Our Dr. Romantic and Money Flower group watches are almost over – gosh, time flies, doesn’t it?!?
I hope you guys have been having fun with the group watches! I especially appreciate those of you who managed to join both group watches &/or have been active on the Open Threads. Sharing your reactions and your thoughts really makes the experience richer for everyone. Thank you for playing! ❤️
What I’d like to find out from you guys, via this post, is
(a) whether you guys are keen to keep going, with the group watch, and
(b) what you’d like to watch together, if you want to keep going?
Let me know in the comments!
Some things to consider
1. Group watch benefits
I realized that one of the cool things about having the group watches, is that even though we are watching shows that have long completed their runs, we still get to have that “live watch” experience, by sharing the experience as a community. I think that’s pretty cool. So let’s pick dramas that have already completed their runs?
2. Availability
In picking a show, we do need to take into account availability, so that anyone who wants to join in, can join in.
We need to pick a show that people can access on legal platforms like Viki, Kocowa, OnDemandKorea, Viu or iQIYI, preferably without needing to pay additional membership fees.
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3. Are we going to have 1 or 2 group watches?
This time around, it was interesting to me that even though Dr. Romantic won the group watch poll, there were a number of you who ended up enjoying the Money Flower watch more – even though Money Flower didn’t win the poll. So.. I’m toying with the idea of having 2 group watches, where one show is the winning show picked through community voting, and the other is a show that I pick, sort of like an Editor’s Choice kinda thing. What do you guys think about that?
4. How are we going to choose?
I will gather some of the most popular options from the comments in this post, and put them into a poll next Wednesday, which I’ll announce in a new post. After a week of voting, I’ll announce the winning show, and our first Open Thread can kick off a week after that.
So, in summary:
Brainstorming: today until Tuesday, 11 May 2021.
Poll: Wednesday, 12 May, until Tuesday, 18 May 2021.
Announcement: Wednesday, 19 May 2021.
First Open Thread for new show: Wednesday, 26 May 2021.
By then, our Money Flower group watch would have also concluded, so the Editor’s Choice group watch can begin on Saturday, 29 May 2021. That is, if you guys like the idea of an Editor’s Choice group watch. Let me know!
Some contenders
You can totally add more suggestions in the comments, but to kick things off, off the top of my head, here are a few dramas that I thought we might want to consider, in alphabetical order.
A Beautiful Mind
I’ve heard this is worth watching – plus it’s Jang Hyuk, whom you guys know I have a huge soft spot for. 🤩 Unfortunately, this isn’t available for free except on OnDemandKorea, where it isn’t subbed. However, it’s available on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus, and on Kocowa, if you’re on a paid subscription. 14 episodes.
Dear My Friends
BE‘s been saying such good things about this one, that I wondered if we wanted to try this for a group watch. I’ve sampled a few episodes in the past, and it strikes me as a very well-acted, well-executed drama, with a rare cast of consummate veterans. 16 episodes. Unfortunately, I can’t find it on the various free legal streaming platforms, but it does look like it’s available on Netflix.
Dr. Romantic 2
I thought you guys might be interested to keep going with the Doldam crew, and I’ve also heard that Season 2 is just as enjoyable as Season 1 – if not more so. 16 episodes.
Available for free on iQIYI and Viu. Also available on Kocowa if you have a paid subscription, and on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
Kill Me Heal Me
Ji Sung is fantastic in this, managing to make his multiple personalities feel like actual distinct characters, often by just changing his gaze. I loved this when I watched it, and just never got around to writing it a review. I would have given this an A-. 20 episodes.
Available for free on Viu. Also available on Kocowa if you’re on a paid subscription, and on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
So cute, but also so surprisingly heartfelt. Shin Min Ah is incandescent and adorable, and Lee Seung Gi is hapless and funny. 16 episodes, and available for free on iQIYI and Viu. Also available on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus, and on Kocowa, if you’re on a paid subscription.
Nirvana In Fire [China]
A number of you have mentioned wanting a group watch experience for NIF, so here it is, as an option for everyone to consider. It’s so intricately written, and the performances are excellent across the entire cast. Fair warning that this ruined me for dramas for a while; it was so good that it made everything else pale in comparison. 54 episodes. Available for free on Viki (US and Europe).
Seven Day Queen
I’ve heard that this is really well-written, and stays coherent and satisfying all the way to the end. Shout-out to Bridget, who wrote to me to assure me that this is beautifully written and that I would enjoy it, despite the tragedy already built into the title. 20 episodes.
Available for free on Viu. Also available on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
Stranger / Secret Forest / Forest Of Secrets
I’ve heard so much about how fantastic this show is, that I’m quite curious to see whether I’ll love it like everyone else. Maybe a group watch – and the company that it provides – is just what I need, to finally commit to this one. 16 episodes.
Available for free on Viu and IQIYI.
The Moon Embraces The Sun
In the last round of brainstorming, several of you were interested to do a group watch for this show, so here it is, for everyone’s consideration. It first aired in 2012, and I loved it when I watched it, and found it quite slurpable. This is mainly a romance, and the dramatic tension mainly comes from the loveline, and from Kim Soo Hyun’s smoldery gaze. 20 episodes.
Available for free on Viu. Also available on Kocowa if you’re on a paid subscription, and on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
Tree With Deep Roots
An excellent drama that is compelling and educational at the same time, as it tells the story of how King Sejong developed the Hangul writing system, fighting against opposition, and against all odds. Han Seok Kyu, Jang Hyuk and Shin Se Kyung are all excellent in this. It does occur to me that this would give us more Han Seok Kyu and Jang Hyuk, both of whom we’ve been enjoying in our current round of group watches. 24 episodes.
Unfortunately, this isn’t available for free everywhere that I’ve looked. It is, however, available on Kocowa if you’re on a paid subscription, and on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
While You Were Sleeping
I’ve heard that this one is solidly good and worth a look, and that the leads share a meaningful connection. 16 episodes, available for free on iQIYI and Viu. Also available on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Standard, and on Kocowa, if you’re on a paid subscription.
You’re Beautiful
Fluffy and blithely irreverent and nonsensical, I found this a whale of a good time, back in the day. 16 episodes, available for free on iQIYI and Viu. Also available on Viki, if you have Viki Pass Plus.
In Closing
Like I said, these are just some initial suggestions! Please feel free to add your ideas in the comments below, and we can figure out together, whether you guys are still up for another round of group watches, and if so, what we could watch next, as a community. ❤️