3️⃣ Choose a Male lead.
KNIGHT FLOWER‘s Park Su-ho 💖 An absolutely good guy (I guess you could call him „Hot Cinnamon Roll“), dedicated to his woman, sweet – but with drive, wits, a strong sense of justice and autonomy, good looks & the perfect Joseon style hairdo. *chef‘s kiss*
Thinking about favorite characters in dramas, I’m sometimes also wondering „Would I like to be friends with this person?“ – and here the answer is definitely yes. Another plus: brewmasters must be foodies, right?
1️⃣ Your favorite drama.
🤔 Such a mixed bag: There were a few dramas I really liked this year, even though endings fell flat mostly. I definitely laughed the most with NO GAIN NO LOVE. Really loved the actors, the female lead, the sisters, the bee costume. I’m watching FAMILY BY CHOICE at the moment, and it has my whole heart. I simply couldn’t stop binging through MR PLANKTON, because it was so gripping and had the quirkiest characters. But looking back, I enjoyed the watching experience best with DR SLUMP: I was looking forward to all of the episodes (slightly less to the later ones), & rewatched most of it straight away. The fanwall posts & discussion on DB were just lovely on this! Best Use of Blooming Cherry Trees Award goes here as well + ToDs be damned. 🌸🌸🌸
2️⃣ Choose a Female lead.
NO GAIN NO LOVE‘s Son Hae-Yeong. Doesn’t take any bs, takes time to think about what she wants and works towards it, affectionate and hilarious with „her people“. Self-aware, looks as good in a neckerchief and business attire as she does in punky red hair & fake fur. That surprising lapse in the last episode was definitely the writer’s fault, not a flaw in her character. ☝️🫰👏
🧐😂 It was the pillars of that building. I just knew I had seen them before! Also, in that same episode of BREWING LOVE, Yong-Ju was also on the „rooftop garden“ of that building, right where Mr. Mane of Glory was always meeting with his niece 🥳
Unexpected mash-up, that’s for sure 😂🤓
Or someone coming out of the mall and the ML is there with an umbrella to pick them.
Or even a hotel.. heck, this even could have been a fake airport (with the right props) in some drama. It is THAT familiar. I
Hospitals do indeed look all the same… unless, you know, there’s a big triceratops skeleton propped up in the common waiting area. Then we can be sure it’s GHOST DOCTOR‘s place 😅
That hotel from BUSINESS PROPOSAL, where they meet up in the beginning, is in soooo many dramas, too!
This was fun to do, even though I needed much longer to finally spot that scene again of maknae auditor climbing the building than I care to admit.
„The RAT signal!!!“ 🦇😂
… magically change into a rubber-booted hero in the dreams of someone you foster a „secret“ crush on (…which you are trying really hard to suppress in an inexplicable move of self-denial)?
… be a troubled chaebol trying to cozy up to the family of your new girlfriend by injecting yourself into her family’s outing to the seaside, searching for mussels in your best ahjumma-visored outfit?
Neither! Instead I’d rather channel all my creativity into writing the next big hit, produce an awesome video right there on the seaside (while replacing visors with questionable helmets and flamboyant eye makeup), and ace the next Eurovision Song Contest! After all, I am…
Were it not for the self-denial, I would go with the rubber-clad hero.
But that self-denial is just too plain dumb. I would rather be a chaebol that at least is ignorant because he has been brought up badly, but clearly has the will to learn and better himself. And having more money than I could possibly spend is not too bad either (though in honesty, if I am not generous with that money, surely I will burn in Hell, whether that place exist or not. But there’s an easy answer to that problem).
I haven’t watched the last two episodes of LND yet, and was actually wondering whether he overcame his self-denial in these… (making my post a tad too late 😅) But if that’s still going strong: oh boy. 🙄
Either way: that transformation had me chuckling for quite some time, so that’s a win!!! 😂
[SPOILER ALERT] I thought honestly that his rejection was because he felt obligated towards his late wife and the girl’s mother, and thought he would be letting down his love as well as his child be loving someone else.
But his reason was even more stupid, a total non-reason. You’ll see when you get there. Maybe they had planned for the dead-wife reason, but since many would actually think he ought to stay single for the rest of his life, maybe they decided against that reason and chose another, even more stupid and easily overturnable one.
Nobel Idiocy at its worst: When it needs to be solved but they can’t make up a plot to solve a problem, so they just chose the dumbest non-reason they can find rummaging through the plot garbage.
Okay, reporting back after having watched the rest. 🤔😅🤔 I suspected the same „reasons“ as you: him wanting to be „loyal“ to his late wife; thinking her family could oppose because he’s a single dad etc. pp. But did I get it right, that he just didn’t want to be together with her because he wouldn’t be able to shield her from… basically life?!?! 😬🫣 Okay. It does seem like a NON-reason, for me, too 🙄🙄🙄
This drama is a bit all over the place, at least for me. Im clinging to the good scenes we got!
Yes, something like that shield-thing 🙄🙄🙄 And he felt she was more a hero than he, and maybe she even makes more money, and has a better house.
I get it that the whole message of the drama is you should not be so ashamed of yourself that you can’t live in this world with other people, but … It seems they are so eager to fill up every second with that point that they find “shame” in every possible and impossible corner of the setting.
LOL! I like the angle of factoring in what would be the least work 😂😂😂
Then yes, might I add that Mudflats Man has a stressful scene coming up right after his transformation, which is as heroic as it is unsettling… (But considering we lately dealt with „zombies“, this might be nothing in comparison. 🤔)
So I guess Muddy Chaebol it is (considering my stage fright and all)! 😂
One option is literally existing in a dream! Way less work! Muddy Chaebol looks like he’s working super hard and his muscles are much bigger than mine so it’s definitely a factor. In the end though, I think I’d rather be MC and just hope I’d show up in my love interest’s dream anyway.
HAPPINESS – Community Watch – Episodes 9 & 10
a.k.a. I-Hyun, why didn\’t you drink your water? 😱
Whew, these episodes again had me on the edge of my seat, and I had to take a slight pause after ep 9 (WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY~~~ 😭).
Question of the day: Can you beat the infection by sheer willpower?
The reveal that the shop assistant actually was infected the whole time took me by surprise. Both her and the reverend had this almost perfectly under control, before they were tempted by literally having blood shoved into their faces. 😖 I wonder how long they would have been able to conceal their condition otherwise?
It\’s so nice to see how our main couple continue to treat the infected people with respect and so much empathy. Asking Bo-Ram where she would rather stay, and setting her up on the rooftop. Keeping the author\’s brother save and taking turns to look after them (and basically after everyone else, too). It\’s just what we need in this situation!
What we don\’t need though, is an onset of *whispers ominously while holding a flashlight under her chin* noble idiocy. Of course, after I-Hyun made a comment about how his tenacity would keep him from getting infected, it eventually happens. (D\’uh!) 😭 And instead of talking about it, like both vowed they would, he doesn\’t tell Sae-Bom a thing. Obviously he does not realize that she can read him like an open book. 😁 (My heart dropped right there with hers upon seeing that full cup of water!)
Of course she would never agree to leave him behind, so setting up secret plans with Tae-Sook to get her and Seo-Yoon out makes no sense. Please talk to each other again!!!
Tae-Sook: still ruthlessly trying to find a cure to the virus. On the one hand I\’m happy that the pharma boss is no longer in control of anything, due to Han\’s diversionary tactic, but on the other… Yikes. Actually doctor soldier is my unsung heroine in all this: keeping her cool, working on the antidote in the midst of pandemonium. More of her, please!
Nothing new to tell about the other residents, is there? The usual selfishness on full display. For a sheepish moment there I had slight hopes for the building rep, seeing how she was shook by her husband\’s infection and death, but she rather took a turn for the worse.
I don\’t like the reveal about murderous Andrew now of all things, because didn\’t we already have the insufferable doctor? Seems a bit far fetched to have yet another killer in the group – even without being infected. 🙄
Let\’s just get on with the main story – only two more episodes to go! 👀🍿
That why I disagree with opinion that HAPPINESS is a “western show with Korean actors” as opposed to a “normal” kdrama – sure, there are certain westernized stylistic choices (like soundtrack), but the characterization in it is SO kdrama! Yihyun’s “noble idiocy” arc is the biggest example of it because it’s tied both to him putting Saebom’s survival above his own without blinking (ML syndrome lol!) AND his own insecurities – he’s afraid to tell her because he’s afraid it’ll make her DISLIKE him/cast him aside (I’d argue that his self-esteem has some deep rooted issues overall: like many men he only sees value in himself when he’s capable and useful – as an athlete, a fake husband, a battle partner etc, but once he’s down for some reason, even temporarily, it all crumbles right away) and for him it’s an absolutely worst scenario. And there’s a bit of her fault in that too because up until that point she always kept her “I don’t need anything/anyone impractical in my life” bravado. To put it shortly, they’re both tongue tied idiots who just cannot spit it out – until the worst possible moment comes. But that’s a topic for a final week^^
Oh yes! Why is he so insecure about her affection? Why doesn’t she reassure him, when it’s obvious to her what’s going on? But then again, this is a running gag in my family: „if they actually talked to each other, this [movie/book/series] would be much shorter“. 😅
Why oh why do you hint at „the worst possible moment“ though?! I’ll have to fasten my seatbelt for the final week then! *gulps*
I feel like a few more episodes covering – or at least hinting at some white spots in the backstory – wouldn’t hurt here to clear things up. For example, I find it pretty odd that his parents allegedly decided to move overseas after his injury to start anew… and proceeded with that even when he refused to go with them. Like ftw, guys, your only kid was going through some serious identity crisis, and you just left him, barely legal, all alone in that state? Wasn’t comforting him the whole point of this entire idea? If I was him – ironically, I was once, but that’s a topic for another day – I’d feel pretty much abandoned at my lowest. Maybe THAT made him so insecure? No wonder, if so. I get why Saebom struggled with voicing things though – with her own messy upbringing it made perfect sense, if sometimes felt frustrating.
Sorry^^ But you’re gonna be VERY rewarded – one thing this show did extra well was emotional payoff of OTP’s torturous slowburn. Particularly ending of Ep11 and entirety of Ep12 belong to kdrama textbooks, imo.
Yes I wasn’t as surprised by the shop keeper and the rep’s husband being infected as I was to see Yihyun keep everything from Saebom. I don’t think Yihyun ever doubts Saebom would like him any less knowing he’s infected, but rather he would see himself not deserving of her because he’s not capable anymore.
I think it less about him being infected per se, but rather of what he could do due to it – to her or anyone else. As I’ve lamented before, our leads are way too nice and decent… thank heavens for the existence of plot armor, somewhat evening their chances out!
There has been only one short moment with anything that resembles sexual tension. There’s a lot of visible love between them, but it’s love that could be between any two best friends. She doesn’t seem to have been romantically involved with anyone, ever.
And when they met, he fell, and she just looked.
(I know, she would die for him without blinking, but that’s not to say he can be sure she would kiss him.)
From her side/mutual tension, you mean? Poor guy had quite a few of “oh no, I’m a toast” moments)))
I think after her parents messy divorce she viewed romance in a very negative light altogether and wanted to never have anything to do with it again. That’s why Yihyun managed to get so close to her and eventually under her skin – he backtracked his high school confession right away and allowed her to comfortably friendzone him for 12 years. Otherwise, if he persisted with his intentions openly, she’d just cut him off right then and there, probably in a violent manner to drive the point home. I’m hella positive no one less patient – and sneaky, ha! – than him could’ve make her fall in love, she’d just nip any such possibility in the bud.
To me, she is just a person that has other things going on, and maybe has been magicked into the callous side of herself from side effects of something like this drug, in the time she was ill.
She simply doesn’t think of love and romance.
And I agree that it will take that decade and that devotion – secret devotion – and maybe it even needs to be paired with life threatening situations – to get her to a point where she says “Oh yeah, actually, I don’t want to be without this guy ever, and I even want to touch him. A lot.”
And also … being ready to let go of herself and her hold on herself for a few seconds, the way we need to do to surrender.
As for worst possible moment … I think, if he bites her, then she will be smitten, … but still not become a zombie. She is immune, remember? Maybe he will even get well, if he bites her. Or somehow get’s her blood.
OHH HYUNAAA..is what I said throughout these episodes. Of course he wouldn’t tell her. But then again he does know he loves her but she hasn’t realized her feelings and the reassurance that’ll talked about. I’m just okay with serial killer twist. But I was sad for the penthouse guy.
Personally I think serial killer was an overkill for a relatively compact story already this filled with bloodthirsty (literally and figuratively) people, but then again, what’s a really thrilling kdrama without one?)))
My husband was totally incensed that they introduced a serial killer in an already full drama, but I realized that it was probably just the next stage of his infection, right? Ji-soo was talking about it in episode 9 with LC Han – that critically infected patients were starting to hide their infections until a moment when they knew they could drink without anyone seeing. And all the people who died had been bitten. So my interpretation was that he was a person who was infected really early, and this is just how it is manifesting at this point. I didn’t really understand the reveal of his face at the end though. I recognized him from other dramas but is his reveal supposed to be meaningful for our characters too? That wasn’t clear to me.
Between us, I did that long ago. Like, the last three minutes. Otherwise, I cannot watch a zombie drama, unless it is clear that it is comedy. Like, “Warm bodies”, “Zom 100” and “Zombieland”.
I once did it with a real brick novel, read the last half page, and then comforted myself while things just got worse and worse throughout … and then, when the ending came, it turned out I had misunderstood what I read. It was just a horrible, horrible ending, still pointing downwards in a spiral of misery.
I’m a full on zombie fan.. I watched sooo many. But have never seen the take like happiness. They made complex. But walking dead was my favorite, but then it got lost. I loved the movie Shaun of the dead.. such a hilarious take on zombies. That’s still my favorite. Then on kdramas I think Kingdom is a good one.
Thanks for the wonderful recap @sonai. I really tried to hold on after seeing Col Han’s situation with his wife and his unborn child. But when that happened to uri PHS. I went ahead saw the finale to have a peace of mind. 🙈
thanks for the recap! We went on holiday for 10 days (incredible and amazing to be able to go on holiday!) so we are still on- ep 6 I think? Don’t worry, I LOVE spoilers, so thanks for all the comments and for giving me the emotional support to get through the tension. It is very good, I just have to block my ears sometimes to watch it. (Yeah subtitles!) ( Tense music/soundtrack is the worst for me!)
I had people visiting me for a few days, so I’m just now commenting because my husband and I literally just finished ep 10! Glad to know I’m not the only one cutting it close!
I’m not at your level, Claire!!! 🥳🫰
But one can never go wrong with the hilarious Weightlifting Fairy, even if I didn’t have any GIFs of this particular drama 😂
I hear you – last week was impossible here as well 😅🫣 I’m glad I set up a reminder to post this Thursday, so I could make time for it. Crossing fingers things will get less stressful soon!
My favorite moments are when SB is tending to YH’s wound and she is scolding him for being so rash and aggressive with his knife work. It’s quite a role switch where she, the impulsive one, scolds the thinker for being too impetuous. Then when she said him getting hurt bothered her so much that she can’t eat we know that says a lot for a girl who is thinking of her next meal while barely starting to eat her current meal. His tender look at her is just swoon worthy.
I think seeing how his hyung had overreacted about SB’s cut, he rightfully is a bit skittish to just blurt out that he has been infected. Also if he isolates himself he wouldn’t be able to protect SB and SY. So instead he tries to stay awake all night (probably to not lose control while unconscious) and removes himself into the empty hallway as a further safety measure. How painful it must have been to try to hide it and act normal while fighting the thirst and save all the residents from their crazy selves.
After SB asks YH more directly if he got infected he denies it showing his “fresh” wound. She tells him to be more careful from now on and he agrees. The subtle look he gives her when he agrees suggests a bit of regret that he wasn’t more careful and if only he would have a chance in the future but he has resigned himself to stay back to protect SB and SY from himself when they leave.
Although the serial killer may seem a bit overkill it is an effective way to amp up the tension. As far as we can tell the doctor is an opportunistic weasel always looking for the best way to serve himself, but he isn’t exactly a cold blooded murderer. I think when his wife first turned he probably did beat her back and just used that opportunity to blungeon her. I am not sure if she was not ill that he would have tried to wack her off with a golf club. It seems he is a bit too clever and would have found a cleaner way to do it so he could get away with it.
When I was in high school, one of my best friends lived in a house with a pasture surrounding it, and they used to let some of their neighbors raise cows in it to keep the grass mowed. One day I went home with her after school and we both grew more and more uneasy as we approached her house. There were fence posts lining the driveway and on every single one of them sat a vulture, waiting. We found out later that a calf had died just after birth and its mom was guarding it, but the vultures were there, ready and waiting, to scavenge whatever they could. I was reminded of that image forcefully at the end of episode 10 when I-hyun and Sae-bom have to pass through the avenue of their own kind of vulture, waiting to strip their apartment of anything useful and life giving. I think this show (and Korean zombie media in general) nails that feeling really well. Society has slowly broken down. At one point they were taking votes and listening to authority. And now they are just vultures sitting on fence posts.
No you didn’t! It was only postponed until next Thursday, because some of us didn’t manage watching in time! Sorry we did not tag you in that discussion 🫣 (I cannot find it now either…! Must have been an older post.)
HAPPINESS First Time Watching Experience of a Fraidy-Cat*
How it started:
How it’s going:
I guess I’ll manage after all.
*Precautions taken:
✅ Watching in full daylight
✅ Analyzing background music as indicator for upcoming jump scares (… but turns out they will still work no matter what)
Haha, thank you!!! I’m really looking forward to discuss my theories with the other beanies doing the community watch. So many of the apartment building tenants are super shady. What are they all hiding?!?! Plus of course the big pharma/military conspiracy. So much going on! 👏
I hope you all have a great time discussing it! Like you said, there’s A LOT going on, but it’s all very entertaining. And in the middle of all the fun there are thoughtful messages the show tries to share.
And our main characters are so badass! but also sweet! I just loveeeee this show.
Yay! I’m so excited to continue! I’ve watched the first two eps so far and love it and only one scene was kind of a lot. Remember to breathe, Sonai! It helps!
Really I wouldn’t have started this without the CW! 😬 I’m happy to know others are watching with me and we can discuss later.
Plus the ensemble is really interesting! Could do without the level of creepiness, but somehow it’s obvious what they wanted to achieve with it. (Most of it is going on in my head anyway, but some of it is pretty graphic. 🫣)
I have watched episode one. Going to try for episode two, but beyond that… will have to see how I go.
Precautions taken:
Handholding husband
Finger on the trigger mute button ( scary music is much worse for me than scary visuals)
😂👏 Hwaiting!!! Seriously, the sound effects can be so off putting 😬 I’m watching on low volume as well. But the music makes the scene, that’s for sure! 🤔😂🙉
I enjoyed that drama. I avoid other kind of terror shows and movies, but I have no problem with zombies (Maybe having watched almost all the seasons of Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead has something to do 😅).
I don’t remember Happiness was very scary, but there are several tense scenes. The main characters are great, and you will end up very fond of them.
Oh my Isa, you are tough if you watched TWD! I guess HAPPINESS was a walk in the park afterwards. 😅 (Speculation, for I’ve only walked past people watching TWD and quickly retreated – lol!)
Yes, I already like the main characters very much! 👏
I avoid terror with ghosts and spirits (even though I have watched some famous movies), but zombis are now practically family, after The Walking Dead 😅
Happiness is much more than zombies, don’t worry once you get into it you’ll know the actual theme of the show. Plus leads are badass and just wait for their moments❤️
Glad to hear that!!🫰
Yep, it’s all good here. Unless maybe the lack of more action scenes in these last two Auditors episodes. 🤓 But I’ll just hang onto that windowsill in dress shoes in there!
Oh yes!! 😂 I wonder how much he practiced to look like this. He’s trained to look good – it must have taken some effort to look well not so good because whatever he does Junho still shines.
@midnight Viki translated it to “It’s tiring”. What he says is 짜치잖아, google translates it to “It’s so bad”. So I think your translation makes the most sense.
LOL @claire2009 that’s perfect!!! Always good to see Yul. 👏🫰👏🥳
I was skimming over KTL and laughed so much about the restaurant scene again, when Won basically acted like Yul. „Can we eat now?“ – „Who gets to eat this?“ 😂🤣
Yes Gu Won getting excited about eating after turning up his nose initially was really something. And the way he eyed his food was how he should have been eyeing his FL. 🤭🤣
@sonai I love that restaurant scene, most of all because it makes the scene later in the show in the same restaurant all the more impactful and emotional to me.
@midnight Ugh yes. 🥺 „So… Do you want to break up?“ – „No, why?!?! Do you?“ *clutches heart* Ah, but as per usual, they just talk it out. 👏 That relationship dynamic is really so heartwarming (and refreshing)!
@sonai And you know how we know he has waited a long time in the waiting room to get to the table, then waited alone at the table for her… He had said I’m not used to waiting. But he waited. And he was ready to liten and accept anything she would say… And he believed she had every right to be angry. But he didn’t know the real reason she was angry… which was so so so natural for a man in his position… Ahhhh this whole show is 16 hours of context and subcontext and listening and learning in the bestest way possible. 🥹
Every time I start a rewatch I decide to write long reviews for every episode on my fanwall. But then, there are some scenes I skip in episode 1 and start of episode 2 , so before I realize I’m halfway through episode 4 and suddenly remember Oh! The reviews! Well, too late now! Maybe next time! 😂
I vote for your comments!! I’m watching now and it would be so enlightening to read what you think. I tend to be a superficial watcher. Junco’s smile of surprise is everything. And when would he have really taken pictures of a food experience like that. Love it💜
🤔 Maybe stick a Junho pic inside one door and a Hyunshikkie pic inside the other door? Stuff might eagerly sit back tight staring? Worth the try maybe?
Well nobody can accuse me of being a prude but tbh I was appalled and can’t say I “enjoy” such photo shoots. Nor to I approve of artists having to take off their shirts during fan meets. I find it disrespectful. @Midnight@claire2009
Yes, it is very disrespectful. Especially considering that we know that the artists know that after going through it, they will still be judged for every line and made-up imperfections too…
@midnight@seeker Count another prude here. I don’t enjoy shirtless scenes. A bed scene if well-done and befitting to the story is welcome, but not shirtless scenes just as fan service.
The very phrase of “fan service” related to an artist having to take off their clothes or show their body makes my blood boil. This should only mean an artist showcasing their various talents – anything from cooking, singing, dancing, painting, sketching or anything which the artist genuinely enjoys. No true fan would want an artist they like to feel uncomfortable in the name of fan service. @Midnight@Claire2009
That was my favorite moment of that entire drama. I like to think it was a taste of things to come in their marriage, after she’s completely done with him.
Sorry about the snacks! Desperate times, indeed. 😫
#LovelyRunnerPlaylist
Cannot go wrong with this oldie but goodie. Released 2009, and I still love this. Summery first love – sweet disposition indeed 🫰🫰🫰
Right. You’d think that I knew to trust the beanie hive mind on drama recommendations by now. Turns out, I stubbornly ignored all the things pointing in the direction of FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT (like, the huge flashing neon sign letters, and people dancing around them singing its praises), just because I didn’t like the title (😅) and the one teaser I’ve watched. 🙄 How wrong was I?!?!
Plus: I’m starting this now, with all the new releases coming up in May?
It’s awesome! Glad I finally gave it a try. 💯 THANK YOU, that is all.🫰
oh yeah.. romance.. i remember great reviews about it.. is it the one where FL , ML meet on the airplane.. (that’s literally the only scene i watched)… so you recommend?
It’s awesome. And gets even better after the first few episodes. Elvis & Elvira (yes, I couldn’t believe it either 😂) are magic in this.
And you have almost two weeks till May!
Glad you’re saying that! It seems like a gem already, with – for my taste – just the right mix of romance & drama. Sizzling chemistry between the main “couple” already. Very sobering insights on the “work life balance” of the leads/their colleagues, too. 😐 Plus: OST and cinematography are really good!
Two weeks, that’s right!
(NGL, I was amused after reading the actors’ names on MDL, too!)
Lol, I’ve had this near the top of my c-drama watch list and keep skipping it for other things. I’m sold now 😉 But nothing comes before Joy of Life 2 😂
… and it’s only 14 episodes, which I find surprising (and potentially a little sad)! Have not watched many c-dramas, but they seemed to go on forever. 😂
There a few C dramas with short episodes the other one I enjoyed was Remembrance of things past which has the same Director. It includes heavy themes so needs a trigger warning re suicide and depression. However it also has very good storyline with close female friends, work dynamics, city living stresses and adult relationships.
Sorry not sorry, but to add another C-drama to your list (that is, if you haven’t already watched it hehe):
The costume (can’t call it “historical, since it’s in based on history) drama, “Joy of Life” season 1 😍😍😍 Because Season 2 has just been announced for a May release 😏 But as with all C-drama premiering announcements, I also wouldn’t cling onto it too much, as nothing is really set in stone until the very last minute—literally
Although rare, there have been instances wherein a C-drama or 2 have been pulled off the air and have had other things replace it even 2 minutes before it’s set to premiere
Oh my, I guess diving into the whole costume/historical c-drama world (haven’t watched any) would be a big leap. It certainly was for me with sageuks! But now that you and zindigo mentioned it, I might have to have a look sometime (potentially after May though 😬😆)!
I’m so glad you are enjoying it! It’s my top 3 C-dramas ever, along with Reset and now The Legend of Shen Li.
The vibes, the music, the songs, Elvis, Elvira, the night scenes, the crowded city, two people who have just met but somehow need to be in contact… This drama is magic.
It really is!!! I really enjoy all the details how this is shot, too. For example the recurring outdoor scenes with traffic lights, or them being outside of their flats and looking up, whether there’s light on/someone’s home. Very comforting. 🤓
My favorite so far was surprisingly this scene, where they’re at a meeting at some company, having a coffee break together:
I am like that with the sky, there are so many amazing shapes of clouds and colours at sunrise and sunset. My wish is to do a photography class so I can capture it. I really wish we could blink and capture pictures that way as the colours the eyes see and the colours even the best camera and film capture are just not on the same level.
Yes, you can never quite capture it the way you see it live. But I can never pass along the cherry trees (most pink ones at the bottom) in the park in front of my workplace when they are in full bloom. I’ll take pictures every year! 🥰🌸
SPRING IS HERE!
Me too, Mother Bean. I love watching the sunset. In the winter, by the time I pick up my son from school, it’s sunset time, and we can watch it on our way home. In the summer, it’s around the time I make dinner, and luckily my kitchen window faces west. I’m not a morning person so I’ve never watched the sunrise :”>
I have driven to work in the winter and watched the sunrise thankfully most of my drive is through countryside so I watched some glorious sunrises over some beautiful scenery. It’s a real shame that many a time there was no where or time to pull over and watch it properly.
Yes, I can imagine! While the magnolias where I live are already “out of bloom”, the ones in a more northern part of my country were not yet in full bloom. I live in a quite warm or rather moderate temperature in the middle, so usually bloom is here quickly! 🩷
For some reason the trees in my village have always been twigs even though it was a new housing estate years ago I don’t get why they are still looking like young saplings ten years after I moved here🤣 The blossom has been out since Feb.
Oh no! Sounds like anything that I’m trying to grow on my balcony 😅 (It gets little sunlight, only very few kind of plants come to a bloom there… 🥺 TBH, might be my absolute lack of gardening skills, too. 😂)
Maybe it’ll get better after some years? That magnolia tree wasn’t this opulent in recent years, but it’s a real sight now!
In case you need to jog your memory (like I did): DB recaps of episodes 7 & 8
Well, as much as the CP might regret his decision after reading the suicide note of her supposed lover, the deed is done: Jaeyi has been banned from the Eastern palace. Watching the CP spiral as he loses trust in his sole ally was heartbreaking all over again. For what it\’s worth, he realizes soon enough that not having her by his side cannot be a valid solution either. (That little scene where he asked his guard if Jaeyi slept well, and he had to remind him that he locked up the library was some welcome humor!) Jaeyi\’s reminder that he cannot build a prospering country (or – basically – do anything) without trusting his people, has given him food for thought. (While I was almost groaning at the screen to \”Please make up already!\” 😁)
I also loved that Jaeyi, having no place to go, naturally turned up at Myungjin\’s place. And Garam, who\’s an unwavering friend, giving her much needed comfort when she (upsettingly!) thought she might have been her \”adopted brother\”s lover after all. I guess you could say that Garam was about the only person (besides the main couple) I had no suspicions about! Plus Myungjin: him wondering on his own how the women on the wanted posters are doing, and how he would help them if he could, was really sweet. If he only knew! 😂
A highlight of these episodes surely was the polo game, and the CP stepping in to play. I was rolling my eyes a bit about how obvious this \”solution\” to the plot was to show off the supposed jealousy between CP & sergeant, but it was nice to see either way. (Anyone else thought of quidditch? 😂) Also loved how the princess was throwing more than heart eyes at our 2ML. 🤩
Plus that chair scene? 🤣 Really prooves again that kdrama characters have absolutely no peripheral vision! (But I still laughed.)
That’s impressive, I didn’t know! It surely was an engaging scene. They did all of those “action” scenes well in this drama.
(Sometimes in dramas you can clearly see they used tricks to shoot a scene, for instance someone riding on horseback. Just that it isn’t a real horseback – but a dummy 😂 Yes, and that’s fine too, considering how stressful it could be for animals after all…! Here it was obvious that they used real horses. I just thought most of it was done by stuntmen or something 🤔👏)
No, they shot real time. PHS is an expert horse rider (he can actually shoot arrows while riding), and I think rest of the men either learned or they too are excellent at it.
Thoughts and observations for our Blooming Youth Episode 7
These two episodes made me laugh and cry, and reminded me why I became so besotted with PHS. Without moving a single muscle in his body (he is so stiff upperlip in this, it’s like an invisible rope binding his hands behind him lol!) the man showed such an incredible range – grief, anger, disbelief, isolation, fear, anxiety, longing, repentance….you could read every emotion without him saying a word.
In episode 7, we learn more about where his paranoia stems from. Turns out, uri Crown Prince was not always this reticent about sharing his woes. Even though he was afraid, he disregarded the first ghost letter that came the day he was declared the Crown Prince three years earlier. However, the letter changed a year ago, and this time, it said he would become a cripple. Enter: Amur viper’s poison arrow. The anxious son and the dutiful subject immediately took his fear and concern to his father and King.
What did he get in return? The news that the physician who treated him might have been killed by his father, that he had to survive at all cost, and the way to do it was to retain his position and that he was pretty much on his own to do that. And while he was at it, he could trust no one, not even his own father.
I seriously worried about the mental health of this weak King who seemed to transfer his neurotic fear to his incredibly gifted son.
I also did some math. The characters in this show are shown to be in their late teens and barely in their 20s (10 years ago, Jay Yi was about 8, Hwan and Sargent about 11, maybe 12). So here we have a 21 year old Crown Prince who has lost his brother, forced into a role he didn’t want, and is hounded by shadows, a sitting duck for murderers, and has never been outside the Palace to know life any better.
Hence, in crawled our crown prince into the hole where the only crack he allowed was a light called Jay Yi, and it is all but extinguished now. Or is it….
With very little life experience to draw from, his knee-jerk reaction to Jay Yi now makes a little more sense, especially given that he is also warring within himself an attraction he seems to have little control over for a woman who has nothing but her own words to prove she is innocent. Guilty or innocent, all he does is think of her. And follows her around the Palace like a lost puppy.
Episode 7 encapsulates what character growth should look like. It beautifully showcases Hwan’s journey from psychotic paranoia to judicious deliberation.
This is also where the outside forces start to become interesting. The inn couple becomes a suspect, the royal guard becomes a suspect, and basically, everyone but Ga-ram and Myung Jin is a suspect.
It was very interesting to witness the bond between the inn couple as they added more to the story with the mysterious connection to the entire case.
Garam starts seeing Myung Jin as something more than an eccentric master.
The bond between two women who share their deepest fears. I love Pyo Ye Jin here. The way she overcomes fear and is determined to carry on no matter what breaks my heart. Her fear of dead bodies is real and that scene is filled with so much hilarity.
I was surprised how much humour was packed in such a serious episode.
Hwan begins to hear Sung On. Even though there is still an air of mistrust, Hwan still relies on his friend, and he instinctively inclines towards doing the right thing. His friend is waiting for his fiancee. For all CP knows, his fiancee is waiting to be declared innocent before returning to him. So Hwan rightfully promises to unite the two if she comes back and proves her innocence.
However, there is this pesky little heart that still keeps fluttering where it should not…..
This one has some of my favourite moments of all time in my k-drama watching life:
# The first one is when Jay Yi gives uri Crown Prince the pig eye when he finally goes to meet her. She squints at him mutinously, judging him for being so cruel and harsh (Jeon So Nee is so good at this one). She does not greet him or bow to him. She just stares at him. And he fidgets. Haha! That was gold. This is a woman being very, very upset with her man, his royal status be damned. These two have already lost the plot when it comes to each other. They just don’t know it yet.
# When he starts realising that what he hears about her might make her seem guilty, his gut instinct that screams her innocence is authentic. The look he gives her as he follows her around (that was hilarious)—a mixture of intrigue and remorse—is fantastic.
# The reference to him who resides where the sun rises.
# When Hwan gets caught by the trio visiting Jay Yi because they think he missed them. Little do they realise Hwan knows Jay Yi has caught him missing her, and I felt his embarrassment. The bombastic side eye that he gives her and Jay Yi’s curiously impassive reactions to his overreaction had me in stitches.
# That entire tirade of kicking the chair. Boy, I have never been happier that k-drama people neither have peripheral vision nor can they hear bootsteps, hahaha! I have rewatched this scene a million times (did you catch Hwan snarling at her?).The dude takes being name-called personally, lol!
Hahaha, that chair kick was hilarious! “I’m sorry, pond!” 🤣
PHS really portrays this character well. It’s one of the reasons why I chose the header GIF: you can already see the difference in gesture between Jaeyi & Hwan. While he is sitting there, upright as if it was a ballet session, she reclines a bit in the chair. I guess if you gave Hwan a comfy couch to sit on, he just wouldn’t know “how to work it”. 😂
(Sure, you could argue a CP cannot “let go” like this “in public”, but I’ve seen other sageuks where the CP/king wasn’t as “uptight”. See Mr. Queen for example, while this was arguably even less “historically authentic” 🤔👏)
I also agree on the growth arc on his character. It was done well in these episodes!
Haha. I seem to recall hearing/reading somewhere that they hid a chair backing inside the CP’s outfit to help him sit upright when he had all those scenes of him at his floor desk in his chambers. I think PHS may have been complaining about how stiff and uncomfortable it was to sit like that for hours during filming but it made it easier.
Yes, the bts are hilarious. He kept doing these very un-Hwan things all the time.
Yes, they had a special chair for the poor guy. 60% of the drama is inside that small chamber with him talking to a variety of people lol!
I guess if you gave Hwan a comfy couch to sit on, he just wouldn’t know “how to work it”. 😂
hahahaha! Very very true. It’s the way he comports himself, for want of a better word, that is so ingrained that it’s impossible to separate wheat from the chaff.
“The pond must have been so hurt…” that had to be an adlib hehehe!
I loved Jay Yi expressions here, as she makes up for her faux pass lol!!
I also love how MJ keeps calling him older brother and trying to hug the CP but he side steps him at first but then later MJ succeeds and CP pushed him away so hard I thought he was going to fall down on his butt.
Them badmouthing the CP to his face and him basically accepting it and even acknowledging his limitations since “he doesn’t even know how to shovel” was a good illustration of his open mindedness. Granted he is still gets affronted sometimes but at least he’s willing to consider his weakness/errors and accept blame.
The reunion of the girls was both funny (corpse coming to life!) and heartwarming. GR was really frightened about being caught and branded but after seeing JY and all that she is suffering through, both girls gained strength from each other to continue their path ahead. It was certainly no easy decision to continue to masquerade as men to try to learn the truth and clean JY’s name.
Yes, I absolutely loved the quartet and the way the Myungjin-GR team ribbed Hwan while Jay Yi had fun. I sound like a broken record, but his expressions at being outed….damn. So good.
Thanks @sonai for a great review. The friendships in this show are precious. The deeper they grow the warmer you feel. This is around the time I started to love the Guard. See my fan wall for his tribute 😃😃. He brings the sarcastic comedy this show needs. CP brings the expressions. He is so good at his facial and physical comedy. It’s definitely a talent. More later as I don’t have my notes with me. I love this show💜💜💜
THE EARS! I didn’t notice that.
But.
I went to High School (or similar; “Gymnasium” 3 years from people are approximately 16 to 19) with the funniest guy, so talented also, at 15 he was already drawing for the Danish version of the MAD magazine. (And now, a recognized painter).
We were both in the School Newspaper Group (or Zine, maybe, it was very lo-fi and silly) and … Oh, I could talk about that for a little too long.
Anyway, one day we were in the yard, and he, very blond and extremely light-skinned, said “Look!” and pulled out his ears, and I tell you, it looked like he had a red bike light on each side of his head. It sounds childish, but at that age, it was more like, he was the kind of person who was not afraid of being ridiculous for a moment because he knew it would be funny, too. Like, he was breaking the glass in the picture of being 17 and cool.
Okay, now you know about Martin’s ears.
I remember for the Destined finale live watch. Indy gave me a little over have an hour to host it on my Fanwall … and that was my first time hosting! 😅
The chair-kicking scene is one of my favourites from this drama.
When I first watched OBY, I was having a hard time, but this drama was a great way to distract myself and laugh too.
I think that the balance of heartfelt vs suspenseful vs funny scenes was done pretty well in this drama! Reading the recaps (and comments on those), I’m quite baffled how it was received very … uh, so-so? For me, it delivered well.
We surely needed that polo game to balance out that ominous head shaman court scene… 😵💫
When I love a show so much, as with OBY and SYIM19thL, I’m immuned to the comments that are not in favour of the show. I went through all comments of SYIM19thL recaps and was amused at how different I felt about that show compared to the majority of commenting beanies.
As you watched SYIM19thL live, I’m sure you read its recaps. Its recaps were beautifully written by Daebakgrits and I wish she had gone one episode by one, so that I had more to read. That’s my impression of SYIM19thL recaps. But I don’t have the same impression about OBY recaps, so I guess imo it wasn’t as interesting. Maybe you don’t need to read it?! Go ahead only when you really have nothing to read?
The 19th Life recaps were as beautiful as the drama … comments is another matter. Overrun with webtoon lovers / spoilers… which were irrelevant to the drama anyway. 🙄
@Nefret The fact that kdramas can be healing is true in more ways than one. This drama changed the way I prioritize things in my life. It’s nothing in the drama that did it, but rather the fact that I connected with characters the way I used to when I read books. They played with my imagination, I got invested in their story, they got a life outside of the screen. It was thrilling and beautiful. And it has stayed on.
sonai
December 3, 2024 at 4:41 AM
🌿🌸🏖️ 2024 Roundup 🍂☔️☃️
3️⃣ Choose a Male lead.
KNIGHT FLOWER‘s Park Su-ho 💖 An absolutely good guy (I guess you could call him „Hot Cinnamon Roll“), dedicated to his woman, sweet – but with drive, wits, a strong sense of justice and autonomy, good looks & the perfect Joseon style hairdo. *chef‘s kiss*
Thinking about favorite characters in dramas, I’m sometimes also wondering „Would I like to be friends with this person?“ – and here the answer is definitely yes.
Another plus: brewmasters must be foodies, right?Isa is always time travelling
December 3, 2024 at 4:59 AM
Great choice!! 🤩
He was my winner too (if I only count k-dramas released in 2024).
Jellybn
December 3, 2024 at 8:23 PM
He was great! I haven’t been able to watch another of his dramas yet, but he did such a good job in this one!
sonai
December 2, 2024 at 12:04 PM
🌿🌸🏖️2024 Roundup🍂☔️☃️
1️⃣ Your favorite drama.
🤔 Such a mixed bag: There were a few dramas I really liked this year, even though endings fell flat mostly. I definitely laughed the most with NO GAIN NO LOVE. Really loved the actors, the female lead, the sisters, the bee costume. I’m watching FAMILY BY CHOICE at the moment, and it has my whole heart. I simply couldn’t stop binging through MR PLANKTON, because it was so gripping and had the quirkiest characters. But looking back, I enjoyed the watching experience best with DR SLUMP: I was looking forward to all of the episodes (slightly less to the later ones), & rewatched most of it straight away. The fanwall posts & discussion on DB were just lovely on this! Best Use of Blooming Cherry Trees Award goes here as well + ToDs be damned. 🌸🌸🌸
2️⃣ Choose a Female lead.
NO GAIN NO LOVE‘s Son Hae-Yeong. Doesn’t take any bs, takes time to think about what she wants and works towards it, affectionate and hilarious with „her people“. Self-aware, looks as good in a neckerchief and business attire as she does in punky red hair & fake fur. That surprising lapse in the last episode was definitely the writer’s fault, not a flaw in her character. ☝️🫰👏
Eazal
December 2, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Great choices!!!
sonai
November 21, 2024 at 10:11 AM
~~~* Spot the Difference! *~~~
Today‘s competitors:
🦇 THE AUDITORS 👞vs. 💖 BREWING LOVE 🍻
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 21, 2024 at 10:35 AM
🧐 🆗️ Tested
💯 same to same. 👍🏻🙃🤭
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 21, 2024 at 10:46 AM
You have an excellent memory detective-nim. Good job. 👍🏻
sonai
November 21, 2024 at 11:20 AM
🧐😂 It was the pillars of that building. I just knew I had seen them before! Also, in that same episode of BREWING LOVE, Yong-Ju was also on the „rooftop garden“ of that building, right where Mr. Mane of Glory was always meeting with his niece 🥳
Unexpected mash-up, that’s for sure 😂🤓
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 21, 2024 at 11:27 AM
😱 Waaa … what is this Brewing Accountants!! 🤣🤣🤣 Thanks for sharing this really brightened my day.
Blue (@mayhemf)
November 21, 2024 at 11:47 AM
Now that you posted it, I feel that curved driveway and entryway comes in many dramas. It is so familiar!!
Midnight
November 21, 2024 at 12:42 PM
That is what I was thinking. I keep flashing back to the hospitals in every recent drama…
Blue (@mayhemf)
November 21, 2024 at 2:04 PM
Or someone coming out of the mall and the ML is there with an umbrella to pick them.
Or even a hotel.. heck, this even could have been a fake airport (with the right props) in some drama. It is THAT familiar. I
Midnight
November 21, 2024 at 9:03 PM
Exactly!
sonai
November 21, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Hospitals do indeed look all the same… unless, you know, there’s a big triceratops skeleton propped up in the common waiting area. Then we can be sure it’s GHOST DOCTOR‘s place 😅
That hotel from BUSINESS PROPOSAL, where they meet up in the beginning, is in soooo many dramas, too!
zindigo
November 22, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Was it in Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale? I think it was.
Seon-ha
November 21, 2024 at 2:29 PM
Do you ever wonder, like I do, if a day goes by without a filming crew at Incheon International Airport?
sonai
November 21, 2024 at 10:30 PM
… and I guess in Jeju, you either stumble over tourists – or filming crews, too. 🤓😅
Oh, there and that famous palace/city wall in Seoul, all couples are required to take a stroll by.
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
November 21, 2024 at 3:25 PM
🤣 This is brilliant, Sonai!!! 👏👏👏
sonai
November 21, 2024 at 10:35 PM
This was fun to do, even though I needed much longer to finally spot that scene again of maknae auditor climbing the building than I care to admit.
„The RAT signal!!!“ 🦇😂
ryunami
November 21, 2024 at 11:52 PM
Nice, @sonai , thank you! ^_^
sonai
November 22, 2024 at 12:54 AM
😂🍻
sonai
November 18, 2024 at 11:32 PM
Seeing how LOVE YOUR ENEMY is already showing up in the „Currently Recapping“ section
(Yes, yes I know. Any excuse to reuse this GIF again and again. You’re welcome!)
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 19, 2024 at 1:52 AM
It *never* gets old!! 😂🙃🤭
Please continue dancing.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 19, 2024 at 5:56 AM
Geum-ja: I will show you how to express your excitement!!
Hee-jae: Arraseyo you win.
Beanies: Aniya … we *ALL* WIN!! 🙃😂
sonai
November 19, 2024 at 6:52 AM
🌸 Seeker 🌸
November 19, 2024 at 10:02 AM
Perfecto!! I think this drama gave me an appreciation for the *power walk*. 🚶♀️🚶♂️
jillian
November 19, 2024 at 1:58 AM
I will not get tired of seeing that gif! 😁😊
Midnight
November 19, 2024 at 3:55 AM
Some things get better and better the more you watch🥰
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
November 19, 2024 at 4:47 AM
I love this 🥰
Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
November 19, 2024 at 9:54 AM
He and Park Hyung Sik need to get acquainted (if they aren’t already) and then have a dance party together 🪩
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 1:14 AM
⁉️ Would you rather… 🤔
~~~Mudflats Edition*~~~
… magically change into a rubber-booted hero in the dreams of someone you foster a „secret“ crush on (…which you are trying really hard to suppress in an inexplicable move of self-denial)?
… be a troubled chaebol trying to cozy up to the family of your new girlfriend by injecting yourself into her family’s outing to the seaside, searching for mussels in your best ahjumma-visored outfit?
Vote in the comments!👇
*Strictly for science!
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 1:14 AM
SailorMudflats Man!sonai
September 30, 2024 at 1:15 AM
Muddy Chaebol!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
September 30, 2024 at 7:03 AM
Ottoke uri Park Seo-joon’s *aura* is irresistible!! 🌟🥰
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 8:53 AM
*dons visor*
🌸 Seeker 🌸
September 30, 2024 at 8:57 AM
This *never* gets old!! 👌🏻😆😂
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 1:15 AM
Neither! Instead I’d rather channel all my creativity into writing the next big hit, produce an awesome video right there on the seaside (while replacing visors with questionable helmets and flamboyant eye makeup), and ace the next Eurovision Song Contest! After all, I am…
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 1:56 AM
Were it not for the self-denial, I would go with the rubber-clad hero.
But that self-denial is just too plain dumb. I would rather be a chaebol that at least is ignorant because he has been brought up badly, but clearly has the will to learn and better himself. And having more money than I could possibly spend is not too bad either (though in honesty, if I am not generous with that money, surely I will burn in Hell, whether that place exist or not. But there’s an easy answer to that problem).
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 2:24 AM
I haven’t watched the last two episodes of LND yet, and was actually wondering whether he overcame his self-denial in these… (making my post a tad too late 😅) But if that’s still going strong: oh boy. 🙄
Either way: that transformation had me chuckling for quite some time, so that’s a win!!! 😂
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 4:25 AM
[SPOILER ALERT] I thought honestly that his rejection was because he felt obligated towards his late wife and the girl’s mother, and thought he would be letting down his love as well as his child be loving someone else.
But his reason was even more stupid, a total non-reason. You’ll see when you get there. Maybe they had planned for the dead-wife reason, but since many would actually think he ought to stay single for the rest of his life, maybe they decided against that reason and chose another, even more stupid and easily overturnable one.
Nobel Idiocy at its worst: When it needs to be solved but they can’t make up a plot to solve a problem, so they just chose the dumbest non-reason they can find rummaging through the plot garbage.
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 8:52 AM
Okay, reporting back after having watched the rest. 🤔😅🤔 I suspected the same „reasons“ as you: him wanting to be „loyal“ to his late wife; thinking her family could oppose because he’s a single dad etc. pp. But did I get it right, that he just didn’t want to be together with her because he wouldn’t be able to shield her from… basically life?!?! 😬🫣 Okay. It does seem like a NON-reason, for me, too 🙄🙄🙄
This drama is a bit all over the place, at least for me. Im clinging to the good scenes we got!
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 12:43 PM
Yes, something like that shield-thing 🙄🙄🙄 And he felt she was more a hero than he, and maybe she even makes more money, and has a better house.
I get it that the whole message of the drama is you should not be so ashamed of yourself that you can’t live in this world with other people, but … It seems they are so eager to fill up every second with that point that they find “shame” in every possible and impossible corner of the setting.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 2:02 AM
Comment was deleted
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 2:03 AM
I was looking for a RUBBER HERO gif
… and this is what I found:
***
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 30, 2024 at 2:07 AM
I guess this’ll be the chaebol:
***
Unaspirated
September 30, 2024 at 2:04 PM
Mudflat Man seems like less work, but on the other hand, Muddy Chaebol already has the girl…
sonai
September 30, 2024 at 11:35 PM
LOL! I like the angle of factoring in what would be the least work 😂😂😂
Then yes, might I add that Mudflats Man has a stressful scene coming up right after his transformation, which is as heroic as it is unsettling… (But considering we lately dealt with „zombies“, this might be nothing in comparison. 🤔)
So I guess Muddy Chaebol it is (considering my stage fright and all)! 😂
Unaspirated
October 1, 2024 at 4:38 AM
One option is literally existing in a dream! Way less work! Muddy Chaebol looks like he’s working super hard and his muscles are much bigger than mine so it’s definitely a factor. In the end though, I think I’d rather be MC and just hope I’d show up in my love interest’s dream anyway.
sonai
September 19, 2024 at 12:34 PM
HAPPINESS – Community Watch – Episodes 9 & 10
a.k.a. I-Hyun, why didn\’t you drink your water? 😱
Whew, these episodes again had me on the edge of my seat, and I had to take a slight pause after ep 9 (WHYYYYYYYYYYYYY~~~ 😭).
Question of the day: Can you beat the infection by sheer willpower?
The reveal that the shop assistant actually was infected the whole time took me by surprise. Both her and the reverend had this almost perfectly under control, before they were tempted by literally having blood shoved into their faces. 😖 I wonder how long they would have been able to conceal their condition otherwise?
It\’s so nice to see how our main couple continue to treat the infected people with respect and so much empathy. Asking Bo-Ram where she would rather stay, and setting her up on the rooftop. Keeping the author\’s brother save and taking turns to look after them (and basically after everyone else, too). It\’s just what we need in this situation!
What we don\’t need though, is an onset of *whispers ominously while holding a flashlight under her chin* noble idiocy. Of course, after I-Hyun made a comment about how his tenacity would keep him from getting infected, it eventually happens. (D\’uh!) 😭 And instead of talking about it, like both vowed they would, he doesn\’t tell Sae-Bom a thing. Obviously he does not realize that she can read him like an open book. 😁 (My heart dropped right there with hers upon seeing that full cup of water!)
Of course she would never agree to leave him behind, so setting up secret plans with Tae-Sook to get her and Seo-Yoon out makes no sense. Please talk to each other again!!!
Tae-Sook: still ruthlessly trying to find a cure to the virus. On the one hand I\’m happy that the pharma boss is no longer in control of anything, due to Han\’s diversionary tactic, but on the other… Yikes. Actually doctor soldier is my unsung heroine in all this: keeping her cool, working on the antidote in the midst of pandemonium. More of her, please!
Nothing new to tell about the other residents, is there? The usual selfishness on full display. For a sheepish moment there I had slight hopes for the building rep, seeing how she was shook by her husband\’s infection and death, but she rather took a turn for the worse.
I don\’t like the reveal about murderous Andrew now of all things, because didn\’t we already have the insufferable doctor? Seems a bit far fetched to have yet another killer in the group – even without being infected. 🙄
Let\’s just get on with the main story – only two more episodes to go! 👀🍿
sonai
September 19, 2024 at 12:38 PM
@claire2009 @ceciliedk @isagc @skiee @gikata @mazarin @thekdramaenthusiast @23new2kdrama @minniegupta1 @seeker @dramaticfoodie @koalatown @nefret @isagc @midnight @ubernoona @zindigo @books7time @hopefulromantic @dramadee24 @jls943
🌸 Seeker 🌸
September 19, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Thank you Sonai.
What a wonderful post. 😊❤
Gikata
September 19, 2024 at 1:02 PM
That why I disagree with opinion that HAPPINESS is a “western show with Korean actors” as opposed to a “normal” kdrama – sure, there are certain westernized stylistic choices (like soundtrack), but the characterization in it is SO kdrama! Yihyun’s “noble idiocy” arc is the biggest example of it because it’s tied both to him putting Saebom’s survival above his own without blinking (ML syndrome lol!) AND his own insecurities – he’s afraid to tell her because he’s afraid it’ll make her DISLIKE him/cast him aside (I’d argue that his self-esteem has some deep rooted issues overall: like many men he only sees value in himself when he’s capable and useful – as an athlete, a fake husband, a battle partner etc, but once he’s down for some reason, even temporarily, it all crumbles right away) and for him it’s an absolutely worst scenario. And there’s a bit of her fault in that too because up until that point she always kept her “I don’t need anything/anyone impractical in my life” bravado. To put it shortly, they’re both tongue tied idiots who just cannot spit it out – until the worst possible moment comes. But that’s a topic for a final week^^
sonai
September 19, 2024 at 1:49 PM
Oh yes! Why is he so insecure about her affection? Why doesn’t she reassure him, when it’s obvious to her what’s going on? But then again, this is a running gag in my family: „if they actually talked to each other, this [movie/book/series] would be much shorter“. 😅
Why oh why do you hint at „the worst possible moment“ though?! I’ll have to fasten my seatbelt for the final week then! *gulps*
Gikata
September 19, 2024 at 2:53 PM
I feel like a few more episodes covering – or at least hinting at some white spots in the backstory – wouldn’t hurt here to clear things up. For example, I find it pretty odd that his parents allegedly decided to move overseas after his injury to start anew… and proceeded with that even when he refused to go with them. Like ftw, guys, your only kid was going through some serious identity crisis, and you just left him, barely legal, all alone in that state? Wasn’t comforting him the whole point of this entire idea? If I was him – ironically, I was once, but that’s a topic for another day – I’d feel pretty much abandoned at my lowest. Maybe THAT made him so insecure? No wonder, if so. I get why Saebom struggled with voicing things though – with her own messy upbringing it made perfect sense, if sometimes felt frustrating.
Sorry^^ But you’re gonna be VERY rewarded – one thing this show did extra well was emotional payoff of OTP’s torturous slowburn. Particularly ending of Ep11 and entirety of Ep12 belong to kdrama textbooks, imo.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
September 19, 2024 at 5:56 PM
Particularly ending of Ep11 and entirety of Ep12 belong to kdrama textbooks, imo.
😂
It’s good to see you. The temperature just went up.
Skiee
September 19, 2024 at 8:36 PM
Ohhh episodes 11 and 12 I can’t. I wasn’t expecting that much romance until then😭😭😭
Healer’s
September 19, 2024 at 5:51 PM
Yes I wasn’t as surprised by the shop keeper and the rep’s husband being infected as I was to see Yihyun keep everything from Saebom. I don’t think Yihyun ever doubts Saebom would like him any less knowing he’s infected, but rather he would see himself not deserving of her because he’s not capable anymore.
Gikata
September 19, 2024 at 7:00 PM
I think it less about him being infected per se, but rather of what he could do due to it – to her or anyone else. As I’ve lamented before, our leads are way too nice and decent… thank heavens for the existence of plot armor, somewhat evening their chances out!
Healer’s
September 19, 2024 at 10:46 PM
Agreed about our leads being too nice and decent. It would have been more satisfying if they were more fierce and decisive.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 10:39 PM
There has been only one short moment with anything that resembles sexual tension. There’s a lot of visible love between them, but it’s love that could be between any two best friends. She doesn’t seem to have been romantically involved with anyone, ever.
And when they met, he fell, and she just looked.
(I know, she would die for him without blinking, but that’s not to say he can be sure she would kiss him.)
Gikata
September 20, 2024 at 8:23 AM
From her side/mutual tension, you mean? Poor guy had quite a few of “oh no, I’m a toast” moments)))
I think after her parents messy divorce she viewed romance in a very negative light altogether and wanted to never have anything to do with it again. That’s why Yihyun managed to get so close to her and eventually under her skin – he backtracked his high school confession right away and allowed her to comfortably friendzone him for 12 years. Otherwise, if he persisted with his intentions openly, she’d just cut him off right then and there, probably in a violent manner to drive the point home. I’m hella positive no one less patient – and sneaky, ha! – than him could’ve make her fall in love, she’d just nip any such possibility in the bud.
sonai
September 20, 2024 at 11:25 PM
You’re right. But TWELVE years. 🤯
Ah well. Hope it pays off for him in the end! (And looking forward to it, lol!)
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 21, 2024 at 12:35 AM
To me, she is just a person that has other things going on, and maybe has been magicked into the callous side of herself from side effects of something like this drug, in the time she was ill.
She simply doesn’t think of love and romance.
And I agree that it will take that decade and that devotion – secret devotion – and maybe it even needs to be paired with life threatening situations – to get her to a point where she says “Oh yeah, actually, I don’t want to be without this guy ever, and I even want to touch him. A lot.”
And also … being ready to let go of herself and her hold on herself for a few seconds, the way we need to do to surrender.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 21, 2024 at 12:37 AM
And the twelve years … 🤣🤣🤣 You are right, that is a demned long time, but I guess this is a story about them being grown-ups, not just adults.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 2:47 PM
As for worst possible moment … I think, if he bites her, then she will be smitten, … but still not become a zombie. She is immune, remember? Maybe he will even get well, if he bites her. Or somehow get’s her blood.
Gikata
September 19, 2024 at 6:57 PM
Ahaha, so many good ideas))) No, I’m not saying anything, that would be a huge spoiler no matter what.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 10:49 PM
I am glad it gives you good ideas. ☺️😉🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸🩸
Skiee
September 19, 2024 at 8:39 PM
OHH HYUNAAA..is what I said throughout these episodes. Of course he wouldn’t tell her. But then again he does know he loves her but she hasn’t realized her feelings and the reassurance that’ll talked about. I’m just okay with serial killer twist. But I was sad for the penthouse guy.
Gikata
September 19, 2024 at 8:52 PM
Personally I think serial killer was an overkill for a relatively compact story already this filled with bloodthirsty (literally and figuratively) people, but then again, what’s a really thrilling kdrama without one?)))
Skiee
September 19, 2024 at 9:15 PM
Overkill is the right word yes. They have plenty of other people there who would do the same thing he does.
Unaspirated
September 20, 2024 at 7:56 PM
My husband was totally incensed that they introduced a serial killer in an already full drama, but I realized that it was probably just the next stage of his infection, right? Ji-soo was talking about it in episode 9 with LC Han – that critically infected patients were starting to hide their infections until a moment when they knew they could drink without anyone seeing. And all the people who died had been bitten. So my interpretation was that he was a person who was infected really early, and this is just how it is manifesting at this point. I didn’t really understand the reveal of his face at the end though. I recognized him from other dramas but is his reveal supposed to be meaningful for our characters too? That wasn’t clear to me.
Skiee
September 20, 2024 at 8:52 PM
@jls943 I don’t think so. Maybe because his face has no scar or something.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 10:51 PM
Comment was deleted
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 10:55 PM
Between us, I did that long ago. Like, the last three minutes. Otherwise, I cannot watch a zombie drama, unless it is clear that it is comedy. Like, “Warm bodies”, “Zom 100” and “Zombieland”.
I once did it with a real brick novel, read the last half page, and then comforted myself while things just got worse and worse throughout … and then, when the ending came, it turned out I had misunderstood what I read. It was just a horrible, horrible ending, still pointing downwards in a spiral of misery.
Skiee
September 20, 2024 at 2:28 AM
I’m a full on zombie fan.. I watched sooo many. But have never seen the take like happiness. They made complex. But walking dead was my favorite, but then it got lost. I loved the movie Shaun of the dead.. such a hilarious take on zombies. That’s still my favorite. Then on kdramas I think Kingdom is a good one.
Skiee
September 20, 2024 at 2:29 AM
I realized I used too many “favorite “😂😂😂
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 19, 2024 at 10:58 PM
I giffed a crossover with the penthouse guy; https://www.dramabeans.com/activity/p/1631292/
Siona ⭐️ (@DramaticFoodie)
September 19, 2024 at 4:02 PM
Thanks for the wonderful recap @sonai. I really tried to hold on after seeing Col Han’s situation with his wife and his unborn child. But when that happened to uri PHS. I went ahead saw the finale to have a peace of mind. 🙈
Don’t worry I wont give any spoilers😜
Healer’s
September 19, 2024 at 5:42 PM
I marathoned the whole thing last week, couldn’t wait any longer 😂
Siona ⭐️ (@DramaticFoodie)
September 19, 2024 at 6:33 PM
Yeah Chinguu!🤣🤣
Neolttwigi
September 19, 2024 at 4:50 PM
thanks for the recap! We went on holiday for 10 days (incredible and amazing to be able to go on holiday!) so we are still on- ep 6 I think? Don’t worry, I LOVE spoilers, so thanks for all the comments and for giving me the emotional support to get through the tension. It is very good, I just have to block my ears sometimes to watch it. (Yeah subtitles!) ( Tense music/soundtrack is the worst for me!)
Unaspirated
September 20, 2024 at 7:58 PM
I had people visiting me for a few days, so I’m just now commenting because my husband and I literally just finished ep 10! Glad to know I’m not the only one cutting it close!
Healer’s
September 19, 2024 at 5:37 PM
Thank you, Sonai ❤️ You’re a master of GIF games 😚
sonai
September 19, 2024 at 11:03 PM
I’m not at your level, Claire!!! 🥳🫰
But one can never go wrong with the hilarious Weightlifting Fairy, even if I didn’t have any GIFs of this particular drama 😂
Healer’s
September 20, 2024 at 5:04 AM
🫶
Yes I love Weightlifting Fairy, it’s such a fun, charming and heart-warming drama.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
September 19, 2024 at 6:02 PM
Thank you Sonai!! What a lovely post ❤️
I agree with it so much. They actually showed that empathy was possible.
I am aware I didn’t get to post on Claire’s post last week (it’s been nuts at my end with work) but I have so much to share.
Especially why I think Sae Bom didn’t go with Han.
sonai
September 19, 2024 at 10:58 PM
I hear you – last week was impossible here as well 😅🫣 I’m glad I set up a reminder to post this Thursday, so I could make time for it. Crossing fingers things will get less stressful soon!
Koalatown
September 20, 2024 at 7:48 PM
My favorite moments are when SB is tending to YH’s wound and she is scolding him for being so rash and aggressive with his knife work. It’s quite a role switch where she, the impulsive one, scolds the thinker for being too impetuous. Then when she said him getting hurt bothered her so much that she can’t eat we know that says a lot for a girl who is thinking of her next meal while barely starting to eat her current meal. His tender look at her is just swoon worthy.
I think seeing how his hyung had overreacted about SB’s cut, he rightfully is a bit skittish to just blurt out that he has been infected. Also if he isolates himself he wouldn’t be able to protect SB and SY. So instead he tries to stay awake all night (probably to not lose control while unconscious) and removes himself into the empty hallway as a further safety measure. How painful it must have been to try to hide it and act normal while fighting the thirst and save all the residents from their crazy selves.
After SB asks YH more directly if he got infected he denies it showing his “fresh” wound. She tells him to be more careful from now on and he agrees. The subtle look he gives her when he agrees suggests a bit of regret that he wasn’t more careful and if only he would have a chance in the future but he has resigned himself to stay back to protect SB and SY from himself when they leave.
Although the serial killer may seem a bit overkill it is an effective way to amp up the tension. As far as we can tell the doctor is an opportunistic weasel always looking for the best way to serve himself, but he isn’t exactly a cold blooded murderer. I think when his wife first turned he probably did beat her back and just used that opportunity to blungeon her. I am not sure if she was not ill that he would have tried to wack her off with a golf club. It seems he is a bit too clever and would have found a cleaner way to do it so he could get away with it.
Unaspirated
September 20, 2024 at 8:07 PM
When I was in high school, one of my best friends lived in a house with a pasture surrounding it, and they used to let some of their neighbors raise cows in it to keep the grass mowed. One day I went home with her after school and we both grew more and more uneasy as we approached her house. There were fence posts lining the driveway and on every single one of them sat a vulture, waiting. We found out later that a calf had died just after birth and its mom was guarding it, but the vultures were there, ready and waiting, to scavenge whatever they could. I was reminded of that image forcefully at the end of episode 10 when I-hyun and Sae-bom have to pass through the avenue of their own kind of vulture, waiting to strip their apartment of anything useful and life giving. I think this show (and Korean zombie media in general) nails that feeling really well. Society has slowly broken down. At one point they were taking votes and listening to authority. And now they are just vultures sitting on fence posts.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
September 22, 2024 at 1:06 AM
What a surprise, if “Happiness” ended up being “Running Wild w Your Fellow Zombies”.
Koalatown
September 28, 2024 at 10:49 AM
Did I miss episode 11 and 12 community watch? Can someone please tag me? Thanks!
sonai
September 28, 2024 at 2:13 PM
No you didn’t! It was only postponed until next Thursday, because some of us didn’t manage watching in time! Sorry we did not tag you in that discussion 🫣 (I cannot find it now either…! Must have been an older post.)
sonai
August 20, 2024 at 10:39 PM
HAPPINESS
First Time Watching Experience of a Fraidy-Cat*
How it started:
How it’s going:
I guess I’ll manage after all.
*Precautions taken:
✅ Watching in full daylight
✅ Analyzing background music as indicator for upcoming jump scares (… but turns out they will still work no matter what)
tabong is ironing the crosswalk
August 20, 2024 at 10:58 PM
Happiness is one of my favorites! I hope you enjoy all of it! ^^
sonai
August 20, 2024 at 11:13 PM
Haha, thank you!!! I’m really looking forward to discuss my theories with the other beanies doing the community watch. So many of the apartment building tenants are super shady. What are they all hiding?!?! Plus of course the big pharma/military conspiracy. So much going on! 👏
tabong is ironing the crosswalk
August 20, 2024 at 11:57 PM
I hope you all have a great time discussing it! Like you said, there’s A LOT going on, but it’s all very entertaining. And in the middle of all the fun there are thoughtful messages the show tries to share.
And our main characters are so badass! but also sweet! I just loveeeee this show.
Unaspirated
August 21, 2024 at 7:35 AM
Yay! I’m so excited to continue! I’ve watched the first two eps so far and love it and only one scene was kind of a lot. Remember to breathe, Sonai! It helps!
sonai
August 21, 2024 at 8:54 AM
LOL! Yes, yes that helps indeed! 😂
Hwaiting!!!
Midnight
August 20, 2024 at 10:58 PM
Hwaiting! I couldn’t do it!
sonai
August 20, 2024 at 11:18 PM
Really I wouldn’t have started this without the CW! 😬 I’m happy to know others are watching with me and we can discuss later.
Plus the ensemble is really interesting! Could do without the level of creepiness, but somehow it’s obvious what they wanted to achieve with it. (Most of it is going on in my head anyway, but some of it is pretty graphic. 🫣)
Midnight
August 20, 2024 at 11:30 PM
😂😅🫣
Neolttwigi
August 20, 2024 at 11:27 PM
I have watched episode one. Going to try for episode two, but beyond that… will have to see how I go.
Precautions taken:
Handholding husband
Finger on the
triggermute button ( scary music is much worse for me than scary visuals)sonai
August 20, 2024 at 11:54 PM
😂👏 Hwaiting!!! Seriously, the sound effects can be so off putting 😬 I’m watching on low volume as well. But the music makes the scene, that’s for sure! 🤔😂🙉
Isa is always time travelling
August 21, 2024 at 1:01 AM
Fighting! 💪
You can do it!
I enjoyed that drama. I avoid other kind of terror shows and movies, but I have no problem with zombies (Maybe having watched almost all the seasons of Walking Dead and Fear the Walking Dead has something to do 😅).
I don’t remember Happiness was very scary, but there are several tense scenes. The main characters are great, and you will end up very fond of them.
sonai
August 21, 2024 at 4:16 AM
Oh my Isa, you are tough if you watched TWD! I guess HAPPINESS was a walk in the park afterwards. 😅 (Speculation, for I’ve only walked past people watching TWD and quickly retreated – lol!)
Yes, I already like the main characters very much! 👏
Isa is always time travelling
August 21, 2024 at 6:41 AM
I avoid terror with ghosts and spirits (even though I have watched some famous movies), but zombis are now practically family, after The Walking Dead 😅
Midnight
August 21, 2024 at 1:28 PM
😂😂
Skiee
August 21, 2024 at 8:47 AM
Happiness is much more than zombies, don’t worry once you get into it you’ll know the actual theme of the show. Plus leads are badass and just wait for their moments❤️
sonai
August 21, 2024 at 10:46 AM
Loving them already! 🫰 Though I do question some of their bold investigative choices 😂
Skiee
August 21, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Yeah I know especially seobom😂😂
sonai
August 21, 2024 at 12:31 PM
😂 Just a as written in her “case file”:
“Extreme curiosity – might become problematic” 🤣🫣😵💫😱
Skiee
August 21, 2024 at 10:14 PM
😝😝😝
sonai
August 1, 2024 at 10:16 PM
THE AUDITORS, episode 7 👀
Me noticing I was yet again denied any kind of pyrotechnic action scenes
Mane of Glory upon being told he had “The Face of a Dragon!”*
People working in R&D watching JU Construction R&D department shenanigans in general**
*Do we need to change his title now?!? 🐉
**But considering how auditors are depicted doing their job here, I’m not surprised but entertained! 😂
Midnight
August 1, 2024 at 10:46 PM
😂👌
sonai
August 1, 2024 at 10:57 PM
(I just wish I could raise one eyebrow like that. 👏😂🤨)
Midnight
August 1, 2024 at 11:21 PM
It’s such a talent! 😂 And those who are able to do it use it quite deliberately and effectively!
sonai
July 21, 2024 at 11:03 PM
THE AUDITORS, ep. 5
Watching
RobinHan Soo being sent out into the field toinvestigateaudit a suspectRealizing the
Jokerperson of interest is living only on ground floor level(I guess no facade climbing at this point. *puts popcorn back down*)
Midnight
July 22, 2024 at 12:02 AM
PERFECT gifs, as always! 😂
sonai
July 22, 2024 at 2:38 AM
One can never go wrong with HOSPITAL PLAYLIST 😂
Midnight
July 22, 2024 at 4:16 AM
😂👌
Seon-ha
July 22, 2024 at 12:37 PM
To tide you over. I kept his triumphant door-opening because he’s so flipping PROUD OF HIMSELF.
sonai
July 22, 2024 at 10:07 PM
😂😂😂 Hahaha, and rightly so! Look how he chose a window somewhere in the middle instead of the first one! Spidy-abilities: 100%.
Glad to see you, chingu. 🥹 Was wondering where you were this last week – hope all is well!
Seon-ha
July 23, 2024 at 11:37 AM
Thanks for your kind wishes!! I’m OK. Hope all is well with you too!!!
sonai
July 23, 2024 at 12:39 PM
Glad to hear that!!🫰
Yep, it’s all good here. Unless maybe the lack of more action scenes in these last two Auditors episodes. 🤓 But I’ll just hang
onto that windowsill in dress shoesin there!sonai
May 14, 2024 at 11:11 PM
When you try to fire up your enthusiasm, but it’s just one of those days
(Gif credit bareums)
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 14, 2024 at 11:21 PM
Junho’s gaze is all the fire I need today!! Oooh!! That man has power. 😍😍😍😍❤❤
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 2:33 AM
LOL, he does! Glad that it helped. I’m chuckling along, thinking about these hilarious scenes! 😂
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 2:52 AM
I don’t know what I like better – that sigh or the smirk. 😭
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 3:04 AM
Better than both is when he’s shocked at himself when he sees this photo 😆
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 3:39 AM
Oh yes!! 😂 I wonder how much he practiced to look like this. He’s trained to look good – it must have taken some effort to look well not so good because whatever he does Junho still shines.
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 5:11 AM
I’ve been keeping this one for some time and don’t know where to use it.
So please allow me to use it, now 😂
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:31 AM
@claire2009 You should have used it every day, it would have eventually found its purpose! 😆🫰👌
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 5:34 AM
@claire2009 Junho *IS* the purpose. 😂
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 5:36 AM
And thank you for keeping Seo Yul safe Claire. 🙏
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:42 AM
Although I think the actual translation is something like “That is not cool”? I don’t think it can be translated as ugly…?
@claire2009
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 6:59 AM
@midnight Viki translated it to “It’s tiring”. What he says is 짜치잖아, google translates it to “It’s so bad”. So I think your translation makes the most sense.
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 7:46 AM
LOL @claire2009 that’s perfect!!! Always good to see Yul. 👏🫰👏🥳
I was skimming over KTL and laughed so much about the restaurant scene again, when Won basically acted like Yul. „Can we eat now?“ – „Who gets to eat this?“ 😂🤣
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 8:32 AM
Yes Gu Won getting excited about eating after turning up his nose initially was really something. And the way he eyed his food was how he should have been eyeing his FL. 🤭🤣
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 11:47 AM
@sonai I love that restaurant scene, most of all because it makes the scene later in the show in the same restaurant all the more impactful and emotional to me.
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 12:28 PM
@midnight Ugh yes. 🥺 „So… Do you want to break up?“ – „No, why?!?! Do you?“ *clutches heart* Ah, but as per usual, they just talk it out. 👏 That relationship dynamic is really so heartwarming (and refreshing)!
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 12:52 PM
@sonai And you know how we know he has waited a long time in the waiting room to get to the table, then waited alone at the table for her… He had said I’m not used to waiting. But he waited. And he was ready to liten and accept anything she would say… And he believed she had every right to be angry. But he didn’t know the real reason she was angry… which was so so so natural for a man in his position… Ahhhh this whole show is 16 hours of context and subcontext and listening and learning in the bestest way possible. 🥹
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 1:06 PM
Ah! Now I really want to watch KTL with you @Midnight
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 1:18 PM
@seeker 😅😅
Every time I start a rewatch I decide to write long reviews for every episode on my fanwall. But then, there are some scenes I skip in episode 1 and start of episode 2 , so before I realize I’m halfway through episode 4 and suddenly remember Oh! The reviews! Well, too late now! Maybe next time! 😂
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 1:21 PM
@midnight 🤣 Maybe then I should just follow your comments in the recap and one day you’ll post some reviews for us muggles.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 1:22 PM
^^ * and hope that one day
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 1:36 PM
@seeker I don’t live watch so I have no comments under the recaps, except under the last episode, and the review page I think. 😅
23new2kdrama 🌱🎄🎅❤️
May 15, 2024 at 5:15 PM
I vote for your comments!! I’m watching now and it would be so enlightening to read what you think. I tend to be a superficial watcher. Junco’s smile of surprise is everything. And when would he have really taken pictures of a food experience like that. Love it💜
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 4:54 AM
I’m still traumatised from the smirk 😂
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 2:44 AM
I just emptied, cleaned, sifted through, and organized a huge closet. So I’m taking this as a Well done! Now go just collapse and watch something 2PM!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 2:54 AM
Well done indeed. 👏 👏👏
I just took out stuff from one shelf to find something – didn’t find it and shoved said stuff back. 🙃🤭
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 3:02 AM
Stuff is meant to be shoved! They have to first manage to get on your lastest last nerve before anything other than shoving can be done to them!!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 3:43 AM
Hehehe … thank you for the encouragement. I was low key disappointed in myself but not enough to actually do something about it. 😅
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 3:00 AM
Woah. I’m trying to do that once every few years, and then never get around to actually start it 😅 WELL DONE & cheers!
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 3:04 AM
Thank you! 😅
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 3:48 AM
My closet is 0.01% away from doing this to me.
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 3:57 AM
🤔 Maybe stick a Junho pic inside one door and a Hyunshikkie pic inside the other door? Stuff might eagerly sit back tight staring? Worth the try maybe?
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 3:58 AM
Now that I think about it, a pic of Ju Jihoon cheering them might hold them still too.
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 4:08 AM
LOL! That GIF Cera 😂😂😂
Hwaiting!!!
(At least I should start exchanging winter with summer wardrobe soon, and thus stuff will naturally be shuffled around. 🤔)
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 4:53 AM
You always have the most perfect gifs sonai. 😊👌
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 4:57 AM
@seeker agree with you about that sonai always has the best GIF!!
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:23 AM
@sonai You always have the most perfect gifs! 🤩
sonai
May 15, 2024 at 7:55 AM
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 4:50 AM
Good idea Midnight. Appropriate pics can surely charm all clothes and sweaters too like I’m sure @claire2009 can attest to. 😂
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 4:58 AM
Uhm… I think by now I’m done with sweaters 😂
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:25 AM
@claire2009 You’re right, it is t-shirt season now 😌
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 5:39 AM
Ah! So we are getting a new series now @claire2009 ?
Once while googling Korean actors the automatic prompt was *shirtless*. Ottoke @Midnight
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:45 AM
I’m a prude 😂 I will involuntarily skip any such pics 😄 Doesn’t matter how much I like the actor, I don’t enjoy shirtless pics. 😄
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 5:49 AM
Well nobody can accuse me of being a prude but tbh I was appalled and can’t say I “enjoy” such photo shoots. Nor to I approve of artists having to take off their shirts during fan meets. I find it disrespectful. @Midnight @claire2009
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 5:57 AM
Yes, it is very disrespectful. Especially considering that we know that the artists know that after going through it, they will still be judged for every line and made-up imperfections too…
Healer’s
May 15, 2024 at 6:46 AM
@midnight @seeker Count another prude here. I don’t enjoy shirtless scenes. A bed scene if well-done and befitting to the story is welcome, but not shirtless scenes just as fan service.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 15, 2024 at 8:25 AM
The very phrase of “fan service” related to an artist having to take off their clothes or show their body makes my blood boil. This should only mean an artist showcasing their various talents – anything from cooking, singing, dancing, painting, sketching or anything which the artist genuinely enjoys. No true fan would want an artist they like to feel uncomfortable in the name of fan service. @Midnight @Claire2009
Midnight
May 15, 2024 at 12:03 PM
Perfect gif again! Heartu heartu!
sonai
May 10, 2024 at 10:38 AM
When you’re about to start watching your favorite show, but are greeted by an empty snack cabinet
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 10, 2024 at 11:21 AM
🙀
Elinor, Team Glasses team co-captain
May 10, 2024 at 12:33 PM
That was my favorite moment of that entire drama. I like to think it was a taste of things to come in their marriage, after she’s completely done with him.
Sorry about the snacks! Desperate times, indeed. 😫
sonai
May 10, 2024 at 12:50 PM
Ahaha, but how could she ever take advantage of our poor traumatized chaebol‘s condition?!
😂
Yes, also the tough decision to either venture outside to the grocery store or just starve through your watch… Desperate times indeed! 🫣😂
zindigo
May 10, 2024 at 2:05 PM
I remember loving this drama so much I watched it twice back-to-back 😂
Healer’s
May 10, 2024 at 4:42 PM
And then you decide to make some pancakes, only to find you’ve run out of flour 😂
sonai
May 5, 2024 at 11:01 PM
Only 5 more days until THE MIDNIGHT ROMANCE IN HAGWON! 👏👏👏
🌸 Seeker 🌸
May 6, 2024 at 2:44 AM
🍻
sonai
April 27, 2024 at 3:02 AM
#LovelyRunnerPlaylist
Cannot go wrong with this oldie but goodie. Released 2009, and I still love this. Summery first love – sweet disposition indeed 🫰🫰🫰
lapislazulii
April 27, 2024 at 3:58 AM
ooooh another one that I’d momentarily forgotten about!! added 😀
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 27, 2024 at 5:30 AM
🫰indeed. ❤
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 5:24 AM
Right. You’d think that I knew to trust the beanie hive mind on drama recommendations by now. Turns out, I stubbornly ignored all the things pointing in the direction of FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT (like, the huge flashing neon sign letters, and people dancing around them singing its praises), just because I didn’t like the title (😅) and the one teaser I’ve watched. 🙄 How wrong was I?!?!
Plus: I’m starting this now, with all the new releases coming up in May?
It’s awesome! Glad I finally gave it a try. 💯 THANK YOU, that is all.🫰
alasecond
April 18, 2024 at 5:40 AM
which one
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 5:51 AM
FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT, a c-drama that’s streaming on Viki in my region.
alasecond
April 18, 2024 at 6:58 AM
oh yeah.. romance.. i remember great reviews about it.. is it the one where FL , ML meet on the airplane.. (that’s literally the only scene i watched)… so you recommend?
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 7:21 AM
Yes, that’s the one! From what I’ve seen, I’d recommend it if you enjoy slow burn romance, struggle of (work-) life dramas.
Midnight
April 18, 2024 at 5:47 AM
I don’t know anything about the show you’re talking about, but your gif game is always spot on! 🏆🎉
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 5:53 AM
… and it’s so much fun to choose them! 😂🫰
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 18, 2024 at 6:33 AM
https://youtu.be/pyiGHFGCf2U?si=Hcyf1lcYMvYGsZIt
May you always be guided by the Beanies “light”!
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 6:40 AM
🤣🫰 Oh my, that scene was sweet in Start Up! 💡
Midnight
April 18, 2024 at 6:40 AM
You are always on point!
indyfan
April 18, 2024 at 6:23 AM
It’s awesome. And gets even better after the first few episodes. Elvis & Elvira (yes, I couldn’t believe it either 😂) are magic in this.
And you have almost two weeks till May!
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 6:51 AM
Glad you’re saying that! It seems like a gem already, with – for my taste – just the right mix of romance & drama. Sizzling chemistry between the main “couple” already. Very sobering insights on the “work life balance” of the leads/their colleagues, too. 😐 Plus: OST and cinematography are really good!
Two weeks, that’s right!
(NGL, I was amused after reading the actors’ names on MDL, too!)
zindigo
April 18, 2024 at 6:48 AM
Lol, I’ve had this near the top of my c-drama watch list and keep skipping it for other things. I’m sold now 😉 But nothing comes before Joy of Life 2 😂
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 6:59 AM
… and it’s only 14 episodes, which I find surprising (and potentially a little sad)! Have not watched many c-dramas, but they seemed to go on forever. 😂
zindigo
April 18, 2024 at 8:18 AM
They’ve totally made 20 episode k-dramas seem like a cake walk LOL!
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 18, 2024 at 3:24 PM
There a few C dramas with short episodes the other one I enjoyed was Remembrance of things past which has the same Director. It includes heavy themes so needs a trigger warning re suicide and depression. However it also has very good storyline with close female friends, work dynamics, city living stresses and adult relationships.
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 10:23 PM
This sounds very interesting, thank you! 👏🫰
Goes straight onto the watchlist…
Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
April 18, 2024 at 10:20 AM
Sorry not sorry, but to add another C-drama to your list (that is, if you haven’t already watched it hehe):
The costume (can’t call it “historical, since it’s in based on history) drama, “Joy of Life” season 1 😍😍😍 Because Season 2 has just been announced for a May release 😏 But as with all C-drama premiering announcements, I also wouldn’t cling onto it too much, as nothing is really set in stone until the very last minute—literally
Although rare, there have been instances wherein a C-drama or 2 have been pulled off the air and have had other things replace it even 2 minutes before it’s set to premiere
sonai
April 18, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Oh my, I guess diving into the whole costume/historical c-drama world (haven’t watched any) would be a big leap. It certainly was for me with sageuks! But now that you and zindigo mentioned it, I might have to have a look sometime (potentially after May though 😬😆)!
Nessa (Bebe) 🌹
April 18, 2024 at 12:40 PM
*ISN’T based on history
Isa is always time travelling
April 19, 2024 at 2:28 AM
I’m so glad you are enjoying it! It’s my top 3 C-dramas ever, along with Reset and now The Legend of Shen Li.
The vibes, the music, the songs, Elvis, Elvira, the night scenes, the crowded city, two people who have just met but somehow need to be in contact… This drama is magic.
sonai
April 19, 2024 at 3:24 AM
It really is!!! I really enjoy all the details how this is shot, too. For example the recurring outdoor scenes with traffic lights, or them being outside of their flats and looking up, whether there’s light on/someone’s home. Very comforting. 🤓
My favorite so far was surprisingly this scene, where they’re at a meeting at some company, having a coffee break together:
🫠🫠🫠 So very good in its subtlety.
sonai
April 12, 2024 at 2:12 AM
Realizing you accidentally watched the highschool drama instead of the meat drama
(There are just not enough days in the week!!! 😵💫)
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 12, 2024 at 4:41 AM
You mean Carry Sun-Jae and Run aka Lovely Runner.
sonai
April 12, 2024 at 5:51 AM
Yes, it was delightful! 👏 But my original plan was to watch Blood Free, which is now postponed until the weekend or… some time… 🤔
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 12, 2024 at 9:01 AM
Despite the heavy subject the vibe is good. So 🤞 for future episodes.
sonai
April 9, 2024 at 11:25 PM
Wednesday Morning JJH Fix
In all seriousness!
https://mydramalist.com/article/it-was-a-script-that-made-my-heart-race-blood-free-han-hyo-joo-shares
bbstl 🧹
April 10, 2024 at 7:55 AM
😂
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 10, 2024 at 10:35 AM
Daebak!! Can I love this man any more. 🤣🤣🤣
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 5:43 AM
OUR BLOOMING NEIGHBORHOOD
Community Watch: Trees 1-3
Time to grab your sunglasses and enjoy spring!
Midnight
April 6, 2024 at 7:22 AM
Wow!
HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
April 6, 2024 at 7:41 AM
What gorgeous, gorgeous trees!!
bbstl 🧹
April 6, 2024 at 8:08 AM
Every blossom so perfect! Love it 🌸
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 9:11 AM
Thank you for sharing!! When I was er… slightly younger I would go around photographing blooming trees to make screensavers for myself.
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 9:34 AM
I am like that with the sky, there are so many amazing shapes of clouds and colours at sunrise and sunset. My wish is to do a photography class so I can capture it. I really wish we could blink and capture pictures that way as the colours the eyes see and the colours even the best camera and film capture are just not on the same level.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 9:47 AM
No amount of professional cameras / photography can capture that feeling of experiencing beauty in that instant.
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 11:55 AM
Yes, you can never quite capture it the way you see it live. But I can never pass along the cherry trees (most pink ones at the bottom) in the park in front of my workplace when they are in full bloom. I’ll take pictures every year! 🥰🌸
SPRING IS HERE!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:23 PM
👌 Absolutely… that’s the only way. 😍
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 7:02 PM
Me too, Mother Bean. I love watching the sunset. In the winter, by the time I pick up my son from school, it’s sunset time, and we can watch it on our way home. In the summer, it’s around the time I make dinner, and luckily my kitchen window faces west. I’m not a morning person so I’ve never watched the sunrise :”>
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 7:14 PM
There is something very reassuring to be able to look out and see the sun … sunsets are very calming.
Sunrises are energizing. 😂
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 11:15 PM
I have driven to work in the winter and watched the sunrise thankfully most of my drive is through countryside so I watched some glorious sunrises over some beautiful scenery. It’s a real shame that many a time there was no where or time to pull over and watch it properly.
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 11:49 PM
We’re talking about (how I miss) sunrise and I saw this one on facebook just now 😂
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 11:58 PM
🤣That is brilliant 🫘Beansprout award🌱 for cutest picture ☺️
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 7, 2024 at 1:04 AM
Sweetest friendship ever!! ♥️😊👌💯
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 9:36 AM
Thanks for sharing my local trees are just like a couple of twigs with blossom so they are not able to have the same impact as these.
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 11:58 AM
Yes, I can imagine! While the magnolias where I live are already “out of bloom”, the ones in a more northern part of my country were not yet in full bloom. I live in a quite warm or rather moderate temperature in the middle, so usually bloom is here quickly! 🩷
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 12:05 PM
I guess you’ll just have to wait a week more or two 😉 You’re not so far away (as I gather!)
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 12:20 PM
For some reason the trees in my village have always been twigs even though it was a new housing estate years ago I don’t get why they are still looking like young saplings ten years after I moved here🤣 The blossom has been out since Feb.
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 12:29 PM
Oh no! Sounds like anything that I’m trying to grow on my balcony 😅 (It gets little sunlight, only very few kind of plants come to a bloom there… 🥺 TBH, might be my absolute lack of gardening skills, too. 😂)
Maybe it’ll get better after some years? That magnolia tree wasn’t this opulent in recent years, but it’s a real sight now!
Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
April 6, 2024 at 11:17 PM
I just think they chose cheap trees and they will never amount to much but it is still pretty seeing them in bloom.
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 6:58 PM
So beautiful!!
korfan
April 6, 2024 at 10:11 PM
Just lovely!
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 12:44 AM
OUR BLOOMING YOUTH Community Watch – Episodes 7 & 8
Time to kick some chairs!
GIF credit: xiaolanhua
In case you need to jog your memory (like I did): DB recaps of episodes 7 & 8
Well, as much as the CP might regret his decision after reading the suicide note of her supposed lover, the deed is done: Jaeyi has been banned from the Eastern palace. Watching the CP spiral as he loses trust in his sole ally was heartbreaking all over again. For what it\’s worth, he realizes soon enough that not having her by his side cannot be a valid solution either. (That little scene where he asked his guard if Jaeyi slept well, and he had to remind him that he locked up the library was some welcome humor!) Jaeyi\’s reminder that he cannot build a prospering country (or – basically – do anything) without trusting his people, has given him food for thought. (While I was almost groaning at the screen to \”Please make up already!\” 😁)
I also loved that Jaeyi, having no place to go, naturally turned up at Myungjin\’s place. And Garam, who\’s an unwavering friend, giving her much needed comfort when she (upsettingly!) thought she might have been her \”adopted brother\”s lover after all. I guess you could say that Garam was about the only person (besides the main couple) I had no suspicions about! Plus Myungjin: him wondering on his own how the women on the wanted posters are doing, and how he would help them if he could, was really sweet. If he only knew! 😂
A highlight of these episodes surely was the polo game, and the CP stepping in to play. I was rolling my eyes a bit about how obvious this \”solution\” to the plot was to show off the supposed jealousy between CP & sergeant, but it was nice to see either way. (Anyone else thought of quidditch? 😂) Also loved how the princess was throwing more than heart eyes at our 2ML. 🤩
Plus that chair scene? 🤣 Really prooves again that kdrama characters have absolutely no peripheral vision! (But I still laughed.)
@minniegupta1 @midnight @seeker @koalatown @nefret @isagc @bebeswtz @claire2009 @skiee @23new2kdrama @jls943
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 12:45 AM
Whoops, that link to the recap didn’t work out, so here goes: https://www.dramabeans.com/2023/03/our-blooming-youth-episodes-7-8/
Healer’s
April 5, 2024 at 1:51 AM
Thanks sonai <3 I'm off to make some GIFs. And yes, I thought of quidditch too 😂
Kurama
April 5, 2024 at 1:56 AM
I remembered being impressed by the actors who really filmed the scene of polo on horses themselves.
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 11:03 AM
That’s impressive, I didn’t know! It surely was an engaging scene. They did all of those “action” scenes well in this drama.
(Sometimes in dramas you can clearly see they used tricks to shoot a scene, for instance someone riding on horseback. Just that it isn’t a real horseback – but a dummy 😂 Yes, and that’s fine too, considering how stressful it could be for animals after all…! Here it was obvious that they used real horses. I just thought most of it was done by stuntmen or something 🤔👏)
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 11:45 AM
No, they shot real time. PHS is an expert horse rider (he can actually shoot arrows while riding), and I think rest of the men either learned or they too are excellent at it.
The game was even better than the one in Hwarang.
23new2kdrama 🌱🎄🎅❤️
April 5, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Of course he can!! He can do ANYTHING💙💙💙
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 11:58 AM
Shot in real time … daebak!!
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
April 21, 2024 at 6:30 PM
SWOOOOOOON!
***
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 11:57 AM
That’s really really impressive. Just mere riding is tough but playing polo is real high level of skill.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:42 AM
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Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:46 AM
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Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:46 AM
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Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:49 AM
Sorry having formatting issues 🙁
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 9:01 AM
(Taken from this hilarious series of GIFs: https://www.tumblr.com/seawherethesunsets/710511794333138944/miscommunication-our-blooming-youth-2023?source=share )
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 9:31 AM
LOL!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:12 PM
Perfect expression!!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Gwaenchanha … no need to delete. 😂
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:56 AM
Thoughts and observations for our Blooming Youth Episode 7
These two episodes made me laugh and cry, and reminded me why I became so besotted with PHS. Without moving a single muscle in his body (he is so stiff upperlip in this, it’s like an invisible rope binding his hands behind him lol!) the man showed such an incredible range – grief, anger, disbelief, isolation, fear, anxiety, longing, repentance….you could read every emotion without him saying a word.
In episode 7, we learn more about where his paranoia stems from. Turns out, uri Crown Prince was not always this reticent about sharing his woes. Even though he was afraid, he disregarded the first ghost letter that came the day he was declared the Crown Prince three years earlier. However, the letter changed a year ago, and this time, it said he would become a cripple. Enter: Amur viper’s poison arrow. The anxious son and the dutiful subject immediately took his fear and concern to his father and King.
What did he get in return? The news that the physician who treated him might have been killed by his father, that he had to survive at all cost, and the way to do it was to retain his position and that he was pretty much on his own to do that. And while he was at it, he could trust no one, not even his own father.
I seriously worried about the mental health of this weak King who seemed to transfer his neurotic fear to his incredibly gifted son.
I also did some math. The characters in this show are shown to be in their late teens and barely in their 20s (10 years ago, Jay Yi was about 8, Hwan and Sargent about 11, maybe 12). So here we have a 21 year old Crown Prince who has lost his brother, forced into a role he didn’t want, and is hounded by shadows, a sitting duck for murderers, and has never been outside the Palace to know life any better.
Hence, in crawled our crown prince into the hole where the only crack he allowed was a light called Jay Yi, and it is all but extinguished now. Or is it….
With very little life experience to draw from, his knee-jerk reaction to Jay Yi now makes a little more sense, especially given that he is also warring within himself an attraction he seems to have little control over for a woman who has nothing but her own words to prove she is innocent. Guilty or innocent, all he does is think of her. And follows her around the Palace like a lost puppy.
Episode 7 encapsulates what character growth should look like. It beautifully showcases Hwan’s journey from psychotic paranoia to judicious deliberation.
This is also where the outside forces start to become interesting. The inn couple becomes a suspect, the royal guard becomes a suspect, and basically, everyone but Ga-ram and Myung Jin is a suspect.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 8:57 AM
This episode also highlights relationships:
It was very interesting to witness the bond between the inn couple as they added more to the story with the mysterious connection to the entire case.
Garam starts seeing Myung Jin as something more than an eccentric master.
The bond between two women who share their deepest fears. I love Pyo Ye Jin here. The way she overcomes fear and is determined to carry on no matter what breaks my heart. Her fear of dead bodies is real and that scene is filled with so much hilarity.
I was surprised how much humour was packed in such a serious episode.
Hwan begins to hear Sung On. Even though there is still an air of mistrust, Hwan still relies on his friend, and he instinctively inclines towards doing the right thing. His friend is waiting for his fiancee. For all CP knows, his fiancee is waiting to be declared innocent before returning to him. So Hwan rightfully promises to unite the two if she comes back and proves her innocence.
However, there is this pesky little heart that still keeps fluttering where it should not…..
This one has some of my favourite moments of all time in my k-drama watching life:
# The first one is when Jay Yi gives uri Crown Prince the pig eye when he finally goes to meet her. She squints at him mutinously, judging him for being so cruel and harsh (Jeon So Nee is so good at this one). She does not greet him or bow to him. She just stares at him. And he fidgets. Haha! That was gold. This is a woman being very, very upset with her man, his royal status be damned. These two have already lost the plot when it comes to each other. They just don’t know it yet.
# When he starts realising that what he hears about her might make her seem guilty, his gut instinct that screams her innocence is authentic. The look he gives her as he follows her around (that was hilarious)—a mixture of intrigue and remorse—is fantastic.
# The reference to him who resides where the sun rises.
# When Hwan gets caught by the trio visiting Jay Yi because they think he missed them. Little do they realise Hwan knows Jay Yi has caught him missing her, and I felt his embarrassment. The bombastic side eye that he gives her and Jay Yi’s curiously impassive reactions to his overreaction had me in stitches.
# That entire tirade of kicking the chair. Boy, I have never been happier that k-drama people neither have peripheral vision nor can they hear bootsteps, hahaha! I have rewatched this scene a million times (did you catch Hwan snarling at her?).The dude takes being name-called personally, lol!
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 9:02 AM
Episode 7 serves the feels in dollops of bittersweet coating. Ep 8 observations tomorrow.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 10:09 AM
Someone please make that pig-eye look Jay Yi gives Hwan, tee hee!
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 10:56 AM
Hahaha, that chair kick was hilarious! “I’m sorry, pond!” 🤣
PHS really portrays this character well. It’s one of the reasons why I chose the header GIF: you can already see the difference in gesture between Jaeyi & Hwan. While he is sitting there, upright as if it was a ballet session, she reclines a bit in the chair. I guess if you gave Hwan a comfy couch to sit on, he just wouldn’t know “how to work it”. 😂
(Sure, you could argue a CP cannot “let go” like this “in public”, but I’ve seen other sageuks where the CP/king wasn’t as “uptight”. See Mr. Queen for example, while this was arguably even less “historically authentic” 🤔👏)
I also agree on the growth arc on his character. It was done well in these episodes!
Koalatown
April 5, 2024 at 11:19 AM
Haha. I seem to recall hearing/reading somewhere that they hid a chair backing inside the CP’s outfit to help him sit upright when he had all those scenes of him at his floor desk in his chambers. I think PHS may have been complaining about how stiff and uncomfortable it was to sit like that for hours during filming but it made it easier.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 11:29 AM
Yes, the bts are hilarious. He kept doing these very un-Hwan things all the time.
Yes, they had a special chair for the poor guy. 60% of the drama is inside that small chamber with him talking to a variety of people lol!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:15 PM
He had loads of scenes in his chambers. Good idea for the back support!
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 11:24 AM
hahahaha! Very very true. It’s the way he comports himself, for want of a better word, that is so ingrained that it’s impossible to separate wheat from the chaff.
“The pond must have been so hurt…” that had to be an adlib hehehe!
I loved Jay Yi expressions here, as she makes up for her faux pass lol!!
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:16 PM
🤣🤣🤣 Not sure about ad-lib but definitely didn’t seem to be the writer’s joke …or maybe just one good one. 😊
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:14 PM
The drama emphasizes how stiff (and still) Lee Hwan is in the initial episodes. That back pillow was a very good *secret* idea. 😂
Koalatown
April 5, 2024 at 11:29 AM
I also love how MJ keeps calling him older brother and trying to hug the CP but he side steps him at first but then later MJ succeeds and CP pushed him away so hard I thought he was going to fall down on his butt.
Them badmouthing the CP to his face and him basically accepting it and even acknowledging his limitations since “he doesn’t even know how to shovel” was a good illustration of his open mindedness. Granted he is still gets affronted sometimes but at least he’s willing to consider his weakness/errors and accept blame.
The reunion of the girls was both funny (corpse coming to life!) and heartwarming. GR was really frightened about being caught and branded but after seeing JY and all that she is suffering through, both girls gained strength from each other to continue their path ahead. It was certainly no easy decision to continue to masquerade as men to try to learn the truth and clean JY’s name.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 11:39 AM
Yes, I absolutely loved the quartet and the way the Myungjin-GR team ribbed Hwan while Jay Yi had fun. I sound like a broken record, but his expressions at being outed….damn. So good.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:53 PM
Apparently uri Crown Prince’s reaction in Joseon to ghostly interactions is similar to another Prince in Denmark some 200 years later.
Lee Hwan bears himself up so stiffly, I get a back ache looking at him.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:53 PM
Hamlet, (Act 1 Scene 5).
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 2:26 PM
Ooooo so perfect!!!
23new2kdrama 🌱🎄🎅❤️
April 5, 2024 at 9:57 AM
Thanks @sonai for a great review. The friendships in this show are precious. The deeper they grow the warmer you feel. This is around the time I started to love the Guard. See my fan wall for his tribute 😃😃. He brings the sarcastic comedy this show needs. CP brings the expressions. He is so good at his facial and physical comedy. It’s definitely a talent. More later as I don’t have my notes with me. I love this show💜💜💜
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:24 PM
When one’s ears burns.
When the FL burns.
When the ML emotes an unspoken gajima.
Who needs a kiss when the very flowers bloom at his merest touch!
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 1:29 PM
The burning ears are perfection! 😂 Cracked me up! 🤣🤣🤣
🙌👏🫰
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:31 PM
Cool lighting!!
23new2kdrama 🌱🎄🎅❤️
April 5, 2024 at 6:19 PM
Wait- how did you post pictures here??
I apologize if you have told me before. I’m terrible at this stuff. I had perfect ones for my post
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 7:16 PM
Comment was deleted
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:33 PM
Same way one does in post. I think you already have Claire’s tutorial right! She’s uri IT Queen of “how to fanwall”.
DK-Drama 🫘 Giffing n Space Cadetting🍉🌱
April 22, 2024 at 2:29 AM
THE EARS! I didn’t notice that.
But.
I went to High School (or similar; “Gymnasium” 3 years from people are approximately 16 to 19) with the funniest guy, so talented also, at 15 he was already drawing for the Danish version of the MAD magazine. (And now, a recognized painter).
We were both in the School Newspaper Group (or Zine, maybe, it was very lo-fi and silly) and … Oh, I could talk about that for a little too long.
Anyway, one day we were in the yard, and he, very blond and extremely light-skinned, said “Look!” and pulled out his ears, and I tell you, it looked like he had a red bike light on each side of his head. It sounds childish, but at that age, it was more like, he was the kind of person who was not afraid of being ridiculous for a moment because he knew it would be funny, too. Like, he was breaking the glass in the picture of being 17 and cool.
Okay, now you know about Martin’s ears.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:27 PM
Thank you sonai … what a wonderful recap and perfect selection of gif.
This is perhaps my all time favorite swoony scene.
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 1:30 PM
Yes! You live how „orchestrated“ it was, but it felt soooo nice nonetheless!!!
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 1:39 PM
*live = know 🙄
I blame gibberish mobile auto completion.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:36 PM
It’s perfect. Thanks for helping out last minute.
I remember for the Destined finale live watch. Indy gave me a little over have an hour to host it on my Fanwall … and that was my first time hosting! 😅
sonai
April 6, 2024 at 12:41 PM
🫰🫰🫰
Is my first time hosting, too 😆 I hope I brought out enough snacks! 😂
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:52 PM
💯👌👏
Nefret
April 5, 2024 at 12:28 PM
The chair-kicking scene is one of my favourites from this drama.
When I first watched OBY, I was having a hard time, but this drama was a great way to distract myself and laugh too.
sonai
April 5, 2024 at 1:43 PM
I think that the balance of heartfelt vs suspenseful vs funny scenes was done pretty well in this drama! Reading the recaps (and comments on those), I’m quite baffled how it was received very … uh, so-so? For me, it delivered well.
We surely needed that polo game to balance out that ominous head shaman court scene… 😵💫
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 9:45 AM
When I love a show so much, as with OBY and SYIM19thL, I’m immuned to the comments that are not in favour of the show. I went through all comments of SYIM19thL recaps and was amused at how different I felt about that show compared to the majority of commenting beanies.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Ah! That is always an issue. More so in live watch. Reading now perhaps its easier to ignore but how did you resist the temptation to comment.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Haven’t read the recaps … do you recommend it. I may be tempted to comment. Hehe.
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 4:02 PM
As you watched SYIM19thL live, I’m sure you read its recaps. Its recaps were beautifully written by Daebakgrits and I wish she had gone one episode by one, so that I had more to read. That’s my impression of SYIM19thL recaps. But I don’t have the same impression about OBY recaps, so I guess imo it wasn’t as interesting. Maybe you don’t need to read it?! Go ahead only when you really have nothing to read?
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 6:57 PM
The 19th Life recaps were as beautiful as the drama … comments is another matter. Overrun with webtoon lovers / spoilers… which were irrelevant to the drama anyway. 🙄
Healer’s
April 6, 2024 at 7:26 PM
Yes I couldn’t care less about the webtoon 😅
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 10:36 PM
^^ Same. 😂
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 3:52 PM
@Nefret The fact that kdramas can be healing is true in more ways than one. This drama changed the way I prioritize things in my life. It’s nothing in the drama that did it, but rather the fact that I connected with characters the way I used to when I read books. They played with my imagination, I got invested in their story, they got a life outside of the screen. It was thrilling and beautiful. And it has stayed on.
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 6, 2024 at 12:41 PM
PMR was my savior last year! Definitely pulled me put of q slump … actually more than the drama the Fanwall challenge and Beanies support. 😊
🌸 Seeker 🌸
April 5, 2024 at 12:33 PM
While admittedly scary, Ga-ram’s nightmare of being tattooed with her ears lit up was too funny not to lol.
I’m not sure at this stage if Myung Jin is truly that clueless or is pretending not to recognize Jae-yi and Ga-ram.
Minnie🫘👩🏻🚀Pioneer and Teacher 👩🏻🏫🌱🏹
April 5, 2024 at 3:53 PM