every kdrama I've watched.

I've been counting down the days until Lee Jae Wook landed a lead role, since watching him in Search WWW a few years ago, and when this drama got announced I was over the moon. But this drama exceeded every expectation I could have had; it lives within it's own genre. Excited to see more k-dramas under this fantasy + historical twist done with such depth. Lee Jae Wook staked his mantle with this k-drama. 

Things I liked in season 01:

• Jung So Min as Mu Deok 
  • She delivered the hilarious countenance of Mu Deok without making it cringe-y and still managed to convey the depth of her character throughout
• Lee Jae Wook. Period.
• All the side characters
• The costumes
• The light/humorous take on handling critical situations and crises 

I've been counting down the days until Lee Jae Wook landed a lead role, since watching him in Search WWW a few years ago, and when this drama got announced I was over the moon. But this drama exceeded every expectation I could have had; it lives within it's own genre. Excited to see more k-dramas under this fantasy+historical twist done with such depth. Lee Jae Wook staked his mantle with this k-drama. 

Things I liked in s02:

• Go Youn Jung as Naksu
  • Wasn't too sure about the cast change but LOVED the way they incorporated it into the storyline
  • Go Youn Jung did a great job at balancing her character and bringing all her conflicting identities together into one
• The tonal shift
  • Brought even more depth to the show and gave the audience something different while presenting the same characters and settings
• Lee Jae Wook. Period.
• The music

SO much fun! A brand of kdramas that is just all about having fun and I am here for it!

A special little drama that watches like a book as well.

Time-capsule sort of kdrama. Felt like a singular experience I could not recreate; one of those dramas were every episode feels precious.

Kind of confused me most of the time, but the rest of the time it was badass and impactful.

THIS WAS A COMPLETE WASTE OF TIME WTF

Ugh, I have never watched anything like this; let alone a k-drama. There's a nuance in the way the mockumentary format as it lends to the adult-like reality of the story and characters in the drama. Topped of perfectly with the incredible acting by the main leads, I felt everything they felt.  

I can't lie, I felt like this would be a top 3 drama for me when I started watching it, but it lost that weight almost immediately after I finished it. Something about this drama did not linger and when I think of it, it just makes me feel blue and depressed.

I was really hoping s2 would bring that punch but the open endings left me confused and wondering why I wasted so much time on this drama...

Unexpected highlight of the year. Being a huge fan of Park Hyungsik, I pretty much watch anything he's in, even when the genre isn't to my taste (see Happiness). I was not expecting to like this at all, not only have I dnf-ed the last three period dramas I tried to watch prior to this, I was not looking forward to the typical politics and genderbending shenanigans (also slow pace) of these dramas. But Our Blooming Youth revolutionized my taste in period dramas. 

Turns out, I just needed to experience this to feel the embrace of a good period drama. Keeps the flow of the plot while letting you enjoy the characters and the setting in a lax but not meandering way. 

SO much fun. I am not a fan of the rom-com cliche sort of kdramas.....that's what I thought, until I watched this. Something about this one felt both in the cliche but also seamless, comforting, and fun! I was completely taken in by Yoona and Junho's chemistry, such a great iconic drama of the year!

Ahhhh this drama has a singular vibe that cannot be recreated. Something about it is both sad, hilarious, comforting and painful all at the same time. Fell in love with Rowoon in this one, this man can really act.

I liked D.P.'s first season but the second season has driven it home as one of my favourite k-drama's of all-time. Every aspect of its production lends to the emotion and the messages that it conveys and lingers. SO GOOD.

I did not like Tale of the Nine Tailed, plain and simple. So, I did not have plans to watch s2 at all; until I found out it was set during the Japanese occupation (literally the best period drama setting ever), and my sister recced the hell out of it. Watched it to amuse my sister but ABSOLUTELY loved it! Considering the part I did not like of s1 was Cho Bo-Ah, I should have seen this coming. But this season was LEAGUES BETTER; the cinematography, the story-telling, the pacing; everything was elevated; I would love to see more in this world if this is how they get told now.

It's pretty incredible when a drama with HIGH expectations exceeds them anyway. The Good Bad Mother will go down in the kdrama history books for being so subtly iconic.  

Every single episode was so special and eye-opening. Like short stories captured cinematically in a way that's made me hunt for more k-dramas like this. Incredible.

Hmmm, a meh show tbh. There was a lot of lost potential here; I think the writers could have gone a more fun route but stuck to the practical ending and choices which made this a dull watch.

I finished 'My Dearest' s1 in complete upheaval and misery thinking there was only one season/part. JUST IMAGINE THAT ENDING WITH NO IDEA THERE WAS A SECOND PART.....once I recovered from my disbelief and horror,  I managed to pull myself together and let the second season tear me apart again. 

And tear it did. The first season was good, I liked Gil Chae more than I liked anything else. The romance was realistic and the cinematography, ost, THE WHOLE PRODUCTION REALLY meant the chances of me not enjoying this show was very less already. But I didn't feel as attached to the characters and their lives as much as I would have liked to so it was more a miss than a hit for me...

I finished 'My Dearest' s1 in complete upheaval and misery thinking there was only one season/part. JUST IMAGINE THAT ENDING WITH NO IDEA THERE WAS A SECOND PART.....once I recovered from my disbelief and horror,  I managed to pull myself together and let the second season tear me apart again. 

And tear it did. The first season was good, I liked Gil Chae more than I liked anything else. The romance was realistic and the cinematography, ost, THE WHOLE PRODUCTION REALLY meant the chances of me not enjoying this show was very less already. But I didn't feel as attached to the characters and their lives as much as I would have liked to so it was more a miss than a hit for me...

Enter Part 2: I had underestimated season 1 and the sly way this show had crept into my heart. I became so entangled in these character's lives, their troubles, their joys, their journeys, every episode was a rollercoaster ride. 

I loved the ending. It was worthy of the show, and it's depth. 

One of the few historical shows I've watched with such nuanced balance and pacing. The story and characters are strong and endearing without eliciting boring themes that overly complicate the show. 

Watched this all in one go like a movie and it destroyed me. From the moment I started it, I felt like I was looking into a mirror; both characters reflected conflicting emotions and struggles I have been dealing with overwhelmingly in the past few months. I found myself unable to detach myself from the show as it continued to unravel. 

4 well-balanced episodes with endearing characters to boot. One of the few k-dramas with a realistic take on love told delicately and heartfelt in an everyday style. I liked it from the beginning to the end. Also loved watching Noh Sang-Hyun in a kdrama lead role (LOVED him in Pachinko) can't wait to see more from him. Came out of this drama feeling very healed and like it's okay. Everything is okay.

Such a fun jumble of cliches; I should have hated this show with all it's tropes but I didn't. With a lighthearted main lead, good script and fun chemistry to boot; this one was a breath of fresh air.

I loved it....until I didn't.

Half the reason I like this show is Song Kang. Eye candy can go a long way for me, but not all the way...the second half of this show was frustrating to watch. There was so much lost potential on the part of the creators; everything the first half had set up was lost on the lack of depth in the second half. Also a lost opportunity for the chemistry and talent between the two actors; one of the reasons I did somewhat enjoy it until the end. These actors can act, so why not put them in more interesting and complex situations rather than repeating the same crises and heroics every few episodes.

Still would rewatch this in a heartbeat though.

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