It is Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend. The timing makes way more sense than American Thanksgiving, which takes place less than a month before Christmas. Who wants to suffer their family and the effects of Tryptophan twice within the span of a month? Anyway, here are some of the K-drama related things that we are thankful for.
Korean cable networks
Looking back at all the dramas we’ve recapped or enjoyed in the past little while, it’s apparent that JK and I have a preference for the Korean cable networks. In comparison to the major networks, cable shows tend to think outside the formula and are usually written for adults. As an example, cable network JTBC is home to “Secret Love Affair”, a moody piece with a 40 year old woman as the main character. OCN’s current drama “Bad Guys” is based around a group of unabashed criminals and an out-of-control cop. And, tvN just finished up the fantastic “King of High School Savvy”, a workplace drama with loveable characters that turned its off-putting premise into comedy gold. Another upcoming office drama, “Misaeng” will also air on tvN. They’re not all hits with us (the awful “I Need Romance” franchise is also from tvN), but you can definitely count on seeing something different. – Only 만
Lee Dong Wook
If I was a K-drama actor, I would be thankful to be cast with Lee Dong Wook. He is not a great actor, which means he is unlikely to overshadow you, plus he is a really nice guy! His elder co-star from “Hotel King” regaled everyone on the variety show, “Roommate” with tales of Lee Dong Wook encouraging the production team to allow his female and elder co-stars to film their scenes before his, since he “wasn’t going to sleep, anyway”.
As a viewer, I am thankful that despite being hungry and tired from filming “Hotel King”, Lee Dong Wook was always up for “Roommate” shenanigans. Plus, you appreciated that bag of pork rinds in your hand all the more while watching Lee Dong Wook dance and sing with hollowed cheeks and skinny limbs. – Junggugeo Kaenada 중국어 캐나다
Men who can cook
It’s a matter of debate whether I married my significant other because of his fantastic chicken curry, but there’s no question that I’m thankful for men who can cook. Just watching Goo Dae Young (Yoon Doo Joon) make up an unappetizing bowl of Toowoomba spaghetti on “Let’s Eat” gave me the shivers, and Cha Seung Won cooking in “City Hall” allowed me to keep watching when that show turned into a weepfest. Oh Chang Min’s (Choi Jin Hyuk) constant cooking for, and feeding of, Oh Jin Hee in “Emergency Couple” was one of his more endearing qualities, and the meals that Park Soo Ha (Lee Jong Suk) prepared in “I Hear Your Voice” did more for me than his dewy skin. Best of all, the lead character of Japanese drama “Nobunaga no Chef”, Ken (Tamamori Yuta), is an amnesiac French chef who travels backwards in time to the Warring States period and becomes the personal chef of warlord, Oda Nobunaga. This ridiculous premise paled in comparison to watching Ken save the day by making Crêpe Suzette for the Emperor. Dreamy. – Only
Shower scenes
I debated whether this was too obvious a thing to be thankful for, but it really is quite the treat when it pops up. The shower scene is usually superfluous to the story, and shows up unannounced. Despite the fleeting nature of this display, the actor has obviously exercised and dieted for months in preparation. So, let me make it clear that we are ever so grateful. Keep up the good work! See some of our favourite shower scenes in our Friday Feature, Shower Power.– Junggugeo Kaenada
Excellent K-drama kisses
Another obvious thing to be thankful for, but excellent K-drama kisses are never to be taken for granted. When I started watching K-dramas, I never imagined that I was entering a wasteland littered with unpuckered lips, wide open eyes, and kisses that looked like frozen tableaus. Fortunately, this has only increased my appreciation for the rare, but great kisses that occasionally pop up. We’ve previously talked about our requirements for good kisses, but let’s take a moment this Thanksgiving to appreciate some of our favourites again. – Only
Universal health care
How many K-drama characters have been driven to desperate measures, because of the financial burden of privatized medical care? On “Doctor Stranger”, being poor meant submitting to becoming competition fodder for amoral hospital administrators. After all, free surgery with the risk of sabotage by competing surgeons is still a better option than certain death from no treatment at all.
Sometimes, poor patients can rely on the leads to heroically foot the bill. In “Emergency Couple”, grumpy surgeon, Cheon Soo regularly provides his services gratis. Though, Cheon Soo does not mince his words when laying out the hardships that a prepubescent orphan can look forward to.
Generally, children, and not just the orphans, are aware of the financial strain of hospitalization. In “Nice Guy”, a prepubescent boy is ready to rip the IV out of his arm, knowing that his brother does not have the money to pay for the bill. It is the kind of melodrama that could be avoided if the setting was Canada or another country with universal health care. – Junggugeo Kaenada
Readers: what are you thankful for?
Everyone, including Americans not celebrating Thanksgiving this weekend, can comment.
Noonas Over Forks 