Did she not sleep last night? (Like an hour to be honest) Has she completely lost it to the point she can't spell hello? No folks, I'm not crazy, but it has been a while hasn't it? I probably say that last sentence in every post I write don't I? Forgive me, but sometimes I feel like there's nothing cool or interesting to write about so I don't write. That and the fact I don't have time. Recently, I've been exposed to Korea. You all know I watch anime or watched. Haven't watched any while. The reason being: Korea. Right before you ask which one- I'll give you a hint: the one without the dictator. Anyways, South Korea has a rising entertainment industry with Kpop and Kdrama globally gaining acclaim. Even Netflix has numerous Kdramas and they switch them out. I wanted to watch City Hunter, but it was already gone.
To start off, I should define Hallyu using the ever trustworthy source of Urban Dictionary:
This is largely because of the Korean entertainment industry and the popularity of kdrama and
"Korean wave," or "Korean fever," it refers to the sudden increase in popularity of South Korean culture around the world in the last ten years.
kpop.
(They eat a lot in Kdramas :D)
Kdrama is pretty explanatory-Korean TV shows. Not gonna lie here, many Kdramas are extremely cheesy when it comes to plot, but it will give you the fuzzies, however, there are many that make you laugh so the cheesiness is lowered a bit. To be noted:there are many genres of Kdramas just like American TV shows they have crime, mystery, horror, etc... but the romantic comedy and romance section are plentiful where as in most American Tv shows romance is incorporated and the romantic comedy is left for movies, Kdramas make the show about the romance. Also, Kdramas don't run for multiple seasons(exceptions are there like Iris). They run from 12-24 episodes and can range from being 40 minutes episodes to an 1 hour and 30 minutes long depending.
Since they are so time consuming I haven't been able to really marathon episodes, but I've finished 2 successfully. Reply 1997 and Shut Up Flower Boy Band. The Reply Series is really television gold and genius. There are two more installments with completely different characters Reply 1994 and Reply 1988, however, old cast members do make cameos which makes it more fan-girl worthy. The Reply series fill you with a nostalgia about childhood and make you appreciate the simplest relationships we all have between our family and friends. Yes, there is romance, but the characters are developed so wonderfully. In the Reply series you see the characters mature through the years to present-day and it's presented in a non-linear fashion. So sometimes it shows them all grown up or as kids before the set year i.e. 1997 when they are teenagers. They mostly focus on that year in the title and years surrounding that, but the purpose of the future is so that see how each of the characters end up and who they end up with. The main characters future husband is always a mystery that isn't unveiled till the last episode and you'll go crazy trying to figure and make yourself happy because everyone is so damn cute and perfect for one another. Be prepared to get serious second-lead syndrome.
As for Shut Up Flower Boy Band it's gritty, rough, realistic, and full of warmth that I don't think I'll ever experience again in any other Kdrama(the warmth applies to Reply as well). Both of these series are truly unique and aren't your conventional Kdramas. Coincidentally I found them first. Shut Up focuses on an underground rock band as they try to make it big, but are constantly plagued by problems such as the suave, polished band that already exists at the school the members are forced to transfer too. The members friendships are amazing. I love how this show focuses on that more than anything. More than the romance and the rivalry between the two bands. This show is about friendship and you're reading this like why are you so cheesy? Honestly, I don't think friendship is cheesy. I think friendship is underrated and people forget how important it is to have people like family who you can trust no matter what. Who will be there to thick and thin and who you will sacrifice anything for even if it means hurting them so they can have a better life. You will always keep their interests above yours and they'll do the same. Friendship like that is rare and should be treasured and I think that's why this show has formed created its own niche. Also the music is unique and catchy. Obviously, everyone has different tastes, but I'm a fan of rock so it was definitely a happy bonus. Lastly, I think the show capture the rise to fame and the kpop/rock industry realistically. I think the problems faced and the way they resolved or the feelings depicted were all human and not overdone. That's the charming part of the show is how well it captures simple human emotions and makes the audience feel them.
*How to watch? Search: (show name) episode 1 English sub
You'll probably find galores of websites to choose from. Viki is a good place to start. Sadly these aren't on Netflix might be on Hulu though.
Side note: This became a lot longer than I expected and only covered Kdramas so I'll be splurging on Kpop on the next post, have a wonderful day everyone and keep smiling :)
To start off, I should define Hallyu using the ever trustworthy source of Urban Dictionary:
This is largely because of the Korean entertainment industry and the popularity of kdrama and
"Korean wave," or "Korean fever," it refers to the sudden increase in popularity of South Korean culture around the world in the last ten years.
kpop.
(They eat a lot in Kdramas :D)
Kdrama is pretty explanatory-Korean TV shows. Not gonna lie here, many Kdramas are extremely cheesy when it comes to plot, but it will give you the fuzzies, however, there are many that make you laugh so the cheesiness is lowered a bit. To be noted:there are many genres of Kdramas just like American TV shows they have crime, mystery, horror, etc... but the romantic comedy and romance section are plentiful where as in most American Tv shows romance is incorporated and the romantic comedy is left for movies, Kdramas make the show about the romance. Also, Kdramas don't run for multiple seasons(exceptions are there like Iris). They run from 12-24 episodes and can range from being 40 minutes episodes to an 1 hour and 30 minutes long depending.
Since they are so time consuming I haven't been able to really marathon episodes, but I've finished 2 successfully. Reply 1997 and Shut Up Flower Boy Band. The Reply Series is really television gold and genius. There are two more installments with completely different characters Reply 1994 and Reply 1988, however, old cast members do make cameos which makes it more fan-girl worthy. The Reply series fill you with a nostalgia about childhood and make you appreciate the simplest relationships we all have between our family and friends. Yes, there is romance, but the characters are developed so wonderfully. In the Reply series you see the characters mature through the years to present-day and it's presented in a non-linear fashion. So sometimes it shows them all grown up or as kids before the set year i.e. 1997 when they are teenagers. They mostly focus on that year in the title and years surrounding that, but the purpose of the future is so that see how each of the characters end up and who they end up with. The main characters future husband is always a mystery that isn't unveiled till the last episode and you'll go crazy trying to figure and make yourself happy because everyone is so damn cute and perfect for one another. Be prepared to get serious second-lead syndrome.
As for Shut Up Flower Boy Band it's gritty, rough, realistic, and full of warmth that I don't think I'll ever experience again in any other Kdrama(the warmth applies to Reply as well). Both of these series are truly unique and aren't your conventional Kdramas. Coincidentally I found them first. Shut Up focuses on an underground rock band as they try to make it big, but are constantly plagued by problems such as the suave, polished band that already exists at the school the members are forced to transfer too. The members friendships are amazing. I love how this show focuses on that more than anything. More than the romance and the rivalry between the two bands. This show is about friendship and you're reading this like why are you so cheesy? Honestly, I don't think friendship is cheesy. I think friendship is underrated and people forget how important it is to have people like family who you can trust no matter what. Who will be there to thick and thin and who you will sacrifice anything for even if it means hurting them so they can have a better life. You will always keep their interests above yours and they'll do the same. Friendship like that is rare and should be treasured and I think that's why this show has formed created its own niche. Also the music is unique and catchy. Obviously, everyone has different tastes, but I'm a fan of rock so it was definitely a happy bonus. Lastly, I think the show capture the rise to fame and the kpop/rock industry realistically. I think the problems faced and the way they resolved or the feelings depicted were all human and not overdone. That's the charming part of the show is how well it captures simple human emotions and makes the audience feel them.
*How to watch? Search: (show name) episode 1 English sub
You'll probably find galores of websites to choose from. Viki is a good place to start. Sadly these aren't on Netflix might be on Hulu though.
Side note: This became a lot longer than I expected and only covered Kdramas so I'll be splurging on Kpop on the next post, have a wonderful day everyone and keep smiling :)
