Notes on kdramas, cats disappearing from the world, and the tarot
Breaking the radio silence with “The Fiery Priest” + two ongoing kdramas. Also, there is a secret told. And the heavy feeling of reading about cats disappearing.
The recent radio silence was unplanned. I know I said this newsletter will come out twice a month and I failed on that. My apologies. So many things and non-things happened. I feel like it is only recently that the pandemic and its effects layered on so many levels are catching up with me. Imagine if we were in a pandemic where the internet does not even exist. Where would you be? What would keep you sane and preoccupied? I’d like to be by a lighthouse, armed with my writing tools and hot chocolate. If not a lighthouse, a castle by the cliff with a huge library will do, thank you very much. But enough the with whimsical intro. Let’s get on with the main event, shall we?
The kdramas: “The Fiery Priest”, “One the Woman”, and “Lovers of the Red Sky”
I ran out of mystery crime thrillers. Ever since watching “Beyond Evil”, all others in the same genre paled in comparison. And so I found myself watching:
A forever angry priest and his band of merry misfits. “The Fiery Priest” kicks off with the death of a priest, which triggered Father Michael (a.k.a. Kim Hae-il) to uncover the tragic mystery behind it, believing it to be murder instead of suicide. Together with a well-meaning but brash prosecutor, a pair of lovable but out of place church goers, a nun who is more than meets the eye, and a young priest with a surprising past, Father Michael goes through many shenanigans with them. Watch this kdrama if you want something hilarious but also heartwarming. The found family trope is something that I really liked here as well.
Mistaken identity but make it funny. “One the Woman” is rooted to two completely different but utterly identical women. One is the wife of a chaebol — meek, quiet, a pushover. The other is a prosecutor — headstrong, loud, very confident, and also has a knack for putting her foot in her mouth. The chaebol family is both hateful but amusing. The male lead, who is the prosecutor’s love interest, is nice enough but I wish he had more personality. This kdrama is just at its tenth episode as I write this down, so a lot can still happen. If you want something hilarious and light, go with this one. I know I can always use a good laugh.
Fates intertwined with the deities playing a huge role. “Lovers of the Red Sky” involves the supernatural and the greed of some humans for power. I love the fact that they included myths here, like in “Tale of the Nine Tailed.” Set in Joseon era, this kdrama will make you both laugh and go “aww!” The storyline is really good (so far) and the characters do come alive. I already love and sympathize with the two leads — a painter who is as talented as she is bubbly and willful; a blind scholar whose calm exterior hides his true nature and emotions. It’s a love story about Fated Ones, where gods and demons exist, where deaths and hidden agendas never seem to end. If you want something that’s haunting (with a dash of darkness) yet funny, you might want to check out this series.
The book: “If Cats Disappeared from the World”
I have seen the film first, a year or so ago. And now I’ve started reading its original book version. The film left quite an impression on me. It felt heavy and dark but also touching. I wanted to know if the book was just as good, maybe even better.
“If Cats Disappeared from the World” tells the story of a young man who finds out his days are numbered. Then he encounters a devil and makes a deal with him: Decide what object to delete from the world and he gains one more day of his life for every object he deletes. It sounds so simple, but if you’ve watched the TV series called “Supernatural” and have followed the adventures of Sam and Dean Winchester, then you know that deals with the devils are everything but simple. Ha!
Reading this book makes me wonder: If I was in the narrator’s shoes, would I have made the same deal? And what objects would I have deleted? How would my decision impact the world, if not those around me? This book is short but the feeling it gives you long after you have closed the pages lingers. And there is heaviness to it while reading. At least, that’s how it is for me. (Maybe it’s just me.)
This week’s tarot card
Queen of Cups: One who is motivated by love. Can be psychic or clairvoyant, a seeker of things unseen.
Let me tell you a secret. Come closer so I can whisper it in your ear and it will be just between you and me. Are you ready? Okay, here it is: I have been taking some time getting to know tarot. It feels thrilling, like I’ve opened up a new world. I’ve been looking at life differently since then, too. It’s been exhilarating and freeing. I like where I am now.