Host Minal is joined by Vipula and Benny to discuss the 2021 hit Kdrama Hometown Cha Cha Cha. The episode is full of spoilers so we suggest you watch the drama before listening to this episode.
Hometown Cha Cha Cha is a 16 episode romance + slice-of-life drama that ran from Aug to Oct 21. The drama is a remake of the movie Mr. Hong starring Uhm Jung Hwa and Kim Joo Hyuk (Argon, Reply 1988 - Cameo Elder Taek)
Director: Yoo Je Won - Oh My Ghost, Crash Course in Romance, Love Next Door
Writer: Shin Ha Eun (The Crowned Clown, Love Next Door).
Lead Pair: Kim Seon Ho/ Shin Min Ah
Plot summary: Yoon Hye-Jin (Shin Min-A) a successful dentist and city girl moves to the small village of Gongjin and runs into Hong DuSik (Kim Seon Ho). Hong DuSik is a man with many skills and jobs. Their opposite personalities and outlook to life clash and sparks fly. Their journey combined with those of their village family makes this drama more of slice of life intertwined with a solid romance.
Key themes:
Trope Reversal: Ms. Grumpy meets Mr. Sunshine
Found family
Women friendships
Portrayal of strong women across all age groups
Mature handling of a love triangle and its resolution
Some of our posts on Hometown Cha Cha Cha:
Representation of women :
Strong women from Little Bora to Gam Ri Haelmoni across all age groups Minal on the women in this drama
Best Love triangle resolution in Kdramas?
Two scenes reflect mature handling of this triangle
The HedgeHog: Why Minal thinks Dusik is the The Hedgehog and not HyeJin
Literary References in the show
Henry David Thoreau‘s Walden
The Doorkeeper Poem [ Dusik reads to Hyejin in E10]
Favourite Scenes mentioned:
All the confessions:
Comedy scenes:
Things that didn’t work for us:
HyeJin beating Dusik to hide their relationship
The stalker episode
Trauma overdone:
Assistant director blaming DuSik for his father’s investment woes from the financial market crash
DuSik’s senior’s wife holding DuSik responsible for her husband’s death
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Minal is joined by another resident guest of this podcast - Vipula to discuss the 2024 KDrama When the Phone Rings which took the world by storm in December. The episode is full of spoilers so we suggest you watch the drama before listening to this episode.
The drama was 12 episodes and telecast from November 2024 - Jan 2025. The director is Park Sang-Woo and the writer is Kim Ji-Woon. The drama is based on a web-novel/webtoon and stars Yoo Yeon Seok and Chae Soo Bin as the lead pair.
Plot Summary (Source: Asian Wiki)
Paik Sa-Eon (Yoo Yeon-Seok) comes from a prestigious political family and he becomes the youngest presidential spokesman in Korea. His background also includes time spent as a war correspondent, hostage negotiator, and main anchorman. He ismarried to Hong Hee-Joo (Chae Soo-Bin) since 3 years in a marriage of convenience. She is the step-daughter of a major Korean newspaper proprietor. She has selective mutism due to an accident she sufferred in childhood. She works as a sign language interpreter in court and on television. For the past 3 years, they haven't communicated with each other. One day, Hong Hee-Joo is kidnapped by an unidentified person and this changes their marriage life.
Favourite Scenes mentioned:
E3 : She is my wife
E3 : Baek Saeon learns his wife can make sounds
E4: HeeJoo is brand new language
E5: Interview scene
E6: Basek Seon searches for HeeJoo
Mr Kang bringing all the laughs
Saeon and HeeJoo scene compilation
Yoo Yeon Sook Dramas: Mr Sunshine, Hospital Playlist , Interest of Love
Minal’s KDrama Romance Recommendations: Suspicious Partner, The Law Cafe , Crash Landing on You , Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo and Love All Play
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com
Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app
Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD
Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas
Threads @crashlanded_onkdramas
Double Feature: Queen of Tears and Love Next Door
Hello Listeners, welcome to the first episode of a new season in the new year. Minal is joined by our resident guest Mun who is the co-host of Witchaar Podcast.
Mun and Minal discuss two the most anticipated and hyped dramas of 2024 Queen of Tears and Love Next Door. The lead pairs of both dramas are amongst our favourite actors/actresses. The writers and directors of these dramas are behind some of the most popular Kdramas such Crash Landing on You, Vincenzo, Hometown Cha Cha Cha.
To find out if these two hyped dramas managed to live up to to our expectations - tune in to our latest episode.
Other KDrama recommendations for the leads:
Previous Episode : Jane Austen of KDramas featuring Park Ji Eun writer of Crash Landing on You , My Love from Another Star, The Legend of the Blue Sea, Queen of Tears Favourite Scenes:
Kdrama - Bollywood Crossover: Mun mentions Shahrukh Khan who is one of the superstars from Bollywood. Minal mentions this famous SRK scene from the movie Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham. The scene’s famous background music was used by fans to edit the scene where Kim Soo Hyun is running on the bridge.
Queen of Tears - Love Next Door Crossover: Kim Soo Hyun calls Haein (Jung)
Other Dramas mentioned in the episode
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app. Contact Us:
This is the finale of our special showcase on Moving Kdrama. Our host Minal is joined with our two wonderful guests Benny and Vipula.
In this episode, we cover the final 4 episodes 17 to 20 which capture the final battle between the superheroes/spies from North Korea and South Korea and the battleground is the school. We discuss what we loved about the finale , what we would like Season 2 to cover and what the show could have done better. A big thank you to all of our listeners who tuned in!
Have a wonderful new year and I hope to be more regular with this podcast in 2025.
Episode Outline:
Episode Clips: Episodes 18-20 Trailer
What we would like to see in S2:
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Our host Minal is joined with our guests Benny and Vipula. And for this recording, we have another Moving and fellow K-drama enthusiast, Anna.
Anna’s Top 3 Kdrama recommendations: Happiness, Reply 1988, My Mister
In this podcast episode, we are going to cover Episode 14, 15 and 16 of the Moving Kdrama. These two episodes will work towards bringing us to the present timeline and provide context to the history of our heroes with the government spy organization.
Episode Outline:
Episode Clips: Episode 14 highlights, Episode 16 highlights
Moving Beyond
Other dramas/movies discussed in episode:
Actors Rediscovered:
Benny’s Corner: Marvel Vs Moving Universe Superhero Match-Ups
2024 Baeksang Awards for Moving
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter.
License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Our host Minal is joined with our guests Benny and Vipula. We are at Episode 12 and 13 of the Moving Kdrama. These two episodes bring us to the present timeline and provide context to the history of our heroes with the government spy organization.
Episode Outline:
Doo-shik & Ju-Won bromance brings comic relief
The Gun In The Pocket - What happened between Mi-Hyun and Dooshik
Doo-shik’s plays the long game
Mi-Hyun & Doo-Shik’s new beginning
Apple Orchard fight sequence
Life moves on for Ju-Won & Ji-Hee
North Korean superhero makes an appearance
A devastating strategy and a masterclass of acting by Ryu Seung-ryong.
Episode Clips: Episode 12-13 trailer
Moving Beyond
Why does Doo-shik not connect with Ju-Won when he returns to lead a secret life? Are they really not that close?
Episode 12 title ‘Partners’ applies to both Doo-shik and Juwon work relationship plus Doo-shik and Mi-Hyun’s personal relationship.
Other dramas/movies discussed in episode:
Reference to Better Call Saul’s grief scene in Season 6
May I Help You , a show set in a funeral home with every episode centered around death, grief and the people left behind.
Move to Heaven, a dad and autistic son, help clear the belongings of a recently deceased person.
Actors Rediscovered:
Jo Bok-Rae as the North Korean soldier with super strength. Recommended dramas for more of his work Navillera and The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
Benny’s Corner: Favourite Non-Romantic Pairing in Kdrama
Benny : Shin Min Ah and Gong Min Jeung in Hometown Cha Cha Cha , Ju Ji Hoon and Kim Sang Ho in Kingdom
Minal: Kim Nam-gil/ Jin Seon Kyu in Through The Darkness, Song Joong Ki & JinGoo in Descendants of the Sun , The trio in Be Melodramatic
Vipula: Son Hyun-Jo/Jang Seung-Jo in The Good Detective; Lee Se-Young/ Joo Hyun-Young in The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com
Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.
Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD
Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas
Our host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. At halfway mark, we will review Episode 10 and 11 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes focus on Jang Ju-won’s backstory - the superhero we lovingly call the Hulk.
Episodes 10-11 moves between different timelines as we learn how JuWon goes from a life of crime to a government agent. And we get to experience another great love story as he meets the love of his life, Hwang Ji-Hee.
We have aptly titled this pod review as ‘Rivers of Blood’, because of the sheer Tarantino level violence dotting the script. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Episodes Trailer: Episode 10-11 trailer
Moving Beyond
Other dramas/movies discussed in episode:
Iconic Hulk breaking down the wall imagery referred when Juwon’s breaks the motel wall here, here and here
Watch the iconic hallway fight sequence from the Korean movie Old Boy
Benny’s Corner:
Favourite Romantic Pairing (Series/Movies):
Bonus: Favourite Confession in Kdramas [All from Hometown Cha Cha]
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Your host Minal is back with our guests Benny and Vipula. In this episode we cover Episodes 8 and 9 of Moving Kdrama. These two episodes narrate the story of the ‘parents’ and we are joined by a very special guest - Paroma. Paroma is well known in the KDrama podcast and online circles as she is the co-host of Kdrama podcast Drama Over Followers. You can also follow her on instagram and twitter where she posts about all things KDramas as TheDramanotes.
Episodes 8-9 takes us back to the 90s where we discover how BongSeok’s parents Lee MiHyun (Han Hyo Joo) and Kim Dusik (Jo InSung) meet and fall in love. Moving moves into the ‘Romance’ genre while keeping the spy thriller brewing in the background. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Episode summaries in 5 mins
Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging]
Other dramas/movies discussed in episode: Paroma mentioned her early KDrama viewings - Shining Inheritance (Han Hyo Joo) and You are beautiful (Park Shin Hye)
Call out to Characters & Actors: Park Byung Eun - Plays MaSang Gu the rogue SK NIS Agent. Other notable performances - Kingdom S2 and Because This is My First Life.
Our favourite love stories (Series/Movies):
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
The Host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward. In this episode we discuss the stories behind 2 lonely men covering episode 6 & 7 of Moving.
Episode 6 is all about Bungeman’s origin story, and in episode 7 we complete Frank’s murderous arc. Again, spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Episode summaries in 5 mins
Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging]
Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode:
Call out to Characters & Actors
Kim Joon - Excellent child actor who was very watchable in Hospital Playlist.
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
Your host Minal, is back with our guests Benny and Vipula to take the story of Moving KDrama forward discussing Episodes 4 and 5 where more secrets are unraveled about HiSoo, her dad and BongSeok. Frank is on his killing spree and a bigger conspiracy is playing out in the background. It has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Episode summaries in 5 mins
Beyond Moving [Key Themes Emerging]
Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode: Kdramas with bullying themes: The Glory, Weak Hero Class 1 , All of Us Are Dead
Call Out - Actors/Actresses
Kim Shin Rok - The assistant to the NIS chief is another stellar actress. Detective in Beyond Evil and the daughter of Lee Sung Min the rich grandpa in Reborn Rich.
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
We kickstart this special series with a deep dive of one of the best dramas of 2023. Joining Minal, our host are Benny and Vipula.
Benny, is a seasoned podcaster currently co-hosting two podcasts - A Cricket Podcast - The Last Wicket and the new movie podcast with Minal as co-host Talking Talkies. He is one of the few guys who loves KDramas.
Vipula loves reviewing books and movies, you can find her writings on Medium.
This episode dives into the first three episodes of the series Moving. It has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so we suggest you watch it first and then listen to this Deep Dive.
Episode Outline:
Episode summaries in 5 mins
Other dramas/movies of the cast discussed in episode
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Contact Us:
The podcast is breathing again after a long, unplanned hiatus! This time around I, your host Minal, is attempting a new experiment - a special showcase with two wonderful friends and guests - Benny and Vipula
We will be speaking to our heart’s content on a drama that we 3 loved from 2023.
Moving released in Aug23 on Disney+ and became an instant rage. It boasts of a great ensemble cast, is based on the Webtoon by KangFull and directed by Park In Je (Director of Kingdom S2).
In order to do justice to this drama - its cast, story, writing, direction , the genres and themes it explores, we have decided to cover it over a series of 8-10 episodes. So watch this space for more. E1 of this Special Showcase on Moving releases next week.
Moving Reviews:
Rolling Stone: ‘Moving’ Is the Best Superhero Series on TV Right Now
Variety Magazine: The next breakout hit from Asia after “Squid Game”
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Minal
Contact Us:
Email: crashlandedonkdramas[@]gmail[.]com
Leave us a review or rating on the podcast app.
Twitter: @CrashLandedonKD
Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas
We look back at the dramas we watched in 2022 (most of them aired in 2022 and some which aired earlier) and pick our favourites, not-so-favourites, scenes and moments that touched our hearts, made us swoon over some actors, made us laugh/cry/pull our hair watching them and so much more.
Dramas we discussed:
2022 Releases:
Older Dramas:
Poonam mentions ‘nok-jhok’ phase in Kiss Sixth Sense. It’s a Hindi term which loosely translates to bickering.
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
In this episode we are joined by two special guests - Moon and Hershey, the co-hosts of Witchaar podcast to Deep Dive into one of our all time favourite dramas WeightLifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo.
You can follow them on Instagram: @witchaaris and Twitter: @witchaaris
The episode has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so refer to the timestamps below for spoiler and non-spoiler sections.
Podcasting journey of Witchaaris: 00:45
Plot Summary: 12:30
Deep Dive:
Non-Spoiler Section: 13:35
Spoiler Section: 23:00
1. Key Characters -
2. Favourite Funny Scenes:55:45
3. Favourite Heartwarming/Emotional Scenes: 01:04:18
4. Main takeaway from the drama : 1:18:55
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. Licence code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
What dramas have we recently watched/ are currently watching - We share our impressions of these dramas.
Currently Watching:
Completed Dramas
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
We did an experiment in this episode, based on Minal's friend Abi’s suggestion we got her and Chaitra to watch Kdramas for the first time and to come as guests on our episode to share their viewing experience. A millennial and a teenager from two different countries and cultures get together to make this discussion even more interesting. Tune in to the episode as they share their experiences on the dramas they watched, the cultural similarities/differences they noticed, what kept them hooked, what did they not like, we also had an interesting discussion around Kdrama remakes/dubbed versions. Give it a listen!
Kdramas mentioned: Crash Landing on You, Hot Stove League, It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Hometown Cha Cha Cha, Touch Your Heart,Vincenzo, What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim, Goblin, Beautiful Gong Shim, My Love from Another Star, Our Beloved Summer,Legend of the Blue Sea,Tale of the Nine-Tailed, Wild Romance, Kingdom, Stranger, StartUp, Hotel Del Luna
Other Movies/TV Shows mentioned: Deutschland 83, The Bridge, MoneyBall, Only Fools and Horses, Brooklyn 99, Friends, Parasite, Downtown Abbey, Sound of Music, Singing in the Rain, The Crown
Actors/Actresses Mentioned : Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se, Nam Goong Min, Park Eun Bin
During the episode in many instances, Chaitra calls Minal ‘Mavshi’ which means mother’s sister in Marathi language.
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
We have a special guest Deepak (You can follow him on twitter at @DeePakao) on this episode where we Deep Dive into one of our favourite dramas this year - Our Beloved Summer
The episode has a lot of spoilers from the drama, so refer to the timestamps below for spoiler and non-spoiler sections.
Plot Summary: 7:38
Deep Dive:
Non-Spoiler Section: 8:37
Spoiler Section: 21:48
At 55:49: Deepak says ‘Ulta Chor Kotwal Ko Daate’ - it is a phrase in Hindi which is equivalent to the English phrase ‘ Pot Kettle Black’
The Artist behind Choi Ung’s drawings : French Illustrator Thibaud Herem
Interview with Lee Na Eun - Writer of Our Beloved Summer
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. Licence code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
Instagram @crashlanded_onkdramas
What dramas have we recently watched/ are currently watching - We share our impressions of these dramas.
Currently Watching:
Sangeetha's Picks:
Minal’s Pick:
Completed Dramas
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
In this episode we discuss the different villains / antagonists we have seen in Kdramas. The episode is full of spoilers so please skip the dramas you haven’t yet watched (See timestamps below against every category). We have covered a whopping 26 dramas and their villains - so you have ample choice to pick and skip ;-)
00:04:55 - Bollywood Iconic Villains mentioned: Gabbar Singh , Mogambo
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
What dramas have we recently watched/ are currently watching - We share our impressions of these dramas.
Currently Watching
2022 Dramas:
On Hold:
Our Blues & My Liberation Notes : Currently we are not in the mood for melancholia, M & S have kept these two dramas on hold after seeing the first 2 episodes.
Older Dramas:
Completed Dramas
2021/22 Releases:
Older Dramas:
Prison Playbook : A slice of life drama from the director-writer duo of Reply Series and Hospital Playlist. Hilarious and a very heart-warming look at the life of prison cellmates and prison guards. Great ensemble cast. M highly recommends it.
Music Credits: Music from Uppbeat: https://uppbeat.io/t/mood-maze/trendsetter. License code: LU8KUCTYYYAA2KKL
Cover Art: Purva Bakalkar
Contact Us:
