Korean Drama Update for January 2022

Dali and Cocky Prince Korean Drama - Kim Min Jae and Park Gyu Young

I only got in one drama for January, but I started off the year right with a very fun rom-com mystery in the form of Dali and Cocky Prince:

Dali and Cocky Prince

Dali and Cocky Prince is a fun drama that was a nice change of pace. It felt like a drama that would have came out 5 years ago in terms of style and tone which is something I really liked. Though it actually turns many traditional cliches upside down with a fresh spin.

I also like this genre a lot as it is sort of a rom-com mystery. For the most part, it is a lighter drama with humor, romance, and heart. But there is a more serious side involving a mystery as well as many of the struggles that Da Li and Moo Hak face. We get nice character explorations as well as a very lovely opposites romance.

Dali and Cocky Prince has solid pacing and is complimented with a nice soundtrack and great costumes. All in all, it’s a very good drama. (Dali and Cocky Prince Review)

So how was January for you?

Happy drama watching to everyone!

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8 responses to “Korean Drama Update for January 2022”

Timescout

January 31, 2022

I finished Sword Snow Stride, so I guess that counts as one. 🙂

Then last week I breezed through a jdrama – Kikazaru Koi niwa Riyuu ga Atte, which I loved. Such a happy surprise. It was a prfect way to unwind after stressfull workday and I finished every epi with a smile on my face. There might even be a post at some point, if I can find the time to write one.

Kay
January 31, 2022
Oooh, that is good! And yay for a happy surprise with Kikazaru Koi niha Riyuu ga Atte. That’s always the best 🙂 I’ll look forward to it if you do write a post 🙂
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1. Timescout
  February 1, 2022
  It’s always great when I find a drama that resonates with me, as it happens so seldom these days. Romance isn’t generally a genre I go for but Kikazaru Koi was a slice of life romance done just the way I like them. 🙂
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  1. Kay
    February 1, 2022
    I definitely know the feeling. While I enjoy most of my dramas, they are usually just in the good range. It’s rare for a drama to come in and really click or sweep me away. Those 9 or 10 rated dramas. It’s always such a nice surprise when they do, especially because it’s usually not a drama I would expect 🙂
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Snow Flower

February 1, 2022

I finished 5 dramas in January 2022 ( a record for me!)

The Red Sleeve – had some moments of true greatness, but there were some plot developments that made me scratch my head. Lee Jun Ho and Lee Se Young are excellent. Outstanding supporting role of Lee Deok Hwa.

Just Between Lovers – I was pining for more Jun Ho after finishing The Red Sleeve, so I had to watch this drama! It is a very emotional drama that deals with with grief and healing, but the journey is totally worth it.

My Mister – my second watch of this drama and it is still a masterpiece.

Some Day Or One Day – another masterpiece. I am kind of curious about the Korean remake, but also kind of worried that a remake is not going to reach the heights of the original.

Our Beloved Summer – such a pleasant surprise! Not much is happening, but I was never bored. Slice of life/romance drama with very relatable characters and situations.

Kay
February 1, 2022
Yay for a new record! 🙂 I noticed a lot of people were pining for more Junho after The Red Sleeve. I enjoyed Just Between Lovers and still plan to check out The Red Sleeve. It’s great that you’re second watch of My Mister was still good.
And a big yes to the masterpiece that is Someday or One Day! Drama perfection right there, hehe. I will definitely check out the Korean remake because I love the story so much. I will stay open, but I’ve accepted there’s no way it will be what the original was. Hopefully, it finds its own way to be great, but I’ll have to try not to do a hard comparison (which will be challenging!)
I’ve heard so many good things about Our Beloved Summer. I’m not big on the slice of life genre, but the romance looks interesting, and I really like Choi Woo Sik, so I will probably check it out 🙂
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MyKDramaticLife

February 6, 2022

“My KDramatic January 2022”
(Dream, Believe, Survive! 😁)

It is all about school, work, dream, and survival in this January 2022 version of My K-Dramatic Life.

1. Work Later, Drink Now
Never thought would love this series very much! I just wanted some chill and fun series to watch after overload heaviness of melos and thrills last month. Initially watched because I saw Choi Siwon in the cast, but ended up loving all the main characters. Lee Sun Bin, Jung Eun Ji and Han Sun Hwa are an absolutely amazing trio! Kang Ji Goo (Jung Eun Ji) is an Origami Youtuber who looks boyish and tough, but has actually a warm heart. Han Sun Hwa as Han Ji Yeon is a yoga instructor who is pretty and charismatic and open-minded, despite her overflowing charisma, doesn’t have a serious romantic relationship. Ahn So Hee (Lee Sun Bin) is the most normal of the three (or maybe not 🤭😂), is a broadcast writer who ends up getting entangled romantically with his boss producer (Choi Siwon) whom she loves and hates at the same time. She is Kang Ji Goo’s tempter controller whenever Ji Goo throws her temper, and Ji Yeon’s volume controller whenever Ji Yeon can’t control her excitement.
While the series’s main course is about drinking, and while I am not fond of drinking as I am a non-drinker individual, the way the show portrayed the importance of having to drink with your special friends is exceptional. It almost made me want to try getting drunk the whole day and night with some good old friends. 😊 What I also really love with the series is that it has a heart on top of all those fun and hilarity. Almost made me think I am watching another season of Eulachacha Waikiki. Our main trio and their journey as individual and as friends and as drink buddies are more than enough reasons to check this one out! If you are a fan of Waikiki vibes shows, and you have similar comedy style with mine, I think this one’s for you. 😊
The finalé is kind of weird, but I still like it. And guess what? There’s a second season coming, and I am all ready for it! 😍

Overall Rating: 9/10

2. Dream High season 2
Still as hopeful and fun as the first season, Dream High season 2 is packed with drama, youthfulness, music and dreams. While I missed the casts from the first season, the second one is full of good actors and artists as well. Although it took a few episodes to warm up to it, but when it did, it never stopped on getting better. I am not a fan of Kang So Ra, our main female lead, and not even to Shin Hae Sung (Kang So Ra’s character), in fact I feel like I am disliking her more and more each episode. Because she’s so full of hopes of becoming an entertainer eventhough she has zero talent in her. That alone is making me got annoyed with her. But that’s just how the show appeals more. It’s discovering your talent within yourself! I also liked the rest of the Dream High 2 team. But none of them really outshines for me. Well, I really personally think Nana’s (Hyolyn) love triangle storyline with Lee Si Woo (Park Seo Joon) and Park Hong Joo (Kim Jisoo) is fun to watch and just plain entertaining.
And while I initially shipped and rooted for Shin Hae Sung and Jin Yoo Jin (Jinwoon), I later on felt weird with how the author handled the OTP (one true pairing). What I liked the most with Dream High 2 is how it’s more focused on the entertainment side. Having the idol audition and stuffs was very fun to watch. It’s as if I am watching a K-pop show and a drama in one setting. There were also some I-didn’t-see-it-coming plot twists, that you just have to go with its flow to enjoy them.
Overall, although Dream High 2 is really fun, especially on its second and third quarter, it wasn’t the best. There are many good characters, but I didn’t know who to root for. Our main four characters felt just okay to me – nothing extra special. I didn’t dislike the introduction part but it wasn’t very memorable either. However, if you’re a sucker for singing and entertainment, Dream High 2 is indeed a fun drama overall! 😊

Overall Rating: 7.5/10

3. All Of Us are Dead
An addition to your Netflix’s thrill collections (Hellbound, Sweet Home, Squid Game), All Of Us are Dead requires your one seating ability to binge watch this zombie apocalypse. While the genre is nothing new to the Dramaland, Korea and Holliwood-wise, we expect unforgettable tearjerking moments amidst the thrills and survival. Once again, South Korean drama industry nailed it!
So what’s new with this series? Just like any other zombie series, it’s full of suspense and actions, full of dramas that can touch its viewers’ hearts. There are variations of different characters coming together as a group. There is politics in the middle of the virus. There are soldiers and rescuers everywhere. But what impresses me with All Of Us Are Dead is its characters – the raw emotions of those high school students trying and hoping to win against the zombies, and even their loved ones who turned to monsters.
Eventhough our main casts are young actors, they delivered such convincing and purehearted emotions. There are a lot of tearkingjerking scenes to note.
I will stop this review here so that I can write no spoilery about the series. And expect a second season! And I am so excited already! 😍

Overall Rating: 8.5/10

4. The Silent Sea (dropped)
I don’t know if it’s because I’m not fond of science fiction, but I just can’t get through episode 2. 😂 While the plot is interesting enough, the float of our astronaut leads just seemed very weird to me. I really want to know though what happened to Earth that has scarce of water. The hot Gong Yoo and the brainy Bae Doo Na weren’t enough to get through to it. So if you have watched it, please let me know what happened to their Earth.

Favorite of the Month: Work Later Drink Now

So that was January 2022 for me.
How about you? Tell me about your K-Dramatic monthly experience. 😊

#DreamBelieveSurvive!
#MyKDramaticLife<3

Kay
February 6, 2022
Oooh, what nice variety you got in for the month! 🙂 You got the thrills with All of Us Are Dead, some youthful music and dreams with Dream High 2, and some hilarity with Work Later, Drink Now.
And I must say, you have officially piqued my interest for Work Later, Drink Now! I like Choi Siwon a lot, but I had kind of dismissed the series as the promotional materials didn’t look that appealing. But you know I love Waikiki! So any comparison to that type of comedy style perks me right up. I will have to look into this and see if I may want to check it out 🙂
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