I wept liked an idiot through page turner's last two eps, but I couldn't help it: it gives more than I expected it to give & holds a very genuine sincerity in its story & characters. I love it!
I am only two episodes in, so I won't comment on how bad or good or in-between I find the drama, but thank god the acting is nothing like the hair. some of these styles are criminal!
watching episode one of the entertainer is reliving all the bad memories I have from trot lovers.
the trot lovers reminder took me aback, because I wasn't expecting it. limiting this to episode one---as I haven't seen episode two yet---there are generic similarities between trot lovers & entertainer, but it's in the weak writing & direction that I see a resemblance. for me, trot lovers started off light & humorous, but somewhere between its second & fourth week it turned into coke without fizz. the show always felt mediocre, but it wasn't the least bit interesting anymore; it was flat, & nothing stood out. watching episode one of entertainer brought that exact feeling back! only, *this*---this lackluster impression---IS the start. it could improve, but I'm not expecting much because of who the writer is.
I figured right on reply 1994 & producers, but 1988 was the biggest shock. I can't stay all that mad when I adore both guys (my heart was going to splinter one way or the other), but I don't appreciate the direction re: the male leads (altho it is by far my fave reply drama). school 2015... I don't even want to think about that one tbh lmao. I spent so much time feeling upset at the writers, because I'll never understand why they opted for a cliche triangle when we could have ended w/ two happy couples. the timing is off, the writing is poor... it makes my head hurt. as for dream high, I was shocked as well---but in a good way!
knowing what happens at the end I haven't been able to bring myself to finish the manga or anime, but maybe this will give me the push I need. the art, the animation, & the story are so quality, tho, that I wonder how a live-action will fare in comparison. I'm already incredibly wary of live-action adaptations.
I know a lot of people were raving about this drama, so I was surprised to see a fair number drop it for being "too depressing." sounds like some expected the usu happy romcom & were disappointed. tbh I've been on the fence---I have a long (& unrealistic!) list of 2015 dramas I want to binge on/pick up this month, so I don't want to sit through anything that looks like it'll run through the average kdrama formulas. (like oh my venus, which I know is v popular---& if it's not a typical romcom, feel free to enlighten me.) I'm bumping bubblegum up, thanks to your article, & I'll consider starting it after I finish awl or mask. (:
oh man, I love how the romance essentially has the backseat to family in this show. (for now, anyway.) watching deok sun launch into Protective Noona for her little brother (both in past & present) got me right in the heart, but I have a lot of feelings for the kim family rn. jung bong, more than anyone. episode eight is incredibly heartwarming & just a liiittle tear-inducing.
the most common cause for me to drop a drama is plot nonsense---either it's a total bore, completely illogical, the plot ran its course, too makjang, or a some combo of these---& around the ep 9-ish mark is where I feel safe to call it quits. specifically referring to kdramas: most will fall apart between eps 6 & 8, & if it gives no hint of improving then I'm gone. most (but not all) will actually sit on my "on hold" list before I'm honest w/ myself & kick them to the curb. dramas like yong pal, big, super daddy yeol, warm & cozy, monstar... no can do.
I think it has potential to drag only bc of the ep count & duration, but so far it's been enjoyable. (altho I really don't think ep 1 needs to be an hour & a half...) reply 1994---more so than 1997, I feel---drags out romantic equations with frustrating trolls. I'm groaning at a certain spoiler rn, but 1988 doesn't seem like it'll suffer from those problems to the same extent that 1994 does. I'm guessing---hoping!---anyway.
I wish I could remember which drama was my first, but I was exposed to jdramas at a young age that I can't remember! but my name is kim sam soon will always be special to me because it *was* one of the first kdramas, along w/ a jewel in the palace, that I remember diligently catching on tv every week & loving every second. kim sun ah owned it, & I'd like to work in a rewatch --- I haven't heard of any disenchanted kim sam soon fans after going in for round two (or three or four...).
keeping up w/ all the currently airing dramas I'm following is already a struggle, so I can't fit much of anything else onto my plate. I *am* pumped for reply 1988, tho. I know it will employ the same old tricks as 1997 & 1994, but I always fall in love w/ the characters.
it's too soon to say if this will become one of my fave 2015 dramas, but these leads *are* one of my fave couples. I'm loving their chemistry, tho I see kara might create a wedge later on. for now, it's just nice to have an adorable but long-term, committed pairing like this one.
I didn't expect to enjoy moon river as much as I have been, & here I am. (still trailing, tho---four eps a week is too much when you're keeping track of, like, five other dramas.) I anticipated liu bing as an egotistical elitist prickbiscuit---only for the show's striking hyd/bof similarities---but he's not! I can't say he's hasn't disappointed me; albeit, he's done so in such a way that feels trivial to what I initially expected. it's a great feeling to not only see a normal male lead, but to have his character go against my expectations for the better. I thought I'd be disappointed but was pleasantly surprised. stay awesome, moon river.
I binged on cruel city not too long ago --- loved it! both healer & bridal mask are ones I have marked as must-watches before the year it up. I haven't heard of kurosagi, but I'll be checking that one out.
little cheung looks like it could be a gem, too, so I will definitely check that out.