“Gettin’ back on the bike”

Hello everyone, just wanted to update on which dramas might be recapped here soon.

It has only been a few weeks since I’ve stepped away from Kdramas, but it feels like a lifetime. During that month long break, I watched shows that didn’t need translating like the Walking Dead, The Good Wife, Revolution, The Crisis, The 100, 24, and GoT. Sort of wish my blog wasn’t limited to just kdramas cuz I had so much to say about those shows. All my Korean friends were surprised I wasn’t watching any kdramas at all since that’s pretty unusual for me. Whenever they asked what I was recapping, it felt weird saying “nothing.” That’s when I decided to sort of ease my way back to kdramas with baby steps like downloading all the episodes and trying to watch a few minutes here and there. I tried watching the first episode of Angel Eyes on my computer, but then I caught a glimpse of GHS’s current look on TV on a rebroadcast and something about her bizarre eyebrows just made me tune out. I honestly couldn’t focus on the story cuz I kept wondering why any sane woman would do that to her eyebrows. Then I tried watching the first episode of Doctor Stranger and next thing you know, it was over and I hadn’t paid attention to a single scene. I tried again and the same thing happened. I took that as a sign that this drama wasn’t meant for me. Even though I still haven’t watched the first eight episodes yet, since it had been a little over a month since I’ve recapped live, I wanted to get some practice in with E9 of You’re All Surrounded tonight. Turns out I didn’t need to worry. All these years of training recapping live since 2010 paid off cuz it was a breeze. Now I need to go back and watch E1-8 to be caught up on You’re All Surrounded. That will make one kdrama I can finally say I’m currently watching when people ask. Here are some other upcoming ones I’m looking forward to and my top two choices to pick up for live recaps.

High School King of Savvy (June 16): Ever since Master’s Sun, I’ve liked Seo In Gook. Then I watched Answer me 1997 and listened to his music and realized I had to keep my eye out on him. I really like the premise for this quirky new drama and can’t wait to see if it can live up to its previews. Since it’s cable, the torrents won’t be as fast so probably won’t end up recapping.

Trot Lovers (June): Shockingly enough, I’m looking forward to this a lot. When I first read about this show coming up, the title alone made me dismiss the drama cuz anyone who knows me is aware of the fact that trot music is like fingernail scratching on chalkboard for me. My skin crawls just hearing any note of it and I’ve been known to switch cabs as much as three times to avoid that music when the drivers wouldn’t turn it off or lower the volume when I ask them. Then one day I saw the photos of Ji Hyun Woo’s new look and realized I didn’t account for army abs grabbing my attention. Suddenly this rose to second place on the list of shows I was anticipating. A great new look after the army will do it every time – it draws the crowd around for sure. Joonni was so shocked when I told her I was interested in recapping this now. She doesn’t mind the trot music as much as me and was already considering this so one of us will definitely be recapping it live. Tell you one thing for sure, I won’t be buying the OST for this.

It’s Okay It’s Love (August)

I’m still getting over the fact that I actually loved a melodrama so much (TWTWB) that when I heard about this one, just reading the two names Jo In Sung and Gong Hyo Jin sold me. If I had been waiting for a kdrama to capture my interest these past weeks, this one began with a shout. I am so looking forward to this pairing it’s not even funny. Unfortunately I might have to play tug of war with Joonni over which one of us gets to recap this cuz right now we are both eyeing this drama and Trot Lovers. She can only handle recapping one and there is no need for both of us to recap the same one so we will probably have to do rock paper scissors to see who chooses.

Three Musketeers with Lee Jin Wook: I loved Nine so if the people who made that is working on this, I’m automatically onboard. Plus it’s Lee Jin Wook – who can say no to him? I would definitely consider this a priority to recap if it wasn’t three seasons long and Joseon style, but something tells me all that sageuk talk is going to leave me staring at the pretty and not knowing anything he is saying. Darn it – why did it have to be sageuk? Hope he doesn’t look good in hanbok or I’m in trouble.

Nodame Cantabile (October): I heard Joowon is coming back to dramas with a Korean remake of Nodame Cantabile so I already downloaded both the animation and the Japanese drama in anticipation. Tried watching a few, but kept forgetting I had to read subtitles and looked away from the screen so I had to rewind a lot. Hopefully, I’ll finish it before the Korean version starts.

Now for that other list of dramas and reasons why I probably won’t be recapping these:

Fated to Love You: I don’t know either one of the leads real names so it’s highly unlikely I will want to memorize their characters’ names. Zero interest for me.

*Updated on August 15, 2014. E14 just recently aired and now I’m a fan. I want to kick myself for not recapping this from the start like a few readers asked me to. Their instinct about this show being great was 100% accurate. I will defer to your advice next time for future recaps. I also learned parts of the two leads’ names – both have “Jang” somewhere.  

Joseon Gunman (June 25th): I’m still trying to get back into the habit of recapping so starting with a sageuk might be a terrible idea since I might only know every other word at most from each line of dialogue. Plus I don’t care for the female lead at all in this. I’ll probably tune it to watch for Lee Jun Ki, but the chance of this being recapped was zero starting from day one when I heard it was a sageuk.

The Records of a Night’s Watchmen (July): In another life when I am reborn fearless, I might be able to handle watching this without one eye closed, but as it stands, I used up all my courage during Arang and then Master’s Sun. Two scary dramas with ghosts seem to be my limit. One can only suffer through so many mini heart attacks before she realizes she is pushing her luck. Plus I’m still miffed at Jung Il Woo for making me suffer through a few episodes of his god awful previous weekend drama Gold Rainbow.  A great mane of glory can’t wipe his slate clean that easily.

Here is a snippet of E9 from tonight:

Soo Sun went to his place to question him about being Kim Ji Yong so Daegu gives her ten minutes to speak and just keeps counting down the minutes as she rattles on. Soo sun: No matter how much I think about it – I can’t just move past it like this. I think you really are Kim Ji Yong. He takes a step towards her. Since he threatened to kiss her if she calls him that again, she holds up her hand and says “but you can’t kiss.” Daegu: 8 minutes (left).  She continues talking:  So what’s I’m saying is – it’s cuz I don’t understand. I think I have the right to ask.  after your mother passed away and you disappeared, I worried so much. You really are Kim Ji Yong aren’t you? Daegu: 5 mins.  Soo sun: by any chance – is there a reason why you have to hide you are Kim Ji Yong? huh? Daegu: 4 mins. Soo sun: Just tell me that much. if you have to hide you are Kim Ji Yong then I won’t push it anymore and ask. is that it? Daegu: 3 mins. Soo son: ok. I get it.  Daegu: I will tell you again but I am not Kim Ji Yong. Soo sun: I said I got it. Daegu: but I know that guy a little. he told me to tell you – you used your head a lot this time. you are correct. there is a reason why he has to hide. so for the time being don’t go around questioning and don’t tell anyone. She lets his words sink in and agrees. but then she says “tell your friend Kim Ji Yong I get it.” Daegu tells her to leave now but she mentions how there is a place to eat outside and asks if he ate cuz she hasn’t eaten anything yet.

During their dinner, they both drink soju and Soo sun grins at him. He asks what is it. Soosun: why do you think I am smiling? Daegu: cuz you lost your mind. Soo sun: it’s cuz I am happy. to tell the truth, I thought you – I mean I thought your friend Ji Yong died. not just me but all of Masan thought that. after your friend Ji Yong’s mother died like that and then your friend Ji Yong was gone, everyone in Masan went into shock and searched for you. especially me – I regretted so much. so please be sure to tell your friend Ji Yong.  in the past, what I said about his mom out in front of school that I was very sorry for it over time. Daegu says it’s ok but corrects himself and says “Ji Yong said it’s ok.” She tries to say more so Daegul stops her from asking anymore. She begs for just one more and asks how did your friend Jo Yong live all this time? did he live in the orphanage? is that why he changed his name? Daegu wonders how she found that out so she explains how she heard about his growing up in an orphanage. he tells her not to look at him with pity in her eyes cuz he was lucky and the orphanage director was a good person so he was able to gradate from college well. it wasn’t such an unfair world. Soo sun: thank goodness. for the last time…” she tries to get in one more question but Daegu cuts her off saying no more. She begs for just one more and he doesn’t have the heart to say no to her. Soo sun: be sure to relay this to your friend Ji Yong. whenever he needs me – to be sure to call me. For the time being I will forgive him for not calling me noona so…. Daegu interrupts and says “noona? what nonsense.” she almost gets upset but resumes smiling and says she will let it slide since today is a special day.  your friend Ji Yong is two years younger than me and in the past he called me noona. but I will forgive it all and hide it from Taeil and Gook and not reveal the secret to them so tell him to be sure to call me if he needs me. I’m not sure what’s going on, but I will keep his secret till the end so if he needs someone to talk about this or that comfortably or if he wants to ask a favor – tell him to be sure to contact me then cuz I’m on Kim Ji Yong’s side no matter what. That’s all – now I’m really done talking.” She makes him clink glasses and tells him to hurry and eat before the noodles expand.

After they eat, Daegu tells her to leave now and turns to go but she back hugs him and says: thank you. I’m really grateful and you are brave. Daegu: why are you like this suddenly? Soo sun: you are really brave

* On a day like today after constantly denying who he really was to Pan seok and then Soo sun, he really needed to hear that bit of praise. He wished his mom had been alive to say those words, but the next best thing was hearing it from a friend. Daegu was crying tears of relief. For far too long, he has been doing things in secret and keeping his emotions in check. This isn’t the kind of person he wanted to grow up to be, but circumstances forced him into this life. It was going against his nature to be so gruff and aloof with people. He did too great a job in putting up the wall of defense he built up around him to protect his feeling. It seemed so indestructible that even he had a hard time letting his guard down once in a while. Each time he cried alone and stayed alone, he suffered quietly. Like tonight, after the accidental death of the father incident with those two sons, each of the young cops went off alone to call their parent or be tempted to make contact – including Daegu. He typed the words he wanted to say to his mom in a text he can’t send. “mom – you met father over there right? Is father good to you? Is it ok living there more than when you were with me?” He slowly deletes his message.

That’s how this guy endures his loneliness and accumulates so much pain and sadness, I’m not sure how he can keep holding it together. But the second Soo sun back hugged him, it was that moment when he realized now that she knows his real identity, he has a friend he can be himself with once in a while. After holding in so much emotion over the years, he can finally let go of some of his burden and maybe learn to share them later on down the line. He doesn’t have to feel so alone anymore. For a tortured soul, that must mean the world. That’s why even though she might have been the one holding on tightly, for a few seconds, Daegu is the one who finally got to let go tonight.