We Watch Challenge 2025

Hi Pinwheel!

Here's what I found ignoring your embarrassingly long PTW:

• A Murderous Affair in Horizon Tower (Thriller, Mystery, Drama): A character focused murder mystery.
• Light Shop (Thriller, Mystery, Horror, Supernatural): If you don't mind non-linear story telling and character focused plot, this might be for you.
• Study Group (Action, Thriller, Comedy, Youth): Action packed and fun. It has a bit of an anime feel to it and definitely shouldn't be taken too seriously.

I don't watch sports dramas so I sadly don't have any recommendations for the genre :(

I'll watch any genre and country! The only thing I'll ask for is for nothing over 10 episodes please.
(Also you can ignore my PTW because those are only upcoming and currently airing dramas.)

Thank you KC Drama LOVER!

I'll go with Lighting Up the Stars, since I've been eyeing it for ages anyways, this is a nice excuse to finally get to it, but I'll watch the other two recommendations as well since they seem right up my alley!

I actually do like gory dramas! I never noticed how many of them I dropped😂 Now you made me curious, what would have been the recommendation?

Lighting Up the Stars

Rating: 9.5/10 

Thoughts: This hit all the spots and I cried like a baby. I just selfishly wish it was longer. I wish there was a drama version of this, preferably with the same actors and exactly as unpolished as the movie. I've fallen in love with the characters and character dynamics, I want more. 

since I watched Till We Meet Again as well

Rating: 8.5/10

Thoughts: I loved the concept, the creativity, cinematography, and the world. This is the type of weird stuff I live for.
The only thing that bothered me the whole time was that Pinky fell for Alan. I just wanted them to be supportive friends to each other (which would have worked out with the plot). To be fair it makes sense for Pinky's character but still I just don't like love triangles and seeing the third party sad.  Basically the plot didn't go how I would have liked it and I'm being petty about it😂

🦦

Hey KC Drama LOVER!

I focused on relatively short dramas so I hope you'll like one of the options:

• Chief Detective 1958 (10 episodes, about 10 hours): I just want more people to watch this drama. Hilarious, action packed and fun character dynamics!
• Ready, Set, Love (6 episodes, about 7 hours): This is a bit of a wildcard. I personally really enjoyed this drama; it's silly, weird and very colourful.
• Smoking (12 episodes, about 6 hours): Since you mentioned gory dramas, it made me think of this one. Found family, gore and surprisingly quite some healing.

I'll watch any genre and country! The only thing I'll ask for is for nothing over 10 episodes please.
(Also you can ignore my PTW because those are only upcoming and currently airing dramas.)

Thank you Anne613!

I'll go with Yugure ni, Te wo Tsunagu. I've never heard of this drama before but it sounds very cozy so I'm excited!

Challenge 1

 Anne613:

Open for any recommendation, specially from Japan, Taiwan, & Thailand. Feel free to check my completed drama list to see what I've enjoyed!

Hello there, Anne613! 

I saw you like role reversal and that's my bread and butter so I recommended you some I noticed you hadn't watched yet along with noona 'cause that's where our taste aligns the most, hehe ^^ 

	Zhang Gong Zhu Zai Shang Cdrama - 27eps (2min) Mini RR historical drama by the same actors from "Dong Lan Xue".
	Secrets of the Shadow Sect  Cdrama - 24eps (10min) Another short RR historical drama but with ✨wuxia✨. Really good
	Shijukara Jdrama - 12eps (20min) Darker, more mature noona drama. Very enjoyable but be mindful of some of the tags (nothing too bad but can't be too careful)
	Ready, Set, Love  Thaidrama - 6eps (45min) Unusual romcom in an unusual setting. Cute couple, slight RR, and pretty funny.
	Nagatan to Aoto: Ichika no Ryourijou   Jdrama - 10eps (20min) Fluffy slice-of-life noona romance in a slight historical setting. Very cute

Hope you like em'!! Do feel free to let me know if you want more/different reccs

Recc requests: Please do check out my like and dislike list on my profile, I appreciate it greatly 🙏 You can also go through my completed list but my profile info will give a better idea of what I enjoy ^^ My PTW is incomplete but feel free to take a look if you're so inclined

Current Mood: Fast-paced, action-packed, a lot going on, interesting and engaging, little or no comedy. 

• Nothing too long. Miniseries, short length series, movies, or specials are ideal (under 8 hours) 
• No tragedies, sad endings, or terminal illnesses.
• Minimal body horror.
• Minimal or no violence against women/children.
• No all-male or mostly-male casts.

I've been struggling with picking an interesting short thriller to replace the void left by Connection so if you have reccs, they'd be welcome. Also noona has been something I've been craving more of so if you got good shortish reccs, I'd appreciate ^^

Since I'm a heavy mood-watcher and fussy about what I watch so I might ask for more. Thank you for your time <3

Thank you so much for the recommendations @JulyMoon! I appreciate the through explanations! 

I've narrowed it down to Mission 1: Possible, Extreme Job, and Happiness. Will finalise my pick later when I watch one of 'em! 

I choose...
	Happiness Status: CW (2/12) | Rating:  Verdict:

3rd challenge complete!

Hi, JulyMoon!

I mostly skimmed your completed list and my recs are what popped into my head for whatever reasons my brain let them. :) 

1. Hot Stove League is its own thing… all I can explain is that for 16 hours it made me think very deeply in my soul that I absolutely love baseball, which is absolutely not a fact. The performances are phenomenal between Namkoong Min, Park Eun Bin, Oh Jung Se, and all the other staff and players alike. Even short single episode appearances felt thought through and fleshed out like real humans thanks to tiny details flooding it. You don’t need to like or know anything about sports to watch it, said from experience. 

2. Under the Queen’s Umbrella dives into the inner lives of royal family dynamics with a powerhouse Queen and concubines with their sons being both brothers/half brothers and in some ways competitors for the throne. Motherhood is the strongest sentiment from it, intense and heartwarming but not lacking some sadness. There is a death, but it is an expected one. 

3. Hospital Playlist is more focused on relationships and very slice of life than being a straightforward medical drama; we see their lives as doctors with residents and staff, but it is really an intense drama about long-lasting friendship and family and heartwarming above all else. The leads are doctors who schooled together and have a band together. The elder generations’ relationships are also fun. It has a second season if you like the first and a spinoff in the works (Resident Playbook/Wise Resident Life the spinoff’s titles). Fair warning: I saw you rated Reply 1988 less than favorably, and it is the same writer. The stories are different enough that they don’t feel that similar to me, but the slice of life connections are central in both. 

3. Avengers Social Club is female-centered, quirky dark comedy that is hard to describe anything about beyond its humor (not subject/storyline) overlapping somewhat with Birthcare Center in the writing.

Open for recs! No dubbing, up to 24 hours length. Ignore my PTW since it indicates nothing about what I actually want to watch anymore and is more a “when it airs, this way it’ll show on the calendar in my list” tracking tool mixed with “adding everything a fave actor is in” compulsions. 😅

Always and forever welcoming thrillers, weird/unique stories, and richly developed plots and characters. A bit maxed out on romance at the moment, though, at least as a primary storyline. Fine if it is part of a bigger story. Sci fi and fantasy are welcome but I might be more judgmental if they don’t sell the universe to me well. :)

I guess I am going to be watching everything based around the Hwaseong Serial Murders (this is my 5th title about them)… I accept KC Drama LOVER’s rec for Memories of Murder (I initially misread it as Memoir of a Murderer half-asleep and figured I needed to sleep if my brain was that sluggish in deciphering anything-great film, but not one I’ll be repeat watching!)…I also ended up watching Brave Citizen! I’m counting Brave Citizen because I rated it higher (which was unexpected save my weak spot for the FL). 

I’m already familiar with the plot of Be With You, so your fluttering roundabout way of explaining it thoroughly amused me. :)  I really need to get around to Extreme Job, too, considering I love the cast and have no reason to avoid it. I just can’t handle anything funny right now because I’m getting over the flu and still coughing a lot, laughter the worst medicine with bronchitis tagging along.

Thoughts/rating: I gave Memories of Murder an 8, Brave Citizen an 8.7 I am rounding up to a 9, and found both to be good watches though Brave Citizen obviously had more in your face intensity (the ML really does have a punchable face when he gives that psycho smirk lol)! Memories of Murder was a bit disjointed feeling at times with character development a bit lacking (everyone was a bit one-note which is fine for the cops but every character felt a bit more simple than reality would be, and some of the facts of the case were inaccurate/painted the police’s actions, cruel ones, less accurately than reality, but the performances were nevertheless flawless. The ending, though, was perfect, especially considering the case was still unsolved when it was released IIRC. Wild to see itty bitty Jung In Sun 22 years ago, 2/3 of her life (11 then, 33 now)!

Brave Citizen definitely isn't for the weak, well, weak-for-Shin-Hye-Sun aside! 🤭 I adore her! It is really fun to watch once, maybe to get some highlights rewatched later. The kid playing the victim gave a better performance than the ML in many respects—he is what made me tip my scale over to a 9 for this one. You could see his sheer terror, and his tears were believable! I kept envisioning the kids from Study Group being her students at her next school. 🤣🤣🤣 I would love that to be willed into action (or for her to have an action drama w/JCW or another solid 30-something actor who is great at action scenes).

Thanks for the recs! ❤️

1st Challenge | 2nd Challenge | 3rd Challenge

Hello KC Drama LOVER, I checked out your profile and picked a couple of recs for you.

You can choose one from the following options:

• Let’s Talk about Chu - a miniseries with a unique storyline
• To the Moon and Back - a feel good lakorn, plus a beautiful love story 
• Watashitachi wa Douka Shiteiru - Yokohama Ryusei and Japanese sweets! ✓ 

*In case you don't like any of these, msg me!

Open for any recommendation, specially from Japan, Taiwan, & Thailand. Feel free to check my completed drama list to see what I've enjoyed!

Edit: 1

I accept Pinwheel’s recommendation to watch Chastity High. Hope to enjoy the drama!  

Status - PTW

4th Challenge complete!

Hi, Pinwheel! My turn to give you some recs!

Hot Stove League because you mentioned sports and this one made me believe I love baseball for 16 episodes.

Flower of Evil thriller, dark, psychological

Taxi Driver action+thriller, justice served in unconventional ways for dark crimes

Study Group action, comedy, dysfunctional school setting 

Seirei No Moribito adventure and action with my fave badass FL warrior-it is listed in 3 parts (22total eps), but they are one continuo story (Part 2, Part 3) —be sure you can find it all before starting or you may be frustrated if you end up only seeing part of the story. When it stopped being officially licensed and the main two illegal sites went down, a lot of titles got harder to find.

Open for recs! No dubbing, up to 24 hours length. Ignore my PTW since it indicates nothing about what I actually want to watch anymore and is more a “when it airs, this way it’ll show on the calendar in my list” tracking tool mixed with “adding everything a fave actor is in” compulsions. 😅

Always and forever welcoming thrillers, weird/unique stories, and richly developed plots and characters. I’m getting over the flu, so laugh out loud comedy would probably hurt more than help right now. 😭 Sci fi and fantasy are welcome but I might be more judgmental if they don’t sell the universe to me well. :)