Beanie level: Water maid

“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 10

1 Random Highlight

  • Change of plans. When it comes to Taekwon, he should end up with Sunok. What a delightful surprise that would be.

1 Random Letdown

  • It was a bit much for 1 episode, right? Bok Joo mortified to learn that Jaeyi knows he’s her crush, Joon stirring up sibling antagonism (for no real reason), and Coach Choi being fired. Too much. Too much.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 9

1 Random Highlight

  • Bok Joo and Joon’s heart to heart on the beach

1 Random Letdown

  • I don’t like Jae Yi and Dr. Go together. He is gullible and naive and she’s nosy and a meddler. He doesn’t know how to handle the feminine psyche and she thinks everybody is on her radar. I just don’t think that relationship can be successful.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 8

1 Random Highlight

  • Joonhyung’s slick move craddling her in the rooftop bunkbed. He didn’t let her go. He did not let her go.

1 Random Letdown

  • Gymnast’s conflict with her family seems, actually… not even a conflict, at all. Gymnast angrily complains that her mom is always providing and thinking of her… as a mother should. And her mom angrily complains back that gymnast wants to make sacrifices for the good of the family… as if thats a terrible thing. OK.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 7

1 Random Highlight

  • Joon’s little wiggle after identifying Jae’s caller as a lady.

1 Random Letdown

  • Coach Choi is either written poorly or translated poorly. Or both. She is never consistent. She wants to be comforting big sister, objective justice, harsh drill sargent, and full time nanny all at once.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 6

1 Random Highlight

  • (Bok Joo) “I only watch movies with happy endings.” Same, girl, same.

1 Random Letdown

  • This gymnast had no previous suspicion of Bok Joo trying to lose weight. So what was her motive to snoop around? Maybe I missed something but I think this was forced by the writers.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 5

1 Random Highlight

  • (Jae Yi) “She’s very strong.” (Joon Hyung) “Well a cellist is as strong as a weightlifter.” wink, wink

1 Random Letdown

  • There is no sense regarding any competition that puts different sports against each other. Gymnasts and weightlifters have such different skill sets. Yes, they are both physically focused but in opposite directions. If I’m a volleyball player, what nonsense to put me against an equestrian.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 4

1 Random Highlight

  • (Father) “It is harder to gain weight than to lose it.” I BEG TO DIFFER!

1 Random Letdown

  • What does gymnast want? Does she want an ex-boyfriend? Does she want to excel in her sport or is she annoyed with her sport? Does she want to please her family? Does she want to be rid of her family? I don’t know! And I don’t think the script knows either.
  • </ul

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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 3

1 Random Highlight

  • Kang Ki Young got the rizz

1 Random Letdown

  • It’s not a big deal but this show crosses the 180° Line all the time. It’s not bad its just noticeable.
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“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 2

1 Random Highlight

  • The guest appearance of Lee Jong-Suk and the references to “W: 2 Worlds Apart”. I finished that show earlier this year so its fresh on my mind.

1 Random Letdown

  • The tone of the ‘lost budget’ plot was a little too soap-opery for me.
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Just getting caught up on old KDramas. I’m currently watching “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.” Following are my condensed episode reviews. Enjoy.

“Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo” Episode 1

1 Random Highlight

  • Even though we can tell that Bok Joo is pencil thin, its some good costume design to make her look fuller. Lots of sweatshirts.

1 Random Letdown

  • The pervert storyline didn’t have time to grow when it probably could have. And we’ll likely see no long lasting effects on the characters.
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I took a break from activity, here on Dramabeans, but I did not take a break from watching shows. I watched 2. And I’ll give just a quick review of each to ease my conscience.


First, I watched “Chicken Nugget” which aired this spring. And by ‘aired’ I mean you could stream it on Netflix. First half was great comedy. Second half got weird. Loved the humor, hated the cursing. I don’t really do foul language. I thought the story was fresh. I, probably like the rest of the world, though, “what… a girl turns into a… what?” How crazy was it that that was the best part. When aliens got involved ~spoilers~ that’s when the freshness disappeared.

I award this show a 4 out of 10.


The next show I watched was an oldie from… 2021, “How To Be Thirty”. Now, I knew this show did not come with high praise. I was expecting a lousy show. I watched it simply cause I watched one of the side characters in another drama and swooned for the guy. #SueMe The show could’ve improved if it had either more plot or better pacing. Can’t decide.

I award this show a 3 out of 10.

I’m still catching up on old shows since I am a KDrama newbie. I feel that most would be excited to hear that one of the shows I’m watching now is “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo”. So let the rest of 2024 commence.

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    I hope you are enjoying Weightlifting Fairy. It’s one of my favorite rom-coms and couples in Dramaland.

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    So glad to know you didn’t take a break from dramas. Sadly not all can be great but as long as you’re having fun it should be fine. Weightlifting Fairy is an excellent choice. 🥰❤👌 Will look forward to you review.

    Perhaps you may also want to try Lovely Runner or My Sweet Mobster when you have time.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 16, it’s over.

And these are my thoughts…

Starting with the least irritating: our female lead was so brainwashed with infatuation that she brought harm on herself and loved ones for the gratification of love from a fictional character. Yeah… she admired him before… but in a very small timeframe, she convinces herself it’s deep love and brings this fictional character to the real world pretending it would not have long lasting consequences. This man cannot survive in the real world. How does he hold a job? How does he get a drivers license? How does he own property? There is no record of him so he can’t do anything. All responsibility is on her now.

The next issue I have is a topic I’ve seen no one address. This manhwa has self publishing powers. (I’m gonna let that sink in for a second) Self. Publishing. Powers. The rules are not made clear how, when, or why so its pretty possible that ~even if the author is dead, the tablet disappears, or Kang becomes fully human~ this manhwa could continue a story if it wanted to. No one seems concerned about that. I can feel the reprimands coming. “The manhwa can’t continue because A, B, and C…” or “It didn’t self publish! So and so always had to approve.” To that I say… we saw different shows cause the manhwa definitely didn’t need human intervention to publish after ep… like, 4! I think the manhwa is still a threat and story could continue. The self publishing of this manhwa is possible cause the story didn’t set concrete rules for this plot device.

Which leads me to the last point. The MOST irritating. If you’re going to craft a story that bends reality, you still have to set and abide by rules to structure your story within. You can’t state or imply a rule then ignore it 2 eps later. An example: Christopher Nolan can’t tell you in “Inception” that time is expansive the deeper you go then only allow 5 minutes in the 3rd dream stage. A writer has to be consistent with their make-believe logic. And our show’s writer did not abide by this. She fell into the same trap that the fictional manhwa writer fell into. I believe she didn’t know the full story. Maybe she knew 2 episodes worth? She set rules and laid logic in those 2 eps, guided the audience to understand the story’s premise, then threw out those rules selectively whenever it benefitted her.

so I just looked up the writer to make sure I got her gender correct only to discover she won a writing award for this show. (rubs temple) so this is gonna be fun.

The argument’s been made that the show’s writer is making fun of the fictional writer. A comment from one of my previous posts put it- “It’s a dig at writers who start to write without having any idea of how to end it…they have to continue in the same haphazard style, hoping for any idea to strike at the opportune moment.” I’m not calling out this user specifically- I just liked their quote cause it sounds like the situation with this show. Why did eps 3-16 seem so disconnected from eps 1 & 2? In eps 1 & 2, the themes are about mystery and discovery. The show’s writer lays a foundation of logic and reason to understand the two worlds. The plot’s pace is healthy cause the audience needs time to digest. Then, eps 3-16, everything changes. Immediately, we’re through with slow revelations; its imperative to reveal everything by episode 6. Mystery and discovery are dismantled less than midway through. And because of this, we hit a wall and realize we can’t move the story forward in the same direction. That’s fine! Create a new timeline! Wouldn’t it be handy if our protagonist to acquire a new talent midway through. Anything is possible if the episode needs it! Is the manhwa controlled by author, tablet, or manhwa itself? Who cares! If we don’t like it, change it in the next episode! The alternate world becomes chaotic. Rules are broken, multiple timelines created, unrealistic resurrections, and ridiculous seeds planted to help the story move. The alternate world seems like a burden for the rest of the show. This feels like the author losing focus cause she didn’t plan in advance.

Very often, a development would occur in the story and I’d respond, “hold on, that can’t happen – cause something happened in a previous episode that doesn’t allow this to happen.” Rules were broken all the time. Logic was manipulated to benefit the current episode. I know its Sci-Fi, and there’s creative liberties, but state those liberties early on and hold to them throughout the show. Don’t forget or evolve halfway through. I’m aware it might be a language barrier thing, I missed something in the plot development, but this isn’t my first meta-world rodeo, and I’m confident that my expectations for story clarity and logic are not outrageous.

This show wasn’t terrible but it definitely wasn’t a favorite.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 15, I think it’s… confusing.

Oh boy…

Cause he’s dead but kinda not dead cause his memories exist when the father appears in the comic.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 14, I think he’s…

Good news! Still dead!

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 13, I think he’s… dead.

And it better stay that way.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 12, I think it’s… the faceless hooded shooter who still has a vengence.

Here me out…

Yes, its been made clear that the ‘culprit’ was a sloppy plot device, with no person, in search of agency AND FOUND agency when he stole the face of the author as well as the author’s mission to end Kang Cheol. Feels like the show is satisfied with just that, no loose ends. No surprise twists about his identity. But I’m not satisfied.
What happens if our villian is ever separated from the author’s face and anger? He becomes the faceless hooded shooter again. I think this story still allows us to see these two separately. I mean, if Kang Cheol is referring to himself as two persons, why not our villian?
Strip the villian of face and characterization, you still have a shooter who murdered a family. And Kang still needs to serve justice for the family he lost.
So he needs to Jason Bourne this story and destroy the faceless shooter.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 11, I think it’s… Dad’s evil psyche.

Well this is getting boring.
I was on a roll! I had so many stellar ideas! Now, its become monotonous.

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    I am somewhat embarrassed and a little sheepish because when you first posted one of those I misread which episode you were up to and fired off my theory, which could have been a spoiler. Mianhe.

    Sooo…. now that you’re finally further in. To me, the Murderous Culprit is Dad’s bad and lazy writing.

    When this show aired, I made a tshirt that said, “your only antagonist is yourself”. Because my theory is that Dad was such a hack writer that he himself didn’t know who the antagonist of the manwha was. As such, the antagonist was basically an author insert and so the lead character is being figuratively chased by the author himself.
    He was guilty of bad writing, essentially.

    Since one person can’t have two faces then once the antagonist actualised it took the face of the person it really was – the author himself.

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    Maybe swap out monotonous for disappointment personified. Any one of your ideas if used would have added some unique spin but instead you have found to your dismay pulling the curtain back has given you a Wizard of oz reveal instead. See @leetennant response above

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      Long ago I wanted to do a parody of the drama because there are so many emblematic elements it could be funny. Like “the super killer with supernatural powers, endless cheating with reality, prefer to become an old 60 years old dude”. I gave up on this because it needed too much video editing skills. Instead, I put some of the parodic ideas in my season 2 screenplay, in a more natural way.

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        Wow! It sounds like the drama with all its faults served as inspiration for something really interesting and important in your career.

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          It’s not a career, just hobby. But thanks to W screenplay published by the writer (Song Jae-Jung), I made huge progress in screenwriting. Well, I can’t think about a better screenplay. I could translate/read some others kdramas screenplays, but nothing up to this level. +it has every situation you could meet, from dream, imaginary scenes, flashback montages, intercut, etc. So it’s an excellent template giving everything you could need, that a linear drama couldn’t. What is even more fascinating is the narrative, how time is jammed, and while the scenes aren’t linear time, they have a narrative logic, leading to revelations or points of tension.

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    Considering the content of the drama, this game is over at the start of episode 10.
    Maybe you could change game? I don’t know, anything you’d like.
    Could be “how end the manhwa?”, because as long it doesn’t end, the damn curse continue.
    And Soo-Bong is good for cardiac arrest + psychiatric asylum. ^^

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      I’m a bit stubborn; I play a game from start to finish.
      If I’m being honest… I could’ve sensed this would happen. I mean, eventually the culprit has to be revealed. I was just hoping for some mystery to last a little longer in the show.
      I’ll find a way to make my game interesting. I don’t know how… but I’ll do it.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 10, I think it’s… still the evil spirit.

😒

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 9, I think it’s…an evil spirit that has taken control of her dad’s body?

(whispers) He still kinda has a Voldemort face

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    I’m still loving this game, even though (or maybe because) I’ve seen W four times. Keep going!

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    You play for fun, because now, the drama gave you all the information about who is the culprit, why and how. 😉

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    There is some truth about your idea of evil spirit. But it’s more like that:
    – First the killer is a plot-device. He doesn’t exist. Anything he does isn’t personnal. He obeys dad orders, well no choice, he’s a cartoon character, and even doesn’t know it. Plus, we don’t see him during 10 years after that.
    – Then dad continue to use him to kill Kang Chul. At this point, the killer awakens, like did Kang Chul.
    – But as a reverse of Kang Chul, he doesn’t use freewill, he complies to the script: kill Kang Chul family first then kill Kang Chul.
    – He’s quite angry to have no identity, and no one care about him on the book cover.
    – The hollow man gets the idea he shares the same soul as dad. And so, as if there is only one face for two people, he steals his face, and now dad becomes the “unknow character”. It was a bad idea to give him Sung-Moo face on first place, but it couldn’t be otherwise. Anyway, it’s the beauty of this story.
    – Now the killer have more emotions and uses antics, to laugh at Kang Chul face, after killing all his staff.

    We can say the killer is now a evil spirit, the one of dad. It’s a psychic dissociation. In Kang Chul, Sung-Moo put all his desires for the better, for freedom, for will. And the dark part of his soul is the killer’s one.

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Right now, I’m watching W: Two Worlds Apart and I’ve decide to post the game I’m playing called “My Guess Who the Murderous Culprit Is.” And for episode 8, I think it’s… Voldemort.

Here me out…

The culprit said and I quote, “The end can only be the end after you and I see it through.”

You cannot convince me otherwise.

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    I watched tons of movies with serial killers from hell, can be Halloween, Jason, Freddy, etc.
    But the W’s faceless killer is the best. Unlike supernatural killers from movies: he doesn’t have a purpose by himself, not even pure evil, like is M.Meyers from Halloween. He doesn’t even have an identity. Any goal he have is only meta, related to the story character canevas. He kills because the story want him to kill… and cheat with space-time by the way, something can do super-killers when the writer doesn’t care about plot-hole. lol.

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