2025 is soon coming to a close, so it’s time to reflect on all of those dramas that we watched this past year. It was a decent year for me with quite a few solid dramas and several that I greatly enjoyed. Thank you for being a part of this community and chatting everything kdrama with me! I’m so glad to have you all here!
Time for the list! It includes all of the dramas that I watched which aired and concluded their runs in 2025. We will be counting down my favorite dramas from least to most favorite. Full reviews are available for all of them.
As always, this is completely my opinion on these dramas, and it does not reflect Korean or international ratings or the popularity of any particular drama among fans. Hang around for the grand total of how many new and old dramas I watched at the end of the article 🙂
12. The Murky Stream
The Murky Stream has a more gritty and serious feel to it to then the usual historical drama we see. The drama starts off quite slow as it really sets up a more somber vibe. It takes its time as it introduces us to the main characters. The drama is actually quite character driven with a deep focus on the stories and struggles of the individual characters which grew on me over time.
The slow start was a bit of a slog to get through, but the cinematography was gorgeous, and I was interested in the world the drama was setting up. The slowness definitely had a large presence throughout the show which always affects my enjoyment, but it did built up suspense as it went as I was quite invested by the last couple of episodes as everything came to a head. If you’re looking for something a little different in the historical genre, this may be a good one to look into.
My Rating: 6/10 (The Murky Stream Review)
11. The Haunted Palace
The Haunted Palace was a bit all over the place for me. It’s a drama that did quite a few things that I liked, but it also did quite a few things that I didn’t. One of the main plots fell off fairly quickly, but another one was pretty good. The story of the king was very engaging especially due to Kim Ji Hoon’s incredible performance.
Sadly, I wasn’t particularly invested in several of the other characters or the romance. As a whole, the drama suffered from quite a few pacing issues. At times, it was suspenseful, while at other times, it felt draggy. It does have enough going for it that I would say give it a whirl to see how you fare.
My Rating: 6/10 (The Haunted Palace Review)
10. Study Group
Study Group is an action comedy drama set at a high school. It mixes a lot of fighting with humor and a bit of heart. The drama is based off of a webtoon which is quite evident by the overall style and tone. The fighting is exaggerated and over-the-top at times as are some of the situations. I thought all of the fighting was well done with great choreography.
Study group is a fun drama. Fast pacing, plenty of action, and an engaging story keeps things interesting all the way through. The soundtrack also sets a great atmosphere. Then watching the developing relationships and camaraderie between the students was very heartwarming. Overall, I had a good time with Study Group.
My Rating: 7/10 (Study Group Review)
9. Head Over Heels
Head Over Heels was a cute and fun drama. It had a nice mix of of romance, humor, and supernatural elements. It only took an episode to settle in for me, and then it was a pretty good watch from there.
The pacing was decent as was the story. The romance was very sweet with with an adorable couple at the center. There were also some very nice character journeys of growth. Despite the second half being a bit lackluster, it was still mostly enjoyable.
My Rating: 7/10 (Head Over Heels Review)
8. Love Scout
I would sum up my experience with Love Scout as pleasant. It’s a pretty simple and straightforward drama in its premise and execution. It doesn’t do anything exceptional, but it does everything very well. Its strength lies in keeping everything mostly light and fun with good dialogue as we go through the typical story motions of a romance.
The romance is a bit of a slow burn but very nice when it gets going. It was great watching their relationship blossom as they grew closer. Overall, Love Scout is an easy watch that leans fun with just a dash of angst. The supporting cast is entertaining and rounds out the drama well by adding in a few additional plot points. So, if you’re looking for a pleasant experience, Love Scout is the drama for you.
My Rating: 7/10 (Love Scout Review)
7. Genie, Make a Wish
Genie, Make a Wish was an interesting drama in many ways, but it was also a mixed bag for me. I always love a unique premise, and having a genie at the center of the story is a little more unique for a kdrama. We had great performances from Kim Woo Bin and Suzy, and their characters were engaging. The story and production were solid, but the overall structure of the drama had quite a few issues. The tone was a bit odd, and sometimes the pacing suffered.
At times, it felt like the drama wanted to be very grand, and towards the end, it sometimes felt like that, but frequently, it did feel like it was trying a bit too hard and fell short. But overall, I did enjoy Genie Make a Wish, and it was a fun ride if you don’t take it too seriously.
My Rating: 7/10 (Genie, Make a Wish Review)
6. When the Stars Gossip
When the Stars Gossip is an interesting drama to say the least, and it is quite the ride. The drama is primarily set in space which contributed to it being one of the most expensive kdramas of all time. For the most part, I personally enjoyed the show and thought it had a lot of pros. That being said, it had a lot of cons too.
I love seeing new and risky things being done in kdramas, and I think it delivered in that respect. The space setting was top notch with wonderful special effects. While the story was slow and fantastical at times, I was still interested in it. The suspense elements were good too. The romance was a bit lackluster, and though I didn’t really like the characters that much, I enjoyed watching them navigate so many difficult issues.
When the Stars Gossip is a unique show in the kdrama landscape. It’s definitely disappointing that it could have been better and lived up to its full potential, but I applaud the attempt and what they did accomplish with this drama.
My Rating: 7/10 (When the Stars Gossip Review)
5. Undercover High School
Undercover High School was a fun drama. It’s a mixture of genres with action, humor, mystery, and romance. It really was a little bit of everything, and that always kept things interesting. The pacing was pretty good all the way through with a decent story that had consistent new developments.
A lot of the fun centers around Seo Kang Joon being an agent having to go back to high school and all that entails. We get a lot of comedy from Seo Kang Joon’s NIS team and a nice slow burn romance too. Nothing gets too crazy, but it delivers an entertaining experience and was a good time.
My Rating: 7.5/10 (Undercover High School Review)
4. My Dearest Nemesis
My Dearest Nemesis is such a cute and fun drama! It’s a fairly straightforward office romantic comedy with relationship issues and a family villain that creates tension, but it executes everything so well that it was thoroughly enjoyable. I loved the humor in this series. I’m fairly particular when it comes to comedy, but this show had just the right style of quirky and fun that worked for me.
Twelve episodes was a great length for the drama which allowed for consistent plot developments and a good pace. The characters are also a lot of fun, and the drama has plenty of heart. It’s an easy watch that’s mostly light with just a dash of angst. Overall, I had a lovely time with this one.
My Rating: 8/10 (My Dearest Nemesis Review)
3. When Life Gives You Tangerines
Whew! When Life Gives You Tangerines was quite the emotional ride. I cried during every single episode of this drama which is not a common occurrence for me. I definitely recommend you bring the tissues for this one. We get a beautifully written story with fleshed out characters that are full of depth. It seems like it tackles all of life’s issues from love to family to poverty to sickness to death and so much more. This is a hard hitting drama that you definitely need to be prepared for.
It’s very much a slice of life series that depicts its characters in very real and relatable ways. The drama centers around the story of Ae Sun throughout the span of her life. This is a story that dives deeply into very real experiences and draws out so much raw emotion. The drama is packed with heart as we experience the ups and downs of Ae Sun and Gwan Sik’s lives from their tumultuous beginning to their tender golden years.
Overall, When Life Gives You Tangerines is a beautiful story of love, family, survival, and finding meaning in the everyday things. It’s the kind of drama that leaves an impact and will stay with you long after you complete it.
My Rating: 8/10 (When Life Gives You Tangerines Review)
2. My Troublesome Star
My Troublesome Star was such a delightful drama! It’s a fun romantic comedy with a mystery running throughout to keep things interesting. The show is kind of a throwback to old-school dramas in many ways in terms of vibe, plot, and tropes which is why I thoroughly enjoyed it. I miss this style of drama compared to most modern ones.
The couple goes through a great progression with a lovely story and fun chemistry. The OST is wonderful, and the music is utilized well which enhances the overall drama. The show has a lot of heart and warmth too. If you enjoy dramas of old and can appreciate that style, My Troublesome Star might be a great fit for you.
My Rating: 8/10 (My Troublesome Star Review)
And the #1 drama of 2025 is…
1. When the Phone Rings
When the Phone Rings was a pretty fun ride with a good dose of suspense along with a side of soapy dramatics. The story is quick paced and gets going right off the back. What seems like a fairly straightforward story of a kidnapping soon takes an unexpected turn as a game of cat and mouse takes shape.
The drama had several surprising twists and great cliffhangers. There are definitely a few plot points that require some suspension of disbelief that you just have to roll with and some very questionable character decisions, but for the most part, it was easy to go along for the ride.
Overall, When the Phone Rings was a very entertaining watch. I really liked the mix of suspense and drama along with a complicated romance. I was always interested in what was going to happen next, and it was solid all the way through. I had a great time with it.
My Rating: 8/10 (When the Phone Rings Review)
Other Dramas I Completed in 2025
As a year end review, here is a list of the older Korean dramas and dramas from other countries that I completed this year. Full reviews for each drama are available by clicking on the drama title. Here they are broken into categories depending on how much I liked them with each category listing the dramas alphabetically:
Loved:
The Secret Romantic Guesthouse
Great:
Good:
Okay:
That brings my total count to 12 new dramas and 11 older dramas for a grand total of 23 dramas! I really upped my drama count this year, so I’m feeling pretty proud about that. Here’s to all of the dramas we get to enjoy in 2026!
How was 2025 for you? What were your favorite dramas of the year?
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