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| Tae as Hang Sung Rang from Hwarang |
Finally, a post that's entirely unrelated to university! As you can see by the title, this post will be dedicated to revealing some of my top K-Drama recommendations. Before continuing, I should perhaps note that I've only just recently delved into the world of K-Drama (beginning in just December of last year) but that piece of information shouldn't detract from the value of my opinion.
Additionally, I'm super picky with what I watch. I don't gravitate towards the cheesy, light-hearted stuff (which is basically 99% of what's on offer) simply because I can't connect with them and it doesn't help how if I don't like the first episode, I won't watch the rest of the drama in spite of any raving reviews. So, without further ado, and in no particular order, here are my K-Drama recommendations!
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Historical, Romance, Drama, T R A G E D Y A F
Synopsis: Go Ha-Jin (IU) from the 21st-century is transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty. She finds herself trapped in the body of a young girl, Hae Soo, only to become entangled in the devastating affairs of the Princes (Wang So, in particular, who's played by the incomparable Lee Joon Gi) as they vie for their claim to the throne, even if it means betraying their own brothers in the process.
Rating: 9.5/10 (.5 taken away seeing as upon immediate completion, I couldn't think about anything other than how this damn drama ended in the first place, it literally consumed me for weeks).
Mini Review: Moon Lovers pretty much propelled my love for sageuks (which a lot of my recommendations are of this genre) but to be able to describe how much I adore/care/love/hate this drama in words would be impossible. You need not be practised in Korean history or be intimidated by political affairs seeing as this drama, though historical, doesn't overwhelm with political jargon and whenever something political does arise, you're not left snoring with your eyes fluttering shut. Instead, you'll laugh, you'll go "awww!", you'll swear under your breath and you'll most definitely cry ugly tears, but this is a masterpiece and I cannot rave about it enough. Also, the OST is just beautiful.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 16
Genre/s: Romance, Drama, Comedy-ish
Synopsis: When Han Yeo Reum (Jung Yu Mi) seems like she finally has her life together (she's in a committed relationship with her boyfriend, Nam Ha Jin (Sung Joon, omg I love him), who's thinking of proposing and she happily owns a little studio where she makes and designs furniture), her ex-boyfriend, Kang Tae Ha (Eric, again, *swoon*), appears after years of no contact. Tae Ha's sudden arrival seems to throw a spanner in her seemingly perfect life, forcing her to re-evaluate the meaning of love.
Rating: 9/10
Mini Review: Yes, there's a love triangle and no, it isn't cheesy. This drama was different in that it dealt with the complexities of love with a level of maturity I've not seen before in K-Dramas. It's emotional, it's intense, but more importantly, it's a depiction of love in its most rawest form. The actors perfectly captured the essence of their characters which made everything seem that much more genuine (the assumptions, the misconceptions, the lies perfectly parallel with reality) and I can't recommend this drama enough because you simply won't understand what I mean until you give it a go.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Historical, Romance, Drama, Political
Synopsis: Set in the Joseon Period and based on a true story, this tragic tale depicts the ruinous love between Lee Yeok/King Jungjong (Yeon Woo Jin) and Shin Chae Kyung/Queen Dangyeong (Park Min Young), who was crowned and dethroned within the span of a week.
Rating: 9/10
Mini Review: The drama only finished just this month and boy did I love it. Each episode is as gripping, as engaging, as cunning, as toe-curling and as shocking as the next. Lee Dong Gun gives a powerful performance as the broken King to the point where he genuinely frightened me throughout most of his scenes. It's tragic, yes, but not in the way that you'll be thinking, given the title. All I can offer right now is a praise of the drama's sheer magnificence. A definite must watch.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 40
Genre/s: Historical, Romance, Melodrama
Synopsis: To escape the dangers that her family name entails, the daughter of Goryeo's richest man, Han Eun San (YoonA), assumes the identity of a penniless, though determined, fighter, leaving behind everything that she's since come to know, including her father. Along the way, she becomes acquainted with Han Cheon (who happens to be the future king, Wang Won, as played by SiWan) and Qing Lin (Won's bodyguard and best-friend, Wang Rin, as played by Hong Jong Hyun) until turmoil ensues when both Wang Won and Rin fall for Eun San.
Rating: 9/10
Mini Review: Whilst it's still early in the drama for me to give a proper review, all I can say is that the little romance aficionado inside me is screaming. However, the complicated romances as depicted within the drama should not be a deterrent because I can assure you that you will become heavily invested and before you know it, you're wrapped up in bed, rooting for Rin and Eun scenes! I must also take note of the breathtaking cinematography, the costumes, and the setting (just look at the poster above) in addition to how impressed I am at YoonA's performance in particular. Though a strong cast indeed, I find that YoonA's acting has greatly improved from her The K2 days. Everything aside, I'm deeply intrigued by what's to come and will (im)patiently await the next episode.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 24
Genre/s: Historical, Romance, Political
Synopsis: The headstrong daughter of Grand Prince Su Yang, Princess Se Ryung (Moon Chae Won), and the wise son of the King's most trusted adviser, Kim Seung-Yoo (Park Si Hoo), tragically fall in love amidst a time where both families turn on each other, becoming mortal enemies.
Rating: 8.5/10
Mini Review: It's the Joseon Dynasty's version of Romeo and Juliet, but I can't seem to place why exactly I liked this drama so much. I mean, I was able to finish this in under a week so there must have been something. It's sad, I can tell you that, and it most definitely is not cheesy. It's a wonderful drama as it is well-written and there's always something going on, whether it be between the leads or something mysteriously brewing in the background, you're almost always kept on your toes.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 14
Genre/s: Medical, Melodrama, Mystery, Romance
Synopsis: Lee Yeong Oh (Jang Hyuk) is an insanely talented neurosurgeon, the most eminent in his field. However, due to a lesion in his frontal lobe, he severely lacks empathy. When a string of bizarre patient deaths plague the hospital, police begin investigating Yeong Oh. One officer being Gye Jin Sung (Park So Dam) who ends up changing his life for the better.
Rating: 8.5/10
Mini Review: Finally, a non-sageuk recommendation (I wanted to get those out of the way before I went on!) Anyway, anything related to neuro really gets my heart going, so you can only imagine my delight when I first read the plot for this. Beautiful Mind is, for a lack of a better word, absolutely beautiful. I loved every moment of it: Jang Hyuk's superb acting, the surgical scenes which appear realer than whatever Grey's does, the mystery surrounding sudden patient deaths. Everything. My one qualm with this drama, however, is the depiction that love is capable of curing anything and everything. In the case of this drama, Yeong Oh's "psychopathy" is suddenly remedied by his love interest which isn't at all realistic. Nevertheless, I implore you to watch this.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 16 + the specials which are a must watch
Genre/s: Fantasy, Comedy, Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Cursed with immortality, Kim Shin (Gong Yoo), a goblin, has walked the Earth for more than nine centuries as he awaits the birth of his bride who has the power to end this curse once and for all. His bride, Jin Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun), is a high school student with a tragic past and to top it all off, she can see ghosts. Their lives intertwine, joined by the Grim Reaper (Lee Dong Wook) and the attractive Sunny (Yoo In Na) along the way, only for Kim Shin to believe that perhaps immortality isn't so bad after all.
Rating: 9/10
Mini Review: Hilarious. The greatest bromance you ever did see. Emotional as heck. THE FREAKIN' CLOTHES EVERY CHARACTER WEARS. ARE THEY ALL MODELLING FOR VOGUE? Beautiful storytelling and exceptional writing. The most perfect OST. If I love it, you'll love it. That is all.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Action, Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Seo Jung Hoo (Ji Chang Wook) leads a double life. He's an errand boy ... of sorts. Operating under the pseudonym, Healer, Jung Hoo is a jack of all trades, master of all. For a handsome price, he'll do whatever's asked of him, so long as it doesn't involve murder. An incident from the past soon arises, ultimately bringing him to cross paths with an amateur reporter from a second-rate tabloid company, Chae Young Shin (Park Min Young), and a well-known journalist from a major broadcasting station, Kim Moon Ho (Yoo Ji Tae). The mysteries of their past will bring into question the concept of truth versus faith.
Rating: 9/10
Mini Review: JI. CHANG. WOOK. I'm obsessed with him, alright? Anyway, Healer is phenomenal in that it brings with it the perfect mix of comedy (I mean, Jung Hoo acting as Healer who is acting as a timid reporter with glasses makes my damn day, oh, and I mustn't forget ahjumma!), romance (oh. my. goodness. those passionate kiss scenes make me BLUSH), action (JCW STRIKES AGAIN) and mystery (seriously, what's going on here?). It's perfect, I love it and you will, too (I mean, you had better).
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Choi In Ha (Park Shin Hye) suffers from what is known as "Pinocchio Syndrome"; whenever she lies, an endless bout of hiccups ensues until she retracts her lie. Such a condition doesn't particularly help, considering she's a journalist and all. The drama also follows Choi Dal Po (Lee Jong Suk) who, together with In Ha, seeks to find the truth amidst the very entity that fails to perpetuate it.
Rating: 8.5/10
Mini Review: Pinocchio was one drama which immediately struck me as being far different from the rest. It was incredibly well written, constantly keeping me interested in whatever was playing on screen. I particularly enjoyed the social commentary that is continuously presented throughout the drama for the power of the media to manipulate and present a biased version of an event is most definitely at the core of the world's problems. I truly enjoyed this drama and I hope it teaches you a valuable lesson because although it's been months since its viewing, I still find myself marred by its commentary.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 16
Genre/s: Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Drama
Synopsis: Cardiothoracic surgeon, Oh Yeon Joo's (Han Hyo Joo), world literally changes when she finds herself immersed in the fictional world of her father's popular webtoon, W. It is here in which she meets Kang Chul (Lee Jong Suk), the main character of W, whose very emotions are the sole determinant of whether or not she is able to leave this virtual world and return to the real one. However, Yeon Joo finds herself struggling with the possibility of falling in love with Kang Chul and so questions whether this world, a product of her father's imagination, wouldn't be so bad after all.
Rating: 8/10
Mini Review: Whilst a superb performance (editing is incredible and the plot itself, amazing), I was merely engrossed by what was on offer and unlike the recommendations above, my thoughts were not consumed by its impact following completion. Which makes sense considering its *SPOILER* happy ending. I don't think this makes any sense because I'm just strange, but whatever, I still recommend this to everyone, especially those new to the K-Drama scene. It's brilliant and the writing is pure genius (also, Lee Jong Suk's lips give me life).
~ H O N O U R A B L E M E N T I O N S ~
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Medical, Drama, Romance
Synopsis: Yoo Hye Jung (Park Shin Hye) is a misguided rebel who's scarred by her past. Behind a thick pane of arrogance and indifference, she shields her true self from any who dares to come in her way. However, her heart slowly begins to stich itself together when she meets Hong Ji Hong (Kim Rae Won), her teacher, mentor and eventually, her lover. He guides her into transforming from a troubled bully to a talented doctor.
Rating: 8/10
Mini Review: This was, I believe, the second K-Drama I had ever watched since beginning my K-Drama journey on one humid day in December (the first being Hwarang). At first, I was completely annoyed by Hye Jung and her often erratic behaviour and irritating attitude (yes, even in spite of her terrible past), but as the drama continued, I watched as she grew into a mature, headstrong and compassionate doctor. I thought the chemistry between the two leads was simply beautiful and much like the previous recommendation, I learned so many valuable lessons from watching this drama. However, I must note that towards the second half of the series, things do start to slow down and become a bit mundane but eh, still worth a shot.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 20
Genre/s: Historical, Comedy, Romance-ish
Synopsis: In the Joseon Dynasty, Kim Yun Hee (Park Min Young) disguises herself as her sick brother and takes the national exam (an exam only men could take) as a final resort to pull her family from eviction. Considering the passing of her father, and the deteriorating condition of her brother, it's always been up to Yun Hee to think of creative ways to help support her family. Along the way, she befriends the arrogant Lee Seon Joon (Park Yoo Chun), the ladies' man, Ku Yong Ha (Song Joong Ki) and the enigmatic, Moon Jae Sin (Yoo Ah In), who prove to make her stay at Sungkyunkwan University rather interesting, to say the least.
Rating: 8/10
Mini Review: Ha. You thought all the sageuk recommendations were over, but anyway, this drama is different from other gender-bend themed dramas (such as Love in the Moonlight, which I have very mixed opinions about) in that the reason as to why Kim Yun-Hee turned to a male disguise is rather sad. It's been a while since I've watched this but I remember being intrigued by each of the four central characters and their stories. I've given this an 8/10 because I did get bored at times, however, the seriousness of the leads' situations are, thankfully, alleviated by hilarious zingers and just random acts of weirdness. Overall, I did enjoy this drama.
Status: Completed
Episode Count: 40
Genre/s: Romance, Comedy
Synopsis: Noh Ji Wook (Ji Chang Wook, my bby), a reputable lawyer, is mistaken as being a pervert by Eun Bong Hee (Nam Ji Hyun) whom he encounters one day on the subway. Following even more chance encounters, finding her standing in the room of the law firm he works at is just the icing on the cake. They're both assigned to work on a mysterious murder case involving a psychopathic serial killer, however, they seem to develop something for each other along the way.
Rating: 8/10
Mini Review: Again, JI. CHANG. WOOK. If it isn't already obvious by now, I LOVE him. He's one of my favourite male actors. In fact, I consider him my husband in an alternate universe and not in this one because clearly, I'm not delusional enough to think that it'd ever happen on this version of Earth ;) Anyway, at first, Suspicious Partner was incredible. I could not stop pressing "next episode", no matter how hard I tried. The first episode when Ji Wook and Bong Hee met was hilarious (definitely a ... unique situation) but as the series goes on, there's an obvious decline in the quality of the storytelling, and by extension, my interest. I felt as if the murder case was dragging on and on and on, to the point where I wasn't all too satisfied by the time I reached the final episode and lord does Bong Hee's infatuation with Ji Wook bother me. It's more the fact that she fell so quickly in love with him that made it seem so unrealistic and ... pedestrian. Alas, I still think that you should give this drama a go, despite my seemingly insignificant qualms.
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And there you have it, my K-Drama recommendations! The above dramas (excluding the honourable mentions) are the ones I've most enjoyed and will definitely watch again once I get around to watching the ones I've yet to see. I hope this helps you out if you're stuck on what to watch next, though I should apologise for the lack of genre diversity seeing as I'm pulled towards romances and if they're a historical romance ... well, I'm freakin' sold and already getting the popcorn.
Currently binge-watching,
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