Dramaland Forecast: April 2017

 Previously: 2016JanFeb – Mar

Completed:

  • Voice – not quite a perfect drama (so many logical fails, questionable police work, and a waste of potential character development), but gripping throughout its entire run, which is pretty impressive for a crime drama. Plus, y’know, Handsome Oppa makes everything better.

Currently watching:

  • Super Family 2017 – my darling show that has yet to disappoint. <3<3<3<3
  • Radiant Office – I’m insisting I’m just here for the Suicide Squad and the wonderful Go Ah Sung, but Hobaby’s noona romance has suddenly taken over my life with an OTP I never expected but now is everything I want.
  • Tunnel – I don’t know if I’ll stick with this one, but if I do, it’ll be because of the bickering “Odd Couple” begrudging partnership of Yoon Hyun Min and Choi Jin Hyuk. At least, that’s what I’m hoping they’ll become.

Skipping/dropping:

  • Strong Woman Bong Do Soon  noped out of this one in ep 4 and haven’t looked back.
  • Perfect Wife – I didn’t intentionally drop this one, I just forgot I watched the first episode (which I really enjoyed!) and that this show even exists. I’d like to go back to it one day, since I think it had great potential. It’ll be added to my never-ending “marathon on a rainy day” list.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Mystery Queen – I’ve had a vague eye on this one based on the concept of a mystery-loving ahjumma housewife finally getting a chance to solve cases. Even though my drama plate is full right now, I think I’ll still make time to at least check out the premiere, although I don’t really have space to add anything to the live-watch list.
  • Third Rate My Way – there isn’t enough on this show yet for me to decide how close attention I’ll pay to it, but the cast is promising (Kim Ji Won in her first leading role! Kim Sung Oh on my screen again!) and it’s from the writer of Baek Hee Has Returned, so my hopes for it are continually rising.
  • The Best Hit – this is another attempt at that “variety drama” format as seen in the initial few episodes of Producer, which I personally loved and wished had been extended throughout the entire show. That’s the main reason I plan to check it out, although I’m also excited that this will be Cha Tae Hyun’s first directorial challenge and he’ll be working alongside my fave 1N2D PD, Yoo Ho Jin. It’s still a drama, I swear! But this holds promise that the show will actually keep to a more “variety” feel. Even though I’m not in the “cult,” I’m sure there are those who are also excited that Yoon Si Yoon will be in another leading role.
  • My Secret Romance – there’s nothing so far that makes this seem any different from the zillions of rom-coms that have gone before, but it is OCN’s first attempt to crack the rom-com market, and so I think I’m interested due to pure curiosity since OCN is more known for their excellent crime/thriller/mystery programming.
  • Lookout – the cast is what caught my attention on this one: Lee Si Young! Kim Seul Gi! Kim Tae Hoon! My SHINee bias Key! Shin Dong Wook! I’m not the hugest fan of Kim Young Kwang, though, even if I’m suddenly wondering if Lee Si Young is attempting to work with all the model-actors.
  • Bad Thief, Good Thief – I’m not one to watch 50-episode weekend dramas, but knowing my girl Im Joo Eun means I’m keeping an eye on it. I still probably won’t watch just because I know my attention span limits, but I hope it’s a good role for her.
  • Circle – Kim Kang Woo and aliens. I’m already sold.
  • Woman of Dignity – finally has a channel (JTBC) and an airdate (June, after Man to Man). Buuuuuuuuut knowing it’s written by the same person as Strong Woman Bong Do Soon (see above), I’m super wary, even though I adore Kim Sun Ah and was really hoping for redemption after the disaster of Masked Prosecutor. I’ll probably still check it out just for her, but I’ll be cautious about any expectations for the actual script.

As always, any drama not listed means I have nothing new to add since the last mention and/or it’s not something I care about enough to add to the list. 

Dramaland Forecast: March 2017

Previously – 2016Jan – Feb

Completed:

  • None

Currently Watching:

  • Voice – even if I weren’t recapping, I’d still be watching because HANDSOME OPPA!!!!
  • Super Family 2017 – a cute and fun family sitcom that I might actually finish since it’s only 40 eps (instead of 100+ episodes, like most family sitcoms are).
  • Strong Woman Do Bong Soon – I’m not totally sold on this drama, although at the time of queuing I haven’t decided to drop it just yet.
  • Perfect Wife – I’ve learned to instinctively be wary about any of Sung Joon’s projects, but I decided to check this out for the rest of the cast who definitely make it worthwhile (Go So Young is definitely a drama queen!). I like it well enough and it has potential, but I might just stop watching because of how terrible Sung Joon’s suits are. Kidding! But it’s 20 eps and knowing me, I’ll probably drop it at ep 10 unless it turns out to be super amazing.

Skipping/Dropping:

  • Hwarang – I bailed on this at ep 12 for no real reason except I lost momentum and there wasn’t anything that made me want to keep watching. I did enjoy it at least until that far.

Upcoming dramas of interest:

  • Radiant Office – Okay, yes, the main reason this is on my radar is because of Hoya, but I also really like Go Ah Sung, although I’ve primarily watched her films than her dramas.
  • The Liar and His Lover – If I weren’t such a sucker for school musical dramas, this would probably be an easy pass. I’m not sure if I’ll end up watching it, but I’ll keep an ear out for the buzz around it.
  • Tunnel – OCN crime dramas always appeal to me, but knowing that king of bromance Yoon Hyun Min will be babysitting a time-traveling cop who’s clueless about modern forensics suddenly makes this a lot more attractive (and not just that it’s Choi Jin Hyuk’s post-Army show!).
  • Chicago Typewriter  – I’m still iffy on the concept, but anything originally set in the 1930′s and the Japanese Occupation intrigues me (yeah, they’re reincarnated, but I’m hoping for lot of flashbacks!). This also has an excellent cast so far. I don’t know what Dramaland is doing, pulling in actresses who usually stick to film, but I’m grateful for it. My main concern is the writer, who, despite her last couple of hits, weren’t ones I personally enjoyed. But she is paired with the director of My Beautiful Bride, so *fingers crossed.*

As always, any drama not listed means I have nothing new to add since the last mention and/or it’s not something I care about enough to add to the list.