2021: Completed

Finally, getting around to watching these special stand alone episodes. They are cute as one offs. Often special episodes are too short for me. (1/3)

Finally, getting around to watching these special stand alone episodes. They are cute as one offs. Often special episodes are too short for me. (1/3)

This was the first Chinese Drama that I’ve ever watched, and I absolutely loved it! I loved how this drama focuses strongly on this idea of created family. The core family is so endearing and heart felt. The relationship between the three main siblings was extremely touching. Li Jian Jian’s antics were always sooo funny to watch, especially how Ling Xiao and Zi Qiu do their best to keep her out of trouble. I would argue that this drama depicts one of the best trios written for Dramaland.

Though this drama at times can be a bit contrived and melodramatic, I can’t recommend this drama enough. Watch this for the family themes, and its take on created family is beautifully depicted throughout its run. (1/10)

For a drama about sweets, there certainly wasn’t enough desserts for my taste.  This is certainly lighter fare, and I did have some issues with the story telling and the characters.  If you are looking for just an easy watch, this may fit the bill, but I didn’t find anything particularly special here.  (1/21)

This drama is WILD! The Penthouse focuses in on high society at its worst. This drama has a great adult cast with incredible performances especially from the leading ladies. I feel that this drama was a first for me. It’s rare for me to honestly hate all of the characters and still have fun. This drama thrives off of the extreme and over the top. I never could get used to all the screaming and crying. There were times where I had to turn it down since all the ruckus hurt my ears! Toward the end, this drama became such a mess in execution. Even though this drama dives deep into dumpster fire territory, I still found it pretty fun! Pick this up, if you are looking for a good dose of madness!

I will certainly show up for its remaining parts when they start airing. (1/22)

It so soooo cute to see these characters again after so many years. Though I found the way they touched on covid unique, it really slowed down the pace of the special. Overall, it was still pretty cute. The closing song just never gets old! Makes me sooo nostalgic. (1/22)

Finally getting around to giving Tiger & Dragon a try.  I found the special quite fun, and I loved its unique take on story telling.  Excited to start another Kudo Kankuro drama.  His dramas always seem so well regarded for their novel approach to weaving together a story. (1/23)

I really appreciated how this drama approaches story telling.  While fairly formulaic, the punchline always brought a smile to my face.  I haven't had the opportunity to see anything else like this.  If you are looking for something funny, light and different, give this a try. (1/29)

True Beauty was such a cute and swoony drama.  It certainly was my guilty pleasure this season.  Moon Ga Young was adorable in her role of Lim Joo Gyung.  Cha Eun Woo’s performance was fairly wooden which shouldn’t surprised anyone.  I think the big scene stealer was Hwang In Yeop.  I am looking forward to see him cast as the male lead.  It was a fun and light watch. (2/4)

Run On is such a comforting watch with some surprisingly important lessons to teach.  I grew particularly fond of the reminder that it’s okay to be selfish and to take care of yourself.  Im Shi Wan in his role of Ki Seon Gyeom swept me off my feet.  

Even though the setup seems pretty cliche the drama itself continues to offer a very refreshing take on finding yourself and learning how to take care of your loved ones.  I am amazed how little angst this drama relies on and leans squarely on the heart it’s about to deliver. (2/4)

I finally got around to watching Empress Ki, and it doesn’t disappoint!  This drama is such an epic.  I was so impressed with how this drama is able to continue to build the intrigue and layer the political power plays throughout the drama’s 51 episodes.  I really appreciated how this drama is kind of structured in different arcs and has multiple plot lines running in parallel.  The pacing is steady and keeps climbing till its epic conclusion.

It was interesting to see what things struck me as quite dated.  The primary example is the sympathetic portrayal of the weak and anxiety ridden Emperor Toghon played by Ji Chang Wook.  Throughout, his character pretty much drove me crazy.  He just seemed like a sick, whiny man child losing himself in obsession.

Even though some aspects of this drama haven’t aged so gracefully, overall, Empress Ki proves to still offer a great story filled with political intrigue in the fight to the throne.  Ha Ji Won as Ki Yang is a force to be reckoned with.  Her grace and ruthlessness on her climb to power as she deals out her vengeance  is on full display here.  Where this drama excels is how it depicts truly complex and manipulative characters. This drama is a must watch! (2/14)

I found this drama pretty refreshing.  I liked the mockumentary, slice of life format.  I quite liked how all the characters had their own flaws and idiosyncrasies. They are all so dislikable in their own unique ways.  For example, Ji Chang Wook’s character, Park Jae Won, is a complete simp it makes me a bit sick to my stomach, but I found he grew on me a bit.  

This may be a nice fit, if you are looking for a light and easy watch.  (2/16)

Overall, I found this drama quite relaxing and enjoyed the comedic tone it carried through its run.  (2/20)

This was a fun watch since it starred two of my favorite Japanese actors:  Ayase Haruka and Takahashi Issei.  This was a bit of a wacky premise, but with this cast I couldn't pass up this drama.  Overall, it was fun, but nothing that blew me out of the water. (3/25)

This was a relaxing and easy jidaigeki watch. I appreciated how this drama was structured with its three episode arcs.  It's nice seeing Mukai Osamu on the small screen again.  It's been quite a while. (3/28)

The story overall was interesting, but I feel like there were a number of things that could have been executed better.  For me the drama was extremely sleepy for the first half.  Additionally, I felt there were a lot of poor choices along the way especially related to how the story unfolded and how they developed the characters throughout.  Looking back, it all felt a bit uneven.  (4/3)

For the first 3/4 this drama was wild.  I really enjoyed how this drama kept raising the stakes episode after episode.  It really made me recall fondly the dramas from the 2000s and early 2010s.  In the last four episodes I grew a bit bored of the plot.  This may just be because I wanted to wrap this drama too quickly.  Overall though, well done.  (4/11)

Though it's exciting to see this universe and story continue.  This direction takes away a bit of the magic of the open ending of the main series.  My advice, maybe treat this as an alternative ending ... (4/11)

Much like the series this was a nice, relaxing watch.  The nearly 90 minute runtime made me miss the 35 minute episodes of the regular series though.  (4/18)

This was such a cute and fun watch, full of a lot of heart!  Toward the end, it tried a bit too hard to add to the business power struggle arc, but all-in-all an easy breezy watch.  If you're looking for some lighter fare give this a try!  (4/18)

I loved how this drama explores female relationships and obstacles that women face.  Quite well done!  (4/24)

What a fun and fluffy drama?!  I ended up binge-ing this one in two days. It's been a while since I've watched such an easy watch.  (4/25)

A cute spin-off.  If you liked the main series this is worth giving a try. (4/25)

This special offered a new perspective and take on some of the scenes from the drama -- an interesting watch. (4/29)

Beyond Evil is a masterpiece.  It is artfully constructed and perfectly paced.  The drama weaves a juicy and complex story tracing murders that go back 21 years.  It's been quite a bit since I've watched anything like this.  It really manages to raise the bar when it comes to gritty crime dramas.  (5/1)

Vincenzo was such a fun and easy watch. I really appreciated how this drama was able to make me laugh. Even though it was a lot lighter in tone than I originally thought, I really enjoyed watching this show week after week. Even with a bit of a rushed and weak finale, it was quite worthwhile. (5/3)

Season 2 delivers on the promise that Season 1 set up. This season brings the wild, the outrageous and more crying and screaming. It’s quite a mess of a drama, but something it does very well is it keeps you watching. The first half of this season is honestly a bit of a snooze, but everything picks up again around episode 5. (5/8)

What if you were able to distill a  person's essence down to the treasured items, one could fit into a single yellow box?  What messages would they share? These are the questions that Move to Heaven poses.  Over the drama's ten episodes, it is able to weave a beautiful story that looks to honor the lives of the dead.  Throughout its run, I admired how the drama didn't shy away from broaching weighty and sometimes controversial topics whether neurodivergence, domestic violence, double suicide, unnaturalized citizenship, and adoption.   This drama is strikingly executed and beautifully acted.  Move to Heaven was deeply moving and pulled at my heartstrings.  Probably not a great drama for the faint of heart. This was one of the best dramas so far this year.   (5/16)

Unimpressed with a few major plot decisions made here.  I feel that Mouse had no real grasp on reality nor did it strive to write or follow any type of coherent drama logic.  This resulted in a very mediocre final product that manages to insult its viewer's intellect. 

I feel like this drama was trying to be controversial and edgy, but to me, it just feels kind of dumb ...   (5/19)

It is difficult to express in words what makes Navillera so sweet and tender.  This story about an unlikely friendship between a 70-year old man who wants to learn ballet and a struggling, disenchanted 23-year old ballerino. There is just something a little magical about this touching story about dreams, friendship, and family.  (5/20)

I really appreciated this drama's light slice of life tone.  It was such an easy and fun watch.  It makes me want to track down down the manga.  (5/23)

Interesting premise but struggles mightily with setting a consistent tone and story.

Taxi Driver had an interesting setup and premise. I really liked how it highlighted a vigilante taxi driver and his squad out for vengeance to defend the helpless. I loved that the cases were based on real stories which did well to ground this drama.

Yet this drama had a hard time creating a special tone for itself. I’m thinking that it’s because I expected more grit from this drama, and it had settled on giving more #SquadGoal vibes.

Around the second half, the overarching story went a bit off the rails, and I don’t feel like it was ever able to right itself. I personally think this drama would have done much better if it stuck to its more episodic arcs focused on real-life cases. Those cases were all heart. In contrast, it tried to develop an overarching baddie, that took the drama into eyebrow-raising unbelievable territory. I also think with the exit of the original writer, the second half lacks a lot of focus and purpose. Unfortunately, Taxi Driver left a lot of opportunity on the table and veered away from a lot of what made it fun and magical early on. Quite the shame!

If you are looking for a crime drama, this may fit the bill. Alternatively, if you are looking for a drama that is offering something new and never been done before, I may suggest looking elsewhere. (5/29)

Dark, gritty, and creepy are the words that come to mind when watching Strangers from Hell.  Within the first few seconds, this drama is able to set quite the unsettling tone and keep it building throughout the drama’s run.  

Strangers from Hell does an amazing job at sucking its viewers into the world observed by the drama’s main character, Yoon Jong Woo.  The normal and mild-mannered young man is forced to move into the desolate Eden Gosiwon, where he soon realizes he is surrounded by unsettling and suspicious neighbors in quarters too close for comfort.  It’s really striking how the drama is able to suck you into Yoon Jong Woo’s perspective. You feel his suspicions, his anxieties, and his fears as he sinks deeper into the darkness and madness.  It’s quite captivating.  

If you are looking for something dark and creepy, definitely give Strangers from Hell a try.  It is able to weave a gripping story that keeps you watching as you start to peel back the layers and secrets it’s willing to share. (5/30)

I found this film pretty boring honestly.  (6/5)

The Beauty and Innocence of Youth

I found Youth of May to be such a touching drama.  It brings to life such beautiful characters in its protagonists Hwang Hee Tae and Kim Myeong Hee. 

It’s amazing to me how well this drama uses the Gwangju Uprising as a historical backdrop, which the drama manages in such a respectful and solemn light.  

I can’t recommend this drama enough.  (6/8)

There is something so precious and touching about this story.  Lee Do Hyun does a remarkable job as Hong Dae Young.  My heart just melts for this couple and family.  (6/12)

Rurouni Kenshin will always have a special place in my heart.  Growing up I loved the anime and manga.  The live-action films are executed with such quality.  It has been really fun to see who they cast for each character.  The fighting scenes are beautiful and always deliver.  I really liked the direction The Final took.  Though it wasn't as emotionally impactful as the manga and ova.  It is still very watch-worthy. (6/18)

This was a bit of a mindless watch, but it did have a few sweet points.  I liked what this drama tried to do with examining individuals that had different neurological disorders whether dealing with paranoia or anger management.  Though I don’t feel like this drama has a lot of grounding in science and still paints neurodiversity with a lot of stigma, I appreciate the attempt.  (6/21)

From the onset, I feel like Mine set out to accomplish too much at once.  With Lee Bo Young and Kim Seo Hyung at the helm, I was so excited about this drama.

The drama depicts a family with an audacious amount of wealth residing in a compound separated from the rest of society.  Mine attempts to portray how wealth twists and constricts individuals and their desires.  At the same time, the drama attempts to weave a complex murder mystery.  The story falters since it tried to accomplish too much.  I think it would be a lot more successful if the story was less complicated.  

Though the story is outlandish and pretty ridiculous, I loved the acting of the three leading ladies:  Lee Bo Young, Kim Seo Hyung, and Ok Ja Yeon.  These women are masterful in their craft.  I found myself in awe of how captivating their performances were.  I still rooted for them throughout the drama.  

Bottom line:  Mine weaves a complex and convoluted story that doesn’t deliver on the promised payout, but the women actors are stunning and deliver striking performances.  Watch for the beautiful gowns and the opulence! (6/28)

Time to Hunt is a fairly intriguing on-the-run film set against a gritty dystopian backdrop.  (6/28)

This drama is adorable and fluffy.  It is quite predictable, but the depiction of Meguru-kun as a gender-fluid protagonist is refreshing. (6/28)

A snooze -- I honestly found this drama pretty boring.  The actors are pretty, and the drama has a pretty soundtrack.  Yet nothing very interesting happens ... 

I felt that this drama had an intriguing premise, and the lead couple had promising chemistry.  Though this drama went the same way as many TVN fantasies, where it starts strong and slowly loses direction and steam.  

To be honest, the plot B love story kind of killed this for me.  I found the second leads boring and uninteresting.  This storyline really detracted from the main story.  I felt like every time it was one of their scenes, my attention wandered elsewhere.  (6/29)

Jang Ki Yong looks great, but everything else is pretty meh . . . (7/15)

This drama surprised me.  I didn't expect that I would like it as much as I did.  I would be remised to not mention the missed opportunity from the original source material.  The romance in the drama always seemed a little forced and a bit out of place. 

Even though I really liked this drama, I found the finale so out of place.  It felt like they could have just spent 10 more minutes to wrap episode eleven rather than spend an oddly paced and draggy final episode (7/20)

The Kingdom Saga continues with this full-length feature special.  This drama keeps getting better and better.  This may be my favorite so far.  I really appreciated how this special episode followed the life of Ashin and her story (7/24)

I personally feel that Sky Castle is a bit overrated.  I found the story is more of a slow burn that builds upon itself meticulously laying out details to be consumed by its viewers. For me, the story required a lot of focus and I found it was very dialogue-heavy.  

The drama does a good job depicting the worst in prestige hungry parents that see their children as trophies instead of human beings.  The show will adequately reward them for these misgivings.

I do feel like the drama’s pace picked up significantly during the last quarter of the show around episode fifteen which gives merit for completing the drama.  There is one scene toward the end with Kim Seo Hyung that left me breathless.  She is absolutely stunning in this as the tutor, Kim Joo Young.  

Overall, this is a well-executed story.  It is beautifully cast, and the actors do a spectacular job.  If you typically gravitate to makjang or are intrigued by stories of the filthy wealthy, certainly give this one a try.  (7/28)

The final installment of the Rurouni Kenshin live action was a quality production, yet it still isn't able to tap into the emotional depth that the manga, anime, or ova were able to capture.  This may just be nostalgia talking, but so be it. (7/31)

I was really pleasantly surprised by the second season of Daifugou Doushin.  I loved what the body double aspect added to the series both comedic and thematic.  Compared to the first season's episodic approach, this one has a much more cohesive plot. I found this season quite fun and light-hearted. (8/8)

I really appreciated the tone and mood Nevertheless, was able to create.  I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I really enjoyed watching it.  I felt it was a great depiction of youth, passion, bad choices, and toxic relationships.

I did feel like the ending was a bit of a letdown, but overall I really enjoyed it.  (8/21)

I wasn't able to ever get into the dystopian setting of The Devil Judge.  This drama had way too many corruption and political plays for my tastes.  By the end, it felt like they were just throwing random plot devices at the story to keep it moving.  Each one  more ludicrous than the last.  I can't recommend watching this one. (8/22)

Even with bad cgi monsters, a cheese soundtrack and a fairly predictable survival plot, I found this drama to be quite fun.  I loved the ensemble cast.  It touched on a lot of good feels, which is a nice touch for a monster drama. (8/22)

This is about as close as you can get to perfection as you can get.  

D.P. does an amazing job calling into question the culture of the Korean military and the impact of institutional hazing and toxic masculinity.  I found that each episode left a pit in my stomach as it peeled back the layers of how entrenched the need to keep this vicious pecking order intact under the name of respect.  

D.P. is easily one of the best dramas of 2021 and leaves quite an impression.  It features wonderful storytelling and interweaves it with great moments of dark comedy.  This was a striking production that will leave quite an impact.  (8/28)

A simple and easy watch.  This is some wonderful slice of life goodness! (8/29)

This is probably an unpopular opinion, but I couldn’t really get into this drama.  I can see how Defendant tries to deliver a twisty crime drama, but I found it pretty long-winded.  

It may be because I am watching this drama 5 years after it aired.  Every time the intense closing theme would play, I couldn’t help to think to myself how dated this drama felt to me.    

Maybe I’m just not the biggest Ji Sung fan.  Even after watching this and The Devil Judge, my favorite Ji Sung dramas is still Kill Me, Heal Me.  The level of overacting that Ji Sung depicts in his portrayal of Park Jung Woo was distracting and off-putting for me.  

I’ve felt for a long time that Defendant is one of those quintessential on-the-run crime dramas, but I found this kind of underwhelming.  (9/1)

The second season of Hospital Playlist warmed my heart.  I didn't realize I wanted another season, but this was exactly what I needed.  It is so wonderful to see these characters back in their jamming sessions and arguing over food.  

I can't wait to see what this production team has next up their sleeve.  They have really made quite a brand for themselves when it comes to slice of life! (9/16)

This show is WILD !  I really appreciated what this show is trying to do.  I really enjoyed the juxtaposition between the childhood games and the violence of the death game.  Even though I don't typically gravitate to the death game genre, I liked its analysis of how far humans can be pushed when put into desperate situations. (9/19)

I absolutely adore how this drama uses a sketch to frame each episode.  This drama does quite a nice job balancing the absurd yet heartfelt.  Well done! (10/2)

This is such a touching and quirky drama about an independent woman and her three doting ex-husbands.  (10/12)

This drama was a RUSH!  I quite enjoyed binge-ing this drama.  It was fast-paced and action-packed. Though the story has fairly predictable twists and turns, I found the acting is compelling. The romance was late and forced just to push the character arc forward, which was my main gripe with My Name.  Otherwise, I greatly appreciated this drama and found the main antagonist's story quite nuanced.  (10/17)

This was such a sweet and fluffy drama.  Watch this for the cute.  

My one complaint is that the challenges toward the end of the drama were rushed and their resolve I found unrewarding.  I feel that this drama is pretty light on a meaningful plot.  (10/17)

This drama attempts to examine lost souls in their dysfunctional lives and how they are all connected.  I expect that this drama had some lofty goals for analyzing the human condition, yet I feel that it came up short.  It's one of those dramas where I found myself scratching my head after many episodes wondering where it was going and what story is it trying to tell?  It's kind of aimless and it feels like nothing really happens. I found this drama fairly lackluster and empty.

Feeling lost. Maybe this was the drama's aim all along. (10/24)

I loved this drama.  Park Bo Gum is soooooo adorable in this drama.  His range of expression and his radiant smile are reason enough to watch this drama.  He looks like he's really having a fun time here and it benefits the project greatly. The love story is so sweet here.

My primary complaint is that the last two episodes feel rushed and kind of sloppy. (10/30)

What a unique drama? This drama parody is such a breath of fresh air. It's the perfect mix of funny, crude, and absurd. (10/30)

I appreciated the new concepts that this drama introduces for example mixing animation with live-action.  Yet overall, this drama could be a bit of a drag dealing with the lackadaisical male protagonist in part one.  

The ending of season one did feel fairly fresh.  Let's see what the second two will bring.  (10/30)

I liked the story overall, though I wish they explained the ending more.  Even though it can be pretty cheesy, the story and the romance are so sweet.  I really appreciated this drama's willingness to dive into darker subjects and themes.  (11/4)

This drama took me three tries before I could really start to appreciate it.  The humor is a bit loud and slapstick for my tastes, but it is quite a fun watch! (11/7)

Quite possibly the best sports drama that isn't really about sports at all.  (11/16)

This one is so heartwarming featuring a young bear cub as he tries to make it in the city working for a fish company. It is so stinking CUTE! (11/18)

This drama really redeemed itself in the end. 

Jirisan proves to be quite the slow burn.  Its story is complex and quite fulfilling if you can make it through to the end. 

Unfortunately, its viewers have to make it through a number of meandering episodes first.  The series is plagued with a number of poor editing decisions that lead to an uneven tone and confusing storytelling especially considering this story has multiple storylines and timelines.

Even with all the flaws, I found this drama rewarding in the end.  It really ramps up in the last quarter of the drama with a compelling plot and one of the best antagonist backstories I've seen in a while.  

Try to stick with it and make it to the end! (12/12)

Inspector Koo proved to be the sleeper of the year!!  Well written and executed, this drama proves to be such a fun and quirky mystery.  Dramaland needs more female-driven stories like this!  I adored the characters and the squad! 

#FemaleCenteredStory #SquadGoals (12/12)

The King's Affection had such a promising start.  I'm old school, and I'm a sucker for a good ole gender bender.  There was so much hijinks and tropey opportunity here.  Yet through its run the story really lost its focus and direction. Even the long-awaited plot reveals fell flat.  How disappointing ...  (12/14)

I feel that even though this drama has a promising setup,I found myself underwhelmed. There is too many political power plays, the villains are boring and the romance is uninspiring ... I somehow made it to the end, but I was really bored ... (12/14) 

One Ordinary Day is a gritty and moody drama that delves into the underbelly of the criminal system. The acting is quite compelling throughout.  Yet I found myself disappointed and strangely empty finishing up the finale.  Maybe that was the intended effect ... (12/18)

I loved this drama, its lead couple and the main ost.  Even though this drama didn't offer any mind-blowing plot twists, I loved this drama's heart.  I became a little too emotionally invested with the main couple.  (12/19)

This was a worthwhile return for OCN. Chimera proved to be a gritty crime drama.  Yet I thought that the character of Eugene Hathaway was left almost completely untapped which seems like a miss to me. (12/19)

Gotta love a classic whodunit!  It was especially fun to see all these actors in their younger years. Certainly worth the watch ! (12/20)

Just finished season 2. May we have a season 3, please? This drama is just too cute to resist! (12/23)

I am relieved to finally finish this one. I have grown tired of Melancholia. To me, it's a fairly formulaic wealthy parent, school corruption plot. I would say it's vaguely similar to Penthouse and Sky Castle. Unfortunately, it doesn't have the maddening chaos of Penthouse that kept me watching at least to the end of season 2. Nor does it have enticing and captivating character stories like Sky Castle. I just find myself bored with a lingering meh feeling ... (12/30)