Author: odilettante

I like dramas.

Dramaland Forecast: December 2017

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Previously: 2016 – Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May – June – July – Aug – Sept – Oct – Nov

Completed:

  • The Package – this is, hands down, my favorite drama of the year. I had hoped it would be enjoyable, a fun romp with pretty scenery – but I didn’t expect for me to fall in love with all the characters and care so much about their stories. It’s rare that I finish a drama and then immediately want to rewatch it, but I wish I could spend more time with this misfit tour group and become a part of their defacto family.

Currently watching:

  • Black – I’ve heard rumors that this should be coming to US Netflix in the next month or so. If so, I’m jealous of anyone who gets to binge and not agonize with me each week, trying to figure out what’s going on and guess what will happen next.
  • Two Cops – the premiere was okay, although I wasn’t immediately drawn in (although Hobaby’s love for his sunbae Jo Jung-suk is my new favorite thing). There’s a strong chance this will end up on the dropped list unless things pick up a little more, but for now, I’m willing to give it a chance.

Dropping/skipping:

  • Untouchable – I thought about checking this one out because it seemed like it could have potential, until I remembered how bitter I am about the mess that was Masked Prosecutor, so this writer is still banned and I refuse to watch his stuff.
  • Doubtful Victory – technically I haven’t dropped it, nor am I exactly skipping it. I just haven’t had a chance to watch the premiere yet, although knowing I can only watch a handful of live-airing shows at a time, there’s a strong chance this won’t make it to the “currently watching” list unless it’s binge-worthy (or I decide to drop Two Cops and the few December shows that interest me, making room in my viewing schedule).
  • Judge vs Judge – as legal dramas go, this sounds like it could be a relatively fresh take, since most legal dramas focus on the prosecutors and lawyers. Buuuuut it’s still a legal drama and I’m not particularly motivated to check it out.
  • Wise Prison Life – I really, really, really want to watch this drama. I also have discovered that the episodes are an hour-and-a-half long. Dammit, Shin PD, why are you making my life so difficult? If you want me to watch your shows, make them shorter! A girl only has so many hours in the day to watch dramas! I’m telling myself that I’ll binge it later, but then I’ve been saying that about Reply 1988 for almost two years, and I’m still balking at those episode lengths.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Jugglers – Daniel Choi in a workplace drama, surrounded by a mess of awesome women. I AM ALL IN!
  • I’m Not a Robot – I love the cast, but I’m still iffy on the concept, and the teasers haven’t exactly won me over, either, so this will probably be a pass.
  • Bad Guys: City of Evil – the teasers got me all hyped up! I don’t know if I’ll watch it while airing or wait to binge, but it’s definitely on the “watch” list.
  • Hwayugi – the Hong sisters lost my trust years ago, but this looks pretty awesome, not the least because the cast is a collection of all their favorites from previous dramas. I hope they can deliver on this and remind me why I used to like their dramas in the first place.
  • Just Between Lovers – this could be a little more melodramatic than is my taste, but it also seems like it will be one of those “slice-of-life” dramas that JTBC does so well, so it’s definitely got my attention. I don’t know if I’ll make time for it while it’s airing, though.
  • Return – it’s a lawyer and detective show, which makes me go “ugh, not another one.” Buuuuuuut it stars queen Go Hyun Jung, along wth Lee Jin Wook, Shin Sung Rok, and my beloved Park Ki-woong, who I’ve been temporarily freezing out since I’ve been so disappointed with his post-army acting choices. But this will make up for it, right? At least I can hope!
  • Radio Romance – Doojoon as a top star who can’t speak unless it’s scripted who then has to suddenly become a DJ? Yes, please! A love interest potentially with an actress who is still in her teens? Hell, no! Sigh, dramaland, why do you have to be this way? There are plenty of twenty-something (and thirty-something!) actresses who would make a good pairing with Doojoon (don’t make me remind you of my love for Soo Kyung noona!). Whhyyyyyyyyyyyyy are you making a teenager pretend to be older? Ugh, ugh, ugh.

As always, any drama not listed means I have nothing new to add since the last mention and/or it’s not something I care about enough to add to the list.

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You know you’re sick when, at almost 3am, you decide you can’t “wait it out and see” and instead attempt to make yourself presentable enough to go to the nearest grocery store that’s open 24 hours to get some OTC drugs…

…but as you’re about to drive away, you suddenly fling open the car door in a panic, just in time to puke on the street instead of the steering wheel. >_<

How much did it cost to go to Korea?! And how long did you stay? And what did you do?

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Hi Anon!

I can’t remember exactly how much it cost. I do remember I got a decent fare on the flight because Delta had recently started direct flights from Seattle to Seoul, so the flight from my city to Seattle and then to Seoul was about $800. These days that same flight runs about $1200. Depending on where you live, you could probably find cheaper flights, but this one is still a pretty good deal for where I live.

Ummmm… then I’d say it was another couple of thousand for everything else. I was there two weeks (15 days, maybe?), and half of that time was me wandering around on my own in the city, and the other half I joined a group so I could see more of the country without the stress of figuring out train/bus schedules/getting lost. I stayed at pretty decent hotels and didn’t exactly scrimp/save, although I didn’t spend much on souvenirs except for a few hundred thousand won on a handmade tea set and, of course, a ton of beauty products. I’d say roughly $3000 for everything, maybe a little more because I had some unexpected splurges on beauty products – it just depends on how cheap you want to go on things like hotels and food (I’m not a hostel kind of girl – I need my space and privacy!).

As for my itinerary, I spent the first few days just wandering Seoul, going to whatever was in walking distance of Namdaemun Gate (which is a ton of things). Lots of window shopping at Myeongdong, wandering Namdaemun market (so cramped and fascinating), going to the nearby palaces and gardens, eating delicious things, and trying to get over my jet lag. Then I joined a tour group for about a week where we went to the DMZ, Mt Seorak, Daegu, Busan, Gyeongju, Haeinsa (and a ton of other temples), plus a few other places I’ve momentarily forgotten. It was nice to get out of the city and visit places that I recognized from 1N2D.

Then I spent another few days on my own in Seoul, near Insadong (which I loved visiting every day!), going to museums, the Han river, Hongdae, Dongdaemun, and doing all the shopping I’d put off since I didn’t want to lug it around. I also just enjoyed walking around or hanging out a coffee shop and taking in the vibe of the place, which is one of my favorite things to do in cities just in general.

Even so, there’s a lot of stuff I didn’t see or do (and a lot of food I didn’t eat because so many dishes I wanted to try are for more than one person and I just wasn’t brave enough to be the “weird American” and order them, anyway). I also didn’t try to jam my schedule full – only a couple of “destinations” a day, the rest just wandering and seeing what I came across, or enjoying a lazy morning in with no major agenda except to get lunch (hey, I’m on holiday!).

Hope this somehow helps. Sorry it took me awhile to respond – thanks for your patience! ^_^

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brainless-out:

brainless-out-imkd:

With Her Demons

Han Eun Joo ( Park Shin Hye ) has struggled to survive ever since her parents died in a car accident two years ago. She takes care of her older sister who is in a coma. She also needs to help her younger brother who is promised a bright future but doesn’t have enough money to pay for his tuition.

During the day, Eun Joo works in a small bookshop. At night, she pours alcohol to men and keep them company in a suspicious and expensive club.

One evening, Eun Joo gets approached by Han Seo Rim ( Lee Chung Ah ), the daughter of a powerful magnate. Seo Rim makes a contract proposition to Eun Joo : she will take care of all her money issues, on the condition that Eun Joo seduces Seo Rim’s husband.

Eun Joo is taken aback by her daring offer however she ends up agreeing after going through some trouble. She starts training with Seo Rim and then gets hired as the secretary her husband, Jang Doo Hyun ( Kim Jae Wook ).

Jang Doo Hyun is a mysterious man who married into the Han family and came to become rich and powerful, however his eyes seem to betray a much more secretive agenda. Although he appears cold and disdainful, he has an unexpected softness inside of him.

Han Seo Rim is a regal and magnetic woman. She lost the woman she loved because of her parents and Jang Doo Hyun. She carries a deep hatred for her husband as well as her family. She orchestrates a plan to destroy Doo Hyun after discovering he is having an affair with her younger sister.

Han Hye Rim ( Lee El ) is Seo Rim’s half sister. She is in love with Doo Hyun. She realises he is using her to hurt her family but cannot stop her feelings for him.

Bewitched by Eun Joo, Doo Hyun slowly falls into Seo Rim’s trap. However things may not go as Seo Rim planned it, for Eun Joo can feel herself wavering between both spouses and their desires.

Ensnared into a complex tale of lust and revenge, Eun Joo is forced to make a choice, knowing fully well that the consequences will be disastrous whichever sides she takes.

@obsessivedilettante

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I keep forgetting that I’m one of the older people at work, mostly because I don’t think about age and because apparently everyone thinks I’m in my mid-to-late twenties (26/27, apparently).

But sometimes a coworker will do/say something that I think is dumb/stupid, and wonder how they can’t see it’s dumb/stupid, only to remember that I have a bunch more years of life experience being dumb/stupid and that I probably thought the same when I was twenty.

Edit: Anyway this came about because a 23yo coworker was talking about having “baby fever” and then said she wanted to get married and have a kid before she was 30 and “too old” then asked if I’d thought about having kids.