The Problematic of the Unproblematic

I'm sitting in the lobby of the SqueeCon14 hotel here in Washington (which happens to be the Hilton). I'm glad to report that I have secured a corner-spot, which means I can start recapping this without scaring any political scientists senseless.... Okay, that was before I starting screaming and crying while watching this. Sorry, political scientists. JoAnne: I made no apologies. Of course, I'm not sitting in a hotel lobby.

Stuff happens.  Most of it not funny, sadly. We're still laying the groundwork for the struggle to come.  In the mean time, here. In case anyone wanted to imagine themselves in a vaguely QIHM-like scenario

I can't believe we're at episode 40?! What happened?! And when?! Where did my time go?! Why didn't I notice?! Ahhhhhh! >.< This episode is FULL of Kim Ji-hoon in a white shirt, which ... *fans herself*. Never has he looked better to me. Thank you! JoAnne: He looks better shirtless in pajama bottoms, as I recall. I do love a man in pajama bottoms, slung low across the hips. Yes.

Our story starts in Joseon, 100 years after the legend of the Three Musketeers was supposed to have taken place. A mysterious book of the tale of the Three Musketeers is found, written by Park Dal Hyang. What if the story was true? What if Crown Prince SoHyeon had become King, how would the Joseon Dynasty have turned out? But it's only a legend. There's no such person in history as Park Dal Hyang. Or was there?

Yaaaaaaaaaah! Oh yes, they did it AGAIN! What an episode. It actually had me on the edge of my seat ... well, I was laying down while watching it, but you know what I mean. Oh man. So GOOD! Thank you, Bi-dan, for doing something really stupid, because I absolutely loved this hour and what it revealed. And by the end of this? Min-jung is so BUSTED. Bustedish. She is going down. Downish. JoAnne: I immediately started Episode 40 because hello, excitement! and then remembered I should stop, breathe, comment here, etc. SO GOOD.

Bad news, Squeeglets. There is too much hate for some characters and not enough Rim to jeob this whole episode. Thus, we are extending the jeobbing to all puppies. Rim, Big, or Very Big. (Wait-- why is that bad news again?) kakashi: My sentiments exactly. You know what? I don't like this show. Not at all. JoAnne: I like it, but I get you.The problem is it's not BAD like Paris but it's weird like Paris, so it feels...slippery. I don't know.Hard to settle in to. I think that's part of the one episode thing, too. becca: It does make it harder to get invested, but the show itself is just weird, too. I like it, though. We get to know more about Ahn Ma Nyeo, our Share House Family, and Pervy Mermaid in this episode. Though in her case, what you see isn't very likable... let's hope the show fixes that soon. kakashi: One of the main reasons I don't like this show is her. She is horrible. All the more horrible for not knowing she is horrible - if that mak...

Shuk: I'm first! I beat Kim...err...everybody! Does that mean I can hijack the rant and talk about nothing but Thai lakhorns and my first Vietnamese drama? No? I'm afraid to talk about my current Taiwanese fare, that's for sure. Lafer: Lol, got it. You have to do it quickly because Rawr #9 went up with only 6 sentences! I didn't even have time to do my IOIL gif. Kakashi's on a face track! kakashi: Ah, nono, you weren't here when everybody (not me) agreed to post RAWR#9 as it was! (after it sat there for over a week, untouched, mind you:) As for IOIL gifs ... yeah. I added "a few" to the blog in the last few days, that's true. And indeed, there's almost only one face in them. And of course you can talk about lakhorns and Viet dramas, Shuk. It won't be much of a conversation, but monologues are a well respected art form too!  Shuk:  LOL. I think about it for the next RAWR.  

This episode is quite melancholic, as feelings get hurt and hopes are crushed. Yoo-na's Street's characters all are of a great loneliness that threatens to choke them all. Chang-man makes a few important decisions, and Yoo-na seems a bit affected by his stubbornness. So good! Mary: LOL at the new recap name. becca: It really says it all.

There's no Hot Watchman in this episode. Not even the slightest glimpse of him. So here, because that was obviously an error which needs to be corrected at the earliest opportunity: How perfect. He's pounding red hot steel.

This is the episode in which almost everybody cries (including me). Also, things get uglier on all fronts, only Kim Ji-hoon stays equally beautiful throughout. Hahaha, how cheesy.   JoAnne: Now that we are stalking multiple 'Bori' actors on Twitter and Instagram (such is our obsession at this point) it's easy to see how much FUN these people are having with this show.  It's even slightly possible that they are having more fun doing it than we are watching it, even.

Is it Wednesday evening yet, is it Wednesday evening yet, is it?! If you can't wait just like me, have a look at the next batch of gifs from episode 5 & 6 (more here and here ). I realize he only dresses in "his colors": yellow, blue, white, black and gray. Where's the red though? *Mobile users .... be careful! This post is heavy and will eat all your data allowance! hehe*

Get some tissue ready for the latter part of this episode ... we're here! We've done it! The big seeeeeeeecret! It is out! (On another note, Kim Ji-hoon is quasi absent from this episode, but hey! All in all, over 50 episodes, there will be a lot of him. So I'm not complaining. Or only a little) JoAnne: Man. I need to go hug my daughter. (Starts crying again because, can't right now.)

I'm behind on my Roommate recaps because I just got back from a trip to LA which included the 2 day extravaganza of Hallyu, Kcon. Never one to pass on an adventure (except possibly the ice bucket challenge, which I don't care how uncool it makes me look, I have no interest in doing) I was really anxious to experience all Kcon had to offer. And yep - it was an experience! So let's start with the GOOD 1)  The concert. I only attended one night of concerts, but if I was to do it again, I'd definitely go to both. It was really fun (and the 16 year old Korean American kids I sat next to were sooooo nice!) and a good way to see multiple groups at one time. BTS' choreography was spot on, Spica is sooo talented, Jung Joon Young moves like an Asian Mick Jaggar and CNBlue was amazing! Who knew the terribly meh actor Yonghwa could totally blow you away when on stage. Girls Generation......oh wait, this is the good section. CNBlue 2)  The glowing multi-colored light st...

Chang Man is the man! He has a nice new room, a nice new job, and (possibly) a nice new not-yet-girlfriend. What else could he ask for? His life is perfect! What d'you mean this is a kdrama? La-la-la I can't hear you. kakashi: Let's enjoy it while he's happy. And when he's happy, we're all happy. Right? becca: *hugs everyone*

I can't make up my mind ... which In-sung is sexier? The smiley one? The bothered one? The baffled one? The outright angry one? The smirky-player one? Gifs from episodes 3 & 4 (here are gifs from episodes 1&2 ). And we haven't even got to the kissery yet. I need to write to him. I have a book chapter and a paper to write. Seriously can't use this distraction right now!