My 2025 "LEFTOVERS" (= "ON HOLD" List 2025)

These are the Asian dramas/shows I started last year (2025) but couldn’t finish for various reasons. They’ve been sitting ON HOLD for weeks, even months.

Since I don’t want to drag these “leftovers” into the next year (2027), I’ve decided to finish them all, one by one, throughout 2026.
The goal is to clear this ON HOLD list completely by the end of 2026/beginning of 2027 (Ahem, a girl can dream!🙄😅) because, knowing myself, I’ll inevitably accumulate new “leftovers” by the end of this year… and then even more by the end of next year… and so on.
So if I fail to complete these shows by mid-2027, they’ll be permanently transferred to my DROPPED list — once and for all.

And in case you’re curious, here’s my DROPPED list: My DROPPED List (so far) (21 shows) - kisskh

6 Shows in total - Status (so far):
# FINISHED: 1
# DROPPED: 2
# RESUMED / CURRENTLY WATCHING: 1
# STILL TO RESUME / WATCH: 2

Ariane Oct 13, 2025

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1. Stranger

Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

8.0

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.
2. Never Give Up

Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes

Started mid-July '25. Currently ON HOLD (episode 6).
3. Ashes of Love

Chinese Drama - 2018, 63 episodes

6.0

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.
4. Rented in Finland

Korean TV Show - 2024, 10 episodes

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.
5. The Uncanny Counter

Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

Started in September '25. Currently ON HOLD (episode 4).
6. BTS in the Soop

Korean TV Show - 2020, 8 episodes

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