#gil chae

[sosrantings]

I just know it's a banger when the male lead starts tying the female lead's hair.

[migumii]

Gil Chae might be one of the best female characters ever written in a K-drama. She's so freaking strong it's inspiring. Her character is introduced as this self obsessed, vain girl who only cares about being with the boy she likes. And now she's this leader who protects her people, keeps food on family's plates, finds innovative ways to keep her business going in the middle of a war, and fights like hell to stay alive in this deeply cruel world. But the interesting thing is even when she was portrayed to be materialistic and arrogant, she still had these amazing qualities in her, which is why Jong Jong and Eun Ae loved her so dearly even then. Her arrogance came from her knowing her own worth and it's admirable.

Gil Chae is a girl's girl. She fights for her girls. She protects her girls. She encourages them to stay strong and not let the sexist world bring them down. Gil Chae understands that everything that's happening to them: the violation, the rape, the harassment, none of it is their own fault. It's happening to them and it's unfair. So best believe she's not afraid to tell someone off or slap them (twice) when they're being disgusting despite not knowing anything about what the women went through.

She's had so many amazing moments but two that come to mind are: 1. Her explaining that her getting married will not suddenly make her lose her spark, sass, and courage to stand up for what she believes in. Because while she is beautiful, fair, fragile looking, and everything men looked for in women back then, she is also fiercely independent, loud, proud, and ambitious. She can be all of those things and because she is all of those things she is Gil Chae.

2. When she finally meets her husband after coming back home after being kidnapped, she tells him that she was sold to someone else and faced utter humiliation. However, she makes it clear that none of that was her fault and if that was the sole reason her husband would be divorcing her, she would fight him on it to no end. BUT because she finally acknowledged to herself that she loves another man, Lee Jang Hyun, SHE will be divorcing HIM. The divorce is her choice. She will not be abandoned because of circumstances that were completely out of her hands. She chooses to leave the marriage because she believes it's not fair to stay with one man while loving another.

I cannot explain to you all how much love and pride I have for this character. She's so commendable and her actions are so intentional. Now, just because she's an amazing character does not mean she has no flaws. I am not looking for a perfect character, those don't exist. Gil Chae is terrible at expressing her emotions to Jang hyun (so is Jang hyun). She's loyal to a fault sometimes. And she finds it hard to trust the one man who has showed up for her time and time again. BUT she's learning and she's quite literally growing with every single episode.

I am so happy that the writer of this drama chose to write such a strong female lead, one who has just as much strength as the male lead. They are truly equals. The writer chose to invest in their female characters and flesh them out throughout the trajectory of the show. I can only say thank you... and please give my babies a happy ending.

Special shout out to Ahn Eun Jin who is absolutely phenomenal and I am in awe while watching her every single episode.

[starcrossed591]

KDrama Year in Review 2023

While I watched more KDramas this year than CDramas, none of them consumed my heart and soul quite like this year's crop of CDramas did (CDrama review post here). And I dropped KDramas more readily than I have in years past, in part because there were so many more things to watch than I had time for (also I had to finish my dissertation and graduate, etc etc). Still, there were definitely some that I really, really enjoyed, so here's this year's KDrama round up:

16. My Lovely Liar: Started strong, got boring real quick. Dropped for homophobic murder plot. Still, glad to see that Hwang Min Hyn can actually act (although full disclosure, I did still enjoy him in Alchemy of Souls, wooden as that performance may be). Hoping Kim So Hyun can catch a break and get a role in a drama more worthy of her in the near future.

15. Crash Course in Romance: Excellent performances and chemistry by the ML and FL. Romance between two middle aged people instead of youths is also a treat. Dropped around ep 12 because of the unnecessary, homophobic murder plot. Pass.

14. A Good Day to Be a Dog: Surprisingly stronger than the goofy premise suggests, largely on the basis of Park Gyu-Young's performance as the FL who turns into a dog upon being kissed. Pacing problems in the third act around the origins of the whole dog curse thing. Can't say I recommend unless you're really in the mood for some shenanigans, but largely inoffensive if a little silly. (Also it turns out Cha Eun Woo *really* leveled up his kiss game for this one!)

13. Love to Hate You: Perfectly serviceable rom com. Nothing too special, but a nice weekend binge if you're in the mood for that. Also a good way to see Kim Ji-Hoon's v handsome face and that *hair* without having to deal with everything involved with his rather murderous run in Flower of Evil.

12. Joseon Attorney: A Morality: Perfectly serviceable law procedural/Joseon historical. If you don't like either of those genres your mileage may vary, but I had missed having Bona on my screen, so it worked well enough for me.

11. Welcome to Samdal-ri: I seem to like this one more than literally everyone else I know, and I fully admit that my enjoyment of this drama is more vibes-based than plot-based. I guess I have a soft spot for Shin Hye Sun yelling at people at Ji Chang Wook going a bit unhinged over a woman who ran away from him (see also: Lovestruck in the City).

10. My Demon: Very much enjoying Song Kang as a cranky demon falling in love with a human. Very tropey in the best way, and feels like a return to form for the supernatural romance genre. Remains to be seen if they'll land the ending as of this writing, but enjoying as it goes.

9. Doctor Cha: A contribution to the slate of divorce comedies I watched this year (see also: Strangers Again (KDrama) and Let's Get Divorced (JDrama)), a surprisingly touching story about growing older when you've devoted your life to someone who has not done the same for you.

8. Alchemy of Souls: Light and Shadow (Part 2): While Ko Joon-Yung never quite managed to replace Jung So-Min as the FL for me, I definitely still enjoyed the closer to this fun fantasy series. Special shout out to Shin Seung-Ho as Prince Go Won and his pet turtle

7. Strangers Again: I didn't see a ton about this one on tumblr as it was airing, but I found this rom com? melodrama? divorce procedural? makjang? story about relationships and why they end unexpectedly profound. I tuned in expecting mindless makjang hot mess, and instead got a thoughtful meditation on divorce. Left me feeling unexpectedly melancholy at the end, but glad I watched it.

6. The Secret Romantic Guesthouse: Very fun sageuk! Probably won't knock your socks off, but it does what it does very well. Bonus points for a B couple as compelling as the A couple. I've also been a big Kang Hoon fan since Little Women, and there are a couple of other actors in here that I'm always glad to see working.

5. Perfect Marriage Revenge: Tour de force makjang. Came out of nowhere and blew me away. Hits all the right beats, and unexpectedly fun (and was a nice break from the heaviness of My Dearest for me). This was a good year for jaded and slightly unhinged transmigrated FL's back for their #revenge (see also: Story of Kunning Palace in CDrama land), and I was here for it. Also features one of the spiciest make-out scenes of the year, 10/10 recommend

4. See You in My 19th Life: Absolutely loved this haunting, melancholy, and sometimes unexpectedly goofy reincarnation drama. I loved the webtoon and had high expectations, and this drama largely met them! The continuing relationship between sisters Ji-Eum (Shin Hye Sun) and Cho-Won (Ha Yoon Kyung) was a special highlight for me, and while Shin Hye Sun is already a never-miss for me, I'm especially looking forward to whatever Ha Yoon Kyung does next. I prefer the ending of the Webtoon to the KDrama, but I'm still delighted this drama exists and am glad I watched it.

3. The Interest of Love: Look, I loved this drama. Even though it seemed on the surface like nothing but *mess* in the interpersonal lives of these characters working at a bank on the border between a rich and poor neighborhood in Seoul, it nonetheless had some of the most searing class commentary of the year for me. I also love an FL who will (spoiler) pack up her things and disappear at the drop of a hat, even if no one else will understand her decision to do so, because she just cannot deal anymore (see also: the FL in Lovestruck in the City, whom I also love but everyone else hated). This drama kept me gleefully coming back every week in a year where not a lot of others did.

2. Call It Love: A revenge slice of life melodrama that I found unexpectedly touching in its deep melancholy. Loved not only the main couple, but the relationship between the siblings and their pharmacist bestie. A lovely character study. (Also I somehow ended up watching this at the same time as Till the End of the Moon and Li Susu as Ye Xiwu's hidden identity/revenge plot, which was unexpectedly stressful! Had a very "it's the same picture" moment despite two dramas in two genres that could not be further apart.) If you missed this one (and since it aired on Disney+, you might have--Disney+'s effects on the KDrama streaming ecosystem will be the death of me), it's worth seeking out!

1. My Dearest (Parts 1 and 2): Kind of feels like everyone has said everything there is to say about sageuk of truly epic proportions, but it blew me away as well. Epic romance? Check. Twisty political machinations? Check. Heartwarming friendships between women? Check. Strong ensemble cast? And my top FL of the year, Lady Gil-Chae, played to perfection by Ahn Eun-Jin. I've adored her since Hospital Playlist, and am delighted that she's getting the attention and the roles she deserves. Namkoong Min also a top contender for ML of the year as Lee Jang-Hyun. Part 2 dragged for me a bit in places after a nearly perfect Part 1, but such a great drama overall.

Favorite Drama of the Year: My Dearest. See above.

Favorite Female Character: I mean, it's gotta be Gil Chae from My Dearest, right? She starts out as such a spiteful, spoiled noblewoman, and then turns out to have a core of pure steel. Turns out all her conniving and strategizing, which went towards causing mischief in the village, really just needed a proper outlet. While I would never want to be in the circumstances in which she found herself, if I did, she's exactly who I would want on my side.

Favorite Male Character: Everything's coming up My Dearest this year, because this one is Lee Jang-Hyun in My Dearest as well. Checks the box for my competence kink, and has a knack for showing up just when Gil-Chae needs him, even at great personal cost. Also a smart-ass, which I probably like a bit too much in a man.

Favorite Secondary Female Character: Cho-Won from See You in My 19th Life. Her relationship with her reincarnated older sister was almost more compelling to me than the main romance sometimes, and really helped develop how the ties that bind us are not just romantic ones. Also she was just super cute

Favorite Secondary Male Character: Could have picked anyone from Team Himbo in Alchemy of Souls, but gonna have to give this one to Go Won, himbo prince of my heart

Favorite Ship: Again, it's gotta be Gil-Chae and Lee Jang-Hyun in My Dearest. Sometimes, there are drama couples that nearly cause me pain when they are apart, and these two quickly became one of them. Though their relationships is hardly functional for much of it, through all that push and pull, they ultimately learn how to show up for each other. Also, their *chemistry* is insane!

Favorite Secondary Ship: I loved Hye-Seong and Sung Joon, the B couple in Call it Love. Seeing the SFL grow more comfortable with herself after a truly shitty ending to her previous relationship was a nice respite from the hidden identity stress of the A couple in this one. I'm also a sucker for a good romance where you start to see someone you've long taken for granted differently. (Close Runner Up: Cho Won and Do-Yun in See You in My 19th Life)

Favorite Platonic Relationship: Gil-Chae, Eun-Ae, and their maids, Jong Jong and Bong Doo, in My Dearest. I loved loved loved the relationship between these women in this drama, and part of the reason the second half of the drama suffered a bit for me is because of how far it moved away from this core relationship. They were ride or die for each other more than the majority of the men in their lives, and I loved that for them.

Trope that Needs to Die: While I find murder plots in rom coms tedious at the best of times, homophobic murder plots are really not it. Quit it, y'all. It's not cute.

Dramas I Missed: Moon in the Day, The Story of Park's Marriage Contract, and Tell Me That You Love Me (grrr Disney+ on this one) are on the list for next year. I'm probably missing others.

Non-2023 Drama Spotlight: Finally went back and watched Do You Like Brahms? for a hit of Park Eun-Bin. A lovely, if also melancholy, slice of life romance that's just as much about what to do when a (career related) dream that you've worked really, really hard for just isn't going to come through as it is about the main romance. Also made me fall in love with Kim Min-Jae and his lovely deep voice, enough so that I also then went back and finally watched Dali and the Cocky Prince, which was also a treat. Recommend both.

Most Looking Forward To: I continue to yearn for a Yumi's Cells 3, and who's to say if that one will ever come through, but I'm putting it out into the universe anyway. More realistically, I'm looking forward to the surprisingly stacked line-up of sageuks coming up, including Captivating the King and Love Song for Illusion.

[framethefeels]

🖤 drama: my dearest   🖤 characters: jang hyun & gil chae 🖤 episodes: 1-21 🖤 music: freya ridings - ultraviolet 🖤 coloring: mine 🖤 program: premiere pro 23

[xoxo-chika]

oh my dearest

I binged upto date that upon doing so I couldn't actually go about doing daily activities at all. My dearest's part 2 continuation is pretty heartwarming for now, feeding all our hopes and ships of them.

But man, the amount of tears from all that ugly crying, yelling in frustration at the characters in certain scenes, this took the biggest chunk of my brain for 3 days I couldn't think straight. Not to mention, how my eyes were so puffy from all that crying 😂

I really hope to get some good arcs ahead, else it would be one of the most saddest kdramas following 25 21.

[migumii]

My Dearest ep. 17

god, that entire confession scene at the end of ep 17 has to be one of the most beautiful confession scenes ever and for so many reasons too. It was beautiful because Jang Hyun's finally clearly putting into words how he feels about her. He lets her know how sincere his love for her is because the only thing that matters to him is her, just Gil Chae. It makes no difference to him if she's poor or rich, if she's rude or obedient, if she loves him or not. Because nothing will change his feelings for her. And this directly reassures a lot of her insecurities.

She's always had the advantage of being a noble and the privilege that comes with it. Now she has nothing but he still loves her. She's stated in an earlier episode that she is who she is, whether it's arrogant and loud or just beautiful and nice to be around and she wouldn't be changing that for anyone. Jang hyun appreciates every aspect of her personality. And her biggest issue with Jang hyun has always been his past history with other woman and this reputation of him being a player. She always worried that he'd lose interest or wasn't serious about her, but here he is standing in front of her letting her know that his feelings will not waver. He will continue to love her. He also drops the bombshell of how much she affected him from the first moment he laid eyes on her. It was love at first sight for this "player" and he knew that everyone else before Gil Chae was insignificant because he had never felt the way he feels about her about any other person.

The other absolutely beautiful part about this ending scene (and my personal favorite) was the comfort he provides her. Because after being abandoned and blamed by her husband for being violated by intruders, her mistrust/hesitance is completely understandable. She asks him 'what about a Gil Chae who's been violated by an intruder?' And at first you can kinda see the anger/stoicism in his eyes because he's angry. Not angry at her. But angry that she was violated in the first place and that she was hurt again by the world for being a victim. Then he softens and says what I think Gil Chae's been wanting to hear for a very long time. He comforts her and offers his warmth because he knows she's in pain. He knows she went through hell and back. She's had to be so strong for literally everyone around her in order to survive. And now, here's her man holding her and telling her that she did such an amazing job at holding on and not giving up. He tells her she no longer needs to worry because he's here and he'll protect her and because now she knows the whole truth and the amount of times he's already saved her, she can rely on him. She knows she's safe now.

I think those words were just as impactful as his confession of his love because we have to remember that as the audience we got to see everything Gil Chae went through. Every single heartbreaking decision she had to make to survive. The strain it put on her mind and body. Jang Hyun did not see those moments but because he knows her and understands the brutality of war he has a very good idea of what she must have went through. Gil Chae doesn't need to explain herself to him. She doesn't need to convince him that it was her fault. He tells her that if she would like to tell him, he would listen. And yet, he basically tells her he's proud of her and holds her, allowing her to lean on someone else for a moment. I cried watching this scene just because I couldn't help but think of the relief she must have felt in that moment. I was happy she had the love of her life back and she could take refuge in his arms for the time being.

[migumii]

I'm still not over episode 17 and I can't stop thinking about how when Gil Chae shows up in front of Jang hyun "pregnant" there's never this moment of anger or entitlement or betrayal. I'm sure he's hurt because he loves her and knows he can no longer be with her but he never lets that show. Instead, he stares at her in awe because she looks so radiant and happy. He walks with her, rushes to satisfy her cravings, and looks so in love as she eats and drinks what he brings her. It really goes to show you the type of man Lee Jang hyun is. I think other men would have been angry that she somehow "moved on" so fast and I definitely don't think other men would do what he did for her. Her own husband never even approached her in the slave market when he heard she was sold to a foreign intruder. Lee Jang hyun truly just wants Gil Chae to be happy and safe, even if that means she's living a life with someone else.

[migumii]

How's the romance in my dearest? I know the drama is much more than a romance but I've heard conflicting things about it, some think it's a great love story, some say they thought JH loved GC a lot more than she loved him as shown but their actions and words and I'm apprehensive because I was under the impression that it was this epic love story where two people will do anything for each other.

I love this question bc I get to talk about My Dearest. The romance in this show is one of my favorites because it genuinely is this epic love story that spans over years all throughout war and rising nations. You’re right when you say that there is a lot to this drama outside of romance, for both main leads, and that’s one of the reasons why its so good because despite EVERYTHING they both go through, JH and GC will always come back to each other. Their love story is destined to be because of the way they manage to find each other time and time again. In terms of chemistry, the actors were brilliant because the banter is so good. The actors feed off of each other’s abilities and comedic timing. They also do a really good job of portraying a maturing love. I can see why someone would say JH loves GC more than GC loves him because of his declarations of love and heroic acts. But GC is no less in her sacrifices. Her growing love for him is all a part of GC’s character arc. But trust me, the love GC has for JH is immense. I highly recommend this drama to everybody. I think it’s one of the best dramas I’ve ever watched. The story was amazing, the acting was unmatched, and their love story was so tragic but so romantic. I think you’ll love it.