Tag: 20th century boy and girl

Dramaland Forecast: October 2017

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

Completed:

  • Circle – after assiduously avoiding spoilers for months, I finally watched it! Thanks to a long plane ride, I pretty much binged it in one go, which I’m thinking is the best way to watch because I don’t know how I would have handled those cliffhangers. And I loved the show! It definitely lived up to my expectations and more, and I wish we could have more such sci-fi shows in the future (maybe a second season? Because I was wondering why we hadn’t focused on the fact that this is alien technology but that final scene made me go “yesssssss let’s do this!”).
  • Secret Forest – I don’t know if I wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I was watching, but after all the hype this show got I was actually mildly disappointed that I didn’t love it as much as I thought I would. It was a well done show and everyone involved should be proud, but like Shi-mok, I just couldn’t seem to connect to it emotionally.
  • Strongest Deliveryman – what a wonderful and endearing drama this turned out to be! While it didn’t give us anything particularly new, it did manage to switch up some standard tropes and provide a cast of characters that I fell completely in love with – from the leads to the smaller, minor roles. I’m usually the last one who wishes drama to have extensions, but I think this drama could have comfortably gone for 20 episodes. There’s an element of the family weekend drama that made me wish I could spend more time with everyone and linger in the small, happy moments of their lives.
  • Manhole – my expectations were sub-zero and I was happy watching pretty people acting ridiculously (well, mostly Jaejoong running), but the drama decided to forget the one fun thing (magic manhole time travel!) and instead focused on a very boring and unnecessary psychopath stalker storyline that did this pitiful show no favors. Also, you’d think the main character would have had some sort of growth zipping around time and realizing his actions have consequences, but no. Apparently if you screw around in time enough you can win the girl without any self-reflection or, y’know, actually working on your own life. Jaejoong’s still hella pretty, though.

Currently watching:

  • Temperature of Love
  • Lingerie Generation/Girls Generation 1979 – technically this is a “plan to watch,” but I’m looking forward to binging this short drama (hopefully soon!).

Dropping/skipping:

  • While You Were Sleeping – yep, I’m the weirdo who’s not really a fan of Lee Jong Suk (and this writer isn’t one of my faves), so while I was originally interested after discovering cutie Hae In would be in it, I think I’ll give it pass.
  • Go Back Couple – I really like Jung Nara and Son Ho Joon, but nothing about this immediately appeals, although there’s a chance it will be added to the “watch” pile eventually.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • 20th Century Boy and Girl – I’m most excited about this one because of the cast, premise, and production team, although I’m not exactly sure if it’s a drama I’ll stick with since my track record for rom-coms is pretty terrible.
  • Witch’s Courtroom – the premise isn’t exactly enticing (I am So. Dang. Tired. of prosecutors), and a show dealing with sex crimes will probably make me So Angry, but I adore Jung Ryeo Won and Yoon Hyun Min, which is a combination so tempting that I’ll at least keep it on my radar.
  • Avengers Social Club – I don’t know anything about the original webtoon, but the cast (my queen Lee Yo Won! Ra Mi Ran!) and premise (women getting together for revenge but finding friendship!) are appealing. 
  • Mad Dog – I don’t know much about this drama other than it stars Yoo Ji Tae (y’all) looking badass, which is enough to get my attention.
  • The Package – as someone who adores France and who once (and still sometimes does) considered a career as a tour director, I’m definitely looking forward to this travel porn.
  • Revolutionary Love – Choi Siwon and Kang Sora starring in a rom-com! This sounds delightful (the teasers totally cracked me up) and it could be a perfect kind of drama brain-candy that is fun without being too stupid or annoying.
  • Black – OCN has been doing an incredible job this year with their Sat/Sun original line-up, so I’m going into this with the expectation that it will be slick and full of intrigue. It also stars goddess Lee El (well, in a supporting role, but still). The premise has me scratching my head, but I’m sure it will be gripping no matter what. (Unless, y’know, it’s the one OCN dud of the year.)
  • Two Cops – I was already vaguely interested because it’s Jo Jung Suk’s latest drama, but then Hoya signed on and I was like OMG YES BEST DRAMA EVER (and his role sounds like there will be SO MUCH BROMANCE with JJS – my heart won’t be able to take it!). Also Kim Sun Ho, he of the magnificent dimples, has also been cast, so I am ALL IN with whatever shenanigans this show tries to send my way. My only complaint is that Hyeri is cast as the female lead, which is annoying because there are plenty of amazing and funny actresses in their thirties who would be a wonderful match for JJS, but it HAS HOYA SO WHAT ELSE MATTERS.

Dramaland Forecast: September 2017

odilettanteLeave a comment

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

Completed:

  • Super Family 2017 – I finally got around to watching the last two episodes! I loved this little show, and think that if the networks want to get back into sitcoms, this is the way to do it. I’ve notoriously been unable to finish nearly every sitcom I’ve started just because my attention flags and my commitment to 100+ episodes (no matter how short they are) completely vanishes. I also usually only get invested in one storyline or couple in a sitcom, but this one had me cheering for the whole family and everyone they encountered. Also, I’m not going to admit how I literally squeed in delight when Hobaby showed up on my screen at the end, having temporarily forgotten he was in this because he wasn’t in ep 39 and it’d been months since I’d last watched eps 37-38. Nope, didn’t sound like a deranged fangirl who hasn’t seen her bias in months, not at all.

Currently watching:

  • Strongest Deliveryman
  • Manhole

Dropping/skipping:

  • School 2017 – it looks cute but I just don’t have time for another show right now, but it’s definitely going on the “binge at my leisure” list
  • Save Me – I don’t do creepy very well. And I’m still biased against Taecyeon. I might give it a shot sometime, but there are too many other shows that interest me that I still need to get caught up on.
  • Deserving of the Name – I think I still want to check this one out eventually, but, y’know, time and all that. I’ll probably wait to hear more buzz and see if it’ll be worth binging one day.
  • Age of Youth 2 – I liked the first one (not as much as most of my dash did, apparently, since I was dissatisfied with a lot of the bizarre plot holes), and fully plan to check it out. But I won’t have much time next month so I’m not even bothering to keep up with it live and instead happy to wait until its over and, y’know, binge. (Yeah, “binge” is a word you’ll probably see a lot from me in the next few months, since that’s gonna be the only way I’ll finish a drama!)
  • Hospital Ship – I’m more curious than anticipatory, mostly because I still can’t shake the idea that this is just a remake of Umi no Ue no Shinryoujo. At least, I hope it is, because I loved that quirky drama, and not just for Shota Matsuda. I’m also excited to see my fave baby-faced cutie Minhyuk play something other than a student.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Temperature of Love – honestly I don’t know what else to add that I haven’t said already but it has my new drama crush Yang Se Jong and my forever beloved Handsome Oppa so I’ll watch it no matter what. Hey, sometimes I’m weak for the pretty.
  • Girls Generation 1979 – a coming of age story about a bunch of girls who live somewhere other than Seoul? Sign me the heck up! I may not have been alive in the 70′s, but I’m anticipating some vicarious nostalgia nonetheless. I’m also excited to see Dohee again, after loving her in Reply 1994!
  • 20th Century Boy and Girl – I was already intrigued by this drama when it was tentatively called “No Sex in the City,” but this is probably my most anticipated show of the month just because it sounds like everything I’d enjoy – a slice-of-life drama centered around three good female friends who meet their childhood crush years later. My expectations might be a little elevated since its coming from one of the writers of Reply 1997, but hopefully the show lives up to my hopes and dreams.
  • Two Cops – I adore Jo Jung Suk and am always excited to see him get a lead role (even when I never, uh, actually finish the dramas he’s in). This one sounds like it’ll be excellent comedic fodder for him. I’m just side-eying the potential romance, especially if Hyeri is cast as the female lead. Whyyyyyyy dramaland must you have ridiculous age-gaps? There are plenty of thirty-something comedic actresses who I think would be able to match Jo Jung Suk’s skills. Can’t we give them a chance? *pout*

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.