We all know the world is crazy right now. While some countries are going into a second lockdown, here in the U.S., all eyes are fixed on the results of this week’s presidential election. While staying up-to-date on everything happening in the world isn’t a bad thing, it does tend to bring with it, an overwhelming amount of anxiety. In an effort to help ease some of life’s stress, I’ve put together a short list of dramas that are sure to provide you with a much-needed and very welcome distraction.
Do Do Sol Sol La La Sol
Don’t let the name of this Netflix Original fool you. Behind this rather ridiculous title lies a sweet little drama full of warmth and charm. The story follows the adventures of Gu Ra Ra (Go Ara), a spoiled rich girl whose life is turned upside down in the blink of an eye. Determined to make the best of her situation, Ra Ra does the best she can to start a new life for herself. Along the way she makes all sorts of new friends, who help her on her journey. Of course, being a rom-com, there has to be a love interest and that role is filled nicely by Sunwoo Jun (Lee Jae Wook), an adorable young man with a heart of gold, who tries to play it cool on the outside but fails miserably.
The chemistry between Go Ara and Lee Jae Wook is undeniably adorable. There’s just something about these two that immediately makes me smile. This certainly isn’t a deep drama, but when your mind is overwhelmed by the stress of everything else going on in the world, it’s nice to have a drama you can turn to when you need a little dose of fluffy sunshine. I, for one, am thoroughly enjoying this drama, even if it sometimes makes me feel a little guilty for not playing the piano as often as I should…
Tale of the Nine-Tailed
For those of you who enjoy the romance but would rather skip the fluff, this tvN fantasy thriller may be just what you’re looking for. As the name implies, Tale of the Nine-Tailed follows the story of Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook), a thousand year old gumiho (nine-tailed fox) who gives up his position as the god of the Baekdudaegan, to scour the world for the reincarnation of his first love, Ah Eum (Jo Bo Ah).
Not surprising, it takes an insanely long time (as in 600 years) for Lee Yeon to finally find his beloved Ah Eum but eventually he does, in the form of a television producer by the name of Nam Ji Ah (Jo Bo Ah). The adventures that bring these two together are exciting, to say the least, but it’s not the supernatural excitement and intertwined fates that keep me coming back. Oh no. The thing that makes this drama absolutely irresistible is the way Lee Yeon is constantly looking at Nam Ji Ah. OH. MY. WORD. Every time he looks at the woman who holds his heart, I feel my own heart stop. I swear, if a man look at me that way, I’d melt into his arms and never leave again!
Of course, there’s more to this drama than heart melting looks and a tragic 600 year old love story. There are plenty of other supernatural beings vying for attention as this story unfolds and I am particularly intrigued by the dynamic between Lee Yeon and his half-brother, Lee Rang (Kim Bum). I like the way the story is going between these two so far and I’m very interested to see how their relationship will play out in the overall story.
With plenty of excitement and lots and lots and LOTS of pretty (I’m looking at you, Lee Yeon) you’re sure to find yourself sufficiently distracted by this drama. And even if you’re not, who doesn’t want an excuse to swoon over Lee Dong Wook for a couple of hours each week? (Yeah, I know, I’m letting my inner fangirl show but’s fine. She hasn’t been out in full-force in MONTHS!)
Zombie Detective
This last drama is an unexpected treat. I had heard of KBS’s zombie drama a couple of months ago but I just never got around to watching it, until recently. Now I’m hooked. The story is pretty self-explanatory. It starts with Kang Min Ho (Choi Jin Hyuk) waking up in a landfill as a zombie. How he died and became a zombie is a mystery that Min Ho is determined to solve, but doing so won’t be easy. Training himself to walk, talk, and act like a human, the zombie Min Ho enters the human world and inadvertently takes on the role of a private investigator.
Terrified of humans, Min Ho’s transition into the human world is nothing short of hilarious. His struggles to overcome his innate zombie-ness are both funny and endearing. I swear, I haven’t seen a zombie this adorable since Nicholas Hoult stole my heart as R in the 2013 film, Warm Bodies.
As one would expect, our zombie hero soon finds himself teamed up with a tenacious young woman by the name of Gong Sun Ji (Park Ju Hyun). Though their relationship doesn’t start off on the most conventional foot, the two seem to be well-suited for each other, as she’s a former investigatory journalist in need of a job and he’s a reluctant zombie detective in need of, well, everything. Together this unlike pair take on various cases, help solve some unique crimes, and I’m hoping, will ultimately uncover the mysteries behind the existence of zombies.
Bonus Round – Older Dramas Are Our Friends
While some people may enjoy the unexpected twists and turns of a new drama, there may be others out there who might find more comfort during these trying times, settling into an old favorite. Personally, I’m doing a bit of both these days. Thanks to Netflix Party (or Teleparty, as it’s now called) I’ve been watching Oh My Ghost with a dear friend of mine. While we may be separated by half a continent, we’re still able to get together once or twice a week to watch a drama and forget just how stressful life is for all of us right now. To be honest, having a party to look forward to is sometimes the only thing I’ve got keeping me going.
At the recommendation of that same friend, I’ve also started watching Healer. How I’ve managed to go this far in life without ever watching this drama is beyond me, but I’m watching it now and I’m loving every second of it. (Dear gracious, does Ji Chang Wook know how to make me swoon!)
But enough about my drama watching habits. What I really want to know is, how have you been coping with the stress of life these days? Have dramas been helpful in any way? What are you watching right now? Let me know in the comments below. It’s been ages since we last had a chance to chat and I’d love to hear from you! Until then, hang in there and just remember to breathe. You’ve got this!