New Drama: KBS Rosemary

[Knov1]

The KBS drama 'Rosemary' will be replacing 'Sang Doo, Let's Go to School' on Wednesday's and Thursday's at 8pm. 'Rosemary', however, will NOT be subtitled.

KBS Rosemary
Wed and Thurs @ 8pm
Cast: Kim Seung Woo, Yoo Ho Jung, Bae Doo Na
Official site: www.kbs.co.kr/end_program/drama/rosemary/index.html

I think this drama is a miniseries but I'm not sure. If you have any info on this drama please share. All I really know about 'Rosemary' is who works in it.

[SirOwnzAlot]

Why no subtitles? I feel so empty on Wednesday and Thurday nights since they stopped subbing shows.

[mikey]

The California K-drama board has a good intro, with photos (though in somewhat broken English) to “Rosemary:”

com1.runboard.com/bcjkdramasincalifornia.fdiscussion.t20

Careful, though, not to read too far down the list unless you like spoilers (though I think there’s nothing all that significant there, really).

There are reportedly 18 episodes (and we DO get them with English subtitles here in Los Angeles!) and we’re now up to about episode 12 or 13.

I’ve got some real mixed feelings about this drama. The acting is pretty good, and the character development of two lead female characters is quite richly done (the male characters, though, are more one-dimensional). Yoo Ho-jung (“Jung-yun”) is so sweet and sympathetic as the devoted homemaker, and Bae Doo-na (“Kyung-soo”) is irresistible as the reserved and emotionally damaged cartoon artist. The interplay between these two female characters is just terrific. The two child actors (Jung-yun’s children) are also surprisingly convincing. There are some really good aspects to “Rosemary.”

But, on the downside, this is a really dreary drama. Essentially the story of a young woman’s slow and tragic battle with cancer (are there any Korean dramas today that don’t feature somebody with cancer?) I’ve found it to be rather emotionally draining. How much tragedy can you take?

It’s also a “slow starter.” It didn’t seem to get traction until about episode 6, when the two female characters finally begin bonding with each other. Some of the correspondents to the California discussion board commented on how they had already dropped out by then.

Worth watching? Well, it’s worth a try, I’d say. You might stick it out for a while and see if it tickles your fancy.

[Knov1]

Another KBS drama where someone has cancer? They seriously need to come up with something different. I wish KBC would air more MBC dramas or maybe even SBS dramas (wishful thinking on my part) so viewers can get away from that. It also seems that in the majority of the dramas these days (from KBS, MBC or SBS), at least one of the main charactes in the drama dies.

On a side note, if you're as disappointed as I am that this drama isn't subtitled, then I would encourage you to call or email KBC and voice your opinion. When KBC asked for feedback, viewers said that they wanted more subtitled dramas. I realize that not all of the dramas can be given with subtitles but I think that at least the 6pm (daily) dramas and the 8pm (2 episodes per week) dramas should always be subtitled.

[TheBo]

knov1 said:

On a side note, if you're as disappointed as I am that this drama isn't subtitled, then I would encourage you to call or email KBC and voice your opinion. When KBC asked for feedback, viewers said that they wanted more subtitled dramas. I realize that not all of the dramas can be given with subtitles but I think that at least the 6pm (daily) dramas and the 8pm (2 episodes per week) dramas should always be subtitled.

I know I should be able to figure this out, knov, but how does one email KBC about this matter? Is there someone in particular?

Thanks, if you wish to respond.

Bo

[Knov1]

TheBo said:

I know I should be able to figure this out, knov, but how does one email KBC about this matter? Is there someone in particular?

Below I provided KBC's email and phone number.

Email: [e-mail]
Phone: [phone]

[mikey]

Rosemary ended last night in Los Angeles. That final episode was a real tearjerker; it was beautifully done, but really hard to watch.

This was a pretty good drama, overall, but it took way too long to get going, and then when it finally got going, it suddenly ended. I wish they’d condensed the early episodes, and then expanded the episodes towards the end. It would have been much more satisfying that way, I think.

If Rosemary runs in Chicago without English subtitles, it may be a tough drama to follow. No subtitles aren’t a big hindrance if it’s largely an action flick, but Rosemary’s not that kind of drama. Rosemary centers on the relationship between the two lead women, and though the storyline was generally predictable, I couldn’t help but become somewhat attached to those two lead characters, and I’m sorry to see it end.

I think Chicago viewers will feel rather cheated if the English subtitles aren’t included, because (unless you understand Korean) it will be awfully difficult to appreciate Rosemary without subtitles.