Premiere Watch: Designated Survivor: 60 Days, Weekday Afternoon Lovers
by stroopwafel
July is poised to bring us a deluge of dramas (17 in total!) and we’re starting off the month with two remakes.
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Political thriller
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: Can a man with no political ambition become president? When you’re the only ranking survivor of an unprecedented attack on the government, you sure can. That’s the situation Ji Jin-hee finds himself in in Designated Survivor: 60 Days. As the entire government, and most of the president’s cabinet, is gathered at the National Assembly Building for a presidential address, an explosion decimates the entire government. The sole survivor is the Minister of the Environment: Ji Jin-hee. In the aftermath of the attack, he’s installed as interim president for a 60 day term. During those 60 days Ji must protect both his family and his country–all while fending off rivals to the presidency and getting to the bottom of the attack. The cast is chock full of veterans and strong rising actors such as Heo Jun-ho, Bae Jong-ok, Kim Gyu-ri, Sohn Seok-gu, and Lee Jun-hyuk. Kang Hanna rounds out the cast as the intrepid investigator who’s determined to the truth of the terrorist attack.
Weekday Afternoon Lovers
Time slot: Friday & Saturday
Broadcaster: Channel A
Genre: Romance, melo
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: Weekday Afternoon Lovers is a remake of a hit Japanese drama (Hirugao) and it’s a rather unconventional romance melo. The plot revolves around two married women who ultimately fall in love with men who aren’t their husbands. Park Ha-sun and Ye Ji-won are both married but that’s where their similarities end. Park is a faithful and reserved housewife who leads a quiet life, whereas Ye Ji-won is more of a thrill-seeker and habitual adulterer. Park Ha-sun’s uneventful life with her husband turns upside down when she suddenly finds herself falling in love and contemplating an affair with Lee Sang-yub. On the other end of the spectrum, Ye Ji-won has no compunction about cheating and never gets too attached to her flings–until she meets Jo Dong-hyuk. Angst, affairs, and romance make for an intense mix of topics and though adultery-centered dramas make for a tough sell, the cast and the strength of the original drama have caught my eye.
RELATED POSTS
- Stills of Ji Jin-hee’s friends and (maybe) foe in Designated Survivor
- Looking for a love that has flown away in Channel A’s Weekday Afternoon Lovers
- Ji Jin-hee is sworn in as president in Designated Survivor: 60 Days
- Passing each other in the hallways of Weekday Afternoon Lovers
- Smoking fumes from National Assembly in Designated Survivor: 60 Days
- Stuck in a maze with no escape for Park Ha-sun in Channel A melo
- Ji Jin-hee, Kang Hanna considering Designated Survivor remake
Tags: Designated Survivor: 60 Days, Premiere Watch, Weekday Afternoon Lovers
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1 Radily
July 1, 2019 at 7:24 PM
Watcher is also premiering this week!
Official first episode teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3MdJWns2bo
Dramabeans's articles:
- http://www.dramabeans.com/2019/06/storms-and-danger-lie-ahead-in-ocns-watcher/
- http://www.dramabeans.com/2019/06/shady-dealings-for-kim-hyun-joo-in-ocns-watcher/
- http://www.dramabeans.com/2019/06/han-seok-kyu-watches-the-watchers-in-ocn-crime-thriller/
- http://www.dramabeans.com/2019/06/tied-by-tragedy-and-putting-aside-differences-in-ocns-watcher/
- http://www.dramabeans.com/2019/05/new-stills-for-ocn-psychological-thriller-watcher/
On another note, I hope Watcher and Weekday Afternoon Lovers do get added to the 'Currently Airing' section! I know Dramabeans doesn't usually place Channel A dramas there, but one can hope right?
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greenfields
July 1, 2019 at 9:06 PM
Comment was deleted
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loveblossom🌸
July 1, 2019 at 9:22 PM
Yaaas WATCHER! Please be a good thriller! Need my crime/mystery fix.
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missjb
July 1, 2019 at 10:16 PM
Yess. Watcher is premiering this week. OMG, I can't wait! My heart is ready!
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bong-soo
July 2, 2019 at 9:06 AM
The great news also is that WATCHER will be available on Viki so there is no availability angst. So let’s all be patient as we wait for the subbed episodes to be made available. No subwhining please!
I hope I am seeing a beautiful Viki-OCN relationship developing here.
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UmbrellaMan
July 2, 2019 at 3:52 PM
Yeah!!!
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myra
July 2, 2019 at 12:52 PM
I really wish the list is completed with Weekday afternoon lovers and Joseon survival!
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2 bbstl 🧹
July 1, 2019 at 7:28 PM
Oh, k-drama. Will you really make me say I'm watching a show called "Weekday Afternoon Lovers"? 🤦🏻♀️
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javinne
July 1, 2019 at 9:42 PM
LOL!
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suk
July 2, 2019 at 8:50 AM
How are you spending your Friday nights?
I'm watching Weekday Afternoon Lovers!
... -_-
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YY Chats with Toast Between Bites
July 2, 2019 at 10:00 AM
It could be worse. It could be Weekend Midnight Lovers. See? It's just painful on the tongue.
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bbstl 🧹
July 2, 2019 at 11:33 AM
It's all about the cringe factor for me and Weekend Midnight Lovers is another show I don't think I could tell anyone I was watching 😆
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Linda Palapala
July 2, 2019 at 12:38 PM
You could tell anyone you're watching Weekday Afternoon Lovers as long as you explain this is a kdrama and kdramas never go there.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
July 2, 2019 at 1:04 PM
"I'm watching Weekday Afternoon Lovers but it's okay because there's no sex in Korea".
PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 4:01 PM
@linda-palapala, @leetennant ChinguMode,
You guys are slaying me!
Kdramas: All the sizzle, none of the steak (usually). ;-)
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
July 5, 2019 at 4:05 PM
Not a lot of sizzle either @pakalanapikake; unless it's when they're cooking actual steak.
amara
July 7, 2019 at 4:59 PM
this....is hilarious
Zora
July 3, 2019 at 10:40 AM
😆🤣😂🤣
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PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 3:01 PM
*jumps into handbasket with @bbstl*
As if watching BEFORE WE GET MARRIED isn't embarrassing enough. This ought to cover all the infidelity bases. Sheesh.
Here, have some geezer mood music. Who needs a love hotel when you can take it easy with some afternoon delight in your chevy van or Ford pickup? ;-)
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/820869/
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/820946/
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/820983/
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bbstl 🧹
July 5, 2019 at 7:12 PM
What, did I never listen to the lyrics of "Take it Easy", it's about sex? 🤣
Btw, PP, CNN has two two-hour specials on The Eagles that might be available On Demand.
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PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 8:27 PM
@bbstl,
The girl's driving and ogles the guy for a change. ;-)
Thanks for the concert pointer. In July '76 I heard Boz Scaggs open for the Eagles at the old Roosevelt Stadium in Jersey City, NJ. One of my favorite bands of all time.
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bbstl 🧹
July 6, 2019 at 7:25 AM
Huh, I heard Boz Scaggs open for Randy Newman in probably 1975, he moved up in the world!
PakalanaPikake
July 7, 2019 at 2:04 AM
@bbstl July 6, 2019 at 7:25 AM
Very cool -- Mr. "Short People" himself. ;-)
IIRC, that was Boz's "Silk Degrees" tour in '76. The album came out in March. "Lowdown" was the big hit from the LP, but my fave is still "Lido Shuffle." What a great opening bass line, not to mention keyboards.
http://www.dramabeans.com/members/pakalanapikake/activity/822231/
bbstl 🧹
July 7, 2019 at 9:23 AM
Sure, I bought the album!
Linda Palapala
July 7, 2019 at 6:04 PM
Was it "Naked Man in the City"? I remember my sister gave me that album. Also had Short People I believe. At the time she was living in Baton Rouge.
bbstl 🧹
July 7, 2019 at 7:30 PM
I meant that I bought the Boz Scaggs album, but I certainly bought the Randy Newman album too 😁! I love Randy Newman with a passion, that tour was for the album "Rednecks" and predated Short People.
3 E
July 1, 2019 at 7:42 PM
Has anyone watched the original Designated Survivor??? It stars Kief Sutherlad, the amazing Maggie Q, Hal Penn, and other less recognizable actors. I started watching it on Netflix recently , just before I read that a Korean version was about to be released. Finished s1 two days ago and it was very good. It has its flaws but also great pacing and support cast. I’m interested in seeing how this Korean adaptation will hold up. My favorite characters are the President’s close staff (his Chief of Staff, Special Advisor, and Press Secretary) as well as the female FBI agent who is trying to uncover the truth behind the Capitol attack. So that’s to say the supporting cast is the draw for me in the original series (2 seasons to go!). I hope the supporting cast/characters are equally compelling in this version. The weakest aspect (for me) is the President’s pointless family drama.
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Athena
July 2, 2019 at 11:26 AM
I have never watched the American version, but I liked the first episode of the Korean version. About to watch episode two.
Afterward, I may watch the American version so that I can compare and contrast.
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E
July 2, 2019 at 3:58 PM
I’m planning the same but in reverse :), got about 30 more episodes of the American version to go.
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4 Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
July 1, 2019 at 8:13 PM
I’m not one for dramas about adultry, but I’m excited to have Park Ha Sun back :)
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missjb
July 1, 2019 at 10:17 PM
Yess.. Waiting the day for Park Ha Sun come back.
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5 greenfields
July 1, 2019 at 9:06 PM
Thanks @stroopwafel for the update. ^^ (also @radily for noting Watcher as well) I rely on the DB premier watch post to make my drama watching and scheduling decisions, and was waiting for this week's post because of the Lee Sang Yeob drama. Though it might be about "thrilling" love affairs, the description itself sounds rather boring. :( But its Lee Sang Yeob! Ugh, must I skip another drama of his? I also really like Park Ha-sun. Also the Japanese original has been called thought-provoking by many reviewers, so I may indeed check it out. I hope it's good!
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larelle79
July 1, 2019 at 9:57 PM
I saw the Japanese version and I did not feel that way. That series could have been a lot better.
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greenfields
July 1, 2019 at 10:36 PM
Ouch. That does not bode well.
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john
July 2, 2019 at 12:52 PM
I did not finish Hirugao either. If the J version failed to win me over, I doubt the K version would.
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larelle79
July 2, 2019 at 12:58 PM
It had so much potential and did absolutely nothing with it.
Adultery is complicated and so are the people involved. At the end of the day there is emotional collateral damage and none of that was explored. They wrote Sawa has a victim of circumstance (and rather infantile to boot) instead of a adult woman who is having feelings for someone other than her husband and the conflicts that come with that. And don't even get me started on Rikako. What cheap novels did they pick up from the five and dime to write her character.
Failure to the characters and overall plots all around.
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Tati
July 5, 2019 at 6:13 AM
I had a different opinion. I watched the jdrama and it had me hooked. I think it did more than the affair aspect. It explored the very normal reason why marriages loses the love. Each couple had very different reasons. I enjoy seeing that and the chemistry between the leads were explosive. I'm an avid jdrama viewer and would not expect this kind of story but it was good. The ending in my opinion is very realistic because it shows that damage from the affair. Not sure if this a spoiler.
larelle79
July 5, 2019 at 7:03 AM
Now that I read what you wrote that is something on the other side to think about.
I just thought the characters where not really fleshed out enough.
PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 3:57 PM
@greenfields,
I guess weekday afternoon whoopee will have to do until Ma-dol oppa's next ship comes in. Cue the biology jokes.
I also like Ye Ji-won. She was great in OH HAE-YOUNG AGAIN, but I don't think this show will pair her up with a live wire like Mr. Rooftop Party. I doubt this character will be anything like the leading lady's best friend in SHOULD WE KISS FIRST, either. I smell a cautionary tale in the offing. -- The good news is that YJW's new movie with Jun-ho, HOMME FATAL (formerly GIBANG BACHELOR), is being released on July 10. ;-)
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6 shach
July 1, 2019 at 11:34 PM
Definitely trying Designated Survivor, I skipped on original because I'm not into multi season arcs but plot itself is intriguing. Plus whatever new drama OCN puts I'll always check it out.
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Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
July 2, 2019 at 12:36 AM
1st day was promising.
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thequiet1
July 2, 2019 at 1:13 AM
I was in a kdrama dry spell this month, and I was watching nothing as nothing seems to interest me. So today I saw Designated Survivor is on Netflix, and the shallow me couldn't pass on Ji Jin Hee (I even watch second to last love because of him), so I tried Designated Survivor. And boy I'm glad I did. it was packed, I didn't even look at my phone while watching(i tend to do that a lot these past couple of month). Really hope drama keep up the pace till the end.
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tsutsuloo
July 2, 2019 at 8:54 AM
There is nothing shallow about appreciating Ji Jin Hee. He is a splendid ahjussi.
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thequiet1
July 2, 2019 at 7:38 PM
Yep, he is one fiiine ahjussi. /drooling/
Zora
July 3, 2019 at 10:43 AM
😍😍😍
E
July 2, 2019 at 5:55 AM
I really recommend watching the original! Without spoiling too much, s1 can even be watched as a stand-alone season. (In fact, going in I decided ahead of time would ONLY watch s1, because I read s2-3 were poorly received, but I fell in love with the core supporting characters so here I am just having finished off s2e1 haha.)
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7 seoul_searcher
July 2, 2019 at 1:09 AM
I’m so excited for weekday afternoon lovers which has been on my radar the past 2 months. I really hope it does justice to the great cast and melancholic tone which I am feeling for this winter.
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8 lunatic
July 2, 2019 at 4:48 AM
I am super excite for Weekday Afternoon Affair, because adultery dramas are my guilty pleasure. Also Lee Sang-yub.
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Linda Palapala
July 2, 2019 at 12:39 PM
Since neither Viki nor Netflix has picked it up, I'm wondering where to watch it.
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lunatic
July 2, 2019 at 12:41 PM
I am sure fastdrama will have it
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9 amara
July 2, 2019 at 8:27 AM
i am in the minority in this post, but weekday afternoon lovers sounds exhausting. adultery plots just aren't my thing though and i can't really stomach it lmao
i'm eager for designated esp cos i like ji jin hee so much. and i am READY for watcher!
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m2mp
July 2, 2019 at 4:36 PM
This shows how far the site has come. A few years ago, this drama wouldn’t even have gotten a mention.
I can never watch an adultery plot without my stomach churning and neither can I buy the excuse for getting into one. I prefer the ones that are far removed from reality instead.
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amara
July 2, 2019 at 4:38 PM
well, all things made etc. it's a personal thing for sure and it's not real life or anything. but the idea of it makes my anxiety ratchet up to the highest levels. there have been some good dramas about this, but the content is damn near impossible if you feel the way you or i do
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10 Diana Hansen
July 2, 2019 at 9:45 AM
ji jin hee is another one i love to watch.i will give the other one a try too. i am watching a lot of dramas but i have to drop some cause i just can't get into them.
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PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 3:14 PM
@diana-hansen,
I watched the first two episodes of DESIGNATED SURVIVOR, and Ji Jin-hee is terrific. Dang, can he emit conflictedness. Kim Kap-soo, Heo Jun-ho are dandy. I'm impressed with the rest of the talent they fielded for this cast. Looking forward to Lee Joon-hyuk's arrival.
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11 Blue (@mayhemf)
July 2, 2019 at 1:36 PM
Though not mentioned here ‘Watcher’ is the one am eagerly awaiting!! And Viki has it in ‘coming soon’ section (US). Yay!
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12 OldLawyer
July 2, 2019 at 7:19 PM
If it is faithful to the Japanese show WEEDAY AFTERNOON LOVERS will not deliver a happy ending for anyone.
BTW- McDonalds is now advertising a "Stroopwafel McFlurry". The ad would have been a little more effective if they had not stuck a French flag in the top of the picture of this desert.
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PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 3:34 PM
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PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 3:38 PM
@oldawyer,
ROFLMAO! DramaBeans's own Reverse PPL! Manseh, @stroopwafel!
Er, that's the Dutch flag on the McD's website. Red-white-blue horizontal stripes. The French tricolor is arranged vertically blue-white-red. My teeth hurt just thinking about the icy cold "Stroopwafel McFlurry" -- which sounds like a lucrative re-purposing of busted wafers.
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13 Irit
July 4, 2019 at 5:31 PM
Viki has not yet licensed "Love Affairs in the Afternoon."
Please request license from Viki.
https://vikiinc.wufoo.com/forms/title-request-form/
Here is the latest teaser:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=19&v=skGdZAVmIJw
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bong-soo
July 8, 2019 at 6:35 PM
You may know this already. Episode one is available English subbed at OnDemandKorea.
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14 PakalanaPikake
July 5, 2019 at 4:03 PM
Thanks for the heads-up, @stroopwafel. I'm checking them both out. DESIGNATED SURVIVOR's first two episodes are excellent.
*off to watch WEEKDAY AFTERNOON LOVERS*
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15 Jin Ari
July 7, 2019 at 1:10 PM
Out of the 2 political dramas on air now, I prefer Chief of Staff! It feels fresh and Korean! I like Designated... too but the vibe is a little off. Maybe cos it's not original.
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