bloomingtide

Mystic Pop Up Bar, a 2020 netflix fantasy kdrama, highly recommend

This has been for ages in my on hold list, simply bc i didn't found the right mood to watch further. Since you know i am old and as such school dramas rather a hard/boring watch for me personally, lmao. But i miss Junghyun and want to watch something something lighter, so that is the best reason to pick it back up and finish it before the year is over, so it can reside in my complete list at last. Hehe.

Also the way Heon didn't hesitate a second to take off his royal robe and cover Sorang with it, I AM WEAK. So meaningful. He could not have said it louder with words how she belongs to him and no one should dare to mess with the woman he loves because she is under the king's protection.

You should know i do this by now from the May I Help You comment section, haha*

*Only for dramas i really enjoy tho

Yeees, i love "stay with me" usage in dialogue in situations like that because it almost never means just one thing. And here it indeed has so much more subtext than just the meaning of these words <3 Also.... pls excuse me nerding out but since i learn korean for a while i notice these things now....

The way he called her name, without honorifics and with "-a" at the end (Sorang-a), which in korea culturally is something you only do with close friends/family... or lovers. SW does that because she asked him to drop the honorifics and be friends, but the *king* doing this on his own, using informal speech and calling her by her name, not title... wow, hits just different. Very intimate and done on purpose. (Bc he sees *her* now, not the CP's shadow and the way he calls her name conveys it. 😭)

Character development in this drama be like : I AM AN HALLUCINATION 👁️👄👁️

I could not agree more to everything you have said if i tried, tbh. You touched on all that annoys me about this drama and it is such a pity bc I can SEE the potential in the story but sadly it was given to ppl loving to waste time on pointless scenes and bad pacing instead of in depth characterization/character development. Sigh. Just sigh.

It was more about staying with him in general, because he loves and needs her in his life to be happy than "stay the night." That... will come at a later point, heh.

I really loved how little words the leads needed to convey their feelings tho. So good.

MBC drama awards, sigh.

Yeeeeeah, alas. This is why i continue to fail to even develop a shred of second lead syndrome tbh, bc they are way too often entitled assholes who don't respect a no and rejection given. It is different in love triangles when FL is more... swayed by SML, but with lines/her affection as clear defined as these in this drama (and many others) ... I get so frustrated by second leads who disrespect all boundaries and the lead's agency in the matter for the sake of forcing their own feelings on them.

It makes me so damn uncomfortable, no matter if it is SML o SFL doing this shit. It is never not creepy and annoying.

Aww thank you <3 and saaaame. It is far too long till the next episode tbh.

another character will be with Shin Won yeah, but it is not sorang. She has not made her entrance into the drama yet (or maybe i missed her in these queen selection scenes?) but yeah he gets a separate loveline and seeing today's episode IT IS ABOUT GODDAMN TIME IT HAPPENS, because Sorang has rejected him like four times now in two episodes and yet he keeps begging her to stay with him. Uuuuuugh. Either way, Sorang will be with Heon, yeah.

GODDDDD HE ANNOYED ME SO MUCH THIS EPISODE THAT I FEEL THE NEED TO SCREAM IN CAPSLOCK lmao. He got rejected like... three times in one scene alone and yet he persisted and kept her physically from leaving to beg further. Dude, stop it. Get some help. It is only pathetic at this point.

It is a quite serious one, but with a lot of progression in terms of the leads, the plot with the bad guys revealing themselves to Heon and co, making moves toward Sorang and heon royally kicking ass (pun intended) to protect his wifey :D Big Mr. Queen's Cheoljong vibes from him this episode, hell yeah. (tho kim junghyun has a presence on another level than KYD, admittedly)

Sorang and Heon get married, have kids and are badass king and queen together. probably tearing down palace walls with their chaotic energy too xD

Shiwon also gets his HEA with another woman (former queen candidate) and has a kid with her.

If you wanna know how it ends.... here some (webtoon) spoilers:

Nah, not so far. I guess it will be part of next time's episodes or in the end as conflict, but ultimately the leads will pull through, together. So you can watch without fear, heh.

Today's episode definitely did the trick. He is so down now for her 😏

Not really? Because this is what people call "plot" and "conflict in a story." and belongs to a complete narrative just as much as the comedic elements, tbh. And they have been building this element of scheming up since the first episode as well.

Aww thanks, haha. I write them as i watch so they are slowly updated and probably only complete an hour or two after i made the post as i add to them. But it is so fun to scream about the drama bc it is my favorite thing/drama airing atm. Glad someone likes my yelling of incoherent thoughts, bc i have always A LOT about each episode, as you can see haha.

The scene is heartbreaking, KYD's portrays his despair so well, but i also love how it illustrates what power she has over him now. Sorang is the only one able to stop him, where he finds comfort and trusts. And of course the evil bastards want to destroy this bond to break Heon for real.

"What if he can never forget her?" Aww Sorang, baby i wanna give you a hug, but i also love that angsty, inner conflict between them. Will make the moment when Heon sees her for herself and lets go of the dead past love all the sweeter.

Ofc the royal garment was fake, as was the CP. Good that they found evidence, but it kinda backfired? Like it enabled the assholes to close in on Sorang and harm her. And they ran right into their trap, ugh. Heon no time to watch that parade border guard thingie, your wifey is in danger :(

Love how smart Sorang is, she has figured out how they gonna smuggle the fake CP woman out of the palace, hiding in plain sight w/ no control of their identity. Oooooh Heon is in on the plan, bless. That is why he is keen on meeting EVERY soldier haha. Nice.

For a hundred soldiers, he found the disguised woman under them quite easily and quickly. I love the look he gives the evil minister, clearly not buying his bullshit excuse why she is there lmao. Arrrrgh this smug smile, i want to plant my fist into it. Repeatedly.

Idk why but Heon is quite hot when he is all serious bsns bc of wifey. Wow what an entrance. go hunny goooo save her. Omg the way he does not hesitate a single to to cover her with his royal robe like.... woah. I love him and he loves her, it is so obvious now. And this treacherous asshole put himself on heon's shitlist right now with insulting/hurting Sorang. "This is not different from hurting MY body. Therefore he will be punished as if he hurt the king." Phew, pissed off, protective heon is hoooot hehe. OFF WITH THE TRAITOR'S HEEEEEEAD 🎉 🎉 🎉

The way he calls her name....he loves her so much 😭 I kinda feel a tad sorry for SW being spectacle to it every time, but i feel it has to be this way so he notices how strong their bond is and he cannot get between it.

"It is all my fault, it is because of me." Excuse me while i sob. Aaaand he ruins the heartfelt reunion in the next moment in calling her the CP's shadow. Heon... darling, baby, my sweet summer child, have you learned nothing? Ohhhhh. Okay, seems he has learned, then? Ofc this sets SR into escape mode "my job here is done." Nah, we are gonna queen you up first, bby. Then it is a job well done haha. "Stay at my side, officially now as Sorang. Thank you for living." OH MY GOD. HE SEES HER. HE DOES. Screaming, crying, throwing up. IT IS HAPPENING.

Okay, like decorating for christmas, the evil bastards are decorating the palace with a body hanging on a rope each year for the CP's death anniversary. That is.... um, a really dark way to keep Heon caught in the past, wow. Bet it is the woman they caught disguising herself as CP, because this gives off the right "imagery" for Heon with the resemblance, seeing her hanging there just like CP did years ago. And a clear warning to Sorang. Which is very effective, as heon is now super scared for Sorang. No wonder the guy cannot move on, they keep him trapped in the past and isolate him with taking everyone he cares for away from him. It is exactly why he was afraid to let his feelings for SR show, thus far 😭

"The closest woman to the king always dies. It is dangerous. Let's leave the palace." Yeah even still, you won't get this woman away from Heon anymore. And i can't help to think while he is worried for her, there is more than a little selfish desire part of the reason why SW it to her. "I will protect you by my side!" GOD HOW MANY TIMES DOES SHE NEED TO REJECT YOU STILL? She is not into you, ffs. And he stops her yet again after she rejected him once more. I just.... LET HER GO I SWEAR YOU FUKKIN IDIOT OF A SML OR I WILL SLAP YOU THROUGH THE SCREEN. Aaaand rejected a THIRD time. This must be a record somewhere, and this man a total masochist. STOP IT GET SOME HELP. It is only pathetic at this point, dude.

"Soranga-ah." Oh god, my heart. He calls her by name, without honorifics, aaaaaaaah. what a whiplash of emotions from anger about SML to having my heart melt from one moment to the next, wow. "Stay by my side." "Yes." She wants to, even if she could die and he is not holding back his feelings for her any longer. OH GOSH, MY HEART. These two. While i love their sheer chaotic energy and shenanigans together, their angsty moments are (almost) even better. KYD's teary eyed gaze says so so much without words at her agreement. AAAAHHHHH

Aaaand Shiwon proves to be a shit friend on top with his "I am only worried about and want to protect you, fuck the king" shtick. What the hell dude? You have been friends with Heon for YEARS but now you are all who cares about that guy? Wow. That is so shitty and the real betrayal here, tbh.

Lol, watch evil minister throw evil guard to the wolves, because they always do. The real joke here is how this dude believed he would actually leave the cell alive. Guess he hasn't watched any sageuks because this is rule 101 with evil guys there. Always.

I love head court lady and sorang. She is like a mother by now to her aaaaw.

And they poked the bear named Heon one time too much. This is a man on a mission if i ever seen one. Men getting shit done in order to protect the woman they love (or the other way around, i am not choosy) are one of my most favorite tropes. So hot.

I WANT TO PUNCH HIS SMUG SHIT-FACE SO HAAAARD.

AGAIN. AGAIN. AND AGAIN. ... ahem, well this asscramp is so sure to not be able to caught that he kinda revealed himself as the main enemy to Heon and SW. High I AM SMORT energy here, for sure. You know what they say:The higher they fly the harder they fall. CANT WAIT.

Oh they found the robe. I bet the rest of the drama will focus on uncovering the truth and find a way to punish the ministers involved. But i also hope we won't lose the chaos that is Heon and Sorang together without all the seriousness. Come to think of it, this is the most serious episode we had of the drama yet, not a single moment of comedy to find so far.

Still, i love those three sleuthing together. Just pls no more love triangle bs, bc it is pathetic at this point for SW.

I hate these two assholes so much, YES BE AFRAID SORANG WILL BE QUEEN. Sleep with one eye open from now on, bc you are going to have a bad time, evil mom.

And i really still don't care for these side-characters. They add nothing to the story other than annoying me/eating up episode runtime/drama namecalling through books. Oh no, the unimportant female sidekick got kidnapped.... anyway. Bet it has been done to draw Shi Won away from Sorang and she is their real target.

TOLD YA. Why the fuck does she not stay at the palace at times like this? Why does she think it is a good time to wander about at night... alone? Like? The logic, maaaan. it is not there. Good thing SW bought her such unique shoes at least?

Shiwon is a dicey situation, completely outnumbered. Aaaand i bet Heon makes a hero entrance every moment now to save his wifey , just watch😏

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEES, I KNEEEEEEEEEEEW IT. Heon baby to the rescue, bless. TIME TO ROYALLY FUCK THEM UP. (pun intended) That purposeful slow walk, maaaan. You know none of these low lives are leaving their hidey hole alive. THEY ARE SO DEAD, and i can't wait! Sadly.... I will have to, for almost two weeks bc MBC hates us and does its award show on the exact airing date of TFM 😭

That preview tho... is she coming clean to him about who she is? 👀 That is some queen shit (pun intended) Either way, I love how Heon is so down for her, committed to the max once he let loose of everything else, his fears, his hesitation to let go of CP. The way he goes at LENGTH for the woman he loves reminds me a lot of Mr. Queen's Cheoljong, hell yeah.(aka the guy who did say how kings do not run, but ran as soon he heard his queen had collapsed. SO FAST, and this was early in the drama heh)

And in a way the fake CP helped to speed up the process and brought him closer to SR instead, wow. I hope we get some happy moments next time for them and also that the lie standing between them won't tear them apart *prayer circle*