Buckle up! No less than 8 kdramas are premiering in October. I can’t write “My First Impressions” for each one so recommendations from the crew are appreciated. Thank you! 💐💐💐

1. Your Personal Taxi

This is a healing show.

A taxi driver plays a song request for his passenger, and the ride – I’m guessing – becomes a trip down memory lane. I don’t know if his passengers are dying or already, but if I were the screenwriter, that’s how I would frame this journey. CTH would be the friendly version of Greek mythological ferryman Charon who guided the souls across the Acheron and Styx Rivers.

Cast: Cha Tae Hyun (“My Sassy Girl”)
Episodes: 8
Start Date: Thursday, October 1
Airs on Thursdays (not sure if all episodes will drop at once)
Where to Watch it: Netflix

2. Merry Berry Love

This is a story of a Korean guy failing at his job, so he hies off to a Japanese island where he meets and falls in love with a strawberry farmer. This is a collaboration between a Korean and Japanese production company, so I expect a tearjerker, e.g., the Japanese girl has terminal disease. Japanese dramas love to contemplate death.

Cast: Ji Chang Wook (he’s the reason I’m curious about this show) and Imada Mio
Episodes: 10
Start Date: Wednesday, October 7
Airs on Wednesday
Where to Watch it: Disney+ (Bah!)

3. Take Charge of My Heart

Romcom. The male lead is a chaebol with a battery-operated heart. The female lead is a struggling writer who was once struck by lightning, so she discharges electricity. He hires her to be his personal charging station until he can get a heart-replacement surgery.

Electrical charging session = skinship

This kdrama should be a riot because Kim Young Kwang’s forte is playing an annoying rich man-child.

Cast: Kim Young Kwang (“Hello, Me”) and Chae SooBin (“When the Phone Rings”)
Episodes: 10
Start Date: Friday, October 9
Airs on Fridays
Where to Watch it: Netflix

4. Doctor X: Mafia in White

A Korean adaptation of Japanese series.

A genius surgeon starring Kim JiWon. That’s all I need to know.

Cast: Kim JiWon (“Queen of Tears”)
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Friday, October 9
Airs on Fridays and Saturdays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: SBS

5. 100 Days of Deception

An elite female pickpocket is hired by a Korean independence group to infiltrate the Japanese government in Gyeongseong (aka Seoul). She gets entangled with the elite interpreter (yes! they’re all elites 🙄) working in the Japanese colonial government.

My main reason for watching this kdrama is the director, Yoo In Shik. He made “Extraordinary Attorney Woo” and “Dr. Romantic.”

Cast: Kim Yoo Jung (“My Demon”) and Park Jin Young (from GOT7. I didn’t watch his “The Witch”)
Episodes: 16
Start Date: Saturday, October 10
Airs on Fridays and Saturdays
Where to Watch it: Netflix
Network: tvN

6. Make Me Tingle

To borrow the famous lines of that Hongdae Guy from Youtube –
“Are you open mindeu?”
“Do you libe alone?”

I double dare the BODers to watch this show! @ibisfeather? @GB? @Welmaris?

Synopsis: A conservatively raised woman meets the CEO of sex toys. 🤣

Cast: Nam Ji Hyun (“To My Beloved Thief”) and Kim JaeYeon (oooh. I like this guy but I couldn’t watch his “Idol I”)
Episodes: 10
Start Date: Thursday, October 15
Airs on Thursdays
Where to Watch it: Please, Viki, stream this!
Network: tving

7. Love in Disguise

Chaebol guy (another one!) is a suspect in a murder case. Female police detective goes undercover as his male secretary/bodyguard to investigate him.

I’m watching this to see whether SiWan has learned to kiss his leading ladies torridly. Go, Siwan!

Cast: Lim SiWan (“Misaeng”) and Seol InAh (she played that 2nd FL who had drunken sex in “Business Affair”)
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Monday, October 19
Airs on Mondays and Tuesdays
Where to Watch it: Dunno where. Hope it isn’t on Disney+
Network: tvN

8. Final Table

Chefs competing on a culinary survival drama.

Cast: Ahn Hyo Seop (couldn’t stand his last farming show; hope this one is better)
Episodes: 12
Start Date: Saturday, October 24
Airs on Saturdays and Sundays
Where to Watch it: Amazon Prime?
Network: jtbc

Phew! That’s all folks!

What about you? What are you watching this month?