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Post by aniraina on Aug 29, 2007 21:25:52 GMT -5
to otaku: no no no; i mean a lot of our soaps are garbage now compared to K-dramas...but "the young and the restless" was and still is the best and THAT soap should be endless! (well; i don't know NOW since the show has these new GARBAGE writers! AAAAGH! lol)
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Post by PippiBella on Sept 12, 2007 13:20:57 GMT -5
Does anyone know when this show ends? or how many eps it has, and which ep we are on now? thanks
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Post by brooklyn on Sept 17, 2007 1:54:30 GMT -5
I really like this show, except it is somewhat predictable, and I feel like I know how it's going to end already. You know the foster brother (Muyeoung I think is his name) is going to end up being a successful restauranteur, and finally be able to marry Jisu. You also know that the couple that divorced are going to get back together again. And that Jisu's father and stepmother will have a baby. Then the show will end, and I'll have to get used to another drama. I've got to say, that the one thing about these Korean dramas that I do not like, is that they end!! I could have watched The Chill Sisters forever. I wish they would go on for years like the American Soap Operas. The drama that replaced the Chill Sisters in the NY area is some kind of fighting show, and I can't even watch it. Dae Jo Young! I was skeptical about it at first but it's quite nice to watch now for me, even more so than High as the Sky.
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Post by door60 on Sept 21, 2007 19:33:37 GMT -5
I am definately ready for this show to end! I liked it at first, but now, after watching Dal Ja's Spring, and Lovers on line, I'm ready for a meatier Korean drama on TV . High as the Sky is starting to really be dull. Hey, Brooklyn, I just moved from Brooklyn 5 years ago !!!!
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Post by Soju on Sept 22, 2007 20:22:46 GMT -5
The problem with this show is that there's no real conflict, either between or within the characters. Sure some of the characters overcome obstacles, but there's nothing really compelling that drives the show from start to finish.
I never thought I'd say it, but I wish there was an evil mean mother-in-law.
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Post by door60 on Sept 23, 2007 19:53:28 GMT -5
I agree with SoJu. The problem with the show is that there are no real conflicts, so it's a bit of a ho-hummer.
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lfcfanatic9
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Post by lfcfanatic9 on Sept 24, 2007 8:46:23 GMT -5
You al have a good point, but I don't think Korea is ready for real indepth analysis of the social perceptions and problems that exist. Issues like teenage pregnancy, adoption, step-families are all sort of taboo and not talked about. The fact that the drama actually mentions and goes into some detail of the emotions and thoughts of the parties involved are commendable, and the open responses dealing with the situations definately give some humanity to the common misconceptions. Of course, it is a drama so it is watered down with some petty petulance, but it's a start.
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Post by Soju on Sept 24, 2007 21:22:46 GMT -5
Yes, but other daily dramas, most notably 'Yellow Handkerchief', have made the issues at hand be much more compelling viewing. Watching this show is like driving a car stuck in first gear: it keeps going, but it never gets going, if you will.
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lfcfanatic9
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Post by lfcfanatic9 on Sept 25, 2007 8:45:07 GMT -5
Was Yellow Handkerchief popular in Korea? I've just been getting into dramas so I'm not too sure about them. From what I've seen in the past few years of watching them on and off, it gives alot of people a false sense of reality and expectation. Shows like Full House and My Lovely Sam-soon seem to follow the successful trend of rich guy, poor or not-so-well-off girl fighting and then falling in love with the disapproval of family and friends. Unfortunately, I have seen this ideology at various meeting places where girls unfairly dismiss decent men for not being so rich or extremely handsome. It's almost like only the "son of a rich, CEO of a company" will be worth of their time when in fact, ANY red blooded male would be wasting their time with them.
From my experience, talking about things like adoption, step-families and the issue of sex is a non-starter. When I talked about the cultural rites of dating, holding hands after 100 days is a big deal (equivalent to a first kiss in western countries). I know that its painful to some and uncomfortable for others so I'm interested to know if dramas dealing with those issue indepth were or are popular.
I think that's what Hanul Mangcum, Dang Mangcum is trying to maintain that balance of popularity with social issues. Successful? Very, but that comes from exactly what you're saying, Soju. Car stuck in first gear. Then again, would it be a korean drama if it wasn't so cheesy?
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Post by Soju on Sept 25, 2007 9:34:59 GMT -5
I don't know about in Korea, but YH had many avid fans here. The YH section of this board is deceptively small, since this board was young then, and didn't have that many users yet.
It dealt with the Hoju system, particularly the idea that a man's family can claim the rights to a child he had with a woman he never married and abandoned. The show wasn't originally intended to take that route, but the writer had read an article about the Hoju system, and, after discussing the issue with her lawyer, decided to tackle it. Unfortunately, her next show, 'My Sweetheart' I think it was, wasn't that good.
Also, the cast just clicked together. It included the fabulous Lee Tae-ran, probably most recently noted for 'Chil Sisters'.
The fact that you find the issues of adoption, step families, etc., as not a big deal (I feel the same way), points up the entrenched cultural differences between the USA and Korea, where genetic paternal blood-lines are of the utmost importance. Here, we just can't get what the fuss is about, and it just becomes another plot device.
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Post by TheBo on Sept 25, 2007 10:12:10 GMT -5
Another drama that dealt with these issues was the beloved "Who's My Love"--although not in so open a manner as YH--it was excellent. Interracial dating/marriage, child custody/Hoju, traditional vs "modern" family structure, international adoption practices, women's "place"--all these issues were either touched upon or were very important to the plotlines of the show. The fact that Korean soaps concentrate on these issues IS the interesting thing to me. How could they be "nonstarters"? I'm not sure what your point is, lfcfan. Are you saying they should or should not be used as plotlines? Everyday life is the stuff of daily drama. American soap operas are floundering because they left family interactions behind in favor of mob shootouts and pursuit of the "youth" market through use of less experienced, therefore less interesting, young actors. I see a similar trend in Korean soaps, as you mention, and it saddens me.
That said, we should remember that these shows are entertainment, not a blueprint for life. If you don't like the one that is airing, wait for the next to come down the pike. LOL.
Bo
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lfcfanatic9
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Post by lfcfanatic9 on Sept 25, 2007 10:32:20 GMT -5
I apologize for not being so clear.
When I said, "From my experience, talking about things like adoption, step-families and the issue of sex is a non-starter.", I meant that when I tried to open the topics of conversation to those issues, I rarely got a serious response from Korean nationals that I've spoken to. It's clearly uncomforable and the fact that South Korea has been a leader in international adoptions is something everyone wants to forget. I don't want to open my life to a forum, but my wife was a korean adoptee and I've experienced first-hand the double standard that comes with the situation. Sometimes I just want to beat my head against the wall for the stubborness and the lack of perspective. Thankfully, I've been very lucky with a family that is so progressive that it's never an issue. Like Soju said, blood-lines are of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, some very shameful actions are taken to preserve it. Other issues of donating organs is another form of discomfort and almost sacrilege, where as many feel as it is the right thing to do.
The show is for entertainment, I don't have an issue for using it for plotlines. My wife understands Muyoung's point of view and emotions on the drama. As light as it is, it does serve a purpose and help forge communication and understanding. I think that it's a rich source for plot outlines as well, but I think it's because of the culture and the society's in general reluctance to truly face the issues which makes the drama stuck in first gear.
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Post by TheBo on Sept 25, 2007 10:49:10 GMT -5
I apologize for not being so clear. When I said, "From my experience, talking about things like adoption, step-families and the issue of sex is a non-starter.", I meant that when I tried to open the topics of conversation to those issues, I rarely got a serious response from Korean nationals that I've spoken to. It's clearly uncomforable and the fact that South Korea has been a leader in international adoptions is something everyone wants to forget. I don't want to open my life to a forum, but my wife was a korean adoptee and I've experienced first-hand the double standard that comes with the situation. Sometimes I just want to beat my head against the wall for the stubborness and the lack of perspective. Thankfully, I've been very lucky with a family that is so progressive that it's never an issue. Like Soju said, blood-lines are of the utmost importance. Unfortunately, some very shameful actions are taken to preserve it. Other issues of donating organs is another form of discomfort and almost sacrilege, where as many feel as it is the right thing to do.... Forgive me for misunderstanding you, you did appear to me to have some experience in the matter. I did not realize you meant in REAL life, not "reel" life, LOL. I would say that the fact that Korean dramas are trying to discuss these issues might be seen as some sort of an outlet for things that are uncomfortable in person. This is a positive step, perhaps you can take some comfort from it. Bo
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lfcfanatic9
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Post by lfcfanatic9 on Sept 25, 2007 10:58:33 GMT -5
I do, Bo and no worries. It's totally cool. I actually hated Korean dramas when I worked there. I thought they were silly and superficial (some still are). But after watching a few, it really helped me to understand the perspective of the younger generation to a point as well. Working and spending time in Korean from 2004-2005 was one of the highlights of my life. I'm anxious to go back in some capacity either for work or another vacation. I wish more of us Americans would travel abroad to help forge a better understanding of the international community.
My wife and I don't hold a grudge at all with the way they handle the topics and we enjoy the show. It is television and we all need an outlet from everyday life. The daily dramas are a little long, but thank god for DVR!
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Post by TheBo on Sept 26, 2007 13:25:26 GMT -5
Tell me, lfcfan, do they (Koreans) really flip out their phones in cafes like that and shout into them? I'm pretty sure that would drive me nuts, LOL. Another thing I wonder about is the internet cafes. I heard there are problems with people getting sick from tapping over computers for days at a time, and even one guy died recently. It just seems so unlikely to me...I wondered what you thought about it.
Bo
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