Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

by DB Staff

The weeks sure fly by, don’t they? It’s almost next year, people! *represses minor freakout* And it feels like there’s a very fine line between being on top of all your shows and getting behind a few days and suddenly feeling like you’re buried in an avalanche of unwatched episodes. I think I’d better get crackin’. —javabeans

javabeans

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Was there anybody who watched this finale and thought, ”Oh hey, that was a pretty good way to finish that story, I really enjoyed that”? Despite the show being frequently messy and flaw-ridden, I have found it very watchable, so I was hoping for an ending that, even if not perfectly satisfying, would provide a measure of closure and resolution. What we got, though? A finale that felt so pointless that it negated value retroactively from the rest of the series. I don’t care if there was extra footage filmed or more logical reasoning in the book or better intentions elsewhere: In the end, what is shown onscreen is the only story that truly happens in this drama. Who actually thought this was an acceptable finale episode to put on the air and put their names on?

The Man Living in Our House: I was pleasantly surprised when I started this up with few expectations and found it amusing and zippy. It’s not the world’s most subtle humor, but the show feels good-natured and I love Su Ae showing the lighter side of her range.

1% of Anything: This show is so cute and feel-good that I like to save it up and enjoy it as a pick-me-up or a warm-and-fuzzy way to cap off my day. They naturalness of this couple’s rapport is what sucks me in, and because the relationship is so rooted in the everyday, it makes every little smile and interaction feel tinged with romance.

Shopping King Louis: Last week’s episodes felt like they were heading into unnecessarily mopey territory, and girlfriday assured me that I could skip them without missing anything I didn’t already know was going to happen. While it’s a bit discombobulating to jump in two episodes later, I’m glad I did because in my world, Louis stayed cute and funny and never strayed down the path of noble sacrifices and tearful separations.

Entourage: The premiere felt like it was everything a show titled Entourage should be, with glitzy celebrity parties, star cameos, raunchy guy talk, blaring hip-hop, and big egos. It felt a bit choppy and the pacing hasn’t hit its stride yet, but I do think this version will have more heart than the original; already I can feel that the central love story will be the two best friends, Mr. Star Actor and Sidekick Manager. Jo Jin-woong is manic and funny, and Kwang-soo’s desperation is brilliant.

This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair: There’s an interesting vibe that I find very appealing about this show, and it’s all to do with Lee Seon-kyun’s uptight, neurotic inner crisis that I know must be very upsetting to him, but is hilarious to me for its morbidly dry delivery. The show has a quirky directing style, and once I realized that it’s written and directed by the Awl team (which I really loved), it all made sense. The drama also reminds me a bit of last year’s Bubblegum in its interesting, cool modern characters and the mood that’s at once humorous and contemplative.

girlfriday

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: Life’s a bitch and then you die.

The Man Living in Our House: This is turning out to be more of a traditional rom-com than the strange family relationships would have you think, but I’m good with that since I like the leads together, and I find their relationship really sweet. Basically, whatever Su Ae wants is what I want, because I’m with her all the way.

Shopping King Louis: The show was much more watchable this week without a dark cloud hanging over everyone, though in all honesty I’m kind of bored by it now because it seems like we’re just checking off boxes for a happy resolution too far in advance. There was just a fun little magic to amnesiac Louis and his rooftop life with Bok-shil, and I miss that early stage of the story.

On the Way to the Airport: The shit hit the fan pretty hard this week, but am I a masochist for wishing there were more drama that came out of it? I want these people to be happy in the end, but I don’t want to skate over the monumental pain they’re causing other people, because that would seem like a copout. I’m starting to think they didn’t leave enough time to deal with the fallout of the affair.

This Week, My Wife Will Have an Affair: I only caught the first episode, but Lee Seon-kyun is so good at being this nervous wreck of a husband that I might stick around just to watch him dig his own grave of stupidity. Muahaha.

Jealousy Incarnate: Did anyone else have a heart-flutter-attack when Little Bro got all protective of his noona and told Jo Jung-seok off? This week Jo Jung-seok got all of my tears, but Gong Hyo-jin’s little brother got all of my love.

Entourage: It was slick and star-studded as expected, and the five guys are well-cast for the roles. It still feels very American though, and I’m not sure the show has found its own rhythm or its own skin. The premiere felt hurried, like it was attempting to give us ALL of the exposition in one go instead of easing us in. But the bromance is there, and that’s what I came for.

gummimochi

Currently recapping: The K2

This Week, My Wife Is Having An Affair: This show wasn’t originally on my watch list, but I decided to tune in on a whim. Lee Seon-kyun’s deep voice is unmistakable, and after two episodes, we’re just on the cusp of D-Day. Still, my favorite moments have to be with Lee Sang-yeob as Ahn Joon-young, the hoobae who wears his heart on his sleeve for his sunbae and hyung.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: It saddens me when I think about the hours upon hours I wasted watching this show and wishing that the execution was just a tad different here or there. So here are my parting words: Walking until the show’s edge, I sat and watched as my brain cells rose up and disappeared. My… Sanity.

LollyPip

Currently recapping: Shopping King Louis, The Man Living in Our House

1% of Anything: I waited until after Drinking Solo to start this, so I’ve spent this week catching up. I have to say, I love this version of Ha Suk-jin a lot better, because he’s just more emotionally accessible and I love his boyish sense of humor. It’s nice to see an adult couple discuss adult topics (like sex) instead of pretending virginal horror at the idea of just touching hands, and I particularly appreciate how open and honest Jae-in and Da-hyun are with each other. Sure, the show is a bit dated topic-wise, but that doesn’t stop it from being a breezy, fun watch.

Ice Fantasy: This Chinese wuxia drama is a hot mess, and I love every minute of it. A fantastical story about a Fire Tribe and an Ice Tribe racing each other for an item that will allow them to control the world, it’s got wonderful magical characters, some pretty amazing action scenes, decent CG, and more pretty elfin people that you can shake a magic wand at. I’m still only about ten episodes into this 62-episode epic fantasy, but once I started, I just can’t stop watching.

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: I’m still way behind, and sadly, I’ve been hearing enough about the second half of the show that I’m seriously considering dropping it.

odilettante

The Man Living In Our House: Ahhhhh, it’s so cute and weird and wonderful — I love it! Su Ae is a gem, and I’m having a blast watching best-friends-irl Lee Soo-hyuk and Kim Young-kwang annoying each other via their characters (plus they’re not too shabby to look at, either).

Fantastic: The ending was a little too perfect for me, but I’m just content that everyone is friends and happy together, so no real complaints. Overall, the drama was a pleasant surprise with the humanity it gave all its characters while tackling the serious issue of cancer (instead of just using it as a convenient plot-point). I’ll miss seeing them each week, especially Joon-ki and his dimples. *sob*

Monster: I’ve been taking advantage of a little extra free time to finally finish those dramas that I dropped for whatever reason, and first on the list was this behemoth. It was a struggle, though, because while I liked much of the first thirty-some episodes, I did not care about any of the old dudes’ political shenanigans in the later episodes. If it weren’t for my undying loyalty to Park Ki-woong and my devout faith in Lee El, I would have definitely given up long ago. It wasn’t a terrible drama, but it wasn’t what I was expecting, especially from this production team. I’ve already forgotten more than I’ll ever remember about this drama, but alas I fear I will never be able to forget Park Ki-woong’s terrible hair extensions.

Police Unit 38: I’d started this drama when it first aired, but due to time constraints I dropped it six episodes in, and only now have marathoned my way through the rest of it. I’m thinking that’s the best way to do it, though, since it meant I didn’t have to wait a week to see the resolution of all those cliffhanger endings. Ma Dong-seok can do no wrong in my eyes, and now I’m expecting a new drama from this production team where Sung-il and Bad Guys Woong-chul have doppelgänger shenanigans. I’m just sayin’.

HappilyEverAfter

Currently recapping: 1% of Anything

Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo: I knew I was going to regret getting sucked into this drama from the moment I watched the teasers — I hate sad stories. I couldn’t help it though, the first few episodes pulled me in and now here I am, bemoaning all the ways that these inevitable deaths and separations could have been avoided, considering they weren’t really all that inevitable. From the time skips to the irrational logic to the questionable premise (is anyone still wondering what happened to the real Su?), there were so many things that just could’ve been better, but I suppose it’s worth something to say that I actually cared about the characters. It’s so tragic that So went from being the lonely outcast that everyone feared and no one cared about, to being the lonely king that everyone fears and no one is willing to stand by. In the end, it’s almost like he was doomed to live a life of loneliness and misery.

 
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