Hi everyone! I can hardly believe that April is now over, and we are now in May?!? We are almost halfway through 2022, y’all! 🤯 And because it’s the 1st of May, it’s time for another This Month on Patreon post!
This is my monthly post on:
1. What’s happening on Patreon in a given month,
2. Exactly when you can expect to see various Patreon-related reviews in the month,
3. What shows I’m considering for coverage on Patreon, to replace shows that have completed their cycles, and
4. What you can expect, as a patron.
I hope you guys find this helpful &/or informative, and I hope you’ll consider supporting me on Patreon! ❤️
Why I’m on Patreon
My work has been on hold indefinitely, because of the pandemic, and this is my way of trying to create a viable alternative source of income. As it stands right now, it’s murky and uncertain, whether work can resume for me, and if so, when that might happen.
I love this blog and if I had to switch careers, I would most likely have to quit blogging (those of you who’ve blogged before, or are still blogging now, would know what I mean when I say that blogging takes up a LOT of time 😅).
Rather than quit the blog, I decided to try blogging full-time, and that’s where Patreon – and everyone who values what I do on this blog – comes in.
I am very grateful for all the support that has already been given (thank you to all my existing patrons, you guys are the best! 😘).
At the same time, the amount raised each month isn’t quite enough to cover my living expenses, and is still quite far from being a proper income, which is why I do hope that my Patreon page will be able to continue growing.
If you value the work that I do here on the blog, please consider supporting my work on Patreon. ❤️
Psst! If you’re curious about the nuts and bolts of the work that goes into maintaining this blog, here is a Dear kfangurl post about this very topic; I hope you enjoy!
Patreon tiers and their current benefits
Foundation Tier (US$1): k-ent news and other tidbits + E1 notes of all shows covered on Patreon (with the occasional bonus show!)
Early Access (US$5): +Our Blues
Early Access Plus (US$10): +A Business Proposal
VIP (US$15): +Pachinko
VVIP (US$20): +My Liberation Notes
Ultimate (US$25): +Twenty Five, Twenty One (with the occasional bonus show!)
* Just to be clear, the tier benefits are cumulative, so if you sign up for the Ultimate tier, you wouldn’t only receive episode notes for Twenty Five, Twenty One, you’d receive episodes notes for all the other shows as well!
* I publish one set of episode notes each day, so each show’s episode notes will publish once in 5 days, since I usually cover 5 shows on Patreon.
For example, My Liberation Notes E5 will post tomorrow (2 May 2022), and My Liberation Notes E6 will post in another 5 days, on 7 May 2022.
* For actual examples of episode notes, you can go here, here and here. 😊 These are my E1 notes for A Business Proposal, Pachinko and Twenty Five, Twenty One.
When Patreon-related reviews will post this month
This month, several of the shows I’m covering on Patreon will finish their cycles. Here’s when you can expect to see the reviews:
Twenty Five, Twenty One: 2 May 2022
Pachinko: 6 May 2022
A Business Proposal: 8 May 2022
Do stay tuned for that! 😃
Replacement shows I’m considering
This isn’t yet cast in stone, because I’d need to check out the shows to make sure I like them enough to cover them on Patreon, but here are the ones that I’m considering:
Twenty Five, Twenty One: possibly to be replaced by Love All Play
Pachinko: possibly to be replaced by Bloody Heart
A Business Proposal: possibly to be replaced by The Sound Of Magic
* Other back-up shows I have in mind (in case the shortlisted shows don’t make my cut): Woori The Virgin, Again My Life, Shining For One Thing [China].
If you have other great shows to suggest, do let me know in the comments! Please do remember to bear in mind their airing schedules, though!
Patreon Highlights
If you’re new to my Patreon page, here are a handful of things you might like to know:
1. ALL tiers receive my episode 1 notes for any show that I’m covering on Patreon.
Therefore, if you’re curious about my notes for Twenty Five, Twenty One, but aren’t sure whether you’d like them enough to want to join the Ultimate tier, joining the US$1 Foundation tier will give you immediate access to Twenty Five, Twenty One E1 notes.
After this, if you wish to upgrade to the Ultimate tier, Patreon would simply charge you the difference, while immediately unlocking all the posts that your new tier entitles you to. That’s exactly what Michelle did with Vincenzo, and I’m happy to report that it worked out really well! 😃
2. The Ultimate tier also receives E1 notes for all shows that I’m watching (or have checked out), INCLUDING shows that I’m NOT covering on Patreon.
This has included E1 notes for shows like:
True Beauty, Lovestruck in the City, Sweet Home, Shanai Marriage Honey (Japan), Must You Go?, Love In Between (China), A Thousand Goodnights (Taiwan), Zombie Detective, Here’s My Plan, Hello, Me!, Taxi Driver, At A Distance Spring Is Green, Monthly Magazine Home, Takane and Hana, You Are My Spring, The Witch’s Diner, D.P. (Deserter Pursuit), My Name, Forecasting Love and Weather, The One and Only, Everything and Nothing, You Are My Hero (China).
I call these posts Early Access Extras, and as a patron on the Ultimate tier, on average, you can expect to see about 2 of these posts each month.
In case you’re wondering, whether I eventually review these shows on the blog, really depends on how my experience with the various first episodes works out.
I’ve carried on to review a number of the shows listed above, but I’ve also chosen not to continue watching a handful of them as well.
I’ve also introduced the occasional bonus show for this tier, starting with My Name, Hellbound and Soundtrack #1.
3. You can interact with me and with one another, on Patreon.
There is a comment feature on Patreon, so, much like here on the blog, you’d be able to comment on posts and share your thoughts with me and with other patrons.
There is also a private message function, so you’d be able to message me directly on Patreon, if there’s something you’d like to talk with me about, but you feel isn’t relevant to the posts on Patreon themselves.
Aside from a web browser, you can also access my Patreon posts and messages on the Patreon app. You can find the Patreon app on Apple’s app store here, or on Google Play here.
4. You can feel safe to pause your subscription, or move between tiers at any time.
Moving between tiers
Because you are charged upfront on the 1st of each month, that tier’s privileges will continue to be open to you, even if you choose to move down a tier sometime during the month, or if you choose to pause your subscription.
For example, if you were on the Early Access Plus tier, and on the 15th of the month, you decided that you’d like to move down one tier, to the Early Access Tier, you can make that change right away.
But because you’ve already paid for Early Access Plus privileges, those will remain open to you until the end of the month. And then you will be charged your new tier rate, at the beginning of the following month.
If you choose to upgrade your tier, you can also do so at any time, and you will simply be charged the difference, eg, US$5, if you’re moving from the Early Access tier, to the Early Access Plus tier, and the additional privileges will be immediately unlocked for you as well.
You will then be charged the new rate on the 1st of the following month.
Pausing your subscription
If you choose to pause your subscription on the 15th of the month, you will not be charged on the 1st of the following month, and your Patreon benefits will remain open to you until the end of the month. Thereafter, feel free to reactivate it at any time.
Please let me know if this explanation isn’t clear!
5. There’s now an annual subscription option available!
I only activated this option recently, because someone expressed interest in it. I just.. hadn’t realized that you guys believed in me enough, to want to sign up on a yearly basis. 😅
With the yearly subscription, you receive a 5% discount, and you will be charged on each anniversary of your join date. The only downside to this, is you don’t have the flexibility to move between tiers from month to month, according to which shows spark your interest.
6. The Patreon page has become a cool little community!
Besides the episode notes, there are lots of other conversations going on, on the monthly Drama Exchange posts that I create.
One is the Drama Exchange: Spoiler-free zone, where you can safely exchange drama recommendations and chat about other things, without the danger of encountering a spoiler, and the other is the Drama Exchange: Deep Dive Zone, where you can discuss other shows that you’re watching, that I’m not covering on Patreon, in all its spoiler glory.
Since these posts have been introduced, literally hundreds of comments have been exchanged, on each one!
ALSO. As part of the Patreon community, you’ll get various updates from me, including personal updates that I don’t share elsewhere. I’m very blessed that the Patreon community has turned, effectively, into my inner circle. I’d love for you to join me, if you can! ❤️
I suppose it goes without saying, but just in case it isn’t clear, these conversations are open to all patrons at all tiers.
What about one-time contributions?
If you prefer, you can also support the blog through easy one-time contributions by clicking on this other cute lil icon below.
I’m told that you don’t need to have a Paypal account in order to do so, but if that changes, or is different in your region, a Paypal account is pretty easy to set up; there are no sign-up fees involved, and you don’t have to keep a balance in it, unless you actually want to.
You can choose to link a bank account, a debit card, or a credit card, to facilitate your contribution.
Thank you!
..And that’s about it, for this month’s updates! If you have suggestions for other things that you’d like me to include in these monthly update posts, do let me know in the comments, and I’ll see what I can do, to incorporate them into future posts.
I aim to publish future update posts on the first of each month.
Thanks for reading, thanks for your support, and thank you for being here! Big hugs to ya! 🥰❤️😘
Once again, you can find my Patreon page by clicking on this cute lil icon below:
Fangurl – if I may interject a compliment – your Patreon coverage of Pachinko makes the entire year’s worth of Patreon payments worthwhile (and then some). Thank you for covering this!
Aw wow, that is so kind of you to say, @phl1rxd! 🥰 Thank you so much, for your kind words, and for joining me on the journey! ❤️😘
You might like Shooting Stars. I’ve watched the first 4 episodes and it’s hilarious. The chemistry of the main leads is excellent. The FL is strong, well-spoken but still kind at heard and the ML is grumpy and over the top but has his positive traits that I’m sure we’ll see more. The rest of cast is also very good (some interesting girl friends and co-workers and an appealing SML). I found myself giggling many times while watching this. There where some minor issues with the first episodes (the was Africa is portrayed and something quite outrageous the ML seemed to want to do), but it was easy to get past them because everything else is so enjoyable. I do hope you’ll give it a try!
Ooh, sounds like Shooting Stars is worth a look! I’ll keep it in mind, thankies! ❤️
I second that motion for Shooting Stars! I am enjoying it and I think a lot of people will probably too. I’ve rarely satisfactorily completed an on-going series so I hope this doesn’t fizzle out like most on-going series do for me. But so far, I’ve been looking forward to my weekend watches (this and Our Blues).
One quick question: the patreon coverage has to be new/ongoing series? It cannot be something completed from a year or so?
Thanks Jiyuu, for the endorsement of Shooting Stars! Sounds like it’s worth a look after all.. despite the Africa thing. 😅
To answer your question, I mostly tend to cover new(ish) & on-going shows on Patreon, because that’s where most folks’ interests lie. However, I do sometimes cover a slightly older drama as a bonus show on the Foundation Tier, like I recently did for 2019’s Confession.
My suggestion: Our Blues! Spectacular cast, a pleasure to see them lay out the first rate, humane script, big stars putting in egoless performances. A classic Slice of Life K drama in the making.
Thanks BE, I’m already covering Our Blues on the Early Access Tier on Patreon. 😉😁 Great to hear that you’re loving it!
Thanks K. I have been having a little trouble with your site on both my devices, so reading your posts (and commenting) has been a bit of a problem. I should have noticed you are covering Our Blues. It may be a slow burn for some and a bit too honest (its depiction of the teens in this far more honest than a lot of romanticized K drama teens), honest and without glamor. Its Jeju is not some tourist beach town island, but a hard scrabble of working class harbor folks doing hard work and scraping by; its leads not surfers, its old women not just a funny old lady chorus, but women of understated substance and historical representation, enacting their roles with a kind of egoless, nothing extra precision, and its inhabitants not simply quirky and lovable, but three dimensional, warts and all human being. in which the lesser known members of the ensemble are given room to shine while the more famous among them are pitch perfect in their supporting roles. It is a show to be relished for all of that. I hope you find it to your liking as well.
Glad to hear you’re settling into this one; I’m enjoying it rather a lot through the first 7 episodes.
Good day to you BE!!
Yay, another bright sparkling month stretches out before us, replete with possibilities!
So, Sound of Magic is a given, of course. Really want to see what Choi Sung-eun has in store for us, even more than the two MLs. Plus it’s short, and on a Netflix original model (episodes all drop at once), so…
I guess I will at least have to poke my head in to check out the first episode or two of Love All Play; I had been on the fence about it, just because Disney+ and my drama plate has filled again, as it has a tendency to do if I don’t watch carefully. Main draw there for me is Park Ju-hyun, so have to see if the story is worthwhile.
Bloody Heart is a definite, despite the Disney+ nonsense. High hopes it’s got a good story as well. I have to say, having just seen Lee Joon in the first two episodes of Heard it through the Grapevine…it’s going to take a dramatic lens recalibration to see him as a competent, power-seeking king figure (assuming that’s what he is in Bloody Heart). Helps that he was a good antagonist figure in Bulgasal.
From last month, I think I would withdraw any recommendation of Hope or Dope. It turned out to be not all that great, in my estimation.
One show I would mention: Political Fever, which seemingly swept out of nowhere (to my eyes, at least) to snag a Baeksang Arts nomination for best drama this year. It’s only 12 episodes, of 30-35 minutes each, and just showed up with English subs on Viki (US). I’ve watched the first two episodes, and I am definitely intrigued. It’s looking like a political drama/comedy hybrid, with some real potential bite? Curious to see how it develops.
Oh, good to hear that you have varying levels of interest in all 3 possible replacement shows – despite the Disney+ geo-restrictions that you’d have to dodge. 😅
Also, with Lee Joon being so versatile, I don’t think it’ll be an issue for him to portray a power-seeking king.. though you’re probably right that it might be a bit mind-bendy for those of us who’ll be watching him in Grapevine alongside Bloody Heart! 😁
Thanks for the update on Hope or Dope.. I will take it off my list then! No harm making the list a little shorter, even though there’re still so many titles on it! 😉
Political Fever seems to have flown under everyone’s radar.. I haven’t heard anyone talking about it. Thanks for the heads-up!
Just to clarify, I don’t think I’d say Hope or Dope it’s bad, per se, it’s just fairly straightforward teen angst when you boil it down, so if that’s your thing, hey, you’re set! (It’s really not my thing; I need my teen angst leavened with strong additional elements of interest–say, zombies or something–otherwise, been there, done that…).
Also, forgot to mention, Eve near the end of the month. The plot description doesn’t sound immediately gripping, but that promo poster of Seo Ye-ji is like a big ol’ flaming candle to my lil’ bitty moth, and oh-tto-kae? you know? 😂😉😍
Ah, no wonder you liked All Of Us Are Dead! Teen angst + zombies! 😂
You are absolutely showing your helpless moth side, heh! (Which, don’t we all have one – or several! 😉) There’re lots of shows that sound average on paper, but turn out to be pretty excellent, so you might be on to a good thing and just not know it yet! 😁
Hahaha… Busted! You got me. I guess we’ll see in a few weeks whether the slick promo tease is fronting any actual substance.
(And hey, All Dead was actually a really well-constructed, emotional thriller! …with zombies, yes, okay).
😂 I’ll have to take your word for it, on All Dead, because I don’t think I’m up for that kind of zombie intensity.. 😅
Yeah, I was pretty reconciled to All Dead being just a bridge too far for you. You’ve been a trooper with Sweet Home, Happiness, My Name, etc., but All Dead is the real deal, straight-no-chaser, mindless aggressive face-eating zombies, none of this fuzzy touchy-feely stuff a la Happiness 🤣 . So you get a pass…
(That said, if it were just mindless aggressive face-eating zombies, it wouldn’t be all that interesting or notable. It’s the story and character dynamics among the regular characters that elevate it and that made it a very entertaining binge watch….).
YAY for May! 🙂
@KFG – Im so torn whether to suggest Shinning For One Thing (Cdrama) to you to really consider to watch. Leslie and I both finished this and had the same questions and after reading lots up on it found knowing Mandarin would have been exquisitely helpful with this Show thats rich in meaning and layers. Still enjoyed the leads and ensemble very much. Argh, I am torn. Leslie would say it better for sure 🙂
Business Proposal HAS to be replace by Sound of Magic, pretty please with a unicorn on top ? 🙂
Hi JJ! Thanks for the heads-up on Shining For One Thing! Do you know how advanced one’s grasp of Mandarin needs to be, to properly appreciate the show? I’m pretty decent with Mandarin, but am no scholar. 😅
Ahaha! Why am I not surprised by your vote for Sound of Magic? 😁 It should work out, provided I don’t hate the first episode. 😉
@KFG – I think one can enjoy the Show well enough without knowing Mandarin and working with the Subtitles as I did. However, I found this article I sent to Leslie after we both finished the Show that went into detail on the little details the writer(s) added that knowing Mandarin and Chinese culture(to an extent) would have deepened the watch for us. And we were both blown away by the attention to detail of the things we missed just because of our lack of knowledge of Mandarin. So at the surface what seems like a pretty innocent story is rich in detail. Unless that person writing the article made all these connections on their own ?! Ill send you a tiny not spoiler snippet so you can judge for yourself 🙂
The only thing I will say about Sound of Magic, if they are not singing live as we know they are not if they cannot lip sync perfectly its gonna be tough for me….argh. Sigh.
Hmm.. Sounds like I’d be able to appreciate some of the layers and nuances, while others might fly over my head. I guess it all depends on how deep your knowledge of the language and culture needs to be, to understand it all. I’d say I’m in the middle, in terms of grasp of both language and culture, which.. I guess is better than nothing? 😁
Lol. It’s hard to lip sync perfectly, but if they do a good job of the directing and editing, it might work out?
@KFG – I think you will be more than fine especially since you know K and CDramas so well and combine that with your knowledge of language and culture, no issues. I guess I am saying its a deeper Show than I thought and might be helpful for people to know that going in 🙂
I know I am not being fair…I saw one tiny scene of singing….and….. 🙂
Thanks JJ, yes it’s helpful to know, absolutely!
Ahaha, it might be better for you to avert your eyes during singing scenes, if that’s the case! 😂