SEOULMATES: A KDrama Podcast For The People

ANNOUNCEMENT!!  ..... Maddie is launching her very own KDrama Review Podcast: YA GIRL MADDIE! Give it a listen on Spotify and check it out @yagirlmaddie_pod ~ Episode 1 is already out!  ..... (https://open.spotify.com/episode/20TOpfNuBJBmZnvYZyEU1g?si=ZUtFdiDARL6yJMY5_9S53w)

Kim and Maddie watched the first three episodes of the new Netflix KDrama, Our Blues, ft. their girl Shin Min-ah (although she is no where to be seen so far) and another seaside village. They discuss the interesting strategy of story telling, try to guess where the show might be going in the next 17 episodes and lament the lack of Kim Woo-bin. They def recommend to all the Seoulmies who are interested, but may not have the time in their schedules to follow closely right now.

Kim and Maddie review Business Proposal, a show that gave them almost everything they needed ft. literally every single trope known to man (Maddie runs through a full list if anyone is curious lol). They discuss the four main characters, all the moments that had them swooning, and some major weenies (looking at u Minwoo) before diving into feeling let down by the ending. While BP mostly understood the assignment, the commitment to all the tropes eventually was their downfall. ..... CATEGORIES: The skinniest of all skinnies (3:33), MVP Characters (4:40), Tender moments (28:38), LOL's (56:41), Spicy (1:03:20), Swoony (1:10:40), Maddie's Comprehensive Trope List (1:15:47), Weenies (1:19:05), The ending and why it let us down (1:24:58)

Following the finale of the very recently concluded KDrama, Twenty Five Twenty One (which #falseadvertising they were those ages for 2 seconds), Kim and Maddie spend the first few minutes of this review trying to figure out where they felt the most let down before jumping into the typical SEOULMATES categories. Topics discussed include: the real ship being friendship (seriously those Hee-do/Yu-rim hugs steal the show ppl), Moon Ji-woong and his long list of smooth one liners, Nam Joo-hyuk's acting range (also his stellar running form bc idk if you knew but he's an ~athlete~), and rooting for Hee-do (major props to Kim Tae-ri for slaying this role, what a queen). ..... CATEGORIES: Finale talk real quick cause WHY (1:07),  MVP Characters (16:16), Tender Moments (AKA the entire show) (1:00:50), The two moments that made us LOL (1:52:02), Spicy (1:54:43), Kim's breakdown of The Moon Ji-woong Swoon (2:11:53), Weenies (2:20:56), Thoughts on the ending (where to even frickin begin!!??!) (2:25:23)

Before Kim and Maddie intro their newest segment, they spend approx 10 minutes screaming about the BinJin wedding that took place last week. #willnevergetoverit Then they have their first ever Trailer Talk, where they watch some kdrama trailers and try to piece it all together, then check in with the actual official summary before realizing it's still impossible to know anything until watching the show. (The hope and dream for this segment is that we all figure out what we should be watching this April!!) ..... BinJin gushing #CLOYEpisode17 (00:30), Welcome to Trailer Talk! (09:17), Shooting Stars (14:11), Our Blues (20:54), Tomorrow (29:09), Soundtrack #1 (35:28) ..... Links to trailers: Shooting Star ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j5laTTrbuyU / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn43g7pae2g ), Our Blues ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mvVXqb2o58 / https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JOcJOt_DCY ), Tomorrow ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhmxDgBxGRk ), Soundtrack #1 ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrXn8egfOrI / https://youtu.be/ikrA8w9p5To )

Kim and Maddie took a big pivot this week and spontaneously started binging the 2015 Kdrama, Oh My Venus. The plot is problematic, but the two leads are intruiging and their chemistry is already off the charts. Plus the three musketeers ft. our boy John Kim, the Korean Snake, and yet another kdrama character named Ji-woong are a dream. (Spoiler alert: after recording we binged three more episodes so it's a Yah for us!)

Kim and Maddie are halfway through Business Proposal (this is technically an After 6 lol) and wanted to do a quick check-in. They talk through the first half, make some predictions for the second half, and then answer the classic 10 questions from the red solo cup. Topics discussed include: Kang Tae-moo's impeccable fashion, Kim Se-jeong's comedic range, our second lead couple stealing the show, one recast wish, and the best skinship moment (it's so obvious Kim couldn't even breathe between the question and the answer lol).

Brb crying because we're halfway through Twenty Five Twenty One and we don't want it to ever end!! Kim and Maddie hopped on the mics to answer some questions, including: biggest plot twist, biggest laugh, tastiest food, and more. They didn't draw a question about outfits, but they run through some favs anyways, including: the Korean national team atheisure (FILA hook us up), Hee-do's tomboy looks, Moon Ji-woong's green sweater vest, and of course, our boy Nam Joo-hyuk in anything and everything - from a plain navy tshirt to a suit and everything in between. Also the glasses. #bless ..... QUESTIONS: Best OST Moment (3:35), Dreamiest Scenery (5:08), Biggest Plot Twist (6:23), Who would we re-cast? (7:57), Biggest Loser (10:42), Biggest Winner (12:58), Biggest Answer (14:22), Best episode thus far (15:12), Tastiest Food Award (17:58), Our FAV FITS (18:56), and Biggest Laugh (22:42). 

For all the Seoulmies who have been asking for the deets from the Eric Nam concert experience, this ep is for you. Kim and Maddie detail some backstory for their pal (and hopefully future boss?) Brian - CEO of DIVE Studios. (If he ever decides to listen ofc - skip to 8:35 for the rest of the Seoulmies who know this). Kim and Maddie talk through the events of meeting Bri Bri in the flesh, and also discuss the actual concert (to quote Eric: "once you've seen me, every other concert will feel lame." and tbh, he may be right). Tl;dr - Maddie low key blacked out, we actually met Brian way faster than imagined, and Eric Nam is the king of bops and body rolls.

Kim and Maddie watched the first two epsiodes of yet another currently airing Netflix original, Business Proposal ft. every single Kdrama trope known to man! They discuss the ridiculous nature of the show so far, but talk through why it's working for them. Reasons include: the plot set up (tropey but we aren't complaining - fake dating! catfishing! long, drawn-out, slow mo sequences! give us more!!!!), Shin Ha-ri's unhingedness (and why it's relatable), bff vibes (both the girls and the #bromance), Ahn Hyo-seop's face, and Kim Min-kyu's face. Actual comps made: Hannah Montana, Lizzie McGuire, What's Wrong with Secretary Kim and 1% of Something. Warning: this ep is about as unhinged as Ha-ri is in both her forms running away from Pres Kang sorry not sorry.

Kim and Maddie gave the first two episodes of Thirty Nine (currently airing on Netflix) a try after it was requested by many Seoulmies and it more than exceeded their expectations. It's a sweet story of friendship and love ft. some cute boys, a definite weenie, and some uncertain futures for our main characters. Shout out to unnie and sweet little Hoon from the orphanage, they might be the real MVP's! But also to our three leading ladies (Son Ye-jin you are a QUEEN), their chemistry as friends really carries this show so far.

Kim and Maddie were a couple of days late to the first two episodes of Twenty Five Twenty One, but man they did not disappoint! They came to this currently airing kdrama for their boy Nam Joo-hyuk, but might be staying more for Kim Tae-ri as Na Hee-do. They discuss her feistiness, the way she's seamlessly pulling off a high school character (the dramatics, the tears, you name it!!!), and why Baek Yi-jin seems so intruiged by her already. They also talk through what is known about Yi-jin's backstory at this point and enjoying an ~edgy~ NJH character. Other notes include: our smooth talking sk8r boi Moon Ji-woong, the hard to read gold medalist Ko Yu-rim (all aboard the ship ppl!!!) and potential answers to the biggest question of the whole show.

Happy Valentine's Day Seoulmies!!!! Kim and Maddie decided to hand out some last minute superlatives in honor of this day, for both kdrama characters and some kpop boys. Categories include most likely to: forget vday, plan a romantic date, give the best gift, be the most annoying on insta and many more. Hope y'all enjoy and if you don't, we probs won't ever do it again lol

Kim and Maddie recently revisited Maddie's first Kdrama ever, The Liar and His Lover (2017) and figured it was about time for a full review. They discuss sweet So-rim winning prod K over, Han-gyul ~eventually~ figuring out how to balance music + relationships, and the real ship - Crude Play's leader Shi-hyun and the sole employee of Sole Music Soo-yeon (also a noona romanca aka Maddie's dream lol). Other talking points include: Crude Play being the real MVPs (seriously the amount of grace those boys give Han-gyul is impressive), going back and forth between Chan-young being a weenie but also feeling a little bad for him, and of course, mini rankings of Crude Play's discography / the various versions of 'I'm Okay.' ..... Categories: The Skinny (5:03), MVP Characters (8:28), Tenderest of Moments (26:13), Spicy Moments (48:42), Swoonies (54:15), Weenies (1:05:41), Thoughts on the ending (1:25:06)

Our Beloved Summer wrapped up last week on Netflix so of course Kim and Maddie had to talk through all their feels. They discuss the many, many tendy moments, the journey of growth for each of our characters, Woong raising the standard for men and the genius style of writing. Other MVP's include: the OST, Woong's hair, Ji-woong's sad puppy eyes, and just Ep 16 in general. OBS, you are a 10/10 and def our new starter kdrama rec for the locals. #woongsu4ever ..... Categories: The Skinny (4:28), MVP Characters (11:22), Tender Moments (35:36), LOL's (1:14:32), Swoony/Spicy (1:23:37), Weenies (1:40:08), Reasons why Ep. 16 is a BANGER (1:47:45), Ranking update!! (2:05:55)

Kim and Maddie have booked it through the first half of Goblin and by popular request, hopped on the mics for an After 8 ep. They quickly talk through where they stand currently, as compared to when the show started, and they both still basically have their same original stances. Then they answer some more fun questions including best ost moment, best fit, and biggest cry. See y'all on the flip side where things better make sense or Kim is going to lose it on air. ..... Time stamps: Initial thoughts on 1 - 8 (1:41), Biggest plot twist (9:55), Biggest winner (13:34), Best skinship moment (16:30), Best cry moment (19:44), Tastiest food award (22:00), Do Do Sol Sol Random Murder Plot Award (23:38), Biggest loser (26:00), Biggest prediction (27:24), Best outfit (30:05), Best OST moment (33:35)

In part 2 of this Seventeen KPop Break, Kim and Maddie are back with their guest and friend Amelia, to run through some mini-rankings of fav songs, performances/choreo, and Going Seventeen moments. Big winners include: the Anyone racecar track concept (give everyone a raise for that bad boy), Gam3 Bo1 for appearing on someone's top 5 songs, and 24H (the song but also the performance which is maybe the best everyone has ever looked). Also shout out to Seventeen for being comedy kings - we could've easily talked about gose eps for hours.

Kim and Maddie welcome their first ever guest to the SEOULMATES pod, their good friend and fellow kpop/kdrama lover, Amelia! As the biggest carat they know and the one who introduced them to Seventeen, it was only appropriate to have her on the pod for this two-parter. Due to the sheer number of members and the amount of love for each one, part one of this KPop Break is literally only an intro to the group and the guys. Topics of discussion include: Mingyu being everyone's ~real~ bias, Amelia's impressive knowledge of classic Verny lines (but also why their commonalities drive her love for him), Hannie coming in hot as Kim's SVT boyfriend, and Maddie's day one devotion to Joshy Hong.

Kim and Maddie decided to finally watch Goblin, lest their kdrama podcast mics get taken away for not having watched this ~classic~ show. This 2017 kdrama is still widely referenced and two episodes in, it's easy to see why - an adorable FL, two tall and v attractive male leads (seriously, those jaw lines could cut through glass!!!), and an intruiguing plot setup. Kim might need a hot sec to get on board with this low key cringey age gap, but this show is everything Madison could ever dream of and more. They talk through the first two episodes, the questions they want to see answered, and lots of references to Gong Yoo's face bc we're only human ya know.

Eric 'No Skips' Nam is at it again folks!!! He released his new album, There and Back Again, on Jan 7 and it's very very GOOD. Kim and Maddie guess each other's fav songs (spoiler alert, Kim still has no clue what kind of music Madison likes), talk through some of the lyrics, and agree to fight whoever broke Eric's heart. Also discussed: a few intro fun facts, the upcoming tour (see u there Bri Bri), Kim comparing fan-girling to discipleship (LOL), and more. (If you have never heard of Eric Nam until now - first of all, welcome to #NamNation, and secondly, plz go listen to our Ep 2 which is a more in-depth intro to Eric and his music.)