Such a beautiful and moving piece, Laica. The shows that you mentioned above also resonated with me as well. Many times kdrama brings me hope and much-needed therapy.

I wish you all the best in your recovery and I hope 2018 will be a better year for you and also for all of us, in our personal lives and our kdrama journey

Wishing you a happy and healthy new year, Laica!
I really enjoyed reading your piece and seeing which shows resonated with you the most.

Aww, what a nice write-up Laica!
I'm really happy that you found solace in these dramas, through your difficult period.
And this kind of makes me realize that I might've underestimated the number of good dramas this year.
I wish you good health and all the best in 2018!

Agree with your take on LUTYNDH. The medical aspect is carefully respected (both the modern medicine and oriental medicine) and it truly embodies what real medicine is. Trying best to help people, regardless of their status. And watching those 2 lovebirds fell in love was one my biggest delights in the history of my kdrama watching. 😍

Thanks for your thoughtful and uplifting essay, Laica! Your comments on LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME make me want to watch it. At the time it aired, I was still blown out by SEVEN DAY QUEEN, and must have had a touch of sageuk fatigue, which is unusual for me.

LOOKOUT was one of my top shows, and I had the same reaction to the final episode that you did. THE BEST HIT and LINGERIE GIRLS GENERATION were two of my faves because of the music. (I posted links to the LGG background music I was able to ID on my fan wall, in case you missed it. It's listed by episode, in order of appearance.) I watched CHIEF KIM after it aired, and loved it to bits.

Thanks again for sharing your gift of writing with us Beanies. Wishing you peace of mind and heart, and permanent recovery of your health. Blessings, PakalanaPikake

Thank you @Laica for your personal sharing and lovely review.

I agree that dramas are therapy when watched judiciously. Judiciously, because when I go overboard, I need therapy to kick the drama addiction!!! LOL.

You have put into words, what my favourite shows are too...:

My favorites this year were the ones that gave us believable romances between lovable characters I could genuinely root for, stories abundant with moments of rapport and empathy that I found far more swoonworthy than grand gestures.

- My only divergence from this description is that I now include not only characters I can root for, but even those who although I cannot give 100% approval for, I still accept as true-to-life, flawed but not evil.

And how I love all those little moments... not the grand gestures but the little looks, the quiet consideration, the unannounced self-sacrifices, the giving of space and respect... the little gestures. So much more romantic and likely more real actually.

With regards to your health, as the Koreans say, 'Hiim' and 'Fighting'. I believe I speak for many here when I say we are thinking about and praying for you. May your new year be more peace-filled, your health improve and all that challenges you be more manageable. May you have a deep joy that no pain can take away. Cheers! 😃

OK, well, now I'm going to have to watch Live Up to Your Name.

Wishing you health in 2018!

I wish for your full recovery, Laica !

K-drama this year serves more than ever as an escape for me. Like you said, 2017 is a garbage fire, my country included. I still remember how I marathoned 1% Of Anything to feel some good amidst the really, really shitty, crappy political situation.

The dramas you mentioned are either ones I've watched and liked or ones I intend to watch. Thanks for the review !

First, I'm glad that my favorite underrated drama of this year was included in this list! :) Now that you mentioned it, I was reminded that it was also a medical drama.
Second, thanks to this write-up, I'm more motivated to watch Forest of Secrets. I've watched episode 1 but I was not that intrigued to continue on.
Lastly, thanks Laica for sharing your thoughts and insights with us! I hope your healing continues on. Heo Im mentioned that "A disease is cured only when the patient is willing to overcome it. A doctor only helps them to fight against illness." So don't lose hope!

A healthier and happier 2018 to everyone!

Ahhhhh how could I have left out Mystery Queen?! I even had it in my notes! Seol-ok, Wan-seung and their lovable Scooby Gang of neighborhood sleuths also gave me so much joy this year.

Thank you so much everyone for your beautiful prayers and good wishes! I teared up a little. Having Beanies read my writing is always one of the best parts of this gig. Happy new year and I love you all! ❤️❤️❤️

I'm glad you were able to find comfort in such personally trying times. I hope you're feeling well and strong.

Thank you, @laica. I loved every beautiful line you wrote here and can relate to much of what you said.

I want you to know that your writing holds a special place in my heart because it was your recaps that brought me into the world of K-drama!

I spent the first half of 2017 in disbelief, pretty much starting each day with, "I can't ****ing belief this is happening" and "this is not normal." Every morning I spent far too many hours trawling news sources, looking for confirmation that the world was turning to sh*t.

After a long visit with family in Malaysia this summer, I returned to the States was exhausted and depressed. Looking for an escape, I stumbled on to a little show called Live Up To Your Name. Four episodes had already aired and I was wasn't sure if I wanted to be bothered with a series. I searched for recaps and found @laica's first post for LUTYN.

Your writing was so compelling and made LUTYN sound irresistible. Who knew I was about to get sucked into the juggernaut that is Korean drama? Better yet—I found DramaBeans.

I am filled with gratitude and send everyone best wishes for a better 2018.

Dear Laica, you are not alone.

I found happiness and hope in Kdramas too,
That was why I discovered this site.
Some years ago I was also in grave health condition, and the world also turned so gray. I lost hope, to be honest, and happiness along the way and the world seemed no longer a joyful place to live. However, through comments in DB I chose a few shows which I thought might be worth watching. Funny, I could relate so well with the female lead in Yong Pal (the reason why it is one of my favs), and also found so much comfort in Healer.. as I began to remember that joy of having somebody caring for us again. But instead of coming as a significant other, in the real world my life saviors are a few ones around me, the ones who I didn’t care about, the ones who have always loved and supported me even when I spent my happy days with others.

May the force be with you Laica 🐶🌸💖, my motto during my difficult time was that I was going to live the moment, not to the fullest in the sense of extreme happiness but to the sense of peace. It’s a bless that we are living now and I (and other Beanies as well) so miss you!

Do you remember posting your comment as a reply to mine in a FoS thread as well? Hehehe I was so happy I got a reply from a DB staff ;)

Aww, thanks so much for writing this, Laica! Wishing you good health and happiness in 2018! Chief kim has gone to the top of my to-watch list after reading all the year end reviews.

We don’t have any guarantees in life that everything is going to be perfect, but we can do our best to live every day reaching for happiness.

❤️

Imo, the openness of the ending for both Live Up To Your Name and Forest of Secrets definitely can pave a way for another season. I definitely enjoy your insights and appreciations for these dramas in your recaps. If there will be another seasons (for real, not just news dramaland), I hope you'll pick them up for recap and together we'll find healing through them. Stay healthy Laica. 💐😊

Yes, to everything you wrote. Just yes. I watched fewer dramas than I did in previous years, but I think the ones I did watch, all helped me grow and discover things about myself that I didn't know. There was a small quantity of dramas but they were filled to the brim with lessons and emotions.

Here's to an amazing year in 2018, not only of dramas but health and our lives.

Dear @laica

Thank you. Thank you so much for mentioning "Live Up To Your Name". I knew it that if there is anyone out there who loved this show so much and willingly highlighted it, that person is you ❤️. We are one of the very small community who loved this show passionately. I share the same feeling with you, LUTYN resonated so much with me. I began watching this show that tickled my funny bones, never expected myself to be crying in pain as it tugged at my heartstrings. And most of all, it's been such a long time a drama made me all sort of emotions - like a girl falling in love for the first time, believing in miracle, honouring noble conviction and so on and all in a good satisfying way. For that reason alone, this drama inducted itself as one of my all-time faves and so as the beloved OTP ❤️. Thank you again.

I loved LUTYN. It's also got the best epilogue of any series I've watched. Makgae going into the future and looking in awe at all these women who are nurses and doctors was wonderful. And to round it off, they gave us a moment between her and Jae-Ha.

Thanks for recapping that @Laica and for this wonderful piece.

Get well soon Laica!

Laica, you make me want to watch live up to your name. My health is also weak, and I am always complaining and struggling with doctors who spend with you less than 5 minutes every time, and only care to treat you tests you don't necessarily need, in order to cash them out from the insurance, and they almost never come to an accurate diagnosis, because they never ask enough questions. I hate these type of doctors who only believe what labor tests say and again, never inquire how you live, sleep, eat, etc... so many elements from life style that have an impact over our health. It is frustrating.

as you said, this yea has been garbage fire, and even though I am glad you have found a little bit of happiness in dramas, I don´t think they help me any longer. it is not enough to suffocate the disgust, hoplessness and cynicism I feel. I know it cannot compare to when someone has an actual diagnosis. but it is a psychological agony I can´t even describe. escaping to dramas does not help any more. the real world around me is just too chock full of monsters and there is nothing I can do. thy take away everything I know. what to do about this? I have no idea. it is the first time I admit this but I have had scary thoughts. I don´t know what I might become.

I have even been thinking of quitting dramas. this comes out of the blue? No, I have been thinking 4 months... it is an illusion. especially when I might be feeding another monster behind the scenes of dramas that ruins lives.

on the other hand, characters and their struggles, through a writers´ pen, often come from life. the characters might be made up, but the thoughts the writer puts into their heads can be real.... and if I don t want to see and hear anything any longer, why not escape to dramas?
but then so what... no matter what we do the world will burn down. I want to go to another planet. I want to stab myself with a needle and travel down to Joseon. I feel so powerless here.

That was a wonderful write up Laica! U put into words all dat i felt about LUTYN but couldn't express in words at d time it aired. It really felt like i watched Kim Nam-gil and Kim Ah- joong fall in love! It may not be d best drama but hands down my favourite of d year! Wish u d best and d best of health in the coming year and to all of us beanies, Happy new year!

Wishing you all the best for 2018 Laica!

I too loved LUTYN and just about everything you said about it... Im sorry you haven't been well and haven't had the best of luck when it comes to doctors, but I really hope 2018 will be better for that! If only it were possible to send Heo Im over to you to help nurse you back to full health 😄

But glad you are on the road to full recovery and I I'm sending lots of good vibes and prayers over to you. Hwaiting!

Welcome to 2018. Wish you all the best and hope you continue to make good progress on all fronts!

Thank you @laica! I have had Radiant Office on my list for a while now, and am now going to add Live Up To Your Name thanks to your positive comments... Maybe it will rekindle my interest in time-travel stories, which went on hold after that headache-inducing ending of The Best Hit. Sadly, this which means I missed out on Go Back Spouses too.

Here's to a 2018 with more of these compelling, grounded, and inspiring drama characters. :)

Thank you for such a wonderful write-up, @laica, it made me tear up a little, too. It's been a privilege and a blessing getting to (finally!) know you this year, and may we have many more to come! ❤️❤️❤️

(PS everyone, come listen to our podcasts, where Laica is always the most coherent!)

Happy New Year to one of our most perceptive of critics!

I almost teared up at the end Laica. It was so beautifully written. Hats off to you.
From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all the best in 2018!!
By the way, I agree about everything you said about LUTYN and I am so happy to see that someone gave so much love to this show.

For me, 2017 was pretty much a large pile of formula dramas filled with poor writing, poor directing, and overused tropes and mediocrity.

Perhaps that is what made the good ones - such as Forest of Secrets and First Life stand out so much. I think this is the first time in years that I started so many and finished so few k-dramas.

Thank you for your lovely and very personal write-up, Laica. I share the same thoughts with you regarding LUTYN and your recaps of it have made my viewing experience much more profound and colorful. Wishing you good health and happiness in 2018! And wishing the best to everyone else here, as well! Here's to more good dramas next year!

Hi Laica! Sorry to hear about your health issues. Praying for your recovery and a healthy 2018! Thank you for your insightful writeup! I'll be sure to head over to your fan wall to listen to your podcasts! Happy New Year!

Dear Laica, I'm so sorry to hear about your health problem. May 2018 brings good health and happiness for you. As for drama, that first and last picture summarize my 2017 drama experience. I'm glad I found Forest of Secrets and I thank you for recapping it. 힘내세요 Laica ssi!

Forest of Secrets is probably the best drama I watched I the last few years. That had me on edge the whole time and suspicious of everyone. I can’t believe I very nearly didn’t watch it but I was flicking through Netflix one evening and nothing else stood out. Giving that first episode a try was the best decision I made.

I love Korean dramas, rom-coms with a twist of the supernatural are my go to. Anything beyond 18 episodes I don’t bother with unless I’m gripped. But it is rare for me to binge watch and actually finish a whole drama. You who came from the Stars, DotS, never finished them even though I liked the whole setup I just lose interest so easily.

On a last note: I think Because this Life is Our First is based on the Japanese drama/ manga We Married as a Job (Nigeru wa Haji da ga Yaku ni Tatsu). So if you liked that you may like this version. It’s very corny and not quite as glossy as the Korean one, and the leads aren’t quite as pretty but they are incredibly charming and it has such a catchy song 恋 (Love) and dance which plays at the end of every episode. Give it a try. It’s quite short and rather sweet, perfect for this time of year.

Great article. I really enjoyed reading it! I wish you a healthy and happy 2018 and look forward to reading more of your writing.

Beautiful.