I like how they suddenly developed Juran by contrasting her with the bully. Juran is a pessimist-realist while the bully turns out to be a positive-realist. When they showed how the bully sees Jeongnyeon, it showed a complete opposite of Juran.
Then later, at the last minute, they gave justice to Juran by revealing the deeper, hidden, reason behind her decision. Her pessimist-realist "excuse" was only the surface to cover/hide her true reason.
That revelation placed the bully's positive-realist view of Jeongnyeon into a new light. Sure, she sees her differently, but at the end of the day, she's only using her to advance herself. Jeongnyeon's true friend in the end is still Juran.
The Judge from Hell (지옥에서 온 판사)
Starring Park Shinhye (박신혜)
★★★★★★★★★★
Justice served.
This is the type of show that you wish is longer because they acted well, the cinematography was awesome, and the editing was excellent. But at the same time, you'll realize that it was perfect because they planned it to be exactly as short as it is, they knew it won't be good if it was longer.
Watching #Doubt ( #이토록친밀한배신자 ) is like playing a 3-way chess. Three important characters battling it out, but the third player is playing in the shadows.
Imagine if it was Eunho who truly "disappeared," handing the reins over to HAEri. In their shared diary, what if Eunho left instructions, letting HAEri live as her, memories and all? Perhaps during their so-called "vacation," they worked on merging—two identities intertwining into one where HAEri takes control.
So, both live on, their personalities unified. The shift to a positive outlook feels natural; HAEri’s positivity shines through as Eunho’s more shadowed side lingers faintly. Not two minds battling, but one whole person embracing and balancing both parts.
It’s fascinating, really—a subtle analogy for the two Koreas, possibly hinting at peace through integration. What if Eunho and HAEri’s "unification" is symbolic, a blend of identities showing a path to unity and coexistence?
(NOTE: This is about Kim Taeri. The below is not about the entire cast, who themselves are doing great in their respective theatre scenes. There are also a few who started in theatre acting or have theatre skills learned later. One of which was Taeri's real-life friend who, from what I've read, also started in theatre.)
Kim Taeri (김태리) as lead in ”Jeongnyeon" ("정년이") was no doubt intentional, we can go as far as to say this was written with her in mind. Theatre is her turf after all.
Theatre actors are actually the best screen actors too. It's why those who started on-screen are advised to go into theatre acting so they can hone their skills and learn the secrets in acting.
In the West, Sir Patrick Stewart—known for the roles Captain Jean-Luc Picard and Professor Charles Xavier—started as a theatre actor. His American counterparts in Star Trek: The Next Generation often shared how he changed the show and how they learned acting from him (they're already established actors).
It's why Kim Taeri is so good herself.
Even though her theatre scenes in this show were scripted, you can actually see her threatre acting in full display. I wouldn't be surprise if all they did was roll the camera continuously, and let everything happen naturally. 🙃🙂 The editing director probably had an easy time as well for the Kim Taeri theatre scenes.
Whenever it's Kim Taeri's theatre scenes, it is as if we're watching a fan camera of a real live theatre play. You can see the difference in her acting, theatre vs on-screen. Kim Taeri is being full-on theatre actor mode when she's in a theatre scene. On-sceen mode when in everything else. Truly a legend. No, a goddess.
(NOTE: This is about Kim Taeri. The above was not about the entire cast, who themselves are doing great in their respective theatre scenes. There are also a few who started in theatre acting or have theatre skills learned later. One of which was Taeri's real-life friend who, from what I've read, also started in theatre.)
I'm halfway through #AllOfUsAreDead ( #지금우리학교는 ) #webtoon. There were some changes in the live-action adaptation—that's expected—but overall very similar.
I just kept on imagining the actors instead. (Sorry artist. 🙇🏽)
The reach and influence of K-pop and K-drama / K-movie on reviving something forgotten.
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and Keirsey Temperament Sorter (KTS) were popular in the late 20th Century. It was once expected to include it in your resumé or CV (Curriculum Vitae). It went on up to around 2007 but fogotten after that.
Around that time when the rest of the English-speaking world has forgotten about it, Koreans picked up MBTI (in 2008?) and it became part of their "modern" culture. It replaced knowing one's Blood Type and the Nimrod Zodiac Sign.
As "Hallyu" became a thing globally, MBTI became popular again. Many people today even assume that you're a K-pop or K-drama fan if you share your MBTI. 🤷🏽♂️ Which of course, as is usually the case with assumptions, is not necessarily true (often false).
The only "funny" thing about the resurgence of MBTI is that, majority—no doubt—got their MBTI from those silly free online quizzes. 😅 In other words, their MBTI is more likely inaccurate (as far as the approved exams by the MBTI Foundation is concerned of course). 😆
The weather started turning chilly yesterday and is much cooler today. Having a shorter day at work, I'm recovering from the deluge of painful news the past serval weeks. Today's comfort show is watched in one of my favorite sweaters, under my weighted blanket, with vanilla chai and maple leaf creme cookies. 🍁☕️🫶🏻📺✨️ #TGIF #chilly#sweaterweather#kdrama#audhd#nest@actuallyautistic
I wonder if they can fit it in a movie format. The way I see it, a TV series is more appropriate. Are they going to do a trilogy?
#Netflix should do a TV series of Omniscient Reader, they can create 2–3 seasons (12 episodes each) up to the Seoul Liberation. It's a guaranteed success too, IMO.
I watch lot of #kdramas lot of them seem to be based on Joseon era. I figure I might enjoy them more if I knew of history during that era. I would be very grateful if someone could point me to good sources where I might be able learn more about this period in korean history. If you know if good sources either online or in book form, I would really love that. Those sources will need to be in English unfortunately as I am not yet able to read or speak the language.
Kinda glad that my obsession with geopolitics has waned to 60%. Not that I've gotten bored, but I've realised a few things:
a) consuming all these info will not help me help the world
b) need to focus on local news which will directly affect my life
c) most pundits are there to entertain, not inform (whether they know it or not)
d) my mental health can only take so much
e) My brain RAM is the size of a pea
f) Need to make space for other info like #CDrama and #Kdrama LOL
OK, I think I will probably manage to meet all my #Storygraph#Reading goals before December 31.
The @bookstodon 20 book challenge pushed me way ahead, now I can switch from reading on my Kobo Sage to reading subtitles on my TV 😂 #CDrama#KDrama#JDrama - first up: #KDramas Serendipity's Embrace and My Sweet Mobster and #CDrama My Sassy Wife. 🤞 🤞 🤞🏽
Happy #NewstodonFriday! Here’s our weekly selection of stories from newsrooms that are active in the fediverse. The goal is to amplify their work and help them raise funds, so please follow them, boost posts, subscribe to their sites, donate money, and join in the conversation in the comments.
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Ukrainians have been receiving support from around the world in countering the invasion by Russia — and one of the country's key military aid partners is South Korea. For @timkmak’s Counteroffensive, Myroslava Tanska-Vikulova and Mariana Lastovyria write about how Ukraine is repaying Korea with its love for K-pop, drama, cosmetics and food.
Forgiveness, be it shallow or halfhearted, benefit the guilty and/or the wronged. It doesn't mean #reconciliation or dropping a court case. It is lifting the burden off your soul.
@jane23c@youronlyone
Oh, those episodes were SO intense!! A bit of a shock after most of it being relatively mild. Both FLs are such wonderful actors and I'm thrilled to watch series that are female-forward! #kdrama #TheGoodPartner
@youronlyone
There's a thought.
The legal profession isn't set up for ethics :( I'm sure they would say otherwise. You'd hope that if you expose guilty clients then innocent ones would come to you.
But in #kdrama world none of the very rich are innocent. Or is that irl 🤔
Also, it was good that they didn't dwell on the FL's divorce case the entire series. I was expecting they'll do that, which is a common style in #Kdrama. But surprisingly, it was only part of the character's development and growth. For a divorce attorney and first time writer, she's doing great!