amrita828

Forgive me for replying so late - once again! Lately I spend more time apologizing for my discontinuity than actually writing something meaningful. :P
I have read your review of Reply 1997 and found it very useful: this is a drama I would never have taken into consideration, I was put off by the synopsis which seems to focus on fangirlism - something I frankly can't understand. However, thanks to your review I've now put this one in my ptw list and have a feeling I will like it - for some reason an echo of what I felt while watching Shut Uf Flower Boy Band resonated in your words for me. :)
I don't mind well written melodramas, so I am definitely going to try Innocent Man too.
Let's hope I manage to slowly come out of my drama stagnation.
Have a great weekend! :D

Thank you! :D I must say I have written the MGIAG review in a state of slight anger. For some reason the enthusiasm for it got so much on my nerves I couldn't help but do my... worst. Now that I have had time to think it over, I'd write exactly the same thing. LOL
I should be watching dramas too, instead I'm hopping unhappily from one to the next without resisting more than 15 minutes at a time. Clearly I'm going through a major slump and, despite the fact that this year seems full of wonderful dramas (at least on the Korean side of the strait), I see no clear end to the tunnel.
A couple of trusted people told me about Innocent Man and I might give it a try: the lead guy is a yummy specimen, if everything else fails, the hot factor could help. :P
Yes, as you can see, I too am veeeeryyy profound...;)

Hello my dear,
it's so good to hear from you. :D
You know me well, haha: saeguks are not for me, no matter the plot. And I tried...
But you're the second person who told me about Innocent Man (aka nice guy, isn't it?) and this one intrigues me. The male lead acted in SSK Scandal, didn't he? My favourite character there, and definitely worth drooling for, lol (I mean, if everything else's missing, there's always this added bonus of the pleasure to watch a hottie). ;)
I am not catching up. Although I am a little more relaxed workwise, a lot or other small and less small duties came in between, so that I never really have one whole day to just sit al leisure and watch something with a little continuity. I hate to watch one episode today and the next in a week, I totally lose contact with the characters and their story.
I'm still hoping to find some sort of balance very soon...

Lovely article my friend! Opening and end theme songs are often a little neglected in discussions, which is a pity. I love the Hana Kimi one too! :D
Among my favourites there's Keizoku SPEC, the whole ost actually:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWkFJjHjUzc&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=morSxyGJAAg

Uhhh!!!!!!!! :D
I saw it! Let me go read it so that I can leave a comment. ;):D

Hahahahahahaha, so true. :D

Yes, as I thought.
Well, good luck to them all. Remakes are a dangerous ground.

I can't help asking myself what can a Take 2 of a rom-com be like? It can't be a continuation of the original story, this isn't a mystery, a thriller, or an action drama where the plot can be developed in following seasons. So I suppose this is going to be a re-make of sorts and the title is an astute marketing trick which plays on the fame and success of the first Full House.
But does a rom-com deserve the participation of three countries? I would get it if this were a grand production with exotic locations, special effects, an international cast (meaning asian international), but isn't the essence of Full House to be inacted mostly inside... a house? And from what I see, the main cast is entirely Korean. :P
Honestly, the hype confuses me no end.

As dor A Gentleman's Dignity, I dropped it. It may improve ongoing, but there are too many dramas out there and I am a bit of a "first impression" person. All the dramas I loved, I loved almost from minute one.

So, care to tell my why you have Lady Hawk in your profile? :D

I don't know if you've seen it, but it gave me the same sense of abrupt and inexplicable turns. Those characters acted and reasoned without a clear logic, and while I'm ready to think about and try to find explanations myself, I need for a character to be defined well enough for me to at least empathize with him/her a little. In Tsuki no Koibito we have a lot of abruptly cut plot threads too, to the point I asked myself what the sense of it all was. What are they trying to say? That envy doesn't pay? That if you're humble and bow you obtain love? That in the world of the Internet and social network you need to be speedy, creative and alert all the time?
Perhaps I simply didn't like this story and am now trying to rationalize a mere question of taste.

I've just added Koi no Chikara to my list! :D
Thank you for suggesting it, I truly like the idea of comparing the two, also because I think Japanese dramas have had a slight turn towards a little shallowness these last few years. I like to watch something a little older and see what has changed and how.
You are making me re-think my review again! LOL Please, not again!
I DO agree with you about Asahina. He's possibly a more complex character than the plot and filming time gave him credit for. I wouldn't have minded a little more introspection into his character, and this is where I maintain the plot - or the script - of RMPW is lacking: strong characterization.
Some time ago I got a message from Omnichelle who pointed out something I had thought about too: the similarity of this show with Tsuki No Koibito.

I was bored by this story because every time it seemed to take a new turn, it somehow went back to the predictable misunderstanding. At some point I was reminded a little of Jerry McGuire, with Makoto being the only one who still believed in him and helped him get back on his feet. I liked it, it was the perfect chance to truly use Makoto's talent, her simple yet deep knowledge of the way "normal" people interact with a computer. But no, it ended up being a sequel of her bowing again and again and suffering from unrequited love.
By the end I was just yawning all the time.
I maintain, though, that the problem is more inside my head than it is the drama's fault. I've tried a few other shows and dropped them either after 15 minutes or a couple of episodes.
Thank you for not hitting me with a baseball bat, LOL.
Regarding Arang, I'm going to send you a pm. ;)

My dearest Meg,
first of all, your page is terrific! I love the graphic and the very immediate and original way you listed your likes and dislikes (I think we discussed Lee Min Ho before: did I hug you? ;) Great work! :D
Now that this is out in the open as it should be, I can reply more specifically to your message - but I'll come back to your page again...;)
Regarding RMPW. As I mentioned, I have read all the reviews and I've read yours twice. I needed some sort of encouragement and I was sure I would find it in your review. That's because it doesn't really matter wether we agree or not in our tastes, I love reviews that make me think and even go back on my steps. I have come to the conclusion that I haven't truly come out of my drama slump, as I had hoped. Lately I'm easily bored, and even slightly annoyed by little details I would probably have overlooked one year ago.

Yes, you are right: nobody's talking about epic heroines like Jeanne D'Arc - of whom, correct me if I'm wrong - we have no great example in K-dramas. But even forgetting swordswomen, warrior heroines and kick ass valkyries, I have a hard time thinking of Go Mi Nam or Oh Ha Ni from Playful Kiss as a role model, unless one fosters a secret hope to be arrested for stalking or simply be confined for improper use of a few neurons. :P
As I said, however, I like this list even though I don't necessarily agree with these women being a role model (with the notable exception of Yoon Shik from SKK Scandal). I like it because it is well written, sparkling and reasoned.
I'm sure that, were I to list my own top 5 "heroines", many wouldn't agree either. :D

Did I thank you all for your comments? If not, let me do it now.
Thanks for reading, commenting, laughing. Thank you for appreciating even the silliness of it.
And beware: Anton Ego's reading you... ;);)

Love the style of your writing. I may not agree with every single choice, but I truly loved reading this. :D
I suppose my nr.1 would be an alternation of Kim Joo Won's sarcasm and Lee Jae Ha's courage. Can I have both, maybe on even and uneven days... please? ;)

I think not everyone gives the word heroine the same meaning. It depends a lot on our own experience, age, taste and last but not least, the number of dramas we have watched. I for one would never define heroic the "effort" of getting the guy, often by shere exhaustion, nor would I ever take an ignorant girl as a role model just because she made the super hot hunk fall for her (for unknown reasons).
However, while the women you mention would never enter my list of heroines, let alone the top 5 (I believe Go Mi Nam to be the perfect example of an insufferable idiot, just to mention one), I appreciate your giving us reasons for your admiring them.
No taste will ever be agreed upon by everyone, but in my book it suffice that one can elaborate it, give reason and do it well. :)
Hence: good job. :D

Brilliant article! :)
I have been nodding all through the reading and can proudly boast of having made 3 proselytes in the last 6 months, all of them enthusiastic watchers now. My mum didn't want to watch the last episode of Secret Garden because she didn't want it to end. Recognize the symptoms, anyone? :P
I loved this, SeRose. Every word. :D

I'm going to confess something: I ADORE long reviews, and always read them to the last line. I only wanted the list to be as complete as I could think of, to avoid comments like "Oh, you didn't mention that one, and you forgot that other one, etc".
Since I am pretty wordy myself, please know that this is all meant in the most friendly way - not to mention self-accusatory too. ;D

I agree, hahahahahahaha!
And you never know what cosmic connections we are bound to learn about. ;)