Social Distancing/Quarantine Time| Minty’s Drama Recs

Helloooo friendssss!~ It’s Minty!~ I know, I’ve been away for too long. Honestly, I’m still kind of taking a break. However, given the current situation, I wanted to check up on you all. I hope you’re all doing well and are safe. I know we’re all very concerned in regards to the COVID-19/Coronavirus pandemic. Please, please, please…and I can’t stress this enough…please take care of yourselves. I know we are all (really should be) practicing social distancing, on lock-down, and/or quarantine. We’re in a tough situation. I know that we’re now trying to find something to keep us preoccupied and/or distract us from the current situation. So your girl figured she’d give you a list of drama recommendations. I’ll also be linking where you can find/watch these titles. However, I should mention that I am in the US. So these these titles may or may not be available in your region. Most of them are romance or romantic-comedies, since that’s usually my go to. Cuz a girl like’s more light-hearted stuff. However, I do have a couple other genres too to give you all some options. You’ll see some old favorites, and some new titles. I admit some of them do have flaws. However, I think these were at least some decent and pretty entertaining series. Since it is a list (of many titles), I’ll be more to the point~ I’ll basically just list the genres and things I liked about it. Then it’s up to you to choose which one you’d fancy~ I hope these help you forget all your worries for a moment, and perhaps lift your spirits a bit. If you have questions or wanna discuss something, hit me up in the comments or my socials~

쓸쓸하고 찬란하神 – 도깨비 |Goblin: The Lonely and Great God (KR)

*Also known as: Goblin|Guardian: The Lonely and Great God

Synopsis:
Kim Shin was an unbeatable and popular war general in Goryeo (Ancient Korea). After defeating his enemies and claiming victory on the battle field, he returns home. Instead of being welcomed warmly, Kim Shin and his army are greeted very coldly by the palace. He is called a criminal, to which he demands to meet with the young King. Refusing to back down and intent on meeting with Wang Yeo, Kim Shin’s men and the some villagers are shot and killed by the palace guards. After reaching Wang Yeo, Kim Shin is told that more people will die if he takes another step towards the King. The Queen tells him not to worry about her and to press on. As he continues on, the Queen and people he knows are killed before him. Soon after, he too is struck down. However, Kim Shin is brought back to life by God. He has become a Goblin, an immortal being with godly powers. However, this gift is also a curse for his previous sins and the bloodshed he’s caused. He is cursed to see his loved ones die as he continues having to live a lonely and immortal life. The only chance he has at death and ending his curse, is when he finds the Goblin’s Bride. 

900 years later in present-day Korea, there is a high school girl named Ji Eun-Tak. She is the legendary Goblin’s Bride that Kim Shin has been waiting for. Due to being the Goblin’s Bride, Eun-Tak is able to see spirits and is very aware of the supernatural. Eun-Tak lives a lonely life of misfortune. She’s mistreated by her cousins and aunt who don’t care for her and only want the fortune Eun-Tak’s mother left behind. She’s also mistreated by classmates and is a loner. Despite her misfortunes, she has a rather bright and positive personality. Her life starts to change not only after meeting Kim Shin. Her life changes more as she also meets the Grim Reaper and Sunny.

Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Comedy, Melodrama, Fantasy, Drama

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a not too heavy drama with a mix of light-hearted and serious moments
• Not too childish, but not too serious either (most of the time).

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes + 3 Commentary Specials/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

호텔 델루나 |Hotel Del Luna

Synopsis:
Hotel del Luna. It’s a seemingly quiet building/hotel in downtown Seoul. It’s run by the beautiful. fickle, and greedy Jang Man Wol. Gu Chan Sung is the youngest assistant manager ever at a multinational hotel corporation. He’s a perfectionist, and seemingly level headed. He’s also a bit of a softie. Chan Sung has been forcibly recruited by Man Wol to work at her seemingly empty hotel. However, it’s not empty at all. Hotel del Luna serves a very particular clientele: ghosts. Not only that, Man Wol is no ordinary woman. She’s a mysterious spirit who committed a grave sin that led her to being cursed with running this odd hotel.

Genres: Supernatural, Romance, Comedy, Melodrama, Fantasy, Horror, Suspense

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a not too heavy drama with a mix of light-hearted and serious moments

What I Liked:

• Great story; Sweet, beautiful moments with a dash of horror, and plenty of comedy.
• It stars one of my girl crushes, singer/actress IU. She’s gorgeous and talented.
• Great characters and actors with great chemistry
• Female lead is spunky and doesn’t follow the typical, sweet K-Drama female lead trope.
• Great OST.
• Dat plot twist.
• So many feels. I cried.
• Had a mix of light-hearted and serious moments.
• So many gorgeous outfits/looks by IU.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

김비서가 왜 그럴까 |What’s Wrong With Secretary Kim?

Synopsis:
Lee Young Joon is a perfect man. He’s chaebol (from a rich and successful family) whose family runs a large and successful company. Young Joon is not only rich, but he’s incredibly handsome and intelligent.  It’s no wonder that he’s the vice president who makes sure that everything is run in tip top shape. His only flaw is that he can be incredibly arrogant and narcissistic. He’s a tough boss who accepts only perfection and hates incompetence. The only one who can handle him is his secretary. Having working by his side for 9 years, Kim Mi So is the only one who can handle him. She’s perfect for him, but she suddenly announces that she’d like to quit. Young Joon can’t understand why Mi So wants to leave, nor does he want her to leave. He comes to the conclusion that she must have feelings for him; Afterall, he is the perfect man. He tries everything he can to get to stay. Does Young Joon really just not want to lose his perfect secretary, or perhaps there’s something more?

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Live-Action Adaptation

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a more light-hearted series.
• If you’re interested in live-adaptations of webtoon titles.
• If you like romantic-coms with cliched tropes.
• If you like a more sweet/innocent kind of love stories.
• If you like wholesome moments.

What I Liked:

• It’s actually pretty sweet and cute.
• It stars one of my girl crushes, Park Min Young.
• It stars Park Seo Joon.
• Great characters and actors with amazing chemistry.
• The romantic-comedy cliches/tropes; They were actually more sweet than cringey.
• Light-hearted and hilarious.
• Bonus: Ab fan-service.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

뷰티 인사이드|Beauty Inside

Synopsis:
Han Se Gye is an A-list actress surrounded in many rumors and scandals. She’s known as a troublemaker. Her life is pretty much surrounded in mystery. The truth is that Han Se Gye has an unusual secret. For years, she’s been suffering from a strange condition. Once a month, her appearance will suddenly change to that of another person. It can be of any age, gender, or ethnicity. She has no control over it, and the cause of her many rumors and scandals. Only her two best friends; One of whom doubles as her manager, and the other aiming to be a priest. Her condition has allowed her to hone her skills as a top-notch actress, but it also leaves her feeling lonely. She fears that no one will ever know or recognize her as the Se Gye that she is. Seo Do Jae is a seemingly perfect man. He’s intelligent, rich, handsome, and the executive director of a large airline company. He also holds a secret that only his mother, friend/secretary, and doctor knows. He suffers from face blindness. It’s what makes him keep his distance from people. Especially in a world where people are constantly trying to tear him down. Yet, Se Gye catches his attention. Despite having face blindness, why is she the only one he can recognize immediately? Se Gye is also curious as to why this man is the only person to recognize her despite any appearance she takes on.

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, Supernatural, Drama, Melodrama

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a more light-hearted series.
• If you like alot of comedy. Dude, it’s hilarious AF.
• If you like a more sweet kind of love stories; Although it’s also not childish.
• If you like something with wholesome moments.
• If you like spunky female leads.
• If you like unique characters.

What I Liked:

• It’s freakin’ hilarious. No, seriously. Like, I can’t.
• It’s a great light-hearted series.
• Interesting premise.
• Great characters and actors with amazing chemistry.
• Secondary characters and their story is just as interesting.
• It’s a drama adaptation of a movie that’s based on American social internet series of the same name.
• It’s a journey of self-love and acceptance.
• It’s a great lesson on how it’s what inside that’s important.
• Spunky female lead.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

어쩌다 발견한 하루 |Extra-Ordinary You

*Also known as: Suddenly One Day, Haru Found By Chance

Synopsis:
Eun Dan Oh seems like your typical high school girl. Except for the fact that she’s the doted only-child from a rich family, and that she has a congenital heart condition. Still, she loves her life and thinks that it’s perfect. However, things get weird when she hears weird sounds and starts noticing missing lapses of time in her memory. Everything changes when she finds out the big secret about her seemingly perfect world: she’s a character in a romance comic. To make matters worse, she finds out that she’s not even the main character. She’s only a minor extra. Dan Oh doesn’t want to live her life following the will of someone else. She decides that she should be the one to decide how to really live her life and who she truly loves. Changing the story isn’t easy though. Until she meets a minor background character who doesn’t even have a name. Student Number 13 may be the key. Together, they’ll try to find the secret of this romance comic, change their fates, and get live their lives how they decide.

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Fantasy, School, Live-Action Adaptation

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a more light-hearted series.
• If you like alot of comedy.
• If you like a more sweet and innocent kind of love stories.
• If you like something with wholesome moments.
• If you like wholesome leads.
• If you like female leads who don’t follow K-Drama character tropes exactly.
• If you’re interested in live-adaptations of webtoon titles.
• If you’re looking for series with episodes that aren’t too long.

What I Liked:

• It makes fun of typical romance tropes.
• It’s a great light-hearted series.
• It’s freakin’ hilarious. Seriously.
• Interesting premise.
• Wholesome moments.
• Great characters and actors with amazing chemistry.
• Main lead is a great example of ideal/wholesome boyfriend material.
• I can relate to the female lead. She says all the things I think about typical romance stories and cringey scenes.
• The female lead doesn’t totally follow typical K-Drama character tropes.
• It’s based on the webtoon 어쩌다 발견한 7월/July Found By Chance.
• Episodes are only 1/2 hour long instead of a full hour.
• Kind of a teen kind of drama, but is honestly enjoyable for all ages.
• Bonus: Abs

Episodes/Status: 32 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki*] [Kocowa]
*Only with Viki Plus Pass, which includes Kocowa content

이태원 클라쓰|Itaewon Class

Synopsis:
Park Saeroyi is “socially inept”. He may be socially awkward, but he believes in doing what’s right. His family’s motto is, “Never compromise your principles.” Saeroyi always follows his principles, despite whatever pressure and obstacle he faces. His life takes a turn after he tries helping a classmate and punches a bully. He gets expelled, still he’s content and proud that he stuck to his principles. However, his life crumbles once he loses his father in an accident. Saeroyi learns that society will bend down to power and money. He’s determined to set things straight while sticking to his principles. He opens a pub called DanBam in the popular area of Itaewon in Seoul. With his principles, manager, and staff, Saeroyi and DanBam strive towards success and reaching unexpected heights.

Genres: Drama, Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life, Youth, Live-Action Adaptation

Good for:

• If you like a good underdog story
• If you’re interested in social commentary and stories that touch upon very real issues.
• If you like a more serious and mature kind of story.
• If you like characters who don’t follow the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• If you like stories with character growth.
• If you’re looking for shitty evil characters to hate…
• If you’re interested in live-adaptations of webtoon titles.

What I Liked:

• It stars Park Seo Joon. You should know I love him. He’s a fantastic actor.
• It’s got an eclectic mix of great characters that don’t follow the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• It’s a more mature kind of story.
• It’s an underdog story.
• Great and complex characters and great actors; There are characters you’ll love, and there are characters that make you feel deep hatred.
• The characters and situations are very realistic.
• Social commentary. It touches on several social issues. I’m amazed that it’s an Asian series that realistically portrays issues of racism, transgender struggles, abuse of power/corruption, and more.
• It’s a great story that really pulls you in. You will feel things. Alot of tears and alot of anger. I’m still pissed.
• The female lead doesn’t totally follow the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• It’s based on the webtoon of the same name.

*Side Note: Just a warning, there’s a disturbing scene where a chicken gets it’s neck snapped. Just wanted to give y’all a heads up since no one gave me one…

Episodes/Status: 16/Airing (Ending March 21, 2020).

나쁜 녀석들 |Bad Guys

Synopsis:
There are some truly sick crimes horrifying sickos out there. We’d like to think the cops can handle everything and protect us. However, the world is not only sick with crime, but with corruption as well. So how do you catch the bad guys? Detective Oh Gu Tak has a vague moral line who uses excessive force. He’s known as the “Mad Dog” that will do anything necessary to catch the criminals. Lee Jung Moon is a genius. He’s the youngest member of Mensa, has an IQ of 165, and has doctorates in math and philosophy. However, behind his facade is a psychopathic serial killer. Jung Tae Soo was a perfect hired hit man who never made a mistake. Strangely enough, he suddenly confessed and turned himself in one day. Park Ong Chul is a mob boss. He crushed his way to the top of the gangster chain within a shocking 25 days. Yet, he’s still the top dog in prison. It’s with this bad guys that Gu Tak creates a team of mad dogs. To catch bad guys, you gotta use bad guys.

Genres: Action, Thriller, Suspense, Psychological, Crime, Investigation, Anti-Hero

Good for:

• If you’re looking for darker, gritty, or more serious series.
• If you like action, crime, thriller, psychological, or police genres.
• If you like anti-heroes.
• If you like the idea behind the show Leverage, “Sometimes the bad guys make the best good guys.”
• If you enjoy stories where trashy people get what’s coming to them.
• If you don’t mind violent and gory action. It can get graphic though. It ain’t for the kiddies.

What I Liked:

• It stars Ma Dong Seok. Y’all gonna see him in Marvel’s The Eternals. He was also in The Train to Busan.
• Park Hae In is a pro at portraying a psychopath, but we already knew that from [Cheese In The Trap].
• There are multiple, and strong leads. All with complex backgrounds.
• The leads are bad guys, but they’re interesting. Despite being bad guys, they show that they’re more human than the trash they go after.
• I love the idea of using bad guys to punish really bad guys.
• I like seeing trashy people get what’s comin’ to them.
• It’s an interesting concept and story with a couple of twists.

Episodes/Status: 11 Episodes/Completed
*There’s also a spin-off series and a movie.

Watch It: [Netflix]

싸이코패스 다이어리|Psychopath Diary

Synopsis:
Meet Yoo Dong Sik. He’s a hard-worker. At the same time, he doesn’t have much of a presence and is seen as a total pushover. Still, he’s a kind person who happens to be a thriller buff. Things just don’t seem to go right for him though. As Dong Sik prepares to end his life,he ends up being at the wrong place at the wrong time. As he changes his mind, he ends up witnessing an attempted murder. Dong Sik tries to run away with the psychopath’s diary. Unfortunately, he ends up being hit by Officer Bo Kyung’s police car. He wakes up with amnesia. He finds the diary and believes it’s his. He ends up believing himself to be a top predator, a psychopathic serial killer.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological, Crime, Mystery, Detective, Comedy, Drama

Good for:

• If you’re looking for darker series mixed with some comedy.
• If you’re looking for a slightly more mature kind of series that isn’t too heavy.
• If you like thrillers or psychological series.
• If you like main characters who don’t fall into the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• If you’re looking for something different from your typical kind of K-Drama.

What I Liked:

• It stars Yoon Si Yoon. I love him.
• Great cast and interesting characters.
• The main leads are different, and quirky. They have good chemistry/team-work.
• It’s hilarious.
• It’s actually a fun psychological series.
• It’s a more mature, yet somewhat light-hearted series. I like that it wasn’t too dark and heavy. There were some cute/wholesome moments.
• I love that the leads don’t fall into the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• It’s an interesting premise that I hadn’t seen before.
• Being a timid and introverted pushover myself, I could relate to male lead.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

본 대로 말하라 |Tell Me What You Saw

Synopsis:
Oh Hyun Jae was an eccentric genius profiler, renowned for cracking numerous cases. However, he lost his fiance in an explosion set by a serial killer. Hyun Jae then seemed to vanish as he cut himself off from the world. That is until there’s a murder occurs 5 years later. It had the signature as the serial killer who had been ruled dead in that explosion. Hwang Ha Young, the team leader on the police force, is investigating the case when she meets Cha Soo Young. Soo Young is a police officer from the countryside, and has an incredible photographic memory. Seeing this Ha Young brings Soo Young onto the team as they try to stop the serial killer.

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Psychological, Crime, Mystery, Detective, Comedy, Drama

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a darker, mature, and more serious series.
• If you like crime, mystery, and psychological kind of stories.
• If you like Criminal Minds.
• If you don’t mind violence, gore, or disturbing images. It’s not for the kiddies!!
• If you like stories that involve the leads working as a team.
• If you like stories of characters trying to overcome trauma.

What I Liked:

• It stars Girls’ Generation/SNSD’s Choi Soo Young. Y’all know I was a big fan of 2nd gen idols. SNSD is one of my favorites. I stan and support queens.
• It gave me Criminal Minds vibes.
• Soo Young’s character (also named, Soo Young…Cha Soo Young) is pretty likable.
• I like the profiling and psychological aspects.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Airing (Ending March 22, 2020)

Watch It: [Viki]

그녀는 예뻤다|She Was Pretty

*Also known as: Pretty Woman

Synopsis:
Kim Hye Jin was from a rich family, and known as an incredible beauty as a child. Not only that, she was incredibly kind. However, things took a turn when her family went bankrupt. She faced hardships, and lost her beauty when she grew up. Basically, she had the opposite of a glow-up. Still, she kept her beautiful and kind personality. Ji Sung Joon was a childhood friend. He was known as the ugly kid with low self-esteem. He grew up to be an incredibly handsome and successful editor. After so many years, Sung Joon wanted to reunite with Hye Jin. However, she was ashamed of how she looked. She was afraid she’d ruin his perception of her. Instead, she has her beautiful best friend appear in her place. Things soon get complicated when Hye Jin starts working at fashion magazine, where Sung Joon is the deputy chief editor.

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a romantic comedy.
• If you’re looking for something silly with plenty of laughs.
• If you’re looking for wholesome moments.
• If you’re looking for a light-hearted series.
• If you like quirky/eccentric characters.
• If you like a good glow-up story.
• If you like a journey to self-love and acceptance.
• Second Lead Syndrome/Second Lead Feels
• If you like stuff based on true stories.

What I Liked:

• It stars Super Junior’s Choi Si Won as the second male lead. Y’all know I was a big fan of 2nd gen idols. SuJu was one of the first boy groups I stanned. Also, Si Won was my bias.
• Hella strong second lead feels. Si Won’s character is a quirky sweet heart.
• I really liked that Si Won’s character is completely different from his image as an idol and in Super Junior.
• It’s actually really sweet, and has some really wholesome moments.
• There are some really interesting characters.
• As a woman who is insecure about my looks, I can relate to the female lead.
• I like the overall message. Beauty isn’t just about looks, but truly the beauty inside.
• Bonus: Abs. Choi Si Won’s abs. Did I mention Si Won’s abs?
  
  Side Note: It was also remade into a Chinese drama series.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki*] [Amazon Prime Video]
*Only with Viki Plus Pass, which includes Kocowa content

그녀의 사생활 |Her Private Life

*Also known as: Noona Fan Dot Com

Synopsis:
Sung Deok Mi is the chief curator of the Cheum Museum of Art. She’s known as being a cool and true professional. However, she leads a secret life. She’s an ultimate fangirl of White Ocean’s Cha Si An. Not only is she a true fangirl, she’s also runs a popular fansite for Si An. Only her family, and those closest to her know of her secret fangirl life and personality. Ryan Gold is a renowned artist. However, he retired after developing a psychological condition. He soon becomes the new art director at the museum due to Deok Mi’s boss being investigated for embezzlement. Ryan uncovers Deok Mi’s secret, and both their lives start to change.

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Slice of Life, Live Action, Drama

Good for:

• If you’re a fangirl, and/or relate to fan culture.
• If you’re looking for a romantic comedy.
• If you’re looking for a sweet romance series that’s targeted towards those in their 20s-30s.
• If you’re looking for something silly with plenty of laughs.
• If you’re looking for wholesome moments.
• If you’re looking for a light-hearted series.
• If you like quirky/eccentric characters.
• If you like a journey to self-love and acceptance.
• If you like healthy/supportive relationships and friendships.
• If you like live action adaptations.

What I Liked:

• It stars my girl crush, Park Min Young. She’s so pretty, and her outfits/looks were stunning.
• It’s hilarious.
• I loved the female lead’s fangirl moments. I hella relate as a fangirl, though I’m not that extreme. I was also amused since I have a friend who’s like that and does a fan site for an idol.
• I relate to the female lead. I’m almost 30, but I’m still a fangirl.
• It stars rapper/singer ONE (Jung Jae Won).
• ONE’s character is absolutely adorable and wholesome.
• The main lead is really sweet and wholesome. He’s a great example for dudes to take notes from. A dude who whole-heartedly supports his love and her interests is excellent boyfriend material. We stan.
• Great chemistry between the leads.
• There are some eccentric characters.
• It’s a good story about self-growth, self-love, and acceptance of one’s self.
• It’s not exactly a super mature series, but it’s also not completely childish. I felt like it fit me as someone in her late 20’s, but is kind of like a kidult.
• All the sweet and wholesome moments though!
• It’s a good example of healthy/supportive relationships and friendships.
• The female lead fangirling with her bestie reminds me of me and my friends.
• It’s based on the novel and webtoon called, 누나팬닷컴 /Noona Fan Dot Com.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

힘쎈여자 도봉순|Strong Woman Do Bong Soon

*Also known as: Strong Girl Bong Soon, Strong Woman Bong Soon

Synopsis:
Do Bong Soon is a petite woman who is often thought of as just being delicate and cute woman who is in need of protecting. However, Bong Soon has a secret. She has super strength that for generations, has been passed down to each woman in her family. However, there’s a catch: She must only use her strength for good. Misusing it for personal gain or to harm others would lead to her losing her super strength. Bong Soon’s dream is to make her own video game in which she’s the main character. Ahn Min Hyuk is the young and successful CEO of a gaming company. He witnesses Bong Soon using her strength from a group of gangsters. He hires her to be his personal bodyguard and help him catch an unknown stalker that’s been threatening him. Meanwhile, there’s been a series of kidnappings occurring in Bong Soon’s neighborhood. Her childhood friend and long-time crush, In Guk Doo, is a police officer trying to put a stop to the kidnapper. Bong Soo wants to help Guk Doo, but tries to continue keeping her strength and crush a secret from him. In order to do that, Min Hyuk helps train her and teaches her how to control her powers. Along the way, something more seems to be blossoming between them.

Genres: Romance, Comedy, Supernatural, Drama, Action, Thriller

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a romantic comedy.
• If you’re looking for something that’s not too heavy.
• If you’re looking for characters that don’t totally fit the typical K-Drama character tropes.
• If you like something sweet and cute.
• If you like eccentric characters.

What I Liked:

• It stars my girl crush, Park Bo Young.
• It stars former ZE:A idol group member, Park Hyung Sik.
• It stars actor Ji Soo. I love him.
• It’s freakin’ hilarious.
• There are some really cute moments.
• There are some quirky and really funny characters.
• There are some really sweet and wholesome moments.
• The main male lead is a good example of a wholesome and supportive dude.
• It’s a light-hearted series with some thriller/mystery aspects.

Episodes/Status: 16 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki] [Netflix]

킬잇|Kill It

*Also known as: Blue Eye, Blue Eyes

Synopsis (From DramaList):
Will a killer-turned-veterinarian and a detective find common ground? Kim Soo Hyun is a veterinarian who is also a professional killer. Many individuals and organizations hire him for large sums of money. Nobody in the public knows anything about him as a killer, including his age, name, and race. Animals are his only companions, but deep inside, he constantly yearns for love. He struggles to develop and maintain any pure relationships around him. One day, a client asks him to kill in exchange for information regarding his mysterious past and a conspiracy involving his birth. Do Hyun Jin was once a ballerina, but now she is a detective working in Seoul, who graduated from police academy as the most excelled. Although she looks cold and stern on the outside, she is, in fact, a very sympathetic individual. Hyun Jin trusts her instincts and isn’t afraid to rely on the things around her to make a decision to the best of her abilities. She has suffered trauma but still keeps pushing forward. She starts to chase after Kim Soo Hyun as she believes he is a serial killer. What happens when both get to know that the connection between them has started years ago?

Genres: Action, Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Romance, Crime, Drama, Tragedy

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a more mature and serious drama.
• If you like action.
• If you like spy kind of stories.
• If you like a heavier kind of series with a touch of beautiful romance.
• If you like something that doesn’t feel like a typical K-Drama. This premise could make for a good western series too.

What I Liked:

• It stars my girl crush, Nana. Again, I’m a second gen idol fangirl. I liked her group After School. I also really liked the Orange Caramel sub-unit she was in. She had some really [iconic moments]. I also really loved her in the reality show, Roommates. Nana is absolutely gorgeous.
• It was both surprising and refreshing to see Nana play a role that was different from her idol-image and how I saw her on Roommates.
• It’s a series that doesn’t feel like a typical K-Drama. It felt almost like a Hollywood movie at times.
• Korean-American actor David Lee McInnis is in it. Dude was in Hawaii Five-0.
• I typically don’t like drama series from OCN. I didn’t expect to feel any investment in the drama. Yet, I found myself binge-watching it. It’s not the best, but it was surprisingly better than I thought.
• Although it’s on the heavy and more serious side, there are some really beautifully sweet and innocent moments.
• The action sequences were really good.

Episodes/Status: 12 Episodes/Completed

Watch It: [Viki]

신과함께: 죄와 벌 킬잇|Along With the Gods: The Two Worlds

*Also known as: Together with God – Sin and Punishment

Synopsis:
Kim Ja Hong is a firefighter who dies a heroic death after saving a girl from a burning building. He is greeted by 3 reapers who are to escort him to the afterworld. It is here that every soul must undergo 7 trials in a period of 49 days. The reapers are to escort the souls and not meddle with their affairs. However, Gang Rim, the head reaper, has a bit of affection for humans. The reapers must help him clear the obstacles, pass the trials, clear his past, and prove that Ja Hong has lived a noble life.

Genres: Action, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural, Live Action Adaptation

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a somewhat serious fantasy movie.
• If you’re interested in Buddhist and Asian ideology regarding the afterlife.
• If you like live-action adaptations.

What I Liked:

• I liked the supernatural elements.
• It explores Buddhist beliefs/teachings about the after life.
• Our boy Ma Dong Seok makes an appearance in it.
• My boy D.O., a.k.a. Do Kyung Soo, from K-Pop idol group EXO is in it.
• It stars Cha Tae Hyun. I’ve been around since the beginning of the Hallyu Wave. His movie, My Sassy Girl, will forever be an iconic film.
• It’s based on the webtoon 신과함께 /Along With the Gods.
• It seems like a heavier kind of fantasy film, but there are some great messages in there.
• There are some feels in here.

Episodes/Status: It’s a movie. This is the first out of 3 or 4 planned installments. Only 2 have been filmed and released so far.

Watch It: [Hulu]
You can watch the sequel on [Hulu] as well.

シグナル 長期未解決事件捜査班|Signal: Long-Term Unsolved Case Investigation Team

*Also known as: シグナル /Signal

Synopsis:
As a child, Saegusa Kento witnessed a schoolmate get kidnapped. She was later discovered to be murdered. Despite trying to tell the police what he saw, no one took him seriously. 15 years has passed, and Kento has become a police officer. Despite the incident becoming a cold case, Kento can’t forget what he’s witnessed. However,the statue of limitations are running out, and it doesn’t seem like it’ll be solved. That is until he hears someone’s voice on an abandoned radio. The voice on the other end is Detective Ooyama, who is also investigating the case…15 years in the past! What’s more is that Detective Ooyama has been missing for 15 years. Through a radio that connects two detective in the past and present, Saegusa and Ooyama work together to try to solve the case. Will they be able to solve the case, and will Saegusa find out the truth behind Ooyama’s disappearance?

Genres: Thriller, Suspense, Mystery, Crime, Drama, Fantasy, Supernatural,

Good for:

• If you’re looking for a somewhat more serious or mature series.
• If you like mystery, thriller, and suspense series.
• If you like stories that connect characters from different timelines.

What I Liked:

• The theme song “Don’t Leave Me” is by BTS~~~ It’s a good song.
• It stars Sakaguchi Kentaro~ He’s one of my favorite Japanese models/actors.
• It’s an interesting premise.
• I liked the idea of characters from from different timelines are able to communicate with each other.
• It had a good mystery and suspense aspect.
• I really liked getting to know the characters as the story unfolded.
  
  Side Note: This is a Japanese remake of the hit Korean drama series, Signal. I haven’t finished the Korean version yet, but it seemed pretty good.

Episodes/Status: 10/Completed.
There’s also a side story and a movie sequel.

Watch It: [Viki]

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