Konnichiwa! Welcome to our latest episode, and our first Deep Dive for a Japanese Drama. We are discussing the 2022 Japanese drama First Love, starrring Satoh Takeru and Mitsushima Hikari and inspired by the songs by Hitada Ukaru. We are delighted to welcome Amy, from our sister podcast Afternoona Delight as well as fellow Patreon Gavin on to the show to disucss all the things we loved about this drama - and we really loved this drama!

If you haven't yet seen this, join us for the first section of our podcast when we discuss it spoiler-free to see if it might be for you. Or if you've already watched join us to chat the drama feels, whose performances we loved, spaghetti naporitan and roundabouts!

Show Notes
To check out Gavin's previous podcasts with us:
A Costuming Conversation with Gavin Dietz

Sungkyungkwan Scandal - A Confucian Deep Dive

KDrama 2024 so far - A Catchup with guests

Sarah and Grace tackle the first in a planned series of episodes covering Korean History for fans of KDramas. We discuss the first "Korean" nations, starting with Gojoseon, then working our way through the Three Kingdoms period, touching on Unified/Late Silla, and concluding with the short-lived Later Three Kingdoms. We also talk about historical (aka sageuk) KDramas set in these various periods, including ones we both have and have not watched.

Dramas mentioned:

Arthdal Chronicles

The Bride of Habaek

Jumong

Gwanggaeto the Great Conqueror

The Legend

Yeon Kaesomun

My Only Love Song

River Where the Moon Rises

Queen Woo

Mr. Queen

The King’s Daughter, Soo Baek Hyang

Ballad of Seodong

Gyebaek

King of Legend

Hwarang: the Poet Warrior Youth

Queen Seondeok

Dream of the Emperor

Dae Jo Yeong

The King: Eternal Monarch

Emperor of the Sea

How have we already gotten to the third quarter of 2025? Relive the third quarter in dramas with Sarah and Afternoona Delight Patreon guests Laura and Debra. We discuss our favourite dramas of the year, performances that wowed us and dramas we ended up dropping. Sarah discusses how KDramas have been missing the mark for her and what dramas have been working instead.

Show Notes
To listen to the previous quarterly review episodes please check these:

First quarter 2025 in dramas - with Erin & Cate

Second quarter 2025 in dramas - with Kalena and Shannon

We are delighted to be covering another Chinese drama deep dive - and this time it's the 2023 drama Till the End of the Moon, which is an epic Xianxia Fantasy Historical. Sarah is joined by special guests Corinne from Sex, Love, Literature podcast and fellow Afternoona Delight Patreon, Carolien.

If you haven't watched and wonder if this might be for you, check out our spoiler-free intro to see if demon red flag heroes are for you or not. And if you've seen, relive all the blood gushes, the love/hate, enemies to lovers romance and listen to us discuss THAT ending.

Show Notes:
Love Like the Galaxy Deep dive on Afternoona Delight with Corinne

Trope Spotlight: Red Flag vs Green Flag Characters - "They match each other's freak" on Sex Love Literature Podcast

Gyeongseong Creature on Afternoona Delight with Carolien

Corinne Cdrama comps:

Love and Redemption

Lost You Forever

Carolien's book rec comp:

Fionavar Tapestry by Guy Gavriel Kay

Corinne's Tumblr post:

EmmaB Video edit for Till the The End of the Moon

Carolien Instragram @caromuis

Sex Love Literature website | tumblr | instagram

Sarah and Grace had a great time catching up and answering listener questions in this AMA episode. We chat about the impact of Kpop Demon Hunters and compare notes on our summer kpop concert experiences. We answer questions about Korean and Chinese naming conventions, the concept of Jeong, what goes into a Chinese wedding ceremony, and much more!

Other podcast episodes mentioned on this episode:

Afternoona Asks: Intro to Korean Language
Afternoona Asks: Second quarter review
Afternoona Asks: Art of Negotiation
Afternoona Delight Dear Hongrang Review

Sarah loved the Chinese Drama Prisoner of Beauty so got fellow Patreon fans Heather and Nicole on the podcast to discuss this 2025 historical drama which starred Liu Yuning and Song Zu Er. This is a romance drama with plenty of levity with a real focus on the leads arranged marriage. Hear more about it in our non spoiler section to see if this drama might work for you.

Or if you've already seen and want to relive what we loved about the drama, as well as some disagreements on other key characters in the show, check out this episode and let us know how you found it on our socials!

Show Notes:

Heather's previous podcast:

Moon Lovers Scarlet Heart Ryeo - Sarah's Deep dive podcast

Dear Hongrang - Afternoona Delight Deep dive

2521 - Afternoona Delight = Sarah's Deep Dive podcast

Liu Yuning - Love Between Fairy & Devil OST track

Liu Yuning - Till the End of the Moon OST Track

Reddit post on different naming conventions in Chinese dramas

It's already been a half year of dramas for 2025 - Sarah is joined by Patreon guests Kalena and Shannon to chat through the second quarter of Korean dramas so far. Join us on our quick run through of our favourite dramas, performances as well as the ones who could have done better and ones we dropped entirely.

If you've not managed to watch some dramas yet you can also check out how we found these dramas before starting!

Dramas covered that include spoilers - with timestamps so you can avoid spoilers (other dramas are covered but without spoilers)

Squid Game 3 - 20.48

Our Unwritten Seoul - 25.02 - 34.30

Mercy for None - 1:45:42 - 1:48.05

Show Notes

Kalena Intro Podcast - Seo In Guk Fanmeet

1st Quarter Review with Erin and Cate

Art of Negotiation Deep Dive podcast

Sarah and Grace had a lovely time chatting through what makes K-dramas special in this short primer geared toward new and curious potential viewers. We discuss what a K-drama is, the genres that K-dramas do well, and give a brief overview of K-drama history. We also give recommendations for viewers who are just starting out, as well as those who have already dipped their toes in the water and are wondering where to head next.

Dramas mentioned:

Hospital Playlist (Netflix)

Residents Playbook (Netflix)

Pachinko (Apple TV)

Taxi Driver (Viki)

Signal (Viki)

Yumi's Cells (Viki)

Crash Landing on You (Netflix)

Reply 1988 (Netflix)

Prison Playbook (Netflix)

Hometown Chachacha (Netflix)

Mr. Queen (Netflix)

Moving (Disney+/Hulu)

Tomorrow (Netflix)

Dae Jang Geum/Jewel in the Palace (Viki)

My Mister (Netflix)

Misaeng (Netflix)

Our Blues (Netflix)

25 21 (Netflix)

Racket Boys (Netflix)

Goblin/Guardian: the Great and Lonely God (Viki)

My Dearest (Netflix & Viki)

Call It Love (Disney+)

One Spring Night (Viki)

Never Have I Ever (Netflix)

Love to Hate You (Netflix)

Business Proposal (Netflix)

Lovely Runner (Viki)

Coffee Prince (Viki)

Go Back Couple (Viki)

Touch Your Heart (Viki)

Squid Game (Netflix)

Death's Game (Amazon Prime)

Uncanny Counter (Netflix)

D.P. (Netflix)

A Shop for Killers (Disney+)

Bad and Crazy (Netflix)

I Am Not a Robot (Viki in US/Netflix in UK)

Twinkling Watermelon (Viki)

Alchemy of Souls (Netflix)

Doom at Your Service (Netflix)

Something in the Rain (Netflix)

Still 17 (Viki)

Jeongnyeon: The Star is Born (Hulu/Disney+)

When Life Gives You Tangerines (Netflix)

Strong Woman Bongsoon (Viki)

Happiness (Netflix)

Fated to Love You (Viki)

One More Happy Ending (Viki)

Good Partner (Viki)

Healer (Viki in US/Netflix in UK)

Other media mentioned:

The Power of Pop Culture in “Reply 1988” | The New Yorker

Oshin: The gritty Japanese drama that gripped the world

Drama Over Flowers on Kdrama history

The Fangirl Verdict