DryedMangoez recaps, reviews and commentary about international (non-American) television programs.
Zombie Detective (좀비탐정) may just be the happiest, most heartfelt zombie television series ever! At least, that’s my immediate reaction after watching this 2020 KBS series. Choi Jin Hyuk effortlessly leads a stellar ensemble cast as the titular Zombie Detective. Mixing drama, comedy, fantasy and mystery, it all comes together into what is unexpectedly a hilarious and emotional adventure.
The first season of Love Alarm (좋아하면 울리는) was one of the very first Korean dramas I watched last year at the start of stay at home/lockdown orders. I thought those first eight episodes were wonderful. So color me surprised that these six season 2 episodes had almost none of the things I enjoyed and liked from the first season.
KBS’ 2015 series Cheer Up! (발칙하게 고고/Sassy Go Go!) is as timely today as it was back when it first aired. The high school-set drama tackles issues that, unfortunately, continue to be pervasive in today’s society. But as the title suggests, the series depicts a story that aims to be hopeful and positive in the midst of the difficult pressures of everyday life.
SBS’ Penthouse (펜트하우스) is guilty pleasure at its soapy finest. Outrageous, over-the-top moments are paired with clever twists and turns. Its cast revels in the campy stories while delivering emotional performances when the craziness subsides for fleeting moments. It’s not hard to see why the series became one of the year’s most watched and most talked about dramas. And considering it has only just started its second of three seasons, the roller coaster is still careening forward towards who knows where.
JTBC’s Run On (런 온) is a warm-hearted slice of life series. Equal parts drama and comedy, the character-driven Run On follows the stories of people at various points in their lives all trying to figure out just how to navigate every day trials and move forward. An excellent cast, wonderful direction and fast-paced writing make Run On a real winner.
For some good-natured, lighthearted fun, look no further than tvN’s True Beauty (여신강림). The romantic comedy treads familiar ground, but its charming cast and well-placed warmth and sincerity make it a thoroughly enjoyable experience.
The 2016 KBS romantic comedy Sweet Stranger and Me (우리집에 사는 남자/Man Living at My House) doesn’t aim to reinvent the wheel. But thanks in part to its charming cast, it is a fun, lighthearted series that knows what it is and does it well.
JTBC’s When the Weather is Fine (날씨가 좋으면 찾아가겠어요) is a healing drama in the truest sense of the word. The stunningly filmed, dreamlike slice of life portrays the very real hardships people face in the everyday. And it does so in a relatable, yet thoroughly engaging way.
Flower of Evil (악의 꽃) is not a series that you will soon forget after watching it. The 2020 tvN series is a fast-paced psychological thriller that is powered by an exceptional character-driven story. In finding the delicate balance between crime, mystery, family, friendship and romance, Flower of Evil crafts a thoroughly engaging roller coaster of a ride. And its great cast, led by an outstanding performance from Lee Joon Gi, solidifies it as one of 2020’s best. (And definitely another series that would’ve made my Top 10 Korean Dramas of 2020 list.)
Record of Youth is a relatable, character-driven slice of life drama. Quite unexpected for me as I went into the series. But very much welcome as I was quickly drawn into the realistic and grounded depiction of families and friends navigating all too-familiar twists and turns in life set amidst a backdrop of an otherwise unfamiliar showbiz world.