LucyL

I'm sure it was when you consider what 'popular' means, "people are talking about this". SG highlighted income inequality, youth unemployment, a rapidly aging society, and the huge problem of debt held by S Korean citizens in their quest to stay afloat, so of course, in this context it was popular for S Koreans in regard to having their dirty laundry being aired on the International stage. It brought conversations surrounding the content out into the daylight, which was great in terms of citizens wanting a change in many areas of S Korean life.

One has to remember most people didn't give SK much of a thought before SG. During and after, interest exploded due to the targeting of the global audience by Netflix. It was their cash cow, so to speak. That is what I was referring to in my comment.

I agree, Choi Jin Hyuk deserved the closer look he's garnered in this from viewers. Episode 15, him being reunited with his mother practically broke my heart and I cried right along w/him. Yet, leaving out the great Lee Jung Eun is such a disservice to one of SK's finest veteran actresses. She risks her all in every role she plays. They both held my attention.

Remind me why she didn't trust him. I won't be rewatching this any time soon.

🎯🎯🎯

I've been seeing more comments lately refusing to accept what has become the Dragging- in- the- middle- episodes- with- a- rushed- ending Standard.

Writers have gotten away with this lazy mentality due to all the high ratings for mediocre scripts following International viewers flocking to Kdramas after the Squid Game success (on the International level, NOT in S Korea or other Asian nations). Viewers just wanted new content as fast as possible, not bothering to watch the great dramas and movies from SK's past. Writers kept up the demand by lowering standards, and poof, here we are, 3 years post SG.

Personally, I've been hoping the tide would turn and viewers would start demanding better from the entertainment industry. They'll continue to lose revenue to China, if not. SK, like many nations, has a HUGE growing elderly population, 19% as of '23, that will also be a driving force in the changes. I'm elderly here in the States, but my entertainment is Asian. It'll be *cough* entertaining to see what's coming.

Thank you so much for reminding me of Kanopy, and it isn't a grey site either.

Rick, if you're anywhere near a library it'd be worth the trip. Proof of residency in your county required (usually DL), no fee, renew annually. I haven't been in ages so Kanopy never crossed my mind.

Change one tiny little detail in a review or rating and it'll throw the drama or movie right back into Completed under List Updates. I would rather see my newest stuff under the Updates, not what I watched years ago.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda, and didn't. I'd read enough reviews and comments across several sites, and put S3 under Not Interested after finishing S2 which I couldnt figure out unless I rewatched S1, again which I wasn't in the mood to do. So I took S2 as my stopping point. No need in suffering any longer.

It started to be a problem not too many years ago when the powers that be listened to netizens, of which the majority are the young, screaming for another season, another season, another season because they couldn't accept and be satisfied with the ending of stories and the cast. Give 'em what they want, we'll make a profit regardless roared throughout the boardrooms, and thus mediocrity reigns. That's why there shouldn't be multiple seasons. Besides, following the Western formula in entertainment will not work. It affects the quality. *speaking to NF*

Wow. A commenter wrote "but I really think that the trees represent more than just forestry. It is a testament about giving. A testament about how one person can change the thoughts and lives of so many in such a profound, positive way. It is a story about how little had to be said, but a lot had to be done. He didn’t have to write stories, or blogs, or transcripts to make a difference. He didn’t have to go onto social media and profess to be the all knowing. He just meticulously put his passion into making the world a better place, just by taking the time to sit down and choose the seeds that would produce the most beautiful harvest. He knew that he wouldn’t be around to see it forever; but he was well aware of what and who this was for. Because he put his life into making this change, HIS life was more at peace. HIS life felt more fulfilled. HIS life had more meaning; not filled with the stresses that we often times fill out lives with. But just days that included waking up and asking himself “where will I plant more trees?” And feeling good and excited about that prospect.

All of us could learn a lesson in this about how we impact each other. How we all can make a difference in making this world a better place. That if ONE of us chooses this path, it will produce positive results. If all of us take this path, it will change the entire makeup of this world in such a wonderful way."

I've said many a time if there are no trees, birds, water sources, (or horses as I was raised on a horse until my teen years), then there's no need in me living any longer. Thank you for the recommend. Yep, I cried.

Said so very well. 🫶🏼

and Of course once you mentioned old trees and forest it sent me into a rabbit hole. I love learning something new. Nature reclaiming the land from human's devastation and destruction sounds like I would like.

I've held back on the last 3 episodes of MSM, not wanting it to end. Thank you and I will.

Can I safely assume the dramas under your list that you've rated 7.5 or higher do not follow this trope. I've recently expanded from just Kdramas to Cdramas and need a list to look to for guidance.

Jung Hae In is so versatile in his roles, and he's already primed us with several romance roles for a lead in a rom-com, so it's about time. I love it when an actor expands their talent, such as Uhm Tae Woo did in My Sweet Mobster.

I've see you under many a drama profile. What is your meme pic? Maybe it'll explain I was, once.

Neither can I, if they're really honest with themselves.

I'm much older than all of you commenting. Old enough to be your grandmother, or great g'mother, so I see the backside of watching something that draws you in because of the hype, and the feeling of 'being left out of the convo' if you decide against watching. I didn't want to be left out, even though I knew I couldn't handle it mentally.

Desensitization to heinous and vile material through Saw (franchise), Alice in Borderland, Battle Royale, Squid Game, and even the Hunger Games (franchise) feeds on, and expands, our corrupt nature. I'll throw in a multiple season series that abruptly brought me to the reality of my self-harm, The Walking Dead. When did I realize I was mentally self-harming...the heads on pikes episode. The worse, which was way prior to what finally woke me up, should've been the barbed-wire wrapped baseball bat bashing in the heads of some of our best characters.

BUT this old woman is still learning to stop second guessing herself and at my age I could give a rat's ass what others think, so the 'it's imperative I go along to get along or I'll be left out' bit isn't a surface level thought anymore. Seems like a few of y'all are strong critical thinking individuals who know what's best for themselves.

ps. forgive me the winded monologue, but takkrub's comment compelled me to answer how I REALLY felt about the content while watching SG. That's another downside to the internet, squashing personal opinions into accepting the (seemingly) majority voices. Isn't it by design though, for profit.

Three months after S1 was released I wish I hadn't bothered to watch. It added nothing favorable to my life. Only did so right away because of the hype. I won't watch S2 bc I need more peace in my life, not more stress and anxiety.