Korean Dramas

[americanchai]

Yes! Will re-watch Sky Castle! I will check out Healer.

Maybe you should watch Itaewon Class when I rewatch that too. I think what annoyed me about Itaewon Class was the revenge storylines (which are always sooo over the top) made no sense to me. The "bad" guys were holding down the main character for reasons that made no sense to me. It also always makes me laugh that these chaebol families seem to use the corporation as their personal piggy bank, army, intelligence unit and marriage broker. It's wild.

I'm annoyed that The World of the Married hasn't hit US Netflix or Viki. I started Penthouse and it is so makjang that I don't think I can handle it. I've already spoiled myself and am unhappy with the way it allegedly turns out even though I know they got a season 2 which may undo some of the badness of season 1(!?!!).

Just heard that Love Alarm's season 2 will start airing the first week of March on Netflix so I will continue watching season 1. From what I've heard the webtoon goes in a way that would indicate the second lead is actually the first lead? I'm curious as to how that will go. Web sentiment I saw was leaning towards the leads being the first leads and second-lead syndrome following as always.

[cabbagekid]

Feb 19, 2021 15:50:10 GMT -4 americanchai said:

Yes! Will re-watch Sky Castle! I will check out Healer.

Maybe you should watch Itaewon Class when I rewatch that too. I think what annoyed me about Itaewon Class was the revenge storylines (which are always sooo over the top) made no sense to me. The "bad" guys were holding down the main character for reasons that made no sense to me. It also always makes me laugh that these chaebol families seem to use the corporation as their personal piggy bank, army, intelligence unit and marriage broker. It's wild.

I'm annoyed that The World of the Married hasn't hit US Netflix or Viki. I started Penthouse and it is so makjang that I don't think I can handle it. I've already spoiled myself and am unhappy with the way it allegedly turns out even though I know they got a season 2 which may undo some of the badness of season 1(!?!!).

Just heard that Love Alarm's season 2 will start airing the first week of March on Netflix so I will continue watching season 1. From what I've heard the webtoon goes in a way that would indicate the second lead is actually the first lead? I'm curious as to how that will go. Web sentiment I saw was leaning towards the leads being the first leads and second-lead syndrome following as always.

I really enjoyed Love Alarm when I watched it. I did see the show in two different perspectives though:
- 15 year old Cabbage Kid would have shipped the first male lead and the female lead. It's those "first love/first crush" type of thing. You don't see any negatives, it's full on feelings, all heart.
- 30+ year old Cabbage Kid who now includes her brain when she's in relationships was rooting for 2nd male lead. I'd have to rewatch the first season, but there were times where the first male lead seemed manipulative/abusive (?) I can't think of the word, but there were just some red flags that I would see now at my age.

They did a time jump at the end of season 1 so if they're flipping the script to have her choose 2nd male lead, the time jump would help. She'd be older and less prone to following her heart.

I'll try watching Itaewon Class too. I just remember not liking the first 2 episodes because it was so retaliation and bully driven. Korean dramas revolve so much around bullying, is it really that had in middle school and high school?

[Deleted]

I watched most of the 1st episode of Itaewon Class, but I knew the dad was about to die and I already loved him and wasn't in the mood. it was also last March during a stay-at-home order so I wasn't in a 'people dying' mood. I may go back to it because I like the lead actor.

[americanchai]

Park Seo Joon is really good in Itaewon Class and would be the main reason to watch it even though the story itself was meh to me. Ahn Bo Hyun as the antagonist (the younger one) is so damn good too. I think the parts I loved most were the gang in the bar. A lot of the rest of it I could have done without.

I agree about the Love Alarm 1st and 2nd leads. I started watching Love Alarm at the same time I watched Sweet Home and Song Kang is the lead in both. He is so different (and more likeable) in Sweet Home that my hats are off to his acting skills because I had written him off as an idol-looking actor. I really really like the second lead in Love Alarm. The problem is that I know Korean TV producers are very much swayed by public opinion and the public opinion is more toward the 1st lead (Song Kang's character) probably because rom-coms like this tend to be geared toward younger audiences who haven't figured out that a possessive clingy guy is NOT a good thing yet. When you're young you think that means true love. When you're older the red flags are shooting like flares, as you pointed out, cabbagekid.

The Uncanny Counter - so, so good. I know the lead has been plagued by now disproved real-life bullying rumors but he is such a good actor. I've never not been impressed by him yet. He was also in Sky Castle and a couple other things I've seen and he's always good. Jo Byung Gyu.

[Deleted]

I was so disappointed that Park Seo Joon didn't have a bigger role in Parasite. I will admit that I watched the last wtwo episodes of She Was Pretty about 70 times because I loved him in it so much.

Also, I need Choi Daniel, Ha Seok Jin, and Ji Jin Hee to get off their asses and do more romcoms.

[americanchai]

I had to skim through a lot of She Was Pretty because the lead actress annoyed me (though I love her in Mystic Pop-Up Bar!) in that one. I loved Siwon in that one - he surprised me. Park Seo Joon didn't even register to me until Itaewon Class and more in the fact that I was like wow, even though I'm not loving this drama, he's really good! I don't think I made it to the last two eps of She Was Pretty!

I need to re-watch Parasite. I think it's the only reason I'm currently keeping my Hulu subscription even though I don't watch that much on Hulu.

[cabbagekid]

Feb 20, 2021 14:47:29 GMT -4 @livingfortheweeken said:

I will admit that I watched the last wtwo episodes of She Was Pretty about 70 times because I loved him in it so much.

My favorite part about the ending of She Was Pretty (besides staring at PSJ) was the fact that they didn't use distance as the last left turn to break this couple up and put them back together again at the very end of the show. They were both supportive of each other's decision to be physically separated because they were both pursuing their dreams or it was out of necessity.

I didn't even realize the lead actress in She was Pretty is the same one as in Mystic Pop-Up Bar. I loved her in both.

Has anyone watched Start Up? I'm two episodes in but I have a question.

[americanchai]

Start Up is on my list. I originally added it for Nam Joo Hyuk but apparently he's not even the standout in it.

I"m going to continue to watch Love featuring Marriage and Divorce even though it is really not good. It's like a train wreck I can't look away from.

[cabbagekid]

Feb 21, 2021 17:15:27 GMT -4 americanchai said:

Start Up is on my list. I originally added it for Nam Joo Hyuk but apparently he's not even the standout in it.

The first episode builds a great foundation to the other male lead and the female lead. I don't know how they undo that storyline and have her fall for NJH. I'm on episode 3 and right now, I'm fully invested in her story with the other guy.

I'm hoping this K-drama pulls a dawson's creek and has her end up with the 2nd male lead. (Pacey-Joey 4eva!!!)

[americanchai]

Okay, I've started Start Up. I forgot that I think Suzy is a terrible actress but from what I've read she's tolerable in this.