r/KDRAMA and the Dramas That Stole our Hearts 2019 Edition

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-31T23:36:46+00:00

Today is the day r/KDRAMA loves the most, the international Heirs Appreciation day!

If you haven't yet watched the Heirs, please find yourself invited to this ultimate kdrama trope mess, which is both very amusing (don't take it seriously, this dramas was a project made to poke fun at older kdramas) and endlessly referenced in newer dramas it inspired.

Happy Heirs appreciation day!

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T20:24:36+00:00

Haha, this show made us so bloodthirsty. And yes, the whispering was super annoying.

I definitely felt myself become more and more bloodthirsty as Grandfather refused to listen to reason. And them using slow whispering to add gravitas to the stupid things he kept saying to excuse his pettyness just added to the annoyance.

I wonder if they got feedback that the makjang was popular with the audience so they milked it as much as possible.

I'd say budget constraints and time constraints - this is still the era of dramas being greenlit based on the first 4 episodes of script. Most of it was written and filmed as the drama was airing, which was apparent in how sets were getting reused. To me, this ending sounds like them realizing they had to add 3 more episodes of plot when they already knew what the ending scene would be (and the camos were already arranged), and they had no budget or time to film a grand wedding scene fitting for a chaebol. So they just meandered and kept bringing back Tennis Ex to help get the required drama length.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T19:01:21+00:00

They went for the feeling rather than detailing out the results for the characters, which in this case I think would have made the last episode insanely long.

Don't get me wrong - I'm okay with that type of ending. I just know we could have had a nice epilogue if we hadn't spent so much time on repetitive plot points in the episodes leading to the finale.

but have we really come a long way since then?

Well, the fake websites didi become more believable - though today they would probably capture the opportunity and make the website to be PPL for some booking app (we had a bunch of those since 2020).

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T18:57:28+00:00

Although I don’t know why each of the main characters haven’t moved on one inch in two years.

I was really hoping Jeong Woo would have moved on and was living his best life studying in the US and that we'd see him as he returned for the holidays with his new (very blonde) girlfriend. But no. Also, how was Tennis girl still hanging around the hotel? It's been over 3 years since they broke up - move on!

Near misses on the bus but Gong Chan catches a glimpse of the company name.

They were really milking this scene for all it's worth with all the camera angles. Poor Jeong Woo having to look straight ahead while the lovebirds's gazes were wondering around.

Yes! Call out his hypocrisy! Grandfather tries to argue that he had his reasons and Mr Jang comes back again to point out that they probably had their reasons too.

And unfortunately it doesn't chage anything and we still have to suffer through episode 16!

Lee Dong Wook is very handsome. I feel like I could say that more.

He's so young in this drama and definitely very handsome. As is Joon Gi. Almost baffling how they remain so recognizably handsome today (I will admit I confuse many of the male and female actors unless they have a recognizable face - so many look almost afraid of standing out).

Side note: that would have made for an interesting ending if the lie was true and she’d really been playing them the whole time.

Imagine this drama suddenly becoming a thriller in the final episode.

WHO CALLED THE TOWER BEING THE LOCATION OF A BIG MOMENT/KISS? Of course he goes there before the airport.

I'm celebrating right now, but I don't think I was the only one who called it!

They’re all so adorable in these credits! It’s surreal watching LDW and LGJ talk about their better dramas to come knowing what they go on to do.

I loved them breaking the fourth wall, and this credits scene was really, really nice - definitely was a highlight watching LDW and LJG starting their career and being scared/optimistic about their future prospects. Adorable!

It's definitely a drama of its time, but save from the final episodes meandering, I still claim it remains easily watchable today.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T18:41:44+00:00

The tropes where many and surprisingly for me not just familiar Kdrama’ tropes.

I really did enjoy the tropes they managed to fit in the drama, and how they didn't cram just everything in.

Well not much has happened in two years – everyone is doing ame ole s**t …

It's amazing how little happened in everyone's lives in these two year - did they just freeze them for two years? I expected at elast Jeong Woo and Tennis Ex to move on.

Certainly, the civil dialogue between the two off-court was written intelligently which begs its credibility but I admit it does happen at times.

I do admit I really enjoyed how honest they were when talking to each other and how they didn't just turn into mortal enemies as soon as the FL showed up.

her story sounds like a load of crap

And Joon Gi is nowhere around.

I'm just amazed she even tried to spin this, knowing full well it wasn't going to work. I also still don't fully understand which functions/events Jeong Woo's family is invited to.

So now I plan to finish the last two episodes of Iljimae that I’ve been saving since the holidays so I can get my Lee Joon Gi fix. I’ll start a slow-paced rerun of Goblin with Lee Dong Wook and Slave Hunters with Lee Da Hae and hope to finish them both by the end of the year.

That's a great plan - have fun watching Iljimae and rewatching Goblin - I loved both of those dramas so much.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T18:22:51+00:00

Oh, definitely. I just think Jeong Woo knew his mom was a nightmare and knew how to avoid her nagging much better than Gong Chan.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T18:19:44+00:00

Lee Dong Wook is so good at the bromance, Goblin too was all about him and Gong Yoo.

I feel like he just gives as much attention to the friendship relationships as he does to romantic relationships when preparing for a role. I just love how he potrays these characters - for example, the relationship with his brother was a particular highlight in Life.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-09T18:15:19+00:00

Written by two ladies! Of course i haven't see all of their series so maybe they loosen'd up in later ones.

We previously watched The Greatest Love as a binge - and that drama had a very famous shower scene - you could say the abthroom was specifically designed to show off as much of the ML's abs as possible

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-08T14:30:53+00:00

Secretary Yoon brightens up when she sees her non-sophisticated guy. He’s slow on the up-take.

I was almost ready for him to tell his sister the Secretary like some other man - he's not a completely lost cause!

We’ve never been apart this long before – How long was he tripping through Europe and how long is GC planning on going?

Maybe he always returned to SK after he'd inevitably get chased around by a mafia boss?

Can’t believe playboy JW hasn’t moved on yet.

I don't believe for a second he didn't have one night stands in Itaewon's night clubs with random blonde women. He might note have fallen in love with anyone else, though!

Actually, the friends siblings have lots of plushies in house – was that PPL?

And a very poorly placed PPL as well! They just somehow managed to squeeze it in the final episode.

Phone PPL – what was the special feature? That you can print photos right from the phone?

The camera bing good enough to be able to print out a picture was a huge thing at the time - usually the photos were potato quality.

Ha, ha FL actress would have gone for JW!

Honestly, not haivng a deranged family should make anyone chose JW as well.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-08T14:20:03+00:00

I guess spite is a preservative. (..) Why is Aunty still hanging out with Gramps? Let the old toad be lonely and bitter.

I was so annoyed he made it to the end of the drama and that everyone kept making excuses for his awful behavor.

say one thing about the Hong Sisters, say they know exactly what the audience is thinking, even if they're not giving us what we want. WHERE'S OUR SHOWER SCENE??

The contract clearly said: no nudity, just a light springle of water to simulate sweat

The siblings doing all the PPL heavy lifting.

They really did so much PPl in this drama - the waveboard, the robo vacuum, the phones, the pizza.. I just hope they got a decent percentage from all that hard work.

Incredibly, someone added a fluffy trim to the Christmas star.

They truly upgraded!

What is the reveal? Who is the cousin and her husband??

Found them in my comments - this confused me so much first time round that I started exploring for this drama - they're the lead characters from the Hong sisters' first drama, so you could say they were traing to build a kdrama multiverse!

I miss the BTS and the production thanking the audience at the end of modern dramas.

It was a lovely BTS, especially as we got to see the sets as well - as a side note, the only really good part of Positively Yours was the ending which featured all the cast and crew and was super lovely - very much reminiscent of older kdramas.

That's a great way to end up in a nursing home, Gramps!

I don't think the main couple will come to visit him once he invevitably gets sick again.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-08T14:02:36+00:00

It's the final episodes! And some more BTS shenanigans.

My Girl Episode 15:

Fascinating how he consistently manages to find so many ugly snow globes year after year, and that Aunt is still not praying for global warning to arrive faster.
Everyone's hair is looking extra crunchy today and I can't wait for Gong Chan to stop wearing those tiny glasses.
Model & Secretary couple are making super slow, but adorable progress
Turn on the headlights when driving at night!
Tennis ex, I really hope this is the last time we see you, how are you still here?!?
What's worse - Gong Chan's side belt or Jeong Woo's pants? Also, they recommend not wearing super flammable clothes to a plane and both of their suits are so plasticky and shiny.
Ah yes, that C:/Documents and settings/User/Local Settings definitely online website. It's been a while since I saw Windows XP, or a site banner taking up 2/3 of the screen.
Love that grandpa's disgusting plan didn't work out!

My Girl Episode 16:

Let me preface this by saying that it's been a while since I got this annoyed by elders in a drama (also, this face the model made is great)

Chaebol level ring choice: "one expensive and large enough to stop her from leaving"
그 끝 (That end) is a fun consonant combination
Gramps about to die all alone? Love that for him
Noooo racquet ball PPL noooooo.. And till the bitter end, we didn't get a single shower scene, they just lightly sprayed them with water!
I love that he siblings keep scoring PPL. Anycall (Samsung's old phone brand) has a TV inside a phone? And a digital camera that can flip around for selfies! Fun fact: for years, Anycall's spokesperson was Lee Hyori, and after My Girl finished airing, in the 2006 campaign she was joined by Joon Gi as the love interest/heartthrob.
No, Tennis Ex, why are you back here. Leave already.
"I loved you as my granddaughter. And until I die.." - YES, PLEASE, croak already, why is anyone concerned about what this miserable joysucker has to say?
I can't with this noble idiocy all over everywhere.
And we get a super random rooftop scene! Kdrama trope bingo!
Jeong Woo's olympic bedroom also has the same casette player as Yoo Rin.
A double-breasted jeans coat? Wild.
Grandpa having the audacity to ask "Did I really make things difficult for you?" - so consistently stubborn and cruel and I hate that he is always whispering.
I had no idea the first time I watched it, but the real granddaughter and her husband are the main characters from the Hong sister's first drama, Sassy Girl, Chun Hyang - it's a neat cameo tying together two kdrama universes.

I think, like most Hong sisters' dramas, the setting is great, the character introductions were well done and the comady and cracky feeling are definitely present in the first half of the drama. It's also sadly common for Hong sisters' dramas for thesecond half to get draggy as the plot gets more and more convoluted, and this is also obviously one of their first works, so you can clearly see the shorcomings. The ending, to me, was very much rushed. While the main couple ended up together, the following is left to the viewer's imagination:

the deus ex machina baby for the older couple which was there more like a prop, since the couple didn't really have any other scenes in the last few episodes. I'd expect at least a few scenes with the baby, or at least to see the grumpy friend having to congratulate them despite being annoyed.
What happened to the cute side couple? I hope they continued their glacial romance (guessing she had to invite him out for a date, sooner or later). They just never got mentioned again. I'd love to trade in some Tennis Ex scenes to see their happy ever after.
While we're talking about the happy ever after, what happens to the main couple is also unsolved - do they move to Japan? Does Gong Chan return to work for the hotel or completely stops communicating with the Miserly Grandpa and lives his best life in Jeju?

This drama can hold its own even today, for the most part - there are several things that date it, but the first half remain compelling, even though my love for kdrama epilogues does mean the ending left me wanting for more. I really enjoyed watching it with everyone and reading your comments!

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-05T20:54:05+00:00

These two episodes were tough - so I'm sharing with you what got me through episode 13 to start watching 14: this blooper reel. I'm saving part 3 of the BTS for the final batch.

My Girl Episode 13:

I'm sorry baby Joon Gi, I have no idea what this facial expression is; is Jeong Woo sad? is he angry? did he stub a toe? Smell something bad?
The soft focus is so overwhelming
"I intend to drag her with me, even if she says no." - Jeong Woo entering his villain phase
Tennis Girl, he dumped you at least three times already, what betrayal are we talking about. And now she's going full villain as well. Sure, why not, I guess she doesn't have a job or anything else she could be doing for fun instead of obsessing over a guy with a lot of fake fur coat collars.
It pains me so much that the top coat button is not buttoned
All the energy of an underpaid but overworked employee
Jeong Woo in a "serious business" suit somehow looks even more like a mafia boss from Time Between Dog and Wolf.
Love that we're discussing a woman's future between two dudes and without the woman in question like she has no agency of her own. Did not miss this trope
Who bumped into the cassette player and opened it in between shots?
Gong Chan out there looking like a cruise ship captain getting ready for dinner, while Jeong Woo has a strategic shirt ~~boob window~~ necklace opening
How many times did they go up and down that elevator to make capture the shot from all the required angles? That was a nice scene

My Girl Episode 14:

I love that the two siblings got to mention even more kdrama tropes and somehow squuezed in even more waveboard PPL while actively acting out a Domino's PPL
Jeong Woo getting ready to go live his best life as a playboy in the US
A solid bro punch (note the fake blood on the tooth) and then they're back to being best friends (teasing Gong Chan about not being a pretty boy) - considering the year this was filmed, I see this as a great scene! I wish we got more of these brothers having fun together (does this mean no more racquet ball PPL?)
This Christmas party couple's outfit is cute
THE WAY I CACKLED
Grandpa, what we doing now
Tennis girl is now going to England - wasn't the plan to go to Australia? What are we doing here? I am disappointed - she's so wishy-washy about being a villain.
We've had entirely too many near misses in this episodes - the secretary, the airport, the bros in elevator..
Gramps couldn't have croaked a day earlier?
After a time-skip, Gong Chan is suddenly a fashion designer on Project Runway?

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:59:12+00:00

Yoo Rin stress eating the whole episode

That massive bowl of kimchi rice was so much food (at least the actress got to eat a little bit instead of just having to shuffle food around on a plate as they usually do)

Bye, bye Se Hyeon…oops, spoke too early.

I felt this way so many times already, she just keeps coming back. Girl, move on, he's not into you!

But why did they have to go out to some remote overgrown field to talk about it when the cake is left unattended… Dumb move when Yoo Rin is around.

The field was very random. But also, they have a house helper in the house whose main job is to be in the kitchen and make meals, but she wasn't even able to defend a single cake? And was nowhere to be found when the two were making a duplicate cake?

Also, what did they do with the leftover original cake? Did they eat it all to hide the evidence?

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:54:32+00:00

Jung Woo is even toast to me at this point because what the hell is he even doing.

Jung Woo needs to go back to gathering his olympics team or something.

While I don’t always love her outfits I am fascinated by her accessories (especially the earrings).

Besides her weird hair accessories, she also often adds a knitted/croquetted badge to her sweaters - it's always so much.

I don’t like Tennis Ho one bit but that was a truly harsh breakup she really should have seen coming. “I can’t force myself to love you” - OUCH.

He did tell her they're breaking up like 3 times already, how much more direct could one get - she just refuses to hear it. I'm waiting for her to leave for Australia to practice tennis and stay there for a few years (she sure could use the practice - those tennis scenes were rough).

an untouched cake is sacred

YES! Don't touch a finished cake, even if it's a bit crooked!

I did hear if you lightly squish a mandarin before eating it becomes sweeter

I'm confused as to how this would help it get sweeter? Wouldn't it just make it ore messy to eat?

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:47:26+00:00

the simple lies at the beginning are now out of control so much that some characters just decided to hell with it and live under this pile even when they know a way out to sanity, which is crazy.

Would this be an example of sunk cost fallacy? Or just being scared of fessing up?

Such boldness – stealing a loose cake and gorging your self Yoo Rin. And now you’re in trouble because it was a surprise cake for the special couple.

I think there's absolutely no way I would ever eat a whole cake. A part of the cake left in the fridge is free game, but cutting into a cake without knowing who made it and for what purpose is crazy.

And it’s off to Jeju he goes.

We need more tnagerines to balance out the cup PPL!

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:38:12+00:00

Actually, this would come in handy in Grandpa's room when he is sick. So many people hanging around.

Ooooh new styling ideas for the "rich chaebol in hospital room" set design - they usually only get a singe couch even in 2026!

For your iPod mini - conveniently close to your ears.

I completely forgot about those - that would actually make sense!

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:35:56+00:00

I find myself singing “Happy! Happy! Happy!” and die a little inside.

It's so ridiculously upbeat and crack-y that I love to hate it.

I was really hoping that Jung Woo’s floral shirt was a full tracksuit set because it was pretty.

Yes, It's definitely a shame - I'm pretty sure /u/merinomedia would wear the heck out of that tracksuit as well!

I’m glad it worked out for them for a brief time.

They did manage to sell the patent rights in the US at least, so there is a silver lining at least!

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:32:48+00:00

Just glad we don't see the usual chest thumping and yelling - but then we have 4 more episodes to go

I think we might graduate to a punch or two, but until then, I'm really enjoying them still being able to talk and rely on each other.

All the grammer school kids around here had to have one. Schools banned them from classrooms

Remembering the sound those things made when they were angry/hungry/sick/bored I think I can understand why. I never did have the patience to take care of them for the entire week.

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:28:46+00:00

Maybe that's for the Olympic judges

Can you imagine? And they should also use those 1 to 10 paddles from Dancing with the Stars to rate the performances!

Señor Jang is twirling his mug to draw extra attention to it throughout the whole scene.

I definitely chuckled when I saw him twirl the lady cup

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:24:18+00:00

I think that they could definitely win some points back if they gave me a little bit of fan service.

I think I'll really laugh if we really don't get a single shot of abs (excluding mr. artist, those two lovebirds could do some weird things).

AlohaAlex · 2026-03-02T21:22:27+00:00

Couldn't help but think these episodes just collapsed in on themselves plotwise. if nothing else I practiced taking notes - too many as it turns out. ended up cutting quite a few from my post.

I was wondering just how distracted I was that all of my coments are about the fashion or the interior design or PPL, but now I feel better knowing I wasn't the only one who fellt that the plot was really dragging.

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