Bednaya Nastya and dramas...
Sep. 12th, 2007 09:17 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dangermousieI wonder if I will ever watch a program of serial nature where I approve of all the parental figures. Probably not as then I'll be bored out of my wits.
What brought this on? Bednaya Nastya. I am getting the feeling that I am being contrary in not liking Korf Sr. (Vladimir's Dad and Anna's guardian) but I don't care, I still want to twist his head off. I mean, he is supposed to be likeable: he is a fair master, former war hero, and he took Anna in from serfdom and gave her nice dresses and musically trained her.
But. Seriously. UGH. And not just because I spoiled myself and I know why he took Anna in, so I just think he is a major freak. No, it's two separate points.
Point number 1: Dresses and musical training are all very nice, but I think Anna would prefer her freedom paper and he hasn't given her his freedom papers after all. If he is so sweet and 'oh, you are such an aristocrat to me' type gentleman, give her her freaking papers. That way you won't have to worry that your son (about whom point number 2) will spill the beans, or someone will find out otherwise, that way she could have a career not based on lies and find someone to marry if she wants. Seriously, the fact that he hasn't makes me want to smack him. She is not a pet to you. And if she is, then I don't like you.
Point Number 2 (aka even more smackable): I know, I know, Battlestar Galactica is an excellent show, but really, I don't think the subplot of 'my own son doesn't really exist for me because I have surrogate daughter' is something you want to imitate. Come on. You wonder why Vladimir is resentful? (Well, actually you don't, because you are clueless). When Anna sings a song (incredibly well, I admit), you praise her fulsomely. When Vladimir brings home a medal (something army-related) you are all 'ehhh, everyone in our family is a good shot.' MAN. Leaving aside everything else, do you WANT to create problems between your son and your quasi-daughter? Considering the guy has issues about liking Anna but refusing to recognize it, he is hardly going to be a sworshipper to her in any event, but you know, if you didn't do the creepy constant favoritism, maybe he wouldn't be so pissed off at her and maybe all the problems they have would be avoided? Which, you know, might be nice. Even if you don't care for your son, it would certainly make Anna's life easier, and you care for her. So use some common sense. Ooops, forgot, you haven't any.
I could have overlooked this point maybe (ehhh, everyone has favorites) except for the ball thing. Your son comes up to you, clearly freaking out, and tells you he has to fight a duel (which is enough to get the attention of most people). And then he tells you that due to the fact that this is a masked ball, the guy he challenged turned out to be the Crown Prince (which is a sucky proposition whichever way you look at it). Daddy Dearest reaction 'yeah yeah (not listening to a word, clearly), did you hear Anna sing, wasn't she awesome?' Ummm. Not so good. You fail Parenting 101 so badly. And it sucks for Anna too, because it's not her fault you are monomaniacal, but guess who Vladimir is going to blame?
OTOH, I really like the villain lady, Maria Dolgorukaya, even though she hates the whole Korf family (how can she? Vladimir is so hot :P) and plans to marry her daughter Lisa to a man thre times her age. But hey, she is not portrayed as saintly, and she is so fun to watch.
A few eps in, I am noticing already which stories I find interesting and which less so.
INTERESTING:
Anna/Vladimir interactions. They have so much chemistry. Phew. Plus the whole 'hate masking other stuff' thing is a fave.
Anything with Vladimir. I am shallow ;)
Anything with future Alexander II (see above).
Polina and Shuller. They are evil but so fun.
Anna in general.
Vladimir and Michael friendship. And not just because they swap shirts :P
NOT:
The rest.
I am very happy with my drama backlog progress. Due to dedicated watching, final realization that I don't like some dramas enough to finish, and taking off the list those dramas of which I've only seen 10 minutes, the backlog is much smaller, namely:
JAPANESE
1. Beautiful Life [7/11] (I love it but am too wimpy to see her get really ill. Still, later in the week)
2. Brand [9/11] (I love it but the ending makes me apprehensive)
3. Proposal Daisakusen [3/11] (on the very very short list. After WWL)
4. Yoshitsune [3/49]
KOREAN
5. Jumong [15/20] and that is only if we decide to treat each set as separate, because otherwise it's [15/80] (I need a huge block of time and all 80 eps to do it :))
6. Witch Yoo Hee [4/16] (I loved it but then got sidetracked. MUST finish though)
7. Lovers [17/20] (very shortlist. Probably this week)
8. Sang-Doo, Let's Go to School [10/16] (I think it's my reluctance to finish my last remaining Bi drama)
9. If in love...like them [1/4] (I love it, but dread the coming angst)
10. *Coffee Prince [2/16] (will wait for DVDs)
11. Hello Miss [1/16] (shortlisted for next week)
12. *Time Between Dog & Wolf [5/16] (will watch either this weekend or when DVDs are out)
TAIWANESE
13. Magicians of Love [6/20?] (though I might drop this one, as well)
14. Hana Kimi Taiwan [6/15] (seriously, wtf is with me? I adore this, need to finish)
15. Magic Ring [5/16] (I don't care for it but want to watch every bit of hot Joe Cheng angsting. A couple of hours and a ff button and I'll finish :P)
16. *Why Why Love [12/15] (am watching this as fast as I can)
17. The Outsiders [19/20] (I just can't bear to finish)
18. *Love Storm [1/21] (so gleefully delicious)
19. Smiling Pasta [5/17] (I love it so much, no idea why I haven't finished it yet. I need a couple of quiet days but this is definitely on short list)
MAINLAND CHINESE
20. Handsome Siblings [27/40] (I think I mught finish this tonight. I ff all non Nic Tse bits anyway)
21. *The Butterfly Lovers [2/??] (I want it all to be subbed before I get any more addicted).
* Means dramas currently subbing.
Of recently completed/discovered dramas, ones on short list to add/watch are: Nodame Cantabile, Jotei, Thank You, Capital Scandal, Que Sera Sera, Men and Legends, Sword Stained with Royal Blood, Taste Sweet Love (Snow White), Romance of the Red Dust, Summer x Summer, Nine Tailed Fox, Smile Again, Stained Glass, Shoot for the Stars, Phoenix, Hi Working Girl, My Lucky Star, Queens, My Name is Kim Sam Soon, The Last Dance is With Me, Fairy from Wonderland.
Not in that order :)
But in order to do that, I need to get watched list under 20.
What brought this on? Bednaya Nastya. I am getting the feeling that I am being contrary in not liking Korf Sr. (Vladimir's Dad and Anna's guardian) but I don't care, I still want to twist his head off. I mean, he is supposed to be likeable: he is a fair master, former war hero, and he took Anna in from serfdom and gave her nice dresses and musically trained her.
But. Seriously. UGH. And not just because I spoiled myself and I know why he took Anna in, so I just think he is a major freak. No, it's two separate points.
Point number 1: Dresses and musical training are all very nice, but I think Anna would prefer her freedom paper and he hasn't given her his freedom papers after all. If he is so sweet and 'oh, you are such an aristocrat to me' type gentleman, give her her freaking papers. That way you won't have to worry that your son (about whom point number 2) will spill the beans, or someone will find out otherwise, that way she could have a career not based on lies and find someone to marry if she wants. Seriously, the fact that he hasn't makes me want to smack him. She is not a pet to you. And if she is, then I don't like you.
Point Number 2 (aka even more smackable): I know, I know, Battlestar Galactica is an excellent show, but really, I don't think the subplot of 'my own son doesn't really exist for me because I have surrogate daughter' is something you want to imitate. Come on. You wonder why Vladimir is resentful? (Well, actually you don't, because you are clueless). When Anna sings a song (incredibly well, I admit), you praise her fulsomely. When Vladimir brings home a medal (something army-related) you are all 'ehhh, everyone in our family is a good shot.' MAN. Leaving aside everything else, do you WANT to create problems between your son and your quasi-daughter? Considering the guy has issues about liking Anna but refusing to recognize it, he is hardly going to be a sworshipper to her in any event, but you know, if you didn't do the creepy constant favoritism, maybe he wouldn't be so pissed off at her and maybe all the problems they have would be avoided? Which, you know, might be nice. Even if you don't care for your son, it would certainly make Anna's life easier, and you care for her. So use some common sense. Ooops, forgot, you haven't any.
I could have overlooked this point maybe (ehhh, everyone has favorites) except for the ball thing. Your son comes up to you, clearly freaking out, and tells you he has to fight a duel (which is enough to get the attention of most people). And then he tells you that due to the fact that this is a masked ball, the guy he challenged turned out to be the Crown Prince (which is a sucky proposition whichever way you look at it). Daddy Dearest reaction 'yeah yeah (not listening to a word, clearly), did you hear Anna sing, wasn't she awesome?' Ummm. Not so good. You fail Parenting 101 so badly. And it sucks for Anna too, because it's not her fault you are monomaniacal, but guess who Vladimir is going to blame?
OTOH, I really like the villain lady, Maria Dolgorukaya, even though she hates the whole Korf family (how can she? Vladimir is so hot :P) and plans to marry her daughter Lisa to a man thre times her age. But hey, she is not portrayed as saintly, and she is so fun to watch.
A few eps in, I am noticing already which stories I find interesting and which less so.
INTERESTING:
Anna/Vladimir interactions. They have so much chemistry. Phew. Plus the whole 'hate masking other stuff' thing is a fave.
Anything with Vladimir. I am shallow ;)
Anything with future Alexander II (see above).
Polina and Shuller. They are evil but so fun.
Anna in general.
Vladimir and Michael friendship. And not just because they swap shirts :P
NOT:
The rest.
I am very happy with my drama backlog progress. Due to dedicated watching, final realization that I don't like some dramas enough to finish, and taking off the list those dramas of which I've only seen 10 minutes, the backlog is much smaller, namely:
JAPANESE
1. Beautiful Life [7/11] (I love it but am too wimpy to see her get really ill. Still, later in the week)
2. Brand [9/11] (I love it but the ending makes me apprehensive)
3. Proposal Daisakusen [3/11] (on the very very short list. After WWL)
4. Yoshitsune [3/49]
KOREAN
5. Jumong [15/20] and that is only if we decide to treat each set as separate, because otherwise it's [15/80] (I need a huge block of time and all 80 eps to do it :))
6. Witch Yoo Hee [4/16] (I loved it but then got sidetracked. MUST finish though)
7. Lovers [17/20] (very shortlist. Probably this week)
8. Sang-Doo, Let's Go to School [10/16] (I think it's my reluctance to finish my last remaining Bi drama)
9. If in love...like them [1/4] (I love it, but dread the coming angst)
10. *Coffee Prince [2/16] (will wait for DVDs)
11. Hello Miss [1/16] (shortlisted for next week)
12. *Time Between Dog & Wolf [5/16] (will watch either this weekend or when DVDs are out)
TAIWANESE
13. Magicians of Love [6/20?] (though I might drop this one, as well)
14. Hana Kimi Taiwan [6/15] (seriously, wtf is with me? I adore this, need to finish)
15. Magic Ring [5/16] (I don't care for it but want to watch every bit of hot Joe Cheng angsting. A couple of hours and a ff button and I'll finish :P)
16. *Why Why Love [12/15] (am watching this as fast as I can)
17. The Outsiders [19/20] (I just can't bear to finish)
18. *Love Storm [1/21] (so gleefully delicious)
19. Smiling Pasta [5/17] (I love it so much, no idea why I haven't finished it yet. I need a couple of quiet days but this is definitely on short list)
MAINLAND CHINESE
20. Handsome Siblings [27/40] (I think I mught finish this tonight. I ff all non Nic Tse bits anyway)
21. *The Butterfly Lovers [2/??] (I want it all to be subbed before I get any more addicted).
* Means dramas currently subbing.
Of recently completed/discovered dramas, ones on short list to add/watch are: Nodame Cantabile, Jotei, Thank You, Capital Scandal, Que Sera Sera, Men and Legends, Sword Stained with Royal Blood, Taste Sweet Love (Snow White), Romance of the Red Dust, Summer x Summer, Nine Tailed Fox, Smile Again, Stained Glass, Shoot for the Stars, Phoenix, Hi Working Girl, My Lucky Star, Queens, My Name is Kim Sam Soon, The Last Dance is With Me, Fairy from Wonderland.
Not in that order :)
But in order to do that, I need to get watched list under 20.
