424. It's Okay to Not Be Okay 사이코지만 괜찮아 (2020) Korean

Kim Soo Hyun, Seo Ye Ji, Oh Jung Se

Drama Rating: 8/10     Neck Score: A

It took me a while to get into this one, mostly because it needed a bit to fully set up the situation and characters, and then once it did, it was quite delightful. If you only give it maybe longer than you normally would, it picks up quite nicely. What I liked about it was that found family aspect, and opening yourself up to be okay with not being okay. None of the characters in this show is okay, even the ones who would not typically be accepted into a mental hospital, but that doesn't mean they are okay. Everyone has their struggles and needs to open up about what they are feeling and thinking.

308. Lawless Lawyer 무법 변호사 (2018) Korean

Lee Joon Ki, Seo Ye Ji, Lee Hye Young, Choi Min Soo

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+++

Maybe this doesn't deserve a 7, but the cast does. It's been a while since I've seen such a well casted show. Or maybe I should say, it's been a while since these cast members have been able to shine this well in their roles. I absolutely love Lee Joon Ki, but he has been in a lot of not my favorite dramas, and this was the role he was born to play. He still got to do all that angsty tragic backstory stuff, but he also got to be a goofy goober AND show off his beautiful, beautiful martial arts. Seriously, he's the sexiest thing alive when he fights (fans self). His chemistry with Seo Ye Ji was off the charts too. I love her as well, but she also sometimes stars in not my favorite dramas too (I'm looking at you, Boorim School), so to have her in a good, strong role, rocking the pants suits and as a part of a power couple. I love that.

And then we have the villains. Choi Min Soo. I'm in love with him, basically. But I couldn't bring myself to watch his last drama, because yeah.... not going there. But he shined like gold in this. He's always a delight, and his conflicted gangster was just the best. His role wasn't the best written... or was it? I don't know, I can't tell, he played it so well no matter what. And his dynamic with Lee Hye Young was just awesome. Their power struggles, her detailed controlling, his crazy wildcard, it was just great. She was so classy that even though she was just despicable you had to love her all the same. And hate her, just loving to hate her and love her. She was a worthy villain.

164. Last 라스트 (2015) Korean

Yoon Kye Sang, Lee Beom Soo, Park Won Sang, Seo Ye Ji, Park Ye Jin 

Drama Rating: 9/10     Neck Score: A

Slow clap for this one, because I liked it.  All the characters were so complicated that you couldn't 100% like or hate anyone.  I would want to smack Tae Ho upside the head frequently, because he'd be an idiot.  I would also frequently feel sad or sorry or even want to side with Heung Sam, when he is 100% crazy.  That's the power of Lee Beom Soo.  Wow.  Even though I felt like the last two episodes were a bit rushed, it was a satisfying ending, as the fast pace seemed to work.  It was a good statement of greed, revenge, and obsession that the ending rush seemed to help more than hurt.  I also was impressed with Park Ye Jin.  I've seen her in less likable roles before which made me not care for her, but that is now a testament to her acting chops.  She took a character that could have easily been ruined and made it awesome.  So this drama gripped me from episode one, and kept me gripped to the end.  I laughed, cried (lots of times), felt super conflicted, angry, disgusted, bitter, and happy.  All of it.  It like put me through all the emotions.  And it had super awesome, incredibly violent fight scenes.  Like a ton of them.  Basically, it was about as good as this genre of drama can get.  I liked the dark, greedy, revenge, noir type drama.  Claps from me, I'm sad to see this one end.

143. Super Daddy Yeol 슈퍼대디 열 (2015) Korean

Lee Dong Gun, Lee Yoo Ri, Lee Re, Seo Jun Young, Seo Ye Ji 

Drama Rating: 7/10     Neck Score: A+

I loved this show when it was about Yeol becoming a good dad.  I had a harder time with it when it was about the mom dying of cancer.  Well, it was part of the basic premise, so it's not like I wasn't prepared for it, but I just am so sick of people lying to protect people, and being a noble idiot because they think suffering on their own is better for everyone.  Boo that.  I did have a problem with that, but the truth is, for a drama about cancer, it was really realistic.  Going through all the stages of cancer with the being scared, trying to run away, giving up, etc. was annoyingly accurate, or seemed so.  I haven't actually had to deal with that, but it was more realistic than some others.  Also the ending was more realistic too.  No magical tie everything up nicely with a bow, but still good.  Lee Dong Gun is just great too.  So sexy, so perfect as a retired gone coach athlete.  Sexy with a little belly.  My favorite was the father/daughter relationship build.  That was just cute.

109. Night Watchman's Journal 야경꾼일지 (2014) Korean

Jung Il Woo, Go Sung Hee, Yunho, Seo Ye Ji, Kim Sung Oh

Drama Rating: 4/10     Neck Score: A

What the heck.  That is about all I can say about this show.  What the heck!  What happened?  The first two episodes were so promising and got us hooked, and then it steadily got worse and worse.  Lamer and lamer, dumber and dumber.  It started so epic, but by the end was so lame and boring that we couldn't even bother to make fun of it anymore.  That was sad.  Making fun of it was the only think that got us through it.  My little brother is super funny, especially when imitating the prime minister, so after he went completely crazy it was really boring.  And the last episode was so preachy.  Not as bad as Fall in Love With Me, but it was all idealistic in the punishment of the bad guys, all like "this is what you get for being so obsessed and greedy."  Balony.  Bologna. What a load of crap.  I actually wrote a bunch about the wonderful things we did when we were enjoying making fun of it.  It was so sad when it got so lame that it wasn't even fun to do that any more.  It was just boring, and we suffered through to the end.  So, no one could act... at least most of the leads couldn't, besides Jung Il Woo and Kim Sung Oh.  Yunho and that girl were just awful.  I liked all the bad guys way better than the good guys, so it was lame and boring when they lost.  Sadam (aka David Bowie's) death scene was the lames load of crap ever.  Such a disappointment.  Boo hiss hiss.