Beans of Wisdom: Corpse shipping and cameo crossovers

by DB Staff

This week in Beans of Wisdom…

Our medical beanies discuss the severe scolding scenes in “Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim: Episode 17.” Lessa starts in comment #23:

In medschool to junior internship, I experienced being scolded in a similar way and then crying like a baby after. As I moved upward towards residency and fellowship, there were still incidents like that. Of course, it could be a very small mistake, probably insignificant even. But we do experience things like that. But the older I got the more I sort of understand the mean seniors. We handle lives. We need to get used to achieving perfection, even if it is impossible. When my senior residents graduated, they were actually the ones I was really close to even though some of them were really really mean to me when I started. Because they push me to be careful/meticulous about details.

Yes, mistakes do happen (cue: We are only human) but I think mistakes and their lessons should be hammered on to your being. Not to feel guilty or sad or depressed. But to push you to be better.

Yeah sure, In Bum could’ve been nicer, but maybe that’s why I keep wondering what level Yeon Hwa is. If she was a medical student, it would be totally understandable to mix up the AP-PA view of an Xray of the chest. But if she is a surgery resident, that’s kind of a major mistake, IMO. Any senior fellow would be mad.

Michykdrama:

It’s this whole idea of tough love vs the new “strawberry generation” where we must treat everyone with utmost respect, always praise, never scold.

I for one think we need a bit of both. I am not for going back to the past when senior’s words were law and they ruled with an iron fist. But at the same time I also hate the idea that people who are doing something wrong cannot be scolded.

Like you rightly said Lessa- it’s literally life and death for healthcare workers. You need to give your 110% and then some. I get very very frustrated by juniors who don’t take responsibility or give excuses or are just plain lazy or careless or slipshod. I don’t hesitate to scold and I have scolded Nurse Oh style on more than one occasion, so I can see where you are coming from with In Bum dishing out the tough love.

It’s a hard balance to strike and while you certainly you bring up a good point about In Bum, I’ll venture to state that he is being slightly prejudiced and unreasonable against Yeon Hwa. She is trying her best and none of her mistakes were serious enough to warrant a public yelling or dressing down, and certainly telling her to “do it right” and “not sorry” isn’t exactly contructive criticism.

Regardless I’m glad to see she has a few people like Nurse Park in her corner though because I guess that’s what will help her get stronger from the scoldings rather than quit and give up. If anything, maybe we can keep the Tough Love but also should remember to try to be a Nurse Park to someone we see is in need of some support, though without the fists of course! ?

PakalanaPikake:

As far as In-bum is concerned, what frosts my tailfeathers about In-bum’s criticism of Yeon-hwa is the fact that he is NOT Kim Sa Bu, and we’ve seen enough examples of his own dubious expertise and outright lying. Coming from Kim Sa Bu, a scolding is a serious lesson that is meant to be remembered, and intended to make the recipient a better physician. Coming from In-bum, it sometimes feels like he just wants to kick the dog. It says a lot about how his father has treated him all his life. In order for it to be tough love, there has to be some love there to begin with. In-bum is such a cold fish, I find it hard to think he has much regard for anyone other than himself. I hope I’m wrong.

Lord Cobol asks about Goblin’s burial practices in “The Lonely Shining Goblin: Episode 12” comment #18.1:

Since the tombstone with that good inscription is in Canada, does that mean he’s been shipping corpses there ?

kumoiwa:

Seems like it, though I don’t want to imagine how terrifyingly expensive that would be. But eh, goblins produce gold bars at their own fancy, so!

Snowy:

He probably brought grandpa’s ashes through a door. Remember he can door teleport?

PersonaInnominatum:

Lmao! I kept imagining him busting through some random door with a casket in tow and the stares of perplexed Canadians haha!

In a thread pitting Goblin and Reaper against each other, Emmy replies in #48.9:

I love them both without feeling the need to compare who is better than the other.

Isee it this way: these two actors complement each other. Goblin would not be as interesting without Reaper, and Reaper would be less funny if it weren’t for a goblin at the side to constantly provoke him.

I love the romance in this show, but the bromance is what makes me laugh the hardest.

I do like this recent turn in K-dramas though, away from the complete focus on romance to building a fuller, more complex world, where romantic love is one part of your life, but there’s also love between family, and between friends.

Celine:

Agree!! No need to compare. Both are doing fantastic job with their role and them together is such a winning combination!

And you mentioned something I truly love about this show which is the friendship they’ve built and the odd family they’ve formed. I enjoy it when two or three or four of them come together. I am waiting to see all five of them together in one scene.

Autumnrain celebrates in comment #13 of “Glimpses of a happy future with a stranger in Tomorrow With You”:

I’m glad to know that Lee Je Hoon will be time-traveling by real subway, not “Subway”.

Count me in for the ride!^^

UmbrellaMan:

With each bite he travels further and further into the past. Hahaha.

YY:

…taking great care not to chomp on the sweet onion rings, which he randomly flings in the air as he is propelled back to the past….their smell will guide him back to the present.

gadis writes about “Solomon’s Perjury: Episode 6” (#1):

This drama is like the embodiment of ‘be careful what you wish for’. Everytime I wish to know more about certain character or story, and they gave me more insight, it would always led me to scarier truth(??). Whether it’s about So-woo, Joo-ri, the Sentinel, or the suicide mystery itself. And I found myself realizing that this is why they said ignorance is a bliss. Now I’m both dreading and also impatiently awaiting more story about the coward principal, Woo-hyuk and the gang, Ji-hoon, and his very shady dad.

While pinkfluff99 shares some thoughts on the title in comment #10:

King Solomon is most famously known for his wisdom, at least, in Korea. Perhaps his judgement when two women were fighting over a child is what made him have this reputation. This drama brings out the true question that people face at least once in their lifetime: Will my judgement be correct? Just like King Solomon was able to figure out the true mother of the child with his wise questioning, these kids will have to find out who was responsible for the death of Sowoo. Was it really Joo-hyuk who killed him or was Sowoo the mastermind to his own death? And how does Joo-ri who claims to be a witness and Jihoon play into this?

Lavinia:

Ohmygosh! I didn’t give much thought to the title of this drama but it makes sooo much sense. I know he was one the wisest, if not the wisest king to rule over the kingdom back then but I totally forgot about the two women and the baby (my Sunday School teacher would be so disappointed lol). That is what he is most known for, I think. You’re right. Not everything in this drama (or life, honestly) can be perceived as either black or white, right or wrong, good or evil, etc. So, the students will have to question everything they know and do it wisely. Your insight was such an eye-opener for me

Bili Bala Pabo Bara has a wish in “Sweet and lovable Strong Woman Do Bong-soon is on her way” comment #5:

Since Ji Soo made a cameo appearance on WLFKBJ I would love to see Nam Joo Hyuk also make a cameo appearance somewhere in this show. Or better yet, let him appear with Bok Ju!^^

HerdTheDramaLlamas:

You know what would be super hilarious if LSK and NJH ended up doing a cameo.. If JS runs into LSK as Bok Ju and asks if they’ve met before because she looks familiar..and NJH is like “Don’t look at my wife like that!” Kekekeke

BGZ:

Or alternatively, Nam Joo Hyuk pushes Lee Sung Kyung aside and says to Ji Soo “By any chance, do you like Messi?”

alua reacts to the character description in comment #4:

<Her dream is to become his ideal type—a woman like a cosmos flower.

…what I wanted to say was, too sad that that’s her life’s dream. I just can’t relate to heroines whose life only revolves around a guy, I wish we could get heroines that live for themselves (like Ms. Temper actually). There’s so much more in life than finding “the one” and (ughhh) changing yourself for him, but kdramas seem to be stuck on this.

At least her crush-everything-strength characterisation has potential (if the drama can get the right message across – some recent dramas come to mind that failed at this).

Chandler replies:

Hmmm, I think you may be reading a bit too much into that statement? (Or at least, I hope so?) I doubt it’s the only dream in her life, but that, because this is a romance drama, it’s important to the premise to describe her romantic aspirations. I also just feel like any young girl in her twenties who had super human strength and hasn’t experienced love before, would have a little insecurity about not being the ideal type of woman.

As for changing for the guy you love, I completely agree that that’s not something you should do. But there are plenty of people that need to go through life a little to figure that out, and given that the guy she’s changing for isn’t the one she’s ending up with, I’m hoping this show is heading towards that kind of message.

I personally like relating to misguided heroines that maybe have a few mistakes to make in life before they figure out what’s truly important. While I share your outlook, I would never lose my ability to relate with girls like that, because I feel like I’m dismissing them for their weaknesses, instead of looking for their strengths and pulling for their growth.

Bad Cheese Cheddar writes to a fellow beanie who’s having a tough time. (“Open Thread #482,” #2.7):

Hey Love,

Hang in there. It is the pain and sadness in our lives that make us appreciate the good and the light times more. Sometimes you just have to wait a little longer for the light.

Hang in there, your light will come.

If I could hang out and watch KDramas with you, I would.

PLAYSTORE shares in “Top 10 favorite drama OTPs (One True Pairings)” comment #89:

I still remember watching coffee Prince four years back as I was getting my dramaland citizenship. I couldn’t get the love story as I don’t particularly like the genre. But then I watched it again and when Han Gyul said that it doesn’t matter if she’s an alien or a man he’ll still love her, it striked me that he loved her personality and that’s what attracted him in the first place. Then I realized that the actual message of the drama was that love comes in a form of respect and likeness for a personality.

In “Legend of the Blue Sea: Episode 17” comment #13, Lord Cobol asks:

Any bets on how many memories Ma Dae Young recovers how quickly? Because if Nam-doo & Joon-Jae are any guide, Chung’s memory wipes don’t have a lifetime warranty. Unless it’s a short lifetime. Which can be arranged.

PakalanaPikake:

I think Chung’s losing it in the degaussing department. Which says to me that if her concentration is broken, her memory wipe won’t stick.

I seriously think she has to go for a two-stage process that finishes with overwriting with a selection of her favorite internet cat videos, with “Almost Paradise” for the background music.

Or would that be considered “cruel and unusual punishment”?

Weightlifting Fairy earns love from its fans up to the end. In “Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: Episode 16 (Final)” comment #21, Mag writes:

All I got to say is SWAG! I was looking for a drama without a serious plot…I just wanted something cute and fun and that’s what attracted me wfkbj at first, from the name, I guessed it would be a cute drama. To my surprise, it wasn’t just a cute drama. It was a drama that made me feel like I was watching myself on the screen. It reminded me that as a youth, I am bound to make mistakes and becoming an adult is one hell of a ride. But I shouldn’t be discouraged because it’s perfectly normal to struggle at this point instead I should enjoy it to its fullest. I am happy I watched this drama and I don’t doubt I will be visiting it again…

And stuffed in comment #50.1:

I wholeheartedly agree with Lollypip how much this show is teaching is to appreciate our family. The moment BJ chose her Dad over JH, that moment when BJ felt guilty she couldn’t recognise her father was sick and that moment when BJ promised her dad she’d bring back the gold medal; these were the moments that really hit me in gut and made me reflect how much I can learn to be a good daughter from BJ.

I feel like I’ve been selfish to my parents and took them for granted at times. Just because they’re not sick like BJ’s dad, doesn’t mean that they don’t need the extra TLC. These moments were short but they carried really deep lessons that we all can learn from and relate to. I felt so moved that I stopped watching to write a letter to my parents expressing how much I care for them. I don’t know why I’m so emotional but this show makes me do things I’ve never really done before.

Emsel in #137:

This drama perfectly sums up transition from an adolescent to an adult. Leaving behind the comfort zone and embarking on a new journey that’s filled with unknown challenges is the very thing that scares youngsters. Having someone (Family/friends/partner) to support us, makes the pain bearable. Lack of spending quality time with loved ones is the cause why depression is prevalent not just in the working class, but also among the students. In this era, we rely too much on technology to deal with emotions whereas our ancestors talked it out face to face. We are more concerned about the likes we receive for our status in social media. These virtual likes define our ” sadness/happiness”. This show tackles this isolation problem by emphasising on real time communication and by portraying psychiatric sessions as a healthy/friendly discussion than as a treatment of mental illness.

WLFKBJ also highlights the preconceived norm we have on feminine beauty. It sends out a clear message to the girls by asking them to embrace their flaws. A person should love you for your personality than for your external beauty. When Joon Hyung listed his reasons for loving Bok Joo to her dad, he mentioned her warm attitude. Not even a single sentence about Bok Joo’s weight/features. A true relationship should not be ashamed of exploring the imperfectness and should thrive on healing each others’ scars. This was depicted in the scene where Joon Hyun insists Bok Joo to overlook her acne and not hide it.

Alert describes the whole show in comment #69:

Watching Weightlifting Fairy was like having that full course dinner at an untested restaurant:

When you arrive at a restaurant and they showed you the menu and you’re not so sure whether you are going to like them. The names are not that familiar, the food listed are not really your favourite.

Then they serve the appetiser. Ok. It was nice and sweet. Right there hitting your taste palette.

Then they proceed the main course. Surprisingly, it was delightfully delicious, even when you’ve had the food elsewhere before. You realised you liked it more with every bite. And it’s growing on you. You digged in and every bite seems unforgettable.

You started to get nervous by dessert time. What if the dessert would not complement what you had so far? You’ve been to countless places where thery serve great food but not so great desserts. It could be too sweet, too greasy or too lame.

When the dessert arrived, you took the first bite and you know it’s going to be perfect.

And you went back home grinning and smiling, with that warm, satisfied feeling.

Thank you Weightlifting Fairy, for giving me such a delightful and memorable ‘dining’ experience. You might not be popular, nor had that famous chefs, and your menu seems normal, but YOU REALLY SWAG. I would definitely visit again and would wholeheartedly recommend you to others looking for the same experience.

ET:

May I add that the food is totally wholesome, natural and unpretentious? It’s rich but not greasy. Sweet but not cloying. Deceptively simple but yet as you chew, the flavors explode in your mouth. Easily digested, makes you glow and adds a skip in your step.

While Moon points out in #125:

It’s ironic that this wonderful drama portraying healthy relationships and healthy growing up process with healthy characters has made me unhealthily obsessed over it.. TTT_____TTT

Let’s hope that the next batch of shows are as precious. See you next week!

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