Summer’s ending and school’s starting, but so is a whole new season of dramas! In the second half of the month, we’re getting the highly anticipated Yumi’s Cells, and three thrillers about a betrayed NIS agent, a deadly survival game, and a small town mystery. But don’t worry, there’s something for romance lovers too. We’re getting a life swap/comedy of errors, love under the influence of art, and a drama that loosely reminds me of the Sound of Music (sans the music).
September’s got a lot in store. So much so that four of these dramas are premiering on the same day! Talk about vying for the audience’s attention. Just keep in mind due to unforeseen occurrences the dates are subject to change.
Yumi’s Cells
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Starring: Kim Go-eun, Ahn Bo-hyun, Lee Yu-bi, and Park Ji-hyun
Plot: Based on a webtoon of the same name, Yumi’s Cells is about an office worker named Kim Yumi (Kim Go-eun) who’s just gone through a traumatic breakup. Inside Yumi are a collection of cells that control her. Because of the breakup, her love cells are comatose, so the rest of her cells try to revive them. Meanwhile, game developer Ku Woong (Ahn Bo-hyun) doesn’t know how to express his feelings. Can his love cells and Yumi’s love cells heal each other?
Thoughts: This sounds so adorable! And also reminds me of Pixar’s Inside Out.
The Veil
Genre: Action, Mystery
Starring: Namkoong Min and Park Ha-sun
Plot: After getting betrayed, National Intelligence Service Agent Han Ji-hyuk (Namkoong Min) disappears for a year. He then returns to find out who betrayed him.
Thoughts: At this rate, I’m not sure if Namkoong Min will do another drama that’s strictly romance, and I’m okay with that. He seems to shine in the action and sports genre.
Squid Game
Genre: Action/thriller
Starring: Lee Jung-jae, Park Hae-soo, and Wi Ha-joon
Plot: 456 struggling individuals get invited to participate in a mysterious game called “Squid Game”. It’s modeled after a children’s game, and the winner gets to take home $40 million dollars. But winning, much less surviving, proves to be a challenge when the competition turns deadly.
Thoughts: This sounds intense! It’s definitely giving me Hunger Games vibes. And maybe Liar Game too.
One The Woman
Genre: Mystery, Comedy, Romance
Starring: Lee Ha-nee and Lee Sang-yoon
Plot: Cho Yeon-joo (Lee Ha-nee) is a determined prosecutor who gets into a car accident in the midst of a case. After waking up from a coma, she realizes she’s swapped lives with a young chaebol daughter. What’s even crazier is they look exactly alike. Enter Han Seung-wook (Lee Sang-yoon) another chaebol who went to America while his family fought over their inheritance. He returns to find the truth behind his dad’s death, and meets Yeon-joo by chance. The catch is the chaebol daughter’s life she’s now living involves being Seung-wook’s first love.
Thoughts: Ah…who doesn’t love a comedy of errors? We’ll probably get some intensity too since there’s a mystery.
Hometown
Genre: Mystery
Starring: Yoo Jae-myung, Han Ye-ri, and Uhm Tae-goo
Plot: In 1989 a terrorist named Jo Kyung-ho releases a deadly gas in his small hometown killing several people. He gets life in prison, and his daughter is put under the care of her aunt Jo Jung-hyun (Han Ye-ri). Fast-forward to 1999 and a tape containing a serial murder and strange sounds is discovered. Detective Choi Hyung-in (Yoo Jae-myung) is on the case, and he suspects the murders are linked to the terrorist attacks, which also killed his wife.
When Jo Jung-hyun’s niece goes missing, she teams up with Choi Hyung-in to uncover the truth.
Thoughts: I love a good small town mystery, and I’ll watch anything with Han Ye-ri. She can do no wrong.
Dali and the Cocky Prince (Alternate title: Dali and Gamjatang)
Genre: Comedy, Romance
Starring: Park Gyu-young and Kim Min-jae
Plot: Kim Dal-ri (Park Gyu-young) is a sophisticated lady from a respectable family. She’s passionate about art, and becomes the director of the Chungsong Art Museum. On the other side of things is Jin Moo-hak (Kim Min-jae). His family managed to turn their tiny soup restaurant into a global corporation, but he’s not known for his brains. When the two cross paths again after an unsuccessful blind date, will the power of art be able to bring them together?
Thoughts: What a unique premise! Correct me if I’m wrong, but I think this is Park Gyu-young’s first big main role. I’m happy for her! She deserves it. (Also the drama’s promotional posters are gorgeous! Park Gyu-young looks breath-taking as The Girl with the Pearl Earring).
A Gentleman And A Young Lady
Genre: Comedy, Romance, Family
Starring: Ji Hyun-woo and Lee Se-hee
Plot: Lee Young-kook (Ji Hyun-woo) is a father of three who still hasn’t gotten over the death of his wife. When he hires smart and cheerful live-in tutor Park Dan-dan (Lee Se-hee), unexpected feelings blossom between them.
Thoughts: This kind of reminds me of The Sound of Music. Too bad there probably won’t be any singing.
Now that you know which dramas are around the corner, which will you add to your watchlist? Like everyone else on the planet, I’m looking forward to Yumi’s Cells. It doesn’t sound like something that’s been done in K-Drama Land before. I also added The Veil and Hometown to my watchlist, because Namkoong Min chooses the best action projects and Han Ye-ri’s acting is so expressive!
Heck yes! September looks like a great month for DRAAAAMAAAAAAAAS!
Thanks. I don’t know what category will appeal to me more yet but there are plenty to suit different tastes. I also sorted out the productions in case you are interested which networks they will be on:
Yumi’s Cells – tvN
The Veil – MBC
Squid Game – Netflix
One The Woman – SBS
Hometown – tvN
Dali and the Cocky Prince – KBS2
A Gentleman And A Young Lady – KBS2