So, what are we all watching this week?
What kept you reaching for more (or agonizing when there was no more), and what made you want to throw your remote through the screen? Time to weigh in…
SailorJumun
Currently weecapping: Lovestruck in the City
Sweet Home: Sometimes I think Netflix needs to stop with all the dark and bloody Korean originals. But when we get things like Sweet Home, how can I complain? Apocalyptic stories, and survival stories in general, are so good when they’re equal parts fun and emotional. Here, the monsters and the fights were thrilling, and the characters and their dynamics were just as engaging. I got attached to quite a lot of characters, and I’m sad we won’t be able to see some of them in season 2 (which better happen). A salute to all those weird but amazingly complex soldiers.
Eighteen Again: Gah, I’m so upset I binged this after I wrote my year-end review because I have so much to say. So much to gushhhh. I wanted more of Lee Do-hyun after Sweet Home, after he broke my damn heart, but then in Eighteen Again, he had the audacity to break it again! Him and Yoon Sang-hyun as Dae-young wringed so many tears out of me. His flashbacks with the kids? Ugly-cried. His relationship with his dad? Ugly-cried. His immense pain from being unable to love his wife even though he was right there but trapped in his own freaking body? UG-LY. CRIED. I’m not getting over this anytime soon.
Hotel del Luna: #WatchedForLeeDoHyun #GuessHowThatTurnedOut #INeedToStop
Mr. Queen: I never know what to expect from our body-swapped hero, and that both excites and scares me. Try not to get yourself (or So-yong) killed, Bong-hwan-ah. Seriously.
Run On: This drama is so simple in concept, but the whole feel of it is something else; it’s special. The tone and acting are just the right amount of quirky for me. And the couple? Cute as heck.
missvictrix
Currently weecapping: Mr. Queen, True Beauty
Get Revenge: I was about ready to fight Min-joon last week after what he pulled. I’m still frustrated with him for how he handled that whole situation, but I don’t think he’ll let the kid get hurt. I have to say Hae-ra was way calmer than I would have been; I thought for sure she’d take him down. He’d better have a plan that makes this move seem way less stupid.
Sweet Home: As a fan of the webtoon, I was eagerly awaiting this one. Overall, I liked it. The monsters were a bit on the cheesy side as I expected, but I liked the tone of the drama. There were lots of changes from the webtoon – the second half diverged entirely – but most of them I didn’t mind. My main complaint is that I thought Hyun-soo was underdeveloped as a character. I wanted to witness his growth from a withdrawn and apathetic loner to a self-sacrificing leader through his connection with the people in the building. In the drama, he was forced into a lot of his decisions and didn’t have as strong of a character arc. I think that’s in part because they, for some reason, distanced him from people he bonded with in the webtoon (like Ji-soo and Eun-hyuk) who helped him come out of his shell. Character development was a bit of an issue in general – the acting was strong, but the writing didn’t always flesh them out as well as I would’ve liked. Maybe a second season could help with that.
Mr. Queen I’m getting more and more curious about the real So-yong. Also, I do not trust Hwa-jin one bit and expect that sweet demeanor hides a calculating mind. I’m much more interested in the inner palace dynamics and politics than the traditional politicking, so I hope we get to see So-yong navigating the women’s political arena more.
Run On: What a pleasant surprise! The premise sounded pretty boring on paper, but it’s somehow more interesting than it should be. I’m loving the zippy dialog and weird characters that populate this universe, especially Dan-ah who is fantastic. The development of the relationship between Mi-joo and Sun-kyum feels natural, and I really like their dynamic. At this rate, my currently watching list is going to get out of control.
selena
Eighteen Again: I’ve been really into Hwang In-yub lately (does anyone else get Woosung from The Rose vibes?!) so with True Beauty not airing this week, I carved out some time to start Eighteen Again instead. I can barely tell that he’s ten years older than some of the other students! Lee Do-hyun is spectacular in his role and I’m really enjoying the show so far. I’m looking forward to experiencing what I’m sure will be a heartwarming tale of a broken family finding their way back together.