Chinese Authorities Excoriate Court Dramas Like Yanxi Palace for Promoting Bad Values, All Court Dramas Pulled From Current TV Schedules

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When something is too popular it’s bound to get backlash in still communist ideology controlled Mainland China, bucking up against tighter controls over social and policy restrictions. The biggest C-drama of 2018 was by far Story of Yanxi Palace, followed by another court drama Ruyi’s Royal Love in the Palace. The two were quite similar in central depictions of a … Continue reading →

Netflix Zombie Sageuk Drama Kingdom Premieres to Great Reviews and Readies for Season 2 Filming

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Netflix premiered the 6-episode K-drama Kingdom this past weekend and I devoured it much like the zombie hordes in the story. It was riveting and fast-paced, and the short 6-episodes flew by ending with a helluva cliffhanger. Thankfully the second season has been green lit with screenwriter Kim Eun Hee also of Signal fame having finished her scripts already in … Continue reading →

Supporting Actor Min Jin Woong Wins the Male Breakout Prize in Memories of Alhambra

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If child actress Lee Re playing the young sister role was the female breakout in tvN fantasy drama Memories of Alhambra, the male breakout has got to go to supporting actor Min Jin Woong as the loyal and goofy Secretary Seo. Little cutie pie secretary’s death was the hardest one to swallow in the drama, and in fact his entire … Continue reading →

Japan’s Current Top Male Idol Group Arashi Announces End of Group Promotions in 2020

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At the end, and still classy and united as always. Japan’s top boy idol group Arashi announced today that they are officially ending active group promotions at the end of 2020, leaving over a year remaining on their tenure as a group entity and leaving on such a high note it’s hard to remember an ending/pause as thoughtfully done as … Continue reading →

Jung Eun Chae Trades Creepy Ghost-fighting of The Guest for Feminine Chic in 1st Look Pictorial

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All it takes is one memorable performance and I’m a fan, and that’s the case for K-actress Jung Eun Chae who held her own opposite two charismatic male leads and a whole lotta crazy spooky in OCN horror thriller The Guest. She’s been acting for 8 years now but really hasn’t made an impression on me until now, and there … Continue reading →

Penultimate Episode 19 of Cable Drama Sky Castle Hits 23.216% Ratings as It Reaches Untouchable Ratings Level Ahead of Finale Next Friday

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Sorry for not updating on record shattering cable drama Sky Castle last week, I needed to recover from my brain being smashed in Memories of Alhambra and then whiplashing from the tedious episode 15 of Encounter to its beautiful final episode 16 ending. It appears the power of Sky Castle remains unfettered despite a one episode preemption on Friday night … Continue reading →

tvN Sat-Sun Drama Romance is a Bonus Book Gets Solid Premiere Ratings of 4.280% and Really Positive Reviews

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I wasn’t rooting for this drama to succeed or fail, I just wanted it to be good and it looks like after the first episode it may just attain ratings success and be a good drama. tvN premiered book-centric rom-com Romance is a Bonus Book this Sat, taking over from the higher profile Memories of Alhambra which ended on a … Continue reading →

K-drama Producers Prepping for Second Season of Winter Sonata with Same Screenwriters

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I think this is a terrible idea unless it’s a reboot set in an alternative universe. K-drama gods have apparently decided to kick into gear the long percolating project for a second season of the mega hit 2002 drama Winter Sonata. Starring Bae Yong Joon, Choi Ji Woo, the late Park Yong Ha, and Park Sol Mi, the drama is … Continue reading →

Encounter Cast Celebrates Drama Wrap and Ends with Slightly Higher Average Ratings than Same Network Memories of Alhambra

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It’s clear the screenwriter of Encounter (Boyfriend) took her writing classes seriously because there were no bad/poorly written characters in the drama. Every single role was three dimensional, and fleshed out despite limited screen time for the supporting cast. I’ll remember that fondly like I’ll miss Driving Miss Soo Hyun ahjusshi Manager Nam, good friend til the end Hye In, … Continue reading →

K-ent’s First Couple of 2019 Jennie and Kai Breakup After Less than a Month

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In what is the fastest dating-to-breakup turnaround in K-ent in like, ever, 2019’s first couple as outed by Dispatch has gone kaput. At least officially, who knows what’s going on behind the scenes. Blackpink‘s Jennie and EXO‘s Kai teased the possibility of a SM Entertainment and YG power couple after confirming their nascent relationship this January 1, but before the … Continue reading →

Lee Jong Seok and Lee Na Young Put on their Rom-com Hats as tvN Romance is a Bonus Book Premieres this Weekend

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When I watched the long 5-minute preview for tvN Sat-Sun drama Romance is a Bonus Book (Romance Supplement), I got a weird sense of deja vu that I’ve seen this all before. It’s a bit like male lead Lee Jong Seok encountered in his last drama While You Were Sleeping, trying to place all the where did I see it … Continue reading →

Happily Married K-stars Eugene and Ki Tae Young Showcase Bestie Romance in New Grazia Pictorial

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With Christmas and now New Year’s over, the next big Western holiday is Valentine’s Day in mid-February and with it comes the barrage if couples pictorials. Married for 7 years K-star couple Eugene and Ki Tae Young dropped a lovely pictorial this week to kick off the romantic festivities, being one of the reel-to-real couples that played a drama OTP … Continue reading →

Jang Hyuk Adds Veteran Gravitas to Sageuk Drama My Country with Young Leads Yang Se Jong, Seolhyun, and Woo Do Hwan

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Being a veteran K-actor or actress has the additional perk of picking even supporting roles that can end up more critical to the narrative. One needn’t always be the lead to scene steal and my gut tells me Jang Hyuk is going to hold down the fort in upcoming sageuk My Country. He’s joining the cast of young leads Yang … Continue reading →