Rewatching Chicago Typewriter: It's still good and I still love the soundtrack. My girls 1000% agree that Yoo Ah In looks better with the 1930s hair.
Flower of Evil: I was heartbroken when he couldn't tell if he was seeing a vision of a dead person or the actual person. Episode 14 played out about the way I thought it would, but it was much more satisfying to actually watch it. I thought their honest conversation in the hotel room was much better than I'd hoped it would be. I love watching their small facial expressions.
Do You Like Brahms?: Episode 6 was frustrating as misunderstandings piled up. So many things to love about the way the actors played it out, though. I'm hoping that this angsty, misunderstanding part of the story will be over quickly and we can get back to introverts shyly flirting and falling in love. Monday feels like a million years away!
Record of Youth: I liked the idea of the grandpa getting in to modeling. It suits him! I thought ep. 4 was the best one so far and I'm looking forward to the next one.
Rewatching Reply 1994: It's my husband's first watch of this one. He really liked Reply 1988 and has watched that a couple of times with me and he LOVED Prison Playbook. He keeps telling me that he likes 94 even better than 88. The writer is just so good at portraying male friendships and all their nuances. Those friendships are really the heart of Reply 1994.

MOMENT AT 18--Thank you to the Beanie who shared their love for this drama last week! I was under the impression that this was going to be an angst fest and stayed clear away despite loving Kim Hyang Gi and Kang Ki Young. Boy, am I glad that I gave it a try. This is practically perfect. I am invested in every character and loving every moment.

Currently Airing

FLOWER OF EVIL: Even though I know the gist of what happens next, this drama still somehow draws me in. (ep. 9)

SF8 - I actually forgot to add to my list last week, but I watched all first 4 episodes. The first one is still my favourite, but mostly because of the strong impact that left. The acting was so so amazing. Joans Galaxy was my second favourite, and I guess a lot of peoples favourite. Not only the story is beautiful, but the photography is the most beautiful Ive seen in a k-drama so far. It also made me appreciate Kim Bo-ra more. I realized Ive watched many things with her now, and she does not disappoint. Episode 2 was okay and episode 4 was flat for me. BUT! It was not because it was boring, but because I needed more! 12 episodes of it! 5 even!

Do you like Brahms - It had its problems, as I commented on the open threat of the drama (the explanation fairy, the way the meeting is very unnatural), but I still enjoy it. They walk in the same wall that Chan-hyuk and Eun-hee walked in My Unfamiliar Family, and it brought me feelings.

Alice - It is on hold because....

Misaeng - I. could. not. stop. watching. or. even. stop. overthinking. about. this. drama! Im Si-Wan was perfectly cast on this. I watched Strangers from Hell and he was great in there too, but I didnt know he could do an idiot intern face so perfectly. I want to slap his face sometimes to see if I can put some sense into him. But then I remember I was an idiot intern too. And I need to watch something else with Lee Sung-Min, cause he is great in it.

The weekend family drama ONCE AGAIN has finished- the final episodes were really just a long farewell. I will miss it. It was not a perfect show but on the whole held up well.

My current favorite show is DO YOU LIKE BRAHMS? My wife is enjoying it with me. Much of the time I watch the the moments our two lea are together with a silly grin plastered on my face- there is just something so sweet and touching about them, and it is so obvious that they so need each other and yet are so terribly vulnerable. But I respectfully disagree with Quirkycase about both childhood friends being in love with Jung-kyung. Park Joon-young is no longer in love with her- in fact he now dislikes her. His feelings towards her are now a combination of loyalty built from their past friendship and a sense of obligation to her family- combined with actual dislike. The bromance between Joon-young and Hyun-ho may in the end prove a much stronger bond than Hyun-Ho’s feelings for Jung-kyung. What I would like to see is the relationship between Song-A and Joon-Young leading Hyun-ho to meet the very sexy Kang Min-sung. I have a feeling that Hyun-ho’s amourous obsession with Jung-kyun would evaporate immediately.

As a family we continue to watch SYMPHONY’S ROMANCE.

My wife is watching the period costume C-drama MAIDEN HOLMES. When subtitles run out she is watching LIE TO ME, having finished CLEAN WITH PASSION FOR NOW.

Meanwhile I am still looking forward to DO DO SOL SOL LA LA SOL which will be on Netflix- but when?.

Into the Ring - I finally started it, and this will be news to no one here, but it’s really good! I really both leads right from the start.

King2hearts - my sister and I finished this just after last week’s WWW, and as predicted there were many tears. Kim Hang Ah must be one of my favourite heroines, I love a woman who can rescue herself (and her hero).

We haven’t started on Gu Family Book yet but that’s next in the line up of LSG dramas. My sister was visiting me this week so we watched a lot of old Master in the House episodes, specifically the ones where they came to New Zealand. It’s always interesting to see what elements of your country get portrayed in foreign media (and can be kind of cringey lol). Was pretty funny to see them copying the NZer saying “sweet as” and “all good”, because he was such an over the top stereotype and yet I also say both those phrases all the time 😂. I’m used to seeing native flora and fauna, and Māori culture in the way NZ is portrayed and there was basically NONE of that - lots of sheep and farmland and landscape instead.

And last but definitely not least: Six Flying Dragons. 6 episodes in and I think I love this show? I’m still struggling to remember which scheming man with beard is which sometimes, but I am enjoying everything (and Ddang-sae in particular).

Forest of Secrets 2: It would be sort of fantastical if Dong-jae was still alive after days without medical attention so I have no hope for him. I feel weird about it but I really like observing how everyone moves about in this investigation. I'm a little impatient for the show to finish so I can rewatch it after seeing the big picture. I loved the surprise twists in my first watch of FOS, but I loved seeing where everything had fit in on the 2nd watch. For FOS 2, right now it feels like putting together a jigsaw puzzle without having seen the completed image on the front of the puzzle box.

Missing: the Other Side: A very unsubtle drama with unsubtle characters, but it's still a riveting watch with some warmth and humor. At least the detective knows now that Wook saw Yeo-na being kidnapped, though Wook did not answer his question about why he held onto that info for so long. I think the show may be angling for a "Yeo-na is still alive somewhere" or else it would be just cruel for the detective to spend all these episodes looking for his fiance only to find out she's been dead for 12 episodes.

Crash Landing on You: Except for what happened with Seung-joon and Dan (you didn't need to do that, writer!!), thought the ending was pretty much as happy as it could get while maintaining some sprinkle of realism. The drama had lots of outrageous, eye-rolling moments, but it is balanced out by a large cast of lovable characters who feel like they are people with lives and feelings. A drama that can lift so many characters (and the actors that play them) and give them so many moments to shine and touch our hearts is a great one.

Still watching Into The Ring. Not much to say. It’s perfect. I love our leads. Nana and Gong Myung and their support for one another brings me pure joy.

Around episode 80 of Once Again. Once sister/auntie was revealed and they celebrated I was a little ready to wrap up, despite how lovely the show is, mainly good vibes and fast resolving conflicts, I usually find the last 10-12hrs of family dramas to be the hardest to get through (Father is Strange, Five Enough, My Golden Life, You Smile are the only ones I’ve watched, Father is Strange was the only one that didn’t feel a bit slow for me in the end). All that said, I still want to see how the relationships evolve.

I liked Do You Like Brahms just a tiny bit less this week, but I think it might have been the misunderstandings, the omissions, and the separation of our duo. I’m curious how things will pan out with Song Ah’s new situation at grad school will pan out, since the professors motivations clearly weren’t altruistic. I’m also hoping we don’t lose all the characters from the Kyunghoo Foundation and Cha Young-In in particular, her quiet championing and support was a good counterpoint for our leads who encountered so much negativity.

I’m still smitten with Record Of Youth. There was a discussion last week about Park Bo Gum’s acting and I realized I like this role for him, as with reply 1988 and hello monster, because he’s a bit distant and I feel like when he’s half revealed, half concealed- he’s at his best. I find myself trying to read his reactions in each scene, curious to see how he’s processing it all. He’s never been my favorite, though I liked him in Reply 1988 the most, and tends to lag for me a bit in encounter and even moonlight drawn by clouds (second lead syndrome really got me through that one). I agree with a comment (here? Reddit?) who hoped he takes more dark roles after the military. Park So Dam is a charm, even as she feels a bit like fan fiction. I enjoy her character, I enjoy the way she portrays her character and I believe her, even as the situation lacks credulity. Their interactions are the best part of the show, through. I find myself eager to get back to them. Did I mention I only like them more with every episode. Now I’m dreading the prospect of a time jump (please don’t do it to me)and hoping his acting career finally takes off but I’m afraid meddling mom will get in the way.

DYLB - my like is now love, and I'm enjoying the flow of this show. It's gentle and lyrical, and I'm down with that. All the miscommunication - or lack of communication - this last episode got me a bit worried that we might be a bit on the (t)ropes, but honestly the confession (while surprising - I didn't expect it so soon) may have been the thing that keeps it moving instead. I'm definitely curious for next week's episodes!

Melo is My Nature - just finished this, and I'm not sure if I like it or not? It took me longer than usual to get into it, but I stuck with it based on feedback from other people who loved it. Then I was pretty interested until like the last 2-3 episodes where it kind of felt...anticlimactic? I walked away kind of wondering what the show was even actually about, but I did love the friendships and the side-story with Su-min and her manager. I was most interested in Eun-jung's story and would have liked to have seen more of her. Overall, it was a decent watch but I'm hoping to score better next time.

I'd love to start Lie of Lies, but Viki doesn't play it in my region. :-( Otherwise, I'm going to give Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol, Start Up and Private Lives a chance when they start airing. I think I'll binge Flower of Evil when it ends, but I see the debate with Beanies who are live-watching so I'm a little wary.

I've decided I quite like it in Slump Land. It's comfortable. There are no expectations.
Sure, if someone were to walk in and see me slumped on the couches in three-day old PJs with a pile of unread books, random smears of junk food down my front, and the TV playing Nell songs on repeat they might be a teeny bit concerned for me. But the only ones here are other Slumpers and they do not judge.

The best thing about Slump Land is that you can either watch or not watch dramas as you choose, drop or not drop dramas as you choose. And so the ones that do filter through are ones you genuinely enjoy.

Like Forest of Secrets, which I continue to love and continuing to review with the DoF crew over on their blog. And the first episode of SF8, The Prayer, which I watched about a week ago and am still processing. And the drama I want to talk about today, which is...

Gameboys: all I have to say is that the Phillipines have come out of left field and produced the best BL I have ever seen. Which is to say, they have produced a quality drama that just happens to have a male/male romance in it and it is SO GOOD. This is one of the few shows that embraces the reality of Covid and lockdowns and living an online life and the affect that has on us and our relationships. And like most Filipino films, it has characters who feel real and who have to put the effort into make their relationships work. There are parts of Gameboys that are honestly gut-wrenching and it's an almost perfect show.

So now I've mustered the energy to type that, I will go back to lying here quietly with a cup of tea and listening to the rain.
Ahh... Slump Land...

Currently watching Brahms and loving it for the most part. It's just so low-key sweet and charming.

I haven't watched Flower of Evil since episode 11 and am somewhat sceptic to continue. The reason is I don't like Hee-sung, I find him pathetic and un-credible as evil. I'm sure serial killers are just as probable to be needy and reliant of his parents as a normal person, but he isn't likable. I like my evil independent.
So I think I'll hold on to my illusions for at least another week to see the beanies reactions to the series finale.

It'a so weird, I got into a drama slump and decided to pick up for the first time chinese dramas. I started with the Romance of Tiger and Rose because so many beanies talked abt it, and it was an okay watch for me.
Love O20: halfway through, also an okay watch, Idk exactly what is it that I like abt it or if even if like it; but strangely enough, it's kinda addictive, in a "boys over flowers" kinda way. Lol.
Overall, I think C-dramas took me out of my slump cos now I can't wait to start Do you like Brahms? And record of youth!

Well, I just stumbled upon a 50-episode gem of a drama (35th episode so far). It's Good Thief, Bad Thief, released in 2017. Though it's the usual revenge trope with an over greedy prosecutor moving the drama forward, the story is good and the cast were all able to do a decent job.

I think there's a lot more priceless dramas released before then and I am like an excited kid in her first an Easter egg hunt.

The Record of Park Bo Gum - 5/10 I watched it purely for PBG, but so far even his acting is diminishing for me. He should've gone for a more jaded role to leave us in awe when he's in the army. Park So Dam is also someone I looked out for following the immense success from Parasite but her character is fairly forgettable here. There is forced chemistry between the leads and I feel like Hye Joon has more chemistry with noona Min Jae more, not as romantic leads but their conversations are more interesting than what the romance gives us. There is nothing special about Jung Ha so far. I might give up watching the drama.

Do I Like Brahms? Yes, I do - 9.8/10 So far the best drama out there. I have no complains about the characters. Everyone are giving their best. I cant believe I took so much time to look into this gem because this drama is making me lose it so hard. Especially Joon Young and Song Ah. I love how contrasting Chae Song Ah goes against her name: infact she is not sorry about how she perceives life. She is working with the lemons thrown at her. And I love that about her. She is no Candy heroine. She makes her own rules, and thats what captivtated Joon Young as well. And could you ask for a more kind and adorable lead actor? Kim Min Jae in real life is as kind and so talented (did you know that he is a rapper AND can dance so well?) His small gestures, the way he looks at Song Ah is EVERYTHING. I love how amazing their chemistry is with them barely even holding hands. That pinky promise though... I love this drama so much, I have no words.

do you like brahms? this is my favourite drama airing at the moment. they way i love the leads and am no invested in this romance. absolutely in love!

lies of lies i just checked this drama out on a whim, melo revenge really is not my kinda things but oh boy. i like what i see so far.

reply 1988 i have been putting this off for forever buuut i'm finally picking this up. i know who ends up with who, i'm on episode four and i rarely get caught in second lead syndrome but that might be the case here, oh boy.

record of youth i'm trying so hard to like this. is it the characters? is it the writing? i am just not on board. it's so pretty to look at but i'm just not vibing. i'm still continuing for now.

Having Do You Like Brahms withdrawal, so I’m watching Age of Youth. Park Eun Bin is so different here! LOL.

Hoping DYLB continues to be good. That confession seems a bit rushed to me IMO.

Currently Watching TVN shows - Forest of Secrets, Record of Youth and Flower of Evil. Plus an old TVN show - Reply 1994.

Forest of Secrets is getting along well. Just craving for more Shimok and YeoJin scenes.

I really like @lovepark's insights on Record of Youth. I hope the show will get better this week.

I am very sad that FoE is about to end. I have enjoyed every episode and will savor the last episode this week. Lee Junki and Moon Chae Won deserves all the accolades for their amazing acting in the show.

AND... I am halfway through Reply 1994. I am enjoying it more than Reply 1997. I really like the camaraderie of the boarding house group. Who wouldve known that Samcheonpo and YoonJin...I really like Na Jung and want her happiness above all else.

Do you like Brahms?
Yes! Of course I like Brahms, I didn't know I love him, but I am on my way to! 😅
Hey, what can I tell different than what you all have said???
Maybe that I don't hate JY like almost everybody else, yet...
She is mean and I disliked a lot how she behaved towards HH and how she is starting to attack SA... But as a person, I am still trying to understand why she is like that, and I will give her chance to recover... because we are barely on ep 6. Maybe she will turn around.... Maybe there is still something to rescue in her... Maybe....

Dal ja's spring
I am on episode 14.
Well, what can I say without spoilers??? This show surprises me sometimes, taking into account it is from 2007. I can really relate to Dal ja in some issues she is going through. I admire her professionalism. I like her Main lead, although I understand why some people complained about LMK not being that expressive in that role, therefore not so good actor at that time... I feel nothing for the second male lead, I feel he is like a wooden man, boring and one dimensional... I like the friends and the dynamic in the work environment, I even enjoy the ost and the overall background music.... sometimes even Mozart!!!!!!!!
But of course, the show has its flaws. The love triangle is dragging I think. And even issues regarding the second couple are dragging for my taste.
Of course, this is a show of 22 episodes I think, and so far I think they could have done it in 16.
But anyway... I am having fun watching.

Feel good to die
I catched up with this one which I left on hold at the time it aired and it is paying off. In general, I don't love it but it is fun and original. I wish they didn't make them fall into a romantic otp, which I know it will happen eventually.... I wish they would have stayed platonic but anyway... the show is still fun for me.

Currently watching (for me):

Flower of Evil: The finish line is so close. I definitely enjoyed this show for the most part.

Mr. Sunshine: It's starting off a bit too slow for my liking. I may keep this in the rotation, but not binge watch this too hard.

My Love from the Star: Unexpectedly enjoying this right now and has usurped Mr. Sunshine in the heavy binging rotation. Plus, bonus for me... Seeing Kim Soo-hyun and Kim Chang-wan on screen together on this show due to me seeing them on IONTBO.

Stranger: I'm just going through the motions now... It's just going by so slow, I kind of wish that it didn't get a second season.

Record of Youth: Very much enjoying this show way more than I expected to! I relate way too well with Sa Hye-jun and how his dad treats him 😬

i'm actually really liking flower of evil. i know beanies have had mixed thoughts on this, but these last few episodes were so intense and i was all for it

also really enjoying do you like brahms. loved their awkwardness, love our OTP and cant wait to see where their relationship goes

also really liking missing: the other side, which was a surprise drama for me. i like the cute village and how the crimes outside are tied to the village.

also watching: lie after lie, record of youth, forest of secrets 2 and alice

I just read a pithy review of 'Mulan' that contained this classic line "the most soulless, lifeless husk of a movie since Cats". Maybe I should just watch 'Maiden Holmes', the Chinese historical detective series instead.