Tag: life on mars

Dramaland Forecast: September 2018

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

Completed:

  • Let’s Eat 3 – I’m still sad this got unexpectedly cut down to 14 eps (I wish you all the best the next two years, Doojoon!). This gradually grew on me to the point where I think it’s my favorite season, but I really feel like the ending could have been so much more than the… whatever… we got, if we could’ve only had that extra week.

Currently Watching (…sorta, kinda…):

  • Your House Helper – I put off watching eps 29/30 last week so I could watch it with eps 31/32 this week, and haven’t had time to do that yet. But I’m gonna finish it, I swear!
  • Life on Mars – I’m (still) on episode 9! But I’m gonna finish it, I swear!
  • Meteor Garden – I’m (still) on episode 27! But I’m gonna finish it, I swear!

Dropping/Skipping:

  • Voice 2 – as much as I enjoyed the original, I just don’t have time in my schedule to squeeze this in, even for a cursory glance.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Today’s Detective/Ghost Detective – for some reason I thought this was premiering the last week of August, but apparently it’s next week. I’m still planning to watch it, anyway.
  • Hand: The Guest – apparently September is the month for me to watch scary supernatural crime shows (oh, and there’s also Handsome Oppa as a sexy priest, yeah, start saying your prayers now).
  • Bad Papa – I’m vaguely interested but realistically I probably won’t watch this (I mean, have you seen my watch-rate this year?). There are too many other shows that are more appealing to me right now.
  • Big Forest – I can’t figure out how to classify this drama, but it has all the slice-of-life hallmarks that will undoubtedly sucker me in. Bonus: only one episode a week, so maybe I’ll actually be able to keep up with it!
  • 100 Days My Prince – I always want to check out the latest sageuk (even the ones that aren’t super historically accurate) but realistically I don’t think historical shows are my jam.
  • The Third Charm – this could be cute and enjoyable! But it’s also from the writer of Hwarang, so… yeah… I do love Esom, though, even if I’m apparently the only one on the planet who isn’t super enamored with Seo Kang Joon.
  • Hundred Million Stars From the Sky – I know everyone’s gonna be falling over themselves to watch this ‘cause it’s Seo In Guk, but the big draw for me is Park Sung Woong. I haven’t seen the original Japanese drama, although it totally sounds like my kind of show. Buuuut Korean remakes usually tone down the darker aspects of crime/thriller shows and shove in some romance, so, eh, I don’t know. This has potential but will I try to squeeze it into my huge list of other shows I plan to watch?
  • Thoracic Surgery/Two Lives One Heart – I love you, Uhm Ki Joon, but I do not love medical dramas. I’ll pass, but I won’t be surprised if it has huge ratings since it’s coming from the production team that gave us Defendant.
  • Terius Behind Me – the production team is too iffy (and unknown) for me to guess the quality of this show. It has an interesting premise and I like the cast, but I don’t know that it will motivate me to rearrange my watching list.
  • Player – I do not need Song Seung Heon paired up with yet another female lead too young for him, but dammit I’m such a sucker for heist stories so I’ll probably try to find time for this.
  • The Beauty Inside – I loved the movie and I feel like it could make for a really interesting drama given the premise. But… I loved the movie and the drama sounds… pretty different… so do I want to even give it a chance, especially with a director I’m not sure I trust? Hmm.

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: August 2018

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

Completed:

  • Greasy Melo/Wok of Love – it was cute and had lots of delicious food and the chemistry between the main trio was Off The Charts, but it was disappointed to see an odd, quirky, bizarre little drama suddenly become a rambling mess of a rom-com. I still enjoyed the drama and it genuinely brought me a lot of joy while I was watching it, but if it weren’t for the insane charisma between Jang Hyuk, Jung Ryeo Won, and Junho, I’m not sure if I would have enjoyed it as much as I did.
  • To.Jenny – SO adorable! I loved the indie music vibe (will I ever get “Tiramisu Cake” out of my head before I die?), the sassy little sister, the socially anxious adorkable loser who is able to finally screw up the confidence to show the world who he truly he is, and, of course, Kim Sung Chul, my new noona pet (who I could listen to sing forever and ever and what no I didn’t get lost in a youtube blackhole for hours while tracking down every video of his musical performances, how dare you insinuate such a thing?!?).

Currently Watching:

  • Life on Mars – sorta, kinda. I’m halfway through, so I’ve got a backlog that I plan to binge, but it’s the kind of show that requires my full attention and I just haven’t had the time for that yet.
  • Your House Helper – I love it so muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuch!
  • Let’s Eat 3 – this is actually a pleasant surprise! I was planning to watch it anyway because I can’t resist Goo Dae Young and his passionate love of food, but I kinda hated Season 2 and therefore had low expectations for this except to be mildly entertained by my favorite foodie chatterbox. But I love it! It has those Let’s Eat elements that I love (fooooood!) but it also feels like a casual take on a Reply 2004, which is definitely welcome. It’s hilarious and poignant and much better than I could have ever anticipated.
  • Meteor Garden – I don’t normally list non-Korean shows here because, well, I just don’t watch as many of them as I used to. But I’ve been willingly sucked into this cracktastic trainwreck and I’ve never been happier. This one has the potential to become my favorite Hanadan version (shhhhh, don’t tell Oguri Shun!). The only catch is there are six(!) new episodes a week so I’m struggling to find the time to watch All The Things since I always end up binging this show instead.

Dropping/Skipping:

  • Life – I knooooooooow. But I was one of the few who merely liked Secret Forest, and honestly I’ve got too many other dramas on my plate to add in another that would actually require me to, y’know, pay attention to it. (Plus the PTSD from D-Day makes me instinctively balk at medical dramas about idealistic doctors going against potentially corrupt hospital directors).
  • Handsome Guy and Jung-eum – I actually would have finished this if I hadn’t been trying to watch a gazillion other shows all at once. I enjoyed it for what it was, and even though I keep thinking one day I’ll go back and finish it, the reality is that the show is predictable enough that I don’t feel I’m missing anything by stopping ten episodes from the end.
  • Mr. Sunshine – I watched the first episode and half of the second, and I was surprised that I liked it more than I thought I would (although I did get an itchy fast-forward finger with the battle scenes, like I did with Goblin). I haven’t actively dropped it but I’m not actively watching it, either. If that makes sense. Honestly, the saving grace for this drama is that it’s on Netflix (which isn’t a phrase I’d ever thought I’d say) because then it’s super easy to access it whenever I want, perfect for those lazy “eh I need something to watch but don’t want to put any effort into it” days.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Lovely Horribly – I’m so annoyed, because this stars Song Ji Hyo and has an interesting premise, but it also stars Park Shi Hoo, so, y’know.
  • Today’s Detective – Daniel Choooooiiiiiiiiiiii! Who is a detective! That solves crimes with his fearless assistant Park Eun Bin! And there are ghosts! Hells yeah, sign me up!
  • Voice 2 – I genuinely enjoyed the first one. It was a chilling thriller with a charismatic cast and it made for an enjoyable (albeit horrifying) watching experience. But… I’m not sure how I feel about a sequel. I do believe that this kind of set-up easily allows for a procedural storyline, and I did regret that some of the minor characters were severely underused in the first season, but can any Big Bad Villain compare to Handsome Oppa and his kettlebells? I’ll probably check it out but I won’t cry if I miss it or decide it’s not worth my time.
  • Familiar Wife – it sounds like the kind of standard tvN drama that has a lot of potential and which people will probably love, but there isn’t anything about it that particularly draws me in. I won’t be surprised if it’s a hit, though.

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: July 2018

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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

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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: March 2018

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Previously: Jan – Feb

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.