The Catch Up Project (or 'Suggested Dramas' I Should Watch)

Verdict: Eh

While I wasn't a fan of his kind of stalkish behavior in the beginning, he definitely grew on me with his quirks (it was go big or go home for him), and I found myself routing for them. I was glad there weren't any real love triangles, and a dash of a character that didn't conform to society, and damn most of the characters spoke English really well (fitting since she worked at an English language academy, lol).

Verdict: Favorite. 

I have a soft spot in my heart for hot mess female leads, and she's a whole mess, lol. And his family and their antics? Classic. 

This drama was about ten episodes too long for a very simple plot with a very lackluster villain and motivation for whatever they were trying to do. I did enjoy the lack of place power plays (no royals in site here), and a female lead who did just stand around in danger and held he own, everything else was just boring, and it felt like a lot of the secondary actors where just turning it in. Especially the villain, the actor relied too much on those weird angry looks instead of doing anything. Oh, and a very very bad wig. They weren't even trying with that one.

While yes, this a tale of revenge (although most of it is along petty acts) its also about three women who decide to take agency in their lives. One because of her status as a single mom , another living under the control of her abusive power hungry husband, and another having lived as a pawn her whole life, its also a story of finding your people, and the bond these women form, one that's closer than family.

Since this was supposed to be a drama about an estranged father and son I wished they would have played off that dynamic and the humor more. Although the cast was fun - most of the cases seemed kind of receptive. Good for a stressless watch, but nothing I was terrible invested in.    

Verdit: Eh

I really liked the premise & they managed to throw a few twists in there that I wasn't expecting, but I still found some of the writing a little too predictable and meh in parts. I also wasn't really sold on the acting of the ML. But there were some really heartwarming moments (mainly with the group of friends as children and Kayo's story). (Oh, and his mom is a freaking bad ass). Enjoyable but just okay.

Verdict: Nope. 

Once I tried to rewatch it, but somehow it became even worse than the first time. 

It started off with a interesting premise, but got kind of draggy towards the end, mainly because it seemed to take some characters a long ass time to get their heads on straight, lol. Also some truly awful parents (but they admitted it), although the ML's dad was just awesome. The FL did a pretty good job of portraying both characters, you could tell who was who once they started speaking, although I wasn't always convinced of the ML.

Verdict: Forgettable

Verdict: Favorite

I guess this was okay, but I found myself more annoyed then enjoying it at times. The second leads could be pushy, and people were offering the leads  some terrible advice. The leads were find on their own, but I wasn't really invested in this.

Verdit: Nope. 

My best friend suggested this because she's a huge fan of the webtoon, but this was just a drama full of toxic people doing toxic things, and nope. Just nope.

Verdict: Forgettable 

Verdict: Favorite

Drama I skipped through so many times over the years that I somehow managed to watch the whole drama with out trying, lol. I liked that the FL wasn't actually trying to be a boy (in the traditional sense of a genderbender) she just got mistaken so much it was just easier to be one. Kim Jae Wook speaking Japanese is a bonus. 

Okay maybe this isn't the best, but I really enjoyed it. First was just the lack of drama. The three women in the ML's life (the FL, his ex, and his widowed sister in law) have some reason to be bitter towards each other - but instead they are friends, and at times I was convinced his ex was was actively trying to push the FL towards him. In general there was so much space for nonsense drama here, but it never came, lol. The FL could be frustrating at times but she was really trying her best, so I don't think she's as useless as she thinks she is. Her only real problem was being lonely and a bit too nice for her own good. The ML is a bit of tsundere, that has some things to work through, but no one lends someone lots of money, live in his house for free, makes her food all the time, and runs across town if he thinks she's in danger if he doesn't care about her. They just had to get there first. I am a little sad they didn't develop anymore of the manga after that point since it was so chaotic and fun.

 6.5

I guess I'm missing something , because I had to force myself to finish this (I know nothing about any other adaptions nor have I read the manga) and it took me like three weeks to get though the last episodes. The minute he started killing innocent people that got in his way, I knew he was a hypocrite, and became the thing he was fighting against, and I'm not sure why no one pointed this out to him. The acting was a highlight, but I couldn't get into the story.

I honestly don't know how much of this I'll remember in a year or two. Out of the subplots the one involving the leads traumas wasn't need and didn't really change anything in the story. It's almost as if the writers felt like they had to add a typical drama plot. The other plot (involving the divorce of the famous actress) was much more heartbreaking and could have been explored more.

Also the ML's mom, like I get that you love the SFL but your son shouldn't be with her out of obligation, and that's a stupid ass reason to hate on the FL. I think she loved the SFL more then her own son. But I was glad the ML never crumbled under his mom's nonsense and held his ground the whole time.

Yes, the FL was pretty awful in the first episode but I think the incident soften her because she seems more like a bratty child in the earlier episode, but the SFL spent more the show bordering the line on wether or not she was going to be nasty. I really didn't have second lead syndome with this show because he was mostly annoying. Oh and the female leads sister can suck it. She's a grown ass woman and can't keep playing the dead mom card and blaming her sister for it.

Dropped: What happened to the kids? It's like false advertising. I didn't sign up for this nonsense..

Verdict: Forgettable. 

The only thing I really remember liking was IU's character and her romance with that dancer kid. They were cute. 

Verdict: Favorite

Verdict: Eh

I really, really liked this as I watching it, but I haven't really found myself coming back to it. Paradise from the OST, however has become a classic. 

Verdict: Eh/Favorite 

This toes the line. I think I would have liked it a lot more if 1) they did something with ex that came back (don't wait till the end to give her some sort of something), because all she really did was just be annoying and 2) they kind of just slapped a happy ending on when there are a few things that should have been discussed first. Other than that I enjoyed it. 

Verdict: Eh/Forgettable

Dropped: 

Oh, god don't even talk to me about this one, its that bad. I thought it would be a good idea to skip ahead through a couple of episodes, and holy hell  (including twisting the SML's character just to fit the plot. The SFL was always this way). 

Verdict: Forgettable

 I remember Rain's hair, lol. 

The beginning was entertaining, but I found myself loosing interest by the end (it took me two weeks to finish the last episode). I guess it wasn't my vibe. The bromance between the Goblin and Grim Reaper were definitely the best part of this drama. (Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook should play bickering partners or something in another drama). The FL was just too native and childish at times (again, her baby voice, ugh). When it comes to the tragedies and whatever, I just didn't find myself feeling anything. I don't know. I don't get the hype.

I wasn't mad at this at first. Sure it was dated, but still fairly entertaining but it just got so draggy towards the end and man, did the characters get on my nerves (well minus the FL surprisingly). The SML was just obessed and it felt like he thought he should 'own' the FL which was pretty gross especially since she told him she only thought of him as a friend. The SFL acted like she was damsel in distress, but was just being a melodramatic idiot (girl actually wanted to be Camilla, you know the one married to the King of England, because being hated is a smarter path than following your dreams). The ML was just emotional immature, he wanted the FL's love but was consistently chasing after his ex, shutting the FL down when she tries to talk to him about, and getting mad. I wasn't surprised she had no interest in leaning on him. It felt like it just went around in circles more than once. Sure there was a palace power play but I tuned that whole dumb plot line out. By the end I was just so exhausted by it.

While the whole premise was kind of dumb (what person thinks a 32 year old is somehow too old to be an announcer and can only keep her job if she does the bride in training thing) the relationship between the FL lead and her would be "mother-in-law" is at the center. She's described as a tyrant but is mostly understood mainly due to the fact she's just a very blunt person and the female lead is a very chaotic person - but the common ground is that she's not afraid to speak out and generally comes to love this family. While her actually falling in love with her 'fiance' was always going to happen, I don't think that was really the strong part of this drama.

Verdict: Eh

I don't even know what to say with this, but for those who don't like it... I get it. If you just want to watch it because Ji Chang Wook is in it, than that's fine too. Honestly if I were to rewatch this, that's the only reason why. 

Verdict: Forgettable 

The first half of this was pretty entertaining although the ML was a complete mess and shouldn't be treating patients (he becomes more like able later on as you get to understand he's suffering himself, although my thoughts don't really change when it comes to him seeing patients), and I have no idea what she saw in him from the start.

There is a bit of a love triangle, but I didn't mind it, because I understood what the characters were going through and it gets sorted out at the end. I didn't like his sister at first ether (she was pretty pushy), but I came to really love her by the end of the series, and actually wished I could have seen more of her, and I really liked her interactions with the SML.

However in the 12th episode they introduced a bit of cliche twist, and it turned into a makjang, and I wanted to curse that grandpa out because he was just that awful. While I did like the story line that dealt with his family and the trauma they went through, I wish it had been done differently.

Over all entertaining at first, but super frustrating towards the end.

Lets be real: I won't remember this drama in a year. I'll remember Park Bo Gum's acting, but little else. Everything was just too obvious and there wasn't any real twists. I hope that was intentional because if it wasn't it was just plan bad writing. There were a lot awkward dinner conversions that went around in circles, and while I don't hate the female lead - she was just kind of there, and felt pretty undeveloped. (I actually really liked the score - but it felt more like a Sherlock Holmes type of detective story and not a psychological thriller while is what they'd seemed to be aiming at).

Verdict: Eh/Favorite

If you're looking for a well crafted time traveling drama the likes of Dark, that's not this drama. It's not really about that. This was pretty close a favorite, but it didn't quite hit (ha). The grandfather and granddaughter were complete scene stealers, the idea of a found family (the portrait  scene in the beginning was great) and I loved all the nineties references. 

Verdit: Favorite

I saw that a lot of comments about this being "fluffy' and I guess that's pretty true, especially the ML's smile. lol. It was a pretty easy watch, thankfully lacking on love triangles, and obsessive SFL. I wasn't fully sold on all the business drama, especially with his childhood friends (I wish they had developed those relationships better). Oh and Ri El's dad was a full SOB (definitely could have done without that ahole). But the Santa Maria family was fun, and I liked that Ji Ah wasn't written as the typical female lead (never ditzy and like a general human being well except when she was pretending to be a robot, lol), and the ML didn't have a terrible personality for the sake of having a terrible personality (trust issues and isolation can do that to a person, never mind when those cause him to get sick), which made you want to take care of him.

Also featuring some decent acting from the foreign actors employed (not amazing by a long shot, but light years better then what I've seen before). (AKA the line delivery was actually pretty decent).

Verdict: Eh

I'm not really a fan of this genre, but it might be more exciting for people who like action and spy type dramas. What I did like was the lack of weak female characters. This was a heavy male cast, but the female characters held their own, I would never mess with any of them, lol. Oh, and the lack of cringey english was nice, But that's just a me thing, lol. 

There were so many things about this drama that I enjoyed but I'm not sure if it'll be something I'll remember. While I got nothing against her love interest the bickering dynamic she had with 'octopus' was much more fun. I enjoyed the found family element that she brought to proofreaders. I liked the writer trying to find his son through his writing but they could have expanded on it. Maybe the problem was that there wasn't enough emotional impact?

Verdict: Favorite

Verdict: Favorite

This drama is just so relatable to anyone. Yes, there is romance, but it's mostly centered around two families and the problems they go through, and how Kahoko tries her best to keep everyone together (while trying to grow up and figure out who she is after living so much of her life sheltered). Literally something was alway going on (much like any normal family), but that's life. (Also I'm a little jealous, I'd love to have a huge family and parties all the time, lol). 

Verdict: Eh

Man, I don't know, lol. The beginning was interesting, but I found it dragging, and then a bunch of stuff happened at the end. Ji Sung was great here, you could really tell the personalities apart. I know Hwang Jung Eum is loud, but she was extra loud here, lol. And that grandmother erked me like nothing else. I don't know, lol.

Verdict: Eh/Favorite

Verdict: Eh

I watched this on suggestion of my coworker who grew up on dramas. It was okay. However, I will remember the scene where she slapped a guy who had basically tried to kidnap her  with her shoe and then ran away. I enjoyed that. 

Verdict: Nope

The acting was terrible to start, probably some of the most awkward kissing scenes in a drama  ever (it looked like he was attacking her due to her complete lack of response to anything). I honestly was more interested in the heavy implied, but couldn't be actually named as such, relationship between KO and  Hao Mei. ( I now know what BL is thanks to this drama, lol).

Verdict: Favorite

Verdict: Eh

I actually didn't mind this (it was a huge relief in comparison to BOF), but it became really draggy (how many times does one need to hear Like a River, apparently a hundred isn't enough) and the last few episodes were a complete mess. Dao Ming Si's punk rock/aristocrat style was one of my favorite things about this drama, lol. 

Verdict: Eh. 

I saw a lot of comments comparing this to BOF, it has some vibes, but it will frustrate the hell out of you in other ways. Sha Sha is one of the most annoying characters of all times, but I couldn't even hate her because it wasn't a 100% her fault, (maybe that's why I'm so annoyed, nobody tells these characters to knock it off). The ML for the most part is pretty respectful and cares for the FL aside from the last couple episodes (more of a lying thing then him being a jerk, ish?), and the beginning of the show when he barged into her house just to piss other people off. The FL is not like any other FL I've seen in a drama before.  I don't know. There are defiantly some problems with this one. The 'villain' was pretty freaking lame. Lucy was also very cute, but she wasn't really a main character.  Not sure what my thoughts are here, very rambly, lol. 

Verdict: Dropped

I usually finish dramas,  but I just could not get through this. It's not bad, but it's just so slow placed and the episodes drag on and on. I think I got to episode 9?

Verdict: Forgettable

Verdict: Forgettable

Verdict: Eh/Forgettable

Verdict: Forgettable

Verdit: Eh

I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more without the SFL (absolutely the worst) the fake queen, court politics (I didn't find that storyline very interesting at all) and one dimension villains (they didn't even try to flesh them out more).

Verdict: Guilty Pleasure 

 I don't know, Sung Hoon?

Verdict: Eh/Favorite

First of all, that ending song? So catchy. I think that best part of this drama was the themes I liked the idea that you don't always have to follow everyone else to be happy. They might be considered weird to other people, but as long as your happy with the person your with, just do what works, I guess? And that they touch on other things like tough decisions about getting divorced in a society that tells you just to suck it up, and finding love when your older. And the roles of women in the workplace. The aunt is kind of a badass. The coworkers and delusions were funny too. 

Verdict: Eh

This was the first k-drama I watched. I thought it was revolutionary when I first watched it. However it didn't really 'age' well for me: I rewatched it a year after I first watched it and I realized that I've seen a ton of other dramas I've liked a lot more since. 

Verdict: Favorite 

Verdict: Forgettable

Verdict: Guilty Pleasure

I don't even know why I like this?! The FL is terrible, and ML is worse.... but yet I've rewatched parts of it so many times. Why. Why. Why. 

I really wasn't vibing with this, and then the FL lead's behavior towards the end was just the icing on the dislike cake. Seriously, all that over a POS that left you? Also whenever I hear 'I Was Born to Love You' I'm going to think about how annoyed I was when I watched it.

Verdict: Forgettable

This definitely kept me hooked - even if I didn't understand some of the businessy things. It's hard for me to write the ML off as a complete jerk - it seems like he just doesn't know how to treat people at times, but the actor did a great job at portraying his personality traits. I enjoyed the fact that the FL didn't stay weak - as she became comfortable with him she had no problem calling him out on his shit - or putting herself first. Although I like the fact the SFL wasn't toxic towards the FL - they didn't really give her character much to work with.

I really enjoyed this at the beginning, but it became a little draggy towards the end, mainly due to the absolute awfulness of the two 'villains'  (two people who are insanely jealous of other family members). 

Verdict: Favorite/Guilty Pleasure

Verdict: Favorite

Verdit: Forgettable

I 'll only really remember Lee Min Ki's appearance in the first couple of episodes (it should be illegal for him to wear eyeliner, lol), and a few songs from the OST especially Jaywalking. 

This was a pretty quick watch. It was also a bit of a twist on 'contract relationship' they were actually dating seriously. While comments seem to be about the ML being full on toxic, I don't think he's that bad and the FL seems to no have no problem telling him off if he does something she doesn't like and he does seem to change a little towards the end. I also enjoyed the lack of chaebol nonsense (minus the stupid aunt and uncle), I actually liked both his grandfather who liked messing with his grandson, and his mom who really carried more about her son then anyone and he master talent of shutting anyone down that messes with him. However when it comes to the 'ex-that-comes-back' she was just pathetic. I don't know if it was the writing or the acting but I just felt like laughing whenever she whined or tried to do something, it was just so bad.

Verdict: Favorite

My favorite thing about Bong Soon, is that she isn't presented as perfect. We see her going from disliking her powers (besides she thinks it destroys this image she has to have to get the guy) to full on embracing it. But along the way she does stupid things, and doesn't ask for help when she should, put herself in dangerous situations, but she still has her boys on her side for backup (but backup, she definitely doesn't need them to fight her battles). Warning: obnoxious cutesty couple that drives everyone crazy with their public displays of affection. 

I thought I was going to hate this but I actually enjoyed it a lot. Granted it's a little dated, and I'm not sure if it's an example of Park Min Young's best acting, and I turned out of some of the politic stuff, but it was pretty fun. The friendship between the four started out kind of rocky, but they all became ride or die toward the end. I had some SLS in the sense that I knew he was going to be heartbroken but he still protected her until the end, but hey, he gets Goo Yong Ha. (If you squint it feels like there something going on between the two of them, yes, I know its a kdrama, but the way Song Joong Ki played him had me confused the whole damn time, lol.)

Verdict: Eh/Favorite

I really liked the romance bits of this drama, but the actual  'cat and mouse' with the killer wasn't as exciting for me, and got really boring after awhile. I  was more interested in  Jang Moo Yeong and the all things he did, and felt like he was more of  the villain in the story. I wished they would have done more with the SML/SFL's story. 

Verdict: Favoriteish

Not your typically spy drama, lol. A great drama for female characters, who are capable of handling shit on their own ( from a mom with killer instincts, a boss trying to prove herself in a male dominated field, and the ladies in KIT). A badass spy in hiding who babysits on the side (the kids are super cute so how can you blame him). A stay at home dad who is never mocked for his choice, or the fact he spends most of his time hanging around housewives. Yong Tae  is kind of a ass but even he grows on you once you understand his story. 

Verdict: Nope. 

This gets credit for being slightly better then BOF, but just barely. Barely.

Verdict: Nope.

I don't think I've ever been this frustrated watching a drama before. (Never mind the legality of the security firm, or the people who work there that apparently have no morals). After reading comments and other peoples thoughts I wondered if I even watched the same drama. 1) I have no idea why anyone would ship Je Ha and Yoo Jin. 2) I didn't see Anna as a damsel that needed saving. She's just someone who has been though a lot and has  limited resources. I disliked about every character (except Je ha and Anna), and I had to force myself to finish this one.  

Verdict: Eh

Verdict: Eh/Favorite

Verdict: Eh

IU's Cindy was the most interesting part of this drama. I found Kim Soo Hyun's character really hard to like. 

I think I might have enjoyed this more if I wasn't thinking about how problematic their relationship would be in real life. I know they very clearly emphasized that he wasn't a minor and mentioned how age gaps aren't bad, but he was still a high school student and her a teacher of sorts at the school. other than the ML was kind of annoying most of the time, and I don't know why the management team was making the coaching a bigger deal then it had to be. And I'm not sure what was up with Lee Tae Hwan's acting here but it was just off or something.

Verdict: Eh

I'm sorry but Takauji 's and Mikoto's relationship is cringey as hell, so I don't know why the show wants me to accept it (also Takauji nope). I mean the premise is interesting (and I liked how they made a spin off each parallel universe they created by going back), but eh.

Verdit: Eh

I thought the acting in this one was great, but it was also pretty damn predictable. 

Verdict: Forgettable 

The definite highlight of the drama is the bromance, along with the side characters, the 'Avengers' aka the conman crew. The storyline was okay, along with the romance (but I kind of wish I could have seen more the second couple). I kind of feel like I have nothing else to say about this, lol.

Verdict: Favorite

I don't know how many times I've rewatched some of my favorite scenes from this drama, and It still hasn't gotten old. Also, do you like Messi?

Verdict: Eh/Forgettable

Verdict: Forgettable

This is kind of mix blend of different genres's with a little bit of absurdness on the side that doesn't always make sense (probably works better as a anime). I don't know I'd say it was more for children, but some of the stupid matter does lend to that. At least the lesson was about being yourself even when others try to challenge you, and the FL was definitely herself, lol.

Verdit: Nope. 

Truthfully I don't remember most of this, but I remember thinking it was silly and dumb. And there was a pig-rabbit?!