2021 r/KDRAMA Challenge

Intro post on reddit - Completed 22/24 challenges

codecraftnap Jan 13, 2021
22 Titles Loves
0% Watched
Report
Sort By: Author's Order
codecraftnap's Rating
Your Rating
  • 7 First Kisses

    1. 7 First Kisses

    Korean Special - 2016, 8 episodes

    1. A drama featuring Lee Min Ho

    Minimalist pick since I'm not a fan of LMH (but I do love Ji Chang Wook and Lee Joon Gi)

    [started and completed on 1/8/2021]

  • Be Melodramatic

    2. Be Melodramatic

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    6.0

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

    Picked off the "What to watch after something intense" list. I have mixed feelings about this but it was decent and I enjoyed the self-aware PPL.

    [started 1/18/2021; completed 1/27/2021]

  • Where Your Eyes Linger

    3. Where Your Eyes Linger

    Korean Drama - 2020, 8 episodes

    8.0

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

    Picked off the r/KDRAMA banner, since a recent poster for You Make Me Dance was gorgeous and I got curious about BL dramas. This was short and sweet with intense chemistry between leads - though I do wish it had been slightly longer so that the plot and supporting characters could be fleshed out more.

    [started and completed 2/1/2021]

  • Good Manager

    4. Good Manager

    Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes

    7.0

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

    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.

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

  • Just Between Lovers

    5. Just Between Lovers

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    10

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

    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!

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

  • Mad Dog

    6. Mad Dog

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    10

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

    The Taeyang chairman speaks in a dialect. This was a really fun romp, mixing "heist movie" vibes with a fight for justice and truth. Protagonists were super likeable and antagonists were super hateable - what a thrilling and enjoyable ride!

    More detailed review here

    [started 2/13/2021; completed 2/16/2021]

  • Lawless Lawyer

    7. Lawless Lawyer

    Korean Drama - 2018, 16 episodes

    9.5

    7. A drama that takes place in a location other than Seoul

    Set in fictional Kisung City. Really glad I watched this - it's fun and action-packed and one of my favorite dramas!

    [started 1/3/2021; completed 1/7/2021]

  • Search: WWW

    8. Search: WWW

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    9.0

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

    I selected this because it had a scene at the Forest of Wisdom, and I love seeing that show up! I was also pleasantly surprised by the rest of the backdrops, some of which also featured books, as well as artistic color-blocking and cool architecture.

    I thought this drama handled social media, user growth initiatives, and Internet privacy really well. The characters' conflicts/inner turmoil were realistic, and the themes of female empowerment and friendships were satisfying to watch.

    [started 3/9/2021; completed 3/14/2021]

  • Something about 1 Percent

    9. Something about 1 Percent

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    8.0

    9. A drama that is an adaptation or a remake

    Adapted from a web novel by the same name - a pretty basic romcom, but entertaining with decent plot arcs.

    [started 3/26/2021; completed 3/29/2021]

  • Two Weeks

    10. Two Weeks

    Korean Drama - 2013, 16 episodes

    6.5

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

    This wasn't the best action thriller, but was still entertaining. The plot was fast-paced but very convenient (especially with the deadline), so there wasn't too much suspense.  I really didn't like the camerawork though - it was mostly extreme close-ups of the characters with very few backgrounds.

    [started 3/21/2021; completed 4/17/2021]

  • Fight for My Way

    11. Fight for My Way

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    8.5

    11. A drama featuring great friendships

    The side characters could have been better/more consistently developed, but the core cast definitely lived up to the "great friendships" challenge, and the drama was very entertaining.

    [started 3/4/2021; completed 3/8/2021]

  • Run On

    12. Run On

    Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes

    9.5

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

    This was my first time seeing either of the leads (and also the second couple) in any drama, and I am CHARMED! This was such an adorable slice-of-life romcom; there was a bit of chaebol drama but overall it was pretty grounded in reality and managed to captivate me the whole way though.

    [started 1/20/2021; completed 2/5/2021]

  • Vincenzo

    13. Vincenzo

    Korean Drama - 2021, 20 episodes

    8.0

    13. A drama written by a renowned screenwriter

    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]

  • Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    14. Sungkyunkwan Scandal

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    9.5

    14. A drama directed by a renowned director

    I was skeptical of the premise at first, but this was unexpectedly entertaining! The Jalgeum Quartet and student president were perfectly cast and the relationships were fantastic and hilarious.

    [started 2/23/2021; completed 2/28/2021]

  • Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

    15. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo

    Korean Drama - 2016, 16 episodes

    9.0

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

    This is the first drama I've seen from both the writer and director. It was cute! The ML was so sweet and supportive even before they started dating, and it was a very wholesome watch.

    [started 1/8/2021; completed 1/10/2021]

  • Lovestruck in the City

    16. Lovestruck in the City

    Korean Drama - 2020, 17 episodes

    8.0

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

    I started this for JCW - definitely would not have watched without him, but I'm fairly glad I did. There were a lot of roller-coaster quality episodes, but overall it was an enjoyable watch with great leads (and hilarious PPL!)

    [started 1/1/2021; completed 2/16/2021]

  • Save Me

    17. Save Me

    Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes

    9.0

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

    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]

  • Cinderella's Sister

    18. Cinderella's Sister

    Korean Drama - 2010, 20 episodes

    5.5

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

    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... I watched this mostly for Taecyeon though, and his character was cute.

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

  • Confession

    19. Confession

    Korean Drama - 2019, 16 episodes

    10

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

    Easy category to fill since I think my profession has only been in two dramas watched... anyway, 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]

  • Coffee Prince

    20. Coffee Prince

    Korean Drama - 2007, 17 episodes

    8.0

    22. A pre-2010 drama

    This was from 2007 - it was pretty enjoyable! Some aspects definitely dated this as an older drama that definitely wouldn't fly nowadays, but other aspects were surprisingly progressive and heartwarming.

    [started 6/8/2021; completed 6/13/2021]

  • Dream High

    21. Dream High

    Korean Drama - 2011, 16 episodes

    8.5

    23. A drama you have been putting off watching

    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]

  • Healer

    22. Healer

    Korean Drama - 2014, 20 episodes

    10

    24. A rewatch of a drama you have previously watched

    BEST. DRAMA. EVER. I will never get tired of watching this... it's so perfect! Took a little longer to finish this time around because I spaced it out so I could have some comfort episodes to fall back on if/when I got bored of other dramas.

    [started 2/7/2021; completed 3/16/2021]

Trending