Kelekat

In the novel was the best friend written as obnoxiously as her character came off in the drama? I'm just curious.

I can't express how strongly I agree. Both the best friend and the SML's personalities were obnoxious from the get go - the SML more so of course. I've watched this several times now and it's the same every time. This drama made me dislike the SML's character so much that I'd get angry just seeing his face with his huge chin. Now I can't even force myself to watch him in anything else, which is sad since I hear he's done well in other dramas. Even I find myself crazy for disliking a character this much! LOL!

It would have been awesome if the roommate who was dating the basketball player had been the best friend. But I probably wouldn't be able to handle how much I'd like the drama if they had. It'd be unhealthy! LMAO!

I know the screenwriters just followed the book. Does anyone know if the best friend came across as annoying in the book as well? Or is the character worse in the drama? I'm curious.

Ooh! I'm just about to start Out With a Bang! Glad to see you enjoyed it. Hopefully I'll like it a lot too.

I remember reading somewhere else on here, when another artist had committed suicide, that there's was actually a law in one of these countries (I can't remember if it was Japan, China or South Korea) against stating that the death was by suicide for fear of triggering others. I realize that's a legitimate concern but it's not like that can't figure out that's what happened - by not saying, it becomes obvious - so why not talk about it in a way that could actually help others? Don't you think?

I've suffered from severe depression in the past which peaked several times throughout my life and still take antidepressants and anti-anxiety meds to this day but even with all that I know for a fact that I can't put myself in these people shoes, especially when we know nothing about their situations or the troubles they faced. For me, my belief that committing suicide is a sin, on top of other factors which made me want to fight to get past those thoughts (my loved ones) was enough, along with the help of my meds. But many Asians don't share the belief that suicide is a sin and, unfortunately, the pressure from their families is often what's leading them to suicide in the first place.

I HATE that this is such an epidemic and I honestly don't know what it would take to help these people want to live and to realize that all things pass with time and also that, quite frankly, not a single damn thing we face daily matters when it's all said and done. So learning to let go and let be will help them find a whole lot of peace. Trust me when I say I know perfectly well that's easier said than done but let me tell you, finally being able to just say fuck it all and live relying on and enjoying only the simplest things in life was the best decision I ever made. Did I have to accept that there were some things I'd never have or do? Absolutely, but for me the peace within me was worth it. Do I still get stressed? Heck yeah. But I know whatever will happen is gonna happen and I'll just face things as they come. I do what I want and like and ignore the heck out of anyone else. I don't give a single shit about people's opinions.

Yes, more shittiness will come (and sometimes that realization is exactly what makes many people want to give up) but there's happiness waiting for you too. Just learn to say, "whatever", or "shut the fuck up" or "meh" and let it go completely because sometimes whatever's going to happen will happen whether want it to or not or how hard we fight to prevent it. But the world continues spinning, meaning that, no matter what, it will pass. It will become a memory. No matter the outcome.

Clearly what they're doing now isn't working as this problem isn't slowing down. I've literally gotten to the point now that whenever I'm about to watch an older drama I stop and check to see if they're still alive.

I just truly, deeply and sincerely wish I knew of something that could genuinely help them turn this issue around, that I could start telling others about to get the word out there. Having a solution or two (since what words for one person may not work for another) is the first step in helping to overcome this. But we can't apply western methods and values to easterners. It won't work.

The hardest part of all of this for me is knowing that we can't bring them back. Even if we find a solution these beautiful souls are gone forever. It breaks my heart.

Right!!! I'm right there with you!

That actually makes a lot of sense know that I understand things better thanks to that freakin' awesome breakdown from @Kn0cturnal.

OMG, I don't know you but I think I love you. HAHAHAHAHA! You are freakin' AWESOME!!!!!! I've learned so much from just a single post! I completely agree with you about Kdramas as well. They really are on a completely different level from other regions. They pay attention to their writing and the little details when it comes to filming and editing. The acting too.

I can't even focus on responding anymore. I just want to try out what you've taught me right away! I think I'll watch some tournaments too.

I seriously don't know if you even realize how excited I am right now. It's pretty ridiculous. Thank you sooooo much for taking the time to explain this all so clearly.

I was just gonna say that it's more a problem of bad editing/directing, in my opinion. If the characters aren't good at using the mouse and keyboard correctly they shouldn't have included so many scenes where they zoomed in on their hand-work. If they were going to do that they should them how to do it correctly or do cuts using the hands of people who really know how to play.

Paying attention to the details is pretty standard for western dramas but I've gotten used to not expecting the same from cdramas...or Asian dramas in general. I've gotten so used to it now that I don't factor that in when I'm rating, especially since it only affects my entertainment experience only slightly. Like, I was once a competitive, olympic-level swimmer years ago so when I watch dramas about swimming I always automatically gauge how well of a swimmer they are and they're usually terrible. When I first started watching Asian dramas it used to irk me that they didn't use stand-ins for the swimming scenes when the character was supposed to be portraying a super-strong swimmer. Once I realized that's actually more common than not I finally just let it go and don't even consider it when rating, even though I do still notice it.

I've often wondered why Asian dramas don't use the decades old western habit of using stand-ins for certain scenes. I guess it's a budget thing?? Western actors are also expected to prepare rigorously prior to shooting to avoid these very shortcomings if they want to continue getting roles.

I will say this. THANK YOU for explaining how the mouse and keyboard are used to maneuver! I've just watched this for the 5th time (it's one of my favorite dramas) and every single time I do I find myself wondering how that really works! Like why do they circle in a spot when hiding? Is it more difficult to sit still or something? Also, how do they spin in the first place? In that final scene they showed her running forever towards the other team's base. Is their speed limited? I'm familiar with console/controller gaming, not PC.

One more thing, and I'm just being honest here. I use MDL solely to keep track of what I've watched (or looking for spoilers) and how much I enjoyed it, so my ratings are actually just for myself, not for others. My criteria and standards for rating are completely based on my specific likes and dislikes only, not general standards of quality. I've often wished there was a way to give a private rating score and a public one so my private one doesn't skew the real ratings. In many cases those ratings would actually be significantly different. There are probably a whole lot of other people on here like me too. If so, I sincerely and deeply apologize on all our behalves.

Oh MDL. People post opinions, others get mad. Some people post comments accepting alternate opinions, others STILL get mad! LMAOOOOO!

They should group comments by age range or something. You never know when you're trying to converse with a kid or another adult. If we did it might help reduce all the arguments that go on here since, in most cases, adults reading a child's opinion wouldn't comment expecting an adult response or having a cordial conversation about their differing viewpoints. We just read those comments and move on as we know some understanding only comes with experience.

LOL! I'm dying! I was trying to say to @xONLYINHUMANx that I understand where you were coming from even though I personally liked the drama! But they blocked me! LOLOLOLOL!

I knew their comments would set people off but I liked that I was able to see where they were coming from and understand why they didn't like it so I posted those comments to hopefully help others understand where they may have been coming from too.

I even get them being automatically being defensive since I'm sure they assumed I was another person just slamming them again.

I actually liked that got where they were coming from even though I felt differently about the drama so I wanted to show some support but they blocked me instead!

Definitely won't be doing that on this platform again. LOL!

Was defending your reasons for your opinion not attacking you.

LOL! Did you at least read the last line of my comment? I figured out that you wouldn't read it because I understood the differences in our personalities. I didn't diss or slam you in any way though, just so you know. I was kinda defending you in case others attacked you for having a different viewpoint from our own.

LOL! Believe me when I say it's often extremely difficult to "like" autistic people because they just don't view things the way we do. They can be aggressive and mean and hurtful, but we tend to love them anyway because they literally cannot be measured on the same scale non-autistic people are. To say that you like him as-is, without considering his autism would be unrealistic I think. There's a heavy qualifier there. If you can accept and understand his autism he becomes a lot "nicer" towards the second half of the drama.

I didn't like how he left the brother to drown after he saved him, yet they never mentioned that once throughout the drama. I also didn't like how they didn't correct him when he lied and said his brother would say every day that he wished he would die and that he was pushed into the water by him so he would die. He never clarified that after and I thought that was shitty. There was something else...oh! The way he would beat up the brother. Honestly, that is EXTREMELY common autistic behavior (possibly one of the most difficult parts of caring for them) or how, like the ML finally said at some point, how he expected the ML to take care of him but then also expected to be treated like the elder brother. He was very selfish in the way he treated his little brother for a very long time. But he learned, which is HUGE for someone who is autistic.

Right. As @Blue Flower said, neither the hospital director who worked with her for 20 years nor her husband or daughter recognized her. They show the way she looked before in later episodes and it's really different. She also looks MUCH younger than she should (based on a comment the FL made when she found out) so even when they all suspected she might still be alive they didn't even consider that head nurse could be her.

Remember too that the she had been pronounced dead only a few years after she went missing. That most likely was because of the FL's statements and possible evidence that she may had been murdered but without a body or anything concrete they couldn't press charges on the father. No one even considered that she might still be alive for years. It was only when she began leaving clues when she wanted to torment the father that they started suspecting. Shoot! Even the father thought he'd killed her! But since they never found her body in the lake he thought he'd just gotten away with it.

Make a little more sense now? Just trying to help fill in some missing pieces for ya. Not trying to convince you it's good or anything like that.

I totally don't mean to hate on your opinion because I do see very clearly that our tastes simply differ, which is perfectly fine. I couldn't understand your way of viewing the story and characters until I read this particular comment of yours. I think you tend to watch shows more on a surface level, like what you see is what it is and nothing more, so you aren't able to embrace and understand the reasons behind her actions (she was drawn to him because he was that little boy from the past, the one she never had wanted to let go of but was forced to. She thought he didn't realize their connection and was really upset later on when she found out he actually did but had still tried so hard to push her away anyway). I don't think there's anything wrong with the way you view it though. You seem more like a straight to the point type of person, which I am also, but I'm also a heavy reader and have always been so reading between the lines when watching something just comes pretty naturally.

I liked Hometown Cha Cha Cha but nowhere near as much as I like this drama. This drama had so much more depth to it. It stays with me and connects with me on a deeper level which Hometown was just a good show to watch.

My point is, I feel like the reason you enjoy Hometown Cha Cha Cha more is because it's all there. Everything's pretty blatant and there's no guessing as to the meaning of a character's behavior. You like a story to actually tell you the full story. I don't see anything wrong with that at all.

Do you get what I mean though? I'm not sure I explained that well. LOL! I actually realized that my long-ass way of trying to relay my thoughts is EXACTLY the kind of thing you wouldn't like - am I right?

Freakin' YES!!! I couldn't agree with your entire comment more.

I was surprised by this too!

Yes!!! That's it! Thank heavens for you!!!

I have to ask this here because I don't speak Mandarin at all but the ML's way of speaking (both in this and in You Are My Hero) always sounds to me like he's mumbling. I'm just wondering if it's really more of an accent thing or is he really mumbling and/or stretching his words? It grates on me to some extent (not that I dislike the actor or anything like that) but it gets irritating at time. If it turns out to be an accent thing I think it'd be less irritating. So I'm asking.

He's the male lead in My Lonely Planet, and he's AWESOME! He's so much fun in that role.