Since we’ve now passed the first six -months of the year, I tallied up my shows, and not including my watching of older shows (10) and Japanese romances (5) I’ve completed 17 of the kdramas released in 2023. (I’ve started and dropped about 10 others, including, sad to say, 4 that are running right now.) Although most of the shows have had a happy ending, I’ve been struck by an overall grim tone throughout, even in the so called rom-coms. One of the two shows I’m watching this week kind of fits this pattern, although I’m enjoying it. The other, though, was very different.

Thanks to @dramaaddictally for her enthusiastic and thoughtful review, I watched One Day Off and completed it last night. It really is a charming, thought provoking episodic drama. Yes, you have to be in a certain mood—you don’t want to go into it hoping the character played by Lee Na Young is thirsty for revenge. But her encounters are little mini-stories in themselves, very poignant and approachable. Plus, if you are a pseudo-intellectual like me, you can bore friends and family by expounding on the deep themes in each episode, and there are some pretty profound themes in this drama, that appear without being preachy or ponderous. The latter is what my explanation adds!

Speaking of poignant stories, I’m still watching a show that is a LOT less profound, but surprisingly engaging to me, My Perfect Stranger. Yes, it’s a derivative time travel murder mystery that might end with a thud. But so far its kept me guessing. Also, it has a theme that as a parent I really appreciate -- learning about and finally understanding your parents. Maybe I should make my adult children watch it and they would shed a few tears rather than always hopping into time travel cars to go back to the 80s to try to prevent me from dating the woman who would become my wife.

I actually wept a bit myself these last episodes, averting my face from my wife so I wouldn’t have to confess that “this absurd serial killer mystery that features a time traveling Hyundai is making me cry.” Hyundais have made me cry before, but because of their repair bills, not emotional associations. I was never very elated by my Elantra, but maybe that was because I didn’t pay extra for the time-travel option!

Current/recent:
My Perfect Stranger: Could we please move the mysteries along? And I want to see what happens when the damned car finally gets fixed!

Older stuff:
Stranger (Forest of Secrets) 1: Perfect. Just perfect. As perfect as Jo Seung-woo’s hair (which is perfect).

Be Melodramatic: If you'd told me I would love a show with an entire episode about farting, capped off with an upbeat OST about poop smells, I'd have said you were crazy. I’d be hard-pressed to pick a favorite moment - the massage chair PPL! The radio-controlled car pulling the FL in a wagon! The snippy head writer who turns into a bunny! Sohn Seok-ku being weird as hell washing dishes! I have a feeling there are lots of other little things to catch on rewatch, because there was just So Much Goodness.

Someday or One Day (Taiwan 2019): I fought this show all the way through ep. 8 (of 13), loving the time travel and most of the cast but - minority opinion- unable to accept Alice Ke as a high-schooler. (Go ahead, call me shallow, her acting is terrific but the wildly unflattering hairstyles that made her look about 40 hurt my eyes and took me right out of every HS scene.) The later timelines were great, but there weren’t enough of them. It was also so slow. And then ep. 9 finally arrived to grab me by the wrist, strap me into the rollercoaster, and take off for a hell of a ride. Wow. So glad I stuck with it.

Eun-joo’s Room: Trying this again now that I’ve found acceptable video quality on a different darkside site (although the subs suck). It’s an easy, relaxing watch that makes me feel like it’s a tiny victory every time my bathroom sink doesn’t fall off the wall.

Nine: Nine Time Travels: Just started; since I was already in one time-travel wormhole, I might as well continue down another.

Still on repeat watch of Till the End of the Moon. Don't ask me how many times. This is the only drama I've watched in the past 4 months ( while tramping around South America). Glad I wasn't influenced by Avenue X's ranting ( I liked Leo and BaiLu in Love is Sweet.) TTEOTM drew me in from the first episode and by the second, I was addicted. I am glad the drama is only 40 episodes and not 56. The pace was breathtaking and not once did I use the fast forward button. TTEOTM is easily among my Top 3 of all Chinese costume dramas, not only Xanxia. I like the drama for all the reasons already cited. Leo is utterly mesmerising. Bailu is my favourite actress. The fight scenes are unmatchable. I love the OST. etc. etc.

Our favorite show remains DR. CHA. It is just so well done. The final episodes are this weekend.

OH! YOUNG-SHIN is still trying hard but the show struggles at times. I agree with Deabakgrits that this is not the do-over we hoped for, but it is watchable.

We finally got the Confession that we have been waiting for on THE REAL HAS COME! I loved it almost as much as I loved the epic smackdown administered to our ML’s family by our FL. But the 2FL has figured things out- so here comes more trouble- and our 2ML is about to re-appear. Meanwhile the ML’s maknae is talking to and trying to sign a contract with our FL’s seven year old niece (this is not as weird as it sounds) not knowing (yet) that FL’s younger brother (and not her uncle) is the child’s father- nor that as soon as our leads register their marriage that she herself will now be the child’s aunt. It is good to have a truly comic storyline to go with the more makjang ones. Did I mention how annoyed I am at the ML’s siblings?

My wife is totally hooked on TAIL OF THE NINETAILED 1938 she also continues to watch THE GOOD BAD MOTHER but I myself have not.

I have sort of been skipping around several C-drama rom-coms. Not the best way to watch them. Mostly I am just looking forward to SEE YOU IN MY 19TH LIFE, HEARTBEAT and KING THE LAND.

I watched The Good Bad Mother and had forgotten how many episodes it was haha. I can't believe it's already almost over. Feels like there may be alot of quick solutions. I hope the villains get their comeuppence and that it's satisfying. More twins! I'll definitely miss young Kang Ho with the kids but I'm curious about adult Kang Ho with them.

I watched Misaeng (Incomplete Life) and I'm still surprised it was as popular as it was considering it's just about working in an office. I guess people really resonated with it. It's always nice to feel seen. The trip to Jordan felt like such a tonal shift haha. I forgot the opening scene of the drama looked like an action shoot so I was thrown by the last 20 or so minutes. I like to think the 4 rookies are still meeting up like once a week or month, for symmetry haha. But seriously, I liked their comraderie and how they all seemed to really add something to the group. Even though the guys were embarassed, I hope that group picture still exists.

So far I've watched 1 episode of Prison Playbook. I wasn't expecting any levity so that was surprising and then it came to an end by the closing minutes. I know the lead character isn't supposed to be the smartest but SERIOUSLY, who gets on the bad side of the biggest, meanest cellmate and the head prison guard?! That doesn't scream survival instincts even if he thought he would be there a limited time. Alot can happen in that time.

I watched 1 episode of One Day Off. It's a bit slow for me so far but I get that it's supposed slow and quiet since she's at a temple and trying to find some inner peace or something. I don't know if I'll continue it; maybe I will since it's a short series.

One of my main criteria for dramas lately is no romance or at least that that isn't the main focus. Surprising or maybe not surprising, it's hard to find those types of dramas that capture my attention.

I never thought i’d be watching a historical c-drama but i just spent my friday night and a good chunk of Saturday speed-watching Love Like the Galaxy. I started with the intention of only watching the short clips on YT, but i got so hooked that i decided to check the episodes in order. If it wasn’t 50+ episodes i probably would’ve watched it without skipping. At times the drama doesn’t even feel like a period-piece, thanks to its clever writing and placement of humor.

My drama watching lately is so non-existent that maybe I should skip a week or two... or more until I feel like actually enjoying shows again and not just forcing myself to do so.

TALE OF THE NINE-TAILED 1938: This drama is merrily heading into bloodshed and mayhem and I wish I was more mentally prepared for all that. With Season3 still up in the air we can only hope that whatever conclusion S2 is gonna have it would be at least logically satisfying, since it's kinda obvious now that emotionally it would be bittersweet at best. Seems like PAIN is gonna be the main theme of my year-end review if I ever get to write one)))

ASHES OF LOVE: I'm afraid I've overestimated myself((( I sat through 3 (!) more episodes this week, and even that took quite a bit of effort. Not sure how much it's a fault of epic post-TTEOTM hungover (guess I need an exorcist who will finally lift the dark spell that drama has on me) and how much it's just show being something entirely out of my preferences spectrum even after a lot of generous stretching involved, but end result is the same. I'm not fully giving up yet because I'm AWFULLY stubborn, but damn, couldn't it be at least a little easier? I wish I could just FF all the parts I don't care about - which is like 95% of the whole thing so far - but with a story so lengthy I'll probably lose any track of the plot if I do that. Is there a detailed - preferably episode by episode - recap somewhere that I can read and use as a skipping guide?

I am rewatching Ghost doctor bc weekends do be slow to come but still rewinding Uee parts cause that character, if i had to live with her i would use any excuse to knock her unconcsious. Kim Bum is so different in GD and as Rang in Tof9T. Seon Tak is a kind of "C'est la vie, cuckoo!" type, that doesnt stay attached to a situation (what a great way to live! ) he is like a lucky fool and Rang on the other hand is like hypersensitive, edgy and attracts danger, and is deeply agftected by everything. It made me think on law of attraction and that you attract what you are, and your thoughts become who you are. in the end it is true we can only help ourselves. nobody aint going to save us from our own thoughts.

not watching much else, I made my speech draft, of course it has zombies in it and ghosts. and finished travel photo album with 400 photos.

I want to start the day trip drama, but it is a fuss finding it anywhere in my region. maybe i have to use VPN so i can use a streaming site. they all blocked...

Whew! Just finished Joy of Life and I am blown away. What a powerful, thoughtful beautifully crafted drama. The only thing I can think to do is start over from the beginning and look for hints and clues. Lord I feel for all the fans who have been waiting for so many years for the sequel to begin shooting.
Loved the tag line before the final credits:
"This is dedicated to all the ordinary yet brave people who use love and hope to make this world more kind."
I am a fan and will be there for the next time/season 2 as this has become my number one favorite C-drama.

Misaeng - I’d like to thank the Beanies who mentioned Misaeng as their choice in the You can only pick one: Slice-of-life dramas post. This has been in my watchlist but I only got to start it after that post. And boy… I am enjoying it so much! It’s giving me My Mister vibes (which I also love). Beautiful, flawed characters, heavy storyline but there’s the excitement on the corporate tension and effortless comedy gold. Only halfway through (12/20 episodes), but I can already tell this is for keeps. I’m happy to have another drama added to my favorite list.

My Perfect Stranger – I'm dropping this after 8 episodes. So many things distract me. Two schoolboys are among the 3 suspects when a teacher is murdered, a teacher they hardly know. The two murder victims seen so far are both tied with a red string nobody pays any attention to. It all happens in a village with so few people that wearing a blue cap is enough to identify you, but the police department has some 10 detectives. Where did the ML get the idea he can fix a broken time-travel car? Of course he can't!

Tale of the Nine Tailed 1938: I love this show so much! Each and everyone of the characters is just brilliant, and the set design and costumes are gorgeous.

Dr Cha: I do not want to give away the ending, but I am MASSIVELY annoyed. The last two episodes really were the worst.

The Glory: Finally finsihed part 1 and 2. I did feel a bit let down at the end, not sure why, but it was a good, though disturbing watch. It didn't flow as well as I thought it would. Most of the 'revenge' tools used were mere flukes and didn't show much for the long term planning. At one point it felt things were being handed onto Dong-Eun's plate by some divine intervention. Some of the skin show didn't make much sense either other than making it a typical Netflix show (Cha Joo Young has beautiful nude visuals but seemed kind of wasted in a revenge bullying drama). Also, I absolutely didn't feel any chemistry between the leads. Was it just me? Later I learned the ML and the villain (Lim Ji Yeon is spectacular) are dating. maybe that's why? Don't know. Found the ML super cute and looking forward to watch The Good bad mother once it ends.

Our Beloved Summer: This was a long drawn watch. I shipped the couple, but the darned thing was SO repetitive that I almsot gave up in the middle. I could have FF several episodes and they were exactly where they were....it was frustrating and should have been at least four episodes less. But it was innovatively crafted otherwise and Woo Shik is a cutie, though I am still on the fence with Kim Da-mi. It did leave me with a sweet feeling overall which feels nice.

The Concubine (movie): It made me sit up for its shock value. After watching slew of chaste K-dramas full of fish kisses, hand holding passing for passion and hugs making up for lack of love making, this popped my eyes out. The movie wasn't great by any measure, but boy, they didn't hold back. Some of the scenes are designed to gross you out even though the characters are having almost pornographic sex. And the shock never ends, right till the end. This also made me realize why some of the recent dramas might have caused immense frustration with the romance fans LOL!