2013: A Year In Review

Peace be upon you. 

Well, again this is the time of the year where I reminisce and reflect about the good drama that I’ve watched this entire year.  It has been 3 consecutive years I’ve being doing this and it give me a lot of so-called satisfaction within. Honestly, I haven’t been watching as many dramas as I used to, therefore this year end review might be the shortest ever compared to those previous years. Maybe this time around, I will only mention about the drama that I loved, so that it’ll be a nice review without any offensive feeling. Well let’s see if I can do that. Heh…

 The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

Life is bounded by the choice that we made. No one can force us to make that choice but the environment that you live in and the faith, principle that you’re holding on in making the choice will later shape you. Hurm…kind of cause and effect thingy? Anyway in Newton’s 3rd Laws of Motion, it is stated that, 

“To every action there is always an equal and opposite reaction”

So, according to this law some might always an equal and opposite reactions to my personal long rambling thoughts. Don’t take it to heart, everyone! Therefore, I believe everyone has different opinions regarding every drama that we watched. Some might have different opinions, and some had created massive reactions. 

Well, the following dramas are sorted in a way from the most impactful to the less.

Nine: Nine Times Time Travel

 

Well, we were bounded by the cause and effect – definitely. That’s why I think time travel couldn’t be possible; at least for now since the time leaping thingy is a complete mess. But Nine executed it with stylish manner grandiosely, and not making time travel things to fool around as seen in any other tons of drama that use the same plot device – time travel. From the same team that did the unforgettable Queen In-Hyeon’s Man, Nine is another rare gems that really rocks the world of time travel. I dare to say so far, Nine is the best time travel drama ever being made in kdramaland.

The impact: Though the future is uncertain, the decision now moulds the future. So live the way you want to live. Love the one you want love. Believe in the fantasies you want to believe. Be it real or not, it really depends on how you perceive it.

Two Weeks

This action-thriller series starring Lee Jun-ki is probably the most heart-racing drama for this year. I watched this drama in one shot and the time spent was filled with a lot of amazing things. It is beautifully moving, action packed plus the goodness of having the unsung hero on the run. Being a runaway is difficult, but sometimes it’s the only way to prove your innocence, find the real culprit and put everything in justice.

The impact: Fair and just – I like the resolution. Life need to be driven by purpose and the purpose drives the life. Redundant isn’t it?

The Master’s Sun

This is another one that I like. No wonder, Gong Hyo-jin was in it and she nailed it. The chemistry that the priceless radar build up with So ji-sub as her secret safety hideout was so much that I can handle. It’s fun, meaningful, soulful and nice. 

The impact: If you have sixth sense like Tae-yang, try to use it to gain more money. You’ll be as rich as her in the end. 

Heartless City

Undercover is like a game. You don’t know who your real enemy is until dead end. Heart-breaking, heart wrenching, but lack of suspense.  This is The Departed/ Infernal Affairs – esque. 

The impact : Never trust anyone when you’re in undercover. Be yourself, do things what you think is right. 

Answer Me 1994

With How I met You Mother – esque and Reply 1997 spin-off being played over and over and it was never boring.  But who’s the husband? Hurmmm

The impact : It’s hard to choose your the other half. How do you know he’s the one? Is there any signs?

Sirius

This pair of monozygotic twins really rocked this show. Well, especially when my beloved Park Hyung-sik was in it. I’m sorry, noona really likes you a lot. ERrrr…Eventhough Sirius is just another drama special, but it’s so special since it provided smooth sailing and it didn’t require lengthy episodes to carry on. It’s short, nice, smart and well- trimmed. 

The impact : Blood is thicker than water.Yeah, of course blood theoretically thicker than plain water.

Gu Family Book

 

It’s  the perfect time for Wol-ryung to shine brightly. When a mystical creatures fall in love with a mere human, things were meant to be wild and dangerous. Lee Seung-gi was well known on his role as gumiho’s boyfriend Dae-woong, but in Gu Family Book he himself transformed into a gumiho who doesn’t really aware that he’s the one and had some sort of anger management issue. Fortunately, the beautiful Suzy was there to become his rapid acting anti convulsion to stop him from fitting continuously. What’s so bad about being a gumiho? And what’s so good being a human?

The impact : What makes a man? The choice that you made defines you. 

School 2013

School rebellions never being boring, as far as I could remember. For me, Park Heung-soo and Go Nam-soon duo is the best bromance of the year. Hah..never mind.

The impact: The collision impact happened when 2 flower boys met each other s beyond physics theory. This time, the physic and chemistry worked synergistically. 

So I guess that sum up all the good ones I can pick from the entire year. Definitely, I watched more than that which I put it as mediocre drama. It’s a list of good drama of 2013, but I’m not going to write much about them since, there are a lot. If you have a lot of time, they’re actually worth watching.  The long list is as the following: 

# Scandal: The Most Schoking Incidence – the story wasn’t as shocking as the title suggested but it’s worth a try despite quite a number of episodes. I loved the solution of this drama. 

# Secret Love – the title doesn’t really give this drama a justice but it’s a quite good drama. Hwang Jung-eum played as a emotionally strong woman and Ji-sung played as a barking lunatic issues on oping mechanism. But they managed to get on the right track and moved on. 

# Flower Boy Next Door – the lonely hikikomori beauty just need a little encouragement for her to see the world again. Hurmm..

# Cyrano Dating Agency – sometimes confessing and proposing need a skill and help from another third party. 

# Birth Secret – When genis gave birth to another genius, they started losing the memories. But the DNA never forgets. What am I writing?

#  I Hear Your Voice – If I can read people’s mind, I want to become a journalist. Why? 

#  All About My Romance  - if I can do mind reading, I want to know how politicians think. Why they are so complicated? 

#  Level 7 Civil Servant – if I  can do mind reading, I want to know what the writer thought when writing this drama. Why it suck so much. Why on Earth Joo-won and hoi Kang-hee accepted the role? So many unanswered question. This is the least recommended unless you wanna get a big scar in your head.

  

Dramas that I dropped in the middle  

Not beause it’s not good- just because some of it (not all) are nonsense and it was being put into, making my mind goes haywire. 

• The Winter : The Wind Blows – too much winter, it’s cold. I’m freezing. 
• Medical Top Team – Too many geniuses, watching it make me feel that I’m dumb. Not really. 
•  Good Doctor – too much geniuses as well, with social issue to be sorted out.
• The Heirs - too much heir and heiress as well, but no depth.
• Mirae’s Choice – I don’t understand this drama, but it’s a fun ride. 

  

Currently airing and currently watching

 The currently airing drama are quite fun too. The list goes…

  

# Prime Minister and I – Some people watch it for Yoo-na, but I watched it because it seems promising. It’s fun and nice, so far.

# Miss Korea – I just watched the first 2 episodes, can’t comment much.  

# Golden Rainbow – I watch it because Jung Il-woo and UEE as the leading couple seems quite fun and fresh. Don’t know how the outcome will be.

Well, that’s it. The drama that I watched in 2013. I can’t write about drama that I never looked into such as Monstar, Fugitive of Joseon, Nailshop Paris and so on. They had quite positive reviews as well. Till then, I guess that sum up 2013 dramaland review. What? My pick for this year? Errmm..the drama those I mentioned first are my picks for this year with Nine topping the chart. It’s sorted in a way from the most likeable to the less likeable. 

 

Taken from hitrecord.org. It's not mine.

 

I wish everyone a wonderful happy new year and hope that 2014 will be another worderful year in searching for the purpose and meaning of life and becoming a better person. I might not write about drama as frequent as I used to but I will try my best. And please don’t be offended by my childish writing. I beg your pardon. Till we meet again. Goodbye. Anyeong!