Full House 2

I can't believe I'm up to episode 13 now with this drama. It's kind of like my guilty pleasure, kind of like how I watched all of "To The Beautiful You," just for the fun of it. I'll probably be checking up on it, and watch the rest of it if I feel like it. One thing I'm glad about is that they changed the wacky hairstyles in the middle of episode 12. They actually look pretty decent now, yay...

Ouran High School Host Club

So, this week, I started watching the Japanese anime drama "Ouran High School Host Club" with my friends, during our free periods. And I have to say, it's better than I expected. It's really corny and cliche in some places, but it is pretty watchable, and kind of addicting. I will never know how someone can be so attracted to an anime or cartoon character.

After watching the first few episodes, the drama really reminded me of Korean dramas, especially the high school dramas like "Boys Over Flowers" and "Playful Kiss," and that's when I realized, a lot of Korean dramas are based on Japanese manga and anime. Both BOF and PK are based on original Japanese mangas/comic books. I then realized that that's where all the main themes of Korean dramas must have come from, like the love triangle and pretty boys. I'm sure the overall Korean culture also had a part in it, but it seems that Japanese mangas had a big influence on Korean dramas. I just thought that this was interesting - I've always wondered about the roots and origins of Korean dramas.

Chungdamdong Alice

So, the hype is on for "Chungdamdong Alice," where it will air on December 1st, less than a week away. Here's one of the teasers:

This is the official poster, with all its dreamlike glory, well fit for the drama's theme:

And then, we are given some snapshots about our main character, Han Se Kyung, with some of her family photos and her impressive resume:

Update

So, so far, I've watched 3 episodes of "Sign." It's pretty good, but not as good as I expected. I think, for now, I will abstain from watching dramas for a while. I really need to focus on the SAT and college essays now. Aja!

End of Dal Ja's Spring

I just finished "Dal Ja's Spring" last night, or I think technically, it was very early today. I think I watched about 4 episodes straight? I'm not sure...

Overall, "Dal Ja's Spring" was a delightful surprise. It's one of those dramas that were popular, but haven't really received that much credit from foreign fans. I don't know why I didn't check this out before, it's totally awesome. Almost everything about it was great, from the music to the beautifully-drawn illustrations for every episode. I liked everything about it, except for the last two episodes, where I thought there was some needless dragging out. I'm sensing maybe, the drama was doing so good, they just decided to add two more episodes, and doing that, they had to change the ending. While most people online seem to be satisfied, I just thought that it could've ended with Dal Ja and Tae Bong ending up together, at the end of episode 20 and beginning of 21, Tae Bong could have just proposed to her or said "I love you" to her, and all would be good. They wouldn't necessarily have to get married, but I thought the whole Dal Ja going off to study abroad for 2 years thing was part of trying to extend the drama into 22 episodes. Other than that, I'm pretty satisfied.

If I had to describe the drama, it would be heartwarming, funny, and charming. I'm just a sucker for those rom-coms about 30-something women, like "I Need Romance" and "The Woman Who Wants To Get Married." It really opened my eyes to Chae Rim, who as just lovable as Dal Ja, and Lee Min Ki, who I couldn't help but fall in love with.

Drama Update

It is officially the start of Thanksgiving Break, and am I glad... Along with that, some drama marathons, I have to say. I've just finished the 17th episode of "Dal Ja's Spring," and here comes the angst and fighting between Dal Ja and Tae Bong, from what I've seen in the preview for episode 18. I'm still not sure what to do with the dramas that I want to see or at least check out. However, I think for now, I will just stick with the dramas I've been watching.

Current List

And then, there's the list of recent dramas that I want to watch, or at least check out (in most wanted order):

1. Sign - 20 episodes
2. Queen In Hyun's Man (인현왕후의 남자) - 16 episodes
3. White Christmas - 8 episodes
4. Vampire Prosecutor (뱀파이어 검사) - 12 episodes
5. Padam Padam (빠담빠담) - 20 episodes

Dramas of 2007

While watching Dal Ja's Spring (which is going pretty well by the way), I came upon Javabean's list of best dramas of 2007, and I noticed that there were quite a few good dramas that year. And so, I've made my own list of 2007 dramas that I want to watch, or at least check out. I kind of want to have a day where I check out the first episode of each of these dramas:

1. Evasive Inquiry Agency (얼렁뚱땅 흥신소) - 16 episodes
2. Flowers For My Life (꽃 찾으러 왓단다) - 16 episodes
3. White Tower (하얀거탑) - 20 episodes
4. Que Sera Sera - 17 episodes
5. Devil (마왕) - 20 episodes

Recent Dramas

I have writer's block right now, in the middle of NaNoWriMo. I don't know what to do. I keep on coming up with pretty good ideas, but I don't seem to be able to write about them.

Anyways, I've decided to write a post about dramas that I particularly liked over the past few months. What comes to mind right now is "Ghost," "Reply 1997," and "Nice Guy."

"Ghost" was a thriller mystery, where it was fun watching people trying to put together pieces of a very complicated and interesting puzzle. I really liked the premise and story, and it was pretty fast-paced, although it kind of dragged a little towards the end. I seem to have a preference for mystery dramas, so I want to watch "Sign" and "Vampire Prosecutor."

"Reply 1997" makes me think that I want to watch more of tvN's dramas, like "Queen In Hyun's Man." My current obsession with "Nice Guy" makes me think that I might have a fetish for certain types of melodramas. "Nice Guy" has a good combination of a thrilling plot and premise, some (sadistic) humor, and romance. It's really hard to find a drama like that these days. Here's to hoping that there will be more dramas like that in the future...

Dal Ja's Spring

It's been a long time since I've stayed up late to watch a Korean drama. And this time, surprisingly, I'm not so addicted and caught up in it. I think, by now, I've managed to find a way to keep in control of my Korean drama watching. Or I hope I do. I've been searching and searching for the right drama, something to satisfy my rom-com needs, and I've found it. Dal Ja's Spring (달자의 봄).

"Dal Ja's Spring" is about a woman in her early thirties, the classic workingwoman who hasn't been able to date seriously yet. Although she's not your typical cold careerwoman, she doesn't have much dating experience, where she spent most of her twenties focusing on her work. It's basically an "older woman dates a younger man" story, but not totally what you'd expect. It stars Chae Rim, an actress I've never heard of before, and Lee Min Ki. So far, I'm more than satisfied with this drama, after watching the first two episodes. It was just uploaded onto DramaFever, with the series completed. I'm all set for the next few days!

The past few posts was about dramas I wanted to watch and check out, but I think I've finally found the one I've been looking for. During my "search," I was thinking, if I'm going to spend some (a lot) of my time watching dramas, I shouldn't really waste that time. Before, I've been trying to be a perfectionist even in drama watching, like finishing up dramas I started but dropped, and trying to watch through old dramas that I don't really like. From now on, I've decided to completely follow my heart, since this is really a hobby, something I'm doing because I like it. I might as well stop from wasting my time watching things I don't want to.

Right now I'm watching "Nice Guy," with the last two episodes airing this week. I checked out "I Miss You" and "King of Dramas," where I think I'll try to keep up with "I Miss You" if I can. "King of Dramas," while the premise and Kim Myung Min's acting was pretty good, the story and executing really lacked and left a lot to be desired. I can get why it's not doing so hot in the ratings. "I Miss You" is pretty intriguing, and I'm looking forward to the comebacks of Park Yoo Chun and Yoon Eun Hye in the later episodes. As for "Nice Guy," I can't wait for the drama's finale, and am kind of sad that the drama is ending. I will try to stick to a schedule of two episodes per day for "Dal Ja's Spring," if I can.

Tree With Deep Roots

I suddenly want to watch Tree With Deep Roots (뿌리깊은 나무). I'll update on how that goes...

Korean Dramas of 2012

Whenever I get the time, I promise to check out "Haeundae Lovers" and "Oohlala Spouses." They seem promising, but I never got around to watching them. Let's see...

Also, "Padam Padam," "Operation Proposal," and "History of a Salaryman."

I want to finish "Bridal Mask" and "The Princess's Man." And if I'm feeling nostalgic or something, pick up "Witch Yoo Hee" and "Fashion King," and maybe "Queen Seon Duk."

Please Teach Me English

I just watched this movie, and although it wasn't really good, I realized that this was the movie that was on TV when we were staying at Aunt Chang Sook's place, in summer of 2006. I can still very clearly remember the scene where the male lead was trying to undo the strap of a woman's bikini. Never thought this would be the movie. The movie was pretty funny, but I really hated the female lead. She's so stupid, considering how she is a government official. I'd give it a 7.

Upcoming Dramas

Some upcoming dramas to look out for:
"I Miss You" (보고싶다) - November 7, 2012 (MBC, Wed-Thurs)
"Chungdamdong Alice" (청담동 앨리스) - early December (KBS, Sat-Sun)
"The Flower Boy Next Door" (이웃집 꽃미남) - January 7, 2013 (tvN, Mon-Tues)

Fashion King

Adding to my recent list of started watching, but dropped/on-hold dramas, is "Fashion King." I somehow got swept with the somewhat fast pacing of the drama, and got really excited. It wasn't until around the seventh episode that I realized that this drama really didn't come together well as a whole. There were several missing parts, mainly due to the writing. The drama just didn't make sense, or lacked any kind of chronology, no matter what kind of genre or concept they were going for. The premise and story was interesting, but it just. Didn't. Fly. Although I might pick it up sometime in the future, as of now, I don't really feel like watching through it, just for the sake of finishing the drama. That's kind of how I feel about "With Yoo Hee," where I didn't really get a sense of direction in that drama, either. I guess I'll just stick to watching only "Nice Guy." Yay!