These shows didn’t have huge success with regards to viewer ratings but are definitely worth watching. Sometimes the ratings are based on competing shows at the same time slots or many other factors. Kdrama fans, these are my favourites, check these shows out.

Where the Stars Land

I’m not sure if this one should be on this list because it did moderately well and both Lee Je Hoon and Chae Soo Bin won awards for their roles. I personally was not expecting much from this show and I found the premise was a bit cheesy when reading the synopsis. As a feminist, I don’t particularly like shows where they make the female lead appear clumsy but I was bored and I love the two main actors. Typically the mix of romance and sci fi don’t always work well but this one was perfect. Both Lee Je Hoon and Chae Soo Bin were amazing in this show. They are both amazing diverse actors and brought life to Soo-Yeon and Yeo Reum. The two had amazing chemistry on the show as well. The cinematography and music worked perfectly. It was honestly a well directed and well made romantic show. You can really feel the characters’ pain and happiness.  This show will definitely suck you in and ultimately make you root for their relationship.  

The Third Charm

I think this drama didn’t do well because it didn’t have the fairy tale happy ending that everyone waits for. I ended up watching it anyway because I love Seo Kang Joon and Esom and I’m glad I watched it. It follows a 12 year relationship between a couple from the time they were 20 years old into adults. It’s about two people who wear the relationship into the ground and try so hard to salvage it because of the memories of old feelings they had for each other. I loved this drama so much because it is a realistic look at relationships and how they end. We’ve all either been in a relationship that ended before it actually ended or witnessed one. The two of them wanted to love each other so badly but knew that it was over. The side characters in a kdrama can bring the show over the top. My personal favourite side character was definitely Ohn Ri Won (Park Gyu-Young), the younger sister of Ohn Joon Young (Seo Kang Joon). Her witty one liners kill me. She provided a lot of comic relief from the seriousness of the events that happened during the story. Park Gyu Young is an absolute gem and she can be seen in It’s Okay to Not Be Okay, Sweet Home, and Dali and the Cocky Prince. This show is definitely worth watching. 

The Watcher

This is another Seo Kang Joon show. I was in a Seo Kang Joon phase and felt the need to watch all of his dramas because well, look at him. He is a handsome dongsaeng, an intense actor, and seems to be able to take on any role. He’s joined with OG actors Han Suk-Kyu (Dr. Romatic, Shiri) and Kim Hyun-Joo (Glass Slipper, Boys Over Flowers). This show is packed with action and everyone loves a good story about taking down corruption. There are some scary villains, including the Jang Deok Su (Heo Sung Tae) from Squid Game. Great story and action. It’s definitely worth watching. 

The Smile Has Left Your Eyes

I always describe this show as beautifully sad with small sparks of happiness. This was a remake of a Japanese show, Sora Kara Furu Ichioku no Hoshi, with some changes to some of the details. This show has some crazy plot twists that keep your attention. I chose to watch this show because I love both Jung So Min and Seo In Guk. They are both very talented actors that deserve more recognition. They play Jin Kang and Moo Young who are both very lonely and sad people with tragic pasts, who find happiness and love in each other. This show is not for the weak hearted as it is intensely sad. If you need a cathartic outlet with a captivating storyline, definitely worth watching. 

Melo is my Nature (Be Melodramatic)

I absolutely love this show. All of the kdrama tropes are removed from this one. It’s about three best friends, Jin Joo (Chun Woo Hee from Argon and Han Gong Ju), Eun Jung (Jeon Yeo Bin, from Vincenzo, Save Me, and Midnight in Paradise) and Han Joo (Han Ji Eun, from Lovestruck in the City and 100 Days My Prince) who live together with Han-Joo’s son and Jung-Eun’s brother, Hyo-Bong (Yun Ji On from Memorist and Sweet Home). Hyo Bong is a gay man and I love they did not make his character into a walking stereotype but still showed his struggles as a gay man living in Korea. The script is smart and witty. It is a truly progressive show. The characters work in different parts of kdrama production, Jin Joo is a quirky screenwriter who has writer’s block, Eun Jung is a documentary director who is grieving over the loss of her boyfriend and Han Joo is a product placement producer and a struggling single mother. Throughout the show they poke fun at kdrama tropes as the characters try to navigate through the industry. There are no crazy emotional highs and lows in this show which makes it a nice relaxing show to watch. If you’re sick of watching women being mistreated and love triangles and need an entertaining witty comedy, this is a must watch.  

Search www

This one is for all of the ladies and feminists! The patriarchy is going down! All of the boss ass females out there, this is the show for you. It’s about very competitive female executives climbing their way to the top for search portal companies. The main character, Bae Ta-Mi (Im Soo Jung) meets Park Morgan (Jang Ki Yong), who is 10 years younger than her and you can feel the sexual tension between them through your TV screen. We finally get to see women in a position of power and do not need help from a man. Ta Mi got thrown under the bus when Unicon got caught manipulating of search results and moves over to work for the competitor Barro and is hell bent to knock Unicon out of the number 1 spot. Hyeon (Lee Da Hee) is a hot tempered former Judo champion who hates Ta Mi but they both have the same goal and need to work together. Ga Kyung (Jeon Hye Jin) is an executive at Unicon and former mentor to Ta Mi who has her own problems with her mother in law and is trying to survive in the company. There is a host bar that has cute guys serving rich women instead of trafficked women serving rich men. If you want to watch a group of badass women with amazing fashion sense with a hot love story with the sexiest dongsaeng, definitely give this show a watch. 

My Mister

This show is an absolute work of art and easily one of my favourite shows. This show will heal your soul. Well, first it will break your heart into pieces and glue everything back together. It’s about a girl, Ji-An (IU) who lives in poverty, trying to support her sick grandmother and is in debt to a vicious loan shark, Gwan Il (Jang Ki Yong). She works as a temp at the same company Dong Hoon (Lee Sung Kyung). Dong Hoon has his own problems at home with his wife. They develop a plutonic friendship and eventually help each other get through hard times, even though the start of this unlikely friendship was rocky. This show goes through the different types of hardships all of the characters face. The stories of each of the supporting characters are also very deep. I can’t explain in words how great this show is and the all star cast makes it so much better. It just needs to be watched. Put this one next on your list.

Do you have any low key kdramas that blew you away? Leave your suggestions for me to check out!