2021 r/KDRAMA Challenge [2PM Edition]

1. A drama featuring Lee Min Ho

2PM member: Taecyeon

Minimalist pick since I'm not a fan of LMH (but this also might be the only option?) Taec's episode was so  trope-y and hilarious xD

[started and completed on 1/8/2021]

2. A drama from r/kdramarecommends community official recommendation lists

2PM member: Taec

On the "Idol dramas" list

(didn't end up watching this one specifically, but maybe watched others ft. 2pm members...)

3. A drama off the r/KDRAMA or r/kdramarecommends banner

2PM member: Chansung

On the r/KDRAMA banner. This was a fun watch! I watched it without remembering Chansung was in it, and his cameo was a surprise haha 

[completed: sometime...]

4. A drama that begins with the first letter of your user name

2PM member: Junho

This was decently enjoyable, but the humor wasn't really my style and the antagonists were pretty incompetent so it was hard to take them seriously. Junho was definitely the best part though!

[started 2/1/2021; completed 3/3/2021] 

5. A drama that references a real historical event in Korea

2PM member: Junho

References the Sampoong Department Store collapse in 1995. This was a magnificent drama with an incredibly high level and range of raw emotions, with poignant storytelling and life lessons! (and I love Junho SO MUCH!)

[started 3/17/2021; completed 3/21/2021]

6. A drama featuring character(s) who speak in dialect

2PM member: Taec

The leads were sooo cute!

[started ~11/2021; completed 12/28/2021]

8. A drama that features one of the top 10 locations in 2020 on KDL

2PM member: Junho

This features Gaon Cultural Park, which was very nice. But the main focus was on the incredible talent of Junho, who made me scream and turn to mush with every scene. This was very fluffy and enjoyable with great friendships, bromances, and a liberal amount of skinship - and extremely delicious Chinese food! (There were a few problematic scenes, but they didn't matter to the main plot and Junho's star power overcame all shortcomings.)

[started 7/17/2021; finished 8/1/2021]

9. A drama that is an adaptation or a remake

2PM member: Chansung

This was an adaptation. For the first 15 episodes, this was a fun light-hearted ride, with interesting characters and conflicts that were cheesy without being cringey. Then the finale was a hot mess that glossed over pretty much every single plot thread and did a horrible job of wrapping any of them up.  What a disappointment... but I did love Chansung's character a LOT and thought he did an excellent job!

[started 6/14/2021; completed 6/19/2021]

10. A drama where the main story doesn't involve romance

2PM member: Nichkhun

Also watched Part 1 and 3 of course, but this is the first one Khun shows up in. I liked it! Sad that they recast the leads for the next season...

[completed sometime...]

12. A drama with a lead actor/actress you haven't seen in a leading role before

2PM member: Chansung

Both leads are new to me

13. A drama written by a renowned screenwriter

2PM member: Taec (+NK/CS cameos)

Written by Park Jae Bum, who was also behind Chief Kim and Fiery Priest. This had an interesting mix of dark crime and campy humor, and was a very exhilarating and enjoyable ride! I liked it a lot better than Chief Kim.

[started 2/20/2021 (premiere date); completed 5/2/2021]

14. A drama directed by a renowned director

2PM member: Junho

Co-directed by Kim Chul Gyu,  who was also behind Flower of Evil, Chicago Typewriter, and Mother. This was a masterpiece and easily landed a spot in my top 3 dramas! 

More detailed review here

[started 4/27/2021, completed 5/9/2021]

15. A drama by a writer or director whose works you haven't watched

2PM member: Junho

Both writer and director were new to me, and THEY WERE AMAZING. God Director, indeed!

[started 11/12/2021; completed 1/1/2022 but it was postponed a week + extended by an episode so I'm still counting it]

17. A short-format drama (under 10 hours)

2PM member: Taec

18. A drama in a genre outside of your comfort zone

2PM member: Taec

This was definitely out of my comfort zone - creepy and mildly disturbing, with all the adults being varying degrees of infuriating... also very well executed and interesting to watch! And the plot moved at a steady pace that kept me engaged the whole way through.

[started 5/14/2021; completed 6/7/2021]

19. A drama with a rating less than 7.5 or with less than 5000 viewers on MDL

2PM member: Taec

This had a 7.1 rating when I started watching. It was hard for me to rate because it was addicting to watch but also pretty bad - ultimately I ended up rating it much lower (5.5), mostly because of finale, which was one of the most frustrating and least satisfying episodes ever, rivaling So I Married My Anti-Fan.

Ignoring the final episode, the rest of the drama might have hovered around the MDL average? It wasn't terrible, but there was so much angst that I was honestly impressed the characters could be semi-productive amidst all their moping and crying... Taec's character was cute though.

[started 6/30/2021; completed 7/7/2021]

* note: could also fit non-Seoul challenge

20. A drama featuring a profession or lifestyle different from your own

2PM member: Junho

This is a very easy category to fit something else into, if it turns out that Memory can be used elsewhere.

23. A drama you have been putting off watching

2PM members: Taec, Wooyoung (+NK/CS cameos)

I put this off for about 10 months after I first heard about it because I didn't think it would be that good... but finally watched it for the 2pm members and it was super enjoyable! Great casting, nice plot/character arcs, fun performances. =)

[started 5/10/2021; completed 5/13/2021]

24. A rewatch of a drama you have previously watched

2PM member: Chansung

Might rewatch Touch Your Heart instead, also with Chansung

25. Bonus challenge: A drama that is not Korean

2PM member: Nichkhun

There are a lot of other options (Chinese, Japanese) as well, this is mostly just a placeholder.