Top Vs Bottom: 2022 Kdrama Edition

Every year, there are tons of shows that premiere all over the world. South Korea is famous for having some of the most captivating television out there. This includes new and old releases alike.

With the rotating releases and multitude of trends, it's hard to keep up with what's worth watching and what isn't worth your time. Of course, these will be different for everyone, but that doesn't mean we can't throw our two cents into the discussion!

These are the Top 3 and Bottom 3 Kdramas that we watched this year!

Disclaimer: This article may contain spoilers. This article also contains content that was consumed this year, not that was necessarily released this year. Happy reading!

#3 - Bottom: Run On

Run On makes its way into the bottom three of 2022 because it actually started off really strong. What was the problem? The writers worked too fast.

It's common that Korean dramas have more than just one couple that the storyline focuses on. The trick to this set up is making sure that the audience is equally invested in the progression of both couples. Run On failed to do that.

While the lead couple was entertaining to watch, the secondary coupled failed to engage viewers. After the main couple was established, it became hard to watch the show because I just didn't really care what happened after the couple I was rooting for got together.

The writers established the leading couple too quickly, and the second couple wasn't likable enough to keep me anxiously awaiting the last few episodes. There are some cute moments in Run On, but it's highly unlikely that I would watch it again.

#3 - Top: Extraordinary Attorney Woo

In 2022, Extraordinary Attorney Woo took the world by storm. According to Forbes, by its seventh week streaming on Netflix, the show had reached 77 million viewers.

Audiences could not get enough of this show! By combining a sweet romance, criminal mysteries, complicated family ties, and adding in a neurodivergent lead, the writers created a world that enraptured viewers.

Not only was this many viewers' first time seeing an autistic character in a Korean story, the discrimination that the character faced sparked emotional responses from the audience. People were able to engage with the story in a way that made them genuinely empathetic towards the lead characters.

The script was equally emotional and witty, and the actors did a fantastic job throughout the entire series. This is a show that people can come back to again and again.

#2 - Bottom: Business Proposal

This show was extremely disappointing. After hearing many Korean television fans talk about how amazing this show was, my expectations were incredible high.

Needless to say, they were not met.

Business Proposal was just an average show that caught the attention of viewers because the leads were attractive and talented in areas outside of the show. That's not a bad thing!

It's great that the actors were able to experience success through this show, but it was definitely over-hyped. The plot moved slowly and without an underlying current of urgency that kept someone coming back for more.

While I did finish this show, it was a slow process. I wasn't engaged by the plot in the first viewing of this show, so the likelihood of me watching it a second time is basically nonexistent.

#2 - Top: Twenty-Five Twenty-One

Twenty-Five Twenty-One tried so hard to take the first place spot this year, and it almost succeeded. Truly, this was an amazing show.

Starting off, all of the actors were incredible, and it was clear that they had a deep understanding of their characters. Every single line had purpose and intention in both the delivery and the way it was written.

The script was heartbreaking and complex and exciting and fun. There were a million different emotions to be felt throughout the series, and the acting urged the viewers to experience the same emotions as the characters. Additionally, the plot moved very organically.

The main 5-piece group of characters were all extremely likable, even in their realism. However, a plot depicting growing pains this realistically became a little more bitter than sweet by the end of the show.

Additionally, there were quite a few plot holes and unanswered questions. We don't learn what happened to most of the characters by the end of the series, and that is extremely frustrating after emotionally engaging so deeply with the plot.

The unsatisfying ending bumped Twenty-Five Twenty-One to the #2 spot of this year's list, but this is not an easily forgettable story. It's almost a given that I will be watching this series again - after I emotionally recover from watching it the first time.

#1 - Bottom: Bulgasal

Talk about a disappointment.

Everything about this show sounded like it was going to be amazing and exciting, and I really wanted it to be. I started this show with hopes that it would be fantastic, and I spent the entire series hoping that it was just a slow start.

Unfortunately, Bulgasal was just a mess. For starters, the show was too long. There was too much time to fill, and there was an inadequate way of filling that time. While the storyline was very complex, the wrong parts were thoroughly explained. The same few plot lines were discussed over and over, while some points were never explained at all.

Because of this, the show became redundant and predictable. On top of a dragging plot, the characters were sub par. They may have been emotionally engaged with each other, but there was no emotional engagement with the audience. I truly didn't care how the main characters ended the series at all.

However, the saving grace of this series was the performances of Kim Woo Seok and Gong Seung Yeon. Both of these actors did a fantastic job with their characters. Even when the behavior of the characters wasn't necessarily likable, the performances had audiences rooting for the supporting cast more than the leads of the show.

The fault of the show was keeping these characters so far in the background of the plot. Both of these characters were more interesting and entertaining than the main characters, and it felt as though their potential in the show was wasted by their lack of screen time.

The idea of the story was interesting, but the portrayal was not enough to keep the interest of an audience. The plot was slow, confusing, and redundant. The lead characters were uninteresting, and the secondary characters were undervalued.

If there had been other ways to fully develop the plot, this show would have been spectacular, but the world building was underwhelming. Because of the anticlimactic plot, this action series became dull very quickly.

If I were to ever rewatch this show, I would exclusively skip to the parts that included Woo Seok and Seung Yoon. These two actors did very well in their parts, and I hope to see them in more projects in the future.

#1 - Top: Moment of Eighteen

Moment of Eighteen makes the top of the list for 2022! This show actually aired in 2019, but it was one of the first shows that I watched in 2022. Even through all of the different dramas I saw, this one stood firm in the #1 slot all year.

Everything about the show is incredible. The story is beautifully written and developed. The acting is amazing. The characters keep you engaged from the very second they appear on screen.

The most surprising discovery I made through Moment of Eighteen was the realization that this was Ong Seong Wu's acting debut. His leading performance was so spectacular and natural that I could barely believe he entered the entertainment industry as a singer.

With a Romeo and Juliet style romance, villain character that you love to hate, the complexities of high school, and a coming of age plot line, this drama really has it all.

This show was so well made that audiences feel the emotions of the characters on screen. The injustice is angering. The disappointments are heartbreaking. Everything about this series has you invested in the well being of these fictional teenagers.

While that might be a little dramatic, everything about high school and first loves usually does feel Oscar worthy in the moment. Not to mention, the OST for this show is absolutely stunning. You can't help but feel overwhelmed with nostalgia every time you hear it.

I really can't say enough great things about this drama and Ong Seong Wu. Since watching this series, I've watched all of his newer releases. I don't think any of the projects he's ever a part of will be unsuccessful because he's just that good.

This drama fought to keep it's place at #1 all year, and there's no doubt I'll be watching it again!

What do you think? Got any opinions on these shows? We'd love to know what you think in the comments!