This year’s review is much different than last year. For starters, instead of two separate posts, one for books and one for television & film, I will be combining them into one. Mainly because for once, this obsessive reader has hit a reading slump and barely read any books this year.
For another, my viewing choices have also drastically changed. In the past I watched a wider range of films which included silent and classic films, documentaries and newer releases all of have been sacrificed in my pursuit and recent obsession with Asian dramas.
Books
Speaking of Asian dramas, this interest led to my only reading experiences this year. If you had told me a year ago that I would be devouring Chinese web novels, I would have laughed. My gateway drug into this world was Love Like the Galaxy which I chose because I loved the television series so much. The excellent translation by Lady Kelpi added to the depth of my love for the story and characters so much that I read it five times in six months. It also motivated me into revisiting the fifty-six episode series.
This led me into looking for other source novels of some of the dramas I enjoyed. And then I got brave and started reading stories that were completely new to me without any tv adaptations, many of which I read multiple times. Sadly, I didn’t keep track of how many novels I read, but I estimate somewhere between twenty to thirty. Some of my favorites were The Noble Woman’s Guide On How to Tease One’s Husband, The Marquis Is Innocent, After Marrying the Disabled Crown Prince of the Enemy Country, Don’t Fall in Love with the Boss (drama name Legally Romance) among others. Finding English translations can be challenging and the quality of the translations varies widely, but I found the effort to be worth it.
FILMS
But back to my onscreen entertainment, this year’s total numbers exceeded last year’s, but are still significantly less than the years before, mainly due to watching less films and more series. My total count for films and series in 2024, including re-watches is 231.
Though I have never included Hallmark movies in my overall count (and still don’t), my curiosity got the better of me this year. My total number for these films in 2024 was 167, many of which were re-watches and about half of which were holiday films I binged at the end of the year. Notable among these films was the long awaited new addition to the Signed Sealed Delivered series. I also watched the entire Chronicle Mysteries series as well as several pre- 2000 films that I’ve never seen, some of which were Hallmark Hall of Fame titles.
Classics & Documentaries- 16 & 1
This year’s classic film count increased a bit from last year, (when my count was only six) but most of them were re-watches. One of my most memorable experiences was seeing an all time favorite, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington on the big screen with my mother. As for new to me pictures, I finally watched Ava Gardener in One Touch of Venus, which I had been wanting to see for years. Unfortunately it turned out to be underwhelming. The only other new to me film was The Man Who Talked Too Much, starring George Brent which was rather forgettable.
The only documentary I got around to viewing this year was George Stevens: A Film Maker’s Journey. Stevens was an Oscar winning film director whose career spanned four decades. I was most interested to learn about his war time service and see his actual film footage of the war and post-war Europe.
A classic film adjacent activity I was thrilled to experience this year was my visit to the Edith Head costume exhibit. Though many of her more famous designs were absent, there were several that were familiar to me, including dresses worn by Olivia de Havilland in The Heiress, Gloria Swanson in Sunset Boulevard, Kim Novak in Vertigo and Grace Kelly in Rear Window. Also included in the exhibit was the Oscar that Edith won for A Place in the Sun, some of her sketches as well as some short films in which she describes the method behind the madness.
Foreign Films/series – 96
My overall count in this category is down from last year’s by about thirty titles, but I attribute that to less movies and more series as well as longer series. Though Korean programming still tops my list by number, I did increase the amount of Chinese dramas this year and those can often run twice as long. I also increased the amount of Japanese dramas I watched, though they still fall a distant third. Additionally, I also intentionally chose to watch more new release series versus playing catch up with previous years’ offerings.
My final count by country is:.
Korea – 52
China – 35
Japan – 9
Denmark – 1
It was a middling year for Korean dramas. Though many were entertaining, few were exceptional. For me, the Chinese dramas were far more memorable, original and unpredictable. One thing I’ve noticed Chinese dramas doing well lately is in writing complex, strong, smart yet still feminine women who are independent yet also value the contributions of the men in their lives.
television series – 34
As far as American, Canadian and British series go, I almost doubled the amount I saw last year. These include re-watches of old favorites like (the original) Frasier, Lark Rise to Candleford, Endeavour, Royal Pains and Mr. and Mrs. Murder as well as continuing seasons of currently airing series such as All Creatures Great and Small, Father Brown, Call the Midwife and Beyond Paradise among others. Disappointing seasons of Miss Scarlet and the Duke, The Way Home and Only Murders in the Building have me pulling the plug this year on watching any future seasons.
It’s always fun to discover new series and I found several to love including A Gentleman in Moscow, Marlow Murder Mysteries and Under the Vines. I also finally got a chance to watch old shows like Moonlighting and Northern Exposure for the first time and see updated versions of old series like Matlock and Frasier.
New releases – 2
There wasn’t much in the theaters to tempt me this year but I did manage to make it there for two films.
- Reagan – really wanted to love this one, but was ultimately disappointed by the quality of the production.
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever – a modern film with a nostalgic feel that had a moving message.
Favorites
This year’s list boasts fewer romances and light hearted stories than previous years. I surprised myself with my choices, most of which either highlight great portrayals of complicated characters, thought provoking or heart breaking stories, or those which explore sensitive topics.
Marry My Husband (Korea) – What made this re-birth revenge drama a stand-out was its’ two excellent villains, both of whom are (fairly) normal people whose utter selfishness drives their atrocious behavior. Although this is Park Min Young’s drama as a young woman who seeks revenge against the husband and best friend who betrayed her, it’s stolen away from her by the supporting actors playing these roles. Watching them receive their come-uppance while pursuing their own self-interests is so gratifying.
Go Ahead/ Family by Choice (China/Korea) – Though they have their differences, what both the Chinese and Korean versions of this drama share in common is a beautifully told story of an unconventionally created family consisting of two men raising three unrelated children. The Chinese version leans very heavily into the emotional trauma caused by the mothers, and the way the romance develops between two of the grown siblings also makes it harder to watch than the Korean adaptation. However, the relationships among the dads and the children are so warm and loving, it makes up for the melodramatic scenes.
A Beautiful Life (Denmark) – The only non-Asian foreign film I watched had an ending that was unexpected and so beautiful I cried. Through the experiences of its’ protagonist, it depicts how unresolved trauma can hinder a person’s future. One of the most unique aspects of this Danish movie is that it cast a real life singer/songwriter in a starring role about an aspiring songwriter. The soundtrack is highly captivating and all the music was written by its’ star.
Flex X Cop (Korea) – This cop-buddy rises above its’ genre thanks to a touching portrayal by Ahn Bo Hyun as a tortured rich boy who finds family and a purpose while acting as an honorary cop with a team of detectives. Watching him slowly build trust with them while also unraveling the sordid history of his own family gave this series a real bittersweet tinge to it. I was especially pleased to see the strong bond he develops with his female team leader and was glad the writers did not sacrifice their friendship for the sake of adding a romantic angle.
The Love You Give Me (China) – I’m extremely picky about shows where kids play a large part in the plot, but this has one of the cutest, most adorable child performances in recent memory in this reunion romance. The way the little boy draws his parents closer together both physically and emotionally was sweet. The parents are likeable people and it was delightful to see how the father immediately sought ways to be a part of his son’s life. The two leading actors have starred together before and it shows in their naturally playful encounters.
When I Was the Most Beautiful (Korea) – I wasn’t searching for a good romantic tragedy, but I found one. Involving a risky plot about a love triangle between two brothers and a young woman all of whom are wrestling with their own individual demons, this one put my heart through the wringer. The brothers give one of the best depictions I’ve seen of the difference between selfish love and sacrificial love. Though there were some flaws with this melodrama, it features some of the most emotionally raw performances among its’ leading trio that I’ve ever seen, which is why it made my favorites list despite my preference for happier stories. A thoughtful musical score and gorgeous cinematography only enhanced my overall experience.
Arsenal Military Academy (China) – Against my expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed this Chinese series about a young woman who joins a military academy disguised as her deceased brother. Despite her petite nature and natural beauty, actress Bai Lu gives a credible performance as the “young man”. She is matched well with leading man Xu Kai who gives one of my favorite character portrayals as a spoiled, cheeky and irreverent fellow student with hidden depths. Their supporting cast matches their energy. It was touching to see them all eventually bond and form a unit who works and sacrifices together.
Hana Yori Dango (Japan) – The version of the Boys Over Flowers series outshines the more popular Korean version, in my opinion. Despite some outdated and problematic plot points, sincere performances by the cast and better character development elevated the whole series. The leading actor particularly did a fantastic job of showcasing the vulnerable side as the head of the F4 gang. The flashy hairstyles and fashion choices of the group of the rich boy school bullies was especially amusing. Mostly this makes my list due to its’ high entertainment factor.
Are You the One (China) – With a slowly paced and somewhat repetitive first half, this historical drama about two enemies (one who is suffering from amnesia) who slowly become entangled in a romance didn’t feel all that outstanding. However, the second half picked up in pace, conflict and action. Months later I still find myself thinking about this story and it’s characters. It’s a joy to watch the hero, who originally planned to use and manipulate the heroine, eventually fall for her due to her sincere display of love while she believes him to be her husband. He’s hoisted by his own petard! The cunning, resourceful and feminine heroine eventually learns the truth and the way they both address the deception between them is rather mature and thoughtful. It’s satisfying watching him try to earn back her trust without any guarantees she will forgive him.
The Story of Kunning Palace (China) -I’m not generally a fan of toxic romances but this one comes with so much fire and intensity, it was addicting. Like watching a train wreck. The love-hate relationship between the two selfish and wily leads displays a lot of violent aggression, which can be hard to stomach, and the measure of control the male lead tries to exert over his love interest is also uncomfortable. The saving grace is that the heroine is living her second life and has an understanding of the motivation behind his actions and also has the determination to make better choices this time around. The blazing chemistry between the two are the selling point for this drama, but they also have great rapport with the supporting actors who make up their circle of friends and allies. It’s really cool to see how the heroine fights the urge to judge the people she knows by her prior life’s experience with them.
Tomorrow (Korea) – Knowing the somber subject matter of this one, I put off watching it for a while. However, this story about a team of grim reapers who work together to stop people from committing suicide ended up being very touching. Each episode featured an individual story as well as delving into each of our reapers’ back stories. It also did a great job highlighting social and historical issues that have been buried or overlooked, while also being life affirming.
A Gentleman in Moscow – Since I had not read Amor Towles popular novel, I had no expectations going into this series starring Ewan McGregor as the titular character, a count who lives out decades of his life under house arrest in a luxury hotel. The production is excellent with the hotel being a microcosmic world unto itself where the larger historical events happening outside its’ doors impact what the count and other hotel guests experience inside. It’s a clever plot device that the viewer is only obliquely exposed to those events as well, so if you don’t know much about this period of Russian history, some of the reference to those events will be missed. The message that survival in the face of tyranny is its’ own sort of defiance could seem a tad tragic and yet the hope that one person can make even a small difference in the lives of others through kindness and sacrifice is rather heartwarming.
Beyond Goodbye (Japan) – This Netflix drama messed with my mind by showcasing the intertwined and at times inappropriate emotional ties between a woman who lost her lover and the organ donor who receives his heart. My fascination with the idea that an organ holds cellular memory was amply rewarded by the way the story shows the organ recipient receiving both the visual and emotional memories of the dead man. The potential love triangle between them and her dead fiancé and also a secondary one between them and his living wife really wreaks havoc with the idea of what is right and wrong in situations like this. I was so torn watching the two of them try to help each other process and heal, while also wondering if the deceased is the only reason for their their strong connection. The writing neither champions nor villifies their actions, but just allows each character to walk through their own journey. Despite such complicated subject matter, this ends up being a very thoughtful and at times hope filled story. I particularly loved the way the song I Want You Back, by The Jackson 5 ended up being an integral piece of the story.
The Trunk (Korea) – Dark and twisted, this psychological drama explores trauma and dysfunction in a riveting way. Using both toxic and damaged characters to move the plot along, I was alternately horrified, bewildered and saddened by the characters’ actions and interactions with each other. Non-linear story-telling only enhances the disorientation felt by the viewer as does the seemingly monotone reactions of the two lead characters engaged in a contract marriage. Watching them slowly connect, understand each other and help one another heal as the confront their individual tragic pasts gave this drama the little bit of light it needed to keep me interested. Gong Yoo and Seo Hyun Jin give understated but fantastic performances of two broken individuals who reluctantly fall in love and Jung Yun Ha gives an impressively repulsive performance as his sadistic and manipulative ex-wife.
I’ve never seen Frasier but did binge “Cheers” this year so I met the character. I started Under the Vines but haven’t finished (I think I forgot!) and years ago I watched Moonlighting from start to finish. May be one I should rewatch. 🙂