My 2024 Drama List
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1. All of Us Are Dead
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
Pros:
- Strong pilot, and the fast pace is kept throughout the drama. Not a dull moment in sight.
- Nam Ra and Soo Hyuk were precious, and they were my favorites.
- Lots of great side characters that are quick to get me attached.
- Thriller element was well done, and I was tense in a good portion of scenes.
- I'm a new Lomon fan. I've seen the other main cast before, but this is my first Lomon drama, and what a great first impression.
Cons:
- Ending felt a little weird.
- Leads were a little too meh for me.
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2. Death's Game Part 2
Korean Drama - 2024, 4 episodes
Pros:
- One of the most emotional drama episodes I've seen.
- Lots of great actors were part of this drama.
- Some episodes had a fun storyline, like Lee Jae Wook and Oh Jung Se's.
- Left viewers with a touching message at the end.
Cons:
- Some episodes were less interesting because the characters and their deaths weren't too significant to the story.
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3. Gyeongseong Creature
Korean Drama - 2023, 10 episodes
Pros:
- Thrilling from start to finish.
- Park Seo Joon and Han So Hee are great. Fell in love with their acting here.
- The setting and costumes are cool.
Cons:
- Not for someone who can't handle a bit of horror and themes of human experimentation and oppression.
- The monster in this drama was not that scary.
- CGI can sometimes be good or lacking.
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4. Come and Hug Me
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
Pros:
- Great OST, especially Elevate and Sakura. They give me all the feels.
- The emotional beats of the story are phenomenal.
- Child actors were top notch. Nam Da Reum always bring his A-game, but Ryu Han Bi was a scene stealer.
Cons:
- Jang Ki Yong's acting is wooden, and I couldn't get into his character because of it.
- Despite the serial killer plot being the catalyst to the story AND the emotional turmoil for the main characters, its execution at the end wasn't great.
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5. Sisyphus: The Myth
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Pros:
- This was my first introduction to Chae Jong Hyeop, and I loved him ever since. He is the best and only good part of this drama for me.
Cons:
- Everything else.
- ML is miscast in this role.
- I didn't care for any of the characters. They could all die for all I care.
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6. The Heirs
Korean Drama - 2013, 20 episodes
Pros:
- Lots of well-known actors in one drama.
- Kim Woo Bin is a standout actor here, and his character is one that I wanted to protect. And he actually has character development.
- Kim Ji Won is so iconic here.
- Choi Won Young as Chan Young's dad is amazing.
Cons:
- The leads were boring. The most boring part in the drama.
- The drama took itself way too seriously (which made it infinitely funnier).
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7. My Demon
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Pros:
- One of my favorite Song Kang roles so far.
- First 10 episodes are wonderful.
- Kim Yoo Jung is phenomenal. She's a wonderful actress, and the material she's given highlights her talents.
- Chemistry between actors was great.
- OST is also good.
Cons:
- Last few episodes basically had no plot.
- Took me a while to erase the image I had of Song Kang in his other, less-favorable dramas, but that's not the drama's fault. Regardless, it wasn't easy for me to be convinced that this role was fitting for him until we were a few episodes in.
- Lee Sang Yi was wasted in this role.
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8. Welcome to Samdal-ri
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Great acting for the leads and supporting actors.
- Cha Ha Yul is such a cute kid. I loved everything related to her and her mother.
- Friendship group in this drama was solid.
- Some emotional plot lines are there, one which made me cry.
Cons:
- Didn't resonate with me as much as I would've liked.
- Love triangle wasn't interesting.
- Yong Pil's dad suuuucks.
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9. The Killer's Shopping Mall
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Pros:
- Amazing acting, especially by Kim Hye Joon, the FL.
- Geum Hae Na as Min Hye was amazing.
- Backstory with the characters was interesting.
Cons:
- Some characters, I didn't care for, but that's not necessarily bad.
- Cutting back between past and present when the present scenes were so fun kinda took me out of it.
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10. Sweet Stranger and Me
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Great actors like Kim Young Kwang, Lee Soo Hyuk, and Woo Do Hwan all in one drama.
Cons:
- Plot is weeeeiiird.
- Every other character is annoying. It made it easy to fast forward through some scenes.
- Forgettable.
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11. A Killer Paradox
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Pros:
- First 4 episodes were thrilling.
- Son Suk Ku was my favorite part in this drama. Great acting.
- Has a slight supernatural aspect to it that doesn't feel far-fetched. It goes with the plot well.
Cons:
- Second half was not as good.
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12. Cut to Heart
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
Pros:
- The best thing they did was change the ML mid-drama. Na In Woo won me over so quickly, and soon I began watching just for him.
- On Dal in general was great. I love him.
Cons:
- Characters didn't make sense towards the end.
- Didn't really love the princess.
- Second lead pairing was wasted potential.
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13. Fantasy Sonata
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Great OST.
- Some costumes were STUNNING.
Cons:
- Too rushed. Tried to cram in too many story lines instead of, you know, adapting the story to fit the format of a drama.
- Lets down the actors with its weak story.
- Ending is just ... it doesn't make sense. I kept asking why they flipped things around all of a sudden without lead up or even a small hint.
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14. School 2017
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Stellar cast. A huge percentage of them are way more popular now, and it's interesting to see them back in 2017.
- Sweet romance EVERYWHERE.
Cons:
- Kind of didn't care for the story all that much.
- Sadly one of the first dramas I dropped because it didn't feel like it had much value for me. And I was right. It didn't have much to offer.
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15. Coffee Prince
Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes
Pros:
- Yoon Eun Hye was great in this role.
- Lots of great actors in general in one drama.
- The bond between the characters is real. Whether it's friendship or romance.
Cons:
- Second couple is frustrating. I couldn't stand them.
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16. Doctor Slump
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Mature romance between the leads.
- Park Hyung Shik is hilarious.
- My favorite Park Shin Hye Role so far.
- Easy to root for second couple.
Cons:
- Nam Ha Neul's family annoyed me.
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17. Wedding Impossible
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Pros:
- Jeon Jong Seo is the best part in this drama. Her character is interesting, and the actress herself has such a unique presence. What an iconic woman.
Cons:
- The ML as a character is not doing it for me.
- Chaebol family plot line wasn't fun or engaging.
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18. The Gray
Korean Drama - 2024, 6 episodes
Pros:
- Jeon So Nee killed it with her acting. She was the best part.
- Koo Kyo Hwan was fun to watch.
- Friendship between the two main characters was A+.
Cons:
- CGI was ... not great, but I don't expect much anyway.
- Choi Joon Kyung as a character was getting on my nerves.
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19. Two Weeks
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
Pros:
- The relationship between the ML and his daughter and In Hye ... all three of them, amazing. Best part of the drama for me. It was the heart and the core of this show.
- Second half was better because of its focus on the ML and the people he cares about.
- The finale with the characters we grow to love more and more? Satisfying.
- The little girl is so adorable.
Cons:
- Didn't care for the action much.
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20. Untitled Park Ji Eun Project
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Emotional and touching story between the leads.
- Great blend between comedy and serious.
- Most characters who are evil/who suck grew on me after a while.
- Plot lines are not dragged out much.
- My fave Kim Soo Hyun and Kim Ji Won roles.
- Hong Hae In??? Queen of Queens Group!
Cons:
- Too many side plots that distract from the main story.
- Length per episode is way too long (an hour and a half approx.).
- Devolved into madness by the last few episodes.
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21. Nightly Photo Studio
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Emotional story that includes case-by-case episodes and an overarching plot.
- Lots of mystery to keep the audience wondering.
- Characters are easy to root for.
- Yoo In Soo is so adorable here. Lovely character.
Cons:
- Ending was not bad, but not anything I loved.
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22. Man to Man
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Some funny scenes that made this drama less serious to take (which is a good thing cause comedy and spy thrillers go well together).
- Some characters are super lovable.
- Dynamics between characters and how those progress throughout the story ... well made.
Cons:
- Some characters are annoying. Especially annoyed by FL in the beginning.
- Didn't care for the drama as a whole.
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23. Sunbae, doe die lippenstift niet op
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Some relationships were cute and easy to root for.
- The little girl especially was adorable.
Cons:
- Wasted my time with this drama.
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24. Lovely Runner
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Kim Hye Yoon brought her A-game, and she was just as charming as I remember her to be from Extraordinary You.
- Byeon Woo Seok is hilarious and charming. Seen him in other dramas before, but this role is his best.
- Has a fantasy element that works well with the story, and has a simple rule that the story sticks to.
- The comedy is on-point.
- Romance is the sweetest thing ever.
- Really light and easy to recommend to any romance lover.
Cons:
- There is a trope I dislike that they included here (unmentioned here to avoid spoiling the show).
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25. Born in 1985
Korean Drama - 2021, 15 episodes
Pros:
- Main cast members are appealing, and the whole reason I watched.
- Short and doesn't take up too much time.
Cons:
- A mess. A whole mess. Characters act childish the whole time.
- Main character is so boring and static.
- No message to take away at the end of it. Waste of time.
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26. Although I Am Not a Hero
Korean Drama - 2024, 12 episodes
Pros:
- Different take on the concept of superpowers. Grounds it in reality more than other dramas.
- Dynamics are fun to watch.
- OST is different than any kdrama I've seen. In a good way.
- Park So Yi was so cute and talented as the ML's daughter. Her and the boy Moon Woo Jin continue to impress me in every project. Bright future ahead.
- ML, Bok Gwi Ju, is so precious, and easy to root for.
- FL gets easier to understand as the episodes go on.
- Urban fantasy + angst is a winning combination for me, but the execution brought it together.
- Being a 12-episode drama, the pacing was tight and perfect. No dragging of plots.
- Cried during so many episodes. It was easy to get attached.
Cons:
- Some people online didn't love FL, Do Da Hae, at first. I did, but this might be a shortcoming for some people.
- While I think Jang Ki Yong has improved his acting skills, I still feel he's not as expressive as his character is written to be.
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27. Let's Eat
Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes
Pros:
- The food looks so good in this drama. You'll go hungry, guaranteed.
- Cute dog!!
Cons:
- Has one of the most annoying characters I've seen.
- Overall, didn't care for the characters much.
- Mystery plot tacked on without feeling needed.
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28. Graduation
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Acting is great.
- Good to see Wi Ha Joon as a lead in a romance.
Cons:
- So boring.
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29. Twinkling Watermelon
Korean Drama - 2023, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Touching story that had a mix of plotlines that made me cry, laugh and smile.
- Solid relationship between characters, whether as friendship or family dynamics.
- Lots of characters are fleshed out.
- Chemistry is great. Not just the romance, but the friendship.
- Speaking of romance, the 2ML and 2FL romance is so precious!! Definitely was rooting for them the most, but they were the framing of the story, so it made sense that the drama made me feel this way.
- Piecing together things was fun. So was seeing characters piecing things together.
Cons:
- Ending was a little rushed. There are other things that bothered me, but that's spoilers territory.
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30. Hospital Playlist 2
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
Pros:
- Probably the only "season 2" I've liked. The story, theme, characters, arcs ... they're all consistent.
- Lots of emotional and hard-hitting moments that make this drama feel real.
- Actors are all wonderful.
- Lee Ik Jun is the best!!!
- Satisfying ending
Cons:
- Was a tad too slow for me. It was easy to get distracted.
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31. Descendants of the Sun
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Lots of scenes that I enjoyed and laughed at.
- Listen, I KNOW this is a negative, but Arab clothes + Arab words depiction here sucked. However, as an Arab, I found it HILARIOUS.
- Kim Ji Won was cool.
- Song Joong Ki was charismatic, as always.
Cons:
- Probably cause I watched it late, but I feel like I've seen much better stories than this one with more impact.
- Lots of problems between leads could've been solved by communicating properly. Romance was dumb as a result.
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32. Lovers of the Red Sky
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Actors did a phenomenal job, especially the main three.
- Fell for Gong Myung in this drama. Not my first drama of his, but he was adorable here.
Cons:
- The fantasy element didn't do it for me.
- The Ma Wang effects/makeup were just ... not it.
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33. The Woman Who Plays
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Uhm Tae Goo!!! First work of his I watch, and he's so good!!
- Ex-cons' group had a nice relationship
- Watching Ji Hwan fall in love was so funny and cute.
Cons:
- A bit too silly and ridiculous for me.
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34. She Is Different Day and Night
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Lee Jung Eun (older FL) was great. Has so much charisma.
- 2ML had my heart. So supportive and kind!!
Cons:
- The plot was ridiculous and silly. Too silly.
- Wasn't convinced that both FLs were the same person.
- ML sucked and I was not rooting for him, but the 2ML.
- Didn't care for the mystery.
- Second romance was stupid.
- All in all, hated this drama with a passion.
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35. Is It Fate?
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Pros:
- Main couple look compatible.
Cons:
- Forgettable drama with no plot.
- Hated the OST.
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36. Blue Birthday
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Compelling plot that had me asking questions.
- Yeri and her character were the highlight of the drama.
- Time travel done well, with unique rules that had interesting cause-and-effect.
Cons:
- Rest of the cast was not good.
- Some parts had me questioning the cops' competence in the drama. So frustrating.
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37. Jealousy Incarnate
Korean Drama - 2016, 24 episodes
Pros:
- Relationship between Hwa Shin and Na Ri was entertaining.
- Discussed less-talked-about issues.
- Cast (including man, supporting, and cameos) was phenomenal. Lots of famous faces here.
- Character relationships were cute and wholesome.
- Na Ri's career path was gripping to follow.
- Shut-your-brain-off-and-enjoy type of show.
Cons:
- Resorted to the "friends fighting over a girl" plot, and I hate it.
- Love interests were a little too possessive over FL.
- Some of the characters' decisions made no sense, and ended up frustrating me.
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38. Kingdom: Asin
Korean Special - 2021, 1 episode
Pros:
- Great acting
- Beautiful and haunting cinematography
Cons:
- Ashin's character was not one I cared for. I don't have to like her, but at least I should care.
- I felt the lack of zombies when the main storyline was not interesting me.
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39. In the Forest With No One
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Pros:
- Go Min Si was so sexy and cool as a psycho killer.
- Didn't go in chronological order, and went between present and past. Makes you wonder what happened in the "between" period.
Cons:
- Seen a lot of these types of shows, so I wasn't too interested.
- Slow pace that bored me.
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40. Loving You
Korean Drama - 2002, 12 episodes
Pros:
- Can't deny that this was so bad, it became good. Melodramatic as hell, and takes itself way too seriously. Peak entertainment.
- Baby Lee Dong Wook and Lee Yoo Ri, Kim Ji Hoon are there (only seen these three before). Barely recognized the latter 2.
Cons:
- Overly trope-y. Everything old romance dramas are known for ... it's there in this one, too.
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41. My Dearest Part 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 11 episodes
Pros:
- Will make you cry. (I love crying over dramas, so this is a plus in my book.)
- Story between Gil Chae and Jang Hyeon is touching, and one of many great things to follow.
- The ugliness and heartbreak of war was depicted.
- Made me look up King Injo and the history that followed the Qing invasion.
- Supporting characters are great, too.
Cons:
- At first, I didn't like Gil Chae (but that changed real quick).
- Part 1 was stronger emotionally. Would've been a 10/10 if it made me feel the same way as part 1.
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42. Mom’s Friend’s Son
Korean Drama - 2024, 16 episodes
Pros:
- Acting from everyone was wonderful, including younger and older cast.
- Yes, it's basically an ensemble cast.
- The second couple STOLE MY HEART! They are the cutest thing ever.
- No love triangle! There were side plots with "love interests", but they're not love triangles.
Cons:
- Seung Hyo and Seok Ryu sometimes got on my nerves.
- It was a tad too slow for my taste.
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43. Pachinko Season 2
Korean Drama - 2024, 8 episodes
Pros:
- Well-produced.
- Has my favorite scene with Lee Min Ho. His acting here was phenomenal!!!! Favorite performance of his.
- Made me cry in some scenes.
Cons:
- I read the book before watching season 2. Needless to say, I am disappointed with a lot of changes. They already finished most of the book and still have 2 seasons left. They'll absolutely ruin more plotlines.
- Solomon continues to be boring.