» completed 2024

Genre: Thriller / Fantasy

Completed: January 2024

Review: I consider this drama similar to a procedural drama, the main character (Seo In Guk) committed suicide, when faced with Death (Park So Dam), she is offended and punishes reincarnate into different people that are about to die soon, he is allowed to avoid death, if he can't they get to meet again a more painful death will come next. All his reincarnations are played by a diverse group of stellar actors and their stories are mostly action-packed or, but at times they are emotional. It’s a thigly written story with excellent direction that keeps the viewers engaged. However, what makes it great is also a flaw, because with so many different characters and a fast-paced story, it was hard to connect to any of them and even when we got to see the main character, their parts were a repetition. 

Genre: Action / Historical / Thriller

Completed: January 2024

Review: Contrary to popular opinion, I found this drama enjoyable. I Binge-watched all the episodes, which allowed me to fully immerse in this fictional 1940s occupied Korea storyline, without overthinking every detail. I appreciated the seamless blend of historical and fantasy elements, which created an intriguing and captivating story, that was enhanced by stellar performances and beautiful cinematics. However, the open-ended setup for a second season was disappointing, as this will likely diminish the story's value rather than enhance it. 

Genre: Thriller / Psychological / Mystery

Completed: January 2024

Genre: Historical / Romance / Comedy

Completed: January 2024

Review: This drama is a rare gem in gender-bender stories, featuring a man posing as a woman instead of the other way around, which helped to create chaotic and funny relationships. The best part are the well-developed and well acted characters. Jang Dong Yoon shined as the Nokdu, showcasing a character that ranges from vulnerable, to quirky and courageous and Kim So Hyun perfectly complemented his character as Dong Joo, a strong and determined woman, with an intriguing past. The antagonists, though some were predictable, one in particular took me by surprise, which felt like a complete twist. Sadly, the pacing could have been better. I wish they had balanced the light comedy with the heavier political conflicts, mixing them more seamlessly instead of clearly separating the story into two parts. 

Genre: Sports / Romance

Completed: January 2024

Review: Unlike other sports dramas, the sports aspect was integral to this story, showcasing the various stages of an athlete's journey, their relentless perseverance, the impact of untreated injuries in an athlete’s life and how they balance their romantic lives with a career within a national team. For a k-drama, the romance in this story felt refreshing, with both couples being honest about their feelings quickly, and a secondary female lead who unapologetically pursues her love interest. The growing friendships among team members were beautiful to watch, I loved how they overcome initial misunderstandings to care deeply for each other. Overall, despite some frustrating character behaviors and a shift in tone midway, this drama remained deeply engaging. It wasn’t a visual masterpiece, but it had a touching and inspirational story, with an uplifting OST. 

Genre: Life / Mystery / Sports

Completed: January 2024

Review: I loved everything about this drama. It was a peaceful, heart-warming slice of life with a dash of crime story that didn’t overshadow the main plot. The writing was beautiful, with no unnecessary additions, and it perfectly incorporated three of my favorite tropes: a charming small-town setting, an amazing group of friends helping each other, and an inspirational story of perseverance highlighting the protagonist's struggles and triumphs. The ssireum scenes were mesmerizing and educational. The characters were well-developed, and the actors' performances were outstanding and genuine. The pacing was perfect, blending emotional moments with light-hearted comedy, and the finale was satisfying and consistent. The heart-warming story and characters, specially Kim Baek Do, will stay with me for a long time. 

Genre: Youth / Romance

Completed: January 2024

Review: Despite being an unoriginal story, this drama managed to perfectly capture the bittersweet nature of falling in love with a childhood friend in just 1-hour. And due to its short nature, the story was extremely well-paced and to compensate for what for what they lacked, they casted amazing actors like Jang Dong Yoon and Chae Soo Bin, who delivered excellent performances with believable emotions that made this short drama an easy watch. But overall, don't expect anything extraordinary.

Genre: Romance / Life

Completed: February 2024

Review: I enjoyed how this narrative was mostly styled like a documentary. The story depicted how humans deal with all aspects related to love, that offered sort of a slice-of-life experience. I also found this drama delivered an amazing lesson on seamlessly integrating PPLs in dramas, setting an example for others on how to handle such elements. The only flaw for me was the lack of a filming crew around the characters while interviewing them. 

Genre: Thriller / Mystery

Completed: February 2024

Review: Despite my eager anticipation, this drama fell rather short for what I expected. This had a strong beginning with an accidental kill and a lucky escape, it kept it's momentum with interesting twists, up until episode 5, where the focus shifted from the main character, to another character rendering the main one almost irrelevant. Even though, the performances remained commendable, it felt like an entirely different season. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: February 2024

Review: Such a pleasant surprise, I didn't expect to enjoy this as much as I did. This story pack various concepts, notably the reincarnated star-crossed lovers was the most prominent, the drama was filled with comedy and romance. The breathtaking scenes in Spain added a magical touch. Overall, even though this drama dragged a bit, it was a delightful watch and the chemistry between both lead was amazing. 

Genre: Historical / Action / Political

Completed: February 2024

Review: I was captivated by a historical narrative set against the Goryeo-Joseon transition and the unbreakable friendships between Seo Hwi and Nam Sun Ho. But what will forever in my memory is Jang Hyuk's portrayal of Bang Won's cunning personality, his scheming to overtake the throne and desire to get his father's recognition. Even his skills with the lavish fan added an extra layer to my fascination with this character. Overall this drama was filled with stellar performances and an exceptional direction, especially in single-take fight scenes. The only flaw, the miraculous healings. 

Genre: Life / Romance / Comedy

Completed: February 2024

Review: With this drama, I discovered a newfound love for female-centered dramas. This one dives into the lives and friendship of three fantastic women in their early 30s. The countless references to classic dramas were a delightful and the narrative that gave us a behind-the-scenes insights into drama production, from casting to sponsorship, added an intriguing layer to the drama which kept me interested until the end. 

Genre: Thriller / Crime

Completed: February 2024

Review: This drama hooked me with its portrayal of criminal profilers in the late '90s. Unlike typical crime thrillers, this doesn't attempt to justify killers' actions but delves into detectives' methods, portraying the emotional toll of their demanding job. The narrative avoids clichés, offering a realistic slice-of-life perspective in a crime setting. The most intriguing character to me was Song Ha Young, seeing how an empathetic character, exploring criminals' minds and how this affected him. The only flaw lies in the direction of time skips, essential for prolonged investigations, somehow at times I felt confused. 

Genre: Youth / Romance / Fantasy

Completed: February 2024

Review: This drama had such a fun and touching story, but it wasn't as heartbreaking as I was expecting it to be. I loved how the time travel concept was introduced, it wasn't the typical near-death experience and it was well-executed, delving into life dilemmas. The way they incorporated sign language was also beautifully done. The ending, even though satisfying, left me with a desire for more present-day scenes. 

Genre: Romance / Fantasy

Completed: February 2024

Review: The initial episodes of this drama were intense and intriguing, but as the story soon it became predictable in a way that made me lose interest. While the leads excel in this type of their roles, at times it gets tedious to see them once again in the same type of role. However the worst part was the numerous question left unanswered, especially about the FL's dreams, which were crucial to the plot but it was never explained. Overall, it was good watch but it felt like the story could have been written better. 

Genre: Comedy / Law

Completed: February 2024

Review: This kicked off with an exciting and unpredictable narrative, offering a refreshing take on the typically heavy legal environment. The two episodes focused on the tragic past of the main lead were done perfectly. Sadly, after these episodes, things became messy and the story was rashly concluded in one single episode, leaving me yearning more episodes. 

Genre: Historical / Romance / Fantasy

Completed: March 2024

Review: This drama transcended all my expectations with its compelling plot and characters. I finished both seasons and in my opinion, the first season was far superior, if they removed a few of the fillers and stretched to 24 episodes, the transition from Jung So Min to Go Youn Jung could have been done in a way better way. Because of this, since there was no proper transition, it was hard for me to enjoy Go Youn Jung performance as much as I enjoyed Jung So Min performance . Regardless of that, the overall story was still amazing and every actor involved did a fantastic job. 

Genre: Drama / Romance / Comedy

Completed: March 2024

Review: This drama feels like a PG-13 Korean version of Gossip Girl, both series presents the glamorous and ridiculous lives of a group of high school students, in both cases the characters lack proper development. Regardless of this, this drama was entertaining and it was mostly like a guilty pleasure to me. At all times, I was aware of the heavily used tropes and I could definitely tell how the story would end. I still enjoyed this drama, not because of it’s worthy story, but because I got to see how some of the most well known actors acted 10 years ago and compare how much they grew over the years, and for that is definitely worth the watch. 

Genre: Comedy / Fantasy

Completed: March 2024

Review: Such a refreshing drama with each episode running for less than 30 minutes, that perfectly delivered a narrative filled with quirky comedy and witty dialogues, and all combined with a reliable cast that made me laugh in every episode. I still remember some of the nonsensical dialogues and I still hum to Ahn Jae Hong songs. There is even a sense also a sense of nostalgic in this drama with the numerous mentions of the drama Be Melodramatic, the previous work by Lee Byung Hun. It was a short feel-good drama that left me with a smile and wishing for more. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: March 2024

Review: This drama started on a promising narrative, exploring themes of mental health and building friendships in your 30s. Sadly, to me the progression falls into repetition where everything revolves around the leads living freely, but sadly always ending with excessive drinking. These constant images, made me think that they should have done a better job showing the real side effects of mixing alcohol with antidepressants. However, despite its flaws, I think the cast had great chemistry, I loved the heartwarming family scenes, the small but strong friendships and their portrayal of healthy romantic relationships. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Life

Completed: March 2024

Review: This drama perfectly captured the essence of friendships and love in your adult life. The story resonated with me as it depicted four friends who maintained their bond from teens to adulthood, making me reflect on those close friendships that I built when I was young and I have kept for the past 20 years, because like them we really have been through a lot and at times we are really in different stages of life. The romance between the leads was also heartwarming, it showed a relationship built on trust and respect which I loved to see. What I didn’t like, was how some character arcs wre lacking, like the storyline of the FL sister or the storyline of each mother. 

Genre: Life / Food

Completed: March 2024

Review: Probably the drama that had the biggest impact in my life. I noticed that since I started working that my weekends are always spent in the worst way possible, sometimes I spent full weekends at home. Not because I couldn’t go somewhere, but because I’m always exhausted from work, I’m always insecure of going on trips alone and other times I think about the amount of money I would spend that I could save for the future. Stupid right? When will I start living? This served as wake up call for me to start living my life, because I also want to walk around, eat good food and let my mind wander. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: April 2024

Review: This drama started out really well, but it ended in a huge disappointment. If the plot didn’t focused too much on a trope of contract marriage, and kept showing the uniqueness and quirkiness of each character that we saw in the first half of the drama, this would have been a really good drama. Instead they added all the cliches in the book, reduced the characters to stereotypes and ended with a finale that was lacking in so many ways. 

Genre: Historical / Fantasy / Romance / Comedy

Completed: April 2024

Genre: Life / Sports

Completed: April 2024

Review: With this challenge I set out to watch a drama featuring a main character over 60, a rarity in K-dramas, as they usually play support roles as the grandparents of some other characters. This choice led me to this drama, which felt like an inspiring watch where both male leads' stories beautifully intertwined, showcasing how age and background shouldn’t hinder dreams. This was a testament to never stop pursuing your dreams regardless of limitations. 

Genre: Action / Thriller / Crime

Completed: April 2024

Review: This drama was entertaining and thrilling, a perfect watch on a saturday afternoon with friends. The narrative was straightforward without over the top cinematic exaggerations, it explored the story of a man seeking a better life, that unwittingly ended up being dragged into a drug operation, while still showing how easily he could have changed his life, keeping the whole operation interesting and unpredictable. This was an amazing work of cinematography, with a stellar cast that delivered impressive performances. 

Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Drama

Completed: April 2024

Review: I was happily surprised by the stellar performances and an intriguing narrative that kept me captivated. However some of the character development, especially the main antagonist left me disappointed, his motives were too predictable and too similar to other villains in kdramas. Still, the remarkable performances helped to elevate narrative, making its flaws barely noticeable, making this drama an emotional and satisfying thriller.

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: April 2024

Review: I chose this drama because it looked like a light and low-commitment watch to balance between other heavier dramas that I was watching. While the story was predictable and lacked brilliance, it actually fulfilled my needs. Although I didn’t love this story, I still appreciated the quirky and optimistic FL and great music, but what I really didn’t like was the happy ending for every character, even those that clearly didn’t deserve one 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: April 2024

Review: At first I was hesitant to start this due to Park Min Young's typical character style, luckily I found this drama to be a delightful romcom with a captivating storyline, exploring the world of fangirling in your 30s while balancing a successful professional life. This was elevated by strong performances, especially between the leads and their undeniable chemistry. Overall, this offered mr a light-hearted escape from other heavier dramas. 

Genre: Historical / Romance /  Melodrama

Completed: April 2024

Review: A masterpiece in every aspect, with stunning cinematography and soundtrack, to spectacular performances and a captivating story that resonates deeply within the viewers. While at times the story felt a bit slow-burn, the rich historical backdrop and the well-developed characters kept me engaged. But as the ending approached and I could predict the outcome, I became overly emotional in every episode, making it harder to finish. Nonetheless, it was an amazing journey that left deep impression in me. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: April 2024

Review: Overall I enjoyed the meaning of this story and its characters, but one thing that I disliked was the unnecessary use of cliches towards the ending. I understand they were used to bring the viewership to new all time highs, but somehow I found those additions to lack in creativity and even outdated. Despite it’s minor flaws in the script, the technical aspects excelled my expectations, with stunning set designs, incredible performances, beautiful soundtrack and superb cinematography. 

Genre: Drama / Psychological / Sci-Fi

Completed: April 2024

Review: I’m disappointed with this drama, the storyline was poorly developed, the characters lacked depth and the editing was sloppy with scenes barely connecting with each other. I believe they intended to portray the 5 stages of grief, but somewhere in the editing and writing, the message got lost. However, even though I disliked this drama the last two episodes were probably the best and of course the soundtrack was magnificent. Finally, hope to see Yoo Ah In's quick return in a stronger role. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: May 2024

Review: In my opinion, this is one of the most creative scripts by Park Ji Eun. The story isn’t like the classical romantic comedies that she got us used to, it mainly focus on showing the backstages of a broadcasting station, showing different team dynamics and the process into creating a variety show. On the side it adds a side taste of romance, but still mostly focusing on comedy. Although, I found this a really pleasant watch, the romance left me with a bitter-sweet taste, it was cute, but I wanted to see more from every couple. 

Genre: Romance / Life / Medical

Completed: May 2024

Review: I found a hidden gem with this drama, the story was unexpectedly charming, it gave comfort, made me laugh and even made me cry in some scenes. It’s a fluffy romcom, without your usual shenanigans that always comes attached with this genre, it has good humour, amazing friendships and touches on very relatable struggles from your adult life. The added poems weren’t just simply quoted or read out loud, they are well integrated into the story to convey the characters emotions. Loved it.

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Fantasy

Completed: May 2024

Review: After watching the movie last year, I’m pleased that this adaptation fixed some of the issues I disliked. They kept the premise of a main character who changes appearance due to a condition, but limited it to one week each month, making the love story more enjoyable. However, like the movie, they failed to explain the reason for this condition and they even removed the genetical fact that was explained in the movie. Despite enjoying the comedy and the leads' chemistry, I found they added too many unnecessary twists past midway, like miscommunication, a character's death and a year-long disappearance. If they needed more stories, they could have focused on other love stories, instead making the main couple immature. 

Genre: Thriller / Psychological

Completed: May 2024

Review: The pacing of this story mirrored how humans react when they suffer no consequences for their actions. It began slowly, with characters being polite and helpful, but once they sensed the potential for big money, the story quickly revealed the sadistic and psychopathic sides of human nature. Overall, I wasn’t impressed with the storytelling and some characters lacked depth. What I liked the most was the direction and the clear western influences in the cinematography. 

Genre: Sci-Fi / Thriller / Mystery

Completed: May 2024

Review: This is the first sci-fi K-drama that I genuinely enjoyed. The well-written story kept me engaged as I attempted to piece together the information provided by two different timelines. The episode are divided into two parts, with each focusing on different timelines. The "Beta Project" timeline followed Woo Jin and Jung Yeon investigating mysterious deaths, while the "Brave New World" timeline followed Joon Hyuk and Ho Soo investigating the first crime in a supposedly “crime-free” city. Definitely an amazing concept that perfectly blended dramatic moments with some thought-provoking questions about the wrong use of technology. Besides the gripping story, I was impressed by the solid performances and this unique editing structure of dividing each episode into two timelines, that in the end perfectly connected with each other. Despite some minor flaws, like a repetitive soundtrack, this drama was incredible. 

Genre: Comedy / Life

Completed: May 2024

Review: An unlikely group of three women and a teenage boy gets together to get revenge on the men that lied and mistreated them. What makes this story stand out is that for once in a kdrama, women won't stay quiet for appearances, they are set to bring down the bastards that abused them. And even though the plot is centered around getting revenge, it was well blended with amazing comedic moments and beautiful friendship between the leads. Surprisingly, the OST is almost non-existence, instead it relies a lot on instrumentals to amplify the scenes, they even added an instrumental of the "Bella Ciao". 

Genre: Action / Comedy

Completed: May 2024

Review: This drama failed to meet my expectations. I knew it would be a typical police procedural, but the 1950/60s setting intrigued me enough to give it a chance, unfortunately many of the era's unique aspect were completely overlooked or barely touched. Luckily, some interesting cases, specially the last one and the likeable main characters helped me to keep motivated to finish this. However, I found that Lee Je Hoon's relentless justice-seeker roles have become way too repetitive for my liking and I hope that he accepts other type of roles.

Genre: Historical / Romance / Comedy

Completed: May 2024

Review: This drama is set in the highest academic institution of Joseon, but their students are mostly entitled rich kids with somewhat of a personality similar to those students in the drama The Heirs. I was hoping to enjoy this drama and find it as funny as people did almost 15 years ago, but I struggling to finish it, I found it to be poorly written and even poorly acted. Somehow, once I accepted that this wouldn't be anything brilliant, I still managed to be entertained in the scenes where Song Joong Ki and Yoo Ah were the spotlight. It's amazing, how even 15 years ago it was so obvious how their performances were on another level from their other co-leads, if not for them I would have dropped this way sooner. 

Genre: Life

Completed: May 2024

Review: This drama is an incredible masterpiece, it explores themes of friendship, perseverance and healing. The story revolves the unlikely bound between a young woman struggling to stay afloat while taking care of her grandmother and a middle-age man, living an equally miserable life while enduring several hardships. For me, the story stands out for its powerful performances, particularly by Lee Sun Kyun and IU, and its masterful narrative that portrays the mundane aspects of life through flawless yet extremely relatable characters. This combined with an impeccable direction, cinematography and a beautiful soundtrack that helped to enhance the story, made it a perfect drama. And although for me, this was undeniably an emotional watch, I loved how in each episode they reminded us that despite our struggles, life does get a little better when when we are kind towards others, when we offer some small words of comfort and when we allow ourselves to build good friendships. 

Genre: Thriller / Comedy / Drama

Completed: June 2024

Review: This drama deserves a standing ovation for its unique satire of Korean society. To be completely honest, I wouldn't recommend this to someone unfamiliar with Korean culture, but for those of you who understand the nuances of their society, this is a must-watch, just like the award-winning movie Parasite. This satirical work delivered a sharp critique not only to the elite classes, but also to the immense pressure young Koreans face to enter the most prestigious universities in the country and the ridiculous lengths their parents go for their education. The entire cast delivered brilliant performances, as they effortlessly showcased the absurd behaviours of their characters and showcased the irony of how these highly educated adult characters, who achieved most of their life goals, now display the social skills of a potato. As a viewer you can’t even be surprised by this, because how can anyone develop social skills, if as teens they spend 20+ hours a day studying to enter these so-called prestigious universities, with no time left to learn from others or built actual friendships. The saddest part and at times even comical due to their constant denial of reality, was witnessing the parents slowly realise they were leading their children down the same depressing path they experienced, to finally attempt to provide their children with the balanced life, they never had. This was a phenomenal series from start to end. Everyone should at least watch this once in their life and hopefully they find themselves laughing at its absurdity. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: June 2024

Review: What pulled me into starting this drama was the possible chaos that would come from the male lead that is unable to lie, attempting to work as a live news announcer. Unfortunately, this setting only lasted for two episodes before it shifted its entire focus into a dating show environment. While I didn’t mind this shift, I found the episodes focusing on the dating show to be unremarkable, they relied a lot on the capacities of the actors to deliver spot-on comedy and forgot to arrange the plot into some kind of structure that would keep viewers interested until the end. This lack of structure became even more evident in the last 3 episodes, where they added every nonsensical trope and twist for the purpose of filling the remaining episodes. Somehow and against all odds, the finale episode provided a satisfying resolution to the main plot, I appreciated the poetic comparison between the male lead recent life events and the main character of a children's play, it actually offered a beautiful conclusion to the story. 

Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Psychological

Completed: June 2024

Review: This drama was a delightful surprise, it surpassed all of my expectations and currently stands as my favorite drama of 2024. The plot was beautifully crafted, it kept me deeply engaged throughout the episodes, while unfolded one of the most intriguing and compelling narratives I've ever encountered. The finale was phenomenal, it maintained the same momentum of previous episodes and while we could anticipate the outcome, the writer still tied the story in the most beautiful and creative way possible. In addition to the well-developed plot, every character, from main to supporting roles, was meticulous crafted. Each had ample screen time to unfold their own story and watching their relationships develop was deeply endearing. Definitely, the cast did a phenomenal job of bringing these intriguing and captivating characters to life. Moreover, the compelling storytelling was elevated by the outstanding cinematography, the meticulous editing, an exquisite art direction and an exceptional OST. These elements helped me to fully immerse in the story and brought to life many visually stunning scenes. The exceptional quality of this drama has certainly earned a special place among my favorite dramas. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Life

Completed: June 2024

Review: This was an amazing comedy blended with a slightly confusing romance, but it actually offered plenty of heartfelt moments between every character. The cast made every relationship feel genuine and heartwarming, whether it was a friendship, romance or a family relationship. But for me, what made this drama memorable, was Yoon Shi Yoon’s effortless comedic talent that combined with Lee Se Young's exceptional acting, delivered a delightful touch to the drama. Also, worth to mention are many of the exceptional OSTs, I still have some of the songs stuck in my head. Finally, a fun little fact: As I watched the episodes I always found the Korean expression "Ddabong" sounded oddly familiar to the Portuguese “Tá bom”. Well, it's familiar because it originated from a Korean Del Monte Orange Juice Commercial made in the 80s, where a Brazilian character shouted “Tá bom” in approval of the juice. The commercial was a hit and they added this expression to their vocabulary, but forget about using it, because it's also extremely old. Finding this quirky origin made the expression way funnier! 

Genre: Historical / Romance / Comedy

Completed: June 2024

Review: Back in 2023, I attempted to watch this drama but dropped it within the first three episodes. I despised the story and found nothing appealing about it. However, after reading some reviews, I decided to give it another chance, and it's remarkable how it became one of my favourite dramas of 2023. The plot was perfectly structured, keeping us engaged until the finale while they unfolded a beautiful story. For the most part, this was a light romcom, that perfectly blended various forms of comedy, while in the background incorporated some palace conflicts into the main storyline. At times I found the palace conflicts a bit boring, but it was well balanced with the main storyline that I never found myself extremely bored. About the story, I’m aware how one of the final couples might be controversial for some viewers, but it was portrayed in a sensible way and it made a lot of sense historically. Besides the well-developed plot, I found all the characters to be extremely well-developed and even well acted. But for me, the standout feature and the main reason why I adored this drama so much, was the impeccable art direction. From the beautiful scenarios to the masterful use of colour and light, every visual element was stunning. It was so exceptional that it earned a spot in my top 5 best art directions of 2023. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Life

Completed: June 2024

Review: I finally finished both seasons and they both explore the complex friendship and the personal growth of five female roommates, that have nothing similar between them, besides being college students. While I found some of their stories to be realistic portrayals of young adults, other stories I found them to be too unrealistic and even immature for their age. Additionally, I also felt like the large number of lead characters and the very limited number of episodes led to some character plots to feel rushed and underdeveloped. This was even more visible in season 2, where not all characters had equal screen time and some characters even had abrupt personality changes that were never explained, besides being a constant joke because they changed the actress. This season also lacked the consistent editing style of season 1, especially notable in the epilogues and the fourth-wall breaks, where ended up noticing 3 different styles, I later confirmed that this season had 2 directors while season 1 had only one director, it feels like their different styles might have clashed with each other. Despite these flaws, I always appreciate dramas that highlight beautiful friendships and give female characters the spotlight and both seasons perfectly achieved that. I also loved the catchy opening song by Sidney York, it always made me sing.

Genre: Romance / Melodrama / Political

Completed: July 2024

Review: Despite all the controversies surrounding this drama, I found this to be quite decent and I was even hooked throughout the whole episodes. The tone is sort of satirical, but also packed with political intrigue, romance and thrilling moments. The storyline reminded me of three other series: La Casa de Papel, for the setting of a hostage situation with high school students, SKY Castle because of the high officials family relationships which echoed so much of this drama and Crash Landing On You, for the somewhat similar love story. Their mistake was choosing the backdrop of the 1987 Democracy Movements, had they chosen a different historical period and the backlash this got would be non-existent. It’s also important to mention that in my opinion, this drama doesn’t glorify dictatorships or romanticize North Korean spies. The portrayal of North Korean characters are similar to those in Secretly Greatly or even Crash Landing On You, and the historical context while indeed problematic, we should remember that this was always a fictional work, not a history lesson. Regarding the ending, if you consider all of these factors, you will notice that it was inevitable. Which leaves you to reflect on the journey leading up to it, and for me the finale aligns perfectly with the story presented. The pacing was of the slow-burn type and yes, it could have been tighter, particularly with the hostage scenes where they could have been shortened it or better balance with other type of interactions, but overall it was deeply engaging. This also leads me to mention, the main character development, some had plenty of time to shine, where others didn’t. Overall, it was well-developed and well-acted, with Jung Hae In and Kim Hye Yoon having the most impressive performances. 

Genre: Romance / Life / Melodrama

Completed: July 2024

Review: If you are already in the working world, you will definitely find the protagonist actions at the start of the drama incredibly relatable. Afterall, who hasn’t fantasized about escaping the relentless routine of our daily life? This drama offered that dreamy escape from these routines and societal pressures, it embraced the idea of living in the moment and finding joy in the mundane things of life. However, despite its promising narrative, I found the story to be rushed and its potential underutilized. While the actors delivered strong performances, the narrative wasn’t well-structured and it became noticeable when an unnecessary murder subplot was added, which ultimately diminishing the drama's initial message of doing a strike on life. Even the editing and direction lacked vision, with many scenes ending abruptly, with moments that should have been impactful and appreciated, feeling rather disconnected from the story. Despite its many flaws, I still found the core message about the importance of happiness and self-discovery to be meaningful, and tbh I'm always drawn to dramas set in the countryside, which of course added to my enjoyment. 

Genre: Historical / Romance / Mystery

Completed: July 2024

Review: This was an easy watch, but it also lacked in spectacular elements, making it feel somewhat forgettable. This is a slow-burn type of story, that was clearly divided into two parts: the first half unravels the mystery of the three male leads' identities, while the second half focuses on them reclaiming their identities and confronting the tyrant King. I found the childhood memories to be uninteresting, but knowing how it ends, I wished they explored these flashbacks in a better way by showing not only the romantic connection between the leads, but also their past connection to the current King. What was also a let down, was the underdeveloped characters, a weak antagonist that offered nothing interesting to the story and a romance between the two leads that lacked a lot in chemistry. What saved it for me was the connection between Kang San (Ryeoun) and Kim Shi Yeol (Kang Hoon), their story kept me engaged until the end. Kang Hoon’s character was by far the most well-developed and even well-acted, his self-journey and the way he slowly opened to romance and friendship was the highlight of the drama. Visually speaking, nothing impressive either, the cinematography was mostly outdated, the scenes that I found to be the most beautiful were shot in the fall. 

Genre: Horror / Action

Completed: July 2024

Review: Another season that fails to live up to the incredible work seen in season 1. While there was a slight improvement over the last season, it’s noticeable that this was entirely due to the focus back in the main characters from season 1, but also due to the addition of numerous flashbacks, which evoked a feeling of nostalgia in the viewers. Overall, this season is still poorly scripted, which wasted the talent of many amazing actors, but also hindered the director's ability to create something worth watching. It's a reminder that when projects are made for profit without proper planning, they often end in a huge disappointment. Ironically, it also shows that without a compelling script, even a talented director can only produce beautiful yet empty compositions. 

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Drama 

Completed: July 2024

Review: This story had moments that really annoyed me, but they always managed to recover from this and keep me engaged. One thing that stood out for me, was Yoo Yeon Seok’s performance, seeing him play such a childish and immature character was refreshing compared to his usual mature roles. This character’s bratty nature added a unique touch to the story, and when paired with the incredibly mature and strong female lead, it created a great balance between them. However, the story grew tedious when this balance faltered, resulting now in two immature adults who endlessly pushed and pulled each other, and where their poor communication left us with a romance that lacked in chemistry. For me, this was an issue with how the characters were developed, rather than the actors performances. The Hong Sisters, who were responsible for writing this story, nailed every aspect in this story, from the magical setting in Jeju to the likable neighbors and family members, even the comedy, but completely missed the mark with a romance that fell flat. In terms of direction, I actually liked it, it’s surprisingly modern for a drama that's almost 10 years old, and even the OST and background music were catchy and well-integrated. Another highlight for me was all the delicious food that was featured! Seriously, where can I find those recipes? Anyways, for me this story had many charms, but the romance was definitely not one of them. 

Genre: Comedy / Thriller

Completed: July 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: August 2024

Review: I started this drama with extremely low expectations, but to my surprise I ended up loving it! The focus on the male lead's world, with the female lead gradually intertwining with his, worked perfectly. I doubt I'd have enjoyed it as much if it centred on female lead playing with toys in all the scenes, but since those were brief and well-handled, I didn't mind them at all. The real highlight for me, were the found-family of reformed mobsters, their scenes were always hilarious and surprisingly heartwarming, I especially liked how the term "little rat" became so endearing. While I also loved both romantic couples, I was disappointed with its portrayal, in one couple they added too much of forced ingenuity and in the other they watered down their chemistry to non-existent by the end. Despite these flaws, I fell in love with the story, the OST and the editing with those spot-on "like and subscribe" intros!

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Youth / Music

Completed: August 2024

Review: What a pleasant surprise! Given its age and the societal shifts of the past decade, I fully expected this to be a bit cringy, but truth is that those moments were barely noticeable. Instead, I found this to be a beautiful story about young artists chasing their dreams, which perfectly balanced heartfelt moments with comedy, making it such an enjoyable watch. The characters, though similar in their struggles and growth to many other dramas, were written in such a memorable way that some characters, like Hye Mi and Sam Dong, become truly iconic. A standout aspect, especially watching it 10 years later, is the nostalgic factor, from the fashion to the numerous K-pop references, it’s like a trip down memory lane. Overall, despite some predictability and unsatisfying character endings, the message of perseverance and friendship still shines through.

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Fantasy

Completed: August 2024

Review: The highlight of this drama was its enchanting story. The blend between fantasy and romance, along with its exploration of love and fate, kept me wondering whether the leads would end up together or remain apart until her final days. The romance between an angel and a ballerina was also refreshing, like it was a match made in heaven. Besides, the leads' performances and phenomenal chemistry made the story even more compelling. However, the secondary character fell flat. The second male lead, while well-intentioned, was often irritating, and the second female lead wasn’t likeable, she was a mere shadow of the female lead. Even, the villains lacked charisma, one was a one-dimensional psychopath, while the other was the typical greedy family member. Despite these flaws, I’m really pleased with how the story unfolded and ended, and what I enjoyed the most was the romance and the captivating ballet scenes.

Genre: Historical / Romance / Comedy

Completed: August 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: August 2024

Review: It’s a short, simple and sweet story, that delivers exactly what you'd expect from a romance. It follows the leads' on their journey through first love and breakups, while gradually building their own relationship with each other. Its charm lies in its simplicity and straightforward romance, avoiding the trendy romcom murder subplots, in favour of a heartfelt narrative that leaves you smiling and wishing for more.

Genre: Romance / Mystery / Sci-Fi

Completed: August 2024

Review: A serial killer mystery with a 1987 time travel twist, this drama focuses not just on solving crimes but on repairing present-day relationships and altering tragic fates. The emotional depth and character growth were the real highlights for me. Yoon Young’s journey and her evolving relationships with her parents were incredibly touching, especially with her father, his story brought me to tears despite knowing what was coming. Hae Jun’s story, however, I found to be less engaging, his stoic and unemotional nature made it difficult to connect with him, which contributed to what felt like one of the most forced romances I’ve ever seen. They had great chemistry as friends and even worked perfectly together on solving the mystery, but their whole romance wasn't there. The serial killer mystery wasn't the most satisfying, but I didn't mind with how it unfolded and was resolved, because despite these flaws, the evolving family dynamics kept me happily engaged with the story.

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Life

Completed: August 2024

Review: This drama focuses on the friendship of three women in their late 20s, who were once close friends but drifted apart due to a misunderstanding. Different life challenges, lead them to live together and to hire a house helper in his mid-30s . With his help, they not only clean their home, but also declutter their emotional lives. As they navigated their individual struggles, their form a stronger bond, not only among themselves, but also with their house helper and the people that helped them along the way.  In the end, this drama highlights the value of both offering and accepting unconditional support within a friendship and romance. (August 2024)

Genre: Thriller / Mystery / Psychological

Completed: August 2024

Review: This was visually stunning drama with a somewhat an “intriguing” story and incredible performances, especially by Go Min Si, who was able to showcase a new side of her acting range. The pacing of this story, though not inconsistent, it was clearly divided into two halves. In the first half, the story slowly immerses the viewers into its green landscapes and mysterious atmosphere, while in second half the story unfolds too quickly, that the viewers are kept on the edge of their seat anxious not to miss any context. Overall, for me the stunning cinematography and impressive performances made it an enjoyable watch, but the story could have benefited from a better script. Because I believe this will likely slowly and quietly fade away from my memory, much like a tree falling in a forest with no one around to hear it.

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: June 2022 / September 2024

Review: My opinion on this drama has shifted significantly. I initially rated it a 7, but my memory of why was a little fuzzy. I remember being drawn in by the colourful poster with its bold typography, but I stayed for the vibrant settings and Kim Dae Young’s outstanding performance both in comedic and emotional moments, which still held up on this rewatch. While I didn’t initially like Lee Sung Kyung’s performance, this time around I found her portrayal incredibly fitting for the role. I remember finding the stalking subplot completely absurd on my first watch, but now with a deeper understanding on Korean pop culture, it actually feels sadly realistic. What I still didn’t like and the main reason why I won’t rate this a 10, is because of how in 2022, a serious sexual harassment scene in the office was played as a joke and no consequences from those actions were served. I’m a strong believer that we still have a space for those type of jokes, but they also have a job to educate the viewers and not brush it off as a joke. I also didn’t like how the character Park Ho Yeong was written. I appreciated her dedication to her work, but her childish behaviour towards her crush was a tiny bit irritating and the constant head-patting made it considerably worse. However, I definitely enjoyed this much more on my second watch, than on my first watch, which is why I increased my rating.

Genre: Historical / Romance / Comedy / Mystery

Completed: September 2024

Review: The first half of the drama was decent, nothing great but watchable. However, the second half became unbearable to watch. The story started light with a comedic tone, but later shifted to a disconnected political conflict. What initially drew me in was the light portrayal of serious issues, like women's struggles with divorce and their treatment in the Joseon Era, especially after the Qing Invasion. But, like many other sageuks, this story shifted its focus to exposing the corruption among high officials, losing its uniqueness from the early episodes. I wouldn’t have minded this shift if everything else worked, but it didn’t. The directing, especially in action scenes, were poorly directed with shaky camera movements and distracting effects. While the characters for the most part fitted the actors, they weren’t that well-written. On top of that, the leads had no chemistry and the villains were too exaggerated and forgettable. This drama had the potential to be something like The Matchmakers, but ultimately failed to deliver on all fronts, with only the occasional comedic moments being its only good quality.

Genre: Romance / Youth / Drama

Completed: September 2024

Review: Firstly, I must say that I was completely misled by these drama poster, title and even the synopsis. I expected a sweet coming-of-age story but got a melodrama instead, luckily it was still sweet at times. The story of this drama special wasn’t groundbreaking and in a way, it felt like a toned-down version of the drama Extracurricular. While this story wasn’t bad, in comparison it didn’t manage to surprise me in any way. Nonetheless, it was well written and had a good pacing, though the ending could’ve be more satisfying. The leads performances weren’t on the same level. Shin Eun Soo delivered a fantastic performance, it was surprising to see her playing a sassy character, after watching her playing softer characters both in Twinkling Watermelon and Summer Strike. However, Kim Jae Won’s performance fell short. While, he did well in scenes where his character was like a lost puppy or slowly falling in love, in key emotional scenes, his facial expressions appeared stiff. The support characters weren’t that interesting either. Both mothers deserved a bit more screen time, to fully understand their respective family struggles, but what we got instead was repeated scenes of their illegal business, which didn’t offer much depth to the characters stories. Overall, it’s an okay drama.

Completed: September 2024

Completed: September 2024

Completed: October 2024

Completed: October 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Melodrama

Completed: October 2024

Genre: Fantasy / Romance / Comedy / Youth

Completed: October 2024

Review: ...

Genre: Romance / Fantasy / Mystery

Completed: October 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Fantasy / Mystery

Completed: October 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Youth

Completed: October 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Melodrama

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Mystery / Fantasy

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Youth

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Melodrama

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Melodrama

Completed: November 2024

Genre: Romance / Comedy / Melodrama

Completed: November 2024