Since I watched many shows during lockdown,
decided to post my drama/variety show review for the first half of 2020
In a nutshell :
3 K-drama, 6 K-variety show, 1 Tw-drama, 9 C-drama
(my little journey into C-dramaland went on without any surprise, also K-drama slump is still the same)
([A-G] is back 😉)
K-drama
▪️ A couple’s world / The world of the Married
Was intrigued by the drama popularity, then decided to trust JTBC again (SKY castle).
One of the most intense drama watching experience, alternating between 😱🤬🤬🤧🤢😒 , seldom 😝😂
Was glad to have avoided spoilers !
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1056854/
[A-G]: it’s a makjang perfect for a binge watch on crack 😆
▪️ Extraordinary You
the first half was refreshing and so funny
my interest decreased a bit in second half
My fav’ was DoHwa 🤗: a self-aware second lead who was such a nice, gentle, funny and cute boy
[A-G]: Your posts and other Beanies’ posts gave me hope I’d enjoy it ^^
▪️ Pegasus Market
Lots of parody, lots of nonsense
= lots of laugh + lots of love for that drama
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1080851/
[A-G]: I dived in already knowing I’d love it thanks to your and other Beanies’ posts
I unfortunately dropped Extraordinary You. I loved its beginnings. Very refreshing and I even read the webtoon. But it became a sobbing fest and the female lead wasn’t that bad ass anymore. I remember that time EY took over my life, I barely had time to drool over Gu Yanzhen. (Yes! I first discovered AMA around EY time) Then when it got boring and Gu Yanzhen became funnier and funnier episode by episode, I dropped EY and focused, binged on AMA watch instead 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
I saw Beanies craze about EY before posts starting to talk about disappointing 2nd half, so I knew what I was going to watch ^^’. Fanwall is so helpful 🙂
Gu Yanzhen was funnier & crazier , double winks for the win 😆
[A-G] = Azzo Guide , tried to write it according to what I think @azzo1 will like or not (didn’t mention her , as an Easter egg left on my wall, now game is over 😅)
Heard a lot about Sky Castle, still don’t know what I feel about it.. I wanted to give it a try just because of how much I loved Kim Hye-yoon in EY (Dan-oh).. but I know it’s a heavy watch (right?) so yeah, I’m going to push that back for now!
And YAY, you watched both EY and Pegasus Market. Yes, EY did disappoint a bit in the second half but overall I really enjoyed it, and yup, Do-hwa was my favorite too, he was just so adorable!
As for Pegasus Market, how wacky was that? So much fun watching that show!
K-variety show
▪️ Trans-Siberian Pathfinders
Didn’t know what kind of show it was going to be, friends stucked in a train ?
I enjoyed it a lot, they were indeed stucked in a train but had to entertain themselves and made stupid challenges 😂
There were also times when they visited different cities and we got to see a bit of Russia
Couldn’t get tired of Lee SunKyun’s deep voice
[A-G]: watching people stucked in a train sounds so strange now with 2020 situation, however it was a nice travel show 🙂
▪️ 3MAD Fishing village S2
Slowly watching all 3MAD seasons, the trio of Cha SeungWon, Yoo HaeJin and Son HoJun might be my fav’ 🤗
▪️ 3MAD fishing village S5
Glad that they made this season in 2020, allowing viewers to have some healing time every weekend
[A-G]: the concept doesn’t change but all seasons are different, you can watch any season without any order
▪️ I live alone
My usual weekend show for several years now. Loving the addition of Son DamBi and Powder chef aka Lee Jang Woo 😆
[A-G]: You already know it 😋
▪️ 1n2d S4
The chemistry is good now that the members know each other and they all have found their place.
Yeon JungHoon is such a dark horse 😂, Kim SeonHo the variety baby is growing up , often quarrelling with DinDin 😆
Ravi’s addiction to ramyun never gets old 😆
[A-G]: You already know it 😋
▪️ Grandpas over Flowers (on going)
I have watched S1 & S2 so far, currently watching S3 in Spain.
It’s an inspiring and heartwarming show (and funny with bickering Na PD and Lee SeoJin )
[A-G]: a nice watch but first season is quite hard to find
Already said this but yes, not watching anything at all! I really miss 2D1N! I’m glad members are comfortable with each other now and maybe I should make this my show again!
Tw-drama
▪️ Someday or one day
Maybe the drama that handled time travel the best from my drama experience
with a touching love story and a trio of friends that I liked a lot
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1019276/
[A-G]: one of the best dramas of the year, I highly recommend it !
There was a lot of rave about this show on IG .. so I watched couple of short clips of it.. don’t really know what the story is about, but I will keep your recommendation in mind!
C-drama part 1/2
▪️ Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain
A show that doesn’t take itself seriously that made me laugh a lot,
was an excuse to see XuKai goofy again after Arsenal Military 😋
[A-G]: you kinda watched the show through my gifs 😂
▪️ Go Go Squid
Was my first show about E-games industry, learnt lots of things
Male lead was just a big tsundere wearing black 🥰 and very bad at managing his money 😆
All the young members calling female lead “sister-in-law” never got old 😂
The secondary couple was so cute, from fan to friend to girlfriend of her superstar
[A-G]: the female lead mother was tiring, a bit of noble idiocy but overall a really enjoyable rom-com
▪️ Joy of Life
A well-rounded historical drama, keeping balance between humor/action/suspense till the end
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1028621/
[A-G]: one of my fav’ drama this year (I think you’ll like it a lot)
▪️ Skate into love
Had to fast-forward and skip “villains” scenes or tertiary couples
Giggled and swooned a lot with Master Tang and Bing Bing 🤩
loved when they played their childhood scenes hehe 😆
[A-G]: a fluffy rom-com but with many side stories, losing focus on the main couple
▪️ The Untamed
Unpopular opinion : the relationship between male leads was a strong one
but overall the drama had so many flaws, kinda an average show
(but hey I know Wang YiBo now 🤩, and saw Xiao Zhan again after Joy of Life)
[A-G]: super popular show from 2019, depending on people can take 15 to 22 something episodes to get interested in
(it never really worked for me, I ended up watching at x2 speed the whole 50eps 😅)
C-drama part 2/2
▪️ Ashes of Love
Started it because of the ost “Unsullied” by Mao BuYi, stayed for Phoenix 🤩
didn’t gave a perfect score to that drama , but still a high score
final thoughts post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1059246/
[A-G]: the story dragged a bit in the second half, but this has the most gorgeous CGI I’ve seen in dramaland !
▪️ The Story of Ming Lan
Like Joy of life, a well-rounded historical drama with the fact that it deals with family dynamics with the concubines power fight
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1068446/
[A-G]: it reminded me of Yanxi Palace, it’s female centered and pace can be slow for some people (combined with a total of 73eps , it can scare people) but it is one of my fav’ drama this year.
▪️ A Little Reunion
Underrated little gem I found by chance, let’s say what Misaeng is to workplace, A Little Reunion is the equivalent to describe the year of the college entrance exam.
my recommendation post about it https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1078067/
[A-G]: highly recommend it, it has many eps but it grasped well Asian lifestyle and approach to academic achievement.
▪️ Gank your heart
This drama was a classic rom-com with cliche and tropes , nothing brand new, I had to ff or even skip many scenes.
Main couple wasn\’t that memorable as a couple, both leads characters were quite nice though, but I\’d rather remember PeiXi that big puppy fanboy trying to be in the same team of his idol haha.
[A-G]: no need to check it, there are much better dramas out there
Lmaooooo oooh the most memorable Phoenix scene ever!! Phoenix wont be the same again after Ashes of Love!
I have no crack shows now Kudo 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I finished The Bad Kids fast. I would recommend it to you if you wanted to venture out of our comfort zone and watch people make their decisions and things go spiralling down one decision after.
Anyways after The Bad Kids, nothing catches my attention 😭😭😭
shh stop talking about that, I’m forever traumatized 🙈
“I have no crack shows now Kudo 😭😭” it’ll come, keep checking reviews of airing shows 😉
I watched AvenueX’s recommendation about The Bad Kids (she rated at 3 gold mines, like it’s a must watch !!!) but after all those shows I watched during lockdown, I needed a break from it, so summer is more for variety show/reading (also work ’cause I only took few days off here and there). Will watch it for sure, but don’t know when.
exception for this summer : I’ll live watch Forest of secrets S2 so that I won’t be spoiled by the fanwall ^^’
Plan was to watch “The Romance of Tiger and Rose” after “Gank your heart”, but the Beanies posts about 2nd half a bit disappointing compared to 1st half, kinda cool off my excitement 😅 , maybe for later this year (or even 2021 oops)
Actually The Romance of Tiger and Rose wasn’t that bad halfway through! I didn’t fast forward this drama compared to what I did with Skate Into Love. There was angst but what drama doesn’t! Overall it was an enjoyable ride!
I was going through all the A-G’s and thinking “Ooh, kudo says this is highly recommended, I need to bookmark her recommendation page” and then I got to the last one and it made me laugh so much, thank you for putting that (although it kind of made me curious, LOL).
You’re most welcome for the A-G , it’s a fun and interesting thing to try to see dramas from another person pov and taste ^^ .
During lockdown, I picked many dramas because I knew it could end up at a perfect score for me, I needed some comfort , that’s how I ended up with so many 10/10 score dramas in such a short time ^^’.
Lol if you ever start gank your heart, you’ll get bored after a dozen of eps and see why it wasn’t worth your time x)
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:26 PM
Since I watched many shows during lockdown,
decided to post my drama/variety show review for the first half of 2020
In a nutshell :
3 K-drama, 6 K-variety show, 1 Tw-drama, 9 C-drama
(my little journey into C-dramaland went on without any surprise, also K-drama slump is still the same)
([A-G] is back 😉)
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:27 PM
K-drama
▪️ A couple’s world / The world of the Married
Was intrigued by the drama popularity, then decided to trust JTBC again (SKY castle).
One of the most intense drama watching experience, alternating between 😱🤬🤬🤧🤢😒 , seldom 😝😂
Was glad to have avoided spoilers !
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1056854/
[A-G]: it’s a makjang perfect for a binge watch on crack 😆
▪️ Extraordinary You
the first half was refreshing and so funny
my interest decreased a bit in second half
My fav’ was DoHwa 🤗: a self-aware second lead who was such a nice, gentle, funny and cute boy
[A-G]: Your posts and other Beanies’ posts gave me hope I’d enjoy it ^^
▪️ Pegasus Market
Lots of parody, lots of nonsense
= lots of laugh + lots of love for that drama
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1080851/
[A-G]: I dived in already knowing I’d love it thanks to your and other Beanies’ posts
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:11 PM
I unfortunately dropped Extraordinary You. I loved its beginnings. Very refreshing and I even read the webtoon. But it became a sobbing fest and the female lead wasn’t that bad ass anymore. I remember that time EY took over my life, I barely had time to drool over Gu Yanzhen. (Yes! I first discovered AMA around EY time) Then when it got boring and Gu Yanzhen became funnier and funnier episode by episode, I dropped EY and focused, binged on AMA watch instead 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
What does A-G mean?
Kudo Ran
July 19, 2020 at 12:12 AM
I saw Beanies craze about EY before posts starting to talk about disappointing 2nd half, so I knew what I was going to watch ^^’. Fanwall is so helpful 🙂
Gu Yanzhen was funnier & crazier , double winks for the win 😆
[A-G] = Azzo Guide , tried to write it according to what I think @azzo1 will like or not (didn’t mention her , as an Easter egg left on my wall, now game is over 😅)
13infamyss
July 19, 2020 at 4:49 PM
Lol Azzo Guide 🤣🤣🤣
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:28 PM
Heard a lot about Sky Castle, still don’t know what I feel about it.. I wanted to give it a try just because of how much I loved Kim Hye-yoon in EY (Dan-oh).. but I know it’s a heavy watch (right?) so yeah, I’m going to push that back for now!
And YAY, you watched both EY and Pegasus Market. Yes, EY did disappoint a bit in the second half but overall I really enjoyed it, and yup, Do-hwa was my favorite too, he was just so adorable!
As for Pegasus Market, how wacky was that? So much fun watching that show!
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:27 PM
K-variety show
▪️ Trans-Siberian Pathfinders
Didn’t know what kind of show it was going to be, friends stucked in a train ?
I enjoyed it a lot, they were indeed stucked in a train but had to entertain themselves and made stupid challenges 😂
There were also times when they visited different cities and we got to see a bit of Russia
Couldn’t get tired of Lee SunKyun’s deep voice
[A-G]: watching people stucked in a train sounds so strange now with 2020 situation, however it was a nice travel show 🙂
▪️ 3MAD Fishing village S2
Slowly watching all 3MAD seasons, the trio of Cha SeungWon, Yoo HaeJin and Son HoJun might be my fav’ 🤗
▪️ 3MAD fishing village S5
Glad that they made this season in 2020, allowing viewers to have some healing time every weekend
[A-G]: the concept doesn’t change but all seasons are different, you can watch any season without any order
▪️ I live alone
My usual weekend show for several years now. Loving the addition of Son DamBi and Powder chef aka Lee Jang Woo 😆
[A-G]: You already know it 😋
▪️ 1n2d S4
The chemistry is good now that the members know each other and they all have found their place.
Yeon JungHoon is such a dark horse 😂, Kim SeonHo the variety baby is growing up , often quarrelling with DinDin 😆
Ravi’s addiction to ramyun never gets old 😆
[A-G]: You already know it 😋
▪️ Grandpas over Flowers (on going)
I have watched S1 & S2 so far, currently watching S3 in Spain.
It’s an inspiring and heartwarming show (and funny with bickering Na PD and Lee SeoJin )
[A-G]: a nice watch but first season is quite hard to find
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:31 PM
Already said this but yes, not watching anything at all! I really miss 2D1N! I’m glad members are comfortable with each other now and maybe I should make this my show again!
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:27 PM
Tw-drama
▪️ Someday or one day
Maybe the drama that handled time travel the best from my drama experience
with a touching love story and a trio of friends that I liked a lot
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1019276/
[A-G]: one of the best dramas of the year, I highly recommend it !
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:13 PM
You’ll be back to me someday, one day…..
😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭😭
Kudo Ran
July 19, 2020 at 12:15 AM
…he said to me that one day,
he’d meet me by the Milky Way…
🥰🥰🥰
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:32 PM
There was a lot of rave about this show on IG .. so I watched couple of short clips of it.. don’t really know what the story is about, but I will keep your recommendation in mind!
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:28 PM
C-drama part 1/2
▪️ Once Upon a Time in Lingjian Mountain
A show that doesn’t take itself seriously that made me laugh a lot,
was an excuse to see XuKai goofy again after Arsenal Military 😋
[A-G]: you kinda watched the show through my gifs 😂
▪️ Go Go Squid
Was my first show about E-games industry, learnt lots of things
Male lead was just a big tsundere wearing black 🥰 and very bad at managing his money 😆
All the young members calling female lead “sister-in-law” never got old 😂
The secondary couple was so cute, from fan to friend to girlfriend of her superstar
[A-G]: the female lead mother was tiring, a bit of noble idiocy but overall a really enjoyable rom-com
▪️ Joy of Life
A well-rounded historical drama, keeping balance between humor/action/suspense till the end
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1028621/
[A-G]: one of my fav’ drama this year (I think you’ll like it a lot)
▪️ Skate into love
Had to fast-forward and skip “villains” scenes or tertiary couples
Giggled and swooned a lot with Master Tang and Bing Bing 🤩
loved when they played their childhood scenes hehe 😆
[A-G]: a fluffy rom-com but with many side stories, losing focus on the main couple
▪️ The Untamed
Unpopular opinion : the relationship between male leads was a strong one
but overall the drama had so many flaws, kinda an average show
(but hey I know Wang YiBo now 🤩, and saw Xiao Zhan again after Joy of Life)
[A-G]: super popular show from 2019, depending on people can take 15 to 22 something episodes to get interested in
(it never really worked for me, I ended up watching at x2 speed the whole 50eps 😅)
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:01 PM
Bing Bing! 😭😭😭😭😭
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:14 PM
And oh!!! Xu Kai came out with a new drama now with Manting. It’s costume drama so skip! 😆😆😆😆 Shindy is watching though!
Thank you for your mountain gifs that I practically watched it too 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Kudo Ran
July 19, 2020 at 12:19 AM
thank you, I’ve seen Shindy post about it, also AvenueX’s video about it airing
maybe for a watch later this year ^^
Lingjian Mountain was so crazy, stupid and funny, I laughed again while going through my wall to write this review post 😂
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:37 PM
I did kinda watch the show through your gifs and they were absolutely hilarious.. Xu Kai never disappoints with his crazy expressions 😂
I do remember all the “Untamed Craze” on the beanie fan wall.. never really interested me, don’t think it will, not really my type of drama!
Kudo Ran
July 18, 2020 at 2:28 PM
C-drama part 2/2
▪️ Ashes of Love
Started it because of the ost “Unsullied” by Mao BuYi, stayed for Phoenix 🤩
didn’t gave a perfect score to that drama , but still a high score
final thoughts post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1059246/
[A-G]: the story dragged a bit in the second half, but this has the most gorgeous CGI I’ve seen in dramaland !
▪️ The Story of Ming Lan
Like Joy of life, a well-rounded historical drama with the fact that it deals with family dynamics with the concubines power fight
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1068446/
[A-G]: it reminded me of Yanxi Palace, it’s female centered and pace can be slow for some people (combined with a total of 73eps , it can scare people) but it is one of my fav’ drama this year.
▪️ A Little Reunion
Underrated little gem I found by chance, let’s say what Misaeng is to workplace, A Little Reunion is the equivalent to describe the year of the college entrance exam.
my recommendation post about it
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/kudoran/activity/1078067/
[A-G]: highly recommend it, it has many eps but it grasped well Asian lifestyle and approach to academic achievement.
▪️ Gank your heart
This drama was a classic rom-com with cliche and tropes , nothing brand new, I had to ff or even skip many scenes.
Main couple wasn\’t that memorable as a couple, both leads characters were quite nice though, but I\’d rather remember PeiXi that big puppy fanboy trying to be in the same team of his idol haha.
[A-G]: no need to check it, there are much better dramas out there
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:06 PM
Lmaooooo oooh the most memorable Phoenix scene ever!! Phoenix wont be the same again after Ashes of Love!
I have no crack shows now Kudo 😭😭😭😭😭😭😭 I finished The Bad Kids fast. I would recommend it to you if you wanted to venture out of our comfort zone and watch people make their decisions and things go spiralling down one decision after.
Anyways after The Bad Kids, nothing catches my attention 😭😭😭
13infamyss
July 18, 2020 at 8:08 PM
Okay I’m reading your list again and I see you haven’t met my Ryan Ding yet!!!!! The Romance of Tiger and Rose is must watch! 😆😆😆😆😆😆
Kudo Ran
July 19, 2020 at 12:29 AM
shh stop talking about that, I’m forever traumatized 🙈
“I have no crack shows now Kudo 😭😭” it’ll come, keep checking reviews of airing shows 😉
I watched AvenueX’s recommendation about The Bad Kids (she rated at 3 gold mines, like it’s a must watch !!!) but after all those shows I watched during lockdown, I needed a break from it, so summer is more for variety show/reading (also work ’cause I only took few days off here and there). Will watch it for sure, but don’t know when.
exception for this summer : I’ll live watch Forest of secrets S2 so that I won’t be spoiled by the fanwall ^^’
Plan was to watch “The Romance of Tiger and Rose” after “Gank your heart”, but the Beanies posts about 2nd half a bit disappointing compared to 1st half, kinda cool off my excitement 😅 , maybe for later this year (or even 2021 oops)
Kudo Ran
July 19, 2020 at 12:52 AM
thank you Famy for reading all of this and also commenting 😀 (it doesn’t feel like a monologue anymore haha)
13infamyss
July 19, 2020 at 4:53 PM
Huehehehehehe! Thanks for sharing your half year drama review!! 😆😆😆
13infamyss
July 19, 2020 at 4:52 PM
Actually The Romance of Tiger and Rose wasn’t that bad halfway through! I didn’t fast forward this drama compared to what I did with Skate Into Love. There was angst but what drama doesn’t! Overall it was an enjoyable ride!
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:39 PM
I was going through all the A-G’s and thinking “Ooh, kudo says this is highly recommended, I need to bookmark her recommendation page” and then I got to the last one and it made me laugh so much, thank you for putting that (although it kind of made me curious, LOL).
Kudo Ran
July 24, 2020 at 10:04 AM
You’re most welcome for the A-G , it’s a fun and interesting thing to try to see dramas from another person pov and taste ^^ .
During lockdown, I picked many dramas because I knew it could end up at a perfect score for me, I needed some comfort , that’s how I ended up with so many 10/10 score dramas in such a short time ^^’.
Lol if you ever start gank your heart, you’ll get bored after a dozen of eps and see why it wasn’t worth your time x)
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:22 PM
Before I read the rest.. just let me tell you I love your A-G 😍😂
azzo
July 22, 2020 at 1:41 PM
DONE!
Thank you, Kudo ❤
I will make sure to save all those recommendation pages so I could go back to them later when I need to pick a drama up!