My top k-dramas As of 2023
Now believe me when I say that I am new to the world of K-dramas and I absolutely love it here. I could never stand the overly cheesy ones (with certain exceptions) so I will preface by letting you know that I am a VERY picky eater. I won’t just consume anything. A good drama in any realm (be it Korean Dramas, Bollywood, or Nollywood) for me requires 3 things. A strong script, exceptional casting, and amazing cinematography/direction. If any of these three things lack, then watching a show becomes very, incredibly, painstakingly difficult.
The following recommendations are a quick general synopsis. However, I do properly critique them in a separate article.
My critique and praise of these shows all serve as a preface to what I am about to say concerning my current rankings and why I believe what I believe. Keep in mind this is my perspective as it pertains to these K-dramas as a young US-born Nigerian babe in her 20s.
Here are my rankings:
Attorney Woo Young Woo hands down. I recommend this Rom-com to people who are tired of being overly shocked or desensitized by extravagant and often overly indulgent love stories. This complex, yet happy-go-lucky rom-com will remind you that the small moments of romance can be even more profound than the grand moments, and will have you engrossed in a believable love story that will have you rooting for almost every character, even the mean ones. The male lead is also refreshing in that he is not only relatable but an under-promoted expression of true gentle masculinity (which is nice to see). By this I mean, he is thoughtful, yet not a pushover. Not overly romantic, but level-headed and assured.
The King’s Affection. This show has got to be one of the greatest dramas I’ve seen yet. The script is nearly impeccable, with the exception of one of the male leads not having as much dimension as I would’ve liked (in order to fully believe his motives) yet I still think this show stands as quite the titan on its own, though some moments dragged on. If you love action, a plot that is difficult to guess, and fantastic (I mean amazing) characters with the world building and costuming to match… then this is the show for you. Fair warning; the show does cover topics that could be uncomfortable for some and I give a deeper analytical critique here for those who care to read.
Strong Woman-Do Bong Soon, I can not express how glad I am to have this be the first show I watched. It set a very high standard for me I was blown away by the preceding 2 k-dramas mentioned. It is a happy-go-lucky, lightly humored show with a heavy suspense-filled undertone that I really enjoyed. I also appreciate how I did not know how the show may end, or who the protagonist would end up with. The punchy romantic one-liners for the most part didn’t do too much. Also, seeing imperfect yet likable characters on screen without deeply intimate scenes unnecessarily added to the plot was a pleasant breath of fresh air. Some moments were a bit cheesy so it is only fair to warn you now. However, the plot and the actors more than makeup for it.
Final and Random Notes:
As someone who is Nigerian, I noticed a lot of nuanced similarities in Korean culture (in terms of honor, exposure to traditional theologies, and respecting elders) that prior to watching K-dramas I’d never known existed. Even the language the formal and informal is very similar to Nigerian customs and it was refreshing to see. I also appreciated that they unapologetically spoke Korean and not English at all; it is something I humbly want Nollywood to adapt more of in their bigger box office films. Hearing it made me, as a foreigner to that culture, feel such a high amount of respect and admiration not only for the craft of Korean Film/Discography, but the deep beauty of the culture embedded in their food, their language, their clothing, and their history. (plus, the costume designers and set designers go hard in these shows too, I mess with it. I also love how no one doesn’t anything intimate or crazy until like 2/3rds into the series ending. It’s literally such a nice break mentally from an over-sexualized world, you have no idea.
Additional note: I had no idea that Rowoon is apparently a heartthrob, like the Korean Michael B. Jordan. I truly didn’t expect it. His acting style is endearing and powerfully refreshing. Park Eu-Bin who acted beside him in The King’s Affection and who is also the protagonist of Woo Young Woo is simply a strong and phenomenal actress and I just have to say this: I am excited to see more of her work in the years to come.
