In the distant past, I did nothing but enjoy Western entertainment content, losing myself in movies and television series. Come to think of it, I've always had a penchant for old movies, dated comedies, and niche films.
This was probably influenced by the wonderful times I spent with my grandparents during my childhood and adolescence, when we grandchildren would embark on real movie marathons during the Christmas holidays. But once that time had passed, I soon realized that I was no longer interested in the “modern” offerings of the period.
As I grew up, I looked for an alternative, so little by little I started watching Japanese and Korean films. Among unknown titles and different genres, I drew up a series of endless lists, which I would tick off every weekend in my spare time.
And scrolling through the various offerings, I saw for the first time a genre of entertainment that I had deliberately overlooked until then (because I was misled by the school-themed posters, what an unforgivable mistake). From that precise moment, I approached what are commonly referred to as dramas (Eastern TV series), which currently seem to have won widespread acclaim, not only in Europe but, I dare say, globally.
There could be many reasons that triggered this sensational interest, but I believe the most credible one lies in its psychological component and its ability to attract audiences with consistent and well-constructed storytelling.
Dramas, specifically K-dramas (Korean), have been the most successful in recent years, and this is not just my opinion but the result of a series of ‘surveys’ on choices, preferences, and personal tastes regarding TV series that have been on air for some time now.
Curiosity about ‘other’ is growing so much that it is arousing deep interest and, as a result, some newspapers such as Vanity Fair Italia, in November of this year (2025), seized the opportunity to publish an article on the subject, recommending a series of titles not to be missed because they are considered the most watched globally and therefore easily available.
We can certainly confirm that K-dramas, compared to others, have been driven by extreme commercialization thanks to well-known phenomena in recent years such as Squid Game (especially in Italy) and K-pop on a global level (BTS, Stray Kids, Blackpink, to name a few), have sparked an unrivalled passion for Asian culture and everything that revolves around it. This explosion of media interest is vaguely reminiscent of what happened with the Hallyu effect, 한류 or ‘Korean wave’, which contributed significantly to spreading Korean culture globally.
This wave originated in the 1990s and, in addition to gloriously bringing the splendor of Korean culture to the world, it also contributed to a very significant economic and geopolitical impact, making Korea itself more “accessible” and therefore more visible than China and Japan, which the West was already fully aware of.
What is surprising, but perhaps not so much, is that when you start to get passionate about something, it happens almost automatically, so you start reading and researching, preparing recipes, or even planning trips to visit the places of your idols or try to ‘replicate’ their lifestyle in some way.
The next step, which could rightly be considered an obsession, seems to be a phase that almost all drama fans go through.
In general, the desire and curiosity to delve even deeper into a culture so different from one's own is dictated by the drama itself and its undeniably attractive power.
This phenomenon has grown significantly in Italy, starting with K-dramas (precisely because they are over-hyped). Many fans, driven by curiosity and the need to change context while remaining within the Asian genre, are experimenting with Japanese, Chinese (currently the most searched for on the internet), and Taiwanese dramas (which, despite being translated into a minority language, seem to be generating a lot of interest).
Each country brings specific characteristics to differentiate itself. For example:
Korean dramas are known for their production quality, often filmed with plots ranging from romance to epic stories, dramatically complicated lives, medical or legal issues;
Japanese dramas tend to have a softer, more reflective tone, with a focus on emotional discretion and inner or physical discomfort;
Chinese dramas feature narratives with a mix of social, political, and melodramatic-crime elements;
Taiwanese dramas combine melodrama, strong romantic elements, and a focus on important social issues such as depression, rebellion, psychological abuse, extreme life changes, and redemption. But they also deal with topics still considered “daring,” such as romantic relationships between young men.
It is commonly believed among fans that Korean, Japanese, Chinese, and Taiwanese dramas share the same compelling force, an evocative power capable of arousing intense emotional climaxes that are difficult to escape.
The evocative, melancholic, or sentimental soundtracks (OST original soundtracks), combined with highly expressive acting and the use of close-ups as the main technique to reinforce the narrative power, allow the viewer to experience a continuous roller coaster of emotions, resulting in immediate involvement derived from the empathetic connection between character and viewer.
Consequently, this bond finds its strength thanks to stories told so well that the viewer can identify with the lives of the protagonists.
The emotional impact is remarkable, the plots are always or almost always engaging, with a narrative structure that develops in a crescendo, introducing each character in a well-rounded way, analyzing them from a psychological, character, and emotional point of view.
It is no coincidence that the necessarily fragmented plot continues in a succession of different episodes, ranging from ten to forty, but which nevertheless finds a planned conclusion.
The viewer is never bothered by having to wait ‘ages’ to see how it ends (remember that American series last for years), so it is also enjoyable to watch simply because it avoids wasting time to get to the long-awaited conclusion.
The importance of the setting should not be underestimated, usually concentrated in urban contexts that encompass cities, neighborhoods, villages, and areas that convey a sense of normality and therefore of real, everyday life.
You may find yourself in a remote and peaceful seaside village, or in the midst of city chaos. The possibilities are endless, and we can say that the location is a fundamental part of the drama itself, adding that extra touch that never hurts.
Just as relevant is the context in which it takes place, ranging from historical costume dramas to contemporary ones. In short, there are a number of conditions that determine whether a drama is engaging or not. There are several alternatives, all of which are very valid. It just depends on the individual's choice, who can draw on a vast and constantly updated panorama.
Moreover, once you start watching, it is difficult to stop because the stories often deal with real-life issues such as friendship, career, health, parental concerns, school events, etc. All are treated with such delicacy that they leverage often strong and conflicting emotions, sometimes even played down to make the story, although sometimes raw, emotionally and psychologically bearable.
Some compare drama to a comforting hot meal you eat in the cold months, others to an engaging puzzle that pushes you to want to find all the pieces to reach the long-awaited ending, and there are those who love the characters so much because they see some resemblance to their own personal story. Because, ultimately, dramas influence our view of the world by mixing fiction and reality, arousing strong emotions that can open the mind, facilitate cultural openness,
change points of view, and offer new models of behavior, thus profoundly influencing how we interpret and experience the world around us.
From a ‘historical’ point of view, if we go back in time, we discover that the first information about an experimental form of drama came to life around the 1960s.
KBS (Korea Broadcasting System) consolidated its broadcast, establishing this new television genre.
In particular, K-dramas originated from what were considered Japanese soap operas many years ago. These later developed their own distinctive feature, namely mini-series as we know them today, with a set number of episodes per season. In other words, with a beginning and an end.
Even earlier, however, during the Japanese occupation, the very first forms of radio dramas were broadcast, which marked the beginning of the production of today's dramas and later became hugely successful in China as well.
In the international European context, especially in the US, where we are mostly fed films and TV series full of twists and turns, fast pacing, and surreal stories bordering on reality, without generalizing, a large part of drama represents a more reflective, authentic world of personal growth, which does not neglect important aspects and values such as loyalty, and respect, all of which are key points that, despite objective geographical and linguistic differences, manage to create a very important universal cultural connection.
From a global perspective, their success is dictated by the possibility of using widely available streaming platforms, the need to see something different from the usual, and, as we have seen, the no less important force of the commercialization of the phenomenon itself.
In addition, the infamous algorithm of any streaming platform suggests new dramas and helps users discover new ones, contributing to a continuous cycle of emotional engagement. Language barriers have been overcome thanks to the support of multilingual subtitles. Overall, platforms have democratized access to Asian dramas, greatly expanding the audience and changing the way they are consumed.
As far as I'm concerned, when I first became interested in dramas and started talking about them, there were only a few of us, and all this interest seemed far away. Today, my small community has grown considerably, and I find that sharing on the subject is still booming.
But looking back on how it all began, I admit that I was guided by a strange and completely wrong prejudice. I believed that dramas were mostly focused on teenage and school stories, so with this belief, I always deliberately avoided them. I couldn't relate to that context, even if I tried to imagine it, even though at the time I was in that age group.
In reality, dramas have a very varied narrative form, they lend themselves to a wide audience with a fairly broad age range, and they offer social, psychological, historical, fantasy, and much more content. In short, there are no excuses: anyone who is curious and wants to try some just has to choose.
In fact, researching and choosing a drama is a very personal thing. From a psychological point of view, they create a kind of benign addiction, and we fans all agree that once we've seen the first one, there's no going back; we immediately move on to the next one. The reassuring power of dramas, where everything stops for a short time, provides moments of leisure, reflection, emotion, and lightheartedness. It's like a cuddle, a safe place where everyone, regardless of age, is welcome.
So, it is possible to come across a recommendation, an exchange of opinions about the search for a newly released drama, and between one thing and another, anecdotes emerge about grandchildren who have introduced their grandmothers to this ‘new world’, and mothers who, in turn, after accompanying their children to K-pop concerts, have become interested in it themselves.
Cohesion and a beautiful, solid community are created, sanctioned by the creation of pages and groups where everyone can express and share various experiences about viewing, appreciation, or lack thereof. Comparisons, different points of view, reflections, and suggestions are created, and this is enough to set up something important and always available.
I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that dramas also have, as far as possible, an educational power. Issues such as bullying, inequality, injustice, and the difficulties that ordinary people face in everyday life are part of many of these narratives, and it is possible to find a kind of emotional refuge in them, prompting viewers to reflect on society in general and on what it has sometimes produced, even negatively.
Ultimately, those who are still skeptical today, those who have a prejudiced idea like mine at the beginning, and those who want to try something different, new, and well-made that deviates from the usual narrative we are used to seeing, have no excuse. The internet is full of valid suggestions and proposals that I am sure will convince you too, so go ahead and start, you won't regret it, it will be an incredible journey!
Below are a few (international) titles to get you started, the rest is up to you! :-)
Go Ahead
Yong-Jiu Grocery Store
The Good Bad Mother
Our Blues
My Dearest
War of Prosecutors
Goblin
Silent
My Mister
Meet Yourself
My Unfamiliar Family
My Dearest
Something In The Rain
When Life Gives You Tangerines
Our Movie
Road Home
Last Princess
