The Problematic of the Unproblematic

bcook: After reeling from the Kdrama version of the Red Wedding (*GoT ref. #1) and reading all the accusations of Product-Placement (PPL) and selling of creative soul (that means you GFB writer) I started wondering.... how many products are they plugging in the last 10 minutes of Episode 24?? kakashi: People are actually googling this, you know. It really seems to be a hot topic in the Dramverse. I am feeling quite lucky I haven't watched this show, with all the outrage out there for how it's ended. But PPL spotting? Count me in. PPL in Gu Family Book Episode 24 Let's walk through and see what there is to see! We open the scene with an awesome panorama of all the things valuable to House of Gu (GoT ref. #2) and the first of many (oh my so many) PPL items. The Phone (Samsung): This is normal, regular ppl. Samsung basically = telephones when it comes to South Korea. Expected. They even found a way to get a samsung in a sageuk in Faith. Aww he saved her flower! I...

kakashi: And repeat ... the silly-cute-stupid girl is meeting the sleeping tiger and pokes, pokes, pokes him (has nobody told her that you do not touch strangers?! orphans, ts...), until he bites her head off. Or rather, kisses her. Close lipped. BUT they both have their eyes shut, which is NOT a given in KDrama. They part, slowly ... they look into each other's eyes ... and she leans back in. GO FOR IT GIRL! Is what I scream (sorry, neighbors). JoAnne:  I think I just made random noises of support and appreciation. Shuk: I spun around in my chair and squealed, which got the guy in the next office poking their head in. "Everything okay?", he asked, and I happily replied, "Nope, a fictional character just got some." They think I am a bit eccentric at work. Still...

JoAnne: Apparently I just REALLY like pissed-off men in hallways, fighting off crowds. Guess I came to the right drama, huh? Also: WHERE THE HELL IS HALIBUT? kakashi: He seems to have been turned into fish oil capsules by some Swiss company? o_o JoAnne: Thank God Min called in the troops to save Baksa's tiny little perfect ass because he was a goner. Did anyone else get a very Godfather-like feel from the filming of that with all the slow motion regret and inevitability? Anyway... cops come rushing in and Eun Soo and Safari scurry out the back way, safe to be bad guys for yet another day. Shuk: I was on pins and needles the entire week wondering about this. My convoluted thought was "Did Min tell Jin-sook, who told Safari, who set the whole thing up?" He seemed a little too quick to run away from ostensibly his seat of power. Plus, wasn't Hyung-min off the taskforce? Who cares, the boys are alive! #WhenAWomanIsConfusedButHappy kakashi: Man, he really ...

Now that Gu Family Book is drawing to a close *sigh*... ( Little Recap: DaddyHo comes back hotter than ever, his heart is small and black but his hair is full and his posture good. Kang-Chi and Yeo-Wool KISSS!!!! and then make googley eyes at each other for the next couple of episodes. Bad Guy *boo. hiss.* is exceedingly evil but kinda dumb and keeps getting thwarted. There's noble sacrifice and noble idiocy and HEA??? Episode 24 is airing as I write this so TBD. ) EDIT: $?# GFB crashed and burned in episode 24. I almost don't wanna watch...infact! I think I'm going to watch the last 10 minutes of the episode coz I wanna see LSG with short hair and green eyes.  Major thanks to GF at dramabeans.com for this pic (I have neither the skill nor time to take screenshots)

After a confusing episode 8, episode 9 is as straightforward as TEN ever gets. It is about a biological virus that is like a criminal and a criminal that is like a virus, and in which antibodies, be they biological or more psychological, promise salvation from pain. The TEN Team continues to function as one and the bonds between them seem as strong as they were last season, before ... you know, THAT happened. But, alas ... we all know that two of the members know something that has the potential to destroy this harmony ... and may well endanger the bonds once again, even destroy them forever. But what to do with such a secret? Do we protect the people we care for by concealing the truth that we know will hurt them? Or do we trust in love, healing, and coping abilities, the antibodies of human life? TEN 2 is slowly coming to the end of its second season and I am certain: it will not be pretty. Special Affairs Team TEN 2 - Episode 9 감염 - Infection Cars with sirens flashing are r...

EPISODE 8 Shuk: Soo-min and Hyung-min are sharing a bottle of Something’s Awry with Awkward Silence Anju, and a little Golbaengi Muchim Trouble on the side. It gets worse when Jin-sook’s minion comes in with an electronic key for one of the rooms upstairs. Soo-min is the first one to move, determined to follow through on her mission. kakashi: I am liking how uncomfortable he is about it all (cause I like to see him suffer). Hm.  I wonder what kinda history these two have? And let's see how they develop this storyline ... he is feeling a bit too uncomfortable for somebody who is just supposed to be a handler. JoAnne: There's an elephant in that room. I know which pair of thighs it hides between, too .   Shuk: In the Madam’s boudoir, Baksa has just found out that Cutie-soo has been ratted out to Detective Ji by Scale. Jin-sook tells him his life hangs on the balance against his friend. kakashi: ... shit.  JoAnne: It's dawning on me that calm, cool, smoooo...

The title of this episode is Elegy (from the Greek word for "lament"), which is a mournful, melancholic or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead. I guess that this also explains the melancholy and quietness of this episode, which is almost entirely taking place in a closed space. I liked that it was slow and relatively unexciting - because it fit the mood. The team feels comfortable with each other and everybody seems at ease with themselves ... at least for the time being: Let's see how long that lasts. It is not a very hard case for the team to solve, but it is still a case that allows for reflection on human nature, especially on love ... particularly blind love. And also fear ... fear of the dark, literally, but also figuratively. Special Affairs Team TEN 2 - Episode 8   열레지 - Elegy We are entering a club called Sound Holic. The rain is pouring down hard. There's a shaky, blurry camera ride through the different room...

Episode 7 kakashi: Ooookay, gals. Let's do this. This time, it's kakashi in the lead. Hehe. I like being in the lead and on top of things. So, where are we? Right. Baksa Adeul knows that Cutie-Soo was the one who ordered Lee Jin-Sook dead and Neanderthal knows that Cutie-Soo was the one who ordered Lee Jin-Sook dead (though he doesn't yet know who he is). And Baksa knows that Neanderthal knows. Baksa, who really doesn't have much of an upper lip, is very annoyed. In the meantime, Neanderthal is being mean to the crazy woman in the prison (who, ahahah, has killed her husband). But the crazy woman, in tears, denies any knowledge of who that person was. JoAnne:  I don't believe that bish for a second . Shuk: When I remember her purring at Cutie-soo behind the Prison Plexiglass, I get ill. Hopefully, though, her feelings for him (and the money) should keep her trap shut.

Did you watch all 50 episodes of 1000 Kisses, only to be disappointed that there wasn’t even one memorable one in it? Did you finish New Tales of Giseang even though the compelling love story was overtaken by an errant ghost that left the characters, as well as us, go WTF? Did you suffer through all of Stairway to Heaven only to have it dump you into hell? Well you, my chingu, may be the winner of the first ever Kdrama Addict Martyr Award. Just to be clear about what I mean by martyr, I give you definitions 2 and 3 from the online dictionary: Martyr: 2. One who makes great sacrifices or suffers much in order to further a belief, cause, or principle. 3. One who endures great suffering

In a happy little sunshower, our two main leads finally meet. You know, they would be best friends if they only knew their commonalities: a penchant for causing leg injuries and scaring people, well-fitting clothes, sniper rifles, a love for the same girl… JoAnne: Not to mention they're both COPS and they both hate drug dealers... Episode 6 Shuk: Hyung-min aims his pistol at the unmoving back of Baksa, asking him the important question: “Are you Doctor’s Son?” JoAnne: Ah, see, it happened to you, too. When I was talking about his tattoo I couldn't find a way to gracefully avoid having back and Baksa in the same sentence. I will admit that I sat here wondering why in the hell the most awesomest bad guy in the world had such a stupid escape plan, it's not very Baksa-like. kakashi: All I can think of is: 'Don't ruin the beautiful suit! Get out of the rain!' - and: 'Goodness, he looks even worse with wet, flattened hair.'

“Stab the body and it heals, but injure the heart and the wound lasts a lifetime.”― Mineko Iwasaki JoAnne: Are we all still reeling from the news last episode. I feel like I should have known. The cop's daughter in me is embarrassed about that.  But whatever, I didn't know, and it hit me like a ton of bricks, and now I understand what I was picking up on all that time. (Side note: Am impressed by the layered acting going on here.) Kakashi did say how awesome it would have been if he was just a plain ol' bad guy and we still fell head over in heels in love with him and I began to think about that and now I want to see that drama, too. Jung Kyung Oh plays a bad guy.  He's just a gangster, there's no excusing it, but we love him, and we never stop loving him because, like all humans, he has good points and he loves people, right along with the bad shit. Anthony, where are you? We need you. Shuk: Oh, what a teeny teeny fine line he has to walk between all the ...

This episode is heartwarming ... until it isn't. The team is finally together as one, and thanks to their collective genius , they solve this case fast an efficient, like the champions that they are. Speaking of cases, this week's whodunnit didn't excite me much. Not twisted enough for my taste! But I guess it serves its purpose ... it shows us how ugly human beings can be (and if I am not mistaken, (almost?) all of TEN's cases are based on true stories) and serves as background for wonderful team-interactions. Do-shik is in love, Min-ho wants to be in love, Ye-ri constantly watches Ji-hoon (and it is his heart that is on her mind), while Ji-hoon is now finally ready to reach out to other human beings again. And the human beings that are close to his heart are and always were his team members... So he cooks them coffee that is too sweet and learns again how to smile. But then, an ugly secret wants out ... and it really needs to come out, does it? But when is the right ...

This is Shukmeister, finally feeling healthy and healed enough to join in the squeefest that is Heartless City. My full thanks to my fellow Squee Cappers who not only did a marvelous job for the last three episodes but were willing let me sneak back in! And just in time for some scary, hairy, wary stuff! Shuk: He's happy I'm back! Shuk: This episode's drinking game is brought to you by the show-inspired videogame "HallucinoCity". One shot for every time a character sees someone who isn't really there, and two shots if they start talking to it. JoAnne: Look at that baby face up there! Look at it! kakashi: And here we go ... on the road straight to alcoholism hell! And looksie: I'm back to orange and being last. Haha, awesome. 

JoAnne: Hold on to your hats, kids - this is going to be a bumpy ride! kakashi: Or a bouncy-bouncy ride? JoAnne: Wait, this happens la-oh, I see what you did, there... JoAnne: There's no roof in sight for a change, but the Han River IS in the background as Safari and the Deputy Commissioner of Police sit in a car talking about Baksa's imminent demise. No biggie. We also get to see the rest of Hyung Min's 'interrogation' of Kim Eun Soo. I'm slightly distracted wondering how come he doesn't get to wear guyliner, too. Too big to pass for an Idol, I guess. kakashi: I am constantly distracted by his enormous, angular head. And the terrible, terrible hair. It is possible that I will grow fond of him later - but it is not very likely. I'm just saying this in case I do suddenly grow fond of him and people will go, ts, that kakashi-woman! She really is all over the place. 

  JoAnne: First, a replay of the intense furniture factory scenes and then cut to - yes - a group of men on a roof top. We MUST have a drinking game for this. No biggie, they're just hanging Meth Kim off the side. kakashi: Hello vertigo! o_o (and no, I know how dangerous your drinking games are, JoAnne ... not falling for it again! I still have a hangover from WAML's!)

JoAnne: I thought that the SqueeCaps would be a one-time thing, and then Episode 4 of Cruel City happened and I lost my mind over Doctor’s Son. We'll get caught up as quickly as possible, and then who does what might change week to week. Especially once Shuk is back up to speed (with more than awesome gifs and pics as in this post), because we do want the writing/comment format again. Yay! SqueeCaps! kakashi: And so it continues ... no rest for the wicked! Yes, I admit I was hoping to get some rest from excessive giffing and blogging! Why hasn't anybody told me how much work this is?! So this better be good, ladies! Or I'll send the Doctor's son over your way to kick your collective behinds!  SqueeCap of Heartless City, Episode 1 JoAnne: We have a moody start with the city at night, one nervous man hurrying down the street, and another in uniform riding in a chauffeured car. That’s Mi Hong-gi , the Senior General Superintendent of Police, played by Son Chang-min...

Lafer here. Now that we're spent weeks oohing and aahing over the abs and eyelashes of Song Seung Hun, I feel it's time to move on to another actor recently stirring up discussion and hot flashes, the yummy Lee Jin-Wook. A whole new audience was introduced to him after the success of the drama with the stuttering title--Nine: Nine Times Time Travel. Personally, the whiplash from present to past to present, etc. during this drama put a few chinks in my normally solid Kdrama-watching Armor of Suspension of Disbelief. And frankly, I’m still not even positive about what happened in the end, especially after reading discussions about the first Sun Woo vs the second Sun woo vs the dead Sun Woo. But hey, you can never have too many Sun Woos in my book. I liked Sun Woo so much that I felt a need to further explore the actor who brought him to life.

This man? He cracks me up. He seems to like his abs almost as much as we like them - or even more?!  He titles his recent Twitter pics "Vietnam. It's very hot", "sunset effect", "diet over", and "B cut". I am guessing he went there for a photoshoot and not another holiday. Nobody goes on holidays that often, right? Especially not Koreans.

Shuk: The final episode. Where writer-nim has to ferret out anything and everything to tie up. No drinking game this time; I don't want anyone accusing me of alcohol toxicity. Any thoughts, JoAnne, before we finish this? JoAnne: Oppa best get his happy ending, y’all, or I’mma cut a b****. Also, volunteering.  kakashi: *sobbing uncontrollably* (cause it's the last WAML SqueeCap) *sigh of relief* - "finally done!" Episode 20 Shuk: We open up with Seon-joo trying on wedding dresses, and I feel the vomit coming up in my mouth. Yong-gap charges into the dressing room, telling her she can't marry Tae-sang. She calmly tells him she won the bet, and he should find a good woman and settle down. He promises the biggest wedding present ever. JoAnne: Grandpa Leeteuk: Voice of the Audience. kakashi: He has tears in his eyes .... oh, my feels! He lurves her so .... o_o  And I finally understand why I like this guy! He looks a lot like my uncle. Yeah, pe...

If you want to get smashed while watching this episode, take a shot every time a plot point gets neatly tied up, and two shots for every “He is your brother” statement. Episode 19 Shuk: So all of our principals are at the worksite; President Han is with the foremen, and Manager Lee is with a group of investors. We have the Looney Tunes rusted safe drop, and Mi-do pushes Tae-sang to safety. He loses his hardhat but retains perfect hair. JoAnne: She looks like she’s sleeping so peacefully. Dare we hope she died? I know Kakashi wants someone to die, because this is a melo. I’d be ok with it being her. kakashi: Oh yes, yes, yes! She is dead! She has amnesia forever, walks away to Russia, and will never be seen again!

I'll tell you what a Gisaeng is not. Gisaeng is not quite the Korean version of Geisha. Gisaeng were designated as 'slave/lower caste'. Many were trained in art, music, literature and medicine. They were 'owned' by the provincial governments. The well educated ones served in the royal palace and entertained noble men. Gisaeng were not technically prostitutes either at the beginning. Gisaeng do not exist in modern Korean Society.

Hello everyone!  This is Shukmeister, taking a small respite from the SqueeCapping, I decided to look back and do a listing of some of my favorite KDrama lip-to-lip action scenes. They are in no particular order or timeframe of watching, but they have stuck in my brain and heart over weeks, months and years.  Enjoy! Secret Garden (2010) This one is a favorite for several reasons.  It's just a tiny kiss, with a little forehead to forehead action, but when Joo-won tells her that his company stock is crashing because the heir has fallen for a stuntwoman and ruined the merger of a lifetime - that just made me melt.  It's like the two little words, "I do", that, in the infinitesimal moment you say them, can carry over into a lifetime's commitment.

This is a difficult episode. Not because of its content, but because of (imho) some choppy writing paired with sloppy subs, with an emphasis on the latter: There are a few confusing inconsistencies in the subtitles. Also, CJ Entertainment (the official subs-deliverer) has suddenly started to use an "Americanized" style for names, putting the family name last and not first. That confused the heck out of me until I figured it out. So: I hope you are not going DF on us, CJ, thinking we don't understand "hyung" and similar words? [end rant] Apart from that, this is an episode mainly centered on Baek Do-shik. He is somewhat back with the team, but it takes a while until he fully gets there. Overall, this is an episode about love and obsession. It shows that you find love in unexpected forms and also in unusual places. And it also shows how closely related love and hate are and that acts of love may very well be considered acts of hate by others.  Special Affairs T...

Shuk: One of our fellow Twitterbeans and Oppa-lovers, Jomo , has created a special poem just for this point in the show. Follow the link here . Increasingly unhappy about this drama? Hating everybody? Don't worry: have some half-naked guys frolicking in the water! Episode 18 Shuk: Roy Chang and Han Tae-sang meet for the first time, orchestrated by Jan-hee. After a few social niceties, Tae-sang asks if Jae-hee had met the Chairman (identified by Chang-hee’s letter as his brother’s biological dad). JoAnne: Loved watching the varied emotions on the three faces here. I wonder if PissyWishyWashy was on the sidelines taking notes and saying ‘oh, THAT’S how you do it…’ kakashi: I wouldn't want to be Roy's enemy. He is truly scary. Don't hurt our oppa, you!