Firsts...

[rosdrise]

Finished Pride this weekend, and while I felt the last couple episodes left something to be desired, I enjoyed it immensely. I've updated my drama rankings accordingly. I even shuffled old stuff around a little. I think I was giving too much slack to some of the two stars series. When in doubt I just rank something two, but I went ahead and dropped some down to one because there are series ranked as two that are better. It's a shifting scale, deal with it!

Now I'm on the hunt for something new to watch. Most of what is on my plate at the moment are currently airing series. Buzzer Beat subs come out at a steady pace (Though, given the spoilers for ep 7 - SUBS CAN'T COME SOON ENOUGH!), but the second episode of Karei naru Spy has YET to be subbed, which is infinitely frustrating. More Vineyard Man is on hold until I do posts on the episodes I've already capped. It's really easy for me to get lazy and just rewatch, but I can only justify it with recap posts. That leaves Painter of the Wind as my sole, readily available show.

Given that, I tried out several new series recently. The first was Long Vacation because I needed a new KimuTaku drama and this had been proclaimed as similar to Buzzer Beat, which I'm really enjoying. The first episode was OK, I wasn't blown away by it, but I bet it will be a fun romcom which I don't have a problem with. The dynamics between the leads really did remind me a Buzzer Beat.

Then I tried Sleeping Forest because darkeyedwolf posted about it and it sounded a lot like A Million Stars Falling from the Sky. Plus, it's a retelling of Sleeping Beauty which is enough to sell me on anything. The first episode was a little slow as it was mainly the heroine walking around to her own narration. But Kimura plays a total stalker, who is quite upfront about his stalking tendencies. I think I'm going to keep with it at least until the real mystery kicks in.

At sailorgaia's suggestion I watched the first episode of Tamra, The Island. It's unapologetically silly, but if I'm going to be watching Sleeping Forest, I think this might be a good way to counteract the creepiness. Granted, the beginning English scenes feature some of the worst acting I've ever had the misfortune of watching. But when the action switches to the island it's wonderfully carefree and fun. I attribute this mostly to our heroine, Beo Jin, who is completely adorable. I totally ship her (and her cute diving outfit) with William (and his awful hair).



Caps shamelessly stolen from dramabeans as I have to watch this streaming (UGH).






Plus, Beo Jin's mom is played by the actress who was Bason in Legend. She's JUST as kickass in this. I kind of love that the women run the show. Beo Jin's dad is relegated to showing Park Gyu how to use the toilet. HA.

Note: flutegirl - Angel is scared of chickens, just like you.

Comments

[dali-lamb.livejournal.com]

I can't believe you guys roped me into these dramas--but it does feel pretty awesome to be a part of the club here :B

While I admit the first scenes with William are not the best, I'm not sure if that doesn't account to (as Wilma put it) a European being directed in a Korean way, I mean the quirkiness that one is to exude and the expected over-acting. Perhaps its just weird seeing it come from someone like William, whereas Beo Jin's facial reactions are deemed appropriate and wonderful. I think he vastly improved as time went on, though his French accent is VERY apparent. I love William (and his "treasure" XD) and Beo Jin and SHIP THEM HARD!!

~Tori

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

It wasn't so much William as his mother. Her speech was so stilted and awkward.

It is different watching Korean actors in a Korean drama, so some of the weird factor probably is the fact that William is speaking English. A lot of Asian dramas are a bit more over the top when compared to Western entertainment. But it's not impossible to notice over-acting by Korean actors even in their language. Jandi in Boys Over Flowers was guilty of that alot.

[sailorgaia.livejournal.com]

Bwah ha ha; we pulled her in!! C:<

To join in on this, I totally agree about the Mom being atrocious but as to further clarify what Tori said, I find that acting is sometimes different regionally and that definitely is apparent with the mother's acting. Nevertheless, I've seen the same sort of exagerated mannerisms/acting displayed by many maternal types in other dramas by Asians (the curling of the lips, the exaggerated motions, the stilted speech) that I honestly didn't mind it; I dismissed it. I have a feeling the Korean director instructed her to do a lot of that. Yeah, it was stupid when you compare it to actual caucasion acting style but I bet not so apparent to the Korean viewers. William I do find to be very good at his role, if rough around the edges. He got better every epsiode; I just wish they gave him more material!!

Aww, I liked Jandi; I thought she portrayed her role really well! I suppose I'm partial because I also think Brendan Fraser is a good actor, which automatically puts me in the "has no taste" corner among other acting critics. My personal philosophy on actors & acting is that as long as they can make you believe they are who they are playing on screen, they're doing their job. When it starts to sound forced (take any Olsen Twin movie or any Keanu Reeves flick outside of Bill & Ted.....or that other one where he was an alien), that's a sign of a poor actor. This is what makes the original Trilogy of Star Wars good and the Prequels bad...and I better stop there on the Star Wars talk cuz that could take me into a long rant!

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

I do understand what you guys are saying about the Korean/Japanese/etc approach to acting/directing/writing. There are a lot of mannerisms that work on Asian actors but come off as weird when portrayed by Western actors. But I just can't get over how bad it was, even if she was instructed to act like that. It was just bad. But then, like you said, if say Beo Jin's mom was portrayed by a Western actress I probably would find her overacting. Luckily, Tamra is the kind of show that lends itself to charicatures, so in the end it is ok.

lkadjoasd, I'm not focusing my thought very well today, sorry for the incoherence.

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

OH, AND WELCOME TO THE CLUB.

You can check out, but YOU CAN NEVER LEAVE.

[onmyowndick.livejournal.com]

I love your drama rankings! So organized and fun to read!

You should totally watch Alone in Love. It's really good.

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

I've never even heard of Alone in Love. I'll definitely give it a shot! Is it sad?

[onmyowndick.livejournal.com]

It came out around the same time as Coffee Prince. It's not sad. It's about a divorced couple who stayed friends and fall in love again. Very understated and low-key. Lee Hana is in it as the main female character's little sister and she is really awesome.

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

Did you like ASF when Naoki and Minako finally met? That's what the rest of the drama is like (at least what I've seen so far), all mindgames and intense psycho chemistry and the mystery of her past. There's some other good stuff that comes in but their relationship is the real draw for me.

Finished Pride this weekend, and while I felt the last couple episodes left something to be desired, I enjoyed it immensely.

I feel the same way! (Actually I'm a little excited to find someone else who didn't think it was flawless!)

Pride spoilers...

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah, that's when it finally picked up for me. He was all *creepystalkerstare* and she was all *wtfbuticantlookaway*

RE: Pride. The problem with the final act was Halu and Aki had like ZERO screen time together for the most part. They were the largest draw, the drama depended on their interaction. It lost all life without that.

HATED the timeskip. Aki had to wait three years for what reason? Just so she waited longer for Halu than her old boyfriend? :/

Re: Pride spoilers...

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

I was annoyed that she waited yet again. It pissed me off that she went through ALL THAT and still learned NOTHING. My ideal ending would've been Halu renting an apartment in New York and Aki popping up next door, having decided to take an active role in her own life and really pursue what she wanted.

Re: Pride spoilers...

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

EXACTLY. Halu got to return to Japan all conquering hero and what did Aki achieve?

... that she can wait if she REALLY wants to.

Re: Pride spoilers...

[darkeyedwolf.livejournal.com]

Good women wait, dontcha know.

[sisterjune.livejournal.com]

I'm so so so amused by the thought of david boreanaz running away from chickens. Consider my day made.

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

You're welcome! XD

[boycottbananas.livejournal.com]

BB WAS FECKING AWESOME.

Tamra looks so dysfunctional-ly wrong, but dkshksj people's write ups about it makes it look interesting. D: And I can already tell which ship I would root for (Beo Jin/William) but which one with come out in the end (Beo Jin/whatever-that-guy's-name-is). >_>;;

[cranberrysheep.livejournal.com]

I NEVER KNEW PI HAD IT IN HIM.

I've only seen the one ep, but Tamra is refreshing in that it doesn't try to be anything other than what it is. It's a goofy little sageuk. Nothing earth-shattering, and certainly not for everyone, but if your in the mood for it then it's just right.

I just hate that I have to watch it streaming because the location looks beautiful.

[boycottbananas.livejournal.com]

I DON'T THINK ANYONE DID! I mean, weren't all of his other kisses failures? These and old ones. >_>;;

The cinematography for it does look amazing, but idk if I'd actually watch it, and if I do, it would only be to fulfill my OTP...ness.

It isn't up to download anywhere? D: