We are back! Sarah & Grace are joined once again by Lisa for a deep dive on the Korean Cookery Reality TV show that we love - Culinary Class Wars. The Netflix show returned for a second season late 2025 so we just had to get the gang back together to break down the drama and relive the dishes. If you've not watched the programme, we have a short spoiler free section to tell you all about it before heading to the spoiler section to discuss the competition and highlight our faves and compare it to Season 1.

Show Notes
Culinary Class Wars Season 1 Deep Dive with Lisa

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/culinary-class-wars-cooking-the-stories-of-our-lives/id1698849342?i=1000712395641

Joint Security Area Deep Dive with Lisa (and her intro)

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/jsa-and-korean-american-experiences-of-hallyu/id1698849342?i=1000671258111

Lisa's BTS Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ARMYAuntie777

Grace and Sarah are back to discuss another type of K-Content they both love - Korean Reality TV shows! This time it's the turn of the Physical series and they are delighted to be joined by sister podcast Afternoona Delight co-host Megan (and also fellow fan) to discuss. The trio cover both the series of Physical 100 but do an in-depth discussion to the 2025 released version, Physical Asia which was a big hit for Netflix.

We have a spoiler-free section where we discuss the Physical series as a whole, how they find Korean Reality TV differs from Western shows of this type, what appeals and who might enjoy this show - so if you've not watched but have been tempted check out the first part of this podcast.

If you've seen and are ready for our takes on who were the best teams and participants - and who were the ones we didn't love so much - join us for the whole podcast to dissect the fun and games that were Physical Asia. We also go into what we want to see in future seasons of this franchise.

For fans of Singles Inferno, check out the Afternoona Delight podcast on Season Five

Each year we survey the Afternoona Delight Patreon for their views on dramas - so join us to check out the 2025 results! Our Patreon have fantastic taste, watch widely and have plenty to say, so tune in to find out who were our fave characters, the best performances and what they want to wag their finger at in dramaland.

Sarah is joined by fellow patreon Erin as Grace couldn't make this record to run through the results and give us her take too. We hope you all enjoy the run down and find some recommendations that you didn't catch in 2025.

Show Notes:
Erin's previous podcasts:
Erin's Review 2023 (with her 5 get to know you dramas)
KDramas 2024 so far
First Quarter review 2025

Patreon Survey Results 2024

We are delighted to welcome Busan-based artists Silas Jennings and Ryan Estrada to the show to discuss the 2025 South Korean drama Tempest. Silas and Ryan share their experiences as extras on the show as well as other insights about being Western actors on South Korean drama productions. We also discuss the drama's target audience, its highlights, our quibbles, and whether it lived up to high expectations for its esteemed writer/director team. Join us for a fascinating look behind the scenes!

Find a further introduction to Ryan Estrada from his first guest appearance here:

Banned Book Club and the South Korean Culture of Protest with Ryan Estrada

Find our guests on Instagram:

@liquidartsnetwork

@ryanestradadotcom

Ryan's website:

www.ryanestrada.com

We are delighted to welcome our fellow Patreon member Lorna to share her latest Seoul trip with her. Lorna went to Seoul primarily to try their skincare and beauty treatments, following months of extensive research! We are lucky that she's happy to come and discuss them on the podcast with us. She also took an MBC studio tour and tells us about that and her other experiences in Seoul. Join us for a virtual trip to Seoul this January!

Show Notes

• Color analysis at Color Lab. Included face shape, glasses shape rec, skin tone, season, etc. $48. 8/10. A little rushed but very interesting.
• LeeKaja Hair Salon. $30, Consult, great shampoo, haircut, blowdry, style. 10/10.
• Half-day Hanaro health checkup. $475. Treated well, 15 different tests, no non-Koreans, 9/10.
• JW Dental teeth cleaning. $35. Just like US. Beautiful office.
• Moclock Scalp Treatment 5/10. Meh. More $ than SF. Paid $85
• Insadong Sauna & Spa. Great, local experience. 2 hr package $90. Body scrub is incredible. Very naked.
• Karin Clinic in Myeongdong. Did Shurink 300 shots (high intensity ultrasound device). Rushed. Smoe upselling. Lovely office. $90 7/10.
• Ocean Clinic in Gangham, Pico toning laser, Genesis V laser and IPL (intense pulsed light). $95. Modeling mask, next big thing. “Factory,” I guess, but nice. 9/10.
• Orta Clinic in Gangham. Pico toning neck, LDM (ultrasound) hydration mode, Aqua Peel, masseter botox 50 units $15. Total $120. Lovely space, efficient, good consult, no upselling. Great first-timer prices. 9/10.
• Repic Clinic in Gangham. 3 areas botox $35! Botox in general is around $1/unit vs $15-18 in US. Chose Korean brand, Great skin analysis. Limited in botox areas offered. 8/10.
• MBC Studio tour booked via Viator (also available via Klook)
• Hotel - Maker Hotel in Jongno

Patreon Guest hosts take over the podcast to discuss the year in BL dramas!

We welcome Nicole, Alison, Heather, and Gavin to discuss the highs and lows of BL in 2025, while asking and answering questions like what country had the best year in the world of BL? Is Heesu in Class 2 underrated? Which of us are My Stubborn stans and who is Team Khemjira? Listen and find out the answers to these questions and more in this BL recap episode of Afternoona Asks.

Show notes:

BLs talked about by country:

Chinese BLs:

Revenged Love

ABO Desire

Secrets Happened on Litchi Island

To My Shore

Korean BLs:

Secret Relationships

Heesu in Class 2

Ball Boy Tactics

Thundercloud Rainstorm

My Bias is Showing

Match Play

Peach Trap

Checkered Shirt

Thailand:

Khemjira

My Stubborn

Top Form

Reset

Shine

Boy Next World

ThamePo: You Steal My Heart

The Wicked Game

My Magic Prophecy

The Ex Morning

The Next Prince

Mystique in the Mirror

Lover Merman

Me and Thee

Pit Babe 2

Sangmin Dinaew

My Golden Blood

Goddess Bless You From Death

Burnout Syndrome

Taiwanese BLs:

Secret lover

A Perfect Match

Japanese BLs

School Trip: Joined A Group I’m Not Close To

When It Rains, It Pours

10 Dance

Love Begins in the World of If

Punks Triangle

10 Things I Want to Do Before I Turn 40

Therapy Game

Proper Way to Write Love

Join us for our annual Year End Review of Korean and other Asian dramas for 2025! As with our previous year end episodes, Sarah and Grace are joined by Afternoona Delight Patreon guests to discuss the drama year. We are delighted to be joined by Kate B and Jimmy this year. In this Part 2 episode, Jimmy and Grace discuss their faves, their misses, and the winners of their own drama awards.

Hope you have fun reliving 2025 with us!

Other podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:

Afternoona Delight - Our Blues

Daebak Pod - I Am Not a Robot

Korean History for Kdrama Viewers Part 1

Our Unwritten Seoul

Spoiler alerts:
Spoilers for Love Alarm at 8:10-9:20
Spoilers for Dear Hongrang at 1:18:12-1:20:24

Join us for our annual Year End review of Korean and other Asian dramas for 2025! As per previous episodes, Grace and Sarah are joined by an Afternoona Delight Patreon guest to discuss their drama year. We are delighted to be joined by Kate B and Jimmy this year and in this part 1 episode, Kate B and Sarah discuss their faves, their misses and the winners of their own drama awards.

Have fun reliving 2025 with us!

Show Notes
Podcast Episodes mentioned
2024's Year End Reviews Part 1 and Part 2
2025 Chinese Drama review with Tea and Soju Podcast
Our Unwritten Seoul Deep Dive
First Love Deep Dive

Kate B's Instagram @mixedcheesehoagie_