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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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First Posters of Run On Flash the Brilliant Blue Sky of Optimism with Leads Im Shi Wan and Shin Se Kyung

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 29, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Young man in a colorful jacket outdoors.

These drama posters are boring but very very pretty, which accounts for something. Upcoming jTBC drama Run On has an airing date finally of December, after already having two separate 2-week filming shutdowns due to COVID-19 positive testing in the production team. It’s been filming since early summer so I think it could have enough footage in the tank by … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Im Shi Wan, Run On, Shin Se Kyung

Top Stars Kim Hee Ae, Hyun Bin, Gong Hyo Jin, and Kang Ha Neul Receive Commendations at the 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 29, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Two presenters at an award ceremony.

The 2020 Korean Popular Culture and Arts Awards took place this week in Seoul with an actual ceremony though very understated as it’s a government sponsored function. It’s organized by the government’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the awards go to all entertainer groups. Of the actors and actresses here are the winners: Order of Cultural Merit went … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Byun Hee Bong, Chun Ho Jin, Go Doo Shim, Gong Hyo Jin, Hyun Bin, Kang Ha Neul, Kim Eun Hee, Kim Hee Ae

Tale of Gumiho Ratings Drop Slightly to 4.789% in Episode 7 as Story Plods Along with the Return of the Big Bad and Ji Ah’s Backstory

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Couples in professional outfits interacting playfully.

The ratings have been dropping for four consecutive episodes of Tale of Gumiho (Tale of the Nine-tailed) and that’s not a good sign since it’s only episode 7. But I totally understand why and while I will probably watch this through to the end it’s starting to go on FF mostly to see what happened in the past and also … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jo Boa, Kim Bum, Lee Dong Wook, Tale of Gumiho

Joynews Poll Selects Hospital Playlist and The World of the Married as Best Dramas of 2020, The King: Eternal Monarch and Backstreet Rookie Win Worst Dramas

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Two contrasting drama posters featuring characters.

Oooh, I totally forgot that year end is coming (though still two months away) so it’s starting polling season on best/worst lists. Kicking it off is Joynews Korea which held a poll this month to celebrate it’s 16th anniversary. It polled 200 entertainment industry insiders including agency heads, television producers, movie and drama producers, and entertainment news writers for their … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Backstreet Rookie, Hospital Playlist, The King: Eternal Monarch, The World of the Married

Paying Homage to Hot Daddy Kwak Si Yang as the Best Thing in the Flaming Hot Mess that was SBS Drama Alice

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 28, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 28, 2020
Four people posing at a promotional event.

If I try to think even one brain cell more on the whys/hows/whats of SBS drama Alice I think my brain would cave into its own black hole the way the writing did in that drama. As awful was it was by the end, the journey was well worth it for the chance to remember why K-actor Kwak Si Yang … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kwak Si Yang

Record of Youth Ends with 8.740% in Episode 16 and Confirms Point of Entire Drama was Mocumentary Military Send off for Park Bo Gum

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 27, 2020
Group discussions and reflections in a cozy setting.

There were nice snippets in Record of Youth but everything else was so anemic and rudimentary I felt like throwing a temper tantrum just to elicit some emotion around me as I watched. The drama finished this Tuesday with series high 8.740% AGB nationwide ratings, quite remarkable for a thoroughly dull drama and buoyed from beginning to end by the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Byun Woo Seok, Park Bo Gum, Park So Dam, Record of Youth

Posters, Stills, and Trailer for Sci-fi Action K-movie Seo Bok with Gong Yoo and Park Bo Gum

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 27, 2020
Movie poster featuring two main characters.

K-actor Park Bo Gum may be in the military but he’s all over television the last two months and soon will be on the big screen as well. The sci-fi action big budget movie Seo Bok has started promotions for a December 2 release so just a month away. Gong Yoo is carrying the promos with his costar in the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Gong Yoo, Park Bo Gum, Seo Bok

Filming Halted on Set of K-drama Hello It’s Me with Choi Kang Hee and Kim Young Kwang After Positive COVID Test

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 27, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 26, 2020
Celebrity pair posing at a public event.

There are already less than half the K-dramas that used to air from a decade ago during the heyday of Hallyu shows and now we have to account for understandable filming delays and halts. Looks like COVID-19 isn’t under control yet in South Korea as another production has to pause this week. K-drama Hello It’s Me starring Choi Kang Hee … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Choi Kang Hee, Lee Re

Episode 15 of Record of Youth Plays the Tired Tropes of Understanding Love and Truth Comes Out Vindication

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 26, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 26, 2020
Collage of diverse characters in conversation.

I finally get what’s fundamentally missing from the central OTP romance in Record of Youth. Aside from the lack of onscreen chemistry between leads Park Bo Gum and Park So Dam, each are better with other characters in the drama actually, it’s that their youthful romance is devoid of any heady passion. They look like they’ve never even had a … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Park Bo Gum, Park So Dam, Record of Youth

First Look at L in KBS Sageuk Drama Secret Royal Inspector with Kwon Nara, Lee Yi Kyung, and Lee Tae Hwan

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 26, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 26, 2020
Young man in traditional Korean attire.

The role of the historical Secret Royal Inspector has always been rich with fictional fodder for dramas and movies whether in Korea, China, or even Japan. It’s the fail safe for citizens to know there is someone who can stop governmental misconduct and corruption, and ideal to believe in so to speak. The upcoming KBS sageuk drama casts L (Kim … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kwon Nara, L, Lee Tae Hwan, Lee Yi Kyung, Secret Royal Inspector

Choi Jin Hyuk to Cameo in Sageuk Queen Cheorin Starring Kim Jung Hyun and Shin Hye Sun

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 26, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 25, 2020
Man in a checked suit waving hello.

Add another positive talent to the already thrilling lineup for 2021 fantasy/time-travel sageuk Queen Cheorin, I can handle it lol. Clearly based on the cult hit C-drama Go Princess Go, the sageuk stars Shin Hye Sun as the titular Queen who has the soul of a modern day man transported back to the Josen era. Think gender-swapped Bu Bu Jing … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Choi Jin Hyuk, Queen Cheorin

The Start-Up Competition Gets Underway in Episode 4 as Do San and Dal Mi Sweetly Keep Getting Each Other

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 25, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 25, 2020
"Two people smiling in a nighttime setting."

The second week of Start-Up is over and if this is a drama incubator then I would definitely invest. I didn’t realize Sandbox was an accelerator rather than an incubator but it’s still a nice place for aspiring tech business dreamers to give their pie in the sky a shot. Episode 4 proves that Do San stands on his own … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kang Hana, Kim Sun Ho, Nam Joo Hyuk, Start-Up, Suzy

tvN Mon-Tues Drama Record of Youth Heads into Finale Week Succeeding the Most with Impressive Guest Stars and Veteran Casting Coups

A Koala's Playground Posted on October 25, 2020 by ockoalaOctober 25, 2020
Two people smiling in white shirts.

This Mon-Tues wraps up Record of Youth and during the drama airing male lead Park Bo Gum has reportedly finished his basic training already en route to enlisting in the Navy. He hard carried this drama but there was still too much dull chemistry with the weaker costars around him, but the brief shining moments to help liven the mood … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Hyeri, Lee Sung Kyung, Park Bo Gum, Park Seo Joon, Record of Youth, Seo Hyun Jin

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Recent Posts

  • Veil of Shadows Ends Run with Low 5.2 Douban Ratings Continuing Director Guo Jing Ming’s String of Visual Over Substance Dramas
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  • Park Eun Bin and Kim Jae Won Cast in Sageuk Romance K-drama The Wicked Queen




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  • Arduinna on Veil of Shadows Ends Run with Low 5.2 Douban Ratings Continuing Director Guo Jing Ming’s String of Visual Over Substance Dramas
  • Ten on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Snails on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Sissi on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Sissi on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Sissi on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Leia on Veil of Shadows Ends Run with Low 5.2 Douban Ratings Continuing Director Guo Jing Ming’s String of Visual Over Substance Dramas
  • Gennita on Zhao Lu Si Reportedly Chooses Modern Romance C-drama As Beautiful as You Want as Her Comeback from Hiatus Project with Filming Slated for Summer 2026 Start
  • Ceiling on Period Politics and Romance C-drama Spring of the Blade with Xu Kai and Zhou Ye Faces Netizen Criticism on Billing Order, Male Lead Scenes, and Characterization
  • Ceiling on Xianxia C-drama Fate Chooses You with Allen Ren and Wang He Run Air Drops on iQiyi
  • Rei on Zhao Lu Si Reportedly Chooses Modern Romance C-drama As Beautiful as You Want as Her Comeback from Hiatus Project with Filming Slated for Summer 2026 Start
  • Lilith on Xiao Zhan Begins Filming Big Budget Fantasy Action Thriller K-drama The Infinite 10 Days

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