historylover67

There is an excellent ending (Hyun Bin and Son Ye-Jin, after all) - though there are some seriously challenging times and quite a lot of laugh out loud moments. Having watched Crash Landing several times, North Korea is shown to be completely undeveloped except for the prosperity in the capital city (and, maybe a few others) with slavish catering to rich people, though not on the level of luxury in South Korea. Electricity only works a couple hours a day, if then. Villagers will grow much of their food. Buying anything they don't grow might be from a passing ox cart or the exorbitantly expensive open air market; otherwise, no enclosed shopping. Country roads: no paving or lighting.

Plus, it is important to keep in mind that all the villagers' husband and fathers are employees with the local military organizations. My father had a 20-year career in the US Navy and retired the month that I graduated from high school. Most of my life, up to that time had included constant relocations and the berating of civilian kids bullying because their fathers' taxes paid my father's salary. They weren't interested in the fact that our family also paid taxes. They had no interest in us as supporting America though our submission to the requirements of the service, which even extends to how family members are supposed to behave. That was - and still is - the usual attitude to active duty non-commissioned military service members and their families in the US. I wouldn't trade those hard experienced with all that I learned in our travels and about myself for any 'normal' life. But, I also would not want to do it again because the cost was too high. The same goes for military families anywhere.

We see how Seo Dan's rich mother speaks so rudely to the military wives in the village until the Senior Coronel's wife gets into her face. In that location, however poor and lacking it was, she is the ranking woman and Seo Dan's mother could be clothed in money: it would not matter to them, except as a convenience to buy a few aids for their homes and children. This is a typical attitude from civilians about their countries' military members and their family. Only the stars on the leaders shoulders count. NK's largest employed group is it's low-paid government and military personnel; you can expect that most of that population will be in struggling villages near or outside of any city. This is completely unlike South Korea's proud view of their service members and their families where people - blood relatives or not - speak proudly of their enlisted soldiers or marines.

This is a Netflix produced series with 100% South Korean participation. They wanted to ensure the authentic reality of ordinary North Korean village like based upon the assistance of several NK defectors, whose stories are grim. Even now, most of them are not among the consistently prosperous in South Korea. These two countries could not be more different, unless NK is portrayed on a desert island with a portion of one side fully developed and the other side consisting of old housing and huts and gardens along a bleak coastline.

If you have not seen "Le Coup de Foudre" yet, please check out one of China's leading hits for 2019. This is a deeply passionate story between a chronic, painfully shy high school 10th grader and a 12th grader - the #1 brain in the area - who must sit together in paired seats. Neither wants to because they each have serious challenges speaking to others. The story originated in France, so you know that LOVE is the key word. Interestingly, the drama begins with them married a few years. As they look directly to us, telling their story, we begin to part of their journey. Because of all they went through, including a huge misunderstanding and his years at England’s Cambridge University - their journey had us on the edges of our seats. Yet, due to those issues, they each matured in several areas.

Zhang Yu Jian especially wanted to have a second drama with Janice Wu because he developed a crush on her in “An Oriental Odyssey” earlier in 2019. I had read that he was attracted to her warmth, genuineness during scenes, her humor, and knew she was special. I suppose if people aren't available to date, working with them again as a lead is a practical situation in order to kiss her or him. The second, far more romantic “LCDF” provided several opportunities for him. The first time during an emotional reveal at a stop light and people watched the unexpected event in awe with toes curling!! A couple kisses were very sly, so the rewind arrows around the globe were replaying these sexy French kisses that were so playful and sexy. Their wedding kiss - some episodes before the final episode - was a ‘WOW’ from people on their filming set and viewers at home.

The acting is powerful from all four members of her adorable family with each member being completely real and unique. No orphans here!! Yu Jian's character may have well been an orphan, however his uncle is a bit other worldly, yet a solid, goodhearted guy to have on your side. Some serious issues crop up, as well as some very amusing ones, with love all around. There is no great tragedy, some mountains to climb, new people entering and becoming important, and others leaving. Plus, the reams of extremely well-written dialog and humor. This series crackles with intelligence, the right questions are asked in some situations. In others, there are boneheaded misses by important people that lead to more life growth. A few times, I looked at the screen and asked characters if they wanted a do-over because they had just been so stupid; but, no! They continued onward (creating a more varied future with those errors) and we weren’t bored. It feels like real lives being shown as fiction.

There were different bits of endings along the way were people do well and are celebrated. Others had to wait a few more episodes. One match almost came out of the blue for me, until I traced the couple backward through disparate episodes. Or, I had ignored them to focus on Yu Jian and Janice. I hope you watch it. Or, if you’ve seen it before, perhaps you will want to do it again during our continuing Covid-19 break from Active Life. :-)

DoHani,
I just noticed that you are in Brazil. We moved to Rio de Janeiro when I was almost 4 yrs old from a small town in Pennsylvania, US and returned to the US when I was almost 7 yrs old: exactly 36 months. I took first grade in school there learning to write Portuguese along with other subjects. We had learned to speak it quickly because of the neighbor in our apartment building and going to the weekly market that would be set-up in the park outside. I don't know if that still happens, since it was a long time ago. My Dad was career Navy and was assigned to Rio's small US Navy Base; that installation may be long gone. At that time things were very different and American money had a far higher value than it has had in a long time; so, we were able to live in apartments near Copacabana Beach. we moved twice before returning to the US due to our increasing family size.

My two youngest siblings were born there and when my brother (the youngest) was draft age, the Brazilian Army sent him a draft letter. It came in our mail box a few days after he had enlisted with the US Air Force, yet before he left to report for duty. He had to go to the Brazilian Embassy to relinquish his citizenship. MY sister never was required to do it, so - on rare occasions - she has mentioned her citizenship as a Fun Fact.

None of us wanted to come back due to loving the city, the customs, the people, the music, the food, Carnival, and the beaches so much. We spoke Portuguese at home for two more years, until I was nine and then Dad left on a twelve month assignment overseas and we he returned they never went back to it. As four busy kids, we were so involved with ordinary life in the US that it became a cherished and very vivid memory. On the other hand, as the oldest, having a reinforced experienced learning to write the language that one year, along with speaking it for three years, has made it easier for me to pick up new languages since then. At least that is what science articles about learning a new languages reveals on aptitudes like mine.

My goal now is Korean, so gave up C-Dramas for 100% K-Dramas. Plus, I have just gotten the practice manuals, alphabet and basic language flash cards, the language channels on YouTube, and lots of time on my hands. Thankfully, we have several thousand Korean adults and children in our small city and a fantastic women's organization nearby. : )

OK, DoHani! This answers the question I left for you in response to your review of High-End Crush about your crush on Il Woo. If all is well with you, it sounds like he still has your favorable light shining on him. I've watched 'Cinderella and the Four Knights' a half dozen times and love it for how ordinary, cheesy, and very charming it is, and the hot couple of Il Woo and So Dam. As you said, they were as natural and seemingly spontaneous as you will find in any Asian series, which speaks greatly to the director not fussing over their scenes as so many have in other productions. Thanks again!

DoHani, I have been a member of MDL since late 2019 and discovered Jung Il Woo in that same time period through watching 'Cinderella and the Four Knights'. His first appearance in it clearly revealed him as lead male actor due to his self-confidence, visual presence, and charisma. He spoke emphatically, not not loudly. That's why this comedy is very funny in seeing him lose his cool. As I work my way through his dramas and films, he never provides a disappointments for us. C&T4Ks is my favorite of the several I've seen so far because I love his interaction with extremely versatile, Park SoDam, along with 'Moon Embracing the Sun'.

Jin Se Yeon was the perfect opposite in her earnest, sincere honesty quiet, soft voice saying, No. as often as the script required. His character was credited with being 'Mr. Cool' and his solid brick wall was the 'Way Ms. Cooler'. Se-Yoon was the perfect balance of lovely innocence, inexperience, and curiosity which in this world is so rare.

Here we are in the midst of Covid-19 damaging and killing its way across the globe and back. So, finding a gem like this one - as light and fluffy as vanilla and/or chocolate chiffon custard - to provide a bit of genuine relief, amusement, and laughter. I enthusiastically agreed with all of your major points and in reading your comparison of Il Woo (at times) with the beautiful Lee Jong-Suk, I cheered and laughed out loud. Yours in the only review with which I have total agreement from the hundreds I've read since joining. It's been four years since you wrote this one; do you still like JIW as much? Many Thanks!

At least one of her 'hot male costars became serious and married her: Lee Sang Woo. They met during the long 2016 "Happy Home" series and got married in June 2017. They have a beautiful daughter who looks like she's between 18 and 24 months old. She has the best features from her lovely parents. What a gorgeous family!

Did he confess or was he just tried and convicted in the Court of Public Opinion Libel Pages? What has been proven is that he's a very fine actor with several gifts that help his create memorable roles.

Yes, I felt that Yoo Jung’s character is developed and his intentions are clear, although I believe that he does not have as much time on screen as is given to Hong Seol, to her best friend and her boyfriend, and to the adoptees. I’ve watched the Cheese in the Trap series twice, with one viewing of the film between them. Now I am watching the series a third time. Park Hae-Jin and Kim Go-Eun portray the male and female leads in the series, with Hae-Jin repeating his role in the film. I wish that Go-Eun had been available to reprise her role; her interpretation was of a young woman with a serious lack of self-confidence and a clear identity issue. When Yoo Jung returns after his military service to campus to complete his senior year at university, Hong Seol enters her junior year, never having seen, or met Yoo Jung before. Their first notice of each other occurs at a university house gathering were space is tight, alcohol is plentiful, and mess-ups often occurs to the shyest people. To Hong-Eun, from the instant of her embarrassed notice of him witnessing her distress, she is acts like a suspicious victim-to-be, hoping to keep in the shadows as she walks along the street, pretending to be invisible. Naturally, this is not her behavior in her own neighborhood where she is safe.

Her inner dialog shows us that Hong Seol has assigned blame to a young man who does nothing except walk in at the wrong moment. She had heard of him – who hasn’t – and her unworthy self-talk reveals how little she values herself, how powerful she imagines a stranger to be, and how anxiously fearful she is in heart and mind. Even her internal complaints about him smiling after something happens feels directed at her. As we get to know Yoo Jung story later, I have come to believe that he is smiling at the irony that occurs to him and around him, rather that smiling at someone having been wrong or acting a fool. Irony is strong part of his story, so it is easy to accept that he is doing smiling at an ironical situation. I also doing believe that Yoo Jong gives people an instant of his mind if they are not important to him. Later, when her closest, lifelong friend gives her money saved for a vacation to use for the current semester, she refuses to accept it. After three refusals, Hong Seol realizes she will hurt her best friend if she does not accept it as an act of friendship. She tends to see ALL money at the value it cost her to obtain it, that it proves she has value. She finds it impossible to believe others might love her just as she is, without improvement, status, better clothing, etc. When Yoo Jung begins to greet her, sit near her, and finally to ask for a date, she acts like she will want to know if he has checked this question with his therapist. Even when her best friends tell her that he is a good person, a genuine person they like who is interested in her, Hong Seol looks like she may call them liars. How can she believe them since she believes she has so little value in herself?

A significant portion of fans have written of their intense dislike for Yoo Jung solely due to Hong Seol’s comments. Initially, to her mind and emotions, he is threatening, dangerous, and sinister. She avoids him whenever possible, being inwardly furious when he shows up unexpectedly, and viewing him as her nemesis. It is beyond her comprehension that this handsome, mature, quiet senior level student – the heir to one of the largest business fortunes in South Korea – could have a personal interest in her just because he admires her and she has gained his interest by doing everything she can to avoid it. I was so glad that she did not continue doing any of the things she imagined doing, refusing to move forward and get to know this man whom she spent so much time within her mind. However, before her thinking is reconciled to accepting blessings and loving herself, she goes to the other extreme of being solicitous to undeserving men on campus in hope of pacifying them. She places herself at risk with a sexual psychopath on the campus and vulnerable to the manipulations and bullying of the university’s star athlete.

Yoo Jung prefers to spend time with her privately studying, eating, going on dates in locations outside of the university area because he does not want her subjected to the stinging gossip that happens at his family’s income level. Plus, they are both introverts, so sharing time as a couple – rather than in a group – is more enjoyable. The fact that she had never sought him for attention and never fawns on him is reassuring of her discretion. Yoo Jung understands her shyness and believes he is her Number One Fan, so everything that he does for her is privately handled to minimize any discomfort. In the early days before they are “official” and he acted kindly to arrange a scholarship or others means of helping her, it was done very quietly so it would not draw attention to him. Yet, when a couple people found out about it, they were insulting in public because they were jealous of his attention on her: their opinions was that “she did not deserve his favor. She’s a no body!!” Early in the series, a young woman who had known Yoo Jung for years, she placed Hong Seol in a very grave situation. He was able to send university staff to aid her and informed the woman their friendship was finished; anything more would incur his wrath.
This being a Korean drama, much is made of the core relationship issues: Hong Seol with Mom and Yoo Jung with Dad. Each has been viciously harsh to their daughter and son for years. While it is a beginning, a simple “I’m sorry; here is my reason why,” will not work. Due to the lack of support each one often received at home; it is natural that these two lonely people would find common interests in each other. This is the natural process of separation that begins for young adults during their college or university years. The secondary storyline is about Yoo Jung’s adopted siblings, which takes up a good share of the time and intensity during the series. Although I enjoyed it and the acting of the wonderful actors, Seo Kang Joon as Baek In-Ho and Lee Sung Kyung as his insane sister, Baek In-Ha, their dramas were as powerful, if not more so, than the storyline belonging to Kim Go-Eun and Park Hae-Jin. Kang Joon was so unexpectedly wonderful playing every note of the classical music we see and hear when he’s at a piano. What a talent! And, Sung Kyung – Ms. Weightlifting Fairy – proves to be the DRAMA Queen of the Decade! Wow!!

I thought that this series what very well done for the limited episodes and that if this couple were a real-life pair, they had gotten to an interesting place. With Yoo Jung’s return to Hong Seol after having time to work through his very real challenges and with her completion of university and a couple years of professional life, I hope they would have a positive future. By then they would be the same, yet different people. It would be quite interesting to have a sequel with the original people.

I have never found information on what and/or who caused the injury to Philip Lee's eye, nor which one it was. If he needed specialists to assist with his recovery, I'm sure there would be many nationally qualified people in the Washington, D.C. area where his family lives.

Hwang In Yeob will be playing Seo Jun in True Beauty. I think that he will be fine in the role because he has that terrific ability to lose himself in each role. When he was the family assassin for the #2 lead in The Tale of Nokdu, it was very easy to think that you did not want him prowling near your home or lurking about your neighborhood. He seemed like the authentic deadly right-hand aid to the King's very preening, pretentious nephew. I'm also looking forward too this series. : )

Perhaps because he's been doing this since he was a child and working with some great actors - men and women - along the way. Children are great watcher of people, and great little copiers of what wins approval. I think this is why successful child actors sometimes have an edge on young adults coming in from college. They "have been There and done That" while the new college kids are having the first start. Yoo Seung-oh got a Best Actor award in 2003 and an Excellence in Acting Award in 2016. At 26, he has already worked for 21 years, with 21 months out of that for his Military Service. Amazing!!

I'm only on Episode 6 of "I Am Not A Robot" and have been hooked since the beginning due to the very rare illness they gave him and the interaction he has with his leading lady, who is delightfully feisty, with a few serious reasons to be so. As usual they may get to a place of bonding, yet it won't be easy because Life sometimes gets in the way of "easy" - even if you are a billionaire and your illness makes you look like a monster and is life threatening.

I have no experience with excessive money, but life not being easy has been a constant companion. Her brother is so much like mine who was 5 1/2 years younger, yet a mean-spirited, excessively controlling individual. Sometimes family simply is not there for you, yet when life is touch and you are finding interesting jobs to take care of yourself, there are huge Life lessons to be learned.

With 32 episodes, the set-up has been established and I truly anticipate a fascinating story with a quirky crew of roboticists, a sinister villain or two, and highs, lows, and a few more disappointments before all is well. If that is what happens.

My faith is in a writer who has been creative enough already to keep me past 2:00 AM for a long night's watch. : )

Yes, living south of Washington, D.C. until he moved to South Korea for a while, added a surprise whenever he began speaking English. Even though that area is considered part of the South in the USA, he had an East Coast accent, rather than the typical Southern accent like folks from Georgians, Alabama or Mississippi.

From what all the current articles indicate, his wife appears to be active in films where he has been involved in hands-on entertainment opportunities, as gaming casinos. He has not been in any films since he left Korea after his eye injury. He was certainly a wonderful part of Secret Garden, whom I wished had won the fair lady, rather than Hyun Bin's character. No offence to my favorite, HB. : )

Han Ki Woogn and his identical twin brother Han Ki Won, played a pair of very clever twins in "I Hear Your Voice" with Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young in 2013. Viki has a poorly shot black-and-white photo in their support cast section; plus, there is no information provided except his birthday, which matches Ki Woong’s. And also strangely, Viki gave Ki Woong a second birthday of December 12/12/1987. On the other hand, they gave Ki Won no description at all, aside from the usual four bits of information: birth, star sign, etc. I think that these two young men are so identical that they inadvertently cause confusion in more than crime and justice dramas.

The twins will have their second identical twin drama this year on “Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation” That ought to be very interesting!

Han Ki Woogn and his identical twin brother Han Ki Won, played a pair of very clever twins in "I Hear Your Voice" with Lee Jong Suk and Lee Bo Young in 2013. Viki has a poorly shot black-and-white photo in their support cast section; plus, there is no information provided except his birthday, which matches Ki Woong’s. And also strangely, Viki gave Ki Woong a second birthday of December 12/12/1987. On the other hand, they gave Ki Won no description at all, aside from the usual four bits of information: birth, star sign, etc. I think that these two young men are so identical that they inadvertently cause confusion in more than crime and justice dramas.

The twins will have their second identical twin drama this year on “Team Bulldog: Off-Duty Investigation” That ought to be very interesting!

I also dropped Goblin for the same reason. Why does the lead actor walking so slowly in many scenes. If I had nearly a thousand years of seeing humans doing the sameold-sameold, I'd want to find new possibilities, like exploring the rest of cosmo for other lifeforms. Hanging around with all that is so continuingly pedictable provides little variety unless you seek new countries and languages, yet people are still basically the same. This reflects far more on the director than the actors since they are following that persons orders. Also, as a woman, I also have not been able to understand why the lead is considered so charismatic. But, to each her or his own. : )

As a human resources professional with 30+ years in several different businesses, I would make an appointment with the kid-boss and share with him (not 'at' or even 'to') recent information about his company's risk management insurance and the cost will be in the next quarter. I would describe exactly his behavior with no name, description, or department. I would change the woman's outfit to an Army nurse in light desert wear (shorts, tank top, and Army boots) is one I've heard some soldiers describe as desirable (being "more interesting than obvious stuff") and civilians men agreed. It is also less visually provocative, in general. All costs itemized for several kinds of risk involved (including long, public lawsuits, paparazzi followers, Internet articles, slander, libel, + potential of hostile work environment, etc.) My stomach remembers the anxiety around avoiding firestorms. Since I've done this a few times before with bosses who become temporarily insane over a woman - and if she is handling dire life straits as his Aid de Camp is - the risk management, fall, emotions, etc., will be further than his real or pretend PTSD. I only presented possible dangers because truly intelligent businessmen understand the bottom line and the difference with the bottomed-out line.

People need quiet and respectfully presented information so they can choose to save their own lives. Or, to spend it and break every rule for a fiery loss. HR Pros and Executive Assistants never have the authority to save their bosses because most bosses are stunningly resentful afterward when they had no dignified exit from a wave of impetuousness. Being attracted to someone is never an excuse or reason to put everything you care about on that professional suicide line. With HR positions I always found these issues to be extremely clear. If I was verbally attacked for doing the job I was given, I handed in my two-week resignation the next day. Sometimes that was enough to make the point that I cared for him and company so much, that I would leave before being a detriment. One boss, with a 26-person company of elite environmental products, was so furious that I "did not let him fire me before handing in my resignation" that 20+ years later he would not forgive me. When a leader is not willing to consider the cost of his behavior's impact on his award-winning, hand-built company, then there is no hope at that time for change. It is crucial that we each can back away with dignity and self-respect from messy situations, even if we might be that one to leave because staying is volunteering for abuse.

I have not seen this series yet; however, it is obvious that it has many positives that most people here enjoy. I hope that the writes are wise enough not to take their characters, especially this divorced mom, into dark places that will leave scars. After all, if we did not see ourselves a bit in these dramas, we would not have made BFFs of out computer screens. Right? :-)

Toshii, everyone has had a difficult time moving on from LBTI because of the story of an adventurous young woman who gives up everything, including her former life and body (in the . . . shudder . . . . Self-Destruct unit) to fine true love in the form of (NOT an Evil Guy) the strongest man in the region. Plus, he's okay looking. Occasionally charming. Somewhat smart. Once in a while, funny. Kisses better than one or two other guys. A not shabby singer. Well, maybe he's more than "just okay looking", if you go for those tall, dark, handsome, and semi-roguish types. Plus, having that killer faithfulness streak for saving a woman from the future when she's in rare moments of distress.

For me, time travel stories have been a whale-sized hook since childhood, especially when they do it correctly. People must go backward in time; it is the only safe direction due to history and archaeology revealing the places, cultures, and timeframes that will be the safest realities to visit. There are no guarantees about what might happen tomorrow in any place and time, she said looking at this week's news. This is the best time travel drama I've ever seen. Just the fact that Chun Hua gave up everything - except her mind, spirit, emotions, and very generous heart - to find true love. AND THEN, act like a ditz for several weeks until she gained understanding and a sense of safety in her new environment, which was the same, old country she had lived in during part of 2169.

We were all hooked for different reasons, but most were no doubt supplied by Li Hong Yi and Zhao Lu Si. I was completely surprised that they began filming the drama when he was 20 and she was 19, yet their talent and abilities are so powerful. I hope that they will be able to do another series in their later 20s when they've had some more life experience.

Thanks for sharing your decision. I also thought the chair looked super comfortable, but since it must have been sourced in Korea and I live in WA State, USA, the hope of finding it seems remote. Do you still love the massage chairs? What is the brand and chair name? I'm looking for one for my home.