Here it is the Ides of March! I almost missed it but here we are, just in time. We are eleven years in, and are still watching more Japanese dramas than Korean ones. We watched one Chinese drama this year. We've also watched a lot of old British shows like Jane Austin miniseries, the original All Creatures Great and Small, the Lord Peter Wimsey miniseries, and Call the Midwife.
KOREAN DRAMAS
One Day Off
This is an interesting show about a teacher who gets out of town on her days off to de-stress and experience something new. The places she goes and the people she meets start to change her, which you slowly realize as you see flashbacks to her youth and compare them to her present. It's good.
Delivery Man
Should have been called Ghost Taxi. It's about a Young man who can see ghosts and starts to give them rides and grant their wishes. mediocre.
Finland Papa
A young woman who is looking for a job interviews at a restaurant that seems strange. They eat a meal with her and tell her she's hired. No one seems to know who the owner is. It turns out to have something to do with a childhood friend. not so good.
Twinkling Watermelon
The son of two deaf people, who is frustrated at always having to translate for them, gets sent back in time. He meets his parents as teenagers, plays in a band, and learns to assert himself. There is another person who time travels as well who keeps the story interesting. Very good show!
Unlock My Boss
A company president disappears. A young man who had applied to the company finds the president's smart phone, which claims that the president is trapped inside it, and coaches him how to take over and run the company. fun show.
The Matchmakers
This is a sageuk (historical drama) about a young widower and a widow who are tasked with arranging marriages for some women who have refused to marry. For political reasons. He is arrogant but awkward, and she is cheerful and confidant. As they get to know each other better they start to have feelings for each other, but by custom they are both forbidden to remarry. Excellent drama.
Stealer: the Treasure Keeper
A mismatched group including police and a vigilante try to retrieve heirlooms and cultural treasures that have been stolen by criminals. It's a little like Indiana Jones and a little like Healer. The first half was lots better than the second.
CHINESE DRAMA
Fake It Til You Make It
An office drama about a male investment banker and a female lawyer who meet by chance on a plane. They both have stressful jobs and difficulties in their private lives, and yet they strive to do their best and stay on top of the heap at work. They keep coming across each other because of their jobs and start to become friends. Very good drama.
JAPANESE DRAMAS
On a Starry Night
This was one of several dramas about deaf characters this year. In this one, a female obstetrician loses her job because of a patient who died. The patient's husband stalks her and makes trouble at her new job in a small town. She meets a deaf man who is younger than she is and really doesn't have a filter, but who cheers her up. average.
Unexpected - Love Story in Maison Ginseiso
A graphics designer loses his job the same day his wife divorces him. His sister gets him a new job as a housekeeper at a boarding house, where he tries to help out the people who live there. It is not very interesting, even when (or maybe especially when) his ex-wife shows up again. mediocre.
Animals
A woman who works for a popular tv show is overworked and falls asleep and get fired. She finds a new job at a make-up company called Animal Beauty. mediocre.
Hold My Hand At Twilight
A girl goes to meet her boyfriend in Tokyo, but he immediately dumps her. She meets a struggling composer who helps her, and finds a new interest in high fashion. They both strive to do well and help each other succeed. low key but a very good show.
Is Love Sustainable
When her mother dies, a grown daughter moves in with her dad to help him. They both try to meet people and think about finding someone to marry. Mostly interesting, has a somewhat strange ending.
The Reason Why He Can't Marry
This is about a man who can't adjust to real life and always carries a doll around with him in a satchel. A woman kind of likes him and tries to help. I kept thinking it would improve but it really didn't.
A Warmed Up Love
A woman works part time at a convenience store and reviews sweets on her blog. She is hired by the company owner to develop more sweets for the entire store chain. It's kind of interesting seeing what she comes up with. Kind of cute show.
