Recommendations from my recent-ish Watchlist! (until 2018)
The dramas that I've recently watched (some re-watched) and adored :)
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1. Tonbi
Japanese Drama - 2013, 10 episodes
A simple story with lots of heart and great acting. Went in to just pass time, ended up loving it <3
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2. Chicago Typewriter
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
A pure Visual Novel.. every scene was breathtakingly beautiful. The past storyline is sooo captivating!
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3. Circle
Korean Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
Sci-Fi in Korean dramas is uncommon, so I appreciate it when I get one. Top it off with excellent acting and editing for a lower-budget drama (than required to pull a sci-fi off).
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4. Chief Kim
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
A sensible comedy with a big heart and concrete storyline.. 20 episodes and it never fell flat.
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5. Hanzawa Naoki
Japanese Drama - 2013, 10 episodes
I work in a bank currently, so the synopsis had me.. and the acting elevated the well-written plot. A little predictable and a somewhat similar vibe to Chief Kim (plot progression wise, though this was made first, I watched Chief Kim first), but that does not deter from the quality that the drama plot and acting is. Sakai-san <3
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6. Save Me
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
The Villain!! He freaked me out ... I have always been interested in cults (not joining one though, at all!!) so this show captivated me at once.
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7. The Bridal Mask
Korean Drama - 2012, 28 episodes
Joo Won! I had seen him as himself in 1 night 2 days before this.. and damn his acting is so fine. Also, Park Ki Woong <3 K-dramas need more of him!
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8. Incomplete Life
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
Simply adorbs for being so true to life and the splendid acting by the cast. Watched it with a friend before our summer internships started and this left us anxious and excited for our turn at the lead's role :P
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9. Because This is My First Life
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Expected it to be a simple cohabitation hijink.. got much much more :) One of my fav side love lines of all dramas and my best K-drama rom-com experience to date.
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10. The Boy Next Door
Korean Drama - 2017, 15 episodes
Laugh out Loud funny! A gem of a webseries and a pleasant surprise. Got me to Google the actors and follow their works (Choi Woo Shik <3 and Jang Ki Yong <3)
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11. Bitter Blood
Japanese Drama - 2014, 11 episodes
Rewatch Value : 500%
Comedy with action and a Father-Son partnership.. Bring it on!
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12. Reply 1997
Korean Drama - 2012, 16 episodes
The start of the super-hit Reply series and my favourite one to date. Instantly made almost the entire ensemble cast a feature on my favourite list.
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13. Maou
Japanese Drama - 2008, 11 episodes
One of my earliest Asian drama and first Japanese drama. This is the drama that convinced me that Suspense is the forte of J-drama industry, and I love that even after knowing the storyline by heart and re-watching it again and again, it still holds up well <3
And the harmony of the acting between Toma Ikuta and Satoshi Ohno left me feeling so many emotions!
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14. Kaitou Yamaneko
Japanese Drama - 2016, 10 episodes
Funny, quirky and memorable :D For me the entertainment value of this drama was the best return I got on any drama investments I have made recently :P
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15. God's Quiz
Korean Drama - 2010, 10 episodes
My first Korean mystery crime-procedural series :) Still memorable! There are multiple seasons, so it's like a proper series to follow, even though all can be considered stand alone works of its own also. Everyone has their own favourite season.. mine are first and most recent :)
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16. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
My rating might be pretty subjectively inflated but this was exactly what I needed then, and still holds up well on rewatches (every time I'm down or slump). Nothing complicated, a sugary sweet friendship-romance college drama, with a lead with a veery unique occupation :)
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17. The Story of Ming Lan
Chinese Drama - 2018, 78 episodes
One of my first Chinese dramas and I loved it to bits, with it becoming one of my most favourite dramas ever! Love the OTP *~*
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18. Flowers for My Life
Korean Drama - 2007, 16 episodes
Cha Tae Hyun and Kang Hye Jung in the same drama!!! Both of them are so expressive as actors and the storyline did justice to their skills :)
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19. Splash Splash LOVE
Korean Special - 2015, 2 episodes
2 episodes of epic cuteness with two of my favs (Doojoon from Highlight and Seulgi from SNL). One of the best Mini-series I have seen.
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20. Ouroboros
Japanese Drama - 2015, 10 episodes
The bromance is to live for and die for.. and I love Shun Oguri, so that's always a Plus!
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21. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
It's strangely addictive ;D Though honestly Yoo Ji Tae captivated me more than Ji Chang Wook :P
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22. Nodame Cantabile
Japanese Drama - 2006, 11 episodes
My fav manga adaptation to date as it stays (almost) loyal to the source material and the acting elevates the story to adorable laughs :)
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23. Er is iets met die 1 procent
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
Remake of an older drama I saw.. cut away with all the flab and made it so much more appealing... And the CHEMISTRY!
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24. Marriage, Not Dating
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
A different type of Korean rom-com after a loong time. Thank God for no evil MILs (actually my favourite character in the drama).
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25. Marriage Contract
Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes
I am not into melodramas or romance dramas without comedy, so the fact that this drama captivated me shocked and sweetly surprised me :')
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26. Rich Man, Poor Woman
Japanese Drama - 2012, 11 episodes
The story is much more than its stupid title. It was one of my first Japanese dramas :)
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27. Protect the Boss
Korean Drama - 2011, 18 episodes
Choi Kang Hee and Ji Sung play their roles so well in a sort of role-reversed damsel in distress ;D and Thank God for no bitchy exes.
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28. Ojakgyo Brothers
Korean Drama - 2011, 58 episodes
One of the few family dramas that I finished and cared for each character.. though a little draggy at the end.
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29. The Vineyard Man
Korean Drama - 2006, 16 episodes
Oh Man-Seok!!!! Discovered the awesome actor through this :) Very different from the crop of rom-coms I was watching then.
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30. Drama Special Series Season 1: White Christmas
Korean Special - 2011, 8 episodes
A drama with a cast of not so well known actors to me (at that time) and had me gaping at the quality of their acting and the thrills I got! Extremely memorable!
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31. My Too Perfect Sons
Korean Drama - 2009, 54 episodes
My first Korean family drama.. and the one I kept going back to (though with fast forwards :P). Son Hyun Joo <3