some of the many shows that i've actually seen from LEE JE HOON, the king of versatility

Kim Hye Soo for Vogue

A non-romantic K-drama starter pack

If you're interested in K-dramas but don't know where to begin, and aren't interested in (or would like to take a break from) romantic storylines, then this is for you!

P.S.: Some of these dramas may contain romantic side plots that don't necessarily define the main storyline. List not sorted in any particular order, and only includes completed dramas.

Gifs not mine!

Stranger (2017; 2019)

A political crime thriller full of red herrings, "Stranger" (Season 1) follows an investigation into the murder of a man who has bribed countless officials from multiple levels and branches of government. Led by stoic prosecutor Hwang Shi Mok (Cho Seung Woo) and feisty detective Han Yeo Jin (Bae Doona), this well-paced, well-acted drama is full of twists and turns that will make you suspect everyone at some point.

Kingdom (2019; 2020)

Historical political drama meets zombie thriller in the 2019 hit "Kingdom" (Season 1). The story follows Crown Prince Yi Chang (Ju Ji Hoon) as he investigates an outbreak of a mysterious plague that turns average citizens into rabid monsters while fighting to keep  his rightful place as heir to the throne. The hit series has led to a second season and a prequel TV movie "Ashin of the North" (2021).

Signal (2016)

Featuring a mysterious walkie-talkie that links the past to the present, "Signal" is one of the most beloved police dramas of the last decade because of its refreshing take on the genre and the top-notch performances of its three leads: Kim Hye Soo, Lee Je Hoon, and Jo Jin Woong. 

The Uncanny Counter (2020)

"The Uncanny Counter" is a comedy-drama about four "counters", or grim reapers who have been lent superhuman abilities by a group of spirits. Their main job is to stop demons who possess violent criminals that become more powerful by consuming the souls of their victims. Funny, colorful, and action-packed, the show features wonderful performances from the main actors: Jo Byeong Gyu, Yoon Joon Sang, Kim Se Jeong, and (my personal favorite) Yeom Hye Ran. The hit series has been granted a second season.

Racket Boys (2021)

If you need a feel-good drama that's not too heavy on the tears, crime, and lovey-dovey tropes, then this may be for you. "Racket Boys" is about an underdog middle school badminton team that dreams to make a mark on the national level and beyond. The rural setting and endearing ensemble cast, led by the talented Tang Jun Sang, allow for lighthearted moments but are never too cartoonish. A puppy love storyline exists between the leads, but it's very wholesome and innocent, and given far less importance than the struggle surrounding the national tournament.

Squid Game (2021)

International smash hit "Squid Game" is about a mysterious organization that selects individuals with impossible debt to participate in a series of children's games to have a shot at winning 45.6 billion won. The catch: only the winner gets to live. Features an amazing ensemble cast led by Lee Jung Jae, Park Hae Soo, and impressive newcomer Jung Ho Yeon.

Dear My Friends (2016)

A slice-of-life comedy drama featuring a stellar ensemble cast of the most accomplished Korean actors and actresses over 60, "Dear My Friends" follows 40-year-old writer Park Wan (Go Hyun Jung) as she chronicles the stories of her mother, her aunts, and their families. There are two romantic side stories here but the overall plot is more invested in how your friends can become your family especially after you reach a certain age. Think "Golden Girls" but in Korea. Praise-worthy acting from everyone involved, especially the main quintet: Na Moon Hee, Kim Hye Ja, Go Doo Shim, Park Won Sook, and Oscar winner Youn Yuh Jung.

Live (2018)

"Live" is a slice-of-life, police procedural drama that tells the story of rookies and veterans at Hongil Station in Seoul, where there is no shortage of petty and violent crimes. The crimes featured examine the decisions that South Korean cops have to make especially in dangerous situations wherein the gray areas become even grayer. There are romantic storylines between the four leads but they never overshadow the cases. Wonderful acting, especially from Bae Sung Woo and Bae Jeong Ok who play the veterans Oh Yang Chon and Ahn Jang Mi, respectively. Also stars funny man Lee Kwang Soo and the angelic Jung Yu Mi (Train to Busan).

Vincenzo (2021)

Born in South Korea, adopted into an Italian family, mafia lawyer Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong Ki) flies back to Seoul after falling out with his adopted brother following the death of his boss/father-figure. His mission is to retrieve gold hidden beneath the dilapidated Geumga Plaza before it is ultimately demolished by the evil Babel Group that constantly harrasses its tennants to move out. Teaming up with the feisty lawyer Hong Cha Young (Jeon Yeo Been, Vincenzo uses mafia tactics in his war against the conglomerate that thinks itself above the law. What sounds like a heavy premise is offset by the physical and witty comedy provided by the charismatic leads and supporting cast. There is romance between the leads (who share great chemistry nonetheless) but it is by no means the driving force of this story. They could have recasted this with two male leads as more of a bromance story and the outcome would be quite similar, but Jeon Yeo Been gives a unique, quirky flair to her character that makes her difficult to replace.

Hyena (2020)

I know I said this wasn't a list for romantic K-Dramas but hear me out. There's romance but it's not what you think (the leads kiss a grand total of 3 times, twice in the first ep then once a little later). "Hyena" explores the world of corporate lawyers who serve the South Korean 1%. It's a dog-eat-dog world where the most conniving and least picky hyena reigns supreme. The hyena in question would be the brilliant renegade lawyer Jang Geum Ja (Kim Hye Soo). Sparks fly as she goes head to head with the by-the-book, elite lawyer Yoon Hee Jae (Ju Ji Hoon), whose ideals are constantly challenged as his world unravels around him.  The cases are challenging and the solutions that the leads come up with are intriguing. Romance doesn't drive this drama, but the chemistry between the leads is undeniable. 

After 8 whole years, Signal S2 was finally confirmed! I cannot believe this 😭 I've waited so long for this 😭

DRAMAWEEN 2022 DAY 5: all time favorite spooky/thriller drama Signal (2016)

by the way!! sbs revenant's writer is kim eunhee who also did signal 2016!!! i'm on ep 2 and i already know i'm in for a goooooood story :-)

This is also like a recommendation list coz all of these are awesome

Jehoon's photos from COMPANY ON's website, 2021

(I should’ve learned my lesson the first few times this happened, never to edit big chunks of text on tumblr because sometimes it’ll refresh for no reason and I’ll lose everything right before pressing send. Anyway, off to rewriting this whole thing I go!!)

I felt like doing this because I watched a lot of kdramas this year. Everything will be after the “keep reading” line. Some prompts will be edited because I didn’t watch any dramas actually made in 2022, so if you see things being crossed out like this and [inserted text], that’s what that is.

(featuring a bunch of gifs I made over the course of this year and never posted anywhere)

→ First drama completed in 2022: Black (2017).

→ Favourite actress discovered in 2022: Kim Hye-soo. I absolutely loved her in Hyena (2020) and fell in love with both her acting and her (she's literally the perfect woman). She was fabulous in Signal (2016) as well. Her ability to nail both comedic and serious acting is a testament to her amazing range.

→ Favourite actor discovered in 2022: Honourable mention to Ji Chang-wook, whom I adored in the 3 series I watched him in this year.

However, my favourite actor I discovered this year has got to be Lee Joon-gi. Truly a master of his craft; I’m convinced there isn’t a single thing he cannot do. His acting range is amazing, from subtle and subdued to incredibly emotional.

→ Favourite original song from a drama [discovered in 2022]: Adrenaline (Vincenzo OST). I feel like this song fit the series so perfectly, but also sounds really good as a stand-alone song. I love its brooding, ominous, yet entrancing atmosphere.

→ A visually beautiful kdrama [discovered in 2022]: I’ll be mentioning this series a lot in this post, if only for the reason that it’s become one of my favourite series of all-time, from the second I watched it, the series being Flower of Evil (2020). The cinematography of this series is one of the many elements that makes it stand out from a lot of other dramas I’ve seen. It’s so beautiful, the lighting is always stunning, the colours are soft, the framing is always on-point…

Take this shot, for instance, which is from the opening scene of the drama (I just had to gif it). It instantly draws you in and sets the tone for the rest of the series.

→ A drama you dropped in 2022: Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017). I’m actually surprised I made it this far into this series before dropping it considering how uncomfortable the humour made me feel. From thinly veiled homophobia to crass humour to making light of domestic abuse, this series shocked me, especially considering it isn’t that old. So many series have had narratives of female empowerment and have done so so amazingly well that this series feels very subpar in comparison, in my opinion.

→ Favourite character [discovered in 2022]: Do Hyun-so in Flower of Evil (2020). He stood out to me the most because of how complex and multidimensional he was, and how well all the different facets of his character were portrayed by Lee Joon-gi. I felt so empathetic for his character, angry at the tragic circumstances that had shaped his life, and endeared by the kindness and softness he retained despite all he had been through. His character is tragic but is also an exemplification of resiliency in the face of adversity.

→ A [drama discovered in 2022] with an interesting story: W (2016) had a very interesting premise that was actually executed surprisingly well, in my opinion. In brief, it centres around a webcomic that has somehow come to life, with there being a portal between the real world and the world within the comic book. It’s very entertaining.

→ Oldest drama you watched in 2022: Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007) which I’m currently watching (only 1 episode left). I started it because of Lee Joon-gi and have honestly not been disappointed one bit. Sure, the filming and editing is dated, but that doesn’t detract from the quality of the narrative and the acting. Nowadays, this premise (a revenge undercover story) feels like it might’ve been done many times, however it does not feel boring in this series at all, quite the contrary. It’s been incredibly engaging.

Furthermore, I just have to say… I love 2000s fashion and hairstyles. I mean, look at this. Oh and how could I forget the single earring.

→ Have you rewatched a drama in 2022? Oh yes. I tend to rewatch series quite a bit once they’ve graduated to being comforting series for me. Not sure if I rewatched The Guest (2018) this year or if it was in very late 2021, but I know for sure that I rewatched Her Private Life (2019) (my comfort series at the moment), Vincenzo (2021), Flower of Evil (2020), Sell Your Haunted House (2021), and Suspicious Partner (2017).

→ A drama that kept you on the edge of your seat: Most action/thriller series I watched this year kept me at the edge of my seat, so I cannot list but one. The 3 that stressed me out the most were Signal (2016), Mouse (2021), and Voice 1 (2017).

→ A drama friendship that stole the show: There’s actually quite a few so narrowing it down to one is hard. I think the friendship between the 3 lead girls (Yoon Ji-ho, Woo Su-ji, and Yang Ho-rang) in Because This is My First Life (2017) was really great and heart-warming.

I must also mention the amazing friendship between the two leads (Hong Ji-a and Oh In-beom) in Sell Your Haunted House (2021).

→ A drama you found boring: Nice Guy / The Innocent Man (2012). I watched this series for Song Joong-ki and sadly found it quite boring past the halfway point, which is a shame because it was really great up until that point. I kept with it until the end for both Song Joong-ki and Moon Chae-won but I’ll admit I did fast-forward quite a few scenes near the end and just wanted it to be over.

→ A writer or director who caught your attention: I’ll admit, I didn’t really look up writers or directors this year, but I was really impressed by the writer of Black (2017), Choi Ran (who, it turns out, also wrote Mouse (2021), which I’m only now finding out). Her writing in Black impressed me because of the sheer amount of plot twists and details that were in the series and the fact that there were still very few plot holes.

→ Favourite drama poster of 2022: Flower of Evil (2020) has some of the most memorable posters, to me.

→ Standout secondary character [discovered in 2022]: Choi Yoo-jin in The K2 (2016). I don’t know if she can really be considered a secondary character given her prominence in the series, but nonetheless I absolutely adored her. The perfect antagonist, not one-dimensional at all, on the contrary. Song Yoon-ah’s acting was stunning.

I must also give an honourable mention to Mo Tae-Goo in Voice 1 (2017), whose portrayal by Kim Jae-wook was both haunting and captivating.

→ A drama that made you laugh: Quite a few dramas actually did manage to make me laugh this year, and one of these is Live Up to Your Name (2017). Kim Nam-gil is truly an amazing comedic actor (I loved him in Fiery Priest (2019), which I watched last year). I have yet to watch his more serious roles, but I will.

→ A drama that made you cry: I don’t know why but, despite watching quite a few depressing series, the one that has made me cry the most this year is Time Between Dog and Wolf (2007). I don’t know what it is but this series has made me sob, whereas I know more recent series with similar premises haven’t tugged at my heartstrings in this way. I don’t know if it’s the nostalgia factor but safe to say this drama is making me feel all the emotions.

→ A drama that was better than expected: Simply because I was apprehensive when I saw it was about sports (as a non-sports fan), I did not expect Hot Stove League (2019) to be the absolute masterpiece that it was. Goes to show, you truly cannot judge a book by its cover. This series may be centred around baseball, but it’s so much more than that. It truly amazed me with how realistic it was, with the characters feeling like very real people whom I greatly empathised with.

→ Shortest / longest dramas you completed in 2022: None of the series I watched were shorter than 16 episodes or longer than 20.

→ Favourite costumes of 2022: Simply because I loved Hong Ji-a’s fashion style in Sell Your Haunted House (2021) and would wear it myself, I’ll go with her wardrobe.

→ Sweetest romance of 2022: Toss-up between Healer (2014) and Suspicious Partner (2017). I guess the key to a good romance, for me, is for either Park Min-young or Ji Chang-wook to be involved haha.

→ Most disappointing drama of 2022: Strong Girl Bong-soon (2017), for all the reasons listed previously.

→ A [drama discovered in 2022] that deserves a shout-out: Hot Stove League (2019) simply because I’m afraid people might glance over it simply because, in appearance, it’s about sports, but it’s truly spectacular and I think more people should give it a shot. Another drama that I want to shout-out even though I know it’s already incredibly popular is Itaewon Class (2020), simply because it’s great and heart-warming (despite it getting depressing at times).

→ Something you want to see more in dramas: I’m enjoying seeing more and more lgbt representation in dramas and hope it’ll keep going in that direction because it’s just a nice thing.

→ A 2023 drama that you’re excited for: I don’t really look at future releases, I just find out about them after everyone else…

→ Was 2022 a good drama year for you: Yes- I believe I watched a total of 23 kdramas this year (not counting rewatches) and the vast majority of them were quite enjoyable. Other dramas I watched this year but haven’t mentioned in this post were Crash Landing On You (2019), Lawless Lawyer (2018), Descendants of the Sun (2016), 38 Task Force / Squad 38 (2016), and What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim (2018).

→ Favourite drama [discovered in 2022]: Flower of Evil (2020) (*pretends to be shocked*). Honestly though, this series was such a masterpiece that it’s second only to Stranger / Secret Forest (2017) when it comes to kdramas, in my mind. Everything that it set out to accomplish it did so well. It’s one of those rare series where I struggle to find any flaw in it. My mom, who also watched it (and has watched even more kdramas than me at this point), also said it might just be the best series she’d ever seen right after she finished watching it.

It has occured to me that since I got into k-drama, my top favourites have all had one-word titles (well in English anyway):

Signal

Awaken

Trolley

Mine (I haven't finished this yet, but I am definitely at the point where I am confident it's amongst my favourites)

There are others I've enjoyed a great deal that don't have one-word titles (Extradorinary Attorney Woo, Move to Heaven and Witch's Court) but yeah, that list are all my favourites and they all have one-word titles. Whether that means something or not remains to be seen I guess

saw some signal slandering posts in the tvn signal tag and i'm so freaking mad that these people think they've watched the same drama as me. no you have not and your stupid rhetorical questions and ice cold takes just only prove this!! go and watch it again, and this time try it from end-to-end without any distractions so you wouldn't say things like how it's anti-feminist to portray a woman being an unprofessional cop because she was crying over her lover-turned colleague's stab wound she thought might be deadly to him.

In this sad space between my last drama and the next, I'll just throw myself into a rewatch of 'Signal'.

좋아하는 한드 콤비

Signal - tvN Kdrama review

What a ride!!! I love this drama! Definitely the best Kdrama, no scratch that, one of the best dramas ever made!

I have read only great things about this drama and wanted to keep it on my watchlist in case I ever needed particularly good entertainment. After almost 6 years this moment arrived. I finally watched it! And I’m not disappointed one bit. Well the last was a lie, the ending is making me kinda nervous.

First two important things:

All of you who have been watching this series on a weekly basis while it was airing must have nerves of steel. Teach me your ways Senpai!

And even worse, you were waiting for season 2 since 2016... HOW EVEN??!?

My review:

The drama has everything one needs! Definitely a must watch!

Positive:

Great story, acting, music, vibe, suspense, cinematography, pacing, message, characters and villains (I hated them, which is a good sign for villains).

The 3 leads were charismatic, intelligent and were of different ages which is so refreshing! Oh and the female lead was finally normal (strong enough and still had feelings/empathy), what a surprise!

The motives and behavior of all characters were believable and kinda human. They all had weaknesses and strengths.

It has a lot of realism (without being boring/annoying) with a cool scifi aspect to it and a pinch of a love story (no forced “they have to kiss once at the end” and not really a 2nd lead).

It has no unnecessary CGI or stupid overdone fights (everything felt real and yet exciting).

Negative:

On a contrary to many, I like the ending, it fits the whole vibe. But it makes me nervous, so I can’t say it is a great ending. I need season 2 to be able to sleep better. Is there any hope we will get one?

Up until the end I wasn’t 100% sure if what they portrayed between Park Hae Young and Cha Soo Hyun was only respect/friendship or should show some kind of one-sided love on Park Hae Young’s side or the start of a new love between them both. I loved their friendship and wish it was meant that way/will stay that way. However, at moments I felt conflicted, because they would make a great love pair... I would have preferred they would not have given me mixed signals tbh. Does anyone get me or am I the only one seeing things? Maybe I'm just having a permanent 2nd lead syndrome. :(

If you are watching this for a love story, then you will be disappointed. It’s not the main driver of this show. It’s just a nice touch to it.

Trigger warning:

This is not a deal breaker for me, because it is needed for a crime series to be good. However, some of you might not like the violence and themes of the crimes they try to solve... Not much is shown, but still, some of you might not be comfortable watching this.

Now, guys go watch it if you haven’t and if you have please talk to me. Tell me it’s going to be alright!!!!!

Vanilla Latte? (Chapter 2)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 word count: 1.06k You watched through the window as the two men endlessly discuss something, as if you never existed, though you didn't hear them very well. "What do you mean it can't be fixed?" Kyuhyun asks Yoonjae. "It just wouldn't start..." he replies, still genuinely confused that a professional mechanic couldn't fix their vehicle. "So, I took a cab here." Kyuhyun didn't understand why Yoonjae would do that. He could've just told him to take a cab back himself.

You awkwardly take a sip of your already slightly stale, lukewarm coffee, watching stuff unfold outside, as if you were watching a movie. Should you be offering some help? Or would you be adding to the confusion? Could you just continue working on your interview as if nothing was happening? There were too many thoughts in your head and it just would not pick a priority. Right at that moment, Kyuhyun's phone started to ring. "Hey Kyuhyun-ah!" a girl's voice is heard as he picks it up. "Oh, noona. It's not really a good time..." he replies, not liking how eventful the day was becoming. "It's important, Kyu." On the other side of the phone was Kyuhyun's sister, Kyu-jin. "What is it?" he gets a little bit impatient.

"Our car's not working today and the mechanic is still trying to fix it. I really, really need to get the twins to the in-laws so that I can do grocery day today. I can't really handle it without a car. Could I borrow yours for a few hours Kyu?" Kyujin explains. Yet Kyuhyun can't seem to wrap his head around what was just beginning to happen. Was it really a coincidence that both cars had broken down on the same day?

"Ah, noona..." Kyuhyun rubs the back of his neck lightly. "You won't believe this but, our car's out of order too. And Yoonjae- I mean... our manager says even the mechanic we called couldn't revive it."

Yoonjae looked guiltily at Kyuhyun as he spoke on the phone. It was his first week as Kyuhyun's temporary manager. And he was a little bit more timid than you'd prefer a manager to be. His original manager had been on a sabbatical - and was somewhere basking in the sun on the most stereotypical beach island you could think of - when this shit was going down.

There was silence for a moment at the other end of the phone. "Huh." was what Kyujin could only comment. "You sure you're not just giving an excuse to not lend me your car?".

"No, noona. Our usual car is really down. I'll call you back though." You see Kyuhyun hang up and hold up his forehead. This was far too many phone calls in a day for him. You also thought that he had completely forgot about previously talking to you, though you didn't blame him due to the situation he was in. Until he turned to look at you and then signalling for you to look for them outside. "Is everything okay?" you asked out of true concern over your lovely Kyuhyun. "About that job at tvN. I can get you in." Kyuhyun comments subtly yet desperately, not knowing that he could have hurt your feelings, making it sound like you couldn't get in yourself. You stared at him silently, pushing your thoughts out of your mind in the moment. It would seem inappropriate to turn him down right away, though you couldn't figure out what kind of crazy idea was running through his head. "I..." Kyuhyun squints at your expression. "Hello?" He waves his palm gently in front of your face... ... which caused you to finally snap out of your trance. "Oh yeah, uh. Yeah." You continued. "Sorry, what?" "tVn. Job. Me. Get. You. In." Kyuhyun spoke in baby for you to understand. "Okay." You replied, still unable to process what was happening. Was it the stale coffee messing with your head? Was it because it was the time of the day where you usually zoned out? No answers could fill your head. "Just... okay?" Kyuhyun breathes. "You need to help me here." "Okay." You replied again. "..." there was another moment of silence. "Do you want the job or what?" "Okay." Kyuhyun was on the verge of giving up on the conversation until you continued with a "What do I do?". He sighs in relief. "Can you drive?" he asks. "I have a licence but I haven't driven since I passed my test." "Good enough. Do you have time now?" "Yes." As you answered, he hands you a set of car keys and proceeds to scribble a bunch of words using the paper and pen he had asked for from Yoonjae. You'd almost never seen this side of Kyuhyun before. Not on TV, or any other videos you'd seen online. He was plain businessman Kyu. He looked serious and frankly a little cold, but you knew it was because he was going through something. But you couldn't lie that he wasn't attractive. Soon, he passes you a paper with two addresses. After he gave you instructions, you felt like you became a secret agent. "The first address is where you need to get a car from. And the second address is where you need to drive it to." "Okay." you answered, waiting for more instructions, but that was it. "Oh, and the one at the bottom is my number." Kyuhyun said, his tone turning slightly cheeky again, though you almost didn't notice. Because all you could think of was, "What is going on?" ... and then a "Did Cho Kyuhyun just give me his number?". Kyuhyun waved his hands in front of your face again. "You really can drive, right? Don't crash the car. It's expensi- I mean... I don't want you to get hurt." Hearing this, you quickly looked up at him endearingly. "I won't". You said, suddenly assuringly. Kyuhyun flashed you a smile before he turned around and started running hurriedly to flag a cab with Yoonjae. Just as he was entering, he shouted "Oh! Where are my manners?!" He looked back at you again, peeking out from half a cab door. "Name?" You replied, "Juyoung." Kyuhyun waved quickly before entering the cab and slamming the door shut. You watched as it drove away. Now, did he mention what car you were actually supposed to look for?

------- note: I know Kyuhyun has a real older sister and her name's not Kyujin, but I didn't want to use her real name? It feels strange since this fic has mostly fictional characters except the actual celebrities. :-)

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2