2025 Kdramas

I found this interesting, although not perfect by any means, but it engaged me. I think this could've been a moment if they had taken the story a bit more seriously. 

Just like any other Netflix series, this show is easy on the eyes . The storyline so far has been engaging, and I can't help but feel like this is what Good Partner was attempting to curate. However, the aleads are generally just pretty faces without depth. For emotional driven legal dramas, this is necessary in pushing the story. One can only hope they improve as the drama progresses. 

Also, this outdated use of a fatsuit is so—

This is the type of show I would have liked 5 years ago. Outside of the first two episodes being utterly stupid, I guess because they have so much to set up, it's entertaining but in the cheapest way possible. You can't just put on a Song Joong Ki wig and be Song Joong Ki! Writing aside, I think what this show is missing is finesse.

That said, a complete kee. Sometimes you watch for a laugh!

My assumption was that it'd be a really fun and lighthearted show. I can't necessarily say we got the opposite, as that would mean angst and drama. There is drama, but it's not being delivered to a satisfactory level. Wouldn't recommend just because there are a dozen dramas with this same concept that do it 10x better.

My first impression was pretty weak as I couldn’t understand how this story would hold up. It felt flimsy at best and proved so early on. However, as the drama progressed and the side plots became more prominent, I found myself invested. That said, I found the writing to be very spoonfed and incredibly linear. There felt like there was little room for the viewers to critically think and explore developments for themselves. Despite that, it still culminated in a pleasant viewing experience 

I’m still sceptical about the main plot line in earlier episodes and would like to understand the mindset of the writer when developing it. I can’t possibly wrap my mind around the intent. I wanted the writer in jail if I’m being completely honest. 

Lastly, the series is incredibly well directed with beautiful cinematography. 

This is going to be a fun ride, and I'm excited for the weeks to come. Alongside Our Unwritten Seoul, one of the best show introductions to date. Very well fleshed out, and they didn't miss a beat. Super concise storytelling, and that's what we love. The sequence at the end of episode 1 was stellar and deserves discussion of its own.

Update: Another drama that has become romantic drivel. And more painfully so, it has become convoluted by nonsensical and frustrating developments for the sake of progressing the plot (might I add, lazily). Such a shame, as this was one of the most promising shows of the year following WLGYTs. Even if they reel it back in, I don't think I could give it anywhere past a certain score in good faith. To the point I've temporarily dropped it.

Every week, I'd check the mdl community and it seems like this show got progressively worse and less grounded in reality. I've been forced to lower my already low score.

This is really fun. A little silly, but super fun. I'm only halfway through, but it's been pretty enjoyable and not entirely predictable. I appreciate them taking a seemingly simple formula and doing it well. It's perfectly cast, the FL has the air of a lovestruck teenager while maintaining a level of responsibility (not too much) as a budding shaman. The ML is stoic without being boring or stiff, which has proven to be hard for recent dramas. And I don't hate the love triangle, and that eventually shifting to the background in favour of friendship, makes for a heartwarming watch. Really interested to see how they wrap this up. This might be one of my favourite shows of the year.

Overall, I thought this was a really solid show and think 12 episodes was a perfect fit. I found that the story was a lot more intricate and layered than I expected, especially towards the end. More so than your average drama, I think they did somewhat well given the complexity, and I would've liked to experience an alternate reality where they could've fleshed out some of these things in a less ill-fitted way. However, I say that loosely as I think it was a valiant effort. I believe it lies between a 7 and 7.5

The first episode was a kee. However, this took a slightly different turn than I anticipated, so I'm not sure how long I'll hold out. I assumed the FL would live as her younger self in the present, as her husband somewhat foreshadowed in his last days. I did not anticipate this being set in heaven for the entirety of the series.

I was expecting this to be a lot more witty and playful than it was. It culminated in an overdone mess. If you look past that you might have a viable series otherwise.

This was terribly slow. I could not get past the first episode. I do appreciate they were setting up the story, so maybe I'll pick it back up at a later date.

What a painful first episode. A 7 is pretty low for the ever-generous mdl community, so I fear I 'm giving it a pass.

This started off well, but I'm somewhat nervous because anything that could drive the story or provide tension has been removed so early on, so I'm not completely sure where they are going with this.

update: really can’t stand the directing, not a fan of whatever filters they’re using, the long drawn out scenes that don’t actually portray longing just sheer awkwardness, there’s no concrete story, half the time I’m falling asleep watching, the random fated love story that I missed ‘cause I fell asleep (count my lucky stars), poor episodic mini plots that are interesting but not well-executed, lovely characters but the final realisation is poor. 

update update: I find the ml kind of stiff and I'm not particularly a fan of his acting, the story is also just too bland ? not subdued or subtle, just bland. Not a slow burn as the people on mdl would like to gaslight you into thinking... side couple had potential but it got little to no attention. My ranking lies at a high 6 or low 7

I'm really struggling to engage. This has the potential, but things just aren't clicking.

Unironically, I didn’t know what to expect with the name, but I perked up when I saw some of my favourite actors trail onto the screen one by one. It’s both light and heavy, it doesn’t really seek to find a middle ground, rather it honours the spectrum of emotions the characters experience. The only way I can describe the pacing is a type of calmness, there’s a carefulness without being tedious. The writing is subtly comforting beyond simply watching the characters fulfil their arcs. I found myself rewinding line deliveries. Despite faltering a little at the end, this was genuinely a refreshing watch. High 7, possibly a scraping 8.

I haven't finished this yet, but 'linear' is the word that encapsulates this series. And not complimentary. I was hoping for a bit more depth. At most, something to pass the time.

Dropped. Disjointed story, not particularly engaging or captivating. Fatsuit incredibly irritating to look at.

I don't want this to be the second nothingburger of the year, but it's shaping up as one. It's slightly interesting and very boring. I think it's in part due to the flat delivery of the ML, but I suspect that may have been the direction given to him. They need to get rid of the dead air/space in the episodes. And the side's couple's story isn't remotely engaging past their first encounter. Even for webtoon adaptation standards, this show is pretty shallow.

I feel like zombie apocalypses are such an easy sell show-wise. I'm genuinely surprised they flopped. Mind you, it's only the second week. 

Now that the show has finished airing, the consensus seems that the first half is pretty poor (I can co-sign), but there's a vast improvement with the second half. Overall, still pretty mediocre, if that.

I didn't know how much I missed a good mystery drama until I put this on. I will say, there is a slight watchers hump, but it does pay off. The series isn't perfect by any means, as I feel it still lacks that umph and bite, which I can't quite place my finger on, but it held my interest.

As for the ending, it felt a bit too on the nose, slightly heavy-handed. I do wish they had found a way for the culprits not to feel so caricatured. Lies between a 7.5 and 8.

This was quite hard to get into, but once it reached the real meat of the story, it was pretty interesting. Surprisingly, the show that has kept me going in this 3rd quarter. I will say it's a high 6, scraping 7 just because it does become very detached from reality, even if the premise is ghost. For example, them not evacuating a crumbling building for what seems to be 30 minutes??? huh

Once you've watched one high school fighting drama, you've watched them all, I fear. I think I've reached my breaking point with this genre. It started off promising, but my interest has since plateaued. There's been a shift midway, so hopefully that will revitalise the show.

The watcher's hump initially was insane. I fell asleep three times on my first attempt. That said, my investment slowly grew from episode 2 onwards. I was intrigued by the idea of pre-production and production being displayed on our screens. It's like pulling the curtain behind every show and film you've ever watched. There was an adjustment period for me and the leads because this felt like a unique portrayal compared to what I had seen from them previously. I'm so totally sold out at this point. They're doing a phenomenal job. I like that the show is gradually improving; a stark difference from the dramas hitting a sharp decline currently.

I must mention how beautifully this is shot, particularly the last five minutes of episode 4, which are pure whimsy. That alone sells the series. There’s just something so deeply personal about how the show is written and the characters are portrayed. They never once feel distant. I have to say, I especially liked episodes 7 & 8. I also appreciate the bypassing of a love triangle. This show is reigniting my hope in the second half of the year.

I did not know what to expect, but I did think the premise was quite daring, so it was on my radar. Honestly, from the moment I saw Park Bo Young, I should've known it would be a solid project. The first two episodes were one of the best introductions I've had to a kdrama this year. You can tell they had a clear vision; every scene served a purpose.

The story is incredibly layered. With every episode, the writers are reaching deeper in a way I didn't necessarily anticipate. And both the writers and actors have an excellent handle on the characters and how they're presented. Park Bo Young's nuances for the twins are clear and distinct, even with the whole switching places trope.

I have to give it to them for the romance; it's very subdued, but still fulfilling. I think there are some really important and healing takeaways from this show. Hence, they probably didn't want the romance to be all-consuming, and I think they've struck a nice balance which feels natural to the characters.

Update: they fell into the trap, and now we're witnessing a romance-heavy plot. They've forsaken the fragile yet perfect balance. The story feels somewhat lost. Hopefully, it will be able to ground itself with only a few episodes left. I enjoyed following the twins' unique struggles and perspectives on each other and their 'perceived' lives. It was a nice approach to shared empathy and understanding. I really wish they had continued on that trajectory, as it's a lot more fulfilling than a bog-standard romance, especially given how we've come to learn the sisters are each other's quiet and unassuming fortresses. 

lowkey fataphobic but I've been cackling all day during my incessant skipping.

I'm having a really tough time getting into this. I will attempt Hospital Playlist, and maybe the sheer nostalgia will carry me through. I'm quite surprised. I feel like it's hard to mess up a medical drama.

An exciting premise, lacking the execution. I liked the 3rd episode, but that's about it. The rest of the series fell flat for me. Didn't have the motivation to watch the last episode.

Attempted but dropped. I don't think it's for me.

This show did not require a season two, and this is a clear cash grab at the expense of a pretty well-told story. I'm not the type to downplay a piece of media once it has reached innumerable heights in an effort to distance myself, I thoroughly enjoyed season 1. Outside of the slightly cringe portrayal of the benefactors, it made for solid social critique. All of that is lost and made a joke with its return. I want to say it's cheap entertainment,  but given the majority of the games stay the same, it's not even that. I think it'll make a good watch for those who let season 1 go over their heads. But besides the lacklustre plot, you're also lacking engaging and heartfelt characters to buy into. Everyone is so throwaway and lacking of any real depth.

Anyone who believed s2 or s3 would be good is in a pure state of delusion. Better than s3 but marginally. 

Yeah, this is not for me, I fear. The fight scenes were incredibly ridiculous and that’s with me keeping in mind it’s based on a webtoon. This feels like another iteration of Weak Class Hero so will bode well with those viewers. I would watch an episode and be impressed by the blend of comedy and depth and then something utterly ridiculous would happen, and I’d disengage. This has a target audience, I just don’t think it’s me.

Comedy isn't quite hitting the right notes. The story is moderately interesting. Not the best of these actors' repertoires. Beautiful cinematography when it comes to the food. I think this is the issue with an arbitrary number of episodes. Everyone on kdramatwt thought their problems would be solved if kdramas were capped at 10 episodes, but rather we saw a disintegration of storytelling. It's less about no drama being 16 episodes and every drama being 10, and more about the network's flexibility and experience in determining the right fit. Kang Full is a perfect example, with Moving being 20 episodes but not feeling any bit of it, and Light Shop being 8 episodes and telling an otherworldly story.

The music is incredibly distracting. I'm shocked by the creative musical choices. Music aside, uninteresting.

Update: I've attempted to watch this 3 times with no success. Instead, I read some of the reviews and present thoughts; it's disappointing to find out there's not much emphasis on the negotiation, given the title. I thought this would be an incredibly slick drama so that's a shame. I read a comment that suggested Hot Stove League as an alternative, as you actually see the intricate nature of mergers and acquisitions and strategic negotiations throughout. I'm inclined to agree.

Again, a somewhat interesting premise, but it falls short in execution.

I'm finding this to be a very well-balanced watch. Although it's a comedy, the story is pretty well-defined and structured, which sometimes I feel can take a backseat with these types of shows. To the point that if we removed the comedy, I still believe it would be an equally interesting workplace drama. This simply speaks to how fleshed out the idea is. I really like the synergy between the characters, I feel like they set them up really well to the point that even in the first two episodes everything felt so natural and almost gave the illusion you were knee-deep into the drama.

Update: It hurts me to say this since the first 2 episodes were really entertaining. They don't have a very good grip on the story. The idea is there, but from week 2 onwards, it has become a real drag. Incredibly disappointing. In my opinion, they took the most uninspiring route for a plot.

This drama scratches all the right places. I have not watched a cdrama in a couple of years, so I wasn't sure what to expect, but this has all the angst you'd want from, let's say, a teen romance but in a more refined manner. I don't have anything against Wattpad-esque media; it's more what they devolve into. The First Frost strikes a decent balance, making for an enjoyable watch. I was pleasantly surprised by the FL as the story progressed, she retained a really good handle on her character.

HOWEVER, let us stop with the slow-motion and the drawn-out scenes. I'm using God to beg you. Those are the stark and unneeded reminders that you are indeed watching a webtoon adaptation.

My rating lies between a 7.5 and 8. For the sake of the voting system, I've rounded up.

If I'm being completely honest, I was not super engaged for a good majority of the show. However, from about the 6th episode, I started taking an interest. It's a new angle for a period drama focusing more on the supernatural and shamanism, with the palace as the backdrop. An overall cute and interesting watch. And very consistent, which I feel we've been lacking.

I think period dramas are carrying this year for now.

Really fun and does what it says on the tin. It's been a while since I've watched a whacky drama that has hit all the right notes. I genuinely find myself hysterically laughing. However, the reason I've settled on a 7 is because they lose a handle on the story a couple of times, which can be the case with comedy.  Luckily, they tie up all loose ends but in an incredibly abrupt fashion, leaving you no time to process. Such a shame.

Slightly different from the period dramas I'm used to watching but had me engaged and eager to see how things played out.

I really enjoyed this and it made for an easy viewing experience, which feels rare these days. The story progressed quickly, making it nice and punchy, although there were moments I wished we could’ve lingered a bit longer. Certain things also felt like they resolved themselves too easily, but not enough to detract.

The end suffers slightly due to the writing but overall a fun watch. A strong 7, a low 8

When I first heard about this project, I was both excited and nervous. With the release of Light Shop (2024), I started to realise Kang Full takes a very unconventional route in storytelling, and it requires a precision that not everyone has. 

It feels unfair for me to say something is miscast when the writing/screenplay feels generally lacking. With the current casting, though, I think both have worked against each other. In the sense that the script does not do the actors any favours, but the actors do not necessarily lend themselves to the script. I know a lot of people are focusing on the FL, but I'm not sure I'm a fan of the ML's portrayal of the role. There's an endearing nature that hasn't seemed to break through. As of now, it's somewhat caricature. 

I think the FL has done an ok job, given her lack of lines. I think the directing sours her overall performance. Where the camera should linger, you find yourself in a never-ending shot that is then repeated in several flashbacks. I think they needed to strike a balance between impact and conciseness.

I don't think I've ever addressed the musical score of a drama unless it was to compliment it, but the scoring here stands out for all the wrong reasons. I didn't quite grasp its importance until I was faced with media where the music didn't work at all.

The latter episodes aligned more closely to the traditional kdrama model, making it watchable. I think the story itself is just really different and that  gives it a leg up. I think this was just a really difficult story to curate if you're not the original creator and it shows, but a solid attempt.

This is the type of show I think I would have liked 7 years ago. High school backdrop is so overdone that you really need to give people something to sink their teeth into. Mildly interesting, very typical.

I’m slightly upset because this could’ve been an amazing drama. Firstly, I feel like the actors are mismatched, particularly the FL and ML. Their acting and energy just aren’t aligned, which leads me to the script. None of the cases feel fully fleshed out despite being somewhat interesting. I do get that independent journalists/documentary writers have limited scope, but if that was the case, they should’ve opted for a different story.  They always hit roadblocks and seem to be on the fringe of any real information, but somehow get the story… another pretty unremarkable but passable show.

I started this, but I can't quite get through it.

Update: FL is acting her ass off, but I don't know what the disconnect is. I can't finish this no matter how hard I try. This rating is based more on what I've heard, the three episodes I watched, and the acting displayed.

Although I have an attachment to the characters in S1, this is an upgrade story-wise. There was a better resolution when it comes to the overall plot and the relationships between the characters, old and new. This was one of my pain points with S1, granted, it may be based on previous work, but there wasn't enough effort to make things develop logically, even if exaggerated. Overall,  a decent watch. Slightly dragged. I'm tempted to say it should've been 6 episodes, 7 at most. A high 6.

This drama encapsulates life in a way that is so attentive and personal that it almost fills you with dread from the introspection you're forced to engage in. It is a beautiful and very necessary ode to women at all levels of society.  This drama embodies and even breathes new energy into the slice-of-life genre by intricately weaving through the life of a small-town couple in a way that seems straightforward, almost aimless, but is, in fact, very precise.

The acting is phenomenal, as expected from such a cast. I'm pleasantly surprised that I'm not jarred by the use of IU for both mother and daughter; her clear distinction makes for an enjoyable and even technically impressive viewing experience. Park Bo Gum excels as usual, showing a side I've not seen before. The acting is really the driving force for the tsunami of emotions this project explodes with.

The writing is so worthy of praise and mention, especially contrasted with the current drama landscape. I can only describe it as beautiful and incredibly penetrating. To be so true to life's nuances without convolution or rudimentary language is a feat. There are so many aspects of life so accurately depicted and given life through words that it's almost unsettling, yet ultimately moving. A standout drama through and through.

My rating lies between an 8.5 and 9.

The only way I can describe this is a fun (not so much towards the end) waste of money. I don't know why a romance requires this level of budget and the backdrop of space. It feels like a pregnancy and childbirth PSA without an ounce of subtly. That aside,  it's okay-ish but I don't know if I'd be saying this if there was a healthy selection of good dramas airing. Really on the lower end of television.

Update: I want to knock the writers' heads together like a pair of coconuts.

I don't want to brand this year as a disappointment, so as not to discredit the work that is already out, but my God, this series is truly a gem among stones. I don't believe we're in any shortage of "beautiful" series; Netflix has made sure of that, but there are few scripts that have hit the mark til the very end. I'd almost forgotten what it felt like for a drama to not falter at the last stretch. Everything exists in the grey with this drama, literally a perfect depiction of when human relationships are stretched to their limits and emotions aren't imagined in silos. I will never not have respect for the people who pen these stories. This series is not ideal for those who think in strict dichotomies.

The film work was also amazing. I mean, not that I'd expect any less from a series that pulls the wall on the film industry, centres photography and speaks so highly of art. I'm not an expert but they did some amazing things with the lighting and even the opening panel. To me, these aspects read a melancholy, a lot of in-betweens; walls, doors, nature's natural chasms. Almost a struggle to grapple with their true feelings in the moment. 

From the child actors to the seasoned professionals, such a remarkable job was done. I feel like I need to praise the kids because such talent beyond their years. Go Eun and Jihyun put on the performances of their lives and probably some of the best of this year. Just wow, a beautiful, complex drama.