I was cleaning stuff on my computer and found my attempt for the end of the year review. So here it goes:

When I’m looking back at this year and try to summarize it somehow, there is one word coming to my mind… unexpected. This year was certainly unexpected. And while the Real Life was unexpected more in a negative way, my Drama Life this year was enriched by some unexpected gems – shows which I didn’t expect to like (or even watch) and which turned into a ray of sunshine bringing me light and joy in those Gloomy Days around me.

Late spring I met my first unexpected gem – a Chinese drama The Romance of Tiger and Rose. I read just a short synopsis and found the premise of an author getting inside her own script interesting. My expectations though were rather low and I thought I would drop the show after a couple of episodes, as was usual with any of my attempts to venture into Chinese dramaland. And then first episode happened and I had so much fun! And I enjoyed the series until the very end. The shining gem here was the good writing combining humour and clever plot (and humorous criticism of expected gender roles – you go Mom-In-Law!). Special mention goes to the two sidekicks of the leads.

Nearly at the same time came Mystic Pop-Up Bar. An unexpectedly touching drama with great balance between humour and sadness… and with original Other World. I liked nearly everyone there, but the shiniest gem definitely was Hwang Jum Eum (and her hanboks).

Then summer came and I reluctantly checked Into the Ring. Reluctantly, because dramas about politics are not my cup of tea. And what a surprise! I stayed till the end and even liked all the politics. The shining gem was without doubts Gu Sera (and Nana as Gu Sera). I loved her quirkiness and special methods and I chuckled with satisfaction when Gu Sera swung her golf stick. Special mention to the kisses… and the weird camera angles.

The School Nurse Files came during shortening autumn days and all its bizarreness unexpectedly worked for me. Not that I understood everything, but I was touched. I was deeply touched by the students’ stories and even more by the School Nurse and her neverending fight. Jung Yoomi shined with her plastic sword. And so did Nam Joo Hyuk with his walking stick.

I’m closing my list of unexpected gems with a show many of you watched when it aired in summer, but I watched it fairly recently, on the verge of autumn when winter was coming. I just one day randomly clicked on the first episode of My Unfamiliar Family and then could not watch anything else until I completed it.
The series has a weekender feel, but goes much deeper and all characters and misunderstandings are very real. The shiny gem here though was for me the character introduced rather late into the story – Lawyer Min Woo (great Kwon Yul). His talking and bright smile always filled me with joy. And his phone call with his mom will forever be in my treasure box of happy-making moments.

May we all also next year meet some unexpected gems in Dramaland which bring at least a bit of joy and happiness into our Real Lives!