April showers us with new kdramas

March has been a good month for kdrama, but April seems more promising with the line-up of sci-fi, thriller, action, mystery, and a romantic comedy.

Hey, folks! How was March for you? I can’t believe the month is finally over. March just felt like it dragged on for too long. Kind of like the guest who lingers and takes forever to leave.

I’m still hungover from “Doctor Slump.” That was such a great kdrama. Definitely an all-time favorite. It’s the perfect mix of romance, comedy, and drama with a hint of mystery. I also love the found family trope, when Ha Neul’s family took Jeong Woo as their own. Sure, it wasn’t always a smooth road. Remember when Ha Neul’s family overheard Jeong Woo rejecting Ha Neul? And the treatment Jeong Woo received from them after? HAHA. Good times. 😆

I honestly haven’t been keeping up with the March releases, such as “Wonderful World” and “Queen of Tears.” I did get started on “Chicken Nugget” and it’s just so quirky and offbeat. I love it! I’m more than halfway through and I can’t wait to find out what happens in the end. I mean, a human being turning into a chicken nugget in the blink of an eye… You gotta have questions.

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“Parasyte: The Grey” – aliens who look, think, and act like humans

“Parasite: The Grey” is looking good. I’m not a fan of aliens, but this one looks interesting. Imagine an alien telling us humans that they had one goal in mind when they came to Earth: To live inside human bodies in order to survive. That’s crazy! And crazy makes a good story. 🙃

This kdrama is directed by Yeon Sang Ho, who is also the one behind “Hellhound” and “Train to Busan.” He’s also the screenwriter for this kdrama. Have you seen the trailer? It’s so good. I can’t wait to watch this when it releases on April 5th. Finally, Fridays will be much better again.

*Aside: I did like “The School Nurse Files.” That was another fun and quirky watch.

Release date: April 5, 2024

“Blood Free” – The human food chain is about to be broken. Will you rule or be ruled?

“Food that requires slaughter is in the past now.” – Yoon Ja Yoo

This kdrama, “Blood Free”, has an interesting plot: Eliminate the need for slaughter and replace it with lab-grown meat. Like everything else, doing so has consequences and the female lead, Yoon Ja Yoo (played by Han Hyo Joo), soon finds that out as her life gets threatened. A bodyguard, Woo Chae Woon, is then hired to protect her at all costs (said bodyguard is portrayed by Jun Ji Hoon). 

The trailer is action-packed and full of tension. It looks like Yoon Ja Yoon made a lot of enemies. Will teaming up with Woo Chae Woon save her or can she trust him at all?

Fun fact: “Blood Free” is from the same writer who created “Stranger.”

Release date: April 10, 2024

“Goodbye Earth” – an impending asteroid crash sends society into chaos

We’ve got a middle school teacher, Jin Se Kyung, who quits her job when she learns about the approaching doom. She devotes her time to helping and protecting children when she does volunteer work for the city hall’s child and youth division.

6000+ miles away from South Korea is Ha Yoon Sang, a researcher at a biotechnology research institute in the USA. He’s also Se Kyung’s boyfriend, who returns to his home country upon hearing the news.

Add these two into the mix of characters and chaos: Woo Sung Jae, an assistant priest in a Catholic church, and Kang In A, a commander of a combat support battalion.

I’m looking forward to how these characters will affect those around them. If there’s anything I’ve learned when it comes to watching stuff like this, it’s that humans are more terrifying than any other creature. I’m looking at you, Le Ciel neighbors of Sae Beom and Yi Hyun in “Happiness.” 

Release date: April 26, 2024

“Chief Detective 1958” – Savage times of a wildcard detective.

“Chief Detective 1958” follows the story of Park Young Han (played by Lee Je Hoon) and his merry band of fellow detectives. It’s an action-packed kdrama, for sure. The trailer looks good. I hope the cases they’ll be showing will be interesting. It’s definitely on my watchlist and will give it a try.

I wonder if it will be injected with as much humor as, say, “The Fiery Priest.” They come to mind whenever I come across a group of people who are out to get the bad guys.

(If you haven’t watched “The Fiery Priest” just yet, please do watch it. Your sides are going to ache from laughter. It’s one of the best kdramas tagged with action that I have seen. Well worth watching all 40 episodes. 10/10 recommend.)

Release date: April 19, 2024

“Lovely Runner” – Finding solace in someone’s music. A tragic demise. Traveling back in time to alter the future.

Saving this one for last, as it’s the odd one out in this list of sci-fi and, thriller, mystery, and action. The kdrama “Lovely Runner” has time travel in it, which is a favorite trope of mine. The plot seems both inspiring and heartbreaking. After all, the female lead, Im Sol, finds comfort in Ryu Seon Jae’s music after going through a childhood accident and its impact on her life in the following years.

“Lovely Runner” is actually based on the webtoon, “Best of Tomorrow”, which was released in 2019. I haven’t read the webtoon, but it looks like I will now. I’m really interested in webtoons turned into kdrama and vice-versa, such as “Omniscient Reader.” (The webtoon is so good! I’m hoping they’ll make a kdrama version of “Act Like You Love Me!” because that one’s just so cute and funny and oh! The romance! *swoon* I’d also love to see “Secretary Out-of-Order” and “Iseop’s Romance” be turned into kdramas.)

I’m curious how their meet-cute will play out. I’m curious how their relationship will pan out. The trailer looks all cute and fluffy, and I’m hopeful that it’s a promising kdrama. Yes, I’m watching this one without a doubt.

Release date: April 8, 2024

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And that’s it for me. Happy first day of April! I hope no one’s pulled a prank on you. 😁

I’ll see you in my next newsletter! Until then, I hope you find good dramas to watch and good food to eat while watching them. 🍜 🥤