[Beanie Recs] Deities descending to earth
by DB Staff
Ahoy, Beanies! It’s time to gather your collective genius for a recommendation series that features you and your drama knowledge. Each week we’ll drop a drama conundrum and leave it up to you to provide a drama rec, and the appropriate rationale behind it, be it long or short. Respond below!
I’m super pumped for Kokdu: Season of Deity and was trying to think of some other dramas about mythological gods or deities descending to earth and interacting with us mere mortals. Kinda like in My Roommate Is a Gumiho but maybe more so?
Have a very particular drama itch that needs scratching? In need of a Beanie Rec? Email us at hello @ dramabeans.com and we’ll feature your topic in a future post.
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Tags: Beanie Recs, Drama recommendations
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1 Kurama
January 26, 2023 at 5:25 AM
There is The Bride if Haebak with Nam Joo-Hyuk as the god of water but I won't recommend it...
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
January 26, 2023 at 5:54 PM
On the contrary, I think everybody should watch the wonder that is Habaek and not just because I want others to share my pain...
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Qingdao: likes scented candles
March 19, 2023 at 9:07 AM
Agree--would not recommend it.
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2 Unaspirated
January 26, 2023 at 5:32 AM
I haven’t seen My Roommate is a Gumiho, so these may be farther afield than you want, but here’s my attempt.
I think Hotel del Luna falls in this category nicely. Man-wol is undoubtedly god-like in her abilities and immortality, and there is an actual god (or really seven with the same face) running around meddling with things when she feels like it. Lots of interactions with mere mortals (though most of them have succumbed to their mortality already), plus you get to watch IU swanning around a grand hotel looking fabulous and drinking champagne.
Tomorrow probably also works here. There are lots of grim reapers and other members of the afterlife team, and the different kinds of reapers get to interact with mortals in different ways, either by escorting them to the afterlife or by trying to prevent their deaths. Rowoon also functions as a mortal in lots of ways in this story, because he’s such a noob and he’s only there temporarily.
Bride of Habaek is the most literal “descending to earth” example that I can think of, but I don’t really recommend it, except to stare in awe and admiration at Nam Joo-hyuk’s gorgeous suits. All the patterns and piping you could ever want.
And then this might be a stretch, but maybe Bulgasal: Immortal Souls? There are no gods here, but plenty of monsters with supernatural powers, some ambiguous and some definitely bad. I loved the found family here, but the tone is much darker in this drama, and less hijink-y, so it might not be what you’re looking for.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
January 26, 2023 at 5:56 PM
Another vote for Habaek that everybody must watch.
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3 Linarrick
January 26, 2023 at 6:01 AM
A Korean Odyssey / Hwayugi. I personally didn’t like this one, but I know other beanies did. I’m not a big fan of Lee Seung-gi but I thought this was one of his better performances. His character and the other side characters were fun but sadly the female lead was written very blandly, which was intentional I think but idk it didn’t really work for me.
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Linarrick
January 26, 2023 at 6:20 AM
I will say maybe I’m just salty that Jang Geun-seok who played the iconic Tae-kyung was given a cameo role that was incredibly embarrassing to watch. Especially since he worked with the Hong Sisters twice and helped them achieve Hallyu fame
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beffels
January 26, 2023 at 6:52 PM
I like Korean Odyssey but I think it helps to go in managing expectations about the end as the cgi gets REALLY bad. I don’t know if it was time constraints or budget but it is just comically bad.
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4 panshel
January 26, 2023 at 6:11 AM
Kokdu's a grim reaper, so the most popular recommendation would be Goblin, which has rich world-building, the best bromance, and Gong Yoo.
Other mythological deities include
Hwayugi's Monkey King and Bull Demon King
Arang and the Magistrate's Jade Emperor and King of the Underworld
Doom at Your Service's Doom and goddess
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ladykrueger
January 26, 2023 at 9:50 AM
Arang! That one was sooo good <3
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Gikata
January 26, 2023 at 1:09 PM
I think in Arang only Jade actually walked Earth in person, while Yeomra didn't (he smartly - or lazily - delegated all the footwork to his grim reapers). There were PLENTY of other lesser gods and spirits roaming around so still counts.
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LT is Irresistibly Indifferent and reminded of the slow march of death
January 26, 2023 at 5:57 PM
It doesn't matter how many times I try, whenever people talk about this show it reminds me of Black, which is about a reaper on Earth and my second-greatest drama trauma.
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5 jerrykuvira
January 26, 2023 at 6:14 AM
The Legend/ The Story of the Four Gods.
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ar_arguably romantic
January 28, 2023 at 7:48 AM
Wonderful drama! I think the leads were reincarnations without memories of their past lives until later.
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6 sunnysaturdays
January 26, 2023 at 7:12 AM
Taleof gumiho is another one. Lots of gumihos and a few gods. I love every part of this show except for the "romance".
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7 welh
January 26, 2023 at 7:15 AM
It is not a k-drama but the gold standard for angelic guidance: Clarence from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE.
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8 Babylilo
January 26, 2023 at 9:27 AM
Kim Bum as the angel in Padam Padam is the most heavenly (in every sense) mythological figure I can think of. Truly breathtaking visual effects showing him sprouting wings and then flying.
Another heavenly being descending to Earth is Kim Soo-Hyun in You From Another Star. Technically, he's an ET, not a god, but he IS endowed with supernatural powers (including the ability to steal my heart through the tv screen!).
Grim reapers appear in a number of shows, including The Uncanny Counter, Goblin, and Tomorrow.
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9 mmmmm
January 26, 2023 at 9:58 AM
Can I recommend a Cdrama - Love between Fairy and Devil? Both of them (and some enemies and friends) descend to Earth at one point to fulfill their tribulations or something. They are on Earth for a short time but I think this also fits the bill.
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Gikata
January 26, 2023 at 1:12 PM
Nearly every xianxia drama fits the bill, I think, because I've never heard of a one that DOESN'T torture its leads with (usually amnesiac) mortal life at least briefly)))
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10 ♡Peach_Mochi♡
January 26, 2023 at 1:24 PM
Angel’s Last Mission: Love. Shin Hye-sun was amazing, as always. The rules of heaven left me a little confused, though.
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minnie
January 28, 2023 at 3:42 PM
You are right, but it was total fun to watch nonetheless...
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11 Gikata
January 26, 2023 at 1:30 PM
49 Days had grim reaper, right?
Also Fairy Mama whatever drama with Moon Chae Won, but I've heard it's not good at all...
Currently-in-between-its-two-parts Island that we here enjoyed trash-watching has gods, demons, folks with holy and magical powers and who knows what else.
Among upcoming shows there's a romcom about fallen cupid with Jang Dong Yoon and Nana. It's supposed to come out this year, I think.
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ar_arguably romantic
January 28, 2023 at 7:50 AM
Agree that the Mama Fairy drama was really really not good. Moon Chae Won looks beautiful in a hanbok though.
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Gikata
January 28, 2023 at 10:47 AM
She always did))) Girl should do another sageuk asap tbh, it's been literally ages.
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12 Ally
January 26, 2023 at 2:29 PM
So, of course, Goblin with Gong Yoo. The dieties here would be Lee El, Lee Dong Wook, Yook Sung Jae and Gong Yoo.
Lee Dong wook plays another diety in Tale of the Nine Tailed and with Kim Bum playing his brother, Lord have mercy! Season 2 is eminent!
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13 ixion
January 26, 2023 at 2:34 PM
The immediate three I can remember that have deities interacting (meddling) with humans are:
Arang and the Magistrate
Mystic Pop-Up Bar
Tale of the Nine Tailed
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MikeyD signed up
January 26, 2023 at 10:43 PM
Now that you reminded me, Arang immediately shot to the top of my list,
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StacyA
January 27, 2023 at 6:15 AM
DEFINITELY Mystic Pop-Up Bar! Still one of my fav's!
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14 cozybooks
January 26, 2023 at 5:25 PM
Well, depending on your definition of deity, these are all shows I'd recommend:
Doom At Your Service (I will forever love this drama, and I think Doom counts as a deity of sorts)
Mystic Pop Up Bar (lots of side character gods, and a bit of a stretch for some of our main characters too)
Angel's Last Mission: Love (he's an angel. That counts, right?
Goblin (also filled with reapers, a god, etc.)
When the Devil Calls Your Name (This drama involves God and the Devil, even though they're not our main leads)
Tale of the Nine Tailed (He's a Gumiho... and a mountain god! Bonus lots of other gods too)
And a few I watched but wouldn't recommend:
Aarange and the Magistrate (I could never get into this drama... I think it may be because Shin Min Ah is not my favorite actress, but also it was just hard for me to get into)
The Bride of Habaek (I... legit don't remember this drama mostly. Thus it was forgettable)
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cozybooks
January 26, 2023 at 5:27 PM
Oh! And if you want a darker take on the whole "gods descending" idea, then Monstrous was good.
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beffels
January 26, 2023 at 6:53 PM
Mystic Pop Up Bar is really good.
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15 beffels
January 26, 2023 at 6:58 PM
When it comes to Gumiho dramas I think My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho is the superior of My Roommate - but it did come out in like 2012 or something so in some respects it is dated.
Others I liked that were mentioned above are Korean Odyssey and Mystic Pop Up Bar.
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16 Reply1988 -❣️Mother Bean❣️
January 26, 2023 at 9:22 PM
Scripting your destiny is a drama few seemed to watched that meets this criteria and I am happy to plug here if it gets it more views.
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ar_arguably romantic
January 28, 2023 at 7:55 AM
Another shoutout for Scripting Your Destiny! It only aired as a web series, so was overlooked despite being on par and sometimes better than the deity-on-earth kdramas being aired. Only 10 episodes half hour episodes, so you can binge it in a lazy afternoon.
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17 MikeyD signed up
January 26, 2023 at 10:50 PM
I was more fond of 'Doom At Your Service' than most posters here were. I think the series fell victim to the expectations game. People were expecting hijinks and 'fun' adventures. If to take the title literally and go in expecting the personification of Doom to be the main character than you'll more likely enjoy the series for what it was rather than what you were expecting it to be,
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Shae D
January 28, 2023 at 6:20 AM
I think the bigger crime was that it was drawn out to fill air time and I would actually argue that it didn't get as "doom and gloom" as it could have. The end was painfully predictable with its HEA when it really could have gone for it.
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ar_arguably romantic
January 28, 2023 at 8:00 AM
I agree. I think it would have worked better as a one of those drama specials that are only a few episodes long. It was an interesting concept and the leads had chemistry. It was watchable enough if you turn your brain off after the first few episodes. I think the individual scenes were sort of interesting, even compelling, and then I would look back on the episode and on how the scenes fit into the story and then was like, "huh? that doesn't make sense at all"
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18 OldLawyer
January 28, 2023 at 7:38 PM
GOBLIN: THE GREAT AND LONELY GOD is both unique and yet spot on. What is unique is the idea of our ML having to be a god- but only temporarily (a mere nine hundred years) and as a punishment.
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