Starting this drama, I had no expectations.  I didn’t think the Contract Marriage Premise could stand in 2017; I was wrong.  Lee Min Ki and Jung Soo Min did such an amazing job bringing Nam Se Hee and Yoon Ji Ho to life.  From the first episodes, they share such a sweet and tender understanding for each other.  Nam Se Hee is such a deep and thoughtful character, but has a bit of an odd outlook on life.  Lee Min Ki’s portrayal of such a quirky character is so heartwarming.  He really delivers on a whole new level.  His monologues throughout the drama are so deep and evocative.

Along with the development of the lead characters, the supporting characters have fairly unique and memorable character arcs.  Aside from the contract relationship premise, Because This is My First Life also tries to tackle the three modern day females with different perspectives setup.  This drama does this very well.  The roles of Woo Su Ji and Yang Ho Rang are able to share in some very poignant moments throughout the drama.  I enjoyed how the portrayal of these female characters provided a commentary of the modern day woman and the challenges that she faces from day to day.

Personally, this was one of my favorite dramas this year.  It was just pure perfection from start to end.  It astutely created characters that had special circumstances, but were still entirely relatable.  A feat not many dramas can aptly pull-off.  I can’t recommend this one enough!

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My Secret Romance has a fresh setup and premise since the drama starts with a one night stand, but overall this drama is pretty cheesy and cliche. This dramas love for pretty standard Kdrama tropes is probably why is keeps on sneaking into viewers "guilty pleasures" lists. There isn't anything very original about this drama, but man, does it make me super nostalgic for the classic Kdramas of the early 2000s. I feel like this is one last hoorah for the tsundere male lead ... even at its best ... there are some really cringe-worthy moments. This drama has a fairly low production value. From the sound effects, the audio mix, the shooting angles, they all leave something to be desired.

Yes, this drama was pretty painful to watch at times, but I did shamelessly enjoy it in parts hee hee! I probably wouldn't reccomend this drama ...

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A yellow box full of a person's treasured belongings ...

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 it was 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!

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Koreeda Hirokazu has another classic family drama. I have appreciated Koreeda’s works since I was in college. Our Little Sister has a similar feel as my favorite of his, Still Walking. Again Koreeda delves into the family theme.  I found this film very touching and sweet. It is amazing how again Koreeda is able to capture family life so organically. Seeing the four sisters joke and quarrel helped to illustrate how much they care for one another. As well as over time their bonds with the newest sister start to develop and bloom. Ayase Haruka leads another star performance as the oldest sister, Sachi, and the matriarch of their Kamakura residence. This is a beautiful film that explores the definition of sisterhood. I strongly recommend it.

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Ikuta Toma and Oguri Shun play childhood friends set on avenging the death of their beloved teacher. To this end, Ikuta becomes a detective while Oguri has risen through the ranks of organized crime. This drama was adapted from a dark, seinen manga. In its 10 episodes, it can not possibly grasp the complexity in the original work, I feel like this drama does a great job realizing the feel and tone of the original work. It is great to see Oguri Shun and Ikuta Toma working together again. I really enjoyed having the opportunity to see Ikuta in a more serious role. I would advise that this drama is fairly dark and has a very somber tone. I wouldn't suggest it for anyone looking for a happy ending. Ouroboros' OST is so good, featuring songs such as "No One" and Arashi's "Sakura." You should definitely give it a try!

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I've never would have dreamed that I would fall in love with this drama like I did. I'm normally not a huge fan of historical dramas. I started watching this drama for Oguri Shun, Shibasaki Kou and Mukai Osamu. This drama is so balanced between the historical references, the modern comedic references and the hip hop mixed music produced by Taku Takahashi. The pacing keeps it moving all though the drama. The characters are likable and relatable with touching performances. You should watch this drama if you like historical dramas, any of the actors in the main cast, action and/or human dramas.

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Falling for Innocence truly reawakened my love for Asian Dramas. Jung Kyung Ho's portrayal of a man's change of heart struggling between his desire for revenge and lingering feelings for the female lead is beautifully realized in his performance. Watching how male lead is forever drawn to the daughter of the man who betrayed his father is quite captivating. This drama has elements of romance, business, mystery, suspense and crime. A little bit for everyone. I strongly recommend this drama. The story is sooooo very good. The pacing is on point. And, the ending is sweet. Plus, Davink's Paradise is a killer theme!!!!

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Hwayugi proves that I should never pick up anticipated or over-hyped dramas. While touting a star studded cast, a legendary production team and adored source material, this drama left a lot of potential on the table.

After a few very turbulent weeks for the production crew including blatant CGI issues, debacles in this drama’s airing schedule and a terrible on set accident that threatened to stop production all together, Hwayugi finally seemed to get somewhat back on course. Even so, this drama was never able to establish a consistent tone or pacing. Most weeks it was a garbled mess with a Monster of the Week format. Each new arc and challenge that our protagonists have to face are all resolved before they can have any greater significance to the lead couple. This setup prevented me from becoming at all vested in the story, its characters and its romance. This drama is chalk full of filler just not a lot of substance here.

This drama’s saving grace is certainly the magical and impish Lee Seung Gi in his role of Son Oh Gong! Here Seung Gi is so charismatic and playful. The only reason I continued to watch this drama, was to see this monkey in his natural environment. Lee Seung Gi truly shines here championing all of his hallmarks. His performance as Son Oh Gong kept me watching even with the subpar plot.

I can’t really recommend this drama due to how it is lacking in its story, pacing and tone, but if you are an avid fan of Lee Seung Gi, you may need to weigh your options again.

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What an extraordinary story?! This drama has something for everyone: Romance, Action, Suspense, Intrigue, Political Power Plays etc. The main storyline is set in the Goryeo Period during the Wang Family's internal struggle for power. This drama is absolutely gorgeous considering the costumes, the sets, the actors ... For being a 20 episode series, the pacing is perfect and keeps moving. The only thing is during the second half, the tone of drama takes a sad and emotional turn. Lee Jun Ki makes another star appearance as the misunderstood, tortured antihero. This is a reverse harem series, so the young male cast does provide for a lot of eye candy and fan service. I highly reccomend this series. A quite moving drama that leaves a deep impression.

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I love to see unconventional storylines. Korean dramas have really come a long way. Having Lee Sung Kyung's character play a professional weightlifter really pushes the envelope on typical Korean Drama themes. Watching the main character grapple with her desire to excel in her sport and appearing feminine proved to create great character development. The love story between Lee Sung Kyung and Nam Joo Hyuk's characters is sooooo very sweet. The cast is pretty young, so acting is still pretty green. I think it fits the tone of the drama through. Overall, this drama is pretty "SWAG"!! You should certianly try it!

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