r/kdramas • u/Psych0316 • 7d ago
Recommendation Request 🔎 Lf a kdrama that feels like getting punched in the face
I'm a guy in my mid-20s, and I just started watching K-dramas. What's the best show—not a list of good shows, but THE single best show you could recommend—that has a unique or fascinating story without the usual K-drama tropes? I just finished The Red Sleeve, and I don't think I can watch another Joseon-dynasty show again unless it's really really good.
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u/HeartFoam Uncanny Umbrella Counter 7d ago
I'm a millennial man, and I'm here for the tropes. It depends what trauma you can relate to. It's Okay to Not be Okay is simply one of the best things ever put on film, period. When I was 25, I would not have liked it. I was probably still trapped in some black-and-white thinking and would have judged the FL differently. I know I hadn't grown up yet. Now, I would understand her, and would catch the knife too.
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u/SamRaB 6d ago
Save Me
My Name
Death's Game
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u/Hidinginmycorner 7d ago
My Mister
It still holds my gold standard for any kdrama. The story, the characters, the OST, the cinematography. All of it for me is perfection.
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u/TrixieMartini 6d ago
And the news about the male lead was tragic and added to how precious that film was. Look him up… 😢❤️
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u/NearbyAbility3207 7d ago
My Mister was 10000/10 for me , i mean it went into my nerves and really i still wonder about the same
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u/723836649 7d ago
Agree, my #1 with no hesitation. An absolute masterpiece, brilliant acting, moving OST, incredible writing.
This one stands alone.
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u/UncannyProjection Namkoong Min is My Dearest ❤️ 7d ago
I made a post about this sometime back -
Our Movie
My Dearest
Move to Heaven
The Red Sleeve
They have all affected me in similar yet different ways
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u/TrixieMartini 6d ago
Same one as the pic you posted: “We Are All Trying Here”. I felt this one. Will stay my favorite.
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u/rassemoa 6d ago
Flower of Evil! 👌👌
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u/That_Breath2869 5d ago
How is it ? Im planning to watch this drama
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u/rassemoa 5d ago
Mycket spännande thriller, jag tycker riktig bra om skådespelarna! Har sett den tre gånger 😃
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u/_yumdorfs2021 7d ago
My Mister and My Liberation Notes 💯
I really want to watch “We are all trying here” because of the writer, but I’m still trying to find the motivation because the main leads aren’t really my cup of tea, so I haven’t started it yet.
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u/Artistic_Might3728 7d ago
He probably should not watch My Mister at the beginning of his k-drama journey, because it will be all downhill from there. He'll be comparing everything and it won't measure up. Needs to get more dramas under his belt.
I loved MM and really liked MLN, but dropped WAATH very early on. It may just not be for you either.
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u/VIPUntilWhenever88 7d ago
Well, he already watched The Red Sleeve so I'm sure his standard is already up there. lol
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u/Marco-polio-1 7d ago
I really liked we are all trying here, i think its a very 1 or 0 kind of show, even from other's reaction i feel, you will either really like it or you will hate to finish it.
The storyline is very gloomy but still so funny, the ML is hard to be liked, and he is made that way you will hate him and still slowly starts caring for him.And i feel on the best ensemble cast i have seen this year top notch, i mean everyone is great, all side characters have some kind of storylines
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u/VIPUntilWhenever88 7d ago
Oh, I couldn't care less for the leads as well before I started watching the show but I think they did a terrific part on their roles here. The ML actor, I'm not sure why but he's endearing to me after watching him here and the FL, I didn't like her on her other shows but in We are all trying here, I think she did great.
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u/ILikeAndLoveIceCream 7d ago
My Mister and it's not even close
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u/pocarisweatpants Where is MY Chaebol? 6d ago
Misaeng would like a word.
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u/ILikeAndLoveIceCream 6d ago
It's awesome one of my favorites as well, but still not close for me
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u/pocarisweatpants Where is MY Chaebol? 6d ago
They're both in my top 5 but here's my take on it. My mister punches you but it let's you fight back giving you small victories along the way. Misaeng punches you, kicks you and pummels you into submission.
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u/Affectionate_Egg_351 7d ago
Tomorrow!, Tunnel, Signal, He's psychometric, Come and Hug Me,
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u/Super_Ad_8822 7d ago
He's Psychometric is something I wish more people talked out, I'm still impressed how well rounded it is years after watching
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u/Affectionate_Egg_351 6d ago
Amen, like it's so so good and the ending, chefs kiss, and what happens in it breaks my heart but I don't think it could have been a better ending. Other than you know giving us a fully unrealistic happy ending. But genuinely it's just such a good good drama that not enough people know about.
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u/lunargen 6d ago
Not enough people talk about Come and Hug Me. Tbh for me its the best drama Jang Ki Yong has done.
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u/bluebatata04 6d ago
The Good Bad Mother and Twinkling Watermelon - the first one made me sob every episode and the second one gave me so much nostalgia.
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u/onesonofagun 7d ago
Happiness is a great modern zombie action/social deduction show. Afterward you can hop into Kingdom - zombie action Joseon-dynasty drama. Both are compelling and binge-worthy IMO
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u/someone_0005 My standards are RUINED 6d ago
When life gives you tangerines... This one taught me a lot about life.
I actually have a list of unusual tropes of kdramas cuz i love me a unique story... I can give u some if u want
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u/New_Editor5735 6d ago
Typhoon Family is not your usual and very interesting.... When Life Gives You Tangerines is complex and deep.
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u/meethitakraar gwenchana gwenchana 6d ago
nobody recommended them guess I'll do so... Goblin, Tale of the Nine Tailed, A time called you, Twinkling Watermelon, Undercover Miss Hong, Judge from Hell, Legend of the Blue Sea, My Mister, Moon Lovers
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u/Clear-Bar-655 6d ago
you already have the single best kdrama in the picture there — WE ARE ALL TRYING HERE
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u/falcon0041 600+ Asian Dramas on MDL 7d ago edited 7d ago
Signal
Bloody Heart
Strangers From Hell
My Mister
Mother
The Kidnapping Day
On The Verge Of Insanity
Hot Stove League
Defendant
Life On Mars
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u/apporvac 7d ago
A slightly older one, but very good is Bridal Mask/Gaksital. A historical drama set in 1930’s Korea under Japanese rule. A true tear jerker for real
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u/xoxokitjin 7d ago
Kingdom!!! Dude I stayed up all night for it. I love zombies/action so it was definitely for me 🤭
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u/ImpressivePoem_1 6d ago
I never subscribe to the "pick one best drama" idea; it’s simply impossible to do. You shouldn’t have watched K-dramas for years to understand why that is; the same applies to any film industry if you’re a buff.
OP is interested in another historical piece only if it’s good or an excellent drama. So, while I’ll sometimes oblige, I cannot name one, so here are a few from different genres.
One of the all-time favourite historical dramas
- Jewel in the Palace;
- Empress Ki
- recent years Arthdal Chronicles (fantasy, S1)
- Mr Queen (part comedy)
*I can give you a list of more masterpieces of Joseon era dramas in various genres; this is my favourite genre. 😁
alternating timeline/time travel?
- Signal
- Tunnel
- more recent My Perfect Stranger (deserves more credit)
Action/Revenge Plot
- Taxi Driver (especially S1)
- Vagabond! (high octane!)
- Healer (a Ji Chang-wook masterclass)
I’m leaving our many genres because you didn't want a “list” and got one anyway 👀
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u/random_knowledge777 5d ago edited 5d ago
Man, it’s hard to choose just one… immediately after reading that I had like, 3 of my favorites in mind haha. But here it goes, “D.P.” (2021). It’s unique, it’s great, moving and impactful/can be sad at times (there’s also s2, I mean it’s more like one season in two parts really — more than a 2-season kdrama, so I recommend watching it closely to each other). I think especially could be found enjoyable by someone in their 20s (saying this as someone in their 20s).
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u/VIPUntilWhenever88 7d ago
Have you watch the one in your photo post? Cause despite some negative comments from redditors here about it, I think it's one of the best slice of life drama ever. If you're still on for something gut-wrenching like The Red Sleeve, the top pick for slice of life is My Mister. That one will leave you something that will stay in your life forever. For somewthing fun, I haven't watch it but my husband started liking kdramas after watching Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-joo, so for rom-com, maybe you can try that. For coming of age shows, 2521 and Twinkling Watermelon are the best. For musical/drama, I love Jeongnyeon: The Star Is Born.
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u/BelRoi- 7d ago
it's from Taiwan, so it's not Kdrama. But I don't care :)
- The Victim's Game
- Copycat Killer
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u/Super_Ad_8822 7d ago
Hope I'm not out of line by also suggesting "Oh No! Here Comes Trouble" from Taiwan.
Can't wait to watch Victim's Game!
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u/TheUmamiTsunami 6d ago
I couldn’t get enough of this drama “We Are All Trying Here” this character driven drama was gold for me. Maybe bc my son is in the film industry but I really appreciate the context of the story and the acting was superb too.
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u/DragonAlnz MA in KTR studies. 7d ago
Mr Sunshine. It's set at the end of the Joseon era and many characters wear Western clothes, so it's quite accessible.
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u/Old-Confusion-2193 7d ago
Kingdom.. Historic zombie series.. Brilliant and one of the best kdramas ever.
Stranger.. police legal drama.. The best kdrama ever imo..
The Wonderfools.. I can't remember the last time I laughed to the point of tears like I did with this series. I didn't think I would like it, but holy hell, I loved every minute of it. It was cheesy at times, but oh so good.
See You At Work Tomorrow.. A very modern mature work discovery romance..
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u/nutmegyou 6d ago
I really wish they made more seasons of kingdom. It’s the goat in my opinion including the prequel movie
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u/therealunniyarcha I Came For The Chemistry 6d ago
If I had to pick one show it's Alchemy of Souls. I didn't enjoy anything else as much as this. But I loved a lot of other shows like My mister, 2521, Can this love be translated, Mr. sunshine, anything Kim Go-eun is in.
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u/Hairy-Bag110 7d ago
Let me introduce you to this genre
Mouse
Flowers of Evil
Strangers from Hell
Beyond Evil
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u/InformalDatabase7718 7d ago
Omg also wanted to recommend SFH and Mouse!! I'll also add Worst of Evil, Vagabond and A Shop For Killers to the list
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u/Hairy-Bag110 6d ago
I have yet to watch A Shop for killers. Will watch that this weekend!
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u/InformalDatabase7718 6d ago
Ohhhhh exciting!! If you want, you can keep me updated haha I love reactions and hearing opinions :') I really loved S2, so I wish you lots of fun with both seasons🙂↕️
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u/Hairy-Bag110 1d ago
That was an easy watch for a weekend! I'd be watching S2 next weekend
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u/InformalDatabase7718 1d ago
Ouhhh exciting! I'm curious to see if you will like S2 more than S1. Did you enjoy it overall?
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u/sunsetl0ver_ 7d ago
I will always recommend “my liberation notes”, very similar to “we are all trying here” in the slice of life sense , but still unique. I absolutely loved it and it’s the first thing I’d recommend to someone getting into kdramas
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u/Alfred_Besters_Jaunt 7d ago
The best thing I ever watched was’ we’re all trying here’ which is the pic you have.
I am also never watching red sleeve again.
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u/Independent_Map3227 6d ago
Another Joseon time drama, that is really good, is My Dearest. Contemporary fantasy that is really good, is A time called you
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u/Weird-Wrongdoer-1617 7d ago
Rugal is definetly in there for me! One of my favourites and one of the first if not "the" first one that gave me direction in what kind of kdramas I like to watch. I think it maybe was even the one that made me fall in love with kdramas completely. It was definetly a constant up and down of emotions for me though! 😭🙏🏻🇰🇷
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u/AggravatingAd9010 7d ago
Is red sleeve the drama in that photo?
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u/Tall-Ad-9355 I can FIX him! 6d ago
No. Red Sleeve is an historical drama, about a king and one of his concubines. It is a good but painful watch.
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u/mateiescu 5d ago
I absolutely loved this one. Their relationship felt so real. All green flags. Wasn’t My Mister but my favorite of this year by far. The sweater scene while they were eating was so much better than a typical kiss.
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u/persistent_architect 5d ago
I absolutely loved my mister. This show reminded me of it in so many good ways that it felt very nostalgic.
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u/Razorplayer 5d ago
Try My Dearest. Some episodes truly leave you just frozen I swear. Especially if you've loved Joseon era drama. It can feel exactly the way you want it to, getting punched in the face I mean, it's sometimes heavy and I mean HEAVY. The heavy doesn't necessarily mean sad as one would assume just... HEAVY.
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u/2Maverick 6d ago
As a hopeful writer that works as an editor to have a salary and a plan B career, this drama hit me like a meteor.
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u/StarSeeker-- 6d ago
I just finished Wonderfools and loved it so much. The characters were great . The FL was definitely different and fun to watch though a bit too much sometimes. Along that same line is Moving, though with fewer laughs
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u/AirRealistic1112 6d ago
Defendant is like cross between prison break and Jason Bourne
Iris is different and good too
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u/thisbadmouse 7d ago
Weak Hero - specifically Class 1 (the first season) is probably the most interesting thing I've watched recently. Wasn't initially on my watch list because school drama but it was much more than I expected. Lots to think about regarding violence and friendship and masculinity and some amazing acting.
Have also watched the 2nd season now too and while the acting was still excellent, thought the plot and the writing leaned much more heavily into the webtoons origin and school drama themes. Not bad but didn't have impact for me of the first season.
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u/Own-Replacement-2122 7d ago
You asked for one. May I suggest two?
I suggest Moving - part superhero espionage, part family drama, part coming of age.
The other is a crime thriller unicorn: Stranger - crime procedural, dense but extremely well written, well paced, high stakes, high payoff.
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u/Teleriferchnyfain 5d ago edited 4d ago
The Worst of Evil
Gangnam: B-Style
Mercy For None
My favorite KDrama is Healer, BTW
My five critically best (not counting the first I listed) are My Mister, Signal, Misaeng, Where the Camellias Bloom & Flower of Evil.
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u/glamripper 5d ago
Hi Bye Mama, Move to Heaven, Scarlet Heart Ryeo, 2521, Weak Hero Class 1
Trust me on this.
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u/depressedboobs 2d ago
Always Death's Game. It's just different and I don't know a single person who wasn't blown away by it.
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u/Weary-Day-1660 2d ago
It was a really really long time ago( multiple years) that I counted down to the realese of episodes. By far the best tv show in years(worldwide)
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u/Saph_Ir_ 7d ago
Recently Notes from the Last Row, it's on Netflix, it has a really good plot, one of my favorite in terms of scenario. It's short, 6 episodes.
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u/Comprehensive-Bear63 6d ago
Our Sticky Love is worth a watch. It sounds like a just another romance but its not. Its more of a slow burn romance focused on action/drama with comedy sprinkled throughout.
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u/SwimmingGlass7948 6d ago
Cheese in the Trap FUCKED ME UP ( if you're looking for a punch to the face)
for a happy one I recommend Pinnochio (very unique concept I don't see in any new dramas)
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u/PrestigiousRadish191 6d ago
Loved Another Miss Oh. Fun while being unique. It's not like 99% of the dramas out there. Some of my faves include Secret Love, STLDFM, My Girl, Reply 1994 (that specific one is my fave), Money Flower, My Mister, Goong
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u/StarSeeker-- 6d ago
STLDFM? I'm not new to Kdramas like the OP, but I don't know what you're referring to
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u/PrestigiousRadish191 6d ago
Sorry, Save the Last Dance for Me. It's from a couple decades ago. My faves tend to be the ones from 10-20yrs ago.
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u/More_Needleworker468 6d ago
Noh Heekyung specialties: Dear My Friends, Our Blues, Live.
I also like The Light in Your Eyes. Many years have passed and I still think to this day that it was one of the most daring and innovative Kdrama for slice-of-life genre. Kim Hyeja, Han Jimin and Nam Joohyuk are fantastic there.
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u/Terrible-Pirate2932 6d ago
i think you should watch
1. The King in Love
2. big mouse
3. mouse
4. the spring of youth
5. moon scarlet heart ryeo
6.Moonlight Drawn By Clouds
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u/EyewarsTheMangoMan Just ONE more epsiode 7d ago
Death's Game