Musings of the Obsessive Kind

1. Have not yet seen this week's Bridal Mask so do not spoil me (staying away from tumblr). Am waiting for 720p :)

2. The upcoming City Conquest sounds like nightmare on a stick - it has the director of IRIS and is based on a manga about vengeance that sounds very much up my alley BUT not only does it have more wooden than a tree Kim Hyun Joong as the lead (why?! I think he's adorable in real life and drop-dead gorgeous but he cannot act to save his life and has zero dramatic star charisma in drama roles, as opposed to on-stage) but, even deadlier, the screenwriter is the one who wrote that appalling mess Lie to Me. Right now, I will be tuning in out of sheer horrified curiously. (Honestly, there are a TON of wonderful young actors out there - why does KHJ get the gig?)

3. There are still no previews for this week's A Gentleman's Dignity. Argh! I keep wondering what is going to happen to our four couples. Here are my hypotheses:

* Jang Rok/Min Sook - I would be shocked if they got divorced - their weird marriage clearly works for them. The question is how JR will worm himself back into her graces. I doubt he would ever reform.
* Tae San/Sera - I don't really care tbh. They sidestepped their real issues - her insecurities and high-maintenance, his solipsism and bossiness. They are making some steps so I think it will work out, but honestly, they are pretty shallow and self-involved.
* Yoon/Maeri - they are at an impasse. It's pretty clear to the viewers but not to Maeri that Yoon is head over heels for her, but it's equally clear he feels bound by his promise to Tae San and his own feelings of age difference/unworthiness/whatever and thus will not make a move. His being scared for her safety didn't draw him out and neither did stirring of jealousy or her steady and open devotion. At this point, I'd like for Maeri to give up and for Yoon to chase but I can't see that. He needs to be either truly made jealous or for her to really end up in some life-threatening situation to break past his barriers. Because it will be worth it.
* Do Jin/Yi Soo - I think it's pretty clear after ep 10, they are about to enter the bliss of mutual attraction and love. I want to see them be a happy solid new couple (hopefully with epic make-outs, though Yi Soo is a bit on the conservative side so I think Do Jin will have to wait a bit for sex, alas). I am pretty sure Colin is DJ's son but before that comes up or even more mundane things, like Yi Soo being traditional and wanting marriage and Do Jin's feelings on that more unclear (he said in that interview he didn't want a wife but it's clear he's breaking all his rules as far as Yi Soo is concerned), I want some glowy honeymoony stuff.

4. I am so excited for Five Fingers, that will be replacing AGD because Joo Ji Hoon, one of my earliest and most enduring kdrama loves, will be starring in it. I think his last drama was in 2007 which is much much too long.

5. Speaking of excited, Kim Young Chul is joining Nice Guy as Moon Chae Won's father/husband to Park Shi Yeon/guy who PSY ditched Song Joong Ki for. He played MCW's Dad in one of my all-time faves, The Princess' Man - clearly he is gunning for a 'MCW's Dad who is hated by her love' niche.

6. I dumped Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but this MV has got me to reconsider:



Off to get eps!

1. Have not yet seen this week's Bridal Mask so do not spoil me (staying away from tumblr). Am waiting for 720p :)

2. The upcoming City Conquest sounds like nightmare on a stick - it has the director of IRIS and is based on a manga about vengeance that sounds very much up my alley BUT not only does it have more wooden than a tree Kim Hyun Joong as the lead (why?! I think he's adorable in real life and drop-dead gorgeous but he cannot act to save his life and has zero dramatic star charisma in drama roles, as opposed to on-stage) but, even deadlier, the screenwriter is the one who wrote that appalling mess Lie to Me. Right now, I will be tuning in out of sheer horrified curiously. (Honestly, there are a TON of wonderful young actors out there - why does KHJ get the gig?)

3. There are still no previews for this week's A Gentleman's Dignity. Argh! I keep wondering what is going to happen to our four couples. Here are my hypotheses:

* Jang Rok/Min Sook - I would be shocked if they got divorced - their weird marriage clearly works for them. The question is how JR will worm himself back into her graces. I doubt he would ever reform.
* Tae San/Sera - I don't really care tbh. They sidestepped their real issues - her insecurities and high-maintenance, his solipsism and bossiness. They are making some steps so I think it will work out, but honestly, they are pretty shallow and self-involved.
* Yoon/Maeri - they are at an impasse. It's pretty clear to the viewers but not to Maeri that Yoon is head over heels for her, but it's equally clear he feels bound by his promise to Tae San and his own feelings of age difference/unworthiness/whatever and thus will not make a move. His being scared for her safety didn't draw him out and neither did stirring of jealousy or her steady and open devotion. At this point, I'd like for Maeri to give up and for Yoon to chase but I can't see that. He needs to be either truly made jealous or for her to really end up in some life-threatening situation to break past his barriers. Because it will be worth it.
* Do Jin/Yi Soo - I think it's pretty clear after ep 10, they are about to enter the bliss of mutual attraction and love. I want to see them be a happy solid new couple (hopefully with epic make-outs, though Yi Soo is a bit on the conservative side so I think Do Jin will have to wait a bit for sex, alas). I am pretty sure Colin is DJ's son but before that comes up or even more mundane things, like Yi Soo being traditional and wanting marriage and Do Jin's feelings on that more unclear (he said in that interview he didn't want a wife but it's clear he's breaking all his rules as far as Yi Soo is concerned), I want some glowy honeymoony stuff.

4. I am so excited for Five Fingers, that will be replacing AGD because Joo Ji Hoon, one of my earliest and most enduring kdrama loves, will be starring in it. I think his last drama was in 2007 which is much much too long.

5. Speaking of excited, Kim Young Chul is joining Nice Guy as Moon Chae Won's father/husband to Park Shi Yeon/guy who PSY ditched Song Joong Ki for. He played MCW's Dad in one of my all-time faves, The Princess' Man - clearly he is gunning for a 'MCW's Dad who is hated by her love' niche.

6. I dumped Flower Boy Ramyun Shop but this MV has got me to reconsider:



Off to get eps!

Wow, that was some kiss.

I had some time today, but not much brain-power or ability to watch without interruption. So, it was FBRS time as I caught up on eps 7-10.

It's clear Lee Chung Ah and Jung Il Woo are having a blast and their chemistry is burning hot, however, somewhere between the start and now, I lost any emotional connection to this drama. It's fun but I have no investment in these people. I think it's because I prefer my romcoms to start out zany but slowly move into emotionally gripping, much deeper territory (like e.g., My Girl or Coffee Prince). There is nothing wrong with a romcom that doesn't do that, but my preferences are what they are. FBRS started out as a piece of fluff and that is what it will remain.

Also, as of 10 eps in, I am not sold on the fact that they couldn't be happy if they didn't get together with each other. They are both immature so that might have something to do with that.

If it seems I am bashing the drama, I am not. I had a very fun time watching these 4 eps and I would never say no to the amount of pretty it produces for our delectation on a regular basis. It's just my disappointment that it's a fluffy, well-made trifle and I was hoping that, like Hello Teacher, it could have been something more.

MTF continues to be adorable and a great break when I am too brain-dead for Tree with Deep Roots.




Also this:





So, currently airing kdramas I am following in some fashion (first number is number of eps I've seen, second number is number of eps aired). In order of my obsession, from most to least.

( My list and my dilemma )

MTF continues to be adorable and a great break when I am too brain-dead for Tree with Deep Roots.




Also this:





So, currently airing kdramas I am following in some fashion (first number is number of eps I've seen, second number is number of eps aired). In order of my obsession, from most to least.

( My list and my dilemma )

* Flower Boy Ramyun Shop - watched 6/10 aired (everyone is subbing :P)
* Me Too Flower - 3/8 (darksmurf is subbing)
* Padam Padam - about to start/2 (withs2 and viki are subbing)
* Tree with Deep Roots - 1/18 (I really need to catch up but this is a marathon, no distractions drama, so I am saving it for our Xmas trip) (darksmurf is subbing)
* What's Up - about to start/2 (viki subbing)

I am way behind on everything, due to rl craziness, but at least now I am spoiled for choice :)

I finished ep 6 of FBRS (yes, yes, I know I am very behind) and I don't find this drama meta-able but it is hugely fun. The chemistry continues insane, the drama is both wacky and emotionally touching, but my main thought is...Jung Il Woo is ridiculously gorgeous. He also looks aristocratic with those cheekbones, that stillness, that whole look. Mmmmm.

( Some caps and thoughts on ep 6 )

But my new true love is Me Too Flower. It's not really like anything I've seen before - off-kilter and fractured and charming and hopeful and threaded with darkness and just...



Is it just me, or is YSY channeling young Song Il Gook here?

( Caps from ep 1 )

I also started Mackerel Run, mainly to get a glimpse of the young Lee Min Ho, and holy moley, but does he freakishly look like younger version of Lee Dong Wook here:



They could be brothers!

But only in some angles. At others, he's still very much different...

I finished ep 6 of FBRS (yes, yes, I know I am very behind) and I don't find this drama meta-able but it is hugely fun. The chemistry continues insane, the drama is both wacky and emotionally touching, but my main thought is...Jung Il Woo is ridiculously gorgeous. He also looks aristocratic with those cheekbones, that stillness, that whole look. Mmmmm.

( Some caps and thoughts on ep 6 )

But my new true love is Me Too Flower. It's not really like anything I've seen before - off-kilter and fractured and charming and hopeful and threaded with darkness and just...



Is it just me, or is YSY channeling young Song Il Gook here?

( Caps from ep 1 )

I also started Mackerel Run, mainly to get a glimpse of the young Lee Min Ho, and holy moley, but does he freakishly look like younger version of Lee Dong Wook here:



They could be brothers!

But only in some angles. At others, he's still very much different...

(Yes, I realize I am behind on relies and dramas and everything - but it's Thanksgiving week).

I am only on ep 5 of FBRS (I know!) but I am loving it so much it's ridiculous. This scene in ep 5 made me giggle and sigh - Chi Soo comes to find Eun Bi wanting to read her the riot act (because she makes his heart hurt and he doesn't know why, lol. Oh, you dense dense alien!) but he sees her shooting hoops and gets distracted, sidetracked, obsessed, what have you by the fact that she is all...ahem...sweaty. Gee, I wonder what that is hinting at.

( Anyway, have two gorgeous people in a moment that is simultaneously poignant, funny, and sexy )

For the record, due to life craziness, I am only watching 3 dramas now - this, Tree, and 99 Days with the Star. I need to get on Tree more (which I adore ridiculously) but that is the one which requires most concentration so...