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..!
Will Love In Spring is turning out to be an amazing show! So gentle, poignant, yet deftful and engaging! Cinematic craft including the understated acting is absolutely on point! After dropping Best Choice Ever, this was is turning out to be the best choice ever!
I recall seeing flowers in sand on your upcoming drama list, but I don’t see it now. Did you decide to not watch it?
I tried 2 eps but didn’t find myself taking to the show, so I’ve put it on my good intentions list, to maybe try again another time!
I can’t wait for the review of Queen of Tears. i won’t spoil it for anyone. Overall it’s a good show and deserves to be popular as it is. An interesting story about people who fell out of love – falling back in love. However, the right viewing lens is essential. This show is about the relationships of the characters, their interactions, emotional truths. Logic and plot are not the strong points. If this bothers you, it isn’t the right show for you. The medicine makes no sense (the hippocampus works the opposite of how the show portrays it). Some plots of the villain is at times so silly you wonder how he ever thought they would work. Certain things should be happening that aren’t and vice versa (for example, FL in episodes 15-16 should be swarmed by reporters asking how current events square with incredibly public statements she made earlier). Tropes are invoked at a dizzying rate. All this. And yet the actors are good, the chemistry is good, and the emotions are right on target. The writers were in this way very smart, focusing on the stuff most viewers cared about and glossing over the rest. It’s better than the opposite – a legal drama constructed like a Swiss watch with meticulous accounting of facts, but no characters or relationships anyone care about. Maybe we could add a facts person to the writing team and then things would be perfect…
Awaiting your verdict!
KFG and others, I have enjoyed your reviews and the comments in the discussion group. My ratings mostly track yours quite a bit and so wanted to recommend Flex X Cop with Ahn Bo Hyun if you have a chance to see it. I am an ABH fan so maybe my opinion may be colored but I see a lot of people Reddit/kdramarecommends also having enjoyed the show. It is remarkably fast paced, the crimes solved are not grisly and definitely not believable but it is such rollicking fun with a dose of chaebol family dynamics. ABH is such a treat to watch.
I think if you are looking for a crime adventure story, it’s not bad. If you are looking for an opposites-attract romance, move on, it’s not that. I did enjoy our social media star ML’s approach to finding a missing grandfather. That was funny.
Dear kfangurl i hope you are doing fine. I found my self lately curious about a lot of recent dramas that you didn’t cover in your blog. To name a few: the interest of love, Doona, Celebrity, My lovely boxer, Gyongsong creature, Destined with you, My demon etc I if you find the time to comment on them i would be so greatful 🙂
Queen of Divorce just concluded. I’d give in a B- grade. The story concerns a woman burned in the worse divorce from a chaebol family who specialized in helping others escape similar situations. She’s a little bit counselor, a little bit ninja, a little bit lawyer. Kang Ki Yeong (he played Woo Young Woo’s long-suffering boss among other roles) gets a shot as a male lead and does well. He brings his own nerdy brand – in one notable fight scene being beaten up pretty easily – the typical male lead in these dramas is like Bruce Lee combined with a special forces commando. And the female lead, Lee Ji Ah did well with what was given. But overall the show gets stuck a bit in certain crime tropes and the resolution of some plot elements was simultaneously too easy (catching the baddies doing illegal stuff) and too hard (providing strong public proof of major crimes didn’t seem to change anything). Also, this couple who was together in the past (and you need about 2 minutes of the show an the IQ of ferret to figure this out, so I’m not spoiling) and destined to come back together – here the problem is they never really gave us a great reason for the past breakup or some resolution that makes them being together now better. Which would have been more interesting that the chaebol crime foolishness. Overall my suggestion is to watch Doctor Slump instead. But I hope Kang Ki Yeong gets another shot as a lead.
Any opinions on Wedding Impossible? I’m debating whether to start this one…
Queen of Tears is coming tomorrow for fans of Kim Soo Hyun!
I hope that you did not waste any time watching Wedding Impossible! Wish someone had told me what a dog’s breakfast it would become!
I saw your advice too late. What a complete mess of a show. Everyone comes across as crazy. no one’s actions make much sense (even at the end, looking back I can’t understand what anyone was doing in ep 1).
But yeah, *chef’s kiss* so far for Queen of Tears!
The show I most look forward to seeing every week is doctor slump. There’s this slow, patient quality to the show. And the leads are given a ton of time to just talk to each other. Fun and light hearted relationship mixed with somewhat more serious issues like depression, mid-life criss, and PTSD. And this theme of two people who’ve studied and worked their whole lives being forced to step back and wonder if there’s anything else in life they should have done back then or should be doing now. Very enjoyable. There’s a serial criminal but I don’t know who he is yet, or what his deal is, or if we will promote him to serial killer – hope not.
I tried Knight Flower – there’s an awful lot of Honey Lee just being Honey Lee. I couldn’t get into the story.
Please tell me you are watching Captivating the King? Absolutely stunning so far!!
I agree, Sarbani – it is absolutely stunning and the leads are knocking it out of the park 😊
The push and pull between them is postitively electric especially whenever they are playing baduk. JJS’s character as a grey / morally ambiguous king is utterly captivating (I can’t look away from him any time he is on the screen) especially when we can see the conflict within SSK’s Mong-Woo even as she tries so hard not to love him knowing what she thinks she knows about him!
I think that is the great thing we see in ep 13 when Mong Woo makes it very clear how she feels – an amazing truth 😊
Dear kfangurl. I am watching The Rebel Princess yet again and find it even more gut-wrenching then the first time. Many characters are week and frustrating, because they just keep quiet instead of speaking their mind. The main ML just breaks my heart and the FL is at times confused about her loyalty and often not assertive enough to speak up to stop some situations from continuing or escalating.
On positive note the sword fighting scenes of the ML are some of the best I have seen in many, similar dramas.
I feel that Chinese drama makers love piling misery on the good and righteous, while the vilains laugh almost until the very end, and also, it seems they just love to kill off one of the main characters!
I am one of those people who get totally immersed in the drama, so I love and hate some characters. I get to a point when I scream at the TV, when the corrupt officials get away with it again and again, and cry when the righteous are tortured or killed. Yes my family thinks I am a nutcase.
Hi, is there anyone who loved MY LIBERATION NOTES?
Hi Marika, quite a few of us enjoyed My Liberation Notes, you can find my review, with everyone’s comments here. 🙂
I loved it!
Anyone else for “Marry My Husband”? Park Min Yeong is back. *very mild ep 1 spoilers* At first I thought this was like another drama of similar name where the lead is dying and tries to find her husband a new wife. But that is NOT the story. Instead it’s about a woman who gets kind of a life do-over, being moved 10 years back in time. And part of her mission is finding some other person to marry her terrible (future) husband. And we can see how she might make any number of other life choices. Only 2 episodes in. There are some charming moments already – the workplace bullies are out in force, and the way our lead and some of the other characters stand up to them (and for each other) is so fine. High hopes.
Also on webtoon dramas. I was enjoying Good Day to be a Dog. But I think the last few episodes the plot really veered of course – weird, depressing and boring. I think they are following the plot of the webtoon, but still. Hope they can put the train back on the tracks…
@Eric Lancaster, Marry My Husband is one show I’m likely to continue watching!
I have high hopes for satisfactory comeuppance bestowed on the husband, friend and other meanies. 😂
I thought the first episode was very good, Eric. I found the second episode quite choppy – ie piece meal. However, it had some great moments – the cafeteria scene for instance. That was so well done. Without a doubt, PMY is back 🤩🤩🤩
I liked the way – in her do over – FL is figuring out who her friends should have been. And the way she stood up for her new work buddy and vice-versa was well written. She’s going through life with this extra 10 years of insight, determined to do better, rather than just blundering through the same mistakes she made last time. As far as writing female friendship goes, this was just well done, making you like the two characters, see how they rapidly could become friends. Her friend has this autonomic distaste for the bullies and doesn’t even try to be nice to them – something FL painfully learned over a decade. Maybe she likes her so fast because she sees that in her.
I like many aspects of the show. But in ep 14 I feel like it’s running off the rails. The main problem is the version of karma the show is selling. There’s this quote from the movie “a fish called Wanda”, when the evil and not very bright character Otto is corrected on a few things: “The London Underground is not a political movement, and the central message of Buddhism is not every man for himself”. Well here it’s “get them before they get you.” In her do over, our lead has to transfer her bad fate onto others – and if she screws up it is innocent others standing nearby. So she decides in ep14 – at least at the time – that she has to be exactly as vile as the evil characters were to make this work. It’s kinda gross. I hope the writers back away from this idea. It makes the whole show much uglier than it needs to be.
If the show bought into some other version of karma (be kinder, spread more good in the world and you get a better fate, for example) it wouldn’t have this problem. This is dystopian and grim. I hope they back away from this concept in the last 2 episodes.
I found myself dropping MMH during episode 14. The writers blew it for me, which is a shame.
I agree. This show was just too morally dark and grim for me. I finished it, but am sorry that I did. It has stayed with me, and not in a good way.
My current favorite is Welcome to Samdal Ri. If you liked hometown cha cha cha, or want a good small town rom-drom, here you go. It’s a little slow but I really ended up rooting for the leads. And no serial killers, which is always a plus.
Lol. I love how we’ve all come to a point where “no serial killers is a plus” – that’s been a mental checkbox of mine for a while now! 😂 Glad you’re enjoying Samdalri, Eric.. I am too! 😊
I’m with you on the whole no serial killer thing! But *Spoiler alert* I’m thinking there really is one. That ocean is pretty vicious!
@lotusgirl Gah! I hope that all our characters stay safe, despite that potentially vicious ocean! 🙈
Also hoping no one else drowns. But in this small seaside village the ocean (and heart disease) is a far more believable baddy than the usual. All the drama that’s needed without the ridiculous elements.
Who’s watching My Demon?!?
Yes, I am, Sammy. Overall, I find it quite a good show. I’m about to watch the latest episode 😊
Great!! I’ll bump it up in the queue. I have that and/or Tail of the Nine Tail up for my fantasy kdrama fix. Hehe
This show was so much FUN. Lots of “pure pretty” and romance. I still can’t believe that the demon prefers strawberry cake over “devil’s food!” 😉
Just finished watching it today. Don’t take it too seriously; it’s just for FUN. I tuned out the religion talks and tuned in to the romance. I think it was a great send off for Song Kang’s military enrollment; he seemed to be enjoying himself as the drama wrapped up this week. What do you think, @Sammy?
Anyone watch Evilive? It is worst of evil minus the drama over the bad guy turning pining lover bit. Very fast paced and thrilling
anyone see Moonshine on KBS?
I did. I enjoyed it pretty well. Nothing earth shattering but funny in parts, etc. I thought it was worth the watch.
Are you planning to watch My Dearest?
Hi there Sel, I actually did check out the first 2 eps of My Dearest, but didn’t take to it the way everyone else did, which is why I haven’t gone back to it. I’m sorry to say I’m quite unlikely to go back to it (because I really didn’t take to the first 2 eps). 😅
I just saw Tracer come up on my watchlist after watching While you were sleeping!! I love LGS and BS together!!!😍
Does anyone have thoughts on if it’s good?
Same question. I’ve heard good things about Tracer. Anyone here able to confirm or deny?
Anyone watch Royal Secret Agent with Kim Myung-soo?
I’m looking for some great historical drama recommendations. I liked the following: 100 days my prince, loving the Moonlight, rookie historian, under the queens umbrella.
I dropped the crown clown because it was too dark for me
Rooftop Prince and Queen In Hyun’s. Neither are dark but instead have an awesome comedic side. They are classics. We watched them recently and just loved them. We will eventually rewatch them both (which we never do-Healer and 30 but 17 are our only exceptions to date).
I have watched both of the Royal Secret Agent dramas and quite liked both, especially the latest one with Taycyeon. My favourite drama of the ones you like is UNDER THE QUEEN’S UMBRELLA. Crown Clown has a good endinng so it is worth it.
Anyone else watching “My Dearest”? I’m going to need therapy from this drama.
Ive been a Kdrama hiatus for awhile now, and I happened to causally open Viki to watch an episode of something, and this show was recommended for me. This show grabbed me by the collar, stuffed me in a bag and kidnapped my heart and soul off to Joseon, in the mid 1700s
It’s such beautifully well done Sageuk. The instrumental soundtrack is just a beautiful blend of traditional Korean music, old school Sageuk soundtrack feels and modern drama. I love it. The songs in the soundtrack have that melancholy/nostalgic feeling that makes play them all on repeat.
The story though a classic trope is executed masterfully. The timing is fantastic. I actually enjoy where they jump around with time, and as you watch each episode —those time jump gaps are filled in. The story only gives the audience what they need to know when they need to know it and leaves you guessing when you don’t know. I’m still not sure what the first few scenes of the entire show have to do with the show. I love that. It means I don’t need to to know until the writers have decided I need know for the plot.
I didn’t even find either I’d the MLs attractive or compelling characters, but the show wanted me to feel that way. They have slowly (okay, let’s be real here it took about 2 episodes for me to fall head over heals for our ML) grown on me as the story has unfolded and developed them into 3 dimensional characters.
I have so much more that could say about this drama. But really I just looking for some group therapy to help through until next week when I get my next two episodes that will send me into my next tail spin. Believe me I really love this drama. And I love that it really has made me cry and laugh and genuinely feel things.
My Dearest is superb, Nina. In fact, if show can maintain its current trend to the end, it will move into my all time top ten list of dramas. The problem is, which one do I then drop out of my list!
NGM is fabulous and AEJ equally so. Then we have Lee Chung Ah as the bounty hunting Chinese princess who I think, love her or hate her, is absolute dynamite. Everyone is knocking their performances out of the park.
As you say, the pacing, execution and music are golden. Throughout my watch, I also keep thinking about the relevance of the opening scene. That is the best of the best storytelling right there. I knew from the get go we had something special 🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩🤩
I have been keeping this show on the back burner because it split the season, and I was waiting to watch until it was all completed. It looks like I’ve been missing something amazing. It may be time to go ahead and start watching it.
If you can, lotusgirl – dive right in. Even with its home audience it has hit 11.7% nationwide and starting to climb rapidly 🤩🤩🤩
I’m jumping into it today. Since you like it so well, I’m sure I will.
I am so behind with this Sean. Every time I sit down to watch something pops up and I have to divert my attention. I did manage to get into E1 and the NGM’s intensity is wonderful. I can feel the intentions behind his silent looks.
I will definitely finish this as I have committed to both seasons. I just need the uninterrupted time.
I can appreciate what you are saying, phl. I make sure all my distractions are dealt with, then I sit down and watch it uninterrupted. It’s like savouring that favourite bit of chocolate and trying to make it last. You are going to appreciate some of the imagery that is ahead of you with your watch 🤩
Please list your top ten dramas, Sean!
My top ten at the moment (in no special order): My Mister, Miseang An Incomplete Life, Reply 1988, Red Sleeve, Hospital Playlist, Dr Romantic, Crash Landing On You, Weightlifting Fairy, Healer, What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim.
next ten: My Dearest, Twinkling Watermelon, The Princess’ Man, Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Move to Heaven, Father Is Strange, Under the Queen’s Umbrella, Good Doctor, Jewel in the Palace, Crowned Clown
Movie Favorites: A Meloday to Remember, Classic, A Taxi Driver, Werewolf Boy, Vanishing TIme, A Moment to Remember, Marathon, Lover’s Concerto, Race to Freedom
Hello Su San
They are very good lists. We even have some that crossover 😊
My Top Ten is: My Mister, Under The Queen’s Umbrella, Reset, Hot Stove League, Money Flower, Love Destiny, The Story of Minglan, The Longest Day in Chang’an, BG Personal Bodyguard, Lovers in Bloom.
My Special Mentions include: Vincenzo, Queen In Hyun’s Man, Arang and the Magistrate, A Life, Misty, Romance is a Bonus Book, Manpuku, Marry Me Now, Second to Last Love, Weightlifting Fairy Bok Joo, Saigo Kara Nibanme no Koi, Mr Sunshine, Falling for Innocence, My Love from the Star, Saimdang, Light’s Diary, On the Verge of Insanity, Maliki-san Chi no Makanai-san, Meet Yourself, My Dearest.
Some of my favourite movies are: A Tale of Samurai Cooking – A True Love Story (a must watch), Finding Mr Right, Jung_E, Space Sweepers, Teacher’s Diary (fabulous Thai movie), The Last Princess, The Road Home, Splash, Splash Love, Innocent Witness, Wind
Is anyone else watching Doona? Just dropped on netflix (US at least). A quiet story about a former idol who lives downstairs from a busy student. It’s surprisingly good, slow paced, rom-dram. Bae Suzy – this is actually the best acting I’ve seen her do, or perhaps the role best suited to her. I’m at episode of 4/9 and if they keep this up the show gets an A.
Yes, I quite like it, Eric. I thought Suzy was superb in Anna.
Anna? I’ve never seen it. Thanks for the tip.
Never seen a Suzy starred drama, just her cameo in My Love From The Stars. This one looks interesting to me, so please let us know how the show continues….thanks.
I really enjoyed Doona! I found it incredibly moving which was quite a surprise to me. I just thought it would be a fun, light romance. It was so much deeper! I even cried a few times which also surprised me. This one had flown under the radar for me. It was a pleasure to see Yang Se Jong again in a lead role. Suzy has improved so much recently. I also thought she did well in Anna.
I too enjoyed Doona. I didn’t expect to like it so much. Well-paced, great acting. Thumbs up to the OST too. Some would argue about the ending but I thought it was well done.
Like you, I too enjoyed Doona, in fact more than I thought I would. You mention the ending. I came away from it thinking they were no longer together, but then after reading an article, learnt there had been some subtle, or maybe not so subtle clues, and that they were in fact still seeing each other, but in secret. Now you and others my have seen this and I’m the one who missed the clues. So my apologies, if you had already sussed this out! Anyway, those clues lie in the short scenes that preface most episodes. In the first, Doona looks over a train crossing with a smile, then you see Wonjun gazing. And so it carries on until the final episode. I quote now from the article. “….and you’ll see that Won–jun wears the same outfit in the prefacing scenes of episode 8 and 9, as he does in that final mall scene, confirming they’re in Japan – if, that is, all the signs being in Japanese and the latter scene showing Won-jun and Doo-na meeting by a lake with the base of Mount Fuji sloping in the background wasn’t enough of a clue.” I, for one, was pleased to read that they were, in fact, together!
Yeah, they could have made this a little clearer. But it pleases me to think of them getting the happy. There was this scene in the show that really stuck with me *spoilers, stop reading if this bothers you*
The part where the two leads are together and her manager (who has completely ignored her for months) appears and she leaves with him without saying one word to ML. OMG. This was so disrespectful. She couldn’t even take 10 seconds to say “I have to see my manager about restarting my carreer. This means a lot to me. I’ll call you later.” The show didn’t let her off the hook for this, to its credit. It was powerful and hard to forget. I almost feel like he should invite Doona to a romantic dinner, have some female friend come up and say his name, then walk out without saying a word to Doona. So she could really understand what she did.
I started to watch it, only because of actor Yang Se Jong who was an unforgettable character in MY COUNTRY: The New Age, but I have given up as I found Doona very un-likeable, especially her thin cigar chain-smoking. It’s beyond me why South Korea produces so many dramas with girls who drink too much and too often and many characters smoking. They should take a little more care and responsibility in wrong and unhealthy advertising.
I’m also looking forward to the full review for Moving. Short version: this reminds me of the older US show Heroes. Gritty violent superhero drama, shady government agencies, spying, betrayals. If you like special effects and superhero fighting action – you will love this show. They had apparently the largest budget of a kdrama and used it on lots of fight choreography and the effects. Probably on lots of good actors as well. But the FX are also the downside of the show – the fights got so big and took up so much space the the last few episodes are a bit short of story/character – overall these elements are pretty strong in the earlier drama and not bad at the end, just squeezed for time. A rating for delivering what it promises.
Coming off a bit of a dry spell for dramas, 3 recommendations:
Strong Girl Nam Soon. So far we are 4 episodes in. If you like the original and want more of the same (petite actress with super strength, cartoon like crime fighting action) then I think you’ll enjoy the sequel. You know with sequels they are either made by someone who likes the original and wants to build on it – those turn out well – or by people who didn’t and want to change everything – usually doesn’t work. This seems in the first category.
Also, a Good Day to Be A Dog. Cha Eunwoo is back. Quirky story about a family with an unusual curse and some lovable misfit high school teachers.
For something different, consider the Japanese Drama “Kitchen Knife and Green Chili Pepper”. This is historical (just post WW2)story about a chef, a small family restaurant, and an arranged marriage / noona romance. Short, upbeat. Sincere/serious.
Thanks for the heads up about the new shows!
Strong Woman Do Bong Soon was my gateway drama, so I hadda watch SGNS, but went in with low expectations. Seen the first two and so far so good, for what it is, with a very cartoon-y lens. The humor is less cringey than the original, which I know bothered many humans. I’ll keep going when I can. And, as a dog person, I sorta want to watch GD2BAD but I’m going to have to draw the line somewhere.
I’ve enjoyed the first 2 eps of GDTBAD. It’s not as slapsticky as I expected so that’s good. At this point I’m looking forward to checking out the new episode today so it’s at least promising.
@j3ffc – no worries on not getting into GD2BAD – it is forever between episode drops and we are getting only 1 episode per week (that is after the 2 week hiatus due to baseball playoffs).
I fear that the GD2BAD folks are shooting themselves in the foot.
Indeed!! I was just thinking about that!
@lotusgirl – Netizens are not known for being a patient bunch – myself included. 😂🤣😅
So true!
Anyone watch Tracer? I’m curious what its vibe is. Dark and gritty or lighter? Dark and gritty would be like Taxi Driver or Signal and lighter being something closer to Pinocchio or Strong Woman Do Bong Soon.
Also, any thoughts on Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency?
I really enjoyed Flower Crew. It was light and fun.
Lovely liar is fun. I felt they were hitting some of the note too hard at first (the ML and his mask thing – if he wants to avoid attention he should stop acting like a crazy person and just chill, no one would notice him). But it’s enjoyable and hitting most of the right notes.
Also, light heart wacky small town drama “behind your touch” and the slightly more serious small town drama “Not Others”. These are crime-rom-drams. Both quirky.
Lovely Liar is fab, Eric. I dropped Behind Your Touch after one episode and it was a push at that. However, I really like Not Others – it could almost be my “hidden gem” of the year.
Hi. I watched Behind Your Touch and yes it can be really silly in parts, but I had some good laughs, and if you hang on, you’ll find out there is quite a bit more to it. Not extremely impressive drama, but definetely not the worst there is.
Have you watched Arsenal Military Academy? It’s a Chinese period drama that I really liked. I didn’t expect it to be hilarious because the theme is obviously really serious. Hoping you’ll check it out when you have some time. <333
Anyone watched Hidden Love? Just the cutest story … special shout out to the brother-sister relationship super believable and authentic!
Yes, I loved this beautiful drama series. I’ve rewatch twice and will watch again
Hi! Do you have plans to watch Celebrity? I just finished watching and interested to read your thoughts on it. Loveee the show!
Well, I enjoyed Celebrity immensely. It was a great cast with some very good performances. Who would want to be an influencer!
I also really enjoyed it! But there is no way I’d want to be an influencer.
Celebrity climbed up the Netflix ratings very quickly to No. 2, worldwide. I loved this summary of the plot I found:
Fame. Money. Power. Seo A-ri achieves social media stardom overnight — but deadly consequences await in this glitzy, gilded world of influencers 😉
Great summary!
I checked out King The Land and found it very tropey and try hard. I could not continue beyond two episodes. Did anyone else feel the same way?
I found the first episode did enough for me to continue on to the second episode, which was much stronger. KTL up the ante with episodes three and four. However, I enjoy See You In My 19th Life much, much more.
I’m enjoying KTL. There’s not a lot of substance but it is fun. See you in my 19th Life is much deeper and therefore has more heft to it. I like them both in different ways. SYIMNL will stick with me more over time I think but it’s hard to say. It is early days.
I watch an episode of KTL first and then an episode of SYIMNL, lotusgirl. I find this combination seems to work and enhances my enjoyment of both shows.
I’ll have to try it that way this week.
YESSS.
However I still watched because I got eyeful of one of my all time fave actor (Lee Junho) and because I finally found a show with a Yoona-act that I REALLY liked.
Inspite of the role being what it is in the show .. she carried it off with aplomb .. her portrayal of pride came through, her solid backbone and no aegyo (her role in K2 gave me heebeejeebs and made me swear off all Yoona shows.)
Their pairing was what made me watch many episodes .. I have watched it fully .. not feeling enough interest in the show to go back .. but I will .. to check out the mystery of the mom as well as more eyefuls
Anybody watching The Good Bad Mother. I feel it has gotten better and better as its gone along
It’s pretty good. Usually I’m whining about how the mystery/crime/violence theme just doesn’t work and should be cut from the show. For instance, Abyss or When the Weather is Fine – both shows were good rom-coms that were marred by a boring violence/crime arc that could have been cut entirely. Also You Are My Spring. In this case the different themes (romance, family, crime) fit together pretty well.
I recently finished “The Good Bad Mother” & I binged it in a couple of days it was so good. So many emotions in this Kdrama. The actress who plays the mother is excellent in her role and the male lead is truly exceptional in transforming from adult to a 7 year old child.
Just finished it on July 1 and it is excellent…great feels, engaging slice-of-life format and characters plus 3 leads are great. If you like Reply 1988, this is for you!
OML I NEED MORE KDRAMAS LIKE GANGNAM BEAUTY AND TRUE BEAUTY QUICK OR I’LL DIE
(BTW- TReam seojunor Suho? I’m team seojun but if inyoup isn’t in the drama, eunwoo it is)
Hmm. If you like this appearance shifting beauty/ugliness plot theme, how about She Was Pretty or Beauty Inside (loved it) or The Secret Life of My Secretary (also pretty good)? Going a bit off the theme but has a similar quality to those shows, how about Another Miss Oh, Our Beloved Summer, Weightlifting Fairy? (Oh My Venus has a similar theme but I didn’t enjoy it as much – it sometime seemed to tell us appearance doesn’t matter, then sometimes engaged in fat jokes). Or go retro with Coffee Prince or Witches Romance?
If you want to see more Cha Eun-woo, then there Island, but I didn’t personally like it as much as the others. (Cha Eun-woo as a demon hunting priest – over the top wacky fun – I expected to enjoy it more than I did). Or how about Rookie Historian Goo Hae-Ryung – that was pretty good and mostly a historical rom-com-dram that you might like.
Most of these have excellent reviews to help you pick. Happy watching.
Has anyone seen The Spies Who Loved Me? With Bo-ra! (Deborah) airing right now, I’m on a Yoo In-na kick!! It didn’t get the best reviews, but I wanted to know what people in this community thought…
Bo-Ra! is currently the show I look forward to seeing the most each week. It takes a bit of lens adjustment to enjoy. If you think you will find perfect protagonists who make all the right moves – no. But if you take the view that both of them screwed up and have some growing to do, then it’s good fun. Sorry I’m can’t say anything about Spies.
Is anyone else watching Doctor Cha? This is a “woman reboots her life and finds her mojo again” drama. Similar theme to Romance is a Bonus Book or Second Twenties. Eom Jeong Hwa is back and, even better, it’s a role that (so far) deserves her talent. Interesting, light and the plot is moving along nicely after the first couple episodes.
Sadly, I dropped it during the first episode, Eric. I thought it was quite good, I just wasn’t up for the type of scumbag so and so that was being delivered (if that makes sense without me giving anything away). I just couldn’t take to it, unlike Romance is a Bonus Book, which I thought was fabulous.
I loved Romance is a Bonus Book as well. There was something so wholesome about the story. Kind, optimistic, funny. No bad guys. I vote for fewer serial killer subplots and more couples sitting quietly reading together in future dramas!
For Dr. Cha, I agree 100% that there is a prominent character (actually 2) who are not kind or honest. So a certain level of hate-watching in regards to them is necessary. While cheering for most of the others.
I vote for less serial killer subplots and more of couples doing constructive things together, too. I have started “The Good Bad Mother” – definitely worth a look. The supporting cast is a who who’s of the older supporting actors from so many shows of late.
Is anyone else watching “The Real Has Come”? It seems like the ratings on Korean TV are good, so someone else must be watching it. This is a melo with cold (but not cruel) ML and plucky down-on-her-luck FL who seem destined for contract marriage. It gives me the same vibes as Marriage Contract, which I really liked. The plotting and events are on some level unrealistic but the emotions and portrayals and archetypes fit just right.
Also Divorce Attorney Shin? Just finished. Solid short legal drama, down to earth. B+.
I’m interested to year the final verdict on Heavenly Idol I tried to enjoy just but could just never figure out what viewing lens to use. The tone seemed to vary from horror, to comedy, to quasi-religious/inspirational. Just didn’t know what to make of it and gave up.
Also watching Divorce Attorney Shin and it’s better than I expected. I’m at Ep 5 and I agree with your B+ rating. I’m enjoying it. It veers wildly between slapstick and misery but manages to walk the line well enough I fell, and the characters are good and very stereotyped.
PS. Regarding the Real Has Come. This show increasingly gives off the vibes of a show written 20 years ago. The plots and tropes (family forcing marriages, scheming mean chaebols, domineering older relatives, birth secrets, etc) fit better in some past era. The characters and the whole show are in some sort of time warp from the 1990s. I mean it’s set now, but the background and expectations are like that. So I’d caution to only watch the show if this is something you’d enjoy.
PPS. I’m dropping this show. Too much like an American soap opera. Very little plot progress. Weird Chaebol meanies. I’m out.
Has anyone seen Flower Crew: Joseon Marriage Agency??!
it looks cute! Is it worth watching?! Thank u!
I really enjoyed it. I found it very cute indeed.
If any of you were looking to watch “We married as a job” (great review on this site!) it is on netflix US as “the full time wife escapist”. I can’t explain the title but thought I should mention it.
I watched it and really enjoyed it. It’s pretty unique with the boss locked in the phone and the ML taking on his role as the CEO of the company. It’s a bit murder mystery, with a bit imposter syndrome, and some cheekiness thrown in. Its actually pretty funny, but has these intense moments. It’s got some heart warming moments as well with the boss’s young daughter and other character’s family members. It’s a strange mix but it all worked. At least for me. It’s hard to come up with a show it is like. There are lots with this similar vibe, but not content.
Love it! I’ll check it out. I know what you mean about the blend. It’s tricky, but when it works, I love it!! What other shows blend elements like this? All that comes to mind are shows like Healer, While you were sleeping, and Strong Girl. What other shows come to mind?
I’d love a post from kfangurl on this!! Haha.
Has anyone watched Unlock My Boss?
When I very first saw it on Viki as a suggested title, I wasn’t interested, but now that Netflix is picking it up, I wonder if it has a wider appeal than I originally thought. I’d love to know what other dramas it’s most like, and if it’s worth my time.
I guess I’m also curious how Netflix chooses which dramas to license, but that’s another matter ha ha.
Sorry I just responded but forgot to do it to you specifically. It is in the main thread.
Is anyone else watching Call It Love? If you remember Lee Seong Kyeong (Weightlifting Fairy and Shooting Stars), this is her shot at a more serious role in a more serious drama. I won’t spoil it – it’s only 2 episodes in. It starts off a bit like a revenge drama, but it is really ambivalent right from the start about whether revenge is what the characters really want. So this isn’t another Glory and has a different tone. So far the writing, acting and pacing are solid. High hopes.
I’m watching it, Eric. I think it’s a show that needs to be watched on the big screen. It’s very much like watching a Korean movie – it has that cinematic feel to it. If you look at LSK’s earlier roles such as in Doctors, that tough independent feisty streak is very much in evidence there. So, yes high hopes for me too re Call It Love because she is very talented, but her roles in recent times have been a bit underwhelming for me.
I’m watching it, I actually think it’s pretty good so far. It has something of a fresh feel, compared to what seems very formulaic stuff on right now.
PS. After watching through ep4 I remain positively impressed. One thing that took me a while to notice was how well visually constructed many of the shot are. So Seankfletcher’s comment about this being like a movie is spot on. It’s shot like a movie. One other facet I enjoy is how there is this messy realism about the characters and their motivations. No one is 1 dimensional. It’s like the anti-revenge drama.
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.
Watched it and loved it!
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…
To me, I generally dont go for this much intense dark ones but was curious to know more from the trailor.
I could feel her pain, very very cruel on those bad guys’s part. Thought of leaving after a while but then inside of me wanted to see how these baddies get punished by her, n moreover as in management term ‘sunk cost’ .
FL is more realistic as Eric has pointed.
That go player – bad girl’s husband caught my eye n felt sad for him as he genuinely got attracted towards our FL.
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 .