2020 ♡
Dramas I watched/completed in 2020 in the order completed. Dates and comments are added, to remember what made these dramas special/not so special to me at the time I watched them.
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1. Live
Korean Drama - 2018, 18 episodes
13.01.20: Live is the kind of a drama that takes a few episodes to get into, but once you do, there is no way out. All characters are lovable, Yang Chon and Jang Min's love made me fall for their love, Sang Soo and Yang Chon's partnership was rough, lovable and full of lessons, Sung Dong Il's Ki Han Sol shone, and the Patrol Division's team work was admirable.
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2. Todome no Kiss
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
20.01.2020: A mediocre drama in terms of plot and acting. The mystery around the time leaping and exaggerated tropes were fun to watch.
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3. Beautiful World
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
23.01.2020: Beautiful World does not carry a unique plot, rather it carries an utterly heartfelt and special execution. From the very beginning we are following Sun Ho's devastated parents, and throughout the story, we are feeling every bit of frustration that they are. The heart and soul of this story lies in the characters, and that is what makes this worth the watch. Some parts of the plot were rather slow, like the police investigations, and the ending felt a bit rushed.
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4. Kinou Nani Tabeta?
Japanese Drama - 2019, 12 episodes
27.01.2020: Kinou Nani Tabeta is like a hand warmer. If you want to feel warm, fuzzy and happy for 12 whole episodes, this is the drama for you. This drama has been so vulnerable and loving. With each episode, we have seen the leads grow and become comfortable with themselves, which in turn has made their relationship stronger. What an amazing addition to an otherwise small collection of LGBTQ+ works with wholesome representation.
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5. Woman of 9.9 Billion
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
27.01.2020: I had high hopes for this drama, and it actually started off very strong. However, it took a completely direction from what I had expected and several elements showed signs of weak writing and lack of logic. A waste of Jo Yeo Jung and Kim Kang Woo, unfortunately.
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6. Chocolate
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
30.01.2020: Just not good enough. Chocolate promised a solid melodrama, but gave us a disjointed makjang and love triangle. There were moments I cherished, like Kang and Joon opening up to each other, but they were not enough for me to give this drama a higher rating.
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7. Be Melodramatic
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
04.02.2019: Solid story, cast and acting. Sometimes it moved a tad bit slow, but that wasn't necessarily a problem unless I was tired. Happy I decided to finish it.
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8. Black Dog
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
06.02.2020: Black Dog was truly a dark horse. It started off slow, yet it was steady and full of substance. I'm not going to say there were not dull moments in the beginning, but because it was built into a strong drama depicting the harsh realities of adultness and working life, it was a 10/10 for me. Ha Neul ssaem was a gem of woman, so strong and full of fears, yet hopeful for the future. She never gave up, and achieved everything by believing in herself.
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9. Different Dreams
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
11.02.2020: Wow. Yi Mong is a genius historical drama. Depicting a real hero from Japan's colonial rule over Korea, Kim Won Bong is portrayed beautifully by Yoo Ji Tae. Most of the times heros are too good to be true, but because Kim Won Bong was a person who in the shadows while leading the Heroic Corps, his and his group's victories were so much more believable and full of ecstacy and pride. Lee Young Jin is my girl! She was effortlessly smart and eloquent, and an ode to the nameless female freedom fighters. A special shoutout to Hiroshi, Lee Hae Young did me proud <3 As well as Fukuda and Miki - Fukuda was an intellectual character, steadfast and strict in his beliefs, but flexible and open enough to see acknowledge the other side and eventually empathise with it.
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10. Oh My Ghost
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
16.02.2020: I watched this for Im Joo Hwan. The story is weak, and the romance is unrealistic and dragged out.
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11. Drama Festival 2014: The Diary of Heong Yeong Dang
Korean Special - 2014, 1 episode
24.02.2020: This special didn't have an intricate plot, but it's a queer piece that explored the love between two step-brothers. For what it was, I actually really enjoyed it. I especially appreciated the usage of language to convey something that was frowned upon and described as forbidden, in addition to Sang Yoon's honesty. Shouldn't have ended the way it did, but it wasn't unexpected either.
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12. Drama Stage Season 3: Big Data Romance
Korean Special - 2019, 1 episode
01.03.2020: A cute little story, but nothing original.
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13. Love Affairs in the Afternoon
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
10.03.2020: This was perfect for my melo-loving heart! It was refreshing to see a drama tackle unfaithfulness with characters who were so aware of what the consequences of their actions would be from the get-go. Love Affairs is a slow-burner, which is not a problem, but what was a problem was the pacing VS what was actually being delivered as for the story. I definitely think this could've been a shorter drama. Not a waste of my time, however.
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14. The Game: Towards Zero
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
13.03.2020: Without Hyun Woo this drama would've been lost. I wish they had utilised Tae Pyung power for something good, like solving cases and helping people heal and come to terms with their losses. It was uexpected how much this focused of a serial killer chase. Disappointed.
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15. Kingdom Season 2
Korean Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
16.03.2020: OOF. It got even better.
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16. Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
24.03.2020: A solid political drama. Its strengths lie in the found family and the lead's growth.
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17. Never Twice
Korean Drama - 2019, 72 episodes
24.03.2020: This weekender is one I will remember for a long time. It had very few flaws, and was heartwarming until the end.
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18. Itaewon Class
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
24.03.2020: Itaewon Class started off strong. I applaud the drama for tackling trans and black representation, as well as giving for our female lead to be wicked and still be likable. What brings down the rating is the unnecessary business rivalry and dragged out revenge plot.
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19. Should We Kiss First?
Korean Drama - 2018, 40 episodes
12.04.2020: Shall We Kiss First is a lovely melodrama which specifically focuses on love between two mature leads who are lost, in their own ways. The drama shows that love is difficult, childish, and worth it, and that there is no age limit to it. Melo king, Kam Woo Sung, was amazing as always.
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20. Nobody Knows
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
21.04.2020: Nobody Knows is a character-driven drama, and they are amazing. Young Jin and Eun Ho's relationship is one you cannot forget. The rating is low(ish) because we were promised more suspense than what was actually served.
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21. When the Weather Is Fine
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
21.04.2020: A comforting and warm watch. The ending was draggy.
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22. A Piece of Your Mind
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
28.04.2020: APOYM had a very strong start. It's slow and lingers in your brain, without being forgettable. The last few episodes, however, did not match the rest of the show. The episode cut made it hard to give this the rating it deserved based on the first half.
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23. Extracurricular
Korean Drama - 2020, 10 episodes
02.05.2020: Binge-worthy, but a little forgettable.
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24. 365: Repeat the Year
Korean Drama - 2020, 24 episodes
04.05.2020: Really enjoyed this. Suspensul, at times unpredictable and with a great ensemble.
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25. 2gether
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
16.05.2020: Apart from Sarawat, there is little positive to be said about this.
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26. The World of the Married
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
17.05.2020: Masterful drama that kept us all on the edge from start to finish. Kim Hee Ae's power! Unmatched.
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27. Sotus
Thai Drama - 2016, 15 episodes
21.05.2020: SOTUS started off in a very weird way. The concept of hazing was foreign to me, so there was a factor of complete culture shock and horror. I'm glad they actually talked about the topic, though. The leads' chemistry was amazing, and their love story was cute.
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28. SOTUS: Very Special EP
Thai Special - 2017, 1 episode
21.05.2020: BTS footage from the first season.
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29. When My Love Blooms
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
15.06.2020: This started off very strong, but the execution of the second half was lackluster. I can't really tell if it had room for improvement, either. The cast, love story and pining were the best bits.
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30. Sweet Munchies
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
30.06.2020: Kang Tae Wan. That's it.
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31. Ju-on: Noroi no Ie
Japanese Drama - 2020, 6 episodes
25.07.2020: Mediocre.
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32. My Unfamiliar Family
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
02.08.2020: My Unfamiliar Family hit home in many areas. It was raw and vulnerable. The family structure was extremely realistic. Noone truly has a perfect family, and some families have more problems than others. But it is through, and beyond, the flaws that we find love and resilience. I loved Eun Joo to death! The rating is not higher because I didn't care for the leads' romance, and I was entirely against how the parents' story concluded.
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33. Bad Guys: City of Evil
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
11.08.2020: I went into this drama with zero expectations, having put off starting it for several years because I was very attached to the first season. BUT what a pleasant surprise. Bad Guys 2 is action-packed, keeps you on the edge, and delivers just enough to appeal to your pathos. The thrill!
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34. Dear My Friends
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
20.08.2020: A drama that masterfully tackled the topic of life and what it means to actually live it. I can say with conviction, that Dear My Friends is nothing short of a masterpiece, and that I'm very glad I decided to finish it.
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35. When I Was the Most Beautiful
Korean Drama - 2020, 32 episodes
21.10.2020: WIWTMB is a makjang gem! If you enjoy the craziness of this genre, it's a fun and wild journey to go on. Ji Soo and Im Soo Hyang's chemistry was through the roof (not saying I ssupported JS's crush). Ha Seok Jin's depiction of a disabled character was fab.
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36. Missing: The Other Side
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
24.10.2020: Eh. Missing had interesting fantastical elements, and I liked the concept of missing people waiting somewhere between this world and the next before moving on completely, but it just lacked more suspense and speed.
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37. Lie After Lie
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
26.10.2020: A fantastic and perfectly paced drama! This author really knows how to make a drama suspenseful. I also adored the leads.
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38. Hot Stove League
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
30.11.2020: Hot Stove League was an amazing drama! I especially enjoyed the business side of it. It did leave me wanting more, though.