Note: These are only series I’ve seen in their entirety. (I’ve seen a lot more series that I haven’t come around to finishing, whether it’s because I got bored, forgot, or couldn’t find the time. I haven’t “graded” those here.)
Also, I’ve separated ratings into 
Because there’s nothing wrong with liking populist material. I just can’t quite bring myself to rate one, for instance, above something less “fun” but more substantial.
Javabeans‘s ratings in black.
| K-DRAMA SERIES | HOW MUCH I ENJOY IT vs. HOW I RATE IT (of 10) | |
| 49 Days (2011) 49일 |
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Didn’t hate the ending, but it did make me think I’d given the drama way too much credit along the way. Decent effort, mucky execution. (7 /7) |
| Air City (2007) 에어시티 |
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Hot guys. Cold plot. (5 / 5) |
| All In (2003) 올인 |
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| Answer Me, 1997 (2012) 응답하라 1997 |
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Nostalgic, witty, and sweet. Captures the pounding fervor and emotional extremes of youth with humor and heart. (9 / 9) |
| Arang and the Magistrate (2012) 아랑사또전 |
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Creative universe built with a tightly plotted internal logic and a stirring romantic core. Quirky at times, dark at others, and sweetly satisfying. (9 / 8 ) |
| Athena: Goddess of War (2011) 아테나: 전쟁의 여신 |
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| Attic Cat (2003) 옥탑방 고양이 |
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| Baby-Faced Beauty (2011) 동안미녀 |
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Plot and characters are familiar, and the heroine’s rather meek for my post-Sam-soon tastes, but it does the workplace setup and the cute noona-romance with a sweet, funny touch. (7 / 7) |
| Bad Couple (2007) 불량커플 |
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Bursts out of the gate with peppy chemistry, then slows with tears and angst and The Dreaded Illness. Lost interest after episode 6. (6 / 5) |
| Bad Family (2006) 불량가족 |
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Love it. Heart-warming and hilarious as this motley mock family becomes a real one, without dipping into cheesiness. Kim Myung-min is a hoot. (9 / 9) |
| Bad Guy (2010) 나쁜남자 |
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I can’t heap enough superlatives for the drama’s assured directing, gorgeous visual appeal, music, acting, overall ambiance. Story drove me nuts. (7 / 7) |
| Best Love (2011), aka Greatest Love 최고의 사랑 |
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Tight writing, hilarious scenarios, memorable acting, and a string of the wackiest, yet oddly appropriate metaphors I’ve ever seen in a drama. Feel-good and satisfying. (9 / 9) |
| Big (2012) 빅 |
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Like getting to the bottom of a tasty meal and finding a half-eaten worm. (6 / 4) |
| Biscuit Teacher Star Candy (2005) 건빵선생과 별사탕 |
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| Bottom of the 9th with 2 Outs (2007) aka 9 End, 2 Outs 9회말 2아웃 |
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| Boys Before Flowers (2009) aka Korean Hana Yori Dango 꽃보다 남자 |
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Such a hot mess, but a blast to watch. The fandom frenzy was sometimes more fun than the show itself. (8 / 5) |
| Brilliant Legacy (2009) aka Shining Inheritance 찬란한 유산 |
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| Can’t Lose (2011) 지고는 못살아 |
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Cute and funny, proving that conflict can exist without crazies or baddies. Simple but sweet. (7 / 7) |
| The Chaser (2012) 추적자 The Chaser |
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| Chuno (2010) 추노 |  |
Visually breathtaking and characterized by sweeping grandeur, though a bit lacking in soul. (7 / 8 ) |
| Cinderella’s Sister (2010) 신데렐라 언니 |  |
Marvelous start and stellar acting counter the heavy angst, but the frustrating plot slows to a near-crawl. (4 / 6) |
| City Hunter (2011) 시티헌터 |
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It isn’t flawless, but it did everything I wanted it to and then some. Action, intrigue, humor, heart. (10 / 9) |
| Coffee House (2010) 커피프 하우스 |
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Wacky, offbeat comedy with loose plotting and a light feel, though second half gets heavier. (7 / 7) |
| Coffee Prince Store #1 (2007) 커피프린스1호점 |  |
Proof that popular does not always equal mediocre. At times cheeky, at times poignant. Standout soundtrack. (9 / 9) |
| Dal Ja’s Spring (2007) 달자의봄 |
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Fresh and fun, with dashes of insight into modern (career-)womanhood, rife with Heroine’s romantic and professional foibles. Adorable main couple, great supporting cast, easy to zip through. (9 / 9) |
| Delightful Girl Chun Hyang (2005) 쾌걸춘향 |
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High comedy factor with strong chemistry between the leads. It’s Romeo & Juliet with a twist; Jae Hee is wonderful, and the directing is sharp. A sentimental favorite. (9 / 8 ) |
| Dr. Champ (2010) 닥터 챔프 |
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| Dr. Jin (2012) 닥터진 |
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This craptastic show is tons of fun to mock, with amazingly bad directing and laughable dissonance between intent and execution. And there’s no denying the idea itself was intriguing. But taken straight, as a drama? More pain than fun. (4 / 3) |
| Dream High (2011) 드림 하이 |
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Adorable friendships, great handling of youthful foibles and the shark-infested showbiz waters. A showcase for its idol cast; if only they were better actors, it could’ve been even better. (9 / 8 ) |
| Dream High 2 (2012) 드림 하이 2 |
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Was it lazy, trying to ride Season 1′s coattails, or was it overambitious, trying to be everything and ending up with idol/dance-off/rivalry/romance hodgepodge? It tries both too hard and not enough. (5 / 4) |
| East of Eden (2008-9) 에덴의 동쪽 |
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| Exhibition of Fireworks (2006) 불꽃놀이 |  |
Started great with lots of comedy, went downhill with convoluted evildoers gumming up the works. Kang Ji-hwan is the only good thing here. (5 / 4) |
| Faith (2012) 신의 |
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Absurd villains, repetitive conflicts, and a clumsy director bog down execution. At least the leads and their romantic connection hold up their end; the rest tends to plod along. (5 / 6) |
| Fantasy Couple (2006) aka Couple or Trouble 환상의커플 |
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Flawed but enjoyable opposites-attract comedy. Its humor overdoes the slapstick, but the Hong sisters writers keep the plot moving. (7 / 7) |
| Flower Boy Next Door (2013) 이웃집 꽃미남 |
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Wistful, sweet, and thoughtful. The first half is pitch-perfect, balancing humor and insight; the second half drags. (7 / 8 ) |
| Flower Boy Ramyun Shop (2011) 꽃미남 라면가게 |
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Super cute camaraderie in the ramyun family. Jung Il-woo is a hoot. Plot spins its wheels a bit, but it’s sweet and funny. (8 / 8) |
| Flowers For My Life (2007) aka I Came In Search of Flowers 꽃찾으러 왔단다 |
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Criminally underrated. Witty with a touch of dark humor. Set in a funeral home, it gives lovely, quirky insights on life and death. (10 / 10) |
| Friends (2004) 프렌즈 / フレンズ |
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Joint collaboration between Korea and Japan. Pleasant, with gorgeous leads Won Bin and Fukada Kyoko, but unexceptional. (6 / 6) |
| Full House (2004) 풀하우스 |
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One of the most popular cohabitation dramas out there — lots of bickering-as-courtship and some cute couple moments. It’s overrated (plot becomes repetitive in the last quarter), but enjoyable. (7 / 6) |
| Gaksital (2012) aka Bridal Mask, 각시탈 |
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Epic in the best of ways. This show has major stones, venturing dark and grim to fearless degrees. It’s not perfect—though its grand, stirring culmination more than makes up for earlier missteps. (9 / 9) |
| A Gentleman’s Dignity (2012) 신사의 품격 |
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| Girl K (2011) 소녀K |
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At 3 episodes, this badass shoot-em-up revenge story tantalizes with hints of what a full drama could have done. Doesn’t have time to really get you in the heart, but sets up a great world. If this is the future of cable, I’m onboard. (8 / 8 ) |
| God of Study (2010) 공부의 신 |
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| Goong (2006) aka Palace or Princess Hours, 궁 |
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Beautifully executed but slow. Overrated but entertaining. Mediocre acting at best. (7 / 7) |
| Goong S (2007) aka Palace S or Prince Hours, 궁S |
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A reverse-Cinderella tale as an ordinary guy becomes a prince. Disappointing start and poor acting. Still, picked up toward end, inversely to its ratings. (5 / 5) |
| Gourmet (2008) 식객 |
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Solid execution perhaps obscures a banal story, but Kim Rae-won makes this work. Predictable but enjoyable, like comfort food. (8 / 7) |
| Green Rose (2005) 그린로즈 |
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Dramatic thriller veers into over-the-top territory, but this underdog revenge story can get addictive. Great romantic angst. (7 / 7) |
| Haeundae Lovers (2012) 해운대 연인들 |
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| Hello! Miss (2007) aka Hello Baby 헬로! 애기씨 |
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Light and jokey, but not much emotional depth. Lee Da-hae can do (and has done) better. (5 / 5) |
| High Kick 3: Counterattack of the Short Legs (2011) 하이킥 3: 짧은 다리의 역습 |
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Surprisingly well-drawn characters and relationships that mean something. Packs a lot of heart into those 20-minute episodes, and consistently, week after week. Slice of life and poignant. (8 / 8 ) |
| Hong Gil Dong (2008) 쾌도 홍길동 |
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This fusion historical drama has action, comic gags, romance, political intrigue, betrayal — but lacks subtlety. The tone is uneven, but Kang Ji-hwan is wonderful. (7 / 7) |
| Hyang Dan Jeon (2007) aka The Story of Hyang Dan, 향단전 |
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Fun blending of folktales and modern humor in a fusion romantic comedy. Only two episodes, it’s a silly, Shrek-like goof. (8 / 7) |
| I Am Legend (2010) 나는 전설이다 |
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Started off so well, but suffered an identity crisis halfway through. (6 / 5) |
| I Do, I Do (2012) 아이두 아이두 |
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Started with cuteness, chemistry, potential. Unfortunately, a slow place and business machinations nobody cares about drag it down. Nice overall character trajectories for our leads. (6 / 6) |
| I Miss You (2012-13) 보고싶다 |
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A screaming, wailing, fucking mess. (3 / 4) |
| I Need Romance (2011) 로맨스가 필요해 |
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| I Need Romance 2012 (2012) 로맨스가 필요해 2012 |
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| IRIS (2009) 아이리스 |
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Some smoldering performances decorate this explosion-packed action series but the writing gets spotty. More style than substance, a fun ride with eye candy. (7 / 7) |
| It’s Okay, Daddy’s Girl (2010) 괜찮아 아빠딸 |
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Okay, this show isn’t good. It’s got the potential to be, but is marred by poor acting and weird pacing — it’s like a highlight reel of a longer family drama. Yet, oddly, it draws you in with its good-naturedness and warmth. (7 / 4) |
| Jeon Woo-chi (2012-13) 전우치 |
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A solid B-list drama. Strengths are its light comedy and the hero’s cute backup team. The villains and romance are its weaknesses. (7 / 7) |
| Joseon X-Files (2010) aka Secret Investigation Record, 기찰비록 |
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FANTASTIC. Quite possibly genius melding of historical record and sci-fi mystery. (10 / 10) |
| The King 2 Hearts (2012) 더킹 투하츠 |
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| King of Dramas (2012-13) 드라마의 제왕 |
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The show itself may have been light, funny, and acted with commitment. But what makes it stand out is the fact that henceforth, I will always see dramaland through the lens of this show’s world. Not a little accomplishment. (8 / 8 ) |
| The Last Scandal of My Life (2008), 내 생애 마지막 스캔들 |
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What happens when first loves reconnect 20 years later… when one’s an ajumma and the other’s a movie star lying about his age? Hilarious, touching, and well-acted. Never a dull moment. (9 / 8 ) |
| Lie To Me (2011) 내게 거짓말을 해봐 |
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It’s like Drama blew its budgetary wad on the stars and forgot to provide a story. Some randomly cute couple scenes, but mostly so boring. (4 / 3) |
| Love & Marriage (2008) 연애결혼 |
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Cute story between an uptight divorce attorney and bubbly matchmaker. It’s like a meal of dessert. Sweet filler, but speedy, flirty fun. (7 / 7) |
| Lovers (2006) 연인 |
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Brisk start descends into weepy melodrama with birth secrets, family strife, and a Love That Cannot Be that’s more like a Love That Should Not Be. By the end I couldn’t stand it. Oh! The! Tragedy! (3 / 6) |
| Ma Boy (2012) 마보이 |
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For being based on a big gimmick (pretty boy disguised as a girl star), this tween-targeted mini-drama displays surprising restraint with the gag—played more with sweetness than slapstick comedy. Doesn’t reinvent anything and the young cast is green, but there’s a nice simple story here. (7 / 7) |
| Man of Honor (2011) 영광의 재인 |
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| Manny (2011) 매니 |
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A cute premise and a light, episodic format keep this comedy watchable, but the romance angle is the least interesting. Why are the adults acting like kids? (6 / 6) |
| Mary Stayed Out All Night (2010) 매리는 외박중 |
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Uber-boring. Worst drama I saw in 2010. (3 / 4) |
| Me Too, Flower! (2011) 나도, 꽃! |
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What a way to tank a promising series; watching its steady decline was a sad thing as the show lost focus on the characters we cared about. At first, it was unfairly underrated. By its end, deservedly so. But Yoon Shi-yoon is wonderful, despite being terribly miscast. (6 / 6) |
| Miss Ripley (2011) 미스 리플리 |
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Interesting character study of some unlikable personalities who draw you in with charged acting. Story loses its bite in the end, though. (7 / 7) |
| Mixed-up Investigative Agency (2007) 얼렁뚱땅 흥신소 |
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Quirky, offbeat, extremely well-plotted. Strong acting, particularly by Yeh Ji-won. A comedy romp, treasure hunt, and mystery rolled into one. (9 / 9) |
| The Moon That Embraces the Sun (2012) 해를 품은 달 |
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A straight-up juvenile romance, dressed up as a grown-up sageuk. The drama’s one-track mind keeps it from having depth or substance, but it’s easy to watch. (7 / 7) |
| My Fair Lady (2009) aka Please Take Care of the Lady 아가씨를 부탁해 |
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Terribly written plot, even if the chemistry of the couple carries the drama. Skip. (4 / 4) |
| My Girl (2005-06) 마이걸 |
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Fantastic fun, speedy pace. Super chemistry between the endearing lead couple. (9 / 8 ) |
| My Girlfriend Is a Gumiho (2010) 내 여자친구는 구미호 |
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Super enjoyable, adorable chemistry, and great mix of the gumiho mythology with the rom-com bits. But somehow it’s only my No. 3 Hong sisters drama. (9 / 8 ) |
| My Love Patzzi (2002) 내 사랑 팥쥐 |
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Short, cute drama with two too-perfect guys and a spunky heroine as an anti-Cinderella. Not very deep, but easy to watch. (7 / 6) |
| My Name Is Kim Sam Soon (2005) 내 이름은 김삼순 |
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Poignant and funny, worth the hype. (9 / 9) |
| My Princess (2011) 마이 프린세스 |
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Who knew such a middling rom-com could be a turning point for Kim Tae-hee (and, to a lesser degree, Mr. Robot Hotness Song Seung-heon)? (7 / 6) |
| My Sweet Seoul (2008) 달콤한 나의 도시 |
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Halfway between indie and trendy. Plotting is loose, but has a refreshing atmospheric feel and good directing. Unfortunately, I hate the main character. (6 / 8 ) |
| Myung-wol the Spy (2011) 스파이 명월 |
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Could’ve been so wacky and hilarious, but changed its mind halfway through and tried for earnest angst. We got tedious moping instead. (5 / 5) |
| Nice Guy (2012) aka Innocent Man, 세상 어디에도 없는 착한남자 |
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Polished, suspenseful, addictively paced. Characters are whackadoo in the extreme, but intense and compelling. Not meant to be overthought; just go with the melo. (7 / 8 ) |
| Oh! My Lady (2010) 오! 마이 레이디 |
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Light and fluffy older-woman/younger-man, housekeeper-landlord romance. Choi Siwon’s charm carries the show. An easy, unchallenging watch. (6 / 6) |
| Ojakkyo Brothers (2011-2) 오작교 형제들 |
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Cute, poignant relationships make you care about the characters, while the romance keeps you addicted. An example of family drama done right. (8 / 8 ) |
| One Fine Day (2006) 어느 멋진 날 |
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| Only You (2005) 온리 유 |
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Bleh. I can’t remember why I bothered. Han Chae-young is pretty, but Jo Hyun-jae is wasted. (4 / 3) |
| Oohlala Spouses (2012) 울랄라 부부 |
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This marital body-swapper should have been uproariously funny. It had some amusing bits, but the couple was too aggravating to wish for reconciliation, thereby negating its entire point. (5 / 6) |
| Panda and Hedgehog (2012) 판다양과 고슴도치 |
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| Pasta (2010) 파스타 |
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The couple is SO cute together, and individually very appealing. Yet there’s so very little plot. (6 / 6) |
| Personal Taste (2010) 개인의취향 |
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The jerky directing is the biggest flaw; the writing is engaging at parts but random in others. Lead couple is well-acted and have charming chemistry. (7 / 6) |
| Playful Kiss (2010) 장난스런 키스 |
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Despite lack of conflict, the couple is sweet and Jung So-min lovable. But there’s so little story here. (6 / 6) |
| Poseidon (2011) 포세이돈 |
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Choi Siwon and Lee Shi-young are an adorable matchup. Too bad this coast guard action thriller wants to be cooler than it is. (4 / 4) |
| The Princess’s Man (2011) 공주의 남자 |
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Epic and stirring. Constant plot twists, tight political intrigue, and a strong Romeo and Juliet romance with stakes that actually feel life-and-death. (10 / 9) |
| Prosecutor Princess (2010) 검사 프린세스 |
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| Que Sera Sera (2007) 케세라세라 |
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Took a few episodes to fall in love, but boy did I. Intense and unapologetic. Not for the casual watcher. Flawed but complex people drive this character drama. (9 / 9) |
| Queen In-hyun’s Man (2012) 인현왕후의 남자 |
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Thrilling, romantic, adorable, and engrossing. The best of the time-traveling bunch thus far. (9 / 9) |
| Queen of Reversals (2011) 역전의 여왕 |
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| The Return of Iljimae (2009) 돌아온 일지매 |
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Gorgeous. Poignant. Soundtrack and cinematography are exceptional. (10 / 10) |
| Rooftop Prince (2012) 옥탑방 왕세자 |
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First and last episodes contain an interesting story; 2 through 19 are entertaining though frustrating, and mostly filler. The chemistry and cute cast save it. (6 / 6) |
| Runaway Plan B (2010) aka Fugitive Plan B, 도망자 플랜비 |
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Wastes a lot of time in the beginning with flashy action and goofy comedy, but once it settles down, there’s a compelling conflict here. Rain does a fabulous job juggling emotions, action, and humor. (8 / 7) |
| Scent of a Woman (2011) 여인의 향기 |
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A drama about death that’s not really about death. The main trio’s stories edge out the aggravatingly meddly second leads. (8 / 8 ) |
| School 2013 (2013) 학교 2013 |
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The understated, slice-of-life storytelling packs a surprising emotional punch. Offers hope to the bleak at heart. (8 / 8 ) |
| Secret Garden (2010) 시크릿 가든 |
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Well-acted, sharp dialogue, great chemistry. Beautiful to look at, but it’s a lot of slick veneer. Alas, I found it hard to connect with emotionally. (7 / 8 ) |
| Shut Up: Flower Boy Band (2012) 닥치고 꽃미남밴드 |
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Pitch-perfect. It’s rockin’ with music and brotherhood, but most of all it’s about the heart-tugging process of finding yourself. (10 / 10) |
| The Sons of Sol Pharmacy House (2009) aka My Too Perfect Sons, 솔약국집아들들 |
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Hilarious, heartwarming family comedy about a family with four sons who each find love, with some help (and interference) from their boisterous family. (8 / 7) |
| Soulmate (2006) 소울메이트 |
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Witty, trendy, funny. Fabulous soundtrack and surprisingly tight plotting. Skillful use of chronology and narrative. (10 / 9) |
| Standby (2012) 스탠바이 |
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Oh, how I wished this were better. So many actors I love playing characters I didn’t care about. Ha Suk-jin carried this sitcom for me, and for that alone it was worth watching. But only just. (6 / 5) |
| A Star’s Lover (2008-09) 스타의 연인 |
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Pro: Choi Ji-woo and Yoo Ji-tae’s acting and great chemistry. Con: Everything else (slow, repetitive, predictable). (5 / 6) |
| Story of a Man (2009) aka The Slingshot 남자이야기 |
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Intense, thrilling, smartly woven together. Great balance of light and dark. Hits on all three points of acting, directing, writing — and it’s FUN. (10 / 10) |
| Strongest Chil Woo (2008) 최강칠우 |
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This is not a good drama, but thankfully its outrageousness (intentional and otherwise) keep it entertaining. Alas its hilarity doesn’t come as frequently as one would like. (6 / 6) |
| Summer Scent (2003) 여름향기 |
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| Sungkyunkwan Scandal (2010) 성균관 스캔들 |
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So cute and well-done. But, ran out of steam toward the end, curtailing the earlier addiction high. (8 / 8 ) |
| Thousand Day Promise (2011) 천일의 약속 |
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Su Ae is commanding. Virtually no plot, just a grim progression of a disease with no hope at the end. Depressing and a little smug. (5 / 7) |
| To the Beautiful You (2012) 아름다운 그대에게 |
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| Tree With Deep Roots (2011) 뿌리깊은 나무 |
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Sharp writing, slick directing, stellar acting by Han Seok-kyu as Korea’s most famous king. Full of intrigue and thrills. (8 / 9) |
| Triple (2009) 트리플 |
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Breezy and refreshing, but also slow. Tone feels like Coffee Prince, but lacks focus and direction. (6 / 5) |
| Twelve Men in a Year (2012) 일년에 열두남자 |
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| Unstoppable High Kick (2006-07) 거침없이 하이킥 |
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Loosely plotted family sitcom featuring an adorable cast of future superstars. The problems are small, but the show’s heart is big. (8 / 7) |
| Vampire Idol (2012) 뱀파이어 아이돌 |
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You don’t make a show about alien vampire idol trainees, then half-ass the camp factor. Props for taking all the best parts of a ridiculous concept and adding adorable relationships on top. Sweetly dim. (7 / 6) |
| Vampire Prosecutor (2011) 뱀파이어 검사 |
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Sexy and smart, this action-crime drama is more procedural than paranormal, but damn if the paranormal (Mr. Vampire Hotness) isn’t sizzling. (8 / 8 ) |
| Vampire Prosecutor 2 (2012) 뱀파이어 검사 2 |
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The crew is back, the dynamic is funnier, and the addition to the team is a welcome and heartwarming one. And yet, it doesn’t quite have the bite (or the punch or kick) of the first season. (7 / 8 ) |
| The Vineyard Man (2006) 포도밭 그사나이 |
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Mildly amusing, but very ordinary. Oh Man-seok is great, Yoon Eun-hye is forgettable. If you’re a Yoon fan, skip it and see Coffee Prince instead. (5 / 6) |
| Warrior Baek Dong-soo (2011) 무사백동수 |
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| What’s Up, Fox (2006) 여우야 뭐하니 |
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Good follow-up by writer of Samsoon. Go Hyun-jung is always a treat to watch, as is Chun Jung-myung. Not necessarily exciting, but humorous and witty. (8 / 8 ) |
| White Christmas (2011) 화이트 크리스마스 |
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| Who Are You? (2008) 누구세요? |
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This drama is all heart. Surprisingly better than its silly start, it gets steadily better as you go along, and the body-swapping is both hilarious and meaningful. Yoon Kye Sang is a standout. (9 / 8 ) |
| Will It Snow For Christmas? (2009-10) 크리스마스에 눈이 올까요? |
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First half of this romance melodrama is poignant, emotionally wracking, layered; second half gets too convoluted for comfort. Go Soo is marvelous. (8 / 7) |
| Wish Upon a Star (2010) 별을 따다줘 |
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Pro: It’s unexpectedly charming. Con: Messy plot and weak secondary characters. Adorable kids and an appealing heroine keep it watchable. (8 / 6) |
| Witch Amusement (2007) aka Witch Yoo Hee, 마녀유희 |
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Endlessly mockable, but in the fun way. Pure eye candy, no nutrition. (6 / 3) |
| The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry (2010) 아직도 결혼하고 싶은 여자 |
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Breezy, witty. Touching and fun depiction of modern friendships and romance. (9 / 8 ) |
| The World They Live In (2008) aka Worlds Within 그들이 사는 세상 |
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| You’re Beautiful (2009) 미남이시네요 |
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Hilarious situations, fast-moving plot, memorable characters. Park Shin-hye is adorable (if dim), but it’s Jang Geun-seok who kills it. (9 / 8 ) |
| You’re Here, You’re Here, You’re Really Here (2012) 왔어 왔어 제대로 왔어 |
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As insipid as shows get. I cut it some slack for being on a fledgling cable station with a minuscule budget, but ultimately it flops. Winning leads in a dull world. (4 / 4) |
| You’ve Fallen For Me (2011) aka Heartstrings, 넌 내게 반했어 |
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And for the old stuff…
| Autumn Story (2000) aka Autumn Fairy Tale 가을동화 |
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Feelings (1994) 느낌 |
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One of the earliest trendy dramas boasting a hip, young, good-looking cast. Probably the first college campus drama. |
| First Love (1996-7) 첫사랑 |
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| Forever Yours (1998) 세상끝까지 |
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| Hotelier (2001) 호텔리어 |
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| Icing (1996) 아이싱 |
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A direct rip-off of The Last Match (see below), it tried to re-create its success with recycled cast and story. See Jang Dong-gun with Lee Seung-yeon back when they were trendy young things. |
| Jealousy (1992) 질투 |
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THE original trendy drama starring still-famous Choi Jin Shil and Choi Su Jong. Funny and cute, see the drama that started the trend. |
| Last Match (1994) 마지막 승부 |
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Superstar Jang Dong Gun in one of his earliest roles, featuring an extremely young and new Shim Eun Ha! Spawned the sports-drama trend. |
| Popcorn (2000) 팝콘 |
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Oh, this was a bad drama. Mediocre acting and all the typical cliches — she’s dying, he cries a lot — but it’s old-school Song Seung-heon, before he hit his big break. |
| Propose (1997) 프로포즈 |
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| Sandglass (1995) 모래시계 |
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One of the highest-rated dramas ever, and one of the most highly regarded. Stellar cast, stellar writing, this swept the nation and deals with some intense historical events, such as the Gwangju Massacre of 1980. |
| Star in My Heart (1997) 별은 내가슴에 |
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Early Hallyu hit and one of the first Cinderella-story dramas. Over-the-top by today’s standards, but who doesn’t love a rags-to-riches romance? |
| Tomato (1999) 토마토 |
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| Wedding Dress (1997-8) 웨딩드레스 |
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| Winter Sonata (2002) 겨울연가 |
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RECENTLY COMPLETED
.Just finished watching Who are You… a diifferent sense of story line, very funny. Very enjoyable .Because kdrama takes about 16-20 episodes and I have so many things to do and still have desired to watch dramas ,I’ve be changing my obssesion to jdrama which is short. So I’ve been missing a lot of latest kdrama lately . But I still in love with the kdrama. Next maybe Gourment…..
[I agree, jdramas are short and sweet. Personally, I think the sweet spot is between 12 and 16 episodes... -j ]
I’ve been reading your blog for a month now, and it’s been really helpful when I’ve been trying to figure out what to watch next. I was a bit reluctant to start watching Soulmate, but after having read what you had to say about it, I decided to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did! It’s absolutely brilliant. I’ve only watched seven episodes so far, but I gotta tell you that it’s the best drama I’ve seen in a while. Can’t wait until I get to see the rest…
[Yay, another Soulmate convert!
-j ]
just 5 words ‘Ruler of Your Own World’
I have just discovered this blog and love it. Thanks for your hard work. I am an African living in Japan and enjoy Korean drama a looooooot!!!! Thanks for all the information on your blog, it helps to understand most of dramas.
You should watch “Women in the Sun” -it was really good.
What did you think about Dae Jang Geum, Javabeans?
hi javabeans,
I’m a daily reader of your blog, newly addicted to korean dramas. I fell in love with kdrama after watching my name is kim sam soon. I used to think that kdramas are weepy melodrama where one of the character has cancer and ends up dead. But after my name is kim sam soon, I found myself searching for other kdramas to watch. Our local tv stations don’t air much kdramas, and when they do, they always dub it to bahasa (Indonesian language), which I think ruins the drama. And they always air the series at noon, which means I can not watch since I have to work. And here they don’t sell original kdrama series, so I have to rely on pirated dvds to watch kdrama. The english subtitle usually sucks, and my chinese is not good either. So I’m glad to discover your blog, and be able to read your recaps of some drama.
I’ve decided to buy coffee prince and last scandal of my life based on your rating. I agree with you, coffee prince soundtrack is very very good, but the drama itself is a bit dragged a few episodes towards the end. I haven’t finished last scandal, but already fall in love with choi jin sil. Sad that she had to end her life, really wish I could see more of her works.
Well, this comment is longer than I intended ^_^ a big THANK YOU to you, javabeans. Good job on recapping the dramas.
PS : How did you choose javabeans as your cyber name ? just curious, since I am from the island of Java, Indonesia.
Cheers
hellou~~
never commented here, but came here many times 8D
i have been in serious need of a new drama to watch, but…
they’re all so extremely disappointing.
=(
so BORING and UNORIGINAL and without any kind of PERSONALITY!
the last drama i loved SO MUCH, it made me cry like an emo taking myspace pictures, was coffee prince.
and as i could see, you loved it, too!
so your liking for it made me trust your opinions on dramas.
i thought ‘hey, i’m tired of trying 84939489 dramas out before finding a great one, why not come here and look for your favorite ones?’
so i finally found a ratings section!
i was glad coffee prince got 9/9 and kim samsoon, too! my second favorite drama.
BUT…. now comes the actual reason i am writing this…
why in god’s name did SOULMATE get a 10/10?!
oh my.
+_+
i watched the drama, yes it was.. funny… but…. it lacked just way too much to come anywhere NEAR coffee prince and samsoon!
the thing i missed most of all was character.
a certain personality and chemistry, the “fated souls” were so.. i don’t know.
not really a good match. dongwook was great, kind of, but she… there was just nothing about her.
and it took WAY too long til everything between them started off andandandand.
soooooooooo why i wrote?
yes i wanted to know, why it really got a10/10?
especially in comparison to coffee prince (and maybe kim samsoon)
mkai. so. 8D
thanks if you could give me some answers!
and thanks for doing all that work, i mean ALL of that work, it’s just.. incredible.
the subbing, the recapping, the news…
i am truly grateful, thank you <3
you’re doing a tremendous, great job.
and i am loving it.
bai
hello j!
i have always been a lurker at your site.. kind of like a parasite that feeds off your interesting blogs!! keep them coming!
it is such a joy to find this site because it keeps me updated on all thing about Kdrama, and also about entertainment and music industry in korea. I have been a fan of kdramas for over 4 years now and still counting!!!!
now I am saving money to visit seoul!!!
i just finished GOURMET.. i think Kim Rae Won really made this drama! the few moments he have with Nam Sang Mi are precious! I wish there could be more.. but Gourmet didn’t really focus on its love angle very much.. only a bit which makes me yearn for more!!!!! i agree with your ratings on it,
I like Soulmate a lot. I’m suprised that there won’t be season 2. I wonder why the rating wasn’t a hit in Korea, does people in Korea think differently from people in America. I don’t know how to explain it, but Soulmate is too funny not to like. I wish there will be more drama like Soulmate… funny and just loveable.
By the way, you’re the best in you’re writing. I love it! Thanks for making reading so fun.
hey..you should check out 9 ends 2 outs..underrated but very enjoyable..
love the chemistry between the 2 leads..
i agree with emily, 9 end 2 outs is amazing, but sadly underrated.
my favorite drama ever.
Hey javabeans, thanks for all your hard work. I enjoy reading your recaps, especially when I can’t wait to see the next episodes
I noticed that you haven’t put up any ratings for “Sweet Soul” and “Love and Marriage” – really looking forward to the rating! Keep up the great work!
Admittedly, I’m always biased when Lee Seo Jin is involved thus i definitely do not agree to your rating regarding LOVERS. I always tell my friends to watch LOVERS. PHOENIX is one excellent catch as well. Just because you hate weepy dramas, that gives you the right to judge them negatively. I am saying this coz i wouldnt have had the pleasure of watching LOVERS if i knew your rating beforehand. I would have been greatly influenced. Even if i beg to disagree to your opinion at times, but this doesnt erase the fact that your site is a gold mine. Very informative and entertaining.
u’re site is awesome….i realie enjoyed recaps of coffee prince.that was awesome. well i also agree with your rating…..but i would like to give 10/10 to full house and coffee prince.nywys have you seen autum in my heart??? i want to see how you rate it u know coz i totally hated it. the only good thing about autum tale is won bin…i lllllluuuuuuvvvveeeed him but the song hye kyo’s character was just…..anyways kwwp up the good work.
tq so much for the infos given…i love kdramas but strictly to romantic comedy kind of thing…currently watching love match,,,loooooove the storyline and both leading characters.
Hi…I don’t remember how I came upon your website but I really love your updates on the dramas and other stories. By the way, have you checked out “On Air” with Park Yong Ha? This is a pretty cute drama about filing a drama. Check it out sometime.
Hi Sarah,
I’ve just watched the first 3 episodes of Super Rookie and found myself actually guffawing (!) at the goofy antics of Eric Moon’s character, who is a major slacker…it’s so funny, and so completely different from the suave and cool character he played in Que Sera Sera.
I don’t remember reading anything in your blog about this drama. Have you seen it? I’d like to hear your opinion on this one. Has it just recently aired in Korea?
I’m watching Super Rookie…at ep 5 and it’s very funny..i fell inlove with Eric , he is very talented..
@shp
in reply to my own post, Super Rookie must be from 2005. Although mysoju.com has it labelled as aired in Nov.2008, I just remembered Eric is currently serving out his military duty. Was Super Rookie well-received when it first aired?
Korean drama’s are my guilty pleasure…I confess ^_^!! I have lost a lot of sleep and valuable life moments just watching these drama’s. My problem is that I cant find the right ones to watch sometimes. All of them are beginning to be pretty similar and it seems as though the writers are recycling the same old cliches. Love triangles(sometimes squares), rich boy-poor girl, enclosed living spaces, bicycle rides, cancer/amnesia patients, family dissaproval of partners and ahh, my personal “least favorite”….the wild dashes to the airport/train station.
Thanks for the review…I wish I found it earlier. It would have saved me from watching some of the yucky ones *cough* – hello miss, *cough* – robbers
*cough* – how to meet a perfect neighbor.
When I do finally find the ones that are truly different, for example, mixed up investigative agency, my girl, coffee prince, etc…its like christmas! They say one has to kiss a couple of frogs in order to find a prince – I guess that goes for drama’s as well
wooh you rated soulmate 10/10. i tried to watch it but im unable to start the first episode. if its really good maybe ill try next time, im focussing now on WW. BTW i agree with ur ratings….
Attention, please! Important announcement: I am officially another Soulmate convert!!! ^o^ thanks to Javabeans’ recommendation.
It took me 3 or 4 tries, but I finally got into this wonderful drama, and loved, loved, loved it! I think the intricate dialogue with a lot of wordplay made it a bit difficult for me to appreciate the first few episodes, but the drama kept getting better and better. Phillip and Su Kyeong’s parting was so bittersweet & Dong Wuk’s falling for Su-Kyeong was precious. The soundtrack ,as Javabeans has already pointed out, was brilliant.
THANK YOU, Javabeans for the wonderful job subbing this series! I am sure it was a lot of work, and I am a VERY grateful fan. I can’t decide yet if it has knocked off Flowers for My Life or Que Sera Sera as my #1 or #2 favourite drama.
(P.S. I have an ID/idea! Let’s go out someday/Sunday. Perhaps this fried day/Friday for supper. We can have hamster/lobster and watch the film about Austria/Australia.) LOL
new here… but your comments are very helpful… thanks!
I just finished Sandglass, I haven’t felt this lousy after watching a movie/drama since Deer Hunter. They are both very good.
OMG, I just finished Flowers for My Life today and I can’t believe it took me this long to sit down and “marathon” this drama! It is so, so, sooooooo WONDERFUL! I haven’t cried so much in a drama before. But like you said, it wasn’t the tragic kind of crying. It was just so cathartic and beautiful. At the same time, I was always kept amused by Ha-na’s funny antics. Hahaha. Plus, it totally makes me want to go to Chun Cheon! The flowers are just too pretty!
Thank you so much for reccommending such a beautiful drama! If not for you, I would have missed this gem!
I just want to say that I adore your blogs and your sense of humor!!! Keep it up!
Thank you,
fantastic drama WHO are you…..I enjoyed it thoroughly.thanks for recommending. looking forward to future drama recommedation! and fell in love with Cha seung hyo!
Thank you for these ratings. They sure did help!
low
lovvers
Where is 9 End 2 Outs drama?…it’s realy good drama and also “every night”
I love your website as I am a huge non-korean kdrama fan! I especially love reading the episode recaps… as I absolutely adore reading as well! After ‘finding’ your website about 6 months ago, I have continued ignoring school, food, sleep etc… to watch the following dramas in addition to the 45 I have previously watched and 62 I have partially watched (I stopped watching them midway and in some cases near the end!! )
1) Hong-Gil Dong : loved KJH and Sung Yu Ri but was apathetic towards Jang Geun Suk and the ending…I agree with your rating though I’d probably rate it higher! =P
2) Bad Couple
3) Love and Marriage
4) What’s up fox?
5) Couple or Trouble
6) Exhibition of Fireworks
7) Dal Ja’s Spring – LOVED IT!
8) Mixed-up Investigation Agency: I absolutely LOVED this series and totally agree with your rating! I want to re-watch it!
9) Soulmate – Loved it!!! I also have a season 2 version in my head as well!!
And am currently watching ‘Flowers For my Life’
I’ve noticed there aren’t many historical dramas reviewed?
Considering your ratings, I think you and I might have similar tastes so I would recommend Damo, which is fairly short but good. Also, Yi San looks promising.
very nice na na goon drama chuva yu na chuhaheyuuuuuu
aaaaaaaaaa han ga in saranhe
cho mongolia saram imnida’
I love your website, and I am so glad I found it. I am currently watching Snow in August after reading your comments on it. Looking forward to your updates. Keep up the good work!
Hey.. I ran across your website looking for recaps on Coffee Prince. Your recaps and comments are one of my fave!! I enjoyed reading all other recaps. I started watching other shows that you’ve recommended. I enjoyed it all.
I read other people’s comments on here and one jumped out to me is the one about watching Taiwanese shows as It started with a Kiss or Fated to Love You. I recommend you watch these shows on http://www.mysoju.com. It contains all kinds of shows from China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and etc.. All of the videos have english subtitles.
Looking forward to reading more of your recaps!!
Have you watched Pure 19/ Heart of 19?
It’s long but after a few episods, you’ll definitely fall in love with it
I didn’t see any mentions of it on your website, so I thought I’d let you check it out.
try veoh.com (:
i love korean drama
i love all korean drama
i agree with #7 hmmm that Capital Scandal was a “highly underrated drama.”
“[I know, I know, I'm a bad KJH fan! I tried, but found it too slapstick. Maybe will go back one of these days... -j ]”
Capital Scandal is one at the top of my list in the “modern sageuk” category, along with Seoul 1945, which *nobody* has seen. ^^ CS has two very different interwoven stories/moods: the slapstick part and the much much darker part (which I preferred) which deals with Japanese occupation in the 1930s. I don’t want to give anything away, but this supposedly zany silly comedy becomes very serious indeed. And KJH goes from being the ultimate superficial playbody to someone who has to confront the society he lives in. As #7 notes, the entire cast was superb, and I believe Han Go Eun won an award for her performance.
I am looking forward to hearing your critique of ‘WORLD’S WITHIN’ I have almost finished this drama.
L LOVE this drama. It has given me the same kind of satisfied feeling that Coffee Prince did. However it is not quite as sweet in story but it is romantic enough.
There are several subplots and older actors playing characters that are so interesting. It intrigues me to see a cast of actors playing PDs and cinematographers and other people behind the camera. They are all engaged in making TV dramas and we see the hardships that actors sometimes have to endure and the difficulties of the PDs and breathtaking time elements.
It made me think that I was watching a group of actors playing film makers being photographed by a group of people actually filming a drama. mirror images…
Anyway I love this drama and love Hyun Bin. He is so good in this role.
Looking forward to whatever you may think.
Peggy
I want to say thank you for creating this site because I liked one of the dramas you especially recommended (Soulmate), and I started watching some dramas because you are recapping it and I found it interesting (Evasive Investigative Agency comes to mind). More than that, I felt as if I have watched other dramas I don’t think I’d ever watch just by reading your recaps — I probably will watch said dramas eventually, who knows?
I liked Soulmate, Legend of Hyang Dan, Love Marriage, Evasive Investigative Agency. I really enjoyed watching Full House, Princess Hours, and Hello! Miss; they may not be the best dramas but these are some of the dramas I don’t mind watching again… My Girl and Delightful Girl Chun Hyang were both so-so for me.
This site is the best for kdrama info…THANK YOU!!! This is not related to kdrama but I thought I would try asking anyways. I have been looking everywhere for
Lee Dong Gun singing Sarang Hae. Would you know where I can get it. I am a bit slow with computer usage. Able to load on to Windows Media Player and can get things off of Media Fire but that is about it. I figure if anyone would have the answer it would be you…Thank you in advance if you can help me!!
It’s such a joy reading your insightful and humorous reviews, esp. on MNKSS. I value your taste on these dramas and will definitely try to watch the high-rated ones on your list. I am wondering if you have mentioned about “Ruler of Your Own World” starring Yang Dong Geun and Lee Na Young. It’s one of a few Korean dramas that stay on my mind for a very long time. I also like H.I.T, Surgeon Bong Dal Hee, Bad Family and Sandglass. Somehow I can’t bring myself to like Coffee Prince and Full House though. I found the plots are so repetitive and childish.
I love the drama coffee prince,hope for season 2,Im a fan of yoon eun hye,and i love all her drama,i hope she make a new drama this year,keep up the good work,i like your kdrama info.god bles……….
I would love, love, love to see what you feel about “Time Between Dog and Wolf.” If you are looking for something different and a drama that has great acting and more testosterone-fueled than any other drama out there, try this one. Lee Joon Ki rocks in this role as an undercover cop with a sad family history. Editing/storylines are really tight though you do wish it was speedy at times. There’s a big revelation ending, but the writing and dialogues is so fresh.
I can someone else like Lee Min Ho in this role though – so much action and so much angst. 9/10 for me.
have you watched I Am Sam/I Am Your Teacher?
ahhh, its a nice short k-drama (:
16 eps & its pretty good