Every year, K-dramas are becoming increasingly popular, but the genre can be intimidating for some and tedious for others. That’s where out-of-the-box shows come into play, acting as ideal introduction series for those hesitant to fully dive into K-dramas right away. Slice-of-like K-dramas, or those centered around romance, might be too trope-filled for newcomers to handle. The experimental or out-of-the-box series are those that are more innovative and unusual compared to the typical K-drama.
These series tend to have darker stories but still feature the strong performances and gripping, dramatic storylines expected of a K-drama. Instead of falling within the romance, comedy, or coming-of-age genres, they most often land in the historical, fantasy, action, and horror genres. There’s a range of unique K-dramas waiting to be watched by audiences starting on their K-drama journey, from Squid Game to Arthdal Chronicles.
10
Arthdal Chronicles (2023)
A K-Drama Reminiscent Of Other Popular Fantasy Series
An effective way of getting into K-dramas is by finding a series with qualities comparable to that of another popular show. For audiences that enjoy Game of Thrones, Arthdal Chronicles acts as an ideal K-drama equivalent. The latter series was heavily compared by critics to Game of Thrones for its storytelling and high production values. The costly K-drama is set in a mythical land known as Arth, where its inhabitants experience times of romance and political conflict.
The visual effects and grand sets seen throughout the show are impressive and truly immerse audiences into the series’ fantasy setting. The drama presented within the show is gripping, too, covering everything from religion to powerful alliances. When taking into consideration Arthdal Chronicles‘ large budget, the series underperformed in South Korea. The K-drama’s viewership wasn’t abysmal by any means, but it wasn’t as high as everyone had anticipated.
9
The School Nurse Files (2020)
Monstrous Jellies Wreak Havoc
Based on a 2015 novel by sci-fi fantasy author Chung Serang, The School Nurse Files is not only a great series for K-drama beginners to enjoy, but it’s also a series that’s easy to binge in a day. The School Nurse Files is primarily centered around Ahn Eun-young (Jung Yu-mi), a school nurse with the ability to see jelly-like shells that form around individuals. These jellies represent a variety of human desires and feelings and are mostly harmless.
However, there are a few jellies that transform into dangerous monsters, and that’s when Eun-young teams up with a teacher at her new school, Hong In-pyo (Nam Joo-hyuk), to defeat the monsters. With only six episodes to its name, it’s easy to get addicted to The School Nurse Files and fly through every episode. The humor, fast-paced action, and colorful jelly special effects make for a fun watch.
8
The Uncanny Counter (2020-2023)
Paranormal Hunters Defeat Evil Spirits
Based on the Amazing Rumor webtoon, The Uncanny Counter is a well-balanced K-drama that features exciting bits of action and moments of levity as audiences become familiar with its main group of characters. The series centers on So Mun (Jo Byeong-kyu), a physically disabled student with a strong desire to protect others and seek justice. Mun finds himself part of the Counters, a group of demon hunters tasked with banishing evil spirits that escape the afterlife.
The spirits seek out murderous individuals and possess them, encouraging them to kill so they can take on the spirit of the victim. The K-drama is dark, mysterious, and full of fun. The members of the Counters are distinct in their personalities and physical abilities. The latter is displayed in The Uncanny Counter‘s choreographed martial arts scenes, which are up to par with some incredible martial arts films.
7
Stranger (2017-2020)
Corruption Is Tackled By An Unlikely Duo
Stranger is a captivating crime thriller that effectively evolves its core conflict and mystery with a second season. Unlike most K-dramas, Stranger‘s development began with multiple seasons in mind, which is apparent in the series’ tight writing and natural progression in season 2. In season 1, prosecutor Hwang Si-mok (Cho Seung-woo) and police lieutenant Han Yeo-jin (Bae Doona) team up to investigate a murder. Their investigation is continuously hindered by the ongoing corruption conspiracy between chaebol families and the prosecution office.
There are compelling layers of mystery and deceit throughout each season, making Stranger a K-drama guaranteed to have audiences hooked. The pairing of Si-mok and Yeo-jin is exciting to watch grow as well, with the two finding commonality in their pursuit of justice. Stranger‘s strong performances and engaging storytelling led it to receive positive attention from audiences worldwide.
6
D.P. (2021-2023)
A Poignant Drama That Addresses Tough Subjects
Plenty of K-dramas explore a range of social issues specific to South Korea, including unrealistic beauty standards and the pressure students feel to succeed in academic settings. Other K-dramas, like D.P., seek to address the flaws within the South Korean military. The series, whose name is an acronym for Deserter Pursuit, follows a group of military officers tasked with tracking down deserters. As a whole, the series looks at the mistreatment and discrimination experienced by those in the military at the hands of their superiors.
Topics highlighted in the series include cruel acts of hazing and LGBTQ+ discrimination. While the various subjects are tricky to address, D.P. does so in a way that is insightful and compassionate. The themes in seasons 1 and 2 are mostly the same, but the K-drama’s uncompromising look into the mistreatment keeps audiences’ attention and interest in the series’ important narrative.
5
Beyond Evil (2021)
Two Detectives Look For A Serial Killer
It’s easy for criminal investigations to turn into a complicated mess, and few K-dramas portray this better than Beyond Evil. The series follows two opposing officers —the eccentric sergeant Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) and the strict detective Han Joo-won (Yeo Jin-goo)— as they track down a serial killer. Throughout their investigation, it quickly becomes clear that anyone could be the perpetrator, even someone working on the case.
Beyond Evil is considered one of the best K-drama detective series as it boasts a strong chemistry between its lead detectives and poses thoughtful questions about human nature. The chaos and mystery within the series are also well-written, making Beyond Evil a K-drama that’ll keep audiences guessing until the very end. Just when it appears the detectives have come one step closer to solving the case, they’re thrown for another loop.
4
Kingdom (2019-2021)
Political Tension And Horrifying Zombies Merge In The Historical Series
As K-dramas continue to find success with international audiences, Netflix further solidifies itself as a reputable platform for these series. Netflix’s first original K-drama is Kingdom, an inspired and refreshing horror series. Combining a zombie plague with political tension, the K-drama takes place at the start of the 17th century and follows the Crown Prince of Joseon, Lee Chang (Ju Ji-hoon).
While uncovering what’s led to the king’s sudden illness, Lee Chang discovers a deadly epidemic taking over the kingdom, which brings back the dead as terrifying zombies. Amid this trouble, the prince also works to prevent his political opponents from assuming his role. Despite the unceasing relevancy of zombies in films and television, Kingdom manages to feel like a breath of fresh air. The compelling story, engaging action scenes, and frightful visuals elevate Kingdom above other zombie series, making it a must-watch K-drama.
3
Squid Game (2021-2025)
Players Compete In Deadly Children’s Games
Gaining international attention and critical acclaim when it first arrived on Netflix in 2021, Squid Game is an essential series for audiences that have trouble connecting with K-dramas. The K-drama revolves around a large group of financially struggling individuals who are given the opportunity to compete for a large sum of money. However, the catch is, if they lose one of the games, they are killed. The societal critiques in the series are specific to South Korea, but are nevertheless insightful and can be understood by audiences worldwide.
Considering its unique premise and shocking twists, it’s no wonder why Squid Game became such a hit. The violence and brutal deaths in Squid Game are unrelenting, and may not be for everyone. Still, the riveting K-drama is rewarding for those willing to endure the intensity. The popular, seemingly innocent South Korean childhood games with deadly consequences support the series’ sharp commentary on class struggles and capitalism.
2
Vincenzo (2021)
A Mafia-Raised Lawyer Gets Revenge
The act of taking down powerful corporations is seen throughout several revenge K-dramas, including Vincenzo. The start of the series revolves around the Cassano family and the series’ protagonist, Vincenzo Cassano (Song Joong-ki), a brilliant lawyer and consigliere for the mafia. While some fascinating family drama is introduced following the death of Vincenzo’s adoptive father, the start of the series is admittedly a bit slow.
However, the pacing of the series speeds up when Vincenzo flees to Seoul in hopes of recovering buried gold. With the help of attorney Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-been) and the tenants of the plaza on top of the gold, Vincenzo uses methods learned from the mafia to dismantle a powerful corporation. Vincenzo is intense, and there’s rarely a dull moment, as most episodes are full of surprising twists and wonderful performances. The shift in Jang Jun-woo’s (Ok Taec-yeon) persona is especially exciting to watch unfold.
1
Hellbound (2021-2024)
A Supernatural Series That Sees People Condemned To Hell
Surpassing the popularity of Squid Game on Netflix at one point, Hellbound is a thrilling dark fantasy series that explores numerous thought-provoking themes. Set in the near future, the series sees beings known as angels appear and sentence people to Hell, giving them an exact date in which they will be taken away. When the given date arrives, three terrifying supernatural beings present themselves and brutally attack and burn the sentenced individuals.
Hellbound‘s narrative is undeniably intense and the exploitative response from other characters in the show is fascinating to watch play out. The K-drama has a solid amount of disturbing violence and gruesome deaths, but its strong writing justifies these actions and makes it easier to watch. In addition to its frightening visuals, Hellbound‘s screenplay has been lauded by critics for its ability to present a truly unique and terrifying story, incorporating themes of religion, morality, and sin.
