6 Fantasy K-Dramas With Otherworldly Romances
How many times have you thrown up your hands and asked for some divine intervention or the presence of a heavenly being in your life? Well, in the vast realm of K-dramas, these beings have made their presence felt and swept many into the swirls of these fantastical narratives.
From an immortal goblin who roams the earth to seek his bride to a several thousand-year-old unearthly being who finds himself stuck amongst humans, these imaginative storylines of mystical occurrences, time travel reincarnations, and unusual superpowers are accompanied with achingly bittersweet tales of love and longing. And sometimes there is a hilarious twist in fate too. This is the case of Rembrary (Kim Min Kyu), a high priest of the god Redlin, who is fighting devils one moment and wakes up as a K-pop idol the next. In the ongoing K-drama “The Heavenly Idol,” Rembrary finds himself in the body of pop star Woo Yeon Woo, who headlines the down and out band Wild Animal.
As the high priest tries to acclimatize to his earthly existence, he could also be the band’s only means to survival. As Wild Animal gets the divine help they need, the high priest learns to dance as he has never before.
Check out “The Heavenly Idol” below:
If you like dramas like this one, here are six K-dramas where viewers get a taste of heaven.
“Goblin”
The invincible general Kim Shin (Gong Yoo) has been cursed to immortality as a goblin. It’s been close to a century, and he roams the earth, seeking the one woman who is destined to be his bride and help weld the sword stuck in his chest. The orphaned Ji Eun Tak (Kim Go Eun) has been categorized as a “miscellaneously omitted person” by an exasperated grim reaper (Lee Dong Wook). Eun Tak’s birth has tilted the balance of fates, which the grim reaper oversees, and he awaits an opportunity to correct it. Plus, Eun Tak has the knack to see ghosts and the ability to call on the goblin as well. Kim Shin, who is a distinguished wealthy gentleman in the modern world, finds himself drawn to Eun Tak, who he is well aware is his chosen bride. As the goblin opens up a magical world previously unknown to Eun Tak, their union comes marked with a heavy price. And the grim reaper too has found his long lost soulmate in Sunny (Yoo In Na), a chicken shop owner.
“Goblin” is a beautifully made show, despite the writing lags in between and a few stretched scenes. Gong Yoo and Kim Go Eun’s chemistry brings forth the achingly bittersweet love story between the goblin and Eun Tak. And Yoo In Na and Lee Dong Wook’s awkward and playful romance is a stark contrast to the pain and pathos of the lead couple, giving the much needed light moments. And who could forget the bromance between Gong Yoo’s goblin and Lee Dong Wook’s grim reaper, which was a scene stealer.
Start watching “Goblin”:
“My Love From the Star”
What happens when a movie star is literally swept off her feet by a man who has descended from the stars himself? Do Min Joon (Kim Soo Hyun) is a 400-year-old transient resident on earth. He may be designated as an alien, but he looks human and is a very good looking one. As years turn into decades and decades into centuries, the ageless Min Joon has had several professions. He keeps to himself and enjoys his solitude as he awaits the return to his planet. Then there’s Chun Song Yi (Jun Ji Hyun), who is a moody superstar, known to have an occasional tantrum and meltdowns. When Chun Song Yi finds herself taking a college class headed by Min Joon, she also realizes they are next door neighbors as well. The inevitable happens, and Min Joon in spite of his reservations finds himself drawn towards Song Yi.
“My Love From the Star” remains an all-time favorite amongst K-drama fans for its timeless appeal. Both Min Joon, with his annoyance with the modern world and keeping humans at bay, and Song Yi, who finds solace in eating boxes of fried chicken and drinking cartons of beer to ward off her loneliness, are endearing. And the sizzling chemistry between Kim Soo Hyun and Jun Ji Hyun gave fans some unforgettable screen moments.
Start watching “My Love From the Star”:
“Tale of the Nine-Tailed”
Like the goblin, there’s another mythical being who roams the earth, awaiting the reincarnation of his one and only love. Lee Yeon (Lee Dong Wook) is a gumiho, a nine-tailed fox who relinquished his position as the spirit of Baekdudaegan in order to come down to earth and reunite with the love of his life Ah Eum. Lee Yeon has encountered many reincarnations of Ah Eum during his time on earth, but none carry the fox bead he had handed over to her when they parted after her death. In his time on earth he has even developed a taste for mint chocolate ice cream.
Show producer Ji Ah (Jo Bo Ah), who produces shows on the supernatural, runs into Lee Yeon. She recognizes him from years before, even though he tries to hide his identity. As mystical occurrences unfold whenever she is around him, she starts suspecting his identity. Ji Ah is also looking for her parents, who mysteriously disappeared after a freak car accident. As Ji Ah and Lee Yeon come together to investigate, sparks fly between them. But there is also Lee Yeon’s younger brother Lee Rang (Kim Bum), a half-human and half-gumiho who is deviously mischievous and can wreak havoc whenever he likes.
During its run, “Tale of The Nine-Tailed” had viewers hooked with its compelling and unique fantasy plot as it weaved in folklore, thriller, and some steamy romance. Lee Dong Wook, Jo Bo Ah, and Kim Bum did full justice to their characters. And scorching the screens with their chemistry, Lee Dong Wook and Jo Bo Ah gave us several swoon-worthy moments while Kim Bum notched the popularity with his boyish charms.
Start watching “Tale of The Nine-Tailed”:
“Bride of the Water God”
A narcissist god wants to rule the realm of the divinity but realizes that being emperor to the gods is far tricker than he had imagined. Habaek (Nam Joo Hyuk), the water god, descends on earth to source the god stones which would help him become the ruler. But it seems his godly status does not translate as being lucky—Habaek has not only lost his powers, he has also lost the map to the god stones upon his arrival on land. There’s also the down-and-out psychiatrist So Ah (Shin Se Kyung). She needs money to pay off her debts, but she is also a descendant of a family sworn to serve the gods. When Habaek runs into So Ah, the initial comedy of errors turns into something far more intense between the two.
Nam Joo Hyuk is cute as the childish and haughty deity Habaek, while Shin Se Kyung is nuanced in her portrayal as the closed and edgy So Ah. Though the show takes a dip in between, and there are a few corny dialogues, “Bride of the Water God” is an enjoyable, easy watch, especially if you like romances between heavenly beings and humans.
Start watching “Bride of the Water God”:
“Kokdu: Season of Deity”
Can two lovers doomed in their past life meet and live happily ever after in this lifetime? Kokdu (Kim Jung Hyun) has incurred the wrath of God and has been turned into a grim reaper. Every 99 years, Kokdu comes down to earth and possesses a human who looks like him. He is cold and has no qualms in killing evil people. This time, he finds surgeon Do Jin Woo’s body. But things change when he appears in front of Han Gye Jeol (Im Soo Hyang), a physician. Gye Jeol resembles Kokdu’s first love but also possesses mysterious abilities which could threaten his purpose.
“Kokdu: Season of Deity” may have a predictable plot, but there is enough for fans of fantasy and romance to chew on. The return of Kim Jung Hyun on the small screen is one of the biggest draws, and the actor showcases tremendous promise. He effortlessly displays the contradictory personalties of his two characters, and another bonus for all fans is to hear him sing as he emotively croons “I Am,” which is part of the OST of the drama.
Start watching “Kokdu: Season of Deity”:
“Angel’s Last Mission: Love”
An angel has been assigned the task to bring true love to a blind ballerina’s life. Dan (Kim Myung Soo) is a mischievous angel with a heart of gold, but his only weakness is his habit of meddling in earthly affairs. Lee Yeon Soo (Shin Hye Sun) is a talented ballerina who comes across as aloof and brusque but is a softie at heart. When Dan’s trouble leads to him being banned from entering heaven, the only way for him to gain access is to find true love for Yeon Soo. But things go awry when Dan falls in love with Yeon Soo instead and is well aware of the repercussions of this forbidden love in the angelic realm.
“Angel’s Last Mission: Love” is a refreshingly cute love story, and the push and pull between the lead couple as the squabbles transgress into a comforting romance is adorable. All in all, it’s an underrated drama that deserves a watch!
Start watching “Angel’s Last Mission: Love”:
Hey Soompiers, which one is of these fantasy dramas is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
Puja Talwar is a Soompi writer with a strong Yoo Tae Oh and Lee Junho bias. A long time K-drama fan, she loves devising alternate scenarios to the narratives. She has interviewed Lee Min Ho, Gong Yoo, Cha Eun Woo, and Ji Chang Wook to name a few. You can follow her on @puja_talwar7 on Instagram.
Currently watching: “Call It Love” and “Crash Course in Romance.”
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