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[2017 Year in Review] Dear future me


Seven Day Queen

By Jellybn

There was a time when I used to write down my resolutions for the new year. I would think really hard about what I wish I could do differently in the future and jot down a list in my journal. At the end of the year, I would go back to the list in my journal and see how well I did. Key word: used to. After constantly failing to keep my resolutions year after year, I decided to take that harsh word—resolution—and use a gentler word such as suggestion. That way, the pressure to succeed would be lowered and I might actually have a chance of accomplishing the things I wanted.

This was my first full year of drama watching, and the year I got into on-air watching, following variety shows, and lurking Dramabeans threads. Since dramas are now a part of my daily routine, it only seemed natural for me to write a journal entry to my future self, for ways I can make my drama viewing experience better next year.


Temperature of Love

Dear future 2018 me,

Wow, you sure did watch a lot of dramas this year! Good for you, because I know that’s what you enjoy and use as a means to escape the real world. But maybe you should’ve been better at deciding what to watch, because burnout is real and it doesn’t feel good. You don’t want your fun and excitement to become tedious and require effort, so here are some suggestions you should take into consideration for next year:

First, I would like you to realize that it’s okay to let go. You might like to complete things, but some dramas don’t get better, so please just cut them. You will be fine, I promise. Some start off good, but then by the end… whomp, whomp, whomp. Especially if they are 20 episodes. If by the halfway point you aren’t feeling it, don’t push it. Just remember Ruler–Master of the Mask and Temperature of Love. You enjoyed their beginnings and you kept hoping they would turn around, but they didn’t. Wondering what could’ve been is just so sad, so don’t linger there for long.

If you go into a drama wary of what might happen, don’t even follow through because they might end up worse than what you expected. (Ahem, My Secret Romance, you were doing okay, but those last three episodes should’ve been more like one, right?!) Also, if the beginning was meh, and the middle was meh, then the end will probably be meh too. (I’m sorry, Introverted Boss, Radiant Office, and My Sassy Girl—you were all just meh to me.) Don’t waste your time on things you don’t like. Just let them go.


Strong Woman Do Bong-soon

Second, consider lowering your expectations. It’s sometimes better going into a drama not believing it’s going to be the best ever. You sometimes get too excited and then the drama doesn’t come out like you expected. Genuinely hope you are going to like it and that might be enough. Remember when you went into The Lonely Shining Goblin thinking you weren’t going to like it, but then you did? Same goes for Chief Kim, The Best Hit, and School 2017—you weren’t sure they were your cup of tea, but you ended up liking them so much.

Also, don’t completely trust previews and teasers, as they are sometimes way off from the actual tone of the show. Don’t judge by drama titles either. Some previews and titles throw you off, but still, those dramas might pleasantly surprise you like Strong Woman Do Bong-soon, Lookout, Suspicious Partner, and Go Back Spouses did. I suggest you read one or two recaps and get the overall feel of the show before you commit to too many on-air shows at the same time, especially when you get overwhelmed easily.


Because This Life Is Our First

Lastly, future me, please take the time to enjoy the dramas you do watch. You don’t really like to rewatch things (unless they are especially swoony and squeal-worthy moments), so how about you really take pleasure in the moment while you are watching a drama? There were a couple of gems that you loved this year and they were made better by the fact you didn’t rush through them. I don’t think you would’ve enjoyed or loved Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju, The Liar and His Lover, Circle, Seven Day Queen, Age of Youth 2, or Because This Life Is Our First as much as you did if you sped through them.

Binging is fun, but trust me when I say that you will personally enjoy dramas better if you take it slow and really pay attention to what’s happening around you and in the drama. Even if you don’t end up loving it, but just plain liking it, the memory of the drama is nicer if you take your time to enjoy it like you did for Legend of the Blue Sea, Fight My Way, and While You Were Sleeping. They weren’t your absolute favorite dramas of the year, but you do have fond memories of them.


While You Were Sleeping

Welp, future me, there it is. I hope you listen to my suggestions and make 2018 a better drama watching year.

P.S. When you aren’t interested in any of the currently airing dramas, the Beanies know what’s up in terms of past dramas you should watch. Thanks to Dramabeans Beanies’ recommendations, Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Answer Me 1988, and Misaeng were your other favorites of this year.

Happy drama watching!

–2017 me

 
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Awww this was a really cute write up!! Thanks for sharing it, Dramabeans, and thank you for sending it in @pbnjelly513

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Thank you, @bebeswtz. I'm more on the shy side here at Dramabeans and I debated whether to send it in, so I really appreciate your kind words:)

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This is absolutely adorable <3 I'm so impressed by how many dramas you watched this year!

I think I should take your advice, too. All of it. I especially agree that taking dramas slowly really makes me appreciate them more. While there are many dramas that I binge-watched in just a couple of days that I loved, my memories of them are much more hazy than the ones I really took my time on.

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Thanks for your kind thoughts @mindy. I'm also very surprised at how many I watched because I didn't mentioned all of them*hides in corner*.
I really did enjoy the dramas better once I took my time to watch them. I think "Slow Down" might be my new drama watching motto. I mean if I listen to my own suggestions, you know.

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Thank you for thinking that way, @mindy. I'm also surprised at myself at how many dramas I watched and I didn't even mention them all*hides in corner*.
I really did enjoy the dramas that much more when I took it slow. My motto for next year's drama watching is "Slow Down".

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nice and creative writing ,i enjoy it so much ❤❤
all points you write and those dramas are indeed in my mind but you execute it in such a good way,,,thank you 😄

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Aww, thanks @cassie23. I like writing, but since I'm my own reader I didn't know if it made sense. Thank you for kind words.

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This was really nice to read. Love how you just casually reviewed the dramas you watched, both the negatives and positives. Reading reviews can be quite nerve-wracking for me, personally. So I really appreciate this write-up.

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Thank you for your kind words, Fligthey Gazelles. I can go on and on when I talk so I thought this was the best way to mention a lot of dramas at the same time. Glad you liked it:)

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I agreed with so much in this post! I too hate dropping dramas and it’s made for some pretty painful experiences (I’m looking at you here ‘Ruler’)

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The only drama I dropped this year was Revolutionary Love. I'm a drama finisher and I thought I was going to struggle against myself, but then I totally forgot about it, lol. I was going to just read the recaps, but then DB dropped it too. I guess I am stronger than I thought, baahaha.

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I've always been a drama finisher so its always hard to stop in the middle of the story and not see it to the end. This year I only dropped Revolutionary Love. I thought it was going to be hard, but then I forgot about it, lol. I guess I am stronger than what I thought.

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I was like that at first, reading recaps first before starting a drama that I ended up not watching the first 2 episodes because you see it in the recaps lol. I cannot do the bean count this year because I don't watch all the episodes of a drama. It's been a lackluster year for me and I hope 2018 batch dramas would be better.
I love your write up @pbnjelly513 <3 Thank you for sending it in!

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Thank you for liking it so much, @diniyuukie. I love to read recaps of shows I am never going to see because of whatever reason, but when I like the recaps of a drama, I stop and go straight to the drama before I get too many spoilers. This year has been lackluster, but I somehow manage to watch a lot though. I need to be stronger in dropping dramas.

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Thanks for liking my write up, @diniyuukie. I read recaps all the time of shows I am probably never going to watch, but when they get my interest, I stop and watch the drama instead so I don't get spoiled, hehe. Hope you have a great drama year in 2018!

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I too always end up loving the dramas i dont plan on watching... those that just fall in my lap if you will. this is also my first full year of watching dramas and im glad to hear you had the same taste as me ! here's to another wonderful year of escape

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I think we came into dramaland at a very good time because although this year has been slow for many, it just means we get to go back and watch older shows that are good without having to wait for episodes and subs:) I hope you have a very good drama watching year as well, @JustMe.

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Ooo, I think we came into dramaland in at a good time because although this year has been slow for many, it means that we get to watch only the best of the past years. I hope you have a great drama watching time next year:)

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My first full year too! “High five, fist bump*

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I loved this write up as well!!! Also, if you like an actor in one drama, you will probably like him/her in another, which is another way I tend to watch new and old dramas! And I have no time to waste on bad dramas so DB helps me with this too! Luckily, I don’t have a problem dropping bad ones like a bad habit.

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Thanks for liking my write up, @Ally.I also like looking back at actors past projects and then use a little DB to see which of their past dramas I should watch. I really do need to learn to drop bad dramas!

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Oh, and one drama that had both a gorgeous teaser and an even better story was indeed Seven Day Queen.

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I just really love Seven Day Queen! Like so much, that I can't talk about it because then I ramble on and on...

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I’m planning on watching it soon! I read some of the recaps but when the teaser came out I was already looking forward to it! I was just not in the right place emotionally to watch it at the time!

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I think you will like it as well! I don't usually cry, but I got real close with this one. I hope you get to watch it soon:)

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Can't agree more with this. Such a well done drama.

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I wonder if I title mine wrong or it is just that bad that it never gets posted.

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But you did have one posted! I tend to think that they’re not bad, but not what they’re looking for this month! (I’ve sent in one that didn’t make the cut either.) good luck! 🍀

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Yeah, I hope that is the case.

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Don't give up and keep trying! I'm not in any means qualified to give out advice, but I just wanted to let you know that if you really enjoy writing them, then you should keep on sending them:)

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@jellybn thank you for this little submission!! it was really cute and i found myself relating to your points a lot. watching currently airing dramas really limit binging and allow the excruciating suspense to drag you through a week, but it’s on your mind so much that at the end of the series, you kinda feel it was MUCH BETTER than it really was.

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Yes! That waiting time for the next episode makes you recall in your mind what you saw last time and the anticipation builds up and the show gets better because the wait was worth it. Plus, some self control is good, unlike when you binge watch and suddenly find yourself in the fourth episode, oopsie!

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Enjoyed reading your post @pbnjelly513!

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Thank you, @korfan!:)

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Thanks for writing a fun and cute article @pbnjelly513 ! I think this is the first of its kind, compared to previous Beanie submissions/articles.

May you enjoy your 2018 watching experience! 😊

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Aw, thank you, @sriracha.
I hope you have a great drama watching year in 2018 as well!

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That was a really cute essay on KDramas for 2017. The ending was even better because, yes! That's how I've watched old(er) shows: by scrolling through Dramabean comments and suggestions !
Thanks, @pbnjelly513

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Thanks @kethsyk. I only have one close friend who watches dramas and although we enjoy a lot of the same things, I always come to Dramabeans for action-y and mystery recommendations. They haven't let me down:)

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Totally agreed with you not to completely trust "reviews". Strong Woman DBS is a classic case here, this is the most fun and adorable drama this year. Honestly, feminism is something you have to throw away for a moment as far as kdrama watching is concerned.

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I feel that the reason many didn't like SWBDS was because it was a romance/thriller/comedy, but I actually like all three so I really did enjoy it all the way through, even though there was some whiplash, hehe. The Bong-bong/Min-Min couple was so cute!

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aww this is one of the cutest end year essay i read :)) your drama watching is really spot on! All of the good ones that you watched, i watched too . And YES on the forest of secrets thats put on hold. I always try to watch past episode 2 but can never seem to finish it for some reason...

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Thank you @shoesrgreatrite! I actually finished Forest of Secrets a couple days ago and I really liked it. I couldn't watch it on-air, but since its on Netflix, I was able to see it on the big screen in my bed, lol. It's nice to find someone with my same taste:)

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Eeep, my submission got posted! I had a really stressful morning, so it was a nice and pleasant surprise to find this after finally getting some down time. Thank you Beanies for all your kind responses and thank you Dramabeans for posting my submission. It was really hard to press "Send", but I'm glad I did:)

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Wow, you did watch a lot of dramas! I don't know if this helps, but my 2017 person learned to follow only two ongoing dramas, because yes, the burnout is real. And then I would catch up on other dramas once in a while with a good ol' marathon, because at heart I am still a binge-watcher. I like my food served all at once, Subway included.

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I like your idea of following two ongoing dramas! I tried it a little this year, but as you can see I watched a little more than that. I am a recovering binge watcher, but I can appreciate a lil' marathon once in a while:)

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I must say I agree with most of your drama choices. Like the ones you were disappointed and felt meh about I had similar feelings. My top 10 for this year would be in no particular order:
1.Avengers Social club
2.Chicago typewriter
3.Rescue Me
4.Go back couple
5.Fight my way
6.Strong woman do bong soon
7.Circle
8.Lookout
9.Chief Kim
10. I would like to keep this space open since dramas like I'm not a robot and hwayugi still have a chance against Age of Youth 2 (damn you Ssongsungmin ending or I wouldn't be confused)

These dramas I enjoyed the most while watching or I felt very emotionally invested while watching. They made me think and feel things and the entire ride was enjoyable.

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I love the fact that you kept a spot open in your list! You never know until the end. I was also mad that we didn't get something, anything from our Ssongsungmin couple at the end. Season 3?!

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oh my you write so well.... you sure have a way with words. So true I wouldn't have enjoyed Seven Day Queen and Because This Life is Our first that much if I didn't take my sweet time. I'll check some of those you gems you mentioned that I missed out.

Hope to see more of your write-ups here, enjoyed reading it.

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Thank you:) Hope you have a great drama watching new year!

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