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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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Han Suk Kyu Wins Daesang at the 2024 MBC Drama Awards with Ceremony to be Aired One Week Later Due to National Plane Crash Tragedy

A Koala's Playground Posted on January 1, 2025 by ockoalaDecember 31, 2024
Man in a suit holding a flashlight outdoors.

The 2024 MBC Drama Awards took place without a live telecast yesterday but the network released a list of all the major category winners. Veteran actor Han Suk Kyu took home the Daesang (Grand Prize) for the drama Doubt (Korean title Such a Close Traitor). Other Daesang candidates Lee Je Hoon, Yoon Yeon Seok, Honey Lee, Byun Yo Han, and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Doubt, Han Seok Kyu

Liu Shi Shi Poised to Make C-drama Return in Early 2025 with Tang Dynasty Investigation Story in Kill My Sins

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 31, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 29, 2024
Woman in traditional dress with soft expression.

The first two of a slew of female centric Tang dynasty C-dramas arrived and both were just meh. I’m talking about Zhao Lu Si with Story of Pearl Girl and Tan Song Yun in Brocade Odyssey of course. Next to arrive is reportedly Yang Zi in Flourished Peony in January 2025 and now we have scheduling news that Liu Shi … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Kill My Sins, Liu Shi Shi

Guardians of the Dafeng Premieres to Strong Opening Viewership Numbers But Mixed Reviews with Usual Complaints About Male Lead Dylan Wang’s Acting and Dialogue Reading

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 31, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 30, 2024
Cast of "Guardians of the Dafeng" series.

It’s been a few days since Tencent premiered period C-drama Guardians of the Dafeng with Dylan Wang and Tian Xi Wei and the first reactions are out. The viewership is strong off the bat, one of the best viewership numbers of the year in terms of opening days which makes sense due to Dylan’s buzz (good and bad). Whether it … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Dylan Wang, Guardians of the Dafeng, Tian Xi Wei

Yang Zi and Li Xian Spar and Partner Up for Business in First Trailer for C-drama Flourished Peony

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 30, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 30, 2024
Woman in traditional Asian attire, serene expression.

The trailer is out for Flourished Peony ahead of it’s rumored early January 2025 premiere. Starring Yang Zi and Li Xian, the Tang dynasty drama from the preview looks the most luxe of the slate of Tang dramas airing in recent months including The Story of Pearl Girl and Brocade Odyssey. Yang Zi and Li Xian are also exuding a … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Flourished Peony, Li Xian, Yang Zi

Kim Tae Ri Takes Home the Daesang at the 2024 APAN Awards for Jeongnyeon: A Star is Born

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 30, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 29, 2024
Smiling woman in a white dress.

This weekend the 2024 APAN Awards also took place, before the tragic plane accident in South Korea so there was media coverage. There were a lot of winners as the best actor and actress type awards were given for different lengths of K-dramas so I won’t list each one. The biggest winner was Kim Tae Ri who was awarded the … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born, KIm Tae Ri

C-actress Zhao Lu Si’s Agency Confirms She’s Getting Medical Attention After Netizen Reveals Seeing Her Infirm at a Hospital

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 29, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 29, 2024
Cute koala sleeping on a tree branch.

So this is really distressing to hear happen to an actress I love so much. C-actress Zhao Lu Si is reportedly in the hospital or at least getting medical treatment. This news has been confirmed by her agency after a netizen claimed to have seen her in a wheelchair at the hospital including with a picture evidence. She has not … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Zhao Lu Si

Many Korean Variety and Year End Shows Cancelled in Light of Jeju Airlines Plane Crash Tragedy Today, MBC to Hold Drama Awards But Without Live Broadcast

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 29, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 29, 2024
Four Korean drama posters featuring different characters.

It’s a terrible tragedy to happen in South Korea today December 29th. Regional carrier Jeju Airlines had an plane crash today during a hard landing and by current count over 180 passengers have perished with two survivors. Since this is year end days, there are a lot of award shows and events scheduled many of which have been cancelled. MBC … Continue reading →

Posted in Musings

Former Top C-actress Zhao Wei Announces Her Divorce Years Ago From Non-celeb Husband Mr. Huang

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 28, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 28, 2024
Woman with long hair posing elegantly.

December 2024 has seen not one but two social media updates from C-actress Zhao Wei, breaking her silence years after getting cancelled for tax issues. This weekend she announced that she has been divorced now ex-husband Mr. Huang for many years now and their marriage has legally been dissolved. So no news involving him has anything to do with her … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Zhao Wei

Squid Game Season 2 Premieres to Number 1 Viewership in 92 Countries on Netflix

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 28, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 27, 2024
Cast running in a game show setting.

Well, it doesn’t matter if you think Squid Game the original season was just okay or that this new season 2 is underwhelming. The thirst and demand for SQ2 is there as the drama premiered on December 26th and in one full day of airing has reached number in 92 countries. That is astonishing numbers and for a Korean drama … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game

Kim Soo Hyun Awarded the Daesang at the 2024 Asia Artist Awards

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 27, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 27, 2024
Smiling koala perched on eucalyptus tree.

Fans of tvN K-dramas have always lamented the cable network not having year end awards like the big three networks since tvN airs so many hit dramas where the leads should be feted by the network. This year the biggest ratings hit came from the network with Queen of Tears so it’s nice to see the male lead Kim Soo … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Kim Soo Hyun

Netflix K-drama Squid Game 2 Premieres to Mixed Reviews But Still Expected to do Gangbuster Viewership

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 27, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 27, 2024
Character stands before a large gift box.

The Games are back and just in time for the Christmas break and viewers to settle in for a marathon of 7-episodes. Netflix released Squid Games 2 on December 26th and so far the reviews from all publications international and domestic are mixed, with some happy with the return and see the second season as good while others find it … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game 2

Tencent Releases Top 10 Biggest Dramas of 2024 Led by Joy of Life 2, Blossoms Shanghai, and The Tale of Rose

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 27, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 26, 2024
Traditional Chinese costume drama promotional image.

Streaming platform Tencent aired the most hit C-dramas this year in 2024 so it’s list of the biggest dramas on its own channel encapsulates nearly all the big buzz makers of this year. Topping the list is Joy of Life 2, which reportedly wasn’t as good as the original but still good enough that viewers tuned in and stayed till … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Blossoms Shanghai, Joy of Life, Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, The Legend of Shen Li, The Tale of Rose

Lee Se Young Goes Through All the Emotions with Na In Woo in the Holiday Season in New Teaser for MBC Drama Motel California

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 26, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Four people posing in a stylish interior.

I loved this new preview for Motel California which brought in the current Christmas season and feels so festive. We see more of leads Lee Se Young and Na In Woo‘s characters and interactions and it’s definitely still the prickly female lead with the caring male lead set up, but so far in the promos doesn’t seem to cross the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Se Young, Motel California, Na In Woo

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