You Get the Picture
Flawed drama deserving of praise
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1. The Rise of Phoenixes
Chinese Drama - 2018, 70 episodes
•My favorite duo to hit the screen
•Astonishing production
•Addictively entertaining dialogue and mind games throughout.
~50 episodes of phenomenal characters and airtight writing is all one could ask for, you’re given the knock-off brand for anything further.
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2. One Spring Night
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
~How to execute phenomenal realism 101, great cast, even greater writing, repetitive yet addictive Ost.
~Remember that thing we’re so used to at the ending of great dramas? You know.. that thing that neatly wraps everything up for a proper-.. uh, CLOSURE!! Ah, yeah that’s not here
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3. The Ideal City
Chinese Drama - 2021, 40 episodes
~Wonderfully written and paced, the dented staple of a proper office slice of life.
~Can we like... erase wu hong mei from this series? A remake if you will? I’m kneeling.
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4. My Liberation Notes
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
~Easily one of the best written,realistic, and atmospherical dramas one can stumble upon. A phenomenal cast to bring this story to life.
~Development severely lacks in specific areas that are very noticeable, hard to ignore. Suffers from being too deep at times, breaking you from immersion in order to be as relatable as possible.
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5. The Wind Blows from Longxi
Chinese Drama - 2022, 24 episodes
~Well detailed, gritty settings perfectly fitting the story that unfolds at a steady pace. Rare serious tones shining amongst a great cast selection delivering witty dialogue and backed up with airtight writing.
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What was that? Say it again? No what did you say before that? Huh? Where’d you go? Where?? Hello? I can’t see or hear anything!! Why is it so dark, where is this music blasting from?! -
6. The Bad Kids
Chinese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
~Stunning Cinematography, chilling Ost, masterful cast, you won’t find a similar experience elsewhere.
~You watch an artist start their work from scratch, time passes and the canvas appears to be halfway there, you’re told it’s finished.. you’re handed the brush, the artist packs up and leaves. The art piece is now as good or as bad as you can make out the rest.
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7. Bloody Heart
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
~Outstanding performances and characters topped with top tier cinematography, a very complimenting ost, and solid writing.
-Bamboo, skip anything with bamboo.
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8. Doctor John
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
~Writing and cast handled great, ost is Chef’s Kiss.
~Ji Sung, keep your eyes on Ji Sung, don’t lose focus on Ji Sung, praise Ji Sung
until the ending, chant Ji sung. -
9. Designated Survivor: 60 Days
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
-Airtight writing, practically unfair casting, memorable Ost, stunning cinematography, “we have budget and knowhow to use it”.
~One of those series I have a gripe about but can never remember or specifically point out, but I feel it’s there.
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10. Just Between Lovers
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
~Everything that comes with this series is great, with an Ost that’s impossible to not add a track or two from by the end. Buuut one can just feel the series subtlety dragging you from beginning to end, with coincidental obstacles and actions sprinkled every now and then.
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11. My Mister
Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes
~Masterful execution of tone, brilliant cast, great camera work, airtight writing(if you ignore a few things)
~Refer to my review, shadow boxing the writer just thinking about it
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12. Money Flower
Korean Drama - 2017, 24 episodes
~One of, if not only, well written family revenge dramas within it’s release. Constantly keeps viewers at the edge of their seat without illogical twists.
~Becomes extreeeemely draggy the further you’re in, not afraid to throw all of its progression back to square one. There are no illogical twists but the logic in the ending of this drama is nonexistent.
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13. Healer
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
~One of the most rewatchable dramas to date, ages like fine wine. Great selection of characters, smooth writing allowing the pace of the story to unfold cohesively.. until it doesn’t.
~Ah yes, the issue most well structured kdramas come across, a very rushed ending disrespecting all the effort put into every aspect before it. Best summarized up as very anticlimactic closures and conclusions .