↓
 
A Koala's Playground 
 
  • Home
  • About
  • Drama/Book Recaps
  • Favorites
  • Glossary
  • Headers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ratings/Top Ten
    • K-dramas Ratings/Top Ten
    • TW/C dramas Ratings/Top Ten
  • Reviews

A Koala's Playground

I'll talk about dramas if I want to

Person with bright hair and whimsical text.

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Netflix K-drama Squid Game 2 Premieres to Mixed Reviews But Still Expected to do Gangbuster Viewership

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 27, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 27, 2024
Character stands before a large gift box.

The Games are back and just in time for the Christmas break and viewers to settle in for a marathon of 7-episodes. Netflix released Squid Games 2 on December 26th and so far the reviews from all publications international and domestic are mixed, with some happy with the return and see the second season as good while others find it … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Squid Game 2

Tencent Releases Top 10 Biggest Dramas of 2024 Led by Joy of Life 2, Blossoms Shanghai, and The Tale of Rose

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 27, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 26, 2024
Traditional Chinese costume drama promotional image.

Streaming platform Tencent aired the most hit C-dramas this year in 2024 so it’s list of the biggest dramas on its own channel encapsulates nearly all the big buzz makers of this year. Topping the list is Joy of Life 2, which reportedly wasn’t as good as the original but still good enough that viewers tuned in and stayed till … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Blossoms Shanghai, Joy of Life, Love Game in Eastern Fantasy, The Legend of Shen Li, The Tale of Rose

Lee Se Young Goes Through All the Emotions with Na In Woo in the Holiday Season in New Teaser for MBC Drama Motel California

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 26, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Four people posing in a stylish interior.

I loved this new preview for Motel California which brought in the current Christmas season and feels so festive. We see more of leads Lee Se Young and Na In Woo‘s characters and interactions and it’s definitely still the prickly female lead with the caring male lead set up, but so far in the promos doesn’t seem to cross the … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Lee Se Young, Motel California, Na In Woo

Tang Dynasty Flower Cultivation C_drama Flourished Peony with Yang Zi and Li Xian Release New Character Posters

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 26, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Traditional Asian woman in ornate dress.

Well this is as Tang dynasty a drama as it gets. The era is polarizing with how C-netizens view the hairstyles and costumes and makeup but upcoming C-drama Flourished Peony absolutely captures it spot on without trying to tweak it. The drama is rumored to air in mid-to-late January 2025 so in the next few weeks for sure and expect … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Flourished Peony, Li Xian, Wei Zhe Ming, Yang Zi

K-movie Harbin with Hyun Bin and Strong Supporting Cast Opens Christmas Week in South Korea

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Dramatic group of men in dark coats.

I feel like K-movies are lacking in that big cast and big budget allure in general with now only the occasional buzzy film arriving. Harbin which opened this Christmas week feels like a throwback with a top leading man in Hyun Bin and a big supporting cast of Park Jung Min, Jo Woo Jin, Yoo Jae Myung, Jeon Yeo Bin, … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Harbin, Hyun Bin

First Look at Ju Jing Yi and Chen Du Ling in Director Guo Jing Ming’s Next Fantasy Period Drama Veil of Shadows

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
"Artful poster for 'Veil of Shadows' series."

The casting of two female leads of the same vibe and competitiveness could be a masterstroke by director Guo Jing Ming. The doubling of two strong visual actresses and the potential for behind-the-scenes jostling makes for great water buzz for recently started filming fantasy period C-drama Veil of Shadows. It’s based on the Painted Skin scary stories about a female … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Chen Du Ling, Ju Jing Yi, Veil of Shadows

Love in the Big City Tops the C-netizens Voted Douban Ratings as Highest of the 2024 K-dramas with 8.7 Followed by Lovely Runner and LTNS

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 25, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Movie poster featuring dramatic themes and characters.

The C-viewers have spoken as a glance at the Douban ratings for K-dramas aired in 2024 shows which ones resonated in the Mainland. Topping the ratings was TVING K-drama Love in the Big City with 8.7, which was the highest of all the 2024 aired shows. Next came Lovely Runner with 8.5, and Light Shop and Dongjae, the Good or … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Love in the Big City, Lovely Runner, LTNS

Appeals Hearing Complete for Yoo Ah In’s Drug Sentence and Final Judgment to Come in February 2025

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 25, 2024
Prosecution Service flag and a man in suit.

The nearly two year long saga of actor Yoo Ah In‘s drug arrest to trial will soon come to a close. This week the Appeals Court held a hearing on his appeal of his lower court conviction for drug use and his sentence handed out of a little over a year. The prosecutors asked for the same requested sentence of … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged Yoo Ah In

Bai Lu in Talks for Period C-drama Mo Li From Popular Director with Likely Male Lead Li Yun Rui

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 22, 2024
Woman in elegant dress with flowers.

There is a big Tencent produced period C-drama being prepped called Mo Li (莫离) which best translates to Don’t Leave. It’s from the director of Bu Bu Jing Xin, Princess Agents, and Three Lives Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossoms, and Director Lin also helmed Love and Destiny. She has two finished dramas still awaiting airing as well with The … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Bai Lu, Li Yun Rui, Mo Li

Tencent Releases Long Trailer and Confirms December 28th Release of Guardians of the Dafeng with Dylan Wang and Tian Xi Wei

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 24, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2024
"Promotional poster for Guardians of the Dafeng."

It’s confirmed! Tencent is giving C-drama fans a year end treat with the release of Guardians of the Dafeng on December 28th, as rumored. Starring Dylan Wang and Tian Xi Wei, the latest drama posters and long preview makes this drama look schizophrenic, in that the characters and storyline veers back-and-forth between wildly comedic and intensely dramatic. Plus there appears … Continue reading →

Posted in TW & C dramas | Tagged Dylan Wang, Guardians of the Dafeng, Tian Xi Wei

Choi Woo Shik and Jung So Min in Talks for SBS Rom-com Drama Marry Me in Space

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2024
Young man smiling with hands shaped like a heart.

So this is a weird as heck drama title but a potentially cute as heck pairing. K-ent is reporting that Choi Woo Shik and Jung So Min have been offered the leads in an upcoming SBS rom-com drama titled Marry Me in Space. It’s a fake marriage set up is all that is known about the plot, and the drama … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged Choi Woo Shik, Jung So Min, Marry Me in Space

First Look at Xiao Zhan as Guo Jing in the Upcoming C-movie Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 23, 2024
Warrior in armor on horseback with eagle.

Am I excited for this movie? Oh hells yeah, but I’m also accepting that trying to create a zeitgeist is lightning in a bottle and keeping expectations low is best. The first substantive trailer is out for the lunar new year scheduled big budget big name cast Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Great Hero based on a section of … Continue reading →

Posted in Films | Tagged Legend of the Condor Heroes, Xiao Zhan

Cine21 Magazine Names jTBC’s A Virtuous Business the Most Underrated Drama of the Year and tvN’s Hit Queen of Tears the Most Overrated

A Koala's Playground Posted on December 23, 2024 by ockoalaDecember 21, 2024
Four women in colorful vintage outfits.

Okay, I love this going against the grain even though I love one drama and legit missed watching the other which kinda validates this opinion haha. Cine21 magazine in Korea named it’s most overrated and underrated K-drama of 2024. The latter is A Virtuous Business airing on jTBC in late fall about four ladies in a small village town that … Continue reading →

Posted in K-dramas | Tagged A Virtuous Business, Queen of Tears

Post navigation

← Older posts
Newer posts →

Currently watching:

K-dramas: When the Phone Rings

Recent Posts

  • Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Tiffany of Girl’s Generation and Actor Byun Yo Han Confirm Dating with an Eye Towards Marriage
  • tvN Kicks off Promos for January 2026 Workplace K-drama Undercover Miss Hong with Park Shin Hye and Go Kyung Pyo
  • Modern Sci-Fi Romance C-drama Love on the Turquoise Land with Dilraba Dilmurat and Chen Xing Xu Wrap Uneventful Run and Nets a Relatively Low 6.2 Douban Ratings
  • Production of The Rebirth of the Malicious Empress of Military Lineage Makes Dylan Wang and Meng Zi Yi Joint Top Billing as Filming Slated for Q1 of 2026
  • First Poster for iQiyi Modern Romance C-drama My Queen, My Rules with Ao Rui Peng and Shen Yu Jie Gives off Sleek Sexy Vibes
  • TW-tabloids Go Wild with News that F4 is Reuniting at Concert this December in Shanghai But Without Member Ken Chu and Adding Top TW-singers Jay Chou and Ashin of Mayday as Special Guests




Latest Comments

  • foulthings on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Rero on Chae Soo Bin and Kim Young Kwang Kick Off Filming for Rom-com K-drama Take Care of My Heart
  • HL on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • HL on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Coralie on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Rei on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Didiey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Leaves45 on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau
  • Sirey on Modern C-drama Sniper Butterfly with Michelle Chen and Zhou Ke Yu Reportedly Doing Very Well in the Older Woman-Younger Man Romance Genre
  • Somebody on Top J-pop Star Ayumi Hamasaki’s Shanghai Concert Abruptly Cancelled Last Minute as China-Japan Political Spat Worsens
  • Kristina on Kim Hye Yoon and Park Solomon Embark on Their Own Nine-Tailed Fox and Human Rom-Com in SBS K-drama Human From Today
  • Mandy on iQiyi Airdrops Speed and Love with Yu Shu Xin and He Yu This Week as Expected Delivering an Old School Idol Romance Tableau

Categories

  • Awards
  • Books
  • Discussion Forum
  • Download Links
  • Drama Previews
  • Fashion
  • Films
  • First Impressions
  • J-doramas
  • Japanese Manga
  • K-dramas
  • Miscellaneous
  • Music
  • Musings
  • My Loves
  • Oldies but Goodies
  • Recaps
  • Recess
  • TW & C dramas
  • Year End Reviews

Tags

Bu Bu Jing Xin Dating Gong Hyo Jin Gong Yoo Ha Ji Won Hyun Bin IU Jang Geun Seok Jeon Ji Hyun Ji Chang Wook Ji Sung Jung Hae In Jung So Min Kim Go Eun Kim Ji Won Kim So Hyun Kim Soo Hyun Kim Woo Bin Kim Yoo Jung Lee Dong Wook Lee Jong Seok Lee Jun Ki Lee Min Ho Lee Seung Gi Liu Shi Shi Married Moon Geun Young Nam Joo Hyuk Park Bo Gum Park Min Young Park Seo Joon Park Shin Hye Shin Se Kyung Song Hye Kyo Song Joong Ki Song Seung Heon Son Ye Jin Suzy Wedding Yang Mi Yoo Ah In Yoona Yoon Eun Hye Yoo Seung Ho Zhao Lu Si

Archives

Blogroll

  • Dramabeans
  • Jomo's Findings
  • Mookiehyun
  • Thundie's Prattle
  • WaterOB

Favorite Book Translations

  • Da Mo Yao (Ballad of the Desert) Da Mo Yao (Ballad of the Desert)
  • Lost You Forever Lost You Forever
  • Yun Zhong Ge (Song of the Clouds) Yun Zhong Ge (Song of the Clouds)

Favorite Drama Recaps

  • In a Good Way In a Good Way
  • Nice Guy (The Innocent Man) Nice Guy (The Innocent Man)
  • The King 2 Hearts The King 2 Hearts
©2025 - A Koala's Playground - Weaver Xtreme Theme
↑
error: Content is protected !!