Robin's Random Rambles

Over the last year,  I've often seen clickbait listicles with headlines like " I've watched a hundred K-Dramas and these are the ten I recommend " They make me smile because I'd watched a hundred K-Dramas by 2014. So in honour of these  clickbait listicles, and to celebrate having just completed 350 K-Dramas, here's MY top 10% — for  K-drama cognoscenti, the  post title will make sense. These are all K-Dramas that really left an impression on me. I'm presenting them in the order in which I watched them (the year I watched in brackets) to show how my tastes and preferences have shifted over the last 13 or so years, with links to their mydramalist page and brief comments about each.   COFFEE PRINCE   (2013) — I don't care if you're an alien, if you haven't watched this yet, do! A foundational K-Drama romcom, so much a part of the fabric of K-Drama that watching it does seem obligatory. Also, it's GREAT.   QUEEN IN-HYUN'S MAN (2013)  — S...

  I've written before about my preference for Japanese dramas. Overall they click with me more than Korean or Chinese dramas do. Thanks to the recommendation of the awesome Alisa@DaebakPodcast  a bluesky mutual and serious East Asian Drama expert,  I have had that reality confirmed twice more.   LONG VACATION                                    The 1996 J-Drama Long Vacation has two strikes against it for many people: First it's from 1996, and second it's from Japan. I hope that people can overcome those barriers and give this drama a try. The strength of this drama is in the believability of its characters. Romantic couplings, decouplings, potential re-couplings all play a prominent part in the story and yet it did not feel like romance was central. Character growth and music were central to the story. As shown above, the drama opens with the female lead running in...