THOUGHTS: BU BU JING XIN



I felt it was appropriate to jot down some thoughts regarding this episode because it’s such a turning point in the drama. It’s slightly disconcerting, the fact that the drama points to a usurpation of the throne in order for the 4th prince to become the next emperor.

I’ve mixed feelings on this, much like Ruo Xi (see! I’m totally becoming her! Lol if only). Because she knows how history ends up and the devastation that awaits the 8th, 10th and 14th prince, yet she is in love with the 4th prince/now emperor so she is torn. While it is necessary for the 4th prince to become emperor to release the 13th prince, yet he faces so many political opponents. The drama subliminally makes us question whether the 14th prince would be a better emperor, which divides me. So far from what I perceive, the 14th prince is righteous and has a strong sense of brotherhood (though there is uncertainty – at this point - whether he played any part in the 8th prince’s downfall, I’m leaning towards a no), and I feel that he may have possibly released the 13th prince if Ruo Xi asked him earnestly because he himself had begged for the 13th prince earlier. If he were to become emperor, his allies would’ve had a more comfortable lifestyle. Yet, the fate of Ruo Xi and the 4th prince would be uncertain, though I have an inkling that the 4th prince would be in the background trying to orchestrate something else so peace may not prevail anyways. However, the 4th prince is undoubtedly worthy of being emperor if we’re simply looking at his capabilities. He is intelligent, thorough and is not an inherently bad person; if anything, he’s a circumstantial baddie. It’s saddening though, to see him punish those who wronged him or threatened him, no matter how reasonable and necessary it is to silence the claims against his legitimacy as emperor. I’m just sad that everything had to come to this. I know, I knew of it but I went forward with watching the drama, and I really have no one to blame.. So lament I shall.

Okay, Ruo Xi just uncovered that 4th prince is behind the 8th prince’s downfall. Aww, my feels. Now the 14th prince is even more pitiful. Really, we need to transport the 14th prince to modern day so he can meet me and I will console him hehe. Gah. No but really, when he comes back and I see his face, my heart will probably break for him. WHY?!

Something that I’ve come to appreciate with a more acute awareness, thanks to BBJX, is the loneliness and troubles that goes on inside the Forbidden City. I’m going to be completely honest: as much as I love TVB, they don’t delve very far below the surface with palace dramas - most likely, because they don’t need to. Kang Xi’s worries of the brothers making political allies to oust each other, and his ruthlessness towards those who try to break the bond may seem extreme yet it’s questionable how we went about that. I mean, by leaving the crown prince role unassigned meant that there will be an even fiercer battle between the brothers. Also, I do feel sorry for the 8th prince because while he is ambitious and orchestrates a lot of the political schemes, he seems to do so to bring glory to his beloved mother and finally receive his father’s approval.  

After the 4th prince becomes emperor, the loneliness of being an emperor is even more blatant. It’s sad that the only two people he trusts are Ruo Xi and the 13th prince, yet even now, the 13th prince has placed some distance between the two. His only comfort is Ruo Xi. Being an emperor, he can’t open his heart to others because then he can easily lose the authority and respect of his subordinates. His mother favours his brother, the 14th prince, and it’s obvious he will never gain her love. The role of an emperor is one which is filled with emptiness, all your worries are internalised, and at times, you must shut your heart off and do what your brain dictates is right for the bigger picture. I guess the quote, with great power comes great responsibility rings true.

It’s so painful seeing the 13th prince after 10 years. He looks haggard and soulless, no longer that fun-loving gentleman I remember. I don’t know whether it’s being back in the kingdom where life is run by rules and the power struggles are imminent. Maybe he enjoyed that life banished from the politics, with his loved one by his side, living day by day.  It’s so tragic when she is coerced to leave him, and then ends her life. I feel so pained for the 13th prince, he’s suffered so much already and there was so much hope for them, to build their family. It’s sad how background is everything, and she is looked down upon for working in a brothel back then, however, I just want to scream injustice at those jealous wives that she was the one who suffered the hardships alongside their beloved husbands whilst they hung around at their nice abode. I just want to hug him seeing him so shut off from everything. He deserves so much happiness, yet ironically, his release saw his happiness stripped from him.

Honestly, getting to the depressing stages of this drama is getting me down and I’m trying to emotionally disconnect myself from the drama so I don’t end up feeling hurt and depressed myself. Trying to numb myself makes this a bit of a tiring watch at this point, but caring about the characters too much will make it harder later. Oh, the dilemmas of watching melodramas. At the end of the day, this drama is really well done and leaves me melancholic yet moved. MELODRAMAS GAH! I really need a lighter drama to follow this (aka not the drama I had planned aka Nice Guy lol. That would be an overdose of melodrama). I might look towards Answer Me 1997, because I’ve heard great things about that one.

PS. I don’t really want to be Ruo Xi anymore, at this point LOL. Actually, HELLS TO THE YEAH Ruo Xi, smash that bitch. 

ALL SORTS OF HEARTBREAK


Something must be terribly wrong with how stars have aligned for my day today because all three dramas that I am currently immersed in have delivered immense heartbreak. Sigh, can a girl’s heart get some rest?! Cue, rant from a heartbroken lady. 


THE KING OF DRAMAS




First heartbreak of the night. I’m currently up to Episode 13 of King of Dramas and just as I got comfortable with the idea that the annoying Empire guys have relented… the people behind King of Dramas decide to drop a bombshell on us all. And it was horrific. 

As I’m now used to, King of Dramas almost always ends with some kind of cliff-hanger that is meant to leave us anxious and worried for the cast that they’ve made us fall in love with. Grr, how dare they toy with my emotions! This episode, we briefly meet an extra who comes up to thank Anthony for giving him the opportunity to act in numerous productions and says that his family is also grateful for the income. Aww, I think deep down a part of Anthony must be feeling pretty proud of himself that he was able to provide someone else some comfort through making dramas in the same way that he found comfort through dramas. However, when shooting resumes and the extra coughs and covers up the main actors on screen, he is replaced. Aww. He asks for another chance, explaining that they had waited so long in the cold hence the cough. Man, I feel for him. I know, I fell into this trap. Chance denied in the cold, cruel world of dramas. The extra who replaces him is concerned for his condition and tells him to find a place to rest. Which he does… only it is the shooting location for the next scene. A fire scene. 

By now I’m holding my face in my hands and trying to avoid the inevitable. A hint of hope is granted when Hyun Min walks into the shed to privately talk on his phone, and notices the ill man. Only to be distracted again by his clingy girlfriend. Sigh. Out he walks and then the scene cuts to Anthony asking PD Joo whether he confirmed with the fire fighters that they would be on call. PD Joo apologises and says he forgot because he was out looking for Go Eun and Anthony yesterday when they got lost. More sighing my way. Anthony scolds him slightly then tells him to confirm it first before allowing shooting to go ahead. Nice call, Anthony. Once it’s confirmed that the fire fighters will arrive 10 minutes later, shooting starts. The shed is lit on fire, and we see the man coughing and next we know it, he’s unconscious. Aww. Hyun Min begins filming the scene where he’s supposed to be desperately looking for Min Ah, until he belatedly realises that the shed was where the extra was resting earlier. As the Director asks what’s the matter, he screams that someone is in there. My heart is shattering, because I know that Morning in Kyungsung has come so damn far just to get here and if there is a death on set, there will be crazy outrage and netizens will go berserk. Not to mention that extra was so … endearing despite only being featured for a tiny while. His enthusiasm and gratefulness is so heart-warming and sincere. 

With Hyun Min’s alarm, everyone rises from their seats and surrounds the shed. Anthony asks PD Joo about the firefighters, and he replies that they are on his way. At this point, I’m trusting in Anthony and literally begging for him to storm in there and save that poor old man. Which we end the episode on Anthony storming in. AND THEN WHAT? I don’t know. Sadly. I can only assume that Anthony is safe from the previews but I don’t know about the old man. I can only hope he is safe, but in hospital. The previews also show Director Goo quitting, probably from the guilt (of not checking that there was no one inside, not because of his death I’m praying). Hyun Min being the genius that he is, is going to fabricate some reel to real love story for the media to buy into featuring himself and Min Ah. Of course, who else would he care about apart from himself? Min Ah, on the other hand, tries to one-up her love rival Go Eun by telling her that she and Anthony are planning on “doing well” together. Yet, Anthony is seen to be asking Go Eun about something wanting an answer “from the other night”. Despite the romantic undertones, I’m assuming this is in regards to the contract renewal because I can’t see Anthony’s feelings develop to that point yet. 

THOUGHTS 


Honestly, I’ve been meaning to type up my preliminary thoughts for this drama earlier on, but I’ve been procrastinating. I’ve also tried twice to recap some episodes but failed because I don’t enjoy it as much, for some odd reason (read: I’m lazy). 

I love this drama for everything that is has been so far. Which is an awesome-sauce concoction of meta, amazing comedic timing, off-the-charts chemistry between the producer-writer couple and the actor-actress couple (which has me wondering how many real life couples are there behind the scenes on these dramas hehe), the quality of acting that all four leads bring to the drama, the logical flow of events attributed to the amazing writing and the wonderful execution that keeps the pace of the drama ever so suspenseful and intense, yet light. 


Some cuteness to alleviate the pain. 


I adore the actors and love how they just embody their characters. Kim Myung Min is a definite stand out and leaves me wondering if I’ve seen any of his other dramas (a quick Dramawiki search reveals I haven’t. Oops). However, now, I think it won’t be the same because I will just see him as Anthony Kim. Amazing Anthony Kim… with the three piece suits, occasional fur trimmed. I love the little nuances that make Anthony Kim so unique from his steely glares, to his slight smiles and all those little moments where his façade is shaken. His portrayal of Anthony Kim as someone who tucks his heart away underneath all that bravado is so enamouring. Go Eun is a slightly less complex character on the surface. She is the persistent, righteous and idealistic writer whose efforts are rewarded with a loving mother who always supports her, a team of adorable colleagues who are ever so considerate of her, Anthony Kim who believes in her (even though he sometimes doesn’t even believe in himself, *squeals*) and um, Hyun Min… who gifts her whenever she yields to him, or so he assumes. 

Director Goo getting ready to lecture our egotistic leads. Haha.


Hyun Min is the classic and marvellous comic relief, who I adore. I’m no SuJu fangirl nor was I ever crazy about Si Won but damn he brings Hyun Min to life with his wacky expressions (which I’ve caught glimpses of on Running Man, but that was like 1% of what he  exhibits with Hyun Min). I hope I don’t become too much of a convert because well, his next project is seemingly another … sappy romance. But it’s ok, I’ll probably watch it for Yuan Hong as well *swoons*. Min Ah is a bit of a … perplexing character. I adore her with Hyun Min but I don’t like her story arc with Anthony. It’s a bit cliché that she has to Go Eun’s love rival and Anthony’s ex. But I can see how her character is meant to bring the ‘inner conflict’ to the set when y’know the Evil Empire stop hassling these guys. For once and for all. One day…. Director Goo is another underrated favourite of mine, with every appearance, though short, speaks tons of his principles as a director. I love how he’s considerate of the staff yet understands the nature of actors; his boldness and wits with trolling his leads and his overall awesomeness as a director. 

Anyways, I’m really enjoying this drama and have read that an extension is confirmed. I trust the guys behind this awesome drama enough to make it work. I don’t follow writers or PDs so I don’t know much about them, but fingers crossed. I’m really glad that I serendipitously gave this drama a shot because I’d never really considered this drama when I first read the synopsis. I just remember seeing Jung Ryeo Won posting a pic of her being all cheerful (as Go Eun is) in front of the poster as I was downloading Nice Guy and next thing I knew, I was like “hmm let’s give this a chance”. One episode in and I was hooked. And every episode that followed just kept reeling me in. This is shaping up to one of my favourite K-drama comedies because I just love the dry humour and how well it keeps the drama light despite the endless conflicts. 


SCHOOL 2013



SIGH SIGH SIGH. Confession: I started this drama for Lee Jong Suk because I adored him in Secret Garden. So naturally, I love Go Nam Soon as well. But beyond that, he is truly a worthy character to love because he is just so layered and complex, with his brooding and mysteriousness. Not to mention I have a weakness for those quiet, mysterious types. 

Which means I was bound for a mess of heartbreak and tears because as we left off from last episode, Nam Soon was caught in a “little scuffle” with the schoolyard bullies Oh Jung Ho and co. as they were trying to establish who was the school ‘jjang’ between him and Heung Soo. Due to their ambiguous past, Nam Soon became aggressive when Jung Ho was threatening to permanently damage Heung Soo’s leg. How evil. I keep hoping to see some good in him, but seriously, he really crosses the line in so many instances – hitting his female who is his teacher, and now trying to intentionally cripple someone? Gosh. Regardless of whatever underlying issues he has, he needs to get himself sorted out before I throw something at him via my beloved computer. Though I probably wouldn’t enjoy that too much. Or the aftermath of it anyways. 

Anyways, due to the fight and how good Nam Soon was at beating Jung Ho to a pulp, Jung Ho guesses that he was Tsunami aka the best fighter at his old school. And that he’s a year older and thus, a hyungnim. Though no added respect here. Instead he uses the knowledge to blackmail Nam Soon into doing some shady business for him: steal the maths exam  so he can cheat. The episode actually ends where Jung Ho’s posse turns off the electricity for the school (so the surveillance camera will be switched off) and we see Nam Soon’s hand reaching for the door… 
Man, please don’t do it. DON’T GO DOWN THAT PATH MY BELOVED NAM SOON. As you may realise (or not), I hate drama and conflict in dramas. I just want to see my favourite characters being awesome. And in this case, untainted by the pressures of schoolyard bullying and evil blackmailing and manipulation. It’s all the more depressing because Nam Soon seems to really want to just stay out of trouble and deep down, I don’t think he wants to let In Jae down.

I love how the drama has set up this conflict in this episode so meticulously though. From the little mention of ‘dilemma’ in their literature studies, to In Jae telling them to tell her when they face such situations to the bigger breakdown where the ‘class’ is punished when they bully Ha Kyung by soaking her books and for stealing Teacher Yoo’s USB with the exam papers on them. She tells Nam Soon to bring the broom, but instead she throws that on the ground and starts slapping them with her hands. Every single one, until her hands are red and Se Chan steps in, arm-grabbing her, and leading her out of the room to chide her for being so stupid. Hearing of the commotion, the principal rushes there and asks if the teachers really hit the children (it was prohibited) and Se Chan raised her red hand and said it was the teacher who was punished. Sigh, this scene was so darn heartbreaking because I just felt the realisation dawning on In Jae that raising these kids will be an uphill battle. It hurts when she says they can muck around, not care about studying and fight but for them to think that stealing and distributing the answers and sabotaging another classmate’s study is just wrong. You can tell how disappointed she is in them, and my heart sinks along with hers; as my tears fell when hers did as she punished her kids. They say it hurts a parent more to hit their own kids, and I think that was exactly how she was feeling. So heartbreaking. 

Another thing that broke my heart this episode was learning more about Min Ki. I felt so sad for him whenever his mum is on the scene. My parents were never that intrusive or involved with my studies, so I feel embarrassed for him when his mum keeps rocking up to criticise the school or teachers whenever things don’t go her way. It was so sad when the whole class was actually having fun playing dodgeball and she appears, and he just freezes, the smile wiped off his face. Ah, man. Way to kill the mood. I hate how she tries to mask the intensity of her need for control with a gentle smile and a gentle tone. I felt so bad for him when he said he wished he was 20 because it’s as if life doesn’t exist before then. It’s so depressing, because he seems like such a genuinely nice bloke and sensible enough on his own without an overbearing mother micromanaging him. I am clutching my heart with joy that I was blessed with a mother who is so supportive, adorable and warm. Heck, she supported me through exams by cooking for me and making me warm beverages, not demanding my teachers to re-grade my papers!

THOUGHTS

This was another drama that I was planning on writing up my initial thoughts on, though I was hesitating because last time I started I was only two episodes in and that seemed a bit too early though I was thoroughly impressed already, by that stage. I am still continually impressed by the drama and how everything is set up – from the way we are introduced to the characters, to the way we are suddenly thrust into their conflicts and are swept away into their lives and thoughts. 

I think what sets this drama apart from other Kdramas is that it’s so realistic and has stripped away all the unnecessary theatrics. Every little arc so far has been plausible and complicated all the same. I really like how the drama depicts the troubles teenagers go through – that although the problems may seem like nothing to adults, it means a lot to the kids who are going through them because they are still growing and still paving a way for their own future. This is why I love In Jae, because she’s so idealistic and she’s so passionate about helping these kids. She genuinely cares and she wants to help them turn their lives around and get them on the right path. Each and every one of them. 

BU BU JING XIN

When everything was fine and dandy and I was happy. *tears*


Hot damn. I can’t really complain because I knew going into this drama that heartbreak would be inevitable. But why does it have to be one of my favourite brothers first up? I ADORE the 13th prince, and by extension Yuan Hong, and so it hurt to see him take one for the team when the 8th prince and co.’s people badmouthed the crown prince as if under the 4th prince’s instructions (because they were seemingly allied – on the surface, though they were working for the 8th prince all along, or so Ruo Xi explains). It broke me when the 13th prince bowed to the king and accepted his banishment. But it killed when the 4th prince just silently cried, because that was just how darn strong their bond was. Honestly, the 8th prince and co. may have their little foursome, but there’s something lonesome and hollow, yet in its own way beautiful, how it’s always only the 4th and 13th prince side by side. I just sense this sort of dependency and closeness between the two, whereas on the 8th prince’s side it feels slightly strategic. Though on the surface it may seem like the 8th prince is very kind in taking in the 10th prince who is a little less ‘wise’, however, I feel there is too much ego and clashes of personality. Especially after the crown prince has been denounced, I feel like there will be a lot more scheming on the 8th prince’s side though I haven’t gotten up to that bit yet. 

Onto the interpersonal goodness now. Gosh, I love Ruo Xi and her relationships in this drama. I just wish I was her. I love how she has the courage to speak up for the 13th prince and I love how she’s standing up for her fellow sex. I mean, we know she isn’t that close with the 13th prince’s lady friend, yet she knows how much their bond means to her and she doesn’t want her to be looked down upon by the other. Respect, Ruo Xi. My heart went berserk when the 4th prince shows up in the rain and holds her, in front of the 8th and 14th prince. Honestly, I never really liked her with the 8th prince, there was always something… unsettling about him. He was calm, yet it’s like his hunger for power would creep up anytime. I don’t know if that’s only the vibe I’m getting from Kevin Cheng’s portrayal or if the writers have written the character this way so we can root for the 4th prince… but that’s just my impression. Anyways, by this time, I’ve stopped caring about the sinking ship that is the 8th prince and Ruo Xi… I don’t care if he still loves her or looking out for her, as long as he doesn’t screw things up for the others. 

If there is a silver lining to this episode, it’s the 14th prince. Hallelujah boy! I love how he stays behind regardless of the 8th prince’s little words of advice, and then he sneaks her food. DAMN BOY, ALL THESE FEELS. Why? Because, truly, the way to win my heart is with food. So you know, if I was Ruo Xi, I would’ve married the guy. Haha, jokes aside, it was amazingly sweet and practical. I mean, girl’s been kneeling there for ages, why hasn’t anyone snuck her any food?! Anyways, it’s so cute how he asks her if she would’ve done the same for him if he was the one who was banished and she said she would’ve done it for any of them (aka, YES YES YES!). His face lights up and I just want to hug him, because he’s like a little puppy who needs some validation and loving. I know he feels insecure that she’s closer to the 13th prince, because they’re both free-spirits (though, she’s become pretty restrained in my opinion, but that’s probably realistic considering the setting of the drama and the predicament she’s in) and just get each other whereas he sometimes is a bit of a nitpicker and well, has other motives. Anyways, when he went to the emperor and was begging on the behalf of the 13th prince, I was all gooey inside. Argh, more feels. 

Later, Ruo Xi unearths the tiny mystery that the emperor was behind the spreading of the news about her being punished, probably to test the reactions of the princes. And the 14th prince was the boldest to come begging him, yet he was punished. However, after the crown prince was denounced, he was the one who the emperor came to trust and discuss political issues with. It appears that by standing up for his brother (alliances aside) he really won the emperor’s favour because the emperor loves all things brotherly and that. It’s cute to see him get some loving from his father, though his mum obviously showers him with love already. It’s just the emperor was all caught up in his love for the crown prince (WHY?! The guy was a jerk!) that he basically neglected all his other sons. Anyways, I’m just really dreading the downfall of the 14th prince, whether it be by a fallout within the alliance or by schemes of the 4th prince (who is now being all peaceful and Zen.. on the outside, presumably). By the way, the 14th prince helped resolve the whole 13th prince ordeal, so his lady friend was adopted by some official and taken to the place the 13th prince was to become his maid (which was their whole aim). 

THOUGHTS


Some BTS cuteness. Glad to see that Nicky has more fun than the 4th prince does!

Beloved princes, please don’t fight. Just don’t. Because my sad little heart will not be able to take it. And gosh. I can feel that the ending will be somewhat tragic. 

Another random thought is that I kind of wish there was some more context around Ruo Xi’s 21st century character, because all we saw of her was her fight with her lousy boyfriend and her telling him off and pow, we’re here. I think what bothers me is that she seemed like such a .. sassy loudmouth there.. and seeing her so restrained and quiet here.. it’s strange. It’s like two different people really. AND I STILL WANT TO BE RUO XI. If this end of world things really happening, please let me be transported back and be Ruo Xi haha. Except, I would not fare as well as she did because .. hell, I don’t know half the stuff she does and I’m definitely not be able to bite my tongue on a lot of issues that arise. Still, all that eye candy…

On a side note, I’m lining up a bunch of dramas from Lin Geng Xin and Yuan Hong to watch because they have won my heart. Hehehe. 

MIDWAY THOUGHTS: BU BU JING XIN



I am really starting to fall deeply for this drama. It has everything you could ask for in a drama - beautiful cinematography, well-rounded characters with actual motives (thus, aren't simply plot devices to create drama for drama's sake), interesting and intense story line coupled with appropriate lighter moments and mesmerizing chemistry between the whole cast. And eye candy, everywhere. ALL DEM BOYS. 



Apart from the cute interactions between the cast, things get a bit more serious on the power struggles side. The 9th prince, who is on the 8th prince's side, has been receiving bribes and embezzling funds that were meant to be for the civilians in need. The 4th prince was put in charge of investigating corrupt officials. He warns 8th prince, essentially for him to pass on the message to 9th prince to put a halt to his unlawful activities. Note, this is not only to 'save' his brother but a strategic move on his part as well. The crown prince in the meantime, also puts a stop to his illegal activity. The 9th princes' subordinates spur him to continue, mocking him for listening to orders when he himself is a prince. Provoked, he ends up continuing to embezzle funds. Thus, put in a tough position, the 4th prince confronts the 8th prince of this matter and asks him what he should do. The 8th prince tells him to do what he has to do - report everything to the emperor; as he knows the emperor is unlikely to cause a commotion or severely punish those involved. However, this ruffles feathers on both sides, as the 9th prince (who is rash and cocky) takes revenge in the form of harassing the 13th prince's close lady friend, because of her 'lowly status'. The 14th prince interferes and rescues her, because he was thankful for the 13th prince's prior help, and the fact that he doesn't want to cause a fight between the two brothers.

Due to Ruo Xi's good relations with the Mongolians, and the emperor's fondness of her, as well as her prestigious background the crown prince requests her hand in marriage to the emperor. He is hesitant and does not promise the crown prince anything because he wanted to carefully consider since Ruo Xi has become someone he trusts and cherish and thus, her marriage is an important decision to him. The news hits Ruo Xi with a bolt of shock, as she never anticipated the move (though she understood his motives) and she loathes the idea of having to marry the unworthy crown prince. The 14th prince was present at the time that the news was relayed to her, and he immediately informs the 8th prince of this. The 4th prince also becomes aware of the situation. In order to 'rescue' her, they join forces to bring attention to the crown prince's misdeeds. With the pressure and attention on the character of the crown prince, focus is removed from his desire to marry Ruo Xi for the time being.

Due to the realisation dawning on Ruo Xi that she has no control over who she will be betrothed to and that eventually, in the near future, she will have to be married off, she is forced to confront her feelings. Her insistence to cut ties with the 8th prince leaves him suffering. However, she slowly opens her heart to the 4th prince (cue hella cute interactions!) and we see them revealing their feelings for each other subtly. The 8th prince is somehow aware of their feelings for each other, as he has always paid attention to her closely and notices the tense atmosphere between the two whenever their gazes meet. The 14th prince relents on his pestering of Ruo Xi for 'toying' with the 8th prince's emotions. I feel as if their friendship is deepening, so that with the risk of her marrying the crown prince, he realises that all that he wants for her is to be happy. The 13th prince becomes aware of her past relationship with the 8th prince, but does not mind (because he is so damn cool) and promises her not to tell the 4th prince because if he does... shit will hit the roof.


THOUGHTS:

SO PURDYYY!


I am so damn jealous of Ruo Xi and find myself imagining how I would fare if I was magically transported to that time. Let's just say ... it probably wouldn't be as good as BBJX. But damn, I so wish I were her. I mean, she's surrounded by these cute, righteous and chivalrous men. I love her cute interactions with the 4th prince, and I feel bad for the 8th prince. But it's her friendships with the 10th, 13th and 14th prince that has my heart all gooey. Can I please have the 13th and 14th prince to myself? They are so good looking and ... loyal. Whilst the 14th prince can be a bit annoying with his forcefulness and belief that she should be with the 8th prince, he obviously cares a lot for her well-being and genuinely wants the best for her. It's just what he thinks is the best for her, may not be the best for her The 13th prince is just so ... easygoing and chill. I would so want to watch a spin-off drama with him as the main. He is so handsome, yet righteous and free-spirited. It rings so true when Ruo Xi mentions what a pity it is that he was born in the royal family, pit between his brothers and caught in the numerous power struggles and restrictions when he is a free spirit. I  totally agree, and I believe he should transport to our times. And meet me. And fall in love with me. If only.

I'm scared of falling too deep and getting too emotionally attached to these characters and their amazing friendships because like Ruo Xi, I know what's going to happen. And it kills me inside. I don't want to see MY BOYS fight to the death over the throne, and I don't want to see them turn on each other and betray and scheme against each other. I JUST WANT IT TO BE ALL HAPPY LA LA. But in dramaland, that will never happen. WHY?! I can sense the impending doom and I dread it ... I'm scared that by the end of the drama, I will be in tears and my heart will be shattered, leaving a hollow emptiness. I so should've waited till the sequel was to be released so I could just marathon it instead of having to pine after it now. Oh and I have seen a glimpse of the ending, so I know it will be sad already. Sigh. My heart cannot take this!

BOOK REVIEW: ROSIE MEADOW REGRETS ... BY CATHERINE ALLIOTT




With its lovely, girly cover of neutrals and a cosy fireplace, it’s quite obviously this book was targeted at women. Rosie Meadow Regrets… is a wonderful read, yet it is not the quintessential ‘chick lit’ novel. It’s a bit more sophisticated, thoughtful, well-written and a little less cheesy and straight forward. We are plunged straight into the meatier stuff, and by this I don’t mean gore. Rosie’s story begins with her lingering doubts about her marriage and wants to divorce her husband (ugh). Plagued by an incessant mother who harps on about prestige and marrying the wealthy, a sister who is immaculately ‘perfect’ and an unlucky love life; she married her husband but she never truly loved him. Conveniently, he dies. 


From there, we witness Rosie settling down by the countryside, living a simple life in ‘recovery’. There is no real mourning as such; she’s on her journey of self discovery and understanding her life, her choices and who she is. It is nice to see her bond with the little kids, and her landlord’s helpers. It carves a story of friendship in a small town and shows that we don’t need an awful lot of flashy friends or a metropolitan lifestyle to be happy. She’s content, yet she’s still figuring out a lot of things. Like many women, she meets a man who seems convincingly promising, yet turns out to be another rat. Then, true to formula, there is another man. There always is. But this one is solid, dependable, all the gentleman and is really very likeable. There is no ‘sweeping her off her feet” or sweet summer fling, you kind of just watch their romance happen on a day to day basis. It’s a nice change because sometimes all those romantic cliches don’t truly capture the essence of love, because those whirlwind romances are fleeting and so very complicated. I’m at a point where I can appreciate the divorcee making peace with herself, with a guy in the background, then being ready for another relationship. Granted I’m not that old myself, but it’s a nice sentiment that when we make mistakes in love, it is not the end of the world, and we can still be happy in many other ways. 


Towards the end, there was a lot more action with Rosie being under investigation for her husband’s convenient demise. A lot of mystery surrounds his death and events are events disrupt Rosie’s momentary peace. Admittedly, it was up to this point that I actually read the book ‘faster’ due to the pace itself. I read the first 2/3 on and off because it was easy to pick up where it left off, because it’s a slow leisurely read. Just what I needed to get back into reading. Verdict: Simple, lighthearted and enjoyable. Great for a pre-sleep read.

INITIAL THOUGHTS: BU BU JING XIN (STARTLING BY EACH STEP)





As I mentioned briefly in another post, I started watching Bu Bu Jing Xin (to which I will refer to as BBJX because it sounds better than it's English title) and it is indeed a compelling watch as many may have recommended. 

To quickly recap, Ruo Xi (Liu Shi Shi) is a heroine from the 21st century who somehow travels back into time, to the Qing dynasty where she is the younger sister of Ruo Lan (Annie Liu), the concubine of the 8th prince (Kevin Cheng). However, she later becomes friends with the 10th prince (Ye Zu Xin), the 13th prince (Yuan Hong) and the 14th prince (Lin Geng Xin). Year passed and as all royal ladies are to be recruited to become concubines or maidens. Despite the 13th and 8th prince asking their brothers (and their 'allies' so to speak) the 4th and 14th prince respectively for a favour: to remove Ruo Xi's name from the list of prospective concubines for Kang Xi Emperor (Damien Lau); she ends up being the tea maiden by the emperor's side instead. There, she witnesses the many power struggles to inherit the throne. 

On the romantic side of things, during the time she was living at her sister's household (therefore, the 8th prince's residence), the 8th prince falls for her and their feelings develop. Over the years, they keep in contact and their feelings grow. It isn't until their stay in Mongolia, where their relationship blossoms. In the background, the 4th prince has shown interest in  Ruo Xi, despite her nervousness around him - probably because of his aura and her knowledge that he will become emperor. However, she is in love with 8th prince, and tries to persuade him to give up the fight for the throne if he wants to marry her. This is due to her understanding of their outcomes in the battle for the throne. 


{And this is where I've left off, until around Episode 10}


THOUGHTS

The cinematography of this drama is visually stunning. It is remarkably beautiful, from the costumes to the make up and the actors, till the backdrop and setting. As a Mainland Chinese series I've watched in a long while, I'm definitely impressed. The storyline thus far is interesting and exciting, spurring me to continue watching. There is definitely a lot of eye candy, and by this I mean the 13th and 14th prince even though the 8th and 4th prince sets hearts a fluttering with their endeavours to win Ruo Xi's heart. 

I've always loved learning about history or watch versions of history through ancient dramas, and this is especially interesting with the time travel twist. However, I love watching the subtleties and the strategies that play out. The performances so far have been equally impressive, and the chemistry of the brothers and their chemistry with Ruo Xi is fun to watch. I love how she introduces the whole idea of equality and freedom to love and marry to the brothers. However, I don't know whether it's the time or her cultural understanding but to me, it appears as if she adapts a little too well, that she doesn't really seem to be a time travel heroine. 

Regardless, I'm glad to have found this little gem and am eager to finish this series. Stay tuned!

MOVIE: THE PERKS OF BEING A WALLFLOWER



An intricate, well-directed and insightful look at the complexities of being an introvert. Exhilarating, moving and so thoroughly enjoyable. The soundtrack to this film is spot on, with music playing such a starring role in binding these guys together.


I have yet to read the novel, thus base my opinions solely on my viewing of the film. I walked in without much expectations and limited knowledge about the movie, other than that Harry Potter graduate Emma Watson was part of the cast. However, I walked out of the cinemas ... enlightened.


The movie sets out, like many movies revolving American teens and high school. We see this boy, Charlie (Logan Lerman) dreading high school because he keeps to himself and essentially, does not fit in with the 'mainstream'. He writes to his nameless friend, as a means of expression, to keep sane so to speak. Eventually, he gathers the courage to talk to Patrick (Ezra Miller), a senior who had to repeat and thus was in one of his classes. Sam (Emma Watson) comes along, and in time, they all become friends thanks to a dance, a great song and some killer dance moves. The mantra of the film is unveiled with the discovering of David Bowie's Heroes (if I recall correctly), as they drive through a tunnel and Sam stands up from the car, the wind blowing against her in what is to be the image of youth, of freedom and of happiness in the moment.


As the movie progresses, we delve into the lives and pasts, the troubles and demons of these teenagers. Sam is the girl with the reputation because she used to get drunk at parties, and dates the wrong guys. Patrick is the jokester who masks his insecurities by acting like he doesn't care about other, and keeps his homosexual relationship with the school jock a secret. Charlie is the introvert who keeps to himself, so others don't realise all the things going on in his head, to suppress his social anxiety.


The movie explores the relationships and friendships Charlie builds - with Sam and Patrick, with his family, with his Aunt and, to a lesser extent, his English teacher. Sam and Patrick are in many ways Charlie's gateway to the world, through their friendship he learns how to express himself, how to value himself and be happy (albeit temporarily, in lapses).  Flashbacks are intertwined throughout the movie, where we see Charlie as a young boy and his memories of his Aunt who went through hard times with domestic abuse and mental illness. His family, though seemingly disconnected, truly care about Charlie and want to be there for him despite not really understanding how to deal with his psychological issues or the extent of his troubles. His mutual understanding developed with his English teacher (Paul Rudd) inspires him to set his dream on becoming a writer, and fosters his love for literature; whom  I think will  remain as a pillar for him during the rest of his high school years as the others move onto college.



THOUGHTS: 

I'm glad I watched this with friends, because it made me realise the importance of friendship in life, and having people there for you. The friends I went to watch it with are some of my most supportive, and understanding; people who've been a shoulder for me to cry on, confide in and muck around with. None of us have had such tragic or crazy experiences, yet I'm sure we will still be able to share and be there for each other in tough times.

I feel the most enlightening aspect of this movie was how different my high school experience was, in Australia, compared to America. I do feel that high school in America, in many ways, is much more challenging and complicated than my high school experience was. I feel that there is much more cliques, hierarchy and bullying that goes on in American schools than my experience. The insight that the movie provided in regards to adolescence, social anxiety and one's identity is invaluable. I think I've truly gained some understanding into the suffocation that comes along with the haunting thoughts; the fear that comes with losing control and the confusion of having to find yourself among all the chaos. Even though this is rampant during our adolescence and high school years, I'm sure the unsettling feeling of not knowing our future plagues many beyond those years.

In regards to the cinematography and direction, I must say there are some outstanding moments, yet there are some underwhelming scenes. The editing of the sequences are interesting, though can be somewhat confusing, yet effectively builds suspense and engages throughout. I particularly love the tunnel scenes, because of how stunning and symbolically appropriate it was.

Performances wise, Emma Watson was quirky and cute as Sam yet her accent was mediocre, and her acting slightly inconsistent though she excelled in the important scenes. Logan Lerman was impeccable as Charlie, from his narration through to his scenes towards the end where he suffers a mental breakdown. Ezra Miller was delightful as Patrick, so carefree and cool yet vulnerable, I think he had it down pat. His appearance really seems in line with his character too. Paul Rudd was a nice touch, though he was overused, his appearances as the caring English teacher was somewhat heartwarming.


FINAL THOUGHTS: I LOVE LEE TAE RI



Being the wise lady that I am, I found myself starting Bu Bu Jing Xin (Startling By Each Step) in the midst of watching this drama, whilst waiting on King of Dramas to be subbed. This posed a bit of a dilemma. Why, you ask? Well, King of Dramas is incredibly paced - fast and suspenseful at all the right places. Bu Bu Jing Xin is set in the era of the Qing Dynasty and wrought with palace alliances and fighting for the throne, admirable bromances and an overload of yearning. But that's all for another post. Anyways, being caught between then two compelling dramas, sometimes I had to pace myself in order to get back into the fluffier moments of ILLTR.

I found that the storyline and wrapping up of the series was really well executed, without any grating loopholes. That being said, I did find it a tad draggy towards the 13-14th episode mark, with all the additional tangents to the love triangles. One thing I've always found ... ridiculous about Korean dramas is how the female love rival (who somehow is romantically related to the male lead) will go for one guy (usually the ex or guy pining for the female lead) then turn around and fall for the male lead - or vice versa. Whenever that happens I feel as though the female love rival is just used as a plot device to move ruin things. I honestly feel as though the writers sometimes don't even bother to develop the story, but shove random love triangles in for the sake of it. I will never understand why some Kdrama inhabitants are so adamant on "making the boy mine" when he has displayed obvious disinterest and rejected them outright. Seriously, it just gets on my nerves. What do they expect to come out of it? Relationships like that never work, and if anything, it's just the workings of a wounded ego. Doesn't it hurt your pride more if you do manage force someone to love you? The fact that it was emotional duress? I can never wrap my head around it - there is persistence, and then there is desperation. Remember how I called her a nuisance at the start? Yeah, she became even more annoying with her antics and attempts at manipulation.

The scenes where the two are falling in love and are blissful were cute, however, I don't think Park Ye Jin was very convincing in pulling that off. It just felt off, because she seemed to feel the need to constantly have a smile plastered on her face. Yet, that's just what it was - plastered. It didn't feel happy. I honestly feel that Ki Bum was able to portray the young boy in love with a noona much better than Ye Jin was able to portray being in love. I don't know why, he just seemed more immersed and the affection was just pouring out of it eyes. On another note, I was (abnormally) envious at a particular scene, where she didn't get any work done the previous done because of Min Soo, then she starts and everything is 'okay'. No, that does not happen in real life! My pile of work never depletes like that in just a couple of minutes. Oh Kdramaland, why do you tease me so? I must say another letdown was when Min Soo and Tae Ri was kissing at the soju stall. I mean, why aren't they moving?! Come on Ye Jin, Ki Bum's not really 14, you don't have to worry about being a pedo! You can kiss him for real! Isn't that the whole perk of being an actress? Kissing all these droolworthy, fine actors?! (Okay, I need to control myself *fans self*)

 I feel as though the way the story moves along is believable enough, with Min Soo actually changing back into Eun Dong though I was a little distraught for our torn lovers. Oh, star crossed lovers. Looking at the circumstances, I should feel sorry for Tae Ri more because she's the older woman  and all those stereotypes about woman being past their prime and having to date guys older than them comes into play; whilst Eun Dong can y'know, just date girls his age. However, Ki Bum just emotes love, like sometimes I wonder why does he even love her that much? Anyways, moving on. I was slightly confused with the 'Wish' phone application, because I didn't see the purpose of that - was it just a decoy or for us be tricked by, or did it actually have a function in the whole transformation? Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention, but I don't think that was answered.

The whole tangent about Seung Jae's dad being the truck driver that killed Tae Ri's parents and how he was forced to leave her in Milan, only to work for her uncle to bring her down so he can somehow get back together with her was seriously flawed, in that it just sounds so illogical.

As I am a kind lady, I shall warn you in advanced that the next paragraph contains SPOILERS. Yes, SPOILERS so don't read if you don't want to be SPOILED. One more time, SPOILERS GUYS.

Now onto the ending, which I so adore. A few years later, we see Eun Dong growing up as Ki Bum - you know, mighty fine and so so cute. He's now a renowned swimmer, representing Korea. He has to go overseas and at the airport.... where his heart (or is it the necklace?) alerts him that Tae Ri is nearby. Cue, running out of the airport in search for his loved one, and finding her amongst all the cars lined up. Knock knock on the window, and the tinted windows are lowered to reveal a familiar face. No, I will not reveal who that familiar face is, but I'm sure everyone is smart enough to figure it out hehe.

I adore this ending because it's so ... satisfying. It's not entirely unrealistic and yet, it's so heartwarming, like the drama itself. Actually, leading up to the ending, I was mentally calculating the age difference, and the appropriate ages that will allow them to be together. I'm not sure if the drama specified, but I went with him being around 20 and Tae Ri being 34. Hey, if they made 14 and 28 work, they can definitely make 20 and 34 work. I'm also glad that they didn't overdo the summary on the two love rivals, because I felt it appropriate that Seung Jae gave it his last shot and moved on, and Heart just staying the idol she is.


PERFORMANCES EVALUATED

Park Ye Jin as Lee Tae Ri: Apart from Family Outing and Running Man, I've never actually seen any of Ye Jin's acting chops. So, I was inclined to check ILLTR out. To be fair, I think she portrayed Lee Tae Ri quite well as a standalone. Conversely, when she was acting opposite Ki Bum, I think he stole her thunder a bit. I think the fact that Tae Ri is not the most interesting of female protagonists is also to blame for that though. I find her quite cute when she was being concerned about her appearance because she was dating a guy younger than her, regardless of how ... troublesome that notion is. Not that appearances don't matter, but once you're in love, I think it's more beneficial to have a bit more confidence and less insecurity. Ye Jin is able to display Tae Ri's vulnerabilities and I simply can't fault her acting in the scene with Yang Jin Woo (aka Seung Jae) where he finally spills the beans about her parents' death. I felt so much sadness mixed with the disbelief at his reasons.

Kim Ki Bum as Geum Eun Dong/Hwang Min Soo: I really adored Ki Bum in this role, though sometimes his reactions are rather comic but I attribute that to the role of a 14 year old. His scenes where he was conflicted with his secret and being torn with his love and desire to protect Tae Ri and his guilty conscience towards his family. I feel for the man-boy. Obviously he's not a seasoned actor, but I do think he has the charisma to pull off the role, which is frankly within his range. I know he's a child actor, though I've never really noticed his roles or remember them clearly. However, I do feel that he's definitely a promising actor.

Yang Jin Woo as Choi Seung Jae: I kind of feel sorry for Yang Jin Woo here because there doesn't seem to be much substance to his character other than to be the hateful-with-an-excuse ex. I do think he does well in some parts to bring  something to his character despite the fact that his character and actions are perplexedly irrational.

JUB/Jubi as Ha Soon Shim aka Heart: I don't think the role required too much from the actress, because essentially she's just a brat here. Or maybe that's just how JUB portrayed the role. However, she was given quite a bit more material to work with than Jin Woo, with her suicidal past and the tug of war to win Min Soo's love. However, her flaws and inexperience is rather obvious whenever she is required to depict an emotional scene that requires a bit more depth. It'd be nice if we could see her as a young lady with real feelings rather than a spoilt child who just always wants what she can't have.

Just some short notes on the performances of the supporting cast: I really enjoyed Jang Seo Won as the Hwang Min Gook, he has pretty great comic timing and I really felt for him when Ki Bum confronts him about his brother's existence; as well as his little side story with Hong Shil. The parents are also cute, especially when Eun Dong's father kept getting jealous over the mother fawning over 'Min Soo'.

PS. I'm finding it confusing trying to refer to the characters myself with all the different identities and bodies.


OVERALL RATING: 

Enjoyment: 8/10
Substance: 7/10


{Side note: I just saw these snaps of Park Ye Jin and Kim Ki Bum in InStyle, and damn they sizzle} 






UNFINISHED: OH LA LA COUPLE





I gave up on this drama quite early on - around 2 episodes in. I know that may sound hasty, but hear me out. There were a few things I really liked about the drama: Yeo Ok was an interesting character... Ok, make that one thing. I think the premise of the past life and the fantasy sides were alright, nothing too spectacular. However, the main problem for me is the husband. I personally watch romance comedies to root for the couple and watch their cute interaction scenes, which means it is so very important to have two intricately portrayed characters who I can support. On the other hand, the husband is so very ... despicable. He encompasses all the traits you don't want a husband to have: rude, loud, sexist and unfaithful. As a female, I can't see how Yeo Ok would ever take him back (and I'm pretty sure that's what the rest of the series would be leading up to though). I mean, she herself says that she can never take him back as she witnessed him cheating on her. So, due to the fact that I cannot support this couple, I see no point in wasting my time watching it in frustration. I've heard that the ending has been disappointing, as well as the lead up to that so I'm not regretting anything yet.

For anyone interested, the premise of this drama is that Yeo Ok finds out her husband has been unfaithful and goes on to divorce him. However, the love gods (one of whom I presume was a lover in one of her past lives, when she was a renowned geisha) decide to switch their souls so they can understand each other by living their lives.





INITIAL THOUGHTS: I LOVE LEE TAE RI



If you're looking for a lighthearted and heartwarming romantic comedy, then this is shaping up to be quite the drama. Starring Park Ye Jin as Lee Tae Ri (of Family Outing fame) and Kim Ki Bum as Geum Eun Dong aka Hwang Min Soo (probably best known as being a member of Super Junior), this cable drama revolves around the premise of a fourteen year old boy's wish to protect his love. Ultimately, this leads to his transformation from his fourteen year old body to that of an adult. With the sundial being an instrumental part of his change, he stays by the side of Lee Tae Ri - the curator of the museum, believing that he needs to hug her in front of the sundial (in repetition of an earlier incident when he was fourteen).

With that as the foundation of the story, there are other side plots and obstacles, in the form of an annoying ex-boyfriend who works for Tae Ri's uncle who is scheming to ruin the museum. In the land of K-dramas, this is somewhat expected; you can hardly trust anyone outside of your immediate family, especially if you are rich. Also, there is Heart who is Eun Dong's noona fiance, who doesn't even like him (he's 7 years younger than her and well, fourteen) and is instead lusting after the annoying ex-boyfriend (Seung Jae). Honestly though, she's a bit of an afterthought because she's more of an annoyance than anything else really.

Onto the performances and impressions thus far, I'm really excited to see how this drama unfolds. I've already read that the ending is better than Big and deals with the whole age-transformation thing better so thumbs up for that, in advanced. Currently, I feel that drama is moving along steadily not too fast nor too slow. I'm really enjoying the build up and chemistry between Tae Ri and Min Soo, regardless of the supposed age gap considering that he is meant to be a fourteen year old spiritually. However, I do think that it's naive to think that being in the body of an adult hasn't changed his mentality one bit, because he has had to adopt to being a normal adult. Even the way he faced Soon Sim after 'forgetting' his feelings for her, he acted like an oppa. Actually, maybe he was always a bit mature for a teenager, with his determination to marry and protect her, and now Tae Ri. I love how his purity and goodness is able to comfort her and reveal her vulnerabilities. It's interesting to read that many people find Park Ye Jin to look much older than Ki Bum, whereas I find that there was still amazing chemistry despite their real life age gap. I personally find that while Ye Jin doesn't have a 'baby face', she doesn't look much older than her age; not to mention, Ki Bum has such a baby face. Thus, being able to make this work, I commend the two lead actors. They are cute together in my books. Ok, so I squealing at the computer for them to kiss already and they will if the preview is not trolling me.