tsutsuloo

Regrettably, I don't know Chinese. Am planning to do the summer 2-month immersion program at Middlebury College after the pandemic.

Thank you! In Saffy88 we trust!

Ha! *whispers: me too!*

Ah yes—I'm especially cautious now with Japanese dramas. GRAND MAISON TOKYO (2019) had *one* volunteer providing subs. When they went on vacation, there was nothing for a couple weeks. Aaaaaaah! It's too bad Japanese shows don't have the cachet of kdramas even when starring *huge* stars like Kimura Takuya!

That's right. 30 is the latest one. The only way I've been able to see ALL the show links is by completely clearing my cache. Since that's too troublesome to do every time, I just keep up with the episodes as posted by Saffy88.

Wednesday (tomorrow!!!) will be Ep. 31 and 32. You won't have to clear your cache anymore. Just be logged into both your VPN and your iQIYI account when linking directly to the new episodes.

Kate—You've written such a winning article and I've enjoyed all the discussions down thread. I'm not a completist and started dropping dramas four months after rediscovering Asian films and dramas. Resist the sunk cost fallacy!

But your article forces me to acknowledge a Truth—I am never, *ever* going to finish the most of shows I've put ON HOLD. Who am I kidding? As you say, it's Dropping 2.0.

That said, my current ON-HOLD list is a mix of shows I've really put on hold and others that I'm cuing up for my "Watch Next" list. My actual PLAN TO WATCH list is 168 items long—it's where all those great MDL recommendations go but they're not necessarily anything I'll watch right away.

How are other folks using the NOT INTERESTED list? Is it for shows you really despise? Ha! I welcome recommendations on how to use this feature.

Marie Kondo as a verb—love it!

I'm in the same boat with MY PRIVATE LIFE. I actually dropped it at Ep. 14 because of the idiotic trauma rammed into the story. The plot twist about her family's secret trauma *enraged* me. It was needlessly cruel, illogical and stupid. No matter how sweet the romance, nothing will make me go back to that show—even with just two episodes left.

Ha—"climax aversion" is a new one for me. :D

My version of your "give it 4 episodes rule" is to usually wait until a new show has 4 episodes to binge. Then I'll watch them consecutively over 2 days before deciding to keep watching. I'll even time the binge to be close to the regular broadcast day so that I don't have to wait too long to catch the 5th episode.

It's not a strict rule but it gives me the joys of binging a great show while live watching and chatting it up with other fans later.

What a *smart* approach to make sure a show will be fully subbed! I remember gobbling up c-drama Bloody Romance (2018) and getting stalled for *months* while waiting episodes to get subbed. By the time Viki got the rights almost a year later, I couldn't be bothered.

I also watch dramas from all over Asia—I even started (and dropped) one from Malaysia, thanks to Netflix. While I enjoy most genres, I revere romance or rom-com above all others. Perfecting that blend of excellent chemistry and compelling story telling is quite difficult and many fail.

I hear you on c-drama's notoriously high episode count.

There have a been a couple 12-episode c-dramas that have earned *rave* reviews. They both happen to star Qin Hao: BURNING ICE (2017) and THE BAD KIDS (2020).

I've waited for years to watch Burning Ice and finally can thanks to my VIP iQIYI account.

Yes to MYSTIC POP-UP BAR! It was *such* a good show to welcome you back to k-dramas. I had zero plans to watch it but was lured in by good buzz on dramabeans and here on MDL. The timing (mid-May to late June) couldn't have been better—amidst the pandemic, this healing drama created a marvelous world as it celebrated love, friendship, and found families. Also, Choi Won Young has never looked better. .

"I just put it back down like I never picked it up."

This made me laugh because the pandemic has made all my local grocery stores—and even some plant nurseries—shift to a YOU TOUCH IT, YOU BUY IT policy.

Like Kate, I track every single thing I watch/drop. Even the 20-minutes-in discards are part of my viewing history. ;)

In my alternative universe, Wang Zi Jin raises a brilliant trio of warrior girls with her sweet general.

Aigoo ... I've peaked at trailers and saw what's ahead. It's heartbreaking–especially when Shen Liqing keeps coming back like a damn Terminator. And Mrs. Shen? I feared the worst when we saw how she always had the vapors. Ah ... I hope is that she's actually more resilient than everyone realize. Show did a great job making us love them before breaking our hearts.

I ADORE the Shen family and have imagined how fun it would be to have a collection of interstitials about them squeezed between the show and the end credits. Each scenario involves one of the Shens either trying to get the drop on one another or showcasing their martial arts skills in a domestic setting.

Favorite examples from the series:
Ep, 4, 23:47 | Baby brother Shen Feng descending on his pops, when the general returns from war
Ep. 16, 0:00 | The general testing Li Ge's swordsmanship before she leaves for Peng Cheng's manor,
Ep.16, 5:05 | The siblings' rooftop drinking scene—Shen Zhi's tea cup maneuver keeping wine away from little brother, Li Ge deftly catching the flask of wine and Shen Feng catching himself by his toes!

The Princess Consort is one of my faves and I'm praying she doesn't turn evil. Her hopeless love for her Prince is so pure and she was genuinely welcoming towards Li Ge. Her treatment of Li Ge overall—even after the wedding night shenanigans—shows how classy she is.

It's my greatest hope that Xie Yun Zhi gets to kick some palace ass–particularly against the Grand Consort and her own overbearing brother, the Secretariat!

It was nice while it lasted ...