DramaHeroine

I feel this deep in my spirit. I need a sequel stat.

This is totally silly on every front, but the silly is working for me right now, lol.

I would love a season 2, but I don't know that there would be any story for them to tell.

Motivation to finally watch the first season. It's been on my watch-list for forever, lol.

I also wish there were more reply/answer me dramas. It's a story theme that could easily be done many more times, and there are multiple periods in Korea's history I would love to see such a series set in.

I watched 88 and 97 for the first time last year, and while I wouldn't count them among my favorite dramas, I completely understand why so many people love them. They're very unique in the Kdrama landscape, and the stories and characters are well-written and memorable. I've saved 94 for last, because for some reason, I'm the most eager to watch that one. Fingers crossed I'll like it!

I really hope Nan Joong makes a comeback soon. I love her storytelling style.

Amnesia was a well-trodden trope in Kdramas for a while. I think they've finally shifted away from the trope some, but for a while, you'd find it in almost every drama you watched, lol.

My recs for people looking to get unstuck:

~Jitenshaya-san no Takahasi-kun~
A sweet Jdrama romance with a slice-of-life feel. Just two people coming together against the backdrop of everyday life.

~She Was Pretty~
If you're looking for a more old-school Kdrama rom-com without all the angst, this is a tough one to beat. Lots of lovely messages about being the main character of your life, a great swoony romance, and a second male lead who will make you laugh your head off as he charms his way into your heart.

~Fight Song~
A beautiful Jdrama about perseverance, hope, and learning how to play the cards you've been dealt. The female lead navigates the possibility of losing her healing with grace and grit.

~Gibo to Musume no Blues~
This Jdrama is wacky in the most charming way. I dare you not to like it.

~Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu ~
This is my favorite drama of all time (after Deka Wanko, lol). The romance is innocent and sweet, the leads are deeply likable, and the pacing is impeccable.

~Shizuka chan to Papa~
Be ready to cry. This Jdrama will bring you to tears multiple times, tears of sadness and tears of joy.

~Radiant Office~
The story is imperfect, but this Kdrama gave us a deeply sympathetic trio facing down their potential mortality while navigating the confusing and stressful realities of the workplace.

I actually watched My Mister as it aired. It definitely has a lot of human drama elements, but I don't think it's solely a human drama.

The kinds of dramas I'm talking about are dramas like Shizuka Chan to Papa, Neechan no Koibito, A Thousand Goodnights, Misaeng, Jitenshaya-san no Takahashi-kun, Because This is My First Life (not solely a human drama, but it's a strong element), Boku no Ita Jikan, Fight Song, the Reply/Answer Me series of dramas.

Rather than spoiling what potential romance may or may not be in the story, I'm going to recommend just not focusing on any potential romance, because while everything else in this drama is absolutely wonderful, it's all ultimately secondary to the heartwarming mother-daughter relationship.

Just finished the final special episode (2024 special), and my heart is aching. I'm going to miss these characters, this story, and this universe.

Why can't it just go on forever?

I hAVe So mAnY FEEliNgS NOw tHat I'Ve FiNALLy seeN iT!!!!!!!!

But couldn't the writers have let Akira and Akiko finally get togetherrrrr? I mean, I kind of figured it wasn't going to happen, but a girl can dream, right???

Also, there's no way we'll have flying cars in 2050, but I guess the writers of this drama can also dream, lolololol.

I'm calling it now and saying that this is going to be the best thing I will watch this year, hands down. I'm so sad to say goodbye to these characters and this story and this universe. It feels like there is a hole in my heart.

~How was your drama journey in 2023?~

Hm. That's an interesting question to ponder. I've been feeling disappointment and disinterest in current airing Kdramas in recent years and telling myself I need to be going through the backlist of my to-watch list, watching dramas I missed when they first came out, and watching more Jdramas, because they seem to be producing the kinds of stories I'm really craving right now. And I definitely did more of that last year. But I'm having a hard time stepping away from currently airing Kdramas. I'll keep seeing new Kdramas that sound good and getting sucked in, but I'm ending up disappointed more often than not.

~What is your wish or plan in dramaland in 2024?~

More Jdramas. More old/classic dramas. More human dramas addressing real, everyday, life problems people go through. Ticking more dramas off my never-ending to-watch list. Finally hitting my goal of watching 30 dramas in a year.

~What genre(s) do you usually watch?~

Romance, human drama, and female friendship are my faves, and that's what my 2023 completed list looks like, with Romance taking the top spot.

~What is your top drama listed in this article?~

I haven't watched a single drama in this article, lol, although there are many on my plan to watch list.

~What is your top drama NOT listed in this article?~

I don't really have one. All three 2023 dramas I finished were flawed in different ways. Two of them I still mostly enjoyed in spite of the flaws but the third was disappointing. The dramas I enjoyed the most were from before 2023.

~How many 2023-release dramas did you watch?~

I completed one Kdrama that came out in 2023 and dropped two others. I completed two Jdramas that came out in 2023 and dropped a third. Aaaaand that's it, lol. The rest of the dramas I watched were from before 2023.

~What country did you watch the most in 2023?~

12 Jdramas
9 Kdramas
2 Cdramas
1 Taiwanese drama
So Japan is the winner, but only by 3 dramas.

I never cared about these special episodes Kdrama's used to do. I always thought they sounded boring. But having now watched High School King of Savvy four times (just finished the fourth watch this evening), I really wish I could watch this special now. I want more of this story and these characters.

Your marker for why online harassment wouldn't affect him mentally is that his career was doing well, but success in your career does not mean you are doing well mentally. In fact, many people who find success in their careers are suffering very deeply on the inside at the same time. For example, a beloved actor from the American TV show Friends passed away in October after a year's long battle with alcoholism and drugs. He was very successful, very popular, but even in the midst of all of his success (much of which was fueled by his own desperate, detrimental desire to be successful), were his lowest points in terms of his mental health. His success did not insolate him from mental torment. Instead, it drove him further into his mental health struggles.

As for online harassment, the science is very clear on how that affects people's mental health. The human brain is literally not made to handle the degree of public scrutiny/opinions that public figures are subject to. It's mentally and physically impossible for them to not be affected by it. So yes, the harassment would have most definitely affected him. Whether that or something else specifically drove him to suicide, none of us will ever know, but it was most likely a factor.

The reality is, people who are mentally stable do not kill themselves. Going through such intense scrutiny, experiencing intense harassment of any form, being investigated for potential crimes (even if you are guilty but especially if you are innocent), would affect anyone. It would absolutely drive someone to end their lives.