Monthly Recap: January 2016

I've been watching and writing quite a lot this month so I thought what better way to cap it off the than with a recap. This may be a new monthly thing I'm trying out, so bear with me. These posts will be just like the name, a recap of the happenings of the month (Kdrama-wise at least) and a sort of update to the things I've been watching. And so we shall begin with January 2016.

Love for Maths and Kings in 'Splish Splash Love'

You know those moments at the end of a movie or drama where you can't help but grin all the way through the credits? It doesn't happen often, but this was what occurred to me after watching the two-episode drama Splish Splash Love. It may have to do with Kim Seul-gi, arguably one of the most adorable Korean actresses right now, and her equally cute chemistry with Yoon Doo-joon. It definitely wasn't the Pythagorean theorem Lee Do was so excited about.

First Take: Signal

What an intense 2 hours of television! I was on the edge of my seat for the premiere week of Signal, tvN's latest crime thriller offering. It may be because I don't often watch thriller shows, but it may also be because this is a great show. So a thriller will be among my watch list this season. I think I should get myself ready for all the spine chilling moments that will come in my future.

Park Yoo-chun's "How Much Love Do You Have in Your Wallet" MV Starring Seol Kyung-gu

What a long title right? Park Yoo-chun, whom we last saw as the wonderful Mu-gak in the great The Girl Who Sees Smells, enlisted in the military last August. But he has a few tricks up his sleeves and released a solo album just so that we don't miss him too much. While around this blog I talk about Yoo-chun mostly for his acting works, he's actually originally a singer. An idol specifically. And currently he's in the popular group JYJ. So as the singer that he is, he released his first ever solo album as a gift for his fans!

Drama Review: Reply 1988

After 35 hours (!), Reply 1988 is finally finished. And what a run it has been. Being the third installment of the Reply series, one might have doubts about the quality of this particular reason. But, having finished it, it was a great series still. Just a warning, this review is going to be long. Just like the series.

First Take: Moorim School

When I first saw the Moorim School poster, I could sense the potential fun that will come in our future. While last year I had a particular aversion to high school dramas, I think this particular one might be my re-entrance. How could it not? It features a magical school teaching martial arts. It's genius. Let's see if they will manage to keep the campy-ness till the end.

Pre-Finale Reply 1988 Thoughts

For a while I was contemplating on whether or not I should make a pre-finale post for Reply 1988 but after watching the penultimate week of episodes, I knew I needed to make it. I wrote one for the previous Reply series which was 2 years (!) ago, so might as well make one for this one. Let's make it a tradition. Since the pre-finale posts are supposed to be about who will end up with whom, we're sticking strictly on ships for this one. A review will come when time is due.

First Take: Cheese in the Trap

Webtoon adaptations has been the rage recently and it almost seems as if every other Korean drama is adapted from webtoons of various kinds. The most recent, most buzzed webtoon adaptation is probably Cheese in the Trap, currently airing on tvN. The crazy media coverage on its much argued casting by fervent fans made me perk up to the webtoon and subsequently the drama.

Drama Review: Because It's the First Time

Being 20* is an odd time to be in. You're not exactly a teenager who has the freedom without the responsibility, but you're not yet an adult who can live a (moderately) independent life. It's the odd transition between grade school days and work life. It's also a time that doesn't get too much spotlight in dramaland, oddly enough. We often see stories about teens and their angst or adults who have a difficult time being one. Not so much about the inbetweeners. Because It's the First Time attempts to do exactly like its title. A group of 20-year-olds who just graduated out of high school and dipping their toes in the cold, cruel world of adulthood for the first time.

*This is the Korean "20" which basically means 19 years old. But I suppose the sentiments are similar to actual 20 year olds.

Upcoming 2016 Dramas to Watch

The great thing about welcoming the new year is looking forward to new dramas. While there aren't really any particular dramas I'm absolutely ecstatic about, some did pique my interest. Maybe some of them might be added in your to-watch list too. I won't be able to write down every single new drama that's been announced to premiere in 2016 since that may be impossible. But the following selection are things that seem interesting to me.

2015 Drama Recap

Happy new year everyone!

Ah... it's that time of the year where we reminisce about the dramas that have gone past. This year wasn't terribly good for me as a drama watcher as I didn't really watch all too much. Nonetheless, I did watch a handful of dramas this year and as per what I did last year tradition, I will rank them in order from best to worst from my subjective point of view. The dramas on this list are the ones that ended in 2015, so no unfinished dramas here *cough*Baeksang*cough*.

Updated on January 6th. This is what happens when you make your list last minute.