Dramas I’m watching right now:
- Love in the Clouds [China] (covered on Patreon)
- Yumi’s Cells 3 [Korea] (covered on Patreon)
- Pursuit of Jade [China] (covered on Patreon)
- Perfect Crown [Korea] (covered on Patreon)
Dramas I plan to add to my plate, soonish:
- My Royal Nemesis [Korea]
So many dramas, so little time..!
I wondered if you have watched chief kim and Hand: The guest, both dramas hold very positive reviews and I would love to see your take on it!
I’m sorry to disappoint, but I haven’t seen either of those shows.. There are just way too many shows and not enough time to watch ’em all! 😝 I didn’t check out Chief Kim because I somehow can’t manage to love Nam Goong Min the way most folks do, and I didn’t watch The Guest coz it’s just not my preferred genre of drama. If I ever do watch either of them, I’ll be sure to write about it though!
There are certain dramas that all of us remember and hold dear to our hearts. Meet me @1006 is one of those dramas that came out of nowhere and that I will always remember. I will remember it for the OTP, the stairs scene (as SKF said – It does not get better than this) and the weird and really creepy bad guy.
A little gem of a drama despite its shortcomings.
I put it on my list because of the love you two were sharing, over it! 😀 I’m just 3 eps in right now, and have to pause this week coz I’m traveling for work, but so far, it’s starting to settle a bit, and I’m enjoying it quite nicely. 🙂
You have to look past all the cray-cray and focus on the OTP but that happened naturally for me. I loved it. Safe travels Fangurl!
i enjoy your reviews, they seem spot on. 🙂
Hope to continue reading helpful reviews.
Hi! I hope you will watch Arthda Chronicles! I would like to hear your thoughts about it. ^_^
I will probably give that a try when the third season has finished airing and the story is complete. Although, I can’t guarantee that I will then finish it. 😅 It will all depend on whether I love it like everyone else does. 😉
Hi Fangurl – I have found one of the most beautiful and magnificent CDramas! It is called The Longest Day In Chang’an and the visuals – what can i say but – stunning, stunning and stunning! The director’s use of lighting is absolutely magnificent. Watched the only 4 episodes available on Viki several times on 4K TV and it is blowing my mind! Story is full of masterful intrigue and the acting is on par with the best of the best. The costumes! Makes me want to pull out my sewing machine and start creating.
I cannot get enough of this cinematography. All the artists (set designers, lighting, costumes, props) who worked on this deserve a huge round of applause. Keeping my fingers crossed on the writing – hoping that it will be good enough to sub in for one of my 6 month watches of NIF – LOL! I do need a sub as I am starting to memorize the lines from NIF.
Thanks phl!! <3 Sean JUST mentioned this show to me too, and your description makes it sound all kinds of AMAZING! 🤩 I looked up the trailer, and it really does look like everything you said: cinematic, magnificent and all-around stunning. WOW. 😍 I've decided I need to wait for more episodes to air, coz it looks like the kind of story best slurped up in quick succession, y'know, for maximum impact. Although, given what I've seen, I'm not sure I'll know what hit me! 😆 Crossing my fingers with you, that this one will at least match NIF in both excellence and feels! 😀
Thanks Fangurl -both you and SKF have such good taste LOL! I will keep you up-to-date but if this one goes the wrong way I will be so sad. Here’s hoping!
Thanks for offering to report back from the frontline, dear phl! 😉❤ I appreciate it very much! And yes, don’t we all have excellent taste! 😆
My take – it did not disappoint. The best visuals of any drama I have ever seen with a complex and very intelligent story line. Very little if no romance but the intrigue was the real story here. I was so captivated that I did multiple research quests to learn more about the history of the time. Stunning and I do mean stunning visuals – brilliant use of lighting. Great acting and hauntingly beautiful OST. A veritable feast for the eyes.
As good as is was it still could not knock NIF off my number 1 spot. I rank it second best CDrama to date.
Wow, second only to NIF is still a very glowing recommendation indeed! 😀 Thanks for reporting back from the frontline on this one, dear phl! <3 I do still want to check it out.. soonish, I hope! 😀
Arthdal update: Things are heating up. Tribal power struggle has never been so entertaining, especially when new characters with their own agendas are thrown in the mix. The spiritual mumbo-jumbo which was so confusing in the beginning, is finally starting to make perfect sense.
I am also watching Rebel: The Thief who stole the people. Two episodes in, it looks like classic sageuk. Nothing groundbreaking, just a generous serving of hearty comfort food.
Has anyone seen Dong Yi, Empress Ki, or Queen for 7 days? I am debating what to watch next. Since Nokdu Flower is not yet available for free, I thought about checking out some older sageuks.
Hi there Snow Flower! Thanks for the update on Arthdal. I’d probably check it out after the final season has aired, if I end up watching it at all. 😅 I just don’t like having to wait for new seasons in order to continue the story. 😛
I’ve heard very good things about Queen for Seven Days; essentially, that it’s a tragic love story, but so well written that it’s a satisfying watch nonetheless. I watched Dong Yi years ago and liked it, but don’t remember all that much about it, I’m afraid. Lots of people love Empress Ki, but I couldn’t get into it myself, so I can’t comment on that. I hope that helps somewhat 🙂
Kfangurl, thank you for the input!
I prefer watching shows on a binge, therefore I tend to pick older shows that have finished their run. It is rare for me to watch a show as it airs. I started Arthdal simply because it was on Netflix and I was curious. I will need something to keep me entertained while I wait for the last season to air. So that’s why I am looking at older sageuks. Rebel makes me imagine a bowl of hot beef and noodle soup eaten at a roadside tavern on a cold day, while a friendly jumo offers an endless supply of side dishes and drinks.
On the other hand, most of kdrama discussions online cover current shows, so I have no place to discuss the dramas I am watching…
I know what you mean, Snow Flower.. there’s just so much more fan activity when the show is currently airing, versus when it’s finished its run. I think if you visited the show’s Soompi thread, you might still find some active fans, possibly. I find that a nice balance is to mix the dramas on my plate, to include both currently airing ones, and ones that I’ve missed but are still on the list. That way, I get some company for the dramas that are currently airing, even as I delve into older shows. Another thing you could do, is get a friend to watch an older show with you, so that you always have someone to talk to about it. 🙂
I’ve watched Empress Ki. It’s a very good sageuk drama. I like it so much that I chose to watch it two weeks before my board exam. LOL. I chose to watch it instead of studying for the exams.
If you like gender bender, politics and a strong female lead, I highly recommend this to you! Besides, Ji Chang Wook’s portrayal of the Emperor is the best. I have seen him act on a lot of dramas but I think this is his best performance so far. His character here is somewhat similar to Saya in Arthdal. You’ll hate him but pity and love him at the same time.
There are a lot of mix reviews regarding the romance in this drama. However, I think the scenes are well-written and the cast is very good in their acting. For me, this is the best Sageuk drama I have ever seen or maybe I am just biased. 😀
Anyways, you should definitely try to watch it. It’s worth a shot! ^_^
Hey kfangurl… wondering if ‘Search WWW’ has hit your radar yet? It’s one of the first k-dramas in my (short) k-drama memory that might just pass the Bechdel test! The writing is quite promising so far… Not to mention Jang Ki Yong’s character 🙂 … Would love your thoughts on it…
I haven’t checked out Search WWW, but I’ve been hearing interesting things about it. I plan to take a look at it soonish.. fingers crossed that I end up enjoying it as much as so many others! 🙂
Hahaha, Did I oversell it? Hmm.. time to re-watch coffee prince I guess 😀
Its a slow start agreed; but turns it up fifth episode onwards. I found a big smile plastered across my face watching these two.
Either way, it ends day after tomorrow, perfect for a binge later on (unless they fuck up the ending somehow; in which case I’ll let you know to skip it, lol).
Hey kfangurl,
Greetings from a fellow coffee prince and all things Gong Yoo lover!
I think of your blog everytime I’m reminded of either of them 😀 so I thought I’d check here if you were watching ‘I loved you from the beginning’. The plot isn’t exactly new, but the leads Jin ki joo and Kim young kwang remind me of the chemistry between Yoon eun hye and Gong yoo. Sizzling and full of tension. There are so many similarities, between the characters too.. the female lead is adorably quirky and the male lead is a mix of goofy stern pouty. Some of the supporting cast is pretty “awesome” too, others not so much.
Either way, if you get bored of my absolute boyfriend, give the first two episodes a watch? There’s a possibility of a K-love/pure pretty 😀 I hadn’t noticed him before, but that smile grows on you; I promise.
Case in point – https://youtu.be/aK7yaQMyRgo
Hi there Shifa, thanks for the suggestion. I’ve been hearing some good things about that show, but wasn’t feeling it when I attempted the first episode. I might give it another try, since lots of folks seem to enjoy the show. I personally don’t yet see the strong similarities between Gong Yoo and Yoon Eun Hye’s pairing in CP, but I guess it’s probably coz I haven’t seen enough of Kim Young Kwang and Jin Ki Joo together to actually notice a similarity. Let’s see if my second attempt with the show will be more successful than the first! 😉
Hahaha, Did I oversell it? Hmm.. time to re-watch coffee prince I guess 😀
Its a slow start agreed; but turns it up fifth episode onwards. I found a big smile plastered across my face watching these two.
Either way, it ends day after tomorrow, perfect for a binge later on (unless they fuck up the ending somehow; in which case I’ll let you know to skip it, lol).
They nailed the ending. Quality fanservice 😀 Watch it hun! <3
I’ll put it back on the list and check it out sometime – thanks for coming back to let me know, dear! <3
Hey kfangurl, I watched The Secret Life of My Secretary recently (for a brainless watch after WPL!) and I find it better than expected. But that’s also because my expectations were low from the start. I think it’s one of those shows where if you have the right lens and are prepared to follow along the silliness and can take Veronica Park’s character then you’d enjoy it. But if you’re in a more serious mood then it might be an annoying show. But I mostly liked it because Jin Ki Joo was really good!
Arthdal Chronicles: Once I sorted through the tribal mumbo-jumbo, it is an old-fashioned story of power struggle with personal motivations thrown in. The main hero is somewhat naive, and he is thrown into a very different word from what he grew up in, but he is learning quickly. It looks like the story will be about him learning about his true origin and significance. The other main characters have also shown signs of growth and change in only 4 episodes so far. I have seen other dramas by this writing team (Six Flying Dragons/Tree with Deep Roots, Queen Seondeok), and I trust in their ability to create interesting characters. The characters of Bidam and Lady Mishil from Queen Seondeok are still my favorite kdrama anti-hero and villain. Two of the main characters in Arthdal seem very complicated and conflicted, so I hope they will continue to be interesting to watch. Acting is very good too.
That’s good that Arthdal is showing promise. 🙂 I didn’t see Queen Seondeok and I didn’t manage to finish Six Flying Dragons, but I really liked Tree With Deep Roots. I might take a peep at this after all, if only to see if I will like it as well as you do! Most viewers seem to have mixed feelings about it.. 🤔
I am currently watching The Light in Your Eyes and Arthdal Chronicles. Thank you for recommending The Light in Your Eyes.
Aw, I’m glad you decided to try my recommendation, Snow Flower! <3 How is Arthdal Chronicles coming along for you? I haven't tried it, and am not overly interested to try it, unless everyone starts raving about it. 😛
Hello Fangirl, i just finished Her Private Life and if i’m not wrong i saw it on your watching list.
I really love the drama esp Kim Jae Wook, I love him since he became second lead on Temperature of Love and he became psycho killer on Voice ( i watched Voice for Jang Hyuk, but ended up loving the villain. Heh) and he became priest on The Guest. I love him as an actor for taking so many different role and of course that he is so handsome :p
Oh, and he played as Noh Sun Ki, the handsome one whose in charge on waffel on Coffee prince (i just found out later about this one) Ok, now i’m blabbering.
The point is, i thought i saw Her Private Life on your watching list, but now i don’t see it anymore, so i came on conclusion that you finished it, i really hope you enjoy it as much as i do because here i am waiting for your review bout HPL.
Thanks you :*
Hi there putri, thanks for waiting for the review – it’s now up, woot! 😀 You can find it here. Hope you find it worth the wait.^^ Also, YES, loved Kim Jae Wook as Sun Ki in Coffee Prince! <3
Hello Fangirl, I just finished watching another C-drama Le coup De Foudre and I really loved it. You should definitely check this one out too.
Thanks for the recommendation, soumya! I’ve got it on my list, but will likely wait awhile to check it out, as my the C-drama corner of my drama plate is now full to the brim! 😉
Hello, Fangirl! I am so excited to see that you are watching One Spring Night! I find it absolutely mesmerizing so far…..
Ah, I’m happy to hear you’re enjoying One Spring Night as well, Mary! 🙂 So far, I’m liking it a lot. Fingers crossed that Show stays the course, because I was highly aggravated by Pretty Noona, which comes from the same writer and PD. 😅
Recently completed: The Crowned Clown, SKY Castle, Bad Papa (very good and underrated!), Mr. Sunshine (rewatch, totally worth it)
Currently watching: W
Planning to watch: Radiant (The Light in Your Eyes), Nokdu Flower
Ah, I actually heard pretty meh reactions to Bad Papa, and I’m so curious now that you say it’s very good! Could you share a little more about what you liked about it? 🙂
Bad Papa is a story of a boxer. Boxing is definitely not my cup of tea, but I watched it for Jang Hyuk. The main character is a former champion who left the sport under suspicion of fixing a match. A couple of years later he is given a chance for a comeback as a MMA fighter. There is a also a story line about an illiegal clinical trial of an experimental drug. Even though I don’t like boxing, I liked the show’s message about not giving up, fighting for one’s family, etc. The villains were realistic and effective. I liked the portrayal of the struggles of married life and how the characters overcame them.
Ah, thanks for that, Snow Flower. I do enjoy Jang Hyuk very much, but heard such meh responses to Bad Papa that I didn’t try very hard to get into it. It didn’t help that I was in a bit of a drama rut at the time, so nothing was very appealing to me. I might give it another go sometime, since you liked it 🙂
Please watch The Secret Life of My Secretary!!!
I did dip a toe into E1 but wasn’t feeling it. I might give it another try, thanks for the recommendation 🙂
Hi FG – Just dropped in to see that your watch list now includes The Story Of Ming Lan. Hooray! Hope you are enjoying this! Can’t wait for your review. Be well!
Hi there phl, thanks for stopping by! <3 Yes, I finally started on Ming Lan. It's still very early days for me, coz I've only just started watching it, but it does feel very promising so far. I hope I'll love it as much as you! <3
Hi Kfangirl!
Just finished watching this one drama. I would love to hear your detail review for tvn’s cable drama “CONFESSION”, it’s a crime/thriller drama. At first I was just attracted to the poster, because it seems like interesting and mysterious – I’m digging TVN’s badass drama all that crime/action/corruption dramas. Usually I would fast forward some scenes if it’s becoming too draggy. But this one, this one got me hooked till the end! <3
I finished watching it after 3 days tho (16 Episodes), and it was soo AMAZING! Lee Joon Ho, woaahhh, I never seen his drama before but his performance in this one really stood out. AMAZING! And not to mention, I find it so charming when he takes his stance inside the courtroom. It was like, if he was representing me on court, I would've totally win. He's really a good actor! <3
The way the drama was crafted and the cameraworks makes me more pulling towards the show was not expected at all. The script was well written too. This was one of the dramas that I would've keep in my korean drama list. Definitely one of my top 10 drama list tho. You should give a try if you're into this sort of drama. =)
Would love to hear your review/opinion on this tho because you write such a good review with absolute intricate detail of a drama.
Love,
Your Fangirl. 😀
Hi there DZ! Thanks for stopping by! 🙂 You make Confession sound very interesting; I wasn’t planning to watch it because it’s not a preferred genre of mine, but I’ll possibly take a look at it, on your recommendation. Thanks for enjoying the reviews on the site! <3
Hello Kfangirl:)
Nice to see you!
I really like your taste in korean dramas
I think you would like the “The Fiery Priest” drama too,I have watched it lately and REALLY REALLY REALLY REALLY LIKED IT!
I think and I hope you watch and enjoy it!
And I’d like to read your verdict about it
Hi there, thanks for the recommendation. 🙂 I wasn’t planning to watch The Fiery Priest, but I might try it out since you recommend it so highly 🙂
Hi Fangurl, I recently watched the 2004 Kdrama, “I’m Sorry, I Love You” w/ actor, So Ji Sub. This Kdrama was heartbreaking and I was so impressed w/ the writing, the background music (Snow Flower) and the acting I want to see as many venues w/ SJS as possible. Unfortunately, some of his films are not accessible here in the USA due to licensing. I do subscribe to Viki to have more of a selection than from Netflix. Now waiting for the remaining episodes of “My Private Life” which I am enjoying.
Thank you for your reviews, Carol Shibuya
Hi Carol, that’s cool that you loved I’m Sorry, I Love You – it’s one of SJS’s most famous roles, and if I’m not mistaken, that was the role that really shot him to a top spot in viewers’ hearts. I did watch it, but rather early in my drama journey, so I don’t think I managed to appreciate it as much as others did. Oh, besides Viki, you could consider exploring Kocowa (https://www.kocowa.com/). I hope that helps! <3
Oh! thank god you are watching out your head on my shoulder. I am watching it too and will surely look forward to its review.
Me too! I can’t wait, it’s an adorable show!
Heh. I ended up speeding through most of the episodes, slowing down only in Show’s late stretch. Which explains how I managed to post the review before I even managed to reply to your comment! 😝 Sorry about that, soumya!
hahahaha! That is what I was doing all along the show. When I started I was quite happy just because it had the ALSB feels. But, eventually I lost interest after dropping this comment. 😛 Now i await your “Her private life” review. Have you finished watching it or it is on the waitlist? 🙂
Hi there soumya! I’m still watching Her Private Life, but am a little behind coz I’ve been traveling. I hope to finish watching it in the coming week, and then work on the review. Hopefully I’ll be able to post soonish! 🙂
Oh ok! I am waiting. 🙂 Where are you located in Tokyo? *just asking out of curiosity* 🙂
Oopsie! That reply went a bit offbeat I wanted to ask are you located is it in Tokyo or somewhere else? I am not at all asking where in Tokyo. 🙂
Ah, was it my post on the Gong Yoo fanmeet that gave you the impression I’m in Tokyo? I’m not actually living in Tokyo, I’m in Singapore. 🙂
i just finished Fiery Priest and love it very much, Kim Nam Gil is one of my fave because he acted on so many different characters on Shark, Bad Guy, memoirs of a murderer, live up to your name and fiery priest. i hope you’ll watch this drama, it’s an action comedy with a lot of action scene, good fighting scene and so many scene that warm my heart.
Thanks for the recommendation on Fiery Priest, putri, I’ll keep it in mind! I’ve currently got too many shows on my plate so I don’t have room for one more. 😅
I have just started watching k-dramas. I happened on your blog. I love your reviews and they way you analyze and notice small things. I have watched many of your recommendations and so excited to know that you are Her Private Life because I am watching it currently. I want to know what you think and see what I miss. Looking forward to your reviews always. Thank you for everything!
Oh wow an Indian kdrama fan. 🙂 Share your taste and then I can also make some suggestions. I am more than an year old when i started my Kdrama journey and this blog website is a great place for people like us.
Hi there neha! Welcome to the blog, and to the wonderful world of kdramas! 😀 Thanks for enjoying the reviews! I’m still watching Her Private Life, and am a little behind as I was traveling for work. But I hope to have a review out sooner than later, so do look out for that! 🙂
You should check out Hana Kimi 2007 if you haven’t seen it. It is very over-the-top and super silly, but it is worth it. You are going to the need the right lense to like this drama. It is one of those dramas that you should most likely turn off your thinking cap, but it is enjoyable and fun to watch. The story is about a girl, Ashiya Mizuki, she disguises herself as boy in order to transfer to Sano Izumi’s school in Japan.
Another drama you should check out is 3 Nen A Kumi: Ima Kara Mina-san wa, Hitojichi Desu. It finished airing this year. The story is about a teacher who suddenly takes his class, 3-A, hostage in order to figure out what happened one of their classmates. This was a rollercoaster ride! It is my favorite Japanese drama this year so far. It is suspenseful, interesting concept and made me think about this drama, even after it is over. Lots of plot twists (to me there was).
Hi Ivy, thanks for the recommendations! 🙂 I watched, loved and rewatched Hana Kimi back in the day, and wouldn’t mind rewatching it yet again, I think! It’s just so quirky and adorable. 😍 I haven’t seen the other drama you mentioned, but I’ll keep it in mind! <3
Thank you!
Oh my word, Fangurl, I just finished my THIRD Chinese “historical” drama (can NIF be considered historical?) so I guess I am now well and completely hooked.
I’ve never been interested in any harem story–certainly not a fantasy of mine–but “Story of Yanxi Palace” is a cut above the usual, I believe. VERY strong heroine–smart, loyal, brave, and fierce–who goes all out in her quest for justice. I call it “justice” rather than “revenge” as she is on this journey to obtain justice/revenge for the people she loves, not for herself.
Supposedly, this drama is based on real people in 18th Century China. Not sure how accurate any of it is, but dang, those are so messed-up people! I find myself wishing they had taken another track with her character, but I understand why this wasn’t possible,
Still haven’t been able to get through a non-historical C-drama, but who am I kidding? Obviously, that’s next!
Wow! You’re certainly zooming through the historicals now, aren’t you? 😀 I think you can consider NIF a historical, if you use the term loosely. And I’m thinking it’s quite necessary to use the term loosely these days, because even the period dramas based on actual characters take a great deal of liberty with history. 😉
I’m so impressed that you finished Yanxi Palace so soon after finishing NIF! I take my hat off to you! 😉 I’ve heard good things about Yanxi Palace, but have had no inclination to watch it because of its length and its harem focus. You do make it sound quite interesting though, so I might pop it on my list for a Someday marathon.
If you’re up for something really solid and don’t mind a watch that can be difficult, The Disguiser might be a good one to ease you out of the period dramas. I didn’t manage to finish it yet (there are torture bits, which I found hard), but everyone who’s seen it has spoken positively about it. Worth considering, perhaps? 🙂
Thanks, Fangurl! I appreciate the recommendation!
You have to watch Forgotten! I’ve just finished watching it. Acted by Kang Ha Neul and Kim Moo Yeol. I was on the edge of my seat everytime since the start. And you won’t be able to figure out the situation until the end. It was mindblowing tho! One of the best thriller movie that I’ve come across so far. <3
I just looked it up, and eek, it sounds like a scary movie! I am such a wuss, too. 😛 But.. I do love Kim Moo Yeol, so I might dip a toe in at least, and see how far I manage to get with it. 😅 Thanks for the recommendation, DZ! <3
I was wondering if you’ve seen 100 Days My Prince. It was the last live drama I finished. 🙂
I did dip a toe into 100 Days My Prince, actually, but it was at a point where I was feeling some drama fatigue, and 100 Days just didn’t grab me right off the bat. I also had no patience to keep going, so I dropped out with tentative plans to going back to it. I never did get around to it, unfortunately, and the murmurs that this one is the sageuk version of Shopping King Louis did not do it any favors in my mind coz I hated Shopping King. 😆😅 If you have some drama time to spare, I do recommend The Crowned Clown. Yeo Jin Goo is so great in it, and it’s a solid story all-around. 🙂
Hi! I love your reviews and I just finished watching The Light in Your Eyes (also known as Dazzling) and boy what a ride, the first thing I thought when I finished was that I must let you know of this amazing drama because wow, it’s honestly a must watch. Thank you always for the good and honest reviews and for always making time to write down your thoughts and sharing them with us, i hope you have a good day!
Hi there Melisa! Thanks for enjoying all the reviews, I’m glad. <3 Also, I'm planning to start on The Light In Your Eyes soonish. I've heard good things about it, and it sounds like just my kind of show. I hope I'll love it as much as you did! 🙂
Wah, i see you currently watching Chicago Typewriter. I love that drama, Yoo Ah In really steals the show. i,m reaaly looking forward to you review 🙂
I’m 6 eps in at the moment, and enjoying it very well 🙂 I hope I will love it as much as you do. Thanks for looking forward to the review, Putri! <3
Hi Fangurl,
I tried to watch currently airing dramas, and now I am stuck with waiting for new episodes. Since I am not handling the anxiety very well, I checked out some older dramas that I had previously overlooked, and I was pleasantly surprised. One of them was Romantic Doctor Teacher Kim. I stay away from medical dramas as a rule, but decided to check this one because of Yoo Yeon Seok. The drama deals with a group of young doctors who are mentored by an eccentric older doctor (the titular teacher Kim) at a run down hospital in the countryside. The show had many quirky yet endearing characters. I loved how the main characters experienced growth and change while learning valuable life lessons.
Another drama I recently finished was Into the Sunlight from 1999! This is probably the oldest kdrama I have seen so far. It is a coming of age story about 4 people in their early 20s who are trying to find their way in life. I was not particularly impressed with the music (it felt like it was interfering with the story instead of enhancing it), but the story itself was not bad. The characters had to deal with class prejudices, insensitive parents and step parents, etc. Highlight of the drama for me was the performance of the 22 year old Jang Hyuk, but the rest of the young cast was very impressive too. The drama is not flawless (there were some boring parts in the middle), but I loved the innocence and the sincerity of the main characters. The ending was great too!
Hi Snow Flower! 😀 I’ve heard positive things about Romantic Doctor, but never did get around to checking it out, as I’m not big into medical dramas (I’m.. putting that fairly mildly, heh. I haven’t yet met a medical drama that I actually liked, tbh.) Also, wow, a 1999 drama! That’s way more retro than most people manage to go, if only for the fact that the older shows aren’t easily available these days. The idea of a 22 yo Jang Hyuk amuses me; I haven’t seen much of his early work at all. Glad to hear you enjoyed it so well! 😀
I have to say that Dr. Romantic was the first medical drama I actually enjoyed. I did like Beautiful Mind, but found Dr. Romantic more interesting.
As for 22 yo Jang Hyuk, I found his performance very restrained but effective. It sort of reminded me of his work in Money Flower. Both characters were men of few words, but everything they said mattered. The facial expressions did the rest. I did recognize Dae Gil’s murderous stare too!
Chicago Typewriter is very good! I especially liked the story set in the past.
Wow, it’s amazing that you’d see traces of Dae Gil in 22 year old Jang Hyuk! Makes me curious to check out Jang Hyuk’s early works, it’s too bad that older dramas are so hard to find these days. Also, I have way too many dramas that I want to watch. The fact that I’m going back for Chicago Typewriter is a feat in itself, lol. I’m enjoying Chicago Typewriter quite well so far, and I must agree the 1930s timeline is the one that I find more interesting. I hope I will end up liking it as much as everyone else! 🙂
kfangurl,
I found Into the Sunlight on viki.com. They do have some older dramas that do not require a subscription to watch. I also found this short and sweet kiss scene from the drama, posted by a kind soul on youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=idv-Y0Mrk-Y
So innocent and so sensual at the same time.
Oh, thanks for sharing the link! How fun, to see young Jang Hyuk in action! Although I must say, I’m a little bit thrown that he’s only 22 in this clip. I just watched The Crowned Clown (review is here!), and Yeo Jin Goo at 22 looks so different compared to Jang Hyuk at 22! 22 year old Jang Hyuk definitely looks more adult than 22 year old Yeo Jin Goo. 😄
Earlier in the drama JH has a different haircut which makes him look like a kid. In the middle of the drama he joins a gang and changes his haircut to what you see in the video. His character is a poor boy who thinks that joining a gang will bring him money and power. Thankfully, by the end of the show he realizes his mistake, quits the gang, and goes back to his older haircut. But I do agree that 22 yo Yeo Jin Goo looks younger than JH at the same age. Speaking of the Crowned Clown, JH had a short appearance in the 1st episode as the old king. I thought it was cool to watch two super talented actors together.
Oh yes, I loved Jang Hyuk’s cameo in TCC! So short, but so effective! 😍 Such a treat to see him sharing the screen with Yeo Jin Goo, who is so talented! <3
Hi Fangurl! I wanted to thank you for making all these reviews, and I’d love it if you don’t mind checking out Remember: War of the Son because I really want to hear your opinion of this drama!
Hi yuemei, thanks for enjoying the reviews! 🙂 I’m sorry to say I don’t currently have Remember on my list. It sounds so sad and heavy, I wasn’t too keen on watching it. 😛 If I do ever decide to check it out, you’ll see a post about it, I’m sure! 🙂
If you’re watching Squinty’s Smile Has Left Your Eyes, I suggest the Japanese original, Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi, instead.
Hi junny, thanks for the suggestion! 🙂 So far I’m enjoying the K-version quite well, even though I don’t consistently love Seo In Guk in every role. I feel like this role suits him, and so far I’m nicely engaged. I will keep the J-version in mind, tho – especially if I ever tire of the K-version! 😉
Now that I am firmly on the “Nirvana in Fire” train, I still want to give another plug for ‘Minglan.” One of the things I liked about it was that nobody was part of the Imperial Family…just on the periphery. They weren’t regular people, by any means, but their concerns were frequently more prosaic than the fratricide going on in the Imperial Palace. And can’t we all relate to, on some level, the fear of “will I pass this test or will I be an abject failure my whole life?”
Really looking forward to your review of Minglan, Fangurl!
Thanks for the plug for Minglan, Blenny! 😀 I will definitely start watching it soonish, and I’m really looking forward to my watch, thanks to all the positive comments that you guys have so helpfully provided. I hope I’ll love it as much as you do! <3
Fangurl, I took your advice and gave “Nirvana in Fire” another look-see. Once I got through the first episode, I pretty much became obsessed. I just finished watching tonight, and, yes, there was some binge-watching over these last weeks; also thinking about the story at odd times during the day, like, you know, when I was supposed to be working.
You were SO right and I was so wrong. Thank you! This is definitely a must-watch!
A very satisfying story in every way…especially at our final climax when Sir Shu and the Emperor finally have it out. Wow. I think the characterization of the Emperor was particularly brilliant. He could be wise, he could be loving, and yet, there was that tragic flaw that made him a terrible force of destruction. That was an amazing scene…on top of many, many amazing scenes.
I love the main bromance, but if I had to pick a man to come home to every night, it would definitely be the Commander. Strong, loyal, but not complicated and tortured like his friends. A better chance of happiness with him, I think. 🙂
I love the use of Chinese instruments for the soundtrack…a discordant “ping” here or there to let you know something ominous is happening. I even like the theme song at the end–and I can usually barely tolerate them.
I also noticed that the Mandarin spoken sounds a lot different than what I’ve heard in Mandarin-speaking productions. I hope it’s not offensive to say that the dialect (is it dialect?) spoken in this show was a lot more pleasing to Western ears.
In short, anybody reading this who HASN’T seen “Nirvana in Fire,” well, what on earth are you waiting for? Fangurl knows whereof she speaks!
I’m SO PLEASED that you gave NIF a try, Blenny! 😀 And I’m THRILLED that you love it! It really is a must-see, in my books. <3 Admittedly, it isn't for everyone, but so far, more people have loved it than not, so I still recommend it heartily. 😉
I am with you on Commander Meng. I loved him! 😍❤️ So loyal, so earnest, so dorky, and just so darn lovable. <3 As for the Mandarin spoken, I get what you mean, in the sense that NIF was the first time that I really woke up to how melodious and beautiful Mandarin can sound. I fully credit NIF for inspiring me to get better acquainted with Mandarin, which I'd hated in school. At the same time, I wouldn't call it a dialect per se, because technically Mandarin itself is a Chinese dialect, and just happened to be the one that was chosen to be China's official language. There are other dialects, like Cantonese, Shanghainese, Hokkien, Teochew etc. But in all the dramas coming out of China, it is Mandarin that is spoken. I guess NIF had a purer, more melodious rendition of Mandarin than many other dramas.. At least, that's how I see it. I hope that helps to clarify at least somewhat! 🙂
would love to have your feedback on C-drama The Story of Ming Lan
Hi! Thanks for the recommendation, I’ve got Ming Lan on my list and plan to start watching it soon! 🙂
Hi Fangurl – had to drop in as I saw above that you are about to start Minglan. I watched faithfully every day and never once was bored. Just got done and I am sad. It never felt like 73 long episodes. When it ended I was like – Hey, where did everybody go?
Loved the story and the acting was positively sublime. Liu Jun was flat out amazing in this. Good thing this came in daily episodes or I believe I may have stayed up for a week without sleep and did a super binge LOL!
Hoping you enjoy as much as I did!
phl! Lovely to see you as always! <3 YAY that you loved Minglan – one more vote of confidence for the show! 😉 I've heard mostly good things about this show, with a smattering of less good things, so I'm hopeful but a little cautious. 😅 I wonder if I will fall into a binge with this one. I rarely do nowadays, but occasionally if a show sucks me in good, I end up throwing all the other shows aside for a while. 😉 Fingers crossed that I will love this one as much as you do! <3
Dear Fangurl,
I know, I know, too many dramas, too little time, but…I hope you will consider adding “The Story of Minglan” to your watch list. I admit, for purely selfish reasons…I just want to hear your thoughts, opinions, and have my own chance to weigh-in! 🙂
This is the first Chinese drama I have ever been able to get through to the end…and it was a whopping 73 episodes long! Every other one I’ve tried, including, I’m sorry to say, the ones you have rated so highly, seem a bit too cheesy, with problems including plot, pacing, characterization, writing, acting, production values, etc. And, of course, there is the length…have you ever noticed how long even the opening credits are for some of these Chinese dramas? They practically tell the whole story before the episode starts!
Anyway, I didn’t find this was the case with Minglan. Yes, some of the scenes were a little too drawn out, but most—from the small domestic concerns to the big Empire-shaking events—felt necessary for the story. I m in no position to judge historical accuracy, and can’t say it was realistic, per se. However, it was believable. The characters rang true, and I quickly became engrossed in their lives. So much so that I found myself thinking about them in the middle of work!
I hope you will give this drama a look-see. Meanwhile, I’m going to try to watch more Chinese dramas in the future…keeping an open mind and all that.
Thanks for hearing me out, Fangurl!
Wow, that’s quite something, that Minglan is the first C-drama that you’ve managed to finish. I mean, 73 eps is A LOT. 😱 I’m happy to say that I’ve got Minglan on my list, and have just managed to acquire all the episodes. I will be checking it out soonish, once I clear some space off my drama plate! I really hope I will love it as much as so many others do.. I’ve heard some mixed reactions to it. Fingers crossed! 😀
As for other C-dramas.. have you tried Nirvana in Fire? That’s my top pick (pretty much of all time, up till right now). For something modern yet sophisticated, perhaps you might consider The First Half Of My Life? I thought that was very elegant and well done. I hope that helps! <3
Dear Fangurl, I am presently watching two kdramas, “Romance is a Bonus Book” weekly & I’m finding it fun, not too much drama & I like the romance. Also watching “Live”, the Korean police drama, too many scenes at the men’s urinal which I find annoying, one or two times but not every episode. I looked for your review on “Live”, but I couldn’t find one. I am always impressed how these male actors seem to be able to cry on cue, they do this so well. Crying on cue must be taught in the beginning of their careers. One more question, why to the actors look towards their side when they take a drink of Soju?
Warm regards, Carol Shibuya
Hi there Carol! Happy to hear that all is well in your drama-watching world. 🙂 I’ve also started on Romance is a Bonus Book, and just 2 eps in, I’m enjoying it quite nicely. As for “Live” I haven’t watched it yet. I did attempt it twice, but chickened out both times at the E3 mark because of the bloody scenes of that particular case. I am a wuss when it comes to blood and gore. Well, and horror too, but that’s another story! 😂
I’m not an expert on the kind of training that actors go through, but I have to agree with you that many of the k-actors are indeed very good at the crying scenes. As for turning to the side when drinking soju, that is done as a form of respect for the more senior person at the table. Seniority factors are usually age &/or position. So a junior at work would turn away to drink in front of his/her senior, while said senior would not need to turn – unless there is someone even more senior at the table. I hope that helps to clarify! 🙂
Thank you kfangurl for your explanation of why turning ones head when sipping soju is a means of respect to the elder. What a nice tradition. Tonight I finished “Live” and I really enjoyed it, yes, there were some bloody scenes but it was so interesting to see how different the Korean Police Department is managed. While here in the USA, our police departments have excellent benefits, pensions, retirement, etc.. And in Korea if the story is correct, the officers are not paid well, have no medical or retirement benefits. A family member of mine retired early from being a police chief and has excellent benefits. I’m sorry that in Korea this isn’t the case if depicted correctly in the story. All the characters in the story were likable and I would recommend this drama to others.
You’re very welcome, Carol! 🙂 I’m not sure of what the actual reality is for officers in Korea, but there’s usually some truth and some fiction mixed together for dramatic effect. Glad to hear you recommend the show! I am warily considering a 3rd try with it, but it’s not a high priority item for me at the moment. There are so many other dramas that I’d like to check out – and they aren’t as bloody and therefore challenging as “Live”! 😆
In “Live,” police officer uses a gun to shoot a suspected serial killer in the actual act of killing someone, and it’s the cop who has to worry about losing his badge or going to jail. So, yeah, a whole lot different from the U.S.A.
You should try watching The Smile Has Left Your Eyes! Really would love love to read your thoughts on it! 😉
That’s kind of on my list, but I must admit that the urgency to watch it has waned as more and more new shows air. If I watch it I’ll be sure to write about it – though I can’t make any promises! 😅
don’t you want to watch 100 days my prince? i’m really curious what you think about that drama.
I did have that on my list, but just never got around to it. Too many dramas, and not enough time! I might go back to it at some point, but I can’t make any promises. 😅
D.O.’s acting really caught me off guard. hahaha! I understand. me too, i have many dramas on my list. even now I’m confused which one to watch! anyway, I really, really enjoy reading your review 😀
Aw, thanks for enjoying the reviews! <3
Hey fangirl, how are you watching Sky Castle, The Third Charm and Beauty Inside? I’m unable to locate these shows online with subtitles. Please help:)
Hi there Yasmine. If you have access to Viu (available in selected regions), you’d be able to watch all 3 shows there. Otherwise, you can find all 3 shows here as well. I hope that helps! 🙂
Thanks fangirl…I live in Canada and used to watch on DramaFever but that site has now been cancelled. Viu is not available for my region, but drama cool works for me. Thanks again and really appreciate your reviews. I’m also somewhat of a kdrama addict when I can find time in between work and studies.
Glad that one of the links works for ya! 🙂 Thanks for enjoying the reviews – and fighting! It’s hard to find time for dramas between work and studies, you go, girl! <3
I am so glad you are watching/watched The Third Charm. I was nodding my head and clenching my heart at the final moments. Everything felt right, nothing was forced. First drama I’ve seen with such ending yet I smile with satisfaction. I am really hoping you liked the drama too. I am a big fan of your blog/reviews.
Aw, thanks for enjoying the blog! <3 I'm still a few episodes away from the end of The Third Charm, so I'm still wondering how I'll feel about finale. It seems that most folks feel underwhelmed with the ending, while a minority feels the ending is appropriate. Fingers crossed that I'll like the ending as much as you do! So far, I've been enjoying it very much. 🙂
Hii~ I want to recommend you a drama called “Where Stars Land”, you can watch it when you are in mood for something calming, not too heavy, not too light. The characters are all very endearing, and although there are issues with the female lead in the beginnning ,she just ends up being super adorkable later on. Not to mention, the male lead is the rare mature type and I have a feeling you will really love him if you do end up watching the drama, Lee Je Hoon and Chae Soo Bin are perfect cast in their roles <3 I hope you can give it a try when you have more drama hours available to check out something new!
Hi there Akisa! Thanks for thinking of me! 🙂 I had Where Stars Land on my list, and then fell into a tiny bit of a drama rut, so when I attempted it (quite half-heartedly, I must admit), I couldn’t really get into it. It’s great to hear that it’s better than I thought it was – perhaps I will manage to go back to it when I’m properly back into my drama groove. For now, I think I need to stick with only the dramas that really grab me, and grab me quickly 😛
Ohh that’s a shame 🙁 I hope you are enjoying what you are watching currently tho and maybe give it a shot again someday later <3
I’m enjoying a couple of shows at the moment – I’m really immersed in Familiar Wife at the moment, and Beauty Inside has grabbed me within its first episode. So I do think that I’m well on my way out of my little drama rut. Hopefully I will be in a good place to give Where Stars Land another try, soonish 🙂
Hey Akisa, just wanted to let you know that today I tried Where Stars Land again, and this time, I liked it quite well. The last time I just tried a random scene and it wasn’t very enjoyable. But this time enjoyed E1 & 2 quite nicely, and plan to continue on to E3, soonish. Just thought I’d let you know! <3
Ohh nice to hear that 🙂 Chae Soo Bin’s character is embarrassing and adorable and both leads are really endearing, especially the quiet and aloof male lead~ Hope you enjoy the next episodes too ^^
I’ve been slow to watch the next episodes, but not because of the show itself.. I just got sucked into Beauty Inside, and everything else sort of fell by the wayside. I do fully intend to carry on with When Stars Land tho! 🙂
Have you ever watched, while you wrre sleeping? Also, cant wait for the review of Lets eat 3!!!!!!
I tried out the first 2 eps of WYWS, but unfortunately I dropped out after that coz I just wasn’t feeling it. 😛 Thanks for looking forward to the LE3 review! It might be a while yet, coz I’m a little busy at the moment. 🙂
I really like your reviews waiting for your review on Mr sunshine and Life on mars
Aw, I’m glad you’re enjoying the reviews, Flaming D! 😀 A post for Mr. Sunshine might take a while yet, since I’m only at the early episodes as I type this. But, I’ve just posted my review on Life On Mars, which you can find here. I hope you enjoy it! 😀
Hello there! If I were you I’d drop Meteor Garden (2018) as fast as possible. I’m watching episode 1 of Come and Hug Me and it looks promising. The leads so far are doing very, very well. :O
Hey there antitled! I dipped my toe into MG2018 mostly coz of all the twitter squee I was seeing. I was pleasantly surprised by E1, but am feeling less thrilled with the subsequent episodes. I’m much less taken with the show than initially, but for now, will continue to pop on an episode while I’m at the gym. It’s light and easy and keeps me going on the exercise bike, ha. But yes, I might end up dropping it.
I’ve heard good things about Come and Hug Me.. especially about the initial episodes. I’ve heard mixed reactions about the later stretch though. Glad you’re liking it so far tho! 🙂
Any reviews for Meteor Garden 2018?
Hi there Magie! Tbh, I was planning to give Meteor Garden 2018 a miss, because I thought I was over the story after having seen the J- and K-versions. But.. curiosity got the better of me, and I’ve just started watching it. I’m far behind everyone else, so a review won’t be coming anytime soon, though a review should come at some point! So it’s not bad; I like it more than the K-version. 🙂
Desperately waiting for your WWWSK review! This site is a masterpiece! Thank you for putting so much effort for this. 😊😊😊😊
Aw, thank you for enjoying the site, farverse! 😀 I don’t think I’ve yet heard the word masterpiece associated with it before, so that’s definitely going into the ol’ mental treasure chest! <3
I'm working on the review for WWWSK, and I hope to post it soonish. I hope you'll find it worth the wait! 🙂 EDIT: Review is done! Woot! 😀 You can find it here. <3
How do we order the comments to get the most recent ones come out on top?
Also kfangurl!, are you watching any of the following: ‘About Time’/’Are You Human Too?’/’Lawless Lawyers’/’Hana Nochi Hare’? Would love to know your thoughts!!
Hi there, G! I think I would have to change the master settings on all posts, in order for the most recent comments to show first. I’ve always had them in chronological order, since that made more sense to me, but now that some of these pages are more than 5 years old and have accumulated so many comments, maybe it’s time to rethink that! Thanks for bringing it up, I’ll have a think about it, and see if it’s time to change how the comments show up on the site!
I haven’t started any of the shows you mentioned, but I have About Time, Are You Human Too, and Lawless Lawyer on my list! 🙂
Looking to hear your review of Korean drama About Time.💙 Thank you.
Hi there Lynn! I’ve got About Time on my list, but I haven’t gotten around to starting it yet. I hope to start on it soonish! 🙂
If any show deserves the kind of epic reviews you do, it’s My Ajusshi. Please check it out soon. I am already rubbing my hands in anticipation of your review. 🙂
Aw, thanks for the vote of confidence, KS! Thanks in part to your recommendation, I’ve started watching My Ajusshi, and 3 eps in, I’m liking it very well. It may take me a while to get to the end coz I am not marathoning it, but I’ll get there! 🙂