kdramas for film lovers

Beautiful cinematography with very interesting camera shots. They give the series an almost voyeuristic feeling, making the story feel much more intimate. 

The story will not give the satisfactory feeling we often crave from this type of series, but felt more realistic. An interesting look into generational difference, defying societal expectations and the emotional consequences of standing up for yourself. 

Interesting and wild take on Little women. 

The camera work is wonderful, the story keeps you on your toes and the acting is superb. 

A great example on how to make a wondeful series out of a ridicolous premise. Also great cinematography, and spectacular acting. 

Wondeful reflections on writing and why create tv series. The acting is really good, the script is beautiful and full of hidden reflection on the shattered dreams of a specific korean generation

TBW: Mystery murder in a small town. When a new detective arrives a body is found leading to a 20 year old serial murder

Why: Good cinematography and character work. 

TBW: Man moves to Seoul and has really bad luck with his neighbours. 

Why: Good acting and directing. Good build up of paranois, claustrophobic atmosphere. Intersting take on themes of isolation, insanity and social expectations

TBW: group of young, new interns start their work in a large company and go through life

Why: Character arc, writing, realistic depiction of work culture

TBW: Korean-born US Marine goes back to Korea and discovers plan to invade his country of origin.

Why: Cinematography

TBW: Park Tae Suk is a lawyer who finds out that he has Alzheimer’s and puts his life on the line to fight one last case.

Why: Acting, script, cinematography

TBW: At forty years old, Lee Boo Jeong has lost her way. She feels like she has reached the end of her potential and achieved absolutely nothing. Lee Kang Jae is twenty-seven, a man at the end of his youth, and though "afraid of nothing," feels afraid his life will never amount to anything.

Why: Indie drama with great script, direction, music, cinematography, acting. Great characterdevelopment.

TBW: This drama depicts a housewife’s struggle to help raise her child’s grades within the cut-throat education system in South Korea while accepting herself as a human who can fall in love

Why: Acting, criticisms of the korean eduaction system

TBW: A man with no emotions and a complicated past investigates corruption and joins Lieutenant Han Yeo Jin to root out corruption at the prosecutors’ office and solve a serial murder case.

Why: Character development, acting, directing

TBW: Ku San Young is busy working part-time during the day and studying to become a low-ranking public officer at night. One day, she receives some articles left behind by her late father. Since then, mysterious deaths take place around her.

Why: Acting, interesting take on horror, world-building

TBW: A high school student dreams of becoming an architect. However, she had to drop out of school after suffering from brutal school violence. Years later, the perpetrator gets married and has a kid. Once the kid is in elementary school, the former victim becomes her homeroom teacher and starts her thorough revenge towards the perpetrators and bystanders of her bullying days. 

Why: Visual composition, writing

TBW: Three friends in the film and tv industry

Why: Acting, writing and meta commentary. Themes of grief and found family. 

TBW: Having recently suffered a painful breakup, Yoo Mi’s love cells have fallen into a deep coma. While the surrounding cells work hard to revive their fallen compatriots, Yoo Mi spends her days stuck in the grind of everyday life.

Why: Loads of experimental writing

TBW: Jang Hye Sung, a bold, sassy, thick-faced, comical, and materialistic public defender who becomes a lawyer after overcoming poverty and painful memories from her childhood, comes to a realization about society and justice after meeting Park Soo Ha, a 19-year-old boy who reads other people’s thoughts and Cha Kwan Woo, an innocent lawyer who lives a disciplined life.

Why: interesting scripwriting, acting. 

TBW: Rom com around local politics and community activism

Why: Use of extreme wide angle lenses and creative camera work. Great acting 

TBW: Set in the 1990's, Park Ha Kyung teaches Korean literature at a high school. To escape her ordinary days, Park Ha Kyung decides to take one day trips on Saturdays. During her one day trip, she walks around, eats different foods, and meets various people 

Why: Thought-provoking script with meta commentary on art and writing

TBW:  Star-crossed lovers romance. Sun Jae, a young piano prodigy and Hye Won, his older married mentor fall for each other, and change each other.

Why: Noirish cinematographic, camera work that emphasizes intimacy, great acting,