Watched/completed in 2025

I enjoyed this more than I thought I would - action  is not really my thing. 

I liked this family - very unique characterizations and context.  Great acting across the entire cast. I did not like all the violence and gore - I had to fast forward through a lot of those scenes.

What I liked: the chemistry between the two leads is fire, the quirky second leads are interesting too.

What I don't like: a lot of this feels hammy and makjang. Lot's of fast forwarding. The hidden identity stuff was not my cup of tea - something felt off by the second half in terms of writing.

A cute office rom-com. Pleasant and forgettable.

Can Kikuchi Fuma take on a role where he is not cool and confident? And is more expressive?

The supporting characters and their love-lines were pleasant and interesting - a couple with an 8 year age gap and a couple where the male lead is very insecure about his weight.

I was not ready. This drama made me laugh and cry and then laugh again. It reminded me of True Beauty - the same manhwa feels, the sounds effects, similar sense of humor. It features a fangirl who goes back in time to save her beloved idol and hijinks ensue.

Byun Wooseok is beautiful - he resembles Taemin from Shinee in some angles - and his chemistry with the bubbly Kim Hye Yoon is wonderful. I even love the second male lead and would not have bee mad if the female lead ended up with him. I am glad I waited as long as I did to watch this - I needed this sweet and fun drama to lift me out of my winter blues.

Also Kim Hye Yoon is funny - especially when she goes into auntie/lecture mode ... so hilarious.

The OST was also great.

I liked Mint as the female lead.

But the writing was poor. I felt like the female lead could have been written better - nothing particularly interesting about her. The chemistry she had with both male leads was faint.

The antagonist was interesting but not fleshed out enough.

A couple that is separated reunite again in the workplace. They obviously still have feelings for each other in addition to unresolved issues from their marriage. This couple has a lot to work on in terms of communication and I don't know if the plot will address this well. The secondary female character is also creepy and odd - this character feels a bit off and out of place in this story.

I am curious as to if and how the leads reconcile - they have some big obstacles between them.

Lots of production value in this drama that occurs in Bangkok's Chinatown.

I really enjoyed the moments between Tee (male lead) and his father as they grappled with Tee's blindness. The drama also toucheed on living with a disability and loss of a loved one. I also enjoyed the love line that Tee's dad had.

Morakot Liu as 'Pai' may have stolen the show for me - her portrayal of the complex and bubbly character is lovely. Want to see more of this actress.

Ok, Jeon So Min is an actress that I can watch in anything. I just like her a lot. She portrays a woman who is struggling to make ends meet and needs to find value in herself after her divorce. Her sister and nephew move in and now Jeon So Min's character has to interact with the parents in the kindergarten and other folks in the neighborhood. 

I don't know if Jeon So Min's character is ready for love yet but I think it would be great to see her develop some confidence and self esteem and create a new community for herself.

The humor is great - Jeon So Min is great at doing silly and goofy and she gets to play off Choi Daniel and all the other quirky supporting characters.

Also, Jay, the little nephew is the cutest! Wish that there were more scenes with this cutie.

Features both a murder and a family that disappeared from a creepy and overly suspicious town. I really liked the portrayal of the two mothers in this drama - one looking to find the truth/justice for her neighbor and the other trying to rescue her neighbor's child. I also really liked how the drama showed that the protagonists struggled to make good decisions and that everyone has competing interests at play. I think this drama's message was it is better late than never to make a choice - we all need to remember that.

I also appreciated that the cast was mostly middle aged Japanese actors.

The female lead has amazing friends - lots of fun and laughs. First time that I am watching a dentist male lead and it is fascinating how these two slowly connect over time.

The love-lines in this drama are fun and sweet. The drama definitely  lost my interest toward the end as things got predictable.

This acts as a prequel. Features a lot of scenes from the other two series so it may be fine to skip this - not missing much. I do enjoy watching Maeda Goki.

Features a foodie female lead who loves wheat dishes. No gluten, no life! Viva carbs!

Lots of food shots - don't watch while hungry.

Two people form a business marriage but fall in love while living together. Predictable. The acting and chemistry felt unconvincing to me.

An enjoyable family story about 4 sisters with a focus on the second oldest who is working on becoming a scriptwriter. Interesting characters and circumstances including the missing/no contact third sister.

I like the themes that the drama focused on: the complex relationship between the sisters, imposing your own values on the people around you, career mentorship, and that happiness for modern women can look different and that is ok.

I also like the lead's friendship with lovely and supportive Ritsu. And its portrayal of how women deal with love and their careers.

I forgot how charming Adachi Rika is. She portrays a frustrated OL who is trying to find one night stands. Her relationship with her boss is interesting. The eating of spicy food to curb her desire was amusing. It could have been better - I would have liked if it addressed female desire in a more meaningful way.

Rewatch of this 1996 classic. Been in the mood for old school doramas lately. I forgot how much I liked Kashiwabara's portrayal of Naoki - easily the best version of Naoki with lots of nuance and charm. I can see why Kassy was so popular in the late 90s.

The behind the scenes of this drama is great as well!

The chemistry is strong. Is this a TV friendly version of a steamy manga? Predictable and am curious if the female lead can address her issues at work without interventions from the male lead.

It's great to see Kim Ok-Vin again in a lead role - she is stunning as the no-nonsense lawyer who is good at everything. The drama delves into gender roles and stereotypes in the first episode alone - the screenwriter must have a message to deliver here. 

Enjoying the action scenes as well. The love story was cute and Teo Yoo is fun to watch along with Kim Ji Hoon. I do wish the drama delved more into the female lead's family and past.

I like this - a no-nonsense and capable female lead. The action scenes are impressive.The nephew is adorable. Grandma is funny too. The love line between the leads is great - lots of bickering and also sweet.

A gripping tale of revenge featuring lots of family drama and gray characters. Also visually stunning with its exquisite cinematography and production. The action sequences were beautiful. The second half of the drama lost its steam.

A zany plot involving a NIS agent infiltrating a private high school to find gold. The school is full of corruption, ghost stories, antique clocks, and bullies. Seo Kang Joon is great in this fun and comedic role - this is also a very masculine and mature look and vibe for him compared to his past roles. Jin Ki Joo is bubbly and fun to watch as well.

Low-budget web series. Nothing interesting.

I like the vibe. Focuses on the lives of four young professionals. Macau seems to be another main character in this drama - lots of lovely cityscapes and shots of people, food, and architecture. It is my first time watching Sunny Sun on-screen and I am charmed. I am definitely more invested in the Sunny Sun-Amy Chen couple though that's just my personal preference - the other actors are all great - the acting feels natural and slice-of-life. Also, the OST is lovely. There are several scenes that feel like the scenes of a beautiful music video.The plotline between Casey and little Frank was so heartwarming and sweet - not a usual relationship in dramas.

A cute coming-of-age movie about two identical twins and their conflicts as they move to their grandmother's home and fall in love.

The premise was ok. I did not buy into the romance between the main leads, especially because he was her boss and trying to fire her. The best part of the drama was Ong-ju, the female lead's bestie who was crazy and funny. I would watch a whole drama with Ong-ju as the lead just doing and saying funny things.

Yes, the drama is about a Grim Reaper visiting a young woman. However, it is also a drama about loss, trauma, grief, loneliness and closure/healing. The drama also touches on young love in a sweet and humorous way.

This is my first time watching Kim Min-ha and I am so impressed - what an expressive and natural beauty she has.  The OST is lovely too.

"Everything happened to us for real. As long as I remember, that truth will never disappear."

An enjoyable campus drama with some interesting characters. Bai Xiao Duo has an interesting past and is a likable lead who captures the interest of two seniors who also happen to be rivals.The OST is great and the production value seems better than usual for this type of drama.

Episode 13 + 14 when the comic club visits the haunted mansion - hilarious.

Fake relationship turns real. The leads apparently had a connection in high school and reunite later in the workplace. Includes toxic exes, arranged marriages, and meddling mothers. Predictable. The ending song is nice.

I really like Pooklook -  there is something warm and cute about her performances. Feels like a typical lakorn. The female lead's safety is threatened in every episode and the male lead is begging for skinship in every episode. The chemistry between the two leads is worth it.

The lead loses her memory after an accident and goes on a journey of discovering who she was and what she wants in her life now. She also encounters 3 men in her life - each of whom are attractive and are also lying to her. The drama is cute and interesting,  while also poking fun at the female being dense in addition to an amnesiac.

The ending was kind of predictable but that's ok - the journey to the end was meaningful. The female actress is gorgeous and her chemistry with all the leads was fun to watch.

I really like this campus drama. It features a spunky female lead who falls in love with her senior at the research lab. Lots of laughs and charm. There is also a childhood connection which is interesting. Surprisingly, the drama also delves into the family and emotional challenges of the leads in a meaningful way.

A rewatch of this 2020 Japanese school drama. The male lead passed away earlier this year and the female lead has retired from the entertainment industry.

The drama is interesting and delves into a complex co-dependent friendship between the female lead Ibuki and her best friend Mei. Asada, the male lead,  disrupts this friendship and questions the friendship in an intense way. Also questions gender expression and explores the after effects of trauma.

I had this on-hold and started rewatching from Ep 411.

Not sure how scripted this variety show is but I enjoy the cast members, the moms, the guests, and the themes that the show goes into - singlehood, marriage, divorce, relationship with parents as an adult.

I like seeing everyday Koreans and Korean celebrities not all glammed up in their homes - with messy fridges and bad habits. The food featured always looks incredible. I always watch with a smile on my face. I wish there were more women cast to be on the show and people from variou industries - not just the entertainment field. 

This has a pretty low rating on MDL - looking at comments, I assume it is based on the age gap between the leads. And I agree, I think the directors could have selected an older female actress to play the role of Bua.

However, I will say that during this stressful and busy season of life, this drama is a comfort watch. It's funny and dramatic. I like the rural-village setting - the lush countryside is a feast for the eyes. It is predictable in terms of story line (childhood rivals fall in love after marriage) but still engaging to watch. The male lead captured me from episode 1 while I am taking time to warm up to the female lead. I like the music. I am curious about the time period this is set in - its seems to be an era with telegraphs.

Dropped at episode 9. I can tell where the drama is going and I have no interest to continue. Seeing the kiss between the leads and thinking of the age gap was definitely off putting for me.For what I saw, very silly and enjoyable drama.

2025 has been my year of rewatches. This is a 2021 drama with Eita and Kitagawa Keiko, who have a whirlwind courtship and marriage despite their different personalities and background. Once married, they realize their differences and prepare for divorce.

I like the chemistry  that the leads have. Yes, they are incompatible but they also care for each other and find ways to be support one another despite their glaring differences. Kitagaawa's fashion here is amazing. I dislike the second leads immensely - one of the few flaws of this show. I also like how the drama shows the tensions many modern marriages face because of the demands of their careers and families. I also loved the parents of the leads - its great to see older adults figure out their marriages and lives as well!

A Japanese drama about two childhood friends who start dating. It shows their cute interactions as children and some of their relationship woes due to meddling people and communication woes. Cute and sweet with a lovely ending. A feel-good drama between two people who are good togther. 

A web series about high school students navigating school, parents, grief, and their friendships. It feels edgier and darker than the usual Chinese dramas with a high school setting - there is violence, more developed love lines and skinship between students, students drinking alcohol, and a gritty feel to the adults.

The female lead and the male lead are fascinating together despite their many differences. There is also some humor to lighten the mood and the OST is interesting - lots of English language songs. 

Not my usual type of drama as I don't enjoy watching ghosts/supernatural stuff. I made an exception because of Yook Sung Jae as the male lead - both as Yoon Gap and Imugi. The Imugi scenes are hilarious and fun - how a dragon experiences life in a human body and wreaks havoc in the palace. I do fast forward through all the creepy spirit scenes. 

Also Kim Ji Hoon as the King is so fitting - he should do more period roles since he looks great in hanbok and topknots.  

Binged this. The plot was great - I had no idea of who the culprit was for most of the show. I also think the show touches on redevelopment and the high stakes for housing in Seoul in an interesting way. I enjoyed how the drama blurred the lines between victim and culprit several times throughout the drama. Lots of great cameos by solid veterans as well as a chance for middle aged Korean actors to shine. Son Sukku and Kim Dami had great chemistry together - it was fun to watch them banter and work together. The production value was good - I could see texture on faces, Yoon Ina's wardrobe and nails were gorgeous and fitting to the character. Would recommend.

A fascinating Korean thriller about a profiler who's daughter gets implicated in one of his cases. Stars Han Suk-kyu who is amazing as usual. The real surprise here is Chae Won Bin who portrays the daughter with grit and has great presence on the screen. The drama explores doubts, lies, misunderstandings, and biases in a fascinating manner. The real star of the drama is the cinematography - lots of tunnel vision shots, shots of architecture from interesting angles and so on. 

Another rewatch - this time from Taiwan 2016. Marcus and Eugenie had solid chemistry together. The plot is interesting - its about the male lead taking revenge for his family and the female lead dealing with the downfall of her mother's business. There is a tinge of darkness that permeates the drama and the characters that is fascinating.

There is humor, skinship, and melodrama. The OST is amazing and still stuck in my head. The opening credits stand out from other dramas - a bit Gothic, a bit grotesque. 

Another rewatch. The drama focuses on three teens and their stories regarding pornography, falling in love with their best friend, and increasing their self-esteem. Lovely and with a good message. Lots of humor too.

Really enjoying this somber drama about a grieving family after their eldest daughter passes away. 

The drama focuses on the second daughter trying to find out the truth of her sister's death. An interesting portrayal of how beautiful young women are treated, grief, and the secrets that families keep. This may be the first modern Chinese drama that I have seen that clearly addresses patriarchy and the poor way that women are treated - its a uncomfortable watch at times.

Cute story of a group of high school friends figuring out school, friendships, and other relationships. Nothing new or innovative - just feel good and sweet.

A housewife with the cutest daughter named Ichigo and their interactions with the people in their town. Slice of life and inspiring. Features lots of cute children!

Really enjoying this drama about twins who switch lives. Park Bo Young is incredible as always. Not sure if I am on board with the romance - to me, this drama shines as a life/human drama. I really love Min Ji's character and her relationships - she's a great character to root for.

Really enjoying this variety featuring the dads from "Appa Eodiga?' and 'Return of Superman'. It's such a pleasure to see Choo Sarang (truly the nations's daughter) all grown up and the lovely Lee Joon-su!

A rewatch that I really enjoyed. Good plot and chemistry between the two leads. A marriage of convenience that transitions into a real relationship. My favorite character may have been the female lead's adorable dog.

It's campy and goofy. But I like the tongue in cheek commentary on fitness and gym culture.