r/kdrama challenge 2024

Eligible for categories 2.c, 3.a, 5.f, 13, 15, 18, 19, 33.

Completed 18-01-24 (incl. S2). Liked it a lot overall, even if a little messy. Expectation management is key to enjoying this one. The women deserved better. The men all had beautiful friendships (with each other and the FLs). Ultimately more of a romantic meditation than an adventure series.

Will put it down for category 33 – a mid-long form drama for now.

Will put it down for category 2.c – character character holds over / shares an umbrella with another person (because Seo Yul's dynamic with Naksu is lowkey a fave, though her best dynamic is with the Crown Prince for sure).

Eligible for categories 2.c, 4.f, 5.f, 9, 11, 13, 15, 23, 24.

Completed 23-01-24. I watched this on a whim after finishing Alchemy of Souls and was surprised by how much I loved it. The first 9 episodes are romcom perfection to me (with a dash of murder mystery). I appreciated how lowkey the romance was, it felt very real rather than over-the-top, and amidst all the craziness of the premise and the quirky townies, there was something especially endearing about the awkward and yet emotionally intelligent way both leads started seeking each other out. This is the first kdrama romance that I've seen that felt balanced in terms of the power dynamics and featured both partners helping/healing the other in equal measure. It's true that the latter half suffers from too much focus on the murder mystery and overall it probably could have been wrapped up in 12 episodes. I also didn't care for some of the side characters (both in terms of writing and in terms of acting) and by the end it felt like the drama had maybe not quite reached its full potential. There would have been more creative ways yet to put the "superpower" of the FL to use. As a catalyst for the central relationship, however, it made perfect sense and that's probably why the plot peters out once the romantic duo is firmly established. It's not even that the plot drags after episode 9. It just becomes somewhat less interesting (with the twist in episode 14 being a late season highlight, then it's back to cruise control). Anyway, I highly enjoyed this and might rewatch the first few episodes on their own in the future.

Will put it down for category 11 – drama where a character sports team jersey and/or watches a sports game.

Eligible for categories 7, 20, 23, 25 (?), 27.

Completed 29-01-24. Still reeling. Loved it. Fantastic OST, fantastic cast, fantastic direction, especially in the action scenes but not just in the action scenes. I liked the writing as well – it may not have been the most innovative story but I wasn't looking for twists in this one and just lived for the atmosphere and the way the story played out, predictable as it might have been. There were still enough shock moments (such as a character being competent at their job) to keep you guessing subconsciously. For a while I thought I was going to give this 10/10. The last episode took it down a notch though. After sleeping on it, I'm not exactly happy with the way it ended but I respect it, it made sense for this particular tale.

Will put this down for category 23 – character who works for the government. Could also go into 7.

Eligible for categories 8, 15, 20, 23, 24, 25, 30, 36.

Completed 03-02-2024. At times absolutely ridiculous (in the best way possible). Evolves into a harrowing portrayal of abuses of power later on. The legal aspects seemed questionable but that's to be expected in a legal drama. Great bits of humor. Top tier villains! And adorable, badass leads. I liked everything about this except for the fact that this is one of the few dramas that needed more episodes. The ending was fine and satisfying on paper but it ended up feeling rushed, collapsing under the weight of the complex network of villainous dependencies that the drama had built up to that point. It made the conclusion fall flat. Overall a very enjoyable watch, however, with a great cast and great characters all around. 

Will put this down for category 15 – childhood flashback scenes for now.

Eligible for categories 9, 18, 20, 24 (?), 25.

Completed 16-02-24. I might not have finished it if it weren't for the challenge and that's despite the drama being only 4 episodes long! I really enjoyed the first episode but did not feel compelled to keep going after and ended up binging the other three episodes later since I knew that I would struggle to finish it if I kept putting it off any longer. It's not that there's anything inherently wrong with this – I love the FL and the ML was ok. They had good chemistry as friends; I didn’t see any kind of particularly romantic chemistry which made sense within the context of the story but made it hard to get invested, since the pull of their relationship is the only pull that the story has at all. Aspects that I enjoyed: I enjoyed the directing and vibes (felt like something that would be a cozy watch in the winter), I enjoyed the side characters like the married restaurant owners, I enjoyed the slice-of-life feeling of the banter and how intimate their friendship was. Aspects that I didn't enjoy: Them taking the next step in their relationship felt awfully drawn-out, the music producer came across as unprofessional and creepy for coming on to her, the FL seemed pretty clueless about human emotions for a writer and the lyrics she wrote didn't translate well into English (I can only assume that she appeared more skilled in Korean), the ML had some nerve acting jealous/territorial like he did and him taking all those photos of her also had a creepy touch to it... he's lucky that she was into him as well, otherwise this story might well have played out like a thriller. All in all, I don't regret watching this, but it came across like a failed experiment in format rather than a story that was justified in its (short) runtime.

Will put this down for category 9 – character who is an artist.

Eligible for categories 8 (?), 10, 14, 15, 18, 23, 24, 27 (?), 29, 30.

Completed 18-02-24. A good time all around. I appreciated the underlying message about self-determination. The plot was fairly by the numbers but the fun realization and breezy presentation kept things moving along. Also got emotional at appropriate times. Kinda cheeky as well. Aside from the FL, for me the MVP was really the prodigal son. But great cast and great characters all around. Easy recommend, even though it's not earth-shattering necessarily.

Will put this down for category 30 – achieved more than 10% overall viewership ratings from Nielsen (because it really jumped over that threshold quite early and quite often!).

Eligible for categories 2.c, 10, 17, 18, 19, 24, 27 (?), 28, 29.

Completed 03-03-24. Ultimately a disappointment. I wasn't loving the first episodes but episode 4 turned things around and got me invested. I was hooked from that point and the reveal in episode 8 was a real highlight, a fantastic scene that made me want to scream. Unfortunately, the show wasn't able to sustain the tension it had built and floundered after. The finale was a whole big bag of nothing. Overall, there were some really good scenes and some of the acting (especially from the ML), directing, score, costumes and set design were superb. But the writing and the casting of the FL left a lot to be desired. I haven't watched many sageuks but I would recommend every single one of them over this one. Worst of all: There was no point to the baduk playing as a narrative framing device at all. The premise was just wasted.

Will probably put this in category 17 – title that is not a direct translation of the Korean title.

Will put this in category 10 – drama in which a game is played.

Eligible for categories 2.c, 10, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 29, 30.

Completed 19-03-24 (going into 20-03-24). I will need to sleep on this one to gather my thoughts. Basically: I'm not okay. (Hot take: This is not a romance.)

Will put this down for category 29 – sageuk for now.

Eligible for categories 1, 3.a, 4.f, 5.f, 6.f, 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30.

Completed 23-03-24. Loved it. Great fun. Great drama. Amazing performances by everyone all around, perfectly cast from the leads to the smallest roles. This is Ahn Bo Hyun's show, of course, and he totally owns it. But Park Ji Hyun matches him step by step whenever she gets the chance. She nailed all the vulnerable moments of her character in particular. What I enjoyed most about the show was that it was, at its heart, an optimistic show that had a lot of love for all the relationships between all the characters. That made it feel meaningful to me. Can't wait to see the team back in action in S2.

Will put this down for category 6.f – 5+ people in a poster because this was truly an ensemble show (and I'm sure I'll watch something else that I can put in the chaebol category, although that would certainly fit here as well).

Will put this down for category 22 – character who is a chaebol for now because after one episode of King the Land I'm starting to realize that I'm sick of watching dramas with chaebols so this might remain the only one I see this year lol (Though Lee Jun Ho might compel me to finish KtL at some point...)

Eligible for categories 1, 4.f, 6.f, 8 (Chief Kim), 15, 17, 22, 23, 24, 25, 30.

Completed 03-04-24 (going into 04-04-24). I've never seen so much eating on a show. They must've filmed this with 1–2 takes per scene max. Anyway. I enjoyed all the different relationships and how so many of the (side) characters get a good amount of development. Loved the chaebol son, the undercover intern, the downtrodden general manager who longs to see his family etc. The ML is hilarious, outrageous, and sometimes a little obnoxious, but always played with just the right amount of crazy and sincerity by Namkoong Min. A masterful, iconic performance. You can tell he brought a lot to the character that wasn't necessarily in the script. Same goes for Lee Jun Ho as his adversary Seo Yul who, for the most part, is a pretty nasty, if entertaining, character. Their love-hate relationship is a highlight, despite a conflict of vibes that are both regressive (harassment) and progressive (displays of affection). While the pacing works overall, the show starts off / ends explosively and treads water for long stretches in the middle, filling it with office politics and will-he/won't-he (quit) that are never as interesting as the core relationships, some of which don't progress until the last five, if not the last two episodes. Still, a very entertaining drama with fantastic cast chemistry that holds up. Appreciated the anti-corruption messaging.

Will put this down for category 6.f – 5+ people in a drama poster.

Eligible for categories 2.c, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18 (Gangdu's "becoming a contributing member of society" special day), 25.

Completed 13-04-24 (going into 14-04-24). Largely excellent, with some small caveats. Let's get those out of the way first: Mr. Seo (the SML) sucks. Sorry, it had to be said. Some of the B-plots and side pairings feel like they never go anywhere, they're really just there to pad out the episodes. The last few episodes devolve into melodrama that piles it on too much and episode 15 engineers drama for the sake of it, clearly forced on the writer by studio  notes or something like that ("here we need a mandatory breakup because..."). Instead, it would have been nicer to focus on the healing (a reveal of the monument and Munsu's parents getting to know Gangdu should have been essential). On the bright side, the main pairing absolutely shines, both characters are wonderfully written and acted for the most part. There's some behaviour that's 'problematic' but can be explained by the PTSD. Overall, the relationship feels wholesome and develops believably. Ludicrous as the premise may be, it is also unique. The series offers many nuggets of wisdom and memorable dialogue, especially with the great cast of characters on Gangdu's side of the story. Given that the drama is from 2017, I also have to say that it was beautifully shot and scored and fits right in with post-2019 dramas; in that sense, it's a real hidden gem that has aged well. Special props for the inclusion of both mentally and physically handicapped characters who are awesome as well as sending a character to rehab – kdramas can be very cavalier about alcohol. Further props for shining a light on the plight of the poor and less fortunate; real people living real lives, not chaebol fantasies.

Will put it down for category 14 – featuring an actress who debuted before 2000 (the halmeoni ♥).

Eligible for categories 1, 2.c, 4.f, 5.f (fake shaman in the first episode), 6.f, 10 (football), 13, 19, 23, 25, 30.

Completed 27-04-24. What an absolute riot. Everyone in this is just so chaotic but in the best way possible. I liked it right from the start when the titular priest arrives at a fake shaman ritual in a very cool fashion only to stumble his way down a slope. That about sums it all up, really: Deeply cool and uncool, serious and unserious, badass and goofy, and somehow it all works. That's probably down to the cast who all excel in bringing just the right kind of energy to a script that can throw in a line of wisdom as quickly as a joke. Around 5 or 6 episodes in (going by the Netflix count of 20 episodes total), once the team starts assembling, the show shifts into a higher gear and never lets up. It's really all about the gang. I just love them all so much. In many ways, this is my favorite kdrama that I've seen so far, even with its occasional moments of cringe or overdramatic posturing. I'm a sucker for early John Woo films and this scratches that itch, delivering amazing action but also the fun, heart and comraderie that made his Hong Kong output so good in the late 80s and early 90s. Can't wait for S2.

(As a point of comparison with the writer's earlier drama Chief Kim, I think this one marks a definite improvement in terms of keeping the plot going and not spinning the wheels quite as much, helped by a greater variety of villains, a hero with more skills and a bigger team at his disposal, at least in terms of meaningful contributions; Chief Kim had skills like being a math wiz, they were just never really used to help his case...)

Will put this in category 5.f – scene featuring a shaman either fortune-telling or performing a shamanistic ritual (fake shaman in the first episode... and though he does not qualify, the cult leader gets an honorable mention here).

Eligible for 3.a, 6.f, 17, 18 (NYE), 20, 22, 23, 25, 27.

Completed 08-05-24. I liked this one, overall. Very solid, elevated by its bold ending. Thematically relevant and rich, with a subtly understated chemistry between the repressed leads at its core. Should have been more outright cyberpunk in its aesthetics because the story is very quintessentially cyberpunk. Thought-provoking, if a little dry/mundane in how it's directed. I would love to see this come back for another series, this type of worldbuilding deserves more episodes and storytelling. Acting great. Sits somewhere between 7.5 and 8 (the direction really brings it down somewhat, as well as the single worst scene I've seen, featuring the father of the PM in an English convo).

Not sure about the challenge category, I'll have to shuffle things around. Will put it down for category 25 – character wearing long wool coats for now because everyone in this looked fabulous and business chic, especially the ML.

Eligible for categories 1, 2.c, 3.a (underwater scene), 4.f (health supplement PPL), 5.f, 15, 18, 19, 23, 24, 25, 28.

Completed 09-05-24. Great pacing, great acting, great suspense, many good twists. Starts off especially strong and introduces a few too many plot conveniences along the way after episode 10 or so but recovers for a strong finish. Aside from those conveniences which could be very frustrating (and make the police look very incompetent), the drama could get a little too weepy at times and the soundtrack that kicked in whenever something especially dramatic was about to go down became overused to the point of parody almost. Still, they stuck to their guns and delivered a highly enjoyable story that has interesting things to say about the psychology of almost all the characters, many of which get explored but none more so than the ML who handles the complexities of every facial twitch with aplomb. Special shoutout to the adorable daughter who honestly made the show by giving it a heart (the romance of the leads gives it heart as well, of course, but it's a complicated, messy one, not the pure one that was needed as well to balance the ridiculous evil eating away at the seams). Drama with a capital D. Sits between 8.5 and 9 for me.

Will put this in category 3.a – drama with an underwater scene.

Eligible for categories 8, 12 (maybe), 14 (if you ignore that Song Kang Ho didn't star in a drama before), 15, 23, 25, 27.

Completed 16-07-24. I was watching this with a friend but around episode 9 we had to take a break as I went away and then when I came back we had little time to watch, so we ended up binging the latter half in a matter of days now. It was a good series, between 8.5 and 9 for me (starting around the former and moving towards the latter as the series progressed). Since the show is so very underrated on this site, I'm leaning on the higher end of the rating. Might have to write an actual review to sort out all my thoughts. There were some weaknesses in the convoluted storytelling but overall I think that the fantastic acting and directing and character development (even for minor characters!) really made this a special drama, devoid of tropes and cliches. Only thing I'll say is that the intro/outro music, while a bop, was totally immersion-breaking every single time because of how commie-style cheery it is (I get what they were going for). The transitions were so jarring which is a shame since the rest of the show has such a strong grasp on atmosphere. Plot-wise a puzzle that is less important in its scheming minutiae than in its societal implications.

Will put this in category 8 – title that includes a character's name.

Eligible for categories 15, 19, 20, 21 (rural location), 22, 27...

Plan to put this in category 21 – set in a rural/non-urban location.

Eligible for categories 6.f, 7, 12 (maybe?), 14, 15, 16 (kinda?), 17, 18 (probably), 19 (probably), 21 (sorta), 23, 24 (probably), 26, 27 (the dad), 28, 29, 30, 31 (I think), 33...

Plan to put this in category 33 – mid-long form drama.