Those bemoaning that the K-drama landscape is a wasteland of no good roles and stories for women might have be seeing a shining beacon of hope soon. Filming is underway for the upcoming Wed-Thurs KBS drama called Unkind Women which takes over for the forgettable sageuk The King’s Face. KBS still hasn’t had a real hit drama in the weekday … Continue reading →
I’m feeling pretty optimistic now that the first four episodes of Hyde, Jekyll, Me are done and I’ve vented my disappointment. The preview for episode 5 is the first time I’ve gotten excited about what’s to come, it genuinely looks fun and interesting now that Seo Jin and Ha Na are going to be living together. I’m glad I like … Continue reading →
I’ve noticed that over the years I’ve been writing about C-dramas, and C-entertainment more and more due to the rise of both the quality as well as the increase in cross-border collaborations. Some folks new to C-dramas, or haven’t even dipped a toe in, sometimes enjoy my posts without a clue of who’s popular and why certain stars seem to … Continue reading →
I confess it’s invariably awkward writing about physical changes in entertainers. It’s basically the pink elephant in the room – mostly unrelated to talent but impossible to ignore. That’s why I try to keep my commentary on such matters lighthearted because whether by choice or not, it’s still a personal thing with respect to weight (loss or gain), plastic surgery, … Continue reading →
The Chinese-Korean collaborations continue unabated, which feels even more up my alley since I was watching and writing about Korean and Chinese entertainment starting way back when rarely the twain shall meet. Not sure how I actually feel about it in terms of output quality but even the worst starting efforts have the potential to improve. Up next is a … Continue reading →
Now that the January K-drama premieres are done it’s fully onwards to February and the splashiest (flashiest?) on the plate to be served is indisputably Blood. Will it be all style with no substance? Teasers and promos might look that way but there remains the possibility that the production of Good Doctor knows what it’s doing and picked the ideal leads … Continue reading →
Yay for a shining light of drama casting news to wrap up January on an upbeat note. I thought casting was complete for the leads of the upcoming MBC epic 50-episode sageuk Princess Jeongmyung (Splendid Politics) after signing on Cha Seung Won and Lee Yeon Hee with a side of pretty boy Seo Kang Joon playing the princess love interest. … Continue reading →
Watching Hyde, Jekyll, Me invokes some new drama watching angles for me. I’m normally a rabid OTP shipper and rarely has there been a drama that has hooked me completely which didn’t have a super swoony central romance. That makes this a rarity where I’m shipping Hyun Bin with himself. It’s not hard since Han Ji Min’s acting and character … Continue reading →
It’s a done deal for SBS‘s next weekend drama Divorce Lawyer in Love. The drama has confirmed the casting of Yeon Woo Jin and Jeo Yeo Jung as the titular leads in what is being described as a fun bickering rom-com. I certainly do love those, except I’m conditioned like a Pavlovian dog now not to immediately believe what the … Continue reading →
China might have a new drama industry to mine – copying popular K-dramas and making a ridiculous parody out of it. There was the absurd but fun Heirs From Another Star, but even before that project got off the ground there was already Billion Dollar Heirs in the making. To be fair to producer Li Shao Hong, her heirs-centric drama synopsis … Continue reading →
As far as small screen debuts go, model-turned-actress Lee Sung Kyung couldn’t have picked a more ideal drama last year than It’s Okay, It’s Love. She was surrounded by amazingly talented sunbaes giving it their all in acting out a truly difficult but rewarding story, allowing her the room to do her small part with more reassurance. Unfortunately her character … Continue reading →
I suggest Jung Il Woo think long and hard about his next acting project. Two seriously bad K-dramas in a row with Golden Rainbow and Records of a Night Watchman are taxing my affection for him and I’m sad when that happens. I haven’t liked him in a drama since his second lead turn in The Moon Embraces the Sun, … Continue reading →
The third episode of Hyde, Jekyll, Me is a charm, fitting that old adage but likely not much help with kickstarting this drama into gaining traction with the audience. If only the first two episodes were sliced of useless too-long scenes and this episode’s much needed narrative information dump happened last week. The drama still has plenty of kinks to … Continue reading →