Drama Recommendation List
Things I Love:
Competence - #1 point of attractiveness
Hidden Identities - doppelgangers, multiple universes, superheroes, someone badass pretending otherwise, etc.
Protectiveness - bodyguards!!!!
Politics
Anything genre (action! thriller! mystery! romantic floof! saeguk! fantasy! sci fi! etc. The more mashups, the better.)
Goofy fun shenanigans
Found family, team-dynamics, bromance
Man tears
Happy endings - though not always required. I want justice in this life, not the next.
Noona romance (?)
Bad guys doing good things
Mean-looking dudes who are actually softies
Things I Hate:
Incompetence
Horrible unfairness or humiliation
When bad things happen to good people relentlessly
When the bad guys have an overbearing upper-hand and the good guys lose every step of the way
Toxic (modern) workplace dynamics - hits too close to home, yanno?
Physical slapstick, perverted innuendo, meanness
Infidelity
Rocks fall, everyone dies
All are kdrama unless marked otherwise. I did mix my absolute favorites with favs-with-flaws because sometimes it’s too hard to rank. To be edited whenever I feel like it.
Action Movies
The Man From Nowhere - Pure action schlocky comfort, it takes all the best tropes from the classic “The Professional”, from killer-in-hiding to helpless orphan girl, and remixes it with Won Bin’s lean muscular hotness and some of the most beautifully choreographed violence I have ever seen, treading that impossible-to-satisfy line between showmanship and effectiveness. Worth multiple rewatches, and rarest of rarenesses, I even recommend the English dub! There are a few corny-as-hell scenes that only get more embarrassing the deeper and slower Won Bin speaks. The English dubber barrels through and gets it over with. :P
Commitment - Before Woo Do Hwan, my first and favorite crush was T.O.P., whose acting abilities really shine for quiet, socially awkward roles like this one, where he plays a North Korean assassin infiltrating the south as a high school student to take out a rival North Korean faction of agents. The fighting is visceral, tight, and effective. The budding romance is sweet. His man pain is exquisite. The ending is...well, uselessly and predictably tragic, it Very Easily could’ve been a happy ending, but oh well. Also one of my favorites to rewatch.
Luck Key (action-comedy) - ahahaha Hitman gets amnesia in an accident and swaps identities with a failed actor. Cue shenanigans as the failed actor continues to fail as a hitman, and the hitman, in helpless confusion, somehow aces being a cook, an actor, and finally a lover.
Rurouni Kenshin:The Beginning - The Final (Japanese) - Series of 5 movies, amazing adaptation of the manga/anime, if only all adaptions could be like this. Fantastic sets, costumes, performances, storytelling, and of course, the highly creative showdowns that strive to be as realistic as possible while still preserving the heightened excesses we expect from shonen manga. Even though The Final was released before The Beginning, I might suggest watching The Beginning first, Origins, Kyoto Inferno, The Legend Ends, and then The Final. Otherwise The Final will feel like a let-down because all character development occurred in the previous movies.
Rom-Com with Everything:
Are You Human Too? - robot love, incredibly subtle doppelganger acting from Seo Kang Joon, and delicious emotional turmoil as all the humans realize they prefer sweetheart, hyper-competant Nam-Shin III over asshole chaebol Nam-Shin, whether it’s for running a company to being a member of the family.
Healer - This is on the cusp of “too old” in terms of the warp-speed pace that kdrama production values progress, but it’s still solid in terms of storytelling heart. Ji Chang-wook’s turn as hapless and dorky Park Bong-soo will forever be imprinted on my psyche. As someone who adores superhero origin stories, Park Min-young falling in love with Healer while slowly discovering Park Bong-soo’s true identity was pure ambrosia.
Tale of Nokdu - First half is a hilarious reverse cross-dressing saeguk romcom where the guy is actually convincing as a female! Second half is pure throne-succession politics. The king, in particular, caught my attention with his charisma and inner turmoil as he goes from caring for Nokdu to having to kill Nokdu at all costs. The only weakness is the secondary villain, whose progression to villainy was literally a flipped switch.
Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung - Saeguk females in the workplace, vaccination drives, historians being SUPER hardcore about taking meeting minutes, birth secrets and succession politics! The fluff romance hides just how serious this show goes.
Genre + Slice of Life:
Reset (cdrama) - A short (for a cdrama) time loop drama. Not a bit of flab as the leads apply real logic and morality to try to stop a bus from exploding. Fantastic acting by the veteran actors anchored everything, but everyone is good for their roles. The pacing, storytelling and cinematography were so effective. A perfect mix of sci-fi thriller and slice of life as it covers the personal stories of everyone on the bus while gradually upping the stakes as the loops continue. There’s an understated and believable romance, Liu Yi Jun as the lead cop was so compelling, and there is a happy ending! Shows like these ruin my expectations for other shows, absolutely recommend!!
Oh No! Here Comes Trouble (Taiwan) - Another short drama (12 eps) that is simply incredible despite not having the aesthetics that current kdrama and cdrama boast. Gangster high schooler wakes up from a coma with supernatural powers, but that’s not the only thing that’s changed about his life. It’s a poignant and incredibly heartfelt treatise on coping with grief and loss, combined with paranormal case shenanigans, comedic friendships, team dynamics, enemy-turned-frenemy bromance, supportive and awesome parents, etc...ends happily and with a hook for season 2. It’s also an absolute tearjerker, but only because the main lead is so sympathetic that as soon as he teared up, I teared up. ;__; A must watch!!!
Missing: The Other Side S1, S2 - Supernatural team cold cases. Go Soo excels at being a happy, good-hearted bro, right up until the point that real dramatic emotion is called for. He has enough charisma to drag his younger co-stars down with him. XD That said, the storytelling is solid and enjoyable throughout, with great empathy, mysterious build up, and excellent characters in both seasons. I hope they make more!
Politics + Thriller + Adventure:
Joy of Life s1 &2 (cdrama) - transmigration story. A modern-day genius ends up being reborn in an old-day world, and when he grows up enough to get out of the house, he starts to realize that the world already has many, many plans laid out for him. Fan Xian is a bit of a know-it-all, and to be fair, he has a wealth of experience and knowledge most people in the show don’t have. As the story progresses, however, we do see him go from coasting to caring deeply, both from a human perspective and philosophically. Richly produced, cleverly written, fast-paced, and very well acted. Turns out Fan Xian isn’t the only smart dude on the block, and by the end, he is working very hard to manipulate events as he needs to. Ends on a cliff-hanger.
Nirvana in Fire 1 (cdrama) - An absolute dream come true for people who love politics and politicking. A hidden mastermind returns to the capital with revenge (justice) as his only reason to live, and he manipulates the ever-living-heck out of EVERYONE, friends and foes alike, to achieve it. The show is paced very steadily, opened with a melancholic theme song that forewarns the eventual ending. And yet somehow it wasn’t that devastating (for me), because all was accomplished gradually, carefully, so intelligently and with so many insightful and nuanced portrayals, that you don’t even end up hating any of the three antagonists. As for the good guys, wow, so many to admire. A masterpiece. @welcometothejianghu wrote a good rec here!
Nirvana in Fire 2 (cdrama) - This one obviously had an even bigger budget than NiF1, and even though I rarely see discussions about it, it also is a very ambitious and wonderfully made story of kingdom-building through the viewpoint of multiple generations of a family. In some ways, however, it’s sadder than NiF1, because unlike NiF1 where the protagonist is very much in control of almost every situation, NiF2 protagonists are forced to be reactive to plots that are being made against them and the kingdom. It also features an object lesson in how someone with all the potential to be heroic can slowly be corrupted into villainy. That said, NiF2 does feature an obvious happy ending, as well as a hopeful outlook that there will always be talented heroes who will step up in a time of need. Also a masterpiece, and also very slow and steady in pacing.
Designated Survivor: 60 Days - Ji Jin Hee!!!!! Son Sukku!!!!!! Heo Joon Ho!! That North Korean publicist guy!! Gosh, this remake is sooooo much better than the original American one. While I watched it, it restored my hopes and faith in modern politics, 1000% wish we had a quiet, nerdy, kind, ethical, and smart president like that even though I know in reality power corrupts, the system grinds up good people, etc. Tense and thrilling, whether it is terrorism or political power moves, and it’s so rewarding to see the out-of-his-depth scientist slowly come into his own strength to lead the country out of crisis, and for his support team to regain their hopes in making a difference for the better. Great review (with spoilers!) By @rain-hat
Money Game - A bureaucratic economic thriller!!!! I know no one will watch this, but pleeeassse, it is so sexy and intense, even with the weird English script + questionable foreigner acting! Still excellent even in rewatch, my heart pounded, and that is RARE for me, I almost never rewatch end-to-end. Lee Sung-min is a frozen-faced BEAST, Go Soo is a very likeable harried civil servant, Shim Eun-kyung was such a strong and dainty presence with her stubborn hardheadedness, and Teo Yoo was fascinatingly flexible at being mesmerizing, cringe, and adorkable.
My Heroic Husband (cdrama) - transmigration story with many of the side actors and probably same production team as Joy of Life. Modern-day hotshot CEO ends up in the body of an old-day derpy, twerpy little man who is being married off as a husband-of-convenience to a fabric maker entrepreneur. He earns his paycheck as he wiggles his wife’s business out from one sabotage after another, until by the second half, his efforts go from saving the family business to saving the kingdom from insurrection. It’s all fun until the stakes hit hard late in the 2nd half. Ends on a cliffhanger.
Sword Snow Stride (cdrama) - by the same writer as Joy of Life. Fascinating, cinematic, and very human as it follows the lead character’s adventures, who at first tries to push away his familial responsibilities only to slowly make his way to the top once he finally accepts the legacy his father built. Was badly critiqued by many (too slow, too blue, too boring?), but my family and I were riveted from the very first episode. It’s smart, gives generous space for each character to exist in the moment, has fun classical wuxia stylings, and is brimming with truly fantastic old men. Alas, there aren’t any old females, but the many young women are varied with their own personalities. Unfortunately, the pacing/editing/effects got weak at the very last showdown--I suspect it got drastically reduced in episodes and they tried to salvage an ending with hopes for a season 2. =/
A Dream of Splendor (cdrama) - pleasantly intelligent story about 3 friends as they struggle through life, business, politics, and romance. Quite female-friendly, with good acting and chemistry by everyone. Happy ending! Best summarized (with spoilers) by @silviakundera 's review here
Little Women - It bears no resemblance to its source of inspiration, and is instead a murder mystery thriller psychological horror investigative conspiracy corruption case of the rich eating the poor, only this time, the poor gets JUSTICE IN THIS LIFE, and it’s most excellent. Kim Go-eun is absolutely fantastic amongst an already solid cast. I also harbor lots of heartu eyes for Wi Ha Joon, though his role is relatively minor. This is a drama where women rule the show!
Reborn Rich - Fantastic reincarnation(?) political revenge story penned by the writer of Designated Survivor: 60 Days, where Song Joongki plays two roles across 3 decades as he wheels, deals, and leverages his knowledge of the future in his schemes to bring down the chaebol family running Soonyang corporation as well as reveal the murderer(s) who kill him in two lifetimes. As easy on the eyes as baby-faced Joongki might be, however, the master of this drama is Lee Sung Min, who crushes the already competent cast with authoritative charisma. A horrid capitalist pig, a terrible father, and a despicable husband, yet somehow by the end, I couldn’t bear to see him go. Watch watch watch!
The Glory - A revenge story tightly directed by Ahn Gil Ho. It was harrowing to watch high schoolers torture each other, but very satisfying to watch all the pieces come together and every terrible person get what they deserve. Heartu eyes to the tightly buttoned, go-romantic, sapiosexual Ha Do-yeong; his charisma and chemistry with the FL was off the charts and he deserved a MUCH bigger role than he was given.
My Journey to You (cdrama) - sumptuous, thrilling, twisty romance mixed with assassins, devious plots, circular story-telling, and a fine mix of sweet/smart/funny/emotional/sexy. The pacing is addictive, everything is beyond aesthetic, and most importantly of all, such fabulous characterizations and performances from multiple no name actors. There’s so much talent to look out for in the future, it personally makes ups for the info-dump villain reveal, sad endings for too many side characters, and the cliffhanger ending for a season 2 that may never come.
The Double (cdrama) - lurid, over the top, and absolutely cracktastic from beginning to end!!! The wind machine was it's own character. Succinct review here by @gizkasparadise
Cops/Prosecutors/Lawyers/Case Procedurals:
Stranger S1, S2 - Pinnacle kdrama quality, it can be matched but can never be topped. S1 introduced us to an amazing cast of characters, and is so smart, so well-acted, a thriller-mystery-inspirational rallying cry for Good that is tightly paced and shot with rare clarity. Sadly, S2 switched directors and IMO (I might be the minority on this) that switch destroyed the clarity and pacing that S2′s incredibly ambitious and sprawling story required. S2 is worthwhile to see at least once because of the nuance and layers, and the introduction of some fantastic new characters, but be prepared for confusion (unless you have photographic memory) and time-wasting obfuscating moodiness (it is pretty though). See my next recommendation, Watcher, to understand how S1 Director Ahn Gil-ho can take a stupidly twisty plotline and make it crystal-clear. (ETA: I recently rewatched both seasons and found myself enjoying both of them so much! My issues with S2 cleared up once I knew where the cases were going, and I was able to settle in and enjoy the performances and the complicated layers of the plots.)
Watcher - Three interesting and difficult characters enmeshed in a stupidly twisty serial killer case that nonetheless never confuses and pulls you along puuurrrrfectly. Seo Kang Joon transforms completely into a damaged and possibly dangerous young cop; Han Suk-kyu excels as the enigmatic mastermind who may or may not actually want justice; Kim Hyun-Joo--wow, I wanted to throttle her sometimes, but never did I not understand where she was coming from. Stylish, exciting, and compelling! I also adore the design of the opening screens.
The Good Detective - nothing groundbreaking, just really well done and enjoyable. Sadly S2 is a bit of a letdown in both tension, character-building, and plotting.
Signal - remake of Frequency. Old radio connects past detective to present detective to solve the same serial murder case. Bad points: Lee Je Hoon has a weird way of talking, the cool female cop kind of ends up just crying a lot, and that pointless cliffhanger ending! But still worth one watch. Great summation by @rain-hat
Tunnel - More rewatchable than Signal. Cop from past travels forward in time to solve serial murder case in both eras. Cute prickly bromance; does suffer from Female Too-stupid-to-Live syndrome.
Mad Dog - yoooo, WOO DO HWAN! Endure through the first two episodes, because once Woo Do Hwan makes his true entrance, the team is COMPLETE. The Shenanigans! The ANGST! The Found Family! This was the first time I experienced Woo Do Hwan, and the love his performance ignited in my cold shriveled heart was enough to make a social media pariah like me make an AO3/tumblr username dedicated to him. He is indeed a sad viper in this show, and I just. He was the first Insta I followed, okay? I’m going to follow him for the rest of my life.
A New Leaf - Kim Myung Min is an unethical asshole of a laywer, until he gets amnesia and reverts back to his wholesome former self. He then proceeds to try to fix everything his uglier self has wrought. The show pretends to be a rom-com at first, but it ends up being perfectly platonic and I love it for that. Not every case is won, so there is an element of ‘life goes on’.
Kill It - Veterinarian-by-day/assassin-by-night searches for the truth about his past (and kills bad guys) while his stunningly gorgeous childhood friend from the orphanage is the detective chasing him down. Hidden identities, hidden competencies, found family, protectiveness, wow, this show has it all. I found the pacing good, awesome tension building, some surprisingly touching-if-cheesy Russian acting from David Lee McInnis, fantastic if sparse action scenes, great OST, lots of pensive staring, and a romance so understated I almost missed it (just the way I like it, honestly). Sad ending, but hardly unexpected and at least they save it to the very end of the last episode.
Bad Guys - Like the Dirty Dozen. A hitman, a gangster, and a psychopath grudgingly team up to take down criminals under the watch of an angry, bitter, spit-tastic cop with no chill. The resulting bromance is to die for. I rewatched 3 times, this is an absolute guilty pleasure for me. <3 (Warning: Stupid female cop) Too bad the sequel was unwatchable shaky cam and tiresome with endless betrayals on betrayals, because they really scaled up the action sequences to impressive levels.
The Sleuth of Ming Dynasty (cdrama) - I actually almost dropped this 4 eps in from boredom but it gained a 2nd life when my family wanted to watch it together and we all got sucked in. The cases are forgettable and the politics not that smart, but the real money makers were the found family and friendships that featured around the most deliciously presented meals. Also, it has a really cool opening theme + sequence!
Taxi Driver - Exactly what you want in a team case drama. It has so much I love - team dynamics, hidden identities as the vigilante team works undercover to trick the bad guys, competencies galore! And the fighting!! A++ music as well. Perhaps most importantly, the show remains fixed in a moral universe--it addresses the wrong that the protagonists played a part in head-on, yet manages to serve a satisfying final revenge AND a perfect happy ending all in one. It does lean too heavy on the victims’ suffering in the earlier episodes, but its nothing that the 10 sec skip button won’t solve.
Don't Call It Mystery (jdrama) - a highly observant, intelligent, oddball college student is framed for murder and changes hearts and minds in order to prove his innocence. He then falls into helping the police with multiple cases that follow. Think Sherlock but with empathy! Slightly artsy, doesn't drag on, but does end on a cliffhanger. Can't wait for season 2!
Ancient Detective (cdrama) - A helpless-but-brilliant detective with amnesia solves strange, supernatural-esq cases throughout Jianghu while also searching for the the truth behind the death of his father. It’s a silly show that actually has logic in a lot of what is said. It also has much more solid wirework in the fight scenes than I usually see nowadays, reminds me of the kungfu dramas of the early 2000s! Shoutout to the himbo that gloms onto the detective early in the story, such a fun and charming dumbnut! Wraps up its open cases but ends on a cliffhanger.
A League of Nobleman (cdrama) - There’s a perfect review by PeachBlossomGoddess on MDL, but since I can’t find a way to link directly to it, I just have to say that this show is truly sumptuous and packed with some fabulous, and fabulous-looking, actors. The cases, perhaps, end up stretching further than a bungee cord in its attempts to stay logical and tightly interconnected, but it makes sense if you treat the show like a theatre performance. The setting and the plot merely sets the stage for the actors to emote at each other with increasing vigor and passion while the camera tilts slowly for maximum cinematic effect.
Mysterious Lotus Casebook (cdrama) - A sickly-but-brilliant fake doctor, a cute, hyperactive detective, and occasionally the doctor’s old nemesis travel around Jianghu solving strange, supernatural-esq cases while also searching for the truth behind the death of the doctor’s sworn brother. Slow start for me, but once all 3 leads appeared, their chemistry became overpowering and addictive. This show literally hits 9 of my 12 favorite things to watch. Definitely wished for more episodes to see many throwaway lines expanded on or for cases to be more show and less tell. Ends melancholic and open-ended...;__; All 3 actors are on my watch list now, but I’m especially impressed by Cheng Yi. At first he looked funny and squashed to me, but his charisma is off the charts!
Killing Vote - vigilante justice turned voting game - is it wrong to take justice in your own hands when the law clearly won't provide it? Incredible performances from everyone, even from someone like Kim Kwon who usually does not impress but who stepped up fantastically. The biggest draw is Park Haejin and Park Sung-woong's divorced couple chemistry and the cat-mouse game they play trying to suss out who is the masked Gaetal. Unfortunately, it ends quite bleakly and with an annoying hook for s2.
Slice of Life, Slow Human Stories:
Hospital Playlist S1 - warm and full of friendships while painting complete personalities of each of the cast
Mystic Pop-up Bar - supernatural, found family, divided into case stories that are extremely human and touching. Like a high budget jdrama.
I’ll See You When the Weather Is Nice - slow, moody, and pensive as the protagonists heal from their traumas and fall in love in a small rural town
Reply 1988 - Like Hospital Playlist, only set in the 80s-90s around the daily lives of several families living together on the same street. Calming and interesting.
3 Star Bar in Nishiogikubo (jdrama) - itty bitty drama, just six 25 min episodes! 3 high school classmates take a break from life to run a bar together. An excellent palate cleanser for when you aren’t ready for a long commitment.
Just Between Lovers - Review by @beingjanee
Life - by the same writer as Stranger, and with nearly the same cast!! Fascinating exploration of the tension between the ethics of healing vs. the practical realities of running a business, and the compromises that must be made therein. Also the most nuanced portrayal of disability that I’ve ever seen.
Father is Strange - Watch a wholesome, healthy, supportive family take on the most ridiculous soap opera plots and be so Good despite their individual flaws that they end up rehabilitating all the problem people who enter their orbit. Feel free to fast forward through story lines that don’t speak to you.
2521 - Nicely made slice-of-life with a liberal dose of 90′s sports anime nostalgia and young people striving to be their best selves. Don’t watch for the romance--based on the tangential online chaos that erupted over the finale. Watch for the people, their emotions, their struggles, and their joy. It’s both real and highly romanticized.
Koi Desu: Yankee-kun to Hakujou Garu (jdrama) - Absolutely adorable romantic fluff. A scarred delinquent runs into a blind girl, and through exuberant wholesomeness, they fall in love and expand both of their worlds. They try to trick you into thinking there will be Drama (tm), but there’s none; this show zips right past what other shows would milk for at least another episode and goes right to the happy aftermath.
Meet Yourself (cdrama) - lovely, slow paced and cozy. Superficially it sounds like a Hallmark movie, in reality it is a healing romantic slice of life tourism advertisement. Filled with intelligent people, all problems are realistic and dealt with in the nicest way possible without being too manipulative.
Hikaru no Go (cdrama) - wonderful remake of the manga/anime about competitive go. Shi Guang is a bit of a smart alec, but the story is beautifully told with many characters, full of human feeling and relationships.
Horror, Psychological Terror:
Save Me - going to sound like a broken record, but WOO DO HWAN!!! He stole the show in the most stunning way as the 2nd male lead, though it takes at least 4-5 episodes before he really emerges onscreen. Seriously, I want to marry Seok Dong-chul. In the meantime, the cult progression slowly and steadily details how vulnerable people get entrapped physically and mentally by evil. Claustrophobic, chilling, dark, and gross as you watch the cultists get their way far too often for comfort. But it does end happily all things considered.
Kingdom S1 - saeguk zombies, very cinematic. The zombies are fast!! Ends unfinished but I couldn’t watch S2
Revenant - moody, slow, appropriately horrific, packed with acting talent and a story that gives the actors room to crush it. Kim Taeri, and the evil ghost possessing her, are absolutely incredible!! Perhaps my only idle wish is that the chemistry between her and the Professor, and/or her and the young cop, might have been developed further. Alas, it’s not that kind of show! At least it ends well.
Defies Categorization:
The School Nurse Files - artsy, oddball, bubblegum horror, no coherent plot but there is an overall direction
D.P. - full of human feeling and absolutely devastating when it makes its final point. Sticks with you for a long time. Beware violence and horrible military hazing
Lulz, Fantastic, Bombastic, I Love It (Quality with Flaws(TM), but they spoke to me when I needed it):
The King: Eternal Monarch (romantic sci-fi faux-political fake-thriller) - do I even need to say anything about this? So much pretty, so much ambitious potential, so much star-power assembled only for it to taste rather flat and unfulfilled by the end. But it was the summer of COVID and the dawn of a creative awakening. I made new friends and had so much fun pondering whys and wherefores! I’ll treasure this hot mess forever. <3
My Country: The New Age (saeguk action war politics) - It pretends to be about politics, but it’s not about politics. It’s about Nam Seon-ho’s bloody, sweaty, love-hate desperation for his childhood friend, Hwi, against the backdrop of war and the changeover of imperial power. Also features some terrible fathers with powerful presences, a very sexy Prince Bangwon, an angry minion named Sung-rok, and some pointless females. I laughed a lot, cried buckets of tears, and then wrote fic. Woo Do Hwan’s flowing locks of L’Oreal hair and heaving bosom were that inspirational. <3
Meow: The Secret Boy (fantasy romcom) - some days, you just need a silly little romantic comedy about a cat that transforms into pretty, dimply Kim Myung-soo. Put aside thoughts of bestiality and voyeurism, this show is candy-colored and is not to be taken seriously.
The K2 (action thriller romantic politics) - Highly choreographed action scenes, shaky cam just shy of being unbearable, Ji Chang Wook’s muscles and predictable(yet effective!) arsenal of expressions that were ready to mesmerize as the nameless bodyguard-on-the-run, and a Noona Romance that buuuurrned smoked and sizzled like all that pork belly that gets BBQ’d in every kdrama. I endured Supreme Idiocy to watch more of Song Yoon-ah. And by Supreme Idiocy, I mean a wooden and moronic female love interest, embarrassing Middle Eastern war conflict flashbacks, a laughable portrayal of PTSD triggers, zero morality whatsoever....gosh. But hey! Bodyguard babe! Watch at least the first 5 eps. :3
Man to Man (romcom hijinks politics) - The Original Bromance(TM). Secret agent man masquerades as a bodyguard to an action star man-child in order to thwart international conspiracies. Terrible action, laughable fashion, zero chemistry between Park Hae-jin and Kim Min-jung, and the show feels like two different shows smashed together. It is DUMB and yet. And Yet. I laughed my head off and enjoyed myself so much. What more can you ask for?
The Boy Next Door (webdrama, BL(?) comedy) - two INCREDIBLY dumb guys are forced, through circumstances, to live together, and in the process, accidentally convinces everyone they're a couple. It's so bad, soooo bad, it fell off the edge of the earth and became good. Perfect for the days you need to nuke your brain cells!
Midnight (movie, thriller-horror) - so I watched Squid Game and I’m not gonna recommend it, but I did fall in love with Wi Ha Joon. He has the perfect face to be evil, and look! Here he is being properly evil, though there is no backstory to speak of. I learned some interesting things about deaf accommodations, I was rooting for the girl! I didn’t find it scary; heck, this isn’t even that good of a movie. But I was in it for the lulz and I got it. :3
Sweet Home (thriller-horror) - I lol’d at the videogame monsters. It’s gory but not very scary to me. Anyway, Song Kang plays the sad, pretty monster boy that the show grants the entire hero arc to, but don’t believe it. The real superstar is the calm, practical, and devoted med student who takes charge of an infested apartment building and does his utmost to keep everyone alive whether they appreciate him or not. Eun-hyeok’s character is an ode to middle managers--he is moral, steadfast, never harms anyone, never resorts to threats or brute force, but simply sees a need and steps up to fill it regardless of the BS that gets thrown his way. He manages down like a champ and never stops making smart decisions under incredible pressure. He should’ve been the hero. ;___; Slick pacing and interesting cast, but don’t expect anyone you like to survive. =/
Psychopath Diary (serial killer comedy) - An extreme pushover witnesses murder, gets amnesia, and while clutching a serial killer’s diary, becomes convinced he is a serial killer and tries to live up to the hype. The villain stole the show for me, lots of understated panache as he first swings from hopeful heartu eyes (i can haz a bestie? to go on murders with?) to maniacal glee as he meticulously sets the pushover up as the fall guy. I wish he got away. I wish he had a (fake) romance storyline. I WISH HE GOT A FLOWER OF EVIL DRAMA!!!!! >_< The possibilities!!!!
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes (tragical romantic thriller) - Seo In Guk...I may never like another role of his, but when it comes to sociopathic(?) bad boy romantic antagonist, he will never be beat. He’s amazing: subtle, manipulative, sincere, cruel, cold, vulnerable, affectionate, messed up. By the last episode, the plot takes a hilarious running leap for the cliffs to end in the worst way possible, and some of the drama truly felt unnecessary (less secrets, some more communication??...), but it’s quite the trip getting there. Great cinematography and music, and special shout-out to my favorite support actor Kim Dong Won, who slays as the chief secretary of a psychopathic chaebol heiress.
Vampire Detective (vampires! procedural schlock)- Came for Lee Joon, left with a newfound love for Lee Joon’s bromance with his bestie Oh Jung Se. Also was impressed with the fights (despite the shaky cam) and enjoyed myself despite (1) bad vampiress acting, (2) boring hetero romance, (3) one of the most emotionally unsatisfying endings ever >:(. Ah well. Lee Joon has a really lovely speaking voice..
Blood of Youth (fantastical adventure & politics) - bombastic and refreshingly idealistic power fantasy about young, talented fighters creating the world that they want to be in. Between the long stretches of videogame battles, there are beautiful costumes and sets, catchy music, gorgeous people, some decent overarching plot, and some boring side stories. Fun and easy way to pass time.
A Familiar Stranger (mini drama) - Face-off woo-hoo with romance, conspiracies, and obsessed lovers. Where the amazing Cheng Lei first caught my eye. It's like if you took Gong Shangjue from My Journey to You and wrote domestic fanfic for him.
Butterflied Lover (mini drama) - Crazy vampiric slaves, rival princes, fraught love lines, and sumptuous visuals. The first web drama that I saw that really pushed the ambitions of the medium.
The Killer is Also Romantic (mini drama) - Mr. And Mrs. Smith in old day China! Fast, fun assassin shenanigans.
Blossoms in Adversity (women in business save themselves drama) - like a budget version of Dreams of Splendor except somehow supremely engaging and fun? Expect overly modern feminism, issues cleanly resolved in about 2 episodes, some dubious acting from the ML, and an addictive good time!
