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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Portraits of young men with soft expressions.

Author Archives: ockoala

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Kim Soo Hyun and Jung Hae In Attend Couture Shows in Milan as Italian Brand Reps

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 20, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 19, 2025
Smiling person waving at the camera.

This is probably the last overseas trips for many Asian celebs as next week starts the countdown to lunar new year where its likely everyone goes home to spend time with family. This weekend saw fashion shows in Milan for menswear fall-winter season to come and two top Korean actors were there for their respective brand reps. Kim Soo Hyun … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jung Hae In, Kim Soo Hyun

Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero Directed by Tsui Hark Starring Xiao Zhan Becomes Fastest C-movie to Notch 10 million Presale Tickets

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 20, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 19, 2025
Dramatic scene from a martial arts film.

Yes, the economy sucks everywhere and the political climate is wonky so of course entertainment is down and has been on a decline. But it also means if the movie makers give the viewers what they want then the old adage of if you build it they will come remains true. This week is the start of the lunar new … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Legend of the Condor Heroes, Xiao Zhan, Zhuang Da Fei

When the Stars Gossip with Lee Min Ho and Gong Hyo Jin Drops to 1% Ratings Range in Episode 5

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 19, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 19, 2025
Four astronauts working in a spacecraft.

So the crown of biggest budget K-drama flop is no long Arthdal Chronicles to wear, time to pass it on to When the Stars Gossip. The space IVF, fruit fly, and romance K-drama aired episode 5 this Saturday and got a paltry 1.84% ratings, the lowest of all the dramas airing that night. Arthdal had at that time the biggest … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Gong Hyo Jin, Lee Min Ho, Oh Jung Se, When the Stars Gossip

Sisters Finding Love Period C-drama Perfect Match with Wang Xing Yue and Lu Yu Xiao Leading Large Cast Confirms January 25th Premiere

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 19, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 18, 2025
Actors in colorful costumes promoting a show.

So this is really great timing, to release period C-drama Perfect Match (Wu Fu Ling Men 五福临门) right before lunar new year since it just seems like a fun family oriented show to watch when nestling at home. The Yu Zheng produced C-drama stars a bevy of his agency stars along with additional familiar names and faces to create a … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Chen He Yi, Huang Sheng Chi, Huang Yang Tian Tian, Ke Ying, Liang Yong Qi, Liu Xie Ning, Lu Yu Xiao, Perfect Match, Wang Xing Yue, Wu Xuan Yi

K-netizens Upset at Song Joong Ki and Lee Sung Min After Their Comments on the State of K-movies at the Media Event for Movie Bogota

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 18, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 17, 2025
Film poster featuring multiple intense faces.

It’s not a week in K-ent if there isn’t a scandal or upset feeling somewhere. But with K-pop, variety, movies, and dramas it doesn’t always hit a segment that I follow but this week it’s all over the movie promos for thriller arthouse flick Bogota: City of the Lost. The movie, starring Song Joong Ki and Lee Hee Joon, has … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Bogata, Lee Sung Min, Song Joong Ki

Rumored Casting of Li Geng Xi and Fan Cheng Cheng for the Drama Adaptation of The Rebirth of Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Has Novel Fans in Uproar

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 18, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 16, 2025
Dramatic scene with horseback riders and red accents.

Okay, please for the love of novel gods let this rumored casting be just that, a rumor never to become reality. Since the announcement that the C-drama The Rebirth of Malicious Empress of Military Lineage (将门毒后) was happening it’s become a top IP for young actors and actresses. The female lead Shen Miao and her epmoress rebirth journey from bumbling … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Fan Cheng Cheng, Li Geng Xi, The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage

Director Hong Sang Soo and Actress Kim Min Hee Reportedly Expecting a Baby After 9 Years Together

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 17, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 17, 2025
Two people sitting at a caf table.

Well this is definitely more spicy sauce on an already messy dish. K-ent is reporting that award winning director Hong Sang Soo and his actress girlfriend Kim Min Hee are expecting a baby together. He’s 64 and she’s 42 and have been together for 9 years since she starred in his movie Right Now, Wrong Then in 2015. Her career … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Baby, Dating, Hong Sang Soo, Kim Min Hee

First Cute Poster and Teaser for tvN Office Rom-com K-drama My Dear Nemesis

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 17, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 15, 2025
K-drama promotional poster featuring two main characters.

The first poster and teaser is out for the next tvN Mon-Tues drama My Dear Nemesis, which premieres in mid-February but I’m so ready for this like RIGHT NOW. Starring Moon Ga Young and Choi Hyun Wook, she’s one of the best child actress turned adult actresses in term of picking good projects and delivering on her performances and he’s … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Choi Hyun Wook, Moon Ga Young, My Dear Nemesis

Liu Xue Yi Declines Period C-drama Love Travels Through Time as Production Looks for Another Male Lead for Young Actress Ai Mi

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 16, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 15, 2025
Young man in regal attire with fur collar.

The C-drama Love Travels Through Time (揽流光三) got way more attention with the first casting new then normal for a drama nowhere near S+ level budget. That’s due to C-actor Liu Yue Yi being discussed for a romance period role opposite young actress Ai Mi, when he is more than double her real life age. Basically netizens were rightfully dismayed … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Ai Mi, Liu Xue Yi, Love Travels Through Time

Tencent Drops New Trailer for Everlasting Longing with Angelababy and Song Wei Long Ahead of Rumored Air Drop on January 20th

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 16, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 15, 2025
Two characters in a dramatic confrontation scene.

January 2025 has been an interesting month heading into the month end lunar new year holidays. Some dramas are still dropping while others have veered away from this log jam period and looked ahead to next few months. It is a good time to air drop something long on the shelf and may still get pulled, i.e. period romance drama … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Angelababy, Everlasting Longing, Song Wei Long

Flourished Peony with Yang Zi and Moonlight Mystique with Bai Lu Off to Similar Solid Viewership But Differing Level of Viewer Reviews

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 15, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 15, 2025
Dramatic fantasy posters with historical themes.

The same day premiere of two period but very different C-dramas Moonlight Mystique and Flourished Peony is now one week into airing and time to check in on the initial results. MM is airing solely on large streaming platform iQiyi while Peony is airing on terrestrial Hunan TV with streaming on Hunan owned smaller platform so it’s hard to compare … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Ao Rui Peng, Bai Li, Flourished Peony, Li Xian, Moonlight Mystique, Yang Zi

When the Stars Gossip Sits at #8 in the Netflix Global Non-English Language Shows Behind Three Other K-dramas in the First Full Week of Airing

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 15, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 15, 2025
Two characters in a dramatic scene.

So it’s been over a week since When the Stars Gossip premiered on tvN for the Sat-Sun time slot with a simul-stream on global platform Netflix. The ratings on tvN started off low-ish around 3% range and dropped to 2% range in the second week, portending a major flop for the network. Unfortunately it’s viewership on Netflix won’t be anything … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game, When the Phone Rings, When the Stars Gossip

Seo Hyun Jin and Jang Ryul to Start Filming K-drama Love Me Adapted From a Swedish TV Show of the Same Name

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 14, 2025 by ockoalaJanuary 14, 2025
Two portraits of stylized individuals.

This sounds like a prestige series so makes even more sense that the female lead signed on is Seo Hyun Jin. I couldn’t get myself excited to watch her last drama The Trunk despite loving both leads in the drama because a slow burn dark show wasn’t my jam during the cold weather and holiday season. But she will be … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Jang Ryul, Love Me, Seo Hyun Jin

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Recent Posts

  • Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Tiffany of Girl’s Generation and Actor Byun Yo Han Confirm Dating with an Eye Towards Marriage
  • tvN Kicks off Promos for January 2026 Workplace K-drama Undercover Miss Hong with Park Shin Hye and Go Kyung Pyo
  • Modern Sci-Fi Romance C-drama Love on the Turquoise Land with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Xing Xu Wrap Uneventful Run and Nets a Relatively Low 6.2 Douban Ratings
  • Production of The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Makes Dylan Wang and Meng Zi Yi Joint Top Billing as Filming Slated for Q1 of 2026
  • First Poster for iQiyi Modern Romance C-drama My Queen, My Rules with Ao Rui Peng and Shen Yu Jie Gives off Sleek Sexy Vibes
  • TW-tabloids Go Wild with News that F4 is Reuniting at Concert this December in Shanghai But Without Member Ken Chu and Adding Top TW-singers Jay Chou and Ashin of Mayday as Special Guests




Latest Comments

  • Rei on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Didiey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Leaves45 on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Sirey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Somebody on Top J-pop Star Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai Concert Abruptly Cancelled Last Minute as China-Japan Political Spat Worsens
  • Kristina on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Mandy on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Somebody on Top J-pop Star Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai Concert Abruptly Cancelled Last Minute as China-Japan Political Spat Worsens
  • Somebody on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Somebody on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Somebody on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • HL on Modern Sci-Fi Romance C-drama Love on the Turquoise Land with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Xing Xu Wrap Uneventful Run and Nets a Relatively Low 6.2 Douban Ratings

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