I really took the time in July to finish up the dramas I was currently watching or make a lot of progress on dramas that I need to get off of my watchlist. This means that I did complete a fair amount of dramas/tv shows in July, but I am not watching a lot now. I also dropped a good number of dramas in July, more in July than any other month so far in 2024. August is going to be a very busy month for me so, I am trying to keep my watchlist small because I don't have a lot of time to watch dramas. ALSO, I AM AN AVID OLYMPICS WATCHER! The Olympics are currently airing and will air into August so, that will take up a bunch of my drama watching time as well. I will be curious what I complete in August because of all of these reasons.
DRAMAS/MOVIES I COMPLETED IN JULY
I can't believe it is August already. Where is this year going? July definitely slowed down for me in terms on completed dramas. I fell behind on a couple of dramas I had to catch up on. I also dropped a Bunch of dramas in July which caused me not to complete as many dramas as planned. I also did not start a lot of new dramas in July because nothing really caught my eye. Or the drama wasn't released on a streaming platform I had access too. Mostly though, I was and still am working on dramas that I need to finish up for future podcast episode recordings or just want to get off of my watchlist because they have been on there for way too long. I also felt that I was just so unmotivated this month to watch dramas. It felt like I was watching episodes at a snail's pace for some reason. We definitely still made progress in July.
The Player Season 2: Master of Swindlers (Kdrama)(VIKI):
I liked Season 1 more than Season 2 BUT if you enjoyed Season 1 of this drama, you should check Season 2 out. It was still a lot of fun and enjoyable to watch. I enjoyed revisiting this story and characters. The production clearly wants to do a Season 3 which I would watch. I think Season 1 had a bit more comedy that Season 2 so, I wish Season 2 had more comedy. I LOVED the cameos and villains in Season 2 of the Player. TELL ME WHY VILLAINS IN KDRAMAS ALWAYS ARE GOOD LOOKING! This is still an enjoyable drama and if you have not checked out The Player series, I would recommend this one.
RATING: 8.5/10
Connection (Kdrama)(VIKI):
This is NEARLY a perfect Kdrama for me. It was so much better than I expected it to be. I just did not know how Korea was going to pull off a crime drama about a cop addicted to drugs BUT THEY DID! There was a small twist at the end of the drama that I wish was not included in the story. I didn't that it was added into the drama. The acting was PHENOMENAL - especially Jisung. This is just a fantastic crime drama. It is written well with twists but also is tight with no thread left unresolved at the end of the drama. I loved the found family in the drama. There was a lot of tension and suspense which was great but also gave me a lot of anxiety throughout the drama. One of the best crime Kdramas I have had the pleasure of watching.
RATING: 9.5/10
Blossoms in Adversity (Cdrama)(VIKI):
This is a solid Chinese drama. I can see why a lot of people enjoyed this drama when it came out. It wasn't the best Chinese drama I have ever watched but it is good. The main couple were cute, but they were not my favorite couple ever. This couple was not a highlight for me in this drama. I still enjoyed them, but I liked other aspects of this drama more. I loved the female lead and how strong she was in the drama. A highlight for me with this drama was the female lead and her family. I loved watching their journey from the beginning of the drama losing everything to building everything back up again and getting through the obstacles thrown at them. I thought this journey was well paced. I got to see the different characters grow and change from beginning to the end. I rooted for this family to succeed. This drama was well acted. I also would have changed some parts of the ending. Overall, a solid and enjoyable cdrama though. I am releasing a full review of this drama on the podcast very soon.
RATING: 8.5/10
The Victim's Game Season 2 (Tdrama) (NETFLIX): I liked season 1 a little more than season 2. Season 2 is still a great drama. You do need to watch Season 1 to understand some of the things going on with the characters in Season 2. Mainly the storylines going on in the main characters' personal lives, nothing having to do with the main case that is being investigated in Season 2. I still thought the story/case was engaging. The acting was amazing just like it was in Season 1. I wish we got deeper conversations between the characters. I also felt like some characters/actors were underutilized in the drama. I definitely need a Season 3. I am releasing a full review of this drama (both seasons) in the future on the podcast so, look forward to that.
RATING: 8.5/10
The Boyfriend (Japanese Variety Show) (NETFLIX): I WAS OBSESSED WITH THIS SHOW! If you guys don't know (you probably do by now) I LOVE romance variety shows. I need to watch more of them. I was so invested in these people and who they would couple up with. Did everyone I like get their happy ending? No BUT I enjoyed the journey. I am not going to spoil anything here. I plan on doing a full podcast episode on the Variety show with my recap for the last 4 episodes and my thoughts and full review in that episode, so check that episode out in a couple of weeks.
RATING: 10/10
DRAMAS I DROPPED IN JULY
I ended up dropping 3 dramas in July.
Red Swan (Kdrama) (HULU/Disney +): I was bored with Episode 1. Episode 2 got better BUT the romance/chemistry seemed forced to me. There was no buildup for me. I really could not get behind the chemistry of the leads. I also am not the biggest fan of either of the actors playing the leads.
The Long Ballad (Cdrama) (VIKI): I think I got 10 episodes into this drama. I was not buying the chemistry between the two leads AT ALL!
The Auditors (Kdrama) (VIKI): Even Jin Goo's hair could not save this drama for me. I did not like Lee Jung Ha's character AT ALL in this drama. I didn't mind that his character was a puppy BUT if you are going to be an auditor, you need to look at the job with a realistic lens. You can't assume everyone is an angel and be so stubborn on that point that you refuse to do your job and look into people who might done a crime. After 4 episodes, I just could not take his character anymore.
NEW AUGUST 2024 DRAMAS I AM EXCITED FOR:
I am excited for a good number of dramas in August. More than I thought I would be excited for. There are just two problems. I don't have a lot of time in August to watch dramas. So, I am trying to decide if I just take note of what I am excited for and then wait and start the dramas. OR do I just start all of these dramas but know I am going fall VERY BEHIND on all of them in the month of August. I have some dramas that will be taking priority in August that I just need to finish. As a reminder, I am also watching the Olympics a lot at the beginning of August as well. The other problem is a lot of the dramas I am excited for either don't have release dates and are just rumored for August AND/OR don't have confirmed streaming sites. So, even if I put these dramas on my list to watch, I am not 100% sure if I will get to watch them. We will have to see what happens.
Perfect Family (Kdrama) [PREMIERES AUGUST 14TH, 2024]
This drama surprised me. I don't know what I was expecting but I was not expecting what that first trailer showed us. For some reason, before the trailer, I was not expecting a crime drama. I was expecting more of a comedy. Don't ask me why. The cast is STACKED in this drama. I am excited for this cast. I can see this drama getting intense and crazy fast. The synopsis doesn't give a lot away for this drama. You also have Kim Young Dae in two dramas in August. He plays COMPLETELY opposite roles in these dramas.
Blackout (Kdrama) [PREMIERES AUGUST 16TH, 2024]
I KNEW I WAS GOING TO WATCH THIS DRAMA THE SECOND IT WAS ANNOUNCED! I mean it is a crime drama and it takes place in a village. Two things in a drama that immediately tell me I am going to watch this drama if, I have access to it. This drama is based off of a book written by a German author. While I have not read the book that this drama is based off of, I have read other books in the same series. This drama also has actors in the cast like Byun Yo Han and Go Jun who I have not watched in a drama in YEARS so, it is exciting to see them again in a drama.
Pachinko Season 2 (Kdrama) (APPLE TV+) [PREMIERES AUGUST 23RD, 2024]
THIS IS THE DRAMA I AM MOST EXCITED FOR IN AUGUST! I have been looking forward to Pachinko Season 2 since I finished watching Season 1. Season 1 was in my top Kdramas for 2022 which you can read here. Season 1 was easily one of the best things I watched in 2022 so, I have HIGH expectations for Season 2. I really hope it does not disappoint. I hope my expectations are not TOO HIGH. I still have not read the book so, I have nothing to compare it too except for what I watched in Season 1. The trailer looks like Season 2 is covering some major historical moments so, I am looking forward to that. The cast is just as stacked in Season 2 as it was in Season 1 so, I am not worried about the acting because I know it will be fantastic. I just am PRAYING that this lives up to my expectations.
The Frog (Kdrama) (NETFLIX) [PREMIERES AUGUST 23RD, 2024]
The trailer came out for this drama this past week AND MY GOD IT LOOKS INTENSE! The trailer looks like this drama goes from 0 - 100 REAL QUICK! Go Min Si is playing a character I have never seen her play before. I am really excited to see her play this crazy woman in this drama. I love these types of crime dramas where it happens in the middle of nowhere or in small towns. For some reason, this drama gave me Misery vibes with Kathy Bates. I doubt it is anything like that but for some reason I think of that movie when watching this drama. I love that we still don't quite know 100% what to expect from this drama. I love when that happens. I just am PRAYING this drama is good.
No Gain, No Love (Kdrama) [PREMIERES AUGUST 26TH, 2024]
I KNOW - I actually have a romantic comedy on this list. I don't think I have been looking forward to a romantic comedy in A LONG TIME! I am excited for this drama for 2 reasons. The two leads, Shin Min Ah and Kim Young Dae, I love so, I was very excited to see them paired up in a romance drama. The fact that the second couple already has a spin-off drama announced for them made me also want to watch this drama. The second couple is Lee Sang Yi and Han Ji Hyun. I love that Lee Sang Yi is getting to be a lead in a romance drama so, I needed to support this spin-off. I am also a SUCKER for a contract marriage. So, I figured I would switch things up a bit and put a romantic comedy on my looking forward to in August list.
Renai Battle Royale (Jdrama) (NETFLIX) [PREMIERES AUGUST 29TH, 2024]
I have not watched a lot of Japanese dramas so far in 2024. I hope to change that in the second half of 2024. I just need to watch more Japanese dramas in general at this point. This drama looks INTENSE! It gives me Extracurricular vibes. Apparently, it is partly based on a true story but not the entire story. Also, NETFLIX getting more Japanese dramas, I will ALWAYS support and watch them. We need more access to Japanese dramas.
Queen Woo (Kdrama) [RUMORED FOR AUGUST 30TH, 2024]
I have no idea if we are actually getting this drama. I mean, no confirmed date has come out. No official poster has been released either. I AM HERE FOR THE CAST! There are a lot of great actors/actresses in this cast. A lot of them, I have never seen in a historical drama before so that intrigues me. I also like that the synopsis states this: So, begins the journey of the life of ‘Woo’, who became the first woman in history to become queen twice. I want a DRAMATIC, HIGH STAKES HISTORICAL DRAMA! I have not watched one of these in a while. We will have to see if this actually comes out at the end of August or not.
We will have to wait and see what happens in August. August looks like it might be a good drama month for me. It all depends on if dramas come to streaming sites. It also depends on my schedule. I really need to finish up some of the dramas I am currently watching as well. So, I don't want to overwhelm myself by starting a bunch of new dramas without finish the ones that are currently on my watchlist. August is also a big travel month for me so, I have to factor that in as well. I am just praying that August turns out to be a good drama month for me because I have been underwhelmed with dramas (especially kdramas) in the last couple of months.
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