Dazed and Confused

Writing fanfic and blogging from Jakarta.

[hailaft]

The New Beginning

As I regularly got requests to share the pdf file of The New Beginning and I don't check my email that often, I figure I just post the whole thing in ao3 for new readers. Honestly, I don't expect anyone would still read this, six years later, but here we are.

Thank you and enjoy!

https://archiveofourown.org/works/39207249

[hailaft]

Hey, Are you going to complete Reply-2009? I stumbled across it and I really want to know how it ends, I see you haven’t updated it in years

Nah, I don't think so 😂 Like you said, it's been years. Tbh, I already forgot what I planned to happen next...

[hailaft]

I really wanted to reread ssongsungmin fanfic that you writewrite, but i can't find it 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭

Hi! Here you go https://hailaft.tumblr.com/post/166430356364/grounded

[hailaft]

You Drive Me Crazy (2018)

This is a cute little drama with simple premise : two long time friends, Han Eun Sung (Lee Yoo Young) and Kim Rae Wan (Kim Seon Ho) slept together when they were drunk and their relationship changed forever.

It’s a two episodes drama special and I watched it when I had nothing to do on the weekend. It’s a perfect dose of both romance and angst, with just sizzling chemistry between the two leads.

I came for Lee Yoo Young, but Kim Seon Ho just completely took me by surprise and stole the show. Rae Wan’s quiet pining just KILLED me and honestly it was the best thing about the drama.

Rating : ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Feels : ★★★★★★★★★☆

[hailaft]

A Poem A Day (2018)

This drama flew under my radar. I wasn’t particularly a fan of the lead actors so I wasn’t really waiting for it. But, as always, my mutuals in Twitter talked about it a lot so I started to watch it.

It’s about the life of physical therapists in Shinsun Hospital. Our heroine is Woo Bo Young (Lee Yoo Bi), a contract employee, who wasn’t planning to become physical therapists but ended up fall in love with the profession. She loves poetry and dreamt of becoming a poet but had to give up her dream to help providing for the family. She read a poem (or multiple poems) a day to make sense of whatever going on in her life that day, hence the title.

It took a few episodes, but I did enjoy it in the end. There are no characters that really stand out for me but I love them as a whole. The drama did a good job telling the story of physical therapists and it always a welcome to see a profession in a new and positive light.

I also love the whole poetry concept. The poem of the day always tied all the subplots and the characters together. They usually did a whole montage with one of the character read the poem. The montage is always beautifully shot.

Lastly they executed the whole love triangle well. It was between Bo Young, the star physical therapist, Ye Jae Wook (Lee Jun Hyuk), and Bo Young’s former classmate, Shin Min Ho (Jang Dong Yoon).

Of course, I was in Ye Line all the way AND I’M IN THE RIGHT SHIP FOR ONCE. But it was refreshing to see how they handle it. They gave both male leads enough backstory and they succesfully kept us on the edge for quite long, but the canon couple moments was still sweet and satisfying. 

They didn’t drop Min Ho as soon as Bo Young and Ye Ssaem started dating. Although they completely assasinated Min Ho’s character toward the end, Bo Young and Min Ho still parted as good friends.

Kdramas always excel in giving us childish characters, but A Poem A Day stood out for being completely mature all the way through and the drama gave a good impression for that. 

Rating : ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Feels : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

[hailaft]

My Ahjussi (2018)

When I heard the title for the first time I just cringed. Since this is k-drama we are talking about, of course I assumed there will be romance between the two lead characters. A romance between a middle age man and a young woman in her early 20s didn’t sound attractive to me at all. 

But I watched it anyway, mostly because I am a fan of the two lead actors. Unlike most people, I actually like IU aka Lee Ji Eun’s acting. People seem to only remember her bad project like Moon Lovers, but she stole my heart in Dream High and The Producer way before that. I also love her music but that’s OOT. Lee Sun Kyun is also my first ahjussi crush when I watch Coffee Prince more than 10 years ago. 

Later I found out My Ahjussi was directed by Kim Won Suk who directed two of my favourite dramas, Misaeng and Signal. By then, I knew this drama would be amazing and I came with sky high expectation. Not only it met my expectation, it surpassed it by miles and miles away.

It was clear from the start that My Ahjussi was no romcom. The two lead characters, Park Dong Hoon (Lee Sun Kyun) and Lee Ji An (IU/Lee Jin Eun) work in a same structural engineering company. Dong Hoon is a manager whose career has been stuck for some time. His marriage is in trouble and both his brothers have no job, so he essentially is the family’s last hope.

Ji An is a temp worker with multiple side jobs. She has tons of debt and on top of that she had to pay for her grandma’s care. She was regularly abused by the loanshark she owed money to, Lee Kwang Il (Jang Ki Yong). She wasn’t really living at the start of the drama, just barely surviving.

Both Dong Hoon and Ji An was caught in the middle of the ‘war’ for the CEO position. The former was forced to enter the war unknowingly, while the latter inserted herself in the middle of the war for financial gain. Ji An was ‘hired’ by the current CEO, Do Jun Young (Kim Young Min) to get close to Dong Hoon and trap him in a scandal. Ji An was using him, but Dong Hoon treated her sincerely despite her low social status and ice cold demeanor. He smashed through the wall Ji An had built all her life to protect herself just by being himself.

It’s not a complex story by any means, it’s quite simple. The complexity lied in the characters. They were written and acted so masterfully, they felt like real people with real feeling.

The slow and detailed story might not be in line with everyone’s taste, but I enjoy every second of it. I became really invested in all the characters; Park Brothers, Yu Ra, Jung Hee, Sang Won, Kwang Il. They all got a proper character development. They all got their time to shine.

Ji An by the end of the first and the last episode

Ji An’s probably one of the best heroine in all k-dramas I’ve watched. She’s quick-witted and tough. She could turn every disadvantages to help her cause and outsmart even the most educated person. But that instict to survive was also her downfall. She’s desperate and could harm some one so cold-heartedly to get what she wanted.

That’s why Dong Hoon, the complete opposite, is so perfect for her. He’s just an all-around nice and decent human being. He might be educated and has a decent job, but he’s too nice for his own good. He couldn’t express himself freely because he was so afraid to offend other people.

I can’t relate to Ji An’s hard life, but Dong Hoon felt really close to heart. That feeling when you’re stuck in life and you’re just destined to an eternal mediocrity, I can relate to that very well.

Dong Hoon by the end of the first and the last episode

Ji An and Dong Hoon’s relationship can not be put into a box. It was everything, every relationship label you could imagine. They were enemies at first, then they became friends. They simply get each other and I’m sure they felt love for each other at one point. Their worlds were completely turned upside down after they met and they came out completely different people. 

I genuinely think they met to change each other’s lives, but they’re not destined to be in each other’s lives forever. They had to continue to live their own life and I think that’s more beautiful than just a ‘romantic’ endgame.

Lee Sun Kyun has always been wonderful and has proven his worth once again in this drama. That is why he continued to be my favourite ahjussi. He has this really genuine vibe that just fit Dong Hoon perfectly. 

Ji An probably changed the most from the beginning to the end of the story and Lee Ji Eun just portrayed them all beautifully. She could flawlessly convey every single thoughts and feelings Ji An’s had only with her expression and gesture. I always know she had it in her and I’m proud she finally got the breakthrough she deserved.

Even though the actors were really wonderful, I don’t think I can give the credits to them alone. Every elements in the drama—acting, writing, directing, cinematography, even the sound producing—just came together so perfectly to create this beautiful, beautiful drama.

We’re only halfway through 2018 and I can confidently say this is the best as well as a personal favourite drama of the year. 

Kim Won Suk just keep surpassing himself year after year. I really look forward to his next project and I have big hopes he would continue to set a higher standard for kdramas. Let’s just hope everyone else could catch up to him in the long run.

Rating : ★★★★★★★★★★ 

Feels : ★★★★★★★★★★

[banghae]

“Ye Je Wook, can I give you some advice? Don’t meddle.”

[hailaft]

THIS IS THE FUNNIEST THING IN THE DRAMA

[hailaft]

A Misty Rant

WARNING : HUGE SPOILER

Wow where do I even begin??? 

Misty did a lot of things right. I mean, strong heroine who doesn’t give a shit? Highlighting how sexism works at professional setting? Realizing pitting women against each other is unnecessary?

How the writer served us amazing plots and twists week after week? Top notch acting, visual and production?

BUT THE ENDING

Why @dramagod

WHYYY?

I mean, I can accept that Tae Wook is the killer (tbh I thought it’s the smartest twist they did). I can even accept that Tae Wook and Hye Ran wouldn’t have the happy ending THEY DESERVED. But, making Myung Woo took the blame and Tae Wook commits suicide? What is the point?

Tae Wook’s supposed to stay by her side. If he can’t, just made him pay for his sin in jail. Why punish the innocent when Hye Ran ended up miserable anyway?

I don’t get it man

I was ready to hype Misty for daesang but nope. I don’t accept this ending. 

Thank you for giving us one of the best heroine in kdrama though. Bye, Go Hye Ran. You’ll be missed.

Rating : ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆

Feels :  ★★★★★★★★★☆

[hailaft]

A Great Seducer Rant

I wasn’t going to write anything so early, but people’s reaction of the drama are so divided it intrigued me. For the record, I’m one the people who actually enjoyed the first four episodes, although I don’t think it’s a good drama per se.

It’s an adaptation, so the story is familiar (although I never watch any of Les Liaisons dangereuses adaptations lol). The directors seems to think that way since they barely explain the characters background. They use A LOT of flashbacks to do so and the transition between scenes are so horrible oh my god. Sometime they even cut to different scene when someone is in the middle of talking. It’s so weird.

Even though it’s already a melodrama about rich teenagers, they can’t help adding a typical K-drama tropes like birth secret and business marriage, so it’s extra dramatic and cringe-worthy. I can’t take these plot seriously and it’s unintentionally funny to me. You can fast forward through these plots and won’t lose anything tbh.

Despite all that, both Woo Do Hwan and Moon Ga Young rise to the challenge and give a great performance. I don’t want to say anything about Joy and Kim Min Jae because they don’t have much screentime yet but I’m not offended so far.

I just want to say Woo Do Hwan can spark chemistry with anyone because damnnn look at that gaze. For now, Si Hyun and Soo Ji is the stronger ship because they’re in the spotlight. Also, the sexual tension between them just killed me. They’re just sizzling together ugh.

Joy and Do Hwan barely have any scene together but if their interaction during the promo is any indication, they look as good if not more. Anyway, I’m determined to finish this drama, even though i have to fast-forward most of it lol.

[fywoodohwan]

[IG] 180219

keyeastofficial: #WooDoHwan #TheGreatSeducer #GrabbingAttention stills  

➡ ‘The Great Seducer’ Woo Do Hwan!! Perfect transformation into a ‘twenty year old seducer’!!

#IntenseGaze #DeadlyGaze Woo Do Hwan’s 4 types of gazes 

Everyone have you been enchanted by Woo Do Hwan’s charms~? #March12 #TheGreatSeducer #PleaseLookForwardToIt

Photo by: Bon Factory 

[hailaft]

I’m so here for this

[hailaft]

Prison Playbook Review

Note : contains spoiler

Another notes : I’m still biased toward Shin PD so yeah

After Reply 1988, I swore I would never watch Shin PD’s drama again, but as people say, never say never lol. I was skeptical coming in and I was proven wrong. 

The overall feel of the drama is still in line with the director style, even though since the story is set in a prison, the tone is definitely darker. The show did a good job making us viewers root for all the convicts and see them as humans first. But, they kept reminding us that the convicts were there for a reason and there are time and time again when that fact hit me hard. 

Almost all characters are nuanced with a backstory, although it’s a shame that the main bad guy (Chief (?) Yeom) turned out to be one of the few two dimensonal characters. 

Both the comedy and heartfelt scenes are hit and miss for me. Not all episodes killed me in a good way, unlike Reply series (except 1988 because...you know it really did kill me and I still hates it with a passion).

BUT I never warm up to the main character, Je Hyuk. I don’t know, I just can't root for him. The series portray him as a hero falling from grace, but with all the overwhelming support from everyone around him since day one, it never really feels like he did.

Also, no one seems to think it was wrong of Je Hyuk to kill a man, including himself. His violent streak is still there, up until the last episode. Sure, they all did him wrong yadda yadda, I don't care. With the lack of character development, his story does nothing for me.

Shin PD still try to outsmart the viewers, what with all the twist in all episodes ending (usually in the last 5 minutes). He did it well and it works, most of the time. It annoys the hell out of me nevertheless.

What keep me watching was all the supporting characters who stole the show. Kaist's cunning tricks. Han Yang and Jung Woo's bickering. Han Yang's heartbreaking ending (I'm still mad!!!! He deserves better!!!). Min Chul's happy ending. Jun Ho and Lieutenant Paeng hot and cold relationship. Beobja. Jan Baljang. I can go on and on. 

The drama is definitely not a one man show, the ensemble casts made it works. It’s what Shin PD does best. He could make all the characters shine in one way or another, and in a drama like this, that’s what matters.

Rating : ★★★★★★★★☆☆

Feels : ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 

[therudecouture-deactivated20181]

obsessed. to the max!

[thepowerofblackwomen]

All The Stars x SZA dir. by Dave Meyers and the little homies

[hailaft]

Gorgeous omg

[koryxo]

[hailaft]

Damn

[uppoompat]

🍑 🍑 🍑

[hailaft]

DAMNNN

[banghae]

“I couldn’t see you, so I was nervous. You said you were sick, so I was constantly worried. You told me..to do what I want to do.”

[hailaft]

i wish they freaking moved their lips, but what the hell.

[hailaft]

2017 K-Drama Review

I’m too lazy to write about the synopsis, so I’ll just link the wikipedia page of each dramas. 2017 was a good year for kdramas with so many unexpected gems popped up here and there. I watched A LOT of kdramas compared to the years before although I dropped half of them. I will only talk about the dramas I finished, so here we go.

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

I like it, it’s sweet and light. The main couple got together in real life (which explain why this drama remained to be the only drama where Nam Joo Hyuk displayed decent acting skill), but they broke up like a few months ago.

Anyway,  if you’re looking for a sweet romance, this drama might be the answer. But, if you can’t overlook constant body shaming or you can’t get over why a thin model acting as a female weightlifting athlete, then you should just steer clear of this drama.

Goblin

The indisputably hit drama of the year. I know a lot of people love it and I did held on and finish the drama, but it just left a bitter taste in my mouth. With the heroine’s being underage for most of the drama, it just felt weird to root for the main couple. Not only that, the story leaned heavily towards the male characters. Almost all the female characters got no character development, even though the writer is female. No amount of beautiful cinematography or film location would help me overlook this fatal flaw.

Solomon’s Perjury

What a drama. With only 12 episodes, this drama could pack a tight story with almost no hole, while keeping the audiences on the edge of their seat the whole time. It was smart and thoughtful. The characters were all developed beautifully and all the actors did them justice. Almost all the actors are rookies but they did so good, I still remember their characters even when I watch them in other dramas.

It was a shame this drama was aired at the exact time as Goblin, so it didn’t get the attention it deserved. It’s a perfect drama for binge-watching, not only because of the fewer episodes, but because the mystery was so gripping, you can’t help but to finish it in one seating.

Tunnel

I have only heard good thing about OCN criminal dramas, so I finally checked one of them out. The story was based on the same real life case, Hwaseong serial murders, as Signal (arguably the best kdramas in 2016). Both dramas also included time-travel in the story with one hot-headed detective from the past partnered with the younger detective from the present.

The similarity with Signal was the biggest reason I started watching the drama, but it didn’t live up to my expectation. Tunnel is nowhere as smart or thoughtful as Signal was. I can’t remember how many times I screamed at my tv everytime the detectives did something stupid. I stopped watching at episode 15, but finally finished it a few months later to get it over with. I didn’t change my mind.

Fight For My Way

A beautiful drama about the struggle of young adults in their 20s. The characters are around my age so the story just felt especially relatable. The story was mainly about ordinary problems like career choice and relationships, but it was presented in a thoughtful way. It was a shame that the later episodes, traditional kdramas trope took over the story and bored me so much I postponed watching the last episode for months.

But, overall Fight For My Way is still one of the best dramas this year. The talented four main actors were especially wonderful here (which was a rare thing to happen in kdramas) and they played a big part for shaping the drama to be a wonderful little gem it was.

Circle

A sci-fi kdrama is unheard of before, so when Circle happened (with Yeo Jin Goo and Gong Seung Yeon starred in it, no less), I just have to watch it. I don’t have much expectation coming in, but it was an arguably captivating drama. True, it wasn’t nowhere near American sci-fi series (especially budget-wise lol), but it was still an admirable effort.

IMO, the strength of the drama was the story, with twist after twist hit you and blew you away. Combined with great performance from the actors made Circle a must see.

Forest of Secret / Stranger

Just knowing that Forest of Secret was inspired by the wild Choi Soon Shil gate scandal that caused the downfall of the former South Korean president Park Geun Hye, was intriguing enough for me to want to check out drama. (Out of topic but you should definitely read about the scandal here, it included a shaman and a cult. Just wild, I tell you).

If that’s not enough for you, Bae Doo Na (Sense8, Cloud Atlas) starred in it and she was just wonderful here. Everything about the drama was perfect and it was still gripping until the end (rare thing in kdramas). It ruined other criminal/political kdramas for me and I haven’t found better dramas ever since (the rest of Koreans seemed to agree since it already won best drama award(s) in the country).

Notes : there’s a rumour they would produce second season of the drama so you should check the first season now before the second season started.

School 2017

My crack drama. My favourite guilty pleasure. It was a cliche drama that made your eyes roll but somehow it still made you squeal because it was just so damn cute.

It was a part of a series of highschool dramas that launched so many of a-list Korean actors career (Gong Yoo, Bae Doo Na, Jo In Sung, etc). School 2017 is the latest installment and I wasn’t going to watch it at first, but everyone was raving about it so I checked it out in the end and fell in love right away.

The highschool story was whatever (tried to be Solomon’s Perjury but failed miserably) but the romance between the two main characters, Eun Ho & Tae Woon, was definitely the highlight and the only good thing of the drama. Also, Kim Jung Hyun who acted as Tae Woon is a discovery and a treasure. I definitely expecting good thing from him.

Rescue Me

This drama took me by surprise. I’ve heard about it but my interest was gone when I heard Taecyeon from 2PM was casted for the drama. I like him in variety shows but his acting was just plain bad. The cult theme was different and intriguing so I checked it out in the end (also everyone was raving about it, I know my FOMO always got the better of me).

The story was haunting and sometime downright disturbing. I tried to binge-watch the first few episodes but I can’t take it because it was just too creepy lol. Not being religious myself, I just can’t fathom how far these people can go for their belief, but I guess that was the point.

The story was thought-provoking and I guess relevant too what with current events all over the world where people valued their beliefs over other human being. It’s one of many unexpected gems this year, including rookie actor, Woo Do Hwan who steal the show and went on to star in other drama with one of Korean biggest star, Yoo Ji Tae (Oldboy).

Girl’s Generation 1979

A low-key drama, starring a lot of rookie actors. I watched it with no expectation, just to fill my time after School 2017 ended and I immediately fell in love with Jung Hee (Bona) who went on to become one of my favourite heroine this year.

It was set in a small town in 1979, the time when communist issue was still a big deal. But it was no political drama (although the issue was always there), it was just a story about a friendship between two highschool girls. A story about a girl who want to break her family patriarchal way. The drama did a damn good job telling it and making the viewer sympathize with them. It was nowhere near perfect but it still held a special place in my heart.

Age of Youth 2

I looove the first season of Age of Youth. It told a real story about female friendships and college life. I also think it started the trend of female friendship in kdramas, something that was shockingly rare before.

That’s why when the news of the second season came out, I was immediately on board. But there was a lot of problems even before the drama started, with three casting changes, including the main actors who played Eun Jae. So I was worried the second season wouldn’t be as good, but I was worried for nothing because the drama continued to deliver relatable story with a lot of hearts. The only complain I have was probably how the show kept Ji Won & Sung Min’s relationship hanging, but let’s hope they’ll resolve it in the next season (crossing finger there would be next season).

Argon

My heart hurts talking about this drama. Shortly after the drama ended, the main actor, Kim Joo Hyuk passed away in a car accident. I love him and I watch 1 Night 2 Days (a variety show where he was a cast member for years) religiously because of him.

It’s a good thing that this drama was the last project he did (and a few movies that would be released next year) because it was a damn good one. It was short and powerful, with a fast paced story that would left you breathless. It was full of flawed characters, but that was the very reason it was so good. Also, it’s a Netflix original and was released on the same week as Stranger Things 2. I chose to watch it first and it was worth every second.

While You Were Sleeping

While You Were Sleeping pilot was really good and visually gorgeous, so I like it right away but as the drama went on, I started to lose interest. The story was great on paper and I enjoy it generally, but I’m just not that into it, even with the hype surrounding the dramas (most probably because of Lee Jong Suk and Suzy who were arguably the biggest Korean stars today).

Probably because the cases started to get repetitive or because the acting wasn’t that great on average. Thankfully the last few episodes were saved by Kim Won Hae who continued to be scene stealer in every drama he appeared. At the end, I was left satisfied. It wasn’t amazing by any means, but it was still enjoyable.

Because It’s Our First Life

This drama is a clear favourite in rom-com genre. It’s everything Fight For My Way wanted to be and then some. Everything about is perfect. Casting was spot on and the actors are all amazing, no weak link whatsoever. The story is really well-written. Although contract marriage is nothing new in kdramas, the way it was told in the drama was different. It’s so subtle & undramatic, although you could never guess where the writer would take you. It’s a complete opposite from the traditional kdramas.

The story was also real in a way that every kind of people exists in the drama. People like Ho-rang who think marriage is her life goal and people like Soo-ji who challenged every single thing Ho-rang said. It showed how rich the story is.

Avengers Social Club

All-female-lead kdramas would only appear once in a blue moon so I have to witness it when it appeared, even when the english subtitle is really really hard to find lol. It wasn’t as sinister as the poster suggested, it was pretty light (and hilarious), even when it dealt with heavy issue like domestic violence and bullying.

Led by really strong casts, I wholeheartedly trusted the drama to took me wherever it wanted and they somehow delivered. I guess you can never go wrong with ahjummas fighting for justice. I just wish it would last longer. I could watch them defended the weak all day long.