30 Question Drama Challenge #18

The drama that everyone else seems to love, but you just can’t get into?

Empress:
Like the world at large or the small circle of drama fans that I personally know? XD If we're talking world at large, then definitely the wildly popular Heirs...

Ambassador:
Heirs, by a long shot.  I enjoyed many of the character dynamics and the secondary and minor characters were good, but THE PLOT WAS A TRAVESTY and the writer RUINED Lee Min Ho, for which I can't forgive her.  Honorable mention to You're Beautiful, because I can't stand Tae Kyung, though I loved Jeremy and Shin Woo so I wouldn't really say I didn't get into it.

Unni: 
You Who Came From The Stars. I GOT SOOO SOOO mad at the actress in the beginning...I haven’t gone back.

30 Questions Drama Challenge #17

The drama with the best ending?

Empress: 
I’m very picky about endings. Ones that I distinctly remember thinking Now that was a GOOD ending include Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, Liar Game, Time Between Dog and Wolf, and Story of a Man. Two of those left me badly wanting a sequel, so I might actually have to go with Shut Up: Flower Boy Band as the most satisfying ending. XD

Ambassador:
Bridal Mask, Healer, Descendants of the Sun, and White Christmas had me loving their endings in different ways, but for best ending, I think I have to go with City Hunter.  The finale had me crying, cheering, and completely emotionally wrung out but it was satisfying.  Healer ties with it for pure satisfaction factor.  I also loved the endings of Liar Game and The Three Musketeers but both had me dying for a sequel.

Unni: 
One that didn’t leave me feeling like I was about to emotionally bleed out everywhere. Which would be...I’ll say that both Remember Me, and Hana Kimi left me with positive fuzzy feels that lasted for days.

30 Question Drama Challenge #16

The drama with the worst ending?

Empress:
Warrior Baek Dong Soo. Hands down, far and away. I'd recommend it...but I'd advise skipping the last episode. I don't know what the writer was drinking, but it was certainly not anything pleasant. {Don’t deny the premise of your entire show in the last episode.}

Ambassador:
I haven't yet seen a drama with an ending I'd call bad.  Unless Goddess of Fire counts.  I've only seen clips from each episode but the ending... like the writer's drama Warrior Baek Dong Soo, she completely destroyed the story in the finale.

Unni:
I am okay with tragic endings if it fits but still I am still not fond of them sending me to bed sobbing into my pillows. Which would mean I elect my beautiful Damo, but I can still forgive it. I could rant about how unsatisfying the VERY end of City Hunter was, though.

30 Question Drama Challenge #15

The drama you had doubts about, but were surprised by how much you liked it?

Empress:
DESCENDANTS OF THE SUN. After the disaster that was Heirs, I started watching it wondering how much the writer could ruin Song Joon Ki. I need not have worried.

Ambassador:
While I was also very worried that the writer would ruin Song Joong Ki in DOTS, I think my top pick for this question is the cdrama Legend of Zhen Huan.  (Technically, it's still a drama-in-progress for me.)  I started it fresh out of quitting the colossal stupidity that was Jade Palace Lock Heart and thought it would probably grow makjang swiftly, but instead I loved the way the relationships and personalities were handled.

Unni: 
 Nine Times Time Travel. I was watching it like a full time job and there was one part of the drama I was sitting there praying that Sun Woo’s character would be safe. Then I reminded myself it was a drama, and then started praying again.

30 Question Drama Challenge #14

The drama that you were looking forward to, but ended up disappointed?

Empress:
Level 7 Civil Servant. And Heirs. *wince* Ah, the potential there…

Ambassador:
Heirs.  I can go on about that disappointment for hours.  Neighborhood Hero had lots of potential but flopped because the proper pacing balance wasn't maintained. 

Unni:
The Three Musketeers Season 2 BECAUSE IT DIDN’T HAPPEN. You Who Came From the Stars. Immaturity, I was willing to let the alien thing slip but yeah...

30 Question Drama Challenge #13

What drama staple(s) do you love? The one you hate? 
(ex.aimless walking, taking the battery out of the cell instead of turning it off, lack of peripheral vision, etc.)

Empress:
Talking out loud yanks me out of the moment pretty fast...(I mean seriously, when you're saying something stupid, why are you saying it out loud?? And if you're just talking to yourself. out loud, WHY WOULDN'T YOU LOOK AROUND AND SEE THAT OTHER PERSON HEARING YOUR SECRETS RIGHT NOW??? And also, girls being just stupid is probably why romcoms are not my favorite.
As far as staples I love...ohhh, bromance, if that counts...back hugs..twists on drama tropes….the latter is probably my favorite. :)

Ambassador:
Staples I love: bromance, people having been connected as kids and rediscovering the connections as adults, the accidental kiss, backhugs, and the second leads being generally fantastic but allowing the girl to be with the one she really loves in the end.  Oh, and when the second leads threaten the first leads that they'd better take care of the girl or they'll come back for her.
Staples I detest: amnesia.  It's rarely done in a way that I like or that makes even a remote amount of sense (Taiwanese drama Bromance is one of the few I liked).  Also, airheaded dingbat girls in rom-coms.

Unni:
Staples: Okay, I love twists on memory loss and amnesia. Nine Times Time Travel has some FABULOUS ONES. Another one you can sign me up for is a girl pretending to be a boy, yes, I am pathetic that way. CUTE STUFFED ANIMALS IN THE PLOT!!! *grabby hands for Descendants of the Sun stuffed animals and aaaaaaaaalll of the Pigrabbits*
Peeves: Girl GET A BACK BONE. I get being cute and all of that, but the I can’t cook or survive on my own thing...gets on my nerves like crazy.

30 Question Drama Challenge #12

What is your favorite kiss scene?

Empress:
I don’t tend to rank kiss scenes, unless one is egregiously bad, so...I do remember Healer being awfully sweet...Descendants of the Sun I did notice how completely comfortable the characters were together, which gave their kisses an element of realism a lot of dramas lack. Marriage Contract actually had some kisses were achingly perfect.

Ambassador:
For sheer 'FINALLY', The Three Musketeers' kiss scene is a favorite.  The kiss scenes in Healer were very well done.  I think the wine kiss in Descendants of the Sun and the reunited kiss in Joseon Gunman tie for my top favorite.  A few kisses from Scarlet Heart are second along with the The Three Musketeers' kiss.

Unni: 
I might have gone back to watch a few kiss scenes in Healer….just sayin’.
Also Nine Times Time Travel on the swing.

30 Question Drama Challenge #11

What is your favorite “first meeting” between a drama couple?

Empress: 
Hmm...okay, this is hard. Young Pal has a fascinating first meeting...though the rest of the drama so far has not lived up to expectations. Descendants of the Sun was pretty good. And Shut Up: Flower Boy Band had a first meeting I really liked.

Ambassador:
The first meeting in Faith was absolutely hilarious, but I think favorite so far is Descendants of the Sun.

Unni: 
I need to watch more dramas because a favorite doesn’t surface at the moment.

30 Question Drama Challenge #10

What is your favorite drama genre? What is your least favorite?

Empress:
I don’t think I have a favorite genre...it really depends on the drama itself, though I tend to gravitate towards action as opposed to romantic comedy. But my least favorite is probably horror. :P

Ambassador:
Choosing one is hard.  There are only a few dramas that have all of the elements I love about a story.  My ideal genre is a blend of action and psycho thriller with politics and romance thrown in.  That said, action ties with sageuk for favorite established genre, and least favorite is definitely horror.

Unni: 
Historic is by far my favorite, least favorite horror or crime maybe?

30 Question Drama Challenge #9

Who is your favorite/least favorite male character? Why?

Empress:
This is also extremely difficult. It might be the timing of this question...but between Healer’s Jung Hoo, City Hunter’s Yoon Sung, and Descendant’s of the Sun’s Shi Jin...my favorite might actually be Shi Jin. I just generally adored him, from start to finish. It was like someone had taken every single piece of a character that I would like and stirred them together and he was the result.
Least favorite...Heir’s Kim Tan. The sweaters were not even the worst thing about him, and that is saying something.

via Hangukhobby

Ambassador:
Favorite is super hard.  It's a toss up between Yoon Sung, Shi Jin and Liar Game's Ha Woo Jin.  I think Woo Jin wins, mostly because I empathized with him so deeply.  He used his intelligence to bring down the corporation that drove his mother to suicide, and then calmly gave himself up for arrest, knowing what he'd done was wrong and being willing to take the punishment.  Even though Da Jung's innocence and naivete annoyed him at first, he overcame that to help her, and in doing so, found a positive outlet for his genius- a way to use it to help people.  When he realized the full fiendishness of the antagonist's plan, he threw himself in the way of it- not just to save Da Jung, but to save Do Young a well.
Least favorite... while Kim Tan is most definitely in the running, I have to say Tae Kyung in You're Beautiful.  Almost everything about him rubbed me the wrong way.  His arrogance, the way he lied to himself and to Mi Nam, his domineering bossiness, and his rudeness to his band members.  The only thing I liked about him was the way he consistently put the bad girl in her place.

Unni: 
Least favorite? ALL THE VILLAINS!!!! Seriously the bad guy in 9: Nine Times Time Travel GUH!!!!! PLEASE!!!!! CAN HE BE DEAD ALREADY!!!!
Also the jerks in HanaKimi...can I go push them off a cliff? Please?

30 Question Drama Challenge #8

Who is your favorite/least favorite female character? Why?

Empress:

This is hard to choose...but Young-Shin in Healer is absolutely one of my favorite female characters. I adored her spunk and her charm and how multi-faceted she was. She had so many reasons to be troubled, and yet she insisted on rising above the damage inflicted by her past, stepping out again and again to risk her heart and her safety for hope in the things she loved, despite danger from within and without.

Jandi in Boys Over Flowers might be one of my least favorites that I still somehow like...She ate with her mouth open and waffled between boys like a yo-yo. :) Eun Sang in Heirs is also in the running - she was impressively irritating. 

Ambassador:

Favorite is a tie between Kim Na Na from City Hunter and Healer's Young Shin.  Na Na because she was persistent, loyal, and kept faith even when most people would have given up.  She was strong without being belligerent and brave without being too stupid.  Young Shin because of everything the Empress said.
Least favorite... oh, Yang Sun in Scholar Who Walks the Night.  She was an airhead, a nitwit who kept running into trouble headfirst without a good reason and others had to rescue her, and was all around supremely irritating.

Unni:

 *can’t think of anyone I’ve hate particularly* Well, I mean I quit watching You Who Came From the Stars because of the actress. I wanted to throw shoes at her character I just like guuuuh GROW UP!!!! So Gianna Jun. But I haven’t seen her in anything else to really justify putting her on a black list.

30 Question Drama Challenge #7

What is your favorite insert song?

Empress:

 Judgement Day - Bridal Mask. Points for being in Italian, points for being sung by Joo Won, and points for general awesomeness.

The Ambassador:
Judgement Day for me, too.  It gives me an adrenaline rush every time I hear it.

Unni
Favorite song….that is so hard.
Either the opening credit song from The Princess’ Man or the one from Damo.

30 Question Drama Challenge #6

Who is your favorite/least favorite actress?

Empress:
Okay, I reined myself in a bit after doing the last question.
Ha Ji Won (1 drama, 1 movie, but she is an actress I'd start watching a drama for. She's amazingly good.}
Shin Min Ah (4 dramas, started a 5th. She's a delight to watch. XD}
Kim Mi Kyung {9 dramas plus 2 I started and did not finish. The woman is in everything and she's really good. :D}
Park Min Young {3 dramas. Also delightfully good.}
Yoo In Young {2 dramas. She's one of those actresses who makes her side character extremely intriguing, and I definitely want to know more about her every time.}

Ambassador:
Again, my top three favorites from each country.
Korea: Park Min Young, Kim Mi Kyung, Han Chae Ah, Yoo In Young (because the last two tie... so it still counts as three, right?)
Japan: Fujii Mina, Meisa Kuroki, Ashina Sei
Taiwan: Guo Biting/Bea Hayden, Ariel Lin
China: Liu Yifei, Fan BingBing, Liu ShiShi

Unni: 
Ha Ji Won and Park Min Young! Those are both actresses that I’ve loved so much in the first role I’ve seen them in that I’ve followed them to other dramas and loved them there as well.

30 Question Drama Challenge #5

Who is your favorite/least favorite actor?

Empress:
Well, this is gonna get a little long.
Yoo Seung Ho {who I have seen in 4 dramas and 3 movies so far and been blown away all times. He is a brilliant actor.}

Joo Won {4 dramas and 2 movies, and the only time his dedication to the role and incredible knowledge of whatever he is portraying did not manage to amaze me was 7th Grade Civil Servant. And that was not his fault.}

Lee Min Ho {4 dramas. XD He started it all with City Hunter, and then kept it going with Boys Over Flowers. Obviously he's a good actor.}

Ji Chang Wook  {4 dramas - everything from epically awesome to tragic coward. Never fails to to make me care about his character way too much. Which, considering some of the roles, is saying a lot. XD}

Lee Joon Gi {5 dramas, 3 movies. I wasn't going to put him on this list, because he has a tendency to over-act and it can be distracting...but then I realized that I've watched more of his dramas (...and watched them because I knew he was in them...) than anybody else on this list. XD Over-acting or not, he plays characters so that they are nothing if not gripping in all the best ways.}

Least favorite...I don't know if this counts or not, but I've seen Jeong Wung In in 5 dramas and absolutely disliked every character he's ever been. UGH. I can't stand them. (Which I think actually means he's a good actor. But I see him and I want to throw something at my screen.)

Park Chul Min I have apparently only seen in 1 drama and the beginning of another, but I hated his character both times so much I feel like if I ever saw him again it would be too soon. So that's saying something. XD (Though again, I think it's problem of picking nasty roles and then being way too good at it.)

Ambassador:

WHAT?  I have to choose?  I’m just going to state my top three favorites from each country and later I’ll do a post on favorites- because mine is a looong list.

Korea: Joo Won, Lee Min Ho, Lee Soo Hyuk  Least favorite: Jang Geun Suk, probably.  I haven’t liked his characters in anything I’ve seen him in so far, though that might soon change.

Japan: Miura Haruma, Sato Takeru, Shun Oguri

Taiwan: Nicky Wu, Wallace Huo

China: Feng Shaofeng, Ma Tianyu, William Chan

Unni:  
WHY DO I HAVE TO CHOOSE?

Like how does anyone even tip scales in this? I mean...I LOVE THEM ALL...except the ones I hate but...even then.

Being the Maknae means I can pull some stunts right???? No? I don’t know...hmmm.

Park Bo Gum.

Jang Su

30 Question Drama Challenge #4

What is your least favorite drama?

Empress:

This is not such a fun question as yesterday's...It's probably one I haven't yet watched. :) Of the ones I've started and then dropped...7th Grade Civil Servant, because it was unmitigated stupidity and irritating as all get out, or East of Eden, because it had a fascinating beginning and outstanding actors, but devolved into total makjang awfulness, including rape, suicide attempt, and a girl then marrying her rapist. (I learned that from looking at reviews of the drama, because I couldn't get past how pointlessly dark it was getting.)

Ambassador:

I don't have a least favorite that I can think of.  One of the ones I dropped, a cdrama called Secret in the Palace, was mindlessly makjang and soap opera-ish and drove me nuts, which is why I dropped it.

Unni: 
Leeeeeeeeeeeasssssssst favorite Drama. *blank look* I probably haven’t watched it yet.

WWW ~ June 2016 Edition

June doesn't have many new dramas premiering, but I think July might just be stuffed full.


Korean:
~ Police Unit 38 AKA Task Force
Empress:  YES. I'm not sure I'll appreciate the premise, but Hello, Monster made me interested in seeing a few more of Seo In Guk's dramas, and his character in this looks pretty delightful. If he's anywhere near as snarky as The Mentalist, I'm in. XD
Ambassador:  Probably at some point because interesting plot + Seo In Guk and Sooyoung.
Unni:  Interesting. But...the list of dramas I want to watch and haven’t is so long, I can’t say I am going to add this one...unless it gets really interesting.


~ Baek Hee has Returned
Empress:  ....possibly if I need something short to watch?
Ambassador:  Nah, family melo isn't my usual style, not even for a mini drama.
Unni:  Mini drama, hmmm this might just be interesting enough and short enough to draw my attention.


~ Doctors
Empress:  I keep insisting to myself that I will not watch this one, having been disappointed by every single medical drama I've tried to watch, but I admit the cast of this one is kinda interesting. Still, nope. XD
Ambassador:  At some point, probably, because while the plot doesn't sound terribly interesting, the trailers do look kind of interesting.  And Park Shin Hye, Yoon Kyun Sang and Kim Min Suk.  So, I'll try it at some point, but it's pretty far down on the list.
Unni:  Interesting, but....then again so many more interesting dramas. I’ll probably skip!


~ Wanted
Empress:  Possibly. It will probably go on my list, and then depend on what reviews seem to say about it. XD
Ambassador:  Possibly.  It sounds like it could be fascinating and somewhat psychological.
Unni:  WOW! OUCH! If it’s not too terribly scary I might have a stab at watching this one.


China:
~ Singing All Along
Empress:  Okay, this sounds pretty interesting. I already feel sorry for Guo Sheng Tong, though. I might put this one on my list.... :)
Ambassador:  Let's see.  Plot + THE REAL HISTORY + Ruby Lin and Justin Yuan/Yuan Hong.  YES, I'M ABSOLUTELY WATCHING IT.
Unni:  Wow! Sounds interesting, and lengthy. I am not sure. I haven’t really thought about jumping into Chinese History.


What is on your June watch list?

30 Question Drama Challenge #3

What is Your Favorite Drama?

Empress:

...City Hunter probably tops the list, just because it's that good. There are some close seconds, but CH remains firmly at the top as a drama with action, romance, good directing, great storyline, etc that I can pretty much recommend to anyone.

Ambassador:

Liar Game, with City Hunter and Gaksital tying for a very close second. It was compelling, intense, had just enough humor, and two leads whom I loved equally, which almost never happens. City Hunter and Bridal Mask are two of the best stories I've ever come across anywhere.

Unni: 
The Princess’s Man. (You’re going to get sick of that answer.) Modern: Remember Me.

30 Question Drama Challenge #2

What is your favorite OST?

Empress:

Six Flying Dragons. The OST is utterly, absolutely, and completely amazing.

Ambassador:

City Hunter. It's compelling and evocative.

Unni: 
This is actually really really hard. In the running are The Princess’ Man, Damo, You’re Beautiful.

30 Question Drama Challenge #1

What was your first drama in each country? Did it make you want to go back for more or put you off?

Empress:

Korea: City Hunter ....the answer to that should be obvious. XD I have a list of about 100 Korean dramas I want to see at this point, and another added almost every week. Given that they're between 16 and 54 episodes long, that's a lot of hours...as far as research or advancement in writing skills goes, though, they're very well worth the time invested. {I've learned a lot about becoming a better writer from Korean dramas, believe me.}

Japan: Bloody Monday: I immediately watched Bloody Monday 2...and I have quite a few more on my list at this point...but I haven't yet finished any other Japanese dramas, though I've started a few. Very different feel to them than Korean dramas

Taiwan: Anything Taiwanese I've seen has had to do with Mike He, who I find an impressive actor in particular roles. Plot/storyline/OSTs/directing/filming, however...was not enough to get me really hooked on Taiwanese dramas. There are a few I'd like to see, but I just haven't seen one that I've found addicting yet.

China: I have a long list of Chinese dramas I want to watch, but so far I've only seen a couple Chinese films. Which I liked. Korean dramas keep distracting me, though.

Ambassador:

Korea: Bridal Mask - still my second favorite drama ever.  Gorgeously painful tale of Korean freedom fighters under the Japanese Occupation.  No going back after this one.

Japan: Bloody Monday - intense and gripping and adorable friendships with criss-crossing lines of loyalty that had me totally sold from the first episode.  Definitely wanted more.

Taiwan: Bromance - hilarious girl-dressed-as-boy story involving triads, an amusement park and the usual amount of childhood meetings and destiny.  Interesting and funny enough that I’m willing to try more Taiwanese dramas.

China: Strange Hero Yi Zhi Mei, a Chinese Robin Hood story.  Hilarious, some good strong themes and fun costumes and fighting.  Definitely kept me coming back for more cdramas.

Unni:

Korea: The Princess’ Man. I was hooked, and wanted more, more more!!!!

Japan: Does Anime count??? Because then it would be Ouran Host Club. Anime is CUTE!!!

Taiwan: Hana Kimi, loved it! I’ve tried a few others but Korean dramas keep pulling me back in. (Hana Kimi is originally a Japanese manga so does this count as a Japanese movie? ;) )
China: I’ve watched two Chinese movies that have left me feeling scarred for life. I have no interest in Chinese dramas.