All Time Favourites
These may be flawed, but they have my heart, and nobody can convince me otherwise.
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1. The Nokdu Flower
Korean Drama - 2019, 48 episodes
Simply legendary, and criminally underrated. Think you have already seen the best saeguk? Watch this, and think again. It had everything: brilliant character arcs, a compelling narrative, powerful commentary, and so much I cannot write down into words. Thinking about it even now makes my heart race.
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2. Misaeng: Incomplete Life
Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes
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3. V.I.P
Korean Drama - 2019, 32 episodes
It was not happy, but who needs happy when the story is so engrossing, the struggles so realistically etched, and, most importantly, womanhood given respect? There is a lot of food for thought in this, as it is so honest about life and relationships. The music, again, was so well-integrated throughout the narrative, it gave a life to the story.
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4. Hello Monster
Korean Drama - 2015, 16 episodes
The cast? Brilliant, from the main to the support. The plot? Great progression, asks the right questions - very thought-provoking. Now add that to a slow-burn, organic romance, with a heart-wrenching bromance, a badass and empathetic female lead, and you get a recipe for the k-drama that hits the right spots. Nothing quite like this out there, I swear.
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5. Drama Special Series Season 3: Adolescence Medley
Korean Special - 2013, 4 episodes
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6. Mr. Fighting
Chinese Drama - 2019, 45 episodes
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7. Watcher
Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes
Fast-paced, suspenseful, open-ended (in the best possible way), with such an intricately woven plot and elements that make you ponder over what is right, wrong, and who should police our morality. Another powerful thriller I had the pleasure of watching. It also happens to have a brilliant BGM, one of the most memorable ones ever. (I am guilty of shipping the younger two investigators and that also added to my viewing pleasure but that's besides the point because it's fortunately and unfortunately OCN *cries*.)
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8. My Unfamiliar Family
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
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9. Go Back Couple
Korean Drama - 2017, 12 episodes
What's not to love? Moving OSTs, a severe case of second-lead syndrome, great life lessons, lots of laughs and tears, a severe case of second-lead syndrome, hits the right spots, brilliant cast, a severe case of second-lead syndrome, simply beautiful in its realism and emotions. Did I mention a severe case of second-lead syndrome? Jokes aside, it is incredibly powerful and wholesome.
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10. Through the Darkness
Korean Drama - 2022, 12 episodes
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11. Drama Special Season 8: The Love of a Buzz Cut
Korean Special - 2017, 1 episode
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12. Children of Nobody
Korean Drama - 2018, 32 episodes
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13. A Year Without a Job
Chinese Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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14. Lion no Kakurega
Japanese Drama - 2024, 11 episodes