Drama
K-drama, J-drama, C-drama and live-action series.
All of Us Are Dead
South Korean zombie drama of 12 episodes adapted from Joo Dong-geun's webtoon Now at Our School, released on Netflix in 2022. A virus transforms high school students into zombies, and the survivors must organize to escape the quarantined school. A teen horror thriller that propelled the Korean zombie genre to the top of Netflix's worldwide charts.
Twenty-Five Twenty-One
South Korean drama of 16 episodes written by Kwon Do-eun, aired on tvN in 2022. Against the backdrop of the 1998 Asian financial crisis, an 18-year-old fencer and a 22-year-old journalist meet and experience an unforgettable first love. A nostalgic and poetic coming-of-age story celebrating the beauty of first loves and the pain of growing up.
Signal
South Korean crime drama of 16 episodes written by Kim Eun-hee, aired on tvN in 2016. A present-day profiler communicates via an old walkie-talkie with a detective from the past to solve cold cases inspired by real Korean criminal cases. A critically acclaimed time-travel thriller, considered one of the best Asian crime series ever produced.
Move to Heaven
South Korean drama of 10 episodes released on Netflix in 2021. A young autistic man and his uncle, a former convict, take over the family trauma cleaning business and discover the untold stories of the deceased through their personal belongings. A touching and delicate drama exploring grief, memory, and the invisible bonds between the living and the dead.
Begin Again
Chinese romantic drama of 35 episodes aired on Hunan TV in 2020. Lu Fangning, a demanding businesswoman in the luxury sector, and Ling Rui, a talented but rebellious designer, clash in the world of haute couture before falling in love. A corporate romance with polished aesthetics set in the Chinese fashion world.
Word of Honor (Shan He Ling)
Chinese wuxia drama of 36 episodes adapted from Priest's danmei novel Tian Ya Ke, aired on Youku in 2021. Zhou Zishu, a former master assassin of a government organization, meets Wen Kexing, the mysterious leader of Ghost Valley, and the two men travel together through the martial arts world. An international success that strengthened the popularity of the wuxia-danmei genre.
Story of Yanxi Palace
Chinese historical drama of 70 episodes written by Zhou Mo, aired on iQiyi in 2018. Wei Yingluo, a palace maid during Emperor Qianlong's reign, climbs the ranks of the imperial harem to avenge her sister's death. A Chinese cultural phenomenon that became the most searched TV show on Google worldwide in 2018.
Love O2O
Chinese drama of 30 episodes adapted from Gu Man's novel, aired on Jiangsu TV in 2016. A brilliant computer science student meets the number one player of an MMORPG and their virtual romance transforms into a real love story. A pioneering romantic comedy of the 'e-sport romance' genre that launched Yang Yang's international career.
Nirvana in Fire (Lang Ya Bang)
Chinese drama of 54 episodes adapted from Hai Yan's novel, aired on Hunan TV in 2015. Mei Changsu, a brilliant and ailing strategist, orchestrates from the shadows the rehabilitation of his unjustly accused father and the reform of the empire. Considered the absolute masterpiece of the Chinese historical genre, praised for its masterful writing and complex political intrigues.
Midnight Diner (Shinya Shokudo)
Japanese series adapted from Abe Yaro's manga, aired on TBS then Netflix from 2009 to 2019 (5 seasons). A small Tokyo restaurant, open only from midnight to seven in the morning, welcomes night-time customers for whom the silent chef prepares their favorite dish. A contemplative ode to Japanese cuisine and the human stories that unfold over a meal.
Alice in Borderland
Japanese survival series adapted from Haro Aso's manga, produced by Netflix in 2020-2022 (2 seasons, 16 episodes). Arisu, an aimless young gamer, finds himself in a deserted Tokyo where he must participate in deadly games symbolized by playing cards to survive. A gripping thriller that rivaled Squid Game on the international stage.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo
South Korean drama of 16 episodes written by Moon Ji-won, aired on ENA/Netflix in 2022. Woo Young-woo, a brilliant autistic attorney passionate about whales, joins a major law firm and confronts prejudice while solving cases with a unique perspective. An unexpected global phenomenon that highlighted neurodiversity in Korean popular culture.
Business Proposal
South Korean drama of 12 episodes adapted from HaeHwa's webtoon, aired on SBS in 2022. An employee goes on a blind date in place of her friend and runs into the CEO of her own company, who decides to marry her to stop the blind dates imposed by his grandfather. A light and refreshing romantic comedy that won over global audiences on Netflix.
Vincenzo
South Korean drama of 20 episodes written by Park Jae-beom, aired on tvN in 2021. An Italian-Korean lawyer, consigliere of the Italian mafia, returns to Seoul to retrieve a hidden treasure beneath a building threatened with demolition by a corrupt conglomerate. A flamboyant legal thriller blending action, dark humor, and anti-heroic justice.
Itaewon Class
South Korean drama of 16 episodes adapted from Gwang Jin's webtoon, aired on JTBC in 2020. A young man fresh out of prison opens a bar-restaurant in Seoul's Itaewon neighborhood to take revenge on the food conglomerate responsible for his father's death. A tale of perseverance and social justice carried by Park Seo-joon's charisma.
My Love from the Star
South Korean drama of 21 episodes written by Park Ji-eun, aired on SBS in 2013-2014. An alien arrives on Earth during the Joseon dynasty and lives among humans for 400 years before falling in love with a famous and capricious actress. A cultural phenomenon that triggered the Hallyu wave in China and popularized K-dramas across Asia.
Hospital Playlist
South Korean medical drama of 2 seasons (24 episodes) created by the duo Shin Won-ho and Lee Woo-jung, aired on tvN in 2020-2021. Five doctors who have been friends since medical school reunite at the same hospital and form an amateur band. A warm drama celebrating adult friendship, medical vocation, and the small joys of daily life.
Reply 1988
South Korean drama of 20 episodes from the Reply series, written by Lee Woo-jung and aired on tvN in 2015-2016. In the Ssangmun-dong neighborhood of Seoul in 1988, five neighboring families share their daily lives during a time of great change in South Korea. Considered one of the greatest K-dramas of all time, celebrated for its warm nostalgia and deeply human characters.
Goblin (Guardian: The Lonely and Great God)
South Korean fantasy drama of 16 episodes written by Kim Eun-sook, aired on tvN in 2016-2017. An immortal warrior from the Goryeo dynasty searches for a human bride who can remove the invisible sword lodged in his chest to end his eternal life. A masterpiece of Korean fantasy, celebrated for its cinematic aesthetics and poetic dialogue.
Crash Landing on You
South Korean drama of 16 episodes written by Park Ji-eun, aired on tvN in 2019-2020. A South Korean heiress accidentally lands in North Korea during a paragliding accident and falls in love with a North Korean officer. An iconic romance that broke audience records in Korea and became a worldwide phenomenon on Netflix.
Squid Game
South Korean survival series created by Hwang Dong-hyuk, released on Netflix in 2021. Hundreds of debt-ridden people compete in deadly children's games for a prize of 45.6 billion won. It became the most-watched series in Netflix history, redefining global popular culture and propelling Korean entertainment onto the international stage.
The Untamed (Chen Qing Ling)
Chinese drama of 50 episodes adapted from Mo Xiang Tong Xiu's danmei novel Mo Dao Zu Shi, aired in 2019 on Tencent Video. Wei Wuxian, an unorthodox cultivator resurrected after thirteen years, reunites with his former companion Lan Wangji to solve a series of supernatural mysteries. A global cultural phenomenon that popularized the xianxia genre with international audiences.