COMPLETED IN 2023
provided with my overall thoughts
divided by countries:
1. South Korea: 23 (18 dramas, 5 variety shows)
2. Thailand: 3 (2 dramas, 1 special)
3. Japan: 2 (2 dramas)
4. China: 1 (1 drama)
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1. The Devil's Plan
Korean TV Show - 2023, 12 episodes
oh my goood, i've just finished it, it's 1a.m. and THE DOPAMINE RUSH i'm feeling is immense. the ending was so fucking good, oh my god i'm so, so happy.
ha seokjin... i'm in love. man he's not only extremely handsome but so intelligent... it makes him like 10x hotter. the finale was done so amazingly, i loved the games, it was thrilling to watch!
and his and seewon's chemistry... it was so devastating to see him realize she'd been eliminated and they didn't even get to say goodbye. the reunion was so sweet. they're both actors though so maybe some romance drama? please? i'll pay?
as for the show logistics, it was generally done pretty nicely. though i really didn't like the game with animals. in my opinion it wasn't really attractive to viewers, pretty boring too. but it is what it is.
that's my love of this year<3
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2. Single’s Inferno Season 2
Korean TV Show - 2022, 10 episodes
while i liked first season, this one was a bomb, really.
production learned over their mistakes from s1 which made it a lot better. it did contain a lot of famous or wealthy people, but still felt so real.
aboud the turn out - i loved that there was so much chemistry between them. we got to see funny, sad and hot moments. i also liked the end (talking about seulki's choice), her choice felt really mature, which made me happy even if at the beginning i didn't ship them
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3. Physical: da 100 a 1
Korean TV Show - 2023, 9 episodes
i didn't think i could like it this much!
loved a lot of diversity. not only between players but also between games. i admire all of them, cause the challanges were a hell lot of work, personally i would die right at the beginning :D
a lot of people complain about editing. when somewhere is good cause it creates tension, sometimes it's just too much. though i really (not) liked the cliff hangers- waiting another week was pure torture!
and the child of Netflix... we love you lol
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4. L'affetto reale
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
that was really amazing!
first of all, eye candy! eye fucking candy! rowoon is so good looking, a lot of other actors are as well; just pure euphoria to watch <3
as for story line, it was interesting, thrilling, a bit slow-paced, but also kept mi intrigued how everything will resolve! the ending was acceptable, even very good as for sageuk standards haha
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5. Reset
Chinese Drama - 2022, 15 episodes
well, here it is my first cdrama that i actually liked! and the language didn't bother me!
i had very mixed expectation. very high rating and synopsis that was totally my type of dramas, but on the other hand... all the cdramas i've watched (mostly few eps max) were totally boring and weird. maybe cause they were only romances. but god i didn't know how much i'd like reset!
the plot was really solid. it kept the edge on all times (i physically couldn't not play another episode, that's why i watched this drama in about 2 days lol) but the action wasn't constant. i have this feeling while i'm watching something packed with violence, shooting etc. that after a while i care much less what's happening, it wasn't the case here!
the plot was also not overly complicated. don't give me wrong, i love plot twists under the plot twists (fellow mouse fan, still didn't find any other drama that i would have to make notes to), but sometimes it's nice to watch without needing to think all the time.
the only few downsides i'm seeing is the "romance" (?) cause it was really pointless in my opinion, for me they didn't have any chemistry throughout the drama and sudennly they kiss and become a couple. kind of forced in my opinion, though it wasn't irritating or anything like that.
i also didn't like the ost. i mean it wasn't bad, but just strongly mediocre.
forgot about one think! why, i'm asking WHY they didn't pull officer zhang into the loop! i believed so strongly that it will happen!!! it'd be sooo cool
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6. The Glory
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
this was really interesting! intrigued me a lot, the plot was thrilling, but not overcomplicated; a big advantage is also lack of political issues (or connection to high politic figures, at least for now, we'll see how it will resolve in second part...)
as for the flaws: i really don't like the character/thread of this old lady helping female lead; i also don't know how to feel about villians being 100% villians if you know what i mean (yeah, i am a sucker for morally grey characters)
as for morally grey characters... mr. ha is very very in my taste
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7. Idol Dictation Contest
Korean TV Show - 2021, 10 episodes
that was good! enjoyed the format so much; otherwise it could have been boring (especially comparing to nolto)
unfortunately the dictations were the least interesting part
the main flaw was lack of key... but kai damn you're hot and funny (and a gentelman); eunhyuk... i think i might start checking super junior discography soon
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8. Mask Girl
Korean Drama - 2023, 7 episodes
first two episodes were uncomfortable, the three in the middle were thrilling, aesthetic and absolutely amazing; the last two... were sad, pretty well done, but sad nevertheless.
i like the aspect of showing different women living in the society full of patriarchy. all momi ever wanted was to be loved and adored, especially after she was degraded because of her looks, yet while trying to change her fate, she became the most hated person she could ever be. all chunga ever wanted was to be independent and free, yet she let some toxic parasite order her around. all kyungja ever wanted was to raise a good child, yet she was so full of anger, she couldn't see the wrongs of her son and she didn't realise she had a granddaughter who could have been the child of her dreams.
the only merely happy, yet full of traumatic experiences, is mimo. she is the represant of the generation that tries to let go of stereotypes living in society, but will she ever be happy?
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9. Celebrity
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
it was very fun to watch, it's always satysfying to see character going from poor to rich and (somewhat?) powerful. i liked it, very much even. standard netflix format helped it a lot, it would probably be boring in 16 ep setting
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10. Doona!
Korean Drama - 2023, 9 episodes
felt so fresh and intimate. the cohousing setting felt both very calm and isolated, as well as intenste. graphics were really pleasant, i loved music too.
doona's character... i'm not quite sure if i like her. i do understand her emotions and decisions, but a lot of the times she wasn't beeing okay to wonjun. though bae suzy is so beautiful... the real visual of kpop
it was kind of interesting to see doona's position in dream sweet being so similar to how bae suzy was percieved in miss a... (i almost wish they'd use quote from goodbye baby)
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11. Youngest Son of a Conglomerate
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
started similarly to "again my life" but damn this was well done!
i liked how we didn't have one exact villian, but a lot of morally grey characters
and of course song joong ki... <3
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12. Love Battle
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
very strong vibes of "a business proposal"! in a good way!
funny, with interesting chemistry and very hot male lead with very sharp muscles... (it shows that it's netflix production lol)
also i'm glad about feminist elements, especially that it's still a very new topic in korea
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13. The Glory Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
i definitely like the first part more. there was suspense, thrill, emotions which left us wanting to see spectacular end of this revenge... which weren't there. the revenge wasn't satysfying, i expected a lot more.
still it wasn't boring and i like it, just... there's something off bout it
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14. King the Land
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
everything i could have expected? yes. boring or repetitve? no. a bunch of classic tropes with a dose of cliche and a big spoon of freshness.
it was funny. it was sweet (overly sweet in some moments but it's kdrama we're talking about...). lee junho is handsome (i still see him more as a actor than idol and seing a fancam of him performing "my house" was... an experience)
generally i liked it!
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15. One Shot Scandal
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
i didn't think i would appreciate it that much. very easy to watch, pleasureable! i really liked portraying korean school system - it's rare to see it detailed that much, i was able to learn a lot!
i didn't really liked the female lead, for me she looked too old for him and it icked me sometimes. criminal thread could be done better, but also wasn't very bad (why villians are always the most handsome?)
two last episodes felt different from others, not exacly in the good way. tho that happens in dramas a lot.. they weren't really bad, so i accept it haha
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16. Romance is a Bonus Book
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
lee jong suk is beautiful , wi ha joon is really sweet to watch, no bad characters! yeah!
lee jong suk makes my heart flutter no matter what i watch (and him in this all-black outfit, glasses and with done hair...)
romance was mediocre, chemistry was mediocre, kisses were mediocre, funny tho!
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17. I’m Not a Robot
Korean Drama - 2017, 32 episodes
it has definitely an original and interesting plot. but generally ended up being a bit boring and underwhelming. comedy was the best part of it, cause romance was average and the "crime plot"... i have too many expectasions in this area to be pleased haha
having a roomba friend was so adorable though
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18. Love Alarm
Korean Drama - 2019, 8 episodes
it wasn't as bad as i expected? or was it just dazzling song kang? it can be
definitely too many weird-placed flashbacks. the plot is weak. but generally if you'll squish your eyes and admire song kang and overall vibe, it's watchable
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19. My Personal Weatherman
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
it was pleasant to watch. i still stand against miscom trope (for me to enjoy it has to be done really well, and it's rarely the case), but overal tension was keeping me engaged.
the dynamic of main leads is interesting, such a shame we didn't get to hear them talk it out. still, besides a lack of full comfort, we have really good chemistry, and the actors are just eye candy!
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20. Boys Planet
Korean TV Show - 2023, 12 episodes
whole producing... i have no words for that; evil editing, making it overly dramatic, unfair voting and dicrimination of g group...
though boys delievered. especially woongki boy (slayy), seowon (slayy v.2) and park hanbin (my love...)
not gonna mention key as mc! i was so surpisdes, but man he's so amazing
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21. GAP
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
i really love that we got first full-lenght GL series, yay!
chemistry was definitely really good, visuals killed <3
though unfortunatelly poor plot and leads were hard to like... though still i recommend to watch, cause it's definitely some experience
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22. Bokura no Micro na Shuumatsu
Japanese Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
seeing some clips on tiktok and being familiar of basics of japanese bls rated r i had an image what i was getting myself into... and the drama didn't meet my expectations.
i thought about 8 episodes of tension and being close because that's the only hope left, despite the past. what i got? 2 and a half episodes of a lil' better than mid smut and the rest filled with weird family drama and a superhero boy as from shoyu anime (it's not shoyu, maybe shouju? idk but i like shoyu ramen so forgive me).
still, i enjoyed somewhat. it was okay
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23. Hemp Rope
Thai Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
i definitely have bigger expectations. plot wasn't bad, but kinda repetitive, especially in the end. could have been better if done in max. 10 eps
about chemistry - it wasn't anything exceptional, but generally acceptable, i liked the connection between leads, especially emotional one.
honestly a lot of my complaints are based on the hair... i know that it's hard to maintain a blonde without regrowth, but it was really noticable and hard to omit.
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24. The Director Who Buys me Dinner
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
it was weak in overall look, but generally nice to quick-watch weekly; actors are good looking, chemistry wasn't great, but watchable (especially when 2nd ML appear)
generally, as for korean bl, i didn't expect much from the beginning, so it kinda met my expectaions if we can say so
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25. Love Alarm Season 2
Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
first season was a bit weak, but watchable. it's not. it has no plot...
still it's a 7 because i'm weak for Song Kang. tho if you like him, your feelings may get hurt. who the hell wrote his character...?
uptade: i still can't believe i rated this a 7. tho still won't change it, i love Song Kang. be safe in military and come back quickly!
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26. Cutie Pie: Special Episode
Thai Special - 2023, 4 episodes
it was sweet. liked the 1st season more, mainly because of some tension (even if at the end it was done horribly). now it's mostly fluff.
of course we can't forget how handsome Zee is (not to mention that i still don't understand his acting, he has the same face expression every scene, while in other dramas, for ex. remember 15, he can make character very versitale; maybe thrillers suits him more?)
and of course kisses. not a lot of BL can do kisses that aren't awkward or sex scenes that aren't awkward. congrats!
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27. Can I Be Someone Else
Korean Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
i used to defend this drama at the beginning, cause i still had hope... it started as kinda-weird but able to be good and just went downhill.
feels like writers tried do to too much genres at once and at the end nothing went good. comedy? not funny, low and stupid level. melodrama? characters are too unlikable to pity them. romance? some tension completely disappeared with few overly-sweet romanced. law? ...
about the ending - again, i understand the idea, but this kind of ending suits well only if the entire show was good. if it was weak (like here) ending that basically return to the beginning are making the drama only worse
the idea was good tho. i want to see that, but done well
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28. Individual Circumstances
Korean Drama - 2023, 8 episodes
lately korean BLs are really mediocre...
zero chemistry, mean male lead... it felt like a poor written thai romance (got tharntype vibes, but there at least chemistry was amazing)
furthermore, the house and the setting, it icks me very much, got some dystopian vibes like from black mirror or something :D
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29. The New Employee
Korean Drama - 2022, 7 episodes
cliche, fluffy, awkward....
why they making grown man act like a children?