It’s time for one of my favorite things — a drama onslaught! Every now and then, the drama gods arrange their offerings in such a way that we are inundated with new shows, and tons of variety, all within the same week. There’s so much I want to watch, I don’t even know where to start. Pick your poison, everyone!
At a Distance, Spring Is Green
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: KBS
Genre: Coming-of-age, youth, romance
Episode count: 12
Reasons to watch: Love a small, off-the-radar drama filled with new faces in leading roles. You’re gonna be good, right Show? This coming-of-age drama follows several characters as they deal with the everyday realities of university life. For our fresh-faced leading cast, we have Park Ji-hoon (of Produce 101 S2 fame), Kang Mina (you might know her from her support roles in Beyond Evil and True Beauty), and my newest favorite Bae In-hyuk (current campus hottie in My Roommate is a Gumiho). Am I ready for the unexpected friendship between our male leads with “very different personalities”? Yes. Yes, I am.
Monthly Magazine Home
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Romance
Episode count: 16
Reasons to watch: Kim Ji-suk, how I missed you! He last wowed us in My Unfamiliar Family, and now he’s back starring opposite Jung So-min. Score, casting directors! The drama looks like a cute, if predictable, rom-com that centers on the idea of home. Throw in an editor and the publishing industry, and I’ve pretty much convinced myself that this is a must-watch. I didn’t even need to see that the drama is penned by the writer that brought us You Who Forgot Poetry — but it sure doesn’t hurt. Though the trailers don’t seem to be doing anything terribly new, the drama has a great cast that should be able to bring this thing to life.
Hospital Playlist 2
Time slot: Thursday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Medical, comedy, romance
Episode count: 12
Reasons to watch: Our crew is back! It’s been a while. With a bunch of wonderful characters and storylines on pause for the last 13+ months, it will be a relief as much as a pleasure to return to this world and check in on everyone. The production is notoriously tight-lipped about, well, everything, so maybe the best way to prepare for the Season 2 premiere is with a nice binge of Season 1 to refresh our memories?
Voice 4
Time slot: Friday & Saturday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Crime, action, thriller, fantasy
Episode count: 14
Reasons to watch: The fan favorite crime thriller series is back, and Lee Hana reprises her role as the profiler with excellent hearing skills. This time, she’s chasing down a killer that just might be her match, and her biggest battle yet. In its fourth rendition, Lee Hana is joined by none other than Song Seung-heon. (This woman sure gets handsome costars, sigh!) I actually haven’t seen any of the Voice series, but if there was one I planned on watching, it would be this one. I mean, take the murderous thrills and then add Song Seung-heon playing an LAPD detective by the name of Derek. This, I need to see.
Nevertheless
Time slot: Saturday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Romance
Episode count: 10
Reasons to watch: While I’ve yet to get on the Song Kang train, I will readily admit the boy is capable of some serious swooniness. After the more serious turn in the lovely Navillera, Song Kang is back (again), for some romance. This time he’s playboy who woos a heroine who no longer believes in love (Han So-hee). I expect my heart to flutter, break, and hopefully flutter again at the end. But even if it doesn’t, I’m here for a) that wrist kiss from the teaser; and b) Han So-hee, who was excellently hateable in A Couple’s World. If she can bring even half of that energy onscreen here, it will be interesting.