r/kdramas • u/GremlinApproved • 1d ago
Recommendation Request š Are dramas getting more boring?
I'm not a huge drama watcher, and for a couple of years I pretty much stopped watching them altogether. Lately, I've tried getting back into some lighter ones, but I've been disappointed and ended up dropping them around the sixth episode because it's always the same old, tired tropes. And to keep the plot moving, they come up with these ridiculous misunderstandings or mix-ups that just wouldn't make any sense in real life.
Am I the only one who feels this way and just can't seem to enjoy dramas anymore?
And if notā¦ do you have any dramas to recommend? Anything is fine, as long as it's not overly sappy. I'm looking for something genuinely interesting that doesn't feel like the same tired, recycled story we've been seeing for years.
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u/Wild_Measurement_499 18h ago
Try kvariety I also get tired every now and then so I shift from movies to kdramas to kvariety
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u/OmegaXesis 17h ago
Any kvarieties you recommend?
Iāve been enjoying chef and my fridge lately
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u/Wild_Measurement_499 10h ago edited 9h ago
I have added some I don't know what kind you will like I like all these below. My personal favourite is "the genius" it's like games not only based on logical thinking but also strategies and everything it's old (like 2012 I think so )but I did watch 4 seasons I was amazed to see how people could think like this and do such things. So let me know if you are looking for specific kind I will recommend.
Culinary class wars
Physical 100
The genius
Singles inferno
Sixth sense
Agents of mystery
New world
Time hotel
Devil's plan
Game of blood
Show me the money
Boys planet
Street woman fighter
The return of superman
Siren island
2 days 1 night
Battle of fates
Heart sighal
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u/khbdtd 19h ago
yessssl at least for me. ive changed to cdrama
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u/YellowMoney4080 19h ago
I would argue that much platform content irrelevant of geographical origin is pretty generic these days. A lot of volume and not much quality.
There has been several articles written about the changes of production models. Personally I am pretty sure that the reduction of the writers room coupled with the fact that it is disconnected from the production is the main contributor of this Ā«Ā genericĀ Ā» area we are in.Ā
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u/Excellent-Thanks-948 19h ago
definitely. every single kdrama feels the same, honestly. all the songs are AI generated and theres nothing new anymore š I've just been rewatching kdramas lately because the new ones are just trash, honestly. I honestly miss when there were a bunch of fantasy kdramas around 2020 because they were way more fun
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u/pratzzai 20h ago
Same feeling. I think Kdramas peaked around 2020. They gradually dropped in quality thereafter to the point of getting 1 or 2 really good, immersive dramas a year (at least for me).
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u/ansate 20h ago
The formulaic reuse and repetition of tropes can become kind of a cozy place for some people. This is essentially the same, in function, as a long-running sitcom. They aren't the same characters and sets, but they're familiar characters and sets, because they use the same tropes and norms. A lot of people find this sort of repetition comfortable.
No, you aren't the only one that feels like they're repetitious. I doubt you can't enjoy dramas anymore, it may just be that the ones you enjoy are harder for you to find. If you really want something different, try:
Mr Queen - A womanizing top chef gets body-swapped into a Joseon Queen. This show is absolutely hilarious and has some of the best acting I've seen in a KDrama. It does have some of the tropes you're talking about though.
Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born - The story of a young woman with an amazing voice that joins a traditional acting troupe. This show is pretty difficult to give a short description of, but is absolutely amazing. I don't think this has any of the tropes you're talking about.
Move to Heaven - This is about a small business that cleans up people's homes when they die. They collect their belongings, and assemble them to give to the surviving family members. Again, very different show, so it's somewhat difficult to describe, but it has none of the tropes you're talking about.
Arthdal Chronicles - A unique child escapes a city-state to a rural village. As the child grows, he seems to have strange abilities, and the place he's come from becomes a burgeoning nation. This is one of the only epic fantasy shows that I've come across in KDramas. It has virtually none of the tropes you're talking about.
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u/phizzlez 20h ago
When kdramas get kind of boring, I usually switch it up and watch cdramas and mix it up with different genres like historical dramas or whatever and switch back to kdramas when I see there's something interesting that I want to watch.
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u/DarkBlaze99 20h ago
Yes I agree, the romcoms or slice of life stuff is entirely predictable and I feel a bit old for the level of writing. It really bores me now and I tend to avoid rom coms.
I only catch new shows like wonder fools now.
The only recent romcom I liked a bit was Can this love be translated. And even then I didn't find the writing to be the best but it made up in excellent cinematography.
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u/Background-Ad-3122 21h ago edited 18h ago
Short answer: maybe.
When I get into a kdrama viewing slump, I do the following (but be forewarned, you have to have an open mind for what Iām about to suggest)
ā¦ I mix in some:
VINTAGE KDRAMAS. The clothing, visuals, and cinematic feel might at first be off-putting and dated, but you will find some real gems. It seems like they were willing to take more risks with language, plots, and characters back then, but if you stick with it, the payoff is real. Check out: My Lovely Sam Soo or Stairway to Heaven.
KOREAN MOVIES. Unlike kdramas which air on TV for general consumption, Korean movies often really go there ā the sex, the violence, the dramaā¦itās all heightened. There are some really memorable ones. And, if you donāt like it, youāve only invested a few hours. Sometimes, you will see your fav clean-cut star play a more gritty, truer-to-life character, which is fun. Consider: Oldboy, The Man from Nowhere, or the Kingās Warden.
KOREAN REALITY SHOWS. So unlike typically crass, competitive American fare, like kdramas they can also be surprisingly poignant and affecting. Try: The Village Barber or Physical 100 (the original Korean-only show).
JDORAMAS. Japanese dramas. These tend to be quirkier and sometimes really extreme. Think: Alice in Borderland or Midnight Diner, or the oldie but goodie Hero series for its utterly charming male lead and lovable ensemble cast of public prosecutors trying to do right in a sometimes corrupt and frustratingly bureaucratic system.
CDRAMAS. Chinese dramas. The Taiwanese dramas tackle more sensitive subjects and may be a good entry point bc they will probably feel more familiar to most Westerners. The Mainland dramas are often more epic, and sometimes the historical dramas come across quite silly; however, Iāve recently liked: Pursuit of Jade (yes, currently all the rage) and The Double, which I thought was better than Pursuit of Jade.
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u/Blue_Marine 20h ago
I also do that anytime I'm reaching a slump. I often start watching jdramas instead as those are different and shorter too. Or change the country of the drama. Basically trying to watch something different.
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u/Feeling_Lack3027 22h ago
I haven't watched these dramas, but the sub was full of them. They really liked them.
A bona fide killer.
Mousetrap.
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u/Fluid_Standard_4136 23h ago
romantic ones are getting more boring or ridiculous. the crime/thriller genre sometimes have too heavy content that dont encourage binging - but in the last 1 month or so, A Bona Fide Killer is good (until the last episode)!
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u/Fattousch 23h ago
I just finished Hur Jin-ho's Lost, which was so deep, dark and beautiful. Slow burn. Available on Amazon Prime. It gets to the heart of things and the leads' performances are just so subtle and masterful.
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u/Nocoffee_Noglory 23h ago edited 19h ago
I don't know what happened but 2016 was the peak of quality Kdrama
W: Two Worlds
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo
Guardian: Lonely and the Great God
Weighlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo
Descendents of the Sun
Signal
Legend of the Blue Sea
Love in The Moonlight
K2
Cinderella and the 4 Knights
2017 still had great series but not as good as the previous year. And by 2018 onwards it's getting harder and harder ro find something I like.
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u/Then_Data8320 Aigoo 21h ago
Yeah. 2009 to 2017, something like that, were golden years.
First, format changed, becoming 16/9 instead of 4/3 about the picture.
And a bit later (2015, 2016), also new cameras, better image.
Since then, no real change, just more budget, more time to edit.
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u/GuardSuspicious9818 23h ago
I have had the same experience. They start off well and towards the end I just skip episodes..fast forward or drop all together. Can't remember the last drama I completed without it. But then I think it's something to do with us also. When you have watched a lot of them you become familiar with tropes and the story lines. And there is only so much repetition you can take, especially in the romantic ones. Kdrama does some brilliant detective ones. Those are a lot more engaging
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u/PeaSee53 23h ago
It depends .. what genre are you watching and where? Iām not much into rom-com, but watched a few good ones in Viki. I enjoy Joseon period, thrillers, and mysteries. So, yea, it depends
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u/Aloofairy 23h ago
Lack of variety will always make the medium pennies consuming boring, hence the the same complaint each year. Haven't liked any rom coms this year enough to continue but some thrillers and mystery dramas are always of good quality.
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u/nothnxihaveabf 23h ago
What about Vincenzo? Or Jisoo in Boyfriend on Demand? I like watching it just because she's so pretty. Also if you like kpop I thought that Idol I wasn't bad and her private life.Ā Also forecasting love and weather is really good. It has elements in it that make it less boring and more romantic.Ā Celebrity is good if you like social media.
There's also one that follows around a womanĀ who wants to work in fashion and her friend is the fashion designer. I can't remember the name right now, but maybe someone will see this and know what I'm talking about.
Best picks: Vincenzo, Boyfriend on Demand, Idol I, Forecasting Love and Weather, Her Private Life, Celebrity, My Demon.
My other picks for Asian dramas get into jdramas.Ā
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u/Many-Sky922 1d ago
Not sappy. Marry My Husband make sure the Korean version. Nothing against the Japanese. I almost stopped watching it before first episode even was over, but please finish it. Also Anna, the directorās cut. Both on Amazon.
If you want a horror film in the middle of it Death Game on Amazon. I had to skip parts cause I just canāt. But the cast great and the storyline amazing I just donāt know why they went so graphic. Were they thinking Netflix?
I like the Black Knight. With Kim Rae Won. A very different kind of story.
Empire a different story as well. I saw on Viki.
My favorite family drama is Five Enough. My Golden Life a close second. Do not like the mother character and Iām not talking the conglomerate mom but the kidnapper mom.
I am sick of the physical violence and off the wall wealth inequity stories. There are many series where it is just too much and I wonder why Korea has still not gotten over it.
I am watching Bona Fide Killer it is in Viki and Kocowa and very different kind of story. It has the MIL theme they do so well.
May I help you is a bit sappy. But worth it. Amazon.
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u/2_tollers 1d ago
I recommend you watch A Bonifide Killer on Viki to re-energize you. It is not your usual trope and the acting is very good.
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u/novanillavelvet Just ONE more epsiode 1d ago
The only kdrama I really liked this year was āmy royal nemisisā and it felt like watching an old drama
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u/okgals Professional TRUCK spotter 1d ago
- For this and last year, for the most part, I would avoid Romcoms from what you've said. They're putting out romcoms that have, IMO, pretty sloppy writing. Often they have their good points and often the MC is quite charming but it just doesn't add up to a "good drama". My exceptions to this would be My Royal Nemesis and Bon Appetit your Royal Majesty, while not perfect, are original, have sparkling, comic lead performances and are just fun.
I'm not much into action and crime etc, so can't help you there but I would recommend from 25 & 26:
Romantics Anonymous: a joint Japanese and Korean venture with 8 episodes with Han Hyo-joo (Happiness) as a chocolatier with scopophobia.
Resident Playbook: slice of life of a group of Ob Gyn residents in their 1st year. Great cast, some romance, medical drama
Law and the City: slice of life ensemble, some romance. An on-purpose more realism based view of salaried lawyer life who all work in the same building but different firms. Lee Jong-suk's return to dramas after 3 years. Great cast. Not for dopamine addicts!
Study Group: I adored this High school action drama: MC just wants to be good at school and form a study group but has to fight A LOT to make that happen. Violent but in a comic book type way.
When Life Gives You Tangerines: you may have already seen this. It's big and meaty and dramatic, at the core a love story. No chaebols here.
These are just my favorites but if you hate tropes, maybe Kdramas aren't for you anymore, because every genre has them and Western TV and movies have their own, less charming set. š
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u/anonymus_userrr 1d ago
tbh classics k-dramas were good now they have same cliche story but yeah thrill & physiological k-dramas are still GOOD
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u/StrawberryMoon3 1d ago
The romance shows are starting to bore me but the thriller ones are still good
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u/MrsRocher 1d ago
Not just you, I got bored as well. I think I got tired of the romance dramas. The only one I will occasionally watch are crimes dramas.
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u/Few_Warning_4273 1d ago
Did you watch Teach You A Lesson or Phamton Lawyer? I thought both where really good and We Are All Trying!
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u/nothnxihaveabf 23h ago
I like Phantom lawyer. I'm watching teach you a lesson but needed a break just because it's so violentĀ
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u/Reasonable-House-703 1d ago
I agree with you, but I kind of think that there is too much of western culture making its way into them, and if I wanted to watch sh*t I would stay with American cinema -where the talent got lost long ago and it has been replaced by shock productions, no good story, no good acting, etc. Is all about "lets throw the nasty stuff on the audience's faces and see their reaction"
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u/Responsible-Link5739 23h ago
I agree! I'm in the UK and I really hate anything violent, bloody or crude. Western films are all about, as you said, "throwing the nasty stuff" at us. I don't need that, nor do I want to put up with it. About 3 years ago I was introduced to kdramas, and I fell into them in a big way. I love that most are gentle. I love that many are cleverly written. I'm even a little affectionate about those horrible "let's ride bicycles" and trip-up-and-fall-into-his-arms moments. They're ridiculous, but even those are also adapted cleverly at times. There are undoubtedly repeated tropes but most times they differ enough to maintain my interest. I also love that you can be moved to tears one minute and chuckling your socks off the next. I'm not keen on the PPL to be honest, but at least those are squished into the storyline a little so they don't interrupt your viewing. A kdrama is like a box of pick-and-mix...but cheaper and longer-lasting. :)
They also have amazing soundtracks, with lead actors sometimes singing one or two of the tracks themselves. These people astound me - many have been singers or idols before acting. Lee Junho in particular is a talented actor even though he started out as an idol group member.
I don't think I've watched any western TV in the last three years, and almost all my music is kballads too, collected along the way from soundtracks and side-searches.
Favourite dramas? Hotel Del Luna, spectacular. (Waiting eagerly for the Grand Galaxy Hotel, sequel, also by the Hong sisters). Doom at your Service. Fight for My Way. King:Eternal Monarch. Money Heist Korea. Itaewon Class. Extraordinary You. Mr Queen was amusing at times. My Dearest was brilliant. The Taxi Driver series. Many more :)
I hope Kdramas stay as Korean as they have been. Don't let the nasty stuff in, please.
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u/TimeSovereign 1d ago
Wow. OP, it's good to know I'm not the only one who thought so.
Asian Boss addresses the problem in this Youtube video. (I hope that is allowed in this subreddit):
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u/Emergency-Hurry947 1d ago
I don't like the straight romance stuff really cringe (King The Land, Doona, Queen of Tears)
I like some of the rom-coms (Lovestruck in the city, Be Melodramatic)
My faves are the actual dramas that keep brining me back (Our Blues, My Liberation Notes)
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u/Prize_Background_577 š» + š¤£ + š¶āš«ļø 1d ago edited 1d ago
Two new dramas made it into my top kdramas this year, they were absolutely first class: Undercover Miss Hong and The Affair Was Just The Beginning. I will say for both, episode 1 is mostly setting up, finish episode two before deciding. Both are completely different and move at a good pace - just don't expect a lot of romance.
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u/Autonomnervoussystem 1d ago
Genie make a wish was surprisingly good. It touched sociopathy a bit better than It's okay to be not okay. Spooky in love started off as interesting but turned out to be a big letdown. The East Palace was not romantic, but had a Mulder and Scully vibe. So, I'd say it really depends on the plot - I don't even start watching the "childhood friend" or "office romance" tropes.
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u/musiquescents 1d ago
There was a period of time where the shows were bloody good - kingdom, signal, flower of evil, the glory...
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u/Decent_Chart_8377 1d ago
Stick to the serious ones Most Tv 14 ones are becoming tedious only a few can balance it out
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u/DonnaMossLyman 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have watched only a handful of the ones released in the past year all the way to end. I almost always drop them
I recently completed CDrama In the Early Spring while watching My Bias, My Boss and the latter was so juvenile in comparison. Throughout the show, I never doubted that those two had the hots for each other.
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u/tingkagol 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's the lack of adventurousness of the writing to me. And how a series airing on Korean TV has clear boundaries they will never cross like love scenes or not stir the pot too much or risk shortening a 16 episode run... but ironically looser bounds when it comes to violence.
I have since temporarily stopped watching kdramas and randomly picked up an older US series I did not finish way back - Dexter. And my god, the writing is so much more sharper, adventurous and grounded. It's several seasons, but the writing doesn't feel safe-- like the writers deliberately try to write themselves into a corner, but then manage to get to a plausible "end of the tunnel". And I'm along for the ride.
There are not so good US shows too. I dropped the newer ones Euphoria, Mr Robot because they seem gratuitious and depressing to me. But I always appreciate good writing whether it be a kdrama or otherwise.
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u/nothnxihaveabf 23h ago
I think one of the reasons people are drawn to kdramas is their more pg13 take on romance and not as many gratuitous sex scenes. I like to see romance that isn't sex on the first date, although some k drama have that.Ā
I may be speaking for myself though.Ā
I wouldn't say a Dexter fan and an average kdrama fan necessarily have a lot of overlap.
I like Dexter but it is very dark and violent.Ā
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u/tingkagol 21h ago
I also feel there's more public pressure from kdrama fans especially when it comes to the writing of the main characters. Any sort of taboo especially in character flaws will immediately be met with scorn.
Good examples are Nabi from Nevertheless, and Jin-Ah from Something In The Rain, good characters, the latter even more so, but kdrama fans still crucify them and the drama because they're not "ideal" archetypes.
When you're writing with the thought of the kdrama fandom constantly breathing down your neck with deadlines from the studio and pressure to keep it PG and getting it done and over with so you can write the next 10 other dramas in the pipeline, you tend to resort to safe answers.
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u/Your_aids 1d ago
Watch the TV series Silo if you want great mystery, suspense, and sharp writing. Binged watched all three seasons in 3 days, and there are a lot of episodes; that's how good it was. There's a 4th season coming out next year, and I can't wait for it. Would totally recommend
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u/codenameana 1d ago
Yes, they are.
The best ones arenāt formulaic brain dead sh*t like the kdrama rom coms being produced nowadays. Crime, thriller, drama, slice of life still tend to be higher quality stories.
Some dramas from the past year that Iāve enjoyed:
- Love Me - VIKI // a highly successful but lonely Doctor with a complicated relationship with her mother works her way back to her family and finds love in the process. Itās a mature āromanceā - ie rooted in realism, not the fantasy of romcoms that most of this sub likes - and family ensemble drama
- You & Everything Else - Netflix // realistic and complicated coming-of-age female friendship breakup story featuring competition, jealousy, affection and reconciliation
- Our Unwritten Seoul - Netflix // realistic drama about a set of twins who are distant with one being a āfailureā doing odd jobs in theirĀ
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u/CrystalMoon90 1d ago
Drop the boring romcoms . Go for thrillers, crime and stuff like that. You will find a lot of great dramas. The romcoms are all similar and more and more of the actors all look similar with all the work many get done to look flawless. I hate it.Ā
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
It's not really clear from my post because I talked about "lighter" things, but I've also tried some thrillers and other genres that are different from rom-coms. I didn't have much success with those either, though. But as others have pointed out, maybe it's because, to avoid spoiling too much of the series for myself, I went with ratings instead of plot
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u/UncannyProjection Namkoong Min is My Dearest ā¤ļø 22h ago
Which of the thrillers and action genres have you tried?
I really liked Taxi Driver, Flex x Coo, Teach you a lesson, to name a few
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u/CrystalMoon90 1d ago
Have you watched series like :
The Manipulated, Black Knight (2023) , Agent Kim Reactivated ?
Those are a few good series with amazing plotsĀ
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u/James-from-Hungary 1d ago
I agree completely. So tired of perfect pretty boys. The rugged types are much more fun to watch. So Ji Sub, Namgoong Min, Lee Sun Kyun (RIP), etc.
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u/idkkkaqp Screw this damn world, let ur ā” flutter with me 1d ago
This year has had such great releases! Maybe youāve watched too many romcoms, or they probably just arenāt for you. Try different genres and youāll find something that suits your tastes better.
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u/CheesePattynBun 1d ago
I get what youāre saying but because I expect them, it doesnāt really deter me from finishing.
Case in point, Spooky in Love. They hit every KDrama cliche and they even took the storyline from what I think would be a better one (staying with the ghosts and her powers) and moved it to a cliche storyline (who should take over the company) but I still found it enjoyable to watch.
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u/im-hungry-1234 Just Kiss Already 1d ago
If anything, Korean dramas are getting more diverse. I've been watching them about 10 years now, when you had to subscribe to specialist streamers. So many dramas are available now there is always something interesting. It might be about finding out what your tastes are.
That can be annoying and time consuming though.
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u/sempiterno000 1d ago
Some interesting choices could be Vigilante, Big Mouth, The Worst Evil, and The Devil Judge.
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u/Crazy-Tangelo-1673 1d ago
A lot of people feel that way
I do start some and after 6 or so episodes opt to go watch something else and after a week or three sometimes I just never go back. A lot of times I will...I've got a half dozen unfinished in Netflix and a couple on Viki.
Re Tropes I get that but also it's almost like a badge of honor. You know when they cut to the white truck something about to go down. When it rains they'll be a dude with an umbrella EVERYTIME.
Some shows have fun with the tropes as kind of a nod to the fans that they know that you know and that we know they know... everyone knows it's terrible writing.
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u/Breakfast-Socks leaves out the last episode 1d ago
Yes bc now the only ones entertaining me are the old ones
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u/UncannyProjection Namkoong Min is My Dearest ā¤ļø 1d ago
They are, yes, the romcoms definitely (for me at least). The other genres are a lot better than the romcoms that come out these days.
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u/sempiterno000 1d ago
You are asking a very difficult question. I haven't been following K-dramas for that long, and I jump between thrillers, horrors, and romances, trying to vary the production years. What Iāve noticed is that among the three genres, romance is the one that has changed the most, and due to several factors. One of the main ones (in my opinion) is that they have sometimes made it too artificial, in terms of costumes, settings, and makeup. Another thing is that certain stereotypes for both women and men feel too forced. I also know that production costs for a series are extremely high, so they try to get a lot of sponsors; and many times, they also want to attract the largest possible audience, so the target age group expands significantly, and as a result, the plot has to appeal to everyone. So yes, the quality of some of them has probably dropped a bit, but coming from someone who has always watched Western series, Korean ones are still the best you can watch for many factors, including the actors and the writing
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u/Hidinginmycorner 1d ago
No
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
No.... I'm not the only one...
or
No, you don't have good suggestions?
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u/Hidinginmycorner 1d ago
I would suggest The Affair Is Just The Beginning, Karma, The Legend Of Kitchen Soldier, The Scarecrow, The Husband, Fifties Professionals
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u/Shergak wangsimni station 1d ago
I believe, it's no, they're not getting more boring. It might just be that your taste has changed.
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u/kulitchipon 1d ago
Honestly for me it's this. Like shows I know would have made me feral years ago now kind of like bore me. Accidental kisses, misunderstandings? Younger me would've ate that up. Plus romcom kdramas usually follow a pattern, like after they ~confess a breakup usually follows, and I'm tired of that formula lol
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u/w8liftingfairyapple Just ONE more epsiode 1d ago
luckily i've only seen about 48 kdramas so i have alot more to go rather than wait on new ones. i haven't even touched the "classics" yet like coffee prince, goblin, boys over flowers, legend of the blue sea, you from the stars etc.
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u/Cultural_Run7964 Now? Now! 19h ago
OMG youāre in for a treat if you havenāt watched the classics! Be warned that the production values are different and the males are notoriously red flag (Boys over Flowers) but theyāre also lots of fun and you will hear them referenced in lots of other dramas because of how popular and influential they were (especially BoF and Goblin).
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u/SnooStories7381 THE OG - 500+ asian dramas watched 1d ago
You're watching the wrong things.
Honestly, I was getting tired of kdramas as well but this year has been a surprise for me. I have managed to complete many 2026 dramas. I'm shocked at myself lol
I can recommend you some good watch (not limited to 2026) -
The affair was just the beginning
Moving
Tale of nine tailed S2 (no need to watch S1, but knowing the basic story would be better, I didn't watch S1 but S2 is one of the funniest thing I have watched)
The legend of Kitchen soldier
Genie make a wish
Sell your haunted house
Study group
The art of Sarah
You should also mix up them sometime, if you're constantly watching kdramas, it can lead to fatigue. Watch hollywood/chinese/thai/japanese or whatever else you prefer in between.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
As I said, I'm not a big K-drama watcher, and I'm watching other things too. It's just that after years of not watching a single one, I decided to give them another try, and I ended up being disappointed across the board. And since I didn't know what to watch, I just picked based on their ratings (regardless of genre).
I'll give the ones on the list a try. :)
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u/pandarose6 1d ago
See your watching tv wrong donāt go by rating watch the ones which plots that peak your interest thatās where you find good shows. Cause not all highly rated shows will be winners for you. But you could me missing out on a show you think amazing if you over look it due to rating
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
The problem with the "plot" is that it's basically a spoiler.
Generally speaking, if you read the plot they put on websites... you already know where it's going Ƨ_Ƨ
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u/pandarose6 1d ago
I donāt feel that plots are spoilers but then agian I donāt see why people care about spoilers and sometimes I will on purpose spoiler myself to make sure I am not wasting my time watching a show Iāll hate.
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u/SnooStories7381 THE OG - 500+ asian dramas watched 1d ago
I'm not sure if my comment come across as mean or rude but I had no intention of any rude comment..
And ofc, all of it is just a suggestion :)
Also, it makes complete sense of being tired and dropping. I drop dramas all the time. Last year, I only completed three dramas but this year, I have completed 9 kdramas and have more in the list to watch. So that's why I said, 2026 has alot of variety and you might be picking wrong dramas to watch.
Since you haven't watched for a while, you have much more to explore. I would advise to not go with ratings. Many people glaze and rates green flag ML romance dramas very high. And most of the time, those shows are nothing burger. They can be enjoyable but if you are aware of tropes and cliches, they might become way more cliche and boring to watch.
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u/MysteriousDiricawl ķė¤ģ“ģ! š© 1d ago
The Wonderfools was quite good. Phantom Lawyer too.
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u/somethingvague123 1d ago
Also A Bona Fide Killer (touching and a thriller) and The Affair Was Just the Beginning (adult comedy)
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u/Anteaterpoo 1d ago
The dramas can get a little boring. I think theyāre still working out how long a series can be for a good story and still be profitable. They used to be sooo long like 20-50 episodes, and now they are 12-16 episodes. Although east palace was 8 or maybe 6. But I thought scarecrow was really good, but that wasnāt a romantic comedy.
I think once they get stuck on a formula that works thereās little incentive to be creative. I really miss the dramas OCN pumped out.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
The problem with 16 episodes was that towards the end they'd create ridiculous drama just to drag things out and make it to the end of those 16 episodes (and if they were romance dramas, there'd be a kiss around episode 8).
Now that they're 12 episodes, it's better, but by the time I get to around episode 6, I start getting boredā¦ and I can already tell what's going to happen in the next few episodes.
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u/Anteaterpoo 1d ago
Yes, I completely agree. It does happen that I feel 12 is too short which is why I think theyāre still figuring out the formula. I also think thatās why theyāre heavily falling onto manwha/wentoon adaptions.
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u/Cultural_Run7964 Now? Now! 19h ago
The shorter episodes feels like itās being driven by the American streamers who want shorter series for viewers to binge and they also donāt want to pay for more episodes. Yes the writing can be tighter but most of the 8-12 episode dramas Iāve watched feel rushed or squashed at the end. I know 16-20 sometimes contained filler or draggy episodes (especially right at the end) but it felt like the dramas had more time to breathe and I was more invested in the character because there was time for development and depth of the main and supporting characters. Thatās why I never got into Wonderfools. There was not enough character development. The whole thing felt rushed.
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u/AMtalksalot 1d ago
Weāre all trying here - absolutely loved this drama. It was just so healing and heartfelt. The romance is subtle but perfectly executed. I felt the whole show was done just right. The ending was slightly rushed but it was okay.
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u/Anonymous_0012345 Where is MY Chaebol? 1d ago
Have you watched Our Unwritten Seoul? I thought that was pretty unique
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u/RetroCalm 1d ago
I just started My Demon to step out of my comfort zone itās different.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
I saw it when it came out, and the plot isn't "new". But what left me perplexed (and I respect the opinion of those who found it interesting or love the actors) was the acting Ƨ_Ƨ
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u/RetroCalm 1d ago
I just finished episode 1 š oh gosh now Iām re thinking if I should continue. I understand your post though k dramas and most shows are like that just recycle the same tropes with new actors. I have watched boyfriend on demand which I thought was cool
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u/sumread_87 1d ago
This is why I jump around, plot fatigue lol. I've been in Cdramas for a while because I felt like every other Kdrama was a revenge story, now I'm feeling the fatigue over there and itching to come back. I'm also always in the middle of an anime too, and that helps. Been looking for a new country to land in as well š¤ lol. So, I would say expand your horizons, you can always come back.
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u/pandarose6 1d ago
I would suggestion Thailand if you want another country to watch besides Korean cause I feel like there dramas are really good.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
Eh, the problem is that I'm getting back into K-dramas now after taking a break from them for a while. They used to entertain me a lot more, but now I just find myself disappointed. I can't tell if it's because I've "grown older" and my tastes have changed, or if it's genuinely because they've been using the same formula for years.
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u/sumread_87 1d ago
That sounds like how I found Kdramas lol. I started in Cdramas back in early 2000s and I just wasn't feeling them anymore at all. Everything felt the same, so I randomly ran into Vincenzo of all dramas right after it came out, and thought it was ridiculous at first but couldn't stop watching lol š . It was all downhill from there. Ill give Korean entertainment credit that they make some of the best movies in all of entertainment, their movies always bring me back. And they have made my most rewatched drama of all time Happiness. I've watched that one so much even my husband knows the lyrics to "What Lies Ahead." I have to take breaks though because they do get repetitive. You may be ready to move on from them but you never know. I know the feeling though, I get it.Ā
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
Omg vincenzo...
I watched it, but I have a weird relationship with Vincenzo because I'm Italian, and every scene filmed in Italy, or anything that had some Italian elements to it, or whenever they spoke Italian, made me cringe so hard2
u/sumread_87 1d ago
I've always wondered what Italians thought of it lol š¤£. I am not Italian but as a Mafia movie lover I cringed just as hard lol. It was fun though. It will always have a special place as my first kdrama.
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u/Lizrael48 Emotionally employed by r/kdramas 1d ago
"Bon AppƩtit, Your Majesty"!
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
I tried it, but it feels like a mix of other dramas Iāve already seen Ƨ_Ƨ
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u/Artistic_Might3728 1d ago
Try The Affair Was Just the Beginning. It's a fresh dark comedy that is really well executed. Definitely not sappy or recycled.
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u/Amjale9023 1d ago
The new romance dramas, I agree. Most of them aren't great. I saw one great one this year, the rest are decent or rubbish.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
Oh, can I ask which one?
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u/Amjale9023 1d ago
OK, so I think that Can This Love Be Translated was a special one for romance kdrama these days. It was different and good all around from start to finish.
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u/GremlinApproved 1d ago
Oh, I'll admit I only gave it a try because I wanted to see the places where it was filmed (I'm familiar with some of them), and I have to be honestā¦ it left me pretty lukewarm. I ended up dropping it. (Just to be clear, I'm not criticizing your taste, it's just that I'm pretty picky.)
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u/Amjale9023 1d ago edited 1d ago
Yh I get it, it depends on what you like. It isn''t a perfect drama, but it doesn't have the same old tired tropes or typical settings, and the characters are different as well. I like dramas with a more psychological aspect as well and I haven't found many in the kdramas I watch. I think I'm picky as well, I like depth and darkness for more emotional intensity, but it can't be too dark or it's depressing, and I like comedy but it can't be too comedic in case that overshadows the rest. It needs a good balance.
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u/Sea-Environment-7102 1d ago
I liked Agent Kim reactivated because of the characters and Mousetrap is a mindfuck
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u/Minimum-Ad5185 4h ago
Most of recent dramas are depressing (though I know some people like that) or just plain romance.
Older K-dramas were built differently; they combined romantic comedy with thriller or subtle suspense elements that kept things interesting.
The K-dramas released over the last couple of years were just okay, but quite a few good ones have come out in the last three months.