My friends!

It’s that time of year again — when we take a deep breath, look back on our 2025 drama adventures, and realize… wow, we really did have a lot of feelings™. 😂

Welcome to this year’s End-of-Year Patreon Awards! This tradition began years ago with a casual suggestion in our chat corner, and it’s since grown into one of the warmest, most spirited things we do together. 🥲

Each entry is written by a member of our lovely Patreon community, sharing their drama year in their own voice — with heart, humor, honesty, and plenty of feels.

If you missed our earlier posts, you can check them out as follows: Natalia, Kumari, Ele, MC, Diasporic Chick.

Today, ABV is sharing his drama year – and if you know ABV at all, you’d be able to guess that it’s a monster post as usual. 😁

For the uninitiated, let me just tell you that ABV is a full-on time-bender.

He manages to watch a literal ton of dramas, despite having a full-time job and other interests – AND while getting a reported full 7 hours of sleep every night! I have no idea how he does it, but I’m glad we get to benefit from his drama adventures, in the form of this EOY post. 😁

If you like ABV’s style and want to know what he thought about dramas last year, you can check out his post here!

I hope you guys enjoy!

~ KFG ❤️

INTRODUCTION:

Hello everyone. I am ABV. I have thoroughly enjoyed talking to everyone in this lovely community here and on Patreon. A massive shout-out to the wonderful space that Kfangurl has created. I have always felt happy writing the end-of-year posts, so here I am again.

I am from India. I studied law and cleared the Company Secretary course. I work as a Company Secretary, dealing with corporate and secretarial compliance.

My journey with Asian dramas started in September 2022, and I have over 400 drama completions as of the date of writing this post.

Before watching Asian dramas, I avidly watched anime, read manga, and consumed other Japanese media for over a decade. I am also a gamer, watch films, and am an ardent fan of Liverpool Football Club. Another sport I follow is cricket. I used to follow tennis, but after Roger Federer’s retirement, I stopped watching.

I have diverse interests, but ever since I stumbled onto Korean, Chinese, Japanese, and now even Thai dramas, it has been quite the relentless ride. I started with Stranger (a perfect series to start this journey), and the rest is history.

As for my genre preferences, while I started with thrillers, what I like most about K-Dramas/C-Dramas/J-Dramas/Thai-Dramas is that they are character-centric, which suits my preferences. My favourite genres are romance, slice of life, and drama. I also adore family dramas.

However, I have no issues watching most genres except period dramas; I still require a lot of incentive to watch them. Things have improved lately though, and I am more open to trying period or costume dramas now.

POST STRUCTURE:

This post will cover my drama year from January 01, 2025, to January 03, 2026. I did cheat a little bit and added three completions from the opening weekend of 2026, but this was to make up for my lacklustre December. Two out of three completions were so good that I had to include them here.

I will break up this post into four categories:

I. Top Dramas from the year 2025 which would contain dramas that finished airing in 2025 – This time, I decided to categorise the top shows from each language separately and thereafter just list my top 5 dramas of the year right at the end. I watched so many good dramas that it was difficult to just pick 10 as I did in previous years.

II. Top 10 Non-2025 Dramas

III. Top Movies

IV. Special Awards.

For the sake of variety and diversity, I decided that this would be the best way to cover more dramas. Also, note that I have ensured that there is no overlap between the categories. That way, every list will contain new titles.

I tend to do a lot of research before picking up a series to watch. That is one of the main reasons why I find KFG’s blog, The Fangirl Verdict, coupled with the Patreon community, to be an invaluable resource. Everyone here gives such meaningful and informative insights. I really appreciate all the recommendations given to me during the year.

The chances of me being disappointed by a series that I watch to completion are rather low, which is why I tend to be liberal with my drama ratings.

STATISTICS:

2025 was my best year of drama watching in terms of the number of completions. Apart from December, I was able to consistently hit double digits every month. My total number of completions, excluding multi-season entries, was 146.

K-Drama – 48

C-Drama – 27

J-Drama – 43

K-Movie – 17

J-Movie/Special – 8

Thai-Drama – 3

Here’s a picture showing all my completions, with colour codes for your reference. I can only talk about a select few dramas in this post, after all. They are in the order of completion.

I. TOP SHOWS FROM THE YEAR 2025:

K-DRAMAS

No. 7: Love Scout

Another Han Ji Min hit. Loved seeing Lee Joon-hyuk in a romance drama, and I thought the second couple were adorable. Just breezed through this; so darn easy to watch. Also, Gi So Yoo is a super-cute child actor. The romance was good and mature. I liked how the duo communicated so well.

No. 6: Second Shot at Love

I really liked Geum-ju’s (Choi Soo-young) family in this one, and the overall community vibe and togetherness was very well done. There were no unpleasant characters or drama. It had a very sensitive yet front-on approach to alcoholism and its detrimental effects.

As someone that doesn’t drink at all, this firmly backs my stance. I liked the main romance as well. It was very sweet from the beginning to the end. It was just such a warm, pleasant, light-hearted, and lovely watch.

Special mention to Kim Gwang-ok—wonderful character. Family cum romance slice-of-life drama in a countryside setting with community vibes…yes, please.

No. 5: The Manipulated

I watched this with my brother. Scintillating action scenes and Ji Chang-wook at his very best. This is the first time I saw the antagonist Doh Kyung-soo, and his character was so menacing. He was just as brilliant as Ji Chang-wook. One cannot help but root for Tae-joong as he fights to clear his name.

This series kept us on the edge of our seats throughout. We literally blazed through it. One of the most heartwarming relationships of the year is the one between Tae-joong and Yong-sik. And Eunbi. I love the three of them. The ending was satisfactory as well.

No. 4: The Winning Try

What a watch! The hook was something else. The rugby boys and Ju Ga-ram (Yoon Kye-sang) were so adorable and easy to root for. This show had just the right bit of everything: friendship, teamwork, romance, politics, drama, sports, and the underdog theme.

I also liked Im Se-mi’s role for the first time ever. That’s new, too. The shooting part of the show me a bit to warm up to, but it was just as engaging as rugby in the end. Also, I really had a soft spot for Kil Hae-yeon. Loved her in this.

No. 3: Love, Take Two

Boy, was this up my alley. Every aspect of it just works perfectly for my preferences and taste: family drama with some romance, sweet friendships, healing drama, gorgeous countryside setting, community vibe, slice of life, such lovely relationships, and a warm-hearted tone throughout. Sign me up every single time.

This is an underrated gem, and no drama stirred me emotionally as much as this one did all year. The series is about the unwavering, deep, irrevocable love between mother and daughter. This series in a nutshell pays tribute to every mother figure possible.

But that’s not all; there are several characters in and around them who form wonderful bonds throughout the series. It teaches you to live life to the fullest. Treasure your loved ones and enjoy what you do. The series had several moments where I could not stop myself from bursting into tears. Equally, it had many moments where I could not help but have a big goofy grin on my face.

All the actors brought their A-game too. This series was just beautiful, and it could not have been paced better. It did everything I wanted it to. It made me immensely content at the end. I could not have wished for a more satisfying ending.

This show also has a very pleasant soundtrack. Particularly “Lover” which was one of my favourite songs of the year. Everything about the show just hits the right notes for me. I just savoured the whole watching experience.

No. 2: Resident Playbook

The four lead characters were simply adorable. While Shin Shi-ah was my personal favourite (she got all the emotional scenes in the drama), the other three weren’t far behind. Together, all of them were just so much fun.

You could see that this cast was carefully picked and that they had a blast filming this series and enjoyed each other’s company. I desperately want a second season.

This felt like a quintessential slice-of-life drama. The show is supremely confident in its writing and execution. The interactions are so well done, the humour worked for me, and the show also teaches valuable lessons about life and death. There are poignant or meaningful messages in every episode.

I haven’t even touched on the music and the Hospital Playlist cameos, which I loved. I’ll never forget the karaoke scene, Hi-Boyz, the song When the Day Comes and the dance.

No. 1: Our Unwritten Seoul

This was nothing short of outstanding. Wow. What a drama! A healing slice-of-life journey of character growth filled with some exemplary acting, character interactions, and emotional moments.

Park Bo-young knocked it out of the park in this one as Mi-ji and Mi-rae.

I really did enjoy every single character dynamic, relationship, and journey here. The mothers were awesome, the male leads were lovable, the younger versions of the leads were fantastic, there were some very nice friendships, and of course, the grandmother was precious.

And Won Mi-Kyung as Kim Ro-sa – I’ve seen her in three dramas: My Unfamiliar Family, Wonderful World, and now, Our Unwritten Seoul – all 10/10s and among my favourites.

This drama had everything I like about K-Dramas in general. Show handled sensitive topics with tact, and it’s another series with really well-thought-out episode titles.

Also, the way the drama tied up every single loose end was amazing. One of the most complete endings I’ve ever seen, and this is, without doubt, a drama that I will keep revisiting.

C-DRAMAS

No. 7: The Best Thing

This gave me some Meet Yourself vibes, and I really liked the core characters. It had a slice-of-life feel, a lovely soundtrack, gave some knowledge about traditional Chinese medicine, and everything about it was just to my taste.

No. 6: Fragrance of the Pomegranates

This was a drama I just accidentally came across. When I was reading some comments on MDL, people mentioned that it was somewhat similar to Meet Yourself. I needed no second invitation and picked it up immediately.

It really did feel similar for the most part; at least, it is as close as any show I have seen so far.

The male lead, Ming Liang (Bai Yu Fan), was such a good man and easy to root for. The music was pleasant, there were gorgeous landscapes, lots of delightful food, wildlife, and a lovable cast of characters.

Beyond all that, it was a warm tale of growth, touched on the restaurant-running business, and had a couple of love lines too. So, it really had a bit of everything.

It’s also just 20 episodes, so definitely not a long watch either. It is a tad more serious than Meet Yourself, particularly the final stretch, but still has a warm feel.

No. 5: Filter

This one was honestly a blast for me. Such a unique experience. The comedy/humour worked a treat for me; the romances were great. The friendship and camaraderie between the female leads and the male leads were a major highlight for me. I also liked the closure we got in the end.

All in all, this was a very memorable watch.

No. 4: Coroner’s Diary

A costume drama that I found and watched of my own volition. This is one of the rarest occurrences for me, as everyone knows how hard it is for me to watch a period drama.

The series had a perfect balance of mystery, forensic investigation, and romance. The leads were wonderful together and trusted each other fully.

The series also put the female lead, Landi Li in an unconventional and unique situation of being a woman adept in both medicine and forensic investigation. It was amazing how she was portrayed to be an outlier but incredibly great at her job.

Sure, both leads are a tad too perfect, but I don’t mind that at all. I much prefer that to an overwhelming amount of angst, political scheming, and unpleasant characters, as is common with costume dramas.

The job of a coroner was looked down upon, but the female lead plays such a pivotal role throughout the series in highlighting its importance. The male lead supports her fully, as do the second and third leads.

All characters are likable and fun. Each individual case or arc was so engaging.

This is one of my favourite costume dramas, I think, and the tone of the series was a massive reason for it. There is, of course, a revenge story in this, and the last few episodes are just bonkers as the final mystery and resolution are revealed.

No. 3: The First Frost

I loved this while watching but appreciated it more after completing it. I have been revisiting scenes constantly since then and Sang Yan + Wen Yi Fan are a fantastic couple.

It is a common title on many EOY lists with good reason. This drama really hit me hard emotionally, and I always love a strong romance.

I appreciated KFG translating the episode titles because I feel the show does a great job of utilizing them. Another outstanding soundtrack.

No. 2: Light Beyond the Reed

The drama was a masterclass in character development.

Both leads, Ye Sibei (Mao Xiao Tong) and Qin Nan (Vin Zhang), were simply exceptional. I rooted for them from minute one, and that was more than enough motivation for me to pick this up.

As painful as the subject matter of this show is, it is handled with so much tact, and everything just feels real. There is so much raw emotion in this show.

I know that we watch dramas as an escape from reality, but in this instance, I think this drama had so much impact because of how real it felt.

[BROAD FOUNDATIONAL SPOILERS]

This show is about a fight for justice after the female lead’s sexual assault and portrays how her husband, who was on the brink of divorcing her, becomes her number one support. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

The widespread impact of reporting the incident and the effect it had on all of the parties involved was so aptly portrayed.

[END BROAD FOUNDATIONAL SPOILERS]

What impressed me most was how all the characters felt distinctly human. As a viewer, you could certainly justify every character’s action, which is not something many dramas can pull off.

Oh! And finally, we get some competent police officers who actually do their job properly.

Just seeing all the support that Yi Sibei gets in her fight for justice is rewarding enough.

This series has superb writing and dialogue, with some powerful interactions, and the bond between the leads and her family is one to behold. A

ll the actors were brilliant. You could see the emotions as they got into their respective roles. And every time Qin Nan holds Yi Sibei, it was just a treat. There is gentleness amidst all the strife.

It’s a show that will stick with you long after the credits roll.

No. 1: Fated Hearts

Before I say anything about the series itself, I must thank this show for giving me one of my favourite drama songs of all time: “Surging Waves” by Lars Huang.

I have been listening to it non-stop. This must be the first instance where I watched the ending sequence of almost every episode without fail. I am just so addicted to the song.

I LOVED Fu Yixiao  (Li Qin) and Feng Suige (Chen Zhe Yuan). This was all about the leads and nothing else for me. Their enemies-to-lovers journey was so wonderful. Once they were together, they loved and supported each other as equals. Their chemistry was sizzling and fiery.

There is just the right amount of political scheming, unpleasant characters, and angst in this drama. Every time Fu Yixiao had a bow and arrow in hand, it was delightful. The lady had aura and watching the behind-the-scenes footage of how the action/fight scenes were filmed was a treat. The fight scenes when Feng Suige and Fu Yixiao fought together were so good.

Watch it for the leads, the good action sequences and Surging Waves.

J-DRAMAS

No. 5: Romantics Anonymous

Han Hyo-joo is phenomenal. I have been a massive fan ever since I saw her in Happiness, which is one of my favourite dramas. I was also charmed by Oguri Shun as the male lead. The leads’ interactions were so awkwardly cute and genuine.

This show was as much about healing their social disorders and their psychological traumas as it was about the romance and chocolates. It was a simple show that uses the chocolate theme very well to showcase a healing journey for many of our characters.

No. 4: Marry My Husband: Japan

Colour me surprised, but I genuinely thought that this was all around better, more precise, more focused, and more personal than the Korean adaptation. I was taken by the leads more; the antagonists were also slightly different in personality than their Korean counterparts.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved the Korean drama too. But this one just flowed better, and all the plot points just made more sense. Further, the production was strong, and I could root wholeheartedly for our leads.

No. 3: The Hot Spot

What a delightful show this was! A relaxing slice-of-life series with a lovely set of quirky characters. The writing was witty, and I totally bought into this tale of oddballs and their charming friendships.

Also, the setting is gorgeous, with so many clear shots of Mount Fuji. The premise itself is wacky: you put an alien and a bunch of middle-aged ladies together, with some surprises along the way, and this is the result.

No. 2: Diary of a Surgical Resident: Madoka

I would definitely try to get all of you to check this show out. Unfortunately, it does not have good subtitles and is not available on an official platform, making it inaccessible to the wider audience. I pretty much watched it with my knowledge of Japanese and machine translations.

However, this is one of the best shows I’ve watched this year. I LOVED, like seriously LOVED, Madoka-chan. The actor is the same as the female lead in A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days With You.

This drama is essentially Resident Playbook (J-Drama version), the difference being that the majority of the focus is on Madoka and her journey rather than all her co-residents as a collective.

It worked perfectly because Madoka is a wonderful character who I started rooting for from the beginning. She is kind, honest, gets attached to her patients, sincere, and always tries to learn. She wants to find her purpose, find her place, find her path, and she is so good at putting whatever she learns into practice.

Yoshine Kyoko has a natural talent to use her facial expressions and body in every scene, especially when she is about to cry and those big, round eyes are on full display. Gets me every time. She is also highly expressive and has great comedic timing. She was so good at conveying her every emotion just through her body language and face.

This drama is really wholesome and warmhearted. I love how all the senior doctors and instructors give Madoka (and the other residents) the guidance they need. They all put in superb acting performances. Just loved the whole character cast, the different patients that we got to see as Madoka went on her rotation, and the relationships that she builds with the patients, her instructors, and her friends.

This drama needs more love, and I wish more people could watch it. So far, it is easily my underrated gem of the year, no competition.

The series brought out a wide range of emotions as I watched Madoka go through every moment of her two-year residency rotation. The series did such a great job of showing her influences, growth, and thoughts during every sequence. The series also has some sad scenes, but the overwhelming tone is warm and hopeful.

Lovely ending, lovely characters, and I could have easily watched another ten episodes of this.

No. 1: A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days With You

I have proclaimed my love and adoration for this show everywhere. I have been waxing lyrical and raving about it because it’s a drama that made me happy. Everything about it was pleasant, wholesome, cute, and joyful. A true escape from reality.

It’s not often that we see love after marriage, too. Again, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a couple cuter than this one, and a supporting cast as nice as the ones in this show. Even non-J-Drama watchers should check it out.

The main message of this drama is to enjoy and cherish the little things and joys in life. One never knows how long anything will last, so live life to the fullest, doing whatever one wants to do.

I intentionally watched this as slowly as I could, pausing several times every episode, rewatching scenes, and just dragging it for as long as possible. I had a huge goofy grin on my face for pretty much all of its runtime.

The cast is simply filled with good people. Lovely, lovely relationships and interactions. Every single one is just lovable, even if they only have a single scene.

The show is set in the Shouwa Era (1930s), and the leads get married through an arrangement. The show is about how they grow closer and all the little checkpoints that they reach in their budding, loving relationship.

There’s also a very beautiful second loveline here, which is equally cute. The friendships, families, and supporting characters all had wonderful parts to play.

By design, the leads are awkward with each other, and that makes for such charming interactions. I think that’s the primary quirk of the show itself. Both are total amateurs when it comes to love. 😂

They only spend a short time together, and the female lead has to wait for long periods alone as the male lead is a Navy officer. However, she learns to cope with this through the wonderful people around her. The show mostly focuses on the time they are together, so that was a huge relief.

There were several moments when I thought that it is illegal for characters to be this cute. I mean seriously, I can’t think of many shows that made me pause and think, wow, how are they so adorable??? Is that allowed?

THAI-DRAMAS

No. 3: Love Design (Uncut)

This was my Thai-Drama debut, and it was honestly so cute to watch. It took a couple of episodes to get used to the language and accents, but once I did, it was easy to follow.

This is a GL, but a very, very well-done one. The actress who played Rin was just so beautiful. Her facial expressions were adorable. I really enjoyed the chemistry between the main couple, and there was a surprisingly wonderful second couple too.

This is mainly a very calm workplace drama, and certain parts of it were shot in Japan. Not sure if anyone watches GL around here, but if anyone is interested, this is a great starting point.

No. 2: ClaireBell

This one was quite extraordinary and it was receiving crazy plaudits. I can see why, as the setting, premise, story, and relationships are all so different.

This is a GL romance set in prison where the leads are prisoners. There is the usual prison bullying, angst, and various minor politics going on within. But amidst all that, there are powerful character stories and mature growth arcs.

The ending was a tad rushed, but there is an announcement of a special episode which should tie things up very nicely. I watched a lot of behind-the-scenes footage of the actors, and it was a treat. The acting was superb.

No. 1: Us (Uncut)

I actually didn’t expect to enjoy it to the extent that I did, but almost all the characters were such good people, lovable, and the whole show was so warm-hearted.

The female lead, Dokrak, was the cutest character I’ve seen in a while. Despite that, she was headstrong and stuck to her decisions. This show also had some excellent character growth arcs.

Sure, there is the GL romance, but this was just as much about family, friendship, and healing. The brother-sister relationship in this is one of the most touching ones I have ever seen. Totally my type of show. I would recommend this even to non-GL viewers. The feels it gave me were similar to Our Unwritten Seoul.

At the time of writing this post, I am more than halfway through another Thai GL drama called Queendom.

And this one has been fantastic so far too. It is a body-swap, rivals-to-lovers GL drama, and there is excellent chemistry between the leads.

II. TOP NON-2025 SHOWS:

No. 10: In House Marriage Honey (J-Drama)

This is a totally stress-free watch about the lead couple who enter into an in-house marriage contract and marry the day they meet. Then, they actually fall for each other. The romance is fast-paced; the leads are adorable and have a healthy relationship with lots of skinship.

It was so much fun seeing the leads tease and flirt with each other. They knew how to push each other’s buttons, and it was very cute. The female lead, Haruta Ami (Matsui Airi), has a lovely smile.

No. 9: Marry Me! (J-Drama)

Oh! How I loved this little gem. Japan does it again with the weirdest premise. This show put a smile on my face every time I watched an episode.

The female lead, Sawamoto Himari (Kumada Rinka), was so darn precious. Seriously, her smile could probably stop wars (I get a grin on my face every time I imagine it). She was so adorable. So was our male lead, honestly.

A very low-key but meaningful slice-of-life romance. I love how our leads communicate with each other and put each other first. They both want the other to be happy, and in the end, they learn to live together while learning valuable life lessons.

No. 8: Moribito Seasons 1-3 (J-Drama)

I was excited to watch this series for a long time. I have seen the anime, too. I was initially apprehensive about the first season because it was only four episodes long, and the anime adapted the same content in 26 episodes, but thinking back, the anime had some original characters and filler content.

Season one of the drama does away with all this unnecessary content and instead focuses only on the core story. It is precise and well-paced It’s not often that we get something like this.

The series also has a strong core cast of characters: Balsa, the bodyguard; Chagum, the Prince of New Yogo Country; and Tanda, the apprentice shaman. The series drip-feeds information throughout, and this adds depth to the characters apart from their regular development through the series’ progression.

Season two happens four years after the events of season one, and there is a dual plotline here.

One is about Chagum and his political mission, and the second is about Balsa and a new character called Asura, who essentially undertakes the job of being her bodyguard this time. These plotlines sort of converge towards the end of the season.

It is not often that the third season of a drama is the best one, but it is certainly the case here. Season 3 was so good that the past two seasons almost felt like a buildup, even though they were actually great.

This season was personal as we finally learned more about Balsa’s past and fully saw her put an end to her painful memories. We saw the incredible development of Chagum as the Prince, and we also finally got some heartfelt Balsa-Tanda moments. The whole season was epic and so engaging.

The series as a whole was everything I expected it to be: a unique, one-of-a-kind series, and this type of fantasy is just incredibly rare.

If anyone has access to this, they should give the series a shot without hesitation. The series has its own lore and is an author-created world, much like Beast Player Erin, which is the author’s other famous work and one of my favourite anime of all time.

Now for the production, the backgrounds appear gorgeous (through the use of CGI), but the locations themselves were well picked. It also feels like the series deliberately opted for an old-school or vintage look and feel.

All the action sequences, lighting, dressing/costumes and sound effects reminded me of the ones used in the 90s and early 00s. I thought it really suited the series. There was also some really creepy music at times.

No. 7: Oh No! Here Comes Trouble (TW-Drama)

I enjoyed this drama a lot. Pu Yi Yong is a special protagonist, one that you can’t help but get behind. I really liked the camaraderie between the three leads as they solved the mysteries together and also loved the ever-supportive mother characters. The spirits were also unique, and the overarching plot was resolved very well.

This is the type of show that is best experienced with little prior knowledge. That way, it will hit harder, and the watch is something I appreciated well after finishing it.

No. 6: Encounter (K-Drama)

The focus was primarily on the OTP, which I always appreciate; the supporting characters around the OTP were all great and likeable, and the supposed baddies had very limited screentime. For the majority of its run, it was warm and fuzzy.

I truly loved the OTP and their relationship throughout. Both Park Bo-gum and Song Hye-kyo were fantastic. I thought they were both mature, and their development felt natural to me.

I thought Mr. Nam (the driver) was a superstar. What a character he was! I also appreciated how I never felt annoyed by the second male lead or anyone else for that matter. That honestly surprised me. I felt that the tone of the series overall was just right.

Everything about this show just clicked. There were plenty of mini-character dynamics that I enjoyed. The music was also excellent, the cinematography was beautiful, and the OTP was special.

The more I think about it, the more I’m confused as to why this isn’t well received.

No. 5: You Are My Spring (K-Drama)

This has a somewhat mixed general reception, and KFG dropped this.

However, I was hooked right from the get-go. Perhaps my innate adoration for the ever-expressive Seo Hyun-jin had something to do with it. She is one of those actors who can carry a show on her own, and she initially did that. I really liked her healthy chemistry with Kim Dong-wook.

The romance was solid, the background mystery was interesting enough, and overall, I just thought that the character interactions were very entertaining.

It felt like a slice-of-life healing drama for the majority of its run, which is something I always appreciate. And goodness me, Seo Hyun-jin is a master at showing emotions on her face. A thoroughly satisfying watch.

No. 4: Alice in Borderland Seasons 1-3 (J-Drama)

I have always been a fan of survival game series. I love the Battle Royale, Liar Game (This has a live action drama too for me to try), Kaiji, etc. manga, and I also loved Squid Game. This type of show especially works if there are leads you can root for and diversity in the games.

All the seasons offered something different.

Season one was all about getting a foothold in the new world while learning how these games work and Arisu figuring out what he has to do. Season two was all about going all in to try and get out of the situation they were in and return to their world. Season three was about returning to Borderland and finishing up what was remaining with a new team.

They all had their own pitfalls too. The common factors were that all the games were so varied and exhilarating, and that Arisu was a really fine protagonist. That made the series a breeze to watch.

No. 3: Rain or Shine (K-Drama)

The leads were extremely memorable characters, and there were some standout supporting characters too. This is an excellent character story. Surprisingly, I didn’t find it tough to watch. The last 20 minutes were a tad rushed, but the ending was happy and hopeful. Very fitting soundtrack too.

Oh! And I also perked up at the reference to the Miracle of Istanbul. As a Liverpool fan, that 2005 Champions League Final is an unforgettable moment.

No. 2: Son: The Guest (K-Drama)

Kim Jae-wook, Kim Dong-wook, and Jung Eun-chae are the trio of protagonists, and it’s a lot of fun watching them work together to figure out the mystery behind Park Il-do.

This is a supernatural mystery-thriller with a strong atmosphere, a fantastically fitting soundtrack, and a gripping overarching plot. It is certainly not for everyone. There is brutality, blood, murder, and horror in abundance.

However, for anyone who is okay with these genres, it’s going to be a treat. Probably my favourite horror thriller drama.

No. 1: While You Were Sleeping (K-Drama)

It does everything so well. This is how you combine mystery, thriller, romance, a touch of fantasy/supernatural, and courtroom drama. I loved every aspect of the show, every mini-plotline, every character, and the music, too.

The four leads were outstanding: our OTP, Nam Hong-joo (Bae Suzy) and Jung Jae-chan (Lee Jong-suk); the adorable second lead, Han Woo-tak (Jung Hae-in); and the antagonist, Lee Yoo-beom (Lee Sang-yeob). All of them had their quirks, goofy sides, and competent, determined sides.

They shone brightly throughout the drama.  The supporting characters were just as brilliant.

III. TOP MOVIES

No. 6: My SO Has Got Depression (J-Movie)

Such a tactful, poignant, and meaningful portrayal of depression and how to tackle the illness. Like Japanese shows and movies, it was somehow quirky too. I really loved how sensitively the movie portrayed the symptoms of depression and how the path to healing was shown.

The married couple at the forefront were both excellent. I loved how they supported and depended on each other. Really worthwhile movie. Loved the drawings throughout. So cute. And of course, the iguana and turtle as pets.

I always have a soft spot for healing shows or movies, and this one did hit all the right notes. Some super emotional and memorable scenes too.

No. 5: Love Untangled (K-Movie)

I pretty much knew that I had to watch this the moment it was announced and the trailer was out on Netflix. I thought Shin Eun-soo was adorable in Twinkling Watermelon, and she was the same here.

It was a very warm-hearted and wholesome youth drama. Really enjoyed the use of the Busan accent. It’s a simple movie, and I tend to like it that way. It had a strong friendship theme to it, too, which is always welcome.

No. 4: Hope (K-Movie)

This is based on a devastating true story, and I knew that there were going to be some brutal scenes. The acting was stellar, I appreciated the use of local accents, and it had multiple, hard-hitting emotional scenes. One in particular is truly unforgettable.

As hard as the subject matter was to stomach, this is one of the best Korean movies out there.

No. 3: Hear Me: Our Summer (K-Movie)

So comforting and wholesome. I was completely taken in by the first eight minutes of the movie. It has such a gentle soundtrack, and there’s very little dialogue in general, since most of the movie uses sign language.

It’s basically about a pair of sisters; the older one’s dream is for the younger sister to make the Olympic tryouts as a swimmer. The younger sister, Ga Eul (Kim Min Ju), is deaf, and the older sister, Yeo Reum (Roh Yoon Seo), does everything she can to support her.

Then there’s the male lead, Yong Jun (Hong Kyung), who falls in love at first sight with Yeo Reum when he visits the swimming pool to deliver food (he was working part-time at his parents’ restaurant). The cast of characters is small (as expected of an hour and fifty-minute-long movie).

I’m not giving too much away, since the initial interactions are pure gold. Best to experience it for the first time. I loved the parents of both leads. This had the perfect blend of romance, familial bonds, and slice-of-life.

The whole movie felt like receiving a warm and cozy hug. The relationship between the sisters was adorable. I had a big, goofy grin on my face for most of the movie’s runtime. Highly recommend it for anyone who wants a light and warm watch.

PS: There’s also a nice little mid-credits scene.

No. 2: Rurouni Kenshin J-Movie Franchise

Firstly, I love Kenshin as a fictional character (One of my all-time favourites).

Satoh Takeru knocked it out of the park in all five movies, and I would not have anyone else playing Kenshin.

He was PERFECT. His range, using Kenshin’s unique speaking quirks such as ‘Oro’, ‘Gozaru’, etc., and also the way he played the tormented killer/Rurouni was more than I could wish for. He also just slayed all the action scenes. Being the titular character, he also got the most development.

Secondly, I was sort of disappointed with the fact that almost every other character (except Yukishiro Tomoe and Enishi) got just surface-level development and were not given crucial/core roles. Thus, we hardly see any other well-fleshed-out characters or development. Even some interactions, character dynamics, and relationships were modified very significantly.

This is mostly due to the fact that this is a movie franchise, and three are not enough movies to cover the first arc to the end of the Kyoto arc. That is a bummer for me, personally, because there are so many wonderful characters in the story, and unfortunately, they just cannot get fleshed out or developed.

Someone like Yahiko is a lead character in the manga, for example. I have already spoken about how Kaoru did not get enough of the spotlight. Same with Misao, Aoshi, Saito, Sano, Shishio, Sojiro, Yumi, and Hoji. Even groups like the Oniwabanshu and Juppongatana.

All these characters have dedicated plotlines. Megumi surprisingly got a lot of the spotlight. I felt that she got more fleshed out than Kaoru. In short, the buildup to the Kyoto arc in particular was not enough, so the payoff is not as high as it could have been.

Next, the action scenes were all FIRE. Wow. So well done, and if you just view this series as an action series, you will be entertained and get your money’s worth. That, coupled with the music. The original anime had one of my favourite and one of the most iconic anime soundtracks.

I sort of wish that there was more emphasis on the fighting styles, Samurai fighting techniques, and mentioning of the schools of fighting. We get a very small sneak peek at Hiten Mitsurugi-ryu, but that’s it. Saito’s Gatotsu, Aoshi’s Kaiten Kenbu Rokuren, Sano’s Futae no Kiwami, Sojiro’s Tenken, etc. were never mentioned at all.

Finally, the plotlines themselves underwent a massive change, particularly in the initial trilogy of Origins, Kyoto Inferno, and The Legend Ends. The Beginning and The Final were adapted pretty faithfully, especially the former, as I have mentioned before. This is fine because the changes do work to fit the movie format.

However, some of the emotional highs that the anime or manga provided will not be gained here because the characters or story do not have the runtime to lay the necessary foundation. I do wish there was one more movie in between for the Kyoto arc. That might have helped a lot.

I am happy that they at least showed Kenshin’s training and relationship with his Master, Hiko Seijuro, in The Legend Ends.

On the whole, for people who have not watched the anime or manga, this should be a super enjoyable, action series. The last two movies are more violent, brutal, and on the heavy side, though. The production is top-draw, and the core premise of the franchise is faithful to the source.

I did enjoy all the movies and had a blast comparing them to the anime/manga. I also had a lot of fun nitpicking and discussing the movies with the folks on Patreon. Given how much I love this franchise, it’s inevitable that I would feel strongly towards it. I rated all the films highly. Definitely recommend checking it out.

No. 1: Victory (K-Movie)

This is now my favourite Korean movie (or Asian movie) without question. This is a youth movie about the leads Lee Hye-ri and Park Se-wan starting a cheerleading club at a countryside school after a transfer student joins them from Seoul to pursue their interest in dancing.

The movie was filled with heart, energy, warmth, and it was funny too. The actors clearly practiced all the dance moves extensively. I also proceeded to watch YouTube videos where Hye-ri and Se-wan talked about the movie and their preparation for it. The actors all speak in an accent which makes everything more delightful.

It had me smiling and had several touching moments. It was truly the ideal feel-good or pick-me-up kind of movie. Hye-ri and Se-wan were both exceptional. The MDL rating baffles me. This one is a gem.

I inherently have a soft spot for underdog shows about creating a club and furthering ambitions. I cannot recommend this enough if your taste is anything like mine. It has a lot of 90s music and references.

IV. SPECIAL AWARDS:

1) FAVOURITE DRAMA CHARACTER OF 2025

This was not easy. Yoo Mi-ji (Park Bo-young) from Our Unwritten Seoul, Arisu Ryohei (Yamazaki Kento) from Alice in Borderland, Wakatsuki Madoka (Yoshine Kyoko) from Diary of a Surgical Resident: Madoka, Pyo Nam-gyeong (Shin Shi-ah) from Resident Playbook, Dokrak (Bonnie) from Us, and Yi Si Bei (Mao Xiao Tong) from Light Beyond the Reed were the contenders. It was really hard to choose, but if I had to go with one, I would pick Mi-ji from Our Unwritten Seoul.

I also want to hand out the award for best supporting character and actor to Kim Ro Sa (Won Mi Kyung) from Our Unwritten Seoul. I always tend to love her.

2) HIDDEN GEM

Juhan Shuttai! (J-Drama)

This was very inspiring. I love manga, and everything about this show just clicked with me.

It shows the struggles of a manga artist, manga assistants, an editor, bookstores, and publishers, even sales marketing and the executive side of things. All this while remaining so uplifting when the final hurdle has been conquered.

I loved the main lead character, Kokoro Kurosawa. Her bubbly energy and upbeat nature were just a joy to watch. All the interrelated stories of the various characters are tied together beautifully. This was special. I don’t really want to say too much.

Highly recommend if the manga industry interests anyone in the slightest. Even otherwise, this certainly has a lot of heart and positive energy. 

3) BEST NEW ACTOR

Shin Shi-ah from Resident Playbook. Her role as Pyo Nam-gyeong was so memorable for me. She had all the emotional scenes in the drama, and I was completely taken by her performance. 

4) BEST OTP OF 2025

This is a tie, honestly. Fu Yi Xiao and Feng Suige from Fated Hearts, and Natsumi and Takimasa from A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days With You. I cannot choose between them. One has fiery and sizzling chemistry, and the other is just adorable and charming.

Also, I want to give a shout-out to Sang Yan and Wen Yi Fan from The First Frost.

5) BEST OTP OF A NON-2025 DRAMA

Lee Gang-du (Lee Jun-ho) and Ha Mun-su (Won Jin-a) from Rain or Shine.

6) BEST MALE ACTOR OF 2025

Yamazaki Kento from Alice in Borderland. Cheating a little since only season 3 was a 2025 drama, but I had to give him a proper mention somewhere for his amazing acting. Alice in Borderland is so great mainly because of how easy it is to root for Arisu.

7) BEST FEMALE ACTOR OF 2025

As masterful as Park Bo-young was as Mi-ji and Mi-rae in Our Unwritten Seoul, I want to give this to Mao Xiao Tong for her performance as Yi Si Bei in Light Beyond the Reed. It was such a tough character to portray, and she succeeded with aplomb. She showed vulnerability and yet managed to be fierce when needed.

8) BEST MALE ACTOR OF A NON-2025 DRAMA

Lee Jun-ho for his performance as Lee Gang-du in Rain or Shine.

9) BEST FEMALE ACTOR OF A NON-2025 DRAMA

Won Jin-a for her performance as Ha Mun-su in Rain or Shine.

10) FAVOURITE SONGS FROM DRAMAS WATCHED DURING THE YEAR

I’m not going to list OSTs because there were too many wonderful ones. It’s easier to list out some specific favourite songs. Not in any particular order, but number one is certainly number one. I’m going to mention the drama name in brackets. There are way more than these, but these are the ones that I listened to a lot: 

• Surging Waves by Lars Huang (Fated Hearts – C-Drama)
• Again and Again by Shin (Ya Boy Kongming! – J-Movie)
• Time Capsule by EIKO (Ya Boy Kongming! – J-Drama)
• Lover by Choi Jung-eun (Love, Take Two – K-Drama)
• With Me by Chang Min (Rain or Shine – K-Drama)
• In You by Issac Hong (Our Unwritten Seoul – K-Drama)
• Star by MINSEO (Doctor John – K-Drama)
• When the Day Comes by Tomorrow x Together (Resident Playbook – K-Drama)
• It’s You by Henry (While You Were Sleeping – K-Drama)
• When Night Falls by Eddy Kim (While You Were Sleeping – K-Drama)
• Test Me by Paul Blanco (Love Scout – K-Drama)
• Willful by Mayday (The First Frost – C-Drama)
• Like a Sunny Day, Like a Rainy Day by Silence Wang (The First Frost – C-Drama)
• Look At me by Yan Yidan (The First Frost – C-Drama)
• Day after Day by Big Naughty (Love Your Enemy – K-Drama)

MY TOP 5 DRAMAS OF THE YEAR ARE AS FOLLOWS:

No. 1: Our Unwritten Seoul (K-Drama)

No. 2: A Calm Sea and Beautiful Days With You (J-Drama)

No. 3: Fated Hearts (C-Drama)

No. 4: Us (Thai-Drama)

No. 5: Resident Playbook (K-Drama)

It’s very hard to choose between number two and three, to be honest. Fated Hearts just gradually crept up and consumed me days after I finished watching it.

CLOSING:

Thank you all for patiently making it to this point. It was a long post, but I hope it was an enjoyable read and you were able to find some drama that piqued your interest.

Thank you! I wish you all a wonderful 2026! Happy drama watching. Until next time.

~ABV

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✨ About the End-Of-Year Patreon Awards

This post is part of our annual community tradition, where Patreon members share their drama year — favorites, surprises, disappointments, discoveries, and everything in between. 💛

These EOY reflections are one of my favorite parts of the year, because they show just how thoughtful, funny, and passionate our little community is.

If you’d like to join us for watch discussions, episode notes, voice notes, and next year’s EOY Awards, you’re very welcome to check out Patreon! 🥰

KFG ❤️