#MY YOUTH IS GONE

[gidaryeong]

2023 drama roundup

Unchained Love: I still hum the unhinged flute intro on a regular basis, easily my fave intro of 2023! I didn't actually finish the show due to dwindling interest, but for the first 14 episodes or so I took a keen pleasure in it (and it made me go on a eunuch webnovel spree, expertly curated by @mercipourleslivres). I love it when heroines are allowed to be truly funny, rather than just quirky or ditzy. Also appreciate the goofy Lamp Prince turning into a brutal incel tyrant the moment he got power.

Six Flying Dragons: I don't think I can write anything succinct enough for the roundup format so I direct you to my "my sfd tag" if you want to access my enthused livetweeting. Show of all times, lives were changed.

Tree with Deep Roots: I literally can't think of a better topic for a tv show than Sejong the Great constructing hangul together with his band of nerds, one of whom he has a weirdly intense, vaguely erotic relationship with. Han Suk-kyu carried this entire show on his trembling shoulders. What an actor! What range!!! It was such a treat to watch him smugly debate his ministers, roleplay a farmer, and hiss half-mad soliloquies to himself in the dark. It took nuance and depth to portray the kind of inner conflicts and generational trauma that Sejong battles in the background of this drama. To be honest I didn't always enjoy the Milbon subplot which I felt got repetitive, and often found myself wanting to fast-forward the wuxia scenes. In a better world the show would have centered the whip-smart palace maids and their alphabet workshops. But I will definitely rewatch this soon. And maybe also write a fix-it where Sejong and Soo-yi fuck idk.

Quartet: Cute little murder mystery about a found family of freaks, liked it a lot.

My Country: The New Age: As entertaining as ever. Very fun to rewatch this back to back with Tree with Deep Roots, since Jang Hyuk plays diametrically opposite characters with the same vigor and commitment.

Gone with the Rain: Sometimes you watch something which you understand is technically a masterpiece but it doesn't do anything for you, and sometimes you watch a piece of campy silly fun and it makes you tingle with joy. This was the latter category for me. I liked the first and middle parts enough to make up for the lukewarm fizzle of an ending.

The Autumn Ballad: Has some fucked up elements that are difficult to stomach, but the parts that are good are really good.

Not Others: Bingeable! But imo they could have cut out the stalker/murder cases and just focused on the excellent family drama.

The Matchmakers: This surprisingly swooped in towards the end of the year as my favorite comedy of 2023, all thanks to a rec by @haraxvati. I adore Cho Yi-hyun in this role!!! She is so hot as a shrewd matchmaker with a fake mole and a twinkle in her eye. Love the virgin prince with his yearning-induced panic attacks (Rowoon didn't work for me in The King's Affection in a quite similar role, but he's so much weirder and lamer here, which is something I like in a man). I am obsessed with the side plot of the crossdressing romance novelist and the solemn police officer who is trying to capture her and ends up giving her free home renovations and smouldering looks instead. Also, Park Ji-Young and Lee Hae-Young are two of my favorite villain actors on their own, and here they are married!! Still have a few episodes to go, but I intend to binge them as soon as I post this.

Dramas I dropped or paused:

Our Blossoming Youth: I shipped the heroine and her cute maidservant a little too much to bear the dull prince they stuck her with. But I might rewatch it some day bc I want to write a Sherlock Holmes fic for the girls.

Little Women: A real disappointment, because I love Louisa May Alcott and I love Jeong Seo-kyeong. Once again, letting the women kiss might have solved much of it.

Island: Casting Kim Nam-gil as an expressionless cool-guy action hero offends me personally. (Yes Song of the Bandits I'm giving you the stinky eye also.) But Lee Da-hee and Cha Eun-woo were delightful!

See you in my 19th life: I couldn't, even for my most darling Shin Hye-sun, go beyond episode 1. There's something about a kid dating another kid even though she's a literal adult inside her brain that I can't really vibe with.

My Dearest: I do intend to finish this, but I lost the thread after the first half. It got a little too dark for me I think.

#you'll get my moving and minglan recaps in the 2024 roundup because i haven't finished them yet #(i like minglan too much to binge it and my husband won't let me watch either show without him) #unchained love #six flying dragons #tree with deep roots #quartet #my country: the new age #gone with the rain #the autumn ballad #not others #the matchmakers #our blossoming youth #tvn little women #tving island #see you in my 19th life #mbc my dearest #2023 recap #kdrama

[uncanny-tranny]

I don't necessarily buy into the idea of love languages, but I think figuring out how you show your love to others can be such a great idea.

I've learned that I show love through gift-giving and creating things with my loved ones in mind. While this won't be compatible with everyone, the core of why you like expressing your love in particular ways can help you explore how to expand on how you express it.

I think this is important because I think we should strive to be adaptable and to understand ourselves as deeply as we understand the people we love. By getting to know yourself, you can how to appreciate all these qualities about you

#advice #relationships #this goes for ANY TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP #i have always expressed my love in the same way no matter who it is - because i love them #i used to buy my friend flowers when i had no classes in high school #(funnily enough i'm not a huge fan of recieving gifts myself. i would rather be giving them) #inspired because i just gave my dad a gift the other day and i felt so fulfilled and happy #i've gone so long without giving a gift that i felt morose. and now i feel rejuvenated :3 #i'm thinking about what gift i could give next #i've been talking a lot about crochet to my dad so maybe after my next project i could find something to make him #after my hoodie i wanna make this freddie fazbear beanie. i thought it was HILARIOUS #bruh i took sewing classes as a youth and i made a stuffed bear and gave it to him. and the bear has no eyes and he STILL HAS IT 😭 #this bear is almost ten years old and he still has no eyes gd bless 😭💀💀

[vivalamusaine]

The older I get the more I hate seeing Grantaire depicted as a twink

#HES AN OTTER!!!!!! HAIRY AND SOFT #bear is sometimes acceptable but it has to be bear as in feral muddy beast not perfect manscaped physique #i am paying for the crimes of my youth #I dreamed a dream of twinks gone by #grantaire #noah fence #forgive me father for i have sinned its been a decade but i cant take the twink grantaires i manifested back

[gfbillpotts]

all i want for s4 is for them to follow up on this scene

#kelvin gemstone #the fact that he honestly has no idea what theyre talking about is so sad #when think youre hiding it from everyone but youre only hiding from yourself #i emphasize a lot bc after i came out i discovered that everyone knew and it was the favorite hottopic both for my family and in school #its a good thing everyone was cool but i just remembered feeling so exposed and embarassed its just an awful feeling #specially if yoh havent gone to terms yourself yet #SPECIALLY if its your own church and youre the youth pastor and youre trying so hard to be respected and you just cant seem to get it right! #ily kelvin #that being said i want all the angst #the righteous gemstones #trg

[thecsquirrel]

Missing them hours:

#kit x jade #as the youth say I have gone feral #please don't screw this up disney #tanthamore #princess knight #erin kellyman #ruby cruz #sword lesbian hive rise #representation absolutely matters #we deserve all the things and all the stories #this show warms my cold dead heart #willow 2022 #willow series

[suncaptor]

they should make university but like in a way that isn't made for people who have tons of financial support or safe living situations

#incoherents #i actually think the people working with at risk homeless youth at my university are SOOOO lovely and if the cost of living hadn't #gone SO far up the programs would have me more comfortable if I didn't also get so sick in 2021 #but even then its like. even in 2020 i would Not Be Able To Eat #so #imagining if i got the susi in ireland. that was upsetting #ireland should have more programs for returning people #i mean they have a few dkkskdkakaka but theres so many things i just cant do since I'm not a habitual resident

[weallpartyatybcpatricksfuneral]

centuries may have a billion streams on spotify but no one understands her like I do

#MUMMIFIED MY TEENAGE DREAMS NO ITS NOTHING WRONG WITH ME THE KIDS ARE ALL WRONG THE STORIES ALL OFF HEAVY METAL BROKE MY HEART #*through gritted teeth and tears* youre a cherry blossom youre about to bloom you look so pretty but youre gone so soon.... #WEVE BEEN HERE FOREVER AND HERES THE FROZEN PROOF I COULD SCREAM FOREVER #WE ARE THE POISONED YOUTH

[thekidsarentalright]

btw if ur first reaction to seeing that centuries hit 1B streams is 'wahhhh why That song tho ;(' ur sooooo lame and boring and should be quiet bc centuries is like. unbelievably deserving of that many streams

#i'll never understand ppls dislike for centuries it was overplayed like a decade ago get over it 😭‼️ #get over it and stream centuries bc like literally i cant stop till the whole world knows my name cause i was only born inside my dreams #until you die for me as long as theres a light my shadows over you cause im the opposite of amnesia and youre a cherry blossom #youre about to bloom you look so pretty but youre gone so soon!!!!!!!!! #also like i could scream forever we are the poisoned youth. have you thought abt that #txt

[andoqin]

List of dramas that I am watching or want to watch, just for personal record reasons:

Cdramas:

The ingenious one (36/36): this drama has blown me away so far with its incredibly nuanced and sharp writing, its love stories between all the major couples and the absolutely magnificent cinematography. FINISHED verdict: HIGHLIGHT drama of the year for me so far. Smart, engaging, complicated, peak romance of all sorts, just what the doctor ordered tbh (overly long review can be found in my tags). 9.5

Chang Feng Du (40/40): I did not realise how close to the end I was. This drama is very pleasant and I adore our mains, but sadly except for a few highlights (the early beating gjs put on himself, the destruction of the gu family and the aftermath, the battle for wangdu) the writing hasn’t been able to keep the narrative tension up which is sad. FINSHED verdict: Very pretty and engaging in the beginning kinda loses me in the second half and then fizzles out emotionally, doesn't crash and burn but doesn't exactly stick the landing either 6.5

Gone with the rain (10/30): adore the gremlin4gremlin couple and from the spoilers I’ve seen not gonna adore much else

An ancient love song (1/16): incredible first episode and with only 30 min per ep and 16 eps in total this is gonna be a short fun ride I hope ( with lots of angst and tears naturally).

Here we meet again (18/32): started this for Wu Qian playing to type and Zhang BinBin being pretty but oh boy I’m struggling I just don’t care about the conflicts and in s surprising twist, I like the flashbacks to high school much much more, which is very funny if you think about the fact that the reason I started liking wu qian in the first place was because of her show stealing performance in the flashbacks of My Sunshine. I’ve been promised kisses in the near future so I’m gonna hold out till then but this might end up another drop.

Hidden Love (5/25): this one promises to be v sweet and kinda short but oh my god I have so many dramas on my plate rn so this might end up the first drop.

Till the end of the moon (22/40): I think I watched ep 1 when it started but then I got busy and now I am just staring at gifsets and crying, it’s definitely on the list to watch tho.

Heroes (6?/38): I started this a while ago, was really into it and then got busy… dammit. I might just rewatch the beginning so I can remember most of the set up for sure but man the visuals on this were so good, aaaa liu yuning.

Blood of youth (0/40): the last 12 months really have spoiled us with interesting looking wuxia dramas and this one is definitely on the list, I have been gifbaited once again.

Ray of light (0/30): usually hs dramas are something I avoid, but because I will not be watching the longest promise, for reasons, and bc @storge is a gifmaking temptress, this has made it on the list.

The legend of anle (0/39): Lmao trust YOUKU to screw up the release with bad subs only 1 ep even for vips and no released schedule… but at least I can put this on the backburner for now. Lmao should have known not to trust a youku dilreba drama, the tl has soundingly spoken and I'm gonna avoid this.

Ancient Detective (0/24): I was recced this by a friend when I mentioned my love for wuxia dramas, and since it’s almost shockingly short for a cdrama it’s on the list. EDIT: this got @purplehanfus seal of approval so it is def going up the list and since it's complete I'll probably at least watch it before the ongoing ones.

Butterflied love (0/22): see I barely made this post and already forgot about the screencap that got me started on writing it, the screencapa look great, but the drama is on mango, so who knows when I’ll truly be able to watch this

When I fly towards you (0/24): Well, I wasn't interested bc modern youth drama, but then I heard it described as "updated It Started with a Kiss" and... I'm weak? ISWAK was pretty much my crack gateway into asian dramas and while IDK if i could rewatch it today, something in me will always love this kind of story. Maybe it's like a quick palate cleanser in between since apparently eps are only about 30 mins.

Mysterious Lotus Casebook(0/40): CHENG YIIIII, in a possibly bromantic role? Or maybe het romance, I'll take it all. Plus I've already seen he's bleeding copious amounts as per his contract, so that's most of the checklist done.

Lost You Forever (0/??): because nature abhors a vacuum I apparently must have?? A minimum to watch pile and this actually and genuinely looks good??? A Yang Zi drama in 2023??? The mind boggles. Anyway I've been reading the recaps with delight, and am def going to watch this when part two airs in a couple of months but until then I have a thankful reprieve...

Kdramas:

See you in my 19th life (4/12): since kdramas release so slowly this is on the backburner but it does have some great gifsets that keep enticing meee

King the land (2/16): I am watching this for junho but it is kinda hard bc I have so much else on my plate and while I don’t mind a classic romcom type story I feel I need a bit more of an emotional hook

Story of the nine-tailed 1938 (0/16): so so many gorgeous and hilarious gifsets so little time. I loved season one so so much and the fact that this focuses on the brotherly relationship?? Extremely smart writing decisions were made!

The red sleeve (0/16): I blame @dangermousie for this she keeps reblogging angsts junho on my dash and I am but god’s weakest warrior.

Love tractor (0/8): gay himbo farmboy falls in love?? You bet this is on the list

Lady durian (0/?): ok this is only on the list for crack reasons but, daughter in law is in love with mother in law and both women are like 40+ truly kdramas have entered a new era and I kinda wanna be here for that

EDIT: Revenant (0/12): Kim Tae Ri in a spooky drama? POSSIBLY POSSESSED KIM TAE RI??? how could i forget to put her on this list, plus it was written by the Kingdom writer and I adore that drama plus it's only 12 eps which is smart in this case so... let's hope i get to it at some point D:

My dearest (2/20): I checked this out because it's got pretty much everything going for it from a production standpoint and boy did the first two eps deliver. This has got 2 seasons though so I'll probably wait until the second season is airing, since it won't be too long till season 2 or so the internet tells me.

My lovely liar (0/16): minhyun learned to act and I wanna see it happen!!

Jdramas:

Our dining table (2/10): ok this category is gonna be a bit shorter bc I haven’t watched too much drama recently but omg the gifs for this I am just crying thinking about it they look so cute??

Jack o‘frost (0/6): people have recced it and it’s short so here it is.

Utsukushii kare s2 (0/4): Season 1 was an unexpected delight so I hope s2 works just as well.

She loves to cook and she loves to eat (0/10): the manga for this is amazing (and hungry making) so I hope this adaptation holds up.

Ok this list is in no way exhaustive (well except for me being exhausted just trying toward this down) and probably subject to change ( I haven’t even looked at thaidramas or twdramas I gotta stop for now) but hopefully this will keep me on the ball and maybe I can add to it whenever a new tempting gifset crosses my dash…

#cdrama #jdrama #kdrama #the legend of anle #see you in my 19th life #ancient detective #King the land #Story of the nine tailed 1938 #the red sleeve #love tractor #Lady durian #the ingenious one #chang feng du #gone with the rain #an ancient love song #here we meet again #till the end of the moon #heroes #the blood of youth #ray of light #our dining table #jack o‘frost #utsukushii kare #she loves to cook and she loves to eat #to watch #too much to watch oh my god #butterflied love #revenant #when i fly towards you #mysterious lotus casebook

[kpoptimeout]

K-Pop Debuts and Comebacks for the Third Week of January and 2024 (Jan 15 - Jan 21 2024)

Jan 15

LeeHi - My Beloved

Top vocalist LeeHi graces us with her stellar vocals again in this emotional ballad.

NMIXX - Dash

Rising girl group NMIXX is back with another addictive mix pop track!

tripleS Aria - Door

tripleS's unit Aria offers a touching ballad!

YENA - Good Morning

Former IZ*ONE's YENA shows youthful angst in this punk rock-infused song!

Jan 16

ATEEZ - YOUTH

ATEEZ's Yunho and Mingi brings a more mellow hip-hop track to fans.

HUI - Hmm BOP

PENTAGON's leader HUI shows he is still one of the best singer/producers in the game with this catchy bop!

SISTAR19 - No More (Ma Boy)

The popular 2nd gen sub-unit SISTAR19 returns to show the kids how a sexy and confident performance is done.

Jan 17

No releases.

Jan 18

Ha Hyun Sang - Where am I

Singer-songwriter Ha Hyun Sang shows the emotive qualities of his voice in this piano and synth-heavy ballad!

Solar - Love Has Gone

MAMAMOO's Solar reinterprets a touching 2006 Korean ballad in this performance!

Jan 19

IVE - All Night ft. Saweetie

Popular 4th gen group IVE collaborates with top rapper Saweetie in this early 2010s-sounding track!

Jan 20

No releases.

Jan 21

No releases.

What is your favourite track of the week?

#leehi #leehi my beloved #nmixx #nmixx dash #tripleS #tripleS aria #tripleS aria door #yena #yena good morning #ateez #ateez youth #hui #hui hmm bop #sistar #sistar19 #sistar 19 no more (ma boy) #ha hyun sang #ha hyun sang where am i #solar #solar love has gone #ive #ive all night #kpop #k-pop #kpop debut #k-pop debut #kpop comeback #k-pop comeback #kpop 2024 #k-pop 2024

[storge]

Me 🤝 Wujie

#The Blood of Youth #少年歌行 #shao nian ge xing #cdramedit #asiandramanet #cdrama #userdramas #chineseartistsinc #ao ruipeng #li xinze #mymymy #ep 7 #tuserjade #lextag #roserayne #HESSSS BACK #MY BELOVEDDDDDDD #he was only gone for like 40 mins but i cheesed soo hard when he appeareddddd #mee too Wujie me toooooooooo #to think THis is the Guy from LAR #to think THISSSS is the Guy from LAR and Immortal Smsara #i WISHHHHHHH chngyi was in this so i can see them on screen together again lololol #wonder what their dynamic would be in thisssssss

[izabellwit]

been thinking on this and like. mercy being the fatal flaw in dark road instead of saving anyone... Vidar’s kindness in sparing baldr, in keeping the truth from the underclassmen... odin locking baldr away instead of acting on his own words... even xehanort and eraqus, in their own way, seeing killing baldr as a “mercy”..... god.

#fucks them all up SO bad #khdr #khdr spoilers #kingdom hearts #dark road spoilers #the fact both of them become people who are willing to do 'whatever it takes' to either maintain order or fulfill their goals #because the tragedy of their youth was due in part to another's mercy gone horribly wrong #the fact their view of baldr's death is that its a mercy.... that he couldn't have been saved... #and how this ties into the ways they view darkness... #can't stop thinking about Vidar's line. 'go peacefully. may your heart be your guiding key' #no idea if this thought makes sense I've just spinning this around in my head for like 24 hours #so often I see tragedies being framed as a cause from LACK of mercy or kindness #in this case... there was mercy. there was kindness. they TRIED #and all it did was make things worse #all that said tho don't think im for odin locking baldr away lol that absolutely backfired on all them #isolation is not the answer!! holy shit!!!

[coffeeismycallsign]

The 90s and early 00’s English equestrian aesthetic was perfect. Hunter green breeches with tan patches, team polo shirts and that waterproof jacket with your barn logo you begged for. The GPA helmets with the center stripe, the original GR8 from Charles Owen, the fluffy sheepskin halters eq horses had for shows, dark saddles with light knee rolls and a fluffy pad. Sheepskin everywhere. Brass hardware and nameplate bracelets. The smell of Marygold spray. It is 2003 and the dark November 5pm creeps over my after school jumping lesson; my friends and I walk our horses out, counting the quarters we have to see if we can split some hot Cheetos from the vending machine while we wait for our parents to pick us up. Stained uggs replace our riding boots as we pack up to go. This is my Roman Empire.

#equestrian #childhood #youth #I miss this like oxygen #crying my eyes out writing this #horses #early 2000s #2003 #preppy #fall vibes #november #horse show #a childhood I am so blessed to hold and have #where did it all go #I miss my beautiful horse #I wish I had time #dark academic aesthetic #yearning for something gone #thank goodness for memories #personal #my thoughts

[ricky-olson]

don’t talk to me my inner teenage self is sobbing at matpat leaving game theory

#so many YouTubers I’ve known since i was teen are leaving or barely uploading #it’s like my youth is officially gone #man #best of luck to mat and steph #these are truly making me feel old #angel talks 💕

[silenthillbunni]

thinking about how i've wasted my teens and early 20s rotting in my bedroom makes me want to hurt myself and cry hysterically

#years i'll never get back. my youth #all gone and wasted #im such a fucking loser and a failure i hate myself so fkn much #rndz

[hellwasthejourney]

So once again as I dive into this album more I’m finding that Taylor is going through something similar as me but in wildly different ways

#I’ve also spent much of the last year feeling like my youth is slipping away or is gone #that time is up #that there’s nothing in the cards for me #but in a completely different way than her #but it’s just so weird how that happens!! #different experiences but the struggles are the same shades