[✔]Dramas watched in 2026

12 01
https://kisskh.at/profile/mengosteen/feeds/jqqxyzuO

Disclaimer: I watched it re-edited into 12 episodes, 30 minutes each, so if you watched a different version then your viewing enjoyment may vary...
100% my favourite short drama so far, even if the budget was 5 dollars (and it shows). It's just a story about friends overcoming difficulties together and forming long-lasting relationships despite their differences. Not even death will stop them.
There's a couple of different stories centered around all kinds of love: a mother and her son, friends, lovers, doctor who loves the humanity... Funny at times but mostly touching
If it had a decent budget then it would've easily become one of my fav shows. For now it's like 7.7 rounded up to 8.0

Meng approved

18 01
https://kisskh.at/profile/mengosteen/feeds/LwwLqJi2
Meng's 2026 project part 1 - finishing up ancient shows that have been stuck on my list for ages. This one since 2024 (so not THAT long).
A hotchpotch of different genres, sometimes blended seamlessly, sometimes not at all. It's divided into two parts: one comprises police work, undercover dealings and an assassin organisation, and the other focuses on... food and gives you tips on how you're supposed to eat them, how to achieve the best texture and taste. The show switches between them: a little murder investigation, eat a burger with wagyu beef, investigate a drug sale, go eat hotpot and spend 15 minutes describing why crab and duck should, in fact, be put in one pot. The transition could've been done better because while I did enjoy both sides of this show, sometimes the transition was just jarring.

I really liked our leads and their little budding friendship; some of the background characters were alright. On the other hand some of the plotlines were straight up stupid so it evens out. This is something you watch for the vibe, and the policework and handsome assassins are just an added bonus. In general I recommend it, it's an entertaining show that doesn't require much thinking and 100% vibe and aesthetics.
7.6/10, Meng approved

18 01
https://kisskh.at/profile/mengosteen/feeds/kBBKEwIk
Unique black (?) comedy about death, featuring the trademark Nagahisa Makoto's colourful and dynamic aesthetics, If you've seen any of his works, you know his flair and his... interesting attitude towards death.
Recommended if you don't mind some Japanese arthouse in your life.

18 01
https://kisskh.at/profile/mengosteen/feeds/5vvVXQtn
I watched a bunch of One Piece shorts on youtube lately so The Algorithm recommended this little gem to me.
It was released as a special project alongside the 100th volume of One Piece and features excerpts from the anime version of OP, as leads fall back on them while on the crossroads of their lives. Must see for manga/anime watchers/readers and double must see for One Piece fans. Divided into 5 episodes, each episode has a different story

Directed by Ninagawa Mika

20 01
https://kisskh.at/profile/mengosteen/feeds/ABBW5duA
I knew it was going to be bad since the first episode.
They took a very complex and difficult subject, cheapened it and put it into rigid frames of right-or-wrong (even though the show pretends to be non-judgmental) and slapped a goody two shoes female lead + callous male lead on top of that. Meh

I guess the camerawork is decent?
It always amazes me how some Japanese screenwriters capture human nature so well, while the others... produce this.