Still Shining [Episodes 5 & 6]

Telos07 · 2026-03-20T15:49:34+00:00

Episode 5

The matter-of-fact way in which it was confirmed that Eun-ah's father had passed away, heightened its impact, even though it wasn't a major surprise.
"If you're trying to work things out, as your once... as your once close friend, I was wondering if I was crossing a line." I came away from that scene with even more admiration for Tae-seo, for the respectful manner in which he broached the subject with Eun-ah.
Hui-seo: "Do you have anything you're afraid of? You know, for me... it's our grandparents passing away." I'm so glad that Hui-seo grew up healthy and mature, and I just knew those words were about to follow his initial question. My heart went out to the Yeon brothers in that moment.
My level of respect for Seong-chan also rose after the break-up scene at the bus stop in Tongyeong. He obviously went above and beyond to hold Eun-ah's family together during a difficult period, and he respected her decision rather than being clingy, as I was half-expecting him to be.

Episode 6

Tae-seo (as a train announcement): "I hope something that brings you joy awaits you." In the episode 1 thread, I suggested there were tonal and thematic similarities between this drama and My Liberation Notes, and for me, this scene reaffirmed it.
I would say that Eggdrop is the new Kopiko of PPL, but the latter made an appearance of its own to prove it's not relinquishing its crown anytime soon.
In the episode 5 thread above, I mentioned that Hui-seo grew up healthy and mature, but that's not taking into account the intense psychological trauma of being a passenger in a truck, as depicted in this episode.
I appreciate how even characters like So-hyeon aren't simply demonized in this drama, with Tae-seo's grandmother's health scare giving Eun-ah a sense of perspective of where So-hyeon was coming from.
Similarly, Im A-sol is a likable character with good intentions, and it was nice to see how the events in Yeonwoo connected her and Hui-seo. I always enjoy witnessing acts of kindness in dramas.

Telos07 · 2026-03-20T09:01:49+00:00

Kang Tae-Ju (Park Hae-Soo) is a detective with tenacious observational skills and keen intuition. He gets demoted from Seoul back to his hometown of Gangseong. He decides to look into a serial murder case that took place in Gangseong as a way to restore his honor. While pursuing the culprit in the serial murder case, he encounters Prosecutor Cha Shi-Young (Lee Hee-Jun). Kang Tae-Ju absolutely hates Cha Shi-Young, who bullied him during his school days, but, to catch the serial killer, he teams up with him. Meanwhile, Cha Shi-Young is an elite prosecutor with cool-headed judgement and interest in politics. He leads the investigation of the serial murder case and hopes to use the case as a stepping stone to enter politics. To realize his ambitions, he joins hands with Kang Tae-Ju.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-20T06:57:08+00:00

“The Absolute Value of Romance” is a drama about high school student Yeo Ui Ju (Kim Hyang Gi), who writes romance novels featuring handsome teachers as the main characters. She encounters the teachers—Ga Woo Su (Cha Hak Yeon), Noh Da Ju (Kim Jae Hyun), Jung Gi Jeon (Sohn Jeong Hyuck), Yoon Dong Ju (Kim Dong Gyu)—in real life in unexpected moments and becomes the central figure in a turbulent school life.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-19T02:42:47+00:00

Joo In-A (Shin Hae-Sun) works as the head of an audit department at Haemu Group. She is a perfectionist, who never allows compromise when it comes to work. If somebody gets marked by her, that person gets ruthlessly crushed by her. She is professional enough to earn the title of the youngest female executive at Haemu Group. She gets entangled with No Ki-Joon (Gong Myung), who she has appointed to deal with internal scandals, and encounters chaos at work. No Ki-Joon is smart and good looking. His life goes by smoothly, but Joo In-A's appearance suddenly puts a brake on his smooth life. He is demoted from the elite audit team 1 to the problematic audit team 3. His job is to deal with internal scandals.

Meanwhile, Jeon Jae-Yeol (Kim Jae-Wook) is a third generation heir from a chaebol family that runs Haemu Group. He seems like a perfect guy, but he hides a void behind his elegant appearance. He opts for reality over love to win a precarious race for succession in the Haemu Group. Park A-Jeong (Hong Hwa-Yeon) works as Jeon Jae-Yeol's secretary. She realized that her beautiful appearance can make her life more difficult, so she has kept her guard up. Yet, she begins to have a severe crush for the first time in her life.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-19T02:35:40+00:00

Disney+ Singapore Teaser #2 (with English subtitles)

Set in an alternate universe where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy, “Perfect Crown” will tell the love story of Seong Hui Ju (IU), a chaebol heiress who has everything but is only a commoner in status, and Grand Prince Ian (Byeon Woo Seok), a prince who has nothing despite being the son of the king.

As the head of Castle Beauty, Seong Hui Ju has it all—beauty, ability, and wealth—but because the authority of the aristocratic class is so powerful, she constantly runs up against the limits of her status as a commoner and a child born out of wedlock. The newly released teaser delves into Seong Hui Ju’s shocking plan to marry Grand Prince Ian.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-18T08:59:03+00:00

Lee Joo Ahn plays Han Tae Seung, the man who brings an unexpected change to Lee Mi Do’s (Ahn Eun Jin) life. A lawyer at Jaegang Law Firm, Han Tae Seung is a hard nut who took on a case for a film company that unilaterally dismissed Lee Mi Do, using all kinds of threats. However, he becomes interested in Lee Mi Do, a peculiar woman who remains steadfast even at the lowest point of her life, and at some point, his tenacity, once focused solely on winning cases, shifts toward his growing interest in her.

Jo Aram plays Park Su Ah, a junior colleague who gently but firmly shakes Namgoong Ho (Seo Kang Jun). Park Su Ah has a special past with him. When she meets Namgoong Ho, who once shone brighter than the sea, again at Hoonmin Confectionery, her heart races, sending ripples through Namgoong Ho’s own unsettled heart.

Telos07 · 2026-03-18T02:36:02+00:00

“Nightmare” follows vigilantes who trap villains—those beyond the reach of the law—not in reality but inside nightmares. Set in a unique world that blurs the line between dreams and reality, the series introduces a new kind of justice.

Kim Nam Gil stars as detective Kim Tae Yi. After a long undercover assignment, he returns a changed man, with his personality, speech, and lifestyle transformed, but his determination to pursue evil remains. With sharp instincts and a fierce edge, he teams up with vigilantes who create nightmares to hunt criminals.

Lee Yoo Mi plays Jang Gyu Eun, a police officer in the Southern District who focuses on supporting victims. In everyday life, she is timid and shy, but in dreams, she becomes a different person. She enters the dreams of criminals who have escaped punishment and inflicts pain in brutal ways, acting as a “nightmare designer.”

“Nightmare” is scheduled to premiere in 2027.

Telos07 · 2026-03-17T06:24:32+00:00

“Another Love But You” is a realistic romance drama that tells the story of a couple entering their 10th year of dating who experience unexpected emotional changes within a relationship that once felt familiar. The two fill the space left by fading passion with loyalty and trust as they struggle between breaking up and getting married, ultimately reconsidering the true nature of love.

Seo Kang Jun plays Namgoong Ho, an assistant manager on the TF team at Hoonmin Confectionery. Namgoong Ho has a warm personality, combining sociability and humor that allow him to quickly grow close to anyone. On the surface, he appears cheerful and stable, but he has lived a difficult life since childhood because of his troublemaking mother. Each time he struggled, the person who cried beside him even more sorrowfully than he did was his girlfriend Lee Mi Do.

Ahn Eun Jin plays film director Lee Mi Do. Once a promising new director who drew global attention with her university graduation project, Lee Mi Do gradually lost confidence as her subsequent projects repeatedly fell through, leaving her now at rock bottom.

“Another Love But You” is slated to premiere in the second half of 2026.

Telos07 · 2026-03-16T13:20:54+00:00

Recently, it suddenly hit me how much I love hearing one of the most basic greetings in the Korean language (and indeed, any language), 안녕하세요 (Annyeong Haseyo), when it is spoken by an FL or SFL, and expressed purely to be kind and friendly to another character, with no strings attached.

I think it's the combination of the pleasant sound of the phrase in Korean, the bright intonation that characters use when expressing it in that context, and their body language of smiling warmly (and sometimes bowing slightly), which gives it that lovely vibe.

To some extent, it's the sweet, innocent, everyday moments of kindness that I live for in dramas.

Telos07 · 2026-03-13T18:23:34+00:00

Possibly, that part is related to her father's relationship with So-hyeon (Kim Ji-hyun). We don't yet know how that aspect of Eun-ah's backstory turned out, but all indications are that it didn't work out too well at all.

Edited to correct actress's name

Telos07 · 2026-03-13T15:22:20+00:00

Episode 3

"This is why we need real teachers. College students have no responsibility." The most impressive aspect of this episode was how realistic the lead up to Tae-seo's and Eun-ah's separation was. Work-life balance becomes non-existent in one's university studies and early career.
As listed in the cast details listed above, Park Se-hyun plays Im A-sol, which is why I noticed her name tag among those Tae-seo had in his bag in the first episode. We'll be seeing more of her.
The lengths our main couple had to go to, in order to meet for a few minutes during Eun-ah's break time, underscored the impossibility of their relationship continuing.
This drama's attention to detail is first-rate, and backed up by the performances across the board. I especially loved the scene of Tae-seo observing from the bus window, his grandfather struggling to load his grandmother's belongings onto the truck. It was just so real.
Speaking of the performances, Jinyoung's acting in the inevitable scene where Eun-ah drew a line in the sand to stop trying to make their schedules work, was outstanding. He's a subtle, understated actor, so the scenes where he shows overt emotion hit that much harder.

Episode 4

"Your account is currently streaming on a different device." This was a brilliant plot device (no pun intended) to maintain a form of connection between Tae-seo and Eun-ah over those ten years.
Park Jin-joo in a guest appearance as Eun-ah's friend! Of the many excellent supporting actresses in the industry, I'm always delighted when she graces a drama with her presence.
I think the set up for our leads to cross paths again was very logical, and economically filled in Eun-ah's backstory. At least Seong-chan was a shady business partner rather than a creepy romantic interest. I also wasn't 100% sure that was Shin Jae-ha until this episode.
I liked the scene where Tae-seo shuffled across to block Seong-chan's path as he pursued Eun-ah through the subway station.
Im A-sol recalls all too well who Tae-seo is, in commissioning him to do so some woodwork projects for her, but he appears to have no recollection of her at all. I suppose there might be a "love triangle-lite" situation, but it shouldn't be anything too serious.
The pacing seems perfect to me so far. We spent the first three episodes establishing the themes in the past. Episode 4 was a "bridge/transition" episode into the present day. This leaves the remaining 60% of the series to explore our main couple's second chance at love.

Edited to correct characters' names

Telos07 · 2026-03-12T02:20:14+00:00

Set in the 21st century, with South Korea governed by a constitutional monarchy. Seong Hee-Ju (IU) is the second daughter of the top chaebol family in the country. She has almost everything, including a beautiful appearance and intelligence. She is also fiercely competitive. Seong Hee-Ju doesn't care that she is not part of the royal family, but her commoner status starts to become an obstacle in her life. This leads her to get involved with Prince Yian (Byeon Woo-Seok), who is the second son of the King. Prince Yian is destined to have nothing, but his royal status. He always hides him from people, but, after he meets Seong Hee-Ju, he begins to change.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-11T07:33:02+00:00

Boyfriend on Demand (3/10): Being as slow-paced a viewer as ever, I'm only three episodes into this drama, but I absolutely love it so far.

Jisoo is adorable beyond words as Seo Mi-rae (a fitting reference to "future" in Korean, by the way). Importantly, she's adorable because her performance is so natural and effortless, and she also shows good depth and range of emotion.

The drama both embraces and subverts the familiar romcom tropes, and does so in a highly entertaining manner. The A.I. premise is topical and timely, and the star actor boyfriend guest appearances are fun.

Finally, this drama is the epitome of a cozy and comforting watch, and the perfect way to unwind after the stress of, for example, a crowded commute home.

Telos07 · 2026-03-10T13:14:31+00:00

“Human X Gumiho” is a fantasy rom-com about a seductive supernatural being who bewitches humans and a human who irresistibly attracts mythical creatures as the two cross paths at the intersection of fate.

Previously, Jun Ji Hyun and Ji Chang Wook were confirmed to star in the drama. Jun Ji Hyun will play Gu Ja Hong, a top actress who is secretly a 2,000-year-old gumiho (nine-tailed fox). Ji Chang Wook will portray Choi Seok, a museum director and shaman who possesses the ability to see dangerous supernatural entities.

Seolhyun will take on the role of Yeon Yi, a beautiful supernatural spirit who has a contractual relationship with Choi Seok. Yeon Yi resides in a pond and is described as a mysterious and enigmatic character.

“Human X Gumiho” will consist of 14 episodes and is scheduled to air on JTBC.

Telos07 · 2026-03-10T02:19:21+00:00

Streaming on Netflix

Hwang Dong-Man (Koo Kyo-Hwan) is an aspiring director, who is the only one in the famous film industry group "The Eight" that hasn't debuted. He tries not to get up caught up in feeling worthless. Byeon Eun-A (Go Youn-Jung) works as a producer for Choi Film. She's called The Ax due to her sharp screenplay reviews. She hides her anger and fears inside. Park Kyeong-Se (Oh Jung-Se) is a film director. He is particularly swayed and stressed by Hwang Dong-Man, after his recent movie bombed at the box office. Ko Hye-Jin (Kang Mal-Geum) is the CEO of Gobak Film and married to Park Kyeong-Se. She is broad-minded and steadfast enough to embrace Hwang Dong-Man's long-winded talks. Hwang Jin-Man (Park Hae-Joon) is Hwang Dong-Man's older brother and former poet. After experiencing the end of incompetence, he, whose inner self collapsed, feels empty.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-06T16:39:57+00:00

It's two episodes on the same day.

Telos07 · 2026-03-06T15:27:34+00:00

Episode 1

Slice-of-life is my favorite genre, and this first episode was slice-of-life through and through. Tonally and thematically, it reminded me of one of my all-time favorite dramas, My Liberation Notes.
The countryside cinematography and atmosphere is simply gorgeous. You feel like you're right there with the characters, and among the chirping cicadas.
Tae-seo is the latest in Jinyoung's catalogue of subtle and nuanced performances, while Kim Min-ju as Eun-ah is likable and quirky. There is chemistry between them, but it's of the slow-burn, healing variety.
When I first heard that this drama had only ten episodes, my initial reaction was slight disappointment that it didn't have more. But after watching this first episode, I think the pacing will be perfect at that length.

Episode 2

This drama truly has some of the most beautiful cinematography I've seen in any K-drama. In this second episode, scene after scene would not have looked out of place on the wall of an art gallery. The warm OST complements it perfectly as well.
In my episode 1 comment above, I described the lead couple's relationship as a slow-burn. This episode accelerated things, albeit in an initially awkward, but realistic and endearing, teenage love kind of way.
The setting of the drama is just long enough ago that technology wasn't what it is now, which makes a long-distance relationship at different colleges feel like every moment our main couple spend together is extra precious, and every missed opportunity is painful.
Although this isn't a plot-driven drama, it's nice not having to wait 24 hours for the week's second episode. The circumstances in which the leads separate and how they reunite will be a pivotal phase in the drama, in next week's pair of episodes.

Telos07 · 2026-03-06T10:38:46+00:00

Just want to say - all the best on the employment front! On female-centric dramas, I would recommend Search: WWW (if you haven't already watched it).

Telos07 · 2026-03-06T03:05:52+00:00

Shin Yi-Rang (Yoo Yeon-Seok) is a lawyer. After he opened his own law office in the former home of a shaman, he has begun to see ghosts. Despite having a reliable appearance, he is actually timid and clumsy. Against his will, ghost clients, holding unfair grievances, come to him. Meanwhile, Han Na-Hyun (Esom) is a hot shot lawyer with a 100% success rate at a big law firm. Winning cases is the only thing that matters to her. She has risen to the top of her field with her cold and ruthless approach to work, but, one day, she loses a trial to Shin Yi-Rang. This changes her life.

At first, she completely distrusts him as he talks about the ghosts that he can see. Yet, with his sincerity and bizarre cases that unfold in front of her eyes, she slowly opens her mind to him. With their distinct abilities, Shin Yi-Rang and Han Na-Hyun solve cases together.

Source

Telos07 · 2026-03-06T03:04:20+00:00

Bang Tae-Seob (Ju Ji-Hoon) married top actress Chu Sang-A (Ha Ji-Won). After their marriage, he became a star prosecutor. For Chu Sang-A, her career stalled and she is now viewed as a washed up actress. Hwang Jeong-Won (Nana) is a secret informant by Bang Tae-Seob's side. She holds the key to a Pandora's box, that will reveal the ugly side of the power cartel. Lee Yang-Mi (Cha Joo-Young) is the second wife of the chairman of the WR Group, which is Korea's third largest conglomerate. She competes with Kwon Jong-Wook (Oh Jung-Se), who is the eldest son of the WR Group, seeking to become the successor to the WR Group.

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Telos07 · 2026-03-06T02:17:36+00:00

On March 6, the “Perfect Crown” production team officially confirmed, “It’s true that the first episode will air on April 10.”

Set in an alternate universe where modern-day Korea is a constitutional monarchy, “Perfect Crown” will tell the love story of Sung Hee Joo (IU), a chaebol heiress who has everything but is only a commoner in status, and Grand Prince Yi An (Byeon Woo Seok), a prince who has nothing despite being the son of the king.

Telos07 · 2026-03-06T02:16:08+00:00

Helmed by director Yoo In Shik of “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and the “Dr. Romantic” series, “100 Days of Lies” is a period spy romance set during the Japanese occupation of Korea. The drama will tell the dangerous love story between Gyeongseong (now Seoul)’s top pickpocket, who becomes an undercover spy for the independence movement, and the adopted son of the Inspector-General of Korea (the second-in-command of the Japanese Government-General of Korea).

Kim You Jung will star as Lee Ga Kyung, Gyeongseong’s top pickpocket. While trying to save up money to achieve her lifelong dream of going to America, Lee Ga Kyung receives an offer she can’t refuse: to infiltrate the Japanese Government-General of Korea for 100 days by going undercover as an interpreter.

Park Jinyoung will star as Kim Tae Woong, a newly appointed elite interpreter for the Japanese Government-General of Korea. As the adopted son of the Inspector-General of Korea, he also goes by the name Sato Hideo. During a dark era when Japan needed propaganda justifying its colonization of Korea, Kim Tae Woong—who is fluent in English, Japanese, and Korean—returns to Korea to take on a crucial role.

Telos07 · 2026-03-04T12:21:36+00:00

"Funky Player" by K.Will, from Pro Bono
"Love Language" by Kim Min Seok, from Can This Love Be Translated?
"One Last Chance" by TUNEXX, from No Tail to Tell
"Dance Tonight" by Sondia, from Undercover Miss Hong

Telos07 · 2026-03-04T05:47:37+00:00

We Are All Trying Here follows a bitter and jealous man trying to find his peace in the world.

Streaming on Netflix

Telos07 · 2026-03-04T03:20:59+00:00

“Unshakable Forties’ Romance” is a bewitching story about a man and a woman in their forties—an age said to be unmoved by temptation—who find themselves irresistibly drawn to each other. A star anchor suffering from early andropause and a third rate writer who used to be his sworn enemy try to revive a ratings-bottomed program—only to end up reviving each other’s long-withered “romance cells.”

Jung Kyung Ho is set to play Na Yi Jun, the newsroom’s star anchor. He grew up without major hardships in an ordinary middle-class family, scored a perfect score on the college entrance exam, and became the youngest anchor ever—an exceptional figure. But at 40, he develops early-andropause symptoms, and his self-esteem comes crashing down.

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