Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching
by DB Staff
How was your week in dramas? What floated your boat, or sank your ship?
I feel like it’s always feast or famine around here; either I’m scrounging for something to watch and dissatisfied by everything, or drowning in so many dramas it’s a wrench deciding what to prioritize, or set aside for later. I’d like to say I’ll sleep when I’m dead, but let’s not tempt fate like that, shall we? —javabeans
javabeans
Currently recapping: Uncontrollably Fond
Mirror of the Witch: What would it take to get more Yoon Shi-yoon and Kim Sae-ron scenes around here? I love those characters and the actors are great (especially him), and while the villain is an awesome piece of work (in all senses), I’m ready for more development with our two main characters. Aren’t there wishes needing fulfilling?
Beautiful Gong Shim: The longer the kidnapping storyline drags on, the easier I find it to completely shut off my brain in all scenes not involving Gong Shim and Dan-tae. I always felt that, but at least tried to care about the kidnapping for the story’s sake, but now I don’t bother. And did everyone else see Gong Shim without her wig and want to shove it back on her head? Minah’s very pretty, but it totally loses the Gong Shim magic to see her looking so… normal.
Wanted: This show makes me bloodthirsty; I want more darkness, more spine-tingling chills, more unearthed skeletons (figurative, I mean, although I suppose literal ones would also fit the bill). I just… want a little more desperation from Mom, more immediacy; she seems very sad that her son’s been kidnapped, of course, and also very eager to get him back. It’s just, I saw God’s Gift and Lee Bo-young was incredible — that mom was badass like a mofo.
Lucky Romance: God I love Ryu Joon-yeol. And Je Su-ho. I’m not sure which I love more. Never make me choose.
Doctors: I continue to watch, finding it breezy and pleasant, and I love the way Kim Rae-won delivers his lines. Such a natural. I’m still meh on the plot, but I find this show reminiscent of Descended From the Sun in that regard; the plot is really just a romance delivery vehicle. The banter and chemistry sell the story, not the other way around.
HeadsNo2
Beautiful Mind: This drama seems to be flying under the radar when it really, really shouldn’t be. Jang Hyuk’s performance in this is sublime, and harks back to his Chuno days, where his acting earned him a nomination at the International Emmy Awards. It’s the kind of role that could’ve only been played by him, humanized by him, and subsequently owned by him. Seriously, I don’t know how else to convince everyone that they should be watching this show, short of a song and dance number.
Wanted: Each episode keeps me on the edge of my seat, though I admit to being a bit disappointed that the show within the show has lost its guerrilla-style format. So many exciting things happen that aren’t filmed for the reality show, which is a shame—if they think they’re getting high ratings now (the fictional kind), I wonder what they’d get if they made sure the heroine had a camera crew filming her 24/7. All the material’s there, they just need to know how to use it.
gummimochi
Beautiful Mind: I was initially behind on this series, but it’s now become the series I look forward to the most every week. Not only is it beautifully directed, the stellar cast makes the already intriguing hospital mystery come alive. Jang Hyuk is absolutely dominating in this role, even bringing me close to tears this week. Don’t be deceived by the ratings — this is definitely a show everyone should watch.
Wanted: Much like everyone else, the premise reminds me of a mix between God’s Gift—14 Days and Liar Game. I wish the pacing was a bit more suspenseful, but I definitely still like the show. The Uhmforce is strong here, and Ji Hyun-woo makes a good cop.
Police Unit 38: If only I could bend the time-space continuum to 72 hours a day in order to fit more episodes of this show into my schedule. But alas, I remain a casual viewer. The heist (and its obstacles) make for a fun watch, even though it’s taking some time to get our core group together. But no matter, since the Ma Dong-seok and Seo In-gook combination is awesome.
Uncontrollably Fond: Kim Woo-bin, need I say more? Sure, I’ll say more. The show follows a familiar melodrama formula with a paint-by-numbers backstory, but there’s a definite spark in the acting chemistry between Kim Woo-bin and Suzy.
odilettante
Currently recapping: Dear My Friends
Monster: Things I like about this show: the ladies, rare moments of actual revenge and espionage, Park Ki-woong’s flashy suits. Things I don’t like about this show: endless boring squabbles about who has more power, all the ridiculous (and unsuccessful) ways they keep trying to keep Ki-tan and Soo-yeon apart (hypnosis!), the fact that it’s still 50 episodes.
Police Unit 38: I love it so muuuuuuuuuuuch. When a show captures my ardent devotion within the first episode, I expect the cracktastic sparkly sheen to gradually wear off, but to my delight it continues to be awesome and the show I most look forward to each week.
Beautiful Mind: I didn’t intend to give this show more than just a passing glance when I was checking out the slew of premieres a few weeks ago. Medical dramas are not my cup of tea, but every time I had the urge to drop it, something unexpected and fascinating would happen and I’d be reeled back in. Now I’m officially hooked and desperate to know what’s really going on in this hospital.
chickachunga
Currently recapping: Beautiful Gong Shim
Dear My Friends: A wonderful, truly exquisite viewing experience from beginning to end. Wouldn’t take back any of the tears I shed because my heart was thoroughly warmed by the selfless aunties and uncles who taught me a thing or two about friendship, family, and this fickle thing called life.
Uncontrollably Fond: I came for the Woobz, but I stayed for the… well, Woobz. Happy to see him back on TV. Suz is alright. Pororo is <3. Taekie’s dad got a perm and what do you know, still lovable since ’88.
mary
Police Unit 38: This show is weird because there are episodes where they just run around setting a lot of things up. Not that watching Bear Sung-il fail at conning isn’t fun, I just see why some Beanies think it’s slow. But I like it! All that preparation builds the anticipation so that once the trap is set, it gets very intense and you find yourself holding your breath and gritting your teeth with every setback, willing the baddies to “just sssign the contract… ssssiiiiign it… my preciousssss…”
Noble My Love: This show is nothing new when it comes to rom-coms. It’s like those french fries your sis asked you to watch while she washes her hands at McDonald’s. You don’t order it yourself because you know it’s just potato and fat and salt and what’s special about that? But it’s there in front of you and you’re bored so you take one fry, just one. Then you realize you miss some good old salty fatty potatoes so you take another. And another. And another… until you end up finishing the whole thing and thinking that salty fatty potatoes, once done right, can be fun. Noble My Love is the french fries that, once eaten, make you Google Sung Hoon and consider watching Five Kids even when you don’t have time for 50-episode dramas.
Memory: It reminds me a bit of Punch in that we start with a very unethical, unlikable hero. Then he gets an incurable disease that (presumably) makes him want to fix some things in his life. The thing is, I already watched Punch and I don’t see this ending well. I picked this up to get rid of Signal feels but if it hurts more than Signal, what’s the point? I might have to drop this or save it for when I’m getting too happy with life. Maybe when I attend a Song Jae-rim fanmeet?
RELATED POSTS
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, Beautiful Gong Shim, Beautiful Mind, Dear My Friends, Doctors, Lucky Romance, Memory, Mirror of the Witch, Monster, Police Unit 38, Uncontrollably Fond, Wanted, What We're Watching
Interview with Kim Yoo-jung
Hello Dramabeans series
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1 Amber Kmuse
July 9, 2016 at 3:12 AM
Am loving this weekly post. Thanks for creating it. Also really loving Squad 38 and Beautiful Mind as well. They deserve the love and promotion.
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knightauror
July 9, 2016 at 4:41 AM
I'm watching squad 38 right now, and still hesitant on watching beautiful mind. I used to love the genre but I am already annoyed by jinsung's char just by reading recaps, should I just go and watch?
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nAEE
July 9, 2016 at 4:53 AM
It's a good medical drama but the female character is kind of irritating. But I still love it. I will say that Jang Hyuk's stellar acting elevates the show
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Evelia
July 9, 2016 at 10:21 AM
I dont find the female lead in Beautiful Mind annoying. To me it has to do with her sense of finding who is responsible for the murder. Beautiful Mind is my favorite show right now, the story is pretty interesting and fill with complex characters.
I gave up on Doctors, I just think that there is not that much going. I like the main couple.
Mirror of the Witch mostly for the awesome villain. Her story is well developed. I gave up on the main lead couple story line. I just do not find it compelling anymore. At the beginning it was but then with each episode I feel disconnected with them. To me the story had a great potential and the actors are doing a good job, but is not enough for me.
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August
July 9, 2016 at 11:12 AM
Jang Hyuk’s stellar acting elevates the show
It certainly does. Jang Hyuk's acting makes it hard to turn away. When he's on screen the hour flies by leaving you wanting more Jang Hyuk.
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Keightie
July 9, 2016 at 1:08 PM
Dont like the female lead too. Park so dam needs to work on her acting
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Rebecca
July 10, 2016 at 8:47 AM
I only dislike her character because she's so incompetant at her job. Seriously, when a Docter is doing your job better than you are, I'd suggest considering a possible career change.
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civilsecret
July 9, 2016 at 4:54 AM
yes you should, they have purposely made her character like that from eps 1-4 and she reflects and changes in eps 5-6, learning from her mistakes. at the start she suspected dr lee and didnt trust him, making judgments on him and then realized how wrong she was, which is perfect because now after going through that wake up call she is on his side and will be the one to trust and support him when no else is
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civilsecret
July 9, 2016 at 5:13 AM
* Dr OY not dr lee
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prettysup
July 9, 2016 at 5:41 AM
Isnt Dr Lee and Dr YO the same person? And yeah you should go watch it, the female lead is not that irritating, and you will see the reason why when u get to ep 5-6. Dont miss this gem.
loveblossom
July 9, 2016 at 6:49 AM
@prettysup Well, we could call Young Oh Dr. Lee, but in the recaps, Dr. Lee is referring to his father.
And I agree with you. The female lead was only frustrating in the first few episodes.
knightauror
July 9, 2016 at 9:57 AM
Okay, thank you. I will try watching it tomorrow ?
2 PBY
July 9, 2016 at 3:14 AM
chickachunga's explanation is precisely why I'm thinking of watching UF: " I came for the Woobz, but I stayed for the… well, Woobz."
I'm not sure what to start watching from this slew of (relatively) new shows, but I think I'll go for UF (the beautiful visuals are tempting me) and Unit 38.
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Dramalava
July 9, 2016 at 5:14 AM
Haha. Perfect description!! I came for Kim Woo Bin's smiling face only to find out he is ill????? did everyone know this? I guess I wasn't paying attention to the promos! I hope the show is good though!
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3 lolcoolcat123
July 9, 2016 at 3:18 AM
Wow! Ok now i also wanna start with watching all these dramas, but i dont have any time. I used to hate watching dramas live. I did that with "She's So Lovable" (yesss.....THAT drama), and i was dying inside to know what happens next (only in the beginning of the drama). But now i wanna watch all of this and i agree live watching spices up your drama watching experience!
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4 angelajungxx
July 9, 2016 at 3:26 AM
Loved your thoughts^^^
Really cant wait to see the next ep of uncontrollably fond!
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5 civilsecret
July 9, 2016 at 3:32 AM
happy to see beautiful mind getting the love, i hope it continues to grow in strength and receive more recognition. im seriously loving it.
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6 agree
July 9, 2016 at 3:34 AM
lucky romance may not be the best but je su-ho is..
Forever in love with je su-ho....
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Agree
July 9, 2016 at 4:05 AM
And another kiss like that and doctors will go down like titanic for me
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Sogazelle
July 9, 2016 at 10:02 AM
Seriously... If PSH( worst kisser ever!) can even make Kim Rae Won, one of the best kissers in my drama watching history look awkward, then there's really no hope for her.
How can she deliver her lines so well but when it comes to kissing, she clams up every time as if the male lead is about to assault her.
And in this particular scene, KRW's character actually gives her a gentle verbal cheesy/romantic warning as he approaches her very slowly, but she still managed to ruin the moment.
Seriously I have nothing against her but her lack of acting effort in her kissing scenes seriously frustrate me every time even though I no longer really expect a "miracle".
Maybe there's something in her real life past that we don't know because this is really strange....I presume kissing is also taught in acting school.
Where are Yoon Eun Hye, UEE, Park Min Young, Park Bo Young when I need them?
They could have made this scene look smooth in their sleep...
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frankie
July 9, 2016 at 11:51 AM
True. PSH is some evil witch that magically turned KRW into a terrible/awkward kisser, even though he was the one to initiate and then proceed to not move or open his mouth..hmm..amazing of her. There's absolutely no way that one of the million people who help direct scenes set it up that way.
Thanks for making me realize why I stopped using this site two years ago and why I should have never come back this last year or so. Won't be making that same mistake again.
But, I sure do hope those kiss scenes improve so you can properly fantasize and self insert once again.
Also, to answer your last question...PMY is pushing thirty one and still can't establish herself as a top actress even above some of her peers in their twenties so she's off trying to cash in in China, PBY is finally making her way back to dramas after starring in three straight flops last year, maybe she finally realized Chungmuro isn't where it's at for her at this point, and Yoon Eun Hye's amazing kissing skills didn't get her far, I guess, considering the fact she can't even show her face in Korea.
Anything else I can go over for you...or nah..
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lol
July 9, 2016 at 3:54 PM
A+
kkkk
July 9, 2016 at 11:45 PM
Look, im not one to usually condone hostility in comments, but as far as this comment, ive got to appreciate the savagery in and of itself. ouch.
w
July 10, 2016 at 1:45 AM
I'm not sideing with whats been said about PMY, PBY etc. but i have to agree that it was NOT park shin-hye's fault about the kissing scene, because atleast for once her face was relaxed, it was kim rae won that initiated the kiss and then proceeding to stay frozen like that and im not saying i blame him either because maybe the director made him do it but there wasn't much for PSH to work with in the first place so please stop bashing her for it
mimi
July 10, 2016 at 5:26 AM
It was the director's choice of kissing. Stop blaming PSH. She was kissing just fine in Pinocchio.
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meowvip
July 10, 2016 at 9:36 AM
Nice try but no one is buying it sorry. :)
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Sogazelle
July 11, 2016 at 1:56 PM
To each its own... Like I said, I don't hate PSH, I just think she's not good at "acting" kisses.
That's my opinion and I'll maintain it until proven otherwise.
I'll not bother answering the person who was putting down the actresses that I cited as the some of the best kissers in my opinion.
If you think PSH is a great kisser...by all means enjoy it and knock ur self out .
Have a wonderful day everyone:)
June
July 12, 2016 at 2:15 AM
Why is psh's character supposed to like the kiss? If your teacher suddenly keeps making advances on you after a gap of 13 years, are you supposed to enjoy it?
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June
July 12, 2016 at 2:16 AM
I don't like her wide eye deer kiss in some Pinocchio scenes but her acting in this show's context is alright.
zia
July 9, 2016 at 5:30 AM
I laughed so hard when RH and DN did the "Sogaeting..hajima" scene of Jungpal and that running scene before the alley scene in r88..
Well, RJY/JSH is enough for me to stay on the show even if I know that noble idiocy is approaching.
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7 fatraspberry
July 9, 2016 at 3:36 AM
javabeans description of Lucky Romance is on point!
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8 muggledore
July 9, 2016 at 3:46 AM
Ryu Joon-yeol / Je Su Ho is setting the standard for awesome boyfriend.
....and this is why I hate fictional characters!
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Dramalava
July 9, 2016 at 5:15 AM
Korean dramas: setting unrealistic expectations of life and love lol
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muggledore
July 9, 2016 at 5:32 AM
No lie detected.
When will real life ever give us our back-hugging, super -genius chabeol, who'll whine for huggies and snuggles??
Never.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:39 PM
Sorry I'm going to prefer real life kisses, snuggling and sex. God the sex... What I would do to his snuggle starved goodies...;)
Anyway, romance only works if you get to enjoy all of it not just the approved stuff.
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Alison
July 9, 2016 at 3:37 PM
0___0 wow i love your honesty LMAO I would probably do the same too HAHAHA
stringofpurls
July 9, 2016 at 10:17 AM
I would fight an army of fangirls for Ryu Joon Yeol and/or Je Su Ho. I would lose obviously, but I would at least give it a shot.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:39 PM
Rocket launchers and tickets to a kpop concert. Those are my weapons. We can do it!
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9 Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 3:53 AM
@Mary watch Sung Hoon. It's worth it. Join the darkside~
I may try Noble my love after the food description. I always love a good food metaphor.
@javabeans is so right about the Gong Shim wig thing. Although considering how much Dan Tae wants it off...
Dear My friends is...oovvveeerr *bursts into joyful but sad tears* I'll quote girlfriday and say "Show you complete me"
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Alessar
July 9, 2016 at 3:42 PM
Sung Join doesn't really show up until about episode six of Five Kids, but his part keeps increasing. It's such a damn good show.
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Mia
July 11, 2016 at 1:58 PM
'Five Kids' is definitely not your typical 50+ ep weekend drama (which I usually avoid like the plague unless a star I like is cast). I started watching 'Five Kids' for Sung Hoon and also Im Soo Hyang who were the leads of 'New Tales of Gisaeng'. Sung Hoon's screen time has increased due to his storyline's popularity with viewers. Hopefully it will lead to him getting a 2nd lead/lead role in a mini series soon.
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10 bd5
July 9, 2016 at 4:03 AM
Police Unit 38 - best written K-drama (that I've seen since AM1988).
Totally makes up for some of the subpar fare that I watched lately ("Entertainer," OHYA minus Seo Hyun-jin's performance which was superb).
As a crime caper - way better written (much more original and keeps you guessing) than the film "The Thieves" (which was totally overrated).
Heck, for a crime caper - had funnier moments than in a romcom like OHYA (that one scene w/ the cameo from the AM1988 alum was priceless) and gets better and better.
This is no fluffly romance K-drama w/ cheesy lines/moments and filled w/ K-drama tropes and cliches.
MotW - still the best fusion/fantasy sageuk since "Joseon X-Files" even if the plot has a tendency to circle itself at times (that's what happens when the driving force of the evil and the plot comes from one character).
Still, the writing is a lot better than what was in TMTETS or "Arang" - the evil in MotW is much more interesting and convincing than the evil in "Arang" (who was just annoying).
Haven't started "Dear My Friends" - but on my to-watch list (seems like another quality-written drama).
Zero interest in watching "Doctors" (like for DotS) - as it is just a soap set in a medical setting.
Regarding Jang Hyuk's "Chuno" days - didn't think that was his best work as he repeated the same mannerisms ad nauseum and tended to overact at times (like-wise his performance in TWDR - which was the weak leak among the major male characters).
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CatoCat
July 9, 2016 at 9:37 AM
38 Task Force is the Tv show of the year for me. I'm happy to see that many visitors here have it in their top summer list.
Even Seo Hyun-jin's acting felt a bit forced to me in few "reaction-faces" scenes. AOHY was hard to watch.
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:20 PM
I'm surprised sq38 is getting so much love on DB. It's not often drama viewers like dramas with lack of romance (for now, it seems Sung Hee will have a love line with Jung Do, though at this point, I'm shipping him with Mi Joo even though the Titanic has more chance of sailing that my ship).
To be fair, it seems sq38 popularity is more mania on DB, than actual popularity like DOTS, or Doctor's or UF, etc. But it's getting mild popularity in Korea, trending in top searches during its air time.
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6sj
July 9, 2016 at 1:43 PM
I think it helps that Seo In Guk is at the helm of the drama. We might not have much romance storywise, but Seo In Guk is already a great object of romance all by himself judging from all the fangirling about him. He's still a romantic figure, even without romance, so it shouldn't deter anyone from watching. ^^
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Ray
July 9, 2016 at 2:11 PM
I don't think 38 is that popular on DB. People who love it seems to love it a lot (I'm one of those), but judging from the number of comments on the recaps, it looks like it's one of those lesser watched dramas. Which is a shame, but doesn't deter me from enjoying the heck out of it myself.
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BikiniBodyResolution
July 9, 2016 at 2:18 PM
The lack of comments is probably bc people are still catching up on Squad 38. It might also be because it's one of those drama you sit back and enjoy. I don't comment on it myself, but it's by far my favorite drama in a long time. I think the experience of watching it alone is enough satisfaction for me, that I don't feel the need to fulfill anything more by commenting. But I'll try to comment in the future.
Muggle and proud
July 9, 2016 at 2:41 PM
@Bikinibodyresolution (lol at ur name)
I agree. I'm also one of those who don't comment. I remember reading in last week's post of people saying that they didn't feel the need to, or that they enjoyed watching the drama as an isolated experience. After thinking about it, I realized it was true, and that I felt the same way as all of them. I couldn't care less whether or not other people watched the show, I just enjoy watching it by myself. If I see other people liking it, it's more of a "good for you" nod, rather than needing to fangirl together. Dunno if I'm making sense.
Magali
July 9, 2016 at 3:06 PM
Same. I dont feel offended when pple dislike 38, like I sometimes do for other dramas. Or feel the need to change their opinions or to convince them to watch it. I just shrug and move on with my life. A lot of 38 viewers seem to feel the same. Probably why its lowkey popular rather super loved.
mary
July 9, 2016 at 11:14 PM
Oh no, there are a LOT of comments about PU38. It's just the recaps came too late so maybe the PU38 watchers don't feel like discussing in the catch up recaps because (1) it's hard to discuss without giving away spoilers, and (2) they already discussed it when those eps aired in comments of What We're Watching, Open Thread, and Beans of Wisdom. It was pretty disorganized at first cos the comments were scattered here and there.
I think we'll see a normal number of comments (at least for this genre) when the recaps catch up to the currently airing eps.
booom
July 10, 2016 at 1:31 AM
omomomo I thought I was the only one feeling that way. I was feeling super guilty for keeping this drama to myself, and not promoting it as much as I loved it. Hahahah. Smt, smth feels so good u dont want to change anything about it. i feel the same way about kpop and kdramas, not sharing it with "real life" friends. #selfish
Laurie
July 9, 2016 at 3:26 PM
I'm boarding ur sinking ship as well if it's not too late!! I love how Mijoo calls JD "Oppa." Sooo heart-fluttering. How come the too of them aren't dating???
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Sancheezy
July 9, 2016 at 6:31 PM
Tbh I badly want to watch P38,,, haven't got time
Love all the cast and I adore Sooyoung but gaaaah... I can't spare a time this recent week
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yucaesar
July 9, 2016 at 2:12 PM
You were probably one of few who didn't love Jang Hyuk's performance in Chuno, as he got nominated for an International Emmy for his role in it.
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11 Sorn 38.
July 9, 2016 at 4:05 AM
38 is killing my feeeeeeeels. The last episode had me gripping my hair out of frustration, not because it's bad, but because it's soooo good. I hate the new villain more than Ma Jin Seok. He looks so fatherly and calm, which curiously makes me churn inside even more.
And the ending scene acting *clap clap clap*
Sung Il puppy eyes!!! And SIG's expression. LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT. GAH.
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Xuqin
July 9, 2016 at 4:39 AM
If ur talking about the scene I think ur talking about, YES. No spoilers, so all I'm going to say is +++ for the acting comment. Dramas with door scenes as cliffhangers are usually about confessions, kiss scenes and such. Thank you SQ38 for introducing a new door scene cliffhanger.
Ma Dong Suk is KILLING his role. He's meek, ordinary, barely any charisma (in his role), which is different from his usually boisterous characters, and oh so lovable. And SIG, aside from him being SIG, just shows us that he lives all his roles. Seriously convincing as a suave, smartass conman who is both sharp like a laser against foes and soft with friends. I'm joining you in the fangirling!! "LOVE IT LOVE IT LOVE IT x sklsdflsjs; times"
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Lee Seung Gi
July 9, 2016 at 5:51 AM
Sorn and Xuqin, both of you are right. I think the reason that door scene had so much impact, is because the viewers can sense a major shift in the story. And that major shift is then compounded by great acting, as reflected by a shift of expressions in both Sung Il and Jung Do. Plus, the soundtrack helps. At least that's my theory as to why the acting left an impresssion. I had to go back and rewatch that moment when you mentioned it. :D Cant wait until the recap are out for 7, when we all get to discuss this freely. :D
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BikiniBodyResolution
July 9, 2016 at 2:21 PM
Everybody is commenting on SIG & MDS since drama watching demographics tends to lean towards a female audience, but I think Mi Joo deserves some credit as well. She's stealing the scenes she's in. But all the actors are doing great. Even the minor ones, like Chang Ho, Jung do's father, the crooked cop, etc. are leaving an impression.
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KWB x me
July 9, 2016 at 4:26 PM
the acting is great, no argument, but I think there's not enough mention about the directing of the drama. I love how the shots are designed, the little details like the reflections on the elevator's panels, or the prison glass window, etc. the soundtrack is also fun and exciting.
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muggledore
July 9, 2016 at 4:42 AM
This is what I'm scared of! Now I'm curious about PU 38 and I may have to check the first episode and then there's a big possibility that I'll lurv it cuz In-Gook and then I'll get hooked but BUT!! There are so many more dramas about to premier!
What do we do now?? LOL
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Lee Seung Gi
July 9, 2016 at 5:44 AM
Some finds 38 slow, especially the first episodes, so you might not be sucked in. I completely disagree, of course, because I loved it since the first, but just a warning to you.
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CatoCat
July 9, 2016 at 9:40 AM
I don't think 38TF is slow. 1st episode 15minutes in and Jung Do cons all listed govt officials. Then Sung il's misery makes your blood boil and you end up wishing Jung Do captured as soon as possible. Though, Jundo Do pulled anothing trick in the jail which was revealed in episode 7.
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Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:19 PM
I agree. I dont think 38 is slow. I don't even understand why some think it's slow, so I guess it all depends on taste. I was hooked from the start as well!!
Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:41 PM
@q.38
It's expectation of a quick setup followed by a con of the week format. The show previewed differently then it is now (which I think is better than the caper-of-the-week format previe).
Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:23 PM
@Oshi Sometimes I feel I'm the only one who likes the setup process as much, if not more, than the actual unraveling of the con. Generational differences?
BikiniBodyResolution
July 9, 2016 at 2:30 PM
I'm in my 20s, and I don't think Squad 38 is slow. In fact, I think it's one of the most thrilling dramas out there. The pace of the actions (as in the number of plot points) might not be the fastest. Sure. But every episode, I'm biting my nails rooting for those conmen, and praying they don't get killed or jailed, and I'm even screaming at Sung hee to take care and not underestimate the baddies.
I think many people wanted to see more of SIG, especially in the beginning, or expected something like an immediate outcome like in Kurosagi, but Squad 38's story arc is much more broad and all-encompassing. I'm guessing the big picture will connect everyone, from Sung il, to Jung do, to the policman, etc.
Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 2:46 PM
@Q.38
Nope. I'm in my 20's and prefer slow setup. It's just that the show didn't telegraph it well so expectations were different.
Beautiful Mind is it?
July 9, 2016 at 4:09 PM
I have a feeling that policeman and his goons are going to ruin everthing. I can't take the suspense!!! things never go according to plan as Jung Do told Sung Il
Beautiful Mind is it?
July 9, 2016 at 4:16 PM
the more I watch SQuad 38, the more I prefer its format to more procedural ones like Leverage or Kurosagi. Because of it, we get to live with and absorb the characters, rather than be swept along with fast-pacing of plot after plot and con after con. I get much more attached to "minor" people (like the tax office), and better even, I get attached to each con much more, because we spend more time setting it up. It becomes much more fun, like a long adventure, or a trip with friends and their shenanigans, rather than a short rollercoaster ride after rollercoaster ride.
knightauror
July 9, 2016 at 10:05 AM
We were trapped in the era when dramas rule us. I remember around march when I almost got nothing to watch, things seems pretty dire and now I'm in a bomb of shows. I might be buried there. Haven't had time to check one but I got two more dramas to check. Then I manage to check one but got another three dramas up. Become really confused because I want to follow it all. And complete with my college that starting up soon, now I want to crawl and just stay still till every anticipated drama complete and I might binge-watch it all on my next holiday.
But it just seems unrealistic. I might get out from my drama-less-hole just after my first day on class. Sigh.
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blnmom
July 9, 2016 at 12:06 PM
This week's eps (7 & 8) were SO GOOD. Show keeps getting better and better, just like I Remember You. I started out just enjoying SIG and MDS but now I'm totally hooked and am watching every episode at least 3 times.
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Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:20 PM
I loved ep 5 & 6. Addicted. And then I just watched ep 8, and I can't believe I'm saying this, but this week is times better than last week. Quite a feat.
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Ray
July 9, 2016 at 1:53 PM
May I ask where you've watched ep 8? Dramafire only has ep 7 subbed so far.
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blnmom
July 9, 2016 at 2:26 PM
I watched the raw on Viki. I love Viki because they put up the raw right when it's released instead of when it's finished subbing. I've watched enough kdramas to be able to understand most conversational Korean, which is good enough to get the gist of what's going on.
cami
July 9, 2016 at 3:19 PM
I remember back when we could not watch viki when subbers were still subbing bc it would lag.
Speaking of ep 8, I dont know how, but the scenes in the office with all the tax workers are giving me strong Misaeng vibes. Cant figure out the reason.
Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:24 PM
We all know Ma Dong Suk as a veteran actor is really good, but I'm still surprised at how convincing he is as the ordinary teddy bear everyday man. Meek but principled when required. Seo In Guk for me has been a revelation. I watched I remember you, and was already impressed. But I think he improved in 38 even more. Like in Remember, he had to act against someone older than him, and pull his weight. But in 38, most of the crew are older than him, and it's so impressive that he manages to be convincing as the head of the operation. A natural leader, despite his youth. Not easy to pull off.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:54 PM
Seo in Guk seem to be one of those actors that is figuring things out as he goes. From what i know he hasn't had a huge amount of formal training so the more he acts the better he gets.
Ma Dong Suk is just so good. I've been watching his filmography. he's just so impressive. I haven't quite gotten a feel for how he approaches characters but I'm certainly enjoying things.
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:26 PM
Seo In Guk is a natural. I like untrained actors (when they're good) even more than technical actors. Eunji is also the same. They have that extra believable and realism factor, which no matter how good of an actor you are, is hard to re-create.
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Lizzie
July 9, 2016 at 3:47 PM
I agree, he's a natural. I'm glad he got to use the accent he had for Answer Me 97 in the latest ep. His whole conference had me cracking up.
fanwho
July 10, 2016 at 6:32 PM
I think I said this before, but PD from reply series said when he was casting for the first reply series (reply 97), no one wanted to do because production team didn't have experience in making drama (including the PD), and one they wanted to cast (Lee Min-ki) was not available. They did the auditions and Seo In-kook and Jung Eun-ji were only two with decent acting. But he thought 'Why are you trying hard when you are not going to be cast'. Then again we know what happened. They couldn't find anyone who wants to do, so they ended up casting those two, and show was Daebak.
Magali
July 9, 2016 at 3:00 PM
Ugh. I know. I can't stand Bang Pil Kyu. Every scene he's in, I can feel my blood boil up, and I just want to flip my screen, and draw out my claws. He's so benevolent-looking, and reasonable in demeanor, acting like he's above everyone else, and looking like it too. And yet he's the worst of them all. At least Ma Jin Suk looked like a thug.
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redfox
July 11, 2016 at 3:22 AM
he is like one of those crazy kings in sageuks, that are so falsely righteous yet capable of killing their own family members. but the actor is really skillful. I am having a hard time remembering he is acting....
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12 Ptettysup
July 9, 2016 at 4:12 AM
Beautiful Mind, really love it! It makes all my Mondays so bearable now.
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13 Ren
July 9, 2016 at 4:19 AM
Ryu Joon-yeol is life.
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stringofpurls
July 9, 2016 at 10:18 AM
But why is he not in MY life? *pouts*
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Ren
July 9, 2016 at 10:59 AM
I binged Youth Over Flowers and fell even harder for him.
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gingerandbrownsugar
July 9, 2016 at 8:51 PM
Sameee
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14 Dorotka
July 9, 2016 at 4:20 AM
Mary, you must watch the Five Kids! Sung Hoon is great there! He is one of the highlights!!
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 4:33 AM
THE highlight. The other actors are good/great but nothing uncommon. Dude bats it out the park with how funny he gets.
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rowanharper
July 9, 2016 at 4:54 AM
Oh my gosh yes! I fast forward scenes he's not in. I've never thought he was that good of an actor, just really really pretty. However, Five Children is the best he's ever been and he continues to get better. His comedic timing is surprisingly awesome. I hope he never plays quiet and brooding again.
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gaeinalee
July 9, 2016 at 5:51 AM
Agree with you. 5 Children is the best he's ever been. Just watched Happy Together few days ago, and man... he blushed prettily when cornered by other hosts and guests.
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JesO
July 9, 2016 at 10:13 AM
Ahh, I had to check it out, and when I did, I just had to share. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SIg2Tav3aW0
Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:45 PM
@JesO Thanks for that. I didn't know he was a Method Actor. Explains some of his choices and why he is getting better. It takes time to learn how to push yourself into a character. ooo he might actually be great!
blnmom
July 9, 2016 at 1:45 PM
@JesO
Oh, why did I click on that. Now I have to watch Five Children. There goes my week.
An
July 9, 2016 at 7:57 AM
I started watching Five Kids because I was bored... But I keep going back to watch only Sang Hoon couple scenes. That's is the only reason I backtracked to watch Noble My Love this week. It's exactly like Mary described...
PU38 is love. I think it felt slow because I was expecting a procedural and wanted things to happen fast.
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Chandler
July 9, 2016 at 7:59 AM
+10000
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kimchikay
July 10, 2016 at 7:27 AM
If anyone is looking for a good Sung Hoon drama...watch New Tales of Giseang....it's pretty good and he's so hot...
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Mia
July 11, 2016 at 3:21 PM
I'm so happy Sung Hoon is playing this role in 'Five Kids'. He's been so much fun to watch. Honestly, after 'New Tales of Gisaeng', I thought his career would just take off, but I think his drama choices made him lose momentum. He debuted with a lead role in NTOG, but went from that role to a Chinese drama, then a small role in 'Faith', a 100+ ep daily, and then a 50+ ep weekend drama (that wasn't on KBS). So it was quite a surprise to see him out of no where pop up in the variety show 'Cool Kiz on the Block' and in the web drama 'Noble, My Love' with Rainbow's Jaekyung as his costar. It was like finally he's in something I can enjoy him in. I was kind of disappointed that his character was a strong and silent sidekick in 'Oh My Venus' (which I still haven't finished), so his role in 'Five Kids' is more than making up for it. Really hope it leads to him getting more decent roles in mini series.
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15 fab
July 9, 2016 at 4:22 AM
Police Unit 38 and Beautiful Mind! I discovered that I like my hero(ine)s with a mysterious villainous side. Cheese(sob), Nice Guy... (NOT to be confused with the Jerk disguised as a nice guy- as in He Was Chubby and Nice)
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16 angieya
July 9, 2016 at 4:22 AM
Anyone watched The Good Wife? If so, how is it? Haven't found it subbed anywhere yet.
And my busy drama watching week continues...
PU 38: Probably my fav show at the moment, yay for SIG - MDS bromance.
MotW: Ngl, as beautiful as it is I'm waiting for it to end, 16 ep. would've been enough.
Gong Shim: Same as MotW, should've only been 16 episodes, like JB I couldn't care less about the kidnapping/birth secret story, so let's solve that this week and only show our adorkable OTP and bromance please!
Dear My Friends: Sigh, if I wished for 20 episodes it would be this show (or even 50? I'm missing the aunties already...and Jo In Sung)
Doctors: They better give us a proper kiss in the future (at least from KRW's side), that's all.
Beautiful Mind: It's weird...6 episodes in and I still don't know whether I like or not, something's wrong with me, lol. But JH is just bloody amazing in this.
OHY specials: First special was just character descriptions and some BTS which I've seen already on yt but I enjoyed the second one with the talk and game. And I may have finally developed a crush on Kim Ji-suk (Jin-sang). :-D
Lucky Romance: Sorry Cho Jin-woong but I'm afraid RJY will get my vote for favorite character at the Beanie Awards this year...but you'll get my best actor vote nonetheless. <3 I hardly ever wish for a fictional character to be a real person (in my life) but damn...Je Su-ho is jjang jjang man!
UF: I came to see whether this is living up to its hype and....well I'm staying for Pororo for now. ;-)
Wanted: Only seen the first episode yesterday because apparently I'm not watching enough shows already and had some spare time...yeah don't ask me how that's even possible. lol Thinking about marathoning it later when the feedback is good.
YoF Iceland: My discovery of the week, didn't know this has finally been subbed, read the recaps back then and now watched ep.1 and 2. Sigh, I just love these 4 stones.
Wow, ok, listing everything makes me wonder now whether I've really found the door to the 4th dimension. Muahaha.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 4:34 AM
+1 to the Good Wife subs needed. Anyone know if it will get licensed?
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 4:38 AM
The first episode in RAW is pretty close to the first episode in the US. Case, characters, etc. I wonder if the Kalinda stand-in will actually be bi...
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fanwho
July 10, 2016 at 3:22 PM
I watched Good Wife. It was packed (not boring) and gave good-feeling, but didn't impress me.
It was lacking something (maybe Korean drama sentiment - It was less fun/more serious than Jo Deul-ho, had less heart than Memory)
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Naddie
July 9, 2016 at 4:35 AM
Agreed with your thoughts on the show I'm watching lol, I wish MotW & Gong Shim is only 16 eps. I stopped watching MotW for now and will probably catch up once all the eps have aired.
ALSO, where did you find the subbed YoF Iceland??? I've been wanting to watch forever but could only find ep 1 T_T
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angieya
July 9, 2016 at 5:19 AM
Kshowonline.com but all the other sites also have it now. I already gave up looking for it months ago then suddenly saw somebody in last week's OT post about it and had to run and look it up. lol
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Naddie
July 9, 2016 at 7:33 AM
Awesome, thanks for the info! I stopped looking a while back too lol, so I've been in hell having only watched one ep and only read the recaps on DB after all this while.
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blubluskye
July 9, 2016 at 4:59 AM
I need help too. I really want Je Su-ho to be an actual person, not just fiction!
But I guess Ryu Jun-yeol's like that too? *delulu*
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muggledore
July 9, 2016 at 5:09 AM
I want a Je Su-ho. Like a dozen of him. Can we order from Amazon?
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stringofpurls
July 9, 2016 at 10:20 AM
Share the link if you find it. I prefer Prime Same Day Delivery, but I'm willing to wait for him if I had to.
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PBY
July 9, 2016 at 11:05 AM
Maybe if we bribe Na PD into delivering RJY to us? I'd think he'd go for it if he could make a show about it.
lunatic4kd
July 9, 2016 at 8:13 PM
It seems that Je Su-ho really is an extension of the real Ryu Jun-yeol and you can see this in Youth over Flowers in Africa when they kidnapped the cast of Reply 98 and took them to Africa. RJY is is adorable and the center of the group with his calm attention to detail and his love of travel. He's the one goofing around but he's also the one sitting by himself to watch a sunset. I think there's a deep soul in that sweet boy. He just seems good to his core - a natural leader caring for his friends and everyone around him. There's an ocean of calm underneath his playfulness. Seems like the ideal combination we all want in a man!
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kimchied
July 9, 2016 at 5:05 AM
I just watched the first ep of The Good Wife thanks to Chinese subtitles, and it is golden. As I haven't watched the original US series, I'm treating this as a drama on its own, and not as a remake. Pacing is spectacular, and Jeon Do Yeon's aura is no joking matter -- the first 5 minutes into the episode, and I had to hit pause because it was just so good.
I'm all for more strong female characters, female friendships, the struggles of working women, ladies kicking butt... My expectations are so high for this drama so I hope I won't be let down, but so far, so good.
I really hope English subs come out soon because it would be a real pity if more people don't get to watch it :(
p/s whoever is styling Nana and Do Yeon in this show is doing a fantastic job, I want to buy everything they wear in this show.
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Gabriel
July 9, 2016 at 8:02 AM
Since the show has chinese subs, there's a possibility that Darksmurf or a fan of the show will have translate from chinese subs. We should wait a little longer.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 2:48 PM
The excellent costume work was one of the highlights of the original series as well. It makes me super happy to see it carried over.
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kanz
July 9, 2016 at 7:53 AM
Awesome! How could you even watch that many dramas and shows?
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17 Nanda
July 9, 2016 at 4:26 AM
At first I thought watching Doctors and Beautiful Mind at the same time cannot work.. but I did! Thought of finishing Doctors then marathon BM.
Now I wish both drama would crossover since both are neurosurgery because one is too fluffy and one is too dark.
Looking forward to Monday!
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18 gerry13
July 9, 2016 at 4:32 AM
Just finished Dear my friends- one of the best drama of the year. Glad the ending was great- nobody died, wan reunite with bf. Teach us to enjoy every moment in life rather than waiting to die in old folks home
Beautiful Mind - another favorite, highly recommended- storyline very interesting, no cheesy romance. Jang hyuk really superb, he makes us cry and sympathise with him. Another great and memorable role beside the one in
Chuno
Police Unit 38- love the crooks, hope they can con all the bad guys' money. The 2 male leads are so good, not so keen on sooyoung's character, prefer the bad girl
UF- saw 2 episodes out of curiosity, like Suzy, naturally cute and pretty, love the scenery and the dog. Chemistry of the leads are good, will continue
Flower in prison- fast forward some parts when the female lead became secret agent, still not liking her, only watching for Go soo
Lucky romance - think of dropping, getting sick of rom-com and switch to wanted
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Lee Seung Gi
July 9, 2016 at 5:56 AM
Re: Police Unit 38
I agree, I love all the "crooks," probably because we find out the real crooks are a whole different sets of people. And MiJoo has so much charisma. Her looks are like Park Han Byul, but with more steel. I also hope to see more of Wallet's "daughter." She doesn't get enough credit even though she's probably the one doing all of Wallet's heavy lifting.
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pogo
July 9, 2016 at 8:58 AM
I actually think Mi-joo looks like she could be Song Hye-gyo's badass younger sister - the resemblance is uncanny and it's STRONG!
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mary
July 9, 2016 at 11:01 PM
Reminds me a bit of Shin Se-kyung too. :)
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Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:32 PM
I also thought she looked like Park Han Byul at first, and PHB might even be prettier. Except I wouldn't know now, because all I can remember is Wallet's face. I'm definitely more attracted to her, and not just because she's hot, but also because she definitely pulls some weight within the team. She's not losing to anyone of them, even though physically, she's probably the weakest. That makes it hot.
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:02 PM
You nailed it. What's great about sq38 crew, is that even though Jung Do asks as a guide of sorts, all of them are left to do what they do best, without the need of a firm leader to tell them what to do. They all take their own initiatives. I think it's the reason Mi Joo shines. In a way, she's almost Jung Do's female equivalent. Great at acting all sorts of roles, great at reading people, and manipulating them, great at using her appearance, and youth against people's expectations to lower their guards, and also a great brain. She contributes lots of ideas, and it's clear she's really intelligent. People get distracted by how pretty she is, and she uses that to her advantage. Smart girl. I might have a girl crush on her.
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:11 PM
Also want to add:
Has their ever been a female role in k-drama land that's similar to Mi Joo? In all probabilities, most likely yes, but I can't think of one right now on top of my head. It's not often you see a gorgeous heroine (she's a one to me) who uses her appearance without making it feel cheap, and backing it up with strength and brain. She doesn't feel out of place amongst the boys and effortlessly pulls her weight, yet doesn't lose her femininity in the process. Right now, I can't think of anyone like her. If anyone knows, please share, I would watch that drama.
mary
July 9, 2016 at 11:31 PM
Cruel City :)
Jin-sook Unni is ♥
redfox
July 10, 2016 at 10:18 PM
agreed, she could be a female superagent, she is really resourceful, but she learned that the hard way. it is not that she has some IQ of a geeeeenius, but she has had to put her brain to work a lot more to survive than some other girl. it is not about the capacity of our minds, it is to what amount we care to use it and put our little gears to work. some folks are smart, but when they need to think quickly, they blow a fuse and panic. Mi Joo can just skip over that and find a way.
Nicole Squad 38
July 9, 2016 at 3:33 PM
Mijoo looks like Park Han B, but she's giving me MAJOR Ha Ji Won vibes. the more I watch her, the more I cant get rid of the idea that she reminds me of a less old Ha Ji Won's acting, and especiall vibe.
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Lizzie
July 9, 2016 at 3:49 PM
Love Wallet's daughter as well. She has that enigmatic aura around her. Also helps that as a redhead, I have a fondness for other redheads. XD
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redfox
July 10, 2016 at 10:21 PM
yeah, I get a kick from the redhead, she is so matter-of-factly. I especially like how Sung Il is really weary of her like a mouse around a cat, just trying to sneak past her somehow. so well played by Ma Dong-Seok. She is intimidating.
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salt n' pepper
July 10, 2016 at 5:17 PM
I'm really liking Mi Joo, too, both the character and the actress. To me she looks like a cross between Song Hye Kyo, Park Han Byul, Secret's SunHwa, Kang Sora. She shines in her scenes. Wallet's daughter is really pretty, too. She looks a bit like Yoo In Na at first. Pretty much all the actors cast in this drama are good. I'm really enjoying the team's chemistry and interactions. PU38 is my new go-to drama as of late.
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Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:29 PM
Agree about the crooks of 38. I loved the team in Leverage, and they have about 5-6 seasons to establish themselves, so it's not a fair comparison. But even though I am not as familiar with all the characters of 38 as I am with the Leverage crew, I'm quickly starting to feel almost the same level of affection I have for them. It's the little interactions between Keyboard and Noona Gold, Gold dismissing Burner's flirtations, etc. etc. Their dinner together made me smile and wish I was part of their table.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:47 PM
Exactly how you can tell a show is good! They nail the little things and the big moments. It shows actors/production know exactly how to deliver. I can't wait for them to delve more into the crew!
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 12:56 PM
I'm especially curious about Mi Joo and Wallet. Mi Joo's backstory intrigues me. What could possibly have hurt her in the past to instill "steel" in her as Lee Seung Gi said.
And I'm curious about Wallet's connection to Wang, and her relationship with her daughter. I also hope Burner's nosebleeds are just for the sake of jokes, and not something more serious.
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redfox
July 10, 2016 at 10:23 PM
yes, I am also getting worried about the nosebleeds. he might have damaged himself more seriously internally than he thinks.
the whole bunch has made me care for them, even though they are folks who have also scammed ordinary people... but they are on the track of common good now, ay?
mark
July 9, 2016 at 3:59 PM
I wasn't 100% sold on the team last week, but after ep 7, and ep 8 in particular, I am 200% behind all members of the crew. All their antics had me cracking up so much, and if someone can make me laugh and smile, then I'm sold.
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Ray
July 9, 2016 at 2:01 PM
38: As far as I'm concerned, rather than just them conning the bad guys, I want all the bad guys to turn on each other and fight.
@Lorenza go go & Q.38
Your comments have reminded me why I love 38 with the same enthusiasm I loved Sassy Go Go (if your name had nothing to do with SGG, ooops lol). It's the formation of the team and all the antics and bonding that has me reeled in. I want to join their table too! Lorena, thumbs up about your comment on Mi Joo's charaterization.
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19 ET
July 9, 2016 at 4:37 AM
Totally agree with javabeans about Wanted. There's something missing in Kim Ah Joong's portrayal of a mother whose child's life is in danger. When I was watching Lee Bo Young in God's Gift, I cried along with her. I still remember that train scene when she pursued the bad guy, she was badass alright.
Beautiful Mind is the one drama that's constantly on my mind even when I am not watching.
About ratings, is romance the only ingredient for success? Looking at Doctors, Dots and YWCTS, it does seem so. But not all dramas which centers around romance do well, just look at Lucky Romance.
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20 keiru
July 9, 2016 at 4:38 AM
May I ask something?
Did HeadsNo2 only recapping sageuk drama?
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21 doctordrama
July 9, 2016 at 4:46 AM
I'm glad that Beautiful Mind is getting some love and you guys are watching it too! Is it only me but I have seen episode 6 too many times already, one of the best kdrama episodes I have ever seen, it's thought provoking and I just can't get over how amazing Jang Hyuk is in this show. I'm blown away and completely captivated by his acting.
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civilsecret
July 9, 2016 at 5:03 AM
lol, no not just you, i've been rewatching eps 5-6 over again especially 6, man that ep was intense and sad. this is the first time i've watched jang hyuk in something and i was so amazed at his acting, the last scene of ep 6 just left me speechless. so i went ahead and look for other stuff he was in to watch while waiting for BM
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lunatic4kd
July 9, 2016 at 8:18 PM
YES!!!! Episode 6 nailed me to the floor and sent me soaring back up to the ceiling. Simply astonishing. I watched that last scene over and over and over and then thought about it all the next day and the next. That, folks, is what you call ACTING. Yes sir.
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22 Sganarel
July 9, 2016 at 4:47 AM
Beautiful Mind is the only drama I'm watching (now that I think about it, this year I have been watching only DotS, Dear my Friends and now Beautiful Mind - I hope W will be the next).
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23 Yelebelle
July 9, 2016 at 4:53 AM
Love my RJY!
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24 bips99
July 9, 2016 at 4:57 AM
My current obsession(s)
- Beautiful Mind
- Ryu Joon-yeol/Je Su-ho
- Pororo
To DB moderators - Since we have finished 6 months, how about half yearly awards ? At the end of the year it gets too chaotic, too many choices ... Though i know that you guys are already swamped with Recaps, so just randomly throwing the suggestion out there.
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25 Ralisa
July 9, 2016 at 5:01 AM
Lots of good dramas the moment and too little time :(
Beautiful Mind- the one I am most exited for every week, Jang Hyuk is simply amazing, the plot is interesting, the writing is thight and this week I didn't hate the female lead. Hoping this change in her will be permanent
Doctors- easy to watch but still think Kim Rae won's character is coming on too strong. I probably will have to drop this as I don't have time for 2 mon-tue dramas and I'm choosing BM
Uncontrollably fond- I was in the mood for a classic type melodrama so this came at the right time. Beautiful cinematography, Woobie is good, Suzy doesn't annoy me and I want the dog. Hoping the ratings don't decrease once W comes along.
Wanted- I started it because of ji hyun woo but found a great show with really good episode endings, I'm always left curious about the next one
Good Wife is in my to watch list, Waiting for subs
Have a great weekend all!!!
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26 limechilli
July 9, 2016 at 5:13 AM
I love the "What we're watching posts" every week, but my favourite thing this week is Mary's comparison of Noble My Love to the french fries her sister ordered. Kids, this is how analogies are done lol!
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blnmom
July 9, 2016 at 6:59 AM
Yes, but did she just sneak in a McDonald's PPL? Because now I want their fries.
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limechilli
July 9, 2016 at 7:55 AM
OMG I just made a late night run to Mcdonalds and bought a cheeseburger meal with fries. That PPL was so clever I didn't even realise I fell for it!!!
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bigmomma12345
July 9, 2016 at 9:57 AM
I don't know why but these days, I turn on a kdrama and start craving Subway... ;)
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:47 PM
Oh DramaMama you are supreme overlord of all
*bows deeply*
lmao
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27 muggledore
July 9, 2016 at 5:14 AM
I hope everything is fine with Girlfriday. So weird not having her take on the latest dramas this week. I actually count the number of dramas she comments on since this feature article started and was wondering how she manages to ninja her way into watching all of them.
If she's still under the weather, I'm sending all virtual Je Su-Ho hugs her way!
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28 Cheetah
July 9, 2016 at 5:26 AM
@Mary don't drop Memory.
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gerry13
July 9, 2016 at 6:05 AM
Yes please continue- also love memory. Slow moving at first but after he change and want to help people, it gets interesting
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August
July 9, 2016 at 10:59 AM
+1
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29 rowanharper
July 9, 2016 at 5:27 AM
I'm enjoying both beautiful mind and doctors. I try to turn off my brain a little for things that aren't cohesive and maybe don't make logical sense.
I can't help but wonder though, for both shows about probability or likelihood of certain methods or procedures that seem unethical. Does Korea have the equivalent of HIPAA or the Americans with disabilities act? I can help but view everything through the lens of what happens in America since I'm not familiar with specific laws outside of the US. I'm very curious as to if these particular situations could occur in Korea. For instance, in doctors, the doctors look up other people's medical information that they are not directly assigned to all willy-nilly ( If caught , they would get fired for this in the US).
For Beautiful Mind, someone got arrested just based on their diagnosis. That diagnosis was proven by another person possessing medical records they should have never have access to. Would that really be possible in Korea, or is it just for the dramatic effect?
Let's not even get started on the police involvement. None of that makes sense.
Despite everything, I really look forward to watching both shows every week.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 8:37 AM
Here is a video with anecdotal impression of how korea views disabilities.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51zUKR0camI
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rowanharper
July 9, 2016 at 10:15 AM
Oh, that is sad. Such a precious little girl in the video though.
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Dina
July 9, 2016 at 10:17 AM
Maybe it's different in the US but where I work it's exactly like how it was done in Doctors; if you have their profile no. you can look up any patient in the system.
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rowanharper
July 9, 2016 at 12:09 PM
Ahh I see. It's because the US has has the healthcare Insurance portability and accountability act (HIPAA), and I guess other countries don't necessarily have an equivalent law. The hospital I worked at specifically warned against looking up information for family members; that's how people usually got in caught.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 1:02 PM
That is super scary. For a country with such a high level of internet consciousness not to have privacy laws with medical records...wow.
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rowanharper
July 9, 2016 at 10:34 PM
Yes that is scary. For instance, say I'm a dietitian that works on the women's and children's floor. I see from Facebook that my crush is at the hospital I work out but on a different floor. If I had access to computer records I could just look him up and look at his chart and maybe see something like he has a diagnosis of HIV.
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30 MIKAN
July 9, 2016 at 5:32 AM
UF- KWB is boring but the rest are carrying the drama for me. If KWB still very boring, I demand pororo to replace him
The Good Wife-I what I anticipate the most.
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31 sakura
July 9, 2016 at 5:54 AM
Doctors always reminds me of DoTS since the first episode.. its just I cant point where.. but the Javabeans said this -> "but I find this show reminiscent of Descended From the Sun"
And I got that "A-ha!" moment.. ?
Still like the show though.. kim raewon is a winner.. ?
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32 wonhwa
July 9, 2016 at 5:59 AM
@mary, Memory is actually a very different show from Punch, despite some surface plot similarities. It's much more gentle and introspective, and while there is definitely an element of fighting structural corruption, it's more about facing inner demons than outer ones. It's also surprisingly well paced for such a reflective show - I kept expecting it to drag, but episodes zipped along. There is an occasional over-reliance on cliched drama motifs, but if you want a well acted show focused on reconciliation and reconnection it's a good one.
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33 Loolu
July 9, 2016 at 6:11 AM
I only read recaps of God's gift and never watched liar game so watching this drama is fresh for me. I really find it suspenseful and I love that I'm always second guessing who's the culprit because it's not plaintively obvious at all. Unlike other shows where it's revealed who the bad guy is by maybe the third episode. Making it frustrating for viewers to wait for the good guys to figure it out. That's my take on Wanted. It's exciting waiting for things to be revealed and surprise you for the unexpected. It's what a thriller should be like. So I'm definitely enjoying the ride. ?
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34 melts
July 9, 2016 at 6:14 AM
I agree 100% with JB regarding to MotW, UF, & Doctors. Also everyone's comment about Beautiful Mind.
After finishing Signal & SFD, i had nothing to watch..now i have so many favorite dramas. Yeay!
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hibeautiful
July 9, 2016 at 6:16 AM
Oh i forgot to mention Wanted lol.
I dropped it cs i couldn't stop comparing it to God's Gift. I've just realized how incredible PBY is in that role.
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hibeautiful
July 9, 2016 at 6:30 AM
*LBY not PBY ??
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35 nogwanshimm
July 9, 2016 at 6:17 AM
I'm watching Doctors and Uncontrollably Fond right now~ Both have really contrasting themes~ But I love them both <3
Kim Rae Won is so charismatic~ And the drama just shoot hearts every time.~~~
On the other hand, Uncontrollably Fond is full of characters that are pitiful. I miss these kind of melodramas though, been watching a-lot of RomComs lately.
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36 Sera The Ms Temper
July 9, 2016 at 6:31 AM
Beautiful Mind is a drama that I really really love right now. Jang Hyuk is a stellar. Agreed that his performance is like back on Chuno's days.
The Great Wife... I need eng subs palli palli. Just seeing JDY on my screen made me happy. The power of Queen of Cannes.
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37 Jenny
July 9, 2016 at 6:39 AM
Yes, Beautful Mind deserves a better share in ratings. Jang Hyuk is brilliant in this series and the complexity of his mind, er, rather the plot, keeps you wanting to get inside Dr. Lee's mind. Uncontrollably Fond is simply adorable with it's first two episodes. Lastly, was able to see Noble, My Love in Netflix and despite it's predictable plot, it simply grows into you as you watch each episode. So yey for Five Enough, more Sang Hoon's to come!
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38 loveblossom
July 9, 2016 at 6:58 AM
Love seeing all the praise for Beautiful Mind. Got back from vacay and that was the first drama I wanted to see. Next, I want to try Wanted and PU38 ... maybe MOTW and the Good Wife.
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39 The other Kiara
July 9, 2016 at 7:07 AM
For those who are waiting for subs for The Good Wife. Please click on this viki link and fill out the request form for GW.
https://vikiinc.wufoo.com/forms/title-request-form/
I'm sad that no one is subbing it. Pilot episode 3.9%.
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w
July 9, 2016 at 7:33 AM
ooh! thanks for this, ive been waiting for the good wife to be subbed all day :( really hope it gets subbed soon, i really want to watch it
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Gabriel
July 9, 2016 at 8:31 AM
I guess it's more on CBS' Studios part. We should make a petition or flood their mentions so that DramaFever or Viki could allow them to sub
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 8:41 AM
Why would CBS studios care about subs? They only make money from selling the license to produce it. Otherwise they wouldn't be involved. It's the same deal with most remakes.
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40 dramaworldfan
July 9, 2016 at 7:31 AM
OMG Mary! Same feeling here when I watched Noble My Love last year. It was like, umm...yeah okay. But I keep watching it until it finished since it only had 15min more or less per eps. Oh, and it's so freaking true that I directly googled Sung Hoon and was happy that he was in Oh My Daegu Venus along with So Ji Sub and Shin Mina. Ha.
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41 korfan
July 9, 2016 at 7:50 AM
I'm with javabeans regarding Gong Shim's wig. ..... There must be something about it, but Gong Shim is not Gong Shim without that wig!!
Oh geez, perhaps I should pick up Beautiful Mind again. ..... The problem is----why, oh, why are there only 24 hours in a day???
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42 Charlene
July 9, 2016 at 7:57 AM
Even though it's an old drama that has to be the best description of Noble my Love I have every seen. Also Beautiful Mind is absolutely wonderful.
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43 205
July 9, 2016 at 8:06 AM
Please Korean viewers, please just watch Beautiful Mind! It deserves more recognition and ratings.
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civilsecret
July 9, 2016 at 10:43 AM
if they continue the way they did in ep 5 and 6, then hopefully it will get more recognition and the ratings will increase. also love your name
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205
July 9, 2016 at 4:49 PM
@bila: but I'm afraid the ratings remain below 5% because there are sbs' doctors which seems to be winning in the rating game and there will be a new drama on tvN: lets fight ghost. But just lets stay possitive, and hope the ratings will get better. I mean they're missing a really really good show.
Yes, 205, i just want to hug him at the elevator after being told by his father that his name was after the number room 205
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44 Garrdan
July 9, 2016 at 8:18 AM
I love reading this weekly posting! Some of your comments have made me curious enough to start watching a show or two...or three...that did not pique my interest enough to start watching.
Sigh...there goes sleep...
Thanks Everyone for your comments!
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45 Kreyon
July 9, 2016 at 8:57 AM
Chickachunga - thanks for sharing my brain when it comes to Uncontrollably Fond. The gorgeous Pororo is giving me flashbacks to Coffee Prince, which I'm taking as the best of good signs. Don't let me down OED kdrama magic!
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46 midflower
July 9, 2016 at 9:32 AM
Beautiful Mind is absolutely worth it!
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47 witheachnewmorning
July 9, 2016 at 9:44 AM
@mary keep at memory! it is different from punch, really and i was pleasantly surprised by its end. i think it was a drama dedicated to raising awareness abt alzheimers patients and their families so its rly practical realistic and meaningful. great acting pacing and story :))
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48 Dina
July 9, 2016 at 10:23 AM
Doctors is much better than DOTS tho, the only thing I see in common is the good ratings and that's it.
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lol
July 9, 2016 at 4:03 PM
Well both female leads are doctors and the leads are both flirty but asides from that I don't see how they are similar.
I guess people need to give reason to hate on Doctors because it's doing so well when no one expected it to be
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Liz
July 9, 2016 at 7:08 PM
Agree with you.
People just can't accept when Doctors received so much love from netizens and ratings wise too.
Tendency to support their bias.
Well... write how we love the drama in the blog/website can't help increased the ratings either.
While Korea viewers have that power tough.
The ratings will affected the popularity of the drama, and how much $ they sell it world wide. Thats the truth peps.....
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Ina
July 9, 2016 at 10:50 PM
This comment is a bit untrue. Fanbase wise park shin ye and krw have stronger fanbase than beautiful mind actors. But iprefers beautiful mind since it make you think not just watched romance without story such doctors and dots
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haha
July 10, 2016 at 3:24 PM
PSH has her fanbase bit it's not where close to actor's ones
I'm sure Janghyuk had more fans than KRW online and in Korea before Doctors.
And Doctors was never meant to be big as DOTS.
DOTS had HUGE HUGE HUGE budge ( that SBS can't even afford) both hallyu star and preproduction to gain more popularity in China.
Doctors never had those things so I don't see the comparison. Compare UF and DOTS but not Doctors,
Rachel
July 10, 2016 at 12:06 AM
Agree, maybe it is because the characters are more relatable, I could not point out the reason but I find Doctors more watchable (only as a light entertainment). From my point of view, both shows are very flawed in their premises and the plot department. But I like PSH's character a lot, she is doing it quite well except for the ridiculous kiss scene, why they just don't cut it or show it from another point of view so we don't need to watch that?
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49 ObsessedMuch
July 9, 2016 at 10:30 AM
In the last edition of "What we are watching", many Police Squad 38 and SIG fans had wondered why none of the DB team were watching the amazing show and voila- now 3 of u guys are watching and loving it! You guys are just amazing. And also I want to thank you all again for recapping the show. It gives us space to squee with people who love what we love.
"I came for the Woobz, but I stayed for the… well, Woobz." Chickachunga you have said everything I feel about this show :D
Doctors is good, Beautiful Mind (or shall I just say Jang Hyuk) is good.
Ryu Jun Yeol is killing it as Je Su Ho. But I am now waiting for W- two worlds. It just sounds so interesting
OT question- should I watch God's Gift? Is it good?
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mary
July 9, 2016 at 11:39 AM
OT question- should I watch God’s Gift? Is it good?
It depends.
How clean do you like your endings?
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ObsessedMuch
July 9, 2016 at 11:48 AM
I like them clean but after suffering from almost every kdrama ending (read- one/ two year separation, going to a foreign country to study, or just a plain old middle finger in case of Surplus Princess), I think I can manage watching a botched up last episode. Or I can just skip it.
But the question is, do the other episodes make up for the trauma of the last episode?
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mary
July 9, 2016 at 12:19 PM
Yessss. Watch it :D
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ObsessedMuch
July 9, 2016 at 12:23 PM
Thanks mary :)
Q.38
July 9, 2016 at 12:35 PM
I wonder if the calling dibs on Seo In Guk and Ma Dong Suk in that post had anything to do with DB team deciding to recap the drama. If yes, than it seems that "mindless" fangirling/fanboying has it uses after all.
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Oshi
July 9, 2016 at 12:52 PM
Don't encourage us! We've already lost hair and they stole my knives dammit.
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Lorenza go go
July 9, 2016 at 1:14 PM
Hahahaha! That sounds dangerous. Perhaps it's a good call for me to have a girl crush on Mi Joo after all. I'm not sure I have it in me to fight for SIG and MDS.
@Q.38 Don't underestimate the power of fangirls!!!
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ObsessedMuch
July 10, 2016 at 10:11 PM
So basically, when you guys were calling dibs on SIG, I was just reading it and going like- "who cares what they say, SIG is and will remain MY PRECIOUSSSS" :D
@ Q.38 fangirling has worked. This is the proof. Let's continue doing this to improve the world, by one recap at a time. :P
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50 New Comer Db
July 9, 2016 at 10:59 AM
only watching uncontrolably fond for now. i think the story decent and the acting is serviceable idk why people complain -_-.what keep me watching this drama is the ost,cinemathography and somehow this drama have a charm/spark that i cant explain lol xD.i hope i can watch it untill finish#pray4me and for other drama i stop it for a while idk what happen with me lately i just cant watch many drama for now-__-
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