Adventures in Asia

Keeping with my music kdrama theme, the next drama I watched was “Shut Up Flower Boy Band” (also translated “Shut Up and Let’s Go”)! Which I went into with really low expectations! I mean, flower boy is in the title… Which is a clear warning that this pretty boy, high school drama might be just as scarring as “Boys Over Flowers” or “ Flower Boy Ramen Shop .” However, I was caught off guard and quickly fell hard for this drama! My feels are still reeling. “Shut Up Flower Boy Band” (SUFBB) follows a gangle of guy friends in a band together, bad boys who regularly get in fights, book illegal gigs, and are constantly on the verge of getting suspended. Difficult families and financial situations make them fiercely loyal to one another. When their jank school closes down, they get transferred to the fancy, rich-kid school, where they don’t fit in and quickly make rivals. A sudden tragedy and then a chance to make it big set them on a new path to stardom, though fame and fortune migh...

I didn’t do so on purpose, but I’ve continued my non-romantic-comedy-drama watching streak with another in a different genre: “Answer Me 1997” or “Reply 1997,” the epitome coming-of-age / teenage-experience story. Unlike my other genres of late (cop show “You’re All Surrounded” and political “King 2 Hearts” ), this one did not feature adventure, action or Lee Seung Gi. But it was strongly recommended by a friend and the internet. “Answer Me 1997” is compilation of flashbacks and flashforwards, following a group of friends through their high school years in the late 90s to a present day reunion, where one couple is about to announce their engagement. Feisty Shi Won is obsessed with kpop group H.O.T. (yes, they really did exist in the 90s). Her best guy friend is straight-A Yoon Jae, whom she’s known for forever. Her best girl friend is Yoo Jung, who shares her love for kpop, though not at the same level of loyalty. The friend group rounds out with the dude who never s...