#OurMovie

Everytime, Je-ha forgot what was personal space.

These days I'm watching the classic sageuks The Slave Hunters for the first time (15 out of 24).
Yesterday I watched a scene that has to be one of the swooniest I've found lately. And the characters weren't even an official couple (at that moment). Context: Eun Nyeon, the FL, has been on the run for weeks with Song Tae Ha, a wanted slave. Finally, in a cave in Jeju, when she can't take it anymore, she tells him to go alone, because she doesn't want to delay him any longer or be a burden on his escape. And he, as always, looking so sweetly, after some seconds of silence, reaches out his hand and says: "I have to ask for your permission to hold your hand, because we're going to have to run a long way." So leaving without her is not an option for him. And of course, she holds his hand because she is already smitten.

Ottoke!! What a good man he is! I love this character. He is so respectful, honest and courageous!

Kim Min Ha!!! 😲 WOW

https://x.com/memoryoftea/status/1934437722577617141

I finally completed Dear Hongrang.
Verdict: The story is not cohesive. But it is fun. I feel like the writer tried to tie things up nicely and the reveals were top. I do wish different choices were made. Inasmuch as the reveal of what happened to real Hongrang was, I was already thinking Sim was responsible for it and was the plotter all along, which was why he knew all the Hongrangs that came were frauds. I feel like they lost some climatic arc in there, but I do not disagree with the choice the writer made in this regards.

If one watches blindly, it is easy to get lost here. But one more thing I can say is this is a bingeable watch. I found myself pressing the next episode when I got to the episode 5-6 mark. Every other drama I was watching took a backseat for this particular drama.

Final verdict: I earned my bean without doing it grudgingly. It was very willing, I must say. Nevertheless, it doesn't come into the tier of great dramas. It does come into the tier of dramas with excellent sword choreography. I lurved it.

OK, so this is not really a squee... or  maybe it's a "reverse squee". 
I'm watching Unwritten Seoul (and loving it) on Netflix. It is soooo frustrating that when the songs play, the subs on the screen are shown in English when they are sung in English, but when the song is sung in Korean the sub says "singing in Korean" instead of translating the lyrics to English! Now, how is that helpful??? 
So, I guess my squee is:  I love that Viki translates the Korean lyrics to English!

Rewatching Mr. Queen with the beanies. I forgot how funny the drama is. We are in Hangouts on page 2 if you want to join.

- Our Unwritten Seoul: The confession! Actually, this is the first time, the present day stuff made me squee (doesn't mean I didn't like it before, I did). It was a pretty simple confession, and it just felt kinda perfect.

Other stuff:
- A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You/ Nami Uraraka ni, Meoto Biyori (jdrama, up to episode 7): As if the leads weren't adorable enough on their own, the drama has now pulled out it's secret weapon: a secondary romance. It's funny, because the second leads are essentially kinda the opposite as the leads, which makes for a fun and interesting dynamic, both with the leads, and with each other. They have this playful dynamic with each other that is an absolute joy to watch, and I can't wait to see more of it. Also, for those interested: this drama is coming to Viki on June 27th. Don't miss out on this beautiful drama!

- Tokyo Holiday (jdrama, up to episode 11). At this point it's certain the finale will end with me in tears, but whether those will be happy or sad tears remains to be seen. The preview does look lovely, and I'm happy our leads will actually spend time together (you know, after they've literally had like one scene together in the last 5 episodes). Good things come to those who wait, or at least I hope so.

@miso2019 @joanna @cliosservant1846 @mazarin

RE: Legend of Zang Hai

*SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE*

Whew! Okay, now that we've gotten that out of the way, where do I start?????
I stand by what I said before and I will continue to say it--and will probably say it until the end (which is near 🥺):

SO. SO. SO. SO GOOD!! From beginning to end!!! Some things as they happen, you're going to think, "Hmmm this thing or this person is sus", but never have I ever thought, "Wow, that was convenient" and then *cue eye roll*
The plot keeps moving along, and even though some parts of it is repetitve-- like the mention of revenge-- it doesn't fall flat and I'm not tired of any of it. It actually works to emphasize the human side of our hero and to remind us that he does have a heart, he does have a conscience, and knows not to harm those not involved.
The acting continues to be top notch--by the veteran cast, of course, but also by the young(er) cast as well-- and all of the details continue to be *chef's kiss* The more I watch, the more I applaud the production value, especially the props department. This drama truly makes me wonder if there were really such things and such devices in those time (Ancient China), but then I'm reminded again that we had the historically renown strategist, statesman, and inventor, Zhuge Liang (courtesy name: Kong Ming), who invented the "Kong Ming Puzzle".

At the time of this post, I'm actually nearing the end--only about 3-4 episodes left!!-- and I can't wait to see what is to come and how everything will unfold and come to an end-- at the same time, I don't want it to end!!! *clutches heart*

This week I completed the 36 episode iQIYI drama THE LOST NATIONAL TREASURE. I really took the plunge because of young ML Bai Yu Fan who was so good in 2023 in the Tencent historical/mystery RIPE TOWN (12 eps.) (Viki US).

SLIGHT ENDING SPOILER:The drama takes place from around 2000 to 2012/13 and contrasts the work of archaeologists and cultural preservation with the challenges of criminal individuals and groups raiding tombs. So it is one part educational and one part police procedural. I really enjoyed it and it had a wonderful cast. There is a basic overall arc beginning with a tomb being discovered and looted and many years later the perpetrators being brought to justice.

I did not know that Dulcé Sloan from The Daily Show has a k-drama podcast! She's doing it with a Korean-American media person called Chrissy Choi, and I really like both of them and their interaction. Thanks to the wonder of Youtube's intrusive algorithm for showing this to me. https://www.youtube.com/@chasingkdramas They are currently doing a rewatch of Marry My Husband and they have some discussions of favorite actors. Delightful.

A blanket squee for the writers of Our Unwritten Seoul. I didn't expect to like this one that much, but I feel really weirdly invested in it. For reasons I can't explain, I want it to continue doing what it's doing to an extent I -- can't explain. Ja-jinx jinx jinx.

I am just soooo loving that Ho Soo (Our Unwritten Seoul) is crocheting scrubbies!! Such a squee!!

this is not a SQUEE... this is a WAH HAH HAHHHH...

episode 6 of Nami Uraraka ni, Meoto Biyori - A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days with You is up on daily motion but NO SUBS...

it's not been uploaded yet on the site i had been watching it on...
*sobs*