Both dramas are directed by the same director and are short suspense dramas. The story also focuses on a trio but in The Long Season there are two trios that span two generations.
Why Try to Change Me Now is another Dongbei noir, but has a much greater emphasis on atmosphere and setting than The Long Season. I found The Long Season ultimately more satisfying with regard to its character arcs and resolution and plot twists, but compared to others, still found Why Try to Change Me Now phenomenal. The characters are traumatized and emotionally stunted aliens living in harsh environments. Both shows dig into the trauma of Dongbei rust belt life and economic shifts.
If you liked The Long Season, you might like Vanished Name. Both dramas are suspense thrillers that unravel the entanglements and mysteries of the past in a nonlinear approach with heavy use of flashbacks. At the center of both dramas are struggling families trying to survive and hold it together amidst change and challenging circumstances. Both dramas also feature heavy social issues and tragedy.
