[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

I postponed watching the finale for as long as i could. But finally had to face the music and find a closure for the sake of my sanity. Despite the sad ending, Goblin has been a beautiful drama for me, it will still remain one of the top favorites of mine because the show has been much more than characters, it has sort of given me a whole new perspective about life, made me ponder about things i have never thought about before. Although i will forever be heartbroken and sad whenever i think back about this drama, but i think i understand where the writer came from, at-least the ending is somewhat consistent with the story? 

My thoughts are going to be very incoherent and haphazard so please bear -

You know i was randomly seeing some comments ridiculi ng Shin's decision to chose giving up on the peace he seeked for almost a millenium to be stuck in a limbo. Made me think. What kind of love was it? What kind of love would it be that made him sacrifice the peace of an afterlife? What kind of longing was it for Shin? What kind of longing was it for Eun Tak to cry, completely heartbroken, without even recollecting? When he came back as the goblin, did he even contemplate about his immortality or her mortality? He was just glad to be able to be around her, to see her. Remember once after meeting her in the graveyard where she confronts him about him being Kim Shin and he just says no and leaves? He says later maybe he is worth forgetting...but he still can't stop himself because he misses her so much. He never did weighed his immortality against her mortality even then. THIS kind of love and longing just makes me so overwhelmed...i totally had goosebumps even thinking about it. Was it worth it giving up a chance to paradise...i don't know. People, Goblins, Ghosts and Reapers becoming really stupid in love.

A lot of people have written beautifully about choice being such an important factor in the ending we were given. I don't really have much to add. Now that i think back it has always been upon choices... from the very begining. Remember Sunny once told Eun Tak that Shin was so stubborn - he should have never come back, stayed in hiding and stayed alive... he had a choice to do that, but he chose to come back time and again from impossible wars, sinning time and again by taking so many lives. Probably that's why he ended up with that sword in his chest. Wang Yeo chose to end his life, which lead him to be the reaper. Heck, Sunny's choice to have her memories retained if given a chance earned her that very thing from God. 

They say there is always strength is sacrifice. Just how brave our characters have been - from Queen Sun to Ji Eun Tak! This girl Ji Eun Tak - so beautiful until her very last moments. To think of this character got so much flak - but i have come to love her even more in the final few episodes. Why did she shine so brightly for Kim Shin? Her courage, her kindness, her compassion, her dreams, her innocence, her inherent cheerfulness remained intact throughout, despite her life being so difficult, crazy and unpredictable.  Even in death she was thankful and happy for the perfect day she had. God, i choked up so bad at that. There are a lot of things i am gonna take with me from this drama - one of which, and very importantly so, is the value of life! The very reason both Kim Shin and Wang Yeo were punished because of the weight each life carries - whether it is others's or it's yourself! And Eun Tak put it so beautifully in this episode and one of the previous episodes when she gets to know her life is always gonna be in danger. She refused to bow down to her fate, and continued to live everyday cheerfully, happily, and to the fullest as though it was her last. That's the answer she gave to her fate. I found it so inspiring. Even before she left her final words to Shin were so meaningful - the one left behind needs to live happily for the one who left you behind for all the love they gave you.

Special mention about the beautiful marriage sequence we got to witness. I hadn't expected it (fan-service for all the heartbroken fans?). I liked it how they decided to have it in the buckwheat fields - as if things came to a full circle for Shin, from losing his life there, to getting one now. And Reaper giving Eun Tak her bouquet - like someone in this thread said before, familial bond doesn't only involve blood ties. If i speak of small mercies , however short the duration was, i am glad Goblin and Reaper had each other in their loneliness. I felt equally sad if not more, when GR was leaving Shin....ah you too  And telling him not to make it rain. Ack, how far these two have come. I was dissapointed how Deok Hwa was not shown once during all these ordeal - could have shown so much with him being besides his uncle when everyone left. Well too much to ask.

My favorite lesson from the show remains to be that thing about miracles. Wow, just changed my entire perspective about life this thing. Most people just stay in that moment of miracle and ask for one more, knowing that he is around as if he owes them miracles. In this context i do understand why the writer chose not go for a miracle ending - either making Shin a mortal or Eun Tak immortal. (Still however doesn't change the fact that i am not too happy about it)

As far as Eun Tak and Kim Shin are concerned - i would like to believe (yeah now thats my choice) they would find each other everytime they are torn apart. They did previously too, and even now. And remember all the future visions Shin had of Eun Tak (well there were just two of them) always involved him. So i would like to believe Eun Tak's future has to have Kim Shin in it. As far as his eternity is didn't Kim Shin once say he is brave Goblin who has accepted his fate? (Ah acceptance is another beautiful message given), that is what Eun Tak even reminded him before going away. After God is there around to nudge him everytime,he felt distant from the world (funny how last few moments of the show is convincing the audience that your Goblin will be just fine with sandwich sequences LMAO)

But even if you accept the fate, doesn't deny the fact that it's a tragic fate. i felt pathetically sad when i saw Kim Shin reading on his own in that graveyard - almost gutted. But just then that scene turned to one of hope - telling us no sadness lasts for a lifetime with reincarnated Eun Tak coming in. 

I wanted to write more, maybe i will, but i think i just can't anymore - the melancholy has taken a toll on me ROFL.

On the side note - the music of this show is hauntingly beautiful isn't it. I was just re-watching that scene in the 14th episode when Shin rises the temperature outside Eun Tak's office making flowers bloom and stuck in love OST was playing. Just made the scene even more beautiful when i was wondering of you bit plays on Shin's face. To think of it the lyrics goes - why do we have to be apart? Ugh. Just as Shin says about Eun Tak - why does everything about this show have to be so sad!

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Man this drama was so happy and hilarious when it started. Lifted up my mood. Seriously what just happened.

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

14 minutes ago, crazyoverkdrama said:

That's what's wrong with this drama. They could have ended the immortality like WY-SN, but noooo.... They want JET to die, reincarnate, repeat. But GB will forever be GB. They just made the title VERY literal.

 

I really don't understand. She came up with a lot of out of the box stuff with her writing. Why go for the same old tried a 1000 times over again type ending. Man i am so disappointed

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

I don't know if it is just me but come on is it fair for Kim Shin to remain a Goblin when he always wanted to get rid of his immortality? Having to go through deaths of his loved ones again and agin and painstakingly wait for his wife to reincarnate. There is no Gr and Deok Hwa with him too. Will he forever live on with this eternity with those painful memories. Not done.come on i really expected better this time. Why don't i learn: (

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

He will forever remain a goblin?

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Life is temporary. Subway is permanent.

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Wait so Sunny remembers GR and its just GB she forgot? Hmm?

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

So i sacrificed my sleep to watch the epi with subs and i absolutely loved the episode. Each and every bit of it. I must admit that during the live recaps i became a bit apprehensive since everything got sorted pretty quickly but after i actually saw the epi i was taken aback how everything just flowed so perfectly making so much sense.

Firstly, the benevolence of the Almighty! From the previous episode when i saw Almight-in-DH-body i really thought he was harsh. In this epi i saw another side of it. He didn't ask Kim Shin to stay between life and afterlife - Kim Shin chose it. Almighty had after all granted him peace. Also i liked how he didn't erase GR's memories - sparing him of the misery of forgotten memories yet again. As they say when God closes one door he opens up another one - Reaper was that door for Kim Shin *weeps* *my bromance rocks*

Fate is the question the almighty throws and Kim Shin wasn't quite done finding the answer. He didn't give up and went on with the unending road - lonely as ever with only that contract giving him the strength. 

I just could not fathom Eun Tak, Reaper, Deok Hwa, Sunny in a life without Goblin. It was really cruel how each everything related to him was taken away. Even the first love was burnt down  And my cheerful Eun Tak was taken away as well  (there are people who were annoyed with her cheerfulness *rolls eyes* hope they are happy now) Although she looked beautiful but she wasn't exactly shining as Kim Shin always saw her, suffering each day. I loved the faith Eun Tak had on Shin before she lost his memories-  that he will come...as rain or snow but he ll definitely would come. He wrote it down as a last ditch attempt to keep Kim Shin alive with her in some form even though she didn't even remember it later.

I had goosebumps at Kim Shin's return sequence. Totally mindblown. Finally almighty listened to both of ShinTak's prayers as she gets to summon him again. When Eun Tak is asking to be saved, Kim Shin has to come right? Loved that touch. *weeps again* Emotions in the hug was wonderfully portrayed by Gong Yoo and Go Eun. How proud was he to see her fulfil her dreams, you could see that in his eyes. 

Oh my Grim Reaper  If there is true love - guys here it is. No ShinTak, No ReaperSunny. It's our Ajhusshi duo people. Kim Shin checked on each ansd every person whom he loved... and how they were doing - lastly he checked on Reaper *sigh* You know when he first got to know Reaper was Wang Yeo i just hoped my bromance was saved. But as it went i realized it needed no saving at all. Kim Shin would forever be loyal to and love Wang Yeo. despite the hurts and resentment he never stopped doing that. Which is why i never once thought he'd ever take revenge on him. Reaper on his side being on his own for 9 years sort of was like Shin for 900 years. He now remembered eveything and was living with it as Shin did for 900 years. He saw people he cared and loved around him - Sunny and Eun tak - but behaved as a stranger. Sigh. It is only now that he got a chance for reflection of his sins of the previous life. I am so glad for him that Shin returned and he got a chance to sincerely apologise to him. Oh my bromance got healed * i ll weep a lot today pls bear *

Chairman's Yu's parting gift to Kim Shin helped him get back his identity. Seriously i am so touched by loyalties shown in this show. Absolutely heart wrenching. Whether it's Chairman Yu and the soldier from Goyeo towards Shin, Shin and Sun towards Wang Yeo or Eun Tak's mom's friend towards her friend. Or even Chariman Kim towards his previous Chairman. I am so surprised how smartly the writer encorporated it and blended it with the light hearted tone of the show haha. The one person who hasnt changed is only Deok Hwa with all his Chaebol airs bwahaha.

Talking of change, i just can't see Eun Tak like this. I need her to be happy and cheerful. You know although Kim Shin knows Eun Tak doesn't remember him yet he is so happy. Just to be able to see her again - which he never fathomed is enough for him to be happy. THIS makes me more teary eyed than Eun Tak losing her memories. It's absolutely touching. My favourite scene of the epi has to be Kim Shin blooming flowers again. God he is so happy *sheds a tear* Although he was happy he did miss his Eun Tak who'd run to embrace him the moment she saw him.

Did anyone else's heart sink everytime Kim Shin went i was called by someone in front of Eun Tak when she asked how he is ending up in front of her. Mine did. But i am glad the hilarity is back too pfft like Goblin mooching off the Grim Reaper. Also it was good to see Eun Tak go Giddy realizing a big shot CEO is pursuing her big time - who wouldn't lol. I find it funny how she suddenly and unknowingly summons Shin and he has no way to explain how he ends up in front. Turns out Eun Tak starting shining from the moment Shin came back to her life - that is one detail that Shin is unaware of when he saw her bright face in the future in Qubec in his dreams. Whatever Dokkaebi does is cute and giddy for me. I am so looking forward to him wooing Eun Tak not thinking about the end. KES did not let us down with her elaborate writing and detailing. (She even kept ETs class friend with her to remind her of the time she saw ghosts. Wow.) So despite past bad experiences with shows  (esp the ones staring KGE pfft) i m willing to trust this one. 

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Random but it cracks me up thinking about all those moments KS got jealous of the CEO....cursing him and going all depressed thinking ET being mushy with him and what not. Turns out he was jealous of and cursing himself bwahahaha.

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

For all those head pats we had to go through this certainly more than makes up for it 

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Oh my the preview *sniff* It's gonna be so complicated and awkward. First with Sunny having to digest a hell lot of facts and then with Kim Shin to see his sister in front of him but unable to decipher their relationship or remember him 

I think Shamshin halmoni is just genuinely happy that Een Tak made it to university. Hopefully there is nothing more to their meeting. (Even if memory loss is taken as a possibility, for halmoni isn't taking out the sword from Shin the priority. Memory loss will just complicate it). I am more worried about that *hat drop*. Is the big revelation on cards? (High time. Its the 11th epi) 

Also i am glad for more flashbacks. We ll finally know the story behind the jade ring. More of kim so hyun is always welcome to me.

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Happy new year to all. Just a few ramblings for the past 2 episodes -

* I am glad that during the brief period that Eun Tak was away from her ajhusshi, she got some time for introspection. However painful it was - she got a chance to go back to all the moments they shared and what those actually meant. I liked the scene where she packs her bags and makes her mind, convincing herself she has no home - even if she stayed there would be no home without KimShin. I always felt miserable when Kim Shin's words could not covey it's meaning to Eun-Tak....she'd never know the feelings - love or affection behind them. Going back to those moments, somewhere down the line she did realize what she meant to him.

* The excuses - Excuses is what fuels Kim Shin's greed to be with Eun Tak. From the previous episodes we have seen how much he depends on excuses to be with her - from walking with her, to picking her up, delaying the day for the sword to be removed. He comes clean about his dilemma about whether he deserved to live after taking lives of so many - a decision which he cannot take himself and so he hides behind those excuses to fulfil his greed to be with her. He is scared to make those selfish decisions for himself so he wants her to make those for him and generate another excuse for him to live with and love her.

* The confession - I like the vague, indirect and behind-each-others-back nature of it and yet they know it. Like in the last episode where he vaguely and randomly says he likes her and she catches it or today how she confesses her love to which he later says me too vaguely and she just knows it. This makes me crave for a moment sometime in future where Kim Shin gets to say whole-heartedly to her that he loves her. Although actions for me always over-weigh actual words, I like it when people don't explicitly say that they love each other but there is so much love out there between them. But in this case I want it so bad because Kim Shin himself longs to tell her that -after all he is begging the heavens through his heartbreaking poems to grant the permission for him to confess his love for her.

* its's a beautiful life - I like the timing of the song a lot in the past two episodes. Just after the back hug when Eun Tak goes back to her cheery self, smiling, Kim Shin pats her head again while this song plays. While shines with her smile, so does his eyes (oh Gong Yoo <3) - it's indeed a beautiful life for him with his bride smiling at him. Also while people are busy debating about unimportant and useless things like how much does Kim Go Eun fare in the prettiness scale - I am awed how effortlessly she transitions from a serious and angry Eun Tak to a bright, cheerful and childish Eun Tak.

* 12 Year old Ajhushis pretending to be 900 and 300 -  these two just won't stop being a riot. cannot forget dokkaebi's touched face when joesung sajja fesses up he doesn't want him to die pfft. how can I be angry now? LMAO. Seriously Reaper dude was solving math? He actually wears white keeping up with the advised concept of being an angel. I feel like pulling his cheeks haha. And Dokkaebi has to be specified that Eun Tak is going out with him post mid-night else the pouting and sulking that ensues rofl. And what kick do the Goblin-Reaper get outta the swag slow mo walk they do whilst buying green onions? I seriously can't with these two haha.

* The Siblings - Interesting how searching for Eun Tak brings Kim Shin face to face with his sister. I was surprised how Kim Shin did not lead Eun Tak to Sunny's Chicken place - he merely narrowed down her options and it's Eun Tak who finds Sun. I maybe thinking too much, but it's heartening to see the sister sheltering her brother's bride at the time of her need, even though unknowingly so. And I can't wait for Reaper ajhushi to complete the reunion of the siblings. It was cute to see them bickering and Kim Shin mirroring his sister's actions and both giving each other judgy looks.

*The subtle romance - Is it only me who got Goosebumps when Kim Shin asks Eun Tak to pay back the debt he lent over 80 years. I swoon majorly at the mush Shin becomes when Eun Tak calls him strange and beautiful and therefore her style, or the way he adoringly looks at her when she is gulping down soju or how he admits he had a hard time avoiding their first kiss. AND THE KISS!  - more than that the content look he has post it which makes the heart go crazy.

*Kim Shin and Kim Sun - Shin mentions how his sister was a dignified queen - Kim So hyun's performance just personified that. I was awestruck by her portrayal of young Kim Sun. That one conversation between the warrior brother and the to-be-queen sister  spoke volumes about their relationship. Behind that typical sibling bickering, was so much brotherly affection that you could see in Shin's eyes (Man gong yoo how much should I rave about your expressive eyes). Kim Shin of the past had such control over his emotions no? Unlike the Goblin of today. He'd make fun of his sister and at the same time put her fears about the king liking her to rest. Kim Sun would get annoyed and at the same time assure her brother of her well being and happiness once in the Palace. What struck me the most was her reaction to Shin's reminder of no news about him being good news - the calmness on her face. It was nothing new to her, and she knew the nature of her brother's job and duty and she took it so bravely. And what a sorted, fair, wise and as Shin says dignified queen she was to her nation and king. Both the siblings were so clear and loyal about their duties towards the king. Shin had to shed the blood of thousands just to come back to protect the king and his sister despite knowing how counter productive that was. Fate indeed is the cruel one in this show more than anything. I find the sibling's relationship really epic - they even died at the same time. Their very first scene in the 1st episode when she says him to go ahead without thinking about her now makes so much sense - it was all about the king. Till their last breath both tried to protect the King. I cannot fathom how heavy each step must have been for Shin to take towards the king at the cost of his sister - just to keep his promise to the late king. Her reincarnation would at least ease some burden of his heart if he is assured she is doing well and is happy in this life

*Forbidden Bromance - All four of them share such complicated fates. Reaper and Kim Shin have come a full circle from the King wanting Kim Shin dead to the Reaper now wanting Kim Shin to stay alive. I absolutely adore their relationship. They are bros, they are each other's confidant, they are family. The one time we hear Kim Shin talking about his past...he does it to Reaper ajhushi. I am curious to see how the equation changes once reaper remembers who he is. Not only with Shin but also with Sunny. After all Shin does have a lot of resentment bottled up towards the king.

I hope the Reaper remembers his past as soon as possible so that he can work towards his redemption especially towards Sunny. Hope we get more insights about the King and his inner thoughts - what he went through making those ruthless decisions. it really gets to me how he turns and walks away while his Queen and Kim Shin lay dead before him. How heartless did jealousy turn him *sigh* I am really gonna have a very hard time watching Reaper coming in terms with his reality - already watching Lee Dong Wook cry bitterly is painful enough. This piece of truth is going to be Reaper's own version of sword through his heart. I am as curious about his redemption track as I am of the door that Kim Shin will find to protect his bride.

 

 

 

 

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Merry Christmas everyone! A few thoughts on the past two episodes -

The 7th episode i feel was preparing us for the real deal that 8th episode provide. It was relatively light and cute (except for the last few minutes) and really don't mind slow episodes if story is sort of consistent. 

First things first - i just cannot get over our Goblin's reaction to the kiss ROFL. behaving like some cutesy teenager covering his mouth and all haha. one of the things i absolutely ADORE in this show is Kim Shin's and Reaper's love hate relationship. So it's not surprising how much i cracked up when Reaper professed his love for Kim Shin, picking up the trick from Eun Tak (pfft), to save his ownership of the house or he when he planned to send Eun Tak packing so that he and Kim Shin can live happily together as they used to before.

I think these guys with Eun Tak and Deok Hwa have become such a family...i doubt they don't even realize that. Besides Kim Shin, i like how  Eun Tak shares a rapport with both Reaper and Deok Hwa. I especially was touched how all of them were there for her (with a cake) when she came back after her entrance exam.

Also what i found interesting was that after Deok Hwa's grandpa suggests for Kim Shin to think about living rather than dying, he gives it a thought and sort of tries to shed his inhibitions. So this time he has no qualms in admitting to being interested in being Eun Taks boyfriend - he goes all out to declare it-  or going out having fun dates with her (man the meta take on Train to Busan was so spot on. I still crack up when i think of Kim Shin freaking out seeing Gong Yoo's movie Bwahahaha)

I know for some the banters btw Shin and Eun Tak may come out to be way too repetitive. Yet i tend to enjoy them way too much because there is something so endearing about both the scenes and Gong Yoo's performance. I absolutely love how he brings the childishness whenever he is jealous and mad at Eun Tak over it. I can watch a jealous Goblin all my life, snatching away his own gifted cakes or becoming the antithesis of a Guardian to Tae hee oppa.

The stakes got way too higher in episode 8. I often wonder did things change when he hugged her. Apart from the silent moment they shared when she was singing at the wedding, the hug must have overwhelmed her with feelings, which is why maybe now she got a hold to the sword. (i absolutely loved the hug scene btw,...it felt like Eun Tak was feeling something really different ...ah the nuances KGE brings) Also the last time we were shown the sword was hurting was after they came back from Qubec where Kim Shin was totally mesmerized by her. This time as well he was having a blissful moment with Eun Tak giggling and what not when the pain striked...as if it was a not-so-gentle reminder about his punishment. As Deok Hwa's grandfather suggests the sword is both his prize and his punishment. with his prized moments, lies the truth of his punishment.

When Eun Tak asked him whether he was glad that it is after all her who is his bride, it took me back to the scene where he had drunk confessed that she was the first and his only bride. This time around too he smirked a little as if to say why is this even a question and assured her he was glad. While she went all glad and happy, not even fully recovered from the near death experience, all he could do is watch her painfully with misty eyes as she tells it's their destiny - a cruel destiny. (ack.i am a wreck i think by now). 

My favorite scene has to be where she lies besides a tired Kim Shin....soothing and easing his pain. The beauty of the scene leaves me speechless. There is something so surreal about it. The conversation between them....there is again the concealed pain of Kim Shin which Eun Tak is unaware of when he talks about his first love. How he watches her get prettier everyday and is greedy to keep watching her shine every passing day...but is that in his destiny? He asks her not to go and they get into their typical banter, yet they smile at the end cause that's the place they want to be - besides each other and you can see the peace in their faces. As though that is their little world.

I like it how ultimately does firm up his resolve (well sort of) to live...at least as long as Eun Tak is well and alive. There are some really cute scenes between him and Eun Tak where he fesses up that he likes seeing her jealous (aww) or the matter of factly confession he makes to Eun Tak that turns her into mush. hahahaha i cant get over how awesomely bland that confession was. 

Coming to Reaper and Sunny. I really hope we can see more of Sunny....i mean the episode runs almost an hour and 20 minutes sometimes right? Man didn't it kill me when Reaper cries in pain seeing the portrait of the queen! It is more or less clear that he is the King and Sunny is the queen. The flashbacks have sort of given some premise to another tragedy of this show....the tragedy of King, Queen and Kim Shin. By the flashbacks it is evident that the King did love Queen since a long time - and to order her death....i just cannot imagine the anguish. I hope we get more about all the grave sins that the King committed - there has to be an awful lot for him to get turned into a reaper (didn't Shin say once that you had to commit a million sins to become a reaper?) I feel a lot more worse thinking about the Queen - stuck in between her brother and husband must have been an ordeal for her. It makes for a fascinating tragic love story. King must have been played upon where his insecurities were used and fueled to the point where he might have started detesting Kim Shin. Each of these three had their own battles to fight....Kim Shin himself must have been torn between his duty, his loyalty towards the king and his sense of justice upon being treated unfairly. This track has so much potential in the present timeline....it sucks how much they are under utilizing it and sunny's part. 

In all this are we even getting hints of Deok Hwa maturing? Ever since he has read Kim Shin's confession and got to know about the sword and the people her could never forget he has started seeing Shin in a new light, seeing a different side to him. Will that lead upto him growing up and being the support to his uncle as is his legacy?

In all this i find Shamshin Grandma very confusing. The last scene has to be one of the most powerful ones. What stuck me most was how much he resents her. His fate is so cruelly twisted from the past and even now in the present! After killing innocents on the line of duty, he was declared a traitor and his loved ones where killed in front of him. After 900 years of painful immortality when it seemed like it was about to end, he got a new lease of life in the form of Eun Tak and it turns out there is this crazy situation where one has to die for the other to live. Is it just me who feels his fate is unfair? And when Shamshin Grandma comes out and says it's for his own happiness - it just hits where it hurts the most. Why won't there be resentment in his eyes then? It interplays beautifully with Eun Tak coming to know the consequences of drawing out the sword.

The last monologue just fits the situation....it doesn't seem like the heavens will ever give him the permission to confess to Eun Tak that she is after all his first love.

 

[[Drama 2016-2017] Guardian: The Lonely and Great Goblin 도깨비]

Hey guys, this is my first post in this thread. Couldn't help myself gushing over this gem of a show which gets me giddy every-time i see it hehe.

The 5th episode started from what i find is the most beautiful and touching scene i have seen in quite a while in dramas. It will go down as one of my most favourite scenes of all times in any drama. The way the scene captured Eun tak’s innocent excitement and liveliness, her energetic smile which sends Kim Shin weak on his knees and makes him utterly smitten, the heart wrenching poetic monologue personifying him losing his heart to her…..it was spellbinding for me.

But what really got to me was that her smile which was as bright as the sun to him, took him back to the moment when he lost his life. It was as if the most happy and cherished memory reminding of his wretched life and that he has to end it. What is even more cruel is that it will be her doing it. He is scared that he’d become greedy….that he’d want to live longer. Interestingly, if she was given a choice  to live a life of eternity, she wouldn’t mind if it was with him. Although she said it without knowing the world out there, knowing it repercussion and with full naivety, his silent reaction to her enthusiasm was quite something.

I thought the above admission was one of the saddest scene of 5th episode. I was wrong. His stoic I love you was. Ack. A matter of factly I love you, not letting the sadness of his heart reflect on his face. So while Eun Tak misunderstands and keeps accusing him of things he doesn’t feel at all… he just let’s her do so, but looks at her so tenderly, sadness reflecting in his eyes...that eyes doesn’t move away from her one bit (ACK ONLY GONG YOO CAN DO THIS SORT OF KILLER PERFORMANCE)

It always makes me curious what Eun Tak feels….she is just 19, naive, innocent, childish. At that very moment when she thinks he hates her and she makes him sad (oh my the thought of it is so outrageous rofl), you just know she has little idea about love or even the idea of love. It’s interesting how she keeps on demanding to know from him whether he loves her/likes or not...or is always curious about it. I keep on wondering what does she expect of him emotionally? She want to be with him, dine with him….all because he is like her guardian angel, or is there something more.

That stoic confession of his would have naturally hurt her, as it did come out as though he was mocking her. She was entering a relationship with him with the misconception that it was going to be give and take between them….this when she didn’t even know his name, and didn’t even know whether she had the right to know it or not.

Thank God there are some light scenes in between tragic ones haha. I absolutely love it when the Reaper (HE ACTUALLY NAMED HIMSELF KIM WOO BIN. BWAHAHAHA I JUST CAN’T ROFL), Goblin and the Human are together. Eun Tak constantly fearing she is been taken away towards after world whenever he is around is just hilarious. I like it how the relationship changed to Reaper cheering on for Eun Tak, while she is bonding with Reaper folding laundry and choosing names. That leaves Kim Shin being jealous and declaring himself her boyfriend just out of the blue. And such a dork he is...he later contemplates whether to go back to clear the fact it was husband not boyfriend. Ha.

Can i take a moment to just appreciate how much this guy is smitten by her.Like hearing her footsteps to guess what she is upto, taking her to Qubec at any chance he gets, watching her adoringly as she goes about with her life cheerfully and innocently, and getting jealous over silliest of things. Haha is he 939 really?

I totally like how Reaper and Goblin bonded over time and got used to each other. They didn’t start off on the right note cause both were to stuck up in their and were used to their lonely lives. But a few salt shaker and knife fights later the got used to each other. It hilarious how the share girl problems as if they ain’t centuries old creature but 20 something dudes haha.The reaper especially….half the time he is so glum and clueless ha.There is this one conversation between them that just struck me…..the one in which they discuss about seeing God and envy humans that they eventually do get to see God, but they who face so much hardships and burden of their sins do not get to confront him or even know how he looks like to resent him. Kim Shin asked Eun Tak why is everything about her so sad. I think everything about these two is even sadder.

I am absolutely glad that the bromance has reached a point where the Reaper is freaked out when Eun Tak has finally made up her mind to pull out that sword out of Kim Shin. Actually my best bromance moment was when Reaper offered Goblin a hug *pffft*

I also loved how Eun Tak’s words and actions were soothing to Kim Shin’s wounds of the past. She comforts and consoles him, wipes his tears, eases his pain….and awww even teaches him how to pat tenderly. This inherent affection between them is so organic. It was heart wrenching to see him so moody and gloomy, caught between his desire to live with her and his agony of a long immortal life. It is always painful to see him ignore her or give her a cold shoulder, because you know he is doing this only to sort himself and make his resolve firm and not sway in her direction… you know that after walking past her, behind her back he begs her secretly to let him go and not hold him back. And yet, he comes around and back to her and starts delaying his last day on earth by one more day.

The kiss scene was really interesting. I am not usually a fan of such a kiss where one of them would be wide eyed. But this one just worked because of the situation haha. It was very smartly written. It was smart to make Eun Tak initiate the kiss. It was so true to her character. You just know she is capable of pulling something like that hahaha. Kissing the frog prince type outrageous ideas can only be up Eun Tak’s sleeves. It by and large worked for me also because of Gong Yoo and his expressions being so spot on….it went from confused to being taken aback to being taken off guard. The snow and the music worked other wonders. Out and out it totally did work for me, the kiss.

 

 

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

Rofl. I watched the whole friggin show in anticipation of the last scene with modern Wang So. Turns out there is no modern Wang So? Really? this was the ending they thought in a Pre-produced show. Honestly, how difficult was it to shoot one scene where they meet in modern day? I don't understand writers and their logic some times. 

But then again maybe they went with the novel's ending. *shrugs*

 

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

The ironies in this show. At a point, Wook had chosen his family over Soo - and later his family turned their back on him. How in a way So wanted the throne to protect and have Baek ah and Soo by his side...and now he is ending up alone.

I had expected to be heartbroken by the time the story reached the point where Hae Soo leaves the palace....but i ended up feeling frustrated. i didn't exactly end up understanding or feeling Hae Soo's conflicts. I know the adaptation has not been the best out there, but i thought atleast this crucial arc would be handled well.

I would have been fine if Hae Soo had acknowledged Chae Ryung's betrayal and yet called out So and not forgiven him. I would have been convinced of the separation citing that all this was too much for her to handle. What hit me was she turned a blind eye on the fact that she was being sold out by Chae Ryung and looked at So as some lying criminal. 

Same for her accusing eye at So when she calls him out for planting the dead hawk, completely forgetting what Wook did to Moo and Eun! If Chae Ryung was like her little sister, didn't she consider Moo her elder brother too??? It's not about begging for Wook's life, it's about her treating So differently in similar situations. She loves and cares for the princes equally. So i completely understand her begging for wook's life. She'd have done this for any of the Princes  (that is the only thing i found convincing). But her accusing look towards So contradicts her equal care for the brothers. 

By this time the revelation of her relationship had nearly no effect on me. Given that it was one of the most anticipated scenes for me, i was dissatisfied by it's treatment. I felt more during Wook and Soo's farewell. 

In all this i feel So got a raw deal. Yes, granted he became a ruthleas king....but wasn't he always that? At the end of the day his decisions were backed by motivations to protect his people and his kingdom. He didn't take his citizens for granted and stayed firm on his resolve to protect Baek Ah and Soo. Yes, decisions backfired - as with Woo Hee but his intention was never to let her die. I honestly felt Chae Ryung was the only far fetched decision where the conflict could have made sense. But rest all were provocations of other factions. And he had to protect his people. He never killed his kin once on that throne, didn't want bloodshed dealing with Bakjae people...yet somehow he was the one who ended up getting demonized. In all tnis it's tragic how he had to end up alone yet again. 

At the end just one line which is enough to express his agony, pain and melancholy - i didn't abandon her. She abandoned me...

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

After the last episode i just wanted to write a few things on Hae Su and Wang So in terms of them witnessing the King's (Wang Mu) death.

It was heart wrenching to see especially Hae Su who had to witness the King she was so loyal and devoted to die in front of her. Right from when Su and So entered the palace one of their prime motives had become to protect the then crown Prince. Hae Su with her attempts to conceal his illness and helping him deal with it, and So's attempt to survive in the Palace boiled down to protecting the crown prince (not that that was the only reason). i felt that amongst all the threads Hae Soo and Wang So were connected with, Wang Mu was one of them. In the sense, their life sort of changed for them and he was one the reason. In his quest to protect and be an important ally to Wang Mu, So entered the palace. He could meet Soo, fall in love with her....and become healed as a person. Not to forget he saved So from his psychotic mother! Su similarly, after Mu became the king, had her situation changed by his favours which she earned by her loyalty towards his him whether it was regarding his ailment or helping Taejo protect him. She became the head court lady and slowly started to accept So and her feelings towards him. Both So and Su worked hard and gave their best to protect the King. In a way they even compromised on their relationship when So married the Princess. To see something they nurtured and cherished fall the way Wang Mu did....would have pained them a lot.

Special mention to Su especially. Having to witness deaths of people she loved or respected and honored within the span of 3 or 4 years. First her cousin, then Lady Oh (which had to be the most painful), King Taejo and now Mu. This show has many drawbacks, but IU's portrayal of Hae Su isn't one of them. It's surprising for me cause i did not have any expectations from her to start with when the show began. But turns out one of the biggest positives of this show (for me atleast) is her ability to move me. Every death, every betrayal, every heartbreak.....she just got to me with the pain she expressed.

I am glad for Hae Su and Hae So finally reaching somewhere in the relationship. But i am greedy as well. I am sad that we had to miss the 2 years of their relationship. Mind you 2 important years of their relationship. Where we left was a point where she has started to fall to So. Despite her reluctance, So's ability to protect and value drew her towards him and there was nothing she could do to stop it. It reached a point where she trusted So more than Wook. I would have loved to see the realization and acceptance and more moments which lead to that in these two years....since this is what i had been anticipating for a long time since the show started with it's adaptation.  

I however liked the conflict thrown into their relationship in the form of a marriage. And the resolution which lead to the kiss was the cherry on cake. I think what matters for Soo at this moment is not the fulfillment of promises. She knows the weight promises have in Goreyo. She witnessed it for 4 odd years or so. For her all it matters is trust, sincerity and most importantly TOGETHERNESS during hard times instead of hiding your face just because you could not keep your word. That is why this confrontation was so important than just poetic metaphor of an explanation. What hurt her during wook was not his abandonment, but his abandonment without a word! Why won't she understand if you said so, why wouldn't she wait if asked so? So explaining his situation and confession not only made Su understand his situation but also drove her to seal their relationship with a kiss. But alas, the Wook mystery is their haunt their relationship....now more because we know how much So despises lies. 

Wook seems a completely different man. From a person who didn't care about power (or pretended so?) to now viciously lust for it. He scares me more than Yo - at least he is a predictably vile with his wormtail of a 9th brother Won. Atleast in the Chinese version the 8th Brother was ambitious from the very go. Fine. I have no problem with his ambitions. What bothers me is he puts Su somewhere in the equation in his quest for power, that it's because of her sake he is pursing his ambition for the throne As it is it annoyed me in the previous episodes that he blamed So for Su's misfortunes. Hein? 

While i enjoy Baek ah and So's brotherly relationship. I don't know why i keep craving for things to be well with him and Jung. It's tragic how these brothers turned out thanks to the psychotic mother. But a reconciliation is far from happening since Wook is dear to Jung....and god knows if Su and Jung will have something in the lines of the original.

[[Drama 2016] W-Two Worlds 더블유]

I don't get the negetive comments sometimes, i respect the opinions...but still don't get it. Tbh i am enjoying this show a lot.... even the 13th episode felt as the most nerve wrecking episode ever. They did play around established rules right? and it's not that they created new rules as such till 14th epi (we all know tablets are used as a portkey to travel, and that characters can summon people from real life...most of Kang Chul's hypothsis was based on that). So i don't get the criticism where people say everyday the rules change.

I felt 14th episode was a bit slower than previous episodes but not enough to write off the entire series. I mean during the run of a show one or two episodes might be a bit slow which can be granted. Actually the 14th episode left me a little puzzled with it's developments.

Usually i'd be mindblown. Now i am a bit underwhelmed. Creating of a copy of the tablet seemed too convenient of a solution to me. Kang Chul figuring that out with Dad giving inputs about it's whereabouts....it was just a easy route the writers went with. But then could there be more to it revealed in the last set of episodes?

Other than that, after giving it a thought i am quite satisfied with the episode. Kang Chul yet again is its star. Not only because of his quick yet rational thinking but also because of his determination, perseverance and love for Yeon Joo and care for Yeon Joo's loved ones. 

You know in all this Dad is still such a loser. There is no growth whatsoever in his character. He still cannot deal with defeat and loneliness and as usual drinks over it, or worse, contemplates ending his life. Pathetic. With such a weak character i am not surprised that his stronger manhwa counterpart is taking over him.

I loved the bits where Kang Chul before devoting himself in saving Yeon Joo, he first stabilizes dad and calms Soo bong. I loved how he reassures dad by confessing how precious Yeon Joo is to him. She is the only person he has...and she is for real. And by extension even dad is his family - so that dad doesn't consider himself alone and do something stupid yet again. It was touching how he saves Yeon Joo's family and loved ones (i am including Soo bong) from breaking down and gave them strength and hope.

I especially liked when he said Soo bong not to cry. Just awwww. Can we please have Soo bong call him Kang Maehyung anytime soon. Haha.

I also came to appreciate how intricately Chul had planned this scenario. Starting from summoning him and Yeon Joo to his world to save her life he just played the right cards. He knew with a new episode, dad could re-draw Yeon Joo's fate and bring her alive. Hence he started planning how to bring the tablet copy back. Earlier i wondered just how did 'to be continued' appear at the right time as required. Later realized since Chul was writing his story this time...he planned the climax in such a way that the conclusion of the episode was well timed and accurate. Everything just fell into place. Coming back to the real world and summoning Han Chul ho was sheer genius. It's the timing that mattered. It also showed how much and determination he had. Notice how Han Chul Ho disappears shortly after that. Which means once after chul went back he summoned Han Chul ho back too.

Now comes the puzzling bit - Dad and the tablet. This tablet is bothering me too much. Earlier i mentioned the copy of the tablet seemed too convinient...but is it really? Was it a contingency plan by the villian to bring himself back in case he was killed? Now previously we did see it being implied that the villian and dad are one soul. The villian could be an alter ego or split personality of dad which he projects in the manhwa world which is now threatening to take over him since he is not a strong person and gives in - which is why he was controlled so easily and which is essentially why he remembers everything the villian did. 

Now i am just worried about the resolution to our OTP. I thought after today's episode after Yeon Joo is saved, we can have some time for their relationship developing further too. Yes, i am satisfied and convinced about Chul's feelings for Yeon Joo...they go beyond expression since Chul went to crazy ends to save her life! Yet i do want him to convey that to her...it isn't necessary to say i love you, but it's that this is what Yeon Joo wanted..along with a photo. I just need a little bit more time for them. Cause all their happy dates have been dream sequences. But here another complicated test awaits them with Yeon Joo back to Chul's world with him facing a trial and uncertainty regarding her dad. Just how difficult is it to get a happy ending? 

You know Kang Chul planned his own torture to trick Han Chol ho - that's how much he loves Yeon Joo and that's how confident and determined he was for their happy ending...which he reiterated to Yeon Joo's dad as well. I just hope he doesn't waver in the final episode. I have full trust in Kang Chul...but this show is so unpredictable. Yet i am confident of a happy ending. It doesn't make sense to make everything they went through futile.

P.S. Special shoutout Soo bong for yelling at Crazy dog for mentioning Yeon Joo to Dad bwahaha. That makes up for everytime he tortured Yeon joo. But wait...is the crazy dog warming up to uri Yeon Joo when he found that she died? It would be intresting if an anti is converted to a fan...you know what i mean?

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

*I'll be comparing this with the C-drama only a little bit, so just forgive me for once*

Ah, i wished they went C-drama way for Su's and the 8th's relationship. Although i am totally on Su's and 4th's ship...i was looking forward to this arc because going as per original it was an important part of Ruoxi's journey. I was a bit taken aback when they made Lady Hae fall in love 8th. I didn't come here expecting that. It's actually a drawback for the one's who have watched the C-version and have come here with a certain expectations about the direction in which the story-line will go. This actually changes everything in the equation. The Prince wavering etc...everything. Especially with the values that Hae Soo brought with her to Goreyo, it becomes more messed up. I do sympathize with her a lot...but the situation certainly got messed....intentional or not (and yes i know matters of the heart and all that) but it did end up hurting Lady Hae especially in her last days. Still i sympathize with Su beause Lady Hae's death is going to leave a huge burden on her....and of course Wook too. With that kind of burden, will she be able to marry the 8th? All they didn't explicitly show it in this one, but she was one of the reason Su was able to survive and adapt in Goreyo (although most of the credit was given to Wook, unlike in the original). She was her family. The burden is going to be enormous! 

Talking of burden, a lot of people in this show have their own burden to bear - Su and Wook with their forbidden feelings (yes, i do believe they have feelings for each other...and i am totally fine with it. People can fall in love in love twice. In this case, Su will find her soulmate in Wang Soo), So bearing the burden of being abandoned and tortured, 13th and his feelings for Lady Hae, Crown Prince and the burden of the throne, Wang Yo bearing burden of his and his mother's ambitions and expectations, and even our Jung fighting with the burden of his complicated family and relationship with his brothers. 

Spoiler

Some how i hope that we get to see 13th Prince's relationship with Su as her drinking buddy you know. One of my favorite things about BBJX was Ruoxi and the 13th's friendship. Here it seems they started off on a rough patch, hope we get to see a good evolution on that front

 

I am slowly getting used to the fact that this one's a different deal than it's source material (which is fair enough) Not that i wasn't loving it as it was, just that i was a bit taken aback. The one thing that has remained consistent with me though was extremely loving this show's take on the 4th Prince. I was sold from day one. Part of it...scratch that...whole of it was due to Lee Jun Ki and his awesome portrayal. A little bad treatment of this character would have turned it into a caricature. But the heartbreaking and the cruel backstory nailed by LJK's performance just brought out the darkness, vulnerability, pain, insecurities, inferiority complex and anger so perfectly. I don't know whether i felt more heartbroken for So or more angry and repulsive towards the so called biological mother of his, using her sons as pawns for her political ambitions and ego, when So was narrating his life with his adoptive family. Why wouldn't he behave like an animal if he is sent amongst one? Why wouldn't he threaten Su every-time she cuts his path...that's literally all he has done all his life - kill. Yet it took this clueless intriguing girl to actually understand him? All those high and mighty learned people in the Palace absolutely have no heart at all?

I totally love the build up to Su and So's relationship. The evolution from the coldness to warmth...the journey towards a budding friendship which will eventually blossom into love. It all started when Su hit the right buttons with So, asking him was it wrong for her to act like she did in order to survive. Ah. It hit the right spot. That's what he has been doing for ages! Killing to survive. If that softened him to some extent towards her, Su not judging a bloodied So nailed it for him. That scene has to be the most poignant in my opinion. She was not just stopping him from knocking over those prayer stones...she was asking him to get himself together and calming him down....caring for him as a person. This man has not heard even one warm word of kindness or sympathy from even his mother. His brothers act with caution around him, his blood-related brothers insult him on his face, even Yeon hwa who claims to miss him considers him as some project where she'd tame the wild *major eye roll*. And yet it was Su who was vocal about her sympathies...and about the fact she understood where he was coming from...who was worried about his own blood gushing out rather than noticing people's blood on his face. It took those few words to calm him down. 

Just how beautifully their equation evolved from there. He saved her from being caned...of-course he noticed it was all because of the pains she went through to return the gift meant for his ... err the person who gave birth to him. Notice the incremental changes in him...he is opening up - he mischievously flirts with her calling her as his. *major swoooon*, he bickered with her when she brought him food (bickered and not threaten to kill) he smiles to himself every-time Su does something amusing haha...i guess that smile comes on only at just one other place - when his brothers fight childishly, God he even deciphered her emojis. Limit. Their conversation in the Palace clearly shows they have moved towards friendship....i think she even earned his respect in a way when she excused herself after overhearing bits of So's conversation with his...i mean the lady who gave birth to him, not leaving him in an awkward position in front of her. 

In all this, all though i realize So slowly developing feelings for her, Su is entangled in her complicated feelings for Wook. I am expecting some major wooing and sincere conveyance of his feelings....and most importantly him patiently doing so, waiting for her. I would like him to be persistent with her, reiterate his feelings through touching gestures....protecting her with his life.

Spoiler

Something like the arrow scene from BBJX

 

But then again, these are my expectations, since the show has been one step ahead of my expectations, i am curious to see what route they take with the central love story of the show

[[Drama 2016] Moon Lovers ❤ Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 달의 연인-보보경심 려 \^0^/ Soompi Kdrama 2016 Winner]

I have been a silent reader mostly. But since the ending of the C-drama was mentioned i couldn't help but comment. I some how loved the ending of BBJX despite it being an open ending  (ofcourse there was a sequel, but that is besides the point). There are two kinds of open ending i feel - one which leans towards positive and another which leanz towards cluelessness. This one was towards the positive side with hope. One of the most anticipated scenes for me to see in this remake would be the ending scene because i would be very excited to see Lee Jun Ki in that avatar. I think he'd nail it with his persona and charm. But then i am not sure what kind of end these guys would go for cause there are significant difference btw thr Chinese and Korean version both story and character sketch wise...and open endings are not popular as well (even i like them only in exceptional cases like in BBJX). 

Anyways i will not dwell on the ending when the whole show is in front of me. I ll just enjoy the awesome that is gonna come my way.

Sorry for the stupid rant

[[Drama 2016] W-Two Worlds 더블유]

I am still reeling from from the 13th episode. I guess this has to be the most nerve wrecking episode of the whole drama. I literally turned Soo Bong at the end of it, suspecting a heart condition. The last straw was Yeon Joo fighting for her life! Crap, i wasn't ready for this. It's always has been about saving Chul's life from everybody. Although i am still coming in terms with Yeon Joo potentially in her death bed, i am very excited to see how Kang Chul deals with this! We have seen Yeon Joo lose every bit of her worrying about him, a turn around would be so amazing..!!

Few things that i loved!

• KANG CHUL! I was so worried about how Kang Chul and Yeon Joo's story will move forward with Chul being so clueless. Turns out it took Chul spending time with the book left by Yeon Joo to fall for her yet again (my interpretation though... in a way to some extent didn't Yeon Joo fall for him the same way?). Previously, Kang Chul, unaware about a lot of things impulsively made the wrong decisions as thing went haywire and out of hands, without thinking about the repercussions as such. In the sense, the previous Chul would end up taking his life when he gets to know the truth of his existence or would ask for a reset of his world (which is fair enough...cause both the times he was baffled enough). The old Chul accepted his fate as it was, this one writes his own fate. (which i what i love!) The one month did him good - with the brains Chul has it wouldn't have been difficult for him to figure out stuff. And in a way it made a difference when Yeon Joo reset his world and created his story, compared to what his father had created for him.
• So now Kang Chul is more rational - he'd not sit down and reduce himself to just a mere character created by someone. He's definitely more than that. This Kang Chul would not ask Yeon Joo to draw dreams as a desperate measure. Not that he wasn't  rational and confident earlier...but he has become even more cooler....especially the way he handles his relationship with Yeon Joo being positive and confident about it, and WANTING to make it work at all cost.
• I Earlier wanted Chul to remember things he forgot, i still do, but i got over it because i like the idea of him getting more amused, intrigued by what he read (and experienced too albeit unaware) to the point of waiting for her...to know her more, figure out what was it about her...her strange charm and experience the love. Earlier Chul had a very little idea of Yeon Joo's world...but now he is getting to know her and her world...how has she been living in her world....who are the people she is surrounded with. Starting from Soo Bong, to her colleagues, man even the crazy dog hahaha...flirting with Yeon Joo (*blush*), getting a glimpse of her cute and clumsy ways, being touched by her love and the fact that she never moved on from him, experiencing what it feels to kiss her...also expressing his wish to progress organically in their relationship...ah i never knew falling in love all over again would feel so beautiful. My favourite line - the ending would be different with Kang Chul marrying Yeon Joo...hell with the readers (AHAHAHAHA!) I like it because, when yeon joo was going all about Kang Chul's happy ending...his well being, his safety...he made it about them. Their happy ending. 
• The ways the variables were manipulated by Kang Chul to his own advantages. Bloody Brilliant. So now he is able to summon himself back and forth, and carefully creating scenarios and paving path for the happy ending. Ensuring that the mistakes made previously is not repeated. Basically Kang Chul is learning from his mistakes in every possible way haha. Every week the new revelations are made which also ties up lose ends of the previous revelations. 
• Soo Bong-ah! Haha. I don't know why but every-time i see Soo Bong i feel like he is some twin brother of Yeon Joo. Their fangirl/boy hearts especially....and some of their reactions. Soo Bong's fanboy moment when he finally meets Kang Chul, his little quirks like pulling the ramyun bowl away whenever anyone comes near it. Cracks me up so bad this guy. 
• Yeon Joo - i love the shades this character shows. She had somehow closed herself after Kang Chul left her. Now, she is starting from where things were left and opening up slowly. Like when she returns to her world with Chul, initially she is just over-whelmed to have him around. When he is sending her off to the hospital she holds him....fear of him leaving her again evident. She asks whether he now remembers her. When he says no, she keeps her expectations at bay. But you can see her cautiously opening up when he asks her out on a date...calling him up again and again...asking for more time getting ready. After starting to date again, she dared to dream again...started to get her hopes up - wrapping up things in the Manhwa, Chul would be back with her. She'd introduce him to her father formally...things would be hilariously awkward btw father in law and son in law, only to be made better by baduk...or not (oh major reply 1988 feels with that baduk <3 ). Following it up with introduction with her mom and aunt. This is Yeon joo's small little world. (just a little problem...how would Chul earn his living?) Ah she jinxed it didn't she. 
• The 13th episode just went from one thing to another - everything happening at the same time. Characters being summoned to real world - So Hee and Evil villian fellow. I don't know what the big deal is with Yeon Joo not able to recognize her dad. Alright it is a point for criticism - a blooper - fair enough...but not enough to write her off as a stupid character. Really now? She is human at the end of the day, is it really wrong for her to err? Is it really impossible (in the context of the show) for a larger than life manhwa character to be able to pass off and fool her as her dad? What are the odds that she thought the door must have been kept accidentally open. As it is she and Soo bong keep on checking on him over and over again, so it would well have been possible that either of them had forgotten to lock it. This when, just last episode we were fearing that Seok Bom would open the door. And since i am defending Yeon Joo, i might as well say that sense got trumped by the overjoyed feeling she got after seeing her father getting her face back. Don't forget, she was coming back home anticipating her father to get her face back as assured by Kang Chul, so it's natural for her to think that it's her father cause that's what has been on her mind.
• Just after that...things happen one after the other - Yeon Joo was kidnapped, Han Chol ho figured things and left with his car, Kang Chul was stopped on his way by the ending of the chapter. Like man, hold your horses! One at a time. i can't deal with so many things happening together. 
• Heartbreaking moment of the weak has to be Yeon Joo being shot. It was painful to first watch her begging for her life (as though begging for a chance to live with her father, mother and Kang Chul happily...just as she had imagined earlier, and open up to expectations and hope. Who doesn't want a happy ending  ) and later dragging herself after being shot before losing consciousness. Chul's showdown with the villian was mindblowing, where Chul loses it at the thought of losing Yeon Joo - his only family. He finishes things off in one go, the anger, desperation and helplessness evident through his wet eyes.
• Lastly, the bits that left me with Goosebumps - Kang Chul finding out about the Yeon Joo being serious....telling the cops that he is his husband struggling to keep himself together. You know when Yeon Joo was going through the fear of hoping again when Chul came back to her life, that is when they started to date, she wore the ring around her neck...i mean she still wore it around her neck. She wore it around her neck all through the times when Kang Chul had no memories of her...when she had no expectations that they would ever be together. At the end of the episode when Kang Chul finds Yeon Joo being revived....we see the ring back on her finger.

[[Drama 2016] W-Two Worlds 더블유]

A long incoherent rant on previous two episodes :

Don't you just love when the heroine goes to the world's end (and quite literally in this one) to save the one she loves. (i love when both the protagonist of the show are such equals!) I guess that is what stood out the most for me in the past two episodes apart from Yeon Joo's heartbreak and Kang Chul's never ending tragedy *crie* Also am i the only one who didn't find the episode slow? I felt the pace was fine - as there was so much happening at each very moment leaving me wide eyed and open mouthed.

Initially i thought Yeon Joo was back to Kang Chul's world because his life was in danger again and he needed to be saved...but the next episode the logic turned out to be that anybody can summon Yeon joo? You just need to ask for her? Makes sense. Before the reset it was just Kang Chul who knew her to the extent of wanting her...and now suddenly she has just too many people curious about her.

I guess our OTP went through A LOT in terms of the wave of emotions. Yeon Joo - facing your husband in his freshly reset world where you are no more (or is she?) his heroine ... looking at him with those painful and longing eyes, but not finding the same longing in his eyes (reminds me of his eyes when she confessed in the jail *blissful times*). At the same time Kang Chul was absolutely shaken after finally finding the face he had been hunting for years -the person responsible for his misery, for his lonely and frightening nights. I think the writers did not explore his reaction to this revelation much, given how central it was to the Manhwa's hero? But i still like the silent moment Kang Chul had in the terrace, weeping by himself - underplayed but still tugs at the heart. Equally touching was Yeon Joo stroking his image from far in an attempt to console him.

Then the frightening experience all together staying in that world for 3 days for Yeon Joo. I can only imagine the turmoil - emotional and otherwise. Hiding herself, the fear of being discovered, staying hungry, keeping herself away from Chul - i guess this was the only time i was praying that she goes back to her world and not stay back at Chul's. Just how embarrassing it was to be caught by that one person you are trying to hide from (and who means the world to you) and at a moment when you are pathetically desperate and at your low. I think that was the threshold for me in terms of seeing Yeon Joo in so much pain. I literally paused the screen for a while to take things in. It was all amusing that Yeon Joo readily agreed to go to jail. Not only for the food but also to prevent herself from facing Chul everytime. It's no surprise that she reached her breaking point when Chul nursed her wounds, ranting her heart out. Ack. Just a minute before she was fine and going about with he business so bravely, nonchalant to Chul's accusations/questions...it just had to end this way. Poor Kang Chul already having a hard time is so clueless. It's just too much information for him to process..to even comprehend i mean. I mean a visibly heartbroken girl crying to you can be awkwardly bizarre. I LOVED it how he does not turn her in. Somethings doesn't change even in the reset world. Like him denying that he is even remotely interested in her (remember the times he out rightly refused to admit she was beautiful. HAHA)

But the biggest crisis had yet to hit Kang Chul. He is framed 2nd time in his life. The worst part is that even the people who never doubted his innocence before were now skeptical. It sucked that he had to witness the death of another of his loved one, let alone be accused for his murder....and that he died without knowing Kang Chul was actually innocent and he'd never know cause..well is there any afterlife concept in the webtoon world?

But then Yeon Joo! YEON JOO! What a brave girl. I was blown away by her guts and courage fueled by her determination to protect Kang Chul (these two sigh). The risk taken is no joke. Checking into a motel with a gravely injured so called fugitive with the police tagging on and the confidence with which she exits the world all to save him. Just wow. It's interesting how she suffered all those days and yet never chose this way out to exit Chul's world. [ love the way how the kiss scene is shot...with the ring hanging in btw while they are kissing...so beautiful] I mean it's obvious she wanted to stay out of his way - but better said than done right? Also how she fights her dad and locks him up. To first come in terms with what happened to him and then trap him. i mean she fought her FATHER! she even scores one against the devil in Chul's world and manages to save Chul successfully (although unaware). You go girl! 

And no i have no qualms that Kang Chul treats himself to recovery. He is the Kang Chul - the webtoon hero - he can do anything. It's a silver lining that Do yoon helped Kang Chul stay on the run - very touched by his loyalty. Atleast there is someone who is atleast trying to protect him in that world...i am sure even So hee would had she known. Recovered and cheerful Chul meets her again and in the same way as before after discharging from the hospital (somethings never change all over again). The heart was racing every-time he talked about things which only Chul from the pre-reset era knew. richard simmons. I was just hoping and rooting that he remembered her, inflating like a balloon in anticipation. But alas deflated at faster rate. Amidst that i really enjoyed the sweet moments they shared. Things these people do. Kang Chul going all the way for Yeon Joo - buying her clothes, shopping for grocery and having ice-cream in-spite of being on the run. However i missed the romantic Yeon Joo going moony eyed as she usually would with Kang Chul. Yet again another is twist is thrown into my face and i have absolutely no idea what is in store for us. So he knows what happened between them but does not remember - i am going to be super sad if he doesn't ever remember. He can't forget my favorite OTP moments come on  

Kang Chul's world has changed so much since the last time. It's freaking scary that the world is now controlled by the villian.  Yet the there is somewhat balance of power if the super tablet is switched off, faceless dad is kept locked, and most importantly with Yeon Joo able to travel over worlds make huge differences. I am still up for the tough task she faces battling and protecting her father. But then, we see in the preview that Chul's crossing over to Yeon Joo's world - now how does that work? There are hell lot of questions in my mind - how is the villain able to control dad, being the most prominent one. Also confused about Dad's missing face. How is Kang Chul going to prove his innocence? Will he ever REMEMBER (pls this HAS to happen!) Please Seok Bom don't open that freaking door! (he is going to anyways). It's funny how nobody in Kang Chul's world is attempting to trace the villian who showed himself in front of the world killing dozens. I mean even as a lead to catch Chul, these guys could have hunted him down. Also Chul is fighting the villian as per the preview? but which world is that? I don't speculate this show, since that's a complete waste. Cause ultimately the show does a good job of explaining stuff and tying lose ends. So just trying to wait the week the out...shouldn't be difficult *errr*

P.S. so is the webtoon released yet? Just how mind effed will the readers will be rofl.

 

 

[[Drama 2016] W-Two Worlds 더블유]

My first post on this thread. It's a shame that it's only after more than half of the show is done with that i join this thread and i missed on discussing and reading stuff on some very important moments, interactions and alternate-universe dynamics. But then again, every episode is so dynamic - the whole game kind of changes every episode that i become totally incoherent. So hats off to people who have made this thread reach 570+ pages

My two cents about the last two episodes :

My very first favorite moment in the show was when Yeon Joo stabs Kang Chul to save his life. His eyes widen as he senses her presence - that moment onwards Kang Chul's chain of intrigue was initiated. He'd become curious of this women from that point onwards believing she is the key to his life. Such a poignant scene isn't it? Kang Chul remembers none of this. Yep. I am totally shaken by this fact, not only because of the romance bit but because of this very poignancy. It's moments like this made difference to him because at a time when his life was constantly threatened she saved him....saved despite of him being a mere character of webtoon. And to think he won't remember this kind of love which gave meaning to a life which is not his own to start of with is like....ah i just can't.

But it turns out Kang Chul had no other choice? With an enemy out there who they know little about roaming around in Yeon Joo's world, there had to be a decision taken. How else would he protect Yeon Joo? How else would his friends survive in his world? With the ever dynamic rules of their worlds where they have no idea what consequences they have to face, this is price Chul has to pay to keep Yeon Joo alive. But then what about Yeon Joo? She'd remember everything and W will be all over her face in her world. People will talk about it...they'll talk about him. So even if Chul asks her to forget a mere manhwa character like him...it's better said than done. 

Romance in this show is lovely and so well done. The heart just flutters every-time Chul kisses her forehead to calm her...more than her he is calming himself that she is still around him. It's all fine if she is just there and if he is able to see her. 

I like how they built up the angst gradually. Right from assuring So Hee the marriage is fake and her importance in his life to later reseting the two months in his life. I absolutely love Yeon Joo's reactions in both the situations. She just stands there witnessing the whole thing saying nothing cause she understands the mess they are in. Later in the bit when Chul let's her go she listens to every word of him with her head down, weeping to herself maybe, and there is a silent understanding there. She lets every word sink in, understands the gravity of it, then lifts her head to look at Kang Chul walk away from her and goes back to her world to fix things. So where Kang Chul has decided to embrace his fate as it comes, Yeon Joo has accepted hers as well. 

I like it how typical tropes are repackaged and presented with a twist, such that it becomes legitimized in the context of the show. So while i don't buy amnesia in any show, i am looking forward to it here and totally buying it here, cause it is logical when set in this world...context as Chul says. The angst continues every time Yeon Joo finds herself in front of a memory washed Chul - ack it's not even in her hands...the worlds wouldn't let her forget. That ring. Oh stop showing me Yeon Joo holding on to that ring. My heart cannot take it. It cannot take the fact that Chul hands her the ring totally unaware. (He HAS to get the memories back. Come on writers!)

So apparently when everything is returning back to normal, with the plan Yeon Joo's dad has is set into motion, everything just blows up on his face....quite literally. God what DAFAQ just happened there? I wasn't prepared for this (since i am not into reading theories or spoiler for this show so that i can watch it with a fresh mind and be thrown off the edge, i didn't know if this was a probability...i always thought they'd take the easy way out and make that politician the accused). So now the antagonist has a face....it's Yeon Joo's father....and he is ruthlessly wicked (just how heartlessly did he kill all those people in the broadcast station!).... and Yeon Joo is doomed. So he can pretty much dimension travel between the worlds? Man that's scarier than before *yikes* So WHAT HAPPENS NOW?? Where does Yeon Joo fit in in all these. Why is she being dragged in yet again if Chul has stopped dreaming about her? Most importantly how's she gonna deal with facing an amnesiac husband and evil daddy? Wednesday where are you? 

 

[[Drama 2016] Moonlight Drawn by Clouds / Love in the Moonlight ☪ 구르미 그린 달빛]

Hahah. Let me join the fun too. 

I am literally rolling on the floor. This one just threw me off guard. Bo gum's got S-W-A-G

Those shades with the joseon era attire pfft. It's just recently that ve started following PBG so this one came as a total surprise... totally different side to him for me at least . So cute and dancing like there is no tomo above that bo gum's and jun hyeok's very own duet takes the cake. Can't wait to see their equation in the show bwahaha.

Definitely a very smart and quirky way to promote the show