I love that the “hero” is still the absolute worst in season 2.
HE IS THE WORST. I think it’s really amusing that people still don’t seem to understand he is not meant to be the hero of this story.
Let us explore the evidence.
SPOILERS BELOW
Here are some other K-Dramas I watched this year (most of them from 2024) that were good, decent, or I dropped. None of these were worth a full review, in my opinion, but there were quite a few that I truly enjoyed this year.
Dramas listed in alphabetical order.
The Atypical Family (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
I’m popping this up to a 7 only because the plot line was truly unique. I’m not interested in super hero stories, but I liked this drama as it showed how super powers would most likely be used by more “average” people. You know, basically for self-serving reasons only, which seemed pretty honest. The romance was below-average, but the familial relationships made up for it – in particular the father-daughter relationship and the unusual relationship between the leading lady and her thug mother.
Black Out (2024) – Overall Rating: 9/10.
This is a dark themed show that does not let the light in. If you like dark crime shows or intense murder mysteries, then this one is for you! I loved it, even though it was depressing as hell. Reminded me of a Nordic murder mystery… cold… bleak… and compelling.
Blood Free (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
Probably deserves a lower score, but the concept was amazing. Set in the near future, when scientists have perfected creating meat and fish products in a laboratory and are about to start tackling manufacturing grains. It dived into the inevitable backlash of such a breakthrough: the protesting farmers, the suspicious consumers, the fight to keep the science proprietary. Ya’ll know mad science is one of my all time favorite genres, so I was having a ball! A stoic bodyguard lurking around all sexy in his tailored suit and a hardened business woman with a secret laboratory? The K-2, anyone? Sigh. The side characters had more personality than the two leads, unfortunately, and the plot didn’t really pick up the pace until the final episodes, but I still enjoyed this short drama and hope there will be a second installment.
Call It Love (2023) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
This should have been one of my favorites, as I love stories exactly like this, but somehow it just didn’t climb to the top of the ladder for me. I’d still definitely recommend it if you are a fan of slow-burn romances and complicated family melodramas. I admit I enjoyed watching the sad, overworked and overburdened daughter falling in love with the sad, pitiful rich boy with a terrible haircut (their chemistry was not electric, but it didn’t detract from the romance either). This drama has all the requirements for a good melodrama: selfish parents who put themselves before their families, best friends who show us different sides of main leads, side romances that are equally interesting to watch unfold, and overdramatic family situations that keep the tension high.
Connect (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
It’s so weird that I loved it. More mad science! Horrah! This is a show for people who like to read comic books. Or anime. The plotline does not feel realistic in any way and seems better suited as visual storytelling. It’s got human beings that have been enhanced so that they can never die, their body parts just piece themselves back together if removed. It’s got serial killers and illegal organ harvesting and art students. It’s got eerie vibes… icky elements of science fiction body horror… and artistic serial murders in the style of the Hannibal tv series. It’s not a satisfying plot nor does it have satisfying character development or relationships. It’s just like reading a quick gory one shot manga. A fun snack. If ya like that type of thing, then you might like this.
DoDoSolSolLaLaSol (2020) – Overall Rating: N/A.
I was really enjoying this until I found out the leading man was a teenager and then it just felt too creepy to continue. I work with teenagers. It just crossed over one of my mental lines and I could no longer enjoy it.
The Frog (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
A surprise, for sure. And a must watch for thriller and mystery lovers. Two murders in two different locations within the same small town at two different times. We get to watch and discover how these separate events overlap and unfold as the tension slowly builds and escalates each episode. But I think if you’ve seen it, you know the leading female carried this entire show on her psychotic shoulders. I can’t say I will ever watch this show again, but I will confess I was spell bound by the insanity. Kim Yoon Suk deserves an Oscar for her performance. She was truly unhinged.
The Golden Spoon (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
I think we all know how obsessed the Koreans are with their insanely rich people. They both love them and aspire to be them while simultaneously loathing them and imagining their lives are nothing but shallow and meaningless. This is yet another story that plays with that theme, but I had a good time watching this story of two boys from different economic classes switching places. It had a few surprises and kept me guessing how it would all end. These types of stories pop up nearly every year with varying success (The King’s Affection, The Crowned Clown, Reborn Rich, and so on).
High School Return of a Gangster (2024) – Overall Rating: 9.5/10.
I really had a blast with this show. It was shamelessly stripped of all its gay elements, which is insane as it’s based on a popular BL, but… I don’t think I mind. The original story was a bit problematic, honestly, with a man in his 50s taking over the body of a bullied high school kid and then getting romantically involved with a teenage boy. So for once I was happy to have that aspect toned down, as it just seems weird no matter how you look at it.
Age differences are okay with immortal creatures or monsters but a regular middle aged gangster dude falling in love with a teenage boy was too much for me to get behind. That’s a 30+ year age gap, people, and predatory.
I like that instead they hinted at a suppressed love between the gangster and his right-hand-man gangster dude (played by Won Tae Min who was in my favorite BL of the year The Time of Fever). And the show made it clear that the bullied boy was definitely queer, and thus the confusion of the other young male lead who now sees an old dude staring at him through the boy’s eyes instead of a besotted teenager.
It was short and fun and I was grateful to have a “lesson of the day” type storyline without the usual preachy tropes. This story kinda broke the mold a bit. Feel good but also a realistic portrayal of how a middle aged man would tackle scrappy teenagers and a second chance at life… (as realistic as you can be with the premise).
A Killer Paradox (2024) – Overall Rating: N/A. I dropped this one too, though I love the actors in it. It just felt too similar to other shows and I couldn’t make it past episode 3.
Love Next Door (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
It was cute. I enjoyed the families and the romance. But it didn’t endear itself to me like other romances have in the past. Still… a solid choice for those seeking a cozy family comedy/drama with a sweet friends to lovers romance.
Love Song for Illusion (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
It’s a messy story, but I had so much fun watching Park Ji Soon bounce between the two “personalities” of his character that I cannot complain. I will say my engagement with the story dropped significantly around the halfway mark. Thankfully it was only 16 episodes. Not much of a romance, but the story of the prince and his fractured psyche really drew me in.
Lovely Runner (2024) – Overall Rating: 6/10.
I was soooo into this. And then I just wanted to throw myself out of a window cause it was toooo much. Too, too much. Like caricatures of caricatures. The cheesiness overwhelmed me. It took me forever to finish this one, I had to force myself to go back.
My Sweet Mobster (2024) – Overall Rating: N/A.
It started out cute. But I got bored with it quickly.
Racket Boys (2021) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
In the mood for a feel-good show about a bunch of people in a small town coming together to support a small group of boys play badminton? A wonderful slice-of-life show about friendships and family.
A Shop for Killers (2024) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
I had a good time with this one. It’s simple and violent. A young lady discovers her uncle was an arms dealer after his death – and has to fight to protect herself as various members of the underworld try to take over the business. A perfect cat and mouse action show that filled up an afternoon. If you liked Hanna or even La Femme Nikita, you’ll probably enjoy this.
Sweet Home Season 3 (2024) – Overall Rating: 6/10.
Sigh. I still love Season 1, I think it’s one of the best horror k-dramas of all time. Honestly, one of the best horror dramas from any country. But Seasons 2 and 3… total let down.
Under the Queen’s Umbrella (2022) – Overall Rating: 7/10.
A solid historical drama and yet another one that just didn’t quite land for me personally. I think if I had not seen dozens of other historical dramas, this one would be an all time favorite. It was a unique angle for palace politics. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a drama about the problems of not preparing all your royal children to be crown prince candidates before. I enjoyed the brothers and the queen really shined with her bestie palace maid. There are no filler episodes, the story builds over the season, and the character development is quite good. Check it out.
Squid Game. Overall Rating: 9/10. The Korean Drama That Hooked American Viewers by Using Cliffhanger Bait.
What can anyone say about it at this point that hasn’t already been said?
It was good. I enjoyed watching it. The aesthetics, the acting, the music, the plot – everything was stellar. The violence was nicely balanced with the quieter scenes of character development. The stakes felt real. The motivations that drove people to such desperation all seemed believable. Everything gelled.
I can’t give it a 10/10 because it didn’t… end. Entire story lines were just abandoned, storylines left dangling in the wind. Clearly it’s meant to be continued, but I still like a satisfying to conclusion to each season of a show. So… I had to knock a point off.
If you are one of the few people on the planet who haven’t watched this global sensation, then I recommend you go watch it.
Run On. Overall Rating: 7/10. Getting Your Footing in Life is Easier When You’re Hot.
Ah, rich people problems. Are they even… real problems? This show will not answer that question for you. I don’t think this show appreciates you even asking that question. In fact, this show would prefer you not think too hard about any of its major plot points, thank you, and please refrain from using your brain while you enjoy these attractive faces on the screen.
I enjoyed watching Run On. It didn’t offer anything new (other than finally giving Shin Se-Kyung a role she seemed comfortable in). The romance is average. It was super sweet, mind you, and the actors have decent chemistry, but it’s nothing to write home over. There are better shows about a girl winning over the heart of an awkward man. There are better sports shows. There are better shows about the movie industry. There are better shows about rich, entitled children standing up to their rich, entitled parents.
Originally, I had intended to give this a solid 8/10 and stick it on my recommended list… but the second I sat down to review it, the rating quickly dropped. Because there are a lot of issues with the story line, if you pause long enough to think about it. What is the message? What… is this show saying about life and love? It seems to want to say something, but just didn’t mumbled through the thesis. So… no. It’s just so-so and thus deserving it’s 7/10.
My Name. Overall Rating: 9/10. Pretending a Snowflake Can Cause You Physical Damage for 8 Hours Straight.
Did anyone believe that the leading lady could kick someone’s ass? I wasn’t even convinced she could give someone a stinging slap, let alone step into an underground MMA ring. Maybe it’s something about Han So-Hee’s gently rounded face that makes it impossible for me to believe this story.
Some actresses can pull off the illusion of strength and some can’t. Kim Da-Mi from The Witch and Itaewon Class? I believed she could kick my tail. Kim Ok-Vin from The Villainess? Same. Jun Jong-Seo as the crazy chick from The Call? Yup. Ha Ji-Won can kick all their tails combined. Bae Doo-Na and Lee Si Young, too.
Han So-Hee, however… is a gentle ballerina, a flower petal, a snowflake. I like this actress, but I didn’t like her in this role. I was, however, willing to overlook it because everything else about this show was spot on my exact brand of tea.
Though My Name did not give us a believable protagonist, it did offer up one of the most convincing villains of all time. Chang Ryul playing the feisty fighter working his way to the top of the Dongcheonpa was golden. His performance was so unhinged, so enjoyable to watch, that I quickly forgot about my qualms with the casting the second he was on screen.
I totally believed this dude would get a neck tattoo and chop a guy’s arm off while taunting him. This is excellent casting. Seriously, he saved the entire show in my opinion.
Was the overall plot a melodramatic vengeance fantasy, with little to no attempts to be convincing or believable? Yes. And I love that. Was the romance good, at least? Eh, not particularly, but the love story hit home more on the second viewing. Should I even watch this series, then? Yes. Of course. It’s not very long, with only 8 episodes, and there’s lots of fighting and cops chasing after gang members and whatnot. This show doesn’t have anything to say, really – there’s no message or cultural critiques or unique insights into humanity. It’s just a fun action show. Good cinematography, great acting, very good action sequences, enough twists to entertain you as you unfold the mystery. I loved it.
Plus I was gay for the villain (the other one, not the neck tattoo guy but the head of the mafia who takes our orphan girl under his wing). He was clearly gay for the girl’s father, too. And he was just… yum. A slinky, cruel, calculating monster. Villainous perfection. That mob boss can do whatever he wants to me.
Hellbound. Overall Rating: 8/10. What If It’s All Meaningless?
Hellbound was another show that I had to change my rating for as I thought about how to review it. When I originally watched it, it was a solid 7/10 (the first chunk maybe rating around 9/10 – then quickly losing me as it switched focus for part two). But this show lingered in my mind. The implications of this show were… vast. And it made you think about humanity, and how we are culturally conditioned to believe certain things without proof, and how this can be both good and bad depending on the circumstances. So, I rounded it out to a solid 8/10. It’s worth it cause it makes you think.
The plot of Hellbound is relatively simple. A mysterious entity shows up to various people in the world, announces the exact time in which they will die and be dragged to hell, and then makes good on that promise. Huge creatures appear out of nowhere, violently beat you to pulp before killing you, and then just as suddenly disappear. The creatures were awful, by the way – the CGI was sadly lacking, presenting us with these gummy looking children’s’ toys that only seemed threatening due to the performances of the actors pretending to die. But the horror of it, of knowing you were not only going to die – but had been judged and sentenced – is quite an uncomfortable topic. The general public’s fervent desire to cast these people into the roles of “wrong doers” was obvious – they had to deserve it, surely, or else what does that say about the nature of the world? About the afterlife? This series leaves you with uncomfortable questions about the definition of hell, about the unknown things in the universe, about what it means to die or have your life and all your decisions judged by outside and unknown forces. Most of these questions were not answered, either, which works for me… for the most part.
Once again, I am left wondering if the dangling questions were left there with the intention of a second season. Like Squid Game. As you may or may not know (depending on how much of this blog you’ve read), I am not a fan of second seasons in Korean Dramas. In general, I find what I most like about K-Dramas is their ability to complete a storyline. The threads of various storylines and characters in one show all pulling together for a tightly connected plot is one of the reasons K-dramas are awesome. They know what they are and they know where they are going.
But Hellbound was already presented as two different short stories within one larger frame. The first half of the series focusing on one group of characters, and the second half on another. Both stories were interesting, though I found the first more compelling overall.
Anyways, I liked it. I liked it for it’s horrific implications. I liked it for its nihilism. It reminded me of the ending of Revival by Stephen King – a shocking, surrealistic nightmare vision of the afterlife which to this day still haunts me. Humans put a lot of stock into certain ideas – into religions – into how our lives fit into the universe. Souls, afterlives, reincarnations, supernatural beings who navigate our destinies… it’s meant to both comfort us and disquiet us. “Be good or else.” It appeals to our desire for balance and justice. “They might not suffer in this world for the terrible things they’ve done, but they’ll suffer in the next.” A show like this could not be made in America. We can only pick holes into religion in a playful or ridiculous way – ways that are clearly entertainment only and not meant to trigger any real examinations of our spiritual beliefs. The Good Life, Supernatural, Lucifer, and such. Even more drama-heavy shows, like The Leftovers or Midnight Mass, leave room for comfort in beliefs. Hellbound doesn’t bother to try to comfort you. It just kicks you when you’re down and says, “Makes you wonder, huh?”
What can I say? I like the existential dread.
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