Korean Dramas of 2018
December 27, 2018
For starters,
I do feel like 2018's dramas are mostly dry and lived on from the hype of the actors in it.
This OR I was just really stressed out over things for school that I found most kdramas dry? [I feel like it's the latter]
However, I do feel like this year's dramas has a more melodramatic plot and for someone who was in a spiral of her own melodrama, I didn't need it. And most of them, I just dropped them after episode 5 or so.
I was prone to go watch lighthearted ones.
So, bear with me, I feel like I started a lot of dramas but weren't able to finish them because I was not interested or just don't have the patience to watch it.
[This list is scattered unless for the last two.
These are all the dramas I remember watching.]
1. Welcome to Waikiki
This is the FIRST kdrama I watched in 2018 and I LOVE it.
It's just a great show to watch when you get back home from school or work to just laugh.
I still remember in episode 1 when three of them went to a grocery store to buy milk and made a speech on their broke-ness I laughed SO HARD.
Dude, I'm not the biggest fan of comedy in a drama but Waikiki WORKS. The slapstick comedy is stupid but hilarious. All the actors ARE WONDERFUL in their roles.
And relatable? Despite it slapstick comedy it's just so close to most of our hearts about the struggles to have a job and money to live a society where everything goes so fast that your biggest fear is not to be able to catch up.
2. Switch: Change The World
The main reason why I started this:
I haven't see Jang Geun Suk in a drama for YEARSSSS and I missed him.
I did watch this and I felt so agitated waiting for the new episodes.
All of the characters are grey and have their own needs to achieve something and they dared cross the line between right and wrong.
If you like crime drama-centric on gangsterism, worth the watch.
3. What's Wrong with Secretary Kim
This drama is like HELLA big this year.
It's fun and funny and the romance is technically a slow burn.
I have one petty problem though: I read the webtoon and Park Seo Joon looks so boyish compared to the webtoon design of his character and I had trouble enjoying it.
The main girl looks EXACTLY like her counterpart in webtoon.
That's it, a petty reason.
Overall a fun drama, a forgettable one yes, but a fun drama nonetheless.
[Gosh, I sound so mean...]
4. Lovely Horribly
The ONLY reason why I watched this is that the main character is a writer and I have a soft spot of drama that has this type of character.
And the ONLY reason I went through all episode because I was into deep to stop.
A drama I realized that Highlight's Gi Kwang is kinda cute.
A drama has a lot of plot holes but still fun because it's spooky.
Watch for Ji Hyo.
And the OST, Bumkey still the best!!
5. Misty
I watch this out of boredom and didn't expect anything but I was HOOKED.
It's so melodramatic and you gotta hate the main woman but then... oh....tHAT happened?? Wow...
[But I still don't condone cheating]
Quite a lot of topic of sexism in the workplace and mainly about the couple's marriage that is falling apart.
This drama has strong writing I'll give that.
6. Mr. House Helper
aaaHHHHH I feel REFRESH after an episode.
Offended me with 'Your house reflects your state of mind' because true.
This drama is more to Slice of Life than any other genre.
I like the main guy and the way he handles people and became friends to his clients.
And HE GIVES TIPS ON HOUSE CLEANING!!! [I appreciate]
I like him and the second girl lead cause...the main girl... is okay?
Watch for the lighthearted moments.
7. Life
When they cast Lee Dong Wok and Cho Seung Woo together my head went '!!!!!!!!'
And they're enemies in this drama??!!!
This is not a romance but more to 'reality going to choke you with facts' drama.
It shows that every institution in the world is in fact, business and profit first.
Even when you're an established, talented doctor don't have the power to stop them.
Watching this knowing this fact scared me.
8. Life on Mars
This is based on a British TV show about a cop who goes back in time
I watched a few episodes of the British one and the Korean version is more emotional and I feel like I prefer the Korean one more.
I believe that Jo Kyung Ho is one of the most UNDERRATED Korean actors out there. He's talented and I like the way he acts in shows.
This drama is good too I feel bad for his character.
And the number of PRETTY JACKETS the main guy wear? Whew!
9. The Undatables
I LOVE Nam Goong Min and Hwan Jung Eun individually because they're so funny [so funny] and we got a drama that they're together and my mind. MY MIND!
A lighthearted drama of course and the romance are more adult and quick.
But Nam Goong Min's character is not as funny as Dan Tae and my hopes were high and kinda disappointed but oh well.
Still, a funny kdrama to watch.
10. 100 Days with My Prince
This is a drama you watch just because.
The plot is nothing special but D.O is an exceptional actor and I feel like most of the time I enjoyed it because of him and the main girl.
Also, FLUFF relationship honestly we here to stan.
11. My Husband Mr. Oh
The plot is not special either but to cast a comedian as the second lead and you enjoyed his character is wholesome af.
I watched in until the end because I was into deep to stop lmao.
12. Time
Tragedy. Melodrama. People dying.
Hell, this drama is dramatic as drama could be but I can't stop watching it. It was written like a Shakespearian play.
The actors are doing a great job. I can't believe the dude is the same dude in Waikiki.
13. The Ghost Detective
Daniel Choi, we missed you.
It was the spooky season, of course, I watched this.
The first 2 episodes ARE STRONG AF. There were spooky, interesting and shocking.
But then... it went a little bit downhill?
Suddenly, the main girl kept on fainting when she in the two episodes looks strong.
Most of the time I was just confused.
But I stayed for the plot and the mystery and that red DRESSED BITC-
Anyways, a great drama to watch if you want to watch a supernatural drama but is kinda afraid, it's not that scary after a few secrets revealed.
14. Children of Nobody.
I genuinely forgot about this drama sjdjddfjffjdjjs
I didn't watch it until episode 7 aired cause the summary provided is weird.
But, as a person who loves police drama with a hint of psychological, I gave it a try and I LIKE IT!
The drama centers around child abuse and a child psychologist who are also maybe? was a survivor of abuse.
It's super interesting and makes you think of theories and stuff.
It still airs too!
And Vixx's Hakyeon is in here!!
15. Mr. Sunshine
Look.
This was written by the person who wrote Goblin and the same director who directed Goblin OF FUCKING COURSE I WAS GOING TO WATCH IT.
This was written by the person who wrote Goblin and the same director who directed Goblin OF FUCKING COURSE I WAS GOING TO WATCH IT.
I agreed that a lot of us are not a fan of historical dramas especially it's historical in the sense that this has happened back then.
And I too, have issues on the age gap. But I gave a benefit of a doubt because I waited for this drama since it announced and the actors are ALL credible and acted in movies I had hopes okay.
I feel like you have to have some knowledge on the US occupation in Joseon to further understand.
It is a VERY good drama and has very strong and careful writing.
This is a drama you don't watch for fun cause you gonna get bored.
This is a drama you watch BECAUSE you want to learn and enjoy good writing.
Also, Park Hyo Shin sang the OST.
16. Return
This is the drama that the villains did so much shit to cover their wrongdoings and then they did another stupid shit and you just like "SIT DOWN!"
This drama is GREAT. There so much discussion after an episode ended. I'm in love with Shin Sung Rok now. This is a drama you love hating the rich men whom somehow you know are not the killer but like "fuck them!"
Kinda disappointing to changed the main lead in the middle of the series because an issue happened and poor her.
A great show to watch!
Random not this year's dramas:
I know this one comes out 2 years ago but;
17. Age of Youth
Screw it okay! THIS IS SO GOOD.
I wished we have more kdrama centers around college kids like wHAT SHOULD I SACRIFICE TO HAVE ONE??!!
Great, SO GREAT. I didn't sleep and marathoned ALL THE EPISODES.
Senior Jin Myung and Jae Hwan HAVE MY HEART!!
My favorite couple in the drama T___T
This one comes out three years ago but!
18. Missing Noir M
ITS SO GOOD AND IM SO PISSED NO KNOWING IT EARLIER IN LIFE.
It's a well know underrated Kdrama and I jUST YES
Great detective drama and amazing plot and it have like 10 episodes I'm so sad.
I don't have any favorite dramas this year, I was pretty off. But I have two dramas that I do enjoy most this year.
19. Feel Good To Die
I read the webtoon [Happy if You Died] out of boredom and it is SO FUNNY.
Then I found out that it would turn into a drama and I'm like YESSS LORD
The webtoon is more to the relationship and funny moments, rarely a serious issue goes up and the main lead is in his 50 and the girl in her mid-twenties and there is no romance. Like it ended in the way a lot of readers aren't sad nor happy?
The kdrama too, there rarely a romance scene [unless with the male second lead] and I can't believe I say this. This a great adaptation.
It surprised me. To adapt a famous webtoon and changed the story to suit a drama but STILL have the integrity to respect the original story is fascinating.
The kdrama focuses a lot of office drama and character developments. Baek Jin Sang, the male lead, wooo you gonna want to strangle him so bad like in the webtoon. He's such a J-E-RK and then you see him grow and you care for this man.
This is basically a drama about a middle-aged man who keeps dying because he refuses to be nice.
Great drama about work life. STRONG WRITING.
10/10 would recommend.
20. The Guest
The Son, The Father, and the Holy Spirit.
My Coffee Prince waiters T___T
I was scared. At one point I screamed. At one point I cursed like a sailor.
I find it super fascinating how the show entangled Korean Shamanism and Catholicism together WITH a ghost/spirit that was deep into the Chinese culture.
Like WHAT?!
We get an exciting show by this.
I love how everyone who watches this show is able to come out with many theories and how we all want all three of them TO BE AT PEACE!
All three of them went through a lot when they were kids and I'm just- I WANT TO FIGHT THAT FUCKING SPIRIT!!
LET THEM BE AT PEACE!!
I feel no supernatural/horror Kdrama will TOP this in the short run.
gUYS, people were really scared to watch this when it aired cause it aired at 11 PM.
Even I watched the episodes in the morning.
A great show.
Episode 2 is my FAVOURITE. The exorcism part aHHHHH.
Watch it. Do it for Father Mateo.
I think these are enough.
I didn't enjoy a lot of shows this year honestly. A lot of them I watched this out of boredom and forgets about them. A lot of it because I was super busy and I decided to read books instead.
Adios for this year's Kdramas
- Amni
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