kdrama reviews

working on reviews! active as of 2026

[kdramahunter]

when life gives you tangerines

I wish I could put into words how I feel about this show. I was skeptical at first because I honestly didn't look much into it but everyone was talking about it and it seemed like a drama based in the past, which I don't mind but it wasn't really drawing me in either.

However, I knew I had to watch it because I love both IU and Park Bogum so I knew this was bound to be good either way. I think this drama is just perfect. I do have to mention that there were parts when it seemed slow so I paused and took a break from watching it but I always came back to it and I don't regret it one bit.

The story is so well told and the characters are so perfectly crafted along with an incredible script and exceptional actors. They're so good at leaving intentional messages throughout the show it leaves you reflecting in a way.

It's such an emotional rollercoaster but it's so worth it, yes I cried a lot. They did an incredible job in casting because you can still feel the connect between the characters no matter at what age they show them and that is what makes it even more perfect and believable. Because, yes this is based on a true story, but if you don't cast properly the storyline can get lost and I don't think it ever did.

I love the idea of following through the parents life when they were younger and then following the daughters perspective, it's just such an incredibly moving show. The only downside is I don't know if I could ever watch it again, but I do know I want to.

I never thought the day I would score this high would come but if any drama deserved it, it's this one.

Plot: 100

Acting: 100

Ending: 100

TOTAL: 100/100

recommend? yes

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[kdramahunter]

castaway diva

I had this saved on my list on Netflix for too long but I somehow was never drawn to it, I decided to start it one day and I had a lot of thoughts while watching it. First of all I've seen both leads in previous dramas, on one hand the female lead had an outstanding performance in Extraordinary Attorney Woo Youngwoo and the male lead I was not a fan of on Serendipity's Embrace so I had some clash there. However, I went in without knowing who the leads were and was surprised to find out! Chae Jonghyeop definitely did a way better job here, I think a lot of it had to do with styling and the chemistry being better in this one.

I don't think I have a lot to say about this one, I think the plot is interesting and it is an overall good drama but nothing outstanding! I do think the ending was a bit rushed, they could've used spacing for more episodes for the dispute / game / relationship, I feel like at the end it was "we need to wrap everything up" and it felt very rushed.

Plot: 85

Acting: 85

Ending: 65

TOTAL: 78/100

recommend? maybe

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[kdramahunter]

a good day to be a dog

I started watching this because someone here asked if I had seen it, I don't remember if they recommended it but since I got that question I thought I should give it a try. The plot / concept in this is kind of weird to say the least, I do love some science fiction involved in my dramas but this one felt out of place almost I don't know how to explain it but the plot is a bit ridiculous but I guess that's part of it. Not saying I didn't like the plot, it was ridiculous but I did somehow enjoy it.

I've seen some dramas in which Cha Eunwoo has acted in and I hate to say this might be his best performance I've seen so far (I've only seen 2 of his dramas before this though and they weren't as recent) so I'm glad I'm seeing improvement on his acting because I do enjoy watching him as an actor!

I was so confused why this show got me excited and intrigued because by the premise of it I thought I wouldn't enjoy it, but at least in my notes I wrote how interested I got with the plot, specially when it got to high tension parts. Love the second lead (as always).

My thing with kdramas is that since the shows are short if things get resolved quickly I get bored, I love a story line specially if it's romance, and to me in this one the leads got together too quickly to my liking. I do understand it was needed for the plot but still I think something could've been different because at some point I lost interest.

At some point I stopped writing down notes because I just wasn't as interested and wanted to finish it quickly, I think they did the best they could with the script that was given.

Plot: 70

Acting: 80

Ending: 80

TOTAL: 76/100

recommend? idk.. maybe

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[kdramahunter]

cheer up

I've had this one on my watch list for a hot minute and I finally got to watch it a couple months back (I'm so behind on my reviews)... I think it's such a complete show, you have a good balance between the male lead and second lead. The side stories are so good and I don't think they took away from the main characters at all since it's essentially a friend group, you can clearly focus on the main characters but still want to root for the side characters.

It was really good with the love triangle, some sort of mystery and yearning, I think it had the perfect mix. Is it predictable? yes it can be, but I think it's part of why it's good.

I also think knowing the antagonist but not the motive is crazy because you're not as invested in the antagonist's story, I would´ve preferred to understand the motive and then for the antagonist to be revealed, this just kind of made it a little underwhelming.

On another note, I literally counted the amount of Kopiko ads (trauma) and four in one kdrama is insane sorry...

Nonetheless, I love that they kept things interesting until the last episode and made sure to wrap everything up without it feeling like a rushed ending.

My only note on the plot is that jumps in time can be really weird.

Plot: 85

Acting: 95

Ending: 100

TOTAL: 93/100

recommend? yes!

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[kdramahunter]

because this is my first life

Thinking back about this kdrama makes me mad. When I was starting it I was so entranced and into it, seeing the world through the 3 different perspectives of the friend group and how excited I was because I loved Jung Somin in Alchemy of Souls but this was a let down.

I always say that whenever the side characters become more interesting, the story is lost because the focus should be on the main characters and even though the plot on this one is incredible and it could've been done amazingly, the two main characters lack personalities in my opinion, which make them fall short to the plot and the side characters.

It's so slow, both in dialogue and plotline, I was in episode 15 and felt like nothing had happened and the speed in which they spoke was irking me. The main girl's dialogues were too spaced out that the emotion was not delivered for me.

The last two episodes were dreadful, main issue for me always is: if the plot revolves around miscommunication, then there's no plot, and this was just that. The ending felt a little too fake and too cliché for me, I genuinely expected to like this one and it was a shocker how much of a let down it was.

Plot: 80

Acting: 70

Ending: 40

TOTAL: 63/100

recommend? no…

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[kdramahunter]

serendipity´s embrace

I was so excited about this show, I literally saved it as soon as it came out and I started watching it before all the episodes came out. I really enjoyed how it was a bit of a spin on a very common plot. Side note but it's crazy to me how the concept of first love is their first crush.

Now I came into this with high expectations, very excited, but I hate to say I was let down. After the first half of episodes I wasn't sure how I felt, and that's never a good sign, it was cute but I felt like it got very derailed. It seemed like I could stop watching and not miss anything because nothing was happening.

After that initial feeling of discontent I decided to take a step back and reassess a few days later, and I have to say that helped me a lot and be a little bit more into it, but it definitely did not change my perspective on it. I could tell it was going to be a short drama because there wasn't much to say or do with it.

I also have to say the connection between the leads was not there, I could see his feelings but not hers, there was just an overall disconnect between the characters in my opinion that made it not believable. I think I have an issue with how the female lead portrays emotion and the more I see her in other dramas I cannot connect with her but she has had some really good roles that are in my favorite dramas.

The ending was disappointing.

The thing I liked about this drama is the OST... every time it comes on shuffle in my car my friend jokes about it saying it's our favorite drama, that's how much we did not enjoy it.

Plot: 70

Acting: 90

Ending: 40

TOTAL: 66/100

recommend? no...

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[kdramahunter]

the atypical family

I was very skeptical about starting this one, since I was basing myself on the occasional tiktok i got it and the show seemed very cliché and underwhelming. However, I decided to give it a chance since I got intrigued and I have to say I was proven wrong.

The first episodes were so intriguing and catching that I just wanted to continue watching, the plot was so incredible (in my opinion) and the acting is very good. I love the mixture of fantasy and drama, it's just always a hit for me.

Everytime I see Park Soyi casted I know she will do an amazing job, her performance in all the dramas that I´ve seen her in never disappoints and she's so incredible for her young age. I know her career will be incredible.

The chemistry between the leads is so good, I think they did a very good job at their characters. I do think the side characters can be annoying at times but they do help keep the story going so it's something I can overlook.

I had one comment to the show and even though I enjoyed the ending because it was a surprise to me, I was expecting it to happen but couldn't predict how. I think the antagonists in shows need a proper breakdown in order to become "nice" or stay evil, or else the switch up does not make sense.

Plot: 90

Acting: 95

Ending: 80

TOTAL: 88/100

recommend? yes!

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[kdramahunter]

crash landing on you

Starting this kdrama was so confusing (my fault) because I'm so used to dramas having a hint of fantasy that I thought it was going to be a time travel concept. But obviously as the first episode progressed I realized my mistake, and I have to say I appreciate a different type of plot!

I got so invested with the show I forgot to write down my opinions but it was a mix of everything good to me, a different and interesting plot that I had not seen before, a classic relationship trope that just always HITS!

I think what was even more captivating was the fact that I was not able to predict what would happen because of the plot, it was set so specifically that everytime I tried to come up with a solution it just didn't make sense to me (however I did have a preference but I knew it would not play out).

I just appreciated the acting, the chemistry and the plot so much there's not a lot I can say without spoiling anything because of how specific everything is. The entire cast was incredible, every single character was perfect. The only thing I personally felt was lacking was the ending, I did feel like it was missing the essence of the entire show, like it was missing a "punch".

I will 100% be rewatching this soon.

Plot: 95

Acting: 90

Ending: 70

TOTAL: 85/100

recommend? yes!

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[kdramahunter]

alchemy of souls

Okay let me start this by saying I don’t really like what you call “period pieces” or historical dramas, which is why I kept putting this one off because it just seemed like one based on the images I saw everywhere. Once i decided to start I couldn’t stop watching it. I swear I normally keep a note with my comments so that I don’t forget what I thought while watching but the note for this drama is just all caps, shocked and entranced, so you know it’s good. 

I think that the acting was a little off putting at first because it’s a drama set in the past but the acting felt like it was set in the present in a way. However, I think that helped a lot because normally those dramas are slower and this was just not, it had the perfect amount of wits. It’s not like I can fully comprehend Korean, but I understand enough to pick up when dialect changes or when the language is from the past, and this one didn’t feel like that, even though of course it did have that essence the overall feel of the dialogue was much more present like in my opinion. 

See this drama made me torn between the two male leads, I was going crazy trying to decide who I preferred but they were able to balance the love I had or felt for bot leads because yes I loved them both but I still believed more in the main couple. In my opinion when it’s a love triangle you need the perfect balance of loving both leads but understanding which couple makes the most sense, and this clicked perfectly to me. Loved Hwang Minhyun’s acting, I think Seo Yul’s role was perfect for him. 

The amount of shock and plot twists that it had was insane. I was so entranced with the story line I wanted it to end to know what would happen but also I wanted it to be longer, the anticipation was insane to me. 

It definitely felt like a rollercoaster of emotions, the heart ache, sadness, but then the romance that made me giggle was a really good balance. This is one of the longer dramas I’ve watched, it having two parts and all but I swear I don’t think I was ever bored and no matter what happened I kind of knew the ending but I couldn’t really predict it which is exactly what I love. 

Fair to say it’s a really good watch and I will absolutely be rewatching it soon. 

Plot: 85

Acting: 90

Ending: 95 the cheesiness dropped half a point

TOTAL: 90/100

recommend? yes

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[kdramahunter]

queen of tears

I'm not going to lie, when I started this drama I was not too sure what to feel. Second hand embarrassment from shows is something that bothers me but if it's in moderation I can move on. I felt like the first episode I had to constantly pause and it made me over analyze every little thing (noticing shaky camera and stuff like that) but I was definitely able to move past it.

I think both leads were cast perfectly, they both delivered like they had to. I really enjoy the strong woman & weaker male trope - pairing, when the woman commands the room it's just so good to me.

I loved the way the story flowed in a sense that I was able to see the development of things because you're able to see things from both perspectives and not just keep one. Sometimes shows make it a thing to only show one perspective and as a viewer you start hating the other lead because they're painted as a sort of villain, but being able to see both and understand both sides was perfect for this type of storyline.

I must say though that it is a tried and true plot, which ended making it way too predictable but overall a very cute story. I feel like it's way too cliché but nothing I was too turned away by.

I don't know if I would 100% recommend it to everyone, I do think it's a good watch but there's better options out there. I think it could be a good introduction to someone to the kdrama world but if you're an avid watcher i think it will just be an okay watch.

Plot: 75

Acting: 90

Ending: 70

TOTAL: 78/100

recommend? maybe

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[kdramahunter]

doctor slump

I had really high expectations for this drama, I love Hyungsik's silly enamoured acting for romance, it always just gives the perfect over the top level of infatuation that is not cringey but rather silly and makes you giggle along his performance. I do think he is also able to deliver on serious scenes, I really do appreciate his range but I think that when his co-star doesn't match his level (not in acting but rather chemistry) it takes away from the show, and this pairing of leads was not my favorite, I didn't really feel the chemistry.

I think the story had so much potential and the acting was good, but there were elements missing or things that just made me not that interested with it. For example, I did not enjoy how the episodes started. I think that the first episodes being recaps was fine and definitely needed for context but after a while starting every single episode with narrations over things that are happening seemed redundant and unnecessary.

I must say that narrations can be done properly, since I've seen this drama I've rewatched some of my favorites and they also have narrations but the difference is that it's minimal and on key points, whereas doctor slump got overly narrated.

The lead story got slow at times and it made me turn my head and be more interested with the side characters and their story, which is never good because they're there for support, not to steal the show. I do think the story picked up at the end but at that point I was more interested in the side characters that it did not make me excited.

Everything leading up to the ending made me so bored that it took me forever to actually finish it and I was so done with it that I just couldn't appreciate the ending.

Plot: 70

Acting: 80

Ending: 30

TOTAL: 60/100

recommend? no...

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[kdramahunter]

lovely runner

it took me forever to actually sat down and do this review because no words could amount to how I felt when I was watching this show. I'm literally writing this with the OST playing in the background and on my second rewatch, it's serious business.

The plot is all up on my alley, perfect amount of fiction with real world. The acting is incredible, both leads are able to transmit every single emotion. At times I felt all giddy inside and I couldn't tell if it was due to the chemistry or just the incredible job they both did at acting.

But heavy emphasis on how good they are at acting, I've seen other dramas with both of them and they are always so good, Extraordinary You with Kim Hyeyoon is in my top 5 dramas of all time.

This plot can be messed up so easily because things can be forgotten, but my props to the writers because they did an excellent job of adding things without ruining the flow of events or the rules they had set at the beginning. The jumps they make are executed in key moments that help you get even more entranced with the story.

One issue I tend to have with kdramas is the balance between characters, there was no problem with this at all. The leads steal the show hands down and even though the side characters are set for support, you end up getting interested in them as well, but they don't take the focus away from the leads.

I got confused sometimes but my doubts were answered quickly. It's just so well done I know I will constantly rewatch it and it will stay in my top.

Plot: 90

Acting: 100

Ending: 95

TOTAL: 95/100

recommend? YES!!! absolutely

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[kdramahunter]

hierarchy

I saw this kdrama everywhere online, twitter, instagram, tumblr and then a friend said she started it so i decided to do it as well before spoilers started coming up everywhere.

I think it started so strong and it made an impact but after the first few minutes it just didn’t feel the same. It was kind of a take on the spanish show “Elite” in my opinion, there were a lot of similarities. However a lot of things were not similar and those things were essentially a downside in my opinion.

I had to constantly pause the show due to second hand embarrassment, it took me forever to finish the first episode. And also, this is a personal thing but every time the main guy appeared I got reminded of his performance at music bank (Fighting by BSS), but I do think he was the one character that was incredible and stayed true to the essence with the script he had, I definitely believe he could’ve done way better with a better script and plot.

I think it’s a little overhyped, the flow of events is not the best and it ended up feeling both slow and fast, between the jumps in time and the lack of storyline but also no explanation, as a watcher I was just confused as why it was so moved that way when some characters barely knew each other and the feeling was just not there but in reality “months” had passed and it didn’t feel like that, it felt like days.

As mentioned I do think the lead actor was good, the rest of the cast fell a bit short (the lead cast, i feel like the supporting roles were okay), if you have such a strong plot line and a power show you kind of need stronger voices or stronger characters, at least that’s how the premise feels. But maybe they did the best with the script they had.

The unfolding of the story was so underwhelming and it lacked the initial essence I felt with those few minutes from the beginning.

It’s an okay watch, I definitely would not recommend it since there are way better dramas out there and the ending was just anticlimactic.

Plot: 70

Acting: 70

Ending: 50

TOTAL: 63/100

recommend? no

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[kdramahunter]

a time called you

This kdrama had me attentively watching for a while, my friend and I started it together and would hang out every day just to watch one or two episodes because of how hooked we were.

It was so confusing at first which made it so interesting because you think you know the answer but you actually don't. But I do think after a while I got bored because of the plot getting a tad slow.

The problem is you have to pay close attention to everything because if you don't you will get lost and get even more confused which is so frustrating.

I do believe it's a good watch, but there are better dramas out there. The ending was anticlimactic in my opinion.

Plot: 80

Acting: 90

Ending: 80

TOTAL: 83/100

recommend? yes

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[kdramahunter]

weightlifting fairy kim bokjoo

This kdrama is like a breath of fresh air in my opinion, it is everything that you need in a lighthearted drama. The humor, the seriousness, the romance. It just hits everything perfectly. I think this one is very popular on some platforms but not that widely known like others.

This story is completely fulfilled by the amazing work of the lead couple. They are both amazing actors and I just love when you can tell and feel the romance or emotions through the screen, and they're able to execute this perfectly.

The side characters are just that, they're able to lift the story to what it is but they don't overshine on the leads which is something I've noticed happens a lot on other dramas. In this the side characters are perfect for context and play.

It's just really good in every aspect and it is 100% rewatchable which makes it that much more enjoyable.

Plot: 90

Acting: 90

Ending: 100

TOTAL: 93/100

recommend? YESS

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[kdramahunter]

triple fling

I started watching this as I got it constantly recommended on tiktok and to be honest I realized I should not write down recommendations based on 3 second clips because it’s never as good as i expect them to be.

It’s a really short story, I would label it as “okay” but it is very predictable, since it’s quite short there’s nothing much to say about it i guess.

Plot: 60

Acting: 60

Ending: 30

TOTAL: 50/100

recommend? no

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[kdramahunter]

Any thoughts about "a good day to be a dog" if you watched it yet

I haven’t watched it yet! I’ll add it to my list and watch it ASAP and share my thoughts <3