Settings are an important piece of bringing any story to life. But sometimes, I stumble onto a setting that feels almost like an extra character — and I know the drama just couldn’t happen anywhere else. Some of my favorite dramas have this quality, where landscape and architecture aren’t just backdrops for the story, but become players in how the story is told.
One I always think of is Fight My Way. The hillside apartment building where the four main characters live is so integral to their interactions that the show wouldn’t be the same in any other building. The apartments face one another, giving us optimal accidental run-ins. The outdoor staircase is a prime place for our leads to sit and hang out, rather than just pass each other by. And the rooftop is central for getting them all together to share secrets, or kisses, or any of the other good stuff that needs to happen.
Other times, it’s not the architecture but the landscape that makes everything fall in order. It could be the hills of Busan painting a vivid picture of disparity (I can’t imagine Just Between Lovers shot anywhere else), or a cultural context that adds oomph to a romance (Boyfriend lost all its excitement for me when they left Cuba for Seoul). In either case, the sense of place heightens the sense of story, and makes me feel like I’m right inside the drama.
What about you? Are there any drama settings that you loved like a second lead? Would your favorite drama be the same if it were set somewhere else?