If you’ve been waiting and wondering whether my year-in-review would ever come out, I apologize. 😅

Here it is, finally.

I know it’s almost April now, so mine is probably not only the last End Of Year review of 2023 on this site, it’s probably the last one in the entire drama blogosphere. 😂

In my defense, we’ve been having lots of guest posts from folks on Patreon, sharing their year-end reviews, so that we can have a more wholistic look at Dramaland’s offerings.

With the community chiming in, we get to see a bigger range of dramas mentioned – so this approach doesn’t give us a fast overview of Dramaland, but.. it offers a pretty good one?

This year, we’ve had 15 (!!) guest year-end wrap posts (they’re all listed here!), and now, I hope you’ve still got room in your heart for one more. 😉

My Drama Year in 2023

I feel like for a while now, each time I sit down to write a year-end review, I come up with a similar sentiment.

Like, yes, I’ve been hearing that folks are generally underwhelmed by the state of Dramaland, and the quality of the drama offerings, but.. I still managed to have a solid drama year, nonetheless.

Of course, personal tastes differ, and what works for me might not work for you, etc, so that might explain why someone else might have a different experience.

I concede that there were fewer standout dramas in 2023 compared to 2022, but I do think that 2023 managed a very decent showing.

In 2022, I had 9 dramas in the A-grade range, and in 2023, I had 5. That feels like a pretty significant difference.

Coincidentally, I had exactly 9 shows in the B++ range, for both 2022 and 2023.

What’s different in my 2023 drama year, is that I watched a lot of shows that fall into the B+ range. I just did a count, and I have 13 dramas rated B+.

For the record, B+ is still a respectable grade, in my books.

In fact, some of you have told me that if I rate a show B+ or higher, you take that as an indication that you should check out the show.

Overall, I take this to mean that we’ve had a positive drama year in 2023; we’ve got a fair majority of shows being solidly watchable – but with fewer standouts that are truly excellent.

A slightly disappointing result, in a sense, but certainly not a result that should make us break up with Dramaland or anything, I think. Maybe all Dramaland and I need is a bit of.. relationship therapy? 😉

A bit of personal context

For context, I do think that I’m becoming pickier with my dramas as I go. I do always try to keep an open mind, but sometimes, my jadedness does peek out somewhat, when I get underwhelmed by writing that I consider uninspired, and execution that I consider pedestrian.

Also for context, I do try to step outside my drama comfort zone to try out a show, if I hear that it’s well-written and well-made.

This does help me to ensure a solid drama year, because even if Dramaland doesn’t manage to put out a bunch of great rom-coms, for example, it will still put out some great stuff.

How this post works

I say this in every year-in-review post, but I feel it’s worth saying again, for anyone who’s encountering my year-end review for the first time.

As always, I’m only including dramas that ended in 2023, because it’s always made more sense to me, to judge a drama only after it’s finished its run.

It’s only fair, I think, since Dramaland has proven to us time and again, how a drama can bomb at the very last minute. 😜

As always, what works for me, might not work for you, and vice versa, but I still hope this overview helps you to discover some great dramas to love.

Because you guys seem to like it, I’m also including a new section at the end of the post, where I name my Best Drama, Best Actors, etc, like I did last year.

I hope you guys enjoy. ❤️

The Ones Worth Making Time For

Moving

I think the most remarkable thing about Moving, is that it’s got so many moving parts (pun quite perfect, but absolutely not intended! 😁), and yet, it all works together, SO well.

A great story, lots of important backstories, well-drawn characters, well-developed relationships, a compelling conflict? Check, check, check, check, and check.

This one made me laugh, and cry, and think, and care, and clutch my heart, and it’s just all-around excellent. 🥲

Yes, it gets bloody and violent, but the blood and violence is narratively warranted, rather than gratuitous, and it’s worth pushing through the violence, for the context that it provides – and ultimately, this will only make you think more, and care more.

Highly recommend, even if this one’s not your usual preferred genre of show.

Grade: A+

Review: here.

Call It Love

A very thoughtful, lovely, meaty drama whose exploration of our characters and their relationships is sensitive and tender.

Everything is carefully conceived, and executed in a thoughtful, unhurried sort of manner, and our actors do a fantastic job of bringing our characters to life, in a way that feels understated, raw and real.

I would categorize this as being similar to My Mister and Lost, which are both shows that I loved a great deal.

Grade: A-

Review: here.

Twinkling Watermelon

This one’s THE biggest surprise, on this top-tier list.

It manages to be so warm, so feel-good, and so full of heartfelt, poignant feels, and in such a consistent manner, that I was often very, very pleasantly surprised by how much I was smiling, coming away from an episode.

The romance in this is a touch on the more muted side of things, but the bromantic, familial, platonic feels are so strong, that I feel it more than makes up for it.

Such strong nostalgic, youthful, earnest feels. I love.

Grade: A-

Review: here.

Daily Dose of Sunshine

A brave, tender, and compassionate look at mental health that isn’t bright or shiny like its title suggests, but is hopeful and gentle, and more than worth the investment of your drama hours.

I was most surprised by how relatable and illuminating the various cases worked out to be, and I feel like I learned a good amount of helpful stuff, not just in terms of looking out for my own mental health, but also, in terms of having more empathy and understanding for those around me, who might be struggling.

Very worthwhile.

Grade: A-

Review: here.

Hidden Love [China]

This one doesn’t work for everyone, so I think it’s helpful to state that upfront. There are some lens adjustments that apply, which I talk more about in my review.

If you are able to get into a comfortable viewing lens with this one, this little show brings allll of the feels, and so very well too.

It brings to pulsing life, what it feels like to be young and experiencing your first crush, and not knowing what to do with all of these new feelings.

Show can be really quite cracky in spots, and is, overall, a fun, easy watch.

Grade: A-

Review: here.

Solid Watches I’d Recommend

Alchemy Of Souls: Light And Shadow

Your mileage may vary, but I really, really enjoyed this second season (Season 1 review is here!).

Season 2 is just as magicky as Season 1, and I do think that the building of such a magicky world is pretty fresh and brave, for kdramaland.

I thought the switch in lead actress was well-handled, and I personally loved Go Youn Jung in this; I found her utterly luminous. 🤩

I also loved the OTP loveline in this, which I also felt was very well-handled, given the tricky balance that is required; that Show build something new and fresh and engaging, while respecting what had been built between the OTP (with a different actress!) in Season 1.

Very solid, despite a few wobbles here and there.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Recipe For Farewell

This one turned out to be so much gentler and comforting than I’d first expected, given the premise – that our female lead is terminally ill.

Given the difficult subject matter, I’d expected a difficult, emotional melodrama, but instead, Show is tender and hopeful, and puts as much emphasis on love and life, as it does, with dealing with death and loss.

Thoughtful, calming and very worthwhile.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

My Perfect Stranger

If you’re able to look past Show’s basic production values, the lack of emphasis on the time travel itself (like the butterfly effect and all that), and the subtle approach to the romance, Show works out to be a nicely consistent watch that is able to bring lots of heartfelt feels.

I was very much invested in the story that Show wanted to tell, and enjoyed exploring the relationships presented – as well as the central mystery.

Importantly, Show stays consistent, AND it ends strong.

Not bad at all, yes?

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Dr. Romantic 3

If you enjoyed Seasons 1 and 2 of this show (open threads for Season 1 here and review for Season 2 here!), I’d say that you’re more than likely to enjoy this third installment.

Season 3 is certainly not perfect, but neither are the previous two seasons.

What Season 3 does, is give us enough of the heartfelt, stirring, poignant feels that we’ve come to know and love from this franchise, while allowing us to reunite with beloved and familiar characters of whom we have fond memories.

What’s not to love about that, yes? 😁

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Meet Yourself [China]

A comforting, earthy watch that feels like a vicarious healing vacation to beautiful, scenic Yunnan.

I love Show’s slice-of-life vibe, where we feel like we’re tagging along our characters’ lives, and just being that silent friend on the couch – or a quiet fly on the wall.

The romance in this is of the low-key, everyday variety, which is a strand of romance that I find I’ve really come to enjoy.

It makes the romance feel all the more real and accessible, and it feels really healthy, too, as I observe our OTP making everyday decisions that honor the other person, and their relationship.

As a plus, Show does also give a nice amount of focus to the topic of rural displacement.

Very heartwarming and enjoyable.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Nothing But You [China]

I’m very pleasantly surprised by just how much this one is lingering with me, long after I’ve finished my watch, and written my review.

The underdog story is a big draw for sure, but the thing that stays with me, long after I’ve finished the show, is the central loveline.

I love this OTP a great deal, and I love the everyday romance that we get to witness between them, whether it’s in the early getting-to-know-you courtship days, the early relationship phase, or the more mature, stable phase that comes afterwards.

I thought Wu Lei and Zhou Yu Tong were really great together, so much so that I’ve had to consciously convince myself that it’s ok to put this OTP aside, in order to enjoy these actors in other OTP pairings.

So good – if you are able to appreciate Show’s slice-of-life approach.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

When I Fly Towards You [China]

Anecdotally, this show is the antidote for those who didn’t take to Hidden Love (mentioned above, and review here).

This one’s more earthy and less glossy that Hidden Love, which is part of its charm.

Very youthful, sweet and wholesome, with cheerful, likable characters that you just can’t help but grow fond of.

Lots of feels to go around, as this one’s as much about friendship, as it is about young love. 🥰

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Oh No! Here Comes Trouble [Taiwan]

This one’s pretty different and special, I’d like to say.

It’s got an interesting premise, where our protagonist discovers that he has the ability to see obsessions, in the form of supernatural beings, and that he also has the ability to set them free.

Show feels like it’s part cultural insight, part superhero origin story, and part live donghua (Chinese animation).

Tseng Jing Hua is fantastic as our mostly deadpan protagonist. He really stood out to me, among the rest of the cast, and I felt that he made Pu Yi Yong a truly memorable character.

A really different and refreshing watch, overall.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

The Makanai: Cooking For The Maiko House [Japan]

A lovely little show that follows the journey of Kiyo, an aspiring maiko, who instead finds true passion and talent in cooking.

I love Show’s warm, understated touch, and I love-love-LOVE Kiyo, our protagonist, for her gentle, sweet optimism and good nature.

Another wonderful highlight, is Kiyo’s friendship with best friend Sumire. Their relationship is wonderfully wholesome, through all of the ups and downs, and I just loved how grounded they are, in trust and love, for each other.

As a bonus, you learn a lot about the maiko / geiko culture, which I thought was pretty special too.

Grade: B++

Review: here.

Love To Hate You

A fun, modern rom-com that’s easy to slurp up – provided you don’t think too hard, or too much.

Show’s biggest strengths, I feel, are that it moves its story along at a brisk pace, and our OTP shares a pretty fab, sparky sort of chemistry.

Together, these two things make Show a fun little drama snack that’s easy to inhale in several big gulps.

Remember not to chew too much, though. 😉

Grade: B+

Review: here.

The Glory [Part 2]

Overall, I found this to be a solid continuation of Part 1 (review here!), though I preferred Part 1 to Part 2.

I personally felt that Part 2 dipped at the end, and didn’t feel as satisfying as I’d hoped, but I will also say, that this really depends on what you look for in a drama, specifically a revenge story.

I didn’t care for the romance too much, but we do get great performances from Song Hye Kyo and Im Ji Yeon, so those were the personal highlights of my watch.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Perfect Marriage Revenge

A solidly entertaining and engaging B-grade makjang, Perfect Marriage Revenge is easy to slurp up in large servings.

There’s a contract marriage at the center of this story, which works out to be a pretty strong, appealing OTP relationship, overall.

Not the best in any categories (like writing, execution, production values or acting), but is pretty solid on balance, and is consistent, all the way to the end – which is more than I can say for many other dramas.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Not Bad; Worth Checking Out

Crash Course in Romance

I liked this one for the romance, because a rom-com featuring mature leads is pretty rare in Dramaland, and we have two strong leads to serve up the chemistry and feels in this one.

Not all viewers were into this pairing, but I thought that Jung Kyung Ho and Jeon Do Yeon were pretty great together, and shared a nice amount of chemistry.

You do have to bear with the requisite side of murder, however, and that’s.. not great, but.. it’s not something you haven’t done before..? 😅

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Doctor Cha

If you’re looking for a underdog story about a mature woman looking to rediscover herself and her mojo, this one does the job.

Show isn’t elegant by any means, but it’s heartfelt and earnest, which is enough to make one feel generous enough to overlook the relative lack of nuance.

A little too strong in the family dramatics department in its second half, but still works out to be a solid watch, overall.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

The Love You Give Me [China]

Your mileage may vary, but I found this to be a very enjoyable, angst-lite sort of watch.

I love the idea of a second-chance romance, and I enjoyed this one very much. Yes, you have to suspend disbelief sometimes, and yes, you can’t think too hard about things, but overall, I really liked the coming back together of our OTP.

I very much enjoyed watching our OTP together, and I also loved the little family sort of dynamic, whenever their kid is around, like in this picture.

Overall, a fun, slurpy little show – with the right lens.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

My Journey To You [China]

This is a case of a drama being really, really good and grabby in its first half, and then wobbling a lot in its second half – which is how I ended up giving it a B+.

When Show was at its best, I was inhaling episodes back-to-back with glee, always eager to press “play” on the next episode, right after finishing the episode in front of me.

I thought Show was darkly, elegantly stylish, and very beautiful to look at. I also found the writing very intriguing, and I was completely fascinated by how everything might fit together, in terms of the plot pieces.

Show does kind of start to slide off the rails towards the end, and the ending is, er, divisive, but I still thought this one was worth a look.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

A Journey To Love [China]

I’ll say this: If Show had chosen a different ending, I would have ranked it much, much higher, on this list.

The reason for that, is the fantastic OTP, and the excellent secondary cast. I invested so much of my heart into these characters, that just listening to the OST brings back all the feels for me, even now.

So I do really recommend this show – just consider my suggested alternative ending point, so that you can enjoy all the good stuff in this one, without having to go near the infamous ending. 😁

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Okay, if it’s your style / you can spare the time

Black Knight

If you don’t expect anything too deep, and just go into this one like you would a blockbuster movie, this works out to be reasonably enjoyable, I think.

Kim Woo Bin is very good in this, and manages to emote even when his face is covered by a mask.

Reasonably engaging, if you don’t go in expecting too much.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

See You In My 19th Life 

Show starts with a bang, and promises to be this whimsical, magical creature, with its fantasy premise and its very, very pretty visuals.

I found the OTP rather lacking, both in concept and execution, but found the overall story strong enough, to make up for this.

Personally, I felt Show could have served up a stronger ending, but overall, Show works out to be a reasonably interesting watch.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Celebrity

I found this quite engaging, not because I found the characters likable, nor because I felt invested in their journeys, nor because I found the main loveline believable.

Unfortunately, I’d say that Show didn’t do it for me, on all of those fronts.

Rather, I found this one engaging because there’s a “Omo, what’s really going on here?” sort of quality to the story as it unfolds. I just really wanted to know the truth behind Show’s entire premise: was our female lead actually dead, like everyone believes?

In the end, Show does provide an answer that makes sense, so that made it feel worthwhile, even though I didn’t actually feel truly invested in this one.

Grade: B+

The Worst Of Evil

This one’s a pretty interesting mesh between crime noir and a more typical kdrama sort of sensibility.

Like, yes, things get bloody and gritty and moral lines get blurred, but also, we get first loves and love triangles and childhood connections, and it all comes together reasonably well, actually.

Not bad, if you’re in the mood for crime noir lite, with a good helping of Ji Chang Wook and Wi Ha Jun, to make it all go down easier. 😁

Grade: B+

Review: here.

Hi Venus [China]

This one is an angst-lite romance with lots of green flag behavior on display from our male lead, which probably contributes in large part to the good helping of healthy OTP dynamics that we get, alongside.

I mean, we even get nice chaebol parents, in this drama world. That ought to give you a flavor for how green flag everything is.

Unfortunately, I feel that Show slumps somewhat, in its last third, and that makes the watch less enjoyable.

Not super memorable for me personally, but I think it’s fun for a little whirl.

Grade: B+

Review: here.

King The Land

A frothy, angst-lite rom-com without a side of murder, with very, very good-looking leads, one of whom was Junho, whom I love?

I wanted to love this, so darn much.

Unfortunately, Show’s desire to be a worry-free, happy place, also meant that there wasn’t enough narrative tension to keep things feeling tight and interesting, and my enjoyment and interest flagged a lot, in Show’s last third.

But, there are hot kisses and lots of romance, so if you can adjust your expectations downwards, this could be a nice, comforting sort of watch?

Grade: B

Review: here.

A Time Called You

This one.. is akin to the Cliff’s notes version of Someday Or One Day, which is Show’s Taiwanese source material.

So if you had trouble getting into Someday Or One Day, or understanding some of its plot developments, this show could make that all work more easily for you, because it lays out everything in a manner that makes it easier to digest.

To me, that’s the value that Show brings to the table.

If you loved Someday Or One Day, however, then it’s probably better if you just rewatched it, because this one doesn’t quite manage to recapture the SOOD magic, in my opinion.

Grade: B

Review: here.

My Lovely Liar

Kim So Hyun and Minhyun are really cute together; it’s like watching two puppies play, when their OTP is given space to be winsome and charming.

Unfortunately, Show does get weighed down by its side of murder, and overall, everything – including the OTP loveline – does become less enjoyable to watch, in Show’s second half.

As a silver lining, we get a happy ending and the cute does get a bit of the spotlight, so.. all’s well that ends well?

Grade: B

Review: here.

Castaway Diva

Your mileage may vary, because there’s a section of viewers who really loved this one, whereas I ended up feeling more.. lukewarm, towards it.

Show’s lack of a strong focus and its uneven characterization definitely dampened my enthusiasm, but on the upside, we get to hear Park Eun Bin’s excellent singing voice, which, to me, is just about worth the price of admission.

Well intentioned and feel-good enough, to make it worth a shot.

Grade: B

Review: here.

Shows that I didn’t feel were worth the effort, to be honest

Heartbeat

Show was marketed as a rom-com, but it ultimately doesn’t turn out to be a rom-com at all, really, which makes me feel like I was basically catfished..? 😅

When Show was funny, it felt fresh and silly, and that was pretty darn great. There were several moments when I even found myself laughing out loud.

However, Show serves up a perplexing ending that is.. not great. 😬

Let me put it this way: I managed to find a lens through which I was able to make peace with the ending, but if I’d known going in, what I know now, about that ending, I wouldn’t have bothered to start, in the first place. 😅

Grade: B

Review: here.

Lesson In Love [Taiwan]

I found this one weirdly fascinating, even though I don’t objectively (or subjectively 😂) think that this is a good show.

It has a “Oh my, what’s going to happen next?” sort of hook, which is how I ended up watching the whole thing.

In the end, Show is more of a crazy makjang, once you get to the second half, but not in that juicy way that makes a good makjang delicious.

It was alright in a morbidly fascinating sort of way, but honestly not really worth 12 hours of your life, if you know what I mean. 😅

Grade: B

Review: here.

Our Blooming Youth

Your mileage may vary, since there are folks who really love this one.

I personally, however, found this to be too long and protracted, with too much filler, and too few bright spots.

The writing was, in my opinion, very uneven and uninspired, and at times, even rather aggravating.

The acting was a mixed bag for me as well, even though I have a big soft spot for Park Hyung Sik in general.

It was quite a slog to get to the finish line, to be brutally honest, and I wouldn’t do it again. 🙈

Grade: B-

Review: here.

True To Love

When Show was at its best, it showed so much promise, demonstrating insights that felt thoughtful and nuanced.

However, a lot of the time, Show is pretty uneven, and even fumbles spectacularly, at points, which is when I found myself wondering what exactly writer-nim could be thinking, to write in such a way. 😅

Overall, I feel that Show’s frustrating parts outweighed the good parts, and therefore I wouldn’t personally recommend this one.

Grade: B-

Review: here.

The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract

This one started so well, before things went so, so downhill, for me.

Show has its variety of issues, but I think the biggest problem, is that it tries to be too grandiose for its own good, basically.

Our OTP loveline just isn’t developed enough, to support the idea of epic love that writer-nim’s trying to push, and that just makes everything fall pretty flat, unfortunately.

Grade: B-

Review: here.

The Heavenly Idol

This was a fun idea, of our protagonist being a heavenly priest who finds himself in a kpop idol’s body, but Show runs out of steam playing with this idea, pretty quickly.

Show then spends too much time and energy on the supernatural conflict stuff, which I found unnecessarily convoluted and largely uninteresting.

Pretty underwhelming, overall, to be brutally honest.

Grade: C+

Review: here.

Probably not for you, if your drama taste is like mine

Unchained Love [China]

I wanted to love this because Dylan Wang looked so badass and commanding in the trailer, but.. this was not good.

The female lead is played too weirdly colloquial to make sense, and the loveline feels forced and unnatural, to my eyes.

And so, Show ramping up the loveline in favor of the revenge plot, just did not work for me.

I dropped out at episode 10.

Dropped Post: here.

Love is an Accident

I thought this would be a cheap and cheerful little show that I could enjoy for a bit of fluff, but I was wrong. 😅

Basically, I rather liked Xu Kai Cheng in this, and thought the loose manbun looked rather cool (see above), and that was the main (and eventually, only) thing that kept me going.

The dealbreaker for me, was the way Xing Fei was delivering our female lead, with an odd lack of feeling, and which therefore tanked any potential OTP spark for me.

In a little show like this where the OTP relationship is the Main Event, you can see why this would convince me that this show was never going to work for me. 😅

I made it 12 episodes into this one.

Dropped Post: here.

Lost You Forever

I’d actually found this show interesting and therefore quite watchable, for a good stretch.

I found our female lead a pretty unique character, and thought the reverse-harem set-up was fascinating, if nothing else.

In the end, though, it turns out that Show’s got more dysfunction in its story world than I have an appetite for, and also, I didn’t find our female lead very likable by this point, nor did I have much interest in the quest for the throne, which was Show’s focus in its final stretch.

I dropped out at episode 35 (of 39!). 😅

Dropped Post: here.

Shows I sampled but didn’t continue watching

Love Me, Love My Voice [China]

I actually found this low-key enjoyable for a while, and used this show as a drama nightcap; something to unwind to before bed, because it was angst-lite and required not much brain power.

There wasn’t anything that I strongly disliked about this, but I do feel like I got rather bored, by the episode 13 mark.

I watched 14 episodes of this, before wandering off.

Parallel World [China]

So many of you were raving about this show in your various EOY posts, that I got curious and tried this one out.

I found it potentially interesting, but didn’t find myself in the right mood to sink myself into this dystopian-looking world, to figure out how it all ticked.

I watched just one episode of this, and have vague good intentions of going back to this sometime.

Story of Kunning Palace [China]

I find this show pretty watchable, honestly.

I like the do-over premise, and the idea that our female lead is trying to live her life better, this time around.

The main loveline seems potentially dysfunctional, and therefore somewhat morbidly fascinating, mainly because of how morally gray our male lead appears to be, so far.

I do concede that Zhang Ling He has a pretty interesting sort of presence, as said morally gray male lead.

I’ve watched 8 episodes of this, and have good intentions about going back to it, because I’ve heard that this one ends well.

Not Others

I didn’t hate what I saw of this show, but I did find the humor and sex talk out of my comfort zone and not quite to my taste.

I watched one episode of this, and found myself not going back for another.

Stealer: The Treasure Keeper

I wanted to like this, because the premise reminded me of Healer, which I loved.

Unfortunately, I found this too slapsticky for my taste.

I watched 4 episodes of this, and found myself not going back for more.

Queenmaker

I checked this out for Kim Hee Ae, and I didn’t dislike what I saw.

In fact, Show seemed to be solidly made, with potentially great performances from a strong cast.

I guess I just wasn’t that interested in the political premise, though.

I watched 2 episodes of this, and my good intentions of going back have now faded into oblivion. 😅

Delightfully Deceitful

I like both leads, but found the core idea that Show seemed to be suggesting – that our female lead is a legit sociopath with zero feelings nor sense of right or wrong, would likely change, thanks to our male lead’s care and love for her – hard to swallow.

To be clear, I am not super sure that that’s what Show eventually served up, but I didn’t have a strong enough interest to stick around to find out. 😅

I watched 2 episodes of this, and didn’t find myself going back for more.

One Day Off

I really like the concept of this show; that our female lead goes off on day trips, which turn out to be healing for her.

I do think that I like this one more in concept than execution; I found myself struggling a bit, to key in to Show’s particular brand of quirk.

I watched 3 episodes of this and have vague good intentions of going back to it.

Till The End Of The Moon [China]

I checked this out because Show was so buzzy when it aired. People really seemed to love Luo Yun Xi in this, in particular.

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t get into the story, despite making several attempts.

I watched 2 episodes of this and found that I just wasn’t feeling it.

The Starry Love [China]

I checked this out because of Show’s cheap, cheerful but grabby reputation.

Unfortunately, I found myself not feeling drawn in by Show’s story, even though most folks seemed tickled by it.

I watched 4 episodes of this and didn’t have the urge to go back.

Pre-2023 Gems

I don’t usually have this section in my year-end posts, but this year, I happened to watch a couple of pre-2023 gems, and wanted to give them each a shout-out.

Go Ahead [China] – 2020

I do love a well done family drama, and this one was that, for me, in spades. 🥰

I LOVED the idea of this found family, and I grew to love all of our core characters, in varying degrees.

The two dads make the cutest de facto married couple, and I loved the family dynamic, where everyone took care of everyone.

My favorite character was Tu Song Yan playing the “mom” dad; I luffed him, so very much, for how he mothered each kid, as if they were all his own. 🥲

The romance is low-key, but I was on board with it, and didn’t have issues with it, though some other viewers didn’t like it so much.

Overall, a wonderful, warm blanket of a show that I loved sinking into. 🥰

Grade: A

Review: here.

Silent [Japan] – 2022

I found this one to be thoughtful, understated and very special, in how sensitively it explores what it means to be hearing impaired, what it does to your relationships, and what it means, to embrace a hearing impaired individual, in practical, meaningful ways.

Clearly created and delivered with a lot of thought and care.

Very worthwhile.

Grade: A

Review: here.

The KFG Awards

Best Drama: Moving

When it comes down to it, Moving just stands head and shoulders above the rest of this year’s dramas.

It’s that all-kill thing where Show is basically strong in every respect, whether it’s writing, directing, or acting.

Just, a powerhouse all-around, that manages to feel so engaging and accessible, on both a mental and emotional level.

It feels like Show knows how to grab me in any way that I could be grabbed, and that is very, very special indeed.

Special mention: Call It Love.

Best Actor: Ryu Seung Ryong, Moving

There are lots of strong performances in Moving, but the reason I picked Ryu Seung Ryong’s performance over anyone else’s, is because I felt that this role allowed him to show the most range.

In Moving, Ryu Seung Ryong’s by turns a badass agent, a doting father, a dorky love interest, a gutsy, trusting partner, and he’s completely believable, delivering all of it.

I love how he meshes all of these traits into believable intertwined strands in Joo Won, and makes it look effortless while doing so.

A standout performance indeed. 🤩

Special mention: Kim Young Kwang (Call It Love).

Best Actress: Han Hyo Joo, Moving

I love Han Hyo Joo, and I thought she was really fantastic in Moving, as Mi Hyun, a mom who’s trying to protect her special abilities child.

She manages to bring out all of that weariness and determination, threaded through, always, with motherly love and acceptance.

And then there are the badass parts of her, which we also get to see, layered on top of – and powered by – that motherly love.

This was a great new side to Han Hyo Joo that I’d never seen before, and I thought she did an excellent, excellent job of the role.

Special mention: Liu Shi Shi (A Journey To Love).

Best Supporting Actor: Alen Fang, A Journey To Love [China]

In an ensemble cast like this one, I think it says something, that Alen Fang stands out, as the flirty, sassy Shisan.

He’s a regular scene-stealer, AND, he also delivers some really strong emotional scenes, in Show’s later stretch, which really hit me in the heart.

Very good.

Special mention: Yoon Jong Seok (Our Blooming Youth)

Best Supporting Actress: He Lan Dou, A Journey To Love [China]

There is a Reason that He Lan Dou is talked about as this show’s breakout star.

She starts out unassuming enough, but eventually, she grows her character, Yang Ying, such that we see many different layers and facets to Yang Ying; ones that we didn’t even know she had.

There are some seriously spectacular scenes that He Lan Dou delivers, in Show’s late episodes, that make me think that this award belongs to her, without a doubt.

Best OTP: A Journey To Love [China]

Even though this show didn’t turn out to be one of my top picks for the year, I cannot deny that this OTP is the one that stole my heart.

I love how their relationship is so well-written, such that we can literally see their connection grow stronger, as they come to understand each other better.

I love how they are such strong personalities individually, and yet, how they are able to form one strong unit, where they can fully trust and depend on each other.

These two loved each other in big and small ways, with all that they had, and it was very moving to witness. 🥲

Special mentions: Doo Shik and Mi Hyun (Moving), Joo Won and Ji Hee (Moving)

Best Ensemble: Dr. Romantic 3

There’s something quite special about the Doldam team, that just seeing them come together again, for Season 3, made a happy tear come to my eye. 🥲

I love that these people continue to grow as individuals, even as they learn how to better serve the larger team that forms their community.

And, above all, I love that there is genuine care among these people.

Special mentions: A Journey To Love [China]

Underrated Gem: The Makanai [Japan]

This is such a quiet, special little show that I wanted to give it this shout-out, in hopes that more people would give it a chance.

It’s quiet and unassuming, yet so warm and enjoyable, while being rich with cultural nuggets that I don’t see myself getting elsewhere.

Quite special. ❤️

Special mentions: Oh No! Here Comes Trouble [Taiwan], Nothing But You [China]

Razzie: Heartbeat

I picked Heartbeat as my Razzie this year, because it basically catfished us.

It promised to be a cute little rom-com about a half-vampire trying to become human, and then turned into a legit tragedy.

I’ve managed to make peace with the ending, but I’m very sure that lots of viewers who invested time on this one, are still bitter.

Special mentions: The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract,

Closing Thoughts

Man, that was quite a pilgrimage, walking through my drama journey of 2023!

Tallying up everything, this year, I completed 39 dramas (that’s 8 more than last year’s 31). And in total, including Dropped shows, I basically had opinions on.. 52 shows! That’s.. one for every week of the year..? 😅

See, I used those extra 3 months, and basically outdid myself this year. That’s a silver lining, kinda? 🤭

Thanks so much for sticking with me through yet another year, you guys. I literally couldn’t do this without you. 🥰

May 2024 give us lots of good dramas, and great memories to look back on – a year from now. 🥲

Fighting~! And, saranghae~ 😘

KFG ❤️