[Beanie Recs] Covering for paranormal characters
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 really love that moment in dramas where the regular ol’ human has to run cover for the strange comments and behavior of the fantastical/paranormal character at their side — like we’re seeing in Heartbeat. It made me realize how much I love the dynamic. Are there any other dramas you can think of with this element? I think they’d mostly be comedies, and if they’re cohabitation stories, even better! It’s such a great excuse for maximum hijinks.
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 pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
July 12, 2023 at 6:22 AM
a bit old-school and the humans aren't aware there are vampires in their midst but Vampire Idol is an old and hilarious fave - it's a sitcom from 2011 that happened to mark the acting debut of a certain Mr Kim Woo-bin as one of the titular vampires, who shack up in a dorm run by a female idol agency.
The covering-up here is being done by the vampires to hide it from their humans, but it's adorable and hilarious (and hopefully fully subbed by now?!)
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2 Midnight
July 12, 2023 at 6:37 AM
My Girlfriend Is A Gumiho
Do shows like Rooftop Prince and Kill Me Heal Me count?
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3 Mrs Buckwheat
July 12, 2023 at 6:44 AM
There are soooo many in Goblin.
One of the big ones is when Eun tak is able to move the sword from Goblins chest for the first time. Goblin is surprised but also in a huge amount of pain and pushes her hand away from the sword sending her flying in the air. She is about to crash into the side of a truck and Goblin comes to the rescue to save her but in doing so wipes out the whole car park where the truck is parked. Reaper is sent to erase the memory of the general public who witnessed the event and Deok hwa provides monetary payment for the damaged cars. Meanwhile a team of company workers are tasked to erase any footage of the event found online.
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4 aicaramba
July 12, 2023 at 6:54 AM
ARE YOU HUMAN TOO comes to mind. The robromance Nam Shin III had with Young Hoon was sweet! I think the scene after the club fire was the first time Young Hoon had to cover for Shin, quite literally too. Of course the whole bit where they trained robo Nam Shin in simulation to help him assume the human Nam Shin was delighful!
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5 vienibenmio
July 12, 2023 at 7:30 AM
This isn't EXACTLY what OP is asking, but My Holo Love has a lot of great hijinks where the human ML has to pretend to be the hologram 2ML, and IIRC the other characters have to help out with that.
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Midnight
July 12, 2023 at 9:33 AM
Very cute show!
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Seon-ha
July 13, 2023 at 4:33 AM
This here comment pushed me over the edge…I choose YOU My Holo Love!
I’m on planes or in airports for 18 hours straight today, and am 3 hours into a full, straight-through binge of this drama.
It’s so delightful, I don’t even notice all the stress and aggravation around me. 🥳
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2023 at 5:31 AM
Enjoy My Holo Love!!
I went through ALL kind of feelings watching that drama.
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Seon-ha
July 19, 2023 at 6:01 PM
FWIW, I wrote up my post-watch summary. I really did do the thing. I watched it straight through in a 24-hour period :)
https://www.dramabeans.com/members/attiton/activity/1426341/
I’d love to hear y’all’s thoughts. Shameless (again) plug to @hopefulromantic too.
Midnight
July 13, 2023 at 5:49 AM
It was so cute and calming without being boring or cheesy.
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vienibenmio
July 13, 2023 at 7:01 AM
It's actually my all time favorite drama! I've rewatched it in its entirety several times, which is pretty rare for me with dramas, as I usually just rewatch certain eps or scenes. I love it so much, just thinking about it or listening to the OST makes me happy.
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Midnight
July 13, 2023 at 7:43 AM
To think I had read so much criticism for it that I nearly didn't watch it.
sonai
July 13, 2023 at 7:53 AM
Wait - is this like “I’m not a robot” - with reversed genders / hologram instead of robot? 🤔😆
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vienibenmio
July 13, 2023 at 8:29 AM
They're very similar in terms of setup: reverse genders, hologram instead of a robot, and face blindness instead of allergy to physical contact. In terms of how the story actually progresses, though, they are quite different.
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Midnight
July 13, 2023 at 8:43 AM
As I dislike I'M NOT A ROBOT and love MY HOLO LOVE, I object! 😁
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sonai
July 13, 2023 at 10:58 AM
Haha, okay! I guess I’ll have to give this a shot then 😃
Thanks!
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vienibenmio
July 13, 2023 at 2:14 PM
Oh, man, I am super curious about why you disliked I'm Not a Robot! I thought it was cute enough but it definitely is no My Holo Love. I haven't ever rewatched it or even parts of it.
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Midnight
July 13, 2023 at 11:04 PM
I dislike the lie that went on too long.
And the implication that the allergy was only in his head.
And that anybody has the right to manipulate or trick the patient.
I know the allergy itself was completely made up for the show, but as a person with too much exposure to allergies and mental illnesses in my life, the whole storyline felt extremely out-of-line and inappropriate.
Oh, and I dislike the kiss scene in FREEZING weather at the top of the mountain! 😂 If anyone had ever decided that is a romantic gesture to show me I would have turned them down on spot! 😆
I know this one is totally personal and not an actual problem with the story, but personal preferences do affect our response to shows.
6 Kurama
July 12, 2023 at 7:51 AM
There are some humans but from the past who needed some cover like in Rooftop Prince.
Otherwise, the mermaid in Legend of the Blue Sea.
I didn't watch The Bride of Habaek, but I think at least there was the cohabitation theme.
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sakuradaydream
July 12, 2023 at 9:00 PM
Jung Jihyun did an amazing job at portraying her literal fish out of water character in LOTB!
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7 aicaramba
July 12, 2023 at 7:55 AM
I'm pretty sure there's lots in BEAUTY INSIDE. I remember the ML covering the FL with his jacket a couple to times to save her from getting recognized (or not recognized because she's transformed?). Also a lengthy segment where the FL looks like a highschool boy and ML accepted suspicions that he likes minors/boys, and that he had a son at a young age.
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8 Seon-ha
July 12, 2023 at 8:26 AM
It doesn’t parallel the work our FL is doing in HeartBeat directly, but the example drama that I have seen and think fits best, is Delivery Man. In this drama our ML can see ghosts, and the plot revolves around him fronting for these paranormal creatures, all of whom have things they need to do in this world, but who can’t do them on their own because only he can see and help them.
It’s not a perfect drama by any means, but it’s pretty cute, and there are many scenes where the paranormal meets the “normal” and the human is the interface!
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Seon-ha
July 12, 2023 at 8:27 AM
Oh, I didn’t mention—yes, it’s a comedy and yes, there’s cohabitation! The ahjumma who lives with our main couple is particularly delightful.
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9 Gikata
July 12, 2023 at 10:05 AM
Oh, I like this prompt, all the endless possibilities and hilarity that usually ensues thanks to it))) It's not the fantasy kdrama without it, honestly, so examples must be MANY.
My top fave would be classic ARANG AND THE MAGISTRATE - FL is a ghost (later an undead with immortal body) and the amount of mental gymnastics ML had to do to cover up for her (and his own ability to see/interact with ghosts) is quite impressive, including making up the excuse for why the two live together ("she's my teacher's daughter he entrusted me to take care of!" - nice try, but no one buys it anyway lol), why she gets mortally wounded on multiple occasions yet never dies, why all her injuries magically disappear, why her corpse remained perfectly fresh for years... There's also this morbidly hilarious moment when he impulsively kisses her in the moment of dying and then tries to save his ass from well-deserved beating by claiming it was resurrection first-aid)))
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pogo - sailing HMS Queen of Tears and HMS Sailboat Lovely Runner🍉
July 13, 2023 at 2:29 AM
Arang is a (imo severely underrated) classic, the ghost stuff could be really sad or really hilarious. Especially the multiple instances of her corpse-ing!
on a lighter note, I remember my first comments on here were on the Arang recaps, can't believe enough time has passed for it to be called (rightfully!) a classic now.
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Gikata
July 13, 2023 at 3:05 AM
Yes, balance between comedy and angst was really great in the drama. To think of it, that was one of the best kdrama years in general, so many good shows I still remember fondly.
Wasn't here back then, but I've read recaps and comments multiple times. Those were the days)))
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technicat
July 13, 2023 at 8:36 AM
That's a great one! As I recall, she pointed out she was going to resurrect anyway, and his weak defense was that he was trying to expedite the process.
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Gikata
July 13, 2023 at 9:33 AM
The best part is that no one was fooled, not even himself))) Great example of genre savviness tho. Did he read a lot of fantasy romance novels featuring "kiss of life" during his travels?
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10 Babylilo
July 12, 2023 at 12:49 PM
In My Love From the Star, Lawyer Jang has been helping alien Min-Joon by forging death certificates and creating new identities for him every ten years in order to hide the fact that his appearance never ages.
In Zombie Detective, Sun-Ji discovers that beneath the BB cream, Moo-Young is actually a zombie. After getting over her initial shock and fright (and taking off the protective gear) she helps him hide his identity.
There are a number of examples in which people have to cover for someone who appears normal, but is actually possessed by a ghost or is a victim of body switching. Examples: Ghost Doctor, Oh My Ghost, Mr. Queen.
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11 HopefulRomantic 🦋 Tigermoth 🦞
July 12, 2023 at 1:01 PM
I don't have anything specific to add; I just want to say I love this trope (is it a trope?), and that this is a great thread😄👍
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12 Ally
July 12, 2023 at 7:29 PM
Im going with the Goblin and his nephew! Then finding out that the “nephew” is actually God. 😆
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Midnight
July 13, 2023 at 7:45 AM
That is one of the very few things I loved in that show 😆
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13 Aroha Uaena
July 12, 2023 at 8:44 PM
Not sure if this fits the bill but My Roomate is a Gumiho and Meow: The secret boy.
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14 Linarrick
July 12, 2023 at 11:07 PM
I dunno if this fits the prompt but I can’t stop thinking about TALE OF THE NINE TAILED 1938. Technically most of the characters are deities and nonhuman, so this probably won’t count but there is a scene where a baby suddenly appears in front of Yeon and Rang. Both of them try to get rid of the baby but the baby keeps appearing in front of them. Later they find out the baby is a lucky baby who others are trying to kidnap. So they decide to keep the baby and it’s so wholesome and sweet seeing both Yeon and Rang parenting the baby. Okay I’ll stop fangirling now 😅
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Gikata
July 13, 2023 at 9:37 AM
I loved the bit of Yeon planning to send baby Miho to top university when she grows up, peak Asian parent energy)))
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15 lapislazulii
July 13, 2023 at 2:21 AM
Doom At Your Service has heaps, especially since Doom has a very 'doesn't give a shit' attitude, and so Tak Dong Kyung has her work cut out for her trying to cover for his mannerisms.
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16 darwi
July 13, 2023 at 3:58 AM
In A Korean Odyssey, FL tries to act as there is nothing strange when Son Oh Kong does something magical in presence of her associate.
In Blood, ML's best friend helps him with a false scar to hide his regenerating abilities. (I do not recommend this drama)
In cdrama I Am the Years You Are the Stars, ML does not dies and has guardians to manage his properties and all the administrative tasks of being alive.
Already cited: Zombie detective, Are you humain too, Doom at your service.
There is a drama where ML sometimes has the idea to pretend to be on the phone while talking to the surnatural being only he sees, but I do not want to give the name because that's a big spoiler. What a conudrum.
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Isa is always time travelling
July 13, 2023 at 10:12 AM
In A Korean Odyssey we have a "hidden" zombie girl too.
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darwi
July 13, 2023 at 11:53 PM
Very true !
But those who help her camouflage are not human.
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17 redfox
July 13, 2023 at 4:41 AM
what was that mermaid series with Jo Boa?
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panshel
July 14, 2023 at 7:11 PM
Surplus Princess! Apple butt 🍎
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redfox
July 14, 2023 at 11:49 PM
ah, right. that is a tricky title to remember.
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18 Bunny Sonaki
July 13, 2023 at 4:41 AM
This is one of my favorite genre
Some on my top list
Hotel del luna
Goblin
My Rooommate is a gumiho
Tale of nine tailed 1938
The currently airing Heartbeat
Ghost Doctor if it counts
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