2022 was a rough one. Wasn’t sure if we were even going to make it with the bingo but a last surge really helped out. But just like last year, what we didn’t hit made an appearance on this year’s cards. Hopefully, you will play along with us this year and tell us what you hit each month as well!
~ Asian Drama Bingo! ~
Below are three cards: Lazy Unnie’s bingo card, Sugar Baby Unnie’s, and a Bonus bingo card. We’re back again with our Asian Drama Bingo! The same rules apply as last year. We will be watching various dramas throughout the year (not limited to 2022 dramas) and then picking one drama per block on our bingo card. will be trying to achieve bingo in the traditional way of horizontal, vertical, or diagonal. For each drama that will be claimed as a part of bingo, there will be a corresponding review.
At the end of each month, we will be providing status on our bingo journey! Please look forward to seeing what else we have in store for this year and don’t hesitate to play this along with us!
Genre: Romance, Drama, Mature Origin: South Korea Episodes: 8 Air-date: Dec 23, 2022 – Jan 13, 2023 Starring: Ahn Hee Yeon as Son Hee Jae, Bae Woo Hee as Lee Mi Na, Park Sun Ho as In Chan, Choi Kwang Rok as Woo Jae
A warm, friendly, considerate person, Hee Jae is surrounded by people who claim to know and love her. The problem for Hee Jae is that she isn’t really sure if she really understands herself. On the other hand, Mi Na is Hee Jae’s confident and energetic best friend and colleague at Play Books, a supplier of books and related products centered around sex and romance. While an expert in how to achieve physical pleasure, her understanding falls short on romantic relationships. When they find themselves told to take over hosting a sex and romance advice podcast, the two feel more than a little lost. Having never experienced an orgasm or explored her own sexuality beyond routine, lifeless intercourse with her boyfriend of five years, Hee Jae isn’t the most qualified person to be hosting a sex advice podcast. Trapped in a loveless routine of emotionally detached, no strings attached casual sex, Mi Na is hardly one to ask for advice on committed romantic relationships. With no one else able to take over the program, though, they really don’t have a choice. Suddenly thrust into a world she doesn’t understand, Hee Jae finds herself opening up to new ideas and starts to explore her own body and seek out new experiences. Fed up with cycling through men who only satisfy her body and nothing more, Mi Na, too, desperately wants things to change. Pooling their lifetime of experiences and newfound knowledge, Mi Na and Hee Jae decide to make a major life change by opening a sex counseling service together. Working to help others find personal satisfaction, will these friends find the satisfaction they both so crave?
MYDRAMALIST
You know what? I have lost all sense of self and who I am after watching this show… Not because the message was so well articulated and performed..No. I lost my sense of self because, how was I watching a KOREAN drama.. drama not MOVIE.. drama and the first thing I see is a woman’s bare titties getting sucked? Nipple and all.. Literally the first two episodes of this drama had a full blown raunchier than the CW, should probably be on HBOMax sex scene. I had to do a double take and wonder if I was watching a Netflix original Kdrama for a second. I mean, don’t get me wrong because I started this show because of the clip of all the vibrators falling out of Hee Jae’s bag, but still I didn’t think it was gonna be this explicit.
This drama was definitely different and no doubt one of the first of its type within this Korean drama market. It was very raunchy and informative and the whole style of it was given a more western feel. What I really enjoyed about this drama was that it was a very slice of life feel, nothing with any true deeper motives. I thought our four leads did a fantastic job with portraying their characters. I especially found Hani to be so endearing and sweet. I had to remember that she was an idol because there were moments when I was genuinely charmed by her. I also think she has a thing for raunchy stories no? Speaking of raunchy, some of the scenes were for sure fetish bait right? Like some of it had me very much feeling odd. Also the amount of tongue a bitch saw with all these kisses? LITERALLY ALL THE KISSES. They was against the wall, on the floor, in the bed, on the couch. I was truly just stunned.
I think dramas like these are very much needed especially in the conservative country that is Korea. It benefits people to be more informed about their choices. I mean we’ve all heard about how bad the STI transmission rate has been there. Give it a go, I’m sure you’ll give a laugh or two but please don’t watch with minors.
The country’s leading all-boys school, Suppalo, is strictly governed. Rumour has it that a curse will punish students who act out, a curse that grows stronger as the solar eclipse nears. But where there are rules, there will naturally be those who want to break them. A group of students calling themselves “The World Remembers” unite to challenge the school’s authority and demand their rights. Head student prefect Akk and his cohorts are tasked with dissuading the rebel group. Then Ayan, a mysterious new student, arrives. Akk is suspicious of Ayan, this boy whose behaviour is so odd and who regularly challenges the school’s norms. Ayan has enrolled in hopes of discovering the person who pushed his uncle Dika to suicide. His only evidence leading him to Suppalo School is in his uncle’s old notebook. Ayan’s method of dealing with Akk’s scrutiny is to toy with him.
mydramalist
Starring: First Kanaphan Puitrakul | Khaotung Thanawat Ratanakitpaisan
Episodes: 12 (45 min.)
Aired: August 12 – October 28, 2022
Network: GMM 25
Where to Watch: Youtube
Imagine having an amazing cast and throwing them in a half-developed show with a budget of $3.50. That is exactly what The Eclipse was. Now, I’m not saying it was a bad show because there were things I really enjoyed about it and the potential was there. But damn GMMTV gave no fucks about this one.
The idea of a school having a curse that affected the students who went against the rules was… different. I get what they were trying to do because it was all there. A story about students who were trying to go up against this authoritative administration for the sake of their individuality and sexuality. Also having characters struggling with their own discoveries and homophobia. All of it was there! Even sprinkling in dealing with grief in different forms, from family to lovers. Got it. BUT it was completely disjointed and the fact that this “mystery” loomed over the plot in such a weak way was annoying.
Honestly, the saving grace of this show was the cast. From our main couple of FirstKhao. Without them, I don’t think Akk and Ayan would be anything other than tropey and annoying. Their chemistry sold and I completely fell for Khao in this. Short king come through! The level of gay panic in Akk and confidence from Ayan, I was so in their cat-and-mouse relationship. LouisNeo was also a nice pairing as the secondary couple of Thua and Kahn. For a while, I was really focused on Khan’s journey of coming out of his own closet and admitting his feelings for Thua. I liked Thua a lot until they decided to make him a villain. How do they go from setting him up for being abused at home to now he is a villain without really addressing the first part? I was hella confused.
In the end, I feel like this show was really just about discovery. Discovering one’s true identity and how you are going to let that dictate your future. They had unnecessary plot twists, like come on, the big bad teacher was actually the closeted lover of Ayan’s uncle? COME ON! I would have been happy with a subplot of Wat, Akk’s friend, hooking up with the lady teacher. I mean, they were dropping crumbs, or was it just me?
Lee Heon is the king of Joseon. 7 years ago, when he was a crown prince, his beloved wife died. To this day, he has not been able to get over her death. For the past 7 years, the royal family and government members have tried to get King Lee Heon remarried without success. The nation has also implemented a geumhonryung edict, which is a ban on all single women marrying during this time when the king has not married. People are furious over the marriage ban. One day, King Lee Heon hears of a woman named Ye So Rang, who claims the spirit of the king’s late wife exists within the royal palace. Meanwhile, Ye So Rang is a swindler and claims to interpret marital harmony signs. She is arrested and jailed where Officer Lee Shin Won works. To get out of her predicament, she pretends to be possessed by a spirit in front of Lee Shin Won. During her ruse, she mentions that the spirit of King Lee Heon’s late wife exists within the royal palace. She is then brought in front of the king and he asks her if she can really see his late wife’s spirit. To survive, Ye So Rang acts like her body is possessed by the king’s late wife. Ye So Rang’s lies get bigger and more audacious.
MYDRAMALIST
Starring: Kim Young Dae | Park Ju Hyun | Kim Woo Seok
It’s been a while! Trust me, I have been thinking about this for a while and sometimes these battles take a bunch of time because I have to listen to EVERYTHING! Anyway, since 2022 was their big year and they did all the things, I decided to start this year off with a look back on everything ATEEZ. Monster rookies in their own right, they really know how to make an era.
Treasure EP.1: All to Zero (Debut EP, 2018)
Stay – I remember when this EP came out and no one was feeling it but I was here in my KQ Fellaz feels and loved it. Stay gave us the island vibes and it felt fun compared to the title tracks. It is a little secret gem that more need to know about.
Treasure EP.2: Zero to One (Second EP, 2019)
Promise – I have been saying this since 2019, this is probably my favorite ATEEZ song. I can’t really explain how well this song just works. Maybe it is Jongho and that crescendo of a chorus but it just builds something inside that makes you want to sing at the top of your lungs.
Treasure EP.3: One to All (Third EP, 2019)
Dancing like Butterfly Wings – With a title like this I expected a nice ballad but not with ATEEZ. Giving us an early 2000 pop-punk bop. Also shows off how dancing is definitely ATEEZ’s strongest suit.
Treasure EP.Fin: All to Action (First Studio Album, 2019)
MIST – DID NOT EXPECT THE SEXY TO JUMP THE HELL OUT! That’s all. This is a baby-making song and I live for it. Mingi sounds amazing against the slower beat and I’m gonna go faint in a corner.
Treasure Epilogue: Action to Answer (Fourth EP, 2019)
Precious – What I think makes this song so special is it feels like a direct link to Treasure, ATEEZ’s debut song. This being the last album in the Treasure series, it just brackets the whole era perfectly. It’s not the same song but definitely is the sister to that one.
Zero: Fever Part.1 (Fifth EP, 2020)
One Day At A Time – If Promise is my favorite song in the Treasure era, this one is my favorite in the Fever era. 1. it’s an all English song and no one hypes that up enough because it’s PERFECT. 2. IT IS A VIBE! It’s not the typical in your face yelling of an ATEEZ song. It’s subtly powerful and it just pulls at my heart because the message is so touching.
Zero: Fever Part.2 (Sixth EP, 2021)
Take Me Home – I don’t know why this is the bitch, but she just is. It feels more adult than anything they have done and also dangerous. I also like the 80s feel this song has. I just love when you throw a sax on a song.
Celebrate – I couldn’t just leave my baby Celebrate out from the conversation. I love soul music and this is that. You add a choir underlining on a track and I’m gonna perk up. It’s so different and shows that ATEEZ can switch it up on you hoes.
Season Songs (Special Collaboration EP, 2021)
White Love – I don’t know why I love this but it makes me feel warm and good inside. Again, it’s ATEEZ doing something against their grain and it works. Who knew Hongjoong rapping on a big jazz beat would work? Not I.
Zero: Fever Part.3 (Seventh EP, 2021)
Not Too Late – I have to admit, this album came and went in my head. But again, ATEEZ doesn’t really do things nice and slow but just like Tina Turner told y’all, gotta do it sometimes. And they did. When it is soft and easy, it really makes Jongho and the rest’s voices stand out more and see the growth.
Zero: Fever Epilogue (First EP Repackage, 2021)
The Letter – Hard to go against an album that has The Real on it. But this is ATEEZ doing Christmas and it’s cute! I like seeing them do something very different and this is that for sure. It’s like Christmas meets a little Latin vibe with a bit of hip-hop.
The World EP.1: Movement (Eighth EP, 2022)
Cyberpunk– There is no better song and performance than this right here. Just watch the video and see for yourself. I won’t even explain.
Spin-Off: From the Witness (First Single Album, 2022)
I’m the One – Eden-ary Remix – I loved I’m the One and I love a house mix. This is kind of the best of both worlds.
It’s still January. Why is this the only month with 84 days in it?
Sugar Baby Unnie
You see the funny thing is that I am watching so much but also so little at the same time? I don’t know.. I’m feeling the vibe.
Dramas
Watching
Song of The Moon: We’re on episode 13 or so and it’s such a contrast to Blue Whisper for me, personally because at this point in Blue Whisper, I was already checked out.. I am still kinda invested? The story is like predictable but also unpredictable? Does that make sense? Anyways, I like it for now… We shall see..
Unchained Love: Yukee and Dylan.. why not? I am sick to my stomach because I keep watching and it’s not good so I genuinely don’t know why. I am literally on episode 20!! SEND HELP!
Couple of Mirrors: I’ve been on episode 3 for a long time but not because it’s boring. It was because I had to watch on Youtube but guess what??!!!??!?!? IT IS ON VIKI!! So yeah we’ve got this.
New Life Begins: The way I am in love with Bai Jingting? What? I can’t even. I am on episode twelve and I want another kiss already.
On Deck
One and Only: If you see this sitting here for like twenty years, mind yo business. It is happening. Don’t worry.
Somebody: I’m trying Kdramas and seeing which sticks.
Crash Course In Romance: Technically, I started this but I was very high and don’t remember much beyond the first few minutes so I’m saying “its on deck” but ifykyk…
Lazy Unnie
Why is there nothing and everything to watch at the same time?
Dramas
The New Employee – I am surprisingly loving this because it doesn’t feel like a typical KBL web drama. If only it was longer.
Between Us – I am pretty much speeding through this. It feels like they didn’t have enough plot and are dragging the noncommunication and I’m over it.
Crash Course in Romance – I didn’t think I would like it but here I am wishing for the weekend so I can watch the old people’s hilarity.
Alice in Borderland – I don’t dislike it but I am struggle busing to get past the first episode.
Up Next
Island Season 1 – You had me at Lee Da Hee. But this is on Prime! I hope more shows go there. However, my faith in Eunwoo isn’t there as usual. At least he’s pretty.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo – I’m heading into a slump, I feel it. So a rewatch might be in the future.
This week felt like a hodgepodge of releases. I am not really sure where the vibe lay but let’s see who came to slay.
GOT the beat “Stamp On It”
I like the bad bitch vibe and Seulgi slayed.
YENA ” Love War (feat. BE’O)”
Didn’t expect this at all from my smiley Yena but this jazzy r&b vibe is a killer
Jinyoung “Cotton Candy”
Not what I was expecting from Mr. Park but I LOVE IT! Kinda fell for him cause this.
cignature “AURORA”
It’s giving early IZONE or not annoying Gfriend vibes and I love it. Just a fun song.
DJ Wegun “Ground Zero (feat. punchnello)”
Was really expecting to hate this but I kinda like this weird DJ vibe and punch killed his verses.
Jay Park “BLUE CHECK REMIX (Feat. Blase, 365LIT, JUPITER, KHAN, XINSAYNE, Roh Yun Ha, sokodomo, KOALA, Jambino, Lee Young Ji, Chillin Homie, NSW yoon)”
I love a cypher style song and this just delivers. Some did better than others but I love how addicting this song is.
Yoo Yeonjung (WJSN) “Secret Love”
Yawn.
TWICE “MOONLIGHT SUNRISE”
This gets a skip just because they have done better and this just feels hella recycled.
toigo, GONEISBACK, NSW yoon, Roh Yun Ha, XINSAYNE “HOP ON THE TRUCK”
I feel like they just wanna be like Blue Check but can’t. Expected better from the standouts of SMTM11.
Genre: Historical, Romance, Fantasy Origin: China Episodes: 25 Air-date: Nov 30, 2022 – Dec 23, 2022 Starring: Feng Shao Feng as Yu Xiu Ming, Peng Xiao Ran as Ye Ling Shuang / Bai Lu, Zhu Zheng Ting as Yi Wu You, Cheng Xiao Meng as Qi Han Lian, Kim Jin as Jie Chu Ying, Liu Meng Rui as Qi Hai Rui
Ye Ling Shuang is a young woman who can foresee great tragedies and disasters before they happen. Although she is pure of heart, her gift has become a curse – and she has been shunned by those who think she brings bad luck. Only a young and beautiful princess shows her kindness. But that same princess is given a deadly choice by the dastardly Emperor Gao of the Chao Kingdom. She must either marry him – or die. She refuses to give in to him, which gives him the excuse he needed to attack her people.
A conflict breaks out, whereby Ye Ling Shuang is taken prisoner. But she has now vowed to take revenge on the Emperor. And, using her talents, she wins freedom – and then promotion. Soon, she finds she has caught the Emperor’s eye. But he is not the only one who wants to win her heart: Wu Yu, a surviving prince of a clan that was all but wiped out by the Emperor, also loves Ye Ling Shuang. Although he finds it hard to express his love, he springs into action when he sees that the Emperor has fallen for the woman he loves. Will love cause the cruel Emperor to change his ways? Or is Ye Ling Shuang destined to be with the angelic Wu Yu?
mydramalist
You know I literally started this drama as a joke… I didn’t think I was going to continue it, much less finish it. I think it was the fact that it was only 25 episodes that made it seem less daunting than usual. I also didn’t even realize this was a fantasy historical until about episode ten or so because not even the wings were on Wu Yu did it click—my ass just thought that it was a fancy armor. EMBARRASSING as hell. I know. Anywho….
This drama wasn’t very engaging in the beginning and I really was not with how very obviously mismatched age wise our leads were. Also, I’ll be honest and tell you that I thought she was too pretty for him! I hate to be that person, but I enjoy my couples to be evenly matched. From a story standpoint.. sigh… okay so if we look at this from the synopsis to translation on screen, there are quite a few inconsistencies. This was supposed to be the story of a girl seeking revenge right?? WRONG. This was a story about a woman being in love with her best friend and doing everything in her power to get to her. Y’all she straight up used the Emperor to get to her. She literally told him to his face while he was declaring his love that the love of her life is Rui. She said and I quote:
“She was my obsession. Rui will always be my obsession because she’s worth it.”
Bai Lu
She went to the past and tried to change the whole course of events to prevent Rui from dying. She didn’t even notice right away that the Emperor had gone into the past as well. Like, I’m supposed to cheer for them as a couple? Please BFFR.
I found the scenes to be so disjointed and the story didn’t actually make sense. They tried a love triangle—wasn’t with it. They had side couples—wack. I was actually quite pissed about the young woman who got sacrificed for the second son by the way. So after I completed this drama it was bothering me that it just felt so incomplete and weird? I went down the rabbit hole and found out this drama was actually heavily cut and post edited because of the censorship rule and that’s when everything clicked. Like of course some of the scenes were disjointed. Of course the acting fluctuates. Naturally the CGI looked worse that a freaking CGI dinosaur from the 90s. It just made sense. I ended up feeling bad and decided to bare that in mind when it came to final rating.
I didn’t have a terrible time, I didn’t have a great time. At the core, there is only one thing you need to know about this drama and it is that Bai Lu is gay. She is a lesbian and they should’ve just ran away and fingered each other in holy matrimony. Sorry to you, Xiu Ming, but your Empress was in love with her best friend.
Undeniably attractive, talented, and charming, Choi Sang Eun is the living definition of the perfect partner. This is exactly why instead of marrying, she chooses to employ her skills as a contract marriage master. Transforming herself into the perfect partner for each of her clients, Sang Eun allows those who employ her services to live the perfect single life, without having to agree to a committed, life-long relationship. A long-term client, Jung Ji Ho has been using Sang Eun’s services every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, for the past five years. A man shrouded in mystery, Sang Eun knows virtually nothing about Ji Ho but that doesn’t stop her from developing some rather unexpected feelings for him. Making her life even more difficult are the equally unexpected feelings she’s recently developed for one of her newest clients, Kang Hae Jin. A popular actor who employs her services on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, Hae Jin often makes Sang Eun’s heart flutter. Torn between her professional obligations and the feelings she harbors for both Ji Ho and Hae Jin, Sang Eun finds herself in an unexpected predicament. How can she possibly maintain her professionalism when her heart is leading her in two different directions?
mydramalist
Starring: Park Min Young | Go Kyung Pyo | Kim Jae Young
Episodes: 16 (60 mins. )
Aired: September 21 – November 10, 2022
Network: tvN
Where to Watch: Viki
Know when you have a taste for something, look at the menu and the item you pick just sounds amazingly good? Then when it comes it is stale and leaves a bad taste in your mouth? Well that is Love in Contract for me. The ingredients that were promised and initially shown were amazing. Basically, it was a rom-Com about a woman who has made a business out of marrying people. It was like a call girl but no sex was involved. I was hella intrigued. Even after the first few episodes, I was still with the concept of her falling for one of her clients but he was too socially awkward to realize it. But by the time we were heading to the second act of the show, they lost me with the random plotlines with no clear direction.
At this point, I really want Park Min Young to give it up. I felt like her character had the potential to be something dynamic but because of the poor writing and the choices she made with Choi Sang Eun just felt flat. When we were supposed to feel sympathy for her being this abandoned child forced to basically marry for the sake of business, I couldn’t care. I legit gave not one fuck and that’s hard because I usually care too much. Even when it came to Kim Jae Young playing this disgruntled chaebol who wanted nothing to do with rich family, I wanted to feel bad for him. Even when he was in this one-sided love with Sang Eun after not even knowing her besides seeing her at a dinner, ONCE, I should have cared, but I didn’t. I think this all suffered from the lack of chemistry between all of the characters.
I lie, there were some slightly good things about the chemistry. I really enjoyed Sang Eun’s roommate and ex-husband Woo Gwang Nam. He was probably the only character with some real depth being the LGBTQ+ representation on the show. I gave them one star for that. But I wanted to take it away because they underutilized him for the sake of the more boring contract relationship I have ever seen. Speaking of, I love Go Kyung Pyo as an actor and I really liked Jung Ji Ho at first. His socially inept judge was interesting to watch but there wasn’t any real explanation for him and I never fully understood why he liked Sang Eun.
In the end, I was left confused about why I should care about ANY of these characters and what the point of any of the things was. If I had to pick SOMETHING that was good about this show was probably the wardrobe because bitch slayed, and the cat. The cat that they apparently forgot but I didn’t. I LOVE YOU JAMIE!
Will I ever understand the obsession with academy classes in Korea? Prob not.
Crash Course in Romance
Nam Haeng Sun used to be a national athlete. She now runs a side dish store. She has a super positive personality and unlimited like stamina. She takes another turn and enters the private education field, which is for students preparing for their university entrance exam. Unexpectedly, Nam Haeng Sun gets involved with Choi Chi Yeol. Choi Chi Yeol is a popular instructor in the private education field and is known as Ilta Instructor (most popular instructor). He works hard at his job. As an instructor to his students, he speaks without reserve and implements showmanship in his lessons. He has accumulated wealth and fame as a popular instructor, but, with increasing success, he has become more sensitive, prickly, and indifferent to people. He then meets Nam Haeng Sun with her super positive personality and never ending stamina. The relationship between Nam Haeng Sun and Choi Chi Yeol develops romantically.
mydramalist
Genre: Romance, Comedy
Origin: South Korea
Episodes: 16 (1 hr. 15 mins.)
Aired: January 14 – March 5, 2023
Where To Watch: Netflix
Starring: Jeon Do Yeon | Jung Kyung Ho
Thoughts: Honestly, I went into this with no hopes of it being good. I’ll admit, I’m a bit shallow when it comes to my dramas and if I don’t find anyone remotely attractive then my interest level is lowered. But it was a Sunday, had nothing to do so I said fuck it. And I’m glad I did! I don’t know how long this show can keep my interest but I love the whole Romance is a Bonus Book vibe it has going on. Instead of books, there is food and math. One of those things I really like. There is even a little underlining mystery happening. It’s a bit obvious but I am intrigued to see how it unfolds. Plus, the more I watch the more I can tell Kyung Ho apart from Nam Goong Min, cause you can’t tell me they aren’t the same damn person.
I know you missed my judgy self. Back and better than everrrrr!
MONSTA X ‘Beautiful Liar’
Monsta X 🤝🏾 Songs with “Beautiful” in the title = ❤️‍🔥.
SF9 ‘Puzzle’
A SF9 song will always be a sf9 song.. You know what I mean?
CHEETAH, Eunice, Do Yeon, heya ‘WANT ‘
This a cute little girl power bop.
Dreamcatcher ‘Reason’
I love when DC serves us anime fight songs.
Primrose ‘Primrose’
You know.. there’s something there..
HUH YUNJIN ‘I ≠DOLL’
Okay, here is the thing.. I do not think this song is bad at all. I just think it gives me Annmarie/Bebe Rexha pop girl vibes and that’s not my taste so yeah.
Unbothered Unnies 