WWW ~ December 2016

And here we come to the last WWW of the year.  Keep your eyes out for a post about our Top Drama Faves of 2016!


KOREAN:
~ Hwarang: the Beginning
Empress: Psh, yes? I have been a loooong-term fan of the Hwarang, and was thrilled that a drama was going to be made. So far, it doesn't like it's going to be the Six-Flying-Dragons-version that I wanted, but I'm still definately going to see exactly what kind of version it is, and hopefully it'll still be great.
Ambassador: I've been looking forward to this since it was announced.  I'm keen to know more about the Hwarang.  This looks like it's going to take it to the level of cute idol drama set in history, and I was hoping for a more serious drama but it's really too early to tell one way or the other and I'm still greatly interested.  Especially with such names as Park Seo Joon, Park Hyung Sik, and SHINEE's Minho.
Unni: Um....YES!!!


~ Goblin
Empress: NAW, NOT INTERESTED, NOT MY THING, NOT A FAN OF THE WRITER, PLOT'S TOO WEIRD...and then  I kept seeing adorable pictues and watched the first two episodes, and... Korea has some fascinating legends, and so far this is a good blend of fantasy going cute instead of creepy. XD
Ambassador: I wasn't going to for a few different reasons: 1- it's not my kind of drama, 2- It's written by Kim Eun Sook and even though she did a good job with DOTS, she had a fantastic co-writer on that one and I still haven't wiped the bad K.E.S. taste from my mouth after Heirs.  But a close friend suggested I should so I'm going to at least try it.  Also, I'm keen to see Lee El again, after her stellar performances in White Christmas and Liar Game.
Unni: O.O *backs away slowly* Okay if anyone does ghost and goblin stories well, it’s Asia, they are really a thing here but no thank you. Ratings and ravings here are off the charts and I am like...no thanks....
Empress: See, that's what I said...but Korean goblins do not appear to be like Western-World goblins...so I'll see if it goes the wrong direction or not. XD


~ Solomon's Perjury
Empress: YES. I am half-way through the Japanese movie series, which got interesting as soon as the student started setting up the trial, and very much looking forward to a Korean version. You can't repeat White Christmas, but if this is anything similar, I will like it.
Ambassador: Sounds a bit like WC?  I'm definitely watching it for sheer curiosity's sake.  The female lead was a child actress in a few other dramas I've seen and she was good.  I'm interested to see how she transitions to older roles.
Unni: I don’t want stories about dead bodies right now...no thank you.


~ Seven First Kisses
Fairy/angel grants the wish of a girl who helped her out.  The girl wants a boyfriend, the angel gifts her seven amazing men to choose from.  Promo webdrama for Lotte Duty Free.
Empress: *grins* a) this method of advertising just...wow...why doesn't everyone do that? b) THIS IS HILARIOUS c) DUH I'm watching it and will spend the entire time cracking up.
Ambassador: Hmm.  Let's just take a look at the lineup of leads for it:
EXO's Kai
2PM's Taecyeon
PARK HAE JIN
LEE JONG SUK
LEE MIN HO
JI CHANG WOOK
LEE JOON GI
It's every fangirl's fantasy come true (makes me wonder who the brains are behind it) and I'm absolutely watching no matter how cheesy it gets.
Unni: I have a feeling I’ll end up screaming my way through this one...screams of laughter, embarrassment hiding, fangirling...whatever. My pillow will probably be stuffed in my face for half of this.


CHINESE:
~ Candle in the Tomb
Empress: O.o specialization in tomb configuration??? I did not know that was a thing. I'm kind of intrigued - if it's a psychological thriller, I'll go for it...if it's more spooky/supernatural...no thanks.
Ambassador: Archaeology, danger and friendship in a cdrama.  Sounds like something I'd like.
Unni: This one just creeps me out!!!!


~ Bu Liang Ren Season 2
Empress: Getting a sword is a very common theme, is it not? XD If there are literal kids in it, I'm kind of intrigued, but probably not intrigued enough to watch it any time soon.
Ambassador: Typical wuxia fare but I'm interested, some far future date.
Unni: Skipping, interesting but skipping.


TAIWANESE:
~ Miss in Kiss
Another installment in the Playful Kiss/It Started With A Kiss franchise.  Being touted as a remake of the original It Started With a Kiss TW drama.
Empress: I just rewatched Playful Kiss. XD I can't deal with another version right now. (Even though I actually liked it a lot more the second time through. Weirdly.)
Ambassador: Maybe?  After I watch the Japanese original and the Korean remake and the Taiwanese original.
Unni: I have hated every version of this story! I CAN’T DO IT!!!! But I am going to try again because I am living in Taiwan and see how it goes.


~ The King of Romance
Empress: I'm curious if it's supposed to be that she's actually Jade Girl or if she just thinks she is? It sounds like a twist on the usual love triangle...I'm up for fantasy but when we get angels-reincarnated-as-humans I'm a little skeptical. XD
Ambassador: I don't usually go for star-crossed lovers rom-coms but this one with the time and history undertones looks pretty intriguing.  Lego Li is a pretty popular actor with several tw-entertainment bloggers I follow, but I've not yet watched one of his dramas.
Unni: *bangs head into wall* We’ll see....


Which of these year-end dramas will you be watching?

WWW ~ November 2016

November's ridiculously late WWW... but at least it's still 2016?  I don't know about all of you, but I'm pretty ready for this year to be over.


KOREAN:
~ Oh My Geum Bi
Empress: While I have seen some good reviews of the drama so far...I'm really not feeling like watching a drama about a child dying...
Ambassador: Not really, no.  It sounds like a good story but not for my life right now.
Unni: I’ve heard a lot of really good things about this drama and the fact that it has small children in it has me tempted to try it.


~ Night Light
Empress: Not right now, but something about it tells me I'll check it out at some point. (I am curious. If it's about 3 unlikeable people, I won't watch it. But...XD Time Between Dog and Wolf could have sounded similarly stark and unlikable, but I adore that drama.)
Ambassador: YES, BECAUSE JIN GOO IN A LEAD ROLE.  Also Uee, whose acting I like.  The writer wrote Time Between Dog and Wolf, Empress, which also intrigues me.
Unni: Not my kind of drama really, so I am going to be skipping.


~ Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Empress: I was thinking no, partially on principle alone - that the drama was departing so sharply from its inspiration of Jang Mi Ran - but I have heard some very good things about it and if it continues to be good, I just might end up watching it. XD
Ambassador: I wasn't originally going to but I've been seeing clips on IG that are totally cute.  Also, Nam Joo Hyuk is one of the best young actors around right now.
Unni: Okay the name caught my name so I sat down and watched episode one and laughed my head off. Episode two had me laughing and fangirling and screaming at people either in sympathy or stupidity. I am hooked on this one.


~ Father I'll Take Care of You
Empress: ....I can't say I'm intrigued...
Ambassador: Not my cup of tea.
Unni: This one sounds a little miserable.


~ Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim
Empress: I am still trying to finish Doctors...so was going to say flat out NO...but I have seen some almost realistic pieces on Tumblr...it might go to the bottom of my list. XD
Ambassador: Probably not, not even for Seo Hyun Jin or Jin Kyung.  Too busy with other things.  It's getting really good ratings but I just have way too much on my plate.
Unni: I’ve seen random clips that make me sort of curious about this one, but this isn’t my typical drama. We’ll see if I play with this one or pass.


~ Legend of the Blue Sea
Empress: I haven't seen Lee Min Ho in anything truly watchable for quite a while. I want this to be good so badly. And so far I'm liking it. XD
Ambassador: HOW IS THIS EVEN A QUESTION???  IT'S LEE MIN HO.  IN A MERMAID DRAMA.  WITH A DUAL HISTORICAL/MODERN STORYLINE.  Yes, I'm watching.  Plus, it's the director of City Hunter and writer of My Love From Another Star.
Unni: I’ve started watching this one and have decided that I need to see more. I randomly love stories about mermaids...and it’s good to see LMH in something that I might enjoy once again.


~ Entourage
Empress: Naw...I was uninterested in the American version, and so far I've heard nothing inspiring whatsoever about this one...
Ambassador: I haven't seen the American drama of which this is a remake and I don't plan to see this either.
Unni: Interesting, it doesn’t sounds like something I am interested in committing to.


CHINESE:
~ Legend of Ace
Empress: I like that it's a story about the steward, and how he helps someone else achieve greatness...I don't know that I'd want to watch 40 episodes about it..
Ambassador: I'm mildly interested in this one.  'Power behind the throne' storylines can be pretty intriguing when done right.
Unni: Interesting, I won’t end up watching it though.


~ Simple Man
Empress: Somehow making a deal with a devil doesn't sound like accidental circumstances...I'm not in the mood for comic book devil-deal-making.
Ambassador: Sounds pretty standard comic book fare.  Marvel is the only comic book drama I've been interested in lately, so I probably won't try this.
Unni: Not my typical interest so I’ll be skipping.


~ The Princess Wei Young
Empress: It's so loooooong...it looks kind of gorgeous, though...I'm a bit on the fence. XD
Ambassador: YES.  I've been keeping an eye on it for a while.  Vanness Wu and Tiffany Tang and a great plot, if somewhat standard.  It's been generating a lot of buzz online so I'm planning to see it.
Unni: This actually sounds interesting. I might have to give this a try.


~ Best Lover
Empress: Innnnnnteresting blending...I may have seen too many fake-relationship dramas at the moment, because I'm not finding myself terribly drawn to this one.
Ambassador: It appears to be a Chinese/Korean crossover drama?  Korean stars, but a Chinese drama.  Zhou Mi is the main lead and if I watch it it would be for him but even that isn't likely unless I bizarrely find myself sick.
Unni: I am curious about this one simply because it has Zhou Mi in it and he’s been posting stills on his Instagram. But then again I have a hard time committing to any Chinese dramas sooooooooooooo.


~ Weapon Soul
Empress: LOL. Poor family and friends. I'm rolling my eyes too hard already to put it on my list. XD
Ambassador: Wuxia, yessss.  This one sounds so cliche, boy-fantasy-come-true but I'm going to try it at some point just for the fun of it.
Unni: Okay, interesting, but no thank you.


~ Shuttle Love Millennium
Empress: .....how does Queen In Hyun's Man fit in there anywhere...also I might be a little too much a fan of QIHM, because I can't seen anybody doing that story better. The other sounds more interesting, only because HA somebody would have to grow up in a hurry and it could be very amusing.
Ambassador: The storyline sounds hilarious.  I plan to check it out.  Also, Puff Guo was adorable as Heechul's onscreen wife in We Got Married Global edition or whatever it was called.
Unni: This sounds interesting, I might have to find out more...we’ll see.


~ Fox in the Screen
Empress: Okay, it's shorter...and sounds kind of awesome. From the trailer it might be too black-magic-fantasy for me, but if not, I'll watch it.
Ambassador: This storyline + comedy + fantasy.  YES PLEASE.
Unni: This sounds HILARIOUS!


TAIWANESE:
~ Behind Your Smile
Empress: "His goodwill is anything but benign." I'm somewhat curious...though my list might just be too long...
Ambassador: The way the synopsis presents the storyline feels a bit lame but this drama could be interesting.  I'll wait and see what online buzz has to say about it.
Unni: As my Taiwanese friends (who mostly all watch Korean dramas) say—Some of Taiwan's stories are just weird!


~ V-Focus
Empress: Okay, that sounds kind of awesome.
Ambassador: Bodyguards + enemies + Swiss Family Robinson = ABSOLUTELY.
Unni: I might have to try this one out. It sounds like it could be fun.


~ 700 Sui Lu Cheng
Empress: It sounds super sweet, but not what I want to watch.
Ambassador: Sounds like an adorable storyline but not my cup of tea.
Unni: AWW!!!! but no thank you.


CANTONESE:
~ My Lover From the Planet Meow
Empress: ....................I feel like these just keep getting weirder and weirder????? and while if this was a book I'd grab it and flip through it, I'm not sure I want to commit to an entire drama of it...I might watch for clips or something, just to see what on earth it's like. XD
Ambassador: I'm dying because it seems the latest installment in the You Who Came From Another Star franchise + the Space Kitties book anthology series.  I'll watch this out of sheer curiosity.
Unni: I AM LAUGHING...but no thank you, very kindly.


~ Dead Wrong
Empress: Almost, but not quite. There's a few others I'd be more interested in watching with similar themes.
Ambassador: Shades of the Count of Monte Cristo but not enough to draw me into adding this to my overcrowded list.
Unni: This just sounds too crazy to try and wrap my head around and I don’t need to throw in a language I am not learning.


~ Two Steps From Heaven
Empress: Night Light I think will be my drama on this theme...probably enough, and with slightly better morals, I'm thinking.
Ambassador: Nooooot interested, even for Edwin Siu.
Unni: Lovely, but no thank you.


~ No Reserve
Empress: "The hero of Canton, the man they call Jayne..." Wait, what? Ah. If the Ambassador likes it, I will check it out. XD
Ambassador: The storyline is quite interesting, plus Myolie and Edwin.  I'm adding it to my list.
Unni: Interesting I like the idea of it, but once again. Thank you, but no.


Which of these have you been watching?

WWW ~ Autumn 2016: Japanese

All of the WWW posts for the autumn/winter of 2016 are shockingly late - 2016 has been a wild year for us, and we apologize for the lateness.

Our dearest Unni is still extremely busy in Taiwan, but will add her comments when she can.


~ Beppin-san
Empress: 'must achieve the goal no matter what' and she wants to do embroidery and sewing? *reads rest of the summary* Okay, it sounds somewhat interesting...historically speaking...considering it's the Japanese side of WWII...but I'm not currently curious enough to watch it.
Ambassador: It sounds pretty interesting and also like it would be a great drama to watch for research, but I don't have time for it on any other grounds.
Unni: --


~ Hippocratic Oath
Empress: Medical dramas + me don't usually work, but I haven't tried a Japanese one...and if it's only 5 epidsodes, I might go for it. :)
Ambassador: Title + Keiko Kitagawa + plot is a powerful draw for this, and it's supposed to be only 5 episodes... I'll probably make time for it at some point. 
Unni: --


~ Pretty Proofreader
Empress: .............I really hope there's more to it than that...but given what's there, it would have to be something seriously fascinating to make me watch it.
Ambassador: Obviously there is some crucial part of this plot that has been left out of the synopsis, because there's barely anything to arouse interest here.  It has a few interesting actors but no.
Unni: --


~ Yuusha Yoshihiko to Michibikareshi Shichinin
Empress: ehhhh...being revived to re-save the world sound tremendously depressing, and mixing Buddha with Desutaku doesn't interest me.
Ambassador: I haven't tried any Japanese fantasy dramas yet (aside from anime) but this sounds... odd and... not interesting enough to tempt me.
Unni: --


~ Aibou: Season 15
Empress: More interesting than the previous ones...I think if I was looking for a another drama to watch, I might jump on this one. But...I'm kind of the opposite of looking for another drama to watch right now.
Ambassador: It sounds pretty interesting but not quite the right combination to tempt me to pile yet another drama onto my already overloaded list.  (Wait.  CAN you have an overloaded list?  If you can, mine is.)
Unni: --


~ Career
Empress: I like the idea. And I feel like Japan is pretty good at this genre. But again...my list...so long...
Ambassador: This sounds FUN with humor and some good opinion turnarounds coming up.  I enjoy underdog stories, so I'm adding this one to my list.
Unni: --


~ Chef: Mitsuboshi no Kyushoku
Empress: The kid angle intrigues me - the idea of a restaurant chef making food that children will actually eat sounds kind of fun. Mostly this reminds me that I need to get back to watching Master-God of Noodles... XD
Ambassador: Naaaaaah, not really into cooking dramas.
Unni: --


~ Doctor-X: Season 4
Empress: Okay, this sounds like a total nightmare...either it's completely fake, in which case bo-ring and I don't care, or it's real, in which case HORRORS, that kind of patient-care nightmare makes me sick. No.
Ambassador: I like power play dramas but in a medical melo setting..... no, don't think so. 
Unni: --


~ Medical Team: Lady Da Vinci no Shindan
Empress: ...I commend her quitting neurosurgery when she's hallucinating...and in general it sounds better than the last drama...but not better enough to make me watch it.
Ambassador: This one however is intriguing because there is just enough mystery involved.  I don't have time for it though.
Unni: --



~ Rental Kyuseishu
Empress: I'm intrigued. Rent-a-Hero? I think I will at least stick it somewhere on my list.
Ambassador: This sounds HILARIOUS and I'm adding it to my list.
Unni: --


~ The Last Cop
[Remake of German TV series "Der letzte Bulle" which first aired in 2010.]
Empress: Japanese remake of a German show...this could be intriguing. I don't know how many cop shows I can have on my list at one time...It's a maybe. XD
Ambassador: It looks like it will be comedy and could totally be tons of fun, but it'll go on the 'check out' list.
Unni: --


~ Suna no Tou
Empress: This sounds weird...and possibly treading the horror-line...but also just intriguing enough that it makes me super curious. I want to check it out.
Ambassador: Oooooh a psycho thriller.  Japan does psycho thrillers really well so I'm intrigued enough to try it.
Unni: --


~ Toge
Empress: http://mydramalist.com/20124-toge-shoushimin-kuranaga-haruyuki-no-gyakushu The poster definitely captures the feel of the summary, and there is the possibility it could be hilarious...but I don't think I'm interested enough to check it out right now. If I hear good things about it, I would try it. XD 
Ambassador: I'M DYING and I need to see it.
Unni: --


~ We Married as a Job
Empress: These situations are always so ridiculous...it's really hard to make marriage a thing people have to do...and I'm not really in the mood for another version of this. XD
Ambassador: Yet another 'marriage of convenience' drama.  Nope.
Unni: --



~ Cain to Abel
Empress: The title intrigues me - the drama's poster makes me think they got Cain and Abel and Adam and Eve a little bit mixed up...but the trailer also intrigues me and I am putting it on my list.
Ambassador: The title immediately snagged my attention, and the synopsis makes it sound like it will be brother against brother, which I usually love to watch.  Also, the main actor is a favorite of a friend, who watched him in the movie Grasshopper and she says he's quite good, so I'm definitely watching this.
Unni: --


~ Cold Case
[Remake of U.S. television series "Cold Case".]
Empress: Remake intrigues me because what about the story was good enough to be remade...but again with the number of cop dramas I have on my list. Maybe later...XD
Ambassador: COLOR ME INTRIGUED.
Unni: --


~ IQ 246
Empress: Okay...this is a different enough spin that I am seriously intrigued. Japanese Sherlock Holmes...I'm at least going to try it. XD
Ambassador: O.O  Sounds FASCINATING.  It's going on my list.
Unni: --


~ The Sniffer
[Remake of Ukrainian TV series "The Sniffer".]
Empress: ........Then again some remakes are just strange. Why would you make a show like this in the first place, let alone remake it? Though maybe if I could conceptualize exactly HOW being able to smell really well could possbly help you solve crimes, I'd be more interested. The Girl Who Sees Smells at least had enough of a fantasy spin that I could go along with it...XD
Ambassador: A) Japan seems to have a thing for 'Sherlockian dramas'- where crimes are solved by someone with unusual abilities
b) they also have a thing for remakes
All things considered, I'm interested.
Unni: --


~ Haikei, Minpaku-sama
Empress: *tries not to yawn* My list is too long...XD
Ambassador: Naaaaah, mind numbing family melodrama.  If I want that, all I have to do is look around me IRL.  Meisa Kuroki makes it tempting, but I just don't have time or interest enough.
Unni: --


~ Kuroi 10-nin no Onna
Empress: *howls* There's a solution, I guess....XD Like...they have more than an inkling of each other's existence and all plot together to murder him, or do they all get fed up with him at the same time and individually try to murder him, or...I...am not sure what to think of this. Why can't they leave him? If there was a character who was likable, I would watch it...but if it's about 10 adulterers and a nasty wife, I can't really see enjoying it.
Ambassador: Absolutely watching this.  It's very much my kind of drama.  So much.
Empress: *grins* It really is. Please tell me if there is someone I would like in it who would make me want to watch it. XD
Ambassador: Watch me excitedly email you after the second episode and drag you into watching it with me.
Unni: --


~ Ishikawa Goemon
Empress: I feel like I should watch some of the other similar ones I have on my list before this one, but...it can't hurt to put it the end, right? XD
Ambassador: Oooooh, another Goemon drama!  Count me in.
Unni: --


~ Unmei ni, Nita Koi
Empress: Eh...naw.
Ambassador: Mmmm, no.  Not enough time, not enough interest, not enough etc etc.
Unni: --


~ Chuushingura no Koi
Empress: I am intrigued. It's not too long, and it looks really interesting. XD
Ambassador: YES,  for THE PLOT and DAITO SHUNSUKE.  I wasn't terribly impressed with Emi Takei in the RK movies, but here's hoping she'll be good.
Unni: --


~ Suisho no Kodou
Empress: This is a better synopsis of some of the others...I'm intrigued...but still. Too many dramas about policemen/detectives/etc.
Ambassador: I don't knooow.  It could be interesting but it doesn't sound particularly gripping.  Probably not.
Unni: --


~ Sennyuu Sousa Idol Deka Dance
Empress: And here we see the effect of all those detective dramas... -__- Though okay, this is the kind of twist on it that intrigues me. Detective that wants to be a detective because of entertainment gets stuck in entertainment industry undercover? I think I'm at least going to put it on my list. XD
Ambassador: Probably yes, mainly for DAITO SHUNSUKE.
Unni: --



Which of these Japanese dramas are YOU interested in watching?