Sungkyunkwan Scandal in Context
I finally found subs for the SKKS finale. And? It gave me everything I wanted from it. It was SO AWESOME that I COULD NOT STOP FLAILING at mousapelli. Ep 19 was so awesome I punched the air in glee multiple times. Ep 20, I had to stop and recover again and again, it had that many moments that went beyond even my expectations.
Let’s do a little nonspoilery comparison to some other kdramas I’ve seen, in no particular order.
Coffee Prince: Cross-dressing - check. Stubborn heroine - check. Not-too-annoying secondary girl - check. Beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check.
Antique Bakery (I know, it's a movie): Canon gay - check (IT’S CANON OKAY, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP). Yoo Ah In - check!
Delightful Girl Choon-hyang: Smart, practical heroine - check.
My Girl: non-crazy second male lead - check!
Boys Before Flowers (first half only!): BFF quartet - check. Humanization of male lead - check.
You’re Beautiful: Cross-dressing - check. (That’s ALL it has in common with YAB, I swear. Well, also some beautiful manpain. And some impulsive kissing.)
The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry: Fabulous fashion - check. Smart ladies who are really good at what they do - check. Friendship between a group of great characters is what really holds all the rest of the awesomeness together - check!
Triple: Song Joong Ki - check. More adorable than a basket full of kittens - check (see also: Song Joong Ki).
And finally, the ultimate amazing fusion kdramas of amazing fusion kdramas...
Tamra the Island: period costume - check. Kim Mi Kyung - check. More adorable than a basket full of kittens - check. Hilarity and hijinks - check. Hats - check! Beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check! Fun with manhwa aesthetics - check! Smart, principled love interest - check!
and
Legend: period costume - check! badass ladies - check! badass gents - check! beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check! ladies who can hold their liquor - check! fabulous music - check! kings who just want to do the right thing - check! political machinations left, right, and center - check! smoldering antagonist (that’s right I said smoldering) - check! smart, principled love interests - check! general fabulousness - CHECK!
ALL FABULOUS REASONS TO WATCH. GO, GO, WATCH IT!
Let’s do a little nonspoilery comparison to some other kdramas I’ve seen, in no particular order.
Coffee Prince: Cross-dressing - check. Stubborn heroine - check. Not-too-annoying secondary girl - check. Beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check.
Antique Bakery (I know, it's a movie): Canon gay - check (IT’S CANON OKAY, I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP). Yoo Ah In - check!
Delightful Girl Choon-hyang: Smart, practical heroine - check.
My Girl: non-crazy second male lead - check!
Boys Before Flowers (first half only!): BFF quartet - check. Humanization of male lead - check.
You’re Beautiful: Cross-dressing - check. (That’s ALL it has in common with YAB, I swear. Well, also some beautiful manpain. And some impulsive kissing.)
The Woman Who Still Wants to Marry: Fabulous fashion - check. Smart ladies who are really good at what they do - check. Friendship between a group of great characters is what really holds all the rest of the awesomeness together - check!
Triple: Song Joong Ki - check. More adorable than a basket full of kittens - check (see also: Song Joong Ki).
And finally, the ultimate amazing fusion kdramas of amazing fusion kdramas...
Tamra the Island: period costume - check. Kim Mi Kyung - check. More adorable than a basket full of kittens - check. Hilarity and hijinks - check. Hats - check! Beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check! Fun with manhwa aesthetics - check! Smart, principled love interest - check!
and
Legend: period costume - check! badass ladies - check! badass gents - check! beautiful manpain (some but not too much) - check! ladies who can hold their liquor - check! fabulous music - check! kings who just want to do the right thing - check! political machinations left, right, and center - check! smoldering antagonist (that’s right I said smoldering) - check! smart, principled love interests - check! general fabulousness - CHECK!
ALL FABULOUS REASONS TO WATCH. GO, GO, WATCH IT!