Favorite Dramas

The ultimate youth drama. For better or for worse, the only drama since Reply 1988 that has captivated me as deeply. As obsessively. It's a drama about love - in all its forms. Whether that is love for a dream, love for a friend, love for a family member, love for a has-been-chaebol-son trying to make his way in the world of adults. No matter where the story ends, I will never regret being along for the ride. "Why do I feel like this moment will last forever?" / "Maybe it will."

This drama will always hold a special place in my heart for airing during my "youth". Now, years removed from the drama, I can still appreciate watching love as deep and as organic as the love forged in a neighbourhood like this. Familial Love. Platonic Love. Romantic Love. This drama was a culmination and the best of all those genres.

The type of interwoven story that requires an absolute love for meticulous detail. It requires a careful observer, but can also be loved by people throughout generations? A story of love and ultimately loss. And one of the few dramas with a level of screenwriting prowess to make me cry every. single. week. 

The love I have for this drama is borne out of love for myself. To see a character likened to me go through all the waves of romantic and platonic love is almost cathartic. 

My first 'retro' drama. The first drama to make me feel "Ah, this is youth". I remember finding this drama on Viki and being completely, and utterly sold that this would be my favourite drama forever. It's still up there, as is every iteration of this plot and these characters. 

A sleeper hit? I came into this drama wanting to feel moved, but I came away with so much more than that. A deep feeling of love for found family, for being kind to others, of forgiveness, of pursuing one's dreams regardless of age. It was a drama I wanted to "like" but a drama I ended up "loving".