If you didn’t already know, we’re doing something special and different to end off the drama year this year! Guests posts, by patrons on Patreon!

You can read more details, and check out Shahz’s inaugural post, here.

After today’s post, there will be three more guest posts by mystery guest writers, whose identities will be revealed when their various posts go live. And then we’ll cap everything off with a poll, where you’ll be able to pick YOUR favorites for the year, from among the gems identified in these posts. How exciting! 🤩

For those of you who’re keeping track of numbers, yes, this means that one of the guest posts isn’t happening after all. However! That same mystery guest writer has offered to bring us a thematic musings post, next month, so you can look forward to that instead!

Today’s post is brought to you by none other than JJ, who’s also known as Shahz’s bestie around these parts. 😉 And if you didn’t already know, you’ll soon find out from reading this post, that JJ’s got lots of love to give, and is effortlessly effusive about it – which is why I picked this picture below, for her post. 😁 Thanks for doing this, JJ!

I hope you guys enjoy!

~ KFG ❤️

JJ’s giving hearts to everybody! ~KFG ❤️

Introduction – Long Winded, Ops!

Hi KFG et al.! 👋 First and foremost before I say anything else, let me thank KFG for this huge honor of allowing me to be a guest poster on your beautiful blog. I am grateful for the invitation to hang out with all of you in KFG’s Kdramaland especially since I am a relative newbie to the magic of Kdramas.  ❤️

KFG, you have created such a beautiful community on your Main Blog and over on your Patreon Account. You are consistently kind and patient with all of us as we share all our differing opinions on the shows and movies we have been gobbling up at breakneck speed. I have had such fun being a part of The Fangirl Verdict community with you at the helm! Thank you. 🥰

As for me, I fell down the Kdrama Rabbit Hole, as I like to call it, exactly a year ago in December because Netflix suggested a Show called Bride of Habaek (BOH) after I had finished a Netflix Series called the “The Witcher”. I saw the picture for BOH and went “oh what is this?.” I think I jumped right in without reading the synopsis, which is something I highly suggest for any Kdrama on Netflix as the synopsis always steers you wrong for some reason, I have found. Always.

But, back to Bride of Habaek – WOW! All the colors! What Fantasy in an urban setting present day? Gods? Another realm? Costumes? What am I watching? Essentially, I was totally hooked. Completely.

After my first Kdrama binge with BOH, I fell right into The King: Eternal Monarch (TKEM) and done deal. I was a cemented Kdrama Fan and could not wait for more.

I tried to get all my friends to join me on this new Journey and well, as many here have had the same experience, I fell flat on my face trying to convince everyone and anyone to join me over here in Kdramaland. Ok, that might be a tiny bit of hyperbole because I did have my Sci Fi Buddy join me (Hi Adrian 👋 ) join me for my 3^rd or 4^th rewatch of TKEM. Thanks, Adrian. 🥰

Then, one day after binging eight shows in a row based on Netflix’s excellent suggestions, the record scratched. Netflix stopped seeming to know me. GASP! What? How could this be possible? What happened to our magic ride together? Why did you leave me? I left all my Thumbs Up on these past eight shows. How could you do this to me? Sigh.

I thought, well, time to head out there to the World Wide Web to start exploring this “little” genre on my own outside of Netflix. WHOA. Did I say “little”?  Well, that was a big mistake and I deeply apologize to Kdramaland and the Fans! 미안 해요. 🥰  After much digging, binging, reading, exploring around the World Wide Web, I happily found KFG’s The Fangirl Verdict and here we all are happily now. 🥰

Shout-out!

Before I get to my list of favorites, which is the real reason for the guest post, I wanted to give a HUGE Shout Out (can you hear me over there my favorite Aussies 🇦🇺) to KFG’s Patreon Community for a moment because this is how I received the invitation to be a guest blogger. 🥰 Hi Guys! 👋👋👋

I was a newbie to KFG’s well-established group on Patreon, and they welcomed me warmly as I started dipping my toe in the water making some small comments here and there – “YAY! Awesome! Love it! Ohhhh!” Very eloquent I know. 🤭

And then, I became bolder and starting chit-chatting with everyone on all their comments. I. could. not. stop. Then, one day Trent (Hi Trent 👋) asked about a show (Stranger); if anyone had seen this Show and their thoughts.

I went to search for his original comment and could not find it, but knew it was there somewhere. I decided to ask KFG if she would consider creating a space on Patreon where we could discuss other Shows than she had been covering on the different Patreon Tiers. And she said YES! OMO!!! 🥰

KFG created the “Drama Exchange” (ask her why she named the feature the “Drama Exchange” 🤩) on her Patreon Account where those of us on Patreon can chit chat back and forth on the Shows we have been watching on our own or together. Thanks so much again, KFG for creating the Drama Exchange, its been so awesome. 🥰🥰🥰🥰

And the Drama Exchange also led me to my Kdrama Online Bestie – Shahz 🥰 (Hi Shahz 👋), which led to now this guest post because Shahz had an idea for a mini top 10 on the Drama Exchange 🥰 and KFG decided to do this for all of us. 🥰 감사 해요.

Finally, wrapping up my little introduction section here (finally😂), my typical Kdrama fare leans heavily to the fantastical fun fare rom-coms that end happily. Did I mention “happily”? 🥰

I am the resident “Puppies and Unicorns only please” 😳 over on KFG’s Patreon Community. 🥰Yes, I tried and failed with Squid Game. Yes, I managed to get through D.P. with lots of mute and FF; thanks again Trent for giving me all the heads up on the tough parts! (Gosh, I sure hope I used that semi colon correctly!😳)  However, I do not mind the intense ones like My Mister, Secret Love Affair, Lost, to name an excellent few. 🤩

My general rule of thumb, though, is that a Show must have Hope somewhere in the story and at the end. Something redeeming. If you leave me at the end of a Show with my heart ripped out of my chest, we have some things to discuss, Show. 🧐 Everything cannot be bleak and without hope. Shows that are Tough, Complex, sure that’s all fine. But the rest, leave it at the door please. Nope, not having it. It’s Puppies and Unicorns for me, please. 🥰

Off to my favorites for 2021 – 😬😳👋😬🤞🥰

Thank you so much, Shahz for suggesting this next section just for me! 🥰🥰🥰🥰

My Favorite OST – Original Score and Song 🥰🥰🥰🥰

As KFG and my fellow patrons know, I love music and talk about the OSTs constantly with all the shows we watch together. Music can either make or a break a show for me. Music can either make or a break a scene for me as well. And the use of the absence of music can make the experience of a show even more interesting to me. Music is always another character for me in a show. Always.

Some clarification though, before I begin my whole section on OSTs. 😬 I am completely tone-deaf. Completely. My friends can vouch for me and so can their ears! And zero musical talent, which the poor piano and violin can vouch for me as well. One day, piano, we might meet again! Regardless though, I am a fan of music and love a variety of music across many genres.

So, in short, I am just a fan of music. Not an expert, no specific expertise, nothing more than just a Happy Fan of Music. 🥰 With all that said, here we go! 🎶🎶🎶🎶

One of my favorite shows this year, I’ll discuss further down below, Lost, had such a special scene (Shahz knows which one!) that started without music and as the scene built, they introduced a song and the record scratched for me. I panicked! What just happened? What? No? Not in this scene, please! I checked with others and they were fine with the song. What? How could this be? How is it only me? In that moment, I just heard and felt something different because of the music.  I was so happy in the next episode where they picked up that same scene with the same song except they used a different version. Whew! I relaxed happily back into the watch. 😊

Music is usually so key for me in these Shows except when an exception occurs….

One of the most notable exceptions is with another favorite show of mine from 2021, is Hospital Playlist. For some reason, their OST did not emotionally grab me nor did the music take me out of any scenes. Or maybe it just did and I didn’t notice? 🤭 And yet, Hospital Playlist made my list of favorites for 2020 & 2021, because for me that Show is just that good, with our Five Leads and the stories the show told, weaving its magic. Somehow in that show the music became background for me and not one of the main players.

I remember KFG talking about certain songs and how their lyrics fit so well with the show or the theme, and I would scratch my head and go, “Uh, sure missed that one.” The reason I bring this up is that while music generally drives my experience with these shows, sometimes we have an exception. Thank you, Hospital Playlist, for being that exception. 🥰

Best Original Song

The Bond:  生活總該迎著光亮 Life Should Always Face the Light 周深Zhou Shen (Charlie)

I love! Love! LOVE! this song. Everything about this song just works for me, when the song was in the show and when I listen to the song now on repeat. 😊 I am sure some musicians could probably tell me why, but why ruin the magic for me? Sometimes some things are better left unsaid, to just experience the moment. Enjoy. 😊

Original Score

Lovers of the Red Sky : Opening Theme Song 

While Red Sky did not manage to make my favorite list for 2021 (even though I thought the Show started off so strong) and KFG dropped this show (understandably 😭), I listen to Red Sky’s original score the most out of all the Shows from 2021, when I want music without lyrics. My favorite song is the opening Theme Song for the Show. Feels as if we are about to waltz into this story and the song always puts a smile on my face. 🎶😊

Opening Title

Red Sky OST: Full Playlist

Special mentions

To close out the music section, and before you head over to my top 10 Favorite of 2021, I wanted to make sure I mentioned some of my other favorite OSTs for people to check out that I enjoyed from 2021; Yumi’s Cells, On The Verge of Insanity, Lost (Human Disqualification), She Would Never Know, Nevertheless, Bossam, My Girlfriend is a Gumiho, and Mad For Each Other.

P.S. Please, please, please let me know some of your favorites for OSTs, OST Musical Scores and OST Songs. I would love to hear about them. 🥰🎶🥰

My Favorite 10 of 2021

Before I get started on this section, let me tell y’all something. Blogging is no joke.  Annnnd, it’s hard for this novice. KFG makes this whole shindig look super easy. Let me tell ya, she’s got some skills on her! 🤩 Well, we all knew that already and it’s pretty evident since we all have been here for some time reading what she has to say about Kdramas. I just had to say all that though and give her some huge props. 🤩🤩🤩

As you might already be able to tell, I love me a good run on sentence or two or three or four. Punctuation? Who needs it really at the end of the day when we have fun emojis these days? 😇 I draw the line with spellng though. Gotta have good spelling and good vocab. Here’s hoping I achieved both! If not, don’t tell me! 🤭 😜😂

P.S. – All grammar mistakes and foibles you may find are intentional until they are not.. 😂 😇

As you will see shortly, definitely, I am definitely not a blogger; no expertise in Film or TV. Just clocked way too many drama hours to admit (nobody else has this problem, right? 🤪), like to talk about, chit chat about, comment on and tell more people about why Kdramas are so awesome. So, now that everyone has their expectations set, shall we begin with this section finally?!?!! 🤭

My wheelhouse and where I prefer to hang out is Fantasy and Sci Fi, which everyone probably guessed when I mentioned TKEM! The ones that I tend to avoid though are the dystopian fare which has become increasingly popular everywhere. Oh! And Horror Fantasy and Sci Fi. No, thank you. I keep asking for Dragons, Unicorns and Puppies. So, if you see any of them, please let me know. 😳

For 2021, though, my favorites include mostly realistic (some with a dash of the fantastical) shows. And the way I set up this section is that I am calling this part “My Favorites of 2021” because whoever likes being picked last at the playground?! 😬

Everything is in no particular order except the first one. 😬 This means I will definitely rewatch this one and it will be the first one to come to mind to suggest to everyone and anyone listening to me talk about Kdramas. Or in this case Cdramas. 🤩

🌟 1. The Bond (C drama) – My Absolute Favorite of 2021 🌟

Well, this one is all because of Shahz. 🥰 Thanks, Shahz!!! Shahz kept mentioning this one over on the Patreon Drama Exchange and finally I decided to jump in and join her for the watch. First, though, I had to catch up with her and I thought, “Ok this might take some time since this Show has 30 episodes.” Little did I know I had set myself up for a deep dive into a complete binge. What was supposed to be a nice, paced marathon turned into a flat out Sprint to catch up with Shahz! WOW oh WOW!

With the opening music 🎶 I. was. in. Thankfully, Shahz gave me a heads-up that child actors were in the first several episodes and that it was a bit tough, but to hang in there because the Show had some good things to come including some hope. OMO! Was she right!

Anyone deciding to start this one, hang in there if you are typically not a fan of child actors carrying a show for more than one episode. These kids are flat-out amazing and the best I have seen so far in my Kdrama experience. I really missed them when they left our screen as we moved into the adult stories. Warning though, as Shahz gave me, some tough emotional stuff to watch with these kids. Hang in there!

Thankfully, KFG is in the middle of watching this one on Patreon so we get all her episode notes, which has been amazing. She has added so much depth and information to my initial watch, and that just makes me fall in love with this show all over again, while following along with her episode notes.

So, I will just let the expert handle this one and ask you to check out her review once she has finished her watch. I’ll leave you with this one fun fact – “The Show is adapted from a novel  called “Qiao Jia De Er Nü” (乔家的儿女) by Wei Xi (未夕). The Children of the Qiao family”. If anyone can find a legit English Translation let us know, please 😊

🌟 2. Yumi’s Cells 🌟

I’ll tell y’all, I had no interest in watching this one based on Viki’s picture at all. Zero. Zilch. Nada. The picture did not grab me at all and looked a little too goofy for my taste. I am ok with humor and comedy, but this looked a little out there for me.

Then, I think my fellow patrons Trent and Shahz kept talking about this one and FOMO started to set in a bit for me. I think I peeked at the first ten minutes and had terrible fremdschämen (secondhand embarrassment) and I stopped. I think someone (Trent) started talking about this terrible fremdschämen experience as well, so I thought, “Ok I am not alone and I will press on with this Show.”

Have to tell ya, I wasn’t keen on a show with animation either. Nothing against animation at all. Love it in the right setting, but just ugh.  A mix of live acting and animation? How will this work?

I so, so, so love when I am totally wrong about something and that something turns out to be such a Joy! I think this became a bonding experience for those of us watching over on KFG’s Patreon Drama Exchange. We kept talking, laughing, grimacing, giggling, crying (ok maybe that’s a stretch, but go with it 😊), getting frustrated; just the whole swing of emotions with this one. True Kdrama style – experiencing all the emotions in one Show.

And now, can we talk about those Adorable Cells?!!!! Seriously folks. How wrong was I? So wrong. The animation is fantastic. So fantastic that every time they left the screen, I went, “Wait, no come back! Why did you leave?”

They had me in stitches. They had me crying. They had me smiling. They had me glued to the screen. We all started to use the cells to describe other shows at one point, in our group chats. And we had to relive certain scenes with the cells even though we’d all just watched them together, just so we could all laugh together. Pure genius, y’all. Pure genius.

🌟 3. Mad For Each Other 🌟

I would love to be able to wax poetic about this show. And I just can’t, except to say I love this show. So much. ❤️

I went into Show not knowing much, which I think is best with this one. I won’t say much except this one moved me, such that I am pretty much at a loss of words.

The Show is only 12 episodes of around 35 minutes each, and says so much in such little time. A true gem in my opinion, and a must see. Hang in there through the beginning episodes until things calm down a bit. A GREAT example of the Netflix synopsis and picture not doing any justice to this gem. Watch it if you can! Special show. ❤️

KFG’s review is here.

🌟 4. Lost (Human Disqualification) 🌟

Once again the credit goes to Shahz ❤️ for getting me to watch this show. Another bonding experience for us on the Drama Exchange! We talked about this one at length every week nearly every day. Ok it was EVERY Day; morning and night, during the course of Show’s run, along with Paulina (Hi Paulina 👋).

KFG describes this Show so beautifully in her episode notes that once again I am leaving another one up to her review. 🥰 She used the best term to describe this Show’s emotional tone, as “a melancholic ache.”

Normally, this would not be my pick for a show because of the absence of dragons, unicorns, AND puppies. I am glad I decided to trust Shahz once again and just went on the Journey. I found this one to be deep, thought-provoking, moving, emotional and beautiful. I am glad the three of us watched this one together so we could discuss everything we saw or felt between the episodes.

Once again, I did a binge on this one to catch up with Shahz, but I do feel this one is better as a slow thoughtful burn. ✨✨✨Sending you the Galaxy✨✨ ✨

KFG’s review is here.

🌟 5. The Long Night (Cdrama) 🌟

Many thanks goes out to phl1xrd for suggesting this one to Shahz and I. Y’all. I’m telling you. Just watch this one cold. The less you know the better, if you like a good mystery. What I did not expect was for this one to stay with me, as we found ourselves discussing this one a good deal after the final episode, for many days and weeks.  Even now, I could go back and talk this one over with Shahz. Hey Shahz, remember that part…… 😊

*Ok, so technically this was released in 2020, but since I watched in 2021 I am going to make up my own rules here 😇 *

🌟 6. On the Verge of Insanity (OVOI) 🌟

Well, once again Shahz found a gem while I dragged my feet on this one, mightily. Who wants to watch a Show based in an office setting? Would watching paint dry be better? Even though Shahz had a proven track record with me by now, I could not get past the whole human resource thing, people at work, all about being in an office. Paint still needs to dry so maybe that’s my better choice here? 🤔

I think Sean (Thanks Sean!!) pushed me over the edge to join Shahz (Sorry Shahz 🙁), and whaddya know, I started the show completely hooked and puzzled all at the same time. When a show hooks me, generally it’s because of the music. And the opening music had me hooked, or else I would have left in the beginning. My usual rule is to give a new show a three episode chance. *Random Side Note for a favorite show – Familiar Wife took me five episodes*

Shahz kept saying that this one was so funny. And I wasn’t finding the funny 🤔 until Episode 5 with my first watch. I went back though and watched the beginning again and finally found the funny. 😂 This is a special show y’all. Just jump in and go with it. Amazing soundtrack, too.

🌟 7. Hospital Playlist 1 & 2 🌟

How do I explain this Show? Warm fuzzies all over with a dollop of Happiness? This is one of the shows I mentioned in my music section that while the music did not work for me, the show totally held my attention. From the fantastic ensemble leads, to the supporting characters, to the bit players, to the writing, the stories they told, the everyday occurrences; everything came together like magic for me, in Season 1.

Season 2 was a little bit rougher for me and well, I groused a little (ok a lot😅) about a couple of episodes, but I forgave the show anyways because sometimes its me, Show, not you. 😬

While these are definitely longer than usual episodes, for me, I did not notice as I was happy to be ensconced in this world of our Fab Five. They left a hole once they wrapped. Sniffle. 😢 What was very nice to learn was, the ensemble leads felt the same way and went on to film a special together called Mountain Village Playlist (article is here). See, its not only just us the fans who miss these magical shows. The cast misses them as well. 🥰

KFG’s review of Season 1 is here, and her review of Season 2 is here. 

🌟 8. The Rational Life (Cdrama) 🌟

I am sitting here trying to remember why I watched this Cdrama. KFG suggested another drama Finding Yourself and I think this one as well? Or maybe Netflix suggested this one? Oh come on, Memory Cells, kick in here, who went on break and didn’t tell me? 🧐😂

What I do remember is that the music with the opening credits sucked me right into the story. I do remember that I enjoyed The Rational Life very much and did a week-long binge because no way you can binge this one in a weekend with 35 episodes, even if they are roughly only 45 minutes long, which includes the intro and ending song credits. If you skip those you can shave off some minutes, but not enough for a weekend binge.

My point is, my week-long binge means this show was the only one where I watched multiple episodes at a time. I think this is the best way to watch this show, because of the number of episodes, the pacing, and some parts that you will avoid focusing on, with a binge in mind. Just dive in and watch this one quickly. 😁

I have two favorite parts to this Show and both are about characters. 🥰

My first favorite part of this Show is our female lead – Ruoxin, who is just tough as nails in a corporate setting while being completely feminine. I just loved how she navigated her personal life with her mother, her friends, her hobby (it’s an awesome one ✨), her relationship, and her career. 🥰

My second favorite part is Ruoxin’s relationship with her best friend, who is another strong independent woman, who completely supports and loves her best friend. And vice versa. We get to see two very different strong females with independent lives be there for each other as they both meet difficulties in life. 🥰

As for the music, even though I covered the music section already, I do have to mention two songs from the OST here. I love the intro song which routinely pulled me into the next episode. And then, fun fact: both Female and Male Leads sing one of the songs from the OST, and the song is called “Understand” (懂) by Qin Lan & Wang He Di.

KFG has the Full OST in her review. 🎶

🌟 9. Dali & Cocky Prince 🌟

This Show appears twice in my post because I can do that, right? I am in charge of my favorites and its MY list so I get to make the decisions and write the rules, right? Right! 😂😂😂 Once here and once somewhere else. 😬 While we did not come to consensus on this show over on the Drama Exchange, I still love this little Show, flaws and all. More details in that “other” section. 😇

🌟 10. My Roommate is a Gumiho 🌟

Here is my one and only show with a Fantasy Element 😭 to make my favorite list for 2021. Sniffle. 😢  How I so wish I had more Fantasy Shows for 2021!  I love this genre of Urban Fantasy which is where Bride of Habaek would be categorized, I think. 🧐 I did wish for more CGI (Hello, White Fox), but I soon forgot all about my need for more fantasy because I found this story to be so engaging, with a strong female lead taking us on her journey with her friends.

KFG’s review is here.

Other Awards

My Favorite Female Lead – Jeon Mi Do

Jeon Mi Do from Hospital Playlist. Love how they made her character completely tone deaf (hello me!) and she pulls this off amazingly. And in real life, this actor can “sang”. No, really, she can sing beautifully. Omo, she has such a beautiful voice. 🥰 I have heard out there in the ethers that it is very hard for good singers to sing badly. Obviously, the complete reverse is true as well. 😂

Besides nailing it for being tone deaf (I “guess” this is how I sound to my friends because to myself I sound GREAT! 😂), she holds her own in this show with four male leads, playing a strong independent working woman, without batting an eye. You show them how that’s done Jeon Mi Do! You go, girl! 🥰

My Favorite Male Lead – Bai Yu & Ahn Bo Hyun

Bai Yu aka Big Brother (Yicheng) from The Bond.

Y’all I do not even know where to start with this actor whom I have now seen, unintentionally, in three shows in 2021. Ok, once again I am invoking hyperbole. 😬 I watched a second show because of him, but the third I had no idea he was in THAT Show.

I really am astounded by his acting that I am at a loss for words. I used them all up with Shahz going over his role in The Bond over and over and over. And over.  And over. Trust me, he is my favorite male lead for 2021. ❤️ Ask Shahz, she will tell you. 🥰

Ahn Bo Hyun from Yumi’s Cells.

I am so impressed with his role in Yumi’s Cells, with his comedic turn as Woong, as I first saw him in Itaewon Class as the broken “villain”. I have a personal rule of thumb; if an actor can do comedy they can act in anything, especially dramas. I have the same rule for Sci Fi/Fantasy. If you can pull off some of those lines in Sci Fi and Fantasy, you are golden as an actor in my book. Beam me up, Scotty!

I really hope he continues to get offered a multitude of different roles, and does not get typecast as a villain or in the dark roles. He has proven his comedic and drama chops here in Yumi’s Cells, in my opinion. I look forward to more of his um, yeah, well, more of his gratuitous shower, ops, I mean shirtless, ops I mean……..more roles to stretch his acting “muscles.” 🤗

My Favorite OTPs (One True Pairing)

I am going to go WAY outside the box on this category because hey I am writing this post! 😇

My non-traditional pick

I am picking from The Bond’s Big Brother & His Siblings 🥰

Through all their trials and tribulations that began in childhood, they have managed to stay together as a family weathering all the storms together and separately when need be.

At the end of the day, they continue to be there for one another and respectful of each other’s lives even if they tend to be overly involved in each other lives. The Siblings respect Big Brother (Yicheng) instead of ignoring him as they get older and find their own families. They continued to maintain the core relationships that bonded them as a family and let each other know how important they are to one another until the end of the Show. I love them, plain and simple. ❤️

My more traditional pick

For an inside the box definition of OTP, I am going with my favorite couple in Hospital Playlist who make you smile, laugh, tear up, cry and just plain Happy 🥰

[SPOILER ALERT] Chae Song-hwa  & Lee Ik-jun – friends with secret crushes to best friends who never say anything to finally OTP. Whoever knew a scene in the car in the rain over coffee would be so special? 🥰 [END SPOILER] 

My Favorite Female Supporting actor – Kang Ha Na

Can I tell you how many shows I have seen Kang Han Na in, before I saw My Roommate is a Gumiho (MRIAG)? LOTS! Ok more than two for sure! Familiar Wife, Start Up, and Rain or Shine (Just Between Lovers). So, when she appeared on screen I was ready for her usual role of pretty girl with slight attitude, or just plain mean. 🙁

OMO ya’ll! Can I tell you she blew me away with her comedic timing in MRIAG. Seriously. How is she so funny and how have we not seen her be so funny in other shows? Ok, well, how have I not seen her be funny in other shows? She stole several scenes for me and made her whole character just work.

And her cute little [SPOILER ALERT] romance [END SPOILER] aww come on. 🥰 Too cute for words. I’ll say it again, I have this theory about actors those who can pull off Comedy, Fantasy and/or Sci Fi; they can basically handle any role, even the heavy dramas. I will watch her in anything now especially if Unicorns and Puppies are there. 🥰

My Favorite Male Supporting Actor – Lee Sang Yeob

Lee Sang Yeob in On The Verge of Insanity does such a good job as the character Han Se Kwon. He was part of our favorite trio that Shahz called The Unholy Trinity 😂

[SPOILER-ISH] While his character frustrated me and infuriated me most of the time, with his always questionable judgement, the actor did such a great job with his role that I could not help but love his character and want to see him on my screen more. And let me tell you, some of the things he did were so maddening that you wanted him gone. Yet, somehow, for some reason, we kept getting swayed by him, and that’s all because, I think, of Lee Sang Yeob’s acting. Shahz – remember the bathtub scene that was shown three times?!?! 😂😂😂 [END SPOILER]

My Favorite Ensemble – Yumi’s Cells & Bossam Family

Once again, making up my own rules here and picking two. 😬

Yumi’s Cells

Seriously. They stole the Show and had me in stitches, constantly. We discussed them so much over on Patreon and they became how we described other shows as well. How can you not love any of them – Love Cell, Rational Cell, Sensitive Cell, Naughty Cell 😂,  Naughtyasaurus 😂😂😂, Writer Cell, Travel Cell, Fashion Cell, Hunch Cell, and so many more.

Bossam Family

Ah, Bossam. Had me hooked from the beginning and then the palace politics wore me out. Seriously, why is it always the Left State Councilor (LSC) in all the sageuks? Can someone please explain this one to me?

The best bright spot in this whole Show, for me was the found-family dynamics between the five of them: Ba-woo, Princess, Little One Cha-dol, Court Lady Jo and Chun Bae! Thanks Natalia for reminding me about this little family. 🥰

I wanted them on the screen ALL of the time. Their chemistry as an ensemble was fantastic as they wove between the silly and serious moments. Can we have a Bossam 2: Family Edition only please? 😬🤞🥰 

🍓 Razzie Award: Show that promised so much…….. 🍓

While I would love everything to be Puppies, Rainbows and Unicorns at all times, always, sometimes we just have a show that we saw all the good parts try to come together so hard, and just, well, we love them anyways for their effort and say, better luck in the future and thanks for giving this one your all – Dali & Cocky Prince.

This one hurts lots, y’all. LOTS. I LOVE, I mean LOVE Park Gyu Young. Her role in Romance is a Bonus Book is so fantastic, I kept thinking, “Wow I hope she gets a lead role one day.” AND SHE DID! OMO! She was just lovely in this role as Dali; I wish the show could have done the same in its entirety.

I did though, watch the Show to the end. I even watched the episodes pre-subs and with subs completed, so I saw each episode during its run twice, all for PGY! Did I mention I love her? 🥰🥰🥰🥰

My Favorite for a Rewatch

Um. All of them ? 😉 Seriously. No, really. All of them 🥰

Closing Thoughts – Finally! 😂

Well, we made it to the end, y’all! Whew! 😅 I did not think I would get to the end AND I did not realize I had so many words to write about 2021 Kdramas. I thought I used them all up with Shahz et al. over at the Drama Exchange. 🥰

Thanks for hanging in there with me as we went through my List of Favorites for 2021. Hope everyone enjoyed. And, if you didn’t, well, don’t tell me! 😂

Thanks again to Shahz for this very fun idea for 2021. Another Bonding experience for us. 🥰🥰🥰

Most, most, most of all, many, many, many thanks to KFG for this time and space to do a guest post. Deeply grateful and honored. ❤️ 

~JJ

P.S. Shahz – what are we watching, next?