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| Happy Holidays |
I decided to do a Top 10 list based on what I saw this year (though they may have been released in another year).
I really found it a rough year for dramas. A lot of these did not end up high in my lifetime rankings...which is really saying something about the shows that came out this year. But I feel like I can recommend them still.
1. The Matchmakers: I keep wanting to re-watch this drama which is always a good sign about a show's staying power. There was not a lot of chatter about this show but it was one of the best slowburn romances of the year for me. And a little window in the challenges of being in a widow in Joseon.
2. Love in the Big City: Thank god they made this show. I'm so happy it exists and I hope people find their way to this unique story about queer relationships in 2024.
3. The Story of Park's Marriage Contract: Nothing about the plot suggested it would be as strong a contender as it ended up being. But the way this couple finds their way to each other across time makes it a winner.
4. Queen of Tears: This one had me in its grip for like 9 episodes but then it fell off. But it's a solid show and most people were with it until the end.
5. My Lovely Liar: Something about Hwang Min-hyun and Kim So-hyun in this show kept me coming back for more. A gradual, gentle romance with a nonsense plot. K-drama gold.
6. Marry My Husband: Even without romantic chemistry, the way this show navigates its revenge plot and concept is remarkable. A compulsive watch even if Na In-woo is the most wooden actor alive.
7. Like Flowers in Sand: Jang Dong-yoon plays a sweet meathead who slowly figures out his feelings about his life and his love. Worth watching for his nuanced performance and the ssireum matches.
8. Just Between Lovers: An older drama but one that handles PTSD and trauma really well. It has some pacing problems and some of the way it is shot is a bit creaky. It's a weepy melodrama. But I was surprised by the really strong emotional core of the show.
9. No Gain No Love: The way this show addresses misogyny in the workplace and the complexity of being a working woman in Korea is great. I wish the handling of the foster children plotline was as careful.
10. Gangnam B-Side: I have a weakness for Ji Chang-wook being sad and fighty. Plus I feel like his chemistry with Bibi has been great in both shows they've worked on together. New dynamic duo.
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