My Year In K Drama 2014 Part 3 of 3 and the winner is…

 

My Favorite: Misaeng

And

Best Quality: Misaeng

Rarely do these two categories coincide, but as I said in Part 2, I have no complaints about this drama, other than some continuity issues, I loved it to bits, and that is a rare thing.

It’s Okay That’s Love is neck and neck, but I give it to the underdog.  Both had superb everything.

 

 

Best of…

Best Female Lead: Jung Wan, Can We Love-see original review.  I think if I could finish Marriage Not Dating, Jang-mi would be close.

And I want Jung Wan’s fabulous hair.

Best Male Lead: Kyung-soo, Can We Love-see original review.

 

Knock out Performance:   Jo In-sung in It’s Okay That’s Love

 

 

 

 

Most Unique Leads:

 

Hong Bin in Blademan

Hoon in Dr. Stranger

 

Koo Dae-young in Let’s Eat

The Three Horny Fangurls:    Bo-tong, Naeil, and Ha ni

Ha ni preferred to have her ‘tribute’ photo ip from her viewpoint

 

 

Funniest and maybe dumbest Lead:  Song-yi in You from Another Star  

 

 

Best Second Leads:

Han Yeo-reum in Marriage Not Dating-LOVE this character, he was just the best, big hearted guy. And well, he can cook.   Yeah,  that’s the main reason.  No, really.

Sun-mi in Can We Love-This character got a lot of hate from viewers, but aside from the writers creating THE BIG LIE that put her character over the edge, she wasn’t any different than many MALE second leads. She was also the go to person for help in the female friendship, and a lot of people seemed to miss that.

 

 

Characters that need a spin off:

Jin-woo and mystery woman in High School King

The Electric Fairy in Pretty Man

 

OMG these guys are in every drama! (3 or more dramas that I’ve watched in 2014)– Choi Jin hyuk, Park Min-woo, Choi Woo-sik, Park Won-suk, Kim Kap Soo, Lim Ye-lin, Shim Hyung-tak, Jang Won-young, Shin Seung-Hwan!

 

Drama that was the biggest Waste of Talent: Doctor Stranger

 

And the Gaksital Award goes to

Age of Feeling

I can’t even with this plot, it was so mest and made no sense.

Why couldn’t this happen sooner!

 

 

Abuse of Aegyo but in a disturbingly good way: Hoon in Doctor Stranger

 

 

Best Cryer:  Kim Soo Hyun.  Hyun Bin is making a drama next year, you are going to have competition, old son.

 

Breakouts:

Byun Yo-han in Misaeng

Lee Soo Hyuk in High School King. One more, for back and neck porn

Song Jae Rim in Age of Feeling

 

Han Groo in Marriage Not Dating

 

Lee Tae-Hwan in Pride and Prejudice

 

 

  Freshest Face: Park Bo-gum in Naeil’s Cantabile

 

 

  I’m sexy and don’t know it: Jang and Kang in Misaeng

 

Most Overrated: You From Another Star

 

Most Underrated: Let’s Eat

 

Biggest Disappointment: Dr. Stranger and Pinocchio

 

Biggest Surprise:

 

Misaeng

 

 

 

Modern Farmer

 

 

 

Park Min-young in Healer

 

 

 

Lee Han ui in Modern Farmer

 

Doo Joon in Let’s Eat

 

 

Siwan in Misaeng- his innocence and just being overwhelmed by the world, juxataposed by the smile on his face in the last episode when Manager Oh suggests he should catch the sales guy that took the product. Wow.

 

 

Best Bro and Sista –mances:

 

The women in Can We Love

 

Ha ni and Hye-young in Surplus Princess

It’s Okay that’s Love

Dr. Hoon and Dr Moon in Dr. Stranger

Hong Bin and Secretary Go in Blademan

The Intern 4 –in Misaeng

How does this keep happening to Kang Sora?

 

 

Let’s Hear it For the Parents, biological or surrogate:

Manager Oh in Misaeng

Mom in Witches Romance

The families in Modern Farmer

Doctor Uncle Jo in It’s Okay That’s Love

Il Rak’s Dad and Milk and Yoo Jin’s Mom in Naeil’s Cantabile

 

 

 

Best Supporting Characters:

 

Barashi in Let’s Eat

 

Dal Bong-Oh, come on you know most of us that finished Loveable Girl did it because we knew the dog was going to die and Rain was going to cry.

 

Soso-Age of Feeling

 

Grandpa-Pinocchio

 

Lee Woo-young- I Need Romance 3

 

Min-ja-Healer

 

The entire cast of Misaeng

 

Man-goo-Modern Farmer

 

 

Dr. Uncle Jo-It’s Okay That’s Love

 

 

 

Best Kisses:

The Mermaid’s Apple Bottom Kiss-The Mermaid

 

 

Oh Boy Kiss-Can We Love

 

 

Exes Gonna Hook Up Kiss-I Need Romance 3

 

 

I’ll Stop the World and Melt with You Kiss-You From Another Star

 

 

Hottie Hoon and the Most Boring Woman Alive Kiss-Doctor Stranger

 

 

 

She was this close to putting on her cowboy hat and spurs Kiss- Witches Romance

 

 

 

 

What I have learned:

I found more pleasure in some of the smaller dramas.

I have given up on finding another crack drama. Hoon really was my crack moment of the year.

Lee Tae-Hwan is 19 years old. If there is a hell I’m gonna burn for those thoughts.

I did not do a stellar job of being more female character centric.  I think I was conscious of it, and improved, but I find myself becoming increasingly angry with the portrayal of women in media, and korean drama.

 

REVISITING MY WISH LIST FOR 2014 My wish list for 2014 (I had to throw in some k pop stuff too because, hey, it’s my wish list):

 

Lee Jong Suk in a really sexy role. Weeeel, Hoon was sexy…be careful what you wish for?

 

Jung Il Woo in a really sexy role. Didn’t happen.

 

Yoon Si Yoon in a mature role and where he gets to open mouth make out with his co-star, so basically Yoon Si Yoon in a sexy role. Well, I’m not sure what’s happening in the Marines, but yeah, my boys serving his time.

 

The death of the lip press and bug eyes. Did it get any better?

 

A lesbian character. Didn’t happen in my watch list.

 

Lee Min Ho and Kang Sora in a bickering couple rom com. Lee Min Ho can’t seem to stay off the tour circuit long enough to make a drama. Did he join the rodeo or what?

 

Even more awesome female characters. A female lead character that:  is self sufficient, is not a virgin, having had mature relationships, doesn’t need saving and may be even saves her guy,  makes herself a priority,  shreds anyone that tries to wrist grab, slap her, put her down, bully her, make her feel ugly, or get her fired, and opens her mouth and kisses the crap out of her love interest. We got some of this, I think Jung Wan was the closest.

 

TVXQ reunion.  Just thought I’d throw that out there as it is a wish list.  No?  Okay, how about a new JYJ album? We got JYJ and a pretty good set list, but an unfortunate choice for song lyrics in the single/MV they put out, not to mention Yoochun’s fail in saying backseat. I am not a Engrish critic, I think it’s perfectly fine to have an accent, but you need to be able to enunciate the title of your song. JYJ sings a lot in English, and does it well in my opinion, so I have a higher bar for them. And I mean seriously guys, let’s get someone to vet this stuff okay, so you don’t write a creepy rapey song.

 

More Jonghyun and Taemin fanservice? Oh, we can so dream, right?

 

Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin as the leads in a bickering couple rom com. KWB is off making movies and LJS has been being awesome in not so awesome dramas.

Rain taking his clothes off on stage. I AM SURE THAT HAPPENED.

 

So what do I want for 2015? Some of the same things? And…

Hyun Bin’s drama return to be something that makes me happy but I have doubts.

Lee Min Ho to go ahead and do his military service or make a friggin drama that knocks my socks off!  

2014 State of My K Drama

I’m a bit late for a quarter review, and almost at a 6 month point, but here I am covering a few thoughts on 2014 up to this point. Some kpop included.

First, let me look at my ‘wish list’ from my 2013 end of year review:

My wish list for 2014 (I had to throw in some k pop stuff too because, hey, it’s my wish list):

Lee Jong Suk in a really sexy role.  Okay, that is still a possibility

Jung Il Woo in a really sexy role. Okay, that is still a possibility.

Yoon Si Yoon in a mature role and where he gets to open mouth make out with his co-star, so basically Yoon Si Yoon in a sexy role.  Not going to happen as Mr. Smarty Pants enlisted and is doing his duty for the next 2 years. 

The death of the lip press and bug eyes. Still alive and well. 

A lesbian character. Not so far to my knowledge.

Lee Min Ho and Kang Sora in a bickering couple rom com. Oh drama gods….pretty please.

Even more awesome female characters. A female lead character that:  is self sufficient, is not a virgin, having had mature relationships, doesn’t need saving and may be even saves her guy,  makes herself a priority,  shreds anyone that tries to wrist grab, slap her, put her down, bully her, make her feel ugly, or get her fired, and opens her mouth and kisses the crap out of her love interest.  Bride of the Century had potential and quickly FAILED.  Secret Love Affair – Not a likable drama or lead, but she  lived by her own rules.    Let’s Eat  had potential but never quite got there because it totally failed on the kissing requirement.  Jung Wan in Can We Love was a pretty strong lead.

Drama Plot:  A 40 year old Prime Minister widower with 3 kids marries a 20 year old something tabloid reporter.  Shenanigans ensue. Oh, right, that’s being done, but what if, say,  the  PM is played by Lee Mi Yeon and the reporter is played by Kang Min-hyuk?  🙂   A Witches Romance  and Secret Love Affair both featured mature career women in a May – December romance.  No kids though. Can We Love’s Jung Wan was a divorced mother restarting her career and she almost hits the mark. 

TVXQ reunion.  Just thought I’d throw that out there as it is a wish list.  No?  Okay, how about a new JYJ album?  Pipe dreaming of course. 

More Jonghyun and Taemin fanservice? Not so far to my knowledge.

Lee Jong Suk and Kim Woo Bin as the leads in a bickering couple rom com.  That’s another pipe dream.

Rain taking his clothes off on stage.  I’m sure that’s happened lol

 

Stuff that has happened:

Can We Love was an okay ride.  I love Oh Boy, he was really a great male lead character, and Jung Wan was a pretty good female lead.

Mo Il Hwa quirky character goodness and  surge of Song Jae Rim popularity, Woot woot!  Give this boy quirky roles and let him run!

Kim Jae-wook bouncing out of AoF.

Some actors and idols becoming extremely thin.  Does Junsu even have his duck butt anymore?   That’s a crying all night shame.

Production issues in dramas, like AoF people not getting paid.

Kang Haneul and Choi Jin-hyuk rising in popularity.   KH still in mostly secondary roles.  CJH scoring a lead, but I did not much like the drama (Emergency Couple) and dropped it.

I had hopes for You From Another Star and it had it’s moments but it never quite delivered for me.  I however want to take that damn uni course lol.

My Girl lead reunion in a not so great drama-be careful what you wish for?

I Need Romance 3 leads left me still needing romance, and kinda barfy.  Secondary and tertiary characters ruled.  The Tae Yoon and Se Ryung kiss ranks top kiss so far of 2014.

EXO explosion:  Not sure why.   I don’t feel them, I never have.  I have no clue on that Chris thing but it’s being compared to the DBSK split.  I think that’s a little conflated but whatever.

Jaejoong in an interesting role, not so sure about the drama as a whole, but he’s working it.

Doo Joon in Let’s Eat, a charming run in a drama from another B2ST member.

Yoon Shi Yoon and Park Ki Woong off for military service.

Ji Hyun Woo back from service..with braces and probably a jaw realignment. I liked his bit of a goofy smile.

My House Thai was a pleasant and welcome surprise.

I find myself still struggling to focus on the female characters in dramas, which is one of my goals for the year.  I need to work more on this, but wow, is it hard.  Having this focus really makes one realize how male focused dramas really are.  Did I even talk that much about female characters in this blog?  Soso was fun and underdeveloped.  Loved the Let’s Eat female cast as well as in Can We Love. Song Yi in YFAS had her moments.    Miss Korea had surprisingly interesting female characters-l I never finished it because of other priorities and I had some issues with the plot but I was digging the female characters.

Conclusion:

My K drama has passed drought status and has entered famine.  I want to see more female character driven dramas, and not poor and/or stupid girl driven.  Would it kill to give us more females with female friends even?

I really appreciate some dramas more and more over time, like Flower Boy Next Door, which I was unhappy with at the time because I wanted something specific in a YSY role, and at the time did not appreciate it for the gem it was.  Just tweeting with K Drama Laws as I am writing this makes me realize how passionate I was about the characters in Rooftop Prince despite it’s many flaws.   I want to feel that passion again.

Monday Memes 10/14/2013

K Pop Perving  Appreciation

                                       Yoochun says “Come on.”  More to see, here.

  I’m following  Yoochun!

A whole different perspective  on cleavage.

Annnd not real K Pop but a lovely parody of it lol

When asked to reveal a secret about himself during an interview, Junsu said that one thing unique about him is that he has a perky bottom.

Junsu, honey, you know, we know, other planets know, totally lame secret sharing lol

What?

Say MYNAME Say MYNAME

Shirtless Taemin, Minho the Puppet Master, Jonghyun smashing sculptures-cause that’s subtle, and dancing!

Monday Memes-Just A Day Late :) 10/01/13

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hippies.  They make girls stupid.

 Damn, Junsu!

Seriously, I am a totally sucker for this look.

Oh, Honey, it’s way too hot in here. Take off all your clothes.

 

 

 

Whee! If I move like THIS, my chains make my nip nip happy!

[images] Even MORE Rain at SONIC BANG. (8/24)

Thanks to Cloud USA, I know that Rain is back on the stage just a month and a 1/2 after his release from active military service.. Would we expect nothing else from him? And it did not take long for Rain to let us know that he’s ready to start objectifying himself to us in public (hello, lovely skin oh how we have missed you) along with his awesome singing and dancing. I’m sure it will not be long before we have a shirtless in public photo op. Which I am totally okay with, how about you? More, please? Hey, I am just keeping it real. I appreciate Rain’s assets. Looking forward to see what Rain comes up with in the studio and in music videos, of course, but I always somehow prefer to view his live performances, so I am extremely grateful to it being the 21rst century and that the technology exists for fans to share fan cams and post TV performances online for others to bask in the glory of our various beloveds. Is it me or does he have a lot of hair for just getting out of the service? I do not know all of the rules for that for the ROK. Big thanks again to Cloud USA for posts.

Cloud USA

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

(Image credit: Whoopy)

(Image credit: BBissarain)

(Image credit: Merumas) Yep, it’s ALL there. ^@@^

(Image credit: funkybabie @Twitter)

(Image credit: Noraini Ahmad)

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Monday Memes 08/19/2013-K POP HEAT

Posting a bit early, have things to do on Monday.   More hot, less meme, this week.  Criteria?  Sweaty or shirtless,  and performing.  Preferably both.  Because we are all here for the music only.   I thought I would spend this week’s post on some of my most favorite K pop songs, and the artist that sing them,  favorite photos of attractive K pop male artists.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This guy is wasted in a boy group.  Ahem.  ROCK.

So who wrote a fan fic on this?

Old School Rain, and kind of artsy.

Annnnd ovaries exploded across the globe.

Okay so I don’t think this is on stage, but I love this photo.

okay, MV, but do I have to explain why it is here?  No more Japanese bubblegum rock, K?  Gangsta Sunbae is the way to go.   Go see JanDi now, see what happens.

More THIS.

Monday Meme 08/05/2013

I am declaring Monday as RandomSoju’s Official Meme Day.  Okay,  so they probably will sometimes just be funnies and gifs, and technically not memes.   I have a habit of collecting quotes and funny things and photos.  I swear I am not a hoarder.  Much.  I do clean out  my computer  junk collection once or twice a year.  But do not be surprised when a quotes page ends up on my blog.  Anyway, I have saved some Asian Drama and Korean Drama and K Pop related stuff.  Unfortunately I do not have all the sources but some of the creators put their info on them so yay for them, I guess.  That as my disclaimer that I did not make the memes. Well, maybe a few. 😉

I was going to post two random fun items per week.  But nothing can compete with this.

Except This.

Rain, ya nasty boy.

This my personal favorite performance of the COMPLETE Hip Song Dance, if you are interested in watching the COMPLETE dance routine:

Okay, so this turned out to be about Rain and his certain skill sets instead of just being about a meme or two.  Things like this will happen with me because of well, reasons.