Any The Rise of Phoenixes lovers here? I need help. How does one get over Ning Yi? 😭😭

#30DayDramaChallenge
I was too lazy to do this every day but had still been eyeballing it so here it is. Thank you @purplesheesh for starting this! I created extra rules for myself – sticking to one entry for each, not repeating dramas, and only choosing from the shows I have finished.
1. Favorite Kdrama
Reply 1988. Need I expand on why?
2. Favorite Cdrama
My Queen. I will just never shut up about this drama. I relate SO much with the FL and the actress brought her character to life phenomenally, using minute expressions to relay the contradiction between her real feelings and what she ends up spewing out of her mouth. And the way the ML sees right through her prickly facade after a while (while still realistically misunderstanding her sometimes which just ends up making the other times even better)! Ghosh! Also, noona romance. Hee!
3. Favorite Jdrama
Liar Game from the handful I have seen.
4. First Drama Ever Watched
Meteor Garden 2001. The forgotten OG! Jerry Yan! Barbie Hsu! Ah. Just thinking about this drama transports me back to the summer, all those years ago, when I discovered this drama and started down the path of no return.
5. Favorite Male Lead
Do we have nice MLs in kdramaland? Yes, we do. However, how many of them are men in powerful positions? Yeeeah. So my pick for this will be Lee Gon from The King: Eternal Monarch. I know I know. Shock! Lee Gon stands out, despite the show not having fleshed out any of its characters well, because he is a man who has the utmost power but is still one of the most grounded chars I have seen. Lee Min Ho plays him with a lot of heart and grace under the circumstances. He is kind, gentle, and caring. He doesn\’t use his trauma to excuse any bad behavior. He doesn\’t try to throw around his power and money in order to win the FL. Most importantly, he doesn\’t mind, what would be akin to, emaciating himself in front of his lover. But more on that, and the surprising ways this show has reversed romantic gender dynamics within the context of their culture, later. I have a tentative plan of making a post about it. Finally, his kisses (and hugs)! They are so soft and gentle! I am not going to mention them in the Best Kiss section however because the FL doesn\’t receive them well, but I really liked them otherwise. Especially the Ep 12 kiss! Omo! The passion, care and vulnerability in his eyes when he kissed her! *swoon* (it was his *cough* first time too! hehe).
6. Favorite Female Lead
Hands down Jung Geum Ja from Hyena, I don\’t care what anyone says. She was whip smart, vicious, and powerful. Look at her wrong and she will cut you down. Watching her was liberating and gave me a vicarious thrill. I wanted her to walk out of my screen and become my friend, because she will protect you like a mama lion with her cubs once you are under her wing. She was no sacrificial white knight concerned with the greater good and all that. But there\’s a reason why black knights are equally fantasized about – because they protect and fight for what they hold dear, including themselves, by hook or by crook. And you know what? That\’s ok.
7. Best OTP
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo
8. Worst NOTP
Oh dear. I can think of multiple just off the top of my head. I am going to go with Fight For My Way though because it gets hyped up a lot. The FL turns disgustingly emotionally abusive at the end.
9. Favorite Secondary Couple
Gu Dong Mae and Kudo Hina from Mr. Sunshine.
10. Best Kiss
Oh boy. This is a tough one. I will go with the Ep 10 kiss of Encounter. That had been such an emotionally perfect culmination of all that had started in Ep 1. I like to believe that\’s where this show ended.
11. Worst Kiss
The Ep 8 kiss from Bubblegum *gags* I feel so bad for the actors.
12. Drama That You Can Watch Over and Over
Flower Boy Ramyun Shop. It\’s such a ridiculous show, I cannot. 😂
13. Overrated Drama
Just Between Lovers (actually from my drop list but I had to break my rule here because…well, the serial dropper that I am, I wouldn\’t have finished anything that I found overrated)
14. Underrated Drama
Matrimonial Chaos
15. Best Drama Villain
Ji Sook from The Village: Achiara\’s Secret. Oh my heart hurts for her. She was such a tragic character.
16. Worst Drama Villain
Arthdal Chronicles?
17. Drama That Deserves a S2
Ahem
18. Drama with SLS
Doctor Stranger\’s Quack Couple (Park Hoon and Oh Soo Hyun). They should have ended up together and those are non-contestable facts.
19. Drama With Squad Goals
I have nothing. So I will just add in Exo Next Door here 😁
20. Drama That Made You Cry
Hmm from the ones yet to be mentioned, the last one I remember was Itaewon Class. It happened some time in the beginning of the show.
21. Drama That Made You Laugh
The Sound of Your Heart
22. Drama With The Best Ending
I actually don\’t really have anything in particular for this from the ones I have yet to mention, so I will just give a bit of love to Secret Love Affair.
23. Drama With A Terrible Ending
God\’s Gift: 14 Days
24. Best Drama OST
The one I have been listening to recently is Serendipity by 2young off of The Heirs. It\’s just so youthful and upbeat.
25. Best Drama Family
Jealousy Incarnate. They may not have been related by blood and they may have been messy, but they were a family nonetheless.
26. Best Drama Bromance
Two Cops
27. Drama Cliche You Never Tire Of
Friends to Lovers, noona romance.
28. Drama Cliche You Can’t Stand
Childhood connection tropes. No. Just no. I feel like ripping my hair out every time I catch sight of this.
29. Best Drama Confession
Ep 13, Accidentally In Love. A great twist on the typical \”tell me what you like about me\”, this isn\’t a proper confession but the heart flutters were real – ML and FL start to play a game to list things they hate about each other. While the FL has no problem rattling off her list, the ML cannot go beyond three. The FL gloats over her win…until the ML sighs and, his expression softening, says \”Can I tell you the things I like about you then?\”. !!!
30. Recently Finished Drama
Unrequited Love. FL was refreshingly strong but calm and was well acted. I also really liked how the unrequited love isn\’t just used as a gimmick at the start but its effects are present throughout. Like the ML feeling insecure about himself after learning about it because what if he\’s not as special as she thought he was? Also, reverse candy. That\’s all I will say.

#TKEM12 Just because I cannot not have this on my fanwall

*swoon* Lee Min Ho! Lee Gon! IDEK whose name to scream anymore

하…외롭다…외로워…

Me, every time Friday-Saturday rolls around:

P.S. Lee Min Ho in less than 12 hours. Kyaaaaa

#30DaysDramaChallenge
17. Drama That Deserves a Season Two – Mystery Queen
👀

How does one Share An Emotional Embrace In A Dark Forest with Lee Min Ho? Asking for a friend.

#LeeMinHo And #KimGoEun Share An Emotional Embrace In A Dark Forest In “The King: Eternal Monarch”https://t.co/rIPZ3Ok4HV pic.twitter.com/tKRUTfNmVm

— Soompi (@soompi) May 16, 2020

Lee Min Ho has a name.

And it\’s Beauty.

Ok. Listen to me for a moment. There are reasons behind why I have never watched Boys Over Flowers :

1) Meteor Garden 2001 is my first asian drama, the one that opened up this whole other universe of oppars, shower scenes, amnesia, evil in-laws, kimchi slaps, dead fish kisses, Truck of Doom, etc. So my Jerry Yan-loving feathers were more than a bit ruffled when BOF rolled around and everyone was saying it was better than MG2001.

2) The perm. You are telling me THAT won over Jerry Yan? OH HELL NAW.

3) One pure-breed BOF had been enough. Plus, I did watch BOF Lite (Heirs) all the way through(!) years later so I thought I was done with it.

That is a stance I had strongly stuck to all these years, even after falling for Lee Min Ho (swoon). Never budging, never wavering. A strong general at war.

UNTIL

Until today. When I found these.

I AM WHEEZING WHAT IS THIS. THOSE FEEL LIKE FAKE SUBS BUT AREN\’T. THAT GIF FEELS LIKE A PARODY BUT ISN\’T. WHAT GLORIOUS WONDER HAVE I BEEN MISSING FOR SUCH A CRIMINALLY LONG TIME WHEN IT WAS RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE?!

For the first time in over a decade, I am On The Fence. And that\’s 3/4th of the battle won. Darn it. Time to bring out the spirits in preparation for the inevitable.

ROFLMAO

Listen man, listen. I am one of the rare breeds here who actually likes Lee Min Ho. And yet, even I, was hit anew by such a strong case of Lee Min Ho fever at the end of Ep 4 of The King: Eternal Monarch that I SQEALED IRL, blushed, strangled my pillow, buried my face in it and squealed again, swooned, and then proceeded to spend the rest of the week suddenly screaming his name several times a day and going back to work as if nothing happened. And I now make this post because tonight’s my date with him and I finally got around to listening to the OST they used in that scene and, impossibly, it has me swooning all over again as if I hadn’t spent the rest of the week doing that already. There may have been too many ‘and’s in this post but that pales in front of me possibly getting hauled off for being crazy, which I don’t care about if it means no swooning over Lee Min Ho.

That’s it. That’s the post.

P.S. there’s an unreleased scene at the end. gasp more Lee Min Ho!

Itaewon Class: The First and Last Post

I only started watching IC two weeks ago, after Jules informed me that Itaewon Class wasn\’t, in fact, about school and an ex-convict trying to become a teacher (😂). I\’m really not into school stories. Not having found a drama that had grabbed me so far, I went into this with 0 expectations and info….and found myself instantly invested the moment Park Saeroyi appeared on my screen displaying autistic characteristics. I hence approached this show as his story with others serving as typical 10-min-exposure side characters (instead of being an ensemble) and it didn\’t disappoint in that aspect. From start to finish, it was about his journey and the show stayed true to what it had set out to be – the underdog hero\’s story with a thread of depression and suicide running through it, the latter being something that it never explicitly puts into as many words but which was woven into the story nevertheless, making me appreciate it even more. The show did have its faults (hiring the webtoon writer as the screenwriter when they have no other screenwriting credit to their name was definitely not a good decision) but it was otherwise well executed by the rest of the crew and the show did something that we all forget the importance of sometimes – be engrossing. I was never bored and, even as a serial dropper, I never felt the urge to drop it. I could get more into detail about all the things I liked and disliked about the show but I am sure people are going to write whole theses on it so I am just going to bask in the post-drama glow instead. And depression. I haven\’t finished a show in a while (last was in 2019 November according to my MDL) and have forgotten how to deal with post-drama depression. Plus, I do not want to contribute to the cesspool of negativity this drama has generated. Life\’s too short and busy for that. I do want to give a special shoutout to the OST as well as the unconventional side characters. Most importantly, an FL who wasn\’t cookie cut. Wow was it a breath of fresh air.

So there we go, my first bean for 2020!! Yay!! Not a perfect show, but I have no regrets about this one. Come to think of it, its the first Park Seo Joon drama I have enjoyed. And ooooh, Kim Da Mi! I will have to follow her projects from here on out. I was surprised to learn that she wasn\’t actually close to 18 haha. And now, back to my cave until I find another drama I like. Sigh.

P.S. THAT PARK BOGUM CAMEO. I might have squealed and cried as I shouted \”WHEN ARE YOU COMING BACK TO ME?!\” at my screen.

Parasite. What a film.

The euphoria from watching a foreign film sweep so many major awards at the Oscars finally got me to watch this film that everyone has been raving about. The reason why I hadn\’t gotten to it sooner was because, being an avid consumer of Korean films, dark and complex stories such as the one Parasite promised are the norm in this industry and I had wondered if it\’s international popularity was really just luck, a result of people not being used to mainstream films such as this. But now, hours after having finished the film and staring blankly around me, I am happy to say that all the praise this film has gotten is well-deserved.

This film is absolutely crushing in its unflinching portrayal of what is the dark reality for a majority of people. Right from the start, there is never a moment where you truly believe that things would get better, that the family\’s shenanigans would actually bear any positive fruit. The futility of it all, the suffocating hopelessness, just drips from the screen without being overpowering under Bong Joon Ho\’s masterful hand, until he wants it to of course. I also now understand why there were such wildly differing descriptions of the film\’s plot from website to website (one even painted it as more of a romance, wth). This film is not a high-concept film by any means. Approaching it as such would be a mistake and would probably turn off a lot of people. This film is not about the life and trials of one specific family. The characters aren\’t concrete. They are, instead, intentionally made like vessels meant for anyone to step into. You could change all of the characters and the story would still remain the same. It is a tactic that has a high chance of falling on its face but the film manages to execute it brilliantly to its favor. The allegory IS the main plot. It is to the point that, very interestingly, the film almost feels fantastical without Bong Joon Ho actually ever crossing that line. But he definitely entertains the idea of dipping into magical realism, his toe right on the border. You can feel it in some shots and hear it in places in the sound design, something that just adds to the brilliance of the film.

One thing that did puzzle me about this film was it being described as a black comedy. There wasn\’t even one moment in this film that made me laugh and neither were there any cues to show that the film wanted me to either. The only reason I can see behind attaching the \”comedy\” genre to this is due to the simple fact that the events that transpire in this film, at least in the first half, are not shown in a way typical of thrillers. But otherwise, to anyone who still hasn\’t watched it and wants to, take the comedy descriptor very, very loosely.

So those are my short, crude first thoughts on the film. I still feel a bit dazed from the experience. Parasite is certainly very aptly named, and not just within the plot of the film. The film stubbornly sticks to you, even way after it\’s over, and zaps any and all fantasies you may have about the world.

Happy Birthday.

We are one.

Coming out of my cave to say, finally! The year end Kpop list that we had all been talking about @infinitize @crysta @jaelegant! I…can’t help but feel a little sad, now that I won’t have to think about it for another year at least.

A few things to note before I begin:-
i) This is a mixture of albums and singles because I didn’t want to butcher the albums I love by breaking them into singular tracks. Plus, doing so would just mean that I would have to add them all to my list separately and then this list would have ended up being only EXO & DBSK.
ii) Yes, it is an oddly numbered list but 10 was too less and 19 (cause it’s 2019, a Fini idea) was too much and I didn’t want to add more songs just to fill up the spots.
iii) I tried to stick with more b-sides because those normally get neglected and tried to include only one entry per artist. I did get sneaky with the latter but hey, my list my rules.
iv) I have written too much for some and too little for some. It doesn’t mean I love the latter any less.
v) Yes, I am a Cassiopeia and EXO-L so this list is going to be dominated by them. If I didn’t like their music this much then I would have no reason to be their fan now, would I? Blame them for being too good.

Now, on to the list!

1) [ALBUM] EXO – Obsession: Back when this comeback had first been announced, I had put this album straight at the top of my list. And as always with EXO, I was not disappointed. Yet another solid album filled with standout tracks. The overall sound of this album is a bit different from the EXO that we are used to, their trademark style of vocal layering taking a bit of a backseat, but it fits the concept with which this album was constructed and they use this opportunity to play around with new vocal dynamics that also helps put some spotlight on the more in-the-shadows members of the group. I could write an essay about this album but I’m going to try and make this as short as possible – love the refrain-as-percussion of Obsession, the verses buoyed by that bomb consistent bass, the sinister horns and whistles that come in for the pre-chorus, and the culmination of it all into their signature sensual R&B chorus. It’s dark, unsettling, in line with their concept, experimental and unique, and is a full bop. A quick look into the other tracks in the album – love the use of rarer instruments for Groove (& its dreamy fantastical nature) and Non Stop, and Baby You Are’s folk instrumentation. Day By Day is more typical EXO so there’s no reason not to love it. Ya Ya Ya is such a fun and playful track. Trouble is another good dance track that doesn’t rinse and repeat the same reggae samples throughout. Butterfly Effect is probably the weakest link in this album. While still a good song to listen to, it doesn’t have as much of a distinctive quality to it as the rest of the tracks and hence didn’t grab me the same way, a pattern I have noticed with all songs, across artists, tagged as a “fan song”. Makes one wonder…
Special Mention – Jekyll. The song is structured as a conversation between their two alter egos à la Jekyll and Hyde, with Jekyll’s verses being delivered with a rough aggression born out of fearful desperation, struggling to push out their darker selves, while Hyde’s verses are delivered in smooth, seductive vocals, like a lover softly asking their partner to not push them away, that shows the chilling confidence they have in winning this fight, or rather, that they know they have already won.

2) [ALBUM] Chen – Dear My Dear: The lyrics! Omg! The songs in this album have very evocative lyrics that build a beautiful visual tapestry and it is an absolute treat to…listen? see? haha. So I would urge everyone to listen to these tracks with a good translation pulled up. Unlike its predecessor, this album sees Chen also delve into retro and brit pop. Apart from that, it’s Chen. I doubt I need to say much more than that.

3) [ALBUM] U-know Yunho – True Colors: Strap yourselves in, cause this is one banger of a ride. A Michael Jackson-esque dance funk album, Yunho goes with simple but impactful instrumentals without a lot of decorative bells and whistles. And. It. Works. Oh so well. I must say though, considering how dynamic the rest of the album is, Hit Me Up was disappointing in the way that it submitted to the current trends. I would have preferred if the album didn’t have a ballad in Change The World but I really like the track and it serves as a nice change of pace so I don’t mind it.
Special Mention – Swing (ft. BoA). If this collab isn’t what we had all been dreaming of! I admit, I started to feel some doubt at the pre-chorus but then the instruments dropped away completely and Yunho came in with that harmony before the killer beat of the chorus hit me upside the head. I almost broke something in me by how hard it had me dancing.

4) [ALBUM] Chen – April, and a Flower: Again, it is Chen. And if he can make me like a straight Korean pop ballad album…..

5) [ALBUM] Baekhyun – City Lights: While the songs in this album are good, I wouldn’t really say that they break any major borders and as such, its replayability majorly depends on Baekhyun. EXO’s main vocalists have vocal prowess to spare however, and Baekhyun more than rises to the occasion. Even within the group, his voice is a favorite of mine. So a whole album with only him at its helm? That too a dark R&B album? YES, & YES!
Special Mention – UN Village. This album’s USP is Baekhyun’s voice and no other track in this album understands that better than this one. The track wisely remains on the low and just lets Baekhyun do the heavy lifting to build the atmosphere of the song as he lures us, and his lover, into secret moonlit rendezvouses, seductively crooning over the difficult rhythm of the track with confident ease. It is hypnotizing and, simply put, is a siren’s song.

6) EXO-CBX – Paper Cuts: I don’t know how to coherently talk about why I love this song to bits. All I can say is, it’s heartbreakingly gorgeous, with lyrics that I interpret as being about wanting to make your loved one happy even at your own detriment (“A night sky without stars, so I’ll cut it out/The paper cuts in my hand are illuminated by the light/Fragile and on the verge of breaking/The paper cuts in my hand, but your smile, it’s so lovely”). It’s simple but the emotions hit you right in the heart. And it’s sung by an EXO subunit consisting of Chen, Baekhyun, and Xiumin, so you know it’s real. They just lay themselves bare on this track.

7) Chanyeol – SSFW: Not everything needs to be an experimental marvel to be loved, and this track is evidence of that. It doesn’t try to break out of any boxes but the melody is really pretty and soothing. I find myself putting this song on replay every time I am feeling down and it does the trick. Not to mention, a rare track with Chanyeol singing! He may not be main vocal material but he knows what works and sticks to it. His deeper timbre blends well with the song and amps up the calming effect.

8) Hong Jin Young – Love Tonight: I cannot not include my Queen of Trot in this. Her songs are instant pick-me-ups and have me breaking chairs left and right as I climb on top of them for silly dance times. Just go listen to her. You are welcome.

9) AKMU – Chantey: It is such a haunting song and I absolutely love it. Songs like this are a rarity, sadly. Any recs based on this song would be highly welcome.

10) SuperM – No Manners: This song had me right from the moment that the dark spanish guitar kicked in…which happened in the first second, so. I love the mysterious and sexy vibe of the song, even if the lyrics seem to be following a different thread entirely.

11) Red Velvet – Sunny Side Up!: A reggae trap song with Red Velvet’s harmonies? Oomph! This song can very accurately be described as HOT. It is like a hot summer day with some sultry passion thrown in that leaves your head spinning.
Special Mention – In & Out for the ones who love their edgier Velvet releases, and LP and Milkshake for those who love their quirkier Red releases. Or all 3 for those who love it all!

12) Dreamcatcher – Silent Night: Ah, Dreamcatcher. Such a unique little group whose genre of choice is sadly not my type. However, the rare times when they decide to go electronica? It’s glorious and this insane psytrance song is proof of that.

13) TXT – 20cm: There had initially been fierce competition between Crown and Run Away for this TXT entry since their title songs are such solid, poppy, catchy fun. But the game was over the moment I heard 20cm. It’s about a best friends to lovers romance, except it’s told through the lens of puberty. The boys sing about the awkwardness of the changes they are physically going through, as well as the way that it triggers changes in the dynamic between them and the girl, both slowly becoming aware of each other in new ways. Like how nice her hair smells, or the way that…[Read more]

Does anyone know how many seasons Kingdom is going to have?

So. Remember this? Remember how I absolutely lost my mind when Arthdal decided to hit us upside the head with a clear wannabe-second-season ending in a gross tasteless surprise?
To start this off, a small tidbit about me – I am a serial dropper so finishing shows is rare for me. What does this have to do with this post? WELL. Vagabond is the second show I have managed to finish after that….except…wait. deep breath Vagabond, this of all shows, TURNED OUT TO BE A SURPRISE WANNABE-SEASONAL SHOW AS WELL.

My journey towards the end of the finale ep was one of mounting disbelief.

3 mins

I am sure there is a way they will still be able to wrap it up. It will be messy, but it will happen. No worries.

2 mins

There is still time! I mean, look at how the show has been so far.

1 min

A montage should do it!

30 secs

I AM SURE THIS SHOW STILL HAS SOME GENIUS ENDING TRICK UP THEIR SLEEVE. SURELY THIS WOULDN\’T BE HAPPENING TO ME TWICE IN A ROW. I MEAN, WHAT ARE THE CHANCES OF THAT, EH? HA. HA. HA.

The End

@#$%^& FUCK YOU NETFLIX! FUCK YOU!

It’s only the second day of teasers for EXO’s comeback but THIS IS ALREADY AWESOME AND I AM GOING INTO OVERDRIVE. For the curious, the article reads:

Questionable beings have spotted around the globe, causing abnormal activities. It was witnessed by many that these beings, radiating red energy, move and create phenomena beyond human level. From research, it has been confirmed that there is a total of six of these exotic beings. They are assumed to be similar in form with , a being that has been tracked for long now.

And there is a warning below that reads:

WARNING

Anomalies due to twisted orbits

It’s EXO mythology time, baby!! ASDFGHJKL I. CANNOT. WAIT.