I am so so obsessed with the legend of Shen li and Xing Zhi
I mean he cooks, he’s mothering (I assume that’s the reverse of the meme “mother is fathering”), he’s funny and cheerful and pure hearted (kinda?), he is hot, and he is also accidentally the most powerful being in the universe that is still alive.
— like that guy is one of the hottest fantasy characters (along with Joon from Black, nogitsune Stiles, Philippe de Clermont and Sirius Black) that I am just watching every scene with him like this:
My kdrama “reviews” so far (more like random thoughts as I discovered each series):
Warning: some mild spoilers ahead for the series listed in the tags!
I tend to write my thoughts as I’m watching series so I don’t forget what my first impressions were. I'm putting them all here in a post cuz why not lol. Bear in mind, these are my thoughts and opinions, of course (some of which have actually evolved as time has passed since watching these series for the first time). Fair warning: swearing and dumb thoughts ahead.
Stranger/Secret Forest (finished May 6th, 2021 – watched 2x) – my first ever kdrama:
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
Started watching a crime Korean TV drama called Stranger last night on a whim because it was recommended to me on Netflix after watching Train to Busan the other night, and this is my first time watching a kdrama- it's entertaining as hell. I love the 2 main characters. The female protagonist is so freaking cute and badass at the same time and I love her so much. Meanwhile, the male protagonist is exactly what I like in a male character: aloof, a bit callous, but still a good person.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Just finished and now I don't know what to do 😭😭 Overall a fantastic series; not 1 weak episode. Intricate plot, great acting, and unpredictable twists and turns that constantly subvert your expectations. I was impressed by the way the characters were written. They were all believable, well-rounded. The way they wrote the protagonist, Si-mok, was refreshing, his struggles with processing emotions being portrayed as an asset rather than a setback, while still showing his struggles and flaws. I liked that there was no filler content, romance, or excessively dramatic events to take away from the realism/believability of the show. A breath of fresh air after watching so many American series where things tend to go haywire near the end.
Life (finished June 26th, 2021):
-> Thoughts mid-series:
The most beautiful thing about this series is the loving, indestructible relationship between the brothers. In my opinion, the overarching theme of this series is family (and I love that). Like yeah, the series is about corruption in the medical industry and big corporations' wrongdoings and how they affect human lives, but on a more personal level it's about looking out for one another, and not letting your moral principles be swayed by fear or greed. Trust Lee Soo-yeon to write two separate series about corruption and greed in two entirely different industries (prosecution/ law enforcement in Stranger, big corporations owning hospitals in Life), and having both be this compelling and meaningful. Props to her honestly; I love it.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Such a wholesome and heart-warming ending to this series; I'm honestly incredibly pleased and can't stop smiling :')) I'm glad all the characters we actually come to care about get a good ending. Phenomenal show, even though it took me a while to get through because it was very emotionally involved. All the problems weren't magically resolved – Mr. Gu may have done the "right" thing and listened to his heart in the end, but the reign of greed and power in contempt of human lives will go on without him, with his successor taking over. It's a harsh truth, but it's realistic. Some fights are harder than others. Results aren't always guaranteed or instantaneous. Some people don't change, some do. Some become better, some worse. The best thing people can do is try and stand for what they believe is right. Now I realise why the show was called Life.
Kingdom (finished August 10th, 2021 – watched 2x):
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
Started watching the kdrama Kingdom last night (yes, partly because my fave Bae Doona is in it, why'd you ask) and I think the zombie design is similar to the ones in Train to Busan, which obviously traumatised me, so I'm in for a ride 😭
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Of course they ended season 2 on a cliff-hanger- how on earth am I meant to wait for season 3 now... 😭 But yeah, fabulous, top-tier series. 10/10. Might just be the most visually stunning series I've ever seen. The storytelling was incredible, the characters (and actors) were fantastic (with awesome character arcs and stories/motivations), and the action had you on the edge of your seat the whole time.
Nobody Knows (finished August 27th, 2021 – watched 2x):
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
I just started a kdrama called Nobody Knows (amazing so far) and the soundtrack in one scene was so beautiful I started properly crying?? The scene wasn't even sad; it was just the sheer beauty of the music 😭😭 I immediately had to hunt down the track- only 1 episode in and so far this series might have the most beautiful musical score I've ever heard in a series.
-> Thoughts mid-series:
Stranger feels like a comedy compared to Nobody Knows, damn 😭 I've never watched a more depressing series in my life 😭😭 It's amazing, but boy is it heavy. Like, Stranger was heavy too but it at least had many fun moments interspersed in there. This is just a depression fest 😭 Also, confession: the only reason I started watching it is because a few weeks ago I came across pics of an actress I didn't know (Kim Seo-hyung) and she's so fucking gorgeous I had a moment of weakness and immediately looked up if she'd been in any series 😭😭
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Omg I can't express how happy and relieved I am that this series ended with a lovely happy ending where no-one dies 😭😭 With how depressing and dark this was half the time I don't think I could've handled an equally as depressing ending... Fantastic series. It's definitely up there for me now. It dealt with lots of touchy yet important topics and got very stressful and action-packed but I loved its main message of learning to forgive yourself. Plus, it focused a lot on trust, friendship, growing up, and striving to become a better person. Also, there were so many twists, turns, and reveals I did not see coming but that were sprinkled in throughout the series from the beginning. You couldn't piece it all together until things unfolded but it made me pause several times and be like, "so that's what that was". Lastly, I was happy with the lack of a romantic subplot, which would, in my opinion, have affected the quality of the story and felt out of place. Even though I think Mr. Lee kinda had a crush on Cha Young-jin, it was never elaborated on and in the end they were just close friends, which I liked. AND HOW COULD I FORGET that amazing musical score. UGH. Every track just hit me right in the feels, and some just left me in awe. Best soundtrack in a series I've seen for real.
Mine (finished September 14th, 2021):
-> Thoughts before starting:
Me vs actually seriously debating watching a melodrama despite my aversion for the genre just because Kim Seo-hyung is a protagonist in it who is also a lesbian.
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
I can't believe I'm about to say this but I caved in and just started watching this show. Damn you, Seo-hyung 😭😭 I'm not far enough along yet to know if I'll enjoy it, as this is basically a melodrama with added mystery and romance, which is so different from what I usually watch lmao.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I just finished watching Mine- this series was a journey. It completely subverted my expectations. I went in thinking it was gonna be a soapy melodrama (the first few episodes definitely were), but then it kept evolving until it became a whole different beast. I was incredibly impressed. This series lulls you into a false sense of security only to switch on you and almost become an entirely different genre? It basically evolved from over-the-top rich people drama to a murder mystery with strong women fighting for what's dearest to them. All the female characters were so interesting and complex, each with their own journeys, character arcs, strengths, and weaknesses. I loved all the topics tackled, from motherhood to self-acceptance, as well as the lesbian rep with Seo-hyung's character (who was a total badass might I add). I loved the mutual trust between the 2 sisters-in-law so much. Also, the ending was somehow exactly what I'd wished for, which made me so happy 😭 Contrary to what I'd expected when I started watching this, I’d give this series a 9.2/10. Amazing. Also Kim Seo-hyung I love you <3
Tunnel (finished October 4th, 2021):
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
Started watching the series Tunnel on Sunday because it's been on my list for a while and it's leaving Netflix in a few days – I'm already halfway through and loving it BUT I swear to god if anything bad happens to Kim Seon-jae my beloved, I'm throwing hands. I'm just so done with my fave characters either dying or having shitty endings and I've actually been lucky recently with all the kdramas i watched so I hope I'll stay on this winning streak. He deserves a happy ending after all the shit he's been through, please 😭
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Overall a great series, very entertaining, and the ending, although bittersweet, was actually quite nice (to be honest I'm just glad Seon-jae was OK lmao). Although I'd give the series a high score, there were a few things that sadly bothered me, namely the fact that the main character annoyed me 😭 He was too over-the-top and brash and, although he got better, I still never got attached to him. Meanwhile I really loved Seon-jae's character because he was thoughtful, reserved, and touching. I really loved the girl lead, Prof. Shin, too – she was so smart and brave (although I didn't like how often she was put in danger and almost killed by men – it felt very unnecessary). Up until episode 14 I found the series very solid, but the killer's backstory/motivation I found a bit weak, especially compared to shows like Stranger and Nobody Knows. Plus, in my opinion, they avoided addressing some stuff because of the time-travel element and subsequent fear of creating plot holes. Still, great show.
Squid Game (finished October 16th, 2021):
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I enjoyed it and although the ending was a huge downer, you couldn't expect a happy ending with this premise. Many of the twists in the story were predictable. However, the fact that some of these twists you could see coming didn't make them any less emotional or impactful in my opinion. I think the length of the series is good and did not impact the quality of characterisation. Obviously, had the series been longer some characters would've been more fleshed out (especially the villains whose motivations I did feel were weak, in my opinion), however I did get attached to many. Especially Kang Sae-byeok, my beloved. Instantly fell in love with her.
The series' strong point isn't the premise because battle royale stuff has been done to death, but rather the characters, and the important societal commentary/themes being conveyed, as well as allusions to very real events. Now for the final twist – I think the fact that you’re being hit by sad event after sad event wears you down to the point where nothing surprises you or shocks you anymore by the end.
I'm annoyed by certain characters’ decisions, some plot choices, and most of all by the Western actors who were absolutely terrible especially when contrasted with the amazing Korean actors.
Overall, did I enjoy it? Yes. Greatly. Am I glad I watched it? Yes. Will I watch it again? No.
The Fiery Priest (finished October 24th, 2021):
-> Thoughts mid-series:
This series has really got me simping for a priest.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Well that was an absolutely incredible series. 10/10. Plus, a season 2 was confirmed in the credits so I'm really happy :')) Fabulous acting, great script, cool characters, interesting themes, incredible fights, and it made me both laugh and cry... Every episode was madly entertaining.
Coffee Prince (finished November 5th, 2021):
-> Thoughts mid-series:
I can't lie, so far I’m not regretting starting this romantic kdrama for Gong Yoo (I know, Lisa watching a romcom, who even am I anymore) because he looks so cute here.
-> Thoughts mid-series part 2:
I watch this romantic series for Gong Yoo and they throw another hot man at me [Kim Jae-wook]; this should be illegal. Men with long hair and painted nails will be the death of me I swear to god.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Well that was a cute and wholesome little series – I definitely don’t regret checking it out. I found the premise pretty charming to be honest. I found it lovely and refreshing that a 2007 kdrama had the guy fall in love with the girl even when he thought she was a guy. It was cool because it made him go on a self-discovery arc and eventually accept himself and his attraction to people regardless of their gender.
The Guest (finished November 22nd, 2021 – watched 2x):
-> First thoughts when I started the series:
Just started a horror kdrama because fuck light-hearted stuff right now and the 2 male leads are 2 of the main guys from Coffee Prince?? I had no clue they'd be in this too and had acted together again 11 years later 😭 Kim Jae-wook was the other actor besides Gong Yoo whom I found very hot in Coffee Prince and he's acting as a priest in this?? As if I needed another hot priest after Fiery Priest 😩
-> Thoughts mid-series:
This series knew exactly how to break me with the scenes in episode 15 where Hwa-pyung finally realised Choi Yoon was slowly sacrificing himself for their cause and subsequently told Gil-young to protect Choi Yoon until the end... When I tell you I had tears 😭 One of my fave themes in media is found family – especially when they start off wary of each other but grow to care so much about each other that they're willing to die for each other. I live for that shit.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Finished The Guest last night and thank fuck the ending did not disappoint. Incredibly solid series through and through and an instant fave. Albeit traumatic and very disturbing at times, I can't recommend it enough. The storytelling was unbelievable and all the characters were AMAZING. I loved the trio so much, and how all 3 were so willing to risk their lives for one another – it was beautiful. This is one of those series that just grips you instantly. I could watch it again multiple more times no problem. And I love that it used horror/mystery as a vehicle to tell a heartfelt story about forgiveness, friendship, sacrifice, and the good and evil of human nature. 10/10.
Her Private Life (finished December 21st, 2021 – watched 2x):
-> Thoughts before starting:
Once again I am seriously debating watching a romcom series for an actor I love because I finished my rewatch of The Guest need more Kim Jae-wook content in my life...
-> Thoughts mid-series:
In a twist I did not expect, this series is turning out to be positively hilarious – I'm legitimately laughing my ass off at the humour; I've got tears 😭 I guess 2021 is the year I start unironically enjoying romcoms. Turns out when I relax and take things less seriously, I can actually really enjoy this genre.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I can't believe I went fully feral and finished this romcom in 3 days... Like, I was being "reasonable" with Witcher meanwhile I ate up these 16 episodes in 3 days... 😩😩😩 And I enjoyed every second 😭😭 What even is happening to me 😭 It was entirely worth it for him though... 😔
-> Thoughts during my 2nd rewatch:
Almost done with my 2nd rewatch of Her Private Life and, besides how undeniably hot Kim Jae-wook is, the character he plays is legitimately the sweetest, most caring, and sensitive boyfriend I've seen in fiction. This series for real has the healthiest romantic relationship I've ever seen in fiction; both Ryan and Deok-mi are so respectful of each other and their boundaries; and they truly support each other and communicate their feelings so openly and honestly. Like yeah, I’m a sucker for angsty fictional relationships like Hannibal x Will, but it's so lovely watching something this wholesome for a change. It's so healing to watch (hence I'm watching it again).
Strangers From Hell (finished December 27th, 2021):
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Just finished Strangers From Hell and holy crap that was an absolutely brilliant series. Incredibly disturbing yet captivating. The ending was honestly perfect. Another show where, despite the villain being so obviously terrible, I was rooting for both him and the protagonist. It did not help that the villain was played by Lee Dong-wook, whom I love and who was absolutely brilliant in this. And incredibly unsettling. Also he looks like a hot vampire, which really sells the role. A very similar core message as The Guest to be honest, namely that humans are capable of the worst and are far worse than any monster/demon. Oh and that even the nicest guy can be pushed over the edge. So basically very intense Hannibal vibes. Corruption arcs for the win. Shame this was only 10 episodes but also the pacing, storytelling, character development, etc. was done so amazingly well in that time frame that extra episodes would've just been unnecessary. Also, on top of the fantastic acting, the editing (transitions) and soundtrack were amazing.
Save Me (first series) (finished December 31st, 2021):
-> Thoughts mid-series:
I think I’ve never despised a character more than I despise Apostle Jo in this series, Jesus fucking Christ. Like, usually villains I can love because they’re either cool, badass, or charismatic in some way or have a backstory I can sympathise with or are well-rounded characters who aren’t "just" pure evil. But this guy is just a vile creep and he disgusts me, especially because men like him truly exist in real life.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
Well then, finished this series just in time before it gets taken off Netflix and I couldn't have asked for a more satisfying ending after how depressing and hard to watch it got at times. It was excellent, 10/10, but I haven't cried this much watching a series in a while.
Black (finished January 14th, 2022):
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I just finished this kdrama called Black and can't decide if I hate or love the ending. It stayed true to the characters and wrapped things up nicely but the pacing at the end was very odd and ended on a very bittersweet note.
Overall, this series was very good. It really subverted my expectations. I'm glad I read reviews before watching it that said you must get past the first 2 episodes and then you'll love it because that's exactly what happened with me. If I hadn’t read those reviews, I would’ve stopped watching after the first episode for sure.
It should be called Twists: The Series, truly, because I've never watched ANYTHING in my life with this many plot twists. And it's not like they were just throwing them in willy-nilly – all of em made so much sense and had details that hinted at them in past episodes that you could catch as you went along. I don’t know how the writer kept track of it all 😭
Hyena (finished February 12th, 2022):
-> Thoughts mid-series:
I start a series for Ju Ji-hoon and end up falling for Kim Hye-soo instead – typical of me. After all, badass women with short hair are my weakness.
-> Thoughts mid-series part 2:
I love Jung Geum-ja’s bluntness in the way she worries and cares about Yoon Hee-jae. Also, she's legitimately become one of my fave fictional characters. I love her so much. And the way Hee-jae is so smitten with her despite her unconventional ways is both hilarious and endearing :')) I truly love how both protagonists are equally as stubborn, competitive, confident, and smart as one another, neither being above the other. The actual definition of a power couple.
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I just finished Hyena and that was such a brilliant, fun, amazing series. 10/10. I absolutely adore Ju Ji-hoon and Kim Hye-soo – such amazing actors. They had such great chemistry in this, too :'))
Crash Landing On You (finished February 26th, 2022):
-> Thoughts the day I finished the series:
I just finished Crash Landing On You and I’m already looking for another kdrama to binge lmao. It was rather enjoyable even though it really dragged out in the 2nd half and became way too melodramatic compared to the exceptional first half. The acting was top-notch throughout though.
soooo... black. a friend recommended it to me months ago and I finally watched it. overall, it was pretty awesome!
- I was loving it up until maybe the last couple of eps? whenever it started getting overly plot-twisty. some of the twists worked and were great, others were too much - I was rolling my eyes by the time the top-level bad guy was revealed. Like really? another one?
- obv saw the black being joon 'twist' coming from the start. i mean is it truly a kdrama if they didn't meet as children? but is it only me that thinks 444 just being a random grim reaper would've actually been awesome
- ok but ha-ram never learns* that black is 1) not moo-gang 2) is a grim reaper or 3) is actually joon. And also 4) why she can see the shadows or 5) that her dad was a reaper? feel cheated about that tbh
- why would anyone change their name to moo-chan
- I liked the twist that black's partner was in Leo's body all along, but uuuh. why did ha-ram never see the shadows inside leo or her dad?? I'm pretty sure neither wore black the whole time to hide it. ur telling me as a kid she saw the shadow following her dad when he was gonna die but all those years growing up she somehow missed the other one that was always inside him?? make it make sense
- I just watched kingdom so I thought I was immune but no. some of the gore was way too much for me (there's only so many brains splattering everywhere that I can handle i guess) 🤢. maybe cuz I binged it in 3 days
- that escaped mental patient/killer for hire dude was scary. I hated his horrible laugh and his hat and for an old man he could RUN
- crazy dog!! 😭😭 I always enjoy seeing kim won-hae in a drama and was super sad when his character got killed like that. rip
- big lol at the "cctv footage" of black leaping off the cliff at the end-- where tf was the camera that recorded that footage😂? (would've been useful if it was there 20 years ago amirite joon)
- ok....for me this drama's WORST crime was the old people makeup at the end. I didn't even mind that black got erased (why certain things got changed because of it makes no sense but whatever! kdrama logic) but ha-ram and leo as old people in those dumb wigs was hilariously bad. I guess it was supposed to be a touching scene, I dunno, i was too busy laughing. why not just use old actors ffs. ha-ram turned young again when she died and reunited with black anyway, so why not pull a titanic and cast an old actress instead?
when it was good (which was most of the time!), black was AMAZING. Once it got going I really thought it might become one of my favourite kdramas ever, but then the rushed plot-twist-packed ending and the fact that ha-ram never learned the truth* let it down, so maybe not. I'm still processing.
Anyway I still highly recommend this show! the only thing I knew about it going in was that many ppl hated the ending, so I was prepared for the worst. I wouldn't say I hated the ending (just those wigs), but it just got soooo ridiculous. If they'd 1) kept the ultimate bad guy as that congressman rather than whoever the next level guy was (at this point I'd stopped caring, was it the mayor of mujin?) and 2) used old actors for that final scene instead of shitty makeup, I would've been pretty much fully satisfied
* i guess ha-ram DID learn the truth from fake-leo's story at the end? but that doesn't count! I wanted a dramatic confrontation dammit!
it really really annoys me that netflix's subs for black change "oppa" to "joon" bc it makes 90% of the main character's interactions w other characters make no sense bc it seems like she's just walking around calling him the wrong name and no one corrects her 😭
