My 2025 "LEFTOVERS" (ON HOLDs = "Plan to Finish" List 2026)

This was a "leftover" from 2025 that I had just started in December.
FINALLY finished it around mid-March '26.

What a journey ! This was such a Love-Hate relationship between that drama and I.
I enjoyed episodes 1 & 2. Hated episodes 3 to 9 (during which I almost dropped this show a few dozen times because of boredom and sheer frustration). And back to enjoying episodes 10 to 16.
I LOVED the main leads' (great duo) acting skills and non-romantic chemistry but the majority of characters were so infuriating. It made me impossible to connect to them.
The thriller/suspense part of the story was overall interesting but it sadly became almost absent from episodes 3 to 9. I found those episodes quite boring and way too slow. And I'm usually a big fan of slow-paced dramas !
Why didn't I dropped it then and there ? Tbh, I so wanted to. I thought about giving up countless of times but I REALLY wanted to complete that famous -supposedly best of its genre- Kdrama. Everybody and their mothers seemed to love this show and I desperately wanted to understand why, so I pushed through. Do I regret it ? Not really but I'm relieved it's over.

I gave it a generous (for my part) 8 out of 10. I recognise how talented the cast and how (politically) smart the plot is but I think part of the script and storytelling lacked the "fervor/vigor" it much needed to keep me fully engaged throughout it.

Started mid-July '25. Currently ON HOLD (episode 6).

Started on October '25. Temporarely ON HOLD for 2-3 months.

Finally DROPPED it (in February '26 at episode 41/63) because I couldn't bare watching anymore of this insanity happening because of ONE incredibly selfish older "man of authority" who thinks he's a victim.

Started in January '25. Very slowly watched the first 3 episodes. Found it too long, too slow and a bit boring, tbh. The sceneries were beautiful but I didn't feel any "chemistry" between the 4 actors, sadly.
Finally decided to DROP it once and for all around mid-February '26.

IMPORTANT: As a matter of principle, I don’t rate shows unless I’ve watched at least half of the episodes. And the ones I did rate were, in my opinion, rated very generously.

Started in September '25. Currently ON HOLD (episode 4).

Started in October '25. Was put ON HOLD for about 3 months.
Resumed in February '26. Watching it veeeery sloowwwwly.