Hmmm. I think the only thing I agree with you on is the OST. They should have diverted some of the budget they spent on big-name singers into hiring song-writers who weren't eager to offload their sub-B-side jottings, session musicians who weren't taking a break from muzak-making, and, above all much better arrangers: I don't think I have ever heard a Korean CD with such a succession of unimaginative arrangements. Oh, and I agree on the great performance KJH is delivering, of course.

Otherwise, I think they've got everything more or less right and are building it up nicely, including some rather interesting and potentially complex portraits of the older generation which you are rather skipping over. The first four eps are very much a sub-drama in themselves, with strong hints that there are going to be major shifts in tone and content from 5 onwards.

Sorry to hear you're thinking of jumping off already. This is a drama I for one am certainly going to stick with -- the first one that's had me camping on the CBs to grab each episode with an urgency and anticipation I haven't felt since CP finished.

Hei I'm first to respond! ^^
I didn't think Ep 2 was that bad. I liked it a lot more than Ep 1 in fact..didn't think Ep 1 was THAT interesting or as poignant as you had pointed out. (maybe I'm slow in catching subtlety..hehehe..)

I was expecting Ep 2 to drag the issue of In Soon's mom and Sang Woo not finding out that soon..but to my surprise, it was quite fast paced. The drama kinda got thru the issues quite smoothly and I kinda liked it.. I also like how In Soon was portrayed to be a strong and vulnerable person in the drama at the same time. Strong as in how she tries to fight all the hardship of having ppl pick on her past and use it against her..and vulnerable in a sense that despite her determination, she still can't let go of it. PLUS point was, I adored the teacher's kid when he's with In Soon..they looked soooooo adorable together. Was such a touching scene - when he told In Soon that she's not a dangerous person...she's the prettiest, kindest and most generous person on earth. Imagine how IN Soon would have felt..I'd be on cloud 9 despite all my problems and hardship...

Yeah, it's just me I guess.. ^_^

Happy weekending fellow dramabeanies!
I'm a constant netflix offender too, weeks go by before I even consider watching my rentals... my slackabilities are pretty powerful.

I absolutely adored Joe Wright's Pride&Prejudice. Loved MacFadyen as Darcy. Loved Mr. Collins and his: "What excellent boiled potaTOEs" more. Actually the entire cast was a delight. Just brilliant.
I tired to watch Gossip Girl but somehow I can't get pass the Asian & Black characters as accessories for the main white character. (points to Gwen Stefani)
Speaking of offending, gather your friends and go watch Finishing The Game. It's hilarious.

the song wasnt so bad. i mean the korean one.
english one.. i didnt catch any english words other than "I love rock and roll."
but acting is her best bet.

Thank you for smoking is a very good movie. it left me grinning, but it might not be worth months of waiting for (haha). i'm going through some netflix guilt now, but its not too extreme. its only been three weeks. not bad, right? right?

i'm not a jane austen fan (more like a super anti-fan. i don't know why but there's something about her writing that i just despise) so i've sworn off everything, even the movies. are they really that good?

for some good books, i recently finished "Strawberry Fields" a love-ish story about migrant workers in England who, of course, work on a strawberry field. its a really interesting and quirky story. i was a little skeptic about it at first because i just picked it off the shelf, but i'm glad i did. another one i read was After Dark, a japanese book translated into english. its very short and a little dark, but i really liked how it was written and the simple plot.

i need books! i used to read every night, but i'm finding it harder and harder to get to the library, so i haven't done that in a while. any suggestions would be awesome. as for chick-lit, i've never read any. unless you count elementary/middle school-level books (babysitter's club and the like) as chick-lit. but i don't.

I think Meteor Garden and HYD are both great!

I LOVED LOVED the newer movie version of "Pride & Prejudice." I thought the cast was excellent and Mr. Darcy was perfect. It's one of my favorite movies ever. Now I'm really curious to see "Death at a Funeral!" *puts on my things-to-watch list* Javabeans, I think tons of people do what you do, and keep Netflix movies for a while. They must earn a majority of their money from the fact that people a lot of times procrastinate or forget, and so they can charge away every month. I want to read good, inspirational, well-written, thought provoking, touching, and wise books. Any suggestions, anyone?

i enjoyed Thank You for Smoking, a good balance of the mock and doc. and not drenched with witticism, which can get irritating. one thing that did bug was Katie Holmes. Tom Cruise had to ruin everything about her for me, I miss those Dawson's Creek days and her toothy, crinkly smile. Now, she's Mrs. Femme Bot. Sadness.

djes-- i, too, watch Gossip Girl! Oy!! I promised myself I wouldn't after I publicly scorned the promo clip, deeming it too salacious and saccharine--another show today's youth culture doesn't need! But gees! I find myself downloading the latest episodes and pausing scenes to drool over their ridiculously expensive outfits. Go Nate and Jenny!

The thing with Gossip Girl is that it's this addicting mix of Mean Girls, Cruel Intentions, and Sex and the City. I used to be a major beeyatch in junior high and high school, so when Mean Girls came out on DVD and a bunch of us were watching the movie....well, outcries of....

1. "OMG, that's so YOU."
2. "Dude, did you, like, help write the script?"
3. "Seriously, did you ghost write the screenplay?"

...ensued. Normally, it'd be a compliment but when people think you're Regina George? Not so fantastic. Yes, I'm reformed but oh...it sucks how your past self can sock you right in the face, especially when you're trying to start fresh with new friends. Wow, how self-absorbed IS this comment!

Okay, so to anyone who's watched Mean Girls, whose character did you all relate to? Boys, Men please feel free to relate 'cause I know it's more than just a handful of you all that like this movie! (Believe me, your excuses of "oh, uh, some girl left that DVD here, i don't even know what that is!" does not work.)