Updates and a year-end clean up (of sorts)
I had actually written this entry week(s) ago, but the computer ate it up (the woes of working from a not-very-powerful laptop) and I was too lazy to go back to it. That's always the case isn't it? Once you start doing something, you actually go about it really quick... the whole problem mainly lies in actually starting in the first place. Anyhow, there's a few items I would like to attend to: First, a great big thank you, next a how-I've-been, and then third... some entertainment~
First, I would like to thank all my Unnies. You guys. You are all so amazing that I have no words. The only thing I can say is that when I grow up, I want to be like all of you. You all have made me feel so welcomed and so loved and I've never ever felt out of place, or shy, which is a miracle in of itself. Your comments kept me going to finish my first fanfic (for a drama... I had one fanfic written for a manga when I was about 15, and it was diabetes inducing and I'm never going to own up to writing it). Some Unnies emailed and messaged me at the lowest point at the time, when I was ready to quit everything and run away and do something drastic. Those messages kept me sane, and them saved in a special folder so that I don't accidentally delete them. To be honest, whatever I write is going to sound superficial or gushy or exxagerated, because that is the nature of the situation, and I'm trying to avoid naming names because I'm an idiot and will surely forget someone and then make them feel bad and feel terrible myself. Either way, you know who you guys are, so: THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU <3
Now, on to the second bit: I am happy to announce that results are out for the semester, and I got 2 "A"s and 2 "B"s. Now normally I'm not very proud of my "B"s, much rather announce them, but these subjects were Global Economics and Business Statistics, subjects I majorly suck in, so yay (the "A"s were Mandarin and Philosophy). Next semester has a bit of a greater workload, but hopefully it won't be too different from the past couple of semesters. And now you are fully updated~
Aaand the final part of this post, and mini review and recommendation post for the year 2012. It's by no means comprehensive, it only pertains to what I watched and thought was good (or not). (Nothing's in chronological order or anything ^^;; ). Don't expect too much detail, since a lot of this year went something like this for me:
KDramas That I watched:
KDramas I wanted to watch but couldn't:
If you hadn't noticed already, there were a few notable omissions from the list. The first was the melos. Many people went crazy over the melos this year, from Nice Guy to I Miss You with god knows what in between or after or before. But if there is one thing I know, it is that I cannot watch melos, so there's no mention of them up there. The next few notable omissions were school based show, like Answer Me 1997 and Shut Up Flower Boy Band (and maybe School 2013 will end up in there). This isn't because the shows are bad, or that I don't like them, not AT ALL. The explanation sounds a bit dramatic, but it's not (take off your dramatic goggles for the next few sentences please ^_^). Basically, it's just that my school life wasn't the best part of my life (I still had friends, and I still had fun, but there was a lot of crap I had to deal with at the same time, like school administration and bullying). It's not that different from most people, I suppose, but I'm too thin-skinned, and too fresh out of school (that's how I feel anyway) so the issues hit too close to home while the wounds are too raw, and so I can't bear to watch them. I either feel envious of or sad for the characters, and me constantly wishing my life was different is very counter-productive. I guess I just need to grow up a little more and have a few more years' worth of gap before watching those shows. The other important omission was Gaksital, which I didn't watch for the political background the plot had. As a person coming from countries where the situations are highly unstable, and having parents who are married despite the fact that they are from rival countries, those issues, again, are too dark and hit too close to home, and send me reeling with nightmares and feeling helpless and useless and inadequate, so I had to avoid it for my own sanity. And now that those explanations are finished, you can put your dramatic goggles back on ^u^
JDramas That I Watched:
and a slightly more concrete, fluffy ending with Emi
, but other than that, this show is an adorkable stressbuster that got me through the last leg of my semester beautifully and with a tonne of giggles and smiles~
Credit
JDramas I couldn't watch:
These shows I couldn't watch due to time constraints/college, but they are on my list and I have heard good things about them: Piece, Monsters, Kekkon Shinai, Hitorishizuka, Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou, Switch Girl (1&2), Sprout and Akumu-chan.
TWDramas I watched:
TWDramas I did not get to watch: This year was a bit lacklustre for me in TWDrama terms (Special mention to Fondant Garden though, for having a pretty first half and an amazing OST), so I only watched DGGG.. I plan on hoarding Miss Rose episodes and then watching the cream of the show while skipping the menboong bits. I am looking forward to some TWDramas, but that is the next post ^_^
Disclaimer: All piccies are taken from their respective dramacrazy, d-addicts, soompi or darksmurfsubs pages/threads unless otherwise credited (which is sometimes on the piccie itself ^^). And if you can't find them on there and they're not credited, then it was saved to my computer and therefore I can't trace back whose they are. If they're yours, tell me and I shall credit you gladly ^_^
First, I would like to thank all my Unnies. You guys. You are all so amazing that I have no words. The only thing I can say is that when I grow up, I want to be like all of you. You all have made me feel so welcomed and so loved and I've never ever felt out of place, or shy, which is a miracle in of itself. Your comments kept me going to finish my first fanfic (for a drama... I had one fanfic written for a manga when I was about 15, and it was diabetes inducing and I'm never going to own up to writing it). Some Unnies emailed and messaged me at the lowest point at the time, when I was ready to quit everything and run away and do something drastic. Those messages kept me sane, and them saved in a special folder so that I don't accidentally delete them. To be honest, whatever I write is going to sound superficial or gushy or exxagerated, because that is the nature of the situation, and I'm trying to avoid naming names because I'm an idiot and will surely forget someone and then make them feel bad and feel terrible myself. Either way, you know who you guys are, so: THANK YOU AND I LOVE YOU <3
Now, on to the second bit: I am happy to announce that results are out for the semester, and I got 2 "A"s and 2 "B"s. Now normally I'm not very proud of my "B"s, much rather announce them, but these subjects were Global Economics and Business Statistics, subjects I majorly suck in, so yay (the "A"s were Mandarin and Philosophy). Next semester has a bit of a greater workload, but hopefully it won't be too different from the past couple of semesters. And now you are fully updated~
Aaand the final part of this post, and mini review and recommendation post for the year 2012. It's by no means comprehensive, it only pertains to what I watched and thought was good (or not). (Nothing's in chronological order or anything ^^;; ). Don't expect too much detail, since a lot of this year went something like this for me:
KDramas That I watched:
- I started off my year with King 2 Hearts, which I frankly adored. I adored everyone (except the villains), and Lee Seung Gi rose to new heights in my eyes, and did his hyung and dongsaeng. Ha Ji Won was brilliant as always (I can never expect any less from the woman) and I think the one who took the cake was Earnest Bot. Oh god did I cry for you. It was also my first timid foray into the dramabeans comments area, and boy did I have a lot of fun. This was one hella pretty ride ^u^ Recommend? Yes.
- Rooftop Prince: Cute, fell to the disease of losing it's head in the middle, but the ending and beginning were strong, and the minions/companions/bodyguards were hilarious. Yoochun and Ha Ji Min were quite serviceable, and they had good chemistry. Recommend? If in the mood for something breezy and forgettable, and you have the facility of fast-forwarding.
- Credit
- Next, we jumped to Queen In Hyun's man. I have normally been a fantasy-magic-fight-snark loving combo, so this one had all of that, plus gorgeousness (those leads! those clothes! that scenery!) and enough intelligence, romance and squee-worthy-ness to capsize the Titanic all over again~ In another series of firsts, this was the first drama I loved so much that I volunteered to (and did) sub it. Recommend? Yes. Definitely.
CreditMore Fanart here~
Credit - Big: Someone needs to make an abridged version of this series showcasing only and only Gong Yoo, who upheld this whole hot mess that I expected much more from (and because of whom this show had a shitttonne of viewers, and because of whom I have so many pretty wallpapers and fanarts to share). I disliked the female lead's characterization, and disliked the molasses pace of the middle of the show even more, and while it was gorgeous to look at and watch, some things *cough*stupidlyansweredplotmysteries*cough* [dayum, where be those lozenges?] just spoilt it all. And the ending! It's almost like a make-your-own-ending, it's so open. Sure, I imagined the best case scenario and all, but still. Recommend? Yes, but only if you have time to marathon and fast forward through all the bits that aren't funny/don't have Gong Yoo.
Credit
Credit - The Thousandth Man: A mini-mini series lasting only 8 episodes, (and yet another underrated show) it was a fun yet touching ride which looked at love and life without being preachy. It helped that it's whole premise was a family of gumihos, and that it featured Lee Chun Hee (or Chunderella, as he's known round these parts). I do realise a lot of people watched for the T-Ara, B1A4 and INPINITEU roles, but I actually didn't even realise that they were meant to be in there till I saw them. The show was much wittier than I expected, and though it did have a couple of things I could do without (the in-depth filming of the secretary's... issues, for one thing). I really liked how everyone.. talked, instead of misunderstandings galore, and the way the writers ran with the subtle touches, like the issues that gumihos would presumably have in their lifetime ( massive hair shedding [them bushy bushy tails], an affinity for for rare meat, etc.)... it was those little touches that made you chuckle and keep the pacing easy and light, in what would be an otherwise dark drama (she is a gumiho who needs to eat the thousandth heart of man within three months, else she will perish, and yet she is in love with that man [who is a reincarnation/doppelganger of her husband who died protecting her to boot]; and he doesn't have the luxury to love, being a member of the terminally ill club). I actually liked it so much that I was about to recap it, until I discovered that someone had beat me to it. Hustle over to Raine's Dichotomy here if you want to read 'em ^_^. As an aside: Am I the only one who thinks that the lead actress and T-Ara's Eun Jung? Also: Watch Chun Hee tower over everyone~ Recommend? Yuuuup
- Arang and The Magistrate: This was definitely one of the most underrated dramas of 2012, which is a damn shame, since it had an intelligent storyline, good scenery and clothing, and most important of all, a brilliant cast. Every single actor was perfectly cast, and every character perfectly executed, from Botox Mama to the Jade King and Hades to Arang and Saddo themselves. There was mythology, fighting, an intriguing plot and mystery, romance, everything that you need ask for in a show. Lee Jun Ki and Shin Min Ah outdid themselves. Recommend? Definitely.
Credit
Credit - Vampire Prosecutor 2: I did not follow the first season of the show (just a couple of recaps) but even without that, I really really really liked this procedural. Seeing as how I've never liked a Korean procedural before this, and have watched a million and one English-speaking procedurals to the point that I can guess the rest of the story from the cold opening (surprisingly not as hard as you would think.. all you have to do is learn the pattern and then follow it), that is saying A LOT. It was perfect, as far as procedurals go, and for once I can safely say that Western shows can learn a thing or two from this one. Recommend? If you can stand procedurals and a bit of blood, Definitely.
Credit - Faith: Ooooh this one's a doozy. It's not for everyone, admittedly, and I saw more complaints than I would've liked for this show, but for me, this was easily in the top 3 shows for the year (other two are King 2 Hearts and Queen In Hyun's Man, if you're curious). It had action and that sageuk-extravagant-period-costumes-and-scenery-gorgeousness (like Arang but on a higher level since we were dealing with Korean and Chinese emperors and empresses and kings and queen and the royal guards) and it had fighting, and a pretty awesome plot. Now, the plot, let's have a word about the plot. See, what I do when I watch a show is give up all hope and expectations on it. And THEN I start. This blank slate method guarantees that my expectations are not the reason why the show didn't stick to me. So, let go of all hope that this was the Faith promised to you back when Kang Ji Hwan had signed on it. Let your expectations for the level of grandiose or epic go, like wild chipmunks you only wish you could keep. Let your skepticism of the age gap between the leads go. Let your hatred/skepticism of the leads' acting alll jussstt goooooo, like having a good poop. After being thus relieved, come back and watch the show, and appreciate that the writer let go of all her inhibitions and wrote the sageuk love-story that her inner 14 year old had been dying to write since she was.. well.. 14. Don't think that it's going to be The Legend Redux, just because the writer was the same. Ok, are we clear? Now we move on.. "What else is there?" you ask... Lessee.. comedy (oh in spades), Bishies (even the evil ones are bishies dammit). Oh, and the third in the series of firsts, this show was the first KDrama I recapped (Arang got that treatment too, but this one started it). Recommend? Do you even need ask?
Credit - Full House 2: I was ready to write this one off. Really. Even though it had Noh Min Woo and Park Ki Woong. I mean, those hairstyles and clothes? Premiere taking-the-mickey-off-of fodder. But damn if it didn't pull me in and make me re-assess the show. Sure, the aesthetics (for the humans) were still bad, but may I venture to say that had that been remedied, this would be the perfect fluff romcom of 2012? Cos I just did. Also, apparently Min Woo's stylist needs to be shot because he's currently sporting a coconut head, a la coconut head kid in Ned's declassified school survival guide, Da Lang from Hi My Sweetheart, or Taemin from SHINEE's debut days, or my brother when he was eight. Want to know they one thing they had in common? THEY ALL DITCHED THAT DAMN HAIRSTYLE AGES AGO.
Credit - The King Of Dramas: Meta, comic, dramatic, an all-star cast... I can't help but love this show. It's a laugh a minute, and you really don't need to use your brains, since even though it's quite intelligent, it's also very well-written, so your brain's not trying to catch up every second scene. Recommend? Well, unless something craptastic happens in the second half, yupyup~
Credit - Cheondamdoong Alice: I can't say I like the premise, but it's surprisingly not the trainwreck it seemed to be from the promo materials. It's not as gripping as the King Of Dramas, but it's quite good in it's own right. Let's just hope it doesn't get too angsty. Recommend? I probably will.
Credit - School 2013: I have only watched 3 episodes uptil now, but so far it's going quite strong. I was actually watching this with my brother, so now that I can't, I don't know if I will continue it or not (read below for explanations). Recommend? Yup
KDramas I wanted to watch but couldn't:
If you hadn't noticed already, there were a few notable omissions from the list. The first was the melos. Many people went crazy over the melos this year, from Nice Guy to I Miss You with god knows what in between or after or before. But if there is one thing I know, it is that I cannot watch melos, so there's no mention of them up there. The next few notable omissions were school based show, like Answer Me 1997 and Shut Up Flower Boy Band (and maybe School 2013 will end up in there). This isn't because the shows are bad, or that I don't like them, not AT ALL. The explanation sounds a bit dramatic, but it's not (take off your dramatic goggles for the next few sentences please ^_^). Basically, it's just that my school life wasn't the best part of my life (I still had friends, and I still had fun, but there was a lot of crap I had to deal with at the same time, like school administration and bullying). It's not that different from most people, I suppose, but I'm too thin-skinned, and too fresh out of school (that's how I feel anyway) so the issues hit too close to home while the wounds are too raw, and so I can't bear to watch them. I either feel envious of or sad for the characters, and me constantly wishing my life was different is very counter-productive. I guess I just need to grow up a little more and have a few more years' worth of gap before watching those shows. The other important omission was Gaksital, which I didn't watch for the political background the plot had. As a person coming from countries where the situations are highly unstable, and having parents who are married despite the fact that they are from rival countries, those issues, again, are too dark and hit too close to home, and send me reeling with nightmares and feeling helpless and useless and inadequate, so I had to avoid it for my own sanity. And now that those explanations are finished, you can put your dramatic goggles back on ^u^
JDramas That I Watched:
- Rich Man Poor Woman: Easily JDrama of the whole damn year. I have not had such a big crush on Oguri Shun since his Crows Zero/Gokusen days. Seriously guys. He is so droolworthy it's not even funny. And Ishihara Satomi? I had watched her in another show with Taguchi Junnosuke (Hanayome to Papa) and I had liked her. But this? This turned it into full blown love. This show made Aibu Saki ambiguously evil (again) and I still didn't hate it. This show was crack. Just. Pure. Crack. If you want to watch one JDrama for the whole year, this would be it. I am in love with this show. This was actually the first JDrama I recapped on LJ (and the first drama too xP).
- Omoni Naitemasu: A ridiculous premise yet awesome (a woman so beautiful that every straight man or les woman who takes one look at her will become infatuated with her to the point of ruin) that can only come out of a manga (it IS out of a manga, btw xP ), an adorable KAT-TUN baby (Nakamaru FTW) and committedly comedic acting has made this one of the most cutest JDramas I have watched. If you're looking for a fluffy manga-like visual romp, there ya go. You'll love all of them, I swear (I included a manga cover, in case~).
- Hana No Zubora Meshi: This is basically how my life would be if I had any say in it. Manga, food pr0nz, a NEWS baby, a NEWS soundtrack, no cleaning, and a loving husband stationed a bit far away (absence makes the heart grow fonder... and allows me to be lazy). 30 minutes of cute and yum. Seriously. What's not to love?
- Kodoku No Gurume (Season 2): Same author/creator as Hana No Zubora Meshi, which deals with a lone businessman with an appreciation for food and hidden gems of restaurants. More food pr0nz. Yes I am a glutton. Yes I am forced to live my life vicariously through middle-aged Japanese businessmen who like eating. Your point is?
- Tokyo Zenryoku Shoujo: If Arang was the most underrated kdrama of the year, then Tokyo Zenryoku Shoujo was the most underrated jdrama. This show had everything going for it. It was much better than the other preachy/procedural shows that were slated during the same time (yes, Priceless, I'm looking at you.. the only reason you had that high a viewership was cos of Kimura Takuya). If you had to watch one other JDrama after Rich Man Poor Woman, this would be it. In fact, I love it so much that I'm actually thinking of picking it up for baby recaps (and a fanfic, but ssshhhh). I adore Takei Emi (even though once upon a time I wasn't so keen on her) and I do wish Miura Shohei had more screentime
and a slightly more concrete, fluffy ending with Emi
, but other than that, this show is an adorkable stressbuster that got me through the last leg of my semester beautifully and with a tonne of giggles and smiles~
Credit
JDramas I couldn't watch:
These shows I couldn't watch due to time constraints/college, but they are on my list and I have heard good things about them: Piece, Monsters, Kekkon Shinai, Hitorishizuka, Shiritsu Bakaleya Koukou, Switch Girl (1&2), Sprout and Akumu-chan.
TWDramas I watched:
- Drama Go Go Go: What I wouldn't do to be Ruby Lin. Look at that harem. She gets to be in the middle of that. I may have been not so impressed with her in her younger days, but err... she is quite rocking everything currently. How many countries did she save in her past life? I mean. This show. So good. I find it amusing that there are two shows that took the drama world as their backdrop, and both have approached it in amusing and (somewhat) realistic ways. I like this show so much that I am picking it up for baby recaps
TWDramas I did not get to watch: This year was a bit lacklustre for me in TWDrama terms (Special mention to Fondant Garden though, for having a pretty first half and an amazing OST), so I only watched DGGG.. I plan on hoarding Miss Rose episodes and then watching the cream of the show while skipping the menboong bits. I am looking forward to some TWDramas, but that is the next post ^_^
Disclaimer: All piccies are taken from their respective dramacrazy, d-addicts, soompi or darksmurfsubs pages/threads unless otherwise credited (which is sometimes on the piccie itself ^^). And if you can't find them on there and they're not credited, then it was saved to my computer and therefore I can't trace back whose they are. If they're yours, tell me and I shall credit you gladly ^_^