The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Panda: Episode that satisfies a lot of Shawn thirst.
kakashi: What an exciting start to his arc! Later, alas.... *gets distracted by the pretty* never mind.

Chapter 36written by Ligayacroft
edited by Panda and kakashi

“Hēng! Hēng!”

The sight of the huge pig gleefully bouncing in the snow toward him as he entered the courtyard was all that A-Li needed to see to remind him of his struggles. His eyes immediately searched the perimeter for the its mistress, and was both relieved and disappointed not to find her there.

Panda: Kissing Cousins!
kakashi: So many cousins, so many dirty things they could do....still better than siblings though.
JoAnne: Funny because I'm way ahead of this (keeping pretty current with two-a-day) and I had a thought yesterday that the Helan sibs are probably only fit for each other, wild animals that they are.

Panda: In which the Emperor finally gets his spirits broken :(
kakashi: Empy! My poor Empy! Hang in there!!! TT___________TT
JoAnne:  I keep looking for info on Mr. Mo and it's just not there.  It makes him even more mysterious that I can't learn anything about the actor.  My theory is that this is his own hair, supplemented with some extensions.

kynkari: We are in the home stretch! The demon has been vanquished by Murong Bai and the village has been saved! If you were here for the pretty, stick around because the pretty shows back up during the credits in some hilarious BTS/outtakes.
SakiVI: Murong Bai is my hero - or would be if he was alive.

For a girl who had a big crush on Murong Bai and then was engaged to him, Xiao Mei doesn’t seem at all put out by his tragic demise. Instead, with Murong Bai’s smouldering ashes still sifting through the air, she and Dachui make heart eyes at each other and he tries to kiss her. Everyone staring makes Dachui  nervous and the mood is killed. Dammit!
I'm annoyed with her lack of grief for my precious sacrificial lamb.

Chapter 89written by kakashi
edited by Panda

From the shadow of a tree, Cheng Yin watched his son pick up a fistful of dirt, study it intently and then stuff it into his mouth. With brown spittle running down his chin, he proceeded to crawl rather swiftly towards a patch of grass in the middle of the small courtyard. He hadn’t known the child was that mobile already - it was a moment to either make a father smile or make a father shout at the attending maids, who were chattering excitedly instead of watching the baby. However, his recent, very successful foray into the Ghost Realm had cost him a lot of energy, so he did neither. Besides, there was no point in smiling or shouting, so he just watched his son in silence, knowing it would soon be over anyway.

SakiVI: In which there is a birth secret and conflicting missions. It's almost like there is a plot!
kakashi: Indeed, now that we're halfway (!!!!!) into this drama - it seems to go on forever - something interesting happened.
Trotwood: Pfft.
JoAnne:  I guess we'll see.  At the moment I can't even remember what happened.

Chapter 35written by LigayaCroft
edited by Panda and kakashi

Mo Yuan was standing by his bedroom window when he spotted his twin brother, the Heavenly Emperor Ye Hua, and his brother’s wife, the Heavenly Empress Bai Qian, appear in a cloud of white smoke by the entrance of his Sanctuary’s Assembly Hall. More guests were expected to arrive soon and his receiving area was expected to become busy by the next incense clock change. He could trust his disciples to keep the royals fed and occupied, but it was not a good enough excuse to still dilly-dally about.

Panda: Where we have the return of an old foe and the introduction of a new yummy character.
JoAnne: Yummy is good. We like yummy. We are allllll about the yummy here at PotUp.
kakashi: We are? I thought we're doing this for the intellectual value?

Chapter 88written by MiniOrchid
edited by kakashi and Panda

Monsters come in many forms...

Most are made up, of course. Parents, grandparents, and elders told us these stories when we were children, often to keep our behavior in check. Monsters will come to get you....they often said…

Like folklore to remind us not to lie, to steal, or wander off with strangers; these tales are used to control the unfavorable habits in our youth, because Monsters will go after those who stray away from the rightful path.

kynkari:  It is my humble belief that this is the best part of the movie.  My opinion has nothing to do with the fact that Murong Bai is a “spank-me-until-I’m-cross-eyed”  evil bad boy in this section.  Not at all. *coughliescough* SakiVI: It is in fact my total belief that this is the best part of the movie, and it's completely because Murong Bai turned sexy evil bad boy.


Settle in and grab some popcorn. We have lots to cover and plenty of Ma Tianyu visuals.  Squee! I'll just get my tea.

Panda: This was a hard episode to watch.
kakashi: Poor, poor Emperor TT__________________TT (he is very cruel too though)
JoAnne:  I don't even mind, though.

Chapter 87written by kakashi
edited by Panda

When they stepped out of the bookshop with several scrolls of top grade erotic material in their possession, Shao Wan became aware of a strange kind of feeling. It was like something was nagging at her, trying to get her attention to spoil her elated mood. It was so unfamiliar, it took her a few moments to identify it: It was her conscience.

It told her to apologize to Mo Yuan - even though she hadn’t done anything wrong. Or had she? He, on the other hand, continued to do everything right, which seemed to be part of the problem: He had not only paid for the scrolls she had chosen but also carried them for her, wrapped in a leather band that ended in a tied sling over his shoulder. That someone highborn like him, who had been brought up surrounded by servants who took care of his every need day and night, would not let her carry anything, was a gesture she found oddly touching. When he was so nice and selfless to her, she felt vulnerable. A…

SakiVI: In which we find everyone knows everyone.
kakashi: In which we celebrate the weather, the true star of this show. 
Trotwood: In which we learn that being seen in long underwear is the same as being seen in regular underwear.
JoAnne:  In which we learn these grassland dwellings have enviable closet space.

Panda: An action filled episode!
kakashi: And the beginning of Prophesy 1. Or was it Prophesy 2?
JoAnne:  Now you have me remembering some very cheesy horror movies from the 80s. Tall Man, anyone?
SakiVI: Okay, it's been a while since I watched this.  But I do remember something about a fight.

Chapter 15 - Peach Blossomswritten byLalaLoop
edited by kakashi

“Are we going straight back?” asked Zilan as he waited for Yan Zhi to say her proper farewell to the guests who were leaving the Eastern Forest.

“You go with Yanzhi,” replied Bai Qian. “I will join Lord Donghua and Si Ming. There’s one last thing I need to do.”

JoAnne:  Another week where as of Friday night I had watched Tribes and Empires and little else.
SakiVI: Just popping in to say hello and goodbye because busy, busy, busy. And I keep watching Fresh Off The Boat reruns, so I don't really have much to say anyway.
kakashi: I was quite good and watch up until episode 18 this weekend. I feel accomplished.
Shuk: I think I might actually watch some KDramas this month.
*** RIP, Kim Jonghyun, kind soul. To everybody who loved him, our heartfelt condolences. Kim Jonghyun gave so many people hope and happiness - that he himself could not find any is incredibly sad. I hope he is in a better place now, where he no longer has to suffer.
My deepest condolences to all his fans, to Shinee, and to his family and friends. He was a caring person and will be sorely missed. The world has lost a shining star. RIP. 
My heart is breaking for the pain he felt, and for the anguish his loved ones must be suffering right now. He did absolutely shine, that preci…

Chapter 34written by LigayaCroft
edited by Panda and Kakashi

“This isn't working, Mei Lin. Are you sure you put the needles in the right place?”

“Xiăohŭ!” Mei Lin groaned as she looked up at the ceiling from the fifth scroll she has been reading on postpartum care, part of a set she had started for today’s reading goal. “Why can’t you lie still and just let the treatment run its course?”

WE ARE BACK!  And what an episode this was. Grab your tassel earrings, your personal plunger, and your desire for puzzles. It's Cubic!
Trot:  We are half way through!!! I wonder why I’m so tired, and I realize it is because this is really like being at episode 16 of a Korean drama (unless it’s TvN) because we have nearly two hour shows which would double the length if it were a Korean drama. This is also a really long episode and a recap that’s long to get in the “you won’t believe I’m saying this” details.
Shuk:  You mean it's worse than a girl beating you up with a purple bathroom cleaning tool after declaring pitstank?
Kmuse: I am starting to wonder if the episode feels so long because they have added Rubix Cube bumbling into the mix with random stares and stares on stairs. There is just not enough time in an episode for all three.

Panda: A reunion and 6 very satisfying slaps indeed.
kakashi: And a hunting trip. They're always exciting. Often, people die.
JoAnne: Did you hear that, Trot? People might die! *looks around expectantly for her most bloodthirsty friend*
SakiVI: I would like people to die. But I'll settle for 6 satisfying slaps (and the consonance).

We come to the end of another fruitful year in DramaLand, full of Angst, Noble Idiocy, Trucks of Doom, Birth Secrets, Family Corporate Takeovers; and, of course, Eiffel Towers!
As always, much thanks and holiday cheer go to my online and offline friends that help me spot these: Trotwood, cherkell, Quirkstine, MariDZ, oOISSYOo, and anyone else I might have missed.


First, non-drama spottings of the icon:
Daiso store in Japan, and a Philippine bazaar, respectively.
Lotteria at a Busan train station; and a store in Seoul.
In Seoul, a bookstore and a coffee shop.
A L'Oreal commercial while watching Thailand's Ngao Asoke this year.


And now for the drama Eiffel Towers!
Attention Love (Taiwan) 2017


Paen Rai Long Tai Warak (Thailand) 2017

Someone Like You (Taiwan) 2015


Sweet Enemy (South Korea) 2017

Cruel Romance (Mainland China) 2015


Fai Nai Wayu (Thailand) 2014