2024 Dramas / Movies I watched

It's such an irony that this drama called 'Unmet' turned out to be one of the most fulfilling, uplifting, and inspiring character-driven story that I've had the privilege to see in recent years. It's a testament to the drama's meticulous and poetic writing that was beautifully complemented by powerful visuals of the characters' plight and emotions that it didn't have to tell us much. Every emotion was felt, and the director took his time to let that sink in with the audience. This of course would not have been possible without the most understated, natural and effortless performances by the entire cast, especially our leads Sugisaki Hana and Wakaba Ryura, who have now found a fan in me. Not only was their relationship and love for each other so gentle, tender and beautiful but they were just so lovely as individuals and doctors that one can't help but root for them instantly. This masterpiece was clearly made with love and care by the entire production and it deserves nothing but love.

A contemplative and powerful 4 episode drama depicting the transient nature of our existence, with a beautiful lesson in marching forward, and 'living' amidst the gloom surrounding us. With stellar writing, understated performances, a wonderful score, and stunning cinematography, this hit all the right spots. I cannot recommend this gem enough.

NOW THAT'S HOW YOU DO A SECOND SEASON!
This show was such a bundle of joy filled with heartwarming and adorable moments of friendship, love and all the good things life has to offer. I say this again and again but only Japan could create something so beautiful and chaotic at the same time with all these characters. Hats off to the team for the stellar writing, editing and wonderful performances by all, especially Yoshida Kotaro who truly shined and made this the most entertaining season and show.
Haruta and Maki FOREVER <3
Highly highly recommend this drama for all.

I'm probably in the minority, but I adored this season as much as the first. It didn't have much of a plot like the first season but the tone of how the ML continued to draw the FL out of her shell and the way she began feeling newer emotions was such a delight to watch. In the first season, she slowly regained her will to live, but in the second, she wasn't just trying to live, but was actually beginning to aim towards living a quality life. Such a subtle development that was done so beautifully. Their interactions continued to be full of so much wit, banter and heart with stellar writing that was always self-aware, despite the romance being a notch higher this season, and actors who brought their A1 game and charm to the set. Very rare to have a second season that can pick up so organically from the first, that too after a year.
Looking forward to the third installment whenever that is :)

A wholesome and cozy drama, depicting the beauty of friendship and the pangs of first love, with natural and heartfelt performances by Kurokawa Souya and Tsukishima Rui. Their conversations, their smiles, the teasing, and the flirtation mixed with awkwardness warmed my heart, and took me back to the days when I was an innocent young girl with a simple life dreaming of a love and companionship like theirs. Takagi and Nishikata will Iive in my heart forever.
Can't wait for the movie sequel!

An immersive, compelling, and thought-provoking psychological drama featuring a realistic journey of two flawed, complex and lonely women entangled in a circle of love (ZYJ), jealousy (JQF), and misery. Tiffany Hsu, as always, played the character your heart broke for, and Ariel Lin, the character you were prepared to hate but ended up empathizing with. Mike He and Kai Ko were great additions as well, though this was Tiffany and Ariel's drama all the way. Special mention for the fantastic editing, and engaging screenplay. It's great to see Mag Hsu back in full form as a screenwriter/director after MARS and In Time With You.
Highly recommended for a mature audience because this is no fairytale.

A creative plot, masterful writing, quirky dialogues and perfect casting - Bakarhythm YOU GENIUS! This movie made my day :)
Highly recommended for all!

An immersive, intricate and provocative psychological drama depicting the highs and lows of a marriage with 4 flawed leads. While our stellar cast of Takahata Mitsuki, Okada Masaki, Kora Kengo and Nishino Nanase were effortless, the real star of this drama was its script which was full of depth, heavy dialogues, and symbolisms that left me with food for thought after each episode. If you've ever been in a relationship, you're likely to find yourself in the position of either of the 4 leads or all of them.
Highly recommend this realistic drama for an open-minded and mature audience that appreciates how our world is full of colours beyond black and white.

What a sincere and beautiful love story of two very flawed, complex, and headstrong adults. Both Li Xian and Zhou Yu Tong's performance was so understated, and natural; they looked like a real couple that was in love. The cinematography complemented the warm, intimate and mature vibe the couple had, and the score was equally well-utilised to elevate their feelings. Though it wasn't without its flaws (that were never addressed), this has to be the best 'modern' Chinese drama I have watched. It was so reminiscent of the good old classic romance dramas from Japan where characters felt modern, and charming despite being flawed. And I rarely say this for a Chinese drama, but that was just the right length!

While it wasn't without its flaws especially in the second half, Uhm Tae Goo's charm and soft demeanor coupled with the loveable family of Thirsty Deers who supported each other through thick and thin made this endearing and sweet romcom a pleasant and enjoyable viewing experience.
Time well spent!
Also, did I mention that I am in love with Uhm Tae Goo's sexy voice? I'm definitely hitting the 'like and subscribe' button for him :)

This was quite the fairytale romance with a responsible, caring and sensitive ML, and a shy, adorable, & supportive FL who, even though were a little too perfect for my taste, got me squealing thanks to their natural and crackling chemistry. While the show did lose steam in the last 10 episodes or so, and the supporting characters were not fleshed out well enough to make an impact, it managed to keep me invested in the leads' journey.
I'd recommend this to anyone who enjoys a problem-free, sugary sweet romance with two pretty faces who can act :)

While this wasn't a perfect drama, it was clearly made with love. There was an effort placed in fleshing out the characters, the way they came to be because of their environment, and a subtle attempt at having them change for the better. Definitely one of the better written, and well acted lakorns in recent years. The pacing was just right such that the frustrating elements were not unbearable. Mint is an actress to look out for.

Light-hearted, cheesy, fun, with some heart. It could have done without the love triangle, but it's great for a weekend binge nonetheless.

This show may be campy and fun on the surface, but it had some depth and the characters were somewhat rooted in reality, with the way their scars were shown to affect the way they communicated and attached, and also the way they worked towards their little dreams. I adoredthe way writers used every opportunity possible to come up with something comic and sensitive, rather than introduce misunderstandings. The characters were not perfect, but they actually tried to communicate. This could go on for a lot more episodes and I'd enjoy it. 24 was short!

I always say this for shorter dramas that are good - you really don't need a lot to deliver substance. It's all about having a good script and actors that can deliver. This had both. In less than 10 mins, this short drama showed us a journey of two people / two actors falling in love. We don't even know the background / struggles of these two characters and yet, the acting was powerful enough to show you when the lines got blur and fiction became reality. I would love to see more of these two.

Pretty actors who can act and had tons of chemistry. But this lacked the usual punch J dramas / movies of this genre have. Not to mention that the leads didn't look like they were even remotely sick..

I liked this drama a lot, but didn't love it entirely. The acting, cinematography, and the score was top notch. It had such a classic feel to it, but there was something about the writing that was both a hit and miss for me. It was an interesting premise and set up, with some deep and powerfully written moments that moved me but some of the things that happened were too casual / convenient. I just wish it was written better in some parts because this drama had the potential to be a fantastic one overall.
Also, to experience a love so unconditional and pure like theirs...
Yamada Yuki and Nagano Mei were exceptional together. I'd recommend this for anyone who wants to watch a classic romance.

Despite the promising cast and interesting premise, I kept my expectations low because this is a Netflix show and Japanese shows made by Netflix, Disney or other streaming sites have hardly gotten it right, barring 2-3 dramas. And unfortunately, it is the same with this drama.
While it was a gripping crime story that was well-made and well acted, it lacked the central element that makes Japanese cinema so charming and beautiful, and that is the ability to make you feel for the characters strongly, whether it is empathy or disgust. This had very little of it, which made the characters appear rather robotic and monotonous. I do have to add that this was based on a true story as shared by a user below, so that might have been the reason why this was more story-driven rather than character-driven. Maybe they wanted to go for a biographical approach, rather than a dramatic approach of having the audience feel for the characters. Either way, their intention wasn't clear because it was a half-baked attempt at both. I'd manage my expectations accordingly if they had been more clear about the approach they were going for. That would also have made the script more cohesive.
It's not a bad drama per se, but it was underwhelming for me. I can see why some people would love it and why some wouldn't. It really depends on what you're coming in for, and what kind of drama you enjoy. It had me invested enough to complete it but I did not love it because I was looking for more depth.

This would have been great if it wasn't a J-drama trying to mimic a K-drama. They really did Nikaido Fumi dirty with this drama. Despite that, I didn't hate it completely thanks to Cha Jong Hyeop's smile and Nakagawa Taishi's charm.

This isn't wholly a revenge though it does center around the revenge theme. It shifts from being dark into being much more of a human / psychological drama towards the end. The FL does not lose herself in revenge unlike the usual protagonists from this genre, and picks herself up before she reaches a point of no return. This is where her revenge may appear mild or lose its effect for some, and it really is a matter of perspective how you perceive it and how it shifts your enjoyment / like for the drama. I would say the same for the ML, who goes from behaving like a psycho to appearing like a flawed human after he strips himself off the burden he has been carrying. At the end, it felt more like a battle between the leads where no one won, or lost because both forfeited, and realised that there's more to life. I do wish this had an episode or two more to flesh out that ending.
"What goes around, comes around"; befitting for this drama. The lesson it leaves you with is that taking revenge does not make you any different from the person who broke you. Stop when you have the chance to, and turn your life around before it is too late. It is hella idealistic, but grounding and realistic in its own way. Again, a matter of perspective.
This is not a stellar drama, but is it all that bad either. I'd recommend this if you're a fan of either Ihara Rikka and / or Kiriyama Renn, who delivered solid performances and made this worth what it was, or want to watch something slightly different.

Pacing issues and unnecessary villains aside, this was a relatively easy watch with pleasant leads and supporting characters. It wasn't particularly memorable, but at least it wasn't as frustrating as many other lakorns.

My only question after completing this drama: where was the love?
This drama had such a classic feel, a beautiful OST / score and likeable characters, but it failed to deliver. Maybe I am being overtly critical because it wasn't a bad drama per se but the writing just didn't hit the spot when it came to the romance. Instead of focusing on having the leads build their relationship and understanding each other better, this drama focused on everything else. I was invested for most of it hoping we'd finally get to the leads' story and romance because some of the tidbits we had from Episodes 5 to 8 were lovely, but I lost interest in the romance by the end of E10, and stayed for the friendship. I've also seen better acting from both leads in other dramas.

They got everything right, and yet it lacked the key element; soul.

An unbelievable premise elevated by a mediocre script that could not be saved even with actors who gave their 100%,

Average short drama with under-developed plot and characters, though its definitely better than most of the short dramas I've seen from China.

Currently watching.

[currently watching]

Currently watching; subbing in progress

currently watching; subbing in progress

subbed; currently watching

Dropped at E10.

Goes to show that good acting and production quality cannot save a drama with a subpar script.

Dropped at E6.

Subpar writing and development. Wasted potential of both leads.

Dropped at E4.

Great concept, and pilot that had me hooked instantly. This was too quick to pack all the tropes they had before sufficient world-building and characterisation.

Dropped at E4.

How could you give 2 of the best young actors from Thailand this?! Was there even a script?

Dropped at E5.

I have no idea what they were trying to do with this. Either I am too dumb or they were trying to be too smart..

PTW - no subs

CHRIS WU!

PTW.

Sugino Yosuke!

PTW - not subbed.

PTW - subbed.

PTW - not subbed.

PTW - Netflix

LEADS!

PTW - Netflix

PTW

LEADS!

PTW

PTW 

KUDO KANKURO!

PTW
NARITA RYO!

PTW - subbing in progress

PTW after I finish Season 2 and 3.

currently airing