2017 Drama Recap

Happy new year everyone!

I can't believe it's a new year already. I wouldn't say 2017 flew by. I definitely felt it. But for me, personally, it has been an awesome year. I finished my first full year at a job, moved to a new country, made some awesome friends, and stepping a bit closer to my dreams. Drama-wise, I would say I'm pretty satisfied with the gems I found this year. Some were obvious duds (they can't be avoided), but many filled my heart with absolute joy.

Despite going awol on this blog this past year, I'm really excited to come back doing my annual year-end drama recap. It's always fun to compile all the dramas I've watched this year and since I wasn't active on the blog, I can now review all the dramas I've watched (which may be why this year's recap is a bit long. I have a lot to say). Again, as usual, the ranking will only comprise of dramas that finished airing in 2017. All the non-2017 dramas I watched this year will be mentioned separately, though there aren't that many this year. I also want to start mentioning what networks the dramas aired in because different networks can sometimes have different styles/types of dramas airing.

2016 Drama Recap

Happy new year everyone!

How was your 2016? The internet said it's the worst year ever, but I disagree. Twas a pretty good year for me, both personally and drama-wise. Granted, it wasn't the best in terms of blogging but hey, we can't have everything amirite? Please accept my apologies.

I actually watched a good deal of dramas this year. Lots were 2016 dramas (although no more than previous years), but a lot were dramas of yesteryear too. And I have to say, I was quite pleased with the dramas I watched this year. 2016 produced a lot of great dramas and I didn't even watch that many. Although to be fair, there were quite a lot of dramas I dropped too. You win some, you lose some.

52nd Baeksang Awards Predictions

June isn't exactly award season in South Korea (that would be winter during the end of the year) but Baeksang Arts Awards rolls around in the summer to shake things up a bit. Like last year, I will be posting my own personal predictions of who I think should win this year, with a little commentary on the works that premiered in the year past. Different to other awards show, Baeksang gives out awards to both cinema and television, so there are lots of nominees. The award ceremony will happen on June 3rd, which is tonight, depending on when and where you're reading this.

Things Got Stuck in 'Cheese in the Trap'

You know those dramas that started so great and then just decided to kill itself? There are many examples, but the latest one in the minds and mouths (or fingers?) of Korean drama watchers is Cheese in the Trap. It begun what was to be a perfect drama. I even had hopes of making it high up on the yearly recaps. Alas, some things are too good to be true and the drama that was supposed to be the opposite of dramatic bit itself in the ass and became a drama in real life.

Monthly Recap: March 2016

So I haven't been the best blogger once again but since my computer was broken for half of March I suppose that's a good enough reason for my absence? I have been watching some dramas last month, so worry not. I will rant away on this post. Full reviews of some of the finished dramas will come soon, as will several movie reviews since the Baeksang Awards are happening sooner or later and I'll be making a prediction post again like last year.

First Take: Please Come Back Mister

February 24th became the premiere date for two prime time Monday-Tuesday dramas. I wrote about Descendants of the Sun yesterday, which was the more melo choice. But today I'll be talking about a comedy in the form of Please Come Back Mister. This wasn't on my radar prior to watching the promos but after the first week, I'm starting to like it.

Monthly Recap: February 2016

I'm back with a second edition of Monthly Recap although, sadly, this month hasn't been all too good for me in the drama watching realm. Some unnecessary drama in the production room have been keeping me from watching what I thought was one excellent drama. Thankfully another is consistently keeping me on the edge of my seat in the best way possible.

First Take: Descendants of the Sun

Possibly one of the most highly anticipated dramas of the year, Descendants of the Sun came in with a slow burn. The premiere week of the show only teases what potential intensity will come in the future. I wasn't overly excited about it, but it has yet to disappoint me, which is a good enough start. If anything, I'm mostly excited that Song Joong-ki is back on screen again, and with him he brings a herd of beautifully muscular half naked men and that is always good in my book.

First Pics for 'Goodbye Mr. Black'

Wednesday-Thursday night is going to be a crowded, star-studded party. Please Come Back Mister and Descendants from the Sun is premiering tonight, alongside One More Happy Ending which has been airing for some time now. But when that drama will finish in a few weeks time, another possible strong contender is taking its place. MBC is coming with a revenge melodrama called Goodbye Mr. Black starring Lee Jin-wook, Moon Chae-won, and Kim Kang-woo. The drama that had its own backstage drama is finally airing in March 16 and the pics look pretty cool.

Previews for 'Please Come Back Mister' and 'Descendants of the Sun'

Two romantic dramas are taking up the Wednesday-Thursday time slot but they're on the opposite side of the spectrum of lightheartedness. SBS's Please Come Back Mister the comedic romcom and KBS's Descendants of the Sun is the more dramatic fare. I've talked about the latter in my upcoming 2016 dramas post, but after comparing the two promos, I think I'm more inclined to the former.

Movie Review: Who's Afraid of the Big, Bad Monster? in 'The Host' (2006)

Bong Joon-ho's The Host (Korean title 괴물 or Monster) is one of those movies that you keep on hearing about when the people on the internet talk about really good Korean movies. For the longest time I didn't want to watch it mostly because it's a monster movie with lots of potential scares. But I didn't need to worry all that much. The Host does have a monster and is full of surprises, but it is ultimately a funny family drama and a smart satire with a special guest from a special creature.

Suzy Gorgeous as Ever for Didier Dubot

Idol-actress Suzy is undoubtedly one of the hottest young star in Korea at the moment. I can't say much for her acting, but the girl does have a presence. Plus she's one beautiful young lady. Her latest pictorial for jewelry company Didier Dubot has been doing its rounds and I must say, it looks great. It's quite simple, but Suzy looks simply stunning in it.

Movie Review: 'The Throne' (2015) is a Cautionary Tale of Unfortunate Parenting

The lives of royalty has been a subject of both admiration and pity for many and tales of tragedy has always gone hand in hand with the people living within the palace walls. None more so than Crown Prince Sado, the misunderstood crown prince of King Yeongjo whose life and death has become a sort of legend. His tragic tale has been inspiration for numerous adaptations. Among them is the 2015 movie Sado also known as The Throne, helmed by Lee Joon-ik returning to sageuk 10 years after the hit The King and the Clown and lead by magnificent performances of Song Kang-ho and Yoo Ah-in as the king and his crown prince respectively.

Song of the Day: WINNER's "Sentimental"

To a lot of K-pop fans, WINNER's comeback, or for the longest time the lack of it, has been something in the making for many, many months. They recently released EXIT:E after what seems think is forever (their last album was in August 2014, a century ago in K-pop terms). So it's a welcome to all the WINNER fans out there that not only are they releasing a full album but also not one, not two but three singles, one of which is "Sentimental" which I will talk about today.

A Return to 1 Night 2 Days

I have a confession to make. In the past week or so, I haven't really been watching any dramas aside from Cheese in the Trap and Signal (and 1 episode of Moorim School). The reason was that basically I didn't feel like watching any. But it was also because I really got into variety shows. I usually end up watching Running Man, which is a safe bet for me, but recently I've been really getting back into 1 Night 2 Days, something I haven't done in a long time. The reason is because this season (the third) is really good again.

Gong Hyo-jin and Jo Jeong-seok is a Potential OTP in KBS Rom-com 'Incarnation of Jealousy'

My ultimate girl crush Gong Hyo-jin might be coming back to dramaland doing her best genre than is romantic comedy. She's in talks to return to KBS after last year's The Producer and reuniting with Pasta writer Seo Sook-hyang in Incarnation of Jealousy. Her potential partner is Jo Jeong-seok. I'm cautiously excited for this.

Monthly Recap: January 2016

I've been watching and writing quite a lot this month so I thought what better way to cap it off the than with a recap. This may be a new monthly thing I'm trying out, so bear with me. These posts will be just like the name, a recap of the happenings of the month (Kdrama-wise at least) and a sort of update to the things I've been watching. And so we shall begin with January 2016.

Love for Maths and Kings in 'Splish Splash Love'

You know those moments at the end of a movie or drama where you can't help but grin all the way through the credits? It doesn't happen often, but this was what occurred to me after watching the two-episode drama Splish Splash Love. It may have to do with Kim Seul-gi, arguably one of the most adorable Korean actresses right now, and her equally cute chemistry with Yoon Doo-joon. It definitely wasn't the Pythagorean theorem Lee Do was so excited about.

First Take: Signal

What an intense 2 hours of television! I was on the edge of my seat for the premiere week of Signal, tvN's latest crime thriller offering. It may be because I don't often watch thriller shows, but it may also be because this is a great show. So a thriller will be among my watch list this season. I think I should get myself ready for all the spine chilling moments that will come in my future.

Park Yoo-chun's "How Much Love Do You Have in Your Wallet" MV Starring Seol Kyung-gu

What a long title right? Park Yoo-chun, whom we last saw as the wonderful Mu-gak in the great The Girl Who Sees Smells, enlisted in the military last August. But he has a few tricks up his sleeves and released a solo album just so that we don't miss him too much. While around this blog I talk about Yoo-chun mostly for his acting works, he's actually originally a singer. An idol specifically. And currently he's in the popular group JYJ. So as the singer that he is, he released his first ever solo album as a gift for his fans!