One of the most underrated K-dramas of 2017,Save Me, is an incredible show, but it isn’t suitable for audiences who have never watched a Korean TV series. Based on the webtoonOut of the Worldby Jo Geum-san,Save MestarsMr. Plankton’s Woo Do-hwanandIt’s Okay to Not be Okay’s Seo Yea-ji who play Suk Dong-chul and Im Sang-mi, respectively.The thriller K-dramapremiered to average viewership ratings but was praised by critics and audiences for its storyline and talented cast.
Save Mefollows a small family who move from Seoul to a small town after their son, Sang-ji, is mercilessly bullied by his fellow high school students. When they arrive there, Sang-ji ends his life, leaving his family devastated, so a spiritual leader uses their grief to make them join his cult. While TV shows about cults are common in other parts of the world,Save Meis one of the first K-dramas to delve into the topic. So, it’s not surprising that some of the themes featured in the show could be a lot for Korean TV series beginners.
Save Me Is Fantastic, But Really Dark Compared To Most K-Dramas
Save Me Is One Of The Darkest K-Dramas
Despite being one of the best K-dramas released in 2017,Save Meis wildly underrated. The Korean TV series is brilliantly written,with a cast that does an incredible job of bringing Jung Shin-kyoo’s story to life.Save Meis one of those rare K-dramas that forces its audience to think about some of the toughest issues that humanity faces, but doesn’t do so in an obvious way. Instead,the Korean TV seriesintricately weaves a story about grief while including commentary on the dark side of cults.
If You’re Getting Into K-Dramas, Please Avoid These 10 Shows
There are plenty of K-dramas perfect for beginners of the genre, but there are also those that would be better for someone already familiar with it.
That being said,Save Meis a really dark K-drama that can at times be a hard watch. The Korean TV series delves into dark topics such as bullying, suicide, corruption, the symbiotic relationship that cults have with society, and the effects of death.The K-drama not only has themes that are difficult to grapple with,but there are several scenes in the series that can be hard to digest. Compared to other thriller K-dramas,Save Me goes into dark places even though it deals with topics and themes that have been explored countless times before.
Save Me Shouldn’t Be Your Introduction To The World Of K-Dramas
There Are Lighter K-Dramas For Beginners To Watch
If you are new to K-dramas, thenSave Meprobably shouldn’t be your first watch. Apart from its dark themes,the Korean TV show takes a while to pick up. While the K-drama sprinkles some clues in its early episodes about which direction the show will go, it doesn’t immediately get to the point. However, it could also be argued that the K-drama’s slow burn is one of the reasons it’s so great, but it might be frustrating for audiences who are justbeing introduced to Korean TV shows.
Park Ji-young
Kang Eun-shil
Most K-dramas tend to be rewatchable because they deal with lighter topics, but seeing asSave Meis an incredibly heavy show, it makes it difficult for audiences to revisit it. The K-drama is heartbreaking, has several uncomfortable scenes, and can be unsettling and stressful.Save Meis not only unsuitable for Korean TV series newbies,but it can also be a difficult show to watch for seasoned K-drama audiences. But people who have already watched Korean dramas may have an appreciation forSave Methat beginners won’t.
Which Shows Should Really Be Your First K-Dramas
There Are Several K-Drama Genres For Beginners To Choose From
AlthoughSave Meis undoubtedly great, there are other lighter K-dramas that are better suited for audiences who are new to Korean TV series. K-dramas span multiple genres, including romance, horror, thriller, and fantasy. Before getting into a K-drama likeSave Me,it’s best for beginners to first familiarize themselves with the structure that’s employed in Korean TV shows. K-dramas are usually a mix of genres and have several storylines, but that’s what makes them entertaining.
On the other hand, thrillers likeExtracurricularandThe Gloryare perfect for beginners as they include great storylines, incredible acting, and high stakes.
Romantic Korean dramaslikeBoys Over FlowersandWhat’s Wrong With Secretary Kimare a great introduction to the genre as they feature tropes that are commonly used in K-dramas. On the other hand, thrillers likeExtracurricularandThe Gloryare perfect for beginners as they include great storylines, incredible acting, and high stakes. But if horror is your preference,then zombie K-dramaslikeAll of Us Are DeadandSweet Homeshould be your entry point into the genre. Period K-dramas such asUnder the Queen’s Umbrella,Jewel in the Palace, andMr. Sunshineare also good for beginners.
Save Me
Cast
Save Me centers on Sang-mi, whose family moves to a rural village and becomes ensnared by a cult masquerading as a religious group. As her parents fall under the cult’s sway, Sang-mi struggles to escape their control. She enlists the help of four local young men, and together they embark on a perilous mission to uncover the cult’s true nature and save her family from its clutches.
