Romy Sommer

Hospital Playlist is a fast-paced medical drama that mixes comedy, romance, and some tearjerking drama into a show that feels incredibly healing to watch (and re-watch!)

The Girl Who Sees Scents  has an intriguing premise but, unfortunately, it cannot quite decide what type of story it wants to be, nor does the execution deliver on the initial promise.

Idol I was a very easy five stars for me. If you enjoy murder mysteries, psychological dramas, or legal thrillers, then this show is for you. And it's a must-watch for all K-pop fans!

This flawless legal suspense drama had me so absorbed that (for once) my writer brain switched off and I was simply able to enjoy the story.

Cinderella and the Four Knights is a cute story which doesn't take itself too seriously. While it employs a lot of cliches, it's charming and fun to watch.

Keep your tissues handy for this poignant, layered (and ultimately very healing) coming of age story - especially if you're as easily moved as I am. 

I've been absent for a while - a combination of real life interruptions, as well as too much K-drama binge-watching.  Back in September, Netflix announced that a whopping number of K-dramas (at least 15, by my count) would soon be leaving their platform so, for about six weeks, I burned the midnight oil to catch as many of them as I could before they were gone. If you'd told me before that it was possible to get burned out on K-dramas, I wouldn't have believed you, but I did need a recovery period after watching so many shows in so short a time! (However, it was clearly either a marketing stunt, or so many viewers did what I did and the numbers rose significantly enough that Netflix renegotiated with the distributors, as none of them ended up leaving the platform!) Now that I've recovered from my binge, I'll start sharing new reviews, but for today I thought I'd share a list of my 5-star K-dramas. These are the shows I regularly dip back into, the ones I never w...

Record of Youth is a charming coming of age story that looks at the darker sides of family, wealth and social position, and fame - all intertwined with a sweet love story.

The Trunk is a dark, slow-burn psychological drama with an art house feel.  It's sophisticated, stylised, and very character-driven.

The Legend of the Blue Sea is a fun romance featuring a mermaid and a con artist, loosely based on an ancient Korean legend.

Destined With You is a cute and quirky light-hearted contemporary romance with a magical twist.

Hometown Cha Cha Cha feels like a warm, healing hug. While there's a central romance, the best thing about this show is the very relatable community that surrounds the leads.

Something in the Rain  felt like two different stories to me. The first half is a classic slow burn romance, while the second half is a rather nihilistic commentary on the oppression of women in Korean society.

I've never before given a K-drama a half star, but this show feels just shy of 4 stars and too good for 3 stars, so I'm rating it 3.5. Read on to find out why...

Shooting Stars is one of my favourite K-dramas, one I've watched several times over. It's a low-angst, feel-good RomCom with great chemistry, a wide cast of interesting characters, and numerous intertwined sub-plots.

This romantic thriller has taken over the #1 place on my list of favourite K-dramas and I've already watched it all the way through three times since it released earlier this year. Read on to find out why...

Warm and Cozy is as warm and cozy as its title. It's a heartwarming, low-stakes story with lots of light, comedic moments, and only a small dash of tragedy. If you're looking for a fun, easy-to-watch story that won't make you cry (too much), give this show a try - but don't expect anything earth-shattering.

This romantic K-drama is one of my all-time favourites, for a number of reasons: it's set in the publishing world, the hero is both an author and editor, the story features an older woman / younger man trope, and I strongly relate to the heroine. Give it a try...maybe you'll love it too.

Love to Hate You is a light-hearted Rom-Com featuring a famous movie actor and a feisty, feminist attorney as the love interests. It's one of my go-to rewatches whenever I want a feel-good mood uplift.

What's Wrong with Secretary Kim? is a fun, quirky office romance that will make you both laugh and cry. Highly recommended! Read on for a more detailed review, as well as what writers can learn from the show.