Bored during quarantine? Here’s a list of shows in the Asian Drama category on Netflix that I’ve either watched or have been recommended to me by my friends. I’ve got you covered:
Itaewon Class
What it’s about: I didn’t think I’d ever find a Korean drama I’d love as much as I adore Healer, but Itaewon Class is like The Perks of Being a Wallflower meets The Breakfast Club… except with murder in it. This is based off a web-toon and is about an ex-convict named Park sae-ro-yi (Park Seo-joon) whose life is altered when he punches a bully who just happens to be the son of a CEO. That same day, his father is murdered, so to honor his father he vows to open the best pub. If you’re looking for a show that will keep you entertained and has a satisfying ending, then this is for you!
Crash Landing on You
What it’s about: In a way, it’s a modern-day Romeo and Juliet story. Yoon Se-ri (Son Ye-jin) is a South Korean heiress and Ri Jeong-hyeok (Hyun-Bin) is a North Korean elite and captain. For Korean drama fans, this show is a Descendants of the Sun meets The Heirs kind of show!
Cinderella and Her Four Knights
What it’s about: A modern day retelling. Also, for those that don’t know, one of the actresses from Parasite is in this! Eun Ha Won (Park So-dam) is an intelligent college student who dreams of becoming a teacher. However, due to unfortunate circumstances she loses her mother in an accident and moves in with a harsh stepmother with no money for her education. In order to finish college, Eun takes up odd jobs like babysitting to make ends meet. All that changes when she’s invited to be someone’s date at a chairman’s wedding.
Love Alarm
What it’s about: Love Alarm is an app that tells people if the other person loves them if both people are standing within 10 meters of each other. JoJo (Kim So-Hyun) lost her parents at a young age and lives with her aunt who runs a convenience store. This starts off as a lighthearted drama, but then there is a lot of sci-fi and mystery that gets introduced later on, which makes the show extra enthralling! It is also based on a web-tooon.
Cheese in the Trap
What it’s about: This, too, is based off a popular web-toon. Hong-Seol (Kim Go Eun) is a college student who finds herself being curious about Yoo Jung (Park Hae Jin) who is aloof with a bit of a dark side, which involves some people who hold grudges against him.
My First First Love
What it’s about: This is about five youths and their complicated lives involving first love. Yoon Tae-oh is a college student whose friends decide to move in with him for various reasons.
The Untamed
What it’s about: Wei Wuxan (Xiao Zhan) and Lan Wangji (Wang Yibo) are “cultivators” with supernatural powers. They have to work together to protect their universes. The two of them fight antagonists and solve crimes together.
My Holo Love
What it’s about: A lonely blind woman gets to know a human-like hologram that resembles its creator.
Put Your Head on my Shoulder
What it’s about: This is a Chinese drama. Si Tu Mo is graduating soon and she still hasn’t figured out what she wants to do post-graduation. She tries a variety of things, but is incredibly indecisive.
Meteor Garden
Dong Shancai (Shen Yue) is determined to excel at her dream university. She plans on making friends and focuses on being an A+ student. It isn’t until she meets F4: a group of arrogant rich guys who seem to get under her skin more than she’d like to admit.
I hope you’re all safe at home and I wanted to take this moment to thank all of our essential workers for doing what they can while the rest of us stay home. If you watch any of these shows, feel free to let us know what you think!