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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching (February 8, 2025)

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

Love Scout: Bravo, Show! I knew you could navigate the waters of Tragic Fire Backstory and keep it in line with the rest of the drama, but I admit I was watching from behind a pillow for a few minutes there. But I love how that played out and the pace seemed nice to me. I can’t wait for Ji-yoon’s finally victory lap with her crew. The secondary to-be-romance is pulling in lots of points, too. Great side plot, great side characters — great everything, really. I love this show!

DaebakGrits

Currently covering: When the Stars Gossip

Study Group: This show is so fun! I can’t get over how much I’m enjoying a drama about a teen putting together a study group. But, let’s be real, I’m here for the epic fight scenes and quirky friend dynamics. Ga-min is ridiculously overpowered, and I hope the drama can keep coming up with new bad guys to throw at him and “test” his strength. Also, super curious to know the identity of his coach. There must be a good reason for them to intentionally hide his face.

Love Scout: I can’t believe this drama is almost over! What will I do with myself on Saturday mornings? I’ve got mixed feelings about the childhood connection cliche, but I’m willing to let it slide since our characters overcame this particular hurdle quickly and maturely. Byeol’s princess moment was super cute, but I’m waiting for the moment Byeol can introduce Ji-yoon as something more than a friend. Anyone else kind of worried Byeol’s mom is going to make a last minute appearance, though? It’s totally in the K-drama playbook for something like that to happen, but I’m hoping the writer doesn’t go there.

 

Dramaddictally

Namib: Oh, I have so many emotions about this. I finished it. And I can’t remember the last time I yelled at my screen so much. That’s good, I guess, since I cared enough about Yoo Jin-woo to want to adopt him myself, and I hated every person that did him wrong in any way — and that includes Kang Su-hyeon. Her character’s inability to empathize was exactly the same from start to finish, as far as I can tell, which is why it irked me so much that the drama spent its last leg having everyone around her keep reiterating how great she is and how much she’s changed. Uh, not really. She’s still acting the same as she did when we met her, which is to fix things in the way she thinks is best without communicating it to anyone else — even when it directly affects them. *exhales* But, again, my level of ire is a consequence of how much I cared about Yoo Jin-woo, so the drama did some major things right. (Even if I didn’t like how self-harm was dealt with (or not dealt with) in the story, and how this kid’s very realistic pain got brushed under the rug.) All in all, it was a captivating watch and I’d love to see the same themes picked up in other dramas (the idol underworld; handling self-harm; stay-at-home dads), but I could do without the disappointing redemption arc.

Motel California: Now we’re getting somewhere. The tension in Episodes 7-8 was perfect. I like it much better when they’re fighting themselves than when they’re fighting each other. I also love the Seoul/countryside cultural dynamic and how the city boy is so out of place in this town. It cracks me up every time he’s exasperated about trying to understand… whatever. And I continue to love and be mystified by how the central relationship seems real to me. Well, maybe not the parental-drama backstory, but the push-pull of trying to draw a line, having “good” reasons not to get together, and just not being able to stay away from each other. I sympathize. ‘Cause in real life, this would not end well.

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: Love Scout, Motel California, Namib, Study Group, What We're Watching

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For Eagle Brothers: I like all the bros, and the FLs.
The Scandal of Chunhwa: the ML is kinda sus, so, for now, I'm more invested in the other two couples... I'm kinda obsessed with the secondary couple tbh. Like, why so cute?
PS. A Ra unnie I missed you.
Love Scout: They should change the title to "My Perfect CEO" because she's all I can see tbh. She's the one that I want. *plays that Grease song*
And uri SFL made cry during her talk with her son.
Study Group: when the School 2013 teacher goes to the school from Boyhood and becomes target of the psycho kid from Mr. Temporary, but Angry Mom is the one who gets hurt... I hope she gets well soon.

BTW, I loved that we also got to see Se Hyun win on his own.
And that power couple scene of Jun and Ji U??? I ship those two.
Trauma Code (finale): this was such a nice watch.
Kick x4: this is like Gaus Electronics and Seoul Busters had a child and that child got high.
Newtopia (E1): I guess the real stuff start on episode 2.

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Kick x4: this is like Gaus Electronics and Seoul Busters had a child and that child got high.

Lol so true 🤣

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You mean "My Lovely CEO", right?! 😉

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😂😂

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Thanks for the earworm. ;D Whoo hoo hoooo! After watching Love Scout Ep. 10 last night, I thanked the drama gods with a couple of extra Subway sammiches on their altar. Special thanks go to Writer-nim Kim Ji Eun for creating intelligent, vulnerable, compassionate, and logical leads. I have faith our show will stick the landing. Nobody’s running away to Mongolia. These adults know how to use their words!

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I feel like next week the focus will be on the enemies and how to make them get a life (or just totally end them). So I'm not expecting anything weird to happen to our couple. I think we're safe after this week.

And you're right, the writer has done a nice job so far. I'm grateful for that (and I hope I keep feeling like this after the show ends).

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@enriquequierecagar: T, a big hug from me to you.xo

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And one for you too, Em! XO

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Best description of Study Group ever!

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Snowy Night Timeless Love on hold, and started Under the Skin Season 2, but it’s been slow going.
Then at the back of my mind, I still got The Rise of Ning and Flourished Peony on my “To Watch” list, and then,Zang Hai Zhuan incoming at some point this year 🤣 (https://mydramalist.com/56835-cang-hai-xi-lin)

… And oh, Love of the Divine Tree just premiered this week. Whew!!
(https://mydramalist.com/755789-xian-tai-you-shu)

Yes, I am somewhat drowning and overwhelmed with all of my choices, but I’m not mad at it lol 😂

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As another beanie said last year about c-dramas, it's been an "embarrassment of riches" lately.

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lol no truer words!

But I think I’ve reached a spot now in my drama watching journey in the sense that I now know it’s okay to put things on hold and to pace myself, but most importantly, prioritize. I now prioritize the dramas I watch based on the cast, because I find that with Cdramas, I mostly watch for the cast and the acting, since there’s nothing “new” about the writing anymore. At the same time, this speaks of the acting— that if it’s good acting, even with an overused and saturated “same plot, different delivery” type pf drama, as long as the acting holds up, I’ll still like it

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I think that's true of k-dramas as well. Watching my favorite actors in my preferred genres is really all I need. So I'm also finding it easier to wait .... as well as drop.

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Judicious dropping is an acquired skill, with occasional back-tracking as I've been known to eat my words.

I cannot get past ep. 2 THE UNTAMED, (even read recaps) but not done trying.

I cannot get past ep. 16 UNDER THE POWER, tried twice. The dubbing kills it.

I cannot get past ep. 2 of LBFAD because the voice mostly but also the sets are just ... cheezy?

And...I'm stuck at ep. 29 of TTEOTM, but sworn to go back.

And so many others ...

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@zindigo
Yea, some are easier to drop than others, but some I hold onto because certain cast members are very beloved to me 😊

@cliosservant1846
I totally understand! THE UNTAMED is one of my ultimate most beloved dramas, but it wasn’t always as such. I’d dropped it twice, and didn’t go back to it for 3 weeks before deciding to go back to it and to stick to it, and I’m glad I did 😊 It’s been 6 years since encountering the drama and I still love it like when I first discovered it.

I couldn’t get past the 15-min. mark of LBFAD— I can’t get past the cheese and the (what I think is) poor choice of dubbing for Dylan Wang, maybe it’s because I know very well what he sounds like hahaha

I’m…. Somewhere on TTEOTM— maybe somewhere between Ep. 7 to 9, I feel like— just not sure exactly where 😅 But I’m sure my Viki watch history has it recorded somewhere

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Of those mentioned, I'm determined on THE UNTAMED & TTEOTM. Those I will finish because they moved the needle. I feel fortunate, and grateful, that Dramabeans contributors have helped me understand the recent (and older) history and context for these and so many other dramas. Asian dramas is a really dynamic field. It's just great to have this experience.

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@cliosservant1846 I found the first 2 episodes of The Untamed so confusing that I had to watch them a couple of times to even figure out what was happening. Despite the rough start though, it ultimately became one of my favorite things I've ever seen (and it's a show that feels so incredibly relevant right now that I'm tempted to rewatch it). Obviously your mileage may vary, but that's one I'd recommend pushing through for a least a few more episodes to see if it clicks.

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THE UNTAMED is my perfect example of a great drama that starts slowly and with confusion but then blossoms into greatness as it goes along. I remember also being quite bemused by the first episodes and it was on pause for a long time.

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@wonhwa, @oldawyer, @zindigo, @nessa

If it's relevant to today, it's worth the effort. Here I come, THE UNTAMED. No more ducking.

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@wonhwa @oldawyer
💯 With this one, it’s when we really persevere and push through that we realize it’s greatness— greatness that probably won’t happen again in C-dramas, and even if it does, it won’t be as great (I feel like WORD of HONOR tried, but ultimately failed, the Zhang Zhe Han “scandal”— but not actually scandalous, just stupidity— notwithstanding)

@cliosservant1846
Definitely give it another try! If nothing else, you’ve got a handful of us here with you to cheer you on and to help explain anything to you that might need it. We’re just a tag away! And if it’ll take you a little more time to get through it—e.g. you feel like you may not finish it before the Fall Wall goes poof!— then for sure, just give us a shout (tag us) in a future Open Thread or something. I promise and guarantee you that your heart will be made so, so, so full once you finish THE UNTAMED 🥹🥹♥️♥️♥️

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Oh gosh what a great post thank you. I did a quick search on Zhang Zhe Han and the unpleasantness. This falls into what I characterize as the sadistic side of the cdrama world.

No denying the history there, hard feelings die hard -- and for good reason. My first boss (and a very good boss) out of college was chairman of a prominent construction firm. He flat out refused to sell to anyone overseas for anything less than cash. His family business made it through WWII working 24-7 with only Christmas Day off. He never after trusted the foreign market.

So I get that hard feelings are real. But also, I get that this was a manufactured crisis and the victim was, basically, a kid.

Back to THE UNTAMED, it's moving up on the list and any recommendations for well-written recaps/synopsis are welcome!

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@cliosservant1846
Yea— on the one hand, I don’t believe he was absolutely completely ignorant to history, but maybe it was an honest mistake and he didn’t read the signage properly of the place he visited. An honest mistake that people took and cultivated legs on to let it run, and run wild. I’m glad he’s made a shift in careers— still in C-Ent. but in music instead of acting— though his comeback has been done very quietly. During his time away from showbiz, he’d posted many “woe is me and my family, we are in dire straits” type posts and videos on his social media, and it really begs the question— at least from me— as to how extravagantly (or not) he and his family lived back when he was still acting, for them to result in living in “dire straits” once he wasn’t making the same income—if any at all— during his acting days 🤔 If that makes sense? Anyhow, it just seemed like a really curious thing to me, but I don’t hold any judgment on him, because on the flip side, my heart still goes out to him and I do not in any degree agree to the level of persecution he went through when the “scandal” happened.
Being a fan and follower of K.Ent. and C.Ent. (on a waaay lesser level nowadays of the former, though), I will say that the intensity of persecution and the reasons for persecution over a celeb of C.Ent. vs. k.Ent.,, I actually thinks C.Ent. is a bit more gentle. I think that K.Ent. (the fans and industry alike) persecutes someone for literally almost anything and everything, whereas, in C.Ent., people move on really fast and don’t get as upset when someone makes a comeback after a scandal (unless that scandal is quite severe, i.e. brings actual harm or breaks a law). In C.Ent., if something is big enough of a scandal, the heavy censoring and controlling government is the one that does the heavy, and the most, persecuting (banning the celeb, shutting down their social media, putting them on observation which will then determine if they can and will make a comeback after the scandal blows over after the celeb is determined to not have to be held accountable by law and/or have paid all of their fines as a result of the scandal), and the fans/anti-fans non-fans just watching everything unfold all just silently wait and see what ultimately happens

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Love Scout (up to ep 9): I'm continually impressed by Eun-ho. He really uplifts those all around him without seeming like a superhero or doormat. One of the many things that make him a good fit for Ji-yoon. I know it's too pat and kdrama-ish to have him be the kid that Ji-yoon's dad sacrificed himself to save, but this fate will make it easier for Ji-yoon to come to terms with it. Eun-ho really honored the sacrifice by living well.

Study Group: So endearing and funny! Will we ever see all of Uncle's Forbidden's Techniques? Unfair Play LOL! And are those flash cards at the end of episode 6? If Ga-min is only the 2nd-to-last rank in the school, I wonder who's in last place? And will they ever show Coach Uncle's face? I hope mom recovers soon.

Trauma Code: Binged it! Loved it! Fantastical, but I had a blast (though I did have to look away from some of the surgeries). It was thrilling, touching, and funny. Great acting and direction. Each lead gave standout performances. It stuck the ending and left me with a grin on my face.

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It’s no exaggeration to say that dramaland provided a respite from doomscrolling this week.

In addition to savoring Love Scout, I finished Shogun last night. It’s one of the most sublime historical dramas I’ve ever seen on TV. Visually, most Japanese TV shows look like the nightly news. How might Shogun’s cinematic aesthetic influence TV productions filmed locally in Japan?

As a trained designer, I lose my mind over brilliant production design. I haven’t felt this way about a historical drama since China’s 2019 The Longest Day in Chang’an! That show raised the bar for authentic and visceral historical world-building in dramaland. If only it weren't 48 episodes!

I’m watching the second season of the legal C-drama Fearless 2 (Unbreakable 2 on iQIYI), which stars Rayzha Alimjan (Tan Qi on Longest Day in Chag’an. The basic propaganda is that the law is fixed (and correct) while people’s interpretations are flexible. I’m here for the subdued romance and watching wretched people/companies get their comeuppance.

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This! Is and excellent post! Thank you for the background on Japanese nightly news. Who'd of thunk that the fabulously envisioned SHOGUN would move the design needle for nightly news? Way cool, hope it happens.

Doomscrolling, perfect description of my week.

Back at 'em tomorrow, as U.S. Grant would say.

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Sorry just re-read your post and realized you were actually making a bigger point. SHOGUN, in effect, is so outrageously cinematic, it belongs on a cinemascope screen. Anytime you raise the bar, it eventually filters through the industry because your audience has a new standard. Watch for it! If not in daily programming, in jdrama and all the other Asian dramas.

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Is @javabeans coming back again at all? Please make time and come back!

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Trauma Code - binged it like a spicy ramyun! Fun and entertaining with JJH being sexy as hell, and not just because of his looks. Can extreme competence be also sexy as hell?

Everlasting Longing - I don’t watch c-dramas at all but after half-marathoning Blossom at the behest of my friend I decided to give another attempt by watching this Viki suggestion. What can I say… The main hero is as wooden as a brick, the action sequences seems to be shot on a comedic fast-forward button, and the general stupidity abounds but, but. The trade sublot rocks, the catty princess saving the slave was hot, and Angelababy acting is as good as it can get in such a production. A pleasant surprise.

Running Man — continues as always for years to bring me joy, especially when I synchronize eating my food with the main cast eating theirs. Ji Ye-win is so unaffected. I absolutely love her and her dimples.

Severance — one of the best shows of the past 25 years on tv landscape. I watch the same episode multiple times: one for atmosphere, second for clues and third for actors.

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Oh and of course how I could forget **Love Scout** !! It’s such a given that I’m enjoying and watching it, that I forget that I need to mention it.

Tried watching Scandal in Chunhwa, because it’s up my alley, but alas the subtitles are atrocious.

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With the unnecessary stage name of “Angelababy” and starting out her showbiz career for “being famous just because”, and Somg Wei Long always and forever feeling very green in his acting to me, I’m not surprised at your review of EVERLASTING LONGING 😅

If you still wanna give the main cast of this drama a chance, my mom absolutely was surprised and said that Angelababy did really well in GENERAL AND I, and Song Wei Long also seemed to be able to hold his own in GO AHEAD (which the Kdrama FAMILY BY CHOICE is a remake of).

GENERAL AND I
https://mydramalist.com/19028-general-and-i

GO AHEAD
https://mydramalist.com/40911-go-ahead

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I have only watched Song Wei Long in Go Ahead and imo his acting was not good (at least I couldn't like his character for several reasons, and maybe the acting was one of them. While Zhang Xincheng gave a masterclass acting in this drama).

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I vaguely remember watching a drama with SWL in it, but don’t remember what it actually was 🤔
I miss Zhang Xin Cheng on my screen—he’s been really good in everything I’ve seen of his—and I’m sad his BL drama keeps trying but never gets to actually air (I’m reminded of it because it was a trending topic a few days ago on Weibo, China’s main SNS)

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I'm not very interested in that drama (police or very dark thrillers are not my favorite genre) but some of my friends who usually watch BL are looking forward to it.
The last rumor has it that it could be aired in Japan, but I don't know if it's true.

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GENERAL AND I is a good watch by the virtue of 2 things: Wallace Chung (ML) being a great actor and chemistry beast who makes everyone around him sparkle as well AND veteran of HK cinema golden era PD capable of turning any material, even super weak, into crackstatic show. I admit to dropping the show at some point because I was too angry at a certain narrative decision, but before that it was one of the biggest wild fun I've ever had with cdrama. Cheesier than murder by lactose overdose plot and hysterically bad CGI notwithstanding. 200% recommend.

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Really? Who knew. GENERAL AND I, at least most of the voices are genuine and not dubbed, that's a big plus for me. Thanks for the context.

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When I first read it was the same PD in TTEOTM, it all clicked))) So salty that his upcoming projects are basically doom and gloom - 2 dramas likely shelved forever and 3rd one's cast is a major meh - because I truly admire dude's artistic vision, he's one of the few remaining people in the industry who knows the importance of keeping the audience entertained.

Don't remember much about audio in GAI, but surely Wallace was dubbed there. Again, pity that his HKer Mandarin is not polished enough for costume dramas, he's got such a nice voice. Post-show I OBSESSED with his ending theme for it (me and my raging kink for metal OSTs in historical shows lol):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8Qw2Qe1oiU

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IDK if dramawiki is accurate but only the FL is dubbed, not Wallace Chung. I guess it would be easy to figure that out by comparing other dramas wherein he was not dubbed.

Dubbing, per se, I get why it is a good option for filmmakers. But I also just don't cotton to that, because it obscures the talent. I really like Ren Jia Lun's own voice if Forever and Ever. Dubbing in Under the Power killed it for me, it was bizarre.

Those who remember that at bottom it is an entertainment industry are ultimately successful. This is why John Ford was respected, even tho he was mean spirited and small. He brought it, and with it quality. This is what PD from TTEOTM also accomplished. IDK how you teach that. It's hard to teach.

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You might be onto something! I never watched the drama, but mum tells me that she also thinks General and I is probably the very first Mainland Chinese drama that Wallace Chung voices himself (either in real-time audio or dubbing).
Oh man, all this talk of Wallace Chung is making me even more anticipatory now for the upcoming Cdrama, Zang Hai Zhuan, wherein Wallace Chung portrays the ML’s father

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Oh wow, I love Mum! She's likely accurate than a website, even a good one. Thank you Mum!

Also, they are both 6'. So, it's believable. Good job casting director.

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Really? I always thought otherwise because he did a modern drama afterwards where he DID dub himself and got criticized rather harshly for his thick accent, and cnetz have always been far more unforgiving in that regard to actors in costume dramas as opposed to modern ones. Hmmm. DramaWiki is usually reliable, but some cdramas don't properly list all cast, VAs included, leading to this confusion pass to other sites. This drama also had a very troubled production, so idk...

Might need a rewatch to check, tho can't guarantee 100% accuracy - most people sound quite different doing "historical" speech, down to the octave. I only know his singing and normal talking voice. Anyway, I'll try, let's see how rusty my ears got)))

@nesssa but he's gonna have such a small part there - I don't mind him playing ML's father (man is already 50 after all, not too young for parent roles lol), but wouldn't he only be in flashbacks?

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@nessa - sorry, my cat "helps" me typing rn and ended up messing tags)))

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@gikata
No worries 🐈
Yes, I imagine both of his parents’ characters may only appear in flashback scenes, as the actress portraying his mother is Taiwan’s Michelle Chen, who’s only 10 years older than Xiao Zhan 🤣 And real-life logic of viewers (on and offline) isn’t going to let it pass if they appear in the present timeline of the drama

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@nessa which is a pity - we could certainly do more decent alive parents in cdramas! Most of them are always either long dead or so awful that we, along with leads, WISH they were dead too^^

Forgot which show it was not so long ago, but I recall a discussion how main lead and their parent, both adults, were played by actors only like 3 years apart... Made me laugh a bit, ngl. A whole decade sounds almost age-appropriate in comparison!

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@gikata right?? In my head, XZ and Wallace Chung being “only” 17 years apart is actually quite period appropriate, contextually, in terms of being father/son, since between 14-17 years old is when people got married and had children back in the day

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BOGOTA - having been to Colombia recently, I was keen to watch this one. It did catch the scenery really well, so much of it was actually filmed in Colombia. It was also a very good mix with the Spanish speaking cast. The story was not very surprising, but the execution really well done.

LOVE SCOUT - the childhood trauma is dealt with and now the villains have to be defeated. The drama is still good, but lost a little of its magic.

STUDY GROUP is the highlight of the week for now. Are all of Ga-min's family experts in martial art? Who is this uncle who taught him (even the forbidden moves)?

CHECK IN HANGYANG - follows the standard scrip, but is still ok.

MOTEL CALIFORNIA - there is not a single nice and good mother in this town! A public proposal is possibly the worst nightmare for any woman. SML just cannot read the room. A little progress with the main couple, but there are still too many episodes left. More break ups will happen. Dad going just for tests to the hospital - any drama watcher knows what comes next.

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I put a pause on A Good Day to be a Dog since I get very upset with school bullying scenes, actually with any kind of hateful violence. I need to start FFing those parts.
But since I was once again so taken with Park Gyu-Young I decided to rewatch Dali and Gamjatang which I liked even better the 2nd time around, maybe since I knew where I could FF and not miss anything ^^.
Then wanting to see more of Kim Min-Jae I started Do You Like Brahms, and am very pleasantly surprised after 2 eps. Not sure why I had dismissed that show before, but I'm impressed with all aspects of it so far.
Also watched another ep of Renting in Finland. It's sort of turned into mostly a food show, with a few side activities like boating or harvesting. Now there are horses! so I will definitely watch the last ep next week to see how they wrap up.

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I really like DYLB. It was well written. And Kim Min Jae is easy to watch and listen to.

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so yesterday I binged 12!! episodes. Couldn't tear away, and the entire days' plans were shot. But it's so great to find a show I find so compelling. Just 2 eps left for this morning and then I can get back to my life :)

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I watched it three times in a row. Spent a couple of weeks. Mind you, I was sick when I watched it, so my memory was not very good and I had a lot of free time.

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The awkwardness of the couple was very touching. A fav of mine.

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Still loving Love Scout and Study Group. Nerdy but sturdy superheroes! (Sorry) Ga-min taking off his glasses like Clark Kent preparing to be Superman cracked me up. Between his mom, uncle, and genius dad, that kid's got some powerful genes working for him.

Started Motel California somewhat hesitantly, but to my surprise found it very watchable, even bingeable. I love our two flawed leads, and am rooting for a happy ending for Mr. Marshmallow and Miss Thorns, as well as our four(!) secondary couples, all of whom are good people and deserve it.

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Forgot I made it two and a half episodes into the 2020 Taiwanese series Lost Romance, from the "heroine funds herself transported into a romance novel" genre, but it was too slow and too silly, despite an appealing FL.

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The romance was good and the way the story developed had an interesting twist. Not the top of its genre but I enjoyed it.

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I'm working hard to find distractions with all of the upsetting political events happening in my world. Very hard to stay positive.

I finished and enjoyed A TALE of LADY OK. It wasn't great but was a fun watch. I have to say that Choo Young Woo is a pleasure to look at. I had a hard time connecting with the female lead, Lim Ji Yeon, but she did a nice job with her role. I have several unanswered questions and still wonder why the male lead roles looked identical, and we just were meant to accept that.

I am trying to get into LOVE SCOUT (I've watched through episode 4) and am doubting my KDrama worthiness as everyone is loving it and I am still lukewarm. I typically love adult dramas, but this is not speaking to me yet. Maybe i'm still in the sageuk world after just finishing Tale of Lady Ok and Mr. Sunshine. I'm not giving up and hopefully it will grow on me!

Joining those of you wanting to watch THE SCANDAL OF CHUN HWA, but not sure where to watch. I believe it is on HITV.

Thank you for all of your updates!

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I totally feel you on trying to find distractions right now (or at least moments of joy to build up the motivation to keep fighting).

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Yes, moments of joy; I'm thankful to have dramas and this site. We have to stay positive and know that we can make a difference. Fighting!!

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Back at 'em tomorrow. I think about that every day. Also, I think about my garden, and seeds, and peonies. Spring will come.

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I'm gardener also, so YES, spring will come!

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I was also slow to warm up to Love Scout but persisted and now am a fan. I liked the first 2 episodes after others decoded them for me and then found the next 2 disappointing.

Once the couple get together it is fresh and trope defying-at least their relationship is.

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I'm now on episode 7 and it is definitely better, and I'll stay till the end!

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You're not the only one not enamored of Love Scout. I dropped it in the middle of ep4. Might go back at some point if I think my mood might fit.

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I've caught up now and I do think it improves. Or, at least, I am liking it more. I've never been a big fan of the female lead actor, but she is doing a pretty good job of walking the fine line between being a very strong business executive while not coming off too unlikable.
I'm enjoying the second couple more.
I'd say it is worth trying it again when you have time.

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Now that I am enjoying Love Scout I am not sure why I was not as interested initially. On now I remember. I thought he was just too good to be true and it did not feel like the drama was going to explore their relationship in any depth.

I was hypothesizing what happenned in his marriage and still would like to know. He seemed too milktoast to me and I wanted to know why he is the way he is.

Now that I see their rela

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tionship looking strong I am less bothered.

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Agree with your assessment, he really felt too good to be true and definitely "milktoast." I have warmed up to them both and like that he is being a little more assertive.
They gave us a little bit about his ex and the divorce, but it felt a bit unbelievable to me.
I also want to know more about the 2nd ML brother. What happened to him and the kindergarten teacher?

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I would really like to know what happened in his marriage. Did she have a psychiatric disorder like postpartum depression or was her personality disordered. Perhaps she was fine , but overwhelmed with marriage and parenthood And Maybe finding that she was
weak in comparison to him.

All hypotheses but I think it would be helpful if the drama addresses this. I imagine it was formative to some extent for his personality

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I am still watching Love Scout--I just finished watching episodes 10 and 11. I appreciated how they didn't make us suffer through a lot of noble idiocy. It just feels like a very competently delivered romantic comedy. The acting is excellent.

I also did watch Trauma Code: Heroes on Call. In the category of "really dumb but I enjoyed it anyway." The bromance elements were turned up to 11. I did not like the graphic yet extra-fake medical scenes. They were gross even though they were unbelievable--to me, anyway.

My favorite right now is Study Group. The fight scenes are beautifully choreographed. I love the characters. The mom!

In non-drama media, I am still watching the anime My Happy Marriage, which is so great. I am also kind of watching Singles Inferno.

I read the next novel in Malka Older's new series--it's a science fiction detective series. Lesbian future Sherlock Holmes in space. I liked this second novel, The Imposition of Necessary Obstacles, a lot. At the end, the main couple are discussing going to see an opera--and the opera is based on Boys Over Flowers! Very amusing.

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Late to the party, as always.
Dropped: Namib no relieving humour, and lots of hurt people. Check in Hanyang May pick it back up in the future when I feel in the mood, but I preferred it when it was four musketeers.
Finished Flourished Peony was good Breeze by the Sea last two episodes were a bit too much filler and time skips, but still nice island views.
Attempted lots of things, I need to make notes. Nothing much sticking at the moment
Continued to watch Love Scout This is a smooth cream liqueur. Slightly sweet for my taste, but pleasant and well done.
Rewatched (with lots of ff) My love from the star I have thoughts. Will write them down for a paragraph on new fan space thread when it turns up.

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Study Group is the show I didn't know I needed right now. I'm not usually a fan of high school dramas and I'm not a fan of violence, but I love this show so much I want to swallow it whole. I think maybe it's because it feels like the world is being taken over by bullies, really evil bullies, and I feel completely powerless. I love how this sweet kid and his joyboy energy is making the world a little safer for the people he loves. Watching the study group (and friendships) forming is making me as giddy as a romance. Plus I love pens! I hope, as others have said, it shifts away from the violence eventually, but I can't lie, right now I'm getting a little too much satisfaction out of bullies being swept aside.

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Wishing everyone a good weekend! Here is my quick list of the week:

Completed:
Iron Family
The Trauma Code: Heroes on Call

Watching right now:
Check in Hanyang
Love Scout
Unmasked
Tokyo Salad Bowl
Ikinari Kon
Study Group
Please Take Care of the Five Eagle Brothers

Will start soon:
Kick kick kick kick
The Scandal of Chun Hwa
Newtopia

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I LOVE 4x Kick! I read so many hate reviews and comparing the show with Gaus Electronic. Thank God I didn't watch GE. But I really need the madness offered by 4xKick and I've been waiting for a new drama by Lee Kyu Hyung - i love his acting ever since Prison Playbook.

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Check in Hanyang Got real dramatic here towards the ending. I liked it and was not angry as I often am after the final of a drama.
Study Group: No wonder the boy has some talent, he is obviously gifted from both sides of the family. 🤣🤣 I will get angry, though, if mummy doesn't turn out to just be okay. ❤️‍🩹
Chief Kim: I just likes this more everytime I see it. I made a couple of giffed post, and Midnight even joined me and put a few lovely gifs in there. Please enjoy them on my fan wall, these last days.
Bad and Crazy: I wanted to like it, but there was just too much violence and too little cheer.
My Country - A New Age: A lot of violence, too, and secret self sacrifice, and 😱😢💔😭 Still watching though. I mean, Jang Hyuk 'n all.
Sex in Space! I am not very much for unnecessary suffering. And also, OF COURSE she got pregnant, duh.
Love Scout: Happy they got the idiocy over with fairly quickly. I said from the start that chaeboy was lovely, too. And he is.👶🏻🩷💝❤️‍🩹
Crocodile: I have poured my creative and manual energy into making a crocodile sweater or knitted long-sleeved Tee for a three-year-old crocodile afficionada who has just become someone's older sister.
I have looked at crocodiles, rivers, spikes, protruding eyes, searching through patterns for crocodiles, alligators, frogs, dinosaurs, and dragons. I have never seen a sweater like the one I am making. It is ... what I feel should be called "honky tonk", but its unique. (I looked up honky tonk and all references are about playing piano. You can almost hear that tortured cheap piano in the word. But then again, Honky tonk would be a kind of ragtime, and "rags" are clothes). What I mean is, the sweater is uneven and only half-planned, knitted from what was in my drawer (except one skein) and cotton, that doesn't stretch much and is harder to make elegant.
If you want to follow my progress, @elinor and others, look at Ravelry, where I'm "Strikling".

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Chief Kim My gifs, and also links back in time. https://dramabeans.com/activity/p/1675996/
If you didn't see my curly girl gif last week, please do not miss out on https://dramabeans.com/activity/p/1674732/
Sex in SPace! Just one silly gif. No sex. https://dramabeans.com/activity/p/1675655/
Love Scout: This was fun. Just one gif, but with all the fireworks. https://dramabeans.com/members/CecilieDK/activity/1675642/
Crocodile Sweater: https://www.ravelry.com/projects/Strikling/42-3-rosy-cheeks-sweater

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