Secret Garden
Getting into K-dramas is like jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool. You don't know exactly what you're in for — and suddenly you're over your head....
Location and setting are used in powerful ways to help tell stories. Korean dramas in particular often capitalize on foreign settings or location changes to give depth and context. But...
The threat of death to a story's hero is a common storytelling device that adds dramatic tension. It exists in everything from Greek myths to Victorian novels to Hollywood...
Melodrama hitmaker Lee Kyung-hee is coming back with another drama, called Chocolate (working title), which would mark her first project in two years, since the Kim Woo-bin (*tear*) and Suzy...
javabeans: Happy New Year, happy tenth anniversary, happy 2017, happy everything-that-will-be-better-than-2016!
girlfriday: Yay, I’ve never been happier for a new year to start! I still can’t believe Dramabeans is...
Annnnnnnd another year comes to a close.
Big thanks to our recap minions HeadsNo2, gummimochi, and kaedejun for sharing their reviews with us and joining the spirited discussion for the...
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...
My first year-end review!
I was so excited for this opportunity that I decided to watch as many dramas as I could in preparation this year, and all but forced...
Looking at the buffet table of 2012, I'm left in awe at the vast array of possible selections before me. The sheer number of choices is growing every year and I...
You can only pick one: Song Joong-ki drama
by DB Staff
You can only pick one, and boy the pressure is on. The DB team will answer a new prompt in each post, and you're invited to do the same in...
Tags: Descended From the Sun, featured2, Nice Guy, Song Joong-ki, Sungkyunkwan Scandal, Vincenzo, You can only pick one
Actors in dramaland: Overcoming a bad first impression
by missvictrix
Secret Garden Getting into K-dramas is like jumping into the deep end of a swimming pool. You don't know exactly what you're in for — and suddenly you're over your head....
Tags: Boys Before Flowers, Crash Landing on You, Extraordinary You, Flower Boy Ramyun Shop, I Hear Your Voice, Love Alarm, Marriage Not Dating, Memories of the Alhambra, Misaeng, My Girl, My ID Is Gangnam Beauty, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Nice Guy, Run On, Secret Garden, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, Summer Scent, When My Love Blooms, You're Beautiful
The emotion of the ocean
by missvictrix
Location and setting are used in powerful ways to help tell stories. Korean dramas in particular often capitalize on foreign settings or location changes to give depth and context. But...
Tags: Boys Before Flowers, editorial, Flower Boy Next Door, Lie To Me, Nice Guy, The K2, Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-ju
The “death” of the K-drama hero
by missvictrix
The threat of death to a story's hero is a common storytelling device that adds dramatic tension. It exists in everything from Greek myths to Victorian novels to Hollywood...
Tags: City Hunter, editorial, Nice Guy, That Winter the Wind Blows, W–Two Worlds
Veteran melodrama writer Lee Kyung-hee back with Chocolate
by javabeans
Melodrama hitmaker Lee Kyung-hee is coming back with another drama, called Chocolate (working title), which would mark her first project in two years, since the Kim Woo-bin (*tear*) and Suzy...
Tags: Nice Guy, Uncontrollably Fond, Will It Snow For Christmas, Wonderful Season
Top 10 gateway dramas to hook your friends on
by DB Staff
javabeans: Happy New Year, happy tenth anniversary, happy 2017, happy everything-that-will-be-better-than-2016! girlfriday: Yay, I’ve never been happier for a new year to start! I still can’t believe Dramabeans is...
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, Answer Me 1997, Boys Before Flowers, City Hunter, Coffee Prince, Descended From the Sun, Dramabeans Top 10, featured, I Hear Your Voice, lists, My Name Is Kim Sam-soon, Nice Guy, Nine: Nine Time Travels, Sungkyunkwan Scandal
2012 Editors’ Picks [Year in Review, Part 6]
by javabeans
Annnnnnnd another year comes to a close. Big thanks to our recap minions HeadsNo2, gummimochi, and kaedejun for sharing their reviews with us and joining the spirited discussion for the...
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, Answer Me 1997, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, Dr. Jin, Editors' Picks, Fashion King, featured, Gaksital, History of the Salaryman, Nice Guy, Padam Padam, Queen In-hyun's Man, Rooftop Prince, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, The King 2 Hearts, The Moon That Embraces the Sun, year in review, year in review 2012
Dramaland: The gift that keeps on giving [Year in Review, Part 5]
by girlfriday
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...
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, 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, year in review 2012
If I Could Turn Back Time [Year in Review, Part 4]
by HeadsNo2
My first year-end review! I was so excited for this opportunity that I decided to watch as many dramas as I could in preparation this year, and all but forced...
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, Dr. Jin, Equator Man, Fashion King, featured, Gaksital, History of the Salaryman, Love Rain, Nice Guy, Oohlala Spouses, Operation Proposal, Padam Padam, Queen In-hyun's Man, The King 2 Hearts, The Moon That Embraces the Sun, To the Beautiful You, year in review, year in review 2012
A Variety of Flavors in 2012 [Year in Review, Part 3]
by gummimochi
Looking at the buffet table of 2012, I'm left in awe at the vast array of possible selections before me. The sheer number of choices is growing every year and I...
Tags: 1 show to rule them all, Answer Me 1997, Arang and the Magistrate, Big, featured, Full House Take 2, Gaksital, I Do I Do, Marriage Plot, Nice Guy, Operation Proposal, Queen In-hyun's Man, Shut Up: Flower Boy Band, The King 2 Hearts, To the Beautiful You, Vampire Prosecutor 2, year in review, year in review 2012