If there’s anything that Santa has taught me over the years (other than a musical mnemonic about single-malt scotches), it’s that Christmas is a time of giving. Dramaland gives us so much throughout the year, that I thought it was finally time for me to stop being a grinch and give back, out of the goodness of my heart. *waits for credit*

So this year I’ve made a Christmas list, and every drama I’ve watched this year is on it. Because everyone deserves presents. Yes, even you, Show.

 
SONG OF THE DAY

The King 2 Hearts OST – “Hang-ah’s Dream” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Dramaland: The gift that keeps on giving [Year In Review, Part 5] (8,856 words)

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Post tags: A Gentleman's Dignity, Answer Me 1997, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, Faith, featured, Gaksital, I Do I Do, I Miss You, I Need Romance 2012, King of Dramas, Nice Guy, Queen In-hyun's Man, Rooftop Prince, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, The Chaser, The King 2 Hearts, The Moon That Embraces the Sun, To the Beautiful You, Vampire Prosecutor 2, year in review

2012 was certainly a mixed bag: I saw plenty of action dramas and then I saw fluffy dramas that made no sense. There were dramas I loved, dramas that I liked enough, and then dramas that I hated. It was a tough year for me, and I felt I had bad luck in choosing which dramas to watch this year. But it helps to appreciate all the dramas – good or bad – because there are still plenty of life lessons to be learned from them.

One of my goals for this year was to watch a drama from every letter of the alphabet – HA! Like that really happened. But in the hopes that I did, the reviews will be in alphabetical order… with life lessons in between.

SONG OF THE DAY

“Might Gonna” from What’s Up OST [download]

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Read the rest of Life Lessons from a Mixed Bag of Dramas [Year In Review, Part 2] (6,225 words)

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Post tags: Answer Me 1997, Big, Faith, featured, Full House Take 2, Ghost, Haeundae Lovers, Hero (OCN), I Need Romance 2012, Love Rain, Padam Padam, Special Affairs Team TEN, The King 2 Hearts, Vampire Prosecutor 2, What's Up, Wild Romance, year in review

Review extravaganza time!

I know: Already? It feels like just the other day I was killing myself to corral all my thoughts in coherent fashion in a monster review of 2011′s dramas, and already it’s time to lose sleep wrangling my thoughts together for 2012. Time sure flies when you’re having fun, or old. Guess which one I am?

These days I shy away from blanket statements like “This was an awesome year” or “This was a terrible year.” Dramaland has been putting out so much material that all the nuance gets sucked out of a flattening statement like that. If anything, 2012 was the year it overflowed with variety—so yes, there were terrible shows, and there were awesome shows, and there were shows every step in between. But thanks to the explosion of cable programming—aided by the launching of not one, not two, but four new cable stations boasting big drama lineups—there was just about something for everyone.

 
SONG OF THE DAY

Shut Up Flower Boy Band OST – “Jaywalking” [ Download ]

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Read the rest of 2012: Something for everyone? [Year In Review, Part 1] (9,584 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 260 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Answer Me 1997, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, Color of Woman, Dr. Jin, Dream High 2, Faith, featured, Gaksital, History of the Salaryman, I Do I Do, Ma Boy, Nice Guy, Oohlala Spouses, Queen In-hyun's Man, Rooftop Prince, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, Standby, The Moon That Embraces the Sun, Vampire Idol, Vampire Prosecutor 2, year in review, You're Here You're Here You're Really Here

We finally reach the end of our journey, but it’s only the beginning for Eun-soo, who at last deals with that pesky issue of time travel and faces the consequences of messing with the space-time continuum. If there’s anything I’ve learned this year in dramaland, it’s that there’s always a price to pay for tampering with time…

 
FINAL EPISODE RECAP

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 24 (Final) (3,289 words)

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Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho

One episode left! We’re at the end, which means the conflict centralizes upon our most important story threads in our finale week. Yes, that means some of the little side arcs do fall by the wayside, but considering where this show is strongest, it’s best that we spend our final stretch dealing with the things we care about: the royals’ happiness, Ki Chul’s sanity, Eun-soo’s safety, and Young’s heart.

SONG OF THE DAY

Faith OST – Rumble Fish – “사랑아” (My Love) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 23 (3,692 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 121 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho

With just two more episodes to go, our central political conflict finally comes to a head, followed right after by our time-crossed-lovers predicament. You almost wish they could have just one day of peace before the clouds roll in, but then that would make for bad drama. Our heroine faces her most monumental decision yet, which we knew she’d have to confront at some point: return to her time and live, or remain with the man she loves and risk near-certain death?

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 22 (3,946 words)

© girlfriday for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 198 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho

Woodalchi has a new recruit, and while we don’t exactly get shenanigans from this living situation, we do get some nicely stirring moments of connection out of it. I’m pretty sure I don’t mind at all. ‘Cause who wants hijinks when you can have meaningful conversation and an excuse for skinship?

SONG OF THE DAY

Ra.D – “너와 함께 있음을” (Being with you) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 21 (4,741 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 96 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho

Oh no, bad news for Philip Lee, who has sustained an eye injury and is now pulling out of the currently airing Monday-Tuesday drama Faith. The injury did not arise during drama filming, but because he is scheduled for surgery next week he won’t be able to continue shooting.

Philip Lee said, “I have a heavy heart to be dropping out of the drama so close to the final broadcast. Above all I want to convey my apologies to the fans who have shown love for Faith.”

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Read the rest of Philip Lee injured, drops out of Faith (258 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 90 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Faith, Philip Lee, star accidents

It’s the king’s turn to shine, or rather Ryu Deok-hwan’s turn to shine as the king. With his queen’s life in danger and his trusted general gone, the king starts to unravel at the seams, making for a powerful arc for what is still the best character of this series.

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 20 (4,019 words)

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Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho

It’s no secret I pretty much hated last week’s episodes (so much the boring), but today’s episode really picked things up. There are a ton of development on all fronts, and the story finally picks up the plodding pace and makes it feel like stuff’s happening again. Hurrah for movement and speed that surpasses snails playing chess!

Who else would’ve loved to see Faith just put our two lovers on the run the whole way through? They could joke, bicker, tease, and flirt all the live long day, and let the king hold up the politics front back in the palace. Ah, but for the what-ifs…

SONG OF THE DAY

Lunafly – “니 이름이 뭐니” (What’s Your Name?) [ Download ]

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Read the rest of Faith: Episode 19 (4,708 words)

© javabeans for Dramabeans, 2012. | Permalink | 150 comments | Add to del.icio.us
Post tags: Faith, featured, Kim Hee-sun, Lee Min-ho