You can only pick one, and boy the pressure is on. The DB team will answer a new prompt in each post, and you’re invited to do the same in the comments. Ready to play?
You can only pick one Lee Bo-young drama
quirkycase: There are multiple dramas I could choose here, but I’m going to go with the drama that first made me a true Lee Bo-young fan: I Hear Your Voice. I loved this drama, and that’s in no small part due to Lee Bo-young’s hilarious portrayal of ridiculous-yet-lovable lawyer Jang Hye-sung. Her never-ending confidence, even when unearned, and her completely unapologetic way of being herself made her one of my top drama heroines. Lee Bo-young played her with such charm and humor, somehow riding that line between selfish and kind, strong and vulnerable. It was a drama that shouldn’t have worked as well as it did, given the somewhat bizarre mash-up of, well, everything. But rather than the mess it could’ve been, we got a memorable and engrossing drama with a fantastic heroine at its center.
mistyisles: Much as I love I Hear Your Voice, I think I have to go with Mother. The main reason being that, while there are other romances that I love — including ones with fantasy elements and Lee Jong-seok — there aren’t many shows out there like Mother. Emotionally, it’s tough to watch, but it’s so well done that it’s captivating at the same time. Plus, I’m a sucker for strong introverted female characters, and something in me really resonated with Soo-jin’s dream of flying away to Iceland like her beloved birds to focus on her passion instead of what others thought she should do with her life.
DaebakGrits: This is a no-brainer for me because I Hear Your Voice is one of my all time guilty pleasure dramas — even if the age difference for this particular noona romance is a tad awkward. Back when this drama was still fresh, it was one of my go-to dramas to try and convert newbies to the K-drama dark side because it had a little bit of everything: romance, suspense, magical realism, and a confident leading lady played by Lee Bo-young. Her character, Jang Hye-sung, is fun, admirable, and entirely relatable because of her imperfections and professional apathy, which evolves as she grows over the course of the story. Not to mention she had one of the best mother-daughter relationships ever. I honestly can’t say whether or not this drama has aged well (I should probably plan a re-watch), but at the very least, the nostalgia for this drama has stuck with me over the years.
solstices: I Hear Your Voice, a hundred times over! Not only was it my first Lee Bo-young drama, but Hye-sung also remains as one of my favorite protagonists till this day. There’s just something about her strength and vulnerability, pettiness and maturity, jadedness and sincerity. All these traits may seem like diametrical opposites on paper, but instead they came together to form a character that’s wonderfully flawed and relatable and human. Lee Bo-young played Hye-sung as earnestly tenacious, hilariously unabashed, and confidently sassy — at the heart of it all, she wasn’t afraid to be herself, and that’s what made her so lovable. Oh, and this drama also set the bar way up high for all noona romances. Both our heroine and her adoring puppy of a suitor were such positive influences on each other, inspiring growth and kindness while also being a safe space for each other’s inner child. A swoonworthy romance, snarky frenemy bickering, and a tale of mutual sacrifice and support? It’s no wonder this show has maintained its spot in my favorites list for a decade.
Dramaddictally: I picked When My Love Blooms, which I only watched recently for the first time. This is such an understated drama, with pretty hues and quietly hurt characters, and I loved watching the leads be in love (in both the past and present timeline). Lee Bo-young presents a silent strength in this show that’s underscored by her small frame and appearance of fragility — she looks like she needs to be taken care of, but she’s a super tough cookie. So, it makes it all the more powerful (my heart just about fell out of my chest) watching Yoo Ji-tae try to give her the rest and care she deserves. Ah, I’m tearing up just thinking about it.