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Dramabeans Podcast #35

We’re eternally in catch-up mode for our podcasts, since time tends to move faster than we’ve been able to make them, but this time we’re determined to cover some lost ground and get ourselves current. So you can expect more podcasts in the immediate future as we go back to the shows we missed in the last cycle or more.

(Note: We messed up when compiling our list of catch-up dramas and skipped the whole fall 2016 season—whoops! So this podcast starts with dramas from last November, and we’ll make sure to talk about those fall dramas in our next one, which will be coming soon!)

Podcast #35

Running time: 55:15

 
Topics and dramas discussed:

  • What we’ve been up to, plans for the site, our redesign in progress
  • Legend of the Blue Sea (12:22): The plot, what we liked, the performances, Lee Min-ho’s trajectory, what we thought could have been better
  • Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju (25:44): The sweet plot, youthful feel, and enjoyable cast
  • The Lonely Shining Goblin (33:22): The epic feel, fresh plot, where it lagged, and what it got right
  • Solomon’s Perjury (43:24): The strong writing, young actors, and the flat directing
  • Hwarang (46:35): Its youthful approach, and why it was both better and worse than we expected

 

[ Download podcast | Mirror ]

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

 
Names mentioned:
Kim Soo-hyun, Jeon Ji-hyun, Lee Min-ho, Yoon Doo-joon, Han Ji-min, Yoochun, Lee Ji-hoon, Yoo Ah-in, Song Joong-ki, Jo Jung-seok, Jung Yumi, Lee Sung-kyung, Jo Jae-hyun, Nam Joo-hyuk, Kim Eun-sook, Gong Yoo, Kim Go-eun, Yook Sung-jae, Han Seok-kyu, Yoo Yeon-seok, Do Ji-han, Minho, Park Seo-joon, Go Ara, Park Hyung-shik, Kim So-hyun

 
Songs Used in Podcast (In order of use)

“앞으로” (From Now On) from the Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju OST
“숨겨진 이야기” (Hidden Story) from the Legend of the Blue Sea OST
“What??” from the Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju OST
“Beautiful” from the Lonely Shining Goblin OST
“죽어도 나야” (You No Matter What) from the Hwarang OST
“Dream” from the Hwarang OST

 
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So excited to listen.

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Me too! <3

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Hnng and the first song just had to be Apeuro. Feeeeels. <3

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Omgyay new podcast!
I've been listening to the old ones lately.

Still need to finish WFKBJ before listening to this one. ;A;

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I always go back to the old ones but it's not as fun when I've already listened a couple times and I know what they're gonna talk about next. Always ecstatic about a new podcast!

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Same! When I finish an old drama I do go back and listen to the corresponding podcast (all the way through) but it's gotten to the point where with most of them I remember most of what they say.

Soo excited to have a few new ones coming up

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I feel the same about Goblin. I'm still stuck on Episode 5 and it's not that I hate it or anything. But just the thought "I should plug in my ext drive and play the episode" feels...heavy. I blame it on the god awful slow pacing and the unnecessary long shots, flashbacks (of just the previous episode, my god), etc. It's a bummer because it's an interesting premise and three gorgeous men.

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Agree about the pacing.

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+1

Never pass episode 4 for the exact same reason. If Goblin's a person - it's like I want to fall in love with it because it's so gorgeous, but I can't because it's so empty and has no depth.

I watched the parody / summary on youtube and realised I don't miss much because I already predict the background story between the reaper and Sunny.

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Yeaaaah so far it feels so empty to me, even though the backstory and mythology etc has lots of angst (?) or whatever it's called.

Also forgot to mention that the episodes scream Kim Eunsook drama. Especially the part where Reaper and Goblin are backlit as they rescue Kim Go Eun (can't even remember her character's name) from that car kidnap thing incident. I recalled what Javabeans and GF said in an old podcast about Descended from the Sun, about how the writer comes up with certain moments in the drama and work from Plot Z to Plot A.

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Eun Tak, her name was Ji Eun Tak. :)

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Pretty much. I wanted to watch it after the hype died down. And then... nothing about the story telling made me want to get past episode 3. After the lalaland-in-Canada episode, I'd kind of checked out. What is up with this show's obsession with Canada.

The men sure are gorgeous. I should be able to watch Lee Dong Wook for days, but just his looks alone can't carry the drama for me.

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I passed all the episode but I'll admit I fast forwarded a whole lot even skipped the very last episode if not entirely but most parts of it anyway. I have said this before here, I think TVN program management needs to sit down and really assess their run time format. Most their dramas these days are way too long.

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Maybe you're right, the thing is TVN is the channel I watch most. Believe it or not, I am watching daily show on MBC right now because I find the pacing super fast and it hasn't dragged so far. Like you, I am extremely careful in starting new shows, I just can't sit through the whole hour. Goblin was painful at times because all the flashbacks like the podcast said, the same arrow being shot, the same flashbacks, the same gazing into nothing, there's being melancholy and there's dragging, it dragged painfully at times.

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stopped on 3 or 4 too and even though I feel regretful missing out on the Reaper, I will not just yawn through it for him alone. it has a grandeur idea but it is like a blob without bone structure.

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@joyM, it must be like theory of relativity. What seemed like god awful small pacing for you, my hours watching goblin went away like in a split of a second. As I keep saying, either you love a drama or you don't, and for some reason, if the chemistry between the lead doesn't work for you, then reasons don't matter. In past I have tried to impose logic for liking or hating a drama, but in the end I have realized, that dramas where the actor-actress duo doesn't click for me, I can't forcefully bring myself to warm up to them, so it has more to do with our own preference.

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I agree, the chemistry is usually a big factor in dramas (it doesn't even have to be sizzling tension)... I neither love nor hate Eun Tak and Shin, I just...don't really care if I don't find out what happens...? Which is sad because all my friends at work are going gaga over Goblin and I can't join in the fun. It's really down to preferences. Teehee

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Same. I stopped watching around ep 13? Right before the time jump. And just didn't have a desire to finish it.

And at the beginning of the drama (first 2 episodes) I was IN LOVE and was freaking out! It just got sooo draggy. Someone should make a version that is ruthlessly edited and is half the length, lol.

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I know I shouldn't laugh... but I am thinking of all those fall season drama fans who have been dying for DB's take on the dramas.

There has been a lot of good dramas last year. Thank you for the podcast. It's been so long since I've heard your voices.

:-) no wonder the drama list is so short.

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wow, I am excited about the new feature but I agree that it hard to realised if your last post gets new comment, especially when you already see more episode and get a different view.

Take your time cause we believe in you

Have a nice day and thanks for the podcast ^ ^

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I'm so excited for the site redesign!! I love the old site but I'm excited for the new user functionalities and being more able to interact with others.

Also, EYEBROWS. LOOOL

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What! No mention of Lee Dong Wook when you're mentioning Goblin?? ( haven't listened the podcast yet..just saw mentioned names)

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They mention the reaper but I don't think they say Lee Dong-wook by name.

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Can we have a voice recording comment exclusively for podcasts? haha, that might be fun!

About Legends, I personally think I liked the Joseon love story better because there is backstory there. I understood and felt why the mermaid and LMH fell in love because they almost grew up together, went through a lot together, etc.

I also liked LMH here sooo much that I got reminded he's with Suzy. Lol. I miss liking him this much which is a while. Him crying for the father who died without getting reconciled.

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Weightlifting Fairy - I watched it realtime along with the Beanies so it was so much fun and yet sad because this was before it blew up here in the Philippines. My sisters had just finally decided to watch it so it is pretty fresh for me right now. I did not like it as much as I liked it the first time, I guess. I still love NJH and LSK here of course. And yes, unrealistically, the perfect boyfriend but again, so cute!

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Hah I regret not watching it BEFORE it blew up here in the Philippines XD

Funnily enough I was indifferent about it the first time I watched it. Then I dunno, I was mentally making a review and decided to watch again and I was impressed that they tackled so many issues, like therapy, depression, what you want vs what you can do, etc. Some of my friends found it too cheesy lol, can't blame them, but somehow I find it to be the yummy kind of cheese. Smoked cheese. Mozzarella. Yum.

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Oh Goblin! I watched this after it has finished and without the hype so I think I was able to watch it in a more objective way, if that makes sense. Goblin's writer may not be the perfect or even best writer out there but I appreciate it that she is using her popularity as a writer to talk about Korean fairy tale stuff.

I am in awe of the mythology of this drama but like you, I hated that they used sooo much flashbacks unnecessarily. I also feel that the editing could have been done better, make it an hour at most. I flashforwarded through Kim Go Eun's scenes and only played normally when it's Grim Reaper on my screen. I feel it is an excellent choice for him to do second lead here because he shone more.

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thanks, I don't have any problem with kim go eun in general as a person, even with the beauty standards or anyting,
I just don't feel her character as real or touching,
people say she is hiding her pain which not really shown for the overall shows,

I know comparing is bad, but I watch park bo young in the do bong soon and start cinderella and the 4 knight just recently with park so dam but they both relatable when they being cute while kim go eun seems like not fit for the act,
it shows that she is acting cute not that she is cute (for the drama)

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Ikr! Maybe she's trying too hard ??
I like her face or her appearance, but when she did aegyo ,i feel like 'oohh you are too much ,i can't stand it' .

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ahh memories. I used to listen to these when I worked the overnight shift. It always came out right around the time I was about to start, and it got me through a lot of painful nights by making me laugh. Well now I'm working the normal shift and have to sleep so I have save it for tomorrow. sigh But yay! I always love these. I've only seen the Weightlifting one but I'm curious about their thoughts on Goblin and Legend.

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Yay!!!! So excited to listen to this tomorrow as I organize the top of my messy desk. Now I can easily visualize Girlfriday and Javabeans after meeting them in person at the 10th anniversary party in Los Angeles - so adorable and giggly - BOTH of them!

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how weird, that's exactly what i was doing (cleaning/organizing my desk, pen jars, etc.) while listening to this podcast!
: D

there are a number of us OCD types - or sorta OCD types who still have messy bedrooms, drawers...

but i LOVE a good listen while doing tasks that don't require my full attention and vision toward the screen to read subtitles!!
: D

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Haha listening to it now while doing work

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Yay ^^ Thank you for sharing! I'm quite a new fan to dramabeans and I have years of k-drama catching up to do. I didn't even realize that you had podcasts til now. Will surely listen to the previous ones!

Quite excited to see what the new site design will be like! Fighting!

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Yay podcast! Thank you???

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nice to hear how much the dad loves korean history.

Hwarang was fun to make fun of. and with no sense of remorse.

I just wonder where the righteous knights who didn´t like peoples´ looks being made fun of are now. here we are, making fun of the eyebrows. I wonder if anyone pops up and starts defending that actress too.

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Well, technically, Go Ah-ra's eyebrows in Hwarang was the stylist fault. We are not really make fun about her looks, but the stylistic choice in that drama (which, admittedly, was terrible).

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There is a difference between making fun of how someone is styled and saying that are flat-out ugly.

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I didn't mind the thick eyebrows. I had a bigger problem with her permanent frown and slouching posture. I don't think it's Go Ara's fault though: writers, stylists and directors may have been drunk while filming this.

The fact that they discussed Su Ho more than the main characters shows how much Hwarang went wrong. I get that they were going for a youthful drama feel. If so they should have concentrated on youthful friendships... Moving on.

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well, Su Ho actually got some development and showed a bit maturing. then it went sideways... they should have concentrated on his dilemma with whether or not to support his sisters´ romance with Ban Ryu, the crush on the queen was not necessary

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Yay for the new podcast!
Does anyone know how I can listen to this on my mobile? I'd love to listen to the DB podcast on the go (especially since they're planning to release them more frequently now!)??
Any advice will be appreciated. :)

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The download links work on mobile, you just have to have internet! Alternatively you can download the podcast on your computer and upload it to your phone using iTunes or whatever you have, the same way you put music in your phone ?

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Awesome! I'll try that and hopefully it'll work! ;)

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I am glad JB and GF also talk about dramas that only one of them watched like Solomon's Perjury. Looking forward to when they would talk about This Week My Wife Will Have an Affair.

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Omg, yeeeeeesssssssss!! I've been waiting foreveerrr~~~ thank you ladies can't wait to listen <3

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I hope in your new website you can bring back the ost can we can download..hehehe..

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I'm just listening to the part about new minions... and thinking perhaps "fan" from OT could post the translated interviews as a main article? I don't have enough time to follow the OT in full, but I often go there to search her/his username to read the interview posts....

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I agree. I often come across fan's translation of interviews in the middle of other threads. It's such hard work that it would be nice to give its own space. :)

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Thank you for the podcast!!! After Goblin I took a break from K-dramas but of course I'm back :) It's great to hear your comments on Dramas i liked soo much! Havent been drawn to any of the 2017 so far. But its time to get back to it so Ive started Radiant office and really liked first two eps. We'll try Liar and his lover later this week.
Cant wait for the new website! Sounds great!!!!

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Still haven't finished listening but yey for an improved Dramabeans! It's going to be more like a proper forum now because there's more than just commenting. Good luck with the the development DB Staff! Just take your time if it means the quality will be A++!

화이팅 하세요~

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My feelings for Goblin were echoed in the previous comments so I won't go into it. I dropped it pretty early on. I disliked Hwarang from the beginning. I didn't finish LotBS yet, but I remember losing interest. I had overly high hopes for Solomon's Perjury, but I still enjoyed it.

I've had enough time away from Weightlifting Fairy now and think I can confidently say that I find it overrated for the most part.

It reminds me of Stranger Things where everyone was super hyped about a show that did nothing new. And the things that it did, I could find a series that did it better. Everything about it was just...fine. No real highs or lows.

I still like WF, it's cute and easy to watch. I didn't rush to watch it or refresh db waiting for a recap. It was there and it was nice. I'd have forgotten it already if not for everyone else still talking about it.

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That picture of Lee Min Ho with headphones makes me happy. :) Thanks for the podcast.

I remember how much I liked LMH in funny scenes of Legend of the Blue Sea, and would love to see him take an outright comic role sometime.

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Thank you! Listened to it and eagerly waiting for the next one :D

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So about the TvN color palette situation - I agree, most of their shows are not particularly eye-popping or even have a vintage feel to them. You called out Cinderella but I want to remind you that was pre-produced by a completely outside company and then sold to them.

I think the only shows that have had a lush palette are actually Twenty Again and Goblin.

Looking forward to the new site features!

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I've been a longtime lurker here at DB (mainly to find new additions to my never-ending list of dramas to watch), but I didn't use to comment because I'm a super infrequent drama watcher and almost never watch dramas on-air.

But now that my school workload has toned down I decided to get on board with drama-watching and commenting... which is when I realised there's no way of finding out when someone replies to your comment D: (except going back to the post and scrolling down to see)

This is getting a bit long but I actually just wanted to say that I'm excited for the new site features/ commenting system! I hope we get to have profile pics because I have one in mind already ^.^

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Omg, you've addressed one of the things that I've always been curious about but keep forgetting to ask the Beanies on here. Yeah, I always wondered if anyone got email notifications when the get replies on their posts because I never did. I mostly manually check back on the article(s) to see if I got any responses, but it'd be great to get a notification instead.

I watched a video on Twitter that someone recorded from the recent DB party and I'm excited to see DB's makeover reveal, too! The new features sound fun and definitely interactive! What do you have in mind for your profile pic? Haha.

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No, we don't get email notifications, we use our trusty keyboards and hit 'CTRL F' to locate our monikers page by page. ;) It's still faster than scrolling and searching page by page, but the bringing together of comments sounds great! Being able to search by moniker for each other and being 'pinged' whenever a reply to one's comment comes in would be wonderful too. :)

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Do you know Kakaotalk's Ryan? There's a cute pic of him being a potato couch, that's the one I have in mind!

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Is it... something between red and blue and used to serve tea? :D

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?? I wish, but I haven't been able to find a cute photo of a purple teapot heh

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The new features sound so fab!! Well done, ladies! Look forward to all these podcasts you've promised us!!

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Very much looking forward to the launch of the new features :) Thanks Dramabeans team!

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Thanks for the podcast guys! Always great to hear you!

Looking forward to the new site. ..... Speaking of which, I hope you'll keep the Currently Airing list on the new site. It's a simple yet complete point of reference and I find it particularly useful as I watch kdramas a tad bit off the on-air schedule.

Thanks once again and have a great week!

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I can't remember much of LOTBS like you girls! But that pic of Lee min Ho with the headphones reminded me that he was the best thing of that drama. I felt I connected to it right to the end simply because he made me laugh. I totally agree that the best part of the drama (since it's only those few things that I remeber now) was when he was jealous of himself. Yep! For all the money they spent, the gem was simple LMH on his bed realizing how he called himself a pimp and an asshole. HAHAHA ok it still makes me laugh.

I feel the same abt Goblin and I'm thankful I see like minds here coz everyone around me went Gaga over it. It's the aeygo - I loved KGE prev but simpler and totally don't like her interpretation of the role. I never saw why he should fall for her or her him. And those lingering moments - it was loooong and perhaps I'm impatient, I like my dramas faster paced. I really tried but It was hard for me not to fast forward scenes and it before long it became too tiresome to watch.

Bok Joo was my favorite. She did her Aeygo but it was cute and heartfelt. So it doesn't mean young means that kind of cute. I think KGE really lost that balance for some reason. NJh was my biggest find in fairy KBJ - he was adorable in a way I never found him to be. The story was simple and it makes me smile but I don't remember much details too

All in all - that period had good dramas but nothing really earth shattering or broke my heart big time :)
Nice to know we all feel the same!!

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Yes! New podcast! It was great to hear about the new site designs and I'm so excited for the changes!

For LOTBS, I liked the Joseon loveline so much better. It looked like they actually loved each other. I didn't care much for the modern timeline though. My favourite character is probably Jo Jungseok and that's sad because he was only cameo and he was the best part of the show for me.

Weightlifting is so amazing! Totally spoke to me in every single level. To think that I didn't even want to watch it because I thought Nam Joohyuk can't hold his own and Lee Sungkyung just doesn't match the lead role... It's been an awesome ride.

Solomon's Perjury was just right for me. They were supposed to be young anyway. Plus at that age, you feel like everything is a matter of life and death. It was fun to watch them try to reveal the truth. The ending was so well made. It's making me tear up just by thinking about it.

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Yey, new podcast!

I'm still at the beginning, when you are talking about the new design of the website, and I was wondering: since we will have our own profiles, would it be possible to indicate our location (just city and country), if we choose to share it? Because it would be amazing to be able to search by country/city and see if there are other beanies nearby, and have the chance to send them a message to talk and maybe even meet if both parties agree.

Signed,

Solitary beany

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Just one observation of this site, i have noticed that the number of currently online users had three peaks over the years and all three peaks were around the time when Lee Min Ho was doing drama. Does this mean that Lee Min Ho fans are only interested in his dramas and stay away from non-Lee Min Ho dramas?

It would be interesting to see if this theory is working when his next drama which would be sadly at least two years from now.

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Oops, I posted my reply to you in the comment below.

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Interesting theory but I don't know if it holds. One could argue that there is an initial peak around the time of Boys Over Flowers (2009), a dramatic increase of users around the time of City Hunter (2011), and a mini peak around Heirs (2014).

The end of 2011/start of 2012 is the highest peak, but the 2014 peak could be more about the hit that was My Love From the Stars? It's hard to tell unless we break it down month by month.

Interesting how 2015 was an all-time low, but then again I spent that year lurking lol.

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There was a time when the "online" counter was broken (it wasn't loading the mobile users!)

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Dramabeans! You guise need to post all your podcast through a real platform like iTunes or Overcast! It'll make it sooo much easier to listen on my phone. Otherwise, I have to wait to get to a laptop. Great job as always :-)

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Soundcloud is a good option too!

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Wow, how did I not realize you all do podcasts!? I'm behind!

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Finally a new podcast!! Very excited to see the new site! I've been a fan of this site for quite a while but have never really commented, and am excited to possibly get more active with all the new functions!

Looking forward to the roll of podcasts that 'should be' coming up soon!

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Finally, I've been waiting for another podcast. Yeay

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I couldn't finish both dramas. LOTBS doesn't give me any newness, while Goblin was exciting at first but getting draggy in the middle, so I dropped both of them. But yay for the podcast!

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Is there an RSS feed of the podcast so I can get it through a podcast manager?
Just curious because I LOVE the podcast :)

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it's been more than two years since you recorded your last podcast, but I have been listening to the older ones and missing these podcasts even more.
jb and gf, I hope you return to recording podcasts someday!

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