The ten greatest Ok-dramas of 2024 – to date
From the cultural phenomenon that’s Pretty Runner to the lethal plot of A Killer Paradox, the Ok-drama world in 2024 has been stuffed with thrills and romance aplenty – and we’re solely midway by the yr. The brilliance of Korean exhibits this yr bodes nicely for what’s to come back, together with the ultimate season of dystopian collection Candy House and Disney+’s Gentle Store, from the thoughts of Shifting author Kang Full.
However earlier than these extremely anticipated programmes hit our scenes, be part of NME as we revisit probably the most beloved Ok-dramas of the yr six months in, together with the criminally underrated Midnight Romance in Hagwon, the absurd camp comedy of Rooster Nugget and the deliciously melodramatic Marry My Husband. Listed here are the ten greatest Ok-dramas of 2024 to date.
A Killer Paradox
The strains between proper and improper get blurred on this blood-spattered, creative thriller. Lee Tang (Choi Woo-shik) is a standard scholar, working a part-time job and disheartened by his prospects in life. Throughout a run-in with a drunk outdated man one night time, all that modifications, placing him on a murderous path of vigilantism and plunging him into the world’s darkish, harmful underbelly.
A Killer Paradox excels at bringing the ethical conundrum on the coronary heart of Tang’s story viscerally to life, whereas it refuses to stay inside the confines of style, mixing in new parts of fantasy to maintain issues recent.
Rhian Daly
A Store for Killers
Jeong Ji-an (Kim Hye-joon) inherits her uncle’s enterprise, solely to seek out it’s a black marketplace for elite assassins. Now focused for dying, she should use her uncle’s cryptic coaching and hidden arsenal to outlive a flurry of lethal drones and deadly human weapons. It’s the precise family-friendly collection you’d anticipate finding on Disney+ of all locations (or Hulu, when you’re within the US).
A Store for Killers blends sharp cinematic motion sequences with an intriguing thriller. Nothing is because it appears when the present utilises artful flashback episodes to unravel the bigger narratives of burdened legacy and located household.
Daniel Anderson
Rooster Nugget
It might really be an inconceivable job to clarify how heartwarmingly ridiculous Rooster Nugget is. That includes a uncommon duo of a father and the man who likes his daughter, they spend the Netflix collection attempting to determine the way to flip her again from a rooster nugget into an actual girl. Sure, that’s the precise plot. There are aliens and robotic canine, and a wide range of different machines.
As they attempt to hatch an grownup human from a rooster nugget, the present leans into absurd campiness: typically it’s a historic Ok-drama, and at others it’s making enjoyable of Ok-pop cultural memes from many years previous. Does the idea of Rooster Nugget make a lot sense? No. Is it an absolute pleasure to look at? Sure.
Tamar Herman
Physician Droop
Don’t be misled by the title. Physician Droop is a heartwarming balm, not a sterile medical drama. Park Shin-hye excels as Nam Ha-neul, a burnt-out anesthesiologist, whereas Park Hyung-sik embodies Yeo Jeong-woo, a gifted surgeon at a crossroads.
The cosy chemistry of the pair – lastly reunited over a decade since The Heirs – lingers in each scene with a touch of excellent humour thrown in. Physician Droop additionally tackles the pressures of perfectionism and psychological well being with mild empathy, providing solace to all who witness their private therapeutic.
Daniel Anderson
Pretty Runner
In only a few brief months, Pretty Runner has turn into probably the most widespread Ok-dramas to date this decade. The time-travel collection stars Byeon Woo-seok and Kim Hye-yoon as star-crossed lovers Ryu Solar-jae and Im Sol, with the latter attempting to defy Solar-jae’s dying throughout a number of timelines to make sure her excellent fortunately ever after.
From giddy high-school romance to tsundere grownup slow-burns, viewers are aware about a myriad of destinies by Solar-jae and Sol’s relationship – or, maybe extra factually, relationships – which makes for a real rollercoaster journey over 16 episodes.
Sara Delgado
Marry My Husband
Revenge is nice however can be difficult, as Kang Ji-won (Park Min-young) finds out in Marry My Husband. After being murdered by her dishonest boyfriend, Park Min-hwan (Lee Yi-kyung), whereas she’s battling terminal most cancers, she’s given a second probability at life – and makes use of it to go her destiny on to her greatest good friend (and Min-hwan’s mistress) Jeong Su-min (Track Ha-yoon).
Though it’s a trope-filled watch that also depends on the drained perception that taking off your glasses unmasks your magnificence, the dramatic twists are so addictively paced that it’s simply neglected. Park Min-young’s portrayal of Ji-won because the downtrodden underdog lastly getting her second after tragedy is fantastically executed, and the present’s beating coronary heart.
Rhian Daly
Midnight Romance in Hagwon
Midnight Romance in Hagwon is a refreshing standout in a yr to date dominated by action-packed revenge, dystopian thrillers and time-travel dramedies within the Ok-drama world. The present follows the blossoming relationship between a former tutor (Jung Ryeo-won) and her ex-student (Wi Ha-Joon) as they reunite to work alongside one another in a cutthroat personal training trade.
However the actors’ plain and palpable chemistry apart, it’s screenwriter Park Kyung-Hwa’s ability mixed with director An Pan-Seok’s artistry in crafting a fragile slice-of-life drama that takes Midnight out of your customary love story to a heartfelt and shifting depiction of the lives of devoted educators.
Sofiana Ramli
Pyramid Sport
Pyramid Sport might need flown beneath the radar, but it surely’s a darkly fascinating must-watch. This Korean thriller swaps jock cliques for a terrifying actuality: life is a matter of recognition, from beginning to dying. Highschool college students secretly rank classmates, with the bottom ostracised and viciously bullied.
WJSN’s Bona shines as Soo-ji, the trade scholar thrust to the underside, becoming a member of fellow outcast Ja-eun (Ryu Da-in). From there, the collection turns right into a gripping battle of wits between Soo-ji and the varsity’s frosty queen bee, Ha-rin (Jang Da-ah), exploring the harrowing penalties of social hierarchies and the wrestle to keep up an ethical compass.
Daniel Anderson
Queen of Tears
Even when you haven’t watched Queen of Tears, you’ll have most likely not less than heard in regards to the present and its unprecedented success. There may be, in fact, good cause behind its hovering success – it’s an affecting collection a couple of advanced girl’s deep wrestle with love and loss.
The Ok-drama’s strengths lies in its uncooked depiction of emotional turmoil and what it actually takes to bounce again from life’s lows. Queen of Tears is undoubtedly a masterclass in putting the proper stability between emotional depth and humour, culminating in an attractive and highly effective exploration of the human situation.
Carmen Chin
The Atypical Household
The Atypical Household focuses on a household whose members all inherit their very own distinctive set of superpowers, and within the technique of shedding them, they re-discover what it means to essentially be household, as bizarre as they’ve turn into.
With robust, emotional performances from seasoned actors like Jang Ki-yong and Claudia Kim, coupled with its unbridled exploration of taboo themes corresponding to psychological well being and complex household dynamics, The Atypical Household is probably not your typical Ok-drama, but it surely’s certainly one of many strongest and most authentic to be launched this yr.
Carmen Chin