Top 5 Dramas for 2013

My Top 5 Drama Picks for 2013

These are my picks for the top dramas that I've seen from 2013. Again, they are not arranged in no particular order as I love them all equally. This year was probably the easiest to pick my top five. Sure, I liked a lot of dramas in 2013 but there were very few that I LOVED! Compare it with your list for 2013:

Incarnation of Money

Stars: Kang Ji Hwan as Lee Cha Don/ Lee Kang Seok and Hwang Jung Eum as Bok Jane. Okay, sorry folks, this was one of the BEST comedy dramas this year!! It is so rare that you can watch a drama from beginning to end and never, I say NEVER be bored!! This drama went from funny, to serious, back to funny without a hitch in the story!!

Kang Ji Hwan, I now have a totally worship of his acting ability. Sure, I had liked him in various movies and have watched a couple of dramas that were watchable but in this he totally shined as a consummate actor! He showed us joy, laughter, happiness, and even sadness very effectively! He is truly a comic genius.

Hwang Jung Eum, I was already in love with her and my love affair will just continue! Her portrayal as Jae In was hysterical! I enjoyed watching her transform from the unsure of herself daughter of a powerful woman to a woman willing to do anything to save her man.

I could list all of the cast at this point to espouse about their great acting but let's just say, the right actors were picked and they did their jobs!! Everyone was great! Overall, if you have not watched this, you must!!

The Master's Sun

Stars: So Ji Sub as Joo Joong Won/Joo Goon and Gong Hyo Jin as Tae Kong Shil/Tae Yang. Regardless of the extra episode, I still have to give this a perfect score! I loved it! Loved it! Loved it! I love Gong Hyo-Jin, her portrayal of Tae Gong Shil was off the charts!! She was funny, witty and oh so cute (as I already knew)!! And So Ji Sub?!! I have been waiting for so long to see him in a rom/com! I've seen all of his modern dramas and movies; this was the first rom/com I know about. He was smart, brass and so damn handsome! I'm so glad that more people have discovered what I've known for YEARS!!!

The rest of the cast, I loved; including Hwang Sun Hee as our baddie Ha Na! Talk about making you hate them while they barely had screen time? She did a good job. And let's not forget Choi Jung Woo as Secretary Kim. He will go down in drama history as the first Secretary I've totally loved (since Secret Garden) but even more so. His character's love for Joong Won was so evident! The little side romance (or no romance) between Seo In Guk and Park Hee Bon was super cute! We are all glad the 'Little Sun' finally got her man. 

And last but not least, let's give it up for Uncle (Lee Jong Won). I'll never forget his final words when he saw Gong Shil leaving Joong Won's apartment: Bang Shil, FIGHTING!!

Secret/Secret Love

Stars: Ji Sung as Jo Min Hyuk and Hwang Jung Eum as Kang Yoo Jung. Hwang Jung Eum had a stellar year in 2013! She was in 2 dramas that I really loved! My only complaint could have been the ending; it wasn't totally satisfying but one thing that I will take away from this drama is the director's ability to put together scenes that we, the viewer will NEVER forget. I don't think I need to spoiler and mention any. I believe when you watch this, every one of those scenes will be fresh and new; things you have NEVER, NEVER seen before in a drama! Every single one of the main leads gave a STELLAR performance. From Ji Sung and Hwang Jung Eum to Bae Soo Bin to Lee Dae Hee; all were at the top of their game! Am I going to watch this again? You damn right!!

Cruel City/Heartless City

Stars: Jung Kyung Ho as Jung Shi Hyun/Doctor's Son and Nam Gyu Ri as Yoon Soo Min. One point shy from a Masterpiece!! What can I say about this drama other than the fact, Please jTBC, make more of them!! The acting was superb!! Jung Kyung Ho as Baksa did an excellent, excellent job!! Yoon Hyun Min, don't worry, I will NEVER, NEVER forget your name!! A new love for my drama life!! The ending was even as I expected. Son Chang Min as Min, again I will never forget his portrayal. But let's not forget Kim Yoo Mi as Jin Sook and Choi Moo Sung as Safari. I have never seen either of these actors before but it will be LONG, LONG time before I ever forget them again. The cinematography, while dark a lot of time, really fit the story. And I must give BIG props to the costumers for the men and especially for Jin Sook! I don't think there was even ONE outfit she wore that I DIDN'T wish I could find and where. There were a couple of characters who just dropped off of the screen without any explanation but that would be my only complaint. But let's give a hand to our Nine Lives player, Meth Kim!!

Ugly Alert

Stars: Im Joo Hwan as Gong Joon Soo and Kang So Ra as Na Do Hee. It is really hard to rate a near perfect drama!! Some people will miss out on this gem simply because of the episode count. But I can assure that with 32-35 minute episodes, you will be swept into a story that will resonant with you from now on; one that you will use as a template for all future family dramas. 

The acting by all was superb! The writer promised to present a story without one single drama clique and it was delivered. I got to see the development of a romance from start to finish. Wait, I got to see the development of 3 relationships. The problems they presented made sense. Even the brief noble idiocy moment made sense to me. I never thought I would dismiss that as a necessary evil in the story. The supporting characters, you either loved them or hated them. But that was a testament to how well they acted. Overall, I do not feel that I wasted a moment of my time. As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be surprised if one day down the drama road, I re-watch the entire drama again. Yes, it is that good!!

Honorable Mention

That Winter The Wind Blows

Stars: Song Hye Kyo as Oh Young and Jo In Sung as Oh Soo. I must say, this was the most beautifully filmed drama I have ever seen. The camera techniques alone should be copied by other cinematographers in the future. I could review just on that alone and I couldn't do this drama justice.

Overall, I liked it, damn near loved it. True, the ending was what I wanted but not expecting. I have to say the acting by all of the characters was stellar! From Jo In Sung to Song Hye Ko as well as Kim Bum and Kim Tae Woo as Moo Chul. 

Do I recommend it? Absolutely! Welcome to one of favorites for 2013! And Jo In Sung, I am happy to finally see you in a drama that I finished, loved and will cherish!

What were your favorites for 2013?