Were you able to start?Arclei:
I’ve been eagerly waiting your greenlight ! I just wrapped up You Want Some? so I will dive into episode one of A.A.L.S within the next hour. Can’t wait to share my thoughts with you!
Simi_Tutu:
I’ve been eagerly waiting your greenlight ! I just wrapped up You Want Some? so I will dive into episode one of A.A.L.S within the next hour. Can’t wait to share my thoughts with you!
Omg, you were waiting for me? I'm sorrryyy T_T
Can't wait to see what you thiiiink!! I'll wait for you to continue with ep 2 💝
I can't recall a series that extends the meetings of the main characters beyond the first episode.
I think in all my (seven xD) years of watching, I've only seen it happen a handful of times and I WAS SAT. So we definitely need more of this.
Every time she lets down her hair to perform an exorcism, I lose it... She’s definitely my type! LOL!
That GIF has me swooning, you've fully sold me on this! Had only seen Jang Na Ra in more cutesy roles before but I'M LIVING for her vibes here.
I really hope things settle down for you soon and that you can find some time to relax. Thank you for taking the time to reply to my long message.
Thank youuu! and I hope the same for you as well. Also please don't thank me, I love talking here because I realized I watch things and then my first thought is 'I have no one to share this with' so I'm glad to talk at length here.
"Embrace And Never Let Go"
Gorgeous gorgeous song, and they play it at the best moments too! Love your pick. What are some of your other favorite OSTs (from anywhere)
I often have to pause the scenes to catch all the details I need to follow the story, especially in a mystery thriller. Sometimes, I get too lazy to pause and read, and the subtitles flash by so quickly that I miss important clues. By the time I reach the end, I’m left wondering where those clues came from. I end up having to go back and rewatch certain episodes, only to realize that the hints were there all along, and I just overlooked them.
this is so real because my attention span acts up and i watch things at 2x speed only to later realize I missed crucial details and having to go back to find the scene again. Bane of my existence.
I find it more enjoyable to explore the relationships between characters that aren't officially recognized. Imagining different scenarios where I wish the story had taken a romantic turn is a lot of fun, especially when the chemistry between characters is strong but romance is absent. This desire for scenes that never happened often drives me to search for fan-created scenarios on platforms like Tumblr. The fan theories and creative writing are incredibly entertaining!
YESSSS YOU'RE SPEAKING MY LANGUAGE. Unfortunately, I'm an angst girlie through and through so things like this GIVE ME LIFE. I also have a horrible habit of losing interest once characters officially get together which is bad and I'm working on it, and I know it's working because I'm warming up to more cozy soft stories as I get older.
or at least the occasional bad hair day
HAD ME LAUGHING AT WORK
I'm not sure if it's the humor or the fact that many of them are set in a school environment, but I've found myself dropping a lot of them halfway through.
humor is such and important and subjective part of a watcher's experience, I totally get you because sometimes characters say the most out of pocket things under the guise of humor and it ruins the experience for me. I'll give a quick example of this historical chinese drama i'm considering dropping called Perfect Match. It's labeled as a romantic comedy but I think that's not right because it then gives way to people laughing at things like DV, abuse, cheating and just straight up misogyny, because it's comedy? in 2025? yes, it's a historical drama but it's supposed to be romantic fluff not a documentary of the dynasty. anyway, sorry about that tangent but yes, I totally agree with you that works aimed at younger audiences usually have very juvenile humor attached to them.
I apologize for the lengthy explanation before getting to your request for recommendations.
Not at all! Thank you so much for taking the time so share all these incredibly thoughtful recommendations. I'll definitely check them out and share my thoughts perhaps over DMs so that I don't end up spamming here oops.
Often, I just end up opening my web browser and logging in that way instead of using the app. Honestly, the only time I really use the mobile app is when I'm catching up on a series and need to update which episode I'm on.
I'm the opposite in that in my mind laptop = work and I mostly watch things on my phone but yeah the forums still have a long way to go on all devices for the most part.
P.S I apologize for the long message, but I enjoy sharing my thoughts with you. Thank you for taking the time to read it!
Please don't apologize! I loved every second of reading through it!
Hahahha, alright, fair enough xD
Thank you for all the reccss!!! You really delivered!! <33 Will defs check 'em out (you even recced some that I was on the fence on whether or not they were RR so the confirmation is greatly appreciated ^^). I was thinking this too, when I tried to look back I found that rr in friends-to-lovers was kinda uncommon but the idea really intrigues me 🥺
No worries at all. Honestly, the RR won't be as hard-hitting here because like you mentioned the combination is quite uncommon but I definitely think all of these are worth a watch. I wish my brain had MDL level categorization and organization capabilities because I watch things and then forget about them until years later.
It was so effortless and seamless
100% agree I watched it twice!
An Ancient Love Song Episode One
- Guo Jia Nan is quite attractive! I would definitely stare at him if he were in my line of sight.
- I'm feeling secondhand embarrassment for the editor-in-chief, who overlooked a misspelling of the empress's name and then blamed it on the intern.
- It's tough being married to your work and living that single life, especially when an overly happy couple pulls up beside you.
- Shen has photo frames filled with his own pictures—what a funny thing to do!
- I hope his bleeding nose and the drop on the medallion aren't foreshadowing something bad for the ending of the series.
- I love how he stops in the middle of being chased by dangerous forces to read historical articles. It's such a nerdy thing to do!
- Yes, a strong female lead! This is what I signed up for.
- Wow, that didn’t take long for him to cave; she barely got her sentence out and he already wants to do more for her, just for some answers. He needs to be a bit more cautious, haha.
- Right on, girl! Set some boundaries and have him work harder for your attention.
- Mother? Oh, adopted child! My brain started spiraling with theories before coming to a halt, LOL.
- It pains me that he didn’t wipe the blood off the blade correctly. Wouldn’t that ruin it?
- Please, Shen, you know you're the obedient type.
- She only tried one dish in front of you, not all the others. You probably should have waited for her to try each one to make sure it wasn't poisoned.
- Why do I have a feeling he’s going to take off the mask?
- And of course, he took it off just two seconds later…
- It’s only the first episode, and her longing for him is so palpable.
- I know it’s a bit unclear whether he is aware that he’s in the past, but it’s confusing why he would want to tamper with events he’s completely out of the loop about. What is his intention? Is he after historical accuracy or just material for a sequel that’s completely inaccurate and made up? Does he realize he’s in a different timeline? I have so many questions!
- "A weak country can only survive by being a subordinate to others"—sounds like a 'you' problem, not an 'us' problem.
- I felt for Li Yong when Lu Yuan basically called him a moron for being the catalyst for his own downfall.
- Young Tong is quite the little warrior! With a sword at his throat, he still has the courage to do what's right. Li Yong, you coward!
- This is interesting—maybe the history is different because Shen has yet to insert himself into the timeline to set in motion the correct path needed to affect the future.
- Wait, hold on, what was that swift movement? Can Shen actually fight?
I won't be able to share my thoughts on episode two until tomorrow. My Wi-Fi is acting up at the moment. I'm currently relying on my phone's hotspot.
Had only seen Jang Na Ra in more cutesy rolesJojoOnDatBeat:
based on the comments I've come across on MDL, many viewers mention that this role is one where she isn't portrayed as a sad character being taken advantage of by those around her. I see that as a positive aspect because if her character had been like that, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed the series as much. I really appreciate a strong, assertive vibe from my leading ladies.
I love talking here because I realized I watch things and then my first thought is 'I have no one to share this with'
This is such a mood ! I've come to realize that as I age, I find more joy in simply indulging in my favorite activities alone. Being a big introvert, I sometimes feel a twinge of disappointment when I get really into a show and have no one to share my excitement with. However, judging by how this club is shaping up, I believe we'll be here for a long time, exchanging ideas and enjoying each other's company. It seems like we all love to chat! Haha!
HAD ME LAUGHING AT WORK
Glad I can contribute to your daily dose of laughter. XD
It's labeled as a romantic comedy but I think that's not right because it then gives way to people laughing at things like DV, abuse, cheating and just straight up misogyny, because it's comedy? in 2025?
I haven't watched this series, but it has popped up in my recommendations several times. I'm quite taken aback that it has ratings exceeding 8.0, especially since I've noticed other dramas receive lower scores for far less significant issues. The topics in this series seem to ignite intense discussions in the comments of other shows. However, I usually don't focus much on the ratings on MDL. I've often seen series receive high marks simply because of the popularity of the lead actors, rather than the quality of the storylines, leaving me puzzled about what I just experienced.
. I'll definitely check them out and share my thoughts perhaps over DMs
If you come across any series that doesn't involve role reversal, don't hesitate to send me a direct message! I'd really enjoy hearing your thoughts on any of the three series I mentioned. I'm more than happy to rewatch the first two since I often find myself revisiting them a few times a year whenever I miss the characters. I do enjoy a good buddy watch!
I'm the opposite in that in my mind laptop = work
I have a variety of devices I use at home since I do a lot of my work remotely, just like you with your laptop. It can get overwhelming at times! I usually switch between my laptop, phone, and iPad. Plus, I’ve started using my TV more often since I discovered I can connect my laptop to it. That has really changed the game for me, especially with my poor eyesight. No doubt about it! Haha!
Question not sure if you already answered this, but have you watched the drama An Ancient Love Song ? Me and Arclei are doing a buddy watch
No worries at all. Honestly, the RR won't be as hard-hitting here because like you mentioned the combination is quite uncommon but I definitely think all of these are worth a watch. I wish my brain had MDL level categorization and organization capabilities because I watch things and then forget about them until years later
Completely understandable and yeah, ain't that the truth T_T I have to keep detailed lists and even supplement with notion to remember stuff xD
LONG HAIRED KIM KYUNG NAM WITH A CHILD???? LORD IS THIS HEAVEN
yes 😇🥺
you're making me want to rewatch it aaahh
Dewit.... JOIN US
 |
However, judging by how this club is shaping up, I believe we'll be here for a long time, exchanging ideas and enjoying each other's company. It seems like we all love to chat! Haha!
I agree! The vibes here are really nice and cozy! 💗
100% agree I watched it twice!
Yes! me too!!
Loved reading through all your thoughts and notes! So detailed xD
Apparently I can't quote spoilers so... I'll do this instead
- "I'm feeling secondhand embarrassment for the editor-in-chief" - Literally, how embarrassing is that- at least bro got called out for it
- "Shen has photo frames filled with his own pictures" - Ok so I wasn't tripping when I saw that- XD That is indeed quite the unusual thing to do but ig ultimately... why not???
- "foreshadowing something bad for the ending of the series" - 😰
- "I love how he stops in the middle of being chased" - You're so right. This man has 0 self-preservation skills and I love it.
- "Yes, a strong female lead!" - and boy is she STRONG. Like the absolute butt-kicking she does is insane!
- "Wow, that didn’t take long for him to cave;" - no. self. preservation. skills. xD Looks like he's someone eager to please, hehe
- "Mother? Oh, adopted child!" - I loved this detail! Her own child or not, it's nice to see leads be parents. Especially in historical stories where they would realistically have children at that age.
- "Wouldn’t that ruin it?" - Yes tho T_T it's not like he didn't have the time either
- "Shen, you know you're the obedient type" - Facts! 😂😂😂
- "She only tried one dish in front of you, not all the others" - He's giving "I watched a couple of historical dramas and read some books so I would obviously survive in a historical setting" energy but kinda realistic and I'm lowkey really here for it xD Like absolutely no, king, but go off
- "her longing for him is so palpable" - God, RIGHT?!?! It's so intense and well-done, like, omg
- "why he would want to tamper with events he’s completely out of the loop about" - I was thinking this too... for a historian, this seems like dumb rookie stuff. Like bro never watched back to the future?? T_T Do. Not. Mess. With. The. Timeline. BARRY
- "I felt for Li Yong..." - Bro looked so bamboozled. Also this actor really fits the prime minister role- I can't describe it but he looks right xD
- "Young Tong is quite the little warrior!" - SO CUTEEE
- "maybe the history is different because Shen has yet to insert himself into the timeline" - This is possible, I heard people say that it has a unique storytelling structure so I believe they're really gonna play into the time travel thing + the fact that she seems to know him but he does not know her and all that.
Ep 2.
- Apparently bro travelled ten years to the past (from the point in history where he travelled to in ep 1) and now FL doesn't know him. So they meet sometime in the gap
- Emperor and Shen's bond is already so tender 🥺
- Imagine being those plebians cussing the emperor out- 💀
- Shen try not to get himself captured or killed challenge (impossible). We love it though, gives FL more chances to protect her man 🔥
- That fight scene? Like, girl went there saved her man MULTIPLE times and looked extremely badass doing it! The fight scenes were actually quite well choreographed too o-o
- I just love those fight scenes where the fighter needs to fight while protecting someone and this was hitting all the right beats!
- OH MY GOD THAT GENERAL IS THE CUTEST THING I'VE EVER SEEN- 🥺🥺🥺 (aaaand the actor has no lead roles... fml)
- aaaaand it looks like he's gonna kick the bucket.... RIP.
- Not Shen just being able to waltz into the palace and then sneak inside a room. I'm sobbing, he's such a moron and is gonna get himself killed but it's still somehow working 😭 He's giving more and more himbo energy with every passing moment.
- ..."Stepfather?" HOW OLD IS THE PRIME MINISTER??? HOW OLD IS THE GENERAL??? WHAT?!?! The family dynamics are confusing me, I need a family tree T_T So FL is the sister of the general and the stepdaughter of the prime minister or is this referring to 'jie' as in 'older woman'
- Emperor and Shen bromance is so giving.
- Shen gagging at what the prime minister is saying is peak, 'cause same bro! And how the emperor mimics him xD
 |
My reply took long cuz I made the gif- good time management who?
Let me know when you want to continue with the drama, my schedule cleared up a bit rn so I'm good for a couple of more eps if you are
leafless7:
So I got interest in two RR dramas after reading it here.
1. Man's world - Indian 4 episodes series. It kept getting darker and darker as the drama progressed.
2. The other half of me and you.- loved this. Good romance and good comedy. With good ending (not happy).
1. Yessss this was one of the first strictly RR dramas I watched and like omg I was left traumatized. It's definitely of the darker ones out there but I enjoyed it
2. One of my absolute fav RR dramas. It's just so thorough in its commitment and also funny and cute while still bringing up relevant social topics. An absolute banger
Glad you enjoyed them! 🥳
Recent Discussions
-
What was the last (Non-Asian) show you completed?5 minutes ago - glamouresta
-
Last Asian Song You Listened To?8 minutes ago - glamouresta
-
Who Do You Prefer? (Kpop Ver.)25 minutes ago - glamouresta
-
TOP 5 STRONGEST CHARACTERS IN WEAK HERO DRAMA SERIES38 minutes ago - AP
-
Underrated Actors Who Deserve More Praise43 minutes ago - Fiona
-
MDZS Audio Drama Links ²⁰²⁴44 minutes ago - Neha.V.Kumar
-
Historical Dramas Club44 minutes ago - HotGeGesWife
-
Which Was the Last Drama Episode You Watched? Part 345 minutes ago - HotGeGesWife
Hottest Discussions
-
Who Do You Prefer? (Kpop Ver.)25 minutes ago
-
Which Was the Last Drama Episode You Watched? Part 345 minutes ago
-
Historical Dramas Club44 minutes ago
-
Like, Dislike, Ehh, or No opinion17 minutes ago
-
Keep a word, drop a word #221 minutes ago
-
10 dramas/movies with ____? #410 minutes ago
-
Word Association #447 minutes ago
