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Mad Concrete Dreams, Dream Life of Mr Kim, Walking on Thin Ice, etc - so many dramas about ordinary people resorting to illegal activities to "win" in the rat race - are just variants on Squid Games season 1. (Seasons 2 and 3 are trash), Season 1 is a "molotov coctail thrown to expose exploitation by elites" as one reviewers so well described it. Imo they are also a molotov coctails thrown to expose how the flaws and dumbness of ordinary people lead them to be pions and exploited by the elites.
So if you want to watch the most violent deep-source, root-causes version of MCD, then watch Squid Games season 1.
So if you want to watch the most violent deep-source, root-causes version of MCD, then watch Squid Games season 1.
Similarities: the sole breadwinner father gets exiled by his company, and the whole family has to adjust
Differences: Mr. Kim was a bad guy lol until he transformed; and he did not have small children, only 1 college student. Only Mr Kim had to live in exile. There is no farming
Differences: Mr. Kim was a bad guy lol until he transformed; and he did not have small children, only 1 college student. Only Mr Kim had to live in exile. There is no farming
A city slicker moves into a small town and makes some huge waves
In her case, she brought in a bunch of gangsters, and started dating THE town's guy
In her case, she brought in a bunch of gangsters, and started dating THE town's guy
A city slicker moves into a small town and start making waves
In her case, she started dating THE guy of the town
In her case, she started dating THE guy of the town
similar vibe
humor
MDL description: " Ahn Dae Sung, despite his excellent memory, has failed the civil service exam three years in a row, but remains determined to pass with the support of his mother, Myung Sook, and girlfriend, Ah Hee. While working at his mother's convenience store, Dae Sung's life changes when a nearby murder occurs. Ah Hee, a police officer, investigates the case on her own and discovers a receipt from Myung Sook's store at the crime scene, pulling them both into the investigation. With no leads, the trio is determined to solve the case, but how can they catch the killer when the professionals are stumped?"
humor
MDL description: " Ahn Dae Sung, despite his excellent memory, has failed the civil service exam three years in a row, but remains determined to pass with the support of his mother, Myung Sook, and girlfriend, Ah Hee. While working at his mother's convenience store, Dae Sung's life changes when a nearby murder occurs. Ah Hee, a police officer, investigates the case on her own and discovers a receipt from Myung Sook's store at the crime scene, pulling them both into the investigation. With no leads, the trio is determined to solve the case, but how can they catch the killer when the professionals are stumped?"
Similar vibe
humor
MDLdescription: "It tells the thrilling and humorous story of a reserve special forces unit that comes together not to protect the country or promote world peace but to safeguard their families and neighborhood."
humor
MDLdescription: "It tells the thrilling and humorous story of a reserve special forces unit that comes together not to protect the country or promote world peace but to safeguard their families and neighborhood."
Both dramas are about solving financial problems by doing crime.
Mad Concrete Dreams is like Mr. and Ms. Kim from Dream of Mr. Kim, doing Walking on Thin Ice :) that one did not finish well ...
The Dream of Mr Kim is hw Mad Concrete Dreams could have been solved better - if the wife went to work, like Ms. Kim...
Mad Concrete Dreams is like Mr. and Ms. Kim from Dream of Mr. Kim, doing Walking on Thin Ice :) that one did not finish well ...
The Dream of Mr Kim is hw Mad Concrete Dreams could have been solved better - if the wife went to work, like Ms. Kim...
Two people get into bed by accident and make a baby ...
he is a chaebol she is his employee
and after many struggles, they become a loving pair with several kids
he is a chaebol she is his employee
and after many struggles, they become a loving pair with several kids
A hot love casual s.x couple makes a baby and becomes a pair loving each other and the baby
A great rom com
A great rom com
Similarity: two people who came together by an accident and made a couple
Difference: Positively Yours ffell in love, for real, and got togehter with a great consideration for their families and their exising lives.
I totally hate the ending of Because this is my first love - both ML and FL are super egoistical and do not understand what is important and ditch their families and live lives strictly for their own convenience
and I totally dislike FL in Because this is my first love. She is rather slimey and very weak
FL in Positively Yours is a very mature woman
Difference: Positively Yours ffell in love, for real, and got togehter with a great consideration for their families and their exising lives.
I totally hate the ending of Because this is my first love - both ML and FL are super egoistical and do not understand what is important and ditch their families and live lives strictly for their own convenience
and I totally dislike FL in Because this is my first love. She is rather slimey and very weak
FL in Positively Yours is a very mature woman
The similarity: Two unexpected people raise a child together.
Plot of I Need Romance Season 3: there are many couples in there. One couple is a noona and a hot young guy have "friday nights in a hotel" hot romance going on... and make a baby.
He moves next to her to be closer to her bc he likes her,...
He accidentally discovers she is pregnant...and totally not taking care of the baby ...
He initially refuses to do anything with the child... but somehow, on his own, he decides to try and discovers he likes it... he feels very concerned about the baby...
and after much persuasion, he talks her into joining the forces to raise the baby together ...
and they do .... successfully.
It is a GREAT rom com.
Plot of I Need Romance Season 3: there are many couples in there. One couple is a noona and a hot young guy have "friday nights in a hotel" hot romance going on... and make a baby.
He moves next to her to be closer to her bc he likes her,...
He accidentally discovers she is pregnant...and totally not taking care of the baby ...
He initially refuses to do anything with the child... but somehow, on his own, he decides to try and discovers he likes it... he feels very concerned about the baby...
and after much persuasion, he talks her into joining the forces to raise the baby together ...
and they do .... successfully.
It is a GREAT rom com.
Both dramas are about "the grass looks greener on the other side" - wanting an "exciting" partner and taking stable loyal partners for granted.
In both dramas, a lead character is confused and does not know what they want in a partner, does not appreciate the good qualities of their stable loyal partner, and dates a glam "hot" partner bc it is exciting
The diference is that in Familiar Wife the relationships are not in parallel, but one by one, via the means of time travel, i.e. the man does not cheat on his wife lol
In Practical Guide to Love, a single female is stringing two guys - one stable boring and one exciting and she essentially dates both of them at the same time, letting them fight for her, and leading both of them on
In Familiar Wife, a man's marriage is failing... He married a "plain ordinary kind woman" who is a stable solid dedicated wife and mom - and he took her for granted ... he became "too familiar" and thus egoistical, and.... she turned into a raging monster ...
so he feels stiffled and wants a more comfortable life for himself, and wonders - what if he had chosen a more glam woman?... for example, the rich beautiful girl he rejected back then?
So.... he has a chance to time travel back. He decides to marry his old glorious rich crush ... and then he gets to watch what would have happened in that alternate reality and to make some better choices.
This is a great role of the very famous actor Ji Sung (most recently, in Judge Returns 2026 kdrama). it is a great tragicomedy and a true rom com and also melodrama
In both dramas, a lead character is confused and does not know what they want in a partner, does not appreciate the good qualities of their stable loyal partner, and dates a glam "hot" partner bc it is exciting
The diference is that in Familiar Wife the relationships are not in parallel, but one by one, via the means of time travel, i.e. the man does not cheat on his wife lol
In Practical Guide to Love, a single female is stringing two guys - one stable boring and one exciting and she essentially dates both of them at the same time, letting them fight for her, and leading both of them on
In Familiar Wife, a man's marriage is failing... He married a "plain ordinary kind woman" who is a stable solid dedicated wife and mom - and he took her for granted ... he became "too familiar" and thus egoistical, and.... she turned into a raging monster ...
so he feels stiffled and wants a more comfortable life for himself, and wonders - what if he had chosen a more glam woman?... for example, the rich beautiful girl he rejected back then?
So.... he has a chance to time travel back. He decides to marry his old glorious rich crush ... and then he gets to watch what would have happened in that alternate reality and to make some better choices.
This is a great role of the very famous actor Ji Sung (most recently, in Judge Returns 2026 kdrama). it is a great tragicomedy and a true rom com and also melodrama
