[2019]
A list of the dramas I completed in 2019.
-
1. Drama Special Season 9: Dreamers
Korean Special - 2018, 1 episode
Liked the idea of having a "dream world" with rules, but the writing was a bit of a let-down. Quite an easily forgettable watch.
-
2. Snow Lotus
Korean Special - 2015, 2 episodes
Had the potential to be good, but somehow felt very draggy and outdated. The acting also was very lackluster.
-
3. Last
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
The whole homeless mafia-type organization was all kinds of cartoonish and I thus just couldn't take the drama seriously. The acting was pretty good, though.
-
4. Oasis
Korean Special - 2003, 3 episodes
There were a few good moments, but the drama suffered mainly from pacing issues. It somehow felt draggy despite being only three episodes long.
-
5. Drama Special Series Season 2: The True Colors
Korean Special - 2012, 4 episodes
An okay watch overall, but neither the plot nor the characters managed to truly hook me. The acting was a bit too over-the-top for me.
-
6. Go Go Squid!
Chinese Drama - 2019, 41 episodes
Past the first eight episodes, the show was actually cute to watch for the most part. I however could not bring myself to even remotely care about the whole CTF aspect and the ML's broken past friendship with his old team. The main couple was adorable and had great chemistry, but their romance was maybe a bit too much on the childish side for me.
-
7. One Spring Night
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
The directing and the drama's overall atmosphere were really nice. I particularly enjoyed the three sister's dynamics and relationship. However, the drama started to feel very draggy and repetitive at some point.
-
8. Drama Special Season 9: The Expiration Date of You and Me
Korean Special - 2018, 1 episode
The story in itself was nothing new, but the characters, especially the supporting ones, were really fun and engaging.
-
9. Hotel del Luna
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
The first half was really entertaining and I had a fun time watching it. The second half felt more draggy to me, handling up to 2 or even 3 episodic ghost stories per episode and I simply couldn't bring myself to even remotely care about most of them. I also felt like the resolution of Man Wol's past felt very anticlimatic and underwhelming.
-
10. Familiar Wife
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
A mindless, overall enjoyable watch. The cast and their chemistry is what made it work for me. The writing was quite shaky and the drama was at least two episodes too long.
-
11. The Crowned Clown
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Beautiful instrumentals, beautiful shots and wonderful cast. Wish the characterisation was handled better.
-
12. Le Coup de Foudre
Chinese Drama - 2019, 35 episodes
An adorable and feel-good watch with heartwarming relationships and relatable life-lessons.
-
13. Drama Special Season 6: Crimson Moon
Korean Special - 2015, 1 episode
An interesting take on Crown Prince Sado's life, mental illness and death. The acting was not too bad for the most part.
-
14. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
This was a well acted and directed drama. I enjoyed the fact that the directing did not feel heavy handed and also salute Seo In Guk's portrayal of Moo Yeong. As for the writing, I am bit less enthusiastic, but it was not terrible either. Some reveals were a bit too dragged out and some characters' reactions to events felt very strange. The romance also felt oddly jarring. A less cute, more mature, romance would have worked better in my opinion.
-
15. Different Dreams
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
I dislike some of the directorial choices that were made and wish the drama was not so action-driven so that we could have spent a bit more time on the characterization. As a blockbuster spy-drama, it definitely was enjoyable, though.
-
16. My Country: The New Age
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
The main reasons why I am not rating My Country lower are the acting and the production. The veteran actors were mesmerizing, Woo Do Hwan delivered a wonderful performance as Nam Seon Ho and Kim Jin Won PD did wonders with the material he was given. I was however disappointed to see that most of the historical events and character growth happened off-screen, through various time jumps. This also contributed in creating inconsistencies in the characters' motivations. The writing was thus what bothered me the most.
-
17. Dear My Room
Korean Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
A very warm, easy and satisfying watch. It was not groundbreaking in any way, but it delivered in the aspects I expected it to.
-
18. Kingdom
Korean Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
Met my expectations, but did not really manage to surprise me. Looking forward to the 2nd season as this one felt more like a set-up.
-
19. Everything and Nothing
Korean Drama - 2019, 4 episodes
An unusually raw coming-of-age drama dealing with the uneasy age of seventeen, when one is stuck between teenage and adulthood. Its title felt oddly fitting.
-
20. Drama Special Season 5: Youth
Korean Special - 2014, 1 episode
Dark and bleak at first sight, but full of hopeful and touching messages. One of the most memorable drama specials I've seen to date!
-
21. Bad Guys
Korean Drama - 2014, 11 episodes
A good crime show with memorable and intense fight scenes. The acting was pretty good for the most part. I however believe that the 'big reveal' could have been done better and in a more impactful way. The drama did a great job at relaying its message across, but I also felt like we sadly only scratched the surface of each character's depth and story.
-
22. Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
A good, consistent drama with solid acting from all its cast. I was pleasantly surprised by how gripping and thrilling this turned out to be and how emotionally involved I got while watching it. The drama was full of memorable characters and the cast's chemistry was wonderful. I do regret the fact that the writers too often took the easy road to take the characters out of sticky situations.
-
23. Quartet
Japanese Drama - 2017, 10 episodes
A good ensemble drama with memorable characters and interesting dynamics between each one of them.
-
24. Life on Mars
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
Highly entertaining, both in its fun and thrilling sense. Nice blend of humour and the seriousness that usually comes with crime shows. Thumbs up for the awesome cast as well.
-
25. The Light in Your Eyes
Korean Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
A touching drama with a beautiful message. Maybe was it because I was aware of the big 'twist' before even starting the drama, but I believe it would have worked even better with even less episodes. I held on knowing what was coming up and appreciated how the drama addressed a variety of issues concerning the elderly, but the drama did feel a bit all-over-the-place until the 10th ep. After which, it all finally made sense.
-
26. Be Melodramatic
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
An oddball of a show. I appreciated how quirky yet touching it was. The characters all were very interesting in their own ways and I was invested in each of their journeys. Despite not being conviced by the first episode, the drama kept growing on me and definitely became one of my favourite 2019 watches.
-
27. dele
Japanese Drama - 2018, 8 episodes
Loved the concept and the characters. Some episodes/cases were more interesting than others, but it was a wonderful watch overall.
-
28. The Nokdu Flower
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
Gripping, touching and absolutely heart-wrenching from start to finish. Great writing elevated by fantastic performances by the ensemble cast and wonderful directing. An absolute must-watch for sageuk enthusiasts.
-
29. Nagareboshi
Japanese Drama - 2010, 10 episodes
A nice, overall soothing watch; the one and only disruptive element being Risa's annoying brother. The last two episodes were a bit of a drag, though.