US Watchers: Intro to Dramas

As our 3 main characters navigate the journey to love and loving, we learn that no one is ok, and that’s ok.

There’s just nothing like this drama; it’s somehow both real/raw and fantastical/whimsical at the same time. 

Friendship helps a high school student ‘fight or flight’ his way through life.

Some of the most brilliant portrayals of humans I have ever seen on film. Absolute banger of a soundtrack. TW for bullying and violence, but the humanity of the drama carries you through. 

As a young billiards protégés meets an introverted snooker legend who has left the sport, both find direction and purpose amidst a snowstorm of love.

Look up ‘slow burn’ and ‘sexual tension’ in the dictionary and this show will appear. It is quiet, like the snow and its main characters. But that is what I love about it. My ultimate comfort rewatch. 

A childhood crush stays hidden, until it’s not. 

The excellence of the acting and writing makes this friends to lovers romance one of the most heartfelt Chinese dramas of all time.  

More than a mystery, a police officer works to solve a cold case connected to his past.

Expertly woven storytelling.

Korean-born, Italian-mafia-raised lawyer, Vincenzo Cassano, travels back to Korea and entangles himself with the locals.  

Epic dark comedy that is quintessentially Korean (IMHO), especially in relation to the ensemble cast. 

A young man carries the burden of losing his nephew in a plane crash forward to revenge, joined by a beautiful intellect agent.

Action-packed, action-romance. 

A fighter tries to stay away from power and love but fails.

Action-romance at its best. 

Achingly tender story of young love and desire that ‘Humpty-Dumptied’ my heart. ?️‍? 

3/4 of the movie takes place in harder times so TW for homophobic bullying and some violence. 

In the sewers of Taiwan, two young people find and protect each other.

There are no better days in this movie. It’s dark, but it is still one of the most uplifting pieces of cinema I’ve ever scene. Beautifully filmed and acted. 

A beautiful South Korean business woman crash lands in North Korea and meets a handsome NK Captain.

You leave this romance-action-mystery-melodrama feeling like you found a family. The ultimate gateway kdrama.  

The keeper of the light guides a series of strangers through past, present and future events.

It’s just art. Watch it.  

A single family’s past and present - from japanese colonial rule to the 1980s - begins with a romantic encounter between two people that I still can’t fully describe in words.

Based on the award winning novel by Lee Min Jin. Where other multi-generational kdramas veer off into melodrama, this drama kept its reality due to the quality of the source material, acting and directing. It’s a great introduction to some k-history that may be lesser known to some westerners. 

After the death of his parents, a neurodivergent young man finds his uncle and they help clean up bodies in the most heartwarming of ways. 

This drama truly introduced me to how impeccable Korean drama is. I would never expect a drama with this premise enjoyable and uplifting but that’s exactly what it is. 

Modern life causes a family to lose their superpowers and each other. But family and love can help them soar once again.

Forced to interact with each other, a writer and a psychiatrist heal themselves, each other, and us.

This is an older kdrama so it may seem dated but it’s sooooo worth it. Top tier soundtrack too.

Dark forces surround a young man claiming to be the long-lost brother of a wealthy tradesman’s daughter.

A DARK romance with great music, fighting, and cinematograph. Historical. 

Older, fun rom-com between a possessed woman and chef.  

Hilarious, romantic fun. 

Fake smiles bother a traumatized hotel ceo, but help a young hotel worker rise to the top.

Sweet rom-com. 

one of the biggest mind-screws in kdrama. Police, mystery, psychological thriller 

An autistic lawyer ventures into life, lawyering, and love with the support of her family, best friend, and whales.

A young man blacks out among the people he loves and wakes up a criminal.

Perhaps my favorite k-thriller of all time. 

Two survivors of a building collapse help each other heal and fall in love.  

‘This is another story that I really wonder if anyone but Korea could pull off. It’s beautiful. 

A nurse has a crush on a doctor.

Classic grumpy/sunshine Japanese drama. It’s older and tropes but I love it. 

Superhero parents and their kids navigate life and bad guys. 

An older woman and younger man (who happens to be her best friends younger brother) fall in love and confront the complexities surrounding and within their relationship.

Captivating, atmospheric, and so well acted. Same director as One Spring Night. My first kdrama.

A bored engineer and part timer slowly learn to trust each other.

Introverted and ‘show vs tell’ magical directing. Powerfully quiet drama. 

Depression and love come together along with an office worker and hermit find each other.  Beautifully acted and directed. Same director as My Mister.

A french-trained, Korean chef travels back in time to become the private chef to a tyrant king.

Romantic, funny, and great food p*rn.

A moody writer and fan fall in love in parallel timelines. 

Literally everything and everyone are unfairly beautiful in this drama. Yoo Ah In is captivating. 

Hang out with your best friends and neighbors in 1998. 

Not one of my favorites, but for many people this is THE Kdrama. 

The most real and romantic zombie story you’ll ever come across.

Historical, but zombies. 

A woman impersonates her rich friend and ends up on a blind date with her CEO boss.

Quirky, fun rom-com.