Group Watch: What shall we watch next?

109 Replies

We are at the end of our My Mister and Someday Or One Day group watches, you guys – time does fly by, when you’re enjoying your dramas, eh? 😁

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! ❤️

It’s time to brainstorm on what we should watch next, as a community. Here are some initial ideas, feel free to let me know what you think, in the comments! If you feel like we should all just take a break from these group watches, totally let me know in the comments too!

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.

3. 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.

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, 1 February 2022.

Poll: Wednesday, 2 February, until Tuesday, 8 February 2022.

Announcement: Wednesday, 9 February 2022.

First Open Thread for People’s Choice group watch: Wednesday, 16 February 2022.

First Open Thread for Editor’s Choice group watch: Saturday, 19 February 2022.

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.

I tried to include a nice mix of everything in this initial list, taking into account suggestions & requests that have been made since the last brainstorm, and also, including a few lighter options as well, since most of our recent group watches have leaned serious.

Bridal Mask / Gaksital

This one is a request by Snow Flower, because it’s finally become available on Viki. I remember this one as pretty epic and stirring, despite its melodramatic lashings, and a female lead that I was rather underwhelmed by. Joo Won pretty much carried this show, and his performance in this, is outstanding.

There is some romance in this one, but I’d consider it more of a supporting arc than anything else. It’s more a story of one man’s journey, towards something bigger than himself.

28 episodes. Available on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa.

Confession

If you’ve been around the blog lately, you’d probably have picked up on the fact that I am very (very!) smitten with Lee Junho right now (my k-love post is here, and my post on his fan meeting is here). So of course I went looking up his filmography, to see whether there was anything I’d missed, that I wanted to watch.

I found Confession, which totally flew under the radar for me, when it aired. I don’t even remember people talking about this one, honestly. But, the people who did watch it, had solidly positive things to say about it, on MyDramaList, so I thought I’d float it as a possibility.

It’s a law and mystery drama, that dips into corruption of the court, government and military, and the impact that that has, on families. It purportedly features excellent deliveries by the cast, Lee Junho and Yoo Jae Myung in particular. There is no romance in this one.

16 episodes. Available for free on Viu.

Dr. Romantic 2

I thought you guys might be interested to revisit the Doldam crew, after finishing Season 1 together. I’ve heard that Season 2 is just as enjoyable as Season 1 – if not more so.

I’ve been told that Ahn Hyo Seop is really good in this, and that Lee Sung Kyung is very solid too. I do believe there’s a loveline between their characters, so there ought to be some romance in this one.

16 episodes. Available for free on iQIYI and on Kocowa, and on Viki with Viki Pass, as well as on Netflix.

Good Manager / Chief Kim

A number of you mentioned I should watch this one, after my Junho k-love post, and I’m happy to include it as a possibility.

I’ve heard that this one is funny, and ironically enough, that was one of the reasons I’d given it a pass, previously. I just wasn’t sure I’d be on board with the humor, since k-humor and I don’t typically get along. But, now that I’ve come to appreciate both Nam Goong Min and Lee Junho, I think I’m finally ready to give it go.

From what I understand, there is no romance in this one, but there is a reluctant connection between Nam Goong Min’s and Lee Junho’s characters that is solidly compelling.

20 episodes. Available on Netflix, on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa.

Healer

BE previously suggested this one as a possibility, and I’m happy to include it because it’s one of my all-time favorites. This one’s got romance, action, melodrama; a bit of something for everyone. Plus, y’all know I just can’t help swooning, every time Healer casually parkours off a building. 🤩

20 episodes. Available for free on iQIYI and on Viu. Also available on Viki with Viki Pass, or for free on Kocowa.

Heard It Through The Grapevine

This one’s a request by Eda and Beez, who both love the show, and feel it would make for a great group watch discussion.

As I understand it, it’s a bit of a social satire / black comedy sort of thing, and is an underrated gem brought to us by PD Ahn Pan Seok, who also gave us the amazing Secret Love Affair. I’m actually pretty curious to see this one; it’s been on my list for years. Plus, Lee Joon and Go Ah Sung are both excellent actors, so that’s a definite plus.

30 episodes. Available on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa.

On The Verge Of Insanity

So many of you had good things to say about this in our year-end wrap-up series, that I thought I should include this as an option.

I think it’s rather underrated, in the sense that I didn’t hear a lot of people talking about it, when it aired. But those of you who’ve seen it, say it’s highly entertaining and amusing. I have to confess to being somewhat curious about this one. There is no romance in this one.

16 episodes. Available on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa.

Romance is a Bonus Book

This one’s a request by Shahz and JJ, who both loved this show, and therefore hope that we could all enjoy it together as a community.

I remember enjoying this one a great deal, when I watched it. Somehow, Show manages to be earthy yet whimsical at the same time, and Lee Na Young never looked so incandescent to my eyes. Romance is the main point, in this one.

16 episodes. Available on Netflix.

Thank You

In the spirit of including some older shows in the mix, I thought Thank You would be a good option to have, because it’s now available on Viki.

It’s been years since I watched this one, but I remember it being a warm, gentle sort of melodrama. Plus, it’s Jang Hyuk, acting as a badass doctor with a hidden marshmallow heart. 😍 And yes, this one has romance in it, though my impression is that it’s handled with a more muted sort of touch.

16 episodes. Available on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa.

You’re Beautiful

Such a fun, nonsensical, retro classic. I thought I’d include it because a number of you mentioned this show in your recent guest posts.

Also, Jang Geun Suk recently hilariously joked on Instagram, on the occasion of Park Shin Hye’s marriage, that her character from this show, Go Mi Nam, has abandoned his character Hwang Tae Kyung (article here), and that made me think that perhaps it might be fun to do a group watch of this. 😁 Romance is the main point, in this one.

16 episodes. Available on Netflix, on Viki with Viki Pass, and for free on Kocowa, on iQIYI and on Viu.

In Closing

Like I said, these are just some initial suggestions!

Please feel free indicate your interest, &/or add your ideas in the comments below, and we can figure out together, what we should watch next, as a community. ❤️

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Gloglo

8 months ago

I don’t know if anyone is interested, but Thailand is being releasing on YouTube a new version of Hana Yori Dango ( Boys Over Flowers). It’s called F4Thailand. I know many are sick of this story, but I’m not joking when I say that the storytelling quality of this version is off the charts… The story feels fresh because it is reflective and thoughtful, taking the best parts of each version and being heavy on metaphor and symbolism. It has also been set in a more realistic/contemporary setting, where the presence and the influence of social media and the implication of socio-economical power are being intertwined in the story. The characters are also much more self aware and reflective than in other versions, and deliver a greater dose of irony and humour, all of which renders the “problematic” ML much more endearing to modern audiences. The actors are a bit green at times but the ML actor has a great presence and an unarguable comic flair.

eda harris

8 months ago

too many choices, too little time, how on earth are we going to choose? it almost seems like an impossibility, this time around. my head is spinning , i want them all and becoming real greedy.

MariaF

8 months ago

I liked Healer. I watched it a long time ago though. It’d be nice, if it ended up being on the final list.

beez

8 months ago

@Everyone – I’d just like to campaign for this wonderful show I Heard it Through the Grapevine (in the event that my first choice – Healer – is not selected). Much like Healer, the synopsis for I Heard it Through the Grapevine is severely lacking. I totally missed out on Healer’s original broadcast because the synopsis sounded like nothing. I watched it about 6 months after it aired after hearing everyone rave about it. AsianWiki describes the Grapevine as being about the parents when it’s main characters are the two young people. Grapevine is about “What happens when Candy (typical FL) gets her chaebeoul (3rd generation corporate heir). Have you ever wondered what happened to Cinderella once she married the Prince and went to live in the castle with her in-laws? Grapevine answers that and shows oddities of Korean culture that we don’t see in any other drama (and believe me, I’ve watched a lot!).
Despite how serious this trailer looks, the show is actually a dark comedy.
https://youtu.be/Hjiq9LansjQ

I hope I’ve managed to intrigue you guys to give this little known show (from the same writer of Secret Love Affair) a chance. And even if it doesn’t make voting list 😥, if you guys trust my recommendations at all – check it out on your own.

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to beez

I’ve added it to my list, insight into Korean society and culture would be interesting.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – not only insight into the young married couple and their parents’ lives (on both sides) but also the rich family’s service staff’s personal lives as they navigate living with their prickly employers.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to beez

oops, I meant to add this YouTube clip too https://youtu.be/TawuXfhfAu4

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to beez

i was contemplating if i should add this, and decided to do it. (forgive me beez). so you are hearing this comment above from an english speaking person from us, not an asian, but the most devoted and determined fan of asian but mainly korean dramas and everything korean. beez has been on it for a long time, is studying their culture, traditions, society trends and even studying the korean language itself – can you be more of a fan than this??? so when she talks about it, she knows about it and knows what she’s saying.
listen to her, she’s truly a pro. when i have a question, she’s the one who would patiently explain to me the ins and outs of korean society and all about korea.
thank you, beez.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

@eda – awww, thanks Eda. I’m by no means an expert on Korean culture and I concede to Kfangurl herself on a lot of issues. I admit my limitations because how much can we take for accurate what’s presented on tv? But I do research the things I’m interested in and when the opportunity presents itself, I’ll annoy my Korean acquaintances. 😊

But I do love and am fascinated by the different-sameness that I find in K-culture. How can they be so much like us yet so different?

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – I have had this in my Viki watch list queue for months trying to get to this since you mentioned it a good while ago. This would def force me to watch it. It sounds good Beez.

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

ShaiLa suggested over on Facebook that we consider Missing: The Other Side as a possibility. In her words, it’s got excellent story telling, mystery, heartwarming love, fantasy & thriller.

I’m just putting it here, so that you guys know about it! 😃

Last edited 8 months ago by kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

Did someone say Fantasty?!!!! Heartwarming love??? Ohhhhh could be special!!!

Ele Nash

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

Ditto that!

Ele Nash

8 months ago

I’m happy to go along with anything – but I have to say, I’ve loved watching Someday or One Day and part of that is listening to their Mandarin. I think Mandarin always sounds lovely, but (I may be wrong as I don’t speak it) Taiwanese accents are just very tuneful to me 😌 So a Taiwanese show would be ace, is what I’m trying to say 😅

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to Ele Nash

@Ele Hmm.. Well, how about Autumn’s Concerto (2009)? I’ve had that on my list for a lonnngg time, coz most people who love Taiwanese dramas love that show.

And if we’re looking to inject a little bit of retro classic, and a little bit of Taiwanese flavor, that could potentially fit the bill? I see that it’s available on Netflix and Viki, which is important! I realize that good subbed Taiwanese dramas on legal streaming sites are kinda hard to come by 😅

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

i love vanness wu, and of course would love to see him in a major role. also, love the sound of mandarin language, although do not understand it, but i feel like i do (crazy). so ya, that sounds like a good possibility for me, if of course my 2 favorites (healer and grapevine) do not come through.

Ele Nash

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

Yes! I could do with a classic – and I think it must be nice for you to watch something new! I just checked and it’s on Netflix here in the UK.

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to Ele Nash

@Ele It is nice to watch something new, but it also means I can’t personally vouch for the show! 😅

Plus, I’ve found a lot of enjoyment in my rewatches too, like with Someday Or One Day, which I’ve just finished for the second time. SO GOOD, even on the second go-around. ❤️

hallohallo

8 months ago

Hi~ Can I ask if there’ll be a post for Someday or One Day episode 13?

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to hallohallo

Hi there! Yes, I’ll be posting that tomorrow!!

Jonan23

8 months ago

How about Stranger 2 since like Dr Romantic I think it would be nice to continue the series that we have already started. Of course whatever you choose we will support you. As for me personally I will always vote first for the show you haven’t given a full review so as to hear your thoughts on as many shows as possible as your comments are the thing I look forward to reading most.

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to Jonan23

@Jonan23 Aw thanks! Yes, we could consider Stranger 2! The only downside is that it only appears to be available on Netflix. If you know of other legal sites that have it, do let us know!

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

Ah I would love to do stranger season 2!!! If people aren’t bored, lol. I miss Yeo Jin and Shi Mok!

kate

8 months ago

Thanks so much for the paragraph on geo-restrictions!!! <3

I shall try to get that sorted ASAP. Quite a few dramas (Bridal Mask, Thank You) are actually not available in my country on Viki 🙁

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to kate

@Kate I find that the ProtonMail free VPN works well, particularly since it offers the US as one of the options, and most of these dramas are available in the US. You can give it a try!

Last edited 8 months ago by kfangurl

kate

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

thank you 🤗 I will check it out!

eda harris

8 months ago

healer i watched, rewatched and ready to re re re re re re …. watch again. you get the idea, where i stand on this and why. last time it was on the top for the group watching, and then somehow, in the last few days, by “mysterious divine intervention” (or not) it dropped and lost by a few points. please make sure to get it right this time!
we all watched together secret love affair just a short time ago. who DID NOT love this drama? a huge brownie point goes to the director ahn pan seok, what you see a lot of it is the director’s vision of a film or drama, the actors have to achieve the results that the director has in his mind and heart. successes depend not just on actors ability, but director’s choices in a production, and ability to get out of the chosen actors what he/she wants to achieve. a lot of us also watched some other dramas of his, like something in the rain and one spring night (examining similar issues from 2 different perspectives – that is why some had complains about the ending in something in the rain. but both very valuable if you look at it as 2 different variations of the same kind of issues. both great dramas and great journeys, and eye opening in terms of korean society and thought provoking. so if you appreciate those (he also has some other productions, that i have not seen but intend to – as his work is amazing) another drama of his is i heard it through the grapevine.
i would like to use this opportunity to entice you somehow to adopt this amazing drama for this group watch, that seems quite different not only from other works of this director (although you can definitely recognize his eyes, his voice, his abilities, his sensitivities..) but other kdramas in general. what i find different for example, is that the character development is so expansive, so rich in it’s progression – it’s truly a psychology trip. that’s just one aspect how the drama engages the viewer, although it might seem a bit slow, but never losing it’s march forward and never letting you drop the interest. i can talk about it at length, but will leave this chance to discuss it with all of you. i have no doubts it will generate a lot of interest, it’s worth it.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

@eda @Kayfangurl – I Heard it Through the Grapevine will create tons of discussion just by its look inside Korean culture that we don’t usually get to see. Although, I didn’t watch Sky Castle but I hear that was also about trying to get into the best colleges. But Grapevine did it first and that’s not the only focus with Grapevine. It’s the inner working of a third (maybe fourth?) generation of lawyers family and how the younger generation is changing expectations.

beez

8 months ago

I shouldn’t have assumed that i don’t need to specify because KFG knows my bites already but just to be clear – Healer and I Heard it Through the Grapevine. I’m all in for this two!

Elzbieta Gozdziak

8 months ago

Healer is a must see for anybody interested in kdramas! In my opinion, it is the best role of Park Min-young. Kim Mi-kyung plays a bad ass ajuma! And of course, Wookie is not only easy on the eyes, but a great actor.

8 months ago

Ohhhh since we are having lots of love for Lee Junho right now, Id like to suggest Just Between Lovers for a Group Watch !!!!!

YAY!!! Lets do this!! Say YAY with ME!!! YAY!!!

lol

beez

8 months ago

Old school light-hearted classic – Queen In-Hyun’s Man starring Yoo In na.

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – one of the very best! I can go for a third watch on this one – it is just so good.

8 months ago

Wow great list! I am so keen for Chief Kim/ Good Manager and OVOI thanks to the Patreon folks. I also throw my hat in for Signal, though it’s totally no puppies and rainbows! But I hear it’s good. And would anyone be keen to watch Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo? Random I know but I hear so many good things about it and might as well finally get round to watching it!

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to MC

I would be in for Weightlifting Fairy over any of those others 🙂

Timescout

8 months ago

Looks like another hard to choose from set. I’ve seen all but Romantic Doctor and Romance is a Bonus Book. Which isn’t surprising at all. 😄 Interesting to see which are the ones that get chosen for the watch.

Author

kfangurl

8 months ago

Reply to Timescout

Oh!! That means you’ve seen Confession, then!! Would you recommend it, Timescout? 😃

Timescout

8 months ago

Reply to kfangurl

Yup, I’ve seen that one. It’s pretty good, I’d say. Had it’s issues but what show hasn’t. It’s been a while so the details are a somewhat hazy now but I seem to recall it was a bit gruesam in places. Acting was solid all around though. I think I wrote something about it in one of my Grab Bags. Hmmmm… have to looksee.

8 months ago

How can we say no to Healer?!!!! THAT would be a fun easy happy watch 🙂 Do we ever do those with the Group Watch!

YAY for Romance is a Bonus Book!!! YAY! YAY! And More YAY!!! Fantastic leads, GREAT ensemble, solid story, solid performances, oh I hope lots of people say YES to this one 🙂 Thank you for KFG for putting it on the list for Shahz and I 🙂

Definitely give thumbs up for On the Verge of Insanity. Such a gem!!!

Lets just do all light happy fun ones please!!! Puppies, Unicorns and Rainbows please 🙂

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

Jennifer – 😂🤣😅💖🌈🐶🦄

Snow Flower

8 months ago

I am not familiar with all the titles on the list, but the descriptions make me curious. I am very biased in favor of Bridal Mask and Thank You, and also Healer. Bridal Mask’s highlights include not only Joo Won, but also an outstanding performance by Park Ki Woong. The second female lead is also great.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Snow Flower

@kfangurl – Added a show to watch but then realized I was in the wrong “thread”/page.

Fated to Love you would be a light-hearted watch.

beez

8 months ago

Those are hard to choose from (except for my favorites, of course!)

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Hi Fangurl – On the Verge and Heard it through the Grapevine because I have been trying to watch it for months now. If there is a group watch I will def check it out. On the Verge is great. Healer of course is always a sure bet.

Medea

8 months ago

What about Signal? I think it was bounced around the last time, and I think it would be fun to watch it with a group!

8 months ago

Reply to Medea

I second this too even though it might be stressful!

beez

8 months ago

Reply to MC

@MC – Why “stressful”?

Kun

8 months ago

I will throw my hat in for Children of Nobody, the most emotionally compelling thriller I have seen!

Snow Flower

8 months ago

Reply to Kun

Yes!!! One of the best mysteries with a lot of emotional depth.

seankfletcher

8 months ago

Boy oh boy, I think the suggestions this time around are even more difficult to choose from. It will be interesting to see the final decision(s).

beez

8 months ago

Reply to seankfletcher

Totally agree, Mr. Fletcher!

lotusgirl

8 months ago

I loved Thank You so much. I think it would be cool to do a lesser known, older show like that. You’re Beautiful could also be fun as a nod to the recent nuptials.

Trent

8 months ago

Wow, these all look like some pretty solid suggestions, honestly. I confess, my pulse actually sped up a bit to see Healer; I would totally be up for a rewatch of that. I would be up for a rewatch of Dr.R2 as well, since I liked Doldam and Kim Sabu a lot and am one of the ones that feel S2 is at least the equal of S1.

A few additional suggestions:
Do You Like Brahms (I’ve recently discovered the awesomeness of Park Eun-bin, and I hear this is great);
The Princess’s Man (I feel the need for some more Moon Chae-won in my life, and I hear this is good);
Reply 1994 (Any of the Replies, really, I just haven’t seen this one yet);

I would suggest Winter Sonata as my perennial “classic hallyu” pick, except it’s impossible to find it available legally, alas…

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to Trent

@Trent: I’m a big Moon Chae Won fan myself, saw her in Mood Of The Day (movie) and Painter of the Wind (sageuk) more recently. Princess’ Man is on my list as I’m still working my way through older shows, being a relative latecomer to Kdramas. Winter Sonata is a classic in its own way even though I’m not a big fan of Choi Ji Woo.

I’m hesitant to recommend any show as I can’t commit to actively participating in any Group watch but would be nice to have a sageuk among the choices for variety. I think Chicago Typewriter would also be good for a group watch though I’m not sure if it’s readily accessible.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – Chicago Tupewriter is the bomb! It’s a little something for everyone.

Moon Chae won was killin’ it in Flower of Evil.

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@beez: Flower of Evil is on my ever expanding list. I’ve seen Chicago Typewriter and I agree with your description, think it might be interesting as a re-watch, there’s a lot going on there.

Currently watching Gu Family Book and going well.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – I watched Gu Family Book last year and was surprisingly entertained. I’m not a big Lee Seung gi fan. I don’t dislike him but y’all know how much everything for me hangs on the hunky-ness of ML. 😉

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@beez: Far be it for me to comment on LSG’s hunkiness, lol, but I’ve liked the performances I’ve seen so far, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho and A Korean Odyssey. Could be because I enjoyed both shows?

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – you know I’m always standing in the shallow end of the pool. 😄

seankfletcher

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – 😂🤣😂

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@beez: Lol, lol…but as they say, the heart wants what the heart wants. I seem to remember from a Kdrama, can’t remember which one, where the daughter was being pressured to marry a chosen candidate and her retort was, I have to see if I can kiss him or not first.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – “I have to see if I can kiss him or not first.”

No truer words.

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to beez

beez, please check your emails.

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

beez and geo, kim chul gyu is the director of all of these dramas, chicago, flower of evil and confession. although chicago typewriter is not on my very best dramas list, i did enjoy it, the whole production was high quality and much appreciated kim chul gyu’s for his work as a director. i would definitely want to see some of his other works. so if my favorites are not going to be in the finals, i would think that any of these dramas would be interesting for discussion. i actually think that chicago could be a perfect drama to take apart – a lot of thing to chew on.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

@eda – And the performances!

That reminds me of another interesting drama – Lookout! aka The Guardian -starring Lee Si-Young, who besides being an actress was an amateur boxer in real life. She plays a cop and her action scenes are the most realistic scenes I’ve ever seen of a woman fighting men. Usually that’s all fantasy because must men can withstand a woman’s hits and then it’s all over for her. But Lee Si-Young is throwin’ elbows that look like MMA ‘bows.
Besides her action scenes, which aren’t in over abundance, the drama is horribly good. Horribly for the crime involved.

WARNING!

One crime involves the death of a child

I usually stick with light rom-coms but Lookout! is a very good drama-drama.

8 months ago

Reply to Trent

@Trent – You HAVE to watch Do You Like Brahms. HAVE TO. Omo…have to…And KFG’s review, as usual, is so awesome after you watch it. Oh, I just did a rewatch of Do You Like Brahms recently.

I like all your suggestions 🙂

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

Thanks for the rec. I started it immediately and already hooked! I already love Park Eun-bin from Hot Stove League <3

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

@manukajoe – AWESOME! Hope you enjoy or love it as much as I did!!! I am so glad you are already hooked. Do keep me posted 🙂

j3ffc

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

Ooh, I’m just about to finish my optional watch (I did Roommate/Gumiho along with the group watches) and was just thinking about Brahms. The two Age of Youth shows were among my formative watches, in which Park Run-bin stood out even among a strong ensemble. I’l give it a go.

8 months ago

Reply to j3ffc

@j3ffc – How are you liking Roommate/Gumiho?!!!

Oh yes!!! Do try Brahms. I have seen it twice now 🙂

And KFG as usual has excellent notes on Brahms:-)

j3ffc

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

I enjoyed Gumiho (although I still have one show to finish). KFG recommended it as ballast to our two mains and she was right: you get the tropes but then they turn them around a bit. A fun, breezy watch. Everyone is right about Kang Ha-na’s fantastic turn as the ex-gumiho, but I liked Hyeri even more. Given the right material, she’s a brilliant comic actor. Plus one gets to see Jang Ki-yong in a very different role from My Mister – no crazy eyes and a very winning leading man.

A- for the genre and a def recommend.

Last edited 8 months ago by j3ffc

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to j3ffc

it is really a fun breezy watch – right on. i enjoyed jang ki-yong as the “innocent gumiho” after thousands of years finally falling in love, (didn’t other girls see him before?) that’s why it was difficult for me to deal with his “crazy eyes” in my mister, i knew his eyes can be quite beautiful, calm and even expressive, unlike the same never changing “crazed look” in mister.

Ele Nash

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

Is it weird then that I thought he was somehow better looking in My Mister than in My Roommate is a Gumiho?! Don’t answer that 😆

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to Ele Nash

@Ele – if you thought he was fine in My Mister try him in Kill It. He plays a redeemed professional killer.

seankfletcher

8 months ago

Reply to phl1rxd

I second that recommendation, phl!

beez

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

Added Brahms to my watch list just because of your insistence. I figure it must be good. 👍

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – Oh YAY! I loved Brahms so much, I hope you do as well. The music! The acting! The leads! Its definitely slow so be prepared. Gosh, love it so much 🙂 Let me know 🙂

beez

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

@jj – I most definitely will. I have an interest in dramas that deal with music education. When I was 17 (many, many, many decades ago), I traveled with a chorale group and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra as a group touring Europe. Music was my major in high school so I’ll definitely try to find time to get to this one soon. But maybe that’s not what Brahms is about????

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to beez

I gotta say that the classical musical scene is a wee bit of a turn off for me. Too much ivory tower. It was something I didn’t much like in Secret Love Affair. Hopefully it’s not too heavy handed in Brahms.

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

@manukajoe – Not too heavy handed at all in Brahms, at all. Its soo good, I dont how to explain it without spoiling it too much. Love the OTP and both of them are very nice, kinds, souls.

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

And I love that they are both introverts.

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – Thats soooo neat you traveled touring Europe with a choral group AND the DSO!!! SOOO COOL ! WOW! Music major as well. You wont want to be around my total tone deaf singing, LOL!!!

Oh yes, its about musical education at the University level. And I love the OTP! And KFG writes the most beautiful notes about this one. I watched it for the first time, then read her notes which made me go back immediately for a rewatch and a month later I did! Its slow though which I love. And well what I can say I love it. So did Shahz 🙂

beez

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

@jj The more I hear, the farther up on my list it goes.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to JJ

@phl1rxd – that was sooooo long ago that it feels like another lifetime ago. 😆

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – tell me about it. I just checked and looks like I watched it when it first came out, again in 2019 and again a year ago. Geez – it would be my 4th re-watch, not third. But…Yoo In Ah! I was moved by every watch. 💖💖 A true classic in every sense. Sometimes our hearts need that kind of love on our screens. 💑

beez

8 months ago

Reply to phl1rxd

@phl1rxd – I’m confused. I thought we were talking about Brahms but you mentioned Yoo Ah in. He’s not in Brahms, is he?

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to beez

Yoo In-na is not in Brahms either 🙂 She’s lovely.

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

Joe – yes, she really is!

beez

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

@manukajoe @phl1rxd – hahahahalolololol! I still misread Yoo In ah as Yoo Ah in and became even more confused after reading joe’s comment. 🤪😂😂😂😂🤣🤣🤣🤣

Geo

8 months ago

Reply to beez

I thought I was one of the few who mixed up YAI and YIA all the time. It’s not intuitively obvious to me the difference between masculine and feminine Korean names.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to Geo

@Geo – I do it all the time with those two.

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to beez

@Beez – I thought your post got stuck under Brahms and that you were talking about Queen In Hyun’s Man…
🤣😂

Last edited 8 months ago by phl1rxd

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to phl1rxd

I don’t like the way comments are organised in WordPress. As bad as reddit.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

@manukajoe – because I’m on my phone when I respond, my comments tend to land anywhere!

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to beez

beez, so you should add to your list “autumn’s concerto”, seems like it will have a strong music theme there, i just started it, but there is already a strong indication that that will be a major point. i’ll report to you later, when i see more of it.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

@eda – added. Now I just need to find time from somewhere! Brahms, Autumn’s concerto, and I’m still trying to find time to watch Monstar (Ahhhhhhhh. The beauty of Kang Ha-neul.)

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

beez, i’am 8 episodes in autumn’s concerto, and the initial impression that music is somehow a big part of it is completely wrong, it is only vaguely in the background. false alarm, sorry. no music. i will send you an email about the whole thing when i’ll be done or close to done with this drama. but do not want to put it for general consumption, not to spoil it for people that would like to see it.

beez

8 months ago

Reply to eda harris

@eda – awww thanks for the warning. I just googled autumn’s concerto and for some rain it aya that Netflix has more episodes than the show originally aired. What’s up with that?

eda harris

8 months ago

Reply to beez

i believe it originally aired on taiwan and other asian countries, with 21 or 22 episodes, but i believe they were one hour + length, and then netflix and viki made it into 40 min. episodes, which ended up 34 episode. i also wondered about it, so i compared the episodes synopses, and discovered that it is indeed so. no idea why they would do it.

Alexandra

8 months ago

Reply to Trent

Princess’ Man is one of the best old sageuks and it has a great OST. I liked the OTP, the strong and kind FL and the stubborn, hurt, yet his heart in the right place ML. The second leads are also very good.
I like that the drama world is not too modernized, I mean there are killings, the ML is not the perfect dreamy gentleman, the FL is naive at first and a bit proud, but still the carachters are likeable, and there is just the right amount of modern thinking in their personal growth.

manukajoe

8 months ago

We enjoyed Someday or One Day a lot, although we cheated by bingeing the last half of the season. Have mostly been watching C-Dramas recently, trying to improve my listening skills, but none of them stand out. Kinda missing the K-beats though tbh. I like Japanese dramas also, there’s a new one that looks interesting on Netflix called The Journalist (Shinbun Kisha). I have seen Healer and The Good Manager but wouldn’t watch them again (I prefer Stove League over The Good Manager actually) and a bit of Love is a Bonus Book (still not hooked though).

Alexandra

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

Did you try the c-drama Hero? It s the only one I liked so far and I actually rewatched a few eps. The first and third leads are great.

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to Alexandra

I have not. Although to be honest it doesn’t look like my cup of tea.

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

Hi Joe! What genre of CDramas do you prefer? I have been watching a lot of CDramas (yes, also trying to improve my listening skills) over the last two years. I use a lot of research before I invest my time because they are so darn long. There is a glut of historical romances out there and I tend to avoid them unless I know something about it. I may have seen something that you would like, Joe.

manukajoe

8 months ago

Reply to phl1rxd

Slice of life, romance, comedy, everyman, supernatural, modern day. Not really into action, more interested in character studies. Not into historical or revolutionary. Yeah most are too long, the only long one I’ve finished is Nirvana in Fire. Thinking I should focus on C-movies.

Last edited 8 months ago by manukajoe

phl1rxd

8 months ago

Reply to manukajoe

Joe – the bloat in CDramas is real. One of the rare good things about the new laws going in effect is the forced reduction of episodes.

Hmm, I have mostly concentrated on wuxia movies so I am not a lot of help there. My favorite non-wuxia movie is ‘This is Not What I Expected’. It stars Kaneshiro Takeshi and Zhou Dong Yu. I have seen it four times. It is a comedy and It is very good – not like the drama. I am going to go through my lists and see what I can find.