rambles & mumbles...

And that senile grandma is really so determine in burry SMAP alive. And Arashi get to perform as the last performer in Kouhaku, gee, what a coincidence??? I'm proud for Arashi, HOWEVER, that place is like handed over to them, not achieved by them, and that disappoint me because Arashi will get it sooner or later anyway, but no, that senile grandma must do it this way.

SMAP is a freaking legend, at the very least they deserve to bow out with dignity, not being shunned away (rejecting Kouhaku invitation is just PURE BULLSHIT from Johnny's, who are they kidding? really? really? OK I need to cool down, phewwww) and locked in a box as if it's just a bad memory for that senile grandma.

Not impressed with how Johnny's deal with SMAP because it sets presedence to the junior groups (and it makes Arashi so politically correct now that it becomes boring tbh), and with that I can't really be happy with whatever had happened in 2016 (SMAP ends, Narimiya retires --> this is a very sad news and those tabloid people just need to burn in hell for ruining people's lives!!, and internationally Prince, George Michael, and so many more disappear from our world, plus we have that yellow bigbird as US president, and what happened in the Middle East, good lord, my heart breaks everytime I see the news, and all the stupidity going on in Indonesia, for godsakes religion should not be meddled with the nation prosperity)

NOW, I hope 2017 is better! Better J-drama (I have some expectation on Kimutaku drama, especially with the reunion of PRIDE couple), less angsty and better romcom K-drama, better world, better humanity, better economy revival (I know it's tough, but things need to turn around, else there'll be more horrible labor cuts and that's really bad), less economic greed (seriously, shareholders need to be controlled ethically, it's getting out of control on how companies push for short term profits). I think lots of these are wistful thinking, but we need hope to be living as humans, else we're just living beings crowding and destroying this place called earth.

Can't stress enough how beautiful this drama from cinematography point of view!!! Not to mention the story, the acting is so good so far. I love how the goblin is portrayed here. Gong Yoo gives out this ancient air every now and then, very contrast to the petty and childish side of him when he banters with the shinigami. Speaking the shinigami, the bromance!!! The friendship that only lasts for 5 minutes line is totally LOL.


( Some pretties coz... just can't help it... )

It's been... almost ONE year since the last time I did this kind of recaps LOL...

I have mixed feeling about this segment, it's funny, I mean GACKT with Arashi is always adorbs and entertaining, but particularly with the medicine ball segment, I can't help but worry. If you saw GACKT IG acount, you'll know the medicine ball exercise because he posted some clips on it and it's damn hard, even for those who have that rigorous training regime regularly. So imagine if you're not so-called trained with that kind of spartan training menu, and people drop that medicine ball on your tummy, especially Aiba-chan's part, I can't help but worry about the potential injurIES that may happen, ranging from muscle inflamation to slipped disk (you use your back, which you're not supposed to, instead of your core muscle, to hold that ball). And you can even see Matsujun, the so-called most fit in Arashi, struggled, so you can imagine the rest. Enough of the rant and back to the whole segment itself, basically there're 3 parts of it, first is the random (literally random) quetions thrown at GACKT, then it's that training segment, and lastly it's the crane game.


( As usual, LONG caps... )

Weighligting Fairy Kim Bok Joo Epi 1-2

This drama is so pastel, cute and fluffy... hope there won't be so much angst, but hey, what's angst after that harem drama? LOL. If Baek Ah not getting any happiness in that harem drama, he will get his in this drama, I'm 99.999% sure of it. And Baek Ah is really an eye candy (I can't remember his character name here, and Baek Ah is still easier to remember, maybe after few more episode I'll remember his name LOL), that 8 packs is a sight to behold. I love the LJS cameo scene in epi 2, they did a good job in making the W reference, from him being the shooter, the dialog is done with Yeon Joo's senior, and the reference that he looks like manga character, plus the W OST at the background, really nicely done! And the girls are so cute (the weightlifting team, not the bitchy gymnastic team). Their love for food is over the top, and I hope this don't change in the future episodes.

Cain & Abel Epi 1-2

This drama will have lots of angst brewing, especially after epi 2 when Yu found out that his big bro is going out with Azusa. There'll potentially 1 bitch in this drama, Yu's friend (that friend who's trying to get his attention and seemingly good would probably become a liability later), I already don't like her from the get go, but we'll see. I'm looking forward on Yu's character development. In this first 2 episode, he's just running around trying to do his job, overcoming the challanges without sit back and have some changing enlightment, but I'd think episode 3 will show this and I want to see Yamada's angst!!! I hope there's no rabu2 scene in this drama because I just can't imagine it, nope, no, I just can't. Somehow I'm scared with rabu2 scene for j-drama especially if Johnny's boys are the leads (only a few, and I really mean A FEW, only can be count by 1 hand okay, are the exceptions).

I'm holding back from watching Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim because I can't take the main lead's idiocy, I'll wait until he's not that idiot (my friend is watching so he'll tell me when it's time to watch again LOL). And I'm droping that Sweet Stranger something, as much as I like to see Lee So Hyuk, but spending time on that drama? I'd rather read more harem drama fanfic...

With the intention of not going to ever watch the whole thing again because it's so painful and emotionally draining, BUT every now and then there'll be tendency to peek over the OTP story, I'm extracting SoxSoo's scenes. Not all of them are rosy for sure, because they just need to make this OTP so tragic and probably rejoicing over when our hearts bleed.
I have zero skills of video editting, which is why you'll see the transition is so jagged and rough, but I'm okay with the result since the intention is to compile everything together. This is the 1st cut from episode 1 to 4, which means, all the cute stuffs (well, some of them are the angsty So, but still OK).

Enjoy!!!


choose this as the main frame for obvious reason :p

I realized when I started extracting the clips, there're couple of arcs for this OTP, which is good for cutting aka the end file won't be so huge to upload. SoxSoo scenes would probably only make up 20%-30% out of the whole 20 hours --> there's only a mere 20 minutes out of the whole first 5 episodes (OMG, this is ridiculous, yes, we should ask SBS why there're so little screentime for our main couple in the whole series)
The arcs are:
1. The beginning
2. The friendship
3. The chasing aka So will do literally anything for Soo
4. The happiest moment before dooms day aka the only around 10 minutes of joy before all hell break loose (or in other words, finally So's getting some)
5. The downhill (semi angsty out of circumstances but still bearable) aka nothing goes right after So ascended to the throne
6. The breakup and regret (all the angst and illogical turn of event) aka the last 3 episode
Most likely I'll only watch up till part 4 and just make the last 2 parts for the sake of complition or when I'm in the mood for stabbing my own heart with LJK's crying scenes.

So, after finishing the 1st arc, I learned how to use the video editting software and realize that most of the time spent is not on the consolidating the video. It's on the timing all the right clips, and I don't know whether I want to master the skill or just leave it as is because it's very time consuming!

I thought I'd lump this with the final episode today, but after I watched this one with the sub... nah, it'll be too much. As we're going to the last episode, there's so much literal shit crammed into this 1 episode, worse than epi 18, and it's going to the direction of C-version ending. I hope it goes a different way considering how different the characterization between the K and C-version, but since it's already done this way, then let's see how it goes with the final episode.

( Cut it in case it looks super long on dashboard :) )

Ah! This is why I love Fall season, it doesn't disappoint. To be honest, this one is much more engaging than Carrier (but I'd still watch Carrier for Tamaki, unless it's very very very boring). The case presented is much more complicated and it's kind of like Poirot style of deduction, so much details and coincidence which we have to catch in order to piece everything together and create the connection between the criminal and the case. I'm quite indifferent with Tsuchiya Tao, but I totally like Dean Fujioka in here. He doesn't look like he's trying too hard here and he looks good as a butler <3. Yuji Oda's character in here as the eccentric Homonji reminds me of Kaibutsu-kun, but at least Kaibutsu-kun doesn't come accross as annoying as Homonji. He's annoying and rude, but the way he catches on details and deduction will keep you glued to the screen. Definitely will keep on watching this.

Now, what else should I watch? O yeah, Doctor X LOL. I need a dose of 'I don't fail'.

Fantastic Epi 16

Well, that's another good balance drama. I skipped a lot for this drama especially the superbly evil family scene, and I cheered when Baek Seol finally yelled at the a$$hole husband over the phone, and yey for Attorney Kim to get his happy end. I feel content watching this ending alone. And against all odds, our main cancer patient survived the ordeal, I'm a bit contemplated on this, yes, I'm happy with the happy end and it gives hope and all the good stuffs, but at the same time, not all cancer patients survive and thrive against all odds. However, that might be, the journey is fun and delightful to watch. They put all emotions in all together in every episodes and deliver it with a much lighter way (well, if you compare it with the harem drama.... so... yeah). I'm a bit worried about JiSoo though, yes, it's good that he's everywhere now, but I kind of feel that his roles are about the same, from angry mom, harem drama, and now this. Only a slight difference, but at the end of the day the delivery is about the same, the awkwardness, the charging ahead, well, the look and feel is the same. Is it maybe because they're all side characters that there's not much room to really grow the character or it's just the roles personalities that he took in are about the same in a way. I look forward for something different, the kid is eye candy with potential <3.

Career Epi 2

As we move on to episode 2, I kind of warm up to Tamaki's character, sort of let go the annoyance of 'try too hard to be friendly and lowkey' vibes on his character, and I surely hope they put a stop of the shining light effect everytime Chief Toyama flashed out his police badge, the aweing plus LOL effect kind of fast turned into annoyance. I guess, we'll keep having the situation whereby there're multiple (maybe more than 2) completely unrelated minor case which will end up linked together and Chief Toyama has the eye of details to connect all those things together. In this episode, it's quite interesting and I'd hope the quality of the case will go up as we progress further. I like what the subordinate said about Chief Toyama and Minami combi, 'the perfect combination of great insight and intimidation', what a perfect description! I hope Minami will soon lighten up towards Chief Toyama because clearly Chief Toyama has a lot of cards under his sleeves, but if by Epi 4 he's still the same, I'll be majorly sighteyeing the writers!

Nigeru wa Hajida ga Yaku ni Tatsu Epi 1

Damn, the title sure is long! I watched this to get away from that harem drama withdrawal syndrome, and this is sure a great relief. Light and non-damaging at all. Well, at least this is the life action from a josei manga, not some shoujo manga (we have too many of those already). The story is about exploring the idea of marriage as an employment contract, meaning the husband employs the wife as a housewife, and gives her the salary she's entitled from all the housework done. I like the approach of this drama, they make it look like Jonetsu Tairiku style to introduce the characters' background. While it's all fun and all that, I do wonder what's the message from this drama. The main character, Mikuri, though a university graduate, couldn't find a proper full time job and ended up with a temp job and just got laid off. Having nowhere to go, she accepted the part time job as a cleaner for Tsuzaki, our main dude. The proposal for the marriage contract looks like the runaway ticket for Mikuri against reality. So what this drama is trying to tell the audience, get married if cannot find a job? I haven't read the manga yet, kind of tired if I have to read the manga for all the live action drama. But, I do hope that they're going to have Mikuri's character grow to have more backbone and face the tough job hunting field.

That harem drama Epi 16-17

Ah, the drama which has consumed me for the past few weeks, and I'll have a major withdrawal syndrome once this drama ends next week. Gosh, it's only left with 3 more episodes and there's only angst, angst, and angst, well, with carrot dressed in diamonds for epi 16, if I should say. The drama is telling us that we, audience, should be greatful for any hint of cuteness of our main OTP SoxSoo while butcher our hearts by eg. killing off the most innocent characters of them all and to make it worse made the precious pup did the dirty job. To add to our list of angst, we have the break out, the wait, and rejection coming our way before the carrot dressed in diamonds is presented in like... 6 minutes screen time, and yes, we, audience, will still eat it up and crave for somemore angst. Epi 17 is just brewing more angst for Epi 18 (kind of dread of what's coming, esp with the preview of precious pup crying, he's been through A LOT, apparently not enough for the sadist writers to torture this character). Well, in the meantime, I'll just fill myself with lots of fluff fanfic of SoxSoo, if they don't get the happy end, there're tons of fanfic ready to be unleashed to satisfy the thirst for the happy end LOL. And after all these, by now all the snakes in the palace are still alive and well and are out to eat up our precious OTP, noooo!!! I'm still clinging on the 'the journey will be painful but it'll have a happy end', but Gwanjong with eyeliner kinds of make me waver, damn!

While I don't always watch historical drama, I realize that I do have some share of both Taiga and Saeguk (more saeguk though). Though both are featuring historical figures, the approach taken by both Taiga and Saeguk are very different, which makes it very interesting.

( Taiga drama <3 )

( Saeguk drama <3 )( Now the fun stuff )

My list of saeguk drama: Dae Jang Geum, Dong Yi, Jung Yi, Hwang Jin Yi, Empress Ki
Contemporer saeguk drama: Hong Gil Dong, Iljimae, Arang & Magistrate, Joseon Gunman, Scholar who Walks The Night, Queen Inhyeon's Man, Warrior Baek Dong Soo, The Legend, and the current harem drama.
... HELL, I watched a lot of historical stuff, never really thought about it until now... Thanks to the harem drama.


Ah, and we still have weekend for Monday to come... no matter heartbreaking it'll be... sigh....
Nevertheless, history is fascinating and maybe I should pick up Shinsengumi (another history portion that I'm interested in).