Tag: hwarang: the beginning

Previously – 2016 – Jan

I started out the year all gung-ho about actually completing the dramas I start and keeping up with each week’s episodes. Yeah. It didn’t last very long before I realized I really can’t watch many dramas at once and when I lose momentum in a show, it’s a goner.

Completed:

• Naked Fireman – I don’t know if I can really be disappointed by something that I didn’t have very high expectations for in the first place, but I think Baek Hee Has Returned must have instilled some unspoken expectations of the quality of KBS’s drama specials because this one felt like it missed the mark in so many ways. It wasn’t terrible, it just wasn’t very good. I blame the director for most of my bafflement with the show. It was an odd mix of rom-com cuteness and SUPER SRZ melodrama with a hint of mystery/thriller thrown in just for funsies. Now, this mix can totally work (Incarnation of Money is my go-to genre salad that goes to extremes – but does it all well). Naked Fireman, on the other hand… is just a mess that gave me genre whiplash and I’m not convinced I understand the motivations of the characters even still. Also there was a severe lack of nekkidness, which is probably the biggest complaint of them all.
• Night Light – this is not the greatest drama ever – I get bored easily with business shenanigans, especially when it’s a bunch of people talking to each other. But Lee Yo Won and UEE had some magical chemistry, and Lee Yo Won is just incredible in the first place, that it managed to keep my attention through until the end (although I admit I watched some it as background noise, tuning in mostly when my ladies were on screen). Also I love Tak and I want one of my own. 
• Solomon’s Perjury – all in all, I really loved this drama. It had a wonderfully bleak style feel that captured the “mid-winter” feel as well as the harsh noir-esque truths the students were dealing with (or at least debating). It never really felt like these were adults pretending to be teenagers, as so many teen dramas seem to me, and the teenagers always felt true to life in their struggles, big or small, personal or broadcast to the entire world. This was less of a whodunnit, as the plot followed a simple theme that has been seen many times before. It was more of a character study, watching these students learn that what they believe about people may not always be the truth.

Currently Watching:

• Voice
• Hwarang

Skipping/Dropping:

• Legend of the Blue Sea – I love Jeon Ji Hyun to pieces but because I was watching TOO MANY dramas at once something had to fall to the bottom of the pile, and eventually it was three weeks later and I hadn’t touched an ep and new premieres were starting and and and… Also my interest in a show takes a dive when the happy romance stuff starts, especially when I know there’s angst ahead.
• Reaper Goblin – the slow middle episodes were just too slow (and too loooooooooooong) and I don’t care if it gets more exciting or if tvN releases a “viewer’s cut” version where all the eps are one-hour or less (although tbh that would be pretty awesome), I just can’t muster up any enthusiasm to see this one out, despite how charmed I am by the adorable Reaper.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

• Super Family 2017 – I have no shame in admitting that the only reason this has caught my attention is because it has my beloved Hoya (hey, a fangirl’s gotta fangirl). I might check it out since it’s supposed to be a sitcom and I’m curious to know if Hobaby can do comedy, but it doesn’t seem like something I’ll properly watch, and I’m already anticipating it won’t be showing up on any “completed” list of mine.
• Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – I’m still really eager about this one, even though I haven’t paid any attention to the promotional material (though I’ve heard it’s cute!). I just really hope that it lives up to my expectations. It’s been ages since I’ve enjoyed (and actually finished) a rom-com. 
• My Sassy Girl – Joo Won is one of those actors that hold little appeal for me, but I love Oh Yeon Seo and think she’ll be brilliant in this role. The drama surrounded the drama has me a little cautious, but knowing it’s preproduced makes me slightly more confident it should at least be okay. I hope.
• Secret Forest – I love me some cable mystery-crime-procedurals, especially one with an incredible cast (Lee Joon Hyuk! Jo Seung Woo!). Plus there has to be something pretty awesome about it that drew Bae Doona back to dramaland, right? I don’t know much about the production team, but I’m definitely keeping an eye on this one.
• While You Were Sleeping – I know, I know, I know… you’d think the last drama I’d be interested in is the next Suzy/Lee Jong Suk vehicle, but my new crush Jung Hae In is listed as a second lead, so I’m intrigued, even though I don’t think I’ll likely stick with it since this writer is also hit-or-miss with me.

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.