Dramas/Drama Specials completed in 2023

A well-deserved addition to the classic, old-fashioned type sageuks, with a fascinating story, superb production (cinematography, editing, settings, costumes, music), outstanding performances and an epic love story.
Though there were some loose ends and loss of focus during the 2nd part -and some subplots and characters felt a bit neglected-, overall this was an addicting emotional rollercoaster, equally heart-warming and heart-wretching, a memorable drama and a unique watching journey.
Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin slayed their roles and stole our hearts, and they raised the acting standards for all future historical dramas.
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Bold, deep, powerful, addictive.
Superb acting, beautiful cinematography, brilliant use of music, colouring, framing and metaphors.
A hidden gem, highly recommended for those who want a mature, realistic and nuanced story.

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Not as fast-paced and suspenseful as season 1, but equally intriguing and well-written - and beautifully acted.
With more intriguing mystery and fantasy elements, heartwarming and heartbreaking stories with a proper closure, interesting characters and subplots, and a welcomed possibility of another successful season on the way, this was definitely a rewarding, bittersweet watch.
Time well-spent.

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Bittersweet just like life is, affectionate and amazingly honest.
Superbly written, filmed and acted, with a delicate depiction of thoughts and emotions, using Satsuki as a prism to refract them from the people around her.
Heartbreakingly beautiful, elegantly powerful.

A wholesome, deeply moving and affectionate story!
Brilliantly written and directed, with witty and realistically natural dialogues, superb performances and amazing chemistry among the cast: it felt as if they weren't acting but actually being childhood friends.
Loved, loved the nostalgic vibes that made me miss my own school and uni years, my friends and our gatherings, the time we spent saving the whole world with our talks, our laughter and tears...
Can't recommend it enough!
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A wonderful watching experience, a bittersweet road trip in a red S800 Honda beauty.
Though slow-paced and mellow, it was an intriguing and very emotionally charged story, beautifully filmed and superbly acted by Ono Machiko, Takito Kenichi and a great supporting cast.
A journey of loss, grief, reconciliation, revelations and life lessons, but most of all a sad but wholesome, heartbreakingly affectionate story of love and devotion.
A highly recommended hidden gem.
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A precious hidden little gem!
A short but wholesome slice of life drama about the relationships and dynamics, the character development and growth, as well as the daily challenges of an extended family of 2.5 generations, while tackling some serious social issues in the most sincere, subtle and delicate way.
Matsuda Ryuhei did a splendid job depicting his hikikomori character, and his interactions with his nephew and niece were the most touching, sweet and cute parts of this wonderful story.
Highly recommended!
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Based on reports and testimonies of people directly involved, this drama depicts in a documentaristic, very realistic way the days following the earthquake and tsunami in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant and the impending nuclear disaster.
It shows the politicians and corporate managers with their agendas and hesitation and, most of all, the ordinary people/workers and their determination, doing the best they could do with the little they were given, becoming heroes when all they ever wanted was for them and their families to survive.
Without any over-the-top drama, without being emotionally manipulative, but with long silences making more impact that any music or words can make, this was a difficult, extremely heavy and devastatingly sad watch, especially knowing and witnessing from the news this real-life tragedy when it actually happened...
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A wonderful insight in the depths of human darkness served with a masterfully written plot, filmed and edited in a gripping way and superbly acted by both young and veteran actors.
A thought-provoking, suspenseful story knitted with a shockingly unexpected web of lies, deceptions and selfish motives by grey characters of questionable morals.
Those three flawed, multilayered Bad Kids especially, with their nuanced performances were absolutely mind-blowing and fascinating to watch.
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This heartwarming, comfort, almost healing jdrama was a pleasant surprise and a very soothing watching experience.
Beautiful people, wonderful island, wholesome friendships, great story and characters.
Though calligraphy, life in the countryside and character development were nicely addressed, without unnecessary overdramatic, exaggerated scenes or overused tropes, the best and more touching part was Sei and Nara's bonding, support, strength and motivation.
A unique relationship, full of cuteness and affection.
Hats off to Miyazaki Ririsa, a phenomenal child actress, who can teach a lesson or two to many older colleagues of hers!
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With the impeccable Koreeda Hirokazu's slice-of-life signature, this drama was a breath of fresh air:
sweet, light-hearted, colourful, poetic and very soothing.
Ethereal cinematography full of warmth and simplicity, wonderful settings and lavish wardrobes, vivid characters with natural acting, and an extraordinary portrayal of the training and lifestyle of a Maiko House.
A tribute to friendship, as well as to food preparation - how powerful and comforting they can be...
Highly recommended!

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Eight couples spending a night and a morning together sharing food, feelings and solace.
Fleeting moments, fleeting encounters, fleeting feelings, fleeting glimpses of their souls.

Beautifully written and acted stories, aesthetically palpable production, music, colouring and editing, brilliant metaphors and symbolisms.
Highly recommended.

Cute, fluffy and heartwarming romance spiced with coming of age, character development and healing elements (and some unnecessary misunderstandings).
The beautiful music and songs, the warm cinematography and colouring, the solid acting and chemistry surpassed some minor writing, pacing and editing problems, but the biggest asset of this story was Hirose Suzu and her fantastic performance as the bubbly, absolutely lovable Soramame!
Time well-spent.
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A slow-burn fave, with down-to-earth characters and one of the most precious bromance ever!
No romance or legal cases could surpass this strong, vibrant friendship among those three men who may be the polar opposites but support, comfort and be there for each other like a warm hug through thick and thin. So realistic, natural and wholesome as if they weren't acting but really living and enjoying their scenes.
Time well spent.
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A slow-paced, slow-burn melodrama, full of loneliness, sadness, angst, anger and regrets, but also flooded with love, compassion, respect, forgiveness and healing.
Beautifully written, meticulously filmed and exemplary acted -though sometimes it felt like trying too hard to be mellow and poetic- this was a refreshingly non cliché story and a heavy but rewarding emotional ride.
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Six short stories interconnected in an ingenious and thought-provoking way, full of metaphors, profound dilemmas, impactful messages and discerning social commentaries.
Highly recommended.
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A short drama about daily trips and encounters, with delicious food, magnificent scenery beautifully shot, relaxing music, interesting conversations and quirky inner thoughts.
Lee Na Young was so natural performing this charming and relatable character that fitted her like glove.
A feel-good, soothing, emotional and healing experience and a breath of fresh air among the usual complex, angsty and demanding kdramas.
Highly recommended!
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Part of an anthology of sci fi stories, this short film is a sharp commentary on social discrimination but, most of all, a heartbreakingly beautiful love story - that one scene was more powerful, intimate and heart-fluttering than any romantic scene most dramas have ever given us.
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Part of an anthology of sci fi stories, this short film had a fast-paced, engaging story with a great human and AI pairing, compelling fighting scenes and a badass FL full of charisma.
I wish there were more cases for this duo to solve!
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A heartwarming, fulfilling family drama with a great balance of comic, sad, cute, action and slice-of-life moments, divided equally in many different subplots beautifully interwoven.
A great cast, well-written characters with engaging interactions, and a proper closure for all.
Ra Mi Ran with her fantastic performance was the heart and soul of this story, its driving force and its greatest asset.
Lee Do Hyun did a great job with his demanding 'dual' role and proved that he is a young actor that must be taken seriously, while the twins and the yakuza lady were the cutest people and this drama's trademarks.
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How come I've never heard about this hidden gem all these years?
A criminally underrated drama about found family, friendship and bonding, coming of age, sports and many heartwarming life lessons.
A simple yet touching story, smoothly written and beautifully acted.
Kimura Takuya was as fine and charming as always -with his youthful naughtiness, his funny and serious side- while all the child actors (many familiar faces among them) were adorably natural.
Highly recommended!
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A very enjoyable and well-made production with a unique supernatural story and extremely interesting and likeable characters.
Both students and adults stories were intriguing and beautifully connected (though I wouldn't mind have 20 more episodes with Zo In Sung as the main focus!) and the emotional, action, comic scenes were perfectly balanced.
A new fave heroes team in the making!
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A powerful and wholesome story of a found family derived from the kidnapping of a genius child by a loyal, compassionate man.
Nuanced dialogues and compelling relationships in a character-driven storytelling that, although it felt a bit exaggerated in some parts, had the necessary emotional weight to hold all its elements in the right place.
Riveting performances from Yuna and Yoon Kye Sang in their demanding, challenging roles, as well as an impeccable chemistry and bonding between them, in a captivating and rewarding watching experience.
Highly recommended!
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A beautiful, rewarding watching experience!
Frankly, I didn't care about how realistic or beautified the mental/medical approach was, because it is a drama and not a real life documentary after all, but I could really feel the warmth, consideration and effort that were put on this and it was enough for me to enjoy the ride.
Emotional, touching and healing slice-of-life story with a wonderful, heartfelt  performance from Park Bo Young and Lee Jung Eun.
Highly recommended.
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A well-deserved addition to the classic, old-fashioned type sageuks, with a fascinating story, superb production (cinematography, editing, settings, costumes, music), outstanding performances and an epic love story.
Though there were some loose ends and loss of focus during the 2nd part -and some subplots and characters felt a bit neglected-, overall this was an addicting emotional rollercoaster, equally heart-warming and heart-wretching, a memorable drama and a unique watching journey.
Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun Jin slayed their roles and stole our hearts, and they raised the acting standards for all future historical dramas.
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Binge-able, compelling, classy revenge/makjang story that keeps you on your toes from beginning to end.
Probably Song Hye Kyo's best performance so far, since this cold, emotionally detached anti-heroine character fits her persona the best.
Top notch production, brilliantly filmed, edited and acted.
Yeom Hye Ran was a pleasure to watch, as always, while Jung Sung Il and his chemistry with Song Hye Kyo was the drama's absolute highlight.
Definitely watching season 2!

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Extremely gripping, eerie thriller, with masterful tension built-up, superb cinematography, framing and music, and a brilliant use of the antithesis between the bright idyllic scenery and the dark, twisted rural village and its inhabitants.
Despite the brutal, disturbing and triggering themes, this was an absorbing character-driven story with captivating performances (what can I say about child actress Shimizu Kokone and her enigmatic role!), many intriguing grey-to-total-black characters, and more mysteries than revelations.
A challenging experience, even for the strong-hearted.

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Lighthearted, fluffy and funny, this enjoyable romcom would have been much more cringy if not for Yoo Teo and Kim Ji Hoon who undoubtedly carried the whole show.

Refreshingly enjoyable, fluffy though flawed.
Interesting characters and subplots -tbh we could do without some of them- awkward turned to cute romance, great family dynamics, piercing social commentary on the suffocating educational system, satisfying closure for all -even if it felt too rushed for some.
Jung Kyung Ho and his charisma was a pleasure to watch, Jeon Do Yeon and her bonding with her family and friends was a breath of fresh air.
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Absurd, zany and totally addicting!
Lighthearted and deep, cynical and optimistic, dark and funny.
An adorable eggsistential quest, an eggseptional adventure, an eggsemplary friendship.
Walking on eggshells has never been so fun!
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Like its prequel, this was a feel-good, soothing watch, with interesting buildings and detailed information about their history, architecture and design, as well as some well-fitted dishes.
Refreshing concept, thoughtful delivery.
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An entertaining historical drama, more focused on mystery and hidden identities rather than romance. For those who are looking for a romcom in a historical setting it might be slow-paced and disappointing, but I really liked the leads' camaraderie, bantering, support and teamwork.
Nothing memorable, but a decent one-time watch.
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A soothing, feel-good, healing and heartwarming slice of life story with an engaging slow-burn romance, great friendship bonding, character development and self-growth through many interesting side-stories.
With wonderful rural scenery and emphasis to tradition and originality, even though sometimes it was too slow-paced, beautified and 'politically correct', this was a pleasant surprise and a breath of fresh air among the typical angsty dramas.
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A fast-paced women-centered story about politics, money, corruption and revenge, with high dosages of friendship, justice and redemption - and a high-class makjang spice in it.
Perhaps not very original or groundbreaking, but the stellar veterans cast, the solid plot, the witty dialogues and, most of all, the powerful sismance between the protagonists made this intriguing drama a pleasure to watch.
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Intense, eerie and shocking psychological thriller with a fascinating, well-written villain as the main lead.
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A thoroughly enjoyable historical fiction drama-special based on real facts, with lots of wonderful paintings, picturesque landscapes and an intriguing 'friendship' between two of the main leads.
 [Though I'm sure that seeing Nagayama Eita and Nakagawa Taishi with those particular hairstyles wasn't something anyone can really like...]
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A smooth, cozy, heartwarming story with great character development, cute slow-burn romance and delicious food.
I could watch Ichika cook like she did during the ending scenes of each episode for hours!
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A delicate, gentle love story full of cuteness, warmth and caring, with lots of comfort food, precious healing moments and the best supportive family: Tane, that little cutie pie, and his dad, the coolest and most discreet cupid.
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An old-fashioned, simple but very cute office romance with two adorably awkward leads in an angst-free character development/love story.
Yamada Ryosuke's smile was a ray of sunshine, addicting and uplifting, perfect for a stress-free watch after a long & tiring working day.
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Even after 3 seasons, this is still an intriguing, satisfying story and one of the best medical dramas.
I'd gladly watch Kim sabu and his Doldam team for many more seasons!
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A unique, extremely intriguing concept and a great pairing of partners.
Though there were some plotline and pacing issues after the first half, their teamwork, chemistry and support made it a smooth and very enjoyable watch.
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An underrated family drama about loss, reconciling, forgiving, comforting, as well as bonding with and taking care of our loved ones.
With a delicate approach of some heavy issues, full of emotions, affection and warmth, and a wonderful performance from Yamapi, this was an engaging, rewarding watch.
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Atmospheric, dark, tense and gripping from start to finish.
Eerie cinematography and music, laconic storytelling, intriguing plot-twists and a combination of great directing and acting quality that made me feel drawn to all characters' stories, even though I found every single one of them dislikable.
There might be some mishaps here and there but, overall, a surprisingly entertaining thai drama.
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It's been years since I last watched an old-school epic sageuk, with no fusion/comedy/parody elements embedded in most recent historical kdramas, and it was a refreshing, kind of rewarding experience.
With a cast full of great veteran and child actors, a tight plot and a well-written script full of quotable lines, this may be a heavy on politics and scheming story, but it is also a fascinating journey of a charismatic leader.
Undoubtedly, Han Seok Kyu -with his superb, heartfelt performance- was the star of this drama.
Jang Hyuk, though some times overly dramatic, was charming as always, while for Shin Se Kyung (probably because her lines weren't that much) this was one of her best roles.
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A fashion/entertainment makjang at its finest, full of extravaganza envy, ambition, revenge, scheming, shouting, backstabbing - and some wonderful outfits.
Fast-paced direction and top-quality production of a fully clichéd story with unbalanced acting and some far-fetched situations but, admittedly an addicting, guilty-pleasure watch, very entertaining but easily forgotten.
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A great continuation of an intriguing, gritty noir story, beautifully written and directed, with a tight and detailed plot, and well-developed characters with solid background stories and compelling  dynamics.
My only complains are 1. the fact that there were way too many characters and names to follow, 2.  the fact that this part was more focused on the politics than the police and 3. the unnecessary long break between the two parts/seasons of this story - was it really needed?
Once again Lee Sung Min gave a fantastic performance, making this drama a compelling one-man show.
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An interesting addition to the supernatural mystery thriller genre, full of fascinating Korean folklore elements, a top-notch production and a charismatic cast.
Though on the slow-paced side, not too gory or horrifying but with large doses of psychological suspense, it was a tense, gripping and beautifully built story of greed, revenge and redemption.
And I have to admit that dark twisted roles fit Kim Tae Ri perfectly well!
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An enjoyable, heartwarming down-to-earth family drama, with a nice depiction of a mother-daughter relationship, bickering and bantering.
Refreshingly unique women-centered story, with relatable dialogues and relationships, without many typical family drama tropes (except an unnecessary mystery subplot) and a well-balanced mixture of funny and touching scenes.
Time well-spent.
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A dark, gripping suspense thriller with an eerie, imposing cinematography, great atmospheric music and superb performances from the cast, veterans and rookies.
Though the story lost its momentum during the second half, overall it was an enjoyable and intense watch, with a surprisingly well-knitted plot and some beautifully layered characters.
Time well-spent.
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Though a slow-paced and slow-burn story, it was a very engaging psychological thriller with lots of plot-twists and revelations and compact storytelling.
The bleak atmosphere, the mundane setting, the imposing piano music, as well as the reserved performances complemented perfectly this dark and heavy story about finding closure, uncover truths people want to keep hidden and moving on.
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Intriguing premise in a fast-paced, gripping, dark story, full of violence, angst and twists.
Thought the script was rather weak towards the end, the superb cinematography and editing, and the phenomenal acting from Lee Sung Min, Yoo Yeon Seok and Lee Jung Eun were more than enough reasons to highly recommend this drama to all thriller fans.
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Fast-paced, action-packed and very entertaining!
Though it was too short and felt too rushed sometimes, with the minimum details given to flesh out the characters and built the supernatural world, the story was easy to follow and get invested in, even for those who haven't read the manga or watched the anime, like me.
With a great cast, colourful settings and exemplary fighting scenes, I wouldn't mind watching a few more episodes, or a sequel even better.
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Started this for the cast, finished this for the cast (and will be watching season 2 for the cast too!).
It felt that these 6 episodes were only the introduction to the story (and a long and confusing one tbh), creating more questions than the answers given.
But, in spite of the mess this drama was, it was very entertaining and fun, mainly because Kim Nam Gil is always a pleasure to watch in anything (even as this cold, emotionally detached anti-hero), and Cha Eun Woo as a hot cheeky priest as well as the trio's interactions and bantering is something I never knew I wanted in a drama and I'm here for it!

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Warm, nostalgic, delicious.
Comfort food, rewarding food, food linked to childhood memories, food for soul.
Takenaka Naoto, with his timid yet honest and relatable monologues, his unique way of enjoying food and his inner samurai spirit was a real pleasure to watch!
Time well spent.

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An enjoyable historical romcom, with some cleverly embedded parody elements and a great bantering couple - at least before the couple became a real couple.
There were some subplots  that could have been omitted, or their screen-time could have been much less, but overall it was a feel-good drama with a satisfying closure.

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A bittersweet coming of age story about two students, lonely and emotionally abused from their dysfunctional families, that find solace and somewhere to belong through their bonding.

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Soothing and comforting, with an intriguing blooming relationship.
I'd love to see more about Kasuga, her thoughts and feelings, her backstory and daily life.

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Short, fast-paced, heart-flutering and very cute.
Pleasantly surprised!

https://www.bilibili.tv/en/video/2049621105 

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Light-hearted and entertaining (though not as good as its prequel), mainly due to Kim Min Jae's charms and charisma.
It would have been much better if both seasons were merged into one, with less unnecessary villains and their scheming.

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Surprisingly, this was much better than its prequel, which is something rare.
Still a dysfunctional and miscommunicating relationship, but cute and addicting nonetheless.
Once again, the clever addition of the main leads' inner voices/thoughts was the best part of the story and helped us get a better insight into their actions and feelings.

Not as thrilling as its prequel, mainly due to the lukewarm romance, but still a classy revenge/makjang story with a satisfying closure, top notch production and acting.
Song Hye Kyo's fit the cold, emotionally detached anti-heroine character the best, but the drama's absolute highlight was Jung Sung Il, even though his screen time in this part was the minimum.
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Adultery-centered makjang at its maximum!
Flawed, grey and infuriating people in the most entangled predicaments.
Toxic but addicting, with a great cast and fantastic chemistry.
Not for innocent souls expecting rainbows and balloons...
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"Unexpected things happen in life. The way you approach those situations is what makes you who you are."

Bold, daring and thought-provoking, this is a social commentary on parenthood, pregnancy difficulties and gender stereotyping.
Surprisingly open-minded and heartwarming!
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Cute and fluffy first love/coming of age story.
Better than expected but not as good as the movie - to be completely honest, I found the second leads more interesting and convincing and I rooted for their romance more.
I guess for me nothing can beat Miura Haruma's angelic smile...
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Not as engaging as the 1st season (mainly because of the long, far-fetched story with On Ha Joon and Bishop), but still enjoyable.
I wish they could spend more screen-time on the taxi crew characters and their teamwork, as well as new shorter cases, rather than those two villains and their lukewarm scheming.
But, I really loved Lee Je Hoon's new transformations and personas a lot!
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A fast-paced, adrenaline inducing survival story in a dystopian school setting.
Though there were lots of annoying teenagers doing utterly dumb things while screaming/crying all around and some plot-holes bigger than the craters those creatures made, it was an engaging watch, mainly due to the exemplary visuals and music, the teaming built-up and lieutenant Lee's charisma.
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A short, fast-paced, dark (and I mean literally dark) dystopian sci-fi adventure, that could have had a better balance between science and fiction, storytelling and visuals, comic and action scenes.
Engaging and entertaining, with a cool, smexy bad*ss Kim Woo Bin who never fails to deliver, an amazingly kick*ss Esom and a suave Song Seung Heon who did his best with the one-dimensional character he was given, it may not be a masterpiece, but it definitely is a perfect choice for a weekend watch.
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Intriguing concept, clever use of game setting and cute Choi Woo Shik as the protagonist in a brilliant interactive short film campaign by Cass.
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An action-packed drama with top-notch production, stellar cast, awesome fighting choreographies and fast-paced editing.
The story wasn't something memorable, the plot had some noticeable weak parts and the characters could've been better fleshed out, but the brotherhood, camaraderie and found-family vibes were enough to keep me entertained.
Woo Do Hwan and Lee Sang Yi were great in their roles and their chemistry and sync were what made this drama an enjoyable watch.
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A cute and a bit awkward addition to the series, this special episode serves as a promise to a 2nd season.
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Youthful, cute and fulfilling, this is an omnibus of high school slice of life stories of romance, awkward misunderstandings and bittersweet everyday school life, mixed with some mystery and bonding.
An easy, enjoyable watch, perfect for a weekend binge.
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Fluffy and cute romcom jdrama, with all the typical cliches, tropes & angst of a marriage of convenience/contract relationship story, and some really annoying subplots that could have been omitted.
But, the chemistry and interactions between Hashimoto Kana, Yamada Ryuosuke and their lovable dog were enough to make this an enjoyable, bingeable watch.
And it seems that Yamada Ryuosuke is here to stay, as he is getting better with every project he gets.
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Intriguing time travel/crime investigation premise, which soon started focusing more on the family bonding, making amends and healing side of the story - and that wasn't bad at all.
It had some really strong moments, some well-embeded plot twists, and though there were some pacing problems and weak plot elements that could have been handled better, overall it was an enjoyable watch.
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With a unique theme and approach, this is a soothing, feel-good short drama about daily train trips of an otaku train enthusiast enjoying beautiful rural scenery and wonderful photography.
Though it's slow-paced, with minimal dialogue and encounters, not much of a plot, not much character depth and an awkward introduction theme, every episode feels like a healing experience full of picturesque countryside places around secluded or abandoned train stations, with vivid forest, sea and train sounds, delicious food, and interesting information about  new and old train models, routes and destinations.
Great for a relaxing weekend watch.
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Though the story is quite simple and the genre (youth-borderline school romance) is not one of my faves, this was a very pleasant, cute and bingeable drama with high quality production and music, well-written characters, no unnecessary angst, toxic subplots or fillers, and two adorable and very talented main leads with remarkable chemistry.
An easy, enjoyable summer watch.
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Darker but less intense in tone, more focused on politics and corruption but less cohesive in storytelling, this second season was not as impactful as its prequel, but the bromance and camaraderie were enough reasons to make this an entertaining watch.
Special kudos to scene-stealler Bae Na Ra and his fantastic performance as Nina, whose story was the best part of the whole drama!
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An interesting makjang/revenge jdrama, not too heavy, not too dark, not too consistent either.
Though there were many awkward moments, some overacting and some far-fetched and/or too convenient situations and a rather subpar closure, overall it was an entertaining watch, mainly due to its two talented and charismatic FLs, who stole the spotlights every time they were on screen.
But, admittedly, the drama's highlights were Kiichi's long awaited haircut and Osamu being the worst dad ever!
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A strangely gripping omnibus miniseries about dreams and regrets.
In each story we watch the six protagonists fighting for, abandoning, discovering, fulfilling or not their dreams, trying to do the best they can with their ordinary lives.
Mundane, melancholic aesthetics with a longing vibe, uniquely creative arthouse cinematography, exemplary editing and impressive music.
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An intriguing women-centered revenge story about mothers and daughters, and sismance, spiced with some caustic social commentaries on beauty standards, plastic surgery, school and work bullying, dysfunctional families and parental disregard, as well as the insecurities, obsessions, moral dilemmas, traumas and desperate actions derived from those and how they can impact a person’s life and mentality.
Visuals and color palette are captivating, the pacing fast, the story tightly woven -though not too deep- and all the actresses portrayed their grey, twisted and flawed characters beautifully.
It's dark, violent and intentionally shocking, with numerous triggering themes. But it also has some emotionally intense moments and some cleverly embedded black humor here and there.
Overall, it is a very entertaining and binge-able watch, mainly due to its refreshingly unique concept of not letting us know where the story is going in each new episode.
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This short fast-paced thai drama was a surprisingly enjoyable addition to the supernatural/mystery genre.
Though the storytelling could have been smoother, it was technically excellent and the cast did a good job portraying their characters.
With an intriguing teaser for a possible 2nd season, this is something to look forward to.
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The prequel of Kazama Kimichika's story before he became the legendary cold-blooded instructor of Kyojo series, while he was still an active police officer teaming up with young detectives and training them to become the best investigators, was not as intriguing and intense as its sequels, but it was definitely an entertaining, engaging watch.
After all,  Kimura Takuya - grey-haired or not - is a charismatic, talented actor that never fails to deliver.
Time well-spent.
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Teacher-student romance trope is a big NO for me, but after seeing many positive posts about this jdrama, I thought I should give it a try.
It's a bizarre, quirky and surprisingly addicting story, with a unique theme that has more layers than meet the eye. On the surface it may seem like another questionable forbidden relationship between a teacher and a student, but behind the 'dark humour', the creepy, silly or careless attitude, the hilarious bantering and the smartass flirting it deals with some serious, dark topics and some heartwarming character development.
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A fast-paced, full of positivity and optimism business success story, with a great team-work and nice chemistry and rivalry among the characters.
Though the plot was too exaggerated and convenient in many ways, with lots of des ex machina situations, it was a fun, engaging ride watching those friends and colleagues achieve their big dream.
Meguro Ren is an acting chameleon and a force to be reckoned with!
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Heartbreaking, as well as inspiring story of the aftermath that bulling, mistrust and miscommunication can cause to young students and their families.
Although predictable and slow-paced, the exceptional, smooth and mature performances of the young actors, especially Kim Hwan Hee and Nam Da Reum (though I'd love to enjoy much more screentime of his) made this family melodrama an interesting watch.
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A decent high-class makjang that could have been much better if they toned down the convenient coincidences, the predictable twists and, especially, the melo tone towards the end.
Plus, I would like to see gorgeous Lee Mi Sook (as Do Guk's mother and a refreshingly unique mother-in-law) having a lot more screen time!
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Not as thrilling and engaging as the 1st season, but still an enjoyable watch.
Most of the new characters introduced didn't have a proper background story, so there wasn't any strong investment like in season 1, while most of the previous main leads were absent or appeared only as guests with a minimum screen time.
Moreover, the story was mainly about the soldiers protecting the 'new' home rather than the new home and its inhabitants.
Will I watch season 3? Of course I will, hoping to get a satisfying closure!
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Sexy, spicy, kinky, as well as funny and colourful, with two lovely FLs and a great sismance.
An interesting and enjoyable adult sex comedy with many realistic and frank conversations among women, and lots of heartwarming and steamy moments.
Unfortunately, the second half was focused mainly on romance, going the easy way through the same old tropes we see in every romcom.
Overall, nothing groundbreaking but an entertaining watch.

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A story of friendship and learning to communicate and bond with people, with the help of the leaves of an old cherry tree and a touching plot-twist.

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A compelling, dark and twisted story, serving also as a social commentary, of an unprivileged young man and the depths of his desperation to achieve his dream.

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Cute and feel-good romcom about a financially and emotionally struggling yoga instructor and her strict, nagging landlady's son.
Nothing groundbreaking, but an easy entertaining watch.

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A cute romance story set during the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic isolation (which somehow feel like so long ago!).
Too bubbly and beautified, but heartwarming nonetheless.

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The love story was sweet and heartwarming, Michan's journey of denial, grief and acceptance through this allegoric, supernatural approach was so heartbreaking, but some things felt too unrealistic and difficult to digest. Really mixed feeling about this.

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Interesting concept, promising start, disappointing ending.
There were a lot of non-sensical actions from most characters, some far-fetched plot-twists and some over-acting that couldn't be ignored, but overall it was that bad, but quite entertaining.

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An easy, entertaining watch, mainly thanks to the great chemistry between the leads.
Their totally opposite characters, their bantering, their team work and bromance, as well as the successful comedy elements were enough to surpass the scientific and investigation flaws - and the weak, absurd villain plotline.
Not a masterpiece, not very memorable but a decent one-time watch.

No words can describe the wackiness, hilariousness and complete madness of this unique drama.
Odagiri Joe as the screenwriter, director and protagonist, and his stellar cast, definitely had the time of their lives while filming this!
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A satisfying woman-centered plot with a FL that keeps on growing stronger and not becoming a damsel in distress during the second half of the drama, as in most cases happen.
Fierce, headstrong, passionate people following their dreams, growing their characters and friendships, never giving up even if the whole world is against them.
Stubborn but compassionate, frustrating and a bit too loud most of the times, but adorable and cute.
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An office-centred story, dealing with some common office politics, conflicts and scheming in a light-hearted, comic way. Though the employee cases were resolved in a simplified and sugary way, the cute and fluffy romance and the leads' chemistry were more than enough to make this short drama an enjoyable watch.
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