Twinkling Watermelon concluded its run with a satisfying finale that dropped on November 14, 2023. The underrated and inspiring coming-of-age fantasy romance musical K-drama centers on Ha Eun Gyeol (Ryeoun), a musically gifted CODA (Child of Deaf Adult) boy, who time travels to 1995 and forms a band called Watermelon Sugar. One of the band members is his own father Ha Yi-chan (Choi Hyun Wook), who is 18 years of age at the time. Twinkling Watermelon, which has an impressive IMDb rating of 9.2 and can be watched on Viki, also stars Seol In Ah as Choi Se Kyung and On Eun Yoo and Shin Eun Soo as Yoon Cheong Ah, who add the innocence of romance to the intriguing storyline.
If you’re already missing Twinkling Watermelon, then watch these 7 other underrated K-dramas of 2023:
1. Call It Love – Disney+ Hotstar
While Lee Sung Kyung starrer Dr. Romantic 3 killed it in the ratings race, Call It Love – her other more underrated 2023 K-drama – is a must-watch for introverts. The romance melodrama focuses on a sentimental love story where a woman wants to exact revenge but ends up falling for her late father’s mistress’ son, played by Kim Young Kwang. Call It Love also stars Sung Joon, Ahn Hee Yeon, and Kim Ye Won.
2. The Killing Vote – Amazon Prime Video
If you aren’t a fan of the romance genre, and would rather watch something that will keep you at the edge of your seats trying to decipher the mystery, look no further than The Killing Vote. The hardboiled crime thriller K-drama focuses on Gaetal, a mysterious masked figure, who conducts a nationwide death penalty vote against notorious criminals escaping the law. If more than 50 percent agree, Gaetal murders the culprits, while the police are on his constant trail. The Killing Vote stars Park Hae Jin, Park Sung Woong, and Lim Ji Yeon, and is based on Uhm Se Yoon and Jung Yi Pum’s popular webtoon of the same name.
3. Divorce Attorney Shin – Netflix
Divorce Attorney Shin is an eccentric legal drama with a heartwarming touch. Based on Kang Tae Kyung’s popular webtoon of the same name, the K-drama tells the story of Shin Sung Han (Cho Seung Woo), a brazen and talented pianist-turned-divorce-lawyer, who goes to any lengths to win the case for his clients. Sung Han navigates his professional and personal life, sharing a realistic yet endearing friendship with his two middle school friends, played by Kim Sung Kyun, and Jung Moon Sung. Divorce Attorney Shin also stars Han Hye Jin.
4. Not Others – Viki
Giving us a quirky mother-daughter duo is Not Others starring Jeon Hye Jin and Girls’ Generation member Sooyoung. The family comedy-drama revolves around a spirited but reckless single mother, who is a physical therapist, and her cool-headed but careful daughter, who is a police station patrol team leader. The two live together, and it leads to many chaotic adventures. Based on Jung Young Rong’s popular webtoon Strangers, Not Others also stars Ahn Jae Wook and Park Sung Hoon.
5. My Lovely Liar – Viki
Giving us a charming and unconventional leading pair to root for, we have My Lovely Liar starring Kim So Hyun and Hwang Min Hyun. The mystery rom-com fantasy K-drama tells the love story between a woman who can’t trust people because of her supernatural ability to detect lies, and her next-door neighbour, a reclusive but gifted music producer who is also a murder suspect. My Lovely Liar also stars Seo Ji Hoon, Lee Si Woo and Yoon Ji On.
6. Oasis – Viki
Keep the tissues handy for this gripping love triangle. Set against the backdrop of a turbulent South Korea from the 1980s to the 1990s, the coming-of-age romance period melodrama is based on three rebellious youths who fight fiercely to protect their dreams, friendships and first love. Oasis stars Jang Dong Yoon, Twinkling Watermelon fame Seol In Ah and Choo Young Woo.
7. Shadow Detective 2 – Disney+ Hotstar
Anything that stars Baeksang-winning actor Lee Sung Min is a must-watch, and Shadow Detective isn’t an exception. The first season saw Kim Taek Rok (Lee Sung Min), a veteran homicide detective, being framed for murder and blackmailed by the actual murderer. The second season of the mystery crime thriller drama shows Kim Taek Rok return in a counter-attack state of mind, as he hunts down the blackmailer, claiming to be the talented detective’s “old friend”. Shadow Detective 2 also stars Kyung Soo Jin, Lee Hak Joo, Jung Jin Young, Kim Shin Rok, Joo Jin Mo and Jin Goo.
