Dramas I’m watching right now:
- The Glory [Korea] (covered on Patreon)
- The Makanai [Japan] (covered on Patreon)
- Meet Yourself [China] (covered on Patreon)
- New Life Begins [China] (covered on Patreon)
- Crash Course in Romance [Korea] (covered on Patreon)
Dramas I plan to add to my plate, soonish:
- Our Blooming Youth [Korea]
- Love To Hate You [Korea]
So many dramas, so little time..!
Has another else seen the cdrama “Go Ahead”? This is about 3 children and 2 dads forged into a family by choice when various families by blood blow up. The whole thing is relatively restrained (no chaebol types, one of them becomes a dentist, another a chef, etc). And there is a relationship that makes me question whether too many only children writers have trouble understanding how siblings work. But the show deserves the most credit for one of the best, most honest depictions of children dealing with neglectful and abusive parents in the context of Chinese culture. So many dramas have parents who are incredibly, criminally abusive undergo a miraculous 11th hour rehabilitation. Go Ahead shows a more realistic response by the children, and resists the urge to magically make everything ok and turn a complete monster into dear old mom/dad in the last episode. One of the sons has this amazing speech where he tells the rich birth parent to shove off and announces his plan to take care of the dad who raised him. This show does depict some of the best dads ever in a cdrama who truly deserve the parental respect that the other parents did not.
Watching The Glory and am really digging it so far. Any plans to watch it?
Hi! Yes I plan to check it out, probably starting later this month, when I clear some space on my drama plate!
Hiii do you have plans to watch The Glory?
Hi! Yes I plan to check it out, probably starting later this month, when I clear some space on my drama plate!
I binged The Glory on Netflix. Spoiler free review. This is, as advertised, a dark revenge drama. The drama reminds us of the lesson, taught in many kdramas, that Korean high school is more dangerous than US maximum security prison. If you have a choice, send your children to the second one – it’s safer and they meet better people. Overall, I was impressed by the story – the revenge plan was generally realistic, and the way events unfolded slowly was believable. The acting was strong. Grim, violent at times, not suitable for younger viewers – it delivers what was promised. And they only put out the first 8 episodes so things stop in the middle – due to finish in March. So don’t start now if that bothers you.
oof
PS. One element that adds to the gritty realism (or more realistic than usual for a revenge drama) is how the villains are losers. Sure some of them have money or power, but they have a lot of flaws. Stupid, vain, petty, suck-ups, addicts, etc. Pathetic in many ways. And they are prone to turn on each other in a snap and humiliate each other as often as their prey. This is more convincing and no less scary than the unstoppable evil chaebol type villains that are more common. If you are in the market for a grim revenge tale, could do worse.
so basically like vincenzo?
Important difference is Vincenzo is hyper-competent. In this case the FL is smart and determined but doesn’t do anything that a smart and determined school teacher couldn’t do. She doesn’t have fighting skills, mafia connections, etc. The main antagonist (admitted not there other semi-antagonist) in Vincenzo was also super competent, unlike the (messy losers) ones in The Glory. So in this sense The Glory has a more realistic vibe. Not that it is better or worse, just different.
Binged the show too. Thought it was very boring and over the top.
And all the villains can’t act and overact
@Eric – I thought I would really dislike this due to the heavy violence. However – I am intrigued, which was really not expected. I am surprised at my response. I think part of this intrigue is my curiosity about the ending. The baddies are SO bad, that I cannot help but wonder exactly what kind of revenge would wipe away the pain of all of their horrible deeds. I might also add that I cannot help but truly feel the victim’s pain here. Let’s see what karma brings them…
does anybody want to scream at Ju Kyung for not choosing Seo Jun in true beauty?
HES HOT
HES CARING
HE LITERALLY DID SO MUCH MORE THAN SOO HO
HE WAITED FOR A WHOLE 2 YEARS
HE SINGS SO WELL
HE HAS THAT PERFECT HAIR
WTH DOES HE NOT HAVE 😭😭😭😭
Anyone is watching “Time and Him are just right”?
Anyone watch Lighter and Princess? I thought it was amazing!!
Very angsty but I did enjoy it immensely – Zhang Jing Yi’s character as ‘Zhu Yun’ is simply amazing – she is so resolute and firm, and with so much conviction and integrity!
You forgot clingy, intrusive, annoying and being full of herself
Looking forward to your review of Reborn Rich!!
@mags
Tried commenting on your post, but it didn’t seem to work. Sorry if any duplicates show up for others :/.
I just finished watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo and I am floored! I loved the OTP so much. If you liked Weightlifting or Hometown, check it out. I also really really love the way Min Min treats Bong Soon in Strong Girl. I’d love some recommendations too.
My favorites include Romance is a Bonus Book, Healer, and While you were Sleeping (among the ones I mentioned above)!!
Thanks!!
I need a drama with the same chemistry as in weightlifting fairy, stong woman, and hometwon cha cha cha : ( pls help me
I’ve been looking for one as well. If you haven’t seen, Romance is a Bonus Book, I would recommend that one.
Very open to other suggestions as well. It’s better when both parties are really interested in one another or at least one of them is enough for the other one to be convinced ha ha.
I appreciate your taste. . Love the small town quiet romance dramas. I really enjoyed Our Beloved Summer – it’s a bit more emotional than the ones you listed but still excellent. Once Upon a Small Town is also short, charming a light – if you enjoyed the rural vibe of cha cha cha (I did), give this one a go. No chaebols, no bad guys, no malice. I’ll See You When the Weather is Nice also has this quiet small town vibe, but there is a darker element to it.
Like Strong Woman? Hmm. Uncanny Counter has superhero type action, but is a little darker (not grim, but darker). Healer is well regarded (again a bit darker) and has a semi-superhero vibe. I Am Not a Robot has a cute love story and some not-quiet-real elements. Business Proposal was light and fun, romance as a live action Manga, and matches some of your other choices as well. Or how about Beauty Inside? This has a magical element like Strong Woman (the FL transforms into a random physical appearance – man/woman, old/young, any race or body type) and has to deal with this. Charming. And if you haven’t seen I Hear Your Voice, one of the all time great dramas with superhero type element, romance, great idols. A bit darker than Strong Woman though.
Weightlifting fairy was so unique, there isn’t another precisely like it. Quirky Romance/drama – Run On could fit your taste as well.
Happy watching!
exactly, weightlifting fairy is easily my goto drama!!
Strong woman and weightlifing fairy are such bad dramas
PS – if you haven’t seen My Love From the Star, it’s excellent. That has the supernatural element, humor, romance, interesting story, action, and major star power.
Following up on the excellent suggestions from @M M and @Eric Lancaster, since “Strong Woman” was my very first drama and I also liked the other two you mentioned. My second drama was “Oh My Ghost(ess)”, also starring Park Bo Young, and it cemented my enjoyment of K-dramas. Supernatural elements and an entertaining love story, plus a surprisingly heartfelt turn of plot. Also, it is a great vehicle for the fantastic Kim Seul Gi as the titular ghost. I agree also with “My Love from the Star” for this space and am right now 75% done with “Romance is a Bonus Book” which I am greatly enjoying as well and is in the space you mention. Really, I haven’t disliked any of the shows the other have recommended here. Enjoy!
PPS. I love this question, it makes me appreciate how many great dramas there are. If you want more Lee Sung-kyung (played the weightlifting fairy) then check out shooting stars (spelled sh**ting stars). It’s a solid show. It has the most hilarious confession-reaction ever. I wish they would cast her more. She’s also in Dr. Romantic 2, 3 (I haven’t watched it carefully so no comment).
And if you’d like a retro quirky romance drama that takes place in and about a coffee shop (one character is a chaebol but he’s basically running the shop the whole time), Coffee Prince is an all time great drama.
I’ll stop now. 🙂
Love , love, love all of this.
I just finished Extraordinary Attorney Woo and am floored!!
I loved it so much. Please go check it out if you liked weightlifting or hometown.
I’m now in the market for something else. My favs are romance is a bonus book, healer, While You Were Sleeping. I really appreciated the cuteness between the OTP in Strong Girl and Attorney Woo too.
Open to ideas!
Hope these give you that warm and cozy feeling like Weight-Lifting Fairy.
On Netflix you may like *Touch Your Heart* or *Crash Landing on You.* Both are rom-coms with no yucky love-triangles or stupid OTT (over the top) melodramatic twists and a decent ending. Others: *100 Days My Prince* and *Rain or Shine.*
Do you subscribe to VIKI? Subscription is totally worth it in my opinion! *Fight for My Way* or *What’s Wrong with Secretary Kim?* fun. Also, I loved *To.Jenny,* which is an ADORABLE 2-part drama–more like a movie.
Free online on YouTube’s “Cereal” channel: *Queen In-Hyun’s Man.*
Happy New Year and Happy Kdrama viewing!
I just finished watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo and I am floored! I loved the OTP so much. If you liked Weightlifting or Hometown, check it out. I also really really love the way Min Min treats Bong Soon in Strong Girl. I’d love some recommendations too.
My favorites include Romance is a Bonus Book, Healer, and While you were Sleeping (among the ones I mentioned above)!!
Thanks!!
I just finished watching Extraordinary Attorney Woo and I am floored! I loved the OTP so much. If you liked Weightlifting or Hometown, check it out. I also really really love the way Min Min treats Bong Soon in Strong Girl. I’d love some recommendations too.
My favorites include Romance is a Bonus Book, Healer, and While you were Sleeping (among the ones I mentioned above)!!
Thanks!!
yes, exactly what I’m looking for!!!
Please do watch Silent as well. It’s an ongoing Japanese drama. It is really really good. Do check it out. Only 2 episodes are out yet
Agree 100% re Silent 😊
Is anyone watching ‘A romance of a little forest ‘?
I think Yu shuxin has amazing chemistry with her male leads. Don’t miss this cute sweet romance .