#hometown cha cha cha spoilers

[perhaps-in-anotherdream]

[CN] Li Zeyan’s Mundane Date (Eng Translation)

“I bet that you will still remember this day, this moment, even decades from now. Just like I will.”

⌚Warning⌚ This post contains detailed spoilers for a date, 琐碎约会, that is yet to be released on the global server! ♡

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【Subbed Video】

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【Chapter 1】 

Big Screen: “In order to welcome this festival dedicated to love, our channel is presenting a special program named 《The Vow at Fingertip》.”

Big Screen: “We’ve collected a plethora of stories about the ring, exploring its deeper meaning beyond the ceremonial contexts…”

It’s early morning on Valentine’s Day, and the streets are already bustling with noise and excitement. Li Zeyan and I stand quietly at the entrance of the supermarket, watching the program previews displayed on the shopping mall’s large screen.

LZY: [laughs like a proud s/o ✊] Well, this is quite impressive. The prime spot throughout the whole day is going to be occupied by your show.

MC: Granted, it’s thanks to the sponsorship from the brand, but I’m really satisfied with this show.

LZY: In that case, let’s get through the checklist quickly and head back early to enjoy your masterpiece.

Finishing his words, he then takes my hand and leads me into the supermarket.

Given Li Zeyan’s personality, he had actually prepared the ingredients at Souvenir well in advance. But due to a phone call this morning, we had no choice but to make last-minute changes in our plans…

–

───── [FLASHBACK STARTS] ─────

Mr. Mills: Manager, sorry to trouble you so early in the morning.

Mr. Mills: While I was out for a walk just now, I saw a notice posted on the door of Souvenir stating that there’s a circuit malfunction in this area and the power has been out for the whole night.

Mr. Mills: I checked the refrigerator, and it seems those ingredients of yours may have gone bad.

LZY: [his voice really tends to drop to a different softness when he talks to Mr. Mills 🥺]  Thank you for taking the trouble. I’ll take care of it later.

Mr. Mills: But you prepared these for MC, right? Would you still be able to work out your plans for today?

Li Zeyan glances at me, who’s peering over from beside him, and a small smile tugs at the corners of his lips.

LZY: [while looking at you]  You don’t have to worry. I have a compensation plan in mind.

Watching as Li Zeyan ends the call, his expression composed, I hurriedly lean in and ask him about the situation.

MC: Did something happen at Souvenir? Should we go to the restaurant first and check it out?

LZY: It’s alright, let’s celebrate the festival first.

LZY: The menu won’t change, but we need to grab a few things to make up. I’ll make a quick trip to the supermarket later.

MC: I’ll come along with you!

–

───── [FLASHBACK ENDS] ─────

As each item from the list is placed into the shopping cart, I steal glances at Li Zeyan and study his completely unruffled expression, inwardly sighing to myself.

His plan fell through, and it even resulted in some damage. Yet, he hasn’t uttered a single word of complaint, appearing to have a well-thought-out plan in advance as always.

MC: [muttering] He certainly deserves the title of being the number one in emotional stability.

Li Zeyan seems to have heard my mumbling, prompting him to turn around and meet my gaze.

LZY: What’s the matter? Why are you zoning out?

MC: I was thinking, you are really good at switching your mood. If I were in your shoes and found out [MC’s Company Name] had run into some problem, I’d spend half a day just feeling upset.

LZY: Not like it’s something that can’t be remedied. What’s there to feel upset about?

LZY: It’s a nice holiday, and I don’t wish to see a certain dummy shooting her mouth off to the sky.

He gently lays his hand on top of mine and, together with the shopping cart, leads me forward.

LZY: If you zone out again, we won’t go to the snack section.

MC: I absolutely won’t! Let’s go, let’s go~

—

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【Chapter 2】 

The warm music of the show flows through the room, but it’s soon drowned out by the clinking and clattering sounds from the kitchen.

MC: Is there anything else you need me to do, Boss?

LZY: Help me with the sauce.

In order to increase efficiency, I volunteer to help Li Zeyan and find myself busy following his instructions, frantically running around in circles.

LZY: Pass me the thermometer.

LZY: Set the stopwatch to one minute for me.

MC: Roger!

Ding––

The oven’s timer sounds, and I consciously put on the heat-resistant gloves and pull out the baking tray.

MC: Isn’t it time to turn the sweet potato tart?

LZY: Right. If it’s tricky to turn, try lifting a corner first to test it out.

MC: Uh… it does seem a bit tricky to flip.

With gentleness and cautiousness, I proceed to operate, afraid of ruining the shape Li Zeyan has crafted so meticulously.

As I reach the last three, a reminder sounds from behind me.

LZY: Turn them faster; don’t let the oven temperature drop too much.

LZY: Don’t worry so much about the shape. For a dummy, it’s tasting delicious is what matters more.

His voice, carrying with it a smile, alleviates my nervousness a little. I turn them over and slide the baking tray back into the oven.

With the oven resuming its operation, I breathe a sigh of relief and walk back to Li Zeyan’s side, taking a sip of water.

LZY: [laughs softly]  Tired?

MC: How could I be tired? I can handle this amount of work just fine.

MC: It actually feels like that cooking game we played before. Though, I wish we could have three heads and six arms… [1]

MC: Speaking of which, do things get this chaotic when you cook by yourself?

Li Zeyan puts the lid on the pot and turns down the heat, then rubs my head with his free hand.

LZY: It doesn’t seem as chaotic when I’m on my own without anyone “helping out.”

LZY: But my sous chef here has made quite a lot of progress; at least nothing got messed up.

MC: That’s because my boyfriend doesn’t only cook incredibly well, but he is also a generous mentor!

LZY: [chuckles teasingly] I was here simply trying to better the food I cook for a certain dummy. I did not realize she was secretly taking notes.

LZY: Since you’ve been learning well, tell me, what do we need to add when we take the lid off?

I freeze for a moment, not expecting that he’d really ask questions. Resorting to thinking on my feet, I quickly pounce on him and lock my arms around his neck.

MC: Well, naturally… adding a little extra love would make it even better!

I plant a kiss on his cheek, then swiftly dash away before he can react, turning up the volume of the show.

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  Running away when you can’t answer, huh?

MC: [giggling gleefully]  What did you say? The music is too loud, I can’t hear you clearly~

Shamelessly feigning ignorance, I stand in front of the TV, grinning while casually casting a glance at the progress of the show.

At this moment, the interview with a young couple begins. The girl raises her left hand towards the camera, showing off her wedding ring.

Girl (on the show): On the day my husband proposed, he hid the ring in a dessert, saying that the dessert that day was infused with a unique formula of love.

Girl (on the show): As a result, when I took a bite, I chomped directly into this “formula of love” and ended up breaking my tooth…

Girl (on the show): We had to rush to the emergency room in the middle of the night. The pain was so excruciating that I almost refused the marriage proposal right then and there.

MC: Pfft…

I can’t hold back my laughter and glance over at Li Zeyan, who’s just a short distance away.

MC: Did you hear that, restaurant manager? You should take this as a cautionary tale.

LZY: [chuckles helplessly]  It’s clearly the gluttonous dummy who should take this as a cautionary tale.

Just as I’m about to retaliate, the doorbell suddenly rings. I pull a face at Li Zeyan and hurry off to answer the door.

Delivery Guy: Excuse me, is this Mr. Li’s residence? I’ve got a Flash Delivery package for him.

I accept the rather sizable cardboard box, then curiously glance towards the kitchen.

MC: What did you order?

LZY: Why don’t you open it and find out?

I carefully open the box and find an unexpected item inside––

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[Tidbits]:

[1] It’s a reference to Li Zeyan’s “Home Visit Date!” 

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【Chapter 3】

MC: “Chocolate fountain machine for home use”?

As I look at the name on the instruction manual, I read it out loud in surprise.

The supermarket’s holiday chocolates are already vying for attention with their romantic beauty, but I didn’t expect Li Zeyan to have an even more surprising design up his sleeves.

MC: Wow… isn’t this something you’d usually find only at hotels or fancy gatherings?

LZY: Mm-hmm. Given the unusual circumstances today, I’d have to slack off for now.

MC: “Slack off”?

Li Zeyan meets my puzzled gaze and places the machine on the table, then proceeds to gesticulate the patterns of the fountain.

LZY: Since it’s liquid, it simplifies the project by skipping several steps and can’t be stored. Once prepared, it’s only enough for a single serving.

LZY: If a certain someone has any objections, I’ll make a better one for you another day.

MC: Not only do I have no objections, but I also want to “redress injustices” on behalf of the chocolate fountain.

I wedge myself between him and the bar counter, pretending to be angry as I place my hands on my hips.

MC: How could you ever consider something as amusing and creative as this chocolate fountain as “slacking off”?!

MC: Moreover, regardless of how simple the procedure may be, Restaurant Manager Li’s creations are always one-of-a-kind.

Li Zeyan gives me a look and curls his lips into a smile.

LZY: Seems like this choice has turned out to be exactly something a certain someone would’ve liked. Since you’re so interested, why don’t you join me in making it later?

–

The “home version” of the Valentine’s Day feast still lives up to Li Zeyan’s high standards. After having our fill of eating and drinking, we finally bring the chocolate fountain to the table.

I skewer a strawberry, coat it with chocolate sauce, and take a bite. The rich aroma of chocolate blends harmoniously with the strawberry’s fresh sweetness, causing me to squint my eyes as if  I were in paradise.

MC: So, so yummy!

LZY: Easy there; be careful not to let the chocolate sauce drip onto you.

Li Zeyan fetches a sheet of paper and places it on my lap, then takes a toothpick to help me skewer the strawberries.

A warmth blooms in my heart. I lean in and hug his arm.

MC: Every dish today has been a hit, plus there’s also a certain handsome guy winning over with his attentive service. I think I ought to give it at least a four-star Michelin rating.

LZY: Is that extra star a reward for yourself?

MC: Hehe, didn’t you just say earlier that your little sous chef did a good job today?

LZY: Indeed, and the dining experience was neater than usual, too.

MC: Those who are capable do the most work, and those who work most deserve extra serving at the table! [2]

Li Zeyan smiles as he listens to my nonsense and pushes a plate of chocolate-coated strawberries in front of me.

LZY: [the indulgence hhh]  Alright, “capable one,” today you’re allowed to have a little extra.

MC: Why are you giving them all to me? Aren’t you going to have a taste?

LZY: There’s a certain dummy who’s been looking forward to this for so long, so let’s let her have her fill first.

As I take another bite of a strawberry, I keep pondering which words to persuade him to taste it. When I look up, I find that Li Zeyan has had his eyes fixed on me the whole time.

MC: What’s wrong?

LZY: It’s nothing.

LZY: I was just thinking, with the sudden change of plans today, are you genuinely okay with it?

MC: It wasn’t something within our control. Besides, just the location got changed, that’s all.

LZY: But it did eat into our time, and we missed the beginning of your show.

MC: I didn’t realize CEO Li was looking forward to my show this much, huh?

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  I wonder who kept promoting it non-stop next to my ear every day.

Grinning, I lean sideways onto his shoulder and reach out to poke his cheek.

MC: You somehow pulled off such a complicated feast to make up for it. What could I have to be dissatisfied with?

MC: Besides, the most important thing today is to be glued to the person you like; it doesn’t matter even if the time hasn’t been used efficiently.

Picking up the dessert tray, I skewer a strawberry and feed it to him.

MC: In order to make you truly understand how I feel, I warmly invite you to taste the flavor of bliss for yourself. [3]

LZY: Dummy, you’ve already mentioned the “taste of bliss” at least five times today.

LZY: Why do I get the feeling that you always seem to find “bliss” in everything you eat?

MC: That conclusion seems to be a bit of a sweeping generalization.

MC: There may be an abundance of delicious food in the world, but there are only two kinds that can truly bring me a sense of bliss.

MC: Home-cooked meals made by family members and the food you prepare with love.

Li Zeyan takes the plate and gently holds my now-empty hand.

LZY: Was your father very skilled in the kitchen?

MC: He…

MC: He was too busy with work, so there weren’t many opportunities for him to showcase his skills… but the flavors in my memory are very warm; it was the taste of home.

LZY: No wonder a certain someone has a good palette; apparently, she was nurtured well since childhood.

MC: Hehe, but I believe happiness doesn’t just stem from the flavors; the particulars are crucial, too.

LZY: What do you mean?

MC: For example, when Dad came home late from work and would accidentally add too much salt to the quick dishes he prepared, we’d end up laughing it off together during the meal.

MC: For instance, when a certain someone’s own plans went awry, he still prioritized taking care of my feelings.

MC: Like when that certain person could have simply settled for making regular chocolate, but instead, he went out of his way to design a chocolate fountain.

MC: I’m not someone who eats anything at any place without preference. Restaurant Manager Li, please don’t get the wrong idea.

I wink at Li Zeyan. He stares at me for a while, then suddenly breaks the silence.

LZY: Do you know why Souvenir always gives you special privileges?

MC: Why?

LZY: Because while a certain person isn’t very skilled in cooking, she sure is an excellent eater, and she equally excels at “paying the debt for the free meals with her words.” [4]

MC: Nonsense! That’s called showing gratitude, alright!

Unwilling to back down, I stuff another strawberry into his mouth, blocking any potential retort.

MC: Some people’s sweet words don’t last more than three seconds. As punishment, I’ll make you eat more chocolate to make amends.

LZY: [laughs helplessly]  …Dummy.

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[Tidbits]:

[2] The original sentence said by MC here was “能者多劳, 劳者多���!” The first part of it is actually an idiom: lit. meaning, “it’s the most capable people who do the most work.”  The idiom is intended as consolation for the overworked, or flattery when making a request etc. The second part is a word-play on the idiom, so I tweaked the translation to fit the play here!

[3] The term MC uses here is “幸福,” and I had to sit on this one for a while to use a term that is not too wordy but still carries a closer meaning to the CN term. While it essentially does refer to “happiness,” the term carries a deeper connotation than 开心 (happy) / 快乐 (joyful), which refer to short bursts of bright emotions. Whereas “幸福” refers to lasting, fulfilling happiness and holistic contentment~

[4] The term Li Zeyan uses here is “吃人嘴短,” which he’s cleverly re-generated from the proverb “吃人嘴软, 拿人手短” to get his message across efficiently. I’m just too tired to explain the inside joke here LOL, so I opted for a wordy translation to try to get the message across nonetheless.

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【Chapter 4】

Host: Auntie, how do you usually store your ring?

Granny: Store it? I’ve never taken it off. I keep it on even when I’m working.

Granny: In our generation, we didn’t fuss over all those things. Besides, life inevitably keeps throwing urgent matters at you, so there’s little to no time to ponder over such matters.

While listening to the conversation on TV, I hand the last plate on the table to Li Zeyan.

After a quick rinse, he loads the plates into the dishwasher. Just as he straightens up, I hug him from behind.

MC: We just finished eating; why not rest for a while?

LZY: [chuckles indulgently] What? Are you saying eating can tire you out, dummy?

MC: …don’t you feel a bit sluggish after eating too much?

LZY: [that indulgent tone intensifies x10]  No wonder I feel like I’m carrying extra weight on my back.

Hearing the obvious laughter in his voice, I let out a couple of “hmphs” and continue to lean against his back without a care in the world.

LZY: A certain someone here has eaten her plate clean so thoroughly, lightening the load quite a lot, so this shouldn’t take too much time.

MC: That’s an essential skill for a Souvenir diner! But every time I see you being so diligent, I feel a tad embarrassed.

MC: It’s one thing not to procrastinate at work, but how can you not be lazy in your everyday life as well?

LZY: Wouldn’t it be more of a hassle if everything piled up at once?

LZY: Taking care of things immediately when they happen also helps avoid any unexpected complications.

Thinking back to how he methodically rearranged everything this morning, I can’t help but sigh with a twinge of envy.

MC: I’m so lucky to have you around; it’s what could make today so delightful.

LZY: Even after having to do so much work, you still consider it delightful?

MC: Yep! Cooking with you is like playing a game, but without the need to worry about failing any levels!

LZY: Dummy has a knack for turning any place into an amusement park.

MC: Then you’re the amusement park manager!

Li Zeyan finishes washing his hands, turns around, and boops the tip of my nose.

LZY: [in the softest of tones]  It seems that with you around, I’ll never have to worry about being unemployed.

LZY: Let’s go. Let’s focus on watching your show.

—

Li Zeyan pulls me to nestle into the couch. The show has now reached the interview segment, and the host is asking the elderly woman about the happiest moment of her life in the decades that have gone by.

Granny: If I had to choose one, it would be one night before going to sleep, when my husband touched the ring on my hand and said, “It’s all scratched up.”

Granny: When we calculated, we realized we’ve been wearing our rings for several decades.

Host: Those rings must be bearing many traces of life, wouldn’t you say?

Granny: Yes, that’s right. At first, I wanted to reprimand him, to show him how much work I’ve done. But then I touched his ring, and it was just the same.

Granny: At that moment, I suddenly felt, this person next to me has been by my side for a very long time.

I snuggle into Li Zeyan’s embrace, intertwining my fingers with his and stroking them.

MC: If it were the two of us, your ring would definitely be the one to wear out first.

LZY: Not necessarily; we also have to take into account a certain someone stirring up trouble and acting silly.

MC: Perhaps in a few decades, I’ll have grown smarter already!

LZY: Then let’s make a bet. We’ll see if you still remember this statement in a few decades.

MC: Alright, you’re on. But we’re both in this, so it wouldn’t be fair to put only me to the test.

LZY: Go on, what plan are you hatching now?

I roll my eyes and wriggle out of his arms.

MC: You watch the show; I’ll be back in a jiffy.

I trot over to the pantry and open one of the low cabinets. Owing to the Valentine’s Day themed program, I have received quite a few chocolates from our collaborators.

I take out the heart-shaped box placed at the top and return to Li Zeyan’s side.

–

MC: Li Zeyan, I have a small gift for you.

LZY: What, haven’t had enough chocolate yet?

Li Zeyan glances at the box in my hand, then raises an eyebrow at me. I smile but don’t say anything, opening the box and putting it into his hand.

MC: Hold on~ Let me do a magic trick for you first.

MC: Close your eyes, and then just pick any chocolate from inside.

LZY: [gentle, helpless chuckle]  What kind of stunt are you pulling this time?

Despite saying this, Li Zeyan still closes his eyes and follows suit. I take the chocolate he hands me and gently tear open the wrapper.

The golden foil paper is extremely delicate and prone to tearing if handled with even the slightest bit of carelessness. But by now, I’ve already become skilled enough to roll it up smoothly.

During the filming of this show, chocolate almost became our only snack. Every time I was on the phone with Li Zeyan, I would chat with him while casually rolling the candy wrappers.

I didn’t expect the “practice makes perfect” proverb to come to fruition like this, but inadvertently, I managed to craft this paper “ring.”

MC: Done! Now, extend your hand again.

He doesn’t seem to quite understand what my intention is, so he reaches into the box for another chocolate and hands it to me.

Seeing him so cooperative, I can’t help but laugh out loud, giving his fingertips a squeeze as I hold up the “ring” I have just created.

MC: You can open your eyes now!

–

LZY: …?

Li Zeyan looks at the small ring in my hand and blinks slowly.

LZY: [YOU CAN LITERALLY HEAR IN HIS TONE THAT HE’S CAUGHT OFF GUARD 🥹]   This is…?

MC: As you can see, an exclusively customized ring from 24-karat pure gold!

MC: Handcrafted from start to finish, Mr. Li Zeyan is the only one in the world who has the opportunity to own it.

Li Zeyan is momentarily taken aback, then glances at the torn-open chocolates on the table, before suddenly breaking into a smile.

LZY: Even such a brief moment as this is ample for your creativity to soar.

MC: I’ve been planning this for a long time. You can’t just whip up such a rare ring on the spot.

MC: Since you’ve made that bet with me, I must also reciprocate.

I straighten up and slowly slide the small ring onto his ring finger.

Li Zeyan’s gaze also remains fixated on my fingertips until the ring moves past his second joint, then he lifts his eyes to stare at me again.

Under the sunlight, those deep, enigmatic eyes of his shine even brighter, an expectation as clear as crystals surging within them.

I gaze fixedly at him, his cheeks now tinged with a gentle blush, and find myself unable to suppress the smile that steals across my lips.

MC: I bet that you will still remember this day, this moment, even decades from now.

MC: Just like I will.

After a few seconds of silence, Li Zeyan tosses the chocolate in his hand aside and tightly clasps my hand with his broad palm.

Seeing that he still hasn’t said anything, I press on and ask once more.

MC: How about it? Do you want to make this bet with me?

LZY: Sure, but…

Even before the words have fully left his mouth, a sudden force on my wrist yanks me towards him. I can’t help but cry out in surprise, only to find myself falling into his arms.

A warm breath immediately envelopes me as he locks me firmly in his arms, and I find myself slowly consumed by an intense yearning.

LZY: [nearly breathless] If you want me to remember, you’ll have to up the ante.

Without waiting for me to respond, he continues kissing me, effortlessly subduing any possible protest I could have.

Even after all this time, he still kisses me with the same uninhibited passion as he did the first time. The distant time and unspoken words all melt away in the gentle caress. [5]

The sound from the television gradually fades away, and the stories of others drift beyond my consciousness.

Even without this bet, I would find it impossible to forget this moment.

After who knows how long has passed, Li Zeyan gently releases me, lowering his head to rest his forehead against mine.

I look into his eyes, so close and within reach, and feel a surge of emotion in my heart.

MC: Li Zeyan.

LZY: Hm?

MC: Will you–– [6]

Before I can say anything further, he promptly raises his hand to cover my mouth.

LZY: [HIS PANICKED TONE HHHH]  Wait.

LZY: I’ve accepted the world’s most creative ring, but please don’t say anything more.

LZY: This is something that I should be the one to take care of.

I pause for a moment, then quickly understand what he meant, unable to suppress a laugh as I hold onto his hand.

LZY: Why are you laughing?

MC: Hahaha, although I really don’t want to spoil the atmosphere, but actually, I wanted to ask––

MC: Li Zeyan, will you wear this ring to work?~ ^^

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[Tidbits]

[5] Unnecessary, really, but still a refresher– it’s the callback to his first kiss aka “Dazzling Date.”

[6] Although obvious from Li Zeyan’s reaction, I still wanna clarify– he cut MC off when she had only gotten to “你愿不愿意—” (will you/ would you be willing to)-- and the rest of that sentence typically is “(will you) marry me” (你愿不愿意嫁给我吗), which is why LZY doesn’t even take any chances and goes, “nope not happening, I wanna do it” 😂❤️

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【Personal Ramblings】

Remainder of One’s Life Date: here!

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#was saying last night how that last part reminded me the proposal scene from Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha 🤣😭 #GOSH WHERE DO I FIND WHAT LI ZEYAN AND HIS HEROINE HAVE #I LOVE THIS STUPID SILLY MAN SO FREAKIN' MUCH YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND 😭😭 #also i did write a mini essay. so not gonna burden the tags anymore lol #mlqc victor #mlqc li zeyan #mlqc #mr love victor #mr love queen's choice #恋与制作人 #李泽言 #love and producer #mlqc cn #mlqc spoilers #mlqc translations

[thepersona]

5 K-drama supporting actresses who deserve more love

The title speaks for itself. "No small roles, only small actors" they say. Here are some of my favorite actresses known for playing supporting / guest roles and where you might have seen them. List created in no particular order. Gifs not mine!

Potential spoilers for the following series: Extraordinary Attorney Woo; Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha; and Hotel Del Luna.

Lee Bong-ryun

I was inspired to write this post because of her recent stint as feminist-activist Attorney Ryu in Extraordinary Attorney Woo (ep. 12), but I first noticed her in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, where she plays the warm but no-nonsense zone chief Yeo Hwa Jeong.

Other incredible work can be seen in Sweet Home (her eerie-vibe in the trailer alone was enough to make me give it a shot) and Run On.

Yeom Hye-ran

With her recent Best Supporting Actress win at this year's Baeksang Awards for The Uncanny Counter, offers should be pouring in for Yeom Hye-ran. I'm not even surprised anymore when I see her in a show since she can fit in practically anywhere. From the annoying aunt in Goblin and the battered wife in Dear My Friends, to the ruler of the underworld in Mystic Pop-Up bar and the superpowered healer from The Uncanny Counter, she definitely has the range.

Jin Kyung

I always mix up Jin Kyung with Lee El (whom I also love) because they carry a certain elegance and mystery that make them stand out no matter how little screen time they have. Currently featured as Tae Su-mi in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, she has been effective in making viewers speculate, sympathize, admire, and dislike her with the brief appearances she has made.

I've also enjoyed her work in Melancholia as Noh Jung-ah, Dr. Romantic as Nurse Oh Myung-shim, and Pinocchio as Song Cha-ok.

Seo Yi-sook

I paid more attention to Hotel Del Luna because I was constantly on the lookout for the next Mago shin sister. She plays six of them in this drama and they are so distinct from each other that you may forget they're played by the same person. Due to her charisma, gravelly voice, and amazing diction, she often gets cast as the CEO's antagonistic wife or a competent authority figure whom you're not too sure whose side she's on. Whatever it may be, she always makes it count. One hell of a singing voice too (watch her sing on JTBC's Hot Singers).

Other notable credits: Terius Behind Me; The World of the Married; Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol.

Cha Chung-hwa

Known to many fans as Court Lady Choi in Mr. Queen and one of the North Korean ahjummas in Crash Landing On You, I've come to appreciate not only Cha Chung-hwa's comedic timing but also her immense talent in subtle dramatic acting. While I initially wasn't the biggest fan of Nam-suk the town gossip in Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha, I was impressed by her heartfelt portrayal of a grieving mother who uses gossip and humor as therapy. Other wonderful roles and guest appearances include: Hospital Playlist 2; Hotel Del Luna; and On the Verge of Insanity.

#Youtube #kdrama review #kdrama spoilers #supporting actresses #korean drama #lee bong ryun #yeom hye ran #jin kyung #seo yi sook #cha chung hwa #hometown cha cha cha #extraordinary attorney woo #hotel del luna #sweet home #the world of the married #doctor romantic #the uncanny counter #mr. queen #goblin #gifs not mine

[solitudeandseclusion]

SPOILERS FOR EP 11 of Crash Course In Romance

it's not easy being nam haeng-seon. and nam hae-e has grown up to realise that. it took a lot of courage on her part to reveal that haeng-seon is her aunt. this sets haeng-seon free to open up one part of her life and let someone in, someone she can rely on. haeng-seon, initially mad at hae-e for letting their secret out in such a way comes to realise that this is a gift in kind from this kid she raised well.

oh i was HOPING so bad for a scene with yeongju and chiyeol. AND I GOT IT. and it is everything i wanted. the parallel with hae-e telling haeng-seon to hold on to chiyeol & yeongju saying the same thing to chiyeol about haeng-seon.

MY IDIOTS IN THE PARKING LOT. I LOVE THEM <3 HAENG-SEON IS SO TINYYYYYY. (i checked online and we're almost the same height :|)

chiyeol taking her to the place by the river where he first acknowleged that he has feelings for this woman. and we get to see haeng-seon's side and it is VERY I was in the middle before I knew that I had begun. i squealed.

ahhhh the scene back at the banchan store is so cute. all of them bothering her for details.

hui-jae needs to talk to his mom. or someone more adult than him. he obviously cannot handle this alone and should seek help before things get out of hand.

i am glad nam hae-e has good classmates. if we encountered a bully today i would've flipped.

this director at the pride is really such a weasel. how/why are you hiding the possible murder of an employee from other workers??

oh i'm a bit worried about our assistant looking at the coffee and water like that. you scare me, boy. ooh he makes me scared for haeng-seon.

nawww she's blushing & giggling over flowers. i want her to be happy forever.

LET JAEWOO CALL HIM BROTHER-IN-LAW

ayyy seo geon-hu so slick. i hope sunjae doesn't spiral back into being a prick.

ji dong-hui you better fkn behave nicely with haeng-seon or i will metal ball you in the head

ugh let sunjae have his crush and live his teenage life. this is too much stress for him.

ALWAYS TRUST A WOMAN'S HUNCH.

#god these are getting longer #why am i even doing this #i usually watch stuff very quietly #kdramas make me want to come out of my shell sometimes #one day i will rewatch hometown cha cha cha and 2521 #AND THEN I WILL BLOG ABOUT IT BECAUSE I SHOULD'VE DONE IT EARLIER #ANYWAY #crash course in romance #ep 11 #spoilers #jeon do yeon #jung kyung ho

[yukisraven]

I know I'm probably being delusional but why do I feel like she rejected divorced guy bc shes always had a crush on his ex wife....

#soft when she accidentally cha cha chas into the hometown #eh . #it probably just me #mmmm #just. too sus for there nothing sapphic happening in the situation with ....yeah #either one of the women have a crush on the other or both have a crush on eachither #hm. #id google it but im scared of spoilers #soft shittalks

[braemjeorn]

me getting too wired about the side ships in a drama, as always.

it's ji seonghyeon and wang jiwon this time.

#SEONGHYEON MA MAN MAKE A MOVE #also the way writer wang was just #inconspicuously introduced to us viewers #apparently she— #gosh #i guess she don’t mind seonghyeon's odd burst in tha raw fish restaur #as long as doha don't start either😭😭 #hometown cha cha cha #hometown cha cha cha ep 13 #WAS IT 13? #i dont even know #i went over my drama dose today #dont make a spoiler please i just want to enjoy this gritty lovey dovey buildup #ji seonghyeon #wang jiwon

[dangermousie]

I have to say it is delightful and wild to be watching Hometown Cha Cha Cha without having any spoilers whatsoever tho it aired two years ago because back then I was so not interested in it I either saw no spoilers or put them out of my mind if I did.

PS Also, it pains me to admit in light of the fact that his fandom is nuttier than a snickers bar, but Kim Sun Ho is an utter delight in this and I am adoring watching him. It’s reminding me how much I enjoyed him in that metro cop drama with MGY. I guess he is like Korea version of Xiao Zhan - a solid actor with a fandom working overtime to make him unwatchable not for anything he himself did or didn’t do but because of aversion to his fandom.

PPS Shin Min Ah is a goddess!

#kdrama #hometown cha cha cha

[kdramacrybaby]

Doctor Slump (2024)

Genre: Medical, Romance, Comedy

Synopsis: Nam Ha-neul loses her job and is diagnosed with depression. Yeo jeong-woo loses everything in a surgery gone wrong and has to leave everything he knows behind. They both hit the worst slump of their lives. And that is when they meet again. Though they did know each other in school, they were fierce rivals and never got along. Now, they are the only ones who might truly understand what the other is going through.

Episode info: 16 episodes / Runtime around 6 minutes

Lead cast: Park Shin-hye (Nam Ha-neul), Park Hyung-sik (Yeo Jeong-woo), Gong Seong-ha (Lee Hong-ran), Yoon Park (Bin Dae-yeong)

Link to watch: You can watch on Netflix or Dramacool

Drama rec masterlist | Drama rant thread (beware of spoilers)

This drama was very comforting to watch. I was going through a pretty rough patch myself, and this drama had some moments that just really hit. Though you may not be as low as they are, I still think this hits several points that young adults go through as they grow up and realize being grown up is harder than you first think. Learning to seek the small moments of happiness all around us instead of letting yourselves get consumed by the hustle of trying to survive.

We have two people who have both hit the rock bottom of their lives, and no one in their lives truly understand just what they are actually going through. And though they are not feeling the same pain, they can both empathize with each other in a way their friends and family can't.

I really love how the drama never tries to compare their problems - they never make one out to be worse than the other. They both struggle and both need help, and so they help each other. It doesn't matter who's got it "worse", they support each other the best they can.

And I love love love how openly they communicate. Very rarely do they let misunderstandings cause trouble, and even if it does happen, they clear the air almost immediately. They do everything they can to support the other, but are not afraid to hold the other accountable if they cross a line.

Also the actors they picked are actually perfect, and their chemistry is off the charts. Even for the second couple, it is a perfect match. I loved them so much!!

It's somewhat like Fight For My Way, in a sense that they have to work to overcome their hardships and find new dreams to work towards. And I think you would like this one, if you've watched Hometown Cha Cha Cha and liked that. It gives me the same vibe.

There is one thing that bothers me a little bit though -it was actually a friend of mine who first pointed it out to me, and afterwards it became so obvious. Both of these main characters are shown to go to therapy and as a result both get some medication they need to take regularly for their mental health. Yet we see them drinking in almost every single episode - a lot of the times it's not just one drink either, they drink a lot. Considering both of them are supposed to be doctors, it just feels all kinds of weird tbh. And they never do address it properly, either.

That is also why the drama hit a little bit of a lull for me around the half-way point. They just seemed to forget for a couple of episodes what the drama was supposed to be about - but they do get back on track again. It felt a little superficial. And because it is a drama, all their troubles magically go away in the end, but I guess I can't complain too much because people want their perfectly happy endings.

All in all, I really did love this drama. It came at a time when I needed it, and it gave me some comfort. It's definitely one I'll watch again someday.

#doctor slump #kdrama review #kdrama rec #kdrama

[therantsofawriterrr]

Sooooo my first kdrama of this year is King The Land and OMG IT'S SO CUTE HELP-

I started watching kdramas last year and the ones I've seen yet are: Hometown Cha Cha Cha, The Glory, Destined With You, Perfect Marriage Revenge, The Good Bad Mother, Alchemy Of Souls, My Lovely Liar (not completed) and Guardian (also not completed)

There might be spoilers under the break so

Gu Won is sooooooo cute. Going from hating Sarang's smile in the first or some ep to needing to make her smile on ep 4? Or 5 maybe idk but yea. I think this is the first kdrama I've seen where they both have like, an actual date so early on (it was a date, i will refuse to believe anything else). Plus i think it's also the first kdrama where the relationship development has mostly been fluffy and not angsty. I feel like it's gonna get angsty? Idk. But i feel like Gu Won and Sarang are like the typical grumpy-sunshine trope.

I love the fact that Sarang actually has besties that support her and listen to her and they have a realistic friendship? Like for me, personally, I haven't rly seen realistic friendships, might also be because i haven't seen that many, but this is the first kdrama where I've seen girl besties just be comfy with each other, healthy jealousy, randomly starting to party and all the other things. Friendship goals fr. I just hate how her colleagues treat her. Like ok y'all studied and shit and came up but that doesn't mean that she just got lucky. She put in her effort and hard work into her job, so she got recognised and promoted. I think the thing with Sarang is that she actually wants to do her job and enjoys it, while the others just do it cause they need money.

Anyway, but they're sooo cute together. Also, the OSTs. All kdramas have banger OSTs but man, this one wins for me. I love the songs and I love how the timing is accurate. I'm prolly gonna add it to my playlist.

Also, Gu Won's mom either died and noone told him how and he was lied to by his sister(power hungry bish) or she wasn't his mom at all and was fired. Or smn else idk.

I hate how Daeul's husband isn't paying attention to his wife or house. I feel like he's cheating. Or he's just ignorant asf. Plus omg i love her daughterrrrr, she's so cute and she's so right when she's supporting her mom.

Pyung-Hwa looks perfectly nice to me, but apparently she has a dark past or smn? Idk what to expect with this character tbh she's kinda confusing to me. But I do hope there are no misunderstandings between her and Ro-Un.

Anyway so far so good, I will be screaming abt kdramas here a lot so I'm rly sorry lol.

#king the land #gu won #cheon sa rang #kdrama #jade prattles on

[seoul-bros]

Gyeongseong Creature (Spoiler Alert!!!!!)

Just seen episode one and two of Gyeongseong Creature and I have to say Han So Hee chooses her characters well. Love me a tough, independent woman with a splash of emotional darkness.

I haven't seen Taehyung's Hwarang co-star and Wooga Squad member Park Seo Joon act before but I like the way he is embodying his character.......

....and the dynamic with Han So Hee, especially in the initial fight scene, is excellent so far.

Pretty disturbing concept, with the Japanese equivalent of Josef Mengele subjecting hundreds of unsuspecting victims to certain and gruesome death in his quest to create a perfect monster.

Great supporting cast too.

Kim Hae-Sook also currently appearing in My Demon.

Park Ji Wan from Our Blues

Wi Ha Joon from Squid Game, Bad and Crazy and Little Women

Jo Han Chul from Hometown Cha Cha Cha and Vincenzo.

Post Date: 25/12/2023

#gyeongseong creature #han so hee #park seo joon #kim taehyung #wi ha joon #park ji wan #kim hae sook #Jo Han Chul

[alloveydovey]

Dramas I watched this past month! The month of the rewatch. (Also spoilers!)

Crush (cdrama) 6.5

This had such a strong start and then went downhill bad (like really bad).

Psychology student decides to sort of intern (? at a special education school and meets a blind braille teacher there. There’s also music involved.

Like in most cdramas I’ve watched, everyone behaves like a twelve-year-old, and the conflict starts out of things that an adult should be able to prevent. The main couple drastically changes in the second half, and it’s like you are watching a whole other drama.

Into the Ring (kdrama) (rewatch) 10 ⭐️

My eternal love to Nana in this (and in general. I’m in love with her). Se Ra is probably my favorite FL from all the dramas I’ve watched.

I remember being very skeptical the first time I saw this (because politics, kinda boring?) but it was so worth it.

Park Sung Hoon is also such an excellent companion to all of her craziness. His and Nana's chemistry was one of the best ones. The awkward but somehow very comfortable atmosphere you feel while watching them is next level. Still one of my favorite dramas. 10/10, I adore it.

Doona! (kdrama) 8

I still have mixed feelings about this one. The sort of angst romance was on point. Actors were good, narrative was fast-paced and kept me entertained. Doona is presented as a complex character and so the story even with happy moments, feels very bittersweet. But even with all that, I feel like I'd have to watch it again because there’s something that puts me off but I can’t quite decide what it is exactly.

I also want to know why they had her wearing tiny tank tops and shorts in snowy winter lol…

A Business Proposal (kdrama) (rewatch) 8.5

The first time I watched a business proposal I didn’t really like it. I thought it was way too cliche and absurd and dropped it after the third episode. It was the fourth kdrama I had watched after Crash Landing on You, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, and Twenty-Five Twenty-One so like… it had big shoes to fill in. I came back to it eventually and finished it.

Now after rewatching… I think learned to appreciate a good over-the-top rom-com (they became my favorites lol) and this definetly hits all the boxes. It feels like an instant classic. Also music 10/10.

Usokon (jdrama) 7

If it is marriage contract/fake dating then sign me the fuck up!!! Usokon started strong but at some point (around episode 8/9) I started getting frustrated. We know that there are feelings involved, but nobody is doing anything about it. The ML (even though he absolutely steals the show) doesn’t do anything to move forward, and the FL is too clueless to make a move. And so there’s not enough romance in a drama that is primarily romantic since the main focus is their fake marriage/ relationship. Also, it had such a frustrating ending!!!

My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (kdrama) 7,5 ⭐️

Nothing beats old kdramas, they have such a particular nostalgic vibe that makes you unable to stop watching. My girlfriend is a gumiho was so sooo stupid, childish, and even cringe, but so cute!!! Every time Shin Min Ah and Lee Seung Gi were together on screen I couldn’t stop smiling. I can totally see this one becoming a comfort drama. Another one with soundtrack 10/10.

Daily Dose of Sunshine (kdrama) 9

I read somewhere that this was like a mental health for dummies book, and to be honest, it’s kind of like that, but it works so well! The way they visualized mental disorders was so creative, I was impressed.

All the characters were intriguing enough to keep me going. Everyone had something to offer here. Even the patients from each episode.

Watching this felt deeply sad yet deeply comforting as well. Park Bo Young absolutely kills it (as usual. QUEEN).

Twinkling Watermelon (kdrama) 9.5

This one was pure gold. Time travel to meet the younger version of your parents? Sign me fuck up. The idea of sending Eun Gyeol back in time to try to understand his family and live his youth is such a cool (and emotional af) premise. It had the ideal balance of comedy and emotion. I feel like sixteen episodes weren’t enough. I could have sat there for another twenty episodes watching those teenagers being silly lol.

#netflix kdrama #kdramas #jdramas #cdramas #daily dose of sunshine #twinkling watermelon #crush #usokon #my girlfriend is a gumiho #into the ring #a business proposal #doona! #dovey watches

[flowershower-jpg]

Hometown Cha Cha Cha

NOTICE: THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THIS POST. PLEASE READ WITH CAUTION.

Where did I watch this: Netflix

Movie Genre: romance, angst. comedy, fluff

Movie Warnings: minor character death (multiple)

Ratings:

Plot: 9/10

Cast: 9/10

Ending: 10/10

Sam's Overall Rating: 10/10

════ ⋆★⋆ ════ ════ ⋆★⋆ ════

At first, I thought I really wasn't going to be interested in this show but...wow was I wrong. I got invested into this so quickly! I really like the fact that Hyejin was a dentist type of doctor instead of a regular doctor because it was something pretty unique.

I loved Dusik's character in general. He is such a loveable, funny character, who definitely didn't deserve all the pain he has gone through. I genuinely love him and aaaahhhh <333 I want to protect him from the world.

I genuinely loved all the side characters in this show, which is not something that normally happens. I usually think side characters in dramas are annoying, but wow...all of the characters stories genuinely seemed to fit into the show and it was just all put together very nicely.

One of my favorite scenes from this show is actually the performance they do about half way through the show. I think it was really cool how you get to learn more about each of the character's charms even more in this episode, and also see how well they all love and care for each other.

#hometown cha cha cha #kdrama review #korean drama #kdrama

[idrilka]

watchlist tag game!

tagged by @phneltwrites!

here's what i am currently watching/have just watched/am planning to watch (spoilers: it's all kdramas):

just finished:

hospital playlist: 10/10, ultimate comfort watch, i love everyone in this bar. it took us a while to finish the second season but it was so, so worth it. i laughed, i cried, i'm going to miss them so much.

weak hero class 1 (immediate rewatch): 11/10, never expected to get clotheslined by another stellar drama in the span of less than six months bad enough that it made me immediately want to go write fic, but here we are. i'm going to write a separate rec post for this one, but for all the school 2013/heungsoon enjoyers out there, this is required watching. it has everything: amazing acting, stellar storytelling, so, so much incredibly well-executed tension, unhinged, violent high schoolers, revenge, useless adults, failing institutions and social commentary on the cycles of abuse. also some of the best chemistry between the leads i've seen in a long while. (what i mean is: since my country: the new age.)

currently watching:

duty after school: since we're apparently on a school setting kick, we went straight from weak hero to this one, and it's been also really good so far. the premise sounds delightfully weird at first (aliens come to earth in the shape of strange spheres hanging in the sky, and in anticipation of the possible attack, third-year high school students get enrolled into an afterschool military training program in exchange for additional points on their university entrance exam, since early admissions have been cancelled), but things go to hell pretty quickly.

hometown cha-cha-cha: aka the drama we started last summer, but we are continuing our tradition of watching an episode or two, then taking a break for two months before watching another episode or two, so everything is going according to plan here. good for when you want a low-stakes, chill drama with some pretty views.

save me: we watched the first episode and we'll definitely continue. so far it's intriguing and creepy, and it has woo dohwan in it, so i'm guaranteed some aesthetic crying if nothing else.

racket boys: for when you're missing haikyuu. we also watched the first episode and we'll definitely continue at some point, because sometimes all you want is to watch a bunch of kids enthusiastic about a sport overcome the odds through hard work and the power of friendship.

joseon attorney: lmao, let me tell you, this was not love at first sight. i hated the first ~40 minutes of the first episode and barely managed to finish. fortunately, it improved a bit in the last 20 minutes or so, and i'm intrigued enough to give it another try, but oh boy, that was a struggle.

kingdom: watched the first two episodes, it looks amazing, and we will definitely continue.

to-watch list:

the eighth sense: i want to watch this so bad, but all the reactions of those of my friends who are watching it only confirm that i should wait so i can binge it.

school 2013 (rewatch): i've been meaning to rewatch this for ages, especially since i want to write another fic this year, and weak hero just made me want to rewatch it right this second, so.

dr romantic 3: the third season is so close and i need it in my eyeballs like yesterday. i miss all of them so much!

misc: aka everything mentioned above (apart from hometown cha-cha-cha, which we'll continue to watch well into the fall at this pace)

my to-watch list is a lot, lot longer (and includes more of woo dohwan and yang sejong's dramas, as well as other stuff like the uncanny counter or d.p., or things that won't air for a while, like bloodhounds or doona), but listing all of them would take ages, so this is just the stuff i'm intending to watch in the immediate future.

oh, and i'm tagging @dulosis and @grimdarkfandango!

#tag meme #kdramas

[mousieta]

Trope usage in Big Dragon

More Big Dragon Meta and this is long. Also please understand I absolutely LOVE the show in spite of all the flaws I see in it. If you don’t want those flaws picked apart, please just scroll by, this is more for me to resolve the writing issues I have than anything else. Also spoilers will abound.

In general, I feel like the writing flaws in Big Dragon largely stem from misapplication and over dependence on tropes. There is nothing wrong with tropes, they are simply tools used to tell a story. The key is in understanding your trope and what goal it is intended to meet/ what use it is serving to the story. I believe a trope is best executed when it is in support of the story and I find it unsatisfying when it is used as a shortcut within a story. Especially the ‘met as kids’ trope.

Big Dragon reveals to us that Mangkorn and Yai met as children and shows us only a brief play interaction. Apart from Yai losing his necklace nothing about it seems particularly impactful; it is like the friend you met on vacation and spent a day playing at the beach at. It’s a great memory one can look at nostalgically with affection but that’s really all it is and in this story just serves to indicate that Mangkorn knew Who Yai Was and knew more about him whenever they first met at school.

This trope, when used in dramas usually serves the purpose of indicating to the viewers that our leads are ‘fated’. It adds a sense of inevitability to the relationship that can reassure a viewer when the couple are at their nadir that this will be resolved, that they will ultimately wind up together. It also reassures at the end, when we are seeing our couple ride off into their sunset that they’re going to be ok, that whatever may come in their future not only have they weathered the journey to get to this point, Fate has been guiding them since childhood and Fate will continue to do so.

We could compare this trope in Big Dragon with a couple others. In Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo their meeting as children informs why there is so much good on Joon Hyung’s part towards Bok Joo as he’s meeting his childhood protector and friend. BUT the show takes pains to use that as just the starting point, further building their relationship upon that foundation of good will giving it a structure based on their connections that are built as adults. It is the starting point, not the be-all end all justifying why they are together.

Or, to take Hometown Cha Cha Cha as another example, where Hye Jin and Doo Shik have crossed paths multiple times and impacted one another for the better. Again, we see that their childhood is simply establishing what becomes a larger pattern that they continue as adults and is a part of their relationship *when* they are adults.

Unfortunately, Big Dragon doesn’t use the trope to build off of, it uses it as a short cut to circumvent needed character and relationship building. They aren’t together because of patterns established in childhood and built as adults. Yes, their childhood interactions impart some goodwill onto Mangkorn, but there is no resulting show of that goodwill growing and expanding to justify *why* is he ok being date-raped (is it hot af and did I love it, yes but its also, narratively, a problem never actually addressed), *why* he is so desperately wants to be friends, *why* he so deeply cares for Yai - other than Mangkorn’s lip-service saying he finds Yai ‘cute’. We accept it, ultimately, mostly because MosBank’s chemistry and commitment cannot be denied. But it is so much more meaningful when the acting AND the writing can come together to deliver rather than have one carry the other.

A second example (sorry this post is already obscenely long) is the Public Kiss/ Public declaration, which is swoony and sweeping and romantic, especially  where one character has been reluctant to commit. As an act of commitment, I understand *why* the writers were tempted to have it at the end of episode 6. Except, it isn’t solving the actual problem the pair are facing.

Yes, it is nice to have Mangkorn commit but he was already ready to commit. Their problem is his impending engagement/marriage, and the kiss does nothing to fix that. Yai left him after their argument because Mangkorn didn’t have a solution to that problem and hadn’t talked about it at all with Yai.

But the problem is still there *after* the kiss and the date. And while the date is absolutely something they needed as a couple, their problems are all still there afterwords. So, ultimately, the kiss is sweet but narratively irrelevant.

And this is just the running case in the show. Tropes are used to shortcut actual character/relationship development and to circumvent actual conflict resolution, conflicts are resolved off-screen by other people (Yai’s mom fixing the engagement situation), or just something we should accept (Mangkorn has always loved Yai for *reasons*).

This winds up just leaving everything feeling unsatisfying and hollow, dependent on the actors skill and director’s ability to fill in. Thankfully, they do a good enough job but we could have had better.

#big dragon #meta #mousie watches bl

[slytherinshua]

.....how?? Can someone be this gorgeous? He looks like an angel bro- yeonjun is so perfect in any ways 😭 imagine born as THE CHOI YEONJUN

(lets simp over yj now 😋 i afraid that, I'll end up spoiling if I continue simping over so mun. So lets stop for now 😔)

STOP ITS LIKE KDRAMA BF AND THEN LITERAL FAIRY ANGEL PRINCE LIKE WTFFFFF 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 yeonjun doesn't wreck me AT LEAST I SAY HE DOESNT CAUSE IM IN DENIAL 👹 he looks so fine tho and yk his 1k fic is kinda gonna be giving those city boy moves to the countryside kdrama vibes like 😭😭😭 i love those kdramas sm they're so relaxing??? i think ive only watched hometown cha cha cha and once upon a small town BUT THOSE 2 WERE SO CUTE AND PRETTYYYY

yeah no spoilers 😔 i almost finished watching ep 6 tho (liar im only like halfway through skdjsk) but most importantly im starting to get up to date again ☝️

#zanna answers the inbox!! #mizu ⌦ .｡.:*♡

[still-with-koo]

4, 9, 15, 30 & 46 😘

kie darling! hi! 💕

4.) which television series do you use as a form of escapism?

i answered this one here!

9.) what is your favorite environmental season? why?

the current one. i like it when things start to slow down a bit, it gets a bit cooler and people are kinder and sweeter than usual. plus the outfits (esp long overcoats) are super cute!

15.) name one musical album that greatly impacted your life? why?

i have a bunch but the first one to come to mind is american idiot by green day. the way it completely changed my personality in middle school 🤯 life changing

30.) favorite mythological creature? and why?

fairies. when i was a kid i so desperately wanted them to be real i took out a book from the library that promised to help me find one (spoiler alert: i didn’t find any 🥺)

46.) relate yourself to one movie character?

this one is so hard! the one that comes to mind is jo from little women 🤣 my family is still pushing me to get married and it drives me up the wall, marriage is not the end all be all pls 😤 i also remember relating to shin mina’s character in hometown cha cha cha! she was not the best with first impressions (me!) but people do realize she’s not so bad, just trying to make things work out while trying not fall apart - felt it!

ask me questions!

#thanks for the asks babe 😘 #kie <3 #my favourite doom #ask games

[consumeronionbulletin]

Crash Course in Romance (2023)

Really enjoyed this show. The writing and story felt familiar, but the actors were good enough that it still seems fresh. Could have done with 50% less obsessed crazy stalker people though.

What Worked

The leads were fun to watch both separately and together. The overall relationships were interesting and the drama does a good job of making something that should be rather dull (math class) seem exciting. Even the most detestable people in the show still had some moments of sympathy as well, which makes them seem like real people, and it also makes the show feel safer rather than super stressful.

What Didn't Work

The weird murder plot, but this was less offensive than most and they didn't allow it to take over the show.

The Performances

Jeon Do-yeon as Nam Haeng-seon. I'm not sure if it's groundbreaking to take a character that is super common in romance (the plucky young woman who just wants to take care of her family, but OMG life is terrible) and just age her up 15 years. Sadly, it kind of feels that way. In any case, this actor is great, she's apparently a big deal in K-film and I'm so glad we got to see her here.

Jung Kyung-ho as Choi Chi-yeol. He's not all that different from the character he played in Hospital Playlist (I enjoyed him in that), but his story is different enough that it still seemed interesting. Jung Kyung-ho did a great job as a lead, and I liked all the different character moments the writers put out there for him. Not all of them stuck (for example, the tragic student death that he seems to have forgotten about after five episodes), but overall it was more hits than misses.

Oh Eui-shik as Nam Jae-woo. Every time I see a character in these dramas who is on the Asperger's spectrum, I start to wonder if the writers are ticking a box or something. But as long as they make sure and put in the work to make the character feel real, then I'm okay with it. Oh Eui-shik did the work, and I was okay with it.

Lee Bong-ryun as Kim Young-joo. I enjoyed seeing her in Hometown Cha x 3 and she did a great job here (though her character is a little more one-note here). I felt her romance arc at the end was actually kind of nice.

Roh Yoon-seo as Nam Hae-yi. Really good job by a young actress who was only in her second drama. Hopefully, she'll have a long career, because she was fun to watch and the character was well done as well.

Jang Young-nam as Jang Seo-jin. The only other role I've seen her in was as kind of a bad person in IOK2NBO. She wasn't a great person here, but I had alot more sympathy for her, partly because the actor did a good job of making her relatable even during all the crazy plot stuff. I'm glad the writers left the character in a pretty good place overall.

Kim Mi-kyung as Haeng-seon's mother. I have already raved about how cool this actor is in other places. She was only in two episodes, and her character didn't even get a real name, but it was still just nice to see her on screen.

The High School Kiddos. I think they all did a good job. The writers didn't try and make them too cutesy or turn it into an afterschool special. They were fun to watch when they were on screen, and they all had good moments in the show.

The Gang of Bad Mothers With Money. I kind of enjoyed their antics, even if it felt like the writers were giving them the job of creating pointless drama at times. They were funny when they needed to be, and detestable when they needed to be, but none of them were too memorable.

The Evil Baddie Assistant Guy. Kind of a spoiler though it's not really a huge secret. I think the actor did a decent job of playing subtle with a character that slowly turns into a mustache twirling villain by the end of the series. I didn't need an interesting villain, in fact I'd rather not bother with him at all, but if you have to have a murder spree in your drama, this guy is an acceptable choice.

TL; DR:

Fun little romance / relationship drama with good casting that hit a sweet spot between familiar and fresh. Had some funny moments, and a few genuine feels but you knew going in that you'd end up with a HEA.

#my kdrama notes #crash course in romance #one shot scandal #no more murders in my romance