Time Travel: Back to 2010

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back, dear traveler, on this beautiful spaceship, which once again will sail back in time—this time to the year 2010, which has a nice ring to it! I hope you have already recovered from your previous time travel to 2015, which was very busy; we visited eight TV series. This time I have prepared more stops and more iconic series of the beautiful year 2010.

Just like before, buckle up, pack your snacks, comfort animals, and an invalid ID, and most importantly, keep in mind that this spaceship does not have any emergency exists!

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

1. SECRET GARDEN

We landed safely in 2010, so ladies and gentlemen, exit the aircraft because we are about to see the iconic series from South Korea, which made me rewatch it so many times. If time travel ripped your clothes apart, worry not, because the handsome, rich CEO from this series still has his shiny blue jumpsuit close by. Who are we to argue that it is not in style? This is the year 2010, and we bring back jumpsuit fashion!

The drama tells the story of Kim Ju Won, an arrogant and eccentric CEO who maintains the image of seeming perfection, and Gil Ra Im, a poor and humble stuntwoman whose beauty and body are the object of envy amongst top actresses. Their accidental meeting, when Ju Won mistakes Ra Im for actress Park Chae Rin, marks the beginning of a tense, bickering relationship, through which Joo Won tries to hide a growing attraction to Ra Im that both confuses and disturbs him. To complicate matters further, a strange sequence of events results in them swapping bodies.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

2. MOTHER

Buckle up! We are landing in 2010 Japan, which means that we are about to witness the rise to fame of a heartwarming series, Mother. If you are tired of the constant romance and rich CEOs that were famous this year, relax with this heartwarming, but at the same time thrilling, story about a mother and her extraordinary daughter.

A quick summary of the popular series that has been remade in many countries.

Elementary school teacher Suzuhara Nao decides to abduct Michiki Rena, one of her female students, after discovering that she is being abused by her mother. Fleeing Hokkaido to Tokyo, the two experience various events together along the way, with Nao serving as a substitute mother and Rena finally experiencing familial love for the first time.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

3. DOK RUK RIM TANG

Our next stop is in Thailand, which is bustling with romantic lakorns, and I cannot blame them! By many, this is considered a Thai classic that is simply timeless. If you are in need of good romance, a cute dog, and a “tomboy” female lead who disguises herself as a boy, then unbuckle your seatbelt and exit this spaceship!

And what is this series about?

A young woman named Anusorn's father suddenly died. Upon returning home, Anusorn finds that her father's new wife has sold the house and left her with Hungtu, the dog, as her only piece of inheritance. Anusorn becomes suspicious that something is not quite right. She tries to find out the truth and almost gets killed in the process.

 

Pathavee, a young photographer, constantly argues with his mother Nuanjan and his older sister Pavina about Janjira, a sexy actress and a younger sister of Jitree. Nuanjan and Pavina believe that Janejira only wants Pathavee's money. As a result, they try matchmaking Pathatvee with Patcha, one of their friends' daughter.

 

Pathavee buys the house from Jitree. Anusorn disguises herself as a boy named Ooth in order to go back to her old house to look for the truth inside the house. She becomes Pathavee's assistant.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

4. MY GIRLFRIEND IS A GUMIHO

Indeed, even this iconic Korean series was broadcast in 2010, which is so shocking because, at that time, I watched it as it aired. No, I am not that old; I just started out young! But let’s get back to the topic. This series was truly special in so many ways. It had a fantasy element, and finally, gumihos were presented as nice creatures, not liver-eating monsters. Other than the fantasy element, we had amazing leads, Yi Seung Gi and Sin Min A, alongside No Min U, who quickly became my favorite character—because who doesn’t love mysterious and morally gray characters?

Here is a quick summary, in case you have amnesia from the constant time travel!

Cha Dae Ung is a carefree university student who dreams of becoming a famous actor. He is an orphan whose wealthy grandfather Cha Pung and single aunt Cha Min Suk take care of him. However, Dae Ung and his grandfather always bicker because of Dae Ung's careless spending and career choice.

 

One day, Dae Ung visits a temple and accidentally sets free a Gumiho, nine-tailed fox, who was trapped in a painting for 500 years. While running away in fright, Dae Ung severely injures himself, but the Gumiho, who took the form of a beautiful woman, saves him. In exchange, the Gumiho then asks him to help her become human and teach her how to act like one. As time goes by, their mutual relationship grows deeper as they start to fall for each other.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

5. DONG YI

If you love historical series, like myself, then you will be pleased to know that 2010 gave us one of the best and most popular Joseon love stories of all time. Being based on a true story just gives this series another nice touch. Kindly exit this aircraft and enjoy once again the story of King Suk Jong and his concubine Suk Bin.

A brief summary for those who have forgotten can be found below.

"Dong Yi" is a historical drama based on the life of Dong Yi later known as Choi Suk Bin. She worked in the royal palace as a lowly water maid. King Sok Jong then selected Choi as his concubine. Choi would then give birth to Yeong Jo, the second son of King Sok Jong and the future king of Joseon. After the birth of Yeong Jo, Dong Yi would become Suk Bin.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

6. PLAYFUL KISS

Loved by many but also despised by many—that could be this series, or should I say franchise—described as. As I mentioned back in the previous time travel article, Itazura na Kiss will forever remain one of my favorite stories, and this story introduced me to the whole franchise. I went into this series right after Boys Before Flowers because I truly loved Yun Ji Hu and wanted justice for him; thus, I picked Playful Kiss because, finally, the actor of Ji Hu had his first main role! Was it cringy? Was it cheesy? Yes to all of the above, but I still can’t forget about it.

O Ha Ni is a clumsy high school student who falls for perfectionist Baek Seung Jo. However, Seung Jo is indifferent towards her and rejects her love. When Ha Ni's house collapses, she and her father move into his long-time friend's house. As fate would have it, Seung Jo turns out to be the best friend's eldest son, and Ha Ni is given the opportunity to be near the boy she loves. Will she be able to move Seung Jo's heart?

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

7. PERSONAL TASTE

We are still staying in South Korea because 2010 was the year of Korean series! This time, we stumble upon the new Yi Min Ho series, where he portrays a more mature character compared to his previous series, Boys Before Flowers. By his side, we can see beloved Son Ye Jin, whom we now know from her famous work, where she met her real-life partner, Crash Landing on You. Overall, this series really gave me Full House vibes for some reason, and that’s why I loved it at that time.

Jeon Jin Ho is a straight guy who is mistaken as gay when he applies to become Park Gae In's roommate. His hobbies include organization and ironing, and he's known for his stoic poker face. He's a stickler for cleanliness, but he also has a talent for figuring out a women's feelings. Gae In is very trusting even though she has a habit of being betrayed. However, that doesn't stop her from giving people the benefit of doubt and Jin Ho is no different. How will Gae In react when she finds out that her gay roommate is not actually gay at all and that he has fallen for her?

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

8. SUNGKYUNKWAN SCANDAL

With this TV series, we are ending our time travel, and we will go back to the year 2025. But before that, relax a bit and watch the original version, which made other countries want to remake it—and they successfully did! But only true drama lovers know that the original is oftentimes the best, and it is indeed true in this case. Park Min Yeong’s acting was simply lovelable and sincere, and how can I not mention the famous pairing that made my radar go off—Gu Young Ha and Mun Jae Sin. Even when years passed, I simply knew that there was something between those two, and no one could prove me otherwise. What is your opinion on it, dear traveler?

If you have forgotten what this series is about, check out the summary below.

Kim Yun Hui is a smart, responsible young woman with an independent drive. Since her father passed away, she has worked to support her family but has also managed to do well in her studies. When her younger brother's illness worsens, and their family is in danger of being evicted from their house for lack of money. In her desperation to support him, Kim Yun Hui decides to take the men's only national exam under her younger brother's name and disguises herself as a boy.

 

On the day of the exam, Kim Yun Hui meets Yi Seon Jun and becomes friends. Yi Seon Jun comes from a privileged background and also possesses good looks. He is also arrogant. They both pass the national exam, and she has to share a room together with him at Sungkyunkwan University while hiding her true nature. There, she becomes friends with the playboy Gu Yong Ha and rebellious Mun Jae Sin.

── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ──

OUTRO

Dear traveler, we are back in 2025, which is only just starting to unfold. How was the travel? Were you once again dizzy and overwhelmed by how many iconic series we got in 2010? Well, me too! Which series were your favorite from that time period? If you haven’t found your iconic series on the list, do share it in the comment section!

 

Now, where shall we travel next?