⚡️Watched List 2021

✔️️ Watched: 10 December 2020 - 6 February 2021   [Watched while Currently Airing]

A cliched story just done extremely well. The characters from the webtoon were much more developed and side characters brought the story to life. 

♫ OST Playlist:  True Beauty 〈여신강림〉 OST ↗

✔️️ Watched: 28 December 2020 - 21 February 2021   [Watched while Currently Airing]

✔️️  Watched:  1 January 2021 - 21 January 2021   [Watched while Currently Airing]

♪ OST Highlight:  Ryu Su Jeong - Color Rush  (Spotify)

✔️️  Watched:  1 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  1 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  1 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  2 January 2021

☄️ Actor Discovery:   Greg Hsu -- I can see why he's so popular.

✔️️  Watched:  3 January 2021 - 5 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  5 January 2021 - 6 January 2021

〰️  Watched:  5 January 2021 - CURRENTLY WATCHING

♻️  Watched:  7 January 2021

Rewatch so soon? Because it's adorable (*^_^*)

✔️️  Watched:  6 January 2021 - 9 January 2021

This is a peek into the lives of two softspoken and amiable people who get married first and slowly fall in love later. Their relationship is more of comfort than passion, so this story introduced few dramatic moments. 

✔️️  Watched:  10 January 2021 - 14 January 2021

This show had it's moments but you have to suspend your logic for a good portion of it (especially at the start) in order to enjoy it. I'm still not sure how or why they fell in love with eachother in the first place, and the gag of being interrupted just before kissing was so repetitive it became an annoyance more than a laugh. I do appreciate that she was a confident woman who had career ambitions but the story forced itself into a corner where one of them had to give up something they wanted in order to be together and that was a shame. There were also some interesting side characters and relationships that I felt were underdeveloped. The cast were great though, which is probably what made me forget of the plot holes in the first place.

✔️️  Watched:  15 January 2021 - 16 January 2021

Don't mind the break-neck speed in which the first episode sets everything up. Once you get past the implausable start to their relationship (two attractive, charming people agreeing to a marry a stranger they just met on the internet) you'll be swept up in the fluffy chemistry of the leads. The FL is cute and flirty (and knows it) and the ML is playful yet thoughtful. Good-looking characters with no flaws falling in love with eachother without any drama, and I'm okay with that.

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Itagaki Mizuki [160~]

☠️  Dropped: 16 January 2021 - 18 January 2021 (Episode 22 of 35)

I loved the role-reversal and Simon Gongs character is an absolute sweetheart, but I just couldn't get past Lu Fang Ning and her manipulation (which everyone keeps forgiving!), even though everything else about her character is amazing.

✔️️  Watched:  17 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  18 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  18 January 2021

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Kang In Soo [140] and his amazing voice

✔️️  Watched:  18 January 2021 - 19 January 2021

⌛ On Hold: 19 January 2021 - March 2021 (Episode 7 of 16, Decision on 18 May 2021).  [Watched while Currently Airing]

✔️️  Watched:  19 January 2021 - 20 January 2021

Over-the-top hilariously absurd, with no payoff...

♪ OST Highlight: Opening Theme Song ~  Reiji Kawaguchi - I'm a slave for you  (Youtube)
♪ OST Highlight: Ending Theme Song ~  Reiji Kawaguchi - STOP (Youtube)

✔️️  Watched:  21 January - 24 January 2021

Soo-Soo combo!
☄️ Actor Discovery: Moon Soo In [30] & Kang In Soo [140]

♻️  Watched:  January 2021 - February 2021  ~ (Watched with my husband!)

On my eternal quest to find shows my husband and I can watch together, this is the first drama that (so far) my husband has stayed interested in. He's so hooked that he's asking me when we can watch the next episode!

✔️️  Watched:  24 January 2021

A beautiful glimpse into the love lives of 4 youths. It plays out like pages of a diary, where every love is epic and every heartbreak if forever.

✔️️  Watched:  25 January 2021

The anime does the story justice, but this was a nice foray into bringing it to life.

☄️ Actor Discovery: Fukushi Sota [1474]

✔️️  Watched:  25 January 2021

I don't usually like controversial dynamics like the student/teacher relationship because I find the way the characters tackle such situations reflects a lot on how much I enjoy the story. This one is borderline...

As a side note, I hardly recognised Yamashita Tomohisa, who I first saw in 5-ji Kara 9-ji Made (2015)

✔️️  Watched:  25 January - 26 January 2021

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Nakajima Kento [688]

✔️️  Watched:  26 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  26 January 2021

Fukushi Sota streak continues.

✔️️  Watched:  26 January 2021

Inadvertedly started a Yamazaki Kento [3,822] streak due to the sheer size of his filmography in the shoujo genre... I have seen him before in How To Love an Otaku and LDK but he didn't really grab my attention until these roles.

✔️️  Watched:  26 January - 27 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  27 January 2021

--- BEWARE SPOILERS AHEAD ---

This movie was refreshingly different in its over the top manga-style reactions but loses points for unlikable characters. The only likeable character was the second male lead, and the way the story was getting told I was hoping for an Our Times twist, but unfortunately it didn't come.

⚠️ Second Lead Syndrome Warning
☄️ Actor Discovery: Sakaguchi Kentaro [975]

✔️️  Watched:  27 January - 28 January 2021

☄️ Actor Discovery: Yoshizawa Ryo [635] despite having seen him in support roles previously, he hadn't had a big enough role to notice... until now.

✔️️  Watched:  28 January 2021

Sugino Yosuke all grown up! Loved his performance in this, and even with the over the top comedy he shines.

✔️️  Watched:  29 January 2021

✔️️  Watched:  23 January 2021 - 5 February 2021

✔️️  Watched:  29 January - 30 January 2021

A refreshingly different concept, thought provoking with complex flawed characters and interesting social commentary, but still fun and fluffy.

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Matsumoto Jun [1,930 bit late to the party!]

☠️  Dropped:  30 January 2021 (30 minutes)

Missed the actual point of the original concept - that unconditional love allows you to be yourself, and owning a pet can be a source of healing. Instead, it uses the absurd situation just as a romance setup which makes it no longer believable or endearing, and just another average romcom.

✔️️  Watched:  31 January 2021

Absurd heist-romcom not to be taken seriously, but both actors performance just makes it a fun watch.

✔️️  Watched:  31 January 2021

Easy watch, but somewhat forgettable.

-----------------------------

AND because I can't add non-asian dramas here:

Bridgerton (2020): Season 1  
⭐⭐⭐⭐    7.5

✔️️  Watched:  1 February - 2 February 2021

It's been a while since I've watched anything in English and this was an enjoyable, albeit predictable, romp in a high-concept period-drama that shared a lot of common drama tropes. The diversity and social commentary on sexism were the most interesting elements, and what makes up most of my scoring.

✔️️  Watched:  2 February - 3 February 2021

This could have been an interesting character study about these damaged individuals with odd personalities, but unfortunately was too shallow to really delve into anything. Without deeper understanding you can't like any of the characters...

✔️️  Watched:  4 February - 12 February 2021

Overall just pleasant with cute characters, funny dialog and a mellow, low-drama tension. 

-----------------------------

Non-MDL watch:

Mulan (2020)
⭐⭐⭐    5.5

✔️️  Watched:  13 February 2021

Although visually stunning, they turned a simple story of a young girls coming of age and female empowerment into something shallow and average. The asian inaccuracies aside, the characters themselves made illogical decisions and there was no build up of story or consequence. An unfortunate backwards step for asian representation in Hollywood.

✔️️  Watched:  13 February - 14 February 2021

First Taiwan BL. I wish I knew there was going to be a sequel before I started. I would have waited!

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Sam Lin [445]

❤️Happy Valentines Day! ❤️

☠️  Dropped: 4 January 2021 - 18 January 2021  (Episode 3 of 9, Decision on 15 February 2021)

I picked this up because I was curious about the early works of these young stars that later on became more popular, but put it on hold in January because I just wasn't in the mood for that kind of story. Turns out, I'm a bit bored and I might not ever be in the mood? Exercising my willpower (because it's very rare!) to drop this one...

✔️️  Watched:  15 February 2021

Not terrible, but the FL was so whiny and childish and I guess I have outgrown my patience for these kinds of characters.

✔️️  Watched:  16 February 2021

Despite the mature subject matter, the FL was annoyingly self-centred and story was uneventful.

✔️️  Watched:  17 February 2021

✔️️  Dropped:  17 February  ~ (50%)

✔️️  Watched:  18 February 2021

✔️️  Watched:  18 February 2021 - 19 February 2021

What refreshing subject matter! I'm not well-versed, but I thought it was done tastefully and appropriately for the layman to relate to. Machida Keita's character was a sweetheart.

✔️️  Watched:  22 February 2021 - 23 February 2021

Interesting storytelling device, albeit a bit repetitive.

✔️️  Watched:  23 February 2021 - 27 February 2021

Came here after seeing Produce X 101 contestants in recent dramas such as "Mr. Heart", "Where Your Eyes Linger" and "A Love So Beautiful".

✔️️  Watched:  23 February 2021 -  28 February 2021

Immediately loved this. Even with the somewhat unrealistic resolution, the characters were a great insight to angsty youth.

↶ High Rewatch Value

♪ OST Highlight: RAM RIDER - おやすみ。 (Spotify)

✔️️  Watched:  28 February 2021 - 5 March 2021

I usually avoid drama storylines with questionable morals so I didn't expect to love this as much as I did.  Coupled with the cinematic shots of longing stares and slow-motion turns (you know what I'm talking about), the music score wonderfully gave life to the push and pull relationship between the two main characters.

♪ OST Highlight: Uru - プロローグ (Spotify)

✔️️  Watched:  7 March 2021 - 8 March 2021

I put off watching this classic for sooo long because I wasn't a fan of the toxic, harassing behaviour I saw in the remakes Meteor Garden (CN) and Boys Over Flowers (KOR). But this was a pleasant suprise! The characterisations were much more thoughtful and Doumuji came across more as someone foolish and putting on a front, rather than the obsessive power-tripping characters in the remakes. Glad I finally watched it!

✔️️  Watched:  8 March 2021 - 10 March 2021

♪ OST Highlight: Hikaru Utada - Flavor of Life (Ballad Version) (Spotify)

✔️️  Watched:  8 March 2021

A great popcorn flick that was surprisingly not as predictable as I thought! Or maybe it was but it hit different? A space movie that actually feels global.

✔️️  Watched:  10 March 2021 - 12 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  12 March 2021 - 15 March 2021

I struggle to convey how totally disappointed I was in this. What was set up so well in season 1 felt ultimately wasted and overridden in season 2. Not just the romance, but there was so much potential for deeper stories in the post-Love Alarm world that introduced so many interesting social problems.

✔️️  Watched:  14 January 2021 - 16 March 2021  [Watched while Currently Airing]

✔️️  Watched:  15 March 2021 - 18 March 2021

Shame on me for waiting so long to watch this. I started it last year but wasn't in the mood for the darker atmosphere so put it on hold. This time around I was so hooked.  The anti-hero had no shame but was so incredibly charming and vulnerable that, I couldn't help but root for him.

♪ OST Highlight:  Masaki Suda - さよならエレジー(Acoustic ver.)  (Spotify)

❤️ Favourite J-Drama of 2021 (so far)

✔️️  Watched:  18 March 2021 - 19 March 2021

Fun side stories, but I was really only it in for some CLOSURE.

✔️️  Watched:  19 March 2021 - 20 March 2021

Totally different to anything I usually watch. This is very much an "idol drama", and full of over the top cheese, but was enjoyable enough.

✔️️  Watched:  22 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  22 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  25 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  23 March 2021 - 26 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  26 March 2021 - 28 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  29 March 2021

✔️️  Watched:  31 March 2021 - 2 April 2021

✔️️  Watched:  20 March 2021 - 6 April 2021

⌛  On Hold:  7 April 2021 ~ [Paused 7 April 2021]

✔️️  Watched:  15 January 2021 - 9 April 2021

Was hoping to get the same feels as from KoiTsudu but was ultimately disappointed. I love Mone but her character was quite unlikeable to me.

✔️️  Watched:  19 March 2021 - 9 April 2021

✔️️  Watched:  11 April 2021

✔️️  Watched:  13 April 2021 - 18 April 2021

I wished the romance and ending played out a little truer to the source material (or so I've heard of it) but otherwise it was enjoyable and I can see why there was so much love for it.

✔️️  Watched:  18 April 2021

♻️   Watched:  19 April 2021 - 20 April 2021

✔️️  Watched:  11 April 2021 - 3 May 2021  ~ [Partially watched while Currently Airing]

I started this halfway through it's airing and almost died waiting every week. While the story is thin, and the cringe level high I thoroughly enjoyed this well produced drama and was in it for the sweet couples chemistry and near-miss tension.

It's only May but I'm calling it ~
❤️ Favourite Modern C-Drama of 2021
❤️ Best Couple Chemistry of 2021
❤️ Best C-Drama OST of 2021

♫ OST Playlist: Love Scenery (OST and featured English tracks) (Spotify) Note: Not all tracks are available on Spotify.

✔️️  Watched:  3 May 2021

To satisfy my curiosity about this Vietnam co-produced series. Sung Hoon plays the same character as always.

✔️️  Watched:  4 May 2021 - 6 May 2021

While predictable, I did like the character progression of the female lead. The male lead however could have emoted more, and ultimately I don't remember much details from this cliched story.

✔️️  Watched:  7 May 2021 - 8 May 2021

☠️  Dropped:  9 May 2021 ~ (4 of 13)

I gave it a shot. It hurt.

✔️️  Watched:  28 April 2021 - 15 May 2021

Not gonna lie, it took a bit of effort to get through this one, mostly due to the length of each episode. Song Joongki is a walking suit commercial and the side characters all have their laugh out loud moments. While the action did get better as the show progressed, so did the level of ridiculousness.  Surprisingly for me, an avid romance fan, I wanted there to be no romance in this. It didn't need it, and the chemistry wasn't there anyway.

✔️️  Watched:  18 May 2021 - 20 May 2021

✔️️  Watched:  20 May 2021

✔️️  Watched:  22 May 2021 - 23 May 2021

For something different I thought I'd try a closed-mystery (aka mystery-of-the-week) style story and was surprised by how enjoying it was. The stories start off mostly stand-alone but as the series progresses they start to tie together nicely. The writing was tight and enjoyable, though I wanted to see just 15 more minutes of how they live the what happens after. And Okada Masaki really shined, playing such an endearing character that you want to root for him.

☄️ Actor Discovery: Okada Masaki [636]

♪ OST Highlight:  Kana Nishino - No.1  (Spotify) 

✔️️  Watched:  23 May 2021

Another Okada Masaki title.

✔️️  Watched:  24 May 2021 - 27 May 2021

I put off watching this title for so long. And although I thought it was very good, I can't help but feel it was overhyped. The story was fascinating and fresh (note to self to watch more time-travel romances), and the acting was very natural (Greg Hsu earned his "Nation's Boyfriend" title). My only complaint was that the show dragged at times.

✔️️  Watched:  27 May 2021

This extra scene for the fans is everything you would hope for. Our fav three are back and you see a glimpse of what (will? could?) happen after the ending of the main show.

✔️️  Watched:  30 May 2021

Suda Masaki's character is what really makes this movie. His wild and playful attitude reminds me of A Werewolf Boy.

☄️ Actor Discovery:  Suda Masaki [1,450] 

-- I've seen Suda in Todome no Kiss (leaning into his crazy side) and Jimi ni Sugoi! Koetsu Garu Kono Etsuko (leaning into his aloof side) but this role has finally sold me.

✔️️ Watched:  2 April 2021 - 3 June 2021  ~ [Watched while Currently Airing]

The groups participating are great and wholesome, and all brought something different to the table.  Their natural interactions and the amazing stages are what you really come for. Unfortunately the contrived editing and forced narrative is unnecessarily frustrating. That, coupled with the competition aspect are what ultimately fails the show. 

♪ Stage Highlights:
--  BTOB - Back Door  (Youtube) 
--  SF9 - Move  (Youtube) 
--  Stray Kids - 신뚜두뚜두 (Shin Ddu du ddu du)  (Youtube) 
--  BTOB - Finale (Show & Prove)  (Youtube)
--  Mayfly vocal unit - Love Poem  (Youtube) 
--  SF9 - The Stealer  (Youtube) 

☠️  Dropped:  30 May 2021 - 1 June 2021  (14 of 24)

Even the two super adorable, talented actors weren't enough to keep my interested in the thin storyline.

✔️️ Watched:  6 June 2021

✔️️ Watched:  10 June 2021 - 11 June 2021

✔️️ Watched:  12 June 2021

An interesting premise and the leads do really well in their roles! But the chemistry was a little lacking as the shorter format meant there wasn't really enough time to focus on the URST.

☠️  Dropped:  13 June 2021  (2 of 18)

I went in mostly out of curiosity so I was expecting to drop this even before I started. It was actually quite cute but I could already tell it would be predictable. Probably good for a mindless bored afternoon, but I wasn't in the mood.

✔️️ Watched:  13 June 2021

Super impressed with the lead actress, who was great in this role, despite her young age. The male lead as well was quite convincing in how he quickly fell for the girl.  A sweet story that focuses on an unconventional romance (you know how I love those). The only thing that detracted for me was the huge age gap in the actors -- a personal distraction more than anything.

✔️️ Watched:  14 June 2021

A follow up movie because I wanted to see more of Tomita Miu from the previous drama I watched. This pure reverse-harem was ridiculous and hilariously great. You know it's not trying to take itself seriously when the characters break into song. I won't spoil who she chooses, and although it wouldn't have been my choice, I think it was the most fitting ending for the movie. I am told the manga and anime has differences so might check those out.

✔️️ Watched:  5 June 2021 - 14 June 2021

Intense, intriguing, and puzzling (in a good way).  I watch tv to relax and this was far from relaxing, but I don't regret watching this extremely well written and directed drama. The twists and turns keep you guessing. Bring on Season 2!