It’s been so long since I haven’t write in this online diary of mine. My mind is currently filled with so many thoughts that I really don’t even know which of those thoughts are making my whole life so toxic. By now I just really want to be honest to myself and assess everything in my life through writing about it.
First, as petty as it may seems, I am currently obsess with this K-drama, Start-Up. I’ve been following this drama since Episode 1 and now that we’re down to the last episodes, it has become a wonderful disaster in my viewing experience. Just a context, I created additional two Instagram accounts (lol) at the course of pandemic and one of those is to feed myself of anything related to Asian dramas. I post videos and photos and some insights in my caption. So, when I started watching Start Up, I relentlessly pour out writing my thoughts about this drama. I found likeminded people who’s enjoying the drama and it’s just so fun to talk about this drama together with some people you knew online. Now, the worst part of this viewing experience is the division it create amongst viewers. This drama is now considered such a huge hit internationally being the most watched K-drama on Netflix this 2020. The division was highly caused by the love triangle between the two male characters. Another worst thing is that fans of Kim Seon Ho is pathetically bashing Nam Joo Hyuk as an actor and it was just highly uncalled for. You know what’s making me even more stressed? That Nam Joo Hyuk’s character is super underappreciated and not many people like him as a character. I feel bad because I love Nam Do San. He isn’t your typical male lead. People can’t understand or relate to him as a character and worshipping Han Ji Pyeong like fools. Okay. Now, I feel so pathetic for being so into this shipping war. I honestly need to get a life. lol.
I developed a huge liking for Nam Joo Hyuk because of this drama and I just feel so sad that he is the male lead but he isn’t getting so much love as Kim Seon Ho. That’s the reason why I feel so pathetic as of the moment. Clearly, there is no spice in my life that I’m even sympathizing the divided attention Nam Joo Hyuk is getting and for all I know, the actor’s continually living his life as a top paid actor, moving on to promote a new movie and probably on a rest right now. My mental health cannot take too much fangirling now compared when I was in my teenage years. Also, the global hit that is K-dramas (or even K-pop) has so many toxic fans that they can just easily spit negative vibes just because they’re hiding behind their laptop and smart phone. So yeah. All the more I realized that I’m too old for petty fangirling if it’s just like this. Throwing mean remarks just to get a point across and it doesn’t matter if they hurt people in the process. Ladies and gentlemen, this is how idol world has become in Hallyu. It sucks.
So aside from stressing over Nam Joo Hyuk and Start-Up, I recently learned how to play ukulele and wanting to learn guitar as well. It was such a great stress reliever. Nothing much to say about a new hobby of mine ‘coz while it reduce stress, it isn’t really removing the stress away.
My current dilemma is losing drive to do anything. I’m just emotionally and mentally tired to even try to do anything. Finding a job, learning a new language, studying. It’s like all motivation and care was thrown in the ocean and now I just don’t care about anything at all. I lose the will to live life to the fullest.
I don’t even have the drive to finish writing this entry so I’m just gonna end this as it is. lol. bye.
Disclaimer: Listen to Be Your Superman OST while reading the review. My most fave OST of the drama.
So I was browsing some videos on Youtube when I stumbled upon a clip from They Kiss Again. I watched it and it’s as if I was automatically went back to my teenage year when I was in my room binge-watching this series. All the feels, butterflies in the stomach and daydreaming went back like I’m a fifteen year old again. I was suddenly reminded how simple, pure and lovely this story is and I was also reminded how simple my life was back then.
I guess this is one of the reason why I am always drawn in re-watching old dramas; I am also being reminded of the past and wishing life would be as easy as it was before. Dramas like this always gives me a sense of nostalgia, and the drama watching is accompanied by memories of my youth. It’s making me tearful and sad.
A summary of what They Kiss Again is all about: this is the second season of Zhi Shu and Xiang Qin’s love story that shows their married life. The first season is It Started With A Kiss and if you plan on watching this one, I highly suggest you watch the ISWAK first as this one is a continuation of the first season.
To be honest, I am not fond of a story in which the female lead falls in love first. And it’s even more irksome if that girl does everything, to the point of humiliating herself, all for the sake of the male lead. That is why I am not really fond of the first season, It Started With A Kiss, because the whole episodes are Xiang Qin following and stalking Zhi Shu. But whatever it is that the first season lack, the second season was able to compensate.
What I love about this season is that they are already together and it shows their growth both as a couple and as an individual. They learn from each other and make each other a better version of themselves. Now, I admit there are still questionable actions brought by Zhi Shu and some defending it by telling Zhi Shu is having a hard time expressing his love to Xiang Qin (which I agree). But I also believe that it is one of his flaws and is still better than getting attracted to other girls. Though he acts cold towards Xiang Qin, he never once showed interest to other women even though it’s easy to cheat. His love towards Xiang Qin is strong and he believes that she is only the person who can stay with him for a long time. I don’t know about you, but that is just really sweet. That kind of love is something we can rarely find in real life.
I also like the fact that Zhi Shu is teaching Xiang Qin to stand on her own and be as her own person. He wants that Xiang Qin will not revolve her whole world to Zhi Shu alone. He wants her to see all the facets of life and gain wider perspective of what the world is truly all about. On the other hand, Xiang Qin is also helping Zhi Shu acknowledge that being emotional is part of being a human. Life is not going to be as fun and exciting as it is if not faced with challenges and trials. It was a black and white for Zhi Shu before Xiang Qin came into his life. When he got entagled to her, life became more colorful and pleasing. Another reason why I love this show is because the story continued even after being together. Most of the romance dramas end with the both leads being together. But in here, we were given a glimpse of their married life and a lot of kissing to add on to that! 🙂
I will be breaking down this drama review into four parts (This might contain spoilers so read at your own risk):
I. Early Stages of Marriage
We all know that it was Zhi Shu’s mom who let them marry earlier that what Zhi Shu planned. In real life, I bet this is going to cause a major problem but since we are in a drama where family problems doesn’t exist it wasn’t given an emphasis. 😀
We can see here that Zhi Shu still acts the same towards Xiang Qin. He’s still cold and distant that sometimes even viewers wonder if he really loves Xiang Qin. But what makes it endearing was Zhi Shu will just totally surprise us with heart-fluttering moments and will prove to us that he really loves Xiang Qin. We also see that major decision Xiang Qin made which is to become a nurse to be of help to Zhi Shu. While seemingly impossible, with Zhi Shu’s help, she was able to get in the nurse department and transfer thus starting a new goal in her life.
I believe that part of Xiang Qin’s success in making life decisions is because of Zhi Shu. He always imparted wisdom to Xiang Qin. Also, Xiang Qin’s inspiration to be better is because of Zhi Shu. Feminists may not like that idea, though. And I can say Xiang Qin’s character is definitely not a role model of a modern woman. But we must also take into the account that the manga (the basis of this drama) was published in 1990. It was during the time, especially in Asian countries, wherein female empowerment is far within reach. Tsundere characters are considered as cool and the ideal man in the eyes of the women. The kind of culture when this manga is being made was one of the reason why Xiang Qin’s character is like that.
Going back, the early stages of their marriage doesn’t have that much character growth in Zhi Shu’s part. For Xiang Qin, we saw her made some life decisions with the help of Zhi Shu. As for their growth as a couple, well, we saw lots of kissing and I’m not complaining! 😀
II. Of Emotions and Acceptance
The life of Xiang Qin as a nursing student is actually my most favorite arc of the series. We are also introduced to new characters which becomes an integral characters to the lives of the couple. I love the addition of new friends and I love the characters of each and everyone of them. My most favorite part was actually Xiang Qin hiding the fact that she is Zhi Shu’s wife because she’s afraid to become an outcast and also because she saw that her friends had this high standards of who Zhi Shu’s wife is. Then when she admitted it to the friends and to the whole class, then these people not believing it, then all of a sudden, Zhi Shu comes in unconsciously proving to everyone that Xiang Qin is right is my favorite scene. It was like an in-your-face moment. Right after finding it out, a new arc started that, I think, is an important arc of the series.
Zhi Shu has always been so sure that Xiang Qin will never leave him. He knows that he is Xiang Qin’s world. But when an opponent showed up–kind, caring, smart, handsome, might not be as genius as him but is actually good at his studies–he can’t help but feel jealousy which is an emotion he never felt in in his entire life. Xiang Qin made him feel all these unpleasant emotions and he realized that these emotions are part of being human. That it is only with Xiang Qin he can be and feel like a human.
My only problem in this show is how they dragged this for so long to the point wherein Zhi Shu becomes a jerk. His demeanor towards Xiang Qin in this arc is actually not acceptable. However, the scene in the cafeteria is just so heart-wrenching and I’m glad he accepted his fault.
III. Individual Growth
We are also given a chance to see Xiang Qin’s growth when Zhi Shu went to Matsu and she is forced to do things on her own. To be honest, I didn’t really like this arc that much because we seldom see cute moments in here and I actually didn’t include this arc in my re-watch list. Teehee. But from what I remember, Xiang Qin followed Zhi Shu and she saw what kind of life Zhi Shu has in Matsu. And because of that, she also learned something new and has gain a different view about life when she see those patients. And also from what I can remember she studied on her own for the nursing board exam (correct me if I’m wrong here), so that is also a feat in itself.
There’s this small character growth I like about Xiang Qin. It was the time when her friend Chung Mei (correct me if I’m wrong with the name) is in labor and Xiang Qin, with no driving skill and a license, drove to the hospital. It was a very dangerous moment and something so unrealistic and yet the show made it as like a good thing since Chung Mei had the normal delivery. I like how Zhi Shu is both mad and concern with how Xiang Qin dealt with the situation. But yes, it is really dangerous. And yes, I turn off my common sense and make it into a character growth. How? When Xiang Qin will go on a date with Zhi Shu for her birthday, she encountered an accident. And by this time, she was able to handle it well and properly like what a real nurse should do. She’s calm and knows the drill, and because of that, she was able to save a life.
IV. Steadfast Love and Solid Rock
Throughout the latter episodes towards the end, Zhi Shu is not as cold and distant as before and also concern for Xiang Qin. But the last episode is really the deal-breaker for me. (HUGE SPOILER: READ AT YOUR OWN RISK) It is when Xiang Qin find out that her night blindness might really lead her into being blind and it is hereditary plus adding on the fact that she might be pregnant. She left the house thinking she’s going to be a hindrance to Zhi Shu’s life. Zhi Shu found out and search for her relentlessly. (END OF SPOILER)
It is during this time the series showed us that it is Zhi Shu who can never live a life without Xiang Qin. He might not take notice, but Xiang Qin became his world and he can never imagine a life without her by his side. In the previous episodes, there’s like a foreshadowing that Zhi Shu might be gone due to some of their conversations together:
1. When Xiang Qin asked Zhi Shu if he will donate his body to science and Zhi Shu said yes.
2. When Zhi Shu wanted Xiang Qin to be able to learn how to live a life of herself even without him by her side
As it turns out, the last episode becomes a climactic moment for our couple. That as each challenges in their life becomes deeper and harder, they will always hold each other’s hand and will never give up each other. Facing those setbacks strong and head on.
I know I only talked about the main couple but I would also like to give a shout-out to the secondary characters. They were given emphasis on their own story and we get to see a glimpse of their life as well. I haven’t watch the Jap and Kor Version; I’ve only watched the anime (which you have to watch if you’re a fan of this show because the anime has the ending that the late mangaka had planned before she died).
I must say that the success of They Kiss Again was because of the actors who made these characters come to life. Zhi Shu is a jerk on paper; Xiang Qin is not an ideal woman on paper. But Ariel Lin and Joe Cheng managed to breath life into these flawed characters and make the show not a waste of time to watch. Credits to the secondary characters as well: the family (shoutout to Zhi Shu’s mom who’s the president of the Zhi Shu-Xiang Qin ship since Day 1 =D), the highschool friends, college friends, even the nemesis turned friends. There’s no bad blood in this show, to be honest, and that’s one of the reason why it’s a light and feel-good rom-com. Perfect for re-watch even after thirteen years.
It was a pleasure to witness such wholesome and simple love. I am once again reminded why I love this show. Thirteen years have passed. I have watched it when I was still a teenager and now I’m an adult, this show speaks to me differently now. With all the ruckus happening in the world, it’s great to look back with this kind of series. No heavy drama. No silly plot twists. Just two people falling in love and growing together.
What are your thoughts about this show? Comment down below and let’s fangirl together!
PS. Not edited so there might be a lot of grammatical errors 😀
Nothing totally productive or worth earning money. First, I momentarily forgot everything about him in those one month and became so busy watching series, documentaries, podcasts and anything else. I am actually wondering right now how fast yet so slow this past months had been. And in those months, I succumbed myself to temporary pleasures but isn’t really striking my soul to the point I have to take action and just do something worthwhile. Good thing I’ve chanced upon shows that makes me re-evaluate life itself and forget the reality for the meantime.
Hunter X Hunter
I remembered I was looking for a good show and then stumbled upon Hunter x Hunter. It was probably the best show I’ve watched this season and I just bawled my eyes crying in some of the episodes. I was so enthralled with the friendship of the characters — especially Gon and Killua. I always have a soft spot to stories of adventure together with someone, whether romantic interest, friends or families, and just growing together and discovering what to do in life. That last scene in the last episode of the last season (lol.. the construction of this sentence is just so redundant) is just so heartfelt for me that I can’t help but cry. Farewell for me is just something so bittersweet especially if you have to part ways with people whom you’ve shared memories and has been an audience of each other towards character development, every triumph and lost, every bad choices and good ones. It’s inevitable for Gon and Killua to part ways because at the end of the day, they are both individuals who have their own purpose in life and there are just some seasons in life where you have to go through it without your best friend or family.
Each season presented different arcs and stories of growth, redemption, revenge, to name a few. However, all I can say is I enjoy every part of it, both filler and main episodes. I enjoyed the Heavens Arena Arc and I just want to give a shoutout to Hisoka because he is actually my favorite villain (or not!) in this anime. Chimera Ants Arc is kind of a slowburn to me at first but during the mid and its final episodes it sort of gave me this deconstructed idea of who’s good and evil. I’ve read a lot of interpretations regarding this arc and how it shouts humanism all over it and I’m just glad to say how profound those interpretations. A lot of characters died in this arc (which is so dear to me) that is why this is the most emotional arc for me and I’ve cried tons of it. There’s this one character who died (I won’t tell who to prevent spoilers) that truly resonate with me; and like all these characters who are close to him/her, I grieve together with them. It was just a painful watch for me and the menacing result that was born out of that grief is somehow doleful for me.
Overall, this show has managed to capture my heart and I’m sad that there’s a blurry chance we get to see how it ends for the characters. However, the anime wrapped it up beautifully and I truly enjoyed the roller-coaster adventures of all characters.
Hospital Playlist
Next to my watch list was Hospital Playlist which wrapped up its first season last week. This is the kind of show that I didn’t fully realize just grew in my heart and when I finally realize how good it is, I just start to care for every aspect of the storytelling. I started this show with no expectations and what caught me to watch it was some of my favorite actors are in it. I am not a fan of Reply Series (I just can’t understand why I can’t bring myself to love the show even though every time I watch some episodes, it gives a nostalgic and healing factor to me) but with good credentials of the writer-PD tandem, I give this show a try. At first, the rumblings and chaos in the hospital looks realistic for me and the first episode got me confused on what’s going to be the plot of this series. It actually gave me a bored feel to it because one episode is just too long for me. However, I think it was on episode 6 or 7 where I realized how this show just wants to give a story of friendship, love and life of normal people trying to make ends meet through a hospital setting. I think it was a smart choice to use the hospital setting because:
(1) we meet different stories of people in the hospitals — their struggles and their relationships. In each patient that the show introduced to us, we get a glimpse of what their life is outside the hospital. The patients’ POV give us a story of hope, grief and love in just a short period of time. How amazing is that, right? For us viewers to sympathize and empathize to character’s that are not even the leads of the show is a smart way to tell a story which creates impact to its audience.
(2) every time we watch a medical Korean drama, the story focuses on either hospital politics or hospital jargons which is use to create conflict or hospital romance. What separates Hospital Playlist among them is that there’s no hospital politics at all. (If you remember in episode 1, I think the writer wants us to believe there’s going to be a politics conflict brewing up after the chairman died. Rosa — which is the dead chairman’s wife and Jong Su are good friends and it also seems like a betrayal’s about to ensue. It turns out that there’s no conflict at all between them and whoever’s going to be the chairman isn’t really the main interest of the show. Well played, show. Well, played). In summary, this is just a series that shows the life of normal beings without grandiose battle of who’s who. Just a normal story of normal people working on a hospital.
This show is just a healing drama to those who will watch it because all characters are endearing to watch. Every main character was given emphasis and no one is left behind. Jo Jung Seok is always amusing to watch (props to his comedic timing; who won’t forget the now-and-soon-to-be legendary Pick Me dance) and he has given life to his character Ik-Jun who is the Mr. Congeniality of the hospital. But it also shows that however hilarious and friendly he is, someone who always give advice to people, he is not exempted to the trials of life. At some point, there will always be hardship too and funny guy can also be serious and earnest (insert: being a father to U-Ju and that confession of love) I would also like to mention the bromance between Jun Wan and Jae Hak. Oh, these two! Helping each other out sincerely and quietly without too much drama. I adore watching their antics and banters and watching them learn from each other.
There are just so many little arcs to mention in this show and I would like to highlight all of them but this post will just get longer and longer. 😀
Last thing I want to mention is the budding love lines in this show. Personally, I root for Seok-Hyeong and Min-Ha together and they are my most favorite couple in the show. An introvert and extrovert? Oh, I would love how it would pan out and I’m sure there’s going to be lots of comical scenes if it will happen. I read some opinions about the love lines on this show discussing how the writer actually confuses its audience about who’s going to end up together with who; showing some signs of ships to sail only for it to crash in the end. eg. Reply 1988. And that there are some subtle signs of who’s the real love team of this show. Of course, everyone is into Song Hwa’s love line with Chi Hong and Ik Joon. For me, what Chi Hong has was a one-sided love and as much as I pity that likeness and sincerity to Song-Hwa, I just don’t think he is the right man for Song-Hwa. I’m not going to talk much with Ik-Joon x Song-Hwa budding romance but going back to the discussions I read (which is actually an unpopular opinion but I firmly believe with a good basis to back-up) Song-Hwa just doesn’t like Ik-Joon. We can formulate theories of the romance through different shots of the scenes eg. that night where Song-Hwa stayed in Ik-Joon’s apartment. There was this shot of the both of them outside the window with the pouring rain and as the scene ends they became blurry because of too much rain. With regards to Jeong-Won and Gyeo-Wool, well their scene in the last episode just gives us a room to be more excited of what story they will provide in season 2. I just think it’s too early to finalized all love interests in this show because a lot can happened in Season 2.
Can I just also mention the OST’s?! This is one of the best this show has offered me as well. This group of people who’ve withstand the test of time, forming a band and just singing their hearts out is definitely a highlight of the show for me. I think this is the first time in so many years where I love all of the OST’s in the drama. OSTs speak of their past, their present and their future and I just love it.
Overall, I enjoyed this show so much and it’s just weird that the last episode doesn’t feel like the last episode because their stories left a lot for a second season. Now, the agony is to wait for the S2 for a year!? Let’s see what’s going to happen about it.
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So this entry ended up with me making some flash reviews about the series that speaks volume to my heart. Well, it’s just so worthwhile to meet a good show that resonates deeply in my heart. I am not usually a fan of theories, though I welcome it, nor I have an eye for every detail. As I mentioned before, what grips my heart for a show to truly impress me is the storytelling of opening yourself to a wider perspective filled with emotions and reflection of your own self right after watching or reading it. For me, the downside of coming across this shows is it always leave a hallow feeling in my chest making me feel empty. Well, I want to believe that there’s an upside to this one too. Even though it leaves a space in my heart, it gives me a room to reassess myself and put more knowledge and feeling into it for me to learn more and get to know myself even better. I believe that this shows helped me go back to my inner core and just fully enjoy my own adventure even though I am stubborn and inconsistent in some of my ways.
And to everyone who will get to read this post, I hope you get to appreciate any form of storytelling (films, series, novels, poems) and whatever kind of storytelling you meet along the way, I hope it creates an impact to you and how you view this world.
Out of all the art I knew, it always boils down to the core which is the stories of life — hope and becoming, of tragedy and recovery, of yin and yang.
Sweet Life 