to missions the heroine and hero embark on. Each mission presents a story arc. Eps 1 to 5: The mission […]
While You Were Sleeping: Rewatch Ep 4 Sat, Aug 16
The thread is open. Episode 4 – 16 August 2025 Episode 5 – 23 August 2025 Episode 6 – 30 August 2025 Episode 7 – 6 September 2025 Episode 8 – 13 September 2025 Episode 9 – 20 September 2025 Episode 10 – 27 September 2025 Episode 11 – 4 October 2025 Episode 12 – […]
Legend of the Female General: Villains vs Antagonists
Not being a literature major, I’ve to remind myself that there’s a difference between villains and antagonists. A villain is easily recognizable because he (or she) is the character with malicious intentions, evil methods, and wicked deeds. No matter how destructive and toxic his cause or actions may be, he can justify them. The opposite […]
Legend of the Female General: Open Thread
The thread is open. @Kate and I are watching this. Cast: Ryan Cheng (first time I’m watching a show of his. So far, he doesn’t need to emote anything) and Zhou Ye (her fine features make it hard for me to believe that she’s a battle-hardened general) Episodes: 8 of 36 episodes are out. The […]
A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You: Hello Kitty!
In the July WWAW thread, I wrote that I had my eye on this 10-episode dorama and hoped to discuss it upon finishing the series. Viki still had to release the last four episodes at the time of my writing. I said that the show interested me because the setting was Japan in 1936 (updated: […]
While You Were Sleeping: Rewatch Ep 3 Sat, Aug 9
The thread is open. Episode 3 – 9 August 2025 Episode 4 – 16 August 2025 Episode 5 – 23 August 2025 Episode 6 – 30 August 2025 Episode 7 – 6 September 2025 Episode 8 – 13 September 2025 Episode 9 – 20 September 2025 Episode 10 – 27 September 2025 Episode 11 – […]
What Are We Watching in August 2025?
I’ll be away on vacation for most of August. But I’ll be in and out of the blog. 1. My Lovely Journey A healing drama. I’ll be traveling when this airs and I hope my journey will be lovely, too. Blurb from soompi: Based on a bestselling Japanese novel by Maha Harada, “My Lovely Journey” […]
While You Were Sleeping: Rewatch Ep 2 Sat, Aug 2
The thread is open. The thread is all yours, @GB, @Wenchanteur, @monmor, @ibisfeather, and @feifei. I hope more people join you. Episode 2 – 2 August 2025 Episode 3 – 9 August 2025 Episode 4 – 16 August 2025 Episode 5 – 23 August 2025 Episode 6 – 30 August 2025 Episode 7 – 6 […]
Coroner’s Diary: Eps 32 & 33 The Wedding
Since we’ll be swamped with manifold reveals in these last episodes, I want to take time now to appreciate the romance. As interested as I was with the mystery cases and power plays are, I stayed chiefly for the romance. Compared to the kdrama I was watching at the same time “Head Over Heels,” it’s […]
Coroner’s Diary: Eps 30 to 38
The thread is open. I’m assuming that all the pieces are out and any major criminal case will only involve a member of the royal family moving forward. Who else thinks the blind prince is suspect? All recruits of the Heavenly Way cult seemed to have been chosen specifically because they have a grievance against […]
Coroner’s Diary: Eps 1 to 30 Recap of the Symbols
I never trust a critic of this cdrama who brags that he/she can easily spot the murderer(s) from the get-go, as if racing the fictional characters, Shen Wan and Yan Chi, to identify the criminal before the big reveal scene is a sign of cleverness. No. A good critic is someone who can dissect the […]
My Favorite Chinese Actresses
I’ve watched so many cdramas lately that I need to make a list of my preferences. Since I don’t personally know any of these actresses, my criteria for liking/disliking them are: Aesthetics. Beauty is subjective. My perception of what’s beautiful or not is shaped by my background and experience. Voice. A lower voice sounds warmer […]
Money Matters: Kdrama and Cdrama Expenses
Here’s what your monthly entertainment expense can look like, if you have a severe kdrama/cdrama addiction like I do. Netflix: $25/month I see this as reasonable expense since we don’t go to the movies anymore after Covid, and a movie date for two comes out more expensive than a monthly Netflix membership. ($13 x 2, […]