This week’s drama premieres are contrasts in light and dark: two fun rom-coms and two creepy thrillers.
The Secret Life of My Secretary
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Rom-com
Episode count: 32 episodes (35 minute episodes)
Reasons to watch: Formerly Love at First Sight, this rom-com treads some familiar territory. Kim Young-kwang is the archetypal K-drama boss–attractive, but a prickly perfectionist. When Kim suddenly develops face blindness, he’s forced to rely on his secretary, Jin Ki-joo, to navigate through the world. While Jin Ki-joo is reliable and good at her job…she kind of hates her boss. After she unwittingly impersonates a young chaebol, Kim Jae-kyung, she continues the charade with her boss and the two slowly begin to fall in love. Though Kim Jae-kyung figures out Jin’s ruse, she has her sights set on a different man, Gu Ja-sung. She also seems totally bonkers (in the best way possible) which should be very entertaining.
Abyss
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: tvN
Genre: Fantasy, rom-com
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: Fantasy, murder, romance, and comedy come together in Park Bo-young’s latest drama. Park and Ahn Hyo-seop star as two murder victims who are magically reincarnated. As if being murdered then reincarnated wasn’t enough to handle, the pair have been resurrected into bodies that bear no resemblance to their previous selves. While Ahn Hyo-seop is thrilled to have been given a physical “upgrade,” Park Bo-young is less than thrilled to have been reborn as someone who’s petite and adorable. Their second chance at life comes with an important mission–to solve their own murders. In order for the duo track down the truth behind their deaths, they’ll have to work together and work to survive in their new bodies.
Rescue Me 2
Time slot: Wednesday & Thursday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Thriller
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: Rescue Me is back for a second season, this time with a new main cast. Uhm Tae-goo plays the story’s protagonist, a ne’er-do-well who returns to his home village after being released from prison. While Uhm Tae-goo’s been in jail, his little sister Esom has had to fend for herself. His village has seen better days but thanks to a recent natural disaster, residents have been able to claim restitution funds and changes seem to be underway. Chun Ho-jin is a recent arrival to the village who seemingly just wants to help the villagers and to start a “religious group” (i.e. cult). The drama will touch on similar themes as the first season, cults and the ways religion is utilized by false prophets. Taking the reins for Rescue Me 2 is PD Lee Kwon who’s best known for Shut Up: Flower Boy Band.
Voice 3
Time slot: Saturday & Sunday
Broadcaster: OCN
Genre: Crime thriller
Episode count: 16 episodes
Reasons to watch: Voice 2 ended on a big old banger of a cliffhanger and Voice 3 will be picking up where season 2 left off. Lee Hana reprises her role as a criminal profiler with perfect hearing and Lee Jin-wook also returns as her partner, the determined–but slightly off-balance–detective. They’ll work once more to solve horrifying crimes and track down a serial killer. Though they know who their serial killer is, apprehending him and figuring out the shadowy organization behind him is a different matter. Till now, Lee Hana’s greatest assets have been her perfect hearing and keen intellect. Will Voice 3 see her survive with all of her facilities intact?