If you are a hardcore fan of Asian drama or film, you re-watch it time and time again, so much so that you know its lines by heart. Before you watch it for the nth time, why not try watching a fresh take on the story you love by catching a remake?
Remakes are trustworthy and comforting with their familiar storylines, but when done right, can spark new perspectives and breathe new life into a classic tale.
Cultural changes and new innovations can all contribute to updating classic movies and scenes, creating new reimaginations while maintaining the heart of the original storyline.
To get the ball rolling, here’s our list of 10 must-watch Asian Drama remakes available on Viu!
Woori The Virgin (Viu Original)
A must-watch this season is Woori The Virgin, a remake of the award-winning US comedy, Jane The Virgin.
It’s the latest K-Drama remake to stream, with the series coming to a close late last month with a thrilling finale.
The bubbly rom-com stars Lim Soo-hyang as Oh Woo-ri, an assistant writer on a popular drama series. Her life is about to become a K-drama – the chaste Woo-ri becomes pregnant through accidental artificial insemination. The father of the baby is Raphael (Sung Hoon), CEO of a cosmetics company, and Woo-ri’s childhood crush.
It’s a lighthearted watch that still has soul, bringing to the surface important topics like generational trauma, loss, motherhood and social stigma. Watch it on Viu here.
K-Drama Review: “Woori the Virgin” Unfolds An Engaging Story About Life’s Gray Areas
One Ordinary Day (Exclusively on Viu)
A remake of the award-winning British drama series, Criminal Justice, One Ordinary Day is one of four international adaptations of the show.
The South Korean adaption stars A-lister Kim Soo-Hyun as Hyun-Soo, an ordinary university student whose life changes overnight when he becomes the key suspect of a murder case. His only hope is third-rate lawyer Joong Han, played by veteran Cha Seung-Won.
It’s no surprise that this was one of the top K-dramas of 2021, with top-rate performances from both actors, stunning cinematography and an excellent plot that lives up to the original. Watch it on Viu here.
A World Of Married Couple
Another smash hit, A World of Married Couple is based on BBC’s 2017 psychological thriller, Doctor Foster.
Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned – Ji Sun-woo seems to have it all – a great career, marriage and friends. But when her husband, Lee Tae-oh (Park Hae-joon) gives in to temptation and betrays Sun-woo along with the people around her, she gets driven to revenge, and their marriage unravels.
Kim Hee-ae’s chilling portrayal of Sun-woo won her Best Actress at the 56th Baeksang Arts Award. Along with many other characters you’ll love to hate, this binge-worthy series is not one to miss. Watch it on Viu here.
Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (Exclusively on Viu)
Featuring a star-studded cast, Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo is a remake of the popular Chinese series Scarlet Heart. The Korean remake was a hit too, becoming one of the top Korean dramas of 2016, with positive reception across China, Singapore, and North America.
The remake follows Go Ha-jin (IU), who’s transported back in time to the Goryeo Dynasty in 10th century Korea, and finds herself stuck in the body of a young woman named Hae-soo. When attempts to find a way back to the present day fail, she resigns to live as Hae-soo and soon attracts the attention of King Taejo’s 14 sons, instigating rivalries with other women in the court.
The drama also stars oppas Lee Joon Gi and Kang Ha Neul as princes fighting for Ha-jin’s affection. Fans of romance and period dramas, this one’s for you. Watch it on Viu here. The original (Scarlet Heart) is also available on Viu.
Criminal Minds: Korea
A remake of the well-loved American hit series Criminal Minds, the Korean adaptation follows a similar storyline, featuring a group of highly trained profilers in the National Criminal Investigation (NCI) team who analyze the nation’s most dangerous minds to solve cases.
Unlike its American counterpart which lasted 15 seasons, Criminal Minds: Korea is 20-episodes long, and begins with NCI agent Kang Ki-hyung’s (Son Hyun-jo) returning to work after a tragic incident. He’s already shaken confidence is tested when they collaborate with the Violent Crimes Unit and meet the temperamental Kim Hyun-hoon (Lee Joon-gi), who holds a bitter grudge against Ki-hyung.
With intriguing villains, plot twists, and stellar performances, the remake is just as gripping as the original. Watch it on Viu here.
18 Again
Many of us are familiar with 17 Again, the teen fantasy-comedy film starring Hollywood heartthrob Zac Efron. The Korean remake, 18 Again, follows a similar storyline.
Hong Dae-young (Yoon Sang-hyun)’s marriage, career, and relationship with his 18-year-old twins are falling apart. As he reflects on his life, he wishes to go back in time to do things differently, and magically morphs into his 18-year-old body, and starts attending the same school as his kids.
The boyish Lee Do Hyun shines in his heartfelt performance as 37-year-old Dae-young trapped in an 18-year-old’s body, winning him Best New Actor in both APAN Star Awards and Baeksang Arts Awards. Watch it on Viu here.
F4 Thailand: Boys Over Flowers (Exclusively on Viu)
The Thai adaption of the Japanese manga series Boys Over Flowers features a stellar cast, including Bright Vachirawit and Win Metawin who were recently in Singapore to grace us with their presence at the Burberry TB Summer Monogram Takeover event.
Gorya, a typical high-school girl, unexpectedly changes her life after passing an exam to enter a prestigious high school. Disturbed by the artificiality of high-society students, she is determined to spend her student life as unremarkable as possible. She’s also the only one who stands up to Thyme, Ren, Kavin, and MJ – the school’s richest and most notorious boys called F4. All the boys are in awe, and Thyme starts falling in love with her.
The storyline is a perennial favorite, with multiple remakes since 1995 in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. All variations have been hugely successful and F4 Thailand is no exception – it’s been praised for its more practical and relatable storyline. Watch it on Viu here. Boys Over Flowers (the Korean remake) is also available on Viu here.
Flower of Evil (Viu Original)
Catch Philippines showbiz royalty Piolo Pascual and Lovi Poe in Flower of Evil, a remake of the popular K-drama series of the same name.
Piolo Pascual is Daniel Villareal, a man trying to escape his tumultuous past. He assumes the identity of Jacob del Rosario and starts life anew as a doting husband and family man to his wife, homicide detective Iris Del Rosario (Lovi Poe). His past threatens to surface as his wife begins to look into a murder case.
Both actors serve compelling performances in the faithful remake of this romance-thriller, with cultural nuances and sensibilities that make it uniquely Filipino. Watch it on Viu here. The original Flower of Evil starring Lee Joon-gi and Moon Chae-won was a blockbuster hit, with the show and its actors winning numerous awards. It’s also available on Viu here.
K-Drama Review: “Flower Of Evil” Thrives On Thrilling Plot Suffused With Right Amount Of Drama
Pretty Little Liars (Viu Original)
An adaptation of the American television series of the same name, the series features an ensemble cast and is Viu’s most successful original series to date.
It follows four high school students in Bali, whose clique falls apart when their leader, Alissa, goes missing. A year later, Hanna, Ema, Sabrina and Aria reunite when a mysterious figure known as “A” threatens to expose their darkest secrets.
The Indonesian remake stays mostly faithful to the original, but with Asian nuances that also tackle important subjects like cyberbullying. Watch it on Viu here.
She Was Pretty (Viu Original)
She Was Pretty is a Malaysian rom-com based on the popular K-drama series of the same name starring Park Seo Joon and Choi Si Won. The K-drama was a hit domestically, with a peak rating of 18.4%, and inspired Turkish, Indian, Chinese, Vietnamese, Japanese and Thai remakes.
The Malaysian remake closely follows the original storyline – based on a true story, it’s a romantic comedy about past acquaintances who meet again after facing a reversal of fortunes and appearances, set in the backdrop of a fashion magazine’s publishing office.
Watch it on Viu here. The original is also available on Viu.
Binge-watch these Asian drama remakes only on Viu!
PR Source: Viu
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