PrettyCarEye

Now this gets a spot on my priority list. Thanks for the review, Patty!

Hi, sorry once again for the late reply. So busy these days I don't even have time to watch any dramas! :(

I'm starting to notice a pattern to how a drama might end up. So far my theory has had a 70-80% success rate, so I tend to choose my dramas based off of that.

My theory is this:
Here in the West no matter the genre you can expect either a happy or hopeful/bittersweet ending. In Asia, I think the ending depends on the genre. If it's a rom com you're guaranteed a happy ending, but in most other genres the ending is usually sad or tragic.

Crime/Action/Thriller, the ending is likely to be tragic (with stupid writers aggravating viewers with the suggestion that the hero might not be dead -- God, I hate when they do that!!!). Historicals/Melodramas, mostly sad or tragic endings where one of the protagonist is likely to face death. Time Travel/Fantasy ... tends to have confusing endings, which usually don't make a lick of sense! Drama/Romantic Drama, it's 50/50, can by happy or sad, but perhaps usually more sad than happy.

What is clear, imo, is that Asians have a propensity to veer toward the tragic or melancholic. Being an optimistic person by nature, I just like when shows end on a hopeful note. Sure, life isn't always a bed of roses, that truth doesn't have to manifest itself in my entertainment (at least not as the rule). Seriously, I'd quit the damn things (Asian dramas) if I weren't so hooked! :)

Haha, dæga-yo??? Yaaaaah, I didn't teach you anything! haha
Yes, all the sex in Spartacus can be a bit gratuitous, but at the same time there's also a solid human story there that really engages your emotions and make you root for the characters. I'm sure if you had continued watching you'd have come to love Spartacus & his band of slave brothers too.

I was never interested in the IRN series because I hate Sex & the City type shows, but after hearing Lee Jin Wook (from Nine) is the male lead in IRN 2 I've changed my mind! haha

I'm thinking of watching IRN 1 & 2, but not 3. Aside from the fact that I don't like noona love dramas, I stopped liking Jung Soon (or whatever he's called) after seeing him in Can We Get Married.

And don't get me started on the kissing in dramaland. It's a downright travesty! LOL!

Well, for me I hated all the awkward intimacy from day one! When I first saw how kissing went down on Asian TV I was shocked. LOL!
I was like what the "#¤%&/ is this??? Only to discover there were worse cases! I became a complete anti-fan of everything that had fish kissing or 'ops I tripped & fell on your mouth' type kissing. I found myself seeking out more erotic fare just to experience an adult approach to intimacy (when I didn't even like erotica all that much before!).

As for Yoon Eun Hye I love her for the same reasons. I've never seen a drama in which she went the fish kissing route. She's always a full participant & I just dig about her. But Marry Him if You Dare, boy! #smh So glad I didn't get aboard that disaster train.

"The writing has to be sharp. Romantic tension a plus. And of course, it must be LOGICAL!"

Seriously don't hold your breath on this one. The VAST majority of Asian dramas will be the complete opposite. High levels of censorship on Asian TV prevent creative diversity. Writers are only able to experiment with different character arcs, but an expectation to adhere to the Confucian value of conformity prevents them from exploring new social ideas. So the world their characters live in never changes. The only way to enjoy Asian dramas I've found is thru the characters. They can be really good at crafting fascinating characters.

With that in mind I'd like to recommend you watch Golden Empire. Some of the most 3-dimensional characters I've ever seen & the overall moral of the story is good although I didn't agree with the conclusion (hence the 9 & not a 10). Great dialogue, rich with metaphor & innuendo. There's some hints of romance, but it's never developed. It was the best drama of 2013 for me. Genre consists of mostly business/politics.

Haha I know right? I call Lee Sun Gyun THE VOICE. I first discovered him in Coffee Prince. His voice is so sexy deep & chocolatey! :) ... not high pitched like Kang Ji Hwan. I totally loved Petty Romance, hilarious! You should watch him too in Everything About My Wife.
Anyway, I'm not that into him as an actor, but I sure wish my bf had a voice like his! hahaa ;)

Hi, just read you ep review & just had to respond.
I hated Cha Soo Young in OB ...!!! What a spoilt, annoying woman child! I later grew to resent her husband too! I won't say why since you still have a ways to go. Let's put it this way: horrible, nightmarish mom-in-laws will always be the way they are if their behaviour is tolerated!

Apart from that couple, I liked this drama. Hope it'll be good to you. Oh and I see you're a Narimiya fan. Nice! I loved him in Orange Days & Sweet Room! :)

Total and utter BS. They say the same sh*t every time they nonsensically kill off a character simply for the reason that the writer wants him dead (not because it makes sense in the context of the story).

Their so-called 'open' endings are not open at all. If they went to so much trouble to show that the guy is dead then he is dead. Simple as that. The vague possibility that he may be alive is a red herring thrown out to appease viewers they know will be disgruntled with the notion of a dead hero. So lame! I'd have more respect for them if they stuck to their guns. But as usual Korean writers think their viewers are too stupid to see through their idiotic ploy.

I so agree with you about Kang Ji Hwan's voice! Indeed, very much a pity! :)

No, I wouldn't say so. KES raises the bar in comparison to other drama writers who never infuse anything new or fresh in their dramas. She doesn't abandon the usual drama tropes, but she tends to create situations in which they actually make sense. That said, this is mostly true of her later works from Lovers & onwards. The 'Love' trilogy are her first dramas. In Lovers in Paris/Prague you can see that she was simply following the formula, as most drama writers do, without any of her personal touches that I've come to know & like.

For me Lovers in Prague was a slightly painful experience even though I liked the characters well enough. It was so filled with those frustrating cliches (fish kissing & all!) that I couldn't believe I was watching a KES drama. Later I would abandon my attempt to watch Lovers in Paris for the same reasons. So no, I couldn't in good conscience recommend them.

You're not alone in picking things apart and wanting stuff to be logical. I don't think that's a bad thing. I'm the same way. I tend to piss some people off because I'm pretty vocal about all the foolishness I see in Asian dramas. How can I not? It's difficult for me not to when I'm busy being frustrated or intellectually insulted rather than enjoying the show.

I can't remember exactly what happened at the hospital with Mi Joo & the ex (except that I was rolling my eyes at a band of gangsters facing off in the lobby & NOBODY thinks to call the police??! haha). But why would it be a bad thing that he tried to protect them both? I'd think it's the decent thing to do given his history with Yu Jin, no?

Ahhh ... wait! Could it be that he overestimated their fighting & bat wielding abilities & left himself and Sang Tæk vulnerable, was that it?

If so, cut him some slack. Even lethal mob bosses can make mistakes. No one is invincible. Just boil it down to the stress of the situation! haha :)

As for MJ's depression/crying, I don't think it compromised her strength as a person, but I do in fact agree that this tendency to draw out the romantic developments a bit too much is one of KES's weaker points. I guess she thinks she's building spine tingling tension (all those longing stares! haha) so the actual romance doesn't start until the last 4-5 episodes (it's pretty much the same in all her dramas that I've seen). At the same time, once she finally brings the couple together they pretty much stay that way. No dumb separations or anything like that, which is one of the things I love about her shows.

Anyway, I noticed that you gave it a 7, which is a decent score imo, so it must not have been all that bad for you! I'm glad! :)

Usually set in stone, but sometimes not. I expect a happy ending but Korean drama writers do have a nasty tendency to throw dumbass curveballs that come entirely out of left field. They think they're so darn clever in trying to break with convention, tsk! Anyway, the show is over & we all got what we wanted so yay.

Yeah, and?
I have far less faith in Korean writers than you do. But of course I hope you're right! I want JW & AR to have their happy ending too.

I wouldn't hold my breath.

What if it doesn't materialize?

genger, I won't honour your childish outburst with a response, however, for the benefit of anyone else who cares, here's the deal with my grievance with these endings (just in case the distortion of my position in this 'debate' has given you the wrong idea):

1) Conceptually I don't have a problem with death ... IF death makes sense in the context of the story & the circumstances of death remain true to the character arch.

2) South Koreans are sticklers for form and formula in pretty much EVERY aspect of their lives. To a fault. Even in their cinema & TV every genre has a predetermined trajectory in spite of the creative process, which may dictate otherwise.

3) Since CC was mentioned I'll say this about it. It did piss me off, not so much because an important protagonist was killed off, but because 1) the death was unnecessary to the story, 2) the death made absolutely NO sense in light of the character's expertise as a marksman & an avid martial artist. He knew his way around guns, he could take out 10 gangsters alone, with his bare hands, BUT at the critical hour he ALLOWS himself to be overpowered & shot. WITHOUT any attempt to save his own life! Even if you give way to the thought that shit happens to the best of us, it's inconceivable.

Fact is the ending was predetermined by the genre even if the story & characters weren't.

The creative process is characterized by a severe lack of authenticity, integrity & respect for viewers' cognitive & deductive abilities ... all in the name of sticking to formula.

Where God's Gift is concerned, the ending, by all accounts, suffers the same bizarre, uninspired, stupid fate.

But it comes as no surprise. It shouldn't to most viewers either, but the fact that it always does is what I don't get!

Try to grow up a little, genger. Chæbal. We all get a little annoyed with each other from time to time. Like I said deal with it ... instead of throwing a tantrum just because you don't like anyone criticising your favourite drama!

And wow, a depressed ahjumma going on a desperate ... whatever the rest of that sentence said.

Wow, is it necessary to personally attack me? Somehow wasn't expecting that from you, esp given that you're a 'friend'. Thought you were a bit more mature than that! Guess not ...

Btw technically I am NOT an ahjumma since I'm not married but whatever. Call me ahjumma as much as you like! You think you're gonna stay young forever? haha

As for my mental state, thx for your non-concern (and taking a mean spirited jab at those who might be suffering from depression). Lately I've only been watching dramas that for the most part suit my tastes so no, not depressed at all!

Cheerio, genger. I'll continue to share my opinion as I see fit. If you don't like it, feel free to scroll by.

Genger, am I frustrating you? Haha, deal with it! I don't need to have watched the show as I DID state my comment is based ONLY on what I know of the genre, NOT the drama in general. Furthermore, just fyi, I DID watch the closing sequences in question so yes I'm qualified to state my opinion just like everyone!

Whether you like me saying so or not, the fact is you can predict how many Asian dramas (esp Korean) will end depending on the genre they fall into, MOST of the time (rom-com = happy ending; melodrama = tragic or bittersweet ending; historical/time travel = real open wtf ending; crime/thriller = stupid, scratch your head ending where hero/ine DIES, but writers allude to the fact (or viewers perceive this) that s/he might still be alive to appease viewers).

I have now watched (or read recaps) of several dramas in this genre and they ALWAYS, with very few exceptions, have the same crap ending. He's dead ... but for those viewers who can't deal it let us throw you a constellation red herring that he maybe possibly is alive. And you guys ALWAYS fall it! LOL! Not talking about you specifically, but viewers in general. #smh

If they killed him in the first place, that means he's DEAD in the water! That's all am sayin'. I don't need to have watched the show to say or know that. In fact, I'm damn glad I didn't ... otherwise I'd've probably travelled to SK to commit murder! haha

//edit

CC's ending was pure chicken sh*t! It's not so much that he died that infuriates me, but the fact that up until his demise he was this badass marksman but suddenly as his life is on the line he starts making silly, out of character mistakes which allows his enemy to seize his gun & shoot him in the heart! ***eyeroll***
I wish I could shoot the damn writer!

Ok full disclosure: I have not watched this drama so my comment is solely in reference to whether the lead character is dead or not.

Based on the fact that 98.99999% of dramas in the crime/thriller genre end the same way, I think it's a safe bet to accept that the guy is DEAD. Not probably, not maybe. DEAD. D.E.A.D. DEAD.

People want to buy into the wishful notion that the mysterious 3rd person who came to greet the brother as he leaves prison (or wherever he was) is DC. Most likely he is NOT.

Think about it. WHY would the writers go to so much trouble to kill him off in the first place, if he wasn't really dead? He is dead. I know it's painful (I've been thru it), but try to accept it.