Kim Sung Chul feat. Choi Yoo Ri – “Tiramisu Cake” (To.Jenny OST)
Tag: kdrama
Kim Sung Chul – “Nonhyun-dong Pork Belly” (To.Jenny OST)
Dramaland Forecast: July 2018
Previously: Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May – June
Completed:
- None
Currently Watching:
- Greasy Melo
- Handsome Guy and Jung Eum
- Life on Mars
Dropping/Skipping:
- Are You Human Too? – this was only vaguely on the potential “watch” list so I have no regrets that it hasn’t been squeezed into my schedule.
- Why Secretary Kim – I didn’t think I’d be drawn to it, and I was right.
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- Your House Helper – I feel like this one could have some potential, since I really liked this writer’s previous work (Strongest Deliveryman) and this could be comfortably within that genre. Ha Suk Jin always seems to play the same kind of gruff uptight guy that will probably work well for this role, but I’m hoping for something different from him.
- Risky Romance – I love Lee Si Young but there’s nothing else about this that especially seems compelling.
- Thirty But Seventeen – some instinctive side-eye about the concept of an adult having a childlike mentality due to tragedy, but I feel like if this is handled in the appropriate manner, it could be really good. Even so, there’s such a huge margin of error that I’m not sure if I can trust a sticom writer to appropriately deal with it.
- Time – I generally like time travel shenanigans but I also know this writer skews more melo than my attention span can appreciate. I’m vaguely interested, but realistically I will probably not watch it.
- Life – I feel like the odd duck who only liked Secret Forest and didn’t feel the need to give it my entire soul, so I’m only moderately interested in this one (especially since it’s a power struggle at a hospital, which I feel like I’ve seen a zillion times before). At least the directors have done some of my favorite shows so if nothing else it’ll be visually pleasing. But I swear if another amazing woman gets unnecessarily fridged, this writer and I are through.
- Dear Judge – not in the cult, but I like mistaken identity/twin hijinks, so this could have some potential. The production team is a little iffy and I haven’t figured out if this is skewing more dramatic or comedic. Plus it’s a legal drama. But like I said, it has potential, and I’m happy to keep my eye on it and see if it’s worth squeezing into the schedule.
- My ID is Gangnam Beauty – I don’t know anything about the webtoon, so I have no idea if this will be a sweet slice-of-life “don’t judge a person by their looks” or if it’ll be a comedy or what, but I’m not feeling drawn to it despite it airing on the usually trustworthy JTBC.
- Mr. Sunshine – nooooooooo, I don’t want to watch another KES drama ever again! But those pics of Byun Yo Han in period clothing got me shook so I don’t know what I’m going to do. *cries*
- Let’s Eat 3 – I will probably watch this and hate myself because I can’t resist Goo Dae Young’s chatterbox charm and the promise of food porn. It’d at least better have more appetizing meals than season 2. And if they try to cram in yet another romance for Dae Young, well, I’m just going to continue to create an elaborate plot about Soo Kyung noona having the most amazing life ever and avoiding the headache of falling in love with an insurance salesman foodie playboy. Soo Kyung noona doesn’t need anything except amazing food! And Barasshi! So there!
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 2018
Previously: Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr – May
Completed:
- None.
Currently Watching:
- Greasy Melo – it’s so dumb and weird and wacky and wonderful. I love it almost as much as I adore my one true love, Jung Ryeo Won.
- Handsome Guy and Jung Eum – I was genuinely surprised how much I enjoyed the first week of this. I doubt I’ll see it through to the end (just based on my general track record with romcoms), but for right now it’s fun and entertaining, which is apparently all I’m looking for.
Dropping/Skipping:
- About Time – this was one of the few May premieres that interested me but when I checked out a teaser to get a feel for it, some sort of Whisper PTSD kicked in and I realized that I just can’t handle another round of Lee Sang Yoon’s eyebrow acting.
- Sketch – I tried a couple of times to watch the first ep, but this is the kind of show that wants me to actually pay attention instead of using it as background noise. I’m apparently not in a frame of mind to watch a more serious drama, so this will go on hold for now until I’m in a more conducive brain-space. Sorry, Rain – I still love you!
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- Life on Mars – I feel like I’ve been waiting for this drama for YEARS already. GIVE IT TO ME NOW!!!!!!
- Are You Human Too? – my vague interest is superseded by the realization that I just can’t tolerate Seo Kang Joon for extended periods of time. This’ll undoubtedly end up on the drop list, because if I can’t make room for shows I really want to watch, there’s no way I’ll squeeze in an iffy one where I’m curious about the script and like most of the cast, but the main lead turns me off.
- Why Secretary Kim – this is such a great cast but after watching the teasers, ehhhhh, I’m not feeling it. I’m sure it’ll be cute and fun, but it’s just not grabbing me. I may check it out, but realistically it’s more likely I’ll end up passing on it.
I’m kinda relieved that there are so few June premieres, because this month is going to be super busy for me so I’ll barely have time to keep up with Greasy Melo (and any effort to add a new drama will be a Herculean struggle, but dammit I’m gonna find a way to squeeze a little time-traveling Jung Kyung Ho and an over-the-top Park Sung Woong into my jam-packed schedule!).
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: May 2018
Previously: Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr
Completed:
- None
Currently Watching:
- April was an odd month for me, thanks to an unpremeditated hiatus from dramas. I’m not sure what to put here because I really should go back and finish the shows that I listed as “currently watching” on last month’s forecast, but I also have a tendency to keep moving on and never looking back at the scattered, unfinished dramas in my wake. So… who knows?
Dropping/Skipping:
- Despite what I said above, I’m not quite ready to admit defeat on the dramas I was watching (Should We Kiss First? and Live), so for now I’m not adding them to this list.
- I do intend to give Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food a fair chance but the licensing hullaballoo sorta sucked the anticipation out of me. I also have to be in the right mood for a cute romance, and currently I’m not in that mood.
- I downloaded the first two episodes of The Miracle That We Met and then never watched them, so I guess this drama is technically skipped just because when I do get back into a drama-watching rhythm, it’ll be for the two I put on hold (or for a brand spankin’ new one).
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- Greasy Melo/Wok of Love – I’m still gung-ho about this drama because it has all the elements that I love (cast! writer! plot! FOOD!), and if anything it’ll be the one to draw me back from my mini-hiatus.
- Lawless Lawyer – I think I’m one of the few people who aren’t automatically compelled to watch everything Lee Joon Ki is in. I’m also pretty iffy on legal shows. This writer’s drama debut was Remember, which I liked well enough, but I don’t know if I want to be put through the legal wringer any time soon.
- Investigation Couple – This is a pretty solid cast and I enjoy mysteries, but the writers are unknown and the basic plot (a warm-hearted prosecutor and a forensic scientist with a bad personality solve crimes) sounds so cookie-cutter cliche. For one wild and delirious moment, I though the forensic scientist would be Jung Yumi and the prosecutor would be Jung Jae Young, which I thought would be fun in a Bones kind of way. But no, of course the “warm-hearted prosecutor” is the woman and the “gruff forensic scientist” is the man. This could be good – there are too many unknowns to make a firm decision – but I think I’m already too disappointed by the predictable casting to give it a chance.
- Come and Hug Me – I don’t know if it’s a season of terrible plot synopsis but honestly there’s nothing appealing about a melodrama about a detective and a popular actress who are somehow connected due to a murder case from their past. I’m all for giving rookie writers a chance, but these vague plots are doing nobody any justice. The cast are a bunch of actors I don’t know (other than Jin Ki Joo) because I haven’t watched anything else they’ve been in, and I don’t know that I will get to know them because unless everyone in Dramaland keeps telling me this is the best thing ever, I’ll likely end up skipping it.
- Why Secretary Kim – I don’t know anything about the novel or webtoon (also based on the novel), but the brief synopsis sounds like the classic asshole chaebol and spunky Candy set-up. Not that it’s a bad thing necessarily (it’s a classic for a reason), but I don’t know what the hook is. I do really like Park Seo Joon and Lee Tae Hwan, though, so it could be worth it just for the eye-candy.
- Handsome Guy and Jung Eum – I’m not completely cranky about the ridiculous and vague plot synopses this month, because I totally want to give this one a chance. My cynical heart wants to be warmed by the idea of two people who’ve given up on love/don’t care about love, but who have “theories” about love, putting those theories to the test and falling in love, anyway. I just hope Hwang Jung Eum isn’t too shrieky.
- About Time – “A woman has the special ability to see the lifespan clocks of other people and meets a man who can stop her time, and he falls in love with her.” Now this is a synopsis, people! I’m already intrigued, not the least because there’s some sci-fi/fantasy element going on. Plus I need to know if the reason she can tell that he stops her clock is because he’ll somehow end up being the death of her (probably not, this is Dramaland after all, but hey it means I’m already hooked). Also Lee Sang Yoon owes me a good drama after making me sit through the entirety of Whisper and his endless eyebrows acting.
- Miss Hammurabi – About the only thing that will get me to watch this is a wave of nostalgia where I pretend that Reply 1994′s Na Jung and her father are cosplaying as judges (because what else am I going to think of when you have Go Ara and Sung Dong Il in the same drama together?). As much as I declare myself an Inspirit, I just don’t feel that L can carry a drama as a lead (he’s fine as supporting cast, don’t @ me). This director is also seriously hit-or-miss with me. He can do some things really well, and other things absolutely terribly, and often both extremes can be found in the same drama.
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 2018
Completed:
- Misty – I know there was a lot of grumbling about the ending but I genuinely loved this drama, warts and all. But it will probably go down in my memory as me falling in love with Hye-ran’s outfits and all the messages that Mary and I sent each other. It’s so easy for me to watch shows in my teeny, selfish bubble that I forgot that experiencing it others can be fun, too.
Currently Watching:
- Should We Kiss First – I am a week behind and I’m assuming there’s gonna be new ways to add tragedy to the story, yet somehow I never feel truly weighed down by the melodrama. There’s enough comedy to keep me interested, and I think I just genuinely love the novelty of an older couple falling in love and learning to live together. (And I adore some of the minor characters, like the match-making couple. <3)
- Live – I’ve only made it up to episode 3 because there’s a bleakness to this show that I find exhausting, but in the good way. Like it’s a little too real, when apparently what I want right now is some escapism. I do really enjoy the “slice-of-life” story and the cast of familiars from Noh Hee Kyung’s other dramas. It’s just not one I can binge, apparently.
- Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food – Okay, technically this is more of a “plan to watch” once Netflix drops the subs. At least, I assume Netflix has it, because it’s *crickets* everywhere else. We’ll find out in a few days, I suppose. (And yes, unfortunately that’ll be non-US Netflix, but I, ah, have my ways…)
Dropping/Skipping:
- My Husband Oh Jak Doo – I think I gave this four episodes before dropping it. I was enjoying it as a kind of background noise since the plot was super-predictable so I didn’t have to give it my full attention. Until I realized I was no longer giving it any attention, so why even bother. I still enjoyed what I saw, though.
- My Ahjussi – I adore this director but until someone convinces me that this isn’t about a 40-something man finding himself thanks to a woman half his age, I just can’t bring myself to give it a chance.
- A Poem a Day – I love slice-of-life shows and this cast is pretty great, but I just find it impossible to get into medical dramas.
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- The Miracle That We Met – This writer is so polarizingly hit-or-miss with me (I adored Woman of Dignity and I hated Strong Woman Do Bong Soon) that I don’t know what to expect from this, but the cast is great, even if the director is iffy. So I’m split on whether I’ll devote time to this drama. I won’t be rushing to check it out (because I’m already behind on shows I like), but I’ll probably check it out, at least for an episode or two.
- Suits – I’ve watched the first 1.5 seasons of the original, which I vaguely enjoyed (enough to get me to start watching another season, which is saying a lot). So I’m also vaguely interested in checking it out, but it’s not high on my list.
- Mistress – I haven’t watched the original version but I’m all about strong, interesting women, so this definitely has my interest.
- Greasy Melo – I love this writer and this cast, so this is probably my most anticipated April premiere. Plus I’m hoping for lots of delicious food porn!
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: March 2018
Completed:
- None since last month
Currently Watching:
- Misty – I feel like it says something about how much I love a drama when Mary wishes there was a hangout or something, and I’m like “game on.”
- Should We Kiss First – there’s a cringe-level to some bits of humor but it also reminds me of Kim Sun Ah’s earlier rom-coms, so I’m fully enjoying it, especially since it seems like we’re settling into a comfortable balance of humor and seriousness and bittersweet sadness.
Dropping/Skipping:
- Cross – I really have no desire to watch tons of painfully detailed surgeries, no matter what sort of revenge I’m eventually promised
- Laughter in Waikiki – not my cup of humor tea.
- Children of a Lesser God – this director is on my blacklist, plus after the hours I spent analyzing Black, I’m not ready to jump back into an OCN supernatural thriller.
- The Great Seducer – I don’t understand how this is supposed to be a remake of Dangerous Liaisons yet not be on cable, but whatever. “Loosely based” makes me wonder just how loose. If this had a more seasoned cast, I might consider it, but nothing about the production appeals to me so it’s an easy skip.
- That Man Oh Soo – OCN keeps trying to break into the romance genre (and apparently cast as many idols while doing it), but I’m just not buying it.
- Switch – I keep trying to write something vaguely upbeat about this but honestly the last thing I liked Jang Geun Suk in was Mary Stayed Out All Night. I don’t know enough about this production team to make an educated decision, but this legal drama is probably one I’ll skip.
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- Live – this is my most anticipated drama of the year because it’s Noh Hee-kyung’s latest drama, and she’s paired up with her fave director (Padam, Padam…; That Winter, The Wind Blows; It’s Okay, That’s Love) so you know it’ll be visually gorgeous. I’m also looking forward to a different take on police officers. It’ll be interesting to see them portrayed in a more human-interest focused story, where they’re just people living their lives as best they can and not merely there to solve the case of the day. Plus it’s Lee Kwang Soo’s first major drama starring role so I gotta support my twin, the giraffe.
- Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food – I’m a sucker for a good noona romance, and I trust this director (Secret Love Affair; A Wife’s Credentials; Heard it Through the Grapevine) to make a show that’s more than just a cheesy rom-com. Part of me is secretly wishing it’ll be like a What’s Up Fox? remake, though (okay, maybe not a remake, but I’d really love to revisit that emotional journey).
- My Husband Oh Jak Doo – even though I like the cast line-up, I’m a bit iffy on this, and it’ll probably take me watching the first few eps to decide if it’s worth it. But hey, contract marriages are generally a drama winner, right?
- Let’s Watch the Sunset – this one is on the “maybe” pile, although I fear it’ll be too tear-jerking for my taste and will easily go into the “dropped” pile. But I like the cast and I at least want to support all the female directors I can.
- My Ahjussi– I really love this director but I’m still skeeved out that this sounds like some manic-pixie-dream-girl in her twenties helps a 40-something man find meaning in his life. Maybe if they surprise me and she turns out to be his long-lost daughter and he has to figure out what it means to be a dad, I’ll be all-in, but right now I’m just, ehhhhhhh…
- Life on Mars – I’ve mostly focused on March premieres, but the tentative cast for this remake has me excited. Jung Kyung Ho as the Sam character, Park Sung Woong as the Gene character, and Go Ah Sung as the Annie character seem pretty ideal to me. It helps that this would be airing on OCN, which not only has a proven track record for crime procedurals with a twist, but has also shown us through Tunnel that they can handle “time travel” as well. I know the default is to be suspicious and wary of remakes, but I think this could be excellent, especially since the PD in charge was the one who also did The Good Wife, which is perhaps one of my favorite remakes – there was respect for the original yet it incorporated elements that fit the culture.
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.
the best kdrama sisterhood
Thanks to everyone for responding to my request for your favorite kdrama sismance/lady brotps! Here’s a compilation of all the suggestions:
Legendary Witch family (still has flaws but still awesome), One more happy ending, Reaper/Goblin in Goblin (the only good thing about the drama)
Ra Bong Hee/Seo Joon Oh in Missing 9
The ajummas from Reply 1988
– @aerezia
The ladies in Witch’s Romance (I can’t remember anyone’s names in that drama now), same with Reply 1988 and Perfect Wife. Also Kim Seulgi and Jo Bo Ah’s friendship in Surplus Princess! – @dahliabunches
ahjumma rockband from I Am Legend – @soymilkmocha
The Age of Youth ladies! Sunny and Go Ji Tak from Goblin! The Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo girls! – @sleepypie1212
do families count?the sisters from father is strange the mom and her daughters from can we get marriedthe girls from age of youth all the girls from ex girlfriend club the besties from wild romance (they’re actually my absolute favorite) the girls from let’s eat – @eviesbfdylan
Dal Ja and Seon Joo from Dal Ja’s Spring. – @applepiips
the bokja club ladies xD – @mintful
In Yub and Sa Wol from Maids Hee Jin and Soo Kyung from Queen In Hyun’s Man – @yourwordsareshort
Apart from what has already been mentioned: the beauty pageant coaches (friends turned enemies turned friends again) and the contestants from Miss Korea, the girls from 20th Century Boy And Girl, the policewomen from Lookout. – @okaja
It’s been a while but I remember loving the relationship and communication between the main character and her best friend in She Was Pretty. – @celescole
The ladies from She Was Pretty! Ok Da Jung and Han Young-Mi from Ms. Temper and Nam Jung Gi! – @pantsareneveranoption
the enemies turned friends in protect the boss – @randomlifeofanormalgirl
Protect the Boss!! – @pedagogicalpaprika
Protect the Boss forever. – @itscoolmantotallycool
@randomlifeofanormalgirl YAAAAAAS also @applepiips TOTALLY. I think Coffee Princes main ladies had an awesome development of their relationship (ancient history, I know) and then Okjakgyo Brothers had a really interesting fraught relationship between the mom and Uee’s character. But Marriage Not Dating has to be my fave frenemies relationship arc with mom Shin Bong-Hyang and Joo Jang Mi – @idiosyncreant
Did your favorites make the list? Feel free to add more!
Quick, name your favorite kdrama sismances/sisterhood pairings/lady brotps.
Dramaland Forecast: February 2018
Previously: Jan
Completed:
- Prison Playbook/Wise Prison Life – this so far is going to the one to beat this year (well, technically half of it aired in 2017), which means all the other dramas I watch are gong to have some stiff competition to gain my trust and approval. I was surprised at how much the reaaaaaaallllly long episodes seemed to fly by (helped, perhaps, by me watching half an episode at a time). I loved spending a “year” with these inmates and guards, learning more about everyone and finding the humanity behind their prison numbers. I have a slight quibble* about the ending, but everything was perfect and for once I genuinely believe that another season could not only be justified, but just as enjoyable as the first. (*Shin PD, you’re killing me with not letting the gay characters have their happy endings.)
Currently Watching:
- Just Between Lovers – I’m still watching this, I think. I stopped at ep 4 and then focused all my drama attention on Prison Playbook as I struggled to get over the Evil Cold From Hell, where my attention span was extra minute thanks to all the cold meds and general fatigue. Now I’m distracted by all the new shiny premieres. I want to finish it because I really loved the vibe (this is maybe my new favorite director) but I also wearied of all the hype, because I’m a simple, fickle soul, so there’s a chance I may not pick it up any time soon until the hype has been long forgotten and I can enjoy it in peace.
- Cross – I watched the first two episodes (okay, one-and-a-half as of this posting, but it’ll be two soon!) and I’m withholding judgement so far, but it hasn’t grabbed me yet. The first couple of minutes of the first episode got me all excited but then it dropped into a standard medical drama that I feel like I’ve seen a zillon times before. I’m hoping the revenge aspect ramps up because I want to like it, but I also can’t stand it when medical dramas get super detailed in their goriness because I am a wimp.
Dropping/Skipping:
- Radio Romance – I haven’t paid any attention to its premiere to know what the buzz is, but I just can’t get past the age difference. So, pass.
- Return – I downloaded the first four episodes (the first week), but haven’t had a desire to give it a shot, despite my love for both Go Hyun Jng (queen!) and my desperate hope that Park Ki Woong finally has a role that’ll remind me why I love him so much in the first place.
- Mother – I’ve seen the original and enjoyed it, and I’m in no hurry to replace that memory.
- Hwayugi – this’ll probably be saved for a rainy day when I’m looking for something mindless to binge.
Upcoming dramas of interest:
- Misty – I’ll check out the premiere to see if it grabs me, but I’m not particularly expecting to keep it on my watch schedule.
- Laughter in Waikiki/Eulachacha Waikiki – this looks like it could be cute, but I’m so picky and fickle about cute shows that all I can say is maybe I’ll check it out, maybe I won’t; maybe I’ll enjoy it, maybe it’ll annoy me. It just depends if I’m in the mood for something adorable and dumb (and I’m still getting a Three Men and a Baby vibe).
- Should We Kiss First – my most anticipated premiere of the month! I’d probably die for Kim Sun Ah, and I’m eager to see her comeback in a drama that’s billed as “a story of the love lives of four middle-aged adults who have lost their faith in love.” Maybe I’m an old cynic, but this sounds exactly like my kind of romance.
- Children of a Lesser God – by now you all should know that I’m a pretty huge fan of OCN shows in general, and this one has an intriguing concept (as well as an excellent cast), but this director has worked on previous dramas that just did not sit well with me, so my instinct is to pass because the production team usually makes or breaks a drama for 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. I only focused on upcoming Feb dramas because I totally spaced that today’s the first day of February and then there was a hasty scramble to throw this together so I could get it out ASAP.
The Obsessive Dilettante 