Welcome to Kdrama and Ramen!

“Castaway Diva” is a sweet rom-com about love, loyalty, and never giving up on your dreams. While I enjoyed the message, the cute love story, and the wonderful OST, I did feel like this drama tried to pack too many side stories into the short 12 episode format.  At times, the story of greedy agents and fickle fans overshadowed the hopeful message of second chances and wishes coming true.  And some of the early abuse scenes may be triggering, especially if you aren’t expecting them.  But I loved the family interactions and Park Eun Bin did a great job both with the acting and singing. I give “Castaway Diva” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“Castaway Diva” is a sweet rom-com about love, loyalty, and never giving up on your dreams. While I enjoyed the message, the cute love story, and the wonderful OST, I did feel like this drama tried to pack too many side stories into the short 12 episode format.  At times, the story of greedy agents and fickle fans overshadowed the hopeful message of second chances and wishes coming true.  And some of the early abuse scenes may be triggering, especially if you aren’t expecting them.  But I loved the family interactions and Park Eun Bin did a great job both with the acting and singing. I give “Castaway Diva” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“The Worst of Evil” is a gloomy crime drama about betrayal and responsibility.  Once again, I need to emphasize that this show is rated Mature for a reason.  It is unapologetically violent, gory and at times stiflingly depressing.  .  To be honest, I’m not sure crime noir is my thing. All of that dark violence and action doesn’t leave much room for the story depth and character development I am partial to.  That being said, if you can get over the darker themes and violence, I have to hand it to this series.  The acting was raw and riveting and the cinematography was eerily realistic.  Ji Chang Wook’s performance as a police officer slowly slipping into the evil he is supposed to be fighting was well worth the watch.  I give “The Worst of Evil” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“Perfect Marriage Revenge” is a time travel romantic drama.  This series was a pleasant surprise, and I really enjoyed it.  The 12 episode format keeps the plot moving and the story is well told.  The revenge side of things definitely gives this a bit of the intense melodrama you would expect in a series about betrayal and family secrets.  But the retribution is so gratifying.  I loved the chemistry between the leads. And amazingly this drama manages to bring all the questions and pieces together for a satisfying ending. I give “Perfect Marriage Revenge” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“My Dearest” is a heartbreaking historical drama that highlights the suffering of a country living under foreign rule.  This is a heavier, more intense drama than some of the more light-hearted rom-com style, but the emotions are raw and realistic.  Some of the scenes of abuse and bullying may be difficult to watch, but it is not overly graphic.  Namgoong Min brings his usual, unflappable charm to this well-developed character.  Though I felt that the first half of this drama was tighter and better told, while the second half had some problems with pacing and consistency, the ending makes the journey worthwhile  I give “My Dearest” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun” is a beautiful fantasy drama that creates another world.   It strikes a nice balance between romantic fantasy and historical intrigue.   I do recommend that you watch the first season first, because there is a lot of mythology to catch up with.  While I thought the cast did a great job and I love both Lee Joon Gi and Shin Sae Kyoeng, I did miss the original leads. With the leads and other cast changes, some of the characters felt like totally new characters. But The continuation of the story itself was seamless and engaging.   I give “Arthdal Chronicles: The Sword of Aramun” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“Twinkling Watermelon” is a time travel drama about music, first love, and friendship.  This gem of a drama is full of sweet, warm relationships balanced by a fair amount of teenage angst.  The interesting time travel story and the inclusion of deaf characters who use sign language to communicate give this series a unique feel.  The cast did a wonderful job of creating beautifully relatable characters and their chemistry made all their relationship memorable and heartwarming. I give “Twinkling Watermelon” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“Daily Dose of Sunshine” is a medical drama that focuses on mental health and the struggles and challenges of the health care professionals that treat them.  There is a bit of romance to this story, but don’t let the cheerful title or the cute first couple episodes fool you.  This is not a rom-com.  It deals with some increasingly dark themes, as it digs into the stigmas faced by those who suffer from mental health issues and the complicated, and often endless, journey they face on the road to recovery. I give “Daily Dose of Sunshine” a 9 out of 10 ramen.

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“Destined With You” is a fantasy rom-com with elements of horror, thriller, and historical drama thrown in.  While there are moments of suspense and mystery, at its heart, the plot is mostly fluffy office romance.  Of course, that is not necessarily a bad thing, if that is what you are looking for.  But just know that some of the edgier scenes in the first couple of episode are soon replaced with a sweeter love story.  For me, this is another example of a drama that just tried to do too much.  New plots and problems get added each episode, often before the previous story has had any conclusion.  On the plus side, the leads have amazing chemistry, Rowoon looks breathtaking, and the surprise elements will keep you guessing right up until the end.  I give “Destined With You” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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“King Maker: The Change of Destiny” is a historical drama that does include a love story, although not much actual romance.  But the main focus of this drama is on the political intrigue and an interesting twist on the historical events that led to the end of a royal line and the gradual decline of the Joseon Dynasty.  The lack of popularity of this drama has little to do with the story itself, and more to do with a scandal involving its lead, so I have no comment on that aspect.  Though the drama comes on strong, with a lot of detail in the first couple episodes, I did find it slow in parts later on.  But I enjoyed the complexity of the plot and the consistent threads of the main storyline through the whole series.  The supernatural and scientific representations of fortune telling were interesting and well-thought out.   I give “King Maker: The Change of Destiny” an 8 out of 10 ramen.

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