Tag: ocn tunnel

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: May 2017

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Previously: 2016 – Jan – Feb – Mar – Apr

Completed:

  • None yet – all the dramas I’m watching are still currently airing!

Currently watching:

  • Super Family 2017 – ahh, I can’t believe we’re halfway through!
  • Radiant Office – if this show doesn’t give me at least one teeny-tiny scene where Hoya and Feeldog’s characters meet, I’mma cry.
  • Whisper – definitely not what it could have been but still entertaining enough to keep me focused on it, although maybe not my favorite choice to recap because there’s so much plot in each episode that it makes my brain hurt.
  • Tunnel – I’m not really invested in the main mystery, but I’m still planning to finish it, at least for Yoon Hyun Min’s sake and to see how the past will be rewritten whenever Choi Jin Hyuk finally returns to it (because he totally will… won’t he?).
  • Chicago Typewriter – ep 6 saved this from the drop list, and once again I get to experience “second-lead syndrome” for a ghost. Yeah, this will end well.

Dropping/skipping:

  • Tbh I’m genuinely surprised that I haven’t dropped anything. Just look at that list of what I’m watching! I’m still unsure how I’ve managed to keep up with it all (or mostly keep up with it). Chicago Typewriter came close, though, and there’s still a chance it will make this list. But as long as it gives me ghost shenanigans and lots of 1930′s flashbacks, it will still tentatively stay on the list.
  • Man to Man – I’m not consciously skipping this one, but the episodes I’ve downloaded have remained untouched (sorry, Park Sung Woong!). There’s just so much I want to watch right now and not enough time to do it. *cries*

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • I don’t really have much to add from last month, actually. The dramas that I was eager and curious about last month are the still the dramas I’m hoping will do well once they air. I don’t think there’s been much new buzz to add, or at least any buzz that interests me. Then again, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t really paid attention to anything other than what’s directly in front of me.
  • I’m not ready for the May premieres! I’m still watching too many things!

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. 

Dramaland Forecast: March 2017

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Previously – 2016 – Jan – Feb

Completed:

  • None

Currently Watching:

  • Voice – even if I weren’t recapping, I’d still be watching because HANDSOME OPPA!!!!
  • Super Family 2017 – a cute and fun family sitcom that I might actually finish since it’s only 40 eps (instead of 100+ episodes, like most family sitcoms are).
  • Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – I’m not totally sold on this drama, although at the time of queuing I haven’t decided to drop it just yet.
  • Perfect Wife – I’ve learned to instinctively be wary about any of Sung Joon’s projects, but I decided to check this out for the rest of the cast who definitely make it worthwhile (Go So Young is definitely a drama queen!). I like it well enough and it has potential, but I might just stop watching because of how terrible Sung Joon’s suits are. Kidding! But it’s 20 eps and knowing me, I’ll probably drop it at ep 10 unless it turns out to be super amazing.

Skipping/Dropping:

  • Hwarang – I bailed on this at ep 12 for no real reason except I lost momentum and there wasn’t anything that made me want to keep watching. I did enjoy it at least until that far.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Radiant Office – Okay, yes, the main reason this is on my radar is because of Hoya, but I also really like Go Ah Sung, although I’ve primarily watched her films than her dramas.
  • The Liar and His Lover – If I weren’t such a sucker for school musical dramas, this would probably be an easy pass. I’m not sure if I’ll end up watching it, but I’ll keep an ear out for the buzz around it.
  • Tunnel – OCN crime dramas always appeal to me, but knowing that king of bromance Yoon Hyun Min will be babysitting a time-traveling cop who’s clueless about modern forensics suddenly makes this a lot more attractive (and not just that it’s Choi Jin Hyuk’s post-Army show!).
  • Chicago Typewriter  – I’m still iffy on the concept, but anything originally set in the 1930′s and the Japanese Occupation intrigues me (yeah, they’re reincarnated, but I’m hoping for lot of flashbacks!). This also has an excellent cast so far. I don’t know what Dramaland is doing, pulling in actresses who usually stick to film, but I’m grateful for it. My main concern is the writer, who, despite her last couple of hits, weren’t ones I personally enjoyed. But she is paired with the director of My Beautiful Bride, so *fingers crossed.*

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.

do you know if anyone is picking up Tunnel?

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Like on Viki/Dramafever/etc? I’m not sure. There’s only a fan channel on Viki and no mention on Dramafever, although when Voice aired there was hardly any notice until almost the airdate that DF was going to be carrying it (on a 2 day lag). I’m not sure when Viki got the license, but it was after DF.

VIU should be carrying it if you’re the type to download soft subs.

We’ll probably have a better idea closer to the airdate, but right now I’m assuming it will be similar to Voice’s license.

Dramaland Forecast: January 2017

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Previously – 2016

Happy New Year! Time to look ahead and make new drama plans! Or wallow in the reality that I will never keep up with any sort of resolutions I might attempt. Either way, it’s an exciting new year that promises some very welcome drama come backs.

Completed:

  • None yet! All the shows I’m currently watching are still airing, and I’ve been juggling too many shows to try and squeeze in an old drama to binge.

Currently Watching:

  • Night Light
  • Legend of the Blue Sea
  • Reaper Goblin
  • Hwarang
  • Solomon’s Perjury

Skipping/Dropping:

  • Romantic Teacher Doctor Kim – this is only a temporary drop because it just fell to the bottom of the pile of many dramas I’ve been watching. I’ve stalled out on ep 10, which means I’m weeks behind so I’m setting it aside for a later binge. (Of course, who knows when that “later” might be).

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Naked Fireman – I don’t really know much about this four-episode drama special beyond the name and the fact that Lee Joon Hyuk (aka my beloved Prosecutor from City Hunter) plays the titular character, but honestly I think that’s all I really need to know. 
  • Missing 9 – I’m still super excited about this one, from the concept to the cast to just about everything. My only concern is that it’s on MBC, so it might not get as dark as I’m hoping.
  • Voice – yeah I’m gonna shamelessly watch anything that promises me a Kim Jae Wook cameo. Thankfully the teasers look awesome (even though I know better than to trust teasers), and I think this could be another solidly satisfying OCN procedural.
  • Defendant – Ji Sung! Uhm Ki Joon! In a drama about… lawyers… and amnesia… ah, hmm… not exactly my cup of tea. The production team could go either way, so I’m keeping a vague eye on it but not really expecting anything.
  • Sensitive Boss – I’m actually more excited by the teasers which seem to promise more of an office-drama ensemble than straight-up rom-com, because I’m always more of a sucker for ensembles than anything else. I don’t know if I’ll stick with it, since I couldn’t get into the production team’s previous drama Marriage Not Dating, but I’ll at least give it a chance, at least as a fellow introvert.
  • Chief Kim – I like Namgoong Min, and I generally enjoy quirky office dramas, but there’s been nothing about this yet that’s really drawn me in. I might listen to the buzz about it and decide if it’s something that might be worth adding to the “watch” (or at least the “watch eventually”) list.
  • Rebel: Thief Who Stole The People – part of me wonders if we really need another retelling of the Hong Gil Dong story, but then I also think this sounds like a fun cast, and if we can have a million stories that follow the same chaebol-Candy plot, why not some more fun historical stories? I don’t think this drama will reel me in, but I’m not counting it out just yet.
  • Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – I still want to know more about the general plot about this drama, but right now everything points to it being fun and cute.
  • Tomorrow With You – I adore Shin Min Ah and I really like this director, but I’m iffy on the concept and the writer.
  • Tunnel – a time-traveling detective? Hmm, I feel like I’ve heard something like this before. If it’s true that Choi Jin Hyuk has signed on, then it will be a welcome return. But tbh I’m more excited about Yoon Hyun Min because I will always be excited about Yoon Hyun Min.
  • The Package – I love ensemble casts; I love stories about groups of people who are unwillingly thrown together and have to learn to tolerate (and maybe even love) each other; I adore France. So this seems like it will hit all the right notes for me, especially since it’s coming from jtbc so my expectations for a lovely and quiet character drama may not be too far off the mark. The writer makes me nervous, though, but perhaps the debacle of his last drama means he’s willing to try something new.

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.