Mid-Year Drama Check In

Half a year has already passed, and it has brought us a lot of interesting or not-so-great dramas that we all are going to look back on.

There is a popular book tag that YouTubers do around this time, so I'm going to take some of the questions and make it about dramas.

Let me know your opinions in the comments!

Best K-drama you’ve watched so far in 2025

Three dramas got a 10/10 rating from me: Melo Movie, When Life Gives You Tangerines, Way Back Love.

They are all a bit more melo, having harder topics at the centre. I know a lot of people would probably disagree with me about the Melo Movie, but it was so well done. I loved the characters, the love story and the way it was typical but different from other dramas.

Another thing these dramas have in common is their realism. Of course, not the grim reaper showing on your steps, but the conversation about grief, losing someone and how much it affects you, the person who is still alive. Way Back Love is a short drama, but it brings the audience to care about these characters so quickly.

Of course, When Life Gives You Tangerines, also has to be there. It's probably going to be on every drama lover's list. For me, it wasn't about romance, even though it was funny and great.

It was about the generational relationships between women: mothers, daughters, mother-in-law or friends. It was interesting, it was relatable, and it makes you reflect on some of your relationships with people.

I still have one episode of Our Unwritten Seoul to watch, but it also might get 10/10.

Best sequel you've watched so far in 2025

I always go into sequels unsure, as they don't turn out good, but I can't help myself, and still hope for the best.

The only sequel I've seen was Weak Hero Class 2. It wasn't the best sequel that I was hoping for, but it had some good moments. If you want to know more about my opinion on the drama, you can read it in June Watched.

New release you haven't watched yet, but want to

It has to be Law and The City. While I'm writing this blog, two episodes have already come out, but I'm still catching up on some other dramas, and it will have to wait.

I have seen a few edits of Lee Jong Suk and I can't wait!! I'm doing my best to avoid spoilers, but it's hard.

Most anticipated release for the second half of the year

I barely remember what is supposed to come out in the second half of the year or next year.

Taxi Driver 3 is something I look forward to. I don't think anything can top the first season, but I enjoy watching those stories unfold.

Of course, there is Signal 2, Hyeyoon's drama, and The Remarried Empress, but I think they're coming out next year. For this reason, I do posts about what is coming out next month, so I can know what to look forward to, because I'm clueless most of the time.

Biggest disappointment

If you don't know much about drama and go without any expectations, they end up being so good. Sometimes, I want to hold onto that expectation rather than the drama.

My Dearest Nemesis has to be it.. I expected cute and amazing chemistry, but instead, I got a childish male lead with no chemistry. They couldn't convince me that they were in love with each other, and I didn't see any spark.

Biggest surprise

This is not a K-drama but a C-drama. I always have a hard time with the length of them and become hateful of all the characters towards the end. Love Game in Eastern Fantasy did become a bit slower towards the end, but I still had fun watching it and the characters.

There are still some things that I would want to change, but I finished this long drama almost in one sitting! At the time, I didn't even want to watch anything else, just binge the drama.

For the K-drama, I would say Pump Up the Healthy Love. The standards are already low, but this came to entertain me at the right time. There are issues with the drama, but after the first episode, my expectations were low, so by the end of it, I was surprised.

Newest favourite character

There is no one strong that I could put here. There are characters that I relate to: Mu Bi from Melo Movie, Mi Rae from Our Unwritten Seoul. Some characters are a bit weird that I enjoy, for example, Yu In A from Nine Puzzles, she's quick-witted and smart.

I also have my little crush on Lee Je Ha (Our Movie). However, for now, there is nothing that I would completely obsess over and call my favourite.

Drama that made you cry

The biggest culprit for this is When Life Gives You Tangerines. I feel like I cried every episode, and I would still cry if I decided to rewatch it. There is just so much hurt in this drama.

Melo Movie has a few tear-jerking moments, but it has a better balance of funny and sad moments.

I do feel like I'm not crying as much in the dramas, at least at the moment.

Drama that made you happy

I have to bring the Love Game in Eastern Fantasy again. The first episodes had made me giggle and kick my feet so much. Was it all very clichéd? Yes! But this is why it was so fun.

Recently, I started Head over Heels, and it is also hilarious with some sad moments in between. Seong A is my spirit animal, and I skipped a bit of my list (of dramas I'm supposed to watch first) to watch this one.

Most beautiful K-drama cover so far this year

Left to right: Our Unwritten Seul, Nine Puzzles, Head Over Heels

I feel like all of them are pretty simple; there is nothing that stands out. It's just two leads leaning/hugging each other. Our Unwritten Seoul brings a bit of melancholy, which perfectly portrays the drama.

Some others, like Nine Puzzles, Our Movie, are also nice ones. They pretty much tell you what you're going to get.

Head over Heels, for now, is having the most creative cover. I'm talking like the one in the picture. It gives a bit of retro vibes, and we now know that it will have something to do with shamans. I kind of wish everyone would do this style of covers, no need for faces.

What dramas do you need to watch by the end of the year?

I don't have anything on my plan to watch list (if you have suggestions, you're very welcome), but I would like to finish a very old drama. Something before Boys Over Flowers or Coffee Prince.

I want to see how dramas evolved.