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Zia – “Know” (Monster OST)

Dramaland Forecast: April 2016

 Previously: JanFeb – Mar

Completed:

  • One More Happy Ending it was far from what the first few episodes promised me it would be, but it was an enjoyable enough fluff bit of a drama, although I only stuck it out for my darling Dong Mi and how charismatic Jung Kyung Ho was as Soo Hyuk. Despite a few bright spots, it’s the kind of drama that I’ll forget ever existed.
  • Signal have I made you all fans of Kim Eun Hee now? Do you see why she’s one of my favorite writers? It wasn’t a perfect show, but it was pretty close, and it definitely redeems my disappointment in Three Days.
  • Neighborhood Hero – the plot was a bit slow, I admit it. But while it may have disappointed others, I enjoyed the laid-back attitude. It did make it feel more like this show would be more at home on jtbc instead of OCN — it was more Yoona’s Street than a slick spy drama (but nowhere close to being as excellent as Yoona’s Street, mind). Then again, I am probably biased because I adored Soo Hyuk’s adorable awkward puppy character and the concept of a place where displaced ex-spies hang-out, and the overall sense of community between all the shop owners in the area. The actual nitty-gritty behind who ruined the original mission and the great conspiracy didn’t interest me quite as much.

Currently watching:

  • Come Back Ahjussi – still loving it.
  • Pied Piper – I’m a couple weeks behind thanks to a busy work schedule, but I still plan to see it through.
  • Vampire Detective – thank goodness it’s only one episode a week, so I might have a chance to keep up. But that first episode was everything I could have wanted, and I’m eager to see how this new take on the vampire mythology plays out.
  • Monster – the first two episodes were high on old-school melodrama, and if I were basing my decision to watch the show just on those, I’d likely pass. But I know this team, I’m obsessed with Park Ki Woong the cast, and the teasers keep promising some cute moments, so I’m holding out for the story to get rolling with the adult versions.
  • Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul Hoonce again, legal dramas are not my thing. But I’m hooked on the first two episodes. Plus Park Shin Yang is back on the small screen after six years, so you know it’s going to at least be a pretty good script. (The last time he was in a drama was Sign, which was written by Kim Eun Hee. Just sayin’.)

I’m going to finish this show one day, I swear:

  • Six Flying Dragons  I’ve temporarily stalled out on episode 26, but it’s important to note I’m over halfway!

Skipping/Dropping:

  • I didn’t drop a single show I’d planned to watch! What madness is this?
  • Ms. Temper and Nam Jung Gil – I was only vaguely interested in this, and I haven’t heard anything that will make me squeeze it on my extensive watch list, so I’ll give it a pass.
  • Daebak – I’ve heard good things about it, but I can only handle one sageuk a year, and I think SFD will tide me over for quite some time (should I, uh, ever actually finish it…).

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Arbitrarily Fond – finally has an airdate: June 29th! I’m so excited to see Im Joo Eun and Im Joo Hwan back on my screen (and together again!) that I keep forgetting they’re not the actual leads. 
  • Entertainer –I wasn’t even aware of this drama until I heard cutie-pie Minhyuk was going to be in it, and being the shameless fangirl that I am, I will primarily check it out just for him. Of course, that’s the worst reason to watch a drama, so I don’t have very high hopes, but I’ll at least try to watch the first few eps.
  • The Good Wife – look at me, willingly adding a legal drama to my list of upcoming dramas that interest me. But I’ve been enjoying the original American drama, which I only started watching once it was revealed that Jeon Do Yeon and Yoo Ji Tae had signed on for the leads. I’m also cool with the rumor of Yoon Kye Sung signing on, since even though I’m not sure what role he’d play (the Will Gardner character, perhaps?), I know he’s talented enough to be able to hold his own with those two power houses. Honestly, I’m excited to hear more about the cast, since I feel like with Jeon Do Yeon as the lead, there should be plenty of seasoned and extremely talented people dying to work on a project with her.
  • Dear My FriendsI’m not sure if there’s really anything to update about this drama, other than it’s settled on an airdate (May 13th). Even though Noh Hee Kyung’s dramas often leave me cold, I’m intrigued by the concept, and, of course, the incredible cast.
  • Police Unit 38 – I do love me some crime procedurals, and I’m curious to see what OCN (aka Only Crime Network) will do with a take on catching rich people attempting to evade their taxes, starring the pretty faces of Seo In Guk and SNSD’s Sooyoung (who I happened to very much enjoy in the tvN drama version of Cyrano Dating Agency). The production team seems promising, at least in terms of action/mystery. Hidden Identity may have been riddled with plot holes, but it was gorgeous to watch, so that director combined with the screenwriter for Vampire Prosecutor definitely have my interest.
  • Jealousy Incarnate – Jo Jung Suk, Gong Hyo Jin, and my queen Lee Mi Sook in a drama from the writer of my beloved Miss Korea? Sign me up!

As always, if a drama isn’t listed here, it means I don’t care about it or there’s nothing new to add since the last time I mentioned it.

No Park Ki Woong in ep 1 of Monster (*fangirl wail*), but my girl Lee El is as stunning as ever. ❤

Also to appease the b2uties since I’m already complaining that we’re spending too much time with the younger versions, here’s some shirtless Kikwang:

(Apparently when you’re a blind and brooding little rich* boy, you’ve got the time to spend on sculpting those abs.)

fyparkkiwoong:

Extended teaser for MBC’s Monster, which premieres TODAY!

You can watch the second and third (and first, if you missed it) teasers for Monster here. I’m sorry it’s just a link – I can’t find a youtube rebloggable format anywhere (and I’m also sorry that the website is so frustrating to navigate, but it is what it is, I guess). I’m pleased that after the first two srs bzns revenge melo-esque teasers, the third seems to promise the slapstick comedic hijinks I know and love from this writer.

Another frustrating point to add: I have no idea who will be hosting it – no sign on DF and only a fan channel on Viki right now. I even poked around on VIU but I couldn’t find it listed, although I’m not as familiar with that website. There shouldn’t be any political licensing issues, though, so hopefully someone picks it up. 

MBC’s Monster releases its first teaser!

It looks straight-up melodramatic, but knowing this crew, it’ll be so much more. I’m also expecting plenty of humor and an intriguing revenge plot, based on both the production team and the amazing cast.

The drama is set to air March 28th, following Glamorous Temptation.

Dramaland Forecast: March 2016

Previously: JanFeb

While I didn’t get this posted on the first of the month, I at least wanted to get it up before the new premieres.

Completed:

  • Remember
  • Splash Splash Love yeah, I’m late to the party, but at least I watched it! Super cute, although I was bizarrely content with just the first half and felt the second half was somewhat unnecessary.

Currently Watching:

  • Signal – I haven’t watched this week’s episodes yet, but I’m already sad that it’ll be ending next weekend. By far my favorite drama of the year (and a tough one to beat).
  • Neighborhood Herostill really enjoying this show, even though I understand it won’t be to everyone’s taste in terms of pacing and/or personal reasons.
  • One More Happy Ending this has dropped to my lowest priority, but I still plan to see it through. It’s not what it could have been, or what it was in the beginning, but I still find it reasonably enjoyable, although I’ll likely forget it existed once it’s over.
  • Come Back Ahjussi – a delightful surprise! It wasn’t high on my must-watch list although I knew I’d check it out for Rain, yet the show has impressed me with how engaging it is, and all the actors are giving a marvelous performance. If it stays as good as the first four eps, it will end up high on my list of favorite dramas this year.

Currently watching, kinda, I swear I’ll get caught up eventually:

  • Six Flying Dragons – I’m up through ep 26. Over halfway! I’m gonna make it until the end, hopefully before next year.

Upcoming premieres:

  • Pied Piper – airs tomorrow! I’m still not sure about the details but the premise is intriguing, the teasers were pretty to watch, and Shin Ha Kyun is amazing, so I know it’ll be at least decent if not actually a good drama.
  • Vampire Detective – once again, my expectations were actually fairly low (or at least mild), but all the teasers have got me excited since the premise seems it won’t just be a gritty detective show (which I love!) but will also have some fun with the vampire aspect of it. Plus the cast is gold and if there’s any network I want to host a crime drama about vampires, it’s OCN.
  • Monster – oh man oh man OH MAN. At least I know what show will fill the hole that Signal will leave behind. I’ve gushed enough about this cast (PARK KI WOOOOOOONG!) and the fact it’s helmed by one of my favorite production teams. The only thing that gives me pause is that whole “50 episodes” thing, but doggone it, I’m going to get through it and it will be more than worth it.
  • Neighborhood Lawyer Jo Deul Ho – I’m generally not a fan of law dramas, but doggone it, this is the first Park Shin Yang drama since Sign and the teasers look kinda… awesome? Plus there’s Kang So Ra, who deserves a good drama after the snooze-fest of Warm and Cozy. Honestly, the entire cast is amazing, and even though it’s usually against my policy to watch a show just for the cast, the production team seems pretty solid, too, so I’m mildly optimistic.

Skipping/dropping:

  • Cheese in the Trap – I bailed on ep 11, but if anyone makes a supercut of all the Bo Na/Eun Tak scenes, please let me know because they’re my new OTP.
  • Memory – I love me some Lee Sung Min, but a lawyer who gets Alzheimers? Thanks, but I’ll pass – I’ve had my share of that already this year. (I’ve actually had my fill of Alzheimers as a plot device in Dramaland just in general, but at least it’s not cancer, I guess.)
  • Ms. Temper and Nam Jung Gi – this is technically more of a “maybe” – I like the cast the premise sounds interesting in kind of a gender-swap take on the typical bossy chaebol v. timid assistant roles, but I haven’t figured out what the plot is beyond that. It’s an unknown writer for me, too, so it’s hard for me to guess what the tone of the drama would be like, and there are too many other dramas that are capturing my interest right now for me to squeeze in a “maybe” on the watch list, but I’ll keep an eye on the buzz about the show and perhaps add it in later if word on the street seems to indicate it’s worth it.
  • Goodbye Mr. Black – I enjoy a good revenge drama, and this is an excellent cast, but for whatever reason, it’s just not appealing to me, so I think I’ll give it a pass but keep an eye on the reaction to it.

Any other premieres in the near distant future either don’t have new information worth noting or I’m still of the same mind on them from the previous months, so nothing new to add.

More ladies of Monster! Kim Hye Eun has signed on to play Hwang Ji Soo, the daughter and political advisor of Lee Deok Hwa’s character.

As much as I was frustrated and disappointed by D-Day, I think she did a wonderful job portraying the struggles of Chief Kang – both as the chief of the ER department during a national disaster, and a mother worried for her son – so I’m looking forward to see what she’ll bring to this drama.