AfterNoona Delight: KDrama Dishing and Deep Dives

We are back with more trope talk. Tune in as we explore the secret ingredients that make romance stories delicious and the creative twists that keep them fresh. This week, Lia, Megan and Amy dissect and celebrate one of the most beloved tropes in romantic fiction..."Grumpy/Sunshine." From the brooder with a heart of gold (who often gets a redemptive arc) to the sunny optimist who brings warmth to...

At long last, Amy gets to gush about her Ahn Bo-Hyun awakening. Megan gets to say, "I told you so." And Lia gets to process why this drama just couldn't reel her in. Plus, we explore a question that has come up before: Can a drama move you enough to ignore plot holes and lapses in logic? If you listened to our "If You Wish Upon Me" episode, then you know where Amy and Megan stand on this one. Let'...

We discuss the delicious, tried-and-true trope of forced proximity and which Kdramas do it best, from office projects gone wrong (or right) to only one bed. We also make another plea for a bodyguard and idol romance. We mention lots of books and Kdramas so tune in! Kpop Rec of the Week: Social Path by Stray Kids Books mentioned: The Alien's Escape by Ella Maven Snowbound at Winter: Hot Winter's Ni...

Lia was told to watch MY BEAUTIFUL MAN by Alison. Then Megan. Then Alison. Then Megan. Then Alison just decided to bug her every single week about it until she relented. And guess what...she did love it Sam I Am! In fact, this is in her tippy top tier of dramas now. She rewatched three times in a week. With no friends and a stutter, Hira Kazunari ( Riku Hagiwara ) isn’t exactly enjoying his life a...

"Because This Is My First Life" is a South Korean drama that follows the lives of Seoul professionals in their 30s, struggling with societal expectations, relationships, and personal aspirations. Nam Se-hee, a programmer who values his solitude, enters into a marriage contract with Yoon Ji-ho, an aspiring writer in need of affordable housing. As they navigate the complexities of their unconvention...

It's another edition of Afternoona Uncensored! We're still sad without Megan, but we made it through! Lia shares a surprisingly intimate dog story. We answer lots of fun questions from the Patreon. And Amy tries once again to teach Lia the etiquette of saying goodbye. Hop on board, everyone! Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-word es...

We may be missing Megan this week, but today we have a very special guest on the pod, Devin from Banter English! Join us as we discuss how we manifested our connection with Devin, her edtech start-up, and her involvement with the K-entertainment industry. Plus, we get into all our favorite Korean content and how Amy wants to eat her way through Seoul trying all of the street food. K-Pop Rec: Love...

We get into all things filthy rich, discussing what it is about chaebol dramas that hooks us, gushing about our favorite chaebol characters, and reminiscing about our first richie rich crushes. Stay tuned for a live, real-time reaction of THE dating news of the summer. With special guest Tonya from AfterNoona Army. Kpop Rec: Cure by The Rose Black Rose by The Rose Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want...

It all started with a message from Tonya to Amy on Instagram. "The Rose is playing a special Lollapalooza after show on Friday, August 4 in Chicago...would you want to go?" Spoiler alert. I said "YES," and I am now a changed woman. Join us for a very special Afternoona Delight and Afternoona Army collaboration with me (Amy) and Tonya as we recap the experience of seeing The Rose at their post Loll...

The tagline of Dream (2023, co-written and directed by Lee Byeong-heon) is: You are hopeless, helpless and homeless? No, you are NOT! Dream leans in hard to the classic underdog tropes and is loosely based on the real-life 2010 Homeless World Cup. Maybe you were moved and shed a tear like Megan or perhaps you felt a bit more meh like Amy and Lia. Either way, kick the sports ball plot down the (ver...

Good Bad Mother Deep Dive - A Good or Bad KDrama? We have an Afternoona sister pod mashup as Afternoona Army Megan and Afternoona Asks Sarah crash the podcast to do a Deep Dive on Good Bad Mother. Megan & Sarah gush over Lee Doh Hyun’s performance, disagree on the humour in the drama and give a wag of the finger at the parental abuse depicted. However, these two romance fans loved the central...

It's another episode of Afternoona Uncensored, and you know that means! We've got Lia's harrowing travel story from the West Coast to not the East Coast; Would You Rathers; and a thoughtful discussion on why we discuss some of the things we discuss. That's a lot of discussing, but hey...That's what we do! Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in...

We want to love every show.  But sometimes...we don't. Join Lia and friend-of-the-pod (and Afternoona Army co-host) Alison for a frank discussion on what happens when you just aren't into a BL. Worse, what if it's a situation where one of you (Lia) doesn't love a drama that you (Alison) clutch to your heart? Dramas discussed: HIStory 3: Trapped and Candy Color Paradox. Pod update: Lia tried to wat...

In today's episode, we celebrate one of our favorite actors who we want to see in all the meaty roles, Kim Sun-Young. We take a look back at all she's already done. We fangirl over how she knocks it out of the park with every character she plays. And we toss out a few story ideas to give this amazing performer the spotlight she deserves.  Kpop Rec of the Week: "Bet on Me" by ITZY Sign Up for Our N...

Today we throw in our opinions on the battle of this summer's rom coms between King the Land and See You In My 19th Life. We watch the first episode of each drama and weigh in on everything from chemistry, humor, and conflict. Which rom com are you on board with? Let us know if you agree with us! Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-wo...

Dun. Dun. Dun. This is the moment where the conflicts your protaganists have struggled with since the beginning of the story come to a head and all hope seems lost. Maybe the leads thought they could get past their issues, but a setback has happened to make them realize they were capital W wrong. The strongest black moments feed on the characters’ weaknesses and make them think those conflicts tru...

Welcome back Sarah and Grace! We got so much positive feedback about the Korean Language section of our first Afternoona Asks guest episode that Sarah and Grace decided to dive a little deeper into Korean language nuances, as well as answer some listener questions. Wondering about the different ways to say "I love you" in Korean? Confused about what "oppa" really means? Tune in to learn a bit more...

If you’re part of our Patreon, then you know we ask our patrons for suggestions of which dramas to cover for the pod. We also toss the calendar back and forth to each other to pick dramas that we really want the others to watch. So today, we have a double whammy because it’s both a patron pick AND an Amy pick! Join Amy and Lea as they nerd out on all the meta writerly goodness of a drama about cha...

It was touch and go, folks. This episode almost didn't make it to you due to a password debacle, but we have solved the mystery and are up and running in just enough time to get this month's Uncensored in your ear holes. So buckle up as Megan and Amy endure some truly cruel This or Thats from Lea, and as Lea poses the question we've all been wanting to ask (or maybe not)...Would we date ourselves?...

We are back for the second round of Sell Me On a Drama. Megan, Amy, and Lia try to sell each other on My Liberation Notes, Unlock My Boss, and Legend of the Blue Sea. Also tune in for bonus (and anonymous) unpopular opinions from our Patreon (Amy is still salty about some of them).  Kpop Rec: Shalala by Taeyong Afternoona Delight Newsletter! Want longer reviews? Our thoughts on Kim Woo Bin's hair...

Lia, Megan, and Alison from AfterNoona Army chat about the latest BLs they've watched -- The Eighth Sense and Jack O' Frost. We talk about the sexual tension of Korean BL The Eighth Sense and the clever second chance romance of Japanese BL Jack O' Frost Bonus discussion of our worst dates and the lengths we have gone to for our crushes.  Afternoona Delight Newsletter! Want longer reviews? Our thou...

Park Chan-Wook’s (Oldboy) “The Handmaiden” is a love story, thriller and subversive Gothic film set in Japanese-occupied Korea (and Japan itself) in the 1930s. It is by turns beautiful, bestial, occasionally brutal. The story centers around a plucky pickpocket ( Kim Tae-ri), who gets a job as a handmaiden at the estate of a rich and eccentric book collector (Lee Yong-nyeo), serving him and Lady Hi...

At long last, Kim Woo Bin is here! We have been WAITING for Black Knight, so you better believe we had high expectations. Did the drama live up to those expectations? We'll get into that. Does Megan Confuse WALL-E and The Lorax? Absolutely. Does Lia spoil Silent Sea at about the 64 minute mark? Maybe. And does Amy ignore plot holes and enjoy a ridiculous death race? She sure does.  But Kim Woo Bin...

Most of us are conflict averse...but when it comes to stories...it keeps the reader turning the pages or the viewer hitting "next" for just one more episode. Without conflict your characters might be at peace, but they will also be hella boring. Our characters need to want things, and conflict are the obstacles that prevent them from getting them. Join Megan and Lia for a candid chat on external a...

It's time for another Afternoona Uncensored where we really came at you with no script this month. We just wanted to see where the hour would take us, and folks...it took us to muppet-talking frost trolls. You're welcome! We also talk about what we're currently watching, our anticipation of Black Knight (which we will have hopefully binged by the time this airs), and whether or not we are all in f...