This OTP is so dazzling. Watching this show is like looking into the sun. In addition to rewatching episodes just about EVERY DAY, I'm also loving the addictive BTS videos at https://www.instagram.com/dinner_couple/.
@dinner_couple's IG posts are special because they've taken the time to subtitle (or explain) many of the behind-the-scenes interactions. Song Seung Heon and Seo Ji Hye share a playful, sparkling rapport that makes me love their on-screen pairing all the more.
Someone on S**mpi envied viewers who will be able to binge watch this in the future. On the bright side, I haven't…
Hey, thanks for your recommendation! I'll add MY HUSBAND IN LAW to my list; the reviews are so enthusiastic!
Have you downloaded a LAKORN CLICHE BINGO SHEET? Check Google; it will enhance your enjoyment of whatever Thai drama you're watching.
I've only seen a handful of lakorns and enjoy them as an alternative to my usual diet of Korean and Chinese dramas. You probably know this by now ... the most problematic aspect of many lakorns is their use of rape to boost ratings. These rapes are often framed romantically. Fortunately, media critics are pushing back against this dreadful trend and you can find good Thai dramas without sexual violence.
If you like we're-totally-not-dating -but-we're dating storylines, I recommend WAEN DOK MAI (FLOWER RING), a sweet 2017 Thai drama with an adorable, gorgeous OTP who absolutely don't want to be coupled so they decide to stay single—together. Admittedly, you gotta lean on the FF button for various insufferable characters but that's easy enough once you figure out your favorites. [WARNING—There two moments of sexual "danger" involving side characters: (1) A college student is almost seduced by her unsavory, photographer boyfriend; (2) An estranged married couple have angry but consensual sex off camera. ]
Where did you read it, and is it the same title? :)
English title for this manhwa is Shall We Have Dinner Tonight?https://bato.to/series/70312 The manhwa barely served as an outline for this series. Main character names are the same but relationships with exes and parents are quite different. Overall, the manwha's feeling is somber and self-reflective.
Damm.. Started watching this without noticing that it is not completed yet. It was recommended to me by a Reddit…
Someone on S**mpi envied viewers who will be able to binge watch this in the future. On the bright side, I haven't been this excited about Mondays since 2017's "Live Up To Your Name."
not only to you to all of us....he is fine and they make such a good balanced couple good to the eyes, their fun…
It was *very* clever how those delicious, intrusive thoughts of Hae-kyung were edited like jump cuts. Flash! Flash! You know how it often feels lazy when dramas use flashbacks as filler? Here, flashbacks really serve their purpose as memories and evidence of their growing influence on one another.
I'm feeling a little mystified. I would say I'm still a newbie to this. About 40 movies (almost all romance) then…
The primacy of "first love" is a trope particular to Asian dramas.
Like you, as a noob, I was perplexed by the temerity of old lovers coming out of the woodwork to reclaim abandoned partners. LOVERS IN PRAGUE ( 2005) is a classic example. The ex ghosts his love and she's not even sure if he's dead or alive. Just when she finds herself opening up to love with a new man, the ex pops back into her life—5 years later!—expecting them to start over. (How is that possible?!)
IN TIME WITH YOU (2011) uses the same trope (along with the friends-to-lovers trope) to keep apart two people who really belong together. A man has secretly loved his best friend since high school and though she once crushed on him, she believed they'd never be together. Her first love ghosted her. Guess who comes back years later to complicate things? This story is so well loved, you can watch it any many flavors: Taiwanese (the original), Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai!
I started watching this because it stars Choi Won-young, one of the sexy asshole dads from SKY Castle. I had zero expectations and I absolutely love it. In fact, I NEED this show. It's so full of love, laughter and kindness—which we desperately need now. I must also say the worldbuilding is PHENOMENAL and Weol-choo's costumes are killing me. THIS IS SO GOOD!
How does this compare to the J original? I found that one a bit of a chore, and this one's like 600 times longer,…
I hope you're enjoying the series.
There's really no comparison to the Japanese drama. The Chinese drama is much more grounded in reality (even with the horrible mother). Aunt Xu is sui generis—one of a kind—while Fang Si Jin has a rich back story.
But I hear you regarding the length of c-dramas. I'd read that the Chinese government recently put a cap on episode counts. 40-ish maybe? We'll see. I do love the short episode counts of j-doramas. Even kdramas can feel like a drag at 16.
I know I'm not the only one grateful for the FF button or the ability to play faster speeds! I found "I Will Find You a Better Home" to be an exception to my skip-watching habit because I loved, loved, loved the episodic "cases", the character development, and the delicious slow burn between Fang Si Jin and Xu Wen Chang.
Serious question, I really WANT spoilers on this: What happens with the Satanspawn mother? I absolutely HATE Dramas…
I understand your distaste for dreadful characters who receive absolution. Fang Si Jin's mother is a viper and she doesn't really change by the end of the series. By the end, FSJ ends up taking something of a Buddhist approach— thanks to Aunt Xu's support. She doesn't make peace with her mother; she makes peace with herself.
**SPOILER REGARDING THAT TERMAGANT OF A MOTHER** After her mother commits yet another *unbelievably* horrible betrayal, FSJ has a gloriously cathartic blow-up in front of the entire village and swears to never see her family again. This includes telling her brother to grow a pair. Some time later, her brother pulls himself together and starts working to be independent. The boy comes to the city to begs his sister to visit their mother, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
Aunt Xu coaches her to let go of her rage. He's not telling her to be a slave to her mother (he'll die before that happens) but her wants her to let go. They go back to the village hospital where FSJ waits in the hallway while Aunt Xu talks to the mother (essentially declaring his intentions towards FSJ). He presents FSJ's last gift of cash to her mother, who promptly re-gifts to her son. FSJ never goes in her mother's room and leaves the hospital.
Several things had to happen for her to be able free herself from her mother's clutches: 1) Her time in Shanghai has really helped her love herself and finally believe that she deserves to be happy and be loved. 2) She has a new family with Aunt Xu and the team. Aunt Xu, in particular, is the ultimate romantic/work partner. 3) Her brother finally grows a pair.
The interactions with Mom are intermittent and do not really drag the story. The horror of that family helps us understand why Fang Si Jin has shielded her heart from making attachments and why she yearns for a home of her own.
Show feels like an instant, binge-worthy classic—it's got ingredients we know and love but the mix is *fresh.* The clingy exes, however, are one rom-com trope I can do without. Fortunately, every moment with the OTP is delightful enough to XX the exes.
The cameos are killing me as well. Keanu, the mysterious guy living rough is a treat.
Do they do chemistry reads for kdramas or do actors just get offered roles? Because, dayum, Song Seung Heon and Seo Ji Hye are so damn CHARMING together! Watching their growing affection makes me realize there are too many dramas where I wonder, "Um ... what's the attraction here? Is because the scriptwriter says so?"
so... she left her purse and cellphone on that restaurant?
I'd love to see a cross-section of reactions to those scenes from international viewers. I can't imagine leaving a $1300 Samsung Z Flip phone or a purse in an American restaurant. I have left my bag in public and university libraries though ...
They were also awfully charming together in Ms. Kim's Million Dollar Quest (2004). Ji Jin-hee and Kim Hyun-joo really sparkle together. The British series was dark thriller but the bond between the husband and wife is the lynchpin to the story.
are there any vpns that I can use for free and that can offer me Singapur as a location?
VPNs offering free plans have limited server options. It's hard to know without testing whether they'll work for this show. I recommend either getting VPN just for one month OR sign up for a plan with the idea of cancelling it within their "free trial period" to get your refund.
1) Sign up for a plan on a month-to-month basis. ExpressVPN's one-month plan is $9.99.
This page listed monthly plans. All have at least one server in Singapore but it's unknown whether they'll work for this show https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/best-monthly-vpn/ --NordVPN is $11.95/mo and has 160 servers in Singapore and --Surfshark is $11.95/mo. They have servers in Singapore though I can't tell how many. --CyberGhost is $12.99/mo and has one Singapore server --PrivateVPN is $7.12/mo. Includes one Singapore server --IPVANISH is $5/mo and has one Singapore server
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2) A few VPNs—ExpressVPN included—have "free trials." It's really more of a money-back guarantee. But I must confess free trial are often tricky for me to keep track of. You still have to pay up front and then cancel during the allotted time period in order to request you refund. If you're disciplined about setting up a reminder for your must-cancel-date, this might be a good option for you too.
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At first I was determined NOT to pay extra just to watch this show. I'm already subscribing to multiple streaming services. But the VPN search wore me down and I decided it was worth the price of a good sandwich to watch this series. You get a lot show for your money. Plus, I can unlock the BBC iPlayer and geo-restricted Netflix shows.
@dinner_couple's IG posts are special because they've taken the time to subtitle (or explain) many of the behind-the-scenes interactions. Song Seung Heon and Seo Ji Hye share a playful, sparkling rapport that makes me love their on-screen pairing all the more.
Have you downloaded a LAKORN CLICHE BINGO SHEET? Check Google; it will enhance your enjoyment of whatever Thai drama you're watching.
I've only seen a handful of lakorns and enjoy them as an alternative to my usual diet of Korean and Chinese dramas. You probably know this by now ... the most problematic aspect of many lakorns is their use of rape to boost ratings. These rapes are often framed romantically. Fortunately, media critics are pushing back against this dreadful trend and you can find good Thai dramas without sexual violence.
If you like we're-totally-not-dating -but-we're dating storylines, I recommend WAEN DOK MAI (FLOWER RING), a sweet 2017 Thai drama with an adorable, gorgeous OTP who absolutely don't want to be coupled so they decide to stay single—together. Admittedly, you gotta lean on the FF button for various insufferable characters but that's easy enough once you figure out your favorites. [WARNING—There two moments of sexual "danger" involving side characters: (1) A college student is almost seduced by her unsavory, photographer boyfriend; (2) An estranged married couple have angry but consensual sex off camera. ]
Like you, as a noob, I was perplexed by the temerity of old lovers coming out of the woodwork to reclaim abandoned partners. LOVERS IN PRAGUE ( 2005) is a classic example. The ex ghosts his love and she's not even sure if he's dead or alive. Just when she finds herself opening up to love with a new man, the ex pops back into her life—5 years later!—expecting them to start over. (How is that possible?!)
IN TIME WITH YOU (2011) uses the same trope (along with the friends-to-lovers trope) to keep apart two people who really belong together. A man has secretly loved his best friend since high school and though she once crushed on him, she believed they'd never be together. Her first love ghosted her. Guess who comes back years later to complicate things? This story is so well loved, you can watch it any many flavors: Taiwanese (the original), Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and Thai!
There's really no comparison to the Japanese drama. The Chinese drama is much more grounded in reality (even with the horrible mother). Aunt Xu is sui generis—one of a kind—while Fang Si Jin has a rich back story.
But I hear you regarding the length of c-dramas. I'd read that the Chinese government recently put a cap on episode counts. 40-ish maybe? We'll see. I do love the short episode counts of j-doramas. Even kdramas can feel like a drag at 16.
I know I'm not the only one grateful for the FF button or the ability to play faster speeds! I found "I Will Find You a Better Home" to be an exception to my skip-watching habit because I loved, loved, loved the episodic "cases", the character development, and the delicious slow burn between Fang Si Jin and Xu Wen Chang.
**SPOILER REGARDING THAT TERMAGANT OF A MOTHER**
After her mother commits yet another *unbelievably* horrible betrayal, FSJ has a gloriously cathartic blow-up in front of the entire village and swears to never see her family again. This includes telling her brother to grow a pair. Some time later, her brother pulls himself together and starts working to be independent. The boy comes to the city to begs his sister to visit their mother, who's been diagnosed with cancer.
Aunt Xu coaches her to let go of her rage. He's not telling her to be a slave to her mother (he'll die before that happens) but her wants her to let go. They go back to the village hospital where FSJ waits in the hallway while Aunt Xu talks to the mother (essentially declaring his intentions towards FSJ). He presents FSJ's last gift of cash to her mother, who promptly re-gifts to her son. FSJ never goes in her mother's room and leaves the hospital.
Several things had to happen for her to be able free herself from her mother's clutches:
1) Her time in Shanghai has really helped her love herself and finally believe that she deserves to be happy and be loved.
2) She has a new family with Aunt Xu and the team. Aunt Xu, in particular, is the ultimate romantic/work partner.
3) Her brother finally grows a pair.
The interactions with Mom are intermittent and do not really drag the story. The horror of that family helps us understand why Fang Si Jin has shielded her heart from making attachments and why she yearns for a home of her own.
The cameos are killing me as well. Keanu, the mysterious guy living rough is a treat.
Do they do chemistry reads for kdramas or do actors just get offered roles? Because, dayum, Song Seung Heon and Seo Ji Hye are so damn CHARMING together! Watching their growing affection makes me realize there are too many dramas where I wonder, "Um ... what's the attraction here? Is because the scriptwriter says so?"
1) Sign up for a plan on a month-to-month basis. ExpressVPN's one-month plan is $9.99.
This page listed monthly plans. All have at least one server in Singapore but it's unknown whether they'll work for this show https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/best-monthly-vpn/
--NordVPN is $11.95/mo and has 160 servers in Singapore and
--Surfshark is $11.95/mo. They have servers in Singapore though I can't tell how many.
--CyberGhost is $12.99/mo and has one Singapore server
--PrivateVPN is $7.12/mo. Includes one Singapore server
--IPVANISH is $5/mo and has one Singapore server
-----
2) A few VPNs—ExpressVPN included—have "free trials." It's really more of a money-back guarantee. But I must confess free trial are often tricky for me to keep track of. You still have to pay up front and then cancel during the allotted time period in order to request you refund. If you're disciplined about setting up a reminder for your must-cancel-date, this might be a good option for you too.
---
At first I was determined NOT to pay extra just to watch this show. I'm already subscribing to multiple streaming services. But the VPN search wore me down and I decided it was worth the price of a good sandwich to watch this series. You get a lot show for your money. Plus, I can unlock the BBC iPlayer and geo-restricted Netflix shows.