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It’s another strong year for Korean dramas marked by groundbreaking hits, the glorious return of megastars, and the birth of a new generation of A-listers. From a theme perspective, this year seems a bit tamer than last year. With a few exceptions, the vampires, split personalities, and supernatural powers are largely gone. They’re replaced with joys and tears for down to earth characters and their heartfelt stories. It’s been an emotional year, so let’s remember these must-watch Korean dramas of 2016 that brought us laughters and heartaches alike.
But before we get started, let us explain the criteria of our selection. First, a top drama for us is usually comprised of an intricate story, memorable characters with depth, a talented cast, and air-tight execution. Unusual premises, savvy dialogues, and beautiful cinematography add brownie points; lapses of logic, overused tropes, and extended downtimes majorly detract from the experience. Secondly, dramas that began in 2015 and finished in 2016 are considered while dramas that aired in 2016 but won’t wrap up until 2017 are not. With these expectations set, let’s jump in.
Descendants of the Sun — Best in Action Adventure
Descendants of the Sun is a groundbreaking action romance drama revolving around a female doctor and a military soldier. They paint the kind of destined love after numerous re-encounters and countless life and death trials while battling conspiracy and terrorism in a war struck country. It’s got nail-biting plot line, first-rate actors, flawless execution, breathtaking cinematography, thrilling action, heart-wrenching tragedy, and sweet romance. It’s truly an all-around treat for your eyes, ears, and heart.
Lucky Romance — Best in Comedy
Lucky Romance’s hilarity is predicated on an unusual premise around luckiness and the consequences of ridiculous beliefs. Our very superstitious heroine is on a hunt for a man who can counteract her bad luck, but ends up meeting a super calculative guy who’s the polar opposite of her. You can imagine the comedic, playful, love-hate relationship blossoming from here on. Lucky Romance’s lighthearted and refreshing concept makes it a fun summer pick-me-up for anyone.
Signal — Best in Crime
Signal is an intense crime thriller smartly weaved into a time travel like storyline. Our detective from 1986 help our profiler living in 2015 solve present-day cold cases by getting ahead of them in the past. The past and the present is connected via a walkie-talkie that they communicate through. Signal alludes to the time travel paradox of how the past affects the present, and the butterfly effect of consequences that our characters must live with once the past is changed. It’s filled with heavy emotions and induces nail-biting adrenaline all the way through as our heroes race time to solve cases.
W — Best in Fantasy
Have you ever wished you could enter a fictional world? This is the premise of W, a supernatural romance drama about a vivacious female doctor, who falls in love with the protagonist of a webtoon titled W, created by her cartoonist father. Though our heroine and her father live in reality, they’re sucked into the world of W, where they meet our hero, navigate through his world, and change his life’s course over and over again. With an unconventional plot, top-notch cast, and innovative production aesthetics, W is a feast for the eyes and mind. It incorporates a bit of everything – fantasy, romance, comedy, horror, and action – into one breathtaking narrative and an unforgettable journey.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo — Best in Historical
A 21st century woman is suddenly transported back to the ancient Goryeo era in the body of a young noblewoman. She soon finds herself entangled with the sons of King Taejo and their vicious struggles for the throne. Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is a perfect blend of fiction with a substratum of historical facts, complete with the most gorgeous and dreamy cinematography that truly romanticizes the Goryeo period. Even those not interested in history will find themselves intrigued to delve into Korean annals to grasp a deeper understanding of the drama’s sociopolitical settings.
Let’s Fight Ghost — Best in Horror
Let’s Fight Ghost is a mystery romance drama about a reclusive university student and ghost exorcist, who falls in love with a feisty ghost with lingering regrets. Though their initial meeting is marked with hilarious savagery, they soon form an alliance, which leads to a budding romance. The drama is able to reconcile seemingly contradictory elements like dark ghost stories and slapstick humor, into one endearing and memorable story. With both horror and comedic elements, Let’s Fight Ghost is an excellent watch for those seeking a thrilling, unconventional take on the classic ghost story.
Remember – War of the Son — Best in Legal Drama
Remember – War of the Son is a courtroom drama that explores themes of family, loyalty, and corruption within the legal system. A father is framed for a murder but has very little hope of clearing his name because he unknowingly suffers from Alzheimer’s and cannot remember details of the events or properly defend himself. Therefore, it’s left to his son to outmaneuver the opposition and overturn the verdict. Remember – War of the Son is a thrilling ride that creates a compelling conflict around a murder case, pitting good against evil, and innocent against immoral.
Marriage Contract — Best in Melodrama
Marriage Contract depicts an unlikely pair — a rich chaebol heir and a single mom with terminal illness — who enter a contractual marriage for mutual benefits, only to fall in love with each other. It offers unique angles regarding the importance of family, as told from the perspectives of a son, a step-dad, a brother, a single mom, a mother-in-law, and a child. Beyond its meaningful theme, its excellent acting, quirky supporting characters, sentimental scenes, and the closing message about hope, all work together to make a heartwarming story come to life.
Beautiful Mind — Best in Psychological
Beautiful Mind is a medical drama about a genius doctor who suffers from the inability to connect emotionally and feel compassion towards others. But when he meets a cop who’s passionately working towards justice and cares deeply about others, he learns to look at the world through her eyes. The drama explores sensitive philosophical topics like medical integrity, life and death, and what being a great doctor truly means.
Jealousy Incarnate — Best in Romance
The romance and relationship ups and downs are as real as they can get in this part slice of life, part comedic drama. When a confident reporter hits a bump in the road with his health, life suddenly takes a 180 degree turn and he learns to rely on the people that he used to sneer at. It’s packed full of one-sided infatuation, best friend rivalries, workplace competition, family bonds, life hardships, and much more. Jealousy Incarnate breaks many stereotypes within our society and offers a deeper look at people’s relationships and lives in a not so serious yet very relatable way.
Reply 1988 — Best in Slice of Life
Reply 1988, the third chapter of the Reply series, is a slice of life drama with the underlying theme of finding out who our heroine’s husband is among her group of childhood friends. But in the end, more than the puzzle itself, it’s the focus on family bond, friendship, and love among the five families that kept us engaged. The heartwarming, tear-inducing moments, coupled with the perfect timing of situational comedy, make Reply 1988 a nostalgic and remarkable walk down the memory lane.
Love in the Moonlight — Best in Teen Drama
Based off of popular novel Moonlight Drawn by Clouds, Love in the Moonlight is a not so ancient teen sageuk romantic comedy with enough twists and turns for two more dramas. A mischievous Crown Prince meets his fated love cross-dressed as an eunuch while battling the corrupt court to protect the King and his throne. It’s a fantastic combination of a really heartfelt coming-of-age story and a dreamy romance, all punctuated with beautiful cinematography and top-notch acting performances from a young yet talented cast.
Now that you’ve read our top-picks, what were your favorite Korean dramas of 2016? Make a recommendation for others in the comments section below.
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