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katierosefun · 1 year

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just got emotional thinking about what hjw might've had to go through in the year away from manyang, he was probably pestered by medias, having to deal with the trials and all the talks and whispers behind his back or even straight at his face. If i got the context right betraying his father was abig deal, yes many would praise him but many would shame him for being disrespectful and not filial. I'm sure hkh had big supporters in the force, corrupted people that wanted influence, power and wealth, they probably got mad at hjw for cutting short their connection and the future career advancement. All this might have reminded hjw how his life was before everything happened (my god something like "good things aren't bound to last") but after the time spent in manyang he changed, he got to experience love and closure, a found family and going back to his old habits might have felt so alienating now? he'd realize how cold and lonely that life was and struggling all the more due to it. I'm so glad he managed to fight his anxiety and fear and return to manyang + I'm fairly sure that once he saw that the people there still love him and welcomed him with open harms, he'd go back to stay. sorry if i wrote a lot but i wanted to share my feelings with someone who could understand and loves hjw too❤️

yeah, i was always incredibly fascinated by what might have happened in that year han joo won was away, and why i also just. think that han joo won probably really couldn't show his face not just because he probably felt a lot of shame, but also like. i dunno. my personal thought is that he was a fuckign mess for a little bit--like, the man you're in love with is also the man that you arrested, and the little community of people who cared about you can't possibly still love you now, not when you're the reason why their favorite person is going to go away . . .

and i feel like there definitely were a lot of people who probably looked askance at joo won to be like "how could you do that to your own father" or maybe other people who tried to swoop in and promote joo won for the sake of saving face, and i like to think that joo won was just like. blank-faced through it all. and just like, the thought of him running away from seoul and trying to go to a place where no one knows him is. yeah.

and also, i forget who might have said it, but there's also some speculation about whether joo won's the one turning down promotions or maybe joo won just never gets a promotion because maybe his name's also lowkey blacklisted since everything that happened with his dad. i like to think that it's joo won who keeps turning down promotions--maybe he's terrified that he'll ever really turn into his dad, because i don't think he ever will, but i do think that a small part of joo won will always still think about what greed and power can do to people, and he probably doesn't want even the littlest taste of that. (granted. han ki hwan was always a bad person, i think--you don't clamber up to the top with that kind of attitude unless there's already something broken inside of you, but i think. joo won would still. try to run from it.)

(especially since like. i think a lot about joo won hearing han ki hwan's conversation, what with han ki hwan being like "oh, joo won wants to think he's like me, but he's actually more like his mom", and seeing the fury but also the genuine pain on joo won's face because. yeah. as much as joo won scoffed at the mention of his dad even in the beginning, i think. it's the curse of certain children--the only child, the eldest child--to be like the father, especially when the mother is deemed weak or just out of the picture. little boys and little girls want to be the behemoth of a man that their father is; they want to be cold, logical, infallible. and i think as much as joo won hated talking about his dad, i look at how, esp. in the beginning of the show, he tried so hard to project that kind of attitude, with the whole "i don't need friends / i don't trust anyone / you have to be logical" when we so clearly see. how lonely he is and how he. still trembles a little bit when his dad yells at him and how he peers in through the windows of the shop like he's an alien. or maybe a very curious, kind of timid cat.)

so all that to say: yeah, i feel you anon. i love han joo won so much, and i love how beyond evil is just as much a story about joo won learning to fall into this beautiful (but slightly broken) community, and how i think. he must have healed along the way :'))

#answered #anon #beyond evil #i just!!! han joo won . . .. is so . .. . i love him so much #and i just. yeah.#something about how in the script book #han joo won had never seen his dad but when he graduates to the top of police university #his dad claps for him and joo won just thinks 'is that all it took.'#and joo won thinking that was funny but also in an awful way #i could write circles and circles around joo won's relationship with his dad #something about 'i hate you' 'i want to be like you' 'i will never forgive you' 'i talk to people the way you do now'#'you are the reason why i don't have a home' 'i still hated it when you pretended not to know me'#'i can't ever ask you for help' 'i am begging you to just tell me the truth let me help you' 'you are the devil himself'#'please. redeem yourself for ONCE' 'i hope you die i hope you die i hope you die' 'i will shoot you in my childhood house'#'i will still ask to be updated on the rest of your life' 'i hate you. i hate you'#'i don't love you but i also feel responsible for you somehow and is that the closest we'll get to familial love? is it?'#or whatever whatever whatever!!!#something about how han joo won's relationship with his dad. is probably the realest one to me out of all the kdrama family relationships #with objectively awful fathers #something about fathers who are awful and absent and greedy and yet #the child still. still desperately wants something even if they hate their father. like.#everyone hush i know this because han joo won rants to me when he's sad

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tiffanylamps · 1 year

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#‘did i do a good job lee dong sik-ssi?’#'i wasn't paying attention. you gotta do it again' ^ the way these tags INSTANTLY manifested a wild crackfic in my brain, of HJW getting a seedy nightclub undercover assignment and going to LDS for help bc he needs to learn how to kiss, and it's the best and worst moment of LDS's fucking life, goddamn. god. damn.

Okay, so... I LOVE THIS. You have sent my mind into overdrive! You're most certainly welcome in my inbox if this is the quality of content you're providing me!! Thank you, thank you, thank you! 😩

I.... maaay have gotten carried away with this idea. I'm sorry for not stopping myself, but I had to write my thoughts down and share them with you 👀 I wrote this quickly in a blind-excited panic, so it probably reads a little weird. Sorry for any mistakes! 🫣

Note: I fell asleep whilst giving this a once over and still posted anyway. The formatting looks really weird on my phone compared to my laptop. I'll fix that at another time.

"You're doing what?" Dong Sik sputters, completely dumbfounded, now actually on the verge of laughing unapologetically loudly in the silly Inspector Han's face.

Joo Won can tell and seems utterly put out by the fact that Dong Sik would dare laugh at such a statement. "It isn't funny," he grumbles, once again.

"Clearly, you and I have a different sense of humour, because, this is hilarious." Dong Sik chuckles, making himself as comfortable as he can get on Joo Won's overtly and unnecessarily angular sofa. "What was it they have you doing again? A puppet booth-"

"A kissing booth. Stop laughing!" He can't help it, and why should he? The image of the ever-so-serious and gentile Han Joo Won not only standing in but working at a kissing booth, of all things, is the funniest shit Dong Sik has heard since Ji Hoon told him that Ji Hwa sings the latest sappy love songs in the shower.

"It's for the case! I didn't want to do it- my Chief made me! She seems to think that this is the best way of gaining intel on the kidnapper's whereabouts. This is serious Dong Sik, five children have gone missing from Lotte World within the last six weeks. We need information and-"

"-I get all of that but on Valentine's Day? Oh, Joo Won, you're fucked. I don't think you understand how many people you're going to have to kiss. With this gorgeous face of yours," Joo Won only just bats Dong Sik's hand away before it cups his cheek, but his usual hoity-toity up-tightness isn't there. If anything, he seems reluctant to intervene.

But then his ever-sharp eyes do a once over Dong Sik's relaxed frame and the room seems to become a little smaller. Look, Dong Sik isn't that young anymore and he and Joo Won aren't like... Well, they're not... They're not. So, it's none of his business whom Joo Won kisses, or where, or why... He just wished his chest knew this.

"Are you prepared for that?" He asks before he can stop himself. "Kissing, that is. Kissing strangers."

In that moment, Joo Won's ears do a rather lovely thing: they burn a deep shade of red, close to maroon, and Dong Sik would be a liar if he said he didn't find it unspeakably charming. The inspector shakes his head once firmly, with his hands clenched tightly into bone-white fists.

Oh. Dong Sik shouldn't tease.

There is little point in asking why Joo Won would agree to such an ill-suited undercover assignment, they both know exactly what lengths he would go to for a case. Kissing is nothing compared to hell. But they also both know that the Han Joo Won that would willingly go to hell is the same Han Joo Won that still struggles with giving or receiving a hug. So, kissing, and kissing strangers at that, must be a complete nightmare for him.

"Have you been... preparing?"

Dong Sik doesn't know why this question feels like tar inside his mouth, dripping out with as much grace as that awful Marmite shit - Joo Won made him try once - drips out of a jar. He does know. Of course he knows. And Joo Won would too if he happened to look up from where his hands were still firmly clenched against his knees. If he saw just how much Dong Sik dreads his answer - dreads the reality that Joo Won has been kissing other people in order to prepare for kissing... Well, other people - then they'll be in real trouble.

"I've read some articles and they-"

Articles?

"Why would you need to read articles about kissing?"

Joo Won frowns and stares... hard.

It's rare that Dong Sik feels like a complete and utter idiot but this is definitely one of the few occasions. The poor inspector's annoyingly sweet face is just as flushed as his ears and Dong Sik feels a little sick with guilt.

"I've never felt the need to," Joo Won mutters quickly and with little decorum, getting straight to the point. "I've been given plenty of offers but I never saw the point in it."

The point? Gosh, this kid. Dong Sik sometimes forgets that the Joo Won he knows now is still the same Joo Won that sees the world in a multitude of monochrome, with little space for any variation of grey. "Have you ever wanted to, though?"

Joo Won finally looks up, letting his darker-than-a-night-sky eyes dance over Dong Sik's features before resting on one spot in particular. They stay there, past the point of it being misconstrued as an accident. Shit. The airy apartment abruptly feels no bigger than a dusty wardrobe; they suddenly feel too close. Dong Sik's chest hasn't felt this tight in years.

"Are you judging me?" Joo Won asks tight-lipped and full of misplaced shame. It takes everything in Dong Sik not to sigh at the inspector's stupid question. Who was he to judge? Heck, it's been years since he got laid and it's not exactly like he's had a whole lot of experience in that department, either.

"Who said I was?" Dong Sik pats one of Joo Won's hands, savouring the sensation of grazing his fingers over the taut knuckles he finds there. Foolishly, he wishes that something as simple as his touch would soothe them and relieve the stress of the man they belong to.

"But all my research has been no use," the inspector sighs and leans back against the sofa, raking a hand through his hair until it's dishevelled and entirely too nice. It's unfair, really, just how much Dong Sik prefers it this way. He pauses, and Dong Sik wishes he wasn't waiting for Joo Won's next words with bated breaths. "I've always been more of a practical learner."

The inflexion in his tone causes Dong Sik to pause but it's the heaviness of his gaze that renders him almost dead.

Surely not.

"Han Joo Won-"

"-You'd only have to do it once. Only once, I promise. I just need to know what it's like- I can figure out the rest on my own. I just..." his hand finds the back of the sofa, just a fraction off Dong Sik's neck. He leans forward, utterly desperate, determined, diabolically tempting.

He almost looks like a wounded puppy when he says with so much genuine frankness: "Please, Lee Dong Sik."

Dong Sik wished he knew what to do but Joo Won has always had a way of catching him off guard when he least expects it. He really wished he didn't hold such a large and obvious soft spot for this side of Joo Won's personality. But what can he say? He likes his men pathetic.

Really, he should keep him waiting, as it'll be good for the inspector's ego. But why would Dong Sik miss out on an opportunity like this just because he doesn't want to seem too keen?

"Just once?" He asks and ignores how his body sings when Joo Won bolts upright with an unprecedented amount of attention on Dong Sik. Only on Dong Sik.

"You can be honest if it's terrible or tell me to stop whenever you want. We don't even do it for- I just need to crack this case."

The case? Is that what you're telling yourself?

"Okay, Inspector Han. For the case."

He doesn't know what he expected, really. Sure, he's thought up some possibilities over the years he's known Joo Won. But this? Han Joo Won particularly launching himself onto him just a few days before Valentine's Day with the ruse of an undercover kissing assignment? Yeah, ridiculously enough, that should have been one of them. Thankfully, he manages to hold back a nervous laugh and instead focuses on the warmth of Joo Won's mouth.

Because that is Joo Won's mouth on his. A little too firm, a press too hard, but soft, nevertheless.

It's also Joo Won's aftershave he can smell: woody and sweet and insatiable. For a second Dong Sik thinks that this might be it: an innocent peck on the lips between friends. But then Joo Won's delectable figure seems to be rumbling with something not too similar to the roaring desperation he once displayed in Dong Sik's basement.

And with it and because of it, he moves his lips.

It's awkward. The rhythm is disjointed and the angle is a little uncomfortable. But It's Joo Won, so Dong Sik angles his head just so and lets their lips fit into place.

They kiss at a leisurely pace, letting the other get used to this new sensation. It's peculiar just are real this all is: from the way their mouth seems to fit almost perfectly together, to how Joo Won's hands feel criminally good holding onto the back of his neck like a lifeline, even to how none of it feels peculiar at all.

It should be scary how right it feels to be doing this but Dong Sik can't detect an ounce of fear in his body. Which is just...

He deepens the kiss, not giving a shit if it's a bad idea. He's good at those but painfully, remarkably, unbelievably, what they're doing feels the farthest from a bad idea.

Some people are into this: taking another person's first time. Dong Sik never considered himself to be amongst that group but there's something almost primal in the way he feels to be granted this opportunity. Dong Sik isn't possessive but when Joo Won's overly enthusiastic tongue clumsily swipes against his bottom lip, begging for an invitation, for permission, he can't help but feel the need to protect this boy. Protect him and have him all to himself.

The sensation only grows as their tongue dance together with Dong Sik's guidance. Maddeningly, Joo Won is receptive and eager and paying so much attention. Oh, Dong Sik could get used to this and that is the most damning thing of all.

Joo Won grabs his top and pulls Dong Sik's closer until there's only their apparent wantonness between them. He could pull him onto his lap, Dong Sik thinks clearly, allowing the thought to send a shockwave of electrocuting pinpricks throughout his body. It shouldn't be this good, Joo Won isn't even that skilled, it's far from the best kiss Dong Sik's ever received but... it's Joo Won.

It's Joo Won's mouth he's exploring with each considerate flick and swipe of his tongue, it's Joo Won's body that's becoming as malleable as putty under his hands, it's Joo Won who's kissing him back with just as much eagerness.

It's Joo Won... It's always going to be Joo Won.

Dong Sik isn't taking. How could he be doing something as crass as taking Joo Won's first kiss when Joo Won himself asked for this - inviting Dong Sik over to his place, letting him in as shy as a mouse - because Joo Won wants this. He wants it. He's never wanted to kiss anyone before.

Fuck.

Dong Sik can't stop the moan that passes from his body into Joo Won's. Regrettably, the inspector pulls away. "What's wrong?" Joo Won asks, out of breath and beautifully drowsy.

Of course, he misinterprets even Dong Sik's positive reactions. Aish, what are we going to do with you, Inspector Han?

It really isn't fair how lovely he looks like this: lips impossibly pink and cheeks blotchy beyond decency. He doesn't move far away, keeping their breaths mingled in the little space between them. "Did I do a good job, Lee Dong Sik-ssi?"

Oh, God, he's just so goddamn considerate and sweet, and just so... himself. Fuck you, Inspector Han. How was Dong Sik ever meant to go on with his life as normal now that he knows this side of Joo Won?

His inspector - his kissing partner - is waiting, getting more and more restless, petering out to the point of worried. That won't do. Maybe Dong Sik doesn't have to go back to normal... Maybe he doesn't want to. Maybe he can stay right here, for a little longer.

"I wasn't paying attention," he lies, letting Joo Won feel his fib against his lips. "You're going to have to do it again."

Joo Won doesn't hesitate.

Yeah, they can stay here for a little while longer.

I don't know what came over me but here we are 😂😂 I haven't written their dynamic in this way before, so it might not come across the way I intended. But hey ho, it's Shitmas Eve (where I am), so let's live a little.

I hope this was enjoyable and okay for me to write your idea but to also take it in another direction. I just couldn't get over the idea of Joo Won being forced to work a kissing booth as part of an underground assignment 😂😂

Thanks again! TTFN

#beyond evil #jtbc beyond evil #ask answered #thank you <3

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maya-malfoy1012 · 2 years

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So... Episode 3 of The Devil Judge... let's get into it! I wrote a page of notes, this episode had a lot to offer. But before we get into it, let's just recap on the ending of episode 2... cauuussseeee

I was watching the UST confrontation, thinking they were going to bang against the windows. I'm minding my own business, just admiring the cinematography - as they had bisexual lighting throughout -

(I can only watch it in the worst quality lol)

Then shit blew up! And they're saving each other like all angsty vampy boyfriends do.

(he should have carried him bridal style... just sayin')

Then we get into episode 3. Which has all of the marks of every Forced Proximity Yaoi story ever! Even includes non-consensual touching and one character (usually the younger) not being allowed to leave or move around their surroundings freely... which is... fun. "It's not like I want to do it" sure, Jan. (also, they keep mentioning their age gap, I think they're into it.....)

This leads to Gaon's Belle arc of discovering what's in the west wing. (The house's decor is super... not my taste). The Nanny/mother step-in character reminds me of Bae Hae Sun's character in Hotel De Luna (Choi Seo Hee). Daddy Bandit is super possessive over his new twink, even going as far as almost shouting "ARE YOU DATING?" to Soo Hyun. super suss. Sun A thinks she's hot. She really had her "step on me, Mummy" glow up and I respect that. Kyung Hee is surrounded by idiotic men BUT that does lead us to her house which is Han Ki Hwan's house!!! I was so happy when I saw it then I felt so sad because... it's where the rich boys go to get emotionally (sometimes physically) abused by their parent. This house is also featured in Stranger and every time there was a scene in THE living room, I kept saying out loud: "that's where Han Joo Won got his heart broken" or "some very sad things happened here" or "NOOO joo won... DONG SIIIIIKKK"... I am pathetic and annoying. (Also, I think the derelict sight is the same location where they shot Lee Sang Yeob's death scene) I will say I like the way TDJ is handling the dystopia themes. It feels very realistic and it isn't too glamourised, which a lot of movies/TV shows do. So, that's a really nice aspect of the show. The court scene is actually kind of funny (not in a bad way)

Trauma Bandit's backstory is definitely a child abuse 101 storyline, even includes a shitty reason for his awful treatment. (the dad is a right twat). I haven't paid too much attention to the older brother storyline but if he and Gaon are related, I'll be pissed. It's an odd thing to include considering Daddy Bandit and Gaon are going to fuck. There's no doubt in my mind that they're going to have sex. And even if we don't see it, it's still happening! Oh, and... just because you're traumatised, it doesn't give you the right to murder people, Daddy Bandit. Anyway, speak soon!! :)

[cue circus music]

episode 02 ending & episode 3. ah yes, the banes of my existence (:

I was watching the UST confrontation, thinking they were going to bang against the windows.

HELPP the UST was blasting through the roof. I honestly loved how they introduced two female leads, starting off with the implication that they're the very possible romantic counterparts and then dunked the whole show into homoerotism and UST.

just admiring the cinematography - as they had bisexual lighting throughout -

listen, the cinematography? it was out of the fucking world. honestly perspective changes, camera tilts that captures imbalance (whether emotional or power) and the f r a m e s. honestly so capturing.

the b i s e x u a l l i g h t i n g (screams)

(I can only watch it in the worst quality lol)

oof help is it netflix 😭

Then shit blew up! And they're saving each other like all angsty vampy boyfriends do.

KJERDXEFKDCX ANGSTY VAMPY BOYFRIENDS Yohan looks very much like some modern Count Dracula --its the bow me thinks

(he should have carried him bridal style... just sayin')

dsjksjdjk perhaps because gaon's taller than him and trauma bandit's but a smol man

Which has all of the marks of every Forced Proximity Yaoi story ever!

the way i did not realise that until now. ohmygod

Even includes non-consensual touching and one character (usually the younger) not being allowed to leave or move around their surroundings freely... which is... fun.

I also do think that the Nurse/Patient trope (which I'm basing off of Back to The Future, but for all I know could be absolutely rare af) is depicted here. Usually in the trope, the nurse and patient are shown to be more susceptible to have feelings due to sympathy and forced proximity (+ if the patient has some incredibly heroic/awing reason for being injured). I think Beauty and the Beast, you've mentioned Gaon's Bella Arc, also features the nurse/patient trope when the Prince/Beast gets attacked trying to save Bella from the wolves.

It is interesting though, that it should be Gaon who's injured and nursed back to life when we have Yohan, who's the primary choice for the Beast/Prince.

(also, they keep mentioning their age gap, I think they're into it.....)

at this point, watching TDJ is just a progression of kink reveals lmao

This leads to Gaon's Belle arc of discovering what's in the west wing. (The house's decor is super... not my taste).

Continuing from before, it's quite interesting that their dynamics are not set in stone. They frequently exchange roles, albeit most of the time it's not prominent.

Also, if we set apart the BATB trope, Gaon's totally the knight in shining armor even if Daddy Bandit denies it (the house.... it's something alright)

The Nanny/mother step-in character reminds me of Bae Hae Sun's character in Hotel De Luna (Choi Seo Hee).

ah i havent really watched Hotel De Luna, i'm putting it off becuz i heard that there's some real sad stuff but I can see the similarities in their character presentation

Daddy Bandit is super possessive over his new twink, even going as far as almost shouting "ARE YOU DATING?" to Soo Hyun. super suss.

my dude's just totally in over his head thinking he's very chill but just a walking talking emotional disaster

on a serious note though, i think he's more than aware of soohyun's friendship with gaon and it was a deliberate poke to dissuade her (or perhaps, in an emotionally/possessive sense to sting her?)

Sun A thinks she's hot. She really had her "step on me, Mummy" glow up and I respect that.

Jung Sun Ah is just a total badass and if I ever meet her I would run far far away 😂

...her house which is Han Ki Hwan's house!!! I was so happy when I saw it then I felt so sad because... it's where the rich boys go to get emotionally (sometimes physically) abused by their parent.

WAIT HELP I DID NOT NOTICE THAT IREFDJKSDJK tbf i was more focused in practicing imaginary archery on han kihwan

"that's where Han Joo Won got his heart broken" or "some very sad things happened here" or "NOOO joo won... DONG SIIIIIKKK"... I am pathetic and annoying.

EJDKEISDJK LMAO "some very sad things happened here" -- some miserable real estate agent of an haunted house, probably

"I am pathetic and annoying" ah yes the self realisation /t no but i have had this same exact thought when i paused the show for the zillionth time to explain the significance of the fucking rain to my friend

Also, I think the derelict sight is the same location where they shot Lee Sang Yeob's death scene

oooh interesting, i wonder how many shooting locations BE and TDJ share hmm

I will say I like the way TDJ is handling the dystopia themes. It feels very realistic and it isn't too glamourised, which a lot of movies/TV shows do. So, that's a really nice aspect of the show.

right?? i honestly adore that it's pretty much covering the escalating socio-political and economic crisis under the dystopian theme? it also feels very much a commentary on the contemporary issues of the world. along with that, in episode one there's a shot with the word "utopia" that reminded me of this book (i haven't read it but i know of the premise) "The Ones Who Walk Away From Omelas". It talks of an utopian society that has built itself upon the suffering of a single child. For the society to prosper the child must be suffer. To my knowledge, the Snowpiercer (the film) and BTS's "Spring Day" are based on it thematically.

The court scene is actually kind of funny (not in a bad way)

yeah no i fucking cackled at that scene

Trauma Bandit's backstory is definitely a child abuse 101 storyline, even includes a shitty reason for his awful treatment. (the dad is a right twat)

the dad's a right bastard

but if he and Gaon are related, I'll be pissed.

Dude (gender neutral) I was flabbergasted when they went "Oh Yohan's big brother actually looks exactly like Gaon :D" like??? During Ep 1 flashbacks, I honestly expected them to go with an amnesiac route (where Gaon forgets about Yohan) or maybe "found comfort/helped each other during this tragedy for one day and then became nameless strangers again" route but noooo they had to go with the "ah yes this possible romantic option who is is identical to mc's brother" i blame the bloody censor

There's no doubt in my mind that they're going to have sex. And even if we don't see it, it's still happening!

there's so much off-screen gaps that the possibility of it not happening is lower than zero

Oh, and... just because you're traumatised, it doesn't give you the right to murder people, Daddy Bandit.

Man's just so morally tilted lmao, but ahem, I heard that you liked morally grey characters [blinks]

I really enjoyed this update heh, your brain is just. galaxy and i can't wait to see more of your thoughts hehe

#daddy bandit makes a return #beauty and the beast? nah its beast and the beast #beasts of different kinds are still beasts no?#act 3 scene 1 kim gaon the panic gay #ah they're so annoying #kim gaon #kang yohan #the devil judge

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dangermousie · 3 years

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2020 End of Year Post - kdrama edition

You can find my 2020 cdrama post here: dangermousie.tumblr.com/post/638449659546845184/2020-end-of-year-post-cdrama-edition

This is only going to cover kdramas that aired in 2020; if it originally aired another year, it’s not on this list.

It’s been a pretty lackluster kdrama year. There are probably only 5 kdramas I truly loved and only three of them I was really obsessed over. Better luck in 2021!

DRAMAS WATCHED

(In order of liking from least to most as opposed to pure quality; I am including if I’ve seen enough to make up my mind; yes I realize that’s inaccurate, but that’s my list)

42 Born Again - so bad, so incoherent, so insane, I have no idea why the leads signed up for it (and unlike some of the other watchers, I think it was awful from the very start.) There is literally nothing about this drama that makes sense.

41 Love with Flaws - a bunch of people who should be tried under the Geneva Convention.

40 Sweet Munchies - Jung Il Woo proves his inability to pick a functional script.

39 Meow the Secret Boy - if you ever wanted to bang a cat, this drama is for you. Not being a furry, however...

38 Do Do Sol Sol La Sol - I lost braincells just typing out this title.

37 When I Was the Most Beautiful - the only way it’s not the dumbest, most pointless melo of 2020 is because Born Again considerately came out the same year.

36 Woman of 9.9 Billion - if you want to watch an artsy French movie about miserable people, but only badly made, boy do I have a drama for you.

35 Lies after Lies - screams after screams.

34 Backstreet Rookie - people were up in arms about various problematic plots. I am a survivor of many plots much more problematic but even I couldn’t survive how utterly boring and annoying this drama was and how utterly irritating the leads were. This has taken Ji Chang Wook off my top favorites into “should I even check his latest Lovestruck in the City? Probably not” territory almost single-handedly (Melt Me helped, to be fair.)

33 Men Are Men - boring is boring.

32 Dinner Mate - two beautiful boring people eat out a lot.

31 Was It Love - no it wasn’t.

30 Alice - Joo Won in the shower can make up for a multitude of sins but not plot nonsense of such magnitude. When you find yourself thinking it would be better if he hooked up with the alternate universe version of his mother because at least then something entertaining would happen, you know it’s bad.

29 More than Friends - started out OK, then made me hate basically everyone and kept going.

28 Start-Up - honestly, it’s probably more decent than its place here, but the toxic and batshit fandom for it (the worst this year) made me feel like breaking out in hives any time it’s even mentioned.

27 The Spies who Loved Me - how to take a good cast and waste it.

26 Private Lives - it was good but it never took off with its concept and spent more time on the incoherent plot than the OTP which was its one strength. It’s a decent drama but coming after Heartless City and My Beautiful Bride from the same writer, it’s a disappointment.

25 Record of Youth - as high as it is due to Park Bo Gum hard carrying this entire awful drama on his shoulders and doing it so well I finished it. Alas, while he is in one drama (and that drama is great), the rest of the characters and the entirety of the script are a pointless useless mess.

24 Do You Like Brahms - excellent first third, mediocre middle, and terrible last third. I don’t know what musical term applies to this? Diminuendo, I think.

23 I’ll Go to You When the Weather is Nice - nice and mellow but nothing much happens.

22 Forest - mainly for Park Hae Jin’s excellent and frequently naked bod.

21 The Ballot - I didn’t love it as much as everyone did but it was well-made.

20 Hyena - more romance and less weird law stuff would make it better.

19 365 Repeat the Year - surprisingly solid.

18 The Game Towards Zero - see 365.

17 When My Love Blooms - very old fashioned, very lovely.

16 Chocolate - also very old fashioned and very lovely but also with Yoon Kye Sang performing medical procedures bleeding and shirtless. MMM.

15 (tie) Secret Royal Inspector - a fun if run of the mill sageuk.

15 Find Me In Your Memory - best melo this year.

14 Mystic Pop Up Bar - surprisingly good even though I wasn’t planning to check it out.

13 Where Your Eyes Linger - came out of nowhere but was tender and hopeful and lovely.

12 Itaewon Class - Park Seo Joon hard carries a drama that is already excellent. Love it.

11 Psychopath Diary - Yoon Shi Yoon is such a treat in a hilarious, cynical, dark comedy.

10 Kairos - more like ouroboros.

9 Queen Love and War - in a year where sageuks are very rare, this was solid and surprisingly moving and shippy.

8 The King Eternal Monarch - people didn’t like it but I did. It’s no masterpiece and both the leads and the writers have better dramas, but it was a lovely romantic fairy tale for me.

7 Mr. Queen - sharp, hilarious, and some of my favorite actors.

6 Psycho But It’s OK - healing, sharp cinematography and even sharper chemistry.

5 Crash Landing on You - the last ep pissed me off so much this drama is dead to me but I loved it so much until then I can’t place it lower in good conscience.

4 Train - who knew I would go this hard for an OCN drama or that OCN would do romance so well? But this time-travel mystery romance is just incredible and I shipped the OTP and rooted for the characters and loved every last bit of it.

3 Run On - this is the drama Record of Youth wanted to be but failed. Smart and lived in, you feel like you are peeking at real people, but also even four episodes in, I am so invested in the main characters separately and together, and care for them so much, it’s a little frightening.

1 (tie) Tale of the Nine Tailed - my perfect fantasy romance. I liked it better than Goblin, yeah I said it.

1 Flower of Evil - all the tropes I love in one incredible package. I would rewatch episodes waiting for new ones trying to puzzle the story and to stay withdrawal but it works just as well on rewatch. Lee Jun Ki brings his trademark tortured intensity and for once, both his leading lady and his script back him up and are worthy of that. It’s perfect.

FAVORITE DRAMA

It’s a tie between Tale of the Nine Tailed and Flower of Evil but if I had to pick just one, FoE, because it had me seriously obsessed and guessing about the protagonist and gave me the narrative tropes I love so much and an OTP that statisfied all my hurt/comfort kinks and then some.

WORST DRAMA

Born Again - honestly, this is so bonkers it almost becomes good but alas...

FAVORITE MALE CHARACTER

Do Hyun Soo/Baek Hee Sung, Flower of Evil - he is so messed up, so on edge, so traumatized. Yet capable of so much warmth and caring even as he himself doesn’t realize his humanity. FoE is basically a story of a man pushed and punished by the world for his entire life who, because of one woman, finds a safe place and peace and slowly comes to life without realizing it, and watching his desperation to keep this small bit of normalcy is so heartbreaking and exciting all at once. Plus, you start the drama thinking he’s a psychopathic serial killer and end it (if you are me) thinking he must be protected at all costs and if anyone even looks at him wrong they must suffer, and that’s quite a change!

FAVORITE FEMALE CHARACTER

Nam Ji Ah, Tale of the Nine Tailed - she is so funny and tough and smart and loving and amazing that I will totally buy that a literal demi-god will do anything and everything for her and love her for literal eternity.

NEEDS TO BE MURDERED

Dad in Record of Youth - yes in a year with serial killers and supernatural demons, I picked a normal character from a mediocre drama. It’s his everyday awfulness to his family that hits so hard and I am sad he never got his comeuppance.

FAVORITE SHIP

Ji Ah x Yeon - a fearless reporter and an immortal demi-god who’s been hoping for his human beloved to reincarnate. A really rare set-up where the OTP is equally ride or die, so compatible and completely BAMF. I got why he waited for her for that long and then fell in love with her all over again. Perfection.

Runner up: Flower of Evil - he is so messed up he literally does not believe he is capable of love or empathy, but he falls in love with her anyway and so utterly she permeates his entire life. She is tough as nails and only believes what she sees and is the sole person who believes in him against the world. She loves him but he needs her. She needs him but he loves her. They are amazing.

FAVORITE SECONDARY OTP

Seo Dan x Gu Seung Jun, Crash Landing on You, North Korean x Conman were so good I shipped them harder than the main OTP and the end of that storyline pissed me off so much I dumped the drama and didn’t finish it for months (and it’s still dead to me.)

NOTP

Record of Youth - it started out and they didn’t have much chemistry but the dialogues were interesting and I thought the chemistry would grow. It didn’t and deteriorated, their dialogues became boring and relationship had zero development (about as much as the supposed female lead.) I think we were supposed to feel bad they broke up and they were going for a bittersweet open ending, instead I found myself happy about the break up of two incompatible, chemistry-less people and hoping for the love of God they never get back together.

FAVORITE SCENE

Yeon and the bridge of knives, Tale of the Nine Tailed - Yeon choosing to undergo the creeptastic bridge of knives for a chance to save Ji Ah, who at that point he is not aware is the reincarnation of his Joseon love because, as he says, he doesn’t care if she is or isn’t, it just would be more horrible to have her die than to undergo the horrific torture he is undergoing, and then the sequence with his catching her, her weeping over him and the fact that she is the original Joseon girl revealed and all the bandaging and his watching her sleep and all that loveliness, is everything for yours truly.

Runner up: Hyun Soo having that break-down at the cliff at the end of ep 15 of Flower of Evil as Ji Won desperately tries to convince him she is alive and he finally stumbles to her.

Runner runner up (it’s my list, I will do what I want): Do Won preparing to blow his brains out to give a chance to Seo Kyung to live in Train.

BIGGEST CRUSH

Seon-Gyeom, Run On. Yeah, I know. Im Siwan is tiny, delicate featured and has a runner’s build, none of which are things that normally appeal to me. But his character is so odd, so honest, so unflinching in pursuing what he thinks is right, so incapable of self-pity despite plenty of reasons for it, and so ridiculously attractive when he smiles, I don’t even care.

BEST SCENE STEALER CHARACTER

Kim Bum, TotNT - I started out being annoyed by him and ended up looking forward to his scenes and being distraught by his ending.

NEEDS A SEQUEL

Honestly, none. I was fine with all the endings. I wouldn’t mind seeing post-end life of Tale of the Nine Tailed characters or the OTP settling into their literal new world in Train, but I am good.

TROPE THAT NEEDS TO DIE

Time jump that solves all the problems off screen or alternatively years pass and everyone is frozen - something that kdramas need to learn and need to learn badly. See Record of Youth, Brahms and Start Up.

FAVORITE TROPE WE’VE SEEN A LOT OF

Men who are ride or die for their OTP - this was a great year for this - the male leads of four of my five dramas were beyond anything on that scale (only exception is Run On because it’s still too early to tell there.) Yes PLEASE.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT

This was a banner year for that what with Start Up, Do You Like Brahms, Record of Youth, and Private Lives all starting out well and nosediving off the cliff but winner is Crash Landing on You. I loved it so much for bulk of its run but the last episode pissed me off so much I deleted all my files and called it a day.

BIGGEST GOOD SURPRISE

Flower of Evil - I had no expectations of this drama and wasn’t even planning on watching it despite liking both the lead actors because yet another “look at evil serial killer be evil” drama with no romance was not my thing. Luckily someone convinced me there might be some romance and I peeked curiously. Honestly, their promo campaign was the most misleading and dumbest thing ever.

Runner up Psycho but it’s OK - I have never liked Kim Soo Hyun in anything before and the drama premise seemed WTF but it was shockingly good and KSH totally blew me away.

Hardest Working Lead

Yoon Shi Yoon - he starred in two (!!!) dramas in 2020 playing three characters and not only were both these dramas awesome in a lackluster year, but if it wasn’t for the fact that I knew it was the same actor and the fact that the characters shared a face, I would have never believed that they were played by the same actor. So good!

2020 DRAMAS I HAVEN’T SEEN THAT I MOST WANT TO WATCH

None. Covid Year gave me PLENTY of time

BEST NON-2020 DRAMA I’VE WATCHED IN 2020

My Beautiful Bride and Deserving of the Name - I was obsessed with both of them and honestly, they were much better than the bulk of 2020 kdramas I watched.

MOST ANTICIPATED IN 2021

The Moon That Rises in the Day, Hong Chun Gi, Joseon Exorcist, Island, Frightening Cohabitation, Snowdrop.

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khristinewriteandcapture · 4 years

Text

Series Reviews (2020)

4. Itaewon Class

Follow your heart and be yourself. A life without regrets regardless of consequences. Everything is all about timing. When you get the timing right, all is well.

This drama has taught me so much. Right now, I am in a state where just like Yi-Seo, I don't know what I want and wondering if life is really worth living.

It is truly great to feel acknowledge by someone. Saeroyi kept that in mind and always do it to his employees. He is a true leader by being with them and helping each other. I didn't know Park Seo Joon can have this inspiring aside from being handsome and funny in romantic comedy dramas. He can also be a role model and inspiring actor. It's nice to know that there are dramas like this who want to inspire everyone to believe in the power of their dreams and desire. The only bad thing (for me) about this is that some desire was ignite with revenge. It's not a healthy way of living to be honest.

Being fueled by anger and wanting to take revenge is not healthy to someone but by Saeroyi's case, that ignition of avenging his father's death made him stronger in a good way. He wanted to make his father's dream come true as well but also want to people who make his life miserable pay for what they've done.

Itaewon Class is truly an amazing drama to watch. It will surely give you lessons in life that you eventually want to do.

They also have interesting set of cast. All have different stories to tell and I think their stories also make it more inspiring to watch.

I want to talk about Chairman Jang first. His power and manipulation really irritates me at first. He said he build Jangga Co. for his family but I guess he did not. He build it for himself. For his pride and status. He lived his early years being poor and having to be at other people mercy so when he got the chance to have power, he easily grabbed it and never let go.

He's just like everybody else. Afraid to be powerless. Also, even though he want to look like a manipulator who doesn't have a heart, he still want warmth. He's human anyway.

To the actor who portray Chairman Jang, I knew him in another drama, I was shocked when I first saw him because his role in the other drama which he started in was way different from his role here.

If you watched Strong Woman Do Bong Soon and remembered his father. Here he is now. He's not a walnut and a battered husband anymore. He's the Chairman and a cunning strong tiger.

I wanted to get angry with him but I can still see the father of Do Bong Soon. He was a great father there and even though this was a different role, I still see him as a softie. I get irritated by him.

After Chairman Jang, let's move on to his sons. The Jang Brothers.

First off, the legitimate one. Jang Geun-won. The black sheep heir. The trouble maker and good for nothing son. He's the reason why the whole revenge thing happen. It's all because of him. And if not because of him, there wouldn't be any story. So, even though he's a pain, he is also the main reason we have this drama. Let's give him that credit.

Jang Geun-won also has this habit of being undeniable stupid for some reason in this drama. He cant stand up for himself and always hide in his father's back. But behind all of that, he is just a son who clearly doesn't know what to do with his life. Ever since he was young, he was entitled to be the next chairman of their company. Everything was easy for him so when shit occurs, he doesn't know what to do.

He was like a lost child. I feel sorry for him. And all those years, all he wants was Oh Soo-ah to notice him even for a bit. Even if he was the next chairman and all the attention was on him, the attention from a specific he needed the most was not given to him. So, he acted crazy.

Why do we have to accept the love we think we deserve and not the love given to us? Or simply, why do we like someone who doesn't like us back? Poor Jang Geun-won. You'll get your happy ending. But first, be good.

After the elder one, next is the baby brother. Baby half brother. Jang Geun-soo. Yi-Seo's pushover but turned cunning and irritating antagonist.

He was cute really. Until he wanted to take over Jangga Co. Okay, he wanted Yi-Seo but all the things he did just to make her like him. That is not the way to make a girl fall in love dude! How can you make her yours if you're destroying her?

He's smart, I'll give him that but he's also stupid for doing such things.

How can someone be trustworthy end up betraying you?

Jang Geun-soo wanted to be loved just like his brother and just like him, he acted crazy. I feel sad for this father and sons.

Okay, so up next is Oh Soo-ah. The competent and beautiful Oh Soo-ah. The 15-year love of Saeroyi.

She is competent. But her values in life is want irritates me. She doesn't want to end up like Mr. Park (dad of Saeroyi) so she studied hard and eventually because successful by entering the company who destroyed the life of someone she cherish.

At first it was a slick move. Maybe she has something in her sleeves. Maybe she'll get revenge. But no. In the end, she was used to be torture Saeroyi.

She was manipulated because all she wanted was a relax life. She was an orphan. She wanted to live a life where she can never feel being sympathize again.

Also being confident about Saeroyi's feelings for her was a little annoying. She knew about his feelings but always took it for granted and when she had the chance to say hers, it was too late.

Soo-ah just wanted to stop her life of misery. She just wants to be happy but now, the only person who she want to be happy with no longer feel the way he felt before.

Timing is everything.

This review is getting longer than I thought and I still want to include all the members here. My mind is in fire right now. I think this is the longest review I've done. I dont think anyone would read this shit post. Hahahaha! It's so long! But, hey. It's my blog anyway.

Soooooo!

Let's move on to the main cast!

Itaewon Class or IC Co is the company name of DanBam. DanBam is a pub located at Itaewon. A place in Korea where you can see the world. Different nationalities are gathered in Itaewon.

I should be saying this to the beginning but anyway! DanBam consist of 5 employees turned into shareholders. 4 of them are now shareholders and of course, the fifth member is Saeroyi himself. He's the CEO.

Let's talk about Toni. The foreign looking dude who happened to end up working to DanBam while looking for his korean father. I was surprised to see an african guy in a korean drama not that I don't expected but it was surprising and he was so fluent in hangul. I was in awe.

I can say Toni was the type of guy with compassion and sensitivity. For a foreign looking guy to claim hes korean was brave of him. No one can tell you who and what you are. You are the one who thinks of yourself. You know yourself better than others.

Wow. I should tell that to myself.

Next is Seung-Woo, the hard headed, oldie, classic style Seung-kwon.

He is literally hard headed because at some scene, he was hit by a bottle of bear but I guess it didn't hurt him. He looks old and his moves are waaaay funny but what I like about him is that even though he was from a bad past, he left that all behind him and started a new life with Saeroyi. He was also inspired by what he said and wanted to live just like him. He devoted his life for him. Having someone loyal like him will make you at ease all the time. Even if he sometimes annoy you.

He can be really annoying but when you need him to cheer you up, he'll be there.

Ma Hyun-Yi. You all know her right? Do you also know Seon Ok from Weightlifting Fairy Kim Book Joo? Yup. It is her. The mighty Seon Ok. She changed her career from weightlifting to cooking. Hahahaha! Just kidding.

I knew Seon Ok will be a very promising actress after WFKBJ. I was also waiting for this break for her.

She portray a very special role. Stating that you should not be afraid to be who you are. You don't also need to explain yourself to others or get their approval.

Just like what Saeroyi's principles, follow your heart and be yourself.

Hyun-yi became true to herself and end up being happy and successful by the way.

After that, we now got the most powerful woman in Itaewon. The one who made a small pub became big. Featured in one of the businesswomen in Forbes Magazine. The one and only, Jo Yi-Seo.

Who would have the thought? The crazy party girl would be a most competent businesswomen in Korea at the age of 24? Yup. I think it can happen in real life

Anyways, Yi-Seo. She's like someone I want to be. Full of confidence. Smart and slightly cunning and determined. At the first part of the drama, I can see myself to her. Literally. The words she said and how she felt about living.

And the everything changed. When she met him.

I don't want to think that I really need to meet a certain someone to be really determined in life but...maybe...maybe I needed that. But how? I don't want to go out of my room. Hahahaha.

Anyway, Yi-seo was on the verge of giving up then he met Saeroyi. Her life changed as she wanted to help him. Not going to college and working at the age of 20 was like the greatest decision she made (and she never regret it).

Again. Timing is everything.

Yi-seo was right on time when Saeroyi needed someone the most.

She love him with all her heart and willing to help him even if he likes somebody else. If its not love then I don't know anymore. And I felt sad to know that she want to be competent for Saeroyi to need him. She badly needed to become someone he needed so she can stay with him. She don't want to leave him.

They say that behind every man success is a competent and understandable woman. And that is Yi-seo. She's the woman in Saeroyi's success. And if her feelings still don't reach him, she will do everything she can to reach him.

You see, Itaewon Class is not an ordinary korean drama. Some of you might liked Crash Landing on You. I recommend you watch this drama too. You'll never regret.

#series reviews #reviews #itaewon class #park seo joon #kim da mi #korean drama

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not-a-christmas-tree · 4 years

Text

i just watched the dallas theatre company les mis here are my observations

IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED THIS PRODUCTION I SUGGEST YOU DO! DON’T READ THIS IF YOU DON’T WANT SPOILERS THOUGH!

so, in case you didn’t know: in 2014, Dallas Theatre Company did a modern interpretation of les mis. i just watched it on youtube (i will link it later, i promise) and took SO MANY GODDAMN NOTES so here they are!

ACT ONE

(Look Down-WHID)

starting out strong! we got some HARSH TRUTHS ABOUT THE JAIL SYSTEM!! blatant police brutality happening BASICALLY the entire first part of the song. it hurts me.

note on the cops costumes: they legitimately terrify me and they are dressed in like. full riot gear.

okay so,,,valjean wraps the rope from his bag around his neck at the end of WHID. this is interesting bc, a) he’s trying to find a solution as to what he should do after the Bishop and that’s a direction I’ve surprisingly seen no one take, but b) this part has the same melody as javert’s suicide, when javert is ALSO trying to figure out what he should do after his perception on life is altered. for a moment there, they both are on the same page, the page being suicide. however, only one of them takes that choice.

the above makes the lines (in both songs) “i’ll escape now from that world / from the world of valjean” ESPECIALLY interesting because. in two different ways, they did escape, but they ALMOST had the same conclusion for a brief second.

(At The End Of The Day)

in ATEOTD fantine ends up being the last one working, causing everyone to look at her with varying degrees of annoyance or frustration. She do be hardworking doe

OH SHIT KIDS IN THE FACTORY!! three little kids run up to the foreman when he’s giving daily stipends to the ladies!! (they’re also the last to be paid, giving significant sass to foreman who also sasses back)

Girl #5 mockingly calling fantine “innocent sister” when 5 is white and fantine is a WOC...that’s kind of interesting given that that can be read as SERIOUS racial profiling on 5’s part

foreman looks like bob’s boss in the incredibles but like. tall lmao

(I Dreamed A Dream)

her look of like,,shock-but-not when everyone from the factory exits and she takes off her bandana,,,that. that is good acting

her transitions from chest to head voice are so good

i’m kinda sad she isn’t younger?? or just. doesn’t look super young bc fantine is supposed to be like. early twenties. she’s not 45 and had a decently long life before she died, no, she’s young. she was taken advantage of. that’s the whole point. but that’s sUPER little like this lady is way too good

she has the perfect mix of sadness and regret plus anger and shameless hope. like. kudos to you allison blackwell you’re a dope fantine

the cry on “killed the dream i dreamed” brb sobbing

(The Dock Scenes)

MALE PROSTITUTES I REPEAT!! MALE PROSTITUTES!! (no idea what wig he’s wearing tho. he was done dirty in the wig department)

oh male prostitute is prostitute #1!

oh damn there is. lady def on some bad drugs with her kid passing behind fantine on the bench. ouch.

hoo okay they did n o t censor lovely ladies!! (mini note: camera person has the camera down an AWFUL LOT on these docks scenes lmao)

there are cops on the docks. gross.

(Who Am I-Confrontation)

OH SHIT THEY HAVE A FALSE JVJ IN THE BACKGROUND OF WHO AM I

jvj comforts not-jvj for a second!! (money note was FANTASTIC btw)

fantine being WOC and DYING in a modern hospital also is,,yeesh because. you know. racist doctors.

jvj cries after fantine dies JUST STAB ME NOW OKAY—

confrontation is really funny when u see that javert has a GUN and jvj has A CHAIR

JVJ DID THE LIL RUN ON “live within my care” YAAAAY

(COAC-Master Of The House)

oh boy baby cosette,,so small,,so pure plus classic baby head shake when she sings I STAN

MADAME T LOOKS—OH GOOD GOD

DID SHE SPIT ON MY BABY--

cosette: “please do not send me out alone—“ madame t: “oooooh my gOOOOOD” omg

what the fuck is thenardiers hair i—

WHAT THE FUCK IS THENARDIER IN G E N E R A L

random idea regarding thenardier’s prison tattoo: he has the same number on his chest that jvj has. Meaning he was in jail too. so why isn’t he as messed up as jvj? i wanna say maybe he was in for less time, but like. I doubt it. However, he has a whole ass gang. did the thenardier gang break their boss out of jail? please say yes

him listing things for baby éponine to charge i love it

OH MY GOD THENARDIER FLAUNTS HIS NUMBER WHILE JVJ DOESNT!! jvj hides his past because he believes it will get him into better places (it does, he becomes mayor for god’s sake) while thenardier shows off his past with stubborn pride. while thenardier cheats his way to success, jvj lives an almost honest life where he ultimately suffers due to the stress all the hiding he does gives him

i love that éponine looks like neither of her parents,,,madame t got around huh?

(The Bargain)

I JUST REALIZED THE STAGE HAS A CATWALK DOWN THE CENTER INTO THE AUDIENCE THAT IS THE COOLEST OMG

Instead of madame correcting thenardier on cosette’s name he asks cosette herself which prompts the CUTEST ANGRY YELL OF “it’s cosette!” I HAVE EVER SEEN

also thenardier fuckin MANHANDLING cosette i’m DYING

JVJ LOVES HER SM I AM SOFTTT

(The Beggars)

omg marius is so ADORABLE i love him

gavroche is a style icon

kid holding sign saying “my mom got laid off” POOR BB

i love éponine

that’s it that’s the note

wait a sec was that montparnasse with the prostitute earlier in beggars??

ALSO I SEE AZELMA AND OTHER THENARDIER KIDS PRESENT FOR “turn on the tears!!” THANK YOU FOR UTILIZING THAT LINE PROPERLY

why does enj have a bat?? If it;s not a bat then,,,what is it? someone please help me

marius saves cosette from bad guy gang!! 🥰🥰

bruh javert misses jvj running by like,,,MAYBE two seconds that is hilarious

jav looks so done when thenardier is trying to get out of this lmao i love it

javert looks so cop-like it scares me

(Stars)

the line “safe behind bars” in stars kind of kills me here because as the audience you SEE the cruelty that the convicts face. you see the guy on the ground getting beaten you SEE the chains around their throats and yet. yet javert still somehow thinks that putting jvj in jail is safe? i think the thing to focus on here is not whether it’s safe, because it obviously isn’t. the focus is who it’s safer for, jean valjean or javert?

has it always been “your father” rather than “her father” when marius asks éponine to find where cosette lives?? if they changed it that is SMART because yk. jvj would be ALARMED if he found out he’d been found by éponine but he wouldn’t hurt her. he’s not the guy she has to worry about, it’s her own father. thenardier gave her a job and she’s straying from it, he’s what would endanger her.

THE PLAYFUL BOOP AND SHOVE FROM MARIUS 🥺🥺🥺

(The ABC Café)

“note-ruh daym”

hee hee pretty enjolras

pretty enjolras in skinny jeans even better

OOH we have,,,angry enjolras in this version o k a y

grantaire raises his hand before agog/aghast part omg

“i’ve never heard him ooOOOOh and aAAAAh *excited squeal*

“dan joo-wan” i love texas

bossuet spotted :)

longing gay looks NOT spotted :(

i love enjolras okay but this one is just,,,a little too aggressive. enjolras isn’t just angry all the time, he’s not that one dimensional. of course, there is more of the show to see and i hope he changes a little bit, but so far red and black isn’t doing much for me. enjolras is hopeful, not just angry.

A CAPELLA SECTION IN RED AND BLACK?? I think YES

the amis finding out lamarque is dead has “fuck trump just won the election” energy

okay i was hoping that enj would change his aggression thing when they find out lamarque is dead (bc that’s when most enjolrai figure out what may happen and kinda sober up yk) but. it doesn’t look like he did. there is hope for barricade scenes

OMG LIL NOTE ON COMBEFERRE GIVING OUT FLYERS TO AUDIENCE MEMBERS: that is fucking pERFECT and yk why?? because it’s a call to action!! it’s less obvious in DYHTPS because they’re mostly singing to each other but later in epilogue when the words and melody is repeated, it’s meant as a call to action! “will you join in our crusade, who will be strong and stand with me?” is a cALL TO ACTION AND THEY ARE HANDING FLYERS TO AUDIENCE MEMBERS—that’s officially the only way to break the fourth wall THANK YOU

hey fantine doubles as a student i think!!

HARMONIES ARE C L E A N OOOOH

(In My Life-Heart Full Of Love)

okay yes i already love cosette because she plays awkward-teen-in-love-for-the-first-time PERFECTLY.

book-ish cosette hell yes a cutie

father-daughter forehead kisses 🥺

awkward mARIUS TIMEEEEE

placing marius, éponine, and cosette in a triangle is a MARVELOUS decision thank u for that symbolism

marius checking if he looks good and ép giving him a thumbs up omg

*aggressively tries to sit normally* same cosette

*awkward curtsy* also same cosette

(Attack On Rue Plumet)

robbery time let’s see how they do this

ooh marius and cosette run off but i can’t tell if they notice gang before running

thenardier fuckin SLICES éponine after her scream

NOOOO HER LIL WHIMPER AFTER BEING THREATENED AGAIN

(One Day More)

this lil part between robbery and one day more is interesting bc i legit have NO idea what jvj is thinking here. he keeps looking between his watch (i think it’s a watch idk) and cosette after she runs off to pack so like. what. is he doing here bc he looks like he’s choosing between two things but i don’t,,know,,what things

red berets on the amis are dope btw

i think marius is discussing what to do with éponine here, which is FUN because we all know why she goes to the barricade in the brick :’) éponine might be convincing marius to go to the barricade knowing this is her chance to die with him like in the book

omg

OMG

that stomp bit with the students was the coolest fucking thing i’ve ever seen

END OF ACT ONE

act two will be posted shortly :D

#enjoy my super long analysis on WHID and Stars lmao #i went ham with the english brain #les mis #les miserables #dallas theater company #modern les mis #les amis de l'abc #les amis

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chizurue · 7 years

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“There are cruel moments you never want to encounter in life. And those cruel moments are always preceded by choices that brought them about. And those little choices come back as regrets and haunt us later on in life.”

I realized that my review slash recaps are too long and obviously getting out of hand in my two previous post, so I’ll probably try to shorten this one.

Episode 5

The dumb prosecutor seeks help..

Jae Chan fearing for his brother’s seeks out Hong Joo for help and they started to piece their dream together. I have to say I’m impressed by the power of their memory, when I can barely remember what my dream is about, they remembers details in the dream that helps them find the where and when of it.

And at the same time we see the pedestrian guy who turned out to be a police, dreams too! The same scene that was in Jae Chan and Hong Joo’s dream but of course in a different perspective. This is yet another surprising development. How did he come by that ability too? Was it because he was on the brink of death but he somehow escaped it and then he gained the ability?

To make the story short, or in this cape, recap short – they got there in time and saved the wife another beating and preventing Jae Chan’s brother (Seung Won) from inadvertently committing murder. And there is a precious scene where the younger brother is the one who is scolding his hyung:

We also see some flashbacks of the brothers in their younger years with their parents. The troublemaker Jae Chan and the sassy younger bro.That heartwarming scene between the father and child. And who wouldn’t cry after hearing dear old dad and his dreams for his child?

The battle of the only child…

Hong Joo takes in the mother and daughter to their home. And the girls are constantly on each other’s necks.

Episode 6

The winning lotto number…

Hong Joo was trying to convince Jae Chan to pursue the case of the So Yoon’s dad. And of course the pragmatic prosecutor refuses because he is afraid of losing his job and the poor him is broke after totaling his car in the accident. So she blurts out lotto numbers that will be his insurance.

Jae Chan still not entirely convinced by her ran into Yoo Bum and eventually got into a confrontation about the case. The lawyer is smug about getting away with the case but Jae Chan doesn’t let him be. I quote, “Do you know what’s more awful than not knowing anything? Thinking that you know everything.” This then leads to a funny scene where it turned out that he just bluffed his way through the lawyer. But of course, our Jae Chan still pursues after the case. The joke is on our dumb prosecutor heh. Jokes aside. There are some pretty interesting thoughts about cases of domestic violence. When Jae Chan asked another prosecutor who also dealt with the same case in the past, here’s what she said:

“At times fighting for justice and helping the weak can clash. In many domestic cases abuses, arresting the husband who is the breadwinner results in the rest of the family having to struggle to sustain themselves.” “His wife writing that statement doesn’t mean that she forgave him. We’re only pretending not to know because we want his wife to make a choice between staying inside the thorny walls or braving the thorn brush by stepping out of those walls. People like us sitting in a field of pretty flowers don’t have any right to tell her what to do.”

Foolish bravery…

Another scene where a young Jae Chan is with his father and he is telling him that he will be working hard from now on (leaving his rebel blonde hair for his natural black. – this kid looks good!).

Another part of the puzzle fit. We find out that the soldier who killed Hong Joo’s dad was also the soldier the father and son saw, the one with the gun and who was reported on the previous episode to have already killed someone. And that ‘someone’ turned out to be Jae Chan’s dad. The two dads were dubbed as heroes who saved other people’s lives – Capt. Jung Il Song and the bus driver Nam Chul Du – who had a joint funeral. Leading the two main leads to their first meeting as kids. Jae Chan on his father’s death: “To others his choice meant justice. But to me it was foolish bravery.” Echoing the words of the female prosecutor above.

#3 Han Woo Tak…

All three were born in 1988. Year of the Dragon. No clue if that’s relevant later.

I can finally stop calling him the ‘pedestrian guy’. Woo Tak met Jae Chan outside and invites him to dinner as thanks for saving his life. Of course it would be Hong Joo’s family restaurant that they went to.

It’s not a coincidence right? Definitely not. It was Woo Tak’s dream. He only made a small change in his choice of companion, instead of his fellow officer, he invited Jae Chan. And a few moments after entering the restaurant, the lawyer Yoo Bum walked in, finally finding the mother and daughter in Hong Joo’s care.

The episode ended with Woo Tak’s words, “That small change I made. Will it prevent the horrible moments that are about to unfold?”

Now that is one cliffhanger right there. Good thing I’m late in recapping this episode that the next episodes are already available!

I wonder when this will happen by the way. This is another scene in episode 5 where Hong Joo dreams another future. All right!

The late review-slash-recap in gifs | While You Were Sleeping 5 & 6 "There are cruel moments you never want to encounter in life. And those cruel moments are always preceded by choices that brought them about.

#episode #korean #recap #review #while you were sleeping

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heyymonkey2 · 7 years

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First Night Back in Fuuga Ch 31: Our Growing Love

AO3 Link to Chapter 31

Summary: Yona opens up about her pregnancy suspicions to Hak

This isn’t the first time Hak has watched Yona sleep in her palace bedroom.

Her placid, beautiful face. Chest gently lifting and then quietly releasing like ocean waters out over a shore. Morning skin replenished, soft. Lips gently parted and relaxed, tempting pink pillows he’s always wanted to touch. Oh yes, he’s watched this scene in here dozens of times. But this is the first time from this angle -- Yona’s angelic face snuggled up against his bare chest.

Hak's heart is so swollen from this experience he’s bordering on an attack.

He has his arm around Yona’s naked figure which fits perfectly against his, like she was crafted to become part of him in this bed. He has his other arm behind his head as he watches her -- on him -- naked -- and tries to cope with his new life. The rare moments he’s able to steal his eyes away from her, he glances around the room still full of her things and their memories. How is this possible?!

Maybe it’s not… As if to pinch himself awake, Hak leans forward and cups Yona’s face upward, then presses his lips to hers. He holds there for just a moment enjoying this once-forbidden bliss -- if it’s a dream it’s not a criminal thing to do -- then pulls back to see a tiny smile curl up the corners of her lips.

Hak places her face back down and leans back again, now doubling his effort to accept this reality. He feels one of Yona’s hands creeping up his chest, over his defined abs, to a peck mound, now up to one of his flushing cheeks. She looks up at him with sleepy, drunk-with-happiness eyes -- so playful, so dangerous -- then reaches up her other hand and yanks his face back down to hers -- rolling onto her back in the process and dragging him on top of her, legs spread, his morning wood pressed against her.

Not even a word is exchanged. It’s all in the look in their meeting eyes. She’s in love. Excited. Playful. He’s far, far off in obsession. Disbelief. Immense faith. And it’s a shock of pleasure for both as he enters her and begins to hump.

Their skin feels incredible together and the sex is the most fluid it’s ever been -- all soft bedsheets, sloppy kisses, incredible wetness, and interwoven limbs.

The harder Hak thrusts, the louder Yona moans. It. Feels. Amazing.

If before his size had left her sore, now her body aches for him and that soreness. A dear friend, the only thing that can do this for her, make her feel this way.

Yona reaches a hand down to his fine ass and grasps it tightly as he pounds into her. She wants it -- more, more. The soft bedding moves flexibly with their passionate movements, the bed itself bumps against the wall in rhythm.

And then, with Hak's mouth crushed down over Yona's in a desperate hold of affection, he feels her tighten in spasms against him and with a soft breath of ecstatic defeat he releases a stream of his hot seed into her.

For a few moments they remain connected, nuzzling and kissing, hands running all over each other, then Hak rolls to the side and stares at his wife in awe.

Hak laughs.

Yona looks at him bewildered, then incredulous.

He tries to explain, “I always wondered what would happen if I did that.”

“What exactly?!” Yona is so ready to attack.

Hak runs his index finger over her lips, “Kissed these while you were sleeping.”

“Oh,” Yona blushes, relieved, “...I hope you’re not disappointed.”

Hak shakes his head in amazement, “Everything about you has exceeded my dreams.”

Yona bites her lower lip with stars in her eyes, shy in receiving this compliment but also liking it from him. She finds herself grazing on his adonis-like body with her eyes, heading all the way down to where his pelvic v leads, then back up to meet his curious gaze, “You, too.”

Yona is surprised to see how much he’s blushing. Then realizes, “Usually you hold me after we make love. Why’re you over there?” she nods down at the chasm between them on the bed, “Don’t tell me you suddenly mind the wet spot now that we’re at the palace…”

“It’s definitely not that.”

“Then what is it?!” Yona pouts.

Hak is uncomfortable to admit it, but… “It’s a little weird being here… with you… like this.”

Yona giggles, “I know.”

“I’m glad you think it’s funny, Princess,” Hak shifts.

“OK I agree it’s going to take some getting used to. But it’s not a bad thing. Does it bother you?”

Hak looks down at her tenderly, “The most important things haven’t actually changed for me. I loved you then. I love you now. I wanted to protect you then. I want to protect you now.”

“Something has changed since we came back here.”

Fessing up, “I have this terrible feeling I’m going to get in serious trouble at any moment. --for putting my hands on you. Like I’m betraying something. Giving in to something.”

Yona stares at him, surprised. Then she smiles with a sigh of frustration.

“Oh no,” Hak’s eyes widen.

“I was going to say something encouraging, then I remembered Mundok is arriving today.”

Hak lifts a hand to his face, “This is gonna get weirder.”

Yona wraps her arms around him in a hug.

“We’re married,” Hak reminds himself, “We’re married. This is what married people do.”

“Mmhmm,” Yona encourages.

“Why do I still feel like he’s gonna kill me?”

Yona turns as red as a beet and looks up at him with eyes that have something to say.

“Oh no,” Hak is terrified once more.

“You know how I haven’t been feeling like eating these past few weeks and have been feeling a little off…”

Hak nods, his mouth beginning to fall.

“Girls usually have periods every few weeks and since we’ve been traveling mine have been irregular but…”

Hak is still nodding, breathing has stopped.

Yona takes his hands in hers, “...but then I started feeling this pain in my breasts and last night, being here in this room, I recognized the feeling from before. Breathe, Hak,” she pushes a hand against his chest.

Hak lets air out and then with effort gets some more in. He’s gone white.

“I think my breasts are growing. And then suddenly it all makes sense. I think… I’m pregnant, Hak.”

THUD! Hak has somehow fallen to the floor.

“Hak!” Yona peeks over the bed down at him, “Are you OK?!”

He’s on his rump, a trembling hand scratching the back of his head. When he looks up at her, his cheeks are pink and there are tears in his eyes.

"Hak..."

“That’s… This is… Princess, I…,” he rises with an awestruck expression and goes to her. He pulls her into a deep hug against his chest, his hands tightly grasped onto her, “This is incredible, Princess. I can’t believe, already…”

Yona feels wetness fall onto her cheek. She pulls back and looks up to see the streams of tears now down Hak’s cheeks. She touches them, now crying along with him.

“I’m really happy, too,” she shares, “It’s all happening so fast, but… I want all of it. With you.”

Hak just stares, overwhelmed with emotion, holding her precious body, wondering what he’s gonna have to give up in a future life to balance how good this one is -- and being ready to bleed joyfully for any of it.

“I know there’s a lot expected of us today. The generals are on the way here. I’ve begun to think Joo-Doh is just making things up now his list is so long. Kija and Zeno could arrive back. I still haven’t seen Jae-Ha, Yun, and Shin-Ah’s room. Not to mention Mundok. And I sent for Lili--”

“Whoa, whoa, slow down,” Hak sits next to Yona who skips off the bed and begins to dress as she realizes what’s ahead.

“Oh! All your clothes are in your bedroom. I don’t think I have any boy clothes,” she heads to her closet, “But I might have a certain blue dress…”

“Princess…,” Hak continues to watch Yona rush around, then begins to put back on what he wore the night before, still reeling from the news.

Yona stares forward into her closet, frozen. Too soon. There hangs one of her mother’s gowns. And one of Soo-Won’s outer robes he’d once left behind and she’d always kept.

Yona slams the closet shut a little too hard, then feels Hak’s great hands on her shoulders.

He whispers in her ear, “You’re going to be amazing. But first, may I walk you to a doctor?”

It takes Yona a minute to mentally come back and process, but when she does she’s a little touched. She turns -- and Hak sees the stress on her face.

So he adds, “The way you eat sometimes, someone’s gotta get some best practices and make sure you don’t go overboard.”

“Whatever, Hak!” Yona smacks him.

He pulls her into a hug and they hold each other for a good while, about nothing specific and yet also very much some shared sense of the weight ahead of them on so many levels.

Yona feels comfort in Hak's arms. As long as they’re together -- what can’t she do?

There’s a knock at the door. Here we go...

“Princess,” Hak smiles down at Yona, “Always remember -- I'm going to protect you and our family. No matter what.”

#akatsuki no yona #hak x yona #lemon #fanfic #first night back in fuuga

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katierosefun · 2 years

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Are you normal or do you think about the canon fact that Han Kiwan's nickname for Kwon Hyuk is 'puppy' over and over

Tell me your thoughts, what. are. your. headcanons. for them. I have some brainrot about it (about them) and about Kwon Hyuk in general, but mostly the messed up Han family?? I think you get it

oh god anon . . . okay, this got long. give me a second.

i am so glad that you think i get it, because i've so quietly thought about the eternally fucked up dynamic that is the han family. while i'm not entirely sure if puppy is the same as we would use in english ("똥개새끼" is probably closer to son of a bitch, although the 똥개 part does mean "puppy". (ie. i have fond memories of my mom teasing my brothers and me by calling us "똥강아지", which roughly translates to puppy.) in any case, i still find it interesting that han ki hwan chooses the "똥개새끼" term instead of the more typical "개새끼", which is probably closer to son of a bitch--except "똥개" is funny because he really did choose to refer to hyuk as even a puppy in his son of a bitch-ness. i don't know how coherent this brief etymology lesson was, but it's funny!)

(i mean, i also don't know if maybe i'm just totally reading too much into this because i'm speaking from a very korean-american perspective, so who knows, maybe it really is more common to call people "똥개새끼" instead of "개새끼" these days.)

but anyways. anyways. i suppose to get back to your question: what the fuck is it with han ki hwan and kwon hyuk? good question! to be honest, whenever i think about them . . . as anything more than a weird employee-employer situation, my skin crawls, but there's so many . . . weird interactions between those two, and also? if i'm being honest? i kinda also see hyuk and ki hwan as an interesting . . . mirror to whatever is going on with joo won and dong sik. (i don't really want to say foil, but there's enough parallels: the fact that both are very much older man/younger man pairings, dong sik seeming bent on feeding joo won, while ki hwan only kinda pretends to feed hyuk as a way to get information . . . only where dong sik is genuine, ki hwan is cold and insincere and all the awful things.)

but of course, that's only the tip of the iceberg. the han family in itself is strange--a mother locked up in an institution, a son who's sent away to boarding school immediately, a man who calls himself a husband and father only when it's convenient for him . . . it kinda wouldn't surprise me if han ki hwan really did get his way with hyuk--and hyuk, i mean. i love him so much (and i'm so glad about the fate of his character), but also, he's smart. he's an opportunist. he's willing to lose his dignity a little bit if it means he might get ahead.

of course, this gets all the more complicated when i think about joo won and hyuk's relationship--because the thing is, even for all his standoffishness, i think joo won actually kinda . . . likes hyuk? or at least recognizes that hyuk is smarter than he lets on, and so he's even more disgusted about why a smart guy like him is working for an asshole like han ki hwan.

i imagine at some point, joo won actually semi-getting along with hyuk--at least, enough to call him hyung, something that makes hyuk beam because he knows that this young princeling would rather die than refer to anyone like that, but then one day coming back to the house (never a home, always a house), joo won finds something that makes him realize that his father's nabbed one more thing from himself. again.

(maybe the office door is partially open? maybe joo won finds a shirt that he knows isn't han ki hwan's? maybe he hears a low conversation behind a closed door and recognizes two voices. maybe it's just as simple and subtle as joo won eating dinner with hyuk and ki hwan (on one of the few times they actually eat dinner together), and then joo won notices a shift in the conversation between the three of them, and he notices that hyuk's collar is just slightly undone, and joo won looks at his father and he just knows.

joo won excuses himself from the table and promptly vomits up his food in the bathroom. hyuk comes close, but joo won slams the door in his face.)

and i think hyuk would feel bad about it, privately. i think he would note joo won immediately drawing away (which makes me think a lot about hyuk's gentle "let hyung take care of it" in the beginning of the show), and i think he would try to make joo won understand that it's not all that bad (because besides. hyuk thinks he can at least minimize whatever storms brew between joo won and ki hwan).

(joo won hates it anyways. he despises it. he's never liked touching people, but now he really can't stand hyuk putting his hand on his arm. he can't stand thinking about how he might have actually dared to think hyuk might be a person he could at least somewhat trust, especially after ten years--but now his skin crawls when he sees hyuk standing in han ki hwan's office.)

(and hyuk. it's all partially a game to him--he knows it, and he knows that han ki hwan knows it. maybe that makes things more exciting, but maybe that actually makes things worse, because i think hyuk knows that this knife's blade of a game will forever be unbalanced.)

(it's a relief when it all ends. hyuk does away with han ki hwan for good. he talks to joo won more these days. no one mentions han ki hwan for a long time.)

#answered #anon #congrats anon. you are now making me want to write this #i sense another fic that might be rather . . . dark #because you're right! this whole dynamic is SO fucked up #and sometimes you just want to see a metaphorical train wreck you know?#also I guess to answer the first half of your question . . .#i suppose I’m not entirely normal

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