Producer Episode 6 - Don't go Messing With My Ship

Hello all you "Producer" fans.  We have officially reached the half way point.  WOOT!  This episode was full of highs and lows for me.  Not because any of it was bad, but more because the writers kept creating holes on my OTP (one true pairing) ship.  Just a warning that this recap is going to be more of a mini-cap.  I went on vacation this last weekend, which is wonderful, until you realize that three episodes of recaps did not get done.  Which means I am crazy behind.  So in order to not get farther and farther behind, I am just going to do a quick note of some of my favorite moments.

Top 5 Kdrama Countdown - May Week 4

 It has been a great week to be a drama addict.  Not only are the majority of the dramas really hitting their stride story wise, but a ton of new music has been released.  Add in fun KCON news and you have a very happy Kmuse.  So come join me and check out my favorite moments of the week.  As usual if you have suggestions of good currently airing dramas that I am not already watching, or just want to chat, feel free to leave comments here or on our FB page.  Chances are good that if it is suggested, I will probably start watching.  

SONG OF THE WEEK

Vixx - "Eternity" Live performance

My oldest daughter was adamant that the song of the week had to be VIXX with their newest release "Eternity".  Earlier in the week I had posted the MV on our FB page so to do something a bit different I am sharing their live performance on M Countdown.   I am in love with the energy they bring to their live performance and am now hoping that someday I can see them in a concert. Check them out and enjoy the sexiness and style they bring to this song.

#5 Finally A Smile - You're All Surrounded

 The crime drama You're All Surrounded had a lot of great moments this week.  There was the unexpected first kiss between our OTP, awesome confrontations between the two male leads, but there was one scene that out shined them all.  Lee Seung Gi smiled!!  You don't notice what you have been missing until it is right in front of you again.  Known for his brilliant smile and happy demeanor, LSG is usually cast in rolls that prominently display these attributes.  But in YAS he has been a solemn and dour character for 7 episodes. 

But I guess even the most devoted person can't help but smile at the shenanigans of Go Ara.  Enjoys these photos and clip, and I can't wait to see if we see more of this smile now that the dam has been breached. 
Dance Smile Clip

#4 Great OST in a So So Drama - Rock N Road

I pulled one of those insane dramathons that lasted into the wee hours of the morning and caught up with the Taiwanese drama Rock N Road. I don't really recommend that everyone should drop everything and watch this drama ASAP, but it does have some positive things to recommend it.  First, Wu Chris (Autumns Concerto) is looking better than ever and is by far the driving force for me continuing this drama.  

Second, the OST is actually really good.  I am not usually a fan of Taiwanese music for the most part since it is not my favorite language to listen to.  However, this song from the OST has caught my attention and I am really loving it.  Especially like that it connects in with the concepts of the drama so well.  It talks about the love of music, life, and how even without money you can find happiness.  
Here is Jia Jia performing the "Happiness Coming" from the OST.

#3  A Well Deserved Punch - Dr Stranger

What do you do when you suddenly come face to face with the man who caused your father's death and ruined your life?  If you are Park Hoon (Lee Jong Suk - School 2013), you flash your usual smirk in public and then corner him alone in the bathroom and deck the jerk.  But only after you threaten to put a hole in his shriveled heart when you perform his heart surgery.  A great confrontation moment in a wonderfully acted drama and this weeks #3 moment. 
Confrontation Clip

#2 The Morning After - Partners By Blood

Episode 7 of Partners by Blood brought back the funny this week when they had a traditional "we got drunk and woke up in the same bed" plot line.  This theme is very funny, but also very overdone, but what truly made this one stand out was the leads partner/father's reaction to his son hooking up with his best friends daughter.  The facial expressions alone in this scene just crack me up and I have rewatched this scene several times.  Be sure to check out this fun crime/comedy drama and prepare to laugh.

The Morning After Clip (Could not find a descent clip of this scene so go to this link and the segment is the first 6 minutes of episode 7.)
http://www.dramafever.com/drama/4456/7/Partners_by_Blood/?ap=1 

#1 Random Bromance Flashing

There is no better bromance airing on TV right now than that between Dong Ha and Hottie BFF Soo Chul.  Their comfortable banter is the perfect filler in between moments of OTP angst.  This was pumped up a notch this week in episode 11 as Soo Chul took his cute hijinks to a whole new level.  Displaying a busybody persona usually reserved for critical ahjumma's, Soo Chul waltzed through this episodes giving both Dong Ha and Ji Yeon the stink eye.  His antics culminated in the most random moment as he walks into the room where Dong Ha is brooding and goes into pervy flasher mode.  HAHAHA  So is flashing your roommate your twig and berries a bromance thing, because that was epically hilarious.  At this point I don't think I could love Soo Chul anymore and that is why he and his "assets" are #1 on my countdown.

I hope you enjoyed the weekly countdown!  And be sure to check back during the week for our recaps on Gap Dong and Witch's Romance, plus a lot of random Kentertainment related posts.

Kmuse

Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 

Dramas that I am currently watching:
God's Quiz Season 4
A Well Raised Daughter  
Love Myself or You (Tdrama)
Rock N' Road (Tdrama)
Hotel King  
You Light Up My Star (Tdrama)
Fall In Love With Me (Tdrama)  
Angel Eyes  
Bitter Blood/Partners in Blood (Jdrama)  
BORDER (Jdrama)  
Glorious Day
Witch's Romance  
Gap Dong
Wonderful Days 
Wild Chives and Soy Bean Soup: 12 Years Reunion  
Sweet Sweet Bodyguard (Tdrama)
Big Man  
A New Leaf  
Triangle  
Dr Stranger  
You're All Surrounded

Top 5 Kdrama Countdown - May Week 3

We have a ton of fun and cute moments comprising my Top 5 this week.  From strawberry bodywash, bittersweet romance, enough sexy abs to satisfy any kdrama fan, and some cute new OTP's (One True Pairings), we have a bit of something for everyone.  So sit back and join me as I tell you what my favorite moments of the 3rd week in May.

It seems like it has been forever since I have done my Top 5 Countdown.  I have missed it since sharing good dramas and connecting people with their next drama is one of my favorite things to do. I just added a bunch of new dramas to my weekly lineup so have all kinds of new material.  I know, I know, I think I probably have a drama problem, it is getting to crazy weekly airing levels.  But at least I know I am not missing anything good, since it is just tragic to find out that there is an awesome drama airing that you are not yet watching.  If you think I am missing anything feel free to let me know in the comments or on our FB page.  Or if you need some suggestions on what to watch next, I have seen an insane amount of dramas and could probably help you out with some suggestions. 

Kpop Song of the Week

Megan Lee 8 Dayz (Featuring Yong Jun Hyung)

Yup still loving this song.  The bubbly perky sound has totally cheered me up and gotten me ready to face the summer.  OK, so that consists of opening some windows and allowing some sunshine into the house (for a person living in the NW the gray clouds to sun transition can be painful).  I don't even mind the so so dancing and the random creepy horse and sheep masks (Korean MV's, sometimes you are so weird).  Hope this cheers you up as much as it did me. 

MEGAN LEE "8 DAYZ"

#5 Strawberry Body Wash - You're All Surrounded

I am in a love hate relationship with this drama.  I love the characters, I love the humor, I love the larger mystery arc, however I hate hate hate the whole cop politics that come with any crime themed show.  So it is scenes like this one, that keep me watching despite the constant grinding of teeth due to politics.

In episode 5 we see our rookies being cute and bonding over drinks at the boys dorm.  Everyone passes out and sleeps in except Eun Dae Koo (Lee Seung Gi - King 2 Hearts, Gu Family Book) who decides to shower early.  His female partner Eo Soo-Sun (Go Ara - Reply 1994), also arises (obviously hungover) and stumbles towards the bathroom. She walks straight into a shirtless Dae Koo and stands there with her lips firmly pressed against his chest.  Usually you would think that the girl would be flustered or startled with that much sexy naked chest action going on, but not Soo Sun, she just licks her lips and asks if that is strawberry body wash that he used.  HEHEHEHE  His affronted virgin expression just cracks me up, I could not stop laughing even as he chucks her out of the house.
Strawberry Body Wash Clip (time stamp 4:16)

#4 Computer Glitch's and Skinship - A Witch's Romance

When Ji Yeon loses a report she is working on, and subtly is mumbling to herself about how much trouble losing this article will be, Dong Ha comes to the rescue.  He reaches over her shoulder, putting his hand over hers, and guides her through the retrieval of her paper.  My vote goes to this scene for sexiest non-traditional skinship moment of the year (at least so far).  Never has moving a mouse around been sexier.  And the little thumb rub against her hand as he "helps" her is shiver worthy.

Romantic Mouse Action Clip

#3 Let the Ships Sail -Glorious Day & Love Myself or You

I love starting a new drama and instantly loving the OTP's (One True Pairings).  It just makes me so happy and I get so excited to share my new finds with other kdrama addicts.  So you all get the luck of listening to me wax poetic about my two new favorite couples.  

First is Jung Da Jung & Seo Jae Woo from the new family drama Glorious Day.  This drama is filled with so many fun family hijinks that I literally laugh out loud through most of the episodes (first two episodes were a little slow but it really picks up from 3 on).  Jung Da Jung (Park Se Young - Faith, School 2013) is the middle child of a single mother raising three daughters.  She is in the process of falling for the oldest son of a rice cake bakery, Seo Jae Woo (Lee Sang Woo - A Word From a Kind Heart).  Due to a series of fateful circumstances their families become neighbors and share a common courtyard.  I love how happy both characters are with life and they just click.  Nothing can beat good chemistry and I can't wait to watch the next episode and see their relationship develop.
Wet T-Shirt Clip 

"Love Myself Or You" is the newest Tdrama to start this week (Is it just me or are we suddenly getting a lot more Tdramas than we used to?) It stars Puff Kuo (Just You) as our prickly leading lady, a chef who has worked her way up the ladder in a French restaurant.  She meets the newly hired intern (undercover son of the restaurant and gourmet chef in his own right) played by Max Liu who also ends up being her new next door neighbor and it is instant sparks.  There is only one episode so far, but already I am in love with the leading man's sweet smile and his sincere manners (kind of reminds me of Dong Ha from Witch's Romance). Bring on the food and neighbor hijinks, I am signing on for this ride and hoping for the best.

#2 Thank the Drama Gods for Wardrobe Changes - Fall In Love With Me 

The best thing about this double identity plot line in Tdrama "Fall In Love With Me", is that it gives leading man Aaron Yan a lot of excuses to take his clothes off.  And none of the scenes are funnier than this week in episode 7 when he is in mid transformation and is interrupted by a sweet ahjumma who hands him his shirt he had dropped.  I don't know about you, but this ahjumma wishes there were random khotties pulling Clark Kents in front of my eyes.  Although I probably would be the one with her camera out snapping some photos rather than being sweet and giving him back his clothes.

#1 One Day of Love - Hotel King

When you are overcoming murderous plots, evil masterminds, fake sibling connections, and a hotel full of cranky guests, romance is not always first on one's to do list.   So it is a miracle when leading man Cha Jae Wan ( Lee Dong Wook - My Girl, Scent of A Woman) is able to finally fall in love with Ah Mo-Ne (Lee Da Hae - Iris 2, My Girl).  Seriously, nothing puts a damper on a romance more than thinking you are siblings.  But this is a melodrama and it is not even half way, so we all know their happiness is not going to last.  It seems that Jae Wan also sees the writing on the wall since he gives himself one day to take Mo Ne away from the hotel and responsibility, just to be a couple.

It is a nice break for us viewers as well.  As much as I love watch Lee Dong Wook go into full emote mode, seeing him happy for a few minutes is nice as well.  Their sweet romance and the emotions it brings makes this my #1 pick for the week.  Also for those of you who dropped the show early on, (Don't blame you, I was tempted to bail myself) give it another try.  Once you hit the romance it is well worth wading through the boring beginning episodes.

Emerging Couple Clip

This concludes my countdown!  I hope you enjoyed all the moments as much as I did.  If you have any questions on where you can find subs for any of the shows feel free to ask in the comments or on our FB page.  We are always happy to help fellow Kfans.

Sincerely,
Kmuse

Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions. https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 


Dramas that I am currently watching:
God's Quiz Season 4
Ruby's Ring
A Well Raised Daughter  
Love Myself or You (Tdrama)
Hotel King  
Fall In Love With Me (Tdrama)  
Angel Eyes  
Bitter Blood/Partners in Blood (Jdrama)  
BORDER (Jdrama)  
Glorious Day
Witch's Romance  
Gap Dong
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

You're All Surrounded 2nd Trailer

I don't think it is physically possible for a Korean director to NOT put in a tree blossom scene in a drama or trailer if it is between March and May.  That said, come check out the 2nd Teaser for the upcoming drama You're All Surrounded which will be airing April 30th.  We see a bit more of our leads as well as the other newbie policeman as they channel a "Beatles" vibe.

Link for trailer.  Would not let me post it up for some reason again.  Just click on the link below to be taken to the trailer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2LJgtUyUxc

You're All Surrounded Releases First Trailer

So I don't know why this has been flying under my radar when its two leading men, Lee Seung Gi & Cha Seung Won, are so awesome.  I guess I was just thinking it came out later in the summer or maybe I am just juggling to many dramas and future dramas in my head.  Whatever the reason, the arrival of the first trailer this morning was a huge surprise.  I personally am excited for this one.  It looks like they are combining comedy and the cop concept and at least the trailer was flashy, fast paced, and fun.  Not to mention Lee Seung Gi holding a gun is totally hot.  You're All Surrounded premiers on April 30th so only a few more weeks before we can finally see these two developing on on screen bromance that fans have been waiting for for years.

You're All Surrounded Trailer

Kmuse

Follow us on Facebook for info on all our newest recaps, posts and to join in our kdrama discussions.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-crazy-ahjummas/336988683021748?fref=ts 

Gu Family Book epiodes 23 & 24 {{Dramatic Friday Review}}

This is it guys, once again we come to the part of reviewing that I like & dislike at the same time.  I'm excited to move on but I'm so sad to say goodbye to much loved characters.  I hope my reviews weren't too painful.  ;)  Well, thanks for joining me on this ride.  I hope you come back for more TCA fun.  Don't forget Dongsaeng is reviewing I Hear Your Voice in her DFR's. so check out her reviews, she's way awesome at this reviewing thing.  Here we go...

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In Episode 23 so much action, betrayal, kidnapping, heartbreak & yes even shocks!  Hang on to your hats AddiKts.

Our Extended Cast...an amazing bunch of actors.

Kang Chi's last wish if you remember is that they break up at the end of 22.  Leaving Yeo Wool heart broken & confused but Kang Chi is determined not to hurt her, physically.  He's not thinking about anything but her living.  He especially doesn't want to be the reason she dies, as the prophecy says she will.  He goes to the Admiral & gets to go on a long walk with him & asks for advice.  He asks KC, what does the person you love fear most?  While they are out walking the Japanese Ninjas w Kageshima arrive  & KC goes on high alert but you see the Admiral invited them there...that was the message that was delivered the night they broke into the Inn & YW was injured.  The Admiral warns the Goon Bon Merchants they have 3 days to get out of town or they won't be leaving alive.  He also tells them take your spies & stay out of my territory.  Of course the head Merchant refuses to leave, personally I think he should listen tot eh Admiral.  Lee Soon Shin is not someone to trifle with.  After they leave the Admiral turns to KC & tells him, he isn't afraid of dying, but of making a mistake that hurts others while he is alive.  It's at this point KC remembers that YW's biggest fear is losing him.  Oops, didn't think that through all the way did ya sweetie.  So he runs back to the Academy & to her.

Just at this point is where we discover there is a traitor among the Academy students.  Remember Yoon, the guy that hated KC because of his gumiho half?  Well, he's working for JKW now.  Like the little chicken that he is.  {{Slime bag.  My actual word while watching the scene.}}  He appears in front of YW, but she still thinks he's one of them, a Scooby.  And he tells her that he needs to talk to her.  And he takes her to JKW. Shortly after this Teacher comes out looking for Gon, tells him Student Yoon asked to speak with her but that was a while ago & she's worried. So off Gon goes to follow their trail & intercepts them just as YW is captured. Before he figures out that Yoon is working for the bad guys though Yoon stabs Gon from behind & then Gon is outnumbered & I was screaming in my head, because my bestie was with me & watching & I didn't want her to know how big of a freak I really am, "GON BEHIND YOU!!!  LOOK BEHIND YOU!!!!  He's a TRAITOR!!"  KC arrives after Gon has been mortally wounded but he does that Gumiho Voodoo he does so well, slices open his hand & gives Gon's wound some of his blood & he is saved.  What does JKW want from KC in return for YW's life?  Oh nothing much, just kill the Admiral or tomorrow night your woman is dead.  But it won't just save YW.  JKW has his father, as well as Oh Man.  All will perish if KC doesn't deliver.

At this point I was worried, I won't lie, that KC would give in to JKW, because it's the people he loves most in the world, who wouldn't be tempted?  But he is awesome & he goes straight to Master Dam & the Admiral.  Bong Chul arrives at this point & reveals that, though he was drunk the night before, he saw where they took her, sort of.  YW has been placed in a storage bldg, inside a box, w incense burning to hide her scent from KC's super gumiho sense of smell.  Then Master Dam ticked me off.  He was resigned & told the guys he wanted to let YW go, he was sure she was already dead & that the Admiral's safety was more important.  He just gave up.  After everything they had been through & how close they were he wanted to just let go of his daughter & it ticked me off!  I was so disappointed in Master Dam right there.  YW would never give up on her dad.  Thankfully the guys, all of them, TS, Gon, & KC, disagreed & refused to give up.  Cheong Jo overhears all of this & I started to wonder if she was going to make some grand sacrifice to save YW?  She doesn't but I can see she is starting to mature some more & is letting KC go.  Although she is the one who lets the guys know what their next step should be to rescue YW, when they can't figure out more than she is in the 100 Year Inn.  FINALLY!  I get so sick of the female that won't let go when it's time story.

They finally get to the 100 Year Inn, and with Bong Chul's help they start searching the storage buildings.  Meanwhile the Admiral has walked through the front door of the Inn, seemingly alone & unarmed, to confront JKW about kidnapping YW & his traitorous ways & all the murders he ordered of the government officials.  Basically it's time to stop all this & turn yourself in but JKW believes he has the upper hand & won't go easily & in fact believes he is going to win so he admits everything to the Admiral in front of everyone.  Kang Chi & the guys finally find YW & the others.  KC rescues her just before a giant ball of spikey death is about to fall on her.  That's my name for it & I am sticking to it.  Spikey Ball of Death.  And what is his reward after he saves her life?  She kicks him in the face & then hugs him & bursts into tears calling him a jerk.  Yup female histrionics are awesome.  Kang Chi begs her to go back to the Academy where it will be safe but she refuses & they arrive to surround the Admiral on all sides.  And we see Deputy Seo off to the side, hiding w the musket aimed at the Admiral.  After a bunch of talking the henchman aims the gun & fires & the show ended & we all went ... O.O WHO DID HE HIT?!?!?!  Was it the Admiral, Kang Chi or Yeo Wool??  I was pretty sure Yeo Wool was about to fulfill her prophecy.

And at the beginning of last episode we find out it was YW that got shot.  My bestie & her daughter who were watching with me were not happy.  I wasn't either but I was waiting to see how they were going to tie it all up.  I will say it took her a surprisingly long time to die.  I thought she died very quickly but she just passed out, not that I wouldn't but I really thought she was gone.  And so did Kang Chi, who goes off & is ready to kill Henchman but the Admiral stops him because he made Kang Chi promise to never kill for revenge.  To not let that anger & hurt turn him into the monster he is trying to so hard to not become.  They start to leave but JKW, in a last ditch effort to regain control, tries to stop them.  At this point however, the Admiral has had it & he signals ALL of his men to attack & puts JKW into custody.  OH YEAH YOU GOING DOWN JKW YOU NASTY PIECE OF....  {{I won't finish that thought, I am a lady after all.}}  Besides he got away thanks to the help of his men.  He's fleeing into the forest.  The Japanese Merchants witness all of this & wisely decide to heed the Admiral's advice & withdraw as quickly as possible from the situation & from the territory.  Smart guys.    Master Dam takes his own men into the forest w the intent to kill JKW & KC arrives to stop Master Dam or to kill JKW himself I wasn't sure.  But during the fight against JKW KC controls himself & instead of killing JKW he uses his gumiho claws to cut off Jo Kwan Woong's hand.

Now it's time for YW to get her 3 wishes granted.  First she wants a dinner w everyone.  But remember she is still dying.  Very slowly & painfully.  In fact, 1/2 way through the dinner her wound reopens & she starts dripping blood.  Then I started to cry when she apologized to her dad.  Especially when he turned to her & told her she was his utmost joy.  Her 2nd wish is to go for a "walk" with KC.  And then there were more tears when during their walk he asks her to marry him.  She tells him she can't cook or sew very well. SO sweet.  He proposes 3 more times & he's crying & she holds his face in her hands & says, "Don't cry.  To you, I don't want to be a sad memory, but a happy one.  I don't want to be your tears, I want to be your smile."  That's her 3rd wish...  He says, "Let's meet again."  She agrees & finally we hear finally hear saranghae.  I had been waiting for an I love you, for a long time.  Blue fairies fill the air around them & She tells him, "I will meet you again.  And then we'll live happily ever after."  During their final kiss she dies.  Sobbing & crying KC holds her in his arms. Later KC wonders, to TS if he hadn't been there if she'd still be alive?  Tae Seo says, "100 days w love is better than a lifetime w/out love."

And now we come to the end.  YW has died, Papa G is at peace, KC knows who he is & has found peace with it.  He has stopped the baddest of the bad guys & now it's time for him to leave.  But he has decided he doesn't want to find the Gu Family Book.  His intention is to live until they meet again, the reincarnation ending.  Will he look for it then they never say, I like to think he does & this time he finds it & he gets to live a mortal life with the woman he loves & they grow old together & have that happily ever after they so longed for & deserved.  What happens to JKW?  He's beaten, lost a limb & pathetic in the jail.  But there is one person to whom this will never be enough.  He gets a visit from Cheong Jo.  She pours him a drink of Chihun Wine.  Then looks him in the eyes & tells him, "Now end your filthy life."  He looks at her & after everything he put people through he says, "It was a really boring life.  It wasn't greed that pushed me, I just wanted to feel alive."  And for the first time I realize he was truly born without any kind of humanly feelings in him & I felt a smidgen of sorrow for a life wasted on him.

It's 422 years later & we see a very sexy, modernized version of Kang Chi, getting dressed for a night out.  Looks like gumiho has done well for himself in his fancy apartment, clothes & car.  And we see he is surrounded by the old Scooby gang in his new life but only he knows who they once were.  He hears the scream of a woman calling for help, in his head, he sighs as he heads off to rescue her... Teacher is the woman in peril & once again Bong Chul is the thug. LOL   KC flashes his eyes green, as he laughs at fate, & he beats up the bad guys.  Just then a female voice tells him to freeze, mistaking him for the bad guy, & we see her gun & then her face.  YW is now a police officer!  How apropos.  And we hear KC's voice over as he says to her, "When we meet again, I'll know you & love you first."  And at the very end we see Gon & the Admiral show up & flash badges of their own too.  Fade to black.

The Scoobies live on folks & there will be a happily ever after, you just have to believe, I do.

Once again thank you so much for joining me on my gumiho journey w Dimple & the rest of the Scoobies.  I hope you enjoyed the ride.  I did.  I look forward to more fun w you all in the next review.  But it's going to be a while before I pick a show.  So until I pick one show in particular my future DFRs will cover all the shows I am watching.  Expect lots of squees.  Have a wonderful weekend AddiKts.

Saranghamnida,

Gu Family Book episodes 21 & 22 {{Dramatic Friday Review}}

*Warning:* These 2 episodes were full of sadness.  They had cute too & even funny but mostly just sadness & some of you if not all know I don't do sad, so there isn't a whole lot of smart aleck like commentary from me this review.  More review than anything commentary like. Sorry if that disappoints.


Kang Chi has just stepped between his parents & is advising his dad that he will not allow him to kill anymore people, that he is going to be the one to stop him.  They start fighting each other & Seo Hwa screams out to Papa G just as he is about to strike Kang Chi, "No!  Wol Ryung!  He's our son!"  This stops Papa G in his tracks he looks back & forth & in the meantime JKW soldiers have arrived & are hiding in the bushes pulling out their arrows to shoot into Papa G's back.  Kang Chi sees this, screams his own NO! And then grabs his father & turns him & takes all 4 arrows in his own back instead.  The soldiers aim again & Papa G sweeps into motion killing all of them, then he disappears into the forest.  YW, Gon & TS arrive & Gon, w YW & TS holding KC still, remove the 4 arrows from KC's back & we watch as the Blue Fairies arrive & heal KC.    They take SH back to the Academy where she sits down & gives out all the names of the Joseon traitors in the government that have been in league w the Goon Bon Merchants.  And then asks the Admiral to grant her one request.  Which we find out later was that he stop KC from interfering when she goes to stop Wol Ryung from his killing spree.  This is the one thing she can do to make it all okay again.

Afterwards Seo Hwa & Kang Chi finally get their mother son bonding time & she tells him how proud she is of him & how grateful she is he got to have a good life.  She then admits she went back for him.  For a solid month she tried to find her way back to the moonlight garden & to find her son but the mountain blocked her & protected itself magically from her re-entry.  That she regretted letting him go almost immediately but it was too late & as penance for her sin of abandoning her baby she never let herself enjoy life, even going so far as not allowing herself to sleep laying down.  Basically she's telling him she loved him so much & still does & always will & how proud she is of the man he has become.  She's telling him goodbye.  Meanwhile Wol Ryung, the demon, is on a major killing spree.  3 whole villages slaughtered & now he's on his way to the 100 Year Inn.  It's at this point that we see the new toy that JKW has received.  A musket.  And he is going to use it to stop Wol Ryung himself.  But Seo Hwa shows up too.  She confronts Wol Ryung, crying & begging him to stop.  He remembers her.  Her face & her name & this gives him pause.  JKW aims & fires the gun & Wol Ryung, like his son & the arrows, screams, "NO!" And then turns Seo Hwa so that he takes the bullet.  Which goes through his torso & slices through edge of her upper shoulder too.  She sobs & grabs his wound & he grabs her & then they disappear, leaving behind a frustrated JKW & a confused group of soldiers.

In the Moonlight Garden she tells Wol Ryung how sorry she is for her fear & her lack of heart & that the only thing she can do now for him is to finish what should have been finished 20 years ago after she betrayed him.  She pulls out the wooden dagger & then stabs herself in the heart.  She dies in his arms as he is transformed back into the good person he once was.  {{So here I admit, as I skimmed through the ep this morning for screenshots I re-watched this scene in it's entirety & cried along with Wol Ryung.  They never had more than a few beautiful moments together, it was so unfair & so I cried for them.}}  On his way to the village to stop his mom from her sacrifice, he runs right into the Admiral, who stops him & tells him his mother's last request that morning.  {{Poor Kang Chi.  He finally gets his mom back & now he loses her.  I cried again.  Seriously this ep was hard to watch for this mommy.}}  At the end of this painful, beautiful episode Kang Chi has figured out Head Gisaeng's challenge as what is His root or "essence", his mother.  He walks back tot he Academy in the rain, where YW has been told now that the gumiho/demon rampage is over & now that Kang Chi has learned control, you have to let him go.  You can't hold on to him if you want him to find the Gu Family Book.  She waits for him in the rain & the episode ends with lots of Kang Chi crying on YW's shoulder & YW crying because {{I think}} of his pain & the fact that she knows she has to let him go soon.

In Episode 22...
KC wakes up the next morning to find a sleeping YW next to him, (See pic above).  It was so sweet.  He turns & watches her sleep & asks why she's there & she says he was crying so much last night she couldn't leave him.  He tells her it's morning now & she wakes right up & panicked because sleeping in a man's room that is not your husband is a big no no.  But he calms her down.  I loved how he teased her w his dang it we finally spend the night together but we missed by just sleeping, what a waste huh? {{paraphrased of course}}  Then she asks him to give her 3 Wishes, to help him feel better, but it's really her way to let him go.  His first wish is rice.  He wants her to make him rice.  {{She's a much better soldier than a cook}}  Then Gon knocks on the door to KC's bedroom, that YW shouldn't be in & there is a little panic.  Until they hide her.  When Gon opens the door he sees a still sleeping KC.  That's it.  Until he notices her umbrella in his room.  We all know she's actually hiding under the covers in KC's bed, w KC!  {{Giggle, naughty}}  They think the coast is clear & then Gon opens the door & tries to kill KC, a midst the wrestling & yelling, YW's Teacher walks in & I love the look on her face when she sees Gon on top of a half dressed KC.  So awesome!  It was so good to see the Dimple appear again in KC's cheek.  ^_^

The monk eventually brings Wol Ryung, good Wol Ryung btw, to the Academy.  He tells KC that Seo Hwa is with him & will always be with him from now on.  This is definitely another good bye speech.  He explains that it was his own fear that betrayed him, not SH.  The opposite of trust is not doubt, it's fear.  Don't let your fear control you & don't fear your truth.  He goes back to the Moonlight Garden in the mountain & lays down w SH on the stone.  And the blur fairies & the branches & vines cover & protect them in their eternal slumber.  Beautiful but oh so sad.

Tae Seo meantime has been captured by the Japanese ninjas while spying on JKW & his men.  He's been taken to JKW where he reveals some important info from the good guys.  That the Admiral has the list of all the names in government & he's going to arrest them & question them, which means JKW needs to kill all of them himself before they ruin everything.  And Kang Chi goes tot he Monk to find out what he needs to do find the Gu Family Book.  Which includes all the same rules that were given to Wol Ryung.  This is where he finds out he has to leave YW & everyone behind while he goes on his quest.  He also learns about YW's prophecy & that she may very well die because of their fate of meeting under the peach tree in the moonlight.  As well as informing him that once he has used his gumiho blood to save a person he cannot save that person again.  They are immune to the healing properties & the blue fairies will not save them a second time.

That night JKW arrives at the gisaeng house where the remaining 3 living government officials from the list have met, the Admiral is on his way there now & JKW & his henchman, Deputy Seo kill the men.  When the Admiral arrives JKW looks superior but the Admiral reveals that JKW fell for his Two Tigers Strategy.  That in fact he gave JKW that info so that he would take care of the officials himself.   but the Scoobies have to break in to the 100 year Inn & deliver a message, as they arrive KC gives YW is 2nd wish...for her to stay there & stay safe.  She isn't happy but she agrees, until a ninja shows up & she has no choice.  She goes in to the Inn & in the middle of the heat of battle, and because she isn't supposed to be there, she gets sliced by KC's gumiho claws.  They deliver their message to Kageshima, whom I thought this meant he was on their side, he's not, he just took the message, and they leave.  YW lies to her dad about the wound on her arm, saying it wasn't KC, that he tried to get her stay away but she didn't listen, KC meanwhile is feeling lots of guilt, especially after hearing the prophecy & well... basically he breaks up with her & tells her this is his 3rd wish.

WOW!!  Big breath in guys, only one more review (2 episodes) to go, ya still with me?  Well, it's Friday here & I am off for an evening w my family.  See you tomorrow guys.

Saranghamnida,

Gu Family Book episodes 19 & 20 {{Dramatic Friday Review}}

Who wants to dive right in to the nitty gritty of the review?  Well alrighty then.

My first comment has to be that Seo Hwa, when facing off against JKW over the pain & suffering he is putting her boy through, needs to get a better poker face.  One minute she looks like she is ready to run & release him & then the next she is claiming she wants nothing to do with a monster & do what you want with him.  Not really believable sweetie.  Just sayin.  JKW's sole purpose for this whole show in front of her is strictly to get her to reveal who she really is but for some unfathomable reason she decides to stick to her, "I don't who this kid is do what you will", persona, but her face gives away all of her angst.  So while she & JKW are facing off, we get the 411 on what the big deal is with the poisonous wine.  Wol Sun, if you remember, used illusion trickery to get KC to go see Cheong Jo, well we find out that she bullied & threatened Gop Dan into tricking KC into going to Cheong Jo.  Then she gave him 5 cups of wine, a wine so poisonous that more than 1 cup is deadly to the average human, but KC as we all know is not fully human.  Head Gisaeng finds an antidote for KC though.  BUT he has to ingest this rock like thing within 24 hours of having drank the poisonous wine, that seriously reminded me of the bezoar given to Ron, in Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince, to counter the love potion he'd accidentally ingested that had been meant for Harry.  

{{BTW I did remember all of this on my own, yes I am that geeky}}

Anyway a plan is hatching, they make food for the prisoner & his adopted dad sneaks it in to him, but his jailers are cruel men who kick it far away from him so he can't reach it w his chains on.  Eventually he manages to grab the bezoar {{That's what it reminded me of & so that is what I am sticking too}} & swallows it, thanks to the big fight between YW & the guards.  Then JKW comes in dragging a very beat up Ma Bong Chul, who serves as distraction for YW to enter.  I really grew to love this thug.  He is a heartwarming & fiercely loyal friend, if you get past his tendency to steal & bully the poor.  I was so happy when KC helped turn him around with his good example.  JKW has him dragged to the center of 100 Year Inn where everyone can watch his abuse.  In fact JKW wants the townspeople to stone him, he is a monster after all.   He's stronger now but he drank a lot of poison & the bezoar hasn't fully healed him yet.  Then JKW makes a dumb move.  His men once again start pouncing on his father, who had the audacity to beg for his son's life, the fool!  KC has already watched his father get dragged away, YW get smacked by & tied up by JKW & now this?  I don't think so.  Just as KC is about to kill JKW, Seo Hwa's men arrive & stop him.  Wearing Joseon clothes & hair style, she demands everyone stop, KC passes out from the poison & pain & finally she admits to being his mother, Seo Hwa, in front of everyone.  And uses her position of power with the Goon Bon Merchants to set KC free. 

Meanwhile the monk has warned Master Dam that Kang Chi is the only who can kill/stop Papa G, who is now a fully transformed 1000 year Demon & happens to be on a killing spree.  SH goes to TS & demands he swear his allegiance to Goon Bon, rather than the Admiral.  Of course this offends him & SH gets angry too.  She swears in return for his allegiance she will end all of this, including JKW & get the 100 Year Inn back for him.  Of course the Goon Bon Merchants need JKW alive, he has the info & power they need.  It'll be years before TS can fulfill JKW's place & they aren't sure they can trust him yet.  After KC wakes up all healthy again he realizes that YW & Bong Chul have been in JKW hands this whole time & he goes & rescues them.  After which he gets a really nice hug from YW, which Bong Chul witnesses & turns away from & then begins to believe KC is gay as he thinks YW is a boy. LOL  I was cracking up at that!

 He also faces his mother & asks her if she really hated him so much.  To which she says nothing.  But Cheong Jo finally shows me she can rock when she wants to. She goes to Little Witch Gisaeng (Wol Sun) claiming she wants to make amends & serves Wol Sun some wine.  But in the end she explains that Wol Sun had better never mess w her, again! Next time she won't give Wol Sun wine, she'll pour the poison right down her throat herself!  Oh & just so you know, you won't get this antidote until tomorrow, you should suffer & fear as much as KC had to.  Boo-yah!  

Back at the Academy KC tells Gon he is ready to start serious training to which Gon tells him, "Getting stronger means carrying more responsibilities."  Kang Chi has accepted his fate & knows he is the one who has to kill his father.  So Gon takes him to Master Dam, who hands him a sword & demands that this training be taken seriously.  If Kang Chi can get his control & kill master Dam then he will be ready to kill his father.  This is training to the death.  And Master Dam wants KC to take off his bracelet & face him as a gumiho.  Papa G arrives at the 100 Year Inn he really wants to know who called him.  And eventually aligns w JKW.  And at the end of the day JKW's guards are all dead & a ninja assassin has been sent to kill JKW, at the last minute he is saved. 

In episode 20 we discover JKW's savior is his Henchman, Deputy Seo.  Dang it!  I was really hoping he'd die in the forest from the wounds Papa G gave him.  Things are really heating up now guys.  Action is picking up story line is picking up & it gets really interesting at the end of this episode.  Papa G & JKW meet & JKW tries bribing Papa G to be on his side.  {{And here I am, sitting there watching this like, o.O Really?  You're going to try & bribe a 1000 year Demon, who could eat you in a second without thinking about it?  REALLY?  JKW, you're kind of stupid.}}  YW gets back to the Academy after a sit down w SH, where she asked SH to just be a mom to KC, he's been through so much. And what does she find?  Her dad & boyfriend fighting to the death.  Oh just your average day at the Academy.  Master Dam so far is kicking KC's butt & eventually stabs him in the stomach.  He tells him to do your gumiho voodoo & heal & then be back here at 3pm & we'll keep going.  

*Warning scene w Dimple abs is ahead*  {{Note pics in title pic up there ^ & You're Welcome! (^_-)}}

So KC goes off to heal & YWshows up w a change of shirt.  But hearing him say he is all healed isn't enough, YW practically rips his shirt open to see for herself & DANG DIMPLE NICE SHOULDERS< CHEST & ABS!    Sorry got away from myself there.  Ahem...but he's so cute & embarrassed & asks her to turn around & finally she catches on, giggles & turns.  They both reach back & OMG THEIR HANDS AREA TOUCHING!!!!  Sorry guys I can't seem to help myself!  Ahem... And then he grabs her cute widdle face & HE KISSES HER, fast & sweet.  Awwwwww....dang it my heart melted all over the desk again.  I really do love these 2 as a cute little couple.  Shippers agree with me?

CJ arrives & informs everyone of the breaking news from the 100 Year Inn.  SH was betrayed by her men to JKW.  And is now being forced back to her home.  When does she leave? 3 pm.  YW wants KC to rescue her but he's a little bitter & plans to meet Master Dam instead.  This time, KC manages to control his monster & he wins, without killing Master Dam.  Master Dam concedes because he actually witnessed the moment when KC gained control over the gumiho.  After he wins, KC, Gon & YW rush off to save SH.  Who had originally planned on being rescued by TS & his men at a certain point.  But her men turn on her once again & intercept them on the road with the intent to kill her then & there.  But our fearless heroes arrive & YW shoots an arrow straight & true & kills off the guy about to kill SH.  Gon & YW tell KC to take his mom & get her out of there.  But don't worry they'll be okay because eventually TS & his men arrive on scene & help beat off the bad guys.  Papa G arrives a little later & sees the carnage.  He follows KC & SH off into the mountain & witnesses a touching scene of mother & son reconciliation.  KC looks at his mom & says, "Do you see me?"  He wants her to stop trying to kill JKW & just be his mom.  It was such a sweet moment & I got all teary eyed & then Papa G arrives & he & SH face each other & then Kang Chi steps between the two of them & informs Wol Ryung that he will stop him from killing anymore.  The End.

Whoa seriously intense eh?  I will see you guys tomorrow for the next installment of this, so far, awesome drama!  

Saranghamnida,

Gu Family Book episodes 17 & 18 {{Dramatic Friday Review}}

So I go to write the review for episodes 17 & 18 & look over my notes first, as I usually do.  And lo & behold I cannot understand anything that I wrote.  o.O  Not just the fact that my handwriting resembles chicken scratch when I'm taking notes, because I don't know shorthand & can't write that fast, but also because I watched these two episodes really late at night.  Actually REALLY early in the morning.  Never try to take notes at 1 am, it just doesn't work like you think it will work.  *SMH*  So this morning I threw those notes away & re-watched both of these episodes & took new notes.  Now I don't promise this will make my writing any better but hopefully it'll at least make sense. ^^

Yeo Wool has been snatched & all of the circumstantial evidence is pointing to Papa G.  So Kang Chi removes his bracelet...sets it down in front of Master Dam & swears he is going to bring her back or he won't be returning himself.  But when we see YW in the forest bound & blindfolded, which I don't believe Papa G would need to do, we see she is not alone w Papa G, it's a group of Ninjas & JKW's right hand man.  He orders them to chop off her head, stick the head on a pole outside the academy & leave her body in the forest for the animals to eat. Wow, talk about "Over Kill"!  But our Yeo Wool she ain't no wuss!  She kicks some serious butt even with her hands bound & blindfolded.  I LOVED watching her kick A.  {{Gasp!! Yes, I swore...in my head.  However, all they had tied were her hands together in front of her body, so why she couldn't just reach up to pull down the blindfold I don't know, except it was way cooler & tougher to do it with the blindfold in place.}}  But just when the bad guys think they've got her beat, a rescuer shows up.  Not Kang Chi though.  Papa G FTW!!  So she runs off into the forest & Papa G gives chase, you know after he killed all those "so called" Ninjas.  I knew he was not helping her so much as grabbing her to use against KC.  However, KC arrives & there is an epic battle of Hawtness, yeah, yeah, yeah, & fists too.  but dang was that fight scene, between the two hot gumihos, Hawt!  Kang Chi gives a good fight but he is just no match for the older more experienced gumiho turned 1000 year Demon.  Papa G still wants KC to walk away from his humanity, YW tells him he can't give up on that no matter what.  And just as Papa G makes another dash for her, KC jumps between them & screams out, "Yeo Wool is my woman!" and then begs, "Don't touch my woman."  Which triggers Papa G's own memories of that same sentence leaving his mouth for Seo Hwa.  but the memories are just flashes, he is turning demon after all, & he can't remember all the deets.  Eventually a big wind comes up, KC protects YW from it & Papa G disappears into the night.

Now comes the part I have been waiting for...  The 'supposed' great kiss scene that my bestie told me about.  And boy was she right!  Remember when YW asked KC if Cheong Jo would always be the most important person to him?  Okay good, you need to know that part.  So he grabs YW by the arms & looks into her eyes & expresses how terrified he was when he thought he lost her.  Then we hear his voice over say, "Actually YW you are the most important person in my life."  Then he kisses her, full on the mouth, her eyes closed, there were 4 arms wrapped around each other & 4 lips actively participating in a deep beautifully romantic & passionate kiss.  That went on & on & on.  Really great kiss, imho.  Met all my criteria for a great K Drama kiss.  And after it ended she leaned up & kissed him again just like the previous kiss.  Now you know I watched closely again & again & again & again!  I felt it my duty to re-watch that scene for all of you!  In fact I may have to go watch it a few more times to make sure I gave it an apt description.

Seriously this episode pretty much stopped right there for me, I really didn't want to go on after that.  The rest of the episode blurred by.  Something about SH telling JKW she wanted to buy TS's freedom, that he owed the Goon Bon Merchants for all he had so he shouldn't refuse or he'd lose it all.  Which of course he didn't like so he tried to see behind the curtain but her goon stopped him, good goon.  And then more cuteness w KC & YW faking a fight in front of her dad so he'd release her from being a lock in.  Then TS finding out, through eavesdrop, that JKW wants to be governor of the southern provinces & that's why he's selling off his country to the bad guys, which all gets related to the Admiral & master Dam.  So they decide to orchestrate a reconnaissance mission that night & sneak in to the 100 year Inn.  But of course the plan didn't include YW or KC so they have to sneak in on the sneak in.  *giggle - dang I'm clever* ^_^  Meanwhile Head Gisaeng is just as curious as to who SH really is & so she suggests a party be given at her place but no girls allowed except more gisaengs so they hold it at 100 year Inn & while the Scoobies are sneaking, JKW is asking for SH to show her face, they are business partners after all blah blah blah...ending with he'd sell her TS IF she showed her face.  He REALLY likes the sound of his own voice.  Anyway, she shows her face BUT it isn't the woman we've all come to know.  It's her double, a fake, a phony.  The real Sh is hiding out in her room.  KC stumbles upon the ninjas & sees this huge very detailed map (In 8 pieces) on the table & gets discovered but he escapes, with gumiho prowess.  He ends up in SH's room & she is demanding to know who he is.  Best part, aside form the kiss was watching KC fake like he knew Japanese by following YW's advice on how to answer.  If it's a command say, "Hai!" If you aren't sure, put your hand to your chin, cock your head cutely & say, "Ano..."  Which he does so adorkably well.  Oh Dimple how I adore you!

Now in ep 18 SH finally finds out that he is KC, but still doesn't know he's her son...yet.  {{oooh foreshadowing you love that...well you would if you hadn't already watched the whole series, let alone the episode}}  He does the "Ano..." thing to SH, who then asks in Korean if he is Joseon?  Which surprises him, she's seen his face, finds out his name & still she helps protect him from her men, because she has no idea what is going on.  But before he goes he tells her the 3 best meals to have at the 100 Year Inn, LOL {{Oh Kang Chi-ah.  You're so cute!}} then he leaves & she finds that he dropped one of the pieces of map behind him & suddenly she sees what's going on & is furious.  At the dinner though, the Japanese guests are leaving but Head Gisaeng still hasn't seen enough proof, so her girls "accidentally' spill drink on fake SH's kimono & then "accidentally" pull it off her one shoulder while trying to clean it.  No tattoo, so now she knows this SH is a fake.  And she makes sure to tell JKW that too.  Okay that part I'm befuddled by.  Why tell him when you aren't on his side either?  Just seemed weird to me.

So now that the Japanese ninjas are on to them, they've sealed off the Inn's exits.  Only way out is for KC, YW & Gon to dress in Hanboks & try to blend in with the all the gisaengs.  Seriously Gon & KC in Hanboks is awesome!!!  They then get to spend the night in the gisaeng house in Cheong Jo's room.  And boy howdy is CJ a real B with an itch to YW.  She rejected KC, cause he was a monster, realized her mistake, can't have him because she's a state gisaeng but darned if she'll let him find happiness w another, especially YW.  So in the town before the mission she pulls YW aside & points out that KC is still hers, all she has to do is ask for him  & he'll come to her.  And her nastiness is not over with that.  Just wait.  First though, KC has to give up his evidence to the Admiral & Master Dam.  And I love their reactions when he reveals, he left evidence behind with the woman he showed his face to & gave his name too.  He's so very stealthy right?  NOT!  Right after he talks about how nice the woman was who protected him we see SH order her men to find KC & get back the map even if they have to kill him.  Yup she's a real sweetheart.

Head gisaeng then reveals to KC that she is the last of the 4 masters & gives him a challenge too.  She also reveals that she knew his mother when she tells him his eyes look just like hers.  Its after this that he gets to overhear Cheong Jo being a B with an Itch again to YW.  She triumphantly shows YW that she knows even more about KC than YW does & that she knows that her father killed his father.  YW walks away because this isn't something that they should be talking about & turns & opens the door to find sweet, shocked KC on the other side of the door.  Now he knows his mom was a gisaeng, his dad a gumiho & that his dad was killed by the love of his life's dad.  That is a lot to process.  CJ does have the decency to look nonplussed that he overheard it all so abruptly.  But too little too late imho.  For those of you who haven't watched the whole series...yet, I won't reveal whether CJ redeems herself or not.  You'll have to see for yourselves.  But I am pretty sure at this point you wanted to smack her through the screen.  Am I right?

How does KC react & what does he do when he learns the truth of his father's death?  I was so worried it would get all dark & depressing & all bent on revenge but then I underestimated the goodness that is KC.  He confronts Master Dam, hears the story, takes the sword Master Dam used & breaks it in half.  He then tells Master Dam that the elders need to deal with their own problems & stop putting all the problems in the laps of the children.  In other words this ends w the breaking of this sword.  No more revenge, no more death.  And eventually KC & YW are all back together & happy amid back hugs, front hugs & KC's confessions to YW of "I like you.  I really like you a lot", when she tells him she was afraid this information lost him to her forever.  {{I admit I was hoping for another epic kiss but it's a saeguk so I wasn't surprised it didn't happen.}}

The rest goes by fast.  Eventually SH reveals her real face to JKW & he of course recognizes her but she continues to claim to not be SH.  He knows it's KC that stole the maps & that SH has no idea he's her son.  With the help of Wol Sun, another B with an Itch gisaeng I want to smack around, he captures KC.  And then takes his bracelet off in front of SH, which reveals to her that he is her son.  Now what SH?  Ball is in your court...will you save the son you've been searching for & give up your dreams of revenge or will you play it cold & only take care of yourself?

And that is that.  If I keep this up I will be all caught up by Saturday.  This btw will be taking place of my WWU this week.  One review a day, I kind of hate my computer a lot right now.  And I have a splitting headache.  Have a great night, see you sometime tomorrow afternoon.

Saranghamnida,