I have been extremely busy of late – I pride myself on making room for just ONE drama, but I haven’t even been able to do that lately. I finished Life just a few short weeks ago and… that was it. It doesn’t help that nothing I’m interested in watching is available legally/subbed either. Thems the breaks.
But we’re going to switch things up a little bit! Fall started, and it’s just around the time that I’d post a what-I’m-watching for the season anyway. Since I can’t do that, I will share a bunch of dramas I’m really interested in watching – plus some words on Life because, duh.
Considering
Korea
Eulji Hae-Yi (Kim Hee-Seon) is a lawyer at a big law firm. She flatters people who hold power, but looks down upon those who are poor. Eulji Hae-Yi does anything to win her cases. She will soon receive a promotion to senior partner at the law firm. Her boyfriend is Ki Yoo-Jin (Kim Young-Kwang). He works as a family medicine doctor. He seems like a gentleman, but he hides his cruelty.
Meanwhile, Eulji Hae-Yi meets death-row convict Jang Hwa-Sa (Kim Hae-Sook) in room 9 in the prison’s visitation area. In room 9, when Eulji Hae-Yi meets Jang Hwa-Sa, their bodies are exchanged. Asianwiki
(takes a deep breath) 🗣 FUCK IT UP LADIES!!!!!! Room No. 9 was never something I intended to watch, but the moment I watched but the moment I saw Kim Hee-sun in this trailer I was sold. I love the confident air to her, even though she admittedly looks a mess. “If I.. no, if an inmate on death row and I exchanged souls in that room, what do you think would happen?” CHILLS. I’m also getting Double Tone vibes from this, with more of a thrilling touch.
. . .
Go Ae-Rin (Jung In-Sun) suddenly loses her husband. A mysterious man, Kim Bon (So Ji-Sub), lives next door. Kim Bon is a legendary NIS agent. 3 years ago, he was involved in a failed secret operation and the woman he loved died. He has since become disconnected with the world and lives alone quietly. He helps his neighbor Go Ae-Rin uncover a conspiracy, which her husband became involved with.Asianwiki
In the time that So Ji-sub has been away from dramaland, the hole in my heart has been filled with other talented actors (ahem, Jo Seung-woo, Jung Kyung-ho)… BUT ALAS! The man with the beautiful hands has returned to grace my screen once again. I wasn’t really sure what Terius Behind Me was all about when I watched the first trailers that dropped. Spy plots? Foreign locales? OK. Then the teasers threw a (single) neighbor and her cute kids in the mix. ?!?!?! I don’t understand anything anymore but if this is a drama where these kids soften up his cold, frosty heart and they all live happily ever after then gimme gimmE GIMME!
Others: Come Here and Hug Me, Risky Romance, Beauty Inside, The Guest, 100 Days My Prince, The Best Divorce (REMAKE ALERT!), My Ahjusshi, Ghost Detective, Where Stars Land, The Third Charm, Devilish Joy.
There are a surprising amount of romantic dramas on this list HOWEVER I am trying to be more open minded, lol. I already know Risky Romance is trash, but I feel like hate watching a k-drama for once. 🙃
Japan
Akiko Iwaki (Haruka Ayase) is a career woman who works very hard at her job. She gets married to Ryoichi Miyamoto (Yutaka Takenouchi) who has a daughter. Akiko Iwaki must now deal with housework and raising her stepdaughter.Asianwiki
I will admit, Gibo to Musume no Blues looks a little absurd and Ayase Haruka went ALL IN with the very stern career woman who treats everything like business. It also looks highkey sentimental (that song… woof, and don’t think we won’t see a breakthrough where she realizes that this family she is now apart of isn’t just a ~client but her family) and I usually roll my eyes at that kind of stuff… HOWEVER! When have I ever said no to a drama with Takenouchi Yutaka OR Ayase Haruka? … … so maybe I have, but like. She just keeps being paired up with actors that seem like they make good husbands, alright?
. . .
Hijiri (Kasumi Arimura) dreamed of becoming a teacher. She then begins work as a middle school teacher in a remote village. Her fiance Katsutaro works for a big company. They have dated since Hijiri was in college. Now, they must maintain a long distance relationship, but Hijiri becomes attracted to one of her students.
All I have to say is BIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINCH YOU BETTER DON’T! This reminds me a bit of Taisetsu na Koto wa Subete Kimi ga Oshiete Kureta, which was 100% a hot mess and I will not accept Chuugakusei Nikki unless it is just that. I like Arimura Kasumi and I’m ecstatic to see Yoshida Yo in another drama this season, so I really hope the summary is just a ruse! The trailer presents this soft and pure image, but come on. Let’s not normalize or romanticize this shite, lol.
. . .
The hoops I have to jump through to get a trailer for this drama, DAMN.
Seemingly perfect from the outside, Shinkai Akira (Aragaki Yui) was exhausted from worrying too much about how to be perfect. Nemoto Kousei (Matsuda Ryuhei) is amicable and popular with women, but he trusts no one and views everything with a cold heart. The two of them, who became unable to live instinctively like animals, meet by chance at a craft beer bar after work and gradually become close enough to fight and tell each other how they really feel. Due to their encounter, even while getting hurt, they begin to try to be themselves and start taking a step forward.DramaWiki
This summary doesn’t really say a lot. It doesn’t sound much different from any other romance drama either. Type A girl meets cold-hearted man and they fall in love, wow what a concept! BUT (and this is a big one), this is different and not just because it’s starring two faves. It’s written by Nogi Akiko! She also wrote what is currently my favorite j-drama of the year, Unnatural and one of my recent favorite romcoms, NigeHaji. I’m really excited to see what she can turn out with this drama, especially since we know so little about it! That, and this cast is stacked — Tanaka Kei? Kuroki Haru?????? KIKUCHI RINKO? Yes gawd.
Others: Cheerdan, dele, Takane no Hana, Cold Case 2, Ranhansha (SP), Survival Wedding, Genkai Danchi, and Momikeshite Fuyu which I accidentally started yesterday and am suddenly halfway through. OOPS?
Completed
I finished Life earlier this month and the best thing about it was Gu Seung-hyo’s BDE, the end. HAH. I think, now that I’ve finished it, my feelings are just… neutral? It definitely was nowhere near as gripping as Forest of Secrets. I’m neither disappointed or impressed by it, but I think it could have been A LOT worse if handled by any other writer or had cast anyone else than who were lucky enough to get amazing performances from (Jung Kyu-hyung, Jo Seung-woo, Moon So-ri, Yoo Jae-myung, Moon Sung-geun). Makes me wanna go back and revisit White Tower though.