Dramas Lately Watched

I've been trying to write a decent Christmas post for about a week now, and I keep coming up with nothing--perhaps it's too much eggnog.

Spooky Stories

It's that time of the year again! Pumpkins everywhere, bright colors on the trees, and plenty of chills in the dark while eating that hard-won candy.

Back to School 2015

I know that look. That's the back to school look of dread.

Hey all! If you're anything like me, you're gearing up for another long year of academics. School can be a wonderful and a terrible experience...often at the same time.

So what could be better than a few kdramas to give us inspiration on that special balance between love, family, friendship, school, and, well, sleep? Catch some good ideas to get you back in the mindset below!

Disclaimer: Do not actually make choices based on those of the heroines in kdramas. Unless you want to end up dressed as a boy, hanging out with the most popular clique in school and their murderously snobby parents, at risk of breaking into spontaneous song at any moment, facing a possible frame up as a cheater and/or thief, with a weary teacher desperately believing in you against all odds and logic.

Or maybe you do. In that case...

Lee Jung Seok Marathon: Phase 3, Pinocchio

Pinocchio. The last chapter of my Jung Seok marathon (we're not going to mention Doctor Stranger, ok? As far as we're concerned, it. Never. Happened).

From the same writer/director team as I Hear Your Voice, with Lee Jung Seok playing the male lead again it was--no surprise--pretty similar to the previous hit.

Lee Jong Suk Marathon: Phase 2, I Hear Your Voice

Confession time: I'd heard so much in praise of I Hear Your Voice I was skeptical. The components seemed a little odd, and I can often find these teenager/adult relationships off-putting unless I seriously adjust my lens.

Guess who was wonderfully surprised?

Spoilers under the cut.

Lee Jong Suk Marathon: Phase 1, School 2013

I'm still a fairly new drama-watcher. I only started in early 2013, and it's felt like I've been playing catch up ever since, trying to watch all the important dramas, the popular ones, the ones with the hottest actors and actresses, so that I can begin to form any kind of coherent understanding and dialogue with the genre.

In this mad rush of drama watching, Lee Jong Suk for the most part passed me by. I saw him in some of his earlier roles (Prosecutor Princess, Secret Garden), liked him, and then never really thought about him. Of late, though, it's become hard not to think of Lee Jong Suk since he's become so big. I've heard so many good things, I decided the time was right to plunge into the wonder of his big parts.  Hence what I am dubbing the Great Lee Jong Suk Marathon of 2015.

First show up---School 2013. (Beware spoilers under the cut!)

King2Hearts

It was refreshing to come across a show that glorified peace the way King2Hearts did...the way it reminded us that our similarities are more than our differences, that we can love our enemy, that we have to look past the past. I was weirdly moved by that...perhaps because that's not something that's emphasized in American media.

We love our war, after all.

Also, it was a timely show considering the Sony/North Korea blow-up that's been happening the past few weeks. Grounding, even. I pride myself sometimes on being unbiased. This show reminded me exactly how shaped by my world my perspectives are. That's a good thing to remember.

So on to the review!