aetherna: (chibi9)
Watching Korean dramas is one of my most dependable escape routes, but I have not been very happy with my selection lately.

I think the last K-drama I finished before starting my latest batch was Hotel del Luna (starring one of my girlcrushes Lee Ji Eun (IU) and Yeo Jin Goo) which was something of 2019. I enjoyed the first half very much; the slow start built momentum as mysteries were laid down and relationships bloomed. It's just that I walk away also feeling slightly disappointed that the core issue was resolved by leaving a bitter aftertaste. I was waiting to get slapped, but the dynamic had gone down the slope before reaching the heights that I expected. I couldn't feel the relief because I didn't see if the characters were truly relieved (and didn't understand why they feel relieved with just that). And then we ran out of time. Despite everything, the ensemble is endearing and the soundtracks are charming. It's my favorite performance of IU as an actress so far (since I don't watch My Ahjussi). I'd say it's still a story worth wasting your time for if you don't mind a little horror on your screen.



I remember that I was looking forward to The King: Eternal Monarch after Hotel ended because of its interesting premise and cast. While waiting, I randomly clicked on Find Me in Your Memory which sounded amazingly bland on paper but filled with synergy in actuality. The tone, the atmosphere, the soundtracks, the characters, their interactions and dialogues, their inner fights and silly tries blended harmoniously together. Such a pleasing first-time meeting with stars Kim Dong Wook and Moon Ga Young. And then the second half happened where it feels like the writer wasn't entirely sure about how to end the story. Have you tried imagining what happened after the time skip without the time skip and separation issue? What do you think would happen if the main couple thinks a little like the secondary couple? It would fit the title much better: as the heroine finds herself in the hero's memory of the past, the hero finds himself in the heroine's perception of present time. They storm through the hurdles while holding onto each other and their memories, as painful as they are. Several online comments claimed that the last episode's beauty justified the lack of logic; I wish I could look at things as simple as that. The wasted potentials hurt me so.



Talking about wasted potentials, nothing screams the phrase better than The King: Eternal Monarch. The drama goes from being one I wait with excitement into something-so-bad-that-it-is-so-good in a negative way. How much I wish I could pinpoint one culprit for this subpar product. Sometimes one element saves others like with those I mentioned above, but this drama seems like a mistake of various layers. Ultimately, we are left with a show that doesn't seem to have a logic of its own, and if that isn't the lowest point of storytelling, what is? I am not even going to complain about the parallel universe theory or time travel possibilities when the production team can show a king grows old in 25 years but not his attendants, or not show me exactly what the hero and heroine like from each other, or not tell me one good reason why I should be scared of the antagonists ten episodes in! It's not only a waste of Lee Min Ho and Kim Go Eun as leads (especially when the latter is another one of my girlcrushes), but of every element involved in this project.

One extra interesting reason (which probably only applies to me) is how the romantic points used remind me of the writer's previous project so much: the poem, the falling autumn leaves, and the brown coat. They are very minor, you see, but when nothing else anchors me to the current story, how can I tell my brain not to wander around?



I am probably using my head too much while watching these shows. Above all, that's because I sincerely want to understand the story after suspending my concept of reality to a certain limit. I will just stick to the easy, raw, slice-of-life style of Hospital Playlist for now, which I believe can steal heart just from one short clip like this.

aetherna: (artistique3)
My grandmother complained about how I dislike fruits, my mom complained about how I dislike sports. I'm a doctor-gonna-be, and look at how unhealthy I live. :P

Sudirman Cup 2013, a badminton competition, started yesterday. Too bad I couldn't watch it on TV, not only because I don't have the channel it is aired on, but also because it's always aired in the morning where I have classes to attend. -__- So I'm watching it on YouTube, on BWF's official channel~ Still on the preliminary rounds, though. I'm just checking some Indonesia's rounds, as well as waiting patiently for Lee Yong Dae's appearance...~ Go Indonesia! Go South Korea! <3

A friend is probably coming this weekend, he said he had a basketball competition coming. I'm wondering if I'm free enough to go watch it... Exams are coming after all... And still lots of scanlating-related works to do, haha~

I like watching badminton and basketball the most. Probably because they are not as long as soccer, for example. And you can feel the tense more between participants.
aetherna: (chibi6)
More than a week without updates. Busy, busy...

The title this time is taken from my tweet a while ago when I was watching MasterChef Indonesia Season 3. I remember watching MasterChef US with a participant being blind, and she was as awesome as any other normal participants -- if not better. That was something amazing. This time I saw one of our participants being someone deaf. I thought, in cooking you need sight more than hearing, but then if he couldn't hear the instructions or not knowing when the bell ended as a sign or when he couldn't hear the voice of something boiled as you cooked it... It sure is hard. So thumbs up for both of them. So much inspiration.

Life has been busy but slightly fun, I guess. Finished with the national biology competition yesterday. Not too tired since I didn't really do much, but I enjoyed it. After all it's the last chance to enjoy the competition as official committee members; next year I'd just be a visitor who decided to help.

Today I had my first TV shooting, whee! So my church was invited to join in a Catholic discussion program on TV. A choir group was selected, and I was asked to help to play the music. We recorded the sound last week, today we recorded the people involved, haha. It was my first time being recorded for playing instrument too, not singing. Just minor make-ups and our usual clothes. Looking forward for the result!

My tablet returns to life! After letting it die for a while, I pressed the power button for few seconds and it rebooted. I was sooo happy.

And ultimately exams are coming. What have I done? I know you can guess. Seventeen lectures materials to review for the exam, and not to mention that those were superficial so I need to read textbooks too...

Life is so cool.
aetherna: (chibi7)
This Korean drama has been keeping me occupied these last few weeks. It revived a hidden, sleeping fangirl part inside of me. It unleashed my fangirlism in such a crazy way that it made me feel so high up on the air almost everyday watching the scenes and wondering what would happen next. As crazy as I could be, I decided to write a review even though the series has not ended yet. Well, it will end this week, two more episodes to go after all. :(

Obvious warning, spoilers ahead, as much as I try to keep it as superficial as possible, so do NOT read if you do NOT want to be spoiled!

The King 2 Hearts (더킹 투하츠; TK2H; K2H)





Genre: Romance, Action, Politic, Comedy
Episodes: 20
Broadcast Network: MBC
Broadcast Period: 2012-Mar-21 to 2012-May-24
Air Time: Wednesday & Thursday 21:55 (GMT+9)

Cast


Lee Seung Gi as Lee Jae Ha
Ha Ji Won as Gim Hang A
Jo Jung Suk as Eun Si Gyeong
Yoon Je Moon as Gim Bong Gu
Lee Yoon Ji as Lee Jae Sin

Original Sound Track


K.Will – Love is Crying
Taeyeon - Missing You Like Crazy
J-Min - I Can't Tell
Lee Yoon Ji - The First Love
Superkidd - I`ll Live My Way In


South Korea’s spoiled prince encounters North Korea’s greatest female soldier! After several awkward and difficult moments, the prince and soldier fall desperately in love. Without any eagerness to bring about the reunification of the two Koreas, they grapple with the disapproval from their families. As a black comedy and romance drama, the show will touch viewers’ hearts.


Read more... )

All in all, I didn't regret watching this drama at all. I'm glad I liked Lee Seung Gi from before, from Brilliant Legacy. I checked K2H because of him, and didn't regret it at all. In fact it colored my days waiting for new episodes and with the amazing soundtracks.

I so can't wait to see how this story would conclude. AhHa rocks! <3
aetherna: (chibi3)
I hate noise. Especially in the morning when I could've slept more but was woken up because of the noises.

I may be too strict in my sleep requirement. Silence, dark room, cold one too... Just my comfortable space. I don't mind music, but I would rather it calm and quiet and small so I would fall asleep myself.

I just hate waking up because of TV noises, people's loud voices, or random musics. That is seriously annoying even though I already have to get up or even past my wake up time. Well, if there are lectures at campus it is an exception.

But in holidays like this?! My last holiday?! Goodness, leave me alone.