Never heard of "Why did you come to our house?" but bickering couples are indeed always fun to watch XD

I could never get into "I Love You" so I can't say you're missing anything... it felt rather like a waste of time and since I'm lacking that in buckets atm I'd rather stick to dramas that really pull me in :P

About Spotlight... I didn't have any major expectations for it but from what I saw it was rather tasteless. Nothing for me anyway... usually I hold out more than 2 episodes because those are usually more like prologue, but in this case I'm pretty sure that I'm not gonna follow it and not regret it (just like the case with Bad Love).

La Dolce Vita seems interesting, but I'll probably wait until it's ended and then watch it all in one go ^^;;;;

Iljimae aired today! Did you watch it? Well as usual the two first episode will be some kind of introduction, but I'll definitely be following that one ^^ I must say that I think Lee Jun Ki's mask in the promo pics looks way too monstruous! Like from some kind of B-rated horror movie ~____~ Like I wrote on soompi, what happened to good old cloth masks (or halfmask)? That would feel more appropriate, also considering that it's that kind of "period" (saguek?) drama.

Ive been watching 'Why did you come to my house?" solo for quite a while now i think it deserves more attention than its really getting. The characters are fun and lighthearted. The drama however does take a more serious turn in the last few episodes yet it still somehow manages to give us a few laughs here and there.

So if you're looking for a good time drama i suggest that you continue with "Why did you come to my house".

i haven't seen any of these yet. but i have downloaded a few eps of I Love You, and will watch when i have time. i've seen pics of Ahn Jae Wook's hairstyle, and it makes him look strange. i wasn't too impressed seeing the promo pics or previews for the other 3 dramas.

Hey Dramabeans, I thought that you might want to check out this drama
"Rude Women" because I think it might have been too overlooked for its interpretation of " Desperate Housewives". Generally, I don't really love the original for its way overly cheessy plots (ie. minor characters that die but later come back from the dead, lol-imo, it just looks like they're throwing mindless plots )
Anyways thought you might want to check out my review:
Rude Women (a.k.a Outrageous Women) (Warning some spoilers)-What happens to a female character who had a previous hurt marriage due to her ex-husband abandoning her? Would she:

(a) forgive him and forget what pain he caused her or

(b) chase after him until he repents

Wikipedia describes it as the Korean version of Desperate Housewives. I describe it as being similar but without the ridiculous plots where characters die and come back from the dead.

So far I've been engrossed by the drama due to its wholesome protagonist - a mature version of the "My Girl's" main character, in my opinion. I think she does a perfect interpretation of a woman who has been hurt, who can't forget and so takes control of making her ex repent instead of just waiting. But unlike the familiar hurt character who easily might go to the deep ends, we see her compassionate heart is what prevents her from going into the dark side. Overall so far an 8/10.

I started I love you, but it just went....wtf...and lost me. The whole imagination things and all and the guy...

Dramabeans, could you be so kind as to write a post or explain the differences among shows that air on Fridays, weekends, Wednesday and Thursday? I've seen writings referring to the days that shows air that imply what kind of show it is but I'm not sure. Do the Korean networks air certain types of dramas on particular days so that if you tune in on say Friday you kind of know what to expect in terms of the type of drama that is airing. Thanks!

What about Iljimae?

I totally enjoyed "Rude Women". It was great acting throughout the drama and a nice satisfying ending. I hate it when some K-dramas take a nice story and ruin it with a bad ending.

I was so horrified with lack of morality on " I Love You" that I could not get past couple of eps. I think what disturbed me more was realism on the part of men's attitude toward love . I would like to show the first couple of eps of that show and show it to my daughters before they head off to college as more or less as an example of what to be weary of in this world.

wow, am i the only one who actually enjoyed the first episode of spotlight? maybe. but i still thought it was fun and fast-paced (which i think is what they were aiming for), although who i guess will be The Other Woman is already a bitch.

i tried hard to watch i love u but i failed in somewhere in ep4. it's looks like until then another version of wonderful life. a worst one of course : )
becoz: leaders are so horribile the male one's skills is soo bad. he was a much better in mr. goodbye. the female looks like a jabanese actress more than a korean. i couldn't like her.
bitterswaeet life i still watching it when i'm free but u'll not lost anything if u dropped it.
as for on air (out of ur list) it's not thaaaaat bad. the main leaders' skills are very poor. sometimes i doubt if they had acted before especially the male. i think he depends on his awsome face while the support actor doesn't have face nor skills. HOWEVER, the supporting actress's acting skills is great. i even googled about her other dramas. the story is good. it's all a long debate about drama's script, casting and so on. i'm not korean and i don't know much about produsing there. so i don't know how far it's realistic. but it still for me interisting to watch it untill ep 18.

I ran out of patience for 'Saranghae' after ep.5. The pace is too slow for me, but it's light-heart and I think I might catch up with it in a boring Sunday.

As for 'La Dolce Vita', I pulled all my might to finish ep.2. Err, not my taste. It was interesting at first, but I think it's too maniac.

Completely lost interest in 'Spot Light' at the first sight. So, no comment. To be honest, for now, there's no drama catching my eyes yet.

Do you know if there are English subs for Why Did You Come to Our House?

I was bored at first with Three Dads One Mom but it got way better as the drama progressed. Also, it doesn't hurt that Jae Hee and a really adorable baby's in it.

I am really enjoying I Love You, I think its a sweet show and a bit different in that the main characters sleep together so early on (I am used to KDramas where it takes up to the last episode before they even kiss) and its interesting the way that they look at life and marriage.

I am also watching Three Dads One Mom and I am addicted to that one! It gets more interesting the further you go along :)

Ahh.. dramabeans you hated On Air.. whilst I really loved it. Anyway, won't force ya to watch further...XP

I've only seen 1 episode of Saranghae, Bittersweet Life and Spotlight..so I can't really give you recommendations. But for me, Bittersweet Life's more of a mysterious and dark drama, so it requires concentration, which I don't really have in particular at the moment. (tho my fav Wookie's inside, I'm putting that on hold first). Saranghae was not bad, but just lacked the pushing factor for me to continue, EVEN tho I was a HUGGGGGEEE fan of Ahn Jae Wook.

I'm planning to continue with Spotlight tho.. I thought Ep 1 was pretty well done, and again, reminded me a lil of On Air, which I really really liked. So I guess.. hahaha.. Spotlight's on for me at the moment.

And Iljimae!! Don't forget to tune in...

javabeans,

Iljimae is pretty grim, isn't it?

I like I Love You. I've watched six episodes and am really looking forward to more. It's cute, charming, and very funny. Everyone's acting is very good. The pace is fast, the story is realistic (okay, so the guys aren't angels but it's not true that they have no morals), and it's a wonderful mood pick-me-upper.

La Dolce Vita? I love it to pieces. Even Park Si Yeon's acting blows me away, she is that convincing. Not a drama that one can watch half-heartedly or while multi-tasking. It needs total concentration but it rewards you with its top-notch acting, gripping plot and awesome OST. Count me among its maniac followers.^^

hi dramabeans! i think you forgot one drama out there, it's called "powerful opponents." err....it's an okay drama, the little girl is cute though. people are still debating who chae rim's gonna end up with...la dolce vita story is getting weirder for me, maybe becuz i kept staring at park si yeon's face, examining it to see if her face really look fake??????? i love you is a so-so drama....how's illjame? are u going to recap the series? thanks for posting.!

Heh. Looks like our tastes are pretty different.

Spotlight was a huge disappointment, though. I was expecting so much from this show, and it ended up being badly directed and trying too hard to be more light-hearted than the writer's previous drama, "White Tower". (Unlike you, I think this drama's faults lies in its bad attempts at light atmosphere and flashy gimmick - much the PD's fault, really.)

I'm really, really enjoying I Love You. It's true that the first few episodes don't really hold that pulling factor, but the more you watch, the more you get swept into its charming atmosphere, and into the lives of these characters. And it's really laugh-out-loud funny at times. It's just...well-done. One of the first romantic comedies I've really enjoyed in a long time.

I think La Dolce Vita is the best drama of the year so far, and I love it to itty bitty pieces. I certainly had a ton of fun watching it. I also think that, although it certainly has shades of noir, it isn't meant to be full-on noir, and thus certainly does not need to be more noir-ish. Does that make any sense? Plus, y'know, this is just amazing directing and writing. The actors are doing well, too.

I do not see this fascination with 3 Dads 1 Mom.. I have watched the first 5 episodes and have literally been bored. Its just one of those dramas that did not click with me within the first 3 episodes and I was generous watching the 5th. I have totally given up on this drama and its too bad. Two of my favorites are in it.

I completely agree with you about ON AIR. All my friends told me to watch it and it was just BLAH!!! I know I am in for a BLAH Drama when I start Fast fowarding through episodes.

I am interested in watching La Dolce Vita.. I guess I won't go into the mind set of it being a full on Noir. Thats too bad.. I am a big Billy Wilder fan (American Noir Director).

we must hav same taste for those on hold drama..i dun watch anyone of those..i started watching la dolce vita episode 1..then it is boring and i stopped watchin for next episode..
im currently watching on air (love kim ha neul), rival (i thought it mite b good and better than normal lov drama, cuz there has some action), three dads one mom (absolutely cuz of jae hee and that drama is all about eye candy good lookin actors only)

LA DOLCE VITA... I *almost* gave up on it after the first few episodes, growing weary of the continuous, and confusing, flashbacks. But in EP4, the last I have watched so far (because of subtitles), there is less confusion, and the foursome of the main characters has - at last - been set up in an understandable sort of way. I'm not giving up just yet.

The *doomed* atmosphere in which the characters try to make sense of their lives is particularly impressive and not very common in KDramas. I also like all the actors, which helps. Lee Dong-wook might have the most difficult role - he is supposed to portray a character with so many issues and problems that he is falling to pieces before our very eyes.

I'm following Spotlight and La Dolce Vita..about La Dolce Vita...I waited for it to air for so long since it has great actors (Jung Bo-seok, Oh Yeon-soo and Lee Dong-wook) and I've seen all 6 Episodes that was aired so far..though I thought I should stop after Episode 3 since I find it too depressing to watch but eventually I got to love the drama and it has it's unique charm to it., the acting, cinematography and the story...you have to really watch the drama all throughout since sometimes I find it hard to understand myself...I'm another cult fan of the drama and I now don't really care for the ratings, as long as I'm enjoying watching it, that would really count

as for Spotlight...I haven't seen the first 2 Episodes in it's entirety but I'll still follow the show

Dolce Vita is the best in the bunch for me. I dunno y but it vaguely reminds me of my enjoyment of Que Sera Sera. Its pace is very controlled, I cant rem any remarkable lines thus far, so it's not very 'gripping'. I do find it hard for me to 'enjoy' while multitasking. It's not high up there in getting me hooked, but if this drama didnt get acting awards at the end of the year, it's unfair.

It turns LDW into an actor for me instead of a bit more than a very pretty face. Here he was given much much more juicy material to work with. He did a way more precise acting job in this role as a tortured sensitive soul than the melo-king KSW's in stinky bad love.

I'm most surprised by PSY's acting. First time I'm watching her without being bored to nickpicking her nose and wondering how she can breath.

I think it's a good meddling of classic noir and kdrama elements. Instead of going to all the usual kdrama caricatures where the characters can fall into, say a timid suffering wife with a constant twinkling of tears (CJW style), all the plot twists and character developments r handled with a subtle realistic sophistication. They dont dramatize it or make it palatable for the ahjummas, and they didnt go the low route to throw in skin or 'wows' merely for ratings. I admire that. I dont think it's up to the mania level for me, it's intriguing enough, but I'm ready to dump it if it has one lousy episode.

Haven't watched the other three but I have been watching Saranghae / I Love You on MySoju (they only have up to episode 6 so I haven't seen everything yet). I dunno, I found that one interesting enough to keep on watching. I especially like the parts with the sister and her husband because of how their relationship is portrayed. I like seeing the reaction on shows for those types of couples. (Sorry if I am a bit vague, don't want to spoil it for anyone.)

Ahhh I wanted to see the link for your ratings chart, but its not taking me to it.

yea, i wanted to see the one with lee dong wook, but im more into funny/happier dramas

really...LA DOLCE VITA / THE SWEET LIFE has some resemblance to QSS?

Hmm...interesting that someone noted that La Dolce Vita/ The Sweet Life might be similar to QSS. Because if it is, I might give it a shot even though it seems a little bit too dark for my taste.

LA DOLCE VITA / THE SWEET LIFE has some resemblance to QSS?

--- Uuuh... that'd be the other way around. Kim Jin Min and especially Jung Ha Yeon have done this before, sometimes even better. QSS is a fine show partially ruined by an ordinary script, and it has really cool production values with good acting, but let's not mistake Mini Coopers with Aston Martins. Both cool, but there's a galaxy in between.

Guys, please read my post carefully. I'm just saying my enjoyment of La Dolce Vita is similar to my enjoyment of QSS that's all. Ummm, and QSS' script ruins it?! I think it's WAY above average if we're talking about lousy scripts. And for me, I like that script better than La Dolce Vita atm

Have you gone back and given Powerful Opponents/Rivals another try? While it is very predictible, I think it is fun to watch.

Powerful Opponents for me, deteriorated heavily by the 10th episode and it's now like a typical birth entanglement drama with too many flashbacks for me to really care for. It's campy yet it takes itself a bit too seriously, almost like melodrama shoved down ones' throat. Chae Rim is awfully misused there. I'm still watching,though. I have gone that far already.

Now, for my selfish reasons, it would be awesome if you can summarize and review La Dolce Vita.

Plus! QSS = brilliant script for me. QSS grabbed me by the third episode, LDV is giving me mixed feelings by the fourth one, but I'm pretty drawn to it. LDW and PSY have improved so much since "My Girl".

Sarah, Im actually watching all the dramas u put on hold. Lol.

I actually started Our House just recently, I didnt really notice it at first. Plus id really have a harder time without subs. But its really nice, funny.. PLus I like KJH.. that guy is just too hot.. HEheh I can recommend it.

I started La Dolce Vita cause of Lee Dong Wook's comeback drama. But its a tad different in some ways. But Im liking the story thus far. Its nice.

I love You is a light drama, fun to watch cute. I like Seo Ji Hye. Hwanhee is funny. Its quite fun. I like it.

Powerful Opponents is smoking, i love LJW. The chemistry is hot. There was a bit of down eppies but overall good thus far. I wanna see how they end it.

Take off Kim Yoon Cheol's direction and the acting, and QSS is just another trendy drama. The music, the atmosphere, the editing... that created something. Script follows all the cliches of the trendy drama genre to a T. That gets reversed as you go on because the atmosphere was credible, but let's not mistake a hamburger with caviar as salad dressing as filet mignon. Scripts is just pedestrian, take off the rest and you'll notice. Just a quick read at how little in the way of 지문 the script listed will tell you that.

Oh my, How i love read dramabeans writing but how much we differed. In a good way. And how I always have the same tastes with Thunderbolt and Dahee..

I think my own tastes are a cross between X (i.e. love sageuks, taigas, and costume dramas in general) and the housewives of Japan (i.e. terminal disease NOW! I demand satisfaction good sir!) Whoa I think I just canceled myself out.

dramabeans -- to be fair, you've also snarked on genres/shows (*cough* melos, ajuhmma w/end dramas) I've liked as well. I mean, isn't that what a blog is for?

I think feelings inevitably get bruised whenever a valued or popular voice poo poos on the things we like. Even when "fangirl" or "just another trendy/idol/tearjerker drama" labels aren't explicitly said, it's human nature to protest. It's not personal at all . . .but then again it is.

Talk of filet mignon and caviars is making me hungry. Gotta grab lunch! Hope you get better too.

This why I follow dramabeans. Lead on young Skywalker!

"I have nothing against somber, sad dramas — I’m sure there are some very good ones — but I generally won’t watch them. I find enough to cry about in the happy, comedic kdramas; I don’t need to be hit over the head with tragedy!"

never said it's just another trendy drama as in "it's crap like all trendy dramas" (90% of everything is crap anyway). I just said it throws all the cliches of the trendy drama in the pot and follows them. What sets the show apart is the atmosphere, acting, and direction, nothing you can create with a script. One might feel inclined to give high points to that because the rest was good enough to make it seem better. But it's just... there.

If in the trendy drama canon Ruler of your Own World is great, Sam-Soon or any of Kim Do Woo's work are good, then as far as trendy drama as a genre goes, QSS' script was ordinary. It wouldn't, ever, stand on its own and say something if it weren't for those actors, directed that way, with that music.

don't want to belabor the point, but if we pick QSS apart:

1) the acting: great! the main cast brought depth and believability to their roles. for me, the stand-outs were jung yoo-mi and lee kyu-han.
2) the direction: great! this director has vision, creativity, and good dramatic instincts. this was evident in SamSoon, as well as in QSS.
3) the atmosphere: liked it! emitted that real-life vibe, with undercurrents of tension and cynicism to give it a charged feel.
4) the music: loved the soundtrack! it set the mood for each scene, and effectively mirrored the characters' emotions without being overpowering at all.
5) the writing: hmmm... i thought the writing was good in the first half at least (because it made the characters really interesting, that you wanted to stick around and see how their personal life choices clashed and converged), but then it dropped the ball from ep10 to early ep17, imho. at this point, the story started to feel uneven and tedious. but i thought the last 20 mins. or so of the final episode were well-written.

so yeah, among these 5, the weakest link for me is still the writing.

javabeans, am still looking forward to watching LDV, though. --> wookie! in noir! dead on the pavement, in the rain!!! = should be interesting, hehe. :-P