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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

So, what are we all watching this week?

What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…

 

javabeans

Age of Youth 2: I can’t say I’m happy that a scandal forced a cast member out of this show, but Lee Yoo-jin is so natural and perfect that I can’t imagine anybody else playing this character better (I have the feeling that Onew would have felt affected in this role, not quite as naturally awkward and twitchy). I’m actually surprised at how much more I like the show this season compared to last (which I liked very much); if you gave me sixteen hours of this all at once, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be compelled to hit “pause” once.

Rescue Me: I know it shouldn’t matter, but even if nothing else were to change about the show, I feel like it works better if I mentally think of Dong-chul as the hero and Sang-hwan as the ineffectual second lead who means well but can’t get anything done. Maybe that makes Dong-chul even more tragic as a second lead since I don’t think the show will sideline Taec; it just doesn’t work for me quite the way it was intended.

My Golden Life: Can you still enjoy a drama if you don’t want the main couple to get together? And I’m not even rooting for Mr. Second Lead, either, so basically there’s no romantic pull for me. The sisters are charming, but I don’t feel anything for their love lives. Is it too late to bring in two more dudes to liven up the lovelines?

Criminal Minds: Yup, still more of the same. Serial killers on the loose, a bunch of people psychoanalyzing them.

 

girlfriday

Rescue Me: I’m. So. Terrified. *watches rest of show through fingers*

Age of Youth 2: Man, does this show know how to make people’s trauma and pain feel real. They’re dealt with so mundanely, which is part of the punch. I’m really liking Ye-eun’s storyline this season as she recovers from her PTSD, and I especially love the quiet way that Eun is there for her, just making sure that she never walks home alone.

Falsify: This was always a show designed to lead to one big showdown between the corrupt and the truth-seekers, and it wrapped up neatly with satisfying doses of justice where we needed it. I just think overall I would’ve cared more if we didn’t have quite so many good guys, splitting all of the focus. The one thing this show lacked was a deep investment in a single character’s life outside of the revenge/conspiracy plot, which would’ve done wonders.

Lingerie Girls’ Generation: Cute. I only caught the first episode, but it’s an endearing throwback youth drama, and the heroine is bubbly and relatable, so I can see myself binge-watching this very quickly, especially since it’s only eight episodes long.

 

HeadsNo2

Falsify: Moo-young has always been a tough character to get on board with (kind of like all the characters), but this week, he was downright insufferable. He literally cannot get over his own revenge to look at the bigger picture, which is what everyone else is putting themselves on the line to do. Sure, he helps them out, but it’s only for his own gain, and it’s really beginning to bug me that he can’t go without angry-crying for just one episode when he feels someone has betrayed him by not telling him information that they knew he’d do foolish things with. Maybe they’d tell you sooner if they knew you weren’t going to be a douche about it.

Reunited Worlds: [Insert tumbleweed]

Rescue Me: I loved all the new developments and twists this week, even if Sang-mi’s fate is even more uncertain than before. Somehow it was even creepier that her wedding dress was black when she’s supposed to be this symbol of feminine chastity and virtue, and I like that her impending (though hopefully stoppable) “wedding” with Father Baek is seeming more and more like a wedding to Satan himself. This drama’s darkness feeds my dark, dark soul. ♥

Manhole: I kind of hate that instead of giving Pil an actual growth arc in an opportunity tailor-made for him to relive and relearn the same important lessons, they’re going to give him an easy out by making his rival a psychopath. It’d be so much more meaningful if Jae-hyun were an actual threat to Pil without being some creep, which would mean that Pil would have to actually step his game up. But now all he has to do is reveal this controlling maniac for who he really is, and at the end of the day, what have we accomplished?

The King Loves: No, he doesn’t. He doesn’t love anyone! He doesn’t know what love is!

 

tineybeanie

Currently recapping: Falsify

The King Loves: Rinnnnn! You have to come back! No excuses.

Hospital Ship: Nuuuu. Why is this so bad? Ha Ji-won is the absolute best, so it almost physically hurts me inside that the drama is a snoozefest. They can never get the funny bits to make me laugh, and there’s too many parent-child angsty relationships that I find it hard to invest myself in even one.

Rescue Me: Wow, this is much much much more awesome that I thought it would be. The guy who is infiltrating the cult is amazing at acting; his sharp eyes are definitely swoonworthy; I think I may have found my next Kim Woo-bin. I don’t care about Taec or his sideplot political father, but Sang-mi and that guy are great. Lee David is being heavily underutilized though; he’s just showing up as a stooge, when we already know he’s capable of so much more.

 
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Yessss, so much praise for Lee Yoo-jin! I adore this guy and pretty much wrote the same comment as JB on the last recap. As soon as he walked on screen as Ho-chang, he completely inhabited the role and I just can't imagine Onew pulling it off in the same way (though I'm sure he'd still be sweet).

I've been enjoying Ye-eun's story so much this season already, but ep 7 took it to another level. I really love how her curiosity and caring for this guy is helping to bring her out of her shell. Also Eun looking out for her is the most adorable thing ever and I just want to squish her or follow her around adoringly like Jang-hoon!

"Reunited Worlds: [Insert tumbleweed]"
- Hahaha, I'm dying. The commentary on this show is just too sad.

I'm excited to watch more of Lingerie Girls, but have only caught a few minutes so far. I may wait until I finish The King Loves and Strongest Deliveryman to get into it. So nervous for what The King Loves has in store for its finale this week, as I really don't know what to expect.

In other news, Rescue Me is still one of the most unnerving things I've ever watched. Sang-mi's tenacious resolve to take down the cult and save everyone is making this a satisfying experience, especially with Dong-chul now supporting her.

Sad to see no one is watching Live Up to Your Name right now. I just adore it and the lead characters to bits. Their chemistry is getting so good and I'm lamenting only having 6 more eps.

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Thank you Tineybeanie, the fact that you're about the only one to mention David Lee at all just proves your point. Such a waste. But there are still some episodes to go, I'm hoping they do utilize his skills in these ending spisodes

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have more free time this week, which means more writing and drama watching! though...being sick makes me feel miserable this week.

- the king loves: i regret watching the latest episodes because now I can't wait for the new episodes, but hey at least it's only two days away now! I am hoping that the ending will be like the novel, because even from the summary only the ending seems beautiful. won is quite a complicated character and I love that he is one of few drama male leads that is not depicted as perfect.

- live up to your name: why do you keep hurting my heart????

- age of youth: <333 this drama is perfect, I love the girls so much. they depicted yeeun's trauma so well, and while she is my least liked character last season, I have grown to really like her. this drama also makes me wish that there are more dramas with college/university setting. there are a lot of things that can be explored during characters' time in university. honestly right now I can only remember kim bokju, CITT, and this drama as dramas set in college.

- reunited worlds: skipped some episode and watched the latest episodes (and still skipping a lot of scenes). I feel like I didn't miss anything important. Honestly who decides that the drama should be 20 episodes when the plot is so thin??

- criminal minds korea: it makes me want to rewatch the original cm but I don't have the time for it.

- 2 days 1 night: the jongmin-junho-donggu combination is wonderful, and donggu has became funnier and funnier lately. waiting for the time when the 3g team can finally win!

- running man: the introduction sections feels unnecessarily long, but the female guests are all charming.

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yeah Rin has to be back otherwise ill not be able to watch any saeguk again...
and HJH why you have to be this handsome in each and every frame... even while dying....

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Currently watching: Woman of Dignity (wish that all 20 episodes of this drama was recapped here) and Live Up to Your Name

Recently completed: Falsify, Father Is Strange, Lookout, Defendant, and Suspicious Partner

On my to watch list: Solomon's Perjury, Rebel Thief Who Stole the People, Rescue Me (tempted to check it out only because the reviews here have been mostly positive...normally I try to avoid watching Taecyeon act especially as the lead in a drama if I can.)

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They startet to recap Woman of Dignity, but they quit, because it was kind of freak... I don´t think they will come back to finish the recaps. Same with Hospital ship... I don´t think they will pick it up... :/

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I'm quite content lately with watching The King Loves every week. I keep looking forward to monday evening and when I've watched both days I will keep fangirling, rewatching, discussing and a week has passed in no time.

A lot of barely contained bashing of Won here there and everywhere makes me feel he needs more love :)

Keep watching Reunited Worlds for YJG. With Cirlce I have been annoyed each episode, but this one just bores me.

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I personally am loving My Golden Life. Not into the second lead pair (plus Lee Tae Hwan just seems much too young), but I am enjoying the dynamics between the main pair. It's just different from the norm, and I love Shin Hye Sun's leading lady which goes really far to endear me to the drama. Totally worth checking out if you've liked So Hyun Kyung's other works.

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After reading all the comments all I can say is 'How do you guys bare to watch rescue me?????'??I watched the first 2eps and I couldn't take it. The bullying... the whole cult thing....i could actually say I watched through my fingers. But if in the end dong choel or no one gets sang mi I'll consider watching it. The boy couldn't have risked his life to go save her twin brother and lose her to sang hwan. That just isn't fair

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I thought I was in a drama slump, and then I decided to binge-watch The King Loves. I'm on episode 12 and this thing is addicting. It gives me a classic fairy tale and Chinese vibes, which is enhanced by gorgeous settings and detail in clothing, buildings and the music (I detect a sort of Chinese sound whenever the Yuan princess appears). I consider the drama primarily about friendship, in fact, about what friendship is. The love triangle is actually compelling for me because it's not the main thing driving the story: there is plenty of politics and inner character motivations too. Thank you to all the beanies who recommended it so warmly! ?

I'm also watching Hospital Ship... um, I don't remember the last episode. I did think it was an interesting conflict at the time, but I forgot what it was about.

And finally, Man Who Sets the Table: We are not on speaking terms anymore. I am disgusted and horrified at the portrayal of abusive parents/husbands and can't imagine watching for 28 more episodes to see them be redeemed or changed. Spare me the angst. ?

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*that's 48 more episodes for MWSTT! Nope, I'll pass thanks.

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Rescue Me: Each episode is pretty intense.
My Golden Life: Agree about the romance, I just do not see any chemistry between the leads. So far only watching for Ji An, the actress is doing a great job, she is carrying the whole show. Skipping the sister's scenes, I am indifferent to her story, unless her story progresses I see myself fast forwarding her scenes.
Reunited Worlds stopped watching a while back, started off good but the lazy writing, there is no conflict everything falls into place just out of nowhere.
The King Loves: Agree, the King loves no one, he does not listen, is all about him.
Basically watching just because I find the story interesting so far. I am on episode 9.

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I loved the latest episode of Living up to the name. It had so much angst in. Strongest delivery man keeps getting better, I'm interested to know how everything will tie up since there is not many episodes left.

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Heads' tumbleweed comment!

*laughing*

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Yes it's melodramatic and I'm not watching it for the science, but I'm really enjoying the character trajectories on Hospital Ship. The themes this week- "illness steals your identity", "death is a failure", about when to push and when to accept your patients choice. Statistics, casualties, profit, service, humanity, the doctor patient model can be so complicated, and like Dr Song said, these are questions we'll battle our whole life. I also really like Kwak Hyun, he has such a calming effect and I like how he serves as a foil to Song sunbae. It's the inversion of gender expectations and they both have a lot to teach and learn from the other. I like how the ship is slowly functioning as a family aswell with people opening up to each other.

Also greatly looking forward to temperature of love! Hit me with another good noona romance.

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waiting for Because This Is My First Life..and Cheese in the trap movie which probably won't be aired this year. nothings good on tv right now, everything just blah. can not stand Manhole anymore, only read the recap and patiently waiting for its last episode (so the new drama can start right away). any good old k-drama ? i am watching re-run Sunghyukwan scandal just because they say it was good. it's okay but most of the time i just skipped it and fast forward to "everybody knows" which turn out wayyy far to almost end of the show. like, seriously ?

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Oh my!! What a discouraging list of comments this week. I am a huge kdrama fan, but really don't like spending time on variety shows or even Chinese or Taiwanese shows (though I lived in Taiwan for a year and LOVE Taiwanese people and their country). I will be so sad if the kdramas are less and the variety shows more. But, on the other hand, maybe that is the only way to cure my kdrama addiction and start spending my time more productively! :-(

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I am happy to see all of the DB teamsters here enjoying Rescue Me - my favorite show of the moment (and an unexpected watch for me)! @girlfriday the lead thing doesn't bother me so much if the show just keeps going as it has been and remains awesome. Dong Chul stole the show and is basically the lead! It also feels like romance might be left out at this point which I think might be for the best (again very surprisingly for me)!

It seems like Falsify and Hospital Ship are getting the highest ratings, while the most conversation at the moment is around The King Loves here on DB. @headsno2 lol to "No, he doesn't." Well put!

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Whoops. Two very similar comments might show up twice from me. Sorry guys. Cheers for Rescue Me!

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Soooo, honestly... Only by the comments I can see that there is no better show than the one I am watching: Strongest Delieryman. And yet, nobody is watching it with me!!!! :(

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I have been watching Romantic professor Kim this week. I have to say, there is no way I can like our main lead Dong joo. And I don't feel any chemistry in the OTP. But, that being said, I keep on watching because of the rest of the cast.

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I'm only watching Rescue Me now, and I've finally caught up yay.
They'd better not kill Dong Cheol off! Give that guy a break, he's suffered so much already. Anyone else shuddered when the white hair dude creeped up Sangmi's skirt? so gross I had to do a silent scream lol

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