In the world of Korean dramas, you'll often spot a green-tinted bottle making frequent appearances - that's Soju, Korea's beloved spirit. Traditionally distilled from rice, Soju boasts a flavor profile reminiscent of vodka. These days, it comes in a variety of tantalizing flavors like strawberry and peach. Even celebrities are getting in on the action with endorsements with star-studded Soju ads featuring your favorite idols and actors. Tune in as Lia, Amy and Megan dive into ways this iconic...

We are back with another edition of Marry/Mate/Murder among Kdrama characters. The last time we did this game was in 2021. Have our choices changed? Does Lia want Lee Rang to eat her liver? Can Amy choose who to murder between her time travel loves? Which serial killer does Megan want to mate? Listen and play along with us! Kpop rec: WOKE UP by XG Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-word essay? More thinky and/or thirsty writer...

All three noonas are back together this week for a trope talk on one of our favorites--Grumpy/Sunshine! Join as we comb through our backlists to see if we've ever written a grumpy/sunshine, as we discuss our favorite romantic and platonic grumpy/sunshine pairings, and for drama recs that use the trope well. Plus, we take it to the Patreon to hear some of their favorite drama characters who embody the trope perfectly. K-Pop Rec: Colors by Solar Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on...

Join Lia and Special Guest Lexi as we do a dive deep into the 2016 South Korean film, "A Man and a Woman". Directed by Lee Yoon-ki (Love Talk, One Day), this spare and affecting story follows two individuals, both struggling with their personal lives, who find solace and unexpected love in each other. Starring Jeon Do-yeon and Gong Yoo, the film explores the complexities of human emotions, Gong Yoo's butt (sorry but let's be real... many people have checked out the movie for this reason), and...

On this month's Uncensored episode, Megan and Lia touch on cliffhangers--a tried-and-true narrative technique that writers use to keep their audience on the hook. It's all about creating suspense and leaving the story unresolved at a pivotal moment, making readers itching to know what happens next. Writers employ cliffhangers strategically, often at the end of chapters, episodes, or installments, to maintain audience interest in continuing on. Cliffhangers come in many forms, from surprising...

Today we're talking about what makes a fictional character likable, unlikable, and everything in between. Is there such thing as a universally likable character? How do our own internal biases affect our judgment of whether or not a character is likable? And can an unlikable hero or heroine redeem themselves to become likable in the end? Join us for a great discussion, and special shout out to patron Katie for today's show idea! Book with Author's Note about the Romance GenreHello Stranger by...

On today's episode, we welcome USA Bestselling Author Jennifer Blackwood as we talk about her first foray into Kdramas. After giving her a few options, she chose to watch a listener favorite--Semantic Error. We chat about her observations on her first Kdrama and her favorite tropes. We also get into some author antics of our past, including how Megan ruined Lea's Uber rating. It's a long one, so grab a snack and settle in! Check out Jennifer and her books at...

Join Lia, Sarah (Afternoona Asks/Kdrama This) and Megan (Afternoona Army) for a deep dive in the 2018 drama Something In The Rain (aka Pretty Noona Who Buys Me Food) starring Jung Hae-in and Son Ye-jin. This drama is about a thirty-something woman (whose routine has gotten stale) and the romance she strikes up with her little brother's best friend. This is a heart-felt slice of life where characters grapple with taboos, misogyny, desire (in lovers, life, the universe, and everything) and a...

Happy Wednesday, everyone! We're back with another Afternoona Uncensored...or maybe it's Afternoona Check-in? Your noonas can't decide. Maybe you have a better name for it? If so, let us know! This week we discuss drama retellings, K-drama slumps, how we can still love a drama even if the ending doesn't stick the landing, and lots more! ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

In today's episode, we review Love to Hate You, a 2023 rom com that stole our hearts. We talk about why the heroine is for the girls, why Yoo Teo is a favorite mature hero, and why we love this mature, sexy romance. We also discuss the latest Baeksang nominees. Kpop rec: Midas Touch by Kiss of Life Baeksang nominees: https://www.soompi.com/article/1653702wpp/60th-baeksang-arts-awards-announces-nominees Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot...

Romantic comedies, aka rom-coms, have long been a beloved staple in the world of romance storytelling. But what exactly defines a rom-com, and what is the secret sauce that makes them so irresistible? It's not all that straight forward. In this podcast, we'll dive into the world of romcom, exploring defining characteristics, the tropes and clichés that keep us coming back for more. So, whether you're a die-hard fan of Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks' classic on-screen chemistry, or you fell head over...

We're back for another Afternoona Check-in...this time the conversation revolves around about Chicken Nugget-the 2024 drama airing on Netflix where a woman turns into...wait for it...a chicken nugget. Now it's up to her dad and his employee (who has a giant crush on her) to try to turn her back into a real live person. Two of your hosts took a bite and decided it wasn't to their taste after one episode. But one sat down and ate the entire thing and has no regrets. Who was who? Tune in to find...

We are missing Lia this week, but that means we (Megan and Amy) get to talk about a drama we both loved, Marry My Husband. Join us as we discuss why we like revenge stories, what makes a great villain, and how the white truck of doom works best when there is urgency rather than time to grab a latte before your imminent demise. Also, midway through the show Amy and Megan have a revalation on how they could have and should have sold this drama to Lia. Let us know what you think! K-Pop Rec:...

Inspired by a recent episode of romance novel podcast Fated Mates, we are taking a deep dive into himbos, the lovable hero archetype that is all brain, no brains. We talk about why modern day himbos are feminist, what we like about them, and our favorite himbos from Kdramas.  Kpop Rec: Eenie Meenie by Chungha Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-word essay? More thinky and/or thirsty writer takes on your favorite shows? This is...

This week we've got all the action, a panic room of a house, and assassin drones, which, coincidentally, are not a few of Lia's favorite things. Join us as we jump straight into the melee of A Shop For Killers where a world weary Jeong Jin-Man (Lee Dong Wook) just wants to raise his niece Jeong Ji-An (Kim Hye-Jun) to be the badass shop owner she was meant to be. K-Pop Rec: "Killin' It" by P1Harmony   Book Rec: On the Jellicoe Road by Melina MarchettaSign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our...

In today's episode, we welcome special guest New York Times bestselling author Jay Crownover who is not only a New Adult romance pioneer, but also a kpop and kdrama fan. If you've ever wondered who kicked off Megan's kpop obsession, blame Jay! We chat about how kdramas have influenced our writing, and Jay's latest book-turned-movie news. Visit Jay and check out her books: https://www.jaycrownover.com/Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jay.crownover Sign Up for Our...

In this whopper of an episode, Amy, Lia and special guest Afternoona Army Megan, discuss the good, bad and infernal about My Demon. My Demon stars Kim Yoo-jung and Song Kang and aired from November 2023 to January 2024. It's about a demon from hell who ends up as a bodyguard and then in a contract marriage with a beautiful but damaged heiress. Amy and Megan were fans. Lia? No. In fact, for REASONS, this is her least favorite drama of all time. Although the acting was good and the tropes were...

It's a little bit scripted, a little bit uncensored, and--as always--a whole lot of K-Drama fun! This month we're talking about sex in K-Dramas. We share our favorite sexy moments in our favorite dramas, discuss which dramas could have benefited from a little more on screen sexy times, but also argue that a drama can still be sexy without any on screen sex at all. And, as always, we take it to the Patreon to see what our listeners have to say as well! Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our...

Happy Valentine's Day/Galentine's Day or...really, Happy Wednesday, because we all get a treat--a new episode of the pod! We're back with another trope study, this time with two related tropes: Fake Dating and Marriage of Convenience. We share our favorite romance books that use the trope well, discuss our top fake dating and marriage of convenience K-Dramas, and even point out a few examples that miss the mark. K-Pop Rec of the Week: "Wife" by (G)I-DLE  Fake Dating/Marriage of Convenience...

We are back giving your favorite second leads their much deserved happily ever afters. We write stories for Lee Gang Min from My Lovely Liar and Kyung Eun Ae from My Dearest, as well as a very sweet first date with two second leads from A Time Called You. Also, we fight over the order of Rock, Paper, Scissors and discuss why Lia is wrong. :) Enjoy! Kpop Rec:Love Wins All by IU Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a 500-word essay? More...

The sister pods have taken over the Afternoona Delight podcast again to discuss Castaway Diva, a 2023 drama starring Park Eun Bin. Sarah from Afternoona Asks and Megan from Afternoona Army are back to debate whether this drama managed to mix its genres. Listen to find out who really loved this show and who had too many issues with it. We get into why the blurb and fluffy posters don't quite tell you everything they jam into this drama and ask is the show even about being a Castaway, a Diva or...

It's a little bit scripted, a little bit uncensored, and--as always--a whole lot of K-Drama fun. Listen to Megan's take on which dramas are still worth the watch even for those of us who might get a little squeamish with violence and gore. Find out why Amy's bundled like a burrito; and learn about the lack of indoor pools in Lea's part of California. Plus, listen as we each plan our ideal K-Drama date! Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot...

Once upon a time Lia, Megan and Amy watched our first few Korean dramas and began an obsessive text chat. Then we started a podcast and the rest was history. Fast forward three (for real THREE) years later and look...we get really curious about ya'll. Who is listening? How did you get involved in this fandom? So we decided to flip the script and put a couple listeners up front. Join us as we meet Emma (who coined the term 'Kim Fin' and destroyed Megan and Amy's underwear) and Katherine (who...

It's time for Singles Inferno 3! We have a new host, new Inferno, new Paradise, high heels on a rocky beach, and so much drama...PLUS a surprise twist that threw us and the contestants for quite a loop. Join us as we unpack what we loved, what we miss from previous seasons, and what we're looking forward to in season 4. *Make sure you hang out after the annyeongs for a very special second generation Afternoona guest! K-Pop Rec: "Love 119" by RIIZE Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts...

In today's episode, we fall headfirst into Doona, a 2023 Netflix drama about messy love. We discuss how well it fits into the New Adult genre of publishing, the messiness of our own New Adult lives, and why we suddenly want pink toe socks. Oh, and we talk about the kiss--yes, THAT kiss--and the controversial ending. Kpop Rec Mr. Vampire by Itzy Article about Doona's ending (includes spoilers) Sign Up for Our Newsletter!Want our thoughts on why everyone should watch I'm Not a Robot in a...