Just watched the first 2 episodes of Sangdo, I like it a lot so far.

I guess you either adore Chae Rim or feel more interest in the other actors. She did very well in her Chinese costume dramas for some time. I think you would like those. I think she did a couple with Alec Su. Big star in Chinese film and drama.

Once you get going into more Korean drama you will undoubtedly find many actresses who are wonderful in their acting as well as good to look at.

I have watched a lot of Korean stuff and it is mostly good. Especially the historical stuff and the costume dramas.

Someone was talking about the family dramas. I just finished 'THE JEWEL FAMILY' and I highly recommend it. Lovely story full of interest about three families. Very funny at times and quite romantic. Many real life problems dealt with in the Korean style. I am watching it again on TV.

Drama that finished recenty was 'THE GREAT QUEEN SEON DEOK' this was the one that really brought Kim Nam Gil into a role that blew everyone else off the screen. He was a great favourite of mine for earlier things but this role of BIDAM made everyone sit up and take note. He is a lovely man and a really good actor.

His recent role in the drama BAD GUY was not a good one for him and they had to rush it into fewer episodes because he had to go into the military. His side kick in this drama is another favourite for me..Kim Jae Wook. Just getting into the acting of leading roles.

Well I'd better stop. Too much.

Peg

brad2 wrote:

I guess you either adore Chae Rim or feel more interest in the other actors. She did very well in her Chinese costume dramas for some time. I think you would like those. I think she did a couple with Alec Su. Big star in Chinese film and drama. Once you get going into more Korean drama you will undoubtedly find many actresses who are wonderful in their acting as well as good to look at. I have watched a lot of Korean stuff and it is mostly good. Especially the historical stuff and the costume dramas. Someone was talking about the family dramas. I just finished 'THE JEWEL FAMILY' and I highly recommend it. Lovely story full of interest about three families. Very funny at times and quite romantic. Many real life problems dealt with in the Korean style. I am watching it again on TV. Drama that finished recenty was 'THE GREAT QUEEN SEON DEOK' this was the one that really brought Kim Nam Gil into a role that blew everyone else off the screen. He was a great favourite of mine for earlier things but this role of BIDAM made everyone sit up and take note. He is a lovely man and a really good actor. His recent role in the drama BAD GUY was not a good one for him and they had to rush it into fewer episodes because he had to go into the military. His side kick in this drama is another favourite for me..Kim Jae Wook. Just getting into the acting of leading roles. Well I'd better stop. Too much. Peg

It's only too much if no one reads. I always read your posts and more is always better.

On another note, I just finished Oh My Lady and I LUFFED it! I give it 11/10, regardless of the fact that I'm annoyed when people rate over the allotted maximum rating.

I've posted before that I adore family dramas, especially when young children are involved. Not only did this drama deliver in that respect, but I was never bored and there were rarely any fillers. To top it off, Siwon is drop dead gorgeous.
_________________

Wanna trade? My Drama List (UPDATED: July, 2013)

Wynter wrote:

On another note, I just finished Oh My Lady and I LUFFED it! I give it 11/10, regardless of the fact that I'm annoyed when people rate over the allotted maximum rating.

I agree. Oh My Lady is a really good drama. I'm about half way through it now, and so far it's the best Korean drama I've seen since Winter Sonata. I saw on your drama list that you still haven't watched Winter Sonata. I think you'll like this drama too.

brad2 wrote:

Well I'd better stop. Too much.

Don't stop. I like to read your posts, Peg.
_________________

Episodes 5-6, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.

No missteps yet, and now the hook has been set.
Best drama I'm watching this summer season....

Peg,

I like reading long posts of substance which seem your forte. Keep it up.

Wyn chan, I agree with your 11/10 lol.

I think I will have to go and watch all Chae Rim dramas once more when I finish my first go round.

Speaking of which, I'm now involved completely in Powerful Opponents. Don't know why they started it in such an offputting manner, but stick with it and it becomes a true Chae Rim frolic. Episode 6 now and starting my late night continuous watching to the detriment of the next day.

OT: Wyn chan, finished the Churasan reauthoring. Will mail this week.

ralphm1999 wrote:

Peg, I like reading long posts of substance which seem your forte. Keep it up. Wyn chan, I agree with your 11/10 lol. I think I will have to go and watch all Chae Rim dramas once more when I finish my first go round. Speaking of which, I'm now involved completely in Powerful Opponents. Don't know why they started it in such an offputting manner, but stick with it and it becomes a true Chae Rim frolic. Episode 6 now and starting my late night continuous watching to the detriment of the next day. OT: Wyn chan, finished the Churasan reauthoring. Will mail this week.

I think I gave Powerful Opponents a 10/10 as well. I was wondering how you would like, because it's not really a romantic drama... although the hint of it is there.

AND YATTA! Churasan! Thanks, Ralphy.
_________________

Wanna trade? My Drama List (UPDATED: July, 2013)

I liked Powerful Opponents very much. In fact I liked Chae Rim in this role and preferred it to some of her previous ones. Felt a gentle tug from the leading man also. He is a good actor.
I have decided to stop watching the second go around with Wang Guhn. It starts after midnight and I really struggle to keep my eyes open. Then I am a zombie the next morning. It's really one drama that is bad for my health. I realised it had 200 episodes and I am not up to 100 yet.

I fogot if I mentioned a family drama called 'GOLDEN FISH'. I am watching and only getting about half of the meaning of the dialogue. However, it has that hunk from JEWEL FAMILY ? name Siwon? So pleasant to have a leading man who is not a teenager with cosmetically re-arranged features. Subs are promised for later.

Still enjoying MY GIRL FRIEND IS.. I like her so much because she does not overplay her role. The tails are so beautiful when she flourishes them I did not even imagine white tails. Her delicate placement of being weird goes very well against Seung Ki's nerdiness and general blankness. Something has to give soon because there is a rival lurking for our gumiho. I don't think she will stand a
chance once those tails begin to flicker.

Wyn chan,

It's now obvious to me that I will like anything with Chae Rim (except the detestable sad endings) regardless if it's comedy and or romance or neither. She is the female jewel of the Korean screen and possibly the whole Asian movie community.

Peg,

The leading man in Powerful Opponents though I don't know his name and too lazy to look up, is the same guy who plays the heavy in Green Rose. It's difficult for me to switch him over as a good guy since he was so totally unscroupulous in Green Rose. But I'm slowly accepting him in this role. He is an excellent actor.

Why are Hangul names so hard to pronounce and don't seem to have any relation to the subtitles when the actors call each other by name. They must learn very early to speak from the back of their throats or something.

Peg

We've got Wang Guhn running here in the S.F. Bay Area 6 nights a weeks. And so far I find that catching one episode per week pretty much keeps me up to date.
_________________

Geezer,

Yes I know what you mean about the episodes being slowly repeated all the time.

However I think I will only watch as you are doing, just one night a week. My eyes are feeling dreadful and I know I am doing too much 'looking' too late at night.

This drama is now beginning to pick up in the interesting details and Wang Guhn is finally being persuaded to give the go ahead to his warriors.

The other very long Japanese taiga that I loved even more was 'HOJO TOKEMUNE' I thought that was the most interesting historical drama. Great cast.

Right now we are seeing 'DONG YI' down here and it is very amusing as well as being slightly historical. They are playing it in a very contemporary way and it works.

Peg,

I enjoyed HOJO TOKEMUNE... but it was an up and down thing for me. I thought Watanabe Ken and Watabe Atsuro made the series. But Watanabe was only in it for the first half dozen episodes, and Watabe didn't take over until the last dozen or so. But it was cool seeing him play the growling, perfect warrior Samurai Prince. A pleasant change from the pleasant, Jimmy Stewartesque roles he played in so many romantic comedies.

And Kimura Yoshino as the pirate girl didn't hurt.
_________________

I am planning on studying either Japanese in Japan, or Korean in Korea. I only watch Japanese tv and don't know any Korean so I am leaning heavily towards Japan. However, I cannot stop thinking about Korea. Can someone recommend a drama that shows modern Korean culture and what Korean people are like. tyvm

alexgamerz wrote:

I am planning on studying either Japanese in Japan, or Korean in Korea. I only watch Japanese tv and don't know any Korean so I am leaning heavily towards Japan. However, I cannot stop thinking about Korea. Can someone recommend a drama that shows modern Korean culture and what Korean people are like. tyvm

Drama, by nature, is a dramatic exaggeration of the subject it's portraying. While it'll give you a glimpse or hint, it's nowhere near reality. If you go to Korea, you won't be surrounded by girly looking men and cosmetic surgery enhanced women(maybe the women as it's big there) who's daily routine is finding passionate love and adventure while living in luxury making a salaryman's wage. If anything, it'll be like your life back home: mundane. You'd get a better idea watching those "daily life" docu-type shows from KBS or similar.

Kijinnmaru wrote:

Drama, by nature, is a dramatic exaggeration of the subject it's portraying. While it'll give you a glimpse or hint, it's nowhere near reality. If you go to Korea, you won't be surrounded by girly looking men and cosmetic surgery enhanced women(maybe the women as it's big there) who's daily routine is finding passionate love and adventure while living in luxury making a salaryman's wage. If anything, it'll be like your life back home: mundane. You'd get a better idea watching those "daily life" docu-type shows from KBS or similar.

Good suggestion! I've watched both K-dramas and K-documentaries. K-dramas are written in such a way to keep the viewers watching ..... they're formulaic.

Episodes 7-8, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho.

Still entertaining as ever...

I read an article that said Jun Ji-hyun turned down the role as the gumiho, and I'm glad she did. I don't think she would have done a better job than Shin Min-ah has done...

niknik wrote:

Episodes 7-8, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho. Still entertaining as ever... I read an article that said Jun Ji-hyun turned down the role as the gumiho, and I'm glad she did. I don't think she would have done a better job than Shin Min-ah has done...

Yeah, it's like the character was created specifically for Shin Min Ah.

Well Queen Seon Deok is amazing. Broke out the DVDS after hearing Brad2's review.
WE are hooked.
Great seeing such an elaborate production with all our favorites from Jewel in The Palace. Wonderful.
_________________

I enjoyed Queen Seon Deok as well. You could definitely see how lavish the production was(except the cheap rubber armor ). The only gripe I had was the "Hong Kong-ish" style they had in terms of directing and action.

I am so glad you got going with QSD. I want you to pay particular attention to Kim Nam Gil who is my latest treasure. He is so wicked and so passionate. Once he made his appearance the ratings went skyhigh. He plays the character Bidam. He is such a good actor and can do things with his eyes and expression that can break your heart or make you want to jump into the scene with him.

He has just gone into the military and I think it is good, so that he can rest up from all his broken bones and injuries from this drama and others that he has done. They rushed him through his last drama 'BAD GUY' and it was not good even tho he played a very strong role.

I have watched him before and he made a film some time back called 'NO REGRETS' which is still regarded highly. The cast did not accept payment as it was done to gain some kudos for the director and company and Gay Rights or whatever they may have been sponsoring in Korea at that time.
It is a tough film and graphic but it is dark and makes a lonely impression of the lifestyle. This is not a film for young people.( this is a warning) However, it is truly a love story despite all the harshness. I liked it very much and there is some great background music. JK Kim Dong Uk sings a lovely song in his amazing voice. Favourite singer of mine.

Well I wait with anticipation for your final comments re QSD. I will save my final sentiments. I think that Mishil may be the most evil woman you love to hate in any drama yet seen.Such concentrated venom.

Peg