TO WATCH NOW IN KOREAN SCI-FI AND FANTASY SHOWS

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.

If you like Meteor Garden, here are several Asian dramas you should watch

It would be a sin if you haven’t seen the 2018 rendition of the renowned Meteor Garden if you are a fan of Asian dramas. Even if you’re new to this, you’ve probably heard the name before. Although it may appear to be a standard rom-com on the surface, everybody who has seen it knows how brilliantly the dramatists handled the plot, as well as the actors who did justice to the original characters.

The on-screen and off-screen chemistry between Shan Cai and the F4 group, played by Dylan Wang, Darren Chen, Caesar Wu, and Leon Leong, contributed to the drama’s appeal. No one could have played Dao Ming Si better than Dylan Wang, who reinvented the character in his own unique way, giving it a completely different feel than the original. You’re on the right track if you’ve just finished watching all 49 episodes of the series and are still hoping for more. If you enjoyed Meteor Garden, we’ve compiled a list of the top twelve Asian dramas you should watch. The KissAsian website featured the latest movie and series list.

Flowers vs. Boys (2009)

The original Meteor Garden (the 2001 Taiwanese version) is based on Yoko Kamio’s Japanese manga series titled ‘Hana Yori Dango,’ on which the series is based. It’s essentially a Korean remake of the same drama, therefore the plotlines are similar.

The plot follows Geum Jan Di, a poor girl who, following a sequence of events, is admitted to one of the most elite schools, where she meets Gu Jun Pyo, Yoon Ji Hu, So Yi Jung, and Song Woo Bin, a formidable group of four males known as F4. Geum Jan Di’s school life begins badly, as she struggles to fit in with other pupils due to her social position, and it only gets worse as she becomes a victim of the F4’s bullying. You may watch the drama with English subtitles for free on We TV, Viki, and Kukan.

Do Not Kiss Me, Master Devil (2017)

The story follows An Chuxia, a little girl who is adopted by a wealthy family after her mother dies, and meets their domineering son, Han Qilu. She experiences numerous challenges because she attends the same school as Han Qilu, often known as ‘Master Devil,’ before the two of them fall in love.

The drama’s plot is comparable in various ways, including the fact that both focus on cohabitation. Furthermore, the male lead is almost identical to the male lead in Meteor Garden. The series is available with English subtitles on We TV, Viki, and Kukan.

Wait a minute, My Youth (2019)

The plot follows Su Can Can, a sweet and loving girl who has a secret love on one of her high school classmates, Lin Jia Ze, but gradually develops emotions for his closest buddy, Lin Tian Ye, as they attend college.

Despite the fact that the drama’s premise is considerably different from Meteor Garden, there are several striking similarities between the two, including the fact that both leads initially loathed each other, and the female lead liked his closest buddy at the start of the drama. The drama is available to watch with English subtitles on YouTube and Netflix.

Such a Lovely Love (2017)

It would have been ludicrous to compile a list like this and leave out this drama. Shen Yue in Chen Xiao Xi’s role is one of the must-watch dramas, featuring the same female protagonist from MG. The story follows a bumbling but happy girl who has been in love with her next-door neighbor, Jiang Chen, since childhood. Though Jiang Chen is first skeptical of his feelings for her, they deepen quickly after Wu Bo Song, a cool swimmer, enrolls at their school.

Both dramas’ male leads are popular, chilly, smart, and arrogant, while the female leads are happy. In addition, we see an endearing romance between a tall person and a short lady, which lends the dramas a similar character. You can watch the series online with English subtitles on We TV, Viki, Netflix, and YouTube.

The Star that Shines the Brightest in the Sky (2019)

The drama follows Yang Zhen Zhen, an aspiring young actress who joins the Star Entertainment agency as the assistant of Zheng Bo Xu, a popular arrogant and rowdy idol. Zhen Zhen helps him unlock his talent in singing and songwriting by fixing his weaknesses, which helps her define her own career as an agency manager as well.

Both MG and The Brightest Star in the Sky had a hate-to-love romance, which is a commonality between the two dramas. Both female leads had emotions for another guy at first. Both shows’ male characters are portrayed as privileged rich youths with a tender heart who go against their parents’ wishes for the sake of their love. On YouTube, We TV, and Viki, you may watch the series with English subtitles. For more information, visit https://kissasian.cx/.