ABSOLUTE BANGERS
These are the shows that I can rave on and on about!
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1. Vincenzo
Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes
A perfect chill dark comedy, mixed with timelessly outstanding music, great acting, beautiful cinematography, and SIZZLING chemistry between the main couple ( even though romance isn't the main genre ). Also has the BEST FEMALE LEAD IN ALL OF KOREAN DRAMA EXISTENCE SO FAR.
Going to be hard to move from a romance and a show like this. -
2. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Just an absolute masterpiece of a show. Loved the cast, the acting, the relationships among all the characters, the chemistry of the two main leads, the brilliant OST, and one of the best female leads EVER!
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3. Monster
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
WOW where do I even start with this masterpiece of a show? It isn't even a show, it's an EXPERIENCE, it's goddamn cinematic poetry, it's an absolute DELIGHT in every way, and I'm going to try my best to describe exactly why. The acting, the story, the build-up, the chemistry, the MUSIC, the cinematography, everything was AMAZING.
But the main reason was the SIZZLING and intense and VISCERAL chemistry of the two main leads.
Lee Dong Shik and Han Ju Won, two names I'm likely to never forget as I desperately search for fanfiction and You Tube edits of this pair, because the reality is, I can't let this duo go just yet. -
4. Kingdom
Korean Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
Loved this, and I'm not a fan of horror, but this was a masterpiece. Could not stop watching once I had started it, I HAD to finish the entire season in one go.
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5. The Demon Judge
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
Where do I even START with this great show! I absolutely and thoroughly ENJOYED every minute of it. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
KYH's character peaked and fell as he won and lost at several points in the story, but at every step he made me eager to look forward to what was going to happen, and yet he never over-powered the story by pushing everyone else aside forcefully.
It was more like he never had to, because his mere PRESENCE was enough to make him stand out, no matter what.
His Live Court show was thrilling and exciting, just like the man himself. He did everything he could to make his beloved niece comfortable, and it was SO heartwarming to watch how he cared for his housekeeper and also ultimately Ga On, and how it became a family of four.
Ji Sung's presence was just SO impressive, he is made to be an actor, he was VERY well suited to play roles like this, and it is an absolute JOY to watch him on screen.
Ga On was also a character I absolutely loved, even though he was very fickle and at times not really worthy of being a judge acc to me, he was still easy for me to understand. He was too soft for this dystopian world and truly wanted to do things the right way, even if it meant joining hands with KYH who never really cared for the actual law. Also their chemistry was EXPLOSIVE.
I loved Sun Ah's character too, she was sexy, smart, feisty, ambitious, clever, and ultimately really did love KYH! She was a more than worthy opponent for our dashing male lead. I liked the potential that Soo HYun's character had, but she was good only in episode 1 and 2, afterwards she was a pure mess and irritated me lol.
The villain brigade, they were all awesome, every bit as despicable as people can be when given unlimited power and money to feed their greed.
A big THANK YOU to the creators, the actors, the music directors, and cinematographers for giving me such a memorable show to watch. -
6. Rookie Historian Goo Hae Ryung
Korean Drama - 2019, 40 episodes
This is the cutest, fluffiest, funniest drama I've seen. SO GOOD!!!
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7. Be Melodramatic
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Every single person on this planet MUST watch this beautiful show at least once in their lives. It's a personification of a warm cup of tea when it's beautifully cold and windy and thundery and raining outside, the feeling you get on Saturday night realising that tomorrow is a Sunday and that you get one more day to have fun, the feeling of finding a hidden 100 dollar bill randomly in your wardrobe, the uncontrollable bouts of laughter while sitting with a group of genuine friends, the feeling that you've just encountered the best sunset of your life till date.
The charm of this show is also the unconventional style, with a story about a group of girlfriends that every girl wants to have. This trio truly cares about each other, and they show it in the most subtle yet overwhelming ways possible.
A simple sentence uttered by a character can open your eyes to the kind of person that character is, or tell you all about their story and make you understand them in an instance. -
8. Zoeken: WWW
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
This is literally one of the best shows that anyone can ever grace their lives with. THIS SHOW CHANGED MY PERSPECTIVE ON LIFE.
It made me believe in myself, it made me believe that no matter what stage of life I'm going through, I will never have everything figured out, and that's okay. In fact, that's LIFE because life is complicated, messy, unpredictable, harsh, rewarding, and beautiful.
Starting with my favourite character, Bae Ta Mi. She was the one that I have resonated with THE MOST in all my Kdrama history of female leads. She was devoted to her job, devoted to her sunbae (and the second main lead of the show), and had her life mostly figured out.
All until the day when she finds herself unemployed. Her life changes drastically there on, and through a new job and a new relationship, she has to constantly reinvent herself, and watching her clumsily and messily and gracefully handle life taught me that being strong is not about having all the answers, it's about working hard to be true to yourself and follow your heart and staying true to your goals and dreams and being honest and being stubborn.
I could go on and on but I simply loved her and her sense of fashion was my FAVOURITE.
Secondly, the sunbae of the trio, who was ruthless and manipulative, but somehow found her way through til the end through a horribly abusive mother in law. Thirdly, the maknae of the group, who was bright and fierce in her anger and her love, and was super DUPER cute with Lee Jae Wook.
I also LOVED BRIAN HE IS LITERALLY THE BEST BOSS IN THE WHOLE DAMN WORLD.
I also loved all the other characters in the show, there was hardly anyone I disliked tbh. -
9. Start-Up
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Honestly can't get over how cute this show was. Very memorable, loved the cast and acting and ost and the characters! It was funny and cute and sweet and real. LOVED!
PLEASE watch this show. It's great acting by all the actors, interesting story, and the lead couple is SO fucking cute together, its insane. All their moments, from holding hands, to the first kiss, to the piggy-back rides, ALL OF IT IS SO CUTE.
It's a simple story of how a passionate and ambitious girl Dal Mi, and a nerdy and sweet boy Do San meet initially as a lie, but then fall for each other-HARD.
And even when the lie is revealed, the girl still chooses the boy right for her. -
10. Wat is er aan de hand met secretaresse Kim?
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
One of the ABSOLUTE BEST ROMCOMS to have ever been made! The show was funny, had a beautiful cast, amazing chemistry between the main couple, and a brilliant background cast too. The story was simple yet engaging and had an annoyingly satisfying ending.
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11. The Crowned Clown
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
I have to say, this show is an absolute MASTERPIECE. Yeo Jin Goo exceeds my high expectations of him every time, and it was a DELIGHT watching the other cast as well, BRILLIANTLY MADE AND A GREAT MUSIC SCORE TOO.
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12. Confession
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
I wish I could give this show a rating of 100/10. Loved the story, the cast, their acting, the ost, the chemistry of all four leads with each other, the relationships they formed, the development in their lives over the course of the show, EVERYTHING.
LOVED Lee Jun-Ho's chemistry with every single person in the show, LOVED THE FATHER SON BONDING MOMENTS BETWEEN HIM AND HIS ACTUAL FATHER, AND ALSO BETWEEN HIM AND DETECTIVE CHUN-HO, in most of those scenes I was sitting with a big smile on my face!!!
LOVED watching Madame Jin, her role was perfection, and the actress was tailored for it and I loved watching a woman in a role like that. -
13. Sherlock: Untold Stories
Japanese Drama - 2019, 11 episodes
I LOVED it.
The show really has a flavour of its own, and is able to sustain the gentle mystery theme throughout, and I loved the intros, and specially the restaurant murder in episode 9, the cast looked so damn good in formal wear.
Also loved the cast and the engaging plot and also the 'Wakamiya-chan' cuteness from Shishio. Recommend to see a different type of Sherlock which is just as entertaining. -
14. Hotel del Luna
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Unexpectedly DELIGHTFUL and adorable and innocent and Yeo Jin Goo was so cute in it!!
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15. Twenty-Five Twenty-One
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
I still keep thinking about the intimacy of the scene when they had a match together in episode 4. When he first saw her in her gear, his appreciative gaze and respectful attitude was so sexy, and when he got curious enough she made him wear some man's gear, which of course looked like it was made for him. But when she helped him put it on, that quietness felt SO natural and sexy and organic. And the way he was looking at her then...GOSH.
Their match was as expected, and then when she looked at him afterwards, that realisation was amazing.Another scene I cannot forget, after the intimate and sexy match in episode 4, is the beautiful snowflake scene in episode 5.
Each second the scene got better and better, first they transitioned so beautifully, and that MUSIC WOW, and THEN looked at each other, THEN they both reacted to that man calling her out, AND THEN he pulled her to him AND THEN THEY LISTENED TO EACH OTHERS MESSAGES. I loved this supportive and soulful relationship. The ending of the show could've been better though. -
16. The Secret Life of My Secretary
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
WHAT A CUTE SHOW and the lead couple looks SO good together! ML was a sweetheart.
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17. My Name
Korean Drama - 2021, 8 episodes
Me to Choi Mu Jin: Daddy?...sorry, Daddy?...sorry, Daddy?
Choi Mu Jin is literally SO unbelievably sexy and dangerously hot, he made me forget what I was watching the whole time.
My man was really out there trying to give girls a major problem ever liking someone their own age, huh.
Well, he succeed and THEN some. -
18. Method
Korean Movie - 2017
I CANNOT BELIEVE THE RATING. IT DESERVES A 100/10. The movie keeps you guessing about the feelings of the actors and the characters separately, starts off in a typical 'old guy accidentally seduces new guy' stereotype, BUT changes into something amazing when you realise what's actually happening. you end up blown away and won't forget the ending, even though it's not a mystery genre.
And that kissing scene *phew*
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19. Hyena
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Ju Ji Hoon, what a sweetheart, he was so amazing at portraying the sexiest ace attorney EVER at a prestigious law firm. His charming aura, his manly fashion, his calm and collected dialogue delivery, his steadfast acting, it all was so GORGEOUS to watch.
The FL used people and left them for dead, like a hyena, and that's the show! And she stays exactly the same all the way to the very end. In that sense, she was brilliant.
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20. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
One of JCWs best work, an all original action packed drama, with a heart warming and an EXTREMELY engaging and interesting story. The chemistry between the two leads was amazing, and I loved the show!
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21. Buitengewoon Jij
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
It was a fresh and cute story, mixed with OUTSTANDING acting by the female lead, and also by all of the background characters. The FL was just SO brilliant. Love this show.
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22. Hospital Playlist
Korean Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
Unconditional friendship, a great sense of comfort, a sense of belonging, and the feeling that I am lucky to have my friends! That's what the show makes me feel.
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23. Suspicious Partner
Korean Drama - 2017, 40 episodes
One of the first Korean shows I ever watched and I love this one! The chemistry between the two leads was OFF THE CHARTS, and also the second/third leads were amazing. The story was fun and the cases were interesting.
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24. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
CUTE CUTE CUTE. One of the best romcoms ever.
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25. 18 Again
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Lee Do Hyun's acting s impeccable in this drama. I can't believe how good he is, this is the first time I'm watching him. Gonna watch more dramas of his for sure. This show was so much fun to watch, cliches and all!
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26. Splash Splash LOVE
Korean Special - 2015, 2 episodes
THIS IS THE CUTEST SHOW EVER OMGGG WOW
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27. Circle
Korean Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
This series is a MASTERPIECE and Yeo Jin Goo is a MASTER
Every single episode had me wanting MORE, the story induced a perfect blend of mystery, dread, hope, anticipation in every moment. From the very first scene, I was intrigued and fully immersed into both the universes, and tried my best to make sense of it and to solve the mystery surrounding both the brothers.
Yeo Jin Goo, how he can melt my heart with just one LOOK every SINGLE time? It will always be a mystery to me. He is just one of the best and most versatile and talented actors of the industry, and it showed in every frustrated exclamation, every desperate call to make his hyung see sense, in every hidden attempt to climb the ladder and work and study despite his surroundings just so he could care for his grandmother and search for his brother all on his own. Every single scene was executed BEAUTIFULLY. -
28. Lucifer
Korean Drama - 2007, 20 episodes
LOVED this show so much.
LOVED JJH as the calm and collected handsome lawyer making everyone dance to his tunes like puppets on a string, which he doesn't even need to control directly!The second lead, UTW as the hard-working detective who has been suffering all his life after a truly unfortunate incident which destroyed so many lives, to his overbearing father who set it in motion by underestimating the power of someone vowing revenge.
Our lovely female lead, SMA as the innocent and optimistic librarian who can't help but fall for one of our leads (don't blame her for her choice of love interest btw) , and tries to offer them both the support they both desperately need because it's obvious that she cares about them both.
The cast was perfect, the main leads were brilliant at conveying their feelings and emotions, and story did everyone justice. The soundtrack was perfect, and the story moved at a slow pace but fit the overall theme of the show.
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29. Flower of Evil
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
LOVED THIS! The chemistry, the story, the acting, the music, and also a special mention goes to Detective Choi in the show for being SEXY AS HELL.
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30. Defendant
Korean Drama - 2017, 18 episodes
Watching Ji Sung is ALWAYS a delight, the way he portrayed confidence, heartbreak, confusion, despair, desperation, misery, PAIN, and anguish was just TOO GOOD. I teared up at several points through the show and I just couldn't hold myself back from desperately wishing for him to achieve some sort of happiness through his seemingly never-ending pain.
That man is a true POWERHOUSE of acting, just brilliant to watch.
His chemistry and bromance with Shin Chul Shik and all his OPTIMUS PRIME glory lmao. He was amazing and hilarious to watch.
The support our prosecutor received from his cell-mates was touching and heartwarming, and it was so easy to become involved in their personal lives too and cheer for their happiness also. The side characters were all endearing and sweet and it was a delight to see them interact with each other. I loved how, instead of telling people that the cell-mates were a family, they SHOWED that they were a family through their actions and their encouragement and their interactions. -
31. Lawless Attorney
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
CHOI MIN SOO is the absolute MVP of this drama, what a star! He was amazing throughout!! Absolutely loved his role.
And also Lee Joon Gi, he was brilliant too! I was surprisingly taken with the story of this drama, considering there wasn't that much of romance, and I initially started watching only because of Seo Ye Ji, but the cast was entirely good. Loved it. -
32. Kobold
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
This is a great fantasy drama. Loved the second couple way more than the first one. The story was timeless, and it also had amazing cinematography.
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33. Haar Privéleven
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
A perfect romcom, with an independent FL, an arrogant ML who changes, a cute little story and great art! The fangirling that the FL was so on point, it was a lot of fun to watch. Also this has a lot of skin-ship, but that's a good thing because both the leads are SO gorgeous.
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34. My Secret Romance
Korean Drama - 2017, 13 episodes
A drama you can easily watch MULTIPLE TIMES! Loved the lead couple, the cliched scenes, and the cute romance, and also the playful ML.
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35. The Legend of the Blue Sea
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
A perfect romcom. The historical scenes were essential but a but boring for me, the show was great otherwise!
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36. The K2
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
JI CHANG WOOK IS THE BEST BODYGUARD IN THE WORLD. That's it, that's all I need to say.
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37. Goong
Korean Drama - 2006, 24 episodes
Unexpectedly I loved this show so much. Some thoughts on the main things I noticed:
Shin Goon was portrayed accurately by Ju Ji Hoon, as a lonely, arrogant, confused, silent, broody, jealous Prince, and he has no idea how to accept his feelings or to show them. He warms up slowly, and his behaviour change when he is around his wife vs when he talks to other people is so subtle. It really shows how he's actually been changed by the heroine for the better, making him more human.
The Princess, very annoyingly childish, but honest, courageous, brave. She tries to bring a cheerful attitude in the castle, which was irritating at first, but then came to be appreciated by everyone around her and was welcome in the Castle, and also ultimately brought out the true self in Shin, which was nice.
The two second leads, well, they were morons. Not much to discuss there.
Overall, I really liked the show, although it was a bit draggy in some parts. But being set in 2006, this is a masterpiece honestly. I now understand why people swooned over Ju Ji Hoon. He was so fucking cute in the show, very handsome!! -
38. The Spy Gone North
Korean Movie - 2018
What a movie! It was intriguing, engaging, mysterious, and it kept me waiting for the end eagerly! JJH was brilliant as always, and Hwang Jun Min was just splendid. Surprisingly sentimental ending. LOVED it, highly recommended.
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39. Tokyo DOGS
Japanese Drama - 2009, 10 episodes
One of the greatest OG Japanese shows. Loved the chemistry of the two main male leads, and even though it was obvious who the female lead was going to choose from the two leads, it was still so much fun to watch. The case was interesting and engaging, and partnership trope was fun to watch.
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40. Confession
Korean Movie - 2014
An amazing movie, Ju Ji Hoon is just so fucking hot, I can't.
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41. Ode to Joy
Chinese Drama - 2016, 42 episodes
WHAT a show, a story of 5 women from totally different backgrounds and lives somehow coming together to form a really weird friendship which is so much fun to watch and it teaches you a thing or two about life! A delight to watch.
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42. Ode to Joy 2
Chinese Drama - 2017, 55 episodes
A perfect continuation to the first season. Lots of great developments, and in many ways I like this season more than the first! Also one of the male leads in this show Yang Shuo/Bao Yi Fan has a voice TO DIE FOR.