I can hardly believe that 2015 is coming to a close and 2016’s almost upon us. I know I said this last year too, but seriously guys, time is flying.
Even more so when you count the year in drama milestones, or so it seems, since there are more dramas in dramaland than ever before, vying for our limited drama hours. Everything feels like it’s flying by in a blur, and even though I’m dedicated to my dramas, it’s just not humanly possible to stay on top of everything – and that’s before taking Real Life responsibilities into account! XD
Still, I’m pleased to report that I managed to watch at least as much drama as I did last year, if not a little bit more. I’m sorta behind on the reviewing front, but I promise to catch up on that, pinky swear!
Uungh.. How do I do this???
So I’ve been chewing on how to approach my year-in-review this year, and I decided that since we all have limited drama hours to spend, that I’d group them according to how worthy they are, of your limited drama time. Yep, I like to be helpful that way, heh. 😉
As with my previous Year-in-Review posts, I include dramas that started last year and ended this year in this list, coz I always feel that it makes more sense – and is only fair – to assess a drama after it’s finished rather than when it’s still airing.
As a whole, 2015 has been a slightly patchier drama year than I would’ve liked. There were fewer truly cracky dramas than I’d hoped for, and a lot more middling to disappointing dramas than I’d like to think about. Still, were there dramas that sucked me in and stole my heart? Happily, the answer to that is a big fat YES. 😉
THE ONES WORTH MAKING TIME FOR
These are my top picks for the entire year, the A Grade dramas that I really think you should put on your list if you haven’t already. Cracky, heart-grabby stuff, these are the shows that continue to give me hope for dramaland.
Healer
Cracky, badass and swoony all at the same time, Healer wasted no time whatsoever in stealing my heart. A hero who almost felt like a superhero, a heroine with guts, personality and personal agency, and OTP chemistry that shot through the roof, this show hit all the right notes for me. Add on more than a few great secondary characters, several fantastic relationships (Ahjummaaa~!), and I was glued to my screen in a happy, blissful daze. It’s true I cared less about the overarching web of backstory than writer-nim would’ve probably wanted, but I freaking loved everything else. Definitely my pick for Top Korean Drama of 2015.
Grade: A+
Review: here.
Pinocchio
So warm and cracky that I felt engaged right away. The stand-outs in this drama are really the well-written and excellently delivered characters, and their relationships. Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye are wonderful both individually and together, and their easy chemistry consistently put a satisfied grin on my face. There are some logic fails to be sure, but those are heavily outweighed by Show’s positives.
Grade: A
Review: It’s coming! I promise!
Angry Mom
Meaty. Thought-provoking. Fun. A little dark. Angry Mom is a bundle of contradictions that actually works. I love that Show is well-paced and well-acted, and sticks to its guns all the way to the end, never mind the disappointing ratings. Respect, for Show’s tenacious consistency, and for Kim Hee Sun’s badass angry mom. Also, Ji Soo is freaking adorable in this; his character’s noona crush is one of the best things evar.
Grade: A
Review: here.
Twenty Again
Show takes a few episodes to get into, but the journey thereafter is so rewarding that it’d be a pity to miss. Unassuming milestones take on rich emotional meaning as we watch our main character No Ra take back her life and rediscover herself, one meaningful little victory at a time. Choi Ji Woo is wonderfully endearing in this, and Lee Sang Yoon is the most adorkable grump this side of dramaland.
Grade: A
Review: here.
She Was Pretty
Show looks and feels like just another fun rom-com, but really is so much more than that. There’s a bit of excessive camp and several logic stretches to get past, but beyond that, there’s so much to love. Relatable characters who sincerely care about one another and want the best for each other, for one. Show’s spotlight on friendship – including a truly wonderful sisterhood between our main character and her bestie – for another. And as if those aren’t enough goodies, Si Won is oh-so-fantastic in this too. <3
Grade: A
Review: here.
Kill Me, Heal Me
Ji Sung, baby. That’s enough reason to watch this show, to be honest. He is AH-MAZING in this, managing to make his multiple personalities actually feel like easily distinct characters, sometimes just by changing his gaze. It’s quite remarkable and you’ve gotta see it to believe it, pretty much. Add on robust performances by the rest of the cast, and several thought-provoking themes around pain, healing and identity, and you’ve got yourself quite the gripping watch.
Grade: A-
Review: It’s coming, I promise!
Splash Splash Love
So much cute that I watched this one with a goofy grin plastered on my face most of the way through. Well-handled and solidly compact, Show is a delightful package of breezy with a lovely touch of depth. Doo Joon and Kim Seul Gi are a joy to watch both individually and together, and they share a fantastic, easy chemistry. Adorable with a capital A.
Grade: A
Flash Review: here.
International Game Changer: Nirvana In Fire
O.M.G. This Chinese drama showed up out of nowhere and blew me clean away with its all-around magnificence. Gorgeous and impressive from almost every angle – from the beautiful cinematography & polish, to the brilliant writing, to the excellent acting – this drama is literally a work of art. At once sweepingly epic yet deeply personal, this drama is, quite literally, in a league of its own. Have I mentioned there’s a potent bromance at the center of this story too? *flails* Worth savoring again, and then again. Show, I crown thee International Drama of the Decade.
Grade: A++
Flash Review: here.
SOLID WATCHES THAT YOU SHOULDN’T MISS IF YOU CAN HELP IT
Heart To Heart
Warm, low-key and a little quirky, this modest little show eventually wormed its way into my heart, in spite of my early-episode misgivings. Choi Kang Hee and Chun Jung Myung deliver excellent performances, and credibly flesh out this unconventional romance between two very wounded souls. As a bonus, they share a chemistry that’s at once unassuming and understated, yet completely natural and believable. A nice exploration of the themes of acceptance, identity and healing.
Grade: B+
Review: here.
Let’s Eat 2
The food p0rn isn’t as glorious nor the eating as delicious, but Let’s Eat 2 is just as endearing, and overall more tightly written, than its predecessor. Show takes a while to settle – our female lead starts off a little too prickly for my taste – but eventually becomes a warm, easy and enjoyable watch that I kept reaching for. Plus, Doo Joon is <3
Grade: B+
Review: here.
Falling For Innocence
Surprisingly enjoyable, despite its Retro Hallyu heart-that-remembers premise. Logic is often flawed and suspension of disbelief is a must, but Jung Kyung Ho is absolutely wonderful in the midst of it all, and his heartfelt performance actually helps to gloss over some of Show’s flaws. By turn intense, dorky, sweet and petulant, Jung Kyung Ho is the highlight of this show, for me. That, and the fact that there’s also a bit of adorable bromance in this show.
Grade: B+
Review: here.
Producer
Show struggles with its tone for the first couple of episodes, but eventually settles into a slice-of-life Misaeng-esque rhythm that I grew to enjoy very well. Natural deliveries by our main cast, and Show’s focus on their characters’ criss-crossing lovelines and burgeoning friendships, made for a heartwarming watch with a touch of poignance.
Grade: B+
Flash Review: here.
Oh My Ghostess
Boasting truly wonderful leads who share crackling chemistry, Oh My Ghostess is a fun and zippy watch for the most part. Show’s uneven treatment of the body possession issue is likely to niggle, and its fluctuating tone can sometimes feel jerky, but Oh My Ghostess remains a solid watch that’s endearing and full of heart.
Grade: B+
Flash Review: here.
Because It’s The First Time
A charming, winsome little drama, that manages to tackle the very real growing pains of young adults with a light and hopeful touch. The likable cast is easy to root for, and their foibles and struggles – by turn funny and poignant – are universally relatable. Heartfelt, engaging and easy to love.
Grade: B+
Flash Review: here.
NOT BAD, PRETTY DECENT STUFF
Shine Or Go Crazy
Show is quite delightful, light and cracky in its earlier stretch, with strong performances by its leads and excellent chemistry almost all the way round. Unfortunately, Show takes a heavy, melodramatic turn in its latter episodes, and chooses a rather weak ending. Still worth the watch though, for the excellent performances by Jang Hyuk, Oh Yeon Seo and Lee Ha Nui.
Grade: B
Review: It’s coming! I promise!
Who Are You – School 2015
Show’s got lots of flaws if you’d care to count them, but I still thoroughly enjoyed this one. On the downside, the characterization is uneven, logic is regularly stretched and the ending leans weak. Still, the missing-twin mystery, the youthful love triangle, the cute boys and some very solid performances made this my drama crack during its run.
Grade: B
Review: here.
Noble, My Love
A short, delicious bit of mindless fluff. Show’s filled to the brim with tropes, but the good-looking leads – in particular, Sung Hoon’s brand of tanned, often shirtless buff – and their solid chemistry made this enjoyable to watch. Well-handled and savvy to what makes audiences tick, Noble is great for a quick spot of feel-good fun.
Grade: B
Flash Review: here.
Sassy Go Go
Not terribly inventive, but manages to be endearing, charming and even rather cracky – until the final quarter. Show takes some odd sidesteps in the last stretch which made the ending feel overly pat in places, but the lovable characters, the crackling OTP chemistry, and the heartwarming relationships make this worth the watch.
Grade: B
Review: here.
OKAY, IF IT’S YOUR STYLE / IF YOU CAN SPARE THE TIME
Orange Marmalade
Best described as a story with 3 acts, with the 2nd act taking place in a Joseon setting, Orange Marmalade is an ultimately heartwarming and uplifting little show, in spite of its logic leaps and uneven tone. If you (a) enjoy high school settings, (b) don’t mind vampire fantasy type stories, (c) don’t mind sageuk, and (d) have the patience to follow the writers’ admittedly odd-looking train of thought, this just might be your kind of show.
Grade: B-
Flash Review: here.
My Love Eun Dong
A tale of Fated First Love, in the tradition of Retro Hallyu. Show retains its fair share of angst and there’s a distinct slump in the 3rd quarter, but on the upside, this drama is definitely much more polished and slightly less teary than its Hallyu Classics ancestors. If you’re missing your Winter Sonata feels, this drama just might be for you.
Grade: B-
Review: here.
Sensory Couple
Basically, the OTP Cute is the only reason to watch this show. Uneven tone and very illogical writing don’t do this show any favors, but if you can zone out and just enjoy The Cute, Yoo Chun and Shin Se Kyung are admittedly quite adorable together. If you like Nam Goong Min being creepy &/or shirtless, this might work for you too.
Grade: C+
Flash Review: here.
NOT WORTH THE EFFORT
High Society
In two words, High Society is basically this: Empty promises. Poor writing, a lukewarm OTP and generally sketchy character development all-around make this a rather boring watch. The only silver lining is Park Hyung Shik and Im Ji Yeon as our second-lead couple, but even their sparky chemistry doesn’t do enough to save this show.
Grade: C
Flash Review: here.
Mask
Mask had a very strong start, which makes the weak ending doubly tragic. Show’s initial stretch is pretty much High Melo that you can eat with a spoon. Add on Yeon Jung Hoon’s glowering villain and Joo Ji Hoon’s gut-busting comic timing, and Mask was a very solid watch – for a while. Multiple dropped threads, boring corporate machinations and some very glaringly stupid plot points all culminate in an overly pat, poorly-written ending that felt extremely underwhelming.
Grade: C++
Flash Review: here.
Scholar Who Walks The Night
Strong performances from the main cast and the oodles of Lee Jun Ki Pretty weren’t enough to save this show, in my books. The romance never did work for me, and the search for the secret journal felt protracted, and worse, pointless. The uneven tone and ambiguous mythology didn’t help either. So much wasted potential. Sigh.
Grade: C+
Flash Review: here.
Yong Pal
Show starts off with a bang and delivers a brilliant first 6 episodes, before starting to unravel in bemusing ways for the rest of its run. For a show that’s titled Yong Pal, there’s actually very little focus on Joo Won‘s rogue doctor, and the narrative distinctly changes focus to Kim Tae Hee’s character and her quest for revenge. A sudden shift into romantic gear (which never worked for me), a deluge of intrusive PPL, and lots of plot weaknesses and illogical writing culminates in a disappointing and overly convenient finale.
Grade: C
Flash Review: here.
ACTIVELY AVOID, IF YOUR DRAMA TASTE IS ANYTHING LIKE MINE
…But of course, if your drama taste isn’t like mine, some of these shows might actually work for you.
Hyde, Jekyll, Me
Formulaic and boring, in spite of the Hyun Bin Pretty. A distinct lack of OTP chemistry didn’t help, and I lasted only 6 episodes on this one.
Dropped post: here.
Ho Goo’s Love
Much as other viewers love this show, this one just didn’t work for me. The Funny didn’t work for me, which also magnified the uneven tone resulting from Show trying to balance the heavy topic of single-parenthood, with funner, lighter stuff. I also found the OTP lacking in chemistry and eventually dropped out after hanging on for 10 episodes. Just not for me, I guess.
Dropped post: here.
Hidden Identity
For all the broody handsome that Show served up in the form of Kim Bum and Kim Min Joon, it wasn’t enough to make up for the ridiculously inept policing and the manipulatively melodramatic sort of handle the writers seemed intent on. I dropped out after just 3 episodes.
Dropped post: here.
I Order You
Pretty and kissy, but completely lacking in any thread of logic that might connect characters’ actions to their thought processes. Character behavior swings wildly from one extreme to another, and nothing makes any sense. Worse, Show takes a turn for heavy melo in its final stretch. I question my judgment for sitting through 10 whole episodes of this before dropping out. At least the episodes were short.
Dropped post: here.
Warm and Cozy
Very mildly amusing, with an aggravatingly endearing, extremely infuriating male lead that I regularly wanted to club on the head. I didn’t hate it, 4 episodes in, but I didn’t love it either. Hearing that Gun Woo basically continues his cold-then-hot-then-cold cycle of fleeting sincerity with maddening regularity through the course of the show, made me think of my sanity and decide to save myself the pain.
The Secret Message
Random and fractured, this show was hard to connect with on any level. 10 episodes into Show’s 18, I still didn’t feel engaged with the characters, nor did I care about their stories. Weird tonal shifts and some excessive camp broke the little resolve I had to finish this show.
Dropped post: here.
Ex-Girlfriend Club
This show’s brand of funny just never worked for me. Obsessing, meddling and hair-pulling didn’t bring the laughs for me, and the writing was pretty uneven too. I also didn’t feel the OTP chemistry, and my interest basically faded out after episode 10. Lots of other folks liked this one though.
Dropped post: here.
JURY’S STILL OUT
Here are the remaining 2015 shows that I haven’t finished yet. Some because they’re still airing. Others, because I’m just terribly behind. 😉
My Beautiful Bride
12 episodes in, I’m still finding this a reasonably solid watch. A lot of that has to do with realizing halfway through my watch, that this is written by the same writer who wrote Heartless City. That effectively shifted my lens from straight-up crime thriller to something more noir in flavor, which makes all the melo tendencies feel much more organic. Kim Moo Yul is very compelling in this.
Edit: Flash Review is here!
Midnight Diner
Simple and pretty feel-good, each episode seems to go for warmth and a humanistic approach, bringing healing to the random, hodgepodge patrons of the diner. Since the episodes tend to stand alone, the 30-minute episodes make for compact little shots of drama whenever I’m in the mood for something short, leisurely and understated. I’m 10 episodes in, and in no hurry to finish it.
Bubblegum
11 episodes in, I think I might have found a lens that would work for this show. Sometimes, when I think of this as being tonally similar to It’s Okay It’s Love – y’know, quirky and sort of surreal – it seems to help. At other times, it helps when I think of this as a melodrama instead of the rom-com that I originally thought it was, from the light & quirky tone of the earlier episodes. It’s been an uneven ride for me so far. Overall, I don’t dislike it, even though I can’t decide whether I actually like it.
Six Flying Dragons
20 episodes in, I’m enjoying this one quite well. I find it a solid watch, even though I’m not exactly blown away. Show is taking its time to develop our characters, and that’s ok, since we’re not even at the halfway mark yet. Show also seems to be getting better. I’m eager to see what else Show’s got up its sleeve.
Answer Me 1988
14 episodes in, I am loving this. I love the characters, I love their relationships, I love the entire neighborhood and how it feels like one big hodgepodge family. I’m even loving the love triangle, although I can’t for the life of me decide whether I’m rooting for Jung Hwan or Taek. I luff them both; they’ve each taken up residence in different corners of my heart and I don’t want either of them to get their heart broken. Don’t make me choose, Show! >.<
Edit: Review is here!
Oh My Venus
I’m 11 episodes into this, and I like this in a moderate sort of way. I know lots of folks are in total love with this show, but for reasons that I’m still trying to figure out, I’m just not feeling it as much (yet?). Sometimes I squee; a lot of the time I don’t. I do love how the 3 boys love Joo Eun though; they’re like a trio of puppies with hearts in their eyes. So cute.
Edit: Review is here!
Imaginary Cat
I’m just 2 episodes in so far, and liking it nicely. Yoo Seung Ho + kitty on one screen is a lot of cute. There are hints that this will be a more thoughtful, poignant show than I first expected, which could work out really well. Or not. It’s early days yet and far too soon to tell, really. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
Edit: Flash Review is here!
2015 SHOWS STILL ON MY LIST
Phew. After all of that, you’d think that I’m done with 2015 shows, but no – there are actually still a handful of 2015 shows that are on my list. Here they are, just for the record:
Heard It Through The Grapevine. Coz I’ve heard that this is solidly good and a worthy watch. Dark comedy’s not my usual thing, but I’m willing to give this a go coz of its positive reputation.
I Remember You. Coz I now want to see more of Park Bo Gum and he’s reportedly excellent in this. I hear the show itself is a good watch too.
Awl. Coz I’ve heard that this is really good, even though it’s flown under most people’s drama radars.
Maids. Coz I’m curious about this one after that fire destroyed their only set and killed a staff member, and the entire crew dusted themselves off and started over from scratch. It makes me want to at least check this one out and silently root for the crew.
Gaekju: Master of Trade. Coz, Jang Hyuk. <3
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Well done, you.. er, I mean, me!
Woah. I watched a LOT of drama this year, didn’t I? 😛 I talked about a whopping 39 – thirty-nine! – dramas in this year-in-review post. That’s 9 more dramas than I wrote about last year. Uh. I don’t know whether to celebrate or seriously consider a drama intervention, to be honest. In my defense, some of them were little web dramas, and I did drop more dramas this year as well.
Because of the sheer volume of dramas produced (so, so many!), this year felt like a patchier drama year than 2014. Yet, I’ve got 8 Grade A dramas on my list compared to last year’s 6. That’s actually Not Bad At All, if you think about it. It’s true I had to sift through quite a lot of duds to find them, but those drama gems are out there, and that’s the important thing. Those Grade A dramas are what we drama fans live for, after all.
We live to be sucked into drama crack, and it’s comforting to know that dramaland produced a decent amount of crack this year. Coz it gives us hope for next year, heh. 😉
Thanks for a pretty decent year, dramaland. You’ve worked hard. Now please bring us more glorious crack in 2016, ok? I know you can do it.
I’m ready and waiting, with my party hat on.
This IS my excited face. Ha.
