Why do all of the itazura na kiss remakes and adaptations keep going into detail with math? If my hot math tutor in college couldn’t make me enjoy it–neither can y’all. I mean I kissed him, what are y’all bringing to the table?
…is Huan Huan. The actress plays her (and she was written) with such a mix of bravado, arrogance, bad assness, bitchiness, sassiness and vulnerability. I love that even when she KNOWS she’s gone too far and she’s more than likely in over her head–all she needs is one mother effer to challenge her and she raises to that occasion. Even when she doesn’t know WTF she’s doing she has so much pride (good and bad) that she’ll just brazen through it and deal with the consequences later.
Not one person told this child to come for Huan Huan. Didn’t she know? To quote Demi Lovato she’s effing with a savage. It didn’t have to be this way Sheng Nan. Shoulda stayed in your lane.
Eventually. They have some shiz to work out. Right now, they are frenemies with a heavy emphasis on enemies and Huan Huan has thrown down the gauntlet. Or rather, she picked it up after Sheng Nan threw it down. This show makes me CACKLE.
Zhi Shu is such a casual little shit-stirrer. The parents are in the kitchen deciding that he and Xiang Qin should get married and Xiang Qin (the one with the crush) comes bursting in and telling them to stop. Zhi Shu on the other hand is all—its our decision. And preceeds to recite a love letter that Xiang Qin wrote him and gets annoyed when she doesn’t pipe up that she has/had a crush on him.
I love those two. I remember loving the scenes in TKA where they were having problems because of his jealousy but when they resolved them she climbed him like a tree like she couldn’t touch the ground. Or at the end he sits her on his knee so he can clean off her shoe, I found that to be one of the sweetest moments in any love story
One of my favorite scenes from TKA is when she decides to be a nurse and she’s practicing something on him and their little brother pops his head in and says, “Remember there’s a minor living next door.” And another scene were Xiang Qin is jumping on their bed hitting him with a pillow and screaming, “Youre so horny!”
Really? Thats so sweet! I have never looked them up because the drama is so old. I never considered it. Now I’m going to have to look up pics of their friendship. 🙂
I don’t care how bitter Shang Nen is about some shiz that happened when they were in college, or how pissy she is that Huan Huan is a better Travel Agent/Sales Manager what-ever-the heck they do– it was incredibly shitty of her to do that at Huan Huan’s wedding. To heck with Huan Huan how could Shang Nen do that to her own Uncle And she’s just sitting there smirking into her flowers and laughing. She deserves so much more than what Huan Huan dishes out.
One of the things that I like about this drama is that everyone is painted in shades of gray. Even when they are at their petty best you get where their coming from and while their reactions are dialed up to 117 on a scale from 1-10 its the underlying feelings that keep me with them. I don’t know if the actress playing Huan Huan is just better than the actress playing Sheng Nan or what but I am never on that child’s side. Even when it seems like I should be. I will bend over backwards and fanwank myself 37 ways from Sunday to keep myself far away from siding with her.
Which makes me think of the theme song for Murphy’s Law of Love. Its my 2nd fav theme song. I do not remember AT.ALL. what this drama is about. But I love the theme song.
This is the theme song for It started with a kiss I always forget how much I love this song. Whenever I watch this drama I end up humming this theme song for weeks.
I\’m starting a rotation. An ep of ISWAK, an ep of Marry Me or Not and an ep of Kiss Me: Thai. I\’ve seen all three of these a billion times. I need a new drama (after these) 🙂
I’m in rewatch mode too – thinking I’m gonna do a Master’s Sun rewatch this week or next week (need to see if any of the new shows starting stick before I commit to this project). But am kind of feeling a TW-drama binge itch and it’s down to ISWAK or The Masked Lover.
I keep seeing The Masked Lover around. Let me know if you like it. I keep clicking on it, but the blurb doesn’t sound super appealing. But—blurbs have been wrong before.
So, because I’m obsessive I’ve been (obsessively) thinking about Naoki and whether or not he’s non demonstrative, or cold. Or something else entirely. Why yes! This is a discussion I had with myself just last week! Like I said—obsessive.
My final thought (based on two scenes over the course of 2 16 ep shows) is that—he doesn’t know how to be demonstrative. On Kotoko and Naoiki’s honeymoon he tenderly (aww) brushes her hair back and calls her honey with the most loving look on his face. He also looks incredibly awkward the entire time. The other scene after Kotoko pay’s Naoki a random visit after he moves to Kobe for work. She expects him to be angry or disappointed because she’s not living up to her end of their deal and he just holds her close and kisses her and tells her (more than once!) to pass her test as soon as possible (so that she can move in with him). He doesn’t tell her that he misses her, or that he loves her or anything. I think he just doesn’t know how to do that stuff—or he gets self-conscious doing that stuff—so he doesn’t. I need a new drama to watch, man. I just started ISWAK for like the 5th time.
He does…and I tend to over-analyze things that that I like.
I did have a good weekend, thanks. I’m an incredibly quiet and shy person (and socially awkward person) irl (and to a certain extent online as well). But, I managed to poke my head out there and meet (and network–lets see how that goes) with a bunch of new people.
I also have problems with new people, new anything really, so I’m wishing you the best. Cause that sh*t is Hard. -Mentally insert fighting gif here, lol. I still need to figure that out.
So, in the interest of *doing* things instead of just *whining* about things, I\’ve got an exo playlist going and I\’ll see you good people on Monday. Doing! Have a great weekend, Beanies 🙂
I\’m supposed to be doing things today. But, Im in love with Shin Lim. He is sarcastic and petty AF and an amazing magician and I love him. I was distracted. Oh, and beautiful inside and out it seems.
I finished LiT2. It was…satisfying. ISWAK and TKA remain my unchallenged favs. Now, after all of this fluff, I think I\’m in the mood for BtVS and Angel. (Maybe I\’ll rewatch ISWAK and BtVS together)
Thank you. I never watched it much past a certain point. I guess I was made for the short Korean drama seasons. Lol. That was my sister’s thing.. She reads fan fic. I love Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas and one of my brothers was an huge anime fan.
I didn’t watch it until the last season. The last season I spent thanksgiving at a boyfriends house and there was marathon on and I.Was.OBSESSED. I’ve read fanfiction for it. I’m not great at loving more than one thing at a time. When I started watching Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas the gal who introduced me to them was talking to a co-worker about something else that they wanted to show me and she said, “Be careful [isa] gets obsessed easily”. And I do. I typically go through bursts of loving something and move on to the next something. And I think thats why I like dramas so much because right around the time I would move on to the next thing—drama is over. Time for something new.
You know, I enjoyed both seasons equally. At certain points they (and most of the side characters) both made me stabby–but thats mostly just how I watch dramas. If I don’t want to stab someone/set them on fire, kick them firmly in the shin while wearing a pointy shoe or heavy boot–I’m not feeling it. BOF is the exception to this rule. It made me stabby but for entirely different reasons.
BOF is the exception to a lot of rules. It was my first drama,like a lot of people, I had stumbled on an interesting Japanese movie posted in parts on YouTube and was looking for more of the same when I stumbled on Jan-di saving that boy from a suicide attempt. That drama must have been everywhere because I watched it pretty close to it’s air date but had never even heard of Korean dramas before. I watched 24 episodes almost all in 10-15 min. segments. My sister still remembers me raving at length and in great detail about how stupid it was, but I watched every episode. Ha, mainly for Lee min- ho. But the good thing about starting with that is you really don’t know the average level of crazy so that the shows that come after seem reasonably realistic. So what was your introduction to dramas? And how is the stabby level for BOF different than from the rest.? I dont dispute the crazy making at all. I just wonder what did it to you. Was it Kim Bum and his sexy(not) saxophone skills?or…
Oh, BOF. This was my second drama. I discovered Dramafever because of this drama. The girl who introduced dramas to me showed me how to find the eps on youtube (10-15 min intervals) and I don’t remember what ep it was–but it wasn’t available on youtube and I went searching for it and found all of the eps in hour long formats on dramafever. Dude. I have never been so addicted, so fast, to ANYTHING in my life. I ranted, and raved at every single thing that happened on that show.
In general I’m not a person that cusses, but when I made it to that final episode and the amnesia plot rolled out, I put my computer down, looked at the girl who introduced dramas to me and said, “Are.You. Fucking kidding me right now?” She looked slightly afraid. And then I went on to rant about how Lee Min-Ho smiled at that hussy in the hospital Jan Di’s smile. There’s a smile that in the entirety of the drama LMH had ONLY given to Jan Di’s character and there he was smiling Jan Di’s smile at that hussy. HUSSY!
After rewatching it this summer I think that BOF had so much crack!drama elements in it that it wasn’t even a crack drama anymore. It was just painfully exhausting. And the actress who played Jan Di did a terrible job (and constantly did this weird thing with her mouth and chin (pained duck lips) that I could never look away from. And she always looked like she gulped down red Kool-Aid before shooting her scenes).
I’ll always love it because while I loved Coffee Prince, BOF was the drama that made me purchase a seat on the crazy train and settle on in. Who knows why. It certainly was NOT that Kim Bum. OH MY GOSH. The saxophone playing. And the dancing. And those guys were supposed to be sexy?! NOOOO Ma’am. No.However, he was the Ultimate Noona Killer in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry
I just remember being shocked at the sheer number of effed up things that happened to this girl Every Episode! It Still amazes me when I think of how much crazy they crammed in every episode . And that Hussy took the freaking cake trying to steal him away! If thoughts could kill… I just kept wondering where his Freaking Mom was then! Shed been doing her damnedest to make everybody completely miserable. And suddenly she’s going to send off her precious son off to study abroad with some chippy that just turned up one day. What the hell Mom!! Whew I still get flashbacks.
But as far as LiT goes I like the main characters in both seasons equally but the conflict in the first was more between K+I , about his predjudices concerning her and his resistence to following blindly on the path his parents had laid for him. And Kotoko realizing that loving someone (with real flaws ) is a very different prospect then crushing on someone you idolize from afar. The second season had more about people actively trying to get between them for their own reasons.
LMAO
LiT2= Love in Tokyo 2. Remake of Itazura na kiss (I am pretty sure I mangled that title–I didn’t look it up first)
ISWAK= It Started With a Kiss also a remake of Itazura na Kiss (my personal fav)
TKA= Sequel to ISWAK
KM:T= Kiss Me: Thai the Thai version of Itazrura na kiss. More of a tight adaptation than a straight remake. So—ISWAK is my fav remake and KM:T is my fav adaptation. I just decided that here and now so that they both can be my fav and I don’t have to chose (choose?) because decisions are stupid.
BtVS: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I think that was all of the acronyms I used.
For all my issue with Naoki. Is it shallow of me to find him sexy as he’ll?
Not just looks, that thing where he will never/could never feel for any but her. Hot
After they switch Yuki’s I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if they had done the same with Naoki and Kotoko. Naoki never looks like his lab coat fits him. He always looked like a little boy playing dress up to me (And then he would utter some seriously sexy lines coming from that baby face). They tried changing up Kotoko’s hair and style to make her look older and it just didn’t work for me.
I didn’t find him particularly attractive at all. I actually thought when they switched out the actors for Yuki that he was way more attractive.
But, I did love how even if he didn’t know/didn’t think to express it sometime (most of the time) he loved her. Period. One of my favorite scenes in the whole drama is on the first night of their honeymoon after Kotoko gets drunk and passes out he carries her to bed and he sits by her side and strokes her hair and calls her honey.
I think the thing that keeps me coming back to this drama–no matter the version–is I love how genuinely bewildered the genius (Naoki in this case) is to find himself in lover. Even in the above scene–he looked and sounded like he didn’t quite know what to do with the word “honey”–and he never calls her that again.
Yeah the more lover like things he says do feel a little weird coming from that baby face. Partly for me because she is so young .
I’ve always liked the brains. I was never a teen fan girl I was a late bloomer that way. But I distinctly remember watching Star Trek reruns when I was really young and having a distinct preference for Spock. And I had no patience for that slut Kirk.
But I have to admit Kin-Chan caused me some serious pangs. Good looking, adoring and just a very warm passionate person. If she hadn’t been so gone on Naoki for so long ( and despite my natural preference for the weird ones ) I totally would have jumped ship.
Going back to Naoki. I guess it makes sense for him to be a one woman man. Like the thing where he never has to study. He told Kotoko early on when he studied with her that if he sees something or reads something he knows it. He ‘ll never forget it. So when he (finally) acknowledges her place in his life, it’s an immutable fact. Unchanging. He just should have shared this little tidbit with Kotoko
So, I was watching the making of Papillion and these 5 images and subsequent screen grabs are why I love this kid. Not that a person needs a reason to love Jackson Wang. But, he’s so damn derpy. They don’t appear to be in the order I uploaded. But, oh well.
Also, sorry to post back to back like this but two different topics. Shrug. I have been listening to Ko Ko Bop and Papillion NONSTOP since yesterday.Like, watch an ep of LiT2, watch videos. Repeat. And with that being said Kai? I am HERE for all of the smirks and intense looks at the camera that this dude gives in this live performance. Look here Kpop boys. I am trying to live my life. Why do y’all keep coming for me? Honestly! Just trying to live…geeze.
Haha. Why are they doing that, right? So rude of them. 😉
Kai’s charm is devastating. By the way, have you seen the winking Power stage? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxYzQzqrKOQ
Lol. Even your daughter? Wow.
He was clearly made to dance and that’s why he shines on the stage – he’s doing what he loves. And people love seeing that. (Plus he’s handsome and attractive and stuff…) 😛
I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve been mostly immune to EXO (like I don’t even know what the letters (exo in general, and then the sub L-whatever else) mean! I’ve just been…living my life and then I watched Its Dangerous Beyond the Blankets and seriously all it took was that adorable Daniel singing along to Ko Ko Bop for about 3 seconds and then quietly fanboying out when Xiumin was his roommate to get me to listen to this song 5million and 12 times.
You made my day! I was wondering whether you’re a casual listener or a newbie.
It must be difficult to be suddenly attacked and invaded by 9 handsome Koreans.
I’m happy that you got to discover them through The Blankets! Because Xiumin is really precious (and he’s the oldest from the group!).
I guess welcome to the fandom, then! 😛 The fandom is EXO-Ls (L for love and also because it’s the letter between K and M – two subunits of EXO). We are sometimes also called Aeries (from L + ee, just like Baekhyunee).
EXO-K was for Korean promotions : Suho – the leader, Sehun – the maknae, dance line, rapper, Baekhyun – main vocalist, D.O. – vocalist, an actor (I Remember You, It’s Okay, That’s Love, movie Hyung), Kai – dance line, Chanyeol – rapper, writes his own songs.
EXO-M for Chinese promotions : Kris – leader of EXO-M, rapper, Luhan – vocals, Tao – rapper, Lay – dance line, Xiumin – vocals, rapper, Chen – main vocalist.
They all sing and dance, I just tried to point out the main role of each member.
I hope it is not too confusing. You can look up more info about members here: http://kprofiles.com/exo-members-profile/.
Kris, Luhan and Tao left EXO (2014 and Tao 2015). Lay can’t currently promote with EXO due to THAAD (at least that’s what I think). Xiumin and Chen are actually Koreans. (Kim Min Seok and Kim Jong Dae)
There is a new subunit (since 2016) EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin). Debut song Hey Mama, The One, Japanese Ka-Ching.
EXO is EXO because they come from EXOplanet. And they have superpowers (I won’t list them here, I don’t want to spam you), you can see them in their old Weekly Idol or in Knowing Brother ep 85. Or read them on kpopprofiles.
You should check out their MVs : Power, you know Ko Ko Bop, Lotto, Lucky One, Monster, Love Me Right, Call Me Baby, Overdose, Wolf, MAMA (debut song), Growl, What Is Love, For You and Miracles in December.
Then there are B-tracks (which I don’t know that well myself, since I am a few months old EXO-L): Peter Pan, Drop It, The Eve…
And there was EXO Showtime after their debut – a variety show of a kind. It’s available on kshowonline, I think.
Yup, being a fan is tough! But rewarding! 😛 Take your time with processing all of this. I didn’t want to spam too much but look at me!
Happy fangirling! 🙂
W-O-W. Oh boy. Whatever. I’m here now. Might as well jump right on in. Tomorrow is EXO day. Its deciced. Or rather Exo/block b/taeil day (I’m a bit behind on my fanning out over there) My head is a bit spinny. But I’m pretty sure its from the winks.
AND I KNEW I KNEW THAT DO FROM SOMEWHERE!! I love I Remember You. Goll that was a dang good show.
Ah, I knew you were a fan already! Block B it is. Good luck! Multifandom is fun (speaking from experience).
He was really good there, so chilling. A truly great show!
I was immune, ST immune! What is this, now. He’s freaking precious. And then there was some other guy just a-winkin’ away. Like I have it in my power to resist some catchy song as a pretty fellow winks I’m just a person! I’m weak! Fine, EXO. Come right on in. Have a seat, even. I guess I have to learn who you people are, why that one guy looks so dag on familiar (is he an ACTOR? Do I need to learn this stuff to?!) My gosh. Being a fan is so hard. What is this fandom called? My gosh. I was immune. I was immune. Next thing you know I’m going to be running around blasting freaking BTS and yammering on about its BTS day, guys! Sorry for the spam. I used to be so loyal. Now I just sign any fancard that comes in front of me. grumble, grumble, grumble.
Hahahaha im going to bed right now but I already have a list of bts and exo songs to listen to tomorrow. It was too late for me. Maybe the nect unsuspecting person can fight them off. I certainly cant. In yhe spirit of “if hes handsome hes my oppa”
Take me away, oppas. Take me away,
Haha! It’s rare and precious when you meet a fellow fan from a smaller fandom, big fandoms like EXO-Ls or ARMYs are everywhere. 🙂
I know Sicarius is Block B’s fan too, by the way. So you’re three here! (At least who I know of.)
Plus, I totally get that feeling. I got so giddy and happy when I read Isa’s rant this morning. *Yes! We’ve got another one.* 😀
Have fun at the concert!
Benefit of living alone: you can have a 30-minute conversation? Debate? Argument? Fangirl-session over the relationship between Kotoko and Naoki, the cracks in the foundation of their relationship and whether or not Kotoki should be insecure. And whether or not Naoki is emotionally not demonstrative or if he’s cold. Or something else altogether.
I could write an essay. I won’t. I mean, probably not. Although I do have all this spare time on my hands…
Its so complicated! I think that they need to have a talk about their relationship. And read that book about different love languages because they aren’t on the same page of what being in love with each other actually looks like. I don’t think Naoki is cold, I think he’s non-demonstrative. He very clearly, passionately loves his wife. And most of the time she’s completely fine with how he does (or doesn’t demonstrate it). No one in their family was surprised when he announced that he wanted to marry her. They’ve been around the two of them. I think Naoki is the most demonstrative of all the versions I’ve seen (maybe. I’m going to rewatch ISWAK, TKA and KM:T). But, it honestly doesn’t seem to occur to him that Kotoko would need or want more than what he gives her. And for the most part–she doesn’t. I do think she gets insecure because so many people have a crush on him and they have no problem telling her that she’s not good enough and that they should be with Naoki instead. And then, when she becomes friends with them (like she did with Moto-chan and Mari) because they don’t see Naoki with her when their by themselves or when their with their family they mistake nondemonstration (esp. Keita) for not liking or loving her (especially when Naoki was jealous and had no idea what to do with the emotion because he didn’t even know how to identify it until Kin-Chan delightedly pointed it out) and since they are so blunt they have no problem telling her that he doesn’t love her, like her, want to be with her.
I think Kotoko needs to be more confident–and that when Naoki sees that shiz is getting under her skin (like the business with Rika) he needs to remind Kotoko (before a blow out or drunken tears) or at least tell her that he’s aware of the full court press and he’s already shut it down.
GAAAAAH
In his defense, though, I think Naoki thought when he told Kotoko that “she should have known better” he meant it in a whole lot of different ways. He meant it the way he said it–she’s a kid. You should know better. He meant that Rika was obviously out here telling all sorts of lies–Kotoko should have known better than to listen. And as an adult, compassionate person Kotoko should have known better than to push the bratty teen. But, no matter all of that—Naoki loves Kotoko and she should have known that–she should have known better than to doubt it.
BUT IN HER DEFENSE
Rika is CLEARLY bating Kotoko and coming on to Naoki. Right in front of her. Naoki doesn’t push her away when she does it. He doesn’t shut that shiz down. He ignores it. And by ignoring Kotoko thinks that there’s some part of him that agrees that Rika (or whoever) is better for him.
This is the unending 20-30 minute conversation that I had with myself. But–condensed. Can you imagine?! Not. Sane.
No. It’s great that you can concisely line up your thought processes ( yes Bless Kin-chan for being above and beyond awesome-always) I end up rambling to myself in a circular and crazy making fashion. Just a jumble of feeeeels. You haven’t said anything I don’t agree with. That is my main stumbling block with Naoki, he doesn’t offer her the reassurance she needs so badly. It wouldn’t take much. Even though he could care less what people thinks about him. If he knows her as well as this love story implies then he knows how insecure she sometimes is. So for him not to tell some stranger/stalker to back off when their behavior is so clearly upsetting her even if he doesnt regard it upsets me. It’s his biggest fault, well after his lack of communication skills. I mean it’s no wonder she needs Something. It was a long uphill battle for her to get him to acknowledge that he cared enough to be with her, hell he damn near married another woman … sorry but I still really like them and their couplehood. I guess you could say that their newlywed problems seems more realistic since a ring doesn’t mean automatically render perfect understanding. But I guess realistic is a bit of a stretch since hes a flippin genius, and Everybody wants him. Lol. Oops I’m basically saying what you did, just more generally. But it’s nice knowing I’m not the only one who works themselves up to fever pitch over the love lives of drama characters on the regular 😁
.
No, this is the point exaclty that I was trying to get to today and I couldn’t put my finger on it. He knows her enough by now (they’ve been together for about 3 years at this point in the story so yes, he knows her and pretty dang well. Its upsetting that he knows whats bothering her and he just doesn’t care enough to nip these things in the bud before they become an issue. Like, for him–he has told her that he loves her. He married her. Its like he thinks that he’s done…there’s nothing else that he needs to do to make sure that she knows and stays sure in the knowledge that he loves her. It drives me crazy. I’m on ep 11 now, I think–where he goes to Kobe–and he kind of makes me want to kick him in the shin. He knows that she more than likely is going to react badly to his news–but he doesn’t try to break it to her gently. He doesn’t discuss it with her–just the two of them–as a couple. He doesn’t tell her why he wants her to stay behind for a year–his thought process that made him think that was a good idea. It drives me crazy that he’s smart enough to KNOW what the issues are and he know HER well enough to know how she’s going to react–but instead of communicating with her, he pinches his nose and looks down or stares off into the middle distance like her being upset is so troublesome. Quite frankly, yo, it pisses me off that I’m this close to the end of the series and Kotoko is STILL screaming at Niaki that she doesn’t feel like he loves her. he doesn’t love her, she loves him so much more. It is terrible that they’ve been married for so long and he still makes her feel like that.
Or maybe I’m wrong. I’ve never been married. Maybe married people communicate like that on the reg and I’ve been ruined by cheesy romances.
No your not wrong any one bound together like that marriage or no needs a baseline of communication you just can’t make decisions that will effect of both of you all by your lonesome. It’s unreasonable to expect another human being to Just fall in line with your decision with no discussion or explanation. I don’t give a shit what your IQ is
Yes! And this is what he does all throughout their relationship from the time he finally decides he’s ready to be with her and announces to their family that he wants to marry her and proposes to her with an offhand…”Is that ok with you?” The conversation that he had with her dad—he should have respected her enough to have that conversation with her.
But I think that by the end she gains a little more self confidence in her skills and herself and realizes that Naoki is a rock she can lean on
Full disclosure. I watched every minute of the 1st season. But I skimmed through the second season after the first several episodes for the same reasons your getting irritated now, so I got alot of the sweet without all the sour. But the payoff is never as great if you don’t see the struggle to get there. I’ve already started rewatching the 1st season. I’ll have to try to get all the second this time around. But there are To Many Dramas. Heck after reading some of the posts you and other beanies put up the other night I almost whipped out my Pride and Prejudice then and there.
Yes. I was in my pajamas and watching LiT2 and I had to take a break to go in my bedroom (it has no furniture, its the best place for this sort of discussion) having a passionatediscussion with myself about this drama. After I got dressed I had another one about the use of Fire in Fight My Way. Yeah. These happen multiple times a day. Multiple. Times. A. Day.
Hahahahaha *applauds you*
For real though I do the same thing. Especially when I’m driving. I speak in essays when I’m driving by myself hehe. Or showers and bathrooms…
Oh, I do this frequently. When I lived at home I mostly kept the crazy in my head. But, since I live alone now–I was LOUDLY having this debate with myself. I talk to myself ALOT about all sorts of things. On more than one occassion I’ll start a conversation in my car–get to where I’m going–APOLOGIZE to myself for interrupting the conversation–continue the conversation in my head while I’m doing whatever–get back in the car–APOLOGIZE to myself AGAIN for continuing the conversation quietly in my head, recap the reason why the interruption (like I wasn’t there. The whole time)–and then CONTINUE the debate. Essay. Nonsense.
I’ve made it pretty clear, I think, how much I loved ISWAK and TKA (kind of makes me a bit nervous about the rewatch I’m thinking about) and I’m really loving/liking/have strong feels for Love In Tokyo 1 and 2 but it kind of feels like a watered down (less angsty) version of ISWAK and TKA. Now, LiT 2 clocks in between 45-55 mins and TKA was 70 minutes. LiT2 is 16 eps TKA was 20. So, TKA had more time to play around and pace the storyline.
Ok. Ok. Call me crazy (for so many reasons) but, I LOVE in TKA (I don’t remember his name because I’m terrible with names) the plot line where Xiang Qin is in nursing school and becomes really close with one of her male classmates. This friendship is the one time in the entire series were Zhi Shu is nervous that he’s going to lose Xiang Qin. Oh, y’all. Those eps hurt so good. Zhi Shu has always been a cold man–thats the nature of the character–but this is the one time where he is going head to head for Xiang Qin’s affections for someone who is his complete equal–the classmate is as smart and as handsome and all the other positive adjectives that you can think PLUS he’s kind. And he’s warm. He’s the kind of person that if you put Zhi Shu up against with all things being equal–he’s going to lose. Zhi Shu is jealous for the first time, ever, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. And he handles it real.freaking.wrong. and he almost looses the love of his life.
True story: one of (maybe my absolute) fav scenes is from this time period and its when Xiang Qin’s dad punches Zhi Shu right in the freaking face.
I love how slowly this whole thing plays out. I love that the time constraints on the show gives room to tell the story of how a couple who was so in love 2 eps ago are on the verge of separating (I won’t say adultery because even though the guy confesses we ALL know that she would never cheat on Zhi Shu) but I will say considering (lightly, and for the first time ever) that there are other men out there. GALL. IT HURTS SO GOOD.
Like I said, I’m loving LiT 2–but its a shorter show. It doesn’t run as long and there are fewer eps. So, while TKA was beautifully paced–it seems like things in this version are happening really, really fast. Like Kotoko and Naoki just had a screaming fight (the first of their entire relationship) when two eps ago they had middle of the night boat sex. The problems–the cracks in the foundation–are there, but they are being rushed by so quickly that the angst and the fight and the ignoring and avoiding and all of it seems like its coming from nowhere.
Lighter mini-rant. I already mentioned how stinkin’ adorable I find this Chris to be. I will say that is one plot line that was completely rushed. I thought/hoped since they had an actual decent actress and they introduced her in the beginning of the series instead of the beginning of the end that they would take the time to pace the plot line out…NO. Not at all. First ep we meet her. She falls head over heels tbc
She falls head over heels for Kin-Chan (girl after my own heart) tells Kotoko that she is blind and has bad taste in men. And then we see her again the following ep (or the one after that) its been 6 months. She’s going back to England. We’re told (not shown) that she’s been coming to the restaurant every day to hang out with Kin-Chan and try and make him love her. The next thing we know Kotoko is throwing a fake birthday party for Kin-Chan with her two best friends for Chris and I’m sitting here like—when did they meet? Its been six months? This WHOLE thing took place 100% off screen. They tried to do a dramatic flashback as kin-Chan is running to the airport to stop Chris from leaving and they only have TWO SCENES to draw from. Now, even though the plot and the character doesn’t bother me—its weird to see them lovey dovey because 99% of their entire relationship happened off screen. Thats just bad storytelling, yo.
Lol I watched all of this series adaptations religiously, including the anime (where it all started) and read the manga. I know its the cheesiest thing ever, but my heart bleeds every time I watch this. Its my number one crack and gets me every time. Seriously every time I feel the feels all over again. Its ridiculous.
I love the anime! Its definitely more comedic although the emotions are pretty well done so it still hits right in the feels. My favorite thing about the anime is Irie Kun’s mom, oh my God is that lady freaking hilarious!! Even Kotoko’s character is funny. I specially loved the episode where no one knows she’s Irie’s wife so they all stalk him and drag her along. That episode is awesome. If you watch it I would love to hear your thoughts about how you like it. 🙂
ep 10.
This is was Naoki is a jerk: Kotoko’s insane extended family have literally made a festival of his coming to visit. They asked him for a few words and he looks around and says, “You misspelled my name. And the word “welcome”. There are too many strokes.” Look here, buddy. They are just excited to love you and welcome you into their family. Maybe remove the stick, unbend a bit and go with the flow.
We finally see my beloved Kin-Chan after 57,000 eps of him being MIA he’s literally shoved aside for Chris. Now, I love Chris. I find her delightful (even if she was shoe-horned in and that entire romance took place off screen. Whatever. I already ranted about this) but Wench. You block my Kin-Chan again and there will be PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS I SAY!!
I am typically on Kotoko’s side when she goes on her rants about Naoki–but goll. that must be exhausting to be on the other side of. This last one came pretty much out of nowhere and thats all I could think: she would be exhuasting to be married to.
And how typical of the show and the treatment of Kin-Chan and Chris. There’s an (admittedly funny) scene where he asks Naoki how he proposed to Kotoko but—the proposal takes place off screen. We see her refusal. And we see Chris (WE GOT PROBLEMS, YO. Meet me in the nearest parkinglot. Its goin’ down! Violence!) and Kotoko have a lame conversation. But the actual relationship between Kin-Chan and Chris? Nope.
isa
September 18, 2017 at 10:13 PM
Why do all of the itazura na kiss remakes and adaptations keep going into detail with math? If my hot math tutor in college couldn’t make me enjoy it–neither can y’all. I mean I kissed him, what are y’all bringing to the table?
isa
September 18, 2017 at 7:59 PM
One of the many things I love about this drama….
isa
September 18, 2017 at 8:01 PM
…is Huan Huan. The actress plays her (and she was written) with such a mix of bravado, arrogance, bad assness, bitchiness, sassiness and vulnerability. I love that even when she KNOWS she’s gone too far and she’s more than likely in over her head–all she needs is one mother effer to challenge her and she raises to that occasion. Even when she doesn’t know WTF she’s doing she has so much pride (good and bad) that she’ll just brazen through it and deal with the consequences later.
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 8:13 PM
I watched a drama with him, Miss Rose I think but I quit when I realized the only thing that kept my interest was his eyelashes.
isa
September 18, 2017 at 8:49 PM
I’ve seen this. It has Megan Lai from Bromance in it. I liked it, but this is BY FAR my favorite of the three dramas I’ve seen him in.
isa
September 18, 2017 at 7:23 PM
Not one person told this child to come for Huan Huan. Didn’t she know? To quote Demi Lovato she’s effing with a savage. It didn’t have to be this way Sheng Nan. Shoulda stayed in your lane.
spazmo
September 18, 2017 at 7:43 PM
weren’t these two FRIENDS in Marry Me or Not?
isa
September 18, 2017 at 7:51 PM
Eventually. They have some shiz to work out. Right now, they are frenemies with a heavy emphasis on enemies and Huan Huan has thrown down the gauntlet. Or rather, she picked it up after Sheng Nan threw it down. This show makes me CACKLE.
isa
September 18, 2017 at 5:24 PM
Do you know, as much as I love Tae Swoon and youth romances and Noona romances–I love watching adults fall in love.
librarianerin
September 18, 2017 at 6:10 PM
Me too. Though I often trend towards youth romances, I think because I’m able to tolerate more idiocy in the young 😂
isa
September 18, 2017 at 2:37 PM
Zhi Shu is such a casual little shit-stirrer. The parents are in the kitchen deciding that he and Xiang Qin should get married and Xiang Qin (the one with the crush) comes bursting in and telling them to stop. Zhi Shu on the other hand is all—its our decision. And preceeds to recite a love letter that Xiang Qin wrote him and gets annoyed when she doesn’t pipe up that she has/had a crush on him.
modernflapper
September 18, 2017 at 4:53 PM
I loved that series. <3
purplesheesh
September 18, 2017 at 7:38 PM
Hahahahaha! ArJoe is my childhood OTP!
isa
September 18, 2017 at 1:45 PM
I now want to hear this in a drama, plz. Kthx
sicarius
September 18, 2017 at 2:15 PM
I love this song.
isa
September 18, 2017 at 2:35 PM
So. Do. I.
sicarius
September 18, 2017 at 5:17 PM
The greek version is really cool too 😉
librarianerin
September 18, 2017 at 3:59 PM
Love. This. It would work for so many dramas too!
QueenM19
September 18, 2017 at 4:55 PM
It HAS to be pictured against someone that can stand up to Megara or I won’t be satisfied! She’s like one of the BEST Disney heroines ever created 🙂
isa
September 18, 2017 at 1:44 PM
Look at him trying to physically wipe the smile away. Check the grin, dude, you’re in love. (Or at least in the early stages of smitten.
Jrr
September 18, 2017 at 1:54 PM
AWW, my Joe Cheng in his most well known role. <3
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 2:10 PM
I love those two. I remember loving the scenes in TKA where they were having problems because of his jealousy but when they resolved them she climbed him like a tree like she couldn’t touch the ground. Or at the end he sits her on his knee so he can clean off her shoe, I found that to be one of the sweetest moments in any love story
isa
September 18, 2017 at 2:22 PM
One of my favorite scenes from TKA is when she decides to be a nurse and she’s practicing something on him and their little brother pops his head in and says, “Remember there’s a minor living next door.” And another scene were Xiang Qin is jumping on their bed hitting him with a pillow and screaming, “Youre so horny!”
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 3:28 PM
Ha, ha, whatever problems he has expressing himself verbally doesn’t carry over physically, that’s for sure!
purplesheesh
September 18, 2017 at 7:40 PM
Hahahahahaha! YESSSS! So real. Their chemistry is sizzling! I love how they still managed to stay friends til now. <3
isa
September 18, 2017 at 7:49 PM
Really? Thats so sweet! I have never looked them up because the drama is so old. I never considered it. Now I’m going to have to look up pics of their friendship. 🙂
isa
September 17, 2017 at 9:00 PM
I don’t even care what shady and ridiculous things she does. I’ll defend her to the death. I love this girl. In all her hot messiness.
SnarkyJellyfish
September 17, 2017 at 9:32 PM
The fact that she owned her bitchiness made her one of my favorite characters ever.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 9:35 PM
I don’t care how bitter Shang Nen is about some shiz that happened when they were in college, or how pissy she is that Huan Huan is a better Travel Agent/Sales Manager what-ever-the heck they do– it was incredibly shitty of her to do that at Huan Huan’s wedding. To heck with Huan Huan how could Shang Nen do that to her own Uncle And she’s just sitting there smirking into her flowers and laughing. She deserves so much more than what Huan Huan dishes out.
One of the things that I like about this drama is that everyone is painted in shades of gray. Even when they are at their petty best you get where their coming from and while their reactions are dialed up to 117 on a scale from 1-10 its the underlying feelings that keep me with them. I don’t know if the actress playing Huan Huan is just better than the actress playing Sheng Nan or what but I am never on that child’s side. Even when it seems like I should be. I will bend over backwards and fanwank myself 37 ways from Sunday to keep myself far away from siding with her.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 6:29 PM
Which makes me think of the theme song for Murphy’s Law of Love. Its my 2nd fav theme song. I do not remember AT.ALL. what this drama is about. But I love the theme song.
SnarkyJellyfish
September 17, 2017 at 6:32 PM
This is one of the few themes I rarely skipped past.
librarianerin
September 17, 2017 at 7:19 PM
This theme kept me going when the dreams jumped the shark.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 6:27 PM
This is the theme song for It started with a kiss I always forget how much I love this song. Whenever I watch this drama I end up humming this theme song for weeks.
librarianerin
September 17, 2017 at 7:20 PM
Double yes!
isa
September 17, 2017 at 4:43 PM
I\’m starting a rotation. An ep of ISWAK, an ep of Marry Me or Not and an ep of Kiss Me: Thai. I\’ve seen all three of these a billion times. I need a new drama (after these) 🙂
redfox
September 17, 2017 at 4:50 PM
spin the bottle game for dramas?
isa
September 17, 2017 at 6:13 PM
Yes. YES! I need…lets see…12 dramas? And a bottle. Where ever the bottle lands thats the drama I’ll watch.
SnarkyJellyfish
September 17, 2017 at 6:12 PM
I’m in rewatch mode too – thinking I’m gonna do a Master’s Sun rewatch this week or next week (need to see if any of the new shows starting stick before I commit to this project). But am kind of feeling a TW-drama binge itch and it’s down to ISWAK or The Masked Lover.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 6:31 PM
I keep seeing The Masked Lover around. Let me know if you like it. I keep clicking on it, but the blurb doesn’t sound super appealing. But—blurbs have been wrong before.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 4:35 PM
So, because I’m obsessive I’ve been (obsessively) thinking about Naoki and whether or not he’s non demonstrative, or cold. Or something else entirely. Why yes! This is a discussion I had with myself just last week! Like I said—obsessive.
isa
September 17, 2017 at 4:35 PM
My final thought (based on two scenes over the course of 2 16 ep shows) is that—he doesn’t know how to be demonstrative. On Kotoko and Naoiki’s honeymoon he tenderly (aww) brushes her hair back and calls her honey with the most loving look on his face. He also looks incredibly awkward the entire time. The other scene after Kotoko pay’s Naoki a random visit after he moves to Kobe for work. She expects him to be angry or disappointed because she’s not living up to her end of their deal and he just holds her close and kisses her and tells her (more than once!) to pass her test as soon as possible (so that she can move in with him). He doesn’t tell her that he misses her, or that he loves her or anything. I think he just doesn’t know how to do that stuff—or he gets self-conscious doing that stuff—so he doesn’t. I need a new drama to watch, man. I just started ISWAK for like the 5th time.
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 1:57 PM
I wish I could recommend something . But if you’re in a romance mood I can’t think of any that would beat what your currently watching.
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 2:04 PM
Naoki does stick with you.
On a side note I hope your weekend went as well as you were hoping
isa
September 18, 2017 at 2:58 PM
He does…and I tend to over-analyze things that that I like.
I did have a good weekend, thanks. I’m an incredibly quiet and shy person (and socially awkward person) irl (and to a certain extent online as well). But, I managed to poke my head out there and meet (and network–lets see how that goes) with a bunch of new people.
Katrina
September 18, 2017 at 3:26 PM
I also have problems with new people, new anything really, so I’m wishing you the best. Cause that sh*t is Hard. -Mentally insert fighting gif here, lol. I still need to figure that out.
isa
September 15, 2017 at 11:03 AM
So, in the interest of *doing* things instead of just *whining* about things, I\’ve got an exo playlist going and I\’ll see you good people on Monday. Doing! Have a great weekend, Beanies 🙂
isa
September 15, 2017 at 10:21 AM
I\’m supposed to be doing things today. But, Im in love with Shin Lim. He is sarcastic and petty AF and an amazing magician and I love him. I was distracted. Oh, and beautiful inside and out it seems.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 10:44 PM
I finished LiT2. It was…satisfying. ISWAK and TKA remain my unchallenged favs. Now, after all of this fluff, I think I\’m in the mood for BtVS and Angel. (Maybe I\’ll rewatch ISWAK and BtVS together)
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 11:03 PM
I hope the good outweighed the bad in the second season.
What is BtVS ?
isa
September 14, 2017 at 11:08 PM
Buffy the Vampire Slayer. All of the fluff made me want to watch a tiny blond kick vampire butt. And then fall prey to the fluff there too…Hmm.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 11:18 PM
Thank you. I never watched it much past a certain point. I guess I was made for the short Korean drama seasons. Lol. That was my sister’s thing.. She reads fan fic. I love Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas and one of my brothers was an huge anime fan.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 11:24 PM
I didn’t watch it until the last season. The last season I spent thanksgiving at a boyfriends house and there was marathon on and I.Was.OBSESSED. I’ve read fanfiction for it. I’m not great at loving more than one thing at a time. When I started watching Korean, Japanese and Taiwanese dramas the gal who introduced me to them was talking to a co-worker about something else that they wanted to show me and she said, “Be careful [isa] gets obsessed easily”. And I do. I typically go through bursts of loving something and move on to the next something. And I think thats why I like dramas so much because right around the time I would move on to the next thing—drama is over. Time for something new.
isa
September 15, 2017 at 12:32 AM
Comment was deleted
isa
September 15, 2017 at 12:34 AM
You know, I enjoyed both seasons equally. At certain points they (and most of the side characters) both made me stabby–but thats mostly just how I watch dramas. If I don’t want to stab someone/set them on fire, kick them firmly in the shin while wearing a pointy shoe or heavy boot–I’m not feeling it. BOF is the exception to this rule. It made me stabby but for entirely different reasons.
Katrina
September 15, 2017 at 4:03 AM
BOF is the exception to a lot of rules. It was my first drama,like a lot of people, I had stumbled on an interesting Japanese movie posted in parts on YouTube and was looking for more of the same when I stumbled on Jan-di saving that boy from a suicide attempt. That drama must have been everywhere because I watched it pretty close to it’s air date but had never even heard of Korean dramas before. I watched 24 episodes almost all in 10-15 min. segments. My sister still remembers me raving at length and in great detail about how stupid it was, but I watched every episode. Ha, mainly for Lee min- ho. But the good thing about starting with that is you really don’t know the average level of crazy so that the shows that come after seem reasonably realistic. So what was your introduction to dramas? And how is the stabby level for BOF different than from the rest.? I dont dispute the crazy making at all. I just wonder what did it to you. Was it Kim Bum and his sexy(not) saxophone skills?or…
isa
September 15, 2017 at 9:11 AM
Oh, BOF. This was my second drama. I discovered Dramafever because of this drama. The girl who introduced dramas to me showed me how to find the eps on youtube (10-15 min intervals) and I don’t remember what ep it was–but it wasn’t available on youtube and I went searching for it and found all of the eps in hour long formats on dramafever. Dude. I have never been so addicted, so fast, to ANYTHING in my life. I ranted, and raved at every single thing that happened on that show.
In general I’m not a person that cusses, but when I made it to that final episode and the amnesia plot rolled out, I put my computer down, looked at the girl who introduced dramas to me and said, “Are.You. Fucking kidding me right now?” She looked slightly afraid. And then I went on to rant about how Lee Min-Ho smiled at that hussy in the hospital Jan Di’s smile. There’s a smile that in the entirety of the drama LMH had ONLY given to Jan Di’s character and there he was smiling Jan Di’s smile at that hussy. HUSSY!
After rewatching it this summer I think that BOF had so much crack!drama elements in it that it wasn’t even a crack drama anymore. It was just painfully exhausting. And the actress who played Jan Di did a terrible job (and constantly did this weird thing with her mouth and chin (pained duck lips) that I could never look away from. And she always looked like she gulped down red Kool-Aid before shooting her scenes).
I’ll always love it because while I loved Coffee Prince, BOF was the drama that made me purchase a seat on the crazy train and settle on in. Who knows why. It certainly was NOT that Kim Bum. OH MY GOSH. The saxophone playing. And the dancing. And those guys were supposed to be sexy?! NOOOO Ma’am. No.However, he was the Ultimate Noona Killer in The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry
Katrina
September 15, 2017 at 10:04 AM
I just remember being shocked at the sheer number of effed up things that happened to this girl Every Episode! It Still amazes me when I think of how much crazy they crammed in every episode . And that Hussy took the freaking cake trying to steal him away! If thoughts could kill… I just kept wondering where his Freaking Mom was then! Shed been doing her damnedest to make everybody completely miserable. And suddenly she’s going to send off her precious son off to study abroad with some chippy that just turned up one day. What the hell Mom!! Whew I still get flashbacks.
isa
September 15, 2017 at 10:18 AM
Boys Over Flower: still inducing rage all this time later.
Katrina
September 15, 2017 at 4:29 AM
But as far as LiT goes I like the main characters in both seasons equally but the conflict in the first was more between K+I , about his predjudices concerning her and his resistence to following blindly on the path his parents had laid for him. And Kotoko realizing that loving someone (with real flaws ) is a very different prospect then crushing on someone you idolize from afar. The second season had more about people actively trying to get between them for their own reasons.
redfox
September 15, 2017 at 12:18 AM
you know, even though I just had a decoding workshop, I don´t understand a word you just said LOL
isa
September 15, 2017 at 12:32 AM
LMAO
LiT2= Love in Tokyo 2. Remake of Itazura na kiss (I am pretty sure I mangled that title–I didn’t look it up first)
ISWAK= It Started With a Kiss also a remake of Itazura na Kiss (my personal fav)
TKA= Sequel to ISWAK
KM:T= Kiss Me: Thai the Thai version of Itazrura na kiss. More of a tight adaptation than a straight remake. So—ISWAK is my fav remake and KM:T is my fav adaptation. I just decided that here and now so that they both can be my fav and I don’t have to chose (choose?) because decisions are stupid.
BtVS: Buffy the Vampire Slayer
I think that was all of the acronyms I used.
Rainbow Unicorn
September 15, 2017 at 3:00 AM
Wow! You sure are a thorough and committed fan.. covering all and every adaptation..!
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:51 PM
Oh my gosh. The genuine horror, shock and appall on her fathers face…!
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 7:52 PM
She comes by it naturally
isa
September 14, 2017 at 8:03 PM
It took me a second to notice, but when I did–I rewound this scene half a dozen times. Oh my gosh. It was hilarious.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 8:27 PM
For all my issue with Naoki. Is it shallow of me to find him sexy as he’ll?
Not just looks, that thing where he will never/could never feel for any but her. Hot
modernflapper
September 15, 2017 at 8:24 AM
I just wish the actress was older.
isa
September 15, 2017 at 9:00 AM
After they switch Yuki’s I couldn’t help but wonder what it would have been like if they had done the same with Naoki and Kotoko. Naoki never looks like his lab coat fits him. He always looked like a little boy playing dress up to me (And then he would utter some seriously sexy lines coming from that baby face). They tried changing up Kotoko’s hair and style to make her look older and it just didn’t work for me.
isa
September 15, 2017 at 8:58 AM
I didn’t find him particularly attractive at all. I actually thought when they switched out the actors for Yuki that he was way more attractive.
But, I did love how even if he didn’t know/didn’t think to express it sometime (most of the time) he loved her. Period. One of my favorite scenes in the whole drama is on the first night of their honeymoon after Kotoko gets drunk and passes out he carries her to bed and he sits by her side and strokes her hair and calls her honey.
I think the thing that keeps me coming back to this drama–no matter the version–is I love how genuinely bewildered the genius (Naoki in this case) is to find himself in lover. Even in the above scene–he looked and sounded like he didn’t quite know what to do with the word “honey”–and he never calls her that again.
Katrina
September 15, 2017 at 9:39 AM
Yeah the more lover like things he says do feel a little weird coming from that baby face. Partly for me because she is so young .
I’ve always liked the brains. I was never a teen fan girl I was a late bloomer that way. But I distinctly remember watching Star Trek reruns when I was really young and having a distinct preference for Spock. And I had no patience for that slut Kirk.
But I have to admit Kin-Chan caused me some serious pangs. Good looking, adoring and just a very warm passionate person. If she hadn’t been so gone on Naoki for so long ( and despite my natural preference for the weird ones ) I totally would have jumped ship.
Katrina
September 15, 2017 at 9:50 AM
Going back to Naoki. I guess it makes sense for him to be a one woman man. Like the thing where he never has to study. He told Kotoko early on when he studied with her that if he sees something or reads something he knows it. He ‘ll never forget it. So when he (finally) acknowledges her place in his life, it’s an immutable fact. Unchanging. He just should have shared this little tidbit with Kotoko
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:25 PM
So, I was watching the making of Papillion and these 5 images and subsequent screen grabs are why I love this kid. Not that a person needs a reason to love Jackson Wang. But, he’s so damn derpy. They don’t appear to be in the order I uploaded. But, oh well.
sicarius
September 14, 2017 at 4:33 PM
Jackson Wang will always make me smile.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 1:24 PM
Also, sorry to post back to back like this but two different topics. Shrug. I have been listening to Ko Ko Bop and Papillion NONSTOP since yesterday.Like, watch an ep of LiT2, watch videos. Repeat. And with that being said Kai? I am HERE for all of the smirks and intense looks at the camera that this dude gives in this live performance. Look here Kpop boys. I am trying to live my life. Why do y’all keep coming for me? Honestly! Just trying to live…geeze.
ST
September 14, 2017 at 1:40 PM
Haha. Why are they doing that, right? So rude of them. 😉
Kai’s charm is devastating. By the way, have you seen the winking Power stage?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxYzQzqrKOQ
librarianerin
September 14, 2017 at 2:31 PM
I was going to comment the same thing 🙂
Seriously, though, even my 4-yr-old daughter loves Kai.
ST
September 14, 2017 at 2:43 PM
Lol. Even your daughter? Wow.
He was clearly made to dance and that’s why he shines on the stage – he’s doing what he loves. And people love seeing that. (Plus he’s handsome and attractive and stuff…) 😛
isa
September 14, 2017 at 3:49 PM
I haven’t seen it yet. I’ve been mostly immune to EXO (like I don’t even know what the letters (exo in general, and then the sub L-whatever else) mean! I’ve just been…living my life and then I watched Its Dangerous Beyond the Blankets and seriously all it took was that adorable Daniel singing along to Ko Ko Bop for about 3 seconds and then quietly fanboying out when Xiumin was his roommate to get me to listen to this song 5million and 12 times.
ST
September 15, 2017 at 12:13 AM
You made my day! I was wondering whether you’re a casual listener or a newbie.
It must be difficult to be suddenly attacked and invaded by 9 handsome Koreans.
I’m happy that you got to discover them through The Blankets! Because Xiumin is really precious (and he’s the oldest from the group!).
I guess welcome to the fandom, then! 😛 The fandom is EXO-Ls (L for love and also because it’s the letter between K and M – two subunits of EXO). We are sometimes also called Aeries (from L + ee, just like Baekhyunee).
EXO-K was for Korean promotions : Suho – the leader, Sehun – the maknae, dance line, rapper, Baekhyun – main vocalist, D.O. – vocalist, an actor (I Remember You, It’s Okay, That’s Love, movie Hyung), Kai – dance line, Chanyeol – rapper, writes his own songs.
EXO-M for Chinese promotions : Kris – leader of EXO-M, rapper, Luhan – vocals, Tao – rapper, Lay – dance line, Xiumin – vocals, rapper, Chen – main vocalist.
They all sing and dance, I just tried to point out the main role of each member.
I hope it is not too confusing. You can look up more info about members here: http://kprofiles.com/exo-members-profile/.
Kris, Luhan and Tao left EXO (2014 and Tao 2015). Lay can’t currently promote with EXO due to THAAD (at least that’s what I think). Xiumin and Chen are actually Koreans. (Kim Min Seok and Kim Jong Dae)
There is a new subunit (since 2016) EXO-CBX (Chen, Baekhyun, Xiumin). Debut song Hey Mama, The One, Japanese Ka-Ching.
EXO is EXO because they come from EXOplanet. And they have superpowers (I won’t list them here, I don’t want to spam you), you can see them in their old Weekly Idol or in Knowing Brother ep 85. Or read them on kpopprofiles.
You should check out their MVs : Power, you know Ko Ko Bop, Lotto, Lucky One, Monster, Love Me Right, Call Me Baby, Overdose, Wolf, MAMA (debut song), Growl, What Is Love, For You and Miracles in December.
Then there are B-tracks (which I don’t know that well myself, since I am a few months old EXO-L): Peter Pan, Drop It, The Eve…
And there was EXO Showtime after their debut – a variety show of a kind. It’s available on kshowonline, I think.
Yup, being a fan is tough! But rewarding! 😛 Take your time with processing all of this. I didn’t want to spam too much but look at me!
Happy fangirling! 🙂
isa
September 15, 2017 at 12:26 AM
W-O-W. Oh boy. Whatever. I’m here now. Might as well jump right on in. Tomorrow is EXO day. Its deciced. Or rather Exo/block b/taeil day (I’m a bit behind on my fanning out over there) My head is a bit spinny. But I’m pretty sure its from the winks.
AND I KNEW I KNEW THAT DO FROM SOMEWHERE!! I love I Remember You. Goll that was a dang good show.
ST
September 15, 2017 at 12:58 AM
Ah, I knew you were a fan already! Block B it is. Good luck! Multifandom is fun (speaking from experience).
He was really good there, so chilling. A truly great show!
ST
September 15, 2017 at 12:16 AM
Sorry, that’s really long. What can I do? The inner fangirl in me was woken up! *Runs away to listen to more EXO songs.*
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:48 PM
I was immune, ST immune! What is this, now. He’s freaking precious. And then there was some other guy just a-winkin’ away. Like I have it in my power to resist some catchy song as a pretty fellow winks I’m just a person! I’m weak! Fine, EXO. Come right on in. Have a seat, even. I guess I have to learn who you people are, why that one guy looks so dag on familiar (is he an ACTOR? Do I need to learn this stuff to?!) My gosh. Being a fan is so hard. What is this fandom called? My gosh. I was immune. I was immune. Next thing you know I’m going to be running around blasting freaking BTS and yammering on about its BTS day, guys! Sorry for the spam. I used to be so loyal. Now I just sign any fancard that comes in front of me. grumble, grumble, grumble.
wakimary
September 14, 2017 at 9:03 PM
Well I can only say “good luck trying to resist @isthatacorner those Kpop boys” cause I really really tried..😅
ST
September 14, 2017 at 11:36 PM
Didn’t we all? 😛
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 1:18 AM
well maybe Isa will succeed? 😉
ST
September 15, 2017 at 1:48 AM
Well, from her last post… Doesn’t seem like that. 😀 (And I’m not really helping.) Plus, she’s already Block B’s fan. So…
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 6:13 AM
I seriously got giddy when Isa fangirled over Block B.I rarely meet Block B fans online
isa
September 15, 2017 at 1:49 AM
Hahahaha im going to bed right now but I already have a list of bts and exo songs to listen to tomorrow. It was too late for me. Maybe the nect unsuspecting person can fight them off. I certainly cant. In yhe spirit of “if hes handsome hes my oppa”
Take me away, oppas. Take me away,
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 6:12 AM
That’s it,dont prolong the struggle hahaha
ST
September 15, 2017 at 6:22 AM
Go for it! 😛
ST
September 15, 2017 at 6:27 AM
Haha! It’s rare and precious when you meet a fellow fan from a smaller fandom, big fandoms like EXO-Ls or ARMYs are everywhere. 🙂
I know Sicarius is Block B’s fan too, by the way. So you’re three here! (At least who I know of.)
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 6:41 AM
Comment was deleted
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 6:42 AM
Yup Sicarius and Kaybee too are Block B fans.
I usually chat with them plus @obsessedmuch about kpop/k-music.
ST
September 15, 2017 at 6:33 AM
Plus, I totally get that feeling. I got so giddy and happy when I read Isa’s rant this morning. *Yes! We’ve got another one.* 😀
Have fun at the concert!
wakimary
September 15, 2017 at 6:43 AM
thank you! I will happily get tired and scream tomorrow.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 1:14 PM
Benefit of living alone: you can have a 30-minute conversation? Debate? Argument? Fangirl-session over the relationship between Kotoko and Naoki, the cracks in the foundation of their relationship and whether or not Kotoki should be insecure. And whether or not Naoki is emotionally not demonstrative or if he’s cold. Or something else altogether.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 1:47 PM
So what did you come up with?
Right after I finished it I was still giddy over Naokis face when he 1st saw Kotoko in her wedding dress
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:05 PM
I could write an essay. I won’t. I mean, probably not. Although I do have all this spare time on my hands…
Its so complicated! I think that they need to have a talk about their relationship. And read that book about different love languages because they aren’t on the same page of what being in love with each other actually looks like. I don’t think Naoki is cold, I think he’s non-demonstrative. He very clearly, passionately loves his wife. And most of the time she’s completely fine with how he does (or doesn’t demonstrate it). No one in their family was surprised when he announced that he wanted to marry her. They’ve been around the two of them. I think Naoki is the most demonstrative of all the versions I’ve seen (maybe. I’m going to rewatch ISWAK, TKA and KM:T). But, it honestly doesn’t seem to occur to him that Kotoko would need or want more than what he gives her. And for the most part–she doesn’t. I do think she gets insecure because so many people have a crush on him and they have no problem telling her that she’s not good enough and that they should be with Naoki instead. And then, when she becomes friends with them (like she did with Moto-chan and Mari) because they don’t see Naoki with her when their by themselves or when their with their family they mistake nondemonstration (esp. Keita) for not liking or loving her (especially when Naoki was jealous and had no idea what to do with the emotion because he didn’t even know how to identify it until Kin-Chan delightedly pointed it out) and since they are so blunt they have no problem telling her that he doesn’t love her, like her, want to be with her.
I think Kotoko needs to be more confident–and that when Naoki sees that shiz is getting under her skin (like the business with Rika) he needs to remind Kotoko (before a blow out or drunken tears) or at least tell her that he’s aware of the full court press and he’s already shut it down.
GAAAAAH
In his defense, though, I think Naoki thought when he told Kotoko that “she should have known better” he meant it in a whole lot of different ways. He meant it the way he said it–she’s a kid. You should know better. He meant that Rika was obviously out here telling all sorts of lies–Kotoko should have known better than to listen. And as an adult, compassionate person Kotoko should have known better than to push the bratty teen. But, no matter all of that—Naoki loves Kotoko and she should have known that–she should have known better than to doubt it.
BUT IN HER DEFENSE
Rika is CLEARLY bating Kotoko and coming on to Naoki. Right in front of her. Naoki doesn’t push her away when she does it. He doesn’t shut that shiz down. He ignores it. And by ignoring Kotoko thinks that there’s some part of him that agrees that Rika (or whoever) is better for him.
This is the unending 20-30 minute conversation that I had with myself. But–condensed. Can you imagine?! Not. Sane.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 6:23 PM
No. It’s great that you can concisely line up your thought processes ( yes Bless Kin-chan for being above and beyond awesome-always) I end up rambling to myself in a circular and crazy making fashion. Just a jumble of feeeeels. You haven’t said anything I don’t agree with. That is my main stumbling block with Naoki, he doesn’t offer her the reassurance she needs so badly. It wouldn’t take much. Even though he could care less what people thinks about him. If he knows her as well as this love story implies then he knows how insecure she sometimes is. So for him not to tell some stranger/stalker to back off when their behavior is so clearly upsetting her even if he doesnt regard it upsets me. It’s his biggest fault, well after his lack of communication skills. I mean it’s no wonder she needs Something. It was a long uphill battle for her to get him to acknowledge that he cared enough to be with her, hell he damn near married another woman … sorry but I still really like them and their couplehood. I guess you could say that their newlywed problems seems more realistic since a ring doesn’t mean automatically render perfect understanding. But I guess realistic is a bit of a stretch since hes a flippin genius, and Everybody wants him. Lol. Oops I’m basically saying what you did, just more generally. But it’s nice knowing I’m not the only one who works themselves up to fever pitch over the love lives of drama characters on the regular 😁
.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 6:36 PM
No, this is the point exaclty that I was trying to get to today and I couldn’t put my finger on it. He knows her enough by now (they’ve been together for about 3 years at this point in the story so yes, he knows her and pretty dang well. Its upsetting that he knows whats bothering her and he just doesn’t care enough to nip these things in the bud before they become an issue. Like, for him–he has told her that he loves her. He married her. Its like he thinks that he’s done…there’s nothing else that he needs to do to make sure that she knows and stays sure in the knowledge that he loves her. It drives me crazy. I’m on ep 11 now, I think–where he goes to Kobe–and he kind of makes me want to kick him in the shin. He knows that she more than likely is going to react badly to his news–but he doesn’t try to break it to her gently. He doesn’t discuss it with her–just the two of them–as a couple. He doesn’t tell her why he wants her to stay behind for a year–his thought process that made him think that was a good idea. It drives me crazy that he’s smart enough to KNOW what the issues are and he know HER well enough to know how she’s going to react–but instead of communicating with her, he pinches his nose and looks down or stares off into the middle distance like her being upset is so troublesome. Quite frankly, yo, it pisses me off that I’m this close to the end of the series and Kotoko is STILL screaming at Niaki that she doesn’t feel like he loves her. he doesn’t love her, she loves him so much more. It is terrible that they’ve been married for so long and he still makes her feel like that.
Or maybe I’m wrong. I’ve never been married. Maybe married people communicate like that on the reg and I’ve been ruined by cheesy romances.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 6:46 PM
No your not wrong any one bound together like that marriage or no needs a baseline of communication you just can’t make decisions that will effect of both of you all by your lonesome. It’s unreasonable to expect another human being to Just fall in line with your decision with no discussion or explanation. I don’t give a shit what your IQ is
isa
September 14, 2017 at 6:56 PM
Yes! And this is what he does all throughout their relationship from the time he finally decides he’s ready to be with her and announces to their family that he wants to marry her and proposes to her with an offhand…”Is that ok with you?” The conversation that he had with her dad—he should have respected her enough to have that conversation with her.
Katrina
September 14, 2017 at 6:58 PM
But I think that by the end she gains a little more self confidence in her skills and herself and realizes that Naoki is a rock she can lean on
Full disclosure. I watched every minute of the 1st season. But I skimmed through the second season after the first several episodes for the same reasons your getting irritated now, so I got alot of the sweet without all the sour. But the payoff is never as great if you don’t see the struggle to get there. I’ve already started rewatching the 1st season. I’ll have to try to get all the second this time around. But there are To Many Dramas. Heck after reading some of the posts you and other beanies put up the other night I almost whipped out my Pride and Prejudice then and there.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 7:14 PM
Its both the good and the bad of the Fan Wall. I’ve watched so many things because of the force of beanie love.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 8:06 PM
Oh, and I’m not annoyed at all. I’m still enjoying every bit of it. Its a good dorama (thats what they are called in Japan, right?)
sicarius
September 14, 2017 at 3:06 PM
Like, with yourself? I approve hahaha *also talks to herself*
isa
September 14, 2017 at 3:52 PM
Yes. I was in my pajamas and watching LiT2 and I had to take a break to go in my bedroom (it has no furniture, its the best place for this sort of discussion) having a passionatediscussion with myself about this drama. After I got dressed I had another one about the use of Fire in Fight My Way. Yeah. These happen multiple times a day. Multiple. Times. A. Day.
sicarius
September 14, 2017 at 3:57 PM
Hahahahaha *applauds you*
For real though I do the same thing. Especially when I’m driving. I speak in essays when I’m driving by myself hehe. Or showers and bathrooms…
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:10 PM
Oh, I do this frequently. When I lived at home I mostly kept the crazy in my head. But, since I live alone now–I was LOUDLY having this debate with myself. I talk to myself ALOT about all sorts of things. On more than one occassion I’ll start a conversation in my car–get to where I’m going–APOLOGIZE to myself for interrupting the conversation–continue the conversation in my head while I’m doing whatever–get back in the car–APOLOGIZE to myself AGAIN for continuing the conversation quietly in my head, recap the reason why the interruption (like I wasn’t there. The whole time)–and then CONTINUE the debate. Essay. Nonsense.
sicarius
September 14, 2017 at 4:35 PM
Hahahaha oh yes, all of this.
isa
September 13, 2017 at 10:34 PM
The joy and pain of a shorter series (a mini? rant) Don\’t mind me, y\’all. I have too many feels.
isa
September 13, 2017 at 10:50 PM
I’ve made it pretty clear, I think, how much I loved ISWAK and TKA (kind of makes me a bit nervous about the rewatch I’m thinking about) and I’m really loving/liking/have strong feels for Love In Tokyo 1 and 2 but it kind of feels like a watered down (less angsty) version of ISWAK and TKA. Now, LiT 2 clocks in between 45-55 mins and TKA was 70 minutes. LiT2 is 16 eps TKA was 20. So, TKA had more time to play around and pace the storyline.
Ok. Ok. Call me crazy (for so many reasons) but, I LOVE in TKA (I don’t remember his name because I’m terrible with names) the plot line where Xiang Qin is in nursing school and becomes really close with one of her male classmates. This friendship is the one time in the entire series were Zhi Shu is nervous that he’s going to lose Xiang Qin. Oh, y’all. Those eps hurt so good. Zhi Shu has always been a cold man–thats the nature of the character–but this is the one time where he is going head to head for Xiang Qin’s affections for someone who is his complete equal–the classmate is as smart and as handsome and all the other positive adjectives that you can think PLUS he’s kind. And he’s warm. He’s the kind of person that if you put Zhi Shu up against with all things being equal–he’s going to lose. Zhi Shu is jealous for the first time, ever, and he doesn’t know how to handle it. And he handles it real.freaking.wrong. and he almost looses the love of his life.
True story: one of (maybe my absolute) fav scenes is from this time period and its when Xiang Qin’s dad punches Zhi Shu right in the freaking face.
I love how slowly this whole thing plays out. I love that the time constraints on the show gives room to tell the story of how a couple who was so in love 2 eps ago are on the verge of separating (I won’t say adultery because even though the guy confesses we ALL know that she would never cheat on Zhi Shu) but I will say considering (lightly, and for the first time ever) that there are other men out there. GALL. IT HURTS SO GOOD.
Like I said, I’m loving LiT 2–but its a shorter show. It doesn’t run as long and there are fewer eps. So, while TKA was beautifully paced–it seems like things in this version are happening really, really fast. Like Kotoko and Naoki just had a screaming fight (the first of their entire relationship) when two eps ago they had middle of the night boat sex. The problems–the cracks in the foundation–are there, but they are being rushed by so quickly that the angst and the fight and the ignoring and avoiding and all of it seems like its coming from nowhere.
Lighter mini-rant. I already mentioned how stinkin’ adorable I find this Chris to be. I will say that is one plot line that was completely rushed. I thought/hoped since they had an actual decent actress and they introduced her in the beginning of the series instead of the beginning of the end that they would take the time to pace the plot line out…NO. Not at all. First ep we meet her. She falls head over heels tbc
isa
September 13, 2017 at 10:54 PM
mini my great aunt fanny.
She falls head over heels for Kin-Chan (girl after my own heart) tells Kotoko that she is blind and has bad taste in men. And then we see her again the following ep (or the one after that) its been 6 months. She’s going back to England. We’re told (not shown) that she’s been coming to the restaurant every day to hang out with Kin-Chan and try and make him love her. The next thing we know Kotoko is throwing a fake birthday party for Kin-Chan with her two best friends for Chris and I’m sitting here like—when did they meet? Its been six months? This WHOLE thing took place 100% off screen. They tried to do a dramatic flashback as kin-Chan is running to the airport to stop Chris from leaving and they only have TWO SCENES to draw from. Now, even though the plot and the character doesn’t bother me—its weird to see them lovey dovey because 99% of their entire relationship happened off screen. Thats just bad storytelling, yo.
Mini rant. Pah. I’ll never.
silvermists
September 13, 2017 at 11:30 PM
Lol I watched all of this series adaptations religiously, including the anime (where it all started) and read the manga. I know its the cheesiest thing ever, but my heart bleeds every time I watch this. Its my number one crack and gets me every time. Seriously every time I feel the feels all over again. Its ridiculous.
isa
September 13, 2017 at 11:45 PM
I am thinking of watching the anime. There’s something about this story line that I just love.
silvermists
September 13, 2017 at 11:58 PM
I love the anime! Its definitely more comedic although the emotions are pretty well done so it still hits right in the feels. My favorite thing about the anime is Irie Kun’s mom, oh my God is that lady freaking hilarious!! Even Kotoko’s character is funny. I specially loved the episode where no one knows she’s Irie’s wife so they all stalk him and drag her along. That episode is awesome. If you watch it I would love to hear your thoughts about how you like it. 🙂
isa
September 14, 2017 at 4:58 PM
ep 10.
This is was Naoki is a jerk: Kotoko’s insane extended family have literally made a festival of his coming to visit. They asked him for a few words and he looks around and says, “You misspelled my name. And the word “welcome”. There are too many strokes.” Look here, buddy. They are just excited to love you and welcome you into their family. Maybe remove the stick, unbend a bit and go with the flow.
isa
September 14, 2017 at 7:55 PM
We finally see my beloved Kin-Chan after 57,000 eps of him being MIA he’s literally shoved aside for Chris. Now, I love Chris. I find her delightful (even if she was shoe-horned in and that entire romance took place off screen. Whatever. I already ranted about this) but Wench. You block my Kin-Chan again and there will be PROBLEMS. PROBLEMS I SAY!!
isa
September 14, 2017 at 9:36 PM
I am typically on Kotoko’s side when she goes on her rants about Naoki–but goll. that must be exhausting to be on the other side of. This last one came pretty much out of nowhere and thats all I could think: she would be exhuasting to be married to.
And how typical of the show and the treatment of Kin-Chan and Chris. There’s an (admittedly funny) scene where he asks Naoki how he proposed to Kotoko but—the proposal takes place off screen. We see her refusal. And we see Chris (WE GOT PROBLEMS, YO. Meet me in the nearest parkinglot. Its goin’ down! Violence!) and Kotoko have a lame conversation. But the actual relationship between Kin-Chan and Chris? Nope.