Akumi

Even if you're only including rape cases involving Korean celebrities, your comment is too broad and can be damaging. I do understand the damage and long lasting consequences a false accusation of rape can cause someone, but the right answer isn't to stigmatize women who report rapes/sexual assaults. Instead, spreading information about what damage it causes and the consequences other would be blackmailers/false accusers faced may be something that would get that message across without making it seem like those that accuse celebrities are all liars, or at least 90% of them. Even just statistically that's not reasonable.

Shi Hoo could have known her through his CEO... Idk, but I don't think the fact he was leaving that agency and she knew the CEO automatically makes it a conspiracy and planned. A lot of people have friendships/relationship with CEOs of those companies, especially if they're in the social groups of celebrities. So her knowing the CEO and Shi Hoo wanting to leave the company are two separate facts, but if you tie them together after the accusation comes out it seems very nefarious and conspiracy like. I don't think it proves anything at all. Still, I sincerely don't know because I'm missing a ton and half of facts.

Personally, I don't have a very defined opinion of Shi Hoo being guilty, but I do think he did wrong things that night and that taints him a little for me. He shouldn't have been carrying her into his apartment and that's where I am on that. I don't know if he raped her or if she was after money and he definitely doesn't deserve a rape charge for carrying her into his house, full stop. So I don't view him as a rapist, but at the least he's a man that made wrong choices.

I don't have any problem with you defending the drama, but your comment was defending Shi Hoo. Come on. It was all about 90% of people falsely accusing celebrities to get money. Even if you didn't explicitly state it was in defense of Shi Hoo, why else would you post a comment like that?

And I don't think it's right for people to hate this drama because of Shi Hoo if they're disparaging other actors/actresses, the writing, the directing, and anything else about it purely on not liking Shi Hoo as a person. I think Shi Hoo is a very good actor and has talent. I don't particularly like him as a person, but that doesn't mean I can't acknowledge his talent and enjoy a drama he's in. For some, however, they can't get past Shi Hoo maybe raping someone and they'll feel offended that someone would even hire him again. That's their right and I think they're allowed to discuss their feeling about it in the comment section. If it turns into just hate for everyone in the drama and the drama itself as a creative piece, then it crosses a line, but expecting people not to bring up him being accused of rape and settling out of court is wildly unrealistic. Actors' personal lives and controversies will always reflect on the work they're in and that's just a fact.

We just need to reach a balance of discussing the matter without being hateful towards the drama as a whole and without being disrespectful towards people reporting rapes/sexual assaults. I just felt and still feel your original comment was damaging and misleading, but you've explained your meaning behind it. Idk if I really get your thinking behind it, but I don't really have to either. lol I spoke my piece and you, yours.

I hope more people give this drama and chance and I will when it's completed, but I understand if they can't as well. Hopefully, they'll keep any negative comments about Shi Hoo just about Shi Hoo and not the drama. Unless, they actually don't like the drama because they've seen it, then hey, fair game.

Every time I think about starting this drama I think about this comment. Shi Hoo's scandal is secondary to how upsetting this comment is and the fact that it got so many hearts is even more upsetting. The percentage you list is nonsense and is clearly presented in a way to vilify women that report sexual assaults. There is already a huge stigma against women who aren't able to "prove" they were assaulted. And if you can't get a conviction, which is rare, then it's a false report. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to PROVE sexual assault?? Do you have any idea how the female body works? Chances are there won't be any physical evidence even if the victim fought back physically. And a person is allowed to say no at ANY time and if things still progress after that then it is assault. It's basically a he said she said game and comments like these are why women don't report assaults, ESPECIALLY when it's someone with money, social influence, and a huge fan base.

If someone is in such a high position as Shi Hoo was, is, he already has HUGE advantages over the victim. He has money, a legal team, societal influence, and the public just liked him. He could afford all the legal fees that most of us wouldn't be able to, which is an advantage that often decides many cases. When someone takes a settlement it doesn't automatically mean they are admitting they were just in it for the money, chances are they're admitting they don't have the means to drag it out through the court or the process is too much emotionally/physically. Also, settlements often include a multitude of concessions, such as promises of no reprisals, gag orders, and many other things I'm sure I'm too uneducated to know about.

Now, I don't know if Shi Hoo did this or if the victim was after money. What I do know is that he was caught on CCTV carrying her into his apartment and that later on she supposedly texted about wanting money to one of her friends. And that they reached a settlement. People are allowed to like or dislike Shi Hoo all they want regardless of this scandal. Both options are valid and more power to you.

I also am aware that there are cases, even highly publicized ones, in South Korea when a woman blackmailed a popular star in order to get money. In those cases, it was proven. I know it happens.

However, saying 90% of women that report sexual assault against powerful men are money-grubbing liars is disgusting, cruel, and harmful. And it's just not true. Also, people are allowed to dislike a drama based on an actor because of their personal life if it's as polarizing as Shi hoo's. He's a public figure. The drama team was well aware of who they were hiring and what potential backlash they could face. I'm sorry one of your favorite actresses is involved, but telling people to ignore a rape scandal is going too far.

Love Shi Hoo and support him and this drama.

Don't support stigmatizing all (or 90%) women who report rapes or sexual assaults just because it fits your narrative.

Is no one going to talk about how losing enough weight in a week to look like a different person would likely lead to death or at least serious illness? How chubby can a person be if a week without food is all it takes to suddenly be "attractive"?

I am interested in this drama and I get manga logic, but I just couldn't quite stomach that without at least saying something about it. XD Also, it's a little sad that they have actresses they always designate to play the roles of characters they call ugly and unattractive.

Dude...half your comments make zero sense. We're watching dramas here, not searching for the meaning of life or joining a religion/cult. I dig the "free your mind" vibe you give, but it's a bit much in relation to a Kdrama.

I agree 100% with your first two points. When I was watching "Doctor Stranger", I fell in love with the first two episodes and with Jae Hee. She was mysterious but so strong while still being feminine and not overly superhero-like. When they make a woman a spy/fighter they often make her invincible or overtly sexual and it grates. Here, I felt that her character hardened with her experiences and she very much was someone I was rooting for.

I don't know why she was flayed alive by the viewers for lying/hiding things from the ML for his own safety when MLs have been doing this since the beginning of time and are swooned over for it. Was she right to do it? No, probably not. That doesn't make her evil or cruel. She was doing the best she could in an impossible situation in order to save the man she loved. She gave everything to Hoon. Everything. And still, people wanted her to be this paragon on virtue. The people that hated her are also the people that complain about FLs being boxed into certain roles/actions and here the FL broke those stereotypes and did the more ML-like actions and she was roasted for it.

I was seriously confused and almost upset with how much people were shipping the SFL and ML. She was a naive, wishy-washy, lying little girl. I seriously grew to almost hate her, which might not be fair as I probably would have been okay with her character if people weren't saying she was better for Hoon than Jae Hee. Seriously?? Wtf could she ever relate on a serious level with him and his experiences? Not to mention what her father did to him and his dad, but she was selfish and narrowminded in her world view. How were these two a good fit? If you removed all of Hoon's suffering and he was just the fun-loving doctor he acted like, then sure, they would work. But he wasn't. They were from wildly different worlds and they weren't changed enough, or in Hoon's case, healed enough to mesh well. Cute as friends, but I sincerely don't understand thinking they should be more.

I do think, however, that Jae Hee's character was done dirty. They really should have flushed it out more and she definitely should have been given more screen time so her motivations were better displayed. They spent more time on every other main character and they were less important to the plot, imho. I can see how people would dislike her character because of this, but I don't think it's the actress's fault so much as the writers and directors. I actually think this actress has matured and progressed amazingly in her acting and people need to stop hating on her. People need to let others grow and change and not keep punishing them for their past. It's annoying.

Wow, this got long. I'm just so glad that I found someone that agreed and wrote so eloquently about this drama. I couldn't write any better about "Cunning Single Lady" than you, so I won't even try. I will say that you have convinced me to watch "Seige in Fog" though! There were such mixed reviews, some horrible ones, that I put it at the bottom of my Cdrama list but now it's back to the top. Based on your description of her, she is a FL I'll enjoy. I'm actually excited to give it a go, so thanks for that!

I hope you're staying safe and healthy and thank you for this fun article!

You did such a good job explaining everything that's so wonderful about this drama without any spoilers! Awesome writing and you got across your emotions and opinions while still being informative with the facts of the show. Seriously, great job! You'll definitely convince those that are hesitating and probably even those that weren't even planning on watching this to start it. You didn't disappoint with this article and in fact, I'm going to go rewatch this now because you made me feel those emotions this show invoked just with this article. I can't wait until Wednesday!

I feel that exact same way @JaLee. I hate this new seasons business that's happening with Kdramas. I love Kdramas for many reasons, but like you, one of the main reasons is that there is a set beginning and ending to a series. No dragging it out or having it become complete nonsense because a series suddenly goes from 1 season to 10. I like that the stories are contained to a certain number of episodes instead of having to wait years, sometimes even a decade, to get a resolution for my beloved characters. I really hope this doesn't become the norm.

So excited! Gong Hyo Jin is my girl crush and I can't wait to see her on my screen again. I'm not even bothered one bit about the age gap. I am here for this cast. <3

I did sincerely enjoyed reading this! I'm not one for empty compliments, especially when they're unnecessary or not socially obligated. Why put the effort into commenting just to lie? Seriously, if something makes me react strongly enough that I spew my opinion or drives me to actually engage in a social interaction it is something I enjoyed.

I'm sorry if my first comment came across negative towards you, when I'm just generally opinionated (and blunt about said opinion) and any negativity was aimed towards that drama and not your article or you. We can have differing opinions or disagree without disliking each other.

There are also a fair few dramas that I enjoy without shame even though they're objectively dumpster fires. So no judgment here! And disagreeing about 1 out of 10 isn't a bad ratio! :)

To end with positivity, my favorites from your list are Ta Hwan and Kim Min Joo. And my reasoning is literally yours. I babbled so much about the one I disagreed with because for all the others it was like you wrote my thoughts for me. But those two have a special place in my heart and I've rewatched those dramas just for their acting and characters.

Not at all! I held off watching it for a long time because of the bald heads too. I completely understand! It took a few episodes, and then suddenly the characters and the story made me stop noticing their hairstyle as something odd. I hope you give it a shot some day! I'm sure you'll be surprised at how attractive someone with half a bald head can be!

This article is a fun read and you did a great job with the writing and explaining your feelings and opinions. I happen to agree with pretty much all of your choices except Kim Moo Young. For me, he would fit your other article listing anti-heroes that become just horrible. One of your main reasonings for a character fitting that category is them not actually going through any redemption and committing crimes that were unforgivable or that they didn't even apologize/feel guilty over.

Kim Moo Young straight up murdered people and enjoyed other people's pain and felt absolutely no guilt over it. He may have put on a mask of being human and following the FL's directives like he was play-acting someone human, but he never really changed except around the FL. He cared in some twisted way for the FL, but ultimately he led to her death after cold-bloodily murdering someone else point-blank. I can't wrap my head around seeing him as someone that has a heart of gold or as being good underneath. The whole point of the drama was that he WASN'T good underneath and that he couldn't change or become "human". His singular redeeming trait was his unhealthy twisted love of the FL, and even that was corrupted and destroyed due to his inability to change into a good person.

I was also just disgusted with people thinking them both dying that way was in any way romantic. Like Romeo and Juilette causing the death of four other people and then destroying their own lives over a love that lasted three days when they were teenagers. It's not romantic and Moo Young was a straight-up bad guy, not a "Bad-Boy" worth swooning over. He was just horrible. I just wish that so many people didn't mark it as a romance or like Moo Young is a tragic misunderstood hurt little boy. Put an ugly person's face over Seo In Guk's and I bet most people would suddenly be less sympathetic.

Sorry, I still feel so strongly about that show even though it's been months since I've seen it. I will agree it had good writing and great acting because it definitely made me hate it and the two main characters with a burning passion, but I still watched until the end.

This, of course, is just my opinion. You just, unfortunately, hit one of my buttons and I overflowed here. Haha Seriously, great article! It obviously made me feel engaged and involved, wish is awesome! Hope to read more from you!

I agree with your opinion about the Kdrama version 100% and that's why you really need to watch the Chinese version. That drama is one of the best written, acted, and directed Cdramas I've ever seen. The relationships are much more fleshed out and you get to see every single character grow and changed. Seriously, watch it sometime.

I just recently decided to watch a lot of his dramas after really liking his role in "Age of Legends". I went as far back as "Legend of Zu" and I ended up dropping that, because like you wrote, he was mediocre and so was the drama. You are completely right about his chemistry with Zanilia Zhao! I love them together in "Mystic Nine" and I'm slogging through it right now as it gets subtitled on Viki. It can get really boring, but I like the characters and am really enjoying Zanilia Zhao in it. I wouldn't say he's a favorite actor of mine, but he does put so much effort into his acting and has improved tremendously over the years. Basically, I agree with everything in your article and I think it was very well done!

I love you. I'm serious. I have been waiting months for subs on a Cdrama and I had given it up as a lost cause. And...it's here. On this site you've so wonderfully shared. All subbed. I literally teared up. Thank you so, so, so much!

This is such a fantastic drama. It is a work of art on every single front and I think if you want to watch something with depth and realism, you should watch it. Great article! It's very well written and explains the drama very well.

Hey, no worries! I've posted my fair share of spoilers. Thanks for taking it down! :D

This is a huge spoiler. Personally, I don't mind huge spoilers, but I know it ruins the entire show for a lot of people. Please use the spoiler tag.

I can't wait for this to finish so I can finally watch it. It's been driving me mental to hold back!

I think JSY has improved a LOT in her acting. She's not on the same level as the other leads, but I won't write off whatever drama she's in just because she's in it anymore. I'll give it a chance while not expecting something amazing from her. I liked her in her last two dramas or at least didn't hate the drama because of her.

There is a lot of filler in long Chinese dramas! We definitely don't miss the overall story-line by skipping the nonessential draggy bits. Also, after you've seen enough Chinese Historical dramas, especially fantasy ones, you pretty much know exactly what the filler scenes entail anyway. It's just easier to skip those and enjoy the real story without any unnecessary disruptions. XD

I have friends that tell me that and my response is pretty much the same as yours! I can't handle the wait between airings and sometimes my interest wanes because I get distracted by a different drama. I appreciate dramas more if I can just continuously watch it because I'm fully invested in the story without any distractions. You know what I mean. I'm glad there are people out there like me, we're not alone! :P