Pearls, a KMK reader and now contributor brings you a recap of some of her favorite K-dramas!
K-Drama Recaps of scenes that make me go hmmm!
As an Asian drama fan, my desire to understand them and be entertained by them often becomes entwined. I watch them as if looking through the writer’s soul. The depth of intrigue becomes profound as each episode unfolds….that is, until I come across scenes that I just can’t quite wrap my brain around no matter how hard I try. Here’s a few that made me go hmmm!
The art of translation!
Drama translators are some of the hardest working people in their craft. I would be the first to admit that the English language is very challenging with its many rules and sentence structures, especially when subtitles are involved. Yet, on the rare occasions when an English speaking actor appears, one would expect the English translator to have it easy, right!
Well, Mr. or Miss Translator, why did you have to make it so hard for yourself? You were doing so well, and I was following along with you until the English actor spoke. My questions to you is this…how did you miss translate in English what the English actor said in English? I know it’s like a tongue-twister! But, weren’t you aware that you really didn’t have to translate it at all?
Can you hear me now!
As a confirmed stickler of good table manners, I’ve become a little more flexible after watching numerous dramas. I can assuredly say that I don’t cringe anymore at the way people eat certain foods. I now with ease overlook the slurping sound when eating soup, the inhaling sound while drinking the leftover broth from a bowl, and even ignore the vacuum cleaner sucking resonance when eating noodles. But, I never thought I would see the day when displayed in High Def, a rice stuffed face with cheeks bulging from so much food, that the person couldn’t even close her mouth! If that wasn’t bad enough, she engages in a conversation with her dinner date!
I suppose it wasn’t enough to look like Dizzy Gillespie blowing his horn with expanded cheeks, as you spewed grains of rice like musical notes everywhere! So, to make it easier on myself, I rehashed the matter, and concluded that since it’s only a drama, if you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em! So, I propose that your dinner date should stuff his mouth like a blowfish, and on the count of three, you both begin talking to each other, using your backpacks as shields!
Yay! Seon-saeng-nim!
I see that your team leader is having another bad day and again, you’re the object of his attention! You can’t help being overly zealous about your job! After all, they hired you for your talent and spunk! Who hasn’t made some mistakes! You’re only human, plus they were only minor ones! Well, sort of! So why did team leader hit you in the head with his binder and holler at you in front of everybody! He could have been more rational by taking you aside and giving you a verbal warning without getting physical! Besides, you were only doing your job when you conducted a live interview of a few disgruntled workers at a construction site who were protesting hazardous working conditions. You didn’t know the company was owned by the mayor’s brother. Even if you did, with your tenacity and love for justice, you still wouldn’t have backed off! Well, it looks like the team leader is still angry, and as if hitting you wasn’t enough punishment, he has the gall to act like your school seon-saeng-nim, making you stand in the hallway outside the office….with raised arms, too! As your co-workers pass by you in the hallway snickering, I wonder what the next childish stunt is that he’ll have you reenact…watching you feverishly waving your hands to get his attention, with knees in a juxtapose position, waiting to get permission to use the potty?
Survival of the fittest!
Mr. Motorcycle man…you barely escaped the grips of death this time! You know your mother doesn’t like that contraption, and the only reason she doesn’t say anything to you about it is because you promised her that you would be careful! Now you’re in the hospital and for what…racing! I won’t say to you that I told you so…but maybe you should choose a few auspicious days before you pull this stunt again.
If it wasn’t for that low-lying tree you were thrown into, who knows what would have happened. Thankfully, it wasn’t serious and you only came out of it with a few minor cuts and bruises! I’m so happy that your family is surrounding you with love and consolation as you tell them what happened. It’s amazing how understanding your mother is about your accident. She just keeps nodding and smiling, wiping the tears from her eyes and gently touching the side of your face. Uh oh! Why is she hitting you? Isn’t that where the tree limb caught you? Be careful…don’t pull your I.V. out while you’re trying to block her from hitting you in the face! Ahhhh…isn’t that sweet…she’s crying and smiling again! Well, one thing I know for sure….if it didn’t hurt that bad before, it will definitely hurt now!
