ONGOING
Jirisan - It was so frustrating watching Hyun-jo make the most basic deductive mistakes and question nothing.

Inspector Koo - Using the game to hang a lantern on "yeah, logically she should be dead, what're you gonna do about it" 👏.

Chimera - Was anyone surprised by the dead baby being alive? And seems our heroes can't escape death off a cliff even in modern dramas.

The King's Affection - The marriage track wasted too much time. Agree with DaebakGrits, this should have been 16 episodes.

Secret Royal Inspector & Joy - 2pm's My House playing in a sageuk has been added to my list of unexpected k-drama things.

Melancholia - Using a spy pen to record something when you're not in the same room and your phone is RIGHT NEXT TO IT 🤦‍♀️.

The Red Sleeve Cuff - The scene with Duk-im and Yeongjo was amazing. The fairy palace thing was so OTT and tonally jarring in comparison.

Now We Are Breaking Up - The thread around sizing in fashion, in yesterday's episode, was actually interesting for a change. The relationships on the other hand…

STARTED
Our Beloved Summer - I liked the high school bits and I liked petty Woong.

Our Beloved Summer: This drama already has my heart. The writing is sharp, it’s funny, and Choi Woo-shik and Kim Da-mi have wonderful chemistry. I cracked up when Woong splashed her with water and then threw the salt. They are so immature and petty, and I love it. I like the supporting cast too and the documentary format. Woong needs to ditch the denim jumpsuit or whatever that was asap though.

Happiness: Episode 11. I’m cool with Andrew getting bit but not by Yi-hyun! I love Sae-bom and Yi-hyun together. The elevator scene and video message were so good, but bittersweet. So I guess Han Tae-seok lied about things being really bad on the outside? The old couple, writer and her brother, and Yi-hyun need to make it out. Everyone else can kill each other, especially the building rep and Oh Joo-hyung.

Inspector Koo: The game sequence in Episode 9 was absolutely genius. I hope Santa’s backstory is worth the wait.

The King’s Affection: Episode 17 was slow but 18 started to pick up the pace. I’m just not into the romance at all so the ending and all of the forced marriage drama had me bored. I thought the scenes with Hwi and the Queen and Hwi and her grandfather were very good.

Secret Royal Inspector and Joy: Joy should have married her childhood friend. This week didn’t have enough Tae-soo.

Melancholia: I hate the Yoon-su/Seung-yoo loveline. There’s nothing attractive about someone who won’t listen when you repeatedly tell them to leave you alone. Now, an emotionally distressed Yoon-su is going to fall for him because he’s been comforting her? Yeah, no.

Crime Puzzle: Episode 1. I didn’t even recognize Yoon Kye-sang. I guess it’s been awhile since I’ve seen him in anything. Episode 1 needed more Go Ah-sung, who is the reason I started this. The story is nothing new, looks like some big conspiracy behind everything, which kind of killed my interest in the drama.

I must be in a mood for high school dramas because when I look at my current watching list, that's basically all what I'm watching now.

So... I'm still watching School 2021 and although it's nothing extraordinary (and often even cliché), it's still a sweet watch.

Then... Beloved Summer came... and I'm in love. ❤ Everything just clics well with me and I'm savouring every second (I even loved the rain scenes... the sound of the rain included). And I didn't know that there would be also Jinju and Tiramisu Cake 🙂 and many other actors I love (and I was surprised by Lee Joon Hyuk's cameo, enjoying it as well 😁)

And finally, because of Rainless Love, I've started a Taiwanese show from the same screenwriter (and team?) - Someday Or One Day. And after 3 episodes I love it (and yes I'm totally charmed by Greg Hsu 😍). The show is nostalgic... and with a mystery (fantasy?) twist (I'm already now trying to figure out who is who... and when...)... and gives me many feelings (in a good way). Alice Ke is so good here... and when she mourns and her face slowly crumbles in grief, I have tears in my eyes... and it so much reminds me of the time when I lost my mother...

CRICKET -

England Vs. Australia - 1st Ashes test - it was good to see the spectators in the stadium. Pat's 1st test as captain and he did pretty good job.

England as usual and as expected performed with bat. Bowling was better but they let opportunities go.
This match isn't about Australia being way too good - its England playing poorly.
Root is the one who is making 25% plus runs for the team and very much near creating the most runs in a year achievement You feel for him. Let's see what Root does next - as a captain and as a batter.

Today's outcome was given but the way England performed was so cliche and typical that makes feel like a fool.

NOW WE ARE BREAKING UP (Ep. 7) The main lead story building collapses on itself by delusional character statements. When he said he had done nothing for ten years for himself, that is a lie. He made clear choices to avoid his mother and pursue his career choice. Likewise, when she says she is indifferent about Soo-Wan two-timing her, it is also a lie. She completely blocks out she was the other woman in his life. Both leads have a selfish immaturity that has been festering for a decade. Being together justifies their personal purgatories. There is no compelling reason for them being together as their story moves at a glacial pace,

Director Hwang’s story is more interesting at this point: she is in charge of the big account without Young Eun’s support and her family marriage plans puts YE in the cross hairs of career termination.

Our Beloved Summer (Episode 1-2) - Mood: C-
It’s another Lee Joon Hyuk cameo! Although I won’t be dropping the show this time round, the story is worrying me a lot: it seems like we’re headed into double love triangles with both second leads as the third wheels, which makes me dread all the drama. Worse, if my hunch is correct, the twist will be that Ji Ung has feelings for Ung instead (hence, doing the documentary again for Ji Ung’s sake as he can sense that Ji Ung still loves Yeon Su): this is a SBS show, so it will be miraculous to see good representation. Side characters are nothing to write home about and NJ is a time waste.

Happiness (Episode 9-10) - Mood: C
Going into the finale, I must say that the penultimate week reveals were a tad on the lame side: it’s literally kill all of the Good Guys except the leads while exposing more Bad Guys. Yi Hyun getting infected isn’t that bad of a development in contrast but it’s very predictable for a survival thriller and he also went down the cliche noble idiocy route so that’s just disappointing. I felt it was a pity that 1501’s arc was abruptly terminated for the sake of a plot twist: the poor actor had nothing to work with besides being the red herring. Well, here’s to hoping that Han Joon Woo gets better roles!

Idol: The Coup (Episode 9-10) - Mood: C-
Jenna’s reveal of a 2nd song made this week’s conflict redundant! Stella’s stalker arc is also unnecessary when there’s the kiss photo that was already setup earlier?

Inspector Koo (Episode 9-10) - Mood: C-
I’m not thrilled that the show dragged the juicy past all the way from premiere to finale in favour of this stupid presidential candidate scandal but I’ll hold out for Santa’s identity!

School 2021 (Episode 5-6) - Mood: D+
What would I have given up to have more Ho Sung instead of this corruption nonsense? And this love square has got to go!

Let Me Be Your Knight (Episode 5) - Mood: D+
The twist where Ga On is the victim instead of the bully is too predictable and I unfortunately can’t see a plausible anti-twist.

Chimera (Episode 11-12) - Mood: D
Hmm, Eugene not being a sibling wasn’t what I expected. But otherwise it’s the usual boring machinations.

The Red Sleeve Cuff (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
Did the writer just shoot themselves in the foot by portraying the Head Court Lady’s motivations as pure lies? But I kind of chuckled at the anti-amnesia storytelling magic.

Melancholia (Episode 9-10) - Mood: D-
The romance is so forced that I can’t even enjoy it and the rest of the show is just daily drama rubbish.

The King's Affection (Episode 17-18) - Mood: D-
I don’t know whether to laugh or cry that the Dami truth was just outright told like that to Ji Un.

Now We Are Breaking Up (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D-
This week’s content is just an elaborate filler designed to force the female lead into meeting her mother-in-law.

Red Cuff of the Sleeve Ep 8 Loved how they were building Deok Im as a story teller from the start and utilized those skills in the scene where she was interrogated by The King. It was such a delight to watch The King and The CP be bewitched by her abilities.

Happiness Ep 11 Story din't lag throughout its run and stayed true to the "thriller" genre. Final leg to decide if the drama ends in the list of " Entertaining dramas of 2021" or to be thrown out in the trash.

One Ordinary Day Ep 1-5 Remakes are good as long as the viewers haven't watched the original because they won't be constantly comparing it with the other versions and they'll have to scrutinise the drama based on what is shown. I belong to the above category because I'm enjoying it, but on reading the "Ep 1 Recap only" it seems like the lead character isn't as complex as the US/UK version. However, the production looks more like a film rather than as a drama and even the supporting characters are good.

Netflix is now streaming JUST BETWEEN LOVERS but has inexplicably chosen to rename it RAIN OR SHINE. A really good drama that is well worth watching. If you have not seen it- do.

Our absolute favorite show continues to be RED SLEEVE CUFF. It is just so good. Has any Sageuk ever been better?

That does not mean that we are not enjoying SECRET ROYAL INSPECTOR AND JOY. The difference is that this show is simply fun. It will never be one of the great Sageuk’s- and is not trying to be. But it is entertaining and that is sorely needed in times like these.

The Japanese are no prudes and this is one reason why their dramas are often strikingly different from K-dramas and C-dramas. Example: The new J-drama BEWITCHED BY MY SEXY BOYFRIEND which quite frankly centers around the female lead’s lust for a man who is not her fiancé. It does not help matters that said other man already has a sexy girlfriend and never intended to attract the FL’s attention. Please note- in Japan this is a rom-com, not a melodrama

My wife binge-watched the C-drama MARVELOUS WOMEN. Now she is enjoying the pre-Joseon Sageuk SHINE OR BE MAD which stars Jang Hyuk, who is one of my favorite actors: Goryeo prince and Balhae princess- what could possibly go wrong?

My wife continued to enjoy JIRISAN and THE KING’S AFFECTION.

The amnesia story arc continues to play out in the weekend family drama YOUNG LADY AND GENTLEMAN. It may actually be the most effective use of an otherwise very tired trope that I have ever seen.

Through careful self-discipline I am limiting myself to just one new episode per week of WOULD YOU LIKE A CUP OF COFFEE? I want to savor each episode.

The King's Affection Hwi's journey will end soon. So many things happened to her, she never could choose her life. But thanks to Ji-Woon, she started to think for herself and gain power. Now she needs to take down her grandfather and cousin for good and let her step-brother becoming King.

Our Beloved Summer I really liked the documentary concept, I would have them to show us a little more of it when they were young. It looked really fun. The adult one should be funny too with the reverse of their roles.

Idol: The Coup All of that to disband at the end ?

Secret Royal Inspector and Joy Who thought one day I wouldn't care about a kiss scene that didn't happen... Taecyeon and Kim Hye-Yoon are cute but as couple... I can't picture them together...

School 2021 Why insisting on a love triangle, when the story doesn't need it and the second leads are cute together? (and way more interesting...)

The Red Sleeve Cuff If I think it's interesting to make some court ladies the bad guys, I don't like the execution, I don't think they should use violence as weapon but seduction, lies, poison... It would have been more credible.

Happiness By making everyone being so selfish and adding another killer, they lost me. I don't need a drama that shows me how people are selfish during a pandemy... we already got 2 years of that in the real life.

Jirisan: 6.5 Stop teasing us with serial killer suspects and answer the really important question -- is the lottery ticket safe??

Happiness: 7.5 If I had thought to look up the mask-guy actor I would have recognized him as someone who plays baddies.

Inspector Koo: 9.0 Back from their week off better than ever 👍 But for the actors' sake, I hope the end of day 10 was green-screen.

King's Affection: 6.5 Were twins regarded as so terrible back in Joseon days because the whole country had a premonition about all the secret-twin kdramas we were going to get?

Secret Royal Inspector & Joy: 8.0

Our Beloved Summer: 5.0 Day one just didn't interest me. Bye.

Chimera: 6.5 The beginning of day 12 was soap-opera-y even by kdrama standards. Still trying to rinse the soap off my hands.

Crime Puzzle: 7.0 (for eps 1 & 2) Typical k-crime drama.

I finished my re-watch of I’m Not a Robot. At first, I was scared that it would not hold up a second time around especially since the whole female robot premise has irked me since I read the manga Chobits. However, the drama does use that somewhat sexist premise to make some lovely feminist criticism of women objectification (among other things). I ended up enjoying it just as much as the first time. It’s a cute easy watch (even the angst in the later half isn’t as bad or drawn out as what many make it up to be). Chae Soobin is wonderful in this double role and she had cute chemistry with Yoo Seungho.

I started Our Beloved Summer. I’m loving the characters so far and the documentary aspect. Apparently the documentary in the drama is based off an actual Korean documentary. I hope the story won’t fall into a tired love triangle trap.
Choi Wooshik is so good at playing petty and immature. That salt throwing scene was absolutely priceless.

I’m planning to watch the last 2 episodes of Happiness tonight. I’ve really been enjoying this drama so I hope it will have a satisfying ending (satisfying = happy and safe Saebom-Yihyun family).

That court maid secret cult scene in The Red Sleeve made me laugh. That hall must be in the palace right? Where did they get the throne? And they stole the king’s robe to use as a rug. Very inconspicuous of them hahaha

I finally finished BBC/HBO Max’ His Dark Materials. Although season 1 had more stand-out episodes, I think I enjoyed season 2 more because of Lyra and Will’s interactions. The actors have great chemistry together. Now I have to wait over a year to see the final season...

Red Cuff Sleeve: Still nice. Fairy Ninja Army is cray, but I'm game. Ninja armies in sageuks always demand suspension of disbelief anyways, so why not have a cunning all female one?Watching ep 9 it occurred to me that San and Deokim's kids will have the straightest nose bridges in the whole of Joseon.
Let me be your knight: I like Lee Jun Young. A lot. I have no other justification.
Idol: the Coup: Pace problems, over the top dramatics, sketchy acting, uberlong episodes... But it's my guilty pleasure, I'm loving this to bits. Someone please give Hani and Kwak Siyoung a good drama, because they're rocking.
Happiness: looking forward for the final episodes. This may as well become one of my favourite dramas of the year.
Side watches: everything Restauration time on Netflix because of my Mom, New World because of my kids

Best watch at the moment by far is the RED SLEEVE CUFF, although the fairy palace scenes do look a bit odd as does the group of female assassins in black. Nice touch to show that the crown prince's ceremonial sword is not really useful in a real fight.

From the show that are coming to an end the best are HAPPINESS and INSPECTOR KOO. Santa talks! And I am very curious to learn why he was seeking Koo out.

With HAPPINESS I worry that it will not be able to wrap up in the last episode and will instead end with a cliff hanger for a season 2. Andrew deserves to be bitten and a few of the other residents, too, but I really hope Yi-hyun can be saved.

In MELANCHOLIA I like how Seung-yoo is using maths to help Yoon-su overcome her trauma. Their bond is an understanding of maths that excludes most (normal) other people, almost like a secret language. Otherwise the tropes of the school politics, jealous and rejected love interest etc are a bit tiresome. Otherwise little Choi Si-an is my favourite character.

Started IDOL: THE COUP, oh dear, so much screeching and yelling. Had to fast forward a lot in the first 4 or 5 episodes. It is getting a little more interesting with the plagiarism row. OUR BELOVED SUMMER is more fun to watch so far. Loved it every time the marketing manager asked - Do you not remember? And then she remembered.

Currently watching:

Happiness ❤️❤️❤️❤️ If episode 12 ends well with my couple happily ever after, this will be my favourite show of the year! Please watch it guys.

Red sleeve cuff ❤️❤️ Am behind by a few episodes but so far liking the romance between the two. I started watching Just Between Lovers as well, for Junho!

Secret inspector and Joy - dropped. It was funny at the start but after a while I found myself texting while watching, then ironing and cleaning the floor… and then I forgot why I was watching it for. It just faded into the background after a while and I decided it wasn’t time well spent. I like Kim hye yoon tho, but that’s about it.

Our beloved summer ❤️ Easy breezy watch and Ung is so cute.

UPCOMING SAGEUK AVAILABILITY REPORT
KBS’s S/S sageuk THE KING OF TEARS, LEE BANG WON (32 eps.) aired episode one today. It will be available subbed on both Kocowa and Viki US.
KBS’s M/T sageuk MOONSHINE/WHEN FLOWERS BLOOM, I THINK OF THE MOON is on Kocowa’s “Coming Soon” list. Episode one airs Dec. 20. (I am hopeful this will also be picked up by Viki US).

@daebakgrits EXACTLY, knock off Evil Grandpa already! I guess that would prevent our leads from staying on the high and noble road but and make them into very different characters but … well, he deserves it. I hope he will meet a very torturous demise.

I’m with you 💯% @daebakgrits!! Will someone please kill the Evil Grandpa!! Enough already! And Red Sleeve just keeps getting better every week! 💖

The makjang Real Life got a short hiatus!🥳Of course I used this golden opportunity to finally continue watching my other K-dramas (none of them makjang, fortunately).

Dal-ri and Gamjatang 🖼️🐖(16/16): What a nice happy ending! Our OTP and the viewers have earned it after finding out the whole horrible truth. It is one thing to guess more or less correctly what actually happened, but watching it all chronologically play out on screen is a whole other story. Not to mention how our characters reacted to the revelation.🥲That trolling though!😆 I was confused about what had happened between them, because while the (misleading!) signs were there, a break-up was never actually mentioned. A very Moo-Hak thing to be dramatic about, I must say!😂I really am going to miss him and Dalri and oori Wontakie, they were the best characters individually and together!❤️

Bring It On Ghost💪👻(13/16): Hyun-Ji woke up from her coma and immediately became a lot more interesting as a character. I think it has a lot to do with the fact that she has more agency now as human than she ever did as a ghost. I barely notice the separation trope because I am just too busy cheering her on while she recovers and reclaims her life. Bong-Pal also is no longer the loner he used to be, he hangs out with the Ghostnet idiots and longs to be near Hyun-Ji. It also is his turn now to chase after her. My only gripe is that I want people to start sharing what they know with each other and that detective. Hye-sung is making his move, people!😬

Healer🕶️(4/20): This aired seven years ago and I am finally watching. Eternal gratitude to the beanies who have been doing and planning rewatches these days!😘 Story wise I am both confused and invested, so I have no doubts this will be an interesting ride. I am especially looking forward to Park Min-Young not dressing or acting like a perfect doll, but representing me and my wardrobe for a change.🤩It is also my official introduction to Ji Chang-Wook and Yoo Ji-Tae, but I am not worried about them either since their Healer characters seem to be very popular. I saved the best for last: Hacker Ajumma!❤️❤️❤️
 

RED SLEEVE: I'm willing to suspend disbelief about the existence of a secret kick-ass maid army simply because it's a fresh way to explore backstage power grabs. And I found it genuinely shocking when the maid wasted her assailant, which was fun. We traditionally spend so much time in saeguks watching the servant class appear to accept their fate as human beings born only to subvert their desires in service to those with supposedly purer blood, so it is absolutely refreshing to see a story where those people assert themselves instead. I also think the writer did well in establishing the lingering fear over another mad tyrant killing his/her staff as a strong motivating factor for subversion.

I continue to love the leads together. San was a bit of a jerk this week, but it's clear he has a marshmallow heart; Deok-im clearly is still not sure what exactly she feels for him, so I'm hoping San will give her more of a reason to see him as a true partner.

MELANCHOLIA: I don't know why I'm still watching this show. It takes itself very seriously, but the romance is a disaster. Yet I still watch every episode without fast forwarding. I do like Seung-yoo's mentee, and Yoon-su's struggle to balance out her desire for revenge with her love for math has its poignant moments. But as much as I love the actor playing him, Seung-yoo is getting on my last nerve with his stalking and assumption that the thing Yoon-su needs most is him. The sad thing is that it's the writing that really failed on this front. This was never going to be an easy sell as a romance, but if the writers weren't in such a hurry to show us from the start that these two were soulmates, things could have developed more naturally and I might believe they belong together. Seung-yoo and Ye-rin make way more sense to me at this point but I know the show isn't going there.

HAPPINESS: Still an excellently paced show, even with the noble idiocy and cartoonish supporting characters. I hope the ending is satisfying.

Currently live-watching only 2 dramas:
The Secret Royal Inspector & Joy continues to be a fun romp and my happy pill, even the villains got their own brotherhood vibe going on, complete with bromance tussle and armlock, aaw. The OTP is too stinking cute; used to love his "Are you okay?", but can live with "Have you eaten yet?" too. Love that Jo-yi keeps her independence on, and with all of them in one place, it's really like Scoobydoo in Joseon setting, really.
Melancholia makes me think maybe my catnip is forbidden romance..? Totally gets their relationship has issues, but I really want Yoon-su to just take the hand Seung-yoo offered cause she sure needs someone by her side who trusts and gets her 100%. I like that he is quiet and reserved around everybody else but wears his emotions on his sleeve around her. She's melting a bit but not that quick, I bet, so guessing the ending of this week's episode is a fake out. Since all the mathematicians so far suffer from trauma of some sort, am feeling quite worried for our Si-an...
Also, her upbringing must've stunted Ye-rin in EQ department, how can she seriously think Seung-yoo was talking about her in the housewarming..?

Red Cuff Sleeve: I totally bought the reasoning behind the court lady being against the CP and even having a few gals conspiring away. But the whole cult/sect thing was jumping the shark. Still an addictive drama.

Now, We Are Breaking Up: It's not really working but I'm still meandering through the episodes with some judicious skipping. Just a misfire in writing and acting but I do like the fashion industry being the setting.

The King's Doctor (The Horse Doctor): An oldish 50 episode old fashion historical. I like to watch one about once a year and I barely made it this year.

Attack on Titan: Watching the anime version of season one. It's a famous manga so I've heard of it but noped out of the live action after 10 minutes. Now that the final part of season 4 is being released in Jan, I'm willing to jump in and my daughter wants to watch with me so there's that.