The Ahjumma Scoop - Let's Get Our Chat On

Welcome back to another installment of The Ahjumma Scoop where we dish about all the other dramas that we are watching but not doing formal recaps of. We would like to extend a very warm welcome as well to our special guest blogger joining us this week, DramaRookie! Welcome DramaRookie - so glad to have you back to get your take on what you're watching!! Let's all give her some love!

So, everyone, what's the scoop? Let's dish!

*Warning - Spoilers could be ahead!*

Kmuse's Musings: Kdrama Hidden Gems

Its that time again to search out those great dramas that might have gotten overlooked. Something that might be easy to do with so many multiple personalities running about.  These are those hidden gems that combine acting, directing, and the all important writing, together to create something that will last long after many of the big hype dramas drift away (or at least we hope so). 

Kmuse's Musings: My Current Favorite Actors & Their Classic Roles

I am at a loss to choose another time when so many kdramas were this good all at once.  You know how it goes, one or two are standouts while all the others range from "OK" to "What the crap were they thinking with this plot?"  But we have a huge amount of kdramas currently airing that I predict are going to become "classics".  Since I know that many of us find a new actor and then feel the urge to watch every kdrama they have ever done, I decided to help you with that task.  The following are some of the most popular actors currently filming and my top recommendation from their previous works.

Kmuse's Musings: My First Podcast Experience

Hey all you followers!  Did you ever wonder what I sound like (I totally know you were staying up at night considering this very thing).  Well now you can find out.  I had the wonderful experience of participating in a roundtable with the awesome ladies at Crazy for Kdrama.  We laughed, we argued, we talked bias's and favorites of 2014! 

Top 5 Kdrama Countdown - May Week 1

I have been in kdrama heaven since every one of the new dramas this week has been so so good. Now if I can only find the time to watch them all.  It was difficult to pick my favorite so I had to combine a bunch to get all the best moments mentioned.  So come join me as we discuss what was epic about his week in kdramas!

#5 Parents Dying for Their Children.

There were a lot of good death scenes this week.....by parents!  It was the week for parents sacrificing for their children and we viewers were lucky to see not one but two great death scenes.  In Dr Stranger, our leads father was more or less kidnapped (along with his son) and forced to live in North Korea as a surgeon.  His son was also forced to follow in his footsteps becomes a genius heart surgeon.  Seeing a way to allow his son to escape the strict regime, Kim Sang Joong (Kim Sang Joong - City Hunter) allows himself to be gunned down so there would be no ties connecting his son to North Korea.  It was a truly beautiful moment of love from a father to his son.

Our other new drama, You're All Surrounded, was not going to be beat in the sacrificing parent race.  Our main hero's mother was a women of morals and had agreed to testify against a murderer.  Unfortunately that murderer was not going down quietly and sent a goon to beat the mother to death to keep her quiet.  Her son comes home, finding his mother close to death, but still alive.  The murderer comes back into the house and he hides under the bed directly in eye site of his mother.  When the bad guy goes to look under the bed the mom distracts him by letting him know she is still alive, protecting her son but solidifying her own death.  The scene with the two crying as the boy watches his mother die was truly heart wrenching.
It just goes to show you that the good die young and what we are left with are the typical evil kdrama parents.  

Dr Stranger Clip

#4 Don't Play With My Toys 

Hotel King had a lighthearted moment where our leading man, Cha Jae-Wan, had to babysit the son of one of the guests in his personal home.  It would be a huge trial for the man anyway since Jae Wan is a character who is really really wound tight.  But add in the fact that he likes to collect and make limited edition toys and you have a recipe for disaster.  The young boy wants to play with everything, and our hero about dies.  He solves the problem by placing all the toys on his very top shelf (just under the ceiling) and saying that he always puts them up there at bedtime hahaha.   It was a cute moment in a mostly serious drama.  

Child Chaos Clip

 #3 MONDAYS!

Let's just all admit that Monday is the best day to be a kdrama fan right now.  You have the big ratings competition between Triangle, Dr Stranger, and Big Man.  Also add in new episodes of Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup, Running Man, and everyone's favorite romantic comedy Witch's Romance.  Yup! Mondays are my new best day of the week, which is why they are my #3 favorite moment.  Thank you Kdramas for making this day suck less.

#2 Best Confession Ever!

Our leading lady Ji Yeon's plan to bring a man to her clubs anniversary party goes horribly wrong, resulting in her chasing him with a rake and blackening his eye.  But never fear our white knight is to the rescue (literally, he is all in white) and arrives just in time to save our leading ladies fragile ego.  But rather than pretend to be her boyfriend, he just comes out and really confesses.  Just repeating what he said does not do the scene justice, so all of you out there not watching this drama.... run and at least watch this scene.  It was epic.  I literally held my breath in anticipation.

Confession Clip:

#1 Abs! So many delicious shirtless scenes in our dramas this week

We were overrun with hot shirtless scenes this week as our khottie's showered, brooded, and just changed their clothes A LOT!  I am pretty sure that JaeJoong's character in triangle secretly wants to be a nudist since he was shirtless an insane amount of times during the first two episodes of his new drama.  Also joining in the shirtless fun was the dramas Dr Stranger, Hotel King, and You're All Surrounded.  It was a great week to be a female drama watcher!

Thanks for joining me for another countdown.  I can now go get busy watching everything for next week.  There is a new episode of Hotel King that is calling my name. If you have not already, check out my recaps of Gap Dong and Witch's Romance each week and if you are not following us on FB then please go to this link and click LIKE!  https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts We are planning some giveaways and love to have chats about all things kdrama and kpop related.

Sincerely,
Kmuse 

Dramas that I am currently watching:
Potato Star 2013QR23  
Ruby's Ring
A Well Raised Daughter  
Hotel King  
Fall In Love With Me (Tdrama)  
Angel Eyes  
Bitter Blood/Partners in Blood (Jdrama)  
BORDER (Jdrama)  
Witch's Romance Gap Dong
A Secret Love Affair
Wonderful Days 
Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion  
Sweet Sweet Bodyguard (Tdrama)
Golden Cross
Big Man  
A New Leaf  
Triangle  
Dr Stranger  
You're All Surrounded
Flower Grandpa Investigation Unit

Breaking Blog Silence

You were probably all hoping I had quit as a Crazy Ahjumma.  Well, sorry to burst your bubbles guys but I am back.  After 6 months of serious health scares for my son, surgery, more health scares, hospital stays, a trillion & one visits to a plethora of doctors, mostly specialists, lots of medicines, extreme stress & fatigue for all in our home, I am happy to report he is doing better.  He has a long way to go but he is no longer starving to death, that G Tube made a huge world of difference for his little body.  He gained over 10 lbs in the 2 months since his surgery & is doing beautifully.  He still has immunity issues but we'll get there.  I don't want to jinx anything by saying he's out of the woods but he is heading in the right direction for a change & for the first time in months I feel like it's okay to take deep breaths again.  Thank you to all who offered encouragement, support, prayers, love & laughter.  Anytime you want to know more about Liam's journey head on over to our family blog here.



Next THANK YOU so very very very much to K Muse & to Dongsaeng for putting up with this very silent & completely unhelpful Unnie over the last 6 months.  If not for you guys, this labor of love of ours would have died a fast death.  You kept us going & even helped us thrive beyond our dreams.  Which is probably a reflection on how much I am not needed but I don't care you have to keep putting up with me.  I may disappear every once in a while but you people are stuck w me!

It would seem that uri dongsaeng let the cat out of the bag already, for the first time in months, this weekend I sat down & watched K Dramas.  6 hours worth of K Dramas nonetheless!  It was like manna from heaven for my weary soul.  I wanted to watch them over the last few months but A) have been way too busy taking care of my son & the rest of my motley crew and B) couldn't handle the extreme drama, when I had actual real life drama pulling me under.  It was too much emotionally for this mommy to handle all at once.  So I had to take a real break from all things KDrama.  I still had my tunes though.  Thank goodness for KPop!!

When last we spoke, I was supposed to be doing reviews, per episode, of The Master's Sun, but then things got bad around my neck of the woods & I had to stop what I was doing & go into offensive mode for my son's health.  Well on Saturday night I finished off TMS' last 3 eps.  Sigh....where to begin.  First, I am not going to do a detailed review/recap. It's been too long for one of those.

Cliffs Notes version:
He gets his memories back, he pays off her contract w Madame Go, he is still in love with her, she is still in love with him,  BUT she is afraid of herself & of the life she leads & that it could put him in danger, so she tries to leave.  First she helps him solve the whole Hee Joo vs Ha Na fiasco.  Yay.  I thoroughly enjoyed Little Sun's over the top stomachache/appendicitis on the plane.  Seriously so funny!  Then she finds the guy that her spirit hung out with for 3 years while she was comatose and it's him she is leaving with.  She comes back, that age old K Drama plot of a year later (or 2 or 3 or 5 whatever) & they have the happily ever after reunion, after she proves she is good enough for him?  What?!?  I get she has pride & all & I can't completely blame her but really, it irked me.  Just another device to keep them apart until the last minute. Ugh.

Okay personally, I thought ep 16 was boring.  It dragged on & on.  It had it's cute moments of course.  But blah blah blah, it was quite obvious they were just stalling for time.  By episode 17 they picked things back up, about 1/2 way through 17, but eventually.  It had a happy, cute, everything tied up in a neat little bow ending, but it left me underwhelmed all in all, after such great episodes all the way through. I think they should have simply ended it in 16, not pushed for that extra episode, just for ratings.  And yes they kissed & yes it was okay, but once again, underwhelming.  After everything this couple went through & the amazing chemistry they had together, there really should have been a little more umph in that last kiss.

Best part of the ending for me was that his aunt got to be pregnant.  I thought that was incredibly weird but very sweet.  Maybe she'll grow a heart after all.  And how cute were Kang Woo & Little Sun at the end walking the red carpet.  All in all I'll give TMS a standard 8.5.  It had the potential for a 10 but the last 2 eps were hum drum & did not live up to the rest of it.  BUT at least the Hong Sisters didn't pull another Big.  I'd have had to crack some heads otherwise.

And yes, I have finally started watching my Hyun-y, KHJ's new drama Inspiring Generation.  I have only made it through ep 3, so I am looking forward to seeing my man in ep 4 but I have to say the kid they picked to play him young, is awesome.  Major acting chops.  They did a phenomenal job casting him as a young Shin Jung Tae.  I can't wait to dive back in after I get some chores done.  I spent this weekend sick, again & am still recovering bronchitis.  Yes again.  I swear 5 times in less than 2 years on major antibiotics, breathing treatments, codeine cough syrup & steroids I am beginning to think WI is trying to kill me.  O.O

Before I sign off I have one awesome announcement, next month I will be in Merrillville, Indiana to watch BAP LIVE in concert.  And who bought me these tickets?  Well my Captain Awesome, no less.  How great is my guy?!?!?  I didn't even know they were coming here.  I have been so focused on my kids that I hadn't even paid any attention to anything.  So I will be heading out April 19th for a girls weekend w one of my favorite people.  Yay us!  I so totally need this break.  It has been an insane 6 months!!!!!

I have missed all of my fellow addiKts so much & have thought about you daily.  I cannot promise that I will start doing episode by episode recaps again, I simply don't have the time or energy but I will continue to post & talk to you again weekly.  I promise.  And trust me I will talk about KHJ's drama every opportunity I get.  So look for me on Twitter, FB & here.  Sending all my love out into the Blogosphere.

To give you something to enjoy & to help you get moving & smile here is Super Junior_M's Korean version MV of "Swing".  So much cuteness & eye candy!  I am awake now!  Now that's what I'm talking about!

Top 5 Kdrama Countdown - March Week 4

This week has actually been a very subtle week when it has come to kdramas.  A few started, a few ended, and one baby has stolen my heart (not that I would ever want another baby, even one with epic Elvis hair).  Come on in and check out the best of the week and reminisce about the scenes and babies that stole our hearts.

Song of the Week

MBLAQ - Be A Man

 I have slowly become a huge MBLAQ fan over the past year (don't know why it took me so long to try listening to their songs).  This first song from their new album has a mature slow R&B vibe and showcases their great vocals and smooth choreography.  Also I personally, am a huge fan of Thunder's new hair color, his pink phase was never my favorite.

#5 Father/Son Relationship in Bride of the Century.

We all know the stereotype of the rich Korean parent.  90% of the time they are greedy, mean, and anti anything that could provide their children with happiness. So it is a refreshing change to see such a different dynamic in Bride of the Century.  Choi Kang-Joo and his father have a relationship where they actually "talk" to each other.  I KNOW! Talking about important issues, what an odd thing to see in a kdrama.  I also love how supportive the dad is to his son following his heart regardless of where it leads him.  It just makes me saw AWWWWWW and earns the #5 spot on this weeks countdown.

#4 Celebration & Sadness

 We have a new drama debuting this week!  Wild Chives and Soybean Soup snuck into the currently airing kdramas without me knowing anything about it (those of you who have followed me for a while know that is rare).  But luckily I was able to slip the first two episodes in this week and I actually enjoyed them (although with 50 episodes there is still a lot of time for this drama to turn stale).  The scene that stood out for me was actually the opening segment of episode one.  It is 2002 (and for those of you who are new to kdramas, all that you need to know about 2002 is that it was soccer fan chaos in S. Korea because of the World Cup.)  All you saw was a sea of red and cheering Koreans, except in the hospital where Jang Kook's father had just passed away from a hit and run.  It was fascinating how the director accentuated the loneliness and sadness of our heroine among the loud cheering and excitement from everyone else around her.

#3 Jealous Ex-Husband Hijinks & 2nd Lead Pianist

 I have actually heard a lot of mixed feelings about episode 9 of Cunning and Single Lady.  I am actually one of those that is in the "I LOVE IT" camp.  But then again, I am always up for some over the top comedic moments.  One of the things that has been the plague of this drama (at least in my opinion) is that it just does not know whether it wants to keep things more realistic or go with the funnier over the top revenge comedy route.  A viewer could get backlash from the amount of times this show has jumped back and forth in its styles.  However, I thoroughly appreciated seeing Jung Woo revert to his geeky past as he totally throws all of his polish out the window and goes full out crazy jealous.  From competing in bonding work games to faking an injury to keep Ae Ra from being confessed to, his over the top actions kept me smiling through the whole episode.

Tied for #3 is another scene from the same episode (I know I know, but they both were so good I could not choose one and not the other).  Our second lead Kook Seung Hyun , who I am really starting to love, takes out Ae Ra on a work "date".  There he lets his confidence shine as he goes up to play the piano and does a fake out followed by Yiruma’s “River Flows In You.”(one of my favorite songs by the way).  I don't know about Ae Ra, but he totally won this ahjumma's heart and a substantial part of me would totally be ok with him getting the girl in the end.

Date that is not a date but really was a date clip:

#2 Cyber Anonymity

I was actually wondering how they were going to hook up the two leads in this drama.   But no worries because they introduced sexual tension and awareness in a brilliant fashion.  My husband is always teasing me that you never know who you are talking to online.  He likes to say that my kbestie Angela is some random dude pretending to be a housewife, usually right after he rolls his eyes about something kdrama related.  However, they actually did use that as a plot point in Secret Love Affair.  For those of you watching, Sun Jae and Hye Won had connected online (where Hye Won pretended to be a 25 year old male pianist in order to give him advice) in episode 1.  After his intense practice with Hye Won, Sun Jae gets online to gush to his "hyung" about the woman he met.  He expounds how this woman is impressive, charismatic and elegant and is going to help him get a scholarship.  Realizing that her online buddy is the boy she was just teaching, Hye Won is in the beginning amused and then shocked as the conversation turns more personal.  It seems that our budding genius is also "in lust" with her and he tells his friend that playing with her is the closest thing to sex that he has ever experienced.  Not to mention he now has a growing foot fetish due to her sexy feet.  HAHA  I thought it was a genius move for the writers to create sexual awareness for our older sophisticated lead, without having them constantly in each others presence.  Just a good scene all around.

Cyber Connection Clip:

#1 Fortune Cookies of Reconciliation

I have to admit that I am not one of those people that is "in love" with this drama.  I just don't like medical dramas.  I get so annoyed and frustrated with all the medical made up hoopla crap they throw in (and I am not a doctor but even I know that a lot of what they throw out as their medical jargon is totally dramatized and or made up).  But other then that 60% of the show, I actually enjoy it.  The dynamic between the main couple got much much better after the first 4 episodes and I am actually cheering for them now rather than cringing.  Yes, that secret kdrama magic of making me like someone I despised has happened again.  I also like that the show is seriously delving into what would happen if they did get back together and everything crashes and burns a second time.  They are taking a more mature and less impulsive dip into the relationship pool and I personally can appreciate the character growth that the show has provided.  In episode 18 Jin Hee has decided to give their love a second chance, just as Chang Min starts backpedaling away in order to allow her to meet a "better" man.  In order to get through his thick skull that she is interested she makes him a homemade batch of fortune cookies with cute sayings that related to their current situation.  I personally found that a very touching and unique moment in a show filled with medical cliches.  This drama is always at its best when it focuses on the characters outside of work and that is why this scene won my #1 spot this week.

Fortune Cookies of Love Clip:

Honorable Mention

BABY GOOK!!!!!!!

How flipping adorable is this baby.  It is as if Elvis was just reincarnated into the body of a 6 mth Korean baby boy.  I give props to casting, since the choice of this cutie was total genius.

And baby Gook closes out this weeks top moments in kdrama!  Be sure to check back over the next couple weeks because we have a whole slew of kdrama turnover.  Look forward to Gap Dong, Witch's Romance, Golden Cross, and Big Man all making their way onto the countdown.  I am also hoping that I will have some kind of recap inspiration since I am all rested up mentally and ready to do a weekly recap again.  And if you have not already checked them out, glance over at the new posts from Dongsaeng and Unnie, it is so great to see them back in the blogging world.  I have missed their witty musings. 

Sincerely,
Kmuse


Dramas that I am currently watching:
Potato Star 2013QR23
Ruby's Ring (counting it as a currently airing drama since it had never been subbed til now)
A Well Raised Daughter
Bride of the Century
Sly and Cunning Lady
A Secret Love Affair
Empress Ki
Golden Rainbow
Inspiring Generation
Emergency Couple 
Beyond the Clouds/Full Sun
Ghost Seeing Detective CheoYong
Wonderful Days 
Three Days
Cubic - Thailand Drama
God's Gift: 14 Days
Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion
Sweet Sweet Bodyguard

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https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 

MBC Kdramas pulled from Hulu.

 SINCE THIS POST WAS WRITTEN THE CONTRACT PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN RESOLVED AND THE DRAMAS ARE SAFE TIL 2015.  THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK THE TIME TO LET THE COMPANIES INVOLVED KNOW OUR FEELINGS.

Big upset for those of you (like me) watch MBC dramas on Hulu.  It seems that the two companies are having licensing issues (at least that is the rumor) and all MBC kdramas will be pulled from the site in 5 days!!!!!!  That means no more Empress Ki, King's Daughter Soo Baek Hyang, Scandal, Golden Rainbow and many classic dramas (Greatest Love, The Duo, Gu Family Book, etc.).  This is extremely disappointing since for many of these dramas, this is the only place that provided quick subs.  Not to mention it takes away another legal way to view kdramas for international fans. 

If you are as upset as I am about this situation please email/contact Hulu and let your voice be heard.  Also if you are searching for a drama that was on Hulu but has now been taken off I am happy to try and find another site for you to watch it.  It is very frustrating when something like this happens when you are mid drama.

Sincerely,
Kmuse

Be sure to let them know we are unhappy send a message to Hulu so they know that this affects us and matters. http://www.hulu.com/support/forum/162306

You can also email a complaint to contact@mbc24tv.com