oh my has it been a hot minute since i bothered to really do one of these!
this year i started 68 dramas and finished 12 dramas (which is pretty good considering i really fell off during the fall because i was so busy).
i would say this year was the year i really watched a lot of kdramas, which is surprising to say, since i've had difficulty with kdramas all things considered. i also went through a few months in the year where i was into jdramas (netflix has many delicious jdramas and i started quite a few compared to earlier years, where i barely watched any). most surprising is that i was in a very big cdrama slump for most of this year. only a few cdramas really piqued my interest, and even if i started and watched a few episodes of ones i thought were good, i usually lost momentum - i just feel as if cdramas are pretty oversaturated, and all the popular ones have iterations of similar plots (though i have a few i think would be good that i just simply didn't get around to watching). i am enjoying the vendetta of an right now though.
castaway diva (kdrama, 12 eps, finished in jan): this drama gave it all to me - suspense, family dynamics, long lost lovers, secret identities, chae jonghyeop suffering... i remember originally not being too interested based on the trailers and thinking it would be cringey, but it was a really compelling watch. i loved the focus on personal growth among all the characters, and how ultimately it was about confronting cycles of violence and skeletons in the closet. the romance was sweet and mellow and beautifully timed as well.
AARO: all domain anomaly resolution office (jdrama, 10 eps, finished in jan): started this on a whim and quickly devoured it. jdramas do the minisode/serial episode style very well (e.g. case by case episodes), and i loved the myth element.
i am nobody: the showdown between yin and yang (cdrama, 13 eps, finished in jan): i'm fully convinced this drama was just so good that no other cdrama could surpass it for a while. were there many complaints about this drama? yes. do i care? no. the only drama i've written an mdl review for just because i was seeing so much negativity. it's not perfect compared to s1, and granted i haven't made my way through the source material yet (i'm still stuck on the beginning chapters because i keep forgetting lol), but i think it continued s1 and the mood/tone. it wasn't a full fledged season, more like a transition, but i think the plot was compact and fit well into only 13 episodes, while making you care and making you laugh and cry and all that.
law school (kdrama, 16 eps, finished in march): technically i started this a while ago, just never got around to finishing it, but i'm glad i finally got through it this year. this is a nice drama, as it mixes a university and legal setting/plot. sol and joonhwi are super cute as well, though the romance is super lowkey.
my dearest nemesis (kdrama, 12 eps, finished in apr): i didn't expect to like this one so much, but it was a surprisingly fun watch! it was nice to see choi hyunwook playing a character in a suit, not a school uniform, and he and moon gayoung were a nice pair.
weak hero class 2 (kdrama, 8 eps, finished in apr): this was also an anticipated sequel, and i devoured it pretty quickly. i hate the short netflix episodes, but it was a great watch and gave me new characters to obsess over. i liked the parallels and character foils to season 1.
miraculous brothers (kdrama, 16 eps, finished in may): also picked this one up on a whim and i do not regret it. it's super underrated, but it has a great bromance and pretty good pacing. bae hyunsung blew me away in his role here, and all his other dramas shot up on my list to watch because he did a really good job. if you liked generational mysteries, the supernatural, and murder-suspense, i recommend giving this one a shot.
our unwritten seoul (kdrama, 12 eps, finished in jul): this one was realllly good. i mean, park boyoung and park jinyoung staring opposite one another, what did you expect? this drama gave me strong my liberation notes vibes in terms of vibes and pacing (the plots are not super comparable); it's an emotional, character driven drama that makes you care deeply about each character and their stories. perfect watch. the slow burn romance was also fantastic & just how i like it.
good boy (kdrama, 16 eps, finished in jul): finally, a good action based drama! i really enjoyed this one, and it was really my style. i love when action is based on a team, pair that with past trauma, romance, and a big bad, and i'm down. did a good job of mixing dramatic moments with comedy and tragedy - i loved and hated that this was the drama where the bad guys punch when you're down, making it painful, but also more realistic. the violence didn't feel gratuitous either, or too drawn out, although it did hurt as a viewer at times.
pending train (jdrama, 10 eps, finished in jul): another found family jdrama about traveling to another world... the main trio in this was amazing. i don't want to spoil things, but it was a great watch.
resident playbook (kdrama, 12 eps, finished in aug): i watched the beginning of this in fits and starts, then sat down and worked through the rest before the semester started. i didn't finish hospital playlist but i ended up really enjoying all the different residents and their struggles. it was a much needed lighter drama, and even though the episodes were longer, it didn't take too much to absorb.
queen mantis (kdrama, 8 eps, finished in sept): another good detective drama. although i wished they had made some different choices in adapting the plotline (iykyk re: the killer), this was a fun one. i loved the mother-son relationship, and all the struggles. it was short, but a fun watch.
dramas i wish i had gotten around to finishing:
undercover high school (watched 11 /14): i have two eps left. not sure why i haven't gotten around to this one yet, considering seo kangjoon and jin kijoo are both my ogs in kdramaland. seo kangjoon is sooo hot in this though.
who saw the peacock dance in the jungle (watched 3/10): another fun jdrama i started when it was still airing, but haven't gotten past the first three eps. it's on my list to pick back up. jdramas do uncovering past mysteries sooo well though.
the winning try (watched 5/12): this is a fun sports kdrama i'm still only about halfway through. i do love a good underdog story.
family by choice (watched 3/16): i wasn't originally going to watch this when it aired because i'm still only halfway through go ahead (despite loving it, i have a finishing drama problem), but again, i fell in love with bae hyunsung. this was really good, i just got caught up in other dramas. will definitely pick back up.
typhoon family (watched 2/16): enjoyed the first two eps, they're just long and i was watching some shorter dramas. i've seen a lot of good things though.
had i not seen the sun (watched 2/20): another drama lost during the final stretch of the semester...i've largely avoided spoilers and i want to continue to, but i'm mad curious about the plot development.
moon river (watched 7/14): still currently watching this one, just wish i had finished it before the year was out! I'm in love with the main couple (second couple is severely underperforming but it's not affecting my enjoyment watching). nearly didn't start this one because i'm not a fan of bodyswap, but i'm so glad i did. kang taeoh and kim sejeong are devouring.
love in the clouds (watched 18/36): this was one of the few cdramas that caught my attention this year (i love hmh <3), but unfortunately i couldn't keep up the momentum watching it so it's just kind of drifted to the side...i was really digging it though, circumstances have just been in the way (circumstances being oct/nov this year)
dramas i'm going into 2026 watching:
idol i (4/?, currently airing): kjy giving vulnerable kicked puppy eyes and stray dog persona, need i ask for more? it reminds me a bit of my lovely liar.
the vendetta of an (4/28): scheming and tricks!
glory (5/36, currently airing): starting the new year by watching the first five eps and i'm absolutely hooked. hidden identity, savior/saved complex, two competent leads, i'm in love.
if you want to chat about any dramas, feel free to pop into my inbox or messages, or simply share below!
