DryedMangoez recaps, reviews and commentary of Korean drama series.
The 2018-2019 drama series My Strange Hero (복수가 돌아왔다) appears to try and bring a new take to a familiar theme and setting. But being unable to commit to ideas it offers up results in a talented cast being given material that lacks cohesion and weight to really leave a lasting impression.
The 2017 KBS drama Hit the Top (최고의 한방/The Best Hit) is a charming and fun slice-of-life look at youth at all ages. And the moments that help shape one’s self and one another.
The 2017 SBS drama While You Were Sleeping (당신이 잠든 사이에) may not have gotten everything right, but its ambitious, yet accessible premise and a charming cast ultimately make it a worthwhile experience.
For a simple, thoroughly enjoyable romantic comedy, look no further than the 2016 series Something About 1 Percent (1%의 어떤 것). It isn’t groundbreaking nor does it push the envelope, and that’s perfectly fine. The Ha Seok Jin/Jeon So Min-starrer is a classic Korean romcom. It knows exactly what it is, what it wants to be and excels at it.
There is a lot of wasted potential in the 2019 tvN series Her Private Life (그녀의 사생활). A quirky, refreshing premise and a solid cast get shortchanged by a paint-by-the-numbers romcom plot that doesn’t seem to know where it wants to go or what it really wants to do. It’s a fluffy series that lacks the depth that could have elevated it to something more, even as the foundation was well-established in the beginning.
The tvN drama It’s Okay to Not Be Okay (사이코지만 괜찮아/Psycho But It’s Okay) may appear to be a cliché and predictable romantic dramedy, but beneath the surface it puts a timely and much needed spotlight on mental health.
The 2017 OCN drama Save Me (구해줘) may frustrate and enrage you at the start. But this 2017 OCN drama series quickly evolves into a bizarre, terrifying and twisted psychological thriller.
It is an outright crime that we were robbed of four more episodes of the tvN drama A Piece of Your Mind (반의 반/Half of a Half). This beautifully poetic and character-driven look at healing, strength and courage most definitely had enough material to fulfill the standard 16-episode order. And with a talented cast at its disposal, the biggest disappointment is not only how it was sadly overlooked by audiences, but how it was inexplicably derided as well.
Jang Na Ra and Son Ho Jun lead the beautifully poignant and emotionally resonant 2017 KBS drama Go Back Couple (고백부부). The series is sincere in its reminders about our everyday lives and also gives hope for those who may be facing seemingly insurmountable challenges.
I don’t think I’ve ever watched a television series as hilarious, as fun, as romantic, as emotional or as wholesome as I’m Not a Robot (로봇이 아니야).