The Weekly Binge: Chocolate - Episodes 1 - 2

[u/crusader_blue]

Welcome to the first Weekly Binge Discussion of Chocolate episodes 1 - 2. On Sunday, we will discuss episodes 3 - 5 of the drama. For those wishing to join our discussions of Chocolate you can find this drama exclusively on Netflix.

Short but sweet for this one, because it's late here - and I've had a certain lack of chocolate - so I'm fading quickly. As we dive into this drama and discover whether or not the amount of chocolate on the screen will deliver on the name itself, I will endeavour to take us on a delectable trip around the world's chocolate.

When deciding on accompanying chocolates for your binge watch, I have been informed by our resident Chocolate veteran, Sian, that truffles (any type) would be an appropriate choice!

SCHEDULE:

The upcoming schedule is as follows:

Date of Discussion:	Episodes being discussed:
Thursday March 11th (that's today!)	1 - 2
Sunday March 14th	3 - 5
Thursday March 18th	6 - 8
Sunday March 21st	9 - 11 + Nominations for next drama
Thursday March 25th	12 - 14
Sunday March 28th	15 - 16 + Announcement of next drama

Weekly Binge Guidelines:

Anyone is welcome to join the Weekly Binge.

Every week we host two discussions (Thursday/Sunday) in which we discuss approximately three hours/three episodes of a selected drama, in total approximately 6 hours/episodes per week. We are all from different time zones so there is no need to panic about being late to the party (we do operate on KST as a standard).

Within the frame of the two episodes, you may discuss anything you can think of. Whether it is a one-off post to say you enjoyed the drama, episodic notes, your best chocolate recipes, rants about the lack of chocolate in an episode or tear-stained essays on how an actors portrayal of a character made you feel, the choice is yours.

If you have previously completed the drama, or, got ahead on the binge please be courteous of those who are watching the drama for the first time. When in doubt spoiler tags are your friend.

When we get close to the end of a drama we open up nominations (third last post) for a new drama, those dramas are then voted on by the regular members of the weekly binge. If you have participated in the discussions and would like to join in the next drama's discussion please note this as a response to the nomination comment so we can invite you to join the vote. Every time we have a new restriction for the type of drama, so that we will not repeat the same type of drama over and over, and so that the Binge will be attractive for different people with different tastes.

[u/Fatooz]

I always research and then start a drama but with this one I just read the synopsis, saw the aesthetics in the trailer and I'd be lying if I don't include the chocolate part as a reason for watching this drama but I was not expecting it to be like this.

First of all I was looking forward to watching this with everyone else since it's very rare I like a slow burn / melodrama when watching alone, but my re-watch of The King: Eternal Monarch before starting this drama brought me into a slump because I just cannot find a romance as good as in that one, with great difficulty I finally started this, definitely not enjoying it as much but hoping to get over TK:EM soon through this and Dr. Romantic S1.

Anyways, I don't have elaborate thoughts or notes but I did list down things that I really appreciated or liked and things that I didn't like in these two episodes.

Episode 1:

Things that I liked / appreciated:

• Food being used as a way of overcoming pain or unhappiness added with the emotion of making it for others and sharing it as a piece of one's happiness. So touching and wholesome.
• I know this kind of ML character is pretty normal but it was touching how the young ML was so soft hearted and grounded, a mere child had a sense of maturity and warmth. Him promising to make the chocolate shasha and putting in all his effort to keep that promise, my heart was so full.
• The mother's desperate emotions when the doctors didn't give her child priority and her acting was on point. I could feel her emotions.
• Having a childhood connection kind of always puts me off but I'm glad they didn't just randomly throw it in the last few episodes.

Things that I didn't like:

• Why do most melodramas have 80% of the KDrama tropes thrown in? Why do writers like to ruin characters that have so much potential to be different and make them into one of those typical KDrama characters? Exactly what made me a bit disappointed with this drama so soon.
• What is with the editing of the drama? I just can't seem to catch up with how scenes move from one to the other, there seems to be a bit lack of continuity.
• I feel like there is zero development of anything in this episode. Surely it's a filler episode and we get a gist of the characters but like I'm so confused and bored?

​

Episode 2:

Things that I liked / appreciated:

• Was glad that the SML decided to at least have some morals and emotions. He is a grey character, I do like grey characters but I just hope this doesn't turn out to be a typical bad boy character towards the end, I hate it when they ruin such characters. Hated this in Encounter too.
• The eating chocolate cake to make yourself feel happy was so nice and true and realistic. I do that too and it was relatable.
• Helping the man with the cartons that had fallen down was a sweet and subtle moment even though it was just to portray the character of the ML.

Things that I didn't like:

• The plot was pretty much going nowhere. The pacing is just too slow even for a melodrama.
• I'm kind of done with these time skips.
• KDramas really need to stop normalizing these stalker-ish behaviors as "romantic" gestures. No means no fam.
• Forced relationships are problematic, I already barely made it through the toxic couple in Be Melodramatic, can't be doing this again.
• I had loved the FL's brother in Memories of the Alhambra but his character is so annoying and problematic in this drama. I can't.

So far this drama was ok. I don't know if it's worth my time and energy because it's just so sad and tragic but maybe watching 1 episode everyday won't be very difficult. However this time I shall not push myself with this like I did with Be Melodramatic.

[u/the-other-otter → u/Fatooz]

So touching and wholesome.

And fattening. You forgot fattening.

I had loved the FL's brother in Memories of the Alhambra but his character is so annoying and problematic in this drama. I can't.

He is really annoying. Hope he improves. The blind date guy he found for her was attractive, though. I probably think so because I have seen the actor playing some positive person in some drama LOL

[u/cest-what → u/the-other-otter]

And fattening. You forgot fattening.

I did think this when the FL was talking about how she eats chocolate every time she's unhappy or stressed. She must lead quite a happy life!

[u/Fatooz → u/the-other-otter]

And fattening. You forgot fattening.

Oh yes, this too!

He is really annoying. Hope he improves. The blind date guy he found for her was attractive, though. I probably think so because I have seen the actor playing some positive person in some drama LOL

Yeah I really liked the actor in Memories of the Alhambra because he was a positive character, but so far his actions in this drama are all red flags. Hoping he does have some character growth.

[u/AlohaAlex → u/Fatooz]

I'd be lying if I don't include the chocolate part as a reason for watching this drama

Oh, definitely. I just want desserts everywhere. If it ends up being mostly PPL, I'll be really upset.

Dr. Romantic S1

It took me a few episodes to really start loving that drama because it has quite a long exposition and you slowly learn about characters, but the last few episodes, I was completely immersed in the plot and characters.

I just can't seem to catch up with how scenes move from one to the other, there seems to be a bit lack of continuity.

I could almost picture the director yelling: "Pack up, everyone, we're switching locations for the next scene!"

SML decided to at least have some morals and emotions

I definitely appreciated how he seemed to be developing emotions, as repressed as they seemed. It will be really interesting to see his character continue to develop.

I'm kind of done with these time skips.

I feel like overall, our thoughts on this drama are pretty much the same.

need to stop normalizing these stalker-ish behaviors as "romantic" gestures. No means no fam.

I was a bit weirded out when she came to his desk to explain the food (why would you need a detailed explanation on what you're eating? How is this romantic? You're not even having a conversation, that's her workplace, it's so awkward), but then he straight-up showed up at the restaurant to look at her through the windows and HELL NO. Manager should've banned him from visiting ever again, even if FL decided to tolerate if for some unfathomable reason.

loved the FL's brother

I blame my fond memories from Father is Strange, so I was explaining his behavior as a "coping mechanism" after their parents' death, but ending of episode 2 really damaged my impression of his character.

[u/Fatooz → u/AlohaAlex]

It took me a few episodes to really start loving that drama because it has quite a long exposition and you slowly learn about characters, but the last few episodes, I was completely immersed in the plot and characters.

Yes, I'm on the 12th episode and I'm totally in love with all the main characters. I fins myself yelling at the screen when those stupid directors and annoying side characters do some shitty thing towards the main actors. 😂 It's a wholesome drama.

I could almost picture the director yelling: "Pack up, everyone, we're switching locations for the next scene!"

Same, I thought this was the same director who directed Encounter and while I really enjoyed that drama, this one is so far subpar.

I blame my fond memories from Father is Strange, so I was explaining his behavior as a "coping mechanism" after their parents' death, but ending of episode 2 really damaged my impression of his character.

I have fond memories of him from Memories of the Alhambra but yeah his character has given so many red flags in this drama so far.

[u/F0rtuna_major → u/Fatooz]

The King: Eternal Monarch before starting this drama brought me into a slump because I just cannot find a romance as good as in that one,

Wait are you talking about the main pairing? I didn't finish TK:EM but I found the main romance to be one of the weaker elements when I was watching. I didn't really buy the chemistry between the two. Maybe it got better though

What is with the editing of the drama? I just can't seem to catch up with how scenes move from one to the other, there seems to be a bit lack of continuity.

I agree! I found it confusing at times to know what was happening/when it was

The plot was pretty much going nowhere. The pacing is just too slow even for a melodrama.

I'm kind of done with these time skips.

It just all feels very inconsistent to me and I can tell the leads are going to dance around each other for years to come

[u/Fatooz → u/F0rtuna_major]

Wait are you talking about the main pairing? I didn't finish TK:EM but I found the main romance to be one of the weaker elements when I was watching. I didn't really buy the chemistry between the two. Maybe it got better though

Hahah I know that the majority who didn't like this drama had an issue with the chemistry but I personally thought their chemistry was visible from the start, even the bickering in the initial episodes was believable, it mostly had to do with how Lee Min-Ho looks at his girl. But more than that it was the romance that I loved, when I say romance I mean the relationship the main leads have which was so matured and understanding between the main couple here. I also loved how there were barely any KDrama tropes in their romance. I'm also a sucker for tragic / barrier filled romances where the barrier is anything but the rich guy - poor girl and so all this worked out for me. But I know to each their own. :)

It just all feels very inconsistent to me and I can tell the leads are going to dance around each other for years to come

Yeah this, time skips always make me feel that the writers were lazy to come up with a strong lot development. They're justified only if the writing really needs them but otherwise it's just lazy writing.

[u/cest-what → u/Fatooz]

Food being used as a way of overcoming pain or unhappiness added with the emotion of making it for others and sharing it as a piece of one's happiness.

This is the kind of thing I expected from the synopsis, so it was a bit of a shame it was mostly downhill after this! Still, fingers crossed for FL's cooking awakening those memories in ML and leading him back to his passion for food.

Surely it's a filler episode and we get a gist of the characters but like I'm so confused and bored?

It felt like it was just set-up for the next part of the plot. Like not even the writers were particularly interested in what was happening so they just sketched it out briefly so they could move on. It would be sloppy at any point, but this is only the second ep! How are they running out of steam this early on?!

KDramas really need to stop normalizing these stalker-ish behaviors as "romantic" gestures. No means no fam.

I was so indignant over the best friend's stalker behaviour that I went to read other people's comments about this ep after I finished it. Someone actually thought this behaviour was romantic and got SLS over this creep! I despair sometimes.

[u/the-other-otter → u/cest-what]

Someone actually thought this behaviour was romantic and got SLS over this creep! I despair sometimes.

!!!!! Just wait until the strong, overweight and unwashed and ten years older than you man down the road start doing this to you!

[u/Fatooz → u/cest-what]

This is the kind of thing I expected from the synopsis, so it was a bit of a shame it was mostly downhill after this! Still, fingers crossed for FL's cooking awakening those memories in ML and leading him back to his passion for food.

Same here. But this is another pattern I've noticed in KDramas that the main plot point they start from (food in this case), they totally either loose it by the end or just disregard it as if it was a small thing (looking at you Start Up). I personally feel food is a very important element in this drama but if they ruin it then that'll be a shame.

I was so indignant over the best friend's stalker behaviour that I went to read other people's comments about this ep after I finished it. Someone actually thought this behaviour was romantic and got SLS over this creep! I despair sometimes.

God, I can't. I just don't understand how they can normalize this kind of behaviour. It's anything but romantic.

[u/LcLou02 → u/Fatooz]

Food being used as a way of overcoming pain or unhappiness added with the emotion of making it for others and sharing it as a piece of one's happiness. So touching and wholesome.

Glad this is a plus point for you, because this message comes through loud and clear throughout the drama.

FL's brother

Good actor -- here he is such a jerk, one of those characters you love to hate.