Crack of the Century!

Have you ever encountered a show so utterly perfect, it is like it's been tailor-made for you? That's how I feel when I watch this show, where the story unfolds like a well-worn romance novel, the one that looks like origami from all the handling. And by perfect, of course I don't mean in a flaw-less way (a ne plus ultra it is not), but a show with a compendium of tropes and stock characters I luuuurrve, played out *just* the way I like it. Predictable, but in a good way.

In case you missed the subtext: THIS SHOW IS FRIGGIN' AWESOME AND OMG EVERYONE SHOULD WATCH IT ALREADY!!!!!!!!! Crack, thy name is Bride of the Century, and your existence has me lying in bed, ruminating on the possibility of time travel, because dammit, I need my episodes NOW.

Sketchy summary: Mr. Darcy meets Spunky Girl, thus resulting in The Thawing of the Ice Man, and hijinks ensue! 

Chlo-Meter:  STOKED

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.

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.

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 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

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

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*

Die Sterntaler: Episode 1 - 4

This show is, at its core, a story about two brothers falling in love with one girl (now that I think about it, the brothers' personalities are not unlike The Vampire Diaries' - one self-destructive while the other is... oh yunno. Everybody watches TVD - I'm on Team Stefan btw). The two leading actors, when asked on what they'll do if they ever find themselves in a love triangle, Ryhdian Vaughan replies that he'll probably give up the girl, while second lead Sphinx (funky name eh) Ding begs to differ: "If I really love that woman, it won't matter whose girlfriend she is." Ooh. Now that is what I call spot-on casting.

Love, Now: Episode 1

If the pilot is anything to go by, I'm in deep trouble. Because this show promises to be addictive as hell, and probably just as nourishing. Abscenes, *cough* I mean the absence of second-hand embarrassment is a prerequisite of mine when it comes to twdramas, and to my relief I haven't had the urge to hit pause in the middle of the show (except that one time. Toilet break, ahem.)

My only complain is the BG (i.e background) music, and I daresay this wouldn't be my last. I guess at this point, I'd have to hand in the towel and accept this as part and parcel of a twdrama. But sweet jesus in heaven, WHY?? It's 2012 and cheesy BG music is still an integral part in twdramas WTF.

NOW PLAYING
Love, Now OST - "Temporary Boyfriend" by Yen-j



EPISODE 1 RECAP

Ex-Boyfriend: Episode 1

Ooooh. I am happy to report that I'm following a twdrama, Ex-Boyfriend (Qian Nan You), a show on which its central conflict seems to be present in almost all twdramas, ever: Do you take a leap of faith with an old flame or go for the shiny new thing?