#LEE MIN-HO LEAD CAST

[blbambeyond-nonblblog-hyd-mg-bof]

THE HEIRS (2013, SOUTH KOREA)

Episode 7

Cha Eun Sang (PARK SHIN-HYE) is beautiful girl hiding behind a ponytail and Kim Tan (LEE MIN-HO) wants to see her with her hair down. He took her hair tie before school. As she tries to put her hair in a ponytail again. Kim Tan steals her hair tie again.

As she turns she gets a glimpse of another student that likes her but bullies her (very Hana Yori Dango/Meteor Garden/Boys Over Flowers)

Though Kim Tan is her choice ultimately. Did Choi Young Do (KIM WOO-BIN) deserve a chance with Cha Eun Sang?

Yes perhaps he did...huh @pose4photoml 😉

[madeinkorea-blbambeyond]

MADE IN KOREA

KIM HYUN JOONG

GU HYE SEON

KIM BUM

KIM JOON

&

LEE MIN-HO

[aahsoka]

quite fucking frankly. ‘they dont look like the characters in the manhwa’ as if characters in manhwa are drawn with distinctive features? give me a break . thats generic dark haired man #1 and generic dark haired man #2 . they could be played by anybody lmfao.

ppl being so fucking mean to my bestie lee min ho in the comments of an orv live action casting videos

[unnursvanablog]

Right after watching Blossom I decided to keep the momentum going and pick up another historical cdrama that I had often seen recommended as one of the best cdramas of 2024 and that was The Double. And although I did think that one did have a very good start it really started to dwindle in the second act and became a bit of a slog. I am determined to finish it though. I am guessing I just didn't find the male lead and the romance of that one quite captivating or alluring enough but I could not really be sure if it was just the character and how he was written (and how little he actually contributes story other than drinking tea, smirking and saving the heroine at the right times and the lack of backstory) of if the actor is just sort of like… Lee Min Ho for me. Where I get that he is attractive and he does a passable job but is also quite.... charmless.

I have been wanting to get onto the historical cdrama train for a while and I guess 2025 is when I am actually going to do it. Or attempting to. I am still sort of getting used to the rhythm of the storytelling and what I enjoy and what not. But like with kdramas when I first started watching those (and I did watch some Taiwanese dramas back in the day, as well as the occasional jdrama) it's all about trial and error.

Anyway, this is quite a longwinded way of me saying that I saw that the cdrama Perfect Match was starting to air on netflix this weekend and it had the male lead from The Double, Wang Xing Yue, in it. And it had a cute sounding premise so decided to check it out… and I am starting to think it's just the character in the Double that I just find very plain because I do actually find his drinking tea, smirking and plotting ordeal quite charming here. But maybe it will wear off like it did with The Double. So here is hoping that the character will have some more meat on the bones.

The atmosphere of the drama is very charming and relaxed - or at least so far, I am only on ep 3. It's fast paced, a bit quirky at times (I doubt they were making a matcha latte with foam art in the Song Dynasty, but what do I know. It made me chuckle) but with a good heart and a great cast of characters. The comedy is enjoyable although it does have a tendency to overdo it which was also something that I noticed in the first half of The Double. And the more fluffy, lighter historical kdramas do that too. It's mostly the side character like the man of the eldest sister that kinda makes me roll my eyes, but it's not too bothersome.

I enjoy the comradery of the sisters and their realistic relationships with each other. They are companions, they are friends but not necessarily out of choice but because they are family, and they also do have their little bickerings and quirks that create a fun dynamic together. It's a fun group of characters, I adore how female-focused the drama has been so far. I will not say that these are strong female characters because I detest that term (male characters are not strong… they are complex and therefor female characters are and should be written as such).

The mother of these girls does irk me a little. I find her a bit thoughtless at time or maybe aloof and I fully understand why, she is a widow and a bit poor so she didn't have the best education and she is from the countryside (but hey, we can be smart too) and all that. She is getting scammed and all sorts of stuff while trying to build a new life for her girls in Bianjing and I feel for her. But those character flaws of hers are used too much as a plot point so the character does come of more as a comic relief plot device at times. And it irks me.

I assume every one of the sisters are going to have their own little romance in the drama as these little side-quests. The second oldest sister does seems to be who the story seems to focus the most on and so is her budding rivals-to-lovers (and don't try to convince me they are enemies to lovers because they are business rivals at best… not mortal enemies) is very heavily hinted at. And I do enjoy the this almost mouse and cat chase that she has with Chai An as they sort of try to one-up each other and eventually that will lead to some romantic feelings. he does come of as a jerk, but he is a well written jerk… if that makes sense. And I understand where the drama is going with that sort of archetype.

Although I do think that Chai An has already started to develope a crush and I do tend to like it when the male character falls in love first and becomes a bit pathetic in the process.

I was not aware, since I have never watch a cdrama as it's airing before (I tend to just pick them up after they are done and then give up on them) that we get like two episodes per day over at Netflix (and according to mydramalist we get one episode each day of the week) which is quite different from what I am used to with kdramas. But with that and the 45 minute episodes it's kinda perfect because I can just watch it as I eat my breakfast each morning before work.

[photodumppps]

“So, I love you because the entire universe conspired to help me find you.” 

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

musings_004

Just finished watching Alchemy of Souls :') and would like to rate this series a solid 4/5 which starred by Lee Jae Wook, Jung So Min and Go Youn Jung. I was never a fan of traditional style dramas but I never expected that this drama can pull this one of a kind genre along with scifi <3. Have many thoughts about the 2 seasons but I just want to highlight several things on each for those:

Season 1 was full of intense and plot twist and even though the sole reason why I watched this drama is the chemistry of Jang Uk and Mu Deok, never thought I would fall in love with fantasy and magic because of them.

The figurative language they use when it comes to their feelings with each other is soooo angst coded and type of enemies to lovers coded ༎ຶ⁠‿⁠༎ຶ!! Like, guys I can do this all day—watch them how they'll argue, show how they deeply. insanely. profoundly! INLOVE! Although this season did not really focus on romance (which my type of genre I love the most), I still love them (omg I miss them now ;() Another thing! I love the side stories of the season specially Park Jin and Maidservant Kim :') A slow witted X coquette kind of trope hahaha (girl, i made it up :|) I even love other characters specially Seo Yul and The Crown Prince (protect these two pls.) They're just one of the green trees in a green forest <33 I am actually thinking that if these two will die girl I'M OUT. To you Sang Ho, well, boy you played well (Thank God you weren't killed).

Here we go on Season 2 which the romance took place (I didn't like or dislike that either). Most of the watchers didn't like the 2nd season for different reasons. And the popular one is that the female lead was changed which in fact was really casted for that (watch the S1 pls.) I get it, I understand why Bu Yeon was like that during S2 (idontwanttospoilyouanythingsogojustwatchhahaha). There are times and scenes which I think, “Well, this is very Mu Deok (the one in S1)” but maybe we just miss how So Min, who portrayed Mu Deok gave the vibes and personality of Mu Deok/Naksu. Well, I appreciate how Naksu played significantly in this drama but during my dramarathon, I always pitied with real Bu Yeon (like this young lady didn't even have a great life and was just used all the time) but then when I watched the remaining episodes, I realized a few things (which made sense why Hong Sisters never highlighted the importance of our best girl Bu Yeon)

And to be honest this season also gave me the feeling of a roller coaster ride (sometimes).

As this was made by Hong Sisters, I already knew that this would be a tragic and entertaining at the same time (Kudos to HS u did it once again!). Overall, the cast and production did well to make this series incredible and deserved to have great ratings as well.

what about you? what are your thoughts on this drama?

you can share down on the comment section and we can have a talk about it (i wish i still remember everything i think i just love yul that's all >_<)

[blaq-o]

20250422 Lee Joon

Lee Joon Takes on His First Musical After Debut: Will He Prove to Be a Jack-of-All-Trades Entertainer?

Actor Lee Joon, 37, is making his first foray into musical theater since his debut.

Lee Joon will be playing the male lead, Kamiya Toru, in the musical "Even If This Love Disappears Tonight," which is based on an original work and will be performed worldwide for the first time.

Kamiya Toru is a tender character who wants to fill Maori's once-in-a-lifetime days with joyful memories. Alongside Lee Joon, Yoon So-ho and Kim In-sung have been cast in the role.

Having demonstrated solid acting skills in dramas and movies, Lee Joon has also ventured into variety shows like "2 Days & 1 Night Season 4" and "Jungle's Meal 2 - Caribbean Meal." There's growing anticipation to see if he will showcase his versatility as an entertainer on his first musical stage.

In "Even If This Love Disappears Tonight," the role of Hino Maori, who suffers from anterograde amnesia due to an accident but finds daily happiness with her 'boyfriend,' is played by Jang Min-je and Solbin.

This fresh and heart-fluttering youth romance musical, exploring the meaning of memories and the love that aspires for each other's tomorrows, will leave a profound aftertaste. "Even If This Love Disappears Tonight" will be performed at the COEX Artium Shinhan Card Hall from June 13 to August 24.

https://sbsstar.net/article/N1008072106/lee-joon-takes-on-his-first-musical-after-debut-will-he-prove-to-be-a-jackofalltrades-entertainer

https://x.com/PrainTPC/status/1914481942462120152 https://x.com/Librarytheatre_/status/1914454104845480061

In case you are interested to learn the story, I've found the movie from 2022.

[consumeronionbulletin]

Marry My Husband (2024)

This show is not perfect, and it is certainly not Perfect Marriage Revenge, but it does have its charms.

What Worked

Like that other show about a time traveling wife who was betrayed by her family and goes back in time to get her revenge, this show was good because of its villains. Song Ha-yoon who plays the evil best friend Jung Soo-min was the most fun to watch of the baddies. She was believably bad while pretending to be nice, and watching her spiral out of control over the course of the series was a treat.

The show also made the most of its side characters, giving them interesting plots and bringing in a solid cast. I especially loved watching young actor Choi Gyu-ri bring this delightful manic energy to Yoo Hui-yeon (the younger sister / bestie). I could have used more scenes with her, and hopefully she'll break into a lead role in a future series.

What DIdn't Work

Though it had a solid final two episodes, the show sagged a bit in the last third. They brought in an evil-ex fiance character that just wasn't interesting to watch.

Also, there were a few moments where the show went from "Over the Top" to "Completely Unbelievable". Like the end of episode 13 (aka the "slowest truck of doom ever") and the end of episode 14 (aka "WTF Ji-won, don't just stand there, Kick him in the nuts, FFS!").

The Performances

Park Min-Young as ("Time Traveling Wife") Kang Ji-won. I've been kind of disappointed in PMY's choices lately, so it was nice to see her in a somewhat better role. There were moments when I felt pathos, or enjoyed the romance, but not that many. Mostly, it was the moments in the show where she got to be angry—and even a little ruthless—that I remember. Which is part of the appeal for any good revenge show.

Na In-woo as ("Future CEO") Yoo Ji-hyuk. I think he was a little wooden in this, but alot of that was the writing. The show was really focused on the FL and on her relationships, and it didn't have much space for him. I didn't really mind that, but it did make those few moments where he got to cut loose a little (like the ice cream scene) more memorable.

Lee Yi-kyung as ("The terrible ex-") Park Min-hwan. This guy was great at playing a mediocre man completely out of his depth. He was like one of those clown punching bags that just pop right up after you hit them. And it was fun watching him get beaten down and come right back up for more.

Song Ha-yoon as ("The evil bestie") Jung Soo-min. I liked watching her slowly get more evil and more crazy as the show went on. The actor did a great job making her contemptible, while pretending to be kind and thoughtful.

Lee Ji-kwang as ("The chef") Baek Eun-ho. Probably the most sympathetic character in the show. He just wants to run his restaurant and feed all his friends and get a cute girlfriend and all of these crazy people keep coming in and messing with things. Would have liked to see more of him, and his loveline, but what we got was nice.

Choi Gyu-ri as ("The Best Sister in the World") Yoo Hui-yeon. This actor had golden retriever energy and it was so much fun watching her in the middle of this craziness. I want to see an entire show with her just running around living her best life. We needed more of Hui-yeon and chef's story than we got, for sure.

Gong Min-jeung as ("Sad boss") Assistant Manager Yang. I've seen this actor a few times and I always enjoy her, though they rarely give her a good loveline. She got a pretty decent one here, despite all the other crazy stuff that happened, so that was nice. Again, could have used a few more scenes with her and Lee Seok-joon.

Ha Do-kwon as ("The Salaryman") Lawyer Lee Seok-joon. He did a good job bringing some gravity to this crazy show. Was able to be funny too (in a Butler Jeeves kind of way). Not enough time spent on him and Manager Yang's story, but what we got was good.

BoA as ("The Evil Ex-") Oh Yu-ra. This character felt more like a plot device than anything. There were a few moments where she could have felt menacing or crazy, but I don't think the actor was quite up to it. They needed to cast a real Mean Girl, but they didn't have enough story for that kind of character.

Ha Do-kwon as ("Bad Manager") Lee Seok-joon. They brought in a really good character actor and this guy made the most of the part. He felt like someone I could have met in real life, and I despised him. Which means the actor did a great job.

Everyone Else. The high school bully girls were fun to watch. Yang's husband did an okay job being despicable. The judo teammates were funny. Even the grandfather had a couple of good moments. Show did a good job taking care of its minor characters.

TL; DR:

If you liked Perfect Marriage Revenge, you'll probably like this too (and vice-versa). It's different enough that you don't feel like you're watching the same show twice. It's also not quite as good as that other show, which means people likely judged it a little harder than they otherwise might have done.

[fake-married-my-dead-fiance]

I scanned your list and may have missed it, but have you ever watched The King: Eternal Monarch? Currently on Netflix and stars Lee Min-ho and Kim Go-eun as male and female lead. The world/time portal stuff gets a little sketch, but the banter and *supporting cast are all right in my book. The FL is awesome and there's a few running gags that are funny, too.

*Don't want to spoil it, but one of the supporting characters is a riot.

I have not watched it. I have heard kind of mixed reviews. I guess I could give the first few episodes a try sometime. I will add it to my list to watch in the future.

As for now, I'm waiting to check out Newtopia tomorrow because I love when humour is mixed with zombies

[theadusa]

Everything I watch in Jan 2024

I was going to post my annual everything I watched in 2023 post but I feel like I missed my opportunity, so here is my everything I watched in January 2024... (Be Warned there are some spoilers, I do try to mark them throughout the review)

My Lovely Boxer (2023, Kim Min-joo)

Main leads: Lee Sang-yeob, Kim So-hye, Park Ji-hwan, Kim Hyung-mook, Kim Jin-woo, Ha Seung-ri, Chae Won-bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 21 to Oct 2, 2023 (KBS2, Monday and Tuesday @21:45 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: Lee Kwon-sook (Kim So-hye) is a boxer who is forcibly thrown back into the world boxing that she has retired from by a sports agent Kim Tae-young (Lee Sang-yeob). I really liked how they balanced the characters. Lee Kwon-sook is a cheerful girl who is constantly haunted by her past. And she is allowed agency to do what she can do, despite the efforts of others. And the relationship between Lee Kwon-sook and Kim Tae-young, though slightly toxic, works in an odd way. I did have problems with how they reconnected her with her father.I personally wouldn’t have forgiven him. However, I loved the relationship with Han Ah-reum, and just how that story ends. I thought it was done very well. Overall I have really enjoyed this drama. Rating: 

Unlock My Boss (2022-2023, Kim Hyung-min)

Main leads: Chae Jong-hyeop, Seo Eun-soo, Park Sung-woong

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 7, 2022 to Jan 12, 2023 (ENA, Wednesday and Thursday @21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 60 min

Thoughts: Oh wow, this is more enjoyable than I imagined. Chase Jong-hyeop as Park In-seong is so fun. He is adorable, down to earth but capable. Jun Se-yeon (Seo Eun-soo) was amazing and I loved her complexities as a character. And the trio of Kim Seon-joo (Park Sung-woong), Park In-seong, and Jun Se-yeon, was so fun and I loved the little family they formed. I literally cried so much during this show for no reason. Like the zoom into the phone literally made me sob each time for no reason. Rating: Who knew electronics can have that much range?

Night Has Come (2023, Kang Min-Ji)

Main leads: Lee Jae-In, Kim Woo-Seok, Choi Ye-Bin, Cha Woo-Min, Ahn Ji-Ho, Jung So-Ri

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 4,, 2023 ( U+mobiletv)

Episodes: 12, 35 to 40 min

Thoughts: This started off really good. A class gets thrust into a mafia game to the death. You along with the characters are wondering who is the mafia among the students and who is forcing this game. It is really interesting, but the episodes follow the same pattern. The end you find everything out, and it's kind of stupied. They had a classmate who committed sucide due to a badly edited image of herself on a skimply clad woman’s body. Which is yeah bad. Then her parents take revenge on the whole class. They are placed in this mafia simulator to repeat the game over and over again. It ends with Lee Yoon-seo able to remember everything, but still trapped in the simulator. Like where their parents are. People must be concerned right. Rating: Sisphyus boulder, I guess…

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract (2023-2024, Go Nam-jeong)

Main leads: Lee Se-young, Bae In-hyuk, Joo Hyun-young, Yoo Seon-ho, Jo Bok-rae

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 6, 2024 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 12, 70 min

Thoughts: This was a cute drama. It starts off with a cute romance between a progressive woman in Joseon and a sick scholar. However, it quickly becomes a tragedy and she is sent to the year 2023 with her hand maid Sa-wol (Joo Hyun-young). It quickly becomes a fish out of water for Park Yeon-woo (Lee Se-young), but luckly she meets the recacrante of her late husband Kang Tae-ha (Bae In-hyuk) and they make a deal. It is a cute drama and I loved the cast of characters. Yeon-woo is easy to root for. Sa-wol is adorable, and adapts quickly. Kang Tae-ha is prickly but has a heart of gold. It's dramatic and fun. It's nothing special, but oh is it so good. My favorite part is Yeon-woo and Sa-wol’s relationship. Literally there is a scene with those two that reflects a romantic scene in Perfect Marriage Revenage (2023) which I can’t stop thinking about. Overall I just really enjoyed my time. Rating: butterflies everytime I think about you…

Joseon Attorney: A Morality (2023,Choi Jin-young)

Main leads: Woo Do-hwan, Bona, Cha Hak-yeon

Country: S. Korea

Run: March 31 to May 5, 2023 (MBC TV Friday and Saturday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts:  This was a lot like Taxi Driver. In the way you have an episodic feel with a charismatic male lead seeking revenge and helping people. I had a lot of fun with this show, and I don’t use the comparison lightly either. I really had fun with it. The romance was okay, but I liked the different stories, and the main revenge plot was easy to follow along with. Woo Do-hwan is a great actor and meant to be a leading man. It's definitely  not my favorite and there are a few things that needed changing but it was fun overall! Rating: Who do you call?... Joseon Attorney!!!

KBS Drama Special 14 (2023, Choi Ja-won, Yun Tae-woo, Cho Il-yeon, Choi Yi-kyung, Wi Jae-hwa, Kwon Oh-joo,Park Eun-seo, Jo Soo-yeong, Kim Ik-hyun)

Main leads: Lee Jae-won, Choi Seong-won, and Kim Kang-hyeon,  Kim Won-hae, Min Ji-ah, Ahn Se-bin and Park Ji-ah, Lee Min-jae, Kim Hyun-soo, and Kang Na-eon,  Moon Woo-jin, Park Seo-kyung, Park Ha-sun, Kim Joo-heon, Kim Do-hoon, Chae Won-bin, Kim Dong-hwi, Jo A-ram, Shim Yi-young, Joo Seok-tae,  Ren, Park Sang-nam, Hong Seung-hee, Hahm Eun-jung,  Kim Kang-min, Yoon San-ha, Baek Sung-hyun

Country: S. Korea

Run: OCT 14 to Dec 16, 2023 (KBS, Saturday 21:50 to 22:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 80 min

Thoughts: This is a yearly anthogolgy series that follows various characters in various time periods with various goals. I thought a lot of them were really cool and interesting. “Love Attack” was by far one of my favorites, but I also really liked “The True Love of Madam” which was shocking for me.  It was also hard to find any subs for “Overlap, Knife, Knife” so I had to rely on visual cues and the small amount of Korean I know. But I thought this was a fun anthrologie series, and the stories are fun and fresh. Rating: I love getting short and quick stories like this, its the reason I love short films so much.

A Good Day to Be a Dog (2023-2024, Baek In-ah)

Main leads: Park Gyu-young, Cha Eun-woo, Lee Hyun-woo

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2023 to Jan 10, 2024 (MBC, Wednesday 21:00 (KST))

Episodes: 14, 70 min

Thoughts: Apparently it is very different from the webtoon ( which I have never read), but I found it entertaining. It is cute and lighthearted. I always like when its past lives, I think it adds a fun element to romances. Though I do think the schedule of the show hindered my enjoyment, because it would be so long between episodes. They also lost me at the end, I can not lie. Rating/Spoiler: Also I would be so angery if I found out my family curse passed down for generations was over a misunderstanding. I would want an apology, reparations, and revenge. On another note, I would also be so pissed if I killed myself to save my servant's baby; then my boyfriend finished off the dying father, then cursed the child and its offspring. I would be pissed, like my scarfice was for not. Go off mountain spirit I guess…

My 20th Twenty (2023, N/A)

Main leads: Choi Yu Ju , Jung Su Bin

Country: S. Korea

Run: April 21 to may 27, 2023 (Wavve, Friday and Saturday)

Episodes: 12, 15 min

Thoughts: This show was good for what it was. It has the vibe of a college student film with a mix of those youtube series made by middle schoolers back in 2009. And I mean that with the highest praise. The sound mixing was off, they had limited cast (background actors is what you are looking for), no interesting lighting (but very well light- i.e the student film vibes), and the actors new to the scene. I loved every motherfucking moment. It was so cheesy, the script was bad, and nothing made sense. But I knew that it was made with passion. Rating: It would be horrifying being 20 forever

Taxi Driver Season 2 (2023, Oh Sang-ho)

Main leads: Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 17 to April 15, 2023 (SBS, TV Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: Back in action the second season is so much fun and entertaining. I actually like it better than the first. And I said this once and I’ll say it again Lee Je-hoon is made to be an action star. He’s as great as Kim Do-gi. I also liked that Ahn Go-eun (Pyo Ye-jin)  had a larger role this season. I also just love the friendship in the Rainbow Taxi service. Just so fun. Rating: imagine being taken down by a taxi service…

Taxi Driver Special (2023, SBS)

Main leads:  Lee Je-hoon, Kim Eui-sung, Pyo Ye-jin, Jang Hyuk-jin, Bae Yoo-ram, Shin Jae-ha

Country: S. Korea

Run: Feb 16 to March 4, 2023 ( KBS)

Episodes: 2, 60 -120 min

Thoughts: This was fun seeing the cast reflect on the episodes and their characters. Its also cool just seeing a reply of everything that happened. You could tell how much Lee Je-hoon loves playing Kim Do-gi. Rating: I am excited for the 3rd season…

Brain Works (2023, Park Kyung-seon)

Main leads: Jung Yong-hwa, Cha Tae-hyun, Kwak Sun-young, Ye Ji-won

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 2 to Fe 28, 2023 (KBS2 Monday and Tuesday @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 75 min

Thoughts:This show is weird. I think most cop shows are weird but this one especially. I did like the bromance in this, between Shin Ha-ru (Jung Yong-hwa) and Geum Myung-se (Ch Tae-hyun). I did think neuroscience was weird and defies logic. The only good thing about it was when they didn’t completely vilify Pyschopaths, because it tends to be more complicated than the mainstream likes to show. It still left a lot to be desired but it was there. Also when he lowkey kidnapped and torture that kid, oh my god, like he was a little punk and deserved to go to trail but my god. Rating: This is lowkey giving Minority Report tbh…

My Cuteness is about to expire!? (2022,  Tanabe Shigenori)

Main leads: Yamada Ryosuke, Yoshine Kyoko 

Country: Japan 

Run: April 16 to June 11, 2022 (TV Asahi, Saturday 23:30)

Episodes: 9, 23 to 47 min

Thoughts: Maruya is your typical male narcissist who works in sales. He uses his cuteness to stake by in life, to make up for his average skills. One day he is visited by his future self, whom he deems ugly, tells him that his cuteness is going to expire. He decides, after relizing his crush, the only way to prevent this is to date Sanada, a robotic newbie to the sales team. It is cute and Maruya and Sanada are fun as a couple, plus if you have the time you could watch this in a day. Rating: I’m Ichinose calling every single person every 10 seconds sobbing…

My Dearest Pt 1 (2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: August 4 to Sept 2, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 10, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts:  I was not expecting to like this more than I did. The angst in every episode is so insane. Episode 10 was actually unbearable. I also want to take a moment and appreciate Yoo Gil-chae (Ahn Eun-jin), she is such a complicated  character. She would do anything for her friends, she is willing to do the things that no other women (noble) are willing to do even during times of war. She will stab the man assualting her friend and cover it up. She would cut the amicable cord, she would stab the mother’s hand. She isn’t pure of heart, she neveer claimed to be. I love her so much. And her relationship with Lee Jang-hyun. The ending of episode 10. I was sobbing. Rating: I am trying to hype myself up to watch the next 11 episodes, people had to wait inbetween…

The Escape of the Seven (2023, Kim Soon-ok)

Main leads: Um Ki-joon, Hwang Jung-eum, Lee Joon, Lee Yu-bi, Shin Eun-kyung, Yoon Jong-hoon, Jo Yoon-hee, Jo Jae-yoon

Country: S. Korea

Run: Sept 15 to Nov 17, 2023 (SBS TV Friday and Saturday 22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 17, 70 to 80 min

Thoughts: This was an insane ride. Literally no one in this likeable except for a few, like I didn’t think Min Do-hyuk (Lee Joon) was as bad as the others but oh lordy. It is so melodramatic, which took me off graud for some reason. Going into it I thought it was going to be a serious thriller, but oh boy was I wrong. It was Makjang. Which is fine, and also coming back in style apparently. I’m sat for season 2, but not with much hope. Rating: I actually don’t know the timeline of any of these events, does it expand years months, idk…

My Demon (2023-2024, Choi Ah-il)

Main leads: Kim Yoo-jung, Song Kang, Lee Sang-yi, Kim Hae-sook

Country: S. Korea

Run: Nov 24, 2023 to Jan 20, 2024 (SBS TV,  Friday and Saturday @22:00 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: I was excited for this drama. I really liked Doom at Your Service which promised to have a similar vibe. Which it did to an extent. I actually hate Song Kang in romances and only really like him in nonromance shows. However I think he did really well as Jeong Gu-won. I liked the overall Romance in the show. But I did think the revenge plot got uninteresting and confusing after a while. I do like the ending, I was pretty satisfied with where everyone ended up, which has been a long time since I’ve been this satisfied. 

Welcome to Samdal-ri (2023-2024, Kwon Hye-joo)

Main leads: Ji Chang-wook, Shin Hye-sun

Country: S. Korea

Run: Dec 2, 2023 ti Jan 21, 2024 (JTBC, Saturday and Sunday 22:30 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: This was cute and was far above my expectations. I am always uneasy with Ji Chang Wook, I can’t forgive him for the Melting My Heart drama a few years back, but I would do anything for Shin Hye-sun. So I gave this drama a go, and I liked it. I loved the vibes, and I didn’t mind that revenge wasn’t the main plot. It's like the one line “my enemies will take themselves out before you get a chance to swing.” It was heartwarming and I’m glad that Cho Sam-dal was able to find peace in her hometown. I loved the feel of community. I loved all the Friendships. It was very lovely. And I’m happy at the ending. I will also give my entire heart to Cho Hae-dal and Cha Ha-yul. I loved their mother-daughter relationship. I wanted more screen time for both. Rating: I’m glad there is a little piece of heaven…

 Game of Witches ( 2022-2023, Lee Do-Hyun)

Main leads: Jang Seo-Hee, Kim Kyu-Seon, Lee Hyun-Seok, Oh Chang-Suk. Han Ji-Wan, Ban Hyo-Jung

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 11, 2022 to April 14, 2023 (MBC, Monday to Friday 19:15 (KST))

Episodes: 119, 25 to 28 min

Thoughts: *Major Spoilers+ Rant ahead.* This show makes me unneccsarly angery. It is a daily drama and a Makjang to boot, so literally put any and all expectations in the gutter. Everything is nonsensical, and drawn out to reach the 119 mark. Storylines get dropped or move way too fast. It has a strange family tree and for a moment every single person was supposbly related. They have so much evidence agsaint the scheming Kang Ji-ho (Oh Chang-suk) and Joo Se-young (Han Ji-wan) but it goes nowhere. Speaking of Kang Ji-ho, he was just straight up dispicable. I would say more than Se-ypung of Ma Hyun-Deok (Ban Hyo-Jung). He was a terrible partner and father from the start. He literally tossed his entire family out the door for Se-young and eventual power. He only paid attention to his daughter Kang Han-Byeol (Kwon Dan-A) when she was able to benefit him. He was at best neglectful and at worst abusive towards her. Han-byeol was the true victim. Hye-soo (Kim Kyu-Seon) actually had a motive in the beginning. She was just pathetic and weak but once she returned they weirdly sidelined her. Also I don’t know why Kang Ji-ho never got prosecuted for trying to kill Hye-soo. Like I find that to be one of his more egregious crimes. Like that is the mother of your child. You gave your child so much trauma, for what? Power? Like when they tried to redeem him at the end I was just fed up. You can’t make hime out to be the big bad guy for 118 episodes, and then have him do one good thing. He is a bad father, and when Han Byeol grows up she will resent him. Rating: Fuck this show, like actually.

 My Dearest Part 2(2023, Hwang Jin-young)

Main leads: Namkoong Min, Ahn Eun-jin, Lee Hak-joo, Lee Da-in, Kim Yoon-woo, Lee Chung-ah

Country: S. Korea

Run: Oct 13 to Nov 18, 2023 (MBC TV, Friday and Saturday 21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 11, 60 to 90 min

Thoughts: More devastating than the first part. Gil-chae is probably my favorite character I have watched. Her journey in this part is absolutely devastating but she survives. I enjoyed the refutement from blame, that people who experienced the worst horrors known are somehow blamed. Gil Chae pushes back on this sentiment herself. This entire time I just wanted Jang-hyun and Gil Chea together. Which took the entire part for them to finally be happy. I do think the ending was kind of wobbly, and they only really needed 10  episodes not the 11. But who am I to say? Anyways I enjoyed the show overall. Rating: My Dear Husband… 

Kokdu: Season of Diety (2023, Kang Yi-heon, Heo Jun-woo)

Main leads: Kim Jung-hyun, Im Soo-hyang, Kim Da-som, Ahn Woo-yeon, Kim In-kwon, Cha Chung-hwa

Country: S. Korea

Run: Jan 27 to March 24, 2023 (MBC TV Fridays and Saturdays @21:50 (KST))

Episodes: 16, 70 min

Thoughts: You must be wondering why did you watch this? It only has bad reviews- which is a lie, it is actually a polarizing show. And I can understand. If you go into this show with the lowest expectations imaginable and it might be fun. The scenery is pretty and they make decent use of it. Main Romance is actually not good, I felt no chemistry between Kim Jung-Hyun and Im Soo-hyang. I did like the romance between Tae Jeong-won (Kim Da-som) and Han Cheol (Ahn Woo-yeon) other than that The show overall fell flat. I did like the scenery and the setting. I thought it was fun. Also episode 16 was the most enjoyable episode, which is good for an ending. Rating: I would skip…

I am currently watching:

Marry My Husband

Doctor Slump

Because of Love

Do You Like Brahms?

The Real Has Come!

If you have any kdrama recommendations, please let me know!

[galaxymagick]

240625 OfficialJTW_LEO✖️

@OfficialJTW_LEO

[#JUNGTAEKWOON NEWS] 전소민·지승현, '베란다' 출연 확정…정택운 스크린 데뷔 📌 https://naver.me/GBF9dlvH 📌 https://m.joynews24.com/v/1734207 #정택운 #레오 #LEO #영화 #베란다 #아덴

Jeon Somin and Ji Seunghyun confirmed to appear in ‘Veranda’… Jung Taekwoon's screen debut

#JungTaekwoon #Leo #Movie #Veranda #Aden

web translated article

Korean journalists, often use this expression "crank-in" when filmmakers start to shoot a movie.

Movie ‘Veranda’ Jeon Somin, Ji Seunghyun, Ha Suho casting, crank in

The casting date for the romantic thriller film ‘Veranda’ (directed by Cho Sung-won) has been confirmed.

Director Cho Sung-won's romantic thriller film 'Veranda' selected Jeon So-min, Ji Seung-hyun, and Ha Soo-ho as the lead actors and recently began filming, distribution company Santa Claus Entertainment announced on the 25th.

The movie 'Veranda' is a story about people's secrets and truths projected in a space called an apartment, a communal home. 26 Company Co., Ltd. named this work, which has a narrative that relieves the burden of drama from the existing genre of 'erotic thriller' and highlights a more sophisticated and sensuous mise-en-scène, as a genre of 'romantic thriller', providing unique fun and entertainment. He expressed his aspirations for the production, saying that he wanted to create emotion.

Actress Jeon So-min plays the role of Jeong Ha-yeon, who is threatened by a mysterious person claiming to know the secret about her husband's death. Actress Jeon So-min, like a chameleon, plays roles in a variety of genres, including a love story in the drama 'Show Window: The Queen's House' and a life-style role in 'Cleaning Up'. In this work, she plays Jeong Ha-yeon, who senses that someone stalking her house is related to her husband's death and sets out to find her. She is able to establish herself as a thriller queen with strong maternal love for her son Aram. I plan to go through a transformation in my acting.

Actor Ji Seung-hyun played the role of ‘Hyun-woo’, who lost his beloved wife and child. He clearly made a mark on viewers with his role as Yang Gyu in the drama 'Khitan War of Goryeo', and has recently become a popular actor, even holding a fan meeting for the first time since his debut, and is actively engaged in activities. In this movie, the main character Hayeon's son 'Aram' follows Hyunwoo, and attention is being paid to how 'Hyeonwoo', who begins to dream big in new hope with Hayeon, will be portrayed.

Here, the role of Hayeon's husband 'Woojae' is played by actor Ha Soo-ho. Since his debut, actor Ha Soo-ho has expanded his scope of activities to include screens, TVs, and OTT series, and is showing impressive acting across genres. In particular, he left a strong impression on viewers with his impactful acting as a vicious villain in Netflix's 'The Hounds' last year and in Disney+'s 'Han River'. Ha Soo-ho is solidifying his position as an actor. This work raises expectations about how the heavy and ugly truth hidden behind death will be expressed in detail.

In addition, actor Jeong Hee-tae will play the role of 'Nam Kyung-jang', who begins to investigate the surroundings while suspecting 'Woo-jae's' accident, and 'Kim Kyung-jang' will be played by newcomer Jeon Young-chan. Actor Jeong Hee-tae, who showed outstanding acting in the dramas 'Wedding Impossible', 'House with a Yard', and the movies 'My Neighbor' and 'Cheer Up, Mr. Lee', takes on the role of Detective Nam Kyung-jang, who is investigating the case in detail. It will add weight to the play. Meanwhile, actor Jeon Young-chan is recognized for his acting skills in short films such as 'Daejeon, 1960' and 'Lighthouse', and recently, he is a rookie with infinite possibilities and potential with his passionate passion in dramas such as the drama 'Cheer Up' and the OTT series 'Dominant Bell' and 'Deal'. am. Expectations are high for the diverse charms he will show through ‘Chief Inspector Kim’.

Jung Taekwoon, who plays the role of 'Arden', who is about to make his screen debut through 'Veranda', debuted as the main vocalist of the group VIXX in 2012 and received a lot of love for his unique voice and eye-catching charm, and has appeared in the musical 'Full House' since 2014. , 'Mata Hari', 'Monte Cristo', 'Elisabeth', 'Marie Antoinette', 'Frankenstein', 'The Great Comet', as well as the play 'Tebesland', and has been praised for her passionate performances regardless of genre, becoming an all-rounder with acting skills. It came out. In this 'Veranda', he plans to further expand his range of acting by playing the role of a mysterious character who spies on Hayeon's house and learns her secret.

In addition, this film 'Veranda' won the Grand Bell Award for Art Director with the film 'Moss', and he served as art director and set manager for leading works representing Korea such as 'Battleship Island', 'Sabaha', 'Korean Peninsula', and 'Bat'. Since this is the first work directed by director Seong-won Cho, it is attracting particular interest and expectations.

The movie 'Veranda', which is raising expectations with the appearance of many actors with solid acting skills such as Jeon So-min, Ji Seunghyun, and Ha Suho, as well as excellent supporting roles, is scheduled to be released in 2025.

Jeon So-min and Ji Seunghyun confirmed to appear in ‘Veranda’… Jung Taekwoon's screen debut

Actors Jeon So-min, Ji Seung-hyun, and Ha Soo-ho are coming together for 'Veranda'.

26 Company Co., Ltd. said, "This work, which relieves the burden of drama from the existing genre of 'erotic thriller' and has a narrative that highlights a more sophisticated and sensuous mise-en-scène, is named as a genre 'romantic thriller', and provides a unique and fun experience." “I wanted to create an emotion,” he said, expressing his production aspirations.

Jeon So-min takes on the role of Jeong Ha-yeon, who is threatened by a mysterious person claiming to know the secret about her husband's death. Jeon So-min plays Jeong Ha-yeon, who senses that someone stalking her house is related to her husband's death and sets out to find her. She is able to establish herself as a thriller queen with her strong maternal love for her son A-ram. I plan to go through another acting transformation.

Ji Seung-hyeon plays the role of Hyun-woo, who lost his beloved wife and child. As Hayeon's son Aram follows Hyunwoo, attention is focused on how Ji Seung-hyun will portray Hyunwoo, who begins to dream big in new hope with Hayeon.

Hayeon's husband Woojae is played by Ha Soo-ho. After his debut, Ha Soo-ho, who expanded his scope of activities to the screen, TV, and OTT series, and showed impressive acting across genres, raises expectations about how he will densely express the heavy and ugly truth hidden behind death.

In addition, actor Jeong Hee-tae plays the role of Nam Kyung-jang, who begins to investigate the surroundings while suspecting Woo-jae's accident, and newcomer Jeon Young-chan plays the role of Kim Kyung-jang.

Jung Taekwoon (Leo), who plays the role of Arden, who is about to make his screen debut through 'Veranda', debuted as the main vocalist of VIXX in 2012 and received a lot of love for his unique voice and eye-catching charm. Since 2014, he has been well received for his passionate performances across genres in musicals such as ‘Full House’, ‘Mata Hari’, ‘Monte Cristo’, ‘Elisabeth’, ‘Marie Antoinette’, ‘Frankenstein’, and ‘The Great Comet’ as well as the play ‘Tebesland’. He was reborn as an all-rounder with acting skills. In this 'Veranda', she plans to further expand her range of acting by playing the role of a mysterious person who spies on Hayeon's house and learns her secret.

'Veranda' won the Grand Bell Award for Art Director for the movie 'Moss', and director Seong-won Cho, who was in charge of art direction and set responsibility for leading representative works of Korea such as 'The Battleship Island', 'Sabaha', 'Korean Peninsula', and 'Bat', etc. This is the first work that took on a megaphone. It is targeted for release in 2025.

[alloveydovey]

dramas of the month! Dry month lol

Liar, 2022 (jdrama) 7

FL works at a company and kinda dislikes her coworker (ML). In a coming and going, they both end up developing feelings for one another, but ML is set to get engaged with someone else, and he doesn't seem to be able to get out of that.

So this was interesting. Cheating and miscommunication are the main issues here. Both FL and ML have feelings for one another, but trying to play it cool and test the other out, they end up making it all about sex. I low key started watching expecting to turn it off after two episodes, but being short both in number of eps and duration of them, it goes fast. I have some cons, maybe not that important to stop me from binging, but the main ones were probably the constant time jumps and the random story with Furukawa Yuki.

Like Flowers in Sand, 2023 (kdrama) 8

There’s a murder in a small town that revolves around a local ssireum team. Struggling to find success, a former prodigy is about to quit until he reencounters a childhood friend who reignites his passion.

I was actually extremely excited about this one back in December. I loved Lee Joo Myung in 2521, and Jang Dong Yoon ate with Daily Dose of Sunshine and My Man is Cupid. Plus this drama looked just like my cup of tea.

It’s good, but the murder mystery once again kinda bored me. ML takes all the flowers here. Jang Dong Yoon was amazing and the main reason I kept watching. The sports scenes were 10/10. The romance a bit meh, but overall, okay. All in all, it was a good drama and really soft as well, with really cute characters, but yeah, nothing out of the world.

The Heirs, 2013 (kdrama) 8

The “bastard” second son of a rich family meets a girl in the US who ends up being his family's housekeeper's daughter back in Korea. He obvs falls for her.

I never had an interest in watching this one because it just seemed like an updated version of BoF with Lee Min Ho playing the exact same character. Well, it’s kinda like that but a little lighter. It was the great cast that ended up convincing me.

It was overall okay, I guess? It feels like the type of drama they put all their cards in (amazing cast, big houses, great OST, extremely dramatic moments), but for some reason, I can’t put my finger on what, I feel like it was missing something. Aside from the toxicity, the bullying, the rolling-my-eyes-for-the-200th-time, I don’t know if it was a lack of chemistry, too much drama, or what, but yeah, it was just okay for me. At the same time, I feel like if I had watched this at 15, I would have eaten it up, lol. Krystal steals the show here for me.

Moon in the Day, 2023 (kdrama) 8

A famous celebrity suffers an accident and wakes up possessed by an ancient nobleman who seeks revenge for his past life. The victim is the firefighter who saved the celebrity’s life.

From all the past life dramas that aired in the second half of 2023, this was probably the one I was actually hyped up for. Because of the amazing poster it had and the promising leads. Then I watched all those dramas before this one, and another past-life-lovers story seemed like a nightmare.

With this I think I might be a little more strict. Whereas the others used the past life thing without really needing to (A Good Day to be a Dog?? My Demon kinda), this drama is about past lives. That’s the main story, basically. The first episode blew me away. The past has an 11/10 plot, with her wanting to kill him for revenge but then falling in love. A whole drama about that would have been 👌🏽. It’s the present that I had issues with. It was like something was lost there. The storyline in contemporary times is all over the place. I know this is based on a webtoon, but I would have instead enjoyed Kim Young Dae playing another silly actor and falling for a no-bullshit firefighter than him playing this vindictive spirit. It could have been handled better I think. The whole nobleman stuck in the body of an idol/actor situation could have given them a lot of interesting scenes (funny ones, probably), but it just ended up being never-ending awkward intensity. It’s tolerable because the main leads are good actors. Still… I was waiting for a lot more of this drama.

[couch-kimchi]

Leila's Cravings

Korean Dramas

In no particular order, I have chosen all the Korean dramas that I’ve enjoyed, uberly obsessed of, loved and learned a lot from. I’ve been watching Korean dramas since 2004. It all started when Lovers in Paris was shown in our local television. I only relied on what was shown in our country since then. 2009 came and gave Boys Over Flowers that really changed my viewing habits.

2010 was a very special year for me because I became a K-drama addict. I certified myself. LOL. I just took advantage of our 24/7 internet server. I’m even sleep-deprived now since my time in front of my laptop occupies most of my waking moments when I’m at home. Heh.

So let me give a rundown of Korean dramas I’ve enjoyed all through the years starting from 2004,  that I would gladly recommend to anyone.

LOVERS IN PARIS. “I’m not a Cinderella. I’m just a woman in love with a man.” This is a line from Kang Tae-young that’s vivid in my mind up to now. Her character is adorable and the love between her and Ki-joo is simply beautiful. Park Shin Yang’s performance is one of the best I’ve seen from a male actor. I was completely touched during his break up scene and the part where he played the piano is simply captivating. FYI, Lee Dong-geun is the primary reason why I love second lead guys more than the male lead.

SAVE THE LAST DANCE. Eugene and Ji Sung is such a perfect match! The kind you’d root for no matter what. I love it when the story started moving to Seoul. It is where the growth of their characters and love story begun. When Ji Sung started to live his own life again as Hyun Woo, not knowing Eun Soo, they started from scratch again. Since the heart can tell, they still fell for each other. Ji Sung is so adorable! The OST of this series is love!

MY GIRL. The two LEE! Lee Dong Wook and Lee Da Hae is one of the cutest pair the HONG Sister’s created. Lee Da Hae’s portrayal of Yoo Rin is so lovable and Dong Wook was a dashing debonair! The “lie” theme of their pairing was an added charm in their relationship. Just pure cuteness on screen!

GOONG (PRINCESS HOURS). A stellar performance from Yoon Eun Hye as she became a Princess. She successfully made Chae Kyeong come to life. Eun Hye’s chemistry with Joo Ji Hoon is off the charts, IMO. The settings, the overall feel of a modern day Royal set up was beautiful. A must watch series!

COFFEE PRINCE. Another series from Yoon Eun Hye. From a lady in Goong, she transformed herself as a boyish barista. She plays Go Eun Chan, a bread winner who had no choice but to work in a shop where only men are allowed. I enjoyed her with Gong Yoo. Their scenes are just the sweetest. Eun Hye is adorable and passable as a guy! But honestly, it was really Mr. Voice, Lee Seun Kyun who really captured my heart in this series.

BOYS OVER FLOWERS (BOYS BEFORE FLOWERS). The drama that changed my Korean dramaworld and catapulted Lee Min Ho to super stardom!! Not only did this show spread K-drama virus around Asia, it made every cast known worldwide. Who would forget this? Four HOT guys in one screen. Enough said. Lee Min Ho and Goo Hye Sun are enough reason for me to repeat this to the nth time. I don’t know how many times I’ve watched this series already. I think there’s no explanation why I loved it, it’s illogical. LOL.

YOU’RE BEAUTIFUL. Jang Geun Suk’s adorable face and wonderful singing voice was shown multiple times. Sold. Geun Suk’s pairing with Park Shin Hye is simply sweet and fluffy! Shin Hye became his twin brother and joined AN.JELL. The story focused on the life of a band in showbusiness and how pig-rabbit melted Tae Kyung’s heart. The love triangle is cute. Shin Woo’s character reminded me so much of Ji Hoo (Boys Over Flowers) since it is obvious that he won’t get the girl. And yet he’s always been there for her. Typical story but fun and with heart.

PASTA. The story is simple and the plot has no-frills at all. But here are the reasons why I still love this:

a. Dearest Chep (Lee Seun Kyun) is endearing.

b. The on screen pairing is cute and charming.

c. Noh Min Woo is delightful.

Enough for me.

PERSONAL TASTE. Lee Min Ho. Need I say more?

Kidding aside, what I really enjoyed about this series is Gae In’s weather forecast that’s like her personal diary. I can always forego flaws especially when dearest Min Ho is concerned. The issue of the Sang Go Jae can happily go down the drain. I enjoyed most parts rather than the whole. Watch it since Lee Min Ho is the hottest architect in the face of K-dramaland. His chemistry with Sohn Ye Jin can make you wish to have a roommate like Jin Ho.

COFFEE HOUSE. Perfect 10! Highly recommended.

It IS Kang Ji Hwan and Park Si Yeon’s sizzling chemistry exploding! They are by far the best couple who had the most passionate kiss I’ve ever seen. The story itself may drive you nuts, or I mean Lee Jin Soo. But at the end of the day, you can really learn something fruitful from this. Great laughs mixed with powerful emotions. Simply a brilliant display of talent and a different level of K-drama experience.

MY GIRLFRIEND IS A GUMIHO. If you want to spend one of the best 16 hours of your life, watch this! Lee Seung Gi is lovable and he’s paired with the gorgeous Shin Mina, no more to ask for. The Gumiho myth is mixed with reality making this series a story with heart. Most people I know loves the Hoi couple to bits. I can’t blame them! Not only did this couple show the cutest and sweetest things ever but they had managed to show that the best kind of love is living with that person and enjoying every given moment to the fullest.

SHINING INHERITANCE (BRILLIANT LEGACY). From the start this captured me since I find it very poignant. I’m very weak when it comes to family stories so when Eun Sung arrived having such love for his father, I’m owned! Han Hyo Joo’s character made me stick to watch this 28 episode K-drama. I love grandma’s story of success that made me hate Hwan for few episodes. Though, I truly enjoyed the spoiled brat that is Lee Seung Gi (Hwan), especially those scene while he was working under Eun Sung. I was completely on a laughing spree though I shouldn’t have felt that way. Bad me. I guess, the premise of the show is to teach Hwan what to VALUE. That money is hard earned even when he has plenty; that life is still better even with less of it; that we can enjoy the simplest things and be truly HAPPY; that we can have true value that even money can’t buy; that a person’s character is more important than anything.

This show made me fall for Lee Seung Gi even more. He’s a genuine actor that can make a simple scene uber sweet with him in it. He has this ability to make audience have this “blind spot” when it comes to him.  That in itself is very unique. He has his own pull that can draw you in.  Or maybe I’m just so easy to get! LOL.

SUNGKYUNKWAN SCANDAL. I am crazy for crazy horse Yoo Ah In, forever. It is a sageuk drama, yes a historical set up. It may appear boring, but it isn’t! Moon Jae Shin is on fire every time he appears! The story has a beautiful premise, with wonderful cinematography to boot. The Jalgeum Quartet is love. And KBS even awarded the best couple in this series. It’s NOT Yoo Chun and Park Min Young.

DREAM HIGH. I love that this drama showed we can stand up each time we fall and that mistakes are made to teach us to become a better person. It’s a recurring theme for everyone in DH not only the students but the Professor’s as well. Everyone made a wrong decision or had said something wrong that influenced others like what happened to Kyung Jin and Baek Hee. I love that everyone learned from their mistakes and stood up. Fallen and bruised as most characters had been but they still managed to reach out for a brighter tomorrow.

Dream High is not just about aspiring to be an artist/singer or about reaching for their dreams. It’s about becoming a better version of one’s SELF. Such a great drama find in 2011! And memorable too since Sam Dong (Kim Soo Hyun) and Hye Mi (Bae Suzy) made it special ♥ SamMi FTW!

49 DAYS. Hands down for actress Lee Yo Won as she portrays two roles brilliantly and had chemistry with two actors as well! I really enjoyed the lessons learned here, not trying to sugar coat this series but it was well written and I’m content with the open ending. It must be because I’m a true blue Ji Kyung and Han Kang shipper! Jo Hyun Jae is back from his military service and it’s good to see him again with such manly aura. And Jung Il Woo is simply extraordinary as he plays the Scheduler. I was  a content camper watching this because Kang-ah is LOVE!

BEST LOVE (GREATEST LOVE). I have a soft spot for Gong Hyo Jin and eversince Pasta I find her adorable. Her simplicity makes her unlike any other actress and uses it to connect herself to her character making it relatable. Her chemistry with Cha Seung Won isn’t to be questioned because they have it. But among all the Hong Sisters drama I’ve watched they managed to make me fall deeply in love with its second lead more than the OTP. I have to blame my undying love for Pil Joo because it’s my main reason for watching this. Yoon Kye Sang is the epitome of a perfect guy. And he’s memorable in my K-drama book.

CITY HUNTER. Another hit drama for Lee Min Ho. He’s now paired with the adorable Park Min Young. It’s an action packed drama with heart. Yes, they were able to combine violence with humane bonds that is present on each relationship and pairing. Father and Son is not just present in genes but more because of love. Yoon Sung and Jin Pyo may live in a cruel world but they had managed to fight for their own beliefs. I shed a tear or two in this series and it managed to capture me during times when the story simply tackles on love, family and friendship. It has subtle moments amid the chaotic theme that truly captured me. Lee Min Ho is brilliant as he has never been before. His Royal Hotness made spoon and bottled water the best weapon. He managed to break my heart and revive it all over again with his action scenes! Lee Min Ho is proving to be the most versatile actor of his generation.

HEARTSTRINGS (YOU’VE FALLEN FOR ME). Silence and music are beautifully woven in scenes that can make you feel nostalgic. Here you can experience how scenes are much better without words. Just a smile, just a stare,  just that sound of raindrops can bring you the feeling of comfort and the magic of love.

If you are into stories of youth, watch this. It is a melodrama but you can still simply sit back, relax and feel the love more than words can say. BTW, Jung Yong Hwa is a sweetheart. He surely made me crazy in love with him. Though Lee Shin can be a pabo (fool) sometime, he really makes up for it since his love for Kyu Won is the sweetest thing to have in K-dramaland. The immense chemistry of the Dooley Couple successfully brought to life how good a feeling is having to love for the first time. Also, the OST is love! The songs are awesome! Even the mix of modern and traditional instrument is pleasant. Hear it for yourself.

FLOWER BOY RAMYUN SHOP. This drama is hotter than the ramyun they’ve cooked and served. And I’m not just talking about Lee Ki Woo here, I love him as Kang Hyuk. To be called wifey by him is such a delight! But that aside, Jung Il Woo is lovable too though he’s eccentric and childlike here, Chi Soo was the one who captured Eun Bi’s (Lee Chung Ah) heart nonetheless. This was really a fun watch! The Ramyun boys are a treat and their bonding made this drama worthwhile to finish. You’ll leave satisfied to your hearts content.

THE MOON THAT EMBRACES THE SUN. I love me some Kim Soo Hyun and he’s back being the King of this epic series. To be honest, I really loved the first part more when Prince Hwon (Yeo Jin Goo) fell in love with Yeon Woo (Kim Yoo Jung). I enjoyed the exchange of wit and letters from both. How I wish that they’d stayed kids forever like that. Then again, we have to see Soo Hyun’s acting prowess and be swept again by his charm. Together with the beautiful Han Ga In, both fought fate and made their love stand against all odds. Jung Il Woo as Prince Yang Myung made his presence felt in this series too, loving Yeon Woo all his life. You’d definitely be mesmerized by the scenery and gorgeous set up from the Joseon Era and cry along with Prince Yang Myung. Watch it, Soo Hyun made it bearable, for me atleast.

THE KING 2 HEARTS. Lee Seung Gi is a grown man here, though not leaving behind his quirky attitude that we all love! I’ve never seen him act the way he did in this series. I’m in awe of him more. Ha Ji won is kick ass and made the North Korean accent so sweet to hear. Together they form one Korea, one heart. It is action packed since Ji Won is here, you would not miss her amazing skills even kicking his Royal Highness to the curb. Interesting plot but I think you’d enjoy Ha Ji Won’s aegyo and dance moves more than anything.

SHUT UP! FLOWER BOY BAND. This is such a warm and very comforting watch. I ended this drama having a huge smile on my face that I think will linger on and on. Sung Joon is phenomenal and he became uber handsome to me. I fell for him along the way. The OTP is just so cute for words and I enjoyed every moment, wishing for more! But those two aside, this drama feels like home. You know, that love, that protection and that security, and comfort we feel when we go to a place we can be ourselves? This drama feels more than just a drama. I truly understand why others fell in love with this. It is worth your time and even your tears! It simply hits the right spot, every-single-time. No matter who the character is, you will be drawn and swept away by the emotion they feel. It was so powerful and so moving.

They say that most lessons are learned the hard way. Shut Up Flower Boy Band emanates that thought. The trials are meant for good at the end of the day. Sometimes the pain can really be piercing, as shown by the characters and yet they all became a better man after. They succeeded alone but having that heart of togetherness still. The bond that the Eye Candy formed is tough and you can feel that resonate in their music and whenever they perform together. It feels so euphoric! I would not mind repeating this to the nth time just to feel them again and again and again.

QUEEN IN HYUN’S MAN. The best fusion sageuk I’ve seen yet (as of 2012) I love that everything blends well with the story and we are not just wishing to be back in the modern world all the time. I enjoy seeing Ji Hyun Woo in the Joseon Era as well. It’s my first time ever watching him and I’m surprised that he’s a good actor. His pairing with Yoo In Na is sizzling. Sparks flew everywhere even if they are just staring at each other and far apart. One of the best chemistry on screen, and felt natural at that. I’m always taken aback with historical set up. But this drama just made me cling to it until the end. The writer is amazing! What a wonderful masterpiece yet again from the writer of Coffee House. Hands down, a drama that makes you believe that love works in mysterious and marvelous ways. Epic and oh so beautiful! Another MUST WATCH!

BIG. Yup another Hong Sister’s drama. If you are a fan of the sisters, try this and you’ll fall in love with Kyung Joon in Yoon Jae’s body. Or to make it simple, you will fall in love with Gong Yoo,100%. Little Kyung Joon is asleep all throughout the series, though I wish he literally woke up in the end and grabbed that umbrella. *sigh* This drama begs us to leave most things to our imagination. So don’t expect much. Gong Yoo’s lovable on screen pairing was made to life by Lee Min Jung. Gil Teacher found her ground and found her true love too. I’m happy she was able to distinguish who her heart truly beats for. This drama is not among my fave from the Hong’s but still enjoyable. Go with what is presented and you’d just be fine.

ARANG AND THE MAGISTRATE. This drama gave me the creeps — both in a good and a bad way. Overall, I still love the feel, the ambiance, the scenery. It brought a different level of experience that I enjoyed. Arang is such a fierce character! She learned how to value her own life and gained the will to take a risk and fight for it. With a hero like the magistrate (Lee Jun Ki), where can this love story go? No limits.

ANSWER ME 1997 (REPLY 1997). Have you ever experienced falling in love with your friend? Are you like Yoon Jae? Or more like Shi Won?

This series directly hits the heart, even in the simplest of ways. Nostalgic, pure, heart wrenching and uber fun. Saying this is an understatement. You will love to reminisce about the life in the 90′s. If you were in Grade School or High School at that time, you’d laugh just like me because I guess it’s one, or if not, the best time in my life. The story was made even more special because of Seo In Guk and Jung Eun Ji. I don’t care if they were KPOP Idols, they rocked this series BIG TIME. They made the friends-in-love theme so enticing. You’d want to grab hold of a Yoon Jae in your life. I suggest you watch this with your friends and your family too! To miss this will be a regret in your K-drama life.

FLOWER BOY NEXT DOOR.Go Dok Mi (Park Shin Hye) isn’t your typical bubbly K-drama heroine. She decided to lock herself in her own apartment, living in her own world. Though comfortable as it may seem to her, the outside world is where she really wants to be. Good thing Enrique Geum (Yoon Shi Yoon) opened the door to help her breathe in life and experience what it truly means to live.

The drama made me love Enrique’s youthful exuberance and his quirky personality. But it was really Jin Rak (Kim Ji Hoon) that I personally fell in love with. Mr Post-it man stole my heart and run away with it. Having said that, this drama has its moments of glory and failed in some. The world of Dok Mi is a familiar ground that this drama illustrated beautifully, just by listening to her inner thoughts added a unique touch making her more relatable. Another winning drama from tVN.

THE MASTER’S SUN. This is another drama that is close to my heart. Its the first I’ve watched So Ji Sub in a full series. He captivated my heart playing Joo Joong Won, the cold-hearted Master that melted under the warmth of a sun, Tae Gong Shil (Gong Hyo Jin).

To find that one person who can take away your fears and who can make you feel alive again is truly special. Joong Won and Gong Shil is like a magnet that automatically joins together. When you force to separate them, the pull they have within is far stronger than any I had felt. Their love story is just like how their first hug scene transpired. It was unexpected. Gong Shil just came in his life, rushing in scared and needed comfort badly. But as it goes along, it turns out that Joong Won is the one needing help after all. His dark world finally found the light its been longing to have.

The immense chemistry off-screen resonated on-screen. It is a delight to see, feel, and hear. Skinship is scattered around, and the OTP’s touch scenes made a different kind of sensation that only the SoGong couple have. This drama will make you realize that waiting for that one special love, is worth it. Falling in love in a series will never be the same again after watching this. To date (2013), the best Hong Sister’s drama for me.

ANSWER ME 1994 (REPLY 1994). This can’t be compared to its predecessor. Though they do have the same feel, nostalgia and amazing attention to detail, this show broke the second season flop big time.

My love for this drama truly owes it to each character who is part of the Sinchon Boarding House. It’s amazing to feel the family bonding and the friendship that was built under one roof. They are blessed to have a home where everyone shared the heartiest meals and have the best support group. The story is more than just the romance that was built within its frame, but moreso it displayed the kind of universal love that truly warms the heart.

It’s my first to watch Jung Woo, the Oppa whose love for Na Jung can’t be quantified, its felt. Though I was captured by his Oppa role at first, it was really Chil Bong (Yoo Yeon Seok) who took my heart and I wasn’t able to have it back. The pendulum swing wasn’t felt by Na Jung (Go Ara) herself but the fan wars surely did. I was literally brokenhearted having to experience the unrequited love the way Chil Bong did. But having to experience his love for Na Jung is worth the tears still.

Watch this with an open heart. Because the love that both Oppa and Chil Bong gave to Na Jung is better seen that way. Highly recommended. If I have to go through Chil Bong’s heartache, I will still repeat this and savor what it means to love with all of you and even learn to let it go.

EMERGENCY COUPLE. Choi Jin Hyuk!! There is nothing more left to say. 

I really enjoyed watching this series because of Song Ji Hyo and Choi Jin Hyuk’s awesome chemistry. The teasers were wonderfully made, its enticing enough not to miss the series. It did feel like much could have been done, especially in Jin Hee’s arc. But that aside, I still had an amazing time recapping and watching this series.

Jin Hee grew from a naive character to a woman who can stand on her own. She was so dependent when she married Chang Min that she felt low not having a life of her own. It is a consequence of not being complete first before entering a serious relationship. The separation was pivotal, it made both character realise that love will always be present no matter what. You just have to open yourself even when you know it will hurt. Watch it, and enjoy the antics! You will definitely love Choi Jin Hyuk, even if you already do.

ANGEL EYES. The best drama of Ku Hye Sun to date (2014). Hands down, what an amazing performance that she has Lee Sang Yoon to thank for. It is a first for me to watch Sang Yoon and I fell in love with him! I guess, the chemistry was so palpable and heartfelt, it was easy for me to watch this and not be reminded it is a melodrama. It felt like a cried an ocean but it cleansed my soul. The feeling was that good!

Yoon Soo Wan and Park Dong Joo defined a love that even if its tormenting, they choose each other still. It is a story of finding oneself and loving wholeheartedly no matter how painful it is. This series is among the most precious I have ever watched. It brought an amazing experience that I wouldn’t mind watching again. Every character is loveable and warm.

We don’t like the pace of walking. It seem that the world today is so fast, speed matters. But watching this series I learned the value of taking things slow especially with love. Waiting can be taxing and tedious. Who has the patience to wait? Dong Joo and Soo Wan have and both enjoyed the fruit of waiting for each other. The essence of “togetherness” is really evident seeing how both endured the trials that came their way that when they separated, we all felt their pain. It was so piercing, you want them to be together again.

This is one of the most beautifully written love story. You wouldn’t mind falling in love and experiencing it. Highly recommended.

MARRIAGE NOT DATING. I can’t believe I almost let this drama slip away! I wasn’t reeled in to watch this since I kinda predicted how it’s going to be and the premise wasn’t as enticing. How amazing it is to be proven wrong?!

This drama is feel good and so easy to digest. I really enjoyed how the drama focused on family and relationships. The most important thing why this became a drama craving was the “communication”. We heard it been said a million times over that communication is vital and I love how the drama gave emphasis on that. Jang Mi (Han Groo) and Ki tae (Yeon Woo Jin) are a perfect example to show what great communication can do in a relationship. They were successful in making it feel organic and relatable. Their conversations were meaningful and delightful, even the arguments. They are so adorable! For them there is no eternal love, only a love they both want to last. Awww.

The transition of Jang Mi and Ki Tae’s fake relationship to a real one worked well, turning a bad relationship to the best one could possibly have. Knowing the foibles, worst habits and dark past of the person you are in a relationship with and loving them despite of that is a true testament of what true love is. You can not just have good qualities, nobody is perfect. Accepting the imperfection is an important part of a relationship. I’m happy to have learned it better through this drama.

Watch this and feel the spark of a love with no pretence.

THE TIME WE WERE NOT IN LOVE. How can you notice if someone is looking at you when you are looking somewhere else? One will surely miss a lot. Good thing Choi Won (Lee Jin Wook) didn’t spent his whole life just being the best friend for Oh Ha Na (Ha Ji Won) and stepped up to be more!

Best friends to lovers plot is one of the best storyline but the hardest to execute. This show did just okay, though I hoped for the best. Well, this show didn’t lack fan service, so don’t be dismayed and give this show a try too. The chemistry is exploding on screen. The 1+1 couple brightened each scenario, whether they are bickering or simply sharing aegyo to each other. Nobody can replace the memories they have built in time. Their memory bank is full of great milestone to choose from.

I fell in love with Choi Won. At first I was so frustrated and mad at him. I thought that with his persona, finally a man was strong enough to fight to protect the woman he loves from getting hurt again. Choi Won was the right man to stop Cha Seo Hoo (Yoon Kyung Sang), though the only advantage he has is that of a friend. But then, he took a step back because Choi Won isn’t the kind of man to stop Ha Na’s heart from beating even if it was for somebody else. Choi Won chose to understand and support Ha Na’s decision. This is Choi Won’s love language. Ha Na’s happiness is more important than his own.

Everything ends well in dramaland! Watch this and enjoy the 1+1 couple fight, kiss and make-up endlessly.

OH MY GHOST. Do you want to know what love is? This drama definitely showed it. I highly recommend it to anyone who just loves the feeling of falling in love and staying in love.

Take the journey with Na Bong Sun (Park Bo Young) as she discovers what it is to love and be loved by Chef Kang Sun Woo (Jo Jung Seok). Their chemistry is perfect and electrifyingly good!! You would enjoy every second of them on screen. Whether or not Na Bong Sun is possessed by Shin Soon Ae (Kim Seul Gi), the joint forces of their chemistry is overwhelmingly amazing to experience. This is the kind of drama that can be enjoyed from start to finish. Don’t miss it.

MISAENG / INCOMPLETE LIFE – Work politics can never be portrayed better than what this series presented. I’ve watched Im Si Wan ever since he appeared in The Moon that Embraces the Sun and his cute cameo in Reply 1997. This time, he showed a different side of him more than just his pretty face. Though I was hoping a love line with Kang So Ra, I think they are still enjoyable as officemates with Kang Ha Neul.

The cast is completed with the addition of Lee Sung Min who made me a certified fan through this drama. He simply brought so much heart as a mentor. I believe we need more people like him in this world. Someone whose tenacity and fervent persona drives anyone with him to become better. He is surely stubborn, yet his hard work is incomparable. Watch this and learn why work is work and why passion can drive you towards a better destination.

HEALER – Just three words. Ji Chang Wook.

Some of you may have more adjectives to describe how awesome this is. But for me, it was really discovering an amazing talent in Ji Chang Wook, I’m swept away by his character. He’s a chameleon who can switch from dorky, to manly to clumsy to stubborn to the sweetest thing a K-drama hero could ever be. His chemistry with Park Min Young captured my heart. It was a treat seeing them fall in love. This is a highly recommended drama to watch. If you like action, suspense and romance, this is a treat you don’t want to miss.

TWENTY AGAIN – Lee Sang Yoon is back as Professor Cha Hyun Seok. You will definitely fall more in love with him, there is no escaping his charms! He teams up with Choi Ji Woo again, truly it is better the second time around. This series is a timeless piece that can be enjoyed no matter what age you are! There is always a special spot in my heart when the past era is smoothly blended in the present.

Add to that, Sang Yoon is swoon worthy! Even if Hyun Seok is grumpy most of the time, his love for No Ra is timeless. This is worth watching anytime.

ANSWER ME (REPLY) 1988 – I will shamelessly admit, this is my favourite Reply series to date (2016). Even if this is already the third, PD Shin Won Ho did not fail to surprise me. Despite of the heartache, this series is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Every detail, every character, every possibility is once again explored. The trademark of the Reply franchise is unparalleled, every series is uniquely made. All thanks to Ryu Joon Yeol coz he made this series beyond special for me. He successfully brought to life an unforgettable character – Kim Jung Hwan. This is not to say that Taek (Park Bo Gum) did anything less to love Sung Deok Sun (Hye Ri). However, I was hopelessly devoted to Jung Hwan. He was the only one in my heart.

Though this series was never about the husband hunt for me, the heartache I’ve felt wasn’t anything less than what I expected. Prepare your heart once you decide to watch this. You have been warned.

CHEESE IN THE TRAP – Discovering new actors who are not afraid to do something different made this series endearing. The premise brought from the webtoon, added interesting character that has depth I was interested to explore.

Park Hae Jin did a tremendous job as Yoo Jung. There are only few actors who can be both lovable and despicable all at the same time, Hae Jin is one of them. He had an amazing chemistry with Kim Go Eun. Seol and Yoo Jung were tailored to fit. Despite of the drama frenzy off-screen, Seo Kang Joon did a great job as Baek In Ho! SLS is evident, but this time I realised that this syndrome can be less painful too especially when done right.

Keep an open heart and watch something different. Judge it for yourself.

OH HAE YOUNG AGAIN (ANOTHER MISS OH) – As of 2016, this deserves the TOP ONE in my K-drama list of all time. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

As they say, you have to be complete before you love someone. That said, I never thought that love can be found when the heart is completely shattered into pieces. How can the heart mend and be whole again? Park Do Kyung (Eric Mun) and Oh Hae Young (Seo Hyun Jin) proved that real love can exist even in the worse possible state. It all begun with a leap of faith! All it took was for Do Kyung to open his arms and catch Hae Young. From then, he struggled hard not to let her go ever again.

It is the first time that I have watched Eric of Shinhwa and Seo Hyun Jin in a drama series. It was such a delight to experience how amazing love is seeing both of them performing at their best. The chemistry is so intense, I believe it is REAL. Shipper heart aside, to date RicHyun is definitely a K-drama couple to beat! From every touch, every kiss, and every hug they shared, there is an incredibly sweet intimacy no other OTP can possibly have! They are beyond astonishing together! I can only think of happy thoughts whenever I see them both.

Love is defined with no specificity. Each character here has shown love in various of ways. You will discover the amazing talents from the veteran actors, Ye Ji Won in particular. You would want to party all night with her.

Be ready to be mesmerised! Once you watch this, it will be hard to resist repeating it all over again.

LET’S EAT SEASON 2 – Nothing can beat the yearning of delicious food — make that KOREAN FOOD!

This K-drama is plot-free and just entices you with what matters most in life, food. I watched this for the love of Seo Hyun Jin and I happily sat and observed her in awe. She can do ANYTHING! Plus, her chemistry with Yoon Doo Joon made watching the sweetest thing to do. I truly enjoyed their banters. No  matter how opposite their views are, they can sit down and enjoy each others company. They made eating alone a sin, because a meal is better enjoyed with others.

Watch this! Word of warning: Eat first before you watch. Or else, you’ll crave badly and say “goodbye diet.”

[dramaddict-and-proud-of-it]

Alchemy of Souls (Seasons 1 & 2)

Year : 2022 | Country : KR | Nb of episodes: 30

My rate: 9/10

Synopsis :

Set in a fictional country called Daeho that does not exist in history or on maps, it is about the love and growth of young mages as they overcome their twisted fates due to a forbidden magic spell known as the "alchemy of souls", which allows souls to switch bodies.

It follows the story of an elite assassin named Naksu, whose soul is accidentally trapped inside the weak body of Mu Deok—Jang Uk's servant from a powerful and noble mage family in the country. The young master of the Jang Family, Jang Uk, holds a dark secret about his scandalous birth. He wants the formidable assassin to help change his destiny.

Main cast :

Lee Jae Wook as Jang Uk

Jung So Min as Mu Deok

Hwang Min Hyun as Seo Yul

Shin Sung Ho as Go Won

Yoo Joon Sang as Park Jin

Oh Na Ra as Kim Do Ju

Arin as Jin Cho Yeon

Yoo In Soo as Park Dang Gu

Go Youn Jung as Naksu/Cho Yeong/ Jin Bu Yeon

My thoughts on this drama :

I hadn't loved a Korean drama so much in ages. Wow! Everything is so so good in this one. The casting is amazing, for both seasons. Although I understand their choice to switch actresses for the main lead in season two, it still felt a bit jarring at first.

The story is fantastic, and the actors all aced their roles. The season two felt like the opposite to season one (Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow is the subtitle of the season/part 2). It was sometimes a bit hard to follow, but the story is amazing and very satisfying.

A Favorite ?

YES

[queensumomo]

Started watching the KDrama “Destined With You”. Looks interesting so far. I’ve never seen the leads Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah in anything so this is something new for me. From the get-go, I’m getting horror feels but I’m not sure if that’s where it’s headed. There seems to be a curse in the family of the male lead played by Rowoon and Jo Bo-ah’s character seems to be the key to breaking it. I think I’ll continue to watch this one.

I’ve also begun with “My Dearest”. This one seems to have a more historical drama vibe to it, full of political intrigues and corruption that seemed prevalent in the Joseon era (as with most eras, I think, regardless). The cast is led by Nam Goong Min and Ahn Eun-jin. I’ve never watched them in anything either.

In a way, these two dramas will sort of get me reacquainted with KDrama again because of their cast, whom I never watched before. My last one was “The Forbidden Marriage” and that one was quite fun. I dropped “King The Land” because for some reason, the partnership of Im Yoon-ah and Lee Jun-ho didn’t seem to work for me, nor did the plot, which feels quite overused.

[gyjpilipinas]

Casting Oh Yi Young

On the 15th of April a Director’s Talk was held for the Korean medical drama series, Resident Playbook. The creator Shin Won Ho and the director Lee Min So were present. During the event, they shared behind-the-scenes stories, including how lead actress Go Youn Jung was cast as one of the main characters Oh Yi Young. Director Lee Min So and Creator Shin Won Ho In discussing the character of the…

[muttonthings]

Kdramas I have watched

132. When the Stars Gossip

I have to first say I had the highest expectations for this show, and I also waited a really long time for it to air.

With the huge budget and amazing cast there was no reason for it to be anything but a hit.

I am a huge Lee Min-ho fan so it hurts me to say this: I hated this show. Honestly, I would have never finished it if the lead was anyone but him. I kept waiting for the show to get better and it never did, in fact it got worse.

Spoilers ahead!

There was so much that I didn't like about this show, we'd be here for days if I had to mention everything. So I'll just mention what annoyed me the most:

-the characters: there isn't a single character I liked or could root for. Ryong got on my nerves the most. I did like Eve initially until love made her stupid.

-this show should be in the fantasy genre, not sci-fi. Did the writer actually consult scientists when writing this? I always marveled at how a character would point out how something would be impossible, and list the reasons why, and then it would happen like a miracle. Until the end when they ran out of miracles.

-the pro-life agenda. Yes, we get it, South Korea has a low birth rate. When Ryong called Eve a murderer I had to take a moment. (Also when he grabbed her by the collar and shook her)

I couldn't understand why Ryong was risking his life, his career, his reputation (including everyone on the space station) for the slim chance of giving the father of the woman he does not love an heir.

It felt like the writer wanted a story where the first human was conceived and born in space and then wrote the story around getting to that moment. Screw the science.

I initially thought the show would be based in the future where humans live in space which I think would have been better since they could explain everything using "future scientific advancements" but anyway...

Clearly I'm not recommending this show 😅

Also...when your phone battery dies (let's ignore the defrosting part) and you turn it on (but why did they) does it open to the last app that was open, no pin required? Asking for a friend...

Rant over.