2011 Kdrama OSTs

   Bad thing is - there wasn't any OST that I would buy in a heartbeat. There were some nice songs that fitted the drama, yet nothing as spectacular and powerful as, let's say, Chuno OST or Revenge of Gumiho OST. Oh yes, 2010 was a good year for dramas. Maybe last year of some quality in main 3 broadcasts' productions.

But if I had to pick up the best score - it would be NToG and What's Up! But the second drama started in December and ended in February, so it's not entirely 2011 one.

2011 Dramas

   Not that last year was prolific with outstanding dramas. Bad thing - it wasn't. I dropped more dramas than in previous years combined. Those years past I finished almost all dramas I started, but with Secret Garden last year I had an epiphany. I realized I have no obligation whatsoever to finish the drama I have no feel for, or I didn't "click" with it.

And I have problem with classifying *fangirl alert* What's Up! or Padam Padam. Fact, those both started last year, but I prefer to treat them as 2012 dramas. Why? Because 2011 was a crappy year for me.

Yeah, maybe biased list, maybe no one agrees with me (but I won't cry in the corner as 'certain someone The Diva'), yet I don't impose my opinion, so feel free to disagree.

I respect my dearest readers opinions and taste as well.

As long as they won't steal one of my 82673512365 loves.

Drama ban, next step - brain ban

   As promised, fairly moderate take on banning dramas, which I personally see as one of the most stupid moves people in Korea can take.

Dol - First Birthday

   As the article is already up, I just quote it here (JoongAngIlbo), and this reminded me of great and sweet ending of New tales of Gisaeng. This was an unusual drama, full of ups and downs, turns and blind alleys, with ocasional ghosts that made one old, crude man re-evaluate his path. So I'm actually putting this up here having last 5 minutes of this drama in mind.

Oh this is why I love family dramas, but waiting 30 episodes for a conclusion like now with A Thousand Kisses is a pain. 

Drama Festival

   Website of the event: http://www.kdfo.org/2011/eng/main/index.asp

Oh, and I find it funny how butthurt some fans can be. I wrote the comment that I don't find Secret Garden all that good, and the reply I got was: "Sssh, go back to your Mary Mary show, and PLEASE, just shut up!" I find it hilarious because I don't usually get so worked up when someone criticize dramas I love (it's a natural phenomena), and here someone was so painfully hurt. And the person has chosen the most inadequate drama ever. Because I'm not really sure if there is any drama worse than Bury Me Mary. Oh, I used so multilettered words? You mad?

Seoul Drama Awards - OST Awards

   From June 29th to July 20th, the Seoul Drama Awards Organizing Committee (SDAOC) will be open to vote for the most popular drama OST of the dramas between April 1st and April 30th. Bad news is - you need to have an account on cyworld, or I didn't quite figure out how to cheat.
And my usual rant - someplace I saw they nominated IU? Well, who da hell is IU when Queen Seondeok OST had Hong Kwangho??

Also, there are 40 nominees, so forgive me I didn't romanized them all here. I'm lazy, yes.
Update: in my last comment I romanized all the remaining dramas.

Drama Full Throttle

   Slowly catching up with all dramas (Twinkle Twinkle only lags behind, eh...) and I have to say - I have never had such season. Usually it was 2, 3 dramas at most at the same time. It's all their fault. You know, "THEY" are very powerful. And all dramas I watch I enjoy for different reasons. If I don't like, I drop it. I may come back to it if I decide that the price of dropping is too much to pay. As some of you may notice, I have "Drama List" on the sidebar, updated daily (if there are any changes), and since some of those entered in the half-stage, and some are heading to the end, I decided to write a bit about them.

I'm not going to change anybody's opinion, but after reading heated discussion on D-A, I realized how flock-thinking is useful for some people. I wrote about it few times - people en masse don't like to express their own opinion, but are content if they can sign under the one belonging to others. This way they incorporate meaningful and difficult words into their "own" opinion. Saying: 'Yes, I feel exactly the same' in a situation when hundred of people expressed the same before you, is easier than saying the opposite. Because when attacked - the weapon of your own thoughts should be used.

From the list only New Tales Of Gisaeng rules undisputedly, other dramas are in random order.

Another music

   After some time of lack of music here, few new bites^^

I never know what to do with Gavy NJ. Some songs I love and still play, and some are simply mediocre. Anyway, nice voice and some really nice projects. 

I found also one jazz single, for those who like jazz (I have always on my mind Sugar from Some Like It Hot saying on the beach: "Yeah, jaaazzz", every time I hear this word). And I promised to keep an eye on any release by Bubble Sisters. And here we have.

New Tales of Gisaeng: on the way up!

According to AGB Nielsen Media Research, New Gisaeng Story rated 19.1% on national average on the 15th.

This is 1.5.% more than the previous 17.6% and it is continuing to hold on to its first place in weekend dramas. (hancinema)

According to TNmS the ratings are slightly smaller. But who cares about ratings! I would watch it even if those were single-digit!

And this makes small Ethlenn very, very hapy. Almost as much as the ending of ep 34. 16 episodes to go, and Ah Damo's parents to kill overcome. Whoohoo!

New Tales of Gisaeng: videos

   Videos that made me love this drama. Yes, it's from the very beginning of the first episode. At first I was stunned. Not every drama starts with a girl dancing, and a burglar dancing outside her house. The girl, despite dancing, had face without any particular emotion, and I thought she's blocked and emotionally handicapped. It was weird. This drama is weird. Especially the "imagination parts". But this also proves how close to the reality the writers are. Because we all imagine things, right? No, not THAT things, ladies! My favorite "imagined"? Gongju dreaming of doing laundry on Sonja's abs (yes, you read that right), and Damo's father imagining his son as a drag. Damn... I had to stop it to laugh. This was so damn funny, because, you know, Damo is 1000% male, keke.

Omo, oh noez!!

  

  If Yi Seojin wasn't enough to make me vow to watch this drama (Gyebaek), the new addition to it will make me glued to the screen. Jeon Nomin, because it was him who was recently added to the cast, is on my list of admired men. As I wrote someplace else when writing about Royal Family - his elusive, blurred, uncertain Eom Gido was the one and only reason for me to start this drama and watch whole 7 episodes. Maybe I should finish it anyway? But the rest of the characters are not that interesting. So yes, July, come quickly! Ah, historical drama with such topic, and of course with solid (have no doubt) performances. I just beg - don't use idiotic CGIs like in Geunchogo, pretty please.

New Tales of Gisaeng: some new pictures

   Drool alert. In case anyone is watching this - in Ah Damo's room there is this black-and-white picture on the wall, right? Each time I'm watching that in the drama, I'm thinking about pausing and lic... I mean licorice eating, ekhem... Good for your health, they say. Licorice, that is.
So, what was I... ah yes, this hanging picture. In case anyone has one, contact me.
Pictures here are not the same but... crap... I lost my ability to form a proper sentence, nevermind...

Some music

   I may look like the most free person on this world. No, I left somewhere my book that I need badly for tomorrow's lecture, but instead of crying and going into hysteria, I finished my wine, made a ppt for tomorrow, wrote another portion of an article and will watch some drama.

Why so serious anyway?

New Tales of Gisaeng: pictures^^

 

   I'm kyaaing right now. Mainly because I need my coffee to stabilize metabolism of huge amount of sugar I swallowed lately (over 300 grams of meringues, and I crave for more...), but also because of those pics^^

New Tales of Gisaeng: Finally!!

   One word: kyaaa!! I was cleaning my flat while watching Midnight Entertainment, and suddenly I heard the music I like so much. Good thing I didn't hold anything hot or heavy. Ahahaha!! Finally, NToG is getting the recognition it deserves. Beautiful drama, perfect shooting, great, not typical characters! And the music, costumes... ah...

I was wondering why SBS didn't promote this drama as heavily as others. I mean, both Midas and 49 Days were everywhere. Not to mention Secret Garden. Oh hell, this one was milked in 100 ways. But somehow long dramas are not that hyped. The same thing is with Twinkle Twinkle. I only run into the interview with the cast (not Yuhwan, though) some time ago for the first time. Too bad.

Oh well, I know, those are not idol-filled, mind-not-required kind of drama. Plus, NToG is one of the most "over-talked" drama I have seen. Some people were complaining that Goong was boring because of the talk. Hehe, try this one! I like slow drama, with talking, but with characters that actually can reflect upon their own acts.

How a man breaks

  I think surviving until the next Saturday will be hard. The events have accelerated. Dan Saran decided to become a gisaeng, and of course Ah Damo almost demolished Buyonggak when he stormed the place. For the last 2 weeks I didn't have the time to watch my beloved series properly, but tomorrow will be my re-watch^^. Some may say that this drama is messed up in terms of blood relations, everyone seems to be connected. Yes, but do not forget that this drama doesn't depict the society. It rather presents few people entangled in mutual fate. We have only 3 families here and Buyonggak (Gisaengs' House). Lots of other people are to complement the story. And since writers decided only for 3 families, don't be fussy. This is exactly the reason why I love Kdrama and not the Archipelago counterpart. 

New Tales of Gisaeng: some stills

I opened random episode and made some stills^^

New Tales of Gisaeng: my new obsession

   I'm not sure how long it will last, but as for now, I think of the meeting at work with pure disdain, because it will deprive me of watching. Well, the fact I'm baking cookies now (*throws some to well known Ladies out there*) also takes some time, but anyway.

Actually two things draw me to this drama, but due to work I had to put it on hold, and I went back to it this Saturday. Those things are: hanboks and traditional accessories and Jun Nomin. He doesn't appear in this drama, but his wife does. Beautiful, dignified, talented woman. 

Some ramblings

   Before I vanish again into the stuff I have to do for yesterday, I want to express my sincere hateful love for Life Is Beautiful drama. I have never thought any drama longer than 20 at most (yes, Goong was an exception) episodes could make me glued to the screen so much. Don't count taeha dramas. LIB was the first to do that and Assorted Jewels just followed. After that, only Seongkyunkwan Scandal made me feel rejuvenated again.

What has become out of me? I embarked on long journeys with New Tales of Gisaeng, Twinkle Twinkle and Royal Family (OK, this one is short). I'm helplessly enamoured with long, full of details and well paced dramas. So what if I have to wait for a proper "spark" between main couple 20+  episodes like in Family's Honor? So what if I have to endure all evil characters that apparently don't sleep only to come up with their ultimate plan to ruin somebody else's life? Long dramas have certain charm in their pace that no drama can fulfill. Or maybe I'm just getting old?

New Tales of Gisaeng

Just give me one of these hanbok, and I'll go easy even on The Table... Actually, no, scratch that, not even emerald stunned hanbok will do. There will be 50 episodes, and drama starts next week, after Secret Garden. One of my must-check this season.

Few more pictures follow.