Staff Pick of the Month - Picks of the Year Edition

Good day MDL’ers and Happy New Year! 

For this month, it’s going to be a simple staff pick of the year. Our staff members had a busy year of dramas and now they’re introducing you their favourites.

Aya97 (Editor) recommends:

Bad Guys

I have to start by mentioning that 2014 was a bad year for me when it comes to dramas. I didn't find anything appealing for a long time and nothing really interested me. In my opinion, most of the dramas were really overrated, and that bored me to no end. One exception has to be Bad Guys . I'm sure that many of you heard of it and if not you should really give it a try. I am now watching it a second time; that's how interesting it is.

First of all you have to be aware that there is no romance involved. I started watching it because of Park Hae Jin who proved to be a big surprise this year, but by the end I fell in love with the whole cast. So let me give you a little idea on the characters without spoiling anything for you:)

Oh Goo Tak (Kim Sang Joon)

One of my favorite characters in the drama. Of course, this is all because the genius Kim Sang Joon. First of all I have to say that his voice is really "to-die-for". Believed to be a "crazy dog", he is a retired police detective who isn't afraid to use his fists when necessary. After the Police Chief asks him to catch a criminal, Goo Tak forms his own team of misfits, more like notorious criminals.

Park Woong Cheol (Ma Dong Seok)

I've always loved the characters that Dong Seok ajhussi played. They have a certain depth that many others lack, and there is no exception when it comes to Woong Cheol. At first he seems like a "stupid muscle package" but with every episode you come to realise he has more layers than you could think of. Honest and loyal, he would do anything to protect those close to him, even if that would bring him in prison.

Jung Tae Soo (Jo Dong Hyeok)

This is my other favorite character in this drama. Dong Heok really took me by surprise because I didn't expect myself to fall for him at all. His character is a paid shooter who can kill people in cold blood. No evidence was found at his crime scene, having a skill few could compare to. The only reason he got caught was because he surrendered. Through the episodes you will be able to find out what determined him to do so and why.

Lee Jung Moon (Park Hae Jin)

Last but not least we have the psycho. A genius kid, who has the title of the youngest serial killer in South Korea. Apparently he doesn't remember any of his crimes, or ever killing a person. Of all of them Jung Moon can be considered the most unstable one, but also you will find the most changes in him while watching the drama.

All in all, I consider Bad Guys to be the best drama this year (even if I didn't have the chance of watching that many) and I encourage anyone to watch it.

Hessa (Approval Moderator) recommends:

It's Okay, That's Love

It's Okay, That's Love was one of the popular dramas this year. To me this drama was one of the most well done dramas based on acting and plot. The theme of mental disorders is not much talked about in K-dramas. Moreover, usually in dramas, the antagonist is the one with a mental problem, and the others are all healthy normal human beings. While in this drama, it showed a realistic side of the problem by displaying normal people with mental issues that struggle, strive in life, and try to let go of their traumatic past. It's Okay, That's Love displayed a variety of characters, which are lovable and each with his/her own story to tell. Moreover, this drama showed how love is needed and how it helps them break free from their inner demon that is consuming them.

It's Okay, That's Love, unlike teen dramas with hardly a kiss or two in the entire drama, showed more of a mature side. It dealt with the main character Gong Hyo Jin who was afraid of intimate relationships. The drama showed a mature tone and dealt with problems and advancement in relationships, which is neglected in other dramas.

In term of acting and the characters, they all seemed natural. The way the characters have fun and joke around in this drama feels real, which made me smile while watching them. I honestly love all of the characters, from lead to guests; they were all unique in my opinion.

Moreover, let me tell you about the awesome OST. This is by far my most favorite OST from all the movies and dramas I have watched. The songs were great, and most of them are in English, so it will not be hard to memorize them and sing along the drama. Actually, it has been 3 months since I watched this drama, but you would still find me singing the songs from this drama passionately.

Overall, I would recommend this drama if you are sick of the usual teen K-dramas, and if you want to see real and natural acting with loveable characters, with an awesome plot and OST. This drama will surely give you “feels”. Enjoy!

Kikimorka (Editor) recommends:

Bitter Blood

I was so excited to see Sato Takeru play in this kind of drama that it’s fair to say his role was the main reason why I decided to watch it. Before that, I even ended up reading an interview with him and his best friend (One Ok Rock’s Taka) in which Taka mentioned that his favourite drama (with Takeru) was “Bitter Blood” so that sparked my interest even more!  That does all about the background, now, let’s get started with the plot!

“That’s the drama I’ve been looking for!! Bitter Blood has a really serious and mysterious ring to it so it should be a great detective drama!” or so I thought… Originally, that’s what I assumed I’d be watching! But it wasn’t long before I realised I got it wrong! Personally, I feel that the detective part wasn’t the focus of the drama, but the means through which the idea of the plot was conveyed. On the surface, there’s the comical side of Bitter Blood - thanks to the amazing Watabe-Sato duo aka the Gentle-Junior duo, the chemistry between them and the way they complete each other. Let’s not forget about all the other quite memorable characters with their respective, even more memorable nicknames – Bachelor, Chaser, Skunk, Taka (the one who came up with the nicknames)! The hilarious situations and cases they find themselves in guarantee you a good laugh and I promise (I hope, at least) you’ll love it! Just don’t take it seriously, if you do, you’ll probably not enjoy it as much! On a more serious note, the drama reveals this side of our personalities which we are not so comfortable with showing to others. Be it because we are too proud to open up or because we are too scared to share such feelings and thoughts, we just don’t pour our hearts out. While I was watching it, I couldn’t help seeing myself in both Shimao-senpai (Gentle) and his son Natsuki (Junior)! They find it extremely difficult to express how much they value each other, let alone put it in words. This uneasiness between them is as refreshing and funny as it is troubling. They are complete opposites so the way they cope with their differences is one of this drama’s most intriguing aspects, in my opinion. 

If you are up for it and haven’t watched it yet, go ahead and give Bitter Blood a try! I really hope you’ll be pleasantly surprised!

rosefae72 (Editor in Chief) recommends:

Modern Farmer

When I first started watching Modern Farmer I wasn't quite sure what I was getting myself into. All I knew was that it was about some city boys taking up farming for some reason. At first I was apprehensive, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised. Yes, I started watching it for  Lee Hong Ki, but I quickly became enamored of all of the characters. From the 4 lead city boys to the local villagers to the "villains": there wasn't a single one I disliked. They each had their own story... and the leads weren't the only ones with a love story. Love is definitely in the air with this drama.

The humor may be a bit crude at first, but by the time the guys settle into their new environment the story really takes on a life of its own. Unlike many comedies where the humor begins to wane near the end, this one provides a good dose of humor in each episode - even when certain episodes contain more serious content. It reflects life a bit too: serious things do happen, but it's the silly things that make life bearable.

Let me also add that I am known to be a fan of weird and unconventional comedy. So if that isn't your thing, then you probably won't care for this drama. But, despite the less-than-stellar ending (to say the least), I would definitely watch this again.

Cheer (Approval Moderator and Editor) recommends:

Roosevelt Game

I am just going all around the place announcing Roosevelt Game as the 2014 drama for me. No matter how much I talk about it, I can’t give it enough credit. Let me enlist why you should watch this drama:

- Intelligent screenwriting centred on business/sports setting. Who knew that combining those two themes would be so brilliant? I haven’t.

- Witty dialogues and smart schemes with lots of heart-warming moments. The shuffle between different characters and events will leave you satisfied.

- The developments will keep you at the edge of your seat. You will NEVER get bored while watching this drama.

- Top-notch casting with an amazing display of acting skills on too many levels. This will leave you completely satisfied on the acting side.

That should be enough to convince you about giving this drama a go, right? If not, let me know, and I will re-start the convincing part all over again.

Sleepninja (Forums Moderator) recommends:

Beyond the Clouds

Beyond the Clouds marked a super successful return to dramas for  Yoon Kye Sang. I am a sucker for melodramas. The more emotional, the better. This drama had the best elements of Romance, Melodrama, and Crime. The acting was top-notch, and the characters were very well-written. I especially enjoyed the way all of the characters flawlessly interacted with each other. It made their relationships very believable.

Those would be the staff picks of the year. Which was your favourite drama of 2014?