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Team Dramabeans: What we’re watching

It’s a new year, although we haven’t been hit with any brand-new shows yet. (That’ll be for later this month—everybody brace yourselves for a sudden influx of material!) After last week’s year-end pre-emptions resulted in a paltry drama airing schedule, it was a bit of a relief to get a full slate this week, though maybe even a little overwhelming. Not that it’s a challenge I’m not up to accepting! –javabeans

 

javabeans

Currently recapping: Legend of the Blue Sea, The Lonely Shining Goblin

Hwarang: I’m loving this love triangle, and I’m going to enjoy it for as long as I can (which is to say, until it gets painful for the odd man out). It’s not a love triangle where both guys have an equal shot at the leading lady’s heart, because it’s pretty clear where her feelings are heading, but because of the setup—the boys being Hwarang-mates, the hero having to act like he’s her brother—it keeps us in that fun realm of petty jealousy and budding romance. I love Park Seo-joon and Park Hyung-shik together, which reminds me a bit of the reluctant bonding between Goblin and Reaper, which is always super entertaining.

Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim: While I wouldn’t say that the medicine is what keeps me glued to this show (not when there are such interesting characters and satisfyingly hateable antagonists), I have to say that this show does a remarkable job of making the medical cases compelling. I don’t necessarily care about the surgeries or illnesses on their own merits, but they’re very well-utilized in playing up a character beat or plot conflict, and the way the surgeries are filmed reminds me of fight scene choreography—just as you can have a clunky fight scene with zero impact and ineffective editing, you can also have them elevated with skillful cuts and directing, and this drama feels like the latter. There’s a narrative rhythm to the surgery scenes, and I’m surprised with how engaging I’m finding them.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: I have never minded that Joon-hyung was the sweet, mature emotional support system for Bok-ju, and that he was the one always providing help, but it was so gratifying to see that when Joon-hyung was the one to need the support, Bok-ju became his rock. I loved that she offered him unconditional love and support, and once she’d seen that he was fine, she also gently pointed out where he’d also gone wrong and made sure he wouldn’t act in ways he’d regret later. There’s a real art to knowing just how much to guide someone without pushing or having that advice backfire, and she struck that note perfectly—and with such a natural ease that it only made extra-clear how awesome they work together.

Father, I’ll Take Care of You: I managed—barely!—with that one measly episode we got last weekend, and was watching it both excitedly and with anxious glances at the clock, worried about time running out. I rarely want episodes to be longer, but there are so many characters in this show that every episode feels like such a tease. At least we did get plenty of gratifying moments between Sung-joon and Dong-hee, and I absolutely love his reaction to her gentle refusal to pursue their relationship: He respects her stance, but that doesn’t mean he’ll stop being nice to her or looking after her or buying her coffee. I totally understand where she’s coming from, because while he’s very cute and they both acknowledge their feelings, it makes sense for her to need to focus on her life right now, which requires her full attention. And there he is, being sweet and accepting, all, Okay, I won’t push. I’ll just be standing riiiiight over here… hanging out… in case you need me.

 

HeadsNo2

Oh My Geum-bi: This show has a heart of pure gold. All of its messages are so positive without dipping into the saccharine, which makes it the single most heartfelt drama I’ve ever watched. While terminal illness stories aren’t anything new, there was always something that rang kind of manipulative when the show would be about romance and death, as though impending doom was just a tool used to make the romance seem sweeter. But Oh My Geum-bi is doing something completely different in focusing its story around one little girl and all the adults who love her, and each side character—even the doctor, for pete’s sake—feels fully fleshed out, with abundant stories to tell. It’s a show that confronts insanely difficult questions about mortality, especially with children, and deals with real issues like the resentment that can come from caring for a sick person, no matter how much you love them. I just love every single thing about it, but I’m not sure I’m ready for what the end will bring.

Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim: Everything in this show has led to One Surgery, and even though that surgery is now over, everything seems to be revolving around the repercussions of that One Surgery. I’m liking the show week to week fine enough, but the overarching story is still lost on me, and I’m beginning to wonder if one even exists. If it doesn’t, that won’t be the biggest crime ever committed—at least the show is entertaining, even if the constant influx of medical disasters can get a bit repetitive.

Hwarang: Well, if there ever was a lesson on not judging a drama by its promo posters, this is it. I feel a little sheepish since I was one of those people who thought Hwarang would be worse than Moon Lovers, but that just goes to show how a director can really tank a show if left to his own devices. Hwarang succeeds where Moon Lovers failed not by being more profound, but just by virtue of having narrative focus. It knows the story it wants to tell and is telling it, which is one of those essential pieces of the puzzle Moon Lovers seemed to be missing. It’s not an especially new story or even a very engaging one, but at least it’s picking up, and is a fun enough diversion every week.

The Lonely Shining Goblin: I’ve always had the attention span of a tweaking gnat (and the memory of a goldfish to go along with it), but I don’t think it’s just a matter of me dragging my feet to watch almost three hours of a single show each week that’s got me thinking twice about hitting the play button. If we filled all that time with nonstop content, then I think we wouldn’t keep having this discussion about length—after all, I don’t remember feeling put upon when Signal ran extra long episodes. And it’s not that Goblin is at all unenjoyable, but that it meanders just a little too long on every beat when it could be zipping right along through its fun, fantastical world. The whole ski lodge sequence was kind of bizarre, and paired with the gratuitous Subway that week, I sometimes get the feeling that this show keeps padding its time to sell us more products. But even so, Reaper is still adorable, which makes me think that Lee Dong-wook works best when he’s not having to carry an entire show on his shoulders.

Legend of the Blue Sea: I’m enjoying this show, even if some aspects of the reincarnation storyline confuse me. While watching this show with my mom over the holidays, the highest form of discussion we had was about Lee Min-ho’s handsomeness or me wanting all the pajamas Jeon Ji-hyun wears. And you know what? That’s okay.

 

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Night Light: I feel like I’m supposed to be disappointed that Yi-kyung is unrepentantly marching down the eeeeeeevil path of diabolical revenge, but honestly I just want her to knock even more heads together and become the boss of everything, everyone, everywhere. And for her and Se-jin to kiss already.

The Lonely Shining Goblin: I’ve renamed this show The Adorably Fastidious Reaper because that’s literally the only reason I’m watching (well, it’s really 92% for Reaper, 8% for those few seconds of Lee El each week). Who cares about a moody Goblin’s sword when there’s a pouty-faced Reaper desperately needing business cards?

Solomon’s Perjury: This is my favorite show airing right now, so thank goodness there are more episodes this week because that preemption hiatus nearly killed me. Er, maybe that was a bad choice of words, but even if it did nearly kill me, I’d trust Seo-yeon to find out who was truly responsible for my drama near-death.

Hwarang: If this was a straight-up modern-day high school drama I probably would have bowed out after the first episode. Instead, I’m utterly delighted by the historical setting (hilarious anachronisms and all). While I was expecting it to be goofy (and I’m glad it is!), I’m also pleasantly surprised to see that there’s a thread of depth and potential for serious (and earned) character growth. All the boys are predictably pretty eye-candy, but I’m more excited to have Go Ara back on my screen, especially since I’m convinced Ah Ro is just Silla’s version of Answer Me 1994’s Na-jung.

 

tineybeanie

Currently recapping: Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim

Hwarang: The whole Park Seo-joon/Go Ara/Park Hyung-sik faux-incest love triangle reminds me so much of Autumn in My Heart’s Song Seung-heon/Song Hye-kyo/Won Bin relationship that I get deja vu chills every two seconds. And the chorus of the OST song, “Dream,” has that old school-style melody that takes me years back to my early drama-watching days. Well, I know one thing hasn’t changed — then, like now, I boarded the doomed second lead ship. All there’s left to do is wait for the delicious but painful sinking.

The Lonely Shining Goblin: Nooo! I’m having a W–Two Worlds dilemma: I loved this show so much at the beginning that I don’t want to give up on it, but now I’m getting bored by its draggy pace that I don’t know if it’s worth the time anymore. Last week, I confess I committed the cardinal drama sin of only watching the last ten minutes. And when I went back to read the recap, I realized that nothing of importance actually happened. Why show why!?

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju: You know those days when the whole world seems to be conspiring against you: you fail your exam, your supervisor yells at you, and to top it all off, your coffee arrives cold and grainy? I swear Weightlifting Fairy is the cure to most, if not all your troubles. In just a few minutes, your bleak mood will be lifted by the cute chemistry of the OTP, and soon, the trivial day-to-day annoyances will fade from your mind as you cheer and root for Bok-ju on her quest for both love and weightlifting success. ♥ Bok-ju/Joon-young forever, everyone hwaiting!

Signal: After all the Year End Reviews praising this drama to high heaven and back, I decided to sit myself down and watch it. And boy, was I blown away: Jo Jin-woong went from somewhere on the outskirts of my drama-watching radar to dead center. Errrmigawwd. Is there going to be a second season? There has to be a second season with that cliffhanger ending. But when is it going to happen? The writer Kim Eun-hee has already committed to another sageuk project, so will we get to see Signal 2 this year? Maybe within the next three years? Five years? But I need it now…

 
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Currently watching...

Solomon's Perjury: Not as engaging as I thought it'll be. It's a little awkward to see high school students playing out a court scene, though I kinda expected it. I also think there's actually not enough conflicts for this to last the whole of 12 episodes, and that's why the pacing is slow. This is really better as a movie or a shorter series (~4 episodes). I'm also a little bothered about how Ji-hoon seems to be the "stronger" character. I'm more eager to see Seo-yeon take charge instead. On a side note, Seo-yeon and Joon-young are still very cute together.

Candle in the Tomb: I'm really liking this series. The first episode was just an introduction, but the excitement kicked off after that. However, now that the excavation crew is in the desert, it's getting a little boring. I'm expecting something big to happen in the next 3 episodes though. I think this is the best drama out of this crop of Cdramas which premiered in late Dec/early Jan.

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Can't agree more about candle in the tomb!

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Weightlifting: Such a solid drama and I'm happy to see it getting so much love.

General and I: Moving the story along quickly....perhaps too quickly, but I'm hooked.

Father, I'll Take Care of You: I actually like the cousins switching story the best.

Goblin: I'm sticking with this because of my love of the fantasy genre, but it is officially a multitasking drama meaning I'm coming up with my grocery list, unloading the dishwasher etc while watching....except the last 10 minutes. That I sit and watch. The fact that so many people love the drama for the reaper is actually an issue...He's not the main character! There just aren't that many layers to this story. I totally don't buy the OTP at least so far. Doesn't come close to Arang in terms of story and character development. Should have kept the director to a strict one hour episode format. Just imo....others love it and I'm glad. I'm just disappointed because Mirror of the Witch got such a good start and ended up spinning it's wheels in the 2nd half so just hard to do fantasy (Haven't started the mermaid drama yet.)

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Hi! General and I that good? I usually watch my Cdramas once they're finished but I'm not watching alot of Kdramas right now as nothing is that interesting except for Bok Joo and Teacher Kim lol. Excited for General and I after seeing the trailers.

Agree with Goblin. I find no urgency to watch and when I do, I pay attention only during the last few minutes.

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I haven't read the book but most fans of the book are commenting that though it is deviating they are still liking it so I'm going to go by that. It's not perfect... a little choppy and I'm giving AngelaBaby the benefit of the doubt so far. Wallace Chung is bringing the smexy. Only 6 episodes in though so who knows. It is getting some criticism in China, but I've never figured out what the specific complaints are.

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That's actually far from the truth. I've actually read initial reviews from people who read the novel and the consensus is that the drama would have been much better if they stuck strictly to the novel instead. Apparently, the clichéd tropes are all new additions and the novel itself was far more refreshing. Seeing the summaries of the novel plot convinced me too, I think you really have to be totally unaware of the novel to enjoy the drama as it is.

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Thanks sorrynotsorry and paroles!! Appreciate your inputs. I have actually started the novel already. 8 chapters in. Lol, I guess I'll watch the drama first then haha!! Trailer looks good :)

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@ Father, I'll Take Care do You. As cute as the love line of the young couple (which is now becoming somewhat predictable), I find joy in the cousins storyline and getting more invested in the crazy girl and revenger's romance development.

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After watched Arang, I found it hard to love Goblin no matter how pretty, how sophisticated and how the lines is, since there is no room for character developments, and the loveline build-up is just meh. Arang is ordinary in cinematoprahpy, but their love is intense and their chemistry is up to the roof. Nothing beats it.

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Just a kdrama watching pro tip here guys but the key to watching Goblin is watching it on a streaming site that allows you to watch it in double speed (yes 2x faster). Oh man, totally helps me get through the episode…if you've got some viewing experience under you, you should be able to read subtitles fairly quickly and with Goblin, things more so slow, it's more like you're watching in normal speed haha

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Word!!
Thank you for that tip!
Though if a drama requires that sometimes u ask yourself why bother, I can't answer it myself. I watch every episode but multi-tasking while it's going on- reading the newspaper, making a coffee, folding the clothes, checking my inbox. It's hardly crack but I'm invested in reaper so I want to know how's he going to get his HE (nothing less KES nothing less)
i liked the yesterday's episode though!

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Yeah, I question that myself sometimes too but I'm the type that rarely drops a drama - if I've made it half way, I hate quitting so I will almost always finish it even if it causes me physical pain - hence the 2x speed watching, it's gotten me through many episodes of certain dramas.

Of course, most of the time I only 2x speed through stuff I don't care about, switch back to regular speed for what I'm interested in (in this case, Deok Hwa and Reaper/Sunny story)

Definitely try it though!

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Hahaha good solution! Ever since Ep 9, i have been abusing the FF button to skip all the boring scenes then read the recap again to ensure I do not accidentally skip my favourite part. Time management yo!

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Haha, thanks for the awesome tip!! Helped me survive the recent eps!!!

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Been so curious about the Goblin hype but I just can't make myself sit through longgggggg episodes.

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I love the fact that the whole team watches Goblin.

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Dropped Night Light after 8 episodes, I tune out with all that business plot and poor Jin Gu has nothing to do in this drama.

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The only drama that i watch is night light drama. New story line with different story .love it

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And so the dreaded ending of the drama that I love will come this week. WFKBJ loved it to pieces. I don't want to expect too much for the ending. We (my and I) fear for a CITT-esque ending. I hope the writer will not throw a "We-need-to-be-apart-and-separate-for-us-to-grow". I will not mind a time skip to JY proposing to BJ and babies!
Oh Gong-Yoo, Goblin. I want to like you but, I don't know why I can't. Tried my best. Till your next drama oppa.

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I can't believe tineybeanie, a DB staff, just started watching Signal. I thought every DB staff had already. :D

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I really want to drop Goblin but I really want to watch it. I zoned out 90% of the time last episode. Maybe I should do that now and watch a bit of the intro and 10 minutes at the end. I agree it has become an Advertisement for Everything and they couldn't even make it subtle.

SIGNAL! After all the year end reviews, I too finally picked it up again from episode 5, since many months ago, and I couldn't stop. I couldn't sleep because each episode gripped my soul and wrung all the tears out of me. I think I was in the right mood. The weather was cool, and I watched it mostly at night and I when I do watch it in the day, I make sure that my room is cosy and a little dark. That ending! I want and dont want a season 2!

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This week I watched Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo and Goblin. It would be hard to find another happy pill to replace WF; I was so glad it came around. And Goblin is Goblin, the speed got better but I think the music effect is wearing off on me.

I went to watch Rogue One: A Star Wars Story in the cinema with my man. Not sure whether it was because we watched in a special 3D, but the visual was so beautiful it almost made up for all the flaws. I liked Felicity Jones in Northanger Abbey and The Theory of Everything, and in this as well. The movie was kind of sad. In a beautiful way.

Another movie I watched was The Sound of a Flower. The first half was hard to watch, I almost couldn't. In a way I understand why it wasn't received well and Suzy took all the blame. She was an easy target, while really, to me the movie was just hard to watch (plotline). Her parts were actually the highlights for me. And Kim Nam-gil's parts, maybe. Oh and it was nice to see Lee Dong-hwi and Ahn Jae-hong together again. Reply 1988 feel, yay ~

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Why are so many writers here complaining about Goblin? I don't feel it being draggy at all though...? I feel like I could use even longer episodes because I cannot get enough of it!

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After last Summer's "too many dramas to watch", I realized I'm in a drama diet with only 3 ongoing dramas.

WF: I've always liked Sung Kyung and I'm so glad she also nailed this one. I initially couldn't imagine her a weightlifter but LSK as KBJ is love. This one's going to my list of go to dramas when I feel down, tired, happy.

Hwarang: Just like some said, I was scared for Hwarang and PSJ after watching MoonLovers (i love you LJG!) but 6 episodes in, and it's still good - - plot wise, character development. That SooHo-BanRyu bromance, can't wait how it evolves. And V's so cute, his character's so appropriate fot him, as my ARMY friends say.

Father, I'll Take Care of You: it's still considered watching right, even if I only FF to Sung Joon & Dong Hui's scenes?

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Goblin is the only drama I'm currently watching, and I find every second of it wonderful. I'm even surprised that I've never used the ff button (unless it's my 4th time watching the episode), especially since I've never watched a drama without using the ff button liberally (even for my favorite SIG dramas, I must admit).

It's a bit sad how the db staff have the same complaints about Goblin week after week though. The general db mood doesn't seem particularly pro-Goblin, judging from jb and gf's recap comments and also the (often rather brutal) comments under those recaps.

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Two reasons:

1) My impression is that db recappers had high expectations about the drama but were worried about the writer's well-known flaws (long drawn out moments and meandering plot). Those fears are basically coming to fruition.
On the positive side, the writer is also known for good second lead romances (Secret Garden, DOTS) and witty banter, and that is also part of the appeal of Goblin.

2) The age gap controversy: it probably played a large part in predisposing people against the OTP from the start. If it had been a romance between an immortal goblin and a college student I bet comments would have been more positive.

(honestly, the age gap is ok with me, what I'm uncomfortable with is her complete dependency on Goblin for room and board while she has the cheek to continually ask for money, though recently she has toned it down).

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I was a little surprised when she kept asking for the money at the beginning, but when she gave the reason for the amount she was asking for in a later episode, I felt quite touched. Also, her asking for money was actually a loan, rather than waiting for handouts, considering how she paid the first installment in episode 12 using the money she earned doing part-time work.

And also, the 500 is honestly a running gag by now, along with DH's credit card and GR doing all sorts of housework.

People aren't actually caring about the age gap, since the grim reaper has just as big an age gap with Sunny. Most assume that it's a terrible ahjussi preying on an innocent 15 year old. The only time they kissed before she turned 20 by Korean measurement was when she initiated it to try to pull his sword out. And the only time Kim Shin initiated a kiss was when she turned 20, and it was the chastest kiss I'd ever seen.

I guess I'm just a bit put off by those who just fast forward ET's scenes and then proceed to talk at length about how sucky her character is. If they've actually watched the whole drama and then decided to comment on her character, then I'd be less inclined to think it was plain hating. Ah well.

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Goblin: Really liked the first couple episodes of Goblin. I liked the dreamy and comedic and melancholy tone. Thought it had lots of potential, but the pacing was too slow for me. A little too much contemplation with nothing happening. I dropped it after Episode 6.

Legends of the Blue Sea: I am really loving this and surprised more people aren't more into it. I haven't had time to watch the last couple episodes yet, but I have totally fallen for this drama. Finding it totally delightful, cute, funny and romantic. Enjoying the beauty and charisma of the leads. It is a treat to just look at. Hopefully it won't turn too tragic. The supporting characters are entertaining. No boring sub plots. The pacing is good. The story moves a long nicely and I am surprised by how funny and entertaining it is. I wasn't expecting that. I was expecting more of a serious epic tone.

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Finally, someone who is watching "Night Light" as well! T-T This show is soooo good and underrated! UEE really has stepped her acting game up with this role!

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I totally agree with the Grim Reaper part. I'm watching Goblin because of Lee Dong Wook. He's a good actor and his character as Grim Reaper will be forever in my mind. He's a gorgeous actor, too. You can say that I'm really in love with him. ??❤

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