(2024) The Double ~ 墨雨云间 (E01) - ADDITIONAL

While watching this one, I hadn't realized how late it actually was so I had to stop and get to bed.  Just finished watching the rest.

So far, it's really good.  New episodes are out on Tuesdays and they're already up to E12 so I'm going to keep watching this one.  I'll watch 2 or 3 more today and tonight will be the J-movie Drawing Closer.

(2024) The Double ~ 墨雨云间 (E01)

 My drama watching history is non existent really.  The first one I ever watched was The Princess Weiyoung and I think it was on DramaFever.  Then I watched Medical Examiner Dr. Quin (2016) which was also a really good.  That one had a total of 3 seasons but I only watched the first.  I really liked the lead girl (Jiao Junyan) so when I found out she wasn't going to be in the other 2, I decided I was probably not going to be watching those. The Double will be my third.  Aside from Tiffany Tang and her husband actor Luo Jin (Both from The Princess Weiyoung), and Jia Junyan, I don't know any other Chinese actors.  

So, here we go!

The episode starts off with some nice flute music that I really like.  A girl in a candy apple red and white outfit is running through a forest and a man in white is chasing after her.  He catches up to her, turns her around, embraces her and kisses her.  The scene turns into a girl sleeping and she is woken up by the sudden sound of thunder (haha a dream?)  She is "Xue Li, courtesy name Fangfei" 

Side note:  I had no idea what a courtesy name was so I had to look it up.  I read up on some of it but it was boring so I'm going to go back to watching the drama and leave the research for tomorrow!

Xue Li wakes up and there is a man laying down on her.  Looks like his head is resting on her stomach.  She wakes him up and when he looks at her she screams.  (maybe he's not who she thought he was?  or not the same guy from before?)  She struggles and 2 women walk in (described as Shen Ruyun and Mrs. Shen).  Shen Ruyun screams out loud.  

Next scene Xue Li is in a room and she's sitting on the floor looking like she's tired or waking up.  She's remembering someone yelling at her "You dirty and shameless bitch!"  She hears her name twice and she jumps.  Cut to her hands and you see they are tied up with chains.  She is chained to the bottom of a table or bench.  A man walks in (Shen Bingxiu, courtesy name Yurong).  Xue Li says "Dear, you're here at last.  I was set up.  Mother and Yurong are mistaken."  The man's fae is expressionless as he stares at Xue Li.  She continues, "We've been married for so many years.  You should know me."  The man reveals he has a hatchet in his right hand.  Xue Li looks at it and says "Dear. You...".  He raises the hatchet as she loudly says "You don't believe me either?"  He strikes the chain several times with the hatchet and frees her.  Tears start to flow from her eyes and he says to her "Let's go"

Next scene they're in a horse drawn carriage (I was certain that there had to be a Chinese word for this so of course I had to look it up.  It's ma che I was curious!).  Xue Li is in his arms as he opens a bottle for her and she drinks from it. (right here I am suspicious.  did he really believe her or is he just getting revenge?)  She drinks from the bottle and he watches her.  He takes the bottle, puts it down and he returns to holding her.  She closes her eyes and quickly her head goes limp. (honestly looks like he drugged her but she probably just fell asleep).  You see the ma che go off into the distance.

Next scene, Xi Li wakes up.  She's laying down in a hole with her hands tied with rope.  She sits up while Shen Bingxiu is walking towards the hole holding a lantern and a shovel. She sees him when he stands by the hole.  "You know I was set up". Shen Bingxiu stares at her.  She says "Who did it?  Was it you?".  Tears start to roll down his face.  "Or was it your mother?  Was it your sister? Shen Young, I'm not a clingly person.  One letter of divorce from you and I would be gone. But why are you so cruel?  You want to destroy my reputation and kill me here too."  Shen Bingxiu says "Xue Li, I have no choice. She could have crushed us like ants."  Xue Li asks, "Who?"  He puts the lantern down.  "Xue Li, close your eyes."  Xue Li grabs the shovel and says "Shen Yurong! How dare you do this to me? Aren't you afraid my father and brother wouldn't spare you?"  Shen gets the shovel back and says "You'll reunite with them soon enough."  Xue Li says "Shen Yurong, what happened to them?"  He says "Duke Xue was sentenced to death for corruption.  Xue Zhao ran into bandits on his way to visit you.  He died a horrible death."  "Was it your doing?" Xue Li asks.  "Was it?  Why are you doing this to me?".  He says, "I'm sorry.  I have failed you in this life." as he strikes a blow to her head and then he screams out loud in pain.

A little over 8 minutes and again, a lot has happened so far.  Going to end it right here for now so I can pay attention to the rest.

(2024) Miss Night and Day ~ 낮과 밤이 다른 그녀 (E01) - ADDITIONAL

 I didn't realize this first episode was just over 1 hr long.  I didn't check to see if they're all an hour or if it was just this first episode.  I'll check before I watch the next episode.

After this episode, the premise of this drama got a little clearer!  We see exactly who Choi Jin-hyuk is as well.  This first episode covered a lot and there were no dull moments.  I'll watch E02 tomorrow.

Next one I'm going to watch is the C-drama The Double.  The first episode is 45 minutes.  I really wanted to watch the J-movie Drawing Closer but it's 2 hrs and I won't be able to fit that in tonight.

(2024) Miss Night and Day ~ 낮과 밤이 다른 그녀 (E01)

Beginning intro was very Sailor Moonesque.  I wonder if that was just for the intro or if it'll get worked into the story somehow.

So, the story begins with a girl riding her bicycle to take a local civil servant written exam.  She gets stopped by a guy in the lobby telling her that getting a civil service job can't be done with just grit or perseverance.  The girl asks him who he is and he says he's like a miracle worker that makes the impossible possible.  The girl tells him she doesn't believe in luck or miracles.  He tells her that the world might deceive her but a miraculous business card could change her life and he hands her his card.  She looks at the card and turns it around.  It says "We never know the worth of water till the well is dry".

In the next scene, an ajumma is praying for Mi-jin to pass her civil service exam since she's taken it 8 times already and she's failed it each time.  "There's no misfortune as disastrous as this" she says.  As she finishes her sentence a cat screeches and breaks a bowl that was on the table.  The ajumma yells at the cat and we see the cat jump across a bright silhouette of the moon.

Next scene, the girl, Mi-jin is sitting on a bench with another girl and a man in between them.  A woman walks out and calls out "Jeong Min-su".  The man gets up and says "yes" and walks away.  The woman says "And Lee Mi-Jin" and both girls say "Yes!".

They are both sitting in the room and one of the female committee members says "Lee Mi-jin?" and the one girl says very enthusiastically, "Yes!".  Our Mi-jin says "Please go ahead".  The woman says "I see you're both named Lee Mi-Jin.  Lee Mi-jin one is in her 20s.  Lee Mi-jin two, in her thirties.  Let's do it this way."  Mi-jin raises her hand and says "I'm also in my 20s though".  Lee Mi-jin one looks at her and laughs.  The female committee member mumbles under her breath, "If you're 28, you're in your 30s".

Next scene, Mi-Jin is walking with her bike when she gets a text.  She has not been selected for the job.  She starts to cry and says she wonders what she'll tell her omma this time.  She reaches home and upon entering, her parents are in the living room.  Her omma has a angry scowl on her face.  Mi-jin weakly announces she's home.  Her omma yells at her "Why didn't you tell me?" Her appa says "Alright, dear.  That's enough. This calls for a celebration". Mi-jin's omma says she called the environmental department and found out she got the job and says "You should've told us that you got the job!"  Mi-jin is confused and realizes the mistake due to the other girl having the same name.  Her omma says "I can die in peace now".

In her room, she can hear her mother calling someone to tell them she got a job after 7 years.  Mi-jin takes out the card the guy gave her at the exam.

Trying to conceal who she is, she arrives at a café called "Vanessa".  She peeks in at the door while Choi jin-hyuk's character is standing there watching her.  He sighs and walks over to the doors and opens one, hitting Mi-Jin in the forehead when he does.  She falls back into his arms and when she looks up to see him he asks her if she's okay.  

Side note:  OMG he's still so damn hot!

Mi-jin is now sitting with the miracle guy.  She asks him "This isn't a scam is it?".  Choi Jin-hyuk's character hears this and takes an interest.  Miracle guy says "What do you take me for?".  Choi Jin-hyuk's character turns around to check out the guy. 

Turns out, there's a large fee Mi-jin needs to pay to get her miracle.  After convincing her that he's on the up and up, she agrees to pay it.  

Next scene miracle guy is on the phone in the bathroom.  "Be ready.  I hit the jackpot today.  I'll buy you something good.  Tell me what you want to eat."  Choi Jin-hyuk's character is in the bathroom as well and he hears everything.

We're 9:15 into the show and already a lot has happened.  I'm going to leave my little bit here.  So far, it's pretty good.

A Few Good Dramas

 I found a few good dramas over on Netflix. One each Chinese, and Korean, and 3 Japanese  One of the Japanese is a movie  

Japanese

Drawing Closer 2024 MOVIE

With only a year left to live, 17-year old Akita finds new meaning in life by bringing joy to a terminally ill girl who has just six months remaining. 

Similar theme as 2004’s Sekai no Chūshin de, Ai o Sakebu (Crying Out Love in the Center of the World) and 2005’s Ichi Rittoru no Namida (1 Litre of Tears). I am a sucker for these kinds of tearjerkers. 

Japanese

Black Forceps 2024 - 10 episodes

A brilliant surgeon with a reputation for being difficult battles his colleagues’ incompetence and a new medical device that could make him obsolete. 

This one doesn’t seem to interesting but it has Arashi’s Kazunari Ninomiya so I figured why not. 

Japanese

Public Affairs Office in the Sky - 2013 - 11 episodes 

In this inspiring romance, a former pilot and a demoted TV director meet at the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and discover new paths in life. 

A lot of the J and K dramas I’ve watched have some kind of lesson to learn about life. Lessons on how to be just a good person in general. They have a way of making you see certain things in a way that you may not have thought of before.  Inspirational dramas are full of good feels.  

Korean

Miss Night and Day 2024 - 16 episodes

Life is already hard for Mi-Jin, but add supernatural age flipping, a tough new boss…and a blooming romance?  How will she navigate her new life?

Can’t lie, I’m not crazy about the plot. Doesn’t sound great but it’s got Choi Jin-hyuk and that’s good enough for me. Since I’ve been watching dramas (early ‘90s), I don’t think I’ve ever had to bail on one. There are quite a few that I’ve seriously thought of abandoning during my “3 episode rule” but I stuck with them and they turned out to be a lot better than I thought. 

Chinese

The Double - 2024 - 40 episodes

When acts of betrayal leave her family broke, a young woman assumes a false identity and, aided by her political allies, fights for justice. 

I’ve been looking for a good Chinese drama since 2016’s The Princess Weiyoung. I think that was my first C-drama and it was so good!  I’m hoping The Double is good also. 

My plan is to watch an episode of each drama and then the movie. After the movie, I’ll decide how I want to watch the rest of the dramas.