The Problematic of the Unproblematic

JoAnne: Awww, look how cute! The sleep of the damned. *runs off sobbing* kakashi: Happy Halloween! Look at how cute his ears are! Awwwwwww.

kakashi: Alright, Kim Ji-hoon plays a weak douchebag and he might not be in many episodes. So be it. I will soldier on. My love burns like a candle in the vast dark that is his absence from the small screen for so long. JoAnne: That guy you hate is absolutely adorable in this. The whole show is funny. No. I refuse. And for the record, I don't hate him, I just don't like him.   Hmm, whatever.

kakashi: Kisses! Many, many kisses! I didn't know where to look! Kasuo and Li Luo get to spend a few happy hours, enjoy them, kids. Who knows, might be your last ones, buahahaaaaa. JoAnne: Finally your precious Kasuo has a few non-mopey or limp moments.

kakashi: Many people do a lot of things to keep Kasuo and Li Luo apart - and you know how they say 'just throw enough time and money at something and you'll succeed'? I really like them together, both light up when they're with the other and Kasuo's whole expression and body language changes. But I guess it's a love that cannot be... *sobs* Poor Shi has a lot going on too, because there is no denying it anymore: he is not of pure Ice Tribe lineage. JoAnne: Poor Shi. So, if he's from that Other Tribe, The Tribe That Does Not Officially Exist - was it 50/50 he'd end up passing for Ice most of his life? I mean, it could really have gone the other way very early on, right? You're right about Kasuo and Li Luo too - I like him best when he's with her. I like her all the time, though. By the way, am I the only one thinking the other Realm Guardian, the one NOT in love with Li Luo, is very, very, very cute ?

kakashi: Saki will be away for a while, which means you have to enjoy this recap a lot and read it very carefully and maybe several times before the next one will be posted. Anyway! I love the Zhang-family mystery (and that it remains a mystery). After many very difficult episodes that challenges my love for this show, this one is a total winner. SakiVI: I love the Zhang family. I kind of wish Little Master could've made an appearance in at least one of the Zhang Family episodes  (HELL YEAH!!!) , but the Zhangs are so amazing overall, I can let that obsession go - a bit.

kakashi: People, let me be frank: I don't care about this drama. I've never warmed up to Soo-Ae and even though Starry Nights was cute, I have not come to love Kwak Kwak (that would be Kim Young-Kwang for normal people). The same goes for Lee Soo-Hyuk... I don't get the fuss. Jo Bo-Ah is one sexy woman, but I don't actively follow her work. There is just one person in this drama that I do walk an extra mile for and if you've been following this blog for a bit, you probably know who that is: Kim Ji-hoon ! Sadly, he isn't even second lead in this. Not sure what he is apart from a major douchebag. WTF are you doing, darling, get yourself a lead role again!!! In any case, I will not recap this in the traditional sense. I will just look for Kim Ji-hoon scenes, recap those and gladly forget about the rest. JoAnne: See that look on his face? That's my face that you would reject my lovely Kim Young Kwang AND the not inconsiderable charms of Lee Soo Hyuk. Also, m

kakashi: Dear all, Saki is currently on holidays, which leaves me with JoAnne, who, as she likes to repeat, remains "detached". I hope she will not be too mean to Kasuo et al.!!! In this episode, the Ice King tries to separate Li Luo and Kasuo for good and Shi realizes that it is very unlikely he is an Ice Tribe prince at all. Poor baby. JoAnne:  I can't really kick a man when he's down, though. Not too hard, anyway - and it's not like I don't like him, I do. I just want him to get past this mopey place .

kakashi: My 2013 " Lee Jun-ki and his Hair "-post is getting a lot of hits these days. I wonder why that is.... Haha, who am I kidding, I know why!!!! It's the power of his beautiful, beautiful face!! And fine, fine, because you're all asking for it, I'll do a new one. The rules of my " hair posts " are relatively simple. We talk about a guy's hair. Nothing else. Performance for example? Doesn't matter. Just the hair does. JoAnne: As I think you can tell from some previous items here, hair matters to me. My kind of post!

kakashi: Saki is on holidays, Ice Fantasy didn't air due to some SARFT shenanigans and The Mystic Nine is over. I've been too busy for many words, but you know what? I am happy. JoAnne: And I am not on holidays, but very behind on things and you'll see I didn't watch much this week. Shuk: I spent most of the week on the shores of North Carolina with a dozen teenagers, so no dramawatching for me. Plus, I getting ready for an eight-day Caribbean cruise, so dear squeeglets, don't freakout if the SqueeCap page isn't immediately updated. bcook: Hi strangers! Cookie!!!!! Hiiiii!   Sob! (And so hot.)

SakiVI here, recapping Episode 5 for all you lovelies! [The things I do...] kakashi here, hiiiiiii! (I like the opening song of this drama) Sparks in the house! More Mars and Momo - I'm ready! ;) Trotwood: I'm here, too. I call this episode "Mars in rescue mode: the learning years" Shuk: [rubbing my hands in glee] Jo: watch what you rub, girlie.

kakashi: We're (almost) done with the fillers! Yaaaaaay! Fo Ye is back! Well, "back". And Lt Zhang is da bomb. SakiVI: Seriously, during these episodes I almost jumped bias ship.

kakashi: We spend most of this episode watching people fight over who should be the next Ice King. It's the first slightly boring episode of the entire drama. Shi is still beautiful. As is Kasuo. Less beautiful though: that ring Shi is holding in the picture below. I like Shi's headpiece, though.  And the slightly pinky tone they give his outfit to highlight his dewy freshness. That ring is pretty ugly. But Shi just takes my breath away.

kakashi: There is a lot of Lt Zhang in this episode and he is awesome. A W E S O M E. Lean back and enjoy the pretty and leave your brain at the door. We're still in filler-land. SakiVI: At least we have our lovely Visual and our lovely Chieftain and our clever, clever Ba Ye.  

kakashi: Another episode brimful with excitement and plot development! Lian Ji/Lotus gets more serious about placing her son on the throne, Kasuo expresses his deepest wish and Shi knows, the solution to Kasuo's problem is very, very simple. If only there weren't so many powerful people deadset on having Kasuo on that throne! Just let Kasuo go, people.  He's boring and emo and Shi is just gorgeous and will noona-kill in his Ice King robes. Seriously. Shi is powerful enough to do it. Kasuo doesn't want to be king and has no power. Why is it so important that it be him, no matter what? We start to get an inkling that there's more to the story in this episode, but until now I just thought it was the Ice King's stubbornness.

kakashi: Lee Sang-swoon is doing it again - I'm under his spell. Twenty Again was pretty much a year ago and now it's happening again. Plus, he even has a Nespresso machine!   SakiVI: I am now increasingly intrigued. Sadly, no time.....  Oups, I spoke too soon. I started. And I need to drop things. Shuk: I'm gearing up for two weeks of out-of-town and out-of-country. So I'm loathe to start anything new. Sigh, I'd love a passionate kiss with someone cute.

kakashi: Our OTP is far from ready to admit they have growing feelings for each other, but their actions and reactions betray them to the people close to them. It doesn't get any easier, for both of them - some hard times are ahead, with room for misunderstandings But they care about each other's opinion and because of that, they talk to each other. Talking is good. Sparks: This was one of the hardest episodes for me to watch. But it's a baby-step in the right direction and I'm all for them getting closer! Trotwood: Yup. No rewatching for me. I usually rewatch an ep before commenting, but it was painful for me as well. SakiVI: I ... did not have such a strong reaction, lol. JoAnne: I thought this was incredibly sad, poor girl. Shuk: She is a little trooper. But then she's had to be most of her life.

Shuk: The show has completed its run on TvN, but we still plod on, one painful episode at a time. (Trotwood: I'm here for you, Shuk!-giving you a virtual consoling pat on back)  Still, it gives us time to think about the existential characteristics of our primary characters, the neopragmaticism of their actions, and whether Eastern epistemology can explain their behaviors. Or maybe I should have another shot of soju and listen to Tropical Storm Matthew rage overhead. Yeah, that last one makes more sense. Jaehyus: I'll hope that Eastern epistemology can explain their behaviors. Several of our regular commenters are buried by RL, so hopefully they will come back soon. Aja aja fighting! JoAnne: *waves weakly*

SakiVI: In which Ba Ye and Lt Zhang become a pretty lady's white knights. We also get some villain-side story, but it's pointless and covered only in case there are any Nose fans reading this. Skip over and read the Ba Ye & Lt Zhang parts only if you want. kakashi: I call this episode Traps in the Swaps. Because I'm very, very tired and I find that really funny right now . Don't ask. Don't judge. It's funny .

kakashi: Some people go crazy over a certain Wolf right now (*waves to JoAnne*), while other people still think that the drama featuring the same guy last year should have done much better. The best way to get over an unsatisfactory ending is to rewrite it yourself. Saki, the floor is yours. *** SakiVI: Once upon a time, Princess YeoWon, over here, was stuck married to a weirdo half-brother because of rules regarding caste systems and keeping property in the family.

SakiVI: It's Ba Ye Time. I think the actor is getting the requisite line and scenes his agency negotiated for him, while William Chan is getting a break. Huo Niang is shown in a slightly better light than before, and Xin Yue is awesome, per usual. There is even some product placement, which was amusing.       kakashi: In short, Bae-Time, when you drop the "Y". Seriously, the product placement is the best. Also, and people who have watched animé based on mangas before know what I'm talking about, we're entering a filler arc now. Random place, random people, random plot. I didn't even know what picture to choose here for the top.

SakiVI: A lot happens. People talk a lot too. Please read on. kakashi: It's a drop-episode. Only true fans watched beyond this one. My annoyance reached new, unknown heights and I even fail at being funny in my comments below. Either be true fans to keep watching, or be recapping it. Truth .

kakashi: Did you think Kasuo could not become more pitiful than he already was? Wrong. In this episode, he gets force-kissed and possessed and separated from Li Luo. Yes, I really felt for him. What horrible destiny.  JoAnne: I don't know, it's almost becoming funny. What "becoming"? This show is funny through and through!   SakiVI: good thing he's still royal with all that money and real estate, or life would really suck.

Who needs words?     I do, to tell him how much I appreciate his jawline. 

kakashi: This episode has one of the most hilarious "sex" scenes of all times. And sword-action! Not related to the sex-scene, you might be happy to hear. JoAnne: That will depend on who is in the sex scene... and at what point. I watched this, I'm sure. I don't remember sex. Guess I'll just...uh...plunge in. Of course there's no proper sex. This is a C-Drama! I still had a hard time explaining this scene to my 7 year old . SakiVI: I had to watch it a few times because I'm used to things being clear on that score, not this "did they, didn't they?" Even in kdrama, you know it happened because the woman will get pregnant. Here, no clue. And Shi can't get pregnant as far as we know.

kakashi: For me, Moon Lovers / Scarlet Heart Ryeo is not primarily about the romance - it is about the princes and their rivalry. Mainly No 8 and No 4's rivalry, to be precise. And at the heart of that rivalry is Soo. Which means this drama is about romance even if it isn't, I guess, ha! After Wook's abandonment of Hae-Soo in her hour of greatest need, there is probably not many people left who ship these two together. And yet, Wook loves her. JoAnne: I agree. He does love her. He just loves other things more. Does he? I am not sure. I think he really means that thing about power; he wants power to be able to live the life he wants to live. He wants to see his mother and sister safe and he wants to marry Hae-soo. He, just like So, does not actually desire power. Power is a means to an end, and that end has a lot to do with Hae-soo. I think it starts that way. I don't think it stays that way. I don't think it's that way, already.  

SakiVI: In which we see way too much of Chief Lu, Ba Ye goes beserk on someone, and some backstory to Huo Niang and Er Ye. kakashi: We're nearing this drama's absolute low-point. Chief Lu the Fucker Slime Ass is the harbinger of drama low. I want to do the most horrible things to him, and I'm such a mild-mannered person, usually. Yes, Fo Ye, exactly. This is the expression I have on my face too when I see Lu.

kakashi: Since we realized that we have an extra lot to say about this drama, and we want to say it now, we decided to do a series of extra posts about it. In this one, we will ponder the "King Question". JoAnne: Among all the princes, So shows both the strength and character necessary to be King. Mu may have the character, but without So to help him he'll never keep that throne. Yo and Wook are flawed in ways that will make them terrible leaders. The others are not even in consideration .   Also because the drama does not even try to let them be more than comical relief or time fillers. But it's okay, they're entertaining enough. Let's face it, we couldn't handle any more than we've been given.  Could we? Hmmmm.

kakashi: It took the villains 26 episodes to get their act together. The only reason for their success now is that both Er Ye and Fo Ye are not well after their tomb-adventures. Dark times for our boys ahead. SakiVI: Our villains aren't exactly evil geniuses.

kakashi: Really, boys? All this "tension" and suffering ... and then you just blow it up?! I was happy to see the tattoo again though. SakiVI: Didn't they blow up the last time they went down? Or maybe they were too much in a hurry to leave at that time. Well, too much blowing, that's for sure . 

SakiVI, aka Jaehyus in the comments below, here to recap episode 3. Off we go! kakashi: I'm purple, yay! So, we found out that Viki (used by Saki) and the DVD versions (used by me) are largely different, which caused us a bit of a headache. A minor one, mind you. It's about 20 minutes of material though. Wow. Trotwood: But this just gives me an excuse to re-watch each episode again before commenting. You know for accuracy sake. Sparks: More ToGetHer - for a drama this cute, that can never be a bad thing. ;) Shuk: Bring on our fuzzy pair of fuzzy feels! JoAnne: But when do they kiss again? Soon? Please? If no kiss is soon, then can Jiro have his shirt off?

kakashi: You will be happy to hear that Kasuo stops moping and takes action in this episode. It's quite brave but also incredibly stupid. SakiVI: Good thing Shi is my true hero in this. JoAnne: I kinda like Granny. Yes, I thought she deserved an episode-picture : 

My precious wolf, look at him. I'm buying that lottery ticket. I just want him to sit across a table from me and give me his different smiles for a little while. I'll hire him, I'll give it to a charity he designates, whatever he wants. But I really want to sit somewhere and look at him and have him smile at me. And maybe say Hi, Jo. It would be enough . kakashi: And yet, all people are interested in at the moment is Ice Fantasy. Thousands of hits from Indonesia. Hi!!!     Hi, Indonesia!   *waves from the back*  

Trotwood: Finally, the finale. Hmm. Again I’m not sure about the title. There is nothing miraculous about this episode except for the fact that Kakashi is still doing gifs for this recap. kakashi: Ha, I'd do anything for a few clicks . JoAnne: I never thought I'd be so glad to say goodbye to 3 people I think are adorable. There are some things that are surprises, but only because they seem to be unnecessary plot twists and diversions from a) actually wrapping up some of the character stories and b) adding unnecessary time apart for both OTPs (Se Ra and Jaw Woong plus Jae Woong and Woo Jin). I laughed a lot because this is about the most useless final episode I've ever seen. But it was cute. Thanks for the ride. When I suggest recapping something else, please tell me to stop.   No. Not a chance.

kakashi: Mama JoAnne got us to do a Princes' tribute. One, two princes kneel before you, lalalaaaa, princes, princes who adore you, lalalaaaaaa, three, four and five and six and seeeeeven. Oh, actually, there are eight? It's pretty clear who our favorite is. No, it's not eight.

kakashi: Kasuo continues to be extremely depressed, while Shi's plan is starting to unfold. There is something slightly dodgy about Shi and how he manipulates people. It just makes him hotter though. JoAnne:  He's a bit callous, I think?  But yeah, hot.  So hot. Saki: I like how he looks for solutions and fixes things. And definitely hot.