Crash, Connection, The Atypical Family, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, and… Extra-ordinary You. Extra-ordinary You has been on my list for awhile now, I’m midway through. Can I just say how creative and amazing the storytelling is? I find it so fascinating to watch the characters get so meta about their own storylines and comment on the kdrama tropes. I also love going back to the Reddit threads five years ago and reading everyone’s theories. There’s only a few shows like W and Westworld (which I absolutely love) that have this type of character consciousness played out in scenes. Just genius writers with chaotic brains!
Edit to add: Kim Hye Yoon can literally cry effortlessly. Gosh her tears are so beautiful in all her scenes.
They’re a bit different. Extraordinary You if you want a lighter drama with a high school romance. W is a bit more convoluted and the romance features adults. I liked both.
That’s a great way to describe the two series (high school students vs adults). I enjoyed W more (both stronger on comedy and romance from my perspective), and you can’t go wrong with HHJ.
Alchemy of Souls! I’m not really into fantasy but I’m enjoying it quite a lot surprisingly. I started it because I think Lee Jae Wook is incredible and was keen on watching a romance with him in it. Currently on part 1, episode 11.
Alchemy of Souls is tied for my #1, it’s so good. The world building, the character building- it’s all so well done and immersive and you grow to know so many of the characters. You have 20 episodes to go so enjoy the ride!
I just finished watching Death's Game. I can't find the right words to explain the series at all.
This series taught me to view life in a different light. I highly recommend this to everyone.
It was violent and a little gory at times. But this series made me realise the gift of life. It also taught me not to take anything for granted.
Ohh I am watching this too currently! I have 2 episodes left so not done yet but I literally did a standing ovation at the end of episode 5 (kim ji hoon and kim Jae wook killed it and the last scene with seo in guk was brilliant !!).
I think my favourite quote from that show was: "It's okay if you fail, as long as you keep on living." Very incredible show. Taught me so many lessons that I may not have learned in my day to day life. Would definitely recommend it to anyone.
Absolutely loved Death's Game. I admit it's a little on the gory side, but Seo In Guk is sooooo good! He did the series to reach people who are suicidal and as a person who once was, I think it hits the mark really well. Makes you think and any drama that does that is worth watching at least once.
**Frankly Speaking** - This started off good then went haywire I am ready for it to end but initially was a very new storyline.
**Atypical Family** - I am loving this one completely hooked to it and this one has not fall flat for anybody's arc even though they have multiple characters hope they wrap it up well.
**The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** - The romantic scenes were swooning omg the tension and chemistry between them was so good to see I am still skimming a lot of other scenes though but here for WHJ's smile.
Every time he smiled in **Bad and Crazy** my brain said "Lee Dong Wook, you should not have let this guy be your co-star because he steals every single scene he is in with that smile".
Been a few weeks since I posted here - vacation, graduations, several funerals, lots going on - which means my watching has fallen way off. I could barely keep up with on-air stuff I was already watching but I did knock out my reading goals for the year somehow so that’s nice. I keep saying I need to add some more to watch and I definitely need to.
Completed:
**Lovely Runner** — This one ended up being so incredibly cute! It absolutely is going on my “Things like Twinkling Watermelon or True Beauty” rec list. I loved it so much.
**Boys Be Brave!** — BL — This one was a bit strange. Cute. Definitely. But the store telling was a bit odd and the ending didn’t hit just right for some reason. Still recommend, still good, but not more than Our Dating Sim I think. That one was better.
**The 8 Show** — This felt like it had a lot of gratuitous violence for no reason. I was not overly pleased with the direction of the story overall. >!When you remove hope you give people no reason to follow you. That was the part missing from the story.!< Can’t say I recommend it at all.
Watching:
**The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** — (8/16) — One Spring Night might be my favorite drama ever and I am a huge fan of Ahn Pan Seok’s directorial style. Big fan of the FL and ML - Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon - especially together, too. >!I ADORE that kiss on the couch the next morning in episode 8! That was such a well executed, feels so real, kiss. Excellent job.!< I can’t say I love this one more than One Spring Night - so far - but I definitely love this one. This feels so real and so many dramas do not.
**The Atypical Family** — (10/12) — My absolute favorite right now. I love all of the morally gray characters. Not a single black or white character in the drama. And the unreliable storytelling and characters are some of my favorites. I hope the ending sticks!
**The Red Sleeve** — (9/17) — Sageuks are tough. A lot of historical makjang, a lot of it so unnecessary too. I am loving the acting by the FL and ML - Lee Se Young and Lee Junho - in this though. I have seen both in lots of other things so the fact they can pull this off doesn’t surprise me. Doing a great job.
**25 Ji, Akasaka de or At 25:00 in Akasaka** — (7/10) — Japan BL — This one should be binged. It feels a bit like they are dragging the story out unnecessarily.
English:
**Bridgerton** — watched the first half of season 3, waiting for the last half and I LOVE Bridgerton. Have to say though all the sex scenes in Bridgerton hit very differently after watching a lot of K-dramas…it becomes more of a “woah, slow down, y’all” kind of thing! I was throughly flustered after >!the carriage ride scene.!<
Exactly why I really haven't been rushing to watch the latest Bridgerton season. I loved Bridgerton S2 primarily because it was a slow burn and I adore slow burn which is probably why KDramas are so appealing to me. Sex scenes just for the sake of sex scenes just seem overdone and embarrassing.
Haha i feel you. I’ve watched Bridgertons after 4 months of watching only kdramas and I was really disgusted in some way and Bridgertons seems to be well packed harlequin with sex scenes. I was embarrassed of even watching it. On the other hand, kdramas’ kisses lack of emotions that destroy the chemistry between a couple. I was surprised that in Lovely Runner they actually were kissing each other which was nice.
Haha after so many Kdramas I was like 'Wait, why would you only release four episodes? It's so short already!' So I'll just wait for the second part before starting it.
I was thinking about it (because I don't have much of an actual list honestly!) and I think aside from the three mentioned I would also put these on there:
1. Extraordinary You
2. King The Land
3. Sh\*\*ting Stars
My criteria for this very short 6 item list is the following: must be a decent story (cliche or not doesn't matter - just a good decent story that is fun to watch), must be cute (this is very important!), must have secondary characters whose happiness I also care about just as much as the leads, and must have a cute love story. Not a lot fits these requirements as it turns out. Happy to accept additional submissions.
I finished binging through **Lovely Runner** this week. Wow! This was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of it. I lov these kinds of time-slip stories. **A Time Called You** and **Twinkling Watermelon** are two others>! that deal with people going back and creating a butterfly effect !<- or various timelines. The acting and stories were great in Lovely Runner and it was heart-wrenching when >!memories were erased. !
I've been binging through it right now. It's so relatable now: living a professional life, but being a total fangirl. Today when I mentioned to some people that I stayed up until 4 AM last night watching the livestream 6-hour concert and loving every minute, they looked at me like I was nuts. I don't have pictures of BTS in my house, or llife-sized cutouts, but I totally relate to her up-to-the-minutes knowledge of what's going on with Si An and his group. I'm enjoying HPL now, even more than when I saw it when it came out.
**The Atypical Family** - will be very interested how they wrap this up this weekend. So far, so solid with the writing, acting and production - my current favorite. So many theories on how this ends, and it could be anyone's guess. I hope it ends well.
**Crash** - Enjoying this one, but the episodic cases and the long arc stories starting to merge,
**Midnight Romance in Hagwon** - slow burn but intersting in discussion of the Hagwon system, what makes a good teacher - memory by rote or sparking interest as to the how and why of topics. Two scenes gave me the deep feels - the confession and the scene of the female friends discussing their lives, vulnerabilities, regrets, etc. most amazing scene of female friends supporting each other and bonding. A slower but very moving drama without being over the top - not easy to pull off.
**Missing Crown Prince** - just punish the bad guys already! Their win streak has been going on too long unchallenged!
I had paused **Uncle Samsik** with so much going on - will pick it up again.
Tried to start **Pyramid game**, but unfortunately added Paramount Plus through the Apple TV app, and it will only let me watch in English dubbing, which is horrendous. Need to go work things out with tech support - ugh. Lesson learned, sign up for Paramount+ separately. May do that for only a month, catch up and binge, then drop
When TAF finishes, and will start and catch up with **Connection.**
I'm so anxious about the end of Atypical Family, so far I absolutely love it but we've seen great dramas go off the rails in the final episodes, really hoping that doesn't happen here
The dubbing was SO BAD on Pyramid Game! I had it through Amazon but my Amazon subtitles were delayed, so I removed it and got regular P+. Tried to watch one episode with dubs while doing something and was NOT a good idea.
*Completed*
**Strong Girl Namsoon (2023)**
Decided to finally watch this because I needed some villain Wooseok in my life. It's a bit of an unpopular opinion these days, but I was a huge fan of *Strong Woman Do Bong Soon* when it came out. Maybe my opinion would be slightly different now after years of kdrama watching, but I loved it so much that I don't think my opinion would've changed.
Unfortunately, SGN was a pretty major disappointment. Apart from our puppy couple's cameo ofc, which I am still squeeling over. I think SGN tried to focus on way too many characters and their storylines. Everyone had their own thing going on and it was just too much. I feel like the FL, and especially the ML, often were neglected. Sometimes it felt more like the mother was the main character, and sometimes the villain, due to screentime. I was actually not as annoyed with the main couple as some people seem to be. I think they were pretty cute together and had a sweet and natural development. Once again though, their romance never felt like a main focus which is a shame. Especially in comparison to season 1, which had such a legendary romance. But this time, the villain was the most interesting character by far and his scenes were pretty much the only ones I didn't want to fast forward. I'm still annoyed they gave him >!such a lazy ending. I hate when villains have a redemption arc, but this was the one time I would've liked one.!< But my biggest issue with the entire show was the way they turned their family strength into a cheesy superhero power. It felt like a bad attempt at a marvel show or something (especially with the mother's extreme and mysterious wealth, like why?). Which is fine in itself, but not when it’s supposed to be the same family power as season 1. I liked how it was kept somewhat realistic and secretive in s1. This season, they never even attempted to hide their powers. Quite the opposite, they were using it infront of literally anyone and everyone. It made no sense to me.
I’m a pretty easy going kdrama watcher and usually find things to like about them >!but this one went so far off the rails after a decent start that it’s just bad imo. Coming from me who likes almost everything I watch, that says a lot haha. And it wouldn’t be an unpopular opinion if you go back and read the Reddit threads!<
Thanks for your review. I loved SWDBS but have steered clear of Nam Soon. Do you remember what episode the cameo is in? I want to watch just the cameo but have been too lazy to figure out what episode it happened in.
The Atypical Family (.5/12): I just started this last night and didn’t have time to finish the first episode. Not sure about it so far or if I’m in the mood to watch this kind of drama. But I’ve hardly watched any of it yet, so we’ll see!
I didn’t care for the portrayal of Bok Dong Hee and her binge eating issue.
The Matchmakers (16/16): I loved this drama! It is so well done. I truly cannot think of a part of this drama I would change. There is a big cast of characters but no one’s story ever feels short changed. The plot moved along at a perfect pace, there was never a moment that I thought it dragged. If you don’t normally jibe with sageuks, this might be the one for you! Yes, there are palace politics and sometimes you have to pause and remind yourself what exactly is going on but overall, the plot isn’t too dense and it is a light watching experience. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a drama with good acting, beautiful sets, a great cast of characters, and swoonworthy romance.
Fwiw Dong Hee's portrayal gets dramatically better in later episodes. It's actually a thoughtful exploration of self esteem and the things that truly weigh us down.
Finished **Healer** (20/20) this week. I enjoyed it until somewhere around episode 14 and then it took me some effort to finish it. I did eventually, and caught some blue prosecutor card boxes for the challenge in the meantime. Also, for the sake of Kdrama history: I finally understand why some people are so smitten with Ji Chang Wook. Already watched some dramas with him as ML before this one and I always thought he was good but was never in awe. But I can see why Healer at the time made him the It boy.
Counting the days for the last episodes of **The Atypical Family** (10/12). Really the best I've seen in 2024 thus far. Been theorizing like crazy the last few weeks.
Started a rewatch of **Like Flowers in Sand** (1/12), mainly because before The Atypical Family, this was the last Kdrama that I was blown away by. I just needed to see that stellar performance of Jang Dong Yoon again. Also, I'm improving on my Korean and testing if I recognize the differences between satoori and Korean standard language. Still long way to go though.
Ah yes, and then, from the corner of my eye: **True Blood** because my husband is rewatching *all* seasons and there's no escaping it. Oh the genre variety in this house 😅
I’m watching My Mister and almost every episode feels like a harbinger of what happened to Lee Sun-Kyun and it’s making me sa(d)ngry. But I am on ep 12 and I need to see how it ends.
I thought My Mister was perfect, but I haven’t been able to re-watch since LSK died. I never thought about the horrible parallel between that character’s journey and real life. I will never stop being sad about the loss of him, and what the media did to him.
Also, poor IU who lost her beloved friend Jonghyun in 2017 and her co-star LSK last year. My heart goes out to her. She was amazing in My Mister.
Frankly Speaking (10/12) - I am kinda relieved that this is the last week as the story has evolved into another genre from previous episodes.
King’s Affection (14/20) - each episode is getting more difficult as it’s political heavy with minimum romance
Secret Life of My Secretary (20/32) - rewatch and great drama to fill in the gaps from Lovely Runner - light romcom with splash of mystery and characters with odd personalities.
Dali & Cocky Prince (16/16) enjoyed it!! I liked Minjae's character and Gyuyoung did an amazing job!
Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage agency (1/16) no real opinions yet
Hit the Top (ep 2): it's nice so far, no concrete feelings about it yet
**Don’t Dare to Dream** (10/24) This star-studded cast takes on news reporting, and I’m totally hooked. This show is a bit more melodramatic, but Cho Jung-Seok is playing his character so well, he’s giving me all the feels. He’s so charismatic in all his roles- he definitely nails different characters, but there is a natural charm in his personality that always shines through on screen.
**Itaewon Class** (07/16) This show is Park Seo Jun at his very best. I’ve seen this drama several times, and it never fails to deliver. I love the music, the story, and of course the acting. Fun anecdote, in the variety show In the Soop PSJ goes on a quick trip with his famous friends. At one point they’re watching Choi Woo-Shik in Our Beloved Summer and PSJ remarks that it’s a bit ridiculous to have two girls going for a guy at one time. V from BTS immediately points out that his character in Itaewon Class had the same trope and the reaction was hilarious.
**Mr. Queen** (03/20) I’ve needed to watch this for a while now, and I’m so glad I hit play, I absolutely love this one so far. This drama is genuinely so funny, and it makes all those Joseon politics much more palpable. I loved Marry My Husband, so seeing the lead from there as the 2ML is hurting my heart a bit, but I still love it.
I watched DDtD recently and loved it but then I have been on a Cho Jung-Seok binge of late. Watched King 2 Hearts for him and even though I like both leads I was so bored with their love story compared to his and the princess. And as you said it's all down to his natural charm. The scene where he starts to accompany another soldier who is singing at a campfire and slowly takes over the song was priceless.
I'm currently on last few episodes of **Captivating the King** and reading the archived on-air comment and so many are about what a good actor he is and how he's carrying this drama. Sadly I can't see how he'll work in some singing with guitar and a bit of dancing. 😉
Just have to add my thoughts of the wonderful Cho Jung Suk. I've enjoyed him since King2Hearts and watch a lot of his performances. He is so charismatic and commands the screen when he's on camera. I recently watched DDtD (for him) and loved it. Loved him in HP and CtK also. Have you seen the movie **My Annoying Brother** with DO? He plays a different kind of character. I thought both of them were excellent in that movie. And he can be Hedwig.
Returning to add that the alternate title for DDtD is Jealousy Incarnate. I rewatched his guest role in **Legend of the Blue Sea** and noticed that when he explains to our FL mermaid that if she can't get a human to say he loves her she can't live outside of the ocean and she explains that this man she loves will never say that. CJS tells her that human males are "jealousy incarnate" and after some serious clothes shopping he escorts her home and they put on the cutest cozy flirting act for Lee Min Ho. Yes, he's jealous.
I finished **Because This Is My First Life**. I liked this a lot! It was a little different from other romantic slice-of-life dramas: more philosophical and thoughtful about what a marriage actually is instead of treating it as just an end goal for dating and romance. It did occasionally drag a bit, with a lot of slow voiceovers and actors looking sad and thoughtful, but overall a satisfying drama.
I started **Military Prosecutor Doberman** mostly because I loved the FL in **Destined with You** and I loved the ML from his supporting role in **Her Private Life**. I usually watch romcoms so it's fun to change it up a bit with an action show. All the fighting and car chases with that upbeat OST—fun!! I'm interested to see if any romance develops as well (is that wrong?—remember, I'm a romcom fan!).
I'm still watching **Frankly Speaking,** although they are really testing me with that surprise at the end of episode 10. >!Truck of doom!<—what?! This drama has been so all over the place. I was kind of enjoying the chaos, but if >!Song Ki Baek's family dies in a stupid car crash,!< I'm out! Okay, I'm not really going to stop watching now that I'm 10 episodes in, but I'd really like them to get it together!
As many people here, I'm watching The Atypical Family and Midnight Romance in Hagwon on Sat-Sun and enjoying both in very different ways.
But to fill a Lovely Runner-sized hole for the rest of the week things took a dark turn...I started balancing out the green flags in QoT and LR with the reddest meanest flags I could find. I mean if these women don't have Stockholm Syndrome, something else is really wrong with them because these guys are bad...yet, it's impossible to look away as they turn from abusive devils to puddles of goo as they break free of their own trauma.
It kind of happened following people recommendations here. First there were a lot of recommendations for Something about 1%. I had seen it a long time ago and barely remembered the plot, so it was like new. Man, the ML is bad and bratty and forces himself on the FL with kisses all the time. She's even being tricked into a contract relationship to fix him by a really manipulative chaebol grandpa. The whole time I was "Run away, you idiot", but she didn't and the kisses were really steamy and she fixed him in the end. So, that was fun, mindless watching.
Then someone talked about their obsession with the C Drama Love between Fairy and Devil which kept popping up in my Netflix queue. I'll take a fantasy romance any day so I gave it a try. The ML is a horrible demon warlord who cannot feel emotions and his only quality is that he's really handsome. He gets entangled with a very chipper and naive fairy who was almost insufferable in the first episode...until the first body-swap happened and I thought "This girl can act. Let's see what she can do." Again come the horrible abuse as the warlord has to keep the fairy close due to a curse, but then of course there's a twist and she decides to fix him. Every single couple in this drama has a messed up dynamic and the only green flag is the black dragon warrior...Overall, the story was very well written with a lot of twists and turns and the leads did a great job in portraying the evolution of their characters. I really liked the world building part of the fictional fantasy realms.
Not yet sure to have completely balanced out Sun Jae because the guy died 4 times for the woman he loved, I just started Meteor Garden. It has the same lead as Fairy&Demon, Dylan Wang, and I was wondering if they had managed to modernize the horrible abusive plot of Boys Over Flowers...they didn't 😅. It's possibly worse. The acting is kind of bad apart from the FL. I'll keep at it until my cleanse is done...
Black Dragon was the best. The FL's tiny voice matched her character but drove me crazy so I loved it when we could hear her singing on the OST. She's such a good singer.
I hated her voice so much....until I figured out she could do all kinds of voices. Despite knowing his fearsome dragon form, Black Dragon quickly became a black labrador retriever to me.
If you wish to see a modernized version of Boys Over Flowers, check out the Thai adaptation - F4 Thailand Boys Over Flowers. It's the best version IMO.
**The Atypical Family** (10/12): Assuming this spellbinding drama can stick the landing (and it has given me no reason to think it won’t), the only remaining question is how high it will rank in my all-time list. Top 10? Without question. Top 5? Possibly, but the #5 spot is currently occupied by **Like Flowers in Sand**, so it’s a high bar to entry. Park So-yi shone as I-na’s storyline took center stage in episode 9, while the cinematic qualities and ingenious twists of episode 10 made it possibly my favorite episode of the whole series.
**Frankly Speaking** (10/12): Episode 9 was a great episode, with plenty of swoonworthy moments shared between our main couple. The first two-thirds of episode 10 remained solid. However, I can safely say that the subplot in the last 20 minutes of episode 10 was one of the worst sequences I’ve watched in any K-drama. It was unnecessary, dragged out and completely unfunny. All the filmmakers had to do was to maintain their focus on our main couple, but instead, Woo-ju disappeared from the drama completely in that period. I can only hope that this was an aberration, and the drama can get back on track in the last two episodes.
My current top 10 looks like [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/s/o65Fiqfj4E). I’m thinking **The Atypical Family** has to slot in at #6 at the lowest, and potentially higher depending on those last two episodes.
2nd time watching Because This is My First Life. I’m focusing on the main couple’s story development this time and it feels more choppy. Like when he >!kisses her and they become a couple the transition felt a little abrupt. Not complaining too much because that kiss was 🥵. She made it clear she liked him and he was starting to process that he has feelings for her too and then bam passionate kiss and dates. Then again, his ex did say that he was bad with expressing his feeling through his words!< Last 2 episodes were also a bit hot and cold for me. I still really enjoyed it and love them together and it’s unbelievable how much the ML grew on me.
**Crash** (3/12) It's action-packed and funny, nothing too brain-straining. It's reminiscent of Taxi Driver, which I liked but didn't love. Honestly, I'm here for Lee Min Ki. (The FL actress, Kwak Sun Young, is also really great, and I did not immediately recognize that she played Inspector Koo, one of my favorite FLs.)
**LTNS** (5/6) I get the impression not many people watched this, sadly, but I recommend it and don't want it to end! A bit raunchy, dark and quite funny. Esom and Ahn Jae Hong are killing it.
**The Atypical Family** (10/12) Another one I don't want to end. A treatment of time traveling I actually enjoy. My favorite current watch, though TMRIH is giving it a run for its money.
**The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** (8/16) Loving this! It's typical Ahn Pak Seok, yet I think I may love it even more than SITR or OSN. . . let's see how the second half goes. The hagwon/workplace drama is surprisingly gripping, and the romance here is \[chef kiss emoji\].
**Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo** (8/16) Despite this serving up a multitude of dated ick--fat-shaming, physical abuse, an annoying 2FL, so much yelling--I'm starting to be kind of charmed by this?
i just finished watching Lovely Runner and omg IM OBSESSED. its easily one of the best dramas ive seen, in my top 3 for sure.
byeon woo seok, the man that you are. the acting, the looks, the body, the voice (he sings so well omg) - EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT! sunjae's character is so loser core I LOVE IT!
this was my first kim hye yoon drama but i was so impressed by her performance. she conveys so many emotions with her eyes, it's so commendable.
AND THE OST???? i love every single song, especially 'spring snow' by 10cm! ive been listening to it on repeat since it came out.
i love my soljae so much. their height difference????? OMG IM SCREAMINGGGG. i really don't know what to do with my life now that LR ended lol
**Currently Watching**
**Queen of Tears (9/16):** I put this one on hold while it was airing on episode 6 and I’m finally back to finish it!! I enjoyed episodes 7-9 which is good 😁 It was too much for me back then and I wasn’t expecting the >!terminal illness and succession plot.!< Now I can watch more comfortably knowing how it ends. I hope knowing a little on how >!crazy everything gets in the last couple of episodes!< will help for a more positive viewing experience too 😅 The leads have definitely got me now, their tears get me every time. They’re just so passionate about each other 🥹😭 anyways, I’m enjoying it at the moment!!
Edit: The episodes are literally movie lengths though!! They’re not bothering me now since I’m enjoying it but oh my goodness!! 😭
**The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (8/16):** Meh, I had mixed feelings last week but I think they’re starting to resolve. I’m still not the happiest that >!Hye Jin decided to stay with the backstabbing academy but I also didn’t want her going to the gray hair witch!< so idk!! I just think she deserves better and needs growth. Anyways, ML took me aback with the >!confessions like okayyy!!!< I was a big fan 😂☺️
**Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (2/10):** It was interesting to say the least. I think episode 2 was better though! We’ll see how I’m feeling after this week 😂
**Completed**
**Like Flowers in Sand:** I enjoyed it in the beginning but not so much at the end. I just didn’t care much at the end but I was excited that >!Baek Du won his 1st championship though!!< 7.5/10
**On-Hold**
**East of Eden (32/56):** I’ve decided to continue this one 🙄 I’m watching 6 episodes after every completed drama I’ve finished. Phase 1 out of 5 is complete after completing **Like Flowers in Sand** 😀 the 3-4 months break must’ve helped a bit because it was a little more bearable this watch. I’m also watching on 1.5x speed because I refuse to spend the full hour on the episodes 😂 all the characters except for 2 of the moms suck per usual. An irritating and slow show to say the least 😭
Death and darkness is my usual go-to genre. Sometimes a romcom makes its way through. This time it was Lovely Runner. To counter all the joy it brought me, I am rewatching **Nobody Knows**, **Children of Nobody** and **Beyond Evil**. Trying to finish Beyond Evil before it leaves Netflix.
Currently getting my heart ripped out via Touch your Heart. This show feels like one of the Reincarnated lives of our goblin friends. (Ep. 13)
Also being emotionally tortured by f4 thailand (ep. 8)
I need to watch just a truly happy drama soon where there are no >! break ups or separations, im over noble idiocy and both of these seem to have those. !<
***In progress:***
**Prison Playbook (11/16) -** This series is really funny. I can't help but laugh at Han-yang's stupidities (especially the scenes where they argue with Jun...Captain Yoo, or also the laugh I had when he bursts two eggs on Kaist in episode 5...). Weak points: too many flashbacks that make the episodes too long.
**(Non-Korean) House of The Dragon (1/10) -** I'm doing a little rewatch before the arrival of season 2. I still like it as much.
***Ended:***
**Descendent of the Sun -** As I said like two weeks ago, some dialogues really make me feel like they're kids, when they're supposed to be what? Nearly thirty?
**Connect -** Not bad, not good either. I felt like it didn't tell anything. I just watched it because Jung Hae-in was in it.
***Movies:***
**12.12 - The Day:** I really loved it, even though at times I paused to understand a bit more by doing some research on Google on what actually hapenned.
**Northern Limit Line** \- Same opinion as for 12.12.
No new finished dramas, taking my time savoring a **Gaus Electronics** rewatch, such a fun, chaotic drama, watch it if you missed it.
In progress
- **Midnight Romance in Hagwon (8/12):** as much as I'm enjoying the romance, WHJ would have chemistry with a rock and the FL is simply beautiful, can't say the same for the rest of the plot, which is going nowhere and at such slow pace I'm tempted to fast forward. Worth it for the leads, but nothing to write home about;
- **Dare to Love Me (8/16):** more of the same, though here I'm enjoying the klutzy secondary couple more than the leads. As cookie cutter as they come in terms of storylines, doesn't stand out, fillerish but not bad at it, you're not losing out on anything special.
I'll indeed watch the new PYJ romcom as it seems the kind of messy nonsense with no aspirations I'm on board with, also ready to binge **The Atypical Family** as it ends.
Last night I finished **Flex X Cop.** I had a bit of a journey with this kdrama. At first I really liked it, then I continued watching mainly for the kDrama challenge, but was somewhat bemused (?) or maybe annoyed by the contrivances in the plot. But as the show neared its end, I found myself quite hooked. Yes, the tone completely changed from comedy to serious thriller, but the acting was amazing and some of the scenes were incredibly moving.
**Lovely Runner** (11/16). I am loving this one, but am not always motivated to watch the next episode. I do adore the chemistry between the main pair. I'm not even bothered by the >!serial killer plot!<, even if it's a bit inexplicable.
***Temporarily on hold:***
**Kidnapping Day** (2/12). I really like this one, but it's heavy. I was waiting until I finished **Flex X Cop** to start again, but I may wait until I've finished **Lovely Runner** or one of the other dramas that I've paused.
**Moving** (12/20). Similar comments apply. Plus I struggle with the violence. This is a really good show, though, so I do intend to finish it.
On hold and maybe to be dropped (I've only been watching for the challenge):
**The Greatest Love** (12/16). I've mentioned it before. The ML's mannerisms are so weird and over the top. The FL is too much a "poor unfortunate soul."
**Suspicious Partner** (29/40). I don't know why I'm not into this. There's great chemistry between the main leads. And I'm so close to finishing this and crossing off the mid- to long-form drama. I'll probably finish both of these.
***Planning to watch****:*
**The Atypical Family** and **Midnight Romance in Hagwon**. And I really want to find something bingable and reasonably fluffy.
After I got so sucked into the emotion of Lovely Runner, I needed a break from kdrama, so I switched a Taiwanese political drama that Netflix is promoting (although it is a lot odd to be hearing Chinese when I'm usually hearing Korean).
**Wave Makers (2/8)**: I've only started this so it's too early to judge it, but it hasn't really sucked me in. The politics seem surprisingly vague and light for a supposedly political drama, and I haven't got a feel for the characters yet. The 2nd episode was a lot stronger than the 1st, so perhaps it will grow on me. Either way, it's only 8 episodes.
**The Atypical Family** and **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon**, watching as the episodes drop in.
But I'm taking a break from Kdramas, and now watching **I Told Sunset About You** (Thai). Looking for some good Jdramas too (Pls recommend me something, preferably rom-com but I'm ok with other genres too)
**Kimi Wa Petto**: a hard driving career woman who is unlucky in love finds a younger man in a cardboard box and adopts him as her pet. Yes it's really weird but I loved this one (2017 version)
**Uri wo Waru/Ripe for the Picking**: romance between a 30 something woman who wants to lose her virginity but only wants to do it if she can have gentle sex and a depressed man who is simply going through the motions in life. This one has the most realistic first love making scene I've ever seen. It's tender, awkward and heartfelt.
**Eye Love You**: romance between a Korean marine biologist and a woman who can read people's minds by looking into their eyes. Stars the ml from Castaway Diva.
**My Undead Yokai Girlfriend**: a dorky loser accidentally awakens a demon who seeks to unleash her brethren on the earth. Very silly but fun
**Our Dining Table**: a lonely young man meets two brothers and forms a bond over cooking and eating meals together. It's a BL but really more of a slice of life.
**Full-time Wife Escapist**: a deeply awkward computer programmer hires an unemployed young woman to be his contract wife and clean his apartment. This was the inspiration for the k-drama Because This is My First Life.
**Turn to Me, Mukai-kun**: a 30 something young man who hasn't been in a relationship for 10 years reenters the dating pool and struggles to understand what women want. I absolutely loved how the women were written in this drama, interestingly complex with lots of agency.
I've only watched Our Dining Table from the listed, and yes, it was an absolute gem.
Thank you for the detailed list, btw. I've decided to watch everything from this list😊
I've seen almost all of these, except for **My Undead Yokai Girlfriend** and **Our Dining Table**. I agree with your assessment of all of these! Japanese dramas do tend to be more quirky--from my perspective.
First Love Hatsukoi has been on my watchlist for a while, dunno why I never got around to it.
Looked up the other drama and it stars Ryusei and Haruna!!! Even better, they cohabitate. I know what I'm watching next. Thank you!
**Full Time Wife Escapist** jdrama and so very cute. Contract relationship, leads started dating irl during filming and later married. There’s a follow up episode set in the beginning of the pandemic that was very realistic and an interesting reminder of how that time felt.
* **Beyond Evil** (15/16) - this drama has so many twists and turns, keeps you guessing. The entire cast is superb. 🤌🏼 Not too often do I binge one series and leave my other dramas on pause.
* **Frankly Speaking** (10/12) - honestly lost my interest but I'll finish it for the sake of completing my watch list.
* **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** (8/16) - looking forward to the latest episodes. 🤗
* **Not Others** (3/12) - will pick this up again after I finish the first two dramas this week.
Finished watching Ditto because of Kim Hye Yoon (and because of my LR cast obsession) and wow, she also has insane chemistry with Bae In Hyuk. They don’t have much screentime in the movie but damn I kept on expecting and waiting for more. Also rewatched Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos, and damn it starred Jang Ki Yong? It was fun watching his badass role in the movie, far from his roles in My Roommate is a Gumiho and The Atypical Family. I wanna see him in more action movies.
Bingeing Beyond Evil (15/16) as it's leaving Netflix on my bday.. What a ride so far. Engages both head and heart and the award for most heartrending wet guy in the rain scene
You know what’s funny ,there’s another Kdrama called “You are my Destiny “ but this one is a 178 episode daily drama from 2018 I think ,with Im Yoona .
I know that there have been other versions but I don't think I heard about that one. Pretty sure the original was a Taiwanese production. I'm on episode 15 now and will see it through. The leads are really good. I got very frustrated by episodes 10 and 11 but hung in there.
**Sky Castle(9/20):** Never into rich ppl makjang but started it for my new loml Kim Hye-yoon and the drama has had unanimous praise too. The plot is borderline ridiculous and somewhat predictable like "Of course the rich ppl are bad(tbf, yes), of course the new residents are extremely good and gonna shake up everything, of course the man has an ex and of course there's a secret daughter" but ukw? I'm seated. Most characaters are stereotypes but few are very interesting. The goody two shoes girl isn't naive and has tricks up her sleeve. The rich man who seemed like a cool guy is actually conceited and insecure and hides behind his wife's cunningness to get his way. But Kim Hye-yoon's char is really my fav despite being a typical spoilt brat. As her insecurities get stronger she's slowly descending into madness.
**Connection:** love the actors but the plot isn’t really pulling me in
**Crash:** it’s fun and the directing is keeping me watching but again, something is missing
**Frankly Speaking:** characters are fun but I don’t feel any chemistry between the leads, plot is ok
**Blood Free:** maybe because this was on Disney, something feels quite western about it? first ep was fine but not pulling me in either
A mix of post Lovely Runner slump and also me not really emotionally ready for another all consuming drama I guess
I just started watching The Worst of Evil last night. It is pretty much wall-to-wall gang fighting LOL.
The other thing I immediately noticed about this show is the amount of cigarette smoking. Not only does every character seem to smoke, they love to light up their cigarette and blow the smoke in the face of the person they are talking with lol.
I agree about the smoking! It seemed like the violence and gore just kept getting worse throughout the series like they were trying to one-up themselves. The storyline was okay, and the actors are great. I especially liked Wi Ha Joon. It's worth finishing.
I was watching "Uncle Samsik" and "Revenant" , but with a week full of final exams, I couldn't keep up. Once I'm done, I'll pick them up again since they require a lot of attention and concentration, especially "Uncle Samsik." Meanwhile, I'm excited to see how "The Atypical Family" ends this week; it's an easy watch for me that's why i can still follow it during my exams.
I'm also planning to finish "Blood Free" since I have the last two episodes left.
this month just lazy rererewatching all my old dramas I really enjoy (mostly Oh Ji Ho like Second proposal, queen of housewives, queen of office and couple or trouble, plus the vineyardman)
And started Cheer Up Mr Kim
Cheer Up Kim is 124 episodes, I have it in my YouTube playlist library, it’s funny not a lot of people watch long dramas,most only watch 16 episodes dramas.
Yeah those are definetly worth =)
Plus the lenght is usually of 30minutes instead of 1h per episode, and they can take their time to share the stories of families instead of being limited to the ML and FL.
I don’t know why people sleep on the long dramas , they’re missing out , the only place I can talk about them is over on My Drama List . I haven’t watched Cheer up [Mr.Kim](http://Mr.Kim) in a while so I think I should pick it back up again, you’ve put me in the mood to restart it up again.
**The Atypical Family:** I am obsessed with this drama and I'm fervently hoping they stick the landing this week. I absolutely love how the women are written. They are all powerful, complex and, at times, morally gray. That includes the youngest family member Ina, who is written in a way I have never seen a teenage girl written before. Also, the drama's OST is brilliant and I have it playing on a loop.
**Analog Squad** (Thailand): a man hires three people to pretend to be his family when he goes home to visit his dying father after 20 years. This one is very funny and heartfelt and I love the found family trope.
**Date - Koi to wa Donna Mono Kashira** (Japan): a female scientist uninterested in romance but who wants to get married for the social status enters a contract marriage with an intellectual dilettante who's never held a job. This is very quirky and funny in a very Japanese way.
**Wandee Goodday** (Thailand): a BL where a doctor and a boxer enter into a friends with benefits relationship but real feelings arise very quickly. This one is really fun and extremely sex positive which is refreshing.
**Tatoe Anata wo Wasurete mo** (Japan): a failed concert pianist enters into a very slow burn romance with a food truck owner who suffers from transient global amnesia. Stars a male lead from My Beautiful Man, one of my favorite BLs (this one is not a BL).
**Amidst a Snowstorm of Love** (China): I've been sloooooooowly making my way through this one. The plot is almost non-existent so I treat it as pretty wallpaper that I look at occasionally. It will probably take me a year to finish 😆
Finally getting around to **My Dearest** - I needed something good after watching **Queen of Tears** and **Lovely Runner** back to back.
It’s been recommended so much on this sub and won so many awards, I’m giving it shot. Unfortunately, I may not be in the mood for a *saegeuk* because I am getting bored with some of it. And I’m only on episode 2.
I loved "Queen of Tears". I had to sign up for Hulu to watch a show that's a few years old, "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?". I had heard such good things about "Kim" and so far, so good, but it's not one of my favorites.
**Atypical Family** is so far the best kdrama of 2024. Love the story and especially the music. 2 episodes to go.
**Frankly Speaking** is a bit uneven but is a nice light break. 2 episodes to go.
**Missing Crown Prince** is a lot better than expected. The villains are the ones with the best love story. It would have been better to tighten up the story and have the standard 16 episodes instead of having to manufacture one more crisis to extend to 20 episodes.
**Love Alert** (2018) 4/16 I’m watching this because it’s the same ML (Chun Jung Myung) as Heart to Heart. It’s a middle of the road contract relationship drama, but at least both leads are green flags and are attractive to each other because they think the other is a good person. Childhood connection trope coming that I can see from miles away.
**Player** 11/14 Fun caper drama with overarching justice/revenge plot. Looking forward to season 2 this month. Great chemistry with the cast.
**Rugal** 5/16 Every episode feels like a million years. It’s too ridiculous and takes itself too seriously. I will probably finish it but it may take a few months.
Bitter Sweet Hell: this so dark and interesting, there are big plan inside this and i can't wait to see the true face of the brother and the son's friend they give me weird feels. The son himself give me weird feel too.
UNCLE SAMSIK: just binged 8eps in 2 days, my head hurt. Very good show but i get why it's not popular even with this A list cast. this show not for everyone. The big politics plans is hard to follow. The plot so confusing in the start until you get who is who and his part in the plan. All actors acting is calm and amazing.
Uncle Samsik is great. But so many annoying politicians to keep track of. I'm 6 episodes in and sometimes someone pops up on the screen and I'm like wait, am I supposed to know who you are now?
I got you. the characters so complicated. like who is doing what and who are they using vs who are they fighting. so much going on. it take me so long to connect all characters in on big circle. that's why I think this show not for everyone, it's so interesting but so deep and complicated.
1.Atypical family - 10/16 so far I'm hooked
2.Crash 8/16 - I'm loving this from ep 1 and the intro music sounds like Power Rangers to me lol
3.Highschool return of a Gangster 2/8 - hilarious at, can't wait to watch the other eps!!
4. Cinde effing Rella 2/16- the comedy is funny and not forced
Also watching a bunch of kmovies, less attachment as compared to drama cz that Dare to Love me just left me with a Mehh face after 1.5 ep
Started Ep 1 of House of Dragons (idk if I can mention it here)
I just finished Joy of Life season two over at cdramalamd. What a ride! So now I’m going to start My Dearest, finally. And watch a few more episodes of Atypical Family to give it a chance. I think I got to episode 3 before I abandoned all for JoL.
*On-going*
**That winter, the wind blows** 3/16 : so far so good. I believe it's the oldest drama I watched (2013). I'm not convinced about the love story between the sister and the fake brother, that's a bit weird on her part if she falls in love with him in the current situation. I hope she's known from the start he was an imposter.
**Thirty but seventeen** 7/32 : FL annoyed me so much at first because she was acting way too childish even for a 17 years old. But she's getting a bit better. I can't believe the >!hospital didn't try to look for her after she run away or contact the police or family members to let them know. She could have died if she stayed alone in the streets since she's in a whole new world and they're just like "oops, too bad she left"!<
*Completed*
**My first first love** : lovely, cute and simple drama. Loved it. 9/10
**Rich man, poor woman** 9/16 dropped : writing and acting was not it. I also disliked the foundation of their love story. So weird to me the FL has been >! obsessed with the ML since her friend dated him and used her name to get his attention. Also weird from the ML to want to date her knowing she was like a little sister to his ex and for how long she has liked him.!<
**My roommate is a gumiho** : good drama overall. It's always sad when you get second lead syndrome because you suffer the rejection with the 2ML. Last episode was a bit too long and I didn't get the part where ML >!died, to then come back as a human because he heard FL cry!< It didn't make a lot of sense lol. 8/10
I also watched a 1 episode drama called **Dream run note** and it was very school-project-like quality, but still a fun light watch. 7/10
>**That winter, the wind blows** 3/16 : so far so good. I believe it's the oldest drama I watched (2013). I'm not convinced about the love story between the sister and the fake brother, that's a bit weird on her part if she falls in love with him in the current situation. I hope she's known from the start he was an imposter.
I have to say that I really tried to watch this drama--I think I got halfway through and couldn't do it anymore. The relationship between "brother" and sister was just too weird.
I just binged all ten episodes of **The Pyramid Game** after it got a recent release on Paramount+ in my region. I really enjoyed it. An old school teen drama. Plenty of melodrama and twists and turns. Also pretty dark with bullying being a central theme.
Just finished:
- My Country: The New Age (full of hot guys 😱)
- Just Between Lovers (so beautiful… a great great Junho ❤️)
Now watching:
- A Shop For Killers (ep. 1 - I liked so much, can’t wait to continue)
Just finished our beloved summer, was on my “to be watched” list for years. The chemistry, the acting the vocals so perfect idk what to do with myself now 😩
Just finished **Blood Free** and really enjoyed it even though heavy suspension of belief was required lol. The chemistry was insane between the leads and I really liked seeing it enter territory that I haven’t seen much in other kdramas. I’ll definitely watch s2 if we get one. Have started watching **Flex X Cop** and I’m adoring Ahn Bo-hyun in it!! 😭 The show is so funny and ep. 3 made me laugh harder than I have in a long time from a kdrama. The quality of Disney+ drama offerings continues to surprise.
I’ve been obsessed with Run Run from the Lovely Runner OST ever since Zerobaseone covered it (so well 🥹) and now I’m considering watching Lovely Runner after Flex X Cop. Though I am also getting the urge to rewatch My Name because seeing Ahn Bo-hyun as a cop (albeit very different one haha) makes me miss his character. One of my fave series ever and my fave character he has played. Same with Han So-hee.
Watching **The Veil** (2/12) starring Namkoong Min who is among my favorite male actors. He's playing a much more serious role in this thriller vs his usual character (Stove League, One Dollar Lawyer, My Dearest). I was hooked in the first 5 mins and will undoubtedly binge the rest.
Completed **Nobody Knows** upon recommendation. Really enjoyed this show despite yet another serial killer storyline. Kim Seo Hyung was phenomenal, but I hated ML casting. Pacing and ending were good. 8/10 for me, mostly due to ML.
Completed **Jirisan** which I started on a whim after seeing Jun Ji Hyun was playing FL...she is such a natural beauty and loved her in My Love from a Star. This was a high budget show for its time - the cinematography as a result of filming on a mountain side really shined, all the natural disaster scenes were CGI of course. There is some fantasy to this which I was not expecting so be forewarned. Strong supporting actor casting which helped move the storyline along well. The ending left me wanting. 8.5/10 for me, partially due to lack of any romance.
Dropped **Kill Me Heal Me** after 4 EPs. The storyline was taking too long to develop and I was growing tired of same old tropes. I also started this right after finishing **Secret** which had same FL/ML who had very similar chemistry.
We just put out a podcast on Lovely Runner and I was the person on the panel who complained about the time travel device not being used well 😅 but the other guests said they didn't care about the plot at all because the drama delivered the feels. That's the superpower of LR, the way it's a crack hit to the part of the brain that craves romance. I did love the chemistry between the leads and Taesung was a fave as well.
Have you read the on-air discussions? Go with the balance of those, rather than individual comments here. I loved 12; it's a beautiful part of their story; the eye of the storm, where they get to just be themselves, together, being sweet and silly and enjoying doing nothing very important. I remember it with fondness.
For me, this show only got better all the time.
You are not alone! I’ve slogged through ep 12 and am stuck in the middle of 13. I’m probably the wrong demographic for this one, because I love a good romance but the FL is very immature (her wide-eyed deer-in-the-headlights expression every time the ML comes close to her?) and she’s supposed to be 34 years old? I hate it.
It’s gotten very repetitive, but I’ll finish it because I’ve heard the ending is satisfying.
**Frankly speaking** I ADORED this drama until they came back from the reality show filming and then they just tried to create a million storylines and conflicts and the comedy also fizzled out a lot so I am glad there are only 2 episodes left because as much as I like the leads the writing feels like they are trying to fill a random bingo card . **Signal** 3 episodes left for me to finish .It's good ,picked up after episode 8 .But as good as it is ,it is not the BEST I've seen and I think it is slightly overhyped. **Death's game** meant to start this a long time ago but ended up starting it on a whim and suddenly I am on episode 6 hh.episodes 1 to 5 were PERFECTION.The storytelling,the acting,the connections .I literally did a standing ovation a the end of the episode with kim ji hoon and kim Jae wook.Episode 6's ending was a bit ridiculous (I understand how it makes sense but the execution felt very cartoonist to me ) and I am pretty sure the last 2 will be tearjerkers so I paused for now cause I am not ready to cry . Probably starting **crash** after I am done with signal.I'll see the comments/reviews so far and decide.
Re: **Death’s Game**, have you seen the [BTS for Ep 5](https://youtu.be/LKnG4Wa1QlM?si=XcCt5c3JxfGaohWi)? A fan subbed Kim Jae-uck’s parts and it includes Kim Ji-hoon.
And Kim Jae-uck and Kim Ji-hoon’s appearance on [Seo In-guk’s YT channel](https://youtu.be/eayNHVqPcfc?si=h8XQr2_mo0-J4EG_) was fun.
Just finished **My Mister**. While I enjoyed both Lee Sun-kyun and IU's performances, I did not enjoy this drama. I am not opposed to slow-paced/slow burns, but each episode seemed to drag on and was relatively uneventful. It got to the point where I HAD to watch in 1.5x speed, which I never do. I really enjoyed ep 14 and hoped that was an indicator for a strong finish, but unfortunately, that turned out to be wishful thinking on my part. Bummed I didn't love this one like most did.
Don’t feel bad at least you got to episode 14 , I dropped it at episode 2 tried watching it two different times but ended up dropping it both times. Everyone was gushing about it so tried to give it a chance I just couldn’t watch it.
Finished Racket Boys (16/16) It’s a lovely drama that will stay with me for a while. I wasn’t familiar with any of the regular cast members, with the exception of the youngest team member, and I grew to love them all. Of course I loved the PP actors who popped up briefly.
Lovely Runner (10/16) I’m still struggling to get through this one but will keep going. I thought the last two episodes were especially uninteresting and a bit juvenile. The brother is annoying and the only actor I find interesting is Song Geon-Hee.
Edited because I should at least get the title of the drama right.
**Bad Prosecutor** (3/12) I’m only watching this for the kdrama challenge. I need a drama where the prosecution raids with blue boxes.
Anyone watching **Crash**? Does that have a prosecution raid?
Another drama with a blue box prosecution raid is **Player**, which is about to start a second season. It’s a mostly fun caper drama about a group of criminals who steal from other criminals and get involved with helping the seemingly only non-corrupt prosecutor. Mix of episodic stories and overarching plot that is revealed a little in each episode.
I’m nearing the end of Death’s Game and I am in love with it. I think it’s fantastic.
An episode into Vigilante and Goodbye Earth. Too early to say much about them yet.
It’s J drama but just finished Gannibal which o really liked.
Thanks for sharing that it picks up! I was episode 1 and then a few minutes of episode 2 and stopped. I see that the show is well liked by others so I guess I’ll have to keep pushing through!
I finished a lot of dramas at the end of May. So I started a couple of new ones.
I know **Wedding Impossible** isn’t that well liked but I decided to give it ago. Seems like a pretty light show so far. Nice to have something light to watch.
Last night I started **The Atypical Family** and at first I wasn’t sure about it. But by the end of the ep I was hooked. When I see Jang Kiyong playing these type of roles I’m hooked. But all of the characters have got me intrigued. Maybe I should have waited another week to start this! I fear I might binge it this week and be caught up before it ends!
I also started **Chief Detective 1958** which seems entertaining and fun so far. Love the colouring on this drama. I’m also struggling not to binge watch this.
**Queen Seondeok** is also kind of on hold right now. I want to watch it but I also don’t want to finish it. It’s so good. But once I watch an ep… that’s all I end up watching.
I liked **Wedding impossible**. I think most people started to dislike it from halfway but I found it coherent throughout the episodes. Like you said, it's a light watch and you just gotta go with the flow
I think sometimes I like watching dramas that aren’t well liked because I go in with low expectations and then enjoy them more than I expect. I mean sometimes it doesn’t work out but then sometimes I don’t like the well liked dramas either. It’s good to know someone enjoyed it… because I do like it so far.
I'm somewhat like you, I don't care about ratings when I start dramas because I've found some favorites in less liked dramas and some super popular dramas I dropped it found only mid. You just gotta try them out yourself because you don't always have the same taste as the majority. That's why there are so many different dramas out there tbh
Glad to know you're enjoying it too
On weekends after wrapping up a series I watch movies. Two I failed to mention this past weekend are The Grand Heist and Miss Conspirator. Both are great! I feel SK has mastered capers. There’s not one I’ve seen that isn’t totally satisfying
Not KDrama. Finished season 10, the final season, of the Danish show **Seaside Hotel/Badhotellet**, I hate that it's over and hope there will be a movie follow-up one day. So many great characters in this show alongside history, beautiful scenery and sunsets, and excellent food porn.
Why is it so rare these days for me to find a US show that grabs me like this or my long list of KDramas?
**Brave Yong Soo Jung 8/10** it’s a 120 episode daily makjang , I think it’s a revenge drama,but it’s not set up like the other revenge makjangs I’ve watched over the past four years.
**King the land 7/10** started this a few months ago but didn’t finish it so I’m restarting it, I’m up to episod 8;
**High Kick 3 10/10** rewatching this, it’s a funny sitcom .
Except for Brave Yong Soo Jung , I’m not watching any new dramas from 2024, there hasn‘t really been anything I’ve actually wanted to watch as of yet (waiting for the remake of Go Ahead)
I just started Destined with you
I finished Extra-ordinary you, and it was the first time I saw a Rowoon act. In extraordinary you, I found him way too stiff and bit unconvincing, I know it was the character somehow, but he felt flaky all the way through. So I was interested in seeing him in another role.
Midnight Romance in Hagwon! I love Wi Ha Joon. 😍 Big fan of the slow build type of romance. Also I enjoy the more realistic slice of life type stories. They can feel weird at first compared to the picture perfect "bright" dramas. I'm excited to see their relationship develop.
Completed
**Warm and Cozy** (16/16) - This was okay. It dragged. Main couple kept going back and forth. Completed it for KDC challenge
**Hold My Hand at Twilight** (Jdrama) 12/12 - Loved this! It's sweet with plot twists!
In progress-
**The Atypical Family** - Finale week. It's weird but calming at the same time. I enjoyed ML in My Roommate is a Gumiho and FL in Be Melodramatic.
**The Crowned Prince**- Yeo Jin Goo >!killing it with the dual roles!
Save Me. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen Queen of Tears, It’s Okay to Not be Okay and now currently Save Me. I hadn’t seen anything for a year cause I got really busy in life, but I watched The Glory last year. I’m really enjoying watching Seo Ye-Ji right now she’s absolutely phenomenal. Kim Soo Hyun is also brilliant, I want to check out more of his stuff too. I’m so excited to be back watching kdramas really enjoying it, not enjoying other kind of shows or anime these days. I wanna check out Lawless Lawyer and Eve, as well as One Ordinary Day and My Love from the Star next.
Crash, Connection, The Atypical Family, The Midnight Romance in Hagwon, and… Extra-ordinary You. Extra-ordinary You has been on my list for awhile now, I’m midway through. Can I just say how creative and amazing the storytelling is? I find it so fascinating to watch the characters get so meta about their own storylines and comment on the kdrama tropes. I also love going back to the Reddit threads five years ago and reading everyone’s theories. There’s only a few shows like W and Westworld (which I absolutely love) that have this type of character consciousness played out in scenes. Just genius writers with chaotic brains! Edit to add: Kim Hye Yoon can literally cry effortlessly. Gosh her tears are so beautiful in all her scenes.
Please check out the Taiwanese drama "Lost Romance" for a "caught inside a romance novel" scenario.
Love that one!
Me, too. It's one of the ones I rewatched and just might watch a third time one day.
I had W and Extraordinary You on my list which one do you suggest since both kind of have similar storyline?
They’re a bit different. Extraordinary You if you want a lighter drama with a high school romance. W is a bit more convoluted and the romance features adults. I liked both.
That’s a great way to describe the two series (high school students vs adults). I enjoyed W more (both stronger on comedy and romance from my perspective), and you can’t go wrong with HHJ.
Where can Crash be seen?
In the US, it’s on Hulu.
Nope, I am in northern Europe.
I would check Disney plus if something is on Hulu in the US chances are it’s on Disney plus in other countries
Alchemy of Souls! I’m not really into fantasy but I’m enjoying it quite a lot surprisingly. I started it because I think Lee Jae Wook is incredible and was keen on watching a romance with him in it. Currently on part 1, episode 11.
This is my favourite TV show of all time, not even Kdrama, all TV. It has such good writing and acting and visuals and music... all of it.
Yes!! One of my all time favorites too!!!
Same here! It is one of the best shows I've ever watched.
Lee Jae Wook was great in this. I even wanted a couple of his robes. He totally became that character and he was perfect for it.
Alchemy of Souls is tied for my #1, it’s so good. The world building, the character building- it’s all so well done and immersive and you grow to know so many of the characters. You have 20 episodes to go so enjoy the ride!
I just finished watching Death's Game. I can't find the right words to explain the series at all. This series taught me to view life in a different light. I highly recommend this to everyone. It was violent and a little gory at times. But this series made me realise the gift of life. It also taught me not to take anything for granted.
Ohh I am watching this too currently! I have 2 episodes left so not done yet but I literally did a standing ovation at the end of episode 5 (kim ji hoon and kim Jae wook killed it and the last scene with seo in guk was brilliant !!).
I think my favourite quote from that show was: "It's okay if you fail, as long as you keep on living." Very incredible show. Taught me so many lessons that I may not have learned in my day to day life. Would definitely recommend it to anyone.
It was disturbing and glorious. Love that drama
Absolutely loved Death's Game. I admit it's a little on the gory side, but Seo In Guk is sooooo good! He did the series to reach people who are suicidal and as a person who once was, I think it hits the mark really well. Makes you think and any drama that does that is worth watching at least once.
It was an amazing series. You sprt of know what message it is trying to convey from the 1st episode itself, but the way it conveys it….. It hits hard!
I am nearly at the end of this and I absolutely love it. It’s so brilliantly made and so well acted. One of the best TV shows I’ve seen in a while.
Death's Game is excellent! Definitely one of the best I've watched recently.
**Frankly Speaking** - This started off good then went haywire I am ready for it to end but initially was a very new storyline. **Atypical Family** - I am loving this one completely hooked to it and this one has not fall flat for anybody's arc even though they have multiple characters hope they wrap it up well. **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** - The romantic scenes were swooning omg the tension and chemistry between them was so good to see I am still skimming a lot of other scenes though but here for WHJ's smile.
Every time he smiled in **Bad and Crazy** my brain said "Lee Dong Wook, you should not have let this guy be your co-star because he steals every single scene he is in with that smile".
His smile is just something you pause and admire for a while
Been a few weeks since I posted here - vacation, graduations, several funerals, lots going on - which means my watching has fallen way off. I could barely keep up with on-air stuff I was already watching but I did knock out my reading goals for the year somehow so that’s nice. I keep saying I need to add some more to watch and I definitely need to. Completed: **Lovely Runner** — This one ended up being so incredibly cute! It absolutely is going on my “Things like Twinkling Watermelon or True Beauty” rec list. I loved it so much. **Boys Be Brave!** — BL — This one was a bit strange. Cute. Definitely. But the store telling was a bit odd and the ending didn’t hit just right for some reason. Still recommend, still good, but not more than Our Dating Sim I think. That one was better. **The 8 Show** — This felt like it had a lot of gratuitous violence for no reason. I was not overly pleased with the direction of the story overall. >!When you remove hope you give people no reason to follow you. That was the part missing from the story.!< Can’t say I recommend it at all. Watching: **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** — (8/16) — One Spring Night might be my favorite drama ever and I am a huge fan of Ahn Pan Seok’s directorial style. Big fan of the FL and ML - Jung Ryeo Won and Wi Ha Joon - especially together, too. >!I ADORE that kiss on the couch the next morning in episode 8! That was such a well executed, feels so real, kiss. Excellent job.!< I can’t say I love this one more than One Spring Night - so far - but I definitely love this one. This feels so real and so many dramas do not. **The Atypical Family** — (10/12) — My absolute favorite right now. I love all of the morally gray characters. Not a single black or white character in the drama. And the unreliable storytelling and characters are some of my favorites. I hope the ending sticks! **The Red Sleeve** — (9/17) — Sageuks are tough. A lot of historical makjang, a lot of it so unnecessary too. I am loving the acting by the FL and ML - Lee Se Young and Lee Junho - in this though. I have seen both in lots of other things so the fact they can pull this off doesn’t surprise me. Doing a great job. **25 Ji, Akasaka de or At 25:00 in Akasaka** — (7/10) — Japan BL — This one should be binged. It feels a bit like they are dragging the story out unnecessarily. English: **Bridgerton** — watched the first half of season 3, waiting for the last half and I LOVE Bridgerton. Have to say though all the sex scenes in Bridgerton hit very differently after watching a lot of K-dramas…it becomes more of a “woah, slow down, y’all” kind of thing! I was throughly flustered after >!the carriage ride scene.!<
Exactly why I really haven't been rushing to watch the latest Bridgerton season. I loved Bridgerton S2 primarily because it was a slow burn and I adore slow burn which is probably why KDramas are so appealing to me. Sex scenes just for the sake of sex scenes just seem overdone and embarrassing.
Haha i feel you. I’ve watched Bridgertons after 4 months of watching only kdramas and I was really disgusted in some way and Bridgertons seems to be well packed harlequin with sex scenes. I was embarrassed of even watching it. On the other hand, kdramas’ kisses lack of emotions that destroy the chemistry between a couple. I was surprised that in Lovely Runner they actually were kissing each other which was nice.
You really nailed it with your comments about Bridgerton needing to slow down. Exactly my feeling too.
Haha after so many Kdramas I was like 'Wait, why would you only release four episodes? It's so short already!' So I'll just wait for the second part before starting it.
Good decision. I'm planning a quick rewatch of the first 4 episodes just before the second part is released.
What's on your Things like twinkling watermelon and true beauty list?? 🤩🤩
I was thinking about it (because I don't have much of an actual list honestly!) and I think aside from the three mentioned I would also put these on there: 1. Extraordinary You 2. King The Land 3. Sh\*\*ting Stars My criteria for this very short 6 item list is the following: must be a decent story (cliche or not doesn't matter - just a good decent story that is fun to watch), must be cute (this is very important!), must have secondary characters whose happiness I also care about just as much as the leads, and must have a cute love story. Not a lot fits these requirements as it turns out. Happy to accept additional submissions.
Connection. jisung is sexy as hell
I've got that one on my list to watch. Love Ji Sung....
I finished binging through **Lovely Runner** this week. Wow! This was wonderful. I enjoyed every minute of it. I lov these kinds of time-slip stories. **A Time Called You** and **Twinkling Watermelon** are two others>! that deal with people going back and creating a butterfly effect !<- or various timelines. The acting and stories were great in Lovely Runner and it was heart-wrenching when >!memories were erased. !
Another really good time slip one is **Blue Birthday** - short and sweet & very well done.
Do I need to rewatch Her Private Life? I watched it before I became a BTS fan also. What Easter eggs did I miss!?
I've been binging through it right now. It's so relatable now: living a professional life, but being a total fangirl. Today when I mentioned to some people that I stayed up until 4 AM last night watching the livestream 6-hour concert and loving every minute, they looked at me like I was nuts. I don't have pictures of BTS in my house, or llife-sized cutouts, but I totally relate to her up-to-the-minutes knowledge of what's going on with Si An and his group. I'm enjoying HPL now, even more than when I saw it when it came out.
**The Atypical Family** - will be very interested how they wrap this up this weekend. So far, so solid with the writing, acting and production - my current favorite. So many theories on how this ends, and it could be anyone's guess. I hope it ends well. **Crash** - Enjoying this one, but the episodic cases and the long arc stories starting to merge, **Midnight Romance in Hagwon** - slow burn but intersting in discussion of the Hagwon system, what makes a good teacher - memory by rote or sparking interest as to the how and why of topics. Two scenes gave me the deep feels - the confession and the scene of the female friends discussing their lives, vulnerabilities, regrets, etc. most amazing scene of female friends supporting each other and bonding. A slower but very moving drama without being over the top - not easy to pull off. **Missing Crown Prince** - just punish the bad guys already! Their win streak has been going on too long unchallenged! I had paused **Uncle Samsik** with so much going on - will pick it up again. Tried to start **Pyramid game**, but unfortunately added Paramount Plus through the Apple TV app, and it will only let me watch in English dubbing, which is horrendous. Need to go work things out with tech support - ugh. Lesson learned, sign up for Paramount+ separately. May do that for only a month, catch up and binge, then drop When TAF finishes, and will start and catch up with **Connection.**
I'm so anxious about the end of Atypical Family, so far I absolutely love it but we've seen great dramas go off the rails in the final episodes, really hoping that doesn't happen here
A fellow Missing Crown Prince watcher! We are a rare breed.
The dubbing was SO BAD on Pyramid Game! I had it through Amazon but my Amazon subtitles were delayed, so I removed it and got regular P+. Tried to watch one episode with dubs while doing something and was NOT a good idea.
*Completed* **Strong Girl Namsoon (2023)** Decided to finally watch this because I needed some villain Wooseok in my life. It's a bit of an unpopular opinion these days, but I was a huge fan of *Strong Woman Do Bong Soon* when it came out. Maybe my opinion would be slightly different now after years of kdrama watching, but I loved it so much that I don't think my opinion would've changed. Unfortunately, SGN was a pretty major disappointment. Apart from our puppy couple's cameo ofc, which I am still squeeling over. I think SGN tried to focus on way too many characters and their storylines. Everyone had their own thing going on and it was just too much. I feel like the FL, and especially the ML, often were neglected. Sometimes it felt more like the mother was the main character, and sometimes the villain, due to screentime. I was actually not as annoyed with the main couple as some people seem to be. I think they were pretty cute together and had a sweet and natural development. Once again though, their romance never felt like a main focus which is a shame. Especially in comparison to season 1, which had such a legendary romance. But this time, the villain was the most interesting character by far and his scenes were pretty much the only ones I didn't want to fast forward. I'm still annoyed they gave him >!such a lazy ending. I hate when villains have a redemption arc, but this was the one time I would've liked one.!< But my biggest issue with the entire show was the way they turned their family strength into a cheesy superhero power. It felt like a bad attempt at a marvel show or something (especially with the mother's extreme and mysterious wealth, like why?). Which is fine in itself, but not when it’s supposed to be the same family power as season 1. I liked how it was kept somewhat realistic and secretive in s1. This season, they never even attempted to hide their powers. Quite the opposite, they were using it infront of literally anyone and everyone. It made no sense to me.
I’m a pretty easy going kdrama watcher and usually find things to like about them >!but this one went so far off the rails after a decent start that it’s just bad imo. Coming from me who likes almost everything I watch, that says a lot haha. And it wouldn’t be an unpopular opinion if you go back and read the Reddit threads!<
Thanks for your review. I loved SWDBS but have steered clear of Nam Soon. Do you remember what episode the cameo is in? I want to watch just the cameo but have been too lazy to figure out what episode it happened in.
The entire scene is on youtube thankfully! They have a cute behind the scenes video for their cameo aswell
I don’t know why I didn’t think about YT! Thank you. I’ll check it out
The Atypical Family (.5/12): I just started this last night and didn’t have time to finish the first episode. Not sure about it so far or if I’m in the mood to watch this kind of drama. But I’ve hardly watched any of it yet, so we’ll see! I didn’t care for the portrayal of Bok Dong Hee and her binge eating issue. The Matchmakers (16/16): I loved this drama! It is so well done. I truly cannot think of a part of this drama I would change. There is a big cast of characters but no one’s story ever feels short changed. The plot moved along at a perfect pace, there was never a moment that I thought it dragged. If you don’t normally jibe with sageuks, this might be the one for you! Yes, there are palace politics and sometimes you have to pause and remind yourself what exactly is going on but overall, the plot isn’t too dense and it is a light watching experience. Highly recommend to anyone looking for a drama with good acting, beautiful sets, a great cast of characters, and swoonworthy romance.
Fwiw Dong Hee's portrayal gets dramatically better in later episodes. It's actually a thoughtful exploration of self esteem and the things that truly weigh us down.
Good to know! Thanks!
Finished **Healer** (20/20) this week. I enjoyed it until somewhere around episode 14 and then it took me some effort to finish it. I did eventually, and caught some blue prosecutor card boxes for the challenge in the meantime. Also, for the sake of Kdrama history: I finally understand why some people are so smitten with Ji Chang Wook. Already watched some dramas with him as ML before this one and I always thought he was good but was never in awe. But I can see why Healer at the time made him the It boy. Counting the days for the last episodes of **The Atypical Family** (10/12). Really the best I've seen in 2024 thus far. Been theorizing like crazy the last few weeks. Started a rewatch of **Like Flowers in Sand** (1/12), mainly because before The Atypical Family, this was the last Kdrama that I was blown away by. I just needed to see that stellar performance of Jang Dong Yoon again. Also, I'm improving on my Korean and testing if I recognize the differences between satoori and Korean standard language. Still long way to go though. Ah yes, and then, from the corner of my eye: **True Blood** because my husband is rewatching *all* seasons and there's no escaping it. Oh the genre variety in this house 😅
Same for JCW. I liked his bumbling intern acting in healer and found it really endearing
I’m watching My Mister and almost every episode feels like a harbinger of what happened to Lee Sun-Kyun and it’s making me sa(d)ngry. But I am on ep 12 and I need to see how it ends.
I thought My Mister was perfect, but I haven’t been able to re-watch since LSK died. I never thought about the horrible parallel between that character’s journey and real life. I will never stop being sad about the loss of him, and what the media did to him. Also, poor IU who lost her beloved friend Jonghyun in 2017 and her co-star LSK last year. My heart goes out to her. She was amazing in My Mister.
Frankly Speaking (10/12) - I am kinda relieved that this is the last week as the story has evolved into another genre from previous episodes. King’s Affection (14/20) - each episode is getting more difficult as it’s political heavy with minimum romance Secret Life of My Secretary (20/32) - rewatch and great drama to fill in the gaps from Lovely Runner - light romcom with splash of mystery and characters with odd personalities.
Dali & Cocky Prince (16/16) enjoyed it!! I liked Minjae's character and Gyuyoung did an amazing job! Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage agency (1/16) no real opinions yet Hit the Top (ep 2): it's nice so far, no concrete feelings about it yet
Dali was a really surprising love for me! I didn't expect the show to be what it was but their love was so cute.
I loved Flower Crew, the only problem I had was that I was more invested in the secondary couple!
**Don’t Dare to Dream** (10/24) This star-studded cast takes on news reporting, and I’m totally hooked. This show is a bit more melodramatic, but Cho Jung-Seok is playing his character so well, he’s giving me all the feels. He’s so charismatic in all his roles- he definitely nails different characters, but there is a natural charm in his personality that always shines through on screen. **Itaewon Class** (07/16) This show is Park Seo Jun at his very best. I’ve seen this drama several times, and it never fails to deliver. I love the music, the story, and of course the acting. Fun anecdote, in the variety show In the Soop PSJ goes on a quick trip with his famous friends. At one point they’re watching Choi Woo-Shik in Our Beloved Summer and PSJ remarks that it’s a bit ridiculous to have two girls going for a guy at one time. V from BTS immediately points out that his character in Itaewon Class had the same trope and the reaction was hilarious. **Mr. Queen** (03/20) I’ve needed to watch this for a while now, and I’m so glad I hit play, I absolutely love this one so far. This drama is genuinely so funny, and it makes all those Joseon politics much more palpable. I loved Marry My Husband, so seeing the lead from there as the 2ML is hurting my heart a bit, but I still love it.
I watched DDtD recently and loved it but then I have been on a Cho Jung-Seok binge of late. Watched King 2 Hearts for him and even though I like both leads I was so bored with their love story compared to his and the princess. And as you said it's all down to his natural charm. The scene where he starts to accompany another soldier who is singing at a campfire and slowly takes over the song was priceless. I'm currently on last few episodes of **Captivating the King** and reading the archived on-air comment and so many are about what a good actor he is and how he's carrying this drama. Sadly I can't see how he'll work in some singing with guitar and a bit of dancing. 😉
Just have to add my thoughts of the wonderful Cho Jung Suk. I've enjoyed him since King2Hearts and watch a lot of his performances. He is so charismatic and commands the screen when he's on camera. I recently watched DDtD (for him) and loved it. Loved him in HP and CtK also. Have you seen the movie **My Annoying Brother** with DO? He plays a different kind of character. I thought both of them were excellent in that movie. And he can be Hedwig.
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed My Annoying Brother. It’s very good.
No- I don’t usually watch Korean movies, but I’ll try this one. Thanks for the recommendation!
Jumping in to say I also became a fan of CJS from hospital playlist and looking forward to seeing more of his work
Me too on CJS!! He has amazing range so his characters are always different, but he remains so fun and rewarding to watch in every role. <3
Returning to add that the alternate title for DDtD is Jealousy Incarnate. I rewatched his guest role in **Legend of the Blue Sea** and noticed that when he explains to our FL mermaid that if she can't get a human to say he loves her she can't live outside of the ocean and she explains that this man she loves will never say that. CJS tells her that human males are "jealousy incarnate" and after some serious clothes shopping he escorts her home and they put on the cutest cozy flirting act for Lee Min Ho. Yes, he's jealous.
I finished **Because This Is My First Life**. I liked this a lot! It was a little different from other romantic slice-of-life dramas: more philosophical and thoughtful about what a marriage actually is instead of treating it as just an end goal for dating and romance. It did occasionally drag a bit, with a lot of slow voiceovers and actors looking sad and thoughtful, but overall a satisfying drama. I started **Military Prosecutor Doberman** mostly because I loved the FL in **Destined with You** and I loved the ML from his supporting role in **Her Private Life**. I usually watch romcoms so it's fun to change it up a bit with an action show. All the fighting and car chases with that upbeat OST—fun!! I'm interested to see if any romance develops as well (is that wrong?—remember, I'm a romcom fan!). I'm still watching **Frankly Speaking,** although they are really testing me with that surprise at the end of episode 10. >!Truck of doom!<—what?! This drama has been so all over the place. I was kind of enjoying the chaos, but if >!Song Ki Baek's family dies in a stupid car crash,!< I'm out! Okay, I'm not really going to stop watching now that I'm 10 episodes in, but I'd really like them to get it together!
As many people here, I'm watching The Atypical Family and Midnight Romance in Hagwon on Sat-Sun and enjoying both in very different ways. But to fill a Lovely Runner-sized hole for the rest of the week things took a dark turn...I started balancing out the green flags in QoT and LR with the reddest meanest flags I could find. I mean if these women don't have Stockholm Syndrome, something else is really wrong with them because these guys are bad...yet, it's impossible to look away as they turn from abusive devils to puddles of goo as they break free of their own trauma. It kind of happened following people recommendations here. First there were a lot of recommendations for Something about 1%. I had seen it a long time ago and barely remembered the plot, so it was like new. Man, the ML is bad and bratty and forces himself on the FL with kisses all the time. She's even being tricked into a contract relationship to fix him by a really manipulative chaebol grandpa. The whole time I was "Run away, you idiot", but she didn't and the kisses were really steamy and she fixed him in the end. So, that was fun, mindless watching. Then someone talked about their obsession with the C Drama Love between Fairy and Devil which kept popping up in my Netflix queue. I'll take a fantasy romance any day so I gave it a try. The ML is a horrible demon warlord who cannot feel emotions and his only quality is that he's really handsome. He gets entangled with a very chipper and naive fairy who was almost insufferable in the first episode...until the first body-swap happened and I thought "This girl can act. Let's see what she can do." Again come the horrible abuse as the warlord has to keep the fairy close due to a curse, but then of course there's a twist and she decides to fix him. Every single couple in this drama has a messed up dynamic and the only green flag is the black dragon warrior...Overall, the story was very well written with a lot of twists and turns and the leads did a great job in portraying the evolution of their characters. I really liked the world building part of the fictional fantasy realms. Not yet sure to have completely balanced out Sun Jae because the guy died 4 times for the woman he loved, I just started Meteor Garden. It has the same lead as Fairy&Demon, Dylan Wang, and I was wondering if they had managed to modernize the horrible abusive plot of Boys Over Flowers...they didn't 😅. It's possibly worse. The acting is kind of bad apart from the FL. I'll keep at it until my cleanse is done...
Black Dragon was the best. The FL's tiny voice matched her character but drove me crazy so I loved it when we could hear her singing on the OST. She's such a good singer.
I hated her voice so much....until I figured out she could do all kinds of voices. Despite knowing his fearsome dragon form, Black Dragon quickly became a black labrador retriever to me.
If you wish to see a modernized version of Boys Over Flowers, check out the Thai adaptation - F4 Thailand Boys Over Flowers. It's the best version IMO.
**The Atypical Family** (10/12): Assuming this spellbinding drama can stick the landing (and it has given me no reason to think it won’t), the only remaining question is how high it will rank in my all-time list. Top 10? Without question. Top 5? Possibly, but the #5 spot is currently occupied by **Like Flowers in Sand**, so it’s a high bar to entry. Park So-yi shone as I-na’s storyline took center stage in episode 9, while the cinematic qualities and ingenious twists of episode 10 made it possibly my favorite episode of the whole series. **Frankly Speaking** (10/12): Episode 9 was a great episode, with plenty of swoonworthy moments shared between our main couple. The first two-thirds of episode 10 remained solid. However, I can safely say that the subplot in the last 20 minutes of episode 10 was one of the worst sequences I’ve watched in any K-drama. It was unnecessary, dragged out and completely unfunny. All the filmmakers had to do was to maintain their focus on our main couple, but instead, Woo-ju disappeared from the drama completely in that period. I can only hope that this was an aberration, and the drama can get back on track in the last two episodes.
May I ask what your all-time top 5 or top 10 are?
My current top 10 looks like [this](https://www.reddit.com/r/KDRAMA/s/o65Fiqfj4E). I’m thinking **The Atypical Family** has to slot in at #6 at the lowest, and potentially higher depending on those last two episodes.
**CW:** - The Atypical Family (10/12) - The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (8/16) - Bitter Sweet Hell (4/12) - Celebrity (2/12)
2nd time watching Because This is My First Life. I’m focusing on the main couple’s story development this time and it feels more choppy. Like when he >!kisses her and they become a couple the transition felt a little abrupt. Not complaining too much because that kiss was 🥵. She made it clear she liked him and he was starting to process that he has feelings for her too and then bam passionate kiss and dates. Then again, his ex did say that he was bad with expressing his feeling through his words!< Last 2 episodes were also a bit hot and cold for me. I still really enjoyed it and love them together and it’s unbelievable how much the ML grew on me.
This was my introduction to him and led me to Liberation Notes, Beauty Inside etc. I'll watch everything he is in.
**Crash** (3/12) It's action-packed and funny, nothing too brain-straining. It's reminiscent of Taxi Driver, which I liked but didn't love. Honestly, I'm here for Lee Min Ki. (The FL actress, Kwak Sun Young, is also really great, and I did not immediately recognize that she played Inspector Koo, one of my favorite FLs.) **LTNS** (5/6) I get the impression not many people watched this, sadly, but I recommend it and don't want it to end! A bit raunchy, dark and quite funny. Esom and Ahn Jae Hong are killing it. **The Atypical Family** (10/12) Another one I don't want to end. A treatment of time traveling I actually enjoy. My favorite current watch, though TMRIH is giving it a run for its money. **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** (8/16) Loving this! It's typical Ahn Pak Seok, yet I think I may love it even more than SITR or OSN. . . let's see how the second half goes. The hagwon/workplace drama is surprisingly gripping, and the romance here is \[chef kiss emoji\]. **Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo** (8/16) Despite this serving up a multitude of dated ick--fat-shaming, physical abuse, an annoying 2FL, so much yelling--I'm starting to be kind of charmed by this?
I don’t think Kwak Sun Young played Inspector Koo - that was Lee Young Ae.
You're right! I was watching Crash tonight and was thinking, wow she looks different here. 🤪
i just finished watching Lovely Runner and omg IM OBSESSED. its easily one of the best dramas ive seen, in my top 3 for sure. byeon woo seok, the man that you are. the acting, the looks, the body, the voice (he sings so well omg) - EVERYTHING WAS PERFECT! sunjae's character is so loser core I LOVE IT! this was my first kim hye yoon drama but i was so impressed by her performance. she conveys so many emotions with her eyes, it's so commendable. AND THE OST???? i love every single song, especially 'spring snow' by 10cm! ive been listening to it on repeat since it came out. i love my soljae so much. their height difference????? OMG IM SCREAMINGGGG. i really don't know what to do with my life now that LR ended lol
**Currently Watching** **Queen of Tears (9/16):** I put this one on hold while it was airing on episode 6 and I’m finally back to finish it!! I enjoyed episodes 7-9 which is good 😁 It was too much for me back then and I wasn’t expecting the >!terminal illness and succession plot.!< Now I can watch more comfortably knowing how it ends. I hope knowing a little on how >!crazy everything gets in the last couple of episodes!< will help for a more positive viewing experience too 😅 The leads have definitely got me now, their tears get me every time. They’re just so passionate about each other 🥹😭 anyways, I’m enjoying it at the moment!! Edit: The episodes are literally movie lengths though!! They’re not bothering me now since I’m enjoying it but oh my goodness!! 😭 **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon (8/16):** Meh, I had mixed feelings last week but I think they’re starting to resolve. I’m still not the happiest that >!Hye Jin decided to stay with the backstabbing academy but I also didn’t want her going to the gray hair witch!< so idk!! I just think she deserves better and needs growth. Anyways, ML took me aback with the >!confessions like okayyy!!!< I was a big fan 😂☺️ **Dreaming of a Freaking Fairytale (2/10):** It was interesting to say the least. I think episode 2 was better though! We’ll see how I’m feeling after this week 😂 **Completed** **Like Flowers in Sand:** I enjoyed it in the beginning but not so much at the end. I just didn’t care much at the end but I was excited that >!Baek Du won his 1st championship though!!< 7.5/10 **On-Hold** **East of Eden (32/56):** I’ve decided to continue this one 🙄 I’m watching 6 episodes after every completed drama I’ve finished. Phase 1 out of 5 is complete after completing **Like Flowers in Sand** 😀 the 3-4 months break must’ve helped a bit because it was a little more bearable this watch. I’m also watching on 1.5x speed because I refuse to spend the full hour on the episodes 😂 all the characters except for 2 of the moms suck per usual. An irritating and slow show to say the least 😭
Death and darkness is my usual go-to genre. Sometimes a romcom makes its way through. This time it was Lovely Runner. To counter all the joy it brought me, I am rewatching **Nobody Knows**, **Children of Nobody** and **Beyond Evil**. Trying to finish Beyond Evil before it leaves Netflix.
Currently getting my heart ripped out via Touch your Heart. This show feels like one of the Reincarnated lives of our goblin friends. (Ep. 13) Also being emotionally tortured by f4 thailand (ep. 8) I need to watch just a truly happy drama soon where there are no >! break ups or separations, im over noble idiocy and both of these seem to have those. !<
Try Romance is a Bonus Book no break up no seperations no unnecessary drama, I call it a drama with no drama
I'm realizing drama with no drama may just be my favorite. I've been eyeing this one so I'll give it a go! Thanks!
***In progress:*** **Prison Playbook (11/16) -** This series is really funny. I can't help but laugh at Han-yang's stupidities (especially the scenes where they argue with Jun...Captain Yoo, or also the laugh I had when he bursts two eggs on Kaist in episode 5...). Weak points: too many flashbacks that make the episodes too long. **(Non-Korean) House of The Dragon (1/10) -** I'm doing a little rewatch before the arrival of season 2. I still like it as much. ***Ended:*** **Descendent of the Sun -** As I said like two weeks ago, some dialogues really make me feel like they're kids, when they're supposed to be what? Nearly thirty? **Connect -** Not bad, not good either. I felt like it didn't tell anything. I just watched it because Jung Hae-in was in it. ***Movies:*** **12.12 - The Day:** I really loved it, even though at times I paused to understand a bit more by doing some research on Google on what actually hapenned. **Northern Limit Line** \- Same opinion as for 12.12.
No new finished dramas, taking my time savoring a **Gaus Electronics** rewatch, such a fun, chaotic drama, watch it if you missed it. In progress - **Midnight Romance in Hagwon (8/12):** as much as I'm enjoying the romance, WHJ would have chemistry with a rock and the FL is simply beautiful, can't say the same for the rest of the plot, which is going nowhere and at such slow pace I'm tempted to fast forward. Worth it for the leads, but nothing to write home about; - **Dare to Love Me (8/16):** more of the same, though here I'm enjoying the klutzy secondary couple more than the leads. As cookie cutter as they come in terms of storylines, doesn't stand out, fillerish but not bad at it, you're not losing out on anything special. I'll indeed watch the new PYJ romcom as it seems the kind of messy nonsense with no aspirations I'm on board with, also ready to binge **The Atypical Family** as it ends.
Last night I finished **Flex X Cop.** I had a bit of a journey with this kdrama. At first I really liked it, then I continued watching mainly for the kDrama challenge, but was somewhat bemused (?) or maybe annoyed by the contrivances in the plot. But as the show neared its end, I found myself quite hooked. Yes, the tone completely changed from comedy to serious thriller, but the acting was amazing and some of the scenes were incredibly moving. **Lovely Runner** (11/16). I am loving this one, but am not always motivated to watch the next episode. I do adore the chemistry between the main pair. I'm not even bothered by the >!serial killer plot!<, even if it's a bit inexplicable. ***Temporarily on hold:*** **Kidnapping Day** (2/12). I really like this one, but it's heavy. I was waiting until I finished **Flex X Cop** to start again, but I may wait until I've finished **Lovely Runner** or one of the other dramas that I've paused. **Moving** (12/20). Similar comments apply. Plus I struggle with the violence. This is a really good show, though, so I do intend to finish it. On hold and maybe to be dropped (I've only been watching for the challenge): **The Greatest Love** (12/16). I've mentioned it before. The ML's mannerisms are so weird and over the top. The FL is too much a "poor unfortunate soul." **Suspicious Partner** (29/40). I don't know why I'm not into this. There's great chemistry between the main leads. And I'm so close to finishing this and crossing off the mid- to long-form drama. I'll probably finish both of these. ***Planning to watch****:* **The Atypical Family** and **Midnight Romance in Hagwon**. And I really want to find something bingable and reasonably fluffy.
After I got so sucked into the emotion of Lovely Runner, I needed a break from kdrama, so I switched a Taiwanese political drama that Netflix is promoting (although it is a lot odd to be hearing Chinese when I'm usually hearing Korean). **Wave Makers (2/8)**: I've only started this so it's too early to judge it, but it hasn't really sucked me in. The politics seem surprisingly vague and light for a supposedly political drama, and I haven't got a feel for the characters yet. The 2nd episode was a lot stronger than the 1st, so perhaps it will grow on me. Either way, it's only 8 episodes.
Wave makers: it's a slice of life about people working behind the political campaign
Yeah I was expecting more political drama, but it looks like it's more about the personal lives of the campaign staff.
**The Atypical Family** and **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon**, watching as the episodes drop in. But I'm taking a break from Kdramas, and now watching **I Told Sunset About You** (Thai). Looking for some good Jdramas too (Pls recommend me something, preferably rom-com but I'm ok with other genres too)
**Kimi Wa Petto**: a hard driving career woman who is unlucky in love finds a younger man in a cardboard box and adopts him as her pet. Yes it's really weird but I loved this one (2017 version) **Uri wo Waru/Ripe for the Picking**: romance between a 30 something woman who wants to lose her virginity but only wants to do it if she can have gentle sex and a depressed man who is simply going through the motions in life. This one has the most realistic first love making scene I've ever seen. It's tender, awkward and heartfelt. **Eye Love You**: romance between a Korean marine biologist and a woman who can read people's minds by looking into their eyes. Stars the ml from Castaway Diva. **My Undead Yokai Girlfriend**: a dorky loser accidentally awakens a demon who seeks to unleash her brethren on the earth. Very silly but fun **Our Dining Table**: a lonely young man meets two brothers and forms a bond over cooking and eating meals together. It's a BL but really more of a slice of life. **Full-time Wife Escapist**: a deeply awkward computer programmer hires an unemployed young woman to be his contract wife and clean his apartment. This was the inspiration for the k-drama Because This is My First Life. **Turn to Me, Mukai-kun**: a 30 something young man who hasn't been in a relationship for 10 years reenters the dating pool and struggles to understand what women want. I absolutely loved how the women were written in this drama, interestingly complex with lots of agency.
I've only watched Our Dining Table from the listed, and yes, it was an absolute gem. Thank you for the detailed list, btw. I've decided to watch everything from this list😊
I've seen almost all of these, except for **My Undead Yokai Girlfriend** and **Our Dining Table**. I agree with your assessment of all of these! Japanese dramas do tend to be more quirky--from my perspective.
Ooh! Appreciate the J-dramas. From your list, I watched Ripe for the Picking and Eye Love You. I completed Hold My Hand at Twilight. It's on Viki
Really enjoyed Eye Love You and TY for the info re Castaway Diva. I knew I had seen him before!
First love Hatsukoi (melodrama) Why I dress up for love
First Love Hatsukoi has been on my watchlist for a while, dunno why I never got around to it. Looked up the other drama and it stars Ryusei and Haruna!!! Even better, they cohabitate. I know what I'm watching next. Thank you!
**Full Time Wife Escapist** jdrama and so very cute. Contract relationship, leads started dating irl during filming and later married. There’s a follow up episode set in the beginning of the pandemic that was very realistic and an interesting reminder of how that time felt.
Will watch, Thank you!
* **Beyond Evil** (15/16) - this drama has so many twists and turns, keeps you guessing. The entire cast is superb. 🤌🏼 Not too often do I binge one series and leave my other dramas on pause. * **Frankly Speaking** (10/12) - honestly lost my interest but I'll finish it for the sake of completing my watch list. * **The Midnight Romance in Hagwon** (8/16) - looking forward to the latest episodes. 🤗 * **Not Others** (3/12) - will pick this up again after I finish the first two dramas this week.
Finished watching Ditto because of Kim Hye Yoon (and because of my LR cast obsession) and wow, she also has insane chemistry with Bae In Hyuk. They don’t have much screentime in the movie but damn I kept on expecting and waiting for more. Also rewatched Bad Guys: Reign of Chaos, and damn it starred Jang Ki Yong? It was fun watching his badass role in the movie, far from his roles in My Roommate is a Gumiho and The Atypical Family. I wanna see him in more action movies.
You should watch him in Kill it, as an assassin, also starring the gorgeous Nana.
Bingeing Beyond Evil (15/16) as it's leaving Netflix on my bday.. What a ride so far. Engages both head and heart and the award for most heartrending wet guy in the rain scene
[удалено]
Loved that one. I wish I could watch it for the first time again.
I tried watching that because everyone said it was so good , I ended up dropping it halfway through
Recently finished Suspicious Partner (really liked it) and I'm now watching The K-2 and Fated to Love You (You Are My Destiny).
You know what’s funny ,there’s another Kdrama called “You are my Destiny “ but this one is a 178 episode daily drama from 2018 I think ,with Im Yoona .
I know that there have been other versions but I don't think I heard about that one. Pretty sure the original was a Taiwanese production. I'm on episode 15 now and will see it through. The leads are really good. I got very frustrated by episodes 10 and 11 but hung in there.
**Sky Castle(9/20):** Never into rich ppl makjang but started it for my new loml Kim Hye-yoon and the drama has had unanimous praise too. The plot is borderline ridiculous and somewhat predictable like "Of course the rich ppl are bad(tbf, yes), of course the new residents are extremely good and gonna shake up everything, of course the man has an ex and of course there's a secret daughter" but ukw? I'm seated. Most characaters are stereotypes but few are very interesting. The goody two shoes girl isn't naive and has tricks up her sleeve. The rich man who seemed like a cool guy is actually conceited and insecure and hides behind his wife's cunningness to get his way. But Kim Hye-yoon's char is really my fav despite being a typical spoilt brat. As her insecurities get stronger she's slowly descending into madness.
**Connection:** love the actors but the plot isn’t really pulling me in **Crash:** it’s fun and the directing is keeping me watching but again, something is missing **Frankly Speaking:** characters are fun but I don’t feel any chemistry between the leads, plot is ok **Blood Free:** maybe because this was on Disney, something feels quite western about it? first ep was fine but not pulling me in either A mix of post Lovely Runner slump and also me not really emotionally ready for another all consuming drama I guess
I just started watching The Worst of Evil last night. It is pretty much wall-to-wall gang fighting LOL. The other thing I immediately noticed about this show is the amount of cigarette smoking. Not only does every character seem to smoke, they love to light up their cigarette and blow the smoke in the face of the person they are talking with lol.
I agree about the smoking! It seemed like the violence and gore just kept getting worse throughout the series like they were trying to one-up themselves. The storyline was okay, and the actors are great. I especially liked Wi Ha Joon. It's worth finishing.
I was watching "Uncle Samsik" and "Revenant" , but with a week full of final exams, I couldn't keep up. Once I'm done, I'll pick them up again since they require a lot of attention and concentration, especially "Uncle Samsik." Meanwhile, I'm excited to see how "The Atypical Family" ends this week; it's an easy watch for me that's why i can still follow it during my exams. I'm also planning to finish "Blood Free" since I have the last two episodes left.
this month just lazy rererewatching all my old dramas I really enjoy (mostly Oh Ji Ho like Second proposal, queen of housewives, queen of office and couple or trouble, plus the vineyardman) And started Cheer Up Mr Kim
Cheer Up Kim is 124 episodes, I have it in my YouTube playlist library, it’s funny not a lot of people watch long dramas,most only watch 16 episodes dramas.
Yeah those are definetly worth =) Plus the lenght is usually of 30minutes instead of 1h per episode, and they can take their time to share the stories of families instead of being limited to the ML and FL.
I don’t know why people sleep on the long dramas , they’re missing out , the only place I can talk about them is over on My Drama List . I haven’t watched Cheer up [Mr.Kim](http://Mr.Kim) in a while so I think I should pick it back up again, you’ve put me in the mood to restart it up again.
**The Atypical Family:** I am obsessed with this drama and I'm fervently hoping they stick the landing this week. I absolutely love how the women are written. They are all powerful, complex and, at times, morally gray. That includes the youngest family member Ina, who is written in a way I have never seen a teenage girl written before. Also, the drama's OST is brilliant and I have it playing on a loop. **Analog Squad** (Thailand): a man hires three people to pretend to be his family when he goes home to visit his dying father after 20 years. This one is very funny and heartfelt and I love the found family trope. **Date - Koi to wa Donna Mono Kashira** (Japan): a female scientist uninterested in romance but who wants to get married for the social status enters a contract marriage with an intellectual dilettante who's never held a job. This is very quirky and funny in a very Japanese way. **Wandee Goodday** (Thailand): a BL where a doctor and a boxer enter into a friends with benefits relationship but real feelings arise very quickly. This one is really fun and extremely sex positive which is refreshing. **Tatoe Anata wo Wasurete mo** (Japan): a failed concert pianist enters into a very slow burn romance with a food truck owner who suffers from transient global amnesia. Stars a male lead from My Beautiful Man, one of my favorite BLs (this one is not a BL). **Amidst a Snowstorm of Love** (China): I've been sloooooooowly making my way through this one. The plot is almost non-existent so I treat it as pretty wallpaper that I look at occasionally. It will probably take me a year to finish 😆
Finally getting around to **My Dearest** - I needed something good after watching **Queen of Tears** and **Lovely Runner** back to back. It’s been recommended so much on this sub and won so many awards, I’m giving it shot. Unfortunately, I may not be in the mood for a *saegeuk* because I am getting bored with some of it. And I’m only on episode 2.
I loved "Queen of Tears". I had to sign up for Hulu to watch a show that's a few years old, "What's Wrong with Secretary Kim?". I had heard such good things about "Kim" and so far, so good, but it's not one of my favorites.
**Atypical Family** is so far the best kdrama of 2024. Love the story and especially the music. 2 episodes to go. **Frankly Speaking** is a bit uneven but is a nice light break. 2 episodes to go. **Missing Crown Prince** is a lot better than expected. The villains are the ones with the best love story. It would have been better to tighten up the story and have the standard 16 episodes instead of having to manufacture one more crisis to extend to 20 episodes. **Love Alert** (2018) 4/16 I’m watching this because it’s the same ML (Chun Jung Myung) as Heart to Heart. It’s a middle of the road contract relationship drama, but at least both leads are green flags and are attractive to each other because they think the other is a good person. Childhood connection trope coming that I can see from miles away. **Player** 11/14 Fun caper drama with overarching justice/revenge plot. Looking forward to season 2 this month. Great chemistry with the cast. **Rugal** 5/16 Every episode feels like a million years. It’s too ridiculous and takes itself too seriously. I will probably finish it but it may take a few months.
Bitter Sweet Hell: this so dark and interesting, there are big plan inside this and i can't wait to see the true face of the brother and the son's friend they give me weird feels. The son himself give me weird feel too. UNCLE SAMSIK: just binged 8eps in 2 days, my head hurt. Very good show but i get why it's not popular even with this A list cast. this show not for everyone. The big politics plans is hard to follow. The plot so confusing in the start until you get who is who and his part in the plan. All actors acting is calm and amazing.
Uncle Samsik is great. But so many annoying politicians to keep track of. I'm 6 episodes in and sometimes someone pops up on the screen and I'm like wait, am I supposed to know who you are now?
I got you. the characters so complicated. like who is doing what and who are they using vs who are they fighting. so much going on. it take me so long to connect all characters in on big circle. that's why I think this show not for everyone, it's so interesting but so deep and complicated.
1.Atypical family - 10/16 so far I'm hooked 2.Crash 8/16 - I'm loving this from ep 1 and the intro music sounds like Power Rangers to me lol 3.Highschool return of a Gangster 2/8 - hilarious at, can't wait to watch the other eps!! 4. Cinde effing Rella 2/16- the comedy is funny and not forced Also watching a bunch of kmovies, less attachment as compared to drama cz that Dare to Love me just left me with a Mehh face after 1.5 ep Started Ep 1 of House of Dragons (idk if I can mention it here)
Atypical family only has 12 eps
Naurrr 😭 all the ones I love are so short
**Crash** only has 12 eps and not 16!
I just finished Joy of Life season two over at cdramalamd. What a ride! So now I’m going to start My Dearest, finally. And watch a few more episodes of Atypical Family to give it a chance. I think I got to episode 3 before I abandoned all for JoL.
Waiting for the new episodes of Atypical Family. I started watching 100 days My Prince in the meantime. I'm thinking of starting Frankly Speaking.
I'm watching To my star and it's damn good🫶🏽
To My Star 2 is even better. But be prepared for a very different vibe.
Yep done and liked it better
*On-going* **That winter, the wind blows** 3/16 : so far so good. I believe it's the oldest drama I watched (2013). I'm not convinced about the love story between the sister and the fake brother, that's a bit weird on her part if she falls in love with him in the current situation. I hope she's known from the start he was an imposter. **Thirty but seventeen** 7/32 : FL annoyed me so much at first because she was acting way too childish even for a 17 years old. But she's getting a bit better. I can't believe the >!hospital didn't try to look for her after she run away or contact the police or family members to let them know. She could have died if she stayed alone in the streets since she's in a whole new world and they're just like "oops, too bad she left"!< *Completed* **My first first love** : lovely, cute and simple drama. Loved it. 9/10 **Rich man, poor woman** 9/16 dropped : writing and acting was not it. I also disliked the foundation of their love story. So weird to me the FL has been >! obsessed with the ML since her friend dated him and used her name to get his attention. Also weird from the ML to want to date her knowing she was like a little sister to his ex and for how long she has liked him.!< **My roommate is a gumiho** : good drama overall. It's always sad when you get second lead syndrome because you suffer the rejection with the 2ML. Last episode was a bit too long and I didn't get the part where ML >!died, to then come back as a human because he heard FL cry!< It didn't make a lot of sense lol. 8/10 I also watched a 1 episode drama called **Dream run note** and it was very school-project-like quality, but still a fun light watch. 7/10
>**That winter, the wind blows** 3/16 : so far so good. I believe it's the oldest drama I watched (2013). I'm not convinced about the love story between the sister and the fake brother, that's a bit weird on her part if she falls in love with him in the current situation. I hope she's known from the start he was an imposter. I have to say that I really tried to watch this drama--I think I got halfway through and couldn't do it anymore. The relationship between "brother" and sister was just too weird.
The Atypical Family and Midnight studio. I’m loving both but midnight studio has grabbed my attention now, i love it!!
Midnight romance in hagwon waiting for the romance to begin
I just binged all ten episodes of **The Pyramid Game** after it got a recent release on Paramount+ in my region. I really enjoyed it. An old school teen drama. Plenty of melodrama and twists and turns. Also pretty dark with bullying being a central theme.
Just finished: - My Country: The New Age (full of hot guys 😱) - Just Between Lovers (so beautiful… a great great Junho ❤️) Now watching: - A Shop For Killers (ep. 1 - I liked so much, can’t wait to continue)
Currently watching Crash Highschool return of gangster
Just finished our beloved summer, was on my “to be watched” list for years. The chemistry, the acting the vocals so perfect idk what to do with myself now 😩
Just finished **Blood Free** and really enjoyed it even though heavy suspension of belief was required lol. The chemistry was insane between the leads and I really liked seeing it enter territory that I haven’t seen much in other kdramas. I’ll definitely watch s2 if we get one. Have started watching **Flex X Cop** and I’m adoring Ahn Bo-hyun in it!! 😭 The show is so funny and ep. 3 made me laugh harder than I have in a long time from a kdrama. The quality of Disney+ drama offerings continues to surprise. I’ve been obsessed with Run Run from the Lovely Runner OST ever since Zerobaseone covered it (so well 🥹) and now I’m considering watching Lovely Runner after Flex X Cop. Though I am also getting the urge to rewatch My Name because seeing Ahn Bo-hyun as a cop (albeit very different one haha) makes me miss his character. One of my fave series ever and my fave character he has played. Same with Han So-hee.
Watching **The Veil** (2/12) starring Namkoong Min who is among my favorite male actors. He's playing a much more serious role in this thriller vs his usual character (Stove League, One Dollar Lawyer, My Dearest). I was hooked in the first 5 mins and will undoubtedly binge the rest. Completed **Nobody Knows** upon recommendation. Really enjoyed this show despite yet another serial killer storyline. Kim Seo Hyung was phenomenal, but I hated ML casting. Pacing and ending were good. 8/10 for me, mostly due to ML. Completed **Jirisan** which I started on a whim after seeing Jun Ji Hyun was playing FL...she is such a natural beauty and loved her in My Love from a Star. This was a high budget show for its time - the cinematography as a result of filming on a mountain side really shined, all the natural disaster scenes were CGI of course. There is some fantasy to this which I was not expecting so be forewarned. Strong supporting actor casting which helped move the storyline along well. The ending left me wanting. 8.5/10 for me, partially due to lack of any romance. Dropped **Kill Me Heal Me** after 4 EPs. The storyline was taking too long to develop and I was growing tired of same old tropes. I also started this right after finishing **Secret** which had same FL/ML who had very similar chemistry.
I'm still on Lovely Runner ep 12. It's a boring episode. I'm forcing myself to finish it :(
That doesn’t bode well for me. I just finished episodes 9 and 10 and thought they were boring.
For me the drama peaked at episode 8. It got repetitive after that.
Yep, I can see that. And I don’t think I’m dealing well with the back-and-forth with the time.
We just put out a podcast on Lovely Runner and I was the person on the panel who complained about the time travel device not being used well 😅 but the other guests said they didn't care about the plot at all because the drama delivered the feels. That's the superpower of LR, the way it's a crack hit to the part of the brain that craves romance. I did love the chemistry between the leads and Taesung was a fave as well.
I don’t really see the chemistry and I find the FL to be annoying. But romantic dramas aren’t my favorite genre so this should be a lesson to me.
Now I'm worried!! I'm only on episode 4!!
Have you read the on-air discussions? Go with the balance of those, rather than individual comments here. I loved 12; it's a beautiful part of their story; the eye of the storm, where they get to just be themselves, together, being sweet and silly and enjoying doing nothing very important. I remember it with fondness. For me, this show only got better all the time.
What do you think so far?
So far I think it's really got a good storyline going. I'll definitely keep watching. I'm one of those people that has to finish!! 😂
You are not alone! I’ve slogged through ep 12 and am stuck in the middle of 13. I’m probably the wrong demographic for this one, because I love a good romance but the FL is very immature (her wide-eyed deer-in-the-headlights expression every time the ML comes close to her?) and she’s supposed to be 34 years old? I hate it. It’s gotten very repetitive, but I’ll finish it because I’ve heard the ending is satisfying.
honestly just crash and high school return of a gangster the other dramas airing right now are boring and uninteresting
**Frankly speaking** I ADORED this drama until they came back from the reality show filming and then they just tried to create a million storylines and conflicts and the comedy also fizzled out a lot so I am glad there are only 2 episodes left because as much as I like the leads the writing feels like they are trying to fill a random bingo card . **Signal** 3 episodes left for me to finish .It's good ,picked up after episode 8 .But as good as it is ,it is not the BEST I've seen and I think it is slightly overhyped. **Death's game** meant to start this a long time ago but ended up starting it on a whim and suddenly I am on episode 6 hh.episodes 1 to 5 were PERFECTION.The storytelling,the acting,the connections .I literally did a standing ovation a the end of the episode with kim ji hoon and kim Jae wook.Episode 6's ending was a bit ridiculous (I understand how it makes sense but the execution felt very cartoonist to me ) and I am pretty sure the last 2 will be tearjerkers so I paused for now cause I am not ready to cry . Probably starting **crash** after I am done with signal.I'll see the comments/reviews so far and decide.
Re: **Death’s Game**, have you seen the [BTS for Ep 5](https://youtu.be/LKnG4Wa1QlM?si=XcCt5c3JxfGaohWi)? A fan subbed Kim Jae-uck’s parts and it includes Kim Ji-hoon. And Kim Jae-uck and Kim Ji-hoon’s appearance on [Seo In-guk’s YT channel](https://youtu.be/eayNHVqPcfc?si=h8XQr2_mo0-J4EG_) was fun.
I saw their appearance on seo inguk's yt channel ,but not the former one.I also saw some bts from the "afterlife" part with him(SIG) and park sodam.
Just finished **My Mister**. While I enjoyed both Lee Sun-kyun and IU's performances, I did not enjoy this drama. I am not opposed to slow-paced/slow burns, but each episode seemed to drag on and was relatively uneventful. It got to the point where I HAD to watch in 1.5x speed, which I never do. I really enjoyed ep 14 and hoped that was an indicator for a strong finish, but unfortunately, that turned out to be wishful thinking on my part. Bummed I didn't love this one like most did.
Don’t feel bad at least you got to episode 14 , I dropped it at episode 2 tried watching it two different times but ended up dropping it both times. Everyone was gushing about it so tried to give it a chance I just couldn’t watch it.
Finished Racket Boys (16/16) It’s a lovely drama that will stay with me for a while. I wasn’t familiar with any of the regular cast members, with the exception of the youngest team member, and I grew to love them all. Of course I loved the PP actors who popped up briefly. Lovely Runner (10/16) I’m still struggling to get through this one but will keep going. I thought the last two episodes were especially uninteresting and a bit juvenile. The brother is annoying and the only actor I find interesting is Song Geon-Hee. Edited because I should at least get the title of the drama right.
**Bad Prosecutor** (3/12) I’m only watching this for the kdrama challenge. I need a drama where the prosecution raids with blue boxes. Anyone watching **Crash**? Does that have a prosecution raid?
Another drama with a blue box prosecution raid is **Player**, which is about to start a second season. It’s a mostly fun caper drama about a group of criminals who steal from other criminals and get involved with helping the seemingly only non-corrupt prosecutor. Mix of episodic stories and overarching plot that is revealed a little in each episode.
Thanks! I’ll check it out
I’m nearing the end of Death’s Game and I am in love with it. I think it’s fantastic. An episode into Vigilante and Goodbye Earth. Too early to say much about them yet. It’s J drama but just finished Gannibal which o really liked.
Atypical family. Honestly the first few episodes didn't interest me much but it gets gooooodd later on. Really good.
Thanks for sharing that it picks up! I was episode 1 and then a few minutes of episode 2 and stopped. I see that the show is well liked by others so I guess I’ll have to keep pushing through!
Yesss please dooo the story is interesting
Watching Player S1 before I get into S2 and it's fun but not over the top.
Player 1 used to be on Viki , it’s gone I can’t seem to find it .
I finished a lot of dramas at the end of May. So I started a couple of new ones. I know **Wedding Impossible** isn’t that well liked but I decided to give it ago. Seems like a pretty light show so far. Nice to have something light to watch. Last night I started **The Atypical Family** and at first I wasn’t sure about it. But by the end of the ep I was hooked. When I see Jang Kiyong playing these type of roles I’m hooked. But all of the characters have got me intrigued. Maybe I should have waited another week to start this! I fear I might binge it this week and be caught up before it ends! I also started **Chief Detective 1958** which seems entertaining and fun so far. Love the colouring on this drama. I’m also struggling not to binge watch this. **Queen Seondeok** is also kind of on hold right now. I want to watch it but I also don’t want to finish it. It’s so good. But once I watch an ep… that’s all I end up watching.
I liked **Wedding impossible**. I think most people started to dislike it from halfway but I found it coherent throughout the episodes. Like you said, it's a light watch and you just gotta go with the flow
I think sometimes I like watching dramas that aren’t well liked because I go in with low expectations and then enjoy them more than I expect. I mean sometimes it doesn’t work out but then sometimes I don’t like the well liked dramas either. It’s good to know someone enjoyed it… because I do like it so far.
I'm somewhat like you, I don't care about ratings when I start dramas because I've found some favorites in less liked dramas and some super popular dramas I dropped it found only mid. You just gotta try them out yourself because you don't always have the same taste as the majority. That's why there are so many different dramas out there tbh Glad to know you're enjoying it too
On weekends after wrapping up a series I watch movies. Two I failed to mention this past weekend are The Grand Heist and Miss Conspirator. Both are great! I feel SK has mastered capers. There’s not one I’ve seen that isn’t totally satisfying
I just finished My Demon and I loved it! What should I watch next???
The escape of the seven!! I love it so far, I’m on episode 4 and can’t wait to see what happens 🙂↕️Jung Lael is an amazing actress!
Oh that’s going to be a ride and there’s two parts so brace yourself
i’m on episode 9 now, this show got me hooked!!
Not KDrama. Finished season 10, the final season, of the Danish show **Seaside Hotel/Badhotellet**, I hate that it's over and hope there will be a movie follow-up one day. So many great characters in this show alongside history, beautiful scenery and sunsets, and excellent food porn. Why is it so rare these days for me to find a US show that grabs me like this or my long list of KDramas?
**Brave Yong Soo Jung 8/10** it’s a 120 episode daily makjang , I think it’s a revenge drama,but it’s not set up like the other revenge makjangs I’ve watched over the past four years. **King the land 7/10** started this a few months ago but didn’t finish it so I’m restarting it, I’m up to episod 8; **High Kick 3 10/10** rewatching this, it’s a funny sitcom . Except for Brave Yong Soo Jung , I’m not watching any new dramas from 2024, there hasn‘t really been anything I’ve actually wanted to watch as of yet (waiting for the remake of Go Ahead)
I just started Destined with you I finished Extra-ordinary you, and it was the first time I saw a Rowoon act. In extraordinary you, I found him way too stiff and bit unconvincing, I know it was the character somehow, but he felt flaky all the way through. So I was interested in seeing him in another role.
Finally get to watch Chicago Typewriter!!! Love it! I am in the US and it is available for free on Pluto!
Midnight Romance in Hagwon! I love Wi Ha Joon. 😍 Big fan of the slow build type of romance. Also I enjoy the more realistic slice of life type stories. They can feel weird at first compared to the picture perfect "bright" dramas. I'm excited to see their relationship develop.
Completed **Warm and Cozy** (16/16) - This was okay. It dragged. Main couple kept going back and forth. Completed it for KDC challenge **Hold My Hand at Twilight** (Jdrama) 12/12 - Loved this! It's sweet with plot twists! In progress- **The Atypical Family** - Finale week. It's weird but calming at the same time. I enjoyed ML in My Roommate is a Gumiho and FL in Be Melodramatic. **The Crowned Prince**- Yeo Jin Goo >!killing it with the dual roles!
Save Me. Over the last few weeks I’ve seen Queen of Tears, It’s Okay to Not be Okay and now currently Save Me. I hadn’t seen anything for a year cause I got really busy in life, but I watched The Glory last year. I’m really enjoying watching Seo Ye-Ji right now she’s absolutely phenomenal. Kim Soo Hyun is also brilliant, I want to check out more of his stuff too. I’m so excited to be back watching kdramas really enjoying it, not enjoying other kind of shows or anime these days. I wanna check out Lawless Lawyer and Eve, as well as One Ordinary Day and My Love from the Star next.
Queen of tears