December Watched
- Sky
- Jan 2
- 8 min read
The last month for reviews in 2025! What an interesting year it has been. It wasn't a perfect year, and there are ways the dramas could improve for 2026, but let's look at something I've watched this December.
Do you agree with my opinions? Maybe there are dramas that you rated better?
First impression: I knew this was going to be cliched but not like that...
Last impression: It was fun sometimes.
Synopsis: Kim U Ju is the only son and fourth-generation heir of Myungsoondang. He is a talented marketing team leader and a perfectionist. His professional relationship is with Yoo Me Ri, a designer from a partner company. She is a quirky and hot-tempered woman who seeks out a fake husband to protect the newlyweds' special prize of a top-class townhouse. It takes an unexpected turn, pulling them into a whirlwind situation that forces him to become her fake husband. (Mydramalist)
The first episode of the drama was very unimpressive.
Every cliche you can think of was put there, and not getting a second-hand embarrassment from the female lead is impossible.
However, the second episode was surprisingly better and toned down a bit.
There are still a lot of clichés surrounding the drama: childhood trope, him falling first and being obsessed with her, fake marriage and more.
But it was fun at times and very cute. It was amusing to watch their secret relationship and how they tried to work things out. The secondary characters, like coworkers, were nice too, but I wish they had more focus; an office romance would have been nice there.
The trope continues with the ex-husband and his comically evil family.
There is no personality or purpose to them, only to ruin Me Ri's life, which at first can be entertaining or bearable, but it gets repetitive pretty soon.
This was a drama that was just there. Good to watch some parts, skip some others and ignore a lot of the unnecessary plot devices.
But the ending was disappointing and boring... Skipped a lot of parts there.
6/10
First impression: Okay, this is nonsense
Last impression: This was actually entertaining.
Synopsis: Cold, impassive Ga Yeong has spent her life under her grandmother’s care, whose watchful eye and tough-love approach have helped keep Ga Yeong’s psychopathic tendencies in check. When Ga Yeong unexpectedly stumbles upon a magical lamp, she awakens the mysterious spirit Genie from his thousand-year slumber — and yes, he promises the young woman three life-changing wishes. Unleashed into a new millennium, Genie’s mischievous magic shakes up Ga Yeong’s quiet life, and as he navigates the unfamiliar realities of the modern world, the two find themselves in a surprising whirlwind romance. (Mydramalist)
Going into the drama, don't expect some realistic approaches, and don't analyse anything. Turn off every brain cell and watch.
If for one second your brain will be back on, you'll see a toxic relationship, probably a lot of misconstructions on Iblis and some other deity characters.
So let's close them again, and let's call it slapstick nonsense comedy.
The thing I want to complain about is that the plot dragged at some points and rushed in scenes where I would have liked it to move more slowly.
The evil was conquered pretty quickly, and in the next second, I almost forgot he existed.
I would also love to see more of the historical side of things, but I liked the idea of the other five people getting their wishes and how they deal with the situation.
The characters in the drama are kind of likeable. The sidekicks like Sade and Irem were my loves, but the mains were interesting too.
Also, what I can applaud this drama on is the kiss scenes! The first kiss on the roof was amazing, and the last kiss near the car!! That first kiss kept me from dropping the drama, and what do you mean they can only do that while it's raining??
Is this the best drama of the year? Absolutely no, but it gave me something a bit lighter and fun to watch, which I'm grateful for.
7.5/10
First impression: I expect a delightful Christmas film with many known actors.
Last impression: Well... It was quite boring
Synopsis: A timely window into the lives of employees and guests alike at The Hotel Emros around New Year's. (Mydramalist)
It's been a few years since this film came out, and I wanted to watch it since then, but I couldn't find time for it. So the day has come, and I guess it was what I expected, but I still wanted more out of it.
The film is similar to "Love Actually"; it tells stories of different people, and there is a connection between them. I wasn't a fan of that film, so this one didn't impress me either.
The only stories I enjoyed were Kim Ha Neul's role as a suicidal man, Seo Kang Jun's friendship with his manager, and Lee Kwang Soo's character. Other stories were cute but not that interesting.
There is no time to connect with any of the characters properly.
An extended version of the film with six episodes exists, but as I mentioned before, there wasn't anyone whom I would like to get to know more. That's what I expect a film to do, not search for an extension of the story.
If you're searching for a calm Christmas movie to have something in the background, this is okay for that. If you're looking for something more exciting, skip this one; you'll not miss anything.
Also, the cast is probably the only reason why people even watched the film, and they did a great job with the script they had!
5/10
First impression: Kim Nak Su is insufferable
Last impression: It was sweet, but the characters are still quite annoying
Synopsis: Following the story of a middle-aged man who loses everything he once valued. Kim Nak Su, a salesman with 25 years of experience, is known for his exceptional skills. He owns a prime apartment in Seoul, has a wife and son, and enjoys an enviable life. However, he begins to lose his footing both at work and at home. (Mydramalist)
Watching the first episode was the hardest. Kim Nak Su is a horrible man both at work and at home. There were no redeemable qualities, and that made me curious enough to continue the drama.
How will this obnoxious man become better?
The journey was longer than I expected, but in a way, this is what made it more realistic.
Am I satisfied with where he ended up? Yeah, kind of. He became a better husband and a man, and I guess that's what matters the most.
It would have been interesting if we had seen more of Park Ha Jin's (Nak Su's wife) storyline. She also went through changes in her life, and it amazes me how much she endured with a husband like that.
For their son, Kim Su Gyeom, he probably had the weakest storyline. Finding out where he wants to work, trying some new places, was fine, but I couldn't care much for his story, even though I would say we're the most similar. (He and I, age and lost on what to do in life-wise)
He had some great moments of calling out his father's behaviour, which I LOVED.
This story might be relatable for some, especially if you have an office job. There are a lot of people who can relate to Nak Su, Ha Jin, their son or another employee.
However, for me it was a story about a very unlikeable man becoming... Decent. And that's why it wasn't that heartwrenching or interesting.
6.5/10
First impression: The editing is a bit confusing...
Last impression: I don't know what it became about...
Synopsis: Eun Su works in sales at a luxury goods retailer in a high-end department store. She has carried the weight of a deep-seated trauma since childhood. Her friend, Hui Su, shares a similar burden. Hui Su was once a promising children's book writer, but her career has long since stalled. Now, she is trapped in a nightmarish existence due to the violent abuse of her husband, Jin Pyo. One day, Eun Su makes the life-altering decision to save her friend by ending Jin Pyo's life. Together, the two women devise a plan to kill him. (Mydramalist)
This drama was promising at the start, the premise also sounds good, and I was waiting for a good emotional story. That was shown in the first few episodes: we saw Eun Su having different moments where she encounters domestic violence, how she reacts to them, and some of the times it was really hard to watch.
The approach to the topic was quite gentle, with the knowledge that it's still a taboo topic, and also a sensitive topic for the victims. So, director Lee Jung Rim did a very good job in balancing what to show and what not to.
However, the start of the drama was confusing editing-wise. I wasn't sure where in time we are now. What was happening in the real moment, when we come to see the past, was a bit messy.
In the second half of the drama, it wasn't about the victims anymore, but rather the husband's family, and how they deal with the situation. It was made more dramatic than it should've been. I wish the story had gone a different route. It can have the same elements of the story, but I needed more of Eun Su, Hui Su and even the helper's story. How Eun Su fights her father would be a good example of what else to add.
Some of the parts of the drama were still shocking and sickening to see, but I wish they had handled more cases like Hui Su's, where they actually helped someone. Let's see the light at the end of the tunnel instead of it being pitch black until a suggestion of murder comes.
5/10
First impression: A very good start to the drama.
Last impression: A very meh ending for it too.
Synopsis: Kang Tae Pung's father runs a small company named Typhoon Trading Company. Due to his wealthy father, Kang Tae Pung lives a carefree life, but the worst economic crisis hits South Korea. He is determined not to let the company, which his father loved like his own family, go bankrupt. Although he was immature in his past, he is armed with a warm heart, a strong sense of responsibility, and a spirit for challenges. O Mi Seon is the eldest daughter in her family and carries the burden of her family on her shoulders. She works as a bookkeeper at Typhoon Trading Company. With her diligence and sincerity, she dreams of becoming a career woman at Typhoon Trading Company. (Mydramalist)
This was a wonderful journey with the loveable characters that went through so much that you have no choice but to root for them.
The biggest strength of the drama was the bond that the colleagues had, even though it's not always visible at times. For example, when Mi Seon disagreed with the sales department manager about her place in this office.
Everything comes back to their teamwork and Tae Pung's way of managing people, even if that means not interfering.
As much as everyone else in the office was entertaining, I enjoyed smaller roles of Tae Pung's mother (I wish we got more glimpses into her work life), Mi Seon's whole family was very wholesome.
The romance of the main leads was also very cute! I loved the train scenes so much!
Wang Nam Mo and O Mi Ho, the second couple, also had a very interesting storyline, and I enjoyed watching their parts of the drama. My only wish for them was to have a better conclusion than a few minutes of what we witnessed.
The plot was also interesting at first: Tae Pung losing his father, and finding his way to build back up. It has a nice focus on not giving up and how dreams can change with time.
However, it becomes a bit repetitive at the end.
I would rather see them trading and facing new challenges rather than fighting with the same villain who we know will fail. It would have been more fun to see another company that is competing with Tae Pung just to balance it out.
Also, the last 20 minutes of the last episode were so unnecessary.
8/10
Comments