Tag: strong woman do bong soon

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.

Dramaland Forecast: February 2017

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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.

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.

Dramaland Forecast: December 2016

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

Can you believe the year is nearly over? It’s actually been a good year for me, drama-wise – definitely better than 2015. But let’s have a look what’s in store for the last few weeks and the start of 2017.

Completed:

  • Squad 38 – I finally finished it! Yay! Ma Dong Seok is my beloved teddy bear ahjussi and I feel like I could watch him in anything, but I really enjoyed how he was able to keep true to his bumbling, earnest, everyday man yet still become a slick con-artist (thanks to the begrudgingly-family-like team).

Currently Watching:

  • Legend of the Blue Sea – I love it! It’s the drama highlight of the week for me. Jeon Ji Hyun shows off her star power and I swear I would watch an hour of her eating and be utterly delighted. Thankfully the show lives up the director’s knack for style (it’s so preeeeeeety!) and the assorted characters are interesting, too. There’s a lot of questions I have about the plot but it seems like we’re gradually getting answers about how the Joseon mermaid and the modern mermaid are connected.
  • Night Light – we’re all angry at Netflix, I know, but I’m so eager to watch this show that I’m happy to watch it raw. Fyi, Darksmurfsubs has picked it up in the meantime (yay!), but it takes a while for them to have decently edited subs, and I’m not exactly a patient person.
  • Romantic Teacher Doctor Kim – this isn’t quite the show I was expecting, but I’m still enjoying it. I’m a sucker for quirky misfits coming together to make a family/learn life lessons/be humbled so it’s hitting all those buttons. I just get bored by the medical stuff really easily.

Skipping/Dropping:

  • Sweet Stranger and Me/The Man Living in Our House – my interest fizzled around episode 8 and I struggled through ep 10 before realizing I didn’t care about anyone or their outcome. 
  • Entourage – in my head I’m like “yeah this is still on the watch list!” until I remember I haven’t watched past episode 2 despite continuing to download episodes. Maybe one day I’ll go back to it. But probably not.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Hwarang – I’m unironically looking forward to this and hope it’s ridiculous as the second teaser made it out to be because that’s just the kind of fun I could use right now. Even though it’s on KBS, it’s from the Oh! Boy production team so I’m faintly hoping it will actually live up to my expectations of absurdity.
  • Goblin – I don’t think I have anything to add except that my chronic internal debate is still the same. I don’t trust this writer but I love this cast.
  • Missing 9 – the vague synopsis I’ve found for this doesn’t explain much, but I’m hoping, just based on the production team, it’ll be more intense and stylish than just some washed-up ex-idol being stranded on a deserted. Even though I never watched Lost, my brain wants to go there – at least we should get an interest array of characters with (presumably) back-stories that will somehow all intertwine.
  • Defendant – tentatively intrigued by this – mostly due to the cast (Uhm Ki Joon!) and the fact it’s coming from the City Hunter writer.
  • Voice – honestly I’ll only be checking this out for Kim Jae Wook’s cameo because a starved fangirl needs all the crumbs she can get.
  • Tomorrow With You – the writer and concept makes me a little nervous, but I trust the director and Shin Min Ah.
  • Sensitive Boss – a shy CEO of a PR office? That’s a quirky show that could be super appealing for me, especially since I’ve generally enjoyed tvN’s office dramas in the past.
  • Solomon’s Perjury – I haven’t watched (or read) the original Japanese movies (or book), but it’s giving me a White Christmas vibe so of course I’m eager to check it out.
  • Woman of Dignity – Kim Sun Ah and Kim Hee Sun starring in a drama together? Yes, please!
  • Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – this is same writer as Woman of Dignity, and while I haven’t seen her other work (My Love Eun Dong), if she keeps writing about awesome women she might turn out to be one of my favorite writers. I just hope the vague synopsis (”stories about women with Do Bong Soon as the central character”) lives up to my gurl power expectations. It can’t hurt that it’ll star the adorable and talented Park Bo Young. While I know idol actors are controversial, Park Hyung Sik is one of my favorites, and there’s everyone’s favorite noona killer Ji Soo, so I’m not complaining – provided it doesn’t get bogged down by the boys and lives up to its premise.

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.