I've watched the subbed version of episode 1 and the unsubbed version of episode 2. I can't say I'm really feeling any love for it.

The cast of young characters are new and I don't really care for some of the supporting actors, although I really like Kim Hye-Seon.

I am not an expert in either Korean or Japan culture, but I always feel that the Korean Gisaeng is similar to the Japanese Geisha. When I read the premiere, I am reminded of the time I was holidaying in Kyoto. Apparently there are geisha still in Japan and we can catch a glimpse of them in the Gion district. The guide book even tell us the best time to go for geisha spotting. You can get the picture? A geisha try to walk along the street and all the tourists take out their cameras and starts clicking away like she is some kind of freak show. I wondered how the geisha felt then, whether she feels uncomfortable or she is used to it.

Anyway back to the show, I thought the premiere is interesting. It has the potential to be either very boring or very interesting. I guess I'll watch for the reviews to see whether I want to watch this or not.

I would love to see this. I'll bet the costumes are amazing.

mm, all i can say is well done to flames of desire. i have always been meaning to watch this...how's the drama faring so far to fod watchers?

It's a little hit and miss really.
I'm not familiar with the writer's other work, but I'm not too happy with the format. It's like lots and lots of character and she's just going to make random stuff just happen between them. I would've liked one, tight, cohesive story. On the plus-side atleast there's no sign of makjang -- yet.
I like the Dan Sa-ran--Da-mo story already it's quite magical, I think the actress and actor playing them are quite promising, still green and uncomfortable in parts but there is a certain spark in both of them. Sun Hoon flits between giving me wonderful Kim Soo-hyun to wooden Kim Min-joon vibes. Fingers crossed he'll be more like the former once the story gets going in earnest.
My main worry however is there are too many characters (some of them rather flat) and their (similarly flat) stories and the plot's already beginning to feel bogged down because of that.

@all4movies
Everything at Byeongkak seems promising, including Kim Hye-sun, I'm really liking her character too.

i would tune into this had it been a 16/20 or even 24 ep drama.
I know this is unrelated but until JB whips out a recap what were you first impressions of paradise ranch or paradise ranch vs gisaeng story…. i'm also on the fence with this one and i since i'm still on SG withdrawal i need my drama crack and i need to pick one! :D

Hmmm, I'm interested in this, but I've yet to find a place with quality subs for it. Crossing my fingers that dramafever will add this to their kdrama list so far.

I watched 20 minutes of it, I kept on waiting for the main guy to appear but didn't...now that i see the drama's casts photo, i guess that was it. Pretty girls, lovable grandmas, interesting friends, seems interesting 2nd lead guy...no eye candy lead guy = how will i get through the remaining eps??

@otk
Thanks! With a premise like this it needs solid storytelling, I want some kind of reassurance that she's a respectable writer and I'm more than happy to invest time and effort in watching this. Otherwise I am actually liking the drama, as negative as my comment may have come across.

@purpleclouds
I'm actually harbouring a bit of a crush on rookie actor Sung Hoon, he has a lot of potential, he's handsome enough to make me giddy and there is a spark. But as soon as his performance becomes flat I'll likely be jumping ship. Heh.

i watched both episodes and i have to say, it's very much im sung han's work. the dialogue, the characters are really what she would write.

i was little when i watched 보고 또 뽀고 (loved loved loved) and i saw mermaid lady and assorted gems, and i realize her heroines always tend to be very straitlaced, filial types and you get tired of watching them after awhile. at least i did. she writes some great everyday dialogue, but i don't know if people would talk like that ALL THE TIME in real life...

the acting was a bit green here and there, which is a pity. family dramas like this really shine when there are good actors to bring life to the dialogue. but i mean so far, it was all right and i think i tend to watch this writer's works out of fondness of memory for 보고 또 보고 and mermaid lady lol

Hopefully this drama is worth my time. Initially I was interested in the Buyonggak and the gisaengs but I feel the Da-mo and Sa-ran romance could be cute...if only they weren't wooden blocks. I hope with time, they get better in expressing their emotions; maybe it's because their characters are written like that.

well, good for new gisaeng, but im glad ratings have shot up flames of desire because i've been watching the drama and i defintly love it!

The question is...

...how much more makjang could a makjang ever get?

i read "much-watched" as "must-watched" at first LOL xD