That’s it! I’m writing about Healer or Ji Chang-wook for
that matter here on my blog even if it looks like jumping into the bandwagon or
riding to its popularity in dramabeans. The comments ballooned to thousands
which regularly a popular one would get around 300++. The time that I finished
watching episode 10, the comments reached more than 800 already and I even
tweeted dramabeans on how am I supposed to read them less respond? So this post might contain spoilers. I'm saddened that it seems to be not getting much love in Korea.
Ji Chang Wook. I thought my gushing over him ended already. In less than 2 minutes he captured me in the way he said his first few lines in Empress Ki. It was enough to let me watch till episode 21 and with Healer I'm sure I'll finished it. I dropped Empress Ki to watch Warrior Baek Dong Soo but for me Yoo Seung Ho is the one who shined the more on that drama. I'm glad I didn't erase Bachelor Vegetable Shop on on hard disk.
Episode 11 aired already and I am not of a great writer to
put into words the impact of one particular scene. Beanies at dramabeans are
going nuts and I wonder and fear about withdrawal syndrome already. I thought I’ll
be nursing my longing for Misaeng, but here goes Healer for’ya. I totally agreed with the recent recap for episode 12 that you'll me lost for words for Healer. Its not a perfect drama but the whole thing is just magical. Also the community that it built, at least over at dramabeans is overwhelming. Last night I watched the live stream of episode 12 and watching it was so fun since there is a chat box on the side and everyone is typing their reactions and sometimes someone will translate. So I imagine seating in a living room with all the members of Healer club all over the world, feeling giddy, excited and left almost crazy with that episode 12 cliffhanger. And as we exit from the living room, all is saying "Isn't it Monday yet?"
So I said magical so what made it magical for me? Let me count the ways.
1. Meeting the non expectation. Thus surprising and not disappointing (hopes this will not jinx the drama). I haven't said my apologies yet to my dear JCW for not tuning in to his drama as soon as it was shown. I didn't even know that its on a Monday-Tuesday time slot and that it was the show after Tomorrow Cantabile. During that time, I'm so engrossed with Misaeng and entertained with Modern Farmer. After that, I picked up where I left Liar Game because they (beanies) can't stop talking about it. Oh and there's Pinocchio which if Healer is not around will be my favorite currently airing drama. Reading about Healer with another reporter/people in media setting, didn't get me excited especially there's Pinocchio. So with all those factors, it kept me away from this awesome show for a month. I didn't expect it to be awesome but it is! I didn't expect to see Park Min-young and like her, adore her is more apt (I didn't watch New Leaf because I can't get to like her there, so bothered with her nose job). So I approached Healer with just seeing an intro on one of the recaps on dramabeans as "compelling". I didn't expect it to have some mysteries, action, loads and loads of cuteness, funny moments and of course heart, but Healer got it all going on each episodes.
the action
funny and cute
Healer's alter ego Park Bong Soo
2. Ji Chang Wook. I don't know if I need to say more. As I posted
above I was captivated by this guy long before Healer. But seeing him all
sweaty in a virtual tennis match and talking with her virtual opponent is
enough to get my interest. I really like how he portrays a klutz to bad ass
errand guy. With JCW he can be overly cute and playful but if it calls for a
drama, he is convincing and effective.
from JCW Instagram
3. Back Story.
Nothing beats than a backstory rooted on friendship gone sour or rather
unfortunate hence the drama. Four guys, one girl and a little boy in tow. Their
friendship is as tight as a family but for some reason, two ended up dead, one
crippled, one so powerful (and evil?) and one served some time in jail. The show is unraveling
each part of the back story in a good pace, just exactly what you need to know for
the moment.
the friends
4. Soundtrack. I'm a sucker for drama OSTs. I never knew that Michael Learns to Rock has this song "Eternal Love". I love it whenever it plays of course that is when Healer and Young-shin (Park Min-young) is on screen! Its like "Love is the moment" in Heirs but not annoying.
5. Hug. No not the DBSK song that Young-shin was singing while our hero is under her bed. Initially its just a way avoid her from looking into his face but later on for comfort and luuuuv.
6. Kiss. Acck! Every drama has its own kissing scene and if a drama is tagged as a romcom its something that I watch out for. After being rescued from the elevator. Man that elevator scene is something! Anyway as Healer ushered Young-shin to safety, she called for him. He leaves but hesitated, he came back and kissed her!
image credit dramabeans.com
7. The Date. Healer is an errand guy and apparently you can email him and ask for a date. Well that is if you're Young-shin. I love how Young-shin stayed true to her promise that she will not utter a word, or even try to look for/at him. Like a real date, Young-shin dolled up herself and sneak out of her house. She stayed and waited in the cinema for hours only to be asked to leave because they are closing. But the revolving door suddenly spun like an invitation for her to come in. This is all I believe with the help of ajumma! I've seen a dozen secret dates but this one is daebak!
8. Interlocked fingers. As the movie (they saw the latest movie of Lee-Seunggi) ended, Young-shin turns to leave but her arms was grabbed by Healer. Many despise that gesture in most Korean dramas, but in here no harm down and is rather sweet. That holding hands. When I saw it I could feel that my cheeks turned red and there is a tingling sensation down to my spine. **fans self** I was biting my pinky as I watch this scene.
Episode 12 left us with a killing cliffhanger. I didn't lurk into dramabeans today as much as I did yesterday so that I will not sink deeper to this mania because apparently I have a life.
After the huge success of You From Another Star or Man from the Star in the Kdramaverse and of course in my heart, my Kdramaverse was not occupied with a good drama as YFAS. Although I enjoyed, Marriage not Dating, Bride of the Century and Plus Nine Boys, the fall Kdramas are good!
Let me start with Misaeng. How do I love thee? Wasn't that excited for this drama even if Im Si-wan is here and Kang Ha-neul. I know that Kang So-ra is there as well but I haven't seen her on a drama so... Misaeng is an adaptation of a highly successful webtoon. Which made me remember "reading" Flower Boy Next Door webtoon. All I know about Misaeng is that its from a webtoon and most likely to be an office drama, based on the wacky teaser. By the way this post contains spoilers.
Episode 1 opens to a familiar view of Petra in Jordan and a guy that seems to be finding a way out. Then came a chasing scene. Boy, I really love those kinds of movies where they run from building to building and jumping from one roof top to another. Our hero -- Jang Geu-rae is chasing someone and as he jumps from a roof top to a window to catch the guy and then we were sent back to 2012. That chase is enough to catch my attention.
But as we were sent back to 2012, we'll see way different Geu-rae, a loser so to speak. He was doing different part time jobs to make the ends meet. The scene on how hardworking Geu-rae is and only to be told that his services on the sauna is not anymore needed is heartbreaking. His mom told him that she called someone and got a job for him. I expected Geu-rae to object, but he obliged. I'm not sure whether his mom has been telling him to get that job for a long time and that he just agreed now. Come the next day when we see him on his dad's old suite. Of course its ill-fitting but we don't hear any complaints.
Geu-rae's character was really painted as an underdog loser. Ill-fitting suit, check! Did not even have a college degree, check! Did not have office related experience, check! and not that young? check! The only thing is he has is a computer application certificate and GED. Oh he's done with military service. So what he did with his life? Dong-shik asked, he played baduk. He devoted his life to baduk but he didn't reach pro.
If you've worked in an office all your life, we can easily relate to Geu-rae. That first day when you don't know where to sit or stand and that everybody is busy, even the person that was supposed to train you is busy on his work and that you can't blame them in seeing how annoyed they are with a newbie that knows nothing and probably be a burden to you. Poor Geu-rae. Adding to his no college degree and no experience issues, he got in because of connections. And we all hate that right? Up until episode 6, we still don't know how he is connected with the executive director. I'm guessing that his father used to work with executive director-nim. Right now as he successfully became a full time employee and learning hard.
Misaeng, How do I love thee? I love that our hero did not become a superhero overnight. He is learning bit by bit, episode by episode. I even like the attitude of Geu-rae working hard and not blaming how poor they are, how life isn't fair. He is not stupid but not overly smart. The casts are great especially Siwan. He is so perfect for the role, his looks, his physique. I first saw in Moon that Embraces the Sun and was surprise to learn that he is part of ZE:A, a Kpop boy group that I tried to like but no avail. ZE:A really I tried. Now I have to start with The Equator Man and Triangle. But I wonder where will I get the time.
Lee Sung-min is great as ever. I'm surprise with Kang So-ra, I was so impressed with her English and Russian accent. Though I don't know Russian but to my ears its believable. I love how the top interns were not doing much on their actual jobs now and Bae-ki's character is intriguing. I can't wait for him to join the pack.
I just hope that this show will end or will show how Geu-rae ended up in Jordan chasing a person to death. I'm disappointed with High School Savvy that it failed to continue with what it showed on the first episode when noona was helping him change to his uniform after a successful meeting in Singapore or did I miss it?
As I am watching Korean dramas, I can’t take my eyes off how beautiful the background is! The landscape that comprises of yellow, orange, crimson, brown and green trees that reminds me of how wonderful and great God is. And I can’t wait to see it for myself. I just hope I’ll be not lazy in taking pictures because I am most of the time and I usually regret it when I will write a blog and not to have a picture. Hehe!
Having
been born in a country where there are only 2 seasons, my fascination over snow
and the changing colors of the leaves during fall is always there in fact,
experiencing the two other seasons are on my bucket list. The only thing that I
can relate with countries having 4 seasons is summer so I’ll skip that. Summer
is more fun in the Philippines!
Last
2013, I’ve experienced spring and sakura,
though not in Japan but in Seoul. The cherry blossoms are lovely. I really like that its not that hot and not that cold. Although some trees are still yet to show some life (leaves). And so as we board the plane to Manila, we
vowed to comeback. I can’t remember if we talk about going back during fall,
but I guess we did! In Dubai, I’m not quite sure why they coined the colder months as
winter. But I guess relatively to the months where the temperature gets as high
as 50 degrees Celsius, I’ll take it. I’m grinning right now because I realized
that there are hundreds of stores here in Dubai selling mink coats that I’m
dying to have one and yes with especially the one with a fox’s tail ok, I
actually want the one with the head! Thanks to SHINee’s “Dazzling Girl” promo
pics! But of course it will be downright silly because it doesn’t snow to where
I live.
image credits: dramabeans.com, kjtamusings.wordpress.com and seoulbeats.com
Its Friday tomorrow and episode 11 of Bride of the Century will be aired! Sigh for me it will be Sunday and that will be raw. Decent subs comes on Mondays. Its crunch time and great reveals! Doo Rim's grandma has a secret of her own. I wonder why the ghost comes wearing white or black. Are there two different ghosts? Is it why Doo Rim got a doppelganger or the other way around? And Kang-ju finally asks "Who are you?" at Yi-kung! yay! While waiting for the next episode, I like listening to Hong-ki's version of Words I Couldn't Say Yet. I like Choa's version as well hopes she gets to sing more OSTs in the future because I like her voice!
Yay! I was so certain that its Big Baby Driver! Sings the line...I picture the place where there are only pleasant things truly no one Is lonely and cold as here Everyone has got someone to lean on but me..♪♫Aside from Bride of the Century, I've been fond of Cunning Single Lady or Sly and Single Again's OST! I'm still waiting for last night episode to be uploaded.
This drama almost skipped my kdrama radar. When it premiered
my heart and mind are on You Came from Another Star. How can I watch the
finale? became a first world problem for me as for that day I have to go back
here in Dubai and my flight to Singapore is at 8am – the time which like the
drama had been uploaded and subbed. Luckily Singapore is just 3 hours from
Manila and just after I landed in Singapore’s Changi Airport, I connected to
their wifi and watch it… only to be kinda not sold on the ending, but its not
the worst.
Bride of the Century has all the kdrama clichés.
Quirky-hardworking-pretty/cute-poor –good-cook lead female character,
Handsome-stoic-chaebol, Scheming-almost-evil mother, first love, unrequited
love, accident, and ghost – to name a few. But after watching the first
episode, I was sold!I still don't know why. Hong-ki? The story? It just hit all my soft spots for a drama plus Hong-ki is here! Too bad it was not being recapped on dramabeans and too bad that subs comes out so late, like Friday's episode will come out Monday. I usually gets the raw videos every Sunday. I don't know how soon it goes available in gooddrama but since I don't have internet connection at home its useless and that adds my craziness in waiting for the next episodes.
For the mean time, its been looping in my ears, part 3 of the shows OST, Words I have Yet to Say. the preview of Hong-ki's version is flooding in YouTube! And yesterday I was trying to translate it to English with my almost zero Hangeul vocabulary. hehe.
Another thing that got me all crazy about the next week's all the time is the main leads' chemistry. They are so cute -- Lee Hong-ki (You're Beautiful) and Yang Jin-sung! I am not new to Lee Hong-ki's acting but the girl, I can barely recall her to any drama. When I checked her works, she was credited in Secret Love (a love that started from a lot of hatred drama that for me equates to crazy) and I have to scan all the still to know who is she there. Apparently, she was hit and run victim - the girlfriend of Min-hyuk.
(BTS) They are so sweet potato!
awww so cute and sweet!
I just love Hong-ki's face when he was saying "sorry"!
This drama is on its halfway and it will be just a little time till Kang-joo learns the truth about Doo-Rim. And just thinking about that makes me wanna hug Kang-joo.
Just when I start to wonder (and not googled) when I'll get to see him on small screen, Kim Jae Wook (Coffee Prince, Marry me Mary) is on Who Are You! After Marry me Mary aka Mary Stayed Out All Night, he went to do his 2 years military service and last week. I just finished watching Dal Ja's Spring, a rather old drama which I marathoned because dramabeans' rating says so and he is there, the good ol' friend of Kang Tae Bong (Lee Min Ki). I immediately remembered that he is supposed to be out already and should be working and he is! I'm a sucker for his hair and hated it when I saw his clean look in Marry me Mary.
image credit koreandrama.org
Last night as I watched another fantastic episode of Monstar, on its opening, there's a preview of Taecyeon's new drama which almost fell from my radar, sorry baby, I know you have one, it just that there's just a lot of boys things going on my mind. I was thinking what drama will air after Cyrano: Dating Agency, and I didn't remember your drama. I don't have much expectation on this drama, but recently if its produced by tvN, its somehow synonymous as a good drama. Yes, all those Flower Boy series were aired on tvN. I just realized how this lady, So Yi Hyun (Heartstring, Cheongdamdong Alice) had been paired with my boy Yonghwa and now Taecyeon. Sigh!
I don't see any subs yet and I don't know if it will be recapped on dramabeans though. It will be nice if there will be one, a space where you can discuss the drama with your fellow drama addicts. I don't know when I'll have the time. I am still catching up with I Hear Your Voice and plans to start Sword and Flower and Heartless City.
I thought they will call their group Monstar and these group of kids caught up by a "poop incident" dare to challenge their schools resident band "All for One". I love this show so much and last night when I watched episode 7, I'm loving it more and more. I was saddened to read that it is just scheduled for 12 episodes, which means only 5 episodes more to go. This episode is packed with a lot of nice songs, which starts with the swoon-worthy song for I believe Se-yi, duet of Sun-woo and Na-na, All for One's rendition of Amazing Grace and lastly, Colobar's performance.
SPOILER AHEAD!
This episode is a Kim Na-na episode. I knew that she has a powerful voice. I mean she will not be put there without any exceptional talent. As I read through different comments on dramabeans, I learned that she (Kim Na-na) is a member of GLAM (GirLs be AMbitious) and her name is Dahee. We already saw her singing abilities on episode 6. The only one that we don't know whats her talent is, is Eun-ha aside from writing fanfics and a good friend.
first song in episode 7, I still don't know the title
Bad Kang Ha-neul! Bad! Why do you strum the guitar and sing like that? I was not supposed to root for you. I learned the hard way how rooting for the second lead, leads to nothing. Hello? He/she will not be called second lead for nothing. If only we can take him with us -- those wasted second leads. But I heart you. Can't blame Na-na either. Sigh.
Sun-woo catches Na-na... swoon!
Usually, with this kind of face-off plot of a musical, we know how things works. One member gone missing and just comes in just in the nick of time to save the day! That's Kim Na-na for you! When Seol-chan said "Thank you", its like saying "prepare your minds to be blown away". I like the confidence that he had and it binds the group somehow. And boy they rock!
Colorbar
Colorbar's performance is part 5 of Monstar OST. Hit play to listen. and you can check various site to see Monstar online (dramacrazy, gooddrama).
What do you do to fight your tears from flowing when you are watching something that you will definitely cry? Well for me, I like to multitask, sometimes I paint my nails or grab my phone and check Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and what have you. Last night while watching episode 21 of Gu, I was playing Pumpkins vs Zombies and I just glance here and there (my friend is wondering how can I watch a show, read the subtitles and do something else) but my goodness! My chest suddenly felt heavy and tears fell.
Its a good ending to their love story. Good in a sense of how it was written, it is so fitting. Fitting to let you grab the sleeves of your shirt, if your tissue is far from reach. Its the voice over of Wol-ryung that hit me, “I didn't hate you. I only missed you. I didn't resent you. I only loved you with all my heart. I love you. I love you.” waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!
I love how they put the acoustic version of Best Wishes to You (잘 있나요) as the background music of that scene, and its Wol-ryung (Choi Jin Hyuk) actually singing which made it more heartfelt!
I love how Seo-hwa admitted that she was young that time and that her heart was not that big to cater for his love. I love the lines of Wol-ryung that sorta say his action tends to look like hatred and resentment towards her but truly, it just that he misses her so much and loves her so much. waaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhh. How many times we see a negative but in reality it is meant for our good.
Choi Jin Hyuk, I've loved you in I Need Romance, and I love you more in Gu Family Book! Last 2 episodes next week!
My Kdrama life continues, though my last entry was about Flower Boy Next Door. So far I've finished "Unexpected You" while I'm on vacation its a 50+ episodes, yes I can't believe myself either that I was able to finish that show. Its a good one and its bearable to watch till the end.
Right now I enjoy watching Monstar! Its being shown every Friday only, which is a total pain, though each episode is longer that the usual 2-episode a week drama. I love watching high school drama plus this is a musical! No, its not just another Dream High or Glee (whatever happened to that show? because I stopped watching). I've been loving every episodes but last Friday's episode is a blast for several reasons (might contain spoilers):
Less bickering between Se-yi and the star, Seol-chan. Ha! I love it when he says "I'm a Star"
More background stories for the other characters
Nana lighting up, see everyone has a soft spot, I think she has a big crush on Sun-woo
The duet of Do-nam and Kyu-dong of 2NE1's I am the Best!
Do-nam's beatbox perf.
Seol-chan back-hugging Do-nam to stop him from leaving, and how others stopped him as well. Awwwww moment for me.
Monstar has been covering popular Kpop songs and I will try to get them all! Right now I manage to rip and convert to mp3 the I am the Bestduet of Do-nam and Kyu-dong and the beatbox too! I will use this as my ringtone!
For recap of this drama, you know where to go to, dramabeans! To see it online go to dramacrazy.
Uhhhmmm, I think I was supposed to write an episode per episode sort of recap and sort of a reaction to the highly popular Flower Boy Next Door. That is a fact among us who lives in Kdramaland. Well it ended a while ago and it was uploaded right away... raw.. maybe if I stayed awake till 2 am, I'll probably be seeing it with subs.
For the duration of this drama, its been my habit to a) watch it raw, usually its available around 11am GST yay! The fairies are fast! b) read recap around 8am (next day) at dramabeans so amazed how they have the recaps and screengrab for our pleasure and then c) watch it at night with subs.
I really enjoy the drama even with that way of watching which might be ruined by reading recaps and comments, but it does not. I really love how it was a bit different, the way they start the next episode given the "cliffhangers" from the previous episode. I usually skip the beginning of each episode that I watch in every drama for it just a bunch of things that I saw on the last episode, but in this show its not.
Shall I highlight how cute Enrique is? Yoon Si Yoon which is kinda love at first sight for me when I saw him in Baker King. I can still remember that scene when he was kicking some thugs' asses. he! Now seeing him with a new hair color and a very bubbly and witty character, the love went deeper. I even watched Me Too Flower which is a total waste of his talent for its just a blah drama (though I must confess that I enjoyed every scene that YSY is there). But boy! YSY kissing scene there was (fans self) hot!
So all characters were given each and everyone's resolution and ends in a comics page or a webtoon page. The drama seems to had heard me for I was screaming KISSING SCENE! I don't like Que Geum singing I have the OST for that and cuteness overload is not appropriate at the finale anymore. As I lose hope in seeing one, my screen was graced with a few minutes (was it a full minute, it feels like forever to me) of circling camera kissing scene!
I have some complaints here and there at this drama. Shut up Flower Boy Band is still number one on this "Flower Boy" franchise because it made me cry. This show us next for it let me wanna be called an "ajumma".
Now I am planning to go on hiatus with these kdramas. I am watching 7th Grade/Level Civil Servant and That Winter the Wind Blows.
I am off to Korea in what 44 days? and I can't wait.
This is a screen grab of tomorrow's episode! yay! Enrique smiles all the time, but boy, I could see that he is in love with that smile! I watched episode 11 raw. I told my friends who are camping out in dramacrazy like me to not expect any smooching, just a standard kdrama kiss for us.
I know, I know why just one entry for Flower Boy Next Door given the fact that I wish its Monday and Tuesday and the wish of all wish, understand Hangeul. I just think that when I will put an entry for that, it will be gibberish for I'll giggle every now and then and will look at my screen grabs often that I may not put any sense with my sentences in which you are probably noticing right now for I am looking at Enrique!
Its late. I finished episode 10 a few minutes ago. As I see the preview of episode 11 it made me squeal like crazy not to mention that I rolled in my bed on excitement! Good thing I did not fall! hahaha! Yea..yea.. I replayed it several times... and grabbed this! OMO!
Well, we don't know if this will be for episode 11, because last week what they did show the preview for this week 2 episodes, so maybe it will be like that. I hope I will not see amnesia here. When he got hit by a car, I said "no..no.. no..no amnesia please!"
I watched episode 10 raw for I could not wait for tomorrow night plus I will be uber busy tomorrow and honestly, I still need to study the devotion. I guess I am sleeping around 2 am again. The habit that I really would like to break. Hahaha! I just glimpsed on the picture!
