Do you know what I like better than the smell of fresh flowers? Fresh K-Dramas! And May is filled with them. While some have already started airing, like Bossam: Steal the Fate and Youth of May, the second half of the month touts some highly anticipated dramas.
April was pretty heavy on the dark crime dramas, so I’m happy to report more genre diversity. This time we’ve got a twisty family drama with strong female leads, a heart-warming sports drama, a heart-wrenching drama featuring an autistic lead, and two fantasy romances.
*As usual, any of the dramas listed below are subject to changes and delays.
Mine
Genre: Mystery
Starring: Lee Bo-young & Kim Seo-hyung
Plot: Seo Hee-soo (Lee Bo-young) is a popular actress who gives up her career to marry a chaebol from the Hyo Won Group. She tries not to lose herself in the process. Jung Seo-hyun (Kim Seo-hyung) is another daughter-in- law of the Hyo Won group. Her husband is the eldest son, and she’s smart and elegant. Will the two daughter-in- laws get along? Or will a power struggle ensue?
Thoughts: One word comes to mind: stress. After season two of Penthouse, I don’t know if I can handle another drama full of plotting and back-stabbing. I love me some Lee Bo-young though, so maybe I’ll give it a try.
Doom At Your Service
Genre: Romance, Supernatural
Starring: Park Bo-young, Seo In-guk, Lee Soo-hyuk, Kang Tae-oh, and Shin Do-hyun
Plot: Park Bo-young plays Tak Dong-kyung; a web novel editor whose worked nonstop since her parents’ death. When she gets diagnosed with brain cancer, she wishes everything could disappear. This wish calls upon Myeol Mang (Seo In-guk), a messenger between the living and the dead. Dong-kyung ends up striking a deal with him to live her life to the fullest for 100 days.
Thoughts: This whole “make a deal with an other worldly messenger” has been done before, but Park Bo-young and Seo In-guk are sure to make it worthwhile for their fans. (Also, Park Bo-young’s kind of been on a morbid streak lately. Her last drama Abyss was about death too. Am I the only one who’s noticed this?)
Move to Heaven
Genre: Family
Starring: Lee Je-hoon, Tang Jun-sang, and Hong Seung-hee
Plot: Geu-roo (Tang Jun-sang) is a young man on the autistic spectrum who helps his dad clean up the deceased’s homes. In a tragic turn of events, Geu-roo’s father dies and his ex-convict uncle Sang-goo (Lee Je-hoon) assumes guardianship.
Thoughts: I’m scared to watch this, because I know it’s going to make me cry like a baby. Can we also talk about how Lee Je-hoon and Tang Jun-sang are on a roll this year? They’ve got back-to-back dramas airing. Secure the bag, boys!
Racket Boys (Alternate title: Racket Boy Band)
Genre: Sports
Starring: Kim Sang-kyung, Oh Na-ra, and Tang Jun-sang
Plot: Ra Young-ja (Oh Na-ra) is a renowned badminton player who now coaches kids at Haenam Middle School. The school is in a rural area, but the boys and girls have dreams that could take them far beyond the borders of their small town.
Thoughts: This sounds so wholesome! I love a good “teacher changes children’s lives” story. Go on and pay it forward, Young-ja!
Flying Butterflies (Alternate title: Fly High, Butterfly)
Genre: Life, Drama
Starring: Kim Hyang-gi, Choi Daniel, and Oh Yoon-ah
Plot: This drama follows the lives of hairstylists at a salon called “Fly High, Butterfly.” Gi-Bbeum (Kim Hyang-gi) is an intern who finds it difficult to deal with clients, and Kwang-soo is an animated stylist who works closely with the salon’s director.
How will these different personalities mix and grow together in the workplace?
Thoughts: I know Daniel Choi fans must be esctatic right now. This is his first main drama role since 2018.
Mad for Each Other (Alternate title: Crazy Person in the Area)
Genre: Romance
Starring: Oh Yeon-seo & Jung Woo
Plot: Noh Hwi-oh (Jung Woo) is a detective in the violent crimes unit who starts having a hard time with anger management. This is juxtaposed with Lee Min-kyung (Oh Yeon-seo), a woman who lives firmly in her delusions due to a traumatic event. After the two meet and start falling for each other, will their love be the medicine they need?
Thoughts: After writing the last line of that summary, I too wanted to punch myself in the face. But I couldn’t help it. The cheesy wordplay was too good to pass up. (Also, the only one I want in my area is Black Pink).
My Roommate is a Gumiho
Genre: Romance, Supernatural
Starring: Jang Ki-yong, Lee Hye-ri, Kang Ha-na, Kim Do-wan, and Bae In-hyuk
Plot: Shin Woo-yeo (Jang Ki-yong) is a dashing university professor who also happens to be a gumiho (nine-tailed fox). At 999 years old, he collects human energy in a bead, and is set to become one soon. But his plans are derailed when a student named Lee Dam (Lee Hye-ri) accidentally swallows his bead while they’re trying to get her drunk friend off his car.
In order to solve this problem, Woo-yeo proposes that they live together. However, shacking up with a guy is foreign territory for Lee Dam, whose never even had a boyfriend before. But they need to figure things out or the bead will kill her in a year, and Woo-yeo will lose his chance to become human.
Thoughts: This drama is adapted from a webtoon, and looks like it’ll be entertaining for those that enjoyed Tale of the Nine Tailed.
All things considered, it looks like May’s going to end on a high note. Does anyone else notice how everything seems to be airing on Netflix? They’re really giving Viki a run for its money. Anyway, which drama are you looking forward to? Mine and Move to Heaven sound interesting, but I don’t know if I’m emotionally equipped to handle them night now.
It looked like Racket Boys will now airing on May 31.
Flying Butterflies/Fly High Butterfly still have no definite date yet, not May 24.
BTW, I suggested to replacing article title to “6 New Korean Dramas Premiering in May (2021)”.
May is absolutely amazing for Kdrama fans. However, too many good things sometimes can be a problem. I am currently watching Taxi Driver, Sell Your Haunted House, a little of “Mouse” and “Bossam Steal of Fate” already. I probably wouldn’t be watching Mine.
I watched the first two episodes of “Doom at Your Service” and I love it. Park Bo Young has become one of my favorites for some time. I am excited to see her again. If’s funny that I just finished watch “Oh, my Ghost” right before this.
I will definitely give My Roommate is Gumiho a try. I haven’t found a drama with Gumiho that I don’t like. LOL
P.S. I just found out “Hitman: Agent Jun” is now shown on American Airlines. I am so happy.
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That’s very true haha. Too many good Korean dramas means a hectic drama-watching schedule. I’m juggling a couple as well. I’m watching Law School and Taxi Driver, and plan to start Mouse as soon as possible.
How’s Bossam? The lead actor’s past dramas have been a hit or miss for me, and I don’t think I’ve seen Yuri from SNSD act in anything (aside from a few episodes of Defendant, which was really good, but I got sidetracked).
American Airlines? Oooh, are you going on a nice vacation? 😀
Jung Il-woo plays a character filled with internal conflicts due to his past experience. This reflects as indecision and sometimes poor judgement. At least that’s how it was set up to start the drama. I think he plays that role well. I haven’t seen any work from Yuri before so she is new to me as well. I like the way she plays the Princess.
With all that said, I think the person who steals the show is the young actor Ko Dong-Ha (He plays Il-woo’s son). He is only 8 years old but not only is he adorable, he will be not doubt an impactful actor one day. I hope they continue to have him involve in key stories and have many scenes in the future episodes. However, it all depends on how the story goes.
All work. No vacation. But did finish “Hitman: Agent Jun”. It’s an entertaining movie.