Time really flies; we are already getting ready to wrap up our group watches of Stranger (Secret Forest) and Secret Love Affair!
Thanks to everyone who’s been following along, and especially to those of you who’ve taken the time to share your thoughts on the various episodes, as we’ve watched them. You’ve made the group watches richer and more meaningful, with your sharing and your presence. I truly appreciate you! ❤️
If you recall, we’d mapped out the group watches which would replace this current cycle, back when I’d first run the poll. Now, it’s time to get into gear, for our group watches of My Mister and Someday or One Day, starting next week!
GETTING AROUND GEO-RESTRICTIONS
If you’re geo-restricted, a VPN service would help you get around that. Not only does it provide online safety, it also gives you access to lots of great geo-restricted content.
I personally use NordVPN. You can find my review of NordVPN here.
You can use my affiliate link (here!) to enjoy up to 60% * off, with prices starting as low as US$3.29 per month.
* This used to say 73%, but because NordVPN’s changed the way it calculates the discount, it now says 60%. BUT, it’s the same great price, starting from US$3.29 a month!
An article on why it’s not illegal to use a VPN to access legal streaming content can be found here.
*PEOPLE’S CHOICE 2*
Group Watch 2: My Mister
Schedule: Wednesdays, starting 8 December 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 on Wednesday, 8 December 2021, after we finish our watch of Stranger / Secret Forest.
Availability: Available for free on iQIYI and Viki. Also available on Netflix.
Why you should watch:
A legit masterpiece that I think all drama fans ought to check out, at least once. It’s thoughtful, gritty, beautiful, dark (yet still warm) and haunting, and celebrates so well, what it means to connect as humans. Lee Sun Gyun and IU are wonderfully restrained yet nuanced in this. Also, the OST is ethereal and hauntingly beautiful.
My Mister review is here.
Trailer:
My Mister 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
*EDITOR’S CHOICE 2*
Group Watch 2: Someday Or One Day [Taiwan]
Schedule: Saturdays, starting 11 December 2021. Posts will go live at 8:00am, my time (GMT+8)
Commitment: 13 episodes. 2 eps per week = 7 weeks.*
* We will take a break on 25 December, since it’s Christmas.
In other words: We will discuss E1&2 on Saturday, 11 December 2021, after we finish our watch of Secret Love Affair.
Availability: Available for free on Viki.
Why you should watch:
I loved this one so much, when I watched it, and it turned out to be my drama of the year, in 2020. I found it really well-written, well-acted and well-executed, while remaining quintessentially Taiwanese. I loved that it managed to make me think and feel, at the same time, consistently. I personally think it’s best to go in as blind as possible with this one, so just know that our story has a fantasy twist, and it’s a romance.
Someday Or One Day review is here.
Viewing lens:
I think that if you’re new to Taiwanese dramas, there might be a bit of an adjustment needed.
Besides the language itself, which sometimes includes the Taiwanese dialect, and which therefore may sound strange to the unfamiliar ear, the production values also tend to lean a little more raw and earthy, compared to what you might be used to, in a kdrama.
I personally think it’s well worth hanging in there and making that mental adjustment, because not only are Taiwanese dramas charming in their own right, this particular show is truly outstanding, and I think it’d be a pity to miss it.
Trailer:
Someday Or One Day 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
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! ❤️