I’m watching Daily Dose of Sunshine.
I have literally cried in every episode. It’s beautiful. Wonderfully portrayed mental health issues.
Cinematography is super aesthetic. I love the cast too.
Brilliant acting by our little Bo young. I hope it gets nominated for plenty of awards and wins them too. They deserve the wins.
The writing is great, really thoughtful and from the same writing team that worked on Behind Your Touch. I started watching on a whim and now I’m totally absorbed.
Just binge watched this drama within two evenings. I love it too. PBY has this ability to make me cry whenever she cries. Not only in this drama, but in her earlier work too.
Haven’t watched it yet but that’s exactly what she does to me! I was surprised by how much I cried in Strong Woman and don’t even get me started on Oh My Ghostess
I’m only on episode 2, but hoping to binge another 3 tonight. It’s so good so far, I hope it keeps this pace and doesn’t lose my attention. Already feel like it’s much better at portraying mental illness than IOTBNO.
This show is definitely more detailed with respect to portraying mental illness than IOTBNO.
IOTNBO had a very dramatic flair. And it portrayed on few mental health issues while this one covers pretty much everything and is very spot on.
It depends on how much you could take and not end up crying. I needed a break after every episode cause it was overwhelming.
I love this but it is a tough watch. The cast and guests are so good and seemed to have done a lot of preparation to get it right especially doctors leaving lots up to nurses.
I think my regular KDrama watching will only start after the Cricket World Cup ends on 19th Nov. However I did watch bits and pieces of the following:
**Call it Love** \[2/16\]: I read some good reviews for this drama and although it has a very melodramatic nature to it, which isn't something I'm looking for, but it's gripping and I liked the first two episodes so I hope I like it as much as others did. Also, I'm watching Kim Young-Kwang in a drama after so long, the last I watched him in anything was in 2016 in **Sweet Stranger and Me** when it was ongoing. So yes, looking forward to it.
**Castaway Diva** \[4/12\]: Park Hye-Ryung definitely pulled off another **Start-Up** with this drama by giving us such a strong character background for the SML and trust me the ML isn't growing on me and he won't because I already am rooting for the SML from the first episode it self. Well, we still don't know if >!Ki-Ho is the SML or ML!<, but yeah so far I'm rooting for the SML and I need him to be happy no matter what! Apart from that, it's a nice story, the pace is also quite good and I'm really getting involved in this drama, so let's hope for it to be better than **Start-Up**.
**Strong Girl Namsoon** \[8/16\]: I'm yet to catch up with the last 2 episodes but oh boy, it's just so bad. There is no plot development, no character development, the main leads are not main lead-ing if that makes any sense and I don't know what made the writer go ahead with this script. I'm literally watching it only because I want to get done with one challenge and because it's just 2 episodes every week.
**Twinkling Watermelon** \[0/16\]: I have started watching this, watched like the first 15 mins and found it to be so wholesome!! I'm excited to watch more of this because have read only good things about it!! <3
I've given up on Stong Girl Namsoon at ep8. First couple of episodes were promising, but it's just awful after that. Random subplots thrown in and then just go nowhere. Random characters pop up for no good reason, and then vanish without a trace. Just awful junk. Not even so bad it's funny, it has gone beyond that to just plain old fashioned bad.
He’s just so good, how can anyone not love him. But it’s sad that they’ll go ahead with Chae Jong-Hyeop’s character as the ML & eventually the FL will end up with him but there’s nothing so far about the ML that excites me & I know for a fact that I won’t like him even if the writer ends up making him the most lovable character lmao because I love the SML so damn much!!
>He’s just so good, how can anyone not love him
I know, right! Unfortunately, my watch buddies all love the ML,,,I have no idea why .-.
>nothing so far about the ML that excites me & I know for a fact that I won’t like him even if the writer ends up making him the most lovable character
exactly!
They did the primary and secondary male leads dirty. I never ever get second lead syndrome except for Start-Up. It is literally the only one of hundreds of dramas I have watched. And part of that is because I feel like the writer told the wrong story. Having a strong second lead is awesome when done well (i.e. True Beauty - he is a fantastic second lead - and no I didn’t get SLS) but when done poorly like in Start-Up you end up with the story you do.
Seconding this that the writer for Start-up told the wrong story. My theory is that Nam Joo-hyuk was the bigger actor at the time so they made him the ML but the story from start to finish really was made for the SL with Kim Seon-ho (who portrayed it phenomenally).
Ok. I was hesitant to watch Hometown, but then I saw Start-up and was impressed by Kim Seon Ho and his acting. He and his Harmoni 🥲
So, I watched Hometown after that.
Strong woman nam soon is kind of one time watch, they are just trying to bring everything in one series and they are failing poorly tbh, I am still watching it till the end to see what they do but it's off beat to what could have been a good drama. Spin off culture usually doesn't work if you take all creative liberty to the extreme!!
Twinkling watermelon on the other hand has blossomed quite beautiful now, I would recommend you to go ahead with the show, sit back and enjoy till the end. Only if they have a good ending in their mind this show can be one in the top charts easily.
I just finished “Moving” it was phenomenal!
Also started the jdrama “Ao Haru Ride” the 2023 version yesterday, I’ve watched / read every version of this one so it was a must!
it's a superhero drama but not in the classic way (I am really not into western superhero stuff but found the way they did it in moving really interesting). lots of action, fighting, lot of gore but not gratuitous, all with significance and done artfully! its about some teenagers coming to terms with their powers while their parents hide them from the national secret security service. we also learn about the parents, their experiences with the security service and how they've ended up where they are now. there are also romantic plots which are done extreeeemely beautifully.
I think its a really special, clever drama, while its often tense its mostly uplifting and characters are well developed and well rounded. I hope this doesnt give too much away and also sparks your interest to watch it! I also was swayed to watch it from seeing ppl talk about it all over the sub:)
Intrigued and sold
I like when super heroes are done differently reason why I am enjoying the boys recently! I know it will not have the same standards still as Korea and Western culture are very different so I’m interested to watch super heroes done well and differently in a Korean context 🤩 starting it in the next days
just finished **Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo** and I'm going to word vomit all over because i have Many Feelings.
Before I watched the drama, I saw a review on mydramalist and a phrase jumped out: ideas vs execution. I didn't understand what it meant at that point, but having finished it, I get it completely now. MLSHR is a cult sageuk everyone should watch because of the idea and the actors involved and these two aspects are all you need to overcome the distracting execution. For a drama to be this good despite the bad cinematography and weird feeling of cheapness (I think it's the coloring? It's very...saturated) is impressive.
IU's acting wowed me because >!she brought her character completely to life, from a jaded modern girl to a mature court lady.!< I only watched her in My Mister before this, and couldn't stand her wooden portrayal (which is more a writing fault than her acting fault). I really appreciate when actors can cry prettily (single teardrop), and right on cue to the scene. There were only 2 parts about Haesoo that annoyed me which were >!1. her leaving the palace and abandoning the King when she said she would never to cause more angst and tragedy. when it's revealed she was pregnant with his daughter, it ends up making sense but it's still frustrating. And 2. how forgave Chaeryung for her betrayal so easily when she was the one who killed Wang Mo along with Wang Eun and his wife!<
Lee Joongi is a treat to watch as always, >!and you can see a clear difference between his acting (together with Kang Haneul) compared to the rest. His presence radiates in every shot he's in and it's almost unfair how well he steals the show. His portrayal of cool/angry characters with a heart of gold is so real and confronting. My heart ached for him the entire show, even during the lighter scenes, because of everything he had to go through as the scapegoated prince.!<
Kang Haneul is one of my fave actors, >!but I was surprised how well he fared next to LJG. His character was probably the best written imo, because you could really see him go from soft-hearted prince who grew up in a loving family with a crush on Haesoo to the cunning and broken man he turned into because he lost the love of everyone most important to him. His descent into villainy was SO good because it was so tragic, and his chemistry with IU was the best even though I was rooting for So/Soo the entire time.!<
It's a breath of fresh air how >!the first couple doesn't end up as the endgame couple, and how love is a double-edged sword that can corrupt or save: the good, kind one ends up being a villain while the cold, violent one becomes the wisest king in the show. How love turned a slave into a spy, turning Haesoon's truest friend into nothing but hurt and pain. Love is usually only portrayed as 'good' in dramas and it's nice to see the realism that love does not save all; love does not always overcome. That love can be bad.!<
Interestingly, >!I did not find the ending as soul ripping as I thought it'd be.!< FLOWER OF EVIL SPOILER >!I actually cried more throughout FOE and at the end compared to this because there were so many more 'what-ifs' if they didn't get back together compared to this!<. END SPOILER >!The story destroyed me as it unfolded, but it ended perfectly the way it should: they started as moon-crossed lovers on borrowed time, and ended as that too. They loved their best in the circumstances they were given, and many people don't even get a sliver of that opportunity in any era.!<
This drama had some very, very good quotes. A few of my favorites:
>!* “You could be living well and just end up dying one day. You can fall right out of the sky then end up living in a place like this. So just follow your heart and live. Do everything you want to do and live however you want.”!<
>!* “No matter how many times you are reborn, you’ll eventually have to pay for what you’ve done.” (reminds me of my ultimate favorite quote in a book: "Take what you want and pay for it, says God.")!<
>!* “You are my only queen.”!< (screaming crying throwing up)
Ending all this with a quote that summarizes why I think this is a must-watch kdrama: "And love isn't a fact. It's a hunch at first. And then later it's a series of decisions, a lifetime of decisions. That's love."
I love Moon Lovers. In China they have a sequel where the reverse the locations of the guys and the girl and it’s fun. I wish we get a part 2 some day.
Have you heard about the [alternate ending](https://youtu.be/0auwqBpF5NM?si=bp6rNCWBtnVMyBVR) that ended up getting cut? IU and LJG even [re-enacted the deleted scene](https://x.com/moonloverssbs/status/818089264923623424?s=46&t=oYE1WrYV1W3i-_yc-6i_mA) at one of her concerts.
i have fallen to my knees thank you for the link to that video! i saw IU’s ig post of the deleted ending scene but the video is just…yeah. i love their dynamic and friendship SO MUCH
I never, ever cried that much when watching >!the last episode of Moon Lovers. Usually as sad a drama was, I cried just shedding tears quietly and blow my nose. But for Moon Lovers, I wailed, I used dozens of tissues to blow my nose.!<
I can't vomiting words nicely like you. But I agree that the idea was good, but the execution was bad. I personally feel too many characters but not enough time for them to developed nicely. And I think too many unnecessary deaths. Also have the same opinion for her friend. And they did a cardinal sin by not airing the true ending.
I have watched a lot of Lee Joon Gi dramas but he's shining so bright in Moon Lovers. It's his greatest act, followed by FoE in my opinion.
The ending made me wish I'm a multibillionaire so I can make a movie as the sequel >!in modern time where Hae Soo meets Wang So again.!<
love your last line hahaha i completely agree — a moon lovers season 2 would be amazing. i’m sure IU and LJG would be down, even today, to film a sequel
i found LJG’s characters in both MLSHR and FOE to be very similar; it’s like he was reincarnated as a modern guy in FOE while still being Wang So lol. he’s such a stunning actor and i would watch a drama just to see him breathe and walk around
I'm currently watching Moon Lovers too, I can definitely understand you when you say this got the hype mostly because of the actors involved in particularly because of Baekhyun from Exo and even IU as a soloist. I had the same feeling with Hwarang, it got the hype that it got just because of V from BTS.
But, it's just like you said, this isn't a brilliant drama, I personally called it a silly sageuk, because it's not great but it's an entertaining one so far. I did find that some of the sets and filming locations were really pretty and wondered where they were, but for the costumes sometimes it looked like really cheap and not accurate at all.
I'm struggling not to read your fully hidden spoiled review because I'm still watching but I will come back here and read it :D
Hii!! I’m back!
I just finished this drama, like less than 1 hour ago and there is still a lot to process about this drama, personally I loved it, but this broke me into crying like a baby and to think I started by laughing and having a lot of fun watching their interactions. Crazy really, but the drama was completely worth the watch and aside from 1 or 2 characters I loved every performance.
>For a drama to be this good despite the bad cinematography and weird feeling of cheapness (I think it's the coloring? It's very...saturated) is impressive
Personally I don’t have much of a problem with the cinematography, probably because there were some really beautiful filming locations that I wish to visit someday. I won’t praise it because there isn’t anything impressive, like great use of lighting or editing. But it’s already good enough, that they didn't managed to ruin a scene with those white reflections from the big filming lights, however on the other hand many of the scenes have too many blurred backgrounds. So I feel like it’s just average, they didn’t manage to ruin it, but they didn’t wowed me.
>IU's acting wowed me because she brought her character completely to life, from a jaded modern girl to a mature court lady. I only watched her in My Mister before this, and couldn't stand her wooden portrayal (which is more a writing fault than her acting fault).
I was also impressed by her acting and how her character showed some incredible growth from immature modern days girl, to a more cautious and mature woman that overflows with beauty and class, even in all her positions inside the palace. I think she was 23 at the time of filming, not a bad work at all for her age. I never saw her in **My Mister**, I want to watch her there but I have to delay that watch it later, yet I saw her in **Hotel Del Luna** and she did brilliantly there and also shows a completely different side of her acting, which is a bonus point for me.
About the development of her character >! It was incredibly painful to watch the moment she realizes that there is no way for them to be together and for to see him going into a deranged man was too painful. She suffered until her last days and she also loved him in her last days. I also felt the same as you, the way she forgave many people was so annoying, people all around her were greedy and they chose to act the way they did. She always saw the best of them, even when they didn't deserve it anymore… !<
>Lee Joongi is a treat to watch as always, and you can see a clear difference between his acting (together with Kang Haneul) compared to the rest.
Completely agree with you. I have seen a couple of works with Lee Joon Gi and he is indeed a great actor. I would say that his best works are historical, action and thrillers. He also does a great job in those romantic scenes as we saw here, but he truly shines when his scenes involve fighting scenes or really serious takes.
About the development of his character >! he was always neglected by everyone in his family, in the end he never revealed to his brothers what happened to him as a child and why he had to leave the palace. His freaking mother never paid for the attempt to murder an heir to throne and his father, he loved him since he was young, but he could show it in order protect him from his crazy wife. Was already good enough that The King later showed that he cared about his son, but The Queen, she always looked at him with too much hate for a mistake she made and she couldn’t admit her selfish and jealous actions. It was painful to watch all his suffering. !<
>Kang Haneul is one of my fave actors, but I was surprised how well he fared next to LJG. His character was probably the best written imo
In my opinion all 3 of the main characters had an impressive character growth, I can say this character was best over the others because they were well written and well acted, the 3 actors did an incredible performance. I have seen Kang Ha Neul in the drama **Misaeng,** the movie **Twenty** and the movie **Midnight Runners**, with this being his forth main role I watched, I’m actually impressed by his great capacity to play such different characters, he did great in Action, Comedy, Slice of Life and now I confirm that he his also able to pull Romance and Historical. I hope to see more works with him.
About the character development of his character >! I once again completely agree with you, it was heartbreaking to see such a pure and selfless character being used and betrayed by his sister and everyone around him, to go down a route of no return to protect a woman that he was attracted to, the only woman that made him feel free of the worries of being a prince and made him laugh. I liked him a lot, but I’m also going to be honest, it broke me to see that he only looked at his wife as a job that he was given and that he never loved her, until her death. I wish we saw him realizing that love way before her death, she deserved that. His wife was such a nice person always wishing for his best and the best of the women that she knew he loved. !<
>It's a breath of fresh air (…) Interestingly, I did not find the ending as >!soul ripping!< as I thought it'd be.
I share the same opinion as you do about the ending. Personally I don’t care how any story ends as long as the writing makes sense. This drama had a good ending with an incredible deep story about love, >!learning to let go to survive and stop a vicious cycle.!< Love isn’t always as black and white as k-dramas like to paint them or how we like to dream of, they are filled with many emotions some are good and others are bad.
Nonetheless, as the story unfolded I also >!couldn’t stop the tears from pilling in my eyes.!< I noticed that there was a particular song by Epik High and LeeHi that instantly trigged me to cry. The music was beautiful and made me so emotional.
Btw, I also watched **Flower of Evil**, loved it completely and I need to re-watch it, but comparing **Moon Lovers** with **Flower of Evil** doesn’t feel right to me, they are two completely different works and their only connection is the main lead. There isn’t anything similar what so ever.
>Ending all this with a quote that summarizes why I think this is a must-watch kdrama: "And love isn't a fact. It's a hunch at first. And then later it's a series of decisions, a lifetime of decisions. That's love.”
Agreed, there were many impressive quotes in this dramas. About this quote that summarizes the drama, I agree with it, but it’s not just about love. Our life is a series of decisions and I will raise you a quote from **Misaeng** that sums up what is love, life, pain and everything we are living.
*"What do you think life is? Life is a collection of choices. The choices you made in each moment make up the quality of your life.”* \- Han Seok Yool (Misaeng)
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To your amazing review, I would also like to add that every supporting character did an amazing job. I was highly impressed by all the actors and how good their characters were written. They are support characters, so their roles never have that much of a background, but it's worth the mention, because of the difference in each of their personalities, from every brother, sister, queens, court lady and so on. They had their own little moment to shiny and they weren’t just random addictions.
Finally, I think I would rate this drama an 8/ 8.5 out of 10. There are things that I would change, like that supposed cut scene from the ending, I would have 100% add it because it would make sense to story, but overall is a really good drama.
Oh, I'm with you about Moon Lovers. It's a 10/10 for me, but it's my only 10/10 that I haven't rewatched even once. I>! just can't because the second half was so brutal. The whole thing stayed with me for so long. !
i’d would watch selected scenes like the romantic ones because historical romance and LJG in goryeo just hit differently, but i could never subject myself through the rollercoaster of emotions rewatching the whole thing again oh my god😂
This is my all time favorite KDRAMA . Infact , I liked >!the ending even though it was heart wrenching as it was more apt . Loved the scene where he meets his daughter but still can’t openly show his love or take her with him !<
I watched it a long ago . Stills can’t move on . Don’t think will ever be able to . It is the only drama after finishing it. I cried buckets 🪣.
At the thought >!ml couldn’t even meet her at last . He would have felt so miserable 🥲 for not reading the letters . That scene when he rushed it pained me a lot … I 😅 hated female lead for many many rsns especially when she argued with the ml for her friend who is the rsn ml brother the king died the blame was falling on fl… that girl didn’t care about female lead. She could have been beheaded for trusting her friend blindly !!! To me the mischievous prince and his wife’s dress was only bcoz of the fl…. If she would have known her frnd’s true intention. The tragedy wouldn’t have fallen over others ….. she fell in love with her sister’s husbnd whyyyyyyyyyy was her character full of mistakes 🥲I still don’t understand why she made so many stupid rsns… she didn’t meant harm but caused a lot of pain and suffering to others even herself …. I’m happyyy she asked the youngest prince to take care of her daughter …. But should have told her baby father at least …… FL was such a sweet soul but hurtled manyyy bcoz of her stupidity!<
I'm currently watching **Healer** (2014) and I'm 8 eps into it. I'm loving it! It's a bit ridiculous at times but I do not mind in the least, it's actually adding to my enjoyment of it so far. I really like all of the main characters, especially our main couple :) The plot/mystery of it all is also so so interesting!
In terms of currently airing dramas, I'm watching **Moon in the Day.** I will also start watching **Vigilante** when I get home and I can't wait! I'm so excited!
**Moon in the Day** (2/14 eps) is so much fun so far and I hope the next two eps will keep up the momentum. I'm loving the flashbacks and the long history to this drama. The characters are great too, especially the FL, I love her so much, she's amazing and badass. I'm really looking forward to watching ep 3 later today :)
You can really see the Hong Kong influence in Healer, with the over-the-top action sequences, training montages, and dramatic confrontations, even in a show that is tackling serious themes like the history of the democracy movement. Straight out of the John Woo playbook. (Just with fewer guns. It is Korea, after all.)
Just finished **The Red Sleeve**. I almost gave this up after the first few episodes because it seemed like there was too much silliness going on with the the girls, and then there the bathtub scene which I thought was over the top. I don't watch Sageuk dramas to swoon over the ML Idol's chest, and I felt like that was the direction in which this was headed. BUT...things started to change around ep 5 or 6. It became much more serious and interesting when the intrigue kicked in and I ended up really looking forward to watching. So thanks to those who encouraged me to keep going. I liked this a lot, and I don't think I've ever experienced this much change from my initial opinion when watching a drama.
CW:
**Evilive (8/10) :** you are missing out of you aren't watching this show. I love how they play their relation like big psycho bl show. I'm afraid of the ending there are no way we will get happy ending form that.
**Twinkling Watermelon (13/16):** I almost cried when Yi Chan sing for cheong Ah. that was so beautiful finally my babies together. also all the boys turn to be cheong ah fans is so me like that's right boys she is the most beautiful out there. give my girl all the love. also finally the travels know each other now lets finish this mission.
**The Escape of the Seven: War for Survival (14/17):** I love makjang but this is just not it. they make the most uninteresting character K the main character and it's not fun. also the acting not really interesting like other makjang. also the lovelines is EW please don't.
***The Killing Vote (9/12):*** the 1 ep per week really kill the fun, now i just will keep last eps to watch together.
\--- almost all my shows will end next week and will have time to binge watch **worst of evil** and start other dramas.
it's so good. the plot is great and their chemistry is amazing. for me it's more exciting when i watch weekly because i don't know what will happen usually i can't wait and spoil things to myself. it will end this week so you can enjoy your binge watch.
Evilive has the BL I wanted to see in The Worst of Evil. TWOE is still very bro-y and it’s one of the best watches for me this year, but it doesn’t have the same boyfriends chemistry between the MLs like Evilive does and I wish it did. I’m glad Evilive is really coming thru lol
Agree, Evilive play the BL GAME so well. they have this chemistry and this look in the eye (especially Doyoung omg he is crazy 100% in love lol) and also the script for that. I'm still in ep3 in the worst of evil I'm excited to see their chemistry but they set it clear they will fight over this wife.
**Daily Dose of Sunshine** (4/12): Four episodes in, this drama is on track to become my favorite drama of the year. It’s relatable, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and brimming with humanity. The viewer becomes deeply invested in the journeys of the members of the nursing unit and their unforgettable patients. The creative use of visual metaphors to depict the patients’ conditions and the naturalness of the performances from the entire cast are other key strengths of the drama.
**Castaway Diva** (4/12): Episode 3 solidified the endearing friendship between Ran-joo and Mok-ha. Kim Hyo-jin’s terrific performance is the perfect counterpoint to Park Eun-bin’s perennial excellence. Episode 4 revealed the >!problematic relationship between Ran-joo and CEO Lee Seo-jun!<, through the symbolism of an item from Mok-ha’s time on the island. The symbolism of this and other items in the present day is also satisfyingly used to reveal more of the details of her fifteen-year island life.
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FINISHED!
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**Beyond Evil (2021)** (K-Drama: 8.5/10 stars)
>In my opinion, the spotlight of this drama it’s not the story but the incredible performances by both main leads. I was already a fan of Yeo Jin-Goo, but now I’m incredibly curious to see Shin Ha-Kyun in other roles and preferably in different type of roles. Unfortunately this brilliant acting, doesn’t match the script, which it was good and interesting, but it also had an inconsistent pacing and ended up going into circles. For example the first 8 episodes advanced quickly and the story was highly addicting, but once we got literally all the answers, I couldn’t help but wonder why they needed to drag this for another 8 episodes. They could have kept every twist with less episodes for example only 12 and it would be more than enough, instead things dragged for way too long and by the end I wasn't surprised and I was slightly bored. With this said, this didn’t deserve the 2021 Baeksang Award for Best Screenplay or Best Drama, but Shin Ha-Kyun was 100% worthy of his Best Actor Award.
**Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023)** (K-Drama: 10/10 stars)
>Freaking fantastic drama, it's a heartwarming story that helps normalise mental health and it's illnesses. The whole drama is filled with great performances by every actor and mesmerising visuals, from the intro, to the set design and the editing, everything was just beautiful, and highly inspired by Wes Anderson’s filmography style, and his use of bright or pastel colours to balance extremely serious topics. Just a side note, if you are in a place in life where you can’t manage really serious topics, I wouldn’t advice you to watch this right now, but once you are feeling better do watch it because it’s probably one of the inspiring dramas about mental health.
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IN PROGRESS!
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**My Dearest** (17/20 episodes)
>We are closely reaching the end of this drama, and for once in this weeks single episode, I felt like this episode wasn't that much filled with suffering and angst, which makes me really hopeful for a happy ending for our main characters. Speaking of happy ending, since there are talks/news for a possible extension of this drama, it made me think that there is a realistic chance for a happy ending. Why would they consider to extend this drama, if it wouldn’t be a happy ending? That would be sadistic! Right? I will watch it either way, but prolonging our suffering would be incredibly evil.
**Castaway Diva** (4/14 episodes)
>I’m deeply in love with this drama and I’m so glad to see that the director and screenwriter decided to add more flashbacks of Mok-Ha’s life in the deserted island. Now I don’t feel like I was robbed of this “castaway” part of the story and I only got her “diva” dream part, everything in this story just feels balanced. Besides this, I’m completely in love with the amazing soundtrack, I have literally added all of the songs to my Spotify List. And, I’m enjoying all the performances from every single actor >!(even the evil dad)!< and their interactions with each other. Excited for next weeks episodes.
**Moon In The Day** (2/14 episodes)
>I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about this drama, so far it's better than I expected and the main storyline even though it's not new or it's a surprise, it's still interesting. However, something tells me that the screenwriter or the webtoon writer, might have added too many unnecessary twists to the story in the present days and I really don’t care about either the male lead ex-girlfriend or his uninteresting rival, and unfortunately I think we are going to see them more than we actually needed to see them. Besides this, I’m not excited to see Lee Kyung-Young back on screen, I’m simply disgusted by this man and I avoid anything with him. I think the next 2 episodes will tell me if I should keep watching this drama or not.
**Where Stars Land (2018)** (14/16 episodes)
>I’m starting to understand why people complained about how draggy this drama was. There is definitely not enough content to fill those 16 episodes and maybe 10 or 12 would be more than enough. About the story, I feel like there was a missed opportunity here, because it's not always that we see a story spent almost entirely inside an airport, but they kept each character story really bland and even cliche, I don't feel impressed. Still, I like the main leads, this is definitely not Lee Je-Hoon's and Chae Soo-Bin's best work, but taking into consideration how their characters were written, the actors did the best with what they got, it's just that the overall storyline is boring. Hence why I have not finished this drama yet and started another new drama, I need some excitement.
**Moon Lovers: Scarlet Hear Ryeo** (10/20 episodes)
>I have wanted to start this drama for quite a while and let me tell you that 2016 might have been the year of the silly sageuks but they are all so heartwarming, I'm talking about **Hwarang** and **Love In The Moonlight**. All of these dramas have such a funny cast and the story floats between entertaining moments and other times becomes really emotionally intense and serious. Regarding the visuals, in the case of **Moon Lovers**, the costumes sometimes don't feel like 100% accurate but they are still pretty and in the case of set designs and filming locations they are all mesmerising. In fact, there were a couple of filming locations outside the palace that I wondered where it was filmed because I really want to see it with my own eyes one day if I can.
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DROPPED!
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**The Matchmakers** (3/16 episodes)
>**Dropped!** Last week, I was already on the fence about this drama and it’s simply not worth the watch. There are moments in this story where I'm really interested with what they are telling me, but the writer and director never make an effort to properly develop anything and everything is just lightly brushed upon, taking less than 2 minutes for them close a scene and move on to the next one and to never come back to the previous one. Saying this, I can't be bothered to watch another episode of such a bad drama as there are many better content already out there and even releasing as of this moment. And if I'm honest, I even have the feeling that this story is not worth to watch once it's completed.
Same, when people take the time to make proper comments, it helps all of us to make better decisions on what to watch next. A simply list with drama titles doesn't help anyone and it just counts in numbers.
Btw it's funny that you just comment, because I just finished commenting in your post and tried to help you with your next drama. I hope it helps you make a good decision :)
I remember starting scarlet heart ryeo, but somehow I missed the track and didn't complete it. I've heard it is a good one so I don't want to leave it. I need motivation to restart it, all ears for it.
I have yet to finish **Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo**, but what I can tell you, is that I'm really enjoying this drama. It's a good balance between political conflicts, romance and friendship.
Trying to give you a little bit more context about this story without spoiling it for you, this story is set right after Goryeo was founded by King Taejo, before Goryeo, Korea as we know it was divided in Three Kingdoms. This is important to know because, the King is always in a tough spot where he needs to ensure continuity of his ruling, while keeping their borders safe and making everyone happy. More than once, we can see him trying to make all the "lords" happy by marrying himself with other women or marrying his kids off to these "lords" kids.
Also, as it's expected from a man that had many wives, he had plenty of kids, here we get so see only 7 princes, 1 crown prince and 1 princess, but in real life he had about 30. The man was busy right? lol
These is where the palace conflicts start, everyone dreams of the throne some out of greed, others out of safety for their lives. But is also where we see the most funny parts, the 7 princes have many different personalities and they interactions between each other and our female lead are really funny. Our female lead is just a simple girl that traveled back in time and is now stuck in Goryeo and she must adapt to survive.
I don't want to tell you much of the story, but right now I'm mostly curious to see if the female male will live forever in Goryeo? What will happen to her? Will she end up living a good life with one of the princes or alone? I'm also curious to see who will succeed King Taejo. History tell us is King Gwangjong, but how different from reality will this character end up, because this King was a rather controversial person.
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Another note that I would like to leave it here, this drama relies a lot on it's good casting. Some people were casted with the full purpose of gathering views to this drama and growing this fandom, I'm talking about IU (Soloist) and Baekhyun (Exo Member), they both did a great job in their own characters. All the other cast are known actors, some more experienced than others, but they all did a great job.
If I would compare this drama to any other dramas it would probably be **Mr. Queen** for the sassy and smart female lead that also time travelled, **Hwarang** for the incredible friendships between all the princes and the female lead and finally **Love In The Moonlight**, for the love story between the main leads, that feels a bit similar.
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What can I tell you more about this drama: it had an incredibly amount of filming locations and all over Korea, meaning it's not 100% filmed in a studio, which will make you dream of new places to visit in the future. And for me right now, I would rate this an 8 out of 10 stars, but I still have 7 episodes left to watch
Hope this helped you decide. 😊
watch it for lee joongi’s acting. he is absolutely flawless in it.
the romance helps a lot too, because it’s very swoon worthy even for someone who dislikes romance as a drama. it’s a drama that really has it all: comedy, light moments, politics, tragedy, romance, angst — i found the first ep the hardest to get through because of the tone, but the rest is very good.
I’m watching **twenty five 21**. I feel like it’s not a show for early in your kdrama watching but it’s enjoyable now I have plenty up my sleeve. Interesting to learn more about IMF days.
After **the light in your eyes** wrecked me on the weekend, I had to see some justice for Nam Joo Hyuk. What happened to his character in TLIYE was just so sad. The show was good despite him though. So many top actors. Kim Hye Ja, Lee Jung Eun really showed the kids how to act.
NJK is just good at being a gawky big kid. 2521 suits him more than TLIYE.
Next on my list (while waiting for **Castaway Diva** is be completely out) is either:
1) **daily dose of sunshine**
2) **twinkling watermelon**
3) **my dearest.**
How would you rank these three in order?
From this comment alone, I can tell that you are drawn to dramas with a more realistic outtake and with really serious topics. All of these drama will wreck you at some point, but they are amazing stories, you have really good taste.
This rank is more for you to keep a good balance in your mental health:
1. **Twinkling Watermelon:** I have yet to start this one, but I believe it has serious topics regarding disabilities but at the same time it has really fun interactions with the time travelling and a music band. So everything seems balanced and it's probably the lightest one.
2. **My Dearest:** It's probably the one filled with the most angst, but it's one of the most beautiful love stories out there and historically speaking it's really interesting to learn about The Qing Invasion of Joseon and the suffering of it's people, more particularly the hardships that women had to face back in the day. This drama is a 10 out of 10 for me, even if there isn't a happy ending, it's top writing quality, the costume design is mesmerising and the filming locations also beautiful.
3. **Daily Dose Of Sunshine:** Left it for last because it's both a difficult and an easy watch depending on how you are feeling mentally. The story helps to normalise many well knows mental illnesses and in fact teach us how to take care of our own mental health. It's visually beautiful, with great casting and great story, it's also a 10 out of 10 for me, but you should be warned for the serious topics that might hit way too close to home.
I hope this helps you make a better decision :)
Guys I am all into twinkling watermelon. They have taken it quite smoothly to the point where it looks beautiful now. The character relations, twists, pinch of humour and slashing music kept me hooked up.
I am so proud of myself! My on-air watch list is down to 10!
Twinkling Watermelon - LOVE THIS if you aren't watching, or on the fence highly recommend.
The Killing Vote - I actually have no idea, I wouldn't recommend it and I wouldn't not recommend it, it's taking 100 years to air though.
Moon in the Day - First episode has me hooked
My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thai) - So far so good, based on the Korean webtoon Our Companionship not sure why they changed the name....
My Universe (Thai) - Hit and miss on these some are decent some are wtf?
One Room Angel (Japan) - This has no business being as cute as it is, the JBL's are comming in hot.
Absolute Zero (Thai) - Heartbreak
Twins (Thai) - One episode in but I am sus on weather I will finish it or
You Are Mine (Taiwanese) - It's short, I would have dropped it but half hour every week isn't painful
Shadow (Thai) - Only 2 episodes in but intrigued.
Course that being said there are 6 shows I'm planning to pick up this week because I have no sense of self-preservation.
ehehe I am being very naughty and "watching" most of the trending on-airs via IG reels. Twinkling Watermelon, Castaway Diva, Moon in the Day, Daily Dose of Sunshine... even gasp shock My Dearest. I'm sure the drama purists will boot me off this sub for it - but, except for My Dearest, I wasn't going to watch most of them anyway. so now i get the gist of how things are going and still get to see the standout scenes. with none of the commitment. a terrible habit but 🤷♀️.
otherwise me and my bffl, **The Killing Vote** (10/12), both took the week off. lol it's now comical how often this show gets pre-empted. prime has ep 11 already uploaded but it's locked until the episode airs in SK. the summary is a super click baity though!
in non-kdramaland, we caught up to Loki over the weekend - the only true prestige MCU show. Wandavision is a distant second but they kinda fumbled.
also i'm shocked at how much jdorama **Life's Punchline** (3/10) appeals to me. it feels almost webdrama-y in how shot-on-iphone, down to earth it is. the comedy troupe is SO DUMB. but i also love them and their stupid skits. and it almost hurts how understandable the FL's story is.
and so in a totally ridiculous fangirl crackpot vent - >!i'm on record here as being a superstan of both Lee Dong Hwi and Lee Min Ki but does anybody else think that if you combine their quirkiest traits, you get someone like a Suda Masaki???!< anyway. i'm also working backwards through **MIU404** (4/11) and **Todome no Kiss** (3/10) for the impact cameos.
Cool cool cool. Sometimes you gotta channel the obsession into ✨ A R T ✨
Also not gonna lie... Back in the day I totally picked asian dramas based on how good the fmvs were.
Not a Kdrama but a new jdrama, it is called Riding A Unicorn. Light and frothy nothing dark, about a new tech start-up. Must admit didn't keep my interest going overlong due to the computer tech aspect of the story so dipped in and out.
The personalities are engaging. There is a slight romantic triangle, family responsibility and how finding your safe space to be yourself can be difficult. If you like to know how to be an entrepreneur and start your own tech company, this is the series for you.
My currently-watching list is so long, I might just be watching everything that's on-air right now 😆
1. Twinkling Watermelon - ends next week and I'm not ready to say goodbye ☹️
2. Evil Live - swooning over Kim Young Kwang the whole time tbh 😍 The plot being amazing is the cherry on top!
3. A Good Day To Be A Dog - sad that there have been this many delays. But I will stick around!
4. Moon In The Day - I'm enjoying it a lot more than I expected.
5. Vigilante - started today and I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet.
6. The Killing Vote - caught up this week and the plot has been very intriguing! Excited to see how they wrap up.
7. My Dearest - I'm still watching part 1 as I started this drama late but I'm enjoying every minute of it so far. Namgoong Min has never disappointed me so far and I hope the streak will remain!
8. The Escape of the Seven - love a good makjang because I don't have to think too much about the plot 😆
9. Strong Girl Nam Soon - this one has been a little disappointing but maybe I had high expectations.
10. Castaway Diva - had a great start but I wasn't too impressed last week. Looking forward to seeing if I change my mind in the upcoming episodes.
11. Perfect Marriage Revenge - started this on a whim but Sung Hoon made me swoon too much for me to not continue 😋
12. Live Your Own Life - like in all weekend dramas, many characters are very frustrating but I'm loving the MCs a lot more than my last weekend drama, The Real Has Come.
13. Unpredictable Family - daily drama that I had very low expectations from but now I look forward to the episodes every day ☺️
I hope I'm not the only crazy person who is watching this many dramas at once 😆
I've been watching **One Spring Night** and I really love it through 7 episodes. Everybody is lying all the time to others to and to themselves, so there's a lot happening in the subtext. The main romance is really good. You see passion and tension as well as pure tenderness. Eun-u is so cute.
Stylistically, it is shot somewhat boring with lots of medium-sides and a small selection of songs in the soundtrack. It does fit the subdued tone, but I do wish the shot selection could be a bit more dynamic during important moments.
Overall, reminds me a lot of another favourite of mine, **Because It's My First Love**, and not just because the pharmacy is called Woori Pharmacy and FL makes a deal of becoming "us" for the first time.
**One Spring Night** is one of my all-time favorite slow-burn dramas with a realistic adult romance! You’re absolutely correct that the series is all about the subtext
Watching:
Twinkling Watermelon — (14/16) — Legitimately surprised that >!our time travelers found out about each other! Very glad they did but would not have been surprised if it had waited until they were both back to now.!< I trust this writernim at this point so I am very hopeful and excited - and sad! - about the last two episodes. This has been one of my favorite dramas of all time.
The World of the Married — (7/16) — I have put this on temporary hold. Since it doesn’t have legal distribution in the USA it’s a PITA for me to watch besides being such an intense makjang. I really have to want to watch it.
Strong Girl Namsoon — (10/16) — Eh. It’s cute but that’s about it. I’ve been more excited about Castaway Diva tbh. I kinda want to know what the whole point of this story is. Thinking about abandoning this…plot is not plotting.
A Good Day to be a Dog — (4/14) — I am pissed at how dirty they are doing this one. It’s not on again this week! They are definitely trying to kill it. Hard to be invested in a drama that has one episode in a month! Like that’s why I dislike American TV shows!
Castaway Diva — (4/12) — this one is clever. I dislike Start-Up though so I hope this one doesn’t continue with the same BS about who is Kiho (my guess is >!Bogeol for the record!< but we shall see). I love the eonni aspect too! Acting is fantastic (it would be with Park Eun Bin and Chae Jong Hyeop) but if I am pissed at the end I am really going to be unhappy with this writer and any drama going forward.
The Matchmakers — (4/16) — I adore Rowoon. His comedic timing is fantastic and this one is funny. But some the anachronisms and sexism…woo…I dunno. I feel like you can have one or the other but not both. At least not how this one is doing it. This isn’t as good as The Forbidden Marriage or Rowoon in Destined With You but I am enjoying it. Guess we will see. Leads are good together.
Moon in the Day — (2/14) — Kim Young Dae is so good as a villain. So good. Can’t wait to dive into this one further. Though I haven’t read the webtoon I know it >!has a sad ending so preparing for that.!<
Daily Dose of Sunshine — (6/12) — I love this one. Love it. Love the leads (Park Bo Young and Yeon Woo Jin) and would watch either of them in anything just about. But the subject matter is so incredibly difficult. This isn’t some feel good drama. I have a lot of mental health issues and it is hard to watch. This subject needed done, and done well, like this. But pacing myself. Especially with the episode I just watched…
Need to add some more fluff…jeez…too much drama.
Moon in the Day >!has a sad ending!!angst and tragedies!<, and a lot of times dramas >!shy away from those so the few that are there!< I love so much more.
Yup. Apparently. In comments all the over the place. >!I agree with you if they do it well! So often that doesn’t happen i.e. HeartBreak. Would rather have any ending so long as it isn’t a crappy sad one. Those crappy sad ones are just disappointing honestly.!<
I don't know anything about the story, but it looks to me like it will be a bittersweet ending, or something like *Kokdu's Gye Jeol*. What leads me to that:
\- He had her mother and sister killed, and killed her father in battle (in order to stop a bloody war & more suffering, as the story has been told).
\- She tried to kill him, in order to take revenge for her family.
\- He stopped her, and they grew to love each other - but the original events still existed. He had killed her family members, and she wanted to take revenge.
\- He tried to protect her from those trying to kill her.
\- She still killed him, in the end, then was killed by whoever was pursuing her.
\- He's attached to her and can't get free, unless (he believes) he personally kills her in her 'incarnation'.
\- She's protected from supernatural danger by the bracelet she wears.
\- There's another force - the spirit of someone she and he both offended - seeking revenge and trying to kill them both.
\- He is in the body of himself.... a person who is him, but isn't, because his spirit is separate... weird... but anyway, he's in this body, which is dying.
So, he apparently needs to kill her to stop the cycle and free himself. Then, he will be free to move on or also be reincarnated, and will leave the body he's taken over/it will die. They could have a story together in a future life, or move on separately. This is a good result, although it means both of them dying in the current story, which to us would feel sad.
But he will also need to protect her from this other force. Perhaps this will cause them to grow together again; plus, she will start to remember the past life. Somehow, they need to undo/overcome the tragedy of that story. Whether it happens through love or resolution - death - is open. Who knows? It could be bittersweet or happy. I think bittersweet is more likely, but shows like this like twists where what the character thinks has to happen ends up being different - since it's about supernatural forces/God's will, and them learning.
I was actually in the middle of 7 when I wrote this post - I posted all because I needed a minute. I’m about to start 10 right now and will finish tonight. I can see why you said that about 8. I have pretty severe long haul depression myself, which at the moment is good and well managed, so if I stop now I will absolutely linger on dangerous thoughts I shouldn’t. Episode 9 has helped a bit. Hopefully the rest will finish it off.
To anyone else watching this with mental health issues 7 and 8 and even most of 9 are massively hard. Be kind to yourself.
There really is too much in the way of anachronisms and overt preachiness about stuff like social class, rules, and attitudes in *The Matchmakers*. It's disconcerting, and is making me consider dropping. The problem is it's otherwise a fun, very well-done show.
I'm watching the Golden Spoon. I'm on episode 9. I wish the show was shorter.
Also, Crazy Love on Hulu. Is this show sad? I don't like the diagnosis. It's a lil triggering. Hm
Thoughts?
My Dearest. Namkoong Min is one of the best actors out there. So much nuance with his acting. He truly is great.
If that’s your potential issue with the show you don’t have to worry, >!it’s a mistaken diagnosis, she doesn’t actually have cancer!<
There is some angst in **Crazy Love** but I wouldn’t call it a sad show. A lot of it is really funny and the romance works better than you would think. I’m a big fan of this one.
I have switched from binging to going with on air dramas. It keeps things at an even pace, and back to how I used to watch TV. I like the collective excitement and comments as we compare our reactions to each episode.
The end of the year has been and will be LOADED with dramas, and I can see why the drama Pachinko was pushed off until next year because of a packed schedule
**Twinkling Watermelon** \- I can't believe we will say goodbye to this phenomenal coming of age/time travel drama. So many emotions, tears of joy, tears of sadness, and love the characters in this drama. Will stay with me for a long while
**Castaway Diva** \- what a great performance by PEB, and I love the brothers, mystery of who is Kiho, and the struggle for comeback and justice for our mentor diva, while cheering on opportunities for our new diva to shine. Each episode solid.
**Vigilante** \- Just starting, looks like another quality Disney+ production. I have seen a few vigilante movies/dramas, and will be interested in how the main character develops
**My Dearest** \- I enjoy this drama, especially as it evolved past push pull dynamics. Epic historical drama, and hope to hear confirmation if 1 or 2 episodes will be added, and if we get to see more of our main couple.
**Moon In the Day** \- time slip revenge drama, with a curse to overcome from the past. I think it will be an interesting hate to love drama if it goes that way - only completed first 2 episodes so far, love the care that the 2ndML has with his brother the ML. FL is smart, competent, which I also like
**Matchmakers** \- Love Rowoon, love a smart FL who totally has ML's number, humor is good. I follow the main strokes of the drama, but some of the plot points go over my head, so I will use drama recaps as an assist to ensure I understand what is going on.
**A Good Day to be a Dog** \- I have enjoyed this, it is cute, but it has a schedule that rivals the Killing Vote in erratic and slow episode release. May need to pause and binge right before the end to maintain my concentration and enjoy flow of drama
i finally watched itaewon class! i absolutely loved it—too 5!
just finished move to heaven. wrecked me, but it’s so good—the acting, the plot, everything.
Recently finished watching **Coffee Prince** It’s an older Kdrama but I can absolutely see why people say it was very unique and ahead of it’s time. It was a good watch. I loved that all loose ends were tied up well. I enjoyed seeing all the confusing messy elements unfold and then seemingly get straightened out.
The very first observation I made about this drama though was the lack of stereotypical modesty that is so prevalent in majority of all current kdramas. The FL runs into a female bathhouse with a food delivery and a bunch of women are shown running around in their bras and underpants. (Which is the equivalent of women in Bikinis really) Yet todays kdramas depict women going to bed in seven layers of clothing in the middle of summer including additional blankets. Men were seen in casual shirtless scenes in this one too. There must have been a viewer rating overhaul in Korea at some point in the past 16 years? It sort of reminded me of watching an American “family friendly” movie from the 80s vs watching a family rated movie from the 2000s. Definitely a marked difference in content type.
**Behind your touch** 8/16. It’s good and I’m enjoying it but… I dunno I think I was expecting more? Not even sure how to put it into words. But I think I’ve read so many great reviews that I just thought it would be extra great. Anyway, I’ll definitely finish it. It’s enjoyable.
I’m watching 3 shows with evil parents who abuse their child.. I think I’ll go insane from all the rage. So there’s **Castaway Diva** where >!Kiho’s dad is STILL insufferable 15 years later, where is truck of doom when you need him???!< Actually the latest eps have been a bit underwhelming for me after the 10/10 pilot, which I still haven’t moved on from. Then I managed to watch **Twinkling Watermelon** all 14 episodes in 2 days 😌✌🏻 and it rightly deserves all the praise its getting, the MLs parents got me giggling kicking my feet in the air but then again >!Cheon ha’s stepmom has to receive comeuppance!< or else it won’t be a good finale for me. Then comes **Perfect Marriage Revenge** which is so makjangy but makes you really root for the leads,love their chemistry, it’s great if you love DRAMA drama. FLs stepmom is right out of Cinderella. I really want the FL to be more in her villain era and less of a damsel in distress. A “it’s us against the world” trope would fit perfectly here.
**Twinkling Watermelon** (12/16) - by far my favourite drama of the week. Eun Gyeol is so wholesome, and I love his relationship with young Cheong Ah. And the music? A+
**Moon in the Day** (2/14) - the first two episodes were fine. Had a good chuckle when Jun Ho's voice came out of Do Ha. Unlike other time travel dramas, I find this unique because Do Ha already knows how to adjust to life in the 21st century. He just has no idea how to respond to the people around him, since Jun Ho was a celebrity.
**Strong Girl Nam Soon** (10/16) - this is so crazy, and I love it! At this point, I don't know what to expect from the last two episodes, but I look forward to it. It's funny how the comments in the weekly discussions alternate between how bad it is and how hot the villain is - ha ha!
**Daily Dose of Sunshine** (12/12) - one of the best dramas of the year. Yeo Jin Woo and his fluffy hair were the perfect foil for the serious storylines. Every episode delivered, and the production standards are high thanks to Netflix.
Starting **Vigilante** and **Castaway Diva** this week.
Relating to your comment about how Do Ha knows about modern life but just finds the celebrity thing weird, and can't be bothered with dumb things, when you watch the next episode of *Moon*, wait for the script reading. It's awesome.
Strong Girl Nam Soon - no plot? I don't care. It's fun. Will there be a super strong baby girl at the end? Will mom reunite with dad? What happens with grandma's love interest?
Castaway Diva - who is the real first love? Will LF be revealed as "The Voice"?
Doona- nope. Gone from my playlist.
Daily Dose of Sunshine - what a heart warming / heart breaking series.
**A Good Day to Be a Dog** (4/14) So cute, don't care about having to wait for next episodes, maybe because I don't binge watch usually? Delayed gratification is good.
**Flower of Evil** (16/16) Really got into this one during the second half. My first Lee Goon Ji drama (wow, he was impressive!). My second Kim Ji Hoon drama, the first was Love to Hate You, >! holy shit he was spooky in this !< . I was a little confused by the writing, and the FL's obsession with a ML who did not seem at all into her at first, but in the end it didn't disrupt my enjoyment of this thriller.
**Meet Yourself** (18/40) Still happily dawdling along with this Cdrama, the leads' >! romance seems to be just about ready to bloom with their very awkward and cute filming of the ad for the village. !<
**The Worst of Evil** (5/12) Super violent yet lots of fun with an excellent gritty atmosphere, loving it.
**Twinkling Watermelon** (2/16) First ep was really touching, but I don't usually love >! time slip/travel !< stuff. I am interested in the Ha family story, though, so we'll see. Also it's great watching Choi Won Young again, I loved him in Mystic Pop-Up Bar.
I wish I could be patient and wait for episodes! I ran to find the webtoon because I needed instant gratification. I love A Good Day To Be A Dog so much because it's so cute!
It's a good thing you find delayed gratification good since you're watching Meet Yourself! But it's truly one of my favorite shows of the year. Well worth your patience!
I just started watching The Worst of Evil and was really surprised by the level of violence... right in the first ten minutes! It's definitely dark and gritty. It's also really suspenseful and I've been on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even though Ji Chang Wook has made other action dramas before, I feel like this character is really different for him and it's great.
After binging **Daily Dose of Sunshine** last weekend (awesome show, I highly recommend it) I decided to start a medical show **Doctor John** (4/32) and a Park Bo Young show **Oh My Ghost** (2/16). I liked the opening episodes of both, fingers crossed they're good.
I'm also watching
**The Escape of the Seven** (14/17): This show still has its moments but it has declined for me since it started focusing so heavily on K
**Perfect Marriage Revenge** (4/12); A lot of fun so far. I enjoy the brisk pace, the characters are entertaining, the romantic chemistry between the leads is hot.
Too many shows, not enough time:
Twinkling Watermelon- one of the best shows I’ve watched this year. It’s such a wonderful storyline, and with two more episodes left I’m not ready to say goodbye to it.
Castaway Diva- loving this one as well.
Strong Girl Namsoon- it’s finally getting good and something brainless to watch on the weekends
The Matchmakers- I like how the storyline is different from the usual Joseon shows. The leads also have wonderful chemistry and I’m a sucker for matchmaking cute couples.
Moon In the Day- intrigued by the story and characters so far, plus Kim Young Dae playing a vengeful spirit will be interesting to watch.
Dali and Cocky Prince- loving this one as well. The ML is so much fun to watch and the leads are so good together. I just wish the other love interests weren’t so awful.
Daily Dose Of Sunshine- really good but it’s gotten very dark so had to take a break, plus all the newly released episodes this week has pushed it back.
Good Day To Be A Dog- will start episode 3 next week after waiting eons for the first 5 to come out.
Also want to start Vigilante this weekend if there’s time.
I've been recovering from COVID (and taking care of my 108-yo grandmother and 83/84 yo parents who are also looking set for a full recovery, believe it or not), and kind of patchily watching various dramas.
**Twinkling Watermelon**: Episode 8. It's a pretty good show so far, if a bit saccharine for my taste. I knew almost nothing about the plot, so the big narrative switcheroo early on took me by surprise. It wasn't until the next episode that I figured out what was going on. Clever writing. Still, I don't find myself on the edge of my seat for this one. I'll finish it eventually. Choi Hyun-wook and Seol In-ah are killing it; the rest of the cast I can take or leave.
**Moon in the Day**: Episode 2. It's always interesting to see the extreme duality of kdrama approaches to kdramaland itself, with celebrities alternately portrayed as hardworking modern-day royalty brimming with noblesse oblige, or as petulant, cranky divas who take everything for granted. They're never just ordinary people doing a job the best they can, which is likely closest to the truth, but not interesting. Anyway, the show has promise, even if it feels like I've seen it before in various bits and pieces of other shows.
**A Good Day to Be a Dog**: Dropped. Made it to episode 4 and realized I simply don't care about these characters, nor about the big past-life mystery which will probably turn out to be something dumb. I like the leads (Park Gyu-young was great in *Dali and Gamjatang*), but the writer and director have to give them something to do, and characters that are more than one-dimensional. The main problem is the show just isn't funny, unless you find the concept of a person turning into a dog inherently hilarious.
**The Matchmakers**: Dropped. Got through episode 3 and simply cannot stand the ML anymore. The recent trend of making MLs start out as whiny, awful man-children so they can be fixed (more like "raised") by the FL is really off-putting. Not Rowoon's fault, he is clearly playing the character as intended.
I'm really enjoying *A Good Day to Be a Dog,* but it is going to be more interesting for young adults closer to the stage of the protagonists. It's a little young for my tastes, but it feels mature enough for me to like it. It's clean and direct - in the sense of not having lots of extra elements that make the story or characters fuzzy or things complicated. It has a good mix of humour and sincerity, and the characters are likeable. The past-life mystery is a bit weird, and that character is giving such uncomfortable vibes, when he appeared to just be the most easy-going, nice guy you could easily like. Of course, that's the aim: the contrast.
**My Dearest** (17/20). I haven't changed my mind since the last time that I described this drama. It feels grand, it feels important, it feels epic. This drama is sometimes frustrating or infuriating, but you just can't look away. It is a type of show that grabs you and doesn't let you go.
**Daily Dose of Sunshine** (10/12) It is an interesting show where every episode is dedicated to a particular mental illness. Because it is episodical and has little time to elaborate on each case, the cases sometimes feel simplified and condensed. It think that there was room for expansion for many of these stories. However, it is still and interesting and informative show, which tries to raise awareness of important issues. Oh, and I really loved the visual representation of people's mental state.
I have been accumulating shows that I want to watch. Particularly, I've noticed a lot of positive feedback for **Twinkling Watermelon**, **Worst of Evil** and **Castaway Diva**. Now that we are approaching holidays, I'll have time to catch up.
**The Worst of Evil**!!!
5 episodes in and this has already impressed me so much. It would have to seriously tank in the second half for it not to be a new top 10 drama for me!
And I've always thought JCW was a good actor but holy shit, he is *amazing* in this one. I honestly feel sick about what's happening to his character because his acting is so convincing. It all feels so real, especially the danger and the emotions surrounding >!his marriage and his wife getting involved!<. He needs more of this kind of serious role, I think!
And the colors and lighting are gorgeous. There have been so many shots that make me go, ohhh pretty. And the fights are really interesting too, they're well choreographed and some have been really unique, like the flashlight fight haha
This is the first kdrama I've watched more than 1 episode of in months and it's reminding me how much I love Korean crime thrillers.
**SPOILERS
Unfortunately I’m on e16 of Because This Is My First Life. I had such high hopes and liked it somewhat but in e15 >!narrative logic and reason fall off a cliff!< and now I hate it. I’m finishing it because I’m a completist but not only >!do I hate the FL (who is acting completely contrary to her character trajectory, and is talking to everyone except the man she supposedly loves) but the story is off the rails!<.
Currently watching Chief Kim and I’m so enormously enjoying it! Have a massive crush on Namkoong Min now and aim to watch him in everything and salivate.
So, coming back here after I took short breaks from Kdramas. I haven’t watch most of the dramas that came out this year because I couldn’t find anything that catch my eye. I was busy catching on anime and western media instead. The only ones that I like so far was **Revenant** and **The Glory.** Currently planning to continue to watch My Dearest (which I put on hold) once part two ends.
**Moving** (3/20)-I’m not a big fan of the superhero genre since I feel like they are predicted and overstated, especially in Western media. I love everything about this show so far because it is more than people having superpowers. The acting, characters and the visuals are amazing. I can see why people say it is the best drama to come out this year.
Thanks to the poster who told us what was leaving on Netflix soon! Because of that I just watched **The Hymn of Death** yesterday. So good. It's just three hour-long episodes on Netflix. The story is based on real events. I highly recommend.
Also leaving Netflix soon are two I have just started:
**100 Days My Prince** \- just started the first episode
**The Guest** \- I've watched two episodes, and it's a great start.
OP also said Encounter (I've already watched) is leaving, as well as Graceful Friends (low ratings on MDL, so I won't watch.)
Behind Your Touch (5/16): Liked the main actor in Because This is My First Life and the comments mentioning the butt-touching on this subreddit made me super curious. This show is hilarious and I've already recommended it to a few people even though I have no idea how it will end.
The Matchmakers (4/12): Fun and different from other sageuks I've watched before. I don't think this show is meant to be taken too seriously. The politics around the marriages are interesting to me and I like the leads so far.
Castaway Diva (4/12): Enjoying the story and the main characters. Did not expect the first episode to be so heavy, and the young actors were amazing. I love music-related shows and I hope they continue to show us the female leads' performances.
Strong Girl Nam Soon (6/16): The first 4 episodes were interesting and the ML is so wholesome. But I keep seeing comments about how it's going nowhere and it's all over the place. I don't mind the latter as much as long as it continues to entertain me, but I would like to see progress towards the main plot. I plan to keep watching this show when I have down-time after I have caught up with the other dramas I'm watching.
A Good Day to Be a Dog (3/10): Read the webtoon and was curious how it'd translate to a drama. I think the casting is pretty good so far and I'm hoping the changes to the plot that they will inevitably make will be for the better, unlike what they did in See You in My 19th Life. It's only one episode a week so I tend to forget about this show. Will catch up on last week's episode soon since I heard they're delaying the next episode again until next week.
My Roommate is a Gumiho (10/16): I've been slowly watching this, mainly for JKY. Planning to finish this but is taking a back seat to all the other shows mentioned above.
Twinkling Watermelon and Perfect Marriage Revenge have piqued my interest, but I don't think I have time right now. This is actually the most kdramas I've ever watched simultaneously. Was never a big TV person growing up but kdramas got me glued to the screen.
Tale of the Nine Tailed and Castaway Diva. I have to have two going if one is a weekly. Non-Korean shows are Lessons in Chemistry on AppleTV (utterly fantastic) and Loki s2 which is very good if you watch Marvel.
Disappointed with *Boys over Flowers*
Has anyone else been disappointed with boys over flowers? I just finished watching this show. The way everyone went on and on and on about it - I had thought it would be great. But I was just feeling meh and at one point I just wanted to stop watching it.
SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
>!Gu jun pyo is an ass for not standing up to his mother in the beginning itself. She put jandi's parents out of business, kidnapped and assaulted jandi and this fellow still couldn't say anything? Make a choice. Either stay and leave the girl or leave the house.!<
>!And what is with the wedding getting canceled at the dias? Did that girl wake up only at that moment? What was she doing all that while, especially when she asked jandi to become maid of honour. And jandi gets kidnapped and these people continue with the wedding.!< Eh?
I loved ji hoo. And I really felt bad for him. He was perfect for jandi (and me :'( ). Why couldn't she just wake up and see jihoo for what he really is! He was part of the reason I wanted to stop watching the show. How dumb can the lead actress get. She spoilt her own life and the lives of so many others. >!Her poor brother couldn't get a proper education in his formative years because of her.!<
>!How can go eul like that idiot after how he treated her on valentines day in front of his father? How did she feel comfortable being in the same room with him just a day later and not talk about it?!< Ewwww
>!What's with the force kissing and stuff? How can jandi like jun pyo after he tried to force kiss her and assault her. I mean who will choose that toxic short tempered jackass over sweet jihoo?!!<
I think jandi was in it for the money and the over the top show. If she really wanted love, then she would have been with jihoo.
Poor jihoo >!lost his parents, his first love and his second love.!< 😢
End of rant.
I dropped Korean BOF after 2 episodes. Saw trailers of Japanese and Chinese BOF too and knew they won't work for me. Surprisingly, Thailand's BOF turned out to be the best adaptation for me. Do check it out if you wish to see a version where the FL has a backbone as well as a functioning brain.
No new finished kdramas, a couple JDoramas to add: **Watashi no Oyome-kun**, a tropey office romcom with a cute FL and nothing standing out, a 7; **Familiar Wife**, a JP rendition of a kdrama actually, quite a good one though, time travel component, a nice romance and a lot of insightful moments and scenes with good leads and solid writing, a well deserved 8.
In progress
\- **Strong Girl Nam Soon (10/16):** almost hate watching at this point, FL has no character development, romance is cute but out of nowhere, almost all plots and secondaries either boring or plain bad. As usual, spin-offs are not on par with originals.
Ready to embark on **Moon in the Day** and waiting another week to then binge **Twinkling Watermelon**, enough for now.
I just finished watching Moving this morning. It felt a bit disconnected at times to me. Overall there definitely were moving parts though. I did enjoy it but maybe not as much as I expected to.
I’m also watching Destined with you, the worst of evil and Misaeng slowly.
I find Misaeng a little depressing at times but the last ep had a moment that was just so touching and hopeful that I want to keep watching it.
I haven’t really been in the mood to watch dramas so I’m just watching everything really slowly. (Also my mind is still kinda in Arthdal with Eunseom and Tanya…)
What comes to Moving, I found that it was good (but not great) in the first half, but it lost me completely toward the end. Knowing that the overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive and seeing that I enjoyed the initial episodes, I was certain that I was going to like it. However, the more I kept watching the more I realized that it fell flat for me.
Yeah I enjoyed it more in the first half too. I found some parts in the second half good too. But overall it wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Maybe my expectations were too high? I don’t know… maybe we weren’t in the right mood for it either? I think Huisoo, Bongseok and Ganghoon were my fave parts mostly.
Taking a bit of a break from binging Kdramas & reading webtoons instead this week :).
Am still watching weekly though - thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 eps of **Moon in the Day**! Perfect vibes for me of angst, thriller & hints of a tragic romance to unfold. I trust the actors to pull off dual roles & am going to enjoy the ride no matter what because I love Kim Young Dae and feeling great chemsistry between him & Pyo Ye Jin!
And going to start **Vigilante** this weekend too, love me some Nam Joo Hyuk (also the show looks good too) & this is my last glimpse until he comes back from military service late next year!
I've just started watching The Worst of Evil. OMG, my palms are sweating. This drama is really dark and it's much more violent than I anticipated. I'm kind of surprised because after The K2, Ji Chang Wook said he wasn't going to make any more action dramas, but he really puts his body through a lot of physical abuse in this drama.
okay, so I started **Revenant (2/12)** so far I have seen 2 episodes and I have questions:
why hangings? >!it just seems very impractical and even difficult to do for a ghost. like there is that one guy in ep1 who is high up on the room of some skyrise building iirc and he hangs himself??? like why? why not just push him? (are you trying to make it easier for the cops to investigate, writer-nim?) especially if i take into account the wrist marks like what? because wrist marks imply the ghost is holding onto their wrists - how do you make some make a noose (like we see ML's mom do) while holding their wrists? like i'd have no problem with the ghost just possessing the victims hands and doing it but the wrist marks point directly to it not being the case so like!< \*confused gesturing\~ >!also the ghost can't open a door but can hold strong enough onto person's wrists to cause this kind of bruising? and like i understand the door here is more of a metaphor but even so it's just an object with no living force,, it really should not be that difficult compared to a person who is struggling against you.!< also, does it get proper scary at any point? because while it has a dark atmosphere and some eerie OSTs, I have yet to get genuinely scared by what I see.
aside from that i'm LOVING my airing dramas:
* **Castaway Diva (4/12)** \- especially the SML he is my absolute favourite. The sunny and child-like FL reminds me of FL from Still 17 (in the best way). Tho I'm a little worried that >!YRJ!< may not have the best intentions with her
* **Moon in the Day (2/14)** \- I hope this keeps being as amazing as the first two eps, because I am in love and will be heartbroken if they mess it up
right now i am on 4/16 of **The Matchmakers** which is pretty light hearted and cute, am enjoying it so far especially Rowoon's performance
**Vigilante** I am going to start afterwards and I cant wait! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)
watched 2/16 **Flower of Evil** last night, it's a bit melodramatic tbh but I'm intrigued and want to stick with it
2/12 **Revenant** I am watching slowly with my roomie. loving the noir atmosphere and Kim Taeri
(edit cos hit enter too soon)
*Completed*
**Hidden Love (2023)**
I've been in a *huge* drama slump ever since this summer for some reason. But at last, I'm finally back in the mood for dramas and finished the last episodes of HL. I absolutely loved this drama. It was pure cuteness and fluff from beginning to end. Sure there was a *little* bit of drama sprinkled in, but overall it was just an adorable healthy romance and I enjoyed every second of it. I was internally squealing throughout the entire drama.
**Moonlight (2021)**
Another one I abandoned this summer but finally finished. Overall, I loved it. Any book nerd would probably enjoy this, as it revolves *heavily* around book publishing. It was an interesting setting and definitely made me think about how much actually goes into the creation of a book. Main couple was adorable and funny. I especially loved the ML. I'm a sucker for a goofy ML being whipped for the FL first. As for the FL, I understand she's not everyones cup of tea. I like Esther, but the constant baby talk might be too much for some. The side couple was meh. I skipped through most of their scenes. Oh, and it was cool to see a *very* hinted at lesbian couple. Although their storylines were pretty boring, I gotta respect how obvious they made the relationship despite censorship.
Oh I didnt know RIABB was *actually* about books (despite its title, lol). I've heard mixed reviews, but I have still kept it on my to watch list for when I'm in a mood for a noona romance!
One of my favs from 2021 is also set the the 'world of publishing' **Doom at Your Service**. The FL, Tak Dong Kyung is a web novel editor who is diagnosed with brain cancer. After a series of further unfortunate events, she makes a random wish and catches the attention of Myeol Mang aka Doom. Worth a watch if you like: positive interaction between female characters, healing past hurts and moving on, an interesting meditation on the nature of extinction and catastrophe, death as a path to rebirth.
\*\*Daily Dose of Sunshine--\*\*This drama should come with all sorts of trigger warnings! I'm usually not sensitive, but just finished ep 8 & realized I can't continue, show has become way too dark. I thought from the title it would be uplifting, and perhaps it might be, but I can't stick around to find out. If you are sensitive to mental health issues; esp depression & suicide, this might not be for you. I thought the visual depictions of mental illness, particularly panic disorder & delusions, were compelling, and initially the FL empathy was refreshing, but things have devolved.
\*\*Castaway Diva--\*\*Again darker than expected, but it's keeping me engaged & who knew that Park Eun Bin had such a fantastic voice. The music is awesome so far.
\*\*The Kidnapping Day--\*\*Just superb, great story, well-written, the two leads are phenomenal actors, especially the child actor is amazing. Highly recommend as one of the best dramas of this year or any year.
\*\*Twinkling Watermelon--\*\*Started this because of the huge number of comments on this sub. I'm not as enchanted as some, but it's really very good, great music & performances (is Choi Hyun-wook singing here? I can't seem to find out if it's him), intriguing time slip & found family story. I love it. Hyun-wook is uber charismatic & draws my eyes in every scene. An actor I will watch for in the future.
**The Heirs--**my first watch! Fun & finally I get to see what all the subreddit in-jokes are about. However, I forgot this week! I think this one is better as a binge than a weekly for me!
There are 8-9 things on my "wanna watch" list but waiting for them to be over; I prefer bingeing!
**Twinkling Watermelon -** I think this is the best drama currently on air. I enjoy every minute and I'm just floored by the acting of all of the actors. The range of emotions displayed by the handsome leads spans pure joy to pure despair. There have been so many time-slip dramas this year - and I love the genre. I loved A Time Called You, See you in my 19th Life, and others , but this one just blows me away. I want to know what happens - but I don't want it to end.
**Good Day to Be aa Dog -** Also enjoying this one. Cha Eun Woo really takes my breath away and commands the screen.
**My Dearest -** I'm only a few episodes into the second group. It's shot beautifully and the story is epic. It pulls at the heart. But I can only take it in small doses. I need escapism right now, and not more World Angst. So I will continue, but slowly.
**Dream High -** In a lull between on-air dramas (uh, when I'm caught up with TW and GDTAD) I began this. I had never watched it and wanted to see what the leads looked like 10 years ago. And I wanted to see them perform together. I think I saw some videos on YouTube and decided to watch the whole thing. I'm 6 episodes into it and I am enjoying it. IU still isn't quite herself yet, but I love her character. All of them are great in this. The production quality is weird; it seems to be on videotape, rather than filmed on high quality cameras. And, of course, it's like "Fame." Someone compared it to Glee, but on Glee, the school did not value the Arts and this is a School for Arts. But it's a classic with great music and performances with a group of young actors who were destined to be first rate stars. It's a fun watch.
Have I mentioned the music in **TW?** It's wonderful!
I'm also rewatching **100 Days My Prince** with my long-distance drama-watching friend. We, too, needed something a little lighter during these crazy times in the world. I've seen this many times and it's become a comfort drama for me. We're only 3 episodes in, but I know she'll like it.
Happy watching!
**Currently Watching**
**Twinkling Watermelon (14/16)**: It's a really good drama so far. I'm anxiously waiting for the last two episodes and hoping they don't mess up the ending. Both couples of this drama have my heart. 💗
**Castaway Diva (4/12)**: I had no intention to start this but seeing a mystery tangled in it definitely caught my eyes. Immediately fell in love with the Ki Ho character.
**Escape Seven (14/17)**: This drama is my guilty pleasure. The story is a bit nonsensical but I'm here for it.
**The Matchmakers (4/16)**: The first 1-2 episodes were quite confusing but I think I'm slowly getting the gist of the story. I like the leads interactions.
Call It Love- I’m episode 11, and so far I’m loving it. Definitely will be a drama I’d put in my favorites.
Castaway Diva- I’m caught up with the episode released so far. I like it just fine. I think the main lead is quite obvious, and I know people keep comparing the the 2 male leads with Start Up, but i thought that the main lead was also obvious while watching. To be fair i did watch Start Up after it aired so maybe my interpretation of the male main characters may have been skewed.
Twinkling Watermelon- I’m caught up as well, and i also think it’s just fine. There’s some sweet moments, but I don’t find the show amazing.
A Good Day To Be A Dog- I’ve seen the last three episodes, and I’m enjoying it a lot. Though I do think they should be releasing two episodes weekly.
I currently have 12 on going series, 4 are kdramas. I've very late watching all of them and I was planning to start watching 3 new dramas that started in the last weeks, but I'm not sure where I can find the time!
**Hyo-Sim's independent life** 9/50 : I'm interested to see where it will go. I have 4 episodes to watch to be up to date
**Twinkling Watermelon** 9/16 : I like it a lot. It's my favorite drama I'm currently watching >!I'm kinda rooting for Eungyeol and Segyeong's daughtery they look cute!<. I have 5 episodes to watch to be up to date.
**A Good Day to be a dog** 4/14 : I don't dislike it, but I feel like I don't like it that much either? >!Bogyeom is giving me weird vibes. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the supernatural and link from Joseon era they are preparing for the plot!<
**7escape** 14/17 : this drama keeps surprising me. >!I was not expecting Matthew to be Joonseok at all and I kind of liked that. I liked they were able to get me with that plot twist and I want to know what will happen with the real Hwiso now. I felt sorry for Joonseok when he told his story, he was a victim in this. The butler is so cold-hearted and doesn't even seem to care that his child has gone insane wtf. Curious to see on which side Rahee is gonna be in the end. She's always putting her interests first, so probably with the one she believes has the most chances of winning while pretending to play in both team just in case.!<
I'm watching The Penthouse. Middle of Season 1 got slow, but it picked up towards the end. Season 2 has been pretty good so far. I have to say I find Oh Yun Hui and Bae Ro Na really annoying to watch. Their characters' decisions and motivations sometimes seem very flimsy or the definition of insanity, and it's obviously done to keep a rhythm of drama/conflict going. At least the show overall keeps me entertained. So I'll give it that.
My mid week drama this week until **Castaway Diva** and **Twinkling Watermelon** rolls around is **True Beauty**. Cha Eun Woo was cute in ID Gangnam but ohhh my god his character in TB is making me fall mad in love him rn!
I just binged the first four episodes of Moon In The Day & can't wait for next week. Its going to be a long 4.5 days. At least I have Castaway Diva to keep me going the next few days. Anything with Park Eun Bin in it is awesome! I started on Strong Girl Bo Soon but stopped. Im also super excited for My Demon coming up in only two weeks. Happy Black Friday to me.
Thanks to YouTube blocking Adblockers I can't get distracted by it, so I can finally concentrate in kdrama.
**Evilive (8/10)**: Such a great slowburn, corruption arc. The last episode really peaked the corruption. And the homoerotic tension between the MLs. The heart eyes of Do Young whenever his sugarbaby Dong Soo does something criminal are insane.
**Queen Seon Deok (31/62)**: Half way point. And as always really good. Deokman/Seondeok really evolved into a smart and layered character who can go toe to toe with the best character and villain Misil. And her harem trio with their loyalty to her are great as well. And I have to praise Kim Nam Gil (Bidam) and Ko Hyun Jung (Misil) who play mother and son in a great way. They are written to have similiarities in their words and deeds, but they are also acted with similiar mannerisems and facial expressions.
**The Killing Vote (10/12)**: The show itself is good. SBS is awful and completely ruined the scheduling and release.
Additionally, I'll most likely start **Vigilante** and **Goryeo-Khitan War** this week.
>Thanks to YouTube blocking Adblockers I can't get distracted by it, so I can finally concentrate in kdrama.
I see you have yet to find the new extension ahah... The ads were so annoying that I found another solution that instead of blocking ads, the ads will play at a really fast pace like less than 1 second, now I barely notice them. 😉
I think I have noticed this before from your comments, but your watchlist is always amazing, I'm really curious to see both **Evilive** and **The Killing Vote**, once it's over, I'm just waiting for them to end and I will add them to my watchlist. I also have **Queen Seon Deok** in my watchlist and it's nice to read such a good review about it.
I will also start **Vigilante** and I'm considering on starting **Goryeo-Khitan War**, I was most excited for this last one but I was shocked to learn it's 32 episodes with 80 min each, it won't be over until February. It would be my first attempt to watch a longer drama as it's ongoing, not sure if I can handle it. lol
>I think I have noticed this before from your comments, but your watchlist is always amazing
Thanks ❤️ (+for the tip for the extension). I've also noticed your comments/reviews in these threats, and they are always great to read and I really enjoy how you sum up your thoughts on the different dramas. They are always a lot more thought out than mine.
GKW will also be the longest drama I've ever watched on-going, and I already know that I will fall behind due to Christmas and New Years
I just started writing it so that one day if I need to say why I liked or disliked a drama I know exactly what made me feel. At first it was hard to make it words, but now it feels more natural. But I always like to read your thoughts and they catch my eye because they are mostly of thrillers, which there is always less people watching them comparing to romcoms.
You just reminded me of Christmas and New Year, all my watchlist will be a bit weird during those days, might pick just smaller dramas to watch and fit the timing constraints lol I also wonder if I can keep up excited with GKW through out that many months. lol
Btw already watched the 2 episodes of **Vigilante**, so far I'm not impressed, I was hoping for more not sure why. The Killing Vote looks to be similar and something tells me it's way better.
I try to limit myself a bit to a few overall thoughts and 1 or 2 more in depth aspects or theories for on-going dramas. Depending on the drama I go into more detail for the ones I finished. Putting it into writing really helps me to order my thoughts a bit, and sometimes helps me umderstand why I liked or disliked things as well.
I've also just watched the episodes of *Vigilante* and similiar to you I'm not impressed (I actually answered to your comment). There are similarities with *The Killing Vote* especially in regards to vigilante justice and how the society reacts to it. But there are key differences, especially because TKV has the overall mystery of who made the Killing Vote which ties into characters and their (shared) past. The directing, editing and especially Sound Design is leagues better as well.
Just saw it too. I will start **The Killing Vote** after I finish **Evilive** like you suggested. I doubt I will regret this two dramas, because from all the comments I saw the only complain about TKV is how the episodes take a long time to be released with all the interruptions.
My currently-watching list, as I have it in *Notes*:
My Dearest, Part 2 (4/10) ⚔️💘
My Lovely Liar (16/16) 🎹
Fake It 'Til You Make It (12/14) 🏙️🌃
Grand Prince (16/20) 🤴 👸
The Legend of the Blue Sea 📿🌊(15/19)
Parallel World (29/38) 🏜️ 🚙
My Lovely Boxer (10/12)🥊🍩
Joy of Life (23/46)
A Dream of Splendour (19/40) 🌸 🫖
Live Your Own Life (14/50) 🏋️♂️🏃
A Good Day to Be a Dog (4/14)
Perfect Marriage Revenge (4/12) 👰⛈️
The Matchmakers (3/16) 👘💞
Moon in the Day (3/14) 🌕
Young Actors' Retreat (7/8) 🏝️
Camping Vibes (11/12) 🏞️ 🏕️
My Journey to You/Cloud Feather/Half of Us (3/24) 🥷💕 (This is waiting for a month where there's less I want to watch, so I can pay for a discounted first month with iQiyi to watch the rest). But it's here to remind me.
Lovely Liar had a lovely ending. Cute, satisfying show. Perfect Marriage Revenge and Moon in the Day are captivating, although I need to finish ongoing shows first! They're just too fun/good to leave til then... But the list will soon go down a chunk, with a few shows almost done.
Watching daily dose of sunshine and am enjoying it, missed my girl park bo young also I'm glad she's away from those fantasy type of drama's you usually does.
1. _DAILY DOSE OF SUNHSINE_ I like it a lot after episode 2, but it might be too heavy for me so I’m taking a break rn. I’m always scared of hospital dramas, reason why I missed on the masterpiece everyone love “hospital playlist”. I thought I’d watch psychiatrist instead but it’s not easier!
2. _MY DEAREST_ I don’t know if I will have the strength to finish this drama to be honest. I have a love hate relationship with it. Currently I love FL but characters like RE (the singer) annoy me so much.
3. _CASTAWAY DIVA_ that’s it. Best new airing drama for me so far. So excited about this weekends episode. The only flaw right now is >!the ki ho mistery that I don’t really care about!< I’m very interested about Mok Ha and Ran Joon relationship!
Do you mean the original Episode 6? On the island, during the invasion? The baby was the grand prince - the crown prince's son. I guess we just haven't seen him with them since.
I've started hanging out with my mom on the weekends and now we watch k-dramas together. I've been giving her recommendations since she kinda got into them recently.
But this past week we watched Castaway Diva (4/12) for now and because the writers are the same I suggested she watch Start Up. We managed to binge the whole thing this past weekend and she really liked it.
I've already seen Start Up like 2 (3?) times before but I told her how similar in tone the first episodes of that and Castaway Diva are (since it's the same writer)
She ended up being team Nam Do-San and I'm so proud of her.
On my own I'm realizing there are actually a few k-dramas on Hulu that I didn't know about (it's my friends account and I guess she has HBO integration or something)
But currently waiting (on my own) What's Wrong With Secretary Kim since it's one of the classics (13/16) and it had a big influence on some more recent k-dramas I really liked (king the land, business proposal). Probably will end up watching Descendents of the Sun after that.
I watched ***Time*** (2018) back in December 2021 and for the most part stopped watching much of anything (kdramas or anything else) after it. It was the viewing experience of viewing experiences for me.
Went on a little trip for the past 2 weeks with an old friend who I haven't seen in \~6 years (did anyone else catch the g3 geomagnetic storm and the dazzling aurora lights this past week???? eeee!!!!) and... being as she loves me and she knew that I adore ***Time*** she said she'd try out her first kdrama and attempt the horrifying 16 hour kdrama commitment.
\[\[aka: THE STRESS OF BEING WITH SOMEONE WHEN THEY WATCH THEIR FIRST KDRAMA AND WHEN THAT FIRST KDRAMA IS YOOO FAVVIEEEE!! \]\]
Anyway. I love rewatching a favorite drama and feeling all over again how they continue to be so TIMELESS. And I love how each time you rewatch, you notice and soak it in totally differently. I think this is my 6th time watching Time? I feel like only on this watch was I able to revel in the brilliance and beauty of one of the characters. And it was fun watching it with new eyes through my friend and discussing the scenes and character traits that stood out to her.
Since then, have been revisiting Choi Ho Chul's ( the screenwriter for Time) earlier work, ***Mask (2015).***
I have such a weak spot for this screenwriter and his incredulously (and rather hilariously) repetitive trilogy of dramas (Secret-2013, Mask-2015, Time-2018).
# The guy has 1 PLOT STARTER. 1 MAKJANG STYLE. 1 CHAEBOL SETTING. 2 THEMES. 3 SYMBOLS. AND 4 MAIN CHARACTERS.
And he just *milksssssss dattt* for three whole dramas.
it's totally redonkulous.
BUT I LOVE ITTTT.
Aren't we all as humans the same? In the sense that hopefully, if we're lucky, we make a few meaningful observations about the world we live in and the value we can derive from existence, and spend the rest of our lives infinitely attempting to express those observations in words and live up to them in actions.
So I find it so SO SO SO fun to have a screenwriter whose base "style" is *extreme* makjang and then on a meta level be able to watch such an EXTREME evolution of him hone his practice. All screenwriter's have a style and an evolution... but with Choi Ho Chul we literally get to watch him rewrite ***the same story*** **THREE TIMES** so he can get it right. Rewriting the same set up three times is on one hand such extreme un-creativity but also such extreme devotion to perfectly realizing one creative inspiration. And I applaud that kind of devotion and am so grateful he did it and professionally had the space to do it!
BECAUSE TO ME- IT WORKED!!!!!
I'll never be free of my "first exposure" bias with ***Time***. It's the first of the Choi trilogy I saw and so it set the mood and standard for me. And this will always unfairly weigh in on my preference for it out of the Choi trilogy...
but..
I also just think it's the best of the trilogy as the #evolution theory suggests it would be ;) ;) :) Well, I'll qualify that statement a bit. ***Time*** to me clearly stands out in succeeding as a thematic piece of work. It's more than just a drama. While as a drama I might prefer ***Secret*** the most, ***Mask*** and ***Time*** feel like critical pieces in Choi working through how to make the basic drama premise of ***Secret*** into a larger thematic piece. And in ***Time*** he succeeds in doing so, without ever forgetting that he is first and foremost making an entertaining and well timed *drama* while doing so.
Watching all three - it's feels apparent how each built off of the drama that preceded it. ***Mask*** developed and expanded from ***Secret***... and ***Time*** then came in and as I see it, is primarily a masterful tweaking of both. It's equal parts eye rolling shocking disbelief and total artistic euphoria to see how similar **Time** is to **Mask** and **Secret**...
all the makjang but re-made into an artful thematic treatise where Confucianist, Daoist, Mohist, Mencist, and Christian thought continuously clash and mingle through tight nonstop dialogues of our four main characters-- each of whom rotate representing these philosophies as they crash and flow through their own stages of development.
I've never felt so constantly THRILLED by dialogue as I was by the dialogue in ***Time***. While it's clearly an elaborate riff on the dialogues in ***Secret*** and ***Mask***, it's unbelievable to me what Choi does with dialogue in ***Time***. On the surface it was such enjoyable fast paced weekend family drama extravagance but it's mirror image was a haunting and gorgeous existentialist parable.
Choi also takes the budding imagery and motifs he plays around with in ***Mask*** to some pretty poetic heights in ***Time***. Like the motif of water is taken from level 2 in ***Mask*** to level infinity and beyond extraaaaaaaa in ***Time*** *(but i was here for ittttt)*
***Time*** for me is such a unique piece of art. If we view ***Secret***, ***Mask***, and ***Time*** as a chronological set making up Choi's professional portfolio- we get an evolution of Choi making his "perfect" makjang. It's *brilliant* how with each successive attempt he developed his makjang into even more tight, entertaining, multifaceted character based motivations. The inverse is also impressive; in which the final work, ***Time*** is such a brilliant masterpiece of the genre because we get this incredible drama that translates "highbrow" themes, philosophies, and symbols into a living, breathing, bleeding, screaming MAKJANG. He makes some fairly profound life explorations *so entertaining.* The same ideas and messages in the hands of other screenwriters would have become a very esoteric, offputting, distant, probably slow and self important bloated piece.
Makjang is so fun as a genre because it can be so \*@\*#)\*(@)( subversive in the sense that since everyone is in on the joke - that we all know this is all INSANE, BEYOND ALL LOGIC, AND UNREAL- the genre can travel to some pretty profound places without losing its energy and relatability in a way that I think other genres can't touch or attempt. Somehow the genre can make you cry and humorously wink all in the same moment too.
Also just CHECK OUT HOW [PRETTY](https://streamable.com/k8i95?src=player-page-share) THIS DRAMA IS AESTHETICALLYYYYYY (I think the camera work on this one is definitely a league above the others but that's just part of the general leap forward that kdramas made around 2016 in the quality of their cinematography and post production)
Also. The [soundtrack](https://open.spotify.com/track/3FH8kSLI093cOuAFHDfFAi?si=4f3eef725bda493b). Is done by the legendary Jung Se Rin.
\--
it's of course not without it's weaknesses.
most tragically, we don't ever find out how Choi Ho Chul originally intended to conclude "his more (dare i say *most*? hehe) perfected third makjang" since the Kim Jung Hyun situation and fall out forced the drama's final 1/4 to be last minute rewritten. I still liked *a lot* of the elements of the last minute rewrites -- but the pacing of the character dynamics noticeably drag and the dialogue quality plateaus when the drama had been so markedly *stellar* at keeping everything so volatile yet fresh and clean cut up until the emergency rewrites.
\--
NEWAYZ.
my once every full moon love rant for ***Time***.
;)
(otherwise known as "a not so subtle prayer circle for the Choi Ho Chul fans amongst us." Goodness. What I wouldn't give to win an afternoon coffee chat with this dude. I'd LOVE to talk to him about his dramas.)
This is offtopic but I used to read your comments on My Dearest & realized you deleted all of them? May I ask why LOL. I mean I got disconnected from it through the second season even though I had fallen for the show like no other when season 1 was running after a long time of abandoning dramas. Was curious if it was the same for you
- my dearest (17/21). This is so good and unless things get crazy, I think it’s going to replace the red sleeve as my top drama.
- moon in the day (2/16). I’m not a huge fan of Kim young dae (not that I dislike him). His smoldering look here though, wow.
- a good day to be a dog (2/14). First webtoon I finished before watching the drama so it’s weird seeing it play out. I loved the webtoon though so as long as it sticks to that, I’m sure I’ll like it too. It just seems a bit stiff and awkward at times. That said, I think the fl is so cute. I’m going to have to check out more of her work. It’s surprising because I usually only do that with the mls.
- zombie detective (5/24). All I can think about when I see the ml is “neighborhood oppa.” It’s my first time seeing the fl outside of the forbidden marriage and I can’t help but think she’s kind of similar here (mannerisms wise).
- love to hate you (6/10). Rocky start for me but I’m loving it now. It’s going by too fast!
I finally got myself a Viki subscription and watched While You Were Sleeping. OH. My. GOD! So, so good! The premise of lives connected by the gratitude of someone whose life has been saved to help the one who saved them is lovely.
The cameos (Kang Ki Young, Kim So Hyun, Lee Sung Kyung, Lee Jae Won..) are a testament to the writing and the quality of acting from leads to extras. Suzy, Lee Jong Suk, Jung Hae In are a fantastic love triangle. The journalist, policeman and DA all working together to protect each other and justice.
And watching crises get averted, characters grow smarter, stronger and happier. It's everything I love about KDramas.
So late to the game but I'm loving twinkling watermelon!!!! Catching up this weekend before next week's final episodes! It's so heart warming lovely and has all the right tones for the themes.
Others im working on
- [x] 1/16 Castaway diva
- [x] 6/10 part 2 of my dearest
- [x] 2/12 The Worst Evil
- [x] 4/14 a good day to be a dog
Others I want to start soon when I got some time:
Doona!
Matchmakers
Daily dose of sunshine
I’m watching 3 ongoing kdramas at the moment:
1/ **Twinkling Watermelon** is approaching the finish line and it’s so good!! I didn’t even plan to watch it originally (the title sounds like a cheesy romcom 😭😂), but it ended up being one of my favs this year!! The themes of family, friendship, coming of age and youth reminds me of Reply 1988, one of the best kdramas of all time imo. The comedy and music is great, the characters are soo lovely!! The main couples are so cute they got me giggling!!! Can’t wait to see the finale (will be crying buckets 😭😭)!!
2/ **Moon In The Day** is so far so good!! I love sageuk and reincarnation stories so this is right up my alley. I’ve watch both Kim Youngdae and Pyo Yejin in sageuks before so it’s a nice pairing! So far seems like it’ll be sad ending but the enemies to lovers dynamic is eating!!! The tension, the angst, the longing!! I’m reading the webtoon and it’s pretty different but i’m interested to know if they’ll follow through with the SE or offer a less angsty ending.
3/ **The Matchmakers** is a romcom sageuk. So far it’s been really chill in turns of conflicts, mostly comedy and the romance is romancing! I love a feel good drama with costumes so this is great. Plus Rowoon alone is his own plot 🤪🤪. Even though the plot is pretty basic, it’s a fun drama to entertain after a long day!
I’m also watching an old one: **Moon Embracing The Sun**. I’m on a sageuk phase and after the other 3 ongoing dramas run out of new eps i’ve decided to watch an old one haha!! Looks like better prospects of happy ending and I love me a Kim Yoojung drama (even though she’s a kid here haha).
Just completed twinkling watermelon today (itsssss soooo goooooodd)
Watching sungkyuwan scandal also
(Kinda okayish)
100 days my prince at last second episode …. Enjoyed it but now feels like I wasted time it ain’t that special
A good day to be a dog also
(Waiting for it’s episodes is too 😂 annoying yaar will drop it nd watch it in a single sitting after it completes)
Starting 7 days princess / queen for 7 days today
( scarlet heart ryeo moon lovers is my fav drama but I can’t rewatch it 🥺 one watch is enough ! soooo read reviews that this drama is similiar to moonlovers nd on episode 1)
Dropped doona , couldn’t last a single episode of strong girl namaoon 🥲
I’m watching Daily Dose of Sunshine. I have literally cried in every episode. It’s beautiful. Wonderfully portrayed mental health issues. Cinematography is super aesthetic. I love the cast too. Brilliant acting by our little Bo young. I hope it gets nominated for plenty of awards and wins them too. They deserve the wins.
I get a little buzz when I see people watching this show, it really deserves the love.
It does
The writing is great, really thoughtful and from the same writing team that worked on Behind Your Touch. I started watching on a whim and now I’m totally absorbed.
Just binge watched this drama within two evenings. I love it too. PBY has this ability to make me cry whenever she cries. Not only in this drama, but in her earlier work too.
Haven’t watched it yet but that’s exactly what she does to me! I was surprised by how much I cried in Strong Woman and don’t even get me started on Oh My Ghostess
Oh yesssss! Now I feel like rewatching these two. I just love her in these two dramas.
I feel the same! Something about her sobbing is so heartbreaking
She’s an amazing actress
It's so good! I'm only on ep 2 but i think this is PBY's best work. I've been waiting for her to play a little more serious role like this!
Is it an episodic drama?
I'd say yes! It does have some clear threads going through the story though
Ooh okay. I’ve just started watching it. Looking forward!
I’ve never heard of this one, thanks for sharing
I’m only on episode 2, but hoping to binge another 3 tonight. It’s so good so far, I hope it keeps this pace and doesn’t lose my attention. Already feel like it’s much better at portraying mental illness than IOTBNO.
This show is definitely more detailed with respect to portraying mental illness than IOTBNO. IOTNBO had a very dramatic flair. And it portrayed on few mental health issues while this one covers pretty much everything and is very spot on. It depends on how much you could take and not end up crying. I needed a break after every episode cause it was overwhelming.
I love this but it is a tough watch. The cast and guests are so good and seemed to have done a lot of preparation to get it right especially doctors leaving lots up to nurses.
I think my regular KDrama watching will only start after the Cricket World Cup ends on 19th Nov. However I did watch bits and pieces of the following: **Call it Love** \[2/16\]: I read some good reviews for this drama and although it has a very melodramatic nature to it, which isn't something I'm looking for, but it's gripping and I liked the first two episodes so I hope I like it as much as others did. Also, I'm watching Kim Young-Kwang in a drama after so long, the last I watched him in anything was in 2016 in **Sweet Stranger and Me** when it was ongoing. So yes, looking forward to it. **Castaway Diva** \[4/12\]: Park Hye-Ryung definitely pulled off another **Start-Up** with this drama by giving us such a strong character background for the SML and trust me the ML isn't growing on me and he won't because I already am rooting for the SML from the first episode it self. Well, we still don't know if >!Ki-Ho is the SML or ML!<, but yeah so far I'm rooting for the SML and I need him to be happy no matter what! Apart from that, it's a nice story, the pace is also quite good and I'm really getting involved in this drama, so let's hope for it to be better than **Start-Up**. **Strong Girl Namsoon** \[8/16\]: I'm yet to catch up with the last 2 episodes but oh boy, it's just so bad. There is no plot development, no character development, the main leads are not main lead-ing if that makes any sense and I don't know what made the writer go ahead with this script. I'm literally watching it only because I want to get done with one challenge and because it's just 2 episodes every week. **Twinkling Watermelon** \[0/16\]: I have started watching this, watched like the first 15 mins and found it to be so wholesome!! I'm excited to watch more of this because have read only good things about it!! <3
I've given up on Stong Girl Namsoon at ep8. First couple of episodes were promising, but it's just awful after that. Random subplots thrown in and then just go nowhere. Random characters pop up for no good reason, and then vanish without a trace. Just awful junk. Not even so bad it's funny, it has gone beyond that to just plain old fashioned bad.
Finally~ someone who shares my love for the SML in Castaway Diva 😍
He’s just so good, how can anyone not love him. But it’s sad that they’ll go ahead with Chae Jong-Hyeop’s character as the ML & eventually the FL will end up with him but there’s nothing so far about the ML that excites me & I know for a fact that I won’t like him even if the writer ends up making him the most lovable character lmao because I love the SML so damn much!!
>He’s just so good, how can anyone not love him I know, right! Unfortunately, my watch buddies all love the ML,,,I have no idea why .-. >nothing so far about the ML that excites me & I know for a fact that I won’t like him even if the writer ends up making him the most lovable character exactly!
me too.
You and I share reservations about Castaway Diva because of Start-Up. I hate Start-up so much. I am going to be pissed if history repeats itself.
Why didn't you like Start-up?
They did the primary and secondary male leads dirty. I never ever get second lead syndrome except for Start-Up. It is literally the only one of hundreds of dramas I have watched. And part of that is because I feel like the writer told the wrong story. Having a strong second lead is awesome when done well (i.e. True Beauty - he is a fantastic second lead - and no I didn’t get SLS) but when done poorly like in Start-Up you end up with the story you do.
Seconding this that the writer for Start-up told the wrong story. My theory is that Nam Joo-hyuk was the bigger actor at the time so they made him the ML but the story from start to finish really was made for the SL with Kim Seon-ho (who portrayed it phenomenally).
Ok. I was hesitant to watch Hometown, but then I saw Start-up and was impressed by Kim Seon Ho and his acting. He and his Harmoni 🥲 So, I watched Hometown after that.
Strong woman nam soon is kind of one time watch, they are just trying to bring everything in one series and they are failing poorly tbh, I am still watching it till the end to see what they do but it's off beat to what could have been a good drama. Spin off culture usually doesn't work if you take all creative liberty to the extreme!! Twinkling watermelon on the other hand has blossomed quite beautiful now, I would recommend you to go ahead with the show, sit back and enjoy till the end. Only if they have a good ending in their mind this show can be one in the top charts easily.
Completely agree with you re the SML. I tried to like the ML but he's set up from the beginning to be insufferable.
I find this really funny because this is almost exactly what my watch buddy said about my beloved SML
I think part of the reason I liked Hometown Cha-Cha-cha so much was Kim Seon-ho finally getting the girl. He was *robbed* in Start-Up.
Trust me, that’s exactly what the writer is doing yet again with the SML in Castaway Diva
I hope you're enjoying the World Cup as much as I am! (I'm enjoying it a lot if that wasn't evident lol)
> giving us such a strong character background for the SML wait, when did they do that?
So far in the drama they are showing that the >!SML is the guy who helped the FL go forward to achieve her dreams!<.
I just finished “Moving” it was phenomenal! Also started the jdrama “Ao Haru Ride” the 2023 version yesterday, I’ve watched / read every version of this one so it was a must!
I finished Moving the other day and im still having an emotional comedown from it, what a brilliant drama
Please someone tell me what is moving about, I see it being mentionned everywhere about how good it is
it's a superhero drama but not in the classic way (I am really not into western superhero stuff but found the way they did it in moving really interesting). lots of action, fighting, lot of gore but not gratuitous, all with significance and done artfully! its about some teenagers coming to terms with their powers while their parents hide them from the national secret security service. we also learn about the parents, their experiences with the security service and how they've ended up where they are now. there are also romantic plots which are done extreeeemely beautifully. I think its a really special, clever drama, while its often tense its mostly uplifting and characters are well developed and well rounded. I hope this doesnt give too much away and also sparks your interest to watch it! I also was swayed to watch it from seeing ppl talk about it all over the sub:)
Intrigued and sold I like when super heroes are done differently reason why I am enjoying the boys recently! I know it will not have the same standards still as Korea and Western culture are very different so I’m interested to watch super heroes done well and differently in a Korean context 🤩 starting it in the next days
Same! I don’t think I’ve watched something similar
I didn't know Ao Haru Ride got a drama! I watched the anime and then bought all of the manga, so I should give the drama a try.
It also has a movie! The drama has one episode left for the first season to be done!
just finished **Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo** and I'm going to word vomit all over because i have Many Feelings. Before I watched the drama, I saw a review on mydramalist and a phrase jumped out: ideas vs execution. I didn't understand what it meant at that point, but having finished it, I get it completely now. MLSHR is a cult sageuk everyone should watch because of the idea and the actors involved and these two aspects are all you need to overcome the distracting execution. For a drama to be this good despite the bad cinematography and weird feeling of cheapness (I think it's the coloring? It's very...saturated) is impressive. IU's acting wowed me because >!she brought her character completely to life, from a jaded modern girl to a mature court lady.!< I only watched her in My Mister before this, and couldn't stand her wooden portrayal (which is more a writing fault than her acting fault). I really appreciate when actors can cry prettily (single teardrop), and right on cue to the scene. There were only 2 parts about Haesoo that annoyed me which were >!1. her leaving the palace and abandoning the King when she said she would never to cause more angst and tragedy. when it's revealed she was pregnant with his daughter, it ends up making sense but it's still frustrating. And 2. how forgave Chaeryung for her betrayal so easily when she was the one who killed Wang Mo along with Wang Eun and his wife!< Lee Joongi is a treat to watch as always, >!and you can see a clear difference between his acting (together with Kang Haneul) compared to the rest. His presence radiates in every shot he's in and it's almost unfair how well he steals the show. His portrayal of cool/angry characters with a heart of gold is so real and confronting. My heart ached for him the entire show, even during the lighter scenes, because of everything he had to go through as the scapegoated prince.!< Kang Haneul is one of my fave actors, >!but I was surprised how well he fared next to LJG. His character was probably the best written imo, because you could really see him go from soft-hearted prince who grew up in a loving family with a crush on Haesoo to the cunning and broken man he turned into because he lost the love of everyone most important to him. His descent into villainy was SO good because it was so tragic, and his chemistry with IU was the best even though I was rooting for So/Soo the entire time.!< It's a breath of fresh air how >!the first couple doesn't end up as the endgame couple, and how love is a double-edged sword that can corrupt or save: the good, kind one ends up being a villain while the cold, violent one becomes the wisest king in the show. How love turned a slave into a spy, turning Haesoon's truest friend into nothing but hurt and pain. Love is usually only portrayed as 'good' in dramas and it's nice to see the realism that love does not save all; love does not always overcome. That love can be bad.!< Interestingly, >!I did not find the ending as soul ripping as I thought it'd be.!< FLOWER OF EVIL SPOILER >!I actually cried more throughout FOE and at the end compared to this because there were so many more 'what-ifs' if they didn't get back together compared to this!<. END SPOILER >!The story destroyed me as it unfolded, but it ended perfectly the way it should: they started as moon-crossed lovers on borrowed time, and ended as that too. They loved their best in the circumstances they were given, and many people don't even get a sliver of that opportunity in any era.!< This drama had some very, very good quotes. A few of my favorites: >!* “You could be living well and just end up dying one day. You can fall right out of the sky then end up living in a place like this. So just follow your heart and live. Do everything you want to do and live however you want.”!< >!* “No matter how many times you are reborn, you’ll eventually have to pay for what you’ve done.” (reminds me of my ultimate favorite quote in a book: "Take what you want and pay for it, says God.")!< >!* “You are my only queen.”!< (screaming crying throwing up) Ending all this with a quote that summarizes why I think this is a must-watch kdrama: "And love isn't a fact. It's a hunch at first. And then later it's a series of decisions, a lifetime of decisions. That's love."
I love Moon Lovers. In China they have a sequel where the reverse the locations of the guys and the girl and it’s fun. I wish we get a part 2 some day.
Have you heard about the [alternate ending](https://youtu.be/0auwqBpF5NM?si=bp6rNCWBtnVMyBVR) that ended up getting cut? IU and LJG even [re-enacted the deleted scene](https://x.com/moonloverssbs/status/818089264923623424?s=46&t=oYE1WrYV1W3i-_yc-6i_mA) at one of her concerts.
i have fallen to my knees thank you for the link to that video! i saw IU’s ig post of the deleted ending scene but the video is just…yeah. i love their dynamic and friendship SO MUCH
I never, ever cried that much when watching >!the last episode of Moon Lovers. Usually as sad a drama was, I cried just shedding tears quietly and blow my nose. But for Moon Lovers, I wailed, I used dozens of tissues to blow my nose.!< I can't vomiting words nicely like you. But I agree that the idea was good, but the execution was bad. I personally feel too many characters but not enough time for them to developed nicely. And I think too many unnecessary deaths. Also have the same opinion for her friend. And they did a cardinal sin by not airing the true ending. I have watched a lot of Lee Joon Gi dramas but he's shining so bright in Moon Lovers. It's his greatest act, followed by FoE in my opinion. The ending made me wish I'm a multibillionaire so I can make a movie as the sequel >!in modern time where Hae Soo meets Wang So again.!<
love your last line hahaha i completely agree — a moon lovers season 2 would be amazing. i’m sure IU and LJG would be down, even today, to film a sequel i found LJG’s characters in both MLSHR and FOE to be very similar; it’s like he was reincarnated as a modern guy in FOE while still being Wang So lol. he’s such a stunning actor and i would watch a drama just to see him breathe and walk around
I'm currently watching Moon Lovers too, I can definitely understand you when you say this got the hype mostly because of the actors involved in particularly because of Baekhyun from Exo and even IU as a soloist. I had the same feeling with Hwarang, it got the hype that it got just because of V from BTS. But, it's just like you said, this isn't a brilliant drama, I personally called it a silly sageuk, because it's not great but it's an entertaining one so far. I did find that some of the sets and filming locations were really pretty and wondered where they were, but for the costumes sometimes it looked like really cheap and not accurate at all. I'm struggling not to read your fully hidden spoiled review because I'm still watching but I will come back here and read it :D
please do share your thoughts in this thread when you’re done with the drama cause i wanna hear your thoughts!
Hii!! I’m back! I just finished this drama, like less than 1 hour ago and there is still a lot to process about this drama, personally I loved it, but this broke me into crying like a baby and to think I started by laughing and having a lot of fun watching their interactions. Crazy really, but the drama was completely worth the watch and aside from 1 or 2 characters I loved every performance. >For a drama to be this good despite the bad cinematography and weird feeling of cheapness (I think it's the coloring? It's very...saturated) is impressive Personally I don’t have much of a problem with the cinematography, probably because there were some really beautiful filming locations that I wish to visit someday. I won’t praise it because there isn’t anything impressive, like great use of lighting or editing. But it’s already good enough, that they didn't managed to ruin a scene with those white reflections from the big filming lights, however on the other hand many of the scenes have too many blurred backgrounds. So I feel like it’s just average, they didn’t manage to ruin it, but they didn’t wowed me. >IU's acting wowed me because she brought her character completely to life, from a jaded modern girl to a mature court lady. I only watched her in My Mister before this, and couldn't stand her wooden portrayal (which is more a writing fault than her acting fault). I was also impressed by her acting and how her character showed some incredible growth from immature modern days girl, to a more cautious and mature woman that overflows with beauty and class, even in all her positions inside the palace. I think she was 23 at the time of filming, not a bad work at all for her age. I never saw her in **My Mister**, I want to watch her there but I have to delay that watch it later, yet I saw her in **Hotel Del Luna** and she did brilliantly there and also shows a completely different side of her acting, which is a bonus point for me. About the development of her character >! It was incredibly painful to watch the moment she realizes that there is no way for them to be together and for to see him going into a deranged man was too painful. She suffered until her last days and she also loved him in her last days. I also felt the same as you, the way she forgave many people was so annoying, people all around her were greedy and they chose to act the way they did. She always saw the best of them, even when they didn't deserve it anymore… !< >Lee Joongi is a treat to watch as always, and you can see a clear difference between his acting (together with Kang Haneul) compared to the rest. Completely agree with you. I have seen a couple of works with Lee Joon Gi and he is indeed a great actor. I would say that his best works are historical, action and thrillers. He also does a great job in those romantic scenes as we saw here, but he truly shines when his scenes involve fighting scenes or really serious takes. About the development of his character >! he was always neglected by everyone in his family, in the end he never revealed to his brothers what happened to him as a child and why he had to leave the palace. His freaking mother never paid for the attempt to murder an heir to throne and his father, he loved him since he was young, but he could show it in order protect him from his crazy wife. Was already good enough that The King later showed that he cared about his son, but The Queen, she always looked at him with too much hate for a mistake she made and she couldn’t admit her selfish and jealous actions. It was painful to watch all his suffering. !< >Kang Haneul is one of my fave actors, but I was surprised how well he fared next to LJG. His character was probably the best written imo In my opinion all 3 of the main characters had an impressive character growth, I can say this character was best over the others because they were well written and well acted, the 3 actors did an incredible performance. I have seen Kang Ha Neul in the drama **Misaeng,** the movie **Twenty** and the movie **Midnight Runners**, with this being his forth main role I watched, I’m actually impressed by his great capacity to play such different characters, he did great in Action, Comedy, Slice of Life and now I confirm that he his also able to pull Romance and Historical. I hope to see more works with him. About the character development of his character >! I once again completely agree with you, it was heartbreaking to see such a pure and selfless character being used and betrayed by his sister and everyone around him, to go down a route of no return to protect a woman that he was attracted to, the only woman that made him feel free of the worries of being a prince and made him laugh. I liked him a lot, but I’m also going to be honest, it broke me to see that he only looked at his wife as a job that he was given and that he never loved her, until her death. I wish we saw him realizing that love way before her death, she deserved that. His wife was such a nice person always wishing for his best and the best of the women that she knew he loved. !< >It's a breath of fresh air (…) Interestingly, I did not find the ending as >!soul ripping!< as I thought it'd be. I share the same opinion as you do about the ending. Personally I don’t care how any story ends as long as the writing makes sense. This drama had a good ending with an incredible deep story about love, >!learning to let go to survive and stop a vicious cycle.!< Love isn’t always as black and white as k-dramas like to paint them or how we like to dream of, they are filled with many emotions some are good and others are bad. Nonetheless, as the story unfolded I also >!couldn’t stop the tears from pilling in my eyes.!< I noticed that there was a particular song by Epik High and LeeHi that instantly trigged me to cry. The music was beautiful and made me so emotional. Btw, I also watched **Flower of Evil**, loved it completely and I need to re-watch it, but comparing **Moon Lovers** with **Flower of Evil** doesn’t feel right to me, they are two completely different works and their only connection is the main lead. There isn’t anything similar what so ever. >Ending all this with a quote that summarizes why I think this is a must-watch kdrama: "And love isn't a fact. It's a hunch at first. And then later it's a series of decisions, a lifetime of decisions. That's love.” Agreed, there were many impressive quotes in this dramas. About this quote that summarizes the drama, I agree with it, but it’s not just about love. Our life is a series of decisions and I will raise you a quote from **Misaeng** that sums up what is love, life, pain and everything we are living. *"What do you think life is? Life is a collection of choices. The choices you made in each moment make up the quality of your life.”* \- Han Seok Yool (Misaeng) \---- To your amazing review, I would also like to add that every supporting character did an amazing job. I was highly impressed by all the actors and how good their characters were written. They are support characters, so their roles never have that much of a background, but it's worth the mention, because of the difference in each of their personalities, from every brother, sister, queens, court lady and so on. They had their own little moment to shiny and they weren’t just random addictions. Finally, I think I would rate this drama an 8/ 8.5 out of 10. There are things that I would change, like that supposed cut scene from the ending, I would have 100% add it because it would make sense to story, but overall is a really good drama.
Oh, I'm with you about Moon Lovers. It's a 10/10 for me, but it's my only 10/10 that I haven't rewatched even once. I>! just can't because the second half was so brutal. The whole thing stayed with me for so long. !
i’d would watch selected scenes like the romantic ones because historical romance and LJG in goryeo just hit differently, but i could never subject myself through the rollercoaster of emotions rewatching the whole thing again oh my god😂
This is my all time favorite KDRAMA . Infact , I liked >!the ending even though it was heart wrenching as it was more apt . Loved the scene where he meets his daughter but still can’t openly show his love or take her with him !<
highly recommend you use spoiler tags for your comment! am i completely agree because i’m super satisfied with the ending.
I watched it a long ago . Stills can’t move on . Don’t think will ever be able to . It is the only drama after finishing it. I cried buckets 🪣. At the thought >!ml couldn’t even meet her at last . He would have felt so miserable 🥲 for not reading the letters . That scene when he rushed it pained me a lot … I 😅 hated female lead for many many rsns especially when she argued with the ml for her friend who is the rsn ml brother the king died the blame was falling on fl… that girl didn’t care about female lead. She could have been beheaded for trusting her friend blindly !!! To me the mischievous prince and his wife’s dress was only bcoz of the fl…. If she would have known her frnd’s true intention. The tragedy wouldn’t have fallen over others ….. she fell in love with her sister’s husbnd whyyyyyyyyyy was her character full of mistakes 🥲I still don’t understand why she made so many stupid rsns… she didn’t meant harm but caused a lot of pain and suffering to others even herself …. I’m happyyy she asked the youngest prince to take care of her daughter …. But should have told her baby father at least …… FL was such a sweet soul but hurtled manyyy bcoz of her stupidity!<
I'm currently watching **Healer** (2014) and I'm 8 eps into it. I'm loving it! It's a bit ridiculous at times but I do not mind in the least, it's actually adding to my enjoyment of it so far. I really like all of the main characters, especially our main couple :) The plot/mystery of it all is also so so interesting! In terms of currently airing dramas, I'm watching **Moon in the Day.** I will also start watching **Vigilante** when I get home and I can't wait! I'm so excited! **Moon in the Day** (2/14 eps) is so much fun so far and I hope the next two eps will keep up the momentum. I'm loving the flashbacks and the long history to this drama. The characters are great too, especially the FL, I love her so much, she's amazing and badass. I'm really looking forward to watching ep 3 later today :)
just finished Healer last week and I agree about the ridiculousness, it makes it fun!
You can really see the Hong Kong influence in Healer, with the over-the-top action sequences, training montages, and dramatic confrontations, even in a show that is tackling serious themes like the history of the democracy movement. Straight out of the John Woo playbook. (Just with fewer guns. It is Korea, after all.)
I love Healer and the relationships in it are great.
Just finished **The Red Sleeve**. I almost gave this up after the first few episodes because it seemed like there was too much silliness going on with the the girls, and then there the bathtub scene which I thought was over the top. I don't watch Sageuk dramas to swoon over the ML Idol's chest, and I felt like that was the direction in which this was headed. BUT...things started to change around ep 5 or 6. It became much more serious and interesting when the intrigue kicked in and I ended up really looking forward to watching. So thanks to those who encouraged me to keep going. I liked this a lot, and I don't think I've ever experienced this much change from my initial opinion when watching a drama.
I hated the ending though. It was very sad. 😢
Agree, but it's a true story, so they sort of had to go there.
CW: **Evilive (8/10) :** you are missing out of you aren't watching this show. I love how they play their relation like big psycho bl show. I'm afraid of the ending there are no way we will get happy ending form that. **Twinkling Watermelon (13/16):** I almost cried when Yi Chan sing for cheong Ah. that was so beautiful finally my babies together. also all the boys turn to be cheong ah fans is so me like that's right boys she is the most beautiful out there. give my girl all the love. also finally the travels know each other now lets finish this mission. **The Escape of the Seven: War for Survival (14/17):** I love makjang but this is just not it. they make the most uninteresting character K the main character and it's not fun. also the acting not really interesting like other makjang. also the lovelines is EW please don't. ***The Killing Vote (9/12):*** the 1 ep per week really kill the fun, now i just will keep last eps to watch together. \--- almost all my shows will end next week and will have time to binge watch **worst of evil** and start other dramas.
I'm waiting for evilive to finish airing, I can't handle watching those types of shows weekly. Glad that it seems good so far.
it's so good. the plot is great and their chemistry is amazing. for me it's more exciting when i watch weekly because i don't know what will happen usually i can't wait and spoil things to myself. it will end this week so you can enjoy your binge watch.
Evilive has the BL I wanted to see in The Worst of Evil. TWOE is still very bro-y and it’s one of the best watches for me this year, but it doesn’t have the same boyfriends chemistry between the MLs like Evilive does and I wish it did. I’m glad Evilive is really coming thru lol
Agree, Evilive play the BL GAME so well. they have this chemistry and this look in the eye (especially Doyoung omg he is crazy 100% in love lol) and also the script for that. I'm still in ep3 in the worst of evil I'm excited to see their chemistry but they set it clear they will fight over this wife.
Lolol Do Young is in love with Dong Soo and no one can convince me otherwise. I hope you enjoy TWOE because it was so fun to watch!
**Daily Dose of Sunshine** (4/12): Four episodes in, this drama is on track to become my favorite drama of the year. It’s relatable, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and brimming with humanity. The viewer becomes deeply invested in the journeys of the members of the nursing unit and their unforgettable patients. The creative use of visual metaphors to depict the patients’ conditions and the naturalness of the performances from the entire cast are other key strengths of the drama. **Castaway Diva** (4/12): Episode 3 solidified the endearing friendship between Ran-joo and Mok-ha. Kim Hyo-jin’s terrific performance is the perfect counterpoint to Park Eun-bin’s perennial excellence. Episode 4 revealed the >!problematic relationship between Ran-joo and CEO Lee Seo-jun!<, through the symbolism of an item from Mok-ha’s time on the island. The symbolism of this and other items in the present day is also satisfyingly used to reveal more of the details of her fifteen-year island life.
Alliteration for the win!
\--------------------------- FINISHED! \--------------------------- **Beyond Evil (2021)** (K-Drama: 8.5/10 stars) >In my opinion, the spotlight of this drama it’s not the story but the incredible performances by both main leads. I was already a fan of Yeo Jin-Goo, but now I’m incredibly curious to see Shin Ha-Kyun in other roles and preferably in different type of roles. Unfortunately this brilliant acting, doesn’t match the script, which it was good and interesting, but it also had an inconsistent pacing and ended up going into circles. For example the first 8 episodes advanced quickly and the story was highly addicting, but once we got literally all the answers, I couldn’t help but wonder why they needed to drag this for another 8 episodes. They could have kept every twist with less episodes for example only 12 and it would be more than enough, instead things dragged for way too long and by the end I wasn't surprised and I was slightly bored. With this said, this didn’t deserve the 2021 Baeksang Award for Best Screenplay or Best Drama, but Shin Ha-Kyun was 100% worthy of his Best Actor Award. **Daily Dose of Sunshine (2023)** (K-Drama: 10/10 stars) >Freaking fantastic drama, it's a heartwarming story that helps normalise mental health and it's illnesses. The whole drama is filled with great performances by every actor and mesmerising visuals, from the intro, to the set design and the editing, everything was just beautiful, and highly inspired by Wes Anderson’s filmography style, and his use of bright or pastel colours to balance extremely serious topics. Just a side note, if you are in a place in life where you can’t manage really serious topics, I wouldn’t advice you to watch this right now, but once you are feeling better do watch it because it’s probably one of the inspiring dramas about mental health. \--------------------------- IN PROGRESS! \--------------------------- **My Dearest** (17/20 episodes) >We are closely reaching the end of this drama, and for once in this weeks single episode, I felt like this episode wasn't that much filled with suffering and angst, which makes me really hopeful for a happy ending for our main characters. Speaking of happy ending, since there are talks/news for a possible extension of this drama, it made me think that there is a realistic chance for a happy ending. Why would they consider to extend this drama, if it wouldn’t be a happy ending? That would be sadistic! Right? I will watch it either way, but prolonging our suffering would be incredibly evil. **Castaway Diva** (4/14 episodes) >I’m deeply in love with this drama and I’m so glad to see that the director and screenwriter decided to add more flashbacks of Mok-Ha’s life in the deserted island. Now I don’t feel like I was robbed of this “castaway” part of the story and I only got her “diva” dream part, everything in this story just feels balanced. Besides this, I’m completely in love with the amazing soundtrack, I have literally added all of the songs to my Spotify List. And, I’m enjoying all the performances from every single actor >!(even the evil dad)!< and their interactions with each other. Excited for next weeks episodes. **Moon In The Day** (2/14 episodes) >I’m still not 100% sure how I feel about this drama, so far it's better than I expected and the main storyline even though it's not new or it's a surprise, it's still interesting. However, something tells me that the screenwriter or the webtoon writer, might have added too many unnecessary twists to the story in the present days and I really don’t care about either the male lead ex-girlfriend or his uninteresting rival, and unfortunately I think we are going to see them more than we actually needed to see them. Besides this, I’m not excited to see Lee Kyung-Young back on screen, I’m simply disgusted by this man and I avoid anything with him. I think the next 2 episodes will tell me if I should keep watching this drama or not. **Where Stars Land (2018)** (14/16 episodes) >I’m starting to understand why people complained about how draggy this drama was. There is definitely not enough content to fill those 16 episodes and maybe 10 or 12 would be more than enough. About the story, I feel like there was a missed opportunity here, because it's not always that we see a story spent almost entirely inside an airport, but they kept each character story really bland and even cliche, I don't feel impressed. Still, I like the main leads, this is definitely not Lee Je-Hoon's and Chae Soo-Bin's best work, but taking into consideration how their characters were written, the actors did the best with what they got, it's just that the overall storyline is boring. Hence why I have not finished this drama yet and started another new drama, I need some excitement. **Moon Lovers: Scarlet Hear Ryeo** (10/20 episodes) >I have wanted to start this drama for quite a while and let me tell you that 2016 might have been the year of the silly sageuks but they are all so heartwarming, I'm talking about **Hwarang** and **Love In The Moonlight**. All of these dramas have such a funny cast and the story floats between entertaining moments and other times becomes really emotionally intense and serious. Regarding the visuals, in the case of **Moon Lovers**, the costumes sometimes don't feel like 100% accurate but they are still pretty and in the case of set designs and filming locations they are all mesmerising. In fact, there were a couple of filming locations outside the palace that I wondered where it was filmed because I really want to see it with my own eyes one day if I can. \--------------------------- DROPPED! \--------------------------- **The Matchmakers** (3/16 episodes) >**Dropped!** Last week, I was already on the fence about this drama and it’s simply not worth the watch. There are moments in this story where I'm really interested with what they are telling me, but the writer and director never make an effort to properly develop anything and everything is just lightly brushed upon, taking less than 2 minutes for them close a scene and move on to the next one and to never come back to the previous one. Saying this, I can't be bothered to watch another episode of such a bad drama as there are many better content already out there and even releasing as of this moment. And if I'm honest, I even have the feeling that this story is not worth to watch once it's completed.
Thanks for posting this. I love it when people provide their thoughts rather than just list titles. 🙏
Same, when people take the time to make proper comments, it helps all of us to make better decisions on what to watch next. A simply list with drama titles doesn't help anyone and it just counts in numbers. Btw it's funny that you just comment, because I just finished commenting in your post and tried to help you with your next drama. I hope it helps you make a good decision :)
I remember starting scarlet heart ryeo, but somehow I missed the track and didn't complete it. I've heard it is a good one so I don't want to leave it. I need motivation to restart it, all ears for it.
I have yet to finish **Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo**, but what I can tell you, is that I'm really enjoying this drama. It's a good balance between political conflicts, romance and friendship. Trying to give you a little bit more context about this story without spoiling it for you, this story is set right after Goryeo was founded by King Taejo, before Goryeo, Korea as we know it was divided in Three Kingdoms. This is important to know because, the King is always in a tough spot where he needs to ensure continuity of his ruling, while keeping their borders safe and making everyone happy. More than once, we can see him trying to make all the "lords" happy by marrying himself with other women or marrying his kids off to these "lords" kids. Also, as it's expected from a man that had many wives, he had plenty of kids, here we get so see only 7 princes, 1 crown prince and 1 princess, but in real life he had about 30. The man was busy right? lol These is where the palace conflicts start, everyone dreams of the throne some out of greed, others out of safety for their lives. But is also where we see the most funny parts, the 7 princes have many different personalities and they interactions between each other and our female lead are really funny. Our female lead is just a simple girl that traveled back in time and is now stuck in Goryeo and she must adapt to survive. I don't want to tell you much of the story, but right now I'm mostly curious to see if the female male will live forever in Goryeo? What will happen to her? Will she end up living a good life with one of the princes or alone? I'm also curious to see who will succeed King Taejo. History tell us is King Gwangjong, but how different from reality will this character end up, because this King was a rather controversial person. \--- Another note that I would like to leave it here, this drama relies a lot on it's good casting. Some people were casted with the full purpose of gathering views to this drama and growing this fandom, I'm talking about IU (Soloist) and Baekhyun (Exo Member), they both did a great job in their own characters. All the other cast are known actors, some more experienced than others, but they all did a great job. If I would compare this drama to any other dramas it would probably be **Mr. Queen** for the sassy and smart female lead that also time travelled, **Hwarang** for the incredible friendships between all the princes and the female lead and finally **Love In The Moonlight**, for the love story between the main leads, that feels a bit similar. \--- What can I tell you more about this drama: it had an incredibly amount of filming locations and all over Korea, meaning it's not 100% filmed in a studio, which will make you dream of new places to visit in the future. And for me right now, I would rate this an 8 out of 10 stars, but I still have 7 episodes left to watch Hope this helped you decide. 😊
Aighty!! Thank you so much for the detailed insight!! I am gonna watch it right away!!
watch it for lee joongi’s acting. he is absolutely flawless in it. the romance helps a lot too, because it’s very swoon worthy even for someone who dislikes romance as a drama. it’s a drama that really has it all: comedy, light moments, politics, tragedy, romance, angst — i found the first ep the hardest to get through because of the tone, but the rest is very good.
I’m watching **twenty five 21**. I feel like it’s not a show for early in your kdrama watching but it’s enjoyable now I have plenty up my sleeve. Interesting to learn more about IMF days. After **the light in your eyes** wrecked me on the weekend, I had to see some justice for Nam Joo Hyuk. What happened to his character in TLIYE was just so sad. The show was good despite him though. So many top actors. Kim Hye Ja, Lee Jung Eun really showed the kids how to act. NJK is just good at being a gawky big kid. 2521 suits him more than TLIYE. Next on my list (while waiting for **Castaway Diva** is be completely out) is either: 1) **daily dose of sunshine** 2) **twinkling watermelon** 3) **my dearest.** How would you rank these three in order?
NJH is amazing in 2521, but without spoiling anything, his character there is quite sad too 💔
From this comment alone, I can tell that you are drawn to dramas with a more realistic outtake and with really serious topics. All of these drama will wreck you at some point, but they are amazing stories, you have really good taste. This rank is more for you to keep a good balance in your mental health: 1. **Twinkling Watermelon:** I have yet to start this one, but I believe it has serious topics regarding disabilities but at the same time it has really fun interactions with the time travelling and a music band. So everything seems balanced and it's probably the lightest one. 2. **My Dearest:** It's probably the one filled with the most angst, but it's one of the most beautiful love stories out there and historically speaking it's really interesting to learn about The Qing Invasion of Joseon and the suffering of it's people, more particularly the hardships that women had to face back in the day. This drama is a 10 out of 10 for me, even if there isn't a happy ending, it's top writing quality, the costume design is mesmerising and the filming locations also beautiful. 3. **Daily Dose Of Sunshine:** Left it for last because it's both a difficult and an easy watch depending on how you are feeling mentally. The story helps to normalise many well knows mental illnesses and in fact teach us how to take care of our own mental health. It's visually beautiful, with great casting and great story, it's also a 10 out of 10 for me, but you should be warned for the serious topics that might hit way too close to home. I hope this helps you make a better decision :)
Guys I am all into twinkling watermelon. They have taken it quite smoothly to the point where it looks beautiful now. The character relations, twists, pinch of humour and slashing music kept me hooked up.
I am so proud of myself! My on-air watch list is down to 10! Twinkling Watermelon - LOVE THIS if you aren't watching, or on the fence highly recommend. The Killing Vote - I actually have no idea, I wouldn't recommend it and I wouldn't not recommend it, it's taking 100 years to air though. Moon in the Day - First episode has me hooked My Dear Gangster Oppa (Thai) - So far so good, based on the Korean webtoon Our Companionship not sure why they changed the name.... My Universe (Thai) - Hit and miss on these some are decent some are wtf? One Room Angel (Japan) - This has no business being as cute as it is, the JBL's are comming in hot. Absolute Zero (Thai) - Heartbreak Twins (Thai) - One episode in but I am sus on weather I will finish it or You Are Mine (Taiwanese) - It's short, I would have dropped it but half hour every week isn't painful Shadow (Thai) - Only 2 episodes in but intrigued. Course that being said there are 6 shows I'm planning to pick up this week because I have no sense of self-preservation.
ehehe I am being very naughty and "watching" most of the trending on-airs via IG reels. Twinkling Watermelon, Castaway Diva, Moon in the Day, Daily Dose of Sunshine... even gasp shock My Dearest. I'm sure the drama purists will boot me off this sub for it - but, except for My Dearest, I wasn't going to watch most of them anyway. so now i get the gist of how things are going and still get to see the standout scenes. with none of the commitment. a terrible habit but 🤷♀️. otherwise me and my bffl, **The Killing Vote** (10/12), both took the week off. lol it's now comical how often this show gets pre-empted. prime has ep 11 already uploaded but it's locked until the episode airs in SK. the summary is a super click baity though! in non-kdramaland, we caught up to Loki over the weekend - the only true prestige MCU show. Wandavision is a distant second but they kinda fumbled. also i'm shocked at how much jdorama **Life's Punchline** (3/10) appeals to me. it feels almost webdrama-y in how shot-on-iphone, down to earth it is. the comedy troupe is SO DUMB. but i also love them and their stupid skits. and it almost hurts how understandable the FL's story is. and so in a totally ridiculous fangirl crackpot vent - >!i'm on record here as being a superstan of both Lee Dong Hwi and Lee Min Ki but does anybody else think that if you combine their quirkiest traits, you get someone like a Suda Masaki???!< anyway. i'm also working backwards through **MIU404** (4/11) and **Todome no Kiss** (3/10) for the impact cameos.
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>older generation's format ....damn you dont have to do us like that! jkjk🤭
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Cool cool cool. Sometimes you gotta channel the obsession into ✨ A R T ✨ Also not gonna lie... Back in the day I totally picked asian dramas based on how good the fmvs were.
Not a Kdrama but a new jdrama, it is called Riding A Unicorn. Light and frothy nothing dark, about a new tech start-up. Must admit didn't keep my interest going overlong due to the computer tech aspect of the story so dipped in and out. The personalities are engaging. There is a slight romantic triangle, family responsibility and how finding your safe space to be yourself can be difficult. If you like to know how to be an entrepreneur and start your own tech company, this is the series for you.
My currently-watching list is so long, I might just be watching everything that's on-air right now 😆 1. Twinkling Watermelon - ends next week and I'm not ready to say goodbye ☹️ 2. Evil Live - swooning over Kim Young Kwang the whole time tbh 😍 The plot being amazing is the cherry on top! 3. A Good Day To Be A Dog - sad that there have been this many delays. But I will stick around! 4. Moon In The Day - I'm enjoying it a lot more than I expected. 5. Vigilante - started today and I'm not sure how I feel about it just yet. 6. The Killing Vote - caught up this week and the plot has been very intriguing! Excited to see how they wrap up. 7. My Dearest - I'm still watching part 1 as I started this drama late but I'm enjoying every minute of it so far. Namgoong Min has never disappointed me so far and I hope the streak will remain! 8. The Escape of the Seven - love a good makjang because I don't have to think too much about the plot 😆 9. Strong Girl Nam Soon - this one has been a little disappointing but maybe I had high expectations. 10. Castaway Diva - had a great start but I wasn't too impressed last week. Looking forward to seeing if I change my mind in the upcoming episodes. 11. Perfect Marriage Revenge - started this on a whim but Sung Hoon made me swoon too much for me to not continue 😋 12. Live Your Own Life - like in all weekend dramas, many characters are very frustrating but I'm loving the MCs a lot more than my last weekend drama, The Real Has Come. 13. Unpredictable Family - daily drama that I had very low expectations from but now I look forward to the episodes every day ☺️ I hope I'm not the only crazy person who is watching this many dramas at once 😆
Nope, not the only crazy person doing this. Most of mine *aren't* currently showing, but I have about this many. Maybe a couple more...
I've been watching **One Spring Night** and I really love it through 7 episodes. Everybody is lying all the time to others to and to themselves, so there's a lot happening in the subtext. The main romance is really good. You see passion and tension as well as pure tenderness. Eun-u is so cute. Stylistically, it is shot somewhat boring with lots of medium-sides and a small selection of songs in the soundtrack. It does fit the subdued tone, but I do wish the shot selection could be a bit more dynamic during important moments. Overall, reminds me a lot of another favourite of mine, **Because It's My First Love**, and not just because the pharmacy is called Woori Pharmacy and FL makes a deal of becoming "us" for the first time.
**One Spring Night** is one of my all-time favorite slow-burn dramas with a realistic adult romance! You’re absolutely correct that the series is all about the subtext
Watching: Twinkling Watermelon — (14/16) — Legitimately surprised that >!our time travelers found out about each other! Very glad they did but would not have been surprised if it had waited until they were both back to now.!< I trust this writernim at this point so I am very hopeful and excited - and sad! - about the last two episodes. This has been one of my favorite dramas of all time. The World of the Married — (7/16) — I have put this on temporary hold. Since it doesn’t have legal distribution in the USA it’s a PITA for me to watch besides being such an intense makjang. I really have to want to watch it. Strong Girl Namsoon — (10/16) — Eh. It’s cute but that’s about it. I’ve been more excited about Castaway Diva tbh. I kinda want to know what the whole point of this story is. Thinking about abandoning this…plot is not plotting. A Good Day to be a Dog — (4/14) — I am pissed at how dirty they are doing this one. It’s not on again this week! They are definitely trying to kill it. Hard to be invested in a drama that has one episode in a month! Like that’s why I dislike American TV shows! Castaway Diva — (4/12) — this one is clever. I dislike Start-Up though so I hope this one doesn’t continue with the same BS about who is Kiho (my guess is >!Bogeol for the record!< but we shall see). I love the eonni aspect too! Acting is fantastic (it would be with Park Eun Bin and Chae Jong Hyeop) but if I am pissed at the end I am really going to be unhappy with this writer and any drama going forward. The Matchmakers — (4/16) — I adore Rowoon. His comedic timing is fantastic and this one is funny. But some the anachronisms and sexism…woo…I dunno. I feel like you can have one or the other but not both. At least not how this one is doing it. This isn’t as good as The Forbidden Marriage or Rowoon in Destined With You but I am enjoying it. Guess we will see. Leads are good together. Moon in the Day — (2/14) — Kim Young Dae is so good as a villain. So good. Can’t wait to dive into this one further. Though I haven’t read the webtoon I know it >!has a sad ending so preparing for that.!< Daily Dose of Sunshine — (6/12) — I love this one. Love it. Love the leads (Park Bo Young and Yeon Woo Jin) and would watch either of them in anything just about. But the subject matter is so incredibly difficult. This isn’t some feel good drama. I have a lot of mental health issues and it is hard to watch. This subject needed done, and done well, like this. But pacing myself. Especially with the episode I just watched… Need to add some more fluff…jeez…too much drama.
Moon in the Day >!has a sad ending!!angst and tragedies!<, and a lot of times dramas >!shy away from those so the few that are there!< I love so much more.
Yup. Apparently. In comments all the over the place. >!I agree with you if they do it well! So often that doesn’t happen i.e. HeartBreak. Would rather have any ending so long as it isn’t a crappy sad one. Those crappy sad ones are just disappointing honestly.!<
I don't know anything about the story, but it looks to me like it will be a bittersweet ending, or something like *Kokdu's Gye Jeol*. What leads me to that: \- He had her mother and sister killed, and killed her father in battle (in order to stop a bloody war & more suffering, as the story has been told). \- She tried to kill him, in order to take revenge for her family. \- He stopped her, and they grew to love each other - but the original events still existed. He had killed her family members, and she wanted to take revenge. \- He tried to protect her from those trying to kill her. \- She still killed him, in the end, then was killed by whoever was pursuing her. \- He's attached to her and can't get free, unless (he believes) he personally kills her in her 'incarnation'. \- She's protected from supernatural danger by the bracelet she wears. \- There's another force - the spirit of someone she and he both offended - seeking revenge and trying to kill them both. \- He is in the body of himself.... a person who is him, but isn't, because his spirit is separate... weird... but anyway, he's in this body, which is dying. So, he apparently needs to kill her to stop the cycle and free himself. Then, he will be free to move on or also be reincarnated, and will leave the body he's taken over/it will die. They could have a story together in a future life, or move on separately. This is a good result, although it means both of them dying in the current story, which to us would feel sad. But he will also need to protect her from this other force. Perhaps this will cause them to grow together again; plus, she will start to remember the past life. Somehow, they need to undo/overcome the tragedy of that story. Whether it happens through love or resolution - death - is open. Who knows? It could be bittersweet or happy. I think bittersweet is more likely, but shows like this like twists where what the character thinks has to happen ends up being different - since it's about supernatural forces/God's will, and them learning.
if you think ep 6 is hard, wait til you get to 8. I had to stop....
I was actually in the middle of 7 when I wrote this post - I posted all because I needed a minute. I’m about to start 10 right now and will finish tonight. I can see why you said that about 8. I have pretty severe long haul depression myself, which at the moment is good and well managed, so if I stop now I will absolutely linger on dangerous thoughts I shouldn’t. Episode 9 has helped a bit. Hopefully the rest will finish it off. To anyone else watching this with mental health issues 7 and 8 and even most of 9 are massively hard. Be kind to yourself.
There really is too much in the way of anachronisms and overt preachiness about stuff like social class, rules, and attitudes in *The Matchmakers*. It's disconcerting, and is making me consider dropping. The problem is it's otherwise a fun, very well-done show.
I'm watching the Golden Spoon. I'm on episode 9. I wish the show was shorter. Also, Crazy Love on Hulu. Is this show sad? I don't like the diagnosis. It's a lil triggering. Hm Thoughts? My Dearest. Namkoong Min is one of the best actors out there. So much nuance with his acting. He truly is great.
If that’s your potential issue with the show you don’t have to worry, >!it’s a mistaken diagnosis, she doesn’t actually have cancer!< There is some angst in **Crazy Love** but I wouldn’t call it a sad show. A lot of it is really funny and the romance works better than you would think. I’m a big fan of this one.
same! i was pleased out the story turned out.
I have switched from binging to going with on air dramas. It keeps things at an even pace, and back to how I used to watch TV. I like the collective excitement and comments as we compare our reactions to each episode. The end of the year has been and will be LOADED with dramas, and I can see why the drama Pachinko was pushed off until next year because of a packed schedule **Twinkling Watermelon** \- I can't believe we will say goodbye to this phenomenal coming of age/time travel drama. So many emotions, tears of joy, tears of sadness, and love the characters in this drama. Will stay with me for a long while **Castaway Diva** \- what a great performance by PEB, and I love the brothers, mystery of who is Kiho, and the struggle for comeback and justice for our mentor diva, while cheering on opportunities for our new diva to shine. Each episode solid. **Vigilante** \- Just starting, looks like another quality Disney+ production. I have seen a few vigilante movies/dramas, and will be interested in how the main character develops **My Dearest** \- I enjoy this drama, especially as it evolved past push pull dynamics. Epic historical drama, and hope to hear confirmation if 1 or 2 episodes will be added, and if we get to see more of our main couple. **Moon In the Day** \- time slip revenge drama, with a curse to overcome from the past. I think it will be an interesting hate to love drama if it goes that way - only completed first 2 episodes so far, love the care that the 2ndML has with his brother the ML. FL is smart, competent, which I also like **Matchmakers** \- Love Rowoon, love a smart FL who totally has ML's number, humor is good. I follow the main strokes of the drama, but some of the plot points go over my head, so I will use drama recaps as an assist to ensure I understand what is going on. **A Good Day to be a Dog** \- I have enjoyed this, it is cute, but it has a schedule that rivals the Killing Vote in erratic and slow episode release. May need to pause and binge right before the end to maintain my concentration and enjoy flow of drama
i finally watched itaewon class! i absolutely loved it—too 5! just finished move to heaven. wrecked me, but it’s so good—the acting, the plot, everything.
Recently finished watching **Coffee Prince** It’s an older Kdrama but I can absolutely see why people say it was very unique and ahead of it’s time. It was a good watch. I loved that all loose ends were tied up well. I enjoyed seeing all the confusing messy elements unfold and then seemingly get straightened out. The very first observation I made about this drama though was the lack of stereotypical modesty that is so prevalent in majority of all current kdramas. The FL runs into a female bathhouse with a food delivery and a bunch of women are shown running around in their bras and underpants. (Which is the equivalent of women in Bikinis really) Yet todays kdramas depict women going to bed in seven layers of clothing in the middle of summer including additional blankets. Men were seen in casual shirtless scenes in this one too. There must have been a viewer rating overhaul in Korea at some point in the past 16 years? It sort of reminded me of watching an American “family friendly” movie from the 80s vs watching a family rated movie from the 2000s. Definitely a marked difference in content type.
I love Coffee Prince, it was the second drama I watched and it's still one of my favourites.
**Behind your touch** 8/16. It’s good and I’m enjoying it but… I dunno I think I was expecting more? Not even sure how to put it into words. But I think I’ve read so many great reviews that I just thought it would be extra great. Anyway, I’ll definitely finish it. It’s enjoyable.
i’m about to start this one:)
I’m watching 3 shows with evil parents who abuse their child.. I think I’ll go insane from all the rage. So there’s **Castaway Diva** where >!Kiho’s dad is STILL insufferable 15 years later, where is truck of doom when you need him???!< Actually the latest eps have been a bit underwhelming for me after the 10/10 pilot, which I still haven’t moved on from. Then I managed to watch **Twinkling Watermelon** all 14 episodes in 2 days 😌✌🏻 and it rightly deserves all the praise its getting, the MLs parents got me giggling kicking my feet in the air but then again >!Cheon ha’s stepmom has to receive comeuppance!< or else it won’t be a good finale for me. Then comes **Perfect Marriage Revenge** which is so makjangy but makes you really root for the leads,love their chemistry, it’s great if you love DRAMA drama. FLs stepmom is right out of Cinderella. I really want the FL to be more in her villain era and less of a damsel in distress. A “it’s us against the world” trope would fit perfectly here.
**Twinkling Watermelon** (12/16) - by far my favourite drama of the week. Eun Gyeol is so wholesome, and I love his relationship with young Cheong Ah. And the music? A+ **Moon in the Day** (2/14) - the first two episodes were fine. Had a good chuckle when Jun Ho's voice came out of Do Ha. Unlike other time travel dramas, I find this unique because Do Ha already knows how to adjust to life in the 21st century. He just has no idea how to respond to the people around him, since Jun Ho was a celebrity. **Strong Girl Nam Soon** (10/16) - this is so crazy, and I love it! At this point, I don't know what to expect from the last two episodes, but I look forward to it. It's funny how the comments in the weekly discussions alternate between how bad it is and how hot the villain is - ha ha! **Daily Dose of Sunshine** (12/12) - one of the best dramas of the year. Yeo Jin Woo and his fluffy hair were the perfect foil for the serious storylines. Every episode delivered, and the production standards are high thanks to Netflix. Starting **Vigilante** and **Castaway Diva** this week.
Relating to your comment about how Do Ha knows about modern life but just finds the celebrity thing weird, and can't be bothered with dumb things, when you watch the next episode of *Moon*, wait for the script reading. It's awesome.
Strong Girl Nam Soon - no plot? I don't care. It's fun. Will there be a super strong baby girl at the end? Will mom reunite with dad? What happens with grandma's love interest? Castaway Diva - who is the real first love? Will LF be revealed as "The Voice"? Doona- nope. Gone from my playlist. Daily Dose of Sunshine - what a heart warming / heart breaking series.
**A Good Day to Be a Dog** (4/14) So cute, don't care about having to wait for next episodes, maybe because I don't binge watch usually? Delayed gratification is good. **Flower of Evil** (16/16) Really got into this one during the second half. My first Lee Goon Ji drama (wow, he was impressive!). My second Kim Ji Hoon drama, the first was Love to Hate You, >! holy shit he was spooky in this !< . I was a little confused by the writing, and the FL's obsession with a ML who did not seem at all into her at first, but in the end it didn't disrupt my enjoyment of this thriller. **Meet Yourself** (18/40) Still happily dawdling along with this Cdrama, the leads' >! romance seems to be just about ready to bloom with their very awkward and cute filming of the ad for the village. !< **The Worst of Evil** (5/12) Super violent yet lots of fun with an excellent gritty atmosphere, loving it. **Twinkling Watermelon** (2/16) First ep was really touching, but I don't usually love >! time slip/travel !< stuff. I am interested in the Ha family story, though, so we'll see. Also it's great watching Choi Won Young again, I loved him in Mystic Pop-Up Bar.
I wish I could be patient and wait for episodes! I ran to find the webtoon because I needed instant gratification. I love A Good Day To Be A Dog so much because it's so cute!
It's a good thing you find delayed gratification good since you're watching Meet Yourself! But it's truly one of my favorite shows of the year. Well worth your patience!
I just started watching The Worst of Evil and was really surprised by the level of violence... right in the first ten minutes! It's definitely dark and gritty. It's also really suspenseful and I've been on the edge of my seat the entire time. Even though Ji Chang Wook has made other action dramas before, I feel like this character is really different for him and it's great.
After binging **Daily Dose of Sunshine** last weekend (awesome show, I highly recommend it) I decided to start a medical show **Doctor John** (4/32) and a Park Bo Young show **Oh My Ghost** (2/16). I liked the opening episodes of both, fingers crossed they're good. I'm also watching **The Escape of the Seven** (14/17): This show still has its moments but it has declined for me since it started focusing so heavily on K **Perfect Marriage Revenge** (4/12); A lot of fun so far. I enjoy the brisk pace, the characters are entertaining, the romantic chemistry between the leads is hot.
Too many shows, not enough time: Twinkling Watermelon- one of the best shows I’ve watched this year. It’s such a wonderful storyline, and with two more episodes left I’m not ready to say goodbye to it. Castaway Diva- loving this one as well. Strong Girl Namsoon- it’s finally getting good and something brainless to watch on the weekends The Matchmakers- I like how the storyline is different from the usual Joseon shows. The leads also have wonderful chemistry and I’m a sucker for matchmaking cute couples. Moon In the Day- intrigued by the story and characters so far, plus Kim Young Dae playing a vengeful spirit will be interesting to watch. Dali and Cocky Prince- loving this one as well. The ML is so much fun to watch and the leads are so good together. I just wish the other love interests weren’t so awful. Daily Dose Of Sunshine- really good but it’s gotten very dark so had to take a break, plus all the newly released episodes this week has pushed it back. Good Day To Be A Dog- will start episode 3 next week after waiting eons for the first 5 to come out. Also want to start Vigilante this weekend if there’s time.
i love dali and the cocky prince! i need to rewatch it:)
I've been recovering from COVID (and taking care of my 108-yo grandmother and 83/84 yo parents who are also looking set for a full recovery, believe it or not), and kind of patchily watching various dramas. **Twinkling Watermelon**: Episode 8. It's a pretty good show so far, if a bit saccharine for my taste. I knew almost nothing about the plot, so the big narrative switcheroo early on took me by surprise. It wasn't until the next episode that I figured out what was going on. Clever writing. Still, I don't find myself on the edge of my seat for this one. I'll finish it eventually. Choi Hyun-wook and Seol In-ah are killing it; the rest of the cast I can take or leave. **Moon in the Day**: Episode 2. It's always interesting to see the extreme duality of kdrama approaches to kdramaland itself, with celebrities alternately portrayed as hardworking modern-day royalty brimming with noblesse oblige, or as petulant, cranky divas who take everything for granted. They're never just ordinary people doing a job the best they can, which is likely closest to the truth, but not interesting. Anyway, the show has promise, even if it feels like I've seen it before in various bits and pieces of other shows. **A Good Day to Be a Dog**: Dropped. Made it to episode 4 and realized I simply don't care about these characters, nor about the big past-life mystery which will probably turn out to be something dumb. I like the leads (Park Gyu-young was great in *Dali and Gamjatang*), but the writer and director have to give them something to do, and characters that are more than one-dimensional. The main problem is the show just isn't funny, unless you find the concept of a person turning into a dog inherently hilarious. **The Matchmakers**: Dropped. Got through episode 3 and simply cannot stand the ML anymore. The recent trend of making MLs start out as whiny, awful man-children so they can be fixed (more like "raised") by the FL is really off-putting. Not Rowoon's fault, he is clearly playing the character as intended.
I'm really enjoying *A Good Day to Be a Dog,* but it is going to be more interesting for young adults closer to the stage of the protagonists. It's a little young for my tastes, but it feels mature enough for me to like it. It's clean and direct - in the sense of not having lots of extra elements that make the story or characters fuzzy or things complicated. It has a good mix of humour and sincerity, and the characters are likeable. The past-life mystery is a bit weird, and that character is giving such uncomfortable vibes, when he appeared to just be the most easy-going, nice guy you could easily like. Of course, that's the aim: the contrast.
**My Dearest** (17/20). I haven't changed my mind since the last time that I described this drama. It feels grand, it feels important, it feels epic. This drama is sometimes frustrating or infuriating, but you just can't look away. It is a type of show that grabs you and doesn't let you go. **Daily Dose of Sunshine** (10/12) It is an interesting show where every episode is dedicated to a particular mental illness. Because it is episodical and has little time to elaborate on each case, the cases sometimes feel simplified and condensed. It think that there was room for expansion for many of these stories. However, it is still and interesting and informative show, which tries to raise awareness of important issues. Oh, and I really loved the visual representation of people's mental state. I have been accumulating shows that I want to watch. Particularly, I've noticed a lot of positive feedback for **Twinkling Watermelon**, **Worst of Evil** and **Castaway Diva**. Now that we are approaching holidays, I'll have time to catch up.
**The Worst of Evil**!!! 5 episodes in and this has already impressed me so much. It would have to seriously tank in the second half for it not to be a new top 10 drama for me! And I've always thought JCW was a good actor but holy shit, he is *amazing* in this one. I honestly feel sick about what's happening to his character because his acting is so convincing. It all feels so real, especially the danger and the emotions surrounding >!his marriage and his wife getting involved!<. He needs more of this kind of serious role, I think! And the colors and lighting are gorgeous. There have been so many shots that make me go, ohhh pretty. And the fights are really interesting too, they're well choreographed and some have been really unique, like the flashlight fight haha This is the first kdrama I've watched more than 1 episode of in months and it's reminding me how much I love Korean crime thrillers.
I am watching Daily Dose of Sunshine, Prison Playbook, Twinkling watermelon and Castaway Diva.
I just finished Suspicious Partner and really enjoyed it.
I loved it, the ending was so sweet.
Loved the supporting cast so much, too. I’m so disappointed I don’t get to tune into another episode and see them in all their bickering glory.
Yeah, they were great.
**SPOILERS Unfortunately I’m on e16 of Because This Is My First Life. I had such high hopes and liked it somewhat but in e15 >!narrative logic and reason fall off a cliff!< and now I hate it. I’m finishing it because I’m a completist but not only >!do I hate the FL (who is acting completely contrary to her character trajectory, and is talking to everyone except the man she supposedly loves) but the story is off the rails!<.
I agree with everything you said. That was my reaction for the last two episodes. 😕
The last episodes of this show broke my heart. How could a show that was so lovely for 14 episodes crash so badly 😢
And the stuff that happened was so unnecessary. It broke my heart too, and it made me really really irritated.
I felt this way about it, too.
Currently watching Chief Kim and I’m so enormously enjoying it! Have a massive crush on Namkoong Min now and aim to watch him in everything and salivate.
So, coming back here after I took short breaks from Kdramas. I haven’t watch most of the dramas that came out this year because I couldn’t find anything that catch my eye. I was busy catching on anime and western media instead. The only ones that I like so far was **Revenant** and **The Glory.** Currently planning to continue to watch My Dearest (which I put on hold) once part two ends. **Moving** (3/20)-I’m not a big fan of the superhero genre since I feel like they are predicted and overstated, especially in Western media. I love everything about this show so far because it is more than people having superpowers. The acting, characters and the visuals are amazing. I can see why people say it is the best drama to come out this year.
Thanks to the poster who told us what was leaving on Netflix soon! Because of that I just watched **The Hymn of Death** yesterday. So good. It's just three hour-long episodes on Netflix. The story is based on real events. I highly recommend. Also leaving Netflix soon are two I have just started: **100 Days My Prince** \- just started the first episode **The Guest** \- I've watched two episodes, and it's a great start. OP also said Encounter (I've already watched) is leaving, as well as Graceful Friends (low ratings on MDL, so I won't watch.)
**100 Days My Prince** and **The Guest** are some of my favourite kdramas ever! I hope you'll enjoy them!
Behind Your Touch (5/16): Liked the main actor in Because This is My First Life and the comments mentioning the butt-touching on this subreddit made me super curious. This show is hilarious and I've already recommended it to a few people even though I have no idea how it will end. The Matchmakers (4/12): Fun and different from other sageuks I've watched before. I don't think this show is meant to be taken too seriously. The politics around the marriages are interesting to me and I like the leads so far. Castaway Diva (4/12): Enjoying the story and the main characters. Did not expect the first episode to be so heavy, and the young actors were amazing. I love music-related shows and I hope they continue to show us the female leads' performances. Strong Girl Nam Soon (6/16): The first 4 episodes were interesting and the ML is so wholesome. But I keep seeing comments about how it's going nowhere and it's all over the place. I don't mind the latter as much as long as it continues to entertain me, but I would like to see progress towards the main plot. I plan to keep watching this show when I have down-time after I have caught up with the other dramas I'm watching. A Good Day to Be a Dog (3/10): Read the webtoon and was curious how it'd translate to a drama. I think the casting is pretty good so far and I'm hoping the changes to the plot that they will inevitably make will be for the better, unlike what they did in See You in My 19th Life. It's only one episode a week so I tend to forget about this show. Will catch up on last week's episode soon since I heard they're delaying the next episode again until next week. My Roommate is a Gumiho (10/16): I've been slowly watching this, mainly for JKY. Planning to finish this but is taking a back seat to all the other shows mentioned above. Twinkling Watermelon and Perfect Marriage Revenge have piqued my interest, but I don't think I have time right now. This is actually the most kdramas I've ever watched simultaneously. Was never a big TV person growing up but kdramas got me glued to the screen.
South Korea has the drama recipe down to a fine art.
Tale of the Nine Tailed and Castaway Diva. I have to have two going if one is a weekly. Non-Korean shows are Lessons in Chemistry on AppleTV (utterly fantastic) and Loki s2 which is very good if you watch Marvel.
Disappointed with *Boys over Flowers* Has anyone else been disappointed with boys over flowers? I just finished watching this show. The way everyone went on and on and on about it - I had thought it would be great. But I was just feeling meh and at one point I just wanted to stop watching it. SPOILER ALERT ⚠️ >!Gu jun pyo is an ass for not standing up to his mother in the beginning itself. She put jandi's parents out of business, kidnapped and assaulted jandi and this fellow still couldn't say anything? Make a choice. Either stay and leave the girl or leave the house.!< >!And what is with the wedding getting canceled at the dias? Did that girl wake up only at that moment? What was she doing all that while, especially when she asked jandi to become maid of honour. And jandi gets kidnapped and these people continue with the wedding.!< Eh? I loved ji hoo. And I really felt bad for him. He was perfect for jandi (and me :'( ). Why couldn't she just wake up and see jihoo for what he really is! He was part of the reason I wanted to stop watching the show. How dumb can the lead actress get. She spoilt her own life and the lives of so many others. >!Her poor brother couldn't get a proper education in his formative years because of her.!< >!How can go eul like that idiot after how he treated her on valentines day in front of his father? How did she feel comfortable being in the same room with him just a day later and not talk about it?!< Ewwww >!What's with the force kissing and stuff? How can jandi like jun pyo after he tried to force kiss her and assault her. I mean who will choose that toxic short tempered jackass over sweet jihoo?!!< I think jandi was in it for the money and the over the top show. If she really wanted love, then she would have been with jihoo. Poor jihoo >!lost his parents, his first love and his second love.!< 😢 End of rant.
I dropped Korean BOF after 2 episodes. Saw trailers of Japanese and Chinese BOF too and knew they won't work for me. Surprisingly, Thailand's BOF turned out to be the best adaptation for me. Do check it out if you wish to see a version where the FL has a backbone as well as a functioning brain.
Haha thanks for the recommendation! I'll take some days to recover and then watch
[удалено]
No new finished kdramas, a couple JDoramas to add: **Watashi no Oyome-kun**, a tropey office romcom with a cute FL and nothing standing out, a 7; **Familiar Wife**, a JP rendition of a kdrama actually, quite a good one though, time travel component, a nice romance and a lot of insightful moments and scenes with good leads and solid writing, a well deserved 8. In progress \- **Strong Girl Nam Soon (10/16):** almost hate watching at this point, FL has no character development, romance is cute but out of nowhere, almost all plots and secondaries either boring or plain bad. As usual, spin-offs are not on par with originals. Ready to embark on **Moon in the Day** and waiting another week to then binge **Twinkling Watermelon**, enough for now.
I just finished watching Moving this morning. It felt a bit disconnected at times to me. Overall there definitely were moving parts though. I did enjoy it but maybe not as much as I expected to. I’m also watching Destined with you, the worst of evil and Misaeng slowly. I find Misaeng a little depressing at times but the last ep had a moment that was just so touching and hopeful that I want to keep watching it. I haven’t really been in the mood to watch dramas so I’m just watching everything really slowly. (Also my mind is still kinda in Arthdal with Eunseom and Tanya…)
What comes to Moving, I found that it was good (but not great) in the first half, but it lost me completely toward the end. Knowing that the overall feedback was overwhelmingly positive and seeing that I enjoyed the initial episodes, I was certain that I was going to like it. However, the more I kept watching the more I realized that it fell flat for me.
Yeah I enjoyed it more in the first half too. I found some parts in the second half good too. But overall it wasn’t as good as I expected it to be. Maybe my expectations were too high? I don’t know… maybe we weren’t in the right mood for it either? I think Huisoo, Bongseok and Ganghoon were my fave parts mostly.
Taking a bit of a break from binging Kdramas & reading webtoons instead this week :). Am still watching weekly though - thoroughly enjoyed the first 2 eps of **Moon in the Day**! Perfect vibes for me of angst, thriller & hints of a tragic romance to unfold. I trust the actors to pull off dual roles & am going to enjoy the ride no matter what because I love Kim Young Dae and feeling great chemsistry between him & Pyo Ye Jin! And going to start **Vigilante** this weekend too, love me some Nam Joo Hyuk (also the show looks good too) & this is my last glimpse until he comes back from military service late next year!
*Moon in the Day* is gooood, isn't it? More than I expected; I'm pleased. Kim Yong Day with that intensity.... *shiver*.
I've just started watching The Worst of Evil. OMG, my palms are sweating. This drama is really dark and it's much more violent than I anticipated. I'm kind of surprised because after The K2, Ji Chang Wook said he wasn't going to make any more action dramas, but he really puts his body through a lot of physical abuse in this drama.
okay, so I started **Revenant (2/12)** so far I have seen 2 episodes and I have questions: why hangings? >!it just seems very impractical and even difficult to do for a ghost. like there is that one guy in ep1 who is high up on the room of some skyrise building iirc and he hangs himself??? like why? why not just push him? (are you trying to make it easier for the cops to investigate, writer-nim?) especially if i take into account the wrist marks like what? because wrist marks imply the ghost is holding onto their wrists - how do you make some make a noose (like we see ML's mom do) while holding their wrists? like i'd have no problem with the ghost just possessing the victims hands and doing it but the wrist marks point directly to it not being the case so like!< \*confused gesturing\~ >!also the ghost can't open a door but can hold strong enough onto person's wrists to cause this kind of bruising? and like i understand the door here is more of a metaphor but even so it's just an object with no living force,, it really should not be that difficult compared to a person who is struggling against you.!< also, does it get proper scary at any point? because while it has a dark atmosphere and some eerie OSTs, I have yet to get genuinely scared by what I see. aside from that i'm LOVING my airing dramas: * **Castaway Diva (4/12)** \- especially the SML he is my absolute favourite. The sunny and child-like FL reminds me of FL from Still 17 (in the best way). Tho I'm a little worried that >!YRJ!< may not have the best intentions with her * **Moon in the Day (2/14)** \- I hope this keeps being as amazing as the first two eps, because I am in love and will be heartbroken if they mess it up
right now i am on 4/16 of **The Matchmakers** which is pretty light hearted and cute, am enjoying it so far especially Rowoon's performance **Vigilante** I am going to start afterwards and I cant wait! (˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶) watched 2/16 **Flower of Evil** last night, it's a bit melodramatic tbh but I'm intrigued and want to stick with it 2/12 **Revenant** I am watching slowly with my roomie. loving the noir atmosphere and Kim Taeri (edit cos hit enter too soon)
*Completed* **Hidden Love (2023)** I've been in a *huge* drama slump ever since this summer for some reason. But at last, I'm finally back in the mood for dramas and finished the last episodes of HL. I absolutely loved this drama. It was pure cuteness and fluff from beginning to end. Sure there was a *little* bit of drama sprinkled in, but overall it was just an adorable healthy romance and I enjoyed every second of it. I was internally squealing throughout the entire drama. **Moonlight (2021)** Another one I abandoned this summer but finally finished. Overall, I loved it. Any book nerd would probably enjoy this, as it revolves *heavily* around book publishing. It was an interesting setting and definitely made me think about how much actually goes into the creation of a book. Main couple was adorable and funny. I especially loved the ML. I'm a sucker for a goofy ML being whipped for the FL first. As for the FL, I understand she's not everyones cup of tea. I like Esther, but the constant baby talk might be too much for some. The side couple was meh. I skipped through most of their scenes. Oh, and it was cool to see a *very* hinted at lesbian couple. Although their storylines were pretty boring, I gotta respect how obvious they made the relationship despite censorship.
If you would like to watch another show set in the world of publishing, Romance is a bonus book is great!
Oh I didnt know RIABB was *actually* about books (despite its title, lol). I've heard mixed reviews, but I have still kept it on my to watch list for when I'm in a mood for a noona romance!
One of my favs from 2021 is also set the the 'world of publishing' **Doom at Your Service**. The FL, Tak Dong Kyung is a web novel editor who is diagnosed with brain cancer. After a series of further unfortunate events, she makes a random wish and catches the attention of Myeol Mang aka Doom. Worth a watch if you like: positive interaction between female characters, healing past hurts and moving on, an interesting meditation on the nature of extinction and catastrophe, death as a path to rebirth.
\*\*Daily Dose of Sunshine--\*\*This drama should come with all sorts of trigger warnings! I'm usually not sensitive, but just finished ep 8 & realized I can't continue, show has become way too dark. I thought from the title it would be uplifting, and perhaps it might be, but I can't stick around to find out. If you are sensitive to mental health issues; esp depression & suicide, this might not be for you. I thought the visual depictions of mental illness, particularly panic disorder & delusions, were compelling, and initially the FL empathy was refreshing, but things have devolved. \*\*Castaway Diva--\*\*Again darker than expected, but it's keeping me engaged & who knew that Park Eun Bin had such a fantastic voice. The music is awesome so far. \*\*The Kidnapping Day--\*\*Just superb, great story, well-written, the two leads are phenomenal actors, especially the child actor is amazing. Highly recommend as one of the best dramas of this year or any year. \*\*Twinkling Watermelon--\*\*Started this because of the huge number of comments on this sub. I'm not as enchanted as some, but it's really very good, great music & performances (is Choi Hyun-wook singing here? I can't seem to find out if it's him), intriguing time slip & found family story. I love it. Hyun-wook is uber charismatic & draws my eyes in every scene. An actor I will watch for in the future. **The Heirs--**my first watch! Fun & finally I get to see what all the subreddit in-jokes are about. However, I forgot this week! I think this one is better as a binge than a weekly for me! There are 8-9 things on my "wanna watch" list but waiting for them to be over; I prefer bingeing!
**Twinkling Watermelon -** I think this is the best drama currently on air. I enjoy every minute and I'm just floored by the acting of all of the actors. The range of emotions displayed by the handsome leads spans pure joy to pure despair. There have been so many time-slip dramas this year - and I love the genre. I loved A Time Called You, See you in my 19th Life, and others , but this one just blows me away. I want to know what happens - but I don't want it to end. **Good Day to Be aa Dog -** Also enjoying this one. Cha Eun Woo really takes my breath away and commands the screen. **My Dearest -** I'm only a few episodes into the second group. It's shot beautifully and the story is epic. It pulls at the heart. But I can only take it in small doses. I need escapism right now, and not more World Angst. So I will continue, but slowly. **Dream High -** In a lull between on-air dramas (uh, when I'm caught up with TW and GDTAD) I began this. I had never watched it and wanted to see what the leads looked like 10 years ago. And I wanted to see them perform together. I think I saw some videos on YouTube and decided to watch the whole thing. I'm 6 episodes into it and I am enjoying it. IU still isn't quite herself yet, but I love her character. All of them are great in this. The production quality is weird; it seems to be on videotape, rather than filmed on high quality cameras. And, of course, it's like "Fame." Someone compared it to Glee, but on Glee, the school did not value the Arts and this is a School for Arts. But it's a classic with great music and performances with a group of young actors who were destined to be first rate stars. It's a fun watch. Have I mentioned the music in **TW?** It's wonderful! I'm also rewatching **100 Days My Prince** with my long-distance drama-watching friend. We, too, needed something a little lighter during these crazy times in the world. I've seen this many times and it's become a comfort drama for me. We're only 3 episodes in, but I know she'll like it. Happy watching!
**Currently Watching** **Twinkling Watermelon (14/16)**: It's a really good drama so far. I'm anxiously waiting for the last two episodes and hoping they don't mess up the ending. Both couples of this drama have my heart. 💗 **Castaway Diva (4/12)**: I had no intention to start this but seeing a mystery tangled in it definitely caught my eyes. Immediately fell in love with the Ki Ho character. **Escape Seven (14/17)**: This drama is my guilty pleasure. The story is a bit nonsensical but I'm here for it. **The Matchmakers (4/16)**: The first 1-2 episodes were quite confusing but I think I'm slowly getting the gist of the story. I like the leads interactions.
Third Marriage. It’s so dramatic and predictable but the cliff hangers leave you at the edge of your seat!
Mr Queen
Call It Love- I’m episode 11, and so far I’m loving it. Definitely will be a drama I’d put in my favorites. Castaway Diva- I’m caught up with the episode released so far. I like it just fine. I think the main lead is quite obvious, and I know people keep comparing the the 2 male leads with Start Up, but i thought that the main lead was also obvious while watching. To be fair i did watch Start Up after it aired so maybe my interpretation of the male main characters may have been skewed. Twinkling Watermelon- I’m caught up as well, and i also think it’s just fine. There’s some sweet moments, but I don’t find the show amazing. A Good Day To Be A Dog- I’ve seen the last three episodes, and I’m enjoying it a lot. Though I do think they should be releasing two episodes weekly.
I currently have 12 on going series, 4 are kdramas. I've very late watching all of them and I was planning to start watching 3 new dramas that started in the last weeks, but I'm not sure where I can find the time! **Hyo-Sim's independent life** 9/50 : I'm interested to see where it will go. I have 4 episodes to watch to be up to date **Twinkling Watermelon** 9/16 : I like it a lot. It's my favorite drama I'm currently watching >!I'm kinda rooting for Eungyeol and Segyeong's daughtery they look cute!<. I have 5 episodes to watch to be up to date. **A Good Day to be a dog** 4/14 : I don't dislike it, but I feel like I don't like it that much either? >!Bogyeom is giving me weird vibes. I'm not sure I'm a fan of the supernatural and link from Joseon era they are preparing for the plot!< **7escape** 14/17 : this drama keeps surprising me. >!I was not expecting Matthew to be Joonseok at all and I kind of liked that. I liked they were able to get me with that plot twist and I want to know what will happen with the real Hwiso now. I felt sorry for Joonseok when he told his story, he was a victim in this. The butler is so cold-hearted and doesn't even seem to care that his child has gone insane wtf. Curious to see on which side Rahee is gonna be in the end. She's always putting her interests first, so probably with the one she believes has the most chances of winning while pretending to play in both team just in case.!<
I'm watching The Penthouse. Middle of Season 1 got slow, but it picked up towards the end. Season 2 has been pretty good so far. I have to say I find Oh Yun Hui and Bae Ro Na really annoying to watch. Their characters' decisions and motivations sometimes seem very flimsy or the definition of insanity, and it's obviously done to keep a rhythm of drama/conflict going. At least the show overall keeps me entertained. So I'll give it that.
TWINKLING WATERMELON : best k drama of the yr!
My mid week drama this week until **Castaway Diva** and **Twinkling Watermelon** rolls around is **True Beauty**. Cha Eun Woo was cute in ID Gangnam but ohhh my god his character in TB is making me fall mad in love him rn!
I just binged the first four episodes of Moon In The Day & can't wait for next week. Its going to be a long 4.5 days. At least I have Castaway Diva to keep me going the next few days. Anything with Park Eun Bin in it is awesome! I started on Strong Girl Bo Soon but stopped. Im also super excited for My Demon coming up in only two weeks. Happy Black Friday to me.
Thanks to YouTube blocking Adblockers I can't get distracted by it, so I can finally concentrate in kdrama. **Evilive (8/10)**: Such a great slowburn, corruption arc. The last episode really peaked the corruption. And the homoerotic tension between the MLs. The heart eyes of Do Young whenever his sugarbaby Dong Soo does something criminal are insane. **Queen Seon Deok (31/62)**: Half way point. And as always really good. Deokman/Seondeok really evolved into a smart and layered character who can go toe to toe with the best character and villain Misil. And her harem trio with their loyalty to her are great as well. And I have to praise Kim Nam Gil (Bidam) and Ko Hyun Jung (Misil) who play mother and son in a great way. They are written to have similiarities in their words and deeds, but they are also acted with similiar mannerisems and facial expressions. **The Killing Vote (10/12)**: The show itself is good. SBS is awful and completely ruined the scheduling and release. Additionally, I'll most likely start **Vigilante** and **Goryeo-Khitan War** this week.
>Thanks to YouTube blocking Adblockers I can't get distracted by it, so I can finally concentrate in kdrama. I see you have yet to find the new extension ahah... The ads were so annoying that I found another solution that instead of blocking ads, the ads will play at a really fast pace like less than 1 second, now I barely notice them. 😉 I think I have noticed this before from your comments, but your watchlist is always amazing, I'm really curious to see both **Evilive** and **The Killing Vote**, once it's over, I'm just waiting for them to end and I will add them to my watchlist. I also have **Queen Seon Deok** in my watchlist and it's nice to read such a good review about it. I will also start **Vigilante** and I'm considering on starting **Goryeo-Khitan War**, I was most excited for this last one but I was shocked to learn it's 32 episodes with 80 min each, it won't be over until February. It would be my first attempt to watch a longer drama as it's ongoing, not sure if I can handle it. lol
>I think I have noticed this before from your comments, but your watchlist is always amazing Thanks ❤️ (+for the tip for the extension). I've also noticed your comments/reviews in these threats, and they are always great to read and I really enjoy how you sum up your thoughts on the different dramas. They are always a lot more thought out than mine. GKW will also be the longest drama I've ever watched on-going, and I already know that I will fall behind due to Christmas and New Years
I just started writing it so that one day if I need to say why I liked or disliked a drama I know exactly what made me feel. At first it was hard to make it words, but now it feels more natural. But I always like to read your thoughts and they catch my eye because they are mostly of thrillers, which there is always less people watching them comparing to romcoms. You just reminded me of Christmas and New Year, all my watchlist will be a bit weird during those days, might pick just smaller dramas to watch and fit the timing constraints lol I also wonder if I can keep up excited with GKW through out that many months. lol Btw already watched the 2 episodes of **Vigilante**, so far I'm not impressed, I was hoping for more not sure why. The Killing Vote looks to be similar and something tells me it's way better.
I try to limit myself a bit to a few overall thoughts and 1 or 2 more in depth aspects or theories for on-going dramas. Depending on the drama I go into more detail for the ones I finished. Putting it into writing really helps me to order my thoughts a bit, and sometimes helps me umderstand why I liked or disliked things as well. I've also just watched the episodes of *Vigilante* and similiar to you I'm not impressed (I actually answered to your comment). There are similarities with *The Killing Vote* especially in regards to vigilante justice and how the society reacts to it. But there are key differences, especially because TKV has the overall mystery of who made the Killing Vote which ties into characters and their (shared) past. The directing, editing and especially Sound Design is leagues better as well.
Just saw it too. I will start **The Killing Vote** after I finish **Evilive** like you suggested. I doubt I will regret this two dramas, because from all the comments I saw the only complain about TKV is how the episodes take a long time to be released with all the interruptions.
My currently-watching list, as I have it in *Notes*: My Dearest, Part 2 (4/10) ⚔️💘 My Lovely Liar (16/16) 🎹 Fake It 'Til You Make It (12/14) 🏙️🌃 Grand Prince (16/20) 🤴 👸 The Legend of the Blue Sea 📿🌊(15/19) Parallel World (29/38) 🏜️ 🚙 My Lovely Boxer (10/12)🥊🍩 Joy of Life (23/46) A Dream of Splendour (19/40) 🌸 🫖 Live Your Own Life (14/50) 🏋️♂️🏃 A Good Day to Be a Dog (4/14) Perfect Marriage Revenge (4/12) 👰⛈️ The Matchmakers (3/16) 👘💞 Moon in the Day (3/14) 🌕 Young Actors' Retreat (7/8) 🏝️ Camping Vibes (11/12) 🏞️ 🏕️ My Journey to You/Cloud Feather/Half of Us (3/24) 🥷💕 (This is waiting for a month where there's less I want to watch, so I can pay for a discounted first month with iQiyi to watch the rest). But it's here to remind me. Lovely Liar had a lovely ending. Cute, satisfying show. Perfect Marriage Revenge and Moon in the Day are captivating, although I need to finish ongoing shows first! They're just too fun/good to leave til then... But the list will soon go down a chunk, with a few shows almost done.
Watching daily dose of sunshine and am enjoying it, missed my girl park bo young also I'm glad she's away from those fantasy type of drama's you usually does.
1. _DAILY DOSE OF SUNHSINE_ I like it a lot after episode 2, but it might be too heavy for me so I’m taking a break rn. I’m always scared of hospital dramas, reason why I missed on the masterpiece everyone love “hospital playlist”. I thought I’d watch psychiatrist instead but it’s not easier! 2. _MY DEAREST_ I don’t know if I will have the strength to finish this drama to be honest. I have a love hate relationship with it. Currently I love FL but characters like RE (the singer) annoy me so much. 3. _CASTAWAY DIVA_ that’s it. Best new airing drama for me so far. So excited about this weekends episode. The only flaw right now is >!the ki ho mistery that I don’t really care about!< I’m very interested about Mok Ha and Ran Joon relationship!
I try to ignore Ryang Eum, as he thinks he's more important than he is, and the main story is so good.
[удалено]
Do you mean the original Episode 6? On the island, during the invasion? The baby was the grand prince - the crown prince's son. I guess we just haven't seen him with them since.
I've started hanging out with my mom on the weekends and now we watch k-dramas together. I've been giving her recommendations since she kinda got into them recently. But this past week we watched Castaway Diva (4/12) for now and because the writers are the same I suggested she watch Start Up. We managed to binge the whole thing this past weekend and she really liked it. I've already seen Start Up like 2 (3?) times before but I told her how similar in tone the first episodes of that and Castaway Diva are (since it's the same writer) She ended up being team Nam Do-San and I'm so proud of her. On my own I'm realizing there are actually a few k-dramas on Hulu that I didn't know about (it's my friends account and I guess she has HBO integration or something) But currently waiting (on my own) What's Wrong With Secretary Kim since it's one of the classics (13/16) and it had a big influence on some more recent k-dramas I really liked (king the land, business proposal). Probably will end up watching Descendents of the Sun after that.
Other great K-Dramas on Hulu include Call It Love, Crazy Love, Moving, and The Worst of Evil.
I’m watching Save Me from 2016. It’s on Paramount+ here in the US. Soooo gripping. A bit slow. Has anyone else watched it??
I watched ***Time*** (2018) back in December 2021 and for the most part stopped watching much of anything (kdramas or anything else) after it. It was the viewing experience of viewing experiences for me. Went on a little trip for the past 2 weeks with an old friend who I haven't seen in \~6 years (did anyone else catch the g3 geomagnetic storm and the dazzling aurora lights this past week???? eeee!!!!) and... being as she loves me and she knew that I adore ***Time*** she said she'd try out her first kdrama and attempt the horrifying 16 hour kdrama commitment. \[\[aka: THE STRESS OF BEING WITH SOMEONE WHEN THEY WATCH THEIR FIRST KDRAMA AND WHEN THAT FIRST KDRAMA IS YOOO FAVVIEEEE!! \]\] Anyway. I love rewatching a favorite drama and feeling all over again how they continue to be so TIMELESS. And I love how each time you rewatch, you notice and soak it in totally differently. I think this is my 6th time watching Time? I feel like only on this watch was I able to revel in the brilliance and beauty of one of the characters. And it was fun watching it with new eyes through my friend and discussing the scenes and character traits that stood out to her. Since then, have been revisiting Choi Ho Chul's ( the screenwriter for Time) earlier work, ***Mask (2015).*** I have such a weak spot for this screenwriter and his incredulously (and rather hilariously) repetitive trilogy of dramas (Secret-2013, Mask-2015, Time-2018). # The guy has 1 PLOT STARTER. 1 MAKJANG STYLE. 1 CHAEBOL SETTING. 2 THEMES. 3 SYMBOLS. AND 4 MAIN CHARACTERS. And he just *milksssssss dattt* for three whole dramas. it's totally redonkulous. BUT I LOVE ITTTT. Aren't we all as humans the same? In the sense that hopefully, if we're lucky, we make a few meaningful observations about the world we live in and the value we can derive from existence, and spend the rest of our lives infinitely attempting to express those observations in words and live up to them in actions. So I find it so SO SO SO fun to have a screenwriter whose base "style" is *extreme* makjang and then on a meta level be able to watch such an EXTREME evolution of him hone his practice. All screenwriter's have a style and an evolution... but with Choi Ho Chul we literally get to watch him rewrite ***the same story*** **THREE TIMES** so he can get it right. Rewriting the same set up three times is on one hand such extreme un-creativity but also such extreme devotion to perfectly realizing one creative inspiration. And I applaud that kind of devotion and am so grateful he did it and professionally had the space to do it! BECAUSE TO ME- IT WORKED!!!!! I'll never be free of my "first exposure" bias with ***Time***. It's the first of the Choi trilogy I saw and so it set the mood and standard for me. And this will always unfairly weigh in on my preference for it out of the Choi trilogy... but.. I also just think it's the best of the trilogy as the #evolution theory suggests it would be ;) ;) :) Well, I'll qualify that statement a bit. ***Time*** to me clearly stands out in succeeding as a thematic piece of work. It's more than just a drama. While as a drama I might prefer ***Secret*** the most, ***Mask*** and ***Time*** feel like critical pieces in Choi working through how to make the basic drama premise of ***Secret*** into a larger thematic piece. And in ***Time*** he succeeds in doing so, without ever forgetting that he is first and foremost making an entertaining and well timed *drama* while doing so. Watching all three - it's feels apparent how each built off of the drama that preceded it. ***Mask*** developed and expanded from ***Secret***... and ***Time*** then came in and as I see it, is primarily a masterful tweaking of both. It's equal parts eye rolling shocking disbelief and total artistic euphoria to see how similar **Time** is to **Mask** and **Secret**... all the makjang but re-made into an artful thematic treatise where Confucianist, Daoist, Mohist, Mencist, and Christian thought continuously clash and mingle through tight nonstop dialogues of our four main characters-- each of whom rotate representing these philosophies as they crash and flow through their own stages of development. I've never felt so constantly THRILLED by dialogue as I was by the dialogue in ***Time***. While it's clearly an elaborate riff on the dialogues in ***Secret*** and ***Mask***, it's unbelievable to me what Choi does with dialogue in ***Time***. On the surface it was such enjoyable fast paced weekend family drama extravagance but it's mirror image was a haunting and gorgeous existentialist parable. Choi also takes the budding imagery and motifs he plays around with in ***Mask*** to some pretty poetic heights in ***Time***. Like the motif of water is taken from level 2 in ***Mask*** to level infinity and beyond extraaaaaaaa in ***Time*** *(but i was here for ittttt)* ***Time*** for me is such a unique piece of art. If we view ***Secret***, ***Mask***, and ***Time*** as a chronological set making up Choi's professional portfolio- we get an evolution of Choi making his "perfect" makjang. It's *brilliant* how with each successive attempt he developed his makjang into even more tight, entertaining, multifaceted character based motivations. The inverse is also impressive; in which the final work, ***Time*** is such a brilliant masterpiece of the genre because we get this incredible drama that translates "highbrow" themes, philosophies, and symbols into a living, breathing, bleeding, screaming MAKJANG. He makes some fairly profound life explorations *so entertaining.* The same ideas and messages in the hands of other screenwriters would have become a very esoteric, offputting, distant, probably slow and self important bloated piece. Makjang is so fun as a genre because it can be so \*@\*#)\*(@)( subversive in the sense that since everyone is in on the joke - that we all know this is all INSANE, BEYOND ALL LOGIC, AND UNREAL- the genre can travel to some pretty profound places without losing its energy and relatability in a way that I think other genres can't touch or attempt. Somehow the genre can make you cry and humorously wink all in the same moment too. Also just CHECK OUT HOW [PRETTY](https://streamable.com/k8i95?src=player-page-share) THIS DRAMA IS AESTHETICALLYYYYYY (I think the camera work on this one is definitely a league above the others but that's just part of the general leap forward that kdramas made around 2016 in the quality of their cinematography and post production) Also. The [soundtrack](https://open.spotify.com/track/3FH8kSLI093cOuAFHDfFAi?si=4f3eef725bda493b). Is done by the legendary Jung Se Rin. \-- it's of course not without it's weaknesses. most tragically, we don't ever find out how Choi Ho Chul originally intended to conclude "his more (dare i say *most*? hehe) perfected third makjang" since the Kim Jung Hyun situation and fall out forced the drama's final 1/4 to be last minute rewritten. I still liked *a lot* of the elements of the last minute rewrites -- but the pacing of the character dynamics noticeably drag and the dialogue quality plateaus when the drama had been so markedly *stellar* at keeping everything so volatile yet fresh and clean cut up until the emergency rewrites. \-- NEWAYZ. my once every full moon love rant for ***Time***. ;) (otherwise known as "a not so subtle prayer circle for the Choi Ho Chul fans amongst us." Goodness. What I wouldn't give to win an afternoon coffee chat with this dude. I'd LOVE to talk to him about his dramas.)
This is offtopic but I used to read your comments on My Dearest & realized you deleted all of them? May I ask why LOL. I mean I got disconnected from it through the second season even though I had fallen for the show like no other when season 1 was running after a long time of abandoning dramas. Was curious if it was the same for you
- my dearest (17/21). This is so good and unless things get crazy, I think it’s going to replace the red sleeve as my top drama. - moon in the day (2/16). I’m not a huge fan of Kim young dae (not that I dislike him). His smoldering look here though, wow. - a good day to be a dog (2/14). First webtoon I finished before watching the drama so it’s weird seeing it play out. I loved the webtoon though so as long as it sticks to that, I’m sure I’ll like it too. It just seems a bit stiff and awkward at times. That said, I think the fl is so cute. I’m going to have to check out more of her work. It’s surprising because I usually only do that with the mls. - zombie detective (5/24). All I can think about when I see the ml is “neighborhood oppa.” It’s my first time seeing the fl outside of the forbidden marriage and I can’t help but think she’s kind of similar here (mannerisms wise). - love to hate you (6/10). Rocky start for me but I’m loving it now. It’s going by too fast!
I finally got myself a Viki subscription and watched While You Were Sleeping. OH. My. GOD! So, so good! The premise of lives connected by the gratitude of someone whose life has been saved to help the one who saved them is lovely. The cameos (Kang Ki Young, Kim So Hyun, Lee Sung Kyung, Lee Jae Won..) are a testament to the writing and the quality of acting from leads to extras. Suzy, Lee Jong Suk, Jung Hae In are a fantastic love triangle. The journalist, policeman and DA all working together to protect each other and justice. And watching crises get averted, characters grow smarter, stronger and happier. It's everything I love about KDramas.
Uncontrollably Fond ( gone through lots of Kleenex), Dr. Cha
So late to the game but I'm loving twinkling watermelon!!!! Catching up this weekend before next week's final episodes! It's so heart warming lovely and has all the right tones for the themes. Others im working on - [x] 1/16 Castaway diva - [x] 6/10 part 2 of my dearest - [x] 2/12 The Worst Evil - [x] 4/14 a good day to be a dog Others I want to start soon when I got some time: Doona! Matchmakers Daily dose of sunshine
twinkling watermelon
I’m watching 3 ongoing kdramas at the moment: 1/ **Twinkling Watermelon** is approaching the finish line and it’s so good!! I didn’t even plan to watch it originally (the title sounds like a cheesy romcom 😭😂), but it ended up being one of my favs this year!! The themes of family, friendship, coming of age and youth reminds me of Reply 1988, one of the best kdramas of all time imo. The comedy and music is great, the characters are soo lovely!! The main couples are so cute they got me giggling!!! Can’t wait to see the finale (will be crying buckets 😭😭)!! 2/ **Moon In The Day** is so far so good!! I love sageuk and reincarnation stories so this is right up my alley. I’ve watch both Kim Youngdae and Pyo Yejin in sageuks before so it’s a nice pairing! So far seems like it’ll be sad ending but the enemies to lovers dynamic is eating!!! The tension, the angst, the longing!! I’m reading the webtoon and it’s pretty different but i’m interested to know if they’ll follow through with the SE or offer a less angsty ending. 3/ **The Matchmakers** is a romcom sageuk. So far it’s been really chill in turns of conflicts, mostly comedy and the romance is romancing! I love a feel good drama with costumes so this is great. Plus Rowoon alone is his own plot 🤪🤪. Even though the plot is pretty basic, it’s a fun drama to entertain after a long day! I’m also watching an old one: **Moon Embracing The Sun**. I’m on a sageuk phase and after the other 3 ongoing dramas run out of new eps i’ve decided to watch an old one haha!! Looks like better prospects of happy ending and I love me a Kim Yoojung drama (even though she’s a kid here haha).
Just completed twinkling watermelon today (itsssss soooo goooooodd) Watching sungkyuwan scandal also (Kinda okayish) 100 days my prince at last second episode …. Enjoyed it but now feels like I wasted time it ain’t that special A good day to be a dog also (Waiting for it’s episodes is too 😂 annoying yaar will drop it nd watch it in a single sitting after it completes) Starting 7 days princess / queen for 7 days today ( scarlet heart ryeo moon lovers is my fav drama but I can’t rewatch it 🥺 one watch is enough ! soooo read reviews that this drama is similiar to moonlovers nd on episode 1) Dropped doona , couldn’t last a single episode of strong girl namaoon 🥲
Strong Girl NamSoon,Perfect Marriage Revenge,Elegant Empire and might start Third Marriage