gilaswan

Ooh! Nice that you're progressing nicely with the watch! And exactly this! I totally agree that this is has firmly placed him on my list of Leading Men to watch. His role in the other shows were a little more forgettable. I too thought he did better than JBA in this. Like you - I too wasn't quite so invested in them as an OTP at the start, but as the show progressed, I did find their relationship to be really believable (unlike for My Lovely Liar where I've said before - cute couple, but emm... yeah, that was about it). And yes, I agree with you on JBA's styling for this show. I don't like her cockroach-feeler bangs (they really annoyed me), and her fashion in episodes 1 and 2 was ok, but after that it really deteriorated. I found what they put her in really frumpy looking. Like, I know she's supposed to be a simple girl, but do her clothes need to look so bad? And those high boots... no. Just no... Aiyoh. I do think Rowoon's Shinyu saved her in more ways than one. @mademoiselleand I also did not like her colleagues. Even though the end tied up nicely, I felt it just wasn't enough to redeem them though. And the Ma-Gong story... I don't even know why it was there. Even the episode 16 cat-fight. Like... why? Wasted air time. So many other more interesting side characters they could have chosen to develop. Even if it was to develop the relationship between Hongjo and her teammates would've been better than Ma-Gong loveline... I had no idea that's what it meant to be the "face" of an idol group! I always wondered what they meant when they said that so-and-so was "in charge" of the visuals. But doesn't this mean they have more opportunities than their other teammates to make it big(ger)? Aiyoh... But Rowoon has proven himself finally. The description of what he's had to go through though is just very sad. Korean community is just so harsh. Ridiculously harsh. I also think it's sad the drama didn't seem to do so well back home, but I hope he's being appreciated for being popular outside the country. International community is clearly loving him/them - the number of views some of the YouTube edits have racked up! Wow! And speaking of YT edits - there was a FMV of their first few episode encounters made to the back group of Until I Found You by Stephen Sanchez (love the song!). I wish someone would do an updated one to the song of them right through to the end of ep 16. And I agree! There is advantage to his height! But you know, Rowoon isn't just tall. I mean, there are many tall guys, but some of them are too skinny tall. Rowoon is proportionately tall. He's not "all legs". Until someone else stands next to him, you don't actually get the impression he is that tall. He really looks good. Proportionately. Hahaha...

What irony? What happened? Did not impact him negatively right?

He was. And is. I have to say I like how his overall personality was written. Like his Joseon self, he had this period of aristocratic arrogance, only that in Joseon it did not last long cos he met Aengcho as a child. In modern day Korea, he’s had more years without Hongjo and also grew up under the shadow of the curse. So this cool, aloof exterior was very much waiting to be awakened by Hongjo. Even then he keeps it only for her (cut to Octopus cooking scene where he tells her he now realises the power of love and what he will be willing to do for it). But I digress. This cool exterior is also in part that aristocratic nobility that has likely been passed down the generations. And so it remains beneath him to play tit-for-tat with Nayeon and the Mayor. He is aboveboard and uses the law to achieve his ends. So very imperturbable. Absolutely sophisticated. I loved how when Jaegyeong told him to resign, afterall how could he let the man who used to date his daughter but is now dating someone else remain in the organisation, and all Shinyu said in response was, “Mayor’s daughter didn’t date only me.” Netflix Swoon should do cuts of Shinyu and all his swoonworthy clips. So many. My goodness. Be still my beating heart. About Cha Eunwoo - nothing against him, but his acting can’t hold a candle against Rowoon. Up to perhaps even The King’s Affection I might even be willing to say yeah…Rowoon is more pretty boy than actor, but after DWY - he’s sealed a place in the Hall of Actors. Firmly moved from Idol to Actor. In fact, because I’ve only ever known him as an actor, I must say I find it intriguing that he was even ever an idol! I cannot imagine Eunwoo taking up this role (voice not deep enough, looks not serious and mature enough). Can you imagine Eunwoo up against Jaegyeong? Naaaah… and Hyunseo? Naaaaaah!!! Besides, Eunwoo is really pretty boy but I think Rowoon has matured into handsome. There is a difference. 😉 Thanks for the clips! This ☝🏻! I love because you can see all that acting in his eyes. Eyes don’t mean what the words are saying! There is a lot of pain in his expressions. Very slight, but you can see he’s struggling with her rejection. And it’s not cos she’s stopped loving him - quite the opposite and he knows it. But as he’d told Wook before, he’s afraid that the more he tries, the more she’ll retreat. In that scene he had come to her drunk. He was responding to her heartbreaking resolve and her answer sobered him up. You could see all the gears in his head cranking up, the disappointment, pain, unwilling acceptance… He was in an absolute daze of painful memories when Wook came back to drive him back. Give the man an Emmy!

I remain very impressed by Rowoon’s portrayal of Shinyu. I was watching his other past videos of him with SF9 also. He’s very likeable. And then other cuts from his other dramas. But this role seems to really seal him firmly as an actor. I see a lot of comparison between him and Cha Eun Woo too. But nah, Rowoon hands down. I think it would make sense if it worked this way: To be above board, they decided to hand the land over to the City of Onju and go through a proper tender process so that no one can say there was favouritism or nepotism involved because Shinyu is upright that way. The land was his anyway and as a civil servant at that point, employed by the City Hall, he did not want anyone calling him out on corrupt practices. But Daddy Dearest was not a straight man - no wonder his daughter grew up to think she owned the world. He would do anything for his daughter, and hence the dirty underhanded deals. That’s why when there was a sudden change in developer, Shinyu questioned the legality of it and said they won the tender fair and square. I wonder how Dad would feel if he knew that CEO Haum was banging up his daughter - it looks like he never knew till the end. And this jerk who also dumped his daughter - Nayeon was really deluded to the end. She actually told her friends she was getting married when in effect there was nothing between them following her breakup with Shinyu. That girl was really desperate to get married to power. And oui - I like the idea of Shinyu becoming the controlling shareholder of High & Law. Hahahaha. I love how we’re filling up the “gaps”. I think Gidong should be brought over as his personal assistant too. I can’t leave this drama yet. Keep the posts coming!! hahaha. I’m here with yoooooooo… Jang Shin yoooooooo 😂😂😂 and @mademoiselle, you of course. I too think the hospital scene where out of sheer relief and fatigue he collapses at her bed side and cries. Aiyoh. So many overwhelming emotions at one go. How is this young man so talented? He must have a lot of empathy for people and the emotions they feel.

Ah. I wish the BTS of the spidey kids had Eng subs. I want to know what motivated the change from a regular side-by-side kiss on the couch as they rehearsed to that. Also, when will she stop using ssi when addressing him?!

@mademoiselle I too am impressed. My husband said, “but that’s the expected range of emotions in any show mah…” but I disagree leh. His character really went through some kind of transformation. Not to mention there’s the Joseon version of him too. Did a rewatch of ep 16 (sped through scenes I did not like). As always, Kdrama logic of safety and security is off. But I reckon very much in keeping with HJ’s character that she should make herself bait to NJB. She almost died. Not thinking for her loved one - SY is really family already. So reckless. But then, where was the site SY thought they would have gone to, and why did it take them so long to get there? Or does the sun fall quickly in Spring? Can’t be… When he eventually finds here - where did the police go? For cinematic effect the scene clears and there’s only the 2 of them? 40 mins later they’re at the hospital. So I reckon I must read that scene with dramatic license that in SY’s mind, it was just she and him alone in his absolute devastation of mind… Then SS Harabeoji - I don’t see how, no matter how good a lawyer SY is, that he could have gotten off scott free for his part in providing a false alibi for NJB. I was hoping to see something about HJ and SY fostering UR. I think they would make such wonderful foster parents for the child. I wish their new house could have had better interior design - he can afford it for sure. But perhaps he’s trying to live a simpler life for her… I also wish there was something with Park Gi Dong in the last episode. He should’ve been taken to the law firm with SY after all those efforts to get close to him. About the spells - I think my final conclusion to that is that they didn’t work. Hahaha… I think Onju Mountain went back to SY cos the transactions were illegal and therefore nullified. Actually, my question would be why he was willing to hand the land to the govt? Because his father was originally going to develop it? Oh, and about Mr Brat being major shareholder of Law & High - it’s in Episode 1 around the 12,43 mark where the lawyers tell their boss that they want to do something about the assault the team had gone through the night before and he tells them, “No law firm files a lawsuit against their biggest client and a major shareholder.”

@mademoiselle That clip of all his emotions - I like! But the tags are too simplistic. Just the tag “Pain” failed to recognise that they were all different types of pain he was experiencing - physical pain, physical pain possibly leading to death, pain related to grief. Likewise for “sadness”. Sadness because of rejection, intense grief, loss, disappointment - list goes on. He’s managed to portray them very well. That wide range through his eyes alone! Aiyoh. How do I narrow down the difference and complexities of human emotions that he’s managed to capture as an actor? Like that look Shinyu had when he asked Hongjo if she could live without ever seeing him again and she said yes. That hurt, pain, disappointment, yet a desire to understand, wanting to cry, but holding back tears - wah. I wanted to cry. And my hubby and kids will tell you that I’m always emotionless when I watch movies or TV. Rowoon - you have a new fan.

@mademoiselle All in all I did enjoy this drama (all things considered) primarily cos I found myself very impressed with Rowoon's portrayal of his character. If you want a range of emotions and genres in one drama portrayed by one actor - this one could well be it. Serious, intellectual hotshot lawyer - he nailed it. Comedic time - nailed it. Intense emotions of grief - got it. Being head-over-heels in love - he got that too. Being worried for a loved one - for sure. Loving son - he was that. Hot lover? Jealous boyfriend? Tsundere? - all of that. Even a Joseon swordsman trying but failing to fight against cultural norms and loves. Crying scenes? Nailed all the different reasons for crying - anger, relief, despair, grief... I am most certainly impressed with this young man. I would like to see him in a Harvey Spector type roll. I do wish there was more "lawyering" done in the show. This little clique of Lee Jaewook, Anh Hyoseop, and Rowoon - very promising lot ah? And while his chemistry with Jo Boah was very good, I still feel he carried the show. I don't think I'm being biased. Never thought of Rowoon as an actor to watch until this drama. Jo Boah... honestly doesn't leave much of an impression on me still. I also agree that him being miraculously cured should have been highlighted, underscored, and celebrated by his family. I'm still miffed with Dad. If he's 32 and mum is 53, then mum really had him very young! And yeah, 52 is possible but really pushing it. Kid might as well be Shinyu's to take care of. Gee... Yes! Hongjo cast so many of them! All perhaps in an attempt to convince herself that spells work, but... Whatever were they thinking...?

I like how the hot kiss scene has suddenly livened up this thread right at the end of the run of this drama, but yes! @mademoiselle hang around a bit more and @ktcjdrama and @Chocolate if you’re watching, I’m game to re-watch! 😂 Just some quick thoughts from last night’s finale episode: 1. I liked that we were still gripping our seats at the start of the episode (pre-release scenes notwithstanding). Before knowing what it was with Eunwol Halmoni’s conception dream, I did wonder if it would end up with them finding out they had “lost the baby” as. result of the trauma. But then again, it was literally the day after only… 2. @mademoiselle The discovery of Mr Gardener’s psychotic nature has made me wonder again if indeed the spells worked at all because • Eunwol did say it works for those who believe and at the end of it all, Hongjo said she accepts she had a past life but does not believe in spells. • Mr Gardener was just all round psychotic so it wasn’t the potion that made him that way. He saw his dead wife in Hongjo and that was all he needed to be obsessed. • As you said, right up until Hongjo, Shinyu had no desire whatsoever for anyone. He ended up with Nayeon just because (in the same way he accepted the marriage proposal after breaking up with her, just because). He was probably very shocked by his own sudden emotions with Hongjo and needed some way to explain it since he was indeed two-timing and it clearly went against his principled self. Sometimes our own actions surprise us. 3. I did not really appreciate the small goofy scenes - him meeting U-ram and the bullies, or even the (un)necessary PPL for the bank. I would have wanted to see more scenes of Shinyu being the hotshot lawyer that he is. 4. Gong-Ma wedding took up too much screen time. I’m with @mademoiselle on this - I don’t know how their side story advanced the entire drama. OK. maybe it provided some plot distractions but I could not appreciate them after a while. One good came out of it perhaps - Hongjo got closer to her colleagues. Sort of. 5. I didn’t like this thing with the mum actually getting pregnant. Sure it was for comic relief, but she just found her life again back in acting, then?? I would’ve much preferred if it was something like Eunwol being totally wrong - she didn’t seem like a very competent shaman after all - and maybe it was Ma-Gong that was having the daughter. Hahaha. Aside - how old were Shinyu and Hongjo supposed to be? How young were his parents that she could still get pregnant?! 6. Dad is so rude! So very rude still! I don’t like that he still goes on and on about not accepting Hongjo. I wish mum would now put Dad firmly in his place. He would change his tune if he knew Hongjo was responsible for the curse being broken. Sorta. Or at least that their destinies finally meeting as it should has made it all well for the family. I was actually expecting some sort of a reveal for that but it never happened! 7. And the back stories - those were never told too. What spell did Aengcho actually cast? Who cursed the crown prince? 8. For all the professions about it being ready to settle down, they did end up with a marriage proposal. I guess buying the house was just step 1 in his plans, and now the 2 levels will be connected. Hahaha 9. Rings? It’s not uncommon for male and female engagement bands to look different. Tiffany bands are just overpriced, but hey. The man owns all of Onju. 10. Bestie going into acting and giving up law… I dunno. Wasn’t it just to be a side gig? And Shinyu returning to the firm where Mr Rich-and-Bratty had shares in? Didn’t he have controlling shares in the law firm? 11. Glad Nayeon got arrested for her involvement in plots against Hongjo, but how did the police track her down to Hongjo’s house to arrest her??

@ktcjdrama Yes! I thoroughly enjoyed it! @mademoiselle What did that ending mean??

I'm all up for a rewatch if anyone wants to start on it now. The party ain't over yet. hahaha... Yes, Shinyu finally has desires. It's been weeks he's been waiting. hahaha... I think if he wasn't still nursing a stab wound, the couch 69 kiss would have gotten much hotter and heavier sooner. And where did that hand go? Heh. His hands were certainly very busy. I want to say though - Dad was so rude and annoying. What on earth did he even see in Nayeon??

@mademoiselle indeed, that scene was very well done - Shinyu was definitely very impatient 😂 He didn’t want to slow down even after she asked him to wait. 😂😂 But the scream was also for the ending and preview! They better give us a happy ending! How can you as a bodyguard leave your station?! Even if your client asks for privacy, you’ve still got to find a way to know where she is at all times!! Kdrama stupidity for the sake of dramaaaaaa!! ooh, and couch kiss was very hawt too… the boy was certainly getting impatient…

@mademoiselle aaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhh!,,,,,

@mademoiselle I’m at the scene where Shinyu runs into her house after the assault by the gardener, and he declares he’s the boyfriend, and then tells her, “I can’t give you more time. Today’s the last day we stay separated.” *swoon* As you said, so MAN!

@mademoiselleyeah, I am. But decided to hold watching this week’s till later in the week, in part cos I’ve been very tired and so not willing to stay up late to catch the episode, but then in the mornings no time to watch before work. Will chime in once I’ve caught up… have been refraining from reading thread so no spoilers for me!

I’ll prolly give Tomorrow a try. What I meant was the spirit of the red hand attempted to prevent him from seeing Nayeon by causing the accident. Hahaha… ignited after he encountered the actual owner of the red hand. Hahaha… #fantasylogic As for the love spell logic, well, she did ask Eunwol how to end the spell, and ended up with that answer. Hmm? Heh…

@mademoiselle omo! Those stills! They’re just so cute together! You’re right about King’s Affection, but I enjoyed that one nevertheless. Might watch Tomorrow. The storyline just didn’t seem very interesting to me. I thought that Rowoon and Jo Boah captured their Joseon selves very well though. Some other thoughts as this drama comes to a close: 1. Red hand belonged to Hongjo’s Joseon self - did it prevent him from seeing Nayeon when he crashed into the decorated road dividers? 2. Eunwol Halmoni did tell them how to break the love spell - by accepting their intertwined destinies, so that spell is already broken. 3. I had hoped for clearer connections to the past for the other characters - but they seemed to me to have the “same face” than a real emotional or spiritual connection like for Shinyu and Hongjo.

@mademoiselle Aiyoh… I’m also very invested in this couple. Hahahah… did not expect to be, but Rowoon and Boah’s chemistry is really very nice! There’s so much cute, yet so much seriousness, and good tension… it’s like the characters are very believable you know? And their portrayal of their Joseon vs present day selves are also very natural. You can tell the characters are different but there’s still a connection. I’m so happy lovey dovey is back! But not all is calm yet. Mr Gardener is still at large! I just think this potion thing is a bit odd though. So she fills her pink flask with the potion and pours some out for Jaegyeong which Shinyu drinks. Then she leaves her flask overnight at work and Branch Manager safe-keeps it for her and responds cheekily if he should not have drunk anything from it when asked. But let’s assume he didn’t cos… why would he? But then she takes the flask with her out to the field and still does not wash it out? Why would you bring a flask of potion with you when you don’t need it anymore or already had a possible drink scare with your boss? Again she misplaces it (exactly why Shinyu said to her, you might as well have poured it into River Han!), and Mr Gardener picks it up and says he drank it to find out what type of tea she drinks and even commented the water had an interesting taste to it. So I reckon he did drink it. But, eeeww… hygiene, people! Hygiene and Covid-19! Are we still sharing drinks with strangers? I do reckon Mr Gardener already liked her (for him to want to know what kind of drink she takes). Ingesting the love potion just brought out the worst in him. So I reckon: • If you have no interest in the person, perhaps drinking it will make you notice the person, but • if you do actually have an interest - like Shinyu and Mr Gardener - drinking it heightens emotions in you

Oh! Cha Eun Woo? Pretty boy… hahahaha…

I do think Shinyu did feel it wrong that he was two-timing her which was why at the start he was trying very hard to have Hongjo rid him of the effects of the spell. That was until he probably realised that his feelings were independent of the spell (which I still have difficulty trying to logic out). I reckon the moment he found out about Nayeon’s affair, it just made it pointless to fight the spell’s impact on him - there was clearly no relationship to be had between them, only status and political gain, neither of which was attractive to him. I’m still puzzling over the impact of the spell on Shinyu vs Gardener Man. Shinyu has seemed very aware of the effects of the spell on him, Gardener Man not so. Having trouble editing on my iPad. Anyway, wanted to say that I think the king gave him a reward and he asked for Mount Onju. Hahaha…

Hahahaha... JUSTICE! JUSTICE! Yeah, I'd like it to all come clean, guts spilled for all to seeeeee!!! I just don't like the idea that Hongjo might still have that cloud of false guilt hanging over her with regard to her relationship with Shinyu. Also, Shinyu has been such a gentleman. Even after he knew about her affair with Lee Hyun Seo, he continued to take on the blame for ending their relationship. He never once questioned her actual fidelity towards him as well. Hmm... But yes, he was the one who wanted to end their relationship, not her. Just that she really needs to be put in her place, that Na Yeon. Tsk. Did Aengcho die on the mountain? Well, that entire plot of land including where the shrine was built belonged to the Jang family right? There was a scene where he was tending to her, and they showed her hands turning black. Was that a flashback scene after she was stabbed by him? Was she dying at that point already and he was just tending to her until she died? Or did she die on that snowy field soon after being stabbed?

@mademoiselle Is it just us here too? One of my deaf friends (while they lament that the actors are themselves neither deaf nor real CODAs) agrees that the actors are doing a very good job. Other friends are lamenting that it's on VIU which they don't subscribe to. Hahaha... So far, I found last week's episodes (3&4) a tad slow in the story development aspect. I know that dad wasn't studious, nor was he deaf at birth, but this pushing and pulling (sorta) with that character that's likely to be Eun Gyeol's mum... can we stop with the sullen looks and aloof mannerisms already and just get on with the story telling? I dunno if anyone else feels this way about it, but I was starting to find that a bit tiresome. And Choi Hyun Wook got into a bit of trouble recently? Oh dearie me... I actually do think Eun Gyeol might change the future though... Michael J. Fox's character did change some of the future for his parents in Back To The Future, so I wouldn't be surprised if some elements might change. His parents would still have to meet and fall in love though, else there won't be him in the future.

Ah. One question - what’s this with the transfer of ownership of Mount Onju? The Jang Family gave the land to the government? Can’t be right?

@mademoiselle As we head into the last week of this show (I don’t want to leave this couple yet!!!) what are you hoping and wishing for? I want to see her call him “oppa”! It shouldn’t be Nayeon calling him that. I want all of Nayeon’s affair and b*txhiness outed!! I want them to get married! I think it would be nice to see mum and dad get a happily ever after too. I’d like it if her colleagues got nicer. like really nicer. They have been quite a waste of time indeed. Including the manager and branch head’s “love story”. It got lame quite a while ago already. And Eun-wol Halmoni - I’m not so sure there’s a real purpose for her actually. Hmm… More cutes and lovey-doveyness!!

@mademoiselle Yep! I did watch the BTS. It was very cute lah. Very extremely cute. 🥰 At the start of ep 10 after they go home following their New Year’s together, Hongjo goes through the spell book again and the mind-body cleanse spell is still intact. 🤔 I’ve been wanting to say this - I love Gidong too. He’s actually a very good sidekick. Where did he get those “coupons” he’d been cashing in on with Shinyu? I don’t remember seeing them anywhere… And the suits. Row on almost wears nothing. but suits save those few casual smart occasions. And almost always 3-pc suits. He looks so dapper in them. I love his black on black on black aesthetic. Was this series entirely pre-produced? They were filming through the seasons, were they? Story also seemed to span a period of at least 4+ months from Autumn into winter? Ah… and yes, you mentioned this before and I agree with you - I don’t like her bullying colleagues very much. They don’t seem to have grown as characters and continue to bully her still… very little movement in their relationship with with Hongjo.