322. Devilish Joy 마성의 기쁨 (2018) Korean

Choi Jin Hyuk, Song Ha Yoon, Hoya, Lee Joo Yeon

Drama Rating: 6/10     Neck Score: A+

I was literally in the middle of an episode of this when the horrific tragedy of Drama Fever's demise happened. It wasn't one of the shows that I missed the most, but I definitely wanted to finish it before I stopped caring about the characters for the sad mopey episodes. But sadly, that's what happened. I only had like 6ish episodes left, but even when it became available on Viki, it still took me forever to finish them. I was down to 2.5 episodes when I just forced myself to make it a priority and finish it. So, it was hard to give it an honest rating, really. I feel like a 6 is probably what it deserves, but based on how much I struggled here at the end, my initial reaction would have been a 4. But really, 6 is probably more accurate... right?

I mean, I knew what I was getting into right away. Stories where the heroes get a terminal illness in the first 2 episodes aren't going to end happy. If they do, then they're not going to end realistically. Some times they just Uncontrollably Fond you in the gut and you have to be okay with that sort of ending. This was completely set up for another Uncontrollably Fond. Why did I do it to myself? Same reason. Choi Jin Hyuk is hot and Song Ha Yoon is adorable. Also, Hoya stole the show. He plays the perfect spoiled chaebol puppy. You love him, but he's also an idiot who can't live without his mom's money.

This isn't really a spoiler when most of you aren't interested or have finished this long ago, right? Right...

248. Radiant Office 자체발광 오피스 (2017) Korean

Go Ah Sung, Ha Seok Jin, Kim Dong Wook, Lee Dong Hwi, Hoya

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

I don't normally love office dramas this much, because they are usually about chaebols and office politics.  This one has more of a Misaeng vibe to it, however, which means its about the peons instead.  The office workers.  The interns.  Only they were contract workers instead.  Three of them.  They met in the emergency room when they had all tried to kill themselves, each for their own version of "life is so hard it sucks."  Then they all ran from the hospital, since none of them could pay their fees, and since that moment, they are buddies for life.  To the point where they laugh and cry for each other.  They are some of the most adorable friends ever.  I loved how raw and messy all of the relationships.  Even the people you hated were relatable at times.  Ha Seok Jin was great.  He was so awkward.  It was great to see her perception of him change, but also him just change as he realizes that he can change.  It was a super cute romance too.  Very organic and slow building.  It was a cute, normal person romance.  All the romances were.  All the relationships were.  All the people were.  Messy, but lovable.  I loved Bender (Oh Dae Hwan).  He was so annoying, and it was hilarious.  We loved to hate him, but couldn't really hate him, because we loved him.  The embodiment of every annoying, brown-nosing, power trippy sunbae office worker.  He was my favorite, as he usually is, but really I just loved everyone.  Except that Dr. Seo.  He was the worst, and I didn't want him to be redeemed or anything at the end.  Nope.  He was annoying.

51. Reply 1997 응답하라 1997 (2012) Korean

Jung Eun Ji, Seo In Guk,  Shin So Yul, Eun Ji Won, Hoya, Lee Si Un

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

I don't know why I had to be a butthead and resist watching this one for so long.  I absolutely loved it.  I knew I would.  But lizabreff kept pushing me to watch it, so of course I dug my heels.  We all do that.  The great thing about this show is that it's nostalgic, quick paced and builds off of it's own mosaic narrative.  It flashes back from the present as they are all 30 year olds to the past in 1997 when they were all high schoolers in Busan.  There is the mystery.  Who is going to announce their engagement?  Who is already married?  Who likes who, who ended up with who and what.  It is all about the kpop craze from H.O.T to the Sechs Kies (which Eun Ji Won belonged to- classic meta joke) to DBSK.  As we watch them grow up and the story unfolds.  One of the best "coming of age" type dramas every.  But you'll probably only appreciate it, or appreciate it more, if you grew up in the 90s.  I am definitely a 90s girl, even though I was probably only in middle school in 97... but that would require math for me to actually figure out that... yeah.  Remember pagers?  Remember mixed tapes and waiting in line for forever to buy tickets?  If so, this show with hit home and you'll love it.  Also, I've mentioned this before, but Seo In Guk = yes.  Very yes.  This was the show that really made me love him 100%, even when he was my favorite character in Love Rain.  But I was hating "Hyung" (Song Jong Ho) too much because of simultaneously watching it with The Princess's Man.  Oops.  What was I supposed to do?  This was the happy show that kept me happy while watching the intensely bloody and dramatic sageuk.