The most effective of Ok-dramas in 2023: ‘Transferring’, ‘The Glory’ Half 2, ‘Crash Course in Romance’, and extra

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There was some extent in 2022 when each Ok-drama that dropped gave the impression to be on a mission to outdo its predecessor. To say that we had been spoiled for selection was an understatement. After a yr that had Extraordinary Legal professional Woo, Little Girls, Enterprise Proposal, and Our Beloved Summer season, the road up this yr had the next bar to satisfy.

2023 won’t have had as many standout reveals as was the case these final two years, however the ones that hit the mark redefined genres. On the opposite finish of the spectrum had been numerous extremely anticipated Ok-dramas that started with a lot promise solely to be terribly let down by shockingly inept writing and a mish-mash of themes that appeared to steer nowhere.

The massive hits

Lee Do-hyun and Music Hye-kyo in a nonetheless from ‘The Glory‘

Early within the yr, we bought the second a part of The Glory, a worthy follow-up to the primary half that was launched in 2022. As Moon Dong-eun, Music Hye-kyo as soon as once more delivered a restrained, career-best efficiency, searching for retribution for the brutal bullying she underwent as a excessive schooler. This was one of many uncommon reveals the place the second half managed to carry onto a lot of the sharp writing, pacing, and performances from its first instalment. Bullying in faculties — an issue South Korea grapples with — has at all times been handled in an offhand, nearly callous manner in most different reveals the place it options as a uncared for plot level. Typically graphic and disturbing, The Glory makes an attempt to deconstruct the financial disparity, energy, privilege, and a system that works in opposition to victims like Dong-eun, who’s informed from the beginning that issues like poetic justice and karma don’t exist in her world.

Poster of ‘Moving’

Poster of ‘Transferring’

As a debate between the 2 huge superhero universes in Hollywood, their relevance, and the declining high quality of content material being churned out rages on, Transferring, a stunningly unique and expansive superhero saga got here forth with its compelling writing and glorious ensemble solid. Something however a easy story of excellent triumphing over evil, Transferring’s strengths lay in its rigorously conceived characters — their tales, relationships, and the way they bear the burden of a system that’s decided to use in addition to ostracise them. For a present that’s heavy on motion and violence, Doo-sik (Jo In-sung) and Mi-hyun’s (Han Hyo-joo) blossoming romance, and Bong-seok (Lee Jung-ha) and Hui-soo’s (Go Yoon-jung) coming-of-age arc as they grapple with their superpowers make for a number of the finest moments of the present.

Ji Chang-wook’s middling script decisions have for some time now agonised his legion of followers, and the gifted actor appeared to have made a acutely aware selection this yr to choose scripts worthy of his appearing capabilities. In The Worst of Evil, Chang-wook essayed an undercover investigator who infiltrates a drug cartel and lent nuance to an already advanced character struggling below the burden of his selections and the impact it has on his family members.

Ji Chang-wook in ‘The Worst of Evil’

Ji Chang-wook in ‘The Worst of Evil’

A a lot favoured (usually excessively so) style, there was no dearth of historic dramas (or Sageuks as they’re identified) and main the cost this yr was the affecting interval romance My Dearest, which had extraordinary performances by its leads — the prolific Namkoong Min and Ahn Eun-jin. Set in opposition to the backdrop of the Qing invasion of the Joseon, the collection chronicles the connection between a noblewoman and a warrior, amidst the continued political unrest. Whereas Ji-eun additionally shone in yet one more lead function as Mi-joo in TheGood Dangerous Mom, the present finally belonged to the mom and son duo — with masterful portrayals by Ra Mi-ran and Lee Do-hyun. It looks as if Do-hyun can do no unsuitable in relation to his script decisions; the actor has constantly chosen various performances and as Kang-ho in The Good Dangerous Mom, he slipped with ease and conviction into the function of a no-nonsense prosecutor who later goes again to being his childhood self after dropping his reminiscence in an accident.

The yr of romance+fantasy

On the lighter floor, 2023 was the yr of the ‘romantasy’. There was A Time Referred to as You, the much-hyped remake of the Taiwanese present Sometime or One Day. Whereas Ok-dramas appear to have totally embraced the thought of throwing in a serial killer for a secondary plot, usually to lower than passable outcomes, A Time Referred to as You was an exception that significantly benefitted from its thriller and time journey narratives. Actors Shin Hye-sun and Ahn Bo-hyun had been one of the best a part of the visually gorgeous See You In My 19th Life, which meandered in the direction of closure for its leads who had been torn aside by destiny throughout completely different lives. Whereas the function was a cakewalk for Hye-sun after Mr Queen, Bo-hyun’s quiet and susceptible portrayal of Website positioning-ha was a real shock, given his affinity for roles in thrillers and motion dramas.

A still from ‘Twinkling Watermelon’

A nonetheless from ‘Twinkling Watermelon’

One of many greatest surprises and successes right here, Twinkling Watermelon, a Ok-drama with comparatively much less established actors, introduced a heady mixture of nostalgia, friendships, love, and time journey thrown in for good measure. The protagonist right here, Eun-gyeol (Ryeon), is a CODA (Youngsters of deaf adults) who’s the one listening to member of his household. Eun-gyeol travels again in time and finds himself within the thick of his dad and mom’ teenage years, all of the whereas navigating his musical aspirations, friendships, and discovering love. Persistently heat, light-hearted and charming, Twinkling Watermelon additionally felt like an enormous win for illustration in mainstream Ok-dramas.

Contract Marriages, romance, and extra

There may need been rebirth and revenge in Good Marriage Revenge starring Sung-hoon and Jung Yoo-min, however the much-loved Ok-drama contract marriage trope and the resultant chemistry between the leads was the place the present struck gold. Contract marriages and relationships appeared to make an enormous comeback this yr, with The Story of Park’s Marriage Contract starring Bae In-hyuk and Lee Se-young, and extra lately, My Demon, which has been the topic of a lot dialogue and cheer from an viewers that has been largely starved of a swoony, frothy romance.

A still from ‘My Demon’

A nonetheless from ‘My Demon’

Starring Music Kang and Kim Yoo-jung, My Demon appears to have had little to no missteps in each the romance and fantasy points in its first ten episodes. In a yr the place the romance in lots of reveals felt missing, the 2 have shortly turn out to be a beloved onscreen couple.

If Teo Yoo has had a wonderful yr with Celine Music’s Previous Lives, which ranks excessive on each finest movies of 2023 record, he emerged because the quintessential Ok-drama grumpy lead with an aversion to romance within the internet collection Like to Hate You, which made for one of many simpler, enjoyable watches of the yr. Additionally becoming a member of the rom-com record was Bora Deborah, the place a glowing Yoo In-na and Yoon Hyun-min put their finest foot ahead in a present the place the writing took a nosedive in its previous few episodes.

ALSO READ: Feminine leads in Ok-Dramas: navigating between private {and professional} life

In all probability among the many most hyped reveals this yr, King the Land may have significantly benefited from a stable plot and a greater exploration of the lives of the three ladies at its core, however as an alternative, it relied closely on its charming leads Jun-ho and Lim Yoon-a. The attraction did work, however the present may have been a lot extra.

Tales that centred on older protagonists and relationships commanded discover this yr, with Crash Course in Romance early on within the yr starring Jung Kyung-ho and Jeon Do-yeon. The actors led a present that squeezed in peer strain, examination stress, and parental trauma alongside their characters’ budding romance, and made all of it work regardless of the chaotic jumps in genres. An offbeat concept that labored for me, for probably the most half, because of its protagonist and her quest for independence and empowerment, Physician Cha had Uhm Jung-Hwa take the lead on a stay-at-home mother who goes again to the medical discipline after a chronic break.

Among the many mature tales we noticed onscreen, Bae Suzy and Yang Se-jong starrer Doona! introduced an affecting story of friendships and therapeutic. And Name it Love, starring Lee Sung-kyung and Kim Younger-kwan, introduced a transferring, slow-burn romance with a sort, charming and empathetic male lead who was a lot beloved. A present I’m but to observe, however has acquired a lot popularity of its tackle psychological well being was Park Bo-young starrer Day by day Dose of Sunshine, a restricted internet collection that was praised for its writing and performances.

A still from ‘Behind Your Touch’

A nonetheless from ‘Behind Your Contact’

An underrated comedic gem this yr that additionally managed to see an honest suspense component via was the comedy-thriller Behind Your Contact, during which a small-town veterinarian (a superb Han Ji-min) causes a lot chaos when she acquires psychometric powers. With a serial killer on the unfastened, the grumpy, newly appointed detective performed by Lee Min-ki turns to her for assist, usually ending up with laughable outcomes. It was initially arduous to imagine that the present shared a director with the intense, slice-of-life My Liberation Notes (which additionally starred Min-ki), however Behind Your Contact managed to get loads proper, particularly because it was among the many extra constantly well-written reveals this yr.

Whereas a number of streaming platforms are actually churning out Korean unique collection in addition to platforming Ok-dramas being broadcast on tv, we’ve had an avalanche of content material via the yr to meet up with. The variety of reveals that launched this yr may need been staggeringly excessive, however many amongst these fell sufferer to the not-so-curious case of the underwhelming second half.  This was surprisingly true within the case of many tropey Ok-dramas, and the few reveals that selected to experiment appeared to land higher. It stays to be seen if that is going to be a rising development in 2024, given how the rising variety of reveals to choose from don’t essentially translate into high quality content material.

A still from ‘Doona!’

A nonetheless from ‘Doona!’

For now, nevertheless, my 2024 want record contains stable writing that continues to be constant via all sixteen episodes, various themes, and extra reveals that target romance and don’t succumb to the temptation of throwing in a serial killer on the unfastened.

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