September 15, 2018 [Trend inspirations] Bad hair today, representation tomorrow

Radio Romance By Ally I’m Asian American. I was born and raised in the U.S. I lived in a town where the minority population was less than two percent. I was one of two Asian kids in my class. One of six in the entire elementary school. I’m also a child of the ’80s, with the …

May 21, 2018 [Dramas and Food] And then there was Let’s Eat 2

By Ally I have a huge confession to make. Historically, I have not enjoyed eating. Not in an I-have-an-eating-disorder-way or anything, but some people just eat to live, while others live to eat. I was the toddler that my parents had to chase around the house to eat, the last child at the table because I …

April 12, 2018 [Drama-induced shopping] Three times one drama influenced how I spent my hard-earned cash

The Lonely Shining Goblin By Ally When this monthly theme was introduced, I had no problem finding something to write about. I am the person advertisers advertise to: a stable income with control of that income, somewhat materialistic (although I really try not to be—I just like nice things!) and persuadable. However, I was really unaware …

March 29, 2018 [Best Friends Forever] Forever best friends

By @Ally and @Javinne Ally: Javinne and I thought it would be fun to talk about our favorite friends of last year, and since we both have a certain fondness for 20th Century Boy and Girl, we chose this K-drama to analyze what it means to be a “forever best friend.” Javinne: If you’ve read the “In Defense of…” series, you’ll …

March 13 2018 [Best Friends Forever] When work friends are best friends and family

By Ally I am always amazed with how K-dramas are able to take almost any mundane relationship and somehow manage to give it depth, emotional gravitas, and heart. You would, of course, expect this to happen with friendships that have lasted entire lifetimes, from childhood on through adulthood. K-dramas certainly have an infatuation with first loves …

February 2018 [One True Pairings] From subordinate to friend to brother to lover

Coffee Prince By Ally My all-time-favorite OTPs all start out as boys attracted to supposed boys. Truthfully, I’m at a loss as to why that is. I’m not homosexual myself, and have never been attracted to the same sex (except for Lee El, but you’re not alive if you don’t think that woman is gorgeous). However, …

January 2018 [In Defense Of] 20th Century Boy and Girl: When you don’t want to ride a roller coaster

By Ally The idea of roller coasters thrill me, and I’ll even ride them every now and then. But in all honesty, I’m really not into that feeling of getting your gut pulled out of your throat, that sense of impending doom, begging for it to end. How many of us have been sucked into a …

January 17, 2018 [In Defense Of] My inexplicable fondness for Love Rain

By Ally Love Rain is not a drama that will make you into a better person, cause you to figure out who you are and what you should be doing with your life, or even give you anything to ponder over. It’s a drama that we watch when we want an escape from our own lives, stressful …

September 25, 2017 [Music and Dramas] How dramas brought me back to my first love

Posting some writings from Dramabeans as there are those that would just like to read them and easier to lead them here to my blog. The Lonely Shining Goblin By Ally When this month’s theme popped up, it was like javabeans and girlfriday peered into my soul, opened my subconscious, and said, “Ally, this theme …

Circle, take 2: When you wish upon a “Byul” (star)

By chingumode (an Australian kdrama friend) and Ally: (This was co-written last summer, but since it wasn't ever published, we thought we'd let it see the light of the internet.  It also flows well since I entreated the drama gods for a second season of Circle.) Chingumode  I have a friend who loves the show …