Dramabuds!

1x19 | Black Dog (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Today’s episode talks about BLACK DOG (2020), a Kdrama that likely slipped past everyone’s radar. Despite the (surprisingly) long runtime of today’s episode, this is not actually one of Francine’s favorite shows. On today’s episode, she talks about letting go of dreams, crying at unexpected moments, and Misaeng (yes, unsurprisingly).

1x18 | 18 Again (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) 18 AGAIN (2020) is more than just a remake of the 2009 American movie, 17 Again; it’s a 1000% improvement from the original work. Today on Dramabuds, Francine talks about cultural differences, relationships, and being a motivational speaker.

1x17 | Run On (Second Chances) Introducing the newest segment of Dramabuds: Second Chances, where Francine watches shows she dropped and tries to understand why people liked them (with no guarantee that she’ll end up liking them as well). Today’s show is RUN ON (2020), a slow and chill Kdrama that should have been her cup of tea but somehow wasn’t what she wanted and how she wanted things done. It...

1x16 | Mr. Sunshine (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) MR. SUNSHINE (2018) is a Kdrama masterpiece and is possibly the most tragic show our host has ever watched. On today’s episode, Francine talks about Kdrama comparisons, visual storytelling, and ghostwriters. (spooky :o )

1x15 | Live (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Sometimes the right show finds you at the right time, and LIVE (2018) gave our host the right amount of sadness and slice-of-life feels when she needed it the most. On today’s episode, Francine talks about new perspectives, cognitive dissonance, and the worst case of second-lead syndrome she’s ever experienced (even if she still doesn’t believe in SLS and t...

1x14 | The Producers (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) With a wacky premise and a great cast of frustrating but likable leads, THE PRODUCERS (2015) is easily Francine’s favorite Kdrama comedy. On today’s episode, Francine discusses her general aversion for light shows, her exposure to the Korean entertainment industry, and her discovery of a female character that she completely relates to (with a dash...

1x13 | Arthdal Chronicles (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Today’s episode is 1/2 a Kdrama review and 1/2 an info dump on the crazy world of ARTHDAL CHRONICLES (2019). Francine discusses her love for morally grey characters, her absolute adoration for PD Kim Won Suk’s works (yet again), and the reason why seasonal formats for Kdramas are a terrible idea.

1x12 | Stranger & Stranger 2 (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Today’s episode of Dramabuds features Francine’s latest Kdrama obsession, STRANGER (2017 & 2020). It’s less of a recap and more of an endless stream of praise for this amazing show, its excellent writing, and the actors that brought this murder-mystery-thriller ride to life (feat. more praise for Cho Seung Woo, as a sequel to the pr...

1x11 | Signal (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) With a unique time bending concept that has confused and intrigued audiences for years and years, SIGNAL (2016) is still one of the best Kdramas out there. On today’s episode, Francine talks about yet another work from her favorite Kdrama director and about the many aspects that makes it a masterpiece to this very day.

1x10 | Dr. Romantic & Dr. Romantic 2 (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) On today’s episode of Dramabuds, Francine talks about her journey with the DR. ROMANTIC series (2016 & 2020), which is less of a journey and more of a rollercoaster ride. She talks about her least favorite protagonist, her newfound appreciation for certain actresses, and her hopes for the series’s future (*manifests another...

1x09 | Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) With a brand new year comes a brand new episode of Dramabuds! Today, Francine talks about the absolute classic, the tragedy among all tragedies: MOON LOVERS: SCARLET HEART RYEO (2016). It’s a polarizing show, with its many good and many bad points, but you can’t deny the impact it made on the Kdrama community (and the pain everyon...

2020 SPECIAL | Year-end Recap and Awards Surprise, it’s the Dramabuds Awards! On today’s special episode of Dramabuds, Francine looks back on all the Kdramas that made this year just a little bit better. From some of the best to some of the worst, this episode is all about appreciating the Kdramas that took over her life.

1x08 | Hospital Playlist (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Let’s end the year by talking about the Kdrama that saved this year: HOSPITAL PLAYLIST (2020), made by the much-acclaimed Shin-Lee PD-Writer duo. This episode also features another guest on the show, Francine’s friend Louie (please forgive the rambling, the fangirling, and the spoilers for Reply 1988 and Prison Playbook because we have no self-...

1x07 | Life (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Today’s episode of Dramabuds features LIFE (2018), a medical drama for those who want less “medical” and more “drama.” It’s a show that talks about hospital management, the morality of doctors vs. businessmen, and the grey area where both sides are neither wrong nor right.

1x06 | Stove League (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) On today’s episode of Dramabuds, Francine discusses STOVE LEAGUE (2019), this year’s winner of Best Drama in the Baeksang Arts Awards (a well-deserved award!). It’s a sports anime in Kdrama form, and all its fans will be eagerly waiting for a season 2 with the Dreams.

1x05 | Start-Up (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) This show recently took the Kdrama community by storm, so today’s episode is an unscripted rant session on START-UP (2020), featuring the very first guest on Dramabuds: Francine’s sister, Ilene.

1x04 | My Mister (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) Some Kdramas touch your heart so deeply that it’s a struggle to even come up with the right words to describe it. On this week’s episode of Dramabuds, Francine attempts to discuss MY MISTER (2018), a masterpiece of a Kdrama that truly starts making you question: what is life, and what is it worth living for?

1x03 | It’s Okay, That’s Love (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) This episode of Dramabuds talks about IT’S OKAY, THAT’S LOVE (2014), a Kdrama that touches on intimacy, mental illness, and much, much more. It’s an emotional punch in the gut hidden behind a quirky, lighthearted vibe, and it’s made even better by exceptional performances from the main couple (and their amazing chemistry).

1x02 | Misaeng (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) On this week’s episode of Dramabuds, Francine discusses her all-time absolute favorite Kdrama, MISAENG (2014). This show, with its excellent ensemble cast and their touching journeys, all wrapped up in a bleak and mundane office setting, truly showcases the best of what Kdramas could be.

1x01 | Do You Like Brahms? (Reviews, Recaps, and Rants) On the first episode of Dramabuds, Francine discusses the SBS drama, DO YOU LIKE BRAHMS? (2020). A n underrated Kdrama that concluded to a sweet and satisfying ending, this drama is way more complex and engaging than its complicated love triangles. (please give this show a chance i love it so much thank you)