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 been 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 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 addressed this well. The secondary female character was 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 various 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 support one another despite their glaring differences. Kitagawa'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 such as a widowed neighbor and a stay at home dad among others. 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. A feel-good and healing drama indeed.

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! The kids interacting with each other is so fun to watch!

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

It's campy and goofy. Lee Jun Young and Eun Ji are hamming it up here. But I like the tongue in cheek commentary on fitness and gym culture.  It also features the woes of skinny men and moms of young kids who struggle with exercising as well as how hard it is to liberate oneself from flour-based foods. 

Ok, I did not know that I needed to see Kim Kwon as the competitor gym owner next door (Roy/Bong Won) doing Zumba - hilarious! He needs to be in more comedic roles. 

Also, I liked the ending message - all bodies are wonderful and that you don't need an actual gym to get fit!! 

What the fat?!

Ooku is basically a look into the inner workings and conflicts of the Shogun's harem. Features lots of manipulative women in kimonos vying for the attention of the Shogun. Fascinating and sad. The look into the customs and unspoken rules of the Ooku and Shogunate are also fascinating. 

A rewatch of 2013 Japanese drama about kabuki. 

I am enjoying the focus on: kabuki, the rivalry between Kyonosuke and and Ichiya, the father-son relationship, coming of age vibes, and the love lines. Very enjoyable! 

Min Hyun really sold it as the male lead - the kid who wants to start a study group but literally has to fight his way to that goal. The drama is fun and humorous. It feels like watching a manga or cartoon come to life at times with stylized fight scenes and production value. I also really like all of the female characters!

An enjoyable and feel-good watch.

A psychological thriller set in a girls high school featuring a class that has a strange pyramid game. Dark and intriguing. It also delves deep into bullying, friendship, and the consequences of being a bystander or letting things happen as they are. 

I enjoyed this less than I thought I would. Maybe it hits too close to home? It features a ghost ex-lover, lots of tongue-in-cheek humor, a female lead wading through the marriage pool trying to find her person. It's both funny and frustrating. I really enjoyed the voice-overs and the pop culture references. 

Sooyoung is fun to watch. Features returning to one's hometown, resisting alcohol, reuniting with high school friends, and Gong Myung as a village doctor with a secret. An interesting take on alcohol dependency and small towns.

The second half of the drama felt off to me - the writing was bland and once the leads got together I was less than interested in the journey to the end. 

Third time watching this silly and fun Taiwanese drama from 2015. Yes, Lego Li is of a higher caliber than the quality this drama offers. But this is my feel-good watch - it features a silly moments, a bickering main couple, and naughty students. My guilty pleasure watch.  Special shout out to Nita Lei as Xiao Rou's bestie Pei Ying who brings all the laughs with her zany actions and the silly things she says!

I really love how much this drama makes me laugh and smile. Han Jie is great - he's a tease and also quite earnest in how he pursues the silly Xiao Rou. The drama also presents this great journey of love for these two and how they overcome it. One of my faves.

A youth drama with a group of childhood friends who reunite in the provincial city and deal with their friendships and crushes. 

Zhao Jin Mai seriously has chemistry with all of her co-stars. The cinematography in this drama is amazing and the supporting cast is stacked - lots of formidable actors and actresses as the parents and adults in this drama.

My one gripe is my discomfort with how single minded the leads are towards each other - it feels a bit off and unrealistic. Usually, Chinese dramas are a lot more subtle about teens falling in love but this has the adults actively telling the high schoolers to chill and to focus on their studies and to wait until they get to university! I also think the fixation and intensity these two high schoolers have for each other feels odd. 

I will try to finish because I like Zhao Jin Mai and I think the adult storyline should be better. Dropped at episode 14.

The female lead has a co-worker who is only kind to her! It's tropey but cute. I like how the female lead does not have the typical Japanese actress figure and how well the male lead treats her so far. The chemistry is average and the male lead can come off as an awkward high schooler at times. I did enjoy the episode where the female lead's brother is in town - pretty funny. 

I really like this! The female lead is being helped by the gorgeous Hikaru with style and confidence so she can get into a relationship with her colleague from work. Hikaru has their own secret. I like how the leads both support and influence each other - its heartwarming!

I like the vibes and the chemistry. Even the supporting characters are likable. A fun watch but I feel like the episodes are too short! 20 minutes is not enough to tell a good love story with a gender fluid lead.  Also, watching this while it airs has been torture.

Episode 11 was interesting - it showed how petty and insecure Hikaru is. I understand that Hikaru is working hard for career and dream but snapping at sweet sunshine Haruka was not okay. I  felt annoyed and saw the merits of the secondary lead Kurotaki. 

Overall, a fun watch!

A quick rewatch. Cute but not that memorable. May have needed better writing.

I wish I saw Tomita Miu in more diverse roles - her performance in Switched made me think that she is a capable actress. 

I like how the Japanese version feels like it was meaningfully adapted to Japanese culture and tastes - this feels more slice of life than makjang. I also like how the female lead is not so bent on revenge but living a better life for herself.

Sato Takeru feels a bit miscast here to me - I wonder what another actor could have done with this role. There is something off and I wonder why he was cast...

The antagonist roles felt cartoonish to me - I think the Korean versions were better cast and acted. Did a fair amount of fast forwarding in second half.

Honestly I fast forwarded through most of this. The cross-cultural stuff is fascinating but I do not think the ending made sense to me. Not sure why the two leads were so into each other. Not my cup of tea.

What I liked - the gorgeous leads, especially how good looking Sakaguchi Kentaro is! Also the behind-the-scenes and the promotional activities of this drama was fun!

Awkward couple falls in love. Lots of cute and funny moments. Kyoya looks great in a naval uniform. 

Personally, I really enjoyed the love line between the second leads - Fukami and Fumiko - their chemistry and banter was really fun to watch! I would watch a spin-off based on their story.

The actress seems to be type cast as an OL who falls in love with a higher up at work - this has been the same for her last 2-3 projects.  Not feeling this but may push through with the help of the fast forward button.

Pinkploy and Bank are gorgeous together.Their chemistry is nice.   Pinkploy's stylist did an amazing job in this drama - she served looks in every scene. 

The plot is the usual family drama and betrayal with revenge.  First lakorn that I have seen to openly name a mental health condition. 

A rewatch in which childhood friends pretend to be married and in the process they fall in love. What makes this fun is the male lead has had feelings all along and now is his chance to capitalize on their cohabitation. 

The drama has an interesting filter and production style - moments of utter silence and then a soundtrack booms in. The characters also have interesting dialogues about loneliness, lies, and love/marriage.

A tropey lakorn. I was not feeling the love story between the leads. The family plot lines were more interesting and heart felt. 

Childhood connection and then the two leads encounter each other again as adults when the female leads works the front desk at the male lead's hotel.  The adults in this drama also have their revenge agendas which was interesting. The storyline with the female lead's spunky sister who aspires to be a chef was interesting - maybe more interesting than the female lead's plot line. 

The plot is interesting and dark for a drama with teenagers. It features abuse and loan sharks. The 90s scenes are my favorite - I like the retro vibes and Zhou Yi Ran and Wang Ying Lu are stealing the show with their portrayals of troubled teens who develop a sweet friendship.  There are some really tender moments in this drama - staking out the mailbox, Haitang cutting Yixun's hair, and Yixun's birthday wishes are all about Haitang's happiness. 

The song See You When the Spring Flowers Bloom by DouDou is stunning and a new fave of mine.

The premise of this dating show is novel - featuring shamans and tarot readers. It's fascinating to see how they incorporate their readings/skills to figure out how to proceed in the show. Like Jae won said in Episode 1 these contestants may be more interested in fortune readings rather than dating. 

One thing that I noticed here and I have seen in other Korean dating shows is where one contestant (usually the most attractive or full package contestant) gets multiple interests and one or two interests get no interests at all. I've read about how this also plays out in a similar pattern on dating apps but it is funny and sad to see it play out on these shows too.

I think there will be a tension between who the deity/fate guides the contestants towards versus the people that the contestants like/vibe with organically.  Edit: Yes, fate vs heart is a tension that several of the contestants deal with or think about.

All the contestants seem interesting but I Yul seems to have caught my eye - he seems intense and awkward. He's quite charming and earnest. 

These contestants are fascinating - I want to know more of their backstories and what their daily lives are like. The dating show concept is interesting to a degree but I find the contestants themselves the real entertainment. Compared to Season 1, this season had more mudangs and more fun personalities interacting.

I wonder how much of their spiritual sense/gift is them being extra perceptive or noticing things that others usually do not. 

I do wish the fortune teller on the panel would speak more and provide more commentary.

A bit sad that one of the contestants, Kang Won, was removed from the show towards the end due to breaking the rules - I had liked his goofy energy and his intense vibes (he whistled a lot and gave what I think is some accurate and specific predictions) and his female counterpart had no time to try to get to know other people. 

My favorites in the show were all the male mudangs: Kang Won, Ho Am and Hyeon Il. I walked away with a lot of sympathy for these contestants and realize that it is not easy for them to have normal lives with the professions that they have. 

A short and cute office dating show featuring PDs. 

Welp. I have officially fallen down the rabbit hole of Korean shamanism. It's fascinating how these practices continue in such a modernized nation. 

It's fascinating how they use sacred objects and instruments/music to do their spiritual work and how it can come off as a form of East Asian psychotherapy and performative in the sense of acting out rituals and the grievances of spirits and so on. 

Some of it feels a bit gruesome and a nod to old Korean life - especially the gut ceremonies. I am impressed at how adaptive mudang and the Korean shamans are to keep this tradition going. 

I wanted to cool down my fervor for dating shows so I decided to restart this talk show where couples with challenges share their issues and ask Dr. Oh Eun Young to share advice and insights. 

It's fascinating how much trauma and childhood wounds show up in how people treat other people. Alcohol and financial woes also play an interesting role in the challenges of many of the couples here. 

I do like seeing 'real' Koreans - real faces and bodies, challenges with emotions and mental health, substance use, and financial issues. Real homes. It's refreshing and reminds me of how curated Korean dramas/movies and even variety shows can be. 

Reminds me of the Thai drama 'In Family We Trust' - a large Thai-Chinese family that has several members fighting over inheritance after the patriarch passes away. This drama also features a whodunit since the grandfather was murdered and the leads enter a fake engagement.

Alek looks great in this show with his sharp tailored suits and facial hair.  Some of the plot twists felt over the top and unbelievable and the writing at the end was meh. 

I liked the ending though - there is a lot of value having someone love you for who you are and being by your side to the end. 

I really like this. It's the story of a mother and daughter who end up shifting to a small village in order to heal. It feels slice of life and features beautiful scenery, including a gorgeous home. Very sweet, sad, and heartwarming all at once.

I also like how the adults in this drama have love lines. With more complex middle aged characters, there is an opportunity for South Korea's middle aged actors/actresses to shine and show their talents.

I did feel bored with the drama in the second half - not sure why I lost my interest in this slice of life drama. What kept me going was the middle aged characters - its refreshing to see people in their 40s or older have romantic moments and self growth.

Pleasantly surprised by this short drama - it features a  female lead who can scheme and defend herself like no other, a wild hate-to-love story, and some bits of female empowerment. Also like how the female lead is morally gray and capable of being many things all at once - its refreshing and we need more female leads like this.

Enjoyable.

I like this. The female lead is a capable warrior who loses her memory after a battle. She goes on this whole journey to figure out what happened to her and who caused her almost-demise. The male lead is fun to watch too.

The OST is gorgeous - plenty of moving ballads. 

The drama also features several compelling father-son relationships and the way it portrays the greed, ambition and revenge is well done. Lots of lovely dialogue as well. I also like how there are no good and bad characters - the characters are gray and make choices based on their circumstances and feelings and the drama allows their humanity to show despite their actions or words. 

Also, Xia Jing Yan (emperor of Jinxiu) stole the show in the latter half for me - an antagonist who has a compelling backstory and glimpses of humanity - he was a fascinating character and portrayed quite well. 

Rewatch of this 2019 Japanese drama. 

It's cute because it features a  spunky high school female lead who is quick to speak up for herself with a petty and silly male lead who get paired in a marriage arrangement but develop feelings for each other.

The age gap is problematic for sure - 10 years - and the female lead is still in high school. The drama gives off manga vibes especially when the male lead transforms into a literal doll when he gets scolded by the female lead.

I do like how both leads grow after meeting each other.

James and Ranee star in this period piece as a fake couple even if they are very different - he is a nobleman and she is a buffalo trader. Lots of laughs and campy humor. The period sets and outfits are fascinating and lovely - the Thai jewelry and outfitst that Ranee wears are gorgeous. 

I am curious if real buffaloes were used for filming.

A plain OL enters into marriage with her new boss. Stereotypical but cute. The female lead lacks confidence and the boss is quite charming as portrayed by Shirota Yu.

Where the drama falls short is the implausible premise - a first love that is one-sided that gets realized through the marriage. Also, the constant misunderstandings due to lack of communication and the hiding of the truth was quite frustrating to watch. 

The OST was great.

Rewatch of a 2006 Taiwanese drama. It's silly and cute. The female lead is childish and charming. She enters a fake relationship with a singer who has his own set of family issues. It makes me laugh and makes me nostalgic. Taiwanese dramas can be a lot of fun. Wish that more were English subbed.

A trope filled drama (fake marriage, snowball of lies) that reminds of me of early 2000s Korean rom-coms. Choi Woo Shik is extremely likeable as Woo Joo #1.  Hoping that the ex-boyfriend and the evil uncle do not ruin this drama.

I stayed for the main leads and also this drama made me discover Bae Nara who is quite charming.

Quirky and funny. A sketch club becomes the place where a high schooler with low self-esteem discovers new friends and a new way to approach life. The entire cast is fun to watch. The teens act like real teens - immature. The drama reminds me a bit of True Beauty probably because it is a webtoon adaptation.  The male lead is a fun character - he is quirky, confident and has IBS - we need more male leads like him!

Also Kim Seul Gi is Black Finger - a very cool unnie and member of Spirit Fingers - its a delight to see her!

Kao is stunning as usual. She portrays a real estate agent who ends up falling in love with a male host. The show got draggy and I did not care for the Anitta character.

Rewatch of a 2019 Taiwanese drama about childhood friends who reunite in their hometown when the male lead's grandfather passes away. I like the themes here - grief, duty to family and village, and friendship. The drama makes me smile and all the characters are a pleasure to watch. It also features salt farming and a lovely village as a backdrop to this story. Lots of humor and heart here.

Checked this out because I am a fan of the lead actress but this was quite mediocre. The twins plot-line felt stale and the snowball of lies along with lack of chemistry with the male leads led to tons of fast forwarding. 

With a better script and plot development, this could have been a thoughtful look at body image, fashion and sisterhood.

The male lead struggles with success at work, being intimate with his wife and connecting with his son. The mundane situations and settings feel very real. The drama explores intimacy, marriage, and consent in a very lived-in type of way. The set, the conversations between the husband and wife, all of it feels realistic and slice of life.

Dropped at episode 4.

I like it - the early 80's timeline, the friendship portrayed - all of it is lovely. It reminds me a bit of Reply 1988 but less heartwarming and less funny. 

The negatives - Heo Nam Jun as a high school student is laughable and unbelievable. I think he may have been miscast in this role. Some of the writing requires  suspension of logic - Nam Jun and Yeong Rye becoming besties and so on. 

Grateful for the time jump - I like Kim Dami with long hair and I wanted to see what happens to these characters after 7 years.

Lots of CGI and the world building/rules seem inconsistent at times. Staying for the pretty (gorgeous beading and costumes) and the chemistry between the leads.

Cute and predictable. The female lead was fun to watch and a bit silly.