I'll have nothing to watch from Monday to Thursday after next week 🥺.

COMPLETED
My Demon - I think him vanishing into embers might have had more impact if I hadn’t seen the same thing two hours earlier in the Cupid show. So he's still a demon and she'll just die as a human and then what?

My Man is Cupid - This was at least thematically consistent with the 1000 days of prayer part. I liked the tiny glimpse of the future.

Welcome to Samdal-ri - Not enough YongDal and not enough come-uppance for Eun-joo in the finale. But parts of the show were sweet - the exhibition was nice.

ONGOING
Knight Flower - It's funny that the Officer basically knows everything about her already. The second couple's interactions are fun.

Like Flowers in Sand - The new cop buddies are cute. I was right about the culprit💅.

STARTED
Sejak - Only watched the first episode so far. Might have been more impactful if not for My Dearest having just done better. Did anybody else think the King was faking his distrust of his brother 🤔? Side note - it's slightly sad that Jang Young-nam is playing mother to men only 7-8 years younger than her in two different shows right now.

WATCHLIST
Doctor Slump and Flex x Cop (Still hate this name!)

C-DRAMAS
Completed The Hope. Excellent till the end. The '12 years later' felt a bit tacked-on and unnecessary to the story but parts of it were funny.

Started Stories of Youth and Love. It's okay, I guess? I didn't realise the story would rely so heavily on flashbacks so there's an odd disconnect every time we move back and forth.

Looking forward to Amidst a Snowstorm of Love next week.

Captivating the King - That was a solid premiere. This is my first Jo Jung-seok saguek and it's been a blast. Shin Se-kyung...? It is not equal but it is impressive. However, I can't separate her acting here from her acting in Arthdal Chronicles. In a positive light, I think she really shines in playing her characters with this mystique aura around them so even though she carries her performance in a still way, it still has this air of class. And the characters she plays requires them to maintain that classic facet which she perfectly understands how to mirror.
I would love a little dynamics from her end though.
Sohn Hyun-joo is unrecognizable here. I almost didn't recognize Choi Dae-hoon. It took a lot of piercing gazes to know he's King-hyung and Sohn Hyun-joo - I was done pairing each actor in the news bites to each key character.

LNTS - I loved this one. I didn't expect to like it. Samuel's friend from episode one is the worst. I'm very sure he was trying to bully+shut up Samuel which is why he told his wife about Samuel's car situation and money need so his wife will talk to Woo-jin. His plan backfires and he still acts like the victim, again. If Samuel was Woo-jin, I know how much douchefriend will cough.

Goryeo-Khitan War - Gam-chan putting his opinion aside to assist the King was spot on.

Live Your Own Life - Father figure...? Really? Gosh!!! Hyo-shim needs reorientation cause her head ain't in the right emotional space to date at all.

LIVE WATCHES
Marry My Husband
I think I'm learning something: if I'm not loving or hating a show...I'm dropping the show. I've got no middle-ground. I'll forgive and forgive and forgive--until I don't. Like with My Demon. I forgave all the faults that we all could plainly see until some switch flipped and I began to really despise it all. There wasn't really a moment when I thought, "Oh, it's fine, I'll keep watching. I'm ambivalent!" Right now, I love MMH! Let's not think further.

Flowers in Sand
I love also the Flower Show, and am sad that we had a case of the dreaded "Sports Intervention." Or worse, possibly a case of, "Oh, shit that ending's not gonna fly." Either way, I'm afraid it's not going to end satisfactorily...there literally aren't enough minutes remaining.

🎶Flex Your Chaebol🎶
If you're not singing some KC and the Sunshine Band, I hope you are now. **flexflexflex doodooduhdoodoo flexflexflex doodooduhdoodoo...**

Between Him and Her
"Intervention: here too! Only this time from the schedulers--what's going on with moving all the shows around? WE BEANIES HAVE SCHEDULES TO KEEP! Why is no one ever thinking about our needs???

LTNS
Me, leisurely, FF-watching, hum-dee-hu...WAIT WHAT WHOA?? Where... are... they... going... thematically... with... this... show???? Korea. KOREA?? Surprise me.

FROM THE RESERVES
If you've made it this far, can I ask a favor? If you had to pick between the following two Yoo In-na dramas, which would you pick: Queen and I/Queen In-hyun's Man or The Spies Who Loved Me?

ON DECK
Dr. Rhinoplasty and Dr. Meloplasty
We shall see, surely altogether as one!! I do so hope it's a hoot and that the whole community watches and comments together.

Welcome to Samdal-ri (Series review) - Mood progression: D+ / D+ / D / D / D- / D- / D- / D-
His characterisation in The Kidnapping Day wasn’t great but at least Kang Young Seok could try and act. I also bemoan how underused Sazal Mahamud was as compared to Gaus Electronics (diversity casting lol).

My Man Is Cupid (Series review) - Mood progression: D+ / D+ / D / D / D / D- / D- / D-
Huh, after spending a significant amount of screen time building up the secondary couple, we don’t get to see their reunion scene? Then what was the point of all of that? But then again the show was literally introducing new rules during the finale.

My Demon (Series review) - Mood progression: D+ / D / D / D- / D- / D- / D- / D-
Look, all Gu Won needed to do was teleport himself and Do Hee away once he had distracted the villain! Why hug and wait for the gun to be shot? I know, because we had to pad this finale with some really pointless drama while limping to the end.

A Shop for Killers (Episode 3-4) - Mood: C-
Well, I was hoping against hope that it wasn’t the childhood friend but Jin Man would’ve never been killed in a fight when Ji An couldn’t even get near him (and she was clearly his main weakness). The plot did lose my interest with all the gratuitous action scenes and it does look like greed is the primary motivator driving our villains (boring). But I’ll give it one more week.

Knight Flower (Epsiode 3-4) - Mood: C-
I’m surprised the show seems intent on pushing a romance between Yoon Hak and Yeon Sun given the realities of that time period, but alas, any possible excitement I felt from that was quickly extinguished by the palace politics and the reveal that of course it’s the father in law who’s the big baddie. Who honestly cares what happened 15 years ago? But that’s the story.

Marry My Husband (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D+
Although the show did jump a few steps with the proposal cliffhanger, I liked that Ji Won has finally waged war against Soo Min given that she had asked the latter to marry her husband ever since Episode 1. On the other hand, the show has 0 plan for the chef’s arc and I’m frankly not sure how there’s still 8 more episodes of plot. But we’ll see if the 2nd half can keep up.

Live-ish Watches
My Demon: I didn’t think the last two episodes were as special as the first 14, but I’m not angry at this conclusion, so we’re calling it a draw. The real gift was the memes friends we made along the way.

Like Flowers in Sand: It’s been so long since my drama dance card was this clear! I started this on Sunday and I’ve watched through episode 10 now because I couldn’t stop. I’m waiting on ep 11 until the finale releases but it’s taking all my willpower. Last year I got to start the year with the blazing green flag of Park In-seong from Unlock My Boss, and this year I get to kick things off right with Kim Baek-du filling a similar niche. I don’t know when I’ve seen a more endearing ML, and if they can stick this landing, the drama will easily make my favorites list for the year. I can’t tell if I need to start watching competitive ssireum or if I’m just enamored with these characters. Is it both? What a gem of a show.

K-action Movie of the Week
Badland Hunters: Hahahahahaha!! Let me start by saying: my husband and I were totally entertained for the duration. All quotes have been lovingly stolen from him.
Overall impression: “I think we found the limit of what Ma Dong-seok can elevate.”
Plot: “Well, there was a beginning, a middle, and an end.”
Characterization: “I’ve never seen a villain with so much flop sweat in my life.”
But still: “I’m always down to watch Ma Dong-seok punch people 10 feet in the air. Always.”
And there you have it! The action sequences were great as usual, Jun did everything he was supposed to do except look like an 18 year old, MDS started things off right by killing an alligator with a serrated machete, everyone who was going to die made it Very Clear through their dialogue, and while I never need to watch this movie again, I have no regrets.

Samdal-ri
It wasn't as great (and deep) as I wanted it to be... and I wasn't fan of the sudden move (and success) of ALL of them to Seoul... and that Aziz Mansoo turned out to be rich. If anything, I wanted the opposite, that Chaebol Ex-husband would ditch his family and join Mansoo in the shop, I think they could be a nice duo. 🙂 I also wanted Eunjoo to crash more and somehow by her own doing, like reach the deadline of her work and show with NOTHING (or with mediocre photos), that her (terrible) work would speak for her (and would clearly show the truth). And yes, I could definitely do without Sangdo and his unrequited love. 🙄
That said (and there could be more 😆), I still enjoyed the show and I especially enjoyed watching Ji Changwook and Shin Hyesun acting together (and also Ji Changwook admiring Kim Mikyung after her speech to Sangte 🙂).
And there was Jeju, of course.

Marry My Husband
If Perfect Marriage Revenge was Crack on Speed, this is the polar opposite in a sense that I enjoy the most the silent looks and lingering moments (and I don't, gasp, fast forward!). I also think that all 4 leads are doing great job with their roles (and this is the first time I can't take my eyes off Na Inwoo). I just wish they would tone down a bit the wardrobe of PMY, it's sometimes distracting, and I occasionally even miss the old (but natural) Jiwon. 😅
I was surprised that the blue heart 💙 was revealed so early and I hope Jiwon will also discover soon Jihyeok's future death and gets him out of his current depression (and Noble Idiocy).

Unpredictable Family
I'm not yet caught up, but I reached the part when Hayeong recognises herself in Bio Mom and her obsession with separating our leads. The turning point is here and Hayeong is finally giving up, apologising to Eunseong... and actively trying to reconnect with our Detective. Unfortunately that's the only bright point currently as our leads are in misery because of their parents' past (and because of a scandal caused by their jealous colleagues).

I'm still watching Live Your Own Life and checked 2 episodes of cdrama Love Endures about 6 childhood friends meeting again after a long time. Planning to finish Demon and check Dr.Slump and maybe Cop&Chaebol.

Welcome to Samdal-Ri: All is well that ends well. This was a mostly pleasant watch for me. The characters were a little shallow, but overall, I had fun watching this.

Knight Flower: This was rather boring for me, so I dropped it. Until next time Honey Lee

My Demon: An epic slog, what a tedious drama, lol.

Maestra: I liked this drama so much, mostly for Lee Young Ae, who was spectacular in this. I would have loved this drama if not for the trying to normalize the antics and creepiness of Jung Jae. Otherwise, the acting in this drama was Top-notch.

Tell me you love me: This was also an all is well that ends well. A sweet drama, that needed more to be memorable. I will have pleasant memories of it though.

Marry My Husband: I don’t understand what is happening with the chef and Ji Hyuk. It is such a weird triangle. Also, unnecessary. The drama is also starting to meander.

Like Flowers in the Sand: I love this drama so.

My man is cupid: LOL, so stupid, but I finished it.

Between Him and Her: I will be dropping this soon, yeah.

Flex X Cop: It was exactly what I expected in a good way, so no complaints.

Doctor Slump: SOOOOOO excited for this.

LTNS: Pretty funny, I am on episode 3.

The Bequeathed: I only watched the first episode, so I look forward to the rest of it.

Captivating the King: I find the drama captivating. There is something “quiet” about it that I really like.

A Shop for Killers: On my list to start soon.

Live watches:
Looking forward to Dr Slump and hoping I will have new dramas to fill my empty week.

Between him and her
We continue to see the back story of the members of the friendship group; we see how Mr playboy came to be cynical and cold to the women he has one night stands with. The too good to be true boyfriend shows his true colours. Jealousy reigns with the male lead. The friends’ reaction to the male lead’s anger makes me wonder how a trait that is understandable in youth due to lack of emotion regulation skills is still such a worry now he is a big man. The main question for me was who filmed Sungok that night she was celebrating getting her design contract. Why was she so drunk she could barely stand? The last time that happened she woke up in a motel with a male acquaintance. This is another example of the behaviour associated with some teenager years well known for signs of poor impulse control. Has the leads’ 7 year relationship and remaining with a limited circle of friends from college prevented them from developing emotionally?

Completed

Welcome to Samdalri
I enjoyed most of this story, the friendships and rebuilding of self and relationships.

Dr Storks - Japanese
I really enjoyed both seasons; the stories raised some important points about the complications of childbirth, the implications of science saving very preterm babies and the reality of parents raising children with significant disabilities due to their early birth. The stories behind the staff in the hospital also covered issues like being in care, family loyalty, friendships and childlessness due to physical health conditions rather than choice.

Bingewatch corner:

Eunjoo’s room/Dear my room 2018
Watching for February’s Watch and Discuss K-drama club. A sweet friends to lovers, finding oneself drama. Second lead was the boss/friend of the male lead in My lovely liar. I didn’t recognise him he has grown a lot in the last 6 years.

Hide from the rain - Japanese

Webtoon corner:
Second lead syndrome

Book club:

The calligrapher’s daughter - Eugenia Kim
Covers the period of transition from the traditional ways to alternative lifestyles; religion, gender and class changes during the Japanese occupation of Korea. Told through the eyes of the daughter in a family as she grows up with a dad who pines for the Independence of Korea and a return to class and traditional roles and a mother who wishes her daughter to have full access to all the opportunities that education will bring.

Knight Flower: 8.0 I knew the petals were poison! (because of the preview at end end of ep 4)

LTNS: 7.5

My Demon: 6.0

Goryeo Kitan War: 5.0 Office palace politics with the king unconscious with a contrived illness for most of ep 19 and doctors trying to gin up drama by saying he might not live. If that's the best they can do, just let the Khitans take over. Give them a chance to do better.

Captivating the King: 7.5 Starts as My Dearest 2.0 but with more baduk & cross-dressing and hopefully less damnesia and perhaps less tragedy (?)

Love Song for Illusion: 4.5 Sorry, getting really tired of the characters with different personalities, especially that sorcerer. Did they set it in a fictional kingdom out of fear that depicting a real Joseon king as having those mental issues would get them Joseon Exorcised?
At least the the FL is pretty. I could say that about most kdramas, but it's not a good sign when I have to say it in order to find anything good to say at all.

A Shop for Killers: 8.5 I'm more eager to rewatch this one than to watch new episodes of other shows. Enjoying the bits of Chinese being spoken -- all my Chinese classes and years in Taiwan are paying off :) Of course, their excursion to Jirisan went about as smoothly as you'd expect, considering that other show.

Flex x Cop: 7.0 Silly but watchable. The rich guy antics could get old fast.

LIKE FLOWERS IN THE SAND—(ep 10) Still in love! Trying to decide whether to wait to watch the final two episodes together or just gobble up episode 11. My fellow viewers, do you have advice?

THE HOPE(CH)—I could write an essay on how well done this was. I did not want to leave even though we were given closure.

MY MAN IS CUPID (ep 13)—I continued watching for Jang Dong Yoon but I am finding I am enjoying this once I got over the bumpy tonal shifts and I just ff through the filler. Although I care more about the Joseon story and I think JDY has better romantic chemistry with the actress who plays the past life court lady.

REBORN (CH)—A melancholy crime drama that follows a police officer who lost his memory in a gunfight and is suffering PTSD. The novel part is that no one—including him and us—are sure if he was a dirty cop who set up the incident in the first place.

AN ANCIENT LOVE SONG (CH)—Beautiful drama that plays with time, but it is also hard to watch for me because you know going in that this is not a happy ending (unless there is a big twist).

OH NO, HERE COMES TROUBLE! (TW) —only one episode in and I can’t wait to continue. It was a perfect premiere episode for me and I lap up the crazy blend of poignant drama, supernatural horror and comedy. It will fill the hole that I AM NOBODY left, I think.

THEY KISS AGAIN (TW)—nostalgic and fun to rewatch. The cast chemistry is natural, the cinematography is a little clunky in a good, old drama (2007) way, and the story is not demanding.

OTHERWISE

IU’s LOVE WINS ALL MV (with Kim Taehyung)—this music video is as good as (and better) than many dramas. In a short 5 minutes I fell for the characters, wanted them to win, and my heart was devastated. It is emotionally gripping, beautifully grim and desperate, and wonderfully acted. IU and V are tremendous as actors, especially considering the constraints of the shoot (you know if you have seen it). On the singing side, I mean it’s IU. I could listen to her sing recipes.

Highly recommend to anyone who loves a good story and doesn’t mind having a box of tissues ready.

MAGE AGAIN—A surprising webtoon and I want to give a standing ovation to the artist and author who put the BIG twist IN PLAIN VIEW.

ELECEED—an unwilling master takes a naive but supremely talented apprentice. Done many times, right? The genius is the characters and the expressive art. I have laughed out loud reading it just for the expressions. No spoilers, but cat lovers would enjoy this one.

Shop for Killers: What a day Jian is having! 😱 Hopefully Uncle's lessons will help her survive the latest plot twist. The show continues to use flashbacks masterfully. And LDW is amazing -- this might be my favorite role of his.

Flex x Cop: It's not easy being the mother of a drama ML. Chances are you'll die young and tragically in order to provide your son with his required inner trauma. 🥹 I'm not sold on the rogue man-child chaebol after the first episode, but perhaps things will improve now that the main characters are ostensibly working together. However -- is this going to be yet another show where the FL has to spur the ML to finally grow up? 🙄

Knight Flower: Drunk Su ho with a crush is pretty darn cute. ☺️ The music director for this show must be having a blast. The instrumental selections help lighten the mood when the virtuous woman business gets too dark. Gat tip to the Beanies who correctly predicted the petals were poisonous! ☠️ 🌸

Welcome to Samdal-ri: Finished better than it started, which not every drama can say. From a glass-half-full perspective, it delivered on the healing for multiple characters and had a believable friends/lovers rekindled romance. With this cast and setting, though, it could have been outstanding with a more focused script.

I Am Nobody: So compelling it wreaked havoc on my drama-watching schedule. It's irreverent and heartwarming all at once. The modern version of the wuxia young masters tournament was hugely entertaining. Halfway through and I've got no idea where the story will go next but am enjoying the ride.

My Boss: An addictive romcom thanks to a host of appealing characters -- from the OTP to their coworkers to, yes, their parents. His mom is hilarious and is such a shipper. Yes, there are some bad guys with the typical toxic traits, but they'll help bring the couples together before meeting their downfall.

WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI (Ep 15-16) The Saga of the Alcoholic Sisters turned into a slog. Samdal, the lead, mainly followed repetitive juvenile behavior of others until the forced happy ending was given to just about everyone. The other sisters may or may not found their end game. For a rom-com it was very little rom and weak com. It was an average drama with a weak script.

LIVE YOUR OWN LIFE (Ep 34-35) The show continues to roll along with gigantic factual and practical nonsense to the point of aggravation. But the Drama Hangout/Highlights is nice.

TRAIN : it took a while but the plot is finally yere in all of the alt world glory. Also kinda have SLS for the 2nd FL- which is new

MY HAPPY ENDING- not sure how I feel about FL hit with convinent amnesia to take her out her own story for the interesting parts to be handled by her husband (who is currebtly speed running his redemption arc after speed running the ruin of his marrige) and the infatuated white knight who just might be a creepy stalker . My fave character is still detective Nam, professional pot stirrer who is anybody's business and outsmarts them by a mile.

What I am watching:

_ Love song for illusion (7/16). As I said before, this is not a very good drama but for some reason I find myself thinking a lot about it while I'm waiting for new episodes. I'm really interested in what's going to happen next. I love the OST too.

_ My Happy Ending (8/16). This is a surprisingly good show imo. Good acting, editing, script, OST... I have watched these eight episodes in a few days this week.

_ C-drama A Journey to love (20/40). Episode 16 was one of the best so far. The young actress who plays the Princess is awesome.

What I have finished:

_ J-drama Tsuiraku JK to Haijin Kyoshi. This drama is weird! But the ML is so cute. While the FL is too deadpan and I don't understand their dry humour... This has been my first j-drama and I find it was like a silly anime in many ways. I couldn't take it seriously, but it was an easy watch. And the intro song is so catchy!

Western shows:

_ All the creatures great and small Season 1. I liked it, but as it happens in many Western series, the main couple's feelings are undeveloped.

_ As we see it. A lovely series full of endearing characters. Unfortunately, it won't see a second season. I have enjoyed it a lot and it's sad to say goodbye.

Love Song for Illusion The MLs characters are so inconsistent that it makes the story hard to follow...

Marry My Husband Inconsistency is the word of the week, how she can be scared that Min-Hwan will kill her if she broke up with him but not drowning because it's not like she died... So nothing happened during these 10 years that she can be killed now? The ML is boring... He was drinking because he couldn't save her, now because he can't save himself? Could he just let the poor chief alone?

Like Flowers in Sand I wished they gave us more scenes of the gang and sooner. It's just so fun to watch them together.

Between Him and Her I didn't watch the last episode yet.

Doctor Slump I'm really excited to watch it!

Knight Flower After the weird worm in Our Blooming Youth, we got petals!

Flex x Cop It was really a very drama-esque way to make him join the Police. 😅

Captivating the King JJS is really good in this role. I'm excited to see him as King.

A Shop for Killers I don't understand how the FL wasn't suspicious about her uncle, he was super weird!

LTNS I followed my rule of 4 episodes and I can't stand any character. I don't need to start every episode by a sex scene to understand they're lovers neither.

My Man is Cupid I understand why they didn't find a channel for this drama...

Welcome to Samdal-ri Where is my Ji Chang-Wook's scene in Switzerland?

I am getting more and more uneasy about MARRY MY HUSBAND mainly because of how the time travelling rules are set up. Ji-won cannot simply break away from her enemies, her only way to solve the relationship issue is through manipulation which I find highly problematic. This reminds me of the ML in STRANGERS AGAIN who shied away from addressing the problems in his relationship and used a lie instead to manipulate his wife into a divorce. These are very red flags. The characters are still entertaining to watch, but there is a good chance I will drop it.

Wasn't prepared for only one episode of FLOWERS IN SAND, but I am now sure I knew who the killer is all along. I will miss the drama after next week and especially the childhood scenes. These children are so natural and believable.

The editing in SHOP FOR KILLERS is very well done. Past and present scenes reveal the story by and by and slowly, in a good way.

I hope Jo Yeo-Hwa will serve her MiL the Virtuous woman Book to eat at the end of the drama! I won't rule out that MiL herself will end up as a widow, she might then not like to book so much anymore. As suspected, the flower petals were not just decorative.

Will continue with CAPTIVATING THE KING. Maybe Prince Lee-In has noticed that he was playing Baduk against a girl already, but can keep a secret.

Lots of new dramas to watch, but most at the weekend! This sucks.

LIVE WATCHING:

1. A SHOP FOR KILLERS - Lee Dong-Wook and Kim Hye-Jun and their supporting cast are - pardon the pun - killing it in this drama. Episodes 3 and 4 are as tight as the first two episodes. This is my weekly "must-watch" drama.

2. LIKE FLOWERS IN SAND - I continue to adore this drama!

STILL WATCHING:

1. MY DEMON - Slow-going for me. Don't seem to be in the mood for it this week but I will carry on because it's a great series and Gu-Won and Do-Hee have chemistry in spades. It's just been on of those weeks.

2. WELCOME TO SAMDAL-RI - What I said about MY DEMON.

THINKING OF DROPPING:

THE BEQUEATHED - Not enough scares for me and it feels, well, tedious at this point.

What I am watching:
a. Marry My Husband: I don't want to use here and Na In Woo is fast becoming one of my favorite young actor.
b. Goryeo-Khitan War: Gam Chan Chan is definitely not afraid to voice out his opinion.
c. Love Story in Harvard: I miss court/legal dramas. Waiting for Queen of Divorce to start...
d. Knight Flower: The drama continues to deliver with Honey Lee as the FL...and it reaches 11%.

Marry My Husband💙(8/16): Less gushing about the line delivery this week. With emphasis on less, there is still plenty going around!🤗This week he is adding eyes to the mix, switching between yearning and utter heartbreaking disbelief whenever our FL degrades herself.😳What I do not like are his noble idiocy restaurant visits. Kang Ji-Won told him she wanted to be his confidante and she can pick out her future partner by herself. Also, he is an unpleasant customer with his barbs and unclear comments. I get why Eun-Ho is not too happy to see him return. Anyway, I will let it slide for now. Clearly the show is building up growth for Ji-Hyuk, a bromance(-in law) for our gents and a romance for our chef, right?!😤

Knight Flower🥷(5/12): Aigoo Amogae!🙄Now you outrank your original mistress, NokSoo married into your family and your monk became the king. Alas, your calm delivery (*yup, delivery. again. I need help.*) does not bring spring back to Ikwhari!😔(I had to Beanies, this is practically a Rebel Reunion!) Our officer also has a gentle voice and delivery (*despair*) and is quite devoted to his job. Devotion runs in the family, his hyung also knows no middle ground. He is either completely done or stirring the palace drama pot!🤭For the OST lovers among you: Blade by YoungJi is my new anthem.😎

Live Watch:

Captivating the king/Sejak I love the Korean name. Jo Jong Suk is terrific as the hurting crown prince (his poetry scene is what brillant acting is made of). Shin Se Kyung is not bad, if I may say so. I am just glad they took the drama out of the war quickly. But I wonder how the whole Baduk thing is going to play out. I dont find that very interesting , maybe because I don't understand the game? Plus the characters are not as convincing. To be honest, My Dearest is shadowing heavy on it. Let's see.
Flex Cop I signed up for some laughs and got a few. The premise is funny though I wonder if it has enough to go on for an entire series. Ahn Bo Hyun for some reason never sticks to me as a lead. I am always expecting someone else to come in....well...I don't know. I lied the first episode though.

Finished
The Matchmakers May I say I absolutely loved the series? This show outdid itself in three things:
Showing millions of different kinds of relationships (the casting team did some real matchmaking here)
Throwing in some nice laughs, mystery, crime, social apathy, court politics and stitch it all together flawlessly without changing the tone of the series. Not many K-dramas can say that.
Present a flawless finish: Not many K-dramas can say that either.

Eagerly waiting:
Doctor Slump bated breath. I am hoping this one will bring the entire DB community together. The trailers are a hoot and if it delivers what it promises, the start of 2024 will bring Kdramas out of slump right off the bat.

One Dollar Lawyer

The first 9 episodes of this show were so good. The present timeline was extremely old fashioned but in a good way. Every scene reminded me of old lawyer firm show Partner which has been one of my favorite shows for decades. Then it switched to the flashback timeline, which was tropey, cheesy, and heartbreaking all at the same time still in a good way. Beautifully showcasing Namgoong Min's acting range. Then episode 10 happened and everything just... imploded?? It was like they didn't have a writer anymore. They just went around repeating nonsensical dialogues and gestures like slapstick comedy shows. Silly nonsensical scenes that had nothing to do with the story. It was so weird! The last 3 episodes were bad. Very bad. Their only saving grace was one or two scenes where we see Namgoong Min showing a range of intense emotions and reactions in the span of a few seconds. Those were truly gorgeous.