Lali writes:
Dear KFG
Greetings! Hope you’re doing okay in these uncertain times. Recently, I was asked by a friend why people are watching a lot of kdrama these days and I found myself groping for a good answer. I couldn’t really gush with goggly eyes as I would before a fellow kdrama enthusiast.
There’s the matter of availability and good looking actors, but that didn’t really feel to be at the heart of it. I also felt angry at myself for feeling apologetic about my drama choices (the person’s what you’d call a “serious” type and I didn’t want to be an object of his condescension).
Does this mean I subconsciously subscribe to the notion of kdramas somehow not being up to the mark? I have been agonising about this for a while now. I want to be able to watch what I like without feeling guilty or hesitant to acknowledge my love for it to the world.
And I could think of nobody better than you to provide a thoughtful answer to my predicament. The next time I come across this question, I’d like to bank on your eloquence and insights, please!
Let’s talk about this..
Dear Lali,
I feel you on this one, and quite a lot, in fact.
When I first started this blog, I’d felt awkward about it too, because I felt like people – especially people at work, or just more serious people in general – would find my interest in dramas frivolous and stupid.
As a result of this, I kept this blog a secret for a good several years, before starting to be more open about it.
As my friend Josh put it, I ought to be loud and proud, about the blog, and my passion for drama, and I’m glad I finally found the confidence to do that, even if it was a little late in the coming.
It occurs to me that since you sent me this question, a lot has changed in the world, in terms of the general public’s perception of kdramas, what with the world domination of Squid Game and everything.
Suddenly, a lot more people have become open to the idea of watching kdramas, and perhaps by now, your friend’s perceptions have evolved, along with everyone else’s.
However, I thought that it’d still be worthwhile weighing in on the subject.
You might also find my post on “Why do we like kdramas?” and my post on dramas where we can learn about Korean culture &/or history relevant to your topic of concern.
As always, if you guys have other insights, perspective or stories to add, please share them in the comments!
MYTH VS. REALITY
That’s Myth on the right, and Reality on the left – and that’s us in the middle, tryna stop the Myth in its tracks! 😂
I thought a potentially useful way to discuss this, is to touch on the various myths that the general public tends to subscribe to, when it comes to kdramas.
Myth #1
Myth: They’re basically soap operas.
Reality: Perhaps it’s not such a widely held belief, now that Squid Game‘s taken over the world, but for a long time, I feel like many non-kdrama watchers believed that kdramas are basically soap operas.
The truth is, there are many genres of Korean dramas, including but not limited to: action, crime, thriller, medical, legal, fantasy, sci-fi, melodramas, rom-coms, slice-of-life and more. There’s quite literally something for everyone.
Myth #2
Myth: There are only fluffy shows available.
Reality: Yes, Dramaland does offer a lot of fluffy options, but the truth is, there are many serious shows to choose from as well. And then there’s the thing where you can sometimes glean a lot of insights from shows that appear fluffy on the surface.
Ergo, fluffy does not necessarily equate without substance.
Myth #3
Myth: They are only for bored housewives.
Reality: Bored housewives may have been the main demographic of drama fans many years ago, but that has definitely changed, over the years.
In actual fact, there are many very professionally qualified people within the fandom who enjoy kdramas – including typically serious types like lawyers, professors, scientists, IT professionals and more.
Myth #4
Myth: It’s frivolous to watch fluffy shows.
Reality: The truth is, everyone’s entitled to enjoy light entertainment, if they feel like it. There’s literally nothing wrong with it.
Many drama fans are equally capable of enjoying a frothy gumdrop of a show, as they are adept at analyzing an arthouse masterpiece. The fact that you find enjoyment in something fluffy, does not make you a person without substance.
Myth #5
Myth: It’s a waste of time.
Reality: The world at large values busy-ness as a state of being, and might be tempted to make fun of you for spending time on dramas, that you could be investing elsewhere.
The truth is, everyone’s entitled to downtime. Plus, there’s the thing where you tend to learn a lot, while watching dramas, including but not limited to the country’s language, culture, and history. On top of that, there’s a lot that you can learn about what it means to be human.
A SAMPLING OF EXCELLENT DRAMAS ACROSS A RANGE OF GENRES
Here’s a selection of very good dramas of various genres, that you might like to suggest to your friend. Of course, not all shows are for everyone, but I’d like to think that even the pickiest viewer would be able to find at least one thing to enjoy, from this list.
Bad Guys
I’m including this one because it’s very different from kdrama’s general reputation; it’s slick, gritty and fierce, and has enough testosterone in it to differentiate it from the “housewives’ soap opera” sort of label.
A touch melodramatic in spots, but manages to be heartening and uplifting, even in the midst of its gritty swag.
Review is here.
Beyond Evil [Monster]
This one won Best Drama at this year’s Baeksang Arts Awards for a reason. It’s tightly written, compelling, and nuanced, and makes for an absorbing watch that engages both the heart and mind.
Review is here.
Chuno [Slave Hunter]
Magnificently lush and beautifully filmed, I feel that Chuno has a kind of operatic appeal, in that it strikes a powerful, emotional chord, as it tells its expansive story. It’s an excellently absorbing watch with lots of outstanding performances.
Plus, there’s lots to chew on theme-wise, in this one, if you’re so inclined.
Review is here. Open Threads are listed here.
Circle
If your friend is interested in sci-fi, Circle is worth a look. It has its flaws, but it manages to be interesting and mysterious, while remaining emotionally engaging and thought-provoking, all the way through to the end.
Flash Review is here.
D.P. (Deserter Pursuit)
This.. is basically the opposite of fluffy, heh. I haven’t finished this one yet, but from what I’ve seen, this is very, very solid. It’s a gritty, unvarnished look at military service in South Korea, and the systemic problems that soldiers face.
Update: Review is here.
Designated Survivor: 60 Days
A remake of the American original, Show does a great job adapting the story to its Korean context, and is a great example of a politically themed show with broad appeal.
Show leans idealistic, but it’s so compelling, well-paced, and emotionally engaging, and altogether stirring, that it doesn’t even matter.
Flash Review is here.
Healer
This is a great example of a show that feels like it’s got something for everyone. There’s action, romance, mystery, and melodrama, and Show is solid, on each of those fronts.
A fun ride that isn’t frothy, Show actually feels solid all the way through.
Review is here.
Into The Ring
Another politically-themed drama, this time at the municipal level. The humor is quirky, and the romance is secondary; Show’s main focus is one woman’s passion, and her personal journey, to honor that passion.
Review is here.
Joseon X-Files
A sci-fi drama that’s smartly written, and so quintessentially Korean. If your friend is into sci-fi at all, he should try to find this one.
Kingdom
I haven’t seen this one myself, but I know for a fact that this one has a broad appeal, because it’s the show that non-drama fans would talk to me about, out of the blue.
Unfailingly, they’d tell me that they thought it was very good, and that they liked it a lot.
Life On Mars
A remake of the UK series “Life On Mars,” this one comes across as quintessentially Korean, both in sensibility and in its use of Korean history as its context. Really well done, with great performances from its cast, and very much worth checking out.
Flash Review is here.
Lost [Human Disqualification]
I’m still watching this one, but it’s so much the opposite of fluffy, that I had to mention it.
Show is achingly slow and melancholic, but is also hauntingly compelling, at the same time. From the get-go, it’s rich with thought-provoking ideas and themes that have to do with the state of being human. Lots to think about and lots to feel, in this one.
Update: Review is here.
Misaeng
A slice-of-life dramatization of the trials and tribulations, joys and foibles, of being a white collar office worker in South Korea.
It’s noteworthy, that this one resonated deeply with office workers across Korea, while its characters captured the hearts and imaginations of viewers around the world.
Review is here.
Move To Heaven
A compact little series that uses trauma cleaning as a means to explore the delicate topic of death, as well as what it means to live.
At the same time, Show also shines the spotlight on various societal issues, as it tells its story. Poignant and bittersweet, yet somehow still soothing to the soul.
Review is here.
My Mister
A beautiful, thoughtful, masterpiece of a show, that explores what it means to be human. Show manages to feel dark, real and gritty, and also, warm, beautiful and hopeful, all at the same time. A transcendental drama experience.
Review is here.
My Name
I haven’t seen this one, but have heard that it is very solid. Also, it’s the next buzzy thing after Squid Game, so I thought it would be remiss of me not to mention it.
It’s also the opposite of fluffy, with its focus on vengeance. Reportedly, the acting, direction, and fight choreography is excellent.
Update: Review is here!
Navillera
Heartfelt, poignant and aspirational, this drama is still in the running to be my drama of the year, despite this year serving up quite a few excellent shows.
A wonderful story of dreams, and of love, and of humanity.
Review is here.
Sandglass
I haven’t seen this one, but it’s been widely acknowledged as an iconic work that gives audiences a good look at the 1970s and 1980s, one of Korea’s politically tumultuous periods, with the Gwangju Uprising as a key narrative point.
Secret Love Affair
An arthouse sort of masterpiece, Show is not only absorbing on the merit of the story around its leads, it also gives us a good look at the workings of the upper echelons of society. A rich, intricate work where there is lots to mine, if you are so inclined.
Review is here, and Open Threads listed here.
Signal
I haven’t finished this one myself, but Show is widely praised for being well-written, absorbing, and edge-of-your-seat compelling. Also, as a crime thriller with a fantasy twist, there’s nothing light or fluffy about this one.
Update: Open Threads listed here.
Six Flying Dragons
Full disclosure that I didn’t personally love this one. However, Show has legions of fans, who adore it for a wide range of reasons, among them the writing, the acting, and the overall execution.
This is also a good glimpse into Korean history, since it explores the founding of the Joseon dynasty.
SKY Castle
A compelling social satire that manages to make its characters come alive, even as it makes its cutting social commentary, via its dysfunctional, social-climbing characters. Solid, and very much worth a look.
Review is here.
Squid Game
How could I leave this off the list, since Squid Game’s quickly becoming many viewers’ gateway into kdrama?
It’s bloodthirsty, but it’s much more than a simple bloodbath. The story is engaging and well-told, and the characters are flawed yet (mostly) sympathetic.
Plus, there’s lots of thoughtful social commentary to be had as well, if you’re so inclined to engage with it.
Review is here.
Stove League
A solid, heartwarming underdog story that should be appealing, even to non-sports fans. If your friend is a baseball fan, definitely recommend this one to him.
It’s heartfelt and engaging, with excellent performances from the cast.
Flash Review is here.
Stranger [Secret Forest]
This show is widely loved and widely acknowledged to have the much coveted trifecta of great writing, great directing and great acting. I’m still watching this one, but I have to say, it does live up to the hype.
Open Threads listed here.
Sweet Home
I’ve got Sweet Home here, just for the fact that it’s horror and therefore the opposite of light or fluffy.
Also, aside from the bloody horror stuff (which I think really isn’t that bad), Show is thought-provoking too, in that it weaves important themes and questions into the arcs of its various characters. It’s these themes that elevates this show, so that it’s not just another horror flick.
Flash Review is here.
The Light In Your Eyes
A very special snowflake of a drama, that might appear to be a romance, but really isn’t. It’s best to go in blind for this one, and just trust that Show knows what it’s doing.
Show is rich with thought-provoking themes, including, but not limited to, the resilience of the human spirit, despite our frailties.
Flash Review is here.
Tree With Deep Roots
A dramatization of how King Sejong created the Korean alphabet, Hangul, as a reading and writing system that would be accessible to everyone. I remember finding this a fascinating and compelling watch, when it aired.
Two Weeks
Two Weeks is a great example of how Korea manages to inject heart into so many of its dramas. It’s action-centered, with our protagonist on the run and on a mission, for much of its story, and yet, it’s so, so full of heart.
Adrenaline-pumping and heartstring-tugging, at the same time.
Review is here.
Youth Of May
An excellent dramatization of the Gwangju Uprising, which happened in May 1980, that brings that period of history to vivid, poignant life via the struggles and experiences of our characters.
Review is here.
IN CLOSING
I hope this post offers you some perspective and food for thought, as you navigate more conversations around kdramas and why they’re awesome, and worth your time and your passion.
Like I mentioned earlier, if you guys have insights, perspectives or other thoughts to add, please share them in the comments!
Thanks, everyone.
Smooches. ❤️
~kfangurl
We’re loud and proud drama fans, y’all ❤️
POST-SCRIPT:
1. If you feel that I missed anything, or if you have your own insights that you’d like to share with the rest of us, do tell us about it in the comments!
2. Do you have a question of your own? Drop me a comment here or on the Dear kfangurl page, or send me an email!