Tag: vampire detective

Dramaland Forecast: March 2016

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Previously: Jan – Feb

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 Hero – still 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.

Dramaland Forecast: Feb 2016

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So, I started this just idly last month, but maybe it might be a good thing to do monthly. Maybe? I dunno. I’m going to give it a shot to try and be more organized as well as chart my interests/commitments/where Dramaland has failed in meeting my expectations. Gonna stick with “Dramaland Forecast” because it makes for a nifty unique tag (for me) and will be useful to go back and weep over the “what could have beens” versus the reality of casting choices and writing flops. Yes, I’m so optimistic.

Actually, I ought to be a little optimistic because so far 2016 has been absolutely delightful. 2015 was a disappointing drama drought, so to be awash in shows that interest me and that I genuinely enjoy and make a point to watch (even sacrificing sleep!), well, that means something.

Right, so let’s get caught up from where I left off last month:

Completed:

  • Imaginary Cat – overall thoughts here. The cat was cute and I thought the story had potential, but it felt like a confused mess most of the time.

Currently watching:

  • Remember
  • One More Happy Ending
  • Signal

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

  • Six Flying Dragons – I made it to ep 22! There’s still hope for me yet. (I mean I’m only a little over a dozen episodes behind.)

Skipping/dropping:

  • Moorim School – I said I wanted to check it out for Sam Okyere but that was pretty much it, and honestly that’s not enough to get me to watch. Which means I won’t.
  • Madame Antoine – this show could turn out to be better than its introduction but wow yeah I just couldn’t get past that and there are other dramas I’d rather spend my time and fury.
  • Cheese in the Trap – I downloaded the first two eps when they first aired and they’re still sitting on my hard drive, untouched. I haven’t deleted them to free up space because I think that I’ll eventually watch one day but we’ll see how long it’ll be for that day to come.
  • Neighborhood Hero – I’m not not-watching it, it just isn’t high on the list and I have too many dramas right now as it is. I’m still curious about it, but I’m also aware of the drama surrounding what’shisface. But I also want to see Soo Hyuk in a different role. Plus based on the teasers, I have a feeling it’ll be more Fugitive Plan: B than Basketball, and that intrigues me (I put most of my stock in the production team, y’know).

Upcoming:

  • Tyrant Monster – AIIIEEEEEEE!!!! I am so excited!!! I’m Park Ki Woong’s #1 fan and to read the news that he’s signed on to a new drama pretty much immediately once he’s freed from army life is definitely reason to do the happy dance, not the least because the last time we saw him on the small screen as Full House Take 2, and, well, I feel I’m owed another Gaksital or Story of a Man or something. (Okay, the fictional small screen, because he was also in Beating Hearts which is a reality show about a bunch of actors/entertainers learning what it takes to become a cop/fireman/paramedic. It has a bunch of familiar names but also Choi Woo Shik for you flower boy fans). POINT IS this was a show I’d already decided to keep an eye on because it’s by one of my favorite writers and that was even before Kang Ji Hwan signed on and much much before the news about PKW broke. I wonder if he’s taking the role that was originally offered Seo Kang Joon because if so, I bet the production team are thrilled that SKJ passed on it because now they get PKW which is a better deal no matter what. Still a little bummed there’s no word about a leading lady (and they’re going to start filming next week!), but they’ve managed to find amazing actresses for their other works, so I hope the production team won’t let us down.
  • Hwarang – when I last wrote, nothing was confirmed, but now this historical flower boy drama is actually set to air this summer and it will indeed star my girl Go Ara with her boy toys Park Seo Joon and Park Hyung Sik. It’ll be pre-produced, which… okay, I love Harvest Villa and What’s Up?, but the last pre-produced drama I touched was D-Day and, well… pleaseletthisbegoodpleasepleaseplease. At least the director knows his way around historical matter, plus the cast and the production company (that brought us all our favorite “Flower Boy” branded shows!) should make for a pretty (literally) and entertaining show.
  • Come Back Ahjussi – this is one of those dramas that I feel like is doomed to mediocre failure, but… it’s Rain. Possessed by a ghost. Who is apparently delighted to be in such a handsome body. How can I resist that? IMAGINE THE SHENANIGANS. It’s supposedly based on Jiro Asada’s novel, and a ghost haunting happens in Oh Yeon Seo’s body, too, so I guess it’ll follow it, kinda, maybe? I dunno. Point is I’m pretty sure I’m guaranteed some shirtless Rain, and that’s what really matters.
  • Vampire Detective – it has an airdate! March 27th! Other than that the only thing I know is it’s started filming. I don’t care. I will watch a vampire drama on OCN any day.
  • Pied Piper – I’m still all-in for this (despite my general misgivings about Liar Game, it was a well-produced drama), and now I know that it’ll follow Cheese in the Trap.

I don’t think I have any other updates beyond what I’ve mentioned previously. Any dramas not on the list aren’t there for a reason, because why waste energy hunting down information about a show I’m not going to watch (or even maybe kinda think about watching) in the first place.

Planning Ahead

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When I made the vague resolution* to become more organized, this wasn’t exactly what I had in mind, but procrastination knows no bounds.

*tbh this organizational battle is just a continual thing in my life, nothing new for 2016 – just a skill my ADHD brain will probably never master yet it’s essential for being a responsible adult, apparently.

So here’s what the Dramaland forecast looks like:

Currently watching:

  • Remember
  • Imaginary Cat

…I’m not a Yoo Seung Ho stan, I swear. But Imaginary Cat is only 8 eps so why stop now, and I’m obliged to Remember (but I’m not complaining. Yet).

Currently watching, kinda, I swear I’ll get caught up eventually (curse you busy holiday season!):

  • Six Flying Dragons – I still haven’t gone past ep 10! My life is a failure.

Plan to watch once drama is over/is already completed:

  • Reply 1988
  • Oh My Venus – mebbe; the only draw for me is Shin Min Ah and Henry-puppy, which is never enough for get me to stick with a show, but it could make for some decent background noise while I’m pretending to organize my household.
  • Awl

Dramas I’m anticipating for 2016:

  • Signal – the only that really matters, tbh, because one of my favorite writers paired with one of my favorite directors with an awesome cast and intriguing concept, on tvN? Yeah, pretty much has “FAVE DRAMA OF THE YEAR” written all over it. Fingers crossed it isn’t as disappointing as Three Days, although I have high expectations for this director (*clutches Misaeng tightly*), so if nothing else it will be absolutely gorgeous to watch. 
  • Moorim School – I’m iffy on the production team and cast, but I’m curious about the premise and I want to see Sam Okyere play a teacher – with such shallow reasoning, there’s a strong chance I won’t last past the first few episodes unless the show pleasantly surprises me.
  • Madame Antoine – I know I should probably walk away from Sung Joon forever, but I just can’t give him up. Not yet. Despite my bitterness, my hope remains that he’ll finally get the role that does him justice. At least the production team seems dependable, even though it’s about 50/50 for a hit or miss just based on their previous works.
  • Lightly, Ardently (or whatever the heck we’re calling it) – tbh I am only excited about this because of Im Joo² – not only do I always need more Im Joo Eun in my life, but to get Im Joo Hwan as well is just a little too much for my eager heart (and What’s Up? obsession) to handle. Pretty sure I’ll hate the drama but love them. Yep, I’m calling it now. Not even gonna take bets on whether or not I stick with it because the odds aren’t that great.
  • Descendants of the Sun – not planning to watch, but I am anticipating the reactions of everyone else watching, because I’m curious to know if pre-production (plus a co-writer) has tamed KES’s predictably frustrating ways.
  • Vampire Detective – it’s on OCN, which is where all vampire dramas should be hosted; it has Oh Jung Se, Lee Chung Ah, and Lee Joon; and it has my attention, if not an airdate as of yet.
  • Pied Piper – trustworthy production team, on tvN, and Shin Ha Kyun back on my screen? I’m in!
  • Dear My Friends – Noh Hee Kyung’s love fest starring Go Hyun Jung, who definitely deserves my attention because she’s amazing, and it also has Shin Sung Woo who’ll you’ll remember me adoring as Shin Umma during the first season of Roommate. Tbh the whole cast is excellent – the ahjummas and ahjussis deserve some prime-time lime-light. I am excite, even if Noh Hee Kyung’s dramas sometimes leave me cold.
  • Tyrant – there’s not much out there on this yet, but it’s from one of my favorite writers Jang Young Chul (or at least one half of my favorite writing team, because he and his wife were responsible for Giant, History of a Salaryman, Incarnation of Money, and Empress Ki), so I have hopes.
  • Mermaid’s Prince – again, not much about this, but it’s an adaption of a webtoon that is about a contract marriage between two opposite personalities and sounds like it could be either cracktastic or a lackluster failure, but still holds that classic rom-com potential.
  • Hwarang – an historical drama presumably about flower boy warriors, from the production company that brought us treasures like Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, Flower Boy Next Door, Shut Up Flower Boy Band, and Cyrano Dating Agency. My interest is definitely piqued, especially since roles have been offered to Park Seo Joon, Park Hyung Sik, and Go Ara. (And I need Go Ara on my screen some time this year; why not let her be surrounded by the pretty?)

All around, 2016 is looking much more exciting compared to 2015, and hopefully that remains true. I need to believe in Dramaland again!