2021: kdramas were cool even before Squid Game
Dramas I watched in 2021. Don't judge me by my past and I won't judge you by yours... Jokes, I watched some sick ass dramas this year. Judge me for my awesome taste. I dare you.
Top 5 Recommendations:
- The Crowned Clown
- Psychopath Diary
- Forever Love
- Your Name Engraved Herein
- My Holo Love
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1. My Youth
Chinese Drama - 2019, 24 episodes
Dec 30 2020 - Jan 1
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2. The Prince of Tennis
Chinese Drama - 2019, 42 episodes
Jan 4 - Jan 10
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3. Un amour si beau
Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Feb 4
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4. Good Morning Call
Japanese Drama - 2016, 17 episodes
Feb 4 / Feb 5
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5. Good Morning Call: Our Campus Days
Japanese Drama - 2017, 10 episodes
Feb 5
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6. When I See You Again
Taiwanese Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Feb 5 / Feb 6
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7. Bangkok Love Stories 2: Innocence
Thai Drama - 2018, 13 episodes
Feb 11
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8. Love Alarm
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
March 12
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9. The Perfect Match
Taiwanese Drama - 2017, 22 episodes
May 24 / May 25
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10. WISH YOU : Your Melody in My Heart
Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes
June 12
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11. Abyss
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
June 11 / June 12
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12. My Dear Warrior
Thai Drama - 2019, 20 episodes
June 18 - Sept 19
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13. Bring It On, Ghost
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
August 3 / August 4
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14. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
August 4 / August 5
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15. I Need Romance 3
Thai Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
August 17 - August 23
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16. Space Sweepers
Korean Movie - 2021
August 24
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17. 100 Days My Prince
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
august 25
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18. The Crowned Clown
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
August 26 / August 27
A whole damn masterpiece. From the plot, to the settings, to the costumes, to the acting, and to the actors themselves--it didn't lack a thing. It was dark, beautiful, funny, heartbreaking, scary, angering.... every emotion you can think of, it invoked it. The ML, my god, that boy can act. Playing two entirely different roles and you can FEEL the difference in each scene. All the actors do a fantastic job; you don't even feel like you're watching people act. It feels so real. I am blown away by this entire production. It was the first Historical drama I actually liked and now I can't help but watch more of them in hopes they might just remind me of this absolute piece of unmistakable art. Watch it. Like... right the heck now.
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19. My Sassy Girl
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
August 6 - August 28
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20. Nevertheless,
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
June 27 / August 30
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21. Drowning Love
Japanese Movie - 2016
Sept 24
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22. Ice Hockey Girl
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Oct 1
Whenever I try to write something for this I lose my words. It's really good. The development is strong with these two and we love to see it!
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23. Kakafukaka
Japanese Drama - 2019, 10 episodes
Oct 2
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24. My Little Monster
Japanese Movie - 2018
Oct 3
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25. Kuzu no Honkai
Japanese Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
Oct 3
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26. Theory of Love
Thai Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
Oct 3 / Oct 4
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27. HIStory: My Hero
Taiwanese Special - 2017, 4 episodes
Oct 5
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28. Fall in Love at First Kiss
Taiwanese Movie - 2019
Oct 5
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29. Kiss Me
Thai Drama - 2015, 20 episodes
Oct 5 / Oct 6
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30. Addicted Heroin
Chinese Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
Oct 6 / Oct 7
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31. Your Name Engraved Herein
Taiwanese Movie - 2020
Oct 7
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32. Forever Love
Chinese Drama - 2020, 28 episodes
Oct 7 - Oct 9
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33. Toi, le meilleur du monde
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Oct 9 - Oct 11
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34. My Holo Love
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Oct 15
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35. Are You Human Too?
Korean Drama - 2018, 36 episodes
Oct 15 - Oct 19
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36. Please Don't Meet the Man
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
Oct 20 / Oct 21
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37. Convenience Store Venus
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Oct 21 / Oct 22
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38. Falling For Do Jeon
Korean Drama - 2015, 6 episodes
Oct 22
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39. Suspicious Partner
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
Oct 22 - Oct 24
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40. I’m Not a Robot
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
Oct 24 / Oct 25
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41. Psychopath Diary
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Oct 25 - Oct 27
I probably laughed until tears during every episode. It's dark and grim as hell, but the dry humour absolutely gave me stitches in my side. I was so invested, I set my laptop outside my shower so I didn't have to stop watching at one point LOL. MLs acting is phenomenal. Him and the 2nd ML completely took this crime drama to a possibly never again achievable height. FL was good for the plot, but it was definitely the guys that made it *chefs kiss*. My goodness, ML was so dang funny in this. I just cannot--I'm still laughing just thinking about it and it's now December.
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42. Uncontrollably Fond
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
Oct 27 / Oct 28
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43. Emergency Couple
Korean Drama - 2014, 21 episodes
Oct 29 / Oct 30
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44. My Little Princess
Chinese Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Oct 30
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45. Squid Game
Korean Drama - 2021, 9 episodes
Nov ?
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46. Kiss Me at the Stroke of Midnight
Japanese Movie - 2019
Nov 3
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47. L♥DK: Two Loves Under One Roof
Japanese Movie - 2019
Nov 3
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48. Marmalade Boy
Japanese Movie - 2018
Nov 4
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49. Portrait of a Beauty
Korean Movie - 2008
Nov 8
Beautifully done and the whole thing is artistic as hell. Far from PG or being like any of these other dramas on this list. Much more realistic. Grab tissues.
This drama is also based on the same book, but it's completely different (PG for starters):
- The Painter of The Wind (2008, South Korean drama version) https://mydramalist.com/422-the-painter-of-the-wind
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50. Oops, My Heart is Beating
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Nov 18 / Nov 19
Lower budget (with make up/hair) but idc, the scenes between ML and FL are just so dang sweet, I've surely got cavities. Treating your partner with equality is a beautiful thing. I'm here for it.. Low budget but I honestly didn't care because I was too enthralled by the love story. The acting was pretty convincing as well. I find Chinese dramas are normally very fluffy, but I really didn't mind it in this as it balanced the heavier topics with the sweetness. Normally I'm used to 4-5 episodes driving me crazy from frustration, but I don't think I was ever frustrated past one episode during the entire series. Give it a shot if you're hesitant.
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51. Hana Kimi Remake
Japanese Drama - 2011, 11 episodes
Nov 19 / Nov 20
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52. Woman Generation
Chinese Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
Nov 20 / Nov 21
I loved FLs acting in this. As per the recommendation of fellow watchers, I stopped after watching episode 21 (and then read spoilers). Highly recommended as I feel completely satisfied, and as seen in the comments, the real ending left a dissatisfied crowd lol. But, yeah, I was fully invested in the FL. I didn't dislike ML but I would have been fine with the 2nd ML, too. It was her acting and the character she played that really kept me watching. I recommend it purely for her and the energy she exudes.
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53. The Tale of Nokdu
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
Nov 29 / Nov 30:
The faults make me want to give in a 8.5, but the amazing parts honestly are so good I'd give it a total of 9.5. Absolutely worth the watch. Action was perfect.
episode 6/16: Okay, I really like this drama. Unlike other cross-dressing dramas, this one actually seems to do a really good job at being gender defying. By that, I mean both men and women are strong characters with equally as important roles and each with their weaknesses. No one is really a heroin or hero... rather, they are both, taking turns. More older important male characters, but with it being historical that makes sense lol. Really enjoying this and hope it keeps it up.
episode 9/16: I have no words. Okay, I have a few: what an amazing drama. Holy macaroni I am at the edge of my seat. This went from an 8.5 to an absolute 10 for me. While the romance had me at the beginning, I am now fully absorbed in the political plots and action. My god, it's amazing. I don't think I've ever been this so intrigued by the non-romantic part of a drama. The PLOT TWISTS. I am going to have SEVERE trust issues. Literally every character in this dang drama has made my head spin at least twice. Phenomenal. I'm so hoping it keeps it up.
Finished: The only complaints are (1) after the 1st half, there wasn't as many women making dents in the plot (besides messing it up) (2) the FL could have been way more dimensional. They seemed to really know complex when it came to males... females, not so much. (3) The build was outstanding, but the ending was a bit lackluster. It's like they were rushing. I feel unsatisfied by a few relationships I had become so invested in. Also, some weird out-of-character choices by normally diabolical characters just to keep the plot going. That being said, the ending didn't make me regret watching it.
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54. The King’s Affection
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes