We are back with another deep, deep, deep dive into an Ahn Pan Seok classic drama - Secret Love Affair, a 2014 Korean Drama starring Yoo Ah In and Kim Hee Ae - this is an Afternoona Patreon fave for a set of slice-of-life, melodrama lovers. Sarah is back with Katie & Charlotte (who you may have heard discussing The Art of Negotiation, another Ahn Pan Seok directed drama) to chat through this, one of their joint faves.

As ever, there is a spoiler free section where we discuss the show so you can listen in to see if this will or won't work for you - how is the adultery handled, will it give you the ick? For fans of this show already the back half spoiler free section will allow you to indulge your inner geek. And for many, including Sarah, Katie's explanation of what actually happened with all the slush funds might prove useful!

Show Notes

The Art of Negotiation Deep Dive with Katie & Charlotte - Afternoona Asks Episode 54

https://podcasts.apple.com/bw/podcast/the-art-of-negotiation-deep-dive/id1698849342?i=1000715307674

Our 2023 Year End Review with Katie - Part 1 (to hear Katie's 5 to know yous)

https://open.spotify.com/episode/78JNJzyZCR91e27V5WcMb1

Something in the Rain Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight Episode 183

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KECBbwqvazE

My Liberation Notes - Afternoona Delight Episode 175
https://podcasts.apple.com/qa/podcast/my-liberation-notes-worship-weariness-and-whoa-baby-mr-gu/id1551567801?i=1000636891228

Sarah is back with two new Patreon guests - Amber and Vicki - to take a look at this year's second quarter Asian dramas. We discuss releases this quarter such as My Royal Nemesis, Filing for Love, Yumi Cells 3, The Perfect Crown and many others. We also get to know Amber and Vicki and their tastes in dramas. Note there will be some small spoilers for dramas discussed.

Show Notes

Something in the Rain Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight Episode 183

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KECBbwqvazE

My Dearest through a Confucian Lens Deep Dive - Afternoona Asks Episode 25

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/my-dearest-unpacked-with-a-confucian-lens/id1698849342?i=1000650987080

Under the Queen’s Umbrella Deep Dive - Afternoona Asks Episode 81

https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/under-the-queens-umbrella-deep-dive/id1698849342?i=1000775028303

Blackout Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight Episode 286

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/black-out-a-twisty-whodunit-thriller/id1551567801?i=1000741668873

Death Game - Afternoona Delight Episode 210

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/deaths-game-no-filler-all-killer/id1551567801?i=1000663186888

Alice Coldbreath novels (Medieval Romance, Victorian Historical Romance: 

https://www.alicecoldbreath.com/

June Hur - Behind Five Willows

https://www.junehur.com/

Sarah and Grace are back together to deep dive a 2022 top Kdrama, Under the Queen's Umbrella. If you have not yet seen this drama, join us as we discuss the incredible acting by two of our favorite female leads supported by a stellar ensemble cast, the amazing writing by a relatively unknown screenwriter we expect more great things from, and what made this drama resonate with us, in the spoiler-free section. And for those who have watched this drama, relive the drama with us as we reflect on the themes of motherhood and revenge, the positive impact a well-written, multifaceted villain can have in a drama, and our favorite healing and heart-wrenching moments. 

References:
K-Actor Fan Events with Jasmine https://open.spotify.com/episode/2Ix8SpJtQ9aeO3j1zuarSY?si=6F-HW6G_SD-j-3eUsxcw0A
Meeting Your KDrama Fave IRL: Jung Hae In's 10th Season
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0WDjbONoNaYkyGvfOiwqaM?si=ZWJKr_xwRoiBvxNMPqzkhQ
Sarah's posts from the Lee Jehoon HK fanmeet:
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXw3m4kylTt/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DXw3m4kylTt/?igsh=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

For more, find us at www.afternoonaasks.com

Welcome to our latest episode! This is now the third in our series of Asian language introductions for Asian Drama fans. We are delighted to be joined by Shogo, an old University friend of Sarah's and tri-lingual Japanese, English and Mandarin Chinese speaker to the podcast - where he gives us an intro to Japanese and comparisons with Chinese and Korean. All three of us share cultural and linguistic experiences and we also get into some Japanese culture questions sent in by listeners.

For previous episodes on Korean and Chinese check out links below:

An Intro to Korean for KDramas

Intro to Chinese Language for Asian Drama fans

We deep dive the beautiful and criminally underrated Korean Drama Lost in this episode. Sarah is joined by fellow Patreon guests Cate and Angela.  We discuss why this slice of life drama is such a cult fave for KDrama watchers that love a slower, character centred and inner conflict driven drama. If you have yet to watch this drama, check out our non-spoiler section to see if this drama might work for you - we cover what makes it stand out, how amazing the cast are and talk through our favourite scenes.

Show Notes

Cate’s first podcast - 1st Quarter 2025 drama review with Erin - Episode 49

Mr Plankton Through a Confucian Lens - Afternoona Asks Podcast - Episode 46

Mr Plankton Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight Podcast- Episode 232

Let Free the Curse of Taekwondo - Afternoona Delight Podcast - Episode 244

Sarah and Grace are back together to deep dive one of our first-quarter-2026 top Kdramas, Can This Love Be Translated. If you have not seen this drama yet, join us as we discuss what made this drama a bit polarizing and why it worked for us, as well as the theme of communication across languages and life experiences, in the spoiler-free section. Grace also shares an update on what's been keeping her extra busy and touches on how much of a difference she found there is between subbed and dubbed translations for Kdramas. And for those who have watched this drama, relive the drama with us as we reflect on how much we missed Kim Seonho and his dimples, how the show highlights what courage it takes to love, and how, despite moments of confusion throughout, this drama reached a satisfying resolution consistent with its overall vulnerable, healing, and heart-felt vibes. 

For more, find us at www.afternoonaasks.com

Welcome back to Part 3 of our monster episode of Pursuit of Jade - we've never done a two-part Deep Dive on a drama before, let alone three! Sarah is joined by Patreon guests Cynthia and Saraiah to discuss the 2026 smash hit Chinese Drama Pursuit of Jade that has taken the Asian drama world by storm. Starring Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei, this historical drama delivers all the feels, swoons and romance that has swept the Patreon away. If you've yet to watch this drama, this episode will give a non-spoiler intro to the drama. Otherwise if you've seen and want to get into all the details, we do that too!

This Part 3 answers questions and discusses cultural and language questions raised by the drama. Part 1 contains an introduction to our guest hosts Cynthia and Saraiah as we get to know them and their drama tastes. Part 2 covers the deep dive of the drama itself.

We hope you enjoy our 3-part podcast!

Show Notes
Deleted Scene

Pursuit of Jade - backstory explainer Reddit thread

Welcome back to Part 2 of our monster episode of Pursuit of Jade - we've never done a two-part Deep Dive on a drama before, let alone three! Sarah is joined by Patreon guests Cynthia and Saraiah to discuss the 2026 smash hit Chinese Drama Pursuit of Jade that has taken the Asian drama world by storm. Starring Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei, this historical drama delivers all the feels, swoons and romance that has swept the Patreon away. If you've yet to watch this drama, this episode will give a non-spoiler intro to the drama. Otherwise if you've seen and want to get into all the details, we do that too!

This Part 2 episode will cover the deep dive on the drama itself - for an introduction to our guest hosts Cynthia and Saraiah, check out Part 1 as we get to know them and their drama tastes. Part 3 answers questions and discusses cultural and language questions raised by the drama.

We hope you enjoy our 3-part podcast!

Show Notes
The obligatory Fast Cars and Superstars Zhang Ling He Catwalk

The meme of same music set to Pursuit of Jade scene

Welcome to our monster episode of Pursuit of Jade - we've never done a two-part Deep Dive on a drama before, let alone three! Sarah is joined by Patreon guests Cynthia and Saraiah to discuss the 2026 smash hit Chinese Drama Pursuit of Jade that has taken the Asian drama world by storm. Starring Zhang Ling He and Tian Xi Wei, this historical drama delivers all the feels, swoons and romance that has swept the Patreon away. If you've yet to watch this drama, this episode will give a non-spoiler intro to the drama. Otherwise if you've seen and want to get into all the details, we do that too!

This first episode is an introduction to Cynthia and Saraiah as we get to know them and their drama tastes. Part 2 will cover the deep dive on the drama itself and Part 3 answers questions and discusses cultural and language questions raised by the drama.

We hope you enjoy our 3-part podcast!

Show Notes:

The History of Wuxia with William Han - Afternoona Asks Episode 20

Vincenzo Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight Episode 205

Prisoner of Beauty Deep Dive - Afternoona Asks Episode 57

Love Like The Galaxy Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight 245

We've just finished the first quarter in Asian dramas - join us to discuss the winners and the duds of the quarter so far. Sarah is joined by Patreon guests Yarrow and Zoe to chat through our favourite dramas, performances and the ones we dropped. See if you agree with our takes or perhaps find new dramas you wish to start.

Show Notes
Hometown Cha Cha Cha Deep Dive (Sarah's first podcast! With Afternoona Delight) - Episode 45

Liberation Notes Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight - Episode 175

Love Next Door Deep Dive - Afternoona Asks - Episode 43

I am Not a Robot Deep Dive - Daebak Podcast - Episode 99

Twinkling Watermelon Deep Dive - Afternoona Delight - Episode 194

Singles Inferno Season 5 - Afternoona Delight - Episode 296

Queen In Hyun's Man Deep Dive - Daebak Podcast - Episode 103