As a new year begins, it is time to revisit our year in K-Dramas and wax poetic about those stories that amused us, inspired us with precious life lessons, taught us something new, and swept us off our feet with swoony romances.
Here’s a list of dramas we loved this year, and we’d love to hear your favorites.
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Set on Jeju Island, the drama features the story of two ordinary people from childhood until their later years. Yet, the charm of this show lies in being raw, authentic, and ordinary. And it shows us the power of love not through grand gestures and fancy words but through choosing the same person over and over again, and sticking together through hardships.
It was also a tribute to the older generation, showcasing the sacrifices they willingly made to provide their children with what they couldn’t have and help them soar. Headlined by big names, every cast member shone, from the leading couple to secondary characters to one-scene cameos. A masterpiece through and through, this drama reflected the essence of the slice-of-life genre and the epitome of love.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “When Life Gives You Tangerines” Gifts a Masterpiece of Raw and Authentic Love Story
Our Unwritten Seoul
Featuring two twins who couldn’t be more different but both are grappling with life hardships, the story has them switching places: something they often did as children. As they step into each other’s shoes, they experience life from a different perspective and discover new things about themselves and each other, spurring individual growth and a tighter bond between the two of them.
Depicting complicated familial bonds, the drama highlights the importance of family and leaning on one another while also pointing out how isolation can strangle the life out of us. The story was riveting and it came to life at the hands of the exceptional Park Bo-young who nailed her dual roles. Just one look was enough to tell which twin was on screen.
Moon River
This could have easily gone off the rails in its latter parts. But the story maintained its momentum, and the tone remained consistent till the end, without giving us whiplash between the body swap antics and the darker palace intrigue.
It portrayed its characters as multi-layered and intriguing, and even the antagonist exuded a powerful aura, as the formidable and shrewd adversary he was. When his backstory was revealed, it wasn’t about evoking unnecessary pity but about underscoring the circumstances that shaped his character.
One highlight of the drama was the distinct bonds connecting our main quartet. We had two romances, each with a unique flavor, a steadfast brotherhood between Kang and Woon, and a pure friendship between Dal-yi and Woon that made Kang funnily jealous at times. Watching the four of them join hands to take their enemy down was delightful and their teamwork defied all the odds and had them come out triumphant.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “Moon River” Mesmerizes With Enchanting Story Of Love And Fate
Beyond The Bar
Providing social commentary and powerful messages through thought-provoking cases of the week, this legal drama wasn’t about courtroom theatrics but about exploring the work lives of a group of attorneys. At the center of the story were a seasoned attorney and his junior, who butt heads at first over personality differences but then developed a close-knit bond and a synergistic teamwork.
Closing its curtains on an open ending, the drama left us with food for thought and the room for a second season, which we would gladly stay seated for if green-lit.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “Beyond The Bar” Leaves Strong Impression With Thought-Provoking Story
The Haunted Palace
The fantastical part of the story might have leaned toward horror. But it got balanced out by the hilarious serpent out of water antics as our resident serpent got trapped inside the body of our heroine’s first love and had to experience life among “ordinary” humans.
The romance was sweet, yet our favorite part was the unlikely collaboration and bromance between the king and our serpent. They were at each other’s throats at first, making things difficult for our shaman. But they grew on each other and became buddies. This wasn’t a perfect drama but it was engrossing enough for us to willingly turn a blind eye to any weak links.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “The Haunted Palace” Enchants With Absorbing Fantasy Tale
Love Scout
It isn’t every day we get a love story between two mature adults. But here we got a swoony slow-burn romance between Ji-yoon and Eun-ho, a rational and aloof CEO, and her warm-hearted and empathetic secretary.
What made this drama stand out was the role reversal. Ji-yoon fell first, confessed first, and took the lead in their relationship. Also, this couple had healthy communication and didn’t let noble idiocy tear them apart, unlike the case with other couples. Last but not least, we have sweet Byeol, Eun-ho’s daughter, who was the younger version of Ji-yoon. And watching the three of them together as a family was gratifying.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “Love Scout” Charms with Adorable Mature Romance
Resident Playbook
Offering a close look at the lives of residents, the junior doctors at the starting line of their careers, the drama kept a realistic approach throughout without turning too bleak. It showcased their struggles while also highlighting their growth and celebrating their achievements.
Though the show focused a bit more on one character, the other three had a fair share of the spotlight, and their blooming friendship was a delight to watch. And we appreciate how the drama fleshed them out and didn’t shy away from pointing out their flaws. Which is all the more reason to root for them to become better versions of themselves.
Head Over Heels
A young shaman trying to save her first love from imminent death while fighting off vengeful spirits, and most importantly, trying to win over her love interest, who wants nothing to do with her. The drama started strong, but unfortunately lost its spark in the latter part.
Still, there is no denying its charm and how it kept us on the edge of our seats with its twists, specifically Bong-soo, the evil spirit who turned out to be a pitiful boy. Getting caught in the crossfire, he lost his life at a tender age and only wanted to enjoy the little things he missed out on. He might have frustrated us at times, but he grew on us, and we felt sorry for him.
From the beginning, Seong-ah was a likable character, and she was the perfect foil for our 1-D villainess, who kept wreaking havoc on innocent people and remained unapologetic till the end. (Sorry, but we don’t buy her redemption arc and her unearned new chance at life.)
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “Head Over Heels” Hits Emotional Beats Through Its Fantasy Tale
Our Movie
Right off the gate, we knew the drama would crush our hearts with its ending. Not that it stopped us from clicking the play button. For all the heavy theme of terminal illness, the drama took an optimistic approach through Da-eum’s character. This wasn’t a story about her death but about achieving a long-lost dream, leaving a legacy behind, and forging new connections while highlighting the positive impact she made on the people she came across, including Je-ha, who finally broke free of his childhood trauma and started to walk forth.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “Our Movie” Narrates Profound Love Story That Transcends Death
The Queen Who Crowns
Celebrating a remarkable historical figure who played a crucial role in laying the country’s foundation alongside her husband, King Taejong, the drama cleverly weaves historic events with fiction to offer a glimpse into the life of Queen Wonkyung.
Keeping her dignity and protecting her children all along, Queen Wonkyung led an arduous life after the power battle had her husband turn his back on her. Despite losing her family members and beloved ones to political schemes, she remained strong and never strayed from the right path, crowning the most befitting candidate before breathing her last.
K-DRAMA REVIEW: “The Queen Who Crowns” Gifts a Compelling Historical Narrative
Special mentions to: Oh My Ghost Clients, Undercover High School, Typhoon Family, The Dream Life Of Mr. Kim, Buried Hearts, and Bon appétit Your Majesty. Sadly, we couldn’t squeeze in all our favorites, but those are other dramas we enjoyed this year, though some of them unfortunately went out on a limb instead of going out with a bang.
There’s a special, unmatched comfort found in Korean dramas. So, here is hoping the new year brings us more swoons and delightful dramas.
Photos and Videos: Netflix Korea, tvN Drama, MBC Drama, JTBC Drama, SBS Drama
The post Our Year in 2025 Korean Dramas: “Gripping Narratives” appeared first on kdramadiary.
Our Year in 2025 Korean Dramas: “Gripping Narratives”
Source: Pinoy Student Wars
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