tv_talk | Speak Up Saturday: What are you watching?

Tried getting into some newly released K-dramas:
- Behind Your Touch: Super silly premise (some people call it the "butt telepathy" drama). Great leads: Han Ji-min and Lee Min-Ki, so I had to check it out immediately. It struck me as something I might have liked if I was in a better mood, so maybe I will revisit it later on.

- Cold-Blooded Intern: Liked the first episode. Depending on how cold-blooded the intern character is going to be, I might continue or stop watching. Love the fact that we are seeing more shows about older women rejoining the workforce.

- The Killing Vote: Mainly giving this one a chance for Park Hae-jin. Currently watching the first episode and I'm already positively intrigued by Lim Ji-yeon's character. Here's hoping they know how to use her well. She was so good in The Glory.

Other Shows:
- This Fool S1: Started it because somebody mentioned it in relation to The Bear. Don't see the similarity but I think it's quite cute and feel-good. (Edit: "Cute" and "feel-good" specifically in relation to the fact that the protagonist is a member of an organization that helps to rehabilitate ex-gang members.)

- Heartstopper S2: Two wolves inside me: 1. All that queer rep gives me euphoria to the max. 2. They are all so young and bright-eyed, and there's just a part of me that cannot identify with that anymore, so yeah, it makes me feel old.

- I'm A Virgo S1: This show is really something else and I wish more people talked about it. That said, I find it hard to simply finish it because Prime Video suddenly doesn't show me anymore which episode I stopped watching. It really is a chore and a half to always go and find where I left off (particularly on low-spoon days). If anybody is into off-beat, highly surreal satires with social commentary, consider watching this one.

- Only Murders in the Building S3: Not really feeling it, so far. I hope the next episode gives us some more intriguing clues.

Edited 2023-08-19 20:01 (UTC)

I've seen various recs for Heartstopper. I plan to look it up on my next Netflix round.

I remember hearing about I'm a Virgo. It was your comment about not saving your place that caught my attention though. One real drawback about YouTube TV is that it doesn't save your place in a recording -- so you not only need to remember episode but how many minutes you were into something (of particular joy with long sports games).

I've also noticed that Paramount+ will often not finish off those final minutes in an episode so that when you start up again it insists on popping into the last 3 minutes of credits.

Amazon Prime has this problem too - it's how I ended up skipping from episode 1 of Vox Machina to S2 episode 1 without knowing I did it. They also did that to me in Paramount + with Picard - I ended up half-way into S2, without realizing it. It's very annoying. Bad interface. Netflix has a better interface.

Oh - reminded me of two K Dramas that I have to hunt down. One is the Alchemist? I have to ask this woman on FB who rec'd them ages ago. Ah found her rec: Flower of Evil is a contemporary psychological thriller about a psychopathic killer and his police detective wife that does not go at all the way you might predict. Alchemy of Souls is a wuxia historical with magic and martial arts. both made by the consistently-great Studio Dragon, which leans toward expanding the genre with everything they make, these entries are both outstanding in their character development and strong storylines.

I like K dramas. Netflix has a ton of them.

Felt same about Heartstopper - it makes me feel very old. Still need to watch all of S1. Saw first episode. People are raving about it online.

Of all the services I'm using, Netflix definitely has the best interface, I agree.

I've seen Flower of Evil recced many times but, from what I've read, it didn't manage to push enough of my buttons to put it on my to-watch list. Same re: Alchemy of Souls. Sageuks are generally not my thing and fantasy generally tends to be hit-or-miss as far as I'm concerned. However, it's a Hong sisters drama and they tend to be popular for a reason.

I'm really glad that Netflix hopped onto the K-drama train, even though I never truly understood the Squid Game hype.

I've not watched either one as of yet - but the set-up sounded kind of interesting? (shrugs) I tried the Flower of Evil one - today, and I couldn't get past the introduction. So neither are hitting my mood at the moment.

even though I never truly understood the Squid Game hype.

I agree with you there. I couldn't even get through it. Gave up after the third episode. That genre doesn't work for me. I did like Boys Over Flowers.

Flowers of Evil always sounded really hard-hitting to me. There's a lot of potential for betrayal here with the husband-wife setup. I think that's what mainly put me off because, while I like my thrillers, I prefer intact interpersonal bonds alongside the crime.

I feel you re: the mood problem. I have several dramas on my to-watch list but I just cannot find it in me to watch them.

I know the Japanese Boys Over Flowers version (Hana Yori Dango) and enjoyed that one a lot.

There's three Boys Over Flowers versions apparently? Japanese, Korean, and Chinese. Which is interesting. My niece was watching the Korean version in 2019 - so I tried it because of her.

Yeah, I ended up watching a movie last night - just couldn't get in the mood for any of the tv shows on my watch list.

Yep, there are! I suspect that anyone's personal favorite will highly depend on who you first found convincing in the role. I thought the two leads in the Japanese version had wonderful chemistry. The Chinese adaption didn't particularly wow me, and the South-Korean version had Lee Min-ho, who I'm simply not particularly crazy about.

At times like this, I often find it even harder to get myself hyped for a movie unless I have somebody to watch it with. What did you end up choosing?

Interstellar by Christopher Nolan (I'm on a Nolan and Cillian Murphy kick). I'd seen Oppenheimer the week before, and Insterstellar and Dunkirk are the only ones I've not seen of Nolan's.

I had a wicked crush on Kim Hyun-Joong and was rooting for that pairing. (LOL! Which was apparently against the story thread.) I really didn't like Lee Min-ho at all either. I've not seen the other adaptations. I still need to see the Extraordinary Lawyer Woo (a co-worker rec'd). I have a huge tv queue, but right now watching the Great American BBQ Showdown. (weakness for cooking programs).

I had a wicked crush on Kim Hyun-Joong and was rooting for that pairing. (LOL! Which was apparently against the story thread.)
This sort of thing is called "second-lead syndrome". However, you can only claim that title if it happens to you regularly. ;)

Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a very cute show. I didn't finish it because, at one point, the cases and lawyer work stopped appealing to me, but overall, it's very watchable. Hope you like it!

I used to be way more into cooking shows until all the programs I watched became too commercialized and showy for me. Means: Less focus on the ingredients and the cooking process and the tasting, too much focus on the lives of the contestants. Liked what I've seen of GBBO but, unfortunately, I can't watch it without paying Amazon a hefty sum. Tried some of the baking shows on Netflix but, again, the focus seems way too much on how food looks instead of its careful preparation.

This sort of thing is called "second-lead syndrome". However, you can only claim that title if it happens to you regularly. ;)

I don't know - does having crushes on Spike (Buffy/Angel), Damon (Vamp Diaries), Giles (Buffy), and Dean (SPN) and Dylan (Teen Wolf) count? I tend to usually follow the story thread when it comes to pairings, but I admittedly have a tendency to like the supporting characters better than leads. LOL!

Regarding Cooking Shows? I'm similar - I want less interviews, and more on the food preperation.

Great American BBQ Showdown isn't bad - it's more prep heavy, kind of similiar model to Great British Bake Off. (It's on Netflix, so is GBBO for that matter in the States, at least. I burned out on GBBO finally and do not like the later seasons that much.) Nailed it - I find annoying and can't watch. Is it Cake seems to do both - but the host is grating. I did like two smaller shows on Netflix - one that has four professional chefs competing to make an event desert. (Can't remember the name of it though) and the other is where they make edible engineering creations - such as bridges that you can sail under or rafts or cars, etc, that can be eaten. It was interesting. (Also no worries of wanting to eat any of it. LOL!) But can't remember names of either.

The difficulty with Extraordinary Attorney Woo - may be that I know too much about legal procedure - but since it's in another country, it may not matter to me. I'm not a huge fan of episodic series though - so we'll see. Haven't gotten there yet. Too many tv shows, too little time.

I think, usually, SLS sufferers also prefer for the female lead to end up with those characters. Honestly, I'd find it stranger *not* to have a crush on Spike. Or Giles. ;) To be honest, Giles/Anthony Head was the main reason I ever got into Buffy in the first place after irrationally disliking the show for a decade simply because it was a TV rival of my then-favorite The X-Files. (Sidenote: At that time, I was an immature teenager.)

I know next to nothing about BBQ, to be honest. I just mainly enjoy a good food competition that's healthy and not too stressful. I quite enjoyed Snack vs. Chef because the contestants were passionate and knowledgeable about their stuff. Is It Cake is cute and I binged my way right through the first season because I loved the silliness but, in the end, it's so much more about what the cake is *trying* to be on the outside and not enough about what is actually going on on the inside (texture, interplay of flavors). I also dislike that the jury consists of famous people who cannot really give us viewers meaningful, constructive feedback about the cake's quality like, for example, Mary Berry and Paul Hollywood can. And, as you say, the host is one big ball of energy.

I think my main quibble with Attorney Woo was the fact that our protagonist, at one point in the show, mainly wanted to represent the people who seemed innocent enough in her eyes. Which, I thought, was very idealistic and therefore in line with her character but ultimately pointless because there's no way that this behavior from a newbie would fly in a big, prestigious law firm. (Maybe the show addressed this later on, no idea.) I also remember finding the casework really shoddy in that episode which led me to quit watching altogether, but YMMV as I am certainly no legal expert. Still, I really loved the concept and the leading actress is wonderful.

I started watching Buffy because of Giles too - I was annoyed that VR5 got cancelled and replaced by Buffy - but Buffy had cast ASH from VR5 (he had a better/bigger role in VR5, albeit similar to Buffy). So I followed him to it. Half-watched during the first season. Got hooked - second episode of second season - because of Spike and Dru. But Giles pulled me into it.

I don't know anything about BBQ either - nor do I do it (small apartment in NYC, no grill), but the show is fun to watch. Agree on "Is it Cake" - it's fun for well the silliness of whether people can figure out what is the cake. But the judges aren't helpful. I prefer expert food judges.

I think I might have issues with Attorney Woo - mainly because in reality - you do not get to pick your cases, and have no way of knowing who is innocent or guilty half the time. Also everything should have fair representation. Most people are guilty by the way. (I did Kansas Defender Project one summer and represented various Drug Dealers and a Bank Robber). Also - I have troubles with most legal procedurals. The only two I liked were The Good Wife and LA Law.

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feurioo - 2023-08-22 20:11 (UTC) - Expand

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Same re: Alchemy of Souls. Sageuks are generally not my thing and fantasy generally tends to be hit-or-miss as far as I'm concerned. However, it's a Hong sisters drama and they tend to be popular for a reason.

Ohh, I didn't know Alchemy of Souls was the Hong sisters. Hmm... (You're Beautiful was my gateway drug. *g*)

Haha, mine too. It was the sole reason why I watched pretty much all cross-dressing dramas I could find right afterward.

Of all the Hong projects I've seen, Greatest Love is probably my favorite. But I really have to give Hotel del Luna another chance. Both leads have been wonderful in everything I've seen them in.

It was the sole reason why I watched pretty much all cross-dressing dramas I could find right afterward.

*high fives you*

And oh, this makes me want to give Greatest Love another chance. I bounced off it and Hotel del Luna. My favourites are A Korean Odyssey, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho and Master's Sun. (And I have a fondness for Big, despite the student/teacher thing really not working for me. ;-)

Your icon! They're *so* cute! :D Never had a thing for Gong Yoo (in my heart, I was Team Lee Sun-kyun) but I can understand why practically everybody else swooned over him. So much boyish charm. And their chemistry! Truly a ship for the ages.

I can agree that Greatest Love isn't perfect but I just find Cha Seung-won's Dokko Jin so hilarious, and Gong Hyo-jin is wonderful as always. Never watched A Korean Odyssee, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, or Big. (I'm sure I had my reasons but I cannot recall them at the moment. I only remember reading that many fans thought of Big as a huge mess.) Never finished Master's Sun even though I definitely liked the first couple of episodes. I vaguely remember that something about the plot turned me off but maybe I just wasn't in the right mood.

Last but not least: Are you telling me Gong Yoo has at least two teacher/student dramas?!

in my heart, I was Team Lee Sun-kyun

Ah, second lead syndrome. I know it well! (I do really enjoy Lee Sun-kyun -- he was amazing in My Ahjussi, and I just watched Diary of a Prosecutor for him. I keep meaning to give This Week My Wife Is Having An Affair another try, but I'm not generally into jealousy storylines, and it's right there in the title. ;-p)

I can't remember why I bounced off Greatest Love right now, but it's so often just timing...

(Big is a terrible mess, but it has bodyswap and Gong Yoo playing a bratty teen, and it mashes hard on some of my buttons and makes me cry. I've watched it a couple of times while sick. I just have to suspend some of my critical faculties...)

Last but not least: Are you telling me Gong Yoo has at least two teacher/student dramas?!

Ahaha, yeah. I tried to watch Biscuit Teacher and Star Candy but I just. couldn't. *g*

I usually don't have SLS, but for him, I did! He simply had the voice, the smile, the glasses. And he made music. I mean!

My Ahjussi was probably my favorite thing I've seen him in, so far. His character in Pasta was too shouty for my liking, even though the show paired him off with Gong Hyo-jin. Definitely have to finish Miss Korea sometime because I remember liking the first episodes I watched. Diary of a Prosecutor has been forever on my to-watch list. Did you enjoy it? I've heard great things about it but I always feel a little hesitant about legal K-dramas. (Didn't finish Extraordinary Attorney Woo and was massively disappointed by May It Please The Court after initially loving it to bits.)

Agreed re: This Week My Wife Is Having An Affair. I really liked the tone of the promos but I simply prefer my fictional marriages to be (mostly) intact if I'm able to choose.

Diary of a Prosecutor has been forever on my to-watch list. Did you enjoy it? I've heard great things about it but I always feel a little hesitant about legal K-dramas.

It's very slice-of-life and gently paced, but stylish, too, and I did enjoy it. Watched it right through, albeit slowly. It helped that the female lead (not a love interest!) was played by Jung Ryeo-Won, who I'd just watched in the enjoyably ridiculous Wok of Love. :-)

Btw, if you're interested, it's slightly out of date, but I have an annotated list of my fav Kdramas here. No obligation, of course.

I take that as a rec! Didn't watch Wok of Love for superficial reasons (= Jang Hyuk isn't the love interest) but I enjoyed JRW very much in May It Please the Court. (Super delicious chemistry with her co-star, it's just the murder mystery that seriously disappointed me.) She seems to have a couple of legal dramas under her belt. I have Witch at Court on my Netflix list.

Didn't watch Wok of Love for superficial reasons (= Jang Hyuk isn't the love interest)

Ha, fair enough. I was watching for Junho. (Fwiw, though, there are extremely threesome-y vibes for most of Wok of Love -- they're all very cute together.)

*waves goodnight* :-)

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feurioo - 2023-08-22 17:55 (UTC) - Expand

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china_shop - 2023-08-22 23:53 (UTC) - Expand

Let us know what you think about Heartstopper!

The thing is: Prime Video has a "continue watching" feature but it only offers the option for shows I stopped watching a while ago. I'm A Virgo simply doesn't register regardless of how often I look the show up. It also doesn't list Good Omens 2 as a finished title, even though I watched that in its entirety shortly after it was released. Probably a bug. :/ I'm already not the biggest Prime Video fan (using a family member's account) but this actively hinders my watching experience.

Wtf, YouTubeTV? That would make the service completely unusable to me. How do you do it? Passion? Patience?

I think the worst service I use is WOW TV. 1. It doesn't remember your preferred language settings, so you always have to choose English sub/dub (separate choices) when watching a new show. It also doesn't remember those settings once you've finished an episode and are about to start a new one. 2. You can only download things once and they get deleted after, I don't know, two days or so? I always have some stuff on my mobile in case I get stuck during my commute. 3. You cannot delete titles from your watch list. Instead, you have to wait for them to disappear on their own. I'm only using the service because it offers several HBO titles.

Hmm, that does sound like a bug. Well with YouTube it's really a shortage of options. I think there are only 5 cable alternatives and only DStream and Hulu Live offer anything near what YT does. We've used both before and the pricing ended up better with YT.

WOW TV deserves its name, but not in a good way. Although when we record content we can't delete individual episodes from YT after we watch them. Not the biggest problem but annoying.

Watched the first episode of Deadloch today and I absolutely wasn't prepared to laugh *so* much. Some people on Tumblr have been recommending it for a while, so I thought I'd better check it out. Obviously, at this point, I cannot say whether the conclusion of the murder mystery will actually be satisfying but, so far, at least the characters delivered. It's queer (a town full of lesbians), absurdly funny, and gives me all the female buddy-cop energy that I didn't know I needed in my life.