namopanik

can't find the post you're referring to, but aren't all historicals just modern stories and worldviews in disguise anyway? Just look how much attention democratic movements and the people get (case in point: the sixth dragon).

so it's not historical afterall?

it's happening guys! Go Kyung Pyo having his own drama! The name is Strongest Deliveryman and the leading lady will be played by Chae Soo Bin.
>> http://www.dramabeans.com/2017/05/go-kyung-pyo-takes-on-first-leading-role-in-strongest-deliveryman/

Strong Woman...? It's Serendipme on page 2.

I so much agree with you on important parts missing/unshown! But that's the thing with this show, that's what makes it unique. First you have to handpick the scenes with young cast from this huge narrative (for me it should have been two separate shows: one with the love triangle (and the second couple, yeah), the other one a slice of life with their parents playing cards and socializing). Seriously. And when you're finally there, this drama has an infuriating tendency to stop a scene where other would linger longer. It cuts conversations in the middle or doesn't show what happens next. I remember being frustrated with characters I cared about barely spending time together. The relationships were so good and it's one of the more memorable dramas for me (1st lead who friendzones himself and looses), but I feel let down too. After such a long runtime, so little was shown. Maybe it's because 'who's the husband' trap, they focused too much on making this hard to predict and angsty?
A commenter on SWDBS page said the other day that s/he would pay money to see an edited version of that drama without fillers, only main couple scenes. I'd gladly do that with this one. I often think about rewatching this, but I barely pushed myself though this once...

How does it compare to anime version? does it put more emphasis on the love triangle part? I wasn't a fan of the tournament formula, but I like the characters very much and want to see what happens to them!
Do movies reach further than anime? Is one movie equivalent of a season?

Good for you re: fastforwarding, it's addicting and a little desensitizing.
And don't feel bad about criticising it, that's what comments sections are for. Otherwise a hivemind emerges and other people who aren't getting the appeal feel outed.

Most importantly: you're missing Tal Tal! He only gets relevant around that time and later.

In cases like this, fastforward button is your friend :D Confession: I watched this within 48 hours, with a short break for a nap. I was skipping through a better part of King in Exile arc because I was impatient to get to the moment showed at the beginning. Kissasian player is good, because you can skip with arrows by 5 seconds, so you still get the grip of what's going on. Other players can manipulate the speed, but I don't personally like that option.
The politics part gets better in the second part, although admittedly it's not bulletproof. It may be a case of a 'proper mindset': it's more a battle of characters and reversals than political power struggles. There are stretches and naiveties typical for kdramas in general, but I'm yet to find a kdrama completely devoid of it. Some minor characters are virtually undefeatable and they keep coming back in a most frustrating manner, defying all plausibility (unless you look from a different perspective: those kind of people will survive all, like a cackroaches).
As for MC weakness, it's not completetly unimaginable in that scene. If she was taken aback, she could be over-empowered even by a weakling like him, since he was heavier and had an advantage of surprise.
But in the end, there's no need to force oneself to like it. It's just a drama.

ad 1 - that's a stretch in a drama setup. DNA profiling was already working in the late 80s, at least in the UK. The same goes for a serial killer investigations, the shows tries to make them something of a novelty, unthinkable for the past investigators, whilst they're aren't. Just a fun fact.
/there's something wrong with adding comments, sorry for the multiple notifications/

ad 1 - it's a stretch in a drama setup. DNA profiling was already working in the late 80s, at least in the UK. The same goes for serial killers investigation - the show (or its coverage?) makes it something of the novelty, unthinkable for the past investigators, while it's definitely not. Just a fun fact.

he needs a main role

I see. Thanks!

I started this, but the lenght is intimidating indeed. I like the dynamics between MC and Oriana Fallaci-like envoy, but the romance part - well, it probably takes some time to get interesting.
Can you spoil us how Mo Chu Nu ends up in the palace and when? It's not clear from the synopsis.

Fascinating. Thanks!

do the adult cast appear in ep 2?

HD picture without HD makeup. So much skin texture. How nostalgic.
/Also: they must have liked those eye close-ups. And people complained with Scarlet Heart: Ryeo, it doesn't even compare.

Would Noh Ji Wook as we know him be disgusted with someone for something minor?
But have you seen this actor in Flower in Prison? He starts bad as a typical young nobleman marrying for power, doing what his in-laws instruct him, but redeems himself there. It's lenghty though.

Oh, he so did.

I feel her past live recollections are underused. It's only a vulnerability for her. She's not an active part of rediscovering their past, just stands and waits for others to bring it to her (or shelter her, if that's where the story is heading at given point). She had premonitions when it was convenient for the plot, stays clueless when it's more convenient to have her that way, again gets some agency when the story decides to move an inch. She doesn't see Yoo for the sake of all those comedic or angsty scenes more than other reasons.
Also, off-centered stares theory went out the window since she still hasn't realised HSJ yells at someone invisible from time to time (or she's just dense).

/I think it'd be even better if it wasn't for the family drama(s), but more character-driven instead. I wouldn't mind if it was even slower then. Just the main three, rediscovering their past and trying to sort it out, without those cliche problems making them look pitiful. It's too overdramatic now. Baek min is useless. He was a write off since the beginning and making him a latest version of stock character villain (animal abuser) doesn't help. The situation in the past is messy enough without bringing more people to put the blame on. I really don't care about any of side characters and most of them make me cringe (editor and wanna-be Italian chief are on top). There's no enough meaningful conflict to keep the whole thing rolling for 16 episodes. We are taking a detour after detour (forced encounters, is he or he not a ghost, mean guy implodes, she can't see him, the girl has to be protected from her past,…). I'm impatient to see them finally working together.
Hassliebe continues. 6 more to go.