Dorama love: 9 end 2 outs

[alexandral]

First of all!!I was so great to spend some time today with miss_dian! She is as awesome, as sweet and as wonderful as ever. **hugs **

I have seen few good Asian dramas recently that need proper posting. The one I loved the most is "9 end 2 outs", recommended to me by timescout (Thank you!!). This is a rare case of pure dorama love and match made in drama heavens. I must re-write my dorama list because "9 ends 2 out" is definitely going into my top 5.



But a strange phenomenon happened - this definitely very very good Korean drama received poor ratings in Korea itself. My mind still boggles as to why? May be because it had one of the most misleading marketing campaigns? If you read any synopsis for "9 end 2 outs" (on Drama Wiki, etc) you'll probably think that this drama is about baseball. But although baseball is featured in the drama tangentially, "9 end 2 outs" is NOT about baseball.

But what about is it? The story is about a pair of best fiends who have been friends for 30 years, Hyung Tae and Han Hee, and how they eventually find out something very important (something some of their friends and past loves knew all along) - that they are not just friends but really and truly they are most important people in each others lives. That they actually love each other in that way.

What did I like the most about this drama? The chemistry between the two leads. This was like Ji Hoo and Jan Dee's relationship progressed to it's proper end. It felt so true. Hyung Tae and Han Hee did many little things that reminded me of happy things I do with my friends. They were so great together, as friends and as lovers.

Also this is a rare beast among doramas where I also liked many of the secondary characters (Hyung Tae and Han Hee's school friends) and found all of their stories interesting.

And it is even rarer that I find Asian dramas funny. Korean or Japanese humour doesn't usually work for me. "9 ends 2 outs" made me laugh many times. And it made cry, in the best traditions of Korean angst (but without overdoing it).

Comments

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I think you reeled me in with the BOF comment.

I started it 9 or so months ago and liked it but got sidetracked, also, somehow I got the impression the leading pair did not end up together. But mmmm - this looks good! So if you assure me they do end up together, I know what my next drama is.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I think you reeled me in with the BOF comment.

I think I have seen someone in soompi mentioning this as well. :D But seriously - the guy is probably one of the nicest, bestest friends any girl could have. And he falls in love with the girl (or realizes his true feelings) way ahead of her.

Oh, they very much end up together, the ep. 16 ends with the marriage proposal (a return of the evil "another" girl" happened in the second half though). I loved their banter in between the most.

She did have a younger boyfriend at some point, as well (I must warn you :D)

[dangermousie.livejournal.com]

I remember the younger bf (I got into the first couple eps).

Starting this tomorrow :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I remember the younger bf (I got into the first couple eps).

This lasts for quite a while but to be fair their relationship is always portrayed as something that can't work out rather than something that is meant to "rescue her from her old age".

I hope you like this . :D

[seven-trees.livejournal.com]

I was a BIG fan of this drama. There's something about it that's different from other K-dramas. I can't really put my finger on it. I wouldn't necessarily say that it's slow, but it plays out in a way that feels very natural. The relationship doesn't feel rushed at all.

And I love the chemistry between the characters. You know when they're at the karaoke bar and they both grab onto the same glass and there's this moment when the camera just focuses on their fingers on the glass, sliding closer and closer together? That scene has been stuck in my head for a long time.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I agree - this drama feels quite different from others. May be because the characters and the story feel like something that might have REALLY happened?

That scene in the karaoke was awesome. I cried buckets. :D

[welcome-friends.livejournal.com]

Я очень давно хочу посмотреть эту дорамку. :) Уж очень она по клипам меня привлекла. И ура! Наконец-то ее начали переводить на русский язык. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

This sounds great! If it is not a secret - where do you get the Russian translation from?

[welcome-friends.livejournal.com]

Много азиатских драм в русском переводе можно найти здесь (но нужно зарегистрироваться): http://torrents.ru/forum/viewforum.php?f=2100
Конкретно я состою в фансаб-группе "Палата 666", которая сейчас и занимается переводом этой дорамки: http://palata666.ru/index.php?topic=381.0
Я вообще смотрю большинство драм на русском языке, т.к. английский у меня слабый.

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you so so much! I have been wanting to join Russian-language dorama groups for ages. I am very interested to know which dramas are popular, etc..

[welcome-friends.livejournal.com]

Рада, что помогла. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I also always find your posts to be interesting and informative!

[welcome-friends.livejournal.com]

Кстати, я на torrents.ru - chelsea_girl, а на palata666.ru - Нежная. Будут вопросы, пиши в личку. :)

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you very much again!

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Glad you liked it. :) It's one of my feelgood dramas and I like it exactly for the reasons you stated. I think all the relationships are well drawn out, even those that don't work in the end. I also loved the dynamics within the circle of friends. That kiss!! Yummy!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Thank you!! I am going to keep this drama for rainy day re-watches.

The kisses were most yummy. But for me the hand-holding moments worked even better , the one in the hotel room and the one seven_trees mentioned , in the karaoke bar. It was so .. touching and it was also something that happened to me in my RL.

[timescout.livejournal.com]

Yeah, the hand holiding moments were great as well. As were many, many quite understated scenes that leave you feeling good. The whole thing felt so real!

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

Indeed! I liked HN's relationship with her mother too. Again - it was so like my relationship with my mother. When we lived together she always tried to dominate, but now (I am far far away) I realized that she wanted my best and we are the best of friends.

And some of the hilarious moments! Like at their friend's wedding when the girls were so depressed.. until they saw the groom. :D

[hyperhippot.livejournal.com]

9 ends 2 outs love! <3

how does it comes these brilliant dramas don't get enough ratings? oh well, it's comfort, it's sweet, it's funny and them both are so meant to be that you can't stop smiling, looooooove ^^

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

I know! This is strange! Even "Mawang" (also one of the best Korean dramas) didn't have good ratings. Puzzling!

[miss-dian.livejournal.com]

Eeeeeeee! I am a bit late but YES, it was GREAT to meet you again (and also meet the friendly and kind Mr. Alexandral)! ;-) I had a lot of fun that day, and Sasha is extremely smart, polite and pretty! And she is soooo sweet too, the way she hugged when we were having tea! I hope you got the pics I posted in Facebook too. I would love to see the ones that were taken using Mr. Alexandral's camera. The meet up with Lebanese Dude just reaffirmed my feelings as I told you before, btw ^^ Pics are also up in Facebook if you're interested :D

9 end 2 outs looks like a great watch!!! ^^

[alexandral.livejournal.com]

It was wonderful to see you!!!! I am so glad you are in high spirits! And thank you so much for the photos! One picture on Ian's camera is quite good (Click to see the bigger version):