Beanie level: Eunuch in drag

The first and last time I watched anything of Rowoon on the helm was Extraordinary You. Needless to say, I was hugely dissatisfied and couldn’t get the Haru craze. It made me a big fan of Lee Jae Wook though. Fast forward to today and I’m watching Destined With You after a long kdrama drought (my last was Celebrity and See You in My 19th Life). The story is weird and cliche but boy is he selling it! I haven’t watched anything else of Rowoon’s after Extraordinary You and man I could really see how much he’s improved! *insert standing ovation*

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    Rowoon thanks you for your post!

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    Sunbae Don’t Wear That Lipstick

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    I just took a peek into Extraordinary You, and I agree with you. He was a beautiful wooden doll (albeit a very tall one) in that. @lapislazulii made a similar point. He’s improved a lot.

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      Yeah – he did decently in Extraordinary You but there was defs scenes were I was wanting more! He did pretty well in the ‘past book’ storyline in EY too, that’s probably where he peaked for me. DWY was miles better, even Sunbae was a step up too I think (it probably also helped that he had a much more emotive character compared to Haru).

      Hope you enjoy your DWY watch @cindymahri77!!

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I was looking at A Business Proposal photos for another reason when I came across this article. Huh! The what-could-have-beens! But here Bo-gum looks too young for the role though. Perhaps his post-military look would fit Tae-moo more. Eh. Ahn Hyo-seop still did well, all things considered.

https://www.preview.ph/culture/park-bo-gum-business-proposal-a00268-20220517

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So… I just binged The Glory P2 all in one go. Lol. Wasn\’t a fan of revenge dramas but somehow, I like this one. Even wanna see this pair go on serving it all the way through parts 3, 4, 5, etc..

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I was sure I was Team Sun-jae. But man. After the recent episodes I might now be carrying my flag with tail between my legs over to Team Geon-hu. He\’s such a green flag, I can\’t! Sorry, Sun-jae.

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    I’m for neither of them ending up the boyfriend and they both becoming each other’s best friend. Sun jae needs someone like Geon hu by he side and vice versa.

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    at this point, I’m team both of them honestly but I know what you mean – it’d be nice to get more of a backstory on Geon-hu but I suppose that’s a tough ask given these kids are just the secondary characters 😭

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We hoped. We dared to hope but we knew the story was going this way. Hui-jae was too convenient for the story… Curious on how the plot thickens now though.

#crashcourseinromanceepisode12

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Ugh. A literal cliffhanger from Bros on Foot episode 6. Gee. Thanks. I can practically see PD-nim\’s mischievous wink.. Gah! Now I have to wait another week to see Ju Ji Hoon off that cliff. 😩

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This scene right here showed in 5 secs that “Ah. Behind the smug facade is an adorable marshmallow.” Too cute. Lol

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Is it just me or does anyone else think that Love to Hate You\’s Kim Ok Bin looks like My ID is Gangnam Beauty\’s I\’m Soo Hyang? 🤔

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I’ve been curious about Love to Hate You since I saw its promos on The Swoon’s IG posts. I’m a sucker for contract relationship tropes, see. First few episodes in were a drudge to get through. Almost all of the characters pissed me off. But I guess patience pays. Episode 4 onward hooked me in so much that I ended up watching all 10 episodes in just one night. A couple scenes even stayed with me the following day and now I’m rewatching it slowly ‘coz I speed-watched it last night. Lol

Ugh. I really still fall for tropes like this. Arf

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    Oh, so far I really liked 1 and can’t wait to go ahead with more. It really feels like the kind of show people would want to binge if possible, so fun! That all 10 are available. I will have to slow myself down.

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      I kinda regret watching it all in one go last night. Haha! But it was such a crack halfway through that I found it hard to stop. Lol. Plus the parts that annoyed me in the first few episodes actually built the foundation for the characters and circumstances later on. I loved their take on Pride & Prejudice.

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        Oh, how interesting that the parts you disliked turned around, I love when that happens!And P&P is The Book of My Life, so now I’m looking forward to this even more! 🤔
        Thanks for the encouragement to pace myself.

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Now at episode 5 of the Alchemy of Souls Part 1 rewatch and it still has me cackling like crazy. 🤣
Yep. AoS has truly gone straight to be my most favorite fantasy kdrama of all time. Sorry, Goblin.

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    That’s a pretty amazing feat! (goblin is still my favorite.)

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2/2 The King’s Star and co. Ugh. This cast is delivering the vitamin A in spades! 😍😍🤩🤩🤩

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Apparently there’s a requirement for the King’s Star & Co. Sad I couldn’t seem to find a decent still of the unexpected last member, Sang Ho.

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EPIIIIIIC!!! Alchemy of Souls is just EPIC from start to finish! I don\’t care if the end was technically pure fan service but at least they managed to explain things reasonably – unlike a certain other Jang Uk show that must not be named. And I actually did understand how they explained Jin Bu Yeon\’s existence. Looking back, it makes total sense. There is just however a flaw in that plot as they showed Bu-yeon with her own personality through her mother\’s memories of when she was a teen. Was that just because her mother was an unreliable narrator? We\’ll never know. Otherwise, I\’m happy with how things went. It went too happy for the tone the show was setting but eh. I don\’t care. There\’s already too much negativity in this world. Let me have my happiness in Daeho at least.

What a time to be back. To fellow Beanies who wished me well when I bid a short adieu to prepare for my exam last year, thank you. I passed! Now I\’m back to kdramaland and to the beanie wall. Gosh, I missed you all!

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    Congratulations on passing the exam and welcome back to db!!🥳🥳🥳

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    Welcome back! Congrats on passing your exam!

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    Congratulations on passing!

    I still wish that Bu-yeon would have had the chance to be her own fully-fleshed out person.

    And I agree, if you are happy with the show, be happy. 🙂 I have my criticisms, but I understand that there are other aspects to love and enjoy.

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Just starting to review for the US licensure exam for my profession so I\’m putting my kdrama vices on pause. But man, 1st page in and I\’m already wringing my head. Why can\’t I just live in kdramaland and find a chaebol? I won\’t even be a damsel in distress. I\’m good with researching and coming up with new ideas to support the company. Ugh. Life just hasn\’t had a touch of color lately. 😔

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Alchemy of Souls: my thoughts on the finalé.

Details in the comments sections. Warning: filled with spoilers. Click only once you’re done watching. 😁

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    Okay okay okay.

    It’s past 3am where I am and I just finished episode 20 of AoS. But I gotta jot this down before I forget the feeling. And boy, was there so. many. feelings!
    Kilig at our main couples. Giggling and sighing at Master Lee’s Heartbreak. Facepalming at Park Jin. Facepalming at everyone still not realizing who Bu-yeon is. Indescribable intense annoyance at Jin Mu. Ugh! He’s like a mosquito that’s been buzzing for hours. I just wanna swat him and make him go splat! Disappointment at Go Won. Heartbreak for our main leads. Hope for that ending. Frustration at that cliffhanger.

    Seeing the Crown Prince in the previews, I still hope that he’s regretted his mistakes and will come out a better, wiser person. I truly still do hope that So-min as Bu-yeon still gets to cameo in season 2, finally reconciled with her mother.

    I have a feeling that everyone else will be away from the capital next season – and most of them looking for Naksu. Cho-yeon would probably be on a quest for revenge and Danggu would have no choice but to accompany her.

    There were several things that I found lacking in this season. But I gotta be honest that I still love it. And it still has a spot in my top 10 favorite kdramas of all time. I love how they circled on the sad similarities between the tragedy Naksu and her dad – both being caused by Jin Mu and those bells. Really, there is only one thing that will satisfy me in season 2 – an intensely satisfying end to Jin Mu. Gah! He makes my blood boil!

    Like I said, there were several areas that could have been given more time and imagination. But these two would hold the highest spots – Jang Gang and Jin Bu-yeon. Ayyy such wasted potential. Though I guess they could no longer make room what with the dozen small plot lines they also kept going on the sides.

    Why do I have a feeling that the 2nd Part wouldn’t be as gleefully fun as Part 1? At only 10 episodes and everyone much more motivated to fight, I feel like it will be nonstop combats – which isn’t bad as it’s one of the things a lot beanies have found lacking in season 1.

    Oh well.. Still. This went way better than I feared. All things considered, I’m happy with how things turned out.

    P.S. THAT tragic scene reminded me so much of Extraordinary You. Except that time, it was the girl. I guess manwha Dan-oh finally got her revenge? 😅

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THAT scene was too inspired by Infinity War. The guy everyone\’s been waiting for just gave like a 2 minute speech then got off and got dusted. Then right at the next shot, a scenery that uncannily looks like the realm of the soul stone. Ugh. Episode 19 being anti-climactic is an understatement. Please be better and finish on a high, episode 20. Don\’t disappoint us please. 🥺

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    I agree. I found the episode underwhelming to say the least but for M’s farewell convo with Yul which was sad because of its finality. And, what will become of Yul after that secret blood transfusion?

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    If whole series was leading up to the point where both ML and FL made MASSIVE sacrifices to save everyone, why did it take like 1 minute each (a short explanation and quick twirl)? The whole character arcs have been leading up to this point! Make it more dramatic T_T

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I don\’t know what to feel about AoS eps 17 & 18. There were some scenes that I wanted to savor so much that I feel like playing it slow, but there were also some scenes that I\’m fast-forwarding. It\’s the last stretch for season 1 next week. Please stick the landing, Hong Sisters. And please for the love of Daeho spare the four seasons + Crown Prince. I\’d just dare hope for Mu-deok. Given the S2 casting, she\’s the character whose ending I\’m unsure of the most.

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    To my regret, I can’t inagine that Mudeokie is going to survive as she will become Buyeon and even if, they don’t end up killing her off, she will become an entirely different person. Naksu will likely get resurrected in her original body when her soul joins her original physical appearance.
    One random comment: those mages were a sorry and pathetic bunch. I’m not sure if it was because of their overacting or just the poor narrative.

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      Lol at the mages. They didn’t even notice that their friend was missing.

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    Adding my pleas to yours for an ending that spares all our faves! I don’t trust the Hong Sisters… 😭

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Now I realize why Kwon Min Woo frustrated me so much. ‘Coz even though he was a jerk for most of the season, deep down I could see that he had a good heart – it was just buried underneath his insecurities and anxiety for the future. And while his character development took long and then abruptly changed near the end, I could see that his time with the more hateful Atty. Jang and the warm influence of our spring sunshine Choi So-yeon showed him how there are also good things to be gained from fighting for the truth and listening to one’s personal convictions despite the external pressures. For sure all his other problems still exist (I do hope he was also hired full-time in Hanbada), so I hope to see his character fleshed out in season 2. Speaking of which, I am just so glad my 2 current favorites are getting 2nd seasons. 2024 for EAW 2? I can wait as long as Kang Tae Oh is still on board, I wouldn’t mind. Plus I’d also like to see more of Young-woo’s dongsaeng. Man, what’s up with Tae Soo-mi’s genes? Her kids are both geniuses AND good-looking! Would love to see the shenanigans these sibling geniuses will be up to. 😆
And ah, would love to see more of the rest of the cast too! Been a while since I last seen the actress playing Atty Jung’s ex-wife. It’d be great to also see Jun-ho and So-yeon’s characters explored more next season.
Overall, t’was a good watch, EAW.. You’re second only to Alchemy of Souls in my heart this season. Now, AoS, please don’t disappoint me. Please and thank you. 😄

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    I adored the younger brother! He’s a good egg and I would love to see how his relationship w WYW develops. Just hearing him call her noona, and seeing her reaction to it made my heart melt.

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News on Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim 3 had me rewatching Season 1. Gah! 2016 really was a good year for dramas. I loved season 2 but the 1st has my heart. It\’s my favorite medical drama, along with Hospital Playlist season 1.

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Eyyy.. You gotta admit it, Master Lee is a cutie in Park Jin’s imagination. 🤣🤣🤣

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