Dorama of the Year 2013-II Spring - The Family Game (2013)

The Family Game (2013) made a big impact. Happy to make such discoveries.

1. Reuan Saneha (2013)  [เรือนเสน่หา] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Historical, Drama In 1905, during King Chulalongkorn’s reign, Thai slavery has come to an end. As men are fighting for a place society, women are fighting for a place at home. Khun Luang Prap Thamrongnakhra has two wives: Chom and Euang. The two women do not get along and are in constant competition for Khun Luang’s affection and for the number one spot in the household. Not only do they have competition with each other, they also have to compete with Khun Luang’s servant wives, especially Mali. A fortune teller informs Khun Luang that by the end of the year, he will have a child sent from heaven. This is only the beginning... The amazing rivalry of slave wives in jungle...   Overall Rating: 5/10

2. A Good Wife (2013) [親愛的，我愛上別人了] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Romance, Life, Drama For seven years, Shen Yi Zhen tries to be a dutiful wife and an obedient daughter-in-law. But the loneliness of being married to a workaholic husband and the stress of not having a grandchild for her perfectionist parents-in-law is pushing her to a breaking point. One day, she meets a man who is the exact opposite of her husband. Her feelings for him gradually threatens her peaceful married life.  For me pilot was slow, plain and thus boring.   Overall Rating: 5/10

3. Shima no Sensei (2013) [島の先生] (Finished 1/6) Tags:  Life, Youth, Drama, Family The drama is set on a remote island where a special school for “troubled kids” from big cities is located. Each student suffers from different personal issues, such as bullying and truancy. Gradually, the 10 students recover their self-esteem touched by the kindness of the local people, teachers and their foster-parents.  Island teachers/doctors is a too mundane concept that again does not shine here.   Overall Rating: 5/10

4. Goen Hunter (2013)  [ご縁ハンター] (Finished 3/3) Tags: Romance, Drama Drama about a group of people who desperately want to get married and to find the other half go to various parties. The main character, Hasumi Rika is professionally fulfilled woman of about forty, which, however, still lives at home with her mother. Wedding hunt sucks in theory, and so it does in practice.   Overall Rating: 5/10

5. Machigawarechatta Otoko (2013) [間違われちゃった男] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Comedy, Drama Yujiro Sawaki is a petty thief, but he has a warm heart and easily moved to tears. Because of his sweet personality, he sucks at stealing. One night, Yujiro and his younger brother Yasu try to break into a sushi restaurant, which is located in a commercial area around Kuramae Station. Unfortunately, they are found by others and beaten. Yujiro and Yasu think things over. The next moment, when they open their eyes, people are welcoming them. Others in the sushi restaurant believe Yujiro is the great chef Teru who left 10 years ago. It turns out, Yujiro has a strong resemblance to Teru. Yujiro and Yasu look for an opportunity to runaway, but they become close to the people there. It's a big mess, though still watchable unlike competitors.   Overall Rating: 6/10

6. Kamo, Kyoto e Iku. (2013) [鴨、京都へ行く. -老舗旅館の女将日記- ] (Finished 1/11) Tags:  Life, Drama, Political Career-minded government official Ueba Kamo leaves her post at the Ministry of Finance after her mother’s sudden death to take over the family’s struggling Kyoto inn, Ueba-ya. With no experience and surrounded by difficult staff, she teams up with sharp but cold-hearted financier Kinugawa Shuhei to rebuild the debt-ridden hotel. Rebuilding ryokan is hardly interesting for me. And conflict of rural wisdom vs rash capital is so obvious and trivial.   Overall Rating: 5/10

7. No Dropping Out: Back to School at 35 (2013) [35歳の高校生] (Finished 2/11) Tags: Psychological, Life, Drama, Melodrama The drama will center around how a 35-year-old student changes the school and influences her fellow classmates’ lives while dealing with the dark reality of today’s high schools, including bullying and skipping school. Detective plus solving problems - not my type.   Overall Rating: 5/10

8. Kumo no Kaidan (2013) [雲の階段] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Romance, Drama, Medical Saburo works at a medical office on The Izu Islands, which has seen its population dwindle over the years. Even though Saburo doesn't have a medical license, he performs operations under the instructions of Dr. Muraki. Because of his gifted dexterity and sincerity, people call him the Young Doctor. Saburo becomes conflicted over his position, but he convinces himself that what he is doing is helping people. Saburo is also loved by nurse Akiko Suzuki and Akiko Tasaka, who is the daughter of the director of a general hospital in Tokyo. It reminded me why I can't stand serious medical shows - lots and lots and lots of blood, don't think I ever seen that much.   Overall Rating: 5/10

9. She Is Wow! (2013) [우와한 녀] (Finished 1/12) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Family A Ra leads the perfect life. She is a popular actress, has an ideal husband Jung Han, who is the most popular announcer, and a son Min Kyu. People adore them as a couple, but their life isn't as great as it appears. A Ra struggles to get cast as an actress as she gets older. Jung Han and A Ra do not respect each other or love each other. One day, their troubled son Min Kyu arrives back in Korea from America. Min Kyu got kicked out of school over there and is a troubled kid. A Ra and Jung Han worry that others may find out about Min Kyu's troubles. Making matters worse, a secret, which can destroy A Ra's perfect world, exists. Blunt, simple, with horrible acting, not funny.   Overall Rating: 5/10

10. Jang Ok Jung (2013) [장옥정, 사랑에 살다] (Finished 1/24) Tags: Historical, Romance, Drama It tells the story of Jang Hui Bin, one of the most famous royal concubines in the Joseon Dynasty, who was behind the deposition of King Suk Jong’s wife, Queen In Hyeon. However, unlike the countless dramas and movies about this famous villain, this drama will tell the story of Jang Ok Jeong before she became concubine Jang Hui Bin and focus on her role as a fashion designer and cosmetic maker in the Joseon era. Typical palace intrigues, but in the center is fashion designer cinderella... same boring as ever.   Overall Rating: 5/10

11. Last Cinderella (2013) [ラスト シンデレラ] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Sakura is a single 39-year-old woman. She works at a beauty salon as its vice manager. Sakura makes customers pretty, but she isn't interested in making herself pretty. She envies falling in love, but at the same time is afraid of falling in love. One day, at a party, Sakura meets Hiroto, who is much younger than Sakura. Hiroto is a bike rider and is attracted to Sakura. Meanwhile, Rintaro is a manager at the beauty salon where Sakura works. Rintaro likes making biting remarks, drinking alcohol and using his scissors. This actress with fish eyes should never have been protagonist, does not suit modern cinderella story at all.   Overall Rating: 5/10

12. I Summon You, Gold! (2013) [금 나와라, 뚝딱!] (Finished 1/50) Tags: Business, Romance, Family Although Jung Mong Hee's dream is to become a jewelry designer, she makes a living by peddling cheap fake accessories in the street. She endures the muggy weather out on the street to help pay for her siblings' tuition. As the eldest in her family, she feels responsible for helping with the family finances. Then one day, Mong Hee is offered a tantalizing proposal that could change her life. She decides to seize a surprising opportunity, considering it as a process that will bring her closer to reaching her goals. Horrible chewing gum with all the typical patterns and lots of tropes.   Overall Rating: 5/10

13. Tsuma wa Kunoichi (2013) [妻は、くノ一] (Finished 2/8) Tags: Historical, Drama It is the late Edo period. Futaboshi Hikoma, the Hirado domain’s astronomer, is a rather eccentric person whose only interests are the stars and the sea. A beautiful bride Orie comes to him, and Hikoma vows to himself to cherish her for his lifetime. However, in less than a month, his new wife disappears without reason from this dreamlike married life. In truth, Orie is a female ninja that the shogunate has sent because of its suspicions about the domain’s illegal trading and activities. The shogunate plots to punish and destroy the Hirado domain as a warning to various domains in the west. Not knowing this, Hikoma goes to Edo in search of his wife. He is introduced to Matsuura Seizan, the former feudal lord of the Hirado domain, by his old friend Senemon but is told by Seizan that he will slay Orie if she appears. Hikoma declares that he will be his wife’s shield if Seizan insists on snatching her away. In order to find Orie, Hikoma becomes an instructor at an elementary school and meets a boy called Tarokichi. On the other hand, a queer phenomenon in which festival music can be heard occurs at Seizan’s residence each night. Hikoma sees fireballs with his own eyes and starts to delve into the mystery with the schoolchildren. However, this gets them close to the heart of the shogunate’s scheme. Hoped for something more fun, but it's more ninja than wife, and can't stand ninja.   Overall Rating: 5/10

14. Majurat See Nam Pueng (2013) [มัจจุราชสีน้ำผึ้ง] (Finished 1/15) Tags: Romance, Drama Two families promised to marry their children before they were born. Madam Lamphao has two daughters: Rojanasnai and Romereuthai. Madam Preme has one son, Paat. When Romereuthai learns of the arranged marriage, she refuses, thinking Paat is a country bumpkin, and forces her sister to marry him instead. Rojanasnai agrees out of gratitude, as she is secretly adopted. Paat, feeling deceived, distrusts Rojanasnai and insists their marriage is only in name. Meanwhile, Romereuthai tries to win Paat's affection. Caught in misunderstandings, can this marriage born of obligation and resentment turn into love? Remakes of ancient materials are always bad lakorns.   Overall Rating: 5/10

15. A Clear Midsummer Night (2013) [盛夏晚晴天] (Finished 2/46) Tags: Romance, Drama The daughter of a real estate mogul Xia Wan Qing has seemingly no way of retreating after a friend's betrayal and her boyfriend backing out of their wedding. Fortunately, she's saved by business genius Qiao Jin Fan. Jin Fan is a "playboy" and the future successor for Qiao corporation. He extends an offering hand, and together they embark on a path of revenge. Each for reasons of their own begins a love with "uncertain motives". After enduring circumstances because of their families' competing interests and a number of conspiracies, the two find true love.  Terribly mundane and boring as most SOL longshots.   Overall Rating: 5/10

16. Hormones (2013) [Hormones วัยว้าวุ่น] (Finished 2/13) Tags: Romance, Youth, Drama This series is about Thai secondary school students and their friends trying to find their way through the ups and downs of adolescence. It features issues and experiences of Thai teenagers in high schools, such as relationships, sexuality, sex, bullying, school gang violence and substance abuse. Family issues are also gradually revealed as the series progresses. Well, I'd exclude it right away if knew it had boys love.   Overall Rating: 5/10

17. Scandal (2013) [스캔들 : 매우 충격적이고 부도덕한 사건] (Finished 1/36) Tags: Thriller, Romance, Drama, Melodrama Ha Eun Joong, a detective at Gangnam Police station. He became a detective to try to understand his dad better, who was an ex-detective. However, he discovers that his father, Myung Geun, actually kidnapped him when he was a child. Myung Geun had lost his own son in a building collapse, and as revenge against the man responsible, Jang Tae Ha, he abducted Tae Ha's son and raised him as his own. In the aftermath of revenge, Eun Joong searches for the truth and becomes caught between his two fathers and the woman he loves, Woo Ah Mi. Terrible melodramatic bore.   Overall Rating: 5/10

18. Ugly Alert (2013) [못난이 주의보] (Finished 2/133) Tags: Business, Romance, Melodrama The story of a man named Kong Jun Su who sacrificed himself by pretending to be a murderer to protect his younger stepbrother from being accused instead. While serving time in prison, he learns to sew and acquires a trade. Following his release, he starts working in a fashion company that is a part of BY Group. There, he meets the workaholic Na Do Hui, the heiress of her grandfather’s company. Do Hui falls in love with Jun Su as both of them get to understand each other and heal their wounds. This melodrama longshot is done on a higher than usual level as if it was a short format. But it's very slow and absolutely fails in attracting with anything, and with omnipresent childhood period that still has not ended by the end of 2nd episode, so it's dump material.   Overall Rating: 6/10

19. Gekiryu - Watashi wo Oboete Imasuka? (2013) [激流～私を憶えていますか？～] (Finished 8/8) Tags: Thriller, Mystery, Drama, Melodrama An email message from a girl who had gone missing on a school excursion 20 years ago leads five former classmates to meet again and get embroiled in a baffling incident: 35-year-old Misumi Keiko, an editor who was suddenly laid off from the literary department of the publishing company where she works; Midobara Takako, once adored by guys when she was a junior high school student and now a housewife involved in sex for money; Akiyoshi Miya, a musician facing a setback; Higashihagi Koji, who has become a detective but is content with being a sergeant forever; and Sabajima Yutaka, a divorced bank employee. These five former classmates now become involved in a strange case. I expected a lot more from thriller novel adaptation. Sadly, was pretty boring, and ofc all the witnesses just showed up and confessed by the end. Not finding anything good about it.   Overall Rating: 5/10

20. Houkago Groove (2013) [放課後グルーヴ] (Finished 2/10) Tags: Youth, Drama, Sports Makoto Kiryu is a young physical education teacher at a middle school. When she was a teenager, Makoto joined a motorcycle gang and dropped out of high school. A little bit later, she thought things over and changed her ways. Makoto then entered college and she eventually became a physical education teacher. She's excellent with sports, but has difficulties with teaching dance as it is a required subject for the students. Makoto tries not to be noticed by the students.  30 min jdrama series are usually too unserious, so generally skipping them. This is again light and silly type, so fine.   Overall Rating: 6/10

21. Haitatsu Saretai Watashitachi (2013)  [配達されたい私たち] (Finished 1/5) Tags: Psychological, Life, Drama A 32-year-old man Sawano, loses his job while suffering from depression, and his relationship with his wife and 6-year-old son is not going smoothly either. One day, at a ruin he visits in order to commit suicide, he finds 7 letters which were abandoned 7 years ago. He decides to deliver those letters, making it as the countdown of his life, and gradually, he starts discovering the importance of lives. Case studies plus multiple suicide attempts make it unsuitable for me.   Overall Rating: 5/10

22. Birth Secret (2013) [출생의 비밀] (Finished 1/18) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama Jung I Hyeon is a genius, but she suffers from psychogenic amnesia and does not remember her husband and young daughter. Hong Gyeong Du is uneducated and poor, but he's a loving father to young Hae Deum, who inherited her genius from her mother. I Hyeon and Gyeong Du met just as both were on the brink of suicide, and they'd decided to choose life together. The story is about I Hyeon's journey to putting together the pieces of her lost memory with her husband's help, a man who seems completely unsuited for her. Boring silly bs full of tropes and banalities.   Overall Rating: 5/10

23. Dandelion Love (2013) [幸福蒲公英] (Finished 1/40) Tags:  Business, Romance, Family, Melodrama This 1960s-1980s story follows a girl from a fallen rich family who summons her courage to work towards success. Although she appears delicate and feminine, she is actually very manly (a fearless tomboy). She is not afraid to kill a fish nor to embark on difficult tasks. Her only fear developed after almost drowning when she was 7. She is afraid of diving. As her counterpoint, Danson Tang plays a cold, unfeeling hotel heir; his heart seems closed and his words are crude. But he has been waiting for a girl to love, a daring girl like her. Horrible mundane melodramatic SOL...   Overall Rating: 5/10

24. Wan Nee Tee Ror Khoi (2013) [วันนี้ที่รอคอย] (Finished 1/19) Tags: Action, Romance, Drama Two people who lost touch over the years and have found each other again. Om is playing a prince who had to flee his country along with is mother and adopted sister Marnfah (Chat)–his father was being overthrown by his uncle. They had no choice but to leave their mother country to Thailand where they were separated to face their own destinies. Om grows up under the support of a Hong Kong businessman and he becomes a successful businessman himself. Marnfah was sent to live with a military family in northern Thailand. Her name was changed from Marnfah to Bralee. At the present time, she has just graduated from a school in the United States and has decided to visit a friend in Hong Kong. This is where she will meet her long lost prince. Instead of her friend picking her up, she is picked up by Jao San (Om), a man her father does business with. As for him, he knows exactly who she is, her complete background that she is Marnfah–the young lady he has been keeping a watchful eye on out of concern. So they meet again. As the story progresses, our exiled prince has to decide whether he wants to join the rebel forces to restore his throne and honor OR be satisfy with having the love of his life be by his side and to give him support for the rest of his life. I think he can have both. It’s a story of romance and war, you guys in? Remakes of ancient lakorn plots always feel cringy and morally old.   Overall Rating: 5/10

25. Public Affairs Office in the Sky (2013) [空飛ぶ広報室] (Finished 1/11) Tags: Military, Romance, Life, Drama Inaba Rika, whose childhood dream was to become a news reporter, is instead a director for an informative TV program. At one point, she was a reporter; however, her career was cut short after her ambitious habits for obtaining and reporting news provoked too many people. Sorai Daisuke is a former fighter pilot, who was so~ close to achieving his dream of being a pilot for the flying squadron, "Blue Impulse. Unfortunately, his involvement in an accident causes him to be reassigned to the public relations office. This is the story about how two people who have to deal with having their dreams crushed. Drama about security systems brings me nothing but weariness and drowsiness. It failed to impress me in any way.   Overall Rating: 5/10

26. Fah Krajang Dao (2013) [ฟ้ากระจ่างดาว] (Finished 1/8) Tags:  Romance, Drama The n’ek (Mee) has a pretty messed up past, she was raised by her aunt (her father wouldn’t take responsibility over her mother when she was preggers at 15, yes 15! So his sister took n’ek in, then her mom got married off (by her grandma) to a messed up man.) But her aunt is pretty strict so one day she ran off to find her mother in Northern Thailand. However, she encounters an abusive stepdad who is involved with human trafficking. Her mom is helpless within his evil wrath and so Mee went back to find her aunt whom became less strict and nicer to her. Some time later Mee caught wind that her grandma passed away, and that her two younger sisters (from her step dad and mom) were sold to prostitution. From then on, Mee is determined to be a news reporter so she could reveal the monstrosities of the crimes against humans. After graduation, she went to work for a newspaper firm called Siam Sarn, heading up their crime division. She meets with Waree and then Mattana, who made up the rest of the three Musketeers group. Mee is the mother hen and takes care of her own- as far as her character, she is quiet and well mannered, but while at work, she’s brave, fierce and ready. She has guts to report on these types of news because of the old wound that came from her family. During the time that the three girls separate to fulfill their own news, Mee has to take on a fashion show column in place of Mattana (who has to investigate a celebrity news out of town)- Mee despises writing about fluff – but eventually succumbs because it turns out it is within the scope of her crime sphere- the committee who is running the show actually has to do with anti-drugs. This lakorn starts with coercing into prostitution. There's nothing to discuss after this.   Overall Rating: 5/10

27. Crazy Love (2013) [미친사랑] (Finished 1/100) Tags: Romance, Drama, Family, Melodrama This drama tells the story of a woman who meets the love of her life at the most desperate time. Yoon Mi So is an orphan with an adopted family and married to Lee Min Jae. Unhappy that Yoon Mi So cannot have any more children other than daughter Hae Ram, Lee Min Jae's mother would like him to marry someone else like Lee Sun Hee. Seo Kyung Soo is an attorney working for unscrupulous Oh Tae San and is unhappily married to Oh Rae Young, Oh Tae San's daughter. One day Yoon Mi So's and Seo Kyung Soo's paths cross and change their lives as well as the lives of the people around them. Car crashes are one of the most miserable traits of kdrama, evident signs of creative impotence. And this kdrama has two car crashes in first episodes...   Overall Rating: 5/10

28. The Queen of Office (2013) [직장의 신] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Business, Comedy, Romance, Drama This drama is about miss Kim, a big shot contract worker that is so charismatic not even a high-level executive can make her budge. She will be at odds with the elite Jang Kyu Jik. It's such a huge pile of stupidities. But as a remake of jdrama it's even worse...   Overall Rating: 5/10

29. Our Love (2013) [爱的创可贴] (Finished 1/36) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Family Zhong Ke Ke rescues Tang Shao Lei from a street fight. Although she assumes that he is a "Moonlight Brother" (those who spend their money before they earn it), nevertheless, they fall in love. Ke Ke's brother, Zhong Yi Fan, becomes a taekwondo instructor since the family business wasn't doing well. He gets to know student Li Dong Dong's single mother Tang Shao Yin and the two fall in love. Later, the Zhong siblings find out that Tang Shao Lei is actually the CEO of the famous Ding Heng Corporation, and that Tang Shao Yin is his sister who ran away from home years ago. The Tang parents oppose both relationships with the Zhong siblings. Tang Shao Lei's fiancée plays dirty tricks in secret, and Dong Dong's biological father, Li Hao, shows up. How do the two pairs of lovers overcome these obstacles? Concept is not far from typical Korean trash, and comedy... it can't be called comedy.   Overall Rating: 5/10

30. The Family Game (2013) [家族ゲーム] (Finished 10/10) Tags: Mystery, Psychological, Drama, Family The story revolves around an eccentric home tutor named Yoshimoto, who is hired to teach the second son of the Numata family. While being tossed around by the weird and unconventional home tutor, the remedial student and his family gradually start changing. Though the previous movie/dramas featured a fiercely competitive high school entrance examinations as its main theme, the 2013 version will also feature some modern problems like bullying and school refusal. To tell the truth, first episodes felt like a perfect masterpiece. But, as it usually happens with mystery, the trill expires and overall impression dulls down when it all reveals. The majority episodes felt like a thought-provoking masterpiece. Plus, themes of death and bullying aren't universally advisable.   Overall Rating: 9/10

31. Goddess of Marriage (2013) [결혼의 여신] (Finished 1/36) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Radio program writer Song Ji Hye has a pure outlook that could be construed as naive but also self-assertive. She dreams of having a soulmate but worries about the difference between reality and an ideal love. She falls into a love triangle with two men. The only feeling that I constantly experienced during pilot was cringe.   Overall Rating: 5/10

32. All about My Romance (2013) [내 연애의 모든 것] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Political Kim Su Yeong is a newly elected member of the National Assembly. He is a member of the conservative New Korea Party. Prior to his election, Kim Su Yeong worked as a judge, but became pressured by higher-ups and decided to enter the political world. Now, Kim Su Yeong becomes involved in a tangled situation with national assembly member No Min Yeong, who entered the political world after her sister's death. No Min Yeong's sister was a presidential candidate. No Min Yeong is also a member of the Progressive Labor Party, which only has two members in the national assembly. Kim Su Yeong and No Min Yeong then begin to have romantic feelings for each other. Even if Koreans pick politics theme, they always make just a trashy cringy silly romance comedy again and again.   Overall Rating: 5/10

33. Love Around (2013) [真愛黑白配] (Finished 1/21) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Life, Drama Radio DJ Liang Xiao Shu is outgoing, straightforward, optimistic, and a little drama queen at heart. After finding out her boyfriend of three months is cheating on her, she is devastated. By chance, she meets Zhou Zhen who comes from a former gangster family that has decided to keep their hands clean. Zhen is gentle, gracious, and upright, encouraging Xiao Shu and trying to help her move on. Zhen becomes an employee at the radio station where Xiao Shu works by mistake and goes to great lengths to hide his true identity by impersonating a salesperson. Little does he know, that the seed of love has already begun to grow.  Copycat of Korean romance trash. Silliness, primitiveness, pride, bumping, cringe - everything is present.   Overall Rating: 5/10

34. Hua Jai Rua Puang (2013) [หัวใจเรือพ่วง] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama The lives of four people undergo significant changes when resort owner Pete Peerapope and Rantida decide to get engaged. For both, it’s a marriage of convenience. On Pete’s side, he wants to make his dying mother happy by fulfilling his duties as a son by getting married, and as far as he’s concerned, Ran is the best choice as his bride; on Ran’s side, she wants a fresh start and sees her boss Pete as the fastest and easiest way out of a bad situation. Standing in their way is Ran’s Aunt Pat who has raised her since she (Pat) graduated from university and returned from abroad. She doesn’t want Ran to make the same mistake she did in the past, nor does she trust Pete, making it difficult for Pete and Ran to get married. She wants Ran to be completely honest with Pete about her mother Thipapa, who’s in prison, and her son Atom, whom everyone believes to be Pat’s son before she’ll agree to their marriage, but unbeknownst to both Pete and Pat, Ran is hiding yet another secret: Pete’s cousin Tarit, who’s married to a sickly wife, is Ran’s ex-boyfriend and Atom’s father. To complicate matters, despite all their bickering, Pete and Pat find themselves falling for each other. Horrible mess, and ofc with rape attempt right away. Guess lakorns are unwatchable till 2016 misogyny law.   Overall Rating: 5/10

35. Legend of Lu Zhen (2013) [陸貞傳奇] (Finished 1/59) Tags: Historical, Romance, Drama, Political To escape her cruel stepmother, Lu Zhen enters the palace as an attendant. She was quickly promoted through the ranks for her pottery-making skill. During this time, she captures the heart of crown prince Gao Zhan. However, she can never be with him as social status and jealous enemies work against her at every turn. She devotes herself to politics and helps Gao Zhan defeat a coup d'etat. Though Gao Zhan can not make her his empress, he bestows her with the highest position in the land, the female prime minister. Stupid flights. Of course.   Overall Rating: 5/10

36. Mu Lan (2013) [巾帼大将军] (Finished 3/40) Tags: Historical, Romance, Drama In Jun Dynasty, there are two young ladies in Hua’s family. Ruo Lan is gentle and kind. Yu He is sweet and charming. To fulfil their father’s desire and ambitions, Ruo Lan disguises herself as a man replacing his father to be a soldier, whereas Yu He trains herself as a dancer aiming at entering the palace to become a mistress of the Emperor. Ruo Lan becomes comrade in arms of Prince Jun and Commander Zhu during the military training, they go through thick and thin together in the battles but they are lost little by little in such a complicated relationship. At the same time, Yu He enters in the power struggle in the palace, to secure the Emperor's favor and climb up the ladder to success, she has to turn herself to be greedy, evil and imperious... The story of these two sisters becomes a legend in the Chinese history. Fine for Chinese historical drama, but genuinely of zero interest to me. Watchable only if have not watched good taiga.   Overall Rating: 6/10

37. Dating Agency: Cyrano (2013) [연애조작단: 시라노] (Finished 1/16) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama Min Yeong works as a dating agent, and while her field of work requires her to offer her clients the perfect match by levels, she romantically believes that love shouldn't have restrictions. She risks getting into trouble as she plans a date between a low-level class client and a higher rank woman. All seems to go according to plan until we find out that Byun Hoon, the leader of another agency, is trying to do the same with his own client. Beginning is of much higher quality than usual because basis is original movie and not original trashy concept. In such concept charismatic male lead is needed. Here there's none for me, plus all Japanese drama with similar concepts are still better.   Overall Rating: 6/10

38. Nail Shop Paris (2013)  [네일샵 파리스] (Finished 1/10) Tags: Comedy, Romance, Drama, Supernatural Hong Yeo Joo is the writer of a popular internet novel about a gumiho. After Yeo Joo witnesses nail salon owner Alex saving a woman from an assault at the subway station, she is convinced that he is the perfect hero for her story. The shop "Paris" only hires male nail artists. To get more material for her story, Yeo Joo is determined to work at the nail shop and disguise herself as a flower boy with help from her friend Ji Soo. Supernatural trap fashion/nail shop makes it three red flags.   Overall Rating: 5/10

39. Cruel City (2013) [무정도시] (Finished 1/20) Tags: Action, Thriller, Romance, Crime It portrays the cruel life of the drug cartels and the story of revenge for a loved one. Jung Shi Hyun is a newly appointed under-boss of the drug cartel. He lives in the shadows. No one knows his true name. No one knows his identity except the ones he calls friends. When Jung Shi Hyun is accused of murder, he is determined to find out who really killed the girlfriend of Ji Hyung Min. But is it really only for himself? Or does he have another reason to find out who killed her? Ji Hyung Min is a detective who is seeking revenge for the death of his girlfriend. He only has one suspect in mind, Doctor's Son. He's determined to catch him and kill him for what he has done. But no one knows what Doctor's Son looks like or any details about him, so how is he supposed to know who he is and how to find him? He proceeds on a long journey to fight for justice. Such undercover agents don't exist in real life, so it's a variation of superagents. Add here revenge and result is clear.   Overall Rating: 5/10

40. Just You (2013) [就是要你愛上我] (Finished 1/21) Tags: Business, Comedy, Romance Qi Yi is a boss from hell, worse than a dictator. He is the saboteur of office romance. Cheng Liang Liang is tasked by her coworkers to break down the boss' defenses and convince him to lift the anti-office-romance rule. But will the two of them find themselves falling for each other along the way? Totally recycled concept with totally stolen beginning and overall zero originality or common sense, so dumpster material.   Overall Rating: 5/10

41. When a Man Falls in Love (2013) [남자가 사랑할 때] (Finished 2/20) Tags: Romance, Drama, Melodrama Han Tae Sang is a successful businessman, who has a cold-blooded decisiveness and incredible drive. This has helped him attain his current status, as he started with nothing. He then meets a younger woman named Seo Mi Do. Her personality reminds him of himself when he was that age. Han Tae Sang begins to feel love for the first time in his life. Seo Mi Do is full of ambition, and she is also bright and lovely. Seo Mi Do isn't afraid of anything because she went through so many difficult times growing up. A man named Lee Jae Hee then confronts Han Tae Sang over Seo Mi Do. Had to venture into second episode to see if this honest mafia man becomes a banal revenge plot, but it becomes just nothingness, dull waste of time as new conflicts form and meetings happen.   Overall Rating: 5/10

42. Monstar (2013) [몬스타] (Finished 4/12) Tags: Music, Romance, Youth Sul Chan, a member of Korea's most popular K-Pop boy band 'Men in Black', is provoked into pushing one of his crazy fans, and when that goes viral, his reputation plummets. As damage control, his agency tells him to quietly attend school for a while. Meanwhile, Se Yi, a new transfer student from New Zealand, draws attention in the school for both her talent and oddness. Misunderstandings occur between Seol Chan, Se Yi, and their other classmates. But in the midst of all the chaos, these students find a common interest which connects them to each other: music. As they gather together to sing and play the music they love, they learn to soothe the pain inside them, and to open each of their souls. Male idols reverse harem is not my field of expertise. Lingered for some time to see if could be another Fukumenkei Noise, but it did not become one for me since this one is less story-oriented and more school SOL and relations oriented, plus it's rather toxic even though less so than adult kdrama. Can't say that musical part is outstanding for me as nothing is really catchy. Very nice overall, but I still got tired of it and not willing to continue, so can't rate higher.   Overall Rating: 6/10

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