I saw Go Doo Shin's powerhouse performance in If Tomorrow Comes a few weeks ago & I was blown away. I've never…
But that's the thing, NKDA. I never hated her. I was appalled by her behaviour, but I never hated her. I was rooting for her because she wasn't necessarily a bad person. Her heart was always in the right place. She was just a bit insensitive to those around her, esp her husband, and too focused on getting ahead. She wasn't any different or worse than the arrogant, overbearing male leads that populate dramaland. While others complain about them, I never do, unless they're truly rotten to core (most of the time they're not). I always root for them to become more sensitive, loving people, so it was no different with Go Doo Shin's character in If Tomorrow Comes. I thought she was amazing, how she took care of business & would kick your ass if you crossed her. lol I loved her growth. She become everything I knew she could & would. Great character! Definitely one of my favourite female roles.
What cat fight are you referring to though? I can't remember all of them.
I saw Go Doo Shin's powerhouse performance in If Tomorrow Comes a few weeks ago & I was blown away. I've never seen a female character like hers in a K-drama. She was ruthless and shrewd, and literally a ball buster, but she gave the character so much heart, I couldn't hate her. Too bad I had to drop the drama for other reasons, but I'm looking forward to seeing her in High Society.
Regine, well done. I enjoyed reading this article.
The way my PSD sets in is kind of weird. Rather than experiencing PSD right after a really great drama, I feel high, like I'm on drugs. A very very mild form of PSD (I refer to it as the beginning stages of withdrawal) sets in at the prospect of NOT finding another drama that will maintain my high or give me a 'higher' high. LOL, yeah, it would seem like I'm a bonafide junkie.
So, I'll frantically search my list for another drama that I think might be just as good, only to be disappointed ... and THAT is when full blown PSD is triggered. Rewatching the drama doesn't help me. Usually I just have to let it run its course. I distract myself with a movie, work or some other hobby. It blows over after a few hours or after a few days, depending on how good the drama was. If it's a drama I rated in the 9s or 10s, the PSD might last longer than a drama I rated an 8.
The last drama I watched was very good and I had PSD for two days after watching the last episode. I haven't decided how I'm going to rate the drama yet, I'm thinking either an 8 or a 9 ... I'm leaning closer to an 8. Obviously this is a damn good 8 since the drama gave me PSD for 2 days.
She did not play a very expansive role though. She was more like an afterthought, which is how female roles are typically written in many j-dramas. Anyway, I saw you gave it 1.5. LOL. A bit harsh ... :)
Five Minutes to Tomorrow is a Sino-Japanese co-production, but the filmmaker is Japanese. Generally, slow, sometimes lyrical, pacing is a staple of Japanese cinema more so than Chinese. From the trailer alone it's evident this is more a film of Japan than China just by its mood & tone. I'll check it out.
oh no this is a c drama can anyone tell me if joe and jiro are dubbed in this?
You're right. They could indeed watch their shows subbed like we do! Very good point. But I'm guessing they have a whole different culture when it comes to dubbing & subtitling. They may not have the same relationship to subs like some other countries do. For eg they may actually be like the US, where the vast majority of American viewers hate reading subtitles. That's why most foreign language films that are released to a wide audience (and not in specialty foreign language film theatres) tend to be dubbed into English rather than have subtitles. Case in point: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. Maybe China is the same way when it comes to subtitles. Maybe most people hate reading them.
One thing I didn't remember to mention in my previous comment above is that in addition to the dubbing of the voices, the shows are subtitled too! That is to say, Chinese subtitles on a Chinese language show or movie. Ever notice that there's almost always Chinese subtitles on every C-drama and movie? I always thought those Chinese subs were for Cantonese viewers (or Mandarin viewers if the dialogue is Cantonese). But in fact, according to what I was able to find out, it's usually subtitles that correspond with the dialogue. So it's like watching an English language film .... with English language subtitles.
Why on earth do they subtitle their own language? Well, apparently it goes back to the vastness of China. The country is HUGE and there are vast socio-economic differences in the population. Some people can't read, that's why it's important to have clear, unaccented voice overs (dubs) that as many people as possible across the country can understand. On the other hand some people still have difficulty understanding the dubbed voices, so they put on the subtitles as an extra precaution so even if people didn't quite understand what was said, they can read it!
It's all very fascinating to think about actually. That you can speak the same language and yet not able to understand each other because of vast differences in provincial dialects.
I actually don't like dubs myself, but I guess I grew to accept them. When I was a kid I watched a lot of Chinese marital arts films that were dubbed into English. The dubs were horrible haha (not to mention strange to see Chinese people with English sounding voices), but it allowed us to escape into a world so far removed from our own that we grew to love them. Definitely if I can watch a show without the dubbing I will, but I won't refuse to watch a film/drama because it's dubbed. I'd be missing out on a lot of good stuff. Moreover, in a lot of dramas the dubbed voices don't sound too bad and they actually match the character so this helps me not to focus on it too much. I understand, though, that for other people who may not have grown up in a 'dub' culture like I have, this is very unusual and disruptive to their enjoyment of the show. I feel for you guys! Hugs! :)
This is my second try at a Chinese drama, Boss & me the first. I am on episode 23 at this writing and probably…
The thing I like about C-dramas is that they seem to have a more modern worldview than most K-dramas. In most K-dramas (that I have seen) many characters don't act like normal people do in this century. Speaking candidly about sex and other normal life occurrences (single parenthood, divorce, premarital coupling etc) is often taboo and or very much shrouded in uber conservatism. Instead of tackling these issues head on they either turn things into a big joke or have the characters act like children or buffoons. Obviously, they're not really alone in doing this as I've seen similar set ups in C/T dramas, but it seems more prevalent in K-dramas.
I also like that in C-dramas characters seem to have a lot more personal autonomy. Parents will try to assert their will, but seem generally more accepting of their children's choices than K-parents who often insist on having their own way & treating their children like property, rather than human beings and adults. For eg, I've never seen a K-couple register a marriage without first notifying the parents and getting their approval.
I still love K-dramas, though ... the ones that break out of the mold mentioned above. And I have to say if this drama, My Sunshine, sets the precedence for C-dramas on a whole I'll be sorely disappointed. Thankfully, I have watched other C-dramas that have been less frustrating. You mentioned that you have too, which are those?
As for J-dramas, they seem great for every genre except romance, in my experience. Their romances are usually not very romantic or at best they feel very half-baked (with some few exceptions). Usually if romance is mixed with another genre ... for eg comedy or family or crime ... rest assured the focus will heavily favour the other genre to the detriment of the romance. Also, kissing and believable intimacy are important to me in a drama. If it's also important to you, j-drama kissing/intimacy is even worse than the others. You have a few j-dramas, esp those from the 90s & mid 2000s, that are the exception to this rule, but in general I've not been very satisfied with a lot of the j-romances I've seen.
So if romance is one of your favourite genres, beware of J-dramas. Having said that, j-dramas are still pretty special in their own right. If you're looking for starkly realistic (meaning very little chance of escapist, idealized love/happy ending) and often (though not always) well developed characters, j-dramas are usually good for that. They're very good at getting to the heart of the human experience, which gives the impression their dramas have more depth and meaning. For some people this is more important than catering to fantasy. Personally, I like a good balance between fantasy & realism. That's the type of drama I enjoy the best, but sometimes I feel j-dramas veer too heavily towards one and not the other. That's just my personal experience, though.
This is my second try at a Chinese drama, Boss & me the first. I am on episode 23 at this writing and probably…
Oh lord have mercy, you hit the nail SQUARE on the head in terms of ALL the problems I have with this blasted drama! Yes, yes and YES! On every last word you wrote. At the start of ep 24 ... and I'm so ready to drop this stupid thing, but I know I won't because I'm just as stupid for having a policy that I must finish everything I start.
Not only is this drama unrealistic for all the reasons you stated, but the relationship between Yi Chen and Mo Sheng feels very icky to me! I mean up to this point (ep 24) she acts like a 12 yr old child whilst he's all man. Whenever he pounces on her it makes me feel so uncomfortable!
I really hate those pouncing kisses ... that's supposed to portray unbridled passion, I guess, but seem so .... rapey instead, esp when she's cowering like a frightened, virginal teenager. Ugh. I would have loved to see the character of He Yi Chen with another kind of female lead. A real woman, rather than a woman-child.
Even though people have reported that the coming episodes are much better, after 24 eps of this nonsense, things have already reached the point of no return for me. I can't see myself giving this a high score regardless of how the remaining episodes turn out.
I liked Boss & Me way better than this because there was more natural and realistic progression in the romantic relationship there than here.
I like when screenwriters wrap up every part of the story. But this story has too much incompleteness. So, I am…
I completely agree that this couple is woefully mismatched! I can't find their relationship believable. Why such a passionate, successful, affable man like Yi Chen would be so smitten with the immature, childlike Mo Sheng. I can't get into the drama completely because this relationship feels so off ...
Nice and cute drama! Very refreshing, filled with realistic moments ^^ I've got to say that I more, more prefer…
Many kisses and touches? Did we watch the same drama, Chrissy? Cuz I'm on ep 24/32 and the leads have not shared a proper smooch (in which both parties actively participate) since the start of the show! I don't call that pouncing tiger thing Wallace did in ep 8 a kiss...
1 
What cat fight are you referring to though? I can't remember all of them.
The way my PSD sets in is kind of weird. Rather than experiencing PSD right after a really great drama, I feel high, like I'm on drugs. A very very mild form of PSD (I refer to it as the beginning stages of withdrawal) sets in at the prospect of NOT finding another drama that will maintain my high or give me a 'higher' high. LOL, yeah, it would seem like I'm a bonafide junkie.
So, I'll frantically search my list for another drama that I think might be just as good, only to be disappointed ... and THAT is when full blown PSD is triggered. Rewatching the drama doesn't help me. Usually I just have to let it run its course. I distract myself with a movie, work or some other hobby. It blows over after a few hours or after a few days, depending on how good the drama was. If it's a drama I rated in the 9s or 10s, the PSD might last longer than a drama I rated an 8.
The last drama I watched was very good and I had PSD for two days after watching the last episode. I haven't decided how I'm going to rate the drama yet, I'm thinking either an 8 or a 9 ... I'm leaning closer to an 8. Obviously this is a damn good 8 since the drama gave me PSD for 2 days.
Sængil Chukahæ, ahjumma!
One thing I didn't remember to mention in my previous comment above is that in addition to the dubbing of the voices, the shows are subtitled too! That is to say, Chinese subtitles on a Chinese language show or movie. Ever notice that there's almost always Chinese subtitles on every C-drama and movie? I always thought those Chinese subs were for Cantonese viewers (or Mandarin viewers if the dialogue is Cantonese). But in fact, according to what I was able to find out, it's usually subtitles that correspond with the dialogue. So it's like watching an English language film .... with English language subtitles.
Why on earth do they subtitle their own language? Well, apparently it goes back to the vastness of China. The country is HUGE and there are vast socio-economic differences in the population. Some people can't read, that's why it's important to have clear, unaccented voice overs (dubs) that as many people as possible across the country can understand. On the other hand some people still have difficulty understanding the dubbed voices, so they put on the subtitles as an extra precaution so even if people didn't quite understand what was said, they can read it!
It's all very fascinating to think about actually. That you can speak the same language and yet not able to understand each other because of vast differences in provincial dialects.
I actually don't like dubs myself, but I guess I grew to accept them. When I was a kid I watched a lot of Chinese marital arts films that were dubbed into English. The dubs were horrible haha (not to mention strange to see Chinese people with English sounding voices), but it allowed us to escape into a world so far removed from our own that we grew to love them. Definitely if I can watch a show without the dubbing I will, but I won't refuse to watch a film/drama because it's dubbed. I'd be missing out on a lot of good stuff. Moreover, in a lot of dramas the dubbed voices don't sound too bad and they actually match the character so this helps me not to focus on it too much. I understand, though, that for other people who may not have grown up in a 'dub' culture like I have, this is very unusual and disruptive to their enjoyment of the show. I feel for you guys! Hugs! :)
I also like that in C-dramas characters seem to have a lot more personal autonomy. Parents will try to assert their will, but seem generally more accepting of their children's choices than K-parents who often insist on having their own way & treating their children like property, rather than human beings and adults. For eg, I've never seen a K-couple register a marriage without first notifying the parents and getting their approval.
I still love K-dramas, though ... the ones that break out of the mold mentioned above. And I have to say if this drama, My Sunshine, sets the precedence for C-dramas on a whole I'll be sorely disappointed. Thankfully, I have watched other C-dramas that have been less frustrating. You mentioned that you have too, which are those?
As for J-dramas, they seem great for every genre except romance, in my experience. Their romances are usually not very romantic or at best they feel very half-baked (with some few exceptions). Usually if romance is mixed with another genre ... for eg comedy or family or crime ... rest assured the focus will heavily favour the other genre to the detriment of the romance. Also, kissing and believable intimacy are important to me in a drama. If it's also important to you, j-drama kissing/intimacy is even worse than the others. You have a few j-dramas, esp those from the 90s & mid 2000s, that are the exception to this rule, but in general I've not been very satisfied with a lot of the j-romances I've seen.
So if romance is one of your favourite genres, beware of J-dramas. Having said that, j-dramas are still pretty special in their own right. If you're looking for starkly realistic (meaning very little chance of escapist, idealized love/happy ending) and often (though not always) well developed characters, j-dramas are usually good for that. They're very good at getting to the heart of the human experience, which gives the impression their dramas have more depth and meaning. For some people this is more important than catering to fantasy. Personally, I like a good balance between fantasy & realism. That's the type of drama I enjoy the best, but sometimes I feel j-dramas veer too heavily towards one and not the other. That's just my personal experience, though.
Not only is this drama unrealistic for all the reasons you stated, but the relationship between Yi Chen and Mo Sheng feels very icky to me! I mean up to this point (ep 24) she acts like a 12 yr old child whilst he's all man. Whenever he pounces on her it makes me feel so uncomfortable!
I really hate those pouncing kisses ... that's supposed to portray unbridled passion, I guess, but seem so .... rapey instead, esp when she's cowering like a frightened, virginal teenager. Ugh. I would have loved to see the character of He Yi Chen with another kind of female lead. A real woman, rather than a woman-child.
Even though people have reported that the coming episodes are much better, after 24 eps of this nonsense, things have already reached the point of no return for me. I can't see myself giving this a high score regardless of how the remaining episodes turn out.
I liked Boss & Me way better than this because there was more natural and realistic progression in the romantic relationship there than here.