Please agree with me if you can be a couch potato for the whole full 24 hours when you are so wanted to finish off a K-series in a round! Or, anyone like me that can’t survive without watching Korean dramas?
People who have been questioning us why we love Korean dramas do not understand how beautiful and touching Korean dramas are! They are the soul of life! As the pandemic hits us hard, I believe a lot of us are staying at home working or studying, giving us (somehow) more chances to jump to our sofa and continue our K-series.
Personally I have finished off quite a number of on-going K-dramas, and some of them are REALLY REALLY GOOD that all humans on earth can’t miss! Therefore, let me share some of the dramas that I SUPER recommend you to watch if you haven’t!
18 Again (18 μ΄κ²μΈ)
Network: JTBC
Episodes: 16 (Completed)
Release Date: September 7 – November 10, 2020
Starring:
Kim Ha-Neul
(Da-Jung)
Yoon Sang-Hyun
(Dae-Young)
Lee Do Hyun
(Woo-Young)
This is by far the best drama I have watched for this year with such a good storyline and talented acting team. This drama is a remake of an popular American movie ’17 Again’ acted by Zac Efron which tell a story of a middle age uncle (Dae-young) from a normal family of a wife and 2 children being transformed into the younger self. Before he became younger, he was fed up with his life as he was facing problems in work and soon to have a divorce with his wife. He was very surprised when his look had turned just like back to when he was 18 years old out of the sudden. As he regained his old-body, he planned to restart his own life with a new identity of Woo-Young by getting back to high school and continue to play basketball that once he was a glory in.
(Spoiler Alert) What I love to watch is every time when Woo-Young was trying to be good friends with Shi-A and Shi-Woo who were actually his children. I can relate a lot when a father is always loving to his children but most of the time he can’t share good memories with them due to work and generation gap. Dae-young got to know what his children are facing in real life and try his best to help them achieve to their dream. A big part of this drama for me is about the genuine love of a father to his children.
![Review] '18 Again': A Good Example Where the Remake Is More Riveting than the Original - ZAPZEE](https://zapzee.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/18-again-03.jpg)
Lastly of course, is the romance between Dae-Young and his wife Da-Jung. (Spoiler Alert) Throughout the whole drama, we can see a huge psychological change for both Dae-Young and Da-Jung from the beginning until the end of the drama. As their life gets tougher, this couple tend to take each other for granted, starting to blame each other for their relationship until they decided to have a divorce. Slowly, Dae-Young realized he was not being understanding to his wife all this while after he changed to his younger self, while Da-Jung finally found out how much suffer and pain his husband had been facing throughout the marriage. This drama definitely convey a clear message and an important lesson for most of the couples before they did decided to break up.
OOPS, I have spilled out a lot of tea! Don’t hesitate, put it in your drama bucket next if you haven’t watch them! I’ll give some picture of “Woo-young” (Lee Do-Hyun) to lure you to watch them!
Start Up (μ€ννΈμ )
Network: TvN
Episodes: 16 (ongoing)
Release Date: October 17 – December 6, 2020
Starring
Bae Suzy
(Dal-mi)
Nam Joo-Hyuk
(Do-san)
Kim Seon-Ho
(Ji-pyeong)
Currently, this drama is by far the most watched K-drama in Netflix after Record of Youth! Me, myself has been diving in this drama very deeply because of the setting and ‘second-lead syndrome’! This drama is about a group of youngsters challenges in starting their business with the current on-trend Artificial Intelligence technology. Dal-mi had a tough time growing up since her parents divorce, spending most of her time with Hal-meo-ni (grandma) after her dad passed away. She had a very good pen-pal friend (that was indeed fake) growing up sharing memories on letters that she decided to meet him in real life.
Apparently, Ji-pyeong was the fake pen-pal with using the name of Do-san as a favor for Hal-mo-ni. Everything comes together as three of them “eventually’ met each other in a Google office like start-up business center called Sandbox. Dal-mi and Do-san (real Do-san, not the pen-pal) started a new business project in Sandbox, while Ji-pyeong was their mentor.
I came to watch this because of Nam Joo-hyuk (as I really like him in Habaek!) and Suzy (I love Vagabond!) these two big acting stars, but I was truly “attracted” by Kim Seon-ho because of the character Ji-pyeong in this drama. Well, of course big part is because he is handsome too π
Ji-pyeong growing up as an orphan and he met Hal-meo-ni as he finished his high school winning a big prize from investment competition. He was no where to go and Hal-meo-ni ask him to stay with her for a short while until he had to go for college. Ji-pyeong see Hal-meo-ni more than anyone as what Hal-meo-ni did to him was a whole-life commitment for him which can’t be paid off by anything. Ji-pyeong was very straightforward in talking and have high self-esteem (which I think that’s how it makes him successful better!), but in reality he is very nice and warm in heart, whom feel empty sometimes without caring from friends and family.
I really like this character which sometimes I feel sad for him that he deserved more love and warmth in the drama. My best scenes from him are always when he met Hal-meo-ni (very genuine love) and being confused with Dal-mi. To appreciate Ji-pyeong and Seon-ho, I’ll like to spam with some of his charming photos!!!!! Watch it yourself and you’ll know Second Lead Syndrome is real!
Remember to follow Kim Seon-ho Instagram! #2ndleadsyndrome
Record of Youth (μ²μΆκΈ°λ‘)
Network: TvN
Episodes: 16 (Completed)
Release Date: September 7 – October 27, 2020
Starring
Park Bo-Gum
(Hye-jun)
Park So-Dam
(Jeong-ha)
Byeon Woo-Seok
(Hae-hyo)
I’m very biased here because I have to admit I came for this drama 100% for Park Bo-Gum (he was too good in Boyfriend). Compared to the previous 2 recommendations, I have to say the story plot and setting are not as interesting, but still quite fresh for me. This story takes the entertainment industry as a setting theme, specifically towards the modelling and acting field. Hye-jun was a model (yes, very handsome) who once been popular for awhile until his agency (kinda) messed up everything. Modelling has always been his dream to pursue and what he insisted of doing despite of objection from his father. Interestingly, Jeong-ha was his loyal fan since he joined as model until both of them met in a fashion show where she worked as his make-up artist. Both of them get closer to each other until romance bloooooms!
While as the story might be a bit dull for some of the people, I still keep myself following this drama because not much K-dramas have reflected on the entertainment situations in Korea. Hye-jun decided to change his career into acting, giving himself the last chance before he gives up to enter the military. This character showed how someone love what he is doing, having a clear mind of what he want to pursue, breaking all the judgements and start from the basic. (Spoiler alert) Hye-jun did eventually became a very popular actor, winning many recognitions and awards, because of his hard work over the years and his good attitude/humbleness in the industry. Many said Hye-jun indeed very similar like Park Bo-Gum himself, as he is very down to earth and gives very good impression in front of many celebrities who have worked with him. I really like the chemistry between Hye-Jun and his manager Min-jae, and how cute their agency name called ‘Jjam-bbong’ (a Korean noodle dish)!
Do you know?
Park Bo-Gum is still serving in the military during the airing of this drama. Bo-gum is so sweet and caring for his fans, that he scheduled his tweets with his exclusive shoot photos after every single episode during the airing period! Many was amazed how Bo-gum can be so lovely and thoughtful, that’s why he is such a charming prince for many of us!
These 3 dramas can be watched in major streaming platforms, let’s stream it now!
– 18 Again (in ViuTV)
– Start Up & Youth of Record (in Netflix)
A good drama needs to have the best OSTs! Among all, Start Up OSTs by far is the best I have listened to, and no doubt I kept replaying the playlist everyday! Even Suzy and Seon-ho (the actors themselves) fall in love to the OSTs.
Perfect day = Perfect drama + Perfect Visuals + Perfect Character + Perfect OSTs
*this article consists of pictures and videos from internet sources. I do not own any of their copyrights*
MyDaehan π 