292. Money Flower 돈꽃 (2017) Korean

Jang Hyuk, Park Se Young, Jang Seung Jo, Lee Mi Sook, Lee Soon Jae

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A+

I don't know if I've ever seen a more perfect revenge drama, or a more perfect makjang drama. This was thoroughly enjoyable all around. But then when you have someone like Jang Hyuk to pull off the subtle expression acting as he portrayed the icon of restraint and cold calculation, Kang Pil Joo, even the most ridiculous of makjang becomes wonderful. It really brings new life to that revenge being served cold business. He was the freaking puppet master king! No one suspected him, no one could stop him, he was just smarter and better than everyone, and it was so fun to watch. So many secret plots, so much manipulation, and so many secret DNA tests! Haha!

143. Unkind Women 착하지 않은 여자들 (2015) Korean

Kim Hye Ja, Chae Shi Ra, Do Ji Won, Lee Ha Na, Lee Soon Jae, Song Jae Rim, Kim Ji Suk

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A

What I liked about this show was that it was about the women, and they were real women who were not afraid to get out there and be mean, and hurt each other, and then make themselves better because they realized that blaming other people just makes things worse and you don't progress, etc.  There were some infuriating parts, and some unrealistic parts, but on the whole I really liked how there was character progression, for pretty much everyone.  I was surprised that one of my least favorite parts was Song Jae Rim's character.  I liked him at first, because he's sexy, but then I realized that his character was a bit annoying and immature and I really hated how they drew out that tension with his romance.  But it's probably more because as sexy as Song Jae Rim is, I am absolutely in love with Kim Ji Suk.  Someday he will get the girl.  Goodness knows his character deserves it 9 times out of 10.  But I really loved how it was about a bunch of women who sunk pretty low on the crappy life scale, for lots of different reasons, and then they all pulled themselves up through their own efforts, and not because some man saved them.  The men were all very secondary in this, and that was perfect.  They were also all pretty sweet (even when they were immature and annoying).  It was a show about women, and it was the women who did everything.  I loved that.  I do have to say though, that the older sister's romance was adorable, and ahjussi was the sweetest man ever and I want a man just like him.  But he didn't solve her problems for her.  He let her be strong, and they worked as a team.  It was great.  And the friendship between the grandma and her "rival" was the cutest thing ever.  It's a great drama, especially if you have a mean sense of humor (which I do) and you think that snarky smack talk is funny (which I do) and you like a lot of character development, which is the best.  Nothing is worse than a static character... especially when it's a lead (and it's typically the female lead- boo sexist writing!) so yay for good character arcs!

102. Grandpas Over Flowers Investigation Team 꽃할배 수사대 (2014) Korean

Lee Soon Jae, Byun Hee Bong, Jang Gwang, Kim Heechul

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A-/C-

This show is so funny.  Especially at the beginning when things are more lighthearted, I was constantly laughing really hard.  But its the sort of funny where you have to have watched a decent amount of Korean dramas and/or know Korean culture and pop culture well, because this is just full of cultural puns.  It's about four young and dashing police detectives who are put on a special investigation team to find these missing people.  One of the found dudes is at least 30 years older than he's supposed to be.  Then, as they dig deeper and find more, they end up jumping into a vat of suspicious liquid to save some more now elderly missing peeps three of the four pop out suddenly 70+ years old.  The once hot Choi Jin Hyuk is now played by Lee Soon Jae, The pretty dimples boy Park Min Woo is now Byun Hee Bong, and muscle boy Park Doo Sik is Jang Gwang.  Only Heechul is the same age (duh duh duh mystery!)  So the now grandpa investigators have to find the scientific criminal group Goldfish to get the antidote to make themselves young again and stop them from playing with people's lives.  It's hilarious because you have the suddenly old people humor, with all that a young person in an old body could do and all the glorious fart humor that comes with old people humor.  You also have polite speech humor, as the younger team members are suddenly grandpas while the older team member is still young looking.  Then you've got word puns that Heechul's character is constantly using.  Also there is the mystery of the ones behind the crime.  It's also in more of a serial format, with smaller cases being solved every episode as well as they get closer and closer to the Goldfish climax.  It was a very enjoyable show, even when things got more intense and serious.  There was never a part I didn't like.  If a trope was used, it was more of a parody and used appropriately.  Great little funny crime show.  Great ending too.

47. High Kick Through the Roof^ 지붕뚫고 하이킥 (2009-2010) Korean

Lee Soon Jae, Kim Ja Ok, Choi Daniel, Yoon Si Yoon

Drama Rating: 7/10      Neck Score: A

This is a sit-com so there are like 126 episodes, but they are only like 20ish min.  That is why I haven't finished it yet.  Also, it is so so so so so funny.  Also I am now in love with Choi Daniel and Yoon Si Yoon even more.  However, this show has a really bad ending.  As in the last two episodes suck.  I had to get spoilers for this because I heard things and needed to know how bad it was before I went too far.  It's bad, so look it up before you start and then maybe just don't watch the last two episodes.  But it's a hilarious sit-com about a crazy family with a farting grandpa, a mom who high kicks, a dad who is hen pecked by the grandpa and mom because he's kind of silly, a younger brother who is a socially oblivious doctor, a son who has a crush on the young house keeper, the daughter who is spoiled and calls everyone farty-butthole (still one of the best insults of all time).  There is also the 20-something year old house keeper and her younger sister who were raised in the mountains and are clueless as to modern society and how things work.  There is also the vice-principle of the school the mom works out who is dating the grandpa, as well as the bunch of youngsters who live at her house which includes the son's tutor (who lied about what school she goes to in order to get the job and has a love/hate relationship with the younger brother) and Lee Kwang Soo and Yoo In Na (who are trying to become idols) and Julian Kang (who is a Canadian who is living in Korean to work and learn and is sometimes more Korean then the rest of them.)  I think I only watched up to episode 84 or something, and everything is great.  I hope it doesn't get too stupid before the last two episodes, which I just won't watch.  Also Choi Daniel and Yoon Si Yoon are the same age (born 1986) but Choi Daniel is the uncle and Yoonie is the nephew, obviously supposed to be at least 10 years apart... and it works.  The power of the baby face!