[2024 Year in Review] I owe my bean to you » Dramabeans

[2024 Year in Review] I owe my bean to you

by solstices

When the Bean Depend rolled round this yr, I used to be absolutely ready to money in all my beans on Dongjae, nonetheless measly the quantity. Certainly I wouldn’t have sufficient to unfold them skinny over all my high favorites? In any case, I spent a ton of time in theaters this yr, slightly than in entrance of the display screen.

Think about my shock once I tallied up my beans, and it turned out I’d watched far more dramas than I believed! Because it seems, I one way or the other managed to squeeze a good bit of drama-watching into my schedule, whether or not that was via making good use of the quick ahead button or protecting a drama for the fantastic Beanie neighborhood.

Amidst all that, there have been some exhibits that had been nicely price it, too. Over time, I’ve grown much less reluctant to drop a drama that simply isn’t working for me — but additionally extra cussed in sticking with a present if it’s gotten me invested a method or one other, and generally that persistence pays off. So with out additional ado, listed here are a number of the titles that survived — for higher or for worse — and the the explanation why.

All of us knew I used to be going to look at this

With how a lot I like the Forest of Secrets and techniques sequence, it’s no shock in any respect that I dove headfirst into Dongjae the Good or the Bastard, instantly asking to cowl it the second it was confirmed. Dong-jae alone would have stored me watching it doesn’t matter what, however the drama exceeded my expectations after which some. I’ve already gushed about it in my recaps, however what stood out most was its distinct shade. Not solely did the present preserve the spirit of the unique sequence, but it surely additionally carved out its personal identification to make Dong-jae’s time within the highlight memorable, masterfully mixing astute social commentary with hilariously delicate and snarky humor befitting our favourite weasel. I’m sitting on the entrance door ready for Forest of Secrets and techniques 3 or Dongjae 2 to come back house, whichever arrives first.

In an identical vein, my respect for Forest of Secrets and techniques’ scriptwriter led me to Blood Free, which I admittedly loved regardless of its disorienting ending. Elevated by unbelievable performances from a stellar solid, it was a gripping and nuanced watch. Whereas it might have faltered considerably in its unresolved plot threads, it gave me a lot meals for thought — to ponder over, and to mirror upon my values. Generally I ponder what Lee Soo-yeon’s writing would appear to be as a analysis paper, which speaks to the depth of crucial evaluation and social relevance that undergirds her scripts.

I took a leap of religion, and it paid off

One other narrative that left me winded in a great way was the movie Exhuma, an occult thriller that intrigued me with the unsettling horror of its premise and shocked me with its viscerally poignant execution. Steeped in folklore, shamanistic traditions, and the scars of colonialism, Exhuma’s narrative resonated achingly deep. It is extremely a lot a Korean movie at its core, based upon intricate layers of tradition and historical past. Meticulously crafted with deliberate symbolism, from character names to manufacturing design to even the two-act construction of the movie itself, Exhuma was a riveting watch from begin to end.

It’s uncommon that I take pleasure in variations as a lot as the unique novel, however Love within the Massive Metropolis held the fort in all three of its mediums. Taking the candid authenticity of the e-book’s voice and imbuing it with the weak pathos of Nam Yoon-soo’s emoting, the drama wrung my coronary heart with its vignettes of affection and loss, unequivocally successful my Bean of Greatness. In flip, its film boldly put an empowering spin on the e-book’s first quarter, highlighting Kim Go-eun and Noh Sang-hyun’s ride-or-die friendship alongside a very sympathetic portrayal by Jung Hwi.

Connection had me skeptical within the first week, however shortly affirmed my religion in its narrative with advanced characters and tight plotting — I wrote a complete essay praising it in my remaining recap, and I daresay it was the very best thriller of the yr. Equally, Doubt took me solely without warning because the final drama I accomplished this yr, impressing me sufficient with its managed stress to earn my Bean of Hiddenness. As for actors, I’ve watched many exhibits for Lee Jong-won — whether or not it’s the endearing hilarity of Knight Flower (congrats on the Bean of Squee), or the delicate empathy of Brewing Love, I’d be glad to observe him anyplace. Aside from one drama specifically, that’s…

Why did you lead me right here, please refund my bean

Lee Jong-won, why oh why did you select the mess that was Dangerous Reminiscence Eraser?

Shifting on to My Blissful Ending, I positioned my belief within the Jang Nara and Sohn Ho-joon reunion, just for it to betray me with makjang angst. Alas, I couldn’t tear my eyes away — it had simply sufficient suspenseful intrigue and emotional beats to maintain me hooked, even whereas some plot twists left me bewildered. It doesn’t fairly warrant a refund, however I’m nonetheless scratching my head questioning how I completed that (admittedly addictive) whirlwind. However, No Means Out – The Roulette, I need my time again. I held quick to my religion within the veteran solid, however even their stable performances had been marred by a subpar script and unfocused directing. Bean of Disappointment, right here you go.

In hindsight, maybe I might need been higher off dropping it like a sizzling potato, the best way I did with Goodbye Earth. I gave it an opportunity for Jeon Sung-woo, however I simply couldn’t make it previous my First Impressions overview due to how disorganized the narrative was, and it acquired the boot. The identical might need occurred with The Fiery Priest 2 and its slapstick ridiculosity, particularly given Jeon Sung-woo’s disappointingly paltry display screen time — however I caught with it for Kim Nam-gil and I acquired rewarded with our fairly priest in a gown, so I suppose I can’t complain all that a lot.

I like you on stage, I’ll love you on display screen

Identical to final yr, I adopted quite a few musical actors to their drama tasks, they usually led me to exhibits I ended up actually having fun with. The Bequeathed was considered one of my standout titles this yr, with its foreboding suspense and disquieting occult horror, and I’ve Kim Jae-bum to thank for his mesmerizingly creepy efficiency. On a lighter notice, the stunning Lee Bom-sori made me cave and watch The Midnight Studio because it was airing, thus giving me the pleasant shock of Search engine optimization Ji-hoon’s cameo. The drama’s plot did have contrived options and a good variety of holes, but it surely additionally delivered heartfelt storylines of grief and closure, so it was nonetheless price it ultimately.

My bean for Chief Detective 1958 truly has a joke behind it, as a result of I began watching it for Park Jung-hyuk’s display screen debut. Then after his character arc ended and he stopped showing, I ran out of steam at Episode 8. It was an entertaining watch, however I didn’t assume I’d choose it again up. That’s, till months later, once I found Lee Bong-jun via the musical Eternity and realized he was additionally in Chief Detective 1958. And naturally, he solely appeared in Episodes 9 and 10. *facepalm*

For sure, I ended up watching these final two episodes, and I wouldn’t have had it some other means. Although the plot of Chief Detective 1958 was predictable in a traditional old-school type, seeing the adorably baby-faced Lee Bong-jun play a despicably smug wealthy boy was a great deal of enjoyable. Contrasted in opposition to his portrayal of an earnest fanboy filled with hope and goals in Eternity, I used to be totally impressed by his versatility, and I can’t anticipate I Am a Working Mate to be launched subsequent yr.

With 2024 drawing to an in depth, I wrote this essay absolutely ready to wrap up my yr of dramas, with no new additions. Although I did briefly think about speed-watching Hwarang only for the tiny glimpses of Kim Jun-young within the background, however um, regardless of how a lot I like him, I don’t assume I wish to topic myself to all that treasure-hunting. So I believed that was it for this yr, and I might possibly begin considering twice earlier than leaping into exhibits subsequent yr…

Besides I simply picked up Namib at @missvictrix’s suggestion of a, and I quote, “deliciously sleazy Lee Ki-taek” — and I’m already so invested. I imply, the ever-charismatic Go Hyun-jung, the rising star Ryeoun, and a traditional underdog story? I’m offered. Will it sink or swim? Who is aware of. Will I watch to the tip anyway, only for the explanations outlined above? You wager. I suppose some issues by no means change, heh.

On the finish of the day, all of us have our causes for staying with a drama until the tip — what’s yours?

 
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