The Problematic of the Unproblematic

Okay, the "Born in the 1960s" post was a smash-hit, so let's continue with some younger flesh! Tons of people missing from this list too, we know, we know ... Please leave your suggestions for more sexy ahjussis in the comments section, thank you! By the way, I decided that only people born in 1976 or older are ahjussis.

kakashi: Let's have an ahjussis contest! So many delicious men with wrinkles in their faces! Which ahjussi wins the PotUp crown? Each Squeecapper can rate the ahjussis in this post with points (from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest)). The ahjussi with the most points wins! Our ahjussi definition: born 1976 or older. This first post covers all the ahjussis born in the 1960s, the second one will cover the ahjussis born in the 1970s. Oh, and don't you worry! More ahjussi posts to come. We forgot so many!! Jaehyus: Yeah, nah. JoAnne: Make it go away. trotwood: Good bodies are NOT enough for us. I wish I could erase this pic from my mind.

kakashi: How do you catch a super-intelligent guy you know is guilty but you have zero evidence against him? Who now knows you know it's him? If you know the answer, please get in touch with Sung-chan! He tries to immobilize Hee-sung as much as possible and waits until Soo-kyung makes a mistake, but he couldn't have known that this would endanger Myung-ha's and his own life. Trotwood: I think he does know that all of their lives are in danger. However, he has to push on. The Pied Piper will kill people anyway.  But as things spiral out of control, Sung-chan gets a chance to show just how much he has changed since the beginning of this mess. Jaehyus: He knows you know he knows. JoAnne: BUT... does he know who knows you know he knows?

kakashi: I can't believe Pied Piper is ending this week. I'm so sad! I didn't expect to fall in love so early in the year, or to fall in love at all... does it mean this is it for the year, I wonder? Or will I be lucky and find another Kdrama to love and cherish, until death us part?! JoAnne: You know me - I always believe there's another one to love, right around the corner. So much needs to be right for me to fullheartedly love...   We're missing so many folks right now :( Come back so it's not just me splashing red everywhere! Red, red, the color of looooooove . 

kakashi: In case we forgot, the stakes in this drama are very high, especially now, as Pied Piper overlord loses control over Pied Piper underling. For a very brief moment, it looks like a common enemy might bring Hee-sung and Sung-chan to really join forces, but that expression on Sung-chan's face when he looks at yet another victim of the Pied Piper says it all: Pied Piper, your days are numbered. Get ready to cry, people. This episode shreds our hearts to pieces and stomps on it. Jaehyus: I didn't like the Piper even before we knew he was the dual-headed goblin of death, and I certainly loathe him now! JoAnne: Did you guys see that in the next Gong Yoo drama he plays a goblin? Does Korea have a different kind of goblin than the west? Also, I'm loving how Hee-sung is being shown. So many parts to him. I don't know, I'll have to AskAKorean the goblin question.  

Goosebumps have become my constant companion while watching this show. (Trotwood: I've been tempted to grab my daughter's inhaler while watching this show, and I don't have asthma!) The factory-case was relatively non-scary, because those Chinese workers were so unorganized. Even the dust-explosion was kinda "meh, yeah, dust explosion". But in this episode, the terrorist goes chemical weapons and I tell you, if you're weak of heart, stop watching. The frogs are boiling, I tell you. In multiple pots. JoAnne: At least we get lots of Sexy Boxer. I will then watch this later when I've recovered from tummy troubles and can watch intense stuff. So, yeah, I'm commenting based on recap and comments today.

Where is the Pied Piper, you may ask? Well, he's BACK, bishes. With a twist and a kick to our heads. The ending of this episode is a waaaaaaaaaaaaaadafuck kinda moment, but it all makes sense immediately. Before getting there, Sung-chan unleashes more of his humanity and it seems Myung-ha notices him for the first time. I mean "sees" him, in the KDrama way. JoAnne: Is he now a man in her eyes, you think? He's certainly a man in ours. *makes rumbling noise deep in her throat*   I don't want her to be a woman in his eyes, though.  Trotwood: Not until she proves that her better hair isn't just an accident.  

JoAnne: Entertainer starts next week! With Ji Sung! Dramaland too (the viki show) - and we'll be recapping it! KLnoona: From Song Joong Ki to Ji Sung - wow, life is good. I love him in a comedic role - dare I say I have high hopes for this? Jaehyus: I have to drop something. I wanted to continue with Daebak after Jo pointed it's like a fairytale, but no time. So, since Entertainer is starting, and Dramaland (that won't take long) I'll drop Monster. It's not like I care about anyone in that show anyway. And Come Back Ahjussi has ended, so no more of that. Dramaworld episodes are under 15 minutes. kakashi: Which is weird and unexpected and the best thing about it, really.

JoAnne: Well here we are! Who hasn't been looking forward to this? The teaser looked well-done and I know at least one of us here at PotUp has actually met the lead, Sean Dulake (although I think he was still Sean Richard, back then - why did he change his name?! ) so we've certainly been anticipating this! I was only half wishing for a repeat of the glorious disaster that was the American version of Boys Over Flowers , I swear. Anyway, I'm all in. I hope the next one is a noona romance, Viki. I have some ideas to share... kakashi: Well, I for my part was full-out hoping for a disaster so that I could get my snark-bulldozer out. But, alas! As we suspected after seeing the trailer, it's kinda cutish-okayish. Not good, no, but also not  exac tly bad. I guess it's also way too short to really be bad. Being mean to this would be just like being mean to your little sister when you were 10 and she was 5. It's something that just doesn't feel right, even if ...

We've come to the end of the mega-hyped, mega hit Descendants of the Sun. This last episode does a decent job of tying up most of the loose ends in a neat little bow, providing for a mindlessly easy watch.  At the last minute the writer decided to go for an all out happy ending, and while I think I would have preferred Myeong Joo to die as was originally planned, this is probably the ending that most of the DotS lovers wanted. Oh, they had a plan for her to die?  That would have worked, but I still think Mo Yeon would have been the best choice.  Nothing personal against her, just the most unexpected option. Me, while watching DotS:  Sob - this is so disappointing! Why wasn't this so much better? I don't need to waste time watching this. Song Joong Ki, I love you!

It's an uneasy stalemate between the Pied Piper aka Soo-kyung and the rest, with nobody gaining any ground right now. The next crisis in not related to the Piper ... or is it? It's not my favorite episode, in fact, it's my least favorite so far, because it seems like a filler. Sung-chan does what he does, Hee-sung does what he does (every time he's on the screen I ask, Does Jaehyus remember him now? :D) (No.) , but there is neither progress nor revelations. Maybe it's because it's another double-episode and it's unclear where this is going? Hakyun looks extremely good though. It could be the really tight pants and the police vest. Myung-Ha's hair looked better. That was enough for me. She did wash it before the attack, so . . . I have decided I don't like Hee-sung, whether he's the Piper or not. I know Soo-kyung can't be it. He just can't. Who IS that guy, anyway, he's not listed even in Korean Wikipedia page. Update: My Kakashi...

Episode 15 starts off with our two main couples doing their normal routines - With Mo Yeon and Shi Jin cutesy bickering while Dae Young and Myeong Joo are still in a stand off. We knew there would surely be sad times ahead, and before this episode comes to an end, many, many tears will be shed. Will our couples be able to find happiness or is it game over? I like our chances for someone dying, actually.  Although I would be sad, of course.  For maximum shock value I actually think it should be Mo Yeon. I give you props, girls. You had me crying, too.

Crisis! Things ain't pretty and there is no end in sight. The Pied Piper is revealed but of course we cannot be sure it's truly him, data is stolen and leaked, Sung-chan gets a very bad beating and in the end, they still have nothing. I like the fact that he isn't a good fighter. In too many shows, it makes it seem as though every man in Korea has had major taekwondo/street fighting lessons. Koreans stereotype themselves?   Like this?  A Regular Korean Dude

kakashi: Did I mention how good this drama is? (Yes, but you can't say it enough)  I'm not kidding, this shit about the "terrorist" motivation/ ideology is really well researched (says my alter-ego, who does security-research in real life and wrote a paper on Anonymous). That shouldn't be such a surprise, should it, but seeing how 90% of all Kdramas use this kind of stuff simply as awkward background for romance, it kinda is. In this episode, our negotiators get really close to the Piper. Or do they? I am seriously doubting that people are whom they claim they are. Also, this is getting INTENSE. Jaehyus: It was scary. trotwood: Riveting and scary. I don't even care that much about the girl reporter and I was still worried about her. JoAnne: That girl keeps popping up a lot and in noticeable ways for a side character that isn't comic relief. I am suspicious.

We left off last episode not knowing the fate of Shi Jin after being shot multiple times and ending up at Mo Yeon's hospital. Who knew you could fix a gunshot wound to the gut with a cast on your arm? We get some background information on the gun battle that took place, along with a lot of new political intrigue, but I've decided to once again to just focus on the cute, sexy and athletic Shi Jin and friends.  Oh, don't forget to clothe yourself in your suspension of disbelief! I don't care, I don't care, it's all worth it for that slide over the car hood.  I'm watching plenty of smart shows.  Give me my amazing Shi Jin!  It's all I want! Shi Jin pulls off quite the maneuver while trying to get the bad guys. Go Shi Jin, go!

It's act and counter-act in Nirvana in Fire, and while our friends struggled so much in the last few episodes, they find time to regroup and counterstrike now. We are left in the dark about the details of their plan, but I'm pretty sure it's going to be awesome. Yes, I'm still worried. But hey, Mei Changsu is back.  JoAnne: For an episode in which nothing much happens, this one positively flew by - so many small things coming together! Eleanor: This drama is masterful at making it seems like small details are small, but are in actual fact major twists, turns, and cogs upon which the story turns. Amazing! I love it!

Kakashi: Yes, I'm newly in love and that basically means that I'm only watching him in everything he's ever been in and I don't know when I'll surface because he's an ahjussi who's been in a lot of things. Including many movies. And you know, Korean movies... Goodbye for now, I leave this RAWR in JoAnne's very capable hands. JoAnne: This RAWR is very red. You are all making me look very sad, like I'm a cat lady but for dramas. I am so glad to have you for this blog. Without you, the RAWRs would be very sad thin creatures.   Jaehyus: You are lucky, kakashi. When I fell for Yang Yang, I could hardly find anything he was in subbed into English, except Whirlwind Girl, a show too awful to keep watching. bcook: *slides into RAWR, bumps into Kakashi's ahjusshi* Woah...well hello! Kakashi's new man Yes, MINE Haha this is the one I almost put up! (Trot) I know I have this saved from ages ago and was looking for it to send to Kakashi, to...

This episode is centered on Myung-ha, who is going through an existential crisis that brings her right to the point where she wants to quit being a negotiator. By extension, this episode also is about Sung-chan and his feelings towards Myung-ha. Relationship status: it's complicated. Trotwood (entering conversation six episodes late): I would say the episode is about Sung-Chan and his feeling in general, which Myung-ha's personality and position put into relief. JoAnne: Trot! Keep a safe distance from HaKyun, Kakashi is getting a little scary. Thanks for the warning. I'm not messing with her. She has interpol connections. Jaehyus: But I like Shin Ha Kyun too...

kakashi: "Get ready for action", the Pied Piper said, and action we get. Big Bad has new bad things in store for Sung-chan and his crew and I'm not getting the feeling they are even one step closer to finding out who he is. They are busy battling their own demons as some light is shed on the corruption that seems to be at the heart of the problem here. Jaehyus: One exciting crisis negotiation at a time, they'll get there. JoAnne: Kakashi, is Jaehyus being facetious? Why am I the only person with an actual name?

Our medical team in is back in Korea, with our special forces following soon after. It's an easy to watch episode if you can just overlook the most ridiculous use of product placement that I've ever seen. And I'm not even talking about the friendly folks at Subway. How will everyone's who's been in Urk readjust to life in Korea? Let's just say it provides a lot of laughs and lighthearted moments, and plenty of opportunities for cute gifs. Tonight we squeal and make merry, for tomorrow someone may die! Hey guys, I know rumbling furniture meant duck and cover in Urk, but that's a jackhammer, not an earthquake!

This, my friends, turns out to be my personal TEN3 of 2016, only it's 10000times better written and acted. JoAnne is already making fun of me. The value of not falling in love often is that when it happens, people around you enjoy the spectacle so much more. At this point in time, this drama is well on its way to become one of my top 5.  I'm not making fun! I'm so happy that you're happy, because I luff you! My happiness just comes out looking like teasing! I think I like our lead actor more than the drama, but it's still pretty good.

Hmmmm, heating up quickly, this little gem. This is an extremely interesting episode on many levels, in which we get to know more about our main character and the people connected to him. His relationship with the young padawan Myung-ha is particularly interesting - and I don't mean in a romance kind of way, though I'm not saying there is no room for any. No, what intrigues me the most is the way he almost naturally becomes her teacher and how she actively seeks his advise but at the same time becomes his voice of conscience. The more this intrigues me, the more difficult it is to keep this short, but oh well ... being obsessed is lovely, I'll embrace it. No way I can ship our anti-hero and Myung-Ha. As Joanne said before, she's got that "just cried" face, and it doesn't suit someone as interesting as Sung-chan. It's not that there isn't room for any, but their history is complicated. I don't think you know why yet. I will say that even by e...

Shuk:  Hello again. As I am getting ready for my birthday trip overseas, I thought this would be a good time to post yet another Eiffel Tower post. Honestly I don't always try to find these, but now that my TList has caught Find The Tower Fever, these things are popping up like spring bulbs! Even Topp Dogg wants me to Love It Like They Do!

So many things were wrapped up in the episode that it makes me wonder what will happen in the next four. Finally defeating Argus, beating the virus and packing up to return to Korea all played important parts, but the main theme was Mo Yeon's coming to terms with what a relationship with Shi Jin would really be like and whether it's worth it. IT IS. As always, the pretty, including Song Joong Ki and Song Hye Kyo, make the drama

The second episode has Myung-ha and Sung-chan working together, sort of, but despite the fact that Sung-chan seems to honestly think that Myung-ha has talent, he also screws her over whenever he gets a chance. It seems that Myung-ha is far too trusting a person and he simply doesn't care about anyone else but himself and his quest to find the Whistler. Doesn't care yet? It's not that he is devoid of human emotion, not at all. It seems that he is just not letting anyone see them. He's very focused, and I don't blame him. I'm guessing he has a lot of survivor's guilt. Oh, definitely.

kakashi: Here's an interesting question for you guys to ponder... why is DotS so popular in Korea and China (and elsewhere, I guess)? Is it really just Song Joong-ki (I doubt that, personally), is it the romance, is it the story, is it Kim Eun-sook? All of this? I find it an interesting phenomenon if certain dramas become insanely popular and I often ask myself what exactly triggered it.  JoAnne: Sometimes things just hit the collective in that perfect way, I guess? I don't think there's any one thing about this drama or any of the others that hit it big that really justifies the mania. Sometimes a show comes along and just really hits the spot for folks. This one has a number of points in its favor: people waited a long time for SGK's comeback; we've got two well-loved stars heading things up and supported by recognizable, likable, capable actors in the second lead roles; big budget filming in an 'exotic' setting; humor, even excitement from time to ti...