Surprise-Lobotomy

I have seen it. I am currently really enjoying the 2nd season of chuu2 every week. It's one of my favorites of the winter season so far, along with Witch Craft Works, Nisekoi and Love Song of a Certain Pilot.
I haven't seen Cha Seung Won in anything else, but I like him so far.

I probably seem silly since I only watch things with some kind of romantic sub-plot, but for me it's always been the best pick-me-up. When I have a particularly bad day, watching something romantic has always been like therapy. I'm not opposed to watching something without it, though, but I do get bored pretty easily if it's a 16+ episode series without any. Movies are way easier to enjoy without it, but I still hold that everything is better with a love story.

Are you going through MARS withdrawal yet? I think I might still be going through it, haha.

Haha, that sounds like punishment. "Alright, kids, I'll let you have this school dance but there will be absolutely 0% romance!"

I'm still going to keep watching City Hall when I get a chance to sit down. It seems like something I will like. I am also going to watch Good Doctor because I love Moon Chae Won.

I'd suggest you only watch The Princess' Man if you're ready for something really heavy. It's incredibly emotional, maybe more so than any other kdrama I have seen outside of Missing You. Full of political intrigue, action, betrayal and other things that will tug at your heart. You'll probably need a box of tissues, I did, but it has a happy ending and is definitely worth watching if you can stomach some melodrama. I personally love emotional rollercoasters as long as I don't feel robbed in the end.

The Moon Embracing the Sun is heavy at times, but not quite as much as The Princess' Man. It's really just a story of longing and separation with some political intrigue and a great supporting cast. I think this one is a much easier watch, but it still deals with some depressing themes and had me in tears multiple times. I love that, though.

I'm not going to lie, I am afraid I would react similarly at first. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night knowing the person I love most in the world was back in the same situation that scarred her so deeply. Pushing her away broke my heart and I don't think it was the right decision at all, but I completely understand his frustration. His kneejerk reaction was part of his character development - after that they grew stronger. I think that may be the moment in the drama that they realized how much they needed each other. Ling had quite a bit of growing up to do, it's only natural that they would hurt each other. I'm just happy that he really redeemed himself.

I also don't think her going back was the right decision. Her mother shouldn't have been in that situation, either. Abuse is rarely ever focused in one direction - the mother was a likely victim at some point as well.

I always try to respond quickly when I am actually at my computer and have the site open. I'm mainly on the site to discuss dramas with people, so I make an effort to reply as fast as I can.

As far as the second half is concerned, it is pretty emotional, but it is also where the majority of the "sweet" moments are. I know what you're saying, though, because I cried a lot during the show as well. Tears of anger, sadness and happiness - most shows can't make me emotional quite like this one did. I just wanted to hold Soo Yeon, I felt so bad. Missing You has one of my all-time favorite "aww" moments in the later episodes, so I will be sure to mention it to you when you finish it and see if you felt the same.

If you liked the flashbacks in Missing You, you will love The Moon Embracing the Sun. They were touching and set the tone for the entire drama, much like Missing You.

The ending was great, I really couldn't have asked for more. As far as MARS goes, I haven't seen anything else that does it that well. I've probably mentioned it before, but Qi Luo and Ling are my second favorite drama couple. I think romance is most effective when it's shown as a tool to help the characters grow as individuals as well as partners. I think MARS was far more passionate than anything I have seen in a drama. I love how both Ling and Qi Luo could depend on each other equally - I don't throw the term "soulmates" around often, but Qi Luo and Ling are as close as I have found.

Other favorite couples in order since I mentioned it:
1. Sae & Kai - Orange Days
3. Lee Hwon & Yeon Woo - Moon Embracing the Sun
4. Soo Yeon & Jung Woo - Missing You
5. Se Ryung & Seung Yoo - The Princess' Man

Too bad they never explained his obsession with that ring

I didn't get a chance to comment on it since I waited to marathon the last two episodes, but Song Yi's video and Min Joon's reaction in the prologue of episode 20 was so sweet it had me in tears. I thought it was amazing that something so silly could be so beautiful.

Finished You Who Came from the Stars and it was excellent.

I'm hoping I will have some time to continue City Hall soon - unfortunately the mobile viki app does not have it so I have to watch it on my desktop computer if I want it in HD and I haven't had a lot of time to sit down and do so. So much easier to watch anime/dramas on my tablet.

Hope MARS is still going well! Ling and Qi Luo for life

It's happy! I was not disappointed and I am pretty stingy about endings.

Also, I hope you are enjoying Missing You.

Almost perfect. I don't think anything else really needs to be said. Jun Ji Hyun better be in a new drama soon because she is out of this world

Ling was great. I also had a big character crush on Qi Luo because the combination of sad/quiet/beautiful has always been my weakness (same reason Sae from Orange Days is my favorite.)

I felt the same way about Qing Mei at first, but I ended up really liking her character because of how she supported Qi Luo. All of the main characters undergo some really awesome character development in MARS, it's really something special.

I see you are watching MARS, what is the verdict so far?

I take some recommendations, I have created two or so posts on the recommendation forum and watched a few that were recommended. The main thing with recommendations is having more than just a title to go on - I like when people suggest something and give me a decent explanation behind why I should watch it.

I would say I am fairly selective because I look for the same things (great love story, no or light triangle) when starting a drama unless it comes heavily with a recommendation. Secret Love was not recommended, I thought the synopsis was promising when it was currently airing and I really enjoyed Missing You (another melodrama/romance) so I figured I would give it a shot after it finished airing. Finding something to watch isn't an exact science, but I have only watched 40 or so dramas and I know there are so many more that I would enjoy. I don't mind a little trial and error.

I'm pretty wacky myself, so I enjoy that kind of character. I especially like when there is a balance between eccentric and cool. I don't really like wacky if it means awkward, though, unless they change over the course of the show. Obviously Cha Seung Won isn't awkward, I just mean awkward leads in general.

There are some very good korean dramas and many of the ratings are not inflated too high, but some of them really are. You're Beautiful and Boys Before Flowers being the best example of dramas that have really high, undeserved ratings. The Master's Sun is also WAY too high, it's almost crazy how something like Orange Days can be 8.12 and The Master's Sun can be 8.9. Don't get me wrong, I didn't find The Master's Sun completely unwatchable like You're Beautiful or Boys Before Flowers, but that rating is crazy.

The last 10 I gave was MARS. I happened to watch Orange Days and MARS for the first time back to back, best drama binge ever.

I don't understand anyone that rates a drama before it finishes. The Heirs was like 8.8 before the first episode even aired

I should add that even with a sad ending, I won't regret watching You Who Came From the Stars. Jun Ji Hyun's role is already one of my favorites from any kdrama and I was already a big fan of Kim Soo Hyun because I love The Moon Embracing the Sun so much. I don't usually feel the same - often the ending can make or break it for me and this one is far too lighthearted and playful to work with a sad ending. Unfortunately that doesn't always stop writers from giving a big middle finger to the fans. If it ends well it will be one of the first dramas in a while that I have given a perfect 10 to.

I understand how you feel about overhyped dramas. Secret Love still has an 8.61 rating and it was one of the worst dramas I have completed. The only other drama I have watched all the way through while it was currently airing was The Master's Sun and I should have known better than to trust a Hong Sisters drama. I do enjoy watching the current season of anime quite a bit, though, and it's probably because it's a much smaller time investment than 1 hour long 16-24ep korean dramas so if I am disappointed it isn't quite as severe.