Dramas Completed: 2021

Like all asadora I have watched it's the journey that counts and feeling attached to the characters along the way which makes them precious. Junjo Kirari became more tender and poignant towards the end and the opening theme takes on a whole new meaning which the viewer can only appreciate afterwards. Miyazaki Aoi captured her role perfectly with gentle innocence and charm. ♥

An average drama which only skimmed on the surface and didn't go into depth with regard to both story and character development. The supporting characters were typical ones which didn't offer anything different. What I would have liked to have seen was more focus on character development between the two main leads and less screen time from the other characters. A light easy watch but don't expect anything with depth. 

Addictive to watch with heartwarming moments between the 2 leads and the young child actress which made me care about them. I liked the subtle personality of the male lead's character Kang Ji Min who came across as caring and sincere ♥ Good pacing throughout with enough intrigue to keep me engaged. A couple of supporting characters were annoying. It had some angst and frustrating moments which takes some patience to get through. It's not without some flaws and despite some predictable plot conveniences and a rushed ending I still really enjoyed it. 

I went in with low expectations and surprisingly it won me over. I enjoyed the lead couple's interactions and their relationship. They had nice chemistry. Liked it more than 'Marry Me!' because the drama focused almost exclusively on the main couple without too many distractions from supporting characters taking up screen time.  Short fluffy cute rom com  ♥ 

I could not let go of this amazing drama and I had no problem sitting through 62 episodes throughout March when it was so compelling to watch. So many memorable characters: Deokman as a child, Mishil, Bidam, Yushin, Sohwa, Chunchu, Alcheon, Juk Bang, Chilsuk and the graceful Queen herself Queen Seon Duk. The story, the political intrigue and the dynamics between the characters had me completely captivated.  Mishil's performance was so intriguing and Bidam was the most complex character among them all and he kept me guessing all the way. I shed tears for him, a truly mesmerising character! There were some minor flaws here and there (no drama is perfect...) but I can see why this is considered an endearing classic with an incredible cast. ♥

(Side note: Some of the political aspects and references presented were thought-provoking and I can only imagine how much has been repeated throughout history and not just in the past because some of the political turmoil presented happened as recently as in 2021 in a certain country and to see such similarities played out in a Korean historical drama was indeed insightful.  Mishil's insight: "Humans can not live without believing in fantasy" seems valid even in our current unpredictable times. 

Raw and intense. Only recommend for those who can handle dark themes. A very well made drama. It will leave an impact. 

First 2021 drama completed. As I suspected early on this drama was more character focused. I liked how connected the characters were and the acting was solid. It became more intriguing as the story developed. 

So  D-R-A-M-A-T-I-C! 

This was one hot addictive crazy mess to watch xD The character who stood out the most for me: Cheon Seo Jin the ultimate drama queen!

The cast were definitely on point and had good chemistry with each other which was the main strength of the drama. 

The crazy madness continues xD

Roll on for Season 3. I am ready for it....

Pros:
Interesting dynamics between the main characters and their friendship.
Loved the OST despite it being repetitive.
Sakura was a little star.
Ichihara Hayato was good at crying.

Cons:
Some of the plot conveniences made it predictable to an extent.
Antagonist was weak with bland back story.

I have mixed feelings after completing this. Objectively I should be rating this lower due to how much of it dragged and how over the top it is in some aspects and to add in quite a few annoying characters but for a good part I enjoyed watching how the relationship between Jeewarat and Sathit developed. The female lead is indeed very pretty and she carried the show with good acting. She brought out the most emotions from me. The main couple's chemistry and their interactions was what held my interest the most. The rest of it with the constant misunderstandings and lack of communication was frustrating and annoying particularly from some of the supporting characters. I lost patience during the last few episodes. The satisfying ending made up for the unnecessary angst. I know I should set my expectations since this is after all a Thai Lakorn and being overly dramatic is part of the package. 

When I found out this was directed under Kong Sheng I knew this would be a priority to watch and it didn't disappoint. Acting and cast was spot on and I enjoyed how natural and realistic the drama felt with it's cinematographic rural setting. The engaging story was a meaningful journey often filled with memorable and emotional moments as you watch Ma De Fu, Li Shui Hwa, Bai Mai Miao and the village teacher along with other characters work towards overcoming their challenges and strive for their goals. It was interesting to see a snapshot of China's focus on reducing poverty in rural areas with the resettlement plan. Minning Town was probably an example of the many towns that were created from nothing. Never thought scenes of cultivated mushrooms would bring me tears of happiness :)

Heartwarming and touching. Shim Deok Chul was endearing to watch and it was emotional seeing him work towards his dream despite all the struggles. Didn't quite connect with Chae Rok as much, Song Kang's acting was stiff not as natural as the others but it improved a little more as the drama progressed but his acting still lacked depth. It was interesting to watch both characters develop their friendship and most of all encouraging and supporting each other where it counted. I found the interactions between Chae Rok's ballet teacher and his ex-wife quite boring and they took up too much screen time which was unnecessary. I liked the development of Ho Beom's character, more so than the granddaughter Eun Ho. Overall it was an enjoyable and warm drama. 

The whole 3 seasons was an insane watch but I found it compelling and it kept me hooked. Not a single boring moment it was a rollercoaster ride. It is easier to watch Penthouse when you don't take it too seriously....no matter how crazy and illogical it gets xD The cast was solid and they completely held the show together even when moments in the story seem illogical or irrational which is why it is best to watch with an open mind. 

This was cute and fun to watch. There were aspects I liked and appreciated but can't mention without spoiling it. Machida Keita was mostly a nice distraction for me haha xD  Loved his character and enjoyed his acting. Ahh...his wink melted my heart lol. Enjoyable enough to recommend.

Like other WOWOW produced dramas Garasu no Ashi does not hold back on it's intensity and rawness along with it's tragic themes. This was a quiet atmospheric drama although still with it's tough to watch scenes. There was one aspect that was left unexplained or maybe I missed it. Acting was good overall and the ending was something I wanted. 

This was super hyped so I went in with lower expectations. A few things to note. Production value gets the wow factor...it was visually stunning to see the surreal set designs and the contrast of the 2 different coloured uniforms. It was pretty intense during the games as the characters were in desperate survival mode which made it exciting to watch. Acting was good overall but I did find Lee Jung Jae's character a little overbearing at the beginning. There were a number of issues which were hard to overlook. Quite a few predictable moments....it became a guessing game between us on who was right first lol. The whole VIPs dialogue was incredibly cringey I wish I had it all muted. Their existence and reason for being there felt weak and cliché. It would have worked better if they had more sinister and darker motives instead of being presented unrealistically exaggerated. Towards the end it was more of a let down despite a couple of big twists. One reveal was particularly lacking and did not have the impact it should have and another aspect was left hanging and unexplained. This was an entertaining drama with some shock value and excitement but it does have flaws. There was a good balance of different characters some were more interesting than others. Still a worthwhile watch and one of the few shows where the hype did not put me off. 

The recap episode pretty much summed it up: This is a thriller on another level. 

Overall this drama was well produced with a good cast and it kept me hooked. It was particularly interesting and refreshing to watch Lee Seung Gi considering the kind of role he had which was multi-layered with depth (I had not seen him in a drama since K2H around 8 years ago). I found this to be more absorbing to watch compared to Beyond Evil, Flower of Evil, Nobody Knows and The World of the Married. The ending scene left me feeling somewhat poignant despite everything that had happened and that is a credit to the emotional pull of the drama.

I had trouble keeping my interest maintained which is why I almost dropped it then decided to see it through to the end. I liked the friendship between the two leads plus their friendship with Makoto was quite sweet. The side stories of the other characters were not interesting enough for me which made me speed watch through half the drama something I don't do often. It was set out as a feel good friendship drama but maybe lacked something to sustain interest. 

It started strong but it didn't stay that way. I didn't find the story or characters that convincing. There was enough going on to keep me watching but the outcome left me feeling pretty underwhelmed.

They packed a lot into 13 episodes but it was absorbing to watch....though a little confusing at times. I haven't seen many Taiwanese dramas except a couple of the well known ones but I can see why this is more highly rated than the others. The ending was open to interpretation but I found it fitting and didn't feel it needed to be changed. 

Side note: I did add 'that song' to my OST collection. Just have to make sure I don't fall asleep when I listen to it xD

The whole journey of the Qiao family blew me away....it was very engaging and meaningful to watch. These types of family themed dramas are special to me....along with Battle of Changsha and Romance of our Parents they feel authentic and sincere. I can totally relate to the dynamics of the different family members and the cultural norms and etiquette being Chinese myself but like families from all different societies two things remain the same: Families are complicated and frustrating. This drama portrays it realistically and it doesn't hold back on the issues and obstacles families can face but at the same time it also demonstrates the strength and bond families can share and what they can overcome together with the right support. The most interesting dynamic was seeing the relationship between Yicheng and his father especially the way Yicheng handles his father. After reading Dounie's comment on her post I have to agree with her. There are indeed people like Zu Wang who are very difficult to deal with and I personally understand this well since there is such a person amongst my family. I became attached to the siblings, their personalities are all different and with their own strengths and flaws. I admire Yicheng most of all...he was the shoulder for the family to depend on and I can see part of Sanli in myself the way she tries to keep the peace within the family. I immediately fell in love with the opening theme song....it is so lovely. ♥ Knowing this drama came from the same screenwriter who wrote Minning Town I was right to give it priority. ♥ 

I was going to give this a miss until I ended up watching it with my cousins. To be honest if I was watching this on my own I would have got to ep 3 before giving up since I found it a bit boring and couldn't connect with what was going on but from ep 4 it improved and became more interesting as the story evolved. What I found interesting was how the situation could be interpreted in different ways to suit particular agendas and how fear could be manipulated in the same way. In that sense it became thought-provoking. Despite almost giving it up at the beginning I am glad by watching it with my cousins I saw the rest of it and now with many questions to be answered I am now curious about the 2nd season unlike Sweet Home where I am unlikely to watch the 2nd season. 

A poignant and meaningful drama set in beautiful and calming surroundings where it captured some heartwarming and tender moments amongst the different characters living in Lion House. I liked how the daily snacks were used to bring back special memories and it was a meaningful way to share them. I was a little conflicted how to rate the drama. Part of me wanted to rate it a little higher which I think it deserves but I felt I needed something more from the characters and the storytelling. It felt a little too episodic at times where some episodes would focus on a different character which meant there was less of a build up in the overall story. Still the main part of the story was seeing  it through the perspective of Shizuku who was such a lovely character....I liked how gentle and quiet she was but at the same time she showed courage when she needed to and showed what she desired which were the simple things most people would want. It would have been great if there were memorable OSTs or songs to complement the emotional parts of the story but I don't recall hearing any. The BGM was nice and I especially liked the cinematography. The story was emotionally healing and it made me think about the kind of people who work in places like Lion House and how emotionally rewarding it must be for them to be part of someone's last days and to make them as comfortable and calming as possible for them. 

Side note: The episodic feel of the drama is the reason why I haven't watched 'Move to Heaven'.