MY HEAVENLY IDOL (Ep 1-2) It began with an action packed, medieval AoS fight sequence but then abruptly changed gears to a fish-out-of-water story. The body swap trope is a tough nut to crack so I am on the fence for this show. I had different expectations of the leads base don their last dramas: Kim Min-Kyu was restrained too much as Woo to carry the show and Go Bo-Gyeol is very reserved, unglamorous and plain as Kim Dal. The story lacked critical information about the swap and the Evil One’s presence on Earth. On the fence with this one.

IN NEED OF ROMANCE (2011) (Ep 1-6) In a trace back to the recent template of dramas featuring a trio of young women discussing their lives and major life events, I started another Jo Yeo Jeong series. She does have the uncanny ability to carry a show as the main lead. The US show, Sex in the City, must have had a major impact on Korean drama writers. This formula has been repeated often, usually the trio has a good girl, a bad girl and lead woman trying to navigate her life somewhere in the middle. Clearly, the cable network played up the spicy aspects of romance in Episode 1, but also the sentimental down fall of relationships. Everything is not nice, kind and bright; no one fits the general pattern. Episode 2 dealt with the theory of re-usable partners in relationships. What is good about the show so far is that each FL has their own growing stories and focused relationship issues (with some absurd results). A fake groom and solo honeymoon, adultery summons and anxiety over cheating keep our trio’s heads spinning to move on the temptations and bitterness of one’s actions ending an epiphany but not real change. One a cheater always a cheater even if you yourself cheat yourself out of an opportunity for true happiness. The pace is fast and the plots shuffle like a deck a cards.

COMPLETED
Can We Be Strangers? - I still don't know what this drama wanted to say. It meandered so much. At least they didn't end up together.

ONGOING
Our Blooming Youth - Hope Hwan doesn't suspect Jae-yi for too long. They are better together.

The Heavenly Idol - There's a lot happening for a 12 episode show. We even have the Afterlife and Grim Reapers involved now.

Kokdu: Season of Deity - Dropped 👋.

Crash Course in Romance - Why did they ruin poor Dong-hui Bin's character like that 😭? At least Shin Jae-ha gets to flex his acting muscles 😔.

C-DRAMAS
Completed Under the Microscope. Perfect depiction of how frustrating and maddening bureaucracy can be.

Started Justice in the Dark and was really enjoying it once they updated the subs. But it's not clear if new episodes will be released…💀.

Strangers Again (Series review) - Mood progression: C / D+ / D+ / D+ / D+ / D
Going into this show, I was super hyped up about it and even told myself that at the very least, having Jang Seung Jo and Kang So Ra as leads would be more than enough to watch this show. But here I am after finishing the finale and boy it wasn’t enough: there was nothing narratively thoughtful in the entire story sans some of the earlier procedurals?

Crash Course in Romance (Episode 11-12) - Mood: D+
I guess I should be happy that Shin Jae Ha was given something to do even if it’s crap, because one glance over at Hwang Bo Ra tells me it could’ve been worse? The writer was determined to shoot down any chance of redemption with the sudden abrupt love line between the best friend and the brother which just makes me feel icky more than anything. There’s also a very clear plot regression when it comes to the high school kids, now that it’s more obvious that there’s signs of plagiarism from this writer when it comes to the love triangle. And now there’s the exam cheating too: it’s going downhill!

Taxi Driver 2 (Episode 1-2) - Mood: D+
With the lack of any show that’s making me think in a good way, I naturally decided to pick up the show which I hated when it aired its first season. Maybe it’s the foolish hope that Shin Jae Ha gets a better role here as he starts off his post military career? But the writing is just style over substance on steroids and I can’t help but worry about him being typecast.

Call It Love (Episode 1-2) - Mood: C-
Against all expectations, it’s surprisingly the makjang drama that’s entertaining me the most out this week. I don’t believe it will be a masterpiece in the writing department considering the setup and the presence of the best friend as well as ex (not to mention the revenge and incest) but Woo Joo’s siblings have quite the potential. The leads do feel less interesting by far.

The Heavenly Idol (Episode 3-4) - Mood: D+
We’re already done with one-third of the show and it’s not bothered with the fact that its main tension is being driven by an evil caricature, so I won’t continue to hope much longer and will switch off my brain now. There’s also the underworld and a cult (if I’m interpreting the actor’s arc correctly) to add on to Rembrary’s troubles, so things are really going to get bumpier.

Kokdu: Season of Deity (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
What a lacklustre conclusion to the end of the first half: there were so many things that pissed me off narratively but I think the one that took the cake is how Do Jin Woo ended up being a plot device. There’s also that absolutely coincidental timing where Gye Jeol stops Kokdu from murdering the villain but this writer needed to drag this for 8 more episodes so whatever?

Our Blooming Youth: This is my favorite thing I’m watching right now. I’m into the mystery(ies), loving our detective team, and hopelessly on Team Hwan. He’s such an inaccessible puzzle-lid box full of marshmallows and I’m so excited to see him figure out that he’s caught feelings.

Crash Course in Romance: Try as I might, I’m finding it hard to see the FL as a romantic partner for anyone. I know that some of this is just her personality, and that she’s supposed to have strong mom-vibes, but it’s sort of blocking out everything else for me. I’m still really enjoying the show, but I can’t help thinking how much more I’d enjoy it if I liked the FL more.

Strangers Again: I like to think that I can deal with an open ending (although maybe I’m just kidding myself), but this ending felt a lot like we still hadn’t answered the central question of the drama, which was disappointing. I wish the whole drama had been about the central question so that the viewers could decide how we think it should be answered in this case. Instead I mostly feel confused.

Love to Hate You: This was reasonably fun and I’m glad I watched it despite the ML’s hair looking totally ridiculous in almost every scene.

Goblin: *Spoilers* Cried through pretty much the whole ending. Not least because our lonely goblin is doomed to his life of eternity with no way out. I’ll be honest, I was expecting some kind of reincarnation ending, but I thought they both would end up coming back. But the show pretty steadfastly avoided solving the problem of his immortality. It’s a pretty devastating conclusion. Overall I enjoyed it so much though, so I’m trying to process the ending and get back to thinking about the rest of it.

Physical 100: When I saw this advertised I thought “muscle-y people competing in reality television. Pass.” but then I read a review that made me reconsider and I’m so glad I did. First of all there is no host, which I really appreciate, because there is no one leading the conversation or instigating conflict where there is none. Second, they are so supportive of each other! Everyone is impressed with everyone else, everyone seems happy to be there, and there is competition but everyone is so good natured about it. I’m really enjoying it.

Strangers Again: It came, it saw, should have been better, and it ended. Maybe someone will try again and do it better. Maybe they will instead start at the point when an Eun beom like man is in therapy working on himself and a Ha Ra like woman is also seeking therapy, so they bump into each other. They whole drama is them meeting at a cafe after therapy, telling each other the lessons they have learned, and finding closure in their previous relationship.

Call it Love: It is a wonderful angsty melodrama. I am here for it. The pink sheen that is bothering everyone doesn't bother me, idk if I am weird, or my eyes like the dark. lol

Big Bet: We now know who ordered the hit and why. So will Moosik get out of it?

Kokkdu: We had our episode 8 kiss, so now what happens.

Crash Course Romance: SIGH, murder has arrived.

WOULD YOU LIKE A CUP OF COFFE? — This was the perfect healing drama. I watched it with my mother and we both sighed happily after finishing it. A fun part of the drama watch had nothing to do with the story—the actors! It was delightful to recognize each actor. And seeing Ong Seong Wu on my screen again was the cherry on top.

MOMENT AT EIGHTEEN — Perhaps it is obvious why I picked this one up (see above), but I am staying because this is excellent. All of the young actors and, Kang Ki Young of course, elevate this beautifully told coming of age story. As a teacher I have students who remind me of Hwi Young—they have no control in their home life and so they try exert control in and over the classroom. His story breaks my heart and Shin Seung Ho (pre AoS!) gives a heartbreaking performance.

IMITATION —just a fun rewatch. I tried to read the original webtoon. Ugh. I am supremely grateful the drama counterparts were given more maturity and depth.

HEAVENLY IDOL —You know that embarrassing laugh that we like to keep hidden. Yeah, this drama brings it out of me. Loud and uninhibited laughter. I think I will enjoy this ride.
I do hope that IDOL culture is explored with more depth and, hopefully, respect towards the artists. More heart than comedic fodder for a quick laugh, please.

Crash Course - Haeyi is the best! ❤️ I love her so much. I also love Geonhu. And who would have thought that the high school (b)romance would become my favourite part.
Episode 12 was a huge letdown in all aspects (and I even don't want to write about it).

Heavenly Idol - I'm actually liking it a lot (and reading the webtoon some time ago helped to have the right expectations, I guess). I like the humour and all those Idol meta. I also like Rembrary, especially how poised/centred he his (unless it goes about tributes, of course 😂). I only wish they tuned down the evilness visualisation, I'm able to get it even without evil screams and horns 😒

Strangers again - the last 4 episodes were mostly an unnecessary mess and the ending looked more artistic than logically earned. (I also wish they hadn't used that childhood trauma and used just my relationship with my mom is terrible and I don't want to have kids because of that instead.) And Shiwoo and Bichwi deserved better, I expected serious talks and finding what each of them really wants, like, is it just the wedding ceremony Bichwi has issues with or she really wants to live single all her life? How much are they open to other possibilities? Because in real life 1.one often doesn't know and 2.people evolve. (My husband and me didn't expect having 4 kids when we got married 😄). As for the main couple, I admit that with Kang Sora and Jang Seungjo (and their chemistry) I wanted the romcom I expected from the posters (that black and white picture! 😍)... and I wanted them to grow and get their true second chance.

Lethal Man - the last part was skippable as the hero turned into a pudding. Still, I don't regret watching as it gave us the badass elevator blood sample taking... and the underground fight scene with oblivious tipsy heroine. And some kisses 😁

Never Give Up - c-adaptation of Gaus Electronics webtoon. It's different than the Korean version, episodes are shorter and more sitcomy... but they don't fail to make me laugh again 😂

Also watching Call It Love.

Well, I was watching "Justice in the Dark" (novel MoDu/Silent Reading adaptation)...but after Youku dropped 8 episodes last Saturday and took our money, they dipped so....I guess I'm not watching that anymore :/
Yes, I'm very bitter and disappointed! Not sure if/when new episodes will come out, I'm not giving up on it yet ><

A comment I saw from someone online about this topic: usually they're the one who drop dramas, but this time it was the drama that dropped them.. :)

KDRAMAS
Crash Course in Romance
I like the leads and they continue to be charming. I hope the killer arc makes sense.
I want more of the high school kids!
I don’t want to see another moment of the forced couple arc.

Strangers Again
Well, it’s over. Even though it frustrated me I still am glad I watched this. It was messy and made for interesting conversations on the recap thread.

Our Blooming Youth
Still watching. Not sure how long I will last. I hope it’s more about investigating and less of the palace politics.

Call it Love .
I quite liked the premier. I really hope they tone down the pink filter. It’s just too much.

CDRAMAS
Perfect Mismatch
Ep 15
I am quite enjoying this. Nothing path breaking, an easy watch. The FL and her martial arts antics are hilarious. Not a fan of the actor who plays the ML but he is ok here. It was funny seeing the ML be scared of her lol. Somehow the leads work for me.

Meet Yourself
Ep 38
Continues to be wonderful. Will be saying goodbye to this show this weekend.

Viva Femina
Dropped.

I’m rewatching Romance is a Bonus Book and liking it a lot. It surprised me how much I was coming to like it. I knew LNY could act, but this rewatch brought me this realization that LJS is actually really good in terms of acting!! I know his appearance might outshine his acting most of the time, but boy can really act and he acts really well!

I’m at ep14 now and I’m having such a good time. ☺️

Watching: Crash Course in Romance (Now that the cat's out of the bag, we saw a lot of cute scenes. Mind you, just looking at JKH all giggly and smitten makes me smile - a lot!); 3 Bold Siblings (People say the cousin's mother might have lied to him so he will hate the aunt who raised him, but still, wasn't it too much of a revenge? - to destroy the cousin who worked his butt for everyone in the family?!) Bros on Foot (how I do love to see these 4 men together!) Our Blooming Youth (I was thinking that the best friend might have seen his fiancee before the wedding, but maybe not, since he didn't even recognize her when they were together in the shaman's house. It means only the girl has done her research on who she's getting married to.) Taxi Driver 2 (i like that the Vietnam episode was resolved quickly, although they still have to find the leaders in their country); The Heavenly Idol (Woo Yeon-woo supporting the sunbae singer is the best. Although I still don't know why he can't feel when the Evil One is near him)

We watched all ten episodes of LOVE TO HATE YOU in the space of three days. It was a lighthearted show that came at a perfect time for us- we watched the first seven episodes before my wife had a root canal done and the final three in the hours afterwards while she was recovering: This time Netflix’s timing was impeccable. It was particularly nice to see Go Won-hee in a good show after having watched her talents being wasted in the execrable weekender REVOLUTIONARY SISTERS (To date still the only weekender I have ever dropped).

Speaking of weekenders how could life in such a drama be complete without a Noble Separation? Which is just what we got out of Soorim on THREE BOLD SIBLINGS. Problem for Mooyoung’s Ex ( and Ji-hye’s BabyMomma): Mooyoung is a serious man and not the fool that his ex thinks that he is. Second problem: If you have been ‘fainting’ because of your ‘brain tumor’ it is generally not a good idea to blow your cover by being photographed playing a robust game of tennis. We were also finally treated to a possible explanation for the money grasping behavior of Soorim’s Evil Ex: He may be on drugs. Addiction as motivation has definitely been one of the themes of THREE BOLD SIBLINGS.

We are really enjoying THE HEAVENLY IDOL and are looking forward to the next episodes.

We continued to really love CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE despite a really annoying vignette involving the FL’s brother.

My wife has a lot more time to watch dramas than I do. She really loved the Chinese costume drama ICE FANTASY which has to have some of the best costume and makeup of any show I have ever seen (glimpses of). She also really likes the new Sageuk OUR BLOOMING YOUTH and has continued to enjoy BRAIN WORKS. That last show is a detective/mystery show, she was delighted to discover a 2018 K-drama on Viki based upon Agatha Christie stories: MS. MA, NEMESIS.

She also took time to watch Season 2 of SANDITON, which she really enjoyed.

Based upon A Beanie recommendation I am now watching EMERGENCY COUPLE. It is pretty good.

Our Blooming Youth I like our main couple but the writer and the PD don't seem to find what genre they want to portray.

Strangers Again It was disapointing. They chose interesting themes and adressed them wrongly. There were no message that made sense...

The Heavenly Idol It's pretty funny. But the whole villain plot is not very interesting.

Taxi Driver 2 I love the OST that sounds like an old Japanese animation.

Crash Course in Romance I'm happy for our couple but I really need someone to save the poor Sun-Jae from his mother!

Island I haven't watch the episodes of the second part yet.

Bros on Foot How Minho did a bungee jump without feeling any fear... from the beginning to the end, he was just enjoying the experience even when he was on the passerelle, he showed no doubt.

Idol Band : Boy's Battle The Japanese songs episode was really good. Taemin has such a great voice and Hyunyul is a great guitarist, I really liked their performance of Dried Flower by Yuuri.

Crash Course in Romance (Ep.12). I hate that uri Consort Prince Ji is the killer. I really could do without all this part. I won’t even talk about the way police made a totally illegal arrest and how it was dealt in the drama, because when I thought the drama had done it all wrong, I was proved wrong when PD and writer-him decided is was ok to harass a person in the spectrum. I’m sure this have been log discussed in the recap, but I haven’t been there. If It had been a gender reverse it would have been considered assault. Seriously, if being single is such an issue in SK and in so many countries, please go and get therapy: learn to be happy on your own and then you can decide if you want a couple or not. I could do without all this sh*t, honestly, because I’m loving leads and also the students plot.

Strangers again (Ep. 10). Fortunately leads didn’t get together and they are in the path to heal themselves. Whether they will cross paths in the future or not (I hope they don’t) is something they will sort out one they have found out how to be happy on their own.

Happiness. I managed to finish it. Loved our OTP, cutest couple I could imagine during a zombie apocalypse. But zombies were really scary. Will never rewatch, but I enjoyed and I loved to hate so many characters.

island. Drama is back, and OMG, it’s as bad as I remember. Why I keep watching this train wreck, I still don’t know but it is so funny… If you are not watching, please don’t watch, there’s no need you join this mess.

I have just checked and Disney+ has decided Europe can like dramas and Big Bet and Call it love are available on my zone. Planning to check on both.

Taxi Driver s2: 7.5 The suspension-of-disbelief requirements here are high even by kdrama standards, especially in day 2, but at least the old music is back and the private prison is not.

KokduCuckoo: Season of Deity: 6.0

Crash Course In Romance: 6.0

Our Blooming Youth: 8.0 The woods are full of big name k-leads who aren't as good at picking projects as Pyo Ye-jin seems to be this month.

Call It Love: 1.5x Hmmm... Premise doesn't interest me. Cast, writer & PD aren't favorites. First few minutes seemed slow and dull. Resorting to 1.5x speed makes it marginally bearable, so I'm inventing a new scoring system for draggy shows that I would probably drop if I had to watch them at normal speed. Unlike traditional scoring, higher "x" scores would be worse if they ever appear although it's unlikely that I will ever watch a show at 2x or 3x.

Strangers Again: 6.0

The Heavenly Idol: 6.0 Not exactly a heavenly script this week.

Island (part 2): 4.0 Bean⌚ They have emojis for so many foods, but nothing for beans, so I had to spell it out. Does anybody have a suggestion for an emoji that looks enough like a bean so I could use it and people would know what I mean?

Of topic but -- after years of drought here in Southern California we're now having so much rain I feel I should grab an umbrella and check neighbor's yards for arks.

Unfortunately I’m dropping Crash Course in Romance. I had such high hopes for this dramas because both the leads are great actors but the romance just falls flat for me. Additionally, I am completely uninterested in the murder plot which just doesn’t fit with the main direction of the drama.

I don’t know why writers introduce subplots that detract from the main plot and add nothing to or spoil the drama. Examples that come to mind are the childhood trauma subplots in Secretary Kim and My Private Life. Completely unnecessary and both dramas would have been near pitch perfect without it.

Psychopath Diary: Thanks to all the Beanies discussing this one recently, I jumped. Despite its ridiculous premise, its particular brand of dark, off-kilter humor is really working for me so far. Screenwriter Ryu Yong Jae once again demonstrates his ability to create messy, intriguing protagonist/antagonist combos and Yoon Shi Yoon is a delight to watch.

Strangers Again - It was a wrap. A fair one. I like open endings when it is necessitated but I wished this open endings was not evasive.

Kokdu - This is a mess. And I am dragging myself through it. How the hell did the chairman and the thug know that Seol-hui(I've ever forgotten her current name) is the key to calm Kokdu. When? Where? How? Very annoying piece of shit. Was that a stroke of good luck decision or a mistake in the editing room to leave out an important scene.

Crash Course in Romance - I never paid attention when all hands pointed at you Royal Noble Consort Ji. I'm disappointed and affronted.

Our Blooming Youth - The things that draw me in happen to be when the characters are as individuals and doing their own thing themselves. And I liked the realism in the fight with the Taoist Priest, although it puts the fight that played out in ep 1 in question. It was just one skilled priest against close to 10 CP soldiers.
Kim Ki-doo shouldn't be found with an assassin resume and I think the wife is in on it too. Where's the sweet couple that was in 100 Days My Prince. What happened to Joseon?

Red Balloon - I can't believe I got disinterested in this after ep 15. I'll just wait for everything to air and watch it all in one fell swoop.

The Heavenly Idol - I don't like Yeon-woo. For now, he is sus. But I like Rembrary the Pontifex.

Agency - I think I got used to winning and losing without glaring consequences for our leading ladies and their gang that I fought last week's episodes that had clear consequences for their losses.
Han Jung-woo should have simply stay put.

I'll be picking up Island and Big Bet from where I stopped.
P.S. Big Bet starts from ep 6 for me.

STRANGERS AGAIN: Another drama I expected would be fun and/or romantic ends with a confusing and confused ending. The leads deserved better and so did I. Like Dramatically said, this is a textbook example of creating characters only to explore certain social themes, and although this is fine if your drama is an adaptation of Animal Farm, it's an exercise in viewer frustration and annoyance if it's not.

OUR BLOSSOMING YOUTH: I continue to lap this one up even when it's a bit unsteady in its shifts from mystery to romance. Things seemed more assured and smooth on that front this week, however, and I am a sucker for both a smart, competent heroine and a taciturn prince. The leads (both the actors and characters) have so much chemistry that the show doesn't need the locked stares and swelling OST, and I hope we drop those shots as things progress.

CALL IT LOVE: Like missvictrix, I feel deprived on the kdrama romance front, and romantic melo is my jam, so I'm excited for this one. The revenge plot isn't particularly nuanced, but I'm thankful for that because I want this to be more about two people finding their way to each other than clever twists and turns. Jury's still out for me on the arty (or architectural as others put it) shots and whether they actually enhance the storytelling, but I like our trying-so-hard-to-be-stoic FL and our actually stoic ML. And I understand that both characters are played by former models, but I had to laugh a bit at the attempted uglification of the FL--baggy sweats, ok, but this woman would either have her roots showing or no dye job at all, and definitely not neatly cut bangs over perfectly manicured brows. Putting ML in bland suits and giving him a non-descript haircut also doesn't make him any less attractive. But I appreciate the effort to make ridiculously beautiful people look like the rest of us.

MY HEAVENLY IDOL: I thought maybe this drama might work for me even though I am utterly uninterested in kpop as a musical genre or industry. But no. I obviously don't get most of the meta references or humor, and the fantasy elements are just weird.

CRASH COURSE: I'm so used to the appearance of serial killers and other thriller elements in romcoms now that I've been going along with the metal ball "mystery" without too much irritation (except for the reveal that Mr. Ji gets them delivered by the heavy boxful, lol!). But it is deeply stupid. Nevertheless, I like that the leads are mature adults trying to have a mature adult relationship (I know the show continues to pretend these characters are way younger than the actors playing them, but I'm just ignoring that). And I really love the teen triangle.

TAXI DRIVER 2 - Baddies getting their behinds kicked, the warm friendship between the team members and last but not least, my most favourite Kdrama romance ever (between Madam Lim and Wang Tai Tzi) - what's not to love?

HEAVENLY IDOL - It's campy, it's light, it's funny - exactly what I need after a day of hard work.

ISLAND 2 - so campy and OTT I have to watch it, because I am curious how something like this will end (and all of the other mystery dramas right now are REALLY bad).

OUR BLOOMING YOUTH - on the fence about this one. I love the actors but the storytelling is a bit messy.

THREE BOLD SIBLINGS - this makes me time travel thirty years back, when US daily soap "Santa Barbara" first aired in Europe. The same cardboard sets, stiff acting and every cliché you could possibly think about. You have to fast forward it for most of the time and start at ep. 30, though, otherwise it will drive you crazy.

Started watching The Starry Love this week..... and suprisingly, i am enjoying it despite being ambivilent about the Xianxa genre as a whole.

Still digging Crash Course in romance (especially the teens) , the complaints about the female lead are stupid, the character is a middle aged working class woman who finds love later in life, if you want a dolled up idol with questionable talent falling on top of a chaebol heir there are plenty of those dramas to choose from.

Heavenly Idol: Better than expected and I think it has become my most-looked-forward-to watch. It's campy, but I like the characters and the pacing is nice.

Crash Course in Romance: The thriller story coming more to the forefront is dimming my enthusiasm for the drama. At this point, it's also getting a bit predictable what tropes will happen.

Season of Kokdu: (up to ep 9) Episode 8 had hit new lows of stupid. Ep 9 was a little better. Characterization and plot waffle between mess and nonexistent, but the drama and its actors really know how to do banter. It should have just been a series of SNL skits.

Our Blooming Youth: Love Jae-yi so much and love the sleuthing. The gravedigging sequence was just gold. Just when I was finally warming up to the Crown Prince, that ep 6 ending made me feel annoyed with him.

The Starry Love: Up to ep 9. Cdrama xianxia with twin sisters and a marriage mix-up. We've got 2 pairs of opposites-attract couples. It is funnier than I expected. 3rd Void Prince's assistant/friend is very close to stealing the entire series with his funny expressions.

Under the Microscope: Finished this cdrama masterpiece. It just got better and better. A seemingly dry topic that is wonderfully done and feels relevant to current times. Intense, warm, and even funny at times. And two tiny drops of romance. And a cat!!!

Never Give Up: Up to ep 5. Cdrama adaptation of Gaus Electronics webtoon. There aren't many similarities with the kdrama and is less wildly absurd. It's still got very great, very funny commentary on the too-real, too-absurd office culture of brownnosing and hierarchy.

Wu Lin Heroes: Up to ep 5. Cdrama. The FL's action scenes are great, but a drama about a FL who has terrible luck with men (just lots of scumbags in that world), gets killed by one, then resurrected and lose her memory, only to get killed by the next one. And the cycle repeats.

Since for me Kdramaland 2023 is more dry than Kdramaland 2022, I tried to dig into the past and I finally found a hidden gem that managed not to bore or annoy me: I Picked Up a Star on the Road.

I continue my love of Cdramaland with The Forbidden Flower, Mr. Bad, From pair to Pair (FL is my favorite actress, I hope she can become more and more famous) and Master of My Own which in my opinion deserved more consideration (in fact it was able to make me cry).

Crash Course in Romance 👨‍🏫🍲(12/16): Yep, it is him. For the first time in my K-drama watching lifestyle my too far-fetched complot theory is spot on. It was not even anything in the actual episodes that gave it away. No, the fact that they casted that actor and gave him nothing to do made it blaringly obvious. This is coming from someone who is always the last one to figure things out. Maybe we can console ourselves by detaching from the character and enjoying his acting chops in the final countdown?🙂

Fruits Basket (2019) Season 2🍙🐈(3/25): When we started season 1 I actually told my friend to take breaks between the seasons so it would not be ‘too much’… Obviously I ate my words, this show is too addictive and the only one keeping me impatient for the next episodes.😊

The Golden Girls Season 1👵👵👵👵(25/25):🎵Thank you for being a friend🎵 Never. Ever. Watch. Psycho. With. Sophia.🤣 It is even worse than being under her Sicilian curse!😂

HEAVENLY IDOL - I almost noped out after the first 5 minutes of painful bad fantasy plot, but once the fish out of water story started, the show hit its stride. It’s extremely silly but still has made me laugh out loud at least once an episode.

OUR BLOOMING YOUTH - I want this show to be better than it is. It has all the right elements, but feels like it’s doing a lot of telling rather than showing to get us from plot point to plot point. Not enough narrative cohesion, way too much dramatic staring as the music swells.

MY LETHAL MAN - I can only watch in small doses but it’s very much if the so bad it’s good genre.

I got really sick this week, which was frustrating, BUT I did watch a LOT of tv. Watched Through the Darkness after the end of year recommendations, and I was glad I did. Now a strong Kim Nam-gil fan (where have I been?)

Didn't have much downtime this week, so I stuck to my favorites. Dropped KOKDU, and put a couple others on hold that, having taken time away, I'm debating whether to continue. Anyway...

OUR BLOOMING YOUTH (6/20) Last week sort of felt like a step back into generic Sageuk to me (though I still loved it) , but this week's episodes brought back the darkness and intensity of those first episodes and I enjoyed them much more. Plus I find our main leads more interesting when somewhat conflicted, so I'm glad we're maybe putting a pause on the romance, which felt rushed anyway. Very excited to see where we go from here!

ISLAND (8/12) I was one of like, three people who loved the first season, and I unabashedly am continuing to love it. Loved our deeper look into the past (between this and and Bulgasal, my craving for a dedicated historical horror-fantasy is sky high), and seeing our heroine finally step up.

NIRVANA IN FIRE (China, 41/54) I can't gush about everything going in this drama right now with spoiling it, so I'll gush instead about how much I love the characters in this. My favorites seem to change by the episode because so many are awesome, so shout out this week goes to the lovely and cunning Consort Jing.

Immortal Samsara (China, 40/61) A lot of viewers criticize this drama for not having enough romance, but I find myself enjoying it most when the focus is elsewhere. The so-called "filler" stores are my favorite part, and I love watching our odd trio adventuring together. Sadly, I can see these latest developments slitting them apart. Let's hope it's temporary!

Crash Course in Romance: This is a terrific drama - now that I’m FFing through everything except the teens.

Strangers Again: Flawed characters who DIDN'T get an unearned happy ending but instead the prospect of self-knowledge and future satisfaction with their much better choices in life? I didn't think kdrama was capable of that. The conclusion was enough to make me forgive a lot of what went before.

Our Blooming Youth: Yes, I’m watching a sageuk. Yes, the headgear bothers me. No, I cannot tell one scheming wingnut-hatted, wispy-bearded minister from another. The ML is pretty and smoldery and “still waters run deep” is my catnip.

The Heavenly Idol: Weird dumb fun; not bad enough to drop yet.

Kokdu: Weird, dumb, unfun. Dropped.

Bros on Foot: This is the first time I’ve tried a variety/reality show. I’ve only seen ep. 1, which I found amusing but kind of slow - maybe that’s normal? The guys are so likable and funny, though. Hoping it picks up the pace a little.

BECOMING A BILLIONAIRE (2010). A retro tongue-in-cheek comedy that I made the mistake of watching more than 2 episodes at a time. It was exhausting. Then I started to tire of the main theme - the search for his real father - but couldn't seem to pull the plug because the characters were so exuberant and endearing. They included Ji Hyun-woo as the rough hero who sings his way through and an incredibly lovely Lee Bo-young lending ballast to this rocky ship as a world-class cheapskate chaebol heiress. Also, the show features possibly the stupidest, neediest 2nd lead female character in the history of Kdramas.

Thanks to Dramabeans and its intelligent commentators, I’ve greatly widened my tv horizons. 2 years ago, I came in only interested in romance and detective/suspense shows. This week I’m watching and enjoying a semi-sageuk Our Blooming Youth a hero revenge action show Taxi Driver 2, a fantasy pop idol show Heavenly Idol and a celebration of the melding of math teaching and banchan, with a harsh condemnation of the Korean education system and its metal ball slingshot industry Crash Course in Romance.

Admittedly, everyone of the above shows has some detective or romance elements, but to demonstrate how broadminded I've become: I used to only appreciate single scene sepia-tinged flashbacks. Now I like shows filmed entirely in blue Decoy and shows that have a really pink tinge Call it Love!

So, as always, thanks to all on this site for making a more broad-minded kdrama viewer!

I'm happy to report that we dropped Miss Hammurabi and started A Korean odyssey. I didn't knew much of the plot and I'm laughting so much. Monkey's shenanigans are just hillarious.
I find that Oh Yeon Seo is verysimilar than in Minamdang, minus the violence. So that's that at least.
We also work our way slowly in Crash course in romance. I wish there were less of the sky castle mums and more romance.
I binge watched Love to have you and this is a good romcom without murder. Light and fun. With the short duration the secondary characters are under-developped.
And I have started Taxi driver 2 and it is so good. Yes, this is not a easy watch (due to the violence) but it is truly heartwarming to see the gang regroup and punish the bads.

MY LOVELY SAM SOON - I'm very much enjoying my husband's laughter over this show. For me it's a rewatch, but it's his first time seeing it. I still like it a lot. Plus, it has pastries. Yum.

GOBLIN - Also rewatching this with my husband as he sees it for the first time. My perception of the Goblin is different with this viewing; I see his vulnerability more. Not sure if we are going to make it the whole thing though. My spouse seems to be losing interest.

BECOMING WITCH - Just started this. So far so good.

THE HEAVENLY IDOL: I haven't seen enough yet to know if I will enjoy this or not. I hope so. I am always ill & constantly need entertaining distraction.

CALL IT LOVE - On my list to try.

Things I started & dropped include THE INTEREST OF LOVE and CRASH COURSE IN ROMANCE.

I notice that shows that lots of people love, I don't like at all. That's consistent with many things in my life. And it's okay. I think it's good to have variety so that there is something for everyone.

Even with shows I don't watch, I often read recaps and comments. Sometimes this is more entertaining than the drama being discussed.

I'm alternating between Flower of Evil and Eccentric Chef Moon depending on my mood. Great acting from the leads in the former, and the kid in the latter is hilarious.

Nothing new for me this week. I've been tired of everything, including watching shows, so it's been a bit of a rut all week. Only rewatching old dramas that are particularly endearing. I'm looking forward to some of the new ones in anticipation of better things to come.

Reading the DB comments have been particularly interesting since there's been so much lively discussion on dramas and things in general. I always appreciate a good discussion, whether directly relevant to me or not.

Watching
K dramas: Big Bet Not bad, 1 Ep a week is weak

Blooming Youth Ok
Heavenly Idol Meh. I thought he was going to fight demons

Finished
C Dramas: Under the Microscope I liked it, different Corrupt Officials and a math whiz.
The Knockout Excellent Cops,Gangster & Corrupt officials show. Liked the song by Na Ying

J drama: Ichigeki Peasants are hired to kill samurai. Show had a somewhat comedic theme of your lovable losers forming a team to go against the powers that be. People are killed with gusto due to class hatred, not really funny.

I'm watching Meet Yourself (7 out of 40). It's a nice, soothing drama. I like the main characters, the music, the locations... However, I can't get used to the chinese dubbing (this is my second C-drama). I would like to know if the voices I'm hearing are the actors and actresses actual voices or if they belong to dubbing actors.

I'm finishing Angel Last Mission: Love (13 out of 16). I wanted to love this series but I found it boring since the beginning. ML is lovely, and FL is a great actress, but apart from that... I have not enjoyed this drama as much as I thought I would do.

I know I'm late with this, but I made up a post to put up on Friday and I'm going to do it!

What I’ve been watching:

K-Dramas:

Strangers Again Finished this one. Doesn’t it break the rom/com drama to leave the ending open? I liked it though.
Wok of Love (aka Greasy Melo)—I stopped at episode 25. I might finish it sometime. I did feel like the last scene I watched, Jang Hyuk with a kitten, was just fan service.
Crash Course in Romance I stalled out in the middle of episode 10 though. Not sure whether I will finish it.
The Devil Judge: I binged the entire thing for the first time this week. What a weird show! Very watchable though, amazing pacing. It was very slashy, like it was written to bring the MLs together. No, they aren’t supposed to be gay, but the bromance is pretty romantic there.
Hospital Playlist and One Spring Night Rewatching episodes when I get too stressed. I forgot how wonderful it was when the ML is moved to tears at the FL’s love confession in One Spring Night .

J-dramas:
The Full-Time Wife Escapist I binged this over about 24 hours. It’s got a lot of similarities to one of my all-time favorites, Because This is My First Life. This show had lower production values and fewer characters, but was surprisingly cute and funny! I noticed the ML was also the singer of the closing theme, so I googled him. Apparently Hoshino Gen married his onscreen wife Aragaki Yui three years after the show aired! How cute is that.
My Beautiful Man 2 Oof, lots of angst in this one.

Suddenly I'm watching 4 ongoing shows at the same time... Wow, just like in good old times.

OUR BLOOMING YOUTH: Serious improvement since the last week - sugar was delivered in digestible doses and things I like (action, investigating, character and relationship developments that don't feel forced) reappeared, so all is good. Looking forwards to more of it - with the exception of most underwhelming soundtrack collection I've heard in a while. I've waited 3 years for this drama, don't disappoint me like that!
P.S. PHS should wear more summer sky blue in this drama, damn. That CP playing nurse scene had my eyes blessed)))

THE HEAVENLY IDOL: Crackstatic. Sure, you've got to know enough about kpop to properly enjoy all the meta and jokes here, but it's still such a decent show so far. Lame evil by default villain doesn't bother me that much - I just ignore his arc, honestly. Still on fence with hard-to-imagine inevitable romance, but whatever, I'll just here for the laughs and shows keep delivering them)))

ISLAND: Part2 is here and it finally tries to move the plot somewhere. Not sure that this somewhere is the right direction though - now we're also dealing with an immortal cult? Were the demons and impending Apocalypse not enough? Oh well, at least there were plenty of expository flashbacks to answer most of the Part1 questions. But too little of Yohan being funny - how dare you, show! KNG is ridiculously hot in demon form though, I kept getting distracted from storyline by looking at him all bloody, fiery (literally!) and sneering. Too bad Van as a character is tragically unexciting...

KKOKDU: Last week was such an epitome of trash, this one probably just failed to live up to that high standard lol. No, for real - it was still not good by any means, but actually watchable... until the last part of Ep10, that I groaned at. And I like the bro character, but even he is there only to cockblock OTP, isn't he? At this point I'm terribly sorry for 3K - all his romancing (now pretty much sincere and sometimes even painfully so) efforts are in vain, because writer just doesn't let FL to take him and their relationship any more seriously than kindergarten kids playing house do.

Crash Course In Romance
Youth love triangle and bromance is delicious… and as expected, the thriller part isn’t as straightforward as it seemed.
Strangers Again
A very satisfying ending with the outcome that we wanted: our couple goes their separate ways, after finding conclusion (and therapy) – that’s how I choose to see it. I liked how the divorce cases brought up the issues in their relationship, and how that was balanced by comedy and the second couple’s romance. Certainly not the best drama, but I give it credit for separations and divorce law as it's subject matter. (More divorce dramas coming up…)
Didn’t get to see last weeks’ Brain Works, Heavenly Idol, Our Blooming Youth and didn’t start Taxi Driver S2 yet because I was on vacation, I wonder when I’ll catch up.
While traveling, I watched downloaded Netflix episodes of Rain Or Shine. I love how bits of the accident come to light during the episodes and that we get to learn how that shaped our protagonists. Acting is great; lighting, sets and music go perfectly with the sad atmosphere. And a bit of comedy thrown in for balance – I love it!
KDrama friend project:
Finally finished Alchemy of Souls together, I’m so happy that we could share this drama. It was epic and we enjoyed every minute!

I dropped CCIR. The real age of FL is written in each scene. Her way of speak, clothes, reactions didn't seem that coming from one is in the middle of 30's. I was OK with the show til the romance began. She look like so old to behave in this way. Sorry but she looks like the mother of ML! I always hate when actor or actress act out of their real age. I didn't watch Mr. Sunshine for the same reason.