K drama List Part 6

Long time not writing about K drama (Lies!). It seems my speed of watching K drama is faster than my speed of writing it. Ha ha ha...  I'll try to catch up what I have left off. The big game changing from the last year is the foray of many big streaming and production companies into K drama like Netflix, Disney, and Apple. It really alters the K drama landscape. Some are good, some are not so. But always open for the changes because the only things that is constant is the change itself. To be constantly good, thing must constantly change. LOL

Dr. Brain

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 6 episodes

Genre: Sci-fi, thriller

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Lee Sun-kyun, Lee Yoo Young, Park Hee Soon, Seo Ji Hye

sPlotlight:

I think it is one of the 1st attempt from Apple into K drama production (?) The drama itself looks slick, moody, with good cinematography. But.... the writing is not that good. I always think that sci-fi is not K drama's best forte.  This is the example, it always almost, but never get there into one true sci-fi drama. This is the story about Lee Sun-kyun as scientist who tries looking into other people's memory especially dead ones or other things because he also tries looking into animal's memory. Crazy, I mean are they sure animals looking things the same way as humans looking things? That's where the plot is falling apart. This drama is forgettable. 

Grid

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2022

Episode: 10 episodes

Genre: Sci-fi, mystery 

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Seo Kang-joon, Kim Ah-joong, Kim Mu-yeol, Lee Si-young

sPlotlight:

Finally, K drama that looks like a true sci-fi genre. I can't say it is good, it is not perfect with many plot holes. It is little bit confusing on the way the plot pan out, but at least it gets the basic right. Time doesn't flow, everybody! Get used to it. The old, the present, the future you exist at the same "time". You just change the coordinate. I still doesn't get what is the different with this block universe theory with the parallel universe theory. So the "present" things that Sae-ha (Seo Kang-joon) wants to change happens because the fact that the "present" Sae-ha travels travels into the "past" with all the considerations. He may/can change this in the "past" but what he does also may/can change other factors that makes the "present" things in the way it always is. Confuse yet? So I am.  What I like from this drama is that it doesn't suddenly give the simples and stupidest resolution at the end or offer some K drama tropes. I think it will be a 2nd seasons. 

Happiness 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 12 episodes

Genre: Zombie thriller, romance, friend-to-lover

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Park Hyung-shik, Han Hyo-joo

sPlotlight:

This has the most kick-assed OTP that I have ever seen for a long time in K drama. I love their marriage for convenience. It seems so cool just like them. If I marry someone someday, convenience has to be the 1st priority (since I don't believe in love that much, r-u-n-a-w-a-y🏃). LOL. I think it is genius to merge the zombie flick and friend-to-lover romance plus forced cohabitation tropes. How this has never been thought before? Park Hyung-shik is one of the actors who master "the eye acting" (so believable) when he looks at his FLs in dramas but it just doesn't work at Soundtrack #1 with Han Soo-hee. Wonder why.

Soundtrack #1
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2022
Episode: 4 episodes
Genre: Romance, friend-to-lover
Rating: 3/5
Actors: Park Hyung-shik, Han Soo-hee
sPlotlight:
I think it is better if Disney released it sometime later, because Park Hyung-shik just came off from drama Happiness which although with different genre but has the same drama trope which is friend-to-lover. I am not ready to jump the ship which is a better ship. The OTP doesn't even look like they have been known for years when they are living together, so uncomfortable around each other. The dialog is nothing to write home about. Han Soo-hee looks like she is playing something that not her self. Bubbly, happy-go-lucky character sure doesn't suit her or she still has many things to improve in acting department, so young and pretty. 

It starts from here 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

K drama List Continue 5

Welcome June! Year why so fast? On the middle of the 2021, when we finally saw some light at the end of the tunnel for Corona virus pandemic. Then after quarantine and devastating pandemic some people are not learning about the precious of human life, to have freedom and have the ones you love around you. They start to bomb and kill each other, seconds they are free from the quarantine. Only fools who don't learn from the disaster they have been through. See what happen? Corona virus second wave. Dun, dun, dun... 

And from the drama land the news that worth noting is the pull down Joseon exorcist from airing. Tsk tsk tsk. What is the different netizen's censorship compare to government censorship? If keep getting happening it will hurt you in the long run, K drama! If you think something wrong with it fix it, not destroy it. I mourn for Joseon exorcist like I mourn over every loss of form of art. 

Bossam: Steal the Fate

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 20 episodes 

Genre: Sageuk, Romance

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Jung Il-woo, Kwon Yuri

sPlotlight:

I really like the first half of the drama. They really utilized all the things that only can be done in sageuk drama to the max. The balance between commoner’s everyday life mundane problems and the history context of palace intrigue is superb. But the balance is screwed in the latter half tiptoeing to more political side. The romance lost its spark. Not good. Writer-nim have the fans told you about the tendency of sageuk drama that is better to be avoided? It could be deserved the 5/5 rating but alas. Yuri’s acting as Joseon upright princess is great! 

Kingdome: Ashin of The North

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 1 episode

Genre: Zombie, Sageuk

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Jun Ji-hyun, Park Byung-eun

sPlotlight:

Dark… literally ha ha ha…. Revenge is a dish best served cold. Can’t wait Jung Hyun-jin X Bae Dona in Kingdom season 3. 

Love (ft. Marriage & Divorce) season 1
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2021
Episode: 16 episodes
Genre: Marital affair, drama
Rating: 4/5
Actors: Sung Hoon, Lee Ga-Ryeong, Lee Tae-Kon, Park Joo-Mi, Jeon No-Min, Jeon Soo-Kyeong
sPlotlight:
Swear God every character in this drama annoyed me sans the children. But I CAN’T stop watching. The writer tries to rationalize reason behind why people cheating. It takes two to tango is all that I can say. Me and dark comedy is best friend.

Love (ft. Marriage & Divorce) season 2

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Makjang drama, Affair

Rating: 4.5/5

Actors: Sung Hoon, Lee Ga-Ryeong, Lee Tae-Kon, Park Joo-Mi, Jeon No-Min, Jeon Soo-Kyeong

sPlotlight:

While so it is so incoherent, absurd, random and the writer seems likely having flight of ideas. This is so entertaining. This is comedy! Funny without trying to be funny. High chance the writer is a mistress or has experience as mistress. Ha ha ha. Season 3 even for just watching the cheaters and homewreckers got some comeuppance. Hah

Luca: The Beginning 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 12 episodes

Genre: Sci-fi, mystery 

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Kim Rae-won, Lee Da-hee 

sPlotlight:

This is also one of the sci-fi drama wannabe. Zi-O (Kim Rae-won) is a product from human genetic engineering. He has super power (electric shock notwithstanding like electric eel 😄), doesn't have a long term memory so he can be easily manipulated and has zero emotion or looks like having zero emotion. He was programmed as super soldier but then ends up as a leader of religion cult (using his electric ability as prophetic proof). But then he falls in love with a woman (Lee Da-hee) as predicted in K drama and has a baby with her. He runs away (to be a shepherd😅I know, you can laugh it off) with her and the cult kidnap her and their baby. And you know what the next and the next plot is. Kind of predictable but I like it how they use all the potentials to be a good drama even if the execution is not that good. All in all, I just want to comb Kim Rae-won's hair but too bad, the drama end too early. Maybe it will be at ep 16 he will have decent haircut. Girl can dream. 

Mad For Each Other

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 13 episodes

Genre: Psychological, Romance, Comedy

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Jung Woo, Oh Yeon-Seo

sPlotlight:

I appreciate how they don’t make love as the cure for their Psychological problems. It is their individual effort that make their condition better. They are good together like they are good being apart. This is not some dramas that promote toxic relationship in which one have to be perfectly normal while the other have the right to be completely crazy. Even watching those dramas tire me out already. Ha ha  

On The Verge of Insanity

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Workplace drama

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Jung Jae-Young, Moon So-Ri, Lee Sang-Yeob

sPlotlight:

I hate "dramas" in my own work related stuffs, in real life. If I smell it, I run as far and as fast as possible. LOL. So watching this drama is kind of riveting in weird way. The humors are there. The script is tight. It is kind of fun looking into backstage manufacture of electronic home appliances in said company like Samsung and LG. Jung Jae-young's character is a cool home appliance engineer like Lee Sun-kyun's civil engineer character in My Ahjusssi. I feel like I learn something new everyday watching this kind of dramas. LOL

Spies That Loved Me

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 16 episodes 

Genre: Romance 

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Eric Moon, Yoo Inna, Lim Ju‑hwan

sPlotlight:

Every one has a bad hair day, from Yoo Inna obvious hair extension, Eric old fashion fluffy hair style, till over-blown Lim Ju‑hwan’s hair. She shouldn’t end up with any of these two men for more satisfying ending. Ha ha ha 

Taxi Driver

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Revenge drama, Action, thriller

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Lee Je-hoon, Esom

sPlotlight:

The three first episodes are working because the use cases based on the real life event that currently trending bullying at school and office, and spreading porn videos that are taken illegally, but after that the cases becomes usual, not interesting enough. And again, what is the point in life if it is all about revenge? The best revenge is by living well. 

Times

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 12 episodes

Genre: Thriller, Mystery, time travel 

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Lee Seo-jin, Lee Joo-Young

sPlotlight:

You know I love Lee Seo-jin, I have the urge to finish this because I just watched Lee Seo-jin’s New York, New York with Na PD’s camaraderie . It is use handphone as tools to break time continuum. Not like Signal which I LOVE so much, this feels underwhelming. Maybe because I don’t like drama about politics. Or the unclear mechanism how and why there’s disruption in the cosmic that made them connect to each other. What do you mean, Pohophee? Saving each other life wasn’t enough?? Hmmm…..

Timing 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 4 episodes (@12 minutes)

Genre: Melo romance

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Han Bo Reum, Yoon Jong Hoon

sPlotlight:

I see the potential to be great and poignant with the concept but the flaws are in the script. The conversation is dull. The directional work is mediocre. I know it is written by Kim Ji-seok and Yoo In Young, the actors, so yeah acceptable for the first try.  

Vincenzo

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 20 episodes

Genre: Revenge drama, comedy

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Song Jong-ki, Jeon Yeo-Bin, Taecyeon

sPlotlight:

I don’t like its over the top brand of comedy. I don’t like Jeon Yeo-bin’s brand of acting here. A hint of subtlety will be good for her and for the drama. Because the main sole purpose of this drama is revenge, I feel the drama lost its soul to the God of revenge in the middle of its episodes. What’s the point of life if it is all about revenge? 

Youth of May

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2021

Episode: 12 episodes 

Genre: Retro, Melodrama

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Lee Dong-hyun, Go Min-Si, Lee Sang-Yi

sPlotlight:

I don’t know why the female lead character and male character are pissed me off. She recognized the risk but still complained when it happens to her. You said you are okay with the risk honey! He is so selfish, asking her to sacrifice her dream and future just to be with him, and being whiney when she had a thought about it! Boy you ruin her future! I hate you for it, she should fly to German, studies and has a great future bleh. Look what you have done.

It starts from here 1, 2, 3, 4

Random TOP Ten Dramas

I should make this from long time ago. To make it easier when giving recommendation. Lets start the new year with this for 2021 be a good year for drama lovers all around the world.

From observation, no emmm confession of K drama addict 😜, K drama fans pick their drama to watch more base on their favorite genres and tropes than other people recommendation or even thing named rating. After pooling dramas from their favorite genres, they mostly will consider other people opinion, well other K drama fans more likely, on those dramas and then tada they come up with their last choice. There're probably argument on fans' site about which drama is better and which deserves or doesn't deserve their rating. But the drama rating itself won't affect much on them picking the next drama to watch, well at least for me. 

There is of course exclusion, a drama that is received good review from many K drama fans even when the drama itself is not in their favorite genre. It is rare, maybe one drama a year, I can name few (Signal, Secret Forest, Misaeng). Even when its conventional rating from  AGB Nielsen or TNmS is not as high as it deserves, usually this kind of drama making riffles in K drama universe, and K drama fans may check the drama regardless its genre. But... as I said it before, it is not the 1st consideration when K drama fans choose a drama to watch. And you know what the other factor that propel K drama fans based on their choices in watching certain drama.... It is the actor starring in the drama. It may sound superficial, but it is what it is.   

There're factors to be considerated when drama fans picking what drama to watch next. It is completely different with many aspects how a person, especially drama fans, can finish whole 16 or even hundred drama episodes. It is more complicated because it involves whole lot of investment from the most precious thing called Time and also emotion. This is why we got so mad when a writer ruins a drama when it is almost halfway to the end. Because we have already invested too much then it comes to nothing. I know there's freedom of a writer to take whatever she/he wants the plot going but still...

And the last the reason behind one's favorite drama and drama genre. This is another whole different game which I can write long flowy essay over it. LOL. I'll keep it short here. What drama and what genre that become one's favorite can reflect the inner turmoil of that person, someone's personality or what values one person hold dear. Perhaps it reflects  someone's life aspiration. You probably know what kind of person I am and even know what I do in my real life even before I tell you what it is based on my favorite drama genre or my comment over certain dramas. 

Before my memory gives up on me. Lets make this list. It probably changes over the year but what you have up loaded in www will remain, LOL. Be Careful, Stay Cautious. 

My Top Ten dramas (will be up dated over the years):

1. Alone in Love 

2. Secret Forest season 1

3. A Wife's Credential 

4. Hotaru No Hikari season 1 and 2

5. Signal

6. Answer Me 1997

7. Deserter Pursuit 

8. Cruel City

9. In Time With You

10. Ten Miles of Peach Blossoms

You can guess my favorite genre. I love Friend-Turn-To-Lover trope, it is my comfort drama. I like romance story that's not taking the center stage. Couple reunion theme also is my favorite. I like conflicted relationship but the irony I like the part of comfortable relationship from friend-turn-to-lover trope. I like thriller and mysteries with heart and love to jazz it up. I don't like rom com but LOVE dark comedy with social commentary. Life is sometimes like a really bad joke. It often forces me to laugh even if I don't want to. It is full of irony, paradox, and the real dark comedy, I don't need a rom com to make me laugh. It is what Life taught me. Ha, ha, ha.

So, I may make up something about myself unconsciously, but I'm always true about my favorite drama genres, tropes and my favorite dramas. 😄 I can't give you a good recommendation on rom com drama because it is not my favorite genre. The same is with school drama or medical drama, I tend to avoid them so. It will feel like I'm lying. LOL. For some many times people come with the question: Hey give me the recommendation drama with time travel theme, or friend-turn-to-lover drama or drama with this trope and that trope. Those tropes might induce eye rolls but we love what we love.

Friend-turn-to-lover (Represent everything I can not have. Hah! How honest!):

1. 9 End 2 Outs

2. Answer Me 1997

3. Unfamiliar Family

4. In times with You

5. 20th Century Boy and Girl

6. I Need A Romance 2 

7. You Drive Me Crazy

8. Happiness

Couple Reunion (Because there's someone whom I also wish returning) 

1. Winter Sonata 

2. Alone in Love

3. I have A Lover

4. Can’t Lose

5. Traces of Loves 

6. Emergency Couple

7. Paradise Ranch

8. My Beloved Summer

Marriage contract (The best way to start a relationship)

1. Sweet 18/Little Bride

2. Marriage Contract

3. Goong/ Princess Hours

4. Full House

5. Bride of the Century

6. Because This is My First Life

Forced cohabitation (There're always ways to stay together)

1. Full House 

2. Last Scandal of My Life

3. My Girl

4. Oh My Ghostess

5. Oh My Lady

6. Personal Taste

7. Wish Upon a Star/Stars Falling From the Sky

Physiological drama (A way to breach therapist - patient relationship) 

1. It's Okay, It's Love

2. Heart to Heart

3. Dr. Frost

4 Mad For Each Other

 

50 and more episodes drama (To tear your eyeballs out and rolling)

1. I Have A Lover

2. All that Glitters

3. Giants

4. Once Again

5. Ohjakgyo Brothers

Sageuk (The best way to learn Korean history)

1. Jewel in The Palace

2. Princess' Man

3. Kingdom season 1/2

4. Sungkyunkwan Scandal

5. Joseon X files

6. The Red Sleeves

7. Bossam

Book lover theme (A way to integrate the 2 hobbies):

1. Coffee House

2. Chicago Typewriter

3. The Tale of Bookworm

4. All That Glitters 

5. Tree with Deep Root

Time travel/Parallels universe/Time-bending device (How to cheat time and space continuum): 

1. Signal (walkie talkie) 

2. Kairo (mobile phone)

3. Tomorrow with you (train)

4. Nine: Nine Time Travels (incense)

5. Train (train) 

6. Tunnel (tunnel)

Thriller (Catch Me If You Can):

1. Signal

2. Tunnel

3. Sweet Home

4. Ten season 1 /  2

5. Nine: Nine Times Time Travel

6. Vampire Prosecutor season 1 / 2

7. Juvenile Justice

Friendship (I don't know how other people do it or to keep one is my reason to watch.):

1. Answer Me 1997/1994/1988

2. Sungkyungkwan scandal

3. Hospital Playlist 

4. Age of Youth season 1/2

5. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

6. You Are Beautiful

7. Drink Now, Work Later

Family drama (The better it gets, the more the unfamily woman in me want a family for herself):

1. Once Again

2. Unfamiliar Family

3. Ohjakgyo Brothers

4. 18 Again

5. Wish Upon a Star/Stars Falling From the Sky

Melodrama (Melo is my nature):

1. Will It Snow For Christmas?

2. Autumn in My Heart

3. Can You Hear My Heart?

4. It's Okay, It's Love

5. That winter, The Wind Blows

Office drama (Fun to watch, avoid like a plague IRL):

1. Misaeng

2. Argon

3. The Good Wife

4. Diary of a Prosecutor

5. Money Game

6. On The Verge of Insanity 

Solitude/City Life (A friend for our lonely heart):

1. Alone in Love

2. Drinking Solo

3. Lets Eat 1/2

4. Individualist Ms. Ji-young

5. The Man Who Can't Get Married

Drama with specific profession that I just got to know (The grass is always greener on the other side): 

1. My Ahjussi (Civil engineer)

2. Start Up (Start Up Investor) 

3. Your House Helper (House Helper) 

4. Discovery of Love (Sound director) 

5. Be Melodramatic (Marketing agent responsible for PPL in drama. LOL)

6. On The Verge of Insanity (Home electronic appliances development engineer)  

Makjang For The Win:

1. A World of Married

2. I Have A lover

3. Woman of Dignity 

4. Misty

5. Thorn Bird

6. Love Ft Marriage and Divorce

Food porn (Stay hungry, keep watching dramas)

1. Lets Eat

2. Drinking Solo

3. Jewel in the palace

4. Sweet Munchies 

5. Warm and Cozy

6. Wok of Love

AI (Wish it available for general public with all my capitalist heart):

1. My Holo Love (AI glasses)

2. A Piece of your Mind (AI sound recorder) 

3. Memory of Alhambra (AI virtual reality game)

4. Start Up (AI speaker and app for the blind) 

Rom-com (Dramas are not made to be believable):

1. Can We Get Married

2. Coffee Prince

3. Marriage, Not Dating

4. Full House

5. Secret Garden

6. Descendant of The Sun

7. Crash Landing on You

Rivalry (The best plan to take down our worst best enemy):

1. Cinderella's Sister

2. All about Eve

3. Woman of Dignity 

4. All That Glitters

5. Bride of the Century

Coming of Age (The pain of growing up): 

1. Extracellular

2. Page Turner 

3. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo

4. Age of Youth 

Growing old up: 

1. Dal Ja's Spring

2. Second to The Last Love

3. Twenty Again/Second Time Twenty Years Old

4. 18 Again

5. My Ajusshi

The 5 stars dramas (Perhaps not my fave because it does not belong to my favorite genre but it should be given a medal or something.):

1. Signal

2. Misaeng

3. My Ahjussi

4. Forest of Secrets season 1

5. Kingdom season 1/2

K Drama List Continue 4

Already November weee.... Rain season has already arrived here. Just less than 2 months before the year of 2020 ends. I guess probably many are wishing this year ends soon for all the bad things that have already happened in 2020. Covid 19 pandemic has not yet seen the light of the day. But nothing stop K drama machine God to bestow us with many K dramas to endure this time of the year. So thank you K drama God for staying with us and making quarantine time bearable. Gamsahamidaaaaa...... 🙇

18 Again
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2020
Episode: 16 episodes
Genre: Family, Romance, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
Actors: Kim Ha-neul, Lee Do-hyun, Yoon Sang-hyun
sPlotlight:
I think 2020 is the year that breaks my stigma that K drama is bad in doing a remake. 18 Again and World of Married are remarkable. 18 Again is great in capturing the important of family without losing its foot on the value in Asian family and the problem faced by Asian society in general. And somehow the romance between Kim Ha-neul and Lee Do-hyun doesn't seem so squeaky. I like it when she treats him as a teenage who has a crush on her and she is the one who is responsible to shut it down because she is the adult one. It isn’t like that A*** that didn’t know how to handle good romance. Bleh. And… Lee Do-hyun should be got the rookie of the year award. He’s just amazing. I’m looking forwards for his future project. 

Awaken
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2020
Episode: 16 episodes
Genre: Thriller, Mystery
Rating: 3/5
Actors: Namkoong Min, Seol Hyun, Lee Chung-Ah
sPlotlight:
This is somehow reminding me The Reminds of The Day from Kazuo Ishiguro. In the quest of inventing new kind of human species, that can live forever without getting old and can heal every time she/he gets injured, they do anything in their disposal. But the question is why they want so much to live forever, when they are looked so dissatisfied about their life? Why trying so hard to hold on something that you are not happy with? Is everything you do worth the effort? I don’t know if the writer just tries to brush it off to sell the end message of she/he just doesn’t get it? Dislike the hinted romance between Namgoong Min and Seol Hyun here, ruins the mood of the drama.

Graceful Friends 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 17 episodes

Genre: Friendship, Mystery 

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Yoo Jun-Sang, Song Yoon-A, Kim Sung-Oh, Bae Soo-Bin

sPlotlight:

I didn’t anticipate every new episode but I ended up enjoying the episodes. Watching Song Yoon-ah and Yoo Jun-sang’s character boasting about how perfect their life or up standing their characters are, makes me want more their life to crumble. Ha ha ha. I guess it is like looking at card pyramid that somehow making me feel the urge to kick it and watch it crumble wk wk wk. And the ending message doesn’t settle with me well, it is like saying it is okay to do the dirty things they did because the are MEN. Like huh?? Who are they to make them feel so privileged? Effect of growing up in male chauvinist country?? 

Hospital’s Playlist
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2020
Episode: 12 episodes
Genre: Slice of Life, Medical
Rating: 4/5
Actors: Jeon Mi-do, Jo Jung-seok, Yoo Yeon-seok, Jung Kyung-ho
sPlotlight:
Medical drama is always the least in my favorite K drama list. So, seeing this drama here with good rating is an accomplishment in itself. LOL. Never like how drama romanticize doctor's life. If you think being a doctor is cool from watching drama and thinking to become one because of it. Think again: Being cool doesnt make anyone graduate from medical school and endure the long hardship of medical life. Watching these young doctors who are already at the top of hospital hierarchy while spend their times playing music, gossiping and dating me CAN’T RELATE. LOL

Into the Ring/Memorials 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Romance comedy, politic 

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Park Sung-hoon, Nana

sPlotlight:

The OTP are both so weird and soo cute. Me Likely!! So, mesmerized with Park Sung-hoon’s big pretty eyes. Love how they dressed his character as civil servant. 

Kingmaker: The change of the destiny 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 17 episodes

Genre: Sageuk, history, romance 

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Park Si-Hoo, Ko Sung-Hee

sPlotlight:

This is the reason why I hesitate to start investing my time watching sageuk drama. First, it tends to have more episodes. Second, although it can start with the potential to have tragic but good romance, it may end up like watching snooze fest of people drinking tea or having confrontational meeting, talking about palace politic that I don’t care about. 

Mr. Queen

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 20 episodes 

Genre: Sageuk, Romance, Comedy

Source: Go Princess Go by Xian Chen

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Shin Hye-Sun, Kim Jung-Hyun

sPlotlight:

The highlight of this drama is its comedy though it is not my type of comedy, else is rather boring. Shin Hye-sun has a knack for comedy. Well she is great in everything ha ha ha. She is love, a wholesome actor. And I don’t get the romance, so is the king falling in love with the real queen or the man who comes from the future to occupy the queen’s body?? 

Once Again

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 50 episodes

Genre: Family drama, Romance 

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Lee Min-jung, Lee Sang-yeob, 

sPlotlight:

I enjoy all through the drama episodes. Though the ending is too neat and with all the joining knots is not my cup of tea. I love the Yoon family, the two brothers and their mom, such a hoot! 

\

Private Lives

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Action, Crime, Romance 

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Go Kyung-pyo, Seohyun, 

sPlotlight:

I was expecting kind of conflicted romance like in Cruel City, but…. It just didn’t meet the expectation. It was kind of awkward to watch a husband and wife calling each other with -ssi in this. I mean I watched a lot of K dramas for years, I don’t why the -ssi in this drama makes the characters seem distant while they are supposed to be a husband and wife who love each other. Is it the actors? I should watch more K drama then to understand the meaning behind -ssi suffix 😂. And WHY they have to dress Seohyun’s like a K pop girl group’s member, I know she is one, but not in the drama. Bleh. Bad fashion hurts my eyes. LOL 

Search

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 10 episodes 

Genre: Thriller, Mystery 

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Jang Dong-yoon, Krystal Jung, Yoon Park, Yeon Woo-jin

sPlotlight:

If you can handle the cuteness of Jang Dong-yoon who plays with Dog, weee…. 🐕🐕 Krystal’s resting bitch face is perfect for stoic and practical female soldier role. No matter how small the role is, Yeon Woo-jin always makes his role memorable, waiting for his come back as a male lead. And not to forget Yoon Park is in due time for a lead role, K drama Gods! Make it happen. 

Secret Forest/Stranger season 2

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 16 episodes

Genre: Police procedural, Law 

Rating: 3.5/5

Actors: Jo Seung-Woo, Bae Doo-Na, Lee Joon-Hyuk

sPlotlight:

Too procedural for my liking. In season 1, I was so invested into the characters especially Hwang Shi-mok, not just the plot. The season 2 is so plot driven, I don’t care what happen to the characters. Just because the audience have already known the characters then the drama can stop investing in their development. They can lose their job, got killed, kidnapped, who the hell I care? What is good in K drama is when there’s character development. When it is trying to be what it is not… Well goodbye, I'll watch Hollywood instead. Thanks for 2nd season, now I am ready to let this drama go. 

Start-Up

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 16 episodes 

Genre: Romance, Family

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Nam Joo-hyuk, Bae Suzy, Kim Seon-ho

sPlotlight:

This is more than just about love triangle; it is about sailing without a map. I’m with Do san (Nam Ji-hyuk). The regret of not doing is worse than the regret of doing then failing. Regradless, I LOVE Han Ji-pyeong (Kim Seon-ho). Despite all the hardship he faced during his childhood somehow, he’s still growing up to be a great person. He’s not trying to get revenge to the world, nor he wants anybody else experience the way he did. He wants things be better. He is not being bitter about everything, instead he learns what is worth in life and what is not. And thanks to Han Ji-pyeong I find new crush Kim Seon-ho oppa! Oppa lets say many thanks Park Hye-ryun writer nim for giving you such wholesome character and let us meet in this life time. 🙇

Sweet Home

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 10 episodes 

Genre: Psychological, Monster, Thriller 

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Lee Jin-wook, Lee Do-hyun, Kim Gab-soo, Song Kang, Lee Si‑young

sPlotlight:

I like it when the monster is not just monster but represent the psychological side of the human from whom it comes from. Monster that is just being a monster is not that scary, what scarier is monster in the shape of human! Ha, ha, ha. And how they made we are rooting for every character. Wah. Can’t wait for season 2!

The Cursed

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 12 episodes 

Genre: Thriller

Rating: 3/5

Actors: Uhm Ji-Won, Sung Dong-Il

sPlotlight:

The idea is making an app that can make your curse to your opponent happen. (Interserting idea). To make it so the app developer siding with the devil, making offering etc. At the end you just want to stop cursing people freely because your guilty feeling when you know your curse might come true. 

Traces of Love 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 1 episodes KBS drama special 

Genre: Romance 

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Lee Sang-yeob, Lee Yoo-young

sPlotlight

Why Lee Yoo-young is so cute doing drunk scenes?? Now I see the charm of Lee Sang-yeob after Once Again, I’m expecting his future projects. I love couple reunion trope PERIOD. Hah! 

Train 

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2020

Episode: 12 episodes

Genre: Police, Parallel Universe, Mystery 

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Yoon Si-Yoon, Kyung Soo-Jin

sPlotlight:

Maybe the good rating comes from because it was aired around the same time with The king: Eternal Monarch which is disaster. I love The Consistency and how he chooses to keep parallel universe travel only to meet the love of his life. I would if I could hah! 

When I Was the Most Beautiful
Country: South Korea
Released year: 2020
Episode: 16 episodes
Genre: Melodrama
Rating: 3/5
Actors: Lim Soo-Hyang, Ji Soo, Ha Seok-Jin
sPlotlight:
It is one of the dramas that mark 2020 as the year of awkward romance. Does too long quarantine time give people weird idea? I mean pinning over your brother’s wife for years just…………….. Or maybe me is the type of one in comfortable relationship LOL 

You Drive Me Crazy

Country: South Korea

Released year: 2018

Episode: 4 episodes (@30 minutes)

Genre: Friend-to-lover, Romance

Rating: 4/5

Actors: Kim Seon-ho, Lee Yoo-young

sPlotlight:

This is a friend-to-lover drama done right! What is not to love?? Lee Yoo-young is so cutee… Kim Seon-ho is… I just can’t get enough of him after Start Up. This should be 16-episode drama with 1 hour length. Go for it MBC! Bring the rating back to your station! Ha, ha, ha.  

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