Y’know, I just love it when the blog evolves because of you guys. ❤️
I started this blog mostly for reviews, and then added the k-love section, and the occasional Musings post. But mostly everything else is a result of suggestions and requests from you guys. Pure Pretty, Dream Dramas, and Dear kfangurl posts, would’ve never been born on this blog if you guys hadn’t asked for and contributed to them.
And now, here’s another new thing that we’ve not had on the blog before: a group watch, with open thread discussions to go with! Exciting! 😃 Lemme tell you guys all about it, so that you can decide whether you’d like to join in the fun!
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Beez, Snow Flower, BE and phl1rxd have decided they’d like to rewatch Chuno at the same pace, so that they can have blow-by-blow episode discussions every step of the way. I (most likely?) won’t be joining the rewatch, but I will be creating a weekly Open Thread, so that those episode discussions have a place to live. (I might change my mind about joining in though, if I can make the time!)
If you’d like to rewatch Chuno, or watch Chuno for the first time, and have friends to share that experience with, do join the party!
THE SCHEDULE
We’ll be following Chuno’s original airing schedule (thanks BE, for the fun suggestion!), starting a week from now, on 18 November 2020.
Chuno aired on Wednesdays and Thursdays (albeit not in November), so I will publish one Open Thread every Wednesday for that week’s pair of episodes. You can share all your thoughts, feelings, reactions and questions on the Open Thread. I’m sure that everyone’s watch experience will be much richer for it. 😃
WHY YOU SHOULD CONSIDER WATCHING CHUNO
1. It’s beautifully, artfully shot. I kid you not, it’s like watching art in motion. You should totally watch this in HD, and nothing less.
2. It’s arguably Jang Hyuk’s most iconic role. If you’ve been around the blog for a while, you probably know that I have Big Affection and Weak Knees for Jang Hyuk. This show is where it all started. He’s fantastic in the action sequences, all commanding in a prowling panther sort of way, and at the same time, he’s also amazing at delivering complicated, raw emotion. So masterful and compelling. 🤩
3. Excellent performances by everyone else. Of course, this isn’t just Jang Hyuk’s show. Everyone else in the cast gives great performances; even Oh Ji Ho, whom I feel has an acting range that leans limited, is literally the best I’ve ever seen him.
4. It has a fantastic OST. This show has one of the best OSTs, ever (and gets a mention in my list of all-time top OSTs here), and that OST is so judiciously applied that it absolutely lifts the watch experience to another level.
5. It’s a sageuk that doesn’t revolve around palace politics. If you think that sageuks are mostly about bearded men scheming in the royal court, you wouldn’t be too far off the mark. But, this show provides a much more relatable, everyman sort of perspective, because our key characters are mostly slaves and slave hunters, rather than officials of the court. So even though the court officials are part of the story, they’re not the main point.
6. There’s a good amount of heartfelt shirtless bromance. No lie; the shirtless bromance between Jang Hyuk, Han Jung Soo and Kim Ji Suk is one of my favorite things in this show. They’re like a little family, with Jang Hyuk as the dad, Han Jung Soo as the mom, and Kim Ji Suk as their whiny immature child. HA. 😆
Note 1: This is best approached not as a romance. Think epic journey instead, and you should be all good.
Note 2: If you’d like to check out my review, you can find it here.
The found family of shirtless brothers. 😍
TRAILERS
TO WHET YOUR APPETITE
This is one of my favorite Chuno MVs because it gives a great flavor for not only the fabulous OST, but Jang Hyuk’s badassery as well.
And here’s the fan tribute video that started all this talk about a rewatch:
Also, here’s a beautiful instrumental track from the OST:
WHERE (& HOW!) TO WATCH
Chuno is available on Kocowa and on Viki with Viki Pass. Kocowa has a free to view option (with ads), and video quality is great (1080p), so this would be a pain-free option if you’d like to join the fun! 😃 All you have to do is sign up for a free account.
Note: If you are not in the US, you can use Opera’s built-in VPN, select Americas as your location, and you’d be able to sign up for a Kocowa account. Just download Opera as a browser to your computer, and you can follow this simple tutorial here.
JOIN US!
Let us know in the comments below, whether you’ll be joining us? Of course, you don’t have to; you can just show up for the party when the Open Thread goes live next week, and that’d be perfectly fine. It’s just nice to know who we’ll be partying with, is all. 😉
Also! If this goes well, we can plan for future group watches of other shows. Whee! 🥳
Look at that intensity and badassery! 🤩
Open Threads
I’ll be linking the open threads here, as they go live, for your easy access!
Episodes 1 & 2 | Episodes 3 & 4 | Episodes 5 & 6 | Episodes 7 & 8 | Episodes 9 & 10
Episodes 11 & 12 | Episodes 13 & 14 | Episodes 15 & 16 | Episodes 17 & 18 | Episodes 19 & 20
Episodes 21 & 22 | Episodes 23 & 24
@KFG; @Beez: I’m starting a new comment as I can’t seem to reply to your latest comments.
Feel free to use either Geo or agent155, both are fine.
@beez: Having finished Iris 1 and skimmed episodes 1 and 2 again, as I first saw them about 6 months ago, the show makes more sense to me and I remember why I liked it for the most part. Also, I think Kim Tae-hee has the sweetest smile and she looks like such a nice person while being quite attractive, which may account for her rating as the “most beautiful woman in Korea”. But I think she has a more girlish, look thus falls more into the Cute category. I agree with you that KSY is missing something that SYJ and Shin Min-a both have. I rated SYJ as best overall good looking because she has elements of all the categories but is not the best in any single one; she’s cute but not as cute as Jang Na-ra, she’s sexy but not as much as SMA and it’s difficult for anyone to surpass Jun Ji-hyun for a combination of looks and sexiness. I think KSY fits best in the “Sexiest” category vs the overall category.
These are just my personal opinions and I fully expect others may disagree, so Hallyu fans don’t jump on me, lol, especially about KTH though I feel I’m in good company with you, beez re KTH.
I, who was worried about jumping ahead on Chuno watch, have still not started it. LOK and Iris took up that time plus I decided to watch a couple of episodes of another KSY vehicle, Prosecutor Princess, to see if KSY could deliver in another type of role, rom-com vs Iris, and as the FL. Sadly, I don’t think she was a good fit for that show though she tried her best, I think Kim Tae-hee would actually have been a better choice. It was actually nice to see LJS in a supporting role in Prosecutor Princess, guess it was one of his first shows
I see you threatening kfg and reaper with pink slips for not watching certain classics and I’m worried I may be on your hit list, lol. I didn’t like Full House, did like Coffee Prince, started The Greatest Love and dropped it halfway through episode 2, actually started Sam Soon and got distracted during the first episode, not sure why and can’t remember what I thought at the time and haven’t felt inspired to look at any of the others yet.
@Geo – Awwwww. That you haven’t started Chuno yet, but the good news is you’ve got time because of the break we’re all taking for the Thanksgiving holiday in America.
You know as you were mentioning the actresses, I might just change my overall to Gianna Gun and (sacrilege!) I don’t even think she’s any where near as pretty or beautiful as the other actresses but she can’t be beat for her walk of confidence or charisma.
Wait who are you comparing Jun Ji hyun with?
@reaper – All the actresses that we’ve been talking about the last couple of days. Son Ye jin, Song Hye kyo, Kim Tae hee, Kim So-Yeon and Shin Min-a. I think that’s all of them.
Ahhhh but in terms of looks Jun Ji Hyun beats all of them ^^ Same goes for acting skill.
Why do people always have Shin min a on these lists? ^^
@reaper – because she’s cute (I guess). And oh, I left Jang Nara off. She was also on the list.
Hmm okay not to me 😀 – Jang Nara is one of those actresses that varies a lot sometimes she is good and sometimes not
@reaper – I think the l list was much, much shallower than that. 😆 No skills were considered or included. 😂
Ahhh so basically just appearance 😀
I created the original list and I focused it on leading actresses, think leads and secondary leads, excluding models, singers and other celebrities. Interestingly, you’re not crazy about Shin Min-A while I think she’s the sexiest of all…eyes of the beholder and all that.
Well aren’t like a lot of actors and actresses singers and models on the side it seems hard to find pure actresses ^^
Yes eyes of the beholder. I usually avoid dramas with Shin min a
Models etc qualify only if they’re leading actresses, leads or secondary leads
She is a superb actress, in my view!
I want the pink one so here it goes:
I would only watch My girl for Hwang Bo Ra and The greatest Love for Yoo In na otherwise the storylines don’t seem interesting.
Autumn Tale? Melo is just meeeh. It must be very well made to be good.
Masters’s Sun… Horror no thank you. And by the way mentioning male actors doesn’t work on me lol.
Well I don’t hava that many shows that I thought of as amazing.
@reaper – Nothing? Nothing that, if not amazing, then you thought was good?
I think I told you before that I mostly watch romantic comedys and comedy.
What I like was:
Whats wrong with secretary kim
Healer
The Legend of the blue sea
Love from the star
My private Life
Mirror of the witch
secret love affair
Piece of your Mind
I am not a robot
I’ll go to you when the weather is nice
My mister
And the others I liked a lot are C-Dramas
@reaper – gotcha 👍
@merij1 yes you are right… I can’t stay away for too long ^^
Very well combined…
Na larius is a mixure of my real name and the name of a roman emperor. Because I played a lot of strategy games back in the day that were related to those times.
@Reaper – FYI – if you hit reply and answer through the email, then your comment has a better chance of appearing under (or at least relatively near) the comment you are responding to.
I have a different question. I don’t get notifications when people answer me even when I change the settings. What could be the problem?
@reaper – I’m sorry. I don’t know. That’s a question for Kfangurl. Or merij1 might know because I know he played a lot with the settings.
Hi Reaper, if I remember correctly, MeriJ shared that you need to check the boxes to receive notifications, the first time you leave a comment on a thread. If you don’t do that, then checking the box on subsequent comments doesn’t change the initial setting. I’m sorry that I don’t know how to fix that; I think that’s a WordPress quirk. I think MeriJ would be able to share more nuances around this, with you. I receive a different set of notifications as the blog owner, so I’m less familiar with the details around this. 😝😅
It kinda fixed iself now i get them but who knows why 😀
Haha! Wow, ok, that’s kind of weird, but yay that it’s fixed now? 😂
I mean is wordpress so it might stop working tomorrow again 😀
GAH. I hope not! 😝😅
Once I created a WP account, I no longer had to check any boxes.
No, you can still check that box on a later comment.
When is fortunate, since when you converted to the business app, all the page notifications I had previously checked were lost. So I recently made a point of going back to each review/thread I cared about and finding some excuse to make a new comment, just so I could check that box and receive notifications again.
What I was exploring a while back was the default settings in my WordPress account. You can specify different levels of notification for a specific blogsite like this one.
Go here for that thread and scroll down a few comments. (My initial instructions about the chronological order of comments no longer applies, since KFG fixed that bug already.)
https://thefangirlverdict.com/currently-watching/?sn=c&c=86484#comment-86484
For a while I had it set to send me notifications for any comment to any page on your site. But it was too much — other than to give me a feel for how hard it must be for you to even read, much less reply, to so many people!
Thanks for the clarification, MeriJ! Very helpful! 🙂
I didn’t
Ah I am stupid I misread. Damn it.
Didn’t you think I’d see you discussing your identity with merij1 in, of all places, a Chuno thread?! 🤣
Well I didn’t know you were such a big fan and I thought I might get lucky and you don’t read the conversation. But well…. I didn’t think that through 😀
Ah, but it worked out perfectly.
I inadvertently insulted the fine people of Germany. You called me on it. I mentioned your real name in passing. You got nervous and almost outed yourself. I realized you had started to do so and pressed a little. Then you fessed up entirely, but accidently made it a top level comment, instead something buried so deep and narrow that few would see it.
And now we have you back! Presto chango! It was meant to be.
The only thing I don’t understand is how you are able to edit your comments within the 15 minute cutoff if you don’t have a WordPress account. Can guests do that too?
Well I just fessed up because you are nice and I don’t like to deceive kind people. Otherwise you still wouldn’t know 😀
Yes I can edit it even as a guest but I have an account now.
I knew it was you for sure when you wrote this, then immediately edited it to something nonincriminating. This is why people like us get caught the few times we stray, whereas people who truly don’t care about others get away with stuff:
Wow how did you copy that so fast 😀
Amazing ^^
Should have been more cautious ^^
That’s why I bothered to mention this! You can edit the public record here, but you can’t take back the initial notification that everyone receives, since that would require access to their email account.
Most of us read the email first, then come here to reply or “like” the comment. So I saw your initial comment and knew it was you based on the fact that you edited it to something else so quickly.
You should have received one from me as well, explaining my logic for why you would have returned here with a new name. I too edited my comment immediately, so as not to expose you to others. It should still be in your Inbox, around
Nov 17, 2020, 2:52 PM (my time, which is GMT-5.)
Ah that makes sense. WordPress screwed me over 😀
No because I was a guest and didn’t check the receive email box i didn’t get to see that one ^^
Ah. So that’s why you didn’t realize I had figured it out for sure.
What I said was that after making a big announcement about leaving and being done with K-drama for a while, it would make sense that you’d feel sheepish about returning so soon.
But that since this place is so awesome, how could you stay away for too long?
Hence, “Reaper.”
Did I ever ask if Larius was short for Hilarious?
@meriji1 – OT. How do you find older comments? I know how to create a link back to it once I find it, but finding it is daunting in a busy thread. The “find in page” doesn’t always work for me. Is it just from your memory of knowing which thread a conversation was in or have you found a way to watch across the entire site?
I search for keywords in my Gmail inbox.
You could also search this site via Google using the following text, followed by your keywords:
site:thefangirlverdict dot com (replacing the dot with a period and removing the spaces)
However, the keyword(s) would have to be uncommon. And any words that appear in KFG’s sidebar will make the search meaningless.
Quotemarks around the keywords will help, if you remember a phrase from the comment you are trying to find.
Ahhhh. My gmail will do that but I use my aol address for blogs and fun stuff and I’ve tried that in the past but it doesn’t work. I can search the title of the blog (who it’s from) but any content inside the email is unsearchable. I try to keep my gmail free for business things.
@merij1 You put me in such a situation. I can’t lie to you.
Let’s just say your thought is not wrong. But don’t tell anyone ^^. Especially not b e e z… don’t want her to be mad at me again…
It’s a new start. And I actually had a break of watching dramas for a few months. But these days I just watch from time to time. Dropping most of them in ep1.
Btw well done combining the clues.
I will be silent again and go back to observing ^^
You dog!
No lurking though. Be here now.
Thanks for telling me, so I don’t anxiously await you returning someday and reading my comments! I’m rather ADHD, so I often speak without sufficient forethought.
@Reaper – see? I told you it was him. 😆 @Merij1 – you don’t know if people in other countries would understand the context of that! 🤣
@Reaper (Larius?) – I didn’t even know anything had happened. I’m so sorry if I in any way contributed to your leaving us. (Although I think it was more merij1’s fault with that wicked dry sense of humor of his 😆) I noticed you weren’t around but I just figured you were busy with real life and would be back eventually – the way that Sean is present and then not present for a while. I finally stopped sending out the search dogs for him once I realized he’s just busy with real life.
Anyway I’m glad you’re back!
My dog reference? Maybe.
It wasn’t us! (I don’ think.) He needed a break from K-drama was how I recall it.
What I missed most was him and KFG having opposite tastes in shows. That was fun.
@merij1 🤣
@Reaper – Don’t clam up on me! I’ve enjoyed discussing the various actresses & other stuff.
@merij1 @beez It had nothing to do with you guys I just got tires of dramas for a while. But I still read every new article of kfg just without commenting.
@merij1 no worries I always enjoy your comments ^^
You dog = being secretly deceptive right? And I think it is part of a movie can’t remeber which one tho.
@beez you can’t remember our big fight about culture (I think was the topic). After that I tried to avoid you so I am not mean to you again or prickly is what merij called it 😀
@Reaper – I never considered it a fight, but a discussion. And a learning one at that. I googled the straightforward and literal nature of Germans. I love that I meet so many people from around the world on the various Kdrama blogs that I frequent.
And I was only teasing merij1 because he’s got me a few times but I had no ammo to fire back at him so I wasn’t going to miss the opportunity slide to razz him.
You’re right that merij1’s “You dog!” is equivalent to saying “You sly fox!” or saying you were craftily getting away with something.
I’m glad our “fight” had nothing to do with you lying low there for a while.
Oh you considered it a discussion… even tho it ended pretty badly.
Wait google knows about the straightforwardness of germans? 😀
Teasing merij sounds like a nice idea. If you got ammunition u have to use it ^^
Yes the “fight” had nothing to do with it.
Aish. You straightforward dog!
Hold up. What did I do now? 😀 😀 😀
Nothing new. I just enjoy the sound of it!
Well that seems legit 😀
Yup. I Googled something like “do Germans tend to take things literally” and a few articles came up, including some off topic that were very interesting about how you all have a word for everything. Although the word may have 40 characters. Interesting. ☺
😀 Well that is accurate. That is why I liked learning english in school. Usually we have 10 words in german but they all mean the same thing in english. So 10 words turn into 1 😀
@beez btw how did you guess it was me?
🤯🤯 What a sneaky Larius! 😆 Thank you for ‘fessing up, it’s just really nice to know you’re back, even using a different name. HELLO AGAIN, OPPOSITE FRIEND! 😄🥳
Of course you had to read it now too 😀 Dang it 😀
But.. doesn’t it make you feel welcome? 😇😆
Yes it does make me feel welcome 😀
@beez I undertsand what you are trying to say. And just gave me reasons not to watch it. 🙂
Yeah you are right these days the ML is a big factor in wether the show is good or not. Most FL can’t be taking seriously. Quite annoying these days.
And yes I judge shows after 1 EP bc they have to grab and show me some good characters if they don’t I am out. I am not watching 10 out 16 eps to figure out wether I like it or not.
@Reaper – I totally understand what you’re saying. It’s just with Kdrama so many times, an amazing show can be hiding behind a boring first setup episode. I’ll continue to give each show that first episode as a pass.
Sometimes I do give the first episode a pass bc I think the show has potential.
You see when the tale of the nine tailed came out I gave it a go. But I was not impressed by the first episode. So I gave it another shot actually I gave it 4 more shots until episode 6. But still not for me.
@Reaper – same with me. I tried Nine Tailed. Watched the first episode. I tried to stick with it because a group of my Kdrama online friends are discussing it, but dropped out after episode 4 or 5 thereabouts.
Oh man i completely missed this comment. What was it for that made you stop watching the show?
@Reaper – this may seem trite, but as a devout Christian, I can only stand to watch only so much evil spirits and such. I’ll watch to a point and be okay because I know Korea had a wealth of history/storytelling involving these things so as long as it’s brief (or cutesy like My Girlfriend is a Gumiho/Goblin/Arang & the Magistrate), I can handle watching it. But if every episode has evil spirits woven throughout the story, it turns me off. Even if I know good triumphs over evil in the end of the story, I just don’t enjoy the journey. A bummer too because I’ve been waiting for Kim Bum to come back to kdramaland for a while (no pun intended).☺
I am Christian too but I don’t care about evil spirits 😀
But I get it. I have this “turn off” when there is a lot of violence.
Well I have to say the FL and Kim Bum were the parts I disliked the most. Lee Dong wook was awesome tho ^^
Btw still me just made an account
lol – I didn’t even notice the numbers behind your name.
That’s the great thing about God. He meets us wherever we are which is why I have no problems with there being various sects and dominations of Christians.
@Reaper – You know, the more I think about it, are we talking admit the same actress – Lee Il-Hwa? I think she’s a good actress, and she’s still very beautiful in spite of her age (it’s very obvious she’s had a face lift that is kind of hard to look at), but I haven’t seen any performance that shows off her charisma to make you name her as an actress who could anchor a show and draw voters just on the strength of her presence. Are you perhaps talking about a different actress, maybe one with the same or similar name???
@Reaper – I find Gianna Jun (Jun Ji-Hyun) the only one with enough powerful charisma to carry a show no matter what genre or who’s playing the ML. Possibly up and comer Shin Hye sun – although her forte would seem to be more on the dramatic side. I can’t see her carrying a rom-com the same way that her strength comes across in serious dramas. Can you think of any other actress with strength (aura/charisma) to carry a show alone in the same way that top ML’s do?
Uhhh I love Jun ji Hyun she is amazing but I also love Shin hye sun.
Carrying a rom com … I think Park min young can do that.
Other might be song hye kyo, Lee Il Hwa and from the younger generations Shin Ye Eun?
But I have to say I am more into the cutesy character than the charismatic ones.
@Reaper – I had to Google Lee Il hwa. I’ve only seen her in the Reply series and now I’m watching her in a daily (Man in a Veil). Can you tell me what you’ve watched her in that she’s given off that “it” vibe we’re talking about? If like to check her out in other roles to see if I think so too.
If never heard of Shin Ye-Eun before. She’s baby breath new (her age). And yet she’s been the lead in all three shows she’s starred in (according to AsianWiki). How’d that happen? Is she a kpop idol or something to land the lead in three shows with no other roles under her belt?
EDITED: Oh. And yes, I think Park Min Young can also be a big draw to a show on her own merits. She’s certainly built up a proven record. She’s come a long way from Dr. Jin where she didn’t matter at all to the screen filler she is today.
I have only seen her in supporting roles. But I loved her in “Man in the kitchen”.
Haven’t seen Man in Veil but from the title I guess it is a dark show?
Yes Shin Ye-Eun is around my age still a baby. And no she is not an idol she is just good at acting and pretty^^
Park min young is my all time favourite. She turned into such an amazing actress.
Ah and also a lot of people say Park Shin Hye is great to carry a show. Even tho I don’t watch her bc I don’t like her.
@Reaper – haha! Man in a Veil is ridiculously over the top. It’s a daily show. I’m not sure if it qualifies as makjaeng but it’s certainly crazy with mostly poor acting to boot! Of course, I’m not including Lee Il hwa in that assessment of bad acting. Her role started out seeming to be the focus, but right now she’s on the back burner. Dailies are so long though (usually over 100 episodes) that I’m sure the focus will return you her before the end of the series because her storyline takes place in the past but “chickens haves to come home to roost”. Right now, show is focusing on the younger generation but you can tell it all has to come back around to what happened to her in the past.
Ah one of those shows ^^
I usually love the “poor” acting. It somehow makes it real 😀
I might give a try sometime.
Whoever came up with this idea….god bless her…this sounds like a fun online community activity and this forum is lot more mature and nuanced for such discussions compared to reddit/dramabeans..etc
FGV…thanks for putting this together….you are awesome as always…
2 episodes per week is great because I can then watch it on the weekend and then add in comments by Wed/Thurs in case if I am unable to watch it at the exact time on Wed/Thur.
(I would have preferred Empress Ki to be my first Korean period drama but nevertheless given the A++ rating by FGV…I am really looking forward to this one….)
Happy viewing everyone 😉
Glad that you’re joining us, Princess Jasmine! 😀 Open Thread for E1&2 is now open, anytime you’re ready for it! 😉
One last question, on Wednesday are we responding to episode 1 and Thursday episode 2 or both 1 & 2 on Wednesday? Thanks
Hi BE! We can discuss both episodes right away, once the Open Thread goes live! 😀
What a fun idea! I probably won’t have time to join the rewatch, but I will definitely be reading through the threads 🙂
@beez Oh so I misundertstood ^^
Yes I am a dude.
Actually I watch a lot of dramas recently my favourite ones are romantic comedys lol 😀
Chuno just doesn’t fit me these days – I became very picky about dramas.
But I will voice my opinions on some reviews of other shows in the future.
It is so stupid that as a guest you can’t see who liked your comment….
Hm, that might be a glitch. Let me try to reach out to WordPress Help, and see if we can get that fixed. Sorry about that!
It is not your fault! But Thank you
I mean it say liked by (number) people. When you hover over it nothing happens. When you click on it they want you to create an account but that is useless because I will have another name etc.
Hey Reaper, I checked with WordPress, and unfortunately, this is an infrastructure issue.. with the blog’s upgrade to Business, the infrastructure changed, and the ability to see who’s liked your comments also changed. :/ They suggested some third party plugins as alternatives but after checking them out, they don’t allow you to see who’s liked your comments either, and worse, they won’t reflect the existing likes. So I’m just going to leave it as it is, to preserve all the “likes” that are already in place.
Thank you for checking 🙂 But upgrading a page to Business and loosing a feature… Well that feels off 😀
I know, right?? I said something similar to the Tech, but there wasn’t anything he could do to fix it for us regardless. 😕 I guess there are some things that need to change in order to run a blog on Business, which offers a lot of features not available otherwise, like plugins and other customization options. This new ability to edit comments is a plugin that I installed, which wasn’t an option for me before Business. I guess we can see it as a trade-off? Editing comments is technically more useful than being able to see who liked our comments..? 😅
The irony of an upgrade leading to a loss of functionality struck me as well! But the tradeoff was well worth the price.
Via email, we can see who liked our own comments, which is the key thing.
Yes the trade was worth it.
Fun thing if you comment through the wordpress page (you are logged in and answer through their page not here on kfgurls page) editing is not possible. ^^
@Reaper – yes, I’m one who “liked” your response to me. You can see who liked your comment if you have notifications go to your email. Every time someone likes your comment you’ll be able to see who they are and which comment they liked.
EDITED: Ohhhhh. I see. In looking at your later response to Kfangurl… You did originally day “guest”. But back before I ever created a WordPress account, I could still see who “liked” my comments through the email notifications. (Of course, back then I had to always remember to check the little box that said “receive notifications of replies” or something like that.)
@beez That makes sense.. so I will have to check that box and check my email… what a bother… just hovering over it should do the deal.
But it is wordpress so what do I expect… simple is not in their dictionary ^^
As KFG explained, we still get an email saying who liked our comment, but can no longer hover over the Like button on the comment itself to see who liked ours or someone else’s.
Yes I understood ^^
Yeah Chuno Chuno, my all-time favourite! I almost gave it a miss because stills of the lead actor in messy curly hair did not appeal to me initially. Glad that I watched it and fell in love with Jang Hyuk after that haha.
What a good thing it turned out to be, that you didn’t give it a miss after all, Prettysup! 😉🤩 Feel free to join us on the group watch, if you find yourself in a mood for a rewatch!
It’s my first time to watch Chuno and though I think I’m horrible with joining re-watch parties like this, count me in!
So glad you’re joining us, Jiyuu! 🙂 I’m sure you’re not horrible at joining watch parties.. Just join the discussions as you are able; at 2 eps a week, it shouldn’t be too challenging to keep up the pace! 😉
Because if it’s good (which, as Jang Hyuk’s most iconic role, it probably is) I cannot control myself and will end up watching more episodes than I should. Then I’ll get heartbroken earlier than the rest. Then end up quiet and not commenting after all.
Buuuut this is my only chance to watch it with others 10 years after it originally aired so… bring it on!
Aw.. I see what you mean. Maybe you could distract yourself by watching another show at the same time? It works for me. 😉
In any case, I’m glad you’ve decided to join us on the group watch! 😀
Gosh. My comment is supposed to be pawn02’s reply, but the Reply thread doesn’t work very well on mobile… Even when I switched to Desktop View. scratches head sorry about that!
If you like Go Go Squid, you might want to check out My Unicorn Girl, Skate Into Love and Gank Your Heart (which some reviewers have said are better than Go Go Squid in terms of FL’s development). I haven’t watched the latter yet, but I have finished GGS, MUG and currently watching SIL and must say that they’re quite close in terms of the youthful, young love feels.
That is funny. Different taste everywhere ^^ I like Go Go Squid a lot better then the others you mentioned. I didnt’t even finish My Unicorn girl and Skate into love.^^
Haha.. we’re the opposite. I wasn’t really feeling Go Go Squid. I agree… goes to show that there are so many different people with different tastes!
I want to. I really want to. I don’t know if I will be able, and also we shall have to see the time difference, but I want to.
Aw, yay that you want to, Yllejord!! Don’t worry about time differences, we are from all over the world, so the discussions mostly won’t quite be “live,” if you know what I mean. It’s just that we’ll all be watching at the same pace, and we’ll be able to share our thoughts and discuss everything, about that week’s pair of episodes. I hope you’ll manage to join us! 😀
What a timing! I just watched Jang Hyuk’s The Swordsman in cinema last week, and it made me crave his presence in any sageuk I had watched! He’s so much of his sageuk character self there, I could not help but think that the movie was made with him in mind all along.
Anyway, I might or might not join the group watch (I know I might miss the fun big time *sigh), but I will drop by on the thread every now and then to join the fun in a different way. I hope everybody have fun with it, coz I loooooooove Chuno! And I super super super looooooooooooooooooove Jang Hyuk!
What timing indeed, Widya! 😀 Jang Hyuk is so amazing in Chuno, I’m sure if you join us in the watch, it’ll help to quell your thirst to see him in a sageuk! 🤩🤩 I hope you’ll be able to make it! ❤️
Deep Rooted Tree, if you have not seen it.
Hi Widya – I cannot wait to see The Swordsman. I just watched the trailers for it the other day.
Hi, I just found this page after searching for something related to Go Go Squid. I am watching this through for the 6th time, and I have to say, I really enjoyed your analysis. I didnt agree with everything, but I definitely see your point of view. Once I figure out the website I will try to follow more with your posts.
Sorry if I am replying in the wrong area. Its 3:30 in the morning and I am a bit new here. Hope you all have a great day!
~Pawn
Hi there, pawn02, welcome to the blog! 🙂 I know I’m in the minority since I didn’t love Go Go Squid as much as everyone else, so you’re not alone! 😉
By the way, just in case you haven’t seen it, there’s a comment by Annette that was meant to be a reply to you too. 🙂
Thank you KFG! Now that I’m on my PC, let me just quickly copy and paste my reply.
To pawn02:
If you like Go Go Squid, you might want to check out My Unicorn Girl, Skate Into Love and Gank Your Heart (which some reviewers have said are better than Go Go Squid in terms of FL’s development). I haven’t watched the latter yet, but I have finished GGS, MUG and currently watching SIL and must say that they’re quite close in terms of the youthful, young love feels.
Hello kfangurl!! I’m sure you have heard this before…but just wanted to tell you that your kdrama taste exactly mirrors mine and hence I’m a regular on your site! The only thing that I want to emulate is your discipline. I love that as much as you love kdrama ..bingewatch is an exception rather than the regular pattern for you. Love love love this group watch idea and count me in 😍
Hi there BlueLotus! So glad to finally meet you! 😀 That’s so cool, that our drama taste is so similar! Also, you’re right, it’s been a long time since I’ve bingewatched a drama.. nowadays, if a drama is cracky enough to get me to binge several episodes in a row, that’s how I know it’s extra special! 😉
YAY that you’ll be joining us on the group watch! WELCOME! ❤️😘
Going to do my best to keep up! I think I have less time than many of you for drama watching but the allure of a group event will get me to displace one of my current shows to put this in. Thanks to all who suggested.
It’s only a two-episode per week commitment.
Although the old “bet you can’t just eat two!” warning will no doubt apply.
And I’m not sure, but I think it’s probably in 1-hour format unlike how today’s dramas run for 1 hr 30 minutes.
Glad you’re joining us, Jeff!! 😀 Thanks for prioritizing the group watch – I’m feeling extra important on behalf of everyone, heh. 😉
Also! I think you’ll really like little drama special To. Jenny, which I recently reviewed. It’s got lots of music and performances! 😀 You can check out the review here.
Will definitely check “Jenny” out when it’s time for a palate cleanser drama! Thanks!
I’m excited for you to check it out, now that I know how much you enjoy music in your dramas! 😀
Watch group!?! Fun! It’s a party! I’ll have to join in. I’ve been wanting to watch this. I’ve started to watch a couple times and gotten distracted very early in the process. I think my mood was all wrong at the time. I’ll get my mindset ready and be pumped for fighting for slaves. (I assume that is what Chuno is doing, because I can see Jang Hyuk throwing down on saving some slaves.) The second week may have a comment lag for me with Thanksgiving, and all but I’m there. Should be totally doable with only 2 eps a week.
Woot! 😀 So glad you’ll be joining us, lotusgirl! 😀 I do think the group setting will help you overcome the initial bumps that prevented you from continuing before. 🙂
Also, that’s a good point about Thanksgiving! Thanks for bringing it up! I might make an executive decision to preempt the open thread for E3-4, in favor of Thanksgiving. That will sure add to the realism of watching this live, having the week’s episodes preempted because of other events! 😉
So excited about this. Chuno has been one of the top shows on my watch list for awhile, and it will be so much more enjoyable to watch and comment with all the great kdrama lovers on this website! Really looking forward to our time together!
That’s really cool that Chuno’s been on the top of your list, and that you’ll now finally watch it with us! 😀 I’m excited for ya! ❤️
Sounds like a superlative idea! I may not watch with y’all this time, but would really be interested in doing it another time. I’m neck deep in watching those dramas on Netflix that aren’t on Viki. I’m sharing the cost with a friend for two months so I’m really in a marathon! Happy chocolate abs watching, girls! Snicker, snicker…. And for you first time viewers…get the Kleenex out.
Yes, Kleenex is necessary accessory for this drama.
Ah, The Kleenex Factor! Mountains and mountains of Kleenex. I love a good cry during a Kdrama. TT Sometimes I judge how good a drama is by the amount of tissue used. aka…I Miss You. One of my first and I cried buckets!
I will ask this again in the first ep set, but do you know if there are any actual historical or legendary bases for the central plot?
@BE,
The Second Manchurian invasion was a real event from 1636. The Korean king had to surrender and pay tribute to the invaders. He also had to send his two oldest sons as hostages to the Qing (the newly established Manchurian dynasty, which eventually conquered China in 1644 and remained in power there until 1912). The mysterious death of the Korean Crown Prince (shortly after his return to Joseon after 8 years as a hostage) has not been solved to this day.
Another important thing: pay attention to the voice of the Narrator at the beginning of Episode 1.
Was planning to comment on it. Thanks.
Yes! I plan on discussing it once the thread is open.
Aw, I can certainly understand your decision to prioritize your Netflix marathon! Feel free to drop by anytime to chime in on the open threads, Georgia Peach! Coz you won’t need a rewatch to comment on those glorious choco abs, hee! 😅
That’s great that you love the idea of the group watch – we’ll have to brainstorm on what show would be good for a group watch, when we get to the end of this one! 🙂
FG, I will certainly do just that. I totally loved Chuno, although, it took some prodding by Beez to get me to watch. I was newly off of Money Flower and was still basking in the glow of it. I’m on episode 14 of It’s Okay To Not Be Okay and the next watch is Record Of Youth.
I feel you, Georgia Peach! My glimpse of Chuno was of dusty desert with straggly looking dusty people, and I was convinced it wasn’t my kind of show. Oh how my opinion has changed! 😆🤩
Ahh, so glad you enjoyed Money Flower too – Jang Hyuk is SO GOOD in that. I actually considered whether he’d outdone himself in Money Flower, even though I’ve long thought of Chuno as his most iconic work. 🤩 Hope you’re enjoying IOTNBO, I liked that one a great deal too! ❤️
My many phases of Jang Hyuk:
Fated to Love You – purposely over-the-top Harlequin mask of an inner crying clown
Money Flower – subtleties of subtleties
Tree with Deep Roots – passion
My Country – ambitious intensity
Chuno – the BURNING SUN!
@ beez aside, I responded to your curiosity about my hobbies in the idol post.
& have you seen Midas?
@BE – I did see your post about your background and hobbies. You’ll see my response. I wasn’t online at all yesterday.
I saw Midas but didn’t really care for it.
@beez: I’ve seen fated to Love you, Tree with Deep Roots and My Country and I 100% agree with your concise summary of Jang Hyuk’s performance in these shows. Plus excellent action scenes.
@Georgia Peach – Record of Youth – Unless you just want a fix of Park Bo Gum because he’s gone for a while, trust me, there’s nothing to see.
Beez, I’m finding that out. Nothing to see so far. I had high hopes for this drama from him. He seems a bit miss cast as a high fashion model. He doesn’t somehow ‘got that look’. I’m some 6 episodes in and will finish and hope that I will also feel that the ratings were correct. I wasn’t happy with Encounter. I’m hoping when he does come back from military service we will see a more matured Park BoGum persona.
@Georgia Peach – like who decided he needed the little scarves around his neck that don’t quite qualify as an ascot? Although, in most non period shows they wear their own clothes which may have accounted for the problem. A show about fashion models, production needs to spring for some clothes that make the story believable. Not that I expect that character to wear the weird stuff that comes down the runway, but look at the difference in what Gummy wears compared to what his friend who is his competitor wears.
Anyway, let me know when you get to the last episode so I can join you in [w]itchin’ about it.
You know what I’ve found so cringe worthy is PBG’s high wasted, long stride jeans and pants! He looks like an aggushi in them. Mercy, did PDnim pay too much for him that they went short on wardrobe? But the characters are growing on me ever so slowly…we’ll talk later.
Oh, and I’ve also had an issue with being able to ‘like’ a comment…wants be to make an account with WordPress.🤷♀️
@Georgia Peach. Yes, awful ahjusshi pants. But again, as I said, unless they’re playing a specialized role, the actors wear their own clothes so…
Beez, really…they wear their own clothes? I knew Yoo AhIn had worn some of his own clothes in Chicago Typewriter cause I read an article that he did and that it was his preference not because they asked him to. I follow an Instagram called KDrama Fashion and I know I saw several postings about the clothes PBG wore along with the price and name brand of the article. Still doesn’t mean they’re not his clothes, but I’m a bit surprised to think a big name Star would have to supply his wardrobe for a drama from his personal closet. I’d think clothing brands would be standing in line to get their clothes in a drama and on a lead or even a second lead male and female star. 🤔🤔🤔
@Georgia Peach – yep. If the character has a special vocation, then the production will provide the wardrobe but more often it’s the actors’ own clothes. I absolutely abhor Gong Hyo-Jin’s style (the anklet or slouchy socks in flats with a pencil skirt – ugh). I’ve seen tabloids refer to her style as Bohemian but even if that’s true, it doesn’t have any chic-ness at all. More like slouchy and not in the stylish way that slouchy can be done.
I did wonder about Gong Yoo’s clothing in Goblin. It was exquisite quality.
But the clothing worn by the actors in dailies sometimes makes you wish the actor had a stylist. But I guess they’re not at that level yet to have (or afford) a personal stylist.
I’m not just talking out my hat – when my son went off to college, I enrolled in a fashion institute and got my degree at night classes. Something I’d wanted since I was 16 years old. While I know fashion is subjective, there’s chic, slouchy, and deconstructed but then there’s just poor style sense.
Hi, thought id tried to Answer you via email. You must have a new email address. I’m the same and if you’d like get me your new e-address. I checked with Kdramafashion on Instagram and she confirmed it was both..closet and endorsements. Here is a site I found that was interesting. Seems those agusshi pants are ‘classic chinos’! Ha!! The pants did improve as the show went on. About the drama itself….I found that characters without any flaws were uninteresting. Seems everyone of our leads were perfect in outlook and personality. Always telling the truth, full of the correct amount of ambition and fortitude. I’m presuming….since I’m far removed from my late 20s and certainly having not experienced the economic situation of South Korea is the reason I found it difficult to identify with this one. There were moments I enjoyed though. Perhaps the message of the drama was that…if you stay true to yourself and your dreams… you will succeed.
https://www.buro247.my/fashion/buro-loves/style-id-park-bo-gum-fashion-record-of-youth.html
@Georgia Peach – thanks for the article. I’ve got so many now (mostly about fashion ❤) that I need to make time to read them. My email is the same but I never check it other than to open it, type “kfangurl verdict” to see who’s talking about what. If you email me, you have to send me a text that you emailed me so I can look for it. (I know. I’m sorry. It sucks.) But my email is so full of so much junk that unless I’m looking to receive something, I won’t see it. You have my cell number.
Okay. I’ll text you next time. 👍🏻 Seems like now…we did text instead of email 🤦🏻♀️
We did both. But more recently it was texts. 😄
@Georgia Peach – that would make more sense for designers or even department stores with clothing lines to provide the clothes but, as far as what I’ve read and heard, they don’t usually. I wish they did because some of these stars tastes…
But where I really find it as a failing is in shows that don’t fork over a wardrobe budget like in My Mom Has an Affair. They had a character who “came back from the dead” (the bad guys thought they’d killed him) and he showed up to shock everyone at a board meeting not only because he wasn’t dead but also because he was this secret super rich investor whom no one had met. The character, now flanked by bodyguards and secretaries walks in with his face obscured by his entourage and the camera pans down to his shoes for this slow reveal slowly up to the shoulders before getting to his face… those cheap azz shoes and suit just ruined the entire affect. I don’t fault the actor who is not a star or even an established supporting actor (i.e. no $$$). I blame the production for not finding him something in wardrobe or springing for a new suit and shoes. lol😖
I will be partaking. First time for Chuno and first group watch. Fun!
Ooh, so glad you’ll be able to join the fun, lalarocca!! 😀 I hope you’ll love Chuno!
I saw you guys had a party in the k-pop actors thread.
And I got pretty hyped up too!
Pretty excited for the Chuno adventure!
I’ll admit I generally don’t prefer period dramas but y’alls enthusiasm is making me Chuck that thought it of the window!
Sadly it’s not on Netflix. But I’ve found some alternative (though the user experience might not be great, but nvm)
See you guys Soon!🔥👍
Prashil!! First, glad you’re joining us despite your general non-preference for period dramas! Second, you can use the hack I shared in the post, to watch it on Kocowa, using Opera’s built-in VPN. You’ll get it in HD! 😀
Oh yeah. I saw that.
Sadly my current access is only limited to my smartphone and the VPN (even the operas built in vpn) doesn’t work so well.
But that’s no worries. Since the “law of adaption” exists, we have alternatives (arrrggggh captain! Lol)
Cheers 😂
Aw, I see what you mean.. thanks for figuring out alternatives so that you can still join us, Prashil!! I hope you’ll find it worth your while! 😎
Yay, I’m so glad you’re doing this!! Chuno will be my first sageuk, so I’m not sure how I’ll do with it, but I’m stoked for the group watch! Keeping my fingers crossed that I get into it. 🙂
Ooh, it’s pretty epic right away, so I’m hopeful that you’ll be able to get into it without much trouble! Yay that you’ll be joining us! 😀
I will be of yours!!! i’ve never seen chuno before! :)))))))
Oh YAY, so pleased that you’ll be joining the fun, deliaerre! 😀 I hope you’ll love it like I did!
i want to watch it but lee da hae crying i dunno if i will keep up with that racist actress
Well, maybe if you don’t like her, you could skip her scenes..? 😅 (I haven’t heard anything about her being racist tho..)
apparently there’s one interview where she mocked Filipino’s skills on speaking English
Oh, I’m sorry to hear that! I’m not for or against Lee Da Hae, so I hope her offense was not intentional. 😝 I hope you’ll still join the watch, with the option of skipping LDH’s scenes, if her presence onscreen bothers you. 😅
@hanseju – eeep! I’ve laughed at some Korean actors speaking English on this very site. I’ve got to reflect on that because I don’t think I was being racist. 🤔 It was just a fact of how funny/awkward it sounds. I’d have to hear what Lee Dae hae said for myself. I do know that Koreans can be very xenophobic (and racist but I give them a little bit more leeway because they’ve been so underexposed to other races so I usually chalk it up to ignorance unless it’s just plain mean and hateful). I do the same with American stars and singers. If I like their movies/albums I’ll still watch/buy it unless I felt my money was going to help them fund some racist organization or hate group or if they are especially going out of their way to push their views. For example: I still enjoy Mel Gibson’s movies and just recognize that some people have deep instilled crap that sometimes slips out but does not necessarily reflect who they really are overall. That said, they should try to keep that amongst their private family and friends and try not to cause hurt to other groups. In other words, I don’t want to hear their B.S. on a regular basis. lol A few too many public slip ups and, yes I would stop watching and buying.
All that said, please do come watch Chuno with us because while the female lead drives the story, she has the least amount of scenes of the entire cast.
EDITED TO ADD: Here’s the clip if anyone’s curious – https://youtu.be/Gqid6hf3G9I
I find it very matter of fact. She does an American accent, then a British accent, and then Dong hyop asked her to do a Filipino accent. Maybe @ hansehu can elaborate on what was offensive about it? I am not taking what you said lightly so I sincerely would like to know what’s offensive about it? I have learned not to dismiss what other races/groups say just because I may not have a full understanding of what’s going on at a deeper level.
@hanseju – eeep! I’ve laughed at some Korean actors speaking English on this very site. I’ve got to reflect on that because I don’t think I was being racist. 🤔 It was just a fact of how funny/awkward it sounds. I’d have to hear what Lee Dae hae said for myself. I do know that Koreans can be very xenophobic (and racist but I give them a little bit more leeway because they’ve been so underexposed to other races so I usually chalk it up to ignorance unless it’s just plain mean and hateful). I do the same with American stars and singers. If I like their movies/albums I’ll still watch/buy it unless I felt my money was going to help them fund some racist organization or hate group or if they are especially going out of their way to push their views. For example: I still enjoy Mel Gibson’s movies and just recognize that some people have deep instilled crap that sometimes slips out but does not necessarily reflect who they really are overall. That said, they should try to keep that amongst their private family and friends and try not to cause hurt to other groups. In other words, I don’t want to hear their B.S. on a regular basis. lol A few too many public slip ups and, yes I would stop watching and buying.
All that said, please do come watch Chuno with us because while the female lead drives the story, she has the least amount of scenes of the entire cast.
Although Lee Byung Hun knows English, I found it quite disconcerting while watching Mr. Sunshine that given his Korean speaking voice is so assured, masculine, when he spoke English his vocal tone went up a scale or two in tone, and seemed so much less assured. It did not sound like the voice of someone who from his childhood until the time he returned to Joseon had to have been steeped in street and soldier English of the late nineteenth century.
Yes. This.
I’ve never heard this actor speak English, but I’ve had the exact reaction to a few other K-drama stars when they do.
I’m expecting to hear their voice, only in heavily-accented English. Instead I hear an entirely different person, at a different pitch, different cadence and thus sounding unsettlingly less strong than the person I know.
This goes way beyond accent and whether it’s difficult for people raised in one culture to pronounce certain sounds used in another’s language.
I love hearing these actors’ command of Korean. I have to read the subtitles to know what they’re saying, but I could listen to the cadence all day long without knowing and still love it.
So it’s odd how significantly that changes when (some of them) speak English. I’ve never noticed this with other non-English speakers who speak a little English but are far from fluent.
I’d love to know what exactly the difference is.
Does anyone here know an ESL tutor who works with Koreans?
There used to be several YouTubers from America and Canada who taught English to elementary kids in Korea. Most of them that I followed have returned home, or the ones who still live in Korea but have stopped teaching and now their YouTube videos focus on their married life, etc.
When they were teaching, I’ve heard them say that the way English is taught is ineffectual and is why most students don’t become conversational. They tried to suggest change but because of the ridgid hierarchy, that did not go over well and was rejected.
@merij1 – if you search youtube for “Meghan Bowen Korea”, then go to her channel – she has a playlist section entitled “Teaching in Korea”.
Oh wait, I didn’t know I could link to a playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL20Ns4NlhSwFHi-Q4Ua1aHNkiH5EOGPkO
Sorry, but once the others stopped talking about teaching, I unsubscribed and I can’t recall their names.
@BE -Agreed! I’ve seen him speaking English naturally (in interviews for his American films) with almost no trace of an accent. Yet in Mr. Sunshine, I could barely understand him! Perhaps he was uncomfortable with the scripted lines or perhaps that’s how he interpreted the character. Maybe he was trying to give the character a more youthful aura. I did feel like he was about 15 years too old for some of the lines he had to say when flirting with the female lead.
I watched that clip and would not call that racist. At worst it’s nationalistic trash-talk humor, but mostly it feels like someone showing off their command of accents for entertainment.
Every individual is an individual and the wide variations within each grouping are far more important than where the averages lie. Failing to understand that is ignorant. Acting on it, and in particular, building your community’s policies and systems around those ignorant notions, that’s what I call being “racist.”
But is it racist to notice that the culture of each nation has certain tendencies, on average? More to the point, is it racist to find humor in those differences?
For example that classic joke about Europe heaven and hell:
Mostly, I think it comes down to who is doing the talking. If you are a person in a majority group with substantially greater power or privilege than the target of the humor, you shouldn’t be making jokes like that. Whereas a peer on the same level can, at least if the two groups are generally friendly with each other.
I was about to write my opinion on this topic but I feel like Merij1 summed it up pretty nicely.
Btw the hell part “the germans are the policemen” why is that bad… I don*t get.
I am German ^^
That was by far the darkest/ugliest line. For that reason, I think it’s usually the last line in the joke. I’m not sure if you were kidding about “why is that bad?”, but I’m going to guess that you were.
If you weren’t kidding, when you do figure it out, please accept my apology for repeating the joke. You’ve heard it before, right? It’s very old.
What it doesn’t convey is the extraordinary way the German people led much of the social evolution in Europe since WWII. Most cultures would have responded with bitter denial, but you guys looked your past in the face and acted accordingly.
It’s terrifying to see those same worrisome tendencies going mainstream here in the US. Clearly we’re all susceptible to it.
But I digress into politics, and this is not the place for that conversation.
Okay I thought this joke would go that way. Even tho it is inaccurate.
Yes I heard it before but only from fellow germans.
Foreigners usually don’t dare to make these kind of jokes to our faces.
German history has so many versions….. but that is also a topic for a darker place.
Well facism and racism is not nation specific… it was there way before the third reich existed and it will be there in the future.
Let’s just say if history repeats itself… the world will seize to exist.
Well said.
Well said merij1 but I’d like to add, and you did sort of touch on this – as a member of an ethnic group that people think they know but really know nothing about – what may seem harmless to outsiders can have some background that we know nothing about. That’s why I didn’t dismiss hanseju’s opinion out of hand even though I couldn’t see the problem with it.
About 20 years ago, when the issue first came up regarding the baseball teams names like The Red Skins, I also thought “that’s not a big deal” until I saw a young woman explain why it is a big deal. She had things to say that I never would’ve imagined were involved, such as the “costume” the mascot comes out somersaulting and tumbling in is a sacred garment. She equated it to “how would Christians feel if a caricature of Jesus Christ were brought out at half time. So I never brush things off when someone from a different culture says something is offensive. And having worked in offices where I was the only person of color, I’ve been on the receiving end of “you’re just too sensitive” or a person thinking they know my culture so I “shouldn’t be offended” by something.
Okay. Let’s get back to Kdramaland! Oh! That reminds me, I watched Dramaworld last week.
Dramaworld? I tried to watch that too but it was so cringey :DD
Maybe I will give a second try someday
@Reaper – “Cringey” is right. That’s why I gave it a hard pass when it aired. But now that there’s a second season in the works, along with commenters here mentioning the cameos by some Hallyu stars – I gave it another chance. I found that I really liked the awe and excitement the American(?) Canadian(?) actress was able to convey at being plopped down into Kworld. However, I felt a disconnect from the acting styles of the Korean-American actors that didn’t quite gel with the “feel” of Kdramas. But the cameos of a few bonafide Hallyu stars were awesome. Too bad they were too short and not enough of them to elevate the rest of the show.
@beez – Yes when it first aired I watched the first episode … the cringe was real ^^
I feel like it is pretty hard for these actors to get on the same wavelength bc the way of acting in Korea and America are so different from each other.
Hallyu stars? I don’t know wether the appearance of some k actors/actresses can save this one for me…
@Reaper- i will say this about the show – the first episode is solely to establish how out of touch Claire is with real life so, like many Kdramas, judging it by its first episode really isn’t fair. Now after the 2-10 episodes, it’s still cringey. 😆 Although it makes me appreciate why male K-actors are paid more. Not trying to trigger any buttons here but I’m just sayin’… 😆 they seem to be the anchor that determines whether a show will sink or swim. The ML in this didn’t have what it takes.
Things that didn’t ring true to Kdrama
– ML’s mom was annoying but lacked that certain something that creates that fingernail-on-a-chalk-board spine-ready-to-jump-out-of-my-skin response. Until this show, I didn’t know I needed that. It makes it more fun to hate that character that way.
ML’s annoyed response to his mom was also off. I have never seen that type of reaction by a ML in response to his mom in a Kdrama, even if he is really annoyed with her. Those were totally American facial expressions. 😆
The villain also felt different from a Kdrama villain. The only way I can think to describe it is Kdrama villains are more laid back until they’re being dragged away shouting vengeance. Here the villain was more mWahahaha and less calm plotting fingers rubbing together, if you know what I mean.
I know I’m not being very descriptive but it’s more about a feeling than something specific.
I believe she’s Australian. We watched the first episode a long time ago.
👍
Excellent point.
In terms of how you behave, be respectful of what matters to others, regardless of whether it makes sense to you. It’s enough that it matters to them.
At the same time, when judging someone you felt acted offensively, cut them a little slack if they appear to have done so ignorantly and seem open to learning.
Civility 101
(That said, I’m still feeling guilty I repeated a post-WWII era joke that made mild fun of several nations while singling one out for not-so-fun dark humor. Hoo boy, I’m lucky Larius247 was not around to see that!)
Another german guy?
I am laughing so hard right now… 😀
Or are you a detective?
Larius had a lot of good things to say, but he was sometimes prickly.
Interestingly, the one time he was annoyed with me, it was because he thought I was demonstrating toxic masculinity. So, sometimes prickly yet woke.
Seems like an interesting guy. 😀
But calling a guy prickly… ouch ^^
Ha. That observation proves you aren’t him! (As I thought for a moment there, based on your initial wording.)
Larius would not agree with gender stereotyping like that.
I had more to learn from him, so hopefully he will come back!
Oh noeees! @merin1 – it seems like something happened in a thread that I’m not following. I can only say that I’m sorry if he left us. But I’m also glad it wasn’t because of me.
@merij1 – I feel you on that!
But I’m glad you’re someone who “gets” it.
But where do we watch it? I LOVE Chuno!!
Kocowa or Viki Plus! Links are in the post – hope you can join us Sarah! 😀
@kfangurl @Sarah @Everyone – I think it’s VikiPass. I’m not sure but because I have VikiPlus and Kocowa dramas are locked… Please anyone who knows for sure, chime in.
Sorry, I might’ve gotten the names wrong (they sound so similar!). The link that I’ve posted in the Where To Watch section works, so that should tell you which it is. 😅
@kfangurl – Yes, Kfangurl but I know you’re in Singapore so you may not know how Viki works – The link you provided in “where to Watch” is correct (Viki.com), which is where both VikiPass and VikiPlus are accessed. Viki is the name of the company and its app but the Pass and Plus are levels of access/membership and the cost is different for both levels.
I just checked the link that you posted within this Announcement post and that’s the correct level – VikiPass.
Ok, I just accessed the link using VPN with the US as my location, it says Viki Pass. 🙂
I can confirm that it is Viki pass even tho I won’t be watching it bc Europe has no access to it ad I don’t want to :DDDD
Aw, that’s too bad that you’re not joining us, Reaper.. if you change your mind, feel free to jump in any time! 🙂 (You can access it with the Opera hack described in the post – if and when you feel like it!)
Naaaa not my style of drama but thanks 🙂
Well, thanks for the answer, Reaper.
Feels like sarcasm.
Anyway no problem.
@Reaper – Oh noeeessssss! I really meant “thanks for taking the time to answer the question that I’d asked about Viki.” But it’s interesting that, unwittingly. my disappointment that you won’t be joining us came through. I hope we get as many people as possible, and especially guys (although I’m not sure of your gender but I’m assuming by your screen name that you’re a guy?) It’s just that it’s cool to see male perspectives on Kdrama because for so long it’s been majority female.
Yay!! I’ll try to join as much as I can! Can’t wait! And yes please let’s keep to the episodes shown during the discussions coz I’m new to Chuno and would like to not be spoiled! (also if I fall off the wagon and watch later, I can still read the discussions later on!)
That’s so great that you’ll be joining, MC, despite juggling your new parenting duties! I really hope you’ll love it! 😀
Ok. Seems just the right occupation for those long fall/winter evenings … I’m in.
So glad you’re joining us, ngobee!! 😀 Out of curiosity, would this be your first watch? 🙂
Kfangurl, yes it’s my first watch. And if it’s on Viki, it’s totally legal. 😉
Ooh, fun! 😀 I really hope you’ll love it too! And yes, it’s totally legal, both on Viki and Kocowa! 😀
Fabulous idea 😊 I guess I will finally have to step up to the plate regarding Chuno. However, I will let the ladies keep to themselves regarding the shirtless bromance – lololol…
Aw, YAY that you’ll be joining in the fun, Sean!! 😀 Thank you in advance, for putting up with any squeeing or swooning we might do..! 😅
Awwwww. C,mon now, Sean. It won’t hurt to join in a bit on the guys’ prowess. You always see my two cents on the women you guys compliment now and again. Although, I admit the guys don’t get as ahem exuberant as we ladies do (thank God!). 😆
I suppose I could use some good old Aussie vernacular, then no one will have the foggiest regarding what I am talking about (except other, older, Aussies of course) 😂
@seankfletcher – now you know I’ll be asking for translations. 😆
Happy to oblige!!!
I’m ready to SQUEEEE all over the place! My only decision to make is whether to watch on Kocowa (same subs as Viki) or watch the version I own on Amazon. Or I think I might go back and forth comparing significant lines/scenes to see any difference in the subs.
As to the trailers Kfangurl has posted – “yaaaaasss” to the question in the first one – Yasss, Dae gil. I know who you are! And I love it, hubris and all!
It’s my first time seeing that fan video “light ’em up”. It almost makes me question – is it Jang Hyuk or Dae gil that I’m in love with? I’m snapping back to reality because I know the answer – Hyuky creates Dae gil and so many other characters that I’ve fallen in love with over the years. siiiighhhh And now my mindset is perfect for that OST on the last video because I’m melancholy for the Jang Hyuk at his prime in Chuno and that elusive feeling that he’s just an actor and not really a guy who’ll ever leave a real imprint on my life. sniff (I can’t believe I just said, or even thought that! 😆) Oh well. I’m looking forward to squee-ing to my heart’s content. And, of course, discussing the deeper aspects of the show. (Like comparing whose got the better biceps, abs – you know, the important stuff.)
Ahahaha!! As far as I’m concerned, Jang Hyuk has the best bod in Chuno. 🤩🤩🤩
While all the ladies are getting squee over Jang Hyuk’s body, I suppose it will be my role to discuss Sung Dong Il as Cheon Ji Ho, his lovely smile, the facile way he picks at his toenails with a knife or steals every scene he’s in.
Laughing out loud over here BE!
Need I say more…
And his working of the Wooden Man – swoons the martial artist in me
In the interest in providing some balance to the female fandom for Jang Hyuk, Lee Min-ho, Ji Chang-wook et al and before we get dominated by female squealing when Chuno starts, here’s my ranking of actresses by category:
Most Good Looking (think overall package): Son Ye-Jin
Cutest: Jang Na-ra
Best Naive and Spunky Innocent Look: Park Min-young
Sexiest: Shin Min-a
Gorgeous (combination of looks and sexiness): Jun Ji-Hyun
What do you think of my ranking, lol?
Not a bad list at all! But, I’ve got to say that Park Min Young has fallen out of favor for me. She has done far too much ‘augmentations’ to her precious face. Perhaps she wanted to look more mature to expand her horizons for more drama parts. Does anyone else feel that way about her? I still like her acting, but I have a hard time looking at her new face and not wanting the other one back.
It’s not obvious to me that plastic surgery explains the change to Park Min Young. She lost a lot of weight and that def changed her face. (Whether she lost too much would divide us, so let’s not go there!)
I realize Lee Na-young doesn’t appear in that many dramas, relative to commercials, but she’s remarkably beautiful to my eyes. So I’d nominate her in the “classically beautiful noona” category.
Han Ji-min‘s beauty stems in part from her expressive face. So I’d nominate her for that category — “enchanting mastery of subtle facial expression.”
However Kim Hee-ae would be an equal strong competitor for that category, albeit in a slightly older age bracket.
If beauty or sex appeal were the only criterion, I’d have a much longer list. But I figure we’re limiting ourselves to top tier actresses!
@Georgia Peach, @meriji: I feel like a novice compared to you guys in my knowledge of Kdrama stars. I had no idea that Park Min-young had lost weight or undergone many “augmentations”. I’ve always assumed most Kdrama stars have had their eyes done but not much more than that but I think I may have to do more research, lol.
@meriji: I agree on Kim Hee-ae if I had a more mature category; she’s so poised and polished.
I don’t know much about these stars. We’re only a year or so into it.
It just so happens that we didn’t recognize Park Min-young in My Private Life, despite loving her in Healer. Not even the slightest glimmer of recognition.
Which led to an Internet image search and an exchange with KFG on the subject. For the record, Park Min-young claims that she had plastic surgery as a teenager but has not since. That would have been before we all got to know her.
@merij1 @geo – if you’re interested, Google “South Korea plastic surgery”. There are plastic surgery clinics on every corner and in between if articles on the subject are to be believed. But one thing that I know for a fact, it’s so common that Koreans don’t even consider certain things as having plastic surgery – for one, there’s the bridge some have inserted into their nose that, because nothing is cut away, it’s not considered plastic surgery. Unfortunately, on a variety show, where the guests participated in a game where they went under a machine similar to the one utilized in airports, you could see one of the participant’s fake nose bridge in the “xray”. Once you’re aware of how they look, you can’t un-see who has them. It’s something that I wish I’d never seen because now I find it distracting when looking at some of my favorite stars.
@meriji….your list of beautiful Korean women is great. I’ve recently added Seo YeJi to my list. The cinematographer used his lens very effectively on her in Its Okay To Not Be Okay. But at times I felt she looked way too much like Kim SooHyun’s sister to be his lover…that being said they had real chemistry together.
As for PMY and her face. Yes, she’s lost weight…but to me she has lost the expressiveness in her face. That’s what has led me to believe she’s done far too much in the way of either fillers or surgery. None the less…she is a very good actress and will continue to have handsome leading men and good parts.
@merij1 – I should’ve added Kim Hee-ae to my “Cool Beauty” category. Or renamed it Cool/Sophisticated Beauty
Her face isn’t drop dead gorgeous; she is rather slender; even if she wears clothes with greater elegance than just about anyone, what she has, it cannot be quantified by simple surface aesthetics because it radiates out from her center, this combination of utterly vulnerable and supremely powerful, an emotional range like the ocean, a love of one’s life kind of beauty, with just enough homey and humor to it. Someone to thrill on into her sixties and seventies, a face that can break someone’s heart with sympathetic longing at any moment.
@BE – Well said. Very romantic. 👍
@Georgia Peach – I’m picturing Park Min Young and I don’t see any difference (in my mind) from her early days (Dr. Jin Timeslip to Her Private Life)?
So I pulled up pictures from her older dramas and you’re right. Her original nose was better although, if I had not pulled up the old images, I’d never have noticed. She’s not as drastic as some.
@Beez…thank you for recognizing the difference. I know people’s faces do change as they age/loose weight /other factors, but it just hurts me to look at her now. 😔
@Georgia Peach -lol You know, I do try not to be mean-spirited when i talk about actors’ surgeries but it does frustrate me when an actor’s fans get mad and actually claim “No! Oppa had not had surgery. I don’t see it!” Especially when it’s obvious and all they have to do is pull up images. It’s right at their fingertips.
@Geo – hmmmm. I agreed with a couple of your choices, however, I might’ve moved a couple of the names to a different category. Of course, it’s a woman’s POV which usually never lines up with what men find beautiful or sexy:
Most good looking (over all package) – Kim So-Yeon
Cutest – Chae Soo-Bin
Best Naive & Spunky Innocent Look – Jang Nara/Park Min young/Lee Si-Young/Kim Seul gi
Sexiest – Shin Sekyung/Jun Ji hyun/Shin Min-a
Gorgeous – Song Hye kyo(in her prime Autumn in My Heart days)/Kim You-Jung
Most Interesting Face But Still A Beauty – Kang So-Ra/Yoo In-Na
Cool Beauty: Kim Hee-Seon
@beez: I think there are differences even between men as much as between the sexes. My choices reflect 7 months of Kdrama viewing so I’m pleasantly surprised you agree with a couple of my choices, I haven’t heard or seen most of the other names you mention, except for Kim Seul-gi and Song Hye-kyo. I did consider KSG for “Naive and spunky Innocent look” but thought PMY did it better. Your rating of SHK in the “Gorgeous” category surprised me, I have only seen her in Full House and I had her in the “Cute” or “Naive and Innocent” category.
But where oh where is SYJ??? This is what makes life interesting, people are similar in a number of ways, yet very different in others. I always like hearing different points of view and the underlying reasoning. For instance, I don’t agree with all of KFG’s ratings but after reading her analysis, I respect her opinion and understand her perspective. Having said that, I do agree with KFG’s perspective the vast majority of the time.
Beez, you really have me looking for shows featuring Kim So-yeon now, lol.
@Geo – There a reason why I specified Song Hye kyo in Autumn in My Heart. You’re familiar with her in her 30’s. Look at her in her 20’s https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvE2-hpAQD161EFy4J4BI2lvIM97
https://1drv.ms/f/s!AvE2-hpAQD16gapIhTZjIcXL_tIi5Q
And also, even in her 30’s, she looks completely different in print ads and fashion layouts where her makeup is more American style. She has too many of those for me to pick just one or two images. She’s known as the commercial queen throughout China because of her many endorsements.
@Geo – oops. I forgot to respond to the rest of your comment – Kim So-yeon is in Two Weeks with Lee Joon ki. She’s not part of the OTP. I just thought she was beautiful. It was okay for an older drama. I think Kfangurl recommends it for guys because of its action. Kim So yeon is also a North Korean spy in Iris and Iris2. I do recommend Iris starting Lee Byung hun. There’s also Iris 2 starring Jang Hyuk. I like it BUT the stories seem too much alike. Jang Hyuk’s character travels the same territory already covered by Lee Byung hun’s character in Iris 1.
I think that because the first thing I ever saw Son Ye jin in was Personal Taste, I tend not to see her as beautiful. I mean, I know she’s attractive, but I don’t see her at the level of the other beauties on the list (not counting the cutie girls).
You didn’t mention my pick of Shin Se kyun. She’s been mentioned by many male K-stars as their “ideal type” and I can see it.
I would certainly add Han Ye Ri (6 Flying Dragons–if you have seen it, who wouldn’t want her for a consort–; and lead in Nokdu Flower). And while not pretty in the more culturally agreed upon pov, for pure screen presence, in some of her roles, especially in film, erotic magnetism, and charisma: Bae Doona.
In Chuno, it is almost universally agreed that despite Lee Da Hae’s unmistakably spectacular pulchritude, Kim Ha Eun is the most compelling woman in the production, and it isn’t really close.
It’s a wonderful list, Geo, but my rankings would be very different, and I would have to add, perhaps another five actresses along with additional categories (of which some are mentioned below) e.g. Who the camera loves…
@Sean: The challenge is to select only one in each category, for even with my limited exposure, there are several “quality” candidates that didn’t make the top spot. Having to choose one will spike out differences in taste, exposure, etc.
@BE: Han Ye-ri was very good in SFD and she made my list, just not the top spot. Bae Doona is okay (only saw her in Stranger 1) but I would place in the mature category (she has a mature look, not sure of her age) with Kim Hee-ae and KHA is at the top for me in that category. I haven’t seen either Lee Da-hae or Kim Ha-eun so can’t really place them.
@Beez: I totally missed you noting Shin Se-kyung in SFD, she just didn’t make much of an impact on me. I had her in the “Cute” category where I had Jang Na-ra as my choice. It’s interesting how one’s first exposure to an actor/actress can shape one’s perspective. I saw SYJ for the first time in CLOY and was just floored by her overall attractiveness whereas you saw her in Personal Taste where she was less than glamorous. I’m going to have to take a closer look at other shows featuring SHK, didn’t realize she was such a big deal. I started Iris and enjoyed the first 2-3 episodes but I fell away and I’m not sure why…think I ran into other older classics not on Netflix. There was a very good looking female lead in these early episodes but I’m not sure if she was Kim So-yeon, think I’ll have to revisit Iris. I didn’t realize that there was a 2nd season, featuring Jang Hyuk no less!
Sorry, KFG, think I’ve hijacked the Chuno thread a bit.
@Geo – Kim So yeon appears a bit later in Iris. The female lead in the early episodes is none other than Kim Tae hee. Kim Tae hee is regarded as The most beautiful woman in South Korea. (I’ve always been puzzled by this as I don’t see it AT ALL! But you spotted her as “very good looking” so it’s not Koreans’ whose taste is strange but my own perspective of what’s beautiful and what’s not 😆. I’m not saying she’s unattractive, but with faces like Jin Ji hyun and Song Hye kyo, I don’t see how hers is The face that everyone wants to have (literally by requesting it at the plastic surgeons).)
A little background – Kim Tae hee is celebrity royalty as far as her stats go. I think I recall it being said that her family was pretty well off and she went to what would be considered the equivalent of an Ivy League university. (Because of her stats, I always told myself that’s why her looks are rated highest but I guess I have to face it that it’s just my own standard of beauty that’s different.) She married one of my first (and fav) bias – pop star, Rain (I know nothing about Kpop other than I’m a fan of Rain’s). Oh. And I felt this way about her long before their relationship was revealed so it’s not just fan-girl sour grapes.😄 Together, with their combined real estate investments, they’re listed as the wealthiest of Hallyu stars. I feel like Kim Tae hee has really smoothed out Rain’s rough edges, which I’m sure it’s a good thing for him (not for me though ’cause I loved my “Bad Boy”. 😉 Bad Boy was the title of one of Rain’s early hits).
EDITED to admit: I do have sour grapes about their marriage now, but I’m glad their happy. 😩😄
@beez: I was curious about Kim So-yeon so I went back to Iris on Netflix and lo and behold she appeared in episode 4 just after where I had stopped. I have to agree with you, she’s in the same league as SYJ and as sexy as Shin Min-a. I’m with you about Kim Tae-hee, she’s not as good looking as I remembered and I’m surprised she’s considered the most beautiful woman in Korea. She’s quite attractive but to me, she’s more in the cute category, where Jang Na-ra is still my top choice.
@Geo – I feel vindicated! 😆 -that I was not just being petty about Kim Tae hee. That’s what I want to believe anyway. ☺
For all you Son Ye jin lovers – she’ll be appearing in an American movie with Sam Worthington. Here’s the link
https://www.pinkvilla.com/entertainment/crash-landing-you-star-son-ye-jin-hollywood-aspirations-there-will-be-lot-gain-experience-575453
@beez: Thanks for the heads up about SYJ appearing in an American movie though I don’t have high hopes about her acting in English, it’s difficult to translate from one language to another and still keep the same emotional state. In a few shows, I have heard the actors lapse into English from time to time and it just feels and sounds off.
I’m going to look at KTH more closely now that I know she’s regarded as hallyu royalty. Maybe her background has created this aura about her that her looks are over-rated and one feels reluctant to say otherwise when everyone is going the other way. She reminds me of a girl I knew growing up who was very much a social climber, in the “in crowd” and very popular. Everyone, or mostly everyone, was really taken with her and extolled her looks while I found her quite ordinary. It’s similar to when no one wants to say the emperor has no clothes.
I’m really getting into Iris, up to episode 8, it’s a well done action show though I can see it being stretched to lengthen the show, scenarios introduced to justify action scenes without being needed to advance the main storyline . It must have had a big budget with extensive filming outside Korea and a large cast. The more I see of Kim So-yeon, the more I’m impressed, especially the contrast to Kim Tae-hee, KSY looks like a “woman” compared to to the “girl” that is KTH. It’s not easy to look as good she does in Iris with short hair.
I haven’t gotten to Chuno yet between LOK (life outside Kdramas) and watching Iris so I’ve refrained from even looking at the comments on episodes 1 and 2. Hope I can get to it this weekend.
BTW, agent 155 is the alter ego for Geo. Finally bit the bullet and opened a WordPress account.
Ahhhhh. I was wondering when I’d discussed anything with agent155 but I figured someone was just weighing in.
Since its you,
SOMEHOW I ACCIDENTALLY HIT SAVE
Since its you, I’ll go even further about the English. Yes, it can be really grating on the ear when things are pronounced badly, especially when they are pronounced that way across the board because it’s being taught that way. But because the wrong pronunciation is taught, even Koreans who speak English fluently with barely a trace of accent will do the mispronunciation even though they know it’s incorrect and they can pronounced it properly. It’s because if they pronounce it correctly, other Koreans won’t know what they’re saying. For example “computer” is pronounced “com- pute- tah”. I first thought “c’mon. Nobody’s stupid. They will recognize ‘computer’ is what they pronounce as ‘com-pute- tah”. But it was explained to me that without much exposure to foreigners speaking, Koreans are not used to making the ear adjustment the way that we automatically adjust for a French or Italian or German or whatever accent. So you’ll hear a Korean actor/actress whom you know knows the proper pronunciation mispronouncing words that derived from English. I’ll also see English fluent actors get grammar or plurals completely wrong and I know they know better so I have to think it’s in the script but because of the cultural hierarchy we talked about before, they don’t just correct it but read the line as its written.
Tee hee! It feels like you’re a superhero, Geo, with an alter ego and everything! 😀
@agent155 – Don’t prematurely sell Son Ye jin short until we’ve heard her. Many times I’ve been pleasantly surprised by some of the Hallyu stars that I didn’t know were fluent in English.
We’re taking a break for Thanksgiving so we won’t be starting episodes 3 and 4 of Chuno until the week after next so you’ve got time to catch up 😉
@beez: Thanks for the insight into Korean actors’ sometimes deliberate mispronounciation of English words. I’ll keep an open mind on SYJ’s American vehicle and actually look forward to it.
In the same vein, I just finished Iris and towards the end, there was a group of foreign mercenaries and I must say, pretty bad actors all or maybe the English just sounded strange in the show. I’m not sure but I think I heard the Korean baddies speaking to them in Korean and they seeming to understand even though they were supposed to be english speaking? Anyway, minor point.
I think you asked me what I thought about Iris and I liked it despite the improbable scenarios and many dead ends. SPOILERS BELOW
Kim So-yeon was a revelation to me, I really liked her, her acting, her looks and her style, quite the kick-ass heroine when she needs to be. Her role was so much more meaningful than Kim Tae-hee’s damsel in distress but with smarts and skills. The show’s budget was obviously huge so I think they had to stretch to 20 episodes to recover their investment. But the director was very skilled at ending each episode in a cliff hanger which kept you wanting to see more. My solution was to break in the middle of an episode at a natural point.
I found scenarios were often manufactured to highlight an action scene, eg the Japan sequence where ML is captured by the Japanese secret service and forced to assassinate a govt minister; not sure what that is doing in the show? I know that conspiracy fans like to talk about a cabal ruling the world or trying to control the world behind the scenes but I just found Iris’s reach too unrealistic. Would a dept like NSS be allowed to continue intact if its head and one of its star operatives were found to be traitors? The explanation about the FL’s Iris situation again seems too thin and expecting the 2nd ML to suddenly become a good guy when faced with killing women and children in the mall doesn’t jibe with his previously going along with setting off a nuclear bomb in downtown Seoul and causing many more casualties of women and children. I also didn’t buy ML trying to ally with North Korean security to get revenge as show was very light on showing his traitorous side. But I liked the action scenes, the acting for the most part, the way the characters were drawn and the digital capabilities of all the parties, possibly over exaggerated but still very cool. I’d give it a “B” rating because it did keep me coming back though i found the end confusing and a wild rush to wrap up the show. I would say the ending didn’t do justice to the overall show.
Last comment about Kim So-yeon, I’m now a big fan and she’s up there but for now not quite as overall good looking like SYJ or sexy as Shin Min-a but she’s very close in both categories.
@agent155 (Darn it, I prefer Geo. I guess I just got used to thinking of you in terms of “Geo”. I’ll get used to agent 155 eventually, I’m sure. 😄)
If I recall the categories you listed – there was an “overall” and so that’s why I selected Kim So yeon as my overall beauty. She may “not be as good looking as SYJ [Although I disagree] nor as sexy as Shin Min ah” but she’s that one that I think may not be the best in individual categories but overall…
As to Iris, I don’t remember all the plot points that you mention but, I do remember that SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER – in Iris2, the agency heads have been arrested but the agency itself still exists. I enjoyed Iris2 but only because I actually saw it first because I watched for Jang Hyuk. If I’d seen Iris 1 first then I’m pretty sure I would not have liked Iris 2. The main reason for that is the main hero’s story was identical and also most of the plot down to an idol being the traitor, however at least the idol was a better actor this time.
T.O.P., the name of the kpop star who was the villain in Iris1 – his scene where he kills the kpop actress is probably the worst, stiffest acting I’ve ever seen anywhere… and that includes my kid’s elementary school productions. I may be trying to be facetious but I’m not exaggerating. 😆
Anyway, I don’t recommend Iris 2 unless you want to watch episode 1 just to see where the agency is at and/or of you’re like me and will watch anything that allows Jang Hyuk to highlight his lightning fast fists of fury. 😉
@agent155 – One more thing about Kim So yeon. There’s a reason she doesn’t have the star power of Son Ye jin or Shin Min ah. That ever illusive “it” factor that we can’t really define. I know if I had three dramas to pick from starring the three actresses and I could only watch two – Kim So yeon’s show would not be the one I choose to watch over the other two ladies. I just feel that I’m going to enjoy watching them more.
For KFG but I can’t seem to respond to her message.
It’s nice to suggest I’m like a superhero, lol, but far from super and who knows about being a hero. Both names mean something to me and i tend to use them for different scenarios so they are really like alter egos to that extent but here I am, using both here…
Well, thanks for showing us both sides to yourself, Geo! I guess it’d be ok to address you as either Geo or agent155 then! 😃
I’m going to try and join the group watch but I’m really not sure I can resist the temptation to jump ahead, once I start watching, as this would be my first watch. I’ve heard so much about Chuno and Jang Hyuk from comments on this blog that I’ve been saving this show for the right time. I just finished Six Flying Dragons and My Country and I was thinking of taking a short break from sageuk shows but I’ll see how I feel next week.
This is an excellent idea, kfg
Aw, YAY that you’re planning to join us, Geo!! 😀 No worries about jumping ahead with your watch, as long as you’re able to pace yourself in terms of the discussions. 🙂
Also, if you want a bit of a break from sageuk, you could potentially balance a modern show with this one, which would help you slow down your Chuno watch somewhat, while you get some modern vibes on your drama plate? 😉
I think you’re right, KFG, that simultaneously watching a modern day show with Chuno will work and help me restrict myself to two episodes of Chuno a week. Ideally, light rom-coms would fit the bill and I’ll review your other post for good candidates. I usually watch two shows concurrently but the length and
intensity of SFD and MC plus other outside stuff has impacted my drama viewing time in recent times.
Really looking forward to the Group Watch.
Glad you like the idea, Geo!! 😀 Just shout, if you’d like us to help you pick your modern drama. 😉
I really hope you’ll enjoy Chuno as much as the rest of us! 😀
Hi KFG: Suggestions are always welcome. I go back to your post on “Dramas to make your Day Better” for recommendations but specific suggestions would work too. I’m actually watching Her Private Life now based on your post and enjoying it a lot after SFD and MC. Park Min-young is really good in HPL and her chemistry with the ML really works.
I’m a big Jang Hyuk fan as well, maybe not for the same reasons as the ladies, so I’m eagerly anticipating the Group Watch.
Oh, that’s great that Her Private Life is working nicely for you, Geo! 😀 The OTP is great together in that, I now think Ryan Gold is arguably the world’s best boyfriend. 😉🤩
Also – we ladies might swoon over Jang Hyuk (thanks for bearing with us!), but I promise, we do appreciate his other strengths too! 😅
@kfangurl @Geo – I may love Jang Hyuk’s abs but I can get great abs from any of the Korean stars post military service. My awe of Jang Hyuk lies in his skills in his craft. (The abs are a bonus 😉)
One of the ways he excelled in My Country was his ability to throw is voice. Anyone who has heard him speak normally is aware he has a rather soft, somewhispery speaking voice, but there are places in My Country, especially when he is complaining to YI Seong Gyi about the cost of assassinating Poeun on the bridge, where he literally thunders. He is a master of all physical aspects of acting, a wonder really.
@Geo – I can’t recall of you’ve already watched What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim? It’s another Park Min Young vehicle. It’s based on a manwha and it’s good to keep that in mind while watching.
@Beez: I have seen ” ….Secretary Kim” and I enjoyed it for what it was, a solid “B” for me and actually seeing PMY in it (plus KFG’s rating) led me to Her Private Life which I think is a step above Secretary Kim. Thanks for enlightening me about manhwa (had to look it up, lol) but knowing that, puts Secretary Kim in a somewhat different light.
I’m almost finished Her Private Life so any similar recommendations would be more than welcome.
@Geo –
Movies – I recommend
The Phantom Detective (on Amazon Prime)
Forgotten starring Kang Ha neul and Kim Moo yul (Netflix)
The Man From Nowhere – (Amazon Prime and Viki)
Memories of the Sword (Lee Byung Hun & Jeon Do-Yeon & Kim Go eun)
Train to Busan (zombie flick)
A Werewolf Boy (Park Bo young & Song Joon ki)
A Frozen Flower
War of the Arrows
Serious Series
My Beautiful Bride – is everything – BUT don’t let anyone tell you anything about it and don’t read anything about it. It has to unfold without you having any expectations of what’s happening or about to happen.
Cutesy Series
The Girl Who Sees Smells – Micky Yoochun and Shin Se
Fight My Way stars Park Seo joon from Secretary Kim (very good)
Because It’s My First Life (not overly cutesy but good) stars Lee Min ki and Jung So min
EDITED: As I went back to your email notification, I see you wanted similar recommendations – sorry. But see my cutsey list at the bottom.
I am so bad with names. I had to google her, but what I know her from was Sunkyunkwan Scandal, and aside from being at times upstaged, no great shame in this, by both Yoo Ah In and Song Joon Ki, who is especially good in this series, and hampered by the more wooden performance of her male lead, I thought she did a very good job as the spunky and talented young woman in the man’s world and cross dressing to do so trope. I thought she was the star of the show. I know I have seen her in films, but they were supporting roles, and I do not have any real memory of her as such.
Another actress I would mention is Shin Se Kyung, who I believe is just now hitting her stride. I am an old guy and not always much moved by the ingenue types. Most actors in general, unlike athletes, really begin their careers in their thirties, and the charisma they acquire with time makes them more attractive to me, Shin Se Kyung has a droll sense of humor and a bit of fiber to her of which one hopes directors and writers make more and more use.
@BE – Yes, I agree about Shin Se kyun’s acting as she matures. Although she was a hottie in Fashion King with Yoo Ah in
https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvE2-hpAQD16xRxxYYgWq7BqUL7d
WARNING – Nobody rush to see Fashion King. It was a total turkey, unless you just want to see two stars before they developed into the skills they have now.
Shin Se kyung has really come along way.
😂😂 I had to laugh at your warning for people not to rush to see Fashion King. That was indeed a total turkey, unfortunately. I was wise to skip it, after hearing about the terrible ending. Sometimes it totally pays to be late to the party! 😆
@kfangurl – And my disdain for Fashion King is more than what others deem a bad ending (that was probably the best ending ’cause what do you do when you’re left feeling hungry – Shoot that Turkey!) 😆 But, no, the ending was quite dramatic and I felt it fit a show about losers.
Since I know you won’t ever watch it (lucky you) here’s the problem for me – mostly it was in Shin Sekyung’s character (all of the characters really) but she was the main focus of the show and such a rag doll that went in whichever direction she was pulled by both guys. She had ZERO back bone or agency as the millennials would call it. She went along with whichever guy showed up and wrist-grabbed her. (I love The wrist grab when it’s being done by the right guy.) She would do whatever whichever guy wanted her to do in opposition to his rival in scenes back to back. Not even a pause of her sticking with one plan or guy for a few scenes. Scene 1: Yoo Ah in says “let’s do [this] to beat out Lee Je-Hoon!” And the very next scene as YAI exited scene left, Lee Je-Hoon enters scene right and drags Shin Se kyung “No, let’s do [that]. And rag doll just goes along with it and back again ad nauseum. And it’s not even as if she was in love with both guys, in which case I could understand her flip flopping better. She clearly one-sided loved YAI. You’d think that would make her able to at least protest against Lee Je-Hoon when he would recruit her to his side.
The entire main cast had nothing redeemable about them. I can’t even gush over Yoo Ah in’s performance here. And you KNOW that’s my favourite thing to do. 😠 Thank goodness he (and the other actors) developed since then.
Gosh, that sounds like terrible writing and non-existent characterization! 😬 I am so glad I didn’t attempt Fashion King in the slightest! 😝😅 And now I KNOW I never will! 😂😂
Yeah, I would rarely tell anyone to completely avoid a show because… you know, different strokes… But in this case, I feel no qualms. They should put a skull & cross bones across the poster anywhere it appears. 💀💣
🤣🤣 That ought to deter folks, alright!
@beez. I have seen clips of Shin Se Kyung in a recent mobster movie, of which, since they are not my thing, I have forgotten the title, in which she plays a “hottie.” She has a kind of track record in historical dramas as a different kind of character, though a little of her sexual edge came out in Rookie Historian, albeit her lead male was such a doink it put a bit of a damper on it. I would like to see her in a femme fatale with a sense of edgy humor kind of role. PS I agree with you about Kim Tae Hee. But I would like to add that there are a number pretty faced guys I can never remember either, all seeming to blend into the same guy in my mind. I suppose to some degree this has to do with being an old man. But I would say even when speaking of young actresses I believe Kim Tae Ri because of her eyes and acting ability punches considerably above her weight in terms of beauty, and perhaps her imperfections are also part of how memorable her face is.
And when we speak of actors, I am very glad I saw Yoo Yeon Seok in Mr. Sunshine before any other role. That iteration, yes I know why you drool over him, but in other roles, he is mostly forgettable in terms of his physical attributes.
@BE – I can’t disagree with any of your statements. lol Yes, Kim Tae ri has a gravitas to her. She looks so very young in Mr. Sunshine to me and yet she more than held her own with the more well-known male actors, including Lee Byun hun.
I didn’t even recognize Yoo Yeon seok as the villain in Werewolf Boy. I’m so glad that I didn’t or I don’t know if I would’ve had the same level of spazz that I do for Gu Dong mae. lol
@beez: Thanks for the recommendations on light dramas. I’ve seen Because It’s is My First Life and enjoyed it for the most part. I’ll check out your other suggestions. I’ve currently got caught up with Iris, looking for Kim So-yeon, and actually finding the show going better than expected or remembered.
@Geo – yes, I missed or forgot that you asked for cutesy. Sorry about that.
@Geo – let me know your thoughts on Iris when you’re done.
@Geo and @merij1 – you can jump ahead as much as you want, but please, everyone, let’s try to refrain from comments on episodes outside of the designated ones for that particular thread. That way, we can keep the focus only on the current weeks’ episodes but more importantly, for those who have not seen the show before, they won’t run into spoilers before they get to that point in the story.
Thanks for that Beez, I’ll put that reminder in every Open Thread, to help keep us on track! ❤️
This is sich a nice idea! Alas, I don’t have time for rewatches atm but I’m pretty sure I’ll be reading all the posts/replies, ha. I still remember the fun times @ Soompi forum when Chuno was airing. ☺ There were some great discussions, among other things, on that board. I wonder if that thread is still around…
Yes, do drop in to share your thoughts Timescout! 😀 I can imagine the Soompi thread must’ve gone wild when Chuno aired.. hopefully we’ll be able to recapture some of those community feels with this group watch! 😀
Epic!
YES! 😀
Welcome aboard the Chuno train, merij1! I promise not to post spoilers!
I think I’ll need to spoil myself on the basics. It would be too hard to not skip ahead.
I will be there!
For a first-time watch like mine, I suspect it will be hard to watch only two episodes per week. But since my gal (probably) won’t be joining me, I think I can pull it off.
I predict that mixing veterans with first-timers will be interesting. Bringing to mind this classic gif describing a similar divide, titled: “What it’s like to watch Game of Thrones with people who haven’t read the books.”
https://i.imgur.com/GeJ8fg1.gifv
Oh boy. I searched to find that gif but didn’t notice how it had been repurposed. lol
Great that you’ll be joining the fun, MeriJ! 😀 I think it’d be very interesting to see how seasoned watchers and fresh eyed new viewers would affect one another, now that you mention it! I think it’ll be a mutually beneficial experiment! 😉
@merji1 – I enjoyed the first 2 books but lost interest on the third
I read none of them. I like sci-fi and fantasy, but he’s not my style. However I did enjoy the HBO series.
merij1 – I’ve only seen Season 1 but my son keeps bugging me to catch up.
If you ever do watch any more episodes, watch all the way up to the start of the final season and then end your viewing there.
@Seankfletcher – does it go off the rails? I don’t know because I’ve steered away from spoilers all this time. And we have a no spoilers rule in our house. (I felt that third book went waaay off the rails. Martin must’ve been heavily eating or smoking mushrooms.)
At some point the show had to venture beyond what the book writer had published. (I doubt he’ll ever finish the series.)
Many people felt the quality plummeted from then on. Personally, I didn’t feel that way, other than for a major character’s plot twist at the very end. I thought the twist made perfect sense, but it had been only barely foreshadowed and thus felt cheap.
It is certainly true, however, that a book writer puts considerably more time into his or her craft than a scriptwriter, even for a prestige limited series show like GoT.
Lol GoT…. Seasons 1-3 were amazing … seasons 4-5 were still watchable everything after that is just complete trash 😀
My experience was very different. I felt it became better and better, until the start of the end 🐉 🐉 🐉
@merij1 – the place where I dropped the third book was shortly after SPOILER SPOILER SPOILER FOR THE BOOK ONLY when a warrior that the silver-haired dragon chick had recruited to her side, walked to the middle of the battlefield, turned his back on the enemy, squatted and took a shat. Talk about contempt! 💩😂😂😂
And I admit, the tomboy part of me LOVED IT!😂😂😂 But then with my memory problems starting back then, and the book going farther and farther afield from any of the established characters – I dropped it. It was kind of like how Lord of the Rings introduced Tom (crap! I can’t remember his name) and he was a great character but he was introduced and, if I recall correctly, had no interaction with any other characters in the story. That’s pointless to me. If you have a great character, have him interact with your other characters or save him and give him his own separate standalone story in another book. Did I digress? lol
For me, it went off the rails after the third episode in the final season. Murphy’s Law happened. On the day after watching that third episode, GoT was a hot topic during the training I was conducting. I said it was fabulous etc. Then, when we watched episode four, I was so disappointed. Linda and our youngest kept watching the final series until the end. When they told me what happened I commented I’m so glad I didn’t watch that 😂
Well, I loved all the books and the series does depart in places from what he wrote. However, overall, the series except the final stages, was superb.
When I brought the first book, I had it with me at work. It was back in the days when I wore very fashionable suits, with men’s braces and everything 🤣 Anyway, a lady I worked with, Meredith asked me what it was about. I said it was fabulous especially re Martin’s understanding of politics, it feels just like working here 😱
@seankfletcher – And I thought that the office that I retired from was stressful! haha! Sean, care to tell us how your office compared to GOT?
Hello Beez, I will share part of the experience without delving into all too much. At a time long ago, imagine a government agency that had deliberately isolated itself from the parent body because of the power it had in its own right. And it wielded that power. Another aspect was staff were punished in a very public way. I had my fair share of “public executions.” The last one I ever went through was a 40 minute tirade 😱 It was a full on narcissistic experience.
My branch of the agency was like the Night’s Watch – we operated in a very effective way despite the craziness around us. We held the line, made forays here and there, but ultimately we were trend setters (and a right royal threat as it were).
On other occasions it was like Yes, Minister 😂
@seankfletcher – ahhhhhhh. I most surely emphathize.
Thanks Beez. Just as well I had my Superman outfit on 😂
@sean – don’t you know you’re never supposed to take it off? At least not until you’re back safe at home. 😊
@seankfletcher – this was in my feed today and I thought about you. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-49000046
Now the question is, does the new law protect employees from their supervisors kicking them in the shins? funny, but not funny
It is always interesting to see how far behind most countries are compared to germany when it is about laws regarding the workplace.
@reaper – yes, I’ve heard how good employees have it in Germany, even in jobs like large lower price department stores
Thank you for sharing this article, Beez. Technically, this law should provide protection. However, even where I am, after decades of such laws in place, it comes down to how an issue is handled. Anyway, I have always been on the side of the ledger re do what’s right, but it does come at a huge cost. I always think of The Thee Stooges when I see shin kicking going on in a kdrama – perhaps that might just be the point 🤔
@sean – the shin kicking seems to be seen most often in the military (I think) and spilled over into the office in the older dramas. I haven’t seen it much in newer ones.
And you are so right that it’s all about how it’s handled and the atmosphere in the office. Sometimes it’s not feasible to report if you want to keep the job. In Michigan, it’s called “right to work” state. The law is crazy as far as worker’s unions, which don’t usually exist in office settings. And if you’re a minority and the majority already thinks they know what’s right, any complaint would not be doing yourself any favors.
About Korean women kicking men in the shin — outside of work — and beating their children about the head and chest with an open hand? Is that really a thing, or is it mostly a K-drama thing?
We’re starting the final episode of My Lovely Sam Soon (AKA My Name Is…) in a few minutes and found ourselves asking that question aloud. There’s a lot of it in that show!
@merij1 – I can only say what I’ve heard from Dramabeans years ago, back when the blogs hosts were Korean-Americans – they would often say things liked “that’s exactly how my mom acts” or “Korean dads do [that]. (Not so much hitting of girls by Korean dads). Btw, Dramabeans recapped Kim Sam Soon episode by episode if you’re interested.
@merij1 – Another show that I would highly recommend is Jealousy Incarnate. I only just thought about it because of your comment about mom’s open handed hitting of their children. The show is good on its own merits but I’m reminded of a scene where the mom is hitting her adult son and he’s smiling because he knows the fuss is all because she loves him And his siblings are all like “Look! He’s smiling! He’s loving it!”
I’ve often thought to myself when it’s children they’re hitting “um, that’s an actor. You’re doing that a bit hard, don’t you think?” Although, from what I’ve seen, the smacks are aimed mostly near the lower regions when it’s small children.
And I must admit that my son and daughter in law came to deliver good news to me and my response was to repeated slap my son’s arm in my excitement. He was grinning ear to ear. If you recall, this is kind of the “argument” that Larius and I had a while back about culture differences?
That’s a big yes from me re Jealousy Incarnate 🤗
Sounds like a good recommendation. I might check it out beez.
I mean my mom “hits” me on the shoulder when she is excited too that is not the issue and completely fine. But every kind of use of violence deserves its own discussion. So many factors run into these things.
Oh yeah the “argument” that shall not be named 😀
Now, there is a show I only lasted all of about 25 minutes with it. I tried at least twice to watch it, but despite all those who enjoyed it, I couldn’t see in Sam Soon what they saw.
@Kfangurl – Sean has gone rogue again.
@Beez Ahaha!! I’m sorry to confess that I did not love Sam Soon as much as everyone else did, either. I finished it, though. I just didn’t have a big love for the show. I guess this means I’ve kinda gone rogue with Sean? 😆
gasp! What is wrong with you two???!! All’s not right with the world. It’s been rocked on its axis! (Only half joking.)
I even attempted a recent rewatch after CLOY, just to see if I’d feel differently now, so many years later. And.. nope, it still doesn’t grab me the way it grabbed everyone else. 😝😅
I’m putting you and Sean on waivers. Consider yourselves yellow slipped. (Next step will be pink slips if I hear of another classic being disparaged.)
First it’s Secret Garden, now Kim Sam soon. What’s next? Greatest Love? Autumn Tale? My Girl? Master’s Sun? Full House? Heavens forbid – even Coffee Prince?! Is nothing sacred???!!! 😳
Ahahaha! I did like Autumn in my Heart and watched it twice. I thought My Girl was not bad. But.. I didn’t really take to Greatest Love, Master’s Sun or Full House, unfortunately. I do love Coffee Prince a great deal though! 😉
@kfangurl – Master’s Sun?!!! You are about thisssss close https://1drv.ms/u/s!AvE2-hpAQD16gapZgeq7dSAZ9rPthQ
😉 😆
Well that IS a very pretty pink slip, I must say. 😉
Beez let me tell you something I haven’t seen any of these 😀
@reaper – how long have you been watching Kdrama? I need to know in order to know how close you art to a pink slip.
I have been watching since 2016 😀
@reaper – What da h–? Right now, your slip is yellow blushing to slight pink. You gotta get on a couple of these.
I’m trying to pictures your tastes from the conversations we’ve had:
I’ll spare you My Girl and Full House as they were fluff to begin with and don’t hold up well over time. (Doesn’t change my fondness for them though.) And I know you’ve had to have heard us all gushing about Coffee Prince but it hasn’t inspired you to watch it. 🤔
That leaves three but I don’t know which you’d be willing to watch:
The Greatest Love (typical rom-com but I think what makes it special is the fact that Cha Seung-Won stars and he’s usually so serious that his playing a character who is an action star with an over-inflated ego is really funny.
Autumn Tale – melo, melo and melo but boasts two of the most gorgeous stars in Hallyu – Song Hye kyo and Song Seung heon in their youth.
Master’s Sun (horror (which I HATE, but after the first couple of episodes they toned down the spooky enough that I ended up loving this show). And it has So Ji sub.
This is making me think I don’t know your tastes at all. I can’t think (or remember) any shows you’ve expressed that you thought were really good?
I want the pink one so here it goes:
I would only watch My girl for Hwang Bo Ra and The greatest Love for Yoo In na otherwise the storylines don’t seem interesting.
Autumn Tale? Melo is just meeeh. It must be very well made to be good.
Masters’s Sun… Horror no thank you. And by the way mentioning male actors doesn’t work on me lol.
Well I don’t hava that many shows that I thought of as amazing.
Pink slip please – I haven’t watched Secret Garden and I am not inclined to. The Greatest Love did get a guernsey from me. I didn’t last long with Autumn Tale. My Girl – too cheesy for me! Master’s Sun – a big tick. Full House – hmmm. As for Coffee Prince – I probably won’t get around to watching it 😱
@seankfletcher – You, sir, are beyond, and undeserving, of a pretty pink slip! I’m revoking your moniker Sean watches EVERYthing! effectively immediately!😒
Hey I want one tooooooooo 😂
@reaper – You want a moniker/nickname/motto? I’ll have to get to know you better so that it really fits. Give me some time and we’ll see. 😊 Right now, I can’t even pin down your tastes/preferences.
Sounds good ^^ But my preferences and my taste is hard to explain
@reaper – Exactly!
I think I would give @merij1 something that has to do with Mr. Romance as he seems to lean toward epic true love dramas (even if it’s because of his wife’s preferences. That just reinforces the romantic impression.) 😍
If anyone else can come up with good nicknames or mottos for these guys, feel free to jump in here and help me out. For an example of what I’m talking about, I gave Sean the motto Sean watches EVERYthing! (Although I’m contemplating revoking that. Maybe changing it to *Sean watches almost everything”. 🤔 Just doesn’t have the same panache.)
😖
Mr. Romance would suit me too but looks like its taken ^^
Mr. Reciprocal? Hates whatever KFG loves and visa versa…
Lol that fits 😀
😆
That’s a bit of a worry. Things will realign themselves soon enough, although reading on further below, it may not!!!.
I might have to develop the rogues creed 😜
Yeah, I tend to do that – but in a constructive way 😂🤣😉
@Sean – did you watch /like Bridget Jones’ Diary?
No, Beez, I haven’t and I don’t think I ever will, despite the cast. But you will be pleased to know I am watching Birthcare Centre!
@Sean – I glanced at the synopsis but, even though it looks like it’ll be a quality show, I decided not to dip my toe in.
I’ve started about 5 different dramas in the last two weeks and have not felt motivated to go beyond the first or second episode. So then I started a few of the KBS Specials individual shows that are only one hour long – haven’t finished any of them except one – a fusion saeguk called Modern Girl.
I might take a look at Modern Girl 🤗
@sean – it’s part of the 2020 KBS Drama Special. I don’t think it comes up on a search of Modern Girl. It was okay. I prefer real saeguk better than fusion.
I always feel like there are comments missing what synopsis are you talking about?
@reaper – usually when any of us refer to the synopsis of a show we’re saying we looked it up on AsianWiki, Wikipedia or wherever a description of whichever show we’re talking about exists.
So do I. I just don’t know which one you are talking about ^^
@reaper – Ahhhhh. Sorry. Sean mentioned Birthcare Center a few comments ⬆
Ahhh wait you are talking about birthcare center… I wanted to try it to but the snippezs on Youtube make it look like its not my style
@seankfletcher – I only asked about Bridget Jones’ Diary because Kim Sam soon is frequently labeled as “the Korean Bridget Jones’ Diary. And so if you’d enjoyed one, chances are…
I can appreciate the comparison, Beez. It’s interesting I suppose, given that BJD was a reinterpretation of Pride and Prejudice – which is a favourite story of mine.
@sean – ohhh riiiight. Now that you’ve said that, I do remember all the Mr. Darcy comments floating around. But to me, Colin Firth was too likeable to be a Darcy.
Re: Sam Soon, we liked it at first but grew annoyed with how they made the FL pointedly uncouth. (I guess to made a point about how true love transcends familial class differences?)
It was refreshing to have the FL not be skinny, but she was often annoying and crude as well.
So not really a Candy. Yet it left us missing the cheerfulness of a Candy.
Ha. I never thought I hear myself saying I wish they’d gone with a tired trope!
@merij1 – Kim Sam soon. I love her terseness and not so optimistic outlook. It has an “everyman [woman]” feel. (I think I was a bit tired of the Candy character too.) Kim Samsoon is that underdog you root for against all odds. She’s not quite thin enough, not quite pretty enough (the character, not the actress) not air-headed enough to be a whole lot of fun. But in Kdrama that was a breath of fresh reality air (not as darkly realistic as Jian in My Mister, but middle-class everyday real).
And had you asked me who my favorite actress was up until a couple of years ago, I would’ve said Kim Sun ah. But I’ve grown tired of waiting to enjoy her the way I did in Kim Sam soon or in her rom com movies. Her latest few vehicles have made me feel like she’s a sad sack and a downer. And maybe that’s unfair. Maybe it’s a testament to how very good she is at portraying those roles, but for me – no thanks. I need my pick-me-upper rom-coms.
I need to amend my remarks on the final season of GoT.
What I should have said is that there were a number of fails, but I still enjoyed it.
For sure, some of the military maneuvers in the White Walker battles were cringeworthy. But whatever. No need to get geeky about that.
The biggest fails for me were the missed opportunities for various character resolutions and the rushed nature of the final season.
It’s a lot to ask of all those actors and others to commit to 7-8 years for a single show. So when the showrunners (PDs, in K-lingo) decide to end it after “two more seasons,” it’s not necessarily because that’s how much time they need to complete the story.
The result: rushed storylines and a need to let go of some of the many threads. By the 2nd half of the final season, it felt like they were just trying to be done with it. With a few “epic” moments to stir the water cooler discussion.
For those of us who watched because of the rich characterizations, it felt like the pared-down skeleton of the storyboard. “This happens, then this, then this. The End.”
And since one of those “then this” character developments was huge, it felt wrong for not having been organically developed. There were a few warning signs each season, but not enough to keep us from feeling betrayed.
I am glad you enjoyed the final season.
Once I realised where GoT was heading, that was it for me. I found in the blink of an eye, the characters were no longer true to themselves.
My favourite Tyrion quote: “That’s what I do: I drink and I know things.” 😂
It’s funny you know, merij, but I found him very refreshing and insightful, actually.
That was a foolishly ignorant comment on my part, since I’ve never actually read his work.
I lumped him in my mind with other male sci-fi/fantasy writers whose writing bloats once they become super popular and their editor loses leverage over the length of their books.
Especially the ones who think their insights into politics are incredibly clever, when they actually aren’t.
Best example of this phenom: David Weber, who looks a tiny, tiny bit like George RR Martin and is probably where I went astray in my prejudice. His Honor Harrington space opera series was really good. Until it got too popular. Then the books got longer and longer, mostly filled with trite political storylines that he clearly thought were brimming with historical reference and deep insight.
I stopped buying them and would instead borrow each new book from the library and skim through to the parts that weren’t awful. By the end, that took no time at all.
So, please accept my sincere apology, GRRM. I should have tried you out or kept my silly mouth shut.
@merij1 – well from what I read, he was trippin’ 😆
Merij, you always have a good, thoughtful comment to make. I can think of at least two authors where it would seem the HHH experience occurred.
GRRM, is an extremely good writer. The Winds of Winter is inching closer to release and I would expect it to vary some what from what was portrayed in the final seasons of GoT.
He has written a whole range of other works, including sci-fi, and undertaken a number of other projects.
As the great man wrote:
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies, said Jojen. The man who never reads lives only one.” – A Dance With Dragons.