Dramaworld (2016–2021) User Reviews

Addicting Series With Plenty Of Charm.

[gorphina · 8/10 · 30 May 2016]

I have been a K-Drama junkie since 2009 since the volume controls on my now old-fashioned, non-flat-screen television set malfunctioned and the only shows I could watch were the ones with English subtitles. Beginning with an historical drama called "Dae Jo-Young" which I had believed to be either Chinese or Japanese. As a 50-year old white woman who's Irish/Scottish on the paternal side of my family and Sicilian on the maternal side of it I didn't realize that what I was watching was an historical drama set centuries ago in Korea. However, "Dae Jo- Young" wasn't the K-Drama that put me over the edge into becoming fully addicted to the genre. It was a series called "Boys Over Flowers" and ever since I have been watching K-Dramas; both the ones that take place in the past and in the present ever since.

There are actually only a very few Hollywood television series that I find to be as well done as many of the K-Dramas that I have seen.

Now enough of that.

"Dramaworld" is a an extremely charming series that has managed, in my opinion, to combine the best of a Hollywood and a Korean T.V. show. I found the episodes to be much too short at an average of 10 minutes each and binge-watched the entire first season of the series on Netflix.

I especially liked how Claire was able to interact with the characters on the K-Drama that she had been thrust into without the makers of "Dramaworld" using the fish-out-of-water cliché.

I need more.

[nene3491 · 8/10 · 31 January 2017]

Though it is a very short series it is a fast paced drama, not giving you your usual allotted time to connect and fall in love with the leading guy and become emotionally invested in the leading lady as most Asian dramas would, it tied up really nicely.

As a K-Drama addict I felt it did what all A-Dramas aim to do and that is draw you in with the concept and have you wishing it wasn't ending by the end. I really hope this gets a Season 2. I look forward to seeing more of Claire and Park Joon, I mean she is living the fantasy of every fan-girl right now.

I do believe they did a good job with Claire's character, I really felt like most of the time she reacted to situations like most K-Drama addicts would. I would definitely recommend it as a light filler Drama for those who are binge watching one of those 24 episode dramas that are 45 minutes an episode.

Season 1: Funny, clever, and charming - perfect for fans of Lost in Austen Season 2: Still good but .... Season 3: OMG none

[cherold · 10/10 · 4 May 2016]

Season 1 (10 stars): Claire, a huge fan of Korean dramas (I had no idea that was a thing, but apparently it is), is magically transported into her favorite Korean soap opera, where she is told that she has a new job; fixing the conventional dramatic path that has somehow gone off target. She is supposed to work from behind the scenes, creating situations for the leads to fall in love as they're supposed to, but things don't go quite the way they're supposed to.

Dramaworld is quite funny, although as the show digs deeper into its silly story the humor sometimes gets toned down in favor of plot or drama. But the story is intriguing, the drama has a light touch, and the comedy manages to both mock Korean conventions while making me eager to watch one of these shows for myself.

Liv Hewson, who plays Claire, is perfectly cast as the red-headed American nerd inexplicably accepted by the Korean principles. She manages to be both dorky and plain enough to seem like someone who would obsessively watch a TV show while being cute and quirky enough to be believable as someone who simply cannot avoid becoming a part of the story she is supposed to influence from the edges.

The series reminds me a lot of Lost in Austen, in which a Jane Austen fan is transported into one of her novels. If you like one of these, I highly recommend watching the other.

I highly recommend binge watching this; episodes are short and end on cliffhangers, so it's frustrating to just watch one. I wound up waiting a month so I could watch the last 4 episodes together.

Beautifully done from beginning to end. I just love this show so much.

Season 2 (8 stars): Wow, that was a long wait!

Season 2 continues the story. The episodes are longer, the plotlines are crazier, the mythology is messier, and there's a goddamn cliffhanger which will never be resolved because the series was cancelled. So I'm pretty aggravated about that.

This second season is still tremendously fun and involving. It's funny and the plot is chockful of twists.

This time around, Joon knows more about his world and Seth has a new scheme clearly patterned after incel culture. And Claire is in a love triangle.

But a lot of this isn't really consistent with dramaworld as we know it. For example, Joon's character in this isn't his previous character, nor the character of his current drama. It's more the character of a perplexed actor who finds Dramaworld peculiar. Which makes no sense. Nor does it make sense that you can derail all the secondary characters.

It's as though at some point the writers thought, hey, is Dramaworld actually some sort of purgatory or metaphorical torment? Which is absolutely not the attitude that made me fall in love with the show.

I binged the second season in one day. At first this was because it was so much fun, but towards the end it was more because I was invested in learning how all this craziness would be resolved. And then ... it wasn't! Instead, we got a really dark cliffhanger. And since I discovered this at 1 a.m. When I was very, very tired, I was very angry. Had I known I would have spaced out my viewing over a few days.

Maybe the writers, depressed by the increase of authoritarianism throughout the world, the rise of incel trolls, and the pandemic, wanted to somehow pack all of that darkness into a cute comedy. I wish they hadn't done that.

Anyway, after I finished with the series I googled the show and found that it had been cancelled. So now all I have is a very unsatisfactory last episode and no idea how they were planning to dig themselves out of that very deep hole.

Don't get me wrong, Season 2 is still good overall. It's just not as perfect as Season 1.

Amazing and Well Acted

[ajrighters · 10/10 · 27 August 2016]

Some people say this show isn't well-made or acted. For a spoof on K-drama, I'd say it was amazingly done! Great video quality, great sound, wonderful expressions! Claire, who I am assuming is an American, is very over the top of from how a normal/modern US citizen would be. But if she is going to act along with the level of K-drama, she needed to act as she did. The reactions were priceless in this show and they tickled me so much. I didn't realize there were so many themes in K-drama until I watched this show. If you understand how a normal drama works, then this will be hilarious. If you don't, then it will be a mildly amusing concept that is entertaining. I am very happy with this show and am crossing my fingers for another!

Loved it-can't wait for season 2

[nyfamilyfarm · 9/10 · 23 September 2018]

I also am an avid fan of Asian tv and movies. Honestly, I felt the show was just perfect, delightful and made me feel very connected with the premiss in familiar obvious tropes in all the Korean tv I have watched. The concept here is just brilliant in mixing the two cultures. I believe we have enough of a sense of humor in both countries to play with the underlying 'mockery' of the tropes for films in Korean shows and it honestly made me feel very warm in the connection.

I didn't understand some comments of the acting. I actually felt everyone did an amazing job at keeping it real but also light and humorous with a bit to play with on the exaggeration of some obvious tropes. Really loved the choice actress for Claire. I was a bit mixed at first on the leading man as he did seem a bit more wooden and struggling with the typical Korean leading man part but also think it could be a bit more difficult to find the perfect blend of humor and slight exaggeration to serious lead man acting and guess that may have been the challenge for him here. He did warm up later though and was a bit more connected. I do think there was a chemistry with leading characters coming mostly from the last few episodes.

I can't wait to see the next season please. Truly a delight and something I could watch again easily. Loved, loved the beginning on episode 8 :-).

Waiting for season 2

[looktowardthesky · 10/10 · 13 May 2019]

This was definitely my gateway drug for K-drama. I came for Liv Hewson, and stayed for the incredibly cute story! After Netflix decided to cancel "Santa Clarita Diet" (still enraged over that), I went looking for more similar shows, and this one was suggested. It did not disappoint! Some people say they thought the acting was subpar, but to be fair, it was one of the first credits for a couple of the main characters.

The story is what really sold it for me. Girl gets sucked into her favorite show and falls in love with the leading man who is promised to the leading lady, all while a mysterious killer is threatening the very existence of Dramaworld! Sure it sounds campy, but it's also very self-aware and isn't afraid to poke fun at itself. All in all, I give this show a 10 out of 10 <3

An Amazing Breakthrough In Television Series History

[tabuno · 9/10 · 13 January 2019]

25 May 2016. This international television series collaboration between China, South Korea, and the USA is an unique formula for peace in the world and drama/comedy entertainment of a new kind. This fantasy light drama has all the trappings of an American Soap Opera and the sparkling cultural fusion of Asian-American trappings that make this mini-television series a brilliant extended piece of fun, consternation, and fairy-tale that is delightful. Shot in short 15 minute episode segments, the total two and a half hour story arch brings story characters to life as Liv Hewson finds herself literally in another world.

Delirious (1991), Soap Dish (1991), Last Action Hero (1993), and Nurse Betty, offer some resemblance to a fictional world, but Dramaworld creates an almost magical alternative universe that might be more attuned to a more fantastical Cinderella version of the sci fi television series Fringe (2008-2013). This enjoyable fantasy series has all the promise of a huge hit internationally.

Season 2 ended in a cliffhanger?

[azminursyafiqa · 3/10 · 20 May 2021]

The episode guide for this drama isn't very clear. Some sites listed season 2 with 10 episodes, some with 13 episodes. Anyway if it is the former, I have to say the ending was pretty awful with major cliffhangers and if it took them 5 years to make season 2, how long would viewers have to wait for season 3? Chances are it won't happen so I wouldn't recommend it unless you love cliffhanger endings and you're willing to wait 5 more years for the next season.

NEED SEASON 2

[simret-sekhon · 10/10 · 18 June 2020]

Please make a season 2!!!! it was such a different show and I loved the lead girl. Super creative and fun.

Fascinating Concept

[editoratlarge · 13 September 2018]

I was very surprised at how much I enjoyed this show. The concept of time travel is familiar to me, however the vehicle they chose to get there in order to alter a character's obsession with her television show is inspiring. Have to watch to understand previous line. Take a chance and go w/it and before you know it, you'll be hooked.

A great twist does it all!

[dani69073 · 9/10 · 13 February 2019]

I agree , this show is addicting!

Found it on Netflix and got caught reading the storyline. Thought I watch a couple of episodes just to see how it would go. Turns out, I ended up watching the whole season at a time! I was looking for something different, and guys, this show deserves a gold star.

Please make season 2

[dvorog666 · 10/10 · 28 August 2019]

I loved it! I don't watch k-dramas but this short series made me think I should. It's really fast paced, but they do a really good job of making you care for Claire and Joon. I felt so sad that there wasn't an option 'click for next episode' on the last one. I really hope they make more.

Funny, light, fantasy that will make you smile

[PaxD75 · 9/10 · 20 January 2021]

I stumbled across Dramaworld recently and was lucky enough to be able to see the series via youtube. I loved the entire premise, which was what drew me to the series.

The trailer looked great and the entire 10-episode series was just as much fun. Liv Hewson stars and she really shines in this. She has got a very pleasant appeal in this comedy/drama. Have also seen her work in Santa Clarita Diet (2017) - one of my fav comedies.

While the series uses lots of English language, the South Korean dialogue is subtitled. I didn't think I'd get used to it (I dislike subtitles) but it turned out to be very natural and not uncomfortable at all because so much of the show is in English.

The show is easily binge-able - which is to say that it pulls you in and keeps your interest levels high.

Season 1 premiered in 2016. It's been 4 years (as I write this) but apparently season 2 is in production...

I'm not familiar with the South Korean actors but loved their roles too and am anxious to see the (now) familiar faces reprise their roles.

UPDATE (07jul2021): Season 2 is out and currently airing in parts of the world. Not sure when it'll be available on one of my streaming services but I'm looking forward to catching it soon.

Super

[annamoddo · 10/10 · 24 July 2019]

I really love it. Cant wait for s 2! Come on netflix! Its charm and a TV show like no other

Sorry, but not really that good

[usuyami_13 · 3/10 · 28 March 2017]

I was looking forward for this one, and had it on queue waiting for the perfect moment to binge-watch it, and finally got that perfect moment. It was rather disappointing, the lead guys have no chemistry whatsoever,also the lead guy ironically seems to struggle acting Korean, Justin Chon is the only one that seemed to make an effort at acting and have fun. The concept is interesting and it had so much potential, but it falls flat on the execution, they had so many opportunities to make it fun, and they were wasted, I love kdramas, and there was so much they could have used on this story. At the end, the bad acting,and the bad writing make small episodes feel long and boring.

Funny

[DansLeNoir · 13 December 2019]

Funny and nice series. Claire is a very friendly and endearing character. other than that, an ordinary Korean drama, expected events occurred.

I Loved This Show!

[hannahdawriter · 10/10 · 30 May 2019]

It was cute, funny, and full of charm! I cant wait for the second season to come out! When I saw that the Santa Clarita Diet was canceled I was so sad. Then I saw this show and it was amazing!!!

Sooooooooo Good!!!

[tasuki-32137 · 10/10 · 12 March 2022]

What a great show!!! It's so funny, cute, and overall just entertaining. It just makes my day to be able to watch this over and over. It catches the atmosphere of K-Drama's to a T and is just incredibly clever and endearing. I love that the series can be marathoned in a short amount of time...even if it does leave you wanting more. Just an overall great show.

New comfort show

[islarosehughes · 10/10 · 24 June 2023]

Honestly I abloustly loved this show, i found Claire's acting really well done. I hope she's in other things because she honestly played that character perfectly. The reaction are definitely that of a huge K-drama fan, the story was fun and interesting, it wasn't dragged on and i loved the chemistry between everyone. I have watached this about 5 times now and still love it. As a big KDrama fan it was also really interesting to see a new type of drama come out with a fun new idea and i think it was done really well. Would recommend this to any new KDrama fan or old. 10/10 in my eyes would love to see more!

So good!

[sabrina_schraud · 10/10 · 13 February 2022]

Love the character and the story really much.

It's so much funny, And if you've watched a few Korean dramas, then you know that all of it is true.^^ Who of us has not wished to be drawn into his favorite series. I would do some things differently than Claire, but also a lot the way she did it.

Poorly Written and Acted but a Great Concept

[zegraphics · 2/10 · 25 June 2016]

Unfortunately the cameos and Justin Choi are the only things worth watching in this short series. The concept sparkles but there is no character development. We're not given any reasons to connect with the main characters or to care about what happens to them. The lead Claire is paper-thin. She has zero depth. The leading male Joon was wooden. Both leads struggled with their acting. Their portrayals either felt forced, flat, or awkward throughout the series. And their love-line never took off.

Dramaworld also tries to spoof the genre but none of the things fans love about K- dramas are present beyond shallow acknowledgment that the tropes do, in fact, exist. The tropes are used more like, "Look a cake. Cakes are funny. Everyone loves cakes because they have eggs, and flour, and sugar, and milk…" That's about as much insight as Dramaworld gives into K-drama and its fandom. It lays out all the tropes and then points at them while saying, "Tee hee! Isn't this funny. It has umbrella scenes, and shower scenes, and super sweet heroines, and jerky heroes, and piggyback rides, and mean moms…" And we, the audience, are left to wonder "yeah, and…?" Dramaworld feels like a giant commercial instead of a series we're meant to connect with. I hope Viki changes the writing and directing team and tries again with better actors and a smarter script.

Cringy

[wideeyez · 1/10 · 11 July 2019]

This had so much potential. But was cringy from beginning to end.

If you love K-Drama don't bother

[thecheekyfrog · 1/10 · 10 June 2018]

Biggest pile of pants I've ever watched. Bad acting, irritating main character, horrible story.

Season 2 ruined by misplaced injection of feminism and emasculated male main characters

[christusenciaga · 4/10 · 20 February 2022]

Loved season 1. But the writing in season 2 has gone downhill fast. Whenever writers run out of ideas they inject politics as plot filler which is exactly what the writers did for season 2. And when feminism is added, logic is removed. Why can two average female characters beat up a handful of gangsters? Per the writers, "just because (female power or something.. who knows?)". For example, one line of dialogue about how Clair is not from dramaworld, so she has more control over the physics of dramaworld would have made that more logical. Not to mention, it's not heroic in the least to beat someone up for insulting or disrespecting you. It's childish. Somehow Park Joon is no longer masculine at all. How about Evan? Has the actor who plays him ever worked outside a day in his life? There's not a tough bone in his body. It's hard to relate to a character that seems to have had such an easy life that he could be so soft and feminine. Which reminds me again of the illogical nature of the story - why would a mob boss choose such a weak person to join his family? Answer: they wouldn't. Stories don't have to match the real world but they have to be explainable within the logic of the newly created world. In dramaworld, do gangsters prefer to have weak and useless gang members?

It's early days but...

[monk-81907 · 5/10 · 24 June 2018]

(Not sure if this is really a spoiler, but just in case... SPOILERS!) Okay - it's only episode 3, and I'm reeeeally trying to like this... but the main female character is apparently incapable of not behaving in a stupid and annoying way, and I'm struggling to get past that. Not sure if that's what k-dramas are like normally as I'm not a regular watcher of those shows, but this is just painful. If that gormless female wasn't in it, or if she was about 50% less irritating, it would actually be quite enjoyable since the premise itself is kind of fun. (Note that I may change my rating when I've watched more... but sadly, I'm not optimistic right now).

Footnote: finished watching season 1 and it did get better as the episodes went on, with a bit of a fun ending. So, yeah - not totally hideous, in the end.