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 plo...
May 22, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 201
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 Genre Hello Stranger by K...
May 15, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 200
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 https://www.jenniferblackwood.com/ Si...
May 08, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 199
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 mom w...
May 01, 2024•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 198
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 ★
Apr 24, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 197
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 in ...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 196
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 hee...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 195
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 ou...
Apr 03, 2024•1 hr 22 min•Ep. 194
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: "Body" ...
Mar 27, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 193
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 the pl...
Mar 20, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 192
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 Marchetta Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want our thoughts o...
Mar 13, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 191
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 Newsletter! Wa...
Mar 06, 2024•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 190
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 sol...
Feb 28, 2024•1 hr 51 min•Ep. 189
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 thought...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 188
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 Book R...
Feb 14, 2024•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 187
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 th...
Feb 07, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 186
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 ev...
Feb 02, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 185
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 in ...
Jan 31, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 184
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 as a...
Jan 24, 2024•1 hr 13 min•Ep. 183
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 ...
Jan 17, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 182
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 500-word...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr 31 min•Ep. 181
Kim Shin and Ji Eun Tak...Orchid and Moon Supreme...Jacob and Renesmee...Lia and a dying Christmas tree? What do they all have in common? If you guessed werewolf imprinting on an ovum, sorry. That only applies to one of our couples. But if you said, fated mates... you win the covted prize of...being right. It's time for another trope study, and today we get to talk about one of our favorite romance tropes and how K-drama makes it work across various romance genres. K-Pop Rec: "Drama" By Aespa Si...
Jan 03, 2024•1 hr 26 min•Ep. 180
We're looking back on 2023...was this a great, good, or meh year for you with dramas? Join Megan, Amy, and Lia as we review our favorite dramas this year (and we haven't yet caught some of the most popular ones like Twinkling Watermelon and Moving so don't @ us lol). Who got us by the throat, which kisses made us swoon, and what plot lines are we manifesting for 2024? *Note: Amy knows she got the cotton candy kiss backwards, but it's still super hot. * Sign Up for Our Newsletter! Want our though...
Dec 27, 2023•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 179
In today's episode, Lia and Megan welcome special guest Becky ( It's Bananas ) to discuss My Dearest, an epic historical saga with a swoony hero, a never-say-quit heroine, and a plot that also never quits. We get into the good, the bad, and everything in between. But one thing we agree on is that this cast gave their all. 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? ...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 42 min•Ep. 178
This one is a doozy, folks, but also so much fun! We're missing Lia today, but Amy and Megan hold down the fort--or at least try to--for an epic, mind-bending, deep dive into the swoony time travel drama, A Time Called You. We loved this one, but trying to explain it might have irrevocably broken both of our brains. We hope yours stays intact! And if you want to get transported back to 1998, pop "Gather My Tears" by Seo Ji Won into your Walkman, and hop on the bus for one wild, romantic ride! K-...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 177
We finally delve into one of the kdramas our listeners have requested the most--Rain or Shine (also called Just Between Lovers). We talk about how this Kdrama made us fall in love with Lee Junho, we defend the performance of his co-star Won Jinah, and again... talk about Lee Junho. Because how can you not? Kpop Rec: Maniac by VIVIZ 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 favori...
Dec 06, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 176
Lia is alllllllllllll by herseeeeeeeeeellllllllfffff. Just kidding, she has Afternoona Asks co-host, Sarah, to discuss the My Liberation Notes, the 2022 drama by Park Hae-Young (Another Miss Oh, My Mister). The Korean Herald said the drama is "a portrait of a generation trapped by the preconditions set by themselves and the society" and Gong Yoo even took to his Instagram to cajole fans into checking it out. So, look, Amy and Megan aren't interested in this type of slow-burn, slice of life story...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 175
Recording platform outages? They can't stop us! Your Afternoonas survived technical difficulties to bring you this month's Uncensored! Thanks to Neal, our resident Nam Do San, for basically being our entire IT department. And thank you to our patrons who never fail to give us the hard-hitting questions like who Amy would cast as the South Korean version of the Avengers, whether or not we like the third act break-up, and (gasp) Taek or Jun Yeol. Want to join in on the Uncensored content next mont...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 174
From secondary romances to amazing friendships to multiple personalities, we discuss all the B Plot relationships and shenanigans in K-dramas that hook us. This is a long one, and we cover a wide range of dramas so settle in and nerd out over writing with us. Kpop Rec: Golden by Jungkook 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 the place to get it. Sign u...
Nov 15, 2023•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 173
We are back for another trope study, and this time it's enemies to lovers! Join us as we share our favorite enemies to lovers romances, bromances, and office intern rivalries. Listen as Lia ruins the word gravy for Amy and Megan, as Amy gets a "Toxic" ear worm, and as Megan steals Lia's "Sunshine." Confused? It's okay. We also talk about a lot of dramas like CLOY, Goblin, Misaeng, Love to Hate You, Mad For Each Other, Business Proposal, Tale of the Nine Tailed, She Was Pretty, Boys Over Flowers ...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 172
