Netflix’s selection can be daunting, but it also contains a plethora of international programming. International television, while new and intimidating at first, may be a wonderful way to escape into another world. In addition, many of Netflix’s imports come with English dubbing audio. Where do you begin with all of these options?
Korean dramas, a masterclass in dramatic storytelling, are probably the best place to start: from romances to crime thrillers to historical epics, these shows wow with lush characters and plots that never take themselves too seriously. Science-fiction twists in these stories have resulted in cross-genre hidden treasures deep within Netflix’s algorithm. Below are seven options, along with the series and movies from the United States that they are similar to.
ETERNAL MONARCH, THE KING
Lee Gon is the monarch of the mythical Kingdom of Corea, but one day he crosses a barrier and finds himself in a parallel universe: the Republic of Korea. His exploits in the actual world lead him to run across parallel individuals from his past, including a young cop who he recognizes as the woman who saved him as a youngster. Meanwhile, his malevolent uncle is attempting to eliminate him from both universes.
The King combines Hamlet-style royal intrigue with crime procedurals, with a supernatural twist and a healthy dose of romance thrown in for good measure. This show is only halfway through its first season, with new episodes released every week on Netflix, but there’s plenty of stuff to get you started, as well as a rich, meaty plot.
ABYSS
Cha Min, the heir of a cosmetics company, and Go Se-Yeun, an ambitious lawyer, are friends who die in different events. They inhabit fresh bodies by using the Abyss, a marble-like resurrection stone. They must solve the murder of Go Se-original Yeun’s self while adjusting to their new forms, as well as face their loved ones.
This show is a mash-up of fantasy, murder mystery, and romance, but it does a good job spinning each plate. It also makes assertions about how easy it is for gorgeous people to get ahead in life. While Se-new Yeun’s physique is more normal, Cha Min receives “a face that will make life easier,” which is a significant difference for both of them.
ALARM FOR LOVE
Love Alarm darkens what appears to be a frothy teen romance story at first glance. Set in a world where an app broadcasts your attraction to everyone within a 10-meter radius, young Kim Jo-Jo must choose between two men: her childhood best friend and the big man on campus, both of whom “ring her alarm,” but approach love in very different ways. At first sight, the premise may appear sanctimonious and technophobic, yet there is genuine pathos in looking at love through many eyes. There is, of course, a lot of teen drama, but that’s part of the fun.
K-dramas generally have 16 episodes, however Netflix’s first season only features the first eight. The coronavirus pandemic forced a halt to Season 2 filming, but it is undoubtedly on its way. Soon enough, we’ll find out who Jo-Jo chooses.
KINGDOM
A program about an epidemic might not be the best pick right now, but Kingdom is about a lot more than zombies. Not only must Crown Prince Lee Chang protect his people from a new pandemic, but he must also safeguard his family’s claim to the throne. Political intrigue, power struggles, betrayals… and a slew of zombies. One of the advantages of Korean drama is that it has a rich past from which genre programs like this one can draw.
If you enjoyed Game of Thrones, you’ll enjoy this as well: a dying king, a powerful and, more importantly, power-hungry dynasty, a pregnant and devious Queen, a wise friend who discovers essential information about a rare disease in a book…and, of course, zombies.
DON’T FAIL TO LIVE UP TO YOUR NAME
Another period story, this one transports a traditional Korean medical practitioner from the 17th century to modern-day Seoul, where he conflicts with a young upstart cardiac surgeon. When he uses solely acupuncture to rescue one of her patients, she becomes enraged, but as the show progresses, it becomes a mix of romance, medicine, and time travel that balances all three elements better than you’d anticipate.
Of course, it wouldn’t be a K-Drama without a sad past, which is explored in depth throughout the course of the show’s 16 episodes, balancing the drama between the two universes and, like all time-crossed loves, culminating in a heartbreaking ending.
Top Asian Drama Watch 