Drama Dilemmas

I'm winding down on a handful of dramas over the course of the next week or so, and I'm facing some major drama indecision. I know for sure that I want to watch You Are All Surrounded, but I like to have a backup drama going between episodes. I just can't decide, though!

So, friends of the internet, I'm turning to you for help. In order to narrow the options, I'm following that old wedding rhyme "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue." If it works for a lifelong commitment, it should work for a 20-episode commitment, right?


Something old: Winter Sonata

Aren't they cold standing in a snowstorm without coats? NO. Because love. 

Pros: I'm slightly ashamed that I haven't ever seen this one. It's such a classic that I feel obligated to get around to it at some point just to enrich my drama understanding.

Cons: From what I hear, there is some serious melodrama going on here. Not my favorite, but I can let it slide for a drama staple.

Something new: Secret Love Affair

Boom chicka wow wow.

Pros: Ever since Sungkyunkwan Scandal, I have been dying to watch more Yoo Ah In dramas. Fashion King and Jang Ok Jung didn't quite make the cut, but this one has rave reviews from people I trust. It sounds like a drama with brains.

Cons: If I'm being totally honest, I have a really hard time watching adultery. I get frustrated that so many movies and shows represent the cuckolded spouse as a terrible person, thereby making the choice as uncomplicated as possible. (Something Borrowed, I'm looking at you. You steal your best friend's fiancee, but we're supposed to think it's fine because A. you best friend is a monster and B. you are Ginnifer Goodwin? Nice try.) For a subject that has the potential to cause such deep, lasting emotional pain, it feels like a cop-out.

Something borrowed: My Love from Another Star

He may be an alien, but that's no excuse not to wear the trendiest haircut in Korea.

Pros: I'm "borrowing" this suggestion from everyone who already watched this show. I feel left out that I'm the only one who didn't watch it, so maybe I should just jump on the bandwagon.

Cons: Kim Soo Hyun's face. There, I said it. I mean, it's a handsome face and all, but he never seems very expressive. What if I watch one episode and hate him, but then I'm stuck watching the whole thing?

Something blue: Heartless City/Cruel City (Blue because of the whole police theme, not because it makes me sad--I hope)

You can tell it's gritty based on the monochrome poster.

Pros: I don't know why I haven't watched more K-drama thrillers. I mean, I love movie thrillers. I'm currently mid-binge watch of the Infernal Affairs trilogy, so undercover cop stuff is right up my alley.

Cons: I'm already watching a cop show as my simulcast, so maybe it'll be overkill?

Well, what'll it be? Convince me in the comments! Or just vote. Because that's what I'm actually going to follow.

Which show should Vivi watch next?
	Winter Sonata
	Secret Love Affair
	My Love from Another Star
	Heartless City
pollcode.com free polls

New Drama Time!

We're testing out the new batch of kdramas.  From the good to the bad to the unsure, here are some very brief initial responses:

1. The Prime Minister and I

Four episodes in, this is hands-down the most pleasant surprise of the bunch so far.  To be honest, ahjussi romances aren't really my thing.  I couldn't get past the age gap in Dating Agency: Cyrano, but it hasn't bothered me so far here.  It might have something to do with the fact that Yoona is relatively tall and Lee Bum Soo is relatively short, so they're always on eye level with each other.  Or maybe it's the fact that Yoona's character is a real adult with a real job, unlike 90% of kdrama females.  Or maybe it's the fact that so far, every time he tries to push her around, she finds a way to turn the tables.

I also think the writers have been very smart with their use of Lee Bum Soo so far.  He's a comedic actor, but sometimes his character was too much to handle in History of a Salaryman.  By using his funny skills in imaginary scenarios, we get to laugh while still taking him seriously as a person.  The one thing I can't take seriously is the reasoning behind the fake relationship.  Off the top of my head, I can think of about 47 better ways to resolve the problem than a contract marriage.  But what else do you expect from a kdrama forced marriage premise?

I'm cautiously optimistic.  If the writers flush this potential, I'm going to be Hulk smash a lot of things.



2. My Love from Another Star

Sorry, guys, but I can't do it.  I have a terrible habit of judging books (and shows) by their covers.  Maybe I'll work on it as a New Year's resolution or something, but until New Year's, I'm going to judge away.  I don't know what it's like to be a 400-year-old alien, but according to this poster, it mostly involves crying.  In Vivi's world, the only person who gets a pass on Poster Crying is Song Joong Ki.  The '90s-tastic "I'm sad! But also ethereal!" mist isn't helping, either.

3. Miss Korea

The first two episodes were much more serious than I expected from the Miss Congeniality-style premise.  The writers raised a lot of social issues in episode 1, and how they handle these issues later has the potential to make or break the show for me.  I'm squarely on the fence for now, but I'm also quite intrigued.  I love the gritty old-school vibe going on.

Happy holidays to all, and very merry drama-ing!