Recycled content alert: I am going to repost a thread about K-dramas that I originally made in December 2024.
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It’s Okay To Not Be Okay addenda. We loved the show so much that I made my wife a Mang Tae “Nightmare Catcher” doll as a gift (and another smaller one to hang from her rear view mirror (if you know, you know)
31/X
#kdramaNow that my wife is caught in the K-drama spell, my project of finding 'important and influential' dramas will be set aside, as we cruise through a series of slick, recent dramas with mass-market appeal. If you cannot stomach 'Kindergarten Kismet' and related tropes, I advise you to stop reading
Love Next Door, a romcom from 2024 was our next watch. Some light spoilers follow.
32/N
#kdrama
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Now that my wife is caught in the K-drama spell, my project of finding 'important and influential' dramas will be set aside, as we cruise through a series of slick, recent dramas with mass-market appeal. If you cannot stomach 'Kindergarten Kismet' and related tropes, I advise you to stop reading
Love Next Door, a romcom from 2024 was our next watch. Some light spoilers follow.
32/N
#kdramaOur story begins when Bae Seok-ryu (played by Jung So-min) returns to Korea after her successful career with an American conglomerate called Greip suddenly (and at first mysteriously) implodes. The love interest is (duh) her next-door neighbor Choi Seung-hyo or Choisseung (played by Jung Hae-in), who she has known since they were small children.
33/N
#kdrama -
Our story begins when Bae Seok-ryu (played by Jung So-min) returns to Korea after her successful career with an American conglomerate called Greip suddenly (and at first mysteriously) implodes. The love interest is (duh) her next-door neighbor Choi Seung-hyo or Choisseung (played by Jung Hae-in), who she has known since they were small children.
33/N
#kdramaThrough flashbacks we gradually see how their relationship evolved from her bossing him around in a big sister-ly way, to becoming platonic besties through high-school, until she goes to the US to attend college on a scholarship. Choisseung stays in Korea, pursuing architecture when his dreams of competitive swimming are crushed after being hit by a vehicle. He's gained some recognition in the architecture world, but is struggling to get his newly opened firm off the ground.
34/N
#kdrama -
Through flashbacks we gradually see how their relationship evolved from her bossing him around in a big sister-ly way, to becoming platonic besties through high-school, until she goes to the US to attend college on a scholarship. Choisseung stays in Korea, pursuing architecture when his dreams of competitive swimming are crushed after being hit by a vehicle. He's gained some recognition in the architecture world, but is struggling to get his newly opened firm off the ground.
34/N
#kdramaSeok-ryu's parents, especially her mother Mi-sook, are furious that she has foolishly quit a successful career and broke off an engagement, both of which were considerable sources of pride to the Mom. Mi-sook is especially shamed because her best friend Young-nam, who happens to be Choisseung's mother, is a wealthy and somewhat superior acting diplomat. Mi-sook has bragged incessantly about her successful daughter, and hates to eat crow in front of her fancy friend.
35/N
#kdrama -
Seok-ryu's parents, especially her mother Mi-sook, are furious that she has foolishly quit a successful career and broke off an engagement, both of which were considerable sources of pride to the Mom. Mi-sook is especially shamed because her best friend Young-nam, who happens to be Choisseung's mother, is a wealthy and somewhat superior acting diplomat. Mi-sook has bragged incessantly about her successful daughter, and hates to eat crow in front of her fancy friend.
35/N
#kdramaChoisseung's parents Young-nam and her physician husband Seung-joon are wealthy, and their house is posh, though sterile, while Seok-ryu's family is struggling financially. The father Geun-sik runs a tteokbokki restaurant that seemingly attracts zero customers. Though their home is modest, as we see over time Seok-ryu's family is warm and expressive, while Choisseung's is frigid and unable to express their feelings.
36/N
#kdrama -
Choisseung's parents Young-nam and her physician husband Seung-joon are wealthy, and their house is posh, though sterile, while Seok-ryu's family is struggling financially. The father Geun-sik runs a tteokbokki restaurant that seemingly attracts zero customers. Though their home is modest, as we see over time Seok-ryu's family is warm and expressive, while Choisseung's is frigid and unable to express their feelings.
36/N
#kdramaWe come to realize that Choisseung has indeed harbored love for Seok-ryu since high school, but has not been able to say anything for all these years. This is one of the most common and infuriating kdrama tropes: dude who cannot say 'I love you' to save his life, and we have to endure episode after episode of him tying himself in knots to not say what has been evident from the first 15 minutes. But that's just how it works, folks.
37/N
#kdrama -
We come to realize that Choisseung has indeed harbored love for Seok-ryu since high school, but has not been able to say anything for all these years. This is one of the most common and infuriating kdrama tropes: dude who cannot say 'I love you' to save his life, and we have to endure episode after episode of him tying himself in knots to not say what has been evident from the first 15 minutes. But that's just how it works, folks.
37/N
#kdramaWe have a healthy buffet of cliché tropes and plot devices on offer here, but they are employed with enthusiasm and there are a plenty of great comedic moments. There are many well done characters here, and there is much to keep you hooked for 16 episodes. I found Seok-ryu to be a very compelling and vulnerable FL. Her best friend Mo-eum (played by Kim Ji-eun) is the cutest, along with Mo-eum's sometimes reluctant suitor Dan-ho (played by Yoon Ji-on). 4/5 totally entertaining.
38/N
#kdrama -
We have a healthy buffet of cliché tropes and plot devices on offer here, but they are employed with enthusiasm and there are a plenty of great comedic moments. There are many well done characters here, and there is much to keep you hooked for 16 episodes. I found Seok-ryu to be a very compelling and vulnerable FL. Her best friend Mo-eum (played by Kim Ji-eun) is the cutest, along with Mo-eum's sometimes reluctant suitor Dan-ho (played by Yoon Ji-on). 4/5 totally entertaining.
38/N
#kdramaFriendly Rivalry is a dark, stylish story about Korea's cutthroat competition for achievement that takes us on quite a journey in 16 short episodes. The plot revolves around Woo Seulgi (Chung Su-Bin), a teenage girl with no parents, who is trying to get ahead in a small town in Korea. In pursuit of her dreams of becoming a doctor, Seulgi starts using performance enhancing drugs to become top in her class, and thus transfer to an elite high school in Seoul.
39/N
#kdrama
#friendlyrivalry
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Friendly Rivalry is a dark, stylish story about Korea's cutthroat competition for achievement that takes us on quite a journey in 16 short episodes. The plot revolves around Woo Seulgi (Chung Su-Bin), a teenage girl with no parents, who is trying to get ahead in a small town in Korea. In pursuit of her dreams of becoming a doctor, Seulgi starts using performance enhancing drugs to become top in her class, and thus transfer to an elite high school in Seoul.
39/N
#kdrama
#friendlyrivalryThe competition and hierarchy at Chaehwa Girls' High School in Seoul is cut throat, and the "bumpkin" Seulgi is bullied as soon as she arrives. The top student is Yoo Jae-yi (Lee Hyeri), the daughter of a hospital director. Somewhat mysteriously Jae-yi takes the bumpkin under her wing, and shields Seulgi from the other girls. Seulgi is understandably suspicious of Jae-yi's intentions, and indeed we are kept in suspense until the end what each of the girls' motives are.
40/N
#kdrama -
The competition and hierarchy at Chaehwa Girls' High School in Seoul is cut throat, and the "bumpkin" Seulgi is bullied as soon as she arrives. The top student is Yoo Jae-yi (Lee Hyeri), the daughter of a hospital director. Somewhat mysteriously Jae-yi takes the bumpkin under her wing, and shields Seulgi from the other girls. Seulgi is understandably suspicious of Jae-yi's intentions, and indeed we are kept in suspense until the end what each of the girls' motives are.
40/N
#kdramaSeulgi is quickly drawn into a dangerous world of violence, drugs and (suggested) sex. Jae-yi's father casts a long shadow over the action, as he subjects Jae-yi and her friends to mysterious performance enhancing medical procedures, and turns a blind eye to the fact that they are swiping drugs from the hospital. We also learn surprising details about Seulgi's father, a former teacher at Chaehwa Girls' High who died under mysterious circumstances.
41/N
#kdrama -
Seulgi is quickly drawn into a dangerous world of violence, drugs and (suggested) sex. Jae-yi's father casts a long shadow over the action, as he subjects Jae-yi and her friends to mysterious performance enhancing medical procedures, and turns a blind eye to the fact that they are swiping drugs from the hospital. We also learn surprising details about Seulgi's father, a former teacher at Chaehwa Girls' High who died under mysterious circumstances.
41/N
#kdramaThere are a few sympathetic adults, notably Seulgi's step-mother, Kwon Hee-yoon (Kang Jin-ah), but the best part of this series is the portrayal of the rivalries, affections and struggles of our young female characters. Of course I would probably love anything starring Lee Hyeri (of Reply 1988 fame) but my wife and I were both riveted through this short, stylish drama with a killer soundtrack and arty, cinema noir aesthetics. Five stars.
42/N
#kdrama -
There are a few sympathetic adults, notably Seulgi's step-mother, Kwon Hee-yoon (Kang Jin-ah), but the best part of this series is the portrayal of the rivalries, affections and struggles of our young female characters. Of course I would probably love anything starring Lee Hyeri (of Reply 1988 fame) but my wife and I were both riveted through this short, stylish drama with a killer soundtrack and arty, cinema noir aesthetics. Five stars.
42/N
#kdramaQueen of Tears is a mega-popular drama from 2024 which, at times, threatens to overwhelm the viewer with a nutrient-dense stew of high-stakes romance, moral dilemmas, intrigue and seemingly every trope in the book. Nevertheless, the creators have pulled off a tour de force, with every character and nuance somehow working together to create a powerful and memorable blockbuster of a drama.
43/N
#QueenOfTears
#kdrama
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Queen of Tears is a mega-popular drama from 2024 which, at times, threatens to overwhelm the viewer with a nutrient-dense stew of high-stakes romance, moral dilemmas, intrigue and seemingly every trope in the book. Nevertheless, the creators have pulled off a tour de force, with every character and nuance somehow working together to create a powerful and memorable blockbuster of a drama.
43/N
#QueenOfTears
#kdramaWe have a romance between the dazzling, successful CEO of a huge conglomerate called The Queens Group, Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) and her dashing husband, Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), an executive/legal eagle at the same company. However, things are not all rosy with the attractive and successful couple. Marrying in to the Queens group has been more than Hyun-woo, the son of hard-working farmers in Yongdu-ri, bargained for.
44/N
#kdrama -
We have a romance between the dazzling, successful CEO of a huge conglomerate called The Queens Group, Hong Hae-in (Kim Ji-won) and her dashing husband, Baek Hyun-woo (Kim Soo-hyun), an executive/legal eagle at the same company. However, things are not all rosy with the attractive and successful couple. Marrying in to the Queens group has been more than Hyun-woo, the son of hard-working farmers in Yongdu-ri, bargained for.
44/N
#kdramaHae-in is extremely competitive, and focused on growing her company, while their home life is sterile and cold. The two sleep in separate rooms, and Hyun-woo secretly prepares divorce papers to serve on Hae-in. However, just as Hyun-woo is about to tell Hae-in that he wants a divorce, she informs him that - suprise - she has an inoperable brain tumor, and has been given 3 months to live.
45/N -
Hae-in is extremely competitive, and focused on growing her company, while their home life is sterile and cold. The two sleep in separate rooms, and Hyun-woo secretly prepares divorce papers to serve on Hae-in. However, just as Hyun-woo is about to tell Hae-in that he wants a divorce, she informs him that - suprise - she has an inoperable brain tumor, and has been given 3 months to live.
45/NHyun-woo immediately hides the divorce papers, since he would be better off as a widower than an ex-husband. This sets up a clever romance wrinkle, of how our two lovers can re-kindle the love they once shared and walk back from the brink of divorce, even as Hae-in seeks treatment for her life-threatening illness.
46/N
#kdrama -
Hyun-woo immediately hides the divorce papers, since he would be better off as a widower than an ex-husband. This sets up a clever romance wrinkle, of how our two lovers can re-kindle the love they once shared and walk back from the brink of divorce, even as Hae-in seeks treatment for her life-threatening illness.
46/N
#kdramaThe romance plot plays off against an elaborate web of skullduggery, as Hae-in's friend from university Yoon Eun-sung (Park Sung-hoon) has returned from America, ostensibly eager to partner with The Queens Group, and possibly even woo Hae-in away from the apparently estranged husband. We are soon made aware of an extremely elaborate plot on the part of Eun-sung and a network of collaborators to wrest control of Queens away from Hae-in and her family.
47/N
#kdrama -
The romance plot plays off against an elaborate web of skullduggery, as Hae-in's friend from university Yoon Eun-sung (Park Sung-hoon) has returned from America, ostensibly eager to partner with The Queens Group, and possibly even woo Hae-in away from the apparently estranged husband. We are soon made aware of an extremely elaborate plot on the part of Eun-sung and a network of collaborators to wrest control of Queens away from Hae-in and her family.
47/N
#kdramaRelief from the snakes nest of power and money hungry schemers, as well as Hae-in's illness, is provided by Hyun-woo's stolid and earthy family in the country. We have the somewhat familiar trope of the simple and loving working-class characters demonstrating common sense and a wholesome way of life, in contrast to the power-hungry rich characters. And we get some schadenfreude and comedy when circumstances force the two families to unite against a common threat.
48/N
#kdrama -
Relief from the snakes nest of power and money hungry schemers, as well as Hae-in's illness, is provided by Hyun-woo's stolid and earthy family in the country. We have the somewhat familiar trope of the simple and loving working-class characters demonstrating common sense and a wholesome way of life, in contrast to the power-hungry rich characters. And we get some schadenfreude and comedy when circumstances force the two families to unite against a common threat.
48/N
#kdramaThe writers have done a great job of weaving several complex storylines into a coherent whole. The cast is fabulous including many truly hateful villains, along with many good-hearted characters who are there to save the day at key moments. They really pack in a lot of story in 16 episodes, but the direction and acting are top-notch. The story never loses its impact or coherence as it unfolds, and you'll be on the edge of your seat for every episode. Five stars.
49/N
#kdrama
#QueenOfTears -
The writers have done a great job of weaving several complex storylines into a coherent whole. The cast is fabulous including many truly hateful villains, along with many good-hearted characters who are there to save the day at key moments. They really pack in a lot of story in 16 episodes, but the direction and acting are top-notch. The story never loses its impact or coherence as it unfolds, and you'll be on the edge of your seat for every episode. Five stars.
49/N
#kdrama
#QueenOfTearsMy wife and I were still on our road trip when we finished Queen of Tears, and I wanted to watch a more low-stakes romance for a change of pace. Somebody on this site had mentioned "Run On," which is notionally a cute and lighthearted opposites attract story. Our ML is Ki Seon-gyeom (played by Im Si-wan), a national track star and a child of wealthy parents who seems to daydream through his life.
50/N
#kdrama
#RunOn
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My wife and I were still on our road trip when we finished Queen of Tears, and I wanted to watch a more low-stakes romance for a change of pace. Somebody on this site had mentioned "Run On," which is notionally a cute and lighthearted opposites attract story. Our ML is Ki Seon-gyeom (played by Im Si-wan), a national track star and a child of wealthy parents who seems to daydream through his life.
50/N
#kdrama
#RunOnSeon-gyeom has a simple and good-hearted personality, in spite of his father being a scheming politician, and his mother a popular actress "the Queen of Cannes". Enter our FL, Oh Mi-joo (Shin Se-kyung), a worldly wise and scrappy translator of cinema subtitles. Mi-joo, an orphan, loves film, collects handgun replicas and is always on the hustle for her next gig.
51/N
#kdrama
#RunOn
