I did rather resent the guy who claimed that the Korean performers were just as cartoonish, not just in Squid but in K-drama in general. That’s just not true. Like the TV drama of any country, some Korean shows are more exaggerated than others, and some characters in a show are more exaggerated than other characters. Sure, there is Penthouse etc, but has the guy seen My Ahjusshi, Conspiracy in the Court, Kairos, or any drama directed by Ahn Pan-seok? And didn’t he notice how restrained Park Hae-soo and Jung Ho-yeon were in Squid?
In my – admittedly biased – opinion, there isn’t anything more adorable than Ji Seung-hyun operating on a teddybear. You Are My Spring needs to stop this (just kidding show, please do continue)
This drama is making everything so good that I am scared how much I’m loving it. Even the mystery part (which right now is not important to me) is good.
They are all killing me!
After watching the last few episodes of Bossam, I\’ve drawn the conclusion that the type of gun you use to hunt tigers must be really ineffective when shooting people
I am weirdly enjoying how all the male characters are trash apart from the kid (also brother-in-law hasn’t done anything too majorly wrong). And yes, I’m including our hero in this.
‘What shall I do with this woman? I know! I’ll sell her to a brothel’ seems really deeply flawed decision making (other words are available) only mildly better than the other male characters’ choice of just killing her outright.
I’m not sure I can ever get on board with a romance due to the “I can’t make up my mind, so I’m selling her” decision making process as well as the “It’s better to be sold into prostitution that die” encouragement he offered.
I just finished Nothing but Thirty and I loved it. It goes on the very short list of Chinese dramas that I’ve finished and that had great story-telling from start to finish. If you’re looking for a cutesy romance about ever-lasting love, this ain’t it. It’s got quite an indie feel (and great music) and looks at what it’s like to hit 30 for three different women. It’s a drama about female friendship and realistic relationships. It seemed very different from other contemporary Chinese dramas I’ve seen and I was gripped for all of the 43 episodes.
I should add that the ending was really good. Maybe not what I would have wanted for each of the characters at the start of the drama but very satisfying nonetheless.
Oh I’m glad you finally finished it. It wasn’t a perfect ending – but it was certainly realistic. But what was great was how all three women went through their own traumas and obstacles and learned and grew from it. But they had each other through it all.
I LOVED this drama from beginning to end. The music stuck with me for the longest time too.
Can’t recommend this show enough to all of you beanies!!!
I saw an article about this drama and was intrigued! You’ve got me putting it on my list.
“If you’re looking for a cutesy romance about ever-lasting love, this ain’t it”
These are the most convincing words you could’ve used. My complete lack of interest in cdramas is partially due to the fact that the only ones I ever hear cdrama fans here and on Discord talk about are historical/wuxia (my least favorite genre) and fluffy cotton candy romances (my second least favorite genre). Yeah, there are a handful of fluffy romcoms I like, like WFKBJ, but for the most part I just find them to be absolute snoozefests. If I’m gonna do romcom, I need one with substance.
This, though, sounds exactly like the kind of show I love! Thanks, cloggie!
Mindy, you’ve must have missed the time we were all talking about a contemporary mystery-crime cdrama (The Bad Kids is phenomenal) for a solid two weeks or that weirdly-fast-paced-slice-of-life-yet-not modern drama (If There Is No Tomorrow, personally, is not recommended though.)
A couple of us on Discord actually started Nothing But Thirty but have put it on hold because like cloggie said, “it got a bit real.”
Thanks for the motivation to continue, cloggie!
Oh, and there’s another female-friendship-centric cdrama that started aired a while back called, Love Yourself, by the way. It also focuses on females in their 30s and I’ve watched the first four episodes and am enjoying it for the most part.
This isn’t avaialble anywhere legally right? Like iqiyi or tencent because maybe it was only airing on TV and not online? That has been the only reason why I still haven’t watched it. I have watched the 20s counterpart (Twenty your life on) by the same production company Linmon and I loved it and that too had an unconventional but slightly more realistic ending. I’m hoping just like TYLO this one also focused on the women more than anything else.
Because face blindness popped up in a lot of kdramas recently, I found this account of what it\’s really like absolutely fascinating (and devastatingly sad) https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-53192821
Because of kdramas I discovered that I have a mild type of face blindness. Until before Girl Who Sees Smells I only thought I’m just forgetful, and had known for a few years that if I want to remember someone I have to stare at their face for several minutes and find key points about it to keep in my memory. I never even dreamed such a condition actually exists. GWSS was a revelation.
Ill tell you what just burns my baguettes. When your friend already watches subtitled stuff but refuses to watch a kdrama (because they secretly hate you and want to watch your head explode?)
Or they FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY agree to watch something and spend less than 5 minutes on it because “the background music is too loud” and it a. was NOT and b. it wasnt even ear grating background music like Pretty Noona. Maybe shes dead inside?
One of my friends said ‘how many episodes? 16? That’s longer than I thought’ and refused to even start the first one. This is the same person who watched all seasons of GoT!
This show is such a breath of fresh air. I do think it went slightly into makjang territory (what with the ending of ep 2) but well it is by all means a weekender family drama, airing on the weekend with lesser episodes so tropes should fit.
Mindy was saying how good episode one was, but those bookshelves might be the biggest incentive for me to watch. I do love a man with a sizable… book collection.
Cloggie
October 19, 2021 at 6:49 AM
Poor rubbish white Squid Game actors. This did make me laugh
https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/oct/19/they-didnt-just-pick-us-up-off-the-street-meet-the-globally-derided-squid-game-vips
Cloggie
October 19, 2021 at 6:57 AM
I should probably add that it make me laugh that they needed to go into great depth to explain why they weren’t really rubbish
knewbie
October 19, 2021 at 9:58 AM
I did rather resent the guy who claimed that the Korean performers were just as cartoonish, not just in Squid but in K-drama in general. That’s just not true. Like the TV drama of any country, some Korean shows are more exaggerated than others, and some characters in a show are more exaggerated than other characters. Sure, there is Penthouse etc, but has the guy seen My Ahjusshi, Conspiracy in the Court, Kairos, or any drama directed by Ahn Pan-seok? And didn’t he notice how restrained Park Hae-soo and Jung Ho-yeon were in Squid?
Cloggie
September 10, 2021 at 3:30 AM
Someone needs to turn this into a drama ASAP. It’s just wonderful and uplifting
sirena
September 10, 2021 at 11:59 AM
I am glad that she is happier.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
September 10, 2021 at 2:06 PM
I’d watch this drama.
Cloggie
September 11, 2021 at 4:08 AM
It would be like the Chinese version of Nomadland
Cloggie
July 20, 2021 at 12:49 AM
In my – admittedly biased – opinion, there isn’t anything more adorable than Ji Seung-hyun operating on a teddybear. You Are My Spring needs to stop this (just kidding show, please do continue)
Eazal
July 20, 2021 at 3:17 PM
This drama is making everything so good that I am scared how much I’m loving it. Even the mystery part (which right now is not important to me) is good.
They are all killing me!
Cloggie
June 21, 2021 at 10:45 AM
After watching the last few episodes of Bossam, I\’ve drawn the conclusion that the type of gun you use to hunt tigers must be really ineffective when shooting people
#AnotherMiraculousRecovery
nilsche
June 21, 2021 at 4:58 PM
He shot on the spine!
Ally
June 21, 2021 at 5:10 PM
Yeah, but conversely, now I know why their life expectancy was about 40 years old.
Cloggie
June 15, 2021 at 2:06 AM
Is the Shaman’s third customer their therapist? That made me laugh a lot. The little details in the show are such fun
#MadForEachOther ep 10
Cloggie
June 8, 2021 at 3:18 AM
Me watching Mad For Each other: 30 mins is perfect for this show
Also me: Why has the episode finished already? I need more!
ravennightstar
June 8, 2021 at 6:33 AM
Omg me too!! Just caught up with the recent eps and can’t get enough!!!
Cloggie
May 9, 2021 at 11:49 PM
Just noticed the team behind Bossam is the Avengers\’ Social Club PD plus the Birthcare Center Screenwriter.
No wonder I\’m liking it so much.
Is it too much to hope for some female-centred revenge?
Cloggie
May 10, 2021 at 1:32 AM
I am weirdly enjoying how all the male characters are trash apart from the kid (also brother-in-law hasn’t done anything too majorly wrong). And yes, I’m including our hero in this.
‘What shall I do with this woman? I know! I’ll sell her to a brothel’ seems really deeply flawed decision making (other words are available) only mildly better than the other male characters’ choice of just killing her outright.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
May 10, 2021 at 8:00 PM
I’m not sure I can ever get on board with a romance due to the “I can’t make up my mind, so I’m selling her” decision making process as well as the “It’s better to be sold into prostitution that die” encouragement he offered.
mugyuljoie is preciousss
May 10, 2021 at 8:03 PM
I vote for martial arts/ninja style training and study of the poisonous uses of herbs while she hones her revenge plans.
Cloggie
May 10, 2021 at 11:38 PM
I think the aunt and the nurse are going to team up to become a crack assassin duo to take them all down!
Cloggie
May 8, 2021 at 2:36 AM
Why I hate live-watching dramas
(don’t hate it – love it)
Cloggie
May 8, 2021 at 2:40 AM
This drama has awesome even-numbered episode cliffhangers.
Is it nearly Wednesday?
zitless
May 8, 2021 at 3:41 AM
Join the club.
Eazal
May 8, 2021 at 4:12 AM
I know!!!
It’s agony!!!
Cloggie
April 22, 2021 at 4:42 AM
Ship! Oh no, wait, that was a different drama
(I LOVE drama reunions. Still ship them)
Daebak Real Estate & Once Again
Cloggie
November 1, 2020 at 2:41 AM
I figured out why I’m enjoying Search so much! The main couple reminds me of another couple I really loved – only with a much better (scary) story.
JDY/Krystal is the pairing I never knew I needed
Kudo Ran
November 1, 2020 at 3:42 AM
oh, security couple <3 !
Cloggie
September 15, 2020 at 10:26 PM
Couples walking by that wall seem to be my new thing
Mani-chan
September 16, 2020 at 12:14 AM
Which monument is this?
letseatcookies
September 16, 2020 at 7:00 AM
From what Joon Young said, it’s Deoksugung Palace.
Mani-chan
September 16, 2020 at 7:53 AM
Oh thank you
neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
September 16, 2020 at 12:34 AM
I love it! There’s hope for the new couple as we know how the other one ended (though it took awhile, still one of the best friends-to-lovers)
Eazal
September 16, 2020 at 10:07 AM
I was thinking the same while watching 🤗
Cloggie
September 1, 2020 at 5:32 AM
I just finished Nothing but Thirty and I loved it. It goes on the very short list of Chinese dramas that I’ve finished and that had great story-telling from start to finish. If you’re looking for a cutesy romance about ever-lasting love, this ain’t it. It’s got quite an indie feel (and great music) and looks at what it’s like to hit 30 for three different women. It’s a drama about female friendship and realistic relationships. It seemed very different from other contemporary Chinese dramas I’ve seen and I was gripped for all of the 43 episodes.
Cloggie
September 1, 2020 at 5:34 AM
I should add that the ending was really good. Maybe not what I would have wanted for each of the characters at the start of the drama but very satisfying nonetheless.
stpauligurl
September 1, 2020 at 5:44 AM
Oh I’m glad you finally finished it. It wasn’t a perfect ending – but it was certainly realistic. But what was great was how all three women went through their own traumas and obstacles and learned and grew from it. But they had each other through it all.
I LOVED this drama from beginning to end. The music stuck with me for the longest time too.
Can’t recommend this show enough to all of you beanies!!!
Cloggie
September 1, 2020 at 6:20 AM
I binged through the first 20 eps and then had to take a little break from it when it all got a bit ‘real’. Then I binged the last 10 eps in two days.
mindy
September 1, 2020 at 5:54 AM
I saw an article about this drama and was intrigued! You’ve got me putting it on my list.
“If you’re looking for a cutesy romance about ever-lasting love, this ain’t it”
These are the most convincing words you could’ve used. My complete lack of interest in cdramas is partially due to the fact that the only ones I ever hear cdrama fans here and on Discord talk about are historical/wuxia (my least favorite genre) and fluffy cotton candy romances (my second least favorite genre). Yeah, there are a handful of fluffy romcoms I like, like WFKBJ, but for the most part I just find them to be absolute snoozefests. If I’m gonna do romcom, I need one with substance.
This, though, sounds exactly like the kind of show I love! Thanks, cloggie!
bea
September 1, 2020 at 8:56 AM
Mindy, you’ve must have missed the time we were all talking about a contemporary mystery-crime cdrama (The Bad Kids is phenomenal) for a solid two weeks or that weirdly-fast-paced-slice-of-life-yet-not modern drama (If There Is No Tomorrow, personally, is not recommended though.)
A couple of us on Discord actually started Nothing But Thirty but have put it on hold because like cloggie said, “it got a bit real.”
Thanks for the motivation to continue, cloggie!
Oh, and there’s another female-friendship-centric cdrama that started aired a while back called, Love Yourself, by the way. It also focuses on females in their 30s and I’ve watched the first four episodes and am enjoying it for the most part.
frabbycrabsis loves KBS Drama Specials
September 16, 2020 at 1:59 PM
*takes notes*
Cloggie
September 1, 2020 at 7:19 AM
Wow – I just saw that The Economist has an article about this drama. 🤯🤯
mindy
September 1, 2020 at 7:27 AM
That’s the article I read!
wapz
September 2, 2020 at 5:26 AM
This isn’t avaialble anywhere legally right? Like iqiyi or tencent because maybe it was only airing on TV and not online? That has been the only reason why I still haven’t watched it. I have watched the 20s counterpart (Twenty your life on) by the same production company Linmon and I loved it and that too had an unconventional but slightly more realistic ending. I’m hoping just like TYLO this one also focused on the women more than anything else.
Cloggie
September 2, 2020 at 5:33 AM
It’s on Viki
wapz
September 2, 2020 at 5:41 AM
Oh I meant a chinese drama site or app because it isn’t available on viki in my region sadly.
Cloggie
August 17, 2020 at 2:45 AM
Because face blindness popped up in a lot of kdramas recently, I found this account of what it\’s really like absolutely fascinating (and devastatingly sad)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/stories-53192821
Midnight
August 17, 2020 at 3:36 AM
Because of kdramas I discovered that I have a mild type of face blindness. Until before Girl Who Sees Smells I only thought I’m just forgetful, and had known for a few years that if I want to remember someone I have to stare at their face for several minutes and find key points about it to keep in my memory. I never even dreamed such a condition actually exists. GWSS was a revelation.
stpauligurl
August 17, 2020 at 7:20 PM
WOW thanks for that article. That must have been so hard to live through for so many years.
Cloggie
July 30, 2020 at 10:25 PM
The chairman dating the secretary never was my favourite type of romance. Goo Se-ra and Gong-myung have made me change my mind.
#intothering
meowingme
July 31, 2020 at 12:54 AM
Am guessing it’s because they really put Gong-myung’s #1 rule to work ^^
Cloggie
July 18, 2020 at 2:58 AM
I’m on slide 4: my (hopefully soon to be) first ever kdrama convert is on ep 7 of Stranger
isa: I'm not a serial killer I'm just really passionate about things
July 18, 2020 at 8:16 AM
Ill tell you what just burns my baguettes. When your friend already watches subtitled stuff but refuses to watch a kdrama (because they secretly hate you and want to watch your head explode?)
Or they FINALLY FINALLY FINALLY agree to watch something and spend less than 5 minutes on it because “the background music is too loud” and it a. was NOT and b. it wasnt even ear grating background music like Pretty Noona. Maybe shes dead inside?
Cloggie
July 18, 2020 at 8:44 AM
One of my friends said ‘how many episodes? 16? That’s longer than I thought’ and refused to even start the first one. This is the same person who watched all seasons of GoT!
Cloggie
July 3, 2020 at 12:14 AM
This is what DB looks like a lot of the time now. I hope that @db-staff appreciates it’s only my love for this community that still makes me come here
alasecond
July 3, 2020 at 10:22 AM
they gotta earn money..
Cloggie
July 4, 2020 at 5:33 AM
Oh, I want them to make money. I’m just suggesting that maybe their design is a bit… suboptimal
Cloggie
June 30, 2020 at 5:26 AM
Of course she said her heart skipped a beat – my heart skipped a beat, just watching this scene!
Maybe even more than one beat
#unfamiliarfamily
neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
June 30, 2020 at 7:10 AM
Mine didn’t skipped but it stopped!
Cloggie
June 30, 2020 at 7:54 AM
I think I stopped breathing
neener ~ Inside the Magic Shop ~
June 30, 2020 at 10:10 AM
Yes. Well acted on their parts. Really!
Cloggie
June 10, 2020 at 4:41 AM
My Unfamiliar Family is really Bridget Jones: the Makjang Years
Cloggie
June 10, 2020 at 4:43 AM
Not that I’m complaining. It might just be what I need right now
wapz
June 10, 2020 at 5:00 AM
Lol there’s one makjang trope after another. But they still manage to make it somewhat subtle.
pickleddragon
June 10, 2020 at 5:17 AM
This show is making me discover the makjang fan in me I never knew existed. It’s terrible and terrific at the same time!
miss h
June 10, 2020 at 7:45 AM
I find makjang fun if done right. It feels understated here which I like.
Eazal
June 10, 2020 at 8:36 AM
So far, the makjang is perfect. Let’s enjoy the tropes!!!
parkchuna 🍉
June 10, 2020 at 6:46 PM
So far it’s makjang of the subtle variety.
egads
June 18, 2020 at 6:02 AM
This, more than anything anyone has said (sorry @mindy) has made me queue up this drama.
mindy
June 18, 2020 at 6:11 AM
Oh, fine! I see what my opinion is worth!
Cloggie
June 18, 2020 at 6:24 AM
It doesn’t matter which one of us she listens to. We’ve done our job as Official Drama Pushers.
Cloggie
June 3, 2020 at 1:15 PM
Of course she fell for her boss. Look at the size of his… bookshelves!
Loving My Unfamiliar Family. Not really knowing your family – or what’s going on in your parents’ life – is so relatable to me
wapz
June 3, 2020 at 1:27 PM
This show is such a breath of fresh air. I do think it went slightly into makjang territory (what with the ending of ep 2) but well it is by all means a weekender family drama, airing on the weekend with lesser episodes so tropes should fit.
wapz
June 3, 2020 at 1:28 PM
Airing in the week days I meant.
rue
June 3, 2020 at 5:39 PM
I want that library 😍😍
egads
June 3, 2020 at 6:08 PM
Mindy was saying how good episode one was, but those bookshelves might be the biggest incentive for me to watch. I do love a man with a sizable… book collection.
liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack
June 4, 2020 at 2:53 AM
Episode 2 was as good as the first one. A bit surprising with that makjang bit BUT I LOVE MAKJANGS. This might be my favorite family drama this year.
Carolina
June 4, 2020 at 10:02 AM
What show is this?
Cloggie
June 4, 2020 at 10:46 AM
My Unfamiliar Family (that’s what it’s called on Viki)
Cloggie
May 31, 2020 at 5:09 AM
The perfect depiction of how watching Once Again makes me feel.
It\’s my happy pill for the week
wapz
May 31, 2020 at 8:53 AM
It is too late to catch up now? Lol I guess it has already surpassed nearly 40 episodes.
Cloggie
May 31, 2020 at 9:03 AM
I would say it’s absolutely not too late! Sure, it’s on ep 38 but that’s in half-hour episodes.
It’s got a real Father is Strange vibe, with no evil characters, so if that’s your thing, I’d watch it.
BC
May 31, 2020 at 2:42 PM
It’s up there until mid September so no way you’re late. It’s actually really good to binge watch it 😆 but after you have to wait for more😟
liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack
May 31, 2020 at 3:45 PM
Now this post is making me pick this show up
thatstp
May 31, 2020 at 6:38 PM
Do it, do it, do it!
liar song #PuppyNotPuppyLeeJaeWookIsBack
May 31, 2020 at 7:10 PM
I should, right?
thatstp
May 31, 2020 at 7:37 PM
DO IT, DO IT DO IT!
purplefall
May 31, 2020 at 9:44 PM
oooh she was the wacky script writer in Be Melodramatic 😀
Cloggie
May 31, 2020 at 11:47 PM
she was!