Paper Tiger

Does anyone know the name of the song Brian sings on ep. 9 around 26:27?

I'm glad to know that I'm not alone too XD I baaaarely finished K2H early in my drama watching years and that was mainly because I adored the second couple. I watched maybe 7 or 8 ep of Empress Ki but it was mainly because of my new obsession with Ji Chang Wook after live-watching Healer. But not JCW, nor the interesting story, nor the great female character could carry me to finish a long drama with her as the main character.

I know what you mean. I really doubt any would measure up to this drama. I'm planning to watch Battle by Changsha by the same author since I think most of Ming Lan's strength as a drama comes from how well it is written, but I'm kinda pushing watching it since I'm worried it won't match up to Ming Lan.

Her grandma was such a smart, badass, and supportive woman and I adored her

I tolerated her in KMHM for my love for Ji Sung, and admittedly she does have good chemistry with him.

It's slow and measured in pace but it's such a great character drama. It's realistic (no CGI and flying fights), it's a smart drama, the relationship between the leads is as solid as steel with almost no unnecessary and overly dramatic misunderstandings (although their romance doesn't start until the second half of the drama), the relationships between many of the characters are so precious (especially Ming Lan and her grandma. And that's just half of it. I really can't say enough great hings about this drama!

For some reason she just gets on my nerves in all the dramas I've seen her in and the way she speaks always stand out to me in a bad way but maybe that's not the only reason. In terms of extra, NO ONE is as extra in crying and screaming and pretty much everything like Hwang Jung Eum (another one I dislike) xD Everyone pales in comparison to her xD

Ming Lan is one of the best Asian dramas I've watched and I usually dislike C-dramas. And Zanilia's character was a total badass!

I like the type of characters Ha Ji Won chooses but I just hate her as an actor. For some reason, her intonation and the way she speaks her lines always makes me personally feel like she is patronizing and mocking her scene partners. But I do appreciate that she almost always pick strong female characters even if I personally dislike her.

Yes, there's a romantic story-line, but I don't think it will be the main or even a major focus.

I didn't think of Baek Jin Hee but I could definitely see her as Ming Lan

Jung Kyung Ho is absolutely hilarious in comedy like One More Happy Ending with Jang Nara. I recommend watching it for him and their chemistry, although it does drag a lot in the middle. I would love Ji Chang Wook in any role he plays though :D

Although PBG is not my first choice for Ming Lan, I do think she can play shy and inconspicuous, which she did in Oh My Ghostess really well.

Park Bo Young might work as Ming Lan. I haven't watched all her work but I think the role would definitely be a new one for her and challenge her as an actress.

I agree that illogical/uninteresting plot can and does happen in all dramas regardless of the country producing it and that I was biased in my assessment. It just seems to me that way because out of the 32 C-dramas I started, I was able to finish 7 of them (most of which finished with a LOT of fast-forwarding), and I only truly loved 2 of these dramas. Maybe the really good quality dramas are dramas that don't seem to appeal to me in general like historical drama heavy on war and politics and very little to no romance like Nirvana in Fire. While The Story of Ming Lan had politics and war, it was mostly about daily life. Maybe each country excels in different genres (K-drama more with romance and C-drama with historical and Wuxia)?

I didn't think of Kim Tae-Ri and Kim Nam Gil but now that you mentioned them, I can definitely see them as Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye although I'm biased towards my choices since I absolutely love Go Ah Sung and Jung Kyung Ho and their chemistry together.

That's why I added it to my PTW. After watching Ming Lan, I wanted to check the write's other work and it has Wallace Huo who I love.

I have Battle of Changsha on my PTW. I usually check if the dramas are dubbed or not and on what level of annoying is it if it is dubbed (from a hard slap on the face annoying to I'll grit my teeth and ignore it annoying :D). But I'll check the ones you recommended :) Thnx for the rec!

As someone who had and still have a strong aversion to C-dramas, The Story of Ming Lan is a gem. I watched ifor the first time around 5 months ago, already rewatched it (which I have never done for a C-drama and for long dramas in general), and I'm still obsessed with it. I highly recommend it! I would love to have Go Ah Sung and Jung Kyung Ho reunite in any drama ( I trust their choices in projects).

I know!!! I'm completely obsessed with it! I'm curious to see who would be your Korean Ming Lan. We each have our own vision of who would be perfect to favorite drama characters so it's completely fine to disagree with my choices :)

Although in most cases remakes of great dramas are not successful, there are case were it is (like Liar Game, Good Wife, Mother, The Smile Has Left Your Eyes). A Korean remake would also bring it to a new audience like people who don't watch c-dramas. Even when they are not a perfect replica or just perfect in general, they do offer something new and great. Although I agree that it would be heartbreaking if they remade it and it was a complete misfire.

I tried to (mostly) make it realistic by not casting leading actors/actresses in supporting or minor roles with one or two exceptions :)

I partially chose Go Ah Sung & Jung Kyung Ho because they're my bias and I adore them in whatever role they take. I kept imagining Jung Kyung Ho doing the drunk fight scene (essentially begging Ming Lan to love him) and got goosebumps :D But I'm curious to know who would be your pick Ming Lan and Gu Ting Ye!

The drama is perfect to me as well. I can't imagine it being told or retold perfectly in fewer episodes and there isn't any part that can be trimmed out. I haven't read the novel so I'm curious to know if there were any major differences.