ReQuotes: Descendants of the Sun ~ Episode Fourteen

The action ramps back up in this one, which again had me squealing out loud.

Mo-yeon: Please don’t do this to me.  You can’t do this to me.  Please wake up.  Please wake up, you fool!
Shi-jin: That really hurts.
Nurse: His heartbeat has returned.
Mo-yeon: Shi-jin, can you hear me?  Do you know where we are?  Can you see me?  Can you hear me?
Shi-jin: What about Senior Lieutenant Ahn?
Mo-yeon: What?
Shi-jin: The other wounded patient who came here with me.  Is he alive?
Mo-yeon: Who is he?  Who on earth is that?  This is not the time to worry for others.  You just came back from the dead.  If the cardiac arrest had lasted another minute, you'd be dead.  I wouldn’t have been able to save you. 
Shi-jin: Your pretty face seems very familiar.
Mo-yeon: You jerk!


Nurse: There’s a rumor that he’s a North Korean.
Eun-ji: Should we be treating North Koreans?
Chi-hoon: Of course.  He’s wounded.  We took an oath.
Eun-ji: Weren’t you scared?  He was covered in blood with gunshot wounds.  I’m pretty sure running into billboards drunk can’t do that.
Chi-hoon: I’ve seen worse in Urk.  I've witnessed men staring down their gun barrels, screaming “Alert, Alert.”  I’ve heard triggers clicking, “Hands up.  Move and I’ll shoot.”
Eun-ji: Stop messing around.  You made that up.
Ja-ae: I really want to kick you.  Check the news.  Politicians make me so angry.


Chairman: I can fight, too.  I served in the army.
Secretary: Did you really?
Chairman: Who do you think I am?
Secretary: A draft dodger, sir.
Chairman: That’s not what I asked!


Lt. Col. Park: Has he said anything?
Sergeant Choi: Sr. Lt. Ahn’s still quiet.  Captain Yoo is doing the talking.
Lt. Col. Park: What’s he saying?  Is he urging him to negotiate by mentioning his family?
Choi: Well sir, he’s saying that adding vinegar gives it a zing and mustard gives it a zap.
Lt. Col. Park: WHAT?
Dae-young: They’re talking about naengmyeon.
Choi: It’s Sr. Lt. Ahn’s exclusive recipe.
Lt. Col. Park: Are you all out of your minds?!  There’s a report due soon and they’re discussing condiments.  How can a captain be so clueless about official protocols?


Shi-jin: Did you find anything out from the chip in his arm?
Dae-young: It’s protected by a very sophisticated code.  It’ll take a week to break it.  The North wants us to hand him over by tomorrow morning.
Shi-jin: We’ll most likely comply.  We don’t have time.
Dae-young: Getting him to talk is best. 
Shi-jin: He knows you’re listening in, so he’s reluctant to open up.
Dae-young: This is usually when photos of his mother and family should come in handy.
Shi-jin: Let’s try something else.  I need Mo-yeon’s help.  I also need the chip.
Dae-young: Do you mean the chip which is being analyzed by NIS this very instant?
Shi-jin: Will it be hard to steal?  I think we made a mistake.  We should’ve made a copy first. 
Dae-young: Do you mean something like this?
Shi-jin: You’re so smart.


Mo-yeon: I need ten minutes.  This is the only probable place without listening bugs.
Ji-soo: Listening bugs?  What are you talking about?
Mo-yeon: It’s best if you don’t know.  Right now, I work for the government.
Ji-soo: Does the government know about this?


Shi-jin: Are you trying to avoid Commander Choe who is coming to get you?  I thought about why you came looking for me.  I’m your friend from far away, because your enemy is also my enemy.  Am I right?  Did you betray your country, or did your country betray you?
Ahn Jung-joon: A warrior never betrays his country.  Please.  Help me escape.
Shi-jin: You’ll die if you go back.  Regardless of who betrayed whom.
Jung-joon: There is something I must finish. 
Shi-jin: I said you’ll die.
Jung-joon: Even if I do, I’d rather die on home soil.  Please let me go.


Hee-eun: Did you see Doctor Kang’s boyfriend?  I heard that he is handsome.
Ji-soo: What’s the use of being handsome when he got hospitalized with a North Korean solider?
Hee-eun: I heard that the North Korean soldier is also handsome.
Ji-soo: I hope reunification will happen soon.


Dae-young: She’s coming.  There's 10 meters left.  Hurry up, there’s 5 meters left.
Shi-jin: I can’t take off my pants because of my cast.
Dae-young: My gosh, why did you get it done again? 
Shi-jin: I wanted to commit a perfect crime. 
Dae-young: She’s here.  Hurry up. 
Dae-young: He just fell asleep. 
Mo-yeon: It’s good to sleep a lot.  I hope he didn’t go out or anything. 
Dae-young: Of course not.
Mo-yeon: I’ll be back once he wakes up.
Dae-young: Okay.
Shi-jin: My gosh, that was bad.  Help me.
Dae-young: Why did you get another cast?
Shi-jin: I didn’t get hurt because I wanted to.


Mo-yeon: What are you doing here? 
Myung-joo: It’s been a while.  How have you been?
Mo-yeon: Every day is filled with incidents.  Are you here to see Shi-jin?
Myung-joo: Yes.  He’s not dead, is he?
Mo-yeon: Not yet.  I'll probably end up killing him soon though.  Go ahead.  Dae-young is there, too.
Myung-joo: I saw his car parked when I was parking.  That’s why I’m here.
Mo-yeon: What do you mean?  Did you two fight?
Myung-joo: No.  We broke up.  We have nothing to do with each other anymore. 
Mo-yeon: Really?  Why?  When?  Well, I understand.
Myung-joo: What is with your conclusion?
Mo-yeon: I mean that I understand.  His room number is 710.They are like the characters from Dumb and Dumber.  I hope the country never finds out that they are like that. 


Shi-jin: Dae-young, if she brought something, you should at least ask her to sit. 
Myung-joo: You two can talk.  I’m leaving.
Dae-young: I’ll leave.
Myung-joo: I’m leaving.
Shi-jin: Who will I be with if both of you leave?
Myung-joo: It would have been better if he was lying down in bed.
Shi-jin: He did lie down in bed instead of me a while ago, actually.  Did you know?  Dae-young is very feminine.  He even ran his fingers through his hair and....
Dae-young: I was just joking.
Shi-jin: Right, he even had this facial expression on, too.  He said ‘oh my’ as he ran his fingers through his hair.
Dae-young: I didn’t say 'oh my'.
Myung-joo: My goodness.  You really are like Dumb and Dumber.  Rest well.


Ja-ae: What do you think they’re doing?
Sang-hyun: In my opinion, they fought, and Myung-joo probably broke up with him for Dae-young’s sake.  That’s why Myung-joo can’t give in.  Because Myung-joo is a good woman.
Ja-ae: In my opinion, Dae-young knows where Myung-joo hid.  He wants to go after her but he can’t do that.  He wants to keep Myung-joo’s pride because she hid it so well.  Because Dae-young is a good man.


Sang-hyun: Choose one.  What do you like?
Ja-ae: I like this one.
Sang-hyun: Hey, you just interfered with my life.  Why did you do that?  Do you like me?
Ja-ae: The employee recommended this one, too.
Sang-hyun: You were watching me.  Why?  Do you like me?
Ja-ae: Yes.
Sang-hyun: You said you like me.  Why?  Do you like... wait, WHAT?


Mo-yeon: Don’t be scared.  I’m off duty.
Shi-jin: Why didn’t you go home? 
Mo-yeon: I am your guardian until today. 
Shi-jin: When do I get dismissed?  Can I stay here for a week?  I love seeing you once every two hours for a checkup.
Mo-yeon: If you love it so much, why did you go out?  Where did you go?
Shi-jin: I went to the rooftop to get some air.
Mo-yeon: I went there to check.
Shi-jin: I didn’t say I went to the rooftop of this building.


Shi-jin: I am sorry for worrying you.  Thank you for saving my life.
Mo-yeon: Why do we always thank each other for saving one another’s life?  Other couples thank each other for dropping one another home or for doing something special on their anniversary, don’t they?
Shi-jin: I am sorry.
Mo-yeon: Are you sure?
Shi-jin: What do you mean?
Mo-yeon: I saw the kind of peace you have kept on the news.  But if you are really sorry, don’t ever appear before me covered in blood.  Please.
Shi-jin: Copy that.

ReQuotes: Descendants of the Sun ~ Episode Thirteen

With everyone back in Seoul, the life-and-death action takes a shift downward, but still manages to keep the narrative from falling apart and feeling too bland.  We also receive Yoo Ah-in's highly anticipated cameo.

Mo-yeon: The only thing that I saw at that moment was the explosion.  Everything collapsed around me and became a mess.  My heart raced and my mind became numb.
Pyo Ji-soo: What is she talking about?
Former Urk Volunteer Nurse: About the earthquake she was in.
Ji-soo: Earthquake?  Aren’t you talking about the moment you fell in love?
Mo-yeon: Oh right.  Hey.  You’re the one that told everyone that I was dating, right? 
Nurse: Everyone already knew about it when I arrived in Korea.
Mo-yeon: Then who was it?
Ji-soo: What does that matter?  It’s true.  Talk about that man.  How is it going out with a man who is in special forces?
Mo-yeon: You get to know what to do when a car is hanging off a cliff, how to get out of a minefield and what to do when held hostage while wearing a bomb.  Things like that.
Ji-soo: What is she talking about?
Nurse: I can’t figure it out this time. 


Shi-jin: Are you happy to be back in Korea?
Mo-yeon: I’m still a bit swamped.  I kind of miss Urk.  There aren’t any singing soldiers here.  You’re not here either.
Shi-jin: Are you missing the soldiers or me?
Mo-yeon: I miss the peace in Urk.  I’m talking about that. 


Shi-jin: I’m sorry to bother you, but I have a message to deliver.
Dae-young: You seem to pick these moments to deliver your messages.
Shi-jin: It’s what I live for these days.  Here you go.  It’s an order for your transfer.
Dae-young: Is it for Lieutenant Yoon?
Shi-jin: Yes.  She will return to Korea. 
Myung-joo: Really?  How could this happen?  Did my dad pull strings?
Shi-jin: Why are you talking about the Commander?  It’s an order from the battalion commander and my influence.
Myung-joo: What kind of influence do you have?  You can’t even look after yourself.


Shi-jin: She regained her health, but she needs to take absolute rest for some time.  I’m worried if she’ll be okay here.
Lt. Col. Park: So, are you saying that she should go back to Korea?
Shi-jin: Well, when Lieutenant Yoon was sick and hovering between life and death, you wanted to send her to the U.S. Army base.  If she finds that out, I’m sure she will be very disappointed.
Lt. Col. Park: Yoo Shi-jin!  Let me get this straight.  Is this a threat?  Because if this is a threat... it’s working.


Kim Eun-ji: You seem eager to show off your hard work.  They sent you there for voluntary service, but I hear you got a boyfriend.  I heard you are going out with a soldier.
Mo-yeon: Did you make sure not to perform a surgery on any wrong patients while I was gone?
Eun-ji: You are ridiculous. There was a rumor that you and the hospital director were dating.  But I can’t believe that you already got a new boyfriend.  Is that why you got fired from the VIP ward?
Mo-yeon: Doctor Kim.  From the past month of doing volunteer service, I’ve learned quite a lesson.  We are all happy.  I want you to be happy too.  And you should also become a better doctor. 
Eun-ji: Stop bragging.  All you did is just give them shots and take some pictures.  Do you think you are Schweitzer or something? 
Eun-ji: Ooops.  don’t be upset.
Sang-hyun: I know what you are all thinking right now. 
Min-ji: It was the most unpleasant moment in my entire life.
Mo-yeon: Why didn’t I do anything?  I should have pulled on her hair.
Ja-ae: I know.  I had two free hands, too.
Chi-hoon: I should have thrown the tray at her.  I should have been wild.


Dae-young: Current time is 16:43.  For the next 72 hours, we shall drink.
Shi-jin: Don’t even think of trying to run away.  To zero nights.
Dae-young: And three days.


Mo-yeon: What’s going on here?  When did they get here? 
Myung-joo: Why are you so late?
Mo-yeon: I just got off the night shift.  Do they always drink until they are hammered?  What kind of a reunion is this?  I bought clothes and put on facial masks to go to the airport.
Myung-joo: The kimchi stew here is good.  You should try some. 
Mo-yeon: Where are you going?
Myung-joo: To the base.  I’m not on furlough. 
Mo-yeon: Don’t go alone.  Take Dae-young with you. 
Myung-joo: Zero nights and three days.  He’s staying here.


Mo-yeon: Mom?
Shi-jin: Mom?!
Mo-yeon: Mom’s coat.  Mom’s bag.  Mom.
Mrs. Kang: Who is this young man?
Shi-jin: Nice to meet you.  I’m Mo-yeon’s boyfriend.  My name is Yoo Shi-jin.
Mo-yeon: Are you my boyfriend?  Really?  He’s my boyfriend.  Isn’t he handsome, Mom?
Mrs. Kang: You always go too far whenever you drink.  She’s a good girl, but she has bad drinking habits. 
Shi-jin: I don’t mind that.  I think it’s cute.
Mrs. Kang: I’m glad you think so. 


Shi-jin: Are you sober?
Mo-yeon: Of course I am.  I didn’t drink that much. 
Shi-jin: You did.  You change when you’re drunk. 
Mo-yeon: Don’t say that.  That was me.  I remember everything. 
Shi-jin: I don’t believe that.  Oh, right.  What did your mother say?  Did she like me?
Mo-yeon: Did you meet my mother?  When?
Shi-jin: You don’t remember a thing!  Don’t you dare drink with other guys. 
Mo-yeon: Hey, look at you being jealous. 
Shi-jin: You’re still drunk, aren’t you?
Mo-yeon: Hey, you’re so smart!


Ahn Jung-joon: How is the wound I gave you last time?  I’m sorry about that.
Shi-jin: Are you here because you got demoted?  Sorry about that.
Jung-joon: You're still as witty.  Would you like to see who wins this time, minus the pen?
Shi-jin: I doubt you want my help to write a report.  I won’t go lightly just because you're the host.
Jung-joon: You're still as gutsy.  Be glad that you’re our guest and that we’re facing the same way.  For fighters like us, we’re only at peace when we’re facing the same way like this.


Chairman: How is Dr. Kang?  Is she struggling in the emergency room?
Secretary:  No, she is actually very cheery.
Chairman: Are you sending her flowers every day?
Secretary: She returns every delivery.  Thanks to her, my office smells very nice. 
Chairman: Have you found out about her boyfriend? 
Secretary: That’s what I find strange.  My army friend can’t find out much about him.  I only found out that he’s in Special Forces.  But I got my hands on a photo. Here you go.
Chairman: Are you kidding me?  Which one is he?
Secretary: I don’t know that yet.
Chairman: What?  You little....
Shi-jin: It’s this person. He’s Dr Kang Mo-yeon’s boyfriend.  Born in 1983.  His name is Yoo Shi-jin.  He’s a captain of the Korean army.  He’s a Pisces and his blood type is A.
Secretary:  I see.  It’s this person.
Chairman: But this person is him!
Shi-jin: Yes, well then I’ll be off.


Mo-yeon: What are you doing?
Shi-jin: I thought the size would be similar to my hand, so I bought it in this size.  I think I was right.  I bought a present.
Mo-yeon: Did you just measure the size of my neck by strangling me?
Shi-jin: No.  My hand just went very near to your neck.


Waiter: It’s been a while.  But I see that your girlfriends have changed.
Myung-joo & Mo-yeon: Girlfriends?
Waiter: They came with a wolf and a rabbit last time.  Stuffed animals.  Please enjoy.
Dae-young:  This is my real girlfriend.  
Shi-jin: This is my comrade.
Mo-yeon: Comrade?
Shi-jin: Yes.  We fought and won in Urk. 
Myung-joo: When did you come here?  And what was that about stuffed animals? 
Shi-jin: It’s when your boyfriend got into a fight against 17 men in order to get his phone back which had your photo in it.  It was the most difficult battle that I’d ever fought.


Mo-yeon: By the way, Lieutenant Yoon, how do you know Sergeant Major Seo’s password?
Myung-joo: I set it for him.  He thinks it’s the only password you can set.
Shi-jin: When you buy a phone, they give you a little pamphlet.  It includes detailed instructions on how to use your phone.
Dae-young: It’s fine.  That’s the only password I know of.


Myung-joo: How could you do this?  How could you make me find out like this?
Dae-young: I know how you feel but....
Myung-joo: Don’t pretend like you know.  You can’t do this to me if you know.
Dae-young: I decided to do this to not to break up with you.  Did you think it was easy for me?
Myung-joo: It was not easy, I know.  Then what about me?  Do you think it was easy for me?  It’s a promise I got after threatening my dad with my life.  Did you think it was easy for me to be so bold? 
Dae-young: Exactly.  Why did you do that?
Myung-joo: Because you kept on running away.  Where were you when I was fighting against my dad?  Do I mean anything to you?  How could you not say a word?  How could you not ask me?
Dae-young: I did ask you.  I asked you a multitude of times.  The times I ran away represented a hundred words, and the darned times when I couldn’t pick up the phone was a thousand times asking myself.  And how could you ask your father to do that?  I guess we didn’t mean much to each other. 
Myung-joo: How is that the same?  I tried to make him understand. 
Dae-young: That’s how you made me look foolish.  I need to be acknowledged, not understood.  I wanted the commander to choose me because of me and because of who I am, not because his daughter asked him to.  But, if the only reason he agreed to let us see each other was because it was a wish from his daughter who almost died, I cannot be with you.


Shi-jin: Are you eating that by yourself?
Dae-young: It’s too little for two.
Shi-jin: Did you only buy one?
Dae-young: I bought two and ate them both.  I'm craving sugar.  I think I have depression. 
Shi-jin: My gosh, how can you get depressed so suddenly?
Dae-young: I broke up with Myung-joo.
Shi-jin: WHAT?  Why?  Who broke up with whom? 
Dae-young: I got dumped.  I can’t tell you the reason.

WWW ~ April 2016 Edition

After the huge amount of kdramas premiering in March, there are only a few slated for April.  Japan sure has a bunch though.


Korean dramas:
~ Master: God of Noodles
Empress:  .....that premise doesn't even make sense. And the title irritates me. XD
Ambassador:  Not particularly interested, especially since it doesn't have any actors that I know.  Plus, my Wed/Thur slot is plenty full enough right now.  *hyperventilates because it's time for more Descendants of the Sun*
Unni:  I’ll be honest, anything with babies and food will catch my attention, this plot sounds interesting. I’ll probably watch for ratings and see how things are going before I jump in. But this sounds really cool.
Empress:  *dies* well, we couldn't have gotten more different answers there...XD lolllll
Ambassador:  *laughing*  Readers, again you behold the world of difference that sometimes exists in the drama choices of the three of us. :D


~ Working Mom, Parenting Daddy
Empress:  Not terribly interested, based on the title alone...I feel like it's been done before....
Ambassador:  No synopsis plus this title means NOPE, nothing to catch or hold my interest.
Unni:  Not really attention getting here.


~ The Flower in Prison
Empress:  Hmmm....there are so many March dramas I'm watching/want to watch...in another time I might check it out....
Ambassador:  Yes, at some point, because I want to see Jin Se-yeon in something that isn't Korean-rebel-during-the-Japanese-Occupation related (Bridal Mask, Inspiring Generation) and see if I like her any better.  PLUS, it has Kim Mi-sook, who I like a lot.
Unni:  This sounds really cool, again so many things on my plate right now but this goes on the radar.
Empress:  *we all stick this on the list* XD


~ Entertainer
Empress:  I was like eh...and then I saw the trailer....and 1) that is the most /cheerful/ trailer I've seen in ages 2) JI SUNG. I realized at that point I hadn't even fully read through the drama description or who was gonna be in it. I'm tempted now, though....for sure it's going on my list. XD
Ambassador:  At some point, /yes/, because Ji Sung is a great actor and Minhyuk is also good.
Unni:  Too much going on, not my typical interest.
Empress:  Ji Sung, Unni...'sall I'm sayin'...though now that I think about it, I've only seen him in two dramas...but the man can act...though yeah, this isn't my normal type of plot...{neither was the last one I saw him in though...}
Ambassador:  Yesss, JI SUNG.  Plus Minhyuk from CNBlue.  You'll like his acting a lot, Unni.  (I can't remember if you've seen him in anything else or not?)


Chinese dramas:
~ Ode to Joy
Empress:  :) I'm not enough of a fan of Chinese Dramas to check that out....
Ambassador:  Nah, not my kind of thing, though if its popularity is huge, I might check it out.
Unni:  Interesting. This could be really good or very sour. Watch ratings, and then invest...maybe.


Taiwanese dramas:
~ Love at Seventeen
If you could go back and have the chance to do it over, would you?  [It appears to be about several characters getting to go back to being 17?]
Empress:  O.o re/peat/ being 17? I'd rather not...
Ambassador:  Nahhh, not my kind of thing.
Unni:  Hmmmmmmmmmmmm Taiwanese. This looks like it could be a lot of fun.


Japanese dramas:
~ Toto Nee-chan
Empress:  Innnnnnnteresting....though again, it might take more than adoring Bloody Monday to get me watch some Japanese dramas...
Ambassador:  Maybe some day.  It has an interesting premise, but nothing that immediately grabs me.
Unni:  Sounds more complicated than I want to get.


~ Love Song
Empress:  It sounds somewhere between cute and heartbreaking...with Japan you never know....but not enough to grab me...
Ambassador:  Nahhhh, not interested.
Unni:  Nope. Just no.
Empress:  lol, you guys...okay, it does sound awfully painful, doesn't it...
Ambassador:  It just sounds a bit... slow to me. :)


~ Dias Police: Ihou Keisatsu
Empress:  That...actually sounds really interesting. Though I'm still probably more interested in watching the Japanese Liar Game first....
Ambassador:  YES.  Intriguing plot + Shota Matsuda.
Unni:  Okay. This sounds cool. If it gets really good ratings I’ll probably try it and make it my first Japanese drama.
Empress:  I still need to get you to watch Bloody Monday.... :)
Ambassador:  *evil laughter track plays*


~ Saigo no Restaurant
Empress:  .......I'm kind of really curious if Julius Caeser and Joan of Arc are Japanese or how that will work.....possibly not curious to check it out, though. {I have to get through the dramas I'm currently watching...}
Ambassador:  YES, most definitely.  It sounds hilarious and all anyone has to do is say the name of any one of the historical people on the cast list and tada! my attention is caught.
Unni:  Okay! This sounds cool and super fun! I just might have to take a serious peek at this one.
Empress:  ...I'll wait to hear the opinion of you two. XD


~ Nezumi, Edo wo Hashiru Season 2
Empress:  This makes me curious just because of a book I'm reading... :D I think I'll put it on my list.
Ambassador:  Absolutely YES, which necessitates watching Season 1, too.
Unni:  I haven’t watched season one, most likely am not going to jump into season two. So no?
Empress:  See, that's what I thought about Mrs. Cop 2, which I am currently completely loving. But if it's like jumping into Season 2 of Bloody Monday... :P yeah, I'd have to watch season 1 first...
Ambassador:  I think it's more like Bloody Monday in that regard.  Mrs Cop 2 and Vampire Prosecutor/Vampire Detective- they're both shows whose seasons can stand alone.  Bloody Monday's can't and I don't think this one's can either.


~ Doctor Car
Empress:  What. I think this may be a failure in synopsis-writing...because I feel like that should be more interesting than it sounds....
Ambassador:  Mmmm, maybe at some point but it's a long way in the future.
Unni:  Interesting, but I don’t really have the time.


~ Doctor Chousahan
Empress:  Were it not for the fact that I tend to really NOT like medical dramas at all, I would check this one out.
Ambassador:  Sounds pretty interesting.  Possibly at some point.
Unni:  Interesting, but I already have too many dramas’ on my watch list to make me want to add this one too.


~ Our House
Empress:  That actually sounds interesting enough that I might put it on my list... :D
Ambassador:  Not sure when, but yes.  It sounds like it could be fun and thought-provoking.
Unni:  This could prove to be veeeeeery interesting.


~ 99.9%
Empress:  This makes me curious...I'm not really in a mood for legal dramas right now, though.
Ambassador:  It's going on my list because premise + Matsumoto Jun, but it's far enough down that I won't get to it for several months.
Unni:  Interesting but courtrooms aren't really my interest.


~ Tamiou Special
Empress:  Wow. Um...I think it would depend hugely on the actors involved and if they could sell it...I think there would be a tendency to overact and possibly be really lame...plus I'm not sure how clean the storyline will end up being. It could be done really well, though...
Ambassador:  This sounds terrifically hilarious.  Yes, I'll be watching it.
Unni:  *Giggles* Switching body stories are hilarious....but I have so much on my plate. Maybe if the Ambassador says it’s beyond good without giving spoilers.


~ Kagero Ezu Special
Empress:  Haha...That sounds interesting, Ambassador, no? XD That's actually the same title as a 1959 Japanese mystery movie, though I can't find a synopsis of it. I wonder if they're related....
Ambassador:  Um.  Harem.  Edo.  DUH, YES.
Unni:  LOL This is SUCH AN AMBASSADOR SERIES!!! I’ll leave it with her.
Ambassador:  (I'm laughing at how you both immediately knew I'd be watching it, before I'd said anything.  Our friendship is hilariously great.)


~ Night Hero Naoto
Empress:  I have so many masked hero stories already on my list... :)
Ambassador:  Ehhh, maybe.
Unni:  Interesting idea. Probably won't watch.


~ Kiseki no Hito
Empress:  Somehow this sounds like a very Japanese plot line...I might put it on my list just because I'm curious...
Ambassador:  Color me quite intrigued.  Yes, I'll be watching it.
Unni:  Seems like an interesting idea, but doesn't catch my interest enough.



What April dramas will each of you be watching?

ReQuote: Mrs. Cop 2 Episodes 3-4

Then again, sometimes ReQuotes happen in place of ReQuips...

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~4~

ReQuip: Mrs. Cop 2 Episodes 1-2

This is a new feature for dramas we are loving but do not have time to ReQuote: a single quote or screenshot from each episode.

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Signal / 시그널 / Sigeuneol

Plot: 
A young criminal profiler's life spins out of control when someone from the past contacts him via a broken police radio and tells him that they have been working together across time to solve crimes or to stop them before they occur.

The OST is gloriously haunting and perfect.

Main Characters:

Park Hae-young {Lee Je-hoon} ~ Hot-shot profiler who receives (and sometimes deserves) quite a few kicks to the shins while refusing to learn respect or compromise for stupidity and corruption, in power though it may be. Passionate, caring, and good at his job while still clearly with much to learn, I loved the combination of hot-headed youth and utter sweetness. Also I loved his relationship with his team leader, which held so much respect and honor all the way through, while his relationship with Lee Jae-han {my best friend whom I have never met} nearly brought me to tears multiple times. 

  

Cha Soo-hyun {Kim Hye-soo} ~ Her Awesomeness the Cold Case Team Leader. With the twisted timeline of the drama, we see her both as the Rookie, unable to drive a stick-shift and trying to navigate a crush on her partner while learning how to go after criminals, and as the hardened Team Leader, who has seen and learned and loved and lost, and who knows when to knock her young profiler back into line and when to use his skills and show him how an experienced cop breaks rules. She is that glorious dichotomy that dresses in all pink on her days off but who can kick criminal rears like nobody's business when the situation requires, and I completely loved her. 

Lee Jae-han {Cho Jin-woong} ~ That rare, rare thing that is a righteous man. He has a perfectly beautiful soul, though it's slowly that his awesomeness appears. He's no genius, no specialist...just a homicide detective, as he is mockingly reminded, time and time again. But he doesn't care, and that's what makes his story incredible. Stubborn and persistent and doggedly capable, he will fight for what is right no matter the cost to himself.

Kim Bum-joo {Jang Hyun-sung} ~ The devil incarnate. Or rather, the devil's lackey. For the sake of spoilers, I'll just say...augh. There was a splendid set-up for a second season at the end, but I'm not sure where you find a Bigger Bad than the one who calmly murders a child for the sake of expediency. 

Cautionary Notes:
The genre is fantasy crime, and crimes in the drama range from child abduction/murder to rape. The biggest warning would be that some of the murders that occur onscreen are somewhat graphic, and skeletons and bloody crime scenes make frequent appearances. 

It's definitely not an easy drama to watch, but that is more because of the emotional anguish it shows than because of gruesomeness or narrative issues. 

Favorite Scene:

Everything. Though when Jae-han figured out who profiler Lieutenant Park was in his own timeline...I fell in love with everything 100 times more. 
Or when the young profiler spoke across time, telling his team leader's previous sunbae (Jae-han) to encourage her because he knows she had a horrible time back then, while guessing that she had a crush on him way back then...it was just gorgeous. So sweet and perfect.

Random Quotes:

Hae-young: "Can cops do that??!?!?"

Soo-hyun, as she breaks into a suspect's house: "Of course you can't. Only old cops like me can. You can come back tomorrow with a warrant."

Hae-young: *looks helplessly around, horrified, before charging in after her* 

~

Hae-young: "You wrote it down in your notebook!" 

Jae-han: "What did I write? How did you get my notebook?!"

The time-twistyness of it all just makes me squeal. XD

~

Hae-young: "He probably didn't even realize he liked that woman. No one ever taught him what those feelings were. He probably could not kill after that. And that's why he tried to commit suicide. If he can't kill...he has no reason to live. Do you think that he's just a 'crazy piece of trash' too?"

Soo-hyun (team leader): "Even if his childhood was hard, he still killed 11 people. I don't have any sympathy for him."

Hae-young: "There are those who are born monsters, but there are also those who are made into monsters by people. If someone...if just 1 person had reached out a helping hand...he and the dead victims could all have been saved."

Overall:
I love Signal. So very, very much. The aura is painfully beautiful and the quiet kind of addicting that just sneaks up on you. It is intense, thoughtful, tightly written, and carefully plotted, and the present affecting the past and the future and the over-arching mystery is just awesome.

Completely random things I liked include the fact that the the coroner/forensic pathologist is this pretty lady who isn't creepy and weird like every autopsy person in every American show ever. She just does her job and seems like a normal nice person. XD 

Also...this might be the single movie or tv show I've ever seen where they showed an accurate response to losing somebody's pulse. Even to the correct placement and position of hands for chest compressions. That right there would put it high on my list of favorites. XD {Even though the scene itself slaughtered me.}

There are moments where they're working across time to solve a crime and then time starts collapsing...It is absolutely slaughtering. I had to literally pause the drama at times because it is so horrendously gut-wrenching. It hurts. It's...the kind of story where you think they've twisted your emotions to the furthest pain and then they wrench it further. Worse, the crimes are based on real ones...and some of them are really, really horrible. So there's always the added pain of knowing what you're watching actually happened.

Basically, though, it's one of the most consistent, carefully written dramas I've ever seen, and that's despite the fact that we're talking multiple timelines and the glorious ability to rewrite the story repeatedly (which they used to absolute perfection). The ending was an absolute roller-coaster, and the amount and variation of emotions I went through while watching it was insane. This is the way to do a drama.

Amazingness.

Verdict: 5/5
Go watch this right now. XD It's hard to describe the storyline without spoilers {which storyline do you want, the original past, the past being changed, the current time, or the current time that's been re-written...}, but this is a beautiful, haunting, thoughtful kind of thriller, and I loved it.

I was too engrossed to get a picture of a black hat while watching.
That's how good this drama is.

I won't give up. I'll go all the way, no matter what. I have to right the real wrong, so that I can change the past, and the future too.

Lee Jae-han

All is possible. If we don't give up, there is hope.

Park Hae-young

ReQuotes: Descendants of the Sun ~ Episode Twelve

Given the way this episode ended, I'm not sure what they can find to fill four more whole episodes, but I shall continue to trust in the drama that has gone above and beyond my expectations so far and look forward to the usual blend of humor and action later this week.






 Dae-young: We will begin carrying out Unauthorized Black Operation.  Violence with the armed gang is to be expected.  Except for us, there are no backups.  It will be an operation outside the uniform.  And there’s a chance that you may not return.  Anyone who wants out, can do so now.  Does anyone want out?
Sergeants Choi, Gong, and Im: NO SIR.
Dae-young: Good.  Vacation is over.  As of this moment, everyone is back in Team Alpha.


Shi-jin: What are you doing here?
Dae-young: What are you doing here alone with your hands up?
Shi-jin: I was intimidated, thinking I was alone.  Now I’m welcoming my friends with open arms.
Dae-young: Don’t be intimidated.  All Team Alpha members have returned from furlough.
Shi-jin: I will express my gratitude later.  This is Captain Big Boss.  Here is the operation order for Team Alpha.  Piccolo and Harry Potter, protect the children.  Leave this place as soon as possible.
Gong and Im: Yes, sir.
Shi-jin: Wolf and Snoopy, you will conduct hostage rescue operations with me.
Dae-young and Choi: Yes, sir.


General Yoon: As of 2200 this evening the Republic of Korea special forces began conducting Unauthorized Black Operation.
Chief of National Security: Look here General Yoon.  I never passed you the order.  This is unbelievable.  The US military promised to rescue the hostage within 24 hours.
General Yoon: Korean soldiers have been dispatched to save a Korean’s life.There is nothing unbelievable about this, sir.
Chief: This is not just a simple issue of a kidnapped civilian.  What will we do if our troop deployment botches a CIA operation?  Who will take responsibility for that?
General Yoon: I understand your foreign affairs predicament, sir.
Chief: Stop interrupting me.  This is a matter of national security which requires diplomatic and political considerations.  So let’s leave the hostage rescue operation to the US military.  We must pay attention to security maintenance and press control. 
General Yoon: Hey.  You, politician.
Chief: What did you just say?  I just misheard you, right?
General Yoon: Listen carefully if you didn’t hear me correctly.  I don’t care if national security means secret room politics and camera diplomacy to you.  For my subordinates, it means sacrificing their youth to protect our homeland, and they devote their lives to perform their duties.  The reason they answer the call of duty for a country who doesn’t appreciate their sacrifice whether they’re killed or captured, is because they believe that the lives of citizens is national security itself.  I will bear all responsibility for everything.  You can just choose your tie and be a politician for the journalists.


Shi-jin: How long will it take?
Choi: One minute.  I’ll have it disarmed by then.  Try not to move.
Mo-yeon: I’m not moving.  I’m trying not to but....
Shi-jin: Look at me.  Look into my eyes.  Do you remember when I joked about the landmine?  You told me to bring an expert.  I’ve been wearing a uniform for 15 years, and I haven’t seen a bomb he couldn’t disarm.  He’s the best we have.  So don’t worry.  I will not let you die.


President: Is our hostage safe?
Chief of National Security: Yes, but the CIA strongly protested against this mission and its end result.
President: So, I guess we’re in a diplomatic bind then.  It will affect many trade deals.
Chief: Before it becomes a liability, you should end the matter by punishing the officer in charge. 
President: Is that so?
General Yoon: I’m Yoon Gil-joon, commander of Special Forces.  I agree with him.  I shall take full responsibility.
President: Why should you be punished for a successful rescue op?  the hostage is safe.  Now it’s a political and diplomatic issue.  That means it’s now in my hands.  I shall take care of it now. 
Chief: But Mr. President....
President: List up all the issues you think will arise from this situation.  General Yoon, thank you for rescuing one of ours.  I also heard they pulled it off without any injuries.  Thank you.


Min-ji: I’ve never seen a gunshot wound before.
Sang-hyun: We get to see all sorts of things over here.
Ja-ae: You’ll need a few stitches. 
Sang-hyun: Bite down on this.  Min-ji, get some vodka.  We will remember your sacrifice.  OW.  What was that for?  This is how they treat gunshot wounds.  Don’t you watch movies?
Ja-ae: In horror movies, the one who talks the most dies first.


Shi-jin: How is your wound?
Mo-yeon: I was too out of it to ask you yesterday.  How’s Fatima?
Shi-jin: She’s fine.  She’s being treated at Corps Command.  They say she’ll fully recover. 
Mo-yeon: Are you sure?
Shi-jin: What do you mean?
Mo-yeon: You lie to me a bit too often.  You said the kids from Haunted Village were safe.  But they were all with me where I was kept hostage. 
Shi-jin: I’m sorry I lied.  I didn’t want you to worry.
Mo-yeon: What else did you lie about, so I wouldn’t worry?
Shi-jin: There were no other lies. 
Mo-yeon: That’s a lie.


Mo-yeon: From now on, I’m going to tell you even the smallest things like this.  I’m saying that I’ll try to cope with you.  So you should cope with my chattering, too.  But, promise me one thing, instead.  Allow me the right to be worried.  I can’t let myself be anxious and worried for all the hours that you’re not with me.  So when you need to go do something that might worry me, tell me.  For instance, when you tell me that you need to go to the department store, I’ll understand that it will be a tough operation.  At least at a moment when you are fighting a life and death struggle, don’t leave me in the dark.  Now.  I’ll ask you one last question.  Which will it be.  Me or our country?  You need to be wise with your words, since I’ll only ask this once. 
Shi-jin: Kang Mo-yeon.  For now.
Mo-yeon: For now?
Shi-jin: Didn’t you say that you were only going to ask one question?
Mo-yeon: That was before I heard you say that.What will you do if I ask twice?
Shi-jin: I’ll still choose Kang Mo-yeon. 
Mo-yeon: Really?  What about our country?
Shi-jin: Our country doesn’t get jealous.  It has faith in me.
Mo-yeon: What kind of relationship is this?  What kind of man has his country as in-laws?


Myung-joo: I’m fine now.  I’m not feverish and I’m very hungry, too.  I want some chicken soup.
Dae-young: Chicken soup? 
Myung-joo: And some seared barbecue, too.
Dae-young: Let’s eat them in Korea.
Myung-joo: I also want soju and beer.
Dae-young: Wow, you must be okay because you’re now talking about alcohol.
Myung-joo: Come to think of it, everything I like has the letter ‘s’ in it.  Chicken soup.  Seared barbecue, soju, beer [begins with 's' in Korean], and Seo Dae-young.    That’s smooth, isn’t it?  Wait, smooth starts with 's' too.
Dae-young: You’re a swindler.
Myung-joo: Saranghae. [I love you]


Kim Ki-bum: My goodness, Captain.  You just put a soy sauce bottle cap inside that chicken. 
Shi-jin: Wasn’t that a date?
Ki-bum: That’s not edible!
Shi-jin: What if we cook it?
Ki-bum: WHAT?!
Dae-young: Add these spoons too.  They are very delicious when cooked. 
Shi-jin: Of course.  You know your food, Sergeant Major Seo.
Ki-bum: Can you both just leave the kitchen?
Dae-young: We’re putting our effort and love into this dish. 


Myung-joo: Wow,  I am very touched.
Mo-yeon: You look good in an apron.
Shi-jin: I am someone you’d like to marry, am I not? 
Dae-young: We cooked these for you because you’ve been through a lot.  I’m not sure if it’ll be any good.
Mo-yeon: It’s very delicious.  It's perfectly salted.
Myung-joo: Lance Corporal Kim really is a good cook.
Mo-yeon: I know. I’m going to miss his food when I return to Korea. 
Myung-joo: I used to go to this chicken soup place when I studied in school.
Mo-yeon: I know.  I saw you eating there with Min Yun-gi.
Myung-joo: I didn’t go there with him.  He followed me there saying he had something to tell me.  You still think that I came between you two, don’t you?
Mo-yeon: That is coming between us.  What did he have to say?
Myung-joo: He said you two didn’t have a thing.
Mo-yeon: Is that what he said?  That we didn’t have a thing?
Myung-joo: Yeah, he said you two were just study buddies. 
Mo-yeon: Just study buddies?  We weren’t study buddies.  We had a thing since April. 
Myung-joo: He wanted to eat with me since school began.
Mo-yeon: I'm talking about the April of the year before that.
Myung-joo: I guess he was your crush then.
Mo-yeon: No, we had a thing.
Dae-young: Was Min Yun-gi the reason you two never got along?
Shi-jin: I won’t be able to sleep tonight wondering about that guy. 
Mo-yeon: This is a misunderstanding
Myung-joo: It definitely is.
Shi-jin: You two went crazy over a single picture with us, while you got played around by some other guy.  I’m getting angry.
Dae-young: I’d like to kill him for playing around with such beautiful women.
Shi-jin: He must be a doctor somewhere.
Dae-young: We should look for him and conduct an Forced Entry Operation.
Shi-jin: I’m not sure how I'll react when I see that guy.
Dae-young: It’s too simple to shoot him and too boring to blow him up.


Mo-yeon: I need to talk to you about something.
Shi-jin: With me?  I see.  You had a thing with Min Yun-gi but now you want to talk to me? 
Mo-yeon: Can’t I?
Shi-jin: Did you think you could?
Mo-yeon: Fine.  While we’re on the subject, I’ll go ahead and call Min Yun-gi.
Shi-jin: Try calling and see what’ll happen.
Mo-yeon: You make me want to call him even more.  Listen carefully.
Shi-jin: To what?
Mo-yeon: I like this guy named Yoo Shi-jin the best among all males living on this earth.  We totaled 3 cars, we fell in the water together, we fought through a disease together, and I have a gunshot wound because of him too.  Even so, I like him so much.  Because he was never cowardly, he was honorable at all time, and he was handsome at all times, too.  Do you have any objections?
Shi-jin: I do not.


Min-ji: Can’t you two just date?
Ja-ae: I’m going back in.  I haven't packed yet.
Min-ji: Omo. Did I make a mistake again?
Mo-yeon: You didn't do anything wrong.  It’s because Nurse Ha is just as great a woman as Dr Song is a man.  They’re the middle aged version of high school sweethearts.
Min-ji: What are you talking about?
Mo-yeon: It’s not for you babies to know.


Ja-ae: Good morning!
Mo-yeon: Good morning.
Ja-ae: Work is too far away from home.  It was good to have the Medicube right in front of our lodge. 
Mo-yeon: We got to look at our doves every morning, too.
Chi-hoon: Wait for me!
Min-ji: Hello!
Chi-hoon: Doesn't it feel like our first day of work?
Min-ji: Right.  I feel that way, too.
Sang-hyun: I feel the same way.  My gosh it’s freezing.  Good morning!
Mo-yeon: We’re really back.

ReQuotes: Descendants of the Sun ~ Episode Eleven

Delivering another solid episode with an epic ending, Descendants of the Sun again had the Empress and I squealing to each other breathlessly.




Mo-yeon: But what if we really are infected?
Myung-joo: Are you afraid?
Mo-yeon: Aren’t you afraid?
Myung-joo: I've told you before of what I'm most afraid.


Shi-jin: Then what do we do?
Mo-yeon: I’ll try everything possible to help fight it.  I’ll try my best not to lose against it.  Fighting against a virus is a doctor’s battle. 
Shi-jin: I’m reassured to have such a reliable comrade.


Ja-ae: This will sting a bit.
Sang-hyun: You were always great at drawing blood.  You draw it out from your first go. 
Ja-ae: I wasn’t like that from the beginning.  It was only after practicing on a doctor friend when I was a student nurse.
Sang-hyun: You remember.
Ja-ae: Every time I draw blood, I’m always thankful.


Shi-jin: I’m very bored. 
Dae-young: I’m sorry for being here at a time like this. 
Shi-jin: If you're sorry, get out safely.  I won’t mind you making trouble, so just get out safely. 


Myung-joo: Do you remember the white dress I wore the second time we met?  You asked me if I was dressed like a ghost.  I keep thinking about that moment.  It seems like that was a foreshadow.  I will really become a ghost if I die now.  I don’t want to die.
Dae-young: You are an angel.  From the moment I met you, you’ve been an angel to me this whole time.  I want you to know that.
Myung-joo: You are so kind to me when I’m sick.  *whispers* But what’s the difference between a ghost and an angel?  They’re both dead anyway.


Ki-bum: Wow, do doctors study even when they are sick?
Sang-hyun: Soldiers go to war even when they are sick, don’t they?


Shi-jin: Speaking of blood test results, what is your blood type?
Mo-yeon: Your ideal type.
Shi-jin: Try one more.
Mo-yeon: A beauty?
Shi-jin: One more.
Mo-yeon: A doll?
Shi-jin: I lose. 
Mo-yeon: I just gave it a shot.  You cheer me up when I’m down.


Hee-eun: You’re in isolation?  why?  Are you infected by the virus?
Chi-hoon: I could be, but not yet.  I guess I was isolated to become a real doctor. 
Hee-eun: That’s what you say after calling for the first time in a month?  Do you know how worried I was?  I thought you were going to divorce me. 
Chi-hoon: Hey.  That’s not a bad idea.  You could get a fortune in alimony. 
Hee-eun: WHAT?
Chi-hoon: I love you, Hee Eun!  I love you so much!
Hee-eun: It really is you.  You’re back.


Argus: It’s good to see familiar faces.  A former comrade.  My lifesaver.  And my little red rose.
Mo-yeon: Do you think he’s here to get tested for the virus?
Argus: The virus?  Don’t worry, doctor.  We already tested negative.   The U.S. Army came in advance to test me.  Apparently, I can’t be sick.  They love me more now than when I was a Delta Force Captain.
Shi-jin: Be quick and watch your mouth.  Don’t ever say we are on the same side. 
Argus: Okay.  We can catch up next time.    I’m just here to see my Korean friend.  He was very ill.  Mr. Jin.  Can I see him now?
Shi-jin: Your friends aren’t welcome here.  So, get lost.
Argus: Well, I can always catch up with him next time.  But just one question.  I heard my stuff is here.  It’s very expensive, sparkly, and women adore it.  Can I see that instead?
Shi-jin: This is not a lost and found.  I will give you ten seconds to get out of my face.


Ja-ae: The results are back. 
Sang-hyun: Really?  Then I’m free to go.
Ja-ae: Not yet.  I haven’t told you anything yet.
Sang-hyun: A fever, headache, cough and chest pains.  My early symptoms were similar to the M3 or Ebola virus, but my skin’s still flawless, and you still look beautiful, so my eyesight’s fine.  My symptoms were from another, more common virus.  It’s called a cold. 
Ja-ae: Yes, you fool.  You had a cold.  I was so worried.  What are you doing?  Let go of me.
Sang-hyun: You hugged me first.
Ja-ae: I’m regretting it now.


Argus: Captain Big Boss, come in.  This is Argus.  Over.
Shi-jin: What the hell are you doing?  Bring back the medicine.  Now.
Argus: I’m a business man, not a soldier.  Instead of giving orders, let’s make a deal.  Bring me the diamonds if you want to get your medicines back.


Ki-bum: I don’t understand why there’s no cure even with advances in medicine. 
Ye-hwa: It’s because it’s a medicine that doesn’t sell.  If it doesn’t sell, then it doesn’t make money. 
Ki-bum: People are dying.  How can they not make it because it isn’t profitable?
Ye-hwa: That’s why people like us do things that we’re told not to do.  And we go to places where we’re told not to go.  We’re hoping for the world to change.


Shi-jin: This is Big Boss, do you copy?  Mo-yeon, listen carefully to what I say.  I will make sure I find you and save you.  You do know that I’m a great worker, right?  I’ll be there soon.  So don’t be afraid and don’t cry.  Just wait for me.  I’ll be there soon.


Government Minister: Didn’t you hear that you must keep it confidential and be on standby?  Look here, Captain Yoo.  Just because I let things pass with the VIP case before, do you think you can just ignore my words?  This nation did not put a gun in your hands for this reason.  This isn’t a matter of whether one person dies or not.  This problem is at a national level. 
Shi-jin: If the nation is indifferent to a single person’s death, that seems more problematic.  I’m not sure which nation you serve, but I will serve my nation.


Argus: Big Boss.  He’s smart, funny, and mysterious.  But, he has a lot of secrets.  He’ll disappear from time to time.  He’ll be hard to contact.  And then, one day... poof. He’ll never come back.  You should break up with him now.  This is advice, not a warning.
Mo-yeon: That kind of thing should be said with a roll of cash, and a cup of water on the side.  You can’t make me do that without giving me anything.


Shi-jin: It’s been a while.
Arab: Long time, no talk.  Is everything okay?
Shi-jin: Let me use your last card.  I need a chopper.  I have a date again.