First Impression: Arang and the Magistrate

Arang and the Magistrate is a 2012 historical drama based on Korean folklore. In the story, Arang is the daughter of a magistrate in the city of Miryang. She is mysteriously murdered one night, and she comes back as a ghost in order to find the truth about her murder. She ends up enlisting the new magistrate to help her, but the magistrate, who can see ghosts, has some secrets and mysteries of his own...

I was a little skeptical about watching this drama at first because I am not a fan of historical dramas, but the romance aspect of this show reeled me in, and I’m glad it did.

What I like the most about this drama so far is the chemistry between characters, and the elements of the story itself. The show perfectly combines comedy, romance, history, and horror to create a truly entertaining television series.

Arang, played by Shin Min Ah, is extremely beautiful and spunky. Her character is refreshing because she is assertive and carefree, unlike most Kdrama heroines.

Arang

The magistrate, played by Lee Joon Ki, is handsome and easygoing. In the show he is burdened with the stress of looking for his lost mother, but his character is a funny, go-with-the-punches kind of guy, and he and Arang have a great on-screen chemistry.

The magistrate, Eun-oh

The magistrate’s…er…sidekick (manservant?), also provides plenty of comic relief in the show with his antics.

The magistrate's manservant,  Dol-sue

We also have a shaman with a weak sixth sense (she can hear ghosts but not see them). Arang repeatedly harasses her for favors and she, like the magistrate’s manservant, provides a lot of the show’s comedic moments.

Shaman Bang-wool

In addition to these characters, three of the king’s officials assist the magistrate with his magisterial duties. They enlist the magistrate at the start of the drama (initially by kidnapping him…), and they also add to the comedic aspects of the show.

The Trio
(I'm not sure what else to call them...but they are almost ALWAYS together)

These are the characters who stand out to me the most so far, but there are other characters in the show who I feel will play a more prominent role as the drama gets deeper into its 20-episode run.

???

A human skull

Overall, I’m pretty excited about this series, and I love the fact that it combines comedy and horror. It’s a strange combination, but in this drama it works. The horror moments are genuinely creepy while the comedy had me laughing throughout the first few episodes. I would definitely recommend this show to fans of romance and the supernatural!

The Short Guide to Korean Dramas

If you are the type of person who likes heart-wrenching pathos, Titanic-esque love stories, crazy mothers and evil grandmothers, a copious amount of flashbacks, and too many convenient coincidences, I may have just the thing for you: Korean dramas. If you’ve never seen a Korean drama before, this is a good place to start. Despite all the tropes and clichés in Kdramas, there's something charming about them that will keep you coming back for more, so here's a quick guide to get you started on your path to Kdrama fandom. 

Korean dramas, like American TV shows, are constantly being made. South Korea also has award shows just like America does, as well as renowned actors and actresses. One of the nice things about Korean dramas is that you get a lot more than just quality entertainment. You get a full dose of foreign culture without having to do much besides read subtitles. A Kdrama will typically run for about 16 episodes with each episode lasting about an hour. You will learn about food, family dynamics, the business world, Asian conceptions of America, and you’ll even pick up some of the language--all by simply watching Korean TV.

Now, I like to categorize Kdramas into three basic groups: the historical drama, the melodrama, and the romantic comedy. That said, many dramas will include subject matter that spans multiple genres. For example, many romantic comedies will also have some melodrama while many melodramas will include action and thriller elements. In broad terms, however, these are the three categories I will use.

Historical Drama

Historical dramas feature people wearing things like this:

Korean Gisaeng (female entertainers) in the drama Hwang Jin Yi

A male official

And doing things like this:

Gisaeng playing traditional instruments

Historical dramas are pretty self-explanatory. They take a piece of Korean history, such as a famous historical figure or event, and make a TV series out of it. These shows can range from about 20 to 80 episodes long, so it all depends on how invested you want to be in the show.

Melodrama

Next, we have the melodrama. The purpose of a melodrama is to appeal to your pathos, and Korean melodramas are no different. Many of them will feature a tragic main character who goes through many ups and downs throughout the course of the show, and who will not necessarily get “the happy ending” every time. These are the shows that will have you smiling one minute and sobbing the next, so if you plan on watching a melodrama have a box of tissues ready.

Still from Can You Hear My Heart?

Romantic Comedy

Finally, we have the romantic comedy, which is my personal favorite. Romantic comedies are typically lighthearted and very funny with a bit of melodrama thrown in. The characters almost always get a happy ending no matter how many obstacles they face.

Still from Protect the Boss

If I had to recommend a type of drama to start out with, I would say start with a romantic comedy. Romantic comedies are fairly straightforward and easy to enjoy, and they also move at a quick pace. Try Protect the Boss for a newer romantic comedy or You’re Beautiful for a classic fan favorite. You can watch these dramas for free at DramaFever, which is the site I personally like to use because of the great quality.

Happy watching!