1.19 - Conversation with Professor Ernabel Demillo

We’re still on break after wrapping up with Hotel Del Luna. In this episode, Joanna and Jen have a conversation with Professor Professor Ernabel Demillo, Department Chair of the Communication and Media Culture Department at Saint Peter's University and host of the Emmy-award winning "Asian American Life" show on CUNY-TV. Ernabel talks about:

Her K Drama journey
Why she thinks K Dramas are so addicting
Whether and how the popularity of K Dramas and KPop are affecting American perceptions Asian Americans and Asian culture
How Asian culture is not monolithic
How the colorful outfits in K Dramas make her think of bouquets of flowers
The high production value in K Dramas and how filmmakers and actors in Korea take their crafts very seriously
How Jokoy is about to release his new movie, “Easter Sunday”
The newly-designated Little Manila in Queens
The recurring theme of identity in her show Asian American Life, and so much more.

We laughed nearly the entire episode; come laugh with us! After this episode with Professor Demillo, we will begin Season 2 of K Drama Chat by recapping and analyzing Episode 1 of It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. If you haven’t started watching, please start now!

References:

###

K Drama Chat is a weekly podcast where we take one Korean (K) Drama each season and and recap and analyze each episode. K Drama Chat is available on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher.

Comments

11.10 - Podcast Review of Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 10 of When Life Gives You Tangerines , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring IU as Oh Ae-sun and Park Bo-gum as Yang Gwan-sik as young adults, then Moon So-ri as Oh Ae-sun and Park Hae-joon as Yang Gwan-sik as older adults. We discuss: The featured song during the recap: “Theme of Ae-sun” by Park Sung-il, the musician who also wrote “Theme of Gwan-sik,” “Spring in a Heartbeat,” and “Two Faced Summer” from this OST. The Baeksang Awards wins for this show—Best Drama, Best Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Supporting Actor—and how validating it feels to have picked a gem for Season 11 of our podcast! How this episode focuses on three mothers and their powerful love for their children: Ae-sun, Yeong-ran, and Chung-seop’s mom. The symbolic and cultural significance of white rice, and how Bu Sang-gil uses it as a weapon in his drunken tirade. Oh Seong’s boiling anger against his father and sister, and his tragic learned behavior from witnessin...

12.17 - Special Episode About the Art and Science of Screenwriting with Ellen Sullivan

Today, we have a special episode of K Drama Chat where we’re joined by longtime listener, friend, and screenwriter, Ellen Sullivan . We talk about the art and science of screenwriting and how the best K Dramas follow—or creatively depart from—dramatic structure to deliver compelling, emotional stories. In this episode, we discuss: The shows that are heavily spoiled in this episode: Crash Landing On You , Mr. Queen , Mr. Sunshine , When the Phone Rings , and Captivating the King . Ellen’s background as a screenwriter and technical writer, and how her passion for K Dramas began with My Mister. The Western three-act structure versus the Korean four-act structure (gi-seung-jeon-gyeol), and how each style approaches storytelling and character development. Detailed examples of setup, midpoint, and conclusion in Crash Landing On You , Mr. Queen , and Mr. Sunshine . What makes these shows work: believable character arcs, clear motivations, strong midpoint turns, and emotional payof...

12.15 - Podcast Review of Episode 15 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Today, we’ll be discussing Episode 15 of Extraordinary Attorney Woo , the hit K Drama on Netflix starring Park Eun-bin as Woo Young Woo, Kang Tae-oh as Lee Jun-ho, Ha Yoon-kyung as Choi Soo-yeon, Ju Hyun-young as Dong Geu-ra-mi, Kang Ki-young as Jung Myung-seok, and Joo Jong-hyuk as Kwon Min-woo. We discuss: The songs featured during the recap: Prom Dance by Roh Young Sim and Brave by Kim Jong Wan. How this episode is a cautionary tale about phishing and spear phishing, with a detailed breakdown of cyberattacks and how they work. Attorney Jang's arrogance and failure as a leader, and how he nearly ruins the Raon case due to his insecurity and inexperience. Choi Soo-yeon and Kwon Min-woo taking bold risks in court to argue Woo Young Woo’s theory, saving the case. The disturbing courtroom suicide attempt by CEO Bae In-cheol and what drove him to such a public act of despair. Woo Young Woo’s heartbreak and the poignant conversation where she reveals to Jun-ho that she’s afr...

K Drama Chat Weekly

Search This Blog