Watching my way through 2012...
Happy 2013!! =) I've written my piece on what 2012 is to me personally
and finished some of my 'holiday revision', so I thought to write a not-very-short post on all the stuff I watched in 2012. To be honest, I wasted quite a bit of time watching crappy shows, so I'll evaluate what I watched (and read recaps of) using the scale below:
5 stars: TOTALLY WORTH EVERY SECOND OF MY LIFE!!!
4 stars: Good usage of watching time!
3 stars: Watchable, with the fast-forward button and online recaps.
2 stars: Errr...I'm better off sticking to recap reading.
1 star: Not even worth my time reading recaps...
I've also categorised them in terms of dramas/anime, variety shows and idol-related reality shows, more to jog my memory than anything. ^^ I guess that reflects the vast amount of rubbish I've watched throughout the year xP
Dramas/anime
What I DID watch to the end!
A Gentleman's Dignity: 1.5 stars
4 men in their 40s acting like 14-year-olds.
I still can't believe I sat through 20h of this crap without fast-forwarding it all because of my beloved Lee Jonghyun. Luckily, this was shown during my holidays or I would have been even angrier with myself. As much as there are many cute scenes, even the combination of Jang Donggun, Kim Woobin (my favourite newbie!) and Lee Jonghyun (my all time favourite member of my favourite kpop band) can't save this mess of a script. *Reminder to self: AVOID ALL FUTURE WORKS BY THE WRITER OF SECRET GARDEN*
Arang and the Magistrate: 4 stars
A historical fantasy about a ghost trying to find her cause of death and the new magistrate in town being dragged into the investigation.
I love the tone of this drama and how it creates a rich world around it's characters, complete with its own set of rules on other-worldly matters. It is the perfect blend of fantasy, mystery, comedy and ultimately, a love story that transcends death. I also appreciate that the scriptwriter doesn't look down on the audience and gives them the opportunity to try and unravel the mystery by themselves, feeding them little nuggets of information along the way. Even though the pace dragged a little for some of the later episodes, the ending totally redeemed it. SO MUCH CUTE!!!
Ma Boy: 4 stars
A pretty boy has to pretend to be a female star for various reasons...
It's a cute 'disney' version with a twist on the usual girl-pretends-to-be-a-guy premise that has been used in Asian dramas one too many times (thanks Hana Kimi!!). The boy is really pretty though, so he manages to pull it off. I like its earnestness and short length (3 episodes long only!), even though the whole concept is super outrageous to begin with. Good cute fun, where even the baddies are pretty harmless.
Reply 1997: 4.5 stars
A group of friends look back on their high school days in the 90s.
I LOVVVVVVEEEEEEEEE this show! In fact, I was so desperate to watch the next episode that I resorted to chinese subtitles (which I usually avoid since my chinese is pretty rusty). It reminded me of my primary school days where everything was so much simpler...people played with tamagochis in class, things were shared on floppy disks, music was heard on through radios or CDs, and the lucky few had PAGERS. The only things that I can't really identify with was the crazy H.O.T vs Sechkies fan-war going on among Korean youths at that time, but I really like that touch since they had the ex-Sechkies leader, Eun Jiwon, in their cast. The rest of the cast was pretty green as well, but they played their roles with so much heart that everything seemed so believable (especially Seo In-guk, APink's Eunji and Infinite's Hoya). The writers also put in a lot of effort into putting in minor details, cheek-in-tongue references (like 1n2d's resident fool Kim Jongmin having a cameo as a DOCTOR?!) and a heart-warming family plotline into 16 ~45min episodes. Of course, the question about which high school couple(s) eventually got together also kept me glued to my screen, hoping
not so silently that my ideal pairing would be realised. It would have been the perfect drama of the year if they hadn't extended the last 2 episodes, coz that really affecting the usually tight pacing. Baaaaaaa!!!
Shut Up: Flower Boy Band: 4.2 stars
A high school band goes through thick and thin....but will they come out of their trials in 1 piece?
This was such a gritty and realistic view of a band (called "Eye Candy"...hurhur) who have to cope with the loss of their leader, school, the fickle entertainment industry, love, betrayal, family problems...poor them. I love the BROMANCE going on, but this show keeps throwing more and more things at them to test their friendship. *sigh* Even though these 5 didn't continue to play as a band in the end, I'm glad they managed to stay best friends who have each others' backs no matter where life takes them. Btw, the OST is AWESOME and they all can actually play their instruments!! =)
The Story of Hyang Dan: 4 stars
The Korean folktale of "Mong Ryong and Chun Hyang" retold with a major twist!
I think I've watched too many Korean shows because this is not the first time I've come across another retelling of this famous Korean folklore. But this speculates what would happen if Mong Ryong had fallen in love with Chun Hyang's maid instead. It's short and sweet at 2 episodes, plus it still feels fresh even though it's almost 5years old. I love the random 'Greek chorus' that pops up randomly throughout the show to act as exposition fairies...super cute!
Vampire Idol: 3.5 stars
Vampires from outer space turn into idol group trainees on Earth when they are unable to get back to their own planet.
The premise is outrageous and the cast is cute (in their own endearing ways), but the fact that the higher-ups decided to cut the total episode count by almost half due to low ratings is UNFORGIVABLE. I can see that the writer had bigger plans in mind, but I can only speculate what happened in the end. That said, I marathoned this sitcom in about a week and loved its cute little fish-out-of-the-water episodes as the vampires try to adapt to life on planet Earth. On hindsight (since no one recapped the drama), I might just watch Lee Jung, Kim Woo-bin, Hong Jong-hyun, (bread) Minah and Yoo-bi's scenes, then fast-forward the rest of it that I'm not interested in, ESPECIALLY that annoying Hwang prince.
What I'm halfway through...
Kaichou wa Maid-Sama: 3.5 stars
What happens when people find out that the tough and very first female president of the student council works in a Maid Cafe!
I love watching animes, but I don't dare to watch too many coz there are usually too many episodes. I'm still around episode 10 for this one, but I like its cute, breezy tone. It helps that the female lead is relatable and the male lead is caring without being over-bearing (so far anyway).
King of Dramas: 4 stars
A disgraced drama producer, Anthony Kim, tries to start his career again with a make-or-break drama.
SO MUCH META. This drama about drama-making really milks its source material for all its worth: Almost everything that CAN go wrong while producing a drama DOES go wrong. It's actually a tongue-in-cheek look at the Korean entertainment system, and a well written one at that. Pity about the ratings, but I'm sure this will go down as a cult hit for years to come since every time I see a new scandal pop out in kdrama-land, my first thought is "What Would Anthony Do?". I love the cast and I love how they turn often used drama cliches on their heads. Itching to see how the last episode will turn out...^^
~
I haven't actually watched more than a couple of episodes for the rest of the dramas below so I'm just basing it on the recaps and whether they interest me in the first place. As such, I'll just write what I think about it without going much into the plot or acting.
Those I followed, via recaps
Big: 1.5 stars
I think the Hong sisters bit off more than they could chew...how can you write a body-swapping drama in which 1 half of the body-swapped pair is sleeping THE ENTIRE TIME. Don't even talk about the plot-holes and the ending. *sigh*
Dr Jin: 1.5 stars
The only thing I got from this is: Dr Jin is a quack-doctor who doesn't learn from his past mistakes! On the spot brain surgery, time-travelling gummi foetus tumour, candlelight breast examination, advanced breast cancer cured with a single operation, growing fungi for antibiotics...BWAHAHAHAHA. What a joke, but I'll give you an extra 0.5 stars for making me laugh with this ridiculous plot. Then again, if the script was vetted by a medical professional, all the patients Dr Jin treated would have died from sepsis and other complications, so there will not be any story to tell.
Equator Man: 2 stars
Don't remember much about it other than it's about revenge and it's got Uhm Tae-woong in it. Nothing wrong with it, just nothing particularly memorable.
Faith: 2.5 stars
Lee Min-ho in a time-travelling historical drama! I like him, but I remember how that wasn't enough to sustain my interest through Personal Taste. Don't think I would finish this either, especially with many commenters saying how bored they were.
Full House Take 2: 2 stars
I like Noh Min-woo and Park Ki-woong...but that atrocious hair!!! Sorry guys. The story looks harmless enough though.
Gaksital: 3.5 stars
I caught the last episode without subs and I loved it! The problem is that this show is soooo dark and there are many torture scenes (and other atrocities associated with the Japanese Occupation)....I don't think I can watch it alone at night. That said, I admire Joo Won and Park Ki-woong for being able to act so intensely and differently from their normal self. Great actors.
Ghost: 3 stars
Cyber detective story! I like! Pity about this annoying thing called 'exams' which stopped me from watching it at that time.
History of the Salaryman: 2 stars
I remember it as an off-beat critique about the business world, describing it in terms of "The 3 Kingdoms" (三国演义). Not something I would deliberately watch anyway.
Jeon Woo-chi: 2.5 stars
I LOVED the movie Jeon Woo-chi, but this drama adaptation just doesn't sustain my interest enough for me to actually watch it. I'm sure parts of it are funny, especially since it's Cha Tae-hyun we're talking about here.
King 2 Hearts: 3.5 stars
Lee Seung-gi and Ha Ji-won!! In a love story the transcends the North-South divide! Ahhhh....I'll watch you one day!! Honest!
Moon that Embraces the Sun: 1.2 stars
WRITER-NIM! How can you kill off Jung Il-woo at the end?!?! He's the only reason I bothered checking out this show in the first place!!! For that alone, I refuse to watch this long-winded tale of a king whose inability to forget his first love got in the way of him running the country.
Operation Proposal: 2 stars
So this guy keeps being able to go back in time to fix his relationship with his 1st love...while the plot wasn't super interesting, could I have that time-travelling device please? kthnxbye.
Queen In-hyun's Man: 3.5 stars
Yet another time travelling rom-com, but one in which the lovers decide to take their fate into their own hands. Ahhh....I'll watch you one day as well! Especially since the leads did get together in real life, their chemistry there must be sizzling. ^^
Rooftop Prince: 3 stars
Yes, 3rd time-travelling drama in a row (what's with kdrama-land and time-travelling in 2012?). Even from reading the recaps, I don't think I'll enjoy the company/family politics. I did like the fish-out-of-water experiences of the time-travelers I saw during the previews, so I might just fast-forward everything except for the
4 power rangers Joseon F4 parts.
School 2013: 3.5 stars
This is currently showing now and I'm really tempted to watch it. It just seems so real, like those characters are just more exaggerated versions of the people you would find in a typical class...and you just want them all to find some direction in life. The fact that it's got Lee Jong-seok (possibly the best thing about Secret Garden) and Kim Woo-bin (!!!) is a major push factor. The only thing stopping me now is...school. Like in real life. -.-
To the Beautiful You: 2 stars
So this is the korean version of Hana kimi, produced by (and of course starring people from) SMent. I guess it's cute, but a little pointless...like why did the girl sneaked into the all-boys school in the first place to help the high-jumper she doesn't even know personally? It's not as much fun as the first Japanese version either (which I watched and loved), so I only watched the episodes which Kim Woo-binnie made a cameo appearance in.
White Christmas: 3 stars
This is probably the only drama Kim Woo-bin was in that I haven't at least watched an episode of. I heard that it's not bad, but I'm a little bit scared to watch it with all its dark themes...
The ones I totally gave up on
Dream High 2: 1 star
It's just 1 very VERY long-winded MV....and even then, I've seen MVs with a better story-line than theirs.
Haeundae Lovers: 1.5 stars
I followed this to keep myself occupied while running on the treadmill. Then I started running on the roads instead, and forgot all about this drama.
Oohlala Spouses: 1 star
I watched the first 2 episodes, but the husband was such a big fat cheating douchebag that I couldn't bear to watch on, especially since I guessed that they would get back together anyway (it's just the nature of this type of story...).
Vampire Prosecutor 2: 1.5 stars.
Even reading the first few recaps left me so confused that I didn't feel like reading on. Such a shame, since it looked good on paper....
And those that don't even remotely interest me
I Miss You: 1 star
I hate melodramas, especially those which are fabricated to wring out every last tear from their audience.
Nice Guy: 1 star
I don't like revenge/amnesia dramas either. I did succumb to the positive reviews floating around the internet and watch the last episode. However, all I got was that the female lead must have been quite blind/unobservant to see that the male lead was freaking BLEEDING FROM A STAB WOUND during the last conversation and kiss scene...and then the male lead suddenly becomes a doctor on a remote island after a 'convenient' time-skip. O.o
Variety shows
1 Night 2 Days (Seasons 1 & 2): 5 stars!!!!!!!!
LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE. I don't care what my sister says about "being loyal to Season 1", I love both seasons. Season 1 ended in 2012 spring and yes, I was sad to see the old cast and crew leave. However, after almost 5 years on the same show, I appreciate that some of the cast members have chosen to leave to advance their careers. Kang Ho-dong, Eun Ji-won, Lee Seung-gi, Na PD and the rest of the old crew, you will be missed!! (which reminds me, I still need to finish the 1n2d post).
As for Season 2, Lee Sugeun, Kim Jong-min and Uhm Tae-woong stayed on, plus they got a new producer in the form of Bird PD and 4 new members (Kim Seung-woo, Cha Tae-hyun, Sung Shi-kyung and Joo Won). While it's still about a group of guys travelling to different places in South Korea for an overnight trip, the chemistry between the new cast is entertaining but different from Season 1. I guess because many of the new cast members aren't used to doing variety shows, they can't come up with random things as easily as the Season 1 cast to fill up the air-time, but their earnestness makes up for it. They are improving quickly though and developing their "variety personalities", so I don't think that they will lose out to the Season 1 cast in time to come. This is the ONLY variety show that I follow EVERY SINGLE WEEK without fail....it is that AWESOME. I can even sacrifice my dramas to watch this. ^^
Running Man: 4 stars
I like the whole concept and most of the cast...I just don't have the time to watch ALL the episodes. Some of the guests can make the episode really boring and some of editing is a little bit choppy. I did enjoy the episodes that I watched! Like the HK one, or the one with Park Ji-sung. =) I do know enough about Running Man to be able to discuss it, just that I don't bother watching it unless many people specifically tell me to watch a particular episode.
We Got Married (Seasons 3 & 4): 3 stars
To be honest, I stopped watching this show after Yongseo ended in 2011. Khuntoria, Jangwoo, Brave and TeukSora couples just didn't interest me enough. And then I heard that ZE:A's Kwanghee, Secret's Sunhwa and MBLAQ's Lee Joon were going to be part of the new season. So I gave it a try! At first, the Kwanghee-Sunhwa were hilarious...but Kwanghee is starting to get on my nerves with his gross eating habits and narcissism, while I have no idea why Sunhwa keeps trying to make Kwanghee jealous by frequently mentioning Siwan, his group member in ZE:A. Also, I liked JoonSeo couple a lot, but with the new scandal involving Oh Yeon Seo (Joon's 'wife'), I just can't buy this couple anymore. Looks like I'll be dropping this very soon...again. -.-
Hello Baby (Seasons 5 & 6): 4 stars for season 5, 3 stars for season 6
MBLAQ were the daddies for Season 5, which saw them taking care of 3 kids from different countries. I loved the interaction between all the MBLAQ members and the 3 children, so sweet!! Ahhh...I think they'll make great parents in the future, especially Seungho. I like his firm but patient parenting style, as well as how he tries to engage all the children equally in the way that suits them best. ^^
As for Season 6 with B1A4, the interaction between the group and the children was just not there. I'm sure they interacted alot, but we didn't get to see most of it on camera. I blame the crew for showing us the various missions B1A4 goes through instead of what we watch Hello Baby for: The interaction between the 'daddies' and the children!!!
Others....
I used to watch
Gag Concert A LOT, but the new skits aren't as funny so I've stopped watching it for slightly more than half a year now. The same goes for
Happy Together - I don't like the new format as much, so I stopped watching it. As for
Win Win and
Strong Heart, I only watch them if I like the guests. I still watch cuts of
娱乐百分百 and
康熙来了 on youtube occasionally as well, but I still prefer the old episodes. ^^
Idol-related reality shows
Infinite
I must have watched ALL their variety shows at some point in time: You are my Oppa, Sesame Player, Birth of a Family, Ranking King, Weekly Idol...and whatever interviews, BTS and shows they participated in. They are just ALL so suited for reality TV. ^^ I liked how they played around in Sesame Player, how they raised 3 abandoned puppies till the puppies were old enough to get adopted, as well as how they competed against each other in various categories for Ranking King. So glad they are getting the recognition they deserve now coz I TOTALLY love their songs.
MBLAQ
Other than Hello Baby, I also watched MBLAQ's Sesame Player and Idol Manager. They are also very suited for reality TV and absolutely hilarious. 1 or 2 of the 'managers' in Idol Manager were occasionally quite annoying so I preferred Sesame Player (especially the episode where the guys asked Joon some 'IQ questions'...teehee.)
B1A4
I've watched their Hello Baby and Sesame Player...but for some strange reason, I was bored. They are a nice, wacky and earnest group but they just miss that extra 2% to make the reality show entertaining. *sigh* I like their latest song though...it pwns their previous "joom joom heart like a locket" a billion times over.
CNBLUE
SOMEONE GIVE THEM THEIR OWN VARIETY SHOW PLEASE!!! kthnxbye.
B.A.P vs EXO
Lastly, I'll compare 2 of the rookie groups that debuted this year (don't ask me about the rest of the rookies, there's waaaaaaaaay too many of them so I've since stopped keeping track of them). I like EXO's songs, but I only bothered trying to get to know EXO-M since they can speak chinese. I just wished they would stop regurgitating what their company wants them to say during interviews. As for B.A.P, I only like their upbeat songs...but I can totally see their variety potential after watching 'TADAH! It's B.A.P' and 'Killing camp'. Someone, please give B.A.P another variety show!!!
~
AND....THAT'S IT! *phew* What a loooong post. I really watched a lot of junk this year.... I guess 2012 can be considered a good year for dramas, but a not so good year for variety shows. Here's to hoping that 2013 will be good too! I've already sort of got dramas that I want to watch in 2013 (Flower Boy Next Door and 7th Level Civil Servant)...they better be good!!! ^^
Labels: Drama ramblings
POSTED BY mysticmalady AT 11:04 AM |
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