#yeo-jin is just too special for him

[dayscapism]

K-Dramas recommendations & short reviews

Because I've watched way too many to not make a list. Warning: I like romance and fantasy a bit too much.

These shows made me cry. 10/10. Five stars. Recommend to anyone. They live in my mind rent-free:

Extraordinary Attorney Woo (2022) - Attorney Woo is such a wonderful person, I love her character. I can't say much about the representation, but I like that it opens up the conversation around autism & neurodivergence, discrimination and prejudice, particularly in work environments. I rarely like shows about law or lawyers but I was surprisingly engaged with the cases and the story. It deserves a second season. (The only thing I don't like about this show is they're pushing for a MinWoo and Choi Su-Yeon ship. Which huh--disrespectful.)

Hotel Del Luna (2019) - A great place to start with k-dramas if you like paranormal fantasy. This show has such a special place in my heart. I wanted a different ending but I am okay with it because it was a tight narrative. The main character is iconic (Man-Wol please step on me). The show has amazing sets, AMAZING costumes, an amazing OST, amazing and heartbreaking performance by Yeo Jin Goo. The main couple is so soft; like they're such good friends and coworkers and gentle with each other (eventually). It's enemies to reluctant friends to lovers. It's perfect for asexual viewers who want more than physicality in their romance shows. Cons: the secondary characters' goodbyes and backstories left a little to be desired. A few other nitpicks like Chang-Seong is the one to suggest the main character a new hobby instead of her just discovering it by herself.

It's Okay to Not Be Okay (2020) - Also a good place to start with k-dramas. This show is a lesson in good narrative; this has perfect writing & storytelling. The cast is so good. The female lead is an icon. The character work I excellent. The mental health issues are so well addressed and it taught me a lot about mental health I wasn't aware of. Each small minor character plays a very important thematic role. (The villain isn't the best thing ever but she serves her role in the themes and plot.) The production and the storytelling with the children's book animations are just *heart eyes*. The OST is so good too. You need to watch this to understand how good a k-dramas can be. A must-watch.

Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (2016) - This is the most iconic fantasy/paranormal k-drama ever. A lot of current tropes were started here I think (including the weird k drama last-episode time jump separation of the main couple). This show broke me. You will cry. The bromance and comedy are amazing here too. Gong Yoo and Dong Wook Lee have great chemistry. Main female lead is so cute and her character is so heartwarming. The ending felt a bit rushed. The death, existential related stuff with the grim reapers and such is so good tho.

Business Proposal (2022) - Best rom-com ever! (Well, it could be gayer tbh.) It's my new comfort show. I already watched it twice. It's campy, hilarious, chaotic, iconic and messy in a way that feels like real life (but obviously played up for drama and comedy). Excellent character work. The love interest is definitely written by a woman. Gorgeous cast (Sejeon omg I have a crush, but also the others). It was too short! I would have loved another episode, and more of Grandpa and Ha-Ri. Warning: this has the weird kdrama last-episode time jump couple separation.

W: Two Worlds (2016) - A young resident medic accidentally finds her way inside the webcomic her father created. Like, that premise is killer. We have Lee Jong Suk at his finest here; the character fits him so well. He was born to play a lead. This show has amazing meta-commentary on writing, authorship, and existential crisis. The confrontation between the webcomic character Kang Cheol and the author is insane! The main couple is an epic pair. Would rewatch. High wump value. Cons: The second part could have been more swoony with the romance, Kang Cheol kind of became a bit cold. (A warning: this show also has the k drama weird last-episode time jump couple separation.)

Would recommend with popcorn, I rate them 8/10:

Crash Landing on You (2019) - Really good. The main couple has the best chemistry I've ever seen. It's not that much of a personal fave show, but still pretty awesome and will tug at your heart. It got a bit overly dramatic in the last episodes and again, has that k-drama last episode weird time jump couple separation, but here it actually makes sense. And sort of mirrors the separation and eventual unification of the Korean Peninsula. It was very interesting to see the contrast between North and South Korea.

Shooting Stars (2022) - Aside from the terrible, horrible, insulting Africa storyline (where the male lead goes to 'help' African kids with water scarcity, not even a country name is called, he just goes to *gestures vaguely* Africa to help goddammit he's such a beautiful soul! /s) There's a weird creepy sugar mommy wannabe side storyline and it's weird and out of nowhere. But the rest of it is good and campy and the main characters are so cute. All the couples are cute. The male lead is a cute disaster. Female lead is also a capable cutey but a disaster when it comes to romance. It's hilarious. I love all characters. It's fun. It's great. It shows a very interesting side of the entertainment industry.

While You Were Sleeping (2017) - A man and a woman who don't know each other have precognition powers and after they meet, they use them to take down a corrupt lawyer. The show isn't very heavy on the romance, tough the pair work pretty well together. I liked the main actress. Lee Jong Suk has chemistry with anyone. The male role was not exactly a good fit for Jong Suk. He's so much more naturally charming than the character. It's a fun show to pass the time. The found family is nice and all the characters work great together. The mom is great.

The King's Affection (2021) - I'm going to be honest, I didn't finish watching this. Ups. I got bored after episode 15. It's a very slow show but what I watched was quite good. It was just not a show for me. Having a bisexual male lead was awesome, I appreciate that he falls for the main character while he thinks she's a man. (Could be gayer tho, just saying.) Pretty good discussions and reversals of gender cliches. It has complicated parent-child relationships that are very well written which gives a lot of heart and heartbreak to this story. The political stuff gets very convoluted. I really wish the queer part was bigger though, and not limited to the main couple. We could even have poly representation! I still have half a mind to finish this but I don't know There are so many other shows I'd rather watch instead. (Boy, I really need to get into the actually queer side of k-dramas because the side I'm currently on is giving me crumbs.)

Lovers of the Red Sky (2021) - The premise was so cool. This has so much lore I like and the setting is beautiful and rich, but it also has so much lost potential. The plot is very weak in the second half and could be restructured. I loved the atmosphere, costumes and the actors and their characters: the blind cursed scholar nobleman, the female genius cheeky painter and her friend trio and the prince are all great characters. Ahn Hyo Seop is pretty good in it and looks very pretty indeed in historical costume (but the design of the villain creature he's possessed/cursed with is so, so bad omg). Great premise failed execution. Good first half but it went over the rails quickly. Still entertaining if you like historical fantasy.

Romance is a Bonus Book (2019) - It's a bit slow and could have done so much more with the female lead and her child. She's a bit underwhelming and her daughter is barely in the story. The second female character played by Jeong Eu-Gene was awesome, I love this actress now. Lee Jung Suk is always looking hot and being an excellent actor with what he's given; he's very charming here. He could have chemistry with a piece of wood and yet I wasn't that fan of the romance. Maybe it's just because friends to lovers isn't my cup of tea. There's a weird out-of-nowhere backstory between the male leads. The commentary of ageism in the workplace is a bit surface level (it's not that big of a deal for the company if you're overqualified for a job, the point should be that is an issue for you and your career, who is too good for the company). You can tell the writers really care about books; it's definitely a love letter to editors and an interesting window into the world of book publishing; you can feel the love editors put into making books. Bonus: the founding members of the publishing company have very funny moments.

Do no recommend:

King: Eternal Monarch - Couldn't even finish this. I was so, so confused. The dialogue, narrative and backstory make no sense! Everything is so unnecessarily confusing. There's no chemistry between the main couple. The king and the bodyguard had more chemistry. Lee Jung-Jin (playing the villain Lee Lim) & Woo Do-Hwan (the bodyguard) carried this show and are pretty much the only thing good about it. The female lead is sidelined. It had an intriguing premise but failed execution.

What's Wrong With Secretary Kim - Skimmed most of the second half. It's a mess. The love interest CEO is such a narcissist and asshole he wouldn't be able to keep a working, healthy relationship with his partner without some serious therapy first. The female lead seems to be repulsed by him most of the time even when together and even looks scared when they get intimate. There's an unnecessarily convoluted plotline about the main lead's brother and a kidnapping in their past. It has tonal issues and it's cringy rather than funny. The secondary characters are just a lot of useless filler. The female lead sacrifices her independence and dreams to be with the main guy. Just go watch Business Proposal instead.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo - The only pro of this show is IU. The romance went the undeveloped route. Cheap-looking production, with too many episodes, melodramatic, characters pivot in place instead of naturally developing; it's definitely a telenovela. The point that the female lead is from the future doesn't even matter for the story (should have made her a Goryeo historian instead of a random cosmetologist). Pass!

Tomorrow - Could not finish watching. Please, please don't watch it if you're dealing with depression, bullying or suicidal thoughts. Please don't. By episode 2 I was just screaming at the screen. Problematic? This show invented the word problematic. The supernatural task force that's supposed to save people with suicide risk is terrible at therapy and suicide prevention. They tell the person trying to commit suicide, literally on the edge of a building about to jump, that they should do it, that they're weak, they should just jump, go ahead! Like ... what????

Mystic Pop Up Bar - Didn't capture me by episode 2. Got bored. Some say this is better than Hotel Del Luna but I don't agree.

Abyss - It's a weird tonal mix. Would have preferred if it leaned further into the absurd (go all in with the humour or don't at all), the sci-fi or the murder mystery. Instead of just revealing by episode 3 who the murderer is, quickly changing the plot into a chase after the villain, even though he's so lame. But also he is keeps killing people and it gets dark. And then we cut to the main couple being silly and cute. It's so jarring. The leads have a great dynamic and Ahn Hyo Seop knows how to differentiate his characters really well, give them their own flavour., but in the end it's just a cool premise, failed execution. Very average.

Currently watching:

The Crowned Clown - Very interesting concept and gorgeous, gorgeous visuals. Plot drags a little. Has some tonal problems and oversimplification of politics. The best part is when Yeo Jin-Goo acts with himself haha. He's such a talented actor.

The Uncanny Counter - Get's a bit melodramatic sometimes but all four main actors are insanely good.

Tale of the Nine-Tailed - The main romantic relationship needs a lot more development, but the entire show is worth watching just for Dong Wook Lee and Kim Bum as brothers.

Alchemy of Souls - 6/10 so far. Currently watching season 2/part 2. Aside from the prince, I don't particularly care for any of the characters. Unpopular opinion but the main romantic pair have no chemistry. Mu-Deok has more chemistry with Yul and the prince, and the prince has more chemistry with Jang-Uk. The lore is confusing and inconsistent: it breaks its own rules. (Two souls in one body what?? when was this established as a thing?) There's not enough foreshadowing and setting up the rules of magic in this world (the Ice Stone comes up as a deux ex mahcina big plot point in the last second). It also drags; the episodes are too long. There's a lot of saying and ultimately the show doesn't deliver. The narrative structure is straight out of a fantasy Wattpad. The set and costumes are fun and cool for a fantasy world, and the first episode was great.  

[loveseriesnmovies]

My Holo Love

A lonely woman with face blindness that has isolated herself from others and finds the perfect companion from an AI, modeled after the his genius creator.

The cast

Ko Sung-hee as So Yeon

Yoon Hyun-min as Go Nan do and Holo

Choi Yeo-jin as Go Yoo-jin

Hwan Chan-sung as Baek Chan-sung

There is also:

Jung Yeon-joo as Ji-Na

Lee Jung-eun as So Yeon's mother

Nam Myeong-ryeol as Baek Nam-jyu

Son Jong-hak as Nam Gi-oh

For characters I give it a 10/10.

I found it great to see two different sides of the main character Nan do and Holo. I also loved So Yeon!! All the characters gave something special to the story and I really appreciated it. I also loved Holo! Who wouldn't love Holo?!

For the music I give it 9/10

It had sentimental songs and uplifting songs and feel-good.

To the story I give it a 10/10

I appreciate that the story line was something new and creative. They gave So Yeon prosopagnosia (face blidness) something I just learned while watching this series. The relationship between Holo and So Yeon was really cute and sweet. When she meets with Nan Do its something different from Holo; the story makes you want to root for Nan Do too. He had a tough past and you could see his brokenness throughout the series.They also have a love triangule. I am happy that they gave the characters a happy ending. Specially to Chan-sung since his father treated him so bad.

It was overall a heartwarming series!

Fun facts!

The idea for “My Holo Love” came about during a conversation between director Lee and writer Ryu after watching the movie “Her”, which revolves around an AI’s ability to learn and adapt. Months later, Ryu created a unique story about a hologram called Holo.

Holo is derived from hologram. Plus, “holo” also sounds similar to “alone” in Korean. In this setting, one can only see Holo wearing special glasses. Think of him like a special friend who only watches and listens to the user.

In his first ever dual role, Yoon plays AI-powered Holo and his genius developer Nan-do – they are identical in appearance but have different personalities. To differentiate the two, the 34-year-old actor would modulated his speech speed and style, body movement patterns, and even his physical reactions to express a variation of nuances. While Holo is “very kind, caring, and warmhearted”, Nan-do is “a sharp and cold person who isolates himself” from everyone else.

[el-cheung]

- I sent everyone a text saying that you weren’t feeling so well. So they might be thinking that you have severe diarrhea.

- Me? Diarrhea? 

- Well, I can’t tell them that I have it.

Hwang Si-Mok & Han Yeo-jin, in Strangers S2E12 - aka. HE SMILED (2020)

[drivingsideways]

Hey talk to me about your top three favourite kdrama women. What makes them special? What's a fic you would like to write about any one of them?

Mystery anon! :D What a lovely ask. 

I’m going to cheat a bit and divide my answer into characters I loved a lot, but do not want to write fic about, because I think the canon gives me what I need; and characters that I loved a lot but NEED TO BE RESCUED ZOMG.  (My fic writing impulses are 50% spite and 50% fix-it )

Caveat being that I’ve still watched only maybe a dozen kdramas, so I’m pretty limited in my knowledge!

Characters that I love a lot, but have very zero fic impulses toward:

Han Yeo-jin from Stranger/Secret Forest: What a delight! What an iconique character! Is there anyone like her? NO. LSY-nim gives us a delightfully complex character, and Bae Doona knocks it out of the park in every single scene, so I’m just happy to be along for the ride. I think what makes Yeo-jin special for me is the intrinsic place of empathy that she operates from.  I think “righteous” is a word that often comes with negative connotations (self-righteous, for eg), but I do think she’s one of the most righteous-in-the-good-way characters I’ve watched in kdrama or any drama. I’m tired of stories that portray goodness as “boring” , as unworthy of narrative breadth or depth, and I love that Han Yeo-jin comes to us like a breath of fresh air in our particular dystopian narratives hellscape. She’s good, but never naive. She’s righteous but never cruel in her moral certainties.  I think that LSY nim, in the second season especially, gave Yeo-jin the kind of arc that character deserved when she’s forced to really dig deep into herself to figure out how she’s going to live in the world in the face of a deeply cutting, deeply personal disillusionment, and I’m really hoping for an S3 to see how that plays out further. 

Goo Hae-ryung from Rookie Historian: Ok, I will admit this may be rose tinted glasses view due to this show being my gateway drug into kdrama, but c’mon! She’s a reader! and a Thinker! And loves her wine! She’s plucky! She’s cute! She’s got a wry sense of humour! She’s got principles! She’s got a solid common sense to her that somehow doesn’t get in the way of her dreaming BIG! Oh dear, doesn’t she sound like the Mary-est of Mary Sues? Good for her.gif,  I say! Anyways, Shin Se-kyung is unutterably charming in this (AS IN EVERY SHOW OMG GIRL) and I just have a huge fondness for free-spirited heroines who get to tramp through the narrative changing the world as they do! 

Lee Ji-an from My Ahjussi: I’ve never had my heart broken more OR restored by any single character. IU is *phenomenal * in this, I think she really stepped up to what the script demanded from her. Ji-an’s weariness, her fear and vulnerability, her prickliness, her anger and her bitterness, and how, despite everything, she fights : GOD. Just. Again, what I love about the writing in this show is that it’s deeply empathetic without being cloyingly sentimental. I think a less, hmm, imaginative writer/PD might have focused on the Lee Ji-an the victim, and while the show definitely tells you in no uncertain terms that she is one,  of both circumstances and a cruel society, I think it refuses to take away her agency over her own life.(Lee Ji-an when we meet her is too busy hanging onto life by tooth and claw to indulge in self-pity, but we also see the toll it takes on her not to be able to say “this is too heavy a burden for me to carry myself and it isn’t my fault”; the show I think approaches Dong-hoon from the opposite side- his emotional isolation is partly a result of his own choices, but he doesn’t see it yet, and so his journey is also about letting people in and sharing the burden, but also recovering his own agency over his life. It’s an interestingly gender-bent arc, which is one of the things I love about this show. )

Ok, can I please add one more?

Hwang Han-joo from Melo is my Nature: She just felt SO real to me. She’s someone who doesn’t have the spectacular brilliance of either Jin-joo or Eun-jung, and struggles with accepting her limitations but not allowing herself to be defeated by them? I love her struggles as a mother, as a working woman in a sexist industry, a woman who’s perhaps having to rethink and reimagine what she wants from romance. I love that she’s a little silly, a lot kind, and an optimist, and just. I just think she’s the bravest of the three, tbh, and I LOVE HER AND I WOULD WATCH A SPIN OFF ABOUT JUST HER (i shouldn’t have faves among the three i know, BUT I DO, IT’S HER, IT’S HER.)

Ok! On to the next section! And I’m going to cheat again because I can’t stop at three. SORRY. NOT SORRY. 

Characters I love and SHOULD write fic for if I weren’t such a tired and lazy bunny:  

Song Sa-hui from Rookie Historian: Oh, girl, girl, GIRL. I love how she fights to snatch her freedom from the jaws of the patriarchy. I love that she unapologetically centers herself while doing that, because she knows that nobody else will.  I love that she’s prickly and calculating. I love that she’s smart and knowledgeable. I am SO HAPPY that she got to carve out a little bit of freedom for herself, even if it also is exile to some degree. She *should * be Emperor Jin’s Prime Minister and steering the ship of state, while also carrying on a tumultous affair with Queen Min Woo-hee, while ALSO commiserating with Emperor Jin about his boyfriend Historian Min Woo-won’s regrettable tendency towards Principles (TM) and masochism-but-not-in-the-fun-way. (This takes up much of his time which is why Song Sa-hui is running the country, of course. It works out well for all concerned, well, except her dad, of course.)

Song Ga-gyeong from Search:WWW: What’s NOT to love about our brilliant, beautiful, emotionally tortured gay icon? Nothing, absolutely nothing. I loved how the show allowed her to be flawed and make bad decisions, and then allowed her to make better decisions and regain control of her life. What I do need to do, of course, is see the CANON LOVE STORY between her and Cha Hyeon through to the end. It must, of course, include at least one baseball game, a lot of tequila and messy beach kisses. 

Oh Ji-hwa from Beyond Evil: Oh boy, this year’s runaway hit cleared the extremely low bar for standard crime/ thriller shows by leaving more than one of its female characters breathing and with all limbs intact, and got called feminist for it BUT it didn’t do justice to any of them in any meaningful way and that never hurt more than in the way they sidelined Kim Shin-rok’s talent by not giving Oh Ji-hwa anything much to do. She’s a tough as nails cop, a loving sister, a devoted but unsentimental friend-and by rights SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE HEROINE OF THIS SHOW. My secret fic fantasy is to rewrite the show entirely by making her , and the two other female characters in non-antagonist roles- Yoo Jae-yi and Im Sun-nyeo- as the central characters, as they investigate a serial killer who targets women.  It’s the only acceptable version of this done-to-death (ha!) genre, I have no idea what the Baeksang jury and tumblr fandom is smoking when they hype the show so much, I want none of it. 

Jung Sun-ah from The Devil Judge: I love her rage, her spite, her passionate defense of women, her style, her sexiness, her rage, her rage, her brilliance, her tenaciousness, her smartness, her clothes, her refusal to hate herself for everything she is and chooses to be, her ambition, her comfort wielding power, her EVERYTHING. Dead, her? NOT IF I HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY ABOUT IT. Here’s what *really * happened at the end of canon- she gets out of the building by planting that lady-like but still deadly gun against Kang Yo-han’s temple and making him lead her through his own “secret escape route” or whatever the fuck it was the show wanted us to believe. From there on out, it’s all sunshine and beaches, and scheming and waiting for the right moment to strike again-though of course, this time around, she also has to reckon with vigilant, tenacious cop Soo-hyun -another character who REALLY didn’t die for manpain reasons and had the good sense to leave her gay best friend to follow his psychopath boyfriend to Switzerland or wherever it is that star crossed lovers in kdrama land meet up on the regs these days- anyways, Soo-hyun and her are in this catch-me-if-you-can epic transnational honest and cute cop-and-beautiful sexy villain chase and yes, they WILL kiss (and more) AND IT WILL BE GLORIOUS. 

*whew *

Thanks for coming to my TEDTalk.

[theaggresivepacifist]

Feel free to ignore me but I'm here to ask you about YOON SE-WON. You could tell me anything you were thinking about him tbh but okay: where do we go from here? When do you think he leaves prison? Can he forgive himself? Will he work again? Can Si-mok and he ever be a team again? (I feel like if Yeo-jin was even slightly less good at making good choices for herself and her life she would take him in. Or is that a good choice?) Idk I just love him and want to know if you have thoughts about any/all these things!

Hi friend! <3 And omg, thank you so much for the ask! I've only recently started thinking in depth about Yoon Se-won and just how tragic and interesting a character he is...and you can probably tell I love to ramble when I'm thinking :D To answer kind of out of order...

When do I think he leaves prison? That is a super interesting question and I don't know enough about sentencing laws in South Korea to answer, so all I have to compare it to is the fact that Kang Jin-seob got sentenced to 22 years for Park Moo-sung's supposed robbery-murder while (the judge thought) lying about it and unrepentant. On the one hand, what Mr. Yoon did was way more violent and calculated, plus he kind of hit several cops at the airport (though I could see Yeo-jin pressing for those charges to be dropped)...therefore I could see it being a much, much longer sentence. On the other hand, I could see him receiving a slightly lighter sentence because he admitted it openly and also clearly had a lot of regret already pre-trial (if him crying in front of Kyung-wan is any indication). Either way, I think he'll certainly be in prison for close to twenty years at minimum. (But if you're looking for fic in which he gets let out earlier, @ohyangchon aka leechangjoon on AO3 has great fic in which he's been released from prison on a special initiative!)

Will he work again? Well, definitely not as a prosecutor, but I could see Kim Jung-bon or another civil righter helping him find some sort of redeeming work after prison - much like Kim Su-hang working in the elderly care home in S2. I don't think Yeo-jin would get involved with that directly, but I see her checking in on him, making sure he's making enough money to pay his rent and keep food on the table, etc.

Can Si-mok and he ever be a team again? I don't think a team, but then again, even in the course of two short years post-meeting Yeo-jin Si-mok became so much more empathetic and genuinely concerned for others, as well as getting shaken up to the point that he realizes no one, not even he and Yeo-jin, are safe from committing corrupt actions under the "right" circumstances. And that dream at the end of S2, that he pictures Mr. Yoon as his colleague, happy and healthy and working as a prosecutor...I think when we last saw him Si-mok is dealing with what Yeo-jin was in S1E16, finally starting to process the hurt and lingering disbelief of Mr. Yoon's betrayal and bad choices. (I say *starting* because he's still detached enough to not think reallll deeply about the fairly obvious implications of Mr. Yoon going away with LCJ in the dream.) I somehow don't see him visiting Se-won in prison, but I picture them a few decades down the line, much older and softened somehow, taking a walk around a lake together and finally having a conversation about what happened, what LCJ meant to them, and putting old grievances to rest. (Ow, this hurts???)

Also, v. curious at what point exactly Si-mok found out that Mr. Yoon was at Anyang Prison and that Yeo-jin had gone to visit him. Did he know all along? What would be his reaction to finding out? I think they'll process all of this differently, and I think there'll always still be an element of distance between Yeo-jin/Si-mok and Se-won. Yeo-jin in particular, while she now knows what he did does not define him, is still able to hold in mind how horrific his crimes were, and maybe there'll never be enough trust to work with him. (I think Si-mok would think working with him is just straight out off the table.) But they *will* reach out often enough to show that they're there for him and they care.

Can he forgive himself? Oooooof that's a difficult one. I think he's going to carry it with him for the rest of his life, and I think it'll always be complicated and compounded by the loss of his son, which I hope he eventually finds peace about. If Park Kyung-wan does come visit him, I think that will help, even though that guilt will never fully be absolved by either of them. But I do think he will realize that he can have a purpose and a mission in the world beyond the short-term one LCJ saw in him, the one that he was willing to plan and accept out of pain and grief. Maybe he will always feel guilt over what he did, but he will also arrive at a place where it doesn't stop him from moving forward and doing his best to live an empathetic and generous life.

Where do we go from here? Season 3 when??? I think it would be a neat completion of the arc that developed through S2, with Yeo-jin and Si-mok and the world around them finally processing the events of S1 more fully, to have Si-mok reach some kind of peace with Se-won. I see Se-won suffering intensely for the next few years but hanging on, just barely, because of people like Yeo-jin and Kyung-wan (and all the people I'm imagining Yeo-jin is going to recruit to visit Se-won) and maybe Si-mok who still care for him and see something worthwhile in him. And when that passes...I hope happiness and peace.

Wow, that was SO MANY more thoughts than I even thought I had XD My apologies for the ramble and I am so grateful for the ask!!! I would love to know your thoughts on these questions too <3

[welcometothecityyy]

"Welcome to the City, CITIZENS! Hello, we are C.T. Boys!" The 12 boys bowed politely. They all individually introduced themselves.

"Since the AES!OCNET 2021 Awards are coming up for us, we're going to answer a few questions given to us," Hyunwoo said, lifting up a bowl full of folded paper slips.

"We'll be taking turns to read and answer some questions," Jin said. "Let's have our leader go first."

Hyunwoo looked up, "Me first? Oh, alright then..." He hummed and mixed up the papers in the bowl, picking one out of the mix. He opened it and read, "What awards are your most / least looking forward to?"

"I mean, there's no awards that we're not looking forward to," Chul said. Jin nodded, agreeing.

"We're looking forward to all the awards...but for the award we're most looking forward too?" Jin said, looking around. Erin raised his hand.

"I'm really looking forward to the Favorite Performance," He smiled.

"Is it because we were nominated for it?" Jaehwa asked. Erin shrugged.

"That, and also because the performance is really pretty," He replied.

"I remembered going to watch you guys perform it once," Yeo said. "It was really pretty, especially the rose formation." He smiled. Hyunwoo passed the bowl to Jin, who mixed it again and pulled out a slip of paper.

Opening the paper up, he read, "Have you prepared for the awards? what about for your potential winner’s speech?" He hummed. "Actually...I haven't thought about making a winner's speech..."

Hyunwoo shrugged. "We're still a rookie group...so we don't expect to get much awards...we were actually surprised when we were told we were nominated for a whole bunch of awards."

"CITIZENS are really awesome..." Eun said. Chul reached over and grabbed the bowl, pulling out a piece of the folded paper.

"Are you expecting to win in these awards?" Chul read. He folded the piece of up again and put it to the side. "As Hyunwoo hyung had said...we're not expecting much awards...but if we do end up winning one, then we'll be happy!" He turned to Jaehwa and passed the bowl to him. The younger boy pulled out a slip and read the question.

"What are your plans for after the awards? Well...." He looked at the rest of the group. "We're already planning for a comeback." Jaehwa smiled slightly. "We've had a bit concept change after BLOOM BLOOM...but I think we'll come back to that cutesy concept soon again." He looked over at Julian and passed over the bowl.

Julian mixed up the papers and pulled one out, reading, "Are there any members who deserved more love in 2021?" He hummed and turned to the three new members. "Yeo, Jiro, and Yoon just joined our group not too long ago, so I hope now that they get all the love they deserve from our fans in others to make them feel welcomed." Eun took the bowl from Julian and pulled out another slip of paper and opened it.

"If you could collab with any artist, who would it be?" Eun said, putting the paper aside. "I really want to collaborate with AXIS! They have great performances, and Jaehwa hyung actually introduced us to his step-brother who's really nice. They already have a special collaboration unit with BLUM, so we should do the same sometime too!"

Jin smiled, "Alright, I think that's enough for today...we still have to get ready for the red carpet~"

"Look out for us in the show CITIZENS!" Hyunwoo said.

[monstatrbl]

Kdrama Review: Hotel Del Luna

This was a highly anticipated drama for myself. It was all I heard about in 2019 and though I hadn’t watched it then, it was on my list to check out. After finally getting around to watch it, I can say that the drama lived up to the hype on some basis but also fails to hit the mark on others. Below are my thoughts. 

Warning: This review does contain some spoilers so please be warned ahead of time! If you want to know my rating however, just skip right to the end.

Why it’s worth a watch:

IU. That’s it. That’s the post. I can’t say I have personally watched a lot of IU dramas but I loved her in Scarlet Heart Ryeo and she once again stuns as Man Wol. Both her acting in the “present” and the “past” plotlines really brought life to the character of Man Wol and allowed the audience to understand this outwardly cold and odd character.

10/10 visuals. It is such an aesthetically pleasing show that I cannot even begin to describe how stunning the shots were.

The OST’s all hit! Not one of them is a skip, though I would say that Paul Kim’s So Long, 10cm’s Lean on Me, and Heize’s Can You See My Heart are my personal favs.

THE OUTFITS! Literally ALL of the outfits that Man Wol wore were stunning and that largely plays to IU having the ability to literally pull anything off! I got so drawn in by the outfits that I found myself looking forward to the episodes if only to see what IU’s character would wear next.

The concept itself was quite interesting. The plot of a hotel where souls could “rest” or “find peace” before moving on to the afterlife is such a unique concept and I found myself really drawn to some of the ghost plotlines.

Man Wol’s past. The entire “past” plotline was probably the heart of this drama. The way the 3 musketeers (as I like to call them) storyline was written and weaved was really well done (with the exception of the ending of Go Chung Myung). The mini pieces of their story that you are given early on makes you curious enough to want to know their journey and how they ended up the way they did. Special shoutout to Lee Do Hyun here because man can he act.

Goo Chan Sung. I know a lot of people had some issues with his character and while I agree on some basis (he doesn’t really have much depth as a character other than being a good guy), he was just a pure joy to watch. Yeo Jin-Goo did a great job in his portrayal of Chan Sung and I especially loved seeing his reactions to the ghosts! He’s just so expressive and really adorable.

Why it failed to hit the mark:

The #1 reason I think this drama falls short is because of its lack of completion specifically in terms of the “goodbyes”. None of the goodbyes, with the exception of maybe Seo Hee’s, felt like they were well done. Rather than any of the emotions that should have been evoked from these scenes such as sadness or catharsis, all I felt was that’s it???? A perfect example of this is the Go Chung Myung. I just hated the way his “goodbye” was handled. Man Wol waited literally centuries to see him and all that was said was “bye” (obviously not exactly like that but that’s what it felt like). A much longer conversation was needed here to really get that feeling of closure. Another example of this is Chan Sung’s goodbye with his mom. Like what was the point of even bringing this up if that was how you were going to deal with it smh. 

I think this same issue runs with some of the storylines beyond just the goodbyes. Rather than having each episode deal with a “ghost” and spending so much time in the episodes focusing on these, I would have preferred to see more of the main characters and their backgrounds or interactions. For example, I would have loved to see Yeonwoo/Youngsoo more. While we did have a “reunion” of sorts between Man Wol and him, I would have loved for there to be more interactions. For them to rebuild a relationship of sorts. He doesn’t have to know their past for that to happen and I was upset they didn’t do that. It would have been especially nice for the “meeting the parents” scene.

The “big” reveals which weren’t very “big” at all. I thought a lot of them were obvious or just plain dumb if I can use that word. For example, the background of Sun Bi was just thrown in at the very end and it really was not as big of a deal as I expected?? Like he waited over 500 years for this??

Sanchez. Don’t get me wrong, I loved Sanchez. He was a fantastic character and I really enjoyed all the scenes he was in. I just thought his storyline was dealt with very sloppily near the end. Like okay on some basis I get why they went with the fiance storyline because then it connects him to Chan Sung’s upcoming issue in terms of the dealing with grief and loss. But they didn’t show that at all?!?! Chan Sung just up and left Sanchez to go to New York after Man Wol?? If that was the plan, why kill Sanchez’s fiance?!? Like it literally made 0 sense especially when they could have instead used that plot to highlight the friendship between Sanchez and Chan Sung and the idea that loss is never easy to deal with but life still moves on and there are people that love you that will help you along the way.

It got draggy. I think this really could have been a well made 12 episode drama. 16 just felt a bit too long and as I got closer to the later episodes, I found myself half paying attention and feeling the need to forward through parts (though I didn’t cause I always feel like I’ll miss something important but it was tough to hold back this time).

The romance felt rushed. Don’t get me wrong Chan Sung and Man Won were cute. I loved their playful interactions but I just felt like it went from being “enemies” of sorts in one episode to suddenly being “in love” with the other the next. I wish they had done more justice to their development together. 

Rating: Overall, Hotel Del Luna was a decent watch. I’d rate it a solid 7 or a 7.5/10. If they had executed things slightly differently in terms of the writing, it really would have been a 10. However, if you are looking an aesthetically pleasing show with amazing soundtracks, it’s a perfect show on that end! 

[offbeatcappuccino]

What I Watched This Week: February 16-23 (*Spoilers*)

Hello friends!

I am starting a new thing, where I will be writing reactions for the kdramas I watch every week. I try to avoid watching completed shows because I often just end up binge-watching them and so I only watching ongoing shows during the semester. However, this means that I have to wait nearly two months to write my reviews and analyses. Therefore, I am starting this new writing project. I hope you all will enjoy reading them!

Sisyphus: The Myth ( Thursdays and Fridays): This past week, I watched the first and second episodes of Sisyphus. Sisyphus stars Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung Woo, where the latter plays Han Tae Sul, an engineer and CEO of the successful company, Quantum and Time. On the other Park Shin Hye, plays the character, Kang Seo Hae, a mysterious young woman, that appears to have time travelled to warn Han Tae Sul. Its been a long time since I watched an action focused sci fi kdrama as I've been riding the rom-com wave for a while, but I was super excited to see Park Shin Hye in a drama. Park Shin Hye, was the first kdrama actress that I was introduced to, and my first kdrama was Doctors. However, this is my first Cho Seung Woo drama. So far, Sisyphus seems super interesting and after watching the first two episodes, I was left with many questions, especially surrounding Tae Sul's brother and why Seo Hae wants to meet Tae Sul ( it looks like they get married or atleast have a wedding, but I want to know more about the specifics about their relationship). Sisyphus has great potential as show. The only concern I have is that the plot may get too convoluted and become hard to follow along. Other similar dramas like The King Eternal Monarch seemed to fall into this trap.

Vincenzo (Saturdays and Sundays) : I also watched the first two episodes of Vincenzo starring Song Joong Ki, Jeon Yeo Been, Ok Taec Yeon, and Yoo Jae Myung. This is the second kdrama that I am watching Song Joong Ki in. The first one was the blockbuster hit "Descendants of The Sun", which starred him and his ex-wife Song Hye Kyo. After Descendants of The Sun, I spent a couple of months, obsessing over Song Joong Ki and was disappointed when I couldn't really commit to watching Arthdal Chronicles. Regardless, I absolutely LOVED the first two episodes of Vincenzo. Before watching Vincenzo, I did not know that it was a dark comedy, and thought it was a thriller, but the comedy in this show is top notch. Its hilarious seeing this dichotomy that exists with Song Joong Ki's Vincenzo Cassano. Vincenzo's the man that doesn't flinch when it comes to pulling the trigger, and yet, you see him on the brink of tears and frustration when the dry cleaners damage his vintage Italian suit. Also, though I initially watched this show for Vincenzo, Hong Cha Yeon stole my heart. She is spunky, hilarious, dramatic, and brilliant. Her character reminds me a lot of Jun Ji Hyun's Cheon Song Yi from My Love From The Star. My only concern with this drama is how reduced Ok Taec Yeon's role is. Ok Taec Yeon is a talented actor, who has succesfully acted in leading roles. Therefore, I found it disappointing to see him reduced as simply playing the dumb intern that exists for comic relief. I hope his character is more flushed out in future episodes!

She Would Never Know ( Mondays and Tuesdays): Finally, I watched Episodes 11 and 12 of She Would Never Know starring Won Jin Ah and Ro Woon. I didn't realize till today how far along I came with watching this show. I haven't been able to be as committed to watching She Would Never Know because it is not available on any mainstream streaming sites for free. Therefore, I have resorted to watching the show on Kiss Asian and the pop-up ads have been annoying. Regardless, She Would Never Know is definitely one of those slow burn dramas that don't make an immediate impact, but they grow on you over time. Cha Hyun Seung and Yoon Song Ah are finally in a relationship and I am here for the fluff! I also love how the show still manages to focus on their professional lives. I find the inner workings and conflicts that come with working for a major cosmetics company. I also am looking forward to seeing how the LGBTQI+ storyline with Cha Hyun Seung’s sister will play out and how Lee Jae Shin’s relationship with Hyo Joo will unfold. Hyo Joo is unfortunately a stereotypical kdrama character, who resorts to playing the unhinged crazy possessive girlfriend, who refuses to move on. At this point, Hyo Joo needs a therapist more than anything and I hope there is a redemption arc for her character. Also, I wish the show would go more into why she’s so hell bent on marrying Lee Jae Shin even though he’s from a lower social class and is frankly not attracted to her. Regardless, I want to give a special shout out to Ha-Eun she’s such a precious character! She really be out here giving better relationship advice than most adults.

[dead-end-street]

For the angst: Hwanghan? Perhaps "I love you" from Si Mok 😬? (But its also Extremely Okay if its not too angsty pls don't hurt my son too much 🥺) Thanks either way, your writing is lovely!

(Read on ao3)

In the many years and months that she’d known him, Yeo-jin never expected things to end up this way. They stood staring at each other, orange, yellow, and red leaves falling around them. The crisp October air was colder than she’d expected and even in the bright sunshine, she shivered slightly now that they’d stopped walking. 

She was visiting him in Wonju for the weekend as she had every few weekends for the past year and a half. He’d tried insisting that he visit her in Seoul more often but she found that she preferred making the trip to see him. The hour and a half drive drive cleared her mind and she enjoyed being away from the craziness of the capital. At first their visits centered around work, discussing theories and motives, or analysing evidence together to get a different perspective. But gradually they began to take day trips to explore the countryside and one time even ventured to Sogeumsan Mountain Suspension Bridge and played tourist for the day. They’d always been friends but now they finally did things together that didn’t revolve around their work. To anyone watching from the outside, the word ‘couple’ wouldn’t be too much of a stretch to describe them. 

If Si-mok ever wanted to cross that line, she wouldn’t protest, however she’d mostly given up on that fantasy a long time ago. He still spoke to her politely but never suggested they drop honorifics completely and speak more casually. It didn’t really bother her because she could still tell he was more casual with her than anyone else in his life by his tone and actions. The way he poured her drink. The way he gently touched her elbow to let her know he was there and he understood how she felt. The way he sat silently gazing at her across the table at dinner sometimes. The way his fist clenched when anyone so much as looked at her sideways. There were a thousand tiny moments like that and she was content to let them just linger in her dreams if it meant she could still laugh and stroll arm-in-arm with him on a chilly autumn day like this.

They paused for a moment for him to take a few pictures of the path ahead of them littered with fallen leaves. She’d gotten him an older refurbished camera on a whim last Christmas in an effort to help him find a hobby other than reading. To both their surprise, he actually enjoyed it as it was still mostly a solitary activity but on days like this when he was snapping photos of nature, she beamed proudly knowing her gift would always be well used. Hearing some dogs barking behind them, she turned to see a pair of corgis chasing each other. She laughed as they tackled each other and ran through the leaves. Out of the corner of her eye she felt someone watching her and turned back to catch him taking pictures of her.

“What are you doing?” she asked, grinning and pretending to reach for the camera. It was roll film anyway so she’d have to wait until he developed it to see what he’d taken, but he still pulled away, playing along with her. A small mischievous smile was on his lips, his eyes practically sparkling. Even though his smiles were less rare now, she still savoured each one like it was the first time.

Just as quickly as his smile had appeared, it disappeared again. She was used to it but there was something else in his expression she couldn’t read.

“I think,” he began, then closed his mouth. He was momentarily distracted by a little boy being chased by his parents. He was laughing and shrieking at the top of his lungs in a way only toddlers could do.

“Yes?” Yeo-jin prompted.

“I love you.”

The phrase hung between them and floated away on the cold breeze. She shivered but didn’t break eye contact. She’d thought of this moment hundreds of times over the years but now she was speechless.

“I’m telling you this because I think you love me too.”

She wanted to run around flailing her arms and scream like the toddler they’d just seen. Her heart was pounding so hard.

He continued, “I’m telling you because, even though I think I love you, I can’t be sure.” He stepped closer and placed the lens cover back on his camera. “I can only mimic the actions, but I can’t feel it and I don’t want to give you false hope.”

Her face suddenly felt hot and her eyes stung. She didn’t understand what was happening. Was he telling her he loved her but also letting her down nicely?

“I’ve read a lot about relationships and love but I don’t think I can truly experience it, let alone give it back.”

“I don’t…” she felt like she’d been punched in the gut. “I don’t understand what you’re trying to tell me.”

“I’m trying to tell you that you should let go of me. I think you’ve loved me for a while and maybe I do too, somewhere deep down, but I’ll never be sure and I wouldn’t want you to have to live with that doubt. You deserve someone who can show you love in all the ways that matter. You deserve someone who would do all those ridiculous, romantic things you love in those dramas you watch.” He paused briefly to tilt his head to look at her then added, “I could never give that to you.”

Hot tears were now falling freely from her eyes. She scrubbed at her face, annoyed at herself for crying.

“I don’t need all those things. I just need you,” she whispered because her voice seemed to have stopped working.

“That’s a naive statement to make. It may feel like it doesn’t matter now but I know you and you’ll want more, and you shouldn’t feel bad about that. You deserve all parts of love.”

Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath trying to steady herself. When she opened her eyes, he was already walking back to the car. Watching his retreating form surrounded by the colourful leaves she felt something break in her chest and she involuntarily let out a sob. How could this be happening?

The car ride back to his place was torture. She kept thinking of things to say to him as a rebuttal to his previous statements, but she was afraid she’d start crying again. By the time they pulled up next to her car she was past her shock and somehow moved onto anger. She grabbed her things, tossed them into her car and drove away, barely saying goodbye to him. Halfway into her drive back to Seoul, she was back to crying listening to a sad music playlist. When she was 10 minutes from her apartment she got a call from him, which she ignored and he didn’t leave a voicemail. 

She went to bed that night feeling numb. While she felt that most of what he’d said was wrong, one line stuck with her and she hated it. ‘You’ll want more, and you shouldn’t feel bad about that.’ She wanted to believe that it didn’t matter to her but she couldn’t pretend that she hadn’t imagined falling in love with someone who would treat her in a certain way and make her feel like she was special and cherished. Part of her knew most of that was a fantasy but another part still craved it and if she was being honest, Si-mok would never be like that. At least not in the way she'd imagined. 

She turned on her side to reach for her phone to check the time. She had a text from him that just read, “I’m sorry for upsetting you. I hope you made it home safely.”

She fell into a dreamless sleep that night while hugging her phone and when she woke up in the morning, her pillow was damp from her tears.

---

Prompt List - Ask Box now closed since I’ve received quite a few already.

[yourkdramaanalyst]

MYSTIC POP-UP BAR REVIEW

• Introduction to the Drama

GIST:

Mystic Pop-Up Bar or 쌍갑포차 is about Weolju (played by Hwang Jung Eum), a spirit who is being punished by the heavens because of a mistake she made 500 years ago. To not end up in hell, she was offered to resolve the problems of 100,000 people and help them let go of their grudges. She opened up a cart bar where she hears the stories of her customers and help them out by visiting them in their dreams. Guibanjang or Manager Gwi (played by Choi Won Young) was sent to help her manage the cart bar. A month before Weolju's deadline, they met Kangbae (played by Yook Sung Jae), a customer service employer who can make people spill their problems and worries by being touched.

This drama is based on a popular web-comic Twin Tops Bar by Bae Hye-soo.

Hwang Jung Eum's last drama was in 2018 which made this drama her comeback. She is a Romantic-Comedy queen who is well known for her roles in She Was Pretty, Kill Me, Heal Me and Lucky Romance.

Yook Sung Jae is a member of the K-pop boy group Born to Beat or simply BtoB. He's famous for his roles in Guardian: The Lonely and Great God / Goblin and Who Are You: School 2015 (I still can't get over my second lead syndrome in this drama. I am Team Go Tae Kwang).

Choi Won Young was also in Kill Me, Heal Me with Hwang Jung Eum. He's been on many dramas like Hyena which was aired recently, Sky Castle and While You Were Sleeping. He also appeared a lot on the big screen.

• The Experience

When I watched the the trailer, it felt odd because it resembles Hotel Del Luna a lot. Even though, this kind of plot is already common among Korean series, the familiar setting, symbolism and elements are what made me think of Hotel Del Luna in particular. But no, Mystic Pop-Up Bar is not based on Hotel Del Luna at all because the web-comic was published in 2016, years ago before it aired on TV.

Here are some similarities and differences the two dramas have that I found:

1. Both the female leads are being punished for their sins and mistakes hundreds of years ago.

2. Both the female leads' goal is to help their customers resolve their problems. The difference is that Jang Man Wol focuses on the dead so they can ascend to heaven while Weolju helps both the living and the dead by entering their dreams.

3. Koo Chan Sung and Han Kang Bae. Both of these young and innocent men appeared to help resolve their cases.

4. The tree! The tree plays a vital role in both dramas.

5. The place of their business. Jang Man Wol has a fancy hotel that serves as a resting place for the dead while Weolju has a cart bar for people who have worries in life. 

These are just some of my observations. I'm not implying anything. Both dramas have their own uniqueness.

Going back to my experience, I can say it was pretty good. I was actually busy these days, even so, I was still able to binge-watch the drama. I thought I wouldn't be able to catch up but I ended up watching more episodes whenever I finish one. It was a pretty short one since it only has 12 episodes so it was fast to watch. I finished it in 4 days (I started watching 2 days before the release of 11th episode), which was understandable considering I am busy and also binge-watching other dramas.

• Points that I Liked About the Drama

1. It is easy to watch because it is light, quirky, and funny. Almost every episode is fun to watch but not to the point where you are gonna mistake the genre for comedy. It is not overdone. The scenes and their funny dialogues are what I enjoyed the most.

2. The flow of the story was just right for me. It's not exhausting to watch. Some dramas were hard to watch at a particular time. For instance, boring ones are hard to watch in the afternoon because it makes me sleepy so I prefer watching fast paced aka. exhausting ones in the afternoon. However, with Mystic Pop-Up Bar, I can watch it anytime of the day.

3. The characters are likable. I loved the trio. Even the supporting ones are warm and endearing. Sometimes I would even look for them in some episodes, specially Samsin, the conception dream provider and Kang Yeo Rin, Kang Bae's love interest.

4. Not emotionally draining. I had worries when I watched the first episode. "What if it becomes too emotional whenever they help someone?" Not really. I don't even remember crying. Dramas with plots like this, Hotel Del Luna for example, it drained me a lot that I ran out of tissues to wipe my tears. That's not a bad thing at all, it only means it has impact. It's just that with Mystic Pop-Up Bar, I watched it at a time when I am already physically drained. So far it was bearable. And it feels more fresh that way. (Sorry, I keep comparing the 2 dramas).

5. I like its uniqueness. They showed some afterlife scenarios that are really interesting. One example is the way they deliberate when a person dies, whether you'll get reincarnated or turned in an insect. Another is the afterlife Olympics. It's a really funny episode.

6. There is a theme for every episode/ every case. For instance, the food that they serve for the day has a connection to their client. One more example is when they had a Romeo and Juliet theme for a client who is a writer. They even paid attention to details like this which was fun and appreciative.

7. So Chan Whee's guest appearance! I literally jumped when she appeared out of nowhere.

• Points that I Didn't Like About the Drama

1. Predictable scenes. Not everything, though. Maybe just half of it. Especially the first few episodes when the story revolves mostly on the people who have issues that needed to be resolved. Mainly because, as I already mentioned, dramas like this are already common.

2. It got a little weird when it was almost ending. There are sudden appearances that didn't seem important at all. Their timing of appearance seems off as well.

3. The motive of Kim Won Hyung was not that convincing for me. He just annoyed me but I didn't see him as the main villain.

• The Ending

I did not have high expectations when I started to watch the drama. I told myself that I will not get disappointed if the ending feels rushed because that's usually the case with short dramas.

The ending was fine, though. There were unexpected turn of events which I found interesting and made me nod my head and say "Ohhhh, that's why!" Even though the conclusion was lacking a bit, I didn't regret watching it since I had a good time.

I didn't cry while watching the entire drama but started tearing a little the moment I realized it already ended. When Dive by Jung Jin Woo started playing along with some scenarios from different episodes, I felt a little sad. I will miss the characters for sure.

However, just like other dramas, I had a lot of issues with this drama, too. Don't worry, these "issues" are mostly just observations, uncertainties and questions I have because sometimes, I get out of focus and I get confused, too. I will mention them below on the issues section which you should skip if you want to avoid spoilers!

• Final Thoughts

Would I watch it again? No.

Would I recommend it? Yes. I would recommend Mystic Pop-Up Bar to those who like light and funny dramas. This is also a good drama for those who just casually watch dramas and those who are beginning to explore the K-Drama world.

I am giving Mystic Pop-Up Bar a 7/10.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

• Issues (MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!!!)

1. The queen or the crown prince's mother's appearance and her remembering her past life is too sudden. It seems off and too convenient. She died fast, too. And her death was awful.

2. The group of evil thugs at the last episode. When did Kim Won Hyung gather all those spirits? That was so weird.

3. If Won Hyung could change his face as revealed in the last episode when he pretended to be Weolju, why did he bother possess his father in the previous episodes if he could just change into anyone he likes? So he could prevent his father and him meeting the same people at the same time?

4. For Weolju to not be sent to hell after knowing who Cinnabar is, Guibanjang made it so easy. Just a quick negotiations with Yeomradaewang and everything is smooth once again.

5. Did Yeorin figure out that they are not CIA agents after all? LOL. And where did she go after fighting the weird thugs during the last episode?

And that concludes my Mystic Pop-Up Bar review! I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing this. I hope my personal thoughts and insights were helpful at all.

To more K-Drama Reviews! Cheers!

[kdramalifee]

What are your most favorite/recommended dramas? I've honestly only have watched 4 cause never know where to start once I finish one. Thank you!! 💕

Sorry of the late reply ❤

Here’s a “few” dramas that I enjoyed. Some of them fall into more than one category so I’ve written what categories I feel they fall into for each one. I’m going to write the amount of episodes for each show, but I’ll only be counting by (approx.) hour, so if the drama has 32 episodes where each “episode” is half an hour, I’ll write it as 16 episodes. Also some of these have several names, so I’ve just used the one they use on mydramalist. I’ve bolded my favourites.

This list might seem a bit daunting (as it is quite long) but I recommend looking at the specific genres you know you enjoy and just pick one you think seems interesting (there’s no shame in dropping a drama if it doesn’t grip you). If you can’t decide which one to start first, send me a message with the ones you’re trying to choose between and I’ll help you decide ^^

Action/suspense/Crime:

Bad Guys: 11 episodes, Action, Thriller, Psychological. A police detective gathers a team of criminals to combat crime in exchange for reducing their sentence. Throughout the drama, secrets are revealed. 

Class of Lies: 16 episodes, Suspense, School, Mystery, Law. A highly successful lawyer falls from grace after the fallout from one of his cases. He fakes his identity to get the position as a teacher at the school connected to this case in an attempt to uncover the truth and save his reputation. 

Cross: 16 episodes, Medical, Suspense. To get revenge for the death of his father, Kang In Kyu becomes a (highly skilled) doctor/surgeon and gets a job at the prison where his father’s killer resides in order to kill him.

Doubtful Victory: 20 episodes, Mystery, Crime. A man who was wrongfully sentenced to death when he was younger escapes from prison and fakes his identity as a police officer to help prove his innocence.  (Just a heads up: I don’t think a lot of people liked this drama (it gets a bit draggy in the middle). I liked it, but I think that’s an unpopular opinion)  

Kill It: 12 episodes, Action, Thriller. Kim Soo Hyun is a veterinarian who is also a professional killer. One day he is hired in exchange for information about his past. At the same time a detective is trying to find Kim Soo Hyun. They both uncover a mystery regarding their shared past. 

Healer: 20 episodes, Romance, Action, Mystery.  "Healer” is a special kind of night courier, that gets his clients whatever they want, as long as it doesn't involve murder. He is hired by a famous reporter to collect information on a second-rate tabloid writer. He begins to uncover the mystery of his own shared past with the two reporters, thus putting them all in danger. (This is a very popular drama that a lot of people have seen, so if you haven’t seen it I would recommend it.)

Mad Dog: 16 episodes, Action, Investigation, Mystery. A group calling themselves “Mad Dog” fights against insurance scams. They start working with Kim Min Joon, the brother of the man who crashed a plane killing the child and wife of the leader of Mad Dog. They try to uncover the truth behind the plane crash.

Player: 14 episodes, Action, Investigation. A private investigation team consisting of a swindler, a fighter, an elite hacker, and a talented driver is asked to take back property hidden away by criminals.

Save Me: 16 episodes, Psychological, Suspense. Following the failure of her father's business, Sang Mi and her family move to Muji-gun where they have no friends or relatives. After a tragic event, the family is taken in by the “Spiritual Father” resulting in them being trapped in a cult. Four young men try to save her.  

Stranger: 16 episodes, Investigation, Mystery.  Hwang Shi Mok had brain surgery when he was a child, which caused him to lack emotion. Now, Hwang Shi Mok works as a prosecutor. He meets Police Lieutenant Han Yeo Jin at a murder crime scene and they work together to eradicate corruption at the prosecutor's office and solve a serial murder case.

The Guardians: 16 episodes, Action, Thriller.  After the murder of her daughter, Jo Soo Ji joins forces with a few other people to monitor criminals 24 hours a day and rescue potential victims before the crime is committed. Together with these people she fights to get justice for her daughter, who’s murderer is still free.

WATCHER: 16 episodes, Action, Suspense, Investigation. Kim Young Goon became a police officer after his father was imprisoned for the murder of his mother. The detective who imprisoned his father is the leader of the internal affairs investigation team and gets Young Goon to join in order to fight against corruption and uncover the truth behind the tragic incident.  

Fantasy/sci-fi: 

Angels Last Mission: Love: 16 episodes, Romance, Fantasy.  Lee Yeon Seo is the prima ballerina, but after an accident she has to give up her dream. After her parents' sudden death, she doesn’t trust anyone since there are a lot of people lurking around her and her inherited money. Kim Dan is an optimistic, carefree angel who is always getting into trouble. In order to return to heaven, he is tasked with a mission to find true love for the talented but emotionally distant ballerina

Are You Human Too?: 18 episodes, Romace, Sci-fi. After loosing her son to her father in law, a woman creates an android to replace him. Years later the android called Nam Shin III must pretend to be the son of the rich family when the real Nam Shin falls into a coma.

Chicago Typewriter: 16 episodes, Fantasy/Supernatural, Romance. The story of a popular writer suffering from writers block, a fan of said author and a literal GHOST writer who starts writing for the main character. In a past life, these three people were all members of the resistance wanting to free Korea from the Japanese occupation. The story is set in modern times and in the 1930′s. 

Circle: 12 episodes, Alien, Sci-fi, Mystery. This drama is set in both 2017 and the year 2037. In 2017 we follow the story of a college student working together with a woman that looks identical to a girl he knew as a child to investigate suicides that she insists are actually murders. In 2037 technology has advanced to the point where you can control human emotion (creating a city without crime). A detective enters this city in order to investigate a missing persons case from 2017. (The first half of each episode is set in 2017, the other half in 2037). 

Duel: 16 episodes, Sci-fi, Crime, Suspense. After his daughter gets kidnapped a detective tries all he can to get her back. Suddenly the culprit shows up without any memories, denying that he has anything to do with the case. They work together to find the detectives daughter and uncover secrets along the way. 

EXIT: 2 episodes (drama special), Sci-fi, Psychological.  Kang Soo is a loan shark that tries to get by day to day in his depressing reality. No matter how hard he tries, he can't escape the nightmare of his reality, and when he was about to give up on his life, he sees a flier asking, "Do you want to become happy?" He goes to the research center, however, he learns that happiness comes at a steep price of 300,000 dollars. He decides to steal the money.

Extraordinary You: 16 episodes, Romance, Fantasy, School.  Eun Dan Oh, a 17 year-old high-school student, experiences gaps in her memory and eventually comes to the realization that she’s living in a comic book. Not only that, but she is also a secondary character who’s supposed to die later on in the story due to a heart condition. She decides to change her fate and defy the writer to get a happy ending for herself. 

Go Back Couple: 12 episodes, Fantasy, Life, Romance.  Choi Ban Do and Ma Jin Joo are both 38-years-old and a married couple. Choi Ban Do has been burdened with being the breadwinner and Ma Jin Joo is a housewife with low self-esteem. Even though they loved each other when they married, they now hate each other. They both regret marrying at such a young age. The couple travels through time and finds themselves as 20-year-old university students when they met for the first time.

He is Psychometric: 16 episodes, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Comedy. After losing his parents in a fire, Lee Ahn acquires the power of psychometry, the ability to read a person or an object's past through physical contact, and he decides to use it to take bad people down. While he does not know how to control his power yet, he meets Yoon Jae In who tries her best to hide her painful secrets. Together with his foster guardian, prosecutor Kang Sung Mo, and the latter's colleague, investigator Eun Ji Soo, they team up to solve an elusive case that has been haunting the lives of Ahn, Sung Mo, and Jae In.

Life on Mars: 16 episodes, Fantasy, Mystery, Suspense. As leader of a crime investigation team, Han Tae Joo has propelled his career and risen through the ranks by trusting data over all else. One day, while investigating a serial murder case, he has an accident. When he wakes up, he suddenly finds himself in the winter of 1988. He doesn't know why, but he's now a detective appointed to work at a police station in a small city. To get back to the present day, Han Tae Joo tries to solve the case.

Signal: 16 episodes, Mystery, Fantasy, Crime.  Fifteen years ago, a young girl was kidnapped on the way from school, and Park Hae Yeong, who was an elementary school student at that time, witnessed the crime. A few days later, the girl was found dead, and the police were not able to find the culprit. As time went by, Hae Yeong started distrusting the police. Fifteen years later, Hae Yeong is now a police officer and criminal profiler. One day, he finds a walkie-talkie that allows him to get in contact with Detective Lee Jae Han who is in the past. They then set out on a journey to solve cold cases.

Splash Splash Love: 2 episodes (Drama Special), Romance, Fantasy. Dan Bi is a high school senior who has given up on math. On the day she is about to take the KSAT for college, she is transported back into the past during a freak rain shower. She finds herself hundreds of years in the past at the height of the Joseon Kingdom, which is suffering from a severe drought. She encounters King Lee Do who yearns to learn advanced mathematics and falls in love with him.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon: 16 episodes, Romance, Fantasy. Bong Soon is a woman with supernatural strenght who pines after a childhood crush who now works as a police officer. She is approached by the CEO of a gaming company who has a distrust for the police and she starts working as a bodyguard for him. (There are some problematic elements to this show, but the romance is really sweet) 

The Guest: 16 episodes, Supernatural, Horror, Mystery. It centers around three characters who had their lives ruined by a demon called “Son” (the guest) when they were kids. Yoon Hwa Pyung is a psychic that can see ghosts and who was once possessed by “Son” causing his mother and his grandmother to die and his father to try to kill him. Kang Gil Young is a detective whose mother was killed by the demon and Choi Yoon/ Mateo is a catholic priest that exorcises demons and whose brother was once possessed by “Son” causing him to kill his family. They band together to find and stop “Son”.

You Who Came From the Stars: 21 episodes, Romance, Fantasy. Do Min Joon is an alien who landed on Earth 400 years ago during the Joseon Dynasty period. He possesses a near perfect appearance and enhanced physical abilities involving his vision, hearing and speed. Later, he discovers that he has three months left on Earth. And that is when he meets Cheon Song Yi, the biggest Hallyu star in Korea.

Romance:

Come and Hug Me: 16 episodes, Suspense, Romance, Melodrama. When they were children, Yoon Na Moo and Gil Nak Won were each others first love. They are forced to break apart when Na Moo's father Yoon Hee Jae, a psychopath serial killer, murders Nak Won's parents. 12 years later, Jae Yi has become a popular actress and Do Jin is now an experienced detective trying to repent for his fathers sins. They meet again and start to develop a relationship.

Descendants of the Sun: 16 episodes, Romance, Medical, Action. Kang Mo Yeon works as a cardiothoracic surgeon and Yoo Shi Jin is the Captain and team leader of Alpha Team. They both get sent into an area of conflict, and start to devolop a relationship.

Hospital Ship: 20 episodes, Romance, Medical. This drama is about army doctors aboard a hospital ship, which is a floating hospital that serves people who live on remote islands. Eun Jae, a cold perfectionist surgeon whose fast-track career was derailed, starts working at the ship.

Just Between Lovers: 16 episodes, Romance, Melodrama. A shopping center collapses killing many people. When he was 15, Lee Gang Doo dreamed of playing for the Korean national soccer team, but a serious injury sustained as a result of the accident destroys those dreams. In the years after the accident, Gang Doo spends his days fighting through physical and emotional pain, struggling to support his sister and pay back a hefty debt, and working as a construction worker. When she was 15, Ha Moon Soo lived through the accident, and years later she is still plagued by nightmares. She lives above the women’s bath house that her mother runs and specializes in making architectural models that are an important safety element in any major building planning process. Years after the incident, a construction project is due to kick-off at the accident site, and they both get involved in the project, causing them to develop a relationship while struggling with the painful memories it brings back. 

Shopping King Louie: 16 episodes, Romance. The story of “Shopaholic Louie” revolves around a handsome shopaholic named Louie, who is the successor of a vast business empire but becomes homeless after suffering from amnesia. Meanwhile, Koh Bok Shil, a country girl who lives a life that is worlds apart from the rich and famous, encounters Louie in Seoul. They develop a relationship.

Thirty but Seventeen: 16 episodes, Romance. Woo Seo Ri, a violin prodigy at 17 who was about to study in Germany, got into a bus accident and fell into a coma waking up 13 years later. Mentally she is still only 17, while physically she is now 30. Due to a trauma he experienced 13 years before, Gong Woo Jin does not want to have a relationship with others. They get to know each other and try and open the door to the happiness that they once thought had been closed to them.

When the Camellia Blooms: 20 episodes, Romance, Thriller, Life. Dong Baek is a single mother living in the small town of Ongsan. She runs the bar-restaurant Camellia, while also taking care of her son Pil Gu. The people of Ongsan frequently gossip about Dong Baek. She grew up as an orphan, is a single mother and runs a bar where many of the men in Ongsan frequent. Regardless of what the locals may whisper about Dong Baek, local police officer Hwang Yong Shik is deeply in love with her. Meanwhile, Dong Baek's ex-boyfriend Kang Jong Ryeol suddenly reappears in her life. He is a famous baseball player, that hid their relationship when they dated. While Dong Baek tries to find happiness, something truly sinister lurks in the background. A serial killer roams Ongsan and Dong Baek may be a target.

Historical:

Kingdom: 6 episodes, Action, Historical, Zombie. The King falls ill to smallpox and rumors start to spread that he has actually died. Meanwhile, Crown Prince Lee Chang is labeled a traitor by the Haewon Cho Clan, the clan of the current pregnant Queen and her father, Chief State Councillor Cho Hak Joo. While trying to uncover the mystery of what happened to his father, the Crown Prince goes with his guard, Moo Young, to Dongnae to look for the physician that treated his father, only to be stuck with Assistant Physician Seo Bi and a mysterious man named Young Shin in a village plagued with a terrifying disease.

My Country: 16 episodes, Historical, Action, Romance, Tragedy. Two friends ends up on opposite sides in a conflict involving the fight for the crown. Confronted with betrayal the two of them have to learn how to fight against their best friend all while trying to stay good in a cruel world.  

The Tale of Nokdu: 16 episodes, Action, Romance, Comedy. One day, Nok Du’s father and older brother are attacked by a group of female assassins. Jeon Nok Du chases after one of the assassins to the capital. To find out why his family was attacked, Jeon Nok Du disguises himself as a woman and enters a widow village where the assassins are hiding. There, he meets Dong Dong Ju who is an apprentice to become a gisaeng.

Misc:

Age of Youth: 12 episodes, Friendship, Life.  Five girls in their twenties come to live together in a house called "Belle Epoque. As the girls feel a bond of sympathy and become closer, they also deal with their personal issues as they live out their eventful twenties. The drama follows their struggles and incidents dealing with relationships - within their circles, with dating, and with each other - and a variety of events they are experiencing including credits, part-time jobs, drinking, hopes and dreams. (This drama also has a second season)

Avengers Social Club: 12 episodes, Friendship, Life.  Features three women from different walks of life coming together for revenge: a fish store ajumma who envisioned a better life for herself, a housewife, and a chaebol’s daughter who was raised like a delicate greenhouse flower. They’re an unlikely trio who would never otherwise meet, but they join forces to carry out their individual revenges. Although they start out as co-conspirators, along the way they’ll build a strong friendship.

Chief Kim: 20 episodes, Business, Comedy. Kim Sung Ryong is a skilled accountant who works for gangsters. He makes his way into a company called TQ Group as a middle manager in the accounting department with the intention of embezzling money from the company. As he contends with hot-shot accountant Yoon Ha Kyung, financial prodigy Seo Yul and peppy intern Hong Ga Eun, Sung Ryong finds himself embroiled in office politics and notices other shenanigans by those in power that threaten to bring down the company. Sung Ryong slowly comes to realize that he’d rather fight against corporate corruption and fight for employees’ rights than complete the mission he originally came to do. 

Miss Hammurabi: 16 episodes, Law, Romance. Park Cha Oh Reum is a newly appointed judge who is assigned to the 44th Civil Affairs Department at the Seoul Central District. She is always on the lookout for injustice and is able to profoundly empathize with others. Compared to her, Im Ba Reun is a cool-headed man of principle with the creed of ‘Court that is equal to all’, and he is displeased with junior judge Park Cha Oh Reum who is overly sympathetic when it comes to cases. (There is one moment in the first episode (I believe) where something problematic occurs, but I think its only that one thing). 

Psychopath Diary: 16 episodes, Comedy, Mystery.  Yook Dong Sik is a 34-year-old office worker who is so weak and timid that he is used by everybody around him. After an incident, he becomes the scapegoat of his company, and so facing losing his job and his family turning their back on him, he decides to commit suicide. While doing so, he unexpectedly stumbles across a murder scene, but gets into an accident while running from the murderer. He wakes up with amnesia with the psychopath's diary in his possession. With no clues to his true nature other than the diary,and his fragmented memory lining up with the diary entry, he begins to believe that he is in fact a psychopath serial killer.

Happy watching! 

[kdramaxoxo]

I just saw your post talking about your love of Noona romances and wondered if you had any recs. :) Ones I've watched: Witch's Romance, One Spring Night, Hello My Teacher, Something in the Rain, Encounter, and Last Cinderella. Thanks! :D

Yes, I adore Noona Romances!

I loved Witch’s Romance (OMG their first kiss!) and Encounter was soft and lovely too. I’d highly recommend them to anyone looking for a good Noona Romance.

Other K-drama Noona Romances:

Secret Love Affair: There really is no other k-drama like this one: A dark and serious  love story between an older women working in a music univerity, and a gifted pianist. The chemistry between Yoo ah In and Kim Hae ae is really intense and unique. This is the moment that I fell for Yoo Ah In as an actor (I’d seen him in other things but this one was the clincher). It’s a very stressful drama with a slow pace and and a very distinctive soundtrack. It wasn’t my jam but I’m glad I saw it!

Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food / Something In The Rain: I have LOTS of feelings about this drama (mostly because i have a hard time with really mean parents, which is a very common k-drama theme) but I’ve never seen so much cuteness in the first 6 episodes of a k-drama, ever. While this IS a romance between a younger childhood friend of an older women, there are a lot of other issues being address: Sexual harrassment in the workplace, the pressures of being an older woman/marriage, family dysfunction, etc. Also, it has an unusually indie filming style, making it feel unlike other dramas out there. I still recommend everyone see it but you’ll have feelings when you’re done! #theworstmom

Romance Is A Bonus Book: I medium liked this workplace drama. Mostly I was so in love with the second lead it was hard for me to watch impartially :) Also, one of my favorite things about Noona Romances is the lady is usually higher up at work than the man and this was not the case for RIABB which bothered me a little. It’s still a light cute romance in a workplace setting with a decent romance.

Search: WWW: This is not technically a Noona Romance but does have TWO THREE noona romances in it so it counts! One pair features a very high up older lady and a smitten pup who easily gives up some of his life goals to meet her where she is, which I really liked (at least, the way they handled it). And the second noona romance features my absolute dreamboat goddess Scarlett and a much younger actor. And the third is my gay ship that may or may not exist between Scarlett and Ga Gyeong. 

When I was the Prettiest: A short drama special about an older woman with cancer who meets a younger man (Lee Jong Suk) at the hospital. It was an interesting drama with a very awkward kiss scene but the Lee Jong Suk’s character was interesting and I really loved the ending. It was very empowering for the woman.

Reunited Worlds: This drama is not popular and was not well received (due to the acting chops of the second lead) but I loved it. A high school teen (Yeo Jin Goo) is killed and through k-drama ghost magic nonsense, comes back 12 years later and finds his first love, now much older than him. This is an unusual noona romance because the leading lady is NOT successful in her work when they start their romance. It was a very beautiful love story though (oh Yeo Jin Goo how do you DO IT!), and I enjoyed the melo moments mixed with total cuteness. I laughed, I cried :) 

[kakenaku]

Who are your favourite protagonists and why?

Hmm honestly anyone protagonist from my top 10 dramas because they’re all such fantastic people.

Bae Doona as Detective Han Yeo Jin in Secret Forest

It was fairly obvious she’d make it on my list because she was just amazing. She’s 100% my favourite FL and for good reason. Whenever she rolled her eyes or gave those lousy police officers death glares I felt warm inside. Also the way her brain worked was just hilarious, sometimes she’d do something and i’d be so confused. When the synopsis has ‘eccentric female lead’ Yeojin is exactly who i think of.

Lee Yooyoung as Shin Jae Yi in Tunnel

I don’t know what it was about this particular character that spoke to me, but she was spectacular. Compare to the male leads she barely spoke or expressed much emotion, but then after that one scene near the end (I think we know) she suddenly broke and you could see how much she was trying to keep it together throughout. A similar thing could be said about Lieutenant Kim who flipped the hell out when he found the man who killed his mother and he just went wild…so powerful.

Kim Seonho as Ko Ji Seok in Catch the Ghost

this photo gave me butterflies send help

Best believe he’s on the list because he completely captured my heart. His range of emotions and expressions is insane, he’s such a compassionate soul but also sensitive and I love him for it. He’s constantly questioning his actions and is always there to support others. Jiseok is the best lead of 2019 and I’m not taking this back ever.

Ryu Junyeol as Kim Jung Hwan in Reply 1988

He’s a protagonist in my teary eyes ok. I think I just love the really quiet characters who suddenly show they’re human too near the end. We all know why Junghwan has a special place in my heart as one of the cutest characters ever. #TeamJunghwan (forever)

Jung Kyungho as Han Tae Joo in Life on Mars

In all honesty i’ve just added Tae Joo because he was really going through it lmao. Every day he just looked exhausted but he somehow powered through it all. He really looked broken a few episodes in and every episode he really showed that he was going through turmoil, which subsequently made me cry like a baby. The first time he smiled i smiled so hard.

Jang Nara as Ma Jin Joo in Go Back Couple

Speaking of characters that made me cry like a baby, Jinjoo was one of the characters that stabbed me right in the heart. Not really a spoiler, but when she first saw her mum and broke down in tears…i felt that. Then her letter to her too? I was practically drained of emotions because of her. She really took full advantage of her trip back to the past and just seeing her feel young again with her school friends was beautiful. It was clear that she had lost her identity after becoming a mother and the experience brought the colour back into her cheeks (without getting rid of the kids like a certain other drama…*cough* familiar wife *cough*)

[4seasonswithiu]

[TRANS] 190711 OnlyU-IU China share fun moments they had with IU and her team on the set of Hotel Del Luna

Our staff members double checked the items before the departure with an anxious heart. Fortunately, we were able to reach the set on time despite the heavy traffic. The food truck, tent, tables and banners were all set up when we arrived at the set. Then, it took us another 40 minutes to prepare all the gifts by putting them carefully in each paper bag and stacking them up on the table beside the buffet tent.

Not too long after we were done with the gift preparations, manager Hanteo approached us, gave us his warm greetings before checking out the buffet tent. As the weather was pretty hot, Hanteo jokingly told us that he would ‘drink’ all the (Ghana) chocolates within the gift bag right away. When going through the other gifts, we especially pointed out that the Voluspa aromatherapy candles were for IU Team, so Hanteo thanked us in Mandarin, saying “xie xie!” as well.

He reminded us that since we would have to wait a little longer, so stay away from the sun in some shade. He also passed on the gifts to director Oh, actor Yeo Jin Goo and IU Team. Later, PD told us we could pass the gift to IU in person in a while.

We gave the staff of Hotel Del Luna the gifts we prepared as they passed by from time to time. During dinner time, some staff came to collect their gifts and we got the HDL team PD to pass on the remaining gifts to other busy staff on the set. 

Around 8PM, IU finally appeared in her pony tail, white loose t-shirt and pants. Since the coffee truck was right beside the entrance, so she took lots of proof photos with the help of Hyesun and the new manager (Moon Ji Hwan) first. After greeting us, she expressed her gratitude for the gifts and meal that we prepared, telling us that she would enjoy the meal and asking whether we were hungry as well or not. We still managed to answer her that we were ‘hungry’ though our mind went completely blank at that moment as we were softened by her sweet tender eyes. IU then invited us to join her for dinner.

The HDL team PD also encouraged us to sit beside IU for dinner. Together, we also had Hanteo, Hyeseon and the new manager (Ji Hwan) with us in one table, and thankfully all of them ate a lot. IU seemed to have noticed how nervous we were, so she kept initiating conversation with us. She said, “we (IU Team) are usually quiet whenever we eat, and given the hot weather and packed filming schedules today, so everyone’s still in a daze. Did all of you travel all the way from China? It must have been hard for you guys to be here given the scorching hot weather.” When she was told that some of us would have to catch the early morning flight in a bit, she frowned as pain and sadness clouded her features.

When eating, director Oh came by so IU introduced him to us and we quickly bowed to him. Director Oh was pretty adorable and not all that serious or solemn as he greeted us enthusiastically and expressed his gratitude for our support. He kept the Hotel Del Luna customised towel around his neck all the time, even when he was having his meal.

Seeing how most of them were almost done with eating, we brought out the gifts and explained to them about the Diptyque’s limited edition ‘The Legend of the North’ series’ candles first. IU was touched upon knowing that we chose the candles because it suited Man Wol’s mysterious aura, saying “ah~ because it suits Man Wol!”. She also let out a tiny ‘wow’ when we told her we bought GUCCI’s A Kiss from Violet perfumed oil for her because its violet scented (IU’s favourite). We also let IU have a look at our charity/ donation certificate, telling her that hundreds of Uaenas participated in this donation and some of us visited the institute with some necessities and played with the kids there to which IU replied ‘aigoo’ tsunderely/ proudly and dearly. She also asked about the details and complimented us ‘Hen BBang!’ (so amazing) in Mandarin since one of us personally went to the welfare institute. IU gave us a big thumbs up, saying ‘Zzen Bbang! Xie xie!’ (really amazing! thank you!) when we mentioned about the necessities that we have donated. One of us caught on the right timing of the atmosphere and started applauding, to which IU joined her right away, followed by Hyeseon, Hanteo and all HDL staff from other tables who had no idea of what’s going on. It suddenly turned into an ocean of harmony 😂.

Click here for more details of IU’s birthday gifts (candles and perfumes), fan donation and fansupport by OnlyIUcn.

We also told IU about her super topic ‘#IU’ that has accumulated over 10 billion reads on Weibo recently and she was ultimately shocked. Since she’s not familiar with how weibo functions, so we explained to her that the hashtag is sort of a community on weibo where people could leave their posts, comments, votes and screenshots there to support her. She seemed to have grasped on the super topic concept after going through some of our posts in the hashtag section and showed off the milestone achievement to people around her. 

IU: Hey, I achieved 10 billion reads! Hanteo and Hyeseon: As expected from the scale of mainland China, they don’t just simply go with (small numbers like) ten thousands when it comes to calculations.

We passed the <10 Years of Flower Road> book to IU, sharing with her that C-Uaenas designed, edited and compiled everything about her within this book in celebration of her 10th anniversary. We also tried to find the best printing manufacturer that we could to bring out the best quality of it. As soon as she got the book on hands, she kept gasping in admiration, saying “wow this is truly amazing. This is impressive, OnlyIU’s scale is no joke” as she flipped through the pages slowly. She especially stopped at one of the pages which contained IU Team’s photo, too bad the whole book was written in Chinese so the staff unnie tried to cheer her up by telling her that they could translate right away using mobile apps. All of them joked a few times about looking for someone who knows Mandarin and asked everyone to hurry up and learn the language too.

Click here for some details of the book

IU really likes the calligraphy gift that we gave her so she took a special proof shot with it. Since it’s written in Chinese, she asked us about the meaning of the poem. We were still in a daze at that time so we only explained briefly that it’s a poem about the moon. IU said she would try to look for a professional to interpret it.

Poem: The Moon Festival by Su Shi

When will the moon be clear and bright? With a cup of wine in my hand, I ask the blue sky. I don’t know what season it would be in the heavens on this night. I’d like to ride the wind to fly home. Yet I fear the crystal and jade mansions are much too high and cold for me. Dancing with my moon-lit shadow, It does not seem like the human world. The moon rounds the red mansion stoops to silk-pad doors, Shines upon the sleepless Bearing no grudge, Why does the moon tend to be full when people are apart? People may have sorrow or joy, be near or far apart, The moon may be dim or bright, wax or wane, This has been going on since the beginning of time. May we all be blessed with longevity though far apart, We are still able to share the beauty of the moon together.

Even though we are thousands of miles and oceans (Yellow Sea) apart, nothing can stop us from surrendering our hearts to the full moon (Man Wol) C-Uaenas present president Jang Man Wol this poem And may the opening of Hotel Del Luna blossom 

*Yellow Sea is a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean located between mainland China and the Korean Peninsula. *Full Moon is pronounced the same way as Man Wol in both Chinese and Korean.

밝은 달은 어느 때나 떠오를지 술잔을 잡고 하늘에 물어본다. 달 속에 있는 궁궐은 오늘��은 어느 해인지 모르겠구나. 나는 바람을 타고 돌아가고자 하니 달 속의 궁궐이 높은 곳이라 추위를 견디지 못할까 두려워라. 일어나 춤추니 그림자도 따라 도는데 어찌 인간 세계와 비길 수가 있으랴 달그림자가 붉은 누각 빙 돌며 곱게 조각한 창문에 드리우니 달빛에 비추어져 잠을 이룰 수 없네. 더 이상 번뇌가 있을 수 없는데 무슨 일로 오래도록 이별할 때에 이렇게 둥근가? 인간에겐 슬픔과 기쁨, 이별과 만남이 있고 달은 흐리고 맑고, 둥글고 이지러짐이 있으니 이런 일은 예전부터 완전하기가 어려워라. 다만 바라기는 멀리 떨어져 있는 이가 오래 살아서 천 리 밖에서도 이 밝은 달을 함께 구경했으면.

Note: This is a famous Mid-Autumn lyric written by Sushi(a poet in Song Dynasty) for his brother Zi-you(1039-1112) when the poet was away from the imperial court. According to some commentators, “the palace on high” might allude to the imperial palace and therefore, after reading this lyric, Emperor Song Shen Zong said that Su Shi was loyal.

When IU was giving us her signature as acknowledgement (of the fan support), we noticed that IU’s mandarin pinyin skills were remarkably impressive, she came up with most of the pinyin (as shown in the picture) and kept seeking confirmation from us (just incase she made a mistake). She wanted to write 시원한 여름 (a cool and refreshing summer) so badly because it kind of means “watching horror movies” in Korea too (납량). She wanted to write “we will see each other very soon” so she added “see you soon” in English too. It was obvious that IU urged to write using lots of pinyin but she didn’t have much time since the drama team was rushing to another filming venue already. Nevertheless, she drew a big thumbs up and yummy bowl of rice for us and was eventually made fun by IU Team. They jokingly asked her “what are those?”, making IU shooting daggers at them keke.

“Dear. OnlyU-IU China ♥   Thank you all!! Well done!! 👍 Yummy 🍚💕 Miss you guys…♥ I love you guys! Stay healthy! - from IU” 

“Dear C-uaenas ♥ I miss you all very much See U soon! Don’t fall sick...☆ Thank you! 😊 - from IU”

Lastly, we told IU that we would enjoy watching the drama to which she replied “please do enjoy (watch) the show (properly), it’s very interesting.” She kept thanking us a few times in Mandarin after bidding farewell to us too.

The PD came by after that and took the huge IU (with her head facing down) photo away, explaining that he would hang it in the waiting room. We weren’t sure whose waiting room he was referring to since we didn’t dare to question more, so we could only pray and hope earnestly that he’s taking it to IU’s room TT.

Then we sent off the coffee truck & buffet tent owners and bid farewell to the entire crew on the set before leaving. We lost count of how many times we went around the set to bow (give greetings) to make sure we didn’t miss any corner of it.

Despite being short of hands due to some of our members who couldn’t make it last minute, but we are very happy to have completed the fan support, passed IU her gift in person and relayed her greetings and thanks to C-Uaenas safely. We are fully aware that IU made lots of adorable facial expressions and kept a smile on her face all the time because she wanted to express her gratitude towards Uaenas who worked hard together to bring up the fan support to her on the set. Once again, we thank Uaenas who contributed in this fan support. We will continue to give IU the best fan support!

Source: OnlyU-IU 中国首站 @ Weibo  Translated by IUteamstarcandy

[skinny-teddy]

Hotel Del Luna

WOW. 

Enjoyed this thoroughly. 

IU and Yeo Jin Goo were really pretty. IU was especially beautiful, and I loved her styling for the whole drama. She was just rocking Man Wol, she could be sassy, cute, sexy, vulnerable and all that, this role was made for her. 😍😍😍 I wasn’t on board with YJG when first announced, but he is like this cute puppy, and, he kinda grew on me... 😅😅😅 Side casts were nice, but special shout out to all the Ma Gos, such fun... 😂😂😂

The cinematography was just gorgeous. And heart wrenching OSTs (I mean I have Done for Me on repeat 😂😂😂). 

The story line was quite good although they do have their weak moments. I don’t have much complains that I need to voice out. But the scene between Man Wol and Chung Myung(?) were a little anti-climatic... I mean she did wait for 1300 years for him, and that was it...?!?! <- I thought this was especially weak. 😒😒😒  

While watching the last few episodes, I felt sad when the characters were getting ready to leave. But when Man Wol finally left, I just felt, contented. It was like I felt contented on her behalf... not disappearing into ashes, but leaving with a beautiful love to hold on to, and a hope for a reunion in the next life. I was bawling when everyone was leaving, and so I thought that I would also be bawling when Man Wol left, tears did come when MW and CS said goodbye at the tunnel entrance, but then when she was crossing the bridge, her contented smile, I felt contented too. 

I must say, I was not surprised when MW didn’t wait for the limo, she has waited forever for her time to leave, and when she finally could, she was going to go on her own terms. That was just so totally her. 😏😏😏

The after scenes where we see everyone again, one of the rare open endings that I didn’t mind... because you and I know, they would definitely meet again... MW would make sure of it...

And lastly. That ending credits. WOW. I am one of those who was like, oooh, second season would be nice. 😏😏😏

This has been an enjoyable ride. ❤️❤️❤️

[miamory-hj]

Hotel Del Luna

I started this drama because I liked the concept of ghost hotel showed in the trailers and of course i just love IU and i like Yeo Jin Goo. To be honest this drama didn't follow the concept I imagined after watching the trailer. But I still liked it a lot. This will definitely go to my favorites' list. I truly recommend this drama to everyone, because it is beautiful and I am sure you will love that. BUT people who don't like subplots might be bored. I watched many of the Hong Sisters' dramas, and the Director's dramas and well, none of them were out of ordinary, they all had a great start but failed to keep being great later for me. However this one I can say may be considered as an exception and a success. Maybe that is because of IU's character, but overall ot was great :) Shorter review at the end. Story: Tied destinies, tied fates. The red knot that is connecting all of them shows us a story of love friendship and atonement. This drama is about a Korean legend, that somewhere around there, there is a place a hotel of the moon where the people who passed away can stay for few days, can rest before they go on to the journey to the afterlife. The story centers around Man Wol (full moon) and the new manager at her hotel. It's a story that goes through time and space and is a really long one. However during this journey you also see a lot of others. Ghost's side stories that happen throughout a drama and take a lot of time. Well, I truly LOVE this kind of side stories. It's like the good old Japanese mystery dramas/animes I loved. Lots of sidestories all of them can be a story of their own but they still all connect the main story. There are people around there who don't enjoy these kind of things, so If you are so, you might not like the drama as much as I did, however I guarantee you will love the beauty of the drama and IU in it. So you might as well give it a try :) I loved how this drama focused on the afterlife. Usually the ghost stories don't interest me. But I loved that they showed how people can be taken over by their feelings, almost eaten up and have to wait until that clears, so they can go forward to the afterlife world and then be born again. They showed how sometimes Man Wol helped them not to lose themselves, keep the consciousness and wait till their grudge calms down or disappears. They showed how everything in people's life is not simple and yet it is not so complicated after death. The whole concept of the hotel where ghosts can stay and rest before going to the after life was amazing. I also liked how it changed with time and looked suitable to the era it was in. I liked how they showed that those ghosts can be super scary and at the same time they are still those humans wanting or willing something, it can be something terrible though. It also showed that the grudge even if fulfilled can't be so satisfying as it seemed to be. I really loved it. I loved the concept of feeling of guilt too and how it can make people do unimaginable things even after death. I totally liked all the special services the hotel provided. Anyway it's a complex story about fates that are tied together even after death. Characters: Oh IU is marvelous as Man Wol! lol I think everyone heard of her amazing wardrobe, hairstyles and makeup. Well She changed her outfit like 7-10 times during an episode and i LOVED it. haha sometimes it was ridiculous but sometimes it was amazing. Beautiful! But Man Wol was not only pretty she was very strong. a perfect woman. She was feminine yet very strong and at the same time fragile. I loved how she felt confident even while not understanding the economic stuff. I find it also cute how she lived so many years but didn't spent them for learning (which i would LOL) but rather she was all about eating and dressing. haha I loved her character a lot. And I think it will not be wrong to say that this drama hold on to this character and is build around her. Gu Chan Song was also nice. He was an average boy who studied well, in prestige places. He wasn't a special character BUT he was very kind and sweet and smart. I loved him. Thanks to that simple yet warm personality Man Wol could have been moved. <3 I just loved all the main side characters! The three employees of the hotel were such a nice and cute team. I love that we saw more of them at the end. Each of the characters had their own complicated past but each of them still became new people working there and i loved their different personalities. I loved Sanchez(<3) and Mi Ra and the Detective. Sanchez i loved the most out of them. He was a funny friend of the male lead and i think he added a lot of comedy to the show as well as grief. I totally Loved the gods!! <3 All their personalities were so different and they all did different things <3 I would have liked to talk about all the side characters, even minor ones and even cameos, but I will stop here. :) Cinematography: As I said this drama is beautiful! I am going to make a list of beautiful dramas. It's amazing! I really love the cinematography here. And I love the wardrobe of the characters. <3 Acting: Acting was a Top-Notch. Well I always wanted to say about acting in Characters as they go hand to hand but I saved it for here. IU is always great at acting, i love her in all of her dramas. After the Most amazing but dark and sad my mister role, here she was vivid, wonderful and outstanding. She made the outfit changing in the drama something to look forward to. Yeo Jin Goo is always great at acting but I think this is his BEST tole as a grown-up after Circle. I loved circle but all his other dramas were just meh after it. Finally he got a role where he could fully shine :) Other actors were also amazing! P.O did a great job!!! omg i never thought he will play so well lol xDDD I hope he gets more roles now :) And the Cameos were wonderful!!! So many people made cameos <3 And the last cameo was just soooo impressive!!!!!!!!! I want to separately say about the Ma Go God. That actress is amazing, truly!! I am so happy she played here lol. The most memorable role of her that I saw was in Good Thief Bad Thief. Oh my she was crazy there. I hated her character with all my heart at first and at the end of the drama I couldn't wait to see her lol. Here she was amazing playing so many <3 I became a fan. OST: Well Ost was great :) nice songs, nice artists. what was left in my memory was mostly IU's song that was played only once lol. I just love IU's singing and her Flower Bookmark albums. Also her in MUDO festival with Park Myung Soo XD haha IN SHORT!! : What i liked: -IU!! IU !! IU!! -Yeo Jin Goo -The three employees -Outfits -Beauty -cameos -some concepts -somewhat ending -ending super last scene!!!! What I didn't like: -some parts of the ending (well It was very logical and well done!! (minor Spoiler!!!!!!!!) - she had to leave and I agree with it yes, but overall they could have showed it much better) - ending outfits and slowness ( LOL well this one is just something to say if I have to really say something i didn't like, because overall i liked it a lot lol, but during the last episode everything felt super slow, and her outfits were not so amazing. I understand it was necessary though so this can't be considered as something bad about the drama. I just have nothing else to say lol) hmmmm i can't find anything else i didn't like lol. It was great! A bit not what I expected but It was great I loved it! <3 P.S. I don't usually re-watch dramas so the score i give there is random. I DESPERATELY NEED HOTEL BLUE MOON!!!! Omg!!! Kim Soo Hyun was amazing O_O lol that is like a host club ROFL