75

[2022 Year in Review] Editors’ Picks

One of our favorite features at Dramabeans is our annual Editors’ Picks, which is the product of much voting, deep internal debate, hand-wringing – and of course, fangirling.

For some categories, the winner was abundantly clear. For others, it was a really close call. And for others yet, it was an unbreakable tie. So, rather than break any hearts while trying to break said tie, you’ll see we have two winners in the Best Romance category this year. Enjoy the post, and may 2023 be good to us all!

 

2022 Editors’ Picks

 

BEST DRAMA

Extraordinary Attorney Woo

Dramaddictally: It’s not surprising that Extraordinary Attorney Woo set records this year for global reach. With its mix of humor, ethical quandaries, and pressing social issues, it covers much more ground than a standard legal drama. Taking on themes of representation, gender inequality, and discrimination (from the workplace to the intimate sphere), the show connects to societal problems without pretending to solve them. Instead, it offers court cases (many taken from real life) that leave us with food for thought about the work that still needs to be done. Park Eun-bin’s portrayal of Woo Young-woo, an autistic lawyer recently hired at a top firm in Korea, is mesmerizing in its ability to be heartfelt, realistic, and funny, while creating a memorable character that doesn’t slip into cliché. Young-woo’s interior dilemmas (about work, family, love, and self) allow us to see her process of growth, while she helps everyone around her grow as well, as they confront their own prejudices. The villains here aren’t just courtroom criminals, but colleagues and acquaintances who act out of fear and resentment of difference. Overall, the drama has a clear idea of what it wants to accomplish and is consistent with its messages and delivery right through to the end. Even throwing in a few standard tropes to the storyline can’t distract from the excellent writing, directing, and acting all around. This is a story to make us feel something, with a main character who faces new challenges head-on and is resolutely herself — leaving us with the idea that it’s okay to be who we are, even if it isn’t easy.

Honorable Mentions
Alchemy of Souls

 

BEST DIRECTING

Little Women

alathe: Little Women is nothing if not intricate. Its main argument is that rich people have the unfair power to change the environment around them, to the point where they can transform reality. They can don disguises and become someone new, as shown by the stunning array of outfits and identities our heroine sells her soul to wear. They can turn a plain house into a feast for the eyes, whether it’s a Louisa May Alcott-inspired extravaganza of a tea room, or an impossible tree in a vast, green basement. And, like our unforgettable villain, Sang-ah, they can manipulate other people’s lives as if they’re directing a movie. Little Women is full of haunting long shots that look like someone is placing our characters on a stage. (Or, indeed, trapping them in a locked room…) It’s strewn with odd-angled scenes where the protagonists lurk behind long walls, or stand confined in narrow hallways: a great visual metaphor for just how much poverty keeps them trapped. This is a show that wields its metaphors like knives. From the creepy-gorgeous symbolism of the opening credits, to the gleeful Gothic horror of its plot lines, it stays spine-tinglingly unsettling up until the very end. What stands out the most is not that it’s clever — although it certainly is — but that it’s playful. This show loves to imagine weird places, weird scenarios, and even weirder visuals. It’s confident that its weirdness is exactly what makes it great — and it is absolutely right.

Honorable Mentions
My Liberation Notes
Twenty Five Twenty One
Extraordinary Attorney Woo

 

BEST WRITING

My Liberation Notes

quirkycase: From the first episode, My Liberation Notes established itself as a tightly-written, thought-provoking drama. The unhurried pace and minimalistic writing style allowed us to get to know the characters naturally, which was critical for such a character-driven drama. Writer Park Hae-young knew just how to balance strong dialogue with moments of silence that let scenes breathe, and this delicate balance grounded her examination of inner turmoil and the stifling of the self. Through a variety of characters, she explored how both words and their absence can serve as communicative tools and coping mechanisms, contrasting practically silent introverts like Gu and Mi-jung with chatterboxes like Chang-hee. What a character doesn’t say can tell you just as much about them as what they do say, and with characters like Gu and Mi-jung, their silence spoke volumes. While the writing wasn’t perfect – the ending felt messier than the rest of the drama – it was impressive overall and made these characters’ journeys toward their own liberation feel raw and real.

Honorable Mentions
Through the Darkness

 

BEST ACTOR

Kim Nam-gil (Through the Darkness)

solstices: It’s no secret that Kim Nam-gil is a phenomenal actor, but he’s outdone himself with the role of Ha-young in Through the Darkness. In his capable hands, Ha-young truly embodied the title of the show, grappling with his sense of humanity in the face of the worst that other humans had to offer. Through his expressive gaze and subtle mannerisms, Kim Nam-gil’s nuanced portrayal grounded the show with a compelling emotional center. His despair was heart-wrenching, but never overwrought; he was intelligent, but not simply because he was a genius. Instead, we saw firsthand the tenacity and mental fortitude that got Ha-young this far — and how that eventually built up into too much pressure on his weary shoulders, because he’s ultimately just human.

There was so much depth to Kim Nam-gil’s insightful interpretation of Ha-young, giving us a multifaceted and realistic protagonist. It isn’t easy to have chemistry with a co-star, let alone a whole ensemble cast, but Kim Nam-gil managed that and more. Over the course of the show, the emotional toll of Ha-young’s job grew apparent through the gradual shift in his demeanor and tone of voice. As Ha-young faltered, our hearts lurched with him, and his sincerity had us rooting for him as he slowly learned to find the light at the end of the tunnel. There’s a reason Kim Nam-gil has been my unrivaled favorite actor for over a decade now, and this role definitely reaffirmed my admiration of his acting prowess.

Honorable Mentions
Nam Joo-hyuk (Twenty Five Twenty One)
Ji Sung (Adamas)

 

BEST ACTRESS

Park Eun-bin (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

Unit: “Extraordinary” is one way to describe the phenomenal performance of Park Eun-bin as our extraordinary Attorney Woo. The odds were stacked against her, as a number of things could have gone wrong with playing a person on the spectrum. Yet Park Eun-bin treated Woo Young-woo with respect and affection, and delivered on the role without relying on exaggeration to bring the many facets of the character to life. Woo Young-woo never felt stereotypical or one-dimensional, and it’s all thanks to Park Eun-bin’s uplifting portrayal of the character. Hers was a delicate dance between going all out to portray Young-woo’s no-filter (and sometimes, frustrating) personality, and reeling her in just in time to not go overboard. It takes a great actor to display such a nuanced performance — enough to have us cheering for Young-woo’s highs, and rooting for her during her lows — and the balanced manner with which Park Eun-bin handled the character was almost effortless. For someone who (according to news reports) initially rejected the role because she felt she couldn’t do justice to it, Park Eun-bin gave us the performance of a lifetime as Woo Young-woo, cementing the character as an unforgettable one, and herself as one of the best actresses in dramaland.

Honorable Mentions
Kim Tae-ri (Twenty Five Twenty One)

 

BEST ROMANCE*

*It was a dead tie amongst the DB staff, so enjoy the double whammy!

Business Proposal

tccolb: There is much to squee about in Business Proposal’s romance, and the show really excelled in zipping through each rom-com trope, sparing viewers from the torture of noble idiocy and over-prolonged misunderstandings. But the fun fluff was also balanced by realness and maturity, which really made our cherished couple sparkle all the more. Hari and Tae-mu’s relationship was grounded by their mutual respect and admiration, and I really appreciated how this was reinforced in the writing of their dialogue. Both continue to speak formally at work and then, when off the clock, both switch to a more familiar “half-honorifics” speech – using each others’ names instead of titles. It was a really nice detail to match their levels of speech, showing just one of the many ways our OTP was golden — as lovers and as equals.

~and~

 

Alchemy of Souls

Jenzy: Well, was it even a surprise? In the midst of the flashy magic and political intrigue, the hard-won relationship between Jang Wook and Mu-deok/Naksu ended up being the bleeding heart of this drama. From complete strangers to their student-teacher-master-servant relationship, the opposites attract coupling between the violently brusque assassin and the well-meaning squishy-hearted mage made for some great comedic beats and natural attraction — and we will forever be grateful for some of the more iconic moments involving chaste tea or chamber pot water. But what really elevated this romance was the way the two depended on each other and made the effort to be each other’s rock. Whenever Wook wasn’t busy frustrating Mu-deok by taking his umpteenth bath of the day, and Mu-deok wasn’t putting Wook in another near-death scenario, there lied a deep, unshakeable understanding that these two wouldn’t hesitate to put their lives on the line if it meant the other’s safety. And we got to see this resolve tested and refined time and time again with each episode. It’s that “us against the world” trust these two shared that made their romance feel so much more satisfying than standard pretty-people chemistry, and dramaland is better off for it.

Honorable Mentions
Kim Tae-ri and Nam Joo-hyuk (Twenty Five Twenty One)

 

BEST COMEDY

Business Proposal

alathe: Sometimes giggly, sometimes zany, sometimes downright mystifying, but always charming — there’s nothing quite like the wonderful world of Business Proposal. Who can forget the high-octane shenanigans of our heroine, whose growing stack of shameless lies and social embarrassment is forever in danger of toppling? Or the slowly thawing arrogance of our hero, who isn’t even slightly above it all? (Competitive fishing, anyone?) This drama’s style is fast-paced and teasing: it’ll hit you with gag upon gag, with such a knack for unlikely comedy that you’ll be grinning every step of the way. This is a show that delights in its tropes: it’s here to wallow in every old drama convention we know and love, and — lackluster ending aside — it pulls them off joyfully. Still, tropey as the humor is, it’s paired with some truly original touches. There’s Young-seo desperately adjusting to a life without her father’s credit card, all the while ordering expensive furniture with the wide-eyed zeal of a lost kitten. There’s Grandpa, whose plaintive delivery of the immortal line, “Rich people are human too!” just about killed me. There’s the archaeopteryx noises. But, most of all, I love how the show entreats you to suspend all manner of disbelief, shed your skepticism like Shin Geum-hee would shed her jacket in a freezing cold restaurant, and revel in the sheer, romantic glee of this gorgeous story and its quirky cast.

Honorable Mentions
Good Job
Gaus Electronics

 

BEST THRILLER

Through the Darkness

DaebakGrits: Through the Darkness is a slightly unconventional K-drama thriller — in the sense that its suspense is not gleaned from an external conflict with a singular villain playing cat-and-mouse games with our heroes. Instead, the story is a fictionalized account of the South Korean police force’s experimental implementation of the profiling techniques used by the FBI to help capture the perpetrators of serial murders. While each couple of episodes does offer up a new case and a “bad guy” for Ha-young and his team to hunt down, the suspense is derived primarily from the profiling process, which was still novel and undervalued in the 1990s and early 2000s. There’s an acute curiosity that builds while watching the characters learn and apply the new techniques, and the tension increases whenever Ha-young makes observations or gains an insight that brings him closer to catching a serial killer. It’s a very subtle and understated form of suspense, but it’s very effective at keeping the audience engaged and feeling as though they are part of the detective process.

Honorable Mentions
Blind
Adamas

 

BEST FANTASY OR SCI-FI

Alchemy of Souls

missvictrix: It shouldn’t be a surprise that Alchemy of Souls is omnipresent in our Editors’ Picks this year – the expansive, imaginative, and delicious drama was a joy to watch. Bequeathing the title of Best Fantasy is no small feat, and it made me ask myself a worthy question: what actually makes a good fantasy drama? I think there are a lot of elements that must come together, but perhaps the most important one is world-building. First, the world of a fantasy has to be sound and solid enough to convincingly deliver all sorts of fantastical action — everything from illuminating jade and magic mirrors, to a hierarchy of mage power levels and the totally-not-a-big-deal plot point of soul-swapping alchemy. Then, the world-building of a fantasy has to take that structure and those magical elements, and sweep us up in its story. It might sound easy from the outside, but as someone who’s seen her fair share of fantasy dramas that are just impossible to connect with on a heart level — well, it makes you appreciate just how much heart, how much story, and how much rich characterization was poured into Alchemy of Souls. It grabs your emotions as much as it does your imagination — and even takes them both fully hostage for a bit. Now that’s what I call the recipe for a perfect fantasy.

 

BEST ENSEMBLE

Alchemy of Souls

mistyisles: The strength of a good ensemble cast lies in both how distinctive and compelling each character is individually and how well they all play off each other — and Alchemy of Souls excels on both accounts! From uber-powerful mages to lowly maids, each major character (of which there are many!) has a distinct role to play — both story-wise and within the fantastical society of Daeho — and is just bursting with personality. And a lot of it comes down to the actors’ full commitment to these larger-than-life characters and the ridiculous scenarios they manage to concoct. Sometimes hilarious (that scene with the slop bucket comes to mind) and other times heartfelt (or heartbreaking!), these characters push each other to new heights (or depths), learn from each other, and develop deep relationships with each other that grow and shift over time. The “Four Seasons,” the magical family leaders, the pompous but secretly soft-hearted prince, the bloodthirsty assassin trapped in a physically weak body, and others, are each iconic in their own right. But put them in a scene together, and that’s when the real magic starts.

Honorable Mentions
Our Blues
My Liberation Notes
Under the Queen’s Umbrella

 

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY/ART DIRECTION

Bulgasal: Immortal Souls

solstices: It was a bold choice for the show to launch into an extended backstory with only a brief cold open to pique our interest, but it was a gamble that paid off, aided by its skillful cinematography. From the outset, the show utilized its outdoors setting to the utmost, taking advantage of the natural topography to create breathtakingly picturesque scenes. Through its rich colors and haunting aesthetic, Bulgasal: Immortal Souls elevated its ambitious world-building, immersing viewers into its intricate lore and complex tale of karma. It felt like I was watching a historical fantasy epic, making me wish we stayed in the past even just a few episodes longer.

The show built up a creeping sense of dread through its use of slow pans and sweeping wide shots, as well as a suffocating tension through shadows and camera angles that don’t show the whole picture, but reveal just enough for you to draw your own inferences. Bulgasal: Immortal Souls is an example of a big budget used well — the monsters were appallingly grotesque, created with believable CGI and detailed special effects makeup that must have been painstakingly crafted. Even in the present timeline, inevitably constrained by rigid architecture and reduced grandeur, the show managed to maintain its vivid storytelling through artistic lighting and symbolic framing. Not only was Bulgasal an entertaining watch, but it was also a downright gorgeous one.

Honorable Mentions
Alchemy of Souls
Little Women
Under the Queen’s Umbrella

 

BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE

Choi Hyun-wook (Twenty Five Twenty One)

mistyisles: It would have been easy for Twenty Five Twenty One and a less talented actor to reduce the character of Moon Ji-woong to simple comic relief. And at first, he almost seemed poised to be that sort of character. You know the type: popular, flirty, doesn’t care about studying, only exists to tell a few jokes here and there, etc. But it didn’t take long for Choi Hyun-wook to turn that expectation on its head. Ji-woong was a pretty, popular, comic relief character who remained consistently bottom of the class, but he was also much more than that. He ran the gamut from making big, showy, romantic gestures that made him feel like the hero of his own show to displaying a refreshingly comfortable platonic best-friendship with the girl he’d known since infancy. But I think the moment that Choi Hyun-wook’s performance as Ji-woong shone the brightest was when he discarded his plans for a huge confession moment in favor of one made through simple, intimate eye contact across a crowded room. In a show that centered on a doomed relationship, Ji-woong and Yoo-rim’s side romance offered a bit of hope that sometimes young love can work out. And seeing what he did with that side romance, I look forward to the day when Choi Hyun-wook gets to headline his own show as romantic lead.

Honorable Mentions
Joo Hyun-young (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
Ha Yoon-kyung (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

 

BEST BROMANCE

Sohn Seok-gu and Lee Min-ki (My Liberation Notes)

Dramaddictally: While Sohn Seok-gu and Lee Min-ki don’t actually get a ton of screen time together, their bromance develops through comedic moments that feel like true brotherly affection — with both the adoration and the annoyance. Lee Min-ki’s Chang-hee is like the idolizing little brother to Sohn Seok-gu in his role as Gu — a drifter character that helps out with Chang-hee’s family farm. Gu is everything that Chang-hee wants to be: independent, rich, and crazy cool. For Chang-hee, who hates his small town and being too money-strapped to move out of his parents’ house or buy a car, Gu feels like he will be a savior. So, Chang-hee goes about trying to make friends (in the most little-brother way possible) by coming over uninvited, snooping around the house, and talking about himself nonstop. Gu’s stolid tolerance, in the face of such annoying behavior, is the heart of the humor in their interactions, but there is a deeper layer too. While Chang-hee imagines that Gu will save him, Gu starts to come out of his armored shell, giving the impression that it’s Chang-hee (and the rest of the Yeom family) that are the ones saving Gu. What starts as a one-sided fixation becomes a begrudging bromance as Gu offers Chang-hee hope, and Chang-hee gets Gu to open up a little.

Honorable Mentions
Rain and Kim Bum (Ghost Doctor)
Lee Jae-wook and Shin Seung-ho (Alchemy of Souls)

 

BEST SCENE STEALER

Kang Ki-young (Extraordinary Attorney Woo)

quirkycase: Delightful characters are in no short supply in Extraordinary Attorney Woo, but Kang Ki-young as harried boss Jung Myeong-seok was a standout scene stealer. Whether the moment was serious or comedic, he never failed to make an impression. Somehow, he always found the right tonal balance for a scene, and his reactions to his junior colleagues’ antics were seriously on point thanks to his great comedic timing. His chemistry with Park Eun-bin was fantastic, and it was a blast to watch the two of them develop their mentor-mentee relationship that was equal parts touching and hilarious as Myeong-seok did his best to go with the chaotic flow. Kang Ki-young played Myeong-seok with an endearing combination of exasperation and amusement, and he brought such warmth to the role of the mentor sunbae trying to wrangle the hoobaes in his charge and turn them into strong, confident lawyers.

Honorable Mentions
Seo Hye-won (Business Proposal)
Lee Deok-hwa (Business Proposal)

 

BEST CHARACTER

Na Hee-do (Kim Tae-ri, Twenty Five Twenty One)

DaebakGrits: A large part of Na Hee-do’s charm and appeal is in the nostalgia of her character, and I’m not just referring to her high-waisted jeans and 90s hair accessories. She embodies a youthfulness and a longing for a time when — no matter our current age — we were energetic, idealistic, and passionate about our dreams. Beneath her positivity, however, are the usual teenage angst and conundrums stemming from her complex relationship with her mother, her romance with Yi-jin, and her frenemies-to-friends situation with Yoo-rim. No matter the circumstances, though, she tackles her problems and chases her dreams with an admirable gusto that makes her utterly endearing. Na Hee-do is the heart of Twenty Five Twenty One, and even though the drama’s ending left many of us disappointed, I think it’s safe to say the wonderful characterization of Na Hee-do will help this particular drama to stand the test of time.

Honorable Mentions
Woo Young-woo (Park Eun-bin, Extraordinary Attorney Woo)
Gu Ryeon (Kim Hee-sun, Tomorrow)
Jang Wook (Lee Jae-wook, Alchemy of Souls)

 
RELATED POSTS

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

75

Required fields are marked *

I'm pleasantly surprised and honestly quite delighted by all the love Alchemy of Souls got from the DB staff this year. It's the kind of show that detractors might dismiss for not being cerebral enough or as 'typical Hong Sisters mish-mash' but it's provided so much joy to so many viewers this year.

There were so many people who talked about how they rewatched all of S1 prior to starting S2 (me among them!) and it points to the power of the story and the characters. After all, how often do you find yourself wanting to go back to a show practically immediately after you've watched it. Of course, we don't know if it'll stick the landing with S2 but I'm already quite happy with what we got in S1.

Love the other picks too. Thanks to the DB team for all their hard work this year helping us express all our love (and some of our frustrations) about k-dramas!

23
7
reply

Required fields are marked *

‘ Thanks to the DB team for all their hard work this year helping us express all our love (and some of our frustrations) about k-dramas!’ 👈😊 thanks for saying this I second this where would we be if it wasn't for this site.

18
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes! It certainly is my best drama of the year, no matter what happens in the last few episodes. The amount of joy I've already gotten from it - from watching with baited breath and explosive laughter to noticing new details and making wild predictions in the weecap comments - cements it as an all-time favorite for me.

11
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yes! If there were a category for "greatest volume of sheer pleasure" obtained from a drama this year, Alchemy would be my pick.

DB staff, thanks for all the work to make our fun more fun.

12
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

“Greatest volume of sheer pleasure “ I love this! I know it has its faults, but am honestly enjoying too much to want to nitpick .

10
reply

Required fields are marked *

If we count the number of replays and rewatches, Alchemy would surely win in my books.

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

My thanks to the DB team as well.

6
reply

Required fields are marked *

100%! I watched S1 late September, and have rewatched it 4x since - speeding 1.5x in some parts (with stinky eyes at Jin Mu) and replaying fave scenes multiple times. I've lost count how many hours I've poured into the show, but those don't even come close to how much love I have for it. I may nitpick and criticize on a cerebral level, but that's just like the leads' bickering. Underneath it all is absolute and undying love.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Seeing Bulgasal and Through the Darkness here makes me very happy. I've watched Through the Darkness so many times this year, and it's in large part due to Kim Nam-gil's performance. Just thinking about it makes me want to watch it again. haha

15
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Writing this piece for Kim Nam-gil definitely made me want to rewatch Through the Darkness too!😆

10
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

You all makes me wanna tune in to this drama. Through the Darkness seems have tons of praises. Even Jin Sun Kyu win award on this. Better late than never, I guess 😬

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Great choices considering the barren wasteland that was K dramaland gold standard ratings in 2022.

6
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

"profiling techniques used by the FBI to help the perpetrators of serial murders. "

Might be missing a word there, such as "capture".

9
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

TY!

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Without that one missing word the potential recruits suddenly increases.

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Reading all the love 2521 is getting and remembering how much I loved that drama before the disastrous ending makes me mad and sad because as awesome the drama was, it is not one I can ever watch again.

Thank you Team dramabeans for the article, and all the articles this year.

13
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I kept talking to myself 3 days after watching the heart breaking ending from the shock xD

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Best Direction ✅ I agree.

Best Writing ✅. Talk about being lost in time because of writing, that's MLN for me.

Alchemy of Souls' world building is a lot, and well grounded. Best Sci-fi ✅

Best Actor ✅✅. However, why does it feel like a love letter to Kim Nam-gil. I couldn't agree less @solstices

Best Comedy ✅✅ Who said Mondays can't be a looked forward to in kdrama history. Business Proposal made it possible 🤭. I can only relive the experience :)

Mr Gu * Chang-hee for the win👏🏼

Scene Stealers ✅✅✅ Kang Ki-young and the honorable mentions.

Best Character ✅ I agree. I didn't watch this to midpoint, but the little time I spent with Na Hee-do I could see the conflicts she dealt with reflected in my own reflections. Kind of like a mirror, or maybe a mirror.

It's fun reading through the Editors picks. 'Hi there Our Blues, you did well'.

8
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Who said it wasn't a love letter🤭❤️

8
reply

Required fields are marked *

What wonderful and thoughtful picks! I especially like the award for "Best Bromance" for the MLN Bros, and Art Direction for "Bulgasal" (which should include special mention of whomever dressed Lee Joon--his costuming was perfection). Also, choosing between Kim Tae-ri and PEB is just impossible; they both deserve the "Best Actress" award. And I would have given the actress who played the villain in "Little Women" Honorable Mention there.

A couple of quibbles: how could "Mu-Deok" not be named at least a runner-up for "Best Character?" Certainly over Gu Yeon. I love Jang Uk, but I think even he would come alive from the screen to say that Mu-Deok deserved mention before he did :)

I haven't seen "Through the Darkness" and probably never will (too dark for me) so I can't comment on those awards. I'm glad to see NJH get honorable mention for his work in 25/21. He's grown so much as an actor, and that performance was the first one where he was uniformly strong and engaging, from the heavily dramatic to comedic scenes.

I loved "Alchemy of Souls" and think I'll probably give them the top romance award for next year (I like this second incarnation even more than the first), but for ensemble, I think MLN had the edge. There are some weak links in Alchemy (namely, three of the four seasons), but MLN had nary a subpar actor in the bunch. I'd also give MLN best romance outright, even though that show wasn't primarily a romantic drama. But Gu and Mi-jeong are the couple that made me swoon the most; Gu's "I worship you" while they were sitting together silently watching the water was one of my favorite confessions of all time.

And finally, I loved the experience of reading Dramabeans while watching "Business Proposal," but for me, the drama was a tad overrated. A lot of the humor seemed very obvious to me, and not particularly clever. In contrast, the humor in "Gaus Electronics" flowed more freely and led to a record number of guffaws from me personally.

But again, thank you for taking the time to do this! The Editor's Awards are always a highlight at the end of the year.

10
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

As a comedy Gauss Electronics was on a different level. It never faltered and had a safe landing, the humour was witty and often unexpected, just think of the chaebol taking the bus to work! The actors were brilliant with their comedic timing.

Business Proposal was very good, I admit to rewatching it actually, but it is no match for Gauss.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

“There are some weak links in Alchemy (namely, three of the four seasons)“ 😆🤣

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

It’s literally 3am for me right now, but this post makes me super excited! Thanks dbstaff, will throughly enjoy reading this when I’m not so sleepy

4
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

“OTP was golden — as lovers and as equals.” *Side-eyes every time Tae Mu abused his power over Hari to force her to spend time with him”

That said, I agree with just about everything else on this list, and am elated to see that Little Women is getting its (well-deserved) flowers. The beanie count made me think it might not make the cut, but hooray!

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

These are all really good choices.

EXTRAORDINARY ATTORNEY WOO was indeed the very best and Park Eunbin deserves all the praise she can get (and a Daesang).

BUSINESS PROPOSAL was great comedy (and romance) which gave us not one but two great couples. It deserves to be on this list.

The world building in ALCHEMY OF SOULS was indeed first rate and compares very well to that found in the best Chinese Xuanhuan fantasies. A good fantasy also has to tell a good story and that is happening in ALCHEMY OF SOULS as well.

9
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Park Eunbin deserves all the praise she can get (and a Daesang).

Agreed! I was really rooting for her Daesang at next year's Baeksangs, but then Lee Sung-min had to put up such an I-don't-even-have-the-adjective-to-describe-it performance in Reborn Rich! Now my hope for Eun-bin's Daesang is slowly fading...

8
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I'm shocked that Lee Sung-min wasn't nominated for Best Actor (or Reborn Rich at all). The Daesang is his to lose.

6
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

They haven't even announced when will the baeksang awards be held yet. So, be patient.

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

What a great review! Best actor oh yes! best actress oh yeah! Best drama for sure! Oh, @solstices where do I send another love letter to KNG? It took me a while to warm up to Alchemy but I fell right into that world more with each episode. My Liberation Notes was so nuanced and nice to watch and Yes to Kang Ki-young for his outstanding performance in our favorite whale show, Extraordinary Attorney Woo. Bulgasal also had me mesmerized by the outstanding cinematograhy. Yes, this might not have been the best year for dramas overall but the ones that hit home really hit home and I think they will be remembered and rewatched very fondly. Now, when is Kim Nam-gil coming back?

6
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

So… what I’m getting from this is that Netflix chooses winners and reigns supreme.

Not that I’m complaining, I love all the choices and agree with most. Thanks for another year Dramabean Editors!

5
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

What I’m getting from this is that 2022 was a lackluster year. The same five dramas were nominated in every category. Not only was Alchemy of Souls omnipresent, but Extraordinary Attorney Woo won three categories and four Honorable Mentions, and Twenty Five Twenty One twice and four Honorable Mentions.

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Haha yeah most of them all seemed to have streamed on Netflix, which let’s be honest is really the only streaming service that doesn’t region block most countries.

But it’s interesting that none of the Netflix originals got nominated. Most of them sucked this year I guess lol. There has been praise for Glitch and a few beanies are liking The Fabulous.

I hope Netflix learns and takes into account the most buzzy dramas that were in a lot countries top ten were The Business Proposal, Extraordinary Attorney Woo and Alchemy of Souls. I hope they invest in their future kdrama originals with this in mind instead of all the neo noir dramas that came out this year

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I haven't seen Bulgusal but I really hoped to at least see an honotable mention for Red heart/Bloody Heart for cinematography. That show's cinematography was true cinemtography where cameras are not only capturing pretty frames but the angles are creating a mood elevated by the music and the emotions in the scene. I at least haven't seen dramas cinemtography in true cinematic way for years that gives life to the scene.

6
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree with you, Red Heart excelled in the cinematography where the dark mood was obvious in every scene especially the cinematography of the first episode.

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

I liked all the picks but will show my contrary nature by just pointing out that what seems to be many commentators best romance of the year ends with the female lead eviscerating her beloved. Sure, to take a sword in the abdomen is deeply romantic, but you can bet I'm not going to have any bells ringing at my next wedding anniversary party!

9
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Comment was deleted

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you DB Editor’s for selecting Kim Nam-gil as 2022 Best Actor for his performance in THROUGH THE DARKNESS. He gave a phenomenal performance and I am so pleased that it wasn’t forgotten because TTD aired Jan. 14- Mar. 12, 2022 which for some is ages ago.

This choice reminds me of the DB Editor’s selection of Yeo Jin-goo as Best Actor in 2019 for his dual role performance in THE CROWNED CLOWN which aired Jan. 7-Mar. 4, 2019.
It is nice to know that great performances early in the year are not forgotten.

6
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

As much i love the humor of Business Proposal, I don't think it's the best romances. Just don't have that moment which make their bond feels special. Their chemistry is good , but I keep thinking Shin Ha Ri choose Tae Mu not because she love him but because her true feeling is not reciprocate by MinWoo. That last meeting her with MinWoo indicated she is still has feeling for him. Eventhough it sound make sense, it left me feels hesitate rooting Taemu with Hari.

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Love to see the praise for Kim Nam Gil. He was wonderful as Ha Young in Through The Darkness.

I wish Under The Queen's Umbrella had gotten some awards. Its cinematography was great. Same goes for Bloody Heart. I did like Bulgasal's camerawork too. I guess the extra use of CGI for monster/fantasy elements made it stand out among the others so I will agree with this one. ^^

More dramas with awesome cinematography please! :]

7
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Not Lee Sungmin in Reborn Rich for Best Actor?

7
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

This one is nothing compare to Daesang in Baeksang

0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Best drama, best actress, best scene stealer - Yay for Attorney Woo, for an outstanding performance by Park Eun-bin, and for the always remarkable Kang Ki-young.

Best breakout performance, best character, runner up for best actor - Choi Hyun-wook really did shine as Ji-woong, and contributed so much comedy and heart to this drama. Na Hee-do (young) was an amazing character, played by an outstanding actress. But even though I have no complaint with Nam Joo-hyuk's performance, I am very surprised to see him as a nominee for best actor. What exactly made him a contender against Kim Nam-gil?

Business Proposal got a lot of love, but I couldn't watch past the opening week episodes. Best comedy, really? To me, that's a commentary on how weak the field was....

5
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same here, surprise with Nam Joo Hyuk in honorabe mention. it make me got curious watching 2521 until the end because up until ep 4, nothing of his acting make him standout.

5
reply

Required fields are marked *

Besides Kim Nam-gil, how exactly did Nam Joo-hyuk get nominated over Lee Sung-min in Reborn Rich?

7
reply

Required fields are marked *

How much I love this website. Thanks to the editor team for thrashing out their awards. It means a lot to many people. Whenever I feel that I am becoming a jaded viewer who has lost that magic connection with Kdramas, all I have to do is log in. Other Beanies have exactly the same worries, reactions and squees.
I cheered twice while reading your picks: for best actor and best actress. They were both phenomenal.

8
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

I pretty much agree with the editors and this may be the first year that I watched the majority of the dramas that won! I only watched Bulgasal in passing as my husband watched it religiously. It was pretty, I agree. Sounds like Through the Darkness deserves my attention though.

5
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Same for Through The Darkness! I think i need to watch it soon, even my friend who’s not a k-drama fan (or so she claims) gave it a good review.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Where is the link to 2021 editors picks? If not written can I have a small summary? Thanks DB team!

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thank you for the lovely review! Can't agree more with every single pick.
Just wanted to throw out that Choi Hyun-wook also starred in 'Weak Hero Class 1' (casted alongside Park Ji-hoon), and albeit short it was phenomenal and worth the watch. Definitely came out of it with mixed thoughts, and now the show won't leave my head!

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I agree. I just finished watching it and thought the actors really did justice to their roles and it is very thought provoking in its message. Its not for everyone who loves happy endings but it says something that is needed to be heard.

1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Pleasantly surprised by all the love for Through the Darkness. It’s my pick for 2022’s best drama, so I’m glad to see more people appreciating this gem of a show. Kim Nam-gil gave the performance of a lifetime.

7
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

I still need to watch that one, but alas I’m thriller’d out at the moment, but when I’m back in the mood it’s definitely on top of my watch list with all the praise it’s getting. And also Little Women

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Props to ENA, not only have they produced some good dramas this year (Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Gaus Electronics, Never Give Up)
They’ve also given us some much buzzed and very talked about dramas whether good or bad (Extraordinary Attorney Woo, Love Is For Suckers)

But what I most appreciate about them most this year is that they stuck to the 1hr episode limit and sometimes less (also their episode count was about 12 to 16 which also helped imo).

And oh my gosh did it make watching these dramas extremely easy. Even watching frustrating dramas like Love Is For Suckers & Summer Strike was a breeze.

My problem with TVN and JTBC is that they go over the hour limit and the episodes feel bloated and a lot of that extra time is spend on filler, looking at you Alchemy of Souls.

But even with a drama like Under The Queens Umbrella the extra 15 to 20mins still felt unnecessary. Adamas gave me two weekly does of so much tension that I had to takes breaks to get through them (still didn’t watch the last episode, I will get that bean tho, I still have a few days left).

But yes very much looking forward to the content ENA produces next year.

6
5
reply

Required fields are marked *

While I agree with you on the point of bloated dramas with too many fillers that got me frustrated, I wouldn't give that title to under the queen's umbrella and alchemy of souls but to Today's webtoon, Poong the Joseon psychiatrist, Reborn Rich and The Golden Spoon which takes the biscuit for me.

2
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Oh yeah I definitely agree with you on Reborn Rich, dropped that after 3 episodes.

I don’t necessarily mind filler, particularly in Alchemy of Souls S1, I throughly enjoyed Mu-deok going through those tests to get into Songrim

But right now in Alchemy of Souls S2, at lot of screen time is wasted on Park Jin’s bad cooking, whereas instead they could’ve focused on moving along the plot further, or Naksu regaining more of her memories.
Especially since there’s only 10 episodes this season, wasting crucial time on unnecessary filler just boggles my mind.

I marathoned Under The Queens Umbrella, and it’s definitely a stand out drama for me this year. Maybe if I watched it weekly I wouldn’t have minded the length of the episodes.

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Yeah, I understood your point better. You are right ten episodes are too precious to waste.

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Many of my favorite dramas come in under an hour per episode. I can often fit in shorter episodes into my schedule and my attention is sharper. Once the episodes start going over an hour, I find I often hit pause unless it is very, very engaging. So, I was thankful too for the shorter episodes as well! I'm intrigued by ENA also. I'm just finishing Gaus, I got halfway through Attorney Woo and finished Good Job. I really liked the visuals of these shows (posters, etc) with exaggerated color/graphics that stand out. The posters for Good Job were excellent and it was a fun show. Although Attorney Woo wasn't a show I felt like finishing, I liked the visuals of the whale metaphors in terms of it being an interesting break in an otherwise straight forward show. I bet it was those whale visuals that gave the show some of its popularity boost. Gaus is also interesting in how it is filmed in what seems like fluorescent lights. So, I think ENA is taking some artistic chances with some fun themes. So, let's see what happens next year and hope for those shorter episodes!!!

3
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Wow you said it better than I did! Especially with the unique posters and also promos. I found Gaus Electronics promos so ridiculous that I just to watch even tho I’m not found of office stories (particularly with the office abuse culture that is currently the backlash for The Interest of Love atm)

After getting through the first episode of Gaus which in my opinion was not the best, but other beanies kept praising the show, so I continued and couldn’t stop laughing! For me it was the best comedy this year

Sadly I didn’t find Good Job particularly interesting but those posters! They looked so fun and sexy. Really shows how much chemistry Jung Il-woo and Yuri have

And yes to shorter episodes! Hopefully TVN and JTBC also take the hint 😉

3
reply

Required fields are marked *

I just started watching more kdramas this year, even though I haven't watched a lot of 2022's shows it was interesting reading DB staff's picks! For me the best kdrama was definitely Through The Darkness. Even though I dropped the show around episode 9, Park Eunbin does deserve the best actress spot. I am having a hard time picking between Jisung and Kim Namgil for best actor as I am a fan of both and was in awe of their performances. I think because Jisung was dealing with double roles he might just win this one for me. I'd give best character award to Song Hayoung however.

5
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

First and foremost, thank you drama beans staff for making our watching experience much more enjoyable.
For me, The best drama of the year is a tie between Extraordinary attorney Woo, Under the Queen's Umbrella, and Alchemy of Souls. Dramas that keep me at the edge of my seat waiting with bated breath for the next episode.
Best directing is the complex Little Women which was intricate from the opening credits to the last scene. Kudos to the director for such a masterpiece.
Best writing for me is our blues with a great drama giving each of as many as 14 characters the chance to shine and for us to get invested in their stories. I also liked the distinctive writing of My Liberation Notes but for me, it comes as the runner-up.
Best actor goes to the magical Ji Chang-wook who gave a phenomenal performance portraying emotions effortlessly with his eyes. The one who viewers kept confining to being good at only action dramas proved he could do slice-of-life dramas effortlessly.
I don't think I can compare Ji Chang-wook and Lee Sung-min performances as for me both deserve the best actor award. It is a tie that I can't break. Both played different roles in different genres. With Lee Sung-min giving us a lesson on how a villain should be portrayed. It isn't loud voice and psychopathic traits that make a villain. Lee Sung-min's portrayal was one of a kind that won't be ever repeated again.
Best actress is also a tie between the extraordinary Park Eun-bin who gave a refreshing non stereo-typical portrayal of an autistic lawyer who is out to prove people on the spectrum can also be successful.
Also as the best actress is Park Hye-soo as our queen who sheltered everyone under her umbrella A balance between strength and being warm-hearted that never felt contradictory.
Best romance for me is Twenty Five Twenty One which wrote a new definition of love that left me hoping such love would come my way except for the heartbreaking ending of course.
I didn't watch Through the darkness yet but until now my best thriller is blind a drama that managed to keep us on the edge of our seats while revealing just the right amount. I also appreciate they kept the last two episodes for closure instead of a rushed ending with the villain revealed in the last episode.
Best fantasy is of course the magical world of Daeho fortress Alchemy of Souls. The world-building was astounding and made me sink into the magical world.
Best ensemble for me is a tie between Our blues, alchemy of souls and Under the queen's Umbrella.
Best Cinematography is Alchemy of Souls with bloody heart as a runner up that lost by just a nose. Appreciation to the cinematography of red heart which kept me feeling the dark mood throughout the series.
Best Bromance for me is Lee Jae-wook and Shin Seung-ho I can't with these two. Runner up is Rain and Kim Bum who I hoped to see more of them instead of the flat romance.

6
2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Nice reflections! I have to agree with Ji Chang-wook and his all encompassing eyes! He is a great actor who doesn't always choose the best roles. I loved him in his musical/drama of which I can't spell! Also, I loved Blind for the reasons you mentioned and also the actors. Taec ( can never get his name right) did a great job on his role and the show had tension enough to keep me wanting more. Except, I did figure out the villian before the ending.

2
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

Agree with you unfortunately some of the drama Ji Chang-wook picked out felt flat and boring.
As for blind, most of us figured out the villain as well but I think the drama was more about why than who.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

I watched a couple of dramas this year that feel like no one watched but me, but I thought they were amazing. - "The One and Only" and "Anna."

I also watched dramas and a movie that I thought were pretty good but everyone else hated it! - "Green Mother's Club" and "Seoul Vibe"

I liked "Bulgasal" because Lee Joon's performance was so great! There were other things I liked about the show and its very unique vibe. But Lee Joon's swagger and charisma really popped.

Another awesome performance was Kang Young-Seok as Jang Sun-O in "Insider." I didn't really enjoy that drama, because it felt like punishment to sit through it. But Kang Young-Seok was a revelation.

There was that one 2-week period when I binge-watched both seasons of "Yumi's Cells" and got very little sleep. Drunk on a drama like back in the day before I had kids.

And also that one week I binge-watched "Dali and Cocky Prince." The cuteness!

And that recent weekend I binge-watched "Weak Hero Class 1." Worth losing sleep over.

And remember how "My Liberation Notes" and "Our Blues" began airing at the same time, like some cosmic joke? That was just too much drama-goodness for me to handle. I have things to do on weekends! Saving one to watch later was not an option, obviously.

Worst drama this year for me was "Why Her?" And I still feel the sting of "Twenty-Five Twenty-One," even now. But it was so good, still.

I hope everyone had a great drama year! There were some disappointments, but I still had many hours of fun. Here's to looking forward to an even better drama year for everyone.

Happy 2023! Everyone be safe and healthy.

4
3
reply

Required fields are marked *

Want to give special shout-outs to Heo Seong-tae (6 dramas this year) and Choi Dae-hoon (5 dramas this year). You guys were everywhere!

4
1
reply

Required fields are marked *

And wonderful to boot!

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Lee Joon was really good at his role. I was hoping to see more of him this year.

2
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks to all the editors for giving me so many recommendations to watch and commentary to read!!! It has kept me engaged and watching.

6
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for your analysis on the Kdramas of 2022. I have seen several and agree with your categories and your picks are spot on. Your column/blog makes the Kdrama experiece so much fun! Looking forward to reading your analysis in 2023!

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Awww yayyy happy to see the dramas i enjoyed got DB’s year-end honour. I’m surprised by how little fanfare Under The Queen’s Umbrella has received but that’s ok, it’s still my best drama of 2022.

Thank you @db-staff for making the site alive and fun again, big cheers to a fantastic 2023🎊

3
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Thanks for this article to direct my viewing for the coming year (I left all the drudgery to you all!). The only drama I've seen of this lot is Extraordinary Attorney and it deserved all the plaudits. I really missed the editor's picks last year (I think there wasn't one?), so I'm glad you're back.

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

There were honestly so many dramas this year, I couldn't keep track!
100% in agreement with Our Blues honourable mention and yes Kang Ki-young is always a scene stealer!

Noting all of these best dramas to watch hopefully sometime in the future!
Thank you DB Editors!

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Business Proposal was charming and funny and delightfully self-aware until, 2/3rds the way through, they apparently replaced the writer with a robot K-drama script generator. It would have been nice if they finished the series as they started it. For comedy 'Gaus Electronics' stayed consistently daffy through its entire run so wins the comedy prize for me.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Business Proposal deserves every win it gets.

1
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

And if I was a DB editor...

BEST DRAMA
Sh**ting Stars

BEST DIRECTING
Sh**ting Stars

BEST WRITING
Through the Darkness

BEST ACTOR
Kim Young-Dae - Shooting Stars (EVERY facial expression just had me in stitches. I think he's gonna be in a sageuk next and I'm interested to see if he's really a diverse actor or if he was just gold in the one drama)

BEST ACTRESS
Lee Sung-Kyung in Sh**ting Stars
Honorable Mentions: Seo Hyun in Jinxed at First (It takes skill to be *that* ditzy)

BEST ROMANCE
Love is for Suckers (but not for the main couple lol. Chef John and Park Ji-Wan were adorable!!)
Honorable Mentions: Sh**ting Stars

BEST COMEDY
Sh**ting Stars (This show had me in stitches. All of the characters were perfection and made the drama lovably hilarious)

BEST SCI-FI/FANTASY
Grid (I actually lost interest in Alchemy of Souls after a certain point, but Grid kept me until the end, and I'm hopeful for a season 2 at some point)

Honorable Mentions: Unlock the Boss has been really cute so far.

BEST THRILLER
Through the Darkness (needs no further explanation imo)

BEST ENSEMBLE
Today's Webtoon (Maybe I went too easy on this one, but it just came to mind so easily for me. I loved all the office members and the different webtoon artists. Such a fun workplace drama for me)

BEST CINEMATOGRAPHY
Monstrous (This was a short, only 6 episode drama... but I was left wanting so much more of it. I loved the style and the melancholy creepiness)

BEST BREAKOUT PERFORMANCE
Kim Do-Hoon - Shin Dae-Ryuk in Today's Webtoon (After watching him here I was a super fan of his performance... and then I couldn't even recognize him in the Law Cafe! I don't remember how I connected the dots... but I'm glad to see him moving up in the world. Last I heard he has a main role coming in 2023! I wish him all the best).

Honorable Mentions: Park Yeon-Woo as John Jang in Love is for Suckers

BEST BROMANCE - this was a hard one. Although 2023 didn't have tons of stand out dramas, it did have quite a few fantastic bromances imo.
Ghost Doctor's Cha Young-Min & Go Seung-Tak (When I thought about what a classic, pure bromance was for me I just kept coming back to the relationship between these two. Sometimes irksome, begrudging best friends... and hilarious to watch together).

Honorable Mentions - If you Wish Upon Me's Yoon Kyeo Rae & Kang Tae-Shik; Sh**ting Stars' Gong Tae-Sung & Yoon Jong-Hoon; Good Detective 2's Oh Ji-Hyuk & Kang Do-Chang

BEST SCENE STEALER
Park Yeon-Woo - John Jang in Love is For Suckers (I don't know if this says more about the drama or him... but I think it just means he did a great job. Easily watched his scenes with more interest than the leads)

BEST CHARACTER
Choi Sang-Eun - Love in Contract (She's just so funny to watch! From her motivations to her strange quirks like being unable to clean up after herself)

2
0
reply

Required fields are marked *

Every weekend i used to go to see this web site, because i wish for
enjoyment, since this this site conations truly pleasant funny stuff too.

0
0
reply

Required fields are marked *