Rants and Weekly Raves #47 (RAWR)
It's a quiet week here at Squee Central. Our leader is away, cruising the Mediterranean with family; Shuk, Dewaani, and I have been recuperating from various hospital-y things, and every one else is tied up with work and travel and what-have-you. (So there's a whole lot of me here, but not a whole lot of everyone else, sorry.) There has been some drama watching, just not a lot of drama talking. Fortunately, the drama watching is pretty good these days, you have to admit that. We've got an excellent thriller/love story, another excellent love story, a couple pretty good rom-coms, even a couple things that fall solidly into WTF category (always welcome here.) It's a good time to be a drama watcher, don't you agree? ~ Jo
Well Done, drama! For a while I was afraid they were going to give us something very sad and I wasn't in the mood for being shocked WHIBali style. It did wrap up nicely, although it did make me wonder if they've taken the moratorium off of showing suicide in dramas.
Oh, I like this drama. I think we're getting into very interesting territory. We better be in for a lot of awakenings and character growth. If only UEE could learn to be a little more definitive in her blank stares.
My baby is PERFECT, do you hear me? PERFECT. It didn't feel like nothing happened to me. Suk Hoon is getting pushed to take stupid chances as he's being squeezed by his wife, the gangsters who now partner with her, Eun Ha, even by the failure of Dad to just go along with demands. He's not a good criminal, although he certainly looks the part of evil. Man, such handsome evil. Min Woo and Eun Ha are now right out in the open with each other on all fronts: background and emotions. Yay! I love him. Soo Ae is starting to do more of that flat affect thing she does when she wants to convey timidity/unsureness/shyness and I find THAT a bit irritating, but for someone who is probably one of my least favorite actresses, I haven't minded her much here. And I feel like I need to go watch Goong and Antique Kitchen and that movie with Shin Min Ah and Mawang all over again because Ju Ji Hoooooooooooooon :)
I've lost my enthusiasm with this drama, but I'm still watching. Really, Soo Ae's flat affect is nothing compared to Ju Ji Hoon's straight-faced stick man character (sorry, JoAnne.) Yes, they are good together, but I really wish that she would have told him who she was before everyone else found out so they could have worked secretly against the evil brother-in-law. Hopefully I make it to the end of this one as I've been known to stop one or two episodes short.
I'm just sneaking in here to say OMG!!! why why why is the plot not moving ahead?! It's 4 episodes left?! How the hell-o are they going to bring these two together, exact revenge on bil, commit sil to a mental hospital and figure out who Min Woo's mum was running from when she died (bet you forgot that part) in 4 episodes with their current pacing. UGH! Still...looking forward to my Saturday catch up.
I haven't kept up but I do have to say that little Bummie has grown up to be quite the good looking man.
I'm not watching this, but it was fun to see Yeo Jin-Goo as a kid in Frozen Flower. Just don't watch that movie in front of actual kids, or your mother, or anyone else you'd be embarrassed to watch various sex scenes with.
I catch up with this today, since the first two episodes left me a little curious. Mostly about Gwi.
After being so excited to watch this, I stopped after one episode. Just never got around to the second one. But I have decided this will be good for a marathon watching. I think In Time With You is just too fresh in my mind so I need to be able to move on to the next episode quickly if I get bored.
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| Gwaenchanh-a, yeoreobun. Min-Woo will hold us until Sensei gets back. |
My Beautiful Bride (on recap hiatus)
I'm starting to think there's no way he can survive the repeated abuse. I wasn't kidding when I said that I wouldn't 'mind' a show that kills him and turns her into a bad ass for revenge. But I would mind, of course - I just mean it would be a pretty awesome show.
This show is the highlight of my week. I tracked down the two most common songs on the OST ("Days and Moons" by Elsa Kopf, and "Stay" by Steelheart) and listen to them obsessively while I wait for the next episode to post.
See, your first sentence is why I won't touch this with a ten foot pole. OK, I did watch 15 minutes of it. But no. No love story can overcome my aversion to violence. But I'm glad you are all enjoying it.
This whole drama might just be total genius. The pillows!!
It really is worth the violence.
Feels. Ovary Explosion. Feels. Ovafeelsplosion. Yes! Yes! Damn it Lady Detective can't you see??!! - My reaction every episode.
This show is the highlight of my week. I tracked down the two most common songs on the OST ("Days and Moons" by Elsa Kopf, and "Stay" by Steelheart) and listen to them obsessively while I wait for the next episode to post.
This whole drama might just be total genius. The pillows!!
It really is worth the violence.
Feels. Ovary Explosion. Feels. Ovafeelsplosion. Yes! Yes! Damn it Lady Detective can't you see??!! - My reaction every episode.
My Love EunDong (Finale)(on recap hiatus)
If nothing else, this show should be credited for giving us three credible versions of the same couple. I loved the whole thing and all of them. For a while there in the last couple episodes I thought that I was going to have to get nasty. But never fear! The show ends perfectly. What I loved the most throughout the story was that Eun Dong never shied from standing up for the truth, once she knew what that truth was. There was no question in her mind, no hint of 'going along' to keep peace or face or anything. I loved that. I loved that she stood up to Jo, to her father, to her husband, to everyone - and yet she continued to be kind, respectful, compassionate through it all. Eun Ho grew up, and that was necessary - but for a little bit the mechanism to make that happen had me worried. Ra Il was well cared for by all adults in his life, and everything was set to right. I call that a happy ending for an enjoyable, emotional, well-acted show!Well Done, drama! For a while I was afraid they were going to give us something very sad and I wasn't in the mood for being shocked WHIBali style. It did wrap up nicely, although it did make me wonder if they've taken the moratorium off of showing suicide in dramas.
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| Shall we end as we began? Our baby couple. |
High Society
Things are getting pretty complicated. I really don't want it to become Yi Ji and JoongKi fighting back against the manipulations of YoonHa and Chang Soo but it looks like that's what we're getting. Family stuff is still only mildly interesting. It's kind of different having the mom being a drunk in what feels to me a much more 'western' style. I do want to know what the deal is with the brother. And I would really like a little more insight into Dad, you know? Because I don't think he's unfeeling at his core; I think he is the way he feels he needs to be to survive and do well, and I wish I knew what got him there.Oh, I like this drama. I think we're getting into very interesting territory. We better be in for a lot of awakenings and character growth. If only UEE could learn to be a little more definitive in her blank stares.
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| Can you just hurry up and get back together please, and then star in another drama together too? |
Oh My Ghostess
I don't see how in the world that timid mouse Bong Sun would ever do well in a relationship with Chep, and it's clear that Chep and Ghosty would be GREAT together. How in the hell you gonna work your way out of that mess, Show? Also: either give us some dirt on Lim, or stop with the weak hints. (Okay, to be fair, the cell phone moved you from weak to 'slap us in the face with it.' I keep forgetting it is still very early days for this drama, too. Doesn't it feel like it should be almost wrapping up? It's odd, because I enjoy it, but it feels like it's been on forever.
So cute! I'm looking forward to Bong-Sun becoming much less meek, but still really enjoying all the ridiculousness while I wait for us to get there. I agree with you, JoAnne, that right now Soon-Ae feels like a much better fit for Cheppu-nim than Bong-Sun does, but I'm hoping that's just because Bong-Sun hasn't had a whole lot of screen time in her own body yet? I'm also intrigued by Cordon and his relationship with Bong-Sun -- I both want to know more and worry that he will give me a serious case of Second-Lead Syndrome if I learn too much. Limnium has officially crossed into deeply disturbing territory. (Speaking of whom, remind me why we call him Limnium again? I realized during a conversation with Juror #8 that I always think of him that way, but have no idea why...)
My favorite right now. I was looking forward to this and got a little worried when it seemed slow going in the beginning. But Bo Young is knocking it out of the park, and what can I say about Jo Jun Suk? I've been a fan since day one. Frankly I'm not bothered by those who think Bong Sun is being taken advantage of in a sexual way by Ghosty. Wasn't that the whole point of the show? And really, how much longer can Shep resist her advances? She's so adorable when filled with aegyo, and just plain hilarious when she keeps telling him she wants to do it. The whole Lim thing - well I think he was the one that killed Ghosty but who knows why? Honestly, I don't care, just give me more of those kisses!
I don't know why Lim is Limnium. I think it was started by a few TwitterBeans who are way more into him than I am - although I do like him. Was it Jilly, Bel, and Nelly? or Vi, Ethlenn, Jubie? Maybe the comments will tell us the story! I don't even know if they read here, though.
So cute! I'm looking forward to Bong-Sun becoming much less meek, but still really enjoying all the ridiculousness while I wait for us to get there. I agree with you, JoAnne, that right now Soon-Ae feels like a much better fit for Cheppu-nim than Bong-Sun does, but I'm hoping that's just because Bong-Sun hasn't had a whole lot of screen time in her own body yet? I'm also intrigued by Cordon and his relationship with Bong-Sun -- I both want to know more and worry that he will give me a serious case of Second-Lead Syndrome if I learn too much. Limnium has officially crossed into deeply disturbing territory. (Speaking of whom, remind me why we call him Limnium again? I realized during a conversation with Juror #8 that I always think of him that way, but have no idea why...)
My favorite right now. I was looking forward to this and got a little worried when it seemed slow going in the beginning. But Bo Young is knocking it out of the park, and what can I say about Jo Jun Suk? I've been a fan since day one. Frankly I'm not bothered by those who think Bong Sun is being taken advantage of in a sexual way by Ghosty. Wasn't that the whole point of the show? And really, how much longer can Shep resist her advances? She's so adorable when filled with aegyo, and just plain hilarious when she keeps telling him she wants to do it. The whole Lim thing - well I think he was the one that killed Ghosty but who knows why? Honestly, I don't care, just give me more of those kisses!
I don't know why Lim is Limnium. I think it was started by a few TwitterBeans who are way more into him than I am - although I do like him. Was it Jilly, Bel, and Nelly? or Vi, Ethlenn, Jubie? Maybe the comments will tell us the story! I don't even know if they read here, though.
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| You're welcome. :-) |
I Remember You
Well, all doubt is removed. Pretty, pretty @bogummy is baby brother Min, and he's a monster. How can they make that right? Does anyone else think the medical inspector might be Lee Joon Young? I've known he was wrong from the first minute, but I'm not sure exactly how he's wrong, yet. It could all be a red herring, anyway. No matter, I'm thoroughly enjoying every minute of this. Gukkie is smoking hot, he and Jang Na Ra make a great pair, and I love the cops. The one red-head though, from Healer - did y'all catch that weird moment where he left himself out of something? That might be interesting. |
| Well I don't know about you, but MY answer would be yes. |
Mask
It occurred to me as I was watching this week's episodes that I am really looking forward to getting out of the "filler middle" with this drama. I mean, last week we left off with Min-Woo just learning his wife's true identity, and by the end of this week we had taken that knowledge...practically nowhere. Min-Woo finally told Ji-Sook that he loves her (not Eun-Ha) in the last few seconds, but aside from that minor progress, hardly anything else happened. Then, suddenly this morning, I realized that this week's episodes were 15 and 16 -- of a 20-episode drama! That means there are only four episodes left. So why are we still in the filler middle, Mask, why?!?!My baby is PERFECT, do you hear me? PERFECT. It didn't feel like nothing happened to me. Suk Hoon is getting pushed to take stupid chances as he's being squeezed by his wife, the gangsters who now partner with her, Eun Ha, even by the failure of Dad to just go along with demands. He's not a good criminal, although he certainly looks the part of evil. Man, such handsome evil. Min Woo and Eun Ha are now right out in the open with each other on all fronts: background and emotions. Yay! I love him. Soo Ae is starting to do more of that flat affect thing she does when she wants to convey timidity/unsureness/shyness and I find THAT a bit irritating, but for someone who is probably one of my least favorite actresses, I haven't minded her much here. And I feel like I need to go watch Goong and Antique Kitchen and that movie with Shin Min Ah and Mawang all over again because Ju Ji Hoooooooooooooon :)
I've lost my enthusiasm with this drama, but I'm still watching. Really, Soo Ae's flat affect is nothing compared to Ju Ji Hoon's straight-faced stick man character (sorry, JoAnne.) Yes, they are good together, but I really wish that she would have told him who she was before everyone else found out so they could have worked secretly against the evil brother-in-law. Hopefully I make it to the end of this one as I've been known to stop one or two episodes short.
I'm just sneaking in here to say OMG!!! why why why is the plot not moving ahead?! It's 4 episodes left?! How the hell-o are they going to bring these two together, exact revenge on bil, commit sil to a mental hospital and figure out who Min Woo's mum was running from when she died (bet you forgot that part) in 4 episodes with their current pacing. UGH! Still...looking forward to my Saturday catch up.
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| It's always a bad sign when you go back to pull out screenshots for a RAWR and re-discover a whole assassination attempt you'd forgotten about. |
Hidden Identity
Still haven't picked this one back up. But maybe it will be perfect to marathon once My Beautiful Bride finishes? Heaven knows I will need the distraction, and Bummie's eyebrows might just do the trick...I haven't kept up but I do have to say that little Bummie has grown up to be quite the good looking man.
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| "Don't squander this opportunity lightly, Nabi. My next show might give me bangs." |
Orange Marmalade
Only one episode left! I think this drama is going to resolve itself well in terms of seeing the characters end up where I want them to be, but it's starting to feel rushed again now that we're firmly back in the present. (And thank you, dramabeans, for explaining away the references to 2017 in a way that didn't confuse me with the present -- not for the first time, this makes me wonder how much else I'm getting wrong in all my dramas due to poor subtitles!) I'm more convinced than ever that it should have been a 16-episode, twice-per-week drama, but in-and-of-itself it has been a great story, just not as well-told as it could have been.I'm not watching this, but it was fun to see Yeo Jin-Goo as a kid in Frozen Flower. Just don't watch that movie in front of actual kids, or your mother, or anyone else you'd be embarrassed to watch various sex scenes with.
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| Maturity has never really been Jae-Min's strong suit... except in his vocal chords. |
The Scholar Who Walks at Night
I feel like the music has settled down a bit, which is nice, but I'm starting to worry that I may have outgrown the whole vampire fantasy. The heroine is likable, and the hero is handsome, but I was practically yawning during the overt vampire/sex metaphor (when he threw her down and nearly bit her) this week, and usually I'm a big fan of the sexy stuff -- overt or not.I catch up with this today, since the first two episodes left me a little curious. Mostly about Gwi.
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| Okay, so maybe I'm not totally immune to the vampirotica. |
The Time We Were Not in Love
I finally started watching this! I haven't gotten very far yet, but I'm enjoying the narrative style with the past storyline woven into the present. (I kind of wish Orange Marmalade had been done the same way, but in retrospect I understand, narratively, why it wasn't.) It feels a bit like the Ha Ji-Won show right now, but since I love Ha Ji-Won, I'm happy.After being so excited to watch this, I stopped after one episode. Just never got around to the second one. But I have decided this will be good for a marathon watching. I think In Time With You is just too fresh in my mind so I need to be able to move on to the next episode quickly if I get bored.
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| Is this what you look like after drinking all night long? Yeah, me neither. |
Assembly
Okay, so I haven't checked it out yet. But I do want to. How about you guys?
Late Night Restaurant
This is a gem! Watch it! Thirty-minute episodes will make it easy, and the setting (a small restaurant where the chef/owner makes home-y dishes at your request, with a mix of regulars-like-family and walk-ins) is quiet and warm. It has the slightly old-fashioned feel and pacing of a tele-play, and it appears that each episode will feature people brought together by chance who end up helping each other, and each meal is connected in some way to a small story or tidbit from a person's past. I don't have any familiarity with the original, which was Japanese - I know that some people miss the more overt quirkiness here, but for me this is perfect. I love it. LOVE IT.
Other
I watched Mr. Robot this week, still enjoying it. A little confused. I watched Poldark with my mom, loving that. It's Aiden Turner in gorgeous countryside and period costumes. What's not to like? I'm continuing with Hannibal (almost done with Season 2) and I have Humans as a new addition to my list. This damned list never gets shorter, only longer. Sometimes it's easier to read than to watch, so I've been reading while I'm here at my parent's house: The Silence of Trees, by Valya Lupescu. Very good novel, I enjoyed it.
Looking forward to...
What? Please tell me what is there to look forward to? Descendants of the Sun is being filmed in its entirety so who knows when that will be. Other than that, I am happy to see Shin Mina finally starring in a drama but that will be awhile coming. I guess I can catch up on my sleep in the meantime.
I am looking forward to Last, and like Becca, the new drama that will star So Ji Sub and Shin Mina. Also the Thai remake of Playful Kiss with Mike and Aom, the world's most adorable Full House couple. There's other stuff too but I can't remember right now!
I am looking forward to Last, and like Becca, the new drama that will star So Ji Sub and Shin Mina. Also the Thai remake of Playful Kiss with Mike and Aom, the world's most adorable Full House couple. There's other stuff too but I can't remember right now!