On Episode 102 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and friend Carol from Kdramas Musings dive headfirst into 2025’s Dynamite Kiss, starring Jang Ki-yong and Ahn Eun-jin.

Jess and Carol break down this polarizing, messy, and occasionally swoon worthy rom-com K-drama, unpacking the endless tropes, the kind-but-chronically-lying female lead, stock characters, bloated business machinations, and a romance built on a canyon-wide misunderstanding that tests even rom-com disbelief. 

Highlights include missing children (plural!), morally dubious love triangles, runaway strollers, corporate espionage, noble idiocy, amnesia, unserious closing dance sequences, and so much more!

GUEST: Carol

• Kdrama Musings Podcast: Available on Spotify, Google, Apple

• Instagram: @kdramasmusings

• TikTok: @kdramamusings

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 8!

On episode 101 and the kick-off to season 7, Jess shares beginner-friendly Korean dramas! If you’ve never watched a K-drama—or you tried once and bounced—this episode is your starting point.

This isn’t a simple list of “the best” K-dramas. It’s a guide to which shows actually teach you how to watch K-dramas: clear genres, familiar tropes, strong emotional hooks, fast rewards, and stories that don’t require too much cultural homework to enjoy.

From global gateway hits like Crash Landing on You and Squid Game to comfort watches, thrillers, fantasy, and historicals that ease you in without overwhelm, this episode breaks down what makes a K-drama accessible—and which ones actually convert first-time viewers into fans. Beginner-friendly doesn’t mean simple—it means low friction, high emotional payoff.

Whether you’re brand new, K-drama curious, or recommending shows to a skeptical friend, this is your roadmap.

✨ No gatekeeping.

✨ No rankings.

✨ Just the right place to start.

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 8!

Celebrate 100 episodes of Daebak K-Rambles with this special solo episode!

Jess counts down 100 iconic K-drama moments that made her laugh, cry, scream, and fall in love all over again. From Crash Landing on You and Goblin to Move to Heaven and The Red Sleeve, this nostalgic deep dive revisits the most emotional, funny, and unforgettable scenes in Jess' K-drama history.

Whether you’re a longtime listener or new to the pod, this is your ultimate K-drama nostalgia trip—a love letter to the dramas, both iconic and obscure, that shaped us, broke us, and live rent-free in our heads.

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 99 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by Grace and Sarah from the Afternoona Asks Podcast to review 2018's I'm Not a Robot, starring Yoo Seung-ho and Chae Soo-bin.

Jess, Grace, and Sarah talk through this delightful rom-com K-drama, discussing the preposterous plot, the sincere and earnest love story, how prescient an AI robot actually is, the FL's agency, tiny orange (or pink?) dresses, fart gaslighting, steamy kitchen kisses, and SO MUCH MORE!

GUEST: Grace & Sarah

• Afternoona Asks Podcast: Available on Spotify, Google, Apple

• Instagram: @afternoonaasks

• Instagram: @kdramathis

• Instagram: @graceaxolotlequestions

• http://www.afternoonaasks.com

• www.kdramathis.com

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 98 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by friend Nas from the Swoon Diaries Podcast to review 2013's That Winter, the Wind Blows, starring Jo In-sung and Song Hye-kyo.

Jess and Nas talk through this melodrama K-drama, discussing the horrendous, flawed characters, the unhinged plot filled with faux-cest, suicide ideation, and random stabbings, SNL Korea-spoofed scenes and tender moments, the questionable ending, and SO MUCH MORE!

GUEST: Nas

• Swoon Diaries Podcast: Available on Spotify, Google, Apple
• Instagram: @swoondiariespod
• Twitter: @swoondiariespod
• YouTube

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 97 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and all the Certified Noonas (Natalia, Jessie, Amanda, and Sky) review Always (2011), starring So Ji-sub and Han Hyo-joo.

Jess and the Noonas discuss this melodrama romance movie, talking through this cast (i.e., So Ji-sub lovefest and Han Hyo-joo praise), the complaints from Letterboxd reviewers, Rocky comparisons, favorite scenes, questions about rusty table-and-chair sculptures, stolen turtles, illegal MMA fights in Thailand, and more!

GUEST: Certified Noonas – Natalia, Jessie, Amanda, Sky

• Website: certifiednoonas.com

• Podcast: https://certifiednoonas.podbean.com

• Instagram: @certifiednoonas

• Twitter: @certifiednoonas

• YouTube: @CertifiedNoonas

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 96 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and Miguel circle back one last time to talk about the conclusion to the worldwide phenomenon: Squid Game Season 3, starring Lee Jung-Jae, Lee Byung-hun, Park Sung-hoon, Yim Siwan, Kang Ha-neul, and so many more!

Jess and Miguel talk through the hotly debated season 3 of the Netflix thriller, including our general thoughts, Emmy considerations (and snubs), and deep dives on each character, death, game, and so much more! Did we like the ending? Were the VIPs and their horrific dub the worst part of this whole show? Did we agree with who won the Squid Game? Listen to find out!

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 95 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by friend Lola from Lola Pops Off About Kdramas Podcast to review the oldie I'm Sorry, I Love You, starring So Ji-sub, Lim Soo-jung, and Jung Kyoung-Ho.

Jess and Lola talk through this 2004 iconic melodrama K-drama, discussing the sky high ratings and legacy, the horrendous, flawed characters, the unfair portrayal of motherhood, the wild abandonment/adoption story, the unhinged revenge plot (featuring a Superman/Clark Kent costume change), favorite scenes and most memorable quotes, the shocking ending, and SO MUCH MORE!

GUEST: Lola

• Instagram: @lolapopsoffaboutkdramas

• TikTok: @lolapopsoffaboutkdramas

• Website: http://www.lolapopsoffaboutkdramas.com

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 94 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess is joined by friends Liliana from the Tea & Soju Podcast and Becky from @dont_sue_rebecca on TikTok to review Our Beloved Summer, starring Choi Woo-sik and Kim Dami.

Jess, Liliana, and Becky talk through this 2021 second chance romance K-drama, discussing the flawed characters, the dreamy, atmospheric nature of the show, the amazing OST, online complaints about the show and its dismal ratings, favorite scenes and swoonworthy moments, the annoying SML, and so much more!

GUEST: Liliana

• Tea & Soju Asian Drama Podcast: Available on Spotify, Google, Apple

• Instagram: @teaandsojupod

• Twitter: @tea_soju_pod

GUEST: Becky

• TikTok @dont_sue_rebecca: https://www.tiktok.com/@dont_sue_rebecca?lang=en

• TikTok @rebeccamissessue: https://www.tiktok.com/@rebeccamissessue?lang=en

   

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!

On Episode 93 of the Daebak K-Rambles Podcast, Jess and OG drama bestie Miguel review Move to Heaven, starring Lee Je-hoon and Tang Joon-sang.

Jess and Miguel talk through this 2021 slice-of-life drama, discussing the show’s incredible writing and performances, viewing the show through the lens of an autistic character, our favorite and most memorable scenes, a breakdown of cultural nuances (rooftop apartments, the stigma surrounding orphans, gifting thermal underwear to parents, the 1995 Sampoong Department Store collapse), the power of memory and nostalgia, and more!

Intro Music Credit: “Golden Coconut Club” by Tearliner, from the Cheese in the Trap OST. Used with permission from the artist.

Rate and subscribe on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, follow us on all the socials, and be sure to let us know what you want to see in Season 7!