Thanks to everyone who voted in the poll; 413 votes were cast by 224 voters, and Nirvana in Fire came out on top, with 94 votes, woot!
As promised, I’ve also made my Editor’s Choice group watch picks – plural, because it’s going to take two shows, not just one, to match the 18 weeks that it will take to complete our Nirvana in Fire group watch!
As you can tell from the collage, I’ve chosen My Girlfriend is a Gumiho and Kill Me, Heal Me for our Editor’s Choice group watches. As a matter of interest, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho came in second in the poll, with 83 votes, while Kill Me, Heal Me came in fourth, with 72 votes.
The experiment
This is all a bit of an experiment, albeit a slightly different one than when we started the last round of group watches. First of all, I’ve never actually attempted to write detailed episode notes for an intricate epic like Nirvana In Fire before, and therefore, I feel (suitably) slightly nervous.
The second thing is, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho is quite vintage, as a 2010 drama. I’m hopeful that Show’s age won’t deter you guys from giving it a chance. I’m also a tiny bit worried that Show may not have aged well, since it’s been 11 years since it aired. 🥺😅 However, I do remember it to be highly enjoyable, so I’m pretty confident we’ll have a good time.
Lastly, this is the first time I’m actually forecasting ahead, for the group watch. Kill Me, Heal Me‘s group watch will only start in July! Still, I thought it would be helpful to let you guys know now rather than later, so that you can perhaps better plan your drama plates.
In the sections below, I outline for each show, the schedule, availability and reasons to watch. If you know of other streaming sources that I haven’t mentioned, or if you’re passionate about the shows and want to help stir up some excitement for them to draw in more group watchers, feel free to share in the comments below!
Feel free to join all 3 group watches (like me! 😉), if you are able, since I think all the shows are worthy watches, or, feel free to pick the one you prefer. Or, try each one out for a bit, and then settle on one. I’m just very happy that you guys are excited to do this. ❤️
PS: Remember that you can always use Opera’s free, built-in, unlimited VPN to get around geo-restrictions. A tutorial on that can be found here, and an article on why it’s not illegal to use a VPN to access legal streaming content can be found here.
*PEOPLE’S CHOICE*
Group Watch 1: Nirvana In Fire
Schedule: Wednesdays, starting 26 May 2021. Posts will go live at 8:00am, my time (GMT+8)
Commitment: 54 episodes. 3 eps per week = 18 weeks. (Episodes are about 40 minutes each, if you don’t count the opening and closing songs, which means the commitment is about 2 hours a week, just like the other shows).
In other words: We will discuss E1-3 next Wednesday, 26 May 2021.
Availability: Available for free on Viki (US and Europe) here. I recommend avoiding the English-dubbed version, which is also available, and watching it in Mandarin with English subs.
Show is also available on YouTube (here), in HD and subbed, in some regions. Be alert to episode numbers, though. Some episodes are geo-restricted in my region, which can be a pain. But if all episodes are available to you, that’s really cool.
Why you should watch:
Nirvana in Fire is one of the best – if not the best – drama that I have watched to date (and I have watched a LOT of dramas! 😅). It’s so good on every front. The cinematography is excellent, the writing is intricate and consistent, the acting is first-rate across a very expansive cast, and the sets and costumes are clearly the result of a lot of meticulous preparation.
It’s reputed to be so well done, that there are new details to pick up on every rewatch. So join us, even if you’ve already seen this one! 😉 It takes about 4 episodes (or thereabouts) to get your bearings, but I hope to help ease that process, with my episode notes.
Nirvana In Fire review is here.
Trailer:
Nirvana In Fire Open Threads:
I’ll be linking the Open Threads here, for easy reference. You’ll also be able to find the Open Thread links on my Full List page.
E1-3 | E4-6 | E7-9 | E10-12 | E13-15 | E16-18 | E19-21 | E22-24 | E25-27 | E28-30 | E31-33 | E34-36 | E37-39 | E40-42 | E43-45 | E46-48 | E49-51 | E52-54
*EDITOR’S CHOICE*
Group Watch 2: My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
Schedule: Saturdays, starting 29 May 2021. Posts will go live at 8:00am, my time (GMT+8)
Commitment: 16 episodes. 2 eps per week = 8 weeks.
In other words: We will discuss E1&2 next Saturday, 29 May 2021.
Availability: Available for free on iQIYI (here) and Viu (here). Also available on Viki (here), if you have Viki Pass Plus, and on Kocowa (here), if you’re on a paid subscription.
Why you should watch:
I watched this when it first aired, and loved it. It’s really cute and funny, but also manages to be moving and heartfelt. I remember laughing out loud at my screen – and also, crying big fat tears near the end, because I was so moved. Lee Seung Gi is adorkably hapless, and Shin Min Ah is ethereal, beautiful and completely delightful.
I mentally rated this one an A when I watched it, back in the day before I’d even started the blog. I feel like this would be a lovely, light watch, to balance out all the thrillers that are out in Dramaland these days.
Trailer:
Unfortunately, due to Show’s age, I couldn’t find a decent trailer on YouTube, but you can check out a pretty cute (unsubbed) trailer on Asianwiki here.
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho Open Threads:
I’ll be linking the Open Threads here, for easy reference. You’ll also be able to find the Open Thread links on my Full List page.
E1&2 | E3&4 | E5&6 | E7&8 | E9&10 | E11&12 | E13&14 | E15&16
Group Watch 3: Kill Me, Heal Me
Schedule: AFTER the group watch for My Girlfriend is a Gumiho concludes. Saturdays, starting 24 July 2021. Posts will go live at 8:00am, my time (GMT+8)
Commitment: 20 episodes. 2 eps per week = 10 weeks.
In other words: We will discuss E1&2 on Saturday, 24 July 2021, after we finish our watch of My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.
Availability: Available for free on Viu (here). Also available on Kocowa (here) if you’re on a paid subscription, and on Viki (here), if you have Viki Pass Plus.
Why you should watch:
Ji Sung is flippin’ FANTASTIC in this, managing to make his multiple personalities actually feel like easily distinct characters, sometimes just by changing his gaze. It’s quite remarkable to witness. Add on robust performances by the rest of the cast, and several thought-provoking themes around pain, healing and identity, and you’ve got yourself quite the gripping watch.
I mentally rated this one an A- when I watched it; I just never got around to writing it the review it deserves. I figure the group watch will give me a chance to get all of those thoughts out, while sharing the experience with you guys. ❤️
Trailer:
Kill Me, Heal Me Open Threads:
I’ll be linking the Open Threads here, for easy reference. You’ll also be able to find the Open Thread links on my Full List page.
E1&2 | E3&4 | E5&6 | E7&8 | E9&10 | E11&12 | E13&14 | E15&16 | E17&18 | E19&20
In closing
..That’s about it, really! Now that we’ve got our group watch shows selected, please go forth and enjoy your first couple of episodes – and remember to tune in for the Open Thread posts, going live next week! ❤️
