This K-Drama Was One Of 2017's Most Underrated Shows, But Don't Watch It If You've Never Seen A K-Drama Before

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 webtoon Out of the World by Jo Geum-san, Save Me stars Mr. Plankton’s Woo Do-hwan and It's Okay to Not be Okay’s Seo Yea-ji who play Suk Dong-chul and Im Sang-mi, respectively. The thriller K-drama premiered to average viewership ratings but was praised by critics and audiences for its storyline and talented cast.

Save Me follows 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 Me is 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 Me is 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 Me is 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 series intricately weaves a story about grief while including commentary on the dark side of cults.

goblin scene k-drama - gong yoo and kim si a

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.

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That being said, Save Me is 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, then Save Me probably 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 just being introduced to Korean TV shows.

Save Me Cast & Characters
Actor	Character
Woo Do-hwan	Suk Dong-chul
Seo Yea-ji	Im Sang-mi
Jo Sung-ha	Baek Jung-ki
Ok Taec-yeon	Han Sang-hwan
Jo Jae-yoon	Jo Wan-tae
Park Ji-young	Kang Eun-shil

Most K-dramas tend to be rewatchable because they deal with lighter topics, but seeing as Save Me is 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 Me is 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 for Save Me that beginners won’t.

Which Shows Should Really Be Your First K-Dramas

There Are Several K-Drama Genres For Beginners To Choose From

Woo Do-hwan looking contemplative in Save Me

Although Save Me is 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 like Save 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 like Extracurricular and The Glory are perfect for beginners as they include great storylines, incredible acting, and high stakes.

Romantic Korean dramas like Boys Over Flowers and What's Wrong With Secretary Kim are a great introduction to the genre as they feature tropes that are commonly used in K-dramas. On the other hand, thrillers like Extracurricular and The Glory are perfect for beginners as they include great storylines, incredible acting, and high stakes. But if horror is your preference, then zombie K-dramas like All of Us Are Dead and Sweet Home should be your entry point into the genre. Period K-dramas such as Under the Queen's Umbrella, Jewel in the Palace, and Mr. Sunshine are also good for beginners.