Korean Dramas To Watch In This Pandemic

(Second List)

With the gaining popularity of K-Dramas in India, I couldn’t help but notice some beginners who end up watching the wrong dramas and then eventually develop a distaste for K-Dramas.

To begin with, K-drama is way beyond “Crash Landing on You”. My family and I have been watching Korean movies for years (18 years to be precise) and we mostly watched them with my Uncle who along with being a journalist in Bangalore, wrote movie reviews. So I say from experience and utmost confidence, please choose the K-dramas you watch in this pandemic wisely, else you will get bored and sick of it.

If you are a Korean Drama virgin, please don’t make the mistake of picking the trending drama on Netflix. It is a good idea to research a little on Google and read up Korean Dramas with the best ratings or Korean Romantic Dramas with the best ratings. That definitely helps, and the results are accurate.

The two sites to definitely catch Korean shows on are Viki Rakuten and Netflix. News and Movie updates on Soompi.

Coming to my second list and rating. I am enlisting here version 2 of my K-Drama choices to be watched. I am also including those shows which I didn’t enjoy as much. Just for review sakes.

PINOCCHIO

This show has you hooked till the end. It is a story about news reporters, and childhood love. But the background story revolves around a tragic incident of the past based on which the news reporting story and characters revolve. Excellent acting, heartfelt family relationships and brilliant insight into the journalism, political industry. I enjoyed the fact that this had suspense and warmed the brain cells much. Great to see women in the leading roles both positive and negative.

The sweet revenge attained at the end makes the whole drama so gripping and thrilling.

Must Watch!

BIRTH OF A BEAUTY

It is about a wife who gets surgery to get back at her husband and in-laws. Lol! A lot more dark, thrilling and fun. You can see some great acting, finding new love, new beginnings, courage, makeover sort of movie. It’s fun to see that, a timid girl becoming strong and giving it back in the best way possible with the help of other characters.

The movie has action, love, thriller and suspense which makes it so entertaining. Even though the character of the lead is shown in such pitiful light in the beginning, her transformation over the episodes develops gradually to become a strong empowered female lead. Truly inspiring.

Must Watch!

INHERITORS

Inheritors is about rich Korean high school kids who are potential heirs to their parents’ businesses. The show is based on business strategies, mergers and acquisitions by marriage, rich guy and poor girl. More importantly, it is nice to see high school kids play out these strategies and hence it makes this more interesting. It’s not childish in any way, pure business!

Watching so many characters and relationships may get confusing in the beginning couple of episodes, but you slowly get context and everyone’s role falls in place giving each character a deserving end.

Can Watch!

CINDERELLA AND THE 4 KNIGHTS

If you want a new crush, watch this for Jung Il-Wu and the cutest Park So-dam (the actress from Parasite). The only couple of parity to Cinderella is the fact that Park So-dam has a step mother and a step sister who do illtreat her. But that’s it.The show spins around a rich grandfather who wants to correct his grandsons with the help of Park So-dam (Our Cinderella).

This is a feel good drama of a tom boy Cinderella who is independent and hardworking, and stays focused on her goals. The drama has a nice start to it and has unexpected revelations throughout the show.

Must Watch!

REPLY 1988

Oh man, this one is a classic, if it were a movie it would have won an Oscar. The setting, styling, pace, acting, food, characters, humour, and attention to detail is so bloody brilliant. If you have lived through the 80s, please watch this. I related to this much more because of my Dad who worked for Lucky Goldstar in the 80s and he brought us similar things for the house as shown in this movie. The 80s has been shown so beautifully, making the cinematography and print so retro.

Revolving around 5–6 families in a Seoul neighbourhood, this drama depicts the relationship of 5 friends and life from 1988–1990. Every scene has a meaning and gives context for the drama to follow, no bullshit. I cried and laughed hysterically throughout this show, There is no character who is the lead and that’s another thing I loved, every character is important, has equal limelight and emphasis. None of it is boring! I promise. The best family drama there is.

PS If you are a foodie, and are a big fan of retro music, must watch it.

Must Definitely Watch!

A WITCH’S ROMANCE

I had to watch this for Park Seo-joon obvs! I streamed this on Viki Rakuten, an easy and convenient stream with ads in between. The ads can be avoided with a paid membership, which is cool too.

A witch’s romance is about a woman in her late 30s, is a workaholic and healing from a broken engagement. Her personality at work is such a terror that her colleagues end up calling her a Witch. Park Seo-joon is a guy in his 20s and the drama shows a romantic relationship develop between the two.

I love the age gap romance, makes the Rom drama more interesting. Even the small twists and plots throughout the show keep it interesting always. The actress Uhm Jung-hwa is so admirable makes you want to watch her movie Seducing Mr. Perfect all over again.

Must Watch!

ITAEWON CLASS

This K-drama is about vengeance, redemption, restaurant and bar business, and about pride and principles. Of course there is a love triangle brewing on the sides, but the strong character of Park Seo-joon and Yoo Jae-myung takes precedence. They both have acted brilliantly, and watching Park Seo-joon in this role gave me goosebumps. His dialogue delivery, expressions, and attitude is spot on, it is raw and very manly. The music and characters around Itaewon Class add so much colour and character to the drama. Great script and role adaptation, a very 2020 Itaewon that you must see. Modern and socially sensitive in every manner.

Watch it if you like action and some kicking-ass fun.

Must Definitely Watch!

Itaewon Class, is one of the few dramas like Reply 1988 that may not be on my watch list always, as its genre is not my preference, but these are shows that have a feel-good factor, are beautifully made, have great direction, acting and should be tagged as Classic Dramas that you can watch again and again. There is something about the drama print which has great colour and cinematography and that makes these shows worth watching.

I hope this version 2 of K-dramas keeps you busy for the next couple of months. Happy watching folks!