[[Drama 2018-2019] Encounter / Boyfriend, 남자친구]

I have so much on my plate, but my back and my mind wander elsewhere, lol...

I agree with @stardustvoid no meme or mention of SJK, even if it means as a joke. It's not funny, and it irrelevant, unless mentioning that SJK has given his bless to make this drama as successful as possible. That is that. 

 

Last new year holidays, I marathoning "You" from Netflix. It also a slow build drama that first got me so annoyed with all the character's development. It was a hopeless case, I thought. You do everything in the name of love, straight to murders, being manipulative, cheating, and everything that is the opposite to the meaning of love. But, it so twisted that in the end, I could understood and kind of accepting their justification. Scary, right?

 

"Encounter", on the other hand, is really an opposite of "You". It slowly shows the process of gaining trust, falling in love, learning to know each other, try very hard not to hurt other to the extent of not hurting their families, their friends, their colleagues. There's almost no agenda, except to show that they be at each other side to support and be a better person. No manipulative moves to win the other person's heart. Well... we are not talking about the mother, ex mother in law and ex spouse, of course.

 

Both have a lot to sacrifice and be in uncomfortable situations, so many times. Both could only rely on their trust and believe, that love is really worth fighting for, worth to nurture, and worth to have. That's a risk not anybody willing to take. So, it's beautiful to see the ways love slowly move into their heart and be a winner... Let's hope so, since we still have 6 more to go... oh... 

[[Drama 2018-2019] Encounter / Boyfriend, 남자친구]

Encounter

Somehow, I could relate a bit with this drama.

Once, I fell in love with younger man, about 8 years younger?

I also an introvert, not easily open up and be close to someone.

 

 So, I do understand how awkward it is for CSH and KJH, especially CSH.

And, to say you love someone, it may not come easily just after a brief encounter.

But, a brief and intimate encounter, like CHS and KJH have in Cuba, definitely brought deep impression and open up the possibility for further deeper relationship.

 

In Cuba, it was so much easier to get close and open up to stranger.

Because, you are in a stranger land, nobody know you, thus nobody judge you.

But, when you come home, that’s where all the obstacles begin.

 

Age

For centuries, it almost a taboo for older woman to fall in love with younger man, especially when the age gap is more than 5 years.  But, it is still OK for (much) older man to marry younger woman, even praised for that.

 

Divorcee

Even in my country, being a divorcee is belittled by others, let alone in-laws. It seems that you have a flaw or lots of flaws that make you a divorcee. You’ll be the talk of the entire family at gatherings, and be asked either why do you not try to reconcile or when will you marry again? Extend that to the whole neighborhood, sometimes.

 

Luckily, these past few years, the word ‘divorce’ is seeing less like a curse. People are more understanding. Just don’t go too often to any family wedding, or any wedding at all.

 

Middle-Top Management Career Woman

Surely it will put you in a kind of spotlight. I was not a CEO, but people still notice whom I was going with, where, why, was he a single/divorcee, was he good enough for me, even try to match me with almost anyone available that meet their standards, sigh…

 

So, I could see how difficult it is for CSH to open her heart and be close with someone with different age and backgrounds. She has an army to consider to, her father-to-be-president, her ambitious mother-loves-to-be-the-first-lady, her ex-in-laws-but-never-be-exes, her job (she surely loves her job, she takes pride in doing her job well), her employees, and the list goes and on, and on, and on… But, most importantly, she doesn’t want KHJ to suffer the consequences, be fired and get a ‘bad reputation’, either as stalker or gold digger.

[[Drama 2016] Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예]

Just here to congratulate the SongSong couple! Yay!!!! So happy for SHK and SJK. Wish them the best.

No matter what people say and think about 'The Descendants of the Sun', it gave me happiness and joy when watching this drama. I were secretly wishing back then. I am glad they take their time and be open when they ready. Congratulations!

[[Drama 2016] Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예]

On 4/18/2016 at 0:45 AM, annettegatuslao said:

@mesaya ^ THIS. Words can not express how much I agree with your thoughts. Though I was satisfied with the finale of DOTS, I felt like I wanted more scenes that had meaning and depth to them. I'll try to list them down and expound on them (I do apologize because this post might be too long) 

1. A SCENE BETWEEN YSJ AND SDY AFTER THEY WERE RESCUED
- To be honest, I really felt like this should've happened in the finale. After YSJ and SDY were rescued by Lieutenant Ahn, I really wanted a scene where they'd be lying in hospital beds, trying to get healed from all the beating they got after being held captive for almost a year. I wanted a heartfelt scene between two guys who were more than just comrades to each other, but best friends and even brothers. While lying in their hospital beds, I wanted them to reflect on all the missions they've had together and just how many times they were lucky enough to escape death. I also wanted them to talk about how they had found love in women who were both in the medical field and how they wished that they were being taken care by them. I can actually picture YSJ asking SDY if KMY would've already found love in someone else during the length of their captivity, and SDY would say that KMY would never do that to him because she loved YSJ just the same way YMJ loved him; with a strong and faithful heart no matter how hard the circumstances may be. YSJ would then tell SDY that they had to heal faster so they could see their respective lady loves again, and of course, they'd have an adorable bromance moment, just thanking one another for an incredible journey and that when they'd step foot in South Korea, they would drink for 72 hours again.

OMG THIS POST IS SO LONG BUT THANK YOU IF EVER YOU'VE READ IT TILL THE VERY END. LET ME HEAR YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT IT

 

Thank you @annettegatuslao for reading my rambling thoughts.

I will reply to your point one by one

Yes, we could imagine how those lost months should be showed in those imaginary extend episodes, based on the beautifully story of how the characters develop and incredibly acted by all the actors in first 12 episodes. Without those characters build, we don't buy it at all that MY would stand by her man, SDY would fight for MJ for his pride and his love to her, Daniel & Ye Wha actually cared about each other so much and decided to get married, to Soldier Puppy got his degree.

I love this: " I wanted a heartfelt scene between two guys who were more than just comrades to each other, but best friends and even brothers. While lying in their hospital beds, I wanted them to reflect on all the missions they've had together and just how many times they were lucky enough to escape death."

Then, here and there, this drama has shown us a lot of deep trust and affections between males/comrades. I was shocked when I saw SJ cried when shot Argus, he killed the bad guy but at the same time he killed his comrade, who once fought together side by side and trusted each other's life. The same with Lt. Ahn. How many times did they face each other as enemy but in the end both have save each other's life? 

So, for SJ and SDY to be able to survive after the brutal torture (especially in war, that's why I hate war to my core), in itself was a miracle. Both got some strength going through the hard times knowing not one of them would surrender/give up till the end even without knowing whether they would survive or not.

An episode especially written to commemorate this would be superb.

One thing for sure, that we have fun time and do more creative writing in order to fulfill the lost months & ending. Good thing is we are doing that without feeling bitter. That's another plus point that we have over this drama. 

[[Drama 2016] Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예]

It’s very late, but whuaaaa…. I really wished DotS extended to 20 episodes. So, the writers & director would have more time to tell SJ & MY and all the characters’ stories. Episode 1 – 12 told about the back ground, build the characters and their relationship in the hardest time (earth quake, epidemic virus, human trafficking, diamond’s smuggling, etc…) and 4 latest episodes were to show how to fit back to “normal” life at the homeland. 4 episodes – 1 closing = 3 episodes to describe everyday living while still doing department store’s tasking and ended up missing for a year were not sufficient enough. That’s not too much airtime. So, no wonder we got lots of loopholes in those episodes. I don’t blame the writers to try to depict a span of 1.1 – 1.3 years into 3x55 minutes of airtime (165 minutes). I don’t know how many months since Alpha team back from Uruk to the time SJ had to do the latest shopping? I also don’t blame some of us who really loved the drama but felt that it could be better written and that the episode 12 was the better closing.

I still love this drama to pieces. I forever love the ending and I could build my own fantasy about how episodes 13 – 15 should be played, like an extension of this drama with my own version (maybe @Gilawan can also write them beautifully). Why? This is a drama where all the characters are fit in their places and most of them are loveable, to the point that you can’t even hate Argus or Manager Jin that much. Without the bad guys, the good guys won’t shine. On the other hand, I love that this drama also contradicts that cliché sentence (bad vs good). Most of the characters here are doing good things and simply doing that because that what they believe.

It’s such a dream, and it is. Where could you find a country where the President bowed and said that all political issues were his job and the army should focus on protect the country and their people? Where could you find a drama where a chaebol still clinched his teeth and not using his power to kick an annoyed colleague (I presume Chi Hoon is a chaebol, right?).

No, I don’t want a sequel. Most of sequels were bad, except Lord of the Rings and the Snow White & the Huntsman. I hate IRIS 2 although the main actor was Lee Beom Soo. I enjoy the ride with DotS, and expect nothing neither grander nor fulfilling epilogue (SJ & MY, DY & MJ married and have children) with the extended 3 episodes. But, if it is, I’ll be glad.

Sorry if I am rambling, I just have to concentrate and focus on the positivism after try reading comments in other websites to quench my thirst over this drama...

[[Drama 2016] Descendants of the Sun 태양의 후예]

Now, I’ve couldn’t be happier when I decided to give a go to this so called K-drama ‘Descendants of the Sun’ and even more happier with the ending. Why? Simply because it was ‘refreshing’. I’ve come a long way, almost done with K-dramas and with so much boredom because I couldn’t stand how they projected the same themes and drag the process. A rich girl dates a poor boy and vice versa. The mother/ father/grandmother/grandfather or whatever rank in the family has, you name it, from the sister/brother/ex-husband/ex-wife even sometimes their neighbor or closest friend(s) has something against the budding relationship between the OTP, and they do drag and add more problems to extend the excitement, whereas they just got me really bored and dropped them halfway (or 1/3 from the beginning). Girls and women are usually pretty but not smart, or if they are pretty and smart, they usually the villain or the most hated person in the drama, or if they are pretty and smart and kind, they don’t have the power to stand to their own and their decision. I have enough with the yelling, crying and pulling hair (or pulled writs).

 

I also hate politics and anything has to do with army/war, I won’t write here why because I can write a whole essay about that. So, when the poster came with the tag ‘A love story between Captain Yoo Shi Jin…”, I already lost 50% of interest. Then I found out the drama was written by KES, I really just wanted to drop this drama, sorry, I hate Heirs with a vengeance (I tried 1 episode and that was that).

 

I watched first episodes of DotS with no hope or interest at all, except SHK. I have soft spot for her.

So, imagine my own surprise that I made it through all the episodes, got carried away, got crazy and even thinking weekends just a waste of time (I used to love my weekends to the max). I even cried a bucket at several episodes. Me, the person with ice-cold heart and no emotion? If my colleagues find out about that, I’ll be a laughing stock.

 

Sure, DotS have flaws, have no logic here, there, and then, so what?

It brings more than surprise for me. It made me realize that every job has their own bad and good sides, because job is done by people. People has good and bad sides, it’s a matter of choice which sides you decide to live. Everything you decide has its own consequences.

 

When I started watched this drama, I much more like MY. I couldn’t comprehend why soldier has to follow everything right down to dots and commas. It irritates me the way it irritates MY, it’s not logic. By watching this drama, and also reading some of the comments of the fellow soldiers, I grasped better understanding of their world and respect their job. I still acknowledge that based on an ideal, a drama-land situation that would be hard to find in the real world.

 

This drama also has a good balance of seriousness, humor, intrigue, sadness, happiness, and lots of action, but it didn’t drag. Some of them might seem try too hard (hello, Capt. K), or unexplainable (again, hello, Capt. K, how can you heal so fast after flat-lining, appeared in the middle of nowhere to find his true love) or why some people head over heels with Argus, at least can’t really hate him because he actually not really that fierce/heartless/scary? I still love & cherish this drama to bits.

 

As some of you have written on pages here, this drama gave you warmth & joy & happiness/sadness, so did I. The most valuable lesson I learn here is… don’t judge a book by its cover, always give a second chance and open your heart. But, everyone to their own taste, their own opinion, we entitle to it and we respect it.

 

I do really, really, really wish that I will again in the near time, find a gem like this. But for now, I will treasure this, keep this close in my heart (and my eyes for rerun), and cherish it all over again. Thank you everyone that made this possible, thank you to you all the troops that are running here and there in this forum. Without you, I will miss an opportunity to enjoy this drama more, you are really add more spices to it.