The Problematic of the Unproblematic

When this drama is not about a love so deep it is both beautiful and scary (see Part I of our review !), it is about the eternal struggle between good and evil, cops and criminals. Fastfood lovers and vegans. Also, we discuss what worked and what did not work ... and spend quite some time on the ending. I am still not sure how I feel about it. I'm feeling some kind of way about this GIF... Yes, so it's not only what worked and what did not but also who worked out and who did not . 

kakashi: Very often, I experience KDramland as stressful. It’s because it keeps pumping out show after show. It never stops, it commands constant attention and a LOT of time. And as shows become shittier and shittier (or I become more demanding - or both), watching the endless parade of beautiful oppas and puppies becomes less and less enjoyable, like too much fastfood. You kinda want it, because it gives you some pleasure, but it has no nutritional value and the more you eat, the more bloated and ultimately sick you feel. JoAnne: I think perhaps after a while you've just had enough, and need to 'taste' something different - plus, as a thinking adult you're very conscious of those times that what you 'feed' yourself is mostly of low nutritional value, and you begin to crave more substantial stuff. Okay, I think you get it. I never saw this morphing GIF before. I didn't even notice it changing at first! I saw his pretty face, and then I looked up and saw...

My Beautiful Bride is over and is definitely the best drama of 2015 (that I have seen, that is). I doubt anything will be able to top this (for me, that is). Of course, the drama had its faults! And there were many in this final episode too. But in comparison to everything else out there, this is leagues better in writing, directing, and acting. A story was told without compromise and the ending leaves me satisfied - overall.  I'd agree. There have been some really enjoyable, crack-tastic dramas out there this year - but none had ALL the components like this one did. And I don't know about you, but when someone relatively minor just busts out with a performance to KILL for, like Kim Moo Yul did with Banker - well, I love to be there to witness that magic.

(Almost) Time toooooooooo say goodbyeeeeeeeeee. The penultimate episode is here and this drama is still good. It's still good! Hooray, KDrama can still do it! Actually, the scene between the two elders was phenomenal and as penultimate episodes go, this one is perfect. Never have I seen a more optimal way of preparing us for the final episode. There's still a chance they could pull a surprise extension. You think so?   No, not really.

As we rush towards the end, we get to see less and less Banker and more and more other people. I don't mind much, because the story remains gripping and I'm dying to see the bad guys punished. Still, we know this is the home stretch and so does the drama: everybody becomes more reckless as the urgency increases. Still, it will be alright. Won't it?  I'm no longer willing to entertain the idea that Banker dies and Joo Young morphs into The Incredible Revenging Woman and takes down all the loan sharks. No. Banker must live. He MUST. And because his happiness is important to me, Joo Young must live, as well.

I can't believe we're nearing the end! TT_________TT If you've been a reader of this blog for a while, you might have noticed that I always tend to slow down in recapping speed towards the end of a drama. It's because I HATE goodbyes, especially if it's a good drama. It's silly, but the slower I go, the longer it lasts. In addition, it's so hot here I die after 10 minutes of being near my computer. I need one that turns as cold as ice when it's on.  I am very cold these days. Do you think it's because I am wasting away?  (OMG call BANKER!) Here on the porch, watching the ocean, occasionally wrapping a shawl around my shoulders to protect from the breezes? I think if it rained on me I might get sick. *dramatic sigh* (Seriously, I've lost 20 lbs in a month. If you don't know why, you don't want to know why.) (Also, this by no means makes me skinny, or even regular sized.)

There is no superhero who is a banker yet, is there? I think we need that in our lives, every day. And I need this drama to continue forever, because it just completely reinvented itself. Mr. Banker starts his revenge and there is nothing sweeter. Yoon-Mi gets to beat up guys and Joo-Young gets her power back as well. It's possible I like this new development even more than I liked Do-Hyeong as The Chaser. I sat there and said 'Wait, what? She's a what? When is this? Is this real?' for a few minutes and by the end I was grinning so hard my face hurt. This is awesome!

This is the culmination episode - and a turning point in the story. It's very welcome to me, because the "hunt for my bride"-trope was getting a tiny little bit used: how many times can you put Joo-Young into the hands of one or the other fraction, really? And how many times can you almost kill Do-Hyeong?. In addition, it's abundantly clear at this point of the drama that the problem won't just go away. Unless the Shadows are destroyed, our protagonists will have to fear for their lives. Ergo? The Shadows have to go. Awesome. I want an extension.  I... wow. You have never, ever said this. Never once.

Oi oi oi. Brace yourselves, people. We're heading for impact and after this, nothing will be the same. I'm glad this is only episode 10 and we have six to go. Not only because I immensely enjoy this, but also because it means that he cannot quite die yet. Damn. I really like that we are both fully aware that this drama might just actually kill its hero - and I, at least, have faith that if this happens, it will work with the story. We haven't talked about it, so I'm not sure how you feel about that. I will cry for days. But I guess I'll be alright. Eventually . 

Oi! What a pulse raising episode! I must admit, I missed that in the last 2 episodes, when we were going from sad to sadder to even worse. I like Bank Guy best when he is in killing mode. And when he runs. I loved this episode, I really did! It seems the stakes are raised even higher ... if that is possible. It's because Seo Jin-Gi has been flushed out of his comfort zone with the green fish and feels some heat. It's because Park Hyeong-Sik is slowly losing it. It's because I secretly hope for Tracksuit Guy to brutally butcher every bad guy and then kiss Lee Jin-Sook, his long-lost wife. What IS it with Tracksuit Guy and his food aggression? (I'm with you on loving Banker when he runs - there've been several conversations about that over the weeks.)

Sorry for the delay, Squeeglets, I was on holidays with no internet. Wow, everybody should try it, it's lovely! But now I'm back and have some serious catching up to do.  This episode gets 100 non-smiley faces :-( from me. It's just as desolate as 7 if not more so: There still is no hope - no hope for anybody. And there is no reason to hope either. I'll be honest. I know I watched it, but I'll be learning what happens in the recap, same as the rest of you. Not to worry. Given the novels I tend to write, you'll remember every litle detail :)   Two big buttheads

A desolate episode, which leaves our main protagonist without any hope and no further leads and shows us just how brutal the world of the Shadows is. Ruuuuuuun, Do-Hyeong, ruuuuuuuun! No, actually: to bed with you! Mend! Heal! Rest! Come here, rest with me. I have a lovely view.

Horrible, horrible drama! I mean ... very, very good but horribly exciting and emotional drama! It makes me worry so, so much ... We're not even halfway through and I can only pray that these people make it to the end and get a chance to be happy. No mysteries solved and no new ones added in this episode, which is mainly full of action to the Rim. I mean rim. Actually, that's not true. There are more mysteries. But they don't feel as grand anymore.  Ah, but don't you feel as though there is a big one, lurking over the horizon? I can feel it watching us.

Do we ever truly know a person? And is it possible to change who we are? We find out why Do-Hyeong did not recognize Joo-Young when she stepped out of the rain and it makes my heart break a little. His love for her is so deep and pure it will either make him move a mountain for her or be his early grave. This episode steps up the game (and the amount of blood that flows) and I get this very uncomfortable feelings in my stomach ... should we brace ourselves for the death of characters we care for? Please, no. These poor loves deserve more than two years of happiness together!  

There are fewer puzzles in this episode: a few are solved and hardly any new ones arise. We also get to know a few new characters as we move closer to the root of all evil - the "problem solvers". They're a scary and brutal bunch O___o (It made me want Safari back). Overall, this is the least gripping of the now aired episodes, but it was needed to take this drama to the next chapter, which may or my not bring us closer to the truth. We can't continue on like last episode... at a certain point, they have to ANSWER some questions.  So I am grateful for the crumbs today!

Oh, you clever, clever drama! There are flashbacks within flashbacks within flashbacks ... and we never quite know whose memories they are and whether they are true or just imaginations. Also, almost everybody has a second, potentially real name and nothing is as it seems. I still have no clue what's going on, but this is another 100% episode. Everything is there and it's damn near perfect. How will I ever be able to watch a normal KDrama again after this one?  Wait then! This is a trap! I can't have you ruined for KDrama, I NEED YOU. But oh my goodness, this is good. It might almost be worth the sacrifice.

OMG their love story is SO SWEET, it chokes me up - because it's not only sweet, it's also full of heart-wrenching tension because we know that something is awfully wrong. But what? What is it that these two people are hiding? What is going on?! So you think he's hiding something, too, then? That makes sense. This episode is as solidly entertaining yet mysterious as the first, and yay for that!

I have a new recapping project and I am SO EXCITED, especially since I didn't even see this one coming. Like SO NOT on my radar. But here it is and it delivers, oh yes it does... Watch a control freak's life completely unravel as his beautiful bride disappears - without a trace. Watch really good actors act with a really good script. Watch a drama that takes you IN and doesn't let you OUT. THANK YOU, dramagods. I was losing hope. This feels like home. If home were one big web of lies, I mean. You know what I mean...the episode starts and you take a deep breath and think, 'I know this place. This is a good place. My place.' Welcome home, Kakashi! We are here!