There’s so much hype surrounding the Korean period drama “Kingdom” on Netflix, the second season of which was released as the “Crash Landing On You” fever slowly dies down. And with Metro Manila and other provinces being placed in a community quarantine, it seems that everyone has more free time to check the show out. Many of my friends have even finished it just right after it was released.
With period dramas gaining more popularity these days, I’ve seen a couple of posts on social media asking for recommendations on what period dramas they could watch next. For those who aren’t familiar with them, they’re shows that are set in a past time period, often during the Goryeo and Joseon eras, the two empirical dynasties of Korea before it was divided to North and South.
Here are some period dramas you can check out after watching “Kingdom:”
“Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo”
Gaining popularity mostly overseas, the show is about how a 21st century girl gets sucked back into the Goryeo era, which ran from the year 918 to 1932. Stuck in another woman’s body, Go Ha-jin finds herself initially falling in love with the eighth prince but eventually falls for the fourth prince. She also finds herself in the middle of the princes’ rivalry and the politics involved in the succession of the throne.
“Six Flying Dragons”
This period drama is set during the end of the Goryeo era. It tells the stories of six ambitious characters, the six flying dragons and the conflicts they face, with a special focus on how Lee Bang-won, the central character, helps his father establish the Joseon dynasty (which was established after they overthrew Goryeo).
“Jewel in the Palace”
Based on a true story, the show tells the story of Seo Jang-geum, the first woman to earn the title of supreme royal physician during the Joseon era, a period largely governed by the patriarchy. It focuses on her journey from working as a royal cook to eventually becoming the king’s physician.
“The Great Queen Seondeok”
Based on the life of Queen Seondeok of Silla, “The Great Queen Seondeok” is another period drama that shows how a woman defies odds in a patriarchal society. Abandoned at birth, the show follows Seondeok’s life as she reunites with her twin sister and avenges her from the man who plans to take their place as rightful heiresses. It also shows how Seondeok becomes the first female ruler of the Silla Kingdom.
“The Flower in Prison”
Aired in 2016, “The Flower in Prison” tells the story of Ok-nyeo, a girl born and raised in prison during the Joseon dynasty (which ran from 1392 until 1897), and her adventures with Yun Tae-won. She grows up to be an advocate of the poor and the unjustly convicted.
Photo courtesy of Netflix
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