Open Thread #462
by DB Staff
Happy Friday everyone!
Here is your Open Thread, which is here for you to chat about anything you want, whether it be drama-related or not. Nothing’s off-topic here! Spoilers may be rife, so proceed accordingly.
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51 WvR
August 26, 2016 at 1:04 PM
I watched the first episode of a show on American television (NBC) called Better Late Than Never after hearing it was adapted from Grandpas Over Flowers. Has anyone else checked it out? Thoughts on the show?
A short summary: Henry Winkler, William Shatner, Terry Bradshaw, and George Foreman with a younger sidekick Jeff Dye take a month long adventure across Asia. There, they experience the local culture, try unique foods, travel to famous landmarks and more.
From watching only the first episode (Tokyo, Japan), I thought the show is alright. I felt the bulk of the show is to give the group to unique, shocking type experiences and get their reactions. They also had some fun normal travel experiences like navigating the train station, singing karaoke while traveling by charter bus, and struggling to climb to the top of a lookout point. The group dynamic is good. There's a fun actors versus athletes comparison they have in their conversations.
To compare it to Grandpas Over Flowers, Better Late Than Never is more about the fish-out-of-water concept of our four older travelers and their reactions to what's put in front of them and less about the luggage boy struggles of getting the group from A to B and traveling on a budget. All of Jeff's plans are explained to us via interview or voiceover followed by short scenes of the group entering the venue for the next attraction they are to experience. All in the group are vocal and don't depend on Jeff to lead them, like in the beginning when they try to find the correct exit out of the train station. I felt that scene was the closest to Grandpas Over Flowers's getting lost/travel element. Better Late Than Never just leads the group to a location and let them run wild from there and that's where their entertainment comes from.
Note: I believe I saw in the closing previews that they'll be learning some dancing from SNSD's Tiffany and HyoYeon on one of the MV sets.
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bugs_bunny
August 26, 2016 at 6:21 PM
Watched it w/ my sister, laughed hard at the hotel scene, their reactions were so funny. Luggage guy looks a little like jim from the office:) so might watch for him & the chatty h. Winkler(?), his dirt discovery, wahhh...
Told my sis the same thing that i think the concept came from grandpas over flowers... Although i think GOF had a budget, i might be mistaken...
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WvR
August 26, 2016 at 8:38 PM
Thanks for sharing your thoughts, bugs_bunny.
Yes, GOF had a budget. A lot of the scenes of Lee Seo-jin and trying to manage the money was part of the fun.
The capsule hotel was funny but I didn't expect them to stay there for more than one night since their explanation told us that it's for businessmen to sleep off their drunkenness; I was especially surprised to see the same naked Asian man two nights in a row. Perhaps the power of editing?
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bugs_bunny
August 27, 2016 at 4:27 AM
I thought they might have stayed there the whole time coz they didn't feature another hotel, hmmmm... Or i missed something?
Also liked the fact that they're adventurous in trying out the food, although they might be wary now, hahaha...
I like travel shows in general, since haven't traveled overseas in awhile. What's special also is their commentary, affirmation of friendship & self-reflection on your 'wiser' years.
Nice to meet you WvR!
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akoreanfan
August 27, 2016 at 7:46 AM
@WvR - I hadn't heard about an American version! Thanks for posting, as I'm going to check it out!
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fanwho
August 27, 2016 at 9:12 AM
Yes I watched and had fun (Japanese guy in the capsule hotel lol)
They said Luggage guy didn't have much to do, because unlike Korean grandpas, they were more independent and know how to do things themselves.
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WvR
August 29, 2016 at 4:22 PM
@fan - You have an excellent point that the American group is more independent.
@bugs_bunny - Nice to meet you, too. I have not seen all of the Grandpa Over Flowers episodes. I watched GOF: Greece over the weekend because I was really interested in comparing the two shows. I agree; all the things you listed also made the show special.
@drama314 - You're welcome. I welcome your thoughts on the show, too. I'll try to look here or at the next OT.
@all - I rarely read through entire OTs and add comments on this site irregularly, so it was great getting a response. Thanks for replying to my post! :)
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52 anna96
August 26, 2016 at 1:20 PM
Jealousy incarnate was a quite a disappointment for me ! Im not too fond of a stranger touching another stranger inappropriately becaise of a ridiculous reason. Like its serious enough to be marked sexual harassment but that's been going around lately in kdramas from oh my ghostess to madame antoine and this... I would keep om watching it if jo jeon seok's character didnt look unconformtable, but he was clearly annoyed and that NOT okay. I've given up on may dramas because of forced kisses by male leads and now its the female leads.... I just hope her touchy concept will end in the first episode so i can watch this drama
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fanwho
August 27, 2016 at 9:15 AM
I also didn't like touching part in Jealousy incarnate, but show got better in episode 2 (when we found out why she was doing it). Still it might have been better they executed the scene different way.
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53 Hye Mi
August 26, 2016 at 3:05 PM
Hi this is my first time posting in an open thread too. I've got this burning question that I have always wanted to ask all beanies and this thread seems to be the perfect place to post it, since I guess posting it in different drama threads is a little bit too much for both me and everybody else.
So my question is very simple:
Why don't sageuks appeal to many people?
As a die hard fan of the genre many people's responses in various thread that they cannot sit through a sageuk pique my curiosity. I'm not here to wage war, just to as a genuine question out of curiosity and to understand different viewing taste, so please fire away :D
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bbstl
August 26, 2016 at 5:01 PM
Two of my closest kdrama-watching friends say that they have Fear of Big Hats. Something about the Joseon era costumes, particularly for the men, they just can't get past it.
I had some trouble with that at the beginning and also because the costumes were cheap polyester (fabric nut here) PLUS it seemed like all anyone ever did was sit around tables and talk. It felt like, only the tablecloths changed to tell me the plot was moving. So dull. But I'm talking about way back in Emperor of the Sea days. Now I want to reach through the screen and grab most of the leads' costumes to examine the gorgeous embroideries (although I'm still pretty darn sure early Joseon markets weren't filled with yards of neon jacquard silks, folks). I love sageuks but haven't convinced my two friends. Hoping that LJK and hatless Goryeo princes will sway them starting on Monday ?
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PakalanaPikake
August 26, 2016 at 10:11 PM
@bbstl,
Fear of Big Hats
ROFLMA!!! I feel for them... but for me, it isn't fear of gats... it's frustration at absence of Manes of Glory! Plus it makes it more difficult to tell the characters apart, which is a problem when there's a Cast of Thousands... Don't get me wrong -- I love sageuks, so I'm afraid I can't help original poster Hye Mi.
I know what you mean about the neon jacquard silks... Ugggh to synthetic dyes that do not occur in nature. Usually it's the commoners' clothing that looks closer to being colored with natural plant dyes like madder, indigo, and coreopsis.
Earlier this week I found the first couple of episodes of TEARS OF THE DRAGON (1996-98) with subtitles on YouTube. The muted colors of the late Goryeo/early Joseon yangban garb came as a refreshing switch.
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Hye Mi
August 27, 2016 at 1:52 AM
I can totally relate to the fabric stuff. I just can't digest the neon colour of more recent sageuks lol.
I also found the dressing style in sageuks odd at first, but I guess perhaps I come from an East Asian country I've become okay with that over time. The problem that irks me the most now watching a sageuk is probably the production team's incorporation of modern elements into it and going pretty liberal with historical correctness. But I guess it will then appeal more to a significant population of modern, younger viewers so ... well.
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bbstl
August 27, 2016 at 11:00 AM
Hi PakalaPikake and Hye Mi!
So nice to hear from others who are tut-tutting under their breaths at inappropriate fabric color choices! HARRRUMPH!!! Oh, the agony ?
Loving the 'absence of Manes of Glory' Hahahahahaa. If Jumong hadn't come along for me i might have been lost to sageuks forever.
I realize you guys hit upon what I bet is a key component of sageuk dislike/disinterest. It's soooo hard to get past the first several episodes when the story and politics and characters are getting laid out. And at that point it seems like 80% of the cast are old guys all wearing the same clothes with the same beards and yes, the same hats. Like everyone here says, the learning curve includes Korean customs, Korean history and even knowing Korean actors so you can tell who is who from the beginning (or remember that the difference between these particular two old guys is that one has a single crane on his robe) until the story finally gets going.
Dang, sageuks take some work!
A round of applause for the sageuk fans, right? ??
Most importantly, without DB recaps and comments I wouldn't watch sageuks because I'd never understand a quarter of what was really happening.
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PakalanaPikake
August 29, 2016 at 6:03 PM
Hi, bbstl...
Sorry for the late reply... Have been gearing up for MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART: RYEO. ;-)
I've been thinking about the learning curve for non-native sageuk watchers. For me, a large part of the appeal is the very fact that the culture and history are different from what I grew up with. On the other hand, people are people, and the emotions, motivations, hopes, and fears of human beings are recognizable across time and space. I enjoy watching universal themes playing out, often in forms that differ from Western drama.
With the world in an uproar that a single individual can do nothing about, a good sageuk might just provide a refuge from reality for a spell. It might even depict a heartening example of righteousness, enlightened leadership, or underdog persistence in the face of strong opposition. I'll take my inspiration where I can find it. If viewing human nature through the lens of a foreign culture back in ancient times gives me a different point of view, or lends insight into the historical roots of present conditions, I'm all for it.
Especially if the characters happen to be hunky dudes who fight with swords. ;-)
For me, viewing sageuks is similar to reading Shakespeare's history plays. They all start with dramatis personae, a list of characters that briefly states relationships, which is infinitely helpful. When I watch any Kdrama or film, I hop over to AsianWiki and pull up the entry for the show. Usually the cast listing gives mugshots with the actors' names and their character names. This is a tremendous help to me. I keep the tab handy while I watch so I can look up new characters as they appear. I also look in extended cast listings at HanCinema and a few other places. I often read recaps before watching, but not always.
It took me a while to discover DramaBeans because the first sageuk that I desperately wanted to understand, THE KING'S DAUGHTER, SU BAEK-HYANG, was slated for 120 episodes and was -- understandably -- not recapped. But later shows I watched were, and I was thrilled to find friendly bilingual guides whose reviews and recaps explained the cultural and historical background as well as the language, wordplay, and humor.
I've been impressed with the production values of many of the sageuks I've watched since stumbling across DR. JIN on HULU 3-4 years ago. The sets, costuming (even if the fabrics are sometimes too fluorescently garish), props, food (!), OSTs, and use of background music are frequently much better/nicer than those of contemporary American productions. They combine to make me feel like I'm traveling to a far-off land -- without suffering jetlag.
Aside from NCIS, I've pretty much quit watching American TV and movies. I find sageuks to be a haven of modesty and decorum in comparison, and I enjoy using my brain to follow the plot and understand the characters. If I get moved to tears in the process, so much the better.
trebleandbess
August 26, 2016 at 5:29 PM
I think in comparison to other kdramas, there's a much higher "learning curve" when it comes to sagueks.
With kdramas, if a viewer is used to Western tv & media and haven't really been immersed in Korean (or even East Asian) culture, there's already a need to adjust to different sets of customs, rules, and culture. In sagueks, there's even more to learn, i.e the time period's politics and customs.
Although I've grown up watching sagueks (I'm not Korean though so I am less versed in their history), I often do a quick wiki search when I'm watching them, and of course check dramabeans if they're recaping them. Sometimes, that's too much effort for the casual kdrama watcher.
Even with fusion sagueks, there's still a level of cultural knowledge necessary to understand some of the jokes, especially when they're fish out of water ones.
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Hye Mi
August 27, 2016 at 1:54 AM
I see what you mean by the learning curve. I've watched many historical dramas but when I first started watching a sageuk I remember having to take time adjusting to a new set of customs and traditions in historical Korea.
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redfox
August 27, 2016 at 12:16 AM
cause that style of dramas dont exist elsewhere and the style is a little weird at first glance? the court dynamics and speech might even sound ridiculous. I know it took me around 4 years to watch a sageuk and get accostumed to the style of acting and intrigues. but I slowly grew into them,.
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inxomnia
August 27, 2016 at 9:38 AM
For me personally, it's because I've grown up watching wuxia dramas and have developed a preference for them and their distinct style more. I feel like Chinese wuxia dramas have gradually improved over time and become much more sleek and sophisticated. There's also a good variety of different focuses - jianghu shenanigans, palace politics, mythical folklore, famous heroes, detectives etc. Also, the aesthetics and style of Chinese wuxia appeals to me more than sageuks do.
So with limited time and plenty of choice, I stick to Chinese wuxia and Korean romcoms. TW dramas if I want something light and cheesy. HK dramas if I want to watch a family or office drama. American shows if I want something more realistic/relatable. Simply because that's my acquired drama taste and where I think they excel.
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54 erratic
August 26, 2016 at 8:44 PM
Watching C4. Darn, they're starting the Jin Woon siege, and Ha Won appears to succumb. Nooooooooo! Will Hyun Min never make Ha Won's heart skip a beat? T_T
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purpleowl
August 27, 2016 at 10:56 AM
No! I haven't started episode 5 yet but that is very bad news. I was hoping for a fake out with our second male lead. The Ji Won story better be super epic for me to jump ship.
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55 alasecond
August 26, 2016 at 11:52 PM
Finally got introduced to Jo In sung.. (how did i manage 3 years of kdrama without knowing about him :( )
So, 2D1N gets the credit for that..
and almost about to finish okay with love..
How come he has done only two series.. and no films..and been out of work (or chose not to work) for a good 2 years now?
oh yeah, now i totally get those comments about Bo gummie reminding people of younger version of JIS.
So So So true .. from looks, smile..to mannerisms..
In one of the episodes, the way JIS expresses "sudden realization".. is darn same as how PBY did in all of the last three series.. acting style is so so so similar..
One is older , other is younger.. where are men my age
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bbstl
August 27, 2016 at 11:23 AM
JIS appeared in Dear My Friends this year and many dramas and films. His star breakout drama was probably What Happened in Bali (whoa! So melo). Enjoy falling in love with him! ?
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56 alasecond
August 27, 2016 at 6:55 AM
Anyone has a playlist of songs used in dramas (english)..
Trying to build one
1. Cheese in trap
2. Cross my mind - Twin forks
3. Hero-its okay that's love
4. Little braver
So you get the temp .. soft music..
any suggestions?
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bbstl
August 27, 2016 at 11:11 AM
English songs used in kdramas? You'll probably get a good response if you re-post the question early next Friday on OT. Beanies are so great at OST questions.
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indie24
August 27, 2016 at 9:41 PM
I really like When You Hold Me Tight by Yael Mayer from Healer. Another song from It's Okay, That's Love that I thought was good was Ship and the Globe by Kae Sun. And I just recently heard an English song from Jealousy Incarnate Ep 1 but I haven't found the title and artist yet. It was played while Pyo Na Ri and her brother were walking home. If anyone finds anything about the song used in that scene, kindly post it here. Thanks.
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57 Ashley Beemblee
August 27, 2016 at 11:19 AM
Can somebody tell me why there is no more music in open threads? I liked it and some songs even became my favourites.
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58 Simi
August 27, 2016 at 11:21 PM
Random thought.
I rewatched Master's Sun last month and during the first couple episodes I had a mildly sacrilegious thought.
What if Jang Hyuk played Joo Joong-Won instead of So Ji-Sub?
Then I was like nooo, what are you thinking!? You love So Ji-Sub (which is true, he is a very fine specimen of man). But the seed was planted and I can't help but wonder...
Would Master's Sun have been better with Jang Hyuk?
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junny
August 28, 2016 at 3:05 AM
Yes it would, hehe. But I'm a Jang Hyuk fan and neutral to So Ji-sub, so there's that.
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59 Annanoonim
August 28, 2016 at 1:09 AM
Watching:
● Uncontrollably Fond: decided to quit after eps 15, couldn't stand the angst, fear it might scarred my kdrama life
● Cinderella & the Four Knights: stepsister's eyes frightened me, they're so big and evil, had to cover the screen with my cat whilst watching
● Bring It On, Ghost: have just started binge-watch, again, using my cat to cover the screen whenever there are ghost scenes. Mum asked why bother watching when you're not even going to look at the ghosts, duh Mum, I'm not here for ghosts, I'm here for the story and Kim So-hyun~ ♡
● Moonlight Drawn by Clouds: I hope the reveal won't be too draggy, it'd be so fun when they found out about each other but pulling the whole I don't know that s/he knows that I know thing
● Jealousy Incarnate: does DB got an award for Sassy Secretary category? This one right here is probably fit for nomination~
Couldn't wait for IU and Joon-gi this week~
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60 erratic
August 28, 2016 at 10:05 AM
Watching Woori Gap Soon and wondering what mary thought of the entire thing. And Song Jae Rim's "pot belly." Lol!
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61 erratic
August 29, 2016 at 5:46 AM
Started watching The Gentlemen of Wolgyesu Tailor Shop. It's a new 50-episode weekend drama from KBS2. I quite like it. :)
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