Great Shows w/Mental Health & Trauma at the Forefront
These shows examine different elements of trauma in someone's past and present and the mental health crisis' that inadvertently arise from carrying these lifelong burdens. I particularly loved these shows because of the way in which trauma was regarded and that it was faced head-on and openlt (which I'm not used to seeing in KDRAMAS). Placed in the order in which I liked the show.
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1. Just Between Lovers
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
Deals with PTSD from an accident both leads experienced when they were younger and the ramifications it's head on their lives. This series, as stated by the title, is a romance at the forefront, while also dealing with mental health/illness.
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2. Love Between Fairy and Devil
Chinese Drama - 2022, 36 episodes
Emotional/physical parental abuse, patricide, PTSD, youth-related trauma, abandonment, learning to love and communicate through trauma response, etc.
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3. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 2
Chinese Drama - 2022, 29 episodes
Child abuse, parental abuse, starvation, family trauma, postpartum depression, childhood trauma, living through crisis, revenge, victim and survivor of massive scale catastrophe, survivors guilt, loss, grief, longing, abandonment issues, etc. Lots to chew on with this drama. I adore it so much.
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4. Love Like the Galaxy: Part 1
Chinese Drama - 2022, 27 episodes
child abuse, parental abuse, starvation, family trauma, postpartum depression, childhood trauma, living through crisis, revenge, victim and survivor of massive scale catastrophe, survivors guilt, etc. Lots to chew on with this drama. I adore it so much.
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5. D.P.
Korean Drama - 2021, 6 episodes
Loved this series. Heavily discusses the realities behind bullying/bullying in the military specifically.
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6. Uncontrollably Fond
Korean Drama - 2016, 20 episodes
Stages of grief in dealing with a terminal illness. This show broke me.
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7. It's Okay, That's Love
Korean Drama - 2014, 16 episodes
I adored Jo In-Sung in this. This series dealt with OCD & Schizophrenia really beautifully.
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8. Move to Heaven
Korean Drama - 2021, 10 episodes
Grief. Autism. Moving on and accepting family. ETC. Great series.
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9. It's Okay to Not Be Okay
Korean Drama - 2020, 16 episodes
Really adore this series for the relationship between a younger brother and his older brother (who is on the spectrum). It was my first time watching a KDRAMA that actually had autism at the forefront. The brothers have dealt with something serious while they were younger and there is trauma and PTSD in that, but also just growing up in the situation they were in and the consequences to living life without parents and that guidance. The series is a bit problematic with the way the FL comes onto the ML without his consent (and the series makes light of it by making those scenes humorous), but I do find other aspects of the show, like dealing with autism and mental illness like bipolar disorder in a healthy way, very refreshing.
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10. Silent
Japanese Drama - 2022, 11 episodes
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11. Bad and Crazy
Korean Drama - 2021, 12 episodes
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12. Fight for My Way
Korean Drama - 2017, 16 episodes
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13. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha
Korean Drama - 2021, 16 episodes
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14. Alchemy of Souls Season 2: Light and Shadow
Korean Drama - 2022, 10 episodes
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15. Seasons of Blossom
Korean Drama - 2022, 16 episodes
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16. The Starry Love
Chinese Drama - 2023, 40 episodes
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17. Oh No! Here Comes Trouble
Taiwanese Drama - 2023, 12 episodes
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18. D.P. Season 2
Korean Drama - 2023, 6 episodes
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19. Lighting Up the Stars
Chinese Movie - 2022
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20. Fangs of Fortune
Chinese Drama - 2024, 34 episodes