The 2021 K-Drama season is wrapping up, and we have all of you covered on what you should not miss!
Over the next few days leading to our year-end roundup of must-watch Korean dramas this season, we will be looking back on the significant feats, evident craze and notable actors of the 2021 K-Drama season!
Note that KDRAMADIARY follows a slightly different calendar. With December dramas of the current year not included in the season run. All dramas ending on or before the 2nd week of the succeeding year’s first month will be included in the current season’s coverage.
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Game-Changing Trends
With entertainment streaming services collaborating with South Korean production companies, a few stellar Korean series achieved impressive global acknowledgment. The most popular example perhaps would be the syndrome created by Squid Game. As a result, more joint projects like My Roommate is a Gumiho, Jirisan and Move To Heaven are expected in the future.
Interestingly, this year saw fewer fantasy dramas compared to the previous years. Expectedly, staple romantic comedies and love-themed melodramas abound 2021 K-Dramaland. Narratives about idols, actors and Korean showbiz are also well-represented.
While workplace dramas are often mainstays in K-Drama landscape, this season saw an evident upgrade in terms of careers and industries viewers were able to get acquainted with. We learned about trauma cleaners, mountain rangers, exorcists and more. We got a peek into the worlds of different students, detectives and career people.
Prevailing Genres & Themes
Thrillers, romance and slice-of-life genres are mostly highlighted in the 2021 Korean Drama season. Notably, the resurgence of historical dramas all year long also decorated the season. In particular, historical romance dramas Mr. Queen, River Where The Moon Rises, Lovers of the Red Sky, The King’s Affection, The Red Sleeve and more generated quite a following.
Vaunting enthralling and imaginative stories, we saw mind-blowing moments in Sisyphus: The Myth, LUCA: The Beginning, Squid Game and Happiness. Likewise, spectacular writing fueled standout stories featuring healing elements in Navillera, You Are My Spring, Racket Boys, and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha.
Talking about stellar screenplays means special mentions to riveting storylines paraded in Beyond Evil, Mouse, Law School, and The Veil to name a few.
Notable Triumphs
Dominating the viewership rating race, SBS notched the highest-rated rated dramas with Penthouse seasons 2 and 3, One The Woman and Taxi Driver leading the pack. Over at cable networks, tvN continues its successful spree with Mr. Queen, Hospital Playlist 2 and Vincenzo.
From global viewers’ perspective, Vincenzo, Squid Game and Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha faired quite well. The latter also averaged almost double-digit in viewership rating. Remarkably, Netflix’s Squid Game has kept on piling accolades and feats. Receiving award nominations left and right, it also notched Google’s global most-searched TV show/series in 2021.
Stay tuned for more of our year-end wrap-up featuring the 2021 Korean Dramas!
Photos: SBS | tvN | Netflix
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