How does one celebrate the festive season? Spending time with family and friends? Making Christmas treats? Attending Christmas services? Or perhaps binge watching your favourite drama at home? If the latter sounds like your ideal holiday plan, may we suggest a series of Asian dramas to fill your year-end break? From much-anticipated Squid Game 2 to Japanese adaptation of Nevertheless, featuring Japanese heartthrob Ryusei Yokohama, read on to find out which shows tickle your fancy.
Squid Game: Season 2
Are you ready for the season 2 of Squid Game? Netflix’s No. 1 of all time is finally back after a 3-year of hiatus. Starring lead actor Lee Jung-Jae, the excitement around the Squid Game anthology intensifies with broader social and political commentary, exploring themes of division, discrimination and greed.
Light Shop
The creator of Moving returns with another drama? Count us in! Following the huge success of Moving, Disney+ has teamed up again with screenwriter Kang Full, the mastermind behind the critically-acclaimed drama. The new series tells the story of superheroes through a unique lens. A delicious concoction of horror, thriller and melodrama, Light Shop unravels mysterious events at a light shop owned by Won-young, the only place that illuminates the end of a dark alley. If Moving is any indication, expect plenty of surprises that break away from traditional storytelling.
Sad Power
Tired of typical superheroes stories? How about a series featuring underprivileged characters turned superheroes? Sad Power, the latest production by Workpoint, does exactly that. Upending stereotypes about the needy, the Thai drama centres around a child, a pregnant woman and a senior woman — all granted superpowers after a deadly accident. Starring Duangdao Jarujinda, Yin Anan Wong and Goonggink Patima Chamfa, the series explores their journeys in a world turned upside down.
Blossom
“Being the master of your own fate” has never felt more true than in the brand-new WeTV series Blossom. The series stars fresh leads Meng Zi Yi and Li Yun Rui, taking the concept of rewriting destiny to the next level with an action-packed love story between an orphaned lady and a man who disguises as a merchant. Together, Dou Zhao (played by Meng) and Song Mo (played by Li) challenge fate and fight against political turnmoil.
Sorry Not Sorry
Looking to embrace some girl power? We’ve got you covered. Starring Jun So Min, Gong Min Jung, Jang Hui Ryoung, the latest KBS Joy drama Sorry Not Sorry is all about the female experience in society. The shows holds a magnifying glass to modern women, exploring the struggles of a working mum facing social hierarchy pressures, as well as a pottery teacher with peculiar personal preferences.
Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love
One of the most anticipated adaptations this year is none other than the Nevertheless: The Shapes of Love. Based on the webtoon written by Jung Seo, the original Korean production, starring Song Kang and Han So-Hee, has gained traction among the K-drama enthusiasts, thanks to its hyperrealistic storyline and charismatic leads. This year, the hit series has been adapted into a Japanese version with Japanese heartthrob Ryusei Yokohama serving as the main protagonist. Having the internet under his irresistible charm, the Japanese adaptation tells the blossoming relationship between a playboy and a lovesick girl through the context of Japanese culture.
Mismatched: Season 3
Mismatched fans rejoice! The romantic drama, starring Rohit Saraf and Prajakta Koli, is back for its third season and it’s better than ever. Exploring the love story between Rishi Shekhawat, a romantic who believes in true love, and Dimple Ahuja, an ambitious gamer who lives and breathes gaming, the all-new season of the Netflix rom-com takes us into adulthood, where the characters navigate the tricky waters of friendship, career, love and connection. What makes this series a must-watch is the diversity of characters and inclusivity that transcends beyond typical love.
Project: Exit
If you are up for a slice-of-life series, Project: Exit is made for you. The Astro Originals series sheds light on 16-year-old girl Jannah, an inmate at a juvenile rehabilitation center, who meets a 17-year-old boy with cystic fibrosis called Hadi. Together, they plan a daring escape while battling their inner demons. Featuring Mierul Aiman, Naim Daniel, Shasha Abedul and Kimberly Chuah, the series delves into mental health, friendship and the yearning for freedom, exploring issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma and suicide.
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