If you're looking at this post and thinking, "Wow, Preethi only posts twice a year now, huh," you would be absolutely correct. I've been reading and consuming so many books and dramas throughout the pandemic year that I simply have not had the time or inclination to share my findings with the rest of the world outside of Twitter. However, I do love making these TOPFIVE posts because it's a really nice way to summarize the best dramas of the year, plus you guys seem to love them! While I definitely struggled to come up with five dramas that were good enough to brag about for my "best kdramas from the first half of 2020" post and had to end up compromising a bit on the last few dramas on the list, rest assured that the kdramas that have made this list are naught but the best.
Awaken
Awaken is Namkoong Min's latest drama, and I have to say that it's shaping up to be my favorite kdrama of 2020. There are still two weeks left to this drama (that's four episodes), and boy am I thankful because I'm going to be so sad when I'm all out of episodes to watch. This drama is a blast from the very beginning, but it's around the second episode that the laughs start hitting their mark and the plot starts to come in more thoroughly. The key to clicking with a drama is loving the cast and loving the story, and I can assuredly say "I do" to both of these. Each episode is such a thrill, and the characters are so unique and fun that the wait for new episodes each week is truly a misfortune. Awaken is about a special police team that's tasked with finding out why people keep dying in these apparent suicides that aren't actually suicides. They're joined by a Korean American woman who used to work for the FBI, and as it turns out, the mastermind behind the murders may be closer than they seem. There's an elaborate backstory, characters exploring how they're connected to one another and turning on each other, delightful chemistry between the two leads (yay!), and comic scenes and memorable moments that will literally make you laugh out loud. Comedy + romance + plot executed together beautifully = a perfect drama.
Sweet Home
This was one of my most anticipated dramas of the year because I am a huge Lee Jin-wook fan, but I thought this wouldn't end up airing in 2020 because of COVID and so I kind of forgot about it for the most part. However, imagine my surprise when we got an air date and all ten episodes dropped on Netflix on a Friday — a weekend has never been better spent. The monster premise is quite awesome - even better than zombies because we get variety - and Lee Jin-wook's character is my favorite, but also literally everything about this drama is amazing. The large, star-studded cast is perfection; the music choices are fun and interesting, although it takes a couple episodes for them to get the transitions to music to be more seamless; and the whole theme of what makes humans different from monsters and the exploration of relationships between the different characters truly makes this drama what it is. We're left with a cliffhanger that basically begs for a second season, but regardless of whether this drama is renewed, I absolutely love love love the single season we have right now.
 |
| None of these are main characters, but the writing and cast did so well a job that they're just as memorable and impactful. [Sweet Home] |
Stranger 2
I knew that Stranger 2 was coming out in the second half of the year, and so I purposefully watched the first season at the start of 2020 just for that reason (and also because I'd low key become a Cho Seung-Woo fangirl after seeing him in the drama Life). I enjoyed the first season without being obsessed with it and was really looking forward to the second season, especially after the first half of 2020 turned out extremely disappointing in terms of kdramas. I'm happy to say that Stranger 2 did not disappoint, and in fact, I liked it even more than season one! The second season is admittedly slower than the first, and it deals more with the theoretical question of prosecution versus police - where is the power balance, or lack thereof? - and yet I looked forward to it week after week. The main characters were as brilliant and compelling as always, and I adored the new cast — I really grew invested in them even though they were the most flawed characters that ever existed. It took quite a while for our two favorite leads to start working together and give us those delightful partner scenes, but honestly just their faces and attitudes were a delight to watch week after week. I love them. And in a surprising Stranger 2 twist, this season got me extremely invested in Prosecutor Seo Dong-jae! There's this really funny meme that's the Finding Nemo movie poster with Stranger 2 character's faces on it — I would share but that'd spoil the drama, so I shall refrain.
Hospital Playlist
This one won't be new to you if you're a huge Chef (aka Jo Jung-suk) fan or if you've already checked out my best kdramas from the first half of the year post, but I cannot emphasize how good this drama is, and I'm happy to say that it still makes the best of 2020 list! It's written by the Reply series writer, but even if you don't adore those dramas the way most people do (I may or may not fall into this category), this one is definitely worth a try. The characters charm you right from the start - just wait 'till Chef shows up - the writing is so warm, and this drama just makes you so happy. The relationships are brilliant and so realistic - I still don't know how the writer does it - and I love everybody. I swear I've never felt so strongly about a slice of life drama in my entire existence. It does end on a bit of a cliffhanger while wrapping most plot points up, but that's a-okay because I believe we're getting the second season in just a couple more months! Also, if you're hesitating because you're rarely in the mood for a medical drama, don't worry, that's not what this is. This is just a chill, wholesome, and lovable drama about some lovely people's lives, and even though most of those lovely people happen to work in a hospital, I can't even clearly remember a single surgery or patient's case because this drama isn't about that — it's about the characters.
Hyena
I can already hear you going awww, Preethi, this one was on your other kdramas of 2020 post too! I know, I know, but don't blame me, blame 2020 for giving us such poor dramas! Besides, thanks to this drama, at least we're able to maintain our top five list — if this didn't exist, I would've just given up and written a top four list because I refuse to compromise like I did for the first half of the year.
Hyena, if you've not heard of it, is a drama on Netflix with the hands down sexiest poster I have seen on a kdrama. And to my surprise, the chemistry between the two leads lives up to it! The first episode is fun and brilliant cinema that sets up a (not quite) lovers to enemies to lovers romance between the two leads, all against the backdrop of a court case because yes, they're two lawyers — one rich and lacking some heart, the other broke but fiery with passion. Hyena's premiere episode is literally the second best of 2020 — the first best premiere, I hate to admit, goes to Start Up, although that ended up being the worst drama of 2020 and also the worst drama I've ever watched in my life, so I guess don't put too much stock in premiere episodes. But I digress. The Hyena couple remains iconic because they're so freaking wacky, and I completely adore them for that. They've been serving looks, attitude, and sexual tension since February, so go check them out if you haven't already and you're in the mood for a fun romp set against a relatively simple storyline. You won't regret it.
