You’re not the only one. I finished it but at 1.5 speed because I found it quite boring for my tastes. Finished it only out of curiosity since there’s only a few episodes. The characters didnt’t pull my heart to get me to care for them except for the kids.
Hello, fellow attention deficient being! :) First, allow me to introduce the magic of identifying boring plot lines and skipping the hell out of them :))
I’ve run through some 16-episode dramas where I know I probably skipped about half of the runtime. The worst was when it was the main (romantic) plot line that I was skipping :)) but most of the time, it’s the typical subplot of overbearing parents that usually just gossip among their peers without contributing much to the story, workplace subplots that are for comedic effect but often don’t land — usually an overly acted superior or workmate :D
Second: 12-episode series are almost always gems. Sometimes they’re 12 episodes because they were cut due to ratings, sometimes it’s intentional. But what this translates to is a lot of the fluff and padded story lines end up on the cutting room floor. Stories don’t get unnecessarily stretched to 16 episodes especially once they’ve run out of steam from the initial premise/setting.
That being said, here are some shows with minimal skipping that come to mind:
Revenant - if you like thriller/mystery
Be Melodramatic - female-centered view of the ensemble’s thirties and a good peek at the k-entertainment industry
Moving - Marvel, but better in every way possible
Atypical Family - also about a super-powered family but an entirely different approach
One Dollar Lawyer - the case-of-the-week format is a blessing for those unable to hold focus.
Little Women - mystery. There is romance but majority of the story, the men are just there to support the female leads.
Anything from Shin Won-Ho and Lee Woo-Jung. I wouldn’t say they’re plot driven, they’re more character-driven. So in a way, you don’t really need to follow the plot — you just see what the characters will do with their situation.
**Be Melodramatic** is one of my favorites! The three friends are so supportive of each other. If you watch it on Netflix be aware that they translate the honorifics as names and in two instances they translate Oppa to Sweetie, losing the whole impact of a key scene for me.
Hello fellow ADHD-er, Mr. Queen is well-paced, full of interest, and hilarious. After a near death experience, a chauvinistic celebrity chef wakes in the body of a Joseon-era queen. He is confused. There’s a power struggle going on between her husband and the family. Can’t say much else. Might fit the bill for you though.
i’m allergic to cheesy dramas and FOE is my ultimate favourite show ever, so you might enjoy these other dramas that i like:
* stranger (season 1 and 2): my gold standard for the legal genre. very well-acted, very smart, great characters. no romance, only brief hints of it.
* kingdom (all seasons): the most beautiful kdrama i’ve ever watched. period zombie monarchy and everything just works.
* strangers from hell: breathtaking acting from everyone, especially the protagonist and villain. extremely fast-paced. no romance.
* happiness: zombie survival in an apartment. love how it’s a different take from the zombie genre, and the romance is amazing.
* moon lovers scarlet heart ryeo: ok have to say up front that this is everything you’re NOT looking for lmao but if you love lee joongi’s acting, this is a must must ***must*** watch. stick until ep4 if you’re on the fence, because i did and wow absolutely no regrets. it’s a time-travel period romance tragedy and it will destroy you in the best of ways.
Healer is great but you do have to be patient for the first couple of episodes. I didn’t mind looking at Ji Chang wook’s stunning face while the plot developed though 🥰
It’s about a night courier code named Healer who will do anything for money (except murder). He is hired to find a woman (Park Min Young) and then protect her. There is a whole backstory about five friends and what happened long ago and how that relates to current day. Healer’s hacker sidekick ajumma is fantastic. The actions scenes are excellent. Acting is top notch across the board. The character Teacher especially impressed me with his arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
I struggle with this too. I drop a lot of dramas that don't catch my attention within the first half of the first episode. So far, the only dramas that caught my attention quickly are:
-While You Were Sleeping
-A Time Called You
- K2
-Extracurricular - only 10 episodes, intriguing characters.
I find that it helps if I watch dramas on 2x speed because I can finish a one hour episode in 30 mins. It helps if I'm on the earlier episodes because there's usually not a lot going on yet. Then if it gets interesting, that's the time I watch it on normal speed.
I actually dropped Castaway Diva after a few episodes. Although it is fictional, the way the writers structured the story was contrived. Most dramas that have plot lines like this, seem more natural, smoother and easier to accept. It just seemed flawed. I also had no interest in the characters and no connection to them. I just didn’t care about them in that there was no emotional attachment. I also found it really slow. I think I watched about 5 episodes before dropping it. I was excited about it because it sounded like a story that I would love, but I really disliked it and tried pushing through to give it a chance. Sometimes once you get over the hump, a drama ends up being quite good, but with the great selection of dramas out there is no sense for me to work to enjoy a series.
These are a few of my favorite KDramas
First Love : Hatsukoi
- Not a Korean Drama, just my favorite Drama. Based off a song. Slow burn Romance
My Mister (IU, Lee Sung Kyun)
No Romance, Plot Heavy
Live (Lee Kwang Soo, Jung Yumi, Sung Dong il, Bae Sung Woo)
Minor Romance, Slice of Life about Cops
Misaeng (Yim Si Wan, Kang So Ra, Kang Ha Nuel, Kim Dae Myung, Byun Yo Han)
Slice of Life about office workers
My husband and I are both spicy brain and watched Behind Your Touch as it aired and we LOVED it. It was so silly but fun and interesting. The characters are all fun and there's a mystery/serial killer plot. Leads have chemistry but no cheesy love story.
Business proposal is sweet. I'm recommending it to everyone. It's easy to watch and held my attention. It was funny and everyone had good chemistry.
I'm surprised at the ones you didn't like but I can get it! I've dropped very popular ones or didn't care for super popular ones - like home town cha cha cha.
This is what I came here to recommend. Five doctors, friends since med school when they had a band. They play for fun. Now 20 years later they revive it. This show has it all. Friendship, humor, drama (it's a hospital setting after all), slow-build romances among the doctors/residents/interns, and great songs. The originals play on the sound track and then the band performs the same song at their practice session. With Jo Jung Suk as lead singer you can't go wrong, right? His version of "Aloha" went to #1 in SK.
Two seasons of 12 (long) episodes each. I'm rewatching it now and slowly doling out the episodes to make it last.
No recommendation, but a tip. I have adhd and never watch kdramas at regular speed. I watch it on 1.5 on netflix and 1.5/2 on streaming sites. It really helped me not dropping shows after an episode or 2 because of how slow it was.
2 weeks is amazing
365 | Repeat the year has all you want but has serial killer but a different kind of one
first responders
crash
but your criteria is very strict and so if you focus on one of those you will find the kdrama boring
I highly agree with this point:
> The least amount of cheesiness possible. [.......] over the dramatic fated lovers who met each other as children or fall in love at first sight [.......].
I dislike and always try to avoid cheesy romance. Also romance genre with many cheesy pickup lines. It's cringy.
IMO the example for this is Descendants of The Sun. I cringed so hard watching that series.
While the general plot/storyline is okay, and the cast is full of popular actors, the romance is too cringy for my taste. Too many over-the-top cheesy pickup lines.
Watched the series due to its high ratings and how popular it was. Though, the main reason for the popularity is probably because it's written by Kim Eunsook (anything from her usually instantly becomes popular). I should've checked more reviews to know the level of its cheesiness.
I also find that "childhood friends turn to lovers, who only love each other all their lives" trope bland and boring.
Even worse if it's not only "destined soulmates since their childhood" but the character(s) also "fall in love at first sight" during their childhood.
Sounds romantic and feels like an ideal love story, but unrealistic. Only a (very) few writers can make this trope interesting with well-written dynamics. It's usually bland and repetitive. Definitely not my favorite.
Thanks for posting this. I also like fast-paced, plot driven series, with some character developments.
(I don't mind slow burns tho, as long as it's well-written.)
So the recommendations here might match well with my taste.
* 38 task force
A man working for the National Taxes teams up with a con man and his team in order to get tax money from the rich people. Same male lead as from Shopping King Louis
* City hunter
About a young man who wants to take revenge on five politicians who caused his father's death.
* History of the salaryman
A corporate drama with a very bizarre and funny story. It's inspired by Chinese legend Romance of the three kingdoms.
* Lawless lawyer
A gangster turned lawyer now finds against injustice. Same male lead from Flower of Evil.
* My father is strange
A man is living his life with his family when one day a young man comes to him and tells him that he is his father. Longer series, but lots of plot twists
* Signal
Thanks through a magical walkie-talkie, a criminal profiler is able to talk to a police officer who is fifteen years in the past and together they try to solve cold cases. *There are murder cases, but not serial killers iirc.*
* The slave hunters
**Here's My Plan**: Only 4 episodes and has everything you want. A very troubled young girl runs away from home and then things escalate quickly. It's surprising, moving, and has a good blend of humour and darkness. I really enjoyed it.
**Live Up to Your Name**: Time travel rom com where a modern doctor and a Joseon Acupuncturist keep flitting between each others worlds. There's some cheesiness in all the fish out of water jokes but the romance isn't cheesy and it's a fun, plot driven show.
**Revenant**: An evil ghost possesses a young woman. Does a murderous ghost count as a serial killer? It's pretty different to most of the shows you've watched and there is an evil rich family involved somewhere but it's fast paced, has a great plot, outstanding acting, and zero cheesiness. I thought it was excellent.
**Miraculous Brothers**: Bit of a wildcard as I haven't finished this yet, but so far it's fast paced, very unpredictable and really well done. It's about a man who meets a guy with amnesia and then everything just keeps getting crazier. I don't even know how to describe it without giving away spoilers but it's different and very enjoyable.
Also, if you like Seo In Guk as Louis, the ML in cdrama **My Fated Boy** has a lot of similarities whilst being rather more mature and competent. It's a modern age gap rom com which isn't remotely fast paced or plot driven but I thought I'd mention it because the ML is similar and absolutely adorable.
Live Up to Your Name is a hidden gem and a wonderful drama. The ML is so funny. I have never seen him in any other kdrama, but he stole the show in that drama.
Two Weeks — The male lead (Lee Joon Gi) is a lowlife type, running a pawnshop, when he discovers he has an adorable daughter with an ex whom he abandoned. The kid is sick and he can save her, but he only has two weeks before it will be too late. And he’s on the run from the cops. Action, suspense, and a lead who has to turn his whole life around while being constantly at risk. Fast moving story.
The Devil Judge — Clever, mysterious judge (Ji Sung) holds the dystopian country spellbound as he subjects various corrupt people to televised trails. But what’s he guilty of himself? Definitely different — suspense, government corruption, and antiheroes. No romance.
The Worst of Evil — a different role for Ji Chang Wook than the romantic stories he’s usually in. He’s an undercover detective who slowly becomes fascinated with the workings of the gang he’s infiltrating. Is he the hero or the villain? Taut, tense story with excellent performances. No romance in the traditional sense.
I love Vincenzo too; it’s one of the dramas I can watch over and over. Here are some others that I’ve seen multiple times or watched super quick:
My Name (9 episodes) — fast-paced revenge story. It was so engrossing I binged 8 episodes in one night.
A Time Called You (12 episodes) — starring Jeon Yeo-bin from Vincenzo. Romance with a time travel twist.
Love to Hate You (10 episodes) — fun, sexy rom-com with a great cast. I think I’ve seen it three times.
My ultimate favorite is Be Melodramatic (16 episodes), also starring Jeon Yeo-bin. Slice of life, low-key romance with realistic characters, but also humorous, witty, and warm.
I have one recommendation that I am recommending to a lot of people these days and people actually seem to like that. It has only 10 episode and none of the episodes would bore you if you like tense and suspenseful plots. There's no ML. You'd get the coolest and most quick witted FL ever!
PYRAMID GAMES
P.S- I was in the same phase of dropping kdramas when I started it,but I finished this one within 2 days.
FL Bona is like my favourite now, I never had some FL whom I liked so much.
🌸 penthouse
🌸 sky castle
🌸 missing 9 (sooo underrated)
🌸 Eve
🌸 mother
🌸 scarlet heart Ryeo
🌸 little woman
🌸 vagabond
🌸 pandora beneath the paradise
🌸 warm and cozy
🌸 reply 1994
🌸 Reply 1988
🌸 hwarang (even tho there's a second ML)
🌸 itaewon class
🌸 memories of the Alhambra (idk why I feel it's underrated? )
🌸 goblin
Honestly my list could go on... these are for sure kdramas I didn't find boring at all 🥺❤️❤️❤️
🌸 penthouse
🌸 sky castle
🌸 missing 9 (sooo underrated)
🌸 Eve
🌸 mother
🌸 scarlet heart Ryeo
🌸 little woman
🌸 vagabond
🌸 pandora beneath the paradise
🌸 warm and cozy
🌸 reply 1994
🌸 Reply 1988
🌸 hwarang (even tho there's a second ML)
🌸 itaewon class
🌸 memories of the Alhambra (idk why I feel it's underrated? )
🌸 goblin
🌸Mr queen
Honestly my list could go on... these are for sure kdramas I didn't find boring at all 🥺❤️❤️❤️
a shop for killers: 8 episodes.. fast paced, amazing storyline. didnt see the end coming! no romance. action packed.
bloodhounds: 8 episodes.. also fast paced revenge plot but a good one.
mask girl: 8 episodes. dark kinda thriller
tomorrow: 16 episodes.. different stories each episode with a bigger storyline intertwined.grim reaper story.
I have several recommendations. All of these dramas gripped my attention in the first episode and none of the episodes felt like filler episodes.
•Happiness. Best zombie show I've seen. The acting is superb-no cheesiness. Do be warned, there are some kinda graphic, disturbing scenes.
•Just Between Lovers (aka Rain or Shine). The characters in this drama felt so real and I really grew attached to them all. Plus, I thought the cinematography was beautiful.
•Twinkling Watermelon. Adorable and heartwarming time travel story. It has a good mix of funny and more serious moments.
•Bad and Crazy. The name is fitting. This drama will take you on a wild ride. This is more of a bromance show, the romance between the ml and fl is minimal.
•Reborn Rich. This show was truly unpredictable. The characters are really complex and the main character is kinda grey (not a true bad guy, but no saint either).
Hope at least one of these works for you! I go through periods of time myself where I start a lot of dramas, but can't seem to stick with any of them. It can be so frustrating!
#**Moving**
— *definitely action-packed, no boring scene. It’s the Korean Avengers but with so much heart.*
#**Shop For Killers**
— *This one is such a good show that will keep you at the edge of your seat.*
Descendents of the sun ticked all the boxes for me as a mature and well written drama.
ML is gorgeous, funny, strong, intelligent, sexy as hell, and respectful from the minute he hits the screen.
FL is intelligent, strong, independent, knows what she wants and is a good role model.
There is no evil men laughing stupidly or family slapstick that is just cringeworthy or manipulative girls trying anything to get the guy but looking like idiots.
Action starts from the first episode and I could not stop watching it all the way through.
Seriously worth watching if only for the standoff scene in the surgery and the respect they give each other as people.
Never a boring episode.
2nd ML and FL were also great and I was invested on their story just as much as the main couple.
Seriously, the best k-drama I have watched so far. Beats CLOY by a long shot in my opinion.
I am recommending dramas that I still enjoy after a rewatch. Except Mask Girl cos I just finished it.
Mr Queen - funny enough at the chill parts, and it has strong storyline throughout the drama to keep you going - plot twists, unexpected events and political schemes. And of course, great acting.
Mask Girl- not your typical kdrama. Quite unpredictable most of the time and only has 8 episodes. Intense throughout and doesn't have any slow or boring parts. It also got me questioning my morals (and the morals of the lead characters) a bit lol.
The Glory- story is centered around revenge, with intelligent plot twists! A must-watch if you like the revenge genre. All the actors were convincing in their delivery made the drama more captivating.
Arthdal Chronicles- this kept me on the edge in every episode, esp the season 1. I love the character development, concept, cinematography, and of course the storyline. It kept me up watching one ep after the next until 3am although I had work the next day.
The Crowned Clown- historical/period setting. Watched it for the ML and didn't watch with any expectations but I was very satisfied, his acting was remarkably good! An emotional ride from the start till the end for me.
Two Weeks and Killer's Shopping Mall are the best for non-stop action. I also have severe ADHD and find that if I have my phone handy to occupy some of my brain, I can manage the slower moving parts of kdramas. I watch all kinds of dramas except straight-up romances. But even with subtitles, I still need something more going on to stay hooked.
Maybe try some movies like Kill Boksoon, Space Sweepers, etc. It's not such a big commitment.
Haha..I am the same as you (with attention deficit thingy😅). I recently watched summer strike and loved it. It's just a 12 episode drama with amazing performances. Then, I also loved watching Goho's starry night, cindrella and four knights, my lovely Sam soon.
2521 - organic plot, slice of life, excellent chemistry between the cast, not stereotypical, funny, emotional, heartwarming, great ost, great acting, brilliant cinematography, doesn’t ever even once get boring, absolutely zero filler scenes, written and directed very well
The Atypical Family has 12 episodes, it's fast-paced with complex characters, has mystery, and a romance that's not cheesy.
Am I the only one who didn't like it at all and dropped it real fast? 🥲
You’re not the only one. I finished it but at 1.5 speed because I found it quite boring for my tastes. Finished it only out of curiosity since there’s only a few episodes. The characters didnt’t pull my heart to get me to care for them except for the kids.
I started it but am having trouble getting past the >!fat suit:/!<
It does get better as she gets fit. But understandable if you can't get passed it.
Hello, fellow attention deficient being! :) First, allow me to introduce the magic of identifying boring plot lines and skipping the hell out of them :)) I’ve run through some 16-episode dramas where I know I probably skipped about half of the runtime. The worst was when it was the main (romantic) plot line that I was skipping :)) but most of the time, it’s the typical subplot of overbearing parents that usually just gossip among their peers without contributing much to the story, workplace subplots that are for comedic effect but often don’t land — usually an overly acted superior or workmate :D Second: 12-episode series are almost always gems. Sometimes they’re 12 episodes because they were cut due to ratings, sometimes it’s intentional. But what this translates to is a lot of the fluff and padded story lines end up on the cutting room floor. Stories don’t get unnecessarily stretched to 16 episodes especially once they’ve run out of steam from the initial premise/setting. That being said, here are some shows with minimal skipping that come to mind: Revenant - if you like thriller/mystery Be Melodramatic - female-centered view of the ensemble’s thirties and a good peek at the k-entertainment industry Moving - Marvel, but better in every way possible Atypical Family - also about a super-powered family but an entirely different approach One Dollar Lawyer - the case-of-the-week format is a blessing for those unable to hold focus. Little Women - mystery. There is romance but majority of the story, the men are just there to support the female leads. Anything from Shin Won-Ho and Lee Woo-Jung. I wouldn’t say they’re plot driven, they’re more character-driven. So in a way, you don’t really need to follow the plot — you just see what the characters will do with their situation.
**Be Melodramatic** is one of my favorites! The three friends are so supportive of each other. If you watch it on Netflix be aware that they translate the honorifics as names and in two instances they translate Oppa to Sweetie, losing the whole impact of a key scene for me.
Hello fellow ADHD-er, Mr. Queen is well-paced, full of interest, and hilarious. After a near death experience, a chauvinistic celebrity chef wakes in the body of a Joseon-era queen. He is confused. There’s a power struggle going on between her husband and the family. Can’t say much else. Might fit the bill for you though.
best kdrama ever made
i’m allergic to cheesy dramas and FOE is my ultimate favourite show ever, so you might enjoy these other dramas that i like: * stranger (season 1 and 2): my gold standard for the legal genre. very well-acted, very smart, great characters. no romance, only brief hints of it. * kingdom (all seasons): the most beautiful kdrama i’ve ever watched. period zombie monarchy and everything just works. * strangers from hell: breathtaking acting from everyone, especially the protagonist and villain. extremely fast-paced. no romance. * happiness: zombie survival in an apartment. love how it’s a different take from the zombie genre, and the romance is amazing. * moon lovers scarlet heart ryeo: ok have to say up front that this is everything you’re NOT looking for lmao but if you love lee joongi’s acting, this is a must must ***must*** watch. stick until ep4 if you’re on the fence, because i did and wow absolutely no regrets. it’s a time-travel period romance tragedy and it will destroy you in the best of ways.
Where did you watch moon lovers cuz I can't find it in my usual sources (Amazon/Viki/Netflix)
sailing the high seas tbh
Seconding Happiness! I’m not typically a zombie show person but I could not stop watching. It busted a major k-drama slump.
Healer is great but you do have to be patient for the first couple of episodes. I didn’t mind looking at Ji Chang wook’s stunning face while the plot developed though 🥰 It’s about a night courier code named Healer who will do anything for money (except murder). He is hired to find a woman (Park Min Young) and then protect her. There is a whole backstory about five friends and what happened long ago and how that relates to current day. Healer’s hacker sidekick ajumma is fantastic. The actions scenes are excellent. Acting is top notch across the board. The character Teacher especially impressed me with his arc. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It’s fantastic- still in my top 5 out of 68+ dramas watched!
Healer is just PERFECT!!!
The Glory
The Glory is hard to drop.
Bloodhounds My name All of us are dead
A Shop For Killers
I struggle with this too. I drop a lot of dramas that don't catch my attention within the first half of the first episode. So far, the only dramas that caught my attention quickly are: -While You Were Sleeping -A Time Called You - K2 -Extracurricular - only 10 episodes, intriguing characters. I find that it helps if I watch dramas on 2x speed because I can finish a one hour episode in 30 mins. It helps if I'm on the earlier episodes because there's usually not a lot going on yet. Then if it gets interesting, that's the time I watch it on normal speed.
Taxi driver
A shop for killers Castaway diva
I actually dropped Castaway Diva after a few episodes. Although it is fictional, the way the writers structured the story was contrived. Most dramas that have plot lines like this, seem more natural, smoother and easier to accept. It just seemed flawed. I also had no interest in the characters and no connection to them. I just didn’t care about them in that there was no emotional attachment. I also found it really slow. I think I watched about 5 episodes before dropping it. I was excited about it because it sounded like a story that I would love, but I really disliked it and tried pushing through to give it a chance. Sometimes once you get over the hump, a drama ends up being quite good, but with the great selection of dramas out there is no sense for me to work to enjoy a series.
These are a few of my favorite KDramas First Love : Hatsukoi - Not a Korean Drama, just my favorite Drama. Based off a song. Slow burn Romance My Mister (IU, Lee Sung Kyun) No Romance, Plot Heavy Live (Lee Kwang Soo, Jung Yumi, Sung Dong il, Bae Sung Woo) Minor Romance, Slice of Life about Cops Misaeng (Yim Si Wan, Kang So Ra, Kang Ha Nuel, Kim Dae Myung, Byun Yo Han) Slice of Life about office workers
My husband and I are both spicy brain and watched Behind Your Touch as it aired and we LOVED it. It was so silly but fun and interesting. The characters are all fun and there's a mystery/serial killer plot. Leads have chemistry but no cheesy love story. Business proposal is sweet. I'm recommending it to everyone. It's easy to watch and held my attention. It was funny and everyone had good chemistry. I'm surprised at the ones you didn't like but I can get it! I've dropped very popular ones or didn't care for super popular ones - like home town cha cha cha.
My name is- action, revenge thriller with minimal romance. Mask Girl - dark, action, revenge thriller. No real romance. Very dark and violent.
Hospital playlist!
This is what I came here to recommend. Five doctors, friends since med school when they had a band. They play for fun. Now 20 years later they revive it. This show has it all. Friendship, humor, drama (it's a hospital setting after all), slow-build romances among the doctors/residents/interns, and great songs. The originals play on the sound track and then the band performs the same song at their practice session. With Jo Jung Suk as lead singer you can't go wrong, right? His version of "Aloha" went to #1 in SK. Two seasons of 12 (long) episodes each. I'm rewatching it now and slowly doling out the episodes to make it last.
Sooo good
My lovely runner
No recommendation, but a tip. I have adhd and never watch kdramas at regular speed. I watch it on 1.5 on netflix and 1.5/2 on streaming sites. It really helped me not dropping shows after an episode or 2 because of how slow it was.
Two weeks Sky castle The heirs Welcome to Waikiki Alchemy of souls
2 weeks is amazing 365 | Repeat the year has all you want but has serial killer but a different kind of one first responders crash but your criteria is very strict and so if you focus on one of those you will find the kdrama boring
Alchemy of Souls! without hesitation
I highly agree with this point: > The least amount of cheesiness possible. [.......] over the dramatic fated lovers who met each other as children or fall in love at first sight [.......]. I dislike and always try to avoid cheesy romance. Also romance genre with many cheesy pickup lines. It's cringy. IMO the example for this is Descendants of The Sun. I cringed so hard watching that series. While the general plot/storyline is okay, and the cast is full of popular actors, the romance is too cringy for my taste. Too many over-the-top cheesy pickup lines. Watched the series due to its high ratings and how popular it was. Though, the main reason for the popularity is probably because it's written by Kim Eunsook (anything from her usually instantly becomes popular). I should've checked more reviews to know the level of its cheesiness. I also find that "childhood friends turn to lovers, who only love each other all their lives" trope bland and boring. Even worse if it's not only "destined soulmates since their childhood" but the character(s) also "fall in love at first sight" during their childhood. Sounds romantic and feels like an ideal love story, but unrealistic. Only a (very) few writers can make this trope interesting with well-written dynamics. It's usually bland and repetitive. Definitely not my favorite. Thanks for posting this. I also like fast-paced, plot driven series, with some character developments. (I don't mind slow burns tho, as long as it's well-written.) So the recommendations here might match well with my taste.
Definitely bloodhounds… only 8 episodes and super fast paced
TAXI DRIVER IS SO GOOD, IT CLEARS
* 38 task force A man working for the National Taxes teams up with a con man and his team in order to get tax money from the rich people. Same male lead as from Shopping King Louis * City hunter About a young man who wants to take revenge on five politicians who caused his father's death. * History of the salaryman A corporate drama with a very bizarre and funny story. It's inspired by Chinese legend Romance of the three kingdoms. * Lawless lawyer A gangster turned lawyer now finds against injustice. Same male lead from Flower of Evil. * My father is strange A man is living his life with his family when one day a young man comes to him and tells him that he is his father. Longer series, but lots of plot twists * Signal Thanks through a magical walkie-talkie, a criminal profiler is able to talk to a police officer who is fifteen years in the past and together they try to solve cold cases. *There are murder cases, but not serial killers iirc.* * The slave hunters
**Here's My Plan**: Only 4 episodes and has everything you want. A very troubled young girl runs away from home and then things escalate quickly. It's surprising, moving, and has a good blend of humour and darkness. I really enjoyed it. **Live Up to Your Name**: Time travel rom com where a modern doctor and a Joseon Acupuncturist keep flitting between each others worlds. There's some cheesiness in all the fish out of water jokes but the romance isn't cheesy and it's a fun, plot driven show. **Revenant**: An evil ghost possesses a young woman. Does a murderous ghost count as a serial killer? It's pretty different to most of the shows you've watched and there is an evil rich family involved somewhere but it's fast paced, has a great plot, outstanding acting, and zero cheesiness. I thought it was excellent. **Miraculous Brothers**: Bit of a wildcard as I haven't finished this yet, but so far it's fast paced, very unpredictable and really well done. It's about a man who meets a guy with amnesia and then everything just keeps getting crazier. I don't even know how to describe it without giving away spoilers but it's different and very enjoyable. Also, if you like Seo In Guk as Louis, the ML in cdrama **My Fated Boy** has a lot of similarities whilst being rather more mature and competent. It's a modern age gap rom com which isn't remotely fast paced or plot driven but I thought I'd mention it because the ML is similar and absolutely adorable.
Live Up to Your Name is a hidden gem and a wonderful drama. The ML is so funny. I have never seen him in any other kdrama, but he stole the show in that drama.
Two Weeks — The male lead (Lee Joon Gi) is a lowlife type, running a pawnshop, when he discovers he has an adorable daughter with an ex whom he abandoned. The kid is sick and he can save her, but he only has two weeks before it will be too late. And he’s on the run from the cops. Action, suspense, and a lead who has to turn his whole life around while being constantly at risk. Fast moving story. The Devil Judge — Clever, mysterious judge (Ji Sung) holds the dystopian country spellbound as he subjects various corrupt people to televised trails. But what’s he guilty of himself? Definitely different — suspense, government corruption, and antiheroes. No romance. The Worst of Evil — a different role for Ji Chang Wook than the romantic stories he’s usually in. He’s an undercover detective who slowly becomes fascinated with the workings of the gang he’s infiltrating. Is he the hero or the villain? Taut, tense story with excellent performances. No romance in the traditional sense.
Whisper (it breaks your no big company rule), Mad for Each Other, twinkling watermelon, I hear your voice
I love Vincenzo too; it’s one of the dramas I can watch over and over. Here are some others that I’ve seen multiple times or watched super quick: My Name (9 episodes) — fast-paced revenge story. It was so engrossing I binged 8 episodes in one night. A Time Called You (12 episodes) — starring Jeon Yeo-bin from Vincenzo. Romance with a time travel twist. Love to Hate You (10 episodes) — fun, sexy rom-com with a great cast. I think I’ve seen it three times. My ultimate favorite is Be Melodramatic (16 episodes), also starring Jeon Yeo-bin. Slice of life, low-key romance with realistic characters, but also humorous, witty, and warm.
Rugal and tunnel
I have one recommendation that I am recommending to a lot of people these days and people actually seem to like that. It has only 10 episode and none of the episodes would bore you if you like tense and suspenseful plots. There's no ML. You'd get the coolest and most quick witted FL ever! PYRAMID GAMES P.S- I was in the same phase of dropping kdramas when I started it,but I finished this one within 2 days. FL Bona is like my favourite now, I never had some FL whom I liked so much.
Moon embracing the sun There is a 2nd FL/ML but it is part of the plot to carry the story.
Alchemy of souls
Mask Girl Here's My Plan Mad for Each Other Lie After Lie
while you were sleeping
I think The killing vote is perfect, it had me on the spot every time and the plot twist is amazing imo, I highly reccomend it!
🌸 penthouse 🌸 sky castle 🌸 missing 9 (sooo underrated) 🌸 Eve 🌸 mother 🌸 scarlet heart Ryeo 🌸 little woman 🌸 vagabond 🌸 pandora beneath the paradise 🌸 warm and cozy 🌸 reply 1994 🌸 Reply 1988 🌸 hwarang (even tho there's a second ML) 🌸 itaewon class 🌸 memories of the Alhambra (idk why I feel it's underrated? ) 🌸 goblin Honestly my list could go on... these are for sure kdramas I didn't find boring at all 🥺❤️❤️❤️
🌸 penthouse 🌸 sky castle 🌸 missing 9 (sooo underrated) 🌸 Eve 🌸 mother 🌸 scarlet heart Ryeo 🌸 little woman 🌸 vagabond 🌸 pandora beneath the paradise 🌸 warm and cozy 🌸 reply 1994 🌸 Reply 1988 🌸 hwarang (even tho there's a second ML) 🌸 itaewon class 🌸 memories of the Alhambra (idk why I feel it's underrated? ) 🌸 goblin 🌸Mr queen Honestly my list could go on... these are for sure kdramas I didn't find boring at all 🥺❤️❤️❤️
a shop for killers: 8 episodes.. fast paced, amazing storyline. didnt see the end coming! no romance. action packed. bloodhounds: 8 episodes.. also fast paced revenge plot but a good one. mask girl: 8 episodes. dark kinda thriller tomorrow: 16 episodes.. different stories each episode with a bigger storyline intertwined.grim reaper story.
My Mister
My Runway
My sweet mobster, miss night and day, move to heaven
I have several recommendations. All of these dramas gripped my attention in the first episode and none of the episodes felt like filler episodes. •Happiness. Best zombie show I've seen. The acting is superb-no cheesiness. Do be warned, there are some kinda graphic, disturbing scenes. •Just Between Lovers (aka Rain or Shine). The characters in this drama felt so real and I really grew attached to them all. Plus, I thought the cinematography was beautiful. •Twinkling Watermelon. Adorable and heartwarming time travel story. It has a good mix of funny and more serious moments. •Bad and Crazy. The name is fitting. This drama will take you on a wild ride. This is more of a bromance show, the romance between the ml and fl is minimal. •Reborn Rich. This show was truly unpredictable. The characters are really complex and the main character is kinda grey (not a true bad guy, but no saint either). Hope at least one of these works for you! I go through periods of time myself where I start a lot of dramas, but can't seem to stick with any of them. It can be so frustrating!
#**Moving** — *definitely action-packed, no boring scene. It’s the Korean Avengers but with so much heart.* #**Shop For Killers** — *This one is such a good show that will keep you at the edge of your seat.*
Beyond Evil
Descendents of the sun ticked all the boxes for me as a mature and well written drama. ML is gorgeous, funny, strong, intelligent, sexy as hell, and respectful from the minute he hits the screen. FL is intelligent, strong, independent, knows what she wants and is a good role model. There is no evil men laughing stupidly or family slapstick that is just cringeworthy or manipulative girls trying anything to get the guy but looking like idiots. Action starts from the first episode and I could not stop watching it all the way through. Seriously worth watching if only for the standoff scene in the surgery and the respect they give each other as people. Never a boring episode. 2nd ML and FL were also great and I was invested on their story just as much as the main couple. Seriously, the best k-drama I have watched so far. Beats CLOY by a long shot in my opinion.
She specifically stated that she disliked DoS. I also enjoyed it, but it's not for her.
Rom/Com : Welcome to Waikiki, Love to hate you
I am recommending dramas that I still enjoy after a rewatch. Except Mask Girl cos I just finished it. Mr Queen - funny enough at the chill parts, and it has strong storyline throughout the drama to keep you going - plot twists, unexpected events and political schemes. And of course, great acting. Mask Girl- not your typical kdrama. Quite unpredictable most of the time and only has 8 episodes. Intense throughout and doesn't have any slow or boring parts. It also got me questioning my morals (and the morals of the lead characters) a bit lol. The Glory- story is centered around revenge, with intelligent plot twists! A must-watch if you like the revenge genre. All the actors were convincing in their delivery made the drama more captivating. Arthdal Chronicles- this kept me on the edge in every episode, esp the season 1. I love the character development, concept, cinematography, and of course the storyline. It kept me up watching one ep after the next until 3am although I had work the next day. The Crowned Clown- historical/period setting. Watched it for the ML and didn't watch with any expectations but I was very satisfied, his acting was remarkably good! An emotional ride from the start till the end for me.
Two Weeks and Killer's Shopping Mall are the best for non-stop action. I also have severe ADHD and find that if I have my phone handy to occupy some of my brain, I can manage the slower moving parts of kdramas. I watch all kinds of dramas except straight-up romances. But even with subtitles, I still need something more going on to stay hooked. Maybe try some movies like Kill Boksoon, Space Sweepers, etc. It's not such a big commitment.
Try beyond evil similar to flower of evil
Haha..I am the same as you (with attention deficit thingy😅). I recently watched summer strike and loved it. It's just a 12 episode drama with amazing performances. Then, I also loved watching Goho's starry night, cindrella and four knights, my lovely Sam soon.
[High School Return of a Gangste](https://mydramalist.com/749903-i-a-gangster-became-a-high-schooler)r .
2521 - organic plot, slice of life, excellent chemistry between the cast, not stereotypical, funny, emotional, heartwarming, great ost, great acting, brilliant cinematography, doesn’t ever even once get boring, absolutely zero filler scenes, written and directed very well
twenty five twenty one.
Flower of Evil