Drama Recs Part Six
As I said in my earlier installments of this series: I highly recommend that you dive into the world of Asian dramas (with subtitles, if required). So far I've tried Taiwanese, Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Pinoy, Malay, Singaporean, Hindi, Indonesian, and Thai shows. My personal tastes tend to lean towards rom-coms with the occasional mystery or science fiction series, but there are a plethora of options for any and every taste: time travel, historical fiction, horror, courtroom dramas, etc.
I usually watch dramas on either Netflix, Viki, YouTube, or Dramacool, although occasionally you can find them elsewhere. There are a million sites now, and I expect to enjoy certain titles we'll have to branch out in the future. Pinoy dramas are admittedly quite hard to find if you're based in the U.S, though.
IF YOU LIKE: ghibli, slice of life, cooking
TRY: The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House
The Makanai: Cooking for the Maiko House is a Japanese drama with 9 episodes (available on Netflix). The story follows two best friends, Kiyo and Sumire, as they move from their hometown in northern Aomori to Kyoto's Gion district to become geiko. They move into the all-female house of geiko and maiko, and although Sumire is hailed as a natural talent, Kiyo is deemed unfit to continue...but she soon finds her unexpected calling as their live-in cook.
This drama feels like a warm hug--it's inviting, cozy, and feels understated yet impactful. The conflicts are fairly low-stakes and dealt with quickly, and the storyline blends humor into a relatable coming-of-age tale. The cast has impeccable chemistry and comedic timing, and even the actors with fewer scenes do a great job of bringing what could be two-dimensional characters to life. Not to spoil anything, but my favorite episode involves the girls putting on a unique performance for an annual costume event that remains one of the best things I've ever seen in a drama.
Content warnings: some drinking scenes
IF YOU LIKE: magic, soulmate romances, early 2000s shows with fantasy elements
TRY: My Bubble Tea
My Bubble Tea is a 13-episode Thai drama (available on Wiki). The plot centers around Modem, a young woman who works in marketing and lives with her aunt (who has magic powers as well as a booming bubble tea business). As part of her birthday celebrations, Modem takes part in one of her family’s longest-held and most secret traditions: choosing one of seven magical teas brewed by her aunt to help her through the coming year. Yearning to reconnect with her childhood love, Modem chooses the tea meant to bring her a soulmate, but before she has a chance to give it to anyone, she accidentally spills it on a motorcycle service driver, Light. Light falls madly in love with Modem, and shenanigans occur from there.
This show feels like the classic fantasy shows a lot of us grew up on in the early to mid 2000s--H2O, Charmed, and Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The lore with the bubble tea is interesting and unique, and the plot balances emotionally heavy topics with lighthearted comedy and romance. I appreciated how much of the storyline focuses on Modem's career aspirations--the use of her marketing campaigns to insert product placement was particularly clever. If you're looking for a show that doesn't take itself too seriously, this would be a great pick for you.
IF YOU LIKE: The Good Place, Ghosts (the sitcom), supernatural/fantasy with elements of both comedy and drama
TRY: Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Mystic Pop-Up Bar is an 12-episode Korean drama (available on Netflix). The story follows a lonely but goodhearted man named Han Kang-bae, who begins working for the ill-tempered Weol-ju at her pojangmacha (outdoor drinking establishment), which also employs a former afterlife detective named Chief Gwi (Choi Won-young). To atone for misdeeds in her past life, Weol-ju visits her customers in their dreams to help resolve their problems. She hires Kang-bae due to a unique ability: people pour out all their troubles to him as soon as they touch him.
This drama has it all: funny and heartwarming moments, ghosts, found family, characters who hide their dark pasts full of regrets under jokes or curmudgeonly behavior, magical powers, conception dreams, some romance, a dance contest, musings about what comes after death, and a strong message about how to live one's life well. The spiritual element that acts as a foundation for much of the plot is fascinating, and the camaraderie between the characters is immensely fun to watch. There was a beautiful balance between the intense, high-stakes plotlines and the more lighthearted, low-stakes conflicts and that kept the pace moving as the show progressed.
Content warnings: a LOT of talk of the afterlife, suicide, death, murder, violence, abuse, kidnapping, a few hospital scenes, blood, fire, car accidents, minor police/copganda, fight scenes
Comments
Post a Comment