Dear kfangurl: What are some thought-provoking dramas?

KS writes:

Can you suggest some dramas that are thought-provoking? As in, you get life nuggets from them; dramas that are not easy to watch but are interspersed with thoughtful life lessons?

Dear KS,

Thanks for your question!

I do enjoy a good thought-provoking sort of drama, and I’m glad to share some of my personal picks in this post!

That said, I’m sure there are lots more shows that fall into this category that I haven’t yet seen myself, so if you guys have more titles to add, please do share them in the comments!

I should also probably mention that what’s thought-provoking to one person, might be a completely different experience for another person.

For example, I personally found It’s Okay To Not Be Okay very meaty and thought-provoking, and enjoyed it a lot, but my sister, who watched it for Kim Soo Hyun, found it quite dull, all the way to the end.

So what they say about one man’s meat.. is true. 😅

Which means, take my list with a pinch of salt, because even if our drama tastes might be quite similar, you might not love what I love and vice versa.

Nonetheless, I hope you find something to love, on this list!

PS: For the curious, I’m using screenshots from Lost in this post, because if I had to pick only ONE show for KS to try, in this “dense but thought-provoking” category, it would be this show.

THOUGHT-PROVOKING DRAMAS: A LIST

As a quick preface, I decided to also include dramas that I found thought-provoking, but which still fall into the reasonably accessible category.

A Piece Of Your Mind

Thought-provoking quotient: I actually really liked this show for how it was a thoughtful, worthwhile thematic exploration of love and loss, as well as solitude and solidarity.

Accessibility: I would consider this less accessible than average, because most viewers didn’t take to it, and this show got shortened due to low ratings.

I do have some helpful lens adjustment suggestions in my review, though.

Review is here.

A Poem A Day

Thought-provoking quotient: Show’s got thoughtful, lyrical nuggets of poetry sprinkled through its narrative, which I thought were very nice. I thought the poems lent a contemplative, lyrical touch to each episode, and they were nicely interwoven with each episode’s theme.

Accessibility: I would consider this very accessible, since it mostly runs like a typical trendy kdrama – just with thoughtful interludes woven in.

It’s simple and feel-good, and would work nicely, as a drama nightcap.

Flash Review is here.

Because This Is My First Life

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is very thoughtfully written, and the ideas and themes feel deeply organic and personal, like these nuggets are things that writer-nim’s been musing over for years, and only now just thought to include it in a drama.

Accessibility: I would consider this very accessible, since it takes the form of a trendy rom-com.

I personally thought the last 2 episodes derailed the drama somewhat, but viewers are split on this, with a good number with no actual complaints about the final 2 episodes, so.. you’d have to watch it to see where you land.

Flash Review is here.

D.P. [Deserter Pursuit]

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is very thought-provoking indeed, and takes on the difficult subject matter of systemic dysfunction, abuse and violence within the military, and the effects of that, not only on the victims, but on their families, friends and colleagues.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because the ideas and themes are not difficult ones to grasp. However, the dark subject matter and the necessary violence that gets showcased, might make this one difficult for some viewers to sit through.

Trigger warning that this show also touches on the topics of sexual harassment and suicide.

Review is here.

Find Yourself [China]

Thought-provoking quotient: Show sprinkles lots of thoughtful nuggets in the form of voiceovers, through the course of its story. I liked this a lot, and that’s why this show is on this list.

Accessibility: I would consider this very accessible, because Show is presented as a light and fluffy noona romance. It does benefit from being binge-watched, however, because it can get a little meandering in its second half.

Review is here.

It’s Okay To Not Be Okay

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is meaty, with the way it works to unpack the difficulties faced by people suffering from trauma and mental illness. I found this a thought-provoking watch that challenged me to also examine my own unconscious biases towards people.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because Show is presented as a trendy romance, even though it is not at all light or fluffy.

I do think that some lens adjustments are helpful in making this more easily digestible, and I talk more about that in my review.

Review is here.

Lost

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is very carefully written, and has so much to say about isolation, connection, and what it means to be human. Beautifully immersive, and with so much to unpack, for those who are so inclined.

Accessibility: I would consider this less accessible than average, because Show is pretty slow and dense, in the watch experience. However, for the patient, this really is a worthwhile watch.

Again, I do have some suggestions around lens adjustments that I talk about in my review, that I think ought to help.

Review is here.

Misaeng

Thought-provoking quotient: Show has a very thoughtful, deliberate vibe, both in its characterization of our various characters, as well as in the way it unpacks its chosen themes.

In particular, Show has something to say about gender discrimination, as well as the various ways personal relationships can affect business.

Accessibility: I would consider this somewhat less accessible than average, because Show is slow in the watch experience, and has some pretty long episodes too.

On top of that, Show can feel rather depressing in its early episodes, because our underdog protagonist struggles with more obstacles in our earlier stretch than later.

However, with some patience, you’re likely to find the characters growing on you, in spite of yourself.

Review is here.

Move To Heaven

Thought-provoking quotient: Show has a very thoughtful, tender and humanistic vibe, in the way it delves into the topic of death, which is often viewed as heavy and difficult. And, as Show dives into the topic of death, it also brings forth thoughts about life, which I found affecting.

At the same time, Show has things to say about prejudice vs. empathy, which I also found very worthwhile.

Accessibility: I would consider this pretty accessible, because even though Show deals with delicate topics such as death, and the special needs experience, it does so with a sensitive and compassionate hand, while consistently leaning towards hope.

Review is here.

My Liberation Notes

Thought-provoking quotient: Show has a great deal to say, and does it through our main quartet of characters, often via voiceovers. There is a lot of thought and perspective around life, from many different angles.

What it means to be happy; what it means to be true to yourself; what it means to value yourself; Show explores it all. I personally found this all very meaty and intriguing.

Accessibility: I would consider this somewhat less accessible than average, because the watch experience can feel slow and meandering, and the ideas served up, can feel a little dense in the unpacking.

Additionally, our characters do start off being less than likable, and that can feel like an obstacle as well.

I do have some suggestions for lens adjustments, which I talk about in my review.

Review is here.

My Mister

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is very thoughtfully written, and has packed a lot of themes and ideas into its characterization and narrative.

There is a great deal to glean from show, about what it means to be human, and how we affect one another, in the human experience.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because most people seem to be able to love this one, even if they hadn’t planned on watching this drama.

Show does start out rather gloomy and might appear pedestrian at first, but given some time, it should start to pop for you.

Review is here. Open Threads are listed here.

My Unfamiliar Family

Thought-provoking quotient: The way this drama showcases family relationships is very true-to-life, and ought to provide good food for thought in terms of our own relationships and how we treat the ones who matter most to us.

The message might not always be pretty, but the points are worthwhile.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because it kinda-sorta vibes like a family drama, just with more dysfunction, and sprinkled with a harder dash of reality, than your average family drama.

Review is here.

One Warm Word

Thought-provoking quotient: Show focuses a lot on marriage and relationships, and spends a good amount of time unpacking infidelity and what that does to a relationship.

The way Show explores how there are always two sides to every story, and nothing is simple, is thought-provoking and meaty.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because Show works out to be a warm melodrama that doesn’t lay on angst for its own sake.

Some stretches are angsty for sure, but the angst feels warranted, and ultimately, Show leans warm and hopeful.

Review is here.

Secret Love Affair

Thought-provoking quotient: Show vibes more like an art film than a primetime drama, and like an art film, there are lots of themes and ideas to unpack, for those who are so inclined.

Show explores what it means to be human – what’s important to us, as humans; what is human nature; what it means to really live – and it’s all very absorbing, thought-provoking stuff.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because it uses a noona romance – a common trope in Dramaland – as its vehicle.

Therefore, even if you’re not in this for the themes and ideas, you’d still likely find this an absorbing watch.

Review is here. Open Threads are listed here.

Someday Or One Day [Taiwan]

Thought-provoking quotient: Without saying too much (because this show is best entered into blind, in my opinion), Show reverberates with a strong theme of love and loss, and what those both mean.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, in the sense that Show isn’t hard to digest, but it demands your full engagement, in order to follow its story.

With that amount of engagement invested, you should also have no problems picking up on the themes and ideas that Show explores.

Review is here. Open Threads are listed here.

The First Half Of My Life [China]

Thought-provoking quotient: This drama is wonderfully elegant in the way it’s conceived and delivered, and in particular, I really liked the thoughtful voiceovers by our protagonist, which tend to be reflections on life, and the living of it.

I found them eloquent, lyrical and illuminating. Excellent, excellent stuff.

Accessibility: I would consider this reasonably accessible, because the story, themes and ideas aren’t very difficult ones.

At the same time, I’d also say that this show would be most accessible to viewers who’ve had a few more life miles under their belt, due to the nature of our story.

Flash Review is here.

Youth Of May

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is thoughtfully written, and in the presentation of our characters and their stories, there is a lot to unpack in terms of themes and ideas, if you are so inclined.

Accessibility: I would consider this somewhat less accessible than average, because of the difficult subject matter, and the suffering and angst that our characters go through. This one’s not an easy watch, is what I’m trying to say.

However, it is a worthwhile one, and I do have some thoughts on managing expectations, which I talk about in my review.

Review is here.

Yumi’s Cells

Thought-provoking quotient: Show is extremely skilled and deft in the way it unpacks human emotion and relationships, and I found it so thought-provoking, to see myself mirrored on my screen so many times, as Show unveils how we’re wired, as humans.

Accessibility: I would consider this very accessible, because Show is just so relatable and on-point, in so many of the big and little things that it touches on.

Review is here.

IN CLOSING

I hope you find this post somewhat useful, in giving you options to choose from, in your search for a thought-provoking drama to watch.

You might also find this other Dear kfangurl post, about underrated gems, tangentially useful &/or interesting.

Like I mentioned earlier, everyone, please feel free to share your own favorite thought-provoking dramas in the comments below. As they say, sharing is caring. 🥰

I hope this post helps!

Smooches.

~ KFG ❤️

POST-SCRIPT:

1. If you feel that I missed anything, or if you have your own insights that you’d like to share with the rest of us, do tell us about it in the comments!

2. Do you have a question of your own? Drop me a comment here or on the Dear kfangurl page, or send me an email!

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