In our second batch of new dramas, much like last week we have two shows that couldn’t be more different: a fantasy sageuk, and somber-looking human drama. The former looks light and frothy, and stars a hero with dreamy reddish eyes. The latter looks dark, deep, and depressing, and stars a hero with dreamy long hair.
Lovers of the Red Sky
Time slot: Monday & Tuesday
Broadcaster: SBS
Genre: Fusion sageuk, fantasy, romance
Episode count: 16
Reasons to watch: Is there anyone out there that doesn’t love Kim Yoo-jung in a sageuk? In Red Sky, she’s donning beautiful hanbok again, this time paired up with Ahn Hyo-seop. If nothing else, this sageuk drama will be a feast for the eyes, and I’m not just talking about the pretty leads and costumes. The drama’s promos have been dreamy and ethereal — and I guess that perfectly fits the drama’s fantasy story. Kim Yoo-jung plays a painter with supernatural powers, and Ahn Hyo-seop is some sort of astronomer with mysterious reddish eyes. Red eyes are usually the territory of bad guys and darkness, so I’m curious how our story will handle everything from the eyes to the romance to the fantasy.
Human Disqualification
Time slot: Saturday & Sunday
Broadcaster: JTBC
Genre: Human, melo
Episode count: 16
Reasons to watch: It’s no secret that this is one of my most hotly anticipated shows. The tone looks quite somber and heavy, as it tells the story of Jeon Do-yeon and Ryu Joon-yeol going through dark chapters in their lives. But it also has one of my favorite storytelling elements: the bond that develops between two people from different stages of life who find they understand each other on a deep and almost spiritual level. At least that’s what the drama is promising, and what I’m hanging all my anticipation on. Well, that and Ryu Joon-yeol’s gorgeous long hair.