PrettyCarEye

Hello edinaa, apologies for the late reply. I've been good! Watched Smile, You over the weekend. Even though the beginning was a bit slow I pretty much loved it up to about ep 34. It was light & funny and just what I needed to destress, but then all of a sudden, from ep 35 and onwards, the mood changed drastically. It becomes more melodramatic & angsty, which I hate because I watched this show to laugh, not to be disturbed by all the negative emotions that are being stirred up. This has caused my initial rating of a 9 to be reduced to a 7 though I still have two and half episodes to go.

What have you been watching? Anything that left a particularly good impression?

Hope you're well.

That ending was effed up. Totally. It wasn't right. At all.

Yeah, the way he delivered the line was silly, but I still could have done without it. I don't know where on earth they get this ridiculous idea about men experiencing pregnancy symptoms. The likelihood of this happening is so rare that you don't need to see it in every drama where a pregnancy occurs. Stupid.

Yeah, I really bawled like a baby when they were at the hospital & they thought he was dead. I hated it. I watched this drama particularly because I wanted to smile, not cry. Some people love melos & heartwrenching stories. I don't. Everything has completely changed & I kinda can't wait for it to be over ... which is sad because I loved it up to ep 35. I was gonna give it a 9, but now all the melodrama & negative emotions have reduced it to a 7. My ratings tend to be negatively skewed, meaning what I didn't like about a drama will affect its rating more than what I liked.

Hey the guy who plays Seo Jung Gil is in Smile, Dong Hæ isn't he? Let me know how it's going. Seems like you watch a lot of long, family dramas. I like this drama too. Just wish I had more time to watch stuff!

Ok, off to finish up 43 & the rest of the episodes.

Hyun Soo is a real gem. I love alpha heroes the best (like Kang-Jæ in Lovers or Doctor's Son in Cruel City), but every once in awhile a sweet, sensitive guy like Hyun Soo is nice to watch. I love that he writes poems & tells Jung-In that he loves her after he's done talking with her on the phone. So cute. But, having said that, I hope he doesn't become whipped like his dad. Seems like that's too much to hope for since it's already happened. lol

About to start 43. I have to say that while touching I'm not liking these last few episodes (from around ep 35 up to now). The mood has completely changed. Now everything is so sombre & dark. I would have preferred if it remained as before, light & comedic. Up to ep 35 I was happy that this drama seemed to have avoided the usual cliches, but then this tragic turn happened just like in 99% of every other kdrama. Sigh. I thought Smile, You would be the one show where nobody is dead or dying. And this business about the guy getting morning sickness for the wife. ::eyeroll::
It's quite annoying because it's so bogus science. Not to mention overdone & cliched beyond belief! I think this is the 5th or so drama I've watched where they've come up with this nonsense. Ugh, I don't find it funny. It's enough to induce morning sickness in me! :)

Aw well, I hope these last 3 eps will be worth it. For now it's looking like a 7 or an 8 for me. What about you? I guess by now you're probably finished with it?

I had a look at Family Honour & it seems like something I might want to check out, but I'm not 100% sure yet. The plot sounds kind of makjang & melodramatic so I'll wait for your updates to hear how it's going. After this I'm planning to finish up The Greatest Love. I've had it on hold since June so I want to get it done & over with.

Well, can't argue with that! :)

haha Oshin is a gem. It doesn't surprise me that it holds a special place in many people's hearts. And you're right! I actually knew it was made in the '80s but I watched it in the early '90s so I got things mixed up. Correction duly noted. :)

So I checked out your profile too & see that you're currently watching Cruel City. How are you finding it so far? And didn't you like AGD?

Heeey, same difference, mr! :p

I think you're right. Given that all her life she's disregard by her husband & to some extent her kids, now that she'll have a little power to wield over someone she'll use it to the max. And poor little orphan Ji Soo who longs for a family will probably let Joo Hee mistreat her, but hopefully Sung Joon oppa will stand up for her (though I doubt it given how Korean men are so attached to their mothers). Jeez. I don't think I can ever get used to such family dynamic!

You like Kyung Soo? lol He's such a pussy, tho. He's not my favourite character, but he's okay.

As for Jung Kyung, aren't some people like that? Always wanting what they can't have & throwing away what they do have. I think she's going to get back together with the hospital director. Speaking of him, I don't like him & his daughter is a complete brat. I don't really like Jung Kyung (or the actress who plays her) so I don't really care about that love line. As far as I'm concerned they deserve each other.

Awww ... the proposal scene had me bawling! Too bad that blasted Ahjumma had to be their like a dark cloud. I almost wanted to forgive her after that scene where Hyun Soo tells her he'll always love her. But then she starts with her foolishness again at the photoshoot. Sigh. She's lost all credibility as a parent to me. She should be happy that her son is happy & marrying a woman who clearly loves him to pieces. That is the wish of any & all good parent above all else, that their child is happy & healthy.

Anyway, about to finish up 35 now & will probably watch 36 right after. At some point I'm gonna have to get up & go make dinner for my ahjussi he doesn't start complaining about how my drama addiction is ruining our lives! Haha. But please don't tell me what happens! I want to be surprised! :)

Loved your review of this! Sounds like my kind of show even though I'm a bit disappointed to hear there are no kiss scenes! But well done, mr. Knight! :)
A drama that was actually spared your ax. Oh, my days ...
First show you finished in how many weeks....? Haha! :)

I try to understand her, I do. I mean I'm also like an only child to my mom. I have an older brother, but he's much much older than me bcuz my mother had him when she was a teenager. So I grew up as an only child bcuz my brother was already close to being an adult by the time I was born. My mother did kind of smother me with her all love & attention (she still does, bless her). And when time came for me to start dating she was very strict & critical of every guy I mentioned & or brought home.

However, when I finally got together with my current bf she was never that possessive of me. She didn't warm to him immediately, but because she saw how happy he made me she did her best to accept him for my sake, not his sake. This is why BGJ's attitude is so baffling to me. She claims to love Hyun Soo to the moon & back, but she can't let go of her animosity just for the sake of her kid's happiness?

Jung Gil did just this. Jung Gil of all people. Jung Gil who only cares about money & himself was able to see that if Hyun Soo isn't in Jung-In's life she'll be miserable forever. Although I know it's unlikely, I really hope Hyun Soo & Jung-In will live on their own in their own house or apartment. If they live in his parental home I can just imagine how nightmarish Jung-In's life would be until BGJ warms to her.

Here in the west mils often get a bad rap so I always feel sympathy for them & side with them. It's funny how when it comes to Korean MILs my feelings are the exact opposite! :)

I took a little nap in between watching so I'm off to watch 35 now. I suppose you're way ahead already.

That's the thing! Watching the show you'd think Hyun Soo is Geun-ja's lover rather than her son given how possessive she is of him.

I mean the guy is a grown ass 30 yr old man! lol She had to have expected sooner or later that he'd want a mate (and I mean 'mate' in the truest sense of the word, someone to have sex with) & that she won't come first in his life anymore. That's the whole point of having one's own husband to fuss over after the kids have left the roost. But BGJ seems like she would have been content to throw out Sang Hoon & live happily ever after with her Hyun Soo! lol

I mean did you see how she told Hyun Soo to choose between her & Jung-In? I couldn't believe my ears, that a mother would say such a thing to her son. That's why sometimes I have to wonder if these dramas are just pure exaggeration or if such attitudes are indeed pervasive throughout Korean culture. If it really is then it's a wonder any Korean man ever gets & keeps a woman! lol

Another scene that had me shaking my damn head was when she deliberately scalded herself with hot water. As Hyun Soo dotes on her, Jung-In walks in & he immediately forgets all about Geun-ja much to her chagrin! LOL That's when you really see her jealousy on display. WHAT really did she expect?! From where I sat, it was kind of twisted & sick! lol

The woman is a crook, but I think she's changing now that she's won over Man-buk. I want her & Joon-bæ to get together. That Joon-bæ, he's something else! :)
What do you think of the Sung Joon & Ji Soo union. I like them together, wish they had more screen time.

Oh really, where in Africa or you from?
I have Caribbean roots & I know a lot of Caribbean MILs can be very unreasonable, but it's also not a requirement there for DILs to move into the parental home of her husband. Moreover, while Caribbean DILs are expected to show respect for MILs (and older people in general), you're not required or expected to be subservient or deferential as DILs are in dramaland. You can have an opinion & voice it, as long as you're not rude about it. And yeah I've seen the scenario of mils overstaying their welcome. lol

Personally, I'd never live with my MIL. Ok, I won't say never bcuz when they start getting old & such they're going to need a little help. But it will have to be a relatively spacious house where I can escape to my refuge, if need be. There's a saying in the Caribbean: 'Two hens can't rule one roust'. LOL I believe that wholeheartedly. It wouldn't sit well with me having someone else tell me how to run my household or raise my kids. Maybe I can take that sort of grief from my own mother, but not my husband's mother.

What about you?

Haha, really you think so? I have a few friends that have African MILs, they don't seem that bad. Besides it's not a requirement in their culture (like it is in Asian cultures) that the mother lives with her son & daughter in law. So even if MIL is a nightmare at least you can endure for a bit then go home to relative peace and quiet. Aigoo, I'm so glad my bf's mother is a really cool lady!

A lot of time the daughter in law are portrayed as the only victim of this setup, but I tend to feel bad for the guys too. It can not be easy being caught in the middle of 2 (often strong-willed) women who you love because no matter how you choose it will always be the wrong choice for somebody. Aigoo...

oO, I'm about to start 34 now! Hoping for some more lovey dovey scenes with Hyun Soo & Jung-In. I really like them together. They're so cute & have good chemistry.

Yeah so I read & I think they look nice together too. Apparently they went the pregnant route before getting married. Rascal ... lol

Wow, I know you have crazy MILs in every culture, but I've never seen anything this extreme. They treat their kids literally like property. And sometimes its really hard for me watch grown adults, esp men, deferring to their parents every whim. Anyway ... that's actually one of the reasons I love Asian dramas. I may not agree with certain things, but it's certainly a culturally rich experience, isn't it.

So I'm making my way thru 33 & Sang Hoon has kicked Hyun Soo out of the house so he can go be with Jung-In. Finally, Sang Hoon is growing a pair. If there was ever a time when a husband is justified in shutting up his wife, it's now. Geun-ja I just can't stand her anymore. Her voice is so damn loud & shrill. Ugh.

Btw, don't you just love the bromance between Joon-bæ & Mak Bok? lol I love their old man banter. So cute. And I love how Joon-Bæ pronounces Mak-bok's name & pretty much just how he speaks in general is quite funny to me. lol

Haha! Han Se's mom, a very bad experiment indeed. Moreover, she's so typecast. Always playing the same toxic, horrid monster-in-law archetype. She was positively dreadful in Ojakgyo Brothers. Omo, at the time I wasn't that used to Asian dramas & man, she ran up blood pressure to extraordinary proportions. I also hear she's an absolute nightmare in Secret Garden. Thank god I plan never to watch that drama.

Jung-In's mom has been such a vapid, useless character up until now, but it seems like she's finally growing a backbone. Thinking about how she kinda gave Jung Gil an ultimatum to get his act together.

At this point I don't know what Bæk Geum Ja can do to redeem herself. She's trying my nerves hard. I really need to ask the few Korean people that I know if this is really how family relations go down in their country cuz boy ... any thought I ever entertained about dating a Korean has flown out the window. hehe

Han Se is a pest! I've been extremely annoyed by his presence for the last several episodes. He's the worst of all 3rd wheels. I hope they'll finally cut him loose.

Unfortunately it doesn't look like Hyun Soo has the balls to defy his mother. What is it with Korean men & their mothers? Damn! It's like that navel string never gets cut.
They should have gone the shotgun route the first time they left the house, and live on their own!

I'm about to start 33. At first I didn't mind her, but Bæk Geum Ja is really pissing me off at this point. Gosh, I hope Haraboji doesn't die. Why can't we ever have a show without such unfortunate diagnoses? Now I can just see the whole mood of the show changing to something more sombre & tragic ... ugh.

Oh, I love all the ahjussi candy on your profile! Many of those mentioned are my favs too! :) And I'm so on board with Lovers! It's definitely one of my go to dramas! In fact, the best drama ever for me. I became a mad fangirl of Lee Seo-jin after watching it. This rarely happens to me, lol. Usually I have to watch an actor in a few things before I decide whether to like their acting or not, but with Lee Seo-jin I didn't care so much about acting hehe.

BTW, I'm watching Snile, You as well & I agree with your comment about Hyun Soo's mom. I don't know what's her deal! It amazes me that she has the gall to judge Jung-In when she's no better herself. Grrr ...

You know, I love the fact that in Korea children are expected to have an extremely high regard for their parents, but just once I'd like to see an adult child defy their parents when it comes to who they marry. I mean why do you need parental permission in this day & age when you're grown? After all, you're the one who's going to be stuck with this person for some time, not your parents. I don't know if this is how it really is in Korea today or if they exaggerate in tv shows to increase dramatic effect, but I can't reconcile myself to this aspect of their culture! To my western sensibilities it's just so ... odd! :)

So yeah a rebellion would be interesting to watch! My respect for Hyun Soo grew 3-fold when he took Jung-In and walked out, but he didn't stay away long enough to suit me! :)

Hey stumbled across your profile & noticed that you've watched 'Woman is the Future of Man'. I've been looking for that movie all over without much luck, can you tell me where you watched it? Cheers! :)

Yes, crime is one of my fav genres especially when its gangster related. I don't know what it is about the gangster world that intrigues me so! Maybe bcuz it's sooo far removed from my own life or maybe bcuz I try to go thru life with the toughness of a gangster lol. I dunno. It's just thrilling to me, the stakes are always high and men are badass & HOT! :)

I don't really care for police procedurals a la CSI anymore because it's so overdone. I do love undercover crime dramas and movies though. Before I got into Asian cinema The Wire was one of my favourite shows. It had many elements of a police procedural, but loved that its focus was mainly on the crime organisations & their efforts to thwart police efforts. Getting a realistic, no-holds-barred look into the American gangland was refreshing & an eye opener. Street Kings, starring Keanu Reeves was also great.

Unlike you though I like when there's romance in these type of shows. These shows tend to get so testosterone pumped it's good to break things up a little & show a softer side to otherwise very hardboiled characters. BUT, the romance has to make sense to the plot. It can't just be thrown in there. I didn't like the love line in CC for this reason. I think they could've & should've left it out. It was not significant to the plot in any way. It felt forced, like it was put in there because it's expected of the genre, not because it was significant to the story.

This is perhaps my biggest complaint about the show. A lot was included that made no sense to the story or plot, rather it was included to adhere to formula. It's a noir so this and this has to happen. It's rom-com so you have to have an arrogant hero & a idiotic heroine. Do you understand what I mean? I hate formulaic shows. Hence the 7.

Tell me about it! Mad ending! Still pisses me off! #smdh :)

Did you watch Nameless Gangster? What you mean you got lost watching it? Was the plot confusing? I guess you didn't like then?

A post of questions! lol