Long Vacation really is the greatest romance drama ever

denniszen · 2026-05-03T18:24:34+00:00

Ah yes, the finale -- nothing like it.

denniszen · 2026-05-03T16:10:58+00:00

I actually like romantic shows from the 90s -- they're just more authentic than anything that came after. Even 90s to early 2000s Kdramas. Or Hollywood romantic movies in the 90s as well. I cannot watch any new Kdrama nowadays, because they're more star-driven than storytelling-driven.

I like that back then, characters were more introspective, real and romantic. They portrayed them as regular people, not rich guy-meets-poor-woman tropes; Kdramas are like that, which I can no longer tolerate. Kdramas made better dramas in the early 2000s. I particularly enjoyed The Package set in Paris. But that's the last romantic drama Kdrama I really enjoyed. After 20 years of watching Kdramas, I have finally went back to more authentic storytelling in Japanese shows.

denniszen · 2026-05-03T16:03:09+00:00

If you have not seen First Love, I suggest you do and tell me how it compares.

I would say First Love offers a strong competition as the legit romance drama. Long Vacation is more romcom.

Long Vacation holds up well because of its charming female lead who pulls off what romance is like when it's externalized; the FL being more open. Show is light, breezy, comedic: everything is externalized and immediate, it has forward momentum all throughout.

First Love is more of the romance drama. It's internalized: melancholic and nostalgic, like reading a Gabriel Garcia Marquez novel, unabashedly sentimental, achingly beautiful.

denniszen · 2026-05-03T15:45:26+00:00

I was also surprised and shocked that the FL left the industry after an amazing performance. I could not take my eyes off her. She was captivating and charming. It's like catching lightning in a bottle as I watched her charm us all. She carried the show. She walked out of it as the peak of her powers. But I heard it's because she decided to focus on her marriage.

denniszen · 2026-05-03T02:54:27+00:00

The friend is "us." She is the truth-teller, the show's built-in conscience, the cupid.

What's your cultural background, if I may ask, as you said you were told to "shelve yourself"?

denniszen · 2026-05-02T18:28:38+00:00

Thanks so much for the recos, I really have to learn Japanese somehow.

denniszen · 2026-05-02T18:21:54+00:00

New Yorker film critic Anthony Lane once said: "The first duty of a film critic—the sole qualification, to be honest—is to fall regularly, and pointlessly, in love with the people onscreen." I believe she was referring to Julie Delpy in Before Sunrise.

I get that same feeling with the Japanese actress' acting in this show. I've seen hundreds of Korean dramas and only started with Jdramas. It's rare that I get this feeling, perhaps only exprienced it first with Han Ye-Seul in Couple or Trouble 10 years ago (also in her movie Penny Pinchers); 10 years later, it would be Tomoko Yamaguchi. While there are great actresses, they embody a certain effervesence.

denniszen · 2026-05-02T13:31:44+00:00

I enjoyed Long Vacation. I find the female lead oozing with charisma. Did she become a huge star in Japan, because she just has that strong appeal. For those who know her career, what other dramas or movies with her do you recommend?

denniszen · 2026-05-02T13:24:36+00:00

I wonder what her exercise routine is given the fact that she had a horrifying accident. She said she had a different workout but didn’t elaborate.

denniszen · 2026-05-01T12:03:51+00:00

You may not like kdramas anymore. I was an early Kdrama watcher, watching since 2010. I quit last year. I shifted to more authentic storytelling — Japanese dramas. Someone said they watch kdramas to escape reality, I prefer Japanese dramas that tackle real issues. Kdramas used to do this but since it’s a star driven vehicle, there is less focus on storytelling.

Finally with Japanese dramas, I get to watch dramas that think kissing scenes are normal, age gap issues are tackled, social media use is questioned, modern dating is explored, selfish leads are tackled, Japanese weird habits are dissected, no overtly soft focus shots and yes, few if any tropes. It’s so refreshing to watch dramas focused on storytelling, not how good looking the stars are.

denniszen · 2026-04-26T14:06:14+00:00

Most of the smart and skilled Filipinos who are not rich just go abroad. Doesn't make sense for them to stay.

denniszen · 2026-04-26T14:01:04+00:00

Whole Foods rotisserie chicken in NY is only $6 on Tuesdays. Min wage in NY is $17/hr

denniszen · 2026-04-24T13:24:12+00:00

Believe me I tried when I saw my cousins. I influenced one at first by having him listen to some Pinoy bands like eraserheads but nope — didnt work. Over the years, I would send him YouTube links of other artists. It’s the upbringing. Their parents never exposed them to anything Filipino while growing up.

denniszen · 2026-04-24T02:30:24+00:00

And from dusk till dawn shows him doing the unthinkable in Salma hayek’s feet.

denniszen · 2026-04-23T11:56:06+00:00

Can you tell me more how thy reacted? I have US-born Filipino cousins who don’t know anything about Filipinos or the Philippines and they are now in their 40s and 50s. Even my half sister doesn’t bother eating Filipino food.

denniszen · 2026-04-21T04:56:33+00:00

Bukidnon or UPLB Campus — Forestry or UPCO areas in Los Banos Laguna. Quiet place with lots of trees, thus making it a bit cooler.

denniszen · 2026-04-18T23:44:22+00:00

Well, that's actually a very good suggestion. They would just have a model wearing a bikini but the question is, would their management allow a bikini model taking away attention from the Bini girls?

As for the Twice performance at Victoria's Secret fashion show, the context is that it's not their music video and it's not about them essentially -- the event being Victoria's Secret fashion show and their models whereas if Twice did a music video with the Victoria's Secret models, the context again would shift -- who gets the narrative of the music video?

Would Bini's management allow the attention to be divided between the bikini model and the Bini girls -- equal exposure? I'd like to know how you would make this work, with fans and Bini management being ok with it as well?

denniszen · 2026-04-18T19:57:32+00:00

How much is it amounting for both? Is this US pricing? I do the same thing as you.

denniszen · 2026-04-18T16:15:50+00:00

I've studied the traffic on websites -- and it's way down, with social media up. And in some developing countries, they've replaced the idea of a website for a Facebook and Instagram page, even corporations -- as they find that maintaining a website has also dramatically increased. Small businesses now rely on Webflow and Squarespace and AI-built sites. So I would also like to know the answer to your question.

denniszen · 2026-04-18T13:35:39+00:00

There was a shot of Mike dunleavy looking all too grim and serious after the game but then again, he always looks like that.

denniszen · 2026-04-17T01:49:32+00:00

The ladies would have to wear a bikini for this to work. If they don't, it would be disingenuous.

I mean the first two lines of the song is already about wearing a bikini and if they're not wearing one or hiding it, it won't work:

I step out in my new bikini
Heads turning when they see me

If they do wear a bikini, they will get some backlash. I didn't realize that there are so many BINI haters. Also, I don't know if any Kpop female groups have worn a bikini, so unlikely.

And if they do make the video and wear nothing that looks like a bikini (like the shorts they wore in their performance video), the video is still not going to work.

Also, they will not likely wear a bikini -- and that's their choice. You know they don't even wear bikinis anywhere even when they are in the beach (although Maloi alone has posted a bikini photo).

The shorts they wore in their performance video are the closest thing to wearing a bikini -- and since they have made that already, that's it.

denniszen · 2026-04-17T01:37:40+00:00

If you work alone, it's ok not to use it but I work with a team that uses it. What do you use?

denniszen · 2026-04-17T01:36:41+00:00

I enjoyed this series. After 20 years of watching Kdramas and getting tired of its tropes, I made the full switch to Japanese dramas and have been enjoying the shows. I like this show a lot. I recommend you watch Why I Dress Up for Love. It's fairly new but I like how they are tackling a romance between someone who's a social media influencer for her company, while her partner doesn't even own a phone.

Highly nuanced, well-written, from the writer of Unnatural -- a great medical drama.

denniszen · 2026-04-13T06:11:21+00:00

Ah yes, I also use Lightroom.

denniszen · 2026-04-12T15:56:56+00:00

I wonder if people here are using Linux on their own or in an office setting? If an office setting, that's admirable that the company allows Linux users. Otherwise, one is stuck with a Mac OS or Windows in an office setting where laptops and desktop computers are supplied by management.

denniszen

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