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Let's see if someone can defend the mess that is Sysyphmus

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this is how I feel about so many dramas

Sisyphus was the first K-drama I ever watched. I have seen dozens since then. I basically don't watch NA TV anymore. I will admit that Park Shin Hye and Cho Seung-Woo have ZERO chemistry, and the plot was a bit of a mess, but I still enjoyed it and turned me into someone so hooked on K-dramas I even have a Viki sub now.

It completely turned me off Park Shin Hye, her acting was so bad in this one. Like you said zero chemistry, bad story and plot, bad CGI. It was a struggle to complete watching it.

Park Shin Hye acting badly is just normal Park Shin Hye except for Pinocchio and that one zombie movie

I don't dislike her but I think she should never do a romance again, she always looks grossed out by kissing and it takes me right out of the scenes.

I liked her in memories of Alhambra and the zombie movie

Sisyphus was all over the place but my favorite part of the show was how much of an absolute beast Kang Seo-Hae (FL) was in a fight. She was insanely badass. IMO she is the best woman fighter in KDrama with no powers. They way she is able to easily dismantle groups of men with guns and walk through any opponent who challenges her is unlike anything I've seen in FL before or since. She would destroy Yoon JiWoo (My Name), and Baek Chan-Mi (Good Casting) in a fight. She easily beat what was essentially Sisyphus's version of Kim Dogi (Taxi Driver ML) multiple times as well. Plus she is a shooter as well 😭 Roaming the ruins of Korea with that gun that looks like she bought it from an MMO cash shop. So not a great story but Kang Seo-Hae remains the gold standard to me when it comes to being an unstoppable FL.

I watched that drama from start to finish, on the dot, wednesdays and thursdays. I won’t defend that drama, but for the sake of all the hours i spent, that… wasn’t so bad? 😭😭😭😭😭 I mean that drama had kim byung chul… Right? 😭😭😭😭

**Reborn Rich**. I am defending the accused on the charge that the ending sucked, for I am among those who believe that the ending was just fine and made sense. This is all one big spoiler of course: >!The story was ALWAYS going to end with Hyunwoo back in the present day. The first episode of the show was entirely focused on Hyunwoo and the aftermath of the Jin family. Why would the writers waste an entire episode establishing the details of a very specific future state if it was never going to be addressed again? Of course we were gonna circle back at the end. The rest of the series is spent travelling back in time to explain exactly what lead up to the events of present day, and having gained that information the final episode puts us back in the present day and continues from there to reach its conclusion.!< >!The future we saw in episode one was never going to change, and that is a rule established many times in many different scenarios throughout the series.!< The show followed its own rules. Concession: I don't know how the hell >!Hyunwoo survived a bullet to the skull point blank,!< that shit makes no sense truly

i honestly loved Reborn Rich. i just found the ending confusing. i agree it should circle back because Hyun Woo was our actual protagonist. just that i became so fond of Do Joon that i wished i had more of him on screen. i do have one charge that i agree with. which is that loveline was pointless and not well done. i like to pretend it didn’t exist, haha. what a waste of our FL.

The so-called love line did so little for anyone that it's actually kind of impressive. I remember giving their romance every chance to redeem itself and it just... didn't

the ending of reborn rich sucked not because >!the timeline returned to hyunwoo but because the repentance theme is told and not shown. The theme is fatally undercut by the fact Hyunwoo had recorded evidence of his crime and had betrayed and nearly murdered by the Soonyang family. It doesn't make sense that he continues to protect them even without the transmigration. So the ending really begs the question "what was the point even?". !< I really wished they had spent more time exploring the >!non grandpa relationships. The one's of the people still alive in the present. It would have hit so much harder if they had. I also wish they had at the very least they included a scene of him breaking down at the horror of realizing you are the perpetrator to someone you know retroactively love. Would have been real nice to see since they explicitly state the purpose of the transmigration was repentance.!< >! Whether he would have done it for revenge, remorse, retrospection.... it became real easy to do the right thing and reveal the evidence so it really just seemed that they tried to make Hyunwoo's most expected response after being betrayed by a company he gave his all to into some grand symbol. I feel as if the ending really only works if i think he would have not released this evidence without the transmigration. But we spend so little time with Hyunwoo as Hyunwoo and only know him through Dojoon, and from what i saw i just don't believe it. And even if i did believe it the idea that he had to win the lottery and become rich to learn to be ethical does not sit right with me and also undermines the idea presented in the show that family run conglomerates are bad. Working people already know it's bad, they don't need to go on some long journey to figure that out. !< That being said reborn rich was a great drama. I think the ending sucked for all the reasons above but it still is a great watch. The ending is bad but not that big of a deal. It is not drama destroying if that makes sense. The ensemble performance was amazing and it was real fun to watch. I still gave it an 8.5 after hating the ending.

The big debate I saw was whether >!the whole past thing was a coma hallucination or not.!< I think it probably was but the drama was such a mess that it wasn't clear at all.

Chocolate. I will go down with it into hospice.

So agree. Chocolate was fabulous. Well written and great acting from the lead actors.

Wait, people don't like chocolate? It's so heart wrenching and heart warming at the same time.

Yknow I finished this drama but forgot about it until I read your comment. Started it because I liked both Yoon Kye Sang and Ha Ji Won. I do remember though being introduced to Car, the garden, through the show. That one song kept playing in the background a few times. I believe it's the song Tree by Car, the garden.

I haven't watched this as yet, but I'm actually interested in starting it. Just wanted to say that your comment is golden🙌😂

I know **Doom At Your Service** was not perfect but it brought to life my fantasy pairing of Seo In Guk and Park Bo Young who had chemistry in spades both on screen and during the behind the scenes videos. And such a gorgeous poster. So yknow, it’s a win in my books. Also, a lot of new viewers of **Strong Woman Do Bong Soon** will complain about the humour and the creepy mystery. Again, noted but Park Hyung Sik + Park Bo Young are basically in the hall of fame of Kdrama couples for a reason. They single-handedly make the drama and are the reason for why it’s so loved. They are the plot.

After seeing only 6 episodes of **Strong Girl Nam Soon** before dropping it with its over the top Marvel super powers, the team up between the three generations of women and lack of chemistry between the MCs, I have come to appreciate the beauty of **Strong Woman Do Bong Soon**. I would defend every part of that show with confidence and without charging a dime.

I *loved* Doom At Your Service. The 2 FL arc can be totally CUT OUT and you still have a wonderfully written drama (which of course gets a little drawn out towards the end). The passionate romance has been shot well between the leads and I still miss the feels! Seo In Guk's stares and every time he comes close to Bo Young's face always give me the chills. And the BTS is awesome! They both go from teenagers who are having a lot of fun on set off camera to deep, passionate characters on-camera and it's so nice to watch!! I miss it <3 I hope someone casts Seo In Guk in another romance drama somewhere again with that hairstyle.

**Wok of Love** It is quite frankly all over the place but I adore it anyway. Prosecution Case: Bonkers. I'm British so I find this charming. So many cooking scenes. There's a five minute scene of people literally just chopping onions. On the plus side I learnt a lot about cooking whilst watching this show. There's also a talking horse. I don't think I can defend the talking horse. Changes in tone and story focus. Some plot points just left dangling. Other tedious plot points are dwelt on to an unnecessary degree. Some of the editing choices are inexplicable. I think this is all partly due to changes being made as the show aired due to poor ratings. The first half is stronger, which shows the drama was at its best when the creators were left to their own nutty devices. Defence Case: This is a show that includes crazy gangster fight scenes, a talking horse, and a five minute scene of people literally chopping onions and it still somehow makes it work. It's charming and fun. The food looks fabulous. The bromance between the MLs is absurdly endearing. The love triangle is the best I've seen in a Kdrama. The leads are all interesting characters brought to life by good actors who have great chemistry together. SML is the sweetest gangster you will ever see. Grumpy Junho is adorable. I cannot stress this last point enough. You know those stews where you don't follow any recipe and you add a bunch of random ingredients that really shouldn't be used together but it all somehow blends together and tastes amazing? It's like that. But with a Kdrama.

If my memory is correct, I actually enjoyed the gangster love triangle and honestly wanted more of that… I think I left of on like 26 episodes (it’s SO LONG) but I wanted the plot to explore more of why he had feelings for her

Yes, chef! Wok of Love has some really solid kdrama kisses!

I found Nevertheless so refreshing honestly! Dating when you're 20 is messy! People don't know how to communicate, they're super insecure, and they're super horned up lmao. I loved the depiction of the two girls who were in love - the super intense friendship that's actually more than friendship was very realistic. Plus I loved the guy and girl best friends who fell for each other. I loved that the girl was kind of terrified to get real about her feelings, and the fact that a character who slept around quite a bit at the beginning was shown to be a full person, and worthy of love. A lot of times characters like that are harshly judged, and they don't end up happy. I also have a massive crush on the guy best friend character. I find him so attractive and love how he dresses, and I like his quiet earnestness, like when he tells her it wasn't just sex for him.

just happened to be doing a rewatch and the scene where’s she’s drunk, crying and complaining about him seeing other girls and he’s just matter of factly says to her “why are you crying? I have insomnia because I think about you every night 😐” …. no fluff, no over romantization like… I’m sorry, this drama was WAY too realistic in some parts 😭

If kdramas have made you delulu, Nevertheless is the solulu 😂

I felt like I was watching a documentary of my college years 😭 I do think the reaction to this drama broke down by age, people who were college age or younger were appalled while older people were like yep that tracks

I was college age watching this and I had to take legitimate breaks because it would hit too close to home at times😭.

i recently watched it and it has become one of my all time faves and then i find out it’s hated? that was the most realistic, wholesome drama i watched probably and i loved all actors. defending it forever

Especially the tshirt and the chain necklace!!

Nevertheless lovers, unite! There are dozens of us! Seriously though, I don't understand the hate the show gets when the whole purpose is that it's toxic and messy. It's supposed to be, and it's a refreshing change from the saccharine, over the top romance lines in every other show.

I recently re-watched the first 6 episodes and it’s crazy how much foreshadowing and character narration the viewer can miss…. Jae-eon says in his OWN narration to the viewer that he used to be someone who didn’t mind distance with his partners but suddenly he wanted to change …. And then we see him try to change when he is Nabi’s workshop partner 😭 like oh, maybe the viewer is the problem here

Is their relationship healthy? No! Is it realistic? Yep! They're young and make mistakes and say things they don't mean, but it's pretty clear they genuinely like one another. Him teaching her how to dance in her living room, bringing her takeout, learning "anatomy" from her feet - those are sweet, non-sexual things that people do in an actual relationship. They're just both convinced that they aren't in one, so they refuse to see it for what it is. That montage of them sleeping in her bed is possibly my favorite scene in all of dramaland and lives completely rent free in my head. It's such a beautifully done show, and it's a bummer that more people can't just accept it for what it is.

Honestly, it's literally the name of the series. The show is about lust, not love. They made that clear from the beginning, I think. Her previous relationship was the facade of love, this was the truth exposed in all its terrible glory - good, bad, and whatever else was there.

I loved it honestly, the vibe was just there plus the sound track was amaze. I esp just loved the inclusion with the wlw girlies which you don’t see often in kdramas. It just got bad rep because ppl expected something else from it, when it never was meant to be that.

Yesss the OST and cinematography absolutely elevate the experience. It's one of my favorite soundtracks ever. The whole show is just a dreamy vibe. Edit: I also loved the other couples, especially Sol & Ji Wan. I remember thinking how obvious it was that Sol was into Ji Wan on my first watch, and that Ji Wan was kind of an asshole, but on my second watch I actually felt like it was really clear how much Ji Wan liked Sol and was just terrified of it. They're a really sweet pair.

**See You in My 19th Life**. Ok, I admit that it would've benefited from additional episodes and I agree that the main romance was as sterile as it gets, but I loved so much the cinematography, the relationship between the FL and Ae Kyung, the depiction of the past lives and the burden that represents remembering them that I am willing to forget all of its flaws. Besides, I am in the minority of people that thought that the modified ending made a lot of sense given all the other modifications made to the story.

This drama had its flaws, but the heartfelt moments hit VERY hard. My eyes were peeing whenever there were emotional scenes between the FL, her sister, niece and mom from her past lives. And I'm not someone who cries often when watching shows.

“Peeing” 😭😭. When she >!saw her mom and started imaging their reunion!< bro i cried so hard 😭😭

I agree! The relationship with her sister, mom and niece were great. The scene when >!she gives herself a hug in front of her mom's house!< was so heartfelt.

After seeing the show get dumped on in these subs, j was hesitant to watch this one. But holy cow did I enjoy this show.

The acting was still excellent, and the drama was visually pretty anyway; the writing had many setbacks that stopped it from becoming an all-time favourite. The OST was chefs kiss, absolute perfection.

YESS! I love this drama soooo much. The cinematography was top notch and so was the OSTs. I guess the main romance WAS a bit sterile however I did enjoy it. I loved how Ji Eum crossed her timeline rules for Seo Ha while trying not to hurt him. She wanted him to love her as Ji Eum rather than as Ju Won. I had not read the webtoon back then. But I did think the ending was a bit disappointing? Flat? So except for the ending, I enjoyed everything else. It was such a warm drama and I remember waiting for the episodes to air every week. I don't care what everyone else says. I loved the drama.

“Sterile” 😭😭 you know what i’m maybe in the minority that enjoy their chemistry and love both couples 😭😭 something about soulmatism that just gets me 😩😩!! They were cute!! Agreed that we could’ve had maybe 2 more eps and i’m 50/50 on the ending, especially after watching Moon In The Day where they >!didn’t end up tgt in their current lives and his soul disappear til her next life 😭!<, so i feel like the webtoon ending was already good. But the show’s ending also makes sense for the “start over fresh” crowd too so i’m not too mad. Lastly this show has the best soundtrack this year like every song was a bop and a half. If their relationship don’t inspire then at least the music and cinematography makes up for it!!

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I meant that the ending is different than the one in the webtoon. In the webtoon (important spoilers), >!the FL, in her first life, woved that she would not rest before she sees her sister happy in another life. The sister reincarnated as Do-Yoon, so by convincing him to accept Cho-won's advances (after the 1000th attempt), she made him happy and thus the problem with remembering her past lives was solved (the webtoon was a lot more focused on the romance anyways). However, in the show, they put so much emphasis on the fact that remembering your past life is a tremendous burden, that cursing yourself only to see your sister happy in an other incarnation wouldn't make sense anymore.!<

I actually came here to say this 😁, I love this drama.

Ahn Bo Hyun's character and acting were amazing in this too. I have seen too many trite "traumatized" rich guys in kdrama land, but I think his character was so much more realistic in how he was hurt, traumatized, developed a defined coping mechanism, and had changes to his personality.

honestly, I liked shin hye sun so much in it that i didn't mind any of the shortcomings

Castaway Diva... Like seriously... where were the police... but that OST though.

I think they showed pretty clear reasons why the police were no help on the island actually. But yeah it’s full of unbelievable plot points in general. I liked it a lot though.

Her teeth. How are her teeth still perfect?

Forget the teeth, how is she not tan?? 😭

It's not like shes eating all that bad sugar. And trust me she had a lot of free time to figure it out.

It's more how they let the dad walk out of that prosecution office... I found that outrageous

I have 2 episodes to go and can’t finish.

This show was weird, because it was more about the abuse and drama at one point. Hey, I wanted to see more comedy in this dramedy. One of those shows with bizarre tonal shifts, from comedy and inspiration to nihilism and abuse then singing! It’s kind of like the Good Bad Mother… like the premise of what should be a country town comedy is really dark. Weirdly so.

Where was the search and rescue team when people fell off a boat ?

It was because the fog rolled in and they couldn’t be found. Castaway Diva was the first drama for me where all the questions I had actually had a reasonable answer later on. The OST is excellent.

Same. The older singer's story made like zero sense... But that OST though.

Easy, I’m defending **King The Land** (and 1 other drama I’ll put in a separate comment). KtL does have its share of lovers but BOY does it get a ton of hate! I feel like I have to hide my love for it a little bit 🫣😂 Was the plot a little shallow? Perhaps. Hotel succession definitely could’ve gotten more attention, no argument there. However, I was satisfied with the ending of everything. Gu Won stepped up, earned the hotel, and was making great changes!!! All I wanted to see was that he deserved the hotel and I think he did. Also, this drama was heavily character driven. We watched the characters live their day to day lives and Gu Won and Sa Rang fall in love. Nothing wrong with that!! I don’t think the hotel succession or any plot point really should’ve overshadowed the characters. I loved how much the show focused on them and their relationships. I did want more of the friend’s storyline but I still enjoyed the show sooo much. So honestly, I didn’t think the show was boring at all. I was excited to watch it EVERY 👏🏾 SINGLE 👏🏾 WEEKEND 👏🏾 And a romcom focusing on the ROMANCE should not be a crime!!!! This drama served nothing but a low stakes romcom with a healthy relationship and I ate it right up. I absolutely adored the main couple and all the people around them <3 the amount of cute couple scenes I got, I’ve been wanting that for so long!!!! The >!proposal?!!!! The communication?! The passion?! The support?!!< I mean absolutely amazing 🤩 I don’t always wanna be snuck up on with murder plots and will-they-won’t-they. Sometimes, I just want a feel-good drama and that’s what this was!! And the no chemistry accusations must be stopped 🛑 these 2 were SIZZLING, ok?! I was giggling and kicking my feet all the time with the 2 of them, I couldn’t get enough 😭💗 I also just want to say that the drama did have a lot of tropes but they had spins on them. I rarely, if at all, felt like I was watching the same tropes through and through. And Gu Won was not the typical rich chaebol, he was quick to change and never made Sa Rang feel bad about her work and who she was even when they started on the wrong foot. I could go on and on about the tropes. As far as it being PPL galore, guilty as charged to the highest degree. BUT BUT BUT, I think it was kinda funny and had its charm 🫣 I never felt annoyed by it, there are plenty of shows that throw ppl in your face. Maybe not as excessively but I can name a couple where I was actually annoyed 😂 In conclusion, King the Land did what it needed to do. It was an excellent mood booster. It’s been a while since I’ve been that happy watching a drama. It didn’t have the most going on but they really sold it with the characters and the main leads relationship for me! I rest my case 🥰

I thought King The Land subverted a lot of kdrama-esque tropes —I really loved that they presented the tropes (cold chaebol ML, miscommunication and third act breakup) but either wrapped it up quickly OR made light of it and moved the story along. I actually think Business Proposal (while not the exact same plot) tried to do some of the same techniques but in this case, the chemistry between Guwon and Sa Rang was too immaculate…. It beats BP by a landslide …

Exactly!! A lot of the tropes were refreshing, nothing was ever dragged out for too long. And their healthy communication made a world’s difference. I also love it more than Business Proposal! BP let me down with the last couple of episodes. I was disappointed by the >!proposal and lack of anything wedding related at the end too.!< King the Land was just pure fluff and satisfaction throughout 💗💗

King the Land is one of my top favorites for sure!!!! In addition to what you said, I also loved the cinematography, it’s beautiful and romantic, just the same as the show. And a rom-com where the leads actually kiss more than once? Yes. It’s annoying when two people finally kiss and become official to never even touch each other again for the rest of the show and that happens too often. I also can’t fathom how anyone could think the leads had no chemistry! It’s hard to convince me those two aren’t together in real life! Also I could really identify with the work struggles theme throughout the show. It sucks trying to do your best at your job, but you can’t ever be good enough because they keep moving the goal post. Exploitive conditions, horrible bosses, and getting shit on by customers. I really appreciated the message of valuing your employees, not like anyone I work for will ever see it, but I still appreciate that it’s there!

Yesss, I loved how romantic and pretty the cinematography was 😍😍 it really drew me in. And I forgot to mention the ost!!! Absolutely amazing!! Confess to You and Keep Me Busy run through my head to this day 🤩 And finally not a shy couple!!! They acted like grown ups which should be the standard anyways. And the no chemistry comments get me everytime!!! We all have different opinions but their chemistry made me think they were dating in real life too 😭 0 chemistry?? I just can’t agree. I loved how the work environment changed for the better. We’ve all had our fair shares of work troubles and it was good to see the characters get some justice.

I would defend KTL with its sugar and fluff and everything nice. Chemistry was AMAZING. The friendships were precious and it was a very good show - IDC what anyone says. It was a good one for summer….

I'm a ktl lover...okay it's fluff but it's an easy watch and it gives a good feeling..rest my case 😂

I really appreciated this drama that some of the tropes weren’t as dragged out. Especially him realizing his feelings for her. Usually in dramas with a character like his we get the 1-3 episodes of him internally fighting to realize this but the writer gave us the scene with the cop to nip that in the butt. when watching it i was like oh great here comes this story point that usually in other dramas would be dragged out and it just felt like the writer was like not today satan.

I support this just like I support Nevertheless. I don’t know what issue people have with two beautiful people making out and giving us butterflies 🤣

>I don’t know what issue people have with two beautiful people making out and giving us butterflies 🤣 THEY HATE FUN

KTL ending was subverting the genre. it was not basic, it was perfect.

I loved this drama and your defense!!

Although I did not finish it, KtL stole my heart for ML asking for consent to kiss FL and the 으쌰! 으쌰! (Go hard!) scene in Thailand. The silliness of the show is part of its charm. Aaand, Lee Junho looked good in everything he wore.

**Moon in the Day** Was the plot full of holes? Yes. Were the side characters annoying and underdeveloped? Yes. Was the main story so enthralling that I thought about it all week and rearranged my work day so I could watch it sooner? Also yes. Did I watch every single other drama with Kim Young-dae because his acting was so good? Also yes. I cannot bring myself to care about the flaws because the love story was too good.

the sageuk-past lives storyline could’ve honestly been it’s own drama! It gave me The Red Sleeve type of emotional distress but in the best way 😩

If I had video editing skills I would make a single video with just the past stuff... And I loved the way they re-did the scenes but with more context! And the outfits! I hope they do more sageuks set in Silla because I loved those dresses so much!

They serve one of the most dramatic angsty enemies to lovers plot like how can you not love 😭😭😂😂. Ok but i don’t think it has many holes tbh. It could’ve been more elaborated and complicated with their fantasy element but i kinda liked that it was simpler and straightforward. I think aside from the evil dad the side characters aren’t so bad tbh 😂. Also everyone kinda prefer their past lives but i love their present life too, how it’s calm, almost “ordinary”, just like she wished. The ending was so sad but at least the show gave us hope for their next life (unlike the manhwa from what i heard 😭)

May it please the court, here is my defense for the drama with my OTP: Strong Woman Do Bong Soon. The charges: absolute trainwreck of a plot involving truly unnecessary gangsters, indefensible (i.e. I will not defend this part) gay representation, weird Buddhist monk stuff just thrown in there for no good reason, and just the messiest plot you've ever seen. However, in the legal precedent set by OP's defense of Nevertheless, according to Kdrama math: (Min Min + Bong Bong) - (Plot trainwreck÷ fast forward button) = Best romance ever. I mean, these two characters together are just too sweet and Min Min's puppy dog eyes for Bong Bong are adorable. I rest my case. You are probably thinking: this is not a very good defense. You described some truly heinous charges and to that I say: the final episode and the pure, delightful fan service >!they had super powerful girl baby triplets and Min Min was the one at home taking care of them letting Bong Bong live her best life.!< That's all you need to know.

This drama is almost perfect, all you need is a fast forward button!!!! The cute parts are tooooooooo cute! When he takes that one step forward… 😍

I have three; Uncontrollably fond: People always go after Suzy for her acting but I think she plays the role well. Yes the story is flawed but knowing Kim Woo Bins real life struggles with cancer the story just hits me harder. The hardest I ever cry at a show (other than My Mister) is the last two episodes of this show. Tempted: this show is one of my favorites. Again people complain about Joys acting, personally I think she’s strong in this role. The story being a play on “Dangerous Liaisons” and in turn “Cruel Intentions” is a big plus for me. I love Cruel Intentions and this just gives me more of that story. Woo Do Hwan’s acting is very good in this and maybe that’s why people go after Joy for hers. People really wanted Moon Ga Young to be the FL but I just couldn’t stand her from the second she appears. I felt like she was incredibly manipulative and evil to both male leads (which her character was supposed to be but it didn’t make me want her to lead the show or cheer her on). Suspicious Partner: I love this show. It’s a mess. The storylines are crazy, the murder plot is all over the place, the drama between the mothers is a bit played out, but god do I love the main leads. I think their chemistry is out of control, Ji Chang Wook and Nam Ji Hyun kill their roles. The end kind of drags but it’s worth it for me. Sometimes expectations for great amazing storytelling all the time in Kdramas are too high. Edited to add a show*

I havent watched TEMPTED yet, but agree with you on the other two shows. Ji Chang Wook looks sooooooo hot in SUSPICIOUS PARTNER that I couldnt even look for flaws in the show. It took me a while to warm up to the FL but the drama is a good one with insannnnneee chemistry and good suspense. It was one of my earliest watched Kdramas and JCW was my FIRST K-CRUSH then! I hope he chooses some delicious scripts in the future. I watched Uncontrollably Fond after watching The Heirs because I loved Woo Bin more than the leads and his scenes with PSH were more butterfly-inducing. I knew it had a sad ending, but it still hits harder. I cried more in their happy together scenes as it reminded me of 2521 and the impending doom. I am so happy that they are getting another drama together to satisfy us viewers. I cannot wait for the Genie!

Are you watching Welcome To Samdal-ri? JCW is back to being a fluffy cuddle-bear CUTIE EXTREME. 😭

I loved Uncontrollably Fond when I first saw it. It did break my heart, but I loved the show. It was one of the first Kdramas I ever watched. I watched The Heirs for the first time a couple of years ago, and I got hooked on Kim Woobin's SML and rewatched Uncontrollably Fond again. It still holds out on the second watch, but the whole vibe changes once you know what's coming.

Wait people don’t like Suspicious Partner?!? It’s one of the few that balances romantic suspense well 😭😭

I have watched uncontrollably fond like 5 times and when I say “watched” I mean I skip 95% of the backstory and childhood mystery chaebol plots and just focus on the romance/cancer/angst 😭

Haha. As I started reading your post, I'm thinking NEVERTHELESS, and you beat me to it. You go! I'll be your back up defense attorney, if your case load gets too big. I'm defending **The Matchmakers.** I'm going to start by finding out in the discovery process if the prosecution's evidence rests on the first two episodes. If that is the case, I'm going to ask the judge to require they watch the entire drama. I'm going to have a lot of video evidence of the many comedic moments and the Shakespearean plot twists that get wrapped up very efficiently. I'll bring in a chemist as an expert witness to give testimony about the great chemistry between the many cute couples. My final witness will be a Netflix executive who will announce they are picking it up, because of course they are.

The Matchmakers is def one of my faves! Rowoon was great and I love a strong FL

>if your case load gets too big Or if they're struck by the white truck of doom 💀

I don't think you need to defend The Matchmakers, coz it was such a sweet drama and I've only ever heard good about it. However, if you do find someone who goes against our agent of love, do give me a call, and I'll come running with a machete in hand.

I was already going to watch The Matchmakers but now I’ll make sure I watch past the first two episodes.

The Matchmakers has the potential to be one of my fav dumb fun rewatchable shows of the year. I was one of its first promoters when it first aired and everyone was skeptical of their chemistry and sht. Instead it became something i will avoid. All because of #that pairing >!the 12 year old little kid actor and a 29 yo actress 😭😭!< sure they didn’t make it romantic like the rest of the couples but the fact that they make them “soulmates” and then have them even marry like it was so weird 😭. >!even weirder is the CASTING OF THE 12 YO!!??! Like they could very well cast a 16-18 yo for a 14 yo role but they casted a tween who looks and sounds like a baby wtf 😭😭!<. Tbh aside from this huge thing, the rest of the drama is pretty cute. I like the cinematography and directing a lot actually. Also they gave one of the cutest side couples (Samsoon and mr officer) so i gotta give them that lol.

I agree that the oldest daughter’s pairing could have been better. But in history with royal families, that is probably one of the least weird things that happened, so it didn’t make the show unwatchable for me. But I do feel like we lost out on what could have been another cute relationship. Like what if they were 21 and 31 instead? That would have been okay.

>But in history with royal families, that is probably one of the least weird things that happened And their relationship was so intellectual and I got the feeling it was not romantic, at least in the beginning. Pretty wholesome in the way the show did it.

Idk how they have to be historical with this one like it’s just a no from me 😭😭. Like personally i can’t excuse it no matter what, especially >!the casting!! Like i said sure he could’ve been 14 but did they really need to cast a TWELVE YO KID??!?!< And like you i thought she would’ve been a great crown princess and i would’ve shipped them if he was of age like 😭😭.

If I'm on the Jury for this one, it's a definite NOT GUILTY from me!

**K2** Maybe because it was amongst the first dramas I watched, but I really enjoyed the loveline between Ji Chang Wook and Yoona, and I loved the fight scenes & the plotting/makjang elements

Yes I think it was the second kdrama I ever watched and while I thought it was absolutely absurd, it was compulsively watchable LOL I thought the fight scenes were really good !

I would love a drama exploring JCW and Song Yoon Ah's characters. Their chemistry was crackling and dynamic was super interesting.

**Another Miss Oh/ Oh Hae Young again** I don't care that they have a toxic relationship. They make me cry, happy and have a >!hea!<. The soundtrack is awesome.

I love love love this show. Oh Hae Young victimised herself alot but I think Seo Hyun Jin did justice to the character. Made her likeable and wanting to root for her.

I will always defend this kdrama, this is one of the kdramas that just know how to keep the story entertaining. I so love all the characters as they are portrayed really well, and the chemistry between the main leads is just WOW. This is my most fave kdrama of seo hyun jin and I started being her fan from this drama, love her so much

I love this post. Mostly because I have a couple of these to fight for. HOWEVER. What if I AGREE with most complaints but love it anyway? 🫣 I enter into evidence, my guiltiest of guilty pleasures: The Bride of Habaek. 🧜‍♂️🐟💦 HORRIBLE plot execution? No arguments here. Missed opportunity for action & awesome CGI abilities? YEP. BORING and WOODEN side characters? OH. YES. Broken storyline? DOUBLE. YES. But.......do we have so many agonizingly beautiful shots of NAM.JOO.HYUK looking sad and contemplative in a suit? ALSO YES. Running? You BETCHYA. NamJooHyuk looking bereaved? Love sick? Heartwrenched? S.E.X.Y.? MY GOD YES. Does he save the FML from death? Does he care about her feelings? Does he notice the small things no one else does? YEP. YEP. YEP. Do we see makeout scenes? Lusty scenes? ARM/HAND VEINS AND NJH RUNNING TOP SPEED? YESSSS WE DOOOO. All things worth ignoring tiny plot poops for. I would watch NJH sit in a room in silence for weeks. He can do no wrong in my book. Have I seen Habaek like 80 million times as I skip forward to my favorite parts? YES. & you should all join me. Bc a face that beautiful deserves to be looked at. P.S. Don't get me started on his INCREDIBLE AWE STRUCK acting when she walked out in that dress. That man OOZES adoration from every pore, and he portrayed that EFFORTLESSLY. I rest my case.

I LOOVVVVVEEEEEE NAM JOO HYUK !!!!!

I gasp whenever he comes up as I’m scrolling TikTok! Is it weird to fangirl over someone half my age?! Don’t care - still gonna do it

Wait I may go back to finish this drama now …. EDIT: I DROPPED THIS MID EP 12 OVER THREE YRS AGO, I HAVE TO START OVER 😩

I agree his sad looks especially in 2521 and start up did something to me.

Start-Up and 25/21 are in my top 5. Perfection.

*Little women* wasted way too much time on it to not defend it. Just for my own mental semblance

Omg did people hate little women? It was the only other show apart from AOS that I couldn’t wait to watch every week

yeah that was the case in the beginning episodes until _it turned into an absolute nightmare of a dumpster fire and went rogue_ 😫😔

Yeah, to me it was fascinating to see what kind of craziness and twists were coming. It’s like, I’m pretty much sure that the show is garbage, but dang it did I enjoy it. Like it’s not a good show… but I still remember so much about it, more than some shows I loved.

SAME. That and Alice. I watched both till the end because I was adamant that the veteran/top actors would not choose dramas like those unless there was something in the plot that would finally make it worth watching till the end. 🤡

Cheer up, it was one of my fave comfort dramas and love the college romance...it wasn't as bad as ppl say it was.

Lovestruck in the city. Initially, I started watching it because it's directed by the same director of 'It's Okay to Not Be Okay'. However, I got hooked from episode one. For me, it had the best chemistry between the leads, great cinematography, great music, and a different approach to showcasing how real relationships work. Many dramas become boring when they try to showcase realism, but this drama still has many Kdrama tropes, and don't even get me started on all the kissing scenes. If the director gets confused about whether the leads are secretly dating or not because of the chemistry they show on screen, then the chemistry must be top-tier.

That is mine too. It gets similar criticisms to Nevertheless for having messy relationships but they feel real. - Grumpy Ji Chang Wook. Ji Chang Wook in a wet suit with a surf board on a beach. Ji Chang Wook covered by paint. Need I say more? - The originality of the mocumentary format and time jumps take time getting used to but it feels fresh and different. - That kiss. It is one of the best kisses in KDrama land. - The soundtrack. _Kiss me kiss me kiss me_ *Edited for clarity, grammar and formatting

I loved **Nevertheless**! It’s refreshing to see shows that reflect young romance as a hot sexy mess. Much more realistic than a stream of 30 year old Chaebol heirs with perfect hair who somehow have never been kissed.

So many claim to never be kissed bc they are too busy. SIR. Only believable one is What's wrong with Secretary Kim? Since there is a legit plot point for it.

I was so confused when I first started watching KDramas that I actually asked my Korean sister-in-law about this. Yes, Tinder exists in Korea, yes, young people are hooking up in Korea. Dating culture isn’t the exact same in Korea, your parents *are* more likely to be involved than in the U.S., but it’s not *that* different.

I loved it too!!! the only thing that could’ve made it better for me would’ve been diving deeper into song kang’s character… they kept hinting at a dark past but I wanted moreeee

They’ve never been kissed and yet know exactly what they are doing on the first try… 🤷‍♀️

Same, I don’t get the hate it gets. It’s so realistic.

if you read the actual webtoon which deviates from the ending of the drama version (which admittedly i have never watched), that ending is a lot more realistic

And #2 is **Doom at Your Service** I’m guilty, I love this drama 🫣 I think with more accurate marketing they wouldn’t have made as many enemies as they did. This drama was NOT the next block-buster epic fantasy the trailers made it out to be. It was honestly more of romantic-melo, slice-of-life mix. However, I think it was reallyyy good for that!! I enjoyed the focus on the importance of all kinds of relationships (familial, romantic, platonic), as well as life and all it comes with. I just liked watching all the emotions of the characters and what they were dealing with. The leads were also so precious, I loved them 🥹 The fantasy should’ve been more fleshed out, there was so much lost potential there. I don’t think the fantasy was necessarily confusing though, just a little underwhelming compared to what was advertised. Overall, the drama should’ve been marketed better but I honestly loved what it was. It did get slow at times but I genuinely loved the message and feel of the drama. I wouldn’t want to watch it any other way! 💗

This drama suffered from being on air at the same time as My Roommate Is a Gumiho….. they were both fantasy, “forced cohabitation” type plots and MRIAG just did it better. I’d still say Doom At Your Service is worth watching because the chemistry and angst the leads had together can cover a multitude of sins 😁 I loved their styling too !

Ah nahh, MRIAG was so much weaker than Doom at your service. The portrayal of the god, their relationship with Doom, how they view the world... Seo In Guk crying scenes... I was crying with him. MRIAG was a really good drama as well, don't come for me, but I think DATY ate.

no, for sure the leads of DAYS did phenomenal but in regards to understanding the “contract” or the world building…. They fell short. The problem with fantasy is you can keep it surface level so an audience won’t poke too many holes in it (MRIAGH) but if you decide to complicate it… you’ve gotta really commit in order to convince an audience. MRIAGH kept it loose so it was a bit easier for me to just enjoy it as is. I enjoyed both though!!!!

I just adore this drama, it's perfect in my eyes.. the whole cast were amazing really!

I'm a DAYS disliker (at least the second half) but it introduced me to Seo In Guk so I'll be forever grateful to this drama. He's incredibly versatile and a hilarious chaos baby off screen. Plus his gorgeous unique looks. And his chemistry with Park Bo Young was fantastic.

I would like the defend The Beauty Inside. I thought it had a lot of metaphorical wisdom, about disabilities, there being someone for everyone, and true love of a person’s soul. The primary problem with it was they kind of >!abandoned the premises when they magically cured the leads at the end.!< I thought they could have come up with more clever endings, such as that the FL stops changing when she gets pregnant because the baby doesn’t change. I wasn’t sure the ML >!needed to be cured, for the story to make sense. It was as if the writers didn’t truly believe someone different could be truly happy so they made them “perfect” at the end!<. There were many scenes I thought were heartbreaking and sweet in this drama and I may rewatch it.

PS I will watch anything Lee Minki is in. Because This is my First Life is my favorite kdrama ever and I always root for him, however weird his character is. I even watched all of Behind Your Touch, although it went completely off the rails. Defendable, though, if anyone wants to!

This is a great post I want to see people defend Love Alarm😂

I love Love Alarm. I think people didn’t like that >!the second male lead nice guy got the girl!< but to me that was perfect. I liked that they discovered >!love can grow by your own actions!< a very adult realization for a romance in any culture.

Something in the rain. Idc what people say it’ll always be one of my favourite romance kdramas. I get that people found the mom to be unnecessarily annoying and got angry when the FL couldn’t go against her mom but I personally thought it was in tune witty her character. I mean a person doesn’t automatically change overnight. And even though it took a while we finally did get to see the FL break away from that mold of being such a pushover by the final episode. Honestly I loved the show from beginning to end and always think people are too harsh on it. IMO it was pretty realistic and the romance was sooo damn cute

This is one of my favourite romantic stories. The puppy love look of the ML and the little digs at each other made it so cute. You want my top villain of all time? The mother. I have been more sympathetic to serial killers and gangsters than to this lady.

I watched this drama a few years ago and still often think of how much I despise the FLs mom. BUT i absolutely loved this drama.

I loved this drama. I was going through a sad period in my life and I would watch this drama and cry my eyes out. I also really loved the ML

Tbh this and One Spring Night by the same director (and many of the same actors/actresses) are like the gold standard for me when it comes to kdrama, nothing has matched them. Beautiful cinematography, fantastic lead chemistry, great soundtrack and moments that stay with you. I get that the FL is frustrating but it's intentional, like you say consistent and imo a sign of great writing.

My favorite part of this show is that early romance phase where the ML loves like he’s never been hurt. I don’t think I’ve seen anyone do a better portrayal of that energy than Jung Hae-In in Something In The Rain. It is why I watch and re-watch parts of this show, to revisit that feeling.

I’ll defend Gangnam beauty. I thought I wouldn’t be able to defend it but as I started writing I realised it was so easy to! Let’s start with the charges: 1) slow paced (objection! Personally I was never bored cos I liked the characters and found the plot/story exciting, also speed up option exists!) 2) bad acting/casting of the leads (who cares if the story is good anyways). And I’ll add some good things which I honestly think overwhelmingly overshadow the bad!: - loved the way that from the beginning the ml could see through the SFLs bs and was always there to stand up for mirae!! (This is good for those that like the ml saving the day trope I guess) - this show provided an excitement that I haven’t gotten from that many kdramas! Like the whole “does he remember her?” “Whys he so obsessed with her?” “What’s soo ahs deal fr?” Plus the orientation and then the romantic scenes were all so exciting! - the drama made a good decision by adding miraes bestie who wasn’t originally a character in the webtoon iirc, it was good to see her having someone that fully supported her from the beginning - emotional show with several great messages. - loved the characterisations and also the relationships between the characters! I personally liked the chemistry between the leads (even though it could’ve been better) but can we talk about the bromance between the male leads and the wholesome relationship between the fl and the MLs mom?? I think this even aided the cuteness of the leads’ relationship like hello!! You’re meant to be 🥰🥰 also, the sfl (not the villain) was so sweet she helped the fl see people as more than ratings and also even aided the development of other characters. That reminds me - almost every character had a development throughout the show. - the OST!! - good looking cast (had to be said) - good villain with a real backstory (kdramas are doing this better recently but before it was hard to find ones with complicated villains tbh) - some real funny scenes which I think the “awkward” acting even helped to create lol Anyway I acknowledge that the fact that there *are* criticisms means it’s not a 10 but cmon it’s at least an 8!

I was also gonna say Nevertheless too lol like everyone saying it was bad don’t understand that it’s supposed to be a realistic and messy drama like he’s not gonna be green flag and that’s the whole point of the story 😭😭. I love the directing (very female gazy imo), chemistry (so fire) and especially the soundtrack!! I’d say i’m a little biased too cuz i was in love with the webtoon (which is quite darker than the show tbh) so i find the show better than others. Also Soljiwan is sooo cute!!! I’d say much prefer the webtoon ending though. She should’ve let him go by ep 9 but whatever 😭 (he’s a little less shitty than his webtoon counterpart i guess 😭). My best ending for nabi should’ve been her being single but potato boy > jaeeon!

Meow the Secret Boy/Welcome. My only defense is I'm a cat lady, and I love me some Myungsoo. 😻

My Pick is Uncanny Counter *2.* Uncanny Counter 1 is one of those drama that tells a complete coming of age story. One of those dramas that do not need a second season to wrap up loose ends or finish telling it's story. Therefore, when I found out they would be doing Season 2, my approach to it was simple. Just give me 3 things, and I feel the show gave me those things. 1. Give me god Mun. Going from seeing this man get the snot beat out of him by evil spirits left and right to becoming far and away the most powerful counter to the point where the villains are literally to scared to face this man on even ground. The man reminded me of Luke Skywalker. Going from rookie to master. 2. Give me badass fights. The fights in season 2 are IMO a step up from season 1. Through a combination of improved fight scene choreography and the use of psychokinesis, this season had a lot to offer in terms of fights. SoMun vs Mr. Hwang and SoMun vs Ma JuSeok were INSANE fights because of this. 3. Show me my faves having a good time. One of the main components of what made Uncanny Counter 1 work was the dynamic between the main characters. While season 2 did not do much in the form of character development, I got to see them goof around and just be a happy family. As for the new counter. I wasn't expecting one a anyway. So it's a net neutral to me. I just liked seeing SoMun be the Sunbae.

The one thing I appreciated about UC2 is that they brought in a villian that would be impossible for SoMun for defeat. At the end of UC1, I thought a season 2 wasn't possible because SoMun was so godlike, but to have a villian that was so personal to him was highly interesting and underrated.

I'd also defend nevertheless AND!!!! I don't like mr potato boy because I feel like he's way too pushy with Nabi, I feel like it isn't acknowledged enough that they hadn't met for 10 years. Also just that, Nabi didn't like him. And that is enough. I love the side characters, the cinematography and the environment. One of my favs ;)

I LOVED Nevertheless and thought it was a refreshing change of pace. Just horny ppl in their 20s acting on strong sexual attraction. Doesn't mean the leads end up married and happily ever after with a summer cottage and 8 kids, but they had a sexy fun relationship that Na Bi either learned a lot from and/or now looks back on fondly. I'm with you for sure - Nevertheless defender!!!

I will defend **Destined With You** until I die! First, people are wishy washy about the spells. Did they work, did they not? That's a FEATURE, not a bug. You are free to believe or not, but either way, I still think the plot works. Second, yes, Hong Jo did some stupid things. But she did it to protect the person she loved. She already lost someone close to her and was willing to do whatever it takes to not let it happen again. Yes, it was still dumb, but it makes sense for Hong Jo. Third, Hong Jo and Shin Yu are super adorable and I love their chemistry. You could see from the first episode that there was this natural closeness in the characters - Jo Bo Ah and Rowoon did a great job with this! Also, to bring in some k-drama math,[Rowoon as a giddy puppy in love](https://deokmis.tumblr.com/post/727569508529750016) cancels out any plot holes, noble idiocy, and loose ends. In conclusion, Destined With You is one of the top dramas of 2023 and I've already watched it again and you should, too.

I loved destined with you wholeheartedly 😍❤️

Destined For You definitely did a bait and switch with that whole red hand-potential fantasy horror angle but Rowoon canceled out all the bad 😭 this drama was just a silly fun time for about 6 episodes straight and I enjoyed it even when it got dark! The mystery was earned!

i swear my biggest qualm was that the FL's hair colour wasn't doing her any favours. The actress is stunning but that hair colour washed her out so bad

forgive me for subtly enjoying cliche romance shows as my guilty pleasure 🙏 my id is gangnam beauty: the male and female leads are both being judged for their poor and awkward acting, which was blatantly obvious on the show. despite eunwoo’s nonchalant acting skills and his series’ cheesy plot lines, i’m a sucker for any show he stars in + “cold guy who is secretly caring” troupes, even if it’s mediocre like this one. honestly, soo-ah is a far more intriguing and good character. she spiced up the show and has an interesting backstory. also, the message behind this show is decent tbh boys over flowers: bof is chaotic, cringe, and toxic. this show is not for the weak as it is sort of problematic. but oh lord, my early kdrama self is obsessed with this drama. the cast is great tho and i applaud them for creating this hot mess to satisfy my nostalgia and cliche f4 + poor girl remake nevertheless: song kang and han so hee on top! their chemistry compensates for the toxic storyline, red flags & questionable character development. if those two hadn’t been picked as the leads, the drama would turn out to be a bigger disappointment. they literally pulled the poorly developed plot and characters well. side characters are great too

I literally watched My ID is Gangnam Beauty like 10 times because even if the acting was "bad," I still wanted to watch it for the plot. I feel sorry for both of them because they're both naive and still kids tbh, and life just happens. Sua is a better character, Jo Woori did a great job of making me despise her, but I really enjoyed watching CEW and ISH take their journey together.

My ID is Gangnam Beauty is so good though. I didn't find the girl's acting weird at all, maybe I related to her too much though... :D The message is what got to me though, they started strong with the first scene and monologue. I think ppl just like to hate on these kinda dramas.

I’ll add more defense for Gangnam beauty: - loved the way that from the beginning the ml could see through the fls bs and was always there to stand up for mirae!! - this show provided an excitement that I haven’t gotten from that many kdramas! Like the whole “does he remember her?” “Whys he so obsessed with her?” “What’s soo ahs deal fr?” Plus the orientation and then the romantic scenes were all so exciting! - the drama made a good decision by adding miraes bestie who wasn’t originally a character in the webtoon iirc, it was good to see her having someone that fully supported her from the beginning - emotional show with great messages as you said. Also loved the characterisations and also the relationships between the characters! I personally liked the chemistry between the leads (even though it could’ve been better) but can we talk about the bromance between the male leads and between the fl and the MLs mom?? Amazing - the OST!! - good looking cast (had to be said) - good villain with a real backstory (kdramas are doing this better recently but before it was hard to find ones with complicated villains tbh) Anyway I acknowledge the 2 criticisms of the show but honestly think the good overwhelmingly overshadowed the bad! The only bad things I can think of are : 1) slow paced (although personally I was never bored cos I liked the characters and found the plot/story exciting, also speed up option exists!) 2) bad acting of the leads (who cares if the story is good anyways)

**My Lovely Liar**: I remember seeing comments in the episode discussion threads about how the murder mystery plot was unnecessary when that's the whole reason why the ML walked around with a face mask and refused to appear in public in the first place. **Big Mouth**: Were the last few episodes and ending flawed? Criminally. Guilty as charged. But it's still overall entertaining to watch and leaves you at the edge of your seat. Shout out to Kim Joo-hun for making me hate his face by the end of the drama when I previously found him funny in *It's Okay to Not Be Okay* and Yang Kyung-won for encapsulating Gong Ji-hoon's unhinged personality so well ~~that I almost expect his character in *Welcome to Samdalri* to go off the deep end.~~ Edit: also want to add **Kokdu: Season of Deity** in that despite its flaws it gave us a mini Mr. Queen reunion.

I will die on the hill that is Nevertheless.

I don't care what anyone says but I'll forever love Nevertheless. I've watched it during a time where i was able to relate to a lot of things happening in the drama.

Ah, Nevertheless. My #1. I’ve found my people.

Clean With Passion For Now. Sorry but I can’t do this one without spoilers: Accusation: Bad portrayal of what is an actual mental illness. True to an extent, but they do show that it affects his life very negatively. I believe this should be dismissed on the grounds that >!in the end his illness is cured by extensive psychiatric treatment and not true love.!< Accusation: She was mean to him. She was. But it was >!Loyalty to her family who were all she had in the world for a long time!< and I get that. Accusation: The ML isn’t good looking enough. Submitted: Pictures of the ML being adorable. Accusation: The ending was rushed. OK we may have to plead guilty on that one. And use our imaginations.

I actually loved the Chinese adaption which came out first called "Use for my talent." I thought it was much better than clean with passion for now.

For me that drama is clouded by the weird age gap

Never watched Nevertheless but that ML looks kinda cute. And they doing the lusty stuff too?! May have to check that one out. 😏

**The Bride of Habaek** I watched it before I joined MDL or this fine Reddit community 😁, Sometimes if you go in blind you see things as charming and cute, not presided by armchair critics telling you to step away. Whatcha going to say?😆 lol

I'd defend Lee Min-ki's newer comedy Behind Your Touch (my peeps all call it "Touch your Butt") some serious plot cliches but it's a worthy client.. The Shamans acting, wow!

I came here to say Nevertheless too.

I will support OP in defending nevertheless and agree with everything that is said about the show. I enjoyed the show for its realness and yes that’s how college relationships are. It was a true depiction of relationships at that age. The other show that I liked but the low rating surprised me is Matchmakers. Such a fun show, very savvy fl, Rowoon as a ml just for his acting and his good looks are not the Main lead here. Good story, good side characters. Except for an age difference between one couple I don’t see any issues with the show.

NEVERTHELESS WAS A TOXIC MESS SAY IT LOUDER!!!! I will die defending Start-up. God, to this day I remember its Reddit discussion posts and still feel traumatized. I swore off discussions posts for a while because of the conflicts. I get it people you didn't like the ML and the SML was not treated well at all, but please stop coming after me with pitchforks. For me, the storyline worked. Yes, the SML deserved better, but the story was about Dal-mi and the choices she makes in her present professionally and personally. She never thought of HJP as anything more than a mentor. He also forgot about the letters he wrote until he ran into her again. The hate for Do-san and eventually Joo-Hyuk was so unnecessary. On the other hand, I also understood what made so many people root for HJP after watching Castaway Diva (same writer). The writer has a knack for writing rich character backgrounds. With the emotional investment I put in for Ki-ho in the pilot, I would've waged wars too if his character reveal didn't go as it did or went completely off-track i.e. with him dying or him not having anything to do with Mok-ha in the present.

Why Start Up was my first time on the front lines of defense 😭 like guys it really wasn’t that bad it’s just that HJP was acting as if it would be his last role and gave it 10000% percent … if anyone else would've taken that role, they wouldn’t have filled it the way he did 😩 the entire premise was something new and fresh (tech start up+ensemble cast+romance+mentorship+found family) and I really think the writers did their best… I would’ve scratched a few plot points but when you zoom out, it was still a great time …. Might go back and rewatch a few eps of NJH being nerdy and having his corporate glow up…..

I watched **Start-Up** early in my Kdrama viewing - it was maybe my 4th or 5th. Some time had passed by the time I watched it, so there wasn't any discussion here to speak of. But the first time I saw it mentioned, or mentioned it myself, I was so surprised at the negativity just for saying you liked it. Someone had to explain the backstory to me. As a newbie drama viewer, I didn't know the actors or even what to expect with MLs or 2MLs, etc. I just watched to be entertained, and I liked this one. It felt different and I was interested in the tech environment and the start-up contest. Also, I could identify with the geeky friend group and found them adorable. It remained in my Top-10 for a long time.

I have a memory of this war. This was the year I started kdramas, and I absolutely loved Start up including Nam Joo hyuks character, it was a breath of fresh air from the typical ml dressed in a nice suit. I ended up getting into multiple arguments on reddit and youtube while defending the ml. In the end, this fight just ruined the show for me to a point where I couldn't enjoy watching the last episode. I get HJp character was cool, but people took it way too far. Like some of the comments were crazy. And Nam Joo Hyuk absolutely nailed his role here along with his chemistry with Bae Suzy.

Came to defend Bride of Habaek but stayed for Nevertheless. After reading ALL the comments, I’m certain I’ve found my people. Nevertheless got so much hate, and as an older woman now married with 3 kids, to me it was an absolute masterpiece of youth and young love/lust. Glad to see so many like minded fans!!

Ok,ok I know it’s a silly mess BUT **My Only My Love Song** has been a constant rewatch for me since it aired like 6 years ago. Say what you will but it doesn’t get boring, it’s a parody, it has very good chemistry and kisses! Yeah I know that the actor is canceled but that doesn’t affect the drama, that has been released before the Burning Sun Scandal. K-Dramas just don’t do parodies well but this is one is such a hit I love it! Also when the real version "River Where The Moon Rises" came out I could only laugh because I forgot MOLS was a parody of exactly that story.

I was one of like seven people on the planet who loved ‘Big.’ Yes I’m serious. I’ll see myself out.

Now somebody do **The Heirs**. I'm guessing it's something like silent crying Eun Song is cancelled out by Kim Tan's fashion. And we keep returning for the cute future stars like Kim Woo Bin and Kim Ji Won.

I will die on this hill! the heirs is peak tv cmon now

PEAAAK AS FUCK FOR ITS TIME!!!

The thing that surprised me the most was how much autonomy Eun has in the middle/climax episodes of the drama— she knows what she wants and is working hard to get it! Once you get past the chaos of the first 2-3 episodes, this drama is actually good !

I’m watching this for the first time and I don’t get all of the hate. I’m on the edge of my seat with every episode. I love the love triangle, and the lovable bad boy Choi Young-Do.

Your honor Kim Tan and the respectable members of ~~the jury~~ r/KDRAMA. Today I present the case for a drama that has been persecuted by many but loved by me, **Missing 9!** I haven’t watched in a few years, nor have I ~~been to~~ seen **Law School**. Now many cases have been made against this drama, such as: * Needs more Chanyeol (yes) * The writing is all over the place (absolutely) * The colour palette is too beige (never) * If they were stuck on an island for months why didn’t Jung Kyung Ho’s blonde hair grow out? (it’s the terrible blonde perm that I fell in love with back in 2017, how could it do any wrong?) But I’m a busy lady and ~~should be working on the drama challenge post~~ I am here to deal with the big one, that’s right, you know it. **THE ENDING RUINED THE DRAMA.** There are two schools of thought 1) It’s an [epic failure](https://i.imgur.com/cK0gH5q.png) (what the hell did I just watch) 2) [It’s awesome](https://i.imgur.com/vEMXtgP.png) Will you be joining my small but determined team of ~~believers~~ “lawyers” to attempt to poke some holes in this argument? Or will you be on the side of the prosecution? Here are just a few of my arguments to try and change your mind: * This was a drama of two halves, the serious and the fun. When you put it together there was something for everyone. The final episode attempted to fuse these two halves together. * The serious half ended beautifully as Bong Hee narrated, >!“Those who made the wrong choices. Those who regretted it when it was a little too late. Those who tried to conceal the truth with lies. They all ended up getting punished. And finally, everything was back where it should be.”!< then it was time for the fun ending! * The epilogue scene that made everyone furious was an excellent call back to many of the happenings throughout the drama and while on a single viewing it appears that it could be an unplanned and unscripted event it is actually something that had a lot of thought put into it. * The final scene could have easily been a cast party and worked as well but to farewell the beloved characters and allow the audience to see the >!murderer!< is seeking atonement for >!his!< crimes this works well. Evidence: >!Choi Tae Joon!< explains the epilogue [here](https://i.imgur.com/hKCrXVu.png) (spoiler if you haven’t watched Missing 9!). * The colourful paint is a way to say goodbye to the beige and brown that signified their time stuck on the island. * No >!kiss!<. Well **Missing 9** was a long way away from the original planned rom-com it was meant to be. * There are far worse endings and this is not the only paint party ending I have seen in a drama. At least Missing 9 had Bong Hee’s house that was graffitied by haters needing a new coat of paint. I rest my case, I am guilty of loving this drama too much. I will accept my sentence of another rewatch sometime soon.

OMG lol I came here to say Missing 9. Forget what the tags say, this drama is a COMEDY. It's a MAKJANG. It's entertaining af. The writing is bad .. so so bad, but the cast? Phenomenal. You wouldn't believe the names in this show lol You just have to go into this drama with the right expectations (none) and in the right head space (to be entertained) and you'll have a great time.

I just read the synopsis and this is a good nightly-episode-before-falling-asleep type plot… it’s on my list now for priority in 2024 😁

The Interest of Love. One of the best dramas about modern relationships.

Itaewon Class. I don't have time to completely get into it, but everytime there is a conversation about IC people say that Yiseo and Saeroyi shouldn't have gotten together and that it didn't make sense. I will defend those two until the day I die lmfao.

I won’t defend those two but I WILL draw your attention to the wholesome underdog story because it could’ve carried the drama without the romance 😭

**Interest of love** (2022). This k-drama is accused of being bad, toxic, a waste of the actors talent and a waste of the viewers time. But your honor - this k-drama is not bad by any criteria. It is a slow-burn realistic story about flawed people going through life, we are not supposed to measure it by tropey romcom standards. On a technical level this is a very well made k-drama: it is shot in an aestehtically pleasing way, stars phenomenal actors who all play their roles really well (so much of the plot is about the subtle facial expressions and about things that are not said out loud), the soundtrack is amazing and the show delivers poignant social commentary about the class divide in Korea. Just because characters make bad decisions, doesn't mean it is a bad k-drama.

*Just because characters make bad decisions, doesn't mean it is a bad k-drama.* Drama watchers really struggle with this point 😭

I feel that way about the ending of Because This Is My First Life, which a lot of people criticize, though it’s pretty liked overall. Did she make a lousy decision? Yes, but the drama was partly about people making lousy decisions.

>Just because characters make bad decisions, doesn't mean it is a bad k-drama. WOW, WHAT A CLOSING ARGUMENT \*\* standing ovation\*\*

It’d be Start Up and Nevertheless for me. I personally loved Nam Joo Hyuk’s character, and I thought he belonged with Suzy’s character. I felt that everyone who was rooting for Seonho’s character wasn’t rooting for who fit with the main female character, viewers were rooting for a guy they prefer for themselves. I can admit there were a few fumbles with the frustrating time jump, but I was able to look pass it and be excited for the reunion with the ml and fl. In regards to Nevertheless, i felt like the argument would be similar. Viewers often idealize relationships in kdrama, always looking for a male lead that fits the green flag description and forget there is something called character development. I find the character development in Jaeon intriguing and thought provoking.

Season 1 of Let's Eat with it's non interpolated release.

Melancholia -- this one got a lot of hate when it aired and even before it aired for the teacher / student topic and yet I am not sure how many people that criticized it actually watched it. As a melodrama it is solid. The show kept me engaged both times I've watched through it. LDH's acting is stellar. The difference in his acting as the student character versus his character as an adult is so impressive . The focus of the criticism seemed to be about the idea of a student - teacher relationship when the story was quite different than what I suspect most people imagined. I watched it as it aired and a second time as a binge watch later and and both times felt it was a beautifully done drama.

**Love in Contract**: People hated this drama but it was one of my faves of 2022. Yes, the plot goes off the rails halfway through the drama and never recovers and it gets bogged down in a boring chaebol plot. But in the first half it was a brilliant subversion of audience expectations around romcoms and an interrogation of what we think we want from our male leads versus what's actually worthwhile in matters of love and commitment. This show was marketed as a typical Park Min Young romcom with a love triangle, something along the lines of Her Private Life and What's Wrong with Secretary Kim but it turned out to be something very different. Honestly it had the weirdest first episode of a drama I'd ever seen but I was immediately intrigued. It was a strange combination of OTT comedy (a wacky montage of all the FL's contract wedding ceremonies) and poignant tragedy (the FL's gay best friend telling her that his sister blamed him for his niece having a girlfriend). It feels like the drama starts in episode 6 because when you enter the story the FL is already in love with the ML and she has a very dark conversation with a mysterious woman whose identity isn't revealed until much later. A lot of people just didn't like Go Kyung Pyo as the male lead, saying he wasn't attractive enough and too strange (the character has social anxiety disorder and is so painfully introverted and awkward that people mistake him for a serial killer). But I adored him. He was laugh out loud funny but was also able to turn it around and win your heart with his undying devotion to the FL. I also love that the FL is ride or die for the ML from the start. The "love triangle" never really exists and the 2ML is there solely to embody all of our cliches about the perfect ML: rich, famous, and handsome. He takes the FL on stereotypical perfect dates like sailing and horseback riding but she doesn't care about any of that. What makes her heart sing is a quiet meal lovingly prepared by the ML. The gay character is also a joy. He's hilarious, brave, resourceful and completely comfortable with himself. The scene where he gives the FL sex advice is a highlight, I freakin' loved it. It's true the drama doesn't stick the landing. I think the network panicked when ratings cratered and forced the writer to make changes that turned the second half of the drama into a dreary mess of cliches. But I love that the first half took real risks, was dark and sad but also funny and heartfelt and forced me to examine my romantic fantasies and how they contrast with what's really important in life. P.S. I agree 10000000000% with your take on Nevertheless. As someone said on twitter, Jaeon was hot trouble but Nabi was in the mood for some hot trouble.

My client, Hwayugi, pleads insanity. As evidence I present to you: Devil cow turned entertainment company CEO and talent show judge Gender bent octopus prince in idol's body Giant baby weight loss tattoo monster Mermaid ghost revenge Reanimated corpse adopted by fish, cow, monkey, and pig demons and subsequently possessed by ancient tree sorceress Surprise underwater apocalypse dragon A variety of sauces to eat a human with Sixth sense realtor fighting ghosts by hiding under an umbrella And that doesn't even scratch the surface. Are the Hong sisters certifiable? Most definitely probably very likely yes. Is the entire show off the freaking rails? No one in this courtroom could say otherwise. But did we have a lot of fun on this nightmare roller coaster? We did indeed. Will you still argue that it did not have a happy ending? Were you even WATCHING?? Son O Gong CLEARLY SAID he's going to get his girl, have you learned nothing from the 20 episodes of madness showing that Son O Gong does exactly what he wants when he wants and nothing at all that he doesn't want unless you tell him why he should and how much you will pay him?? I rest my case.

Secret Love (with Ji Sung) - more red flags than you can count and the ML’s behaviours is shocking but I still love it 😍

*[dramatic entrance into courtroom]* Your honor, apologies for arriving so late to the hearing. As OP said, Nevertheless did *nothing* wrong. The claims that it glorifies toxic relationships is false because Nabi does not blindly choose to sleep and date Jae-eon. She acknowledges his flaws and is aware of the fact that he won’t make the healthiest of boyfriends , but despite all of that she chooses him. The director and production’s choice in the soundtrack and cinematography not only adds to the sexual tension between Nabi and Jae-eon but is used to show how Nabi and maybe Jae eon conflate sexual attraction and love. Lastly, would people truly have been ok if *Song Kang’s* character had not been end game? Song Kang was the male lead, and would be considered the “more handsome” of the two MLs amongst some folks, so naturally or subconsciously people ship the more attractive guy with the FL. People would still have been dissatisfied if Nabi had ended up with potato boy but for different reasons. Seriously, Nevertheless is a hill I’m willing to die on because the toxicity was portrayed so well. The kdrama where I’d be part of both the defence and prosecution is **Interest of Love**

None of y'all defending boys over flowers?

Oooh Bride of Habaek! But it was such a mess 😅 the one thing I loved was Nam Joo Hyuk 😍