I love romance drama in any space and form, but undoubtedly the most powerful love stories are the ones with the highest stakes. Epic love stories are my absolute favourite, because life-or-death romances feel the most heart-wrenching.
NOTE: There are plenty I could have included in this list, which I know for a fact are wonderful love stories. However, since I haven't seen them myself, I can't give a recommendation. Seven Day Queen and The Princess' Man are some well-rated epic love story sageuks. (Also, excuse any formatting errors - Blogger was toying with me today, and I got frustrated with trying to fix it.)
5. Moonlight Drawn by Clouds
A girl who dresses as a boy to survive is thrown into the palace, forced to become an eunuch by debt collectors. She becomes a trusted friend of the clever and savvy prince.
The highlight of this show is definitely the romance, which took helm in the narrative throughout the middle of the drama's run. The fun in this comes from the dread for later, knowing that a romance between a lying girl and a prince is bound to have deadly consequence. There's an even bigger wedge thrown between them later on, which I won't spoil. Aside from that, reasons to watch include Park Bo-gum's award-worthy performance, the general beauty of the show (shots, costumes), and how well thought-out and cared for the show feels.
4. My Girlfriend is a Gumiho
A petty aspiring-stunt-actor unintentionally releases a nine-tailed fox, who wants to become human. She follows him home. Hilarity naturally ensues.
This is arguably one of the best shows from the Hong Sisters, a drama-writing combo. It's probably one of their more ambitious stories, since the straddled the line between cute and tragic across most of the drama, to great effect. The thing about My Girlfriend is a Gumiho is that the only draw to the show is the romance - despite her being a fictional nine-tailed fox, the growth of their relationship feels incredibly realistic, and if you can sit through it the payoff is rewarding.
3. You From the Stars
Famous movie actress meets grumpy alien, and fate suggests it's not an accident. After all, he's set to head home to his own planet in a few months.
For many, this insanely popular drama is the best romantic-comedy of all time. Alongside having enough star-power to launch a rocket, the sets are dazzling, the story is consistently fun and the chemistry is sizzling hot. Despite having watched it multiple times, I still can't really find much fault in the drama. Of course, the biggest pull comes from the love story. What makes it so special is that the unexpected romance between these polar-opposites doesn't just change them for the better, but it makes them learn to appreciate and treasure every moment they have together. It's pretty beautiful to watch.
2. Goblin
A suffering Goblin receives the opportunity to end his eternal life in the form of a bubbly high-schooler. But things get complicated when she becomes his reason to live.
Whilst it's by no means perfect, Goblin is undoubtedly the best drama that hit-maker Kim Eun-sook has ever penned. The balance struck between the hilarious antics of our godly man-child, and the tragic fate that makes simply existing painful for him, works well enough. The actors clearly had a lot of fun shooting. Even if you don't appreciate the age-gap between our leads, or find their budding attraction ridiculously childish (I sure did), I can assure you that it's worth waiting until the melodramatic elements of the premise takes the helm. The bittersweet love story in Goblin will make you weep in the end.
1. Queen In-hyun's Man
Scholar meets bubbly actress after being thrown forward in time, and sparks fly. But is their connection a gift, or a curse that time has bestowed upon them?
There are some big hits on this list, some of which held up the acting-directing-writing trifecta perfectly. Yet, Queen In-hyun's Man still wins. Despite being a little project on tvN (back before the station had really taken off), had so much to brag about. It had wonderfully concise and consistent internal logic, something necessary in a time-travel drama, that pulled the strings behind everything cleverly. It had wonderful actors who fused with their characters perfectly. You can't help but worry that the writer will be savage and prove that time can;t be overcome after all, and that the entire drama was a tease, which is sadistic but addictive. But perhaps the biggest draw is that the romance felt real because it was.
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