Wicked Love

☠   A M O R T E N T I A  ☠  

A playlist for merope gaunt's first and last love

Listen here.

'Tis The Season of the Bitch.

Heirs AU: Rachel and Bo Na as witches with an attitude.

Spoiler In Words: Secret Episode 16

OMG it's the finale already!?! I still have 6-ish episodes to catch up on - which is entirely intentional on my part - somehow, with this show, I really wanted to do a proper marathon and enjoy it in its entirety, rather than getting caught up with the weekly hype. Whatever the ending may be, I hope it's the kind that stays with me, long after it ends (in a good way, of course).

Finale: Spoiler In Words

Heirs ♛

Gosh, this show I tell you - once again, I'm getting sucked into Kim Eun Sook's magic. There's just something so fairytale-like in her stories, but never so far-fetched that you scoff at its ludicrousness.

Previews: Secret Episode 14 & 15

Episode 14:  Spoiler In Words + Preview

'Tis The Season of the Witch.

Heirs AU: Eun Sang and Hyun Joo as world-weary, cynical witches. 

Death becomes her.

Secret AU: Retold as a dark fairytale

Living life the Summer Nude way

 

Titles can be so misleading, posters too. Because despite its vibrant beach setting, the show feels sepia in tone. Yamapi's retrospective narration at the beginning and end of each episode lends a tinge of melancholy and nostalgia to this slice of life gem. It's no melo, but it's certainly going to wring the same emotions out of you.

Previews: Secret Episode 10 & 11

Okay I know I'm in the minority that cares about So Yeon (if there's any at all lmao), but seeing this shit go down between the other three is kind of inevitable and I JUST WANT MY BB GIRL TO GET OUT OF THERE SAFELY IS THAT TOO MUCH TO ASK 

Chlo-Meter:

An ITWY spin-off, anyone?

Have you ever

Have you ever been so deeply distressed about an OTP's storyline

That in your mind you've created an alternate one

Where they get the narrative they fucking deserved


P.S: I'm talking about this idiotic couple.

Previews: Secret Episode 9

Taken from the Soompi thread that I posted this in (jfc the discussions move faster than a bullet train) P.S: Transcripts are long, so more after the jump!

Transcript:
Min Hyuk punching scene
Yoo Jung yells, "Why are you hitting him?!"
He yells back, "What is it to you?"

Psst, I've got a Secret.

Lean in, shh, listen. Tell no one. That sound you hear is emotional sadism at its finest (ie. it's me cackling as everything goes to burn.) This is makjang most sinister. This is the show drama gods warned you about. If you prefer your characters in shades of grey, this show is for you. If you like your stories with an oh-fuck-me twist, this show is for you. If you ever watched A Love To Kill and thought, "ehhh, that's tame," then this show is for you.

Curious yet? Brief intro in 3, 2, 1... *cue opera of impending doom*

Love Around Episode 13 Preview

Before the episode tonight... posting this for people who are still finding the show lovely~ I'm a few episodes behind again so I can't really comment.

Always be by my side.

Ratings for Episode 12 stayed the same at 2.55. Hmm... the drama is running out of time, will it even make it to 3?

*above photo credit to FB Fanpage

Love Around Episode 12 Preview

So I saw the preview for the next episode and I had one thought: SHIT HAS HIT THE FAN. We still don't know what happened, but turns out my instincts in the beginning that the parents knew each other were right after all. I thought the main conflict would be when Dad found out about Zhou Zhen's background, but it seems we need to go up a generation.

This is a sticky knot to unravel.

Ratings for Episode 11 was only 0.01 off their previous high, coming at 2.55.

New Look! (And a change of address.)

 

Sigh, so many issues. Why can't internet life be perfect? Due to an inherent bug in my previous address, I'm now forced to change to a new one (chloeplus.blogspot is now hellochloee.blogspot, take note, folks). After the change everything seems to be A-OK, until I realize that the blog recognizes me as the author for all previous posts made, which is so frustrating because I HAVE NOT WRITTEN A SINGLE ARTICLE ABOUT LOVE AROUND.

Hence, I would like to clarify all Love Around were not written by me (except that one time I had to fill in for Snowie). So dear readers, pleasepleaseplease do not be mistaken, okay? It would make me sad if you think that the two of us are interchangeable.

P.S: Here are all the articles my dearest chingu has written (in chronological order):

• Love Now Episode 26
• Love Now Episode 27
• Love Now Episode 28
• Love Now OST: Blank Spaces (Tian Kong) by Jia Jia
• In which Ice Sculpture CEO finds his idol roots
• Love Now Episode 29-30
• Love Now Episode 31-33
• Annie And George Hu Reunited!
• Addictive OST Drops As Love Around Premieres
• Love Around Episode 2 Preview
• Love Around Episode 1
• Love Around Episode 3 Preview
• Love Around Episode 2
• Love Around Episode 4 Preview
• Love Around Episode 5 Preview
• Sunglasses recommended 
• Love Around Episode 6 Preview
• Love Around Episode 7 Preview
• Love Around Episode 8 Preview
• Love Around Episode 9 Preview
• Love Around Episode 10 Preview
• Love Around Episode 11 Preview
• Love Around BTS Bites

Aww, you've sure come a long way, Snowie! Sigh, now I'm getting misty-eyed and all. But no one wants to see my ugly sobbing, so back to our regularly scheduled programming, folks.

Love Around BTS Bites

Note: Those who've read the previous post would already have read this. I decided to split the BTS into a stand-alone post because I updated the previews. Also, now we can focus (comments) on the fun!

A treat for you guys - little bites of the BTS (which is way more fun than the actual drama). Watching the BTS makes me a lot happier, and reminds me of why I watch this not-very-interesting drama. Some things they do as they rehearse for the scenes, so it's done as their characters, but these cuts usually involve NG takes, which is done by the actors themselves so I've used their names instead. Enjoy!

Bite 1: George Hu is a fruit ninja.

Love Around Episode 11 Preview (Updated)

I wasn't very excited in translating this preview, because SETTV cheated by recycling scenes (which made me go, hey I already did that!) and adding a few new lines of dialogue. Which also meant that the highlight of the previous preview (woo they rhyme) did not actually happen in the episode.

This is a new screencap! I swearz!

It may or may not be the reason, but ratings for Episode 10 dipped again to 2.07. And reflecting that, this post isn't all that uplifting.

*Updated with two new previews

Love Around Episode 10 Preview (Updated)

I know some of you waited for the previews on the weekend, sorry about that. Thing is, they didn't have a preview at the end of the episode then (darn live shooting). SETTV finally released a preview today, and here it is - freshly out of the (editing room?) oven.

 

Dun dun dun!

Ratings for Episode 9 hit the highest yet at 2.56.

*Updated with a new cut from 100% Entertainment

Love Around Episode 9 Preview

Well well well... looks like the characters have decided to act in rational ways, and some of the conflicts were speedily resolved (although if it was so simple, we wonder why they dragged out the secrets). I guess the bigger one will come soon enough, when Xiao Shu's parents find out about Zhou Zhen. The OTP relationship moves ahead without obstacles for now, and it's confessions (swoony) time! 

Ratings went slightly up to 2.40 for Episode 8.

Episode 9 Preview - Ringing Sounds of Happiness:

Love Around Episode 8 Preview

I'm back! Thanks to Chloe for updating in my absence (and I did have a lovely trip hehe) and personally I thought she made everything sound much more interesting hah. Perhaps we should have her come weigh in again some time - just to shake things up *wink wink* Haven't caught up to the series yet to be honest, been in a lazy funk since the trip. So this post will be slightly better in that I know the premise and characters, but I'm gonna be guessing along too heh. Not that it's that difficult a nut to crack.

Sounds like the big secret's gonna be out the bag, which is about right since we're probably near the mid-mark of the series. Now that the leads have pretty much got their feelings out in the open (from what I see in the previews anyway), let the true conflict begin!

And just to clarify, although this has been mentioned before: The drama airs every SUNDAY NIGHT, from 10:00-11:30 pm (GMT/ UTC+8). The availability online depends on uploaders obviously, but at least 2-3 hours after it ends would be a reasonable breathing space.

Ratings for Episode 7 was 2.22, slightly down from 2.53 (series highest so far) of Episode 6.

Love Around Episode 7 Preview

aka. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?!?

(seriously, I really don't know what the hell is happening here). I don't follow this show, and my blogging buddy Snow L has gone for a holiday (lucky kijibae) hence here I am, following up on her. So excuse me while I make wild trajectories based on 33 seconds of random shots (less if you exclude the channel/time reminder bit at the end). Detective Chloe unravels the truth, after the cut!

Chlo-Meter: DETERMINED

Love Around Episode 6 Preview

Second male lead is stepping up his game. I kinda knew that this was coming but his directness is still admirable. Although obviously, I can't really root for him but oh well, gotta give him props for saying what he feels (such a precious thing in dramaland).

(Wo xi huan ni. I like you.)

And a bite of Episode 5 - I just saw this one scene and I couldn't help laughing. I totally agree with Xiao Shu on what's next though: kissing. After the cut!

Sunglasses recommended

Yet ANOTHER preview for Episode 5 of Love Around, but I'm not complaining.

(She's touching me. Why is she touching me?)

That face. I have no words.

Love Around Episode 5 Preview (Updated)

Look at them, tumbling on a bed already!

EPISODE 5 PREVIEW:

Love Around Episode 4 Preview

Woohoo! It looks like excitement might finally be happening. I haven't watched the latest episode yet, but now that Daddy Zhou has his fingers in the radio station mix, things are heating up - and we will have the leads in enforced proximity. After just about 3 episodes of set-up, we're finally shown some meatier footage and I say - BRING ON THE OFFICE HIJINKS!

Side Note: I like how this character gives us tons of smexy George's expressions.

Love Around Episode 2

We get to see more family background to our main leads, which explains some motivations and provide comic relief. There's an addition to the cast in this one - a most welcome quirky character and one that I *gasp* am actually curious about. Some scenes still feel out of place and the interest level isn't that much improved over the first episode.

I'm not sure if I still want to continue recapping this drama, unless there's a huge swing in terms of plot and narration. Although I love our main couple as much as any other, it isn't incentive enough for me to want to write about it when there are other shows out there that make me grip my seats, unable to sit still. At the moment, I'm enjoying bits and pieces of the show but at the back of my head, I realize that there isn't much going on. I'll still probably watch it every week since it's the summer holidays, but I really hope there is more to the premise. Chop chop writers.

Ratings broke 2 this week, bringing it up to 2.16. Guess the Taiwan audience do still love the OTP.

*updated with screencaps.

Love Around Episode 3 Preview (Updated)

To be honest, I don't know what to make of this preview because I don't know what is going on. There isn't much clue as to what is coming either. Only obvious thing is she-whom-I-asked-not-to-come-back is already back, after only one episode. The preview is also dreadfully short (live-shooting fatigue showing already?).

Not much in way of excitement, but oh well...

Episode 3 Preview:

Love Around Episode 1

"Come back to me, come back to me~~" Crap, that song is stuck in my head.

I have to say, promotions for this show on FB was crazy. The fan page and George updated with teasers and reminders on the hour. It was announced that George himself would be watching the premiere in real life with the fans, and interacting with them on the fan page during advertisements. I guess it made it pretty exciting to be in Taiwan as part of the audience.

I love the opening and ending footage. I think the concept is great - they go through "love influenza" and the shoot plays around with colours: when they are heartbroken, they see only black and white.

The episode was an introduction to the premise - it zips along at a brisk pace, and we get entanglements between characters already. I think the emotional beats are in place, with some unexpected moments of levity and tons of feels for the leads. Ratings came in at 1.86, which is nothing to shout about, but it's a solid start and placed Love Around at the top of its timeslot. Let's hope it continues going upward when the conflicts come into play.

EPISODE 1 RECAP

Love Around Episode 2 Preview

I was going to post the recap for Episode 1 but the computer malfunctioned on me after I had finished screencapping before I could transfer them to my other drives *sobs* Anyhow, it means I should finish my assignment instead I'll have to get to that later. But for now, bringing you the translation for Episode 2 preview!

*click on the link above for the video (credits to uploader)

Translation

Addictive OST Drops as Love Around Premieres

As Love Around ramps up to its premiere tonight and fills up my FB stream, we get a slew of goodies coming our way. One of the main reasons I'm tempted to watch the new series, aside from the OTP, is the fact that I've already heard two very catchy and amazing songs on the previews. The moment I heard the title track, I recognized the voice of one of my favourite new male solo singers in Taiwan: Bii. 

The first time I saw his name, I was like, "Whoa... got some high ambition there, buddy" since the first association would be to the Korean mega-star Bi (Rain). Then I learned that it was due to his mixed heritage: he's half-Korean and half-Taiwanese, and that is his way of saying both sides, identities are all him. Anyway, all that matters not once you start listening to him just KILL it in his songs.

MONSTAR

#watchhh it #a high school musical show that manages to satisfy both my commercial and indie sensibilities (yes i do realize that's a paradox) #four for you Show, four for you #also let's not forget the hero of the series that is Seung Gi-lite #also the ridiculously pretty people in the show who rock at instruments #too bad they're asses of the first degree #and then there's the apathetic second lead #but not when it involves the heroine #who happens to be a badass warrior who takes no bullshit from anyone #together they make beautiful music #eargasm all around #the end

Love in the Murder House

For a pair of star-crossed lovers, a love that never dies, 

all-consuming and self-destructive, one you never get out of.

(listen here)

Annie Chen and George Hu Reunited!

Fresh off their recent daily drama, Annie Chen and George Hu are set to work together again on the next SETTV produced drama, Love Around (tentatively from the FB link address) or True Love, Black & White (a literal translation from the Chinese title 真愛黑白配).

 

It is quite interesting that this pair is thrown together again so soon after their last drama. I mean, yea we know the circle of actors in Taiwan isn't that big and repeat pairings do happen, but I think this is the one of, if not, the soonest I've seen actors paired together again. 

Resistance is futile!

While I'm fully aware that Last Cinderella will not change the face of jdoramas or anything, this show has proven to be cracktastic! And the reason being:

OH. MY. GOD.

Chlo-Meter: *speechless*

Love, Now Episodes 31-33

Big, big sorry to fellow LNAAs... I know I haven't posted anything for agggessss... But aside from uni, I also got distracted into watching The Big Bang Theory (marathoned till Season 4), School 2013 (which is awesome), The Lizzie Bennet Diaries (need the next episode!!) and... anyway, you probably don't need to hear this. I haven't exactly caught up to the series myself, so hopefully what I'm writing will still be from a non-spoilery perspective. (And hopefully comments will stay that way too!)

Ahhh... I have missed the sugar rush from our favourite OTP.

Snow is:   *whistling from the candy overdose*

Love, Now Episode 29-30

*School has started, so slow as the recaps already are, I'm afraid we're gonna get even slower *sobs* But the anticipation shall be greater! And I shall try to be more concise (what I tell myself every time lol).

We continue dealing with the fall-out from formed and broken relationships - which means general mopiness save some words of wisdom. Qi Ming spirals further into despair; Yi Ru finds support and tries to reach out to him. Fortunately, we have our increasingly reliable dose of OTP cuteness and dorkiness. People always talk about ladies who glow when in love. Methinks Shi De is the one glowing all the time now. Heehee.

Snow is:  cheering them on!

Austen Power: The Tale of Three Sisters

Without fail, there comes a time every year where I'd feel like watching shows set in the Victorian period (which inevitably leads to me binging on everything Austen). BBC, here I come!

Though this time it'll have to wait, because I'm here to pimp yet another modern retelling of Pride & Prejudice - but here's the plot twist: it so meta it's a vlog. Y'know, a video blog? Where people, uh, upload videos of themselves talking to the camera on Youtube?

Imagine if Elizabeth Bennet lived in the 21st century... and has a Youtube channel or her own.

 Where she talks about what a pompous prick Darcy is 24/7. 

And the Darcy here is... such a dork! I mean, he wears suspenders, for the love of Austen. And I'm pretty sure he's 80% Socially Awkward Penguin, or in his bestie Fitz Williams words, "has a social skills of a agoraphobic lobster." Oh Lizzie, if only you knew.

In which Ice Sculpture CEO finds his idol roots

I know it's not the 1st, but HAPPY NEW YEAR folks! SETTV sent the main actors from their stable of daily dramas down to Kaohsiung for the countdown party - George Hu, Annie Chen, Chris Wang, and Xiao Yu (Lollipop-F) were there to keep things high.

So I knew they were performing, but aside from the one idol singer in the line-up, I was wondering what sort of performance would the other three be included in. And then I saw this:

*jaw drops* WHO IS THIS?! Our adorkable ice sculpture has not only melted but is BLAZING HOT!

MBC Mashups

How many of you have had your hearts tickled by the Moon Embraces The Sun x Missing You mashup? Having seen both shows, it sure got me fangirlin' like mad, since when Missing You started I had this scenario in my head where Kim Yoo Jung would barge in on Han Jung Woo and his lady love. Keke.

Squeeing commence in 3, 2, 1...