Social Commentary
Topics:
Disability
Sex & Sexuality
Gender Roles, Identities, & Stigmas
Cultural Change
Loneliness
Beauty
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1. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
"A touching drama criticizing society in the most beautiful way"
Social Issues/Commentary: Respect for the Dead, Solitary Death, Abuse of Power, Domestic Violence, LGBTQ+ Discrimination, Workplace Safety, Community, Autism
52 min, 10 eps
MDL 9.1 -
2. Extraordinary Attorney Woo
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
"Amazing Park Eun Bin + Pretty good portrayal of individuals with disabilities"
Social Issues/Commentary: Autism: in the workplace, relationships, social challenges, societal ableism
1 hr, 16 eps
MDL 8.9 -
3. Good Manager
Korean Drama - 2017, 20 episodes
"If you want something warm, fuzzy, and absurd, watch this. BONUS (or not): lots of accounting and economics talk!"
Social Issues/Commentary: Corporate Corruption, Exploitation of Employees, Morality vs Self-Interest, Disillusionment in the Workforce
Genres: Business, Comedy, Crime, Drama
60 min, 20 eps
MDL 8.5 -
4. Hit the Spot
Korean Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
"8 episodes of sexy, fun, healing story that I highly recommend"
Social Issues/Commentary: Sex: Female sexual pleasure, orgasm, societal expectations & double standards in relationships & sex lives, communication barriers
35 min, 8 eps
Rated: R (extreme sexual content)
MDL 8.2 -
5. Behind the Door
Japanese Drama - 2019, 6 episodes
"Questions the normality that has been decided for us"
Social Issues/Commentary: Pressures of Motherhood, Dark Side of Domestic Life, Judgement from Other Women, Postpartum Depression
Genres: Thriller, Psychological, Law, Drama
50 min, 6 eps
MDL 8.2 -
6. 17.3 About a Sex
Japanese Drama - 2020, 9 episodes
"What sex education should be, told through the lives of realistic teenagers."
Social Issues/Commentary: Sex: Education, Taboos, Challenging binaries, Asexuality, Double Standards, Body Image, Gender Roles
30 min, 9 eps
Rated: 18+
MDL 8.1 -
7. It's Okay to Be Sensitive
Korean Drama - 2018, 12 episodes
"A webdrama that deals with some issues that many others shy off."
Social Issues/Commentary: Gender Inequality & Harassment, Broad Social Critique [Invalidation of Emotional Experience, Toxic Masculinity]
Genres: Comedy, Romance, Youth, Drama
10 min, 12 eps
MDL 8.0 -
8. anone
Japanese Drama - 2018, 10 episodes
"It is a drama about people and living in a society, which may sound banal on paper, but never is."
Social Issues/Commentary: Fake Relationships, Loneliness & Social Isolation, Corrupting Nature of Money, Meaning in a Materialistic World
Genres: Life, Drama, Family, Melodrama
50 min, 10 eps
MDL 7.9 -
9. Extremely Inappropriate!
Japanese Drama - 2024, 10 episodes
"A Time-Travel Musical About Cultural Change"
Social Issues/Commentary: 1980s 'Tough Love' vs Modern "Compliance Culture', Decline of Authentic Communication, Generational Differences
Genres: Comedy, Life, Sci-Fi, Family
54 min, 10 eps
MDL 7.9 -
10. Colorful Love: Genderless Danshi ni Aisareteimasu
Japanese Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
"A lighthearted take on gender issues"
Social Issues/Commentary: Gender Stereotypes, Public Judgement
43 min, 10 eps
Genres: Romance, Drama
MDL 7.8 -
11. Rental Nan mo Shinai Hito
Japanese Drama - 2020, 12 episodes
"Big on slice of life and it is so beautiful.."
Social Issues/Commentary: Loneliness, Human Need for Connection [In a Disconnected Society], Social Expectation
Genres: Life, Drama
31 min, 12 eps
MDL 7.8 -
12. 37 Seconds
Japanese Movie - 2019
"Don't Treat Me Like I'm Broken"
Social Issues/Commentary: Disability [how society views & treats people with disabilities and how authentic representation can challenge perception], Sexuality & Ableism, Cerebral Palsy
Movie: 1 hr 55 min
Genres: Drama
Rated: 15+ (Sexual Content)
MDL 7.8 -
13. He's Expecting
Japanese Drama - 2022, 8 episodes
"A Fascinating Flip On Parenthood"
Social Issues/Commentary: Gender Roles & Issues, Societal Treatment & Relationship Changes Once Pregnant
Genres: Life, Drama
26 min, 8 eps
MDL 7.7 -
14. Helter Skelter
Japanese Movie - 2012
"This is a film about the exposition of vanity and the price people pay for fame -- this isn't your run of the mill cutsie story, but it is a mature, edgy, dark piece of art."
Social Issues/Commentary: Beauty Standards, Celebrity Culture, Commodification of the Female Body
Genres: Psychological, Life, Drama, Melodrama
Movie: 2 hr 7 min
Rated: 15+ (Nudity, Violence, Sexual Content)
MDL 7.6 -
15. Joshi-teki Seikatsu
Japanese Drama - 2018, 4 episodes
"Trans representation in film is still difficult to find, much less good trans representation. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon this absolute masterpiece of a show."
Social Issues/Commentary: Transgender identity, Prejudice faced by LGBTQ+. Gender Identity & Self Acceptance, Societal Prejudice & Micro-aggressions
Genres: Life, Drama
48 min, 4 eps
Rated: 13+
MDL 7.5