Binge or Skip - 2023 Drama Edition

BINGE | Themes: Country Life, Finding Meaning, Slice of Life, Community, Nature

• One of the best and my favorite drama of 2023
• I have rewatched this already around 5-6 times
• Beautiful tale of finding meaning of your life and power of community - family and friends
• Set against a sea-view of countryside of Japan, visually the show is very healing
• Sugino - another one of my bias, and deservedly so cause his acting is so good. Proving that he is just not a pretty face who used to be cast in high-school roles but can take on mature roles like these ?

BINGE | Themes: Life/Death, Grim Reaper, Supernatural, Revenge

• Part 1 > Part 2 but overall the story was gripping suspense and profound given the theme of life/death choices
• Flawless acting by all but especially the main characters

BINGE | Themes: Retro-vibes, Bullying, Friendship, High-School

• Almost Perfect
• Siwan is just a talent you should watch any chance you get!

BINGE | Themes: Action, Crime, Retro-Vibes, Romance & Bromance

• Ji Chang Wook & Wi Ha Joon Bromance is FIRE 
• Ji Chang Wook & BIBI chemistry is FIRE
• Action scenes are FIRE
• The fine line that blurs good, evil and love are masterfully executed through storyline and pace, direction, cinematography and acting

BINGE | Themes: Makjang, Contract Marriage, Supernatural, Revenge, Drama

• This is on the list as I have recently started appreciating makjang dramas
• Usually the plot is not that great or over-the-top but this one is very balanced along with good acting
• The ML is one of the greenest flags of dramaland

BINGE | Themes: Music, Extra-marital affair, Suspense

• Remake of a French show, so many like me might be familiar with the plot.
• Soft Makjang - and the FL is someone I have seen in this drama for the first time and what a terrific actress she is
• The suspense is predictable only towards the end - and therefore the whole drama is engaging
• It also has classical music at its core - which is given adequate focus and not forgotten while other themes are explored

GOOD
Dark and Twisted - which will make you think whether the character is in the right or wrong?
A highlight on the evils of society and choices made cause of it

GOOD
Started out exceptionally well, and would be highly recommended minus for the ending that was meh compared to the beginning. Still worth a one time watch! ??

GOOD.
One of my first Taiwanese show - and I was all in cause of the ML, Chris Wu.
It was a little slow for me being a suspense show and the ending was predictable to me, but still a good watch! ?? 

GOOD.
Season 1 >> Season 2. But always good to watch the show and see Lee Je Hoon & team in action. ?

AVERAGE.
The latter half and long airing schedule killed it for me. But the story premise, characters, main leads visuals - chemistry is good. Cute/Fluff romance and recommended for a one time watch, but with caution as Ep 9 and onwards goes downhill. 

AVERAGE.
Was such a great premise, visuals & chemistry of the main leads was amazing - but the latter half of the show was a big downer. Again - blame the bad executing ??otherwise would have been a Good Drama.

AVERAGE.
Many might hate me for this - but this is my opinion. I have not seen the Taiwanese version and saw this first. Did not understand the hype even with the good cast. Honestly will skip it, but then one can watch if you are curious. 

AVERAGE.
Feel so bad calling a Shin Hye Sun drama as average - but while she was great she could not make up for the bad ML and storyline. Not worth remembering tbh, even though as I watched it was okay. 

SKIP IT.  
Brilliant premise - but not executed well, only saving point was the visuals and romance of the main leads. Sad & disappointing. ??

SKIP IT.
another of those 2023 dramas that was hyped and could not live up to it. Had a good premise, good chemistry between the leads but the story/mystery could not deliver well. Sad and Disappointing ??

SKIP IT.
But watch Part 1, maybe? Best part of drama - me discovering hot ahjuiccyy Jung Sung Il ???. That's it.

Again such a hyped and loved drama - I myself recommended it to so many people when I saw Part 1. But the Part 2 was so bad! The revenge was SO, SO, SO damn cold that it should not even be labelled revenge.

SKIP IT!
I was so excited for this one - given they are my favorite actor and actress. Again the mystery/story was butchered so badly, that it almost made me cry.  The chemistry was good but romance felt awkward and what was that SML doing? 

SKIP IT .
But watch the edits of Byeon Woo Seok on Youtube/Social Media. He as the antagonist was the best part of this drama and in the world of villains. 

Rest of the drama was such a bad joke in the name of women empowerment and feminism.
Everything was just bad, terrible - waste of drama brain cells. I cry thinking I watched it. This drama should never have been made but since it gave me the villain, it is okay

SKIP IT.
Another drama that should have never been made. Period.