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And maybe that’s also why the title is We Are All Trying Here — because it’s not just about the male lead, but about everyone in that group slowly trying to grow and move forward in their own imperfect ways.

I don’t think it’s as simple as the male lead being “bad” or his friends being “mean.” It feels more like a group of people tied together by a long, unresolved history where boundaries were never clearly set.

He lacks awareness and crosses lines, while they tolerate him out of history and obligation rather than genuine comfort.


It’s not really a “just cut him off” situation — it’s more like a dysfunctional dynamic held together by years of shared experience, where no one really knows how to step out cleanly anymore.

I could’ve sworn it was around 8.4 about two hours ago, but it suddenly dropped.

Really liked your take on Goblin, especially how you described its emotional tone and character dynamics — that stood out to me too.

If that kind of emotional, character-driven storytelling is what you enjoyed most, you might like It’s Okay to Not Be Okay. It’s Okay, That’s Love might also work for you, though it’s a bit older in style.

It’s about people in the film industry struggling with envy, failure, and not feeling good enough, and how that affects their relationships and lives.

It’s more of a psychological, character-driven slice-of-life than a plot-heavy drama, focused on inner conflict. There might be some romance, but it doesn’t seem like the main focus.

I don’t agree.

I enjoyed the drama overall too, but I did feel like something was missing — and I think this might be exactly what it was. It also feels like they might end up getting married someday 😊

It’s easy to mistake the loudest voices online for the majority, but that’s rarely the case.

Great review—really enjoyed reading it! You captured the characters and their growth perfectly, especially Gunwoo and Woojin. I totally agree that Season 2 felt much tighter and more satisfying.

I wouldn’t say ‘a lot’. There are a few well-known cases like Moon Lovers, Mr. Queen, or Family by Choice, but they’re relatively rare. Most K-dramas are actually based on webtoons or original scripts.
If there are more examples, I’d be curious to hear them.

If you're calling it ‘westernized’ based on the execution, most genre shows these days follow pretty similar global conventions.
So within that same genre, what criteria would you use to distinguish a show that isn’t ‘westernized’? Any examples?
Or would you say most of them fall into that category?

96.

I might be wrong, but I saw him more as an intermediary rather than a subordinate. He even says at the beginning that whenever he’s asked to handle something, the money just falls into his lap.

I wasn’t expecting much, but after the first episode of season 2, it turned out way better than I thought—and honestly, it felt even more immersive than season 1.

Driving under the influence isn’t something that can be brushed off as “just fiction.” It’s a serious issue with real-world consequences, including preventable loss of life. Because media can shape how people perceive certain behaviors, raising concerns about these depictions isn’t an overreaction—it’s a reasonable response. This isn’t about taking anything away from entertainment, but about recognizing that how things are portrayed can have broader implications. Speaking up in this context is also an exercise of freedom of expression, not a restriction of it. If even small discussions like this help raise awareness and reduce harm, then there’s clear value in having them.

Honestly, they all look so good.

I’d recommend both Once Again (a 2020 Korean drama) and Reply 1988! One’s a longer daily drama, and the other is shorter, but both are super heartwarming family dramas .

Probably in the second half of the year.

This reminds me of Liberation Club lol

I agree. I liked how they showed the human side of both families.