Tia

Oh, then in that case, I agree 💀 I just started Climax and it's not boring, just... puzzling. I am looking forward to season 2 of Made In Korea though.

HARSHHHH lmao. I understand though! I heard from a lot of people that Siren's Kiss was boring, I wanted to check it out but I think I won't now. 😂 Climax seems like a slow-burn to me and a little confusing. Thankfully it's not too makjang-y.

I definitely recommend Made In Korea. It's a political crime drama, very noir, gritty, violent, and intense. Nothing too sexual (in fact, it's the *least* sexual male protagonist drama I've watched so far.) Historical drama too, since it's set in the 70s. I didn't think I'd like it but I did, and I know I watch certain types of dramas. It was so out of my comfort zone too.

Would you recommend c-dramas? I've never been into them, but I'm willing to give some of the royal/political historical-type dramas a try! 👀

OMG. Then in that case I'm glad I've stuck to anime rather than getting into the actual dramas. 💀 I hate the cutesy voices the girls have sometimes, I feel like it's a 100% a "cultural preference". It creeps me out- like sir... that's a GROWN WOMAN we're talking about!!! She's 32, not 9!

Very understandable. Sadly the k-entertainment industry is more unfair towards women than they are towards men. 🙄

The SFL in Secrets and Lies was Han Woo-Jung played by Seo Hae-Won (she wasn't good at all to me, really), and the SML was Yoon Jae-Bin (I think?) played by Lee Joong-Moon. Good actor there, but a bit over-the-top in his performance. The FL was Shin Hwa-Kyung played by Oh Seung-Ah and she won an award for it, and the ML was Yoon Do-Bin played by Bu Bae.

Have you started Siren's Kiss or Climax? Or Made In Korea? Or are you more into Chinese & Japanese dramas? 🤔

16-20 episode dramas would count as primetime/weekly dramas, I think. Anything under that would be considered a miniseries. I've watched a few great dramas under 50 episodes:
Penthouse
Return (one of my favorites)
Artificial City
Queen of Ambition (another fave of mine)
Lie After Lie
I'm Sorry I Love You (HEARTBREAKING)
Mine
Made In Korea
Royal Family
Golden Empire
Stairway to Heaven
Autumn Tale
The Lady In Dignity
Dear X
Angel's Temptation
A Korean Odyssey (one of my first k-dramas)
Home Sweet Home... and more.

Currently watching Climax and I just finished Return.

I definitely used to think that non-daily dramas were overrated and boring (makes me cringe now that I think about it, haha), but you really have to find the type of dramas you're into and the ones that you prefer. What are your favorite genres? Tropes? Things you like or dislike the most in a drama? Types of characters? I know I'm not into rom-coms, so I don't really watch them, for example.

So far I'm enjoying Climax! It's more like a noir melo to me, very dark, tense, and gritty. Mature, too. I haven't watched Stranger but I plan to.

I definitely don't think it's a makjang. A melodrama, yes.

Yes, and it's important to remember that a makjang is the STYLE of a drama, not the genre of it. Penthouse is a makjang because it's over-the-top and insane, but it is still a mystery-thriller drama. Mixed with crime and a bit of dark comedy.

Plus makjang tropes don't necessarily make a drama a makjang. If this is the case, then EVERY drama produced in the past 30 years is a makjang. Which isn't true, ya know? 👀

I can follow who's who (out of the main cast), I think I want more explanations plot-wise though!

I don't think it's complicated, it's just... hard to follow. Clearly there's things being left out, but I know that it'll be explored/revealed in the next few episodes. So far I've been on a streak of finding k-dramas I've enjoyed lately!

Miniseries, like 8 episodes or less? I loved Made In Korea (and I'm excited for season 2 of that drama.)

Thank you for clarifying your point. 😊 Because sometimes arguments like these lead to a messy slope of victim blaming (for both genders!) And as of right now, I think it's important to listen to victims, value their stories & validate their experiences regardless of their gender/sex.

Ah yes, and those were at 7:50 to 8:30 AM. TV Novels existed too, same with something called "daehas" (historical daily dramas I think.)

Thanks for the extra info! 😁

I love the grey characters (we need more dramas with a morally grey cast, tbh), the story is puzzling though!

Actually (not to sound like a nerd here lol), they're aired during the evening in South Korea, not the day. Soap operas are daytime dramas in the US. Most soap operas in SK are *evening* daily dramas, but there used to be morning dramas too.

19:50/20:00 KST = 7:50/8:00 PM

*evening daily dramas you mean? 😂

You're welcome! A lot of them aren't popular (or at least, not anymore.) Temptation of Wife is an extremely famous one (I recommend it if you're looking to get into dailies, same with The Promise!)

Maybe the backstory will be revealed soon. It IS a little confusing to follow, honestly, but still good to watch.

People are calling this a makjang already... I'm about to crash out like Cheon Seo-Jin in Penthouse. No way in 2026 we're calling adult melodramas/mystery-thrillers makjangs 😭

That last part is the quiet part that these types of people don't wanna say out loud. It's like everything HAS to be male-centered, or else, "B-But what about us MEN?! 😭"