Kdrama Year in Review - 2022

Our host Minal is joined with our guests Benny and Vipula. We are at  Episode 12 and 13 of the Moving Kdrama. These two episodes bring us to the present timeline and provide context to the history of our heroes with the government spy organization.  Episode Outline: Doo-shik & Ju-Won bromance brings comic relief The Gun In The Pocket - What happened between Mi-Hyun and Dooshik Doo-shik’s plays the long game Mi-Hyun & Doo-Shik’s new beginning Apple Orchard fight sequence Life moves on for Ju-Won & Ji-Hee North Korean superhero makes an appearance A devastating strategy and a masterclass of acting by Ryu Seung-ryong. Episode Clips: Episode 12-13 trailer Moving Beyond Why does Doo-shik not connect with Ju-Won when he returns to lead a secret life? Are they really not that close?  Episode 12 title ‘Partners’ applies to both Doo-shik and Juwon work relationship plus Doo-shik and Mi-Hyun’s personal relationship. Other dramas/movies discussed in episode: Reference to Better Call Saul’s grief scene in Season 6 May I Help You , a show set in a funeral home with every episode centered around  death, grief and the people left behind. Move to Heaven, a dad and autistic son, help clear the belongings of a recently deceased person. Actors Rediscovered: Jo Bok-Rae as the North Korean soldier with super strength. Recommended dramas for more of his work Navillera and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract Benny’s Corner: Favourite Non-Romantic Pairing in Kdrama Benny : Shin Min Ah and Gong Min Jeung in Hometown Cha Cha Cha , Ju Ji Hoon and Kim Sang Ho in Kingdom Minal:   Kim Nam-gil/ Jin Seon Kyu in Through The Darkness, Song Joong Ki & JinGoo in Descendants of the Sun , The trio in Be Melodramatic Vipula: Son Hyun-Jo/Jang Seung-Jo in The Good Detective; Lee Se-Young/ Joo Hyun-Young in The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

Our host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. At halfway mark, we will review  Episode 10 and 11 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes focus on Jang Ju-won’s backstory - the superhero we lovingly call the Hulk. Episodes 10-11 moves between different timelines as we learn how JuWon goes from a life of crime to a government agent. And we get to experience another great love story as he meets the love of his life, Hwang Ji-Hee.  We have aptly titled this pod review as ‘Rivers of Blood’, because of the sheer Tarantino level violence dotting the script. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.  Episode Outline: The ‘Monster’ in the opening night club sequence Ju-won’s self-employment tactics Ji-Hee & Ju-Won meet and the two lonely souls save each other Ju-Won’s life in the underworld & Min-gi’s betrayal The Hulk’s Courting Style Hee-soo is Ji-Hee’s daughter Director Min puts Ju-won through the ultimate test Iconic hallway fight sequence Dooshik makes an interesting choice and we swoon over him Ji-Hee finds a better future Episodes Trailer: Episode 10-11 trailer  Moving Beyond More information about the concept of coffee girls or ‘Dabang’ in Korea Recurring theme is that superpowers are a burden. This is yet another tragic origin story of betrayal and violence. Who’s the real monster that can cause actual harm ? The one with the superpowers (Juwon) or the one with evil intentions (Director Min) ? Other dramas/movies discussed in episode: Iconic Hulk breaking down the wall imagery referred when Juwon’s breaks the motel wall here, here and here Watch the iconic hallway fight sequence from the Korean movie Old Boy  Benny’s Corner: Favourite Romantic Pairing (Series/Movies): All 3 : Hyun-Bin/Son-Yejin in Crash Landing on You +Minal:  Ji Chang Wook/Nam Ji-Hyun in Suspicious Partner +Benny : Shah Rukh Khan/Kajol in DDLJ Bonus: Favourite Confession in Kdramas [All from  Hometown Cha Cha] Vipula: Marriage Proposal  Minal:  Hye-Jin’s confession to Dusik  Benny: Dusik and Hye-Jin’s confession at the beach  Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

Your host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. In this episode we cover Episodes 8 and 9 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes narrate the story of the ‘parents’ and we are joined by a very special guest - Paroma. Paroma is well known in the KDrama podcast and online circles as she is the co-host of Kdrama podcast Drama Over Followers. You can also follow her on instagram and twitter where she posts about all things KDramas as TheDramanotes.  Episodes 8-9 takes us back to the 90s where we discover how BongSeok’s parents Lee MiHyun (Han Hyo Joo) and Kim Dusik (Jo InSung) meet and fall in love. Moving moves into the ‘Romance’ genre while keeping the spy thriller brewing in the background. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.  Episode Outline: Kim DuSik’s entry and his superability - opening scene Director Min sets up MiHyun for a special mission Dusik - JungWon Bromance MiHyun - Dusik - A perfect slow burn romance Operation Seagull Episode summaries in 5 mins Episode 8 ‘Black’ main scenes Episode 9 ‘Humanists’ main scenes Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging] Underlying sexism in the agency The Genetics - BongSeok is totally his parents’ kid imbibing the dorkiness of his father and the kindness/empathy of his mom along with their super abilities.  Love Confessions in Moving - The writer has consistently aced these.  The Color Purple - The second date, the curtains, the roof of her restaurant.  Weaving true events into fiction to build the NK angle - The opening scene is based on the Korean Air Flight Bombing (1987) and DuSik’s mission is aligned to Kim Il Sung’s death (1994)  People with superpowers are more vulnerable and exploited by the state. Super Heroes choosing morality vs loyalty to NIS Other dramas/movies discussed in episode: Paroma mentioned her early KDrama viewings - Shining Inheritance (Han Hyo Joo) and You are beautiful (Park Shin Hye)  Call out to Characters & Actors: Park Byung Eun - Plays MaSang Gu the rogue SK NIS Agent. Other notable performances - Kingdom S2 and Because This is My First Life.  Our favourite love stories (Series/Movies): Paroma: Boman Irani/Shabana Azmi in Honeymoon Travels Pvt Ltd. Vipula:  Ethan Hawke/Julie Delpy in Before Trilogy Minal:  Colin Firth/Jennifer Ehle in Pride and Prejudice (BBC 1995 Series) , Swapnil Joshi/Mukta Barve in Eka Lagnachi Dusri Goshta Benny : Irrfan Khan/Nimrat Kaur in The Lunchbox Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

The Host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward. In this episode we discuss the stories behind 2 lonely men covering episode 6 & 7 of Moving.  Episode 6 is all about Bungeman’s origin story, and in episode 7 we complete Frank’s murderous arc.  Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.  Episode Outline: Bungaeman’s early life High School’s role in the conspiracy becomes clearer Bungaeman fixes a bus and changes his life Teenage love triangle begins The CIA involvement angle Bad foreign actors syndrome Nail-biting cliffhanger, will Frank get to MiHyun Bungaeman chases Frank in what is a homage to ‘Speed’ Frank races through Seoul in a brilliantly shot sequence The matchup of 2 Wolverines - Frank & Hulk clash Bongseok’s rebels against his weighty shackles and confronts MiHyun Drama moves into espionage genre - NK is now interested in the school.  Episode summaries in 5 mins Episode 6 main scenes Episode 7 main scenes Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging] Superheroes have real life struggles that make them more human Difference in parenting styles ‘Small actions of kindness can be life changing’ is a recurring theme  Benny lays out why the drama is aptly titled ‘Moving’ Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode: Watch  Cha Tae Hyun in My Sassy Girl - Benny’s first K Movie and amongst his favourite romcoms. Listen to Benny and Minal discuss it on Talking Talkies Shaktimaan is an iconic TV character from India. An Indian superhero who was wildly popular in the 1990s and 2000s. Watch Speed for the ultimate traffic chase action experience.  My Name - Park Hee Soon is the main antagonist in this thriller (plays the NK captain in Moving) Call out to Characters & Actors  Kim Joon - Excellent child actor who was very watchable in Hospital Playlist. Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

Your host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward discussing Episodes 4 and 5 where more secrets are unraveled about HiSoo, her dad and BongSeok. Frank is on his killing spree and a bigger conspiracy is playing out in the background. It  has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.  Episode Outline: HiSoo discovers BongSeok’s secret - Two loners find company. MiHyun is a top mom Frank meets his match with Naju in the salon and gets a warning. HiSoo has a traumatic past and reveals her secret to Bongseok  School bullying / common theme in KDramas also reality in Korea  The NIS angle - We establish a bigger conspiracy is at play & why is that Principal ‘ The Sniffing Wolf’ hanging around every kid! Climax : Bongaeman has superpowers and who is the mystery man in Bongseok’s dream?  Episode summaries in 5 mins Episode 4 main scenes Episode 5 main scenes Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging] Bullying in Korean schools  Are super-abilities a burden or blessing? Difference in parenting styles Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode: Kdramas with bullying themes: The Glory, Weak Hero Class 1 , All of Us Are Dead Call Out - Actors/Actresses Kim Shin Rok - The assistant to the NIS chief is another stellar actress. Detective in Beyond Evil and the daughter of Lee Sung Min the rich grandpa in Reborn Rich.  Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram: @crashlanded_onkdramas

We kickstart this special series with a deep dive of one of the best dramas of 2023. Joining Minal, our host are Benny and Vipula.  Benny, is a seasoned podcaster currently co-hosting two podcasts - A Cricket Podcast - The Last Wicket and the new movie podcast with Minal as co-host Talking Talkies. He is one of the few guys who loves KDramas.  Vipula loves reviewing books and movies, you can find her writings on Medium. This episode dives into the first three episodes of the series Moving. It  has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.  Episode Outline: Guest Introductions  How did we start watching Moving The plot across the 3 episodes The impressive ensemble cast Favorite Scenes & Memorable Dialogs Favorite Relationships Benny’s Corner - What superpower would you like to have from the Moving universe? Episode summaries in 5 mins Episode 1 main scenes Episode 2 main scenes Episode 3 main scenes Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode  Ryu Seong Ryong : Kingdom His chicken connection - Chicken Nugget, Extreme Job Han Hyo Joo : Happiness Go Yoon Jung : Law School Kim Sung Kyun : Reply 1988, DP Baek Hyun Jin: Gaus Electronics , Happiness⁠ Kim Hee Won: The Man from Nowhere Chae Tae Hyun : My Sassy Girl - Talking Talkies Episode Kim Do Hoon - The Law Cafe Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

The podcast is breathing again after a long, unplanned hiatus! This time around I, your host Minal, is attempting a new experiment - a special showcase with two wonderful friends and guests - Benny and Vipula We will be speaking to our heart’s content on a drama that we 3 loved from 2023.  Moving released in Aug23 on Disney+ and became an instant rage. It boasts of a great ensemble cast, is based on the Webtoon by KangFull and directed by Park In Je (Director of Kingdom S2).  In order to do justice to this drama - its cast, story, writing, direction , the genres and themes it explores, we have decided to cover it over a series of 8-10 episodes. So watch this space for more. E1 of this Special Showcase on Moving releases next week.  Moving Reviews: Rolling Stone: ‘Moving’ Is the Best Superhero Series on TV Right Now  Variety Magazine:  The next breakout hit from Asia after “Squid Game” Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Cover Art: Minal  Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com  Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.  Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

We look back at the dramas we watched in 2022 (most of them aired in 2022 and some which aired earlier) and pick our favourites, not-so-favourites, scenes and moments that touched our hearts, made us swoon over some actors, made us laugh/cry/pull our hair watching them and so much more. Dramas we discussed: 2022 Releases: Through the Darkness Twenty Five-Twenty One Our Beloved Summer The Law Cafe Kiss Sixth Sense Juvenile Justice If You Wish Upon Me Love All Play Sound of Magic Extraordinary Attorney Woo Forecasting Love and Weather Pachinko Little Women Business Proposal Ghost Doctor Gaus Electronics Reborn Rich Older Dramas: Producers Chocolate Prison Playbook Goblin Pegasus Market Poonam mentions ‘nok-jhok’ phase in Kiss Sixth Sense. It’s a Hindi term which loosely translates to bickering. Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app of your choice Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

In this episode we are joined by two special guests -  Moon and Hershey, the co-hosts of Witchaar podcast to Deep Dive into one of our all time favourite dramas WeightLifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo. You can follow them on Instagram: @witchaaris and Twitter: @witchaaris The episode has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so refer to the timestamps below for spoiler and non-spoiler sections. Podcasting journey of Witchaaris: 00:45 Plot Summary: 12:30 Deep Dive: Non-Spoiler Section: 13:35 Why did we decide to watch this drama? Did it meet our expectations? What’s the USP of this drama? Spoiler Section: 23:00 1. Key Characters -  The Lead Pair: 23:15 Friends to Lovers ; Their funny scenes compilation   Friends: 40:00 Bok Joo and Friends - Swag Compilation ; Bok Joo and her gang - fighting and making up Families: 45:50  Jung Joon Hyung and his adopted mom ; Uncle, dad and Bok Joo 2. Favourite Funny Scenes:55:45 Car Splash Scene Jung Joon Hyung gets caught 3. Favourite Heartwarming/Emotional Scenes: 01:04:18 Jung Joon Hyung finds depressed Bok Joo Bok Joo finds Jung Joon Hyung depressed 4. Main takeaway from the drama : 1:18:55 Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. Licence code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app. Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas

What dramas have we recently watched/ are currently watching - We share our impressions of these dramas. Currently Watching: Love Is For Suckers : Sangeetha has mixed feelings after watching 5 episodes into this romcom with best friends to lovers trope starring Choi Si Won and Lee Da Hee Completed Dramas Extraordinary Attorney Woo : The drama traces the journey of Attorney Woo Young Woo, a young lady who is autistic and getting started at one of the prestigious law firms in the country. Our team has mixed feelings about this drama but recommends it as a one time watch; as it is rare to see autistic female representation in TV Series and it has its heart-warming moments. Minal also recommends the American series on Prime - As We See It where the 3 leads are played by actors who are autistic in real life. If You Wish Upon Me: Ji Chang Wook stars in this drama as a gangster who comes to do his community service in a Hospice and begins to rebuild his life. Good performance by JCW, but the drama left Sangeetha and Minal with mixed feelings - one time watch recommended if you are a JCW fan. DP: Minal highly recommends this 2021 drama that stars Jung Hae In and Koo Kyo Hwan. One of the best military dramas - it's worth all the hype, accolades and awards it got.  Black Dog : A drama that explores the trials and tribulations of teachers - temporary and permanent, within the Korean education system with 2 female protagonists played by Ra MiRan and Seo HyunJin. An underrated gem that Poonam and Minal highly recommend. Through The Darkness : The drama that traces the journey of how the criminal profiling unit was established in South Korea. It is based on true events and co-written by SK’s first criminal profiler. Excellent crime thriller - highly recommended by Poonam and Minal. The Law Cafe : Lee Seung Gi and Lee Se Young star in this romcom with legal backdrop. A very mature and realistic romance between two people in their mid-30s dealing with legal cases with the right messaging. Minal loved it and highly recommends it for the relationship arc and fire chemistry between the leads. Little Women : The American classic adapted to modern day Korea with dark undertones and an underlying social commentary. The team had polar opposite views on this one - so listen and decide whether this drama is for you or not. Minal loved it, but Sangeetha and Poonam would not recommend this drama to anyone. Music Credits:  Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar Contact Us: Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app. Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas