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Hwarang: The Beginning
Title: Hwarang: The Beginning / 화랑: 더 비기닝
Episodes and Genre: 20 Historical, Romance
Broadcast Period: Dec 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Park Seo Joon as Moo Myung / Sun Woo
Go Ah Ra as Kim Ah Ro
Park Hyung Shik as Kim Sam Maek Jong / Kim Ji Dwi
Synopsis:
Moo Myung is a formidable fighter who accompanies his friend (played by Running Man's Lee Kwang Soo) to the capital. Many things happen that pave his way towards becoming one of the Hwarang, an elite force of flower boys during the Silla Dynasty.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
The Lonely, Shining Goblin
Title: The Lonely, Shining Goblin / Goblin / 쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비
Episodes and Genre: 16 Fantasy, Romance
Broadcast Period: Dec 2016 tvN
Starring:
Gong Yoo as Kim Shin (goblin)
Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak
Lee Dong Wook as Wang Yeo (grim reaper)
Yoo In Na as Kim Sun
Yook Sung Jae as Yoo Duk Hwa
Synopsis:
Kim Shin is a goblin longing to find a mortal bride in order to end his life. Wang Yeo is a grim reaper who ends up living under the goblin's roof. Ji Eun Tak is a teenager who should never have been born and she has spent her life thinking that she is the goblin's bride.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Legend of the Blue Sea
Title: Legend of the Blue Sea / 푸른 바다의 전설
Episodes and Genre: 20 Fantasy, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 2016 SBS
Starring:
Jun Ji Hyun as Shim Chung
Lee Min Ho as Heo Joon Jae
Synopsis:
A Joseon era mermaid finds herself in Seoul as she meets Heo Joon Jae, a modern day con-artist.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Title: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo / 역도 요정 김복주
Episodes and Genre: 16, Sports, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 16, 2016 - Jan 11, 2017 MBC
Starring:
Lee Sung Kyung as Kim Bok Joo
Nam Joo Hyuk as Jung Joon Hyung
Kyung Soo Jin as Song Shi Ho
Lee Jae Yoon as Jung Jae Yi
Synopsis:
Kim Bok Joo is a weightlifter with unparalleled strength that takes after her father. Jung Joon Hyung is a talented swimmer dealing with his own trauma while Song Shi Ho is a rhythmic gymnast. Theirs is an inspiration story about romance and dreams.
K2
Title: K2 / 안투라지
Episodes and Genre: 16, Action Political
Broadcast Period: Sep 2016 tvN
Starring:
Ji Chang Wook as Kim Je Ha
Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin
Im Yoon Ah as Go Anna
Jo Sung Ha as Jang Se Joon
Synopsis:
Kim Je Ha is a bodyguard embroiled in a political war and he falls in love with Go Anna, the daughter of a presidential candidate.
Entourage
Title: Entourage / 안투라지
Episodes and Genre: 16, Dark Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 2016 tvN
Starring:
Seo Kang Joon as Cha Young Bin
Jo Jin Woong as Kim Eun Gab
Park Jung Min as Lee Ho Jin
Lee Kwang Soo as Cha Joon
Lee Dong Hwi as Geobook (turtle)
Kim Hye In as Seo Hee
Synopsis:
Cha Young Bin is a rising star who brought his friends from the hood to lead the lifestyle of the rich and famous and along for the ride is his foul-mouthed and hard-hitting manager Kim Eun Gab.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Moonlight Drawn By Clouds - a ratings powerhouse
Title: Moonlight Drawn By Clouds / 구르미 그린 달빛
Episodes and Genre: 18, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Park Bo Gum as Lee Young
Kim Yoo Jung as Hong Ra On
Synopsis:
A prince false in love with a girl disguised as a eunuch.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Title: Moon Lovers / Scarlet Heart Ryeo / 보보경심: 려
Episodes and Genre: 20, Fantasy, Time Travel Romance
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 SBS
Starring:
Lee Joon Ki as Wang So (4th Prince)
IU as Go Ha Jin / Hae Soo
Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook (8th Prince)
Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo (3rd Prince)
Synopsis:
Go Ha Jin is down in the dumps until she jumps into the water to save a drowning boy. When she wakes up, she discovers that she has been transported back into Goryeo inside the body of Hae Soo.
Stuck with no idea on how to go back to the future, she must make the most of her time in the past as she becomes embroiled in the political power plays for the throne.
Jealousy Incarnate
Title: Jealousy Incarnate / 질투의 화신 / Jiltuui Hwasin
Episodes and Genre: 24, Comedy, Romance
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 SBS
Starring:
Gong Hyo Jin as Pyo Na Ri
Jo Jung Suk as Lee Hwa Shin
Go Kyung Pyo as Go Jung Won
Synopsis:
Pyo Na Ri and Lee Hwa Shin are bitter rivals in competition to become the best broadcaster. She is in charge of the weather forecast while he is a proper news anchor with a laudable resume. As luck would have it, their rivalry turns into something more.
W - a ratings powerhouse
My Rating: Must Watch (5/5)
Title: W / W Two Worlds / 더블유
Episodes and Genre: 16, Fantasy, Suspense, Romance
Broadcast Period: Jul 2016 MBC
Starring:
Lee Jong Suk as Kang Chul
Han Hyo Joo as Oh Yun Joo
Synopsis:
W - Two Worlds.
Comments:
To say the trailers were cryptic is an understatement because I was thoroughly as confused as Han Hyo Joo who looked like a deer in headlights most of the time but what an epiphany when I actually started this unassuming k-drama because it is so wonderfully written, gripping, intense, cute.. I'm running out of compliments just watch it, please.
Oh Hae Young Again
Title: Another Oh Hae Young / Oh Hae Young Again / 또 오해영
Episodes and Genre: 18, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: May 2016 TVN
Starring:
Eric as Park Do Kyung
Seo Hyun Jin as Oh Hae Young
Jun Hye Bin as Oh Hae Young
Synopsis:
Two women have the same name and Park Do Kyung, a man who can see the future, does everything in his power to avoid them.
Comments:
Honestly, the plot doesn't sound particularly appealing neither does the cast but adding it to the list anyway because word is out that it is that good and I can't wait to see it for myself.
Beautiful Mind
Title: Beautiful Mind / 뷰티풀 마인드
Episodes and Genre: 14, Medical Thriller
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Lee Young Oh
Park So Dam as Gye Jin Sung
Synopsis:
Lee Young Oh is a highly-skilled surgeon without a care for anyone. He works at the prestigious Hyeonseong Hospital yet something is amiss.
Uncontrollably Fond
Title: Uncontrollably Fond / 함부로 애틋하게
Episodes and Genre: 20, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Kim Woo Bin as Shin Joon Young
Bae Suzy as Noh Eul
Im Joo Hwan as Choi Ji Tae
Im Joo Eun as Yoon Jung Eun
Synopsis:
Noh Eul is a PD and Joon Young is a top actor who meet again after being separated when they were young.
Doctors - a ratings powerhouse
Title: Doctors / Dakteoseu / 닥터스
Episodes and Genre: 20, Medical Romance
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 SBS
Starring:
Kim Rae Won as Hong Ji Hong
Park Shin Hye as Yoo Hye Jung
Yoon Kyun Sang as Jung Yoon Do
Lee Sung Kyung as Jin Seo Woo
Synopsis:
Yoo Hye Jung had a difficult childhood and she grew up strong-willed, rebellious and a fighter until the day she meets Hong Ji Hong who becomes her mentor and lover.
Signal
My Rating: Must Watch (5/5)
Title: Signal / Shigeunul / 시그널
Episodes and Genre: 16, Crime Suspense, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 TVN
Starring:
Lee Je Hoon as Park Hae Young
Kim Hye Soo as Cha Soo Hyun
Jo Jin Woong as Lee Jae Han
Synopsis:
Park Hae Young is a skilled profiler who works for police force, which is the very same organization that he despises to the core. He comes across a non-functional walkie talkie and realizes that it can be used to communicate with the past in an effort to stop crime.
Comments:
I am not normally a fan of crime thrillers unless it warrants its own playing field like the critically-acclaimed Infernal Affairs, whose Hollywood remake won an Oscar in 2007.
I have no idea whether cable drama Signal swept any awards shows during its time but it certainly deserves to for being a drama that has been highly lauded by netizens and entertainment sites alike. It tells a gripping and emotional tale between two detectives solving crime in the most uncanny setup and is a cinematographic masterpiece in its own right. Click for more stills.
The Flower in Prison
Title: The Flower in Prison / Okjunghwa / 옥중화
Episodes and Genre: 50, Legal, Historical
Broadcast Period: Apr 2016 MBC
Starring:
Jin Se Yeon as Ok Nyeo
Go Soo as Yoon Tae Won
Synopsis:
Ok Nyeo is a girl who is born and bred in prison due to her mother who dies a mysterious death. Determined to uncover the truth, she trains to become a a female detective where she will find a purpose that is greater than her own.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Please Come Back Mister
Title: Please Come Back Mister / Dolawayo Ajeossi / 돌아와요 아저씨
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Feb 2016 SBS
Starring:
Rain as Lee Hae Joon
Oh Yeon Seo as Han Hong Nan
Synopsis:
Two middle-aged men, one a salary man and the other a gangster, die unexpectedly. Given another chance, they return in the body of a man (Rain) and a woman (Oh Yeon Seo) in the prime of their life but underneath that facade are two people desperate to make the most of what little time they have left.
Jackpot
Title: Jackpot / The Royal Gambler / Daebak / 대박
Episodes and Genre: 20, Historical, Gambling
Broadcast Period: Mar 2016 SBS
Starring:
Jang Geun Suk as Baek Dae Gil
Yeo Jin Goo as King Yeongjo
Jun Kwang Ryul as Lee In Jwa
Choi Min Soo as King Sukjong
Lim Ji Yeon as Dam Seo
Yoon Jin Seo as Sook Bin Choi
Synopsis:
Dae Gil is a commoner known as the best gambler in Joseon and his brother is the future King Yeongjo. Their disparate lives cross paths and they enter into the match of a lifetime.
Comments:
I am waiting for the next episode, please come out soon. Click for more stills.
Remember - War of the Son
Title: Remember - War of the Son / Son's War / 리멤버 - 아들의 전쟁
Episodes and Genre: 20, Legal Melodrama
Broadcast Period: Dec - Feb 2016 SBS
Starring:
Yoo Seung Ho as Seo Jin Woo
Park Min Young as Lee In Ah
Park Sung Woong as Park Dong Ho
Nam Goong Min as Nam Gyu Man
Synopsis:
Seo Jin Woo is a man with perfect memory but his father suffers from severe dementia. When his father is framed for a brutal crime that shook the nation, Jin Woo takes it upon himself to become a lawyer.
Descendants of the Sun - a ratings powerhouse
(meaning TV ratings over 20%)
Title: Descendants of the Sun /太陽的後裔 / 태양의 후예 / Taeyangui Hooye
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romance / Melodrama
Broadcast Period: Feb - Apr 2016 KBS
Starring:
Song Joong Ki as Yoo Shi Jin
Song Hye Kyo as Kang Mo Yun
Jin Goo as Seo Dae Young
Kim Ji Won as Yoon Myung Joo
Comments:
"It's dangerous being around a guy with a gun... one day, he'll never come back," narrates the trailer. I'm admittedly hesitant due to my disinterest for sad endings and war movies yet Descendants of the Sun is a k-drama phenomenon set to take over the world that it would be wrong to ignore it any longer.
Song Joong Ki has always reminded me of the boy next door with his nice guy image from stints at Running Man and in rom-coms. If i ever had doubts of him as a man in uniform, a captain nonetheless, it has all been put to rest from heaps of raging reviews on his stellar performance.
The drama is seriously killing it and it's only March but can this be THE drama of the year?
Jang Yeong Sil
Title: Jang Yeong Sil: The Great Scientist of Joseon / 장영실
Episodes and Genre: 24, Historical
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 KBS1
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Jang Yeong Sil
Synopsis:
Details the rise of historical figure Jang Young Sil, a man with humble beginnings and his significant contributions to Joseon amidst an era where class difference is rife.
The Merchant: Gaekju
My Rating: Downright boring (1/5)
Title: The Merchant: Gaekju / God of Trade - Innkeeper / 장사의 신 - 객주
Episodes and Genre: 41, Historical
Broadcast Period: Sep 2015 - Feb 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Chun Bong Sam
Comments:
After several attempts at watching then falling asleep, I abandoned ship. I was half-expecting Merchant Gaekju to be a historical version of Midas, a k-drama also starring Jang Hyuk about the power struggles in the business world. While the result was definitely a period drama revolving around merchants and their trade, the lengthy prose and drama simply wasn't my cup of tea.
One More Happy Ending
My Rating: Pretty Good (4/5)
Title: One More Happy Ending / Hanbun Deo Happy Ending / 한번 더 해피엔딩
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 MBC
Starring:
Jang Nara as Han Mi Mo
Jung Kyung Ho as Song Soo Hyuk
Yoo Da In as Baek Da Jung
Yoo In Na as Go Dong Mi
Seo In Young as Hong Ae Ran
Sandara Park as Seul Ah (cameo)
Synopsis:
Han Mi Mo is the CEO of a successful match-making agency but in spite of her unique skill set, she is a divorcee that has had an unlucky streak in love. She remains good friends with the members of the defunct k-pop group called Angels and the story revolves around the friendships and relationships surrounding the lives of these thirty-something women.
Comments:
Getting Sex and the City vibes and it's absofukinlutely awesome. Isn't it crazy that Conan O'Brian cameos? It could have been perfect but it does turn extremely angsty towards the end so minus points for that.
Cheese in the Trap
My Rating: Just Another Drama (3/5)
Title: Cheese in the Trap / 치즈 인 더 트랩
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 TvN
Starring:
Park Hae Jin as Yoo Jung
Kim Go Eun as Hong Seol
Synopsis:
Yoo Jung is a certified heartthrob who is dubbed as Mr. Perfect for being tall, rich, smart and handsome. Hong Seol is your average college junior who works part-time to pay for her schooling and she seems to be the only person in the school to find something hidden behind Yoo Jung's friendly smile.
Comments:
When something that started out so inexplicably good combusts into a fiasco just about sums up the Cheese in the Trap controversy, which you can read in detail on dramabeans. I was lured by the cheese but it's a trap I tell you!
Moorim School
My Rating: Tolerable (2/5)
Title: Moorim School / 무림학교
Episodes and Genre: 16, Martial Arts School Drama / Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Lee Hyun Woo as Yoon Shi Woo
Seo Ye Ji as Sim Soon Duk
Hong Bin as Wang Chi Ang
Jung Yoo Jin as Hwang Sun Ah
Synopsis:
Yoon Shi Woo is a k-pop idol who is slowly losing his hearing. Desperate, he enrolls into Moorim School in hopes that this mysterious martial arts school can heal him. However, this new journey may inadvertently lead him to find himself.
Comments:
The concept drew me in like no other, thanks to my undying support for martial arts dramas, which is why I made it through the end despite the fact that I didn't actually like it.
Moorim School tells a generic story with mediocre acting. There's fantasy, action and romance made less by a weak storyline that drags on for 16 full episodes. This is a case where I really understand why a primetime drama is lagging behind with mere single digit ratings so low that it's worse than cable.
If you're skeptical, watch Volcano High to spot the difference.
My Rating: Just another drama (3/5)
Title: Splash Splash Love / Pongdangpongdang Love / 퐁당퐁당 LOVE
One of my new year's resolutions is to update the site regularly because I watch too much for my own good so I feel the need to turn it into something productive. Would appreciate your suggestions on what you'd like to see in the comments section below.
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Given that I have a ton of c-dramas in queue, it's no wonder that my very first k-drama for the year was a short one called Splash Splash Love. If only spare time grew on trees... Here is our K-drama list for 2016.
Hwarang: The Beginning
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Hwarang: The Beginning / 화랑: 더 비기닝
Episodes and Genre: 20 Historical, Romance
Broadcast Period: Dec 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Park Seo Joon as Moo Myung / Sun Woo
Go Ah Ra as Kim Ah Ro
Park Hyung Shik as Kim Sam Maek Jong / Kim Ji Dwi
Synopsis:
Moo Myung is a formidable fighter who accompanies his friend (played by Running Man's Lee Kwang Soo) to the capital. Many things happen that pave his way towards becoming one of the Hwarang, an elite force of flower boys during the Silla Dynasty.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
The Lonely, Shining Goblin
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: The Lonely, Shining Goblin / Goblin / 쓸쓸하고 찬란하神-도깨비
Episodes and Genre: 16 Fantasy, Romance
Broadcast Period: Dec 2016 tvN
Starring:
Gong Yoo as Kim Shin (goblin)
Kim Go Eun as Ji Eun Tak
Lee Dong Wook as Wang Yeo (grim reaper)
Yoo In Na as Kim Sun
Yook Sung Jae as Yoo Duk Hwa
Synopsis:
Kim Shin is a goblin longing to find a mortal bride in order to end his life. Wang Yeo is a grim reaper who ends up living under the goblin's roof. Ji Eun Tak is a teenager who should never have been born and she has spent her life thinking that she is the goblin's bride.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Legend of the Blue Sea
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Legend of the Blue Sea / 푸른 바다의 전설
Episodes and Genre: 20 Fantasy, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 2016 SBS
Starring:
Jun Ji Hyun as Shim Chung
Lee Min Ho as Heo Joon Jae
Synopsis:
A Joseon era mermaid finds herself in Seoul as she meets Heo Joon Jae, a modern day con-artist.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo / 역도 요정 김복주
Episodes and Genre: 16, Sports, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 16, 2016 - Jan 11, 2017 MBC
Starring:
Lee Sung Kyung as Kim Bok Joo
Nam Joo Hyuk as Jung Joon Hyung
Kyung Soo Jin as Song Shi Ho
Lee Jae Yoon as Jung Jae Yi
Synopsis:
Kim Bok Joo is a weightlifter with unparalleled strength that takes after her father. Jung Joon Hyung is a talented swimmer dealing with his own trauma while Song Shi Ho is a rhythmic gymnast. Theirs is an inspiration story about romance and dreams.
K2
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: K2 / 안투라지
Episodes and Genre: 16, Action Political
Broadcast Period: Sep 2016 tvN
Starring:
Ji Chang Wook as Kim Je Ha
Song Yoon Ah as Choi Yoo Jin
Im Yoon Ah as Go Anna
Jo Sung Ha as Jang Se Joon
Synopsis:
Kim Je Ha is a bodyguard embroiled in a political war and he falls in love with Go Anna, the daughter of a presidential candidate.
Entourage
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Entourage / 안투라지
Episodes and Genre: 16, Dark Comedy
Broadcast Period: Nov 2016 tvN
Starring:
Seo Kang Joon as Cha Young Bin
Jo Jin Woong as Kim Eun Gab
Park Jung Min as Lee Ho Jin
Lee Kwang Soo as Cha Joon
Lee Dong Hwi as Geobook (turtle)
Kim Hye In as Seo Hee
Synopsis:
Cha Young Bin is a rising star who brought his friends from the hood to lead the lifestyle of the rich and famous and along for the ride is his foul-mouthed and hard-hitting manager Kim Eun Gab.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Moonlight Drawn By Clouds - a ratings powerhouse
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Moonlight Drawn By Clouds / 구르미 그린 달빛
Episodes and Genre: 18, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Park Bo Gum as Lee Young
Kim Yoo Jung as Hong Ra On
Synopsis:
A prince false in love with a girl disguised as a eunuch.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Moon Lovers / Scarlet Heart Ryeo / 보보경심: 려
Episodes and Genre: 20, Fantasy, Time Travel Romance
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 SBS
Starring:
Lee Joon Ki as Wang So (4th Prince)
IU as Go Ha Jin / Hae Soo
Kang Ha Neul as Wang Wook (8th Prince)
Hong Jong Hyun as Wang Yo (3rd Prince)
Synopsis:
Go Ha Jin is down in the dumps until she jumps into the water to save a drowning boy. When she wakes up, she discovers that she has been transported back into Goryeo inside the body of Hae Soo.
Stuck with no idea on how to go back to the future, she must make the most of her time in the past as she becomes embroiled in the political power plays for the throne.
Jealousy Incarnate
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Jealousy Incarnate / 질투의 화신 / Jiltuui Hwasin
Episodes and Genre: 24, Comedy, Romance
Broadcast Period: Aug 2016 SBS
Starring:
Gong Hyo Jin as Pyo Na Ri
Jo Jung Suk as Lee Hwa Shin
Go Kyung Pyo as Go Jung Won
Synopsis:
Pyo Na Ri and Lee Hwa Shin are bitter rivals in competition to become the best broadcaster. She is in charge of the weather forecast while he is a proper news anchor with a laudable resume. As luck would have it, their rivalry turns into something more.
W - a ratings powerhouse
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Must Watch (5/5)
Title: W / W Two Worlds / 더블유
Episodes and Genre: 16, Fantasy, Suspense, Romance
Broadcast Period: Jul 2016 MBC
Starring:
Lee Jong Suk as Kang Chul
Han Hyo Joo as Oh Yun Joo
Synopsis:
W - Two Worlds.
Comments:
To say the trailers were cryptic is an understatement because I was thoroughly as confused as Han Hyo Joo who looked like a deer in headlights most of the time but what an epiphany when I actually started this unassuming k-drama because it is so wonderfully written, gripping, intense, cute.. I'm running out of compliments just watch it, please.
Oh Hae Young Again
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Another Oh Hae Young / Oh Hae Young Again / 또 오해영
Episodes and Genre: 18, Romantic Comedy, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: May 2016 TVN
Starring:
Eric as Park Do Kyung
Seo Hyun Jin as Oh Hae Young
Jun Hye Bin as Oh Hae Young
Synopsis:
Two women have the same name and Park Do Kyung, a man who can see the future, does everything in his power to avoid them.
Comments:
Honestly, the plot doesn't sound particularly appealing neither does the cast but adding it to the list anyway because word is out that it is that good and I can't wait to see it for myself.
Beautiful Mind
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Beautiful Mind / 뷰티풀 마인드
Episodes and Genre: 14, Medical Thriller
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Lee Young Oh
Park So Dam as Gye Jin Sung
Synopsis:
Lee Young Oh is a highly-skilled surgeon without a care for anyone. He works at the prestigious Hyeonseong Hospital yet something is amiss.
Uncontrollably Fond
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Uncontrollably Fond / 함부로 애틋하게
Episodes and Genre: 20, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Kim Woo Bin as Shin Joon Young
Bae Suzy as Noh Eul
Im Joo Hwan as Choi Ji Tae
Im Joo Eun as Yoon Jung Eun
Synopsis:
Noh Eul is a PD and Joon Young is a top actor who meet again after being separated when they were young.
Doctors - a ratings powerhouse
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Doctors / Dakteoseu / 닥터스
Episodes and Genre: 20, Medical Romance
Broadcast Period: Jun 2016 SBS
Starring:
Kim Rae Won as Hong Ji Hong
Park Shin Hye as Yoo Hye Jung
Yoon Kyun Sang as Jung Yoon Do
Lee Sung Kyung as Jin Seo Woo
Synopsis:
Yoo Hye Jung had a difficult childhood and she grew up strong-willed, rebellious and a fighter until the day she meets Hong Ji Hong who becomes her mentor and lover.
Signal
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Must Watch (5/5)
Title: Signal / Shigeunul / 시그널
Episodes and Genre: 16, Crime Suspense, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 TVN
Starring:
Lee Je Hoon as Park Hae Young
Kim Hye Soo as Cha Soo Hyun
Jo Jin Woong as Lee Jae Han
Synopsis:
Park Hae Young is a skilled profiler who works for police force, which is the very same organization that he despises to the core. He comes across a non-functional walkie talkie and realizes that it can be used to communicate with the past in an effort to stop crime.
Comments:
I am not normally a fan of crime thrillers unless it warrants its own playing field like the critically-acclaimed Infernal Affairs, whose Hollywood remake won an Oscar in 2007.
I have no idea whether cable drama Signal swept any awards shows during its time but it certainly deserves to for being a drama that has been highly lauded by netizens and entertainment sites alike. It tells a gripping and emotional tale between two detectives solving crime in the most uncanny setup and is a cinematographic masterpiece in its own right. Click for more stills.
The Flower in Prison
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: The Flower in Prison / Okjunghwa / 옥중화
Episodes and Genre: 50, Legal, Historical
Broadcast Period: Apr 2016 MBC
Starring:
Jin Se Yeon as Ok Nyeo
Go Soo as Yoon Tae Won
Synopsis:
Ok Nyeo is a girl who is born and bred in prison due to her mother who dies a mysterious death. Determined to uncover the truth, she trains to become a a female detective where she will find a purpose that is greater than her own.
Comments:
Click for more stills.
Please Come Back Mister
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Please Come Back Mister / Dolawayo Ajeossi / 돌아와요 아저씨
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romance, Comedy, Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Feb 2016 SBS
Starring:
Rain as Lee Hae Joon
Oh Yeon Seo as Han Hong Nan
Synopsis:
Two middle-aged men, one a salary man and the other a gangster, die unexpectedly. Given another chance, they return in the body of a man (Rain) and a woman (Oh Yeon Seo) in the prime of their life but underneath that facade are two people desperate to make the most of what little time they have left.
Jackpot
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Jackpot / The Royal Gambler / Daebak / 대박
Episodes and Genre: 20, Historical, Gambling
Broadcast Period: Mar 2016 SBS
Starring:
Jang Geun Suk as Baek Dae Gil
Yeo Jin Goo as King Yeongjo
Jun Kwang Ryul as Lee In Jwa
Choi Min Soo as King Sukjong
Lim Ji Yeon as Dam Seo
Yoon Jin Seo as Sook Bin Choi
Synopsis:
Dae Gil is a commoner known as the best gambler in Joseon and his brother is the future King Yeongjo. Their disparate lives cross paths and they enter into the match of a lifetime.
Comments:
I am waiting for the next episode, please come out soon. Click for more stills.
Remember - War of the Son
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Remember - War of the Son / Son's War / 리멤버 - 아들의 전쟁
Episodes and Genre: 20, Legal Melodrama
Broadcast Period: Dec - Feb 2016 SBS
Starring:
Yoo Seung Ho as Seo Jin Woo
Park Min Young as Lee In Ah
Park Sung Woong as Park Dong Ho
Nam Goong Min as Nam Gyu Man
Synopsis:
Seo Jin Woo is a man with perfect memory but his father suffers from severe dementia. When his father is framed for a brutal crime that shook the nation, Jin Woo takes it upon himself to become a lawyer.
Descendants of the Sun - a ratings powerhouse
(meaning TV ratings over 20%)
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Descendants of the Sun /太陽的後裔 / 태양의 후예 / Taeyangui Hooye
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romance / Melodrama
Broadcast Period: Feb - Apr 2016 KBS
Starring:
Song Joong Ki as Yoo Shi Jin
Song Hye Kyo as Kang Mo Yun
Jin Goo as Seo Dae Young
Kim Ji Won as Yoon Myung Joo
Comments:
"It's dangerous being around a guy with a gun... one day, he'll never come back," narrates the trailer. I'm admittedly hesitant due to my disinterest for sad endings and war movies yet Descendants of the Sun is a k-drama phenomenon set to take over the world that it would be wrong to ignore it any longer.
Song Joong Ki has always reminded me of the boy next door with his nice guy image from stints at Running Man and in rom-coms. If i ever had doubts of him as a man in uniform, a captain nonetheless, it has all been put to rest from heaps of raging reviews on his stellar performance.
The drama is seriously killing it and it's only March but can this be THE drama of the year?
Jang Yeong Sil
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
Title: Jang Yeong Sil: The Great Scientist of Joseon / 장영실
Episodes and Genre: 24, Historical
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 KBS1
Starring:
Song Il Gook as Jang Yeong Sil
Synopsis:
Details the rise of historical figure Jang Young Sil, a man with humble beginnings and his significant contributions to Joseon amidst an era where class difference is rife.
The Merchant: Gaekju
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Downright boring (1/5)
Title: The Merchant: Gaekju / God of Trade - Innkeeper / 장사의 신 - 객주
Episodes and Genre: 41, Historical
Broadcast Period: Sep 2015 - Feb 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Jang Hyuk as Chun Bong Sam
Comments:
After several attempts at watching then falling asleep, I abandoned ship. I was half-expecting Merchant Gaekju to be a historical version of Midas, a k-drama also starring Jang Hyuk about the power struggles in the business world. While the result was definitely a period drama revolving around merchants and their trade, the lengthy prose and drama simply wasn't my cup of tea.
One More Happy Ending
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Pretty Good (4/5)
Title: One More Happy Ending / Hanbun Deo Happy Ending / 한번 더 해피엔딩
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 MBC
Starring:
Jang Nara as Han Mi Mo
Jung Kyung Ho as Song Soo Hyuk
Yoo Da In as Baek Da Jung
Yoo In Na as Go Dong Mi
Seo In Young as Hong Ae Ran
Sandara Park as Seul Ah (cameo)
Synopsis:
Han Mi Mo is the CEO of a successful match-making agency but in spite of her unique skill set, she is a divorcee that has had an unlucky streak in love. She remains good friends with the members of the defunct k-pop group called Angels and the story revolves around the friendships and relationships surrounding the lives of these thirty-something women.
Comments:
Getting Sex and the City vibes and it's absofukinlutely awesome. Isn't it crazy that Conan O'Brian cameos? It could have been perfect but it does turn extremely angsty towards the end so minus points for that.
Cheese in the Trap
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Just Another Drama (3/5)
Title: Cheese in the Trap / 치즈 인 더 트랩
Episodes and Genre: 16, Romantic Comedy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 TvN
Starring:
Park Hae Jin as Yoo Jung
Kim Go Eun as Hong Seol
Synopsis:
Yoo Jung is a certified heartthrob who is dubbed as Mr. Perfect for being tall, rich, smart and handsome. Hong Seol is your average college junior who works part-time to pay for her schooling and she seems to be the only person in the school to find something hidden behind Yoo Jung's friendly smile.
Comments:
When something that started out so inexplicably good combusts into a fiasco just about sums up the Cheese in the Trap controversy, which you can read in detail on dramabeans. I was lured by the cheese but it's a trap I tell you!
Moorim School
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Tolerable (2/5)
Title: Moorim School / 무림학교
Episodes and Genre: 16, Martial Arts School Drama / Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Jan 2016 KBS2
Starring:
Lee Hyun Woo as Yoon Shi Woo
Seo Ye Ji as Sim Soon Duk
Hong Bin as Wang Chi Ang
Jung Yoo Jin as Hwang Sun Ah
Synopsis:
Yoon Shi Woo is a k-pop idol who is slowly losing his hearing. Desperate, he enrolls into Moorim School in hopes that this mysterious martial arts school can heal him. However, this new journey may inadvertently lead him to find himself.
Comments:
The concept drew me in like no other, thanks to my undying support for martial arts dramas, which is why I made it through the end despite the fact that I didn't actually like it.
Moorim School tells a generic story with mediocre acting. There's fantasy, action and romance made less by a weak storyline that drags on for 16 full episodes. This is a case where I really understand why a primetime drama is lagging behind with mere single digit ratings so low that it's worse than cable.
If you're skeptical, watch Volcano High to spot the difference.
Splash Splash Love
Is it a must-watch, pretty good, just another drama, tolerable or downright boring?
My Rating: Just another drama (3/5)
Title: Splash Splash Love / Pongdangpongdang Love / 퐁당퐁당 LOVE
Episodes and Genre: 2, Romantic Comedy / Time Travel / Fantasy
Broadcast Period: Dec 2015 MBC
Starring:
Kim Seul Gi as Dan Bi
Yoon Doo Joon as Lee Do
Synopsis:
Dan Bi is a high school student terrible at math but the rigorous educational system in Korea puts so much pressure on the students to do well during entrance exams or be doomed for life. Terrified, she runs away on a rainy day desperately wishing for an escape. She jumps into a puddle and is transported to the Joseon Era where Lee Do is ruling as the king.
Comments:
The premise is nothing we haven't seen before. It combines modern and history into one drama, which always adds up to a lot of funny. Time travel dramas seem to be all the rage nowadays especially with the upcoming Moon Lovers, which is the highly anticipated remake of the Chinese drama Startling by Each Step (Bu Bu Jing Xin).
Nonetheless, I still enjoyed this drama's take on how to show what I call the 4 stages of time travel 1) utter denial thinking that she must have been transported to the filming of some period drama 2) adjusting to primitive life and being the coolest for having a phone, a pen or any other gadget from the future 3) falling in love 4) fallout from having to stay or leave. Yes, I cried.
This is one drama where I recognized nobody other than the lead actress being the ghost in Oh My Ghost. She was utterly hilarious and unafraid to just go there with the wackiest expressions. Then it was like an epiphany when I read that she used to be part of the cast of SNL Korea. Overall, a predictable but fun TV movie.
This is one drama where I recognized nobody other than the lead actress being the ghost in Oh My Ghost. She was utterly hilarious and unafraid to just go there with the wackiest expressions. Then it was like an epiphany when I read that she used to be part of the cast of SNL Korea. Overall, a predictable but fun TV movie.
One of my new year's resolutions is to update the site regularly because I watch too much for my own good so I feel the need to turn it into something productive. Would appreciate your suggestions on what you'd like to see in the comments section below.
For more listings, see:
Korean dramas in 2017
Korean historical dramas
Korean dramas in 2015
Korean dramas since 2003
Korean dramas in 2017
Korean historical dramas
Korean dramas in 2015
Korean dramas since 2003
