Danana

@heavenlene Haha oh gosh, yeah I'm way too into this show lately! I think it's a testament to great writing and acting~ These characters are so layered, they really draw me in and make me think deeply about their words and actions. Even as I complain or get annoyed by certain characters, I understand their motivations and root for them to do better too. Pal Gang is a great example. I'm loving it! <3 Edit2: Thanks for appreciating my lengthy analysis btw! lol ;)

Edit: I don't think I've analyzed or discussed a drama and its characters so much since I watched Valid Love! Discussions got really in-depth and heated over at Viki lolol~ (This series is so much better than VL though)

LOL @Kizzofdeath ;D

Great points! I loved the aspects and characterizations you mentioned too~ Everyone is so layered. Such great writing and acting in this series! But you're so right, the teenage characters haven't had much focus lately and it would be nice to get back to them a bit and learn more about them. Still a couple of weeks to go, so we'll see!

@funkybabes (souldoc70) Just saying he should probably calm down and respect that Na Ri has decided who she wants to be with, even though it hurts. He's not taking things well and he'd be better off giving Na Ri space. Na Ri doesn't seem likely to turn to him again if he keeps disregarding her wishes and continually shows up at her place after she's asked him to stop, so he should back off a little IMO. I forgive the drunken visits, cause he's hurting and people lose their inhibitions when they're drunk, but he's shown up at other times when he should be backing off instead. He told Na Ri he was sure Hwa Shin would leave her after 3 months (did I get that number right?) so, if he really thinks that way, then there's no reason he can't back off a little and just be there for her if/when she inevitably becomes single again, like he predicts.

Eh, Hwa Shin's ex-SIL thinking he's cold doesn't make it a fact IMO. She doesn't know Hwa Shin's thoughts or motivations so she can't definitively say what they are or were. Hwa Shin didn't explain himself or correct the misunderstanding, probably because he thought that at least one person in the world (Jung Won) still had his back. Now it turns out that Jung Won doesn't understand his friend after all, and sadly never really had his back. It was sad when it became clear in episode 20 that he probably never fully understood or supported Hwa Shin at key points in his life.

On the other hand, previous flashbacks and discussions showed that both guys can be unhealthily competitive when it comes to women, to the point of pushing aside their friendship (whatever happened to "bros before hoes"? lol)... So there was probably always a problem in their friendship from BOTH sides. Jung Won kinda takes it a step further by not wanting to step aside even when Na Ri has made her choice. I just wish Jung Won would consider Hwa Shin's feelings at least once, as Hwa Shin tried to do for him. Hwa Shin has never stopped saying what a great guy he thinks Jung Won is, but Jung Won is very quick to list all Hwa Shin's flaws and has openly vowed he doesn't accept Hwa Shin for Na Ri (even though it's not up to him lol). Both guys have their flaws, and Jung Won is showing some of his now.

Edit: I'm sad the bromance seems to be dead! :(

@manicmuse LOL! Yeah, he's damn cute

First off, THAT PROPOSAL WAS EVERYTHING~ <3 Sooo incredibly sweet, and at such a perfect moment! Na Ri held back for fear that Hwa Shin would be annoyed and turned off if she actually let go and yelled at him like she really wanted to, and yet that's what he wanted her to do all along~ He looked so happy being yelled at lol! Episode 20 really showed the ways they care for each other, which I love.

For the record, I sympathize with Hwa Shin and don't think he urged Na Ri to go home out of coldness or for the good of the show, like everyone around him assumes; he could see she was falling apart despite their efforts to calm her down, and he didn't want her to take a chance that could make her lose her spot on the morning news. I understand where he's coming from! I think she knows he did it from a good place too, even though she needed to vent about it afterwards hehe~ It was tough love for sure.

On another note: I'm sorry to all the Jung Won lovers but I am officially over him. He just proved that he's never been a real friend to Hwa Shin, which is so disappointing. The one person Hwa Shin thought was in his corner... :( Jung Won also needs to get ahold of himself and back off with Na Ri, seriously. If he thinks she and Hwa Shin will eventually break up, he should give her space and let that happen instead of clinging to her and looking for every opportunity to jump in and play the knight in shining armour. I felt bad for him during the break up discussion but now I'm just tired of him hanging around Na Ri looking like a kicked puppy, and trying to make her feel bad or change her mind. Hwa Shin never badmouthed Jung Won to Na Ri, and even tried to ease into a relationship with her out of respect for his friend, but Jung Won has no qualms about badmouthing Hwa Shin at every turn--both to his face and to other people. He's also being pretty petulant and irrational, saying he won't accept Na Ri dumping him and won't accept her being with Hwa Shin. When he made that last statement to Hwa Shin, I just kept thinking "it's not your choice to make!" ..so frustrating. I'm sad to see him devolving like this, but I have no patience for him either. Get ahold of yourself, Jung Won!

LOL I loved him in Secret Garden too~ ;)

Age gaps don't bother me but otherwise I'm with you; I don't like Mr. Cha with Bok Sil at all either. There's no chemistry, as you said, plus he's really annoying with all that throat clearing. And for someone who prides himself as a leader in merchandizing at a high end department store (implying he has some knowledge of fashion trends, among other things), he really has no idea how to put a decent outfit together hahaha~

So true. :( JW and HS's friendship seems like a very tenuous thing now... but maybe there was always some underlying negativity between them, since they have a history of competing over women. Regardless of who NR chooses, I wonder if the bromance can or will ever be revived...! :S

Well said! The dynamic between HS and NR seems so much deeper. I was hurting for him so much while he was in that house!

@heavenlene Yess, this is my problem with JW! He's great on paper but I kept thinking he's boring too... not sure if there's a better way to say it, but that's how I feel about him. He and NR obviously like each other and get along well but there's no fire or spark, nothing deeper... she doesn't even feel jealous over him or anything. Something about the way HS interacts with her just rings truer and deeper.

Haha yesss, Kim Young Kwang is everything in this right now~ <3 And I agree, there are definitely some very funny lines including the one you mentioned! (I busted out laughing through most of that homage to The Bodyguard hahaha) That gives me hope that the characters and story will become more enjoyable. Crossing my fingers!

Oh goodness! I have to say, I really enjoyed episode 1~ But the first half of episode 2 had me so annoyed I started to wonder if I could stick it out... I love Nan Gil and am interested in learning more about him but many of the other characters are just annoying me, including the heroine. Na Ri has her moments but I'm not sold on her yet so I hope she will become more likeable.

I'm really not enjoying the side plot with the cheating ex! I guess it's a good thing that I can't stand him or his mistress (and her fake personality), but it's making my blood pressure rise every time either of them is on screen lol! If the story lingers on them too much more, I don't think I can stand to continue watching. Also, I never thought I'd say this about Lee Soo Hyuk since I usually love him, but I'm not loving his character so far either. ToT;; I'll give this another 1 or 2 episodes but, for now, Kim Young Kwang is the only thing keeping me watching!

Right?! Yuri needs to change his locks ASAP

I was initially feeling torn about who to root for because Jung Won is a good guy, but for the past few weeks I've found Hwa Shin wayyy more interesting and appealing~ My heart broke for Hwa Shin in episode 18 but I think Na Ri is definitely leaning towards him! Even the laundry list of positives she listed for JW just felt kinda empty to me... it's like he's great on paper, but she has a real spark and deeper chemistry with HS. I love HS and NR together~!

Yesss that's how I saw it too!! <3 Hwa Shin FIGHTING!

So true. I generally prefer the length of Jdramas too! I've finished and loved a few Kdramas over the past year or two but it's so hit-or-miss. Too often, a Kdrama that starts well just cannot keep up the momentum throughout 16/18/22 episodes. And if a popular series is extended then the result is usually a repetitive plot, the introduction of (overused) melodrama tropes, and/or a dragging pace. I'm enjoying a couple of currently airing Kdramas but this one is starting to lose me... :/

Haha yesss I was thinking the same thing! His voice is so recognizable~

Sooo the acting is very unrealistic, some of the "high schoolers" are played by actors who are in their 30s (and LOOK it hahaha), and at times the special effects during race scenes are pretty laughable too, and yet... I can't stop watching lol! This is honestly just like the anime come to life, so I have a soft spot for it despite its hokeyness. That, and the opening and ending music and visuals (animated details, shots, pretty much everything) are so good!! As cringeworthy as some of the acting is (i.e. dude who plays Imaizumi makes some exaggerated exertion faces haha), I'm still enjoying this as a fan of the anime~ Some of the actors are pretty spot-on for their roles! If you haven't seen the anime or read the manga then you'll probably find this difficult to watch, but fans of the series will most likely enjoy it!

I really enjoyed this! The pace was slow but the style, sensitivity, and humour really kept my interest so I was never bored. This is the type of movie that breathes. I loved Kaieda (Toyokawa) as a character, and his sense of humour and expressions were great. I really connected with and felt for him. I'd be a fossil hunter for him too lol!