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scoundrels-in-love · 6 years

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Rainy recommends Kdramas

So I was slightly encouraged to make a kdrama rec list and, of course, I went overboard and went and wrote a long-ass list, but if it helps even one person, I will be happy. Besides, it’s excuse for me to rant about dramas I love and you know I can’t pass that up.

This list will be divided in multiple parts because I am a troubled watched. The titles will explain. (Genres I’ve written as per my opinion and are listed in alphabetic order cause I can’t decide how to do it otherwise, and dramas are too.) I also stopped added humor genre because most of these dramas have a fair share of humor and kept the tag only for the ones that felt purposely humor-made.

Disclaimer: This list is purely my opinion and I will not fight anyone who dislikes any drama listed here and I hope you will not fight with me. Or unfollow me. #awkward laughter. Also let it be noted I have at least one issue with each of these dramas, I do not proclaim anything perfect.

And now, finally, onto actual fic rec list, under the cut.

Kdramas I’ve 100% watched

Goblin Drama - Fantasy - Romance There seems to be only people who love it to pieces or quite profoundly dislike it. Obviously, I belong to the first group. It’s a visually stunning story that draws you in, makes you laugh your heart out and then sets it on fire. I tagged this as drama for a reason! In a way, it’s story of humankind, both at its worst and best. It’s a story of 300+ year old men being total adorable dorks. Of love and friendships that can be lost in twists of fate, but transcend a lifetime. It comes with 2 OTPs and no love triangles in conventional sense, OST that might blow your mind in best way and cinematography that takes breath away. Beware if your squick is visual age difference, though!! If not, watch away and beware: (lots of) tears may be shed.

Go Ho’s Starry Night Office Romance - Romance - Slice of Life A short and lovely watch that may surprise you. It tears into such topics as sexism, bigotry, prejudices and others, while not being too in your face about it. As I once said, It has all the good things of romcoms, but somehow pretty much deals with the fallout what would come with one. What’s more, it appeals to my love of jerks with heart of gold trope, in most pleasant way. Entertaining fun that isn’t all empty.

Hello Monster / I Remember You Crime - Family - Drama - Romance Though I added romance tag, this is just a side factor in grand scheme of things, though it does not feel forced and is emotionally satisfying. This is story of mistakes, of losing and finding what matters, of situations where there is no right answer. One of my greatest draws to this series was the acting, especially by three important men. Psychos that are so charismatic it hurts. Ambiguous good guys. All that good stuff.

It’s Okay, That’s Love Drama - Medical (sort of) - Psychological - Romance It’s not spoken of much and I feel the need to always rectify that, because while it might not be the most accurate portrayal of mental health care or even these issues, for me, while it might end up brushing over the end of some plot points a little too easily, there were many things that screamed deep and personal to me, that made me cry again and again as I stayed up till 5am to watch the final episodes because I could not stop anymore. Perhaps it’s one of those hits-one-in-a-hundred watch, but do give it a try, move past the eyeroll of first episodes and the male lead you may dislike (or female). What’s more, the acting is amazing and it’s chockfull with lovable side characters that have/create great and meaningful relationships and friendships.

Kill Me, Heal Me Drama - Psychological - Romance What can I say, this drama is an experience on its own. It may lack in psychological accuracy and the female lead may seem like a screeching harpy at the start, but overall it’s very emotional ride with amazing acting and made me feel and cry quite a bit. At one point, if certain song came on, I knew I’d probably cry! But it’s not all sadness and gloom, in fact there’s so much humor and funny moments they’re brought up through drama cracks years later. And the male lead’s acting may just floor you. 7 (!) different characters and they all truly feel different, grow and change subtly.

Shopping King Louis Humor - Romance - Slice of Life Definitely a feel-good watch of chaebol (rich heir) and girl from countryside living in the capital and navigating the difficulties together. It’s cute, wacky and all around adorable, until it suddenly makes you quiver lip a little. It’s easy, sugary brain food and sometimes we need just that. (+ Male lead is played by same actor as in Hello Monster and the vast differences between characters are likely to wow you.)

Splash Splash Love Fantasy - Historical - Romance - Time Travel If you want to spend 2 hours with easy, lovable watch, this may just be your thing. I heard a lot of positive feedback about it and thought it couldn’t be that great, but somehow it was! Pretty costumes? Check. Time Traveling? Check. Modern gadget shenanigans in historical era? Check. Sweet and troubled love? Check. Happy ending? Check. Don’t expect it to answer all your questions, it won’t, but face value of it is still worth it!

Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo College/High School - Romance - Slice of Life My first drama and I would suggest it as first to watch for others, too. While the humor and even the characters may make you roll your eyes sometime, the theme of growing up and dealing with new and old wounds is handled with love and wiseness of heart. The eventual couple is amazing sorta enemies to friends to lovers trope embodiment and absolutely adorable. It’s a feel-good watch, until angst comes and smacks you in the face, and then you’re crying and healing along with the characters. The acting is excellent, it’s visually beautiful and there’s something charming about it. Give it a try, even if slice of life and college content isn’t your cup of tea. They aren’t mine either.

Kdramas I’ve not 100% finished, but I have watched most of it + finished with gifs, meta and clips and am still absolutely recommending and 100% plan to finish when I am emotionally and physically capable

20th Century Boy and Girl Friendship - Romance - Slice of Life A drama lot of people ‘slept’ on because it was so quiet and subtle in some ways, and perhaps the writer was not quite sure what to do with it in the end, stretching some things far too long and not even delivering an upgrade, but... Somehow, I like(d) it a lot. So, so, so much. The female friendship of it made my heart soar, the gently blossoming romances made me physically grin so much it hurt and there were so many good, unusual dynamics about it you don’t usually see in a kdrama. If you’re in for a boat ride down a beautiful, slow and wide river where sometimes there’s a sudden bump with group of wonderful friends, this may be drama for you.

Because This is My First Life Friendship - Subtle Drama - Romance - Slice of Life Another girl friendship story. Well, it’s not just about girl friendship, but without it, the story wouldn’t be half of what it was. For me, this drama hit a lot personal spots, with our girls who are 30, but are still looking for their way in life and getting lost and finding themselves. It’s gentle, painful and reassuring all at once, there are tropes and then they’re flipped on the head in most amazing ways. The romance is slow and strange and pretty much wonderful. Maybe the characterization suffers a little in the end, but overall, I think when I do finish it, I will be satisfied and moved and feel like it was fitting conclusion for characters whose stories are in quite unique. And by this, I don’t mean just our main couple, but essentially the whole supporting cast, even rather minor characters!

School 2017 Friendship - High School - Romance - Slice of Life I am not one for high school stuff, and I don’t know when I will properly watch and finish this, but I do know I want to. Why? Because it gives me lovely characters with issues both on the superficial and deep level, fitting and transcending age group the characters are in. It’s well acted and has lovely friendships, a cute romance that is right up my alley, as it’s boy goes from fight me @ world to smitten kitten for his girl and also a lovely story of finding yourself as you grow up.

Strong Woman Do Bong Soon Fantasy/Superpowers - Humor - Romance This is a problematic favorite of mine, personally. You won’t stick with this drama for plot, but you may for an OTP that consists of kookie, super strong girl and rich CEO who hires her to be his bodyguard because he’s already 10 feet in love with her despite his denial. It’s the ‘powerful women and pretty boys who would die for them’ trope incarnate, the heartgame is so strong you feel it through the screen. And yes, there are issues with side characters, with consistency, too many jokes about pee and so forth, but if you want any of what’s mentioned above + some feels, this may be for you.

Suspicious Partner Crime - Romance This drama may have benefited from being few episodes shorter and better pacing of romantic and crime story lines, but overall, it’s one that’s likely to draw you in and feel for the characters. It’s not just the main couple that are straight up adorable, especially when they can get beyond that I’m distancing/hiding things for your safety/happiness point, but plenty of interesting side characters with meaningful relationships and stories to tell. Besides, the acting’s wonderful and Ji Wook is one of most likable and considerate male leads (other than hiding things aspect) I’ve ever seen in kdrama (or anywhere). His confession speech is just, #swoon.

While You Were Sleeping Crime - Fantasy - Romance It’s a drama that started strong and then puttered out some, but if you’re in for a story that once again asks questions ‘what would you do if you saw future’ and gives it’s own kind of answers, this may be for you. It’s got interesting characters, cute romance and lovely friendships are made along the way, as they struggle with some truly difficult problems of morality and otherwise.

Things I have started, kept up with via media and have mixed feelings about, but still kind of am fascinated by, so I suggest you give them a try

Black (tagged on my blog as OCN Black so there’s no mistags) Crime - Fantasy - Romance (??) Personal Status - Unfinished, plan to finish It’s a wild mess, but intriguing one. I did not get further than 4 eps yet, but I do plan to try. The acting is pretty good, the story’s very twisted and I have heard mixed reactions to the way its solved, but it strays so far from anything I’ve ever watched I can’t help but be kind of drawn to it. It’s got tons of gory and/or disgusting moments, though, as its humor kind of rides on that, so be warned.

Tomorrow With You Drama - Time Travel - Psychological - Romance Personal Status - Unfinished, but plan to finish This one is a strange one, because it’s slow and with awkward push and pull dynamics, but and at the same time, that’s what makes it so real it hurts. You might want to punch some senses in characters at times, but that’s how we just are, especially if we are as troubled and traumatized as our leads. It’s a story of learning, growing as a person and healing and perhaps, if it was that, I’d be done with it and added it to the bottom list, but the eventual crime aspect felt jarring to me and I got frustrated with that story line and lost part of confidence my questions could be answered and whole drama wrapped up well. It’s just so emotionally and psychologically meaty and good otherwise, I am afraid to head into disappointment. But one day, I will wrap it up and judge for myself. W / W of Two Worlds Drama - Fantasy - Romance Personal Status - Unfinished, plan to finish Perhaps the one drama I ruined watching of to myself because of spoilers and now I can’t bear to watch the rest, unsure if I will be part of love or hate group (another one to divide the followers very deeply). What I can say, though, is that I loved the start of it, it really doesn’t hesitate to surprise you and make you think, especially if you are any sort of content creator. Very likely to make you Feel at some point.

Kdramas I plan to watch, but already love because of meta, clips and other content I’ve seen

Fight For My Way Friendship - Romance - Slice of Life Hwayugi Fantasy - Romance

Just Between Lovers Drama - Psychological - Romance - Slice of Life

I can’t say much about any of these, but at the same time, I feel like there’s lot to be said. Especially about Just Between Lovers, which, so far, appears to be the top tier Drama drama, with traumatized characters, profound storytelling and a way to both wrap you up in warmth and devastate you.

Kdramas that I’ve heard a lot of good about/have been recommended to me/I may be planning to watch

Age of Youth 1 and 2 - Another Miss Oh - Bring it on, Ghost - Cheese in Trap - Chicago Typewriter - Coffee Prince - Descendants of the Sun - Go Back Couple - Healer - My Love From Another Star - Pinocchio - Reply series - Save Me - Signal - The K2

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