Fashion Fix

We watch korean dramas of course for the people, the plot, the music, but really, it's also for the fashion!

I think Korea is the only place where, if you see an actor wearing something you like, you'd be able to immediately find it on the internet. Price, place, where to order, all in one place. So even if I can't have it, looking and gorging over beautiful clothing is enough to satisfy my craves already.

To find these items, search on the drama you want on naver/nate (two of Korea's biggest search portals), and then there will be a bunch of blogs that show you what the actor was wearing and then pictures of the real item.

Today's Fashion Fix:

Dasom's cute cape coat in Episode 68 of Shut up Family

sporting the coat herself with a round bright purple handbag

more: here

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OST of the day #3

Shut up Family OST- I think I love you so

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Photoshoot: Oh Yeon Seo

 Loving the pastel colour scheme and baby-doll look of this Ceci Nov'12 photoshoot starring Oh Yeon Seo.

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Thinking About: Park Shin Hye

credit: tumblr@kpoprocksmysocks

Last night, for some unknown reason, I suddenly thought about Park Shin Hye. More specifically, I was thinking about a drama I watched called "Tree of Heaven", and I suddenly had the urge to rewatch it. Instead, I went on youtube and watched a couple of MV's to bring back some memories.

Lately, I hadn't been feeling good about Park Shin Hye because she was playing too many 'cutesty roles' that didn't have much of a breakthrough. When I watched the "Tree of Heaven" MV's I thought back to the times when I really liked and admired her. 

The first time I saw her was when she was a child actor, her first drama was Stairway to Heaven (2003), a classic and a 'hallyu hit'. Her character was tragic, like in many of those classics, and I remembered her performance clearly. The second impression I got was from Tree of Heaven (2006) with Lee Wan. She was portraying yet another tragic character (you know, with the abuse from aunt, mother remarrying, a stepbrother...all that K-drama). But her performance was still captivating, there was something that drew me in. Those were the only two dramas I watched her in that had left a good impression on me, before she jumped onto the 'idol-cutesy bandwagon'

So then there was You're Beautiful (2009) the crazy, fun dressing up as a boy to step in for her twin brother and all that drama. I admit, I was swept in the craze when it first aired. Loved the pig-rabbit, loved the humor, but when several years passed and I thought about the drama again I was like "what was I thinking?" That drama was at most just hilarious at times, at times lame, in total, pretty average.

She then went on to do other dramas with similar stories and characters and her image in my mind just washed away. I tried taking up "Heartstrings/ You've Fallen For Me (2011)" but couldn't even get past Episode 1. News of her in other dramas popped up, but I had zero interest as the plotline was what I disliked. For example Goong S, the so called sequel to Goong. She also tried a Taiwan drama "Hayate the Combat Butler (2011)" and that was down the 'cute route'. Usually, korean actors/idols will accept Taiwan dramas to break into the Chinese market, but they are usually 'idol-dramas' that really don't have much substance, and I guess this was another thing that didn't go well with me when I know she can do so much better.

I'm really hoping to see Park Shin Hye in a drama with a role that is different from her usual roles she portrays now. Unfortunately, I don't think that is any time soon as she has accepted tVN's 'flower-boy' drama: My Flower Boy Neighbour.

I know that these type of dramas do have their certain fan base, and good for them, but I kind of miss her playing tragic characters (or heck, any character different from what she's been portraying lately). Hopefully she can pick up a good drama...later. For now, cutesy-flower-boy, dramas just won't do it for me. 

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The Great Seer Episode 9&10

Episode 9


The Black Tortoise

So we find out that Ji Sang has found a way to sneak into the palace to search for that Black Tortoise and his mother. I'm wondering how long we have to wait for a mother-son reunion because they're so far, yet so close.

Jung Geun

 Jung Geun...all grown up and manipulative (already!) It's known he's on the evil side, but wouldn't expect him to be helping overthrow the King by helping the 'empire'. Although, not much is known about his true intentions at this point...

Poor Princess Noguk

Princess Noguk in history could not concieve a child, and its surely going to happen in here but along side some drama of course with all the 'prophecy' telling and all. Really pitiful...

Priestess turned Gisaeng 

 

I was actually waiting for the appearance of Bong Choon, the priestess turned gisaeng. She was shown in the beginning and was the likely candidate for the head priestess role, however she barely escapes alive under the torture of the now evil head priestess. They actually had a preview where her story was outlined in much more detail than the measly flashbacks we get now. I guess they decided to cut her part out, and it appeared in this episode. She is indebted to the creepy monk since he saved her life and now she lives as a head gisaeng. I'm wondering how she'll fit in later on in the story since it was stated she would help Lee Sung Gye...

Real and Fake Lee Han Baek

Ji Sang heads into some trouble when he decides to impersonate a certain Lee Han Baek and amazingly worms out of his situation when he is tested, giving reasonable answers and being quick-witted. We get the point though: the man's going to be a real talented seer.

Episode 10

Trust in the Evil Priestess

What's really frustrating is watching King Gong Min go to the evil Head Priestess for help. For us viewers, knowing she's unloyal and a total calculating witch, it's hard not to kind of dislike the King. Why can't he be more confident, more trusting in his colleagues like Lee Sung Gye, why must the circumstances be against him? Why?

I Shall be Queen

 

 And why does it seem all the odds are on Miss. Evil Priestess's side? She finds the 'land of kings' with the indirect help of Ji Sang (ugh!) and decides she'll become "Queen" by moving her mother's ashes here. Something tells me she won't get what she wants...

Mother-Son's Fate

 

 Stop the pain already! How many times has mother and son met and have had to interact like complete strangers? Ji Sang notices the strange outline of the coal holders in the library and figures out some secret hiding in the wall that only Young Ji knows about. Just as he's about to open it, Young Ji steps up right in time and they meet face to face...

The General That Was Helpless

 Another heart-wrenching moment and props to the charismatic Ji Jin Hee to act out a general in rage and despair knowing his right -hand- man is in the hands of the evil. I seriously want this resolved as soon as possible, I mean, some fingers were already chopped off.

Safe...or Not

 

As soon as Young Ji finds out Ji Sang has touched the opening to the secret doorway, she embarks in a hunt (yes hunting her son) and cliffhanger moment when we think he's fine, but lo and behold some wood shavings fall off from the place he's hiding and he's found out...


On the Hats

I wonder if it's too early to make the connection with evil people and these black straw hats...

 

A family business for hats? Haha.

Eun Bi, the evil priestess's right-hand-woman
 

I have yet to see a good guy wear one of these black straw hats...

I guess, I'll have to wait, or this connection will forever hold true (for this show).

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The Great Seer Episode 7&8

Episode 7


Mother and Son Reunion (Sort-of)

Oh man. What pulls at viewers the most is when we know the whole backstory about the births and relationships, but the characters are the oblivious ones. And we're just sitting there screaming in our minds (or at the screen): he's your son! right there! oh my gosh!

The other mother-son couple meet for the first time and theres a different feeling to this one. The Priestess is power-hungry,vicious and will do anything to obtain her goal, but we see when her son held her hand, she was startled, taken back. I'm pretty sure behind all her armour she really misses her son deep down there. But Jung Geun only has eyes for who he views as his true mother, Young Ji. What will this twisted relationship become of as the story develops? We know he becomes evil later on, will he side with the Priestess or Young Ji? I must say, the evil characters and their relationships are what pique my interest the most in this show.

Underestimated? 

I particularly loved this scene between the Head Priestess and Young Ji, each spewing threats at each other.

YJ: Do you think I'll get over the anger of losing my child that easily?

HP: I'm not here to negotiate.

YJ: I'm threatening you. You need to stop if you want to live.

HP:What you gave His Highness was a fake Ja Mi Won.A weak kid who is constantly bullied will fight back when he believes something will save him. That's what Ja Mi Won is to the king. He was relying on Ja Mi Won to rebel against the empire. With it, he punished the Chinese. But what if he finds out that his Ja Mi Won is fake? What will happen then? Threaten me?

YJ:Shall I threaten you too? If people find out that you have had a child as a priestess... What will happen then?

HP: You will have to tell the whole world. You will have to tell them that that very child was raised in your arms. Then Jung Geun will have to die. On the day Jung Geun was born...I threw him on the rainy ground. You think I couldn't do it now?

YJ: You think I will take Jung Geun back like I did that day?

Knowledge is power. It's the sentence that has been running through all these episodes, it's like the golden phrase for this show. Lee In Im tells the Priestess (earlier on or later, I forgot) that he knows Young Ji the best. They have destroyed her loved ones, so she'll do anything to destroy them both now. The Head Priestess has a moment of internal struggle and feels that she might have underestimated Young Ji. Will she really give up Jung Geun to expose of her evil crimes? Is her 'card' that she has put down really of no use now?


Episode 8

Moo Hak and Hyo Myung (aka Hae In's father) realize that Lee Sung Gye's father's grave is built upon 'the land of kings' and finally it is clear to both of them after Hyo Myung retrieves General Lee's birthdate that he has the fate of the king, a future king. Wow, just wow. Let's let that sink in. It is funny how Hyo Myung questioned this as Lee Sung Gye's mannerisms and character don't really suit a king (for now). I think I might miss that when he become all serious later on.

 Creepy and Scary Monk

I'll admit that when I first saw the Monk, I thought he was a bit cute. But that was only for a few seconds, then he turned into a creep after I figured he wasn't such a great guy. From what I remember from his character description, he is highly valued by King Gongmin, but he takes advantage of this and becomes evil later on (not like he isn't right now). With his fight with Moohak (they seem to be disciples under that same great monk), he's looking for a girl who has the face of a future queen and lo and behold, he stumbles upon Ban Ya. He will probably be the one to hoist her to her position later on...and in turn create chaos.

To Reveal or Not to Reveal

I have to say it, but I really love her costume!

So the moment the Head Priestess has been biting her nail about. Young Ji admits she has given the King the fake Ja Mi Won (but seriously, can they even read the map? Don't they need divine eyes?) and she accepts her punishment. She heads out just to stop and starts to reveal it...starts to...and ends up keeping it shut. So she really does care for Jung Geun, as she tells the Head Priestess that she is the 'true' mother of Jung Geun's.

What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Stronger

 

Perhaps Young Ji might want to listen to Kelly Clarkson's song while in confinement, hm? Props to the director who shot this particular scene that was so poignant, so beautiful. The cherry blossoms gave a nostalgic feeling that brought us back to the moment when Young Ji and Dong Yoon spent their first night.

DY: It will be scary. You won't be able to tell the difference between night and day. You won't be able to tell how many days or years have gone by. And... it will be lonely.
YJ: No! No! It will not be scary or lonely. Because you will be with me. I will endure it. Just like how you survived in here...And how you gave me our child. I will survive and find that child.

Darn, so heartbreaking!

All Grown-Up

To be honest, I wasn't really impressed with the transition between child to adult. I thought it could've been better, but oh well. So we leap in time now into the entrance of the grown-ups. We've peered into each person's fate and background now it's time to prepare for the real battle with fate, the stars, the sky and whatever else we might come upon...

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