Does it make it good or bad when you notice the PPL? I have never been annoyed by this many obvious ones in a single episode of any KDrama. And it’s not even Subway…
Thank you, I haven’t heard this before. Australian shows here don’t do that, or at least I’m pretty sure they don’t. The advertisers have their ads every ten minutes or so – you usually three or four together until the next lot. But putting specific products in the television shows? No.
Ah, thank you. I would never have guessed, not in a million years! We don’t have that here in Australia, at least not to my knowledge. AFAIK, television stations rely on ads.
I can’t stop feeling like it would be a better show if JeaJin and HyeSun would be the leading couple. At least their realtionship is layered and quirky.
Dam is interesting enough but WooYeo is still just a piece of wood (that is nice to look at). He is so boring to watch.
In contrast when JeaJin and HyeSun enter a scene the screen lights up with energy. Also it would be a different story for a change if the show startet out with a supernatural being already reaching its goal of becoming human. Now what? Adapting to being human! It’s so fun watching HyeSun navigate her new status. That her vocabulary isn’t that good just makes for a fun quirk and ‘belivable’ misunderstandings – not the ‘we just never talk about the important stuff’ trope to magically create relationship tension.
At this point we’ve seen quite a few superhuman beings who want to become human. Some shows handled it better than others. So that story is a bit stale for me. I do love me supernatural dramas but even I grow tired of the same old tropes after a while.
Song Kang and Han SoHee watch the first two episodes togethter. I can not believe how many times they replayed the dream and kiss scenes.
Also its funny how aware they are of their faces and their lips when watching. They keep touching them with their fingers. I feel the same and its not even my closeup I’m looking at. ^^’ It must be kinda weird for them.
It\’s been a couple weeks since I was excited for a new episode but this was the first time I was actually bored watching.
I\’ve gotten used to all of the vague metaphors and the lacking story. Even the two storylines that seem to be only loosly connected (the tonal shift is so jarring – at least JiSik is a fun character) are fine. But the lack af Siggie really showed this episode.
*snooze*
I\’m gonna finish watching tonights episode, but this is probably the only one of SIG\’s dramas that I\’m not gonna revisit ever. He usually has a good hand with scripts… Hope his next drama is better.
The most unrealistic thing in this show is that she is wearing white pants when she is on her period. She even likend it to a disaster in the previous scene.
Looking from the outside it so obvious that their goals are the same (they want to sleep with one another) and yet so different. Nabi wants a committed relationship while Jeaeon wants to be free to interact with whomever he likes however he likes.
He doesn’t hide his personality and is openly flirting with other girls. Whereas Nabi doesn’t feel comfortable enough to confront him directly about her emotional needs. No, she gets sucked into his ways (I kind of feel like she is pressuring herself into being the girl he would like.), and ignoririg her own deeper needs.
If she would just treat him as a rebound that would be fine for Jeaeon, but she is already looking for a deeper connection like 5 minutes after breaking up with her boyfriend.
I don’t mean to imply that Jeaeon is without fault. He knows her situation and that she is vulnerable and yet he keeps touching her – never invasive, but still pushing boundaries. Which can be quite intoxicating…
I think the solution, as is usually the case, is to have a frank honest conversation.
That being said: Boy, do I love this show! The leads chemistry is of the charts and the film style is just so intimate that you can’t help but be Nabi. Song Kang is perfect as the hot, flirty, emotionally unavailable guy that you still want to be intimate with – despite knowing better. That is what makes it hurt so good.
Just found this video of how so. made the Nabi-Statue in the beginning of Nevertheless. The statue was actually quite stunning IMO, but that scumbag BF didn’t ask permission, so its still a d*** move.
It was a horrible thing to do. So interesting how a beautiful work of art can be so degrading. My problem with Nevertheless is that she has got victim written all over her. I want to shake her. She’s so weak and I’m not that optimistic that she’ll change, given what I’ve read about the webtoon.
I really liked the first episode of Nevertheless. I really enjoyed the tone of the story and the higher rating of 18+ allows for more freedom in the future. (That preview… phew *fans self*) The camera work is especially intimate. I think I’m going crazy with all the close ups of our two main actors. Sooooo pretty.
There are way too many Gumihos running around in Dramaland. The only thing I could think about while watching My Roommate is a Gumiho was how much better looking Lee Dong-Wook was as a one.
So… I tried watching the first episode of Vincenzo yesterday. I quite enjoyed the mafia bit in the beginning, but then the more it came closer to the end the more the tone shifted from serious mafia drama to…. cringy overacting and cringy ridiculousness.
I want to ask beanies whether the show is more of the first or the latter in tone going forward. Because if its the latter it\’s a hard no for me.
Doesn’t the writer generally produce the over-the-top and cringy ridiculness? Both of her previous shows were unbearable for me because of that exact reason
Hi! The writer wrote comedy in that kind of style for his two previous dramas. So I guess here and there, there will be some ridiculousness. Having watched ep 3 and 4, i think they toned down and not as over the top as the first two eps. Dont know how they’ll handle it forward, but I think they’ll mix the ridiculousness with the more action (and I hope it works).
I have to say I looooove LUCA: The Beginning. Every week I’m entertained and it doesn’t have that typical half-way drama drag that most shows do. It’s probably due to it’s shorter episode count. If that is actually true I’m an advocate for shorter show runs. Quality over quantity!
I just like the action spurts interlaced with good (!) character interplay. I really like the underacting. It fits the tone of the show so well. Also this drama does the science experiment/ cult thing so much better than most other dramas. It’s serious gold.
Therefore I’m low-key disappointed that it doesn’t get more love among beanies. Except for the super awesome episode recaps by @knewbie
Can’t wait for the last 4 episodes. It actually feels like we are going into finals week with what happend last episode. Can Not Wait!
Earlier I was afraid that the capture-electrocute-escape cycle would be repeated ad nauseam, but I agree the pacing has turned out to be one of the show’s strengths.
I still have to watch episode 8 but I’m already a bit tired of being leads beaten almost to death, fights on a loop and very little advance in the story. Last two episodes felt like, oh, look, they are beating someone, an that someone manages to still be alive. Wow, let’s see how many times can we do this…
I really enjoyed five first episodes but I may drop depending on how episode 8 goes (I’m watching tonight).
I’m watching half a dozen dramas and somehow this might be the one that is entertaining me the most. I was getting a bit tired of the repetitiveness and then Episode 8 happened and I’m ready for ZO to electrocute some people again.
So… I just started watching ‘Search: WWW’… and now I’m already on episode 6.
I totally missed this gem because of my drama-slump last year but I’m so glad I found it via Youtube-video hijinks.
I totally miss dramas like this with a strong female led core group. It is rare to get one of these from basically any country. I like that this drama does not compromise. The female characters (so far) are all multilayered complicated people who don’t suddenly become a flower pot as soon as a man enters their lifes. They are not bitchy with each other even when they hate each other and no shrill screeching so far. Please drama stay good till the end. Pretty please!
Why don’t the drama gods bless us with more dramas like this where the women feel and act like … you know… actual people?
It will only get better.
Scarlett is my girl crush, but Ta Mi is the FL I relate to.
I loved how these women were real and fought for themselves and were never damsels in distress.
One of the best dramas from last year.
If you haven’t watched Be Melodramatic, I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll have another bunch of really interesting female characters.
I just finished watching ‘Life’ because I needed more Lee Dong Wook in my life.
This drama is a total gem and I loved every second of it.
The drama writer is the same as Forest of Secrets and it most defenitly shows in narrative style and its mood. Also in both dramas Jo Seoung Woo (our dear Prosecuter Hwang Shi Mok) has a leading role although here he plays more of an antagonist. I have the odd feeling that both his characters are somewhat the same just instead of being devoted to upholding the law he is devoted to this huge conglomerate he works for in this one.
All characters are wonderfully complex and relatable even the baddies and there is no snow white character here either. Even the characters you root for have their flaws and selfish motives.
The hospital setting gives this drama a different feel and stakes from the usual crime drama. The medical stuff was kept to a minimum because the story focus is the struggle between the new conglomerate owners of the hospital and the fight of the hosptal staff to keep health care accessable to all people not just the super rich. I enjoyed the story complexity (I was lost after the first episode to be honest but the execution of the drama drew me in regardless) and most especially the character study that this drama at its core represnts.
This drama is now officially among my new favorites.
Sometimes being shallow pays of in dramaland because I never would have started this if it wasn’t for Lee Dong Wook.
I like how the writer totally changed track to develop Life after the critical success of her maiden work in FoS. While still a piece of social commentary on corporate priorities vs professionalism, it has been most successful in delivering a whole raft of interesting, three dimensional and memorable characters despite seemingly without a central plot. And you can have different interpretations of the title “Life” – not least medically related in my view.
I live-watched it and haven’t done any rewatch but almost all the major characters are still so vivid in my mind – and that said a lot about the script that created those characters and the spot on acting of the cast. And I have a lot of favorites:
– The dapper and boldly ambitious CEO played by Jo Seung-woo who is however a nobody once back home in front of his parents. What a far away world from that of Huang Shi-mok.
– The super capable and perceptive secretary played by Yeom Hye-ran. We need more people like her in the workplace.
– The Lee Dong-wook and Lee Kyu-Hyung (!) brothers.
– Moon So-ri’s neurology head whose arc from being indifferent to smart manoeuvring is among the most impressive subplot that I like.
– Yoo Jae-myung’s low profile and quiet turn right after his alpha portrayal of Lee Chang-joon.
– The organ donation coordinator who has the most unenviable job in the hospital. Well done, Tae In-ho.
If to be real picky, Won Jin-ah is miscast or she’s not quite ready to deliver what’s required in her role. And to a certain extent, Lee Dong-wook fails to land effectively as the protagonist here (and sorry for this opinion as you are obviously his fan).
This show is on my top ten of all times. I always say it’s a drama in which nothing really happens, so I get why many people can find it boring. I was totally invested in the story and the characters. All of them.
My favourite will always be Secretary Kang. This drama marked my eternal devotion to Yum Hye Ran.
I just wanted to get beanies opinions on Record of Youth first two episodes. Is it worth the time investment? I love me some Bogummi but I don’t do well with slow dramas… Opinions?
If you like pretty boys walking down runways, you’ll be fine. PBG is sooooo pretty in this. The dialog is fast and witty. The family relationships will be the centerpiece I’m sure. Bogummy already showing his acting range in the first two episodes and he is so good! Th first two topsides are worth your time. I liked the second episode more. But was already all in after the first.
Ok, wow. That was one emotional episode.
All the scenes between our leading couple are heartwrenching and raw and I swear I only cried a little… Also LJG is too beautiful for words and his acting in this drama is top tier.
Up to this episode I was a denier of the theory that the real BHS was dads accomplice. I didn’t like all the coincidences this would involve but they showed us the truth this episode and now I don’t know what to do with myself. I wouldn’t have liked it any better if the dads were accomplices but I don’t know if I like this ‘twist’. Real BHS looked really psychotic this episode so I have no qualms about beliving him helping in the killings but I don’t like the coincidence of him running over DHS then falling into a coma because of mum (presumably) and then DHS becoming fake BHS. Anyways I’ll keep watching (duh) but for now this part is more of a turn off.
Thank good CJW and DHS no longer have any secrets from each other. Their scene when CJW told him that he DOES love her was really emotional and I loved every second of it.
I kinda miss seeing little Eun-Ha. Hopefully she will be back before the end of this series and won’t be stuck with grandma till the end. ^^’
I also thought it was too predictable that RealHeesung was the accomplice, but then, on second thoughts, there must be more twists in store… Hyunsoo’s first memory being of the age of 10 is definitely an interesting detail. My current theory is that Heesung and Hyunsoo are somehow connected since childhood. Are they brothers? What if Hyunsoo was actually a Baek? Eunha also seems to be mathematically gifted… it could run in the family. Also, if there’s a connection between both Dads, the accident could have been somehow provoked. I don’t know, just throwing ideas around, we’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds. But the main thing is that LSG and MCH are slaying it! In less skilled hands, this whole thing would come off contrived, but they doing an amazing job. Also love it that Hyunsoo and Jiwon don’t have secrets to each other anymore, they are the real deal 💚
And I’m liking your theory. I do want to know more about both Hyun-soo’s and Hee-sung’s childhoods.
I wonder how Hee-sung ended up in a coma, and I am wondering how things really were in the Baek family. I can’t help but feel that Hee-sung is a disappointment to his father. And what did the mother do that contributed to his accident?
There is so much to find out and learn. And I must give kudos to Kim Ji-hoon for his performance as Hee-sung. He is so freaky at certain moments, lol.
The real BHS being the accomplice and everything that followed is the kind of k-drama coincidence that makes me roll my eyes, but I never really cared about the identity of the accomplice. Ji Won, Hyun Soo and their relationship is what makes this drama standout.
This book introduced me to my favorite fantasy world and the one I’ve spent the most time with. I read all of the A Song of Ice and Fire books and religiously listen to the A Podcast of Ice and Fire Podcast which is often hilarious, sometimes informative, sometimes stupid but never boring. I have learned so many interesting details and theories (wrong and correct and unconfimed) that I missed during my readings from that podcast that I never grow bored of rereading any of the books.
I know of no other book series that has spawned so, so many elaborate fan-theories. (Harry Potter might have been one…) A large part of that is probably that the series is still unfinished. The tv show has had an influence aswell as it gave some content to talk about during the wait for the next book, but I don’t consider it canon. AT. ALL.
My room at one point was plastered with map posters of Westeros and the rest of that world and I consulted them a lot. I’m confident that my geographical knowledge of that fictitious world is better than that of our real world… not sure that is something to be proud of though. ^^’
Thanks to everybody for reading my rather lengthy book challenge posts. And thanks to whoever sugested this challenge. It gave me a good reason to go down memory lane again and to think about the books I’ve read from multiple angles.
I tend to not be aware of what other people think of the books I read. Of course I look at reviews, but I tend to look at the three star ones because those are the most ballanced once neither fangirling nor hating.
I guess the only answer is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer because of the very public shitstorm around this series.
peachnita
July 18, 2021 at 12:35 AM
Nevertheless #5
Does it make it good or bad when you notice the PPL? I have never been annoyed by this many obvious ones in a single episode of any KDrama. And it’s not even Subway…
mmmmm
July 18, 2021 at 2:36 AM
I also noticed that! Tbh I was glad though cos it means the show is popular.
mindy
July 18, 2021 at 2:52 AM
Potato guy gifted her a Charlotte Tilbury lipstick wow he’s already too far gone if he’s spending that sort of cash
parkchuna 🍉
July 18, 2021 at 4:22 AM
Prolly good cos the brands would want to be noticed. But not when it’s Subway. Never that.
Netsuke
July 19, 2021 at 12:56 AM
Hello peachnita,
What is a PPL please? I haven’t come across this before.
Netsuke.
ladynightshade wants her own ryu sunjae
July 19, 2021 at 2:26 AM
PPL is product placement.
Netsuke
July 19, 2021 at 7:12 AM
Thank you, I haven’t heard this before. Australian shows here don’t do that, or at least I’m pretty sure they don’t. The advertisers have their ads every ten minutes or so – you usually three or four together until the next lot. But putting specific products in the television shows? No.
peachnita
July 19, 2021 at 2:26 AM
PPL stands for Product Placement. Basically brand advertisements in shows.
Netsuke
July 19, 2021 at 7:05 AM
Ah, thank you. I would never have guessed, not in a million years! We don’t have that here in Australia, at least not to my knowledge. AFAIK, television stations rely on ads.
peachnita
July 15, 2021 at 2:13 AM
My Roommate is Gumiho #15
Don’t try and fool me into thinking it’s gonna have a sad ending. I won’t fall for it…
peachnita
July 3, 2021 at 4:28 AM
My Roommate is a Gumiho #12
I can’t stop feeling like it would be a better show if JeaJin and HyeSun would be the leading couple. At least their realtionship is layered and quirky.
Dam is interesting enough but WooYeo is still just a piece of wood (that is nice to look at). He is so boring to watch.
In contrast when JeaJin and HyeSun enter a scene the screen lights up with energy. Also it would be a different story for a change if the show startet out with a supernatural being already reaching its goal of becoming human. Now what? Adapting to being human! It’s so fun watching HyeSun navigate her new status. That her vocabulary isn’t that good just makes for a fun quirk and ‘belivable’ misunderstandings – not the ‘we just never talk about the important stuff’ trope to magically create relationship tension.
At this point we’ve seen quite a few superhuman beings who want to become human. Some shows handled it better than others. So that story is a bit stale for me. I do love me supernatural dramas but even I grow tired of the same old tropes after a while.
peachnita
July 2, 2021 at 10:49 PM
Nevertheless
Song Kang and Han SoHee watch the first two episodes togethter. I can not believe how many times they replayed the dream and kiss scenes.
Also its funny how aware they are of their faces and their lips when watching. They keep touching them with their fingers. I feel the same and its not even my closeup I’m looking at. ^^’ It must be kinda weird for them.
peachnita
June 29, 2021 at 2:34 AM
DAYS #15
It\’s been a couple weeks since I was excited for a new episode but this was the first time I was actually bored watching.
I\’ve gotten used to all of the vague metaphors and the lacking story. Even the two storylines that seem to be only loosly connected (the tonal shift is so jarring – at least JiSik is a fun character) are fine. But the lack af Siggie really showed this episode.
*snooze*
I\’m gonna finish watching tonights episode, but this is probably the only one of SIG\’s dramas that I\’m not gonna revisit ever. He usually has a good hand with scripts… Hope his next drama is better.
peachnita
June 27, 2021 at 1:53 AM
Nevertheless Ep 2
The most unrealistic thing in this show is that she is wearing white pants when she is on her period. She even likend it to a disaster in the previous scene.
*sigh* Never ever…
mmmmm
June 27, 2021 at 4:00 AM
This is unbelievable!
sirena
June 27, 2021 at 5:40 AM
My mom made a similar comment.
Zora
June 27, 2021 at 11:25 PM
I thought about that too 😂 🤣 😂
peachnita
June 27, 2021 at 12:43 AM
Nevertheless Ep 2
Looking from the outside it so obvious that their goals are the same (they want to sleep with one another) and yet so different. Nabi wants a committed relationship while Jeaeon wants to be free to interact with whomever he likes however he likes.
He doesn’t hide his personality and is openly flirting with other girls. Whereas Nabi doesn’t feel comfortable enough to confront him directly about her emotional needs. No, she gets sucked into his ways (I kind of feel like she is pressuring herself into being the girl he would like.), and ignoririg her own deeper needs.
If she would just treat him as a rebound that would be fine for Jeaeon, but she is already looking for a deeper connection like 5 minutes after breaking up with her boyfriend.
I don’t mean to imply that Jeaeon is without fault. He knows her situation and that she is vulnerable and yet he keeps touching her – never invasive, but still pushing boundaries. Which can be quite intoxicating…
I think the solution, as is usually the case, is to have a frank honest conversation.
That being said: Boy, do I love this show! The leads chemistry is of the charts and the film style is just so intimate that you can’t help but be Nabi. Song Kang is perfect as the hot, flirty, emotionally unavailable guy that you still want to be intimate with – despite knowing better. That is what makes it hurt so good.
alasecond
June 27, 2021 at 1:13 AM
see him in michauri village..
his real life personality is cool in the sense, he is a good flirt.. and knows his way around women
peachnita
June 21, 2021 at 12:24 PM
Just found this video of how so. made the Nabi-Statue in the beginning of Nevertheless. The statue was actually quite stunning IMO, but that scumbag BF didn’t ask permission, so its still a d*** move.
dramalover4ever
June 22, 2021 at 4:37 PM
It was a horrible thing to do. So interesting how a beautiful work of art can be so degrading. My problem with Nevertheless is that she has got victim written all over her. I want to shake her. She’s so weak and I’m not that optimistic that she’ll change, given what I’ve read about the webtoon.
peachnita
June 19, 2021 at 10:19 PM
I really liked the first episode of Nevertheless. I really enjoyed the tone of the story and the higher rating of 18+ allows for more freedom in the future. (That preview… phew *fans self*) The camera work is especially intimate. I think I’m going crazy with all the close ups of our two main actors. Sooooo pretty.
Ally
June 19, 2021 at 10:59 PM
I’m cautiously liking it as well. Intriguing is all I’ll say.
peachnita
May 26, 2021 at 11:06 PM
There are way too many Gumihos running around in Dramaland. The only thing I could think about while watching My Roommate is a Gumiho was how much better looking Lee Dong-Wook was as a one.
parkchuna 🍉
May 26, 2021 at 11:53 PM
Well he is the oppa-est oppa after all.
Mani-chan
May 27, 2021 at 2:10 AM
He was the hot gumiho.
parkchuna 🍉
May 27, 2021 at 4:31 AM
He’s the hot gumihoppa.. ok it’s lame i know 😂 but lol i wanna make gumihoppa a thing now..
Mani-chan
May 27, 2021 at 7:07 AM
It’s not lame at all. Let’s try and turn it into a thing if Gumiho Roommate gets a recap.
nerdy
May 27, 2021 at 3:30 AM
He had the aura, flirty personality, awesome umbrella and radiant red hair.
Jang Ki Yong’s Gumiho has….Jang Ki Yong who looks bored all the time?
peachnita
March 2, 2021 at 1:17 AM
So… I tried watching the first episode of Vincenzo yesterday. I quite enjoyed the mafia bit in the beginning, but then the more it came closer to the end the more the tone shifted from serious mafia drama to…. cringy overacting and cringy ridiculousness.
I want to ask beanies whether the show is more of the first or the latter in tone going forward. Because if its the latter it\’s a hard no for me.
mindy
March 2, 2021 at 3:04 AM
It’s MEANT to be over-the-top and ridiculous. It doesn’t take itself seriously.
parkchuna 🍉
March 2, 2021 at 7:36 AM
No one normal lives in Vincenzo.
nerdy
March 2, 2021 at 10:59 AM
Doesn’t the writer generally produce the over-the-top and cringy ridiculness? Both of her previous shows were unbearable for me because of that exact reason
mintful
March 2, 2021 at 5:24 PM
Hi! The writer wrote comedy in that kind of style for his two previous dramas. So I guess here and there, there will be some ridiculousness. Having watched ep 3 and 4, i think they toned down and not as over the top as the first two eps. Dont know how they’ll handle it forward, but I think they’ll mix the ridiculousness with the more action (and I hope it works).
Possum
March 2, 2021 at 10:46 PM
I loved the mix in the previous two dramas and hope to get more of it here.
mintful
March 20, 2021 at 12:13 AM
Yes! I’m enjoying it so far
peachnita
February 24, 2021 at 12:20 AM
I have to say I looooove LUCA: The Beginning. Every week I’m entertained and it doesn’t have that typical half-way drama drag that most shows do. It’s probably due to it’s shorter episode count. If that is actually true I’m an advocate for shorter show runs. Quality over quantity!
I just like the action spurts interlaced with good (!) character interplay. I really like the underacting. It fits the tone of the show so well. Also this drama does the science experiment/ cult thing so much better than most other dramas. It’s serious gold.
Therefore I’m low-key disappointed that it doesn’t get more love among beanies. Except for the super awesome episode recaps by @knewbie
Can’t wait for the last 4 episodes. It actually feels like we are going into finals week with what happend last episode. Can Not Wait!
knewbie
February 24, 2021 at 12:28 AM
Earlier I was afraid that the capture-electrocute-escape cycle would be repeated ad nauseam, but I agree the pacing has turned out to be one of the show’s strengths.
Eazal
February 24, 2021 at 5:13 AM
I still have to watch episode 8 but I’m already a bit tired of being leads beaten almost to death, fights on a loop and very little advance in the story. Last two episodes felt like, oh, look, they are beating someone, an that someone manages to still be alive. Wow, let’s see how many times can we do this…
I really enjoyed five first episodes but I may drop depending on how episode 8 goes (I’m watching tonight).
miss h
February 24, 2021 at 8:12 AM
I’m watching half a dozen dramas and somehow this might be the one that is entertaining me the most. I was getting a bit tired of the repetitiveness and then Episode 8 happened and I’m ready for ZO to electrocute some people again.
peachnita
November 7, 2020 at 3:47 AM
So… I just started watching ‘Search: WWW’… and now I’m already on episode 6.
I totally missed this gem because of my drama-slump last year but I’m so glad I found it via Youtube-video hijinks.
I totally miss dramas like this with a strong female led core group. It is rare to get one of these from basically any country. I like that this drama does not compromise. The female characters (so far) are all multilayered complicated people who don’t suddenly become a flower pot as soon as a man enters their lifes. They are not bitchy with each other even when they hate each other and no shrill screeching so far. Please drama stay good till the end. Pretty please!
Why don’t the drama gods bless us with more dramas like this where the women feel and act like … you know… actual people?
Fly Colours
November 7, 2020 at 3:53 AM
I really liked Search:WWW! For me, it was solid right until the end
Eazal
November 7, 2020 at 10:42 AM
It will only get better.
Scarlett is my girl crush, but Ta Mi is the FL I relate to.
I loved how these women were real and fought for themselves and were never damsels in distress.
One of the best dramas from last year.
If you haven’t watched Be Melodramatic, I can’t recommend it enough. You’ll have another bunch of really interesting female characters.
peachnita
October 31, 2020 at 8:37 AM
Happy Halloween yorobun!
peachnita
October 28, 2020 at 3:04 AM
I just finished watching ‘Life’ because I needed more Lee Dong Wook in my life.
This drama is a total gem and I loved every second of it.
The drama writer is the same as Forest of Secrets and it most defenitly shows in narrative style and its mood. Also in both dramas Jo Seoung Woo (our dear Prosecuter Hwang Shi Mok) has a leading role although here he plays more of an antagonist. I have the odd feeling that both his characters are somewhat the same just instead of being devoted to upholding the law he is devoted to this huge conglomerate he works for in this one.
All characters are wonderfully complex and relatable even the baddies and there is no snow white character here either. Even the characters you root for have their flaws and selfish motives.
The hospital setting gives this drama a different feel and stakes from the usual crime drama. The medical stuff was kept to a minimum because the story focus is the struggle between the new conglomerate owners of the hospital and the fight of the hosptal staff to keep health care accessable to all people not just the super rich. I enjoyed the story complexity (I was lost after the first episode to be honest but the execution of the drama drew me in regardless) and most especially the character study that this drama at its core represnts.
This drama is now officially among my new favorites.
Sometimes being shallow pays of in dramaland because I never would have started this if it wasn’t for Lee Dong Wook.
PYC
October 28, 2020 at 6:53 AM
Life is indeed a gem.
I like how the writer totally changed track to develop Life after the critical success of her maiden work in FoS. While still a piece of social commentary on corporate priorities vs professionalism, it has been most successful in delivering a whole raft of interesting, three dimensional and memorable characters despite seemingly without a central plot. And you can have different interpretations of the title “Life” – not least medically related in my view.
I live-watched it and haven’t done any rewatch but almost all the major characters are still so vivid in my mind – and that said a lot about the script that created those characters and the spot on acting of the cast. And I have a lot of favorites:
– The dapper and boldly ambitious CEO played by Jo Seung-woo who is however a nobody once back home in front of his parents. What a far away world from that of Huang Shi-mok.
– The super capable and perceptive secretary played by Yeom Hye-ran. We need more people like her in the workplace.
– The Lee Dong-wook and Lee Kyu-Hyung (!) brothers.
– Moon So-ri’s neurology head whose arc from being indifferent to smart manoeuvring is among the most impressive subplot that I like.
– Yoo Jae-myung’s low profile and quiet turn right after his alpha portrayal of Lee Chang-joon.
– The organ donation coordinator who has the most unenviable job in the hospital. Well done, Tae In-ho.
If to be real picky, Won Jin-ah is miscast or she’s not quite ready to deliver what’s required in her role. And to a certain extent, Lee Dong-wook fails to land effectively as the protagonist here (and sorry for this opinion as you are obviously his fan).
Eazal
October 28, 2020 at 2:30 PM
This show is on my top ten of all times. I always say it’s a drama in which nothing really happens, so I get why many people can find it boring. I was totally invested in the story and the characters. All of them.
My favourite will always be Secretary Kang. This drama marked my eternal devotion to Yum Hye Ran.
peachnita
September 29, 2020 at 2:31 AM
Record of Youth #7
Why did she start calling him cheetah? Did I miss something? Does it have a particular meaning?
stpauligurl
September 29, 2020 at 6:29 AM
I was wondering the same thing. But somehow it fits him.
Ally
September 29, 2020 at 8:38 AM
It rhymes with “let’s go” in Korean, I think. “Kaja” “Chee-tah”
peachnita
September 9, 2020 at 1:31 AM
I just wanted to get beanies opinions on Record of Youth first two episodes. Is it worth the time investment? I love me some Bogummi but I don’t do well with slow dramas… Opinions?
Ally
September 9, 2020 at 4:28 AM
If you like pretty boys walking down runways, you’ll be fine. PBG is sooooo pretty in this. The dialog is fast and witty. The family relationships will be the centerpiece I’m sure. Bogummy already showing his acting range in the first two episodes and he is so good! Th first two topsides are worth your time. I liked the second episode more. But was already all in after the first.
protect junwoo
September 9, 2020 at 4:48 AM
First episode was a little slow, but it picked up in Ep 2 for me. For now, I’m on team keep watching.
Bogum is sooo good though 😍
peachnita
September 3, 2020 at 1:58 AM
Flower of Evil #11
Ok, wow. That was one emotional episode.
All the scenes between our leading couple are heartwrenching and raw and I swear I only cried a little… Also LJG is too beautiful for words and his acting in this drama is top tier.
Up to this episode I was a denier of the theory that the real BHS was dads accomplice. I didn’t like all the coincidences this would involve but they showed us the truth this episode and now I don’t know what to do with myself. I wouldn’t have liked it any better if the dads were accomplices but I don’t know if I like this ‘twist’. Real BHS looked really psychotic this episode so I have no qualms about beliving him helping in the killings but I don’t like the coincidence of him running over DHS then falling into a coma because of mum (presumably) and then DHS becoming fake BHS. Anyways I’ll keep watching (duh) but for now this part is more of a turn off.
Thank good CJW and DHS no longer have any secrets from each other. Their scene when CJW told him that he DOES love her was really emotional and I loved every second of it.
I kinda miss seeing little Eun-Ha. Hopefully she will be back before the end of this series and won’t be stuck with grandma till the end. ^^’
jillian
September 3, 2020 at 3:54 AM
LJG is an amazing actor!
I miss little Eun Ha too. Hopefully we will see more of her next week.
Fly Colours
September 3, 2020 at 6:57 AM
I also thought it was too predictable that RealHeesung was the accomplice, but then, on second thoughts, there must be more twists in store… Hyunsoo’s first memory being of the age of 10 is definitely an interesting detail. My current theory is that Heesung and Hyunsoo are somehow connected since childhood. Are they brothers? What if Hyunsoo was actually a Baek? Eunha also seems to be mathematically gifted… it could run in the family. Also, if there’s a connection between both Dads, the accident could have been somehow provoked. I don’t know, just throwing ideas around, we’ll have to wait and see how it unfolds. But the main thing is that LSG and MCH are slaying it! In less skilled hands, this whole thing would come off contrived, but they doing an amazing job. Also love it that Hyunsoo and Jiwon don’t have secrets to each other anymore, they are the real deal 💚
Peridot
September 3, 2020 at 8:40 AM
Yes, I think we will be in for more twists.
And I’m liking your theory. I do want to know more about both Hyun-soo’s and Hee-sung’s childhoods.
I wonder how Hee-sung ended up in a coma, and I am wondering how things really were in the Baek family. I can’t help but feel that Hee-sung is a disappointment to his father. And what did the mother do that contributed to his accident?
There is so much to find out and learn. And I must give kudos to Kim Ji-hoon for his performance as Hee-sung. He is so freaky at certain moments, lol.
miss h
September 3, 2020 at 8:09 AM
The real BHS being the accomplice and everything that followed is the kind of k-drama coincidence that makes me roll my eyes, but I never really cared about the identity of the accomplice. Ji Won, Hyun Soo and their relationship is what makes this drama standout.
peachnita
August 30, 2020 at 11:14 PM
Day 30: Your Favorite Book Of All Time
A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin
This book introduced me to my favorite fantasy world and the one I’ve spent the most time with. I read all of the A Song of Ice and Fire books and religiously listen to the A Podcast of Ice and Fire Podcast which is often hilarious, sometimes informative, sometimes stupid but never boring. I have learned so many interesting details and theories (wrong and correct and unconfimed) that I missed during my readings from that podcast that I never grow bored of rereading any of the books.
I know of no other book series that has spawned so, so many elaborate fan-theories. (Harry Potter might have been one…) A large part of that is probably that the series is still unfinished. The tv show has had an influence aswell as it gave some content to talk about during the wait for the next book, but I don’t consider it canon. AT. ALL.
My room at one point was plastered with map posters of Westeros and the rest of that world and I consulted them a lot. I’m confident that my geographical knowledge of that fictitious world is better than that of our real world… not sure that is something to be proud of though. ^^’
Thanks to everybody for reading my rather lengthy book challenge posts. And thanks to whoever sugested this challenge. It gave me a good reason to go down memory lane again and to think about the books I’ve read from multiple angles.
Also,
#WaitingForWindsOfWinter
Karmen ~ 🍜🏢🎭 ~ 📚☔🦋 ~ 🪂🌱💘 ~ ✨🍊💫 ~
August 31, 2020 at 8:03 AM
Thanks to you for participating. Your posts were very interesting.
sirena
August 31, 2020 at 10:10 AM
I have several colleagues who love this series 🙂
peachnita
August 29, 2020 at 11:48 PM
Day 29: A Book Everybody Hated But You Liked
I tend to not be aware of what other people think of the books I read. Of course I look at reviews, but I tend to look at the three star ones because those are the most ballanced once neither fangirling nor hating.
I guess the only answer is Twilight by Stephenie Meyer because of the very public shitstorm around this series.