Over the past few years, K-dramas have revolutionized how stories are brought to the small screen, but only a few have been executed perfectly from start to finish. Korean TV shows that are considered masterpieces are beloved for their multilayered characters, complex narratives, and the ability to draw viewers in within their first few minutes.
Keeping a show fresh, intriguing, and exciting for hours on end is no easy feat, which is why K-dramas that manage to do so deserve recognition. From romantic TV shows to thrillers, these K-dramas did not dip in quality and stayed consistently good from their first episode until their last.
Reborn Rich (2022)
Available To Stream On: Viki
One of the most thrilling K-dramas of the past decade, Reborn Rich gets better with each episode. The series, which stars Vicenzo’s Song Joong-ki, sees a man go back in time and be born as the youngest grandson of the Jins, a family that was responsible for his murder. While some K-dramas can be perfect, they sometimes face a few hiccups.
However, that wasn’t the case for Reborn Rich as it had no weak moments. Every scene, action, and emotional expression was well-thought-out and perfectly executed. The K-drama’s first episode was flawless, and each subsequent installment continued to build on that perfection and ultimately ended in a show that is so well put together that it’s difficult to poke holes in it.
Mr. Queen (2020)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Set in the Joseon Dynasty, Mr. Queen is a hilarious K-drama that has no dull moments. The series follows a male chef from modern times who is transported to the long-gone era, where his soul is swapped with the queen’s. The historical K-drama is, at its core, a comedy, but its incorporation of political intrigue and a love story is what makes it perfect.
While there are hints that the primary protagonists will eventually fall in love, their romance isn’t rushed. Instead, the K-drama focuses on developing both its supporting and main characters in a way that ensures viewers are interested in following Mr. Queen‘s story until its conclusion.
Available To Stream On: Netflix
There is certainly no shortage of prestige legal K-dramas, but Extraordinary Attorney Woo is in a class of its own. The series centers around Woo, a lawyer on the autism spectrum who has to deal with the complexities that come with working in a highly demanding profession while also navigating her personal life.
Extraordinary Attorney Woo is a procedural series because most episodes of the show follow the same formula. Despite this, each installment of the legal drama is exciting and features intriguing cases that will have you glued to your screen, particularly because of how brilliant Park Eun-bin is as the title character.
SKY Castle (2018)
Available To Stream On: Netflix, Prime Video
SKY Castle was all the rage when it debuted in 2018, and became one of the most-watched Korean TV shows in cable history, with ratings rocketing for each episode. Centering around a group of women who would do anything to get their children into the best universities, SKY Castle resonated with audiences because of how close to home its subject matter hit.
From its first episode, SKY Castle builds tension by creating an atmosphere filled with suspense as secrets, scheming, and deceit threaten to destroy a society living under the guise of perfection. SKY Castle is slow at times, but that doesn’t detract from its greatness, as those quieter moments are effectively used to propel its narrative.
Itaewon Class (2020)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Park Seo-joon’s Itaewon Class is in so many ways one of the best K-dramas to ever grace the small screen. The show, which sees Park Sae-ro-yi work to establish a restaurant after the tragic death of his father, packs an emotional punch. Itaewon Class is a story about revenge, identity, and achieving dreams.
While revenge does have a role to play in the K-drama, Itaewon Class’s focus on friendship, achieving dreams, and complex relationships makes it a cozy series with no bad moments. Every scene draws emotions from its viewers, whether it’s happiness when Sae-ro-yi succeeds, sadness when his dad dies, or hope when he fails but tries again.
Mr. Sunshine (2018)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Many know Lee Byung-hun from Netflix’s mega-hit, Squid Game, but before he put on the Front Man’s mask in the survival thriller, the actor took on the role of Eugene Choi in the underrated masterpiece, Mr. Sunshine. The historical drama is set in the 1900s and focuses on two storylines: Eugene’s romance with Ae-shin and the fight for Korea’s sovereignty.
Mr. Sunshine is brilliantly written, has stunning cinematography, with beautiful costumes that present the era it is set in. The show’s blend of romance, action, and history is perfectly executed, and it’s all thanks to its cast, particularly Lee Byung-hun, and Kim Tae-ri, who plays Ae-shin, one of the best female leads in a K-drama.
Crash Landing On You (2019)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Crash Landing On You is one of those K-dramas that gets mentioned on almost any list talking about the best Korean TV has to offer, and deservedly so. The critically acclaimed series sees two people, a North Korean soldier and a South Korean heiress fall in love despite the danger their romance puts them in.
Crash Landing On You doesn’t necessarily tread new waters, as forbidden love stories are a common trope in romantic K-dramas. However, the series has such a sweet and tender love story that it’s hard not to swoon as the two protagonists fall in love. Hyun Bin and Son Ye-jin are perfect together, and every interaction they have in the K-drama is proof of that.
Goblin (2016)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Goblin was released nine years ago in 2016, and to this day, there are very few romantic K-dramas that come close to matching how great the series is. Focusing on a complex love story between a goblin and a human, the fantasy K-drama has everything that makes a romantic series work.
Not only are Gong Yoo and Kim Go-eun remarkable together, but Goblin flawlessly blends romance with fantasy by incorporating creatures from Korean mythology. Everything in the show is perfect, from the lighthearted scenes that feature the Grim Reaper and the goblin getting on each other’s nerves to the heartwarming moments when the title character does something sweet for his bride.
Flower Of Evil (2020)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
Starring Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won, Flower of Evil is a great example of how a thriller TV show should be executed. The K-drama focuses on a couple whose life seems perfect, but it turns out the husband is hiding a dark secret and a disturbing past that begins to come to light after a series of murders reveal interesting information.
What Flower of Evil does exceptionally well lies in how it’s narratively structured. The plot is so carefully written that it’s almost impossible to guess what’s truly happening and who the bad guy really is. The thriller is filled with twists, suspense, and the kind of intensity that will keep you hooked from the start.
My Mister (2018)
Available To Stream On: Netflix
K-dramas excel at having storylines that will leave their audience an emotional wreck, and My Mister is proof of that. The series chronicles the lives of two characters: IU’s Lee Ji-an, a young woman living a hard life taking care of her grandfather and trying to pay off her debt, and Lee Sun-kyun’s Park Dong-hoon, a man carrying the weight of his family on his shoulders.
My Mister worth investing in because it provides a viewing experience like no other.
My Mister creeps on you, grips you, and then stays with you long after the credits roll, but it will also heal you. The K-drama is heartbreaking and emotionally taxing, but My Mister worth investing in because it provides a viewing experience like no other. There are very few shows that can expertly balance such a heavy subject with a warm story about friendship the way that My Mister does.
