The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Trotwood: I have to say that this is exactly the kind of episode that I usually skip and/or only read recaps of because the embarrassment factor rises so much. I have a high tolerance for my own embarrassment. Someday, I may share with the tlist about the time I fell in the middle of teaching my class or how I crashed into a door so hard that my keys got embedded in the wood or when I was stuck face first on a steep snowy hill with all my hockey gear, but now is not that time. JoAnne: When you do I will tell you about the time I accidentally launched myself from the edge of a stage I'd been sitting on, hit the gym floor on my stomach, and bounced/twisted onto my back. In front of my 10 year old, most of her classmates, and most of their dads. I insisted I was fine (which I was) but mortifying, yeah. I flew, Trot. I FLEW . kakashi: Ouch. Hm. I have no such stories to share - my life is sooo boring. But I did cringe a few times during this episode at least.   Suffice it ...

kakashi: I have a lot to say this week, which is always a sign that a show interests me. I am glad about that. JoAnne: Yay! Me too! Shuk: I'm finally seeing bits of light as I finally dig myself out of several projects. Not that there isn't more waiting, of course. But I have managed to watch a few shows for fun. What a concept! Lafer: Whenever I am sure that I am ready to drop dramas for good, one (or four) pulls me back in! Jaehyus: same here. Allow me to put Tom Hiddleston's eye here. I'm just done marathoning The Night Manager and it'll take a while for me to get down from the adrenaline high.  

kakashi: He is going down! He is going down! Xiajiang is going dooooooown! JoAnne: Now I want to see My Meng in a historical Chinese drama about a detective who goes around solving crimes and his signature move is shoving his badge in people's faces but something always goes wrong so he practices in the mirror over and over. Eleanor: LOL That would be awesome. 

Trotwood: I watched this whole show over a weekend in airports and in a foreign hotel. It’s exactly what I needed while prepping for an intensive Stats workshop—sports theme and romance. Just enough angst for a story but not so much that I was really worried. We also got some decent character development for a myriad of characters unlike the random flat side characters in Noble My Love. No. It doesn’t have Kang Swoon, but Song Jae Rim is in this and Jo’s tree puppy, Lee Tae Hwan, so you know we are in for some fun times. [The show is also known as Pounding Spike and Heart Thumping Spike.] kakashi: Squeeeeeeeeeeee! It's Rim! It's a webdrama with very short episodes! It has really nice cinematography! I think I'm a little bit excited and not at all feeling like I need to snark. (Sidenote: I cannot gif this because I have not found any downloadable files in good quality) Shuk: I don't know if I'll watch it, but I'll try to add in some gifs by Trot request. JoAn...

JoAnne: Well folks, we're down to the last set of episodes. Much as we'd like to, we can't make it all about Seth after all. Other people did things that we liked, dammit. Why start NOW, show? kakashi: Not me. I didn't like it. Didn't like it at all. I hated it. And only because it got the tiniest little bit better than before doesn't mean it is good. Shuk: Aw, it wasn't that bad. But then, I was drinking absinthe when I watched it the first time. Cookie: Absinthe! I've never tried it. Did you see the green fairy? They shouldn't have started filming until episode 9. Coz that's when people started getting comfortable. They got cute and it's pissing me off

kakashi: "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill—the story ends, you wake up in your bed and believe whatever you want to believe. You take the red pill—you stay in Wonderland, and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes. Remember: all I'm offering is the truth. Nothing more." Nooooooo, Mei Changsu! Don't listen! Don't take any pills! Don't doooooo iiiiiit! JoAnne: I have to keep reminding myself it's too soon for either of these men to die or else I get so anxious I have to look away. Eleanor: Crap, oh crap. Oh crap. Noooooooooooo!!!!!

kakashi: No, I haven't grown tired of him yet. But I'm running out of things to watch. Oh well, I'll just rewatch everything. Plus, I just started Mr. Baek. You warned me people, but I'm still watching. JoAnne: But his face looks a little photoshopped onto his skull, here. As if they took a head, added someone else's eyes, then someone else's mouth, etc. What?! No. He is beautiful. Always. Especially in "All About My Romance" (screenshot from that). Soooo beautiful .   Jaehyus: Oooh, that smile! Oh for sure, he's adorable - but this picture is kind of weird, that's all.

kakashi: As always, this episode takes some and gives some. One dangerous situation is defused easily, almost too easily?, but another almost immediately follows. Thank goodness Mei Changsu is in the full possession of his considerable wits at this point in time, he really needs them in his battle against the True Evil aka Xiajiang. JoAnne: Is it really true that Xiajiang is being played by someone who is normally behind the scenes? Because I know he has a role in another drama, and also because he's doing such a good job here... Eleanor: Yes, Xia Jiang is played by Wang Yongquan, an executive director. He is also trained as an actor and does act (he plays the dad of one of the characters in Ode to Joy ), but he is mainly a director. He was executive director for All Quiet in Peking , Battle of Changsa , and many many other dramas. 

Enter the DragonMom! Nothing like bringing in more crap thirty minutes from the end of the show. becca: *sneaks in for final squeecap* Warning: It's been months since I've watched this drama, and I think I've forgotten most of it. All you need to remember is than Kang Swoon has a lot going on in his pants. Blessed be the pants. All glory and honor to the pants. Calls those pants Ms. Jackson, if you're nasty. She was not what I expected.

JoAnne: Justin Chon continues to be our favorite thing about Dramaworld, and we here at PotUp would like to support his career. Thus, we present to you some of his other work, and ask that you support his sincere efforts as well. Hwaiting, Justin!  BgA - Dong Saya Dae (똥싸야돼) M/V kakashi: Awwwwwww, look at his hair! Much better than all the Eurovision hair I had to see yesterday. And the MV?! Hilarious. This is gold! And already more than 2mio hits? Shuk: He was the character I most loved (except Siwon's adorable cameo). Best recurring character? Who cares? [thumbs up] Cookie: I haven't seen it yet but I've heard its hilarious. I still walk around cackling at the little sister part.

kakashi: Wow, lots of new stuff starting this week. It's crazy how KDramaworld keeps churning those shows out like that. Jaehyus: I didn't watch much. Only my daily really interested me, and Green Hill Fox, which is adequately described here .  Shuk: I'm happy that I am watching stuff you guys are talking about.  JoAnne: He reminds me of Johnny Depp, here. And Siwon. It's from an action movie called Running Man . It's a bad movie. But I don't care because Hakyun is in it.

Another nailbiter! We think all is lost, but it's not, but then it seems like it is, or maybe not?! Mei Changsu is always several steps ahead, or is he? Can Xiajiang just DIE already?! JoAnne: Is it just me or is he going to turn out to be the actual guy that has to be taken down? Not Yu, not the Emperor, not either of the royal princes - Xiajiang has to go in order for the kingdom to be saved. Eleanor: I think so. I think so. This episode was so intense. I can't even. And please, yes, DIE Xia Jiang! DIE!   

kakashi: I want Pied Piper, Season 2. Not happening? Okay, I'll watch Hakyun things all night then. JoAnne: I feel like every time I look at this you've snuck in another picture of him. Not that I'm complaining, he's lovely. I'm going to get something out of the way here: I didn't watch Monster, Lawyer Jo, or Daebak this week. If we were to play that game of kill, f**k, marry, I'm killing Monster, I'd f**k Lawyer Jo, and I'll marry Daebak. Oh wait, Mr. Black. I'm going to be in a polyamorous relationship with Daebak and Mr. Black, but nobody's getting lucky this week, guys. What can I say? It's just that time of the month. Sorry .

Shuk:  Yay! We get Cute Cuddly times. Boo! We get Stupid Annoying Underfoot Relatives too. Did we have to do this? Chincha? JoAnne:  Yes, we did.  It's a RULE, Shuk. Jaehyus: Actually, it's a rule in real life too.  Very few people exist on their own. Note: Our dear Quirkstine is swamped by RL, and unfortunately will miss the final #NobleMyAss recaps.

JoAnne: Annnnnnnnd in the time-honored tradition of Korean Dramas everywhere, here in the middle of the show we take a sharp left and head directly for WTF.  Sadly, this is not Paris and there are no nail shops in sight. Shuk: Nor have I seen any Eiffel Towers, either. Without it, is this a true reflection of a Korean drama? kakashi: I just want to punish Claire, really, really badly.  Cookie: *can't stop laugh/crying from all the wtfery*

Mei Changsu gets a chance to show once again how good a strategist he really is - but the hardest thing for him and Prince Jing is that they cannot get active themselves. As the prison break unfolds, we are taken to hell and back. It does not look good. It does not look good at all, because Xiajiang is just too friggin careful and paranoid. Ah! JoAnne: *raises fist and curses the sky*  Xiajiaaang! Eleanor: Xia Jiang. Evil. Pure EVIL that one. 

kakashi: A glorious drama is coming to a glorious end. Until the last minute, this remains gripping and thoughtful and perfect. Yu Jung-sang acted his soul out. We all gape in awe. At the very end, self-sacrifice becomes the focal point in this drama again; but it does not take one life, but hundreds, thousands willing to put their lives on the line for others to save those in danger. What a moving message. JoAnne: I got all weepy and goosebumpy. Trotwood: Me, too. It's one of those shows that you want to go find people and drag them into the room and force them to watch so their faith in humanity can be restored. (Except Brother in Law is not punished enough, but you can't have everything) Look at that smile below! I'd be smiling like too if I were hugging Teamleader Han Jaehyus: Amazing. There wasn't a single hole in this story. Good job, writer!   *Hugs Hakyun. And the writer* - *then Hakyung again* .  Can we just hug everyone? Well, not Bastard Brother-in-Law...

This is the penultimate episode but oh man, this drama shows no signs of slowing down - quite the opposite. Of course, our villain has planned a grand finale and it's grand indeed: The message and the impact. Trotwood: "Impact." Did you choose that word on purpose? Uhm, yes?   Jaehyus: :-D JoAnne: Seriously, though, if this gets any more suspenseful, how will we stand it?

kakashi: This is one of the best hours of television I've ever watched. Trotwood: This has got to be one of the best opening pics for a recap that I've seen. I wouldn't have thought of it, but it's perfect. (bowing before the Kakashi shrine).  JoAnne: She's so good, isn't she? Oh, I think about that stuff a lot, actually :) What picture does best represent the content of the episode? Well, sometimes, I also just think: Wow, Hakyun looks GOOD in this shot, let's put it at the top .  Probably close to a perfect episode. Just fantastic. And now that we've seen the end (no spoilers, don't worry) - I defy Jaehyus to describe Hee-sung as forgettable. What a spectacular performance. Better than your Hakyun, I dare say. Jaehyus: Myung-ha totally forgot him .

JoAnne: Where are the rest of the squeecappers? I know y'all are watching stuff!   Jaehyus: I'm here. I just cut my dramas down drastically because I was going crazy. So, below, if I watched it, I've commented.  kakashi: I'm here. I'm not watching stuff (again). Sorry, JoAnne, it's on you again! And Jaehyus. The good news: I'll soon resume the Nirvana in Fire and the Disguiser recaps !

Shuk: So close to the end!! We have hopefully seen the last of Dr Biatch 1, who got some second degree burns with that last encounter with our hot CEO. And B2 is never far from B1. And Jailbait has been gone since the rooftop kiss. All that's left is Dancer Boy, and the way is clear for our couple to have some alone time! Together! Alone! In that big house! Did I mention alone? JoAnne: Alone in that house. With bedrooms. But mostly alone in any room, together. Jaeyhus: B1 is playing a psycho serial killer over in Mrs Cop 2 . She's finally found a hobby.

JoAnne: Dramaworld turns out to have a few surprises in store for us this week, but one thing is no surprise - Claire is just as bad a student here as she was at home. Will Dramaworld survive her? kakashi: More importantly, will I survive her?  Shuk: Hi there! [waves] Back from vacay and ready to weigh-weigh. In, that is, on these episodes. Cookie: I had a few good cackles...It's hard to see the brief glimpses of potential. *sigh* lead on, Macduff