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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

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First Teaser and Posters for Live-action J-movie Adaptation of Popular Fantasy Samurai Manga Gintama

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 26, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 26, 2016
Gintoki Sakata holding a wooden staff.

Not every adaptation is equal but it hurts even more for a beloved story to get stuck with a terrible live-action  version. Japan did an amazing job with the Rurouni Kenshin live-action movie series and now there’s another similar work coming in Summer of 2017 that looks promising so far thanks to a fan approved casting. The live-action Gintama (literal … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Gintama, Hashimoto Kanna, Oguri Shun, Suda Masaki

Hyun Bin Attends Menswear Brand Event and Agency Confirms Drama and Movie Return in 2017

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 26, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2016
Man adjusting his suit jacket, serious expression.

This month of December has been Hyun Bin heavy in terms of news and promotions. His new movie Confidential Assignment (Korean title Cooperation) with Yoo Hae Jin is out and he’s in a new relationship with K-actress Kang Sora. His agency has made a statement that Hyun Bin is considering many drama and film offers for 2017 and plans to do … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Hyun Bin

K-media Discusses How Descendants of the Sun is the Only Ratings Success Pre-produced K-drama in 2016

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2016
Collage of popular Korean drama scenes.

K-media is taking stock of 2016 and the results are not exactly promising for the future of pre-producing K-dramas. What was once a rarity such as the mega budget Legend felt like a norm in 2016 with a slew of fully pre-produced K-dramas aimed at being simulcast in China and further recoup costs. I don’t know which of the pre-produced … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Bu Bu Jing Xin, Cinderella and Four Knights, Descendants of the Sun, Entourage, Hwarang, Moon Lovers, Saimdang, Scarlet Heart, Uncontrollably Fond

SBS Readies Defendant with Ji Sung and Yuri for Next Mon-Tues Drama

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 24, 2016
Four portraits of stylish individuals.

SBS is currently slaying the ratings on Mon-Tues with Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim, the second hit medical drama of the year for the network after Doctors. After the drama ends in early January 2017, the network will next switch to the ever popular legal genre with Defendant starring Ji Sung, Yuri of SNSD, Eom Ki Joon, Oh Chang Seok, and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Defendant, Eom Ki Joon, Ji Sung, Oh Chang Seok, Uhm Hyung Kyun, Yuri

The Quest to Die Takes on New Meaning in Goblin as Episodes 7 and 8 Remain Steady in 12% Ratings

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 24, 2016
Emotional conversation between two characters.

Did this week’s episodes of Goblin satisfy you? It hit every happy and thrilling spot for me, taking the Goblin’s quest to die and turning it on every head possible until landing at that critical K-drama turn. I love Eun Tak and Kim Shin’s interactions but it’s not romantic for me in the falling in love feels. It’s more deep … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin

K-audiences Pick a Goblin and Another Oh Hae Young as Characters Most Desired as Christmas Date

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2016
Two characters posing outdoors, smiling happily.

This is the oddest poll ever even in the world of K-ent where anything can become the subject of a poll. With Christmas around the corner, typically polls are about which star the average Joe or Jane wants to spend the holidays with, but this poll takes it one step further to ask which drama character. Forget the star which … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Another Oh Hae Young, Descendants of the Sun, Doctors, Goblin, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, W-Two Worlds

Elle Korea Showcases the Modern and Magnetic Lee Jun Ki

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2016
Profile of a man in front of neon lights.

It’s pretty ironic to have a career resurgence and breakthrough on a near universally panned drama. But that’s the case with Lee Jun Ki as the sole survivor and conqueror of the hot mess that was the K-version of Bu Bu Jing Xin. Even one of my fave PDs in Kim Kyu Tae failed miserably in directing the drama, and … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Lee Jun Ki

Kim Yoo Jung is Melancholy in Mod for December Issue of Singles

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2016
Woman in colorful dress leaning against a tree.

Young Kim Yoo Jung has become as excellent a leading lady actress as her childhood talent foretold. Whatever quibbles I had with her casting in Moonlight Drawn by Clouds solely on age alone, the chemistry she exhibited with costar Park Bo Gum and her nuanced grasp of emoting should be celebrated in a era where actresses possessing both visuals and acting … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Kim Yoo Jung

Descendants of the Sun and Moonlight Drawn by Clouds OTPs Confirmed to Attend 2016 KBS Drama Awards

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2016
Four celebrities at different events.

The attendee list is out for what is likely to be the splashiest of the three prime time network year end drama awards shows thanks to two huge hit dramas. The KBS 2016 Drama Awards will be graced with the attendance of both sets of OTP stars from it’s two highest rated prime time dramas of the year – Song … Continue reading →

Posted in Awards | Tagged Kim Yoo Jung, Park Bo Gum, Park Shin Yang, Song Hye Kyo, Song Joong Ki

Bromance Beansprout Plucking and Runaway OTP in Store in Episode 7 of Goblin

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2016
Two men preparing food together indoors.

I love the sense of the wonder from watching Goblin, the story has so many fantasy elements and a sweet slow cadence as it peels back the layers slowly. Usually K-dramas are about glorifying the fantasy, a chaebol plucking a cinderella with plucky personality or gorgeous professional solving problems between falling in love. but this super fantasy drama actually makes … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin, Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook

Japanese Female Fans Vote Ishihara Satomi as Most Beautiful J-actress Beating Out Three Time Winner Kitagawa Keiko

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2016
Woman bathed in bright window light

There was a great bit in the recent episode of K-drama Goblin where a deceased woman asks the Grim Reaper to make her into Kim Tae Hee in her next life. The Reaper gives her a look and then hands her a waiting list number in the hundred of millions, lol. For well over a decade Kim Tae Hee has … Continue reading →

Posted in J-doramas | Tagged Aragaki Yui, Ayase Haruka, Fukada Kyoko, Ishihara Satomi, Keiko Kitagawa

Legend of the Blue Sea Remains Steady in Ratings as OTP Romance Blossoms Sweetly in Episodes 11 and 12

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 22, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2016
Series of intimate bedroom kissing scenes

I’m so happy that Legend of the Blue Sea continued its upward narrative momentum from last week’s episodes 9 and 10. This week the ratings remained relatively steady with 16.7% and 17.3% in episodes 11 and 12, respectively, but the ratings don’t reflect how smoothly the OTP romance is progressing on a satisfying track. Joon Jae and Shim Chung spend … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Jeon Ji Hyun, Lee Min Ho

Seo In Guk Leads Jellyfish Agency Music Stars in Cute Holiday Single “Jelly Christmas”

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 22, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2016
Young man holding a gift box.

What an adorable fan service from an adorably named entertainment company. Jellyfish Entertainment‘s music project Jelly Box has released a new Christmas single featuring the collective talents of it’s young music stars. Titled “Jelly Christmas”, the song includes singer-actor Seo In Guk, boy group VIXX, and rookie girl group Gugudan. The single cover features a cheesy goldfish with the words … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged Gugudan, Seo In Guk, VIXX

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K-dramas: When the Phone Rings

Recent Posts

  • CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Where the Mask Ends Completes Airing with 19th Consecutive Days of Over 10,000 Heat Index on Youku Surpassing 18 Day Record Set By Legend of Zang Hai and The Immortal Ascension
  • Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • 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
  • Republic Era War and Romance C-drama The Lament of Autumn with Cheng Lei and Xu Ruo Han Peters Out From Hot Start and Frustrates Viewers with Ending
  • 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
  • C-actor Song Zu Er to Ditch Her Stage Name and Go By Birth Name Sun Fan Qing Going Forward as Confirmed by Promos for New Dramas The Palace Stewardess and Wish You All the Best
  • Wuxia C-drama The One with Wu Lei Releases Insanely High Budget Looking First Official Trailer
  • Song Wei Long and Tian Xi Wei Cast in Tencent 2027 Big Budget Period Drama Da Tang Pi Zhu Ji




Latest Comments

  • avarachika on Agent Kim Reactivated Chosen by K-ent Industry Insiders as Best Drama of 2026 Followed by Teach You a Lesson and We Are All Trying Here
  • Kate on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • AWUC26 on CCTV and iQiyi Medical Drama Small Town Remedy with Xiao Zhan is the Most Well Received C-drama of October 2026
  • Ximena Delgado on Youku Modern Romance C-drama The Early Spring with Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian Becomes Unexpected Summer Hit and Notches a Respectable 6.7 Douban Ratings
  • LW on Where the Mask Ends Completes Airing with 19th Consecutive Days of Over 10,000 Heat Index on Youku Surpassing 18 Day Record Set By Legend of Zang Hai and The Immortal Ascension
  • Nina Quiroga on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings
  • Elena Underwood on Youku Modern Romance C-drama The Early Spring with Jing Bo Ran and Sun Qian Becomes Unexpected Summer Hit and Notches a Respectable 6.7 Douban Ratings
  • Somebody on Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • Paula Johansen on Tencent Period Drama The Road to Splendor with Ding Yu Xi and Deng En Xi Gets More Good Reviews than Viewership with Solid 7.1 Douban Ratings
  • ariana on Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • Lmfaooo on Vertical Mini C-drama Male Lead Dai Gao Zheng Breaks Out with Mainstream Hit C-drama Where the Mask Ends as the Oft Beaten Beefcake Antagonist
  • Ulises Whitfield on C-actor Dylan Wang Faces Wild Rumor that He Attempted to Enlarge His Private Part But a Botched Procedure Lead to Erectile Dysfunction

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