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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Collage of three stylish young men.

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Squid Game Achieves First Ever All Kill on Netflix, #1 in Every Single Country of the Streaming Platform

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 3, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 2, 2021
Two smiling men in matching outfits.

Netflix original drama Squid Game isn’t just a K-drama anymore, it’s officially THE BIGGEST SHOW worldwide currently as the series just achieved the first ever All Kill on the streaming platform. As of Saturday this week it is #1 in every single country that Netflix airs in, all 83 countries. Two days earlier it was nearly there taking #1 in … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game

Park Hyung Sik, Jeon So Ni, Pyo Ye Jin, and Lee Tae Sun Start Filming K-drama Sageuk Loosely Adapting C-novel The Golden Hairpin

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 2, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 2, 2021
Four stylish individuals posing for photos.

Okay, I need an official name for this drama because there are so many translations. Filming has commenced for upcoming sageuk drama Youth, Glancing at the Moon (Youth, Climbing Over the Wall) which less important than what the title means is that the drama was what would have been the K-drama adaptation of the C-novel The Golden Hairpin. The direct … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jeon So Nee, Lee Tae Sun, Park Hyung Sik, Pyo Ye Jin

Watch an Entire Drama Love Story in One Picture: A Visual Homage to Some of the Best K-romances

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 2, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 2, 2021
Couple sharing a romantic moment.

This post doesn’t need any editorializing, and really just needs to be viewed and savored. A talented and oh so generous K-netizen (doing the drama gods service!) created a one picture image for some of the most popular and beloved K-drama romances in the last two decades that captures the beginning and end. It’s called “Watch an entire K-drama in … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged All About My Romance, Answer Me 1988, Boyfriend, Coffee Prince, Come and Hug Me, Encounter, Goong, Heirs, Hotel Del Luna, It's Okay It's Love, Kill Me Heal Me, Mr. Sunshine, Pasta, Queen Seon Deok, That Winter When the Winter Blows, The Light in Your Eyes, The Master's Sun, Thirty But Seventeen, Touch Your Heart, Will It Snow for Christmas, You From Another Star

Taecyeon Prepares for Impending Job Death After Receiving His Imperial Summons in New Drama Teaser for Inspector Joy

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 2, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 1, 2021
Actors at a team meeting making heart gestures.

Okay, this could actually work, because it’s a sageuk that’s definitely not trying to be on the traditional path. And that non-traditional element allows male lead Taecyeon, who is beyond modern man in the vibe he gives off and lacks any of the sageuk gravitas per usual, to work this character. In upcoming tvN sageuk Inspector Joy (Tale of Secret … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Inspector Joy, Kim Hye Yoon, Taecyeon, Tale of Secret Royal Inspector and Jo Yi

Viewers of tvN Hit Drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha Divided Over K-reporter Article About the Drama Using Crime Repeatedly for the Male Lead to Save the Female Lead and Turn into a Romantic Moment

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 1, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 2, 2021
Couple embracing under dim streetlights.

This week a K-entertainment reporter wrote a long article (here) that critiques currently airing hit weekend drama Hometown Cha Cha Cha for one specific element and it’s a thoughtful take that is worth discussing and even better is the responses from viewers are equally thoughtful, nothing is knee jerk. The writer took issue with Hometown using the “woman in danger … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Kim Sun Ho, Shin Mina

Vincenzo and It’s Okay to Not be Okay are the Most Watched on Netflix Television Simulcast K-dramas of the 2020-2021 Period

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 1, 2021 by ockoalaOctober 1, 2021
Promotional image for the series "Vincenzo."

Everyone’s talking about the Netflix produced K-dramas of the last two years which really has been an incredible success for the streaming platform, but it also has shelled out generously for the streaming rights to K-dramas that aired on television whether cable or prime time. For the period of 2020-2021 the viewership numbers are in and Vincenzo is the most … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Its Okay to Not be Okay, Vincenzo

tvN Releases First Off-Kilter and Dizzying Poster for Thriller Drama Happiness with Han Hyo Joo and Park Hyung Sik

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 1, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Apartment windows at night with silhouettes.

This drama has been low on my radar mostly because the title and short synopsis is just so at odds I don’t know how to anticipate it. tvN released the first poster for Happiness today, the thriller drama starring Han Hyo Joo, Park Hyung Sik as his first post military project, and Jo Woo Jin. Unlike the positive sounding title, … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Han Hyo Joo, Happiness, Jo Woo Jin, Park Hyung Sik

Squid Game Generates Worldwide Media Coverage as it Tops Netflix, Currently on Track to Become Most Watched Netflix Series Ever to Surpass Bridgerton

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Three men in green tracksuits, looking scared.

This is the broadest media coverage I have ever seen for a Korean drama with what is happening with Squid Game, and formerly it was Crash Landing on You when it became a pan-Asia hit last year and got mainstream viewership as well on Netflix. The Netflix drama premiered on September 17th and in the two weeks since has topped … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game

Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won Lead the Script Reading Stills for Coupang Play Legal Murder Mystery Drama One Ordinary Day

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Two men holding scripts in matching outfits.

The promos are increasing for upcoming Coupang Play high profile thriller drama One Ordinary Day (formerly That Night), a K-remake of the BBC series Criminal Justice. The first poster came out last week with leads Kim Soo Hyun and Cha Seung Won shaking hands in a jail cell, with the latter defending the former accused of murder. Now comes the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Cha Seung Won, Kim Soo Hyun, One Ordinary Day

tvN Releases First Two Mathematics Inspired Drama Posters for Teacher-Student Romance Melancholia

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 30, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2021
Two characters sitting on a bench outdoors.

Okay, this may be one of those dramas that conceptually turns me off but visually works onscreen. I sorta hate that, because on principle I LOATHE teacher-student romances but can also accept that it could work with the right leads and the least icky of set ups. For example, I think Doctors ended up working after they met again as … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Soo Jung, Lee Do Hyun, Melancholia

TW-actress Ariel Lin Confirms Pregnancy After Tabloid Leak, Expecting First Child with Husband This October 2021

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 30, 2021
Smiling couple in teal dress and suit

This is totally watching my baby girl grow up and have a baby of her own. TW-actress Ariel Lin is pregnant with her first child with husband of 6-years Charles, a non-celebrity. Tabloids broke the news first by spotting Charles back in Taiwan and Ariel quickly confirmed the happy tidings. What’s wild is how she kept it under wraps because … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Ariel Lin

Lovers of the Red Sky Episodes 7-8 Resumes with Similar Ratings of 9.3%, 8.9% as the Week Hiatus Slows the Momentum

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 29, 2021
Two characters in traditional Korean attire, smiling.

I was super excited on Monday for the resumption of Lovers of the Red Sky, with episode 7 picking up from the end of the painting competition and the arrival of Chun Gi’s mentally damaged dad to cause a ruckus. I don’t know if it’s mostly due to the Chuseok week preemption but the episode felt so slow and took … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Ahn Hyo Seob, Gong Myung, Hong Chun Gi, Kim Yoo Jung, Kwak Si Yang, Lovers of the Red Sky

Veteran Award Winning Actress Youn Yeo Jung in Talks for 2022 K-drama Tree Dies While Standing with Kang Ha Neul and Son Ye Jin

A Koala's Playground Posted on September 29, 2021 by ockoalaSeptember 28, 2021
Smiling woman with curly hair and earrings.

This as as award winning a powerhouse drama lead casting as I have ever seen. We have three Baeksang Best Actress/Best Actor winners joining together for a 2022 slated K-drama literally translated as Tree Dies While Standing. Korea’s first Oscar acting winner veteran Youn Yeo Jung will be making a K-drama return as a North Korean born now old woman … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Ha Neul, Son Ye Jin, Youn Yeo Jung

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  • K-ent Industry Insiders Vote on Worst K-drama of 2026 and Royal Romance Drama Perfect Crown with IU and Byun Woo Seok Leading the Ignominious List
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  • Reunion of Blossom Leads Li Yun Rui and Meng Zi Yi in C-drama Tigers Sniff the Rose is Heading Towards Flop Territory Midway Through Airing




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