Tag: fight my way

Dramaland Forecast: July 2017

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

Completed:

  • Chicago Typewriter – it started out slow and I was *thisclose* to dropping it around ep 5 because I didn’t care about the modern timeline dynamics, but ep 6 was good and then it just got better and better until the ending crushed my heart in all the best ways.
  • Man to Man – a fun, idle binge! Even though I wasn’t super invested, I loved every moment Park Sung Woong was on my screen (he can do no wrong!). I preferred the goofier side of the drama than the srs bzns spy stuff, but the action scenes were pretty slick and I liked the production values. I don’t regret wasting my time on this show although I will probably forget it ever existed.

Currently watching:

  • Super Family 2017
  • The Best Hit
  • Duel

Dropping/skipping:

  • I purposefully didn’t start many dramas this month knowing that I wouldn’t have time for them. I’m waiting for Lookout, Circle, Secret Forest, and Fight My Way to end so I can binge at my leisure (and no one had better spoil me on Circle until I do because that’s the one I’m most looking forward to – I’ve worked incredibly hard to avoid spoilers so far and you don’t want to make me cry, do you? Do you?)
  • Oh and I also plan to look into Woman of Dignity but my hopes are sub-basement level and I’m only doing it for my love of Kim Sun Ah.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • School 2017 – I never watched the 2015 version but I really enjoyed the 2013 version (all my beloved students with their various problems, and the reunion of the Baby-faced duo Jang Na Ra and Daniel Choi). Although, based on this writer, I have a feeling there will be loads more humor than tears.
  • Strongest Deliveryman – I know nothing about this except it has Go Kyung Pyo in his first leading role, so of course it has my attention.
  • Reunited Worlds – “A love story between an 18-year-old man and 31-year-old woman, born in the same year and were childhood friends.” Well, this is certainly a new take on the noona romance. The writer is dependably okay and I like the cast even though no one particularly excites. I’m curious but not to the point where I’ll make a point to clear my schedule for the premiere.
  • Save Me – I love OCN thrillers (esp. in the Sat/Sun timeslot) as much as anyone, maybe even more than most, but… but… Taecyeon.  I dunno if I can last a whole drama with him as the lead.
  • Man Who Dies To Live – the plot is vague but the cast is decent. There’s potential here but I’m gonna need more info.
  • Manhole – “Bong Pil and his five friends travel between the past and present through a manhole in order to stop a wedding scheduled a week later.” Starring Jaejoong and UEE and Baro. Heck, let’s get all the idol and ex-idol actors and make it a thing. From the writer of TEN and TEN 2 so it shouldn’t be quite as ridiculous as it sounds (but it better be just a little bit ridiculous. Just a little).
  • Hospital Ship – the plot makes me think of a gender flipped version of my beloved Matsuda Shota’s A Clinic on the Sea, so I’m tentatively willing to give it a chance if it promises me a quirky mix of characters.
  • Mojito – the plot sounds like a standard chaebol-candy rom-com buuuuuuuuuut Sung Joon and Baek Sung Hyun reunited? Yes, please!
  • Live – Noh Hee Kyung’s newest offering that potentially could star Lee Kwang Soo in a role that I’m hoping reflects more than just his comedic abilities. There’s no airdate set (some time next year, probably) and only a vague plot but MY BODY IS READY.

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.

Dramaland Forecast: June 2017

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Previously: 2016 – Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May

Completed:

  • Radiant Office – the little underdog that could! This show has nothing new to offer, but it was packaged with such warmth and heart and agonizing relatability that I fell for the Suicide Squad as they tried to prove they were worth being given a chance. This is currently my favorite show of the year – at least for now.
  • Whisper – what a wild and crazy ride. This is a show that, if left to my own devices, I probably would have dropped. Lee Bo Young and Kwon Yul kept my attention (poor Lee Sang Yoon and his eyebrows did their best, but I’m not sure if he’s really cut out for this kind of intensely dramatic role), and the show was utterly stolen by Kim Hyung Mook as Secretary Song. While I enjoyed the constant allusions to real-life corruption, this wasn’t what I’d consider to be one of Park Kyung Soo’s better dramas.
  • Tunnel – I can appreciate it intellectually for what it was trying to do and what it accomplished, the concept was interesting, the cast was pretty great (Yoon Hyun Min was perfect as ever, but as much as I love Sexy Demon Daddy, he really needed to dial down the shouting). But for whatever reason, it didn’t grab me as it should have. On paper it has everything I’d want in a mystery/thriller, but in reality it was difficult giving it my full attention and my heart just couldn’t connect with any of the characters. I enjoyed it for the most part, but it’s going to be one of those dramas that I’ll immediately forget I ever watched.
  • Individualist Ms. Ji Young – this drama special hit some very painful nerves but in the best way. There are shadows of Flower Boy Next Door with the bubbly neighbor that barges his way into the life of the loner-next-door. But there’s also a darker sadness and realness here that one doesn’t always find in dramas. Perhaps that’s why, even beyond the fact it’s only two 1-hour episodes, this felt more like a movie than a drama. This is by far my favorite romance I’ve watched this year, which probably tells you too much about my tastes (or at least my inner world).

Currently watching:

  • Super Family 2017
  • Chicago Typewriter

Recent premieres I plan to check out when I have a chance:

  • Fight My Way
  • Lookout
  • Circle

Dropping/skipping:

  • My Sassy Girl – despite loving Joo Won in Gaksital, I just haven’t been able to get into his other dramas. I also have a terrible track record for sageuks, be they fusion or not. This means it’s on the “skip” list even if I have hopes for the fantastic Oh Yeon Seo in the titular role.
  • Suspicious Partner – I loved this writer’s previous work (All About My Romance; Protect the Boss) so this may go into the watch list eventually, but nothing I’ve heard so far has made me want to immediately pick it up.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • The Best Hit – I am really excited about this one, because I loved the docu-style from Producer until it turned into a standard drama. I also love Yu PD, and Cha Tae Hyun has been my favorite of the 1N2D members ever since the original crew moved on to other things, so I’m curious to see how they’ll handle directing their first-ever drama together. Also, as a fan of the slice-of-life genre, I’m hoping it will be along those lines just based on the premise. Last but not least, this cast is incredible, and I’m already anticipating a slew of cameos.
  • Duel – I was only vaguely interested in this because it’s from the writer of Nine: Nine Times Time Travel and Queen In Hyun’s Man (and I’m assuming this is the writer who focused on the more sci-fi mind-bendy aspects of those dramas ‘cause this one has clones) but given a choice to recap this one, I took it, because I have a feeling this will be fun to write about.
  • Forest of Secrets – I’m hoping giving this one up for Duel won’t haunt me because omg this caaaaaaaaaaast.
  • Woman of Dignity – I’m so nervous and conflicted. I adore Kim Sun Ah and Kim Hee Sun, and having them work together in a show is like a dream come true. But I really hated the writing of SWDBS and don’t trust this writer to do these incredible women justice. *fingers crossed for a miracle*
  • Bad Guys: Age of Evil – everyone’s gnashing their teeth that the original crew aren’t coming back but I’m over here already anticipating Park Sung Woong and (possibly) Kang Ha Neul.

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.

Dramaland Forecast: April 2017

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 Previously: 2016 – Jan – Feb – Mar

Completed:

  • Voice – not quite a perfect drama (so many logical fails, questionable police work, and a waste of potential character development), but gripping throughout its entire run, which is pretty impressive for a crime drama. Plus, y’know, Handsome Oppa makes everything better.

Currently watching:

  • Super Family 2017 – my darling show that has yet to disappoint. <3<3<3<3
  • Radiant Office – I’m insisting I’m just here for the Suicide Squad and the wonderful Go Ah Sung, but Hobaby’s noona romance has suddenly taken over my life with an OTP I never expected but now is everything I want.
  • Tunnel – I don’t know if I’ll stick with this one, but if I do, it’ll be because of the bickering “Odd Couple” begrudging partnership of Yoon Hyun Min and Choi Jin Hyuk. At least, that’s what I’m hoping they’ll become.

Skipping/dropping:

  • Strong Woman Bong Do Soon – noped out of this one in ep 4 and haven’t looked back.
  • Perfect Wife – I didn’t intentionally drop this one, I just forgot I watched the first episode (which I really enjoyed!) and that this show even exists. I’d like to go back to it one day, since I think it had great potential. It’ll be added to my never-ending “marathon on a rainy day” list.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Mystery Queen – I’ve had a vague eye on this one based on the concept of a mystery-loving ahjumma housewife finally getting a chance to solve cases. Even though my drama plate is full right now, I think I’ll still make time to at least check out the premiere, although I don’t really have space to add anything to the live-watch list.
  • Third Rate My Way – there isn’t enough on this show yet for me to decide how close attention I’ll pay to it, but the cast is promising (Kim Ji Won in her first leading role! Kim Sung Oh on my screen again!) and it’s from the writer of Baek Hee Has Returned, so my hopes for it are continually rising.
  • The Best Hit – this is another attempt at that “variety drama” format as seen in the initial few episodes of Producer, which I personally loved and wished had been extended throughout the entire show. That’s the main reason I plan to check it out, although I’m also excited that this will be Cha Tae Hyun’s first directorial challenge and he’ll be working alongside my fave 1N2D PD, Yoo Ho Jin. It’s still a drama, I swear! But this holds promise that the show will actually keep to a more “variety” feel. Even though I’m not in the “cult,” I’m sure there are those who are also excited that Yoon Si Yoon will be in another leading role.
  • My Secret Romance – there’s nothing so far that makes this seem any different from the zillions of rom-coms that have gone before, but it is OCN’s first attempt to crack the rom-com market, and so I think I’m interested due to pure curiosity since OCN is more known for their excellent crime/thriller/mystery programming.
  • Lookout – the cast is what caught my attention on this one: Lee Si Young! Kim Seul Gi! Kim Tae Hoon! My SHINee bias Key! Shin Dong Wook! I’m not the hugest fan of Kim Young Kwang, though, even if I’m suddenly wondering if Lee Si Young is attempting to work with all the model-actors.
  • Bad Thief, Good Thief – I’m not one to watch 50-episode weekend dramas, but knowing my girl Im Joo Eun means I’m keeping an eye on it. I still probably won’t watch just because I know my attention span limits, but I hope it’s a good role for her.
  • Circle – Kim Kang Woo and aliens. I’m already sold.
  • Woman of Dignity – finally has a channel (JTBC) and an airdate (June, after Man to Man). Buuuuuuuuut knowing it’s written by the same person as Strong Woman Bong Do Soon (see above), I’m super wary, even though I adore Kim Sun Ah and was really hoping for redemption after the disaster of Masked Prosecutor. I’ll probably still check it out just for her, but I’ll be cautious about any expectations for the actual script.

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.