KDramaClub: Devilish Joy
Welcome to our first ever KDrama Club Meeting! It’s a KDrama-style whisper the password, give the secret handshake, full-fledged fangirling club. Just like a book club, everyone is encouraged to freely chip in with their thoughts and ideas about the drama (Devilish Joy.) Please don’t feel nervous saying what you are thinking. We are here because we love Korean Dramas too, so you are right at home.
This week we will be discussing the recently finished “Devilish Joy,” starring Choi Jin Hyuk, Song Ha Yoon, Hoya, and Lee Joo Yeon. Ho boy. This one was a doozy. I have lots of thoughts about it and am sure you do too. We can’t wait to hear what you think.
How to participate: It is SUPER easy. Below you will see a list of questions related to this week’s KDrama “Devilish Joy.” Give them a look, and if one, some, or all spark your interest then pop down to the comments section and leave your response. Please include the question number so we know which question you are answering.
Also, if you have a comment about “Devilish Joy” that isn’t directly related to one of our questions, feel free to say it anyway.
Lastly, we would love it if you choose to respond to other people’s comments. This is the perfect place to have those meaningful KDrama conversations you’ve been wanting…or just fangirl like crazy. Just remember, please “choose kind” when responding. Let the commenting games begin!
Note: Spoilers are not only rampant, but they are encouraged. We want this to be a free, open discussion where you can be comfortable commenting about any part of the drama.
Discussion Questions for “Devilish Joy:”
Q1: What did you think of Devilish Joy?
My Comment:
Although Devilish Joy had its flaws (heavy-handed use of tropes, predictability, noble idiocy, plot holes,) it still managed to deliver a sweet, charming love story. All in all, it was a delightful watch that was sweet enough to make me overlook its flaws.
And we did get some really specially moments. I was a huge fan of the bromance between Ki Joon and Ma Sung and the sismance with Nan Joo and Gi Bbeum. That one moment when Ki Joon yells at his mother that Ma Sung was like a father to him made me melt into tears. And then Gi Bbeum’s family had me smiling for days when they supported her career and romance, or when her dad looked at her with so much understanding and tenderness.
Q2: Who was your favorite character? Why?
My Comment:
At first, my favorite character was Ma Sung. But I later realized my love for the character was entirely rooted in my love for Choi Jin Hyuk. (All he has to do is smile one boyish grin, and I’m a weak kneed puddle.)
In the end, my favorite character was actually Ki Joon (which shocks the heck out of me, since I hated his character in the beginning.) After he discovered his cousin’s illness, he matured by leaps and bounds, and by the end he’d developed into a strong adult, capable of running a company and standing up to his evil witch of a mother. And he did all that while still retaining a heart tender enough to want to hold his mother’s hand or cry with happiness in his cousin’s arms. Precious boy.
Q3: What did you think of Devilish Joy’s use of tropes? Which was your favorite?
My Comment:
Initially, the tropes didn’t bother me because I’ve come to expect a few in every KDrama. But after every episode turned into a game of wack-a-trope, it just became laughable. There was literally not one trope that I can name that wasn’t used in this drama at some point. (Correction: I don’t recall the falling on top of someone accidental kiss. I keep thinking I’ll find that in a delete scene somewhere.)
That being said, “Devilish Joy” I salute you for your tropey overuse of shower scenes. You have blessed us all.
Q4: If you could change something about Devilish Joy, what would it be?
My Comment:
The noble idiocy! I still can not understand why Ma Sung had SO MUCH noble idiocy. First, why didn’t he tell his family about his illness from the beginning? Who in their right mind thinks announcing it at a press meeting was a good way of telling them? (Poor Ki Joon.) Next, he kept hiding from Gi Bbeum how much he was suffering. Because letting her find him passed out in an alley, was a better way of letting that play out. *facepalm. Then most idiotically of all, he DISAPPEARED. I get he thought he was dying horribly, but that was the very moment they should have pulled together in support.
Really, there is a theme with Ma Sung. At no point was he willing to be weak to anyone — even Gi Bbeum.
Q5: What do you think about the way Gi Bbeum’s old, jerk manager handled the situation with Hyung Joon? What about the way he treated her afterward?
My Comment:
The Hyung Joon/jerk manager story arch had more plot holes than a cheese grater. It makes no sense why jerk manager would risk his biggest, best (at the time) star by letting her be raped just to get another star to sign with him. Second, after he covered up the drug overdose, why did he have so much animosity toward Gi Bbeum? The rest of the world may have thought she was scum, but he had no reason to persecute her. Third, there were cops all over the hotel room that night, did they not test her or Hyung Joon for drugs? Weren’t their cameras in the hotel that showed jerk manager carrying her into the room? Or out of the bar? Or witnesses? Lastly, why the heck did jerk manager think it was a good plan to fabricate evidence and reopen the case? If he had just kept his mouth shut, then he could have gotten away with it forever.
Q6: How did you feel about the ending? Was it the ending you wanted?
My Comment:
For all its randomness, I kind of loved the ending. I loved how Ki Joon took down his mom without loosing himself in the process. I loved that the lovable secretary still gets to enjoy a bromance with Ma Sung. But most of all, I loved that the writer didn’t succomb to the picture perfect happy ending. He/she must have known the fangirls would riot if Ma Sung was really dead, but still he/she chose to leave the story just short of happily ever after. It was a bold choice I applaud. I am content to picture Ma Sung and Gi Bbeum happily remarrying forever — maybe even one day sharing their wedding day with their children.
Please leave your comments about “Devilish Joy” below. Don’t forget to add the question number to your answer, so we know which one you are answering. Happy Commenting!
Thank you so much for joining us for this week’s KDrama Club. We look forward to meeting with you again next week! ~Unni
Next KDrama Club Meeting: “One Hundred Days My Prince” on Saturday, November 3, 2018. Can’t wait to chat more with you then!
Drama Unni
Drama Unni is a Korean Entertainment Journalist and blogger based out of the US. She enjoys late night kdrama binges with her two dogs. Email: unni@dramacurrent.com
24 Comments
jane
Q3 – Tropes. I was fine with the tropes used at first but by the end… i felt like we were being beaten with the trope bat. Really?? Ma Sung had to be the boy who had saved Gi Bbeum as a child? Could that flower (serratula) be everywhere? The one bit that i was waiting for… but didn’t see… was the Devilish Joy cactus finally blooming… and i wanted to see that one the most. Cactus flowers are so pretty! LOL!
Drama Unni
What a great idea about the cactus flower blooming! It could have been this wonderful symbolism of how they finally were able to live their lives together. Man, I just really want that now.
TessLAUSKD LA
Q3- what is a tropes?
Drama Unni
Tropes, as we talk about them in dramas, are overused devices or themes. They are often used to move the plot forward. Examples would be the truck of doom, amnesia, kissing in the rain, the girl tripping and the boy catching her, rescue from drowning, etc.
In proportion they can be really fun, but as @tearexmama said on our Twitter post, “Tropes and makjang are like spices in cooking, a little goes a long way and they don’t all belong in the same dish”
jane
Q1 – Devilish Joy. This had started out as a favourite among the many shows I was watching at the time. Surprisingly to me, I was getting more excited about 100 Days my Prince and Terius Behind Me… but I did enjoy Devilish Joy. Hello – Choi Jin-Hyuk could just stand then and break out in a chuckle and i’ll happily tune in!! I loved how much I despised the bad guys – como and Kim Bum Soo we’re wonderfully hateful! This show had some great romantic scenes/lines that i re-watched a few times cough cough. The first episode really grabbed me since they had to develop their love interest so quickly!
jane
Q2 – Favourite Character. I have the same feeling about Ki Joon!! I found him incredibly annoying at first but warmed up to him by the end… his character really stepped up and matured but still maintained his tantrum-like way which, to me, became endearing to see it break through his new grown-up self.
I know that they were the bad guys… but when I saw como and Kim Bum Soo come on-screen… i was entranced. I really enjoyed hating these two and the way they both portrayed these characters was wonderfully evil.
In the beginning, I really liked Sa Rang, Gi Bbeum’s sister, with her spunky sharp-tongued attitude but that died down quick mid-way.
Drama Unni
I too was disappointed by how Sa Rang’s character never really developed. The first couple episodes we got to see how spunky and willful she was, but it was more endearing than anything else. But she was left at that, and we didn’t see much of her later. I would have loved to the see the interaction with Ma Sung and Gi Bbeum’s family more. I’m sure Sa Rang would have given him a trial by fire before she really accepted him as her brother-in-law. THAT would have been hilarious to watch.
jane
totally – Sa Rang’s interaction with Ma Sung were comedy gold!! After he bought her the makeup to make up (haha) for his aunt’s behaviour… that was it for them. 🙁
jane
Q4 – What to Change? 100% agree… the damn noble idiocy!! What a refreshing change it would have been if he had let Gi Bbeum and Ki Joon into his actual situation!!! I think that the story could have also been much better than episodes 15 and half of 16 where Ma Sung is missing. Let’s see how they help him and overcome this together. Let’s see how they handle the pain of losing him while he’s with them … reminds me so much about what people go through with Alzheimer’s. Whyyyyyyy make him disappear and then show up magically a year or so later??? AAAAUUUGGGGHHHHH!!!!
Drama Unni
“Let’s see how they handle the pain of losing him while he’s with them” OMG, Jane. I’m crying so hard now.
jane
me too – it would have been touching episode or two instead of Let’s All Wait as Ma Sung has Gone AWOL… 🤦🏻♀️
jane
Q5 – Kim Bum Soo. I questioned this whole thing in our podcast… it seems like they really went overboard on the “murder” cover up. At the end of it… it was a drug incident with an overdose. Why was it necessary to frame Gi Bbeum and make it a murder? And why… after getting away with it for 3 years, go and meddle with the case? But i get it… they need him to put a whole bunch of obstacles in Gi Bbeum’s path… it just seemed like they really reached with this as the background story.
Also… why give Ma Sung the recording where como admitted that she tried to have Ma Sung killed?? I still don’t understand how that helped Kim Bum Soo.
Drama Unni
It felt like most of the backstory elements were unnecessary. Jerk manager’s drug overdose saga never made sense. Evil Auntie’s telling Ma Sung that his parents’ deaths were his fault was just seemed excessive and pointless. (If they were trying to make me more emotionally sympathetic for Ma Sung, they didn’t need it. The guy was DYING for gosh sakes; I feel plenty bad for him already.) Also why bother to include their childhood fateful meeting? It didn’t make them seem any more destined to be together. This story needed an editor.
jane
Q6 – Ending. Because of the noble idiocy of Ma Sung, I felt that the ending reaaaaaaallllyyyy dragged on. I was glad to see Dr. Yoon really helping Ma Sung. I loved that Secretary Yang was with Ma Sung… that was one bromance that I enjoyed. I was wondering if he would throw down another resignation from his jacket pocket again… ha ha. The fountain meetup between Ma Sung and Gi Bbeum made me happy (rewatched a couple of times x10… ahem).
The weekly wedding… i was meh about… but it was funny about the comment that they’ll forever be like newlyweds!!! OMG – Unni Christina, your comment that they’ll be married while she’s pregnant had me laughing!!! Can you imagine?? 😂
Joycelyn Ghansah (@jg_humanitarian)
“First, why didn’t he tell his family about his illness from the beginning? Who in their right mind thinks announcing it at a press meeting was a good way of telling them? ”
I mean with a family like that other than KJ I wouldn’t say it and I personally understand why he told the press because than that monster of an auntie couldn’t do anything after that
TessLAUSKD LA
Q4- episode just bugged me. It was just Cruel what he did to his cousin and girlfriend friend I was so glad that his secretary didn’t put up with that crap about going alone. I also enjoyed the secretary’s character . The writers can have a better story line if they would just involve the family and friends when they go through a crisis , better bonding better story. I knew two people both dying at the same time they die two months apart in the end. One family shared everything from day one , to the end it was a beautiful time to clear up the past, to say your peace, and to have time to Grieve together and to be together at the end when the person passed over to the other side it was glorious. The other person family desided to keep things from the family it was a awful time in the end so much unfinished business heartache betrayal it was awful. You have to allow the family and friends to have that time to make peace it a gift. Most people don’t get that with or when I loved one passes
TessLAUSKD LA
Q6- the ending I liked the wedding ever week it was different, also believe because he is so smart he will heal himself, I also liked that the second couple had so many problems with the relationship but they were able to work it out loved their story
TessLAUSKD LA
Q5- I cannot believe the doctor and the aunt and that creepy manager got away with what they did yikes the doctor needed to be disbarred the aunt in jail and manager in jail for a long time.
TessLAUSKD LA
Q1- I like the story, I do not like the traumatic hit by truck scene, they are horrible and the gallons of blood and guts but just a scratch on the forehead there is enough blood of a village instead of one person, I really like the leading lady first time I have seen her. Leading man gorgeous as every one I follow, they were a fun couple, how these leading women do it amazing me, all I can do is put my own story line in the show when they say ,I have to go home now, gurrrr. Grab that man and enjoy him to the fullest don’t say I got to go or dodge him and run. That bugs me, hug him kiss him. They act like they are going to catch something from them. When there is a very intense scene and the other person just stand there, doing nothing, when they can hug or hold their hand .
kdramamamas (@kdramamamaspod)
OMG – Tess!!! your comment about when they just hug or hold hands after an intense scene is so right!!! many times this happens and i want to yell “Noooo, this is when you should kiss!!! Come on!!!!!”. 🤦🏻♀️😅
TessLAUSKD LA
Q2- am not good at names, I think ki joon? The cousin he just entertained me from the beginning I really got in to his character, investing in a second lead couple is safer , they have better luck then the lead couple , I also love the lead actress family I was wishing the dad would become a song writer for his daughter
TessLAUSKD LA
Q5- totally agree with you. I think this is the place to talk about my drama issues, I have no one to discuss kdrama with,I also didn’t get lose here.😎 Oh what’s that dear? I got to go ,JCW is calling from the bedroom wants to know what’s the holdup is. Lolo ( I hope everyone knows am joking) it away I entertain myself , my imaginary internet kdrama relationship with JCW. Makes me happy 😃 until next time I like this site 👍👏🏻
Tess
Can you give me a head up on what drama you are going to do after 100 day prince? Am caught up with 100 day prince, I don’t know which dramas I need to catch up with? I need to start a drama
Drama Unni
Sure! We will do Ji Chang Wook and Park Min Young’s “Healer” after that.