2021 r/KDRAMA Challenge [2PM Edition]
r/KDRAMA Challenge, but with only dramas that involve someone from 2PM.
Some challenges unfortunately don't look possible (no Baeksang winners... only one option for "pre-2010" but it's 167 eps o.O, and only one other option for "long-form" but unsure of available streaming sources.)
Forgot to mark completion dates for some of the dramas I watched later on this list... completed 14 officially, though ~3 additional categories may have been completed unintentionally since I watched a lot of dramas and don't remember which...
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1. 7 First Kisses
Korean Special - 2016, 8 episodes
1. A drama featuring Lee Min Ho
2PM member: Taecyeon
Minimalist pick since I'm not a fan of LMH (but this also might be the only option?) Taec's episode was so trope-y and hilarious xD
[started and completed on 1/8/2021]
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2. Bring It On, Ghost
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
2. A drama from r/kdramarecommends community official recommendation lists
2PM member: Taec
On the "Idol dramas" list
(didn't end up watching this one specifically, but maybe watched others ft. 2pm members...) -
3. Romantic Doctor, Teacher Kim
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
3. A drama off the r/KDRAMA or r/kdramarecommends banner
2PM member: Chansung
On the r/KDRAMA banner. This was a fun watch! I watched it without remembering Chansung was in it, and his cameo was a surprise haha
[completed: sometime...]
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4. Chief Kim
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
4. A drama that begins with the first letter of your user name
2PM member: Junho
This was decently enjoyable, but the humor wasn't really my style and the antagonists were pretty incompetent so it was hard to take them seriously. Junho was definitely the best part though!
[started 2/1/2021; completed 3/3/2021]
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5. Just Between Lovers
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
5. A drama that references a real historical event in Korea
2PM member: Junho
References the Sampoong Department Store collapse in 1995. This was a magnificent drama with an incredibly high level and range of raw emotions, with poignant storytelling and life lessons! (and I love Junho SO MUCH!)
[started 3/17/2021; completed 3/21/2021]
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6. Eosajoidyeon
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
6. A drama featuring character(s) who speak in dialect
2PM member: Taec
The leads were sooo cute!
[started ~11/2021; completed 12/28/2021] -
7. Wok of Love
Korean Drama - 2018, 38 episodes
8. A drama that features one of the top 10 locations in 2020 on KDL
2PM member: Junho
This features Gaon Cultural Park, which was very nice. But the main focus was on the incredible talent of Junho, who made me scream and turn to mush with every scene. This was very fluffy and enjoyable with great friendships, bromances, and a liberal amount of skinship - and extremely delicious Chinese food! (There were a few problematic scenes, but they didn't matter to the main plot and Junho's star power overcame all shortcomings.)
[started 7/17/2021; finished 8/1/2021]
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8. So I Married an Anti-Fan
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
9. A drama that is an adaptation or a remake
2PM member: Chansung
This was an adaptation. For the first 15 episodes, this was a fun light-hearted ride, with interesting characters and conflicts that were cheesy without being cringey. Then the finale was a hot mess that glossed over pretty much every single plot thread and did a horrible job of wrapping any of them up. What a disappointment... but I did love Chansung's character a LOT and thought he did an excellent job!
[started 6/14/2021; completed 6/19/2021]
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9. Arthdal Kronieken Deel 2: De lucht draait binnenstebuiten, stijgend land
Korean Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
10. A drama where the main story doesn't involve romance
2PM member: Nichkhun
Also watched Part 1 and 3 of course, but this is the first one Khun shows up in. I liked it! Sad that they recast the leads for the next season...
[completed sometime...] -
10. My Holo Love
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
12. A drama with a lead actor/actress you haven't seen in a leading role before
2PM member: Chansung
Both leads are new to me
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11. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
13. A drama written by a renowned screenwriter
2PM member: Taec (+NK/CS cameos)
Written by Park Jae Bum, who was also behind Chief Kim and Fiery Priest. This had an interesting mix of dark crime and campy humor, and was a very exhilarating and enjoyable ride! I liked it a lot better than Chief Kim.
[started 2/20/2021 (premiere date); completed 5/2/2021]
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12. Confession
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
14. A drama directed by a renowned director
2PM member: Junho
Co-directed by Kim Chul Gyu, who was also behind Flower of Evil, Chicago Typewriter, and Mother. This was a masterpiece and easily landed a spot in my top 3 dramas!
[started 4/27/2021, completed 5/9/2021]
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13. Dress Sleeved Red
Korean Drama - 2021, 17 episodes
15. A drama by a writer or director whose works you haven't watched
2PM member: Junho
Both writer and director were new to me, and THEY WERE AMAZING. God Director, indeed!
[started 11/12/2021; completed 1/1/2022 but it was postponed a week + extended by an episode so I'm still counting it]
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14. Touching You
Korean Drama - 2016, 12 episodes
17. A short-format drama (under 10 hours)
2PM member: Taec
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15. Save Me
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
18. A drama in a genre outside of your comfort zone
2PM member: Taec
This was definitely out of my comfort zone - creepy and mildly disturbing, with all the adults being varying degrees of infuriating... also very well executed and interesting to watch! And the plot moved at a steady pace that kept me engaged the whole way through.
[started 5/14/2021; completed 6/7/2021]
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16. Cinderella's Sister
Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes
19. A drama with a rating less than 7.5 or with less than 5000 viewers on MDL
2PM member: Taec
This had a 7.1 rating when I started watching. It was hard for me to rate because it was addicting to watch but also pretty bad - ultimately I ended up rating it much lower (5.5), mostly because of finale, which was one of the most frustrating and least satisfying episodes ever, rivaling So I Married My Anti-Fan.
Ignoring the final episode, the rest of the drama might have hovered around the MDL average? It wasn't terrible, but there was so much angst that I was honestly impressed the characters could be semi-productive amidst all their moping and crying... Taec's character was cute though.
[started 6/30/2021; completed 7/7/2021]
* note: could also fit non-Seoul challenge
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17. Memory
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
20. A drama featuring a profession or lifestyle different from your own
2PM member: Junho
This is a very easy category to fit something else into, if it turns out that Memory can be used elsewhere.
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18. Dream High
Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes
23. A drama you have been putting off watching
2PM members: Taec, Wooyoung (+NK/CS cameos)
I put this off for about 10 months after I first heard about it because I didn't think it would be that good... but finally watched it for the 2pm members and it was super enjoyable! Great casting, nice plot/character arcs, fun performances. =)
[started 5/10/2021; completed 5/13/2021]
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19. Suspicious Partner
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
24. A rewatch of a drama you have previously watched
2PM member: Chansung
Might rewatch Touch Your Heart instead, also with Chansung
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20. My Bubble Tea
Thai Drama - 2020, 13 episodes
25. Bonus challenge: A drama that is not Korean
2PM member: Nichkhun
There are a lot of other options (Chinese, Japanese) as well, this is mostly just a placeholder.