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Good Morning Beanies! After several gorgeous days, I’m looking at a deluge outside. Good day to curl up with a drama, I guess.
Speaking of which, now that WAML is over, I’m down to just 2, AHYI and YTBLSS. I’ve watched the first episodes of a few things but nothing has grabbed me so far. I was thinking of watching Childless Comfort, since it’s by the same writer as 1000 Day Promise, which I just finished for the second time and loved. Can anyone offer their opinion?
I guess I was mildly happy with WAML’s ending, which was especially good for those who like things all tied up in neat little packages. I’m beginning to think writers are afraid to be unpopular by doing something dramatic these days. All in all, it was entertaining, and I will miss it and the squeezing it generated.
Hello there,
I think Childless Comfort is the best long drama I've ever watched. The 1st couples eps might not grab you right away as they show 3 old fogey brothers shooting the breeze. From ep 3 onwards, more n more chars show up, and as we get to know each one, that family becomes so endearing. There r no bad guys, no nasty mother-I-Ls, no damsel in distress. It just builds on each previous ep, until, would u believe it, a family drama becomes a crack drama! That's some feat, u know? I started following the show after it got these incredible hi ratings for a cable show of 6, then they went fr hi to higher to the stratosphere. And as I watched, I fully understood why they got such ratings. Must watch IMO n those of millions of HHs in Korea.
I agree with you about WAML. It wasn't a fantastic ending, but I feel content with it. It was a good ride for me, so I'm walking away feeling positive about it. Sometimes a nice little bow is okay.
Now that WAML is over - what are your thoughts on it? I bailed by episode 3 and I'm not if I should have ever picked it up again.....I don't think it was my kind of drama but maybe the ending totally brought everything together and I'm missing out on the best drama ever!...Am I?
Well, not in my book! It's a strange one - maybe a 7/10, but a lot of that was due to the good looking "scenery" of Song Seung Heon. The female lead, to me, was so unlikable, but to a point where it was almost funny. The story was good but fell into the overused kdrama trap of birth secrets and company takeover plots (another reason I would advocate for 16 episode limits on dramas.) Actually, you should read the squeecaps on kakashi's blog as they were a lot more entertaining than the show, then go and watch it if you think it sounds worth it!
I've been following kakashi's recaps every now and then....but I stopped after a while because even then I didn't like how the story was going! Guess I made the right decision for me in not continuing! So many other dramas to watch!
It's not the best drama ever. It's not the best written, it's not the best acted. The pacing was good, even if the seques were kind of WTF now and then. There were the normal miraculous recoveries to laugh at. But there was not a moment when you did not hope fervently for Oppa's happy ending, whether you're an Oppa lover or not. That man deserved a break, and you wanted him to find happiness, dammit, and you hated anyone who stood in the way of it, even when Oppa himself couldn't hate that person.
I'd actually watch it again. Not today, but someday. I will certainly revisit episodes, even if I never watch the whole thing again.
I didn't think WAML was all that bad either. It wasn't the best, but I've seen worse. Much worse. :)
SSH takes a lot of heat (most of it well deserved) for his "acting ability", but I thought he was pretty damn good in this role. And as always the pretty never hurts. I am a little bitter that the abs never reappeared after the early episodes. :)
haha! I was surfing the internet while watching TDP and read that SSH was originally supposed to play the lead. I'm not sure if that would have made me love it even more - although it may have been a stretch for his acting. But he is one beautiful man.
I did not WAML, ended up fast forwarding through most, and skipped a few episodes. It started OK, started getting really draggy (as usual for far too many k-dramas) in the middle, and by 2/3 I was really really tired of watching Mi Do's two expressions - mouth open and mouth closed.
Re "When a Man Loves":
I think it started off well, got very very frustrating in the middle, and ended to the viewers' satisfaction. Agree that the pacing was good. Usually I skip over scenes but couldn't w/ this or else I'd miss a lot of info.
Song Seung Hun was pretty good in it. I thought he delivered and saved the show.
Worst thing about this drama was the female lead and 2nd lead guy. Shin Se Kyung stunk big time w/ the acting it makes me cringe just thinking of her. The 2nd lead guy got too much airtime it made you wonder, "Ok, who's the lead anyway???" I wanted to kick him all the way to Saturn. LOL
I really have to thank everyone here. You see... I saw only a few episodes of WAML. I dint like the girl or the second hero. That scene when the second hero kisses her, it totally got me nuts. Can u see the reason??? I totally love song seung hun. Can't see him hurting. N i thanked u before for talking some good things about him. I read some comments in some other page saying he cannot act or something like that. Who cares??? I love him. Thats all i know:)
did they actually have sex, John? I'm so literal, LOL...unless you show me them doing it, or show me them looking like they just did it, or they SAY they did it...I always assume that no one is having sex in Korean dramas because they never show anything, and I spend time wondering how they date for so long without giving in.
- poor girl
- chaebol son
- love-sick overly nice second male lead
- annoying, obnoxious second female lead
- screaming mother/mother-in-law
- stern, unloving father
- scenes replayed rapidly three times in a row
just to name a few!
OK, I read this quiz wrong. I thought we were talking about all kdramas! And yes, second leads are usually totally unlikable. I usually hate them. But they are sickening sweet to the leads, while being manipulative.
Every person knows that once you go to America you get F*ed up because you know how pretty it is.
1. It’s where you put the criminals of K-dramas. (In Historical Joseon dramas it’s down in Kyeongsang… which is why EVERY gangster must also come from Kyeongsang–they aren’t native to Seoul–no way.)
2. Miguk is a beautiful country with only one university/college (Harvard)–well maybe a few others, but really they don’t count
3. Anyone from this country, has a cold heart–especially adoptees who don’t know how to love. So of course they won’t, you know, communicate with their relatives even if they have Skype. (In Korean terms, not quite human.)
4. They have the best medical care EVER. So that’s where everyone gets their surgery, (Though I think only one hospital ever gets mentioned. John Hopkins… and I’m pretty sure they don’t cover all those kinds of surgery…) be it for health reasons, unless the patient needs Korean native medicine, which is clearly superior to the less painful Chinese version. (Less disgusting, just as bitter, much more painful. Trust me.)
5. It’s where a lot of mothers and fathers mysteriously die. (The Mi in Miguk must be short of “mi-stery”
6. It’s filled with makjang violence. (Also known as the Mi in Miguk must be short for “Mi-sery” “Mi”anhae~) It used to be filled with only white people and discards of the K-drama world, (You know, where you put second leads), but now with a black president, clearly, they need blacks too. (Forget about the other ethnic groups.)
7. The majority of cities are San Fran, LA, and NYC. Boston, which is near Harvard? No–what’s Boston? All super violent, you know.
8. Filled with crazy people who all speak fluent English perfectly with stilted formal dialogue and Australian accents. “Mi”chiseo” 미치서 -crazy
(And yes, I know the Mi in Miguk doesn’t stand for any of those things. =P I read hanja. 미국 mee-gook–short ee sound.)
***
Historical Drama Land protection
I don’t know what has possessed you, but you intend to go to Historical Korean Drama Land. I must warn you first that though there is marriage, it is not a land filled with clean-shaven men and short-haired women. If you intend to get laid with your heart’s affection, there are only two ways to do so. Either be a Gisaeng or one that employs one, or get married and be a main character. With that case you will produce a child. It’s always one shot go. And don’t think you’ll get to kiss as much as a romantic comedy. I still ask, why go at all? If you land in the Three Kingdoms era, don’t think about finding Gisaeng or being one!
Alright, you’re still determined to go. Maybe you have a hanbok fetish… you still need a few things.
First, to remember it all, you will need some rice paper, and you will have to learn some old korean with Chinese characters. Write the following on the rice paper with ink. Keep in mind you have to swallow it once you get there.
1. All things written on paper that I swallow become true.
2. I am immune to torture.
3. I am immune to arrows.
3. I am immune to poison.
4. I am immune to ink and paper poisoning.
5. I cannot be smite with a sword.
6. I cannot be killed.
7. The person I love will love me back. (To cinch this check ot the romance points.)
Once you get there, recite it, chew it, and swallow.
Now for some warnings:
You may end up after Sejong appeared, in which case if you misfire, you should have a version in Hangeul. If you end up in a time here he’s around, find out from some villagers (Never anyone else) if Sejong has invented a wondrous system of writing yet. You’ll know which to swalow then. The other one is useless in that case.
You are screwed no matter what side you take. And you are required to take a side, unless you’re a peasant, in which case you’re an extra and your life will pretty much suck. I didn’t add the anti-prison curse, because many alliances are made in prison.
Next, for the duration of your visit, don’t believe what’s around you is the actual history of Korea. Save for the clothing, inventions, medicine, you’re most likely living a lie. Besides, most women back then were required to be fat. And most guys didn’t look girly.
You also have a high probability of getting executed, so be careful. Choose your side carefully.
Also the best defense against death is the silver chopstick. Real silver chopsticks. They will detect poison…
Practice your groveling before you go. When you think you’re going to be executed learn how to beg for your life or ask the person in charge to take it. Know which to do in what situation first. You will be spared. But don’t insist too much and offer the other person power in exchange for killing you, because you are likely to get killed.
You also need a pink hanbok. Light pink, relatively solid color. Only show it to the person you intend to be with. Wearing it, but not making a proclamation first makes you lose points.
Once you have all your belongings, I would encourage you to pack some herbal medicines against the following in your sleeves: diabetes, arthritis, snake bite, arrow wound (you may be immune, but it doesn’t mean your loved one will be.), anemia, neck pain.
You may also have to study the following before going: horse riding, sword fighting, archery, Korean politics of the era, the order of he lords in Confucianism.
May you go forth and not die in the machinations of the palace. Good luck traveler! You’ll need it.
***
Required Scenes of K-dramas
1. Hospital Scene.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a romantic comedy or a melodrama… there must be a hospital scene.
Even in Historical dramas there must be one visit from the doctor. Think about wy Dae Jang Geum was popular–she’s a walking hospital!
2. There must be an airport scene.
In his airport scene all cellphones don’t work and people always are running around the airport aimlessly.
3. There is only one wedding scene allowed per drama. If shown once, even in a dream sequence, that wedding scene will never be shown again.
4. One montage scene (with recycled footage)
Doesn’t matter what type it is… must have it, the melodramas are more prone to it than comedies.
***
(K-drama Romance Points)
Note: Don’t take this seriously.
This mainly works for comedic dramas set in the present, and does not work for Historical dramas. Melodramatic dramas it sometimes works for. I’ve watched about 30+ K-dramas. This won’t work for J-dramas, or C-dramas, only K-dramas.
Invariably though in the beginning of the drama they st it up so you know right away who is with whom. Take this for fun!
Disclaimer: Some of the dramas might seem to not conform to this list/ theory. I do not guarentee they do.
Plus Side
Main Trumps: (In order)
1. Marriage
2. Names in Title
3. Produce a child
4. Light Pink Shirt Trump. (See Pink Shirt Theory)
5. Sleeping with the guy before Marriage. (New Trump)
Strong Trumps:
- Practically Married
- Being a jerk that “reforms”
- Obligatory teary airport scene with BG music.
- Frustrating (to viewer) passing shots.
- Meeting first on screen
- Meeting in childhood first/ triggering childhood memory where _both_ parties fell for each other. (Trumps the previous) Has to be ON SCREEN, not just mentioned.
Medium Trumps:
- Going to the Beach (with sand)
- Doing something for the or about the other’s family (not with money).
- Main Romance Theme BG.
- Were together in a previous life
- Sleeping in the same bed (By accident doesn’t work)
- Walking together in the rain under umbrella after meeting at the bus stop.
- Doing laundry together.
- Cooking together alone (rival must not be there.)
- Cinderella Effect 1: anything to do with returning a shoe, or putting one on.)
- Cinderella Effect 2: Rich guy for poor girl.
- Piggy backing a girl home (extra points if the rival sees)
- Taking a guy home drunk and he “confesses” a darker past.
- Guy listening to girl’s troubles and trying to fix them (without throwing money directly at it).
- Girl listening to guy’s troubles. (fixing the troubles is trivial)
Small Trumps:
- Man doing Laundry for Girl.
- Cooking Favorite Dish. (Buying it doesn’t matter.)
- Man only: Cooking for the girl even if it fails.
- Woman only: Makeover
- Dressing the sig. other
- Flowers (of the right kind and color)
- Domescity (Taking care of children, etc.)
- Color coordinated clothes
- Long night out on the town
- Walking together under an umbrella in the rain.
- Meeting a sig other at a bus stop to take them home (and meeting them, cancels if they miss them.)
- Flirt fighting.
- Cinderella Effect 3: Female being compared to Cinderella.
- Men Only: Puts up with loud head-strong girl.
- Main girl wears mainly pink makeup.
- Seeing each other semi-naked after “romantic” relationship is established.
Minus Points
- Forcing sig other to like them.
- Men: Girlish looks
- Being put into “Best” friend category.
- “Younger” brother/ sister look.
- Being nice always.
- Dressing up fancy all the time with red lip stick.
- Guy is younger than the girl.
- Fixing problems with money (directly).
Non-Points
(either plus or minus)
- Dates
- Getting engaged early in the drama
- Being married once and divorcing or near to divorcing
- Guy is much older than the girl. (10 years is not unusual)
- Divorcing off-screen
***
K-drama curses
- Amnesia
- Car Accident
- Sudden inclination toward suicide
- Find out your spouse/significant other has cheated.
- Your whole family dies.
- Instant orphan
- A sudden break up in an engagement
- A sudden declaration of divorce
- Being told you’re destined to fall in love with your enemy/ contracted to marry them.
- Stuck as housekeeper to a total butt to pay off a debt.
- Find out that you’re adopted.
- Find out that the guys you thought were cute turned out fat and ugly (reference to a banjun).
- Contract a horrible terminal disease.
- Go blind. (Yeah KISS MV)
- Find out that you’re the Love Rival and never get a date again.
From Yayit:
- leukemia
- your friend will personally hit you with her car
- your stepbrother will love you
From Ysetiawa:
- a prince/heir of multi-million dollar company falls in love with you, and the rest of the people are trying to break you up, end up with everyone finding their own peace
- 2 handsome guys, sometimes both wealthy/related, fight over you
- cats & dogs, started hating each other, then fall in love
- mostly just simply poor unfortunate non-feminine girl get rich handsome guy
***
Regular K-drama protection...
Before you enter this treacherous land full of Love Rivals and drama, you must prepare properly for your journey.
This is a list of things to pack before you ever set foot in K-drama land:
In your suitcase also should be the list of K-drama curses (listed on this blog) and K-drama Romance points. You will need both to make sure that 1. You make it out alive 2. You get the person you want to end up with. It is best to DUCK TAPE these in visible form on your suitcase. You may think “Oh I won’t need my suitcase while I’m there, I’ll find a place to stay easily”, but remember that people often move, leave, or shift a lot. This is the safest place to plaster it. be sure to leave it in a visible place where you can see it away from food, and use a laserjet printer when doing so. Have some back up copies as well on a few burned CDs in case it gets damaged.
You will need a Pink Shirt.
Make sure it’s light pink, and not fluorescent or you’ll get crucified. A dress/business shirt is best. Cotton is preferable. If you don’t have any or your local stores don’t carry those, try to find a light pink over sweater. Make sure it doesn’t have any pattern and is of solid color. If you are a girl, then bring it along and give it to the guy as part of a job interview or when he has to meet someone important. He will never object. Guys–don’t worry about being perceived as gay through wearing this shirt. It is one of your best tools to get whatever you want.
Next, add a Pink Tie to your list.
The best method though is the girl buys it for the guy and then fiddles with it later so it’s straight while the guy stays still. As one K-drama put it, it’s a “leash” to make sure the guy will always be yours. Light pink is again best, solid pattern doesn’t so much matter as long as it’s just pink. Be careful of red and pink ties. It’s just not good fashion sense. In Wedding the tie is a diagonal stripe with light and dark pink. However, one should note she took forever to actually snag the guy, so a solid pink tie might be best for less drama.
To all the men out there, remember to buy a dress, preferably light pink while the girl comes down the stairs or from another room. (Stairs is preferable). And remember to refuse at first the couple clothes, but give in later. This will surely defeat your nasty rival and give you a better chance at those Major Trump points.
Other things to consider bringing along:
A bullet proof vest (lightweight and one heavy weight if you find yourself in a melodrama is best), a good pair of heels that will break (for the ladies), binoculars (to ward off any fast-approaching cars), genuine 100% silver chopsticks and a spoon (to guard against poison) and a list of Korean superstitions (tape this also to the inner suitcase lid). All of which if mentioned will become true. (A book of Korean folktales might not hurt either, since being compared to some characters sometimes becomes true as well.)
Foreseeing common K-drama curses:
These curses include:
Amnesia, poison, leukemia, car accidents (usually you flying over the car while your significant other either finds out belatedly, watches you, or is waiting for you.)
Leukemia is the number one reason that people die in a K-drama. It’s a favorite. Though AIDS is also a concern, this is the one disease you have to throughly check before your arrival to make sure you don’t have it and after. You can do this by before, insisting on a full body scan, full blood work and checking your marrow. The tests will hurt like hell, but it will be worth it. Check for any cancer or other abnormalities too. You specifically want to look for the dreaded Philadelphia genes which are linked with leukemia where you will need a bone marrow transplant. After you arrive, don’t forget to offer to donate some marrow. They will screen you for leukemia and you won’t have to repeat said tests. Crossing into K-drama land is unsure which is why this must be done. It will also earn you points later.
To guard against AIDS you must donate blood to exclusively be used by yourself Be sure that the needle that the nurse inserts is from a new and sterilized package. Don’t accept less. You can’t be too careful when it comes to a fatal disease that no manner of medicine can cure. Getting tested before arriving might also be a good idea.
Amnesia is the next most common of the lot–while not always fatal, it is common. The best way to guard against this is to keep up a journal. It has worked in other country’s dramas, so it might work for a K-drama as well. Be sure to keep it every day and keep in mind that the guy/girl you like will most likely read it later. K-drama people are notoriously nosy. It has worked on Lost, which has a Korean actress in it whose crossed over and it also has worked in many Taiwanese dramas. Especially Prince who turned into a Frog which was filled with amnesia. Give it a shot for the Korean dramas too. It might work out for you later when you can’t remember anything.
Car accidents– bring binoculars, and a good set of lightweight bulletproof vest with you. Look both ways before crossing the street, around corners and especially look out for black cars– black sports cars are usually the people who put a hit out on you. A regular sedan or truck usually is an innocent bystander. (also usually black). If you can spot one by using binoculars in all FOUR directions (and don’t forget alleyways too.
The poison is fairly easy– buy yourself 100% silver chopsticks. Use them and a silver spoon at all costs. All k-dramas dictate that all superstitions are true. If they tarnish, then you know there is poison. And it will work once you get there.
Stray bullets has the words bulletproof vest on them. You shouldn’t worry is they think you are a fashion freak to have this necessary accessory. Don’t explain it to them either, they will find out later from the people around you why you wear it–even better get angry about it. If you have to explain it, make it short and to the point as possible, or risk it will fail in battle. try not to leave room for day dreaming or flashbacks. You might be dead before the end of the next week or so if you do that.
Upon Your arrival:
You need a place preferably in Seoul (If you don’t you will have to return to your “hometown” a lot which is just too tedious and expensive). Make sure though that you have a way to access a beach. The beach on Cheju Island is probably the best place to go with your significant other, though not necessary–any beach will do. However, Cheju worked for Goong, 18 v 29 and My Girl, so it might be a good place to think about. Forget the smaller Islands–those are usually used for melodramas, like Spring Waltz–and you saw how painful that was. So be sure you know your way to the beach. Mark off the nearest one and then Cheju. The success rate is higher with a car than a plane–a plane is too easy to miss and there are no cellphones allowed in K-dramas when there is an airport scene. Trust me, a car is better. When you arrive chase each other along the beach, throw each other in, and splash each other. Don’t just walk and enjoy the sunset–you will get cut from the race and fail to earn points that way.
Situate yourself near a hospital in case you get injured. Not all injuries are fatal, but it will cut down on your chance of mortality. Your loved one can then piggyback you to the hospital for things like high fever, stomach aches, discovery of being pregnant. The ones who have not been near a hospital have a higher rate of mortality in K-dramas, contracting things such a cancer in the time they are trying to get to the hospital. You can also use cellphones in hospitals in K-drama land, so don’t stress out, unlike the airport, you can pretty much use it all the time and get a signal too!
Last thing you need to remember, it rains. Yes! This is easy points and a great way to meet that special other person. An Umbrella scene is a must. If you lack your umbrella, someone else will have one. A guy tends to give a girl his umbrella more than the other way around–so guys bring one extra girls don’t bring any.
Other tips include never blackmailing and manipulating anyone you like save for when you have to become a maid, or are teasing someone because you secretly like them.
Last note: Never worry about a lack of a cellphone. Firstly the Korean cellphones will be better than whatever you have now, usually the standard K-drama one has Internet, a camera (cameras are essential in a phone), text messaging and a number of other things (plays music has games, etc). It’s not unusual for a guy to say, “You don’t have a cellphone in this day and age?” Then berate you, and then buy you one. Accept it only from the person you want to end up with. Accepting two or more just drags on the pain for longer (My Sister in Law is 19). It’s more common for guys to buy the girl a cellphone, but a few girls have done the reverse as well. Promising to pay them back never pans out, but offering won’t be a bad idea.
So good luck brave traveler! May you not be killed in your quest to find true love everlasting in this unpredictable land. If you fail, well, there is the next life where you can succeed… and no matter what your religion, according to Korean dramas you can be reborn!
***
I wrote that a while back... but that pretty much covers everything. I have a post for Entering Historical K-drama land too.
@ KimYoonmi...WOW that is a very detailed guide for KDRAMA LAND...I guess I'm late to grab that...So far i'm surviving in this land and i'm very much addicted to it. There as so many varieties that I could easily be picky.
I am Indian and for the past year I have give up my intrust in Indian Television. I still find K Drama a fresh breeze and the fact I love is the size of the show. There is no drag to over 1ooo episodes...I still enjoy the fact that it has the essence of reality, does not look fake. Yes agree things are not that real...but the surroundings are more natural.
Where as Indian dramas..loads of MIL and DIL crap...then the dead come alive for some mysterious reason...and one man can marry many and its beyond my fiction. But I did enjoy your list...hehehe
You touched on a couple of things that I think need clarification, and missed a couple also:
- Koreans never carry "medicine", or have any "medicine" in their house. They always have to run out in the middle of the night and/or rain to buy some. Korean "medicine" is all inclusive - it cures everything from lacerated body parts to upset stomachs, headaches, and Dengue Fever. I have often wondered why this mystery miracle "medicine" has never been exported to make Korea rich, but I guess it is a Korean secret.
- The Cinderella Girl is ALWAYS innocent, naïve, clueless, and dirt poor. She is usually (not always) in debt to the debt collectors, an orphan or at least one missing parent, has a younger sibling to take care of, and lives at the very top of the hill in a wretched neighborhood.
You know why it's not exported? Because it tastes like crap, you need some divination tools and it HURTS.
But that's personal experience talking. And that's the real stuff. You know where they bring out the pin and prick a person's finger for a stomach ache and the child stops crying. That's so fake in real life.
Speaking of medicine, was the the biggest first aid kit TS bought when MD scraped her knee when she dived to push him away from getting hit at the construction site? When he opened it, it was 3 tiers, like a fishing tackle box. I thought he borrowed it from the drug store, which would have made more sense. All he needed was a bandage and a bottle of iodine. But he bought that huge kit and then gave it to her to take home. It was hilarious!
@kimYoonmi,
oh dear, you wrote an essay....
And yet, I am wondering, why we love Kdrama so much....
Your comment about Mi for Miguk is hilarious. Maybe because some of us still believe in 'American Dreams'?
But, it started with 'Pretty Woman' wasn't it? So everyone could always has Cinderella syndrome or whatever they call it right now...
I'm just glad I live in my own country despite everything else. I don't think I can survive if I ever have to live in Kdrama land, with so many complicated, unspoken, delicate unwritten relationship-rules, bonding, politic at work (this one, I even avoid it in my real life...), status, etc.. Whoa....
hi korazy, I know you love your melos but I am really excited for monstar right now and I wanna recommend it. it will be easy at 12 episodes. I am enjoying the story and the direction too. the music is great and very cleverly woven into the story so that it doesn't have that 'musical' feel about it. and the male lead has been a real surprise. I think he's been very well casted for the role.
I value your opinion because we agree on a lot, but I'm torn. You loved Best Love and that FLower Boy one with Il-Woo, but I didn't like either. But 12 episodes is appealing. I may download for future marathoning.
i thought that immediately after i wrote the above!! haha. its true - i do love wack too but this isnt. still i would say check out the first two episodes to see if it is more up your alley. it isnt wacky. but there are some offbeat quirkiness about it that i love :)
Lol. Didn't watch that either. Maybe I'm just a leeetle too old for some of these boys? Altho I did like Reply 1997. Enz, because I value your opinion so much I will give it a try!
I tried SUFBB but didn't really feel it, on the other hand Monstar reminds me a lot of Reply 1997 with its high school antics tinted with some bittersweet nostalgia. Episode 2 had me giggling and awing at the various interactions as they reminded me a lot of my own experiences in high school. Not sure which direction it's going to take but at 12 episodes it's not too much of an investment so I definitely recommend it too!
Aw Korazy, it's not the boys! It's the story and how well it's told! And THEN you fall for the characters that are there.
I was the same as you for SUFBB. Only watched it end of last year and was really surprised how pitch perfect it was for me as a coming of age story about friendship. My older sister watched it and loved it too. First episode of SUFBB is difficult to get through coz its loud and chaotic but it just gets great from there.
and @Korazy Lady: It has some moves ... (between youngsters ... and one of those an idol at that) that had this middle aged ahjumma blushing ... I couldn't believe what I was seeing that in kdramaland. I guess there really is a difference between how suggestive you can get on cable as opposed to network television.
I'm not looking forward to stepping out in this deluge as you aptly describe it (are you on the East coast, US?). But it's go or lose the money for an appointment.
Yep, east coast, west of Philly (or for those historically-minded, very close to Valley Forge). I did have to run out but was extremely grateful for drive-thru banking!
Genkii desu ka? How's everyone been? I had to take a few steps back from all Teh Social Mediaz out there to concentrate on Real Life. I had some really good job opportunities present themselves at two huge global law firms that I would give my left leg to work at, and found out I was on the 'short list' for both of the positions after going through three rounds of interviews. I was getting nervous because choosing one or the other would have meant my Korea/Japan trip would need to be cancelled, since I didn't want to start working and then leave the firm in the lurch for three weeks. Sadly, neither of them came through with an offer so I've put the job-looking on hold until I return in early July. *sigh*
Drama On My Plate: No time to DL or stream these days, so I'm not watching much other than the KBSWorld offerings on tap at present: "Mandate of Heaven" and "Queen of Office." Mildly enjoying MoH, but I should really watch it with no distractions (reading, eating, etc.) since I'm missing a lot of the nuances that JB mentions in the recaps…but not missing all those derp faces Lee Dong-wook keeps making at the screen. (Maybe that should be my new drinking game?) QoO is goofy funstuff in spades; Oh Ji-ho is a hoot and Kim Hye-soo is brilliant. It's been forever since I watched Haken no Hinkaku, so the plot didn't really register until well into the 6th or 7th episode. QoO might actually make it onto my Top Ten List if it keeps up like this!
A local K-station is STILL running "The King and I," but since it's the ArirangTV cut-into-30-minutes version, we're staring at 126 eps total. (I live for them sageuks, so I'm gobsmacked how this one escaped my viewing when it aired in 2007.) Anywho, I've been DVRing this show since I'm usually passed out on the couch by the time it airs at 9 PM out here, and just caught up this past week… and the first scene watched was with Manzzang wanting to enter the palace to be close to his childhood love that he castrated himself. SQUICKY!!! I might have to write a wrap-up post about this show once I finally plow through it. It is pretty awesome! >,<
So now that everything has settled down to a dull roar, Trip Planning is in full swing now and I can't wait to get overseas and see some friends and finally knock a few more items off my Bucket List. "The Days" musical tickets are bought for Ji Chang-wook's 30 June performances (squeeeeeeeeee!!!), with a cast meet-and-greet scheduled for the time in between the matinee and evening shows (squeeeeeeeee!!!). Presence has been confirmed for My Precious's fan meeting on 22 June (squeeeeeeeee!!!). I'll also be there for his "Jack the Ripper" press call for the new cast that starts performances on 16 July, so I'm trying to scam my way into a ticket. Lots of other plans in the works, so since this will probably be my last Grand Adventure for awhile, all I need is to arrive in one piece and then hit the ground running!!!
So on that note, I need to get some vaccine shots done today -- they're not required for this trip, but I realized I hadn't had a tetanus booster in over 10 years so I'm overdue. Everyone have a wonderful day/afternoon/evening, and I'll seeyas on the flip side. Mata ne!
Wow! How exciting your trip sounds! I guess it was a good thing that you didn't get either job, because you can always work, haha, but to have the opportunity to go to your Precious' fan meeting? That's once in a lifetime!
You're going on a Korea/Japan trip?! That's so exciting!
Would you mind telling me a bit about your itinerary? A friend and I were thinking of going but I'm not really sure of where we would go and what we would do (other than hit the kdrama hot spots! A trip to the Han River is a must! Maybe even a karaoke bar! LOL!)
I'm so sorry you didn't get the jobs. But to be on the short list...wow! That's very close, right? I think it depends on the areas. Some places have a glut of lawyers, some not so much. Wishing you luck the next time and a great trip!
Just wanted to say congratulations on shortlisting for the jobs - that's a big step, too! Who knows, maybe it didn't work out so you could take your trip, and then you'll come back and get the perfect job (which could be the unexpectedest one) who knows!
Your trip sounds like it's going the be the BEST. I hope we'll get reports! Good luck with the vaccines!
wow so many exclamation marks, I am not really this chirpy XD
Whose fan meeting are you going to attend? I always watch the pictures with envy, someday I'll also be in the queue and shake my oppa's hand and get his signature (and faint on the spot. Or fake faint? But my fantasy of him picking me up will probably end with a security guard just kicking me out) (when he's back from the army anyway)
Glad you're going to Korea. Was amazing even the second time around. Still basking in the after glow of my trip to Seoul last week... Saw a drama filming in Namdaemun. Went to Running Man member's resaturant and lots of other drama locations. Met up with my Korean model/actor guy. Ate Korean food every meal, went to a jjimjilbang and pojangmachas every night. The trip really made me feel like a character in a drama. Complete with romantic confession in the rain. But no birth secrets or long lost siblings. I basically, made my K-drama addiction even worse than ever!
I just marathoned Athena. Truly wonder how I managed to finish it. Oh yeah, it's cuz my model/actor guy had a bit part in it! LOL
I'm currently also watch Your the Best, Lee Soon Shin. So releived the birth secret is out to everyone. Now let's get on with the romance! Also watching Cyrano (so cute) and want to get into Shark but haven't had the time yet.
Let me know if you want my itin for research/planning purposes...
Aaaand... I'm back. Internist decided I needed more than a tetanus booster so I got pertussis and measles (!!!) boosters at the same time. Needless to say, I got sick from the shots, so spent valuable trip planning time flat on my back for about 24 hours. Yeesh, it sucks getting old. *hmpf*
So to answer your questions and/or comments:
@Korazy Lady: Hee, so true! Should I run around looking for Song Joong-ki, or have you moved on to a new boy toy now? One that wears a tank top in the rain, perchance? :P
@zgznoona: I've got another e-mail in the works for you. Still waiting to hear from Daejeon and Daegu chingu...
@korfan: Thanks! Good thing it's a long flight so I can catch up on sleep. The planning is wearing me out big time!
@aigoo: Outside of the static dates listed above, plans are pretty fluid right now. I have friends living in Daejeon and Daegu that I should visit (or be kicking myself for another 5 years for missing them). Working on meeting up with @zgznoona who is closer to Busan at present. Hoping to get over to the East Sea and pay my respects to Donghae... both of them. :D Several other jaunts in the mix that I will reveal when it gets closer to my departure. Maybe in next week's OT?
@Carole McDonnell: Congrats on the new book! I have great respect for you folks that can achieve something so awesome. Outside of my recaps, my writings will never see the light of day. I'm a much better musician than wordscribe anyway. ㅋ
@saya: Thanks as well! The docs said I might suffer some 'discomfort' after being poked and prodded (and not in a way I would prefer...). What they neglected to tell me was HOW MUCH discomfort the after-effects would give me. It was not pretty.
@sweetcloud: Whenever I make any mention of "My Precious," that means the one, the only, accept no substitutes... star of stage, screen and Chapaghetti CFs: Ji Chang-wook. (SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!) I've written down a few greeting sentences that I am diligently practicing so I don't sound like some silly fangirl gaijin when I'm there. They've never had any visitors from the States attend their events before, so my primary goal is to 'not scare the natives' by rushing the stage. Or fainting. Or both. :P
@affistar: I'm looking at pretty much the same experiences you had too. The only thing I'm slightly worried about is my accommodations for my first three nights. Because the fan meeting date was pushed up three days and I had to change my flight plans, the person I was going to bunk with will not be in town and I'm scrambling for alternatives. I'm sure something will come through soon; if not, it's off to the saunas to sleep! ;)
Slightly miffed that I'll miss the Shinhwa shows by a few days (*sob*), but I might try to sneak in another K.Will concert instead. Jang Kiha and the Faces are playing towards the end of my trip, and I'd love to see them live. Other than that, only 12 more sleeps until departure... and this is the time my MacBook Pro decides to keel over dead? DAMMIT. *grumble*
Sorry for the long post. See you all at next Friday's OT!
My lovely Beanies, my best wishes for a very happy Friday, OT and weekend from a classroom full of police officers somewhere outside of Vienna
hwaiting!
hey Kakashi, just want to say that i love ur blog, and i look forward to ur recaps of TEN and squeecaps of Heartless City...just as soon as i start watching it! also love the co-bloggers, shuk and others!
Thanks! As always, it's good to see you out here, and I hope all the school stuff is going well. Hard to believe it's been 7 months since the BB concert in NJ...
WAML 19 / 20 squeecaps are a bit lagging, unfortunately. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, so it's been a lot of running around getting the tests done, the post-procedure drugs picked up, and the arrangements to stay at the 'rents until healed. But I'm partway through 19 despite everything, and I should get them to our wonderful kakashi soon. There probably won't be as many funny static stuff, but the cute should outweigh that.
Hi Shuk! I think I'm rejoining the dramabeans community (after being away for way too long :) ). How have you been? I hope things have been going well for you, and I hope everything works out with your surgery!
Omgosh shuk, I had no idea u were getting surgery... I hope everything's okay??? Take as much time as u need for the squeecaps!!!! The BB boys need to come back soon...m already side eying as to when TOP is going to enlist....it needs to be as far away from now as possible!
Hai Kakashi, I really enjoy reading your TEN 2 recaps and so excited when I read you will do squeecaps for Cruel City! Those 2 are the only dramas I'm watching currently. Looking forward to the recaps and squeecaps!! ;)
Interesting week: Began with a robin with a speckled yellow breast sitting on my porch, not moving no matter how many times we walked past him. Only left when our pitbull ran over to him (her?) to sniff him. Then my second novel, Constant Tower, was released. Sooner than I'd expected. Very happy. Not happy with the price though. $17 for a paperback by a no-name genre-writer is a bit steep. At least in my book. I rarely buy books over $13.00 unless I know the author. At least the kindle won't be expensive. So now I have to set up the book launch party. Probably will be at the library. Then I got a very nasty review for my short story collection from some woman who had some major axe to grind and who didn't know me. 95% of what she said was wrong. I fumed about it but I didn't send her a ranting email. Apparently, I have matured and mellowed and no longer get into arguments with reviewers on the internet. Gotta thank a writer friend for sending me a strong rebuking letter about letting stuff like that go. Then older son totally stressed me out. As the Yiddish Proverb goes: "Without children, what would one do for aggravation?" So, yeah, strange week for me in my generally calm life.
Dramas:
Gu Family Book: Oh my!!! The actress who plays Seo Hwa!!! Wow!!!!! That last scene!!! Such a great actress -- the ability to show so many complicated emotions in one short scene. Magnificent! Question about Head Gisaeng Cheon: I don't understand why she told Big Bad that the woman they saw was fake. Surely, a person should know to keep certain to herself...especially if she is a spy...especially if the guy is her enemy. Was it just stupidity? Was it an attempt to bond with Big Bad so he would trust her? Was it an example of throwing a victim in his way to keep his anger at her at bay? It really bothered me. As for my poor tragic Wol Ryung: I just grieve so much at the way he's trying to hold onto his mind and his soul as he sees them and himself fading away into nothingness, death, and possible demonhood. Very like watching someone battle Alzheimers. So sad. Love that this is a great k-drama that does a birth secret story and a (fight against) amnesia story well. Plus it does the k-drama bad timing thing well also. All are so hard to do . But when they're done well, wow! And Gu does it so well. Loving the fantasy world as well. Everything seems to take place in a high folkloric realm. Just enough mundane earthly stuff like the war to ground it but other than that...pure folklore. I've been listening ot the My Love Hurts OST everyday and even wake up thinking about it.
Last Cinderella: Uhm... Still watching. Not sure what the heck is going on. I have no patience with guys who wait to tell their love. Of course, his former girlfriend waited to tell her love and when she returned it was too late. So, Rintaro, do what you feel like doing.
Monstar: Good but I'm not liking the subtle k-drama cliches that have slipped in. Folks not figuring out or not telling how they're related, flaky k-drama bad timing. Not done well here.
I Hear Your Voice: Oh my Gosh! My favorite of the new batch. Great storytelling, good characters and everything feels and flows so organically. Can't wait to see how the arcs of each episode/defendant work with the whole over-arching story.
Cyrano Dating: Is Moo-jin gay? Would be interesting if we had a gay couple match-up. Not liking the idea that the two leads are being set up to like each other. . . feels almost as if it's too much. It's complicated already without all that, and without possibility of bar guy entering into the love mix. And who is paying him? It just feels as if they overplotted because they didn't trust their premise. Am liking it though, so will still be watching.
One Hundred Year Inheritance: I tried jumping back into this. Episode 44. Ah me! But I just want an end and with 6 more episodes to go, I just KNOW some other problem is going to pop up or stuff will be draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagged out.
Barefoot friends: Cracking me up. Although...now Bum Soo is freaking me out. I cannot deal with neat freaks.
Marathoning: Mandate of Heaven, Shark, Cruel City, Bad Boys J. Somehow allowed them to get ahead of me. Trying to get back into Gu Am Jeo Hoon.
Movies seen: That night, the Samurai. Slow, lovely, bittersweet, touching
Perfect Game: oh my gosh! I just cried and cried. Loooooooooooove this movie.
Anime: Oh my gosh! I totally totally totally recommend Aku no Hana! (Flowers of Evil.) This has to be one of the most wonderful examination of stress, bullying, etc. I am totally addicted to this anime and I feel for the protag's plight so intensely sometimes it's hard to watch. I have moments where I want to shake him and tell him to trust in himself but he's so puritanical and so self-loathing, it'll be hard to see how he's gonna turn around...if ever. One of the best animes I've seen in a while.
Looking forward to seeing: Sky Pirate Captain Harlock. Starring: Shun Oguri and Haruma Miura. Coming in September.
Last Cinderella, the last few episodes I was like, "Ah, I love you are slipping away from Western values."
A lot of Japanese dramas go what Americans would consider subtle. (British too, from what I've observed.)
So *spoilers for Last Cinderella*
1. BTW., He proposes. Kyaaaaaaaa!!!
Anyway... back....
So Kintarou's girlfriend shows up... it's clear she hurt him by leaving him to be with a man that turned out to be a loser and had regrets. This is understandable. Kintarou, with the pressure to get married and seeing Sakura has been thinking about marriage too--something we haven't seen in the previous episodes, so this fleshes it out.
Kintarou all this time has been holding out for this girlfriend, but finds when she gets back he has no feelings for her anymore. He has no idea why.
But his girlfriend points out two critical things. That he has too much involvement with Sakura (which is a Japanese sign of love... when you are involved in everything and care about their outcomes, Japanese say that's when you are interested in them... and everyone senses it except Kintarou... and oddly enough his mom. Though Mom's approval kinda seals the deal for Kintarou. Anyway, has to do with Honne. Knowing someone's honne that deeply can be love (in the Japanese sense). Kintarou also gained points when oddly Sakura is like his mom... though Sakura isn't his type.)
His girlfriend also kinda pointed out in her comment that one of the reasons she didn't feel secure and moved on was because of Sakura--she never could get that level of relationship. But at the same time Sakura isn't Kintarou's usual type since he's been resisting Ms. Murasaki who outdates Freud by quite a bit. (The whole you choose someone like your opposite sex parent.)
So it's clear he's in love with Sakura and has been, but has failed to realize or want to do anything about it. He keeps getting involved with her business and outcomes more than her friends do. Most of his conflict has been internal and well written.
The question is how are they going to resolve him, because he's between that friend and a lover zone for the entire drama with only little tips that he's thinking about more, but is seriously hesitating.
BTW, the next episode I think is a tipping point. =P Watched ahead a little.
Thanks for the update! That point better tip soon. Still, it's gonna take a lot to make me believe Sakura suddenly realized she liked him all the time. But if the script is done really well, I could buy that. Right now, I think I'm just not sure which of these guys I want her with... Probably Rintaro. So I've jumped ship from Hiroto. But maybe this'll have been a good thing for Hiroto...to help unstuck him.
I just watched the first ep of I Hear Your Voice yesterday, and loved it. It looks like it'll turn out not so fluffy and cute - I actually thought it had a good balance between lightheartedness and a serious plot.
I am having a busy day at work, so I'm scribbling a few lines here and there, and doing a lotta running XD
Isn't it fun, Saya! It really is gonna be one of my crack dramas.
I totally love Mom. I have a special love for the Moms and kids in k-dramas. They're so wonderfully drawn. I also think the other lawyer...the hottie who talks a lot who was a cop..is such a cute character. Nice gender flip there. Generally the newbie girl is the chatterbox and the guy is the distant cold person.
HAve a wonderful busy day! Nice seeing you commenting again.
I love that Moms face. LOVE it. I want to kiss her soft cheek and be mommed by her. You know, as an extra mom. Because I love my actual mom and she does a good job of momming, too.
I know, right! It's one of my pet loves in my favourite dramas, the wonderful, warm parents - it totally offsets the prescription makjang parents. And EXACTLY, I adore my mum, and I love to feel the same about drama parents.
I just loved the part in ep1 after she burned the money and goes around the corner and collapses, and is all, 'was I good, was I good?'
I did blink a bit at Jung Dong Hwan turning up - I didn't realise he was in it, and I was still suffering Nine after-effects (I just marathoned it the week before) so I was all, 'You! I know you! Ha!' I was also laughing a little at how Salem Witch-hunty the false accusation bit was, but at the same time, it didn't feel too contrived (to me, anyway).
I deliberately decided not to watch any of the last crop of dramas as they aired (i.e Nine, GFB, etc), and I kind of missed the buzz, even as I was glad I didn't have to wait. So now! I'll take fandom with waiting!
Big congratulations on your book, Carole! I'm impressed that you write books at the same time as keeping up with dramas. I've been trying to write for years, but I always keep getting waylaid by some new show, a new book, a new ANYTHING. I am basically this, but waaaay less accomplished!
Get that book written! Just sit down and write. My time management is okay but not great when i want to procrastinate.
I love seeing folks from
Bad old Doctor Choi in Nine and also as Prosecutor Dad in I hear your voice. He's got such a sweet face when he's not going all evil.
Guy who loved bullying Kang Chi in Gu Family turns up as driver for idol in Monstar.
There was a drama way back with the same situation of two girls, one of whom is the maid's daughter and the other is the Employer's daughter. In that, the employer's daughter was horrible at school and there were complications with switched grades and vengeance later. When our heroine started telling the story of her life, I remembered that drama and kept thinking, "Is she making it up and using the drama as her backstory real life?" It took a while before I realized she was telling the truth and not usurping a drama heroine's life.
Making up the meta in dramas is so fun - I love things connecting as well. For example, in Arang, when Dol Sae walks around muttering that Arang must be a ghost or a gumiho, I tittered to myself. Oh, speaking of - one of the Bangs is also the guy who hired Hye-Sung, as well as the hopeless professor in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Stuff connecting up makes it feel like a small and comfortable world, as well as really tickling me.
Thanks for the writing advice, Carole! My problem with writing is that I get waylaid by other writing XD Emails, letters to my future self, letters to my past self, letters to nobody, emails to people I don't speak to anymore, emails to people I can't do without, more emails, notes to self, backstory, more backstory and no forward-story. Like that. I am hopeless!
I just polished off my first recap for a show I love and used to watch many long years ago, The Mysterious Cities of Gold - it's not post-ready yet, but I'm planning to finish it off tomorrow. It's taken FOREVER for a 23-minute long episode XD I've averaged at 93 words per minute of screentime. So much MORE respect to the DB team to add to the already off-the-scales respecks.
Thanks, Korfan!
Maybe my mind can rest a little now. I never seem to be able to let go of a novel until I have the written book in my hand! Waiting for the mailman to bring my author copies. Ah, the smell of new book in the morning!
WoW, very cool, Carole. I still want that feel of a book in my hands (as opposed to kindle), so I'll pay the price. Papebacks have really gone up, but that's okay, I'll pay for a book if I really want it. Congratulations!
Wow carolle! Your ability to watch so many dramas totally boggles my mind!! I am in awe of your time management skills!!!
Loved the comparison of Wol Ryung to Alzheimers - seems like a fitting comparison!
You write? Wow....didn't know that! That's so cool! I totally wish I could write....I just have no creativity so I'm pretty sure that's a dream down the drain! LOL!
How's Bad Boys J? I was toying with the idea of taking a peek at it but wasn't sure if it was good. Do you recommend?
Yes, i write. I'm sure you have creativity. If not in writing, then cooking/cuisines or interior decorating or gardening.
Yeah, the drama thing..I watch too many. But the insomnia is waning a bit now. Am avoiding everything processed and everything with caffeine so I'm sleeping better. Other than that, I basically watch dramas from around 4 pm to 8 pm at night. Way better and healthier than watching them in the middle of the night.
Bad Boys is fun. It's the fighting genre. I don't know the rules of the genre, but there seems to be ...generally...groups of young men at war with each other. For some reason. For some ideal. For some turf. Or just to be TOP. They have girls who are part of the gang. There are rules to follow, outrages to avenge, etc. I like Bad Boys. After the third episode, you kinda get the feel of the culture of each gang, and you get an idea of what the writer's arc is. The guys in Sugarless --another fight genre drama-- are way hotter than the guys in "Bad Boys" but "Bad Boys" has more of a plot.
LOL! You may recant that statement once you get to know me a bit better.....i barely ever cook, can't grow a weed to save my life, and know nothing about interior decorating! LOL!
I like action films so maybe I'll give bad boys a shot!!! Although I'm an even bigger sucks for hot bad boys - so maybe sugarless first!! I had actually thought about starting this as well but I never seem to have the time!!
::big grin:: When we meet we'll go out for lunch then. My cooking's pretty bad as well.
The guys in Bad boys are cute as well, but the guys in sugarless are off the charts hot! They belong to all categories of hotness..which is perfect for me because I LOVE ALLLLL categories of hotness.
I do cooking, drawing, sewing (designing dresses--I made my own hanbok and am making one for a friend), writing (poetry, fiction--non fiction kills me), sculpting (Real life and computer), painting, jewelery, gardening, animation, programming (Mostly scripts that do things like generate Korean names), knitting (make my own patterns), crocheting, calligraphy, embroidery.
I've also tried acting, dancing and music... I'm not so good at music... I got stunted along the way.
I tried to pick the majority up because I reasoned I can write better if I know all those things.
Creativity, though can also be thinking about things in a sideways fashion from everyone else. Everyone says that cheese is for eating, you look at it and think, it would make a great piece of art.
Everyone says, you have two options, you look for a third. Everyone agrees, but you see it another way that others may not think of.
Part of creativity is critical thinking and persisting at things you aren't good at. It's the willingness to fail "Failure is an option" and thinking outside of the usual solutions given to you. (Creativity is part masochism matched with an uneven ego.)
Writing fiction definitely fosters that sort of thinking since you need to think of all of the solutions to the problem to keep the story interesting and coming up with a solution that the reader didn't consider is one of the fun things about writing fiction.
So I'm with Carole, I bet you're creative somewhere in your life.
Oh my!!! You make hanboks!!!! Oh gee, I'm gonna be one of your customers one day. I once saw an African-kente-cloth hanbok done by a modern Korean designer and fell in love with it.
Art and creativity tend to hang together so if you are talented in one art you often are talented in others as well. I tend to think of myself as a jack of 3 or four trades and master of one. And i;m not even a true perfect master of fiction yet. Hope to get there though. At this time, I just do fiction and design fabric as a hobby over at spoonflower (dot) com.
I used to paint and play violin back in the day but maybe I'll do those again when i'm older.
But you have so so so many talents you're still working on. You're kinda making me jealous tht i didn't keep track of my talents and hone all of them.
You can buy a Joseon pattern at folkwear.com. They also have Kimono and interior design. I requested they pattern a durumagi and also a Hanfu (I sooo want a hanfu), but they haven't been able to release it because of the economy.
Hanbok (the chima part) is incredibly easy to make. 3x your bust size, make pleats, and then put on ties and the shoulder straps. The Jeogori varies through time, but is easier than you think.
I'm making a Dangui too (the court dress), and have been studying so I can mod the pattern so it looks like one.
You can buy the material at Sonjjang... or just look for Jacquard fabric. Satin also works. I use heavy-weight cotton as well.
I'm having trouble with making a choli for the sari I received though. (I got it from a friend who bought it in India... I'm making her a hanbok in return...)
@Carole
So true about them being related... I usually end up rotating based on interest, etc. I've made rugs and I'm learning quilting too... (Which isn't far from sewing, just takes much more precision and measuring). I like picking up new art skills. They say when your mental faculties are gone, your motor skills are still remembered. Also creativity keeps your mind and memory sharper. Being able to frame objects into a story helps memory.
I've been crafting stories since I was five or so... I made my cousins put on a play for my parents and aunt and uncle once too. We wrote and produced it ourselves. I originally wanted to be an actress... before I came to the US and then found that prejudice would hold me back. I wish I'd persisted though... (I was in a commercial... and did a little modeling too.)
Stories are my first love though. I can deconstruct them and I love being surprised at plot points.
Gosh, KimYoonmi, I envy you.
You seem to have the best of all world.
I have to admit it is me who is the biggest enemy of myself, being too lazy.
I used to design my own dresses and did cross-stitch, designed and made 3D cards with some traditional pattern as the border, or write. I never do any of that anymore.
Caught in work-routine, and it fast tiring and drains all positive energy.
I wish I could follow your lead.... somehow, someday.
(Why not start now? I know...sigh....)
Thanks for the folkswear.com hint! Definitely checking that out. Will be a while till I have time to make anything (and I don't have a sewing machine right now either, only at my parents') but that's definitely a project I want to have a go at!!!
You're Welcome. The pattern is not modernized, but you can modernize it if you want or make a sokchima... (So your underwear doesn't show)
@MEalways
Creativity and art to me are the ways I relax and breathe. I watch TV and knit and draw. I write before I go to bed--I do those things on the weekend too. When I handmake a gift for someone, it means something. Doesn't matter if I'm working or not...
Congratulations on the release of your second book Carole!!
I am also loving "I Hear your Voice" and it is my new "crack drama". Enjoyed the first two episodes and can't wait for the unveiling of the rest of the characters and the here's keeping my fingers' crossed that the storyline will be good.
My other crack drama is Heartless City/Cruel City which i have been raving with other beanies on this OT. Check it out if you haven't yet. It is something very very different and I could not imagine rooting for a kingpin character!!
So far, I've watched three episodes. Just caught up with the last two. I'm really liking this one now, but is it me or does female detective constantly do stupid things? And hasn't she been undercover longer than her fiance? Or am i just judging her harshly?
I'll keep watching it, though. I like Auntie/Chairman. And I love Doctor's Son.
it's not just you. The drama is very slick and all but a few things bother me from the first episode. firstly, getting scale seemed to be too easy. they couldn't nail him all this time and suddenly the new guy is assigned and comes up with a plan which didn't even seem all that covert and they got close to getting him already.
and then yes, the second thing that bothered me was the lady detective. how she had no control over emotions and compromised operations and self and team with her action. irritated me.
doc's son is too crazy charismatic though so I am still watching.
Thanks, Korazy Lady. I really don't think I watch that many. Do I? Four hours every afternoon, after writing. And maybe five or six hours on the weekend. That's not too many, is it?
If it's not interfering with RL, it's not too many! My problem is I sit down to watch something, then get sucked into the black hole of google or its companion, youtube. It makes watching take that much longer for me.
You are obviously doing something right, because you are actually having books published! Which I think is awesome.
It doesn't seem to be up at kindle yet. Kindling might take another week! Or so. I'm in the Hudson Valley, about 30 miles north, kitty-corner across the river from West Point.
"I Hear Your Voice" might be a sleeper hit if it keeps up. Only seen first two episodes, but it could be far above average just based on those. So far I like the idea that they go into the background of the various characters more than most dramas do.
This Week:
- Got dolled up again and found out that yet another event was canceled. >.<;;
- Resubmitted my story to another magazine. (Why are magazines in the US so culturally narrow while people are beating on their chest about the melting pot??? Hmm?)
Culture Notes: I thought I'd do a mini language lesson and mini culture note for each (Japan and Korea) with a loose set of notes for Chinese (though I don't know that much.) 'cause it drives me nuts when people can't tell the difference and think the languages are interchangeable. (Personal trigger for a long rant).
Dramas
Dramas have been kinda thin for me. I'm still looking for that fast paced oh so funny rom-com that sweeps me away--'cause haven't had one in a while and Master's Sun isn't a shoe in for that since the Hong Sisters have been experimenting. (Why I love them... also their propensity to make a drama around a theme and sacrifice everything to that theme).
So to bide my time I've been thinking... Game: Can you connect any Korean actor/actress to Kevin Bacon through kisses in less than 7 moves? I mean, is the network wide enough with Korean actors that you can say something like... by proxy Gary has really kissed Ji Hyo... because you saw Gary kiss someone else, who kissed someone else, that kissed Ji Hyo.
Which really tells you how much I miss a really heart-stopping roll-on-the-floor rom com Korean drama.
Lee Soon Shin
I have a rant about the handling of adoption somewhere in there, including the constant sob fest manufactured to be a sobfest.
And of course the mothers. And of course the lack of romance this week as the adoption story took over, kinda pissing me off, 'cause it took only a few minutes to watch both episodes.
Heo Joon
This drama continues to impress me, never taking the easy route and keeping the pace at a really nice clip. I guess that's what you get when you're writing the script for the third time... or is it fourth? (He's done this script 2 times before at least).
Last Cinderella
OMG, the spoiler when the preview ending said "Kekkon..." I about died. And despite the cast listing, I still feel on edge (besides Miura... and all the other pretty male faces) because of the plot is still making me go back and forth.
I can only say, "Go get 'em" meaning defeat all of the other Onee-san dramas and About 40 dramas.
This drama argues sexy without the sex well.
Pan ya
I really like this drama for the slow pacing.
Cyrano
The love stories portrayed are cute. And I like the overlapping structure of the 1 per week rule, with the background story expounded upon, but girl has to have her own edge to bring to the team.
The only virtue Min Yeong is bringing to the team is that she's a girl... and I don't like that at all. I mean the other guys should also get a chance to mess up. I'm waiting, drama, for you to up your game and show that Min Yeong has skills she can contribute directly to the team, rather than her being there as a precarious plot device as a "Watson" to the Sherlock. (The patsy that's the stand-in for the reader/viewer who doesn't know anything).
Don't gut the character (From the movie) and give her nothing in skill set except the ability to mess things up. You cut the script writer character... maybe she could do that?
Even Watson had medical skills which helped Holmes.
See, in Tokage, the female character often messes things up. She is also a Watson character, playing the role of introducing the characters and world. BUT she contributes to the team, through having other skill sets, such as a sharp sense of smell and fairly good instincts. She's not just dead meat doing nothing and failing to support the male characters.
The original female character was the costume designer who knew the psychology of men well. She contributed a lot to the team, helping come up with plans, outfits, and had noonchi to spare.
So where is the skill Min Yeong has?
Barefoot Friends
Episode 7 was really good, and they finally got the hang of the variety TV show v. the travel show problem. UEE, still hasn't got enough presence though... I keep forgetting she's there. HJ and SY are stealing the show for me and I'm rolling a lot in laughter. BS is starting to stand out a bit... I like the addition of the new cast member too, it's bringing a better dynamic. They finally brought in stakes and punishment, though Korean style, so the competition isn't serious.
Meanwhile... Hwasin has turned into a normal talk show, which is boring, because if the guests suck, then it's boring. They no longer are doing the rankings or the skits or the surveys--which were my favorite parts of the show. I guess those didn't get rankings, but the survey results felt like they were helping me with my stories.
The other thing I've been thinking is this Moral Problem I received in the sixth grade and I wanted to know if anyone else had the same solution as me. (I'm also wondering how cultural my reaction was.)
So the problem is this: Your mom is dying and you know that there is this drug that can save her life at the local pharmacy (Notice that the US doesn't have universal health coverage). You can't afford this drug (say something like Pfizer jacked the prices). So, your choices are: Steal the drug and have your mom live. Or let her die.
The answer I came up with my class hated and I got pounded on for it. But I wanted to see if anyone else would come up with the same answer. =P I was precocious.... so I still think that's the right answer.
Japanese
csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/dirtyguide.html
That's a dirty guide... I'm going to give an even shorter guide.
Japanese is a conceptual, SOV language with no future tense.
The written system consists of kana (hiragana ひらがな and Katakana カタカナ) and Kanji (Chinese characters.) It's an agglutinating language (more than English which is classed as isolating.) Japanese uses syllabary. (Consonant/vowel together... so for example, かis one glyph, but stands for the sound "Ka".) the only consonant that can be alone at the end is "n" there are ways to double the consonant through a small "tsu" before the consonant. Such as in だって (datte). But you won't ever see anything such as "kr" in Japanese. (Christmas in Japanese transliteration is Kurisumasu.)
Japanese has postpositions. (Prepositions after). A subject marker, object marker, etc. "Watashi wa" wa==subject marker (postposition). There are no articles (the, a, etc).
Japanese has counters and you have to conjugate adjectives. (Painful)
Japanese does differentiate between voiced and unvoiced consonants.
Japanese doesn't have any true plurals (not like English). The best you can do is tack on "taichi" which is more like "and the company". But generally, plurals are derived from context, and all plurals are dropped.
Chinese characters also didn't get modified that often from Chinese.
There are speech levels in Japanese, though they aren't as strict as Korean, but are more strict that English ever was. (English did have speech levels way back, not that anyone remembers it).
Age also influences a lot.
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Vowel length in Japanese matters a whole lot. Obaa-san v. oba-san.
Arigatou Gozaimasu. 有難う御座いました
Quick Cultural note: Umbrellas in Japan...
Korean
Korean uses Hangeul. (which is composite to make syllables) <-- I already went over this.
Korean is also conceptual, but has a future tense.
Korean is also agglutinating.
Korean has counters and you have to conjugate adjectives. (Painful)
Koreans invented their own Chinese characters to combine concepts. There is debate over using Chinese characters in schools in South Korea. It's called HANJA. (Romaja is the romanization.) I will strangle people who call Korean Chinese characters "Kanji" for some many reasons, including the reason I mentioned. (Koreans invented their own and the pronunciation and meaning is different... so it's NOT the same.)
Korean usually has no plurals. Only using plurals for clarification. The plural "deul" as in Chingu-deul isn't used that frequently as it is in English.
There are age ranks in Korean, leftover from Confucianism. It's more strict than Japanese, though it's relaxing over time. (the honorifics have a different significance in Korean than Japanese)
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Holding on vowels isn't taxed against you.
Korean has two counting systems used for different things. (Also painful to remember). One is Chinese-based, the other is Korean-based. (I don't know any other country that has two counting systems.)
Korean does *not* differentiate between voiced and unvoiced sounds. (which is why ㅂ doesn't sound like specifically b or p... (but you need sharp ears for that.)
Korean has spaces in the speech.
Korean has postpositions. (Prepositions after). A subject marker, object marker, etc. "Na neun" neun==subject marker (postposition). There are no articles (the, a, etc).
Kamsahamnida. 감사합니다
Quick Cultural Note: Han... the concept. (Koreans call themselves Hanguk saram)
This is suffering for a long time, but working hard to overcome the deficit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_%28cultural%29
If you understand that, then you can understand the long separation ending of traditional Korean romances. (though it's been revised in the modern era.)
If Chinese endings are infuriating for ending sadly, then Korean romances (traditionally) are infuriating for saying that true love is when you have a long separation and still can come back and love that person.
Chinese(Mandarin) (Note that I haven't learned much...)
Korean and Japanese mostly takes from Cantonese and the Qin groups in pronunciation. (Mostly because they traded, rather than conquered)
Chinese is a DIFFERENT language group than Japanese or Korean. They use Ideographs. (Which means the glyphs represent ideas rather than sound.) For the love of whatever you hold dear, don't call the Chinese characters "symbols" All written language is symbols. That's ignorant. It's IDEOGRAPHS.
There are age rankings. Gege... Jie, etc. Also the same emphasis on honorifics, though, again, not used the same way.
Chinese is an isolating SVO (like English) language.
Chinese has counters.
Chinese (as far as I know) doesn't have a subject/object marker. It doesn't have articles.
It has no conjugation!! (The pain from English).
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Chinese has tones. (I've noticed some affect (emotions) is done through volume in places English doesn't... but I'm not sure of this.)
xie4xie. 謝謝
Quick Cultural Note: I'm dying to know about Wuism.... which is the shamanistic religion of China, but suffered really hard under several Han emperors. I haven't been able to find much.... which is rare. (Since Muism has more material... usually you find more about China than Korea)
Did you know?: That China invented the printing press. (Wasn't Gutenberg) and Koreans invented movable type? (Was Gutenberg). What Gutenburg did invent was the adjustable frames for the printing press. That makes more sense since Chinese invented durable paper before anyone else (durable being the key word) and hangeul lends itself to movable type. (Many inventions are like that... for example, the lightbulb was NOT invented by Edison.)
Ah cultural lessons. These are always interesting~
I have a couple of questions though.
-Doesn't Japanese also have two counting systems? I'm not sure if it works the same way as the Korean system does, but I recall my friend (who studies japanese) complaining about how she never knew which number to use when she just started.
-What exactly are 'counters'? I've tried looking it up but I have trouble understanding it, having never studied linguistics.
There's a couple things I don't think you mentioned when you were talking about Chinese (forgive me if I overlooked it, it was a lot of information to process!) , which you did mention for the other languages:
-(mandarin) Chinese does not have speech levels like Korean and Japanese. You obviously do need to adapt your speech depending on who you're talking to, but there's no special speech level, so it's a bit like english. There IS a formal 'you' though (like the french vous).
-(mandarin) Chinese doesn't have a plural. The most you can do is add a 'men (们) ' when you're talking about people (eg: friend (pengyou) would become 'peng you men' (朋友们)), but this isn't used (or even useable) in every situation.
And then theres just one little thing I wanted to add about Kanji:
I /think/ the Japanese use more or less the same characters as the /traditional/ chinese characters (though the meaning may have changed a bit), whereas mainland China has simplified their characters. (The traditional characters are still used in Taiwan and Hongkong.)
However, I have noticed that some kanji are different from the traditional chinese characters.
Something I noticed (when looking at restaurant menus in different countries) was the alteration of the word 'chicken'.
in traditional Chinese: 雞
In simplified Chinese: 鸡
in Japanese kanji: 鶏
Which, ironically, makes it easier for me (having only learned simplified Chinese) to guess what the Japanese kanji would mean rather than the traditional Chinese one.
Japanese doesn't have more than one counting system. It's the counters that mess you up.
ichi, ni, san, (shi)/Yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, juu, kyuu. (Spelled out for the benefit of those hiragana inhibited)
hitsuji ichi-biki hitsuji ni-piki... etc. (Counting Sheep)
Or ni-kai... (Japanese) san kai... (If I remember, this is for flat objects, like plates, but there are two counters for plates v. paper... IIRC... Counters are a weak point for me.)
Counters function to tell you *what* kind of object you are counting and only show up when you are counting certain objects or saying there are certain objects. A pain to remember and usually show up in the second year. (Also not used that frequently)
biki/piki (which is sound blending as in the English \wader\ for water. All languages I know have this.) is for animals, but I believe only herd animals?? birds have a different counter. And small animals like nezumi (rodents in general since there isn't a word to distinguish between a hamster/rat/mouse... Korean and Chinese oddly share this feature... I had trouble trying to distinguish for two people that don't speak English natively...) A pain in the butt.
So based on what category of object you have, you count with a different counter.
Now Korean, not only does it have counters (Which tell about categories of objects), but there are two different counting systems (As in numbers).
il, i, sam, sa, oh, yuk, chil, pal, kuu, ship, etc is the Chinese-derived. (Which sounds a lot like Cantonese, BTW and Qin, from what I'm told).
v. Hana, tul, Set, net, taseot, yaseot, ilgeop, yadeol, ahop, yul, etc. Which is Korean-derived. (Said to be related to Mongolian?? and distantly *maybe* Turkish/Hungarian, or Finnish... linguists aren't sure since Korean is so old and no one is sure what Old Korean sounded like which would give more clues.)
Add to that counters and using the number systems to count different things and it's a lot of trouble.
Re: Japanese Kanji.
True, but by and large the majority stayed the same. Also that Japanese often also took from the Qin/Cantonese a long time ago, which might be some of the differences. Also Japanese, though they tend to not like to admit it imported a lot of characters early on from Korean, though there was some effort to clean it up at some point that I'm a bit foggy on.
I'm also a bit foggy on Chinese linguistics though I know the basics. (As in evolution of characters and regionalities between the ethnic groups v. the government trying to regulate it.)
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1 korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 6:23 AM
Good Morning Beanies! After several gorgeous days, I’m looking at a deluge outside. Good day to curl up with a drama, I guess.
Speaking of which, now that WAML is over, I’m down to just 2, AHYI and YTBLSS. I’ve watched the first episodes of a few things but nothing has grabbed me so far. I was thinking of watching Childless Comfort, since it’s by the same writer as 1000 Day Promise, which I just finished for the second time and loved. Can anyone offer their opinion?
I guess I was mildly happy with WAML’s ending, which was especially good for those who like things all tied up in neat little packages. I’m beginning to think writers are afraid to be unpopular by doing something dramatic these days. All in all, it was entertaining, and I will miss it and the squeezing it generated.
Happy Friday to everyone out there!
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kakashi
June 7, 2013 at 6:25 AM
hello my lovely Korazy! my best wishes to you :)
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 6:29 AM
How's your conference going? I see you changed the blog layout, too. Busy woman!
BTW, you will love Heartless City, but me of a faint heart will not be watching, nor will I ever look at my husband's golf club in the same way, haha!
I hope there are no more shootings to interrupt your conference :)
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kakashi
June 7, 2013 at 6:36 AM
I'm not at a conference but teaching :)
we're doing a crisis mapping exercise right now, soon, we'll be done!
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 6:41 AM
I thought you were teaching at a conference :)
kakashi
June 7, 2013 at 10:40 AM
ah, no. Teaching in a classroom. Austrian police officers. VERY smart creatures
but now I'm heading home
KDaddict
June 7, 2013 at 6:58 AM
Hello there,
I think Childless Comfort is the best long drama I've ever watched. The 1st couples eps might not grab you right away as they show 3 old fogey brothers shooting the breeze. From ep 3 onwards, more n more chars show up, and as we get to know each one, that family becomes so endearing. There r no bad guys, no nasty mother-I-Ls, no damsel in distress. It just builds on each previous ep, until, would u believe it, a family drama becomes a crack drama! That's some feat, u know? I started following the show after it got these incredible hi ratings for a cable show of 6, then they went fr hi to higher to the stratosphere. And as I watched, I fully understood why they got such ratings. Must watch IMO n those of millions of HHs in Korea.
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 9:41 AM
I am definitely going to start watching. I do feel the writer is wonderful so I'm looking forward to it now. Thanks!
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kdramapedia
June 7, 2013 at 7:01 AM
I agree with you about WAML. It wasn't a fantastic ending, but I feel content with it. It was a good ride for me, so I'm walking away feeling positive about it. Sometimes a nice little bow is okay.
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Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:05 AM
Hi Korazy Lady!
Now that WAML is over - what are your thoughts on it? I bailed by episode 3 and I'm not if I should have ever picked it up again.....I don't think it was my kind of drama but maybe the ending totally brought everything together and I'm missing out on the best drama ever!...Am I?
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 7:16 AM
Well, not in my book! It's a strange one - maybe a 7/10, but a lot of that was due to the good looking "scenery" of Song Seung Heon. The female lead, to me, was so unlikable, but to a point where it was almost funny. The story was good but fell into the overused kdrama trap of birth secrets and company takeover plots (another reason I would advocate for 16 episode limits on dramas.) Actually, you should read the squeecaps on kakashi's blog as they were a lot more entertaining than the show, then go and watch it if you think it sounds worth it!
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Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:43 AM
I've been following kakashi's recaps every now and then....but I stopped after a while because even then I didn't like how the story was going! Guess I made the right decision for me in not continuing! So many other dramas to watch!
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Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 7:16 AM
It's not the best drama ever. It's not the best written, it's not the best acted. The pacing was good, even if the seques were kind of WTF now and then. There were the normal miraculous recoveries to laugh at. But there was not a moment when you did not hope fervently for Oppa's happy ending, whether you're an Oppa lover or not. That man deserved a break, and you wanted him to find happiness, dammit, and you hated anyone who stood in the way of it, even when Oppa himself couldn't hate that person.
I'd actually watch it again. Not today, but someday. I will certainly revisit episodes, even if I never watch the whole thing again.
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Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:42 AM
Woah....you'd watch it again? After all that??!! Wait a minute....which parts will you be watching again? The shirtless ones?? LOL!!
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:53 AM
when god admired his handiwork :)
Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 7:55 AM
got that right, and any time he was just being cute or the brothers were being cute or any time Roy Chang was on the screen.
trixicopper
June 7, 2013 at 8:30 AM
I didn't think WAML was all that bad either. It wasn't the best, but I've seen worse. Much worse. :)
SSH takes a lot of heat (most of it well deserved) for his "acting ability", but I thought he was pretty damn good in this role. And as always the pretty never hurts. I am a little bitter that the abs never reappeared after the early episodes. :)
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 9:45 AM
haha! I was surfing the internet while watching TDP and read that SSH was originally supposed to play the lead. I'm not sure if that would have made me love it even more - although it may have been a stretch for his acting. But he is one beautiful man.
Windsun33
June 7, 2013 at 12:57 PM
I did not WAML, ended up fast forwarding through most, and skipped a few episodes. It started OK, started getting really draggy (as usual for far too many k-dramas) in the middle, and by 2/3 I was really really tired of watching Mi Do's two expressions - mouth open and mouth closed.
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Waiting
June 7, 2013 at 5:48 PM
"...I was really really tired of watching Mi Do’s two expressions – mouth open and mouth closed."
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
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john
June 8, 2013 at 3:56 AM
Windsun33 ~
watching Mi Do’s two expressions – mouth open and mouth closed.
Hah! Some GIFs of Mi Do opening and closing her mouth are in order.
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bambledd
June 7, 2013 at 2:13 PM
Re "When a Man Loves":
I think it started off well, got very very frustrating in the middle, and ended to the viewers' satisfaction. Agree that the pacing was good. Usually I skip over scenes but couldn't w/ this or else I'd miss a lot of info.
Song Seung Hun was pretty good in it. I thought he delivered and saved the show.
Worst thing about this drama was the female lead and 2nd lead guy. Shin Se Kyung stunk big time w/ the acting it makes me cringe just thinking of her. The 2nd lead guy got too much airtime it made you wonder, "Ok, who's the lead anyway???" I wanted to kick him all the way to Saturn. LOL
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Littlehearts
June 21, 2013 at 9:16 AM
I really have to thank everyone here. You see... I saw only a few episodes of WAML. I dint like the girl or the second hero. That scene when the second hero kisses her, it totally got me nuts. Can u see the reason??? I totally love song seung hun. Can't see him hurting. N i thanked u before for talking some good things about him. I read some comments in some other page saying he cannot act or something like that. Who cares??? I love him. Thats all i know:)
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owl
June 7, 2013 at 7:18 AM
WAML - but the shirtless scenes ended around episode 5 or 6, what's that?
game: Let's name as many what-makes-a-kdrama-a-kdrama as we can think of in WAML. I'll start:
-fake amnesia
-car accident
-bromance
-lost and found siblings
-loan sharks
-lost and found parents
Feel free to add to the list. For fun, cut and past my list, add to it, and so on, for a long list at the end. :)
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Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 7:21 AM
game: Let’s name as many what-makes-a-kdrama-a-kdrama as we can think of in WAML. I’ll start:
-fake amnesia
-car accident
-bromance
-lost and found siblings
-loan sharks
-lost and found parents
-parental disapproval of romantic choices
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 9:14 AM
completely inept police force!
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shukmeister
June 7, 2013 at 1:44 PM
Oh yeah - biggggg pet peeve, inept police and incompetent medical staff.
john
June 7, 2013 at 10:52 AM
JoAnne ~
The 2nd lead having consensual sex with the lead lady but the lead male doesn't. Is that a drama first?
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Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 3:28 PM
did they actually have sex, John? I'm so literal, LOL...unless you show me them doing it, or show me them looking like they just did it, or they SAY they did it...I always assume that no one is having sex in Korean dramas because they never show anything, and I spend time wondering how they date for so long without giving in.
*slaps own self on the head*
john
June 8, 2013 at 4:05 AM
JoAnne ~
True, they didn't have intercourse, so 3rd base? #Whena2ndleadtriestostealhome.
Stiil, is that allowed in dramaland, 2nd male lead gets to third base while lead man doesn't get a kiss?
I blame Mi Do's mom for raising a minx like daughter. Mi Do's mom was hot for Mr. Han, so much so, I'm surprised she didn't jump him.
korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 7:23 AM
- poor girl
- chaebol son
- love-sick overly nice second male lead
- annoying, obnoxious second female lead
- screaming mother/mother-in-law
- stern, unloving father
- scenes replayed rapidly three times in a row
just to name a few!
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:37 AM
ah!!! I disagree about overly nice second lead. I don't think I disliked another character quite so much before!
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 7:47 AM
OK, I read this quiz wrong. I thought we were talking about all kdramas! And yes, second leads are usually totally unlikable. I usually hate them. But they are sickening sweet to the leads, while being manipulative.
kdramapedia
June 7, 2013 at 7:56 AM
Well, Jae-Hee *was* overly nice at the beginning. Before he turned in an evil, hateful jerk...
enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:55 AM
crazy medical conditions with impossible recoveries!
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trixicopper
June 7, 2013 at 8:33 AM
Miracle cures!
Shoes as gift.
Windsun33
June 7, 2013 at 1:05 PM
When ever an awkward situation arises, offer some "fruit".
Always get mad when driving and maniacally pull to the curb in heavy traffic.
Never finish an expensive meal, no matter where.
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Enz
June 7, 2013 at 11:38 PM
Never eat, let alone finish! That was a good one!
KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 9:38 AM
Oh, I already have a list...
Every person knows that once you go to America you get F*ed up because you know how pretty it is.
1. It’s where you put the criminals of K-dramas. (In Historical Joseon dramas it’s down in Kyeongsang… which is why EVERY gangster must also come from Kyeongsang–they aren’t native to Seoul–no way.)
2. Miguk is a beautiful country with only one university/college (Harvard)–well maybe a few others, but really they don’t count
3. Anyone from this country, has a cold heart–especially adoptees who don’t know how to love. So of course they won’t, you know, communicate with their relatives even if they have Skype. (In Korean terms, not quite human.)
4. They have the best medical care EVER. So that’s where everyone gets their surgery, (Though I think only one hospital ever gets mentioned. John Hopkins… and I’m pretty sure they don’t cover all those kinds of surgery…) be it for health reasons, unless the patient needs Korean native medicine, which is clearly superior to the less painful Chinese version. (Less disgusting, just as bitter, much more painful. Trust me.)
5. It’s where a lot of mothers and fathers mysteriously die. (The Mi in Miguk must be short of “mi-stery”
6. It’s filled with makjang violence. (Also known as the Mi in Miguk must be short for “Mi-sery” “Mi”anhae~) It used to be filled with only white people and discards of the K-drama world, (You know, where you put second leads), but now with a black president, clearly, they need blacks too. (Forget about the other ethnic groups.)
7. The majority of cities are San Fran, LA, and NYC. Boston, which is near Harvard? No–what’s Boston? All super violent, you know.
8. Filled with crazy people who all speak fluent English perfectly with stilted formal dialogue and Australian accents. “Mi”chiseo” 미치서 -crazy
(And yes, I know the Mi in Miguk doesn’t stand for any of those things. =P I read hanja. 미국 mee-gook–short ee sound.)
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Historical Drama Land protection
I don’t know what has possessed you, but you intend to go to Historical Korean Drama Land. I must warn you first that though there is marriage, it is not a land filled with clean-shaven men and short-haired women. If you intend to get laid with your heart’s affection, there are only two ways to do so. Either be a Gisaeng or one that employs one, or get married and be a main character. With that case you will produce a child. It’s always one shot go. And don’t think you’ll get to kiss as much as a romantic comedy. I still ask, why go at all? If you land in the Three Kingdoms era, don’t think about finding Gisaeng or being one!
Alright, you’re still determined to go. Maybe you have a hanbok fetish… you still need a few things.
First, to remember it all, you will need some rice paper, and you will have to learn some old korean with Chinese characters. Write the following on the rice paper with ink. Keep in mind you have to swallow it once you get there.
1. All things written on paper that I swallow become true.
2. I am immune to torture.
3. I am immune to arrows.
3. I am immune to poison.
4. I am immune to ink and paper poisoning.
5. I cannot be smite with a sword.
6. I cannot be killed.
7. The person I love will love me back. (To cinch this check ot the romance points.)
Once you get there, recite it, chew it, and swallow.
Now for some warnings:
You may end up after Sejong appeared, in which case if you misfire, you should have a version in Hangeul. If you end up in a time here he’s around, find out from some villagers (Never anyone else) if Sejong has invented a wondrous system of writing yet. You’ll know which to swalow then. The other one is useless in that case.
You are screwed no matter what side you take. And you are required to take a side, unless you’re a peasant, in which case you’re an extra and your life will pretty much suck. I didn’t add the anti-prison curse, because many alliances are made in prison.
Next, for the duration of your visit, don’t believe what’s around you is the actual history of Korea. Save for the clothing, inventions, medicine, you’re most likely living a lie. Besides, most women back then were required to be fat. And most guys didn’t look girly.
You also have a high probability of getting executed, so be careful. Choose your side carefully.
Also the best defense against death is the silver chopstick. Real silver chopsticks. They will detect poison…
Practice your groveling before you go. When you think you’re going to be executed learn how to beg for your life or ask the person in charge to take it. Know which to do in what situation first. You will be spared. But don’t insist too much and offer the other person power in exchange for killing you, because you are likely to get killed.
You also need a pink hanbok. Light pink, relatively solid color. Only show it to the person you intend to be with. Wearing it, but not making a proclamation first makes you lose points.
Once you have all your belongings, I would encourage you to pack some herbal medicines against the following in your sleeves: diabetes, arthritis, snake bite, arrow wound (you may be immune, but it doesn’t mean your loved one will be.), anemia, neck pain.
You may also have to study the following before going: horse riding, sword fighting, archery, Korean politics of the era, the order of he lords in Confucianism.
May you go forth and not die in the machinations of the palace. Good luck traveler! You’ll need it.
***
Required Scenes of K-dramas
1. Hospital Scene.
It doesn’t matter if it’s a romantic comedy or a melodrama… there must be a hospital scene.
Even in Historical dramas there must be one visit from the doctor. Think about wy Dae Jang Geum was popular–she’s a walking hospital!
2. There must be an airport scene.
In his airport scene all cellphones don’t work and people always are running around the airport aimlessly.
3. There is only one wedding scene allowed per drama. If shown once, even in a dream sequence, that wedding scene will never be shown again.
4. One montage scene (with recycled footage)
Doesn’t matter what type it is… must have it, the melodramas are more prone to it than comedies.
***
(K-drama Romance Points)
Note: Don’t take this seriously.
This mainly works for comedic dramas set in the present, and does not work for Historical dramas. Melodramatic dramas it sometimes works for. I’ve watched about 30+ K-dramas. This won’t work for J-dramas, or C-dramas, only K-dramas.
Invariably though in the beginning of the drama they st it up so you know right away who is with whom. Take this for fun!
Disclaimer: Some of the dramas might seem to not conform to this list/ theory. I do not guarentee they do.
Plus Side
Main Trumps: (In order)
1. Marriage
2. Names in Title
3. Produce a child
4. Light Pink Shirt Trump. (See Pink Shirt Theory)
5. Sleeping with the guy before Marriage. (New Trump)
Strong Trumps:
- Practically Married
- Being a jerk that “reforms”
- Obligatory teary airport scene with BG music.
- Frustrating (to viewer) passing shots.
- Meeting first on screen
- Meeting in childhood first/ triggering childhood memory where _both_ parties fell for each other. (Trumps the previous) Has to be ON SCREEN, not just mentioned.
Medium Trumps:
- Going to the Beach (with sand)
- Doing something for the or about the other’s family (not with money).
- Main Romance Theme BG.
- Were together in a previous life
- Sleeping in the same bed (By accident doesn’t work)
- Walking together in the rain under umbrella after meeting at the bus stop.
- Doing laundry together.
- Cooking together alone (rival must not be there.)
- Cinderella Effect 1: anything to do with returning a shoe, or putting one on.)
- Cinderella Effect 2: Rich guy for poor girl.
- Piggy backing a girl home (extra points if the rival sees)
- Taking a guy home drunk and he “confesses” a darker past.
- Guy listening to girl’s troubles and trying to fix them (without throwing money directly at it).
- Girl listening to guy’s troubles. (fixing the troubles is trivial)
Small Trumps:
- Man doing Laundry for Girl.
- Cooking Favorite Dish. (Buying it doesn’t matter.)
- Man only: Cooking for the girl even if it fails.
- Woman only: Makeover
- Dressing the sig. other
- Flowers (of the right kind and color)
- Domescity (Taking care of children, etc.)
- Color coordinated clothes
- Long night out on the town
- Walking together under an umbrella in the rain.
- Meeting a sig other at a bus stop to take them home (and meeting them, cancels if they miss them.)
- Flirt fighting.
- Cinderella Effect 3: Female being compared to Cinderella.
- Men Only: Puts up with loud head-strong girl.
- Main girl wears mainly pink makeup.
- Seeing each other semi-naked after “romantic” relationship is established.
Minus Points
- Forcing sig other to like them.
- Men: Girlish looks
- Being put into “Best” friend category.
- “Younger” brother/ sister look.
- Being nice always.
- Dressing up fancy all the time with red lip stick.
- Guy is younger than the girl.
- Fixing problems with money (directly).
Non-Points
(either plus or minus)
- Dates
- Getting engaged early in the drama
- Being married once and divorcing or near to divorcing
- Guy is much older than the girl. (10 years is not unusual)
- Divorcing off-screen
***
K-drama curses
- Amnesia
- Car Accident
- Sudden inclination toward suicide
- Find out your spouse/significant other has cheated.
- Your whole family dies.
- Instant orphan
- A sudden break up in an engagement
- A sudden declaration of divorce
- Being told you’re destined to fall in love with your enemy/ contracted to marry them.
- Stuck as housekeeper to a total butt to pay off a debt.
- Find out that you’re adopted.
- Find out that the guys you thought were cute turned out fat and ugly (reference to a banjun).
- Contract a horrible terminal disease.
- Go blind. (Yeah KISS MV)
- Find out that you’re the Love Rival and never get a date again.
From Yayit:
- leukemia
- your friend will personally hit you with her car
- your stepbrother will love you
From Ysetiawa:
- a prince/heir of multi-million dollar company falls in love with you, and the rest of the people are trying to break you up, end up with everyone finding their own peace
- 2 handsome guys, sometimes both wealthy/related, fight over you
- cats & dogs, started hating each other, then fall in love
- mostly just simply poor unfortunate non-feminine girl get rich handsome guy
***
Regular K-drama protection...
Before you enter this treacherous land full of Love Rivals and drama, you must prepare properly for your journey.
This is a list of things to pack before you ever set foot in K-drama land:
In your suitcase also should be the list of K-drama curses (listed on this blog) and K-drama Romance points. You will need both to make sure that 1. You make it out alive 2. You get the person you want to end up with. It is best to DUCK TAPE these in visible form on your suitcase. You may think “Oh I won’t need my suitcase while I’m there, I’ll find a place to stay easily”, but remember that people often move, leave, or shift a lot. This is the safest place to plaster it. be sure to leave it in a visible place where you can see it away from food, and use a laserjet printer when doing so. Have some back up copies as well on a few burned CDs in case it gets damaged.
You will need a Pink Shirt.
Make sure it’s light pink, and not fluorescent or you’ll get crucified. A dress/business shirt is best. Cotton is preferable. If you don’t have any or your local stores don’t carry those, try to find a light pink over sweater. Make sure it doesn’t have any pattern and is of solid color. If you are a girl, then bring it along and give it to the guy as part of a job interview or when he has to meet someone important. He will never object. Guys–don’t worry about being perceived as gay through wearing this shirt. It is one of your best tools to get whatever you want.
Next, add a Pink Tie to your list.
The best method though is the girl buys it for the guy and then fiddles with it later so it’s straight while the guy stays still. As one K-drama put it, it’s a “leash” to make sure the guy will always be yours. Light pink is again best, solid pattern doesn’t so much matter as long as it’s just pink. Be careful of red and pink ties. It’s just not good fashion sense. In Wedding the tie is a diagonal stripe with light and dark pink. However, one should note she took forever to actually snag the guy, so a solid pink tie might be best for less drama.
To all the men out there, remember to buy a dress, preferably light pink while the girl comes down the stairs or from another room. (Stairs is preferable). And remember to refuse at first the couple clothes, but give in later. This will surely defeat your nasty rival and give you a better chance at those Major Trump points.
Other things to consider bringing along:
A bullet proof vest (lightweight and one heavy weight if you find yourself in a melodrama is best), a good pair of heels that will break (for the ladies), binoculars (to ward off any fast-approaching cars), genuine 100% silver chopsticks and a spoon (to guard against poison) and a list of Korean superstitions (tape this also to the inner suitcase lid). All of which if mentioned will become true. (A book of Korean folktales might not hurt either, since being compared to some characters sometimes becomes true as well.)
Foreseeing common K-drama curses:
These curses include:
Amnesia, poison, leukemia, car accidents (usually you flying over the car while your significant other either finds out belatedly, watches you, or is waiting for you.)
Leukemia is the number one reason that people die in a K-drama. It’s a favorite. Though AIDS is also a concern, this is the one disease you have to throughly check before your arrival to make sure you don’t have it and after. You can do this by before, insisting on a full body scan, full blood work and checking your marrow. The tests will hurt like hell, but it will be worth it. Check for any cancer or other abnormalities too. You specifically want to look for the dreaded Philadelphia genes which are linked with leukemia where you will need a bone marrow transplant. After you arrive, don’t forget to offer to donate some marrow. They will screen you for leukemia and you won’t have to repeat said tests. Crossing into K-drama land is unsure which is why this must be done. It will also earn you points later.
To guard against AIDS you must donate blood to exclusively be used by yourself Be sure that the needle that the nurse inserts is from a new and sterilized package. Don’t accept less. You can’t be too careful when it comes to a fatal disease that no manner of medicine can cure. Getting tested before arriving might also be a good idea.
Amnesia is the next most common of the lot–while not always fatal, it is common. The best way to guard against this is to keep up a journal. It has worked in other country’s dramas, so it might work for a K-drama as well. Be sure to keep it every day and keep in mind that the guy/girl you like will most likely read it later. K-drama people are notoriously nosy. It has worked on Lost, which has a Korean actress in it whose crossed over and it also has worked in many Taiwanese dramas. Especially Prince who turned into a Frog which was filled with amnesia. Give it a shot for the Korean dramas too. It might work out for you later when you can’t remember anything.
Car accidents– bring binoculars, and a good set of lightweight bulletproof vest with you. Look both ways before crossing the street, around corners and especially look out for black cars– black sports cars are usually the people who put a hit out on you. A regular sedan or truck usually is an innocent bystander. (also usually black). If you can spot one by using binoculars in all FOUR directions (and don’t forget alleyways too.
The poison is fairly easy– buy yourself 100% silver chopsticks. Use them and a silver spoon at all costs. All k-dramas dictate that all superstitions are true. If they tarnish, then you know there is poison. And it will work once you get there.
Stray bullets has the words bulletproof vest on them. You shouldn’t worry is they think you are a fashion freak to have this necessary accessory. Don’t explain it to them either, they will find out later from the people around you why you wear it–even better get angry about it. If you have to explain it, make it short and to the point as possible, or risk it will fail in battle. try not to leave room for day dreaming or flashbacks. You might be dead before the end of the next week or so if you do that.
Upon Your arrival:
You need a place preferably in Seoul (If you don’t you will have to return to your “hometown” a lot which is just too tedious and expensive). Make sure though that you have a way to access a beach. The beach on Cheju Island is probably the best place to go with your significant other, though not necessary–any beach will do. However, Cheju worked for Goong, 18 v 29 and My Girl, so it might be a good place to think about. Forget the smaller Islands–those are usually used for melodramas, like Spring Waltz–and you saw how painful that was. So be sure you know your way to the beach. Mark off the nearest one and then Cheju. The success rate is higher with a car than a plane–a plane is too easy to miss and there are no cellphones allowed in K-dramas when there is an airport scene. Trust me, a car is better. When you arrive chase each other along the beach, throw each other in, and splash each other. Don’t just walk and enjoy the sunset–you will get cut from the race and fail to earn points that way.
Situate yourself near a hospital in case you get injured. Not all injuries are fatal, but it will cut down on your chance of mortality. Your loved one can then piggyback you to the hospital for things like high fever, stomach aches, discovery of being pregnant. The ones who have not been near a hospital have a higher rate of mortality in K-dramas, contracting things such a cancer in the time they are trying to get to the hospital. You can also use cellphones in hospitals in K-drama land, so don’t stress out, unlike the airport, you can pretty much use it all the time and get a signal too!
Last thing you need to remember, it rains. Yes! This is easy points and a great way to meet that special other person. An Umbrella scene is a must. If you lack your umbrella, someone else will have one. A guy tends to give a girl his umbrella more than the other way around–so guys bring one extra girls don’t bring any.
Other tips include never blackmailing and manipulating anyone you like save for when you have to become a maid, or are teasing someone because you secretly like them.
Last note: Never worry about a lack of a cellphone. Firstly the Korean cellphones will be better than whatever you have now, usually the standard K-drama one has Internet, a camera (cameras are essential in a phone), text messaging and a number of other things (plays music has games, etc). It’s not unusual for a guy to say, “You don’t have a cellphone in this day and age?” Then berate you, and then buy you one. Accept it only from the person you want to end up with. Accepting two or more just drags on the pain for longer (My Sister in Law is 19). It’s more common for guys to buy the girl a cellphone, but a few girls have done the reverse as well. Promising to pay them back never pans out, but offering won’t be a bad idea.
So good luck brave traveler! May you not be killed in your quest to find true love everlasting in this unpredictable land. If you fail, well, there is the next life where you can succeed… and no matter what your religion, according to Korean dramas you can be reborn!
***
I wrote that a while back... but that pretty much covers everything. I have a post for Entering Historical K-drama land too.
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Shahi
June 7, 2013 at 12:09 PM
@ KimYoonmi...WOW that is a very detailed guide for KDRAMA LAND...I guess I'm late to grab that...So far i'm surviving in this land and i'm very much addicted to it. There as so many varieties that I could easily be picky.
I am Indian and for the past year I have give up my intrust in Indian Television. I still find K Drama a fresh breeze and the fact I love is the size of the show. There is no drag to over 1ooo episodes...I still enjoy the fact that it has the essence of reality, does not look fake. Yes agree things are not that real...but the surroundings are more natural.
Where as Indian dramas..loads of MIL and DIL crap...then the dead come alive for some mysterious reason...and one man can marry many and its beyond my fiction. But I did enjoy your list...hehehe
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Windsun33
June 7, 2013 at 1:40 PM
You touched on a couple of things that I think need clarification, and missed a couple also:
- Koreans never carry "medicine", or have any "medicine" in their house. They always have to run out in the middle of the night and/or rain to buy some. Korean "medicine" is all inclusive - it cures everything from lacerated body parts to upset stomachs, headaches, and Dengue Fever. I have often wondered why this mystery miracle "medicine" has never been exported to make Korea rich, but I guess it is a Korean secret.
- The Cinderella Girl is ALWAYS innocent, naïve, clueless, and dirt poor. She is usually (not always) in debt to the debt collectors, an orphan or at least one missing parent, has a younger sibling to take care of, and lives at the very top of the hill in a wretched neighborhood.
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Windsun33
June 7, 2013 at 1:47 PM
I forgot to mention that "medicine" does not cure amnesia or Leukemia, which is the only reason that hospitals still exist in Korea.
KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 2:37 PM
You know why it's not exported? Because it tastes like crap, you need some divination tools and it HURTS.
But that's personal experience talking. And that's the real stuff. You know where they bring out the pin and prick a person's finger for a stomach ache and the child stops crying. That's so fake in real life.
owll
June 7, 2013 at 6:20 PM
Speaking of medicine, was the the biggest first aid kit TS bought when MD scraped her knee when she dived to push him away from getting hit at the construction site? When he opened it, it was 3 tiers, like a fishing tackle box. I thought he borrowed it from the drug store, which would have made more sense. All he needed was a bandage and a bottle of iodine. But he bought that huge kit and then gave it to her to take home. It was hilarious!
MEalways
June 7, 2013 at 10:09 PM
@kimYoonmi,
oh dear, you wrote an essay....
And yet, I am wondering, why we love Kdrama so much....
Your comment about Mi for Miguk is hilarious. Maybe because some of us still believe in 'American Dreams'?
But, it started with 'Pretty Woman' wasn't it? So everyone could always has Cinderella syndrome or whatever they call it right now...
I'm just glad I live in my own country despite everything else. I don't think I can survive if I ever have to live in Kdrama land, with so many complicated, unspoken, delicate unwritten relationship-rules, bonding, politic at work (this one, I even avoid it in my real life...), status, etc.. Whoa....
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:35 AM
hi korazy, I know you love your melos but I am really excited for monstar right now and I wanna recommend it. it will be easy at 12 episodes. I am enjoying the story and the direction too. the music is great and very cleverly woven into the story so that it doesn't have that 'musical' feel about it. and the male lead has been a real surprise. I think he's been very well casted for the role.
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 7:54 AM
I value your opinion because we agree on a lot, but I'm torn. You loved Best Love and that FLower Boy one with Il-Woo, but I didn't like either. But 12 episodes is appealing. I may download for future marathoning.
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:59 AM
i thought that immediately after i wrote the above!! haha. its true - i do love wack too but this isnt. still i would say check out the first two episodes to see if it is more up your alley. it isnt wacky. but there are some offbeat quirkiness about it that i love :)
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 8:08 AM
i see it along the lines of SUFBB and i am hoping it is going to be the SUFBB of this year!
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 10:01 AM
Lol. Didn't watch that either. Maybe I'm just a leeetle too old for some of these boys? Altho I did like Reply 1997. Enz, because I value your opinion so much I will give it a try!
sweetcloud
June 7, 2013 at 11:06 AM
I tried SUFBB but didn't really feel it, on the other hand Monstar reminds me a lot of Reply 1997 with its high school antics tinted with some bittersweet nostalgia. Episode 2 had me giggling and awing at the various interactions as they reminded me a lot of my own experiences in high school. Not sure which direction it's going to take but at 12 episodes it's not too much of an investment so I definitely recommend it too!
Enz
June 7, 2013 at 4:28 PM
Aw Korazy, it's not the boys! It's the story and how well it's told! And THEN you fall for the characters that are there.
I was the same as you for SUFBB. Only watched it end of last year and was really surprised how pitch perfect it was for me as a coming of age story about friendship. My older sister watched it and loved it too. First episode of SUFBB is difficult to get through coz its loud and chaotic but it just gets great from there.
hillarytnt
June 7, 2013 at 12:53 PM
and @Korazy Lady: It has some moves ... (between youngsters ... and one of those an idol at that) that had this middle aged ahjumma blushing ... I couldn't believe what I was seeing that in kdramaland. I guess there really is a difference between how suggestive you can get on cable as opposed to network television.
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TS
June 7, 2013 at 8:02 AM
I'm not looking forward to stepping out in this deluge as you aptly describe it (are you on the East coast, US?). But it's go or lose the money for an appointment.
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 9:51 AM
Yep, east coast, west of Philly (or for those historically-minded, very close to Valley Forge). I did have to run out but was extremely grateful for drive-thru banking!
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owl
June 7, 2013 at 11:40 AM
I love Valley Forge! I have fond memories of going to the Brandywine Art Center with the 3 generations of Wyeth artists' work.
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 2:51 PM
If you're ever back for a visit, let me know!
owl
June 7, 2013 at 3:59 PM
I will, thanks!
2 cherkell
June 7, 2013 at 6:23 AM
Greetings Fellow Beans and Bean-Like Substances!
Genkii desu ka? How's everyone been? I had to take a few steps back from all Teh Social Mediaz out there to concentrate on Real Life. I had some really good job opportunities present themselves at two huge global law firms that I would give my left leg to work at, and found out I was on the 'short list' for both of the positions after going through three rounds of interviews. I was getting nervous because choosing one or the other would have meant my Korea/Japan trip would need to be cancelled, since I didn't want to start working and then leave the firm in the lurch for three weeks. Sadly, neither of them came through with an offer so I've put the job-looking on hold until I return in early July. *sigh*
Drama On My Plate: No time to DL or stream these days, so I'm not watching much other than the KBSWorld offerings on tap at present: "Mandate of Heaven" and "Queen of Office." Mildly enjoying MoH, but I should really watch it with no distractions (reading, eating, etc.) since I'm missing a lot of the nuances that JB mentions in the recaps…but not missing all those derp faces Lee Dong-wook keeps making at the screen. (Maybe that should be my new drinking game?) QoO is goofy funstuff in spades; Oh Ji-ho is a hoot and Kim Hye-soo is brilliant. It's been forever since I watched Haken no Hinkaku, so the plot didn't really register until well into the 6th or 7th episode. QoO might actually make it onto my Top Ten List if it keeps up like this!
A local K-station is STILL running "The King and I," but since it's the ArirangTV cut-into-30-minutes version, we're staring at 126 eps total. (I live for them sageuks, so I'm gobsmacked how this one escaped my viewing when it aired in 2007.) Anywho, I've been DVRing this show since I'm usually passed out on the couch by the time it airs at 9 PM out here, and just caught up this past week… and the first scene watched was with Manzzang wanting to enter the palace to be close to his childhood love that he castrated himself. SQUICKY!!! I might have to write a wrap-up post about this show once I finally plow through it. It is pretty awesome! >,<
So now that everything has settled down to a dull roar, Trip Planning is in full swing now and I can't wait to get overseas and see some friends and finally knock a few more items off my Bucket List. "The Days" musical tickets are bought for Ji Chang-wook's 30 June performances (squeeeeeeeeee!!!), with a cast meet-and-greet scheduled for the time in between the matinee and evening shows (squeeeeeeeee!!!). Presence has been confirmed for My Precious's fan meeting on 22 June (squeeeeeeeee!!!). I'll also be there for his "Jack the Ripper" press call for the new cast that starts performances on 16 July, so I'm trying to scam my way into a ticket. Lots of other plans in the works, so since this will probably be my last Grand Adventure for awhile, all I need is to arrive in one piece and then hit the ground running!!!
So on that note, I need to get some vaccine shots done today -- they're not required for this trip, but I realized I hadn't had a tetanus booster in over 10 years so I'm overdue. Everyone have a wonderful day/afternoon/evening, and I'll seeyas on the flip side. Mata ne!
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 6:27 AM
Wow! How exciting your trip sounds! I guess it was a good thing that you didn't get either job, because you can always work, haha, but to have the opportunity to go to your Precious' fan meeting? That's once in a lifetime!
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zgznoona
June 7, 2013 at 6:39 AM
So excited about your trip
We have to find a way to meet hie you're in Korea
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korfan
June 7, 2013 at 6:44 AM
cherkell -
Sorry to hear about the job situation, but so happy about your trip. I hope you have a wonderful time!
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Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:11 AM
Hey Cherkell!
You're going on a Korea/Japan trip?! That's so exciting!
Would you mind telling me a bit about your itinerary? A friend and I were thinking of going but I'm not really sure of where we would go and what we would do (other than hit the kdrama hot spots! A trip to the Han River is a must! Maybe even a karaoke bar! LOL!)
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:17 AM
I'm so sorry you didn't get the jobs. But to be on the short list...wow! That's very close, right? I think it depends on the areas. Some places have a glut of lawyers, some not so much. Wishing you luck the next time and a great trip!
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Saya
June 7, 2013 at 8:47 AM
Hi Cherkell! I'm a former lurker :)
Just wanted to say congratulations on shortlisting for the jobs - that's a big step, too! Who knows, maybe it didn't work out so you could take your trip, and then you'll come back and get the perfect job (which could be the unexpectedest one) who knows!
Your trip sounds like it's going the be the BEST. I hope we'll get reports! Good luck with the vaccines!
wow so many exclamation marks, I am not really this chirpy XD
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sweetcloud
June 7, 2013 at 1:23 PM
Whose fan meeting are you going to attend? I always watch the pictures with envy, someday I'll also be in the queue and shake my oppa's hand and get his signature (and faint on the spot. Or fake faint? But my fantasy of him picking me up will probably end with a security guard just kicking me out) (when he's back from the army anyway)
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affistar
June 7, 2013 at 4:07 PM
Glad you're going to Korea. Was amazing even the second time around. Still basking in the after glow of my trip to Seoul last week... Saw a drama filming in Namdaemun. Went to Running Man member's resaturant and lots of other drama locations. Met up with my Korean model/actor guy. Ate Korean food every meal, went to a jjimjilbang and pojangmachas every night. The trip really made me feel like a character in a drama. Complete with romantic confession in the rain. But no birth secrets or long lost siblings. I basically, made my K-drama addiction even worse than ever!
I just marathoned Athena. Truly wonder how I managed to finish it. Oh yeah, it's cuz my model/actor guy had a bit part in it! LOL
I'm currently also watch Your the Best, Lee Soon Shin. So releived the birth secret is out to everyone. Now let's get on with the romance! Also watching Cyrano (so cute) and want to get into Shark but haven't had the time yet.
Let me know if you want my itin for research/planning purposes...
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affistar
June 7, 2013 at 4:09 PM
Oh, forgot to add... I went to a CN Blue concert too.
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cherkell
June 8, 2013 at 7:17 AM
Aaaand... I'm back. Internist decided I needed more than a tetanus booster so I got pertussis and measles (!!!) boosters at the same time. Needless to say, I got sick from the shots, so spent valuable trip planning time flat on my back for about 24 hours. Yeesh, it sucks getting old. *hmpf*
So to answer your questions and/or comments:
@Korazy Lady: Hee, so true! Should I run around looking for Song Joong-ki, or have you moved on to a new boy toy now? One that wears a tank top in the rain, perchance? :P
@zgznoona: I've got another e-mail in the works for you. Still waiting to hear from Daejeon and Daegu chingu...
@korfan: Thanks! Good thing it's a long flight so I can catch up on sleep. The planning is wearing me out big time!
@aigoo: Outside of the static dates listed above, plans are pretty fluid right now. I have friends living in Daejeon and Daegu that I should visit (or be kicking myself for another 5 years for missing them). Working on meeting up with @zgznoona who is closer to Busan at present. Hoping to get over to the East Sea and pay my respects to Donghae... both of them. :D Several other jaunts in the mix that I will reveal when it gets closer to my departure. Maybe in next week's OT?
@Carole McDonnell: Congrats on the new book! I have great respect for you folks that can achieve something so awesome. Outside of my recaps, my writings will never see the light of day. I'm a much better musician than wordscribe anyway. ㅋ
@saya: Thanks as well! The docs said I might suffer some 'discomfort' after being poked and prodded (and not in a way I would prefer...). What they neglected to tell me was HOW MUCH discomfort the after-effects would give me. It was not pretty.
@sweetcloud: Whenever I make any mention of "My Precious," that means the one, the only, accept no substitutes... star of stage, screen and Chapaghetti CFs: Ji Chang-wook. (SQUEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!) I've written down a few greeting sentences that I am diligently practicing so I don't sound like some silly fangirl gaijin when I'm there. They've never had any visitors from the States attend their events before, so my primary goal is to 'not scare the natives' by rushing the stage. Or fainting. Or both. :P
@affistar: I'm looking at pretty much the same experiences you had too. The only thing I'm slightly worried about is my accommodations for my first three nights. Because the fan meeting date was pushed up three days and I had to change my flight plans, the person I was going to bunk with will not be in town and I'm scrambling for alternatives. I'm sure something will come through soon; if not, it's off to the saunas to sleep! ;)
Slightly miffed that I'll miss the Shinhwa shows by a few days (*sob*), but I might try to sneak in another K.Will concert instead. Jang Kiha and the Faces are playing towards the end of my trip, and I'd love to see them live. Other than that, only 12 more sleeps until departure... and this is the time my MacBook Pro decides to keel over dead? DAMMIT. *grumble*
Sorry for the long post. See you all at next Friday's OT!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 8, 2013 at 9:34 AM
There be some nice prodding and poking out there, def! Get better soon. Thanks for the congratulations!
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3 kakashi
June 7, 2013 at 6:24 AM
My lovely Beanies, my best wishes for a very happy Friday, OT and weekend from a classroom full of police officers somewhere outside of Vienna
hwaiting!
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enz
June 7, 2013 at 7:48 AM
kakashi, hwaiting !!
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sartorius
June 7, 2013 at 8:06 AM
hey Kakashi, just want to say that i love ur blog, and i look forward to ur recaps of TEN and squeecaps of Heartless City...just as soon as i start watching it! also love the co-bloggers, shuk and others!
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kakashi
June 7, 2013 at 10:42 AM
thank you so much :)
yes, my co-bloggers are the awesomest!
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shukmeister
June 7, 2013 at 1:51 PM
OMG -
Thanks! As always, it's good to see you out here, and I hope all the school stuff is going well. Hard to believe it's been 7 months since the BB concert in NJ...
WAML 19 / 20 squeecaps are a bit lagging, unfortunately. My surgery is scheduled for Monday, so it's been a lot of running around getting the tests done, the post-procedure drugs picked up, and the arrangements to stay at the 'rents until healed. But I'm partway through 19 despite everything, and I should get them to our wonderful kakashi soon. There probably won't be as many funny static stuff, but the cute should outweigh that.
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Sethe
June 7, 2013 at 3:56 PM
Hi Shuk! I think I'm rejoining the dramabeans community (after being away for way too long :) ). How have you been? I hope things have been going well for you, and I hope everything works out with your surgery!
Enz
June 8, 2013 at 8:05 AM
Shukie! Surgery? Hope it's not serious and everything goes smoothly and recover speedily. I think I've covered it all :).
sartorius
June 7, 2013 at 2:45 PM
Omgosh shuk, I had no idea u were getting surgery... I hope everything's okay??? Take as much time as u need for the squeecaps!!!! The BB boys need to come back soon...m already side eying as to when TOP is going to enlist....it needs to be as far away from now as possible!
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Celia
June 8, 2013 at 5:36 AM
Hai Kakashi, I really enjoy reading your TEN 2 recaps and so excited when I read you will do squeecaps for Cruel City! Those 2 are the only dramas I'm watching currently. Looking forward to the recaps and squeecaps!! ;)
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4 CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 6:24 AM
Hi all:
Hoping everyone is doing well.
Interesting week: Began with a robin with a speckled yellow breast sitting on my porch, not moving no matter how many times we walked past him. Only left when our pitbull ran over to him (her?) to sniff him. Then my second novel, Constant Tower, was released. Sooner than I'd expected. Very happy. Not happy with the price though. $17 for a paperback by a no-name genre-writer is a bit steep. At least in my book. I rarely buy books over $13.00 unless I know the author. At least the kindle won't be expensive. So now I have to set up the book launch party. Probably will be at the library. Then I got a very nasty review for my short story collection from some woman who had some major axe to grind and who didn't know me. 95% of what she said was wrong. I fumed about it but I didn't send her a ranting email. Apparently, I have matured and mellowed and no longer get into arguments with reviewers on the internet. Gotta thank a writer friend for sending me a strong rebuking letter about letting stuff like that go. Then older son totally stressed me out. As the Yiddish Proverb goes: "Without children, what would one do for aggravation?" So, yeah, strange week for me in my generally calm life.
Dramas:
Gu Family Book: Oh my!!! The actress who plays Seo Hwa!!! Wow!!!!! That last scene!!! Such a great actress -- the ability to show so many complicated emotions in one short scene. Magnificent! Question about Head Gisaeng Cheon: I don't understand why she told Big Bad that the woman they saw was fake. Surely, a person should know to keep certain to herself...especially if she is a spy...especially if the guy is her enemy. Was it just stupidity? Was it an attempt to bond with Big Bad so he would trust her? Was it an example of throwing a victim in his way to keep his anger at her at bay? It really bothered me. As for my poor tragic Wol Ryung: I just grieve so much at the way he's trying to hold onto his mind and his soul as he sees them and himself fading away into nothingness, death, and possible demonhood. Very like watching someone battle Alzheimers. So sad. Love that this is a great k-drama that does a birth secret story and a (fight against) amnesia story well. Plus it does the k-drama bad timing thing well also. All are so hard to do . But when they're done well, wow! And Gu does it so well. Loving the fantasy world as well. Everything seems to take place in a high folkloric realm. Just enough mundane earthly stuff like the war to ground it but other than that...pure folklore. I've been listening ot the My Love Hurts OST everyday and even wake up thinking about it.
Last Cinderella: Uhm... Still watching. Not sure what the heck is going on. I have no patience with guys who wait to tell their love. Of course, his former girlfriend waited to tell her love and when she returned it was too late. So, Rintaro, do what you feel like doing.
Monstar: Good but I'm not liking the subtle k-drama cliches that have slipped in. Folks not figuring out or not telling how they're related, flaky k-drama bad timing. Not done well here.
I Hear Your Voice: Oh my Gosh! My favorite of the new batch. Great storytelling, good characters and everything feels and flows so organically. Can't wait to see how the arcs of each episode/defendant work with the whole over-arching story.
Cyrano Dating: Is Moo-jin gay? Would be interesting if we had a gay couple match-up. Not liking the idea that the two leads are being set up to like each other. . . feels almost as if it's too much. It's complicated already without all that, and without possibility of bar guy entering into the love mix. And who is paying him? It just feels as if they overplotted because they didn't trust their premise. Am liking it though, so will still be watching.
One Hundred Year Inheritance: I tried jumping back into this. Episode 44. Ah me! But I just want an end and with 6 more episodes to go, I just KNOW some other problem is going to pop up or stuff will be draaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaagged out.
Barefoot friends: Cracking me up. Although...now Bum Soo is freaking me out. I cannot deal with neat freaks.
Marathoning: Mandate of Heaven, Shark, Cruel City, Bad Boys J. Somehow allowed them to get ahead of me. Trying to get back into Gu Am Jeo Hoon.
Movies seen: That night, the Samurai. Slow, lovely, bittersweet, touching
Perfect Game: oh my gosh! I just cried and cried. Loooooooooooove this movie.
Anime: Oh my gosh! I totally totally totally recommend Aku no Hana! (Flowers of Evil.) This has to be one of the most wonderful examination of stress, bullying, etc. I am totally addicted to this anime and I feel for the protag's plight so intensely sometimes it's hard to watch. I have moments where I want to shake him and tell him to trust in himself but he's so puritanical and so self-loathing, it'll be hard to see how he's gonna turn around...if ever. One of the best animes I've seen in a while.
Looking forward to seeing: Sky Pirate Captain Harlock. Starring: Shun Oguri and Haruma Miura. Coming in September.
That's about it.
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KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 6:38 AM
Last Cinderella, the last few episodes I was like, "Ah, I love you are slipping away from Western values."
A lot of Japanese dramas go what Americans would consider subtle. (British too, from what I've observed.)
So *spoilers for Last Cinderella*
1. BTW., He proposes. Kyaaaaaaaa!!!
Anyway... back....
So Kintarou's girlfriend shows up... it's clear she hurt him by leaving him to be with a man that turned out to be a loser and had regrets. This is understandable. Kintarou, with the pressure to get married and seeing Sakura has been thinking about marriage too--something we haven't seen in the previous episodes, so this fleshes it out.
Kintarou all this time has been holding out for this girlfriend, but finds when she gets back he has no feelings for her anymore. He has no idea why.
But his girlfriend points out two critical things. That he has too much involvement with Sakura (which is a Japanese sign of love... when you are involved in everything and care about their outcomes, Japanese say that's when you are interested in them... and everyone senses it except Kintarou... and oddly enough his mom. Though Mom's approval kinda seals the deal for Kintarou. Anyway, has to do with Honne. Knowing someone's honne that deeply can be love (in the Japanese sense). Kintarou also gained points when oddly Sakura is like his mom... though Sakura isn't his type.)
His girlfriend also kinda pointed out in her comment that one of the reasons she didn't feel secure and moved on was because of Sakura--she never could get that level of relationship. But at the same time Sakura isn't Kintarou's usual type since he's been resisting Ms. Murasaki who outdates Freud by quite a bit. (The whole you choose someone like your opposite sex parent.)
So it's clear he's in love with Sakura and has been, but has failed to realize or want to do anything about it. He keeps getting involved with her business and outcomes more than her friends do. Most of his conflict has been internal and well written.
The question is how are they going to resolve him, because he's between that friend and a lover zone for the entire drama with only little tips that he's thinking about more, but is seriously hesitating.
BTW, the next episode I think is a tipping point. =P Watched ahead a little.
*End Spoilers*
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 6:49 AM
Thanks for the update! That point better tip soon. Still, it's gonna take a lot to make me believe Sakura suddenly realized she liked him all the time. But if the script is done really well, I could buy that. Right now, I think I'm just not sure which of these guys I want her with... Probably Rintaro. So I've jumped ship from Hiroto. But maybe this'll have been a good thing for Hiroto...to help unstuck him.
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Saya
June 7, 2013 at 6:45 AM
Hi Carole!
I just watched the first ep of I Hear Your Voice yesterday, and loved it. It looks like it'll turn out not so fluffy and cute - I actually thought it had a good balance between lightheartedness and a serious plot.
I am having a busy day at work, so I'm scribbling a few lines here and there, and doing a lotta running XD
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:14 AM
Isn't it fun, Saya! It really is gonna be one of my crack dramas.
I totally love Mom. I have a special love for the Moms and kids in k-dramas. They're so wonderfully drawn. I also think the other lawyer...the hottie who talks a lot who was a cop..is such a cute character. Nice gender flip there. Generally the newbie girl is the chatterbox and the guy is the distant cold person.
HAve a wonderful busy day! Nice seeing you commenting again.
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Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 7:20 AM
I love that Moms face. LOVE it. I want to kiss her soft cheek and be mommed by her. You know, as an extra mom. Because I love my actual mom and she does a good job of momming, too.
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Saya
June 7, 2013 at 9:06 AM
I know, right! It's one of my pet loves in my favourite dramas, the wonderful, warm parents - it totally offsets the prescription makjang parents. And EXACTLY, I adore my mum, and I love to feel the same about drama parents.
I just loved the part in ep1 after she burned the money and goes around the corner and collapses, and is all, 'was I good, was I good?'
I did blink a bit at Jung Dong Hwan turning up - I didn't realise he was in it, and I was still suffering Nine after-effects (I just marathoned it the week before) so I was all, 'You! I know you! Ha!' I was also laughing a little at how Salem Witch-hunty the false accusation bit was, but at the same time, it didn't feel too contrived (to me, anyway).
I deliberately decided not to watch any of the last crop of dramas as they aired (i.e Nine, GFB, etc), and I kind of missed the buzz, even as I was glad I didn't have to wait. So now! I'll take fandom with waiting!
Big congratulations on your book, Carole! I'm impressed that you write books at the same time as keeping up with dramas. I've been trying to write for years, but I always keep getting waylaid by some new show, a new book, a new ANYTHING. I am basically this, but waaaay less accomplished!
CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 10:43 AM
Thanks, Saya!
Get that book written! Just sit down and write. My time management is okay but not great when i want to procrastinate.
I love seeing folks from
Bad old Doctor Choi in Nine and also as Prosecutor Dad in I hear your voice. He's got such a sweet face when he's not going all evil.
Guy who loved bullying Kang Chi in Gu Family turns up as driver for idol in Monstar.
There was a drama way back with the same situation of two girls, one of whom is the maid's daughter and the other is the Employer's daughter. In that, the employer's daughter was horrible at school and there were complications with switched grades and vengeance later. When our heroine started telling the story of her life, I remembered that drama and kept thinking, "Is she making it up and using the drama as her backstory real life?" It took a while before I realized she was telling the truth and not usurping a drama heroine's life.
Saya
June 8, 2013 at 5:06 PM
Making up the meta in dramas is so fun - I love things connecting as well. For example, in Arang, when Dol Sae walks around muttering that Arang must be a ghost or a gumiho, I tittered to myself. Oh, speaking of - one of the Bangs is also the guy who hired Hye-Sung, as well as the hopeless professor in Sungkyunkwan Scandal. Stuff connecting up makes it feel like a small and comfortable world, as well as really tickling me.
Thanks for the writing advice, Carole! My problem with writing is that I get waylaid by other writing XD Emails, letters to my future self, letters to my past self, letters to nobody, emails to people I don't speak to anymore, emails to people I can't do without, more emails, notes to self, backstory, more backstory and no forward-story. Like that. I am hopeless!
I just polished off my first recap for a show I love and used to watch many long years ago, The Mysterious Cities of Gold - it's not post-ready yet, but I'm planning to finish it off tomorrow. It's taken FOREVER for a 23-minute long episode XD I've averaged at 93 words per minute of screentime. So much MORE respect to the DB team to add to the already off-the-scales respecks.
korfan
June 7, 2013 at 7:12 AM
Carole -
Congratulations on the release of your second novel!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:15 AM
Thanks, Korfan!
Maybe my mind can rest a little now. I never seem to be able to let go of a novel until I have the written book in my hand! Waiting for the mailman to bring my author copies. Ah, the smell of new book in the morning!
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owl
June 7, 2013 at 7:38 AM
WoW, very cool, Carole. I still want that feel of a book in my hands (as opposed to kindle), so I'll pay the price. Papebacks have really gone up, but that's okay, I'll pay for a book if I really want it. Congratulations!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:49 AM
Thanks so much for your congratulations! I'm grateful.
enz
June 7, 2013 at 8:50 AM
congrats carole! you have the talent i wish for most! :)
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 10:45 AM
thanks, enz!
Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:17 AM
Wow carolle! Your ability to watch so many dramas totally boggles my mind!! I am in awe of your time management skills!!!
Loved the comparison of Wol Ryung to Alzheimers - seems like a fitting comparison!
You write? Wow....didn't know that! That's so cool! I totally wish I could write....I just have no creativity so I'm pretty sure that's a dream down the drain! LOL!
How's Bad Boys J? I was toying with the idea of taking a peek at it but wasn't sure if it was good. Do you recommend?
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:26 AM
Hey there, Aigoo!
Yes, i write. I'm sure you have creativity. If not in writing, then cooking/cuisines or interior decorating or gardening.
Yeah, the drama thing..I watch too many. But the insomnia is waning a bit now. Am avoiding everything processed and everything with caffeine so I'm sleeping better. Other than that, I basically watch dramas from around 4 pm to 8 pm at night. Way better and healthier than watching them in the middle of the night.
Bad Boys is fun. It's the fighting genre. I don't know the rules of the genre, but there seems to be ...generally...groups of young men at war with each other. For some reason. For some ideal. For some turf. Or just to be TOP. They have girls who are part of the gang. There are rules to follow, outrages to avenge, etc. I like Bad Boys. After the third episode, you kinda get the feel of the culture of each gang, and you get an idea of what the writer's arc is. The guys in Sugarless --another fight genre drama-- are way hotter than the guys in "Bad Boys" but "Bad Boys" has more of a plot.
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Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 7:47 AM
LOL! You may recant that statement once you get to know me a bit better.....i barely ever cook, can't grow a weed to save my life, and know nothing about interior decorating! LOL!
I like action films so maybe I'll give bad boys a shot!!! Although I'm an even bigger sucks for hot bad boys - so maybe sugarless first!! I had actually thought about starting this as well but I never seem to have the time!!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:52 AM
::big grin:: When we meet we'll go out for lunch then. My cooking's pretty bad as well.
The guys in Bad boys are cute as well, but the guys in sugarless are off the charts hot! They belong to all categories of hotness..which is perfect for me because I LOVE ALLLLL categories of hotness.
Saya
June 7, 2013 at 9:07 AM
You can't grow weed? :D
That's probably good :D
/lame joke
Aigoo
June 7, 2013 at 10:42 AM
LOL! Well that just demonstrates how bad it is!
LOL! And we're definitely out to lunch if we ever meet Carole!
KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 10:55 AM
I do cooking, drawing, sewing (designing dresses--I made my own hanbok and am making one for a friend), writing (poetry, fiction--non fiction kills me), sculpting (Real life and computer), painting, jewelery, gardening, animation, programming (Mostly scripts that do things like generate Korean names), knitting (make my own patterns), crocheting, calligraphy, embroidery.
I've also tried acting, dancing and music... I'm not so good at music... I got stunted along the way.
I tried to pick the majority up because I reasoned I can write better if I know all those things.
Creativity, though can also be thinking about things in a sideways fashion from everyone else. Everyone says that cheese is for eating, you look at it and think, it would make a great piece of art.
Everyone says, you have two options, you look for a third. Everyone agrees, but you see it another way that others may not think of.
Part of creativity is critical thinking and persisting at things you aren't good at. It's the willingness to fail "Failure is an option" and thinking outside of the usual solutions given to you. (Creativity is part masochism matched with an uneven ego.)
Writing fiction definitely fosters that sort of thinking since you need to think of all of the solutions to the problem to keep the story interesting and coming up with a solution that the reader didn't consider is one of the fun things about writing fiction.
So I'm with Carole, I bet you're creative somewhere in your life.
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alua
June 7, 2013 at 12:47 PM
Ohhhh.... I think we could hang out and make things together :-D
Do you have any patterns for making a hanbok? I'd love to make one...
CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 5:03 PM
Oh my!!! You make hanboks!!!! Oh gee, I'm gonna be one of your customers one day. I once saw an African-kente-cloth hanbok done by a modern Korean designer and fell in love with it.
Art and creativity tend to hang together so if you are talented in one art you often are talented in others as well. I tend to think of myself as a jack of 3 or four trades and master of one. And i;m not even a true perfect master of fiction yet. Hope to get there though. At this time, I just do fiction and design fabric as a hobby over at spoonflower (dot) com.
I used to paint and play violin back in the day but maybe I'll do those again when i'm older.
But you have so so so many talents you're still working on. You're kinda making me jealous tht i didn't keep track of my talents and hone all of them.
KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 5:54 PM
@Alua
You can buy a Joseon pattern at folkwear.com. They also have Kimono and interior design. I requested they pattern a durumagi and also a Hanfu (I sooo want a hanfu), but they haven't been able to release it because of the economy.
Hanbok (the chima part) is incredibly easy to make. 3x your bust size, make pleats, and then put on ties and the shoulder straps. The Jeogori varies through time, but is easier than you think.
I'm making a Dangui too (the court dress), and have been studying so I can mod the pattern so it looks like one.
You can buy the material at Sonjjang... or just look for Jacquard fabric. Satin also works. I use heavy-weight cotton as well.
I'm having trouble with making a choli for the sari I received though. (I got it from a friend who bought it in India... I'm making her a hanbok in return...)
@Carole
So true about them being related... I usually end up rotating based on interest, etc. I've made rugs and I'm learning quilting too... (Which isn't far from sewing, just takes much more precision and measuring). I like picking up new art skills. They say when your mental faculties are gone, your motor skills are still remembered. Also creativity keeps your mind and memory sharper. Being able to frame objects into a story helps memory.
I've been crafting stories since I was five or so... I made my cousins put on a play for my parents and aunt and uncle once too. We wrote and produced it ourselves. I originally wanted to be an actress... before I came to the US and then found that prejudice would hold me back. I wish I'd persisted though... (I was in a commercial... and did a little modeling too.)
Stories are my first love though. I can deconstruct them and I love being surprised at plot points.
MEalways
June 8, 2013 at 12:17 AM
Gosh, KimYoonmi, I envy you.
You seem to have the best of all world.
I have to admit it is me who is the biggest enemy of myself, being too lazy.
I used to design my own dresses and did cross-stitch, designed and made 3D cards with some traditional pattern as the border, or write. I never do any of that anymore.
Caught in work-routine, and it fast tiring and drains all positive energy.
I wish I could follow your lead.... somehow, someday.
(Why not start now? I know...sigh....)
alua
June 8, 2013 at 7:19 AM
@KimYoomi
Thanks for the folkswear.com hint! Definitely checking that out. Will be a while till I have time to make anything (and I don't have a sewing machine right now either, only at my parents') but that's definitely a project I want to have a go at!!!
KimYoonmi
June 8, 2013 at 10:30 AM
@Alua
You're Welcome. The pattern is not modernized, but you can modernize it if you want or make a sokchima... (So your underwear doesn't show)
@MEalways
Creativity and art to me are the ways I relax and breathe. I watch TV and knit and draw. I write before I go to bed--I do those things on the weekend too. When I handmake a gift for someone, it means something. Doesn't matter if I'm working or not...
alua
June 8, 2013 at 2:57 PM
@KimYoonmi (sorry for mistyping your name earlier btw)
.... wow, folkwear.com is a fantastic site!!!
Yeah, I would like something creative like this: http://pinterest.com/pin/175570085443740765/
kngdrama
June 7, 2013 at 2:57 PM
Congrats on releasing second novel!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 5:06 PM
thanks so much kngdrama
delicatecloud
June 7, 2013 at 7:32 AM
Congratulations on the release of your second book Carole!!
I am also loving "I Hear your Voice" and it is my new "crack drama". Enjoyed the first two episodes and can't wait for the unveiling of the rest of the characters and the here's keeping my fingers' crossed that the storyline will be good.
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 7:53 AM
YAY!!!! We'll meet on the thread of another drama. I've been missing you. Enjoyed seeing you on Jomo.
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delicatecloud
June 7, 2013 at 8:26 AM
My other crack drama is Heartless City/Cruel City which i have been raving with other beanies on this OT. Check it out if you haven't yet. It is something very very different and I could not imagine rooting for a kingpin character!!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 4:51 PM
So far, I've watched three episodes. Just caught up with the last two. I'm really liking this one now, but is it me or does female detective constantly do stupid things? And hasn't she been undercover longer than her fiance? Or am i just judging her harshly?
I'll keep watching it, though. I like Auntie/Chairman. And I love Doctor's Son.
enz
June 8, 2013 at 3:28 PM
it's not just you. The drama is very slick and all but a few things bother me from the first episode. firstly, getting scale seemed to be too easy. they couldn't nail him all this time and suddenly the new guy is assigned and comes up with a plan which didn't even seem all that covert and they got close to getting him already.
and then yes, the second thing that bothered me was the lady detective. how she had no control over emotions and compromised operations and self and team with her action. irritated me.
doc's son is too crazy charismatic though so I am still watching.
Mama J
June 7, 2013 at 8:16 AM
Congrats on the book! I googled you the other week - ok, I Amazoned you...sounds interesting and I've added YOU to my list :)
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 10:47 AM
Thanks, JoAnne! I hope you like CT. It's less anthropological and religious than Wind Follower.
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 10:12 AM
Carole, congratulations on your book! How you have time to write and watch so many dramas is beyond me! Best of luck with the sales!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 10:49 AM
Thanks, Korazy Lady. I really don't think I watch that many. Do I? Four hours every afternoon, after writing. And maybe five or six hours on the weekend. That's not too many, is it?
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korazylady
June 7, 2013 at 3:00 PM
If it's not interfering with RL, it's not too many! My problem is I sit down to watch something, then get sucked into the black hole of google or its companion, youtube. It makes watching take that much longer for me.
You are obviously doing something right, because you are actually having books published! Which I think is awesome.
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Lizzy4e
June 7, 2013 at 11:01 AM
Oh Carole! Without children what would one do for aggravation? [sigh] so true so true. You made me laugh.
Congratulations on your second book; what is the genre? And where can one find it?
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 5:08 PM
Thanks so much. It's fantasy/specfic. It's up at amazon, B&N, and the publisher's site Wildside. Am not sure if it's in the bookstores yet.
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TS
June 7, 2013 at 1:42 PM
Your book's on Kindle? I'd like to read it.
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TS
June 7, 2013 at 1:43 PM
Also, you're in NYC, right? Perhaps I could travel up for your book launch, because THIS IS SO EXCITING, yay!!!
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CaroleMcDonnell
June 7, 2013 at 5:16 PM
It doesn't seem to be up at kindle yet. Kindling might take another week! Or so. I'm in the Hudson Valley, about 30 miles north, kitty-corner across the river from West Point.
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Windsun33
June 7, 2013 at 1:53 PM
"I Hear Your Voice" might be a sleeper hit if it keeps up. Only seen first two episodes, but it could be far above average just based on those. So far I like the idea that they go into the background of the various characters more than most dramas do.
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5 KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 6:24 AM
This Week:
- Got dolled up again and found out that yet another event was canceled. >.<;;
- Resubmitted my story to another magazine. (Why are magazines in the US so culturally narrow while people are beating on their chest about the melting pot??? Hmm?)
Culture Notes: I thought I'd do a mini language lesson and mini culture note for each (Japan and Korea) with a loose set of notes for Chinese (though I don't know that much.) 'cause it drives me nuts when people can't tell the difference and think the languages are interchangeable. (Personal trigger for a long rant).
Dramas
Dramas have been kinda thin for me. I'm still looking for that fast paced oh so funny rom-com that sweeps me away--'cause haven't had one in a while and Master's Sun isn't a shoe in for that since the Hong Sisters have been experimenting. (Why I love them... also their propensity to make a drama around a theme and sacrifice everything to that theme).
So to bide my time I've been thinking... Game: Can you connect any Korean actor/actress to Kevin Bacon through kisses in less than 7 moves? I mean, is the network wide enough with Korean actors that you can say something like... by proxy Gary has really kissed Ji Hyo... because you saw Gary kiss someone else, who kissed someone else, that kissed Ji Hyo.
Which really tells you how much I miss a really heart-stopping roll-on-the-floor rom com Korean drama.
Lee Soon Shin
I have a rant about the handling of adoption somewhere in there, including the constant sob fest manufactured to be a sobfest.
And of course the mothers. And of course the lack of romance this week as the adoption story took over, kinda pissing me off, 'cause it took only a few minutes to watch both episodes.
Heo Joon
This drama continues to impress me, never taking the easy route and keeping the pace at a really nice clip. I guess that's what you get when you're writing the script for the third time... or is it fourth? (He's done this script 2 times before at least).
Last Cinderella
OMG, the spoiler when the preview ending said "Kekkon..." I about died. And despite the cast listing, I still feel on edge (besides Miura... and all the other pretty male faces) because of the plot is still making me go back and forth.
I can only say, "Go get 'em" meaning defeat all of the other Onee-san dramas and About 40 dramas.
This drama argues sexy without the sex well.
Pan ya
I really like this drama for the slow pacing.
Cyrano
The love stories portrayed are cute. And I like the overlapping structure of the 1 per week rule, with the background story expounded upon, but girl has to have her own edge to bring to the team.
The only virtue Min Yeong is bringing to the team is that she's a girl... and I don't like that at all. I mean the other guys should also get a chance to mess up. I'm waiting, drama, for you to up your game and show that Min Yeong has skills she can contribute directly to the team, rather than her being there as a precarious plot device as a "Watson" to the Sherlock. (The patsy that's the stand-in for the reader/viewer who doesn't know anything).
Don't gut the character (From the movie) and give her nothing in skill set except the ability to mess things up. You cut the script writer character... maybe she could do that?
Even Watson had medical skills which helped Holmes.
See, in Tokage, the female character often messes things up. She is also a Watson character, playing the role of introducing the characters and world. BUT she contributes to the team, through having other skill sets, such as a sharp sense of smell and fairly good instincts. She's not just dead meat doing nothing and failing to support the male characters.
The original female character was the costume designer who knew the psychology of men well. She contributed a lot to the team, helping come up with plans, outfits, and had noonchi to spare.
So where is the skill Min Yeong has?
Barefoot Friends
Episode 7 was really good, and they finally got the hang of the variety TV show v. the travel show problem. UEE, still hasn't got enough presence though... I keep forgetting she's there. HJ and SY are stealing the show for me and I'm rolling a lot in laughter. BS is starting to stand out a bit... I like the addition of the new cast member too, it's bringing a better dynamic. They finally brought in stakes and punishment, though Korean style, so the competition isn't serious.
Meanwhile... Hwasin has turned into a normal talk show, which is boring, because if the guests suck, then it's boring. They no longer are doing the rankings or the skits or the surveys--which were my favorite parts of the show. I guess those didn't get rankings, but the survey results felt like they were helping me with my stories.
The other thing I've been thinking is this Moral Problem I received in the sixth grade and I wanted to know if anyone else had the same solution as me. (I'm also wondering how cultural my reaction was.)
So the problem is this: Your mom is dying and you know that there is this drug that can save her life at the local pharmacy (Notice that the US doesn't have universal health coverage). You can't afford this drug (say something like Pfizer jacked the prices). So, your choices are: Steal the drug and have your mom live. Or let her die.
The answer I came up with my class hated and I got pounded on for it. But I wanted to see if anyone else would come up with the same answer. =P I was precocious.... so I still think that's the right answer.
Japanese
csse.monash.edu.au/~jwb/dirtyguide.html
That's a dirty guide... I'm going to give an even shorter guide.
Japanese is a conceptual, SOV language with no future tense.
The written system consists of kana (hiragana ひらがな and Katakana カタカナ) and Kanji (Chinese characters.) It's an agglutinating language (more than English which is classed as isolating.) Japanese uses syllabary. (Consonant/vowel together... so for example, かis one glyph, but stands for the sound "Ka".) the only consonant that can be alone at the end is "n" there are ways to double the consonant through a small "tsu" before the consonant. Such as in だって (datte). But you won't ever see anything such as "kr" in Japanese. (Christmas in Japanese transliteration is Kurisumasu.)
Japanese has postpositions. (Prepositions after). A subject marker, object marker, etc. "Watashi wa" wa==subject marker (postposition). There are no articles (the, a, etc).
Japanese has counters and you have to conjugate adjectives. (Painful)
Japanese does differentiate between voiced and unvoiced consonants.
Japanese doesn't have any true plurals (not like English). The best you can do is tack on "taichi" which is more like "and the company". But generally, plurals are derived from context, and all plurals are dropped.
Chinese characters also didn't get modified that often from Chinese.
There are speech levels in Japanese, though they aren't as strict as Korean, but are more strict that English ever was. (English did have speech levels way back, not that anyone remembers it).
Age also influences a lot.
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Vowel length in Japanese matters a whole lot. Obaa-san v. oba-san.
Arigatou Gozaimasu. 有難う御座いました
Quick Cultural note: Umbrellas in Japan...
Korean
Korean uses Hangeul. (which is composite to make syllables) <-- I already went over this.
Korean is also conceptual, but has a future tense.
Korean is also agglutinating.
Korean has counters and you have to conjugate adjectives. (Painful)
Koreans invented their own Chinese characters to combine concepts. There is debate over using Chinese characters in schools in South Korea. It's called HANJA. (Romaja is the romanization.) I will strangle people who call Korean Chinese characters "Kanji" for some many reasons, including the reason I mentioned. (Koreans invented their own and the pronunciation and meaning is different... so it's NOT the same.)
Korean usually has no plurals. Only using plurals for clarification. The plural "deul" as in Chingu-deul isn't used that frequently as it is in English.
There are age ranks in Korean, leftover from Confucianism. It's more strict than Japanese, though it's relaxing over time. (the honorifics have a different significance in Korean than Japanese)
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Holding on vowels isn't taxed against you.
Korean has two counting systems used for different things. (Also painful to remember). One is Chinese-based, the other is Korean-based. (I don't know any other country that has two counting systems.)
Korean does *not* differentiate between voiced and unvoiced sounds. (which is why ㅂ doesn't sound like specifically b or p... (but you need sharp ears for that.)
Korean has spaces in the speech.
Korean has postpositions. (Prepositions after). A subject marker, object marker, etc. "Na neun" neun==subject marker (postposition). There are no articles (the, a, etc).
Kamsahamnida. 감사합니다
Quick Cultural Note: Han... the concept. (Koreans call themselves Hanguk saram)
This is suffering for a long time, but working hard to overcome the deficit. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Han_%28cultural%29
If you understand that, then you can understand the long separation ending of traditional Korean romances. (though it's been revised in the modern era.)
If Chinese endings are infuriating for ending sadly, then Korean romances (traditionally) are infuriating for saying that true love is when you have a long separation and still can come back and love that person.
Chinese(Mandarin) (Note that I haven't learned much...)
Korean and Japanese mostly takes from Cantonese and the Qin groups in pronunciation. (Mostly because they traded, rather than conquered)
Chinese is a DIFFERENT language group than Japanese or Korean. They use Ideographs. (Which means the glyphs represent ideas rather than sound.) For the love of whatever you hold dear, don't call the Chinese characters "symbols" All written language is symbols. That's ignorant. It's IDEOGRAPHS.
There are age rankings. Gege... Jie, etc. Also the same emphasis on honorifics, though, again, not used the same way.
Chinese is an isolating SVO (like English) language.
Chinese has counters.
Chinese (as far as I know) doesn't have a subject/object marker. It doesn't have articles.
It has no conjugation!! (The pain from English).
There is no gendered language. (Say, like Italian or French as supposed to masculine/feminine speech).
Chinese has tones. (I've noticed some affect (emotions) is done through volume in places English doesn't... but I'm not sure of this.)
xie4xie. 謝謝
Quick Cultural Note: I'm dying to know about Wuism.... which is the shamanistic religion of China, but suffered really hard under several Han emperors. I haven't been able to find much.... which is rare. (Since Muism has more material... usually you find more about China than Korea)
Did you know?: That China invented the printing press. (Wasn't Gutenberg) and Koreans invented movable type? (Was Gutenberg). What Gutenburg did invent was the adjustable frames for the printing press. That makes more sense since Chinese invented durable paper before anyone else (durable being the key word) and hangeul lends itself to movable type. (Many inventions are like that... for example, the lightbulb was NOT invented by Edison.)
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RockPaperScissors
June 7, 2013 at 6:28 AM
Thanks for yet another cultural lesson. I look forward to these each week!
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korfan
June 7, 2013 at 7:01 AM
Kim Yoonmi -
Thank you once again for such valuable and interesting information.
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saturtledaisy
June 7, 2013 at 7:07 AM
Ah cultural lessons. These are always interesting~
I have a couple of questions though.
-Doesn't Japanese also have two counting systems? I'm not sure if it works the same way as the Korean system does, but I recall my friend (who studies japanese) complaining about how she never knew which number to use when she just started.
-What exactly are 'counters'? I've tried looking it up but I have trouble understanding it, having never studied linguistics.
There's a couple things I don't think you mentioned when you were talking about Chinese (forgive me if I overlooked it, it was a lot of information to process!) , which you did mention for the other languages:
-(mandarin) Chinese does not have speech levels like Korean and Japanese. You obviously do need to adapt your speech depending on who you're talking to, but there's no special speech level, so it's a bit like english. There IS a formal 'you' though (like the french vous).
-(mandarin) Chinese doesn't have a plural. The most you can do is add a 'men (们) ' when you're talking about people (eg: friend (pengyou) would become 'peng you men' (朋友们)), but this isn't used (or even useable) in every situation.
And then theres just one little thing I wanted to add about Kanji:
I /think/ the Japanese use more or less the same characters as the /traditional/ chinese characters (though the meaning may have changed a bit), whereas mainland China has simplified their characters. (The traditional characters are still used in Taiwan and Hongkong.)
However, I have noticed that some kanji are different from the traditional chinese characters.
Something I noticed (when looking at restaurant menus in different countries) was the alteration of the word 'chicken'.
in traditional Chinese: 雞
In simplified Chinese: 鸡
in Japanese kanji: 鶏
Which, ironically, makes it easier for me (having only learned simplified Chinese) to guess what the Japanese kanji would mean rather than the traditional Chinese one.
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KimYoonmi
June 7, 2013 at 8:20 AM
Re: Counters
Japanese doesn't have more than one counting system. It's the counters that mess you up.
ichi, ni, san, (shi)/Yon, go, roku, nana, hachi, juu, kyuu. (Spelled out for the benefit of those hiragana inhibited)
hitsuji ichi-biki hitsuji ni-piki... etc. (Counting Sheep)
Or ni-kai... (Japanese) san kai... (If I remember, this is for flat objects, like plates, but there are two counters for plates v. paper... IIRC... Counters are a weak point for me.)
Counters function to tell you *what* kind of object you are counting and only show up when you are counting certain objects or saying there are certain objects. A pain to remember and usually show up in the second year. (Also not used that frequently)
biki/piki (which is sound blending as in the English \wader\ for water. All languages I know have this.) is for animals, but I believe only herd animals?? birds have a different counter. And small animals like nezumi (rodents in general since there isn't a word to distinguish between a hamster/rat/mouse... Korean and Chinese oddly share this feature... I had trouble trying to distinguish for two people that don't speak English natively...) A pain in the butt.
So based on what category of object you have, you count with a different counter.
Now Korean, not only does it have counters (Which tell about categories of objects), but there are two different counting systems (As in numbers).
il, i, sam, sa, oh, yuk, chil, pal, kuu, ship, etc is the Chinese-derived. (Which sounds a lot like Cantonese, BTW and Qin, from what I'm told).
v. Hana, tul, Set, net, taseot, yaseot, ilgeop, yadeol, ahop, yul, etc. Which is Korean-derived. (Said to be related to Mongolian?? and distantly *maybe* Turkish/Hungarian, or Finnish... linguists aren't sure since Korean is so old and no one is sure what Old Korean sounded like which would give more clues.)
Add to that counters and using the number systems to count different things and it's a lot of trouble.
Re: Japanese Kanji.
True, but by and large the majority stayed the same. Also that Japanese often also took from the Qin/Cantonese a long time ago, which might be some of the differences. Also Japanese, though they tend to not like to admit it imported a lot of characters early on from Korean, though there was some effort to clean it up at some point that I'm a bit foggy on.
I'm also a bit foggy on Chinese linguistics though I know the basics. (As in evolution of characters and regionalities between the ethnic groups v. the government trying to regulate it.)
Re: Chinese
Thanks for filling in the blanks.
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saturtledaisy
June 7, 2013 at 10:53 AM