Beanie level: Jang Geu-rae

For people who have watched Life or Grid, are they worth it?

5
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    I loved Life!! Mr.Gu is 😍
    As a CSW fan, I highly recommend 🙂
    It has a solid story, it’s well written and well cast. Note: it’s not a romance.

    8
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    When assessing Lee Soo-yeon’s filmography, you need to take into account several things. In this essay…

    …I’m joking. The answer is yes.

    I still think Forest of Secrets is her best work though

    7
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    I loved both of them. Best way to enjoy them is to watch both of them as fantastic social commentary, neither hospital drama, nor sci-fi.

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    Of those two dramas I have only seen LIFE (2018) and can high recommend it. It’s the drama with the ‘other’ Dr. Ye actually the brothers Dr. Ye. A piece of trivia. In the cast is the wonderful Yum Hye-ran who in 2018 also appeared in LIVE.

    4
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    I didn’t really like it during my watch. I had some expectations after watching CSW in Forest, and I guess it didn’t meet mine. I thought it was boring?

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    Life is certainly watch-worthy but don’t compare it to FoS. It is more like a slice of life in corporate hospital setting. To me, the acting and characters of the ensemble cast are still ingrained in my memory.

    Will watch Grid one day.

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    I dropped Grid but I liked Life. I prefer FoS to Life though.

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    Grid – Bad

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    I loved both. In always say Life is a drama in which nothing really happens and I think it’s quite an accurate definition (hey, lots of things happens and it talks about many interesting things). Same happens with Grid, but only watch Grid if you are ok with very open endings and if you’re ok with alternative realities, travels in time and nothing making sense.
    I’m a huge fan of LSY.

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Why is everyone so horrible to Jin Bu-Yeon? Why can Naksu’s soul and power disappear by itself, and get destroyed if she regains her memories? This show is incredibly frustrating.

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    Also, if Jin Bu-Yeon’s soul takes over, does that mean that she will start look like Jung So-Min again?

    0
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      not even sure if grandmaster was lying to SY or he meant it about the two souls. He did tell mom that daughter’s soul is dead/gone and only naksu is keeping her body alive
      ******************
      I think grandmaster lies to everyone for some end game..
      e.g. he could have lied to mom so that she doesn’t hurt or try to get Naksu’s soul out of BY’s body

      he told what he told SY so that he drops the idea of killing Naksu.. and gave him an alternative theory of how Naksu will die by herself..

      he is really protecting Naksu

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As much as I’m enjoying the second season of Alchemy of Souls, I can’t help but feel a sense of urgency since there’s 10 episodes instead of 16. With the pace the story is going, I can see how there could be a season 3 on the horizon.

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    My husband was just saying this exact thing. They better get a move on the plot if they’re going to finish it on just 6 more episodes.

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    okay, then Season 3 can bring back Mu Deok-i and then we can tell who Wook-i was in love with – Naksu or Mu Deok-i or Bu Yeon?

    maybe i need therapy, i really need to let this go…

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Although that finale was… yikes… the premise of the second season is right up my alley. I might be in the minority here, but I always felt like JSM was playing a different character than Naksu, even though I still enjoyed her acting. Hoping for more complex motivations and relationships next season, with more of a serious tone #AOS

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Is Grid on Disney Plus not going to be available to stream in the United States?

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    Not while it is airing. Disney+ just released Snowdrop in the US today so presumably they will release Grid at some point in the future.

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    For what it’s worth, I cancelled my Disney + subscription and told them the reason was their k content unavailable in the US.

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Does anyone have a favorite Korean television network? I feel like TvN so far has been putting out the most interesting shows.

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    I used to love ocn… back in the vampire prosecutor days

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What’s the funniest kdrama that you’ve watched? I need recommendations since I just started winter break.

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    My fellow citizens

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    In terms of consistency and pace, Chief Kim and My Fellow Citizens are funny from start to end.

    The following are great, but since they tell richer stories, they will dip into different emotions from time to time.
    Prison Playbook
    Hospital Playlist

    (If you just want “WTF is happening” laughs from start to end, Pegasus Market and Welcome to Waikiki?)

    12
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      “WTF is happening” is a great description for those two dramas

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    I agree vehemently with Chief Kim and My Fellow Citizens. Hyena, Jealiusy Incarnate, and Deserving of the Name have many laugh out loud moments too but they are not strictly comedy.

    6
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    Yeah, Pegasus Market.
    I’d also add Special Labor Inspector Jo.

    6
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      *retires in shame for forgetting to recommend Inspector Jo*

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    Chief Kim is a happy pill, that’s for sure.

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    Modern Farmer is hilarious imo. My stomach hurt from laughing even during my rewatch this year.

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    Just thinking of Cheon Songyi’s crazy antics from You From Another Star is enough to make my day. 😆

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    Thank you everyone! Will definitely be trying these out.

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Also, talk about emotional punches. #FOS16
1. Chief Choi Bit leaving her office
2. Shi-Mok describing Yeo-Jin
3. Dream sequence
4. Sa-Hyun and Shi-Mok walking away
5. Shi-Mok and Yeo-Jin saying goodbye (I was a sobbing mess at this point)

I have no words. Well done Forest of Secrets.



14
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What a pitch-perfect finale. Season 3?

#FOS16

16
3

This episode blew me away. Wow.

Season 2 >= Season 1

#FOS15

6
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The tension in these last two episodes was insane. I’m sorry for ever doubting the writer- this season is just as good as season 1.

#FOS14
15
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Did I say that might not be a good thing? I don’t remember saying that…
#FOS12
3
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I am pleased to report that after watching every episode thoroughly, I still have no idea what\’s going on.

Still undecided on whether or not that\’s a good thing.

#FOS11

5
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Me to everyone this season #FOS10
17
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Almost took my earphones out because I couldn\’t watch the ending #FoS7

9
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This is the cutest thing I’ve watched all year!! He calls her Doona Bae T_T
#FOS2

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After watching Forest of Secrets, I couldn’t bring myself to watch another drama. I ended up dropping every drama thereafter, even ones I had waited weeks for, after one or two episodes.
Now I realize why.
Television shows which portray smart, complex female leads are hard to come by, not only in kdramas but in shows around the world. Forest of Secrets for me set the expectations for a female lead so high, that I’m not sure that any other show will be able to reach the same level. I’ve noticed that in most kdramas, women are often shown as hard-working, but never usually shown as intelligent or able to reach conclusions on their own without help from the often smarter, more successful male lead. It always bothered me, but I never realized how much it mattered to me until I saw Yeo-Jin on screen.
She wasn’t just another auxiliary heroine, but a vital part of the investigation to fight corruption. A badass police officer with an unwavering sense of justice, Han Yeo-Jin used intuition and her investigative skills to reach her own conclusions and help others even in the face of formidable opponents who were at a higher position than she was. She was level-headed, resilient, and fearless. She believed in the good in others, but wasn’t naive enough to disregard the truth. The perfect heroine, in my mind.
It’s not always the female protagonist that is depicted this way in kdramas, but also the second female leads, who are often shown as jealous and unreasonable. In Forest of Secrets, I saw not one but three complex female main characters, all with motivations that deviated from the standard “I wanted him to notice me”. In so many ways, I felt empowered watching their stories unfold.
This show was everything I ever wanted, and to think I would’ve never picked it up, thinking it would be another boring procedural show. I encourage everyone to try this show, because it exceeded all my expectations with crackling chemistry, an intricate plotline, and fantastic acting. So much love for this show, easily the best I have watched this year.

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Favorite duo
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Currently RecapPing

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