Eleison

Mok Ha and Ran Joo do fight, but I think it might be Ran Joo doing it to push Mok Ha away because she's afraid Mok Ha won't move on until she gets the albums sold and so will miss this window of opportunity? But it might be a real fight; that's how the episode ends, so it's a cliffhanger. But the preview seemed to show them working together again so somehow it gets resolved? But previews can be deceiving.

I haven't seen critique of CJH's acting so much as people struggling with his character. His character has displayed a lot of subtlety as an ML that can get easily missed or can be lost on a more nonchalant viewer and overshadowed by Woo Hak's bright, cheery and louder personality. Bo Geol is moodier and pricklier. Also, Bo Geol maybe feels a bit more jaded and world-weary than Woo Hak, and because Woo Hak's character is so endearing, I think people prefer Woo Hak's more cheerful personality. In Episode 7 I think CJH knocked it out of the park, but then in Episode 8 we see less of him again. I just think, too, people maybe want to see more of him with Mok Ha (and maybe even just more of him in general) to feel like they can fully root for his character? These are just some of my theories. Because it's such a short drama, she's had to trim things down (normally her dramas have been 16-20 episode dramas), so maybe that's part of it? I'm still really enjoying it, and while I could do with more Bo Geol and less Ran Joo personally, it makes the scenes with him extra special because they're beautiful and meaningful when they do happen. There is no fluff or filler when Mok Ha and Bo Geol are together. :)

I liked Go Back Couple but Hi Bye, Mama looked too sad so I haven't seen it. This one looks fun, but I might wait until it's done airing! I couldn't wait with Castaway Diva but this one I might be able to hold out for...

Whoa, this cast list is insane--where'd they get the money to feature all these actors?

I don't think it's super romantic yet, especially on her side, but Episodes 7 and 8 really upped the romance/chemistry on HIS side (though I personally think they have more romantic chemistry/tension than Mok Ha and Woo Hak; they just feel like good friends). We'll see in what way Mok Ha reciprocates Ki Ho's feelings as the episodes close out the series... This screenwriter doesn't usually have as many cutesy romantic scenes as other Kdrama screenwriters anyway, though While You Were Sleeping was a bit of an exception. That drama really delivered on the sweet romantic scenes. 😏

I agree, they have such high standards for their Korean actors and then their non-Korean actors are frequently dreadful at whatever language they're supposed to be speaking instead AND at acting. 😂 I've heard it's because they can't/aren't able to get actors from the actors' unions in the U.S. so they get what's left...

Oh, the actress! Got it. :)

Ran Joo is married? ??? Where did you hear that? 🤔

Love these insights! Relationships and community ALWAYS work better than a system. People make mistakes and fail, but systems (made by flawed people) are inherently going to let us down. With a community that loves us, there's a chance for restoration, and a safety net to catch us when we become too fragile to keep going alone. :) I wish the production quality was better because it's so incredibly written and acted. Just a gem of a drama!

While the age gap is a little wide for me between the leads, I love that not only does this drama have a clear theme woven throughout the drama, it's also a beautiful theme. It highlights how love (not just romantic love, but selfless, unconditional love) can empower someone to do what is right, even when it's difficult to do so.

It depends on your taste but if you've seen and liked I Can Hear Your Voice, Pinochio, Page Turner, While You Were Sleeping or Start-Up, then you'll like this one. It's by the same screenwriter and in my opinion she does some of the best writing in the industry. If you like the first two episodes, you'll probably like the whole thing! Give it a shot! (Or you can wait two more weekends and you can watch it all at once, since there are still 4 episodes that haven't aired.)

I know all dramas are in some way fantastical. I guess I can enter into the kind of fantasy in Kdramas because they feel a bit more grounded than Cdramas I've seen. They've felt like pure and utter escapism. I've visited Korea and I felt dramas actually taught me a lot about the rhythms of Korean life and much of what I saw/experienced, felt familiar. But I think China would not feel that familiar based on its portrayal in dramas. Just a hunch, though! I could be wrong. 🤷‍♀️

And yes, I was actually really surprised how good HL and WIFTY were. I also watched Love Like A Galaxy and was also surprised at how good it was. I did start with all the 9.1 and 9.2 rated dramas so... yeah, whoops. Now I have a high bar. 🤦‍♀️ I tried a few others but couldn't get into them. I'll look at those you mentioned sometime!

Huh, interesting!

Yes, I loved how both brothers were so straightforward and Woo Hak was so adorable about addressing the elephant in the rooom. He has really cute mannerisms! I even love the little awkward conversation Woo Hak had with mon and dad when they tried to ALSO address the elephant in the room (I appreciate Bo Geol isn't hiding anything, and that mom and dad are not oblivious and immediately picked up on the hearts shooting out of Bo Geol's eyes, haha), and Woo Hak got all offended that they even thought he would make waves and cause a rift with Bo Geol. So cute!

Even if they do give him more context, it doesn't mean they will romanticize his story. One thing this screenwriter does is show human beings in all their complexity. In their potential and capacity for compassion, selflessness, sacrifice, love, and growth, but also in their capacity to make mistakes, act selfishly, maliciously and to settle for an existence that prioritizes self. She makes ALL her characters so human, and does a fabulous job of showing how their choices make them who they are, and while they can grow, change, repent and forgive, the consequences for their choices remain. For all of her villains, we usually understand why they do what they do and how they became who they are, and when they had the chance to make different choices and were at a crossroads to lay aside revenge or ambition or their pride, they chose to cling to it, and the consequences find them. I don't think it romanticizes them, it allows you to see that people become good by making GOOD choices, and wicked by making BAD choices. Any of us can become either type of person if we allow ourselves to go down that road. We can relate to the temptation and the draw to have it all be about ourselves, but also get inspired by the beauty of those who choose compassion and prioritize others; these elements of their stories just help us relate to them all and connect to them more deeply.

A few of the Cdramas I have watched do manage to pull off the romance really well and somehow make that the only plot point and stretch it out for 30 or so episodes (HL, WIFTY). Didn't know it was possible! I also only tried the super highly rated ones, but they are SO fluffy and light-hearted that it makes them feel fantastical. There's something about the sets, settings, relationship interactions (outside the main leads' chemistry which is palpable, HL was shockingly good), makeup, hair and skin that just feels plasticky and fake. Kdramas can feel pristine (particularly in terms of the beauty of the actors), too, but not in the same way. I still can't really articulate the difference but there IS a difference and I'm still not a huge fan...

I think the Kang family all know that it's a matter of time dad will find them and have realized they are on borrowed time (with their names, too); they're grateful for the 15 years of happiness and peace they've had. We know that lies and hiding get very tiresome and eventually find the light of day. Bo Geol is getting desperate and getting a bit reckless and knows his dad is obsessed with finding HIM, so he's trying to distract him from the rest of the family.

I actually think Castaway Diva is also almost as much about Ran Joo as Mok Ha. They have her listed as the main lead right after Eun Bin and right before Chae Jong Hyeop. Someone suggested the "castaway diva" could equally refer to her since she's just a different kind of diva, one everyone has "thrown away" and given up on. As much as I adore the Mok Ha/Ki Ho plot, Ran Joo is essential. These three have intertwined stories and are the mains for a reason.

Yes, it was apparently removed temporarily. I figured it was a mistake because this writer always does romance, it's just not the main/only focus like other rom coms/melodramas.

I think this was also the reason he was so grumpy about Woo Hak talking about Mok Ha all the time, because he wanted to be the one to do that and he couldn't. 😂

"Do you want to die?" 🤣

I see what you mean, but I think it was just setting up the last 1/3 of the drama, so it felt slower. But necessary. Now we know Ran Joo's mom will somehow come into play, the Kang family is the next mystery to be exposed and the father will find them and Mok Ha's dream has yet to be realized. She keeps giving up on it to protect and help those she's come to love and who she is grateful to, and I think this episode is setting up how all those people she's trying to protect are going to make significant sacrifices to make her dream happen. I can't wait to watch how it unfolds!