“I Need Romance (3)” ASAP!

…the K-drama, that is.

Me, personally? I’m fine, thanks!

Just finished marathoning this series instead of writing a four-page paper on “the relation between the nation and the diaspora in the film Pardes” (more on that later).

This is the third installment of a series based around the lives of career women in their thirties.

Let’s just say that, after dozens of K-dramas where thousands of fans hang on until the last episode for that one, chaste kiss, I didn’t have to worry about the lack of chemistry.

Of course, I just wanted to see Sung Joon on screen again.

Enough said!

Take a peek at this pretty-long-but-worth-it-trailer or see the series for yourself here at Viki.com

“Boys Before Friends” Changing Leads!

I thought it was strange that no Episode Five appeared on viki.com this weekend.

And now I know why.

According to Manila Bulletin, and both leads Dawn Morrow (Zoey) and Joseph Almani (Liam) have left the show and will be replaced  by Kevin Markovic and Rose Guess.

Both leads finished with Episode Four and filming has already begun with the new leads for the next episode.

International Fangirl gives a summary of the new leads qualifications:

“Kevin Markovic is credited with being in an eight minute short from 2011 entitled The Missed Call where he plays a wild college student. Other than that, there is no portfolio, professional biography or demo reel available for him. 

Rose Guess is a 24 year old Portland native who moved to Los Angeles and has done some modeling. Her one film credit is for a 60 minute 2012 film called Hollywood a GoGo – The Ultimate Dance Party. The clip on IMDb made me cringe, but just at the production quality, I couldn’t tell which body was Rose’s.”

To read more, check out internationfangirl.blogspot.com.

I and, I am sure, K-drama fans everywhere are suffering from whiplash after yet another major cast change in the American remake of beloved series “Boys Over Flowers”.

Although we can only deplore the director’s decision which does not improve the quality of the series so far, let’s hope that this is the final (and a better) change all around!

Bffseries.com released a short video called “Special Episode Trailer”. The full episode is now available on viki.com as Episode Zero.

It is essentially a recap of the previous episode with a reality TV-like commentary called “Spring Break Confessions”. The episode also features cast and crew interviews and marks the final appearance of the two former leads.

I will not be reviewing this episode, so please check out a detailed summary here!

“Boys Before Friends” Heats Up!

Episode four of “Boys Before Friends” (BBF), which came out yesterday on Viki.com, was a chapter out of Spring Break reality TV, complete with water fights, ghost stories and lots of kissing.

Not to mention the five minutes of recaps and opening/closing credits.

I have to say though, that watching that much kissing in a K-drama remake was a bit of a reverse culture shock!

Not only did Liam and Zoey lock lips twice in the same episode, but every single couple with the exception of Piper and Chase had some on-screen romance.

But the K-drama fan in me cringed when Krissy (one of F4’s fangirls) and her new boyfriend could be seen making out in the background of a Liam and Zoey scene.

Three minutes later…

…is it just me, or is there way too much kissing in American shows?

I may not like the infamously awkward “open eyes, closed mouth” scenes, but I have always admired Asian cultures’ habit of keeping physical intimacy private.

Though there was that funny moment when Chloe feels Noah up during their midnight kiss and then tries to pass it off with the “you’re like my brother” line.

His reply?

Whoops!

My favorite couple though had to be Chase and Piper. We slowly get a glimpse of his less hormone-driven characteristics as he sympathizes with her relationship problems.

In terms of the technical side, there are still rough patches.

The problem with switching shots between characters that are speaking still continues, and there are two scenes where most of the lines are spoken off-camera.

Sound is also still an issue. I even had trouble hearing my own language!

And I wasn’t the only one.

 Sometimes I can’t hear a thing of what they’re saying” Viki commenter Luisa_Nanda stated, “and that’s why I watch it with subs.”

“Seriously? wtf is the music so freaking loud!?” KpopPrincess2, another viewer, stated.

To summarize, I am beginning to enjoy the series and it is interesting to note the similarities (and differences!) between American and Korean entertainment styles.

The episode may have lacked plot development, but it did have its moments.

Now, let’s move on with the story, shall we?

Check the episode out here at viki.com or the official BBF website.