First Impressions: KBS's "A Style for You"

The first episode of KBS's newest variety show "A Style for You" was recently released on KBS World TV with English subtitles. When the show was first announced and the MCs were cast I didn't think much of watching it, but upon seeing the first episode on KBS's YouTube channel I thought "It wouldn't hurt to see what the show is about."

When reports of the new show started coming out I couldn't catch on to what the concept of the show was going to be and in all honesty after watching the first episode I am still not sure. The description on the first episode reads: "Global interactive style show is coming up to upgrade your beauty, fashion and life style! To be global style icons, 4MCs of “A Style For You” will work in the field to create their own unique style and become the leaders of K-Style!" 

This statement definitely helps to pinpoint the point of the show; basically they'll be trying to help these idols find a signature style that will not only work for them and their image but also keep them off of worst dressed lists. Sounds like a fun concept, but I think that the execution of this concept in the first episode was a bit awkward. The four MCs are Kim Hee Chul (Super Junior), Gu Ha Ra (KARA), Bora (Sistar), and Hani (EXID).

First off, they kept referencing videos of foreigners talking about their style and makeup. Since none of the MCs referenced these videos I was left wondering what the point of showing them in the episode was. Maybe it's a teaser of what's to come, but I think it just used up airtime that could have been filled what something else. 

The show seems to be following a mission to mission format, where each episode the MCs will complete some sort of style mission that will help them on their journey. In the very first episode they got rid of their stylists and makeup artists so the MCs were left on their own to pick their outfits for their various schedules and even the press conference for "A Style for You." 

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In this challenge we got to see how the idols like to dress and their thoughts on their fashion. This challenge pretty much confirmed why they were chosen to be on the show. Although none of them looked absolutely hideous, they didn't exactly look like a put together idol. In some ways their fashion senses are refreshing. It is weird and uncommon, especially to international fans (I think), to see people so polished all the time. I understand that they have an image to maintain, but they aren't dolls so I'm sure that the pressure to look "perfect" all the time can be daunting. On the other hand, they have access to a lot of nice clothes but they seem to wear the worst of them. Hopefully they will come to a compromise between comfy and stylish, their personal style and the style that will make them look like stars. 

Who's style do I like the most? Right now I don't think I really like anybody's style. They each have elements that I kind of like but so far no one has but together a whole outfit that made me think "They look so nice!" For Hara, I like that her style is sweet but she's also an adult so I think she should mature her color choices and silhouettes. I like that Bora tends to go for more street wear but I think that even street wear can be styled to look more sophisticated. Hani dresses a bit more masculine which isn't necessarily a bad look for her but she needs to learn when to add in feminine touches. And Heechul really needs to stop dressing like an eccentric ahjumma. It'd be nice to see him dressed as a gentleman, just once. I like that Heechul isn't afraid of prints and color but he doesn't know when to stop. I hope they help him tone it down. It's been reported that Hara is determined to make Heechul cut his hair. I hope that she succeeds. He has such a nice face but he keeps taking away all of his appeal with the sloppy hair. I wish all four MCs the best of look on their style journey. 

So far I have also noticed the dynamic between the MCs. It seems that the maknae, Hani, is a bit on the outskirts of the other MCs. This is sort of understandable considering that she's pretty new to the business and even newer to the popularity that the other three MCs are now used to. Also, they've come to know each other well after being in the industry together for a number of years.  I am hoping that in later episodes the other MCs will be able to integrate her into their circle more. They do seem to want to look out for her though. When she was on the runway for the press conference she started to dance a bit, ruining a chic entrance, and they quickly stopped her. Although the incident was a bit embarrassing I think that as time goes on she'll be able to learn a lot about how to carry herself from the unnis and oppa. 

How would I rate the show? Right now I'd give it a 6 out of 10. the concept seems interesting and the MCs do a good job of actually being entertaining, however, I hope the format and editing becomes a bit more streamlined as the show goes on. If you're into fashion or these particular idols I think you'll enjoy watching, but if you're not then I would skip it. 

You can watch the first episode on YouTube now.

How to Fight K-Drama Boredom

Let's say you've been a fan of Korean Dramas for years and you've finally gotten to the point where the excitement has worn off. The recent set of dramas you've seen didn't take your breath away and you are considering giving it up but you really don't want to. What do you do? 

Even though I've only been a K-Drama fan for two years, I have hit a few slumps. The shows I wanted to watch didn't interest me as much as I thought they would, I am getting bored of the same story line, I hate the OSTs they choose, and the list goes on. However, I always find a way to renew my love for K-Dramas with these few tricks. 

1. Watch a drama from a country other than Korea. You can get dramas and movies from all over the world in subtitles for your language through multiple streaming sites. If Korea isn't holding your attention anymore then check out dramas from other countries. When I hit a K-Drama slump I usually turn to Taiwanese, Japanese, or American dramas. They are great at entertaining me until another K-Drama comes along that piques my interest. Also, it's fun to compare entertainment norms between countries.

2. Watch a few episodes of a drama you loved. Sometimes when I can't think of anything else to watch I watch a couple of episodes of a drama that I've seen already. I've re-watched the first few episodes of shows like Boys Over Flowers and Nail Shop Paris because they reminded me why I fell in love with K-Dramas. If you're not interested in re-watching whole episodes then find some clips from your favorite shows and relive the magic.

3. Watch other forms of Korean entertainment. Variety shows and movies are a great way to escape the monotony that K-Dramas can have. Variety shows are, for the most part, unscripted and often show a different side to the actors that you've come to love. Movies give you all the drama that you love in K-Dramas but in a shorter amount of time. At one point I didn't watch any K-Dramas, but instead watched like 10 Korean movies. It was kind of therapeutic. I got all that bad K-Drama taste out of my mouth and when I returned to K-Dramas I was able to see certain actors in a better light and really appreciate their talents.

4. Marathon a popular drama you haven't seen yet. There are always those dramas that people constantly talk about even years after it released the last episode. If you want to get out of a slump then I suggest power watching one of the shows you're most curious about. For instance, I got really into simulcast K-Dramas around the time The Master's Sun came out. I didn't watch it when it was out, but about a year later I just told myself to watch it and I FELL IN LOVE! Now whenever something comes out with the actors in it I am confident about the quality. So far following those actors has not steered me wrong and the show definitely restored my love for K-Dramas.

5. Take a break. I know you don't really want to give it up but if you're seriously not feeling it anymore then take an extended break. The few breaks I have taken have only been for a few days at a time, at most a week and a half but I enjoyed dramas much more after taking a little hiatus. You can clear your mind of all the sucky dramas that got your hopes up and really define what you'd like to see out of a K-Drama. Once you know exactly what you'd like to see you can search for shows that fit those parameters and restore your love of K-Dramas.

Here is a list of shows/movies that helped me get back to loving K-Dramas:

Running Man (Variety), Bitter Blood (Japanese), Just You (Taiwanese), Grimm (American), The Face Reader (Movie), My Girlfriend's an Agent (Movie), Architecture 101 (Movie), Misaeng (K-Drama Marathon), Marriage, Not Dating (K-Drama Marathon), Empire (American), Attack on Titan (Anime), Tokyo Ghoul (Anime), Dream Knight (Mini-Drama)

All of these shows were entertaining, introduced me to new actors, and gave me a chance to see a different side to some of my favorite actors.

Here's hoping that your K-Drama boredom will end soon!

Monday Marathon: Dream Knight

I am officially a fan girl of GOT7 now. I was a fan of their music and I was becoming a serious fan of Jackson after watching him in Roommate but I think I've fallen in love with all seven of them after watching Dream Knight.

Overview: A high school orphan gets bullied and is also sick but four dreamy guardians, played by JB, Mark, Youngjae, and Jackson of GOT7, come to protect her. The show is 12 episodes long with episode lengths ranging from 12-22 minutes long. I watched it on DramaFever.

Why It's Worth Marathon-ing:
1. GOT7: Some may complain that this is only a promotional opportunity for GOT7, which it is, but they're worth promoting. Not only are they talented at singing and dancing but they are pretty decent actors too. I was surprised that they acted so well and made me really enjoy watching their performances. Aside from that their looks kind of made me fall for them even more. There are a lot of close ups of their faces in this drama so if you are already a GOT7 fan this'll be a treat for you.

2. PLOT: Sometimes in mini-dramas, plots get rushed or have holes, but this one was pretty well written and well executed. They managed to tie all the strings in the drama successfully. Also, though parts of the plot are quite familiar, the show never got boring and it managed to feel fresh.

3. CAMEOS: There were some amazing JYP cameos in the drama. From 2PM's Chansung to Miss A's Min to 2AM's Changmin to 15&'s  Jimin to Choi Woo Shik, to JYP himself. It was very nice to see members of the same agency supporting each other, but it was also nice to see their acting skills.

4. THE ENDING: I am not going to say anything about what happened during the ending, but I must say that it was a very good ending. It was sad but sweet. I actually cried which is really rare for me. 

This was a really nice drama. It was a little cheesy at times but it didn't take any skin off my back to watch it for almost 3 hours straight. I ended the drama feeling satisfied and with a new place just for GOT7 in my heart, which I am sure was the point of giving them their own miniseries. I highly recommend it. If you're not a drama snob then you'll like it. Also, if you have a friend that you've been trying to expose to dramas little by little then I don't think this one would be a bad one to start with. 

TAIWAN: It Started With A Kiss

This is my third time watching an adaptation of Itazura na Kiss. The funny thing about watching the same story unfold more than once is that each time it's entertaining. Despite this being my third time seeing pretty much the same events unfold I didn't get bored watching it and I became just as invested in the Taiwanese characters as I did with the Korean and Japanese characters.

Synopsis: Yuan Xiang Qin (Ariel Lin) is an intellectually challenged high school girl who is in love with Jiang Zhi Shu (Joe Cheng), a genius with an IQ of 200. After two years of having a crush on him, she confesses her love to him at school with a love letter. Zhi Shu is not impressed, and Xiang Qin is left humiliated publicly in front of their entire school. As fate would have it, Xiang Qin would have to move in with Zhi Shu and his family after her new house was destroyed by a meteor. Will love blossom now that they're living under the same roof?

Things I liked About the Taiwanese Version:

1. In every version, the male lead is a big old meany, but Zhi Shu seemed to be a bit softer with his insults and cold demeanor. I don't know if he was written to be softer or if Joe Cheung just downplayed the meanness in his acting, but to me he didn't seem as harsh as the Korean or Japanese male lead.

2. I also liked that the mom in this version didn't seem as obsessive as the moms in the other versions. For sure, the Korean mom was the most invasive when it came to setting up the male and female leads. The Taiwanese mom played by Cyndi Chaw was encouraging without being everywhere. I liked that because I think it made for more comfortable interactions between Xiang Qin and Zhi Shu. 

3. Although the second male lead, Ah Jin, was just as obsessive and delusional as the others, he was played by the handsome Jiro Wang making him my favorite version of Kinnosuke. 

4. For some reason I really enjoyed listening to the Mandarin Chinese in this show. I have no idea why but the language kind of hypnotized me. 

5. I loved the theme song. It's so melodic and catchy. "Say that you love me, say that you care..."

There wasn't much about this show that differentiated it from the other versions, so there isn't much that I can say about it that hasn't already been said about the other versions. Either way I highly recommend this drama to anyone who is a fan of the other versions of Itazura na Kiss.

MOVIE REVIEW: The Technicians (The Con Artists/Criminal Designer)

It's finally here! The movie many Korean entertainment fans have been waiting for is available to international viewers (legally) on DramaFever. Right now the movie has only been released to Premium subscribers, but I am sure that in the near future it will be available to all, so if you're not a subscriber to DramaFever Premium I suggest you practice patience. However, if you do have premium access then head over to DramaFever right now!

Photo Credit: AsianWiki

I can't tell you how excited I was to be able to view this movie. I decided long ago that I was going to career stalk Kim Woo Bin, this was even before I saw him in The Heirs. Out of the 11 productions that Kim Woo Bin has credits for I've managed to see seven including The Technicians. Though Kim Woo Bin is still in the genesis of his acting career he has managed to go from random guy on the runway in Runway Cop to one of the most sought after young actors in South Korea. To make such amazing steps in such a short amount of time is not only a credit to his acting skills, which I think he is still trying to sharpen, but also to his eye for a promising production. 

That being said I think it's time I start talking about the movie. 

Plot: Lee Ji Hyuk (Kim Woo Bin) a master safe cracker and art thief works with a master engineer (Go Chang Suk) and a master hacker (Lee Hyun Woo) in order to steal $150 million dollars from Incheon Customs. The plot should be familiar to anyone who is a fan of heist movies. Since the plot is pretty familiar the movie can be a bit predictable, but I think the writers did a good job at throwing in just the right amount of twists to keep the viewer's interested.

Action: Growing up on American action movies, I am used to high octane action. I live for a sizable amount of explosions, car chases, and gun shooting like most fans of action movies. This movie however, didn't really have that. It did have some action: there were car chase scenes, there was an explosion and there was a lot of  hiding from the cops but nothing that was too extraordinary. There wasn't anything that kept me on the edge my seat freaking out over how much it would cost to rebuild the city of Incheon. Truthfully for this type of plot, a lot of action was needed. In movies with a more complicated plot I think scaled back action makes sense but in this one an epic car chase through the streets lasting much longer than it should have would have been AWESOME!

Acting: I think the highlight of the movie was the three main actors, Kim Woo Bin, Lee Chang Suk, and Lee Hyun Woo. They each delivered their character well and definitely had fan girls swooning with their cheeky smiles and manly eyebrow action. Though I wanted to see the movie for Kim Woo Bin, it was Lee Hyun Woo who really impressed me. I hope that he can continue to build his resume with movies like this. Though he's known to be a total sweetheart and charming cutie pie, he has managed to show his manly side in productions like Secretly Greatly and The Technicians. He totally blew me away in this movie. If you saw Lee Hyun Woo on Running Man then you know how smiley he can be, but he was a real bad ass in this movie and I liked that. 

Aside from the three main actors, there were other stand out performers such as Lim Ju Hwan (Shine or Go Crazy) as the evil henchman. He definitely held his own in this movie and kicked some major butt with his silver taser stick. Also in the movie was Jo Yoon Hee (Lie to Me) as Eun Ha, the romantic interest of Ji Hyuk, and Kim Young Chul (Iris) as President Jo, the ultimate bad guy. The two played their parts well and kept the movie going, providing motivation for Ji Hyuk's actions. 

Photo Credit: AsianWiki

Overall Recommendation: I definitely recommend the movie. It's not going to change your world or anything, but it was enjoyable to watch. It had some good action moments, some good comedic moments, and even a decent hint at romance. Overall I think it did the trick, and if you're looking for a Kim Woo Bin fix before his next drama then this is a good way to go. 

More Drama Favorites: Rookies, OSTs, Fashion, and More

*Post contain some spoilers*

Favorite Rookies

Seo Kang Jun - Seo Kang Jun is very quickly making a name for himself in the acting world. He is able to bring second male lead syndrome to many with his roles and I am looking forward to the possibility of him playing a lead one day. He'd be great in a high school drama, he's young enough and he has a sweet and fun personality in real life (as seen in Roommate), which makes him all the more desirable.

Lee Tae Hwan - Seo Kang Jun's fellow 5urprise member has also managed to carve out a niche for himself in the acting world. It's hard to believe that this mountain of a guy is only 20, but because of his stature and impressive acting chops he has managed to go from goofy high schooler in King of High School to serious detective in Pride and Prejudice without skipping a beat. I hope that the future holds more great roles for him.

Ahn Jae Hyun - My favorite show stealer! Even though Ahn Jae Hyun was only supposed to be Jeon Ji Hyun's little brother in My Love from Another Star he quickly turned his character into the one to watch by not only being good looking but also being able to show a range of emotions in the little bit of screen time he had. His performance in the show quickly made him popular and also helped him garner roles alongside other swoon-worthy vets like Joo Won in the movie Fashion King, and Lee Seung Gi and Cha Seung Won in You Are All Surrounded.

Favorite OSTs
It's Okay That's Love - The entire OST was amazing. It was a great mix of popular pop songs and original songs in different languages. OSTs have a way of getting dull and predictable but this one never did. It had some really amazing songs but two of my favorites were Sleepless Night by Crush ft Punch, and It's Okay, That's Love by Davichi.

My Lovely Girl - Even though I didn't really like the drama, I did enjoy listening to all the familiar voices sing the songs of the show. My absolute favorite was I Want to Love You by Alex Chu. Alex's voice is so smooth, and the romantic yet bubbly song came in at all the right moments.

Fall in Love with Me - This OST had a great mix of pop rock ballads and sugary sweet pop songs. My favorites were This Is Not Me by Aaron Yan, The Unwanted Love by Aaron Yan, The Only Rose by Aaron Yan, Melted by Popu Lady, and The Warmth in the Pocket by Hebe.

Fated to Love You - I didn't pay that much attention to the entire soundtrack but I knew that every time Goodbye My Love by Ailee was on I was probably supposed to be crying. Such a heartbreaking song and Ailee's powerful vocals just made the song that much more emotional.

Pinocchio - I really like this OST. It's not overly sad or sappy sounding. It has just the right amount of slow songs to get your emotions in check. My favorite songs are Kiss Me by Zion.T and Non-Fiction by Every Single Day.

A Witch's Romance - My favorite song from this drama is You'e In My Heart by Park Seo Joon. Park Seo Joon isn't the most amazing singer but he held his own and displayed some pretty nice vocal talent. For some reason I just found myself waiting for this song to come on every episode.

Angel Eyes - An OST in English isn't uncommon but they very rarely make you want to sing at the top of your lungs over the dialogue. Run to You by Lasse Lindh was definitely that song for me.

In a Good Way - Good Morning Hard City by Adrian. This song was a nice mix of rock and pop and it popped up at all the fun moments of the show making it that much more enjoyable.

Partners by Blood - Do You Ever Shine by Mayday is one of the most exhilarating OSTs ever! It not only jump started the show but also gave every action scene the right dose of excitement. Though they used the English version in the show I think the Japanese version (linked) strikes the right notes too.

Healer - What the Eyes Say by Tei was my favorite song of this show. Tei's smooth vocals were perfect and bringing out the emotions of the show.

Favorite Drama Outfits
My Lovely Girl - Rain's Blazers
   Rain's multitude of snazzy blazers definitely striked the right balance between cool music producer and stern CEO. Although his wardrobe was pretty monochromatic it never looked boring.

Empress Ki - Nyang's Consort/Empress Wear
  I always love the costumes in historical dramas. Ha Ji Won looked pretty great as a boy but when she wore her most feminine outfits her beauty really shined.

Hotel King - Ah Mo Ne's Chairwoman Ensembles
   She may have dressed a little crazy at first but when she started wearing normal clothes she always wore something pretty that showed off her fit frame.

Miss Korea - The Pageant Gowns
   You can't really go wrong with the pageant gowns featured in this show. I think they were a bit more modern then the ones actually used in the early 90s but they were pretty and made even the poorest of girls look like a million bucks.

Favorite Second Male Leads
King of High School - Yoo Jin-woo
   Although I didn't like his character at all and never had any hopes for him getting the girl I still felt bad for him. He had such a horrible relationship with his father, and his poor mother...his poor mother. Anyway, I may not have wanted him to win the girl but I did hope that the rest of his life would pull together, plus it's Lee Soo Hyuk. Who wouldn't root for one of his characters?

Fated to Love You - Daniel
  As usual the nice guy does not get the girl. Daniel was your stereotypical second male lead. Super nice to the girl and wanting her even though he could see that her heart was somewhere else. The thing I liked most about Daniel though is that he never became too pathetic over Kim Mi Young. The "too nice" second male leads always become so desperate by the end, but he played it cool the whole time while making his feelings known at just the right moments.

Pride & Prejudice - Kang Soo
   Lee Tae Hwan is shaping up to be one of my favorite young actors so it's no surprise that his character in Pride & Prejudice is one of my favorites in the show. The thing I like about this character as the second male lead is that his affection is innocent. While Dong Chi is proving that he's not a murderer with kissing (because that makes sense), Kang Soo is patiently and quietly waiting for Yeol Moo to overcome her trauma. He's not trying to force anything. Of course, this makes him lose out but let's face it after all of this he was never going to get the girl anyway.

Fall in Love with Me - Leo
  Leo may not have won Tao Si over but in the end he got the right girl for him. I think that Leo was a great second male lead. When he saw that Tao Si was falling in love with someone else he prepared himself to let her go especially since Xiao Lu seemed like such a great guy. However, he stepped up when he saw that her heart was in danger and told Lu Tian Xing to back off if he wasn't going to treat her right like any long-time friend should do.

Trot Lovers - Sajangnim aka Jo Geun-Woo
  The reason why I liked sajangnim is because he was everybody's second male lead. He became a good friend and source of advice to both female leads. And though he only had romantic interest in one he handled the love square very maturely.

Pinocchio - Bum Jo
   So, I was never rooting for Bum Jo to get the girl. For me it was Choi Dal Po and Choi In Ha for life. But he still made a great friend and protector. I felt bad for him seeing the girl he liked go through so much guilt for the guy she liked. He did a great job at setting Dal Po (Ha Myung) straight too.

My Love from Another Star - Lee Whi-Kyung
   Why doesn't the nice guy ever get the girl?! Aside from following her around like a lost puppy for years, he also did whatever and I mean whatever he could to get her affection. How could she ignore such grand gestures coming at her for years? Even when he knew she liked someone else he still risked his life to save her. Why? Why? Whyyyyyy?

Tomorrow's Cantabile - Park Yoon Hoo
   I loved everything about his character mainly because the actor was so pretty. That cheeky smile did a number on me so I have no idea why Soel Nae Il wasn't affected at all. Anyway, Yoon Hoo was the epitome of sweet not just to Nae Il but to pretty much everyone. Even though you could tell Yoo Jin had pretty much given into the other characters from the beginning, the fact that he chose to remain so cold on the outside made the character really typical and for most part unlikable. Yoon Hoo was like a little burst of sunshine.

Favorite Second Female Lead
Doctor Stranger - Oh Soo-Hyun
   Very rarely do we get likable second female leads. usually they're manipulative and desperate but not so with Oh Soo Hyun. The things that made me root for her happiness more than her being with one guy was the fact that her father, step mother, and brother treated her very coldly and the fact that Han Jae Joon was using her. She had the attention of two great looking gentleman and even though you could tell she was falling for Park Hoon she never overdid it with her affection, at least not in Park Hoon's eyes. Of course, Han Jae Joon could see it pretty clearly, but in the end everyone ended up with who they were supposed to be with.

In a Good Way - Bai Xue
   At first I wasn't so sure if I would like Bai Xue. Although she was always nice she seemed to have a kind of witchy side to her that had yet to be revealed. I thought for sure that side would come out when Liu Chuan started falling for Jia En, but I'm glad that my prediction was wrong. Even though I didn't necessarily root for Bai Xue to be with to be with Liu Chuan I felt bad when she got rejected by him for the new girl. Thankfully she handled it like a champ and ended being the best friend to everyone.

Favorite Parents
Fall in Love with Me - Papa and Mama Tao
   Tao Le Si's parents were awesome. They knew when to stand up for their daughter and when to let her live her own life. They were a very realistic set of parents. They protected Tao Si when she needed them to, comforted her at the right moments, they were even willing to send her away to be with the man she loved despite the drama. They treated her like an adult while still reminding everyone that she was indeed their daughter and they had a right to have a reasonable amount of interest in her life.

Favorite Noona Killer
A Witch's Romance - Yoon Dong-Ha
   There was quite a number of noona romances put out this year. For the most part none of them disappointed in the romance department but what made A Witch's Romance great is that both of the lead characters were at great ages despite being 14/15 years apart. Dong-Ha was young but had also suffered his own ultimate heartbreak that made him more mature and wiser than most guys his age. I also liked that he never really hid his feelings. He was pretty confident in his feelings for her and confident that she also had feelings for him. They were on a good path before "polar bear" showed back up. Despite polar bear, Dong Ha's sincerity and persistence won out in the end. Yay!

My Favorite Dramas of 2014

This year was my first full year as a K-Drama addict. I thought it was a great year to be a fan of Korean entertainment and entertainment from other Asian countries such as Taiwan, China, and Japan.

I managed to watch an astonishing number of dramas from start to finish this year, and out of that astonishing number I completed 43 dramas that I consider to be 2014 dramas. Below is the full list of 2014 dramas that I've watched, some if which started in late 2013 and ended in January 2015.

Here's the list in alphabetical order:

A Witch's Romance	Emergency Couple	Joseon Gunman	Plus Nine Boys
After School Lucky or Not 2	Empress Ki	King of High School Life Conduct	Pretty Man
Aftermath	Fall in Love with Me	Love Cells	Pride & Prejudice
Angel Eyes	Fated to Love You (Korean)	Marriage, Not Dating	Prime Minister & I
Another Parting	Golden Cross	Misaeng	Sly & Single Again
Be Arrogant	Grandpa Over Flowers Investigation Team	Miss Korea	Surplus Princess (The Mermaid)
Big Man	Healer	Modern Farmer	The Night Watchmen's Journal
Birth of a Beauty	High School - Love On	My Love from Another Star	The Perfect Insider
Boarding House 24	Hotel King	My Lovely Girl	Tomorrow's Cantabile (Naeil's Cantabile)
Bride of the Century	In a Good Way	Mysterious Summer	Trot Lovers
Deja Vu	Inspiring Generation (Age of Feeling)	Partners by Blood	You Are All Surrounded
Discovery of Romance	It's Okay, That's Love	Pinocchio
Doctor Stranger

MY FAVORITES - In Alphabetical Order

Bride of the Century - This series was surprisingly enjoyable. I think my favorite part of the series was seeing a different side to Lee Hong Ki. The only thing I had seen him in before this series was You're Beautiful, so I thought he might only be cast in cute, funny roles. I thought his stern and cold side was a nice change of pace and showed his acting range. The show itself was actually an interesting one to watch. The mix of romance and horror is one that seemed to become really popular after shows like The Master's Sun. This one may not have been as ground-breaking but it had many good elements and also introduced us to a new leading lady in Yang Jin Sung who successfully carried two roles at the same time. I also thought that the writers handled the death of the first wife issue well, revealing sad family truths for both Kang Joo and Doo Rim.

Empress Ki - I have only seen like 3 productions with Ha Ji Won in it and I have yet to be disappointed. The best thing about this show was Ha Ji Won being her usual boss chick self. Though the cross-dressing element is a little overdone these days it was entertaining because unlike some of the other cross-dressing heroines she actually had masculine traits like being able to fight. However, as awesome as she was as Ki Nyang, I think we can't talk about how great this show was without talking about our two leading men. Joo Jin Mo and Ji Chang Wook literally fought to the death, not just for Nyang but for Goryeo. The political battles were just as heart-wrenching and dramatic as the romantic battle.

Grandpa Over Flowers Investigation Team - This was a really fun show with an impressive cast and an interesting plot. I enjoyed it, plus it was only 12 episodes so it was totally worth watching. One of the most entertaining things was watching Heechul being in an unrequited love. Not sure if that's ever happened to him in real life but it was fun to see his goofy self work through it. Also, watching the senior actors play young men who also had to act like old men was hilarious. The show also had a good bit of action because the characters were cops.

Healer - Ji Chang Wook went from whiny emperor to tough night courier. It was a really awesome transformation. Aside from that, this show was just all kinds of good. First off the OTP had my feels all over the place, I rooted with all my heart for little Park Bong Soo and Chae Yong Shin. The entire cast was amazing and did a good job at either making me laugh or sending chills down my spine. My favorite thing about the show was the smooth mix of Action, Romance, and Comedy. There were a lot of funny moments that grounded the show and made the show that much more enjoyable.

In a Good Way - I really enjoyed this Taiwanese drama. I liked the characters a lot. They were all so distinct even though were in the same place, and the same time, and experiencing similar things. One of the most noteworthy things about the show was the chemistry between the two leads Lego Li as Liu Shan Feng and Kristen Ren as Lin Jia En. They really had me shipping the two actors. The chemistry of the whole cast was one that was really enjoyable to watch, it made me want to hang out with my friends and have cool adventures. Though the show's characters had some fantastical experiences they were believable and enjoyable to watch.

It's Okay That's Love - Definitely my favorite show for the year. So far, following Gong Hyo Jin has not led me astray. I think we all have to admit that the chemistry between the lead characters had us all screaming with envy at our screens, but aside from that I think the show very successfully explored the lives of patients and doctors of psychiatric medicine. There were so many enjoyable and admirable elements to the show: both of the leads had mental illnesses, the bromance between Jo Dong-Min and Park Soo-Gwang, the romances, the dysfunctional relationships all the characters had with each other, and the soundtrack. This show really boasted one of the most enjoyable soundtracks I've ever heard. I also have to give big props to Lee Kwnag Soo for realistically portraying Tourette syndrome while still being his usual comedic self. Just know that I highly recommend the show.

Marriage, Not Dating - This show didn't turn out how I expected it to. From the title I expected a mix of Lie to Me and Fated to Love You, but it was different. It had all the familiar elements but there was a refreshing spin put on it. I can't pinpoint what it was but something about this show made it much more enjoyable to watch than I expected. I actually watched the show all in one go because I was that excited about it once I started. I think one of the things that I really liked was the tangled love hexagon that was put before us. I liked that nobody really hid their feelings for others from each other despite the fact that two of the people were supposed to be "engaged." I also found the friendship of Joo Jang-Mi, Kong Ki-Tae, and Han Yeo-Reum really funny considering that it was a love triangle. It was just a really fun show to watch and wasn't bogged down by too much drama.

Misaeng (Incomplete Life) - A really great show. After watching it I understood why it got such a positive response from audiences. It was amazingly clever and real. I liked that the show didn't try to romanticize the life of an office worker, and any fantastical elements they did add was presented in a such a way that you knew that the writers weren't taking themselves too seriously. The characters were also very special. For me, I could see a little piece of myself in every character and I liked that. I highly recommend it.

Modern Farmer - I think this show was really underrated. It was one of the most hilarious shows I've seen in a while. Just purely funny, not too much drama, not too much romance, but not lacking in those departments either. It was really enjoyable to watch and all the cast members did a great job being funny and endearing.

Partners by Blood (Bitter Blood) - Loved it! Definitely my favorite Japanese drama by far. It was hilarious and full of action. I really looked forward to every episode while watching because I knew that I was going to enjoy the experience of watching it. There were a lot of unexpected but really great elements in the show. For instance, the son, Natsuki Sahara played by Takeru Sato was more sensitive than the other detectives or his father. That difference alone made the contrast between the characters very entertaining.

Pinocchio - This one really gave It's Okay, That's Love a run for it's money. The main couple was just all kinds of sweet even though they had their ups and downs they just couldn't quit each other. The mix of the revenge plot and the life of reporters was an interesting mix that I think came out well. I have to say that my absolute favorite part of the show was the fact that Yoon Gyun Sang and Lee Jong Suk actually looked like brothers. I mean how often do siblings look alike on TV shows or in movies, like never unless they're siblings in real life. For two unrelated people to look so similar, I really never got over how perfect that casting decision was. Also, Kim Young Gwang killed his role as the perfect second male lead. All the characters were really special and had their own place in the show rather than just being background actors for Lee Jong Suk and Park Shin Hye. Example: Who can forget Jang Hyun-Gyu aka Nosy Jang with the headband? I loved it.

What Happens to My Family - A really enjoyable weekend drama. I started this show really late, but finished it just in time. It was enjoyable from beginning to end. Funny, endearing, and had one of my favorite casts of the year. There were popular veterans and impressive rookies who really made the show great with their talent. The writers also did a really good job at mixing in the realism of family with the slightly unrealistic drama that must exist in K-dramas. Although there was a lot of drama it came in digestible streams and didn't make me raise my hands in exasperation during every episode.

I am happy that I got through this many new dramas in my first full year, but this is only a portion of the dramas I wanted to see in 2014. I am hoping that I'll get to watch some of the ones I really wanted to see like Gap Dong and The Hours of My Life soon.

Hope everyone has an enjoyable and blessed 2015.