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A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Woman smiling in a playful setting.

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New Drama Stills Show the First Meeting of Sunny and the Grim Reaper and a Startled Goblin

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 6, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 5, 2016
Woman offers her hand to man on overpass

Cast chemistry is firing on all cylinders in the first two episodes of Goblin, even supporting and side characters like the little boy version of Yook Sung Jae and Lee El as the mysterious old woman/hottie in red are eye-catching. The only thing not seen in the first two episodes is any interaction between the second leads Lee Dong Wook … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin, Gong Yoo, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na

Crystal Liu Induces Beauty Envy in Pink Locks and Pretty Outfits for Trends Health

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 5, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 3, 2016
Woman in decorative outfit with pink hair.

Light pastel colored hair has been quite popular in Asia this year, but seeing the success and fails of the various attempts convinces me to appreciate without attempting. TW-actress and singer Rainie Yang rocked soft purple for her album comeback, and C-actress Crystal Liu did an amazing silver mane in a pictorial with her Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Crystal Liu

Lee Bo Young Settles into Fall for Bazaar Korea and Confirmed for 2017 Remake of J-dorama Mother

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 5, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 4, 2016
Woman in stylish winter coat pose.

It’s been a well-deserved but now much too long acting break for K-actress Lee Bo Young, going on maternity leave over a year ago after welcoming first daughter with husband K-actor Ji Sung. Last month she was reportedly considering her television return in early 2017 with the K-drama remake of Japanese drama Mother. It’s the story of an elementary school … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Lee Bo Young

Hwarang Drops New Lead Trio Poster and Story Preview

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 5, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 4, 2016
Three characters smiling in historical costumes.

The bar is set high for upcoming KBS Mon-Tues drama Hwarang, not necessarily because the drama is touting itself high but due to the recent slew of successful hits. There’s sageuk predecessor Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, medical dramas Doctors and Romantic Teacher, Doctor Kim, and fantasy dramas Legend of the Blue Sea and Goblin. The drama is fully pre-produced and … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Go Ara, Hwarang, Park Hyung Sik, Park Seo Joon

Naver Writer Frankly Discusses Strengths and Weaknesses of Fantasy Dramas Legend of the Blue Sea and Goblin

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 4, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 5, 2016
K-drama poster featuring five main characters.

It’s nice seeing a Korean drama reporter critic write down exactly what I’m thinking (article), but of course it’s merely subjective so feel free to have a different opinion. The premiere of high profile tvN drama Goblin this past weekend allows a side-by-side assessment of it alongside the other high profile fantasy drama Legend of the Blue Sea on SBS. … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin, Legend of the Blue Sea

J-movie Your Name Becomes Insane Runaway Hit in Japan and Asia Box Offices

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 4, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 4, 2016
Two characters looking towards a sparkling sky.

A phenomenon has been sweeping Japan and now the rest of Asia since the summer, one that is poised to set new records and break old ones. All of Japan has been enamored of anime movie Your Name since its premiere three months ago in late August 2016. In just three months the movie has become the highest grossing movie … Continue reading →

Posted in Films, Japanese Manga | Tagged Your Name

Suzy Rocks the Christmas Green Dress in New Ad for Holiday Jewelry

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 4, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 3, 2016
Smiling woman in green outfit, profile view.

Christmas has really locked down the green and red and sometimes even seen one color makes me think of the season. Case in point the recently released ad campaign for a jewelry brand unveiling it’s holiday trinket offering. Actress-idol Suzy models the delicate rings and necklaces with shades of ornamental designs but without the heaviness. It’s been a relatively lackluster … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Suzy

Episode 2 of Goblin Hits All the Right Narrative Notes and Ratings Rise to 7.9%

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 3, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 3, 2016
Three scenes from a romantic drama series.

So what’s so good about Goblin? Oh, how about everything so far. Sure the drama has a long ways to go, hence a long trip in which to potentially falter, but the first two episodes have been sheer perfection for me and that’s high praise indeed with no other drama in recent memory being this good all around. I can … Continue reading →

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

Goblin’s First OST Track “Stay With Me” by Punch Featuring Chanyeol is a Stirring Winner

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 3, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 3, 2016
Couple embracing with soundtrack title below.

I’m already so in love with Goblin it’s not funny, and definitely the recipe for heartbreak and tears down the road with how dark and beautifully moody the story construct is. The drama doesn’t have the hallmarks or feel of a Kim Eun Sook drama at all, even the quippy dialogue is kept to a minimum as the words are … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin

Ji Chang Wook Captivates in New Black-and-White Spread in JLook Magazine

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 3, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 3, 2016
Young man in black turtleneck portrait.

It’s two winning K-drama roles in a row for Ji Chang Wook, harder and harder to come these days when dramas feel more mass produced or a vehicle for PPL. I loved his character in Healer and felt like he made more than he was given in the recently finished The K2. I’m sure plenty of his fans also liked … Continue reading →

Posted in Fashion | Tagged Ji Chang Wook

Lee Jun Ki and Seo Hyun Jin Lead the 2016 K-stars in Baby Cuteness Pictorial for Adoption Campaign

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 3, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 2, 2016
Smiling person holding a baby in arms.

Pairing popularity celebrities with philanthropic or social causes is always a smart move, but a triple applause for combining that combo with adorable babies. Cosmopolitan Korea released a new black-and-white but oh so adorable pictorial of Korean stars cradling chubby babies in support of Letters From Angels, a Korean adoption campaign. Previous years have seen the same holidays season pictorials … Continue reading →

Posted in My Loves | Tagged Ahn Jae Hyun, Jinyoung, Lee Jun Ki, Seo Hyun Jin

Goblin’s Premiere Episode Notches 6.3% Ratings on Cable and Breaks Time Slot Record Set by Answer Me 1988

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 2, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 2, 2016
Couple embracing on a dimly lit roadside

The first volley out of the gate is a resounding hit that has the legs to be a home run. The first episode of cable network tvN‘s Fri-Sat new drama Goblin garnered a 6.322% AGB nationwide ratings, breaking the record set on that network time slot by Answer Me 1988 with 6.14% AM1988 went on to become a national drama … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Goblin, Gong Yoo, Kim Go Eun, Lee Dong Wook, Yoo In Na, Yook Sung Jae

Long Preview for Miss in Kiss Hits All the Familiar Cadences of It Started with a Kiss

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 2, 2016 by ockoalaDecember 1, 2016
Romantic scene from "Miss In Kiss" series.

This actually doesn’t look bad, this new 2016 adaptation of Japanese manga Itazura na Kiss (It Started with a Kiss), but then again I have zilch expectations going in so that’s not a high bar to cross. Following on the heels of the success Taiwanese version It Started with a Kiss, and the recent success Japanese second version Itazura na … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Dino Lee, Esther Wu, It Started with a Kiss, Miss in Kiss

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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
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  • 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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