Meet the DC Crew: Our Top 10 Dramas From Our Favorite Genres

We have explored our favorite KDramas of all time and our favorite tropes, but now we’re giving you a peek into our little happy place. These are the dramas that not only are amazing but are also come from the genre that makes us the happiest. From Rom-com to Sci-fi to Crime, there’s a little bit of something for everyone here.

Since a few of our favorite genres don’t have as many Korean dramas, we’ve decided to expand our picks to include dramas from other Asian countries. They’re all clearly marked, so if you prefer to only stick to Korean Dramas you still can.

Do you know of another drama we’d enjoy? Please share with us in the comments below!

Drama Unni

It is really ridiculous how easily you can get me to watch a drama if it is Sci-fi or Fantasy. Tell me there are aliens, superpowers, time-travel, or clones and I’m ready with a bowl of popcorn.

Favorite Sci-Fi/Fantasy Dramas

1. Are You Human Too?: What happens when a genius inventor mom is forced away from her son? She builds an exact model robot of him, of course! And when the son gets gravely injured, what does she do? She has the robot take over his life, of course! Duh. But really, this drama is intense and delicious sci-fi fun.
2. My Love from the Star: Admittedly, this drama was my first love, so I am biased. But even going back to rewatch, everything about it screams happiness to my little sci-fi heart. There are superpowers, aliens, and a love that transcends space and time. Come on, how could I not fall in love?
3. Another Oh Hae Young: The KISSING. Oh my. Somebody turn on the air conditioning. The chemistry between the leads in this drama is unbelievable. But it isn’t just the leads. The rest of the cast is a hilarious ensemble that will have you rolling. For this drama, come for the kisses and stay for the laughter.
4. Arthdal Chronicles: Since the final season hasn’t aired yet, I may be taking a major risk listing “Arthdal Chronicles” as one of my favorites, but I don’t think I’ll regret it. Regardless of the ending, this drama has been a masterpiece of cinematography, storytelling, world-building, and imagination. Crafted in the style of “Lord of the Rings” and “Game of Thrones”, this epic saga has exploded on the drama-verse and destroyed all the stereotypes of what Korean Dramas should be like.
5. He Is Psychometric: A yin-yang drama, the first half is playful with a bubbling bromance, while the second half turns into a much darker story. This drama got a bad rap among many viewers because of its shift halfway, but it really is a fantastic drama. Even though it does a lot, it does it all well and the cast performs each of their roles to perfection. I particularly fell in love with the main lead(Jinyoung), a bumbling young adult whose constant missteps, in spite of his miraculous gift, make him very relatable.
6. Circle: This one is not just my top Sci-fi, but also one of my top dramas ever. Incredibly unique to dramaland, the story follows a family torn apart after they rescue an alien girl. The writing is incredibly tight with twist after stunning twist. Easily one of the most riveting dramas I’ve ever seen.
7. Queen In Hyun’s Man: Watching this drama is like wearing fuzzy pajamas; it just feels so good. Sure, there are plot twists, but never for one minute do you doubt that the lead couple is in love. There are no crummy love triangles, no wicked mothers trying to end the OTP, and the politicking is minimal. Basically, it is 16 hours of watching the cutest couple you’ve ever seen fall in love. Oh yeah, and there’s time-travel.
8. Secret Garden: I’ll admit this drama took a while to capture my attention. I’d heard it was amazing, but 5 episodes in and I was ready to drop it. But then the bodyswap happened and I became enthralled by the comedic GENIUS of Hyun Bin and Ha Ji Won. These two had me laughing so hard my sides hurt. Yeah, the business machinations did get tiresome, but nothing will ever beat such comedy gold scenes as Hyun Bin explaining how to put on a bra. Bwahahahaha!
9. Fights Break Sphere(CDrama): Like CDrama’s answer to “Harry Potter,” Fights Break Sphere follows the story of a destined young hero and his gang of friends as they stand up to the world’s evil. There are superpowers, epic battles, and a comedic bromance with Baron Chen. It’s my happy place trifecta.
10. I Hear Your Voice: When I tell you this drama has the best Noona romance in KDrama-land, it is an understatement. This story of a young man(Lee Jong Suk) who can hear people’s thoughts has so much heart.

Honorable Mentions: Live Up to the Name, W, Three Lives, Three Worlds, Ten Miles Peach Blossom(CDrama)

TeaRexDramaMama

My favorite genre is sports dramas. It always has been. Since I love western sports movies, it makes sense that I would love Asian sports dramas too. But to qualify a drama as a “sports drama,” and not just a “drama with sports”, the sports have to serve a clear and irreplaceable plot purpose and provide a major motivation for at least one character’s actions.

Favorite Sports Dramas

1. Birdie Buddy: It was my first drama, and I really loved it. But beyond nostalgia, Uee had a body that looked like she was an athlete. I love when a female athlete in a drama looks like she could actually be an athlete.
2. Prison Playbook: On the outside, this doesn’t seem like a sports drama, but the lead character is a pro-baseball player. A large portion of the drama is spent watching him practice and fight to keep in shape to return to the sport once he gets out of prison.
3. Sassy Go Go: Okay, the sports are a little sad in this drama. They are NOT good at cheerleading. The dancing in the first episode is way better than anything they do as cheerleaders. BUT the concept of two groups coming together as a team and my best friend Lee Mi Do as the cheerleading coach makes this everything I need it to be.
4. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok Joo: Listen, does our lead look like she is a weightlifter? No. Is her friendship with her two best friends wonderful? Yes, it is. The struggles of her ballerina roommate and all the other athletes in the drama make this one definitely a top contender.
5. HIStory 2: Crossing Boundaries(TDrama): Volleyball drama and romance. This Taiwanese drama had great relationships and good sports. It was really enjoyable and my biggest complaint is that it was too short.
6. Fight For My Way: the story of young people trying to pursue their dreams and forge new paths for themselves is one of my favorites. Park Seo Joon‘s disgraced athlete turned MMA fighter is well worth watching.
7. Kimi Wa Petto(JDrama): This is a weird one, and if you don’t think dance is a sport then you’re entitled to your wrong opinion 😜. This story of a young dancer trying to make his way in the world and earn the respect of the woman he loves is a fun ride.
8. My Mr. Mermaid(CDrama): this CDrama has a lot of charm. The lead couple are so much fun together. This is the best swim team drama I’ve seen so far… And I’ve watched a few.
9. Short: As the title suggests, this is a short drama. Also, it’s about short track speed skating which is a very popular sport in South Korea. This drama came out right around the PyeongChang Olympics and again my only complaint is that it’s too short.
10. Thumping Spike: This story about an injured pro volleyball player taking time off to coach a high school team is a delight. Short episodes make it a quick binge and the characters make it a fun watch. Throw in a love triangle with Song Jae Rim and Lee Tae Hwan, and we have a solid winner.
11. Bonus Film– Run Off : No list of Asian sports titles would be complete without this film based on the true story of women’s hockey in South Korea. It pushes all the right buttons. If you haven’t watched it yet, go now.

KDramasRock

I’m an easy mark for Rom-coms – it’s the genre that drew me into Asian dramas to begin with, and I’m usually watching at least a couple of them at any given time. Here are some of my favorites in no particular order, including a few non-KDramas in the mix.

Favorite Rom-Com Dramas:

1. The Beauty Inside: The depth of understanding the leads have of one another even before they choose to be in a relationship is fascinating. The show also explores how identity and love relate to one another. Though it still has funny moments, some parts are thought-provoking, which is nice.
2. Secret Garden: A classic with its own fair share of flaws, but it brings me so much joy and a lot of laughs. Nothing brings two people together better than some good ol’ bodyswitching! It’s also a good example of the enemies to lovers trope, one of my favorites.
3. Love Around(TDrama): Friends to Lovers at its finest. This charming Taiwanese drama’s leads support each other and slowly fall in love, which is fun to watch.
4. Suspicious Partner: The leads have great chemistry from the first moment they interact. There’s also some quality enemies to lovers action in this one, which pleased me greatly. The kisses are also very on point.
5. Her Private Life: This show is so fluffy and adorable and I love every bit of it. You can tell the actors had a good time with filming, their joy is visible on-screen.
6. Go Go Squid!(CDrama): A Chinese drama that is almost too easy to get super invested in. Who can say no to a tsundere lead fella and a bubbly lead gal trying to figure out their first romance together? Not me!
7. I’m Not a Robot: For some reason, it took me a couple of attempts at watching this one before I got completely hooked, but once I got there I was sold. The leads are genuinely funny and the show left me with warm fuzzies.
8. Witch’s Romance: A noona romance which deals with the age gap between the main leads. Watching young Park Seo Joon‘s character slowly melt the ice queen of an older business lady was very enjoyable. Warning, this one does have spicy moments!
9. The Secret Life of My Secretary: It took me a few episodes to warm up to them, but I ultimately grew to love the main couple, and the secondary couple was adorably hilarious as well. The show has lots of funny antics, which is a big draw for me.
10. Refresh Man(TDrama): This workplace rom-com features leads who were childhood friends that fell out of contact but ended up working closely together. Their relationship is not a friendly one at first but over time slowly shifts. A mix of friends to lovers and a dash of enemies to lovers tropes? I was so down for that.

WineAndAKDrama

Out of my top favorite dramas, mystery/thriller leads the list. I love the unknown and the suspense, and the pieces that come together at the end.

Favorite Mystery/Thriller Dramas

1. Save Me: Chosen for Taecyeon, but I stayed because I couldn’t wait to figure out what was going on with the people and their relation to the cult. The tone is eerie and creepy and dark. I loved every bit of it.
2. White Christmas: Don’t be confused, while this drama takes place during Christmas it is anything but festive. This psychological thriller had me hooked from the very first episode. Plus the cast is pretty stellar.
3. Million Yen Women(JDrama): As a long time Radwimps fan, there was little to be done to get me interested in this JDrama. The mystery around why the women are there and the mysterious faxes kept me in this one.
4. Erased(JDrama): I didn’t watch the anime, so this one I knew nothing of when I first started it. The main character’s mother is killed, forcing him to travel back in time and correct events before they happen. It’s super interesting to watch how he goes back to when he is a young kid and then see how the events played out in the future.
5. The Player: Out of the list this is probably the lightest on the mystery/thriller front, but how could I not throw in a fun drama? Great found family, thrilling action, and that it’s an OCN drama so who knows what could happen in the end. Overall, it’s a really great drama.
6. The Smile Has Left Your Eyes: I talked about the Japanese version for my top ten, but the Korean version warrants a nod. While it doesn’t take the risks that the Japanese version does and holds back a lot of the story to fit it into the Romeo and Juliet mold, Jung So Min and Seo In Guk are fantastic in this.
7. Possessed: Crime + Humor + Ghosts. That’s a Jessie trifecta.
8. Switched(JDrama): I was wary going into this drama but was surprised how much I enjoyed the story. Two girls switch bodies, and there’s a nice level of uncertainty as to how the story will play out.
9. Ghost Detective: This was a pretty standard show for me. I liked the humor, I liked the characters, and I just enjoyed the entire show.
10. Miss Ma Nemesis: Based on the Agatha Christie novel, I thought this show was a lot of fun. Plus, it has a nice British crime show vibe to it. This is a good one for days when you have nothing to do and want an entertaining drama with some mystery.

SojuNights

In KDramas, as well in most other entertainment such as non-Asian television, movies, books, and games, I lean toward the realm of sci-fi and fantasy as my favorite genre. I love magic, paranormal stuff, vampires, aliens, whatever! If it’s out there, I want it in my life.

Favorite Fantasy/Sci-Fi Dramas:

1. Circle: My all-time favorite drama yet again is number 1 on this list of fantasy/sci-fi dramas. Told in both two different timelines and having to do with aliens and futuristic cities, this show is amazing from beginning to end. I can’t recommend it more
2. Mirror of the Witch: A cursed princess with magical powers, an evil shamaness who can raise zombies from the dead, a group of Taoist masters with different magic abilities? It all combines to one of my favorite dramas of all time, and it is a politically charged saeguk as well for those who are into that.
3. Oh My Ghostess: A girl who can see ghosts, a ghost trying to get laid, and a hot chef- a perfect combination of weird and romantic, as well as lots of nice cooking montages, and a cast of side characters that are an absolute delight.
4. W: a woman gets sucked into her father’s comic book only to find herself now the female lead and falling for the main comic book character, the two become caught between the real world and the comic world. While many people didn’t enjoy this one as much as I did, it was the sort of show that I’m always looking for.
5. Orange Marmalade: Set in two timelines, Vampires and Humans coexist, however prejudices against vampires are rampant. Amid this, a vampire girl who is pretending to be human transfers to a new school and has her emotions entangled with a human boy who vehemently hates vampires. It then jumps to the past where you learn of the history of vampire and human society in the Joseon era, before returning to the present. It’s a very odd sort of drama, and I can’t really justify why I like it so much, but I do.
6. Surplus Princess: A mermaid comes on land searching for love with a certain chef with a nice bum, only to end up in a rooming house and falling for another man entirely. It’s fun, short, and the leads are just adorable.
7. Let’s Fight Ghost: A shaman in training who is terrified of ghosts teams up with a teenaged ghost in order to perform exorcisms for money. But can he contain his growing feelings for the girl that only he can see? And can they figure out what happened to her that caused her to be a ghost in the first place?
8. Vampire Detective: Starring my main man Lee Joon, this drama follows a detective who gets turned into a vampire. He uses his newfound vampire powers to help solve the cases that his clients come to him with — while struggling to hide his secret identity as a vampire — as well as figure out why what happened to him happened.
9. The Ghost Detective: After a private detective is buried alive, his ghost begins working with a part-timer who can see him in order to stop an evil, resurrected spirit that is causing chaos in the real world. This one is on the darker side and does have some more violent scenes as a warning.
10. Arang and the Magistrate: A plucky virgin ghost torments a magistrate who can see her into helping her on her quest to get vengeance for her untimely demise. He is less than interested, but their emotions slowly get entangled with one another. This is another saeguk fantasy, and it’s quite fun.

KDramaCriminal

When I had to come up with a list of my top 10 dramas of my favorite genre, I immediately knew which genre. You know, I have to live up to my name of KDramaCriminal here! It is to no one’s surprise that my favorite genre is crime dramas. The crime genre is my favorite genre even with shows that are not KDramas so I guess I live up to my name no matter what show I am watching.

Favorite Crime Dramas:

This list is in no particular order EXCEPT #1

1. Voice (S1): Voice Season 1 is my favorite crime drama of all time. Nothing has reached it…some have come close. I think it was the fact that the story is unique and I have not seen anything like it before. The acting was just amazing (you will find that I judge how good a crime drama is by how well the villain is acted in the drama – VOICE season 1’s villain was EPIC)
2. Tientsin Mystic(CDrama): This CDrama is a gem. It brings horror and crime together with a sprinkle of comedy in it. Again, the story is unique when it comes to crime dramas which is why I liked it so much. It was new for me…CAN’T WAIT FOR SEASON 2!
3. Erased(JDrama): One of the best JDramas I have ever seen. I started to watch this drama because the male lead is my favorite Japanese actor but DAMN I am so glad I clicked play. This drama just blew me away with everything from acting to cinematography to story.
4. Stranger: I am a softy when it comes to quiet characters and Stranger has one of fav “quiet” characters of all time. Add in Bae Doo Na and I AM SOLD! Who doesn’t love a strong female lead paired with a quiet but smart prosecutor fighting crime together?
5. Tunnel: This was just an all-around fun drama to watch between the AWESOME bromance, side characters, storyline, and the twists and turns of the drama. Choi Jin Hyuk on our screen fighting the bad guys and getting justice? YES PLEASE!
6. Mad Dog: Found Family is my all-time favorite trope so it is no surprise that Mad Dog is one of my favorite crime dramas. It is just a drama about a group of people who come together to take down the bad guy. But in the process, they become a family, supporting and caring for each other.
7. The Player: Another drama that is known for the Found Family trope, and I am HERE FOR IT! This one had epic schemes involved and was so satisfying when the end came about and (spoiler!) the bad guy was defeated. I hope there is a 2nd season someday.
8. Come and Hug Me: This crime drama stood out for me because of the acting. Across the board between the adult and child actors, the acting is TOP NOTCH! Who knew you could say so much with just your eyes? The story is beautifully tragic and shows strength in character.
9. Million Yen Women(JDrama): I did not know what to expect from this JDrama. I actually didn’t realize it was a crime drama at first when I clicked play. But by the end of the first episode, I was hooked. So many twists and turns in this one. I would think I had figured it out and then ANOTHER secret was revealed and I was hooked all over again.
10. Medical Examiner Dr. Qin(CDrama): Again with the found family trope. A group of three co-workers that you wouldn’t think could co-exist and work together actually work well. I have always been a fan of shows like CSI, so when I found a CDrama based on being a medical examiner how could I not click play?

I am sure this list will change as I watch more crime dramas, but here it is as it is today! Anyone have any crime dramas recommendations that I haven’t seen? I am always looking for my next crime drama to click play on!

Read Next:

• Our Top 10 Korean Dramas of All Time
• Our Top 10 KDrama Tropes