Petty Reasons To Drop Drama List

I have no qualm in dropping dramas. I have watched many dramas, I have dropped many more. I don't want to pretend I am the most credible and seasoned drama fan to make review or comment about drama. Watching drama should be kept fun, light and simple. I know I got the tendency to over think a drama, but deep down inside I just want to watch, hang out, chill, and have fun. So these are the list of some petty, shallow, non sensical reasons for me to drop drama. None of these dramas, I have watched till the last episode. I have no right to give them over all rating. But I have no regret, no guilty feeling, or making any attempt to pick them up again. So here they are (will be updated)...

Feeling

Country: South Korea

Released Year: 1994

Attempted episode: 4 episodes 

Genre: Romance, drama

Actors: Lee Jung-jae

Petty reason:

I tried to watch it long time ago. Twice. Because I just watched Ilmare which I adore. And Javabeans and Girlfriday were so gushing over this drama. They even made an effort to sub this drama for free. How could I resist the temptation? But guess what the reason I dropped the drama after episode 4? Lee Jung-jae's pimples.....

I know I get used to with today flawless actors' face. Camera filter, computer editing program, up to date make up concealer and foundation,  modern dermatologist technique do help. But..... I dont ask for perfection like show skin with no pores (seriously guys) or actors who always, like ALWAYS show flawless skin and always put on make up. If they just live their daily activities like grocery shopping, going to the gym, attending concert as audience, it is okay with pimples and all but this is a recorded drama, people will see it in years from the day it is made sooo... Show some effort. 

Forecasting Love and Weather 

Country: South Korea

Released Year: 2022

Attempted episode: 12 episodes 

Genre: Romance Comedy

Actors: Song kang, Park Min-young

Petty reason:

The OTP get back together again. As you know, one of my favorite drama tropes is couple reunion, so this is the 1st time, I want so much the OTP to break up. Because they are so incompatible, because he is so childish. Age is not the reason to be childish in a mature relationship. This is why I don't fancy noona romance drama, it always blames the age for the reason the male lead's right to be childish and whiney. Dude grow up! You know what is scarier than parents' disapproval? Viewers' disapproval. 😂

If Paris Downcast 

Country: China
Released Year: 2018
Attempted episode: 2 episodes 
Genre: Romance, melodrama
Actors: Zhang Han, Adi Kan

Petty reason:

Please put restrain to Zhang Han's influence in deciding his clothing in his dramas. At first I thought it was the fault of his cordie or the PD but no it is him. After this drama, I recalled all his dramas and in all he used this gaudy, atrocious, bad fashion clothing. Who insert the idea into him that he has good fashion sense? God forbid. 

Just Between Lovers
Country: South Korea
Released Year: 2017
Attempted episode: 3 episodes
Genre: Romance, Melodrama
Actors: Junho, Won Jinah
Petty reason:

Junho's hairstyle! What the fuck off the hairstylist thinking? I tried 3 times, and never get through 3 eps. His hair is just too distracting. 

Oh My General

Country: China
Released Year: 2017
Attempted episode: 6 episodes 
Genre: Historical fiction, Romance
Actors: Ma Sichun, Peter Sheng

Petty reason:

Is the PD color blind?? The costume's colors are so bad, making the costumes look cheap. The idea about gender reverse and ML that is meek and flowery is great, but I have to safe my vision from the insult. Top priority. 

Sunbae Don't Put On That Lipstick

Country: South Korea
Released Year: 2021
Attempted episode: 1 episodes
Genre: Workplace romance
Actors: Won Jinah, Rowoon
Petty reason:

The title. Dude what a title, so condescending. I only watched ep 1, I didn't like it. Then planning to pick it up after reading the review, and guess what the title justified the story. My only fault was thinking it would be other wise. 

The King: Eternal Monarch

Country: South Korea

Released Year: 2019

Attempted episode: 4 episodes 

Genre: Romance, Fantasy

Actors: Lee Min-ho, Kim Go-eun

Petty reason:

There is a comment from the female lead about the possibility earth is flat.... Me: speechless. This drama sells itself as smart, fantasy, sci-fi fiction drama then they drop the line. I just can't. They can violate other physic laws out there, but not this basic one. You know the implication of theory the earth is flat? There're no cell phone, no microwave, no radio, no satellite, no internet, no Netflix, etc because there will be no quantum mechanic. Please look physic science advisor before producing drama exploit any physic laws. And how many time Kim Go-eun has to tie her hair every time she is upset, working on something, or anything. Please stop that or just cut your hair. Jeez.  

Run On

Country: South Korea

Released Year: 2019

Attempted episode: 4 episodes 

Genre: Romance

Actors: Im Shi-wan, Shin Se-kyung

Petty reason:

The drama that has a title Run On, and ML who is a runner. He doesn't do enough running and live up the philosophy behind why running is so deliberating. Hah. 

The OST Playlist Part 2

Because K drama isn't complete without its OST. Walking the memory line, be better at next OST quizzes LOL

Title: Under The Lonely Sky

Singer: Safira K

Released year: 2021

Album: Undercover OST Part 9

One cent: 

I like the english version more than the Korean version by Huk Gak. Why does she sound like a guy? Love eet. Overall, all the song in the drama's ost album are great. 

Title: Love Song

Singer: Jung In

Released year: 2021

Album: Bossam: Stealing Fate OST Part 2

One cent: 

Perfect for sageuk drama ost. My heart bleed.... 

Title: Should I Say I Love You Again?

Singer: Kim Dong-ryul

Released year: 2001

Album: 귀향

One cent: 

Actually it is not a specific OST for certain drama, but it is used over and over again in many K dramas ever. Especially in the scene when the OTP try to back together again, cue the song is playing. The last is used in Undercover. Because there's drama genre designated for this song alone. LOL. Couple reunion is one of my favorite!    

Title: After The Play Ends (연극이 끝난 후)

Singer: Sharp (샤프)

Released year: 1988

Album: 샤프 - MBC 대학가요제

One cent: 

First hearing this, when GD posted it on his IG account then straight to my ears. This also is used in so many dramas, though not as specific OST. From Reply series to the latest is Youth of May. It brings the mood to rest after hectic day or life, but also the sense of nostalgic and reminiscence. 

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