Kdrama

Considering how guns are revered in America and how lax some adults are about guns lying around kids, in a way, it is a timely story about what guns can do and how many lives they will impact.  Of course, America will not learn because ‘second amendment’.

Anyways, Sandra Bullock is fantastic and I felt emotionally connected to this movie from the first minute till the end.  And yes, I cried buckets too.

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hmm...while i totally enjoy students crushing on teachers, the key word is crush and that they are one sided.  Kind of crushes where students are inspired to do well and there is this ache in your heart watching them crushing on their teachers knowing it will end soon.

I definitely can not enjoy a drama where the teacher takes the romance with a teenager seriously.  Argh.

Also, math is interesting and all but I did math and this one is a bit ....not well researched.

Sadly, no matter how I much like these actors, they can’t make me watch a drama that has nothing compelling.  It is just all too much.  Like an empty, glossy shell of some sorts where I am not entirely sure even actors have understood the characters.

Very cute, stress free drama.  Just 25 minutes per episode, about a novice barista learning about coffee and people.

It is totally unassuming with great cameos and a very cute barista.  Ong Seong Wu.

I am enjoying this show more than I thought I would.  Last thing I wanted to watch is a pandemic story considering we are still in it but something about the actors making it easy to watch and almost fun.

There is no full blown romance yet but I love their relationship as they deeply care for each other and really get along.  Which is kind of awesome!!  The drama works because of that because we do not have the stress of a romantic relationship combined with a zombie apocalypse.  

I love dramatic romances with strong backstory.

This one sucks.

So, she knew someone for 2 months, had great romance and sacrificed her dreams to come to Seoul to meet him and she waits for him at a restaurant and he does not show up (because he is dead - suicide) and she believes he dumped her and that changes her life...

Then his brother shows up and the whole drama is trying to tell us, her inspiration has always been this brother... It is such a horrid premise...  it feels so convoluted and so based on coincidences that I do not believe it is real..  I know it is a drama but still, i feel icky.

We do not know why his brother was so suicidal that when he was going to meet the love of his life, he decides to kill himself. but I am assuming it has something to do with his mother.  

....

I actually like the actress a lot but I do find her acting mostly stoic.  But it has fashion industry stuff which is interesting to me...

Apart from the cast chemistry that makes this drama all kind of awesome, the best part for me are the weekly cases that showcase so much acting talent. Every episode I cry, I smile, I grieve, I feel joy - all because of all these unknown actors being so stellar.    

Also I don’t much like this strange Kdrama trope of couple in love not communicating and hiding health issues etc. I have always loved Jung Kyung Ho and I hurt so much.  * tears*  We did not need that tragedy to add to the story but it makes me shed tears so, I guess it works.  

I honestly have no idea what this drama is about.

The screenplay I think is not sure really.

The FL was clearly bullied as a kid and trauma has made her weaker and weaker.  So, she simply can not stand up for herself now that is she is 20+.  How long a victim decides to stay a victim?  Ofcourse bullies are terrible but it is not about them.  It is about you.  At some point, don’t you like want to live a normal life???

The ML, he too is bulled at home.  Clearly he did not get the social education but even his behavior does not feel natural or normal.  If your parents bully you all the time, you are now an adult.  Can’t you just figure shit out?  Go find a job, take care of your finances, live poor or whatever, find your happiness...

The only sane person is the second ML.  He is at least working hard, staying rational and trying to take care of himself.  He may be overdoing it but at least he is living like a normal human being.  But he is being harassed by everyone.  It is hard to watch.  

There is something off about the script.

The music cue’s are all over the place too.

I am also feeling very proud of Park Ji Hoon.

I enjoyed this episode quite a bit.

So, ML acting choices were appropriate for that girl friend moment.  He actually meant to be a bit evil at handling it.  That makes me feel better actually.  

Anyways, I am loving the chemistry between the male leads. 

I love the second male lead a lot.  It is a good character and I like the way the actor is playing it.  His interaction with his brother and ML’s reaction to it all was really well done.

While I am still iffy about some acting choices - like the sad faces with no nuance - I still like the characters a lot.

I am going to stay for this one.

It’s cute and has potential.

So, ML accompanies FL on her shopping expedition to confess to her first love.  At no time, ML shows any romantic interest in FL - but it is fairly clear that he needs attention and genuine friendship.  

So, the vibes you get between them is mostly friends.  No matter how much romantic music they play, you simply can’t get any other vibes.  Unless the acting is lacking, there is no reason to think ML is interested in FL romantically.

So, it was very strange when he snaps her bracelet that she values w/o her permission.  And pulling her into a boyfriend hug and smiling his strange smile.  I have no idea what is on his mind. That smile was not friendly, not charming not anything.  I did not understand the smile.  It mostly looked a bit evil.  

The problem is, the script and acting feels very inconsistent.  The music indicates ‘here is a romantic moment’.  But acting is about a desperate dude trying to cling on to a girl and making me, as a viewer, very uncomfortable.

Also, PJH will have to learn how to show different level of sadness.  You can’t have the same sad face when your parents are abusing you and your friend is having her heart broken.  There are nuances.  

I dozed out several times ...

It is kinda boring.  

The writing feels slightly immature to me.  Acting also feels a bit off.  It is either wooden, artificially cheerful (not in a good way) or overwrought in nature.   I am assuming the classmates is a cross section of college students but none of them are likeable.  

Also, why students have this much baggage?  The narration uses the royal ‘we’ as if it encompasses the whole student community but every student is as unhappy as the narration makes it sound, then no one will have a will to live I think. 

So, there is a popular boy who looks adorable as a puppy.  Girls want to date him and boys use him to spend money on them.  He is rich, good looking, well mannered, charming and lonely. 

Oh, in Kdrama style, he has hoards of girls following him like he is an idol.  That is always strange in Kdrama but that is what it is.

Interesting chemistry with the second male lead.  More chemistry with the male lead actually.  There are BL undertones.  I read about the webtoon.  Looks like it is actually a BL webtoon.  I am wondering if KBS in Korea is adventurous enough to actually have a gay themed drama or they are instead going to go with ‘very good friends’ trope.  

The female lead - was quite frustrating the first few minutes but I was happy to signs of her speaking out so, hopefully, she is just shy and not weak.  I absolutely could not figure out why she would just help her room mate with all her luggage as if she was her servant or something.  

The feels in this drama are out of this world.

I am loving every moment so very much that I want to go back and rewatch.

The characters are so full of life here.  

Writers and directors are telling a beautiful story where your heart hurts for everyone, including a random bystander.  The script feels so tender, gentle and so human.

And simple yet just great....

I was so emotional watching this ep.  Nothing major really happened, no one was truly evil or truly nice.  Everything happened the way things happen in life and it was all relatable and moving and frustrating and just awesome.

....

Loving the feels.  Do not remember when was the last time I watched a drama with such rapt attention, enjoying every single moment, w/o getting distracted or multitasking.

A++++++

So much fun.

I absolutely adore Hyeri in this drama.  I am perfectly okay if she plays such characters for the rest of her life.

The character is soooooo  cute.  She is a very cheerful girl, no angst what-so-ever, college-girl-next door with best of friends and healthy relationship with her brother.  I love how she speaks a mile and then looks sheepish.  I loved the way she introduced the fox to her pursuer!!  ‘acquaintance i made when i went here and there’  ha ha ha.

The script is made to her strengths and we are meant to adore her and we do.

I am enjoying every quirky moment in this drama.

I do know Kang Hana can do different thing, but she is so sassy and so dumb and clueless that I absolutely adore her too.  

That song by Ailee - Breaking down.

AWESOMENESS.

I watch this drama in a trance because it is not at all as deep as it pretends to be and all those monologues and conflicts are so boring - but when this song starts playing in the background, I love listening to the notes.

...

I absolutely love the sports part of it.  It is just that I have watched so much sports anime that I see a trope coming a mile away and that makes it even more fun.

They seem to be also covering the ideal Korean village life.  They have a story of a couple who comes to the village to commit suicide and is saved by the ‘village kindness’ stuff.

They also have the whole thing about how young people help old people navigate etc.  There is heavy handed social messaging and I honestly do not mind it.  Most dramas show how selfish and self centered youth is and this drama makes a case of how they can be really good.  So, while I did roll my eyes on the heavy handed social messaging, I appreciated very much.