Musings of the Obsessive Kind

This is yet another in my series of "Dangermousie ranks all the kdramas she has ever seen" posts. (I have seen over 70 kdramas and, being addicted to ranking, have decided to rank them all). For previous posts go here. Below the cut are dramas ranked 42-30: these range from dramas I like a lot to dramas I love. All of them have flaws that keep them from higher rankings but all of them are dramas I would have no hesitation in recommending. Once again, I have either finished these dramas entirely or finished enough to make up my own mind.

( Best friends, warrior princesses, single mothers, and nuns: if you do not like their stories, the heroines of these dramas will cut off your heads and then pray over the bodies )

Until next time :)

This is yet another in my series of "Dangermousie ranks all the kdramas she has ever seen" posts. (I have seen over 70 kdramas and, being addicted to ranking, have decided to rank them all). For previous posts go here. Below the cut are dramas ranked 42-30: these range from dramas I like a lot to dramas I love. All of them have flaws that keep them from higher rankings but all of them are dramas I would have no hesitation in recommending. Once again, I have either finished these dramas entirely or finished enough to make up my own mind.

( Best friends, warrior princesses, single mothers, and nuns: if you do not like their stories, the heroines of these dramas will cut off your heads and then pray over the bodies )

Until next time :)

I have decided that it was about time for me to update and expand my favorite kdrama primer yet again (which I first did some months ago). Not only were there a bunch of kdramas I wanted to add to the list, but I wanted to rearrange the order of some of the dramas on the list already (except for the first three or so, the placement of the other ones within the rankings is fluid and moves based on my mood) and very much expand it.

So behind the cut are 25 of my favorite kdramas, with summaries, reasons why, pics and vids. I have tried to keep it as unspoilery as possible.

No kdrama I have not finished is on the list because I want to have seen the complete drama before evaluating the fave status. Also, I watch a lot of dramas, but I have hardly seen all or most kdrama out there, and there are some very famous ones I have never seen. I am always open to recs and am always looking for said recs.

Now, without too much further verbosity, Dangermousie's 25 favorite kdramas list, new and improved.

( Lengthy post here )

I have decided that it was about time for me to update and expand my favorite kdrama primer (which I first did some month ago). Not only were there a bunch of kdramas I wanted to add to the list, but I wanted to rearrange the order of some of the dramas on the list already (except for the first three or so, the placement of the other ones within the rankings is fluid and moves based on my mood) and very much expand it.

So behind the cut are 20 (actually 21, because of a tie) of my favorite kdramas, with summaries, reasons why, pics and vids. I have tried to keep it as unspoilery as possible.

No kdrama I have not finished is on the list because I want to have seen the complete drama before evaluating the fave status (possible future candidates to be put in that aren't there because of it are Mawang and MISA). Also, I watch a lot of dramas, but I have hardly seen all or most kdrama out there, and there are some very famous ones I have never seen. I am always open to recs and am always looking for said recs.

Now, without too much further verbosity, Dangermousie's 20 or so favorite kdramas list, new and improved.

( Lengthy post here )

I have decided that it was about time for me to update and expand my favorite kdrama primer (which I first did some month ago). Not only were there a bunch of kdramas I wanted to add to the list, but I wanted to rearrange the order of some of the dramas on the list already (except for the first three or so, the placement of the other ones within the rankings is fluid and moves based on my mood) and very much expand it.

So behind the cut are 20 (actually 21, because of a tie) of my favorite kdramas, with summaries, reasons why, pics and vids. I have tried to keep it as unspoilery as possible.

No kdrama I have not finished is on the list because I want to have seen the complete drama before evaluating the fave status (possible future candidates to be put in that aren't there because of it are Mawang and MISA). Also, I watch a lot of dramas, but I have hardly seen all or most kdrama out there, and there are some very famous ones I have never seen. I am always open to recs and am always looking for said recs.

Now, without too much further verbosity, Dangermousie's 20 or so favorite kdramas list, new and improved.

( Lengthy post here )

Yoo-hooooo, alexandral.

This is a Smile Again pusher post.




What is SA? It’s a 16-ep kdrama, which came out in 2006, starring Lee Dong Gun, Kim Hee Sun, Lee Jin Wook, and Yoon Se Ah.

The story has shades of Talented Mr. Ripley about it, but the story is actually very uplifting and happy-ending despite some very underlying dark themes.

Playing somewhat against type, Lee Dong Gun is Ban Ha Jin, an orphan from a truly horrible background. He meets Dan Hui, a tough, tomboyish baseball player, when a rich kid gets Ha Jin to date Dan Hui as a prank because Ha Jin is desperate to get money for college. Only…he ends up falling in love for real. The relationship is interrupted when Ha Jin has to go on the run with Yoo Kang, a troubled abused girl he befriended, in order to protect her. Now, it’s quite a few years later, and Ha Jin, hardened by his life, and Dan Hui, out of college, still warm and spunky (and still mad at Ha Jin) meet again. And then there is Jae Myung, a former baseball star and Dan Hui’s hero, who has been crippled by an injury. Dan Hui sees him as someone to save and Ha Jin sees him as a meal ticket…

I love the drama’s understatedness about key things: for example, it’s pretty clear that Ha Jin’s childhood was beyond horrible and the life on the run with Yoo Kang also caused him to do some despicable things that scarred him, but the drama never really dwells on it much, instead mentioning things in bits and pieces (like a completely matter-of-fact fleeting comment by Ha Jin that he was kicked out of foster homes twice and ended up in the orphanage, or the little story he tells Dan Hui about being thought a thief). Just like it’s clear Yoo Kang was horribly abused by her father, and that is why she clings to Ha Jin so, as he is the first who ever showed her real kindness, but the drama doesn’t dwell on that as well. It’s prehaps in keeping with this that the characters’ way of dealing with some significant traumatic things, and their knowledge (or lack thereof) of certain things is also addressed or not, in a very naturalistic manner. ( Spoilery lengthy musings )

Also, I love all the kissing, and the cuteness, and how Ha Jin slowly changes, and the cool supporting characters, and feminism of the story.

It’s an awesome drama. Go watch!

( A bunch of MVs )

We didn't go see a Muay Thai match after all, but sort of conked out except for a fancy buffet dinner with lobster, oyster, fish, meat, and every desert known to man (I got 15 and rated them in order of taste. Mr. Mousie thought it was very weird as he is not a desert-obsessed woman :P).

Today, we got up at the sinful hour of 8am, about two hours later than normally. I suppose we finally got used to the time only to have to go back. Or more specifically, I got up early and while waiting for the day to start, occupied my time with continuing Smile Again, an excellent, excellent kdrama (I am on ep 9, so much for saving it for return flight). In some ways, it's a somewhat lighter spiritual precursor to Que Sera Sera: a really messed up hero who marks everything by success by any means, his one weakness the pure and even naive heroine. The reserved, good secondary guy with a messed-up past. The manipulative other girl who is in some ways very similar with games-playing hero. The reason it does not come across as so dysfunctional is twofold: (1) The heroine, who is adorable, is not really a pushover but very strong, and tomboyish, and full of common sense. When the hero tells her he could change for her, she points out he should change for himself first. Loving a guy who is a total mess by any definition is in some ways a weakness for her, and she realizes how it could all blow up. She is remarkably unscrewed up. (2) The hero has very good reasons for being what he is (childhood from hell, generally awful life and other plot-related reasons). Plus, he is played by Lee Dong Gun who always comes across as basically decent no matter what role he plays (I feel awful though because I keep thinking about LDG in RL and his brother being murdered). And whatever else he would do, he won't ditch the heroine almost no matter what. Some of it does come across as rather Talented Mr Ripleyish which is freaky. I am still rooting for secondary guy who is amazingly awesome and hot to get if not the heroine, than a happy ending of some sort. Will write up about it when get home.

Anyway, back to trip...

Went to a Royal Palace complex in Dusit with mandatory guides that insisted on repeatedlt pointing out the palace had no nails but only wooden pegs, a fact that was mildly interesting the first time, but rather more and more tiresome with every repetition.

Now we are off to lunch at some place that apparently has deep-fried snakehead (it's a fish, not reptile :) of the awful scifi movie 'Snakehead Terror' fame. No sign of Mansquito restaurant yet :P

This evening, we are either going to see traditional puppetry or make another try for a Muai Thai match (Thais love it enough to have one every day). Somehow sanctioned violence in a foreign country becomes 'exotic local color' and not 'Dangermousie normally is as interested in boxing as she is in calligraphy in Sinhalese.'

Off home tonight where I shall binge on LJ. And wheeee, they are playing Chak De India and Dhalmaal on the flight!

We didn't go see a Muay Thai match after all, but sort of conked out except for a fancy buffet dinner with lobster, oyster, fish, meat, and every desert known to man (I got 15 and rated them in order of taste. Mr. Mousie thought it was very weird as he is not a desert-obsessed woman :P).

Today, we got up at the sinful hour of 8am, about two hours later than normally. I suppose we finally got used to the time only to have to go back. Or more specifically, I got up early and while waiting for the day to start, occupied my time with continuing Smile Again, an excellent, excellent kdrama (I am on ep 9, so much for saving it for return flight). In some ways, it's a somewhat lighter spiritual precursor to Que Sera Sera: a really messed up hero who marks everything by success by any means, his one weakness the pure and even naive heroine. The reserved, good secondary guy with a messed-up past. The manipulative other girl who is in some ways very similar with games-playing hero. The reason it does not come across as so dysfunctional is twofold: (1) The heroine, who is adorable, is not really a pushover but very strong, and tomboyish, and full of common sense. When the hero tells her he could change for her, she points out he should change for himself first. Loving a guy who is a total mess by any definition is in some ways a weakness for her, and she realizes how it could all blow up. She is remarkably unscrewed up. (2) The hero has very good reasons for being what he is (childhood from hell, generally awful life and other plot-related reasons). Plus, he is played by Lee Dong Gun who always comes across as basically decent no matter what role he plays (I feel awful though because I keep thinking about LDG in RL and his brother being murdered). And whatever else he would do, he won't ditch the heroine almost no matter what. Some of it does come across as rather Talented Mr Ripleyish which is freaky. I am still rooting for secondary guy who is amazingly awesome and hot to get if not the heroine, than a happy ending of some sort. Will write up about it when get home.

Anyway, back to trip...

Went to a Royal Palace complex in Dusit with mandatory guides that insisted on repeatedlt pointing out the palace had no nails but only wooden pegs, a fact that was mildly interesting the first time, but rather more and more tiresome with every repetition.

Now we are off to lunch at some place that apparently has deep-fried snakehead (it's a fish, not reptile :) of the awful scifi movie 'Snakehead Terror' fame. No sign of Mansquito restaurant yet :P

This evening, we are either going to see traditional puppetry or make another try for a Muai Thai match (Thais love it enough to have one every day). Somehow sanctioned violence in a foreign country becomes 'exotic local color' and not 'Dangermousie normally is as interested in boxing as she is in calligraphy in Sinhalese.'

Off home tonight where I shall binge on LJ. And wheeee, they are playing Chak De India and Dhalmaal on the flight!

Decided: dramas I am taking on my super-long flights are Love Generation (Kimura Takuya! I haven't watched a jdrama for a bit), Smile Again and Save the Last Dance.

But this is not about that.

Somebody, talk me out of 90 Days.

Yeah, it's that drama where my current favorite kdrama actor, Kang Ji Hwan, plays a man with terminal illness who wants to find the only woman he's ever loved, whom he lost.

AND she is his cousin.

I knew that.

But I just read today that not only that, but his drama father is abusive! And beats him! Prior to keeling over and ruining his life for good.

I am sure this is very wrong, but all of this made me want to watch this even more.

Apparently, at one point he also has to break up with his OTP for her own good and be awfully mean to her, even though it kills him inside. My favorite drama thing! And I think he hits himself because of it. Yes, I meant 'hit' not 'hate.'

Need...to...watch.

Somebody, stop me. But Kang Ji Hwan! A whole drama made of his angst! That is like...catnip. I can't fight iiiiiiit...resistance weakening. This is sick. I am such a h/c junkie.

Maybe I should solace myself with Exhibition of Fireworks instead. I know it's supposed to be flawed, but it stars Han Chae-Young who I like and Kang Ji Hwan is adorable and shirtless in it. And it has a happy ending.

Seriously, who cares about story flaws when you can have this:

I am off to Thailand at the end of the week. Got my shots and everything. :P Also, since the flight is over 17 hours each way, I am bringing dramas to entertain me (with enough batteries to last me most of the flight :P). It's probably going to be Thank You and Save the Last Dance, but not decided yet.

But for certain, it will also be Smile Again. I just started it (because yes, I am enjoying my Goong rewatch, but I need 'new' dramas to watch) and SO AWESOME.



Granted, I am barely fifteen minutes in, but (in conjunction with reading the synopsis), I can tell it will pinge so many of my fiction kinks:

1. Strong, tomboyish, well-adjusted heroine. When we first meet her, she is on her high-school baseball team (and she is the only girl!) and when an opposing player tries to do sexist harrassing, she starts a fight. YES.

2. Hero who totally likes the Heroine but she is oblivious and is crushing on Secondary Lead.

3. Hero who is high-school president and all around smart kid who had to drop out of high school and not go to college to protect female friend (for whom, it must be said, he has only protective brotherly feelings, YAY). And now he is trying to deal with the wreck his life has become.

I love the beginning, with the Heroine taking no guff from anyone, and Hero actually rushing to help her and being all jealous she pays no attention to him but is all about cute Secondary Guy and her utter cluelessness about his liking her :P

Oh, and did I mention Lee Dong Gun? I love him to bits.