Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (January 20, 2024)

250 January 20, 2024January 19, 2024

Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (January 20, 2024)

by DB Staff

So, what are we all watching this week?

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

missvictrix

Currently covering: Like Flowers in Sand

My Happy Ending: Okay, I’m having a little less fun now that Jae-won has gone into vicious revenge mode instead of floundering around in total chaos, but then again, this drama just doesn’t stop, and every time you think you know which way things are facing, they go and invert everything again. I have no idea where we’ll land, but I will repeat, the Jang Nara x Lee Ki-taek storyline and chemistry is just sooooooooo good. I will keep watching through anything they throw at me just to see where those two end up.

Marry My Husband: Well, to start, Na In-woo has fully grown on me in this role and I love how he’s all dapper now with an awesome hairstyle, but he’s still an awkwardly tall nerd inside (takes one to know one). But really it’s that episode-ending time-travel reveal that left me with a gasp because it’s so soon in the drama for this to happen! Which is exciting! It immediately changes the scope of the story, and I can’t wait to see how they’ll handle it.

mistyisles

Currently covering: Captivating the King

Knight Flower: I had high expectations for this, and these first couple of episodes 100% delivered! Actually, it was probably more than 100%, because while I expected the show to be as fun as it was, I didn’t expect to be this invested in the characters and their relationships this quickly. There’s a whole lot of heart and intrigue mixed in with the humor, and I am so excited to see where this story takes us.

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51 9TailedVixen Loves Hanging Upside Down

January 21, 2024 at 1:43 AM

LIVE WATCHES:

1. LIKE FLOWERS IN SAND - Baek-Du, oh Baek-Du you Cinnamon Roll sweetheart! *heart eyes*

2. A SHOP FOR KILLERS - This is shaping up to be an absolutely superb action/crime series. Let's hope it's as good as MOVING. I was on the fence about Lee Dong-Wook - mainly out of digging in my heels as my K-Drama fan friends kept trying to push me in front of the Lee Dong-Wook Truck (TM) - but this series has changed my mind. At least, it has changed my mind about his acting chops.

3. THE BEQUEATHED - I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. I love Horror movies and drama but this one isn't really turning up the creepy scares yet.

SOON TO RESTART

I'm still a bit zoned-out (and zonked out) as I've just finished the first week of my sabbatical so I'll be re-starting MY DEMON and WELCOME TO SAMDALRI soon.

NON K-DRAMA STUFF

1. THE APOTHECARY DIARIES - This Mystery Romance anime set in the fictional Ming(?) Dynasty is absolutely HILARIOUS!

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52 lillamy

January 21, 2024 at 10:04 AM

BACK TO THE BRINK: Well, this was a complete waste of time. I don't know why, but every Ji Liu Fei Xiang novel gets totally smashed in the process of drama adaption. She writes the most engaging female protagonists which always gets toned down. I'm seriously grateful the censure has kept Sansheng untouched seeing how provocative it is and thus how utterly it would be destroyed.

The only funny thing about the entire drama was the baby dragon period - for the comments not believing it was the same actor. Neo's eyes and vivid expressions are his best feature, squinting and frowning throughout the entire drama did not do him any favours.

BOYHOOD (ep 5): I'm not sure this drama suits me very much, to the half point I'm considering dropping it. Byeong-tae just keeps getting himself into deeper and deeper trouble, I don't see how he can survive all the violence that will be coming his way. Anyhow, I'm very impressed by Im Shi-wan's ability to transform himself every time I watch him on the screen. I've started observing body language a lot lately and the way he pushes his shoulders to the front and head back doesn't look comfortable, but I admire the effect it gives, especially combined with that condescending tone and self-important tone. I've never understood more why a character gets constantly whopped.

A JOURNEY TO LOVE (ep 5): This is a very enjoyable drama. Great characters, beautiful music and scenography. Inspiring choreography. I'm liking it very much.

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53 Alluvial_Fan

January 21, 2024 at 6:00 PM

A Journey to Love is my late on a Sunday evening binge. Never intended to binge but I pay attention when I do. The 45 min ep with a 6 minute interval is perfect for getting up off of the couch mushroom mode and doing stuff.
Did I know it was wuxia written by a female? (no) Did I know it was a big C-drama hit (yes). Did C-ent people have a hissy fit over the ending/the male lead/the billing? What ev.
I've learned that C-ent people will argue over the rate of a blossom falling - or a leaf plastering. It is the best wuxia ever. If you liked Meet Yourself or Fake It Till you Make It check it out. Because it is the first martial arts C-drama written from a female perspective.

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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊

January 23, 2024 at 9:55 PM

Thanks for the recommendation, I might have considered it having really enjoyed New life begins but these days 40 episodes feels too much for me. New life begins got around it by dividing the story into a series of six self contained episodes so they kept it moving. Meet yourself the pace matching the setting and the great characters kept me wanting to press play. Fake it till you make it was perfect at 12 episodes. How does this one justify the 40 episodes?

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Alluvial_Fan

January 24, 2024 at 4:11 AM

Well, some fans suggest stopping at the end of ep 36! It was one of those C-dramas that had to edit like mad to comply with new rules for 40 episodes or fewer. It has a large cast of very good actors and each character is written with a clear storytelling arc. The beating heart of the show is not the OTP but the young princess disguised as a prince - fantastic performance. Best of all it includes some light comedy to balance the fight scenes. I haven't gotten past ep 30 yet so will have to decide whether to watch the dog's breakfast of the final four episodes or quit while I'm ahead!