@grumpasaurus
My vote is for the episode where your TV is in danger of being broken in your frustration. Or, when you just can't make yourself tune into one more episode. It doesn't matter when or why you don't like a show. It's your watching time.
#kdrama

We ultimately see how the kids turn out, find love, and start their journey into adulthood. I cannot tell you how involved I got in the lives of these 5 families, and how hard I balled at the end Really beautifully done in my opinion, and a sweeping, epic work of storytelling. Five enthusiastic stars!
25/X
#kdrama

It's the most naturalistic series I watched so far, in the sense that characters, pacing, and everyday situations are the most unvarnished picture of working class Korean families in the 80's. The parents bicker a lot, the kids are mostly fuck-ups, and everybody is worried about money. Against this day-to-day struggling there are little moments of tenderness and caring that seem so poignant. This drama unfolds over 20 long episodes, spanning 6+ years.
24/X
#kdrama

Reply 1988 was my next title. This was the result of a search on some forums for highly regarded, or iconic dramas. The story follows the lives of 5 teenagers and their families in a close-knit neighborhood in Seoul, starting in 1988. It has a compelling nostalgic feel, and the central character Deok-Sun is so lovable, despite her awkward goofiness.
23/X
#kdrama

Predictably the convenience store is a nexus for a cadre of kookie and lovable characters and side stories. We see Eun-byul go behind her older sister's back to secretly debut as part of the K-pop group "Fancy Girls," causing numerous complications. And we see Saet-byul utilize the martial arts skills learned as a child to deliciously trounce legions of girl gangs, bullies, and delinquents trying to rip off Dae-hyun's store. A dorky and satisfying romp. Five stars.
22/X
#kdrama

When the dazzling Saet-byul comes to work at the convenience store it sets off a series of unhinged and hilarious events. This comedy is indeed cheesy and soapy, but of course I got totally involved. I really enjoyed the exploration of class, and how the working class characters inevitably come across as much more genuine and likeable than the upper class ones.
21/X
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Her love interest is Dae-hyun, the cute and good-hearted operator of a convenience store. Dae-hyun is currently dating Yeon-ju, whose family owns a marjority stake in the entire convenience store chain. Yeon-ju loves Dae-hyun, but she is conflicted because of their differing social class. Yeon-ju's mother disapproves of the match, and she sets in motion a number of plots to sabotage their relationship.
20/X
#kdrama

My next title was another attempt to pick a show that was cheesy and dumb. I literally picked the first title Netflix recommended, Backstreet Rookie. The show, which is based on a web comic, revolves around Saet-byul, a beautiful yet troubled teen in a working class Seoul neighborhood. Her father was a martial arts master, whose untimely death left Saet-byul to raise her unruly younger sister Eun-byul.
19/X
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