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“Extraordinary Attorney Woo” is a highly praised legal drama with a fair amount of romance thrown in.  After finally completing this series, I have to say I agree with all the positive buzz.  This has a life drama feel. It’s more about the joys and struggles of living with Autism Spectrum Disorder daily than about a large-scale plot with heroes, villains, and a grand conclusion.  The heroes are imperfect at best, and the villains are more misguided and irritating than despicable, but they all feel human. The strength of this series lies in an outstanding cast, interesting legal battles, and a heartwarming and enlightening glimpse into the heart and mind of someone with ASD. I give “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” a 10 out of 10 ramen.

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“D.P.” is a dark, intense action drama about military deserters and the search to return them to their stations.  This series focuses on the abuse and bullying, both physical and emotional, that are widespread in the Korean Armed Forces.  It is raw and honest, and the violence is often hard to watch, but it is not gratuitous.  Though there are moments of well-timed comic relief, there is no romance or fluff to be found.  At only 6 episodes, it is fast-paced and to the point. The stories are compelling and the acting is well-done.  The drama has won several awards and its popularity earned it a second season, which has already been filmed and should air early in 2023.      I give “D.P.” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“Under the Queen’s Umbrella” is a historical drama that offers it’s fair share of political intrigue, romance, and revenge tales.  It is a drama more concerned with character development than historical accuracy.  But that does not take away from it’s appropriate portrayal of daily life and palace dynamics during the Joseon period. At it’s root, this is a story about a strong, passionate Queen and her love for her children. Unlike many other historical dramas, romance takes a back seat to family relationship here.  But there is love to be found in the background!  This series started with big goals to include so many characters and storylines into a standard 16 episode format.  But in my opinion, they succeeded in creating a story that is well-developed and heartwarming. I give “Under the Queen’s Umbrella” a 10 out of 10 ramen.

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As a rom-com, “Love in Contract” checks all the boxes.  A love triangle, marriage contract, and birth secret all have the potential to be romantic comedy gold.  But this one veered a little too far into the land of melodrama to be the playful romp I had expected.  I wouldn’t go so far as to say I didn’t like this drama, but I didn’t love it.  The chemistry and pacing just felt a bit off.  If you are a die-hard rom-com fan, there is enough here for you to enjoy, as long as you don’t raise your expectations too high.  But if romance is not your genre, I doubt there is anything here that will change your mind. I give “Love in Contract” a 7 out of 10 ramen.

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“Through the Darkness” is a criminal drama that seems more documentary than drama at times.  Based on the true story of Korea’s first criminal profiler, it is more concerned with retracing the crimes and processes used for investigation than creating a story.  The episodes are powerfully realistic and dark.  So if true crime is something you like, this is perfect for you.  But if you are looking for relational stories and intricate plots, you probably aren’t going to enjoy this one.  This cast is amazing and I found the recounting of such a chilling period in history to be fascinating. While I wouldn’t want to watch something so heavy and intense all the time, I enjoyed how different it was from any other kdrama I have watched.  I give “Through the Darkness” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“The Law Cafe” is a unique mix of light-hearted romance and a legal drama that highlights some intense and emotional cases.  While some of the legal subject matters seem a bit heavy for such a casual looking drama, I appreciated that it gave the show a bit more depth than the average rom-com. The law cases all have that triumph of the underdog feeling that is satisfying.  It is also unique that all of the cases in this drama are solved without ever having to go to court, which means no long, drawn-out courtroom scenes. So if law and romance are your thing, this one is a great watch!  I give “The Law Cafe” a 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“Little Women” is a mystery thriller full of suspense and unpredictable twists.  In keeping with Netflix’ style, this series is amazingly produced and packed with a star-studded cast.  But it fell short for me in its writing.  Dragging storylines, strange plot holes, and flat, uninspired characters gave this one a bumpy, inconsistent feel.   If you love a good mystery revenge tale and are willing to overlook some slow moments and shallow characters, this story is a wild rollercoaster of a ride that looks great and will keep you guessing until the end!  I give “Little Women” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“If You Wish Upon Me” is a life drama full of emotional and touching stories.  This is another slow-paced drama that paints a beautiful picture of life and death.  Obviously any series that takes place in a hospice center will have some heart-wrenching goodbyes. But at its heart, this isn’t so much a drama about death, but more about living with hope and dignity.   This is not a fun, action-packed kind of show, but it is wonderfully told and does include some romance in its themes.  I give “If You Wish Upon Me” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“Once Upon a Small Town” is the perfect fun and lightweight binge rom-com.  It has 12 short 40 minute episodes and the stories are touching but uncomplicated. There is nothing new in the trope-ridden tales of small town life, but it is charming and well-told.  The characters are upbeat and easy to identify with, and their chemistry is simple and straightforward.   I give “Once Upon a Small Town” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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