Just want to say I recommend MHGAF/Unexpected You ~all the time~ because even for my roommate daunted by the sheer episode count, it works its magic of everyone having respectably engaging plot and characterization in a show that's about the long-lost son always showering affection for the main character who didn't count on this extended family to be her neighbors. I do have to find the time for KNJ's two other shows but this complete package of a show has to be my utter favorite out of everything I've watched.

Too bad about Queen Insoo. (I have rough translation that I did on each ep. if anyone is interested. As you can tell, my English is lacking - watching too many k-dramas is bad for your English skill. heh.)

So far so good on Six Dragons. Didn't pull like Dae JangGeum or QSD yet. Need some background knowledge on history to watch this I think, even though it is not historically correct in detail. I watch for KMM and the writer for now.

I'm really sorry to hear that about Queen Insoo, as I was excited that it was finally going to be legally available. Hopefully, it will get picked back up as some point - I know subbing a 50 episode sageuk is a challenge and I'm extremely grateful for the folks who are willing to invest the time in it.

That is the problem with Viki, they aren't using paid subbers so the titles can take a while even if they're for a show that Viki is pushing. On the one hand I think their subtitles are generally better to Dramafever's and editorially speaking they're not dumbed down/homogenized, but they can be slow if the show doesn't rivet the attention of the subbers.

I recently noticed that the MBC America app on my Samsung smart tv has quite a few recent shows with subtitles, some of which Viki had before but also My Spring Days which neither they or DF had. In fact, the app had Splendid Politics added while it was still airing which was kind of a first. So now I'm checking it regularly to see if they add anything else really new.

From the Viki page: ..We have lost several good translators do to them quitting because of the negativity of viewers who think they should receive instant gratification..." https://www.viki.com/tv/28083c-queen-insoo?q=quee

I read a few of the comments from viewers, and have to say I cannot really blame the translators.

That is sad to hear, I was wanting to watch that show. I completely understand subers getting annoyed though. It's sad, but so many people are spoiled now with subs coming out quickly (especially for korean dramas. Chinese and especially japanese are still slower thus people are sometimes a little more understanding).

Especially for shows that are airing. Seeing comments always asking "When is the next episode out?!!!!" when the episode hasn't even aired yet on top of no thanks is annoying, even for other viewers.

I am so thankful for all the subbers that are working hard. Sure it can be annoying to see subs suddenly stop, but that is still the right of the suber.

Quiz on ‘Romantic Chemistry’ continued...

7) Couple Chemistry Rating
I picked a purely random and subjective list of kdramas, while leaving out many that did not come to mind immediately. Of this list of couples, who do you feel have one of these types of chemistry.... you can combine the codes for eg. “GN 50%” means there’s some genuine chemistry, or “AC lots but CG” means there’s lots of Acted Chemistry but it Comes and Goes.

Sorry it’s complicated! (I was going crazy trying to come up with graduated responses) :D My answers are below.
Codes
50% - some degree
0% - no chemistry, they did not even try
Little – less than 50%
Lots - more than 50%
GN - genuine chemistry ie they may be/have been fond of each other in real life
AC - acted chemistry ie they are good in acting as lovers
FP - friendly/professional chemistry
SB - sibling chemistry
CG - comes and goes ie now you see it, now you don’t
NO - no opinion

Feel free to add your own couples.

(All About My Romance) Shin Ha Kyun-Lee Min Jung
(Angry Mom) Ji Soo-Kim Hee Sun
(Cantabile Tomorrow) Joo Won-Shim Eun Kyung
(City Hunter) Lee Min Ho-Park Min Young
(Coffee Prince) Gong Yoo-Yoon Eun Hye
(Fated To Love You) Jang Hyuk-Jang Na Ra
(Full House 1) Bi-Song Hye Kyo
(Goong 1) Joo Ji Hoon-Yoon Eun Hye
(Healer) Ji Chang Wook-Park Min Young
(I Hear Your Voice) Lee Jong Suk-Lee Bo Young
(I Remember You) Seo In Guk-Jang Na Ra
(I Remember You) bromance Seo In Guk-Park Bo Gum
(Kill Me Heal Me)Ji Sung-Hwang Jung Eum
(Kill Me Heal Me) Park Seo Joon-Hwang Jung Eum
(King of High School Savvy) Seo In Guk-Lee Ha Na
(King 2 Hearts) Lee Seung Gi-Ha Ji Won
(Lie To Me) Kang Ji Hwan-Yoon Eun Hye
(Mary Stayed Out All Night) Jang Geun Seuk-Moon Geun Yong
(Mask) Joo Ji Hoon-Soon Ae
(Mask) Yun Jung Hoon-Soon Ae
(Master’s Sun) So Ji Sub-Gong Hyo Jin
(My Beautiful Bride) Kim Mu Yeol-Go Sung Hee
(My Girl) Lee Dong Wook-Lee Da Hae
(My Love Eun Dong) Joo Jin Mo-Kim Sa Rang
(My Love From Another Star) Kim Soo Hyun-Jun Ji Hyun
(My Princess) Song Seung Hun-Kim Tae Hee
(My Spring Days) Kam Woo Sung-Choi Soo Young
(It’s OK That’s Love) Jo In Sung-Gong Hyo Jin
(Oh My Ghostess) Jo Jung Suk-Park Bo Young as Soon Ae
(Oh My Ghostess) Jo Jung Suk-Park Bo Young as Bong Sun
(Pinocchio) Lee Jong Suk-Park Shin Hye
(Playful Kiss) Kim Hyun Joong-Jung So Min
(Protect the Boss) Ji Sung-Choi Kang Hee
(Reply 1997) Seo In Guk-Jung Eun Ji
(She Was Pretty) Park Seo Joon-Hwang Jung Eum
(She Was Pretty) Park Seo Joon-Go Joon Hee
(Smelly Girl) Park Yoo Chun-Shin Se Kyung
(The Time I Loved You) Lee Jin Wook-Ha Ji Won
(Twenty Again) Lee Sang Yoon-Choi Ji Woo
(Warm & Cozy) Yoo Yeon Suk –Kang So Ra
(Yong Pal) Joo Won-Kim Tae Hee

As a director, I find chemistry is a very tricky thing. Some pairs have it and some pairs just don't and it often has very little to do with overall acting talent. Oddly, it also often has very little to do with how the actors feel about each other in real life. I've had actors who were actually dating who had very little chemistry in a dramatic context, and actors who hated each other who were throwing off sparks left and right when placed in front of an audience. Finding pairs that "click" is often one of the biggest challenges (and unknowns) of casting.

1) True, I need to see some 'spark' between them that I can define as romantic feeling to accept their relationship

2) c, I think the OTP need to have some chemistry for audience to accept them. But whether or not they recognize it is quite subjective. (e.g. some people think they saw a potential romantic chemistry between Song Hakyung and Ko Namsoon in School 2013 when the drama only give us a tease about them)

3) True, at least they need to find some attraction as a character to work on it.

4)False, if it just some awkwardness in real life, I think they can still doing okay. But if it come to the point of hate, it will be hard to act all lovey-dovey however good their acting were.

5)True, since accepting chemistry between character is pretty subjective, there is some possibility to mistake a really good friendship as a romantic chemistry or vice versa.

6) This is so true. It's usually happened a lot when the drama never really focused on romance part (e.g. Ghost, School 2013, vampire prosecutor) or when there is a really strong contender for our OTP (personally it applied to several High Kick series OTP)

(1)
"look on screen" -> No.
"how they make us feel about their relationship" -> Yes, that is the essential aspect of romantic chemistry (or any chemistry between two characters).

(2) [a]
Yes, it is highly subjective. (See (1): "how they make us feel ...")
Romantic chemistry is based on a contract between the show runners and the audience. Each member of the audience has his/her own concept of romance in general and in respect of the show.

(3)
I don't understand the question. By OTP, do you mean in-world or out-of-world here? Usually, the OTP are the characters that form the "breeding pair" of the show. By "genuine feeling", do you refer to the fictional feeling between the characters? Or are you referring to the actors/actresses who play them?
If the former, when are fictional feelings are supposed to be genuine?

(4)
Yes and no. There are actors/actresses who can create romantic (or other) chemistry with everyone and everything. There are actors/actresses who are not able to do that. That doesn't mean the former are good and the latter are bad at their acting jobs.

Two great actors who are in love with each other don't necessarily have great chemistry on screen.
Two mediocre actors who hate each other might still display immense chemistry.

(5)
Of course! Just like in real life, the different kinds of love relationships are not disjoint. They are all based on the same fundamental substance (some researchers believe they are all based on parent-child-bonds ... squick).

In mainstream media, show-runners try very hard to keep it "clean", of course, and only use a little bit of teasing (incest teasing in family dramas for example) when they believe it save. They try to stick to certain well-established romantic formulas and symbols. That doesn't stop certain members of the audience to swoon over intense friendship or sibling relationships, of course (see (2)).

(6)
One of the easiest way to produce chemistry is through positive disposition of the audience towards an actor/actress.

Instead of going through the hard work of creating chemistry between your characters, it's much easier to seduce the audience directly and make them believe that what they see on screen are the sparks flying between the characters -- while, in fact, those are the sparks flying towards the actor/actress from the other side of the screen.

Personally as a writer I need my love-line to work more on a narrative level, so unless there is a palpable awkwardness b/t the actors then I don’t even bother to analyze “chemistry” since when everyone brought it up they seemed to be speaking of 50 different things. Unfortunately, it’s rare that dramas move beyond the staged cues that symbolize love, like ballads, spinny cameras, and slow motion, so even narrative grounding isn’t something I see often. For me story comes first, so a love-line alone won’t make or break something for me.

I agree with Jon G's definition of chemistry. It is highly subjective. For instance, some people think proximity=romance.That's why we get a lot of silly “oops-I-fell-and-landed-on-your-lips/in-your-arms” passing for romance. Considering that this is the standard people buy into, romantic chemistry doesn't have to be based on genuine feeling, or even good acting. A lot of it just stops at directing/editing choices and the script.
Yes, it's possible to mistake good other chemistry for romantic chemistry.

I think the only type of chemistry that isn't really subjective is comedic chemistry, that has to be funny or die. Good actors who are also funny can just feed off each other and create that atmosphere for laughs. Good scripts and editing can definitely contribute, but funny actors can still be so in terrible shows, and editing, if it’s too heavy-handed, can take away from that. Personally, I can overlook romantic chemistry if the funny is genuine.

My answers:
1) Chemistry is how romantic the couple look on screen- True. I love the flutter feeling they give.

2) Chemistry is subjective -No doubt.
3) Chemistry must be based on some genuine feeling between the OTP- I'd like to say True, but I know it is False. Ages ago I read about an interview with Jang DongGun. When showed two kiss scenes he did- one when he first debuted which looked awkward, and the other done much later which looked hot, he said he felt fluttered doing those scenes during his earlier times, but later he just became too technical. So I think with experiences, actors can look cool and hot in romantic scenes without really feeling it.

4) Chemistry is something that can be portrayed by good actors- True. See answer on 3).
5) It is possible to mistake- True.
6) It’s possible for viewers to have wishful thinking -True. Like perfect second male leads in dramas- Sometimes they are so perfect that you want them to win the girl, even though you know that will not be the case.

7) Couple Chemistry Rating- I usually don't feel as much chemistry as others think.
Actually I was thinking about the OTP chemistry when on Last week OT, people talked about romance reunions. So far My favorite couple was Kim RaeWon and Kim TaeHee in Love story in Harvard. I don't know how I would feel if I watch the show again now, but when I watched it first time, I was just speechless how great their chemistry felt. I have watched many more shows after that over the years, but I've never had same feeling about the couple like when I had watching that show.

But then again, there are actors/actresses who became real couple after the show. This means they must have had great chemistry on screen-like (even though they may no longer items)
Hyun Bin and Song HaeKyo (The world within)
Eugene and Ki Tae-young (Creating destiny)
Yeon JungHoon and Han GaIn
Nam SangMi and Lee SangYoon (Life is beautiful)

You mentioned that Gong Yoo said he was always a little in love with his co-star. I think Gong HyoGin said something like that too.

1) Chemistry is how romantic the couple look on screen and how they make us feel about their relationship. True or False?

False. There's a certain intangibility to chemistry that makes it hard to pin down, but at its root, it boils down to this - am I interested in seeing these characters interact? If the answer is yes, then the actors have chemistry.

It's not about romance, I really don't think romantic chemistry is totally separate from friendship chemistry for instance. They may actually overlap quite a bit.

2) option c.

3) Chemistry must be based on some genuine feeling between the OTP or else the viewer will not be convinced of it. True or False?

Genuine feeling between the characters, right? I would say yes, but then there are dramas where a male lead has looked and felt far more compatible with another woman despite the story steering him in the direction of liking, say, a first love type.

4) Chemistry is something that can be portrayed by good actors regardless of how they really feel about each other, ie they can convince us that they are in love even if they hate each other’s guts in real life. True or False? >/i>

True. Gone With The Wind and The Notebook were two famous cases where the leads could not stand each other during the process of filming (Vivien Leigh's 'swooning' is actually a reaction to Clark Gable's halitosis). And yet, those two are among the top romantic movies of all time.

cont'd... extent that the performance of the whole cast and crew was being denied entirely so as to not even deserve a single nomination.

Daylight saving started here this week so I’m posting earlier and can’t hang around much longer, I’m getting very sleepy, will be back tomorrow morning.

Have a nice weekend everyone! :)

My Couple Chemistry Rating

(All About My Romance) Shin Ha Kyun-Lee Min Jung = AC lots
(Angry Mom) Ji Soo-Kim Hee Sun = FP 50%
(Cantabile Tomorrow) Joo Won-Shim Eun Kyung = SB and AC little
(City Hunter) Lee Min Ho-Park Min Young = AC and GN little
(Coffee Prince) Gong Yoo-Yoon Eun Hye = AC lots
(Fated To Love You) Jang Hyuk-Jang Na Ra = AC lots
(Full House 1) Bi-Song Hye Kyo = AC 50% and SB lots
(Goong 1) Joo Ji Hoon-Yoon Eun Hye = AC lots but CG
(Healer) Ji Chang Wook-Park Min Young = AC lots
(I Hear Your Voice) Lee Jong Suk-Lee Bo Young = GN , 50% and AC lots
(I Remember You) Seo In Guk-Jang Na Ra = FP lots and AC little
(I Remember You) bromance Seo In Guk-Park Bo Gum = GN lots
(Kill Me Heal Me) Ji Sung-Hwang Jung Eum = AC lots
(Kill Me Heal Me) Park Seo Joon-Hwang Jung Eum = SB and AC little
(King of High School Savvy) Seo In Guk-Lee Ha Na = FP
(King 2 Hearts) Lee Seung Gi-Ha Ji Won = AC 50% and SB lots
(Lie To Me) Kang Ji Hwan-Yoon Eun Hye = GN little and AC lots
(Mary Stayed Out All Night) Jang Geun Seuk-Moon Geun Yong = AC 50% but CG
(Mask) Joo Ji Hoon-Soon Ae = AC lots
(Mask) Yun Jung Hoon-Soon Ae = AC lots
(Master’s Sun) So Ji Sub-Gong Hyo Jin = AC 50%
(My Beautiful Bride) Kim Mu Yeol-Go Sung Hee = AC 50%
(My Girl) Lee Dong Wook-Lee Da Hae = AC lots
(My Love Eun Dong) Joo Jin Mo-Kim Sa Rang = AC lots
(My Love From Another Star) Kim Soo Hyun-Jun Ji Hyun = AC little and GN little
(My Princess) Song Seung Hun-Kim Tae Hee = AC 50%
(My Spring Days) Kam Woo Sung-Choi Soo Young = AC lots
(It’s OK That’s Love) Jo In Sung-Gong Hyo Jin = AC lots
(Oh My Ghostess) Jo Jung Suk-Park Bo Young as Soon Ae = AC lots
(Oh My Ghostess) Jo Jung Suk-Park Bo Young as Bong Sun = AC 50%
(Pinocchio) Lee Jong Suk-Park Shin Hye = AC lots
(Playful Kiss) Kim Hyun Joong-Jung So Min = AC little and SB 50%
(Protect the Boss) Ji Sung-Choi Kang Hee = SB
(Reply 1997) Seo In Guk-Jung Eun Ji = AC lots
(She Was Pretty) Park Seo Joon-Hwang Jung Eum = SB
(She Was Pretty) Park Seo Joon-Go Joon Hee = FP
(Smelly Girl) Park Yoo Chun-Shin Se Kyung = AC lots
(The Time I Loved You) Lee Jin Wook-Ha Ji Won = AC 50% but CG
(Twenty Again) Lee Sang Yoon-Choi Ji Woo = AC 50% and FP lots
(Warm & Cozy) Yoo Yeon Suk –Kang So Ra = SB and AC 50%
(Yong Pal) Joo Won-Kim Tae Hee = AC little and FP

:)

Hi Korfan!

Hope you had a good time with your family!

Nice to see you.

@ gadis

It's a good thing that Sassy Go Go is a short series. I feel that with the simple premise and the nice couple vibes it will work very well in 12 episodes. I'm surprised by how much I like it.

She Was Pretty with the preview... I don't really think there was a time jump. I had the impression that Sung Joon sending over that picture of the bearded onion tilted her choice in favor of going back to Most and in making the most of herself immediately. I need to watch the whole episode to be sure, though. Also she might not have wanted to delay with ensuring that she had a job, since she saw her father's situation, so since we see her back at Most, it would have been sooner rather than later.

sera -

Is I Have A Lover good/interesting?

While I haven't watched any episode of the drama, I did catch a glimpse of it a couple of weekends ago, while changing channels on tv. ...... I've been curious about it.

Regarding She was Pretty, I saw a BTS photo (not sure if on Twitter or Soompi Forum) that suggests otherwise :) I'm actually hoping it is, because I love her fuzzy messy hair :D

hi sera,

actually feel the same way about kim hyun joo after watching her in WHTMF, weekend drama, then i realized she mostly does long dramas:( watched few episodes of IHAL and really hated the husband, so i stopped watching it. but i do read OT every weekl at DB so hopefully you'll have updates on upcoming episodes. will look forward to your mini-reviews, perhaps? thanks!

>Date special: “You got luscious with that anemic woman, didn’t you?” The jdrama Date originally ended on a fine note as it was, but what a nice little surprise all wrapped up in a bonus drama special package

What is this special about? I loved Date but I don't like behind the scenes specials, I liek to keep the illusion intact and know nothing about the production and the actors.

@ Lixie

I'm no expert but re-reading your question put TTILY and Yong Pal into my mind immediately. I'm taking what has been discussed above ie, an actor and actress, and I don't mean just good ones, could actually pull off some great chemistry, but somehow they don't. Possible reasons that this could be (my guesses):

* show failed to get the audience to care enough for the couple
* camera work or editing was faulty
* the actor and actress were tired out by the live shoot system :)