It’s formally EOY season, which is after we look again on our drama years, and resolve which dramas have been worthy of our love, and which dramas we perhaps shouldn’t have spent as a lot time on, as we did. 😁
As earlier than, we’ll be seeing as much as 2 visitor posts per week, and this may unfold into January 2025, and my annual year-in-review will come out in early 2025, after all of the visitor posts have been printed.
This manner, by placing all our experiences collectively, we get a extra wholistic view of Dramaland in 2024. Fairly nice, sure? 🤩
In case you missed our earlier posts, you’ll be able to examine them out right here: Sean, Deni+JJ, Natalia, Ele, j3ffc, MC, Elaine, ABV.
At present, I’m happy to announce that Diasporic Chick’s sharing her drama 12 months!
Diasporic Chick’s been part of our little Patreon neighborhood for some time, however hardly ever has time to hang around with us, attributable to all the opposite commitments she has, simply residing life.
So, this EOY publish looks like a pleasant likelihood to meet up with what’s been occurring along with her, I really feel like.
Thanks Diasporic Chick, for taking the time to share your drama 12 months! 😘
In case you’d wish to learn extra of Diasporic Chick’s writing, you may like to take a look at her EOY publish from final 12 months right here.
I hope you guys get pleasure from!
~ KFG ❤️
Diasporic Chick’s Okay-drama Journey
I’m now 5 years deep into Asian dramas, which implies I’ve no less than an AA or BA diploma in unrequited love and household tragic separation movie tropes.
Whereas I’m fairly happy these days with slice of life dramas – particularly the adolescent college crush turned grownup aged romances – I’m struck by the continual circulation of creativity popping out of studios in South Korea and China.
Although my preferences veered extra in direction of Chinese language dramas this 12 months, many Korean dramas rose to the highest in my 2024 12 months finish spherical up.
My prime drama picks of 2024
Beneath are my prime ten dramas this 12 months, fairly a binge worthy record if I would add.
1. Will Love in Spring (Chinese language)
This was my first Li Xian film, and I used to be fairly struck by his means to painting the function of a mortuary proprietor in a small rural Chinese language village who falls for a former schoolmate, masterfully portrayed by Zhou Yutong.
The flirtation and sizzling and heavy romance scenes are tastefully shot, and there’s a lot of philosophical content material which I appreciated the ephemeralness of life.
Zhou Yutong steals the present although along with her means to painting a charismatic and career-driven magnificence who doesn’t enable her prosthetic leg to get in the way in which of her success.
I do know many will critique the abrupt ending, however I loved it immensely.
2. Household by Selection (Korean)
Being new to Hwang In Yeop, I used to be mesmerized by his portrayal on this remake a Chinese language collection, Go Forward, which I had watched a month or so previous to viewing this collection.
His performing versatility and vary of feelings is beautiful, particularly when in comparison with his already sturdy efficiency as second male lead in True Magnificence.
Actress Jung Chan-Yeon was equally properly solid and the 2 had actually nice harmless romance chemistry and steamy romance electrical cost.
The whole solid was sturdy, and what I favored about this collection was they diminished the variety of loopy vengeful emotionally damaged interfering mother scenes in comparison with the Chinese language entrance runner.
3. Amidst a Snowstorm of Love (Chinese language)
This collection made me be all on board with the Wu Lei practice. He constantly serves up a come hither gaze; Lei be lookin’ at his feminine paved the way I have a look at crab leg dinner specials at a seafood buffet.
This transnational sports activities and romance collection, shot each in a really chilly Scandinavian city and Shanghai, with beautiful backdrops and many snow, mountains, water, sunshine.
I laughed, I cried, and the supporting solid was beautiful. And I realized some billiards/snooker lingo alongside the way in which.
4. What Comes After Love (Korean with Japanese cultural content material)
Lee Se-Younger the feminine actress who’s solid as a Korean examine overseas scholar in Japan is ideal on this function. Kentaro Sakaguchi is phenomenal, once more with the eyes conveying a thousand phrases.
Fantastically shot, directed, scripted in six episodes.
The OST was extraordinarily memorable and I’ve discovered myself listening to it on repeat whereas staring on the burning wooden embers in my hearth, questioning in regards to the would-have, should-have, could-have of my examine overseas youth.
And the cajones of the primary male result in doc his love for the feminine lead in a novel that she would someday learn and uncover his true remorse for his or her break up. There’s remedy for that! The scenes shot in Kyoto have been simply dreamy.
5. Marry My Husband (Korean)
Takes the revenge plot in fantastical and futuristic methods, with a facet of sizzling son of a tycoon.
I’m at all times a fan of Park Min Younger (Rachel Park) and her rom coms, however this one was such a superb Korean-style Again to the Future with the tagline ‘I’ll expose you for what you’re, you dishonest cowardly sack of fermented bean paste.’
Na In-Woo was sensible. The finale of the season was superbly shot, and the OST was actually good, particularly the tune Wounds of Time by Kim So Yeon.
6. The Story of Pearl Woman (Chinese language)
Not solely was I excited by this new collection starring my favourite Chinese language actress Zhao Lusi but additionally pleasantly shocked by new to me actor Li Yuning.
Enslaved pearl diver turned jewellery enterprise proprietor, this was a non-traditional revenge plot half John Wick half ill-fated lovers.
The supporting male lead right here deserves acknowledgement too as Tang Xiaotian was ever the doting benevolent hero.
In case you can’t deal with blood, this isn’t the stress-free collection to your night enjoyment however I actually discovered pleasure and sweetness in lots of the gradual burn romance and redemption scenes.
I want Zhao Lusi one of the best of luck in her current well being setback and I can’t watch for her to relaxation, get better, after which come again stronger with a much less horrible leisure company.
7. As Lovely as You (Chinese language)
This collection launched me to Xu Kai, whose work I need to see extra of, and Tan Songyun who seems in Go Forward. Tan is ever the spritely optimistic character in lots of her feminine lead roles.
In case you like office romance tales, this one is for you.
I attempted to disregard the scheming and insecure second feminine lead vying for consideration via deceit and underhanded dealings, however despite onerous to consider plot twists, I nonetheless completely loved this collection.
There are a number of love within the kitchen scenes that make you go ummm.
8. Smile Code (Chinese language)
I used to be drawn into this novel plot a few male designer starring Lin Yi (who can be in Everybody Loves Me) who progressively falls in love with comic performed by Shen Yue (made well-known for her function in Meteor Backyard).
Although you wouldn’t anticipate it, this present comprises each humor, romance, and a singular give attention to the medical psychology of somebody who’s traumatized to the purpose of being unable to acknowledge one’s personal fundamental human feelings; love helped him study to really feel once more.
The supporting solid is nice.
9. Love Subsequent Door (Korean)
I actually loved two well-known Korean actors solid on this rom com, starring Jung Hae In and and Jung So Min, and sure, two issues could be true directly: adoration for the childhood buddies turned lovers storyline, and a way that the script didn’t play to the 2 foremost actors’ strengths, particularly Jung Hae In.
Particular shout out to the feminine lead character portraying a global scholar at my alma mater UC Berkeley.
10. Fireworks of My Coronary heart (Chinese language)
I’ll watch something starring Yang Yang, and this motion packed collection depicts rekindled romance between a hearth battalion captain and a hospital physician rehashed from college romance.
Sure, the feminine lead’s adoptive dad and mom being overbearing and staunchly towards their relationship as a result of he wasn’t adequate for her is a drained trope and sure, I counted no less than a handful of occasions Yang Yang carried Wang Churan’s character in his arms out of the ashes of a catastrophe zone.
Different Awards
Finest Actor
Actress: Zhao Lusi (Story of Pearl Woman) or Lee Se-young (What Comes After Love)
Actor: Kentaro Sakaguchi (What Comes After Love) or Yang Yang (Fireworks of My Coronary heart) or Hwang In-Youp (Household by Selection)
Finest OTP
Finest supporting actor
Tang Xiaotian, supporting male lead in The Story of Pearl Woman
Razzie Award
The Midnight Romance in Hagwon
Particular awards
Actors who occur to additionally sing —
- Liu Yuning “Solely Want”
- Hwang In Youp ”My Lovely Identify Is You”
~Diasporic Chick
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