recommended by me (series)

"after getting dumped by her boyfriend and losing her mother in an accident, yeo-reum decides to move to a small village to do nothing in particular."

themes: introvert lovers, small town, summertime, mystery, youth, friendships, trauma

strengths: characters, soundtrack, cinematography, acting

this drama is so close to my heart, i would do anything to watch it for the first time again. yeoreum is living my dream life in this. the main 4 were so loveable and yeoreum and daebeom were characters i could both heavily relate to. if you like slice of life anime, you would love this. this drama seriously has my favorite characters i've ever seen out of all of them. this will also be super comforting if you're an introvert with social awkwardness like me lol. after watching this, seolhyun and siwan became some of my all time favorite kdrama actors.

"a young man on the autism spectrum and his uncle work as trauma cleaners, clearing out the possessions of dead people, uncovering the stories they left behind and telling them to loved ones."

themes: trauma cleaners, autism, death, closure, family bond

strengths: accurate autism rep, acting, story, cinematography, characters, soundtrack

as a person also diagnosed with asd, i have genuinely never felt so heard in a tv show. i've rewatched three times and sobbed every single time. geu ru is seriously so relatable, and his relationship with his father reminded me of my relationship with my mom, so my heart was hurting so bad for him. this kdrama is the most accurate autism representation i've seen. outstanding job from the actors. theres a reason why this is one of the highest rated dramas on this website.

"five girls in their twenties come to live together in a house called 'belle epoque,' which means 'a beautiful time' in french. each girl has a particular personality, background, and issues." 

themes: girlhood, college life, youth, friendship, multiple mains, slice of life, comedy

strengths: characters, story, soundtrack

this was actually my first kdrama, and i'm so glad this is what i started with. even though i was 12 when i first watched it, it holds up so well and is still so comforting to me. i love dramas about girlhood. each character had such different personalities from each other, it was fun to see their individual stories. and of course their relationship together as well. i don't even have a favorite character in this because i loved all of them. and its a realistic drama where every single character has their flaws.

"a road to emotional healing opens up for an antisocial children's book author and an employee in a psychiatric hospital."

themes: found family,  mental health, autism spectrum, trauma, romance

strengths: soundtrack, story, characters, accurate representation, cinematography

this is the first drama i watched with autism rep, and it was a good one. i adored the main characters. such an important drama about differences and mental health. and i loved the relationship dynamics between the main 3. munyoung and sangtae were the cutest, seriously had one of the cutest bonds ever in kdrama

"a misunderstood loner is drawn out of his shell after transferring to another high school, where he comes across new ordeals and his first love. "

themes: youth, highschool, first love, social anxiety, bullying, heartwarming, trauma

strengths: acting, soundtrack, characters

the main thing i remember about this drama is how sad i was when i finished it. and i cried so much during the show. i don't remember enough to write a proper review, but i do know every time i listen to the soundtrack, i get the same nostalgic feeling as i did when i watched this, and its just great

"a man with a terminal illness seeks to help his beloved find a long-term partner."

themes: terminal illness, tearjerker, music, loss, romance

strengths: story, acting, cast/characters, cinematography 

when i first started this i almost dropped it because i assumed the main two were k and cream, and the first episode was mainly about other characters. but i promise, you need to keep watching. the other main 2 become really likeable, and k and creams story was one of the most beautiful stories i've ever seen in film. i cried so much

"youngro, a female university student, treats the bleeding suho, a student attending a prestigious university, who one day jumps into a women's university dormitory despite the dangerous situation."

themes: tearjerker, romance, political, nostalgic vibe, dorm life, suspense

strengths: cinematography, story, soundtrack, characters, acting

snowdrop is seriously life changing. i might change my rating to a 10 soon. it's really heartbreaking, and the main story is so moving that i still rated it this high despite some characters scenes being insufferable. (ahem the wives but you can skip most of their scenes) everytime i listen to a song from the ost, my heart actually aches, i miss this drama so much!! i love kang moo. also the fact that it's adapted from an actual north korean defectors journal is crazy

"set in sanpo village where more people leave than remain, the three yeom siblings, chang hee, mi jeong, and gi jeong, wish to escape from a life rife with uncertainty."

themes: melodrama, mental health, adulthood, introvert lovers, siblings relationship, multiple mains

strengths: message, story, soundtrack, acting

this drama revolves around 3 siblings lives plus a man that works on their families farm. the different personalities of the siblings make it so at least one character should be relatable for the watcher. mijeong was the character i related to, and i felt so heard. this type of drama is slow and not for everyone. even i found it boring at first but i promise the characters grow on you. i found 2 of the siblings really annoying at first, but they become very loveable, i promise. 

"after her father's murder, yoon ji woo seeks revenge by infiltrating the police under the direction of choi moo jin, the head of a powerful drug ring."

themes: revenge, action, dark, mystery, violent, crime

strengths: story, acting, characters

i love revenge dramas where the main character is a woman. this was really suspenseful and the story was so thrilling. pretty sad though. i think this is the only drama that i havent had an intense hatred for the villian. i actually liked him quite a bit LOL. but seriously, i loved the main 3 in this. its a short watch too, really good intro to action/thriller kdramas!

"the living and the dead cross paths in a light shop that connects this world to the afterlife."

themes: multiple mains, tearjerker, horror elements, afterlife, tragedy aftermath

strengths: story, cinematography, characters 

light shop is a quite confusing, quite unsettling kdrama and i mean this in a good way.  there were so many hidden meanings i caught in scenes. at first it starts off as a horror show, but the further you get, the more the truth comes out and your questions start getting answers. very heartbreaking but also very inspirational. each character went through different struggles. it was also the first kdrama i've seen in a while with (l)gbtq rep

"determined to escape a dead-end life, a gifted high school student turns to a life of crime to ensure he can pay for college."

themes: suspenseful, psychological, violent, prostitution, youth, high school

strengths: story concept, acting, unique

this is a confusing drama but in a really good way. it's very dark. i wouldn't consider any of the main characters the "good guys" because they all had really bad things about them. even so, it still left you rooting for certain characters. i wish it had a season 2 so bad! also controversial opinion: gyuri is so overhated 

"a mysterious, clever girl named nanno transfers to different schools, exposing the lies and misdeeds of the students and faculty at every turn."

themes: psychological horror, multiple stories, disturbing

strengths: stories, scares, main character

each episode was a hard watch because it was all really unpredictable. you could tell that something bad was going to happen. but you didn't know when it would happen. sometimes you'd think its about to happen, and it doesn't, and it actually DOES happen when you aren't expecting it. thats what a lot of this drama felt like for me. and that is a good thing, its rare to come across such well crafted psychological horror like this. 

"feeling trapped in a stale four-year relationship and reluctant to take the next step into marriage, lee jeong in stumbles into yoo hi ho's pharmacy one morning, nursing a hangover after a night of drinking with her friend."

themes: healing, romance, life, drama

strengths: cinematography, story, soundtrack

watching this felt like watching a really heartwarming indie film. jung hae in thrives in these type of dramas, in my opinion. this was actually the first drama i watched with him in it! the main 2 were so cute and so was the kid. found family is my fav

"xia miao miao is a shy, artistic student who develops a crush on a handsome, talented classmate and embarks on a journey of self-discovery through college."

themes: youth, school setting, first love, comedy

strengths: characters, story

i've been debating what my favorite cdrama is, and i decided on this one. idk how well it would hold up for me now since i first started watching in middle school. but i genuinely found this show so comforting. i loved the main four! he xin was one of my favorites, she was too cute. the high school era felt very nostalgic for some reason. there's a couple things i didn't like about it (some odd things the characters said..) but the story overall is so good and highly recommended, especially if you're just starting out with romance c dramas. a lot of them are very cheesy like this, and have the highschool-college setting.

"woo young woo is a young lawyer with autism spectrum disorder. She boasts a high IQ, an impressive memory and a wonderfully creative thought process, but she struggles with everyday interactions."

themes: autism spectrum, law, heartwarming, comedy

strengths: accurate autism rep, story, characters

this was such a refreshing watch!! i love learning about court cases anyway so this was very entertaining. and it was amazing to see an autistic main character in a workplace! very inspiring for me

"the ups and downs of school, family and growing up test the affection between a budding artist and her handsome but indifferent classmate and neighbour."

korean ver also recommended, though this one is a LOT better!

themes: youth, school setting, first love

strengths: characters, story

this one is a classic for me, it was my second cdrama i ever watched. i only gave it a try because of shen yue, and i ended up loving this more than meteor garden. it's very cheesy and has the same highschool-college plot that most of the other cdramas on here have.. lol. a must watch for getting into cdramas

"a close group of friends experience the ups and downs that come with growing up and adulthood, such as love, money, career aspirations and heartbreak. "

themes: youth, romance, school setting, heartwarming

strengths: plot, nostalgic feel

a very comforting youth drama (as you guessed.. highschool-college plot). i don't remember much about it other than i was kinda obsessed with it after i first watched. i remember really liking mei li

"a house-poor man and homeless woman become housemates in a drama that examines the institution of marriage and the problems that young people face today."

themes: marriage of convenience, life, healing, romance, social issues

strengths: characters, soundtrack, story

i put this so high strictly for the main two! i found the side plots a bit boring but they were entertaining enough to keep you watching. kinda made me fall in love with lee min ki despite watching my liberation notes before this, and finding his character annoying in that. also his character in this is so autistic presenting, his way of thinking just completely reminded me of myself? thought i was going crazy and then i saw other people talking about it. anyway this is overall about societal issues and healing, just go into it without knowing what to expect. 

"arisu ryohei—a listless, jobless and video-game-obsessed young man—suddenly finds himself in a strange, emptied-out version of tokyo in which he and his friends must compete in dangerous games in order to survive."

themes: survival game, suspenseful, sci-fi

strengths: loveable characters, great plot

this is the first drama i mention when someone is fangirling over squid game. you will like this. I PROMISE. i'm so excited for season 3. i loved most of the main characters so much!

"four young men come to the rescue of a former classmate whose family has been sucked into the clutches of a religious cult and its charismatic leader."

themes: religious cult, psychological, dark, drama

strengths: story, characters, acting

this drama starts off very spooky.. in the best way possible. it's about a girl whos family gets sucked into a religious cult and she's the only one that isn't fooled, and she gets help from former classmates of hers. it also focuses on seperate problems her previous classmates are dealing with on their own. it's very disturbing and thrilling. also just very sad but i enjoyed it a lot. the acting from seo ye ji is seriously amazing. and this drama was my intro to woo do hwan whom i love as an actor

"years after surviving horrific abuse in high school, a woman puts an elaborate revenge scheme in motion to make the perpetrators pay for their crimes."

themes: school bullying, revenge, drama, psychological 

strengths: characters, satisfying story, cinematography 

let me start off by saying.. I LOVED THE CHARACTERS SO MUCH IN THIS. not the bullies ofc, but dongeun, yeojung, hyunnam and doyoung were incredibly likeable. i've never seen a revenge drama end this satisfyingly, there's always some loose ends in the other revenge dramas i've watched. 

"an office worker who is insecure about her looks becomes a masked internet personality by night until a chain of ill-fated events overtakes her life."

themes: social abnormalities, dark comedy, violent, societal problems, murder

strengths: plot, incredibly complex characters

mask girl kept me hooked until the end. reminded me of my love for dark comedy shows. in a way, it reminded me of the show "the end of the f***ing world". if you liked that, i think you'd definitely like this. my main critique is that i didn't think they needed to change the main characters actress a third time LOL (though they all did a great job). i literally fell in love with nana! and momis relationship with that one girl was everything to me, will forever miss them.. i wish it went on longer. and can we talk about how great of an actor hye ran is?! before i watched this, i watched the glory and those characters were the complete opposite of each other

"a high school becomes ground zero for a zombie virus outbreak. trapped students must fight their way out — or turn into one of the rabid infected."

themes: zombie apocalypse, school setting, survival, action

strengths: complex characters, plot

i told myself i would always stay away from zombie shows since the idea just grosses me out, but ever since i watched this, i'm definitely more open to them now, lol. i really liked the main four, as well as some of the side characters. i really hope they release s2 soon! i feel like we've been waiting for that forever

"during the japanese colonial period, married playwright Kim U-jin falls in love with soprano yun sim-deok, one of korea's notable new women."

themes: historical, forbidden love, music, melodrama, short

strengths: tearjerker, based on a true story, cinematography 

this show is just heartbreaking, but not in a way that makes you feel depressed after its over. i'm forever angry that they took this off of netflix. this was also my intro to both leads in this

"after discovering his estranged daughter's link to mysterious murders, a forensic detective with autism spectrum disorder risks everything to solve the case."

themes: mystery, forensic detective, ASD, thriller

strengths: cinematography, story, characters

this reminded me so much of copycat killer, but better. the cases in both seasons were very interesting and had me really curious the whole time i watched. the first season is great, but the second season was a masterpiece for me. both were so good though, 2nd is just slightly more enjoyable because you understand the characters more. 

"to uncover the truth about the fire that ruined her family thirteen years ago, anzu decides to go undercover as a housekeeper for the icy mistress of the wealthy and powerful mitarai home."

themes: revenge, trauma, undercover

strengths: story

if i'm honest, not a lot happened in this drama, but i was still very entertained, and i liked it a lot! i watched it in one sitting which is VERY rare for me, not something i've done since i was in middle school. (minus when im sick and bed ridden) it definitely has its flaws, but not to where it makes this unenjoyable to watch

"gu san-yeong, a possessed struggling student, and yeom hae-sang, an exorcist who can see demons, confront a demon about a series of mysterious deaths and the five sacred objects surrounding it."

themes: spirit possession, folklore, suspenseful

strengths: characters, story

i enjoyed this a lot, which i was not expecting. i don't think i've ever watched a drama about spirit possession before, but this was a really good start. i honestly loved the main 3. all of the mini mysteries in this were great, and some of the reveals had my jaw dropped. its one of my first times i haven't found the middle aged man male lead insufferable, i actually loved his character a LOT

"when an aspiring actress hits it big thanks to a candid instagram, her life intersects with many other tokyo women as they follow their dreams."

themes: social media influencers, drama, slight romance

strengths: cinematography, characters, story 

my first japanese drama, and a HIGHLY underrated one. i thought i'd only care about natsume, but rimi's story and her side characters also had me tearing up at times. also natsume, sunny, and nori's friendship was everything to me. sunny had me crying for her 

"a serial killer taps into the media's interest in his murders and ruthlessly manipulates their victims, the police and the media like a puppet master, turning the case into a national spectacle."

themes: detective lead, serial killer, murder investigation, mystery

strengths: keeps you hooked, interesting characters, acting

i watched this for fandy fan haha.. but it was actually a super good thriller. im always very interested when a shows premise is capturing a serial killer. the reveals in this were crazy, but i felt very smart because i predicted some of them lol. i found the main guy very cool in this despite finding him revolting in 'shards of her' so i guess that just shows how great the actors are in this. seriously. like is that even the same person

"three young people who each lost a loved one in the same building collapse attempt to navigate their relationships through the haunting pain of the tragedy while helping to construct a replacement building."

themes: tragedy aftermath, workplace, trauma

strengths: characters, soundtrack, story

an excellent drama about (mainly) two peoples young adult lives who survived a building collapse when they were kids. has a lot of great representation of survivors guilt and it's just really sad but also healing since the main 2 found each other. regret not watching this one sooner. the side characters were a bit boring to me but the main two.. i loved their story so so much

"a student changes her hatred for a substitute teacher into hidden love that drives her through emotional ups and downs."

themes: college, drama, romance, coming of age

strengths: characters, story, realistic

this is quite an underrated cdrama, and i think it should have higher ratings. some of the characters come off as cheesy (ahem bai lin) but the characters are actually quite complex and its one of the more mature cdramas i've seen. i liked all of the characters, but i took a great liking to qiqi and xiaotang. if you watch this, make sure to watch the sequel movies because they provide proper conclusions to the drama. i loved the girl friendships

"hundreds of cash-strapped contestants accept an invitation to compete in children's games for a tempting prize, but the stakes are deadly."

themes: survival game, disturbing, thriller, death, multiple mains

strengths: characters, plot

because everyone is crazy about this show, when i went into it i thought it was going to be the best thing i have ever seen. it wasn't but its still something i highly recommend. really suspenseful and also sad. the 2nd season was really good too, minus the first couple of episodes. jo yuri i love you! this show did a great job at making you hate certain characters and love the other ones. so excited for season3, please live jo yuri please please please

"following the death of his family in an accident, loner cha hyun soo moves to a new apartment. his quiet life is soon disturbed by strange incidents that start occurring in his apartment, and throughout korea."

themes: action, sci-fi, horror

strengths: characters, story, acting

i found this show as a recommendation to me, and i really enjoyed it. at the time, only season 1 was out. when s2 dropped, i was disappointed on how it was different from the first season, but i kept watching it and i really loved the new characters they added. it actually made me like s2 more than s1. s3 on the other hand, i wasn't too big of a fan of. it felt unsatisfying. but the story overall is so good, and you're sure to have a good time watching s1 and 2. 

"fujinuma satoru is an aspiring manga artist who has the ability to travel back in time moments before a life-threatening incident, in which he is able to prevent those from happening."

themes: anime adaption, murder mystery, time travel, supernatural

strengths: exactly how an anime live action adaption should be 

the erased anime is one of my favorites. this was my first time watching a live action adaption of an anime that i was actually interested in. this was seriously so impressive, sure, some of the special effects didn't look too realistic, but they made it amazing with what they had to work with. it's so close to the anime, all the actors fit they're roles SO perfectly. and a bonus, near the ending, theres extra scenes that weren't in the anime, which gave the story a much more fulfilling ending. highly recommend

"against his wishes, a big-city veterinarian relocates to the countryside, where he meets a policewoman, a town insider with a friendly secret."

themes: countryside/farm life, romance, drama, heartwarming, slice of life

strengths: characters, cinematography, soundtrack

well, anytime i see that a drama is about random people's lives in some small countryside-like setting, you bet it will be added to my watchlist. and this was so enjoyable. i actually liked the "oh and they knew each other in the past too" trope that they added, cause in some other kdramas it just feels stupid and incredibly unrealistic (crashlanding on you..) but this was really cute and all the characters were rlly cute and enjoyable to watch. i love red velvet and i also mainly watched for joy. she was too cute in this seriously

"a woman born with superhuman strength is hired by the CEO of a gaming company, to be his bodyguard."

themes: supernatural, comedy, romance

strengths: characters, story, soundtrack

this is a cheesy one, but a classic. i think it was my 2nd ever watched kdrama, and i'm glad it was one of my starters. bongsoon and minhyeok were so cute and such funny characters. AND THE FACT THAT THEIR ACTORS LIKED EACH OTHER IRL??? ugh i miss them. even though its mostly comedy, theres a lot of suspenseful and messed up scenes too so it has a bit of everything depending on what genre u enjoy

"a magician living in an abandoned theme park makes troubles disappear for a disenchanted teenager enduring harsh realities."

themes: mental health, school setting, magic, slight musical

strengths: characters, story, acting

let me start off by saying, I HATE MUSICALS. so when i first went into this i was preparing for the worst. pleasant surprise, this was actually great. there wasn't even that many musical scenes despite the drama opening with one. and a bonus they're completely skippable. i had to watch them in 2x speed LOL. i loved how it covered mental health as well

"a passionate architect loses his heart to a free-spirited woman and sets out to reunite with her on the streets of seoul."

themes: interview style??, drama, romance, multiple mains

strengths: story, cinematography, acting

i thought i was going to hate this because it looked stupid, but i did not at all. i liked the main 2 the most but the side characters were also pretty enjoyable to watch. and if i remember correctly, its a short drama. i remember thinking the acting was pretty outstanding, especially with changwook and jiwon

"two people have been friends for two decades, but a mere two weeks of living together blurs that fine line between love and friendship."

themes: romance, music career, unrequited love, friends to lovers

strengths: story, cinematography 

 such a good watch, which i was not expecting when i saw the length lol. there's only 4 episodes but it's a really cute story and has a good & satisfying ending. highly recommend if you're looking for a short drama to watch. also the aesthetics of this drama were so pretty!

"eight individuals trapped in a mysterious eight-story building participate in a tempting but dangerous game-show where they earn money as time passes."

themes: psychological thriller, violence, multiple mains

strengths: story, acting

the second show i mention when someone is looking for shows similar to squid game! there were few characters i liked, which usually makes me want to drop a drama but this one kept me hooked and i felt good about it at the end. the scenes where they were enduring psychological torture and stuff were really uncomfortable to watch, i felt their despair! great acting, and a very unique concept. not the debt desperateness thing, but what they went through was something i hadn't seen in a drama before. its similar to squid game but also really different, its more focused psychological torture than people dying left and right. you'll get what i mean when u watch it. it also starts of as somewhat of a comedy and slowly gets darker and darker each episode. the build up was crazy

"waking up from a coma, an accomplished headhunter finds herself in an alternate reality where she has to revisit an excruciating childhood trauma."

themes: sexual abuse, childhood trauma, mental health, multiple realities, mystery

strengths: sensitive approach on the subject, cinematography, soundtrack

despite the plot holes i noticed and the confusion on certain things, i rated this pretty high because i think the creators of this did an incredible job at approaching this sensitive subject, in a way thats respectful to victims and shows every part of what they might be going through. it's a pretty good drama for spreading awareness. it also highlights a lot of societal issues and i love the way in which they did that. also can we talk about how great her bf is to her in the first reality, seriously a breath of fresh air from the other men in this show. the fl's brother was also super sweet, love him

"ban ji-eum, who can remember all her past lives, sets out to reconnect with a lost love from her 18th life, which was cut tragically short."

themes: reincarnation, romance, drama, healing

strengths: SOUNDTRACK, cinematography, characters

i had higher hopes for this drama than what i got, but it was still a great watch. loved the main 4. haven't liked the soundtrack for a drama this much in a while. it had some side plots that i really did not enjoy.. (reaching back to her first lives) but the original premise made the show really good!

"sang zhi falls in love with her brother's friend duan jia xu, and they grow closer after she starts attending the same university."

themes: first love, college life, coming of age

strengths: characters, soundtrack

oh this drama was all over every social media feed ever. i finally watched it when i saw it was added to netflix. and tbh, it's one of the less great cdramas i've seen. during the first episode especially, i was weirded out like.. i still don't understand why they had to use that young of an actress for the first episode when they're age gap was 5 years. she was supposed to be 14 and her actress looked 9. if you can get past that weird decision on the creators part, this was a really wholesome drama. one of the most respectful, green flag ml i have ever seen in a drama. 

"people must rise to combat unidentified parasites after they violently take over human hosts and gain power."

themes: sci-fi, action, survival

strengths: story, cast

i have never read the manga or watched the anime so keep that in mind. this was my introduction to the fl, jeon so nee, and i kinda fell in love with her acting in this. this was a really cool show and i'm glad i gave it a try, although its not usually what i go for

"in disguise as her friend, ha-ri shows up on a blind date to scare away her friend's prospective suitor. however, plans go awry when he turns out to be ha-ri's CEO."

themes: romcom, cliche, workplace

strengths: characters, soundtrack

this was a popular one when it was airing. and it was very entertaining, i actually watched it all in one sitting when i was sick. will forever be obsessed with the secret number OST. i remember all of the 4 main characters being really enjoyable to watch!! as one of the top reviews says.. "cliches done right"

"a college student moves into the same shared house as doona, an kpop idol who has taken early retirement."

themes: romance, idol industry, youth

strengths: story, soundtrack, cinematography 

i actually liked this a lot, i went into it not knowing what to think because of those top reviews.. but it caught me by surprise. (i forced myself to try it because i love suzy) this drama mainly focuses on the toxicity of the idol industry and idol dating. if you go into it knowing that and not expecting a feel good romance, then i don't think you'll be disappointed (tho the mains relationship is obviously a big part of the plot) . both leads had their flaws but it was realistic, and they go pretty deep into why they are the way they are. this drama shows a sad reality but probably a realistic one for idols and the people that they know outside of their career. overly hated is all i have to say.

"fifteen years after being stranded on a remote island, an aspiring singer reenters society, stopping at nothing to pursue her dream of becoming a star."

themes: trauma, healing, music, romance

strengths: characters, story

this was a kdrama i thought i was going to LOVE. it didn't reach that, but it overall was still quite enjoyable and i'm glad i finished it. i really enjoy the found family trope lol, this was actually pretty heart wrenching. very inspiring. i think the 2 brothers were my favorite though, woo hak was really funny. the actors that played the kid versions of the main characters did an excellent job, i can see i really bright future for their careers

"bullied for her looks, mi-rae gets plastic surgery hoping for a better life. but she faces new challenges in college."

themes: insecurity, mental health, romance, college life

strengths: great focus on toxicity of beauty standards, soundtrack (ily weki meki)

talk about an overhated kdrama.. i always see people saying this is the worst thing they have ever seen. yes its a cheesy one, and definitely not my preference, but it actually really highlights the problems with beauty standards and i appreciated that. not only did the fl get plastic surgery because of how other people viewed her, but she still continued to get teased afterwards because of the obvious work done on her face. and one of the side characters, obsessed with looking perfect to others, struggles with an eating disorder. yes there are very cringe parts and the acting isn't great, but oml it is not as bad as people exaggerate. its an enjoyable slice of life university drama. its one of my least favorite on this list, but would i go as far to say its 0 stars?? um definitely not 

"one tranquil summer, a mysterious woman checks into a vacation rental — triggering events that disrupt the lives of the owner and those around him."

themes: psychological thriller, murder, countryside

strengths: story, characters

this was so enjoyable. i didn't have a love for any of the characters, but all of them and their stories were very interesting and it kept me interested. also i thought it was an funny decision to make the surroundings so peaceful in this drama, despite all of the stuff thats going to go down. before it got crazy, it kinda felt like a ghibli film hahaha. but i thought that made it a lot cooler and psychological horror-ish bc of the fact that u know its a dark drama. i love you go min si i watched this for you

"dong shancai is determined to excel at her dream university, where she encounters an elite clique of dashing, popular high-achievers -- and also finds love."

themes: university, romance, love triangle, comedy

strengths: soundtrack, nostalgic 

this probably wouldnt hold up for me now but i loved it when i was like 13. i was so obsessed that it felt like a crime to not add it here lol.  the reason its lower is because there were some problematic things about it that i do not condone now that i understand more. but for middle school me? peak cinema

"a young woman has visions through her dreams of terrible things that will happen to people in the future; a prosecutor tries to prevent these dreams from happening in real life."

themes: supernatural, romance, love triangle, law, mystery

strengths: side plots, cast, aesthetics

i'd definitely have to disagree when people say this is masterpiece. i found it slightly boring and the romance between the main two wasn't all there for me. but the supernatural and law element, that was pretty good. and it was beautiful aesthetic wise. if you like those things, this would be a good watch for you! I LOVE BAE SUZY