The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Kakashi: New shows! A new chance for me to get back into KDrama! Wooohooooo! JoAnne: I love that every 3 months or so you get all excited by the possibility again, and I'm always really happy when you do find something to be excited about. Like when this was airing : Loved, loved, LOVED this show! I will rewatch . I know! I thought you would like a reminder.

KLnoona/ Lafer: Mr. Song Joong Ki is back! And so am I, focusing on the lead of the most hyped drama of the year, Descendants of the Sun. It has been well worth the two year military wait, as we see a more toned, more mature actor. I'm loving how he's actually getting cheekbone definition and some forehead wrinkles in that baby face! Love is the operative word here, as in me and many others falling in love with SJK and his acting all over again .

Shuk: Hi there! We are still plugging along with this one, much like the plot is still meandering its way to where we REALLY want it to be: lots of one-on-one time for our couple. Which can't happen until all the pesky outside influences (with maybe the exception of our Exceptional PA Kang-- practicing doing the wave all by myself for this man. Go, Kang, Go! ) finally disappear, locked outside the doors of their place. If we can only get her moved in! Jaehyus: But where she's willing to move in, not be forced to move in. JoAnne:  Tomato, tomahto. Just get her in close proximity (and PJs) to Kang Hoon. Quirkstine: Are we there (cohabitation) yet? *impatiently stomps one foot*

I absolutely hate this episode! Prince Jing isn't here, Mei Changsu is seriously ill, Tonglu is a fool, Xiajiang is dangerous, Prince Yu is smart when he shouldn't be and the Emperor gets to touch Consort Jing almost every night now. JoAnne: Oh right, I wasn't thinking about HIS visits when I said she had that to look forward to, last post . Eleanor: Okay, yes, this episode made me miserable. *wants to stab Xiajiang with a thousand forks*

Times are not easy for Prince Yu, but damn, that guy has keen senses... I don't like it at all that he realizes that Mei Changsu is not at all on his side. And I like it even less that he plans to conspire with Xiajiang! He is probably the guy I fear the most. JoAnne: He's just smart enough to be dangerous. Eleanor: Ack. Nooo. We don't need more trouble! There's already plenty.

Jaehyus: I'm so sad The Lost Tomb is over! I'm dragging out what's left of the translated part of the book series now. I say translated because there are three more books, 7-9, and they go into the story of Kylin Zhang a.k.a. Little Master, and they are still not translated. Everyone, tell the publisher to get to them! http://www.thingsasianpress.com/contact/ Other than that, this will be my last Rawr until mid-March because I'll be otherwise occupied and not likely to watch much TV. Plus, I won't have a computer, just the tablet, and the blogger app won't change colour and things, and it's a little slow too .   kakashi: Have fun! And hey, I think you should recap  The Old Nine Gates . Never mind the length. Length is good .  Jaehyus: Sure, I'll recap! It sounds fantastic! JoAnne: Will you look at that boy? He is ridiculous!

This drama has an uncanny ability to shift from unfinished issues to new issues, always leaving us uncertain and worrying about things such as THE BOOK. In this episode, Prince Jing gets elevated to Noble Prince, but that's really just the beginning of a new batch of troubles. In fact, these troubles just seem to pile up, higher and higher.  JoAnne: NiF seems to stand for Never is Finished, when it comes to the list of worries. Eleanor: Seriously. It should be called the Langya List of Worries really. And boy does Jingyan look hot when he studies. I do love a man who studies well.  A shame he's not wearing glasses!

Of course, Mei Changsu's secret is just too big not to want out. But does it have to come under pressure on so many fronts at the same time?! His residence may be "airtight", as Banruo said, but all the rest of him sure is not. On a more positive note: Prince Jing smiles a lot in this episode. JoAnne: But Fei Lui is NOT smiling. Give the boy an orange, someone. Eleanor: Prince Jing smiling = ❤

We are at the Season 1 finale! Which basically sets us up for the next season, whenever that comes out. And, I have to say, it's been so much fun recapping this, I didn't want to do the finale because it would've ended things. kakashi: The finale is like the whole show: batshit crazy. I'm going to miss this hot mess!  

Did I say I was uneasy in the last episode recap? Well, take that unease and multiply it by 100! Eleanor: Jingrui. That man needs a hug. Like a super huge one.  SEAL TEARS, NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

kakashi: You know what, guys ... the last RAWR and my one answer to alexe in the comments made me realize ... I really should stay away from all Korean rom-com for a while. Maybe forever. That will solve my grumpiness when it comes to Korean shows. I will only watch the other stuff, which I usually enjoy. I.e. crime stuff. Even a well-done melo, maybe. JoAnne: It's okay, I either like them or like to make fun of them, depending. So they'll still have representation here at Problematic! I never doubted that! Hwaiting!   Jaehyus: I've lost interest in everything not related to The Lost Tomb. I had meant to rewatch the NIF episodes because of the new recaps, but I can't even seem to do that.   becca: Helloooo! I'm just popping in to say that I'm still alive and I miss you crazy (awesome) drama addicts! Keep it cool, y'all. Ailee, Luna, Eunji and Solar. If we were younger, I think that would totally be us, too

SakiVI: This was such a busy episode! Our Iljin Thug Gang of Geeks travels to Beijing to hobnob with the rich and powerful. Honestly, I could hardly keep up from scene to scene. kakashi: Since I am not the one doing the main work (aka recapping), I really enjoyed this episode. It brings new players to the game and I thought that was quite exciting. Wu Xie also totally blossoms outside the tomb. He's smart and handsome! Yes, I'm noticing for the first time.

Banruo (or rather, her network of spies) emerges as new target of Mei Changsu's, but is he fully aware of her abilities? She is not one to sit idle and wait for the erosion of her entire power base, no, she immediately hits back. I'm starting to feel uneasy again. And then, there's a matter of a certain book ... okay, I'm feeling VERY uneasy. JoAnne: I want him to manipulate some situation where she has to cut off those two hanks of hair she leaves hanging down. Eleanor: Even though Su is VERY smart and well-prepared, there seems to be so much that seems uncertain. But I guess that's part of the charm because he already seems to have accounted for it, or has he? 

Happy New Year from us and from Google! Jaehyus: All I've got on my brain is The Lost Tomb. I've sped-read the books - why aren't books 7-9 translated, why??? - and am now going through them again. I'm even trying out the author's other two translated books on Amazon, but those are a bit boring to me. So, everything else is on hold, although, I do watch The Four (Yang Yang) a bit, and The Whirlwind Girl (Yang Yang) a bit. Oh, yes, and there's Six Flying Dragons. I'm keeping up with that, although it's a bit dull to me these days. And CITT. Baek In Ho, fighting !   kakashi: A weird week. I have not yet found my footing in 2016. Lots happening on the job (hiring lots of new people, well, lots relative to the fact that I'm doubling the size of my research group), but I feel somewhat directionless ... I need a project to feel passionate about. Haven't quite found it yet. JoAnne: I had about a week of downtime and now it's just as cr...

SakiVI: We finally get out of the tomb, yay! And we get some new mysteries, dun dun da dun!    kakashi: This episode brings the return to the normal world and quite a few more answers. I'm always surprised when this show makes sense. Or "sense", rather. Actually, it doesn't, but it pretends it does and that's good enough. Have some Uncle Three! Hey, this actor looks really good with a stache.

Someone dies and someone returns in this episode. Someone goes into exile and someone is pardoned. And who, we wonder, is next on Mei Changsu's list? JoAnne: The advantage of having watched this a while ago is that I'm sitting here going 'ooooh, who?' and then as I read your always excellent recap and view your always perfect pictures, I get to 'watch' again. Eleanor: Just looking at your screencap there lets me know that I need to make sure to have some tissues handy. This has some parts I know I cried at while watching the first time. 

Xie Yu is finally going down ... or is he? The Director of the Xuanjing Bureau, Xiajiang seems like a very smart and devious man. But is he smart and devious enough for Mei Changsu? This episode brings us an awesome battle of self-control and wits between Xie Yu and Mei Changsu, who face each other as opponents directly for the first time. Mei Changsu once again shows how well he masters the game of manipulation, but as always, controlling this game of revenge he has started takes all his strength.  JoAnne: Ah! I'm so excited to be getting back to this! And this picture is perfect for reminding me of everything about these men - excellent skills as always, my friend. Eleanor: Word. That's probably outdated slang these days. Oh well. I am also super excited to get back to this! It's really interesting how different the relationship between these two actors is in Nirvana in Fire and in The Disguiser . Just a random musing. 

SakiVI: We got some clarification, and some history, and me wondering if people really wore so much in their hair in olden days, and wishing I had that much hair... kakashi: This is the first episode that makes sense from beginning to end, ahahaha! Well done, you finally learned how to tell a story :D Or maybe because they could not really butcher the flash-backs with editing. This creature scares me!  

SakiVI: So, will our intrepid gang of grave robbers climb the tree to freedom? Of course not, what characters with common sense were you watching? Nah, what we get is grave robbing, a mummy, and best of all, Story Time! Cuddle up in your favorite blankie, suck your thumb, and listen to Wu Xie GeGe. kakashi: You forgot to mention a certain shirt that goes miraculously missing . I'll be getting to that. 

kakashi: I have developed a weird craving for (bad) fantasy shows lately and lo and behold! There are so many of them airing right now! If I follow all of them (including Sleepy Hollow which is coming back on soon and Jane the Virgin), I would have to follow 7 shows!!! Peanuts. JoAnne: I must be feeling the urge to explore, too, because I've seen several English-language shows lately that I enjoyed - but never fear, because I still love my KDramas! Oh, JoAnne just added a potential 8th show to my list (see below). And that is not counting "The Lost Tomb", which Saki is recapping at light speed and any other potential shows of the Korean variation. Jaehyus: Can't think why The Lost Tomb is so fascinating I'm forgetting everything else... Imma sneak in here coz I've got rawrs (finally) for one more happy ending. This is Yang Yang. Jaehyus/Saki likes Yang Yang. I wonder why that is...