thundie
ockoala
Serendipity
Michael
Softy
Laica
momosan
leonardswench
supahDrama ratings
These ratings reflect how I feel about a drama, not how technically brilliant I think the drama is. Only the ones that I’ve completed in their entirety will be rated. By the way, this page used to be “Top 10 Dramas” and then “Top 40 Dramas” before morphing into “Drama Ratings” on March 10, 2010. That would explain comments #1-39!
Updated: August 19, 2011
Ratings: 1-10 (1 for yikes and 10 for yay!)
1% of Anything (6)
A Love to Kill (3)
Accidental Couple (6)
Again, My Love (3)
All In (7)
Alone in Love (9)
Assorted Gems (8)
Attic Cat (8.5)
Auction House (3)
Bad Family (9)
Beating Heart (9)
Beautiful Days (6)
Best Love (8.5)
Booyong of Mt. Kyeryong (8)
Brilliant Legacy (8.5)
Can You Hear My Heart (10)
Chuno (7.5)
City Hall (7.5)
City Hunter (9.5)
Comrades (10)
Conspiracy in the Court (10)
Count of Myeongdong (10)
Dae Jang Geum (6.5)
Dal Ja’s Spring (8.5)
Damo (9.5)
Delicious Proposal (6.5)
Delightful Girl Choon Hyang (7.5)
Devil (10)
Did We Really Love? (9)
Dr. Champ (7)
Eyes of Dawn (10)
Eight Days: The Mystery of Jeongjo’s Assassination (9)
Evasive Inquiry Agency (10)
Family Honor (8)
Fantasy Couple (7)
Fashion Seventies (8.5)
Fight (9)
Full House (6)
Giant (9)
Glass Slippers (8)
Goodbye Solo (9.5)
Goong (6)
Green Rose (8)
Gyeongsuk, Gyeongsuk’s Father (10)
H.I.T. (8)
He Who Can’t Marry (5)
Hotelier (7)
Hyena (9)
I’m Sorry, I Love You (9)
Jejoongwon (10)
Joseon X-Files (10)
Kingdom of the Wind (6.5)
La Dolce Vita (9.5)
Legend (6.5)
Life is Beautiful (9)
Lovers in Paris (5)
Magic (8.5)
Mr. Duke (6.5)
More Beautiful Than a Flower (10)
My Girl (8)
My Girlfriend is a Gumiho (8.5)
My Love Toram (9)
My Name is Kim Sam Soon (9)
My Older Brother (8)
My Sweet Seoul (7.5)
New Tales of Gisaeng (6)
Oh! My Lady (8)
Only You (7.5)
Partner (5)
Phoenix (3)
Queen Seondeok (6)
Really Really Like You (6.5)
Resurrection (10)
Return of Iljimae (10)
Royal Family (7)
Ruler of Your Own World (10)
Que Sera Sera (9)
Sang Doo, Let’s Go to School (8.5)
Sandglass (10)
Scale of Providence (8.5)
Secret Garden (7.5)
Shin Don (12)
Solitude (9)
Soulmate (9.5)
Son of Wind (7)
Stairway to Heaven (2)
Strike Love (4)
Strongest Chil Woo (8)
Sungkyunkwan Scandal (8.5)
Super Rookie (7.5)
Surgeon Bong Dal Hee (8)
Sweet 18 (8)
Taereung National Village (10)
Tamra the Island (9)
Thank You (8.5)
The Woman Who Still Wants To Marry (9)
Thousand Years of Love (3)
Time between Dog and Wolf (9)
Transformation (9)
We Are Dating Now (7.5)
What Happened in Bali (8.5)
What’s Up, Fox (9)
White Tower (10)
Who Are You (9)
Winter Sonata (4)
Wish Upon a Star (8)
Women in the Sun (7.5)
You’re Beautiful (8.5)
I didn’t watch ‘Eyes Of Dawn’ yet. But I watched ‘The Sandglass’ when I was very young. And because I was very young at the time so I can’t remember much about it, just know it’s very good, isn’t it ? Do you know where I can find ‘Eyes Of Dawn’ and ‘The Sandglass’ with English subtitle ?
About ‘Resurrection’, it’s great, especially the leading male Uhm Tae Woong & the veteran actors. But I don’t like the other young characters – no impression !
I’m re-watching ‘Mixed-up Investigative Agency’. It’s really funny but not stupid (like other comedies) !
Enjoy veteran Go Doo Shim in ‘More Beautiful Than A Flower’ ! And did you watch ‘Love & Ambition’ (aka 신화) – another Go Doo Shim’s drama ? It’s one of my favourites for all time !
And… Ahhhh…… Conspiracy In The Court !!! My best drama ! I’ve watched it over and over ! I don’t know how to explain my feeling… just LOVE it !
The remaining dramas – I haven’t watched yet ^^
Hi Non
I bought Eyes of Dawn from Yesasia and Sandglass from DVD Asian. I’ve not watched Love & Ambition. Is it English-subbed? I’m hopelessly monolingual and the only Kdramas I can watch are those with (hopefully good) English subs.
Yes, Conspiracy in the Court is just so… Ah, I can’t even describe it except to say it’s PERFECT. ^^
yes agree with u, jst fin recently watching CitC, and boy i jst loved it, although i’m a bit sad coz i’m still craving for more ep.. hahaha… i hope that if u can have time, hope u can put Eyes of Dawn, and Sandglass dl jst like u did in CitC, but pls provide smaller mb for non premium users in MEGAUPLOAD… this is only if ur not that busy and able to do so… coz i heard good feedback about that drama, and i’m dying to watch it too.. thanks
Oy… that list looks kinda like the one of someone I know, add or leave a few names. ㅋㅋ
Awww… what a prrrty blog.
While I’ve not seen all of the duramas on your list I would have to agree that “Ruler of Your Own World” is a truly inspiring choice. It certainly is on my list of favorites as well. It is so life-affirming and the acting is first rate. And “Damo”, well gorgeous, evocative, and poignant hardly scratches the surface of the descriptors that apply.
Ho ho! Look who is here! ^^ (BTW, what happened to the Chief Retainer in KOTW? Can you believe I’ve completely forgotten?)
I swear I didn’t steal my Top 10 list from anyone, least of all someone from Temujin’s household!
(Psst… perhaps my list will change after I’ve eaten my fill of the goodies you’re rolling out this year?)
Hi Robin
“Life-affirming” is a great word to describe ROYOW! “Live when you’re alive, and die when you’re dead” (can’t remember the exact words now) reminds me to seize the day, just like our ROYOW couple. Not to dwell on the past nor to live only for the future, but to live each moment NOW to the best of my ability.
Damo made me a weepy wreck. It was amazing!
Thanks for stopping by.
thundie, I’ve tried to find Love & Ambition (aka A Fairy Story Of Love) with English sub. but it has only… Chinese ^^
If you like dramas like The Sandglass, I think you will enjoy this one. It’s a pity if you can’t watch it !
Anyway, here’s its thread in soompi:
http://www.soompi.com/forums/index.php?&showtopic=179765
Ah, I’ve just started to watch Devil because of Uhm Tae Woong and because of… your recommendation ^^
Taereung and MIA are also two of my favorites. ^^
Nice blog, btw. What drama is the pic in your header from?
Hi Non
Thanks for looking. *muah*
Devil (Mawang) is awesome. Enjoy the ride!
Hi fizzle!
If you enjoyed TNV and MIA, does that you mean you now have a soft spot for Minki? (Just wondering! ^^)
That header pic is from Conspiracy in the Court. Do you recognize Jin Yi Han there? He had a cameo in MIA. (Remember the rich young man on the yacht?)
Thanks for dropping by.
Indeed I do have a soft spot for Minki. He was sooo perfect in Dalja’s Spring.
Ah, I vaguely remember Jin Yi Han’s role in MIA, but he made a big impression on me in Who Are You.
Funny about Minki being “sooo perfect” in Dal Ja’s Spring. That was my intro to him, but after watching his other stuff, his Kang Tae-bong in DJS is so un-Minki. He doesn’t even look like Minki, you know what I mean?
Oh I know exactly what you mean. It must have been really weird for him to do DJS after MIA and TNV. After all, his personality seems more ‘adorable goofball’ than Prince Charming. But while Park Mu-yeol is my favorite Minki role, Kang Tae Bong is my ideal boyfriend. ^^
Remember javabeans said if they sell Kang Tae-bongs, she’ll take two? Haha, he must be all sold out by now.
I’ve just finish watching Devil. You’re right, thundie, the drama’s great, really obsessive ! Joo Ji Hoon has an unexpected performance (I thought he can’t act when I watch Goong).
By the way, I’m trying to look all dramas in your list. I believe in your taste !
I really love your choices. But since I read your post her two weeks ago, the dramas here are hard to find online. I mean, I can’t buy the dvd’s (not that I’m complaining) but I really want to taste the greatest of Shin Don, Conspiracy of the court and Rulers of Your Own World. I can’t use torrent recently since my broadband have some problem. But thanks for this post.
Hi Non
I’m delighted you enjoyed Devil (Mawang). It was so addictive, wasn’t it? Ju Ji-hoon really surprised me there.
Hi anastassia
You can find download links for Shin Don at aja-aja.com. The English subs are amazing (misterX’s the translator and he’s a class act). Both Conspiracy and ROYOW should be available for purchase online. There might be download links for ROYOW at soompi.
Thanks. You With2 Subs doing great. Really. I will download the torrents of the very respected dramas mentioned here. I loved all the dramas above, the quality, the reviews I read and everything only that I didnt have the times to deal with it yet. White House, Shin Don, COTC and ROYOW. I always longing for those.
Alright, this is the second day I visited this site checking out other goodies
From the above list, I’ve watched WT, MIA and currently watching MBTAF; Damo & Rebirth are still tugging neatly beside the dvd machine, not sure why I bought them…, aish must be inspired by your year-end reviews at your chingu’s blog ;p
One quick question, you must have watched Fashion 70s right, I stopped a while back at the part where the city girl found out that the village girl was her childhood friend when she saw the bullet mark on her chest during one raining night.
Just wondering if it is worth continuing ;p
Hi Janie
Oh, definitely continue with Fashion 70s. Kim Min-jung’s performance in the last few episodes is very good. I still think the best part of the drama is the first four episodes with the awesome child actors, but overall the drama’s very decent fare.
Hi Thundie,
Since you said the first 4 epi of 70s are superb then I won’t continue the rest since I have seen the best! Indeed the child actors are superb, their acting still linger so richly on my mind; I cried so much watching them struggling and surviving in the war etc the two girls are just so great and convincing; I find the drama gets a bit slow and the adult acting is not as good as the children so it no longer grab my attention.
hehee, I treat you as my k-drama/movie mentor now
Thanks for the reply of the current drama suggestion. But either way I have lost I don’t know interest in current dramas. I tried VERY hard to like those and most of K dramas nowadays but I just can’t. I try to giggle watching trendy dramas, but my soul just can’t endure the painful watching those dramas. I want to have the feelings that once I have when watching something lighthearted k dramas but just failed. Maybe after married, I want something soulful, well (maybe I’m too choosy. Not at all. Argghh). But one thing for sure my long lost love is ROYOW.
I have been searching for this drama for a LONG time. I seriously want to watch this drama since I heard from Thundie and you. I try to download online on Aja-aja, none. Try to search of online buying. It was with Chinese subs. It was the drama that I know I will love from the very beginning. A masterpiece as you said. Lots of dramas can’t catch my interest and attention in the beginning and lose my attention in the middle and I haven’t had the patient to endure to the end. Loads of others important work in my hand.
But this ROYOW is something I know I will love throughly and deeply.
Its kind of strange I really dig or more into your dramas taste and dahee too no matter how I enjoyed reading Sarah (javabeans) review. It just three of you plus Sevenses and Fizzle really those I respect and believe in taste of K dramas and seems reflect the objectivity and other attachment while write a reviews of a drama.
I will first finish Who Are You and Painter. I just finished Bad Family and now started some of past years K dramas, but lost interest. I’m now trying to watch Brilliant Legacy and still try to find ROYOW.
Opss. Sorry dear for the long rants.
Actually the above comment contains some of my comment on Dahee’s blog. Sorry for the wrong name.:)
Will definitely try some on your list which I previously did not consider. Too bad Accidental Couple did not win a place.
Hi madkdr
Hehe, I left out many dramas actually. For instance, although I watched more than 20 last year, I included only two. Some notable favorites for many people (Coffee Prince, Full House, Dae Jang Geum…) aren’t there as well!
Accidental Couple was watchable for me because of Hwang Jung-min and I think he’s beyond awesome in it. But since AC is a one-man vehicle, I excluded it from the list. The writing is always the most important thing for me, but for a drama to excel, it needs to be doing at least a few things well: script, acting (main & supporting cast), direction, atmosphere, editing, etc. The ENDING also needs to make sense, lol!
After looking at the list, I realized that I’m sooooo far away from such K-Drama master like you, Thundie. I have watched and finished only 9 out of the 40 you have above. Gosh…
I’m planning on finishing Taereung and Along in Love tho, sometime soon….ish. I really tried watching Goodbye Solo, and it put me to sleep. Am I missing a lot here? I mean, CJM is delectable, but any other good reason?
Thundie, glad you increased your archive… out of the 40 dramas listed, I have watched 11 of them, not bad ;p
~~
Looks like BV won’t make it to the list since it’s like one-man- show too ;p Poor KMM has to carry the weight of the drama. For me, every line and expression of his in BV is a laugh out loud moment
I have recommended BV to a friend (who is an avid fan of Takuya, Abe Hiroshi, LBH, Han Suk-kyu, SKH etc) and whoa, this is what she commented…
” After watching Beethoven Virus – a strong film, it will be a challenge to find a drama that will match it. Because BV has a lot of energy. KMM exudes strength and energy in his acting, it will certainly be difficult to find a drama that will satisfy…”
Hi deeta
First, I’m no Kdrama master, aigoo! That title belongs to a certain X, who happens to be back from long subbing leave (eye surgery) and is now on a subbing roll!
About Goodbye Solo, Noh Hee-kyung (the writer) is an acquired taste. Her dramas tend to get really, really dismal ratings; she holds the record for lowest rating ever for a drama! So don’t worry if you can’t enjoy her dramas; you’re in the majority!
For me, the first drama I truly loved was Have We Really Loved. That was my intro to Noh Hee-kyung (even tho’ I had no idea who she was at that time; I didn’t pay attention to the writers then, only the stars, oops). I just love her writing. Her dramas aren’t melodramatic and terribly eventful; the focus is usually on relationships. She gives me characters that I care deeply about. I think X explains it really well in his Goodbye Solo review here:
http://twitchfilm.net/site/view/k-drama-reviews-goodbye-solo/