So Many Kdramas (and CDramas), So Little Time

As I watch more and more k-dramas, I'm taken aback by both the creativity and absurdity of some of these storylines. Don't get me wrong, I still love them. A LOT.

Ever wonder if you could construct your own k-drama plot? Use the commonly-seen tropes from the lists above and see what you can make!

AI ASSISTANCE

The amazing folks over at KDramaBingo (@playkdramabingo on X) took this post and turned into a chatbot adventure! https://kdramabingo.org/neens-k-drama-plot-generator

ANALOG ADVENTURES

PURSUIT OF JADE

GENRES: Historical, Romance, Action

SUMMARY: A woman and a stranger meet by chance and together they solidify peace in the realm for generations.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Pig-slapping, tragic parental deaths, snow, snobby scholars, found families, erotic cures, fake marriages, genuine love, plucky sisters, clever birds, misguided heirs, bandits, wartime victories, super physical and mental strength, and puppet emperors.

HOT TAKE: This is the kind of show you know you are falling in love with at the same time as everyone else across the globe. The sets? Lived in and worn. The costumes? Practical and comfy. The romance? Slow and well-simmered. The steely looks? Sharp and satisfying.

I'm not sure if it's just me and my expectations, if its a universal opinion, or if it's because this is like a 4-novel series they had to squish into one season, but I did feel the ending was rushed and left me wanting more. Maybe I was just so enamored with the characters that I didn't want my time with them to end so soon? Maybe it was just rushed storytelling.

BLOSSOMS IN ADVERSITY

GENRES: Historical, Romance, Action

SUMMARY: When a prominent family gets torn to shreds due to a moody Emperor, the matriarchs survive and thrive.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Romantic kites, Northern exile, spies, astronomy, fortune telling scams, rought seas, hidden identities, torture, tragic fires, disregard for humanity, hope, cooking contests, triumph, poison, wrist projectiles, Dowager friendships, secret notes, trust, dolphins, and true freedom.

HOT TAKE: The CDrama discourse brought me to this show telling me how great it was. I was hesitant to love it right away since it starts off with a pretty shameless hidden identity enemy to lovers trope, but the level of communication, understanding, and cleverness written into every character really made me fall in love with it.

Learning how to adapt, learning how to thrive, keeping your sense of self, supporting those around you regardless of familial bond, and celebrating the essentials to what makes life worth living--this show really knows how to make 40 episodes seem like a quick dream.

Maybe the only few complaints I have is that I don't really think the main male lead fills out a historical costume well and the plot for the last few episodes kinda came out of nowhere compared to the seamless flow of the rest of the series.

NEW LIFE BEGINS

GENRES: Historical, Comedy, Romance

SUMMARY: A forced marriage brought them together, but improving the lives of the empire’s women fueled their romance.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Fluffy pugs, entitled cousins, birds next soup, pickey eaters, neglected sons, chess, food hoarding, business relationships, telepathy, birthday noodles, paper money, entrepreneurship, respect, shamans, poisoned tea, mid-Autumn festivals, spears, flower arranging, and love.

HOT TAKE: I totally did not expect to like this show as much as I did. All too often these palace life dramas can seem a little trite because the stakes seem high but aren't, the conflicts try to be dramatic but could be resolved easily, and the main plot slogs on (if there even is one).

This show was simplistic in plot and tropes, but the cast was charming and there was some real growth in many of the characters which had me sticking around to the end. Yes, this is a cute romance, and yes, most of the characters pair up at the end, but at the root of it all is the real struggle that both commoner and noble women faced when trying to maintain their sense of selves.

UNVEIL: JADEWIND

GENRES: Historical, Action, Drama

SUMMARY: The County Princess spends 15 years avenging her family’s death, fighting palace injustice, and rediscovering her own heart.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Poisoned pools, fiery demon pinatas, unlucky palace maids, ghost markets, live burials, drunken naps, astronomical life lessons, lake rescues, giant alligators, parrots, fireworks, misogyny, and trust.

HOT TAKE: Please watch this show. You'll love it if you like historical dramas, palace dramas, mystery dramas, or romance dramas. You'll love it if you appreciate well-designed CGI backgrounds, gorgeous costuming, or well-choreographed sword fighting. You'll love it if you want A+ secondary characters to fall in love with.

I rooted for so many people in this show. I felt their losses and reeled in their successes. Life is hard when you are trapped in the palace at the whim of the Emperor and that suffocation was communicated overtly and subtly from the lowest soil collector to the most favored consort.

I loved the mystery behind Peyi's family drama, I loved every step of investigation and intrigue between the her family's tragedy, and I loved the growth that she gained from surrounding herself with trusted confidants. The one thing I didn't love was the perpetrator of the tragedy. His motivation was weak and came out of nowhere. It seemed too truncated and lazy for the amount of work that went into identifying him, uncovering his deeds, and seeking justice for it.

I'll say it: although there's not a lot of smooching 'til the end of the show, Wang Xingyue's lustful eyes are fun to watch each and every episode. (not as good as his character in The Double, tho!)

PERFECT MATCH

GENRES: Historical, Comedy, Romance

SUMMARY: A family of daughters find love, reject advances, scheme, and settle for their respective perfect partners.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Fluffy pugs, embroidery ball games, lion dances, shadow puppets, civil service exams, spankings, jade, tea, pearl quilts, widows, widowers, loathsome in-laws, found families, found siblings, corpses, fake corpses, scandal, ruined reputations, sea-faring husbands, trauma, justice, and family strength.

HOT TAKE: Yes, this is a romance overall, but there were WAY more mysteries happening and puzzles solved than I was expecting!

I fell in love with these ladies from minute one. They are caring, brave, no-nonsense, vulnerable, and worthy of all the good things in life. I know the point of the show is to laugh at how the women have got everything handled and their husbands, though 'perfect matches,' will always be a few steps behind, but it took a WHILE for me to stomach the poor decision scheming these husbands got themselves into in the first handful of episodes.

Kangning and Chai An: Their flirtation was so strong at the beginning, I was actually pretty sad that after they got married they didn't team up for more scheming, or really much else, afterwards.

Shouhua and Du Yangxi: I get that his heart was cold and her heart was still wallowing in widowhood, but for me, these I would vote this couple least romantic, fun to watch, or enjoyable to root for.

Fuhui and Fan Lianghan: I have no idea what Fuhui was thinking when she married this rube. Although he's an adorable child, he's still a child mentally, and I wanted more for her.

Haode and Shen Huizhao: Perhaps the best couple? Other than the fact that he verbally iced her for the first few months of marriage and then got his head hit so hard, twice, that his personality shifted enough to enjoy himself, I enjoyed their legal team-ups and puzzle-solving sessions.

Leshan and Yang Xian: I get that Yang Xian had a horrible upbringing and never really learned to express himself, but he didn't have to be SUCH a dick to Leshan in his feeble attempt to show her that he adored her more than life itself. Also, he left her husbandless for THREE YEARS.

SPRING FEVER

GENRES: Comedy, Romance

SUMMARY: A teacher who just wants to keep her head down in a new town meets a thug with a heart of gold.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Tattoo sleeves, community service, typhoons, terrible eyeglasses, embarrassed actresses, fan cafes, classroom grade battles, renewable energy, teeny tiny dogs, fence jumping, gold medals, ju jitsu, boxes of cash, house fires, negligent siblings, meat skewers, tree pruning, strongmen, studying, gossip, misunderstandings, and sleepovers.

HOT TAKE: I'll be totally honest with y'all, this show is a trope-y cheese-fest and I was all in for it. Sometimes you just need a low-stakes simple, predictable show to cleanse your palate amongst all the murder, intrigue, and double-crossing some kdrama release cycles offer.

The flirting/ love arc of the two MLs is adorable and simple (though their kissing scenes were a little meh), the guilt and trauma that brought them to this point was harsh but dealt with well, everyone's communication skills were on point, and you never stopped rooting for anyone, even the characters they tried to pin as 'villains.'

FIGHT FOR LOVE

GENRES: Historical, Action, Romance

SUMMARY: Sometimes it’s not about how much you’ve accomplished but how much you trust and respect each other that matters most.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Spoiled siblings, fried dough twists, stolen technology, spears, clan strength, puppies, hair accessories, treason, jealousy, scars, honey dew wine, matchmaking, bells, medicine, poison, mistaken identities, royal obligations, illegitimacy, temple wishes, and secret kisses.

HOT TAKE: I read a few reviews before starting this show and more than one of them were disappointed the ML romance wasn't as powerful as they had hoped, despite 'love' being in the title. I feel like this criticism is unwarranted because this isn't a head-over-heels smoochy romance--its a story about the deep, passionate respect and trust that comes with a strong relationship, especially one between two military solders whose lives are working on borrowed time between wars. It's about being true to yourself and trusting that the decisions you make are not only beneficial for you, but for those who rely on you.

Everything about this show was great. I love a story about a capable, strong woman who still knows how to smile and enjoy life. I love the 'he fell first and fell HARD' romance trope. The action was spectacular, the secondary characters were engaging and worth of their screen time (cheers to my favorite character of the entire series Lu Qiba), and there was real growth all around.

THE PRINCESS'S GAMBIT

GENRES: Historical, Drama, Romance

SUMMARY: An usurped princess is poisoned, married off, and forced to spy on a bordering territory. Will she find both love AND revenge?

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Golden masks, hometown cooking, courtyard mysteries, secrets, negging, shrimp with too much cumin, regal edicts, parasol swords, clan politics, pill addictions, political essays, civil exams, and lots of spitting up blood.

HOT TAKE: By this time in my cdrama tenure, I should be used to a enemies-to-lovers trope, especially one lead by the expert longing leerer Liu Xue Yi.

Maybe it was the lack of chemistry between the two MLs that made this drama feel like a slog to get through? Or maybe it was the amount sheer screen time these two decided to either sabotage each other or just not say anything constructive. Either way I was so very relieved when Jiang Tao Hua's secret was revealed and they got some time to smile at each other, even if it was in total maybe a half hour out of a 36 episode run.

IDOL I

GENRES: Drama, Romance

SUMMARY: A idol groupie lawyer is thrust into her bias’ private life as she defends him against murder charges.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Branded groceries, ticket lotteries, connecting hearts, paths crossed, columbariums, homemade gimbap, sweet aunties, found families, childhood traumas, tickle trees, diamonds, murder, chaebol responsibilities, secret codes, online communities, social media pressure, detective work, and celebrating the ordinary.

HOT TAKE: There's a lot of good to say about this show, a lot of mid things to say, and a lot of complex issues too.

The Good: No, this would most likely never happen in real life, but if it did, I hope that it would happen like this. Se Na's fandom was all-encompassing but earnest, and honestly in this crazy world that's really the best superfan we can hope for. La Ik was right in freaking out when he realized the truths that Se Na held from him. His loneliness and distrust of everyone around him seemed upsettingly realistic and his need for a kernel of trust was palpable.

The relationship between Se Na and La Ik was effortless and really calming to watch. Kim Jae Young really brings such a casual and earnest approach to this character--he's arrogant and defensive, sometimes childlike, and can switch to passion-central with ease. I've always really enjoyed Choi Soo Young in everything she's been in and I'm always elated that the kdrama world gets to benefit from her choosing acting over stage performing.

The Mid: This show is extremely trope-y. It honestly runs the gamut from 'we coincidentally ran into each other as children and now were adult bffs' to 'let's hide in an embrace and then get flustered' to 'let me consistently yank your arm everywhere we go because that's romantic somehow.'

The Complex: This is, in essence a sweet show about how people come to terms with who they are and how much they are willing to be vulnerable for love. It is also a show about how one super idol fan gets to kiss, date, and live happily ever after with someone they only parasocially knew...which I hope doesn't vindicate people to try it for themselves.

OF NOTE: There is so much good kissing in this show. I could watch Kim Jae Young smooch all day. Also, keep an eye out for his episode 10 coquettish lip bite when he's talking to Se Na about how much she might be missing him when he's not around...

HOLY NIGHT: DEMON HUNTERS

GENRES: Supernatural, Action

SUMMARY: For some reason demons are out to take over the world and for some other reason only three people can defeat them.

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING: Hand-shaped altars, 2000s era video equipment, shiny blazers, leather masks, neuropsychologists, Jeju totems, wads of cash, in-home cctv, disgruntled priests, childhood and adult trauma, independent businesses, neck tattoos, secret sheds, and salt rings.

HOT TAKE: I'm a sucker for a good Ma Dong Seok punch-em-up action movie, but this one just wasn't it. The plot fell short by dropping half of the interesting developments, there was zero character motivation or expansion, and the only fights we really got were in darkly-lit rooms and hallways where I guess Ma Dong Seok was literally punching demons out of people?

Other than having a main character who only punches, we have one who only does exorcisms, and one who is only there to record the exorcisms on a camera? Okay, I guess.

I will say though that the actress who played the afflicted sister did a great job of pretending to host a demon. Great physical acting, great dialogue delivery, and suitably all over the place.

GLORY

GENRES: Historical, Drama, Romance

SUMMARY: The most successful tea-producing family in China is also the most powerful group of matriarchs history has ever known.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Murder, monks, new identities, amnesia, bold jewelry, sister squabbles, giant tea trees, tea bones, ancient pillars, jade seals, corruption, play-acting, justice, asthma, suitor olympics, flowing robes, imprisonment, puppies, poison, broken legs, and getting what you deserve.

HOT TAKE: Every actor in this show had a very specific role to play and damn if they all weren't having the best time doing it. The annoying sisters were insufferable, the scheming suitors were shameful, and the love interests were flirtatious and clever.

At first I was all in for the chemistry between our two MLs--they are both at the top of their game and know how to get what they want while still spending time together. I feel like their personalities reached an impasse and although they got there in the end, I'm not sure if they ever regained that passionate spark.

Plot-wise was similar--from ep 1 to maybe 30-ish I was super invested in the success of our mains and the comeuppance of those who needed to get their punishment. After that I wondered where this extra story came from, and I can't say that it kept my attention until the last 45 min of the series.

OH, and I learned a SHIT TON about tea! Between the show itself and the after-credit mini-lessons (yes, you should stay for those), we can now all be our own tea masters!

LOST YOU FOREVER

GENRES: Fantasy, Historical, Romance

SUMMARY: Living for thousands of years can be wonderful, terrifying, boring, or an opportunity to live several of your best lives.

THIS SHOW HAS EVERYTHING: Faerie dogs, nine-tailed demons, nine-headed demons, giant underwater clamshell apartments, miracle medicines, blood cures, the biggest, brightest green flag suitors ever, family scheming, zithers, hidden pasts, merfolk, giant eagle transports, and living your best life.

HOT TAKE: In a show like this where there are so many romantic suitors to choose from, the writers can either go one way or the other: they're all kinda terrible and its tough to suss out who the diamond is OR like here, when they're all kinda great in their own weird ways (except for the cousin because PLEASE I really hope she doesn't end up with her cousin in season 2) and you just wanna sit back and enjoy all the flirty flavors.

I honestly enjoy the characters, pacing, and plotline of this show so much that it surprisingly overrides my general dislike of cdrama fantasy CG sets and scenes. Wait, is it just Yang Zi that's carrying this whole show? I mean, kinda, but she's got some good hunk support.

OKAY! MADAM

GENRES: Action, Comedy

SUMMARY: A hardworking family gets more than they bargained for after winning an all-inclusive trip to Hawaii.

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING: Vitamin C drinks, PC malware, passports, airport shuttles, nuclear secrets, teddy bears, business class upgrades, terrorists, autopilot hacking, annoying politicians, bad fashion sense, cargo holds, tasers, and parachutes.

HOT TAKE: Yet another banger by Uhm Jung Hwa. Is there anything that she can't do? She served charming donut-making ajumma, confident problem solver, and kick-ass heroine all in the same breath.

Although the location for this movie was pretty singular, it managed to bring some great side character scenes and development, some over the top action, and a few plot twists and turns to keep everyone on their toes.

THE BAD GUYS: REIGN OF CHAOS

GENRES: Action, Comedy

SUMMARY: You get what you pay for in broken bones when you hire violent felons to help take down local a drug ring.

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING: Scammers, sewing, riots, funerals, liver cancer, heart attacks, yakuza, crooked cops, mace, swords, samurai helmets, justice, redemption, explosions, prison breaks, goblin feet, shopping, giant wrenches, and karaoke.

HOT TAKE: This movie was a great combo of quick intros, quick plot set-up, simple motivation and execution, and simple character growth that allowed for plenty of what we really came here for: as many minutes of Ma Dong Seok action that we can fit into the movie's run time as possible.

THE PRINCESS AND THE MATCHMAKER

GENRES: Historical, Romance

SUMMARY: That Royal Astronomer doesn’t know anything--you go out there and fall in love on your own terms!

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING: Twins, scammers, switcheroos, lady entrepreneurs, struggling tweens, poverty, evil, rice soup, childhood skin conditions, paranoid consorts, and shirtless men.

HOT TAKE: I'm still not sure if I'm pleased or disappointed that this movie was just a movie and not a series instead. On one hand, the cruelty of some of the Princess's suitors were best left as quick secondary characters--more of them would have been a tough watch. Conversely, I feel like we unjustly rushed through the adorable courtship of the two MLs.

I can't help feel that the first cut of this movie was much longer than the one they released since there were some real abrupt scene transitions that forced me to wonder for more than a few seconds how or why we got there.

THE KING'S CASE NOTE

GENRES: Historical, Mystery, Comedy

SUMMARY: Treachery is afoot in Hanyang and the only one who can resolve it is the King himself (and his top historian).

THIS MOVIE HAS EVERYTHING: Autopsies, skeet shooting, giant sea monsters, submersibles, explosions, poison, swordsmanship, photographic memory, research, piggy back rides, fizzy water, psychics, fishing, magic tricks, and deductive reasoning.

HOT TAKE: Although this movie was nothing spectacular overall, it presented me with some remarkable kdrama sageuk firsts, including a Darth-Maul style connecteddouble sword, a King doing an autopsy, and a mechanical sea monster powered by a Joseon-era bathysphere.