tsutsuloo

"Why would she want the ML when the photographer likes her?"

Such a logical question–especially IRL. I'm allergic to love triangles but the 2ML seems like a decent person.

Dramaland loves an a**hole who finds redemption through the FL. Will this show really pit the two men against one another for her affections or will she just see the photographer through a platonic lens?

I share your hope—Young Won getting a backbone and finding real joy in her work feels more important than finding love.

In the trailer for Ep. 5, it looks like Lee Jung Eun, who played the housekeeper.

I agree that she was needlessly heroic regarding the chair incident. It's very weird that the team doesn't step up to explain what really happened.

I hope the team becomes more unified as the show goes on. Lord, they're petty. It's funny but irritating AF.

It's hard to watch people talking over her or taking advantage of her but at least Young Won is increasingly finding her voice. We also have to consider the group dynamics in a strictly hierarchical society.

There were many times in my own career where I was afraid to speak as I wanted. Some of those memories make me cringe with remorse—particularly when I failed to advocate for others, let alone myself. I've since become a much better advocate thanks to bystander training and other sources that taught me how to have better "difficult conversations."

For many of us, learning how to speak up (especially when you're female or in a position of lower power) takes active learning and practice.

Watched Ep. 4 and I'm enjoying this a lot. After just finishing the superb rom-com MAD FOR EACH OTHER earlier this week, I've definitely got a taste for prickly love stories.

Jumping to conclusions gets characters into trouble but, IRL, it's hard not be reactive—especially under duress. Thankfully, this drama doesn't drag out misunderstandings too long.

Do the houses featured in this series count as PPL? I've seen them in various dramas and movies and had wondered if they were actually real.

Thank you for highlighting Productive Procrastination's work. I deeply appreciate the their essays that give cultural and historical context for the shows they translate.

Yes, it was unbearable and increasingly absurd as the team overcame each obstacle to get Young-won to pay up.

When I started watching k-dramas in 2017, I knew nothing about how essential hoesik—drinking and eating with colleagues—was to South Korean work culture. Watching JUGGLERS (2017), I was *really* perplexed by the FL continuously getting wasted with her peers. It took a while for me to realize her binge drinking wasn't considered a "problem"—even in front of her boss.

So, I laughed heartily at the FL treating her boss's car like a taxi—while feeling slightly oogy at her inebriated state.

I found NOTEBOOK tolerable. It was interesting how theY wove politics into the story. But you're right— TEACHER'S DIARY was much better (and so sweet)!

Good to hear!

Thank you for your recommendations—especially if these dramas stay clear of or minimize the sexual violence that has historically plagued lakorns. (Let's face it: "slap kiss" barely covers it.) I hope new dramas are trending away from rape—either as punishment or as a way to "start" a romance. I'm also curious if BL stories avoid this type of violence too.

Here are two Thai dramas and one film I’ve enjoyed.

WAEN DOK MAI/FLOWER RING (2017) is a cute rom-com about a magazine editor and florist who decide to be "single together." (They meet when they both catch the bouquet at a wedding.) The ML's family is tedious AF and I ended up FFing through much of their shenanigans. But I adored the central romance rooted in friendship and found the FL's clothes and makeup to be utterly beguiling.

I'm almost finished with LOVE DESTINY (2018), a time-travel story about a sweet and bright archeology student who dies in an accident only to travel back in time 300 years—waking in another woman's body. The woman she replaces was an absolute bitch so everyone—including the fiance who hates her—is confused by her sudden change in personality and temperament. This is the only costume drama I can recall where you actually SEE how people do basic hygiene like brushing teeth and going to the toilet. Very fun to see the archeologist nerding about living in the history she only knew academically.

If you want something sweet 'n short, I recommend TEACHER'S DIARY (2014), a charming story about two teachers teaching on the same houseboat—at different times. They're connected by a diary that they share and the students they grow to love. (I've also seen NOTEBOOK, the 2019 Hindi-language remake.)

Yup, you captured all the clichés and tropes that were shoehorned into Ep. 13! Fortunately, the overstuffed plot didn't detract from the two leads' powerful performances. At least scenes like the cops picking up the ex by the road or the impromptu makeout session fully felt like the show I grew to love.

Have you noticed how so many people describe this show as a "gem?" I have to restrain myself from writing a review because I'm in danger of losing the entire day to waxing on about how much I love this show.

It felt like a miracle to watch these singular characters live and love in this special, little drama. It sets a high bar for the rest of 2021!

Agreed. First time I'd seen a circular effect used on TV.

Even better! ;D

Oofdah–I hope Min Kyung doesn't go the noble idiot route and settle with that creep, just for Hwi Oh's benefit. Hwi Oh would be horrified as well.

I knew the angst was coming but I didn't expect it to hurt so much. I'm really curious if this drama will do the usual time skip. Will they part for a while to work on themselves? Separation for a year or so is the typical kdrama formula but maybe the show will surprise us.

Fingers crossed for a satisfying finale!

Yes! The build-up was perfectly paced and the estrangement is devastating.

@Sara Machiato —Your theory about Ep. 2/4 epilogues is so compelling! I had assumed that all the epilogues were happening concurrently with the story but it makes SO much more sense for Hwi-oh to be distraught over the flower if it happens after Ep. 12.

Yeesh—I hope the ex isn't the pickpocket his colleagues referenced. Wouldn't they have known who his fiancée was? All the same, she's one to avoid at all costs. I hope she didn't pinch the whistle necklace!

Warning to those who haven't started MAD FOR EACH OTHER: This show is a drug. How the hell am I supposed to manage until Monday's last episode? I suppose I have work, family, the garden, etc. But I'd rather swim in the feelings this show engenders. Aigoo, the feeeeeeelings!

The last episode better be an hour long.

Agreed. For someone who's hyperaware of his surrounds, he was surprisingly glib.

I've only seen one example of a woodworking shop hidden in another space. The WWII-era series FOYLE'S WAR had an episode where a carpentry shop was disguised as a machine shop. They were secretly making coffins—lots, and lots of them—for the government.

YES! And it usually takes 2-4 episodes to suss out the themes and genre-mixing. I was surprised that The DECIDER recommended skipping this series: https://decider.com/2021/05/27/mad-for-each-other-netflix-review/ (Honestly, I'd check MDL and dramabeans first when it comes to evaluating an Asian drama—never Decider.)

You can't judge most kdramas on the first episode. I loved this response from "wpl" via a YouTube comment on the Swoom video featuring the two leads (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1L93MJzbBs):

@wpl wrote: "They said to skip the show because it was too slapsticky. But what I love about Korean romantic comedies is that they are full stories. The first episode is only the introduction. It's what happens throughout the series that makes it special. If you only watch the first episode and skip the rest it's like sitting down to a restaurant meal, eating a few pieces of the complimentary bread and then leaving."