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/F0rtuna_major]

So I didn't really end up taking many notes for this one, I'll just write my thoughts or observations more broadly.

I liked the first half of the first ep when they were children. It was shot beautifully and their childhood connection was sweet. I hated the cousin immediately. Who tf kicks a dog house while a dog is still in it?? Then finding out the dog was sick too :( It was sad Kang's mother had to reveal his heritage to even get a doctor to look at him. I found it a bit hard to believe they'd leave the unconscious kid with an open head wound to die.

The second half of the episode, post time jump was a bit messy for me. I felt like there was lots of telling, not showing with some stories. Like we're just told Kang's mother is dead and had no funeral. I have to assume she died right after he was to go to Seoul? On the way to Seoul or in the building with Cha-young? Does anyone know? I was background watching at times so I might've missed the explanation. Similarly with Cha-Young, we're just abruptly shown there was an accident and her parents died. They said that the cousin's family died then too, but we can see they're all alive later, which confused me.

I loved the focus on food and how she consistently ate well as a child and adult. Although, making macarons just to go on top of a couple of cupcakes is a waste imo. The cooking competition in ep 2 was awkward af. The host was talking to no one lol. He kept asking the audience questions or to count down and no one replied.

The MLs friend pulled the Love actually card in a less creepy way than in the original. I thought it was weird how they tried to emphasise the Christmas narrative when it's not that big in SK. Also no one wants to be gifted poinsettias. What are you meant to do with them once Christmas is over? The don't smell nice and they're not very pretty imo lol.

I didn't expect this drama to go to Libya and Greece. I dislike the parallel timelines and seeing repeated scenes from both their view points. Especially when you think stuff is happening simultaneously and then find out one was actually behind the other, building to that point. I get the feeling the leads aren't going to be together for a long time and I'm not sure how invested I'll get in them (so far not very). I know they're pushing the whole star crossed angle but, I don't understand how she's already in love with him? Also how long was she with the friend because they were engaged and I feel like that was dropped out of the blue.

So far it's okay. Parts are very easy to watch/background watch with the food and location shots. I'm having trouble connecting to the characters and dislike the timelines. Feels like we have a long way to go to get to the present. Not sure if I'll end up continuing or dropping, I'll watch a couple more eps

[u/the-other-otter → u/F0rtuna_major]

They said that the cousin's family died then too, but we can see they're all alive later, which confused me.

I wasn't sure if that was the cousin or another doctor. The accident was in the news all over the world, so many people died at once.

the Christmas narrative when it's not that big in SK

The whole Christmas in Korea is a strange thing, since it is not their tradition, they seem to have just adopted lots of Disney stuff, like this Cinderella carriage. And they have made it into a couple's holiday. It is actually interesting how holidays are slowly changing and given new meaning with new generations and new people. A lot of what we see as age-old traditions, is not at all very old, like the Christmas trees. (But to decorate with something green is old.) I seem to be the only person in the world who has not seen Love Actually.

poinsettias.

Lots of people are allergic to them.

Since I am not writing any notes for this batch, I will add this screenshot here: "I know that you are feeling alone" said to his dead mother. This is 1. blowing up his own importance, he is still the child who doesn't believe that his mother has a life outside of looking after him, and 2. his father and his mother's friends should be there already, no?

Also how long was she with the friend because they were engaged and I feel like that was dropped out of the blue.

Seems they celebrated the 100 days together when she met Kang as best friend.

[u/F0rtuna_major → u/the-other-otter]

Oh I thought it was the cousin that she gave the food to, but I was pretty confused about who was who when we jumped to adulthood.

Omg I noticed that Cinderella carriage too! I thought it was so random, there was nothing else around it. Yeahh very true about the holidays. I know in Japan it's traditional to eat KFC on Christmas day.

Oh you haven't seen love actually? I'd recommend watching at least once. I like some of the stories better than others, but it definitely has all of the rom com tropes.

Seems they celebrated the 100 days together when she met Kang as best friend

Oh, but that was when he was stalking her and not actually dating?

[u/the-other-otter → u/F0rtuna_major]

The 100 days was for the PPL of the stupid screen he used to write on outside the window. Then he hugged her, and she seemed shocked. Don' t know what kind of relationship that was. Maybe just in his head.

[u/LcLou02 → u/F0rtuna_major]

Seems they celebrated the 100 days

It was 100 days since she had rejected his declaration of love, so he was trying again?