10 Best Korean Dramas (part 1) - AvenueX's Personal List

This is the first half of my personal list of my FAV k-dramas that is neither listed in any particular order nor by any means comprehensive or fair. I will put the part 2 up as soon as I can, this blog is taking far more time than I expected to finish. So let's get right on with it! Click on the names to watchable sites if there are any.

SIDE NOTE: There are many great "older" dramas that really belongs to the "last generation“ of k-dramas, for ease of actually finding good quality versions to watch+ being subbed, I have left these ones out of this list. 

ANOTHER SIDE NOTE: Viki.com just made many dramas unavailable to "standard pass" holders so you have to pay more to upgrade to access older dramas. Shame on you! You are making people who have followed your site for a long time feel like they are nothing unless they have money to spare! 

 

MY LOVE FROM THE STAR 별에서 온 그대 2013-2014

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I put this one up first because it's the first one that would come to my mind when I think about Korean dramas. The success it managed to achieve is "in my opinion" still not surpassed by anything else ever since (I know the crazy success of Descendants of the Sun but I don't consider DOS as that great of a drama storywise). This K-drama was HUGE globally when it aired, causing YSL no. 52 lipsticks to run out of stock for months everywhere because Jun Ji Hyun wore it in the drama. It made Kim Soo Hyun a household name in China and for a year or two he is EVERYWHERE in ads (from bakery to skincare). The story is simple enough, 400 year old stuck on earth alien man meets super actress woman who conveniently moves in next door and is also his student at the university. But that is just the set-up of the story, things go crazy from here. So why is this drama so captivating? Well, I would first give all this success to the brilliant story telling of this drama that has a great mix of comedy, drama, mystery/thriller that never lags. Every episode ends on a powerful note that automatically sends the viewers to watch the next. Then there was the acting that is just done perfectly to a T. Jun Ji Hyun is the queen of acting in Korea, and Kim Soo Hyun is a natural. Their chemistry is so good no matter how unrealistic the story is, you BELIEVE it to be real. And did I mention it is ridiculously funny? Hahahahahaha, I laughed to tears so many times watching this drama, and the OST is insanely amazing! So if you for some reason NEVER WATCHED A KOREAN DRAMA, go watch this one first!

 

THE KING 2 HEARTS 더킹 투하츠 2012

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Some people might be surprised by this one because it is relatively lesser known and slightly far back in time. I don't even remember how I came across this one but I was so hooked and touched by this drama it kind of earned a special place in my heart. This drama can be classified as one of those hate-to-love classic dramas that has the two leads absolutely despise each other in the beginning and gradually through their joined experiences fall deeply for each another. The fictional premise is that South Korea is a constitutional monarchy while North is well... as what North is in reality. Lee Seung Gi plays the younger brother to the current King of SK who was set to marry a NK solider played by Ha Ji Won, daughter of a NK high official for political alliance. The story is very well-paced, exciting but not without super fun or tender moments, and both leads are phenomenal in their portrayal of their characters. In many ways I would say this is one of the best acted k-dramas of all times. The only thing I'm not sure about is their portrayal of NK because frankly speaking, SK people have very little idea about how things actually are in NK, especially when it comes to the "mentality" part. But apart from this the drama is filled with emotional highs and delicious acting + plot twists. Both leading characters complete a great character arc which is not always seen in a drama.  And the second couple's arc (between the princess and her body guard soldier) is also heart-breakingly beautiful to watch. If you don't fall in love with them at the end of the drama you can make me to eat shoes which I would politely refuse unless they are made of chocolate.

 

HEALER 힐러 2014-2015

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It is with great reasons that this drama has a 9.8 rating on Viki.com. Every aspect is so well executed that I really can't complain about anything regarding this drama. This drama deals with corruptions in politics, the integrity of journalism and social justice, all of which are very popular topics in the K-drama world. Ji Chang Wook plays a gun-for-hire type of guy who is so good at physical combat he could probably take down Li Min Ho's character in City Hunter. Park Min Young plays inspired journalist who is fierce and courageous at pursuing truth even though she is tiny and has no special powers. Both leads have very troubled past/childhood that would later play a very important part in the plot line. This drama has plenty of actions, suspensions, emotional upheaval and funny moments. Plus both leads are so pretty to look at and their styling in this drama is really lovely to watch, you just get pure drama satisfaction watching Healer. It will be 20 hours well spent in your life and beware of the very memorable theme music that will be stuck in your head long after you've finished watching it. Highly recommended!

 

KILL ME, HEAL ME 킬미, 힐미 2015

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Admittedly I'm still watching this drama as I wrote this blog. I know it's a bit late catching up, but back when it aired I was still in the Healer mood I couldn't watch anything else. This is another highly rated k-drama by almost everyone and every site I have come across, so I put my good faith in the wisdom of the public and went into watching it. The male lead role played by Ji Sung has D.I.D due to traumas in his life. He has seven personalities who can take over his body and time, and as an heir to a giant enterprise, just imagine the amount of trouble this can give him (a nod to Split here, James McAvoy wasn't the first one who had to play 7 people in a show). The female lead played by Hwang Jung Eum is a psychiatric doctor who through a series of events became entangled with him...and his problem. While neither leads are the biggest k-drama acting names out there, this drama's story is the main reason for its huge success. Watching those vastly different characters with one person's face and body is fun enough and good enough as a reason to pick up this drama. The actors do a brilliant job making their characters convincing and interesting. The premise of the story has so much potential to go horribly wrong, yet to our good fortune it didn't go down that route. If you're interested in a multiple personality story, this is your go-to k-drama.

 

QUEEN IN HYUN'S MAN 인현왕후의 남자 2012

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This drama shows you what happens when real life chemistry translates to screen, because the lead actor and actress were for a time, a real couple off screen. And...well, you can practically taste the electric exchanges that are constantly sparking off between them. Our leading female character played by Yoo In Na is a small actress who is trying to make her name in the business. She landed a role as Queen In Hyun in a historical drama, and who is better to help her acting the right part than a man who is from that period? The leading male character played by Ji Hyun Woo is a Chongson scholar who escaped an assassination attempt through a magical talisman and landed in contemporary Seoul. Obviously they meet and they fall for each other, while dealing with all the drama with voluntary or involuntary time travel. This drama was aired in 2012, so quite a bit time ago, and production techniques and qualities have improved since then, but the acting and story telling of this drama is so strong it still remains one of the best romantic dramas from the k-drama land. Watch this one you will laugh and cry with the characters and you will taste what true love really is like.

Part II coming soon...

Gentlemen Plants of China

I know, Gentlemen and Plants? Why are they even related? Well, as funny as it sounds, this is not a unique cultural phenomena of China. In the west, rose represents love, in China, waterlily/lotus represents a person with great integrity. We humans are always trying to project our values onto things in our surroundings.

There are four plants in China that always show up as a package: they represent the ideal morals and values a true gentlemen should possess. They are in daily speeches, writings, paintings and many other things. They are 梅 (mei)、兰(lan)、竹(zhu)、菊(ju); plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum.

Plum flower early spring

Plum flower early spring

PLUM

Plum, or rather, plum trees' flowers, are the first one we encounter in this pack of four plants. Plum flowers are traditionally treated as an embodiment of a person's strength and perseverance. Plum flowers blossom in late winter early spring, often while snow is still falling. The flowers bloom despite the harsh environmental conditions, thus are often used as a metaphor for someone's ability and integrity to face hardship with courage. There's no shortage of the representations of plum flowers on China's TV screen.

Scarlet Heart,Ruo Xi's Red Plum Dance. (http://i0.itc.cn/20110820/a91_8d8f7ce9_de87_8b6c_7c94_d6d7cb290470_11.jpg)

Scarlet Heart,Ruo Xi's Red Plum Dance. (http://i0.itc.cn/20110820/a91_8d8f7ce9_de87_8b6c_7c94_d6d7cb290470_11.jpg)

Empress in Palace, Zhen Huan recites a plum flower poem that caught the emperor's attention

Empress in Palace, Zhen Huan recites a plum flower poem that caught the emperor's attention

 
Wilde Lady Slipper Orchid

Wilde Lady Slipper Orchid

ORCHID

The interesting thing about orchid is that the most valuable and rare flowers grow in remote mountains. This quality of orchid is a great natural representation of a very commonly praised and admired quality of a scholar...being a recluse and stay away from the messy politics of the establishment. Besides, orchid has lovely scents, and it often takes years for a rare plant to bloom, which can also be interpreted as a scholar's patience and steadfast character. You see this flower in many Chinese and Korean dramas, often as a pet plant of highly educated people. The character 兰,is a very common given name for girls in ancient China. It is still being used today as a girl's name although much less so.

 
Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Bamboo Forest Fight

Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon Bamboo Forest Fight

BAMBOO

Bamboo is unique among the four gentlemen plants. While the others are appreciated for their flowers (and their embodied characters), bamboo is loved because of its strong yet flexible body. Bamboos are straight, representing the straight characters of a gentleman; bamboos are hollow in the middle, representing tolerance and generosity. The plant can stay dormant for years before suddenly grow out of the soil and turn into a proper tree in days, representing patience and capability. Of course, being extremely strong yet flexible is also a great quality that you can easily relate to human characters. Bamboo is often used to represent men, although it's not uncommon to use for women.

 
Chrysanthmum Flower (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d3/4a/36/d34a367fd1015222e1feca1ff47dcdf4.jpg)

Chrysanthmum Flower (https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/d3/4a/36/d34a367fd1015222e1feca1ff47dcdf4.jpg)

CHRYSANTHEMUM

Chrysanthemum usually blooms in autumn, after all the other flowers have withered. This particular character become literary scholar's favourite, as it represents the quality similar to orchid – being aways from the hustle and bustle and competition. Chinese scholars have this obsession with being singled out, being considered a loner and have one's own merit that is independent of the society's opinion. Plus the flower usually carries a very clear and cool scent, fitting into this kind of value system perfectly.

Empress in Palace, Shen Meizhuang says she likes chrysanthemum for its characters, capturing the emperor's heart.

Empress in Palace, Shen Meizhuang says she likes chrysanthemum for its characters, capturing the emperor's heart.

These four plants are heavily used in all aspects of Chinese culture. Understanding the reasons why can help you get some insight into the traditional values of the Chinese society. Of course the love for these plants is deeply rooted in the Confucius value and morality system, which dominated China's philosophy and social practices for centuries. These days, even though everyone understands what these four plants represent, they are no longer so heavily referenced or used in paintings, poetry and other cultural "products", as the Confucius morality is gradually fading into the past, so is the fixation on these plants. People are free to love whatever flowers they love, and appreciate them for what they are – just flowers – without the need to give their preferences any moral justification.