Dramas 2020

365: Repeat the Year ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 12 | Channel: MBC

Cast: Lee Joon Hyuk, Nam Ji Kyun & Kim Ji Soo
Plot: ​Ji Hyung Joo is a police officer. Because of one criminal, he loses his partner. Shin Ga Hyun is a very famous manhwa writer but becomes paralyzed after a hit-and-run. One day, Lee Shin calls them and offers them and a little group of people to go back one year in the past and to set things right. Hyung Joo and Ga Hyun accept. One year before, they are able to change their destiny but discover that other members of the group start dying mysteriously. 

Review: I was pleasantly surprised to discover this drama, as it is not usually the kind I would naturally watch. Still, I decided to give it a chance and I have to say I made a very good decision! This drama is full of suspense, unexpected twists and a sort of tension that made me feel as if I belonged to the group. All characters have their own secrets and I found myself eager to know why they had actually decided to go back in time. Most mysteries were actually surrounding Lee Shin, as she is the one offering this time jump. Yet, we know nothing about her and her motivations. Each episode was giving me more information on the subject which constantly brought new questions. The hunt after the serial killer is also very intriguing, we doubt everyone at every second of the drama. 365: Repeat The Year is nerve-wrecking and stressful, but I liked being a part of the investigation. If you like mystery dramas, I suggest you watch it!

A Love So Beautiful ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020-2021 | Episode: 24 | Channel: KakaoTV

Cast: Seo Ju Yeon & Kim Yo Han
Plot: Set in 2006, Shin Sol I is a 17-year-old high school student. She’s had a crush on her childhood friend and classmate Cha Heon for a very long time, but never confessed her feelings. She decides it is time to tell him what she feels, but Cha Heon doesn’t seem interested. 

Review: I’m a bit disappointed with this drama to be honest. I had watched the original (Chinese) version before and adored how cheesy and cute it was. Unfortunately, the Korean version fell short to my expectations. It was nice, romantic, and definitely sweet, but there was something lacking. Though I can’t quite put my finger on it. Maybe it’s because I already knew the story. Don’t know. Still, I would rather recommend you watch the Chinese one.

Alice in Borderland 1&2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Japan | Year: 2020/2022 | Episode: 8 (season 1) + 8 (season 2) | Channel: Netflix

Cast: Kento Yamazaki, Tao Tsuchiya, Aya Asahina, Nijiro Murakami & Ayaka Miyoshi
Plot: Ryohei Arisu is an unemployed man, who leads a meaningless life. One day, a light appears in the sky and he and his two best friends are transported into an empty Tokyo. There, they are forced to take part in a survival game. In the arena, he meets Yuzuha Usagi.

Review: Alice in Borderland is at a crossroads between Battle Royale and The Liar Game, two Japanese shows I loved. So, no wonder I was drawn to this survival drama. The characters are all badass, especially the numerous female leads. Arisu is clever and empathetic. Hopefully, he doesn’t let the game get the best of him. The games in themselves are amazingly well designed, as they all follow rules (though you don’t know them from the get-go). I also really appreciated the mystery as to why the players are stuck in this dangerous Tokyo. The ending of season 2 was satisfying, and made a lot of sense for me. Finally, I thought the parallel with Alice in Wonderland very ingenious, and extremely well introduced in the universe of the drama. I can only highly recommend you watch this drama! You won’t be disappointed. Deep down, I also wish there will be a third season, but not sure it’ll happen.

Good Casting ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: SBS

Cast: Choi Kang Hee, Yu In Young, Kim Ji Young & Lee Sang Yeob
Plot: Baek Chan Mi is an agent for the NIS. She is after a world-class criminal called Michael whose identity remains unknown. During one mission, Baek Chan Mi and her team manage to almost catch Michael, but he escapes and kills her partner. Years later, Chan Mi is ordered by the NIS to find Michael, discover who is helping him and what he plans to do next. As part of her cover, she has to work as a secretary at her first love’s company. Accompanied by 2 other agents, Im Ye Eun and Hwang Mi Soon, she tries to finally arrest Michael. 

Review: I really liked that drama: it was funny, light-hearted, sometimes a bit serious but laughter was always compensating the few serious/emotional scenes. Our three agents made me think of the Totally Spies (or Charlie’s Angels, choose your reference!), all badass and resourceful. The story is also well-written, because I didn’t manage to find out Michael’s identity before they actually gave it away. My only criticism would be that some episodes were a bit long. Indeed, some scenes were less dynamic than others which made be a bit bored at some point. From my point of view, when I watch an action drama, I want action and not strategy (I mean not entire episodes dedicated to that). But if you like spy dramas and want to have a good laugh, go ahead!

Homemade Love Story ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020-2021 | Episode: 50 | Channel: KBS2

Cast: Jin Ki Joo, Lee Jang Woo, Jeon In Hwa, Bona, Han Bo Reum, Hwang Shin Hye & Jin Kyung
Plot: The drama follows the lives of the residents of Samgwang Villa, among which Lee Bit Chae Woon who dreams of becoming a fashion designer. She gets entangled with architect Woo Jae Hee.

Review: Generally, I tend to select my 50-episode long dramas very carefully to make sure I don’t waste my time. And I’m glad I chose this one. The families are heartwarming, and the relationships between characters convincing and nice, except maybe that of Jang Seo Ah and Hwang Na Ro. Though Seo Ah was annoying from beginning to end, the plot remained good and the drama enjoyable. Of course, there were a lot of unbelievable twists here and there, but it’s a family drama, so this kind of intrigue is expected (and may be part of the reasons we watch them!).

Itaewon Class ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: JTBC, Netflix

Cast: Park Seo Jun, Kim Da Mi & Kwon Na Ra
Plot: ​Park Sae Ro Yi lost everything when he was young, because of an altercation at school with a wealthy bully called Jang Geun Won. He is expelled from school, his father dies (in a car accident because of Geun Won) and he unfortunately has to go to prison. Years later, he finally comes out, driven by a vengeful plan he is determined to set into motion. 

Review: Amazing! This webtoon adaptation is a must-see! For starters, I am a huge fan of Park Seo Joon, so it was inevitable that I’d watch his newest drama! And I was not disappointed one bit. Itaewon Class is the kind of drama that will make you want to fight alongside the characters (especially Park Sae Ro Yi) and will teach you to never give up. I just loved it, everything was perfect. On the one side, it was close to the usual style of dramas (in terms of plot for example or villains) but the more I watched, the more amazed I was by how original it actually is. It is refreshing and breathtaking! Plus, I discovered Kim Da Mi in that drama whom I didn’t know at all and I can’t wait to see her next drama. Considering the overall success and the compliments the drama received, I can only highly recommend that you watch it as soon as possible! 

Kingmaker: The Change of Destiny ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 21 | Channel: TV Chosun

Cast: Park Shi Hoo & Go Sung Hee
Plot: Choi Chun Jung and Lee Bong Ryun fell in love when they were young. They both have special abilities that allow them to know future events. Together, Chun Jung and Bong Ryun try to fight their own fate, while changing the kingdom’s.

Review: Pure genius! I was not expecting so many emotions coming from an historical drama, but damn, Kingmaker really got me from beginning to end. It could’ve clearly been a 50 episode drama and I would have watched it until the last episode. I really had the impression at some moments that the drama was constructed as such; we have 2 main chapters with the Kim family and Heungseon Gun; but I was not bored even once! If you like historical drama, go for it! It was awesome, and I am usually really hard to convince regarding this genre!

Memorist ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: tvN

Cast: Yoo Seung Ho & Lee Se Young
Plot: ​Dong Baek is a young and stubborn police officer. He is gifted with the ability to read one’s memories every time he touches him. His power made him famous and helped him solve various crimes. One day, he encounters Han Sun Mi, a cold and brilliant detective, who is trying to arrest a serial killer, acting under the pseudo ‘The Eraser’. Dong Baek and Han Sun Mi join hands in order to uncover the identity of the murderer, while discovering their own pasts.

Review: Memorist is an excellent drama for those looking for some thriller nights! The drama is well conceived in terms of plot, twists and unexpected turns; as it reveals one more piece of main characters’ scattered past in each episode. There are many flashbacks that will reveal more and more about the intrigue – which requires your attention –  but they are a necessary presence that will make your heart drop at some point. The story can appear at first complicated and complex, since the clues regarding the identity of ‘The Eraser’ are given little by little, but it will keep you focused and make you hold your breath until the actual climax in the last episode. I highly recommend it!

Missing: The Other Side Season 1 & Season 2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020/2022-2023 | Episode: 12 (S1) + 14 (S2) | Channel: OCN/tvN

Cast: Go Soo, Het Jun Ho, Ahn So Hee & Ha Joon
Plot: Kim Wook is smooth talker, who commits fraud to earn money. One day, he arrives at a mysterious village called Duon Village. He then realizes that the people of the village are dead, and that they are waiting for their bodies to be discovered. Wook tries to help them.

Review: Missing: The Other Side is an interesting example of a fantasy drama (Kim Wook sees ghosts) with an accurate and realistic touch. Main characters may be ghosts, but their stories are still moving, sometimes cruel and heart-wrenching. I liked how the drama brought comfort instead of sadness and pain. Despite being a con artist at the beginning, Kim Wook also proves to be very kind and humane. Even if it’s not a drama that passionated me, it was still nice to watch. I personally preferred season 1, as I thought season 2 was exactly the same thing only with different characters.

Penthouse I; II; III ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020/2021 | Episode: 21 (S1) + 13 (S2) + 14 (S3) | Channel: SBS

Cast: Lee Ji Ah, Eugene, Uhm Ki Joon, Kim So Yeon, Yoon Jong Hoon, Shin Eun Kyung, Kim Young Dae, Han Ji Hyun, Kim Hyun Soo & Choi Ye Bin
Plot: The drama follows the lives of the rich residents of Hera Palace, where a murder takes place. All the inhabitants hide secrets, and are somehow involved in the victim’s death.

Review: Amazing ‘makjang drama’! If you’re not familiar with the genre, ‘makjang’ are dramas that have big plot twists, unrealistic turns of events, and that generally focus on revenge. Penthouse is the perfect depiction of this genre. Characters are extremely well portrayed by A-list actors, whether they’d be adults of teenagers. The intrigue is well woven with a great number of twists and turns that will make you gasp for air in many episodes. This drama was a huge hit, and I can totally understand why. However, I believe they should have stopped after season 2. The third season doesn’t bring a lot to the plot, as most of the stories have been concluded in previous seasons. Still, the show remains enjoyable to watch. As for season 1, and even season 2, I highly recommend you take a look at that. But beware, it’s not supposed to be realistic/relatable. So, if you don’t like that kind of suspenseful drama, you may be disappointed with the outcome.

Romance of Tiger and Rose ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: China | Year: 2020 | Episode: 24 | Channel: Tencent

Cast: Zhao Lu Si, Ding Yu Xi, Zhou Zi Xin & Cheng Ying Hao
Plot: Chen Xiao Qian is a screenwriter currently working on a historical show. As she’s about to finish her script, she finds herself confronted with the male actor’s reluctance to play his part. While re-writing her scenario again, she is transported in the world of her drama as Chen Qian Qian, a supporting character who is supposed to die in the first episodes. She then gets entangled with Han Shuo, the hero of the story.

Review: Awesome drama! I really loved both the plot and characters. The female is strong-headed, resourceful and hilarious, always trying to get out of the mess she creates, while the male lead is cute, clever and loyal. I found the chemistry and romance of the main actors really on-point. I spent my time laughing at their constant bickering, and loving their cheesiness. In the background, there was also a good reflection on gender equality, women’s and men’s roles in both family and society, and on how to challenge stereotypes. Without becoming political, the drama uses creative means to start the discussion without making it the center of the plot. My only criticism would be in regards to the second female and male leads, both unable to understand they are not the center of people’s universe and their feelings are not better than others’. Apart from that, I highly recommend you watch it!

Rugal ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: tvN

Cast: Choi Jin Hyuk & Park Sung Woong
Plot: ​Kang Gi Beom is an upright police officer. He fights against a powerful organization called Argos. After an altercation with Argos’ chief Hwang Deok Goo, Kang Gi Beom’s wife is killed and his eyes taken out. However, he manages to survive thanks to the help of a secret police force called Rugal, trying to destroy Argos. Kang Gi Beom joins the team and together try to prevent any more damages caused by Argos, while looking for his wife’s murderer. 

Review: The original idea of the drama was interesting since we had characters who were given special abilities thanks to artificial intelligence. The plus of the drama are: the fighting scenes that are well done and credible and the fact that the friendship uniting Rugal’s members is moving, knowing that all of them have a difficult back story and therefore trust issues. Moreover, Park Sung Woong is a magnificent actor when it comes to embodying an evil man, and you will learn how to hate him as much as the characters of the drama. If you’re are looking for a tense and thrilling drama, I clearly recommend it. My problem was that some parts of the drama were either expected or redundant, so that the story could have ended faster. Yet, it is a very good adaptation of the comic book! My interest for the drama while watching oscillated between a total disinterest (because too slow or too obvious) and a real focus (in action scenes and by the end of the drama mostly). But, if you want to watch a drama that is not too complex or confusing and action-worthy, then you should check it out!

Stove League ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2019/2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: SBS, Netflix

Cast: Namgung Min, Park Eun Bin, Jo Byeong Gyu & Oh Jung Se
Plot: ​Baek Seung Soo is a specialist when it comes to training a loosing sports team and leading it to victory. He is hired to take care of the baseball team called Dreams whose operations manager is Lee Se Young. The team has a lot of problems (in and out) and Baek Seung Soo will try everything in his power to make it become the best team of the season. 

Review: This drama is fantastic! I was so happy to find out that it had won Best Drama at the 56th Baeksang Arts Awards, winning over Crash Landing on You, Itaewon Class and many other hits! I am not a really huge fan of sports in general and baseball is thus very far away in terms of knowledge and interest. Yet, this drama made me discover an entire new universe, a system that I had never heard of and a sports that is played and won on as well as outside the field. Baseball fans or not, I highly recommend you watch it!

Tale of the Nine-Tailed S1 & Tale of the Nine-Tailed 1938 S2 ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020/2023 | Episode: 16 (Season 1) + 12 (Season 2) | Channel: tvN

Cast: Lee Dong Wook, Kim Bum, Jo Bo Ah, Kim So Yeon, Ryu Kyung Soo
Plot: The drama revolves around a gumiho named Lee Yeon who used to be a mountain god, the woman he fell in love with, his brother Lee Rang and the enemies and friends he meets on his journey.

Review: One of the best fantasy dramas that have ever been made. Whether it’d be season 1 or 2, the plot of this drama is always amazing with a good combination of humor and seriousness. The relationship between Lee Yeon and Lee Rang is one of my favorites ever, and side characters always add their own touch to the duo. Season 1 was more about romance, while season 2 emphasized on friendship and camaraderie, but they were equally good. A must-see in my opinion!

The World of the Married ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

Country: Korea | Year: 2020 | Episode: 16 | Channel: JTBC

Cast: Kim Hee Ae, Park Hae Joon & Han So Hee
Plot: ​Ji Sun Woo leads the perfect life. She is an associate director in a town called Gosan, has a great reputation, excellent friends, a good son and a loving husband Lee Tae Oh. However, one day her bliss is shattered when she discovers that her husband is having an affair with a younger woman. This is beginning of the end for Sun Woo, who embarks on a vengeful journey against Lee Tae Oh.

Review: Amazing! I am not going to lie, the remake of the very acclaimed British series Doctor Foster is a masterpiece! It is a JTBC drama, so of course, I was expecting an original plot with very complex characters and a particular atmosphere. Once again, the channel didn’t disappoint, as I got to be myself involved in the conflictual and yet passionate relationship of Sun Woo and Tae Oh. All actors perfectly played their part, with credible emotions, so no wonder this drama broke JTBC’s viewership record, surpassing the notorious Sky Castle. Every week, I found myself eagerly waiting for the next adventures of Gosan’s inhabitants, whose life is following the ups and downs of our main couple’s marriage. The twists were well brought, the suspense and the tension made me stress out so bad! ​Kim Hee Ae portrays with perfection this elegant, majestic and witty woman; Park Hae Joon transmits us faithfully his character’s dilemmas and, omg Han So Hee is THE revelation of the year 2020! She is the perfect mistress, split between one the one side her love for Lee Tae Oh and on the other side, her conscience telling her that she can’t entirely trust him. The OSTs are justly adapted to the confusing emotions and I just can’t find anything to criticize in actors’ performance. The only downside is the length of the episodes: 1 hour 30 approximatively, but the end of episode 1 will hook you up for the rest of the drama! Don’t be scared of the format! If you don’t want to miss one the biggest hits of 2020, I highly advice you to definitely go watch it! Like, right now!