[Drama chat] Your current top 10 dramas (2023 version)
by missvictrix
Believe it or not, it has already been a year since we started chatting about and sharing lists of our top 10 dramas of all time.
Since we’re all fanatics here, it seems like a worthy practice to visit this list-making task annually and see what’s changed (or not changed). What new titles came along and claimed a spot on your list? Was there an older drama you watched that stole your heart (and booted off a title from your list)? Did your tastes and preferences change, causing one of last year’s favorites to drop to #11?
It’s time to reassess, readdress, and dive into your current top 10 dramas.
Share your (new) current top 10 drama list below!
Let the chatting begin!
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Tags: Drama Chat
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26 john
May 14, 2023 at 1:41 PM
No particular order.
My Ahjussi
Queen Seondeok
Mr Queen
Heard It Through The Grapevine
Yoona’s Street
Go Back Couple
Let’s Eat
Reply 1997
Heartless City
Through The Darkness
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 2:10 PM
Great list, Go back couple and Let’s eat 3 are in the top 25 for me.
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MikeyD signed up
May 14, 2023 at 4:41 PM
Ah! I didn't dawn on me that Lets Eat could be included. Forget plot and character, just wonderful mukbang madness!
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Lonestar Girl
May 17, 2023 at 6:05 PM
I really like Heard It Through The Grapevine, and rewatched it earlier this year.
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27 Dorotka
May 14, 2023 at 1:55 PM
These were the first 10 coming to my mind and me thinking absolutely.
(Of course very much my current mood dependent. 😁)
-On the Verge of Insanity
-Into the Ring
-Gaus Electronics
-Reply 1988
-Reset
-Five Enough
-When the Weather is Fine
-That Fool
-The Romance of Tiger and Rose
-My Name Is Kim Samsoon (because this is my Gateway Drama and will always be there 😊)
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 2:03 PM
Great list, On the verge of insanity, & When the weather is fine are definitely in my ever expanding top 25!
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Dorotka
May 14, 2023 at 2:45 PM
I have like top 80, maybe even 100 😆
Choosing just 10 is difficult, so I leave it on the random choice of my current mood. 😁
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 7:54 PM
It’s true my top 50 leaves me most content as I don't feel like I am dismissing the dramas that got an 8 as mood wise they gave me what I wanted at the time. The main reason for watching K dramas is the way they make me feel. Sometimes, the only reason a drama got a lower mark is the the influence of the trends at the time, the noble idiocy that went on too long, the second female lead who was too much etc. A character dies for no reason…no, I can’t let it go, Unlock the boss🥺
Love all, play was a prime example the male lead’s family were toooooooo negative and took up too much air time. Adjusting for the unwanted elements and you have a really cute couple, with so many bonus couples and bromance.
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jerrykuvira
May 15, 2023 at 1:42 AM
A character dieing for no reason is the reason Unlock the Boss isn't making the top 10 cut for me too. And then there's Trolley who went on the be something so jarring that I do not understand why it went that way.
They're clearly good pieces that were ready to knock off my standing list but they all did something that sent them off top 10.
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 2:33 AM
Shooting stars is the one that I am most gutted about as the revenge plot and dodgy housekeeper were the two elements that stopped that being my place of joy for the duration. I nearly dropped it one week but the weecap and comment section kept me going until we came out the other side. I was so glad I stayed but the frustration with unnecessary darkness in my joyful watches really takes the edge off.
Goyangi and the Camel Crickets
May 19, 2023 at 4:43 PM
Agree! Kdramas are fabulous for bringing - wringing? - out emotions!! And, annoyances like that unnecessary TOT or a serial murderer in a rom com, and it will not join my top favorites list.
Midnight
May 14, 2023 at 2:26 PM
Hurray for That Fool!!
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MikeyD signed up
May 14, 2023 at 4:42 PM
I feel like a coward. I wanted to include Gaus Electronics on my list but hesitated. I should have included it.
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technicat
May 14, 2023 at 6:35 PM
I wanted to include Gaus, too, and it would have added variety to my list (a little heavy on the melo, light on comedy), but I just couldn't displace any of the others. I'm glad someone else listed it.
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lillamy
May 17, 2023 at 11:03 AM
Oh, I forgot about Reset! That drama should definitely been squeezed into my list. Having bad memory suchs when reminiscing about drama.
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28 Isa is always time travelling
May 14, 2023 at 2:52 PM
I love reading everyone's favorite dramas. This discussion is a gem of "database", as some beanies don't use the Dramabeans favorite drama option (I use it to add the dramas I specially enjoyed, at least the ones which have their own page here).
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29 MikeyD signed up
May 14, 2023 at 3:57 PM
Not the 'best' or the 'greatest' but the ones I enjoyed watching most:
(in no particular order)
On The Verge of Insanity
Psychopath Diaries
Into The Ring
Sky Castle
Matrimonial Chaos
Do You Like Brahms?
My Ajusshi
Goblin
My Wife Is Having An Affair This Week
Misty
In a different mood I could write another ten that would included:
Secret Love Affair
A Wife's Credentials
The Smile Has Left Your Eyes
etc.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:54 PM
I think the sparks joy approach means the range can be wider and held onto longer, and is my criteria. Are you a rewatcher? Great list.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 12:20 AM
Psychopath Diary (9) and Into the ring (8'5) could be in my list too. It was difficult to pick only ten dramas.
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30 Mrs Buckwheat
May 14, 2023 at 4:09 PM
1. Goblin
2. Crash Landing On You
3. My Ahjussi
4. Mother
5. The Red Sleeve Cuff
6. It's Okay To Not Be Okay
7. Inspector Koo
8. Through The Darkness.
9. Strong Woman Do Bong Soon
10. I'll Find You On A Beautiful Day
Honorable mentions- Gaus Electronics, Yumi Cells, Call it Love and Bad and Crazy.
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jessi
May 14, 2023 at 6:17 PM
I was very sad when I realized I had to cut Mother from my top 10 because it was such an excellent show. And my introduction to Son Suk-koo. Was genuinely terrified of him until I watched BTS footage of him with the young (and great) Heo Yool. That's how convincing he was.
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cozybooks
May 17, 2023 at 11:05 PM
Glad to see Inspector Koo here! It didn't make my top 10, but I thought about it.
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31 LaurenSophie
May 14, 2023 at 4:56 PM
In no particular order (I don't have a top top, just 10 I love pretty much equally depending on what mood I'm in):
1. Vincenzo (I was never bored, the OST is awesome, and it has the perfect ending)
2. King2Hearts (The romance in this one is epic, LSG is so charming, and even with that goofy scene of the female villain wiping chocolate on the car window there was real suspense in almost every frame)
3. Seven Days Queen (A leading pair with excellent chemistry, a fast-paced plot, and an ending that acknowledged the true historical facts with just enough kdrama magic to leave a sweet and not bitter impression)
4. One Spring Night (My favorite JHI role, immersive setting and OST, and a slice-of-life feel that was never trite. Very romantic, too)
5. Call it Love: (Even though I wanted just a bit more from the ending, as far as I'm concerned this drama is pretty much the perfect character-driven romance)
6. Do You Like Brahms? (This one gave me all the feels and made me fall in love with both PEB and KMJ)
7. Alchemy of Souls: (Wildly entertaining. Plus, I love it when I think a drama is going to be a hot mess and I end up only loving it more with each episode. Jang Uk will forever be one of my favorite characters of all time, and the show deserves major props for successfully recasting the FL halfway through without missing a beat)
8. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes: (This drama is flawed, but I binged it over the course of three days, found SIG ridiculously compelling in a problematic role, and thought the main pair had explosive, believable chemistry.)
9. Secret Love Affair: (The writing, directing, and performances are spot-on with nary a stumble across 16 incredibly evocative, suspenseful, and, at times, dark episodes. Plus, the perfect ending)
10. Healer: (One of the very first kdramas I ever watched and the only 20-episode one that didn't waste one single second, imo. I love everything about this one, and fear JCW will never, ever get another role this good)
Honorable Mention: 25/21 (The ending still haunts me, but I acknowledge this is an extremely well done drama)
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 7:58 PM
Loving the reasoning for each selection.
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darwi
May 15, 2023 at 3:15 AM
Healer was also my first drama, and I have the same fear about Ji Chang Wook. I do not dare to hope for the worst evil as in the trailer I found that Wi Ha Joon's charisma eclipsed JCW's.
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mmmmm
May 16, 2023 at 10:04 AM
Healer is a perfect drama for me. It's a classic. It ages so well, too.
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FormAnOrderlyQueue
May 18, 2023 at 3:26 AM
So with you on The Smile Has Left Your Eyes! I was sooooooo mad when I finished the last episode, but before that, like you, binged it in a few days. SIG was phenomenal and the angst was brutal, but so, so good. Why didn't they stick with the original ending...
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Kurama
May 18, 2023 at 4:15 AM
The original one was pretty twisted...
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FormAnOrderlyQueue
May 18, 2023 at 5:05 PM
True. But it made it a proper tragedy.
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Goyangi and the Camel Crickets
May 19, 2023 at 5:03 PM
I discovered both PEB and KMJ in Brahms, really enjoyed this one! And I agree with your comments on Secret Love Affair, excellent drama.
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32 GetawayJunkie
May 14, 2023 at 5:44 PM
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33 GetawayJunkie
May 14, 2023 at 5:47 PM
I'm a story/plot driven person, hence my top 10 will revolve around having a good engaging story which doesn't get dragged out and keeps me entertained throughout.
- Hospital Playlist 1 and 2 - HP1 was what really got me hooked to kdrama during covid lockdown.
- Under The Queen's Umbrella - Absolutely love this show!
- While You Were Sleeping - Exciting from the get go.
- Twenty Five Twenty One - I was just slightly younger than the leads at the time, so this show resonates with me, though I didn't have my own Baek Yijin.
- The Light In Your Eyes - I didn't expect the plot twist!
- The Red Sleeve
- My Name is Kim Sam Soon - because this is my first kdrama and got me hooked enough to buy the VCD set and binge in 2 days. (But I stopped watch kdrama for 14 years after that. lol)
- My Strange Hero - Revenge story done differently and hits all the right notes.
- Business Proposal / Weightlifting Fairy - These are my feel good rom coms for when I just want to watch something brainless and fun.
- Unlock My Boss - I think the futuristic bizarre premise of this story hits differently and I truly enjoyed the ride. It was fun and fast moving.
Other Shows which I really enjoyed - Reply 1988, The Uncanny Counter (Can't wait for S2!), Extracurricular, I am Not a Robot, Vincenzo, Romance is a Bonus Book
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:16 PM
I agree The light in your eyes used a great story telling device, I am so glad to see it getting some love as I thought it had a fan club of me, one! It didn’t make the top 10 but is in my much loved list.
Coming back to K dramaland when things were more accessible and the production quality had stepped into another universe must have been a joy.
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34 Jingbee
May 14, 2023 at 6:11 PM
My top 5 has not changed much. The bottom five are the ones that are dynamically changing as I watch new dramas :
1. Misaeng
2. Mr. Sunshine
3. Reply 88
4. Goblin
5. Do You Like Brahms
6. Move to Heaven
7. Extraordinary Woo
8. Fiery Priest
9. Vincenzo
10. Reborn Rich
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:49 PM
I love that you have been able to keep your top five consistent and have a really mixed range. Great list, good to see Do you like Brahms on there.
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35 jessi
May 14, 2023 at 6:12 PM
Ordered like a countdown for funsies:
10. While You Were Sleeping
9. Through the Darkness
8. Healer
7. Two Weeks
6. Happiness
5. Kingdom
4. One Spring Night
3. Flower of Evil
2. 18 Again
1. Vincenzo
This was harder to make than I thought it would be and is heavily affected by the period during the pandemic when I was unemployed: Rewatchability has more weight in this top ten than any other factor. Top performances is next--Lee Do-hyun got a lot of praise for Youth of May (deservedly) but he's had me convinced since 18 Again. Next is favorite tropes/premises, which is why revenge and zombies show up more than once. And then genre romance is my thing, so some great ones are on this list--swoon for the Happiness and One Spring Night OTP's.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:27 PM
Great to read your reasoning for which dramas made the list, particularly impressed with those beanies who included favourite actors’ stellar performances.
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jessi
May 15, 2023 at 2:34 PM
I realized as I was making this that Lee Joon-gi's, Ji Chang-wook's, Park Hyung-shik's, and Song Joong-ki's best drama performances are on this list. This is a hill I'd die on.
Weirdly, I also realized that some of the women performers, like Bae Doona, Han Hyo-joo, Park Min-young, and Han Ji-min, are great in the roles on that list but have been even better elsewhere. (That gender breakdown doesn't hold when I consider Suzy, Kim So-jin, Moon Chae-won, or Jeon Yeo-bin though.)
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Minka
May 15, 2023 at 3:20 AM
I liked the countdown style.👌🏻
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36 SummerMoon
May 14, 2023 at 9:08 PM
this is my first list and my first time posting! I started only watching K-dramas seriously over last year (I typically binge watch over the weekends) and I pick those which I would re-watch again (and I probably did a few times before moving to other shows):
In no particular order:
1. Beach Boys ( my first mention goes to a J-drama, which i watched decades ago, I probably watched the entire drama over 10 times, only stopped when i lost my DVD, I still listen to the OST on youtube)
2. A Korean Odyssey (I loved P.K. so much)
3. Prison Playbook (the bromance!)
4. Racket Boys (the bromance again and the cameos!)
5. Mr Queen (the sexy comedy)
6. Move to Heaven (and the buckets of tears I shed)
7. The Fiery Priest (bromance, redemption, no romance)
8. Missing: The Other Side (again, I cried at every episode till my eyes were swollen)
9. Dream High (oldie but goodie I just discovered - I have re-watched about 5 times already)
10. Hospital Playlist (about 2 to 3 times - what's not to love about their friendship)
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 9:33 PM
🥳 Welcome to the comments section and what a great way to join. I hope we see you sharing again.
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SummerMoon
May 15, 2023 at 6:34 AM
Your level as "Loan Shark with a Heart of Gold" = Dream High's Ma Doo-shik 😆
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 9:26 AM
😊 love it.
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Elinor
May 15, 2023 at 9:34 AM
Also Halmeoni in Just Between Lovers ❤️❤️❤️
37 Cay_sbtgoG
May 14, 2023 at 11:10 PM
1. Forest of Secrets 1&2
2. My Mister
3. Dear My Friends
4. Life
5. Misaeng
6. Reply 88
7. Dong Yi
8. Designated Survivor
9. Call It Love
10. Divorce Attorney Shin
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:24 PM
This must have been very hard for you to do as compared to your top 5 favourite rewatches, you were saying, most dramas fall short.
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Cay_sbtgoG
May 14, 2023 at 11:39 PM
It was. After Dong Yi I paused and had to think hard which shows I should consider to be put on the list. I've yet to rewatch the last 3 while the rest are constantly on my rewatch list. I envy you all who have many shows to enjoy.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 14, 2023 at 11:45 PM
I envy those who can do a rewatch especially those who rewatch at certain times of year or when they want to evoke a mood. I have not yet tried it for fear of losing the happy memory if I noticed the flaws on a rewatch.
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Cay_sbtgoG
May 15, 2023 at 2:49 AM
You have a point there. When I rewatch, sometimes I come to realize that I don't particulary enjoy some scenes. In that case, I would skip forward. The only show that remains superior to me after countless of rewatching only FoS.
38 tabong says what the fat
May 14, 2023 at 11:47 PM
This is like the hardest question ever, I have at least 25 dramas I would consider for my top 10. 😆
1. Fight For My Way
2. W
3. You Are My Spring
4. Yu Mi's Cells
5. My Liberation Notes
6. Reply 88
7. Misaeng
8. Love Affairs in the Afternoon
9. 25-21
10. Gaus Electronics
Bonus:
11. Happiness
12. Coffee Prince
13. Shopping Wang Louie
14. My Fiery Priest
15. Secret Forest
16. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
17. Ho Gu's Love
18. Birthcare Center
19. Waikiki
20. Kim Bok Joo
21. Sweden Laundry
22. Be Melodramatic
23. Flower Boy Next Door
24. My Ahjussi
25. Run On
26. Hello Monster
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tabong says what the fat
May 14, 2023 at 11:55 PM
I just saw my comment from last year and I CAN'T BELIEVE I forgot to mention one of my favorite shows ever. Be My Dream Family HAS to be in my top 10.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 12:01 AM
Oh no, what will have to come off to put it in instead?
I love your top 26 when I looked at mine it had become top 30 so I am now just accepting it’s a top 50 and I feel content moving some from top 10 to top 15 sometimes.
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tabong says what the fat
May 15, 2023 at 12:24 AM
I don't know, it was so hard to do the list in the first place. T.T I already sacrificed 16 other shows. 😆
...Okay so Misaeng lost the sentimental value battle LOL.
I have the same problem! I started with top 30 actually and then it became top 30-something, so I tried to reduced it because what I actually wanted was a top 15, but it seemed impossible so I tried 25, but that didn't work either. 😂
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 2:24 AM
The struggle is real and it does feel like a betrayal to move something down the list😬
39 petrolia
May 15, 2023 at 1:36 AM
There is no ranking in my top ten, the first mentioned doesn't mean it's my favourite. They all are! And I'll probably forget some, so "currently top ten" is spot on...
1 Through the Darkness
2 Stranger
3 Good Detective (first season)
4 Be melodramatic
5 Just between Lovers
6 Live up zo your name
7 Chief Kim
8 Fiery Priest
9 Do you like Brahms?
10 Mystic Pop-up Bar
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 8:16 AM
I love that they are all equal so could be swapped in or out with other favourites tomorrow. I was expecting to see Live up to your name on more lists but I expect it’s in a lot of people’s top 30, it’s definitely in mine.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 10:24 AM
I have been taking notes just for fun and Live up to your name appears in four Top Ten lists so far (including mine).
The drama which is in more Top Ten lists is My Ahjussi (15 times).
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 10:53 AM
I love that you have noticed the patterns it’s been interesting to see the mix of old and new and some I thought would be everywhere like the classic Healer, and newer ones like Alchemy and Extraordinary Attorney Woo which were very popular seem to have been of their time. I think a lot of dramas are easy picks for a top 30 but to get best ever takes a lot of thinking about what to use as a criteria.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 11:01 AM
Healer is in 12 tops :)
Attorney Woo and Alchemy in 5.
It's curious that in the discussion about favorite sageuks (a few days aho) Six Flying Dragons was the most mentioned but here it has appeared only once. Here the most mentioned sageuk is Red Sleeve.
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 11:11 AM
Six flying dragons has been MIA for years and only recently became available on Viki so I wonder if availability angst means it comes highly recommended but few have actually watched it in its entirety.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 11:17 AM
What’s the top ten of the top tens listed so far?
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 12:02 PM
My Ahjussi 15 times.
Reply 1988 13 times.
Hospital playlist 13 times.
Healer 12 times.
Forest of secrets 11 times.
Prison Playbook 8 times.
The red sleeve 7 times.
Through the darkness 7 times.
Mr. Sunshine 7 times.
It's ok to not be ok 7 times.
25-21 7 times.
Call it love 7 times.
I only count top ten mentions :) (if I counted runner ups the things would be quite different).
Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 12:08 PM
I still have to add the lists from comment 48 ✍️
Minka
May 17, 2023 at 6:04 AM
Thank you for your service @isagc. 🫶🏼
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 12:13 PM
Thanks for sharing that list and like you said a few of these pop up in the runners up list but so do a lot of others. I feel vindicated that 6 of the 12 are in my top 11! I think this proves the point about the reason why we need a top 30-50 list because are a lot of dramas are well liked and score highly in best ever drama lists.
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petrolia
May 15, 2023 at 1:28 PM
I'm already regretting not mentioning a few dramas like Hyena, Signal, Move to Heaven, Into the Ring...the more I mull it over, the more come to mind. Some decisions are very hard to make...😬🙄
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Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 10:50 AM
Loving that Kim Nam-gil is well represented here!
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 11:03 AM
The Fiery Priest is in 5 Top Ten lists and Queen Seon Deok in 3 :)
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petrolia
May 15, 2023 at 1:32 PM
I just love him! 💝 😉 You see what a good actor he is if you just look at the range of characters he played from Live up to your name over the Fiery Priest to Through the Darkness. It's hard to believe that this is the same man!
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Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 2:12 PM
Totally agree! Through the Darkness and Live up to Your Name are on my top 10 list also, and very likely the only reason The Fiery Priest isn't is because I haven't watched it yet!
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petrolia
May 15, 2023 at 9:45 PM
Oh you have to! That's just a great show in its own right. Hilatiously funny and dead serious all in one, and a great ensemble of actors, plus excellent writing!
wonhwa
May 16, 2023 at 8:46 AM
Kim Nam-gil was my first serious k-drama crush as Queen Seondeok was the third k-drama I watched. Still one of my favorite shows and performances of all time.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 16, 2023 at 10:10 AM
It's almost impossible to watch Queen Seon Deok and not to have a crush on Bidam / Nam Gil.
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40 darwi
May 15, 2023 at 2:57 AM
1 Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
2 Flower of Evil
3 Doom at Your Service
4 Healer
5 The Devil Judge
6 The master's sun
7 Taxi driver 2
8 Prison playbook
9 Stranger
10 The Red Sleeve
and cdrama Love like the galaxy, Killer and healer, Fall in love (2021).
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 8:13 AM
I quite liked Doom but I know it’s not popular on here good to see it on a top 10😊
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darwi
May 15, 2023 at 9:25 AM
What can I say ? I fell in love with Park Bo Young and Seo In Guk. The music is great, the imagery beautiful.
Park Bo Young can almost sell me any drama (almost because Abyss).
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Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 10:49 AM
I've been intrigued by Doom, but it gets so much flak on here I had bumped it farther down the list. I'm glad to see it represented! Something tells me I'd be into it.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 11:13 AM
Go for it, there is nothing to lose; if you don't like it you can drop and go and if you do like it we would welcome you into our secret fan club😆
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Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 12:37 PM
Yes, but there is SO MUCH to watch! I will get to it eventually, and I'll be sure to let y'all know how I feel about it then :) Secret fan club sounds like a pretty good time though!
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darwi
May 15, 2023 at 12:38 PM
If you are game for a serious and flirty SIG (opposite of Minamdang), jokes about death, a few glimpse of Jeju and lots of beautiful coats, go for it.
It has some typical kdramas flaws, but it is poetic.
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cozybooks
May 17, 2023 at 11:09 PM
I second @reply1988 ... join the secret fanclub! :)
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darwi
May 15, 2023 at 12:18 PM
What can I do ?
Chicago typewriter just broke my heart, teared my soul, and exploses in 4th position.
But the order of list list is misleading as the last four dramas have the same note.
To be fair, I will add two other dramas that I consider excellent and are at the top on my score list :
Hello Monster
Crash landing on you
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 12:32 PM
Chicago typewriter is a classic, it is so sad but such a powerful story knowing the context it was set in and the way it shaped the country’s history at a huge cost.
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41 anj0920
May 15, 2023 at 3:52 AM
Have to check an FB post for this lets see after 10+ yrs what has changed
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TOP 20 MOST FAVORITE ASIAN DRAMAS AS OF 3RD QUARTER 2012 In no particular order (^^)
1. All About Eve (Kdrama)
2. Dae Jang Geum (Kdrama)
3. Hwang Jin I (Kdrama)
4. The King 2 Hearts (Kdrama)
5. Queen Seon Deok (Kdrama)
6. Endless Love: Winter Sonata (Kdrama)
7. Queen In-Hyun's Man (kdrama)
8. Full House (kdrama)
9. Meteor Garden (Tdrama)
10. Lovers in Prague (kdrama)
11. Arang and the Magistrate (Kdrama)
12. Secret Garden (Kdrama)
13. History of the Salaryman (Kdrama)
14. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (kdrama)
15. Fated to Love you (Tdrama)
16. Faith (Kdrama)
17. Hana Yori Dango (Jdrama)
18. Hana Kimi (Jdrama, 1st version)
19. Jin (Jdrama)
20. Rich Man, Poor woman (Jdrama)
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2023 2nd Quarter
1. All About Eve (Kdrama)
2. Dae Jang Geum (Kdrama)
3. Nirvana in Fire (Cdrama)
4. Mr. Sunshine (Kdrama)
5. Chief Kim (Kdrama)
6. Endless Love: Winter Sonata (Kdrama)
7. Queen In-Hyun's Man (kdrama)
8. Extraordinary Woo (kdrama)
9. Meteor Garden (TWdrama)
10. Lovers in Prague (kdrama)
11. Prison Playbook (Kdrama)
12. Love like the Galaxy (Cdrama)
13. Fiery Priest (Kdrama)
14. Miss Korea (kdrama)
15. Fated to Love you (Tdrama)
16. GoGo Squid (Cdrama)
17. Hana Yori Dango (Jdrama)
18. Hana Kimi (Jdrama, 1st version)
19. Jin (Jdrama)
20. The Love You Give Me (Cdrama)
Viu PH, iqiyi, wetv and Netflix PH only have a few Jdrama offerings that's why my list is now invaded by Cdramas.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 8:10 AM
I love the compare and contrast highlighting which of the older dramas have stood the test of time😊
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anj0920
May 15, 2023 at 8:34 AM
Yes. 10 yrs ago an episode gets sliced into four parts so it gets uploaded. Now, we even have express view. It's just sad that streaming services here in Philippines don't pick up much Jdramas as before.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 8:38 AM
Yes, choice of J dramas the networks pick up is limited in some regions. Recently, a few of the newer popular J dramas have not available on Viki or Netflix.
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42 Rhena
May 15, 2023 at 5:47 AM
In no particular order though:
1. Extraordinary attorney woo
2. Extracurricular: The burden of adolescence on individuals
3. Reply 1988: Realistic portrayal of youth and friendship and also the camaraderie that exists between family, friends and neighbours.
4. My liberation notes: Wonderful and realistic writing, especially on individuals experiencing existential crisis
5. Hospital playlist
6. Redsleeve
7. IONTBO: how self realization and self actualisation are the highest form of healing for individuals who define themselves by their pasts or trauma.
8. Itaewon class
9.2521: Moving story on youth,love, friendships and determination
10.Chicago type writer
I just love when shows have substance or make me think, reflect and sometimes agree with my own ideologies and perception of life.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 8:04 AM
Good list of dramas with interesting stories.
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Rhena
May 15, 2023 at 9:48 AM
Thank you 😊
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43 Big Poppa
May 15, 2023 at 6:24 AM
No particular order
Robber (2008)
Chuno (2010)
My Ahjussi (2018)
Sassy Girl Chunyang (2005)
King of Bakers (2010)
Rooftop Prince (2012)
Our Blues (2022)
My Liberation Notes (2022)
Moonlight Drawn By Clouds (2016)
Crash Landing on You (2019)
My strongest dramas of this year have been The Glory and Call it Love, but neither have come close to being strong enough to unseat any of my longstanding favourites.
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Isa is always time travelling
May 15, 2023 at 6:45 AM
King of Baking would be on my top 20. The only pure makjang I have enjoyed.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 7:56 AM
Wow some proper classics on this list. Welcome to the comments section looking forward to seeing you on here in the future😊
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Big Poppa
May 15, 2023 at 5:32 PM
Thank you for the welcome. I'm a long time reader -- since the days before the dramabeans e-book came out -- but for some reason, I've never gotten around to registering. I don't think I ever felt sufficiently strongly about anything to comment on it.
But I've always been grateful for the site. It's how I choose which dramas I'm going to watch. If there's a strong consensus on here that a drama is worth watching, then it generally is.
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Big Poppa
May 15, 2023 at 5:48 PM
Also, I really think Extraordinary Attorney Woo belongs in my top 10, but I'm not sure what I'd take out to put it in. Possibly King of Baking: Kim Tak Do? But I watched it quite early on when I was discovering kdrama, and it gave me so much pleasure. Every episode was so compelling. Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a perfect example of just how polished modern kdrama is, such carefully crafted writing, beautifully photographed and art directed, fantastic acting, etc. But King of Baking represents a more innocent era, when the values were more straightforward, the acting was a little less sophisticated, but none the less effective for that -- but the stories drove at you like a sledgehammer.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 6:29 PM
I really appreciate this comment as a new comer to the world of k dramas. I have watched some of the older dramas and get exactly what you mean about the storytelling. I love the older KBS specials that are freely available on the KBS world YouTube channel.
Unfortunately, some K dramas have not aged well so can miss the key elements of the story because the wrist grabs, head slaps, outrageous mother in laws feel too pantomime or the maknae’s culturally accurate response seems too victim like to be a comfortable watch. This is when the beanie knowledge base is so helpful in providing context. Especially, if there is no one in our real life circle of friends who share this interest. I really appreciate those beanies who willing share and help the community remain an interesting, friendly and fun place to hangout.
Big Poppa
May 16, 2023 at 10:52 AM
Replying to your comment below, @Reply1988. For some reason there's no reply button there, so it looks like I'm replying to myself.
I'm currently watching (and really enjoying) Oasis. Since watching kdrama, I've grown somewhat obsessed with the country, the culture and particularly with it's recent history. It's so wildly different from what we experienced in the west. And I think a lot of what we see in dramas comes from being a very heirarchical culture that was the product of a military dictatorship. So all that stuff about teachers beating children with baseball bats, or making them hold stress positions for long periods is really peculiar -- even to someone who grew up when corporal punishment was a thing.
The weirdest thing is having bosses who think its OK to slap the faces and kick the shins of their employees. Could that possibly be a real thing? Surely it wouldn't be a trope if it didn't happen regularly enough for people to recognize it.
But Oasis has a lot of the characteristics of the old maknae of 10 - 15 years ago. Probably why I'm enjoying it as much as I am.
Rhena
May 20, 2023 at 3:55 PM
Exactly what I thought too. I started kdramas 2021 but I've watched about 73,so I think I know most of the tropes used and plot devices but while watching Attorney woo,it seemed so fresh , the writing and directing was so neat. It was such a beloved drama and rightly so,but a lot of people disliked it maybe because it didn't give them the normal "kdrama feels" or something. But as someone that initially thought kdramas were all about cartoonish slurpy romance (the original reason I hesitated to watch them before falling in love with them) I have to say that Attorney woo is one of the best kdramas out there.
Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 6:12 PM
It’s great to see long time lurkers stepping into the comments section. There are thousands of silent beanies who use the site daily and it’s fascinating to see which posts pull someone into making that first comment. Most beanies say it is the comments section that helps them to get a better feel of the elements of the show that make it one to watch or avoid. I love the different perspectives of the beanies new and old. The more beanies jump in, the livelier the discussion. It was interesting for me to see that some beanies have been consistently commenting over the years whilst other voices have come and gone.
It’s a real shame when the comments section is very quiet as it harder for beanies to know if this is about the show or just the vocal beanies are not watching that show. We all have different tastes and therefore a less popular show could be perfect viewing for some beanies. A lot of the shows I like get less than 3% viewer ratings over the weeks they are on air and yet bring me so much joy.
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44 Moni Hasnone
May 15, 2023 at 7:31 AM
1. Move to Heaven (Netflix 2021) - 11/10
2. Descendants of the Sun (KBS 2016) - 11/10
3. It’s okay to not be okay (tvN 2020) - 11/10
4. Flower of Evil (tvN 2020) - 10.5/10
5. Mad Dog (KBS 2017) - 10.5/10
6. The Guest (OCN 2018) - 10.5/10
7. Taxi Driver (SBS 2021) - 10.5/10
8. Healer (KBS 2015) - 10.5/10
9. Miss Hammurabi (JTBC 2017) - 10/10
10. Zombie Detective (KBS 2020) - 10/10
My top 10 look pretty different haha
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 7:53 AM
I liked Miss Hammurabi too great to see it on here 😊
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cozybooks
May 17, 2023 at 11:11 PM
Zombie Detective was hilarious!! Glad to see it mentioned here :)
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45 Liadan
May 15, 2023 at 8:51 AM
So here's my top 10 K-dramas:
1. Happiness;
2. Stranger (Forest of Secrets) - both seasons;
3. It's okay to not be okay;
4. Vincenzo;
5. Coffee Prince;
6. Call it Love;
7. Kingdom;
8. Beyond Evil;
9. Life;
10. The Moon Embracing The Sun/Just Between Lovers
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 9:02 AM
Its good to see you in the comments section, great mix of old and new!
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Liadan
May 15, 2023 at 9:15 AM
Thank You 😀
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46 Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 9:53 AM
The top few spots are in order, the bottom few spots I'm less sure of the order, but fairly sure that these are my top 10 of the moment. These are also not the "best" dramas I've ever seen, but my favorites.
1. Crash Landing on You
2. Alchemy of Souls
3. My Ajusshi
4. Through the Darkness
5. Signal
6. Live Up to Your Name
7. Our Beloved Summer
8. Our Blooming Youth
9. Call it Love
10. Prison Playbook
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Unaspirated
May 15, 2023 at 2:07 PM
Had a minute, so I decided to come back and provide reasons. Not that any reasons or justifications are necessary on a list of favorites :)
1. CLOY - this was my first drama and had everything - a fantastic romance, great found-family, legitimate barriers to our leads being together, awesome soundtrack, NIS agent who I would watch a spinoff show about, etc.
2. AOS - grabbed me and didn’t let me go for all 30 episodes. Deserves an award for having its leads fall in love compellingly TWICE.
3. MA - this was the first drama I watched that felt “real” to me. The characters were so heartbreakingly human, and the whole thing could not have been executed better.
4. TTD - Such a great performance from Kim Nam-gil - that alone might get it into my top 10, but this was also deeply compassionate and featured one of my favorite bromances.
5. Signal - I love some timey-wimey business, and this just really knew what it was doing in that department. We weren’t given all the information ever, but that left the mystery of the whole thing alive, and I thought the ending was brilliant. Plus, Lee Je-hoon, Kim Hye-soo, and Cho Jin-woong *chef's kiss*
6. LUTYN - One of the best couples I’ve seen in a drama, very cool side-by-side doctor scenes, gut-wrenching final episodes.
7. OBS - almost succeeded in making me nostalgic for high school (this is essentially impossible), their love story was sweet both times, and they might be the leads I want to hang out with the most.
8. OBY - satisfying mystery, beautiful visuals, really interesting exploration of self-fulfilling prophecies, tough conversations about forgiveness, fun side characters.
9. CIL - slow burn, so much character growth, endearing siblings, awesome platonic male/female friendship that stayed platonic.
10. PP - great bromance(s), loads of inmates’ stories to get invested in, one of the best side-romances ever.
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HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
May 16, 2023 at 9:09 AM
I enjoyed reading your reasons! Also happy to see Our Blooming Youth. I'm finding that the more I think about OBY in retrospect, the more I like it, and for the reasons you mention!
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Kas61
June 18, 2023 at 6:28 PM
Funny, I rather fancied that NIS agent in CLOY too!
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Big Poppa
May 19, 2023 at 7:39 AM
The stuff here that isn't already in my top 10 is all in my top 20.
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47 Tizzy
May 15, 2023 at 10:01 AM
Just because....
Top 10
Crash Landing on You
Healer
City Hunter
Fated to Love You
Love from Another Star
Mr Sunshine
Attorney Woo
Red Sleeve
Dr Romantic series
Nine
Runner Ups
I’m Not a Robot
25 21
Hospital Playlist
Chicago Typewriter
Reply 1988
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 17, 2023 at 6:16 PM
I love the ‘just because’ title and the runner up list had some contenders.
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Tizzy
May 19, 2023 at 12:36 PM
Haha! Because they're not necessarily the best dramas but I love them! 😉😉😉
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48 amfalulawatching
May 15, 2023 at 10:37 AM
I made my list for this year first without looking at last year’s list. In no particular order
Que Sera Sera
Chuno
Return of Iljimae
Secret Love Affair
Squid Game
Yumi's Cells
Flower Boy Ramen Shop
It Happened in Bali
Welcome to Waikiki
White Christmas
Didn’t make it to the top 10 this time, Empress Ki, Another Oh Hae Young, My Lovely Sam Soon. They were replaced by Yumi’s Cells, Squid Game, Secret Love Affair.
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 17, 2023 at 6:14 PM
I never hear anyone refer to Flower boy ramen shop and wonder if it was because of the teacher/student and arranged marriage set up for the love triangle. I stayed to the end despite both these problematic elements and think they tried to manage the age and stage of life issue.
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amfalulawatching
May 17, 2023 at 8:52 PM
Maybe. It is also an older drama. I did find the drama because it was on this list from DB that helped me find dramas back when I started watching (a great source----I’m ever thankful to DB!) https://www.dramabeans.com/2017/02/top-10-favorite-dramas-of-all-time/ The recaps were also pretty favorable. I like clever writing, and FBRS has clever writing. It is laugh out loud funny, a bit naughty, and surprisingly touching. I’m not troubled by the relationships because nothing is meant to be realistic in this comedy/farce. The actors play their parts fully with a very appealing Jung Il Woo. If everything I watched had to conform to a contemporary moral/ethical/cultural code, I probably would not be able to watch anything, read anything (or leave the house). Sometimes I do wonder if we feel we will be judged by saying we enjoyed watching something that others did not enjoy, or felt was inappropriate. I think that it is one reason why it took me so long to feel comfortable posting comments. Most of my favorite dramas do have challenging themes---so it may be me!
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 17, 2023 at 9:27 PM
Thank you, thank you, thank you for sharing this blast from the past🤗 a reminder of how much fun people can have with the selection process. That was 6 years ago and some of the dramas and still on top tens now! So great to see the beanies all over the comments section, 520 comments and people were still adding comments in 2021!
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cozybooks
May 17, 2023 at 11:12 PM
Ooooh this would a fun way to do this next year: make the list blind and THEN check to see what got bumped haha
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49 fournier48
May 15, 2023 at 11:49 AM
This is so fun! I kept my list to shows that if I sat down rewatch them, I would not fast forward through any storylines or annoying scenes. This eliminated a few of my favorites (My Mister, Weightlifting Fairy, and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon).
1. Reply 1988
2. Healer-- my first kdrama!
3. Prison Playbook
4. Coffee Prince
5. Oh My Ghostess
6. Yumi's Cells 1 & 2
7. Marriage Not Dating
8. True Beauty
9. Angry Mom
10. Maybe Moon Lovers or Glory, but could this just be recency bias?
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Reply1988 - 🍊Mother Bean🍊
May 15, 2023 at 12:01 PM
So now I am intrigued does this mean there are less/shorter/lower intensity annoying scenes/unnecessary storylines in these ones?
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fournier48
May 15, 2023 at 3:07 PM
Ha! Probably, but I'm okay sitting through them-- unlike the hospital scenes in Strong Women, the ex-girlfriend scenes in Weightlifting Fairy, and every scene with Nara in it in My Mister.
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50 MikeyD signed up
May 15, 2023 at 12:42 PM
I get the impression the lists would be much different if the heading was "Your top ten dramas IF you disregard the last two episodes." I'm thinking of the series 'Sol Sol La La Don't watch the final episode'
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Elinor
May 18, 2023 at 12:21 AM
Nah, I'd advise Do Do Don't Even Start La La Later You'll Be Sol Sol Sorry.
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Goyangi and the Camel Crickets
May 19, 2023 at 5:32 PM
🤣🤣
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