Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (July 13, 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
Connection: Somehow I missed the moment when they let the universe know this drama was 14 — not 16 — episodes, because I was not ready to say goodbye so fast. But I loved it. Ji Sung really picks such fabulous scripts, and this one was fun right through the end. While I might have tweaked a few things if it was me, I’m not sorry how it ended, and I have all-new levels of appreciation for Kwon Yul and Kim Kyung-nam now.
Red Swan: Have to say, now that I know what to expect with this one (heavy duty silly melo), I’m all on board. It’s funnnn! I have no idea what I’m watching but I’m not sorry. You can continue to have Rain brood and wrist grab and beat people in the ring and I would be here for it.
mistyisles
Player: Should I have watched this first season before the second one? Probably, but what’s done is done. And I just couldn’t resist diving right back in at the actual beginning now that Season 2 is over and has left me with a giant crush on a certain con artist… In some ways, it’s even more fun watching the seasons in reverse like this — I already know and love the characters, and now I get the origin story of how they came to be. I must say, though, Season 1 feels way more fast-paced and frantic, in a good way.
RELATED POSTS
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (July 6, 2024)
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (June 29, 2024)
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (June 22, 2024)
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (June 15, 2024)
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (June 8, 2024)
- Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (June 1, 2024)
Tags: Connection, Player, Red Swan, What We're Watching
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1 miso
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
ONGOING
Miss Night and Day - SML was uncomfortably stalker-ish. I don't like the side note we got on Im Sun's body beginning to feel old and tired.
Red Swan - Seo Yi-sook is my favourite thing about this show because she is leaning into the drama and comedy of the premise. The outfit clash and press conference were hilarious.
My Sweet Mobster - While I loved all the romantic shenanigans, my favourite part was the petty fight in Ep. 9. It was hilarious watching Ji-hwan vent frustrations he probably didn't even know he had 😂. There are so many tiny comic moments in each episode, I keep rewinding and rewatching to catch everything. COVID-19 🤣!
STARTED
The Auditors - This is even sillier in its approach to auditing than Numbers and that's saying something. It also felt rather boring and joyless. Will give it another week.
WATCHLIST
Planning to try out Good Partner.
C-DRAMAS
Completed Follow Your Heart. Despite the expected last-minute separation, at least this one had an actual ending.
Still watching The Princess Royal (up to Ep. 20) - We're in that period where Li Rong's actions are quite frustrating but hopefully we'll pass this hump soon to get to the good parts 😉!
As Beautiful as You is paused because I have no time 😭.
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Dorotka
July 13, 2024 at 5:08 AM
That petty fight was truly hilarious 😂
...and with all those spectators around. 😄
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miso
July 13, 2024 at 5:59 AM
And their running commentary - "this is how I broke up with my ex" 😭!
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Mermaid Scribbler
July 14, 2024 at 8:39 PM
I laughed about that all week. So good!
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 6:19 AM
There is some brilliant, yet bitter irony somewhere in the fact that it's mostly not-so-great cdramas that usually give us proper, satisfying endings.
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miso
July 13, 2024 at 7:12 AM
True and it makes you thing better of the drama as a whole. At this point 'okay-ish' gets elevated to 'good' simply for having an ending!
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 8:13 AM
Someday drama makers will surely get that proper endings is what audience truly wants... Someday *sigh*
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Grand Sophy
July 13, 2024 at 9:36 AM
This made me think of Game of Thrones. Its ending still elicits a "grrrr" from me.
Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 9:56 AM
@annegray I wonder, what's worse - the terrible ending of an adaptation or the "will never be written at this point" one from the books?
Ofc I can be this funny over the matter only because most of my fave books remain untouched, thank gods. If one day things change, yall probably learn a lot of brand new strong expressions from me...
Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 6:56 PM
I have similar feelings about The Auditors. Haven't been able to get to the end of episode 1 yet. But Good Partner started well. Or at least I'm feeling that one more. Some joy there.
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miso
July 13, 2024 at 8:34 PM
Good to know as I'll watch both episodes of Good Partner tomorrow!
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 14, 2024 at 3:44 AM
Let me know how you find it! I just finished episode 2 and I think I'm sold on it.
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miso
July 15, 2024 at 7:30 AM
I liked it quite a bit! Loving Eun-kyung as a character.
2 HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Currently Watching
My Sweet Mobster: 🍭🦞 The actors and PD are bringing so much more depth and complexity to their roles than what's there on paper. Uhm Tae-gu is bringing regret for the past and for who he is, resignation about what others perceive him to be; hope that he can pull his employees (i.e., his only friends) out of the mire and keep them on the straight-and-narrow; self-sacrificial love for the people he considers under his protection (re: everyone + our FL); and disbelieving joy at the FL's affection. The FL also has depth... she likes our sweet mobster, and she's showing patience, empathy, and understanding not only for him and his journey to accepting her affection, but also for the other ex-cons, who she's developing the most lovely cameraderie with. This show has heart and humor, and I love it. Plus, it's hilarious!!!
The Auditors: Numbers 2.0 let's goooo!!! I was sold from the opening sequence and dramatic music. Lee Jeong-ha skipping around like a Disney princess, Shin Ha-kyun stalking around like a grumpy cat, Jin Goo looking hawt, A CAR CHASE (*I hoped against hope for this*)… I enjoyed the setup a lot!!! Our sweet boy ML is too naive, but is already (hopefully) losing that innocence pretty quick, because this company is RIFE with corruption. He'll be ready in no time to help our jaded ML catch all the rats. The villain (?) is an enigma wrapped in a man-bun - and he has a normal family?!?!? One of the best plot twists of the year👏👏👏
Finished
The Double: absolutely excellent. Enthralling, engrossing, and engaging for 40 episodes! The dialogue was fantastic, the villains were complex and fascinating (they all had compelling reasons for what they did - not excusing their actions, but adding complexity), the FL was motivated by justice, was a brilliant strategist, and had some of the BEST lines. The ML was also fantastic - he has more charisma and presence than many actors more than a decade his senior. The ending was hard - why save all THAT for the last fiften minutes?? But, the "special episode" confirmed what the last minutes previewed: our leads really, truly, finally, got their well-deserved happy ending together. Now I'm listening to the full OST, which miraculously showed up on Spotify.
In other news... For my dad's birthday, we watched... *Continued*
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
...Luck Key, which is an excellent action comedy movie of mistaken identity. He enjoyed it! I also watched Mission: Possible for either the 4th or 5th time; I've lost track... Lol every time I'm surprised by the violence, but it's so good... one of my favorite K-movies! Mom watched and loved Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale!!! Some of her reactions:
"This is so good; it's like all the tropes thrown into one, but in a really fun way." "It's so cute; it's like all the things you wish would happen" "Very cool, very creative, very well done" "It's FUN and it let's you relax because it gives you the feeling that everything is going to be ok." "This is so cute - it's adorable! It knows it's a spoof and doesn't hesitate to make it cute." Two thumbs up!!
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
July 13, 2024 at 5:06 AM
I agree with your mum, we want to watch rom coms knowing that everything is going to be ok.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 5:15 AM
I know!! I want the comfort of knowing there is a happy ending waiting for us. So nice to have gotten that in two Romantic Comedy / Dramas so far this year! Hopefully Dear Mobster will deliver on this as well.
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 10:46 AM
DREAMING OF A FREAKING FAIRYTALE was a gift to us all.
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Kafiyah Bello
July 13, 2024 at 5:05 AM
Re Auditors: I am so glad we are on this journey together, lol.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 5:18 AM
Oh for SURE, Kafiyah!!! Week 1 was a blast. You know what else is fun? I think Shin Ha-kyun knows he's playing Batman in this 😂
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Dorotka
July 13, 2024 at 5:12 AM
I really like the directing in Mobster.
(I'm constantly forgetting to look up the previous works of the PD.)
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 5:19 AM
Me too, Dorotka!! It also seems to be a perfect synergy for creating excellently funny physical comedy 😆
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zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 6:21 AM
The Double! One of my favorite dramas so far this year. What a wild ride. I guess I'm in the minority with the ending. Although it was rushed, I thought that final scene was fantastic! For some reason, I never doubted the HE 😉
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 6:59 AM
I did enjoy the ending, but I also enjoyed the extra confirmation that it was what I thought it was 😂 My Journey to You has been great so far... the writing and dialogue hasn't been as strong as The Double, but it's giving all the dark, moody vibes I was looking for, and is even more beautiful than The Double.
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zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 8:15 AM
oooh, I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on this at the end! It's on my watch list.
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♡Peach_Mochi♡
July 13, 2024 at 8:20 AM
100% on The Double! I wanted the reassurance that they did get their hard-won happy ending after all. However, I appreciated the artistry of the Ep. 40 ending more after starting a rewatch and seeing how its cinematography recalled some of the more atmospheric, otherworldly shots from the opening episodes.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 8:23 AM
Ooh I didn't think about the visual callback to the opening episodes!! Good catch, Peach!!!
zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 8:29 AM
I hadn't thought about that, but the opening scene where she's running in the forest with her husband was GORGEOUSLY filmed. Is it the same dress in both scenes? One of my favorite parts about the costumes in The Double was the way they used pops of color on otherwise neutral colored clothing.
OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 10:42 AM
Your description of all the things that are so not just good but right about MY SWEET MOBSTER is simply spot on. This has become one of my very favorite shows for this year (beans are already being allocated) and will definitely have a spot on my list of all-time favorite shows.
Those last fifteen minutes were the only thing that kept my wife from rating THE DOUBLE to be the full equal of NIRVANA IN FIRE.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 12:17 PM
Thank you! My Sweet Mobster is one of my favorite watches of the year, and will be on my list of favorite rom-coms, too. The last fifteen minutes aside (almost as if they thought they had more time and were suddenly cut short?), I loved The Double. It will be hard to beat that as my C-drama of the year.
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Zestileigh
July 15, 2024 at 5:39 PM
Woah! High praise. I don’t know how I do it, but the cdramas that go most viral (The Double, Love Like the Galaxy) and are most beloved, are on my b-tier list.
The Double was good and fine, but it didn’t really scratch the surface of my emotions at all. Two major parts fell exceptionally flat to me too:
The cousin having a dark turn as he lets it be known that he is aware of her identity and will follow her will in the shadow or the light. And her being like nah, and then us barely seeing him again. That was a bummer.
And the way the show treated the Princess. Oh, Wanning. The writing went pretty deep into her background, but there was no real exploration of her villainy. And when she becomes a sympathetic character, there’s no exploration of that either. Simply two jerks smirking at her end, and not even a moment for anyone (like her brother!) to contemplate her death. The line she threw at the FL “we could have been friends” should have been a bigger thesis imo
And the last 15 minutes just solidified the annoyance I already felt at the show offing the sidekicks and reviving her family. To me, they were cheap ploys that undermined my interest in the OTP
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 8:47 PM
You make want to read all these dramas 🥰 I started the double because of you and I'm loving it so far.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 14, 2024 at 4:12 AM
Aww thank you!! 🤗❤️ I hope you continue to enjoy it - it was quite a wild and fun ride!
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3 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Live watches
The Auditors
I enjoyed week one’s episodes so we will see how this week plays out but, I am fairly confident, at this stage, that I am in this for the duration.
My Sweet Mobster
This show, every week there are so many laugh out loud moments, it is such a joy to watch. I am concerned about the potential attack on the couple being dragged out next week. Please kill it off quickly so we can return to the fun.
My Name is Gabriel
Loving this variety show, the poor actress who made the mistake of saying she had worked in a restaurant in her early twenties and was then given her worst nightmare as her 72 hour adventure🫤
Anyone watching this have any ideas why they are all playing with their ear pieces in the studio shots every week throughout the show. Is it translations of the other languages or studio staff giving prompts? I have not seen any other show where the actors pull them in and out their ears while they are still on air.
Binge watch corner
Tiger with wings - Japanese
My first ever Japanese daily. I am absolutely loving this 15 minute, 130 episode drama that I can’t thank @johnb enough for mentioning in his WWW comment last week. If you liked The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko house or Kitchen knife and green chilli pepper you will like this too. It follows a group of women who strive to become part of the Japanese legal profession during the 1930’s and beyond. It is beautifully written and directed and the actors are doing a great job bringing the characters to life.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 5:45 AM
I'm not watching My name is Gabriel but today I saw a video by chance on Instagram: Park Bo Gum singing Amazing Grace in an Irish pub. And it was beautiful.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 11:51 AM
Going back a couple of Gabriel episodes but as much as I loved Gummy, the comedian with the family and that baby was fantastic. I don’t know how that man could have made it in that extremely awkward situation if it hadn’t been for his connection to that sweet baby👶🏻🩵👶🏻
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
July 13, 2024 at 12:16 PM
The comedian is consistently funny with all his fellow guests and the presenters. The task they give each of them is a good fit for their skill set. The woman who only repeats what others say and lives in the tent does come out of herself gradually over time and the wife is lovely. I don't know how they found the families from all corners of the globe but it is a great concept for a show.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:10 PM
Tiger with wings sounds intriguing. Jotting that down for my list.
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4 Radily
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Miss Night and Day (Episode 7-8) - Mood: D
Now that the already predictable mystery has been confirmed, the show barely has any hook to keep viewers watching. I’m not amused by the stalker-like tendencies displayed by the 2ML and the classic episode 8 kiss feels tacky so romance isn’t an option for me too. The show tried to do something with the fantasy and Mi Jin feeling old but I bet it’s just to build up the future hostage cliffhanger when she confronts the killer. As for the ageism theme, again, they tried, but it’s just plot device.
My Sweet Mobster (Episode 9-10) - Mood: D
Ah yes, confessions and pregnancy kits, what an innovative pair of arcs to drive the romance plot forward. And yes, if there is someone who just pulls me away when I’m having a conversation with someone else, that’s a major turn-off: just why did the show think that possessiveness was a great display of love? I really hope that kit was a false positive, as an unintended kid can ruin actual relationships much less one filled with uncertainty between Il Young and Mi Ho. No kidnappings, please?
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Islander north
July 13, 2024 at 7:45 AM
Unexpected pregnancies are not the death knell of a (budding) relationship...marriages have occurred and thrived throughout time with such beginnings.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:15 PM
Agreed. That was not executed well. It's rude to just pull away someone from a conversation like that 🙄
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5 Dorotka
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Meetings in the Deer Kingdom
I'm happy that the comedy is still there even during the sort of separation part and all those meetings of the Deergang and their silly strategies always make me laugh. Also... Covid test??? 🤣🤣
On a more serious note, I'm glad that Uri Prosecutor stopped being blinded by his conviction and started asking questions and properly investigate. I had my faith in him (and in *cough* Kwon Yul *cough*).
Currently No Beauty, Nor Romance
It was satisfying to watch Seaside Halmoni to talk back to Selfish Unrepentant Mom and put her in her place (my bet is Halmoni is just pretending having a memory loss spell 😁). And I think the actor playing Doshik had quite fun as well. 😄
Unfortunately, most of the rest of the show only frustrates me and I miss good old weekenders with proper multiple stories. Where are you, My father is strange, Five enough, Family's Honor, Ojakgyo Brothers or (the condensed) My Unfamiliar Family??
Despicable Me 4 - open air cinema screening
A huge disappointment. Scattered, unbalanced and actually missing a main coherent theme. I wish they focused on the new neighbourhood and making new friends there (both kids and adults), with deeper connections and dialogues. Teenage Villainess was the most interesting (and entertaining) part (just a pity there was not more interactions among the girls). Lucy and her undercover job on the other hand... no, Lucy deserved better.
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Mermaid Scribbler
July 14, 2024 at 8:44 PM
The Covid 19 moment was gold!
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6 Unaspirated
July 13, 2024 at 5:01 AM
Live Watches
Miss Night and Day: The little moments of vulnerability from Ji-ung are so sweet; I love that Mi-jin and her family bring that out in him. This week, I’m hoping Won and Ga-young will meet as the two people in on her secret, and that the dead fish turns into something better!
감사합니다: Aw, I missed Shin Ha-kyun! This is off to a fun start and I’m excited for new episodes. Will it be a case-of-the-week situation? Our mangnae’s trust in people has come in handy once already, but I hope he and Cha-il reach a nice place in the middle of their two viewpoints by the end.
Recent Dramas:
The Atypical Family: (finished!) Wow, Beanies were totally right that this show keeps getting better as it goes on. I liked it a lot (and a lot more than I was expecting to), but I definitely liked the whole thing better once the scam was out in the open. I thought Bok Mom’s arc was plausible, but I didn’t really buy Sauna Mom’s realization. She was very awful for a very long time, and even though I thought they were all adorable at I-na’s dance competition, it was hard to connect that with her previous characterization. The ending was also way better than I was expecting! Having read what happened ahead of time, I felt poised for ridiculousness, but ended up pretty happy with it. Was it convenient? Sure, but it was also *fate*. Thanks to @isagc @marcusnyc20 @laurensophie @elinor @moomoomoondog @seeker and @kurama who helped me decide to watch this one!
Freaking Fairy Tale Show: (finished!) This was such a delight from start to finish. I want to watch a supercut of all Cha-min’s dance moves. And maybe another one of all the moments that he and Jae-rim fantasized about each other. And then a short one that is just every time someone winked in this show. They were all so much fun! I’ll be watching again when it becomes available legally for me. Until then, follow your joy, Beanies!
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 5:51 AM
I'm really really glad you liked Atypical Family, even its ending. It's still the best k-drama I have watched this year.
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Healer’s
July 13, 2024 at 6:35 AM
I finished Atypical Family yesterday and loved it. It's getting my bean from A good day to be a dog. That was a hard bean to earn and I wanted to give it to Atypical ☺️😅
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Unaspirated
July 13, 2024 at 10:04 AM
Hahaha I’ve never thought about which dramas’ beans I’m giving to other dramas (just about the entire pool I have available) but this is fun! I don’t think I’d do it for every drama because some are fine but just don’t make the bean cut, but any spite finishes I’ll definitely make a note of which show I’m giving a bean instead! (I did not get a bean for AGDTBAD despite watching 2/3 of it and I am 100% happy with that call 😂)
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 11:55 AM
Ha I think about it every time I earn one. It’s all about the beans🫘💙🫘
Healer’s
July 13, 2024 at 5:59 PM
I don’t often do it either, but so far 2024 has been really great I don’t have any extra beans to consider except beans from Lovely Runner (given to Flex) and AGDTBAD 😅
23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 11:54 AM
I agree! It’s unique spirit over took Flex as my new #1
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bong-soo
July 13, 2024 at 9:49 AM
I am glad JTBC’s THE ATYPICAL FAMILY was a success for you. TAF is one of my favorites of the year so far and I am particularly pleased with Jang Ki-yong’s performance in his first post military drama. I hope his luck continues in his future projects and will choose dramas with great ensemble casts.
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Cori
July 13, 2024 at 10:40 AM
I'm so glad you enjoyed Atypical Family! And Freaking Fairy Tale was such a fun show 😄
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ar_arguably romantic
July 13, 2024 at 12:49 PM
I think the ending of Atypical Family works because there is an almost fairytale-like fantasy element to the story. I also had trouble buying Sauna Mom's realization - like it needed an extra scene or two.
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Unaspirated
July 13, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Yeah, I needed to see her feel even slightly conflicted as she was going around being a terrible person for like 10.5 episodes. It didn’t ruin it for me, but it was pretty jarring for everyone else to have a reasonable arc and for the show to just tell us that she’s a decent person, instead of showing us who she was like they did for everyone else.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:31 PM
I'm so glad you enjoyed ATF. It was a surprising one. Worth the watch for sure. I might have to give the fairy tale show a try.
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7 welh
July 13, 2024 at 5:02 AM
CONNECTION (Ep. 13-14) In one sense, this was not just a police procedural or murder mystery, but a nostalgic, rusty roller coaster ride without any safety equipment of old friendships, greed, betrayals all set in motion by Joon-Seo's sentimental attachment to his high school club days after his adult life fell a part. It was a very complex structured story line that leap frogged to the finish line. It was well acted and directed with a fast pace of twists and cliffhangers. The theme of investigating what "friendship" actually means in class conscious Korean culture was the core to character motivations. I would recommend the series to anyone who likes fast paced action entertainment where even the good guys have bad secrets.
THE AUDITORS (Ep. 1-2) Bravado, leaps to conclusions and bluffs seems to be the hammer for the new Audit Team leader. His premise is like a stranger wandering into a corrupt old Old Western mining town and thrust into position of sheriff to clean it up. At the end of the first episode, I felt that this series would really be told through the eyes of Gu Han-soo, the clueless youngest member of the team (who as a hacker should have made a complete back-up of the laptop), and Yoon Seo-Jin, the super-serious one (with one really big secret). In fact I picked up this drama to watch Jo Ah-ram, whose short resume has been stellar in all of her performances.
There were many face palm moments and you really had to suspend all belief to accept the special audit quick showdown (for the lack of competent evidence) to move the story along. I think CHIEF KIM was more realistic in auditing while THE AUDITORS is more super hero, quasi-police driven crime investigation premise.
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8 Kafiyah Bello
July 13, 2024 at 5:03 AM
Player 2: It had hijinks and cleverness. A fun sequel to a fun beginning.
My Sweet Mobster: Awwwwww, he finally admits his feelings. The way our adorable gangsters are rooting for our OTP is so very adorable. The side romance is so interesting because it is so Makjang in comparison to the rest of the drama, one night stand, a pregnancy, what will they think of next.
Red Swan: I laughed so hard at the baby momma drama. It is so absurd. The matching outfits was random too. The drama is probably funnier than it is supposed to be, but I am enjoying the ride.
Good Partner: Korean divorce laws are STUPID. Why must anybody regardless of gender suffer in a marriage they don’t want. WTF. This poor woman. That man is abusing her and everyone is real casual about the abuse. Very disgusting. I will keep watching because our attorney Han has A LOT to learn. If she had done what she was told, this woman would have been out of that evil marriage.
The Auditors:😁😁😁, I love it. It is like a better Numbers, so 100% gets my vote.
Miss day & Night: Okay, let the romance begin!!!
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 11:07 AM
I like what you said about how our young lawyer should have followed her mentor's advice: Jang Nara's character might actually have been motivated by a desire to do exactly what you said. However, she could not say it that way because her firm represented the husband.
However, lawyers must follow the instructions of their clients and in this case the husband did not want to settle.
What was actually off here in this episode is the unprofessional conduct of the wife's lawyer. Why was he not present when the trial began? Above all why had he not instructed his client and her family not to behave the way that they did? Remember that the main reason that our young lawyer believed her client was that she had twice been directly subjected to bouts of "Delusional Jealousy". She would not have advocate with the same passion without that.
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Kafiyah Bello
July 13, 2024 at 11:49 AM
I totally agree. However, JNR's character first said try to convince him to do a uncontested divorce. She didn't even try. That is more what I meant in this instance.
I also 100% agree about the wife's lawyer. What a useless attorney.
I do disagree about why she believed the client though. I believe it was stubborness and the need for the advice to be wrong, ha, which is why she advocated so strongly. Also the son helping his father screw over his poor mother. SMH.
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 12:15 PM
I agree that the son's letter played a part- and you are absolutely right about our newbie's desire to prove her mentor wrong also being a factor. But I think it was the wife's extreme behavior which made her absolutely certain that her client was telling the truth.
I was even more disgusted with the wife's lawyer after the dust settled. If he had just been brought on board, he should have been the one asking to postpone the trial because if the husband has had five affairs, then there is a huge amount of evidence out there and evidence of multiple affairs would itself have been significant in the award of assets, etc. under SK law. There would have been no need for a trial because the existence of this evidence would have forced a settlement. Almost certainly this would have included testimony from at least one of the past (but now spurned) lovers- if not all four of them.
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Kafiyah Bello
July 13, 2024 at 2:12 PM
True True, I am not at all mad at our rookie for doing her job, but she really is arrogant, and could have saved herself the guilt. That poor woman. But as you said a lawyer's job is to tell the truth as you know it. I didn't appreciate JNR's character telling her to lie. Lawyers are not allowed to lie, just work with what we have, like that rather stupid interpretation of SOC, regardless of how ridiculous. I too am a lawyer.
OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 5:17 PM
As you and I both know- arrogance is a deadly sin in a lawyer. Hopefully our newbie has learned her lesson.
Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 4:14 AM
Oh man, I'm hugely enjoying this legal dialog. I have sooo many questions about the law and lawyers. Can I get one of you to move in as my next door neighbor?
Kafiyah Bello
July 14, 2024 at 9:46 AM
@cliosservant1846 we can try and answer any questions you might have.
OldLawyer
July 14, 2024 at 9:58 AM
Lawyers love talking about the law (we wouldn't be lawyers if we didn't).
Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 3:22 PM
I totally love you two legal eagles. Oh, and Mrs. Old Lawyer too because ... obvi ... she's smarter than all the rest of us.
OK, I now have my go-to experts for legal conundrums. So relieved ...
9 Kurama
July 13, 2024 at 5:09 AM
My Sweet Mobster The show started to repeat itself a little bit so I'm happy their relationship finally started. I'm still think 16 episodes are too much.
Miss Night and Day The FL is still pretty immature.
Good Partner Excited to start it.
The Auditors Not convinced by the first 2 episodes yet. Nothing was really new in the writing. I hoped the theme would make it different but it just looks like a police drama.
Red Swan It looks like they put a lot of money in a not very good show...
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10 Blue (@mayhemf)
July 13, 2024 at 5:10 AM
Connnection - completed. Easily among the top dramas this year for me.
My sweet Mobster - Has my whole heart 💙 love this show to bits and keep rewatching scenes.
As beautiful as you (cdrama): On ep 19. I like the scenes with the leads.the slow burn romance is working for me. Han Ting is kinda awkward in all non work situations and it’s fun to watch him fumble along. I don’t mind the other couple too (content creator and bar owner). But the office drAma is too much at times. And I Ff Fhe ex and friend arc completely.
I need a new show to watch.
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ladyjaye
July 13, 2024 at 7:00 AM
Comment was deleted
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sonai
July 13, 2024 at 7:48 AM
ABAY: “Mr Han, do you think we have nothing in common outside work?” 😂 Oh, I felt for him then! Glad it’s picking up a bit in these later episodes. How they ran to see each other was adorable, and his assistant/cupid is also a nice trope 😉
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Blue (@mayhemf)
July 13, 2024 at 8:09 AM
LOL. yea. And also her imitation of his ‘mmm’ in his text messages and calls.
I like that she is slowly warming up to him and actually wants to spend time with him and get to know him more. The subtle body language Seven shows is nice.
I can’t wait for their romance to pick up.
The secretary is adorable.
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sonai
July 13, 2024 at 8:34 AM
Episode 20 is an absolute treat, just watched. 👏🫰👏
It’s also a gentle reminder that wearing a glammed up red track suit won’t magically transform you into a hot hero like HYENA’s Geumja (sad but true) 😂😂😂 Hard to own that look!
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Blue (@mayhemf)
July 13, 2024 at 3:52 PM
Yeah! Didn’t work on him. His character is starting to look annoying. I need to see if he has any strengths.
Their Munich trip was lovely. We got some good scenes!!
sonai
July 14, 2024 at 12:33 AM
😂 But I must say, that his entrance to the office in that outfit and the unfiltered reactions of his colleagues had me cackling!!! 🤣 Maybe he’s good for the comedy? 🤔 But yes, annoying traits seem to be piling up for him… 🙄
🏀🔥😉💯
11 jerrykuvira
July 13, 2024 at 5:20 AM
Connection - I almost missed watching this piece because of some dramas I ended up dropping. And now, it is the last man standing in my currently airing watchlist. Now that it is over, the week has just been there. I'm still scouting for what to begin. Most likely, it'll be The Auditors. I'd have began this already but my first foray into this was skipping to and watching the last minutes of episode 1 and I was greeted with Shin Cha-il being hit on the head by a goon. To see the buildup to that moment from the beginning now seems like a task.
My focus shifted entirely from Ji Sung to Kwon Yul in the finale episodes. Even after Tae-jin's death, it kept lingering. I'm very much pleased Kwon Yul took this role.
I've saved a date to watch the movie Feng Shui (2018). That should be done this coming week.
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PYC
July 13, 2024 at 9:05 AM
Kwon Yul is phenomenal in Connection.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:38 PM
He so is.
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12 Midnight
July 13, 2024 at 5:21 AM
Our House aka Bittersweet Hell
This was the most beautiful show I have ever watched. Simply breathtaking!
The show is a black comedy thriller, which was something I am not at all used to, so I was watching very slowly at first, but when I hit ep 7 I couldn't stop any more. In the End I loved every single moment of it.
I loved most of the characters' arcs, and how they matured/evolved before our eyes. It was fascinating.
The Veil
Seems to be a drop. The story is very interesting. The acting is topnotch. But the director ruins every single scene with the dumbest editing choices. If I was NGM I would never work with them again...
Then I look at dramawiki and see that they went on to make My Dearest together!!! And I start howling with laughter!! Just how is that even possible!! I haven't watched MD but I'm sure it can't have this horrible editing!
Just Between Lovers
Beanies Community Watch/rewatch.
I was all set to start Freaking Fairytale after Our House, but now I'm in such a thriller mood. So, Connection it is.
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bong-soo
July 13, 2024 at 10:00 AM
It seems I have been mostly traveling the last month and my drama viewing is always is negatively impacted. However I was live watching DTLM and CONNECTION at the time and have finished DTLM (1 of the 5 beanies that enjoyed it lol). I am approaching the end of Ji Sung’s great performance in CONNECTION. I started THE AUDITORS and loved the first two episodes.
During the Olympics I am going to try to work in MBC’s BITTERSWEET HELL (Viki US). I am a fan of both Kim Hee-sun and Lee Hye-young and I was sorry I couldn’t get to it before now.
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Midnight
July 13, 2024 at 11:24 AM
I'm never a live-watcher, but I think Bittersweet Hell is better as a binge for everyone!
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:42 PM
I didn't realise it was the same D for Veil and MD! Ha. I know what you mean about the scene direction in V. MD is completely different. Maybe he was leaning more into the genre to make his decisions.
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13 Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 5:35 AM
Hi beanies! This is my favorite section in Dramabeans, so here we go.
What I am watching:
_ Sweet Mobster (10/16). I like it, and there are very funny and enjoyable moments or details in this show, but my favorite episodes still are 5 and 6.
_ Racket Boys (10/16). This drama is so cute and sweet! I don't get bored for a moment. The kids are great, funny, natural and charming. I love the way all the characters care for one another. And how they secretly prepared Coach's birthday, or the party for the 90 years old granny. The landscapes and the music are beautiful too.
_ Gu Family Book (11/24). I had put this on hold while I was watching Joy of Life 1 and 2. So here I am again inside this fantasy story which still reminds me a lot of King of Baking (same writer, Kang Eun Kyung. She is the original creator of Atypical Family too. She definitely knows how to write hooking shows).
_ C-drama An Ancient Love Song (3/14). This was on my list and I have started it because of the great rating in Douban (8'6). It has been interesting so far; you know time travels are my catnip. And there are two very handsome male leads, a charismatic female lead and an endearing young Emperor.
What I have finished:
_ Joy of Life Season 2. Amazing. I'll miss this show and its great and complex characters.
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zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 6:25 AM
I liked Ancient Love Song! The time travel was done in a really interesting way and I loved the FL.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 7:18 AM
It was a sleeper in 2023, wasn't it? A minidrama nobody expected to be so good.
I have watched some mini C-dramas (Butterflied lover, A familiar stranger, My husky boyfriend...) but they weren't very good, only moderately entertaining. However, An Ancient Love Song seems to be a different kind of minidrama. It looks better, no doubt.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 14, 2024 at 4:13 AM
I put it on my list!!
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 1:17 PM
Glad to hear about racket boys. It’s on my list😍
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:49 PM
Racket boys is on my radar too. Will have to make time for it.
Ah, we're the same person. I think episode 5 and 6 of the Mobster were the best. And possibly 7 😍
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 1:46 AM
Episodes 5 and 6 were so funny! And ML was a serious candidate to become my favorite ML this year, but now after episodes 9 and 10 I'm not so sure. I think he acted out of character in the last episode.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 14, 2024 at 3:40 AM
I'm so glad you feel the same too! I was wondering whether I was being harsh in my 'judgement" though it's more of a perception really. He did feel out of character and that's the bit I was reacting to. Maybe he can redeem himself in these last episodes to still be in the running for your favourite ML of the year 😍 He will probably take my spot too.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 4:03 AM
If I had to decide it now, I'd say the ML in Knight Flower or The Atypical Family.
And my favorite MLs in C-dramas this year are in The Legend of Shen Li and, of course, Joy of Life 2.
But we have half a year ahead of us, so who knows!
spazmo
July 14, 2024 at 12:50 AM
here to cheer on Racket Boys -- such a surprisingly sweet and engaging drama! i found myself going thru their warm up motions along with them, as badminton was one of two activities we had in our backyard when i was young... the other being the BORING croquet (had older brothers whacking my ball way out of the yard)..... but i could stand up against them in badminton!
; )
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 1:48 AM
I have no idea about badminton. I should have read a little about the rules and scoring system 😅
But the drama is very entertaining indeed.
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14 9TailedVixen (formerly 9TailedFox)
July 13, 2024 at 5:36 AM
LIVE WATCH:
1.THE AUDITORS - So far, so good. Hooked and looking forward to coming episodes. Who knew I'd be interested in watching a drama about accountants? LOL!
ONGOING
1. THE CURSED - Watched the first 2 episodes and so far it's delivering. Since it's from the PD-nim of TRAIN TO BUSAN, this should hopefully be a real rollercoaster of a Horror drama. Currently free to watch on Tubi.
COMPLETED
1. MILITARY PROSECUTOR DOBERMAN - Quite entertaining. Jo Bo-A nailed every single scene and I managed to bear with Ahn Bo-Hyung.
2. PUBLIC AFFAIRS OFFICE IN THE SKY - A 2010 J-Drama Romance about a public affairs officer of the Japanese air force whose flying career ended due to an accident and a journalist who was demoted from the newsroom to the lifestyle features section. They meet when she is assigned to cover air force publicity events and the romance is a slow-burn antagonists-to-friends-to-lovers story. It has a slice-of-life feel and is quite good.
ON PAUSE
DOCTOR SLUMP and A GOOD DAY TO BE A DOG are both on pause for now as I'm not in the headspace to watch either.
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15 kay4625
July 13, 2024 at 5:59 AM
The Player 2: Master of Swindlers (11-12): And that's how you go out with a bang! From time bombs, stabbings, kidnappings, to action, humor, and ripping one's shirt off in the middle of battle, to Lee Sung-kyung randomly showing up to kill the main villain, these last 2 episodes had everything I wanted, and then some.
Good Partner (1): I really liked the first episode. The so-called "win" of the first case felt very much like a depressing loss though... Immediately sets the tone that not all of these cases will have the desired outcome. Also, they certainly didn't wait to reveal that Eun-kyung's husband was cheating, did they? But anyway, I kinda hope we see her daughter a lot, because I'm interested in how she is as a mother vs how she is as a lawyer.
Hospital Playlist 2 (9-12): While I don't think this season was as strong as the first one, I still loved it, and it had some excellent episodes, especially in the second half, where even the romance department mostly sorted itself out after some initial problems. Very happy with how the finale turned out. Had a surprisingly heavy focus on medical cases, but I didn't mind, it's still partly a medical show after all (and I like those), and aside from a few minor nitpicks, I don't really have any complaints. I'm gonna miss these friends, and of course all the side characters as well.
Reply 1988 (1): Honestly, they had me when future Deok-sun basically called all of her friends idiots. Wouldn't say I'm fully loving it yet, but I really enjoyed the first episode. Can't wait to watch more.
My Perfect Stranger (11-12): In a way, this show is about the leads facing the past, in order to face the present, to then ultimately face the future. I still think the ML's family is suspicious, but more than that, I'm really curious to find out why his mother left him (and why his father basically did the same thing afterwards), because there's obviously a story there.
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 12:05 PM
There was a real-life truth in the "win" in GOOD PARTNER, one that is actually really experienced by any trial lawyer: Not every 'win' is really a win, not every 'loss' is really a loss.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Now that you have seen HP don’t you feel like you’ll go back to any episode when you need to smile. I love that💜
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16 Scottie
July 13, 2024 at 6:04 AM
A test stick with two lines must be a Covid test, lol. Best joke this season in any drama! SWEET MOBSTER is killing it, my favourite comedy this year, even though the last scene with Mobster acting like an obsessive, controlling boyfriend did strike a sour note for me.
There is not much else I look forward to watch at the moment. In DAY AND NIGHT GIRL I prefer Day girl Lee Jung-Eun, but I do admire how she and Jung Eun-Ji match in their joined character.
Shin Ha-Kyun is not an AUDITOR as I know them to be (having been one for a while myself), but he is just so good as an actor that I'll watch. It makes sense that Jin Goo is also not a typical business man, but I like the hair.
UNCLE SAMSIK is really good, not a surprise with this excellent cast even for smaller parts, but life is too short to watch something like RED SWAN.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
July 13, 2024 at 6:16 AM
Good to hear another Uncle Samsik happy viewer. I hope that more beanies will find their way to this hidden gem.
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Scottie
July 13, 2024 at 6:33 AM
It is interesting how Disney does produce some excellent dramas like Uncle Samsik, but also duds like Red Swan and other dramas better not named and quickly forgotten. They must choose by the sell-ability of the actors, not by the script.
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Islander north
July 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM
I'm finding Red Swan OTT fun...like a weekender, but a heck of a lot less episodes.
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Scottie
July 13, 2024 at 8:49 AM
This kind of OTT is not my thing, but I do like the actor who plays the cheating husband and almost watched it for him.
23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 1:22 PM
On my list because of beanie reports.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 9:58 PM
Life is too short to watch something like Red Swan. That made me cackle 😅
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17 ♡Peach_Mochi♡
July 13, 2024 at 6:07 AM
Sweet Mobster (through Ep. 10): Grateful for the return to comedy and romance in Episode 10. Love the found family of matchmaking deerlings. But, but, but ... what is the writer doing with Mi-ho? You can't give this refreshingly direct character some of the best lines in a show with lots of them and then throw her into an unplanned pregnancy plot. She deserves so much better.
The Auditors (through Ep. 2): Was not expecting auditing to be such an action-packed endeavor. Han-soo's naivete was a bit grating at first, but at least he seems to be a quick learner.
Player 2 (completed): The finale wrapped up the season nicely, but I wish some of the Jeffrey backstory had been presented in earlier episodes to give the show more emotional depth before the last two weeks.
Beauty and Mr. Romantic (through Ep. 32): Less screeching, but we're still heavy on the angst and conflict. I'd really just like to see more of the two couples I care about: Do-ra and Pil-seung, and Ma-ri and Do-jun. At least the latter are communicating and growing closer. Meanwhile the villains don't seem to have learned any lessons from Do-ra's first life and "death." Isn't it about time some just desserts get served?
C-drama section: I've been enjoying The Princess Royal with my daughter, who otherwise usually stays away from historicals. However, we both groan whenever Su Rongqing, the SML, comes on the screen. She has dubbed him "Sussy Su," to use some Gen Alpha terminology. As Beautiful as You is a bit heavy on the business plots and is taking its time on the romance front. Another succession battle between older sister and younger brother. Sigh.
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jillian
July 13, 2024 at 11:51 AM
I like the nickname your daughter gave him. He is definitely as "Sussy Su". 😂
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 5:27 PM
On BMR it looks like the male villian is about to blow up his engagement- The first but not last step in his fall.
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♡Peach_Mochi♡
July 14, 2024 at 9:34 AM
It better be a spectacular downfall given everything he has gotten away with to this point.
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OldLawyer
July 14, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Amen to that prayer- from your lips to the writer's ear. A downfall of truly epic proportions.
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18 Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 6:13 AM
Happy Saturday, Beanies! I didn't watch much this week, so it's gonna be mainly news.
WHEN ENDS ATTEMPT TO JUSTIFY MEANSFOLLOW YOUR HEART: This drama had no business to have such a cute, wholesome romantic (triple wedding! a whole episode dedicated to just that!) ending after such a lackluster run. Once again proves how important is to have a good script – when there's everything but that, nothing will really work. Unless you let actors to makeout half of the whole time, like in LOVE IS SWEET, but here makers shoot themselves in the foot by restraining main leads (but not 2 other couples – eh? we need an explanation here, show!)for some reason, so... Gorgeous costumes tho. Too bad LYX's injury prevented him for joining Bollywood-like closing dance - that's exactly how I'd like to see more dramas to finish.“Drama news” segment :
- STRANGE TALES OF TANG DYNASTY 2 on 18th – previous rumor was a week early, unfortunately. New trailers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3y9lR4gCwM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrbH0UCvRBM
- iQiyi's remaining summer lineup – confirmed version:
https://x.com/ForCdrama/status/1811630457378996334
- Youku's next after THE PRINCESS ROYAL show is gonna be DASHING YOUTH (Neo Hou, He Yu, Hu Lianxin - wuxia), prequel of THE BLOOD OF YOUTH. No confirmed date yet, but here's a trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWlHjtv1xnA
- for Tencent the next drama after LYF2 would be HIDDEN CHARM/LIU ZHOU STORY (Zhang Wanyi, Wang Churan – historical romance). I believe I posted its trailer recently already.
- Mango's summer lineup – time to start psyching myself to stomach horrendous AI subs, mwahaha! *pained laugh*
https://x.com/ForCdrama/status/1812103929595117852
- drama wraps for Youku: LIGHT TO THE NIGHT (Pan Yueming, Wang Hedi, Ren Min – mystery thriller):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uq4b9MXIfPw
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 6:16 AM
- and PHOENIX STAGE (Ren Jialun, Peng Xiaoran – historical romance):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFCeibphvfQ
- speaking of RJL, there's a talk that his and SZE's big budget xianxia THE DEMON HUNTER'S ROMANCE (iQiyi) will drop in Q4. I'm as shocked and skeptical as you are. Oh, and now they're saying that TPOB will air before that in Q3, because iQiyi wants Tencent to test these risky waters first. Hmmm... Simply praying clearly doesn't work – let's do a dark magic summoning circle then (feat bad bitch Wei Shao because I adore his toxic swag):
https://x.com/myyteatime/status/1778835327265763375
- blame it on ADWAD leaks for keeping me in this overheated “moar armor” mood. I mean, look:
https://x.com/liuyunings/status/1809624518304125085
Hilariously, there's a whole online discourse on how the crew found him likely the biggest horse in Hengdian lol. Together they look
freaking massiveimpressive for sure))) Otherwise our big prince continues his usual routine of alternating between having a lot of awful and a bit of fun times (heavens forbid censors to cut whatever wild omg was happening in the scene prior to that second pic!):https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GSShzCrbIAAd62K?format=jpg&name=medium
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/GSBEXWla0AAr8ow?format=jpg&name=large
- aaand LYN will be on YOUR SONG S6 after all, first recording on 16th already. Let's hope his voice recovered enough for that...
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ladyjaye
July 13, 2024 at 7:08 AM
They're selling Zhang Wanyi hard as a lead character, but I can't buy it. He gives a lot of second lead energy to me.
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 7:26 AM
I don't watch LYF and haven't seen him in anything else yet, but my side of cdrama online discourse has been full of praises for his acting lately. Which is interesting, because usually when male actor blows up there, it's mainly for
being hotthings other than actual skills or a combination of factors... So it seems that he's got one good selling point at least. Ofc it's possible to have range but lack charisma befitting ML - is that what you meant? Maybe he just needs a role that's not all about being the unfavored fish in FL's aquarium...Required fields are marked *
ladyjaye
July 13, 2024 at 9:45 AM
Oh he's a good actor. He just doesn't have the charisma of a male lead.
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 10:11 AM
That's unfortunate, but still fixable in theory - or by other means, like smartly choosing more down to earth scripts/roles or putting him in ensemble projects etc.
abalyn
July 13, 2024 at 9:14 AM
Did you like the first season of Strange Tales of Tang Dynasty? Maybe I'll watch before the second one comes out...
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 10:04 AM
I LOVED it! As with many cdramas, it takes a few episodes to shape up properly - don't judge the story or characters just based on the first case, they all evolve big time eventually! - but after that it's a very fun, enjoyable ride right until the end. I was sooo happy we're getting a sequel and waited patiently for it - just pls be good, I don't ask much, am I?
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Thank you for the news on SRANGE TALES OF THE TANG DYNASTY 2. I have alerted my wife.
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Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 3:22 AM
Upd.: DASHING YOUTH will drop on July 19th.
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19 sonai
July 13, 2024 at 6:13 AM
Drama watching is picking up for me recently!!!
I really enjoyed the first episodes of THE AUDITORS, which had me rub my hands and laugh maniacally at times. Why would an auditor need 00 agent skills?! I cannot tell you, but I love it. Bring on the pyrotechnics next, please!!! 🔥💥
I also started BITTER SWEET HELL, and wowza. Scenery, locations, filming, uuummm I guess you call it “art direction”?! Top notch. Love the drone shots and the OTT drama. I’m only two episodes in, so it’s all still a mystery to me, what will turn out how, and how bad everyone really is. Looking forward to continue this one!
Also, against my better judgment because of the topic, I watched the first episode of GOOD PARTNER, which just frustrated me to no end. That first case? Argh! Not blaming the actors, who are great, and the opening credits have a very melancholy late 80s vibe to them which I like, but this show is clearly not for me. Moving on…
… to MY SWEET MOBSTER, which was more on the silly/hilarious side this week (well, compared to the last), but also left me with a little bad aftertaste at the end of episode 10. Afraid this lost a bit of its initial charm for me… 🤔🫣 But I’ll continue and see if it gets back on track.
Also still watching c-drama AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU, and really enjoying it. The romance is a sloooooooooooooooooow burn. Like really slow. But I don’t mind that, because the rest of the story keeps me interested. I like the overall ensemble (all but her ex, sheesh), including that lovely cat!
🫰☕️🍰
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Midnight
July 13, 2024 at 6:54 AM
Exactly! I hope you'll like it as much I did!
The directing is out of this world! The acting, and the writing are topnotch too!
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Blue (@mayhemf)
July 13, 2024 at 7:14 AM
You both are making me want to start this one.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 10:02 PM
Me too. I watched 4 episodes and put it on pause but curious to see more.
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sonai
July 13, 2024 at 7:27 AM
Oh yes, you get the feeling that every scene is meticulously choreographed, from the acting to the location etc. I really love Lee Hye Joung as supposedly “evil MIL”, she’s killing it. (How she danced with the camera in episode 2! Plus her “writing cave”: *chef’s kiss*)
I kinda hope the first scene will be picked up again, soon (though I imagine this could be how it ends…!). And I also hope both women join forces, in whatever way.
🍿🫰🍿
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20 zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 6:17 AM
WATCHING
That Pink Show 🦞
I think what I love so much about MSM is that it feels like the perfect k-drama rom-com. Nothing is too heavy, but all the little details add up to a high quality production with really appealing characters and plenty of squee. The dialogue and the acting are so on point. I never feel anxious, bored, or ready to fast forward when I'm watching. I just sit back and enjoy the preciousness of it all.
FINISHED
Til the End of the Moon c-drama 2023
I was deep into the melo of this intensely emotional Xianxia. Bai Lu is stunningly beautiful and Luo Yunxi haunting in roles that will be hard to forget. I can't imagine any other actor playing the ML. He has such subtle acting depth and range, plus a magnetic physical presence. There were some draggier episodes plus occasionally crappy CGI and enough spurting blood scenes to last a lifetime. But overall, this was an unforgettable story. Loved it!
Have a great week beanies! 🤗
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 6:39 AM
I know, right? Not only it required mad acting and athletic skills, but also very specific physical characteristics that even he himself only pulled off "thanks" to a prior trauma. Whenever I hear rumors of other, "hotter" stars being previous contenders for the role - total BS, btw, production was hellbent on him and him only from the start - I have a great laugh imagining the train-wreck it would've result in)))
Wait, no rage over THAT ending? You're stronger than me then^^
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zindigo
July 13, 2024 at 8:20 AM
I didn't love the ending, but towards the end I started reading comments from book readers on MDL and it helped to clarify a lot. It's really a shame that they went with that ending when the original creator did not. If they had at least made Bai Lu's character content I could have accepted it better, but to have her so clearly unhappy kind of made watching the whole story pointless, didn't it? Nonetheless, I'm choosing to bleep over it and imagine the book ending instead because the rest of the drama is just so freaking good.
Sometimes "hotter" isn't "better," and it's definitely personal taste. There's something ethereal about Luo Yunxi that's quite hard to define, and that can be way more attractive than conventional good looks, imo.
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 9:39 AM
I read the novel after drama's run - ending was the best part of this hot mess by all means, logical and emotional. Thus drama cutting it out, ruining the narrative in process was definitely... a choice. Doubly funny is that eventually they put on sale as a merchandise artbook with HE reunion scene not unlike in the novel *facepalms hard*
I said "hotter", not hotter, for a reason^^ LYX's unarguably very expensive face card aside, man's got charisma and grace exceptional even for people in his original work field (ballet). He is THE main performer, no matter what role or environment script puts him in, you just feel it. This is attractive by default.
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:06 PM
My apologies @gikata, I was actually concurring with your original thoughts re: the "hotter" discussion but can see that the way I wrote it made it seem like I didn't understand your original point. 😊
Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 1:38 PM
@zindigo no worries)))
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 8:26 AM
Zindigo, we're completely in sync on My Dearest Mobster!! 🤗❤️ Your summary is perfect.
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:06 PM
So glad that we're of the same mind on this "lovely" drama! 🤗
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jillian
July 13, 2024 at 11:58 AM
I agree with TTEOTM. Bai Lu and Luo Yunxi are amazing. LYX particularly is perfect as ML. He is graceful when he needed to be and can do the wire work exceptionally well. He looked gorgeous in all the makeup and costume too.
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:08 PM
There were some really high wire scenes in this particular drama! 🫣 I don't know how these actors do it. They have to be in incredible shape just to hold the poses, let alone acting with their faces, voices, and bodies. It's so impressive.
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jillian
July 14, 2024 at 8:40 PM
He has background in ballet so he has the advantage of making the difficult stunts look graceful. 😊
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 5:35 PM
TTEOTM is one of the very best Chinese Costume dramas. Bai Lu was radiant in it and Luo Yunxi is a name we need to remember for the future.
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:09 PM
Agreed! I thought it was exceptionally well produced.
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21 TurtuallySarcastic
July 13, 2024 at 6:19 AM
My What We Are Watching Posts happen long after watching the discussed episodes nowadays, so memory loss watered them down as a result.😉
Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale👠☂️(10/10): Fourth Bean of 2024!🥳Things got a lot more interesting once Jae-Rim started liking him back!🤭 The skinship and blushing increased, as did the self-reflection. While I disliked the Dan-ah tantrums, they did not bother me too much, because I knew our OTP would make it work in the end.🥰 For those still on the fence as I initially was, this is an excellent binge!👍
My Sweet Mobster🦌🏰(8/16): Do not talk to me about penguins, I will start giggling uncontrollably.🤭
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22 Snow Flower
July 13, 2024 at 6:23 AM
18 AGAIN - it gives me Go Back Couple vibes, but that's a good thing. 4 more episodes to go.
Battlestar Galactica - the cliffhanger at the end of Season 3!!!
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Islander north
July 13, 2024 at 8:08 AM
I still haven't been able to find 18 Again available to view in the US.
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Snow Flower
July 13, 2024 at 8:24 AM
Some kind soul uploaded it on a video sharing platform (not YT).
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 8:27 AM
AHHHH thanks for the pointer!!!!
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23 ladyjaye
July 13, 2024 at 6:33 AM
I feel like a disgruntled viewer this week, because every drama I've watched so far this week, I have something not-so-good to say.
GOOD PARTNER: Or whatever it is called. I've started it, jsut the first episode so far, and I am not impressed at all. Granted, I am not a lawyer, and this is also fiction, but I just couldn't suspend my sense of appallment. Who allowed Nam Ji-hyun's character to go to court with such an abysmal level of preparation? How was she able to pass law school? (Even I know hearsay isn't admissible in court, kmt). She may be a newbie, but at least display a minimum level of competence. Also, trapping someone in a marriage, who doesn't want to be there for whatever reason, is a huge ick, so just...no. Jang Nara's character also seems to have very little redeeming qualities about her, from what we've seen so far. I'm watching, but I am not impressed at all.
MY SWEET MOBSTER: In this case, it's me. I like this show, and I like the characters very much. But I HATE slapstick comedy, so it's definitely preventing me from enjoying it as much as I probably could have. Uhm Tae-goo is also a fine actor, but his comedic timing could use some work. That last scene from episode 10 was amazing, though :D.
CDRAMAS:
Follow Your Heart: A bust. Such a shame.
THE PRINCESS ROYAL: I'm just gonna wait till it's over to binge it all.
AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU: After 10 episodes or so, I don't think Ji Xing is actually a good character. She's quite selfish and mercenary in her interactions with her friend - bc how can your friend tell you she's okay after being slandered on social media and you don't even give her a second thought? Just ok, and move on. Her business partner is a certified idiot, and there's no sensible person who would invest their money with them given their approach to business (why are you sending a nervous idiot to give your pitch?) I can't suspend disbelief.
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 5:44 PM
You did not have to be a lawyer to be disappointed with the first episode of GOOD PARTNER. I am not the only lawyer who was underwhelmed by the first episode of GOOD PARTNER- a show we were told had been written by a lawyer.
You are right that it was folly to send our rookie into court with no preparation- but actually the lawyer on the other side was just as ill-prepared. Why did they both not ask for more time to prepare?
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24 Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 6:42 AM
CURRENTLY WATCHING 👀 😌
THE DOUBLE
I'm slowly but surely falling in love with the shenanigans in this one. I'm only on episode 5 but already enjoying Duke Su's long hard gazes and the FL's smartness and single focus on her purpose. Here is a woman who isn't just existing to be wanted and loved by a man (though she certainly deserves that too). I love this. I want this. I support this.
MY SWEET MOBSTER
We got our first kiss this week 😘😘 Though it didn't land quite the way I had expected but hopefully, there's more. It does feel like Ji-hwan has some growing pains coming up. Nothing about his situation has changed re: he still has enemies out to get him and that puts him and his lady love in danger. He will also need to balance his feelings of protectiveness, love and vulnerability. Not an easy task for any man, especially one navigating love for the first time, but hopefully he can rise to the occasion. If the writers stick to the character they have been endearing us to all along, this should end beautifully.
GOOD PARTNER
I'm in with this one. The first episode felt like a breeze to watch. The acting is superb👌 I haven't watched Jang Nara in a while so she feels refreshing 😍 She has a natural charm that feels accessible.
THE AUDITORS
The jury is still out on this one. It feels like the show I need but I'm resisting. I need some convincing.
THE RED SWAN
Also on the fence here. Rain is yummy. But I can't survive on his body alone. Some emotional depth is needed but why am I looking for that in a melo? Good question. If next week falls flat again, I will need to say bye bye to Rain 🌧 🙃
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25 Clios Servant
July 13, 2024 at 6:43 AM
Jumping all over this week between kdrama and cdrama land.
MY SWEET MOBSTER. The highlight this week was their rapid fire petty squabble; that cleared the air! Continue to love the big cast of characters. How can you not be fond of this show?
RED SWAN. Yay Hulu! Not sure I understand what's going on with this uneven show. But, Rain! As they would have said in my day ... Hubba Hubba.
THE STORY OF MINGLAN. My happy watch of the week goes to Gu Ting Ye (Feng Shao Feng), the male lead. Although the story is ostensibly about Minglan's growth, it's really the complex character of Gu Ting Ye carrying the story forward. I loved their Ep. 52 conversation in the coach where Minglan tells Gu Ting Ye what his mother would have wanted most for him was to grow up safely and healthy. That felt so real, and it was so beautifully done. Impressive storytelling. Thank you again, Old Lawyer and Mrs. Old Lawyer. For me, complex character studies are the best use of my viewing time and this is a perfect followup watch to NIRVANA IN FIRE (which continues to occupy a space in my head). That's part of the definition of really good storytelling -- it stays with you.
AS BEAUTIFUL AS YOU. Liking the script here. It's intelligent, and challenges the viewer. There are so many obviously infant CEO stories, but actor Xu Kai is selling me as a CEO. He's kinda scary, you know?
Also, looking back at some of his earlier roles, he's become a darn good actor. Hard worker.
THE SWORD AND THE BROCADE. Halfway through and my FF finger is getting itchy. Too much intrigue.
And, just to satisfy my curiosity about actor Luo Yunxi, I caught the first five episodes of LOVE IS SWEET with Bai Lu, a good actress. It's not a groundbreaking story, but there's glimpses there of a performer whose a natural in front of the camera. So. Intrigued.
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26 wonhwa
July 13, 2024 at 6:58 AM
Lost You Forever 2: After several weeks of traveling and dealing with family issues, I was finally able to get back to drama watching just in time for this one to drop. Through episode 9, it continues to be thoughtful, messy and complicated, all of which are plusses in my book.
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27 Gum Shoe
July 13, 2024 at 7:06 AM
WATCHING WITH A PALE BLUE SWEATER ON AND LOVESTRICKEN EYES
My SWEET MOBSTER This show is my happy place this hot summer—a cool island filled with a huddle of fellow fans guarding the precious egg of a show. The show’s range is deep and wide from deep emotion to petty ridiculous bickering stemming from displaced feelings to just pure comedy. Lee Joon’s cameo was great—even he couldn’t keep a straight face while watching the hijinks as he almost cheered during the Ye Na “No, No, No” dating sequence. Um Tae Gu and Han Sun Hwa continue to bring the magic, chemistry, timing and the masterful use of softness and power, going from 0 to 100 in seconds and in the span of a show. Mature actors flexing their well-developed acting chops in a well-written show and just playing with it—give me more of this please,
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28 Dylan [is crying bc of Umi no Hajimari]
July 13, 2024 at 7:15 AM
My Sweet Mobster (10/16) - I heard there was a lot of noble idiocy and misunderstandings, so I procrastinated watching the last three episodes. Don’t know why, they were so cute and funny! Never gonna doubt the deerlings ever again… (They actually name dropped lobsters!! Do they know??)
The Beginning of the Sea (2/10) - from the writer of “Silent”, with the same ML, this could be one of my fav Asian drama of all time. The story of a man who finds he has a 7yo daughter his (now deceased) ex never told him about, his current girlfriend, the grandma, and, ofc, the poor child caught in the middle. Extremely emotional and moving, with amazing writing, I cannot recommend this enough.
Miss Night and Day (8/16) - I was like, wow that confession came out of nowhere… only to find out it wasn’t a confession and Netflix is just encouraging Mi-jin’s and our delusion 😭
Watashi wo Moratte (1/10) - a bubbly, quirky young woman finds the ghost (?) of a hot chaebol in her apartment. He says he saved her life and now she needs to help him fight his murderous corporate opponents. Dark romcom ensues.
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Kurama
July 13, 2024 at 8:27 AM
Thank you for the informations about The Beginning of the Sea, I loved Silent!
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29 Lord Cobol (Kdramas, like water, flow downhill)
July 13, 2024 at 7:32 AM
Miss Night & Day: 8.0
Player 2 - Master of Swindlers: 6.5
My Sweet Mobster: 8.5
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Dorotka
July 13, 2024 at 2:28 PM
A tough week?
(Or some jealous Internet goblins ate your witty comments?)
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30 psycho 🍉
July 13, 2024 at 7:54 AM
My Sweet Monster is as sweet as ever and I think they’ve found their sweet spot when it comes to the comedy these past two episodes have been the funniest yet.
I’ve also decided to watch Undercover , Inguess watching Han Sun Hwa in MSM and seeing that Ji Jin Hee has a drama coming soon has pushed me to finally watching it.
I’ve only watched two episodes so far but I’m enjoying it, it’s always nice to see Ji Jin Hee and Kim Huyn Joo on screen together and the younger counterparts have been cast perfectly.
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31 jillian
July 13, 2024 at 8:00 AM
The Whirldwind ❤️ep1-4 This is a gripping and well-paced political thriller. Kim Hee Ae and Sol Kyung Gu take turns one upping the other as they manuever the political minefield among the top government officials. They manage to make the characters look sympathetic despite doing despicable things. There is no good or bad in their world only morally gray characters pushing for their own agendas.
Connection❤️ ep 13-14 I enjoyed watching the friendship between JK, YJ and JS become stro ger throughout the course of this series. JK solved the mystery and caught JunSeo's killer. Overall, I agree that this is one of the best dramas of the year. Well-written with strong actors and great production. It may have been over the top with the forced addiction but other than that I have no complaints.
My Sweet Mobster 💕ep9-10 Uhm Tae Goo did really well playing this awkward-at-love guy. Ji Hwan's heart is in the right place but he jist need to learn how to deal with his feelings and communicTe better with his lady love. I adore Eun Ha and she knows how to push his buttons. the Thirsty Deer brothers were adorable setting up their boss. I also likethe second couple. I hope they get more scenes next week to deal with their issues.
The Auditors 🤞ep1-2 i really like the show far. The first two episodes set up the story well that it made me curious how it will all play out. Shin Ha Kyun does intense really well. Lee Jung Ha plays to his strengths very well. I like their scenes together, intense vs naivete. Their partnership will be the ĥighlight of the show. The Hwangs have theor own issues to solve. I am still figuring out the agends and loyalties of each including that one member in the Audit Team.
The Double 💕ep 35-40 Now its the palace politics and power grab time. These were also related to Xiao Heng's story. These episodes felt rushed but did give an overview on the princess's backstory. She is a pitiful damaged person and Shen YuRong is just a coward. There were a lot of action and outmanuevering on both sides. Overall, the drama has a great pace and good story. I like it a lot.
Follow Your Heart 💜ep 15-22 Shang Beili get less annoying in these episodes. But how they dealt with his deformity from battle is a movie magic and so unreal I can't even. But I did enjoy the twist at the end of episode 22. Its these moments that causes confusion due to the FL's unique ability are the best scenes so far. I am sure that there will be another magic potion that will resolve that in later episodes. Overall, I see the strongest acting is from the leads but they still have little to work with.
The Princess Royal🫣 ep7-12 I am not sure if I like either leads but I am a bit partial to the ML sincr I just feel that the ML knows his feelings more and shows it to her. The FL is very stubborn and does not know how she really feels about him amd the SML. I guess it partly due to her background and...
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jillian
July 13, 2024 at 8:02 AM
...background and upbringing. I sure hope she can figure it out soon.
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32 amfalulawatching
July 13, 2024 at 8:01 AM
I hesitated before commenting this week since I didn't watch any k-dramas. I'm watching my first c-drama.
SCARLET HEART (Chinese): After finally watching Scarlet Heart Ryeo (kdrama) I decided to go back to the original drama that it was based on. I'm finding this drama very addictive. I'm not done yet, but this drama is so different then the kdrama. The Chinese drama story is just so much more cohesive and clear. The character motivations make sense. It makes me wonder why the k-drama made so many changes, some now seem so unneeded. In any case, it's interesting to be watching a Chinese historical (with a little bit of fantasy).
EXTREMELY INAPPROPRIATE: (Japanese). I just finished this. It was so popular in Japan, it made it to a story in the NYTimes. I don't know if I can recommend it. It was weird, interesting but also much of it was lost on me.
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Gikata
July 13, 2024 at 8:51 AM
Re: SCARLET HEART: main plot is based on real life characters - Emperor and his maaany sons, plus game of thrones between them. K-version tried their best to replicate the formula, but it was impossible since the start, unless they'd made up a fictional dynasty - there was simply no ruler with this many kids in Korean history. They chose the most, ahem, productive in that field one, but as a result a lot of other historical details didn't match, not to mention all cultural differences between Qing and Goryeo inner courts. That script was faulty for many reasons, but this is the most understandable one for sure, it was always doomed to be inferior to the original plot-wise.
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amfalulawatching
July 13, 2024 at 12:18 PM
Ahhh. That makes sense. Thanks!!!
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wonhwa
July 13, 2024 at 10:55 AM
I really loved the Chinese Scarlet Heart, especially the way it drew so thoughtfully on the actual history of the era despite the time travel element. It's not always a happy watch, but I appreciated how messy, layered, and believable the characters were.
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amfalulawatching
July 13, 2024 at 12:25 PM
I'm really enjoying it too. One thing I like is it doesn't shy away from the fact that these powerful men had many wives yet it still builds a believable romantic story. Sometimes I feel like the k-dramas shy away from this historical reality. It is a wonderfully interesting setting and time. I can't stop watching.
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:13 PM
I really enjoyed Scarlet Heart. It was a drama I watched before I was reading online forums like DB so I was in my own little bubble with it. Wow was I surprised reading all the controversy and criticism later! Sometimes you just have to shut out ALL other commentary and just be with a drama all by yourself! 🤗
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amfalulawatching
July 14, 2024 at 6:22 PM
I looked back at the DB recaps and was shocked to see posts with around 1000 comments. I was so overwhelmed I didn't read them!
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33 Storyenthusiast
July 13, 2024 at 8:11 AM
I’m one of those that prefers to binge watch. I lose interest if I have to wait week to week for new episodes. And after finishing the underwhelming Midnight Romance in Hagwon, I can’t seem to drum up interest in the current kdrama offerings, so I’ve been binging Cdramas this month.
Finished:
PRESENT IS PRESENT - There’s not much holding this drama together aside from the two leads skill and determination to make the most of a bad script. Fan Zhi Xin can act, but his crowning glory is still My Lethal Man
LOVE IS SWEET - This whole show is pretty much an excuse to showcase the amazing chemistry of Bai Lu and Luo Yun Xi and I’m here for it! I could watch these two bicker, tease and flirt all day!
THE DOUBLE - I concur with what everyone else says about this revenge romance. It’s highly entertaining, richly atmospheric, fun to watch and even gives its’ villains sympathetic background stories. And I’m a huge fan of the way the main couple flirts and their combustible chemistry. The hero can smolder in my direction any time he wants.
WHAT IF - I was happily surprised by the unexpected depths this one displayed. The female lead’s two different life lines displayed realistic challenges and victories in its’ depiction of her two different choices. I appreciated how the writers didn’t try to make one choice appear better than the other and instead focused on how each required sacrifices. Personally I liked the timeline where she pursues her career in the city best, because I felt she compromised herself less with that choice. This is one that definitely gave me a lot to think about
EVERYONE LOVES ME - Another young adult romance set in the world of online games, this series was well made, but also didn't do much to distinguish itself from all the other similar shows for me.
Currently watching the Japanese version of BOYS OVER FLOWERS and so far enjoying it more than the Korean adaptation. Feels like there is a little less focus on the melodrama and the performances are more sincere.
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abalyn
July 13, 2024 at 8:34 AM
I've looked at What If, but they didn't make the premise clear that it was parallel worlds of two choices. That makes me want to watch it now.
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Roumma
July 14, 2024 at 12:36 AM
Agree about What If. Very thoughtful. Also love Meet Yourself and Will Love in Spring. All 10/10
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:15 PM
I'm so interested to hear that you liked What If! Before it was released it sounded like a drama I'd really enjoy, but most of the online reviews were so bad that I took it off my watch list. I think I'll put it back on and give it a try some day.
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34 abalyn
July 13, 2024 at 8:31 AM
Connection: Final episodes were great, I didn't notice the last episode was extra long while watching, only once someone brought it up later. I was surprised how easily they wrapped up Ji Sung's drug problem. The actors/show made me feel bad for the baddies, which is the mark of a good show. I'd like to see the Chief Kim version, where they don't do quite so many bad things, and Ji Sung turns them all into good people, and Ji-Soo finally gets recognized by his dad for real. They manage to talk through why they were all such jerks in high school.
Auditors: Good, but nothing new yet. I'd like more numbers and a library.
My Sweet Mobster: Parts of this were great, like the blind date and argument, but mostly it was two angst episodes, which are my least favorite. While it made sense for the ML to hold off due to his uncertainty about keeping the FL safe, he didn't address it for himself or her, so it just looked like noble idiocy this week. Funny the guy in the secondary pair knows they are pregnant first. Fits for how perceptive he is.
Red Swan: I watched one episode while doing chores, which also worked well with Hulu ads, which are the longest. I don't know if I'll go back. Probably more likely without the never ending ads for drugs.
Thanks so much @wonhwa for the amazing iqiyi recommendations:
Here Comes Trouble: everyone should watch this show!! It was just really good tv. Packs the punch on themes like grief and growing up, but also made me laugh out loud so many times! The relationships and acting are so, so good.
A Journey to Love: Slowly enjoying this one. Great characters and relationships. I had to peak at the ending. I think I can watch it still, just have to know what to expect.
Other C-dramas:
As Beautiful as You: It's becoming a summer habit to skim through the episodes Viki puts out every day. I skip most of the business-y stuff. At episode 19, the leads are maybe getting somewhere
Looking forward to:
Good Partner! Can't wait. Saved them to watch both episodes today.
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wonhwa
July 13, 2024 at 11:01 AM
Aww, thanks! Glad you loved Oh, No Here Comes Trouble - it's so unique and so well done, and as you say, it manages to be simultaneously hilarious and heart-wrenching. For what it's worth I adored A Journey to Love even with the ending so I hope that one continues to work for you as well.
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35 Bunny Sonaki
July 13, 2024 at 9:10 AM
Thanks to fellow beanies support last week,I am still watching Go Ahead though the lack of character development for almost all the characters is taking from my enjoyment. I mean I am 31 eps in and only 9 remain so when are we getting any growth or are we even getting there?
The parent generation consists mostly of abusive and annoying parents in their own style and even our fathers duo need some growth.
By the end of the show, I might even reconsider watching the Korean version as last minute forgiveness and giving second chances just because they are blood-related is one of the most annoying things for me.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 10:50 AM
As I said, imo the best in Go Ahead was in the first third of the drama.
And Zhang Xincheng. His acting is outstanding. And he was my favorite character.
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Bunny Sonaki
July 13, 2024 at 7:20 PM
Can't agree more. I wish I could press like twice. His acting was really good, he nailed the emotional scenes so well.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 2:11 AM
I was rooting for his character all the time. Zhang Xincheng really has a charisma which is not easily found.
Go Ahead was the first drama I watched him in and I became an instant fan. But I have not watched a second drama yet.
I watched part of the first episode of The Day of Becoming you, The heart of Genius and The Justice.
I have not made up my mind yet 😅
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Bunny Sonaki
July 14, 2024 at 3:20 AM
Yeah he is charismatic indeed.
If you find another good drama of his, please recomment it to me.
36 starswillshine
July 13, 2024 at 9:17 AM
Completed (this week)
1. Death's game
2. Hotelier
3. The Good Bad Mother
Currently watching:
1. Perfect marriage revenge (left with 3 eps)
On hold (this week):
1. Flowers in Sand
2. Gaus Electronics
3. The Midnight Studio
4. Whirlwind
Dropped (this week):
1. Kiss Sixth Sense
Need some recommendations!
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 1:29 PM
A Typical Family!
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2024 at 2:13 PM
+1!
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starswillshine
July 13, 2024 at 3:17 PM
I finished it two weeks ago!!
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37 Grand Sophy
July 13, 2024 at 9:21 AM
On vacation, so minimal watching time, but I have kept up with my two silly but sweet romcoms. Our two protagonists in Miss Night and Day really do complement each other, her energy and love of clubbing, for instance, contrasting with his introversion and workaholic tendencies, her warm family consoling his inner orphan, and so on. I like the dynamics between Ko Won and Lim Sun, he has no particular interest in her younger version, but loves the surrogate mother/aunt/confidant he's found in her older self.
I was watching My Sweet Mobster (with earbuds, on my tablet, in our remote cabin on Vancouver Island's west coast) and kept startling my dozing husband (all that fresh air) with my raucous outbreaks of laughter. The "blind date" shenanigans, Eun-ha's rabbit ears video message, Ji-hwan's horror at his newly awakened lust, the merciless and desperate way the deerlings hustled their boss, their "sister-in-law" and her friend off on their reconciliatory getaway. All comic gold. With just enough dark side seasoning courtesy of his father looming in the background and Hyon-woo's warnings.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 13, 2024 at 1:32 PM
Oh I wish I was in the Pacific Northwest with you. Cool weather, drizzle, smell of ocean and trees. We used to go to the S. Oregon coast every summer. My heaven. Enjoy!🌊
🌲
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38 PYC
July 13, 2024 at 9:48 AM
CONNECTION - a front runner for the best drama this year. Well paced despite the very complicated and layered plot - not a dull moment throughout as we get deeper into the story and web of characters. All rounded good acting from the main and supporting cast. Kwun Yul deserves a special mention for his one hell of performance as the brainy big bad.
MY SWEET MOBSTER - it continues to be my favorite although wasn’t even on my watch list. Ten episodes on, it is still as funny as ever with LOL moments one after another. Uhm Tae Gu’s mobster falling in love is quite a sight to behold and the deer family!! The COVID test result is certainly the joke of the year. Now, what’s there to sustain another 6 episodes - three more days to go.
NIGHT IN PARADISE - I’m UTG deprived and just watched this movie at Netflix. A very well made movie with Uhm in his full mobster gory and glory and Jeon Yee-bin doesn’t disappoint either. Nothing new in the storyline but fine execution to draw out the characters, place and moment. I love the music scoring with fluid but heavy cello in the background. The next big question is what should be my next UTG project.
Also started WHIRLWIND and AUDITORS - both have a good start. For the latter, I don’t think Jin Goo is the big bad but quite the opposite.
And hooray, I can continue watching UNCLE SAMSIK now that the drama watching mate is back from overseas.
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Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️ Underpants buddies for life. 😎
July 13, 2024 at 10:59 AM
How far into Uncle Samsik are you? It doesn’t really matter though as being left hanging at any point with that drama would have been torture.
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Sunnyboo ☀️🥰
July 13, 2024 at 10:13 PM
I just watched Night in Paradise too, you know, being UTG deprived and all that 🥰 But the gory was a bit much for me.
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39 OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 11:33 AM
I watched the first episode of GOOD PARTNER and found it OK. Although if I had been in Jang Nara’s shoes, I actually would have thoroughly scolded my newbie for guaranteeing a win to her client: That is unethical and much of the rest of the episode proved the reason why that is so- new evidence can come up. Also, the moment the new surprise lawyer for the other side walked in with a stack of brand-new evidence- in a trial already underway- The first words out of the judge’s mouth would be “has opposing counsel seen this?” followed by the second question- this time to the other lawyer “do you need time to look at these new documents?” This would be true anywhere in the world unless one has a judge who is too incompetent to sit on that bench. If somehow the judge did not ask these questions, it would be absolutely mandatory for our newbie to speak up and ask for time to examine those documents. I had been told that this show is being written by a lawyer so now I have to ask what kind of lawyer? Maybe he handled complex real estate deals? I almost fell out of my chair when Jang Naara said that “lawyers lie”. No, they do not: That violates the Duty of Candor Towards the Tribunal. I also have to ask why cheating husbands? Hasn’t that become a bit cliché? Can’t we have cheating wives if only for the sake of diversity? I will keep watching for now because I love Jang Nara, but I was a bit underwhelmed with the first episode. At least our new attorney got a valuable lesson on the road to becoming a real lawyer: Listen to you client skeptically- they may not be lying to you, but it is possible that they are not telling the whole truth if only because it is only human to present oneself in the best possible light.
My wife finished THE DOUBLE and recommends it very highly. The ending was not perfect but it was still a great Chinese Costume drama. She also completed the Sageuk LOVE SONG FOR ILLUSION which she enjoyed.
She then took some time out from C-dramas to enjoy THE LAST AIRBENDER, which is well worth watching, and then went on to watch ONE PIECE which she also enjoyed.
This week our weekender BEAUTY AND MR. ROMANTIC saw a considerable improvement over the previous week’s episodes. Watching Ma-ri dealing effectively with her parent’s situation was delightful and the fact that this was followed by a significant advance in her relationship with Do-jun was the cherry on top. But the second episode ended with a sinking feeling: Oh no, not again. To borrow another beanie’s expression- Le Sigh.
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OldLawyer
July 13, 2024 at 11:43 AM
I want to add the hope that MY SWEET MOBSTER can keep its special magic going. My wife and I are loving it.
Thank you to all the beanies who have checked out THE AUDITORS. I will probably pass on that show.
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40 tabong
July 13, 2024 at 12:13 PM
Hi deer beanies,
This week there wasn't much to watch or is it just me?
Auditors (EP1, dropped): I saw that beanies loved this one, so I'm leaving my rant here instead of the recap. LOL
Han Soo ruined the show for me. First time I understand why people dislike "candy" characters. But maybe I'm insulting candies, because he didn't seem "naive" to me. He was lazy but overly confident for someone that got a job he knows nothing about.
He has been there for six months, but he doesn't even understand what the job is about, and he doesn't even want to take constructive criticism? Instead he goes around trying to prevent someone from doing their job and says something like "you don't trust people? You most be lonely..." What the heck was that about?
I've seen this trope a million times, but this is the first time I felt bad for the rude boss. He doesn't deserve such a partner.
The noona, the Eun Ha, the teacher, the sis in law, and the little mouse that plays with lobsters: I think this was Eun Ha's week.
I loved how she defended her boys and even Jae Soo finally acknowledged how awesome she is. I loved watching the deerlings try so hard to make her stay. And I loved how she was so honest and straightforward with Ji Hwan about how he was giving her mixed signals. But I also loved how she accepted him when he was honest with his feelings.
I'm trying to decide if my favorite Eun Ha-moment this week is her making her boyfriend faint with a kiss, or making him jealous by walking away with prince Joon.
Btw, Joon's cameo was GOLD.
Also, not this show trying to make me congratulate Hyun Woo for doing the minimum and not lying, when in reality he should've told Eun Ha he wasn't her oppa like three weeks ago, instead of giving her false hope all this time just because he likes her or wtv.
And I'm still annoyed he's doing his job a decade too late. At least he's doing it, right? But again, that's the minimum.
PS. can he stop talking to Ji Hwan about Eun Ha? It's freaking weird.
Bonus
I watch a few movies to fill the void but unfortunately but I didn't have good luck with any of them. A webnovel was the real thing I was "watching" this week (first time the webtoon was so good I went to spoil myself the novel).
Am I Okay?: the bestie annoyed me.
The Watchers: I thought it was going to be "so bad it's fun" but it was just bad and boring.
Femme: I thought "revenge" movies couldn't get worse than the one that killed the victim at the end, but they can.
Humanist Vampire Seeking Consenting Suicidal Person: I liked this one.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 12:34 PM
Han-soo annoyed me a LOT with his unprofessionalism and extreme naivete... he got a bit better in ep 2, but he has a long way to go. I enjoyed the first week in spite of his characterization, but I'm sorry it didn't click for you.
Lol you're SO RIGHT about Dear Mobster trying to rehabilitate Hyun-woo by having his character do the bare minimum decent thing 😅 Nice try, but NO DICE, drama! Joon's cameo might be my favorite cameo that has ever happened 😂
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tabong
July 13, 2024 at 5:41 PM
I hope Han Soo keeps getting better so you can enjoy the drama to the max! ☺️
"Nice try" is a perfect way to summarize it. Sorry show but Hyun Woo will always be annoying, dumb, and criminally boring to me.
Joon's cameo was spectacular. 😂 He set a new standard for cameos.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 13, 2024 at 7:11 PM
"Annoying, dumb, and criminally boring" Lol Tabong you nailed it!!! 🤣 The way I roll my eyes when he's on screen... 🙃
I was nearly shrieking in giggles with Joon's scene - and they were ALL having a blast with that scene!!
Argh... starting episode three of Auditors and Han-soo continues to be unprofessional... how did he get that job??????? Fortunately, I love all our other mains 😅
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tabong
July 14, 2024 at 3:06 PM
I try to watch his scenes, but always end up skipping most of them.
IKR? It's like the director told him to go wild and he took it personally. He seemed so comfortable. LOL
When he kept getting closer to Eun Ha and she practically fell off the chair. 😂😂 Just iconic.
Is Han Soo the new Hyun Woo? 😂😂
"how did he get that job???????" That's what I always wonder when I see that guy.
miso
July 13, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Ha I too decided to limit my opinions on The Auditors to this thread to not harsh everyone's joy 😅. Everyone commenting on the recap liked it so much, I thought I watched an entirely different show! Also yes Han Soo was unbelievably annoying.
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tabong
July 13, 2024 at 5:58 PM
I also felt like I watched a different drama.
Plus, I was expecting better chemistry or balance for the main two (like in Ghost Doctor or The Devil Judge), so... Yeah, not for me.
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miso
July 13, 2024 at 8:33 PM
Agree about the chemistry. I guess I expected it to be more...quippy and fun.
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tabong
July 14, 2024 at 3:10 PM
Yes. Fun!
I was expecting something fun or at least a bit interesting. Or at least interesting characters or fun dynamic between the main duo. Just... something.
41 ar_arguably romantic
July 13, 2024 at 12:43 PM
Revenant Finished. Simply excellent! Right amount of horror, thriller, and pathos. I eventually warmed up to young cop once he started participating in the mystery/horror. Prior to this drama, I would have thought the moon painting was pretty...but now it looks creepy.
Crash up to episode 4. I think I may pause here. Not getting into it even though it had a lot of individual elements that I like. I want to like it, but not feeling it at the moment.
Follow your heart: Cdrama. Up to episode 32. Still enjoying it, though I wasn't feeling the previous arc with the trip to that bandit town. I've warmed up to the previously obnoxious sister and Shouty Mask. I'm pretty sure I've identified the Big Bad so just waiting for the big confrontation to happen.
The Double Cdrama. Up to episode 31. So good! Entering the final quarter. The drama really knows how to pace the takedowns and, as I've mentioned several times, I love how Ah Li never forgets Jiang Li. The dialogue Ah Li had with Jiang Li's father was a gut-punch and a fulfillment of Jiang Li's dying request to let her father know that she had suffered and that she hated him for what he did to her. It was timed at the right moment when the father failed Jiang Li yet again.
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PYC
July 13, 2024 at 3:57 PM
On Crash, I almost dropped it too but once the control plot is revealed by Ep 6, it’s a no return. They should have tightened the first episodes by reducing one or two similar cases.
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42 Siona ⭐️ (@DramaticFoodie)
July 13, 2024 at 1:50 PM
Completed
Players
Even though S2 was not as good as S1 but if there is a S3 I'll still watch it as I like this team and already miss them.😔
Connection
This was one of the best drama in thrillers category and l didn't want it to end that s how good it was. I'll be on lookout for the next Ji Sung drama.🧐
My Sweet Mobster
This is soo good that waiting for next week as become a routine now. Reminds me of side characters in CLOY.😄
Red Swan
There is not much plot here just Rain I guess that should be enough for now.😎
Going to Start
Good Partners and The Auditors
Heard both are good from beanies.🤔
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43 john
July 13, 2024 at 5:52 PM
Not watching too much , household tasks have taken most of my time. I have learned a few things about DIY plumbing repairs.
J daily drama Tora ni Tsubasa 15 minute episodes ,130 total, currently airing . 1930’s Japan , our FL enters university and then law school. Evenly she becomes a lawyer, a judge and a Supreme Court Justice. 1936 she enters law school. War clouds loom. Currently @ episode 15. A mix of characters as her class mates range from housewife to an aristocrat .
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zindigo
July 14, 2024 at 1:19 PM
Learning how to do small repairs in one's own home is very satisfying though!
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44 Koalatown
July 14, 2024 at 12:15 AM
Lovely Runner 14/16. Did she spend 15 years living her life and staying away from him desperately? She should’ve used her knowledge of the future to do better than slave away at a movie production studio.
She and her perfect husband 9/40. This cdrama is surprisingly addicting. Strangers to contract marriage which hits on social things like women fighting for equality in the workplace and learning to get out of the rat race. They say having too much money actually makes people unhappy.
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Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 4:52 AM
I really liked SHE AND HER PERFECT HUSBAND, and I'm not sure why because of course the premise is silly! But it is a moral tale, and the leads are good together. One of my short list of rewatches.
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45 lillamy
July 14, 2024 at 1:43 AM
THE PRINCESS ROYAL: As a romantic drama, I love this. After the convoluted drama of the Double, I'm just happy the drama seems to care as much about politics as much as I do. The focus is on the relationship between the leads, as it should be. If it keeps its course I'm one happy camper. Now, I'm curious if his lipstick will smear on her lips when they kiss or not, because that's some serious heavy handedness on the make-up.
I'm also doing random rewatches of I AM NOBODY. The chief taoist is by far my favourite character in the drama, especially when he goes for revenge, throwing his power around wearing those red sneakers.
THE LOVE BETWEEN FAIRY AND DEVIL has been sitting on my watch-list for two years, giving me ample time to turn the novel's memory somewhat misted. And you know what? I shouldn't have waited. It's not remotely like the novel and I hate it, but not for taking the cover of the novel and filling it with something else entirely, but for how shallow and gaudy it is. Dong Fang Qing Cang is what Doctor Evil in Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me referred to his son Scott as. "Semi-evil, quasi evil, the diet coke of evil. Just one calorie - not quite evil enough." Making the connection of his supremacy being connected to not having emotions - like one couldn't choose to be evil and then change because they choose to? And the costumes! The plastic head ornaments in particular! I went 16 episodes before dropping the show and that's the sole benefit of Dylan Wang who is downright adorable.
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Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 4:56 AM
I have now tried to watch FAIRY AND THE DEVIL three times. It's just not clicking for me, it's too weird. I know people love it, so sorry but gotta say, the music is maybe the best part? Or maybe this is a drama where you can watch the best scenes on YouTube and save your precious drama watching time for something else?
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Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 6:02 AM
I think LBFAD worked for so many people, because it's basically THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST: Xianxia edition. It follows neatly the structure, common tropes and tone of an old school fairytale (in its Disney PG retelling), which is "classics are classics for a reason" kind of situation: there are adventures, there is lighthearted (if sometimes a bit morbid) humor, there are charming (I know, I know - ymmv in this case, but they are certainly DESIGNED to be charming) characters, there is a lot of cuteness and fluff (so many epic stories forget to give their characters even a bit of relax time and as result exhaust the audience early on with constant angst), there is a well-done pacing when events and relationships escalate naturally, cast had chemistry with each other, PD understood assignment etc... Plot is not groundbreaking by any means, acting is not award worthy either, costumes from Heavenly realm made me roll eyes too ("But Debbie, PASTELS?!" (c) ))), but it's all good enough as long as you vibe with it, you know? Ofc when you don't, nothing will work because it's not some DEEP masterpiece objectively - it's just a feel good sweet romance fairytale sprinkled with LOTS glitter. And sometimes you just need some saccharine and glitter in your life¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I also think not having any other huge hit in this genre for a while at the time helped - expectations were low, but demand big, so people latched onto it regardless of drama's shortcomings.
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Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 6:35 AM
What a great explanation. Thank you. So, it's vanilla fluff and NIRVANA IN FIRE is a 5-course meal, yes? I guess I've had enough vanilla fluff over the years and now need more meat on the bones. But, I do recognize that sometimes vanilla fluff is just the ticket. So, no judgment here on those that love the experience of this show.
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Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Yes, exactly - simple vanilla fluff with very good garnish and presentation. It's just hyped a bit too much, giving people unrealistic expectations. Comparisons can be drawn between LBFAD and same studio's following dramas - LOVE YOU SEVEN TIMES and recent FOX SPIRIT MATCHMAKER, which both tried hard to be grander/meatier/more complex without even delivering the same quality level of presentation... aaand failed big time. Moral of the story - when unsure of your skills, keeping it simple is the way.
Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 7:48 AM
The music and songs are the best part.
This was my first c-drama, btw.
I struggled to watch the first nine episodes. Everything was too weird, I didn't like the settings, the looks...
But fortunately it got better. The intro is wonderful, I never skipped it.
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Clios Servant
July 14, 2024 at 8:34 AM
I love Dramabeans. It is so illuminating! Thank you both so much for these explanations!
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lillamy
July 14, 2024 at 10:12 AM
The intro was my favourite part of the show. Great song and artwork.
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Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 10:51 AM
THAT scene in Ep9, iirc, surely made a lot of us sit up and start paying attention)))
Right, we should also thank the show for starting the trend of drawn/animated intros/outros instead of usual weird mashup of scenes full of unwanted spoilers.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 1:25 PM
The intro was beautiful.
But as you say, many C-dramas are full of spoilers in their intros/outros.
Even in the animated intro of A Journey to love there were some spoilers.
Gikata
July 14, 2024 at 1:48 PM
@isagc there were A LOT of spoilers there, but we had no idea initially, did we? It took 35 episodes for me to understand what these few you-know-which-one scenes meant... and 5 episodes more to accept the truth. Can this even count as a spoiler when it was so sneakily done that people legit did not connect the dots beforehand?
Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 2:31 PM
Yeah, I noticed there were spoilers when I had already watched 20 episodes or even more.
It was quite well done.
But now I pay a lot of attention to animated intros and I wonder if I'm seeing spoilers 😅
(In the animated intro of Will love in spring there were spoilers too).
Dorotka
July 14, 2024 at 12:24 PM
The costumes were... haha... original??? 😆
I think I had the big advantage that I 1. hadn't read the novel before and 2. I had very low expectations. I started watching because of Dylang Wang and his Villain... and then was surprised by the love story and mutual sacrifices.
I also wouldn't call it a fluff, there were some parts later on which were pretty serious and some scenes made me cry.
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46 angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 5:37 AM
Hi everyone, just a short one. I have watched a lot of (older) K-dramas in the last weeks and months. I have watched the first 27 episodes of the weekender Beauty and Mr. Romantic but got a bit fed up with some overacting and strong stereotyping of the emotional dynamics, so I have put that aside for now. I watched the first episode of the fantasy romantic drama Miss Night and Day and at the moment I am still interested. I really love the male lead from his role in Fated to Love You and Mr. Queen.
But what I really would like to mention here in particular is a British teen drama show called Geek Girl. It is short — 10 eps. with about 30 mn storytelling each episode, but I am watching it for the second time today. In my view, it is excellent: scriptwriting, the morale of the story, the characters, its witty, relatively fast paced, filmed very well. Backdrop to the story is the the fashion world, in particular in London, but you'll find your favourite hotel from Goblin in it as well (and scenery from my beloved Richmond-upon-Thames). It screams second season to me. You can view it on Netflix, at least in Europe.
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47 angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 6:00 AM
@Minniegupta1 @Seeker @23new2kdrama @Skiee @Claire2009 @Isagc @Koalatown @Ceciliedk @Mazarin @Indyfan @Kas61 @Snowflower @Angelshadows50 @DramaticFoodie @midnight
Thank you for adding me to your community re-watch of —currently— Just Between Lovers. I really enjoy the synopsis and commentary (and photos) on your various fanwalls. I have not had the time to re-watch this drama, maybe mostly because I am not so interested right now to do so. But nevertheless, the commentary is really interesting to me.
Also, may I suggest another re-watch? It is a drama I just recently watched, and the Viki commentary gave it very good reviews, so after initial reluctance (for months) I finally watched it this week —as a binge-watch (a Thursday late afternoon to a Friday evening, with 2 hours sleep on Friday lunchtime) .... The viki title is Secret Love, Korean native title 비밀 literally meaning Secret in English. 16 eps. from 2013. Both Wikipedia and Viki synopsis I find somewhat lacking, but the story is about a very sophisticated mix of feelings and action taking on the feeling of love and hate, on revenge and redemption. To me it feels like some of the best Korean take on the topic. Also, of course, class plays —again— a big role in this K-Drama, but I guess that is still very much a reality in Korea especially (or was in about 2013).
I also want to mention a —very useful— video I happened upon this week. It is by a YouTuber with a following of 2.34 m subscribers, some of you might know him (I did not before): Mark Manson.
The video is 24 mn long and the title is Understanding the Most Suicidal Country in the World, a bit sensational for my feeling, but nevertheless I find it excellent. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JCnvVaXEh3Y.
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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
July 14, 2024 at 7:43 AM
Thank you for the recommendation. As of now we have our CW scheduled till end of the year. 😅 However we are a pretty flexible bunch and at times have been known to do simultaneous watches. So keep in touch. 😊👍
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angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 8:25 AM
Can you send me the list, @Seeker ? Thank you :)
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🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
July 14, 2024 at 11:31 AM
All interested Beanies are welcome to join the Community Watches. This is our CW Discussion Thread.
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/claire2009/activity/1586324/
You can bookmark it for future reference. Please feel free to comment on the thread for anything relating to CWs.
As of now our CW Schedule is as follows:
Suspicious Partner CW Hangout will be live from July 15, 2024 on @Claire2009 (Healer's) Fanwall.
We will then be watching Happiness (12 episodes) from August 22, 2024 and Bossam: Steal the Fate (20 episodes) from October 3, 2024.
We will be discussing two episodes each on every Thursday on the Beanies Fanwalls on a rotation basis.
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empressgirl
July 15, 2024 at 3:00 AM
Is this list confirmed?
Cos I got stuck at Ep 4 of Happiness (since forever...) so the social pressure of group watch is tactical and appreciated 🤣🤣
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
July 15, 2024 at 3:31 AM
@joanna We can tag you in the Happiness CW posts if you wish to join. 🫶🏻 We will start after we finish Just Between Lovers.
empressgirl
July 15, 2024 at 4:47 AM
Where are you guys on JBL??
I can't believe it, I am stuck on the first 5 minutes of pilot still (true story). Again, need tactical pressure (or at least incentivised to move on)
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
July 15, 2024 at 5:17 AM
@Joanna We have watched till 6 episodes. New posts for 2 episodes each will be posted every Thursday till August 15, 2024. If you so wish we will be happy to tag you going forward. For now please join us here:
Posts for the Fanwall Community Watch: Just Between Lovers
Post 1 by Claire (claire2009 aka Healer's) for - Episodes 1-2.
Post 2 by Minnie (minniegupta1) for - Episodes 3-4.
Post 3 by Midnight for - Episodes 5-6.
🌸 Cera (@Seeker) 🌸
July 15, 2024 at 5:25 AM
@Joanna We have done Community Watches for Our Blooming Youth, See You In My 19th Life and Soundtrack #1. In case you so wish you are most welcome to join us at the CW Posts linked here.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
July 17, 2024 at 5:25 PM
@joanna To add, if you want to add your thoughts to the already competed community watches (Our Blooming Youth, 19th Life, Soundtrack #1 and now JBL) just add the tag list with your commentary and we will jump right in ❤️ (we don't get notifications for fanwall for tagging is the best way to go).
Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 8:02 AM
It turns out that a pair of my k-drama watcher friends (outside DB) and I are planning on starting Secret very soon. Probably in one or two weeks 😄
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angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 8:27 AM
Ah, I'd be interested to learn what your takes are going to be, once you finished. Will your K-drama buddies share this in Spanish our how do you do it?
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 9:06 AM
We are all from Spain. We met in a Spanish Telegram created to talk about K-dramas (and other Asian dramas).
I'll write about Secret here in "What we are watching" when I start it :)
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Isa is always time travelling
July 14, 2024 at 9:34 AM
I meant Telegram group.
23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 14, 2024 at 8:43 AM
This was an excellent video and so enlightening.
One thing I would warn about is the multiple uses of the F word.
I appreciated the historical overview of Korean society and how that has created the mental health crisis that they are in. It also highlights the importance of dramas like Dr Slump and Daily Dose of Sunshine to get families talking about mental health.
I’m not sure how I feel about the kdramas and the added pressure and economic influence they are to a fragile society. With my western background I feel I watch these shows with a very different perspective and am influenced by them differently. After watching this YT video, I wonder if dramas help the Koreans with escapism or hurt them and make them more depressed.
@welh640 @britney love to know your feeling
Not every Korean is depressed I’m sure. Not everyone else that watches dramas live a happy healthy life. But as a person looking into this culture I know I am affected differently.
Thanks for giving me something to think about
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angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 9:35 AM
I agree the frequent use of the F word I too found somewhat off-putting. But to my understanding, in the US in particular this is not such an unusual occurrence, in particular if you want to appear "hip" and contemporary (as my take is this man wants to be and the F word is just part of his everyday vocabulary like any other word of embellishment). — Also, me too, @welh640, would love to hear your thoughts on the video. I am always enjoying your commentary on Korean reality and the snippets you report.
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Britney
July 14, 2024 at 12:37 PM
The F word has many different uses when speaking to someone and about something. As in the words of SpongeBob SquarePants it can be used as a sentence enhancer. I don't think it's to appear "hip" or comtemporary and is just a part of the way the guy speaks casually especially when his audience is probably full of people who also speak the same way.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 14, 2024 at 8:01 PM
You are correct in saying that the F word is a common occurrence in speech. It is used to excess and has probably lost its original meaning in conversation. But to many, it is still offensive and I avoid media and situations where it is used- hence my warning. This is a big reason I have moved to Kdramas. Most tend to have conservative speech and skinship, which I appreciate. Even dramas with a M rating on Netflix are tame compared to American M rated shows
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Isa is always time travelling
July 15, 2024 at 2:13 AM
I agree with everything you said. K-dramas and C-dramas are a happy place after years or only watching Western shows which I liked less and less.
Ahjummaaa
July 16, 2024 at 10:20 AM
the F word is grossly overused in the US. I hear it used way too frequently regardless of social status. The first time I heard it spoken close up was by a doctor's wife who was angry at the hospital for something. That such a classy and sophisticated woman would use such a word really made an impression on me. Now I hear it from younger siblings sometimes who picked it up from the workplace where everyone else uses it. And current neighbors use the F word in every other sentence. There's no need to say the F word in everyday conversation unless in extreme situations for example if someone's life is at stake, etc. It loses its power if you use it all the time. And it's just so unpleasant to listen to.
Britney
July 17, 2024 at 6:26 PM
I don't understand what you mean by "original meaning in conversation". It's to enhance a sentence or express a feeling, thought, etc.
When I saw your warning, I thought I was gonna be bombarded with swears as soon as I turned on the video and instead, from what I remember, it was mainly during a eating spicy food segment and when the korean psychologist (or whatever type of professional she was) used it.
Apparently, there is some scientific logic behind swearing when in pain and how that helps which means it makes all the more sense that he swore during the spicy food segment.
Britney
July 14, 2024 at 1:23 PM
First off, thank you for including me but I'm surprised by my inclusion haha. I'm American so I also view kdramas from an outside perspective.
In YouTube street interviews or reaction videos taking place in SK I've seen, many times the participants say they don't watch Kdramas or they watch for the entertainment value (i.e. they don't take it as seriously). I think sometimes shows resonate because they are relatable (such as Misaeng: Incomplete Life) or nostalgic (such as the Reply series).
I don't know if people, specifically Koreans, watched those shows for escapism but I think they struck a cord cause they saw themselves represented and it can never be understated how important that is to people.
I only watched that youtube video cause I was tagged and I thought it was interesting to learn that SK leads in Esports. It's interesting how history plays into that.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 14, 2024 at 7:53 PM
I always appreciate your Open Thread comments- most are culture based so I just wondered about your opinion. Your YouTube perspective is a surprise. Thanks.
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Britney
July 14, 2024 at 8:15 PM
Aw shucks, thank you!
After thinking on it some more, I thought about how *I* actually tend to use Kdramas as escapism.
welh
July 18, 2024 at 12:22 PM
I think the YT video had some good summary points about Korean culture, but its emphasis on post Korean War as catalyst for current cultural issues slightly misplaced without the full context of Korean history.
In ancient Korean society, its principles were the hierarchy between classes, elders being respected by younger people, emphasized family values, the keeping of order and harmony and the inferior social status of women. Confucianism expounded the importance of four virtues which were: benevolence (jen), righteousness (i), observance of rites (li) and moral wisdom (te). Korea was under Chinese control in 200 BC and later under Chinese influence as a tributary kingdom in 400 AD. At this time, The Korean kingdoms were influenced by Chinese trade goods and culture. Korean writing systems, architecture, political systems, religions, and even musical instruments came from China. This is the foundation for Korean society. In the 1600s, Korea became the Hermit Kingdom, a period of isolation that lasted until Japanese occupation and colonization of the country in 1910. Isolation led to Korea being way behind in industry, technology, military and Western innovation techniques. One could say Koreans collectively had a long history of having an inferiority complex compared to its Asian neighbors and the US.
Being inferior also meant in mind, body and spirit. Culturally, Koreans mostly believed that bad traits and habits were caused by bloodlines. Families objected to a child marrying a “poor” person because that poverty could infect their future. It was a simple way of perpetuating the class system because people did not marry for love but the merger of family wealth and status. Mental health issues were a sign that a person was broken, damaged, weak and unable to meet their responsibilities.
The Korean Industrial Movement by President Rhee in the 1970s was a brutal and authoritarian change from agricultural to heavy industry economy. Today’s great-grandparents and grandparents sacrificed themselves working 60 to 80 hour work weeks building the infrastructure, factories and export products to develop a new industry-based economy. This is the period where the insane work ethic, sacrifice for the country (to avoid further foreign occupation threats) and increased workers/population via strict family value principles (15% of Koreans were killed in War.) Once Korea began exporting goods to the West, it had to focus on being competitive in order to succeed. That competitiveness replaced benevolence in societal principles. Ruthlessness in order to succeed was past down through the generations. However, the ancient Korean class barriers remained to the present making upward mobility difficult (leading to present day servitude contracts of actors and idols dreaming to make it big as a celebrity/star.)
Since there was no social safety net until very recently, Koreans solely relied on the family as the birth-to-death focus between members. The...
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welh
July 18, 2024 at 12:24 PM
... pact was simple but harsh: Parents would sacrifice and raise their children to adulthood, then their adult children would repay their parents by supporting them for their entire lifetime. Basically, a child would have to earn double or triple their parents income in order to support them and their own marriage/family. A young Korean’s harshest critic is their family. Self-esteem, self-worth, individualism and independence are not fostered when you cannot meet the lofty expectations of your critics. I believe there is still immense pressure on young Koreans who refuse or modify their societal obligations to their families by rejecting educational, career and marriage goals. If you add in the fact that the average Korean cannot keep up with inflation, housing costs, combined with the narrow ability to move up economic ladder, this can add to the sense of doom, failure and anxiety.
Yes, mental health issues were taboo. Yes, modern Korea is opening up to discussing and treating mental health issues but it has not changed society to give it empathic support. There are long held beliefs that make it difficult to break the bonds imposed by the past. Until South Korea gets beyond its post-war industrial mindset, to allow a new post-industrialization culture to give more freedom to succeed on one’s own merit, I believe change will be very slow.
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23new2kdrama🫘🌱 Dogs or Cats?
July 18, 2024 at 3:32 PM
Thank you so much for taking the time to respond to this message. I respect and appreciate you and what you have taught myself and any others looking here. Your points are fascinating and I definitely will take this and try and learn more. Do you have any books you would suggest to further my learning.
welh
July 19, 2024 at 4:59 AM
Before my first trip to Seoul, I picked up a few travel guides that had some details on historical places and culture. But in the past decade, I have mostly collected my knowledge reading English version Korean newspapers, watching documentaries and Korean language videos.
Siona ⭐️ (@DramaticFoodie)
July 14, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Thank you for including me. Is this the Ji Sung drama (Secret Love) - it was one of the first dramas of Ji Sung that I saw. And yes its really really good. Have you tried Kill Me, Heal Me - this one is iconic!! I'm not Korean but what I know is most Asian people are Perfectionist and very competitive. For me its their food, I LOVE their cuisine. Whether its Indian, Chinese, Korean or Thai - I cant pick one i love them all!🙈😍😅
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angelshadows50
July 15, 2024 at 5:31 AM
@dramaticfoodie, thank you! I just checked on Viki and it appears I have not seen Kill Me, Heal Me yet ... so that goes onto my list now too. Yesterday I just started watching Pasta (2010) on Netflix in Europe. Not quite sure yet what I think about it ... Yes, Secret Love is with Ji Sung. ... I should really start a diary for all the K-dramas I have already seen. As I always have an impression of a drama, I forget once I start another one. I sort of follow certain actors/actresses around their various projects. K-drama for me is culturally very interesting because it puts so much emphasis on emotional themes, in particular shame, love, revenge and redemption and the art of survival against all odds. In Human Design terminology, I am an "Emotional Projector" and I do not know of any other culture which constantly dives into these themes, almost in a obsessive manner, but certainly very often in depth.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 15, 2024 at 5:58 AM
I think My drama list website (or the app, but I prefer the website) is a good way to make lists and a useful tool to remember all the dramas you have watched (or the ones you have left on-hold, or the ones you have dropped...).
I also use Pinterest for this purpose, creating independent sub-boards for the dramas I watch.
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Healer’s
July 14, 2024 at 6:18 PM
Thank you for your recommendation. When I read reviews for Kill Me Heal Me, I saw good reviews of Secret Love as another project of Ji Sung and HJE, but never got the time to watch it. I've checked and it isn't on Viki or Netflix Australia.
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48 angelshadows50
July 14, 2024 at 6:01 AM
*sorry, to clarify: the title I find sensational, the video is not at all sensational, but very much fact-finding driven and good.
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Healer’s
July 14, 2024 at 5:31 PM
Thank you for sharing the video link, I'm watching it.
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49 Ydigresse
July 14, 2024 at 7:39 AM
'Good Partner' abandoned halfway through episode 1. Just too painful. Not my cup of tea, this one.
'Red Swan'. Er, that trope where the new bodyguard fights and defeats all the other bodyguards? It has been spoiled forever by the shower scene in 'The K2'. (I am still watching this, but I cannot tell you why).
'The Auditors'. Still loving this. Okay, it has plot holes, and it's not a proper ensemble piece. So far all the secondary characters seem to be foils, merely there to show how great the lead male is. But the competence of the male lead is addictive - gimlet-eyed accountancy! running like the wind! sending villains flying with a single kick!
Re-watched 'Flex x Cop', just to enjoy the lovely quiet no-nonsense competence of the two cops, Lee Gang-Hyun & Park Jun-young.
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50 darwi
July 14, 2024 at 8:04 AM
I'm enjoying Connection a lot. Good acting, good story, revelations each episode. I feel limited in my expression skills. I have one reservation however : you do not perform CPR on a person with an open belly wound. It is not as ridiculous as the CPR in ep1 of Regeneration, still I wish that dramas stop showing CPR when it is not required.
We finished Lovely runner and maybe I shall have stuck with the extracts and edits that showed all the cuteness. Too many unnecessary hysterics characters that do not make me laugh.
We started Designated survivor 60 days. I don't remember the details of the original US show, but I can assess that the full of good intention ML is similar. This is nice, possibly more for me than my friend because I like more Ji Jin Hee and Kang Han Na. Also adults.
My friend is advancing through City hunter, and she has started Police university, Missing Crown Prince and Mystic pop up bar.
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Snow Flower
July 14, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Designated Survivor: 60 Days is the show where I discovered Son Seok Ku.
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Ahjummaaa
July 18, 2024 at 10:13 PM
oh Lord, I can't imagine if somebody tried to perform CPR even six months after my stomach surgery. the pain would be unbearable indeed.
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