r/KDRAMA Challenge 2023

Challenge #1: A drama that has one or more tropes that are used in The Heirs
So many tropes! Inter-class romance, abusive (step)-parents, after-school cleaning duties, big fancy house, jerks with hearts of gold, missing mums (and dads too) etc.

This was trashy and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would, maybe because Cinderella ended up with my favourite knight. I must say the soundtrack was pretty good.

Completed on 07 June 2023

Challenge #2: A drama which subverts a trope
Every time I think to myself it is going to be a cliche trope, I get a pleasant surprise!

 This drama also convinced me what a versatile actor Kim Min Jae is, I love how he’s so different in this compared to Dr Romantic and Do You Like Brahms.

Completed on 08 May 2023

Challenge #3: A drama that was referenced in another drama
Referenced in Thirty-Nine

This was a delight to watch, maybe too boring and slow for some, but I love how it was heavy in dialogue between the characters. I enjoyed Shin Se Kyung’s acting much more here than in The Bride of Habaek.

Completed on 17 July 2023

Challenge #4: A drama chosen by the Wheel of Food - Korean Fried Chicken

I was disappointed by the writing of this season, definitely the weakest out of all three seasons. But I still enjoyed it mostly because I like so many actors and actresses in this drama and can probably watch them in anything.

Completed on 18 June 2023

Challenge #5: A drama chosen by the Wheel of Tropes - Blind dates with the wrong person

I really laughed at this one. Both couples also had great chemistry. 

Completed on 23 May 2023

Challenge #6: A drama chosen by the Wheel of PPL - Coffee Shop
A Twosome Place

I didn’t love this but didn’t hate it either. I stalled watching it for quite a while but enjoyed it when I picked it up again. What shone for me the most was grandma (Kim Hae-sook) & Ji-pyeong (Kim Soon-ho).

Completed on 18 June 2023

Challenge #7: A drama chosen by the  Wheel of Location - Hotel
Parnas Hotel Jeju

This was cliche in so many ways with not much of a plot, but somehow this fluffy rom-com was just right for me. The chemistry between the leads definitely plays a big part in it. 

Completed on 12 August 2023

Challenge #8: A drama with a main lead that started off as a child actor
Park Eun-Bin starting acting when she was five.

I liked this, although the pacing was slow. It was delightful to see two introverts in a relationship represented in a drama and their character development. I also like how ML & FL communicated maturely and respected each other’s boundaries.

Completed on 29 May 2023

Challenge #9: A drama starring a well known supporting actor
There we many of them! e.g. Lee Boo Ryun, Oh Eui Shin, Jang Young Nam

This was not quite the romantic comedy I expected, I think the Korean title One Shot Scandal may be more apt. It was stressful watching the mothers in this show, also did not enjoy the murder side plot. It was just not what I expected. Loved the interaction between the teenagers though. Also especially enjoyed Jung Kyung-Ho and Ron Yoon Seo’s acting.

Completed on 27 May 2023

Challenge #10: A drama starring one of the actors from your first drama
Song Hye Kyo - My first drama was Autumn Tale (Autumn In My Heart) aeons ago. 

 Enjoyed most of it until the last two episodes, felt like they were just dragging it out for the sake of fulfilling 16 episodes. Only completed them for the challenge.

Completed on 12 May 2023

Challenge #11: A drama starring an actor who has previously won the Baeksang best new actor award
Yang Se-jong (2018)

There were vastly contrasting reviews about this when it came out, I personally liked it for its cinematography and its imperfect but mostly likable characters. Also found there was a bit of a translation difference in a key scene between English and Chinese subs that affected my interpretation of the ending…I now wonder about the nuances I have missed in other shows due to Netflix's translation. 

Completed on 22 October 2023

Challenge #12: A drama starring an actor who is a member of a Kpop group
Choi Soo Young from SNSD.

Always wanted to see a show Soo Young's in, and she did not disappoint! This drama was fluffy and warm and only 4 episodes, I finished in one seating.

Completed on 26 May 2023

Challenge #13: A drama where two of the main or support cast have been co-stars on multiple occasions
Lee Dong Wook and Yoo In Na were in Goblin together.

This was okay for me, I didn’t really enjoy the court cases and the exaggerated acting of some of the supporting cast, but it was still heartwarming to see Sunny and Grim Reaper reunite.

Completed on 20 May 2023

Challenge #14: A drama with an OST by an artist who has been nominated for or won a MAMA Award for best OST
"Christmas Tree" by V

I really love this drama, everything from the storytelling, characters, chemistry between the actors/actresses, aesthetics and soundtrack. I couldn’t decide whether to binge or savour it, I couldn't stop watching but also didn't want it to end. We’re only mid-way through the year but I’m pretty sure this would be one of my favourite dramas this year.

Completed on 08 June 2023

Challenge #15: A drama with a multigenerational main cast

I picked this just because I like many of the actors, it turned out to be an easy and fun watch that got me out of my slump. 

Completed 13 September 2023

Challenge #16: A drama where one of the main cast shares your zodiac sign
Scorpio - Han Suk Kyu and Kim Min Jae

Took really long to start watching this because I wasn’t sure I would like any other medical drama as much as Hospital Playlist but I really liked this too! They're not the same but I grew to care about the characters and Doldam.

Completed on 28 April 2023

Challenge #17: A drama where the college alma mater of a character was a plot point
ML & FL's story began while in medical school

Binged this in two days. I cared about the characters in this season even more than the first. Especially invested in Ahn Hyo Seop’s character, Seo Woo-Jin. Glad he's back in Season 3.

 Completed on 30 April 2023

Challenge #18: A drama with a dream interpretation

I really didn’t enjoy this, felt that the ML & FL didn’t have any chemistry. Finished it only because I thought Nam Joo-Hyuk and Gong Myung looked good. Also couldn’t get into Shin Se Kyung acting which was surprising because I’ve heard she’s good. Might have to try another of her drama.

Completed on 10 April 2023

Challenge #19: A drama with minimal or no romance

This was so bizarre but I couldn’t stop watching. It was nice to see Nam Joo Hyuk in a more mature teacher role and I enjoyed watching Jung Yu Mi (only knew her from variety shows before). The visual effects for this was well done. The story was a bit rushed and not so well-developed, it probably would have been better if there were more episodes. 

Completed on 23 July 2023

Challenge #20: A drama with a main or supporting character that is an athlete
Female lead is part of the weightlifting team and male lead is part of swim team.

Fluff in the best way, really got me out of my slump. I foresee myself re-watching it whenever I need a mood-lifter.

Completed on 31 March 2023

Challenge #21: A drama featuring disguises or false identities

This was the fluff that I needed to balance all the stress I was feeling from Crash Course in Romance. The premise of it was outlandish but the chemistry and great acting by the ML & FL made it easy to suspend disbelief.

Completed on 27 May 2023

Challenge #22: A drama which features a character seeking revenge

Usually I don’t do well with shows with a lot of violence but it was cathartic seeing the Rainbow Taxi crew take revenge for victims. I might even watch the second season.

Completed on 19 July 2023

Challenge #23: A drama with at least one animal pet
Male lead has a dog 

Binged this and enjoyed it very much. Enjoyed seeing Yang Se Jong and Ahn Hyo Seop outside of Dr Romantic.

Completed on 03 May 2023

Challenge #24: A drama you always wanted to watch but for some reason have not watched yet

I wasn’t into k-dramas back when this was airing, but so many around me who I didn’t expect to watch k-dramas were raving about it. I truly understand the hype. I laughed and cried along with the characters. Left this hanging for a while because I couldn’t deal with some of the sadness but I was very satisfied when I completed it.

Completed on 15 May 2023

Challenge #25: A drama whose poster you liked at first sight

Super relaxing watch, helps that I love geeking out at the technical stuff about coffee. 

Completed on 29 November 2023

Challenge #26: A drama from a screenwriter or director whose works you have previously enjoyed

This was overall heartwarming and lovely slice-of-life as I expected from the Shin-Lee director-writer duo. 

Completed on 15 September 2023

Challenge #27: A drama found by searching existing recommendations

I breezed through this after feeling a bit of k-drama burnout. I do have a soft spot for quirky and awkward male lead. I also loved the friendship between the three female leads. 

Completed on 24 November 2023

#28: A drama inspired by a review, recommendation or comment on r/KDRAMA or r/kdramarecommends

ML is an absolute green flag, respectful of FL, communicates openly and their chemistry's great. I breezed through this. 

Completed on 01 August 2023

Challenge #29: A drama suggested by a fellow KDC participant 

This is an underrated gem. At first, I thought this was just silly humour and I was really only watching for Choi Woo-shik. But it surprised me by covering some social issues. I was surprised at how much I cried along with the characters. All the issues were not necessarily resolved as I hoped but I suppose it was quite realistic.

Completed on 30 September 2023

Challenge #30: A drama whose title is a direct translation of the Korean title

Thought it was so beautiful but so sad. Couldn’t watch the last two episodes for months and might not have finished it if not for the challenge. The cast did put up a captivating performance.

Completed on 10 May 2023

Challenge #31: A drama with an episode which received less than 2% overall viewership rate from Nielsen

Completed on 31 August 2023

Challenge #32: A single episode drama

Quick cute watch, I enjoyed it.

Completed on 12 June 2023

Challenge #33: A long form drama

My first long-form ever. It took me awhile to get into it but it picked up for me after the first 10-ish episodes.  By the end of it, I liked and cared for the characters so much, I was laughing and crying with them. Was not quite ready for it to end. 

Completed on 21 July 2023

Challenge #34: A drama with less than 500 watchers on MDL

This was a very quick watch, kind of in The Office style,  wasn’t bad but wasn’t great either, wish there was a bit more development either for the characters or storyline

Completed on 08 October 2023

Challenge #35: A drama that is at least 10 years old

This was my first sageuk, it was very enjoyable, well-paced and full of comedic moments. Also loved Song Joong Ki in all those costumes!

Completed on 29 June 2023

Challenge #36: A drama which fits a challenge from previous KDC years; A drama featuring a member of The Heirs cast (2022 Challenge #1)
Kim Ji Won

Couldn’t get into this when I started this in January but binged through it when I picked it up again. I like the interview format of it. Also captivated by Kim Ji Won’s acting.

Completed on 05 April 2023